Hong Kong: APEC energy meeting held in HK

The 35th Meeting of the Expert Group on Energy Data & Analysis (EGEDA35) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is being held in Hong Kong today and tomorrow.

Delivering a welcome speech at the meeting today, Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan said that Hong Kong is honoured to host the EGEDA35 to provide a platform for direct dialogue among APEC partners.

Over 40 experts and delegates from nine APEC member economies as well as two international organisations are gathered in Hong Kong to share insights and exchange their energy data and analysis experience.

Discussion topics include updates of the work of the EGEDA on annual data collection, an overview of energy supply and demand in APEC, the progress of APEC goals and data collection of new energy technologies.

Mr Tse noted that APEC economies consume about 60% of the world's energy.

As the members continue their speedy recovery from the epidemic and their focus on economic development, energy consumption will continue to increase, leading to an exponential increase in carbon emissions. Thus, there is an imminent need to expedite the energy transition to an environmental-friendly framework to achieve a climate-safe future.

He added that Hong Kong is striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 and pursue the reduction of Hong Kong's carbon emissions by 50% before 2035 from the 2005 level.

In this connection, Hong Kong is actively engaging new energy technologies in accordance with the major decarbonisation strategies outlining in the Climate Action Plan, such as the Floating Storage & Regasification Unit at the Hong Kong Offshore Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal, district cooling systems and new energy vehicles to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.

The environment chief also encouraged the use of energy data analyses and modelling tools to provide insightful information on energy trends in driving transition towards a sustainable future.

The EGEDA is an expert group under the APEC Energy Working Group, which is responsible for providing policy-relevant energy information to APEC bodies and the wider community.

This story has been published on: 2024-01-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
China-Europe freight services in high demand

08:50, January 17, 2024 By Zhong Nan ( China Daily

China-Europe freight train services will continue to play a key role this year, facilitating foreign trade amid China's ongoing industrial upgrade and a growing inclination among companies to seek greater efficiency while circumventing geopolitical uncertainties, said analysts and exporters.

The current reluctance of global shipping companies to transit through the Suez Canal has affected China-Europe trade and exerted pressure on operational costs of businesses on both sides. The orders for China-Europe freight trains  an important supplementary mode of transportation of goods between the two major trading partners  have surged in recent weeks, they said.

When container ships avoid the Suez Canal and instead navigate around the southwestern tip of Africa  the Cape of Good Hope  it increases sailing costs, extends shipping duration and creates corresponding delays in delivery schedules.

All freight train cars on the Yiwu-Madrid service route are fully booked for January with many exporters securing their slots in December. Previously, customers would book their containers two weeks prior to departure, said Chen Kaifeng, director of YXE Trading Service Group's business development department. The group, based in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, provides freight services for the China-Europe rail route that links Yiwu with Madrid, Spain.

Chen said the freight rates have also spiked by 10 to 20 percent in January, compared with the previous month, in line with the increase in demand.

"January, following the peak shipping season in October, is also regarded as a minor peak season," he said, adding that Chinese suppliers have been working hard to arrange shipments before the Spring Festival holiday in February.

There has been a change in the composition of China's exports in recent years, with the focus shifting to high-value items such as smartphones, vehicles, auto parts, computers and high-end electronic components. This has resulted in a surging demand for swifter transportation methods over maritime shipping service, said Zhou Zhicheng, a researcher at the Beijing-based China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

Driven by deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and partner countries, the number of China-Europe freight trains operated in 2023 reached 17,000, up 6 percent year-on-year, while 1.9 million 20-foot equivalent units of containers were shipped, soaring 18 percent year-on-year, according to the latest data from the China State Railway Group, the country's railway operator.

Starting mid-December, there has been a notable surge in global maritime shipping prices due to security concerns in the Red Sea region. As a result, a growing volume of maritime cargo is being diverted to the China-Europe freight service. Certain products, such as computers and footwear, are now being redirected to the rail route, said Li Ke, an official at Chengdu Customs' Qingbaijiang branch.

As both Chinese and overseas automotive and household appliance manufacturers show a growing interest in shipping their products via freight trains, Li said the cargo slots for China-Europe freight trains departing from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, in January are fully booked.

In 2023, the number of China-Europe freight trains originating from Chengdu exceeded 2,400, with transported goods weighing 1.19 million metric tons in total and the total value of goods reaching 46.39 billion yuan ($6.46 billion), both record highs, data from Chengdu Customs showed.

"Since our washing machines have gained popularity in markets participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, the export value of this product transported through the China-Europe freight train route witnessed a year-on-year growth of 85 percent in 2023. We anticipate further growth of over 2 percent on a yearly basis this year," said Lin Chuangen, head of supply chain management at Nanjing LG Panda Appliances Co, a China-South Korea joint venture based in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.

Jiangsu, another key export hub, saw the number of China-Europe freight trains originating from cities in the province increase to 2,123 with a cargo value of 30.32 billion yuan last year, up 7.6 percent and 8.3 percent year-on-year, respectively, according to Nanjing Customs.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Across 41 years and 70-some films, Juliette Binoche  the gold standard for cinematic expressivity, and for performances both imposing and delicately shaded  has figured out a few things.

One: Do your own work. Because you cannot rely on directors.

Two: Her favorite screen actor is the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, and they once spent four hours over dinner discussing oh, everything. Life.

Three: She does not like to be told to hold back, even  perhaps especially  by filmmakers she admires. Binoches latest film, the visually droolworthy period picture The Taste of Things, was written and directed by the Vietnamese French writer-director Tran Anh Hung, whose works include The Scent of Green Papaya, a similarly delectable number.

A couple of times, Binoche recalls, he came to me after a take and said, Juliette, can you be more  neutral this time? And I said, What do you mean, neutral?' She speaks these words with just a hint of judgment, in a tone of what can only be described as withering neutrality.

In The Taste of Things, which was chosen as the French entry for the category of international feature film at the upcoming Academy Awards, Binoche, 59, plays the cook Eugenie, the longtime culinary and sometime romantic partner of a renowned chef. They have retired to the country together. The story, based on the 1920 novel translated into English as The Passionate Epicure, begins in 1885, with Eugenie in subtly declining health, and the chef Dodin mounting a new stealth campaign of marriage proposal. Dodin is played by Benoit Magimel.

The film marked the first time Binoche and Magimel worked together since Children of the Century in 1999. Their off-screen partnership of the time, which lasted several years, produced a daughter, Hana. I think its so sad when people separating dont see each other anymore, Binoche says, over a large, grazing sort of lunch at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills (filet mignon, polenta, grilled broccolini, et al.) They dont express what theyre feeling. Its terrible. Its burying yourself before you die.

The following is edited for clarity and length.

Q: You filmed The Taste of Things in the spring of 2022. Does it feel like a long time ago?

A: You know, not really. With a film that was quite intense to make, time works differently. The experience is still printed in you. Still very vivid, what we went through, because you had to be so present in every moment. So it stays in you. Its not just passing through; its digging in.

Id seen most of Trans earlier films, including Eternity, and I thought in Eternity he retreated from emotion a little bit. With The Taste of Things I wanted to give him as much emotion as I felt was needed. A couple of times after a take he came to me and said, Juliette, can you be more neutral? And I said what do you mean, neutral? I am a human being, I have to feel, I have to live! I cannot block myself to please you intellectually. So. I think I was smart at that moment. (smiles) I asked Tran afterward why he asked me in that scene to be neutral. He said he was afraid there would be too much emotion. But after I said no, I cant do that, we shot another take and he gave me a little pat and said, You know what? Thats fine (laughs).

Q: I rarely get a single emotion in any of your work on screen, whoever youre playing.

A: I think thats preferable, yes? Its important to understand the root of everything, and somehow link it to the surface of what youre doing and who youre playing. Thats why comedies are so difficult. I hate comedies, usually, because so often its about overstatement, and it doesnt work for me.

As human beings, we carry everything with us, all the time, and its all being revealed while youre shooting. That is the magic of it. You cannot push or will it into being a certain way. It needs to come out before the camera in a way you didnt expect.

Q: Can you remember the first time you saw a film as a child where a performer just basically changed your life forever?

A: Yes. I was six or seven, and I saw Charlie Chaplins short films. And then I happened to visit Charlie Chaplin in Switzerland with my sister, for real, when I was nine. My father was a friend of one of his daughters, Victoria.

Q: So if the first person you saw on screen was Buster Keaton instead, I wonder if years later you wouldve told your Taste of Things director, yes, fine, neutral is fine?

A: Who knows? (Laughs). We all have to be transparent as actors. To let things come out. Thats not neutral. Its a sort of an abnegation. You give into something and let something happen so it comes out of you naturally.

Q: The kitchen in The Taste of Things, with the wood fire and the beautiful copper pots, its like a dream kitchen, designed to make 21st century audiences want to go to late 19th century provincial France immediately.

A: I know! I bought a farm a year and a half ago, two kilometers from my grandmothers house, in Saint-Martin-de-Seignanx (near the Spanish border). I had some difficult memories there, my parents separating, sometimes a little rough. But it will be good for all of us, cousins and everyone, to gather there. Its good to have a place for family. And my goal, when the farmhouse is finished, is a sort of Taste of Things kitchen.

Q: The first scene, or scenes, of meal preparation we see in the film  it lasts nearly 40 minutes, and its a swirl of activity, none of it ostentatious, from the picking of the vegetables at sunrise to the emptying-out of a fish for an omelet. By the way, what kind of fish did you stick your hands into in that scene?

A: Turbot. Also turbot in English, I think. Wait, Ill tell you. (Checks French to English translation on phone). Flounder? You dont say turbot in English?

Q: Im afraid Im not the one to ask! But flounder I know, which doesnt sound nearly as good. What are you actually frying up in the pan in that scene?

A: The testicles! That was the first day, my first scene, we filmed. We had three fishes we could use if we needed to. I was nervous! I had never done that. But it was fine, we did it in the first take. The testicles were for the omelet. (Pause) I didnt try it.

Benoit Magimel and Juliette Binoche in The Taste of Things.

Q: Can we talk a bit about you working with Benoit in the film?

A: Yes, certainly. We had seen each other once in a while (years after they split up), because we have a daughter together. But we never had a real conversation about the past, things that happened. And then suddenly we were spending time, working together. I was very moved by this. And I think he was as well.

I think distance creates the need for expressing feelings. And so I used Trans words (in the Taste of Things screenplay) to express my feelings for Benoit. The medium became a sort of gift, a bridge toward him, and I was able to tell him everything: I love you no matter what happened, I care for you, life goes on, we have a wonderful child, I loved you then, and now I love you in a different way. And thats the way it is.

For our daughter, it was like opening a door. She doesnt remember us being together, so this was a sort of healing moment, seeing her parents expressing things between them.

Q: How would you characterize Benoits approach to acting in relation to your own?

A: He loves the freedom the earpiece gives him. Giving him the lines. He loves it. For the shorter scenes, he didnt need it. For the monologues, he used it. I adapted to his needs and it didnt bother me. We both like going on an adventure to see what happens in a retake. I feel like its a privilege to do another take of a scene. You have to be an open instrument. Not thinking too much. Just jumping into the unknown.

Q: Did it take time to find that freedom, when you were younger?

A: I had my mother as a theater teacher, who taught me. After that I went to my area drama conservatory, and then to a private school. And there, my teacher, she sort of shook me awake. She stopped me from wanting to act like I was trying to be a great actress every time I opened my mouth. When I was 18 I was trying to prove it, and she would say Stop! because it was too acted. So then I started feeling something else. Being, not acting. But when I started in films, right afterward, I saw right away that (Jean-Luc) Godard (who cast Binoche in the controversial 1985 film Hail Mary) didnt give a (fig) about me. Or care about trying to help me. He was just trying to figure out what to do with the camera.

And I thought: OK, Im learning something here. Never rely on directors!

The Taste of Things opens in Chicago Feb. 9.

Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.

mjphillips@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @phillipstribune
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When major global centers, including American and European officials, warn Azerbaijan not to resort to military actions against Armenia, they mean the Syunik Province of Armenia, and they know that these actions will take place. Political scientist Stepan Danielyan, a member of the opposition Mother Armenia bloc, said this in an interview with NEWS.am.

According to Danielyan, when Iran regularly states that this is unacceptable for it, this also proves that there are such plans. He added that Iran is against this because in the future, the implementation of these plans of Turkey and Azerbaijan may threaten Irans territorial integrity in the form of a possible uprising by the Azerbaijanis living there.

In Danielyans assessment, the fate of Syunik and the whole of Armenia depends on external geopolitical processes.

He said the talks about the enclaves are the first steps on the way to the implementation of the aforesaid plans o Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The analyst is sure that there is no talk of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Armenian authorities are deceiving the population, and the prime minister spoke earlier about what is on the agenda today.

Danielyan reiterated that the real objective of Turkey and Azerbaijan was not Nagorno-Karabakh, but Syunik, and they will never abandon those plans. According to him, in the first respective phase, Azerbaijan will want to make its troops enter into the territory of Armenia under the name of taking the enclaves and will wait for the international reaction. And in the next phase, it will plan an attack on Syunik.

Danielyan did not consider it a coincidence that the clause on border delimitation and demarcation was removed from the text of the aforesaid peace treaty because Azerbaijan first wants to achieve Armenias actual recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan so as not to succumb to the pressure of the international community and close the still unresolved issue.

"After that, Azerbaijan will go to the next phase. The authorities of Armenia, for their part, are only buying time, and their actions are not subject to any elaborate political strategy. We are dealing with random people who brought us to the current situation. And now, under the influence of fears, they are trying to find a this minute solution by fleeing either to Russia or the West," the political scientist said.
The visiting delegation from the National Council of Austria was hosted Wednesday by the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, the NA informs.

I express my gratitude to the Austrian Parliament for unanimously adopting the resolution condemning the ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh in October. Many MPs gave speeches condemning Azerbaijan, calling on the Federal Government of Austria to support Armenia and the forcibly displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh, said Rustam Bakoyan, deputy chair of the aforesaid NA standing committee, while hosting this delegation.

The resolution addresses the provision of free, unimpeded and long-term access of various international humanitarian organizations to Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the comprehensive protection of the cultural values and churches of Nagorno-Karabakh. In this context, the deputy informed that just two days ago, in a video published on one of the Azerbaijani YouTube channels, which was filmed in Haterk village of Nagorno-Karabakh, it can be seen that the memorial complex eternalizing the memory of self-defense victims of the village and the surrounding cemetery were vandalized. He assured that such videos are unfortunately numerous. Rustam Bakoyan emphasized the pressure and sanctions imposed by the European countries, including Austria, on Azerbaijan, as a result of which that state will renounce its aggressive intentions and aggressive actions against Armenia.

The member of the Greens Faction of the National Council of Austria Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic expressed her conviction that the above-mentioned resolution was not the first and will not be the last, because the situation in Armenia remains difficult from the viewpoint of humanitarian issues, within the framework of which Austria will have more to do in the future.

The above-mentioned resolution is also in favor of providing the necessary funds to Armenia in order to further stabilize the humanitarian situation. In this regard, the Deputy Chair of the Committee presented the programs to support our compatriots forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, noted that the RA Government had solved the problems with short-term plans, but needs the support of democratic countries in the medium and long-term basis.

The members of the Committee Arthur Hovhannisyan, Marina Ghazaryan, and Tigran Parsilyan addressed the regional and security issues, the activation of bilateral cultural and economic ties. Austrias support in the process of visa liberalization has become important. The Secretary of the Civil Contract Faction Arthur Hovhannisyan underscored that our country has chosen the path of democracy after 2018, and in this sense, developing European integration and European civilization in Armenia is vital for us. According to him, democracy is also a security factor for Armenia. In this context, the support of the European countries in security, economic and democracy matters was emphasized.

During the meeting, they touched upon the activation of mutual visits, the study and localization of the best practices of democratic countries as well. The close cooperation of the similar Committees of the two Parliaments has become important.
DENVER  The shooter who killed five people and endangered the lives of over 40 others at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs plans to plead guilty to new federal charges for hate crimes and firearm violations under an agreement that would allow the defendant to avoid the death penalty, according to court documents made public Tuesday.

Anderson Aldrich, 23, made a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to 50 hate crime charges and 24 firearm violations, the documents show. Aldrich would get multiple life sentences in addition to a 190-year sentence under the proposed agreement, which needs a judges approval.

The Jan. 9 plea agreement was unsealed by the court after Aldrich had pleaded not guilty in court during an initial appearance on Tuesday afternoon. The gun charges can carry a maximum penalty of death, according to the agreement.

Aldrich was sentenced to life in prison last June after pleading guilty to state charges of murder and 46 counts of attempted murder  one for each person at Club Q during the attack on Nov. 19, 2022.

Word of the new charges and planned agreement come just days after federal prosecutors revealed they would seek the death penalty in another hate crime case  against a white supremacist who killed 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. The decision doesnt change Attorney General Merrick Garlands moratorium to halt federal executions, but opens a new chapter in the long and complicated history of the death penalty in the U.S.

Ashtin Gamblin, who was shot nine times and seriously wounded at Club Q, was in court for Tuesdays hearing. She called the shooting a hate crime and said that Aldrich should be labeled as someone who carried one out.

Gamblin also said she told federal prosecutors Aldrich should face the death penalty for what they did, even if the punishment is never carried out.

She said she wanted Aldrich to sit with the thought of not knowing when they would die or that they could die at any day or any time.

Aldrich, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, also pleaded no contest to state charges for hate crimes under a plea agreement. The plea was an acknowledgment there was a good chance Aldrich would be convicted of those crimes without admitting guilt. The pleas carried the same weight as a conviction.

For Tuesdays hearing, Aldrich appeared by video from an undisclosed location and was represented by David Kraut with the federal public defenders office. Telephone and email messages left with Krauts office were not immediately returned.

Jeff Aston, whose son Daniel Aston was shot and killed in the attack, listened remotely to the hearing.

This was a hateful, stupid, heinous and cowardly act, Aston said, adding that hed like to see Aldrich suffer as much as the victims and their family members

After the shooting, Daniel Astons parents said they found Club Q to be a safe place to be a trans man and a drag queen.

Michael Anderson, who was bartending at Club Q when the shooting erupted, said the federal charges would serve as a deterrent by sending a message to people who want to commit violent acts against this community, and lets them know this is not something that is swept away or overlooked.

No matter how much justice is served statewide or federally, it cant undo bullets fired, he said.

At the time of Aldrichs sentencing in state court, Colorado Springs area District Attorney Michael Allen said the possibility of receiving the death penalty in the federal system was a big part of what motivated the defendant to plead guilty to the state charges.

Aldrich declined to speak at the sentencing hearing in state court, and havent said why they hung out at the club, then went outside and returned dressed in body armor. Aldrich began firing an AR-15-style rifle as soon as they came back in.

Prosecutors say Aldrich had visited the club at least six times before that night and that Aldrichs mother had forced them to go.

In a series of telephone calls from jail, Aldrich told The Associated Press they were on a very large plethora of drugs and abusing steroids at the time of the attack. When asked whether the attack was motivated by hate, Aldrich said that was completely off base.

The district attorney called those statements self-serving and characterized the assertion as ringing hollow. He said Aldrichs claim of being nonbinary is part of an effort to avoid hate crime charges, saying there was no evidence of Aldrich identifying as nonbinary before the shooting.

During hearings in the state case in February, prosecutors said Aldrich administered a website that posted a neo-Nazi white supremacist shooting training video. A police detective also testified that online gaming friends said Aldrich expressed hatred for the police, LBGTQ+ people and minorities, and used racist and homophobic slurs. One said that Aldrich sent an online message with a photo of a rifle trained on a gay pride parade.

The attack shattered the sense of safety at Club Q, which served as a refuge for the citys LGBTQ+ community. The shooting was stopped by a Navy officer who grabbed the barrel of the suspects rifle, burning his hand, and an Army veteran helped subdue and beat Aldrich until police arrived, authorities said.

The 2022 attack came more than a year after Aldrich was arrested for threatening their grandparents and vowing to become the next mass killer ? while stockpiling weapons, body armor and bomb-making materials.

Those charges were eventually dismissed after Aldrichs mother and grandparents refused to cooperate with prosecutors.

Last year Aldrich was moved to the Wyoming State Penitentiary due to safety concerns about the high-profile case, according to Alondra Gonzalez, spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Associated Press writers Jesse Bedayn contributed from Denver and Matthew Brown contributed from Billings, Montana.
We can clearly record that Russia has not fulfilled the obligations assumed by the statement of November 9, 2020. Rustam Bakoyan, an MP of the ruling majority Civil Contract Faction of the National Assembly of Armenia, said this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Bakoyan stated that the Russian peacekeepers Nagorno-Karabakh did not protect the rights or safety of the Armenians there, as a result of which more than 100,000 people were forcibly displaced to Armenia. In his opinion, the same applies to Azerbaijan, which is why neither Russia nor Azerbaijan have fulfilled the points in the statement of November 9, 2020.

"If there is talk about the engagement of Russian border guards in unblocking the [regional] roads, including the roads leading from Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan, then that monitoring should be carried out within the framework of our [i.e. Armenia] sovereignty. If a light regimen shall work on this road, then this logic should work on the principle of reciprocity," Bakoyan said.

He emphasized that if earlier it was possible to talk about Russia's participation in this matter, now Russia has no right to talk about it. And the MP called the talks with Azerbaijan about the corridor ridiculous because no document talks about a corridor except for the statement of November 9, 2020 where the Lachin corridor regulations are set out.

The ruling force lawmaker assured that Armenia has always clearly expressed its position regarding point 9 of the aforesaid statement.

Bakoyan expressed confidence that two of the three signatories of this statement are interested parties, but urged not to separate Russia and Azerbaijan in this matter, as they are interested in "making it happen."

"There can be no question of corridors through the territory of Armenia. The development of this notion in Armenia is directly related to Russia. I believe that they are trying to keep this notion on the political agenda of Armenia through the [latters] opposition. I believe that our allies respect our sovereignty, so they should avoid such logic," the ruling power legislator concluded.
The so-called "peace treaty" document will not guarantee that Azerbaijan will not start a war against Armenia, opposition MP Elinar Vardanyan said this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

"Also, it does not guarantee that Azerbaijan will withdraw its troops from the occupied territories [of Armenia]," added Vardanyan.

According to her, the talks about the peace treaty come down to the fact that Azerbaijan dictates its terms, and therefore this is not a negotiation on equal terms.

"As a result, Armenia can be forced to sign a document about nothingfrom the point of view of the interests of Armenia itself. But [PM] Nikol Pashinyan will present it to the Armenian public as a peace treaty. However, after that, Baku will force Armenia to fulfill all its demands. The document is not going to include the issue of border delimitation and demarcation, there are no provisions regarding the rights of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] Armenians, etc. This declarative document will record the defeat of Artsakh Armenians and the victory of Azerbaijan.

"An attempt is being made to put an end to the Artsakh issue. In addition, the issue of Armenia opens from the point of view of Azerbaijan's ambitions, including the so-called enclaves, the handing over of which will turn Armenia into an enclave," Vardanyan noted.

She recalled that earlier, the Armenian authorities had tried to convince the Armenian public that Azerbaijan does not raise the issue of enclaves, but later they accepted that such an issue is being raised.

"At the same time, its about areas of strategic importance. The Armenian authorities are well versed in the tools of manipulation, so I urge not to be surprised if the Armenian citizens wake up one day and see the Azerbaijani troops in one of the villages of [Armenias] Tavush [Province]," emphasized the opposition lawmaker.

In her opinion, Armenia's opposition can be blamed for the fact that although it was able to suspend and slow down the handover of Artsakh, it could not "seize the hand of the [Armenian] authorities."

"Our task is to explain to the [Armenian] public that we need their support in order to stop the threats against Armenia," concluded Vardanyan.
The first time you used the phrase "peace agenda" was in 2019, and we were talking about imposing peace; obviously, you could not impose a peace agenda on the enemy. Opposition MP Artur Khachatryan stated this during Wednesdays question-and-answer session in the National Assembly of Armeniaand addressing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The peace agenda took on a different meaning from 2021. In 2022, it crystallized: concessions, only if I can keep the 29,800 square kilometers of Armenia. In May 2023, you already accepted Azerbaijan's hegemony over Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] without having the right to do so. In his last extensive interview, [Azerbaijani president] Aliyev said that he is not ready to recognize territories, to recognize borders, he is proposing a different regime, he demands the road through [Armenias southernmost] Meghri [city], and the regime he demands is no different from the corridor. What solution do you propose in this new situation?" Khachatryan asked.

In response, PM Pashinyan said: "The actions and statements you are talking about, their purpose was only related to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia. We have not noticed something that during the entire existence of independence, we have not defined, have blurred Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is a fundamental problem.

"In these common security challenges, our strategic perception is as follows that all our positions must be based on legitimacy, must be exceptionally legitimate.

"As for the announcements coming from official Baku, I have publicly responded to them, and the Crossroads of Peace project [by the Armenian government] includes the answer to your question. In response to our questions, Azerbaijan makes two questions. The first is that if Armenia is not ready to open the roads, then Azerbaijan will make use of the passage through the territory of Iran. The second question is why there should be any inspection processes during the transition from the main part of Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan, which is 47 kilometers. We answer it like this: Armenia is ready to give that passage under the same conditions as Iran. If the passage through the territory of Armenia is 47 kilometers, it is 49 kilometers through the territory of Iran. If inspection functions can be accepted for 49 kilometers, naturally they cannot be unacceptable for 47 kilometers.

Artur Khachatryan responded: "Azerbaijan may start a war tomorrow, says there is no border. A new security situation has been created. What countermeasure exactly do you propose?"

And PM Pashinyan reiterated that the important factor for Armenia should be the international legal legitimacy related to its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"You touched on a very important point by saying that the status of Nagorno-Karabakh will be decided without restrictions in the negotiation process. I want to draw your attention to the fact that without restrictions also means zero status, including within Azerbaijan. In order to reach that zero status, as of August 2018, the entire content of the negotiation process was arranged in a preparatory situation as they say," the Armenian premier said.
16:00





The Congress' attack came a day after the report said as many as 24.82 crore people moved out of multidimensional poverty in nine years to 2022-23, with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh registering the largest decline.





According to the NITI discussion paper, multidimensional poverty in India declined from 29.17 per cent in 2013-14 to 11.28 per cent in 2022-23, showing a reduction of 17.89 percentage points, with about 24.82 crore people moving out of the bracket during this period.





Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, Congress spokesperson and social media department head Supriya Shrinate said the claim that 24.84 crore people have been moved out of multidimensional poverty was the "latest jumla in a list of jumlas" that will be seen up until election.





"The truth cannot be further away from this and the reality is how NITI Aayog has arrived at these numbers -- it has changed the established criteria of how poverty is calculated and neither the World Bank nor the IMF have cited any third party stories on it," she said.





"It was a report prepared by the NITI Aayog, a survey done by them and reported by them but the reality on the ground is extremely stark," she said, adding that the figures were nothing but "blatant lies of the BJP ecosystem".





The survey essentially establishes there is no unemployment on the ground when the reality is that there are high prices, unemployment, income inequality, lower wages and extreme poverty.





"Reality of these numbers is that there is a conspiracy being hatched against the poor of this country, because very soon close to 25 crore people who have now been declared 'not poor' will be taken out of the safety net that the government offers to the poor.





"They will no longer get subsidies, no longer get free ration, they will be taken out of the safety net that any welfare sate offers to the poor people that is the conspiracy we are worried about," Shrinate said.





She said the Modi government has released a "new balloon" and it is being peddled that in the last nine years, 24.82 crore Indians have been freed from poverty, but in reality this is a "huge conspiracy" against the poor.





This claim of the government is contrary to the ground reality with four major problems in it, she claimed.





If the number of poor has decreased, then why is consumption declining, she asked.





"If poverty has fallen to 11.7 per cent, that is, only 15 crore people are poor, then why is the government giving free ration to 80 crore people," she further asked.





Shrinate also questioned as to why no third party is supporting this claim of NITI Aayog, contending that the World Bank and the IMF would have supported these numbers. She also said that when NITI Aayog has established standards for measuring poverty then why were such standards chosen which are based on the government's flagship schemes.





Shrinate said the UPA government brought 27 crore people out of poverty and it was the World Bank that confirmed the third party report on this figure and considered it correct.





"But Modi government is blowing its own trumpet," she added. Hitting out at the NITI Aayog report, Shrinate said it is the "biggest proof" of the failures of the Modi government in the last 10 years as instead of finding solutions to poverty, hunger, economic inequalities, unemployment and inflation, the Centre is "resorting to lies".





According to NITI Aayog, the national multidimensional poverty measures simultaneous deprivations across three equally weighted dimensions of health, education, and standard of living that are represented by 12 sustainable development goals-aligned indicators. These include nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets, and bank accounts.





The National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) by Niti Aayog uses the Alkire Foster methodology to assess the decline in poverty rates. However, the National MPI covers 12 indicators while global MPI covers 10 indicators.





Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X had reacted to the report, saying: "Very encouraging, reflecting our commitment towards furthering inclusive growth and focussing on transformative changes to our economy. We will continue to work towards all-round development and to ensure a prosperous future for every Indian." PTI

The Congress on Thursday termed as "jumla" a Niti Aayog report that claimed 24.82 crore people have been moved out of multi-dimensional poverty in nine years to 2022-23, and alleged that the government was hatching a "conspiracy" to exclude these people from the safety net of welfare schemes and free ration.
Ecuadorian gang prosecutor shot dead

Ecuadorian gang prosecutor shot dead

A prosecutor investigating the dramatic live-broadcast armed assault last week on an Ecuadoran television station was shot dead on Wednesday, the country's attorney general said.



"In the face of the murder of our colleague Cesar Suarez... I am going to be emphatic: organized crime groups, criminals, terrorists will not stop our commitment to Ecuadoran society," said Attorney General Diana Salazar in a statement on X.



Local media broadcast images of Suarez's truck with bullet holes through the driver's window on a street in the port city of Guayaquil, the nerve centre of Ecuador's war against narco gangs.



The murder comes amid a surge in violence in the once-peaceful South American country, which has become a hub for the global export of cocaine from neighbouring Colombia and Peru.



The government last week declared war on powerful drug gangs, who in turn threatened to execute civilians and security forces and carried out a wave of attacks that have left about 20 people dead.



Last Tuesday, hooded gunmen burst into a TV studio, firing shots and forcing terrified staff to the ground in an incident broadcast live for about 30 minutes until police arrived on set.



Thirteen assailants were arrested, many of them teenagers.



A prosecution source told AFP Suarez had been in charge of determining which criminal group was behind that attack. (AFP)
The World Trade Organization (WTO) officially initiated "Fish Month" on January 15, aligning with efforts to address critical issues related to fisheries subsidies. According to WTO, during this month-long period, WTO members collectively endorsed the latest draft text, marking a critical milestone in the lead-up to the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from February 26-29. Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson of Iceland, chairing the fisheries subsidies negotiations, emphasized the significance of the agreed-upon draft text. Crafted by amalgamating inputs from members' proposals and deliberations, the draft aims to serve as a foundational document guiding discussions and negotiations in the coming weeks. The chair circulated the latest draft text on December 21, allowing members to offer their initial reactions during the opening of "Fish Month" on January 15. "I made my best effort to create a basis for our work that could enable us to prepare our ministers for success in the time that remains. With our meeting today, we are launching the Fish Month, during which our goal is to find convergence on the issues in front of us, with a view to providing ministers with a clean text to consider at MC13," the chair said. "I am happy to note that all members and group coordinators that took the floor indicated that they are willing to use this text as the basis for our discussions over the next few weeks, while I of course recognize members' various requests for further refinements of the text. Members' interventions today were useful in pointing to key issues on which we will need to focus in our work going forward," he said. Members are slated to engage in a series of meetings from January 15 to February 9, deliberating on the comprehensive text. The target set is to achieve a refined, "clean" text for submission to ministers by February 14. Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson expressed his commitment, stating, "I made my best effort to create a basis for our work that could enable us to prepare our ministers for success in the time that remains." The enthusiastic endorsement of the draft text by members during the initial meeting indicated a willingness to utilize this document as a focal point for future discussions. Recognizing the diverse perspectives and requests for refinements, members are poised to collaboratively address key issues throughout "Fish Month." Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard emphasized the global expectations tied to the fisheries subsidies negotiations, urging WTO members to make this month count. Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard added, "We must make this Fish Month count. The world is expecting us to deliver on this very important file. There are a few intense weeks ahead, but all of our hard work here will mean less intensity and unpredictability in Abu Dhabi if we are successful here." "In addition to delivering the second wave of negotiations, we hope that the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies will enter into force by MC13 as well. We know that many members are working hard to deposit their instruments before MC13," he said. The goal is to deliver meaningful outcomes that would not only mark the second wave of negotiations but also pave the way for the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to enter into force by MC13. Adopted by consensus at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies addresses crucial aspects such as the prohibition of support for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the ban on support for fishing overfished stocks, and the elimination of subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas. While 55 WTO members have formally accepted the Agreement, additional efforts are required for it to come into effect. As members gear up for the negotiations ahead of MC13, the fisheries subsidies discussions continue to be a focal point for the WTO. The commitment to addressing outstanding issues and enhancing the disciplines of the Agreement reflects the organization's dedication to fostering sustainable and responsible practices in global fisheries. The outcomes of "Fish Month" are anticipated to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of international fisheries policies. (ANI)
New Delhi [India], January 17: Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies (SCMS) Pune, a leading institution in higher education, organized the Students' Research Conclave 2023, showcasing a commitment to fostering innovation through knowledge exploration. The event, held online on 15th December 2023, brought together students, faculty, and researchers from around the world under the dynamic theme of "Interdisciplinary Innovation in Business and Management: Bridging Knowledge Gaps for a Sustainable Future."

The Students' Research Conclave 2023 was driven by the collective belief that the pursuit of knowledge lays the foundation for innovation. Recognizing the pivotal role of undergraduate research engagement in cultivating critical skills and deepening understanding, SCMS Pune aimed to prepare students for advanced career pursuits in an interconnected global landscape.

Under the adept guidance of Dr. Adya Sharma, the esteemed Director of SCMS Pune, and a dedicated organizing committee comprising both students and faculty, the conclave received an overwhelming response. A distinguished panel of judges meticulously reviewed numerous submissions, resulting in the selection of 50 outstanding research papers. These papers, representing a global perspective on research and academia, hailed from diverse corners of the world, including countries such as Qatar, Zimbabwe, and Brazil.

The event facilitated a platform for students to exhibit their research skills, providing them with a unique opportunity to engage with a broader audience and contributing to the development of a global academic community. The resounding success of the conclave left attendees with a fresh perspective on research, innovation, and the potential impact of interdisciplinary collaboration.

SCMS Pune expresses its gratitude to all participants, judges, and sponsors who contributed to the success of the Students' Research Conclave 2023. The institution remains committed to providing such platforms that inspire and empower the next generation of researchers and innovators.

To know more visit - https://www.scmspune.ac.in/

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], January 17: Parfait Street, a pioneering hospitality transformation company is redefining access-friendly living experiences for travelers. With a strong focus on accessible family homes, Parfait Street is set to revolutionize the corporate serviced apartment landscape, starting from its current operations in Gurugram and expanding nationwide. The brand's strength and uniqueness lie in its focus on creating homes that cater to the diverse needs of individuals, while ensuring a comfortable and inclusive environment. Ravi Tripathi, the Founder and CEO of Parfait Street, brings over a decade of IT experience with the world's largest players. His extensive travels across continents and stays in various places inspired him to launch a startup that blends hospitality and technology seamlessly. Described as a person with hospitality in his heart and technology in his mind, Ravi is an architect, nomad traveler, and keynote speaker who loves meeting people from all walks of life. The company is currently operating in Gurugram and has ambitious expansion plans. Parfait Street aims to establish 500+ access-friendly serviced apartments with fully equipped kitchens in every unit across various cities by 2027. This phased expansion reflects the company's dedication to providing accessible living options on a large scale. With a highly educated and distinguished team of professionals, complemented by well-trained and experienced hospitality professionals overseeing day-to-day operations, its collective expertise ensures the delivery of top-notch services and an unmatched living experience for its guests. On being asked about his inspiration behind starting the company, Ravi Tripathi shared, "After returning from Calgary while working with Sapient as an IT professional, I searched for access-friendly homes in Gurugram and Delhi but did not find a single home for myself. That's when I decided to launch our own company in this segment and started Parfait Street's first building in 2019." Parfait Street has also received notable recognition, including being an Airbnb super host for the last five years. The company was awarded the Startup India award by the Government of India and received the prestigious 80 IAC award from the Indian government. As Parfait Street continues its journey to transform the landscape of access-friendly hospitality, the company remains committed to creating homes that reflect the essence of "Vividhta mne Ekta" - diversity and uniqueness in human nature. With a clear vision and strong values, it is poised for continued success and expansion in the years to come. To know more about the brand, visit: https://parfaitstreet.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PORTLAND, Maine  A Maine judge on Wednesday put on hold a decision on former President Donald Trumps ballot status to allow time for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on a similar case in Colorado.

Trumps lawyers appealed in state court when Secretary of State Shenna Bellows removed the Republican front-runner from the presidential primary ballot but then asked the judge to pause proceedings to allow the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on the Colorado case, which could render the lawsuit moot.

Superior Court Judge Michaela Murphy concluded she lacked authority to stay the judicial proceedings but she wrote that she did have authority to send the case back to the secretary of state with instructions to await the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court case before withdrawing, modifying or upholding her original decision.

In her decision, the judge said that the issues raised in the Maine case mirror the issues raised in the Colorado case before the U.S. Supreme Court. She wrote that her decision minimizes any potentially destabilizing effect of inconsistent decisions and will promote greater predictability in the weeks ahead of the primary election.

Put simply, the United State Supreme Courts acceptance of the Colorado case changes everything, she wrote.

Bellows concluded last month that Trump didnt meet ballot qualifications under the insurrection clause in the U.S. Constitution, citing his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. She became the first election official to ban Trump from the ballot under the 14th Amendment. Trump contended Bellows was biased and overstepped her authority.

The nations highest court has never ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits those who engaged in insurrection from holding office. Some legal scholars say the post-Civil War clause applies to Trump for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and encouraging his backers to storm the U.S. Capitol after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Activists conducted a campaign urging election officials to bar Trump under the clause.

Bellows, a Democrat, was reviewing the judges decision Wednesday and had no immediate comment, her spokesperson said. Bellows already had delayed implementation of her decision pending the outcome of the court cases. She had said she would follow the rule of law and abide by any legal decision.

She made her ruling a week after Colorado became the first state to bar Trump from the ballot, although the decision in that state, too, has been paused pending the outcome of its appeal in the nations highest court. The U.S. Supreme Court scheduled arguments for Feb. 8.

Trump, who won the Iowa caucuses on Monday, remains on the Maine ballot for the March 5 primary for now, given a Saturday deadline for sending overseas ballots. If the U.S. Supreme Court allows Trump to be kept off the ballot, then Bellows would have to notify local election officials that votes cast for him would not be counted.

Maine has just four electoral votes, but its one of two states to split them. Trump earned one of Maines electors when he was elected in 2016 and again in 2020 when he lost reelection.
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], January 17: Motorola, India's best## 5G smartphone brand, recently added moto g34 5G, the segment's fastest* 5G performance, to its affordable g series franchise. The moto g34 5G goes on sale today, 12 PM onwards, on Flipkart, Motorola.in and leading retail stores across India, at an incredible offer price of just Rs. 9,999#. This smartphone disrupts the market with the segment's fastest* 5G performance powered by a Snapdragon 695 5G octa-core processor coupled with the segment's highest - 13 5G bands, VoNR support, and up to 4 carrier aggregation. Additionally, the moto g34 5G boasts a premium, Vegan Leather Finish as well as a 3D Acrylic glass (PMMA) finish, while being one of the thinnest and the lightest devices in the segment. The smartphone also comes with various segment-leading features like the latest Android 14, 50MP camera system with Image Auto Enhance feature, Stereo speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos, a 120Hz 6.5" display, plus a host of differentiated software features such as moto secure, family spaces, moto unplugged, moto connect and Ready for PC^ that make it the best* 5G smartphone in its segment. The moto g34 5G provides users with enhanced performance through two RAM variants and ample storage, with in-built 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4X RAM expandable up to 16GB with RAM boost. Its massive 128GB UFS 2.2 Storage is expandable up to 1TB with microSD card. The moto g34 5G also comes with advanced 5G technology such as support for 13 5G Bands, VoNR, and up to 4 carrier aggregation making it the segment's best* 5G performer. In terms of design, the smartphone stands out with its super-premium vegan leather finish in ocean green colour, as well as the 3D acrylic glass finish available in Ice blue and charcoal black colours. The smartphone measures just 7.98 mm in thickness and 179 gm in weight. Furthermore, the moto g34 5G also comes with a water repellant IP52 rating, ensuring it stays safe from spills and splashes. The moto g34 5G boasts an advanced 50 MP main camera equipped with Quad Pixel technology and also comes with the innovative Image Auto Enhance feature that provides consumers the option to capture pictures in natural or enhanced/boosted colours. The 16 MP front camera on the moto g34 5G is one of the highest-resolution cameras in its segment. The latest Android 14 software further adds to the high performance of the phone with personalized features, enhanced security, and health connectivity. The smartphone also comes with additional features like Moto Secure 3.0, Family Space for kids, Moto Connect, and Ready For PC (available in 8GB variant only). In addition, the moto g34 5G features a 6.5-inch display with a dynamic 120 Hz refresh rate that automatically adjusts the type of content displayed on the screen. With a low latency 240Hz touch rate, users can experience far more responsiveness than a standard display. This immersive viewing experience is further enhanced by two large Stereo speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos delivering multidimensional sound and studio-quality audio. The moto g34 5G's massive 5000 mAh battery charges swiftly with the TurboPower 20W charger, providing hours of power in minutes. Availability:moto g34 5G will be available in three beautiful colours: Ocean Green, Ice Blue, and Charcoal Black, featuring the limited-edition premium vegan leather design in ocean green colour and 3D Acrylic glass (PMMA) finish in Ice Blue and Charcoal black and will go on sale on Flipkart, Motorola.in and leading retail stores starting today i.e 17th January 2024, 12PM onwards. Launch Price:4GB RAM + 128GB Storage: Rs. 10,9998GB RAM + 128GB Storage: Rs. 11,999 Affordability Offers~:Additional Rs. 1,000 on exchange.Effective Price with offer:4GB + 128GB: Rs. 9,9998GB + 128GB: Rs. 10,999 To know more about the product visit: https://www.flipkart.com/moto-g34-5g/p/itm38a4f74f43133?pid=MOBGUFK49KDBZUMC Operator Offers:Total Benefits worth Rs. 4,500 from Reliance Jio (Applicable on pre-paid plan of: Rs. 399)- Cashback worth Rs. 2000- Partner coupons worth Rs. 2500 To know more about the offer: https://www.jio.com/en-in/jio-motorola-fogo-5g-offer-2023 Disclaimers:*Within the Motorola 5G smartphone portfolio in India# Including exchange offer~ Available in select channels^ Moto connect and Ready for is only available in the 8GB variant## As per Techarc Best 5G smartphone report 2023** With RAM Boost feature. Up to 8GB of Virtual RAM (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
In Washington, the Secretary delivered a keynote on 'Technology Diplomacy: Navigating the Geopolitical Landscape' at the PanIIT 2024 event. Emphasizing India's digital transformation, he underscored the importance of tech diplomacy for diversifying the supply chain, crucial for the growth of the ICT sector.

A joint work plan was inked with PanIIT USA, fostering expertise exchange for Indian research projects and guiding startups towards the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.

In a strategic move to bolster India's self-reliance in Quantum Communications, the Secretary visited the University of Chicago.

Engaging in deep-diving sessions and touring Quantum Communication labs, he explored potential collaborations in Quantum Networks and Quantum Teleportation. This initiative aims to elevate R&D, foster innovation, and fortify the startup ecosystem in Quantum Communications within India.

As part of his visit, the Secretary met Deputy NSA, USA, Ann Neuberger, resulting in the formalization and release of the 'US-India OpenRAN Acceleration Roadmap.'

This milestone agreement promotes collaboration for interoperability and scaled deployments of OpenRAN products. Both sides concurred on joint efforts in Next Generation Communication Technologies, marking a significant stride towards global technological advancement.

At the World Bank, the Secretary met Senior MD Axel van Trotsenburg, VP South Asia Martin Raiser, VP Infrastructure Guangzhe Chen, and Director Strategy and Operations Qimiao Fan. Discussions revolved around India's initiatives in Digital Public Infrastructure, Cell Broadcast Technology, and the promotion of the startup ecosystem.

The World Bank was invited to join the 'AI for Good' effort of ITU/UN, with a specific focus on the South Asian and African regions. (ANI)
Jio had topped India's strong brands in Brand Finance's 2023 rankings as well.

The telecom company was placed at 17th among the world's strongest brands with a Brand Strength Index of 88.9, behind the likes of WeChat, Google, YouTube, Deloitte, Coca Cola and Netflix and ahead of brands like EY, LIC, SBI and Instagram.

"Jio, a relatively newer entrant in the telecommunications sector, emerges as the strongest brand with a notable 14 per cent increase in brand value to USD 6.1 billion, alongside a high brand strength index score of 89.0 and associated AAA brand rating," mentioned the report.

"Jio's meteoric rise in the telecom industry is benefiting from substantial brand investment by the Reliance Industries conglomerate, delivering rapid customer base growth and revenue growth. The brand's high brand strength index and AAA rating are reflected in its rapid customer base growth, market innovation, and strong brand perception," it added.

The methodology of Brand Finance to calculate the Brand Strength Index follows a general structure incorporating the three pillars Brand Inputs, Brand Equity and Brand Performance.

The attributes included are different depending on the sector. These attributes are weighted according to their perceived importance in driving the following pillar: Brand Investment measures in driving Brand Equity; Brand Equity measures for Brand-Related Business Performance measures; and finally the relevance of Brand-Related Business Performance measures for driving business value. (ANI)
The entire world has developed a "very big" amount of trust in India in the way the country has conducted its foreign policy, its economic policy, and also the way it has conducted itself, said Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. "Trust is what is our biggest capital," said Union Information Technology Minister Vaishnaw, speaking at a session themed 'Manufacturing's Moonshots Are Landing . . . Are You Ready for the Next Wave?' at the ongoing World Economic Forum. "If you look at how India has conducted its foreign policy, its economic policy, the way it has conducted itself, the entire world has developed a very big amount of trust on India," the minister said when asked by the moderator how India was navigating the "battle" between China and the West. The World Economic Forum was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. "That trust is what is our biggest capital. That trust kind of gels the entire world into a very harmonious way and that is what is bringing us. For example, we have signed MoUs with us, with Europe, with Japan, on semiconductors, we are working with the South Korean government and South Korean companies" the Minister said. "It's like practically every possible company wants to collaborate with India in one way or the other," the minister added. "So we don't think that it's a battle," the minister said in categorical terms. "We think that there is enough for everybody. It's a question of how much importance we give and how much talent we put into it and how focused we are on it," the minister further said. Separately, Minister Vaishnaw had a "good discussion" with Revathi Advaithi, CEO of Flex. "Flex Ltd, is an American headquartered multinational diversified manufacturing company, which deals in electronics manufacturing services is committed to 'Make in India", the minister wrote on his X timeline after the meeting. (ANI)
Germany-headquartered energy company Green Energy 3000 GmbH's Managing Director, Lutz Andreas Renker, said on Wednesday that India has an unlimited market for renewable energy and the company was planning to set up a total of 1000MW solar projects in two 500MW tranches. "At the moment, it (India) is an unlimited market for renewable energy, as it is the cheapest energy, cheaper than coal-fired plants, cheaper than nuclear plants, so way is open for renewable energy from an economical point of view," Renker told ANI, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He spoke to ANI from the Maharashtra pavillion. The advantage specific in India is the ample space, he said. "We want to start with 500MW (two of them) and in total 1000 MW solar." "Project is not that easy to realise in Europe for example, but here (in India) we can do," he said. "We have a long history of developing such projects in Europe, also in Asia. ...About the very good contacts that we have in India, we have announced to start a project here," he said. India committed to an ambitious five-part "Panchamrit" pledge at COP26 held in 2021. They included reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, to reducing emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070. India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, is dependent on crude oil from various sources in the global market to meet its domestic demand. The setting up of new renewable energy projects will in the long run help save India's exchequer, besides making the country self-reliant in energy. (ANI)
India is looking to attract annual foreign direct investment (FDI) to the tune of USD 100 billion "in the next few years", Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Reuters on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum. "We see 6-8 per cent consistent growth rate over the next full decade, and this is based on a very clearly thought-out strategy. This strategy has four major engines," the minister told Reuters in an interview. The four engines he listed are investment in infrastructure, (both physical and digital), lifting up those at the bottom pyramid of the population, boosting manufacturing, and simplifying ease of doing business. Earlier, speaking at the World Economic forum Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that trust was India's biggest capital "If you look at how India has conducted its foreign policy, its economic policy, the way it has conducted itself - the entire world has developed a very big amount of trust on India. That trust is what is our biggest capital. That trust gels the entire world into a very harmonious way. For eg, we have signed an MoU with the US, Europe, Japan on semiconductors, we are working with South Korean govt & South Korean companies. It's like every possible company wants to collaborate with India in one way or the other. So, we don't think that it's a battle, we think that there is enough for everybody. It's a question of how much importance we give and how much talent we put into it and how much focussed we are on it..." the Minister said. India attracted FDI inflows of USD 33 billion in the first six months of the current financial year that started in April 2023. It recorded FDI of USD 71 billion in the 2022-23 financial year, according to the news report. The investors now see India as the "most important investment destination", the minister said in the interview. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) during its December monetary policy review meeting raised its growth forecast for the current financial year by 50 basis points to 7 per cent from an earlier estimate of 6.5 per cent. The National Statistics Office in its first advance estimates projected the country's economy to grow 7.3 per cent in the current financial year 2023-24, remaining the fastest-growing major economy. (ANI)
Actors Arun Govil, Sunil Lahiri, and Deepika Chikhalia, known for Ramand Sagar's 'Ramayan', visited Ayodhya to shoot their album 'Hamare Ram Aayenge'. While talking to mediapersons at an event in Ayodhya, Arun, who played the character of Lord Ram shared his thoughts regarding the Pran Pratistha Mahotsav of Lord Ram. Arun Govil said, "Ayodhya's Ram temple will prove to be our 'Rashtra Mandir.' The culture that had faded in the last few years across the world, this temple will again send a message that will strengthen our culture. It is a heritage that will be known to the whole world, this temple will be a source of inspiration, it is the centre of our faith, it will be our pride, it will become our identity. Our morals should be adopted by all." He added, "I had no idea that the consecration of Lord Ram would happen in this way, that it would be such a big event, this is the biggest event of my life. There is so much emotion and energy, the whole country is taking only Ram's name, wherever Lord Ram is present. Those who believe in Ram, there is an atmosphere of happiness there, it was not imagined, hence the feeling of it is very pleasant that we are going to witness such a moment." Sunil Lahiri, who played the role of Laxman, said, "I am very fortunate to be attending the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav, I am getting a chance to know what I did not know, the atmosphere created in the country is very religious and is very positive and it will give a very positive feeling to the world" Sunil Lahiri added, "Those who have been denying Ram, they do not know what Ram is unless someone reads Ramayana. God is Maryada Purushottam, Ramayana also teaches us that we should live with dignity, this teaching is not known to those who deny Ram." Deepika Chikhalia, who played the role of Goddess Sita, said, "Our image has settled in the hearts of the people, even after the construction of Ram temple, I do not think there will be any change in it, Ram Lala's life is being consecrated, people have given a lot of love. The characters of Ramayana will continue to receive similar love." Meanwhile, 'Hamare Ram Aayenge,' is sung by Sonu Nigam. The album was shot at Guptar Ghat, Hanumangarhi and Lata Chowk. Actors Arun Govil, Sunil Lahiri and Deepika Chikhalia will also attend the Pran Pratistha ceremony. (ANI)
On Wednesday, PM Modi took to X and wrote, "Today, on his birth anniversary, we remember and celebrate the life of the great MGR. He was a true icon of Tamil cinema and a visionary leader. His films, particularly those on social justice and empathy, won hearts beyond the silver screen. As a leader and Chief Minister, he worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadu's growth and development. His work continues to inspire us."

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1747443554207818063?s=20

MG Ramachandran made his acting debut in the 1936 film 'Sathi Leelavathi,' directed by Ellis R. Dungan.

He gained popularity with the 1954 picture 'Malaikkallan.'

He also won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the film 'Rickshawkaran' in 1972. He received Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Actor for the film 'Adimaippenn.'

The actor-turned politician MGR founded his party AIADMK after a feud with DMK chief M Karunanidhi in 1972.

He served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 to 1987.

MGR was born Marudur Gopala Menon Ramachandran on January 17, 1917, in Kandy, Sri Lanka, to Maradhur Gopala Menon and Satyabhama, who were Nairs from Kerala. (ANI)
Actor and politician Ravi Kishan talked about the consecration ceremony of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya and what he thinks about those who have declined the invitation. He told ANI, "Yes, I heard about it (declining the invitation to the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony ). The opposition cries because Lord Ram has sent them on 'vanvaas' for 30-40 years..." Talking about the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple, he added, "After the struggle of 500 years in which many saints and sages were killed, this day has finally come. We are fortunate to be part of it. It is going to be a grand celebration that the entire world will watch." Earlier, Ravi Kishan talked about his latest music video 'Ayodhya Ke Shri Ram'. He has done the rap for the devotional track. Speaking to ANI on the music video, he said, "This song is a small tribute to Lord Ram from us. My fans are fond of my voice and I am sure they will love this track. Moreover, it relates to youth because of the fusion music and it is very rare to find rap in such devotional tracks. So, people will shower their love on it. Or honourable Prime Minister has also urged everyone to share their artistic contribution using hashtags which has also helped us in making it popular. Some tracks become immortal and I feel this is one among them. It will be played everywhere." On the consecration of Ram Mandir, he added, "We have been waiting for it for 500 years. Countless saints and sages were killed and we faced a lot. But, finally all thanks to PM Modi and our party that finally this moment has come for which each one of us has been waiting for so long. It is going to be a grand celebration that the entire world will watch. I feel lucky to be part of it." The Pran Pratishtha ceremony will be held on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple on that day. Talking about the Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony in Ayodhya, it will be held on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple on that day. The rituals have started. Thousands of VIP guests have received invitations from the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the ceremony. A member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust shared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, set to attend the event, will be presented with a 15-meter picture of the Ram temple enclosed in a jute bag featuring an image of the sacred structure. More than 11,000 guests nationwide have received invitations from the Trust for the Pran Pratistha ceremony, with special arrangements underway to provide memorable gifts to all attendees. According to a Trust member, the revered Ram Raj soil excavated from the temple will be bestowed upon the guests, serving as a cherished memento. A team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit will perform the main rituals of the Pran Prathistha. (ANI)
The NEET-MDS is likely to be held on March 18 this year.

Recently, the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) also requested the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), New Delhi, to release the official date for the NEET-MDS examination.

Taking to 'X', Dr. Rohan Krishnan, Chairman, FAIMA, said "Requesting @NbeIndia,@MoHFW_INDIA to also release the tentative date of NEET, MDS.@mansukhmandviyaji@dentalcouncil8@FAIMA_INDIA_".

However, many aspirants to the Master of Dental Surgery (NEET-MDS), have been demanding postponement of the examination.

Recently, a delay in the conduct of the NEET-PG examination was announced.

"The conduct of the NEET-PG 2024 examination, which was earlier notified to be tentatively held on March 3, 2024, has been rescheduled. The NEET-PG 2024 shall now be conducted on July 7, 2024," read the official release.

The NEET-MDS 2024 is the eligibility cum ranking examination for admission to various MDS courses for 2024-2025 admissions. It is conducted by the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). (ANI)
The Delhi government is preparing to build three new District Court complexes in Rohini Sector-26, Shastri Park and Karkardooma worth Rs 1,098.5 crore, said an official release on Tuesday. According to an official press release from the Delhi Finance Minister's Office, "In the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) meeting held recently, Finance Minister Atishi approved these three projects, including new District Court complexes in Rohini Sector-26, Shastri Park and Karkardooma." After the completion of these three projects, Delhi's District Court will witness an increase of 200 courtrooms. Sharing about the projects, Finance Minister Atishi emphasised that swift and accessible justice is a fundamental right for every Indian, and this is achievable only when there is sufficient infrastructure in the courts. "At present, there is a considerable backlog of pending cases on judges and courts nationwide, leading to unnecessary delays in case resolutions. In this context, the commitment of the Kejriwal government to provide sufficient judicial infrastructure in the capital is crucial," Atishi said. "The government's dedication to building 200 new courtrooms in Delhi in this direction proves to be highly significant in strengthening the judicial system," she added. Finance Minister Atishi stated that these three projects are highly significant in the direction of enhancing Delhi's judicial infrastructure, and their completion will greatly aid in the swift resolution of legal matters. She mentioned that the Kejriwal government is actively working on a war footing to address the shortage of courtrooms in Delhi's district courts, and these three projects are crucial steps in this direction. Keeping the convenience of judges, lawyers, and citizens in mind, these three projects will incorporate better public facilities, she said. "In Rohini Sector-26, the Court complex will consist of three basements, a ground floor, and two 11-storey building blocks. It will house 100 courtrooms and 270 lawyer chambers. The total cost of this project is estimated to be Rs 714.19 crore," informed the Delhi Finance Minister. "Additionally, a new district court complex in Shastri Park will include 48 courtrooms and 175 lawyer stations. The total cost of this project is estimated to be Rs 184.91 crore," she stated. "The third project involves constructing an additional court block near the existing court in Karkardooma. This new court block will have 50 new courtrooms, and the total cost of this project is estimated to be Rs 199.39 crore," she said. While undertaking these three projects, better public facilities will also be developed, keeping in mind the convenience of judges, lawyers, and citizens. Finance Minister Atishi has instructed departments regarding all three projects to prepare a detailed timeline and work expeditiously towards completing these projects. (ANI)
In the festive spirit of Pongal, a surge of people flocked to Chennai's Thiruvanmiyur Beach on Tuesday to partake in the Pongal celebration. According to the police official, families, complete with children, joyfully engaged in beach activities while anticipating the final day of the Pongal festival, Kaanum Pongal, which is going to take place on Wednesday. To ensure the safety of the large gathering on the final day, extensive preparations were undertaken. "150 policemen were strategically deployed along the beach. A precautionary measure disallowed anyone from entering the sea. Tomorrow Kaanum Pongal is going to be celebrated and it is the last of the Pongal festival, due to it all three beaches of Chennai will be packed with a large number of people and tourists" the police official told ANI. "Long lines of wooden sticks were strategically placed along the beach shore, restricting access, and surveillance was heightened with the deployment of CCTV cameras and observation towers," he added. Expressing joy, Janani, a festival attendee, lauded the police efforts in ensuring safety. She remarked, "This Pongal has gone so well, and the police not allowing people onto the beach is commendable; they are prioritising people's safety." Kousalya, another festival attendee, enjoying family time after a hiatus caused by COVID and heavy rainfall, appreciated the police deployment for protection. "We feel really happy today, and the police have taken a good initiative by not allowing people to enter the beach water. It's a welcome step for the welfare of the people," she said. Meanwhile, the Jallikattu competition commenced at Periya Suriyur Village in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli district on Tuesday. Jallikattu is a bullfight that traces its history to around 2,000 years when the fight was conducted to select the most suitable bridegroom. Seven hundred bulls and 350 tamers are participating in the Suriyur Village Jallikattu competition. More than 600 police personnel are deployed for security at the event, said authorities. Jallikattu is an age-old event celebrated mostly in the state of Tamil Nadu as part of Pongal celebrations. In the sport, a bull is released into a crowd of people and participants in the event try to grab the large hump on the bull's back, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. Due to the risk of injury, both to the participants and the bull, the animal rights organisations called for a ban on the sport. However, after long protests by the people against the ban, the Supreme Court, in May 2023, upheld the Tamil Nadu government's law allowing the bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu' in the state. A five-judge Constitution bench of Justices KM Joseph, Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra governments' laws allowing the bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu' and bullock cart races. The Tamil Nadu government had defended the event of "Jallikattu" and told the apex court that sporting events can also be cultural events and there is no cruelty on the bulls in "Jallikattu." Jallikattu, also known as sallikkattu, is celebrated on the third day of Pongal, Mattu Pongal Day. The history of this bullfight dates back to 400-100 BCE, when it was played by the Ayars, an ethnic group in India. The name is coined from two words: jalli (silver and gold coins) and kattu (tied). The fourth day of Pongal is called Kaanum Pongal, which is going to take place tomorrow. On this day, importance is given to the community and strengthening ties. Families gather together to have a sumptuous meal. Younger members seek the blessings of the older members of their families. It is also a day for traditional Indian folk dances such as Mayilattam and Kolattam. (ANI)
The Minister of State for Public Works Department, Kunwar Brijesh Singh, attended the five-day Ram Katha event in Etawah, emphasising the historic significance of January 22 for the country. After meeting with BJP workers and holding a review meeting with officials, he listened to the Ram Katha that commenced in Etawah. Brijesh Singh, speaking to the media, said, "For the current and upcoming generations, January 22 will be more auspicious than ever for the 1.25 billion people of our country. After a struggle of nearly 500 years, Lord Rama is going to be consecrated in Ayodhya at his home again. This is a fortunate moment for all of us." As the five-day Ram Katha event commenced in Etawah, featuring revered Sant Vijay Kaushal Ji Maharaj, Singh emphasised the dual celebration ahead of the 'Pran Prathishta' ceremony in Ayodhya. "I am also here for this event, and it is indeed a matter of great fortune that today marks the consecration of the Ram Mandir, with its festivities starting today. Additionally, the auspicious beginning of the Ram Katha has also taken place in Etawah today," Uttar Pradesh Minister Brijesh Singh said. Responding to Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the Ayodhya event becoming a Modi celebration, the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh refrained from direct commentary, stating, "Follow the law as Lord Rama did, chant 'Ram Ram Sita Ram Sita Ram." Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya began on Tuesday, a week before the main ceremony. General secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Champat Rai said Ram temple will be open for 'darshan' for the general public from January 23. Preparations are underway in full swing for the event, which is expected to be attended by thousands of dignitaries and people from all sections of society. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple on January 22. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram, holds great spiritual, historical and cultural significance for the people of India. (ANI)
Days after top leaders in the Congress turned down the invitation to attend the Ram Mandir event in Ayodhya, its former Uttar Pradesh party chief Nirmal Khatri said that he has accepted the invite for the January 22 event saying that being a Ram Bhakt (devotee of Lord Ram) is not a sin. "...in connection with the program of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha on 22nd in Ayodhya, I will participate in this program in honour of the personal invitation of respected Champat Rai ji, General Secretary of Ram Janmabhoomi Trust," Khatri said in a post on 'X'. "Being a devotee of Ram is not a sin, I am proud of this devotion," he reasoned. The former Faizabad MP further said that there is no instruction from the Congress party prohibiting its leaders from visiting the temple and only the top leaders in the party have turned down the invitation. Khatri also reasoned that even the Uttar Pradesh Congress unit has asked its workers to visit the Ayodhya temple and take a dip in the Saryu river to mark the Pran Pratishtha event. "There is no instruction from the Congress Party that no Congressman should participate in this program on 22nd. Only our top leaders have expressed their inability to attend the event on 22nd. Hence I accept the invitation on 22nd and will participate in it. And now the state Congress unit has also inspired the state Congress unit to accept the invitation of 22nd by doing Ayodhya Yatra and take a dip in Saryu at all costs," Khatri said. The former Uttar Pradesh Congress said that the fight against the ideology of any party or organization can be done only by strengthening its organization on an ideological basis and not by any reaction. "We will not be able to compete with our opponent in the battle of events. Only by strengthening our organization on an ideological basis will we be able to fight our opponent, to which no attention is being paid," he complained. Khatri urged his party colleagues to work on strengthening the party on ideological grounds which will help in influencing the public mind. "I request the leaders of Uttar Pradesh that leaving aside the politics of events, we should defeat our opponents on the ideological ground by strengthening our organization and through it, we will influence the public mind. We can do this only by spreading our sentiments," he said. Speaking about his belief in Lord Ram, Khatri said, "Valmiki, the first author of Ramkatha, has written- "Ramo Vigrahavan Dharma" which means Ram is religion and religion is Ram. That means whatever Ram does becomes religion, and explains religion." The former Uttar Pradesh Congress chief said that he is against the "hypocrisy of religion" and is against the tactics of taking political benefits with the help of religion. Earlier on Tuesday, while speaking at the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Nagaland, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that RSS and the BJP have made the January 22 function at Ram Temple in Ayodhya "a completely political Narendra Modi function" and that it is difficult for Congress leaders "to go to a political function which is designed around the Prime Minister of India and around the RSS". (ANI)
As the Sikh community celebrated the 357th Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Gobind Singh this year on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings. "I pay tribute to Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on his Prakash Utsav and remember his courage and kindness. His life is a source of strength for many people." BJP National President JP Nadda paid tribute to Shri Guru Gobind Singh in a post on X. "I pay my tribute to Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of Sikhism and founder of Khalsa Panth, on his Prakash Utsav. Your struggle and dedication to protect the nation, culture and self-respect will always remain immortal. Your devotion, renunciation and sacrifice will remain an inspiration for all the countrymen for ages." Devotees offered prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Prakash Utsav. "I have come here from England. I extend my greetings to everybody. On the occasion of Prakash Parv, I pray for the progress and peace of Punjab. May our state become drug-free", said a devotee at Golden Temple. "I have come from Australia. May all the Sikhs around the world stay blessed. Our gurus have made sacrifices for the nation which will be never forgotten", said another devotee at Golden Temple. Prakash Parv is celebrated on the auspicious occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj Jayanti. The day is observed in honour and remembrance of the great warrior, poet, philosopher and spiritual master. On this day, Sikhs all over the world send greetings to one another and vow to follow the path and teachings of Guruji. Gurudwaras across India and the world were lit up with beautiful lights and decorations. In addition to this, a 'Langar' was organized in every gurudwara and Sikhs performed community service as well. In some places, the 'Nagar Prabhat Pheri' was also organized wherein Sikhs joined in with great fervour and enthusiasm. During Prakash Parv, Ardas was done and prayers were offered in the Gurdwaras. Special bhajan-kirtan was performed on this occasion. (ANI)
"The FCRA has been cancelled via order received on January 10" and the institution will weigh its options to seek justice," Yamini Aiyar, President, CPR said while speaking to ANI.

The MHA cited reports published by CPR on "current affairs programmes" as one of the reasons for the cancellation.

The MHA's action comes almost a year after CPR's FCRA registration was suspended for 180 days and then the suspension was extended for another 180 days. The MHA suspended the FCRA licence of CPR in February last year.

The CPR has been a leading policy think-tank since 1973, which conducts advanced and in-depth research on a wide range of policy-relevant issues, with a focus on India's 21st-century challenges.

Earlier in September 2022, the Income Tax department conducted a 'survey' operation against CPR, and two other organisations-- Oxfam India and a Bengaluru-based Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation (IPSMF) -- as part of a probe to look into their foreign funding.

Oxfam India's foreign funding is also blocked in India as MHA, in December 2021, refused to renew its FCRA licence. Parallelly, the Central Bureau of Investigation is also investigating Oxfam India.

The CPR then filed a challenge in the Delhi High Court against the suspension of its license too.

The MHA then contended that CPR's foreign funding should be ceased due to concerns about receiving foreign contributions for undesirable purposes that could impact the country's economic interests.

The MHA had further accused the CPR of transferring foreign contributions to other entities and depositing them in non-designated accounts, violating the FCRA. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said he has cancelled all his pre-planned events in the state's upper districts on January 18-19 to avoid a clash with the programmes of Congress during its Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in those areas. Addressing a press conference here in Guwahati on Tuesday, the Assam CM said that the state government had announced the dates for the distribution of the forms for the welfare schemes even before it was aware of Rahul Gandhi's arrival in the state for his yatra. "It is Rahul Gandhi's (yatra schedule) that is coinciding with our welfare dates (dates on which forms are to be distributed for a new scheme), not us who planned for this. These dates were declared even before we knew he was coming," Sarma said. He also took a jibe at the Congress party, saying that the people are "ashamed" of attending gatherings and meetings of the grand old party and added that except for a particular community, other people will not attend the programmes. Earlier, several Congress leaders had accused the Assam government of fixing the date for the form-distribution schedule of the newly announced scheme for rural women in such a manner that it clashes with the Yatra itinerary in those districts and adjoining areas. "Rather, as a gesture, I have cancelled my Majuli programme on January 18 so that it does not clash with Rahul Gandhi's event. Majuli is a small district and I don't want to put the district administration in difficulty," Sarma said, adding, "Again, on January 18 and 19, I had a pre-determined programme of Ration Card distribution in Jorhat and Dergaon, which was also cancelled. So, beyond that, I can't accommodate. I cancelled all my programmes in Upper Assam on January 18 and 19, which were declared one month ago. I thought it would put the Majuli administration in difficulty, so I have cancelled my visit." The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will travel across 833 km in 17 districts of Assam, beginning from Sivasagar on January 18. The Assam CM also hit out at the Congress and alleged that the party's ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', which started from Manipur on Sunday, espoused anti-Hindu sentiments. "Congress's yatra is an ideological one. They are anti-Hindu, and we are pro-Hindu. That's the ideological conflict. I agree that it's an ideological yatra of espousing anti-Hinduism sentiments. We are pro-Hindu and pro-all other communities. Today, the Gandhi family (and the Congress) is communal, as they have declared themselves an anti-Hindu political party," Sarma said. (ANI)
ED filed a prosecution complaint earlier in February 2021, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in the Panchkula Industrial plot allotment scam linking the former Haryana CM and 21 others.

According to ED, the case involves the allocation of 14 industrial plots worth Rs 30.34 crore allegedly to the acquaintances of the then Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda in the year 2013.

According to the ED, the price fixed for the subject allotment was kept 4-5 times below the circle rate and 7-8 times market rate, it said.

As per the ED statement dated back in 2021, apart from Bhupinder Singh Hooda, 4 retired IAS officers namely, Dharam Pal Singh Nagal (the then Chief Administrator, HUDA), Surjit Singh (the then Administrator, HUDA), Subhash Chandra Kansal (the then Chief Controller of Finance, HUDA) Narinder Kumar Solanki (the then Zonal Administrator, Faridabad Zone, HUDA) and other HUDA official Bharat Bhushan Taneja (the then Superintendent, HUDA) have been involved in the commission of the offence of Money Laundering.

According to the ED, the price fixed for the subject allotment was kept 4-5 times below the circle rate and 7-8 times market rate, it said.

All 14 industrial plots stand attached as per the provisions of PMLA, 2002 by Enforcement Directorate in August 2019 and the attachment was confirmed by the PMLA Adjudicating Authority in February 2020. (ANI)
A seven-year-old girl was critically injured after being allegedly attacked by a neighbour's dog in the national capital's Rohini area, police said. The incident took place on January 9 at nearly 5 pm when the American Bully dog, belonging to one of the neighbours, attacked the girl who was playing outside her house. The girl's father said she received multiple injuries to her right shoulder and some other areas. The Delhi Police have registered a case on the basis of the father's complaint on January 12 under sections 289 (negligent conduct in relation to animals) and 337 (rash or negligent act causing injury to any person endangering human life or the personal safety of others). Reports of attacks by the American Bully dog breed has led to fatalities not only in India but in other countries too. In September last year, United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to ban the American XL bully dog breed. His remark came after a dog attack suspected to be by the same breed led to a fatality. In a video message, the UK PM said that the American XL bully dog was a danger to the communities, especially to children. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sunak said, "It's clear the American XL Bully dog is a danger to our communities. I've ordered urgent work to define and ban this breed so we can end these violent attacks and keep people safe". Meanwhile, in a significant ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court in November last year directed that the state government shall be primarily responsible for paying compensation to victims of dog bites, adding that the minimum financial assistance would be Rs 10,000 per tooth mark. "When the flesh is removed from the skin, the compensation will be at least Rs 20,000 per 0.2 cm wound," the court ruled. The ruling came during a hearing on a batch of petitions pertaining to dog bite incidents. A woman was injured after she being allegedly attacted by a pitbull in Delhi's Swaroop Nagar area last November. The incident happened on Friday when an argument broke out between the victim and her neighbours after she objected to their dog defecating in front of her residence. In May last year a 9-year-old girl child playing outside the house was attacked by a pit bull dog in UP's Meerut. As per the eyewitnesses, the child was riding a bicycle outside her house when she was attacked. She was rescued from dog's grip only after the dog owner thrashed him with a cane. Earlier too, a nine-year-old boy was also left severely injured after a stray pit bull attacked him in Narheda village in Meerut. Meanwhile, in a significant ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court in November last year directed that the state government shall be primarily responsible for paying compensation to victims of dog bites, adding that the minimum financial assistance would be Rs 10,000 per tooth mark. "When the flesh is removed from the skin, the compensation will be at least Rs 20,000 per 0.2 cm wound," the court ruled. The ruling came during a hearing on a batch of petitions pertaining to dog bite incidents. Under Section 399 of the Delhi Municipal Act 1957, it is mandatory to register all pet dogs with the municipal corporation. The section also gives power to the MCD to detain a dog found in a public place if a pet dog is not registered with the civic body. There is also a provision for fining the pet owner and even prosecution. In order to facilitate pet owners, the MCD is providing a Convenient and Hassle-free online facility for dog registration. Through the online system, an applicant can register for a dog license by providing the relevant details in the application form available on the MCD portal mcdonline.nic.in. The documents that needed to be submitted are an anti-rabies vaccination certificate, a photograph of the animal, residence proof and identity proof of the owner. (ANI)
PM Modi offered prayers for the happiness and prosperity for citizens of the country at Sreekrishna Temple, Guruvayur, on Wednesday during his two-day visit to Kerala.

"Prayed at the sacred Guruvayur Temple. The divine energy of this Temple is immense. I prayed that every Indian be happy and prosperous," PM Modi said in a post on X.

PM Modi also shared photographs of him offering prayers in the temple.

As is the norm for PM Modi to wear a local outfit while visiting diverse states, the Prime Minister chose to wear the traditional Kerala attire, a 'mundu' (dhoti) and 'veshti' (a shawl covering the upper body) while offering prayers at the temple.

Guruvayur temple is dedicated to Lord Guruvayurappan (Lord Krishna) and is a significant place of worship for Hindus in Kerala.

He was welcomed by the Devaswom office bearers by giving a 'Poorna kumbham' (a pitcher with sacred water adorned with flowers). It is a traditional way of welcoming guests in temples and similar places.

He also attended the wedding ceremony of the daughter of actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi.

He also interacted with leading actors of Malayalam cinema, including Mohanlal, Mamootty, Jayaram and Dileep who were present on the occasion. The Prime Minister also met and blessed the other brides and grooms whose marriages were also solemnised at the temple this morning.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated projects worth over Rs 4000 crore in Kerala's Kochi on Wednesday.

The three major infrastructure projects inaugurated by the Prime Minister included the New Dry Dock (NDD) at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL); the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of CSL; and the LPG Import Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited at Puthuvypeen, Kochi. (ANI)
RAFAH, Gaza Strip  A shipment of medicine for dozens of hostages held by Hamas arrived in Gaza on Wednesday, part of a France- and Qatar- mediated deal that marked the first agreement between Israel and the militant group since a weeklong cease-fire in November.

The deal could bring respite to some of the roughly 100 hostages who remain in captivity, as well as to Palestinians in Gaza in desperate need of additional aid. But fighting still rages in many parts of the beleaguered enclave, and an end to the war  or the release of the hostages  seems nowhere in sight.

Qatars Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, announced late Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter, that the shipment had crossed into Gaza, without saying when or how the medicine would be distributed.

Over the past few hours, medicine & aid entered the Gaza Strip, in implementation of the agreement announced yesterday for the benefit of civilians in the Strip, including hostages, he wrote.

A senior Hamas official said that for every box provided for the hostages, 1,000 boxes of medicine would be sent in for Palestinians. The deal also includes the delivery of humanitarian aid to residents of the besieged coastal enclave.

The agreement came 100 days into the conflict and as Palestinian militants are still putting up resistance across Gaza in the face of one of the deadliest military campaigns in recent history. More than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed. Some 85% of the narrow coastal territorys 2.3 million people have fled their homes, and the United Nations says a quarter of the population is starving.

Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas to ensure it can never repeat an attack like the one on Oct. 7 that triggered the war. Militants burst through Israels border defenses and stormed through several communities that day, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing around 250.

Israel also has promised to win the return of more than 100 hostages still held inside Gaza.

Hamas has said it will not release any more hostages until there is a permanent cease-fire, something Israel and the United States, its top ally, have ruled out.

AID BOUND FOR HOSTAGES AND PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS

The last deal in late November between Israel and Hamas brought a temporary truce in exchange for the release of more than 100 hostages, mostly women and children, as well as freedom for dozens of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

A Qatari official said the medicine would be delivered to the hostages by the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory. It was not immediately clear when the drugs would be delivered, or how the handover would be verified. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was discussing behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts.

France said it took months to organize the shipment of the medicines. Qatar, which has long served as a mediator with Hamas, helped broker the deal that will provide three months worth of medication for chronic illnesses for 45 of the hostages, as well as other medicine and vitamins. Several older men are among the remaining hostages held in Gaza.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official, said in a post on X that the International Committee of the Red Cross will deliver all the medicines, including the ones destined for the hostages, to hospitals serving all parts of Gaza. The ICRC declined to comment.

Senior U.N. officials have warned that Gaza faces widespread famine and disease if more aid is not allowed in.

Israel completely sealed off Gaza after Hamas Oct. 7 attack and only relented under U.S. pressure. It says there are now no limits on the entry of humanitarian aid and that U.N. agencies could reduce the delays by providing more workers and trucks.

But U.N. officials say aid delivery is hobbled by the opening of too few border crossings, a slow vetting process and continuing fighting throughout the territory  all of which is largely under Israels control.

HEAVY FIGHTING IN GAZA

Israel said at the start of the year that it had largely defeated Hamas in northern Gaza and would scale back operations there, focusing on dense urban areas in the center and south of the territory. Additional Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza on Monday, but there has been little apparent letup in strikes, with scores of Palestinians killed every day.

A strike on a home killed a woman and two children in the southernmost town of Rafah. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies arrive at a nearby hospital. Tens of thousands of people who heeded Israeli evacuation orders have sought shelter in the town, which is home to the border crossing with Egypt.

Gazas Health Ministry said Wednesday that 163 bodies were brought to the territorys remaining functioning hospitals in the past 24 hours, as well as 350 wounded people. The update brought the wars overall death toll in Gaza to 24,448, with over 60,000 wounded. The ministry said many other dead and wounded are trapped under rubble or unreachable because of the fighting.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths but says around two-thirds of those killed were women and children.

Israel blames the high civilian death toll on Hamas because it fights in dense residential areas. Israel says its forces have killed roughly 9,000 militants, without providing evidence, and that 192 of its own soldiers have been killed since the Gaza ground offensive began.

Militants are still fighting in all parts of the territory, and Israel appears no closer to freeing the remaining hostages. The deaths of two more hostages were confirmed Tuesday after Hamas said they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

TENSIONS ACROSS THE REGION

Tensions are also soaring in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have conducted near-daily arrest raids that often trigger shootouts with Palestinian militants.

Israeli forces killed at least 10 Palestinians Wednesday in the territory, including five in the urban Balata refugee camp in the north, the military said. Among that group was a senior militant whom the military said was responsible for militant infrastructure and was allegedly involved in recent attacks against Israelis.

Five Palestinians were also killed in an Israeli strike in Tulkarem, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The military said it targeted a group of militants who had opened fire and were throwing explosives at Israeli soldiers.

Over 360 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 7.

The Middle East has seen a dizzying array of strikes and counterstrikes in recent days from northern Iraq to the Red Sea and from southern Lebanon to Pakistan.

In the past few days, a U.S.-led coalition has carried out strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Iran has struck what it described as an Israeli spy headquarters in northern Iraq and anti-Iran militants in Pakistan and Syria. Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah have escalated the intensity of their fighting across the border, raising fears of another war.

Jeffery reported from Cairo and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre contributed to this report from Jerusalem.
BJP MP from Mathura Hema Malini has appealed to opposition parties not to politicise the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishta ceremony. Hema Malini who is scheduled to oefrom as Goddess Sita in an encament of Ramayan at Ayodhya, said that all Indians should be proud of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "All Indians should be proud of it (Ram Temple in Ayodhya). It is important to connect with it. The opposition should not politicise this," Hema Malini told ANI here. The BJP MP said that it is a loss for those opposition leaders who have decided to skip the Pran Pratishtha ceremony despite having been invited. "It is their loss if they are not coming. It is good for those who are coming and a loss for those who aren't," Hema Malini said. Several INDIA bloc leaders have decided not to attend the January 22nd event at the temple, alleging that it has been hijacked by the BJP and RSS. However, Hema Malini rejected their allegation. "They have to say something while being in opposition. They opposed the Ram Temple also," she said. On her performance in Ayodhya, she said, "I have come to Ayodhya for the first time. I am going to perform in the Ramayana as Sita. This programme has been organised by Swami Rambhadracharya. He has organised a 10-day programme." "I am fortunate to be here during this time. The whole of Bollywood is 'Ramamay'... The artists are singing Ram songs. I also sang a Ram Bhajan last year. Everybody is preparing everything for Lord Ram," she added. When asked if there should be a grand Krishna temple at Krishna Janmasthal in Mathura, Hema Malini said, "It should definitely be there. Mathura and Vrindavan are cities with temples. There are a lot of temples but years ago, Krishna Janmasthal was destroyed and a masjid was built there. So there is an objection among the people." "It would be nice if this is solved because it belongs to Lord Krishna. The 'Janmashtal' is Lord Krishna's place... There is a beautiful temple. But it would be much better if something else was done," she added. The Pran Pratishta ceremony will be held in Ayodhya on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with several other leaders, will attend the event. Several celebrities and noted personalities have also been invited to the ceremony. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday extended heartfelt congratulations to the residents of the state on the auspicious occasion of Guru Gobind Singh's birth anniversary celebrated as 'Prakash Parv'. He said that the establishment of the 'Khalsa Panth' became the cause of the downfall of the Mughal Empire. CM Yogi said that Guru Gobind Singh was an enlightened person, whose arrival on this earthly abode had a definite purpose. "The entire country, uniting with the celebrations of Guru Maharaj's Prakash Utsav, is paying homage to his memories and gaining new inspiration," he remarked. Addressing the Prakash Parv event organized at DAV Degree College, the Chief Minister said that Guru Teg Bahadur initiated a series of sacrifices for the establishment of truth and justice during his era, a tradition that was further continued by Guru Gobind Singh. His four sons, Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh, Jorawar Singh, and Fateh Singh, made the supreme sacrifice for religion and the country. "The examples set by Guru Gobind Singh Ji at that time continue to inspire all of us," he stated further. Paying homage to Guru Gobind Singh, the Chief Minister said that it is very rare in history that several generations sacrifice themselves for the protection of the country and religion. "It is our good fortune that the sacrifice of the Sahibzadas and the demand for Veer Bal Divas in their memory were initiated by the Lucknow Gurudwara Management Committee in 2018-19. The first-ever Kirtan event in the Chief Minister's residence took place, leading to the initiation of the national-level Veer Bal Divas celebration in 2022," he informed. "Presently, Guru Govind Singh Ji's Sahibzadas has become an inspiration for youth in India. Even at the tender ages of seven and nine, the Sahibzadas remained unwavering in their commitment to the country and religion. Imagine the strong foundation of the Sikh community," he added. The Chief Minister stated that wherever Sikhs are, they are known for their hard work, dedication, and service. "Uttar Pradesh is home to several historically significant Gurudwaras due to the arrival of Sikh Gurus at various locations in the state. It is our responsibility to preserve and uphold them, as they will guide future generations. Guru Govind Singh may empower us to contribute to the country and society while following his path", the Chief Minister stated further. During the program, the Chief Minister was welcomed and felicitated by the Lucknow Gurudwara Management Committee. On this occasion, he also honoured six children of Khalsa Inter College who received gold and silver medals in the National Games.Rajendra Singh Bagga, Satpal Singh, Sardar Parvinder Singh Titu, BJP Lucknow Metropolitan President Anand Dwivedi, and Minority Commission member Sardar Parvinder Singh were present in the program. (ANI)
The Patiala House Court on Wednesday remanded Javed Ahmed Mattu to 14 days of judicial custody. Another accused, Mohd. Rafi Nazar, has been released by the court in this case. He will remain in custody in the NIA case. As per Delhi police, Mattu is allegedly involved in 11 known terror cases, including an attack on residence of SP and CRPF personnel. He was evading arrest for the last 13 years. Duty Magistrate Isha Singh remanded Javed Ahmed Mattu to 14 days in judicial custody till January 31, 2024. The court also directed to release Mohd Rafi Nazar if not required in any other case. Advocate Rahul Sahni appeared for Javed Ahmed Mattu through video conferencing and Advocate Ahmed Ibrahim appeared for Mohd. Rafi Nazar. Delhi police sought 14 days judicial custody of accused Javed Ahmed Mattu and release of Mohd. Rafi Nazar after police custody remand in this case. The court allowed Delhi police application seeking release of accused Mohd. Rafi Nazar, if not required in any other case. Delhi police submitted that no incriminating evidence has been surfaced during interrogation. Therefore, he is not required to be detained in this case. He was arrested on the disclosure statement of Javed Ahmed Mattu. It was stated that Rafi Nazar used to look after finances of Hizbul Mujahideen. He was lodged in Tihar Jail in a NIA case. He was interrogated and arrested in the present case. He was arrested and four days police custody was obtained on January 13, 2024. Delhi police special cell produced Javed Ahmed Mattu and Mohd. Rafi Nazar before duty magistrate at Patiala House Court after custody remand. On January 12, 2024, court extended the police custody of Hizbul Mujahideen operative Javed Ahmed Mattu for further 5 days. Delhi police sought his five days custody on the ground that the associates of accused Javed Ahmed Mattu are also required to be verified from Jammu and Kashmir who are indulged in channelizing the funds through hawala from Pakistan. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Nabeela Wali had extended custody of Javed Ahmed Mattu alias Irshad Ahmed Malla alias Ehsan for five days. He was produced before the court after expiry of 7 days police custody. Police sought further custody of five days. He was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi police on January 4. Delhi police said that the course of investigation accused Javed Ahmed Mattu disclosed that one of the associates in Hizbul Mujahideen Mohd Rafi Najar resident Mumkak Mohalla, Batpora, Sopore, Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir looks after the financial affairs of Hizbul Mujaheedin. It was submitted that he is indulged in providing the money through hawala for terrorism purpose from Pakistan on the pretext of Pashima Shawls and Carpet buisness. The money received through hawala was used in financing the activities of Hizbul Mujahideen in Jammu and Kashmir. The accomplices of Javed Ahmed Mattu are required to be verified and traced in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir who were to assist him in carrying out terror strikes, Delhi police submitted. Delhi police said that to trace the source of Arms and Ammunition provided and to carry out further sustained interrogation of accused Javed Ahmed Mattu further custody is required. Mattu has allegedly been involved in multiple cases of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. As per Delhi police Mattu is an operative of the banned terror organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. He is involved in 11 known terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. On January 4, 2024 an information was received that Javed Ahmed Mattu, a resident of Sopor would be coming to Delhi to collect arms and ammunition from his associates at the behest of PAK ISI, Delhi police said. Delhi police was also informed that his Pakistan-based handler Abdul Majid Jergar alias Shaheen would be coordinating the delivery of arms and ammunition, and Javed Ahmed Mattu would carry out some audacious terror strikes in J & K and another place on the instructions of his Pakistan-based handler. Delhi police arrested Mattu and recovered one 9 mm Star pistol with six live cartridges, one extra magazine, and one stolen Santro car from him. A case has been registered in this regard at PS Special Cell. Delhi police also stated that Javed Ahmed Mattu is a college dropout. He is a member of the gang of seven dreaded terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen operating in the area of North Kashmir, particularly Sopore, J&K. After getting injured in an exchange of fire with security forces, he went underground and fled to Nepal on the instructions of Pak ISI, as J&K police was hotly on chase of him, Delhi police said on Thursday. It is alleged that he was involved in the killing of HC Mohd. Yousf of CID, Sopore, near Police Station Sopore in 2010. He was also allegedly Involved in an attack on the residence of SP, Sopore, in 2010, resulting in the residence being partially damaged. It is also alleged that he committed the killing of two CRPF personnel in Pattan and the snatching of their service rifles in 2010. As per Delhi police, he was also involved in case FIR of PS Sopore, relating to fire upon the patrolling party of police at Bough, Sopore in 2011. He along with his associates, was also involved in the killing of one police constable, Mohd Shahfi Lone in 2011, Delhi police stated. He, along with his other associates, was also involved in an IED blast at Police Station Sopore, in which one police personnel Morifat Hussain of PS Sopore was killed in 2011, Delhi police said. It is also alleged that he was involved in Grenade attack on PS Sopore, which involved Ishfaq Kana and Saleem Beig in 2011. Police said that he was also involved in a grenade-throwing incident at the CRPF stationed in the SBI Complex in Hathishah, in which many civilians got injured. He was also involved in a grenade-throwing incident at the BSNL office in Sopore, J-K.He was also involved in a grenade-throwing incident at Chankhan Chowk, Sopore, J-K, Delhi police said. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the administrations of Raipur and Yavatmal in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra respectively to ensure no hate speech was delivered during an event organised by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and a series of rallies to be held by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader T Raja Singh. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta directed the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of Yavatmal and Raipur to ensure that no incitement to violence or hate speech takes place in the rallies. It said that, as per the top court's earlier direction, CCTV cameras were to be installed at the locations of the rallies to ensure that perpetrators could be identified. The apex court, though, remarked that some of the speeches delivered previously by Singh were "certainly objectionable," it said that no pre-emptive action can be taken for his future speeches. Hindu Janjagruti Samiti is organising an event on January 18 in Yavatmal, Maharashtra and BJP MLA from Telangana T Raja Singh will hold a series of rallies in Chhattisgarh from January 19 to 25, the application said. We require authorities to be cautious of the fact that no incitement to violence or hate speech can be permitted, the bench said. "No incitement to violence or hate speech can be permitted. We accordingly direct the nodal officer to take appropriate action. The DMs and SPs of Raipur and Yavatmal are to take notice of the allegations and take appropriate steps as advised and required," the bench stated in its order. The order of the apex court came after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioner Shaheen Abdulla, sought revocation of permission to hold rallies, which the bench refused, saying there are already guidelines issued on the issue by the apex court to check such incidents. The top court has been hearing a batch of pleas seeking steps to be taken against hate speech incidents. In 2018, the Supreme Court issued a slew of guidelines for the central and state governments to control and prevent the increasing number of hate crimes, including mob violence and lynching. The guidelines included fast-tracked trials, victim compensation, deterrent punishment and disciplinary action against lax law-enforcing officials. The top court had said offences such as hate crimes, cow vigilantism and lynching incidents should be nipped in the bud. It had said nodal officers were to be appointed to take note of hate crimes and register FIRs across the nation. (ANI)
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday said that tensions in the Red Sea region will not lead to any shortage of fertilisers in India as it has an adequate stock to meet the demand in the summer crop season. "There will be no shortages of fertilisers. The Foreign Ministry is intervening, and the Indian Navy is providing protection to our ships," Mandaviya said. He also said that the Indian fertiliser cargo was arriving via the Cape of Good Hope and that has raised freight costs significantly. "The current stock levels, along with local production, would be sufficient to meet the demands at the local levels," he added. Amid maritime security challenges including those in the Red Sea, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday spoke about the "perceptible increase in threats" to the safety of maritime commercial traffic in an important part of Indian Ocean and said there have been some attacks in the "vicinity of India." He said threats to maritime commercial traffic also have a bearing on India's energy and economic interests. Jaishankar made the remarks while addressing a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart H Amir Abdollahian in Tehran on Monday. "We also exchanged perspectives and assessments on certain regional and global issues and developments. As you are all aware, there have also been recently a perceptible increase in threats to the safety of maritime commercial traffic in this important part of the Indian Ocean," he said. Recently, there have been attacks on cargo ships in the Indian Ocean region. The vessels that came under attack included the India-bound MV Chem Pluto, which was carrying 21 Indians onboard. The vessel was later escorted by Indian Coast Guard Ship Vikram to the Mumbai coast. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved an order on the bail plea of former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case. A bench of Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Justice Pankaj Mithal reserved the order after Jain's counsel and ED counsel concluded the arguments. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for ED, took court through concurrent findings of trial court and high court and through other details related to the case. Countering the ED submission, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Jain, said that his client has been incarcerated for a year. He also remarked that the probe agency is trying to convert an income tax case into a money laundering matter. The senior advocate urged the top court to grant bail to Jain, saying that he is not a flight risk or threat to witnesses. The senior advocate also said that this is a matter of life and liberty for Jain. The Enforcement Directorate has opposed the bail plea of former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain and has submitted before the top court that whenever he wants to be out of jail, he moves bail on medical grounds and stays in the hospital. Whenever there is an argument on the bail in the court, he falls down, which is a strange coincidence. However, Jain counsel called the submission baseless. Meanwhile, the hearing on Jain's bail witnessed many twists and turns in December 2023, as Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud explained why the matter was listed before a different combination of benches as there was a matter relating to the extension of bail. CJI also mentioned the communication received from Justice AS Bopanna to take up part-heard matter from him because he will not be able to hear the matter due to medical reasons. Earlier, Jain's bail plea was partly heard by a bench of Justices AS Bopanna and Bela M. Trivedi. Later, the matter was listed before a bench of Justice Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma. Jain underwent surgery on July 21 last year. The interim bail given to Jain on medical grounds is extended from time to time and he will remain on interim bail until further orders. On May 26, the top court granted interim bail to Satyendar Jain for six weeks in the money laundering case but imposed various conditions, including refusing to talk with the media or leaving Delhi without permission. Satyendar Jain has moved the top court seeking bail in money laundering cases. He has challenged the Delhi High Court order dismissing his bail plea in the money laundering case against him. On April 6, the Delhi High Court dismissed the bail plea of Satyendra Jain. The HC, while dismissing Jain's bail plea, stated that the applicant is an influential person and has the potential to tamper with evidence. Satyender Jain/applicant, at this stage, can't be held to clear the twin conditions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The HC had kept the order reserved for March 21 after the conclusion of the submissions made by the defence and prosecution sides after multiple hearings. During arguments in the High Court, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju appeared for the Enforcement Directorate, content that money laundering is crystal clear against Jain and other co-accused. In his bail plea, Jain stated, "I appeared before the ED on seven occasions. I have cooperated and participated in the investigation. I was arrested five years down the line in 2022." On November 17, 2022, the trial court dismissed the bail petition of Satyendar Jain. He was arrested on May 30, 2022, under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate and is presently in judicial custody in the case. The ED case is based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complaint registered on the allegation that Satyendar Jain had acquired movable properties in the name of various persons from February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, which he could not satisfactorily account for. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it will hear on January 22 plea of Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena challenging the order of Maharashtra Speaker on the dismissal of disqualification pleas against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde faction MLAs. The matter was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Sunil Prabhu, an MLA of Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena. Sibal said the matter was listed for hearing on January 19 and asked if it could be heard on Monday, to which the bench agreed. Thackeray faction also challenged the order of Maharashtra Speaker to recognise the Eknath Shinde faction as the 'real Shiv Sena' after its split in June 2022. The Speaker's decision came on January 10, nearly two years after Thackeray's camp moved disqualification petitions against Shinde and his supporting legislators under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) of the Constitution. Approaching the apex court against the Maharashtra speaker Rahul Narwekar's decision to dismiss the disqualification petitions against Shinde and 38 "rebel" Shiv Sena legislators, the Thackeray faction said the decision was a "colourable" exercise of power based on "extraneous and irrelevant" considerations. Earlier, the top court had asked the Speaker to decide expeditiously the disqualification petitions pending before him. The disqualification petitions against the rebel MLAs were filed by Sunil Prabhu, the Shiv Sena party Whip appointed by Uddhav Thackeray, on 23 June 2022, after the MLAs revolted against Thackeray. In May last year, 11 five-judge Constitution bench had held that it could not disqualify the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government and reinstate Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minster because the latter had chosen to resign instead of facing a test of strength in the Assembly. In August 2022, the top court's three-judge bench referred to a five-judge Constitution bench the issues involved in the petition filed by rival groups of Shiv Sena about the Maharashtra political crisis. On June 29, 2022, the top court gave a go-ahead to the floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly on June 30. It had refused to stay the Maharashtra Governor's direction to the then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority support on the floor of the House on June 30. After the apex court's order, Uddhav Thackeray announced his resignation as the Chief Minister and Eknath Shinde was later sworn in as the Chief Minister. (ANI)
Scholars from India and abroad attending the 50th Karbi Youth Festival (KYF) in central Assam's Karbi Anglong district have found water conservation clues in the folklore and rituals of the Karbi ethnic community. They have also underlined the historical misrepresentation of the Karbis and called for the decolonisation of narratives around "non-mainstream" ethnic communities. "In the indigenous Karbi culture, water is not merely a physical resource, but a sacred entity that holds immense significance. Embedded in their traditions and beliefs, water lore encompasses the spiritual, cultural, and ecological aspects of the Karbi people's connection with this life-giving element," Maggie Katharpi, who teaches at the Diphu Government College said. Katharpi spoke on the Karbi beliefs and narratives about the folklore of water at the two-day International Karbi Winter Workshop, a major component of the KYF. The topic of the workshop was "Place in Stories, Stories in Place: Narrating Landscapes in (Indigenous) Oral Traditions". The workshop was funded by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, which governs the district, and organised by the Centre for Karbi Studies and the Department of Estonian and Comparative Folklore in collaboration with the Centre for Oriental Studies. The last two are under the University of Tartu in Estonia. "The Karbi people believe that maintaining a harmonious relationship with water is essential for their overall well-being and the sustainability of their environment. This deep reverence for water reflects their profound understanding of its importance as a life force that sustains not only their physical existence but also their spiritual and cultural identity," Katharpi said. She narrated how littering was strictly prohibited in Ronghang Rongbong Rong Arak, the capital of the titular Karbi king. The use of vulgar or inappropriate language and contamination of water bodies were also banned, conveying the undertones of conservation. "In traditional rituals such as Vur Kamatha, performed by local priests, water is used to address various issues such as illness, familial problems, unfinished work, personal problems, or any other issue related to one's life or family life. Water is sprinkled throughout the house with the belief that it will bring positive energy," Katharpi said. During the Rongker ritual - the propitiation of the gods for the good and well-being of a village - prayers are specifically dedicated to Langhe-Langche Arnam, the deity associated with water, she added. Dharamsing Teron, a former MLA and the director of the Centre for Karbi Studies, said narratives on indigenous communities in India and beyond need to be overhauled. "Colonial and other documents reflect the historical misrepresentations of the Karbis, who belong to the Tibeto-Burman group and largely inhabit the Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts of Assam. A highlight of the workshop was a round-table discussion on the viability of the folkloristic perspective through an indigenous research method," he said. Tokyo-based Mayako Murai, who works on traditional and contemporary fairy tales at the University of Yokohama, said cultures geographically far apart are connected by folk stories involving animals. "In Indian, Japanese, and other cultures, animal tales are a large body of work. If we re-read these tales through a multi-species lens, we find the relationships among different kinds of animals including humans," she said. "These folk tales may teach us something about a sustainable world-view for a society suffering from environmental destruction," Murai said. The 8-day KYF is being held at Taralangso, a 672-acre cultural complex on the outskirts of Diphu, the headquarters of Karbi Anglong situated about 250 km east of Guwahati. The festival will conclude on January 19. (ANI)
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday took a jibe at Congress after the party dubbed the pran pratishtha ceremony at Ram temple as a 'BJP/RSS event', saying that every day and year belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Speaking to the reporters, Khattar said that everyone should 'pack up' and sit as the people of the country are with the BJP. "They (Congress) has nothing. Every day and year belongs to the BJP these days and this is the era of the BJP. Therefore, in the BJP era, everyone should pack up and sit (Sab log bistar gol karke baith jaiye). The public is with the BJP," Khattar said. Notably, several leaders of the opposition, including Congress' Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have declined the Ram temple pran pratishtha invite calling it a 'BJP/RSS' event. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that RSS and the BJP have made the January 22 function at Ram Temple in Ayodhya "a completely political Narendra Modi function" and that it is difficult for Congress leaders "to go to a political function which is designed around the Prime Minister of India and around the RSS". Rahul Gandhi, who addressed a press conference during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra here, said that the biggest authorities of the Hindu religion have made their views public about what they think about the January 22 function. Answering queries, Rahul Gandhi said he does "not try to take advantage" of his religion, lives by its principles and does not have to wear it on his sleeve like those "who do not believe in it". "The RSS and the BJP have made the January 22 function a completely political Narendra Modi function. It's a RSS BJP function and I think that is why the Congress President said that he would not go to the function. We are open to all religions, all practices. Even the authorities of the Hindu religion, the biggest authorities of the Hindu religion have made their view public about what they think about the 22nd January function that it is a political function. So it is difficult for us to go to a political function which is designed around the Prime Minister of India and designed around the RSS," Gandhi said.The Haryana CM offered prayers at Gurudwara Lakhnaur Sahib in Ambala today, on the birth anniversary of Sikh guru Guru Gobind Singh on Wednesday. "Today is the birth anniversary of Guru Govind Singh Ji. It is celebrated all over the world with great fervour... Lakhnaur Sahib is the maternal village of Guru Gobind Singh Ji... My greetings to everyone on this occasion..." the Haryana CM said. The Pran Pratishta ceremony will be held in Ayodhya on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with several other leaders will attend the event. Several celebrities and noted personalities have also been invited to the ceremony. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi on Wednesday. The Chief Minister requested for the allotment of a coal block with a storage capacity of about 125 million tonnes to the state of Uttarakhand on a priority basis for setting up pit-head thermal power plants of a minimum 1000 MW. Chief Minister Dhami said, "Due to the favourable industrial policy, there has been rapid industrial development in the state, as a result of which the demand for electricity has continuously increased. Power shortage becomes severe during the winter season as cold temperatures reduce the flow of water in rivers. The demand for electricity in the state is increasing at the rate of about 4 to 5 percent every year and during the lean season period there is an average shortfall of about 4 to 5 MU per day." CM Dhami further said that due to increasing industrialization, the demand for electricity is likely to increase further in the coming years. The Chief Minister said that in view of the recommendation made by the Energy Ministry, a joint venture (THDCIL-UJVNL Energy Company Ltd.) has been formed between Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam (UJVN) Ltd. (a state government undertaking) and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC) India Ltd. for the rapid development of power projects in the state. "Keeping in mind the experience of THDC India Limited in the field of thermal power generation, it is proposed to set up a pit-head thermal power plant through this new joint venture to meet the power demand of the state," the CM said. Uttarakhand state is one of the few states where no thermal power station is operational. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to allocate one coal block to the state of Uttarakhand on priority. The Union Minister assured of cooperation as much as possible. (ANI)
WASHINGTON  The United States on Wednesday put Yemens Houthis rebels back on its list of specially designated global terrorists, piling financial sanctions on top of American military strikes in the Biden administrations latest attempt to stop the militants attacks on global shipping.

Officials said they would design the financial penalties to minimize harm to Yemens 32 million people, who are among the worlds poorest and hungriest after years of war between the Iran-backed Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition.

But aid officials expressed concern. The decision would only add another level of uncertainty and threat for Yemenis still caught in one of the worlds largest humanitarian crises, Oxfam America associate director Scott Paul said.

The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing.

President Donald Trumps administration designated the Houthis as global terrorists and a foreign terrorist organization in one of his last acts in office. President Joe Biden reversed course early on, at the time citing the humanitarian threat that the sanctions posed to ordinary Yemenis.

Military strikes by the U.S. and Britain against Houthi targets in Yemen have failed to stop weeks of drone, rocket and missile strikes by Houthi forces on commercial shipping transiting the Red Sea route, which borders Yemen.

The Houthis are one in a network of Iran- and Hamas-allied militant groups around the Middle East that have escalated attacks on Israel, the U.S. and others since Israels military offensive in Gaza, in response to Hamas Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.

The Houthis were originally a clan-based rebel movement. They seized Yemens capital in 2014 and withstood a subsequent yearslong invasion led by Saudi Arabia aimed at driving the Houthis from power. Two-thirds of Yemens people live in territory now controlled by the Houthis.

Critics say the additional broad U.S. sanctions may have little effect on the Houthis, a defiant and relatively isolated group with few known assets in the U.S. to be threatened. There is also concern that designating the Houthis as terrorists may complicate international attempts to broker a peace deal in the now-subsided war with Saudi Arabia.

War and chronic misgovernment have left 24 million Yemenis at risk of hunger and disease, and roughly 14 million are in acute need of humanitarian assistance, the United Nations says. Aid groups during the height of Yemens war issued repeated warnings that millions of Yemenis were on the brink of famine.

Aid organizations worry that just the fear of running afoul of U.S. regulations could be enough to scare away shippers, banks and others in the commercial supply chain that Yemenis depend upon for survival. Yemen imports 90% of its food.

U.S. officials told reporters before the State Departments announcement Wednesday that the sanctions would exempt commercial shipments of food, medicine and fuel, and humanitarian assistance. The U.S. will wait 30 days to put the sanctions into effect, officials said, giving shipping companies, banks, insurers and others time to prepare.

The administration, for now, is not reimposing the more severe designation of foreign terrorist organization on the Houthis. That would have barred Americans, along with people and organizations subject to U.S. jurisdiction, from providing material support to the Houthis. Aid groups said that step could have the effect of criminalizing ordinary trade and assistance to Yemenis.

The three U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail internal administration planning, described Wednesdays designation as part of a range of American measures designed to pressure the Houthis to stop their attacks on shipping. The U.S will reevaluate the designation if the Houthis comply, officials said.

Jared Rowell, the Yemen country director for the International Rescue Committee, said last week that the attacks and counterattacks were interrupting the delivery of goods and aid into Yemen, delaying shipments of vital commodities and raising prices for food and fuel.

Conservatives have pressed for the foreign terrorist designation to be reimposed ever since the Biden administration lifted it. Calls for tougher action against the Houthis and and their Iranian backers have grown louder since the Israel-Hamas war.

When Biden was asked last week whether the Houthis were a terrorist group, he replied, I think they are.

Hisham Al-Omeisy, a Yemeni analyst living in the Washington, area, said the U.S. designation plays into the Houthis narrative to the world that they are standing up to a superpower to champion Muslims everywhere.

At home, the designation helps the Houthis message to Yemenis that the U.S. is the cause of their suffering, Al-Omeisy said.

In the past, he said, the Houthis were angered that the U.S. was basically treating them as a bug on the windshield.

Now, theyre like, You know what, they respect us,' he said of the Houthis attitude. Yeah, we can go toe to toe with the Americans, right?'
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday instructed secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey to assess the value of the various types of gifts he received in the programmes and auction them. The amount received from this should be used for public welfare works. Any common person can also participate in the auction process. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had recently appealed to the people that they should start the tradition of giving books instead of bouquets to the guests at any function, this will increase the store of knowledge in the future generation and will also nourish the mind. Now, in this sequence, the Chief Minister has taken another new and innovative initiative. In fact, when the Chief Minister attends programs in Uttarakhand or outside Uttarakhand, people present him many gifts. From shawls to paintings, various types of sculptures are presented to them. Now the Chief Minister has directed his secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey to calculate the value of all the gifts he receives in programs and auction them. The Chief Minister has directed that the money received from this auction should be used for various works of public interest. The Chief Minister has asked the Secretary to prepare a proposal for this so that this work can be started as soon as possible. (ANI)
The IED was recovered near Chowkibal on Srinagar-Chowkibal highway in the north Kashmir district.

Taking to social media handle, the official account of Chinar Corps posted on X, "IED Recovered near Chowkibal on Srinagar - Chowkibal Highway. ChinarWarriors averted a major terror incident today by recovering and in-situ destroying an IED near Chowkibal on the Srinagar - Chowkibal Highway."

"The Indian Army stands by its commitment to keep Kashmir terror-free," it added.

Earlier a week ago, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jammu and Kashmir police recovered improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along with a wireless communication device and bullets during a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the Manjakote area of Rajouri district.

The CRPF and police launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) in Hayatpura village of Manjakote in Rajouri and recovered the material kept hidden for further use by terrorists. (ANI)
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Wednesday that the party's manifesto for Lok Sabha polls will be a "people's manifesto" and apart from public consultations by party leaders, suggestions can also be sent through e-mail and a website. He said that the Congress party will take suggestions from people across the country before finalising the party manifesto. "It's going to be a people's manifesto", he said, at a press conference here today. The press conference was also addressed by TS Singh Deo, convener of the Manifesto Committee and Supriya Shrinate, Chairperson of the Social and Digital Platforms of the AICC. The leaders also launched a dedicated website and an email ID on which people can give their suggestions for the manifesto. Shrinate said the suggestions can be sent on the email ''awaazbharatki@inc.in" or can be uploaded on the website "awaazbharatki.in" directly. The party will invite suggestions from people across the country and incorporate as many as possible of these in the manifesto, Chidambaram said. The former Finance minister appealed to people to come forward with their suggestions. Chidambaram, who heads the manifesto committe, said that at least one public consultation will be held in every state and in some states there may be more than one consultation. Deo said the purpose of the consultations was to ensure that the stakeholders, for whom the manifesto is meant, can come forward with their suggestions so that it does not remain merely an academic exercise. Asked if INDIA bloc parties will be part of the consultation, Chidambaram said these will be open consultations. "I think the idea is to hold a consultation, at least one consultation in each state. It's possible that in some states, there may be more than one consultation, but the goal is to have at least one public consultation at a place in every state. Everybody is welcome to the public consultations; if allied parties, INDIA group parties wish to attend the consultation, they are most welcome," he said. "But, whether there will be close room consultations with the INDIA group, that's a matter which will be taken up by the INDIA group Coordination Committee. The Congress president will take it up at a leader-level consultation. I can't speak about that but there will be public consultations in every state at least one per state," he added. Asked about reservations expressed over some sections of recent criminal laws passed by Parliament, he said there were dissent notes against these laws from him, Digvijaya Singh and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. He said the manifesto is expected to be completed by February 15 for the Congress Working Committee's approval. (ANI)
A high-level committee set up to revamp the Defence Research and Development Organisation has suggested having two secretaries in the organisation along with setting up a Defence Technology Commission. The recommendations have been made by the Professor Vijay Raghavan committee, which submitted its report to the Defence Ministry on January 1. Defence sources said the commission has been recommended to be set up under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, with various other stakeholders as its part. The committee, which had three senior military officials in it, has recommended that the DRDO have two secretaries, one to look after defence research and development and the other to look into defence technology and innovations. The committee report has been shared with the different wings of the defence ministry and armed forces for their comments and will be widely discussed. The defence ministry is likely to hold a meeting by the end of the month to discuss the reforms and later take up the matter with the Prime Minister's Office for final discussions and decisions. The committee has also recommended the merger of existing over 50 laboratories into around 10 larger ones, reducing the number of directors and removing the role of the cluster Director generals. The committee has also recommended the increase in the role of academia and private sector in defence research and development. The committee has given its report and suggested that its recommendations be implemented in stipulated timeframe and the time frame given is not big. It is also not yet clear how the ongoing projects would be completed or followed up by the forces and the defence research agency. (ANI)
Backing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi''s take on the ''Pran Pratishtha'' ceremony of Lord Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Wednesday called Gandhi a man with a religious mindset. When asked about whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was going to Ayodhya during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Salman Khurshid said, "Rahul Gandhi is a man of a religious mindset. He has said that he does not associate ''dharma'' with politics. We are staying away from the ceremony on January 22, when politics will be associated with ''dharma''. Earlier in the day, Congress''s National Alliance Committee held a meeting with Samajwadi Party leaders in Delhi. "We''ve shared details of each seat with each other. I hope that the alliance happens before the (Bharat Jodo Nyay) Yatra reaches Uttar Pradesh," Salman Khurshid said after the meeting. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that the RSS and the BJP have made the January 22 function at Ram Temple in Ayodhya "a completely political Narendra Modi function" and that it is difficult for Congress leaders "to go to a political function which is designed around the Prime Minister of India and around the RSS". Rahul Gandhi, who addressed a press conference during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra here, said that the biggest authorities of the Hindu religion have made their views public about what they think about the January 22 function. Congress leaders - Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury-- had earlier "respectfully declined" the invitation "for Ram Temple inauguration" on January 22, calling it a "BJP-RSS" event. Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram''s idol will take place at the grand temple in Ayodhya on January 22 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Elaborate arrangements are being done for the ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the ''Pran Pratishtha'' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. An idol of Lord Ram form will be enthroned in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. "The RSS and the BJP have made the January 22 function a completely political Narendra Modi function. It''s a RSS BJP function and I think that is why the Congress President said that he would not go to the function. We are open to all religions, all practices. Even the authorities of the Hindu religion, the biggest authorities of the Hindu religion have made their view public about what they think about the 22nd January function that it is a political function. So it is difficult for us to go to a political function which is designed around the Prime Minister of India and designed around the RSS," Gandhi said. The rituals for the ''Pran Pratishtha'' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya started on Tuesday and will continue for seven days. Thousands of VIP guests have received invitations from the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the ceremony. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the central government is focusing on increasing the maritime strength of India at a time when the country is becoming a major centre of global trade. "The world is recognizing India's potential and position in global trade. The Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor will further strengthen the creation of Viksit Bharat by giving a boost to the coastal economy of India," the PM said. He reiterated the government's efforts to build mega ports, shipbuilding and ship-repairing infrastructure in the country. The PM was speaking after inaugurating three major infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 4,000 crore in Kochi on Wednesday. The projects inaugurated today include New Dry Dock (NDD) at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of CSL, and LPG Import Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited at Puthuvypeen, Kochi. These major infrastructure projects are in line with the Prime Minister's vision to transform India's ports, shipping, and waterways sector, and build capacity and self-sufficiency in it. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister talked about his Darshan of Bhagwan Guruvyurappan at the temple this morning. He also recalled the mention of the holy temples of Kerala which are associated with Ramayan in his speech at the recent inauguration of Maharishi Valmiki International Airport at Ayodhya Dham. He expressed gratitude for being able to perform darshan at the Ramaswamy temple just a few days before the Pran Pratishtha at the Ayodhya Dham. He said that the beautiful presentation by the Kerala artists this morning brought about the feel of Awadh Puri in Kerala. He emphasised the role of every state in the journey of making India 'Viksit Bharat' during the Amrit Kaal. PM Modi recalled the role of ports in India's erstwhile prosperity in earlier times and envisaged a similar role for ports now when India is taking new strides and becoming a major centre of global trade. During the day, the Prime Minister also addressed a gathering of BJP booth-level in-charges in Kochi. In his address, the Prime Minister attacked the Congress-led UDF and the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF in Kerala for "corruption and scams" and expressed confidence that the state will play a role in BJP's victory in the Lok Sabha polls. Addressing 'Shaktikendra Incharges Sammelan' here, the Prime Minister said that positive outcomes of BJP's transparent policies are clearly visible and the party gives priority to the progress of the poor, women, youth and farmers. "According to a recent report, around 25 crore people have come out of poverty in the last 9 years. Whereas, for five decades, Congress only gave the slogan of 'Garibi Hatao'. It shows that the path we have chosen for a Viksit Bharat is right...Lok Sabha elections are to elect the government of the country. We have to inform our voters that 10 years ago, there were terrorist attacks every other day which used to affect our investments and the people living in foreign nations. LDF (Left Democratic Front), UDF (United Democratic Front) has a history of corruption and scams," he said. "The priority of BJP is to increase the income as well as savings of the people of the country. Under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, around Rs 1 lakh crore of the people of the country has been saved. Till now, people have saved more than Rs 25,000 crore because of the Jan Aushadhi Kendras," he added. He lauded the efforts of BJP workers to make the party strong. "We saw the potential of the Kerala BJP party workers during the Nari Shakti Sammelan in Thrissur. With my own experience, I can say that only a strong organisation can have such a huge conference. It shows that you are all putting in a lot of effort. BJP is the only political party that has a track record of fast paced development and vision for the future," he said. "It is always a happy moment for me to join the supporters of BJP who work to strengthen BJP in the state. Besides adverse situations, our party workers have made sure that the BJP shines. I want to salute all those party workers who stood with their ideology and stayed committed to their patriotism," he added. He urged party workers to focus on winning the booths, saying that it would pave for the party's victory in the state. "As elections come close, I am certain that Kerala is going to play a role in BJP's win. Our first resolution should be 'We will win our booth'. If we can win a booth, we can win Kerala. You have to work harder and pay attention to every voter. Creating a bond with the people of Kerala should be your priority. You have to bring everyone to 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' and help them join the drive of 'Modi ki Guarantee'." The Prime Minister said that the confidence of Indians is soaring due to the policies of his government. "The confidence of Indians is soaring as the world now talks of India as 'Vishwamitra'. Our relations with Gulf countries have never been better. For this reason, there are more opportunities and respect for Indians in the Gulf region," he said. "We aspire to increase disposable income while helping reduce out-of-pocket expenditures for the people. Ayushman Bharat Yojana has helped people save Rs 1 lakh crore. The discount provided at Jan Aushadhi Kendras has helped people save over Rs 25,000 crore," he added. The Prime Minister said that the positive outcomes of BJP's transparent policies are visible. "Today, BJP has become a party of the people. It is the only party that has a track record of fast development and a clear vision for the future. The poor, women, youth and farmers are the four categories whose empowerment will lay the foundation for a Viksit Bharat. It is only the BJP which prioritizes the welfare of these people. (ANI)
The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) has initiated a 15-day Road Safety Auditors Certification Course in alignment with the shared vision of the Central and State Governments to prioritize the development of road infrastructure in the North Eastern States. This course is organized in association with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H) and the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) from January 17 to January 31 at IIT Guwahati. This collaborative effort aims to equip professionals with the necessary skills to contribute effectively to road safety and accident prevention. The increased focus on road infrastructure development in the North Eastern States has, unfortunately, been accompanied by a rise in road accidents and fatalities. Acknowledging the critical need to address this issue, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, has underscored the importance of concerted efforts to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in road accident deaths by 2025. On January 10, 2024, MoRTH issued a circular to observe the National Road Safety Month from 15th January to 14th February 2024, further emphasizing the collective commitment towards enhancing road safety. Speaking on the major initiative, Course Coordinator Prof Akhilesh Kumar Maurya, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati, said, "The increasing frequency of road accidents underscores the urgency for targeted initiatives that bolster the knowledge and skills in the area of Road Safety of key stakeholders. Recognizing the unique challenges posed by Assam's diverse terrain, it is imperative to tailor capacity-building efforts to address specific regional concerns. This 15-day road safety auditors course is a novel initiative to sensitise as well as make the participants aware of the areas of road safety through rigorous theoretical classes and field exercises. The government of Assam is taking various steps to reduce road accidents, however, capacity building in the area of road safety among the stakeholders is still lagging." Recognizing the pivotal role of proper training for highway professionals in the area of Road Safety Audit (RSA), IIT Guwahati took a significant step by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRT&H) and the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) on 13th January 2020. This collaboration aims to contribute to the noble effort of minimizing road accident deaths by providing training on "Road Safety and Safety Audit." In line with this MoU, this 15-day Road Safety Auditors Certification Course is being conducted by the Institute. This program is attended by 25+ delegates including the engineers from the Public Works Department (Roads) across various districts of Assam and other consultants from different states. The Transport Department of Assam as the lead agency of road safety encourages the nomination of PWD(R) officials. It is expected that representatives from other private and government organizations, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) should come forward to train their official by attending such crucial road safety courses in future. Speaking on the course structure, Course Coordinator, Dr. Nipjyoti Bhardwaj, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati, "The program covers a wide range of topics essential for mastering road safety audits. It includes real-world case studies, guidance on the latest tools and techniques, and interactive sessions designed to simulate the complexities of road safety and accident prevention. A key feature is a two-day field visit, allowing participants to apply their skills on-site under the mentorship of seasoned professionals. This practical approach complements theoretical knowledge, ensuring participants are well-prepared for road safety challenges. " This course will present a valuable opportunity for engineers, practitioners, academicians, consultants, researchers, and other stakeholders to enhance their knowledge, skills, and certification in the domain of Road Safety Engineering and Auditing. (ANI)
Telangana Governor, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan has decided not to take any action on the proposal of the State government to fill the vacant two MLC seats under the Governor Quota till the Writ Petitions are finally decided by the High Court. This decision comes as a response to the pendency of Writ Petitions (W.P No. 180 of 2024 and W.P No. 181 of 2024) filed by Dasoju Sravan Kumar and K Satyanarayana challenging the rejection of their MLC nominations. The press release from Rajbhavan reads, "Raj Bhavan hereby informs that in light of the pending Writ Petitions (W.P No. 180 of 2024 and W.P No. 181 of 2024) filed by Dasoju Sravan Kumar and K Satyanarayana challenging the rejection of their MLC nominations, and the High Court of Telangana's observation that in accordance with the gentlemen's agreement, no further steps will be taken in filling the vacant MLCs under Governor Quota." In view of this observation, the Governor has decided not to take any action on the proposal of the State Government to fill the vacant two MLCs under Governor Quota till the above Writ Petitions are finally decided by the High Court, it added. (ANI)
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached properties worth Rs 5 crore (approximately) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of an investigation against some Jammu and Kashmir-based operatives who channelled funds for terrorist activities. Seven immovable assets and two bank accounts have been provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). They belong to Mohammad Akbar Bhat, Fatima Shah, Qazi Yasir, Mohammad Abdullah Shah and Iqbal Mir, the ED said in a statement. The statement said that ED initiated an investigation based on the FIR registered and chargesheet issued by J-K Police for the offences under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and IPC against Mohammad Akbar Bhat, Fatima Shah, Altaf Ahmad Bhat, Qazi Yasir, Syed Khalid Geelani, alias Khalid Andrabi and others, They were accused of working with "Pakistan handlers who arranged admissions in MBBS and other courses in the colleges of Pakistan for Jammu & Kashmir students for a hefty money around Rs 10-15 lakh per student." As per the statement, the ED investigation revealed that the money was received in their accounts and in the bank accounts of Al-Jabar Trust, which was a trust opened for charitable purposes. "However, these accounts were used to receive funds from the students and further ploughing into the terrorist activities in India in various ways, such as distributing money to stone pelters and providing money to the persons or terrorists based in Jammu and Kashmir on the instructions of Pakistan handlers such as Manzoor Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Bhat, etc." Further investigation is under progress. (ANI)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], January 17 (ANI/WAM): The UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, hosted the 52nd session of the Arab ICT Permanent Committee on 15th January 2024, for two days. The meeting was led by the UAE, represented by Mohammed Al Ramsi, TDRA Deputy Director General for the Telecommunications Sector. Delegations from various Arab countries, Technical Secretariat of the Arab Telecommunications and Information Council of Ministers, and representatives of entities and organisations with observer status, including the ITU Regional office for Arab States, participated in the meeting. This meeting is part of the continuous preparations for the meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers of Communications and Information, which will be held on Thursday 18th January 2024, in Abu Dhabi. The meeting will be preceded by a meeting of the Executive Bureau of the Arab Telecommunications and Information Council of Ministers, on Wednesday 17th January 2024, chaired by the UAE. The Arab ICT Permanent Committee meeting commenced with a speech by Mohammed Al Ramsi, Deputy Director General of TDRA. In his address, he expressed gratitude to the sisterly Sultanate of Oman for the successful hosting of the 51st session in Muscat. Additionally, he extended appreciation to the Secretariat General of the Arab League and the sub-teams for their efforts in shaping the agenda through valuable recommendations. Al Ramsi said, "This meeting follows the remarkable success of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) held in the UAE from 20 November to 15 December 2023. It stands as an Arab and Emirati success story worthy of pride, marked by active coordination and continuous consultation." "The Arab team excelled in delivering numerous joint contributions, operated cohesively in fostering dialogue, achieved understandings, and secured consensual solutions among regional groups. Simultaneously, it succeeded in garnering substantial gains for the Arab region at large. Backed by the support of the Arab group, the UAE effectively led the conference, a role evident to all. My first-hand experience in chairing the conference underscores the pivotal role of Arab support and the unified Arab voice in advancing the interests of our nation and countries." Similarly, Humaid Al Basti, Senior Officer of Government Relations and International Cooperation at TDRA and head of the UAE Delegation in attendance, highlighted the significance of the agenda topics. He said, "We will delve into significant topics that resonate with the aspirations of our Arab societies, reflecting a wise understanding of the rapidly changing reality and innovative technologies. These subjects largely embody the hope for a paradigm shift towards the digital economy and digital government, ultimately serving the people of the region." The agenda of the 52nd session of the Arab ICT Permanent Committee encompasses a range of issues and topics related to collaborative efforts in the field of communications. This includes discussions on the outcomes of the Arab ICT Permanent Committee working groups' meetings, cybersecurity issues, results of the WRC-23 recently hosted by the UAE, The Arab Strategy for Communications and Information, criteria for ITU positions and committees candidacy, coordination among ICT organisations in the Arab region, the Arab Digital Capital 2024 initiative, and the Arab Forum for Digital Arabic Content. The Arab ICT Permanent Committee operates under the umbrella of the Council of Arab Ministers of Communications and Information, which serves as the supreme executive body for advancing the Arab ICT community. It is one of the specialized ministerial councils functioning within the framework of the Council of the League of Arab States. The Arab ICT Permanent Committee convenes twice a year, preceding the meetings of the Council of Arab Ministers of Communications and Information and the Executive Bureau. (ANI/WAM)
Chicago has long touted itself as the city that works, a credo that captured its essence as a practically minded metropolis of people willing and able to set aside their differences  religious, ethnic and political  to pull the city forward. As we begin a new year, Harris Poll research shows that this fundamental Chicago pride endures. We love it here.

The description dates more than a half-century ago to Mayor Richard J. Daley. There is some irony, then, in how that civic optimism has become decoupled from the office Daley held for so long. A sharp demarcation has grown between our opinions about our city and our city government.

This disconnect illustrates the challenge Mayor Brandon Johnson faces. The forever issues that vexed his predecessors have made us more cynical about the power of any mayor to ensure that the city still, well, works. Johnson needs to prove that our basic sense of confidence in our city applies to Chicagos political leadership.

As with most challenges, of course, this one holds a proportionate opportunity for Johnson to carve out his own place in the history of Chicagos chief executives by reknitting that civic bond.

The good news for the first-term mayor is that city residents have a reservoir of optimism. In a poll we just conducted, 3 out of 4 city residents say they would recommend Chicago as a place to live and to visit. Four out of 5 also think that Chicagoland has more things to offer than other major metro areas, while 85% say they are proud to be a Chicagoan.

In addition, Chicagoans who are positive about the citys trajectory outnumber those who are negative by slightly more than 4 to 3 (42% vs. 29%), according to The Harris Poll. And 41%  a solid plurality  also say Chicago is best described as improving.

That optimism does not extend to the day-to-day life of the city, however. Our polling shows that nearly all Chicago adults worry about public safety and a supermajority thinks crime is worse here than in other cities. Almost all of us are also troubled by a long list of other major issues including the local economy, taxes, affordable housing and health care.

What can Johnson do to reconcile this nagging negativism with residents baseline optimism?

More than halfway through his first year in office, he can claim some City Council victories. His peoples budget, which passed on a 41-8 vote, makes strategic investments, as the mayor put it, in public safety while also significantly funding infrastructure and shelter without raising property taxes.

The council also approved a binding referendum for March that will ask voters to approve a cornerstone of Johnsons progressive agenda: hiking the real estate transfer tax on property sales of $1 million and up while lowering it below that threshold, to provide for housing for Chicagoans who are homeless.

These early wins have moved the needle of public opinion little. Nearly three-quarters of Chicagoans say they do not feel safer than they did before Johnson took office in May. And a majority  across all demographic groups  doubt that he will have a greater positive impact on marginalized neighborhoods than previous mayors.

The Loop needs his attention too. Nine in 10 residents agree that downtown Chicago is vital to the citys overall health. Yet office-building occupancy is still only 55% of its pre-pandemic level, And the citys top business-focused agencies  World Business Chicago and Choose Chicago  are now without permanent chief executives.

Such early reads are hardly conclusive, of course: Revitalizing a city of 2.6 million takes more than a few months. But it illustrates the intractable nature of the citys problems and voters weary cynicism about the limits of political leadership.

Our polling highlights areas of opportunity for Johnson as well, however.

He remains a political mystery to Chicagoans. While 30% call him too progressive, 28% say his leadership is balanced, and 10% label him too traditional. The remaining 31% arent sure how to peg him. This could end up serving him well: Chicagoans prize accomplishment and pragmatism over ideological fidelity.

He can continue to leverage that by, for example, stepping up his efforts to engage the private sector  both for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations  to help revive the city. Effective leadership rallies all stakeholders and uses every resource available, after all. But except for young adults, majorities of all groups also think Johnson is doing too little in this regard.

The key, however, will be accomplishment  not simply getting the City Council to enact his agenda but also demonstrating through tangible results that the council, like the city, works. He needs to deliver on quality-of-life issues that transcend politics, such as public safety, affordable health care, job opportunities, a healthy local economy, and reasonable taxes and fees.

The mayor would help himself if he appealed to our hometown pride. Doing so would permit him to mobilize and leverage the abstract positive feelings we have and connect them to the daily facts of political life. People here sincerely want Chicago to be its best.

That includes business leaders who have a vested interest in seeing the Loop come back. Johnson just needs to ask for their help  and then show hes listening by taking their well-intentioned advice.

If Johnson can make Chicago work, in other words, we all benefit.

Will Johnson is the Chicago-based CEO of The Harris Poll, a global public opinion, market research and strategy firm.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Tel Aviv [Israel], January 17 (ANI/TPS): Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection is publishing a new guide that it says will help businesses and factories prepare for Israel's transition to green refrigerant gases that will reduce damage to the climate and the environment. The ministry's goal is to reduce the use of HFCs, thus complying with Israel's international obligation by virtue of its membership in the Montreal Protocol and to ratify the obligation stipulated in the Kigali Amendment. The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is an international agreement to gradually reduce the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Most of the refrigeration and air conditioning systems in Israel use HFC type refrigerant gases for their operation. These gases are powerful greenhouse gases and are very harmful to the climate. That is why the countries of the world decided to gradually reduce the use of these gases. The rate of reduction in the use of HFC gases was determined and approved in the Kigali amendment to the international Montreal Convention which was signed by the countries of the world. As part of it, all countries are required to reduce the use of these gases until reaching only 15 per cent of the average consumption in the years 2011 to 2013. In 2020, steps were set in the update to the hazardous materials regulations to gradually reduce the use of HFCs. In October 2023, the reduction steps were updated to allow additional limited time for the economy to prepare to reduce the use of HFC gases. Naama Veld, Senior Coordinator - Energy and Climate Change at the Ministry of Environmental Protection: "Global air conditioning and refrigeration is undergoing a revolution. Investing today in systems based on HFC gases is a lost investment, which establishes the dependence on coolers that contribute to the climate crisis and is a growing economic burden on the businesses that use them." (ANI/TPS)
The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 18 Indian fishermen and seized two Indian poaching trawlers in Lankan waters on Tuesday evening. "The Sri Lanka Navy conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters on the evening of January 16, 2024. The operation led to the seizure of 02 Indian trawlers, with 18 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Mannar," the Sri Lankan Navy said in an official release. The apprehended Indian fishermen (18) and the poaching trawlers (02) were brought to the Thalpadu Pier in Mannar. "In continuation of these efforts, the North Central Naval Command deployed its Inshore Patrol Craft to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters on 16th January. In this operation, naval personnel held 02 Indian poaching trawlers with 18 Indian fishermen, continued to remain in island waters off Mannar," the Sri Lankan Navy said. The apprehended Indian fishermen and the trawlers were brought to the Thalpadu Pier in Mannar and they will be handed over to the Talaimannar Fisheries Inspector for onward legal action, the Navy added. Notably, the arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy in the recent past have been a matter of concern not just for the Centre but also for the Tamil Nadu government. The issue was also discussed during the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the latter's visit to India in July this year. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishnkar to work for the 'immediate release' of 12 fishermen who were detained by Sri Lanka while fishing near the island nation. This comes after the Sri Lankan Navy detained 12 Indian fishermen and seized their three trawlers on Saturday. "I would like to draw your attention to the apprehension of 12 fishermen and three fishing boats by the Sri Lankan Navy on January 13," CM Stalin stated in the letter. "I request you to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan Government through appropriate diplomatic channels to immediately secure the release of our fishermen and their fishing boats," he added. The fishermen from Kottaipattinam Fishing Harbour of Pudukottai District ventured for fishing on January 13, in three mechanised fishing boats bearing registration numbers 'IND-TN-08-MM-169, IND-TN-08-MM-151 and IND-TN-10-MM-730', Stalin stated. They were taken into custody while they were fishing near Neduntheevu island in Sri Lanka. According to the Sri Lankan Navy, the Indian fishermen were allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters. They were detained off the Kovilan Lighthouse in Kareinagar, Jaffna and were brought to the Kankasanthurai harbour. (ANI)
University teachers took out a protest against the Pakistan administration in Bagh town in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) region, demanding a long-due salary hike and alleging discrimination by the administration. Protestors on campus grounds were seen carrying huge posters and placards during their demonstration. They said that they haven't received a salary hike for quite some time and have not even been given old backlogs. Speaking at the site, one of the protesting university teachers said, "In 2021, we got 25 per cent hike. But we received it only six months later and we still haven't received the previous backlog. In 2022, a 15 per cent hike was given but the previous backlog was again not given. Is it not inefficiency? You (Pakistan administration) are not doing your work, and when I am demanding my rights, how can it be termed misconduct?" "Today, if it is being said that the reputation and atmosphere of the university are being hampered, the administration must take note of it and think about what impact it will have," another protestor said. "As long as we don't stand up for our rights, no one is going to serve it to us on a platter," another protestor said. (ANI)
Despite the 'protracted crackdown' on his political party, loss of the iconic 'bat' symbol and being incarcerated for months, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed confidence that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party will spring a 'surprise' in the February 8 polls, Dawn reported. Appearing buoyant about electoral prospects, Khan said that PTI will move its 'Plan C', which is ready after the failure of its so-called 'Plan A' and 'Plan B'. The PTI founder made these remarks during a conversation with reporters at Adiala Jail, who had gathered to cover the proceedings of cases, including the cipher case, underway against him in prison. However, he did not elaborate on what he actually meant by Plan C, but earlier, former PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan had said that the 'said plan' revolved around retaining the reserved seats of the party following the loss of their electoral symbol, 'bat'. 'Plan B' was ostensibly a deal the PTI had signed with its splinter group, PTI-Nazriati, to contest polls under the 'batsman' symbol, which the Election Commission of Pakistan thwarted, Dawn reported. Earlier on Tuesday, the PTI founder said that the party leadership knew that conspirators would "spoil their plans", therefore, they had worked out alternative strategies. He claimed that a conspiracy was hatched against the PTI government, adding that about 10,000 workers of the party were put behind bars and efforts to dismantle the political party were also in full swing. He said that as the founder of the PTI, whose political struggle spanned over 27 years, he was facing multiple charges along with his spouse Bushra Bibi. Speaking on the cipher issue, the PTI founder said that former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa offered him a two-thirds majority to keep quiet on the cipher issue and warned him of consequences if he tried to highlight the issue in public. He said that Gen Bajwa had made the offer during meetings held at the President's House, provided he (Imran) would "behave sensibly and would not underscore the cipher issue", Dawn reported. Former Pakistan premier Imran Khan is incarcerated over multiple cases against him. He was initially arrested in connection with the Toshakhana case. But, despite getting bail, he couldn't come out of jail as he was again arrested in cipher case. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Supreme Court upheld the December 22 decision of Election Commission of Pakistan snubbing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) of its iconic 'bat' symbol. (ANI)
Further complicating the situation for President Joe Biden, a group of Senate Democrats on Tuesday, voted in favour of advancing a resolution to potentially freeze US military aid to Israel, The Hill reported. The resolution sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders sends a pointed message to President Biden that the war in Gaza is becoming a major problem for the Democrats. The Senate voted 72 to 11 to reject the resolution, but the number of Democrats who supported the measure reflects rising dissatisfaction within a section of the party over the civilian casualties in Gaza, which has now reportedly crossed 24,000, as per The Hill. Nine Democrats voted with Sanders, as did Republican Senator Rand Paul (Ky.), a frequent critic of US foreign aid. Sanders, the Senate's leading critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the siege and invasion of Gaza called it "immoral." He hit out at his colleagues over the mounting death toll and the extensive use of American-supplied bombs and artillery shells in what had been heavily populated civilian areas. "Whether we like it or not, the United States is complicit in the nightmare that millions of Palestinians are now experiencing," he declared on the Senate floor, warning that hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza "are starving right before our eyes." He cited media reports that Israel dropped more than 22,000 American-supplied bombs on Gaza in a six-week span, including 2,000-pound bombs that can destroy entire neighbourhoods. The other Democrats who voted for the resolution were Sens. Laphonza Butler (Calif.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Ben Ray Lujan (N.M.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.) and Peter Welch (Vt.), The Hill reported. As per The Hill, this comes amid growing tensions between Biden and Netanyahu over the management of the war. The two leaders haven't spoken since a tense December 23 call. The Biden administration has put pressure on Netanyahu's government to reduce civilian casualties and to wrap up the heaviest fighting as soon as possible, but to little effect. Netanyahu has largely ignored the administration's calls to reengage with Palestinian leaders once the fighting subsides in pursuit of a two-state solution to achieving lasting peace in the region. He also declared over the weekend that "no one" will stop Israel's mission to eliminate Hamas, even though some foreign policy experts are skeptical that Israeli forces could fully eliminate Hamas leaders and militants if the conflict lasts months longer, The Hill reported. Meanwhile, the polls show that Biden's handling of the war in Gaza has become a growing political liability for his reelection. A New York Times/Siena College poll conducted last month showed that 57 per cent of registered voters nationwide disapprove of Biden's response to the conflict, including 37 percent of Democrats. Especially concerning for Biden's political advisers, 72 per cent of registered voters aged 18 to 29 -- a demographic that voted strongly for Biden in 2020 -- disapprove of his performance on the issue, The Hill reported. (ANI)
Coming fresh off a commanding victory in the Iowa caucuses, former President Donald Trump came out heavily against GOP leader and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley on Tuesday (local time), New York Times reported. He, however, also gave a message calling on his GOP rivals to come together and move into the presidential polls as a team. In the Iowa caucuses on Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came a distant second with eight delegates and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley finished not much behind with seven delegates. Trump painted her as out of touch with the conservative movement he helped inspire, negatively assessed her job performance as his ambassador to the United Nations and accused her of trying to wrest control of the primary from Republicans. "Nikki Haley is counting on the Democrats and liberals to infiltrate your Republican primary," Trump said while addressing a rally at a country club in Atkinson, New Hampshire. "Haley was artificially boosting her numbers here by rallying such supporters," he added. Haley has been actively courting independent voters in New Hampshire, who make up a significant share of the electorate, and who can take part in the Republican primary. The contest now moves to New Hampshire, a state where Haley enjoys some political clout and is within a difference of single digits of Trump. The former President avoided getting much attacking against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who managed a distant second spot at Iowa. "I don't even want to talk about him (DeSantis), because I don't want to waste it," Trump said. "I do want to talk about Nikki." He went on to call the former South Carolina Governor a "disaster" adding that she was "not tough enough" for the presidency. But, Trump's focus was not entirely on Haley. He did repeatedly attack President Biden's policies. But, citing the results in Iowa, he forcefully argued that efforts by Haley and DeSantis to knock him from his perch as the front-runner were "misguided". "It's time for the Republican Party to come together, unify and move forward as one team," Trump said. Aiming to underscore that point, he called to the stage one of his former rivals, Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the primary on Monday night after finishing a distant fourth and immediately endorsed Trump. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and a Trump acolyte, repeated many of his talking points from the campaign trail, which have long overlapped with Trump's brand of politics. Following this, he also attacked Haley for being "insufficiently conservative", New York Times reported. "We do have some enemies that we need to defeat on the other side," Mr. Ramaswamy said. "But we have challenges to address in our own party, right here at home." Meanwhile, the event on Tuesday (local time) kicked off a comparatively packed campaign schedule for Trump in New Hampshire: He is scheduled to hold five rallies in six days in the state, where he and his advisers are eager for a victory that could effectively shut his rivals out of a path to the nomination, New York Times reported. Also, New Hampshire holds special significance for Trump, as his victory here in 2016 was the first he notched en route to the White House. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came a distant second with eight delegates and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley finishing not much behind with seven delegates as the contest moves to New Hampshire, where the latter enjoys some clout. In the Iowa caucuses, Trump won 20 out of the 40 delegates from Iowa with 56,250 votes -- a whopping difference of around 32,840 votes. Trump's win at Iowa showed the hold he maintains over the party as well as its supporters, as he closed in for a 2020 rematch contest with incumbent Joe Biden, despite being levelled against multiple indictments and legal hassles. (ANI)
Israel and Hamas have agreed upon a Qatar brokered-deal that will allow medicines to be delivered to Israeli hostages in Gaza, according to CNN. "Medicine along with other humanitarian aid is to be delivered to civilians in the Gaza Strip, in the most affected and vulnerable areas, in exchange for delivering medication needed for Israeli captives in Gaza," the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday in a statement posted on X. The medicines and supplies will depart Doha on Wednesday for Egypt before being sent to Gaza, according to the ministry. However, it is not known when the drugs will reach Gaza. The relatives of over 100 captives thought to be alive in Gaza have requested drugs for their loved ones. It has been more than three months since Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on October 7, murdering 1,200 people and kidnapping over 240 more, reported CNN. The Hostages and Missing relatives Forum, an advocacy group for the victims' relatives, claims that each day in captivity endangers their lives and health. The forum has said in its report that at least one-third of the hostages have chronic ailments that require medicine, and "others suffer from illnesses related to the harsh captivity conditions, which include mental and physical torture." Since the end of a week-long truce in November, Israel has increased its military operations in the beleaguered enclave. The Gaza Ministry of Health, which is operated by Hamas, announced Tuesday that 24,285 Palestinians had been killed since the conflict began. According to reports, 10,600 youngsters have died, reported CNN. The conflict in Gaza escalated after the October 7 attack by Hamas, where about 2,500 terrorists breached the border into Israel from the Gaza Strip, leading to casualties and the seizure of hostages. Israel has characterised its Gaza offensive as targeting Hamas' infrastructure with the goal of eliminating the entire terror group while making efforts to minimize civilian casualties. (ANI)
The Naval ALH MK III (MR) was promptly launched in an ambulance role from INS Shikra after receiving an alert message regarding a French national with a suspected ophthalmic or neurological condition on board the container carrier.

During the rescue operation, the ailing person was winched up in a rescue basket from the constrained environment of the bridge wing because of the unavailability of a suitable landing spot on the ship.

Later on, the on-mission helicopter landed at the INS Shikra with the patient. (ANI)
Amid the diplomatic standoff over Iranian airstrike on a terror camp in Balochistan, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahain said the air attacks in Pakistan targeted an "Iranian terrorist group" and Tehran government had asked Pakistan several times to take action on the group. "The so-called Jaish al-Adl group, which is an Iranian terrorist group, was targeted," Abdollahian said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "The group has taken shelter in some parts of Pakistan's Balochistan province. This group killed our security forces. We only targeted Iranian terrorist group on the soil of Pakistan. He emphasised that while Iran respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan, it would not "allow the country's national security to be compromised or played with". "We have no hesitation when it comes to national interests and those terrorist groups inside Pakistan" the Iranian Foreign Minister said. Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), a Sunni Muslim armed group, has previously launched attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan. Following Iran's launch of a barrage of missiles on Pakistan, Islamabad on Wednesday expelled the Iranian ambassador and recalled its ambassador from Tehran, Geo News reported. "Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being," Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said while addressing a press briefing in Islamabad. Earlier, Iran attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group opposed to Tehran with drones and missiles inside Pakistan territory on late hours of Tuesday. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the violation of Pakistan's sovereignty is "completely unacceptable" and warned of serious consequences. It further said that Iran has taken this action despite the existence of several channels of communication between the two nations. "Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act and the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran," Baloch said, adding that Islamabad had conveyed the message to the Iranian government." The foreign ministry spokesperson said. Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl, designated as a "terrorist" organisation by Iran, is a Sunni terrorist group that operates in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. Over the years, Jaish al-Adl has launched numerous attacks on Iranian security forces. In December, Jaish al-Adl took responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Balochistan that claimed the lives of at least 11 police personnel, Al Arabiya News reported. Sistan-Balochistan borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. The region has a history of clashes between Iran's security forces and Sunni terrorists, as well as drug smugglers, Al Arabiya News reported. Dawn news reported that last month, at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an attack overnight on a police station in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, while visiting the site, had urged Pakistan to prevent terrorist groups from establishing bases within its borders. The attacks in Pakistan were carried out a day after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missiles into Iraq's Kurdistan region at what it called an Israeli "spy headquarters" and at alleged ISIS-linked targets in Syria, the report said. (ANI)
Pakistan termed the Iranian airstrike as an 'unprovoked' and 'blatant' breach of its sovereignty and said that Iran violated international law, Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday. Pakistan also affirmed its right to respond against Iran and said that Tehran would be responsible for further consequences. "Last night's unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan's sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations," Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement. The statement read further, "This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever. Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act. The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran." Pakistan also recalled its ambassador from Tehran and expelled the Iranian envoy over its response to the attack. The statement said, "We have conveyed this message to the Iranian Government. We have also informed them that Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being. We have also decided to suspend all high-level visits which were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in coming days." Meanwhile, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was "shocked at the Iranian breach of Pakistani sovereignty," Geo News reported. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president wrote: "This missile attack is against spirit of our friendship and principles of good neighbourliness, especially as it undermines the historic relationship between our two countries." The former premier insisted that conducting sincere dialogue and meaningful cooperation between Iran and Pakistan was the need of the hour. He also offered condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the attack. Earlier, Iran attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group opposed to Tehran with drones and missiles in Pakistan on late hours of Tuesday, Al Arabiya News reported citing Tasnim news agency. Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl, designated as a "terrorist" organisation by Iran, is a Sunni terrorist group that operates in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, Al Arabiya News reported. Over the years, Jaish al-Adl has launched numerous attacks on Iranian security forces. In December, Jaish al-Adl took responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Balochistan that claimed the lives of at least 11 police personnel, according to Al Arabiya News reported. Sistan-Balochistan borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. The region has a history of clashes between Iran's security forces and Sunni terrorists, as well as drug smugglers, Al Arabiya News reported. Dawn news reported that last month, at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an attack overnight on a police station in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, while visiting the site, had urged Pakistan to prevent terrorist groups from establishing bases within its borders. The attacks in Pakistan were carried out a day after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missiles into Iraq's Kurdistan region at what it called an Israeli "spy headquarters" and at alleged ISIS-linked targets in Syria, the report said. (ANI)
Americas support for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion is in our critical national interest. It mirrors the challenge that our nation confronted in 1940 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to support Great Britain with arms needed to fight Nazi Germany forces that were attacking Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France.

That spring, Hitlers armies marauded west. The American public was not eager to engage in a second European war. Roosevelt did what he could to support Great Britain in its darkest hour because he understood that this was in Americas national security interest. He had the breadth of vision to see how our fate was bound to the outcome of this new conflict.

America today faces a similar situation. Ukraine  a democratic country and one aligned with the European community  has been viciously attacked by a Russian dictator who is seeking to extinguish a bordering nation that is showcasing the benefits of integration with European states enjoying free markets, freedom of expression, and democratic institutions and elections.

It took the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor to galvanize America. In response, Roosevelt declared war on Japan, and that allowed our nation to fully mobilize its strength to engage in World War II and push for victory.

President Joe Biden rightly seeks to send more military aid to Ukraine for the same reason that Roosevelt in 1940 sought to aid Britain. Biden, like Roosevelt, is a serious leader. But he is being hobbled by a Republican-dominated House that takes orders from Donald Trump, who wants to slow or stop the United States military aid to Ukraine.

Trumps fondness for Russian President Vladimir Putin was on shocking display at a joint news conference with Putin in July 2018 in Helsinki. Trump was asked if he believed that Russia had perpetrated hacking during the 2016 election to push votes toward Trump and away from Hillary Clinton. He responded that Putin had assured him that Russia had not done so and that Trump believed him. In doing so, Trump sided with Putins word over the high confidence assessments of our FBI, CIA and National Security Agency that, indeed, Russia had meddled in the 2016 presidential election.

This is who Trump is. He accuses any agency that goes against his beliefs or personal interests as being part of some nefarious deep state. Trump is alone across the last half century of American presidents to bad-mouth NATO  Americas critical security alliance with a host of other nations  and express fawning admiration for a Russian dictator.

What happened? The Republican Party was once known for its seriousness when it came to protecting national security. That was a key part of its brand. Throughout the Cold War, the Republican Party was steadfast in its concern about the Russian threat.

And now? That party is holding up the funds that Biden wants committed to the support of Ukrainian forces. Republicans truck out the old excuses. Too much. Just cant afford it. And: We shouldnt send money to foreigners when we have massive needs at home.

We need to put all this in context. The United States is the worlds largest economy currently approaching $27 trillion in gross domestic product. The United States is also the worlds greatest military power with annual military spending standing at $877 billion per year. When we add in budgets for nuclear weapons in the Department of Energy and for Homeland Defense and for Veterans Affairs, then, by some estimates, we spend roughly $1 trillion per year on national defense. This is greater than what the next 10 countries combined spend.

In 2022, Russia spent $87 billion on its military; its GDP stands at less than $2 trillion, placing it 11th among national economies. Mexico stands just below Russia in 12th place.

America today doesnt suffer from insufficient military strength, in other words. We suffer from too many in our society being distracted by stories designed to pull our attention away from real issues and tangible national and global threats.

A current big lie is that any billions given to Ukraine is somehow foreign aid and thus a gift to foreigners and something taken away from America.

The Republican Party of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon and John McCain would immediately see the parallels between Russias attack on Ukraine and Adolf Hitlers attack west on Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France. But todays Republican Party is beholden to Trump, who knows little of our nations history and cares little beyond his self-interest and sense of grievance.

It is clearly in Americas national security interest  and in our interest for the worlds international stability  to support Ukraine with all of our power. In Putin, we face our generations Hitler.

William French is an associate professor of theology at Loyola University Chicago with an emphasis on global security, environmental ethics, and war and peace studies.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
In a setback for Pakistan's former premier Imran Khan, the Lahore High Court on Wednesday upheld the rejection of his nomination papers for the February 8 general elections, Dawn News reported. The high court upheld the decisions of the returning officer (RO) and appellate tribunal given against acceptance of the disqualified former premier's nomination papers from NA-122 and NA-89 constituencies. It reported that Imran's nomination papers had been rejected primarily on the grounds of being convicted in the Toshakhana case, in which he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The case, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), had accused Imran of not mentioning the details of state gifts in his tax declarations. Imran's nomination papers from NA-122 were also dismissed on the grounds of the proposer not being a voter from the constituency. The appellate tribunals had also upheld the decisions of the respective returning officers (ROs) with an observation that the conviction and sentence were two different terms as conviction pertained to the guilty verdict and sentence stands for the rigours following conviction. Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) reserved the decision on a writ petition filed by Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan against the election appellate tribunal's dismissal of his appeal regarding the rejection of his nomination papers by the Returning officer (RO), The Express Tribune reported on Tuesday. Arguing during the hearing, Imran Khan's counsel contended that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lacks the authority to disqualify an individual. The tribunals had noted that the conviction meant a guilty verdict pronounced by a court in reference to the delinquency attributed to an accused, whereas the sentence denoted the quantum of punishment. Subsequently, Imran had filed two petitions in the LHC asking the high court to set aside the decisions of the ROs and the appellate tribunals of rejecting the nomination papers of the petitioner from both constituencies of the National Assembly. During the previous hearing, Advocate Uzair Bhandari had argued on behalf of Imran that the conviction on the charge of moral turpitude did not fall under the definition of disqualification. He said the conviction of the petitioner could not be equated with the conviction for corruption or accumulating illegal assets, Dawn News reported. He also pointed out that an Indian court enlisted the offence of moral turpitude lower than the offence involving financial corruption. However, the bench observed that the standards of morality in Pakistan were different from other regions. Bhandari further argued that the RO had no jurisdiction to pass the impugned order on the basis of the conviction on moral turpitude. Meanwhile, a lawyer for the ECP argued that the petitioner's conviction was still in force and he had not been acquitted by the high court.(ANI)
Ending hopes for Pakistan's former premier Imran Khan, the Lahore High Court on Wednesday upheld the rejection of his nomination papers for the February 8 general elections, Dawn News reported. The high court upheld the decisions of the returning officer (RO) and appellate tribunal given against acceptance of the disqualified former premier's nomination papers from NA-122 and NA-89 constituencies. It reported that Imran's nomination papers had been rejected primarily on the grounds of being convicted in the Toshakhana case, in which he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The case, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), had accused Imran of not mentioning the details of state gifts in his tax declarations. Imran's nomination papers from NA-122 were also dismissed on the grounds of the proposer not being a voter from the constituency. The appellate tribunals had also upheld the decisions of the respective returning officers (ROs) with an observation that the conviction and sentence were two different terms as conviction pertained to the guilty verdict and sentence stands for the rigours following conviction. Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) reserved the decision on a writ petition filed by Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan against the election appellate tribunal's dismissal of his appeal regarding the rejection of his nomination papers by the Returning officer (RO), The Express Tribune reported on Tuesday. Arguing during the hearing, Imran Khan's counsel contended that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lacks the authority to disqualify an individual. The tribunals had noted that the conviction meant a guilty verdict pronounced by a court in reference to the delinquency attributed to an accused, whereas the sentence denoted the quantum of punishment. Subsequently, Imran had filed two petitions in the LHC asking the high court to set aside the decisions of the ROs and the appellate tribunals of rejecting the nomination papers of the petitioner from both constituencies of the National Assembly. During the previous hearing, Advocate Uzair Bhandari had argued on behalf of Imran that the conviction on the charge of moral turpitude did not fall under the definition of disqualification. He said the conviction of the petitioner could not be equated with the conviction for corruption or accumulating illegal assets, Dawn News reported. He also pointed out that an Indian court enlisted the offence of moral turpitude lower than the offence involving financial corruption. However, the bench observed that the standards of morality in Pakistan were different from other regions. Bhandari further argued that the RO had no jurisdiction to pass the impugned order on the basis of the conviction on moral turpitude. Meanwhile, a lawyer for the ECP argued that the petitioner's conviction was still in force and he had not been acquitted by the high court.(ANI)
Pakistan Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani had a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Wednesday and said that the airstrikes in Balochistan have caused serious damage to bilateral ties between the two countries, the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an official statement. "Expressing Pakistan's unreserved condemnation of the attack, the Foreign Minister added that the incident has caused serious damage to bilateral ties between Pakistan and Iran. The Foreign Minister added that Pakistan reserved the right to respond to this provocative act," Foreign Minister Jilani said. The Pakistani foreign minister also underscored that the attack conducted by Iran inside Pakistani territory on Tuesday was not only a serious breach of Pakistan's sovereignty but was also an egregious violation of international law and the spirit of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran. As per the official statement, Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, who is currently leading the Pakistan delegation to the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Kampala, Uganda, received a telephone call from the Foreign Minister of Iran, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, today. Accused of giving shelter to terrorist groups, Foreign Minister Jilani stressed that "Terrorism was a common threat to the region and required concerted and coordinated efforts to combat this menace. He also underlined that unilateral actions could seriously undermine regional peace and stability. No country in the region should tread this perilous path." Earlier, Iran attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group opposed to Tehran with drones and missiles inside Pakistan territory on late hours of Tuesday. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the violation of Pakistan's sovereignty is "completely unacceptable" and warned of serious consequences. It further said that Iran has taken this action despite the existence of several channels of communication between the two nations. "Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act and the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran," Baloch said, adding that Islamabad had conveyed the message to the Iranian government," the foreign ministry spokesperson said. Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl, designated as a "terrorist" organisation by Iran, is a Sunni terrorist group that operates in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. Over the years, Jaish al-Adl has launched numerous attacks on Iranian security forces. In December, Jaish al-Adl took responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Balochistan that claimed the lives of at least 11 police personnel, Al Arabiya News reported. Sistan-Balochistan borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. The region has a history of clashes between Iran's security forces and Sunni terrorists, as well as drug smugglers, Al Arabiya News reported. Dawn news reported that last month, at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an attack overnight on a police station in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, while visiting the site, had urged Pakistan to prevent terrorist groups from establishing bases within its borders. The attacks in Pakistan were carried out a day after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missiles into Iraq's Kurdistan region at what it called an Israeli "spy headquarters" and at alleged ISIS-linked targets in Syria, the report said. (ANI)
Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) held a grand rally on the 120th birth anniversary of the founder of modern Sindhi nationalism, Sain GM Syed. Hundreds of JSFM workers, women and children participated in the grand rally from Sann City to the shrine of GM Syed. The establishment failed to stop the caravans that came out despite Section 144 imposed by the state institutions in Sann City on the birth anniversary of Sindh leader GM Syed, JSFM Central Media Secretary Murk Sindhu said in a press release. In the press release, JSFM stated, "The Bhutto family, at the behest of military dictators, thought of enslaving the Sindhi people forever, which Sain GM Syed rejected and proposed the restoration of an independent Sindh." Central General Secretary of Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement Amar Azadi, Farhan Sindhi, Murk Sindhu, Shoban Sindhi and Shaan Sindhi celebrated the 120th birth anniversary of the great leader of Sindh, the founder of modern nationalism, Sain GM Syed. During the rally, the workers carried banners and placards against the forced conversion of Sindhi Hindu girls and the enforced disappearance of political activists from Sindh and Balochistan in Sindh. Participants in the rally shouted slogans of the displeasure of the occupation by the army. The message on the banner held by people participating in the rally stated, "Stop Enforced Disappearances of Sindhi Baloch and Pashtoons", "Stop Forcibly Conversion of Sindhi Hindu Girls" and "Stop Transfer of 52,000 acre land of Sindhi to Paki Army," "Long Live Sindhudesh" and "Long Live Sain GM Sayed." In his speech, the exiled chairman of the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement, Sohail Abro spoke about rights in Sindh. He raised his voice against "the brutality of the Punjabi army and the pimps, feudal lords and religious terror of the army." Sohail Abro stressed that the entire Sindhi nation is on the path shown by GM Syed and added, "We will stand together and celebrate the independence of Sindh." The rally passed through various intersections and reached the shrine of GM Syed in Sunshahr with national slogans. The press release stated, "The Bhutto family, at the behest of military dictators, thought of enslaving the Sindhi people forever, which Sain GM Syed rejected and proposed the restoration of an independent Sindh." A cake was cut on the 120th birth anniversary of GM Syed while the national anthem of Sindhudesh was sung and the devotion was renewed by placing flowers. Following this, a visit was made to the shrines of Muzaffar Bhutto, Afzal Pahwar and other people who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for the freedom of Sindh and the love of Sindh's homeland. In a joint statement, Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) Chairman Sohail Abro, Vice Chairman Zubair Sindhi, General Secretary Amar Azadi, Farhan Sindhi, Hafeez Deshi, Murk Sindhu and Hoshu Sindhi, said that the state of Pakistan is involved in electoral politics. The leaders urged the people not to take part in elections, according to the press release. The joint statement further stated, "The occupying state is committing atrocities on oppressed nations, Sindhi, Baloch, Pashtun, Kashmiri, and Saraiki, taking away their land ownership rights. The descendants of the first martyr of Sindh, Maharaja Dahir, the Hindu girls of Sindh, are blackmailed and forced to change their religion." They called for the safe release of forcibly disappeared political and peaceful activists from Sindh, Balochistan and Pashtunistan, according to a JSFM press release. They also called the oppressed nations to participate in tomorrow's Twitter space on social media platform X hosted by Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement. (ANI)
Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said that India's semiconductor mission is focussed on talent development and designing the entire chip. Speaking at the World Economic Forum annual meeting, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "The biggest priority is on design that's where we have a very big strength. We have as I said about 300,000 design engineers. In design, we are advancing from being a back office to actually producing the complete chip or rather designing the complete chip, two going out to the customers taking the concept and then developing the entire chip. So that's a very important journey. So this is a very big focus for us." "The second big focus for us is to make sure that talent for all parts of the ecosystem gets developed and in that, it's very important to continuously upgrade the course curriculums. It is very important to make sure that we are connected with the companies that are working on it. For example, in applied materials, we've worked with them and they have approved a USD 300 investment in India where they have set up a big base where they're designing the equipment and that's an important point for ASML also. They are designing the equipment, and manufacturing the components there so that their supply chain also becomes resilient. So there is a lot of collaboration. There's a collaboration with another company where they have set up their most advanced training system called 'Semiverse' which will be used to train about 6,000 technicians in India in semiconductor manufacturing. So those kinds of collaboration are what we are focussed on." Vaishnaw called India the right place for developing semiconductors as the country has a large pool of talent, which includes close to 300,000 design engineers who practically design every complex chip which is manufactured in the world. He said India is looking to develop the complete ecosystem of semiconductors, including design capabilities and manufacturing software and hardware part of it. Speaking about India's semiconductor mission, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "We look at this semi-conductor mission. We call it India Semiconductor's mission in a very comprehensive way. We know this is a very important industry, and India is the right place for developing it because we have a very large pool of talent already there, with close to 300,000 design engineers designing practically every complex chip that is manufactured in the world. So, it is very natural to move on to the value chain and move towards manufacturing. So, we are looking at developing the complete ecosystem of semiconductors, which means design capabilities, the software part of it, manufacturing the hardware part of it and talent." He further said that India, in its semiconductor program has announced and committed to developing 85,000 talents, which includes engineers, BTech, MTech, PhD and technicians for managing clean rooms, working out machines, the entire thing, and the entire spectrum over the next ten years and within a short time. He said, "We announced this policy in January 2022. It's just 24 months now and within this short time frame, we have tied up with 104 universities, redesigned the entire course curriculum, and tied up with international institutions including the University of Purdue. We have had the first plant, which was announced during Prime Minister Modi's US State visit on June 23. And within 90 days of that announcement, the construction of the first plant started in September 2023. So, it's a very rapid progress, very focused. Yes, unlike the US, which has USD 55 million, our program is at this point of time USD 10 billion." Highlighting the change in the semiconductor market, he said that there is a huge market share and demand for chips that are not only 7 or 2 nanometres but also 28 nanometres. He said, "So, all the experts that we have been discussing with, they say that the entire semiconductor market has evolved in a very interesting way. There is a huge market share and huge demand for chips, which are not on that 7 nanometres, 2 nanometres, kind of cutting edge technologies." "There is a significant demand for 28 nanometres and above for automotive, for telecom, for power, for power electronics, for train sets, for everything that goes in the day-to-day household units. At this point, we are focussed on getting into that market segment. Once the ecosystem starts developing, then we move on to more leading edges," he added. Calling trust India's biggest capital, he said the entire world has developed a "very big amount of trust" in India. He stated that India has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with US, Europe and Japan. He further said that India is working with the South Korean government and companies on semiconductors. Speaking about where New Delhi stands amid the battle between the West and China over chips, the minister said, "If you look at how India has conducted its foreign policy, its economic policy, the way it has conducted itself - the entire world has developed a very big amount of trust on India. That trust is what is our biggest capital. That trust gels the entire world in a very harmonious way. For eg, we have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the US, Europe, and Japan. "On semiconductors, we are working with the South Korean government and South Korean companies. It's like every possible company wants to collaborate with India in one way or the other. So, we don't think that it's a battle, we think that there is enough for everybody. It's a question of how much importance we give and how much talent we put into it and how much focussed we are on it," he added. Speaking about how dynamic the semiconductor industry is, he said it is not easy to predict what changes will happen in the next 10 years. He said, "It's too complex and too dynamic and too uncertain for anyone to bet that this is how the sector will be in 10 years from now." He further said, "Just say, how five years back nobody thought that 28-nanometre or 40-nanometre chips would not be viable anymore but the way that the electric vehicle industry has evolved, the way the telecom has become pervasive, those legacy nodes as they were called have become very important market share." (ANI)
ATKINSON, N.H.  After Donald Trumps record victory in the Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire voters now get their turn to decide just how competitive the Republican nominating fight will be as the former president continues to dominate his party.

Trump was eager Tuesday to flaunt his 30-point victory in Iowa a night earlier, as he stepped up the pressure on former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to improve on their distant finishes in the opening votes of the 2024 presidential election. They have a one-week sprint ahead of next Tuesdays primary in New Hampshire, the longtime host of the nations first Republican presidential primary.

Our country is dying.  And I stand before you today as the only candidate who is up to the task of saving America, Trump declared in Atkinson, where hundreds of his supporters cheered the former presidents boasts about his standing in polls, attacks on President Joe Biden and sweeping promises to make our country rich as hell again.

DeSantis, the Florida governor, and Haley, Trumps former United Nations Ambassador and onetime South Carolina governor, were campaigning Tuesday in New Hampshire, as well. DeSantis got about 21% of the vote in Iowa, 30 percentage points behind Trumps narrow majority and 2 points ahead of Haleys third-place finish.

New Hampshires electorate is less religiously conservative and less rural than in Iowa, factors that helped Trump in the caucuses. If DeSantis and Haley cannot capitalize on those differences, they could watch Trump sustain momentum that would render the rest of the Republican primary calendar little more than a formality.

You must go out and vote, Trump said. We have to show margins like never before.

Haley, who has sought to build a wide coalition that includes independents, has put great emphasis on New Hampshire, hoping it becomes a springboard to her home-state South Carolina primary next month. DeSantis, who has run more as a Trumpian conservative, put more stock in Iowa, so now must regroup quickly for New Hampshire or risk squandering his second-place finish.

Severe winter weather already is altering campaign schedules and making their tasks harder. DeSantiss campaign had to cancel an afternoon event because of difficult travel conditions.

ABC News, meanwhile, canceled a Thursday debate after it became clear only DeSantis seemed sure to participate. Haley, angling to frame the primary as a battle between Trump and herself, had suggested earlier Tuesday that she would debate only if Trump joined her. Trump has skipped every GOP primary debate so far and said he would take the stage only against a Republican rival who was commensurate with him in the polls.

We are beating everybody, Trump bragged in Atkinson, where he also showed off an endorsement from Vivek Ramaswamy, the biotech entrepreneur who suspended his campaign after finishing with single-digit support in Iowa.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who defeated Trump in the Iowa caucuses in 2016, endorsed the former president Tuesday evening, as well. At this point, I believe this race is over so Im proud to endorse Donald Trump, Cruz said on Fox. News.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison, a harsh Trump critic, also suspended his bid Tuesday, leaving a three-candidate field.

Trump began his day in New York, appearing at a civil defamation trial stemming from a columnists claims he sexually attacked her, but used his legal troubles, including four pending criminal cases against him, as part of his pitch, dismissing bullsh indictments as a Biden administration effort to derail his political comeback.

Certainly, Trumps troubles have given some Republicans pause and turned off plenty of independents. According to an APVoteCast survey of more than 1,500 Iowa caucusgoers, about a quarter of caucus participants believe Trump has done something illegal when it comes to at least one of the legal cases he is facing: his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, his alleged attempts to interfere in the vote count in the 2020 presidential election or the discovery of classified documents at his Florida home that were supposed to be in government custody.

Kristen Mansharamani, an independent voter from Lincoln, New Hampshire, said she has never considered backing Trump in 2024 and would back Haley.

I told my 12-year-old son that I am looking for the person who I think is going to get rid of some of the standstill and the polarization in politics and I think she can do that better than anyone else out there right now, the 48-year-old said.

Yet Haley and DeSantis must contend with hardcore Republicans like Nancy Otovic, a 75-year-old retiree who stood in frigid conditions for hours Tuesday to hear Trump.

Our world is in a spiral, and hes going to help us, she said, her parka still wet even after she made it indoors. Enduring subfreezing weather, she said, was a necessary sacrifice to see the former president. Happy to be here, she declared.

The question is whether the electorate next Tuesday has enough voters like Mansharamani. Voters who are registered without a party affiliation make up about 40% of the electorate in New Hampshire and are eligible to cast a Republican primary ballot. New voters can also register at the polls on Tuesday.

Haley leaned directly into New Hampshires reputation for independence, launching a statewide television ad Tuesday morning that hit both Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden ahead of her arrival in the state.

The two most disliked politicians in America, the ad calls them, painting the 81-year-old president and 77-year-old former president together as being consumed by chaos, negativity and grievance of the past.

DeSantis, meanwhile, opted to start in Haleys home state, where he attacked her rather than Trump. In Greenville, South Carolina, DeSantis dismissed Haleys attempts to frame the campaign as a battle between her and Trump. DeSantis panned Haleys performance as governor and said his Florida record earned more support from Iowa conservatives. Haley, he added, is depending on Democrats to change their registration.

As for Trump, DeSantis acknowledged the former presidents advantage, calling him basically an incumbent, while at the same time trying to minimize his victory margin in Iowa.

Half the people wanted someone else, DeSantis said. Trump, in fact, stood at 51% with 99% of the vote counted, well outpacing Haleys and DeSantis combined vote totals.

Haleys and DeSantis tacks coming out of Iowa are nonetheless reflective of the support they drew in the caucuses.

According to AP VoteCast data that surveyed more than 1,500 caucus participants, Haley was the top candidate of the most anti-Trump Republicans in Iowa, including those who believe the former president did something illegal in one of the pending criminal cases against him. She was also the top choice for those who voted for Biden in the 2020 election.

In total, less than half of her supporters in Iowa said they voted for Trump in 2020, with the remainder supporting Biden, saying they supported a third-party candidate or that they stayed home.

DeSantis, meanwhile, performed best among the caucusgoers dissatisfied with Trump but who said they would ultimately vote for him in the general election. Most Iowa caucusgoers for either Haley or DeSantis say they would be dissatisfied with Trump as their partys nominee. But unlike DeSantis backers, two-thirds of Haleys caucusgoers say they would not ultimately vote for Trump in the general election.

If there is an opening for DeSantis and Haley, it could be forecast in Trumps weakness in the Iowa suburbs, where he won only a third of the votes. Iowas suburbs are more educated and less evangelical than the states rural and small-town areas Trump dominated. New Hampshires Republican electorate is more reflective of Iowas suburban population.

Barrow reported from Atlanta. Price reported from Atkinson, New Hampshire. AP Director of Public Opinion Research Emily Swanson in Washington and Jeffrey Collins in Greenville, South Carolina, contributed.
A shark bit a 10-year-old Maryland boy who was on vacation in the Bahamas on Monday afternoon, authorities said.

The attack unfolded at about 4 p.m. ET on Paradise Island as the boy was "participating in an expedition in a Shark Tank at a local resort," the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in statement.

He was taken to the hospital and listed as stable.

Police Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told NBC News on Tuesday that she couldn't explain what protections were in place at the "Shark Tank" expedition.

"I'm a police officer on the island, and I have never been over to the aquarium that they're referring to. As for how it's set up, you'll have to speak to personnel at the resort," said Skippings, who declined to name the resort.

The Atlantis Paradise Island appears to offer a snorkeling program in which patrons can get "alongside sleek sharks, spotted rays, and brilliantly colored tropical fish in this underwater setting."

Michael and Tori Massie told NBC News they were in the tank at Atlantis Paradise Island when the boy was bitten; they were taking part in an underwater encounter called Walking with the Sharks, run by an outside company. It was described on the resorts website as easy and fun allowing visitors to see Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks up close, but the experience appears to have been removed from the site since the incident.

At first, the Massies said the experience  led by guides  was serene and peaceful. Once the little boy came down, it just kind of took a dark turn, Tori Massie said. We saw the sharks hone in on him and then just like a pool of blood afterwards.

NBC News reached out to Atlantis Paradise Island and Blue Adventures by Stuart Cove, the company that runs the shark tank experience, and has not heard back.

A spokesperson for the State Department says they are aware of the incident and stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance.

The couple, who is now back home, said they signed a waiver and knew there were risks going into the tank but believe more should have been done to protect everyone involved.

They failed this child and this family, Michael Massie said.

This comes on the heels of another shark attack in the Bahamas that killed a 44-year-old woman from Boston who was paddle-boarding off the coast last month.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WTVP-TV Board Chairman Andrew Rand and 10 other members of the WTVP Board of Directors announced their resignations Tuesday in yet another bombshell development at the embattled public television station.

The board then accepted appointments of eight new members, including John Wieland, MH Equipment Company's CEO, as the board's new chair.

Wieland in his first remarks as board chairman said Tuesday that misuse of funds like that seen at WTVP "can happen in any organization." He then applauded the outgoing board members for taking the "appropriate steps" following the revelation of wrongdoing, but said the "damage had already been done."

Wieland also said he is confident the board can secure grant funding that has been withheld by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and that the station could return to solid financial footing after an influx of new donor money.

More: WTVP is at the center of a financial crisis. Here's what we know so far

Tuesday's resignations came as public cries for board members to resign grew louder and louder as more information came out about the misuse of station funds that plunged WTVP into a financial crisis.

In December, the board of directors said it appeared that WTVP's deceased former CEO Lesley Matuszak and former finance director Lin McLaughlin had been the duo that spent station money in a manner that was "improper, unauthorized or questionable."

A criminal investigation by the Peoria Police Department had also been launched into the financial woes of WTVP. The Illinois Attorney General's Office opened an inquiry as well.

Those revelations led to public anger and calls for the entire board to resign.

On Tuesday, the following 11 board members stepped down:

Chairman Andrew Rand

Stephen Morris

Sid Ruckriegel

Wayne Cannon

John Day

Monica Hendrickson

Amanda Campbell

Stephen Shipley

Jerry Herbstreith

Ashley Spain

Sally Snyder

Wieland will now lead the new board, which added eight new members Tuesday, including outgoing Republican state Sen. Win Stoller.

The eight new board members are:

John Wieland, new board chair

Andy Chiou

Martin Johnson

Daysha Warr

Dan Pearson

Heather Acerra

Win Stoller

Rick Lavender

One of the groups calling for the resignation of board members was Friends of 47, a new group whose goal was to advocate for "transparent" change at the station.

On Tuesday, the group's director, Becky Doubleday, said the group did not understand yet exactly how Tuesday's resignations will impact the station moving forward and did not feel the selection process of new board members was very transparent.

"We don't know anything about the new members coming on board or the new chair Mr. Wieland. I don't know him personally," Doubleday said. "We'll be coming out with a statement in the next few days as an assessment of where we think this could go."

She said the best solution moving forward was a "fresh, clean start" for the board of directors, which seemed to come true, in part, on Tuesday.

Doubleday said Friends of 47 had no comment on the criminal investigation surrounding WTVP.

"(The board) they're in charge of running the organization as a whole, as far as any criminal investigations or Illinois Attorney General investigations are concerned, those might be outside the realm of what the board of directors can actually do right now," Doubleday said. "That's for those entities, if they choose, to decide what to do with those."

More: 'He did it out of his heart': Well-known Peoria dentist remembered for helping others

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Amid controversy, 11 board members resign from WTVP in Peoria
A 16-year-old employee at a poultry processor was killed after being pulled into a chicken deboning machine. The proposed fine for the Mississippi plant: $212,000

A Mississippi poultry plant is facing more than $200,000 in fines after a teen worker was killed.

The 16-year-old contract worker was pulled into a chicken deboning machine while cleaning it last year.

About two years earlier, an adult employee was killed while working at the same facility.

A Mississippi poultry processing plant is facing more than $200,000 in fines from the US Department of Labor after a 16-year-old contract employee was killed after being pulled into a chicken deboning machine.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration released a statement this week blaming Mar-Jac Poultry's ineffective safety policies for the teen's death. Following an investigation into the incident, OSHA cited the processing plant for 17 violations and proposed $212,646 in fines.

Mar-Jac Poultry, the Georgia-based poultry processor, has plants across the US South. A representative for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

While the government did not name the victim, the Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity, a nonprofit supporting migrants, previously identified the teenager as Duvan Tomas Perez, according to The New York Times.

Perez immigrated to the US from Guatemala about six or seven years ago, the organization said. He was employed at the Mississippi plant via a contract staffing agency, according to a Department of Labor report.

On July 14, 2023, Perez was sanitizing a chicken deboning machine when he became caught in a rotating shaft and pulled into the machine, according to the OSHA report.

Minors are not supposed to clean meat-processing machines like the one that killed the teenager because the Labor Department has deemed them too dangerous, according to The Times.

The government's probe into the incident said the plant failed to employ a device that would keep the machine from turning on during cleaning.

The teenager was the second worker killed at the Hattiesburg facility in a little over two years. The Department of Labor first cited the Mississippi plant for unsafe working conditions in 2021 after an adult employee died when his shirt became caught in a machine.

In May 2021, an employee was removing chicken parts from the carousel of a different machine when his left sleeve became caught, pulling him into the eviscerator and pinning his body under the heavy machinery, according to OSHA.

"Following the fatal incident in May 2021 Mar-Jac Poultry should have enforced strict safety standards in its facility," OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer said in a Tuesday statement.

"Only about two years later nothing has changed and the company continues to treat employee safety as an afterthought, putting its workers at risk," he added. "No worker should be placed in a preventable, dangerous situation, let alone a child."

Mar-Jac Poultry has 15 days to comply with the proposed fines or contest the findings.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A 17-year-old has died after his car left the road and hit a tree in Cherokee County.

The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office identified the crash victim as 17-year-old William Sternot from Roswell.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Deputies responded to the accident Tuesday around 7:48 p.m. on Earney Road near Silver Fox Run.

Sternet was driving a Mazda 3 when he left the roadway and crashed into a tree. Deputies say he was dead at the scene. No one else was in the car.

Preliminary indications are that speed was a contributing factor in the accident, the sheriffs office said.

TRENDING STORIES:

This is the second deadly crash involving teens where speed appeared to be a factor within the past week in Cherokee County.

On Jan. 9, deputies responded to a crash off Towne Lake Parkway near Towne Lake Hills East around 8:17 p.m.

Deputies say a Mazda 6 carrying five teenagers left the road and hit a tree. Two teens, 17-year-old Gabriel Escandon and 18-year-old Esteban Cortez-Rendon, died from their injuries.

The sheriffs office said a 17-year-old suffered serious injuries. The driver, a 17-year-old from Smyrna, and an 18-year-old passenger from Oklahoma had non-life-threatening injuries.

The final reports for both crashes have not been released.

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IN OTHER NEWS
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) said it arrested and charged 18-year-old Joseph De-La-Paz for a strong-arm carjacking and an armed carjacking.

Police said that on Nov. 7, at about 7:40 p.m., 4th District officers responded to the 3100 block of McMahon Rd., for the report of a carjacking.

Officers said that a woman was at the trunk of her car when she was approached by five men wearing all-black clothing and black ski masks. The woman said that one of the men pointed a gun at her and demanded the keys to her car.

The woman said that another suspect took out a knife and poked her with it. The woman then said the men asked her for her phone and then left in her car.

On Nov. 8, at about 9:15 p.m., officers from the Rockville City Police Department responded to the area of Leonard Ct., for the report of an armed carjacking.

Tractor trailer fire closes part of Route 267 in Loudoun County

Police said that a woman was parked when she was approached by three men wearing all dark clothing and masks. Two of the suspects approached the drivers side and pulled out a gun while the third suspect approached the passenger side of the vehicle.

The men asked the woman to drive them to her bank, but the woman ran away and called police. The suspects drove away in her car.

Police identified De-La-Paz as one of the suspects.

On Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, De-La-Paz was charged with multiple counts of armed carjacking, armed robbery, assault, theft, and firearm-related charges. He is currently being held on bond.

Police continue to search for the additional suspects.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Southbound traffic comes to a halt on the Antelope Valley Freeway after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, with large pieces of the freeway heavily damaged. (Lacy Atkins / Los Angeles Times)

Susan Hough remembers the violent shaking that jolted her and millions of other Southern Californians awake just after 4:30 a.m. 30 years ago.

"It was like a giant picked up my house and started shaking it back and forth in his fist," said Hough, a geophysicist for the U.S. Geological Survey. She thought she heard glass breaking in her Pasadena home, "but when the dust settled, there were no broken windows and no broken furniture."

Many others were not so fortunate. The 6.7 magnitude quake centered in Northridge resulted in more than 9,000 injuries, 60 fatalities and up to $20 billion in property damage, plus $40 billion in economic losses, according to the California Department of Conservation.

A ruptured gas main burns behind a giant crater in the 11600 block of Balboa Boulevard in Granada Hills after the Northridge quake. (Los Angeles Times)

Scenes of devastation could be found across the city. A stretch of the 10 Freeway at La Cienega and Washington boulevards collapsed. A three-story Northridge apartment became a crumpled heap. Ruptured gas lines and propane tanks sent fiery balls bursting through asphalt roads in a mobile home park in the San Fernando Valley.

Communities were left without power, and the National Guard mobilized to prevent looting in blacked-out neighborhoods. Search-and-rescue missions were conducted for survivors who were stuck under rubble. Hospitals were inundated with the injured.

Since then, however, advances in science and technology have enabled seismologists to track and study quakes more effectively. Those advances don't negate the risk of destructive earthquakes that cause the sort of devastation seen 30 years ago. But at least we have more tools now to help us prepare for the next big temblor.

Read more: Northridge earthquake: Readers remember the disaster before dawn

Advances in earthquake science

Northridge spurred the development of the ShakeMap, which uses data from sensors to map ground motion and shaking intensity right after a significant earthquake.

These maps are used by local and federal agencies for earthquake response and recovery operations, as well as preparedness exercises and disaster planning. They also provide insights on quakes to researchers and the public.

The rapid feedback provided by ShakeMap stands in sharp contrast to the situation 30 years ago. When the tremor struck Northridge, it took about two months to map the distribution of the ground acceleration that occurred during the shaking, said Lucy Jones, California's earthquake expert.

Prior to Northridge, the data were recorded on photographic film chips by sensors out in the field. Here's how the U.S. Geological Survey described the process of gathering and analyzing the data back then: "Drive to the seismic station, retrieve the photographic film, bring it back to the lab, process it. With several earthquake recordings in hand and a ruler, measure the height of the wiggles and the time between the wiggles recorded at each station, and then triangulate on a location."

The film chips were left behind when sensors arrived that could send an analog signal about seismic activity through a radio. The signal's information was digitized when it got to a central computer. The computers in Pasadena were so old and slow, Jones said, the USGS had to program them to give the seismic data priority over anything else the machines were doing.

At the time of Northridge, Jones said, she was working with about seven computers out in the field collecting data and information. Now, there are hundreds of digital sensors out in the field.

Read more: 'Tectonic time bomb:' Mapping where massive California earthquakes cause the most shaking, destruction

The rapid ability to collect and analyze the information enables the USGS to disseminate information about quakes faster than the most powerful tremors spread through the ground. The USGS now manages ShakeAlert, an earthquake early warning system designed to give people on the West Coast notice of when a moderate to strong quake hits nearby. The hope is that the system will alert people at least a few seconds before an earthquake's waves reach their location, giving them time to take shelter.

Whether the alerts reach people in advance, though, depends on how intense the quake is and how far away it starts, the USGS says. It can take time for information to be collected, analyzed and then sent to a person's phone via earthquake alert, according to USGS. The larger the temblor, the greater the amount of data needed and processed from a number of seismic stations.

Workers remove awnings and debris hanging from the area of the Theatre in Fillmore in Ventura County on Jan. 21, 1994. The area was damaged during the Northridge earthquake. (For The Times)

Californians have three ways to receive alerts: through text-like wireless emergency alerts on their phones, via the MyShake smartphone app or through Android phones' built-in earthquake alerts.

Aside from locating the epicenter of a quake, Hough said, the current earthquake monitoring technology is also telling us the distribution of the shaking  how far from the epicenter the shaking occurred and its potential to cause harm there  which is what emergency responders need to know.

"Northridge sparked the development of the modern seismic network in California, essentially, and everything that follows from that," she said.

It brought together the seismic community that would establish the Southern California Earthquake Center, headquartered at USC, that has been a major partner in risk reduction efforts. It also ushered in the formation of the Advanced National Seismic System and at the regional level, the California Integrated Seismic network.

Read more: Mexico got early warning before deadly earthquake struck. When will California get that system?

Preparing for the next shake

When the earth rumbled on Jan. 17, 1994, then-Pasadena resident Robert de Groot said he got under a doorway.

"I realized later, that wasn't quite the right thing [to do]," said de Groot, USGS's ShakeAlert coordinator.

After Northridge, he said, scientists and emergency coordinators were motivated to revisit how to prepare and respond to such disasters.

One effort was completing the earthquake catalog that started in 1932. In 2008 a team of scientists led by seismologist Kate Hutton brought the log up to date, with records from almost 600,000 earthquakes, said Egill Hauksson, emeritus research professor of geophysics for Caltech.

Hutton's catalog is a trusted source and used throughout the world as a database for research to understand earthquakes  their occurrence, the sequence of main shocks and aftershocks, what triggers them, and more, Hauksson said.

Out of different research and preparedness studies came one familiar preparedness program: the Great ShakeOut earthquake drills, which launched in 2008. The exercises have been teaching students, workers and people at home to drop, cover and hold on during a large tremor.

"We now have very concrete steps we can do to protect ourselves not only before the earthquake, to get ready for that earthquake, what to do during [and] also how to recover from those events after it's over," he said.

Read more: Unshaken: The complete L.A. Times newsletter guide to earthquake readiness and resilience

Preparation doesn't just come in the form of a memorized plan and packed kit, but also in future-proofing your home.

In 2013, the state started offering grants to help homeowners retrofit older homes in areas at high risk of temblors. Dubbed  Earthquake Brace + Bolt , the program covers much or all of the cost of bolting a house to its foundation and bracing the studs holding up the ground floor.

State officials just announced that the program was expanding the availability by almost 60%, increasing the number of eligible ZIP Codes to 815 (including much of Los Angeles County). The programs basic grant covers up to $3,000 of the cost of a newly completed retrofit on a house built before 1980 with a raised foundation.

Households with incomes below $87,360 can qualify for an additional grant that could cover the entire cost of a retrofit, according to the program's website. The supplemental grant for bracing and bolting a home is $7,000 in Northern California, $2,650 in Southern California; smaller amounts are available for bolting only.

The program, which is overseen by the California Earthquake Authority and the Governors Office of Emergency Services, says it will accept grant applications on its website through Feb. 21. The grants have helped pay for retrofits at more than 23,000 homes so far, but the earthquake authority estimates that more than 1 million need seismic upgrades.

The state of California also stepped in after insurers sharply cut back on homeowners policies after Northridge, establishing the California Earthquake Authority to offer earthquake coverage. The premiums are significantly higher than what private insurers charged, though, in part because theyre designed to cover the damage even from a historically violent quake. As a result, the authority estimates that only 13% of California homeowners have earthquake insurance.

Read more: Lucy Jones says this is the most important thing you can do to prepare for a quake

The authority has tried to make its policies more affordable by offering more options  for example, allowing homeowners to have separate deductibles for their dwellings and the items in them, such as furniture, appliances and other personal items. In 2023 it also slashed the maximum limit of insurance for personal property from $200,000 to $25,000, eliminated some of the low-deductible options and the optional coverage for breakable items and masonry veneer.

Room for improvement

With important questions still to be answered about earthquakes, scientists are recruiting the public to help gather data about tremors in the region. In 1999 the reporting tool "Did you feel it?" was made available in English so Southern Californians could share their experience of the Northridge quake  where they were, how intense the shaking was, what happened to the items around them during the tremor, and what damage occurred.

The information supplements the readings scientists collected and assists in understanding the effects of past and future earthquakes. Hough said the responses from the questionnaire also help map the severity of earthquake shaking in far more detail.

"There may be thousands of [sensors] in California at this point, but there's 39 million people and every one of us is a potential human seismometer," Hough said.

As of Jan. 10, the reporting tool had 9,983 responses, but when looking at the locations generating the reports, she said, scientists realized that they weren't hearing from all over the battered Southern California region.

USGS has now made the online tool available in Spanish and Chinese, and the agency is again asking the public to log their experiences from 30 years ago. Hough said it's a step in the right direction to engage a diverse population.

Read more: Will your home survive a major quake? Free cash from California can help

There's also work to be done to improve the early warning system and move away from individualized emergency instructions, Jones said.

Japan and Mexico have integrated early warning systems into the fabric of daily life. Japan's warnings sound from cellphones, televisions and radios. Mexico's sirens blare moments after a large temblor is detected, aiming to give residents time to seek safety before the shaking reaches them.

In California, by contrast, the system relies on people signing up for alerts  and having a device on hand that can receive them.

The second hurdle, Jones said, is changing how emergency messaging is framed.

"It's an interesting thing about Americans, that we're so individualistic that FEMA is convinced that the only messages they can give out are for what an individual can do," she said.

The guidance, Jones argues, becomes isolating because it's all about what "you" can do for yourself and family.

"There's sort of an implication that your neighbor can become your enemy, yet the research shows us that the degree to which a community has high social capital, the degree that people are connected to each other, those are the communities that recover," she said. "And yet our messaging tends to be divisive."

Part of a person's emergency response plan should include their community, community resources, and what can be done for others.

"I think it's also what really needs to happen for us to get through the next earthquake," Jones said.

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.
Evanstons cease-fire resolution addressing the Israel-Palestine conflict has deeply engaged the citys politically-active residents. Around 60 individuals participated in public comment at the Jan. 8 City Council meeting, many sharing their views on the proposed resolution, even though it wasnt on the agenda.

The monthslong discourse has not only fueled discussion but also an ethics complaint against the citys Equity and Empowerment Commission.

The cease-fire resolution was withdrawn by the Equity and Empowerment Commission at its Nov. 30 meeting, following Commissioner Jane Grovers notion that the citys legal department alleged it was outside the commissions purview. However, some Evanston residents still find it pertinent that the City Council consider the resolution.

As a human being, I am compelled to beg for the cease-fire resolution, resident Anya Cordell said at the Jan. 8 City Council meeting. There is probably no attic in Gaza where an adolescent girl can safely shelter and write a diary of her experiences (like Anne Frank). If there were such a diary, it would inspire future generations to ask how the world allowed the liquidation of Gaza civilians.

Evanstons proposed resolution was brought forth by the Equity and Empowerment Commission rather than the mayor or a City Council member, Interim Communications Manager Jessica Mayo told Pioneer Press. The Equity and Empowerment Commission is now under investigation after 3rd Ward resident Greg Miller recently filed an ethics complaint against it.

Millers complaint alleges the commission is exceeding its boundaries of addressing Evanstons historical and structural problems related to racism. He alleges the commission should limit its work toward services, programs and policies within the city as outlined in the Code of Ordinances.

Miller declined to provide a statement to Pioneer Press.

In developing and disseminating this resolution, the commission has breached professional ethics in multiple regards, Millers complaint reads. They are misusing their authority and visibility as city leaders to promote views about an issue far outside the scope of their management. They are misusing city resources that are specifically allocated for achieving equity in Evanston, and in doing so, appropriating time and money that could be devoted toward that vital goal.

Equity and Empowerment Commission Chair Darlene Cannon told Pioneer Press the resolution could have a local impact. She said the conflict in Israel and Palestine emotionally impacts Evanstonians on both sides of the issue.

Youd have to be inhumane to not be impacted by this. Whats going on in the world globally will at some point impact us locally, Cannon, who was shocked by the ethics complaint, said. The travesty of what happened on Oct. 7 followed by the lives lost in Gaza, its concerning that innocent children are being killed. That impacts (residents) whether its happening here or somewhere else.

Those opposing the resolution say the commissions draft is one-sided and favors Palestine without properly addressing Israeli losses and antisemitism.

The cease-fire resolution  places the blame of the conflict squarely on Israel while neglecting to mention anything about the Hamas atrocities of Oct. 7, 7th Ward resident Shana Sexton said.

A group of residents worked to draft a new resolution acknowledging the pain felt by both sides. The resident-drafted resolution is not being considered by city government at this time but residents are lobbying local officials for it to go before the City Council. As of Jan. 16, no official referral has been made by an elected official, according to the referral tracker. The new, resident-driven draft includes sentiments addressing the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the more than 20,000 lives lost due to Israeli forces and Israeli hostages being held in captivity.

Were calling and having meetings with City Council members and going to meetings. Were lobbying clergy members and the mayor, resident Lesley Williams said. There are a lot of people who are determined to do this.

At least 15 municipalities have passed cease-fire resolutions, including Detroit, Atlanta and San Francisco. Chicago, Denver and Minneapolis are currently working on similar resolutions.

Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
At least three transgender people were killed in Mexico during the first two weeks of 2024, authorities in the country said, with the most recent death occurring over the weekend.

Samantha Gomez Fonseca, a transgender activist and politician, was shot multiple times inside a car in south Mexico City on Sunday, according to the Associated Press. Over 100 members of the local LGBTQ+ community responded to the killing with a protest on the Mexican capital's main expressway Monday.

Samantha listen, were fighting for you," protestors chanted, the outlet reports, as others carried signs reading your hate speech kills.

Fonseca had planned to march with the protestors during the rally, which originally intended to call for broader transgender acceptance in Mexican society. After news of Fonseca's death spread, those marching instead called for legal action, including the bolstering of hate crime laws, which only protect LGBTQ+ people in some Mexican states.

Transgender activist Miriam Nohemi Rios was also shot to death last week at her business in Michoacan, a central Mexican state. In another central state, Jalisco, authorities reported finding a transgender person's body in a ravine with gunshot wounds, according to the AP.

Two other cases were registered by rights groups, who said that the cases have not yet been confirmed by law enforcement, as they often fail to share information pertinent to documenting hate crimes.

Letra S, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding LGBTQ+ rights in Mexico, reported the killing of transgender stylist Gaby Ortiz, whose body was found in the state of Hidalgo near a road with a threatening message written on a piece of cardboard next to her.

The National Observatory of Hate Crimes Against LGBTI people also documented the killing of a transgender woman, known only as Ivonne, who was found dead alongside her partner in the state of Veracruz, per the AP.

The killings occurred amidst remarks from Mexican President Manuel Lopez Obrador, who recently apologized to a transgender woman legislator after he misgendered and mocked her as a man dressed like a woman. Activists say that such harmful rhetoric from politicians can exacerbate the violence against the transgender community.

Less than 4 percent of criminal investigations in Mexico are solved, and approximately 92 percent of crimes were unreported in 2022, according to a report from that year.
Authorities are investigating after four people were found dead in a Palmdale home on Tuesday.

Los Angeles County firefighters responded to reports of medical distress at a home on the 37500 block of 17th Street at around 4:30 p.m.

Arriving crews found four people, identified as adult males, inside the residence. They were unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.

Fire crews contacted L.A. County Sheriffs deputies who also responded to the home.

Authorities are investigating after four people were found dead in a Palmdale home on Jan. 16, 2024. (KTLA)

Authorities are investigating after four people were found dead in a Palmdale home on Jan. 16, 2024. (KTLA)

Authorities are investigating after four people were found dead in a Palmdale home on Jan. 16, 2024. (KTLA)

Authorities are investigating after four people were found dead in a Palmdale home on Jan. 16, 2024. (KTLA)v

Drone helps Murrieta police capture group of suspects

No one else was discovered inside the house. Its unclear what type of medical issue the men were experiencing at the time as the events leading up to their death remain under investigation.

Authorities later identified the men as a white male in his 60s, two white males in their 30s and a Latino in his 40s.

Police have taped off the home and the immediate roadway out front

No details on anything else that may have been found at the scene were released. The official cause of death will be determined by the coroners office.

Family members of one of the victims arrived at the home Wednesday morning but did not want to talk to reporters.

It was unclear which of the victims the family was related to.

Footage of the crime scene can be viewed in the video player above.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, Digital Trends and Yahoo Inc. may earn a commission.

Samsung

One of the best things you can do to upgrade your desktop or laptop setup is buying a new screen, and going for a 4k monitor is probably one of the best options out there. Luckily, there are a lot of options for you to pick from; whether youre looking for something thats good for gaming or just something thats perfect for work, theres something for you out there. To that end, weve done our best to draw on our experience in the technical and e-commerce fields to find you the best 4k monitors in various price ranges and features.

The Best 4K Monitors in 2024

Buy the Corsair XENEON if you want the best overall 4k monitor

Buy the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 if you want the best high-end 4k gaming monitor

Buy the Sony Inzone M9 if you want the best 4k monitor for console gaming

Buy the GIGABYTE M28U if you want the best budget 4k monitor for gaming and work

Buy the Dell S2722QC if you want the best 4k monitor for work

Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144

Best overall 4k monitor

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends / Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Pros Cons Excellent visual performance Still a bit pricey Fast response times Monitor mount is stable but massive Good ergonomics

Youre probably more familiar with Corsair from the keyboards, mice, and headphones it makes, but the company has also gotten into gaming monitors as well. In fact, the Corsair Xeneon is an excellent overall gaming monitor with a lot going for it under the hood. For example, beyond just the 4k resolution that it can run, it has a 144Hz refresh rate, which isnt as high as some other monitors, but its an excellent amount given that even the RTX 4090 might struggle to do 4k with 144Hz on high graphical settings.

The Xenon also has an IPS panel, which means great viewing angles and solid color reproduction and image fidelity, so youre going to really enjoy gaming on this. It also comes with DisplayHDR600, which isnt really comparable to the HDR that youd find on a TV. As such, dont expect an equivalent experience, but its still a nice little thing to have, especially since it gives you some more options when it comes to brightness. We also appreciate that it covers 100% sRGB and 100% Adobe RGB, so if you do a bit of graphic design or rendering, this is the perfect dual-use monitor.

As for other features, you get a 1ms MPRT response time, which is excellent, especially if you tend to play a lot of FPS or action-packed games where each millisecond counts. It also has AMD FreeSync Premium, which helps with things like ghosting and vertical tears, and its supported by N-Vidia now, so even if you have an RTX card, youll be fine. We also want to mention that it has surprisingly good ergonomics, something we dont see with a lot of higher-end gaming monitors, especially the bigger they get in size.

Specifications Screen Size

32-inches Panel Type

IPS Refresh rate

144Hz Response time

1ms MPRT

Check Price

Samsung Odyssey Neo G8

Best high-end 4k monitor

Samsung

Pros Cons High refresh rate Viewing angles not great Very quick response time Expensive Mini-LED lighting

If you want a premium gaming monitor, its hard to beat the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8, with potentially only the Samsung Ark being better, although that costs several times the Neo G8. Luckily, the Neo G8 is pretty incredible with its 32-inch curved monitor and a whopping 240Hz refresh rate. While you likely wont have any GPUs that can really hit that refresh rate with graphics set to the max, it does give you a bit of wiggle room if you want to prioritize refresh rates when playing more action-packed games.

Speaking of action-packed games, the Neo G8 has a 1ms GTG response time, which is very impressive, and will suit those who need that sort of speed. Youll also be happy to know that it comes with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to help with screen tearing and ghosting, as well as Quantum HDR2000, which is Samsungs own HDR+ system. Again, that HDR is not going to be quite the same as you might find on a typical TV, but it does get pretty close and also gives you a typical peak brightness of 1,000 nits, which is a lot.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the Neo G8 comes with Quantum Matrix Technology, which sadly doesnt mean we can dodge bullets, but it does mean that the screen is lit using mini-LEDs. That means that theres much finer control over brightness in various zones of the monitor, giving you better contrast than your standard screen, which has fewer LEDs and zones of control. Also, its worth mentioning that this is a matte screen, so you wont have to worry about light reflections and weird glare, assuming you arent using very powerful lighting in your room.

Specifications Screen Size

32-inches Panel Type

VA Refresh rate

240Hz Response time

1ms GTG

Check Price

Sony Inzone M9

Best 4k monitor for console gaming

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends / Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Pros Cons Full array local dimming Some locked features Excellent image fidelity and reproduction Paying a high cost for the brand name Looks great

It can be hard for a lot of folks to spend the thousands of dollars that are often required for a top-end gaming PC, so it makes sense to go for a much easier-to-use and budget-friendly console option instead. Luckily, there are some solid gaming monitors, too, like this Sony Inzone M9, and while it does have some features that integrate well with a PlayStation 5, it can still work excellently with an Xbox Series X, so if you have the latter, dont worry. The only extra thing you get with the PS5 is auto HDR tone mapping and auto genre picture mode, and with the included HDR600 not being like a typical TV HDR, thats not a big deal.

What everybody gets to enjoy is the excellent 27-inch panel with an impressive 144Hz refresh rate, which not all games can manage, but if you play some of the more intense e-sports type games, you could hit that with some settings tweaks. It also means you can still hook it up to a high or mid-range gaming PC if you have one, so its quite a versatile monitor for what you get, and the fact that it comes with Nvidia G-SYNC will be good news for Nvidia fans. The Inzone M9 can also manage a 1ms GtG response time, so its also pretty good for high-speed play where every frame counts.

Another great feature is the Full Array Local Dimming, and while its not quite the same as mini-LEDs, its still nice to see, especially for those who plan to use the HDR that the monitor offers. Also, just to quickly touch on the aesthetics, youll notice that the stand and overall monitor pairs nicely with the PS5, so thats an extra thing to consider if you want to have both together. The bezels are also tiny, which contributes to the overall great looks; plus, you have less unsightly plastic bars to look at around your screen.

Specifications Screen Size

27-inches Panel Type

IPS Refresh rate

144Hz Response time

1ms GTG

Check Price

GIGABYTE M28U

Best budget 4k monitor for gaming

Gigabyte

Pros Cons Very budget-friendly Brightness is an issue Includes KVM switch Monitor control software can be a bit finicky Covers 94% of the DCI-P3 gamut

Youd be surprised at how good budget 4k gaming monitors can be, and if you dont need the fastest response times possible or passable HDR, then you can save yourself a lot of money by going for something like the GIGABYTE M28U. This 28-inch monitor comes with the ever-so-slower 2ms MPRT thats still excellent, given the associated price tag on it. The refresh rate is also pretty good at 144Hz refresh rate, giving you the perfect balance between performance and cost; plus, again, even most high-end GPUs will struggle with 4k at higher refresh rates.

Just because its budget-oriented doesnt mean its missing more high-end features like AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, which it also comes with. It does have a slightly lower peak brightness than wed like at 300nits, although thats not a problem if you dont game with bright lights in the background. Also, it has HDR400, but we wouldnt rely on it as a form of HDR given that this is a lower-end monitor HDR, which isnt equivalent to a standard TVs HDR. That said, it does cover 94% of the DCI-P3 gamut, so its not a bad option for graphical editing and rending work if youre going to do that.

Well also mention that it has an anti-glare coating, although the issue with brightness likely means you wont be running bright lights anyway. As for the IPS panel, it gives you great viewing angles, so its a solid option if you plan to regularly game with others sitting side-by-side. Its also worth noting that this monitor comes with a KVM switch, which means you can switch between a desktop and a console very easily without having to move over the mouse and keyboard every time.

Specifications Screen Size

28-inches Panel Type

IPS Refresh rate

144Hz Response time

2ms MPRT

Check Price

Dell S2722QC

Best 4k monitor for work

.

Pros Cons Great price Only 60hz refresh rate 99% of sRGB coverage Could be a bit bigger for the price. 65-watt power delivery

Another solid option if you arent looking for anything that can do gaming is the Dell S2722QC, an excellent 4k monitor for work purposes. For example, the IPS screen has great viewing angles, and it even manages to cover 99% of the sRGB gamut, making it a solid option for video editing or graphical design and rendering. Probably one of the best work-related features, though, is the 65-watt power delivery, which helps reduce cable clutter and means you can power some devices without having to run extra power cables, which we like a lot.

It has a good peak brightness of 350nits that could be a bit higher, but it isnt a dealbreaker, all things considered. Interestingly enough, it has AMD FreeSync, so its still good for gaming if you want it for that purpose, and even the 60Hz base refresh rate is good for the consoles since so many games tend to be locked at 60Hz at 4k anyway. Also, you might be happy to know that it comes with its own speakers, so if you dont want to spring for your own headphones or a small soundbar, then you dont have to.

Ergonomics are also really good for such a budget-friendly screen, and it has Vesa mounts, so you can always mount it to a different stand or to the wall if youd rather go that route. Otherwise, theres not much to say; its a great screen, and while it would have been nice if it was a big bigger, overall, its hard to beat in terms of cost vs performance.

Specifications Screen Size

27-inches Panel Type

IPS Refresh rate

144Hz Response time

4ms

Check Price

How We Chose These 4K Monitors

Screen size & Display Panel

When going for 4k resolutions, you can have some pretty massive screens, even up to 32 inches or bigger, and thats not because those sizes are better. On a smaller screen, 4k resolutions arent really noticeable because of pixel density and how much resolution our own eyes can see. That means that a 24-inch 4k screen would just be paying a ton of money for something you wont really notice. As such, the smallest screen wed use at this resolution is 27 inches, with larger being preferable, although that does tend to cost a considerable amount.

Another thing to consider is the type of panel that the monitor is using because it can have an effect on things like image fidelity and color reproduction. In the past, TN panels used to be the most common, but in the last two to three years, IPS and VA panels have taken over, and for good reason. IPS panels have better color reproduction and image fidelity, as well as relatively good viewing angles, but that does come at the cost of generally slower refresh rates. VA panels, on the other hand, tend to have much higher refresh rates but not as good color reproduction and image fidelity.

That said, IPS panels tend to be favored by most manufacturers, so we focused more on those, especially as some brands have managed to push refresh rates.

Refresh rate

As mentioned above, refresh rates have steadily risen in the past few years, and if youre going for a PC gaming setup, we wont go below the 144Hz refresh rate. If youre gaming on a console or just doing something for work, then 60 is actually not that bad, especially since most console games tend to be capped at 60. On the other hand, if you play a lot of competitive games, then going for something even higher than 144Hz, such as 240Hz, is something you should aim for. Whatever the need, weve included a bit of everything so you can pick a monitor that works best for your needs.

Added features

Some other things to consider are the inclusion of things like V-Sync tech like G-sync or AMD FreeSync, which can help avoid things like screen tearing or ghosting, and that can apply to non-gaming applications as well. Another thing to think about is how bright you want your screen to be since some brightness levels might not work for your setup, especially if you use a lot of bright lights in the same room as your monitor. On a related note, some monitors have a matte or anti-glare covering thats worth considering if you do have a lot of lights or are near a window.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.
A nighttime Russian drone attack on Odesa has damaged heat supply systems in one of the housing complexes and left 58 houses without heat. Promises have been made to have the heat supply restored within a day.

Source: Oleksandr Kharlov, Deputy Chairman of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, on air on the national joint 24/7 newscast

"Last night, the enemy launched another attack on the civilian population of Odesa Oblast using attack drones. Thanks to the air defence forces, all aerial targets were shot down, but I must add that the wreckage of the downed drones fell on residential buildings," Kharlov said.

According to Kharlov, five residential buildings were damaged, with one apartment building taking the most damage  130 residents were evacuated.

"The heating systems of the housing complex were also damaged; as of now, 58 houses remain without heat," Kharlov said.

He added that municipal services are working at an expedited pace; according to Oleksandr Kharlov, the aftermath will be dealt with and heat supply restored all within a day.

Background:

On the night of 16-17 January, a series of explosions rang out in Odesa. A residential building was damaged by a terrorist attack by Russian forces with attack drones. A fire was reported.

A total of 130 people were evacuated from the damaged building. Three residents were injured.

A Russian drone attack in Odesa on the night of 16-17 January destroyed the facade of a residential building, damaged a heat supply pipeline, and started a fire that burnt out several cars.

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A 15-year-old was killed and her 9-year-old cousin was injured in a shooting on an Alabama interstate, authorities said.

It was the second time the 9-year-old boy was shot in the past year, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said. The child was also injured during a drive-by shooting at a home in Mobile, Burch told WPMI.

Think of the environment this 9-year-old is living in, that this is the second time hes been shot in a year, Burch said. Its hard to wrap your head around that.

A 4-year-old sitting in the back of the car wasnt injured, and neither were two women in the front seats, WALA reported.

An 18-year-old sitting in the middle row of the car alongside his brother and cousin was the intended target of the Jan. 15 shooting on Interstate 165, the Mobile County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Burch said the 18-year-old returned fire at the other car, according to WPMI.

He has been charged with reckless endangerment and tampering with physical evidence. Detectives said he refused to cooperate after several hours of questioning about the shooting, and they arrested him.

The Mobile County Sheriffs Office did not say whether other suspects have been charged, but authorities suspect the incident is tied to gang activity.

When you shoot in a manner where it endangers innocent people, were coming after you, Burch told WALA.

Gun violence in the US

Thousands of people die every year from firearm injuries in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Firearm injuries are a serious public health problem, officials said. In 2020, there were 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States  thats about 124 people dying from a firearm-related injury each day.

Firearm-related injuries were one of the top leading causes of death for people ages 1 to 44 in 2020, the CDC reported.

More than half of firearm-related deaths were suicides and more than 4 out of every 10 were firearm homicides, the CDC says.

The impact of gun violence, however, goes beyond the death toll, experts said.

The effects of firearm violence extend beyond victims and their families, according to the CDC. Shooting incidents, including those in homes, schools, houses of worship, workplaces, shopping areas, on the street or at community events can affect the sense of safety and security of entire communities and impact everyday decisions.

9-year-old girl sleeping on couch killed when shots fired into Alabama home, cops say

Wrong-way driver intentionally tried to ram oncoming cars, North Carolina cops say

Vibrant 4-year-old riding with parents dies in road rage shooting, California cops say

Uber driver takes man to hospital after hes shot in the backseat, Tennessee cops say
A 10-year-old boy from Maryland was bitten by a shark in the Bahamas on Monday, police said. It's one of at least half a dozen incidents in recent months in which a shark has attacked a human  a few times fatally.

In December, there were at least four deadly shark attacks, according to reports. A 26-year-old woman died after a shark severed her leg while she was trying to help her child on a float in Melaque Bay, Mexico, officials said. Days after, a 44-year-old Boston woman died after a shark attacked her while she was paddleboarding in the Bahamas. In Sonora, Mexico, a 22-year-old fisherman had a fatal encounter with a great white shark while diving for scallops off the fishing port of Yavaros. The next day, a 39-year-old surfer died in Maui after a shark attack.

The data suggests that shark bites are the consequence of people being in the water in large numbers at the same time as sharks are in the waters in large numbers, Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Museum of Natural History's shark research program, which tracks shark bites, told Yahoo News. Lots of environmental cues caused this to happen.

Has there been an uptick in shark bites?

Naylors simple answer to this is that the recent shark attacks have not been statistically significant. He explained that the average number of unprovoked shark bites each year ranges from 55 to 85, mostly in Australia and the U.S., and can change from one year to the next, depending on weather conditions.

Naylor said that in 2022, We've had quite a few fatalities more than a typical year. Typically, we get between four and six fatalities around the world  and most of that has been due to white sharks by the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, largely on the surface. So, Australians surf all the time and they go to the best breaks, and sometimes the best breaks are near seal colonies, and seal colonies attract white sharks. So, they've got really good waves next to a food source, next to some white sharks, and accidents happen.

Naylor used the fisherman in Mexico as an example of what he called a provoked bite.

That diver didn't provoke the shark intentionally, but they're pursuing activities which are high risk, he said. They're bringing stimulus into the area and they're in white shark habitat, in shallow water, and the white shark sees all these bubbles, and it smells all this food. Then it sees this unsuspecting diver and it bites them.

Why do sharks attack humans?

Part of the reason can be attributed to murky water, Naylor said: About 60% of shark bites that we have in the database are in very low visibility. That increases the chance that the sharks have to sort of bite first and think later, right? So, if you're a predator, you can't sit there and ponder whether or not this is a good idea. They go for it. Two-thirds of the time theyre like, 'What on earth was that?' And the shark is petrified and swims away from it as fast as possible.

That said, he added, a lot of the shark bites by white sharks are actually in very clear water. And that's because, you know, they see something like a board from underneath, and they go, Oh, my goodness, look at that, I can see it. If they couldn't see the board, they wouldn't be able to target it. So not all sharks are the same.

What is a common misconception about sharks?

People should know that sharks do not target people. If they did, we'd have about 10,000 shark bites a day, said Naylor. Chances are sharks are doing their very level best to avoid people. There's been about 400 white shark bites that we've got records of since 1960 and almost all of them have been cases of mistaken identity. The shark is either stimulated in an unnatural way or the mistakes are served up as a [presumed] seal.

Whats the difference between encountering a shark in the wild vs. a controlled tank?

According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the 10-year-old boy from Maryland was attacked while participating in an expedition in a Shark Tank at a local resort. He was taken to the hospital and was reported to be in stable condition. Naylor warned that wild animals are not pets, and sharks are no different.

Predatory animals in the wild are hungry and searching for food, said Naylor. They explore lots of opportunities to acquire food, and will experiment. If it's something that is adverse for them or something that spooks them, they will swim away as quickly as possible.

But, Naylor explains, If you're stuck in an aquarium tank, there's not that many places they can go. So, right from the start, when they're constrained in a space that is much smaller than theyre used to, it basically makes their behavior somewhat different than it would be in the wild. So, a captive animal has very different stereotypic behaviors than a wild animal.

Have recent shark encounters been an effect of climate change?

Naylor said that sharks are not adversely affected by climate change, having survived several eras of extinction dating back millions of years. However, he noted that sharks go wherever the food supply is, and so climate change can indirectly affect the number of sharks in an area.

The fish move depending on the temperature. So, if certain fishes are moving north because the waters are getting warmer, the sharks will follow them, he said. We're starting to see some evidence that some of the sharks are moving slightly further north than we're used to seeing them.

How to stay alert in the ocean

Naylor suggested following these tips to stay safe when swimming in the ocean:

Don't swim alone because sharks try to separate prey.

Don't go into murky waters. That's where most sharks mistake identities.

Avoid swimming at dawn or dusk. This is when a lot of shark species begin to hunt.

Stay close to shore. If you encounter trouble, it's going to be harder to get to safety if you are farther out.

Avoid wearing jewelry if you're in tropical waters. Tropical sharks target schools of fish and can mistake jewelry for fish.

Try to avoid splashing around or creating low-frequency, struggling-like noises; these can bring curious sharks into an otherwise unusual environment for them.

Listen to safety professionals on location.
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 24,285: ministry

Xinhua) 08:53, January 17, 2024

A man walks past destroyed buildings in Gaza City, on Jan. 15, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday. (Photo by Abdul Rahman Salama/Xinhua)

GAZA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

The ministry said in a press statement that the Israeli army killed 158 Palestinians and wounded 320 others during the past 24 hours.

It added that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has led to the injuries of 61,154 Palestinians since its outbreak on Oct. 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, it noted that a large number of victims were still under the rubble, and ambulance and civil defense crews could not reach them.

The ministry also warned of serious health complications facing patients with chronic illnesses, noting that 350,000 of them have been without medication.

It called on international institutions to provide medicines for chronic patients urgently.

A vehicle runs past damaged buildings in Gaza City, on Jan. 15, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday. (Photo by Abdul Rahman Salama/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Jan. 15, 2024 shows destroyed buildings in Gaza City. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday. (Photo by Abdul Rahman Salama/Xinhua)

People are seen on a street with damaged buildings in Gaza City, on Jan. 15, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday. (Photo by Abdul Rahman Salama/Xinhua)

A person walks past destroyed buildings in Gaza City, on Jan. 15, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday. (Photo by Abdul Rahman Salama/Xinhua)

People are seen on a street with damaged buildings in Gaza City, on Jan. 15, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday. (Photo by Abdul Rahman Salama/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Jan. 15, 2024 shows destroyed buildings in Gaza City. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday. (Photo by Abdul Rahman Salama/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Jan. 15, 2024 shows a damaged building in Gaza City. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday. (Photo by Abdul Rahman Salama/Xinhua)

A man walks past destroyed buildings in Gaza City, on Jan. 15, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday. (Photo by Abdul Rahman Salama/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Popular WGN Morning News host and standup comedian Pat Tomasulo will take a maiden voyage to Grayslake.

The Chicago personality performs a night of standup at 8 p.m. Jan. 27 at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County in Grayslake.

In addition to co-hosting WGNs Morning News, Tomasulo had been working as a standup comedian for years. His hourlong comedy special, What a Time to Be Alive, came out in 2022 and is available for streaming on YouTube.

Its pretty much a brand-new hour from the special. There may be one or two jokes that are left over from the special but its almost all new material, he said.

Its definitely not the same type of humor you see on TV  I think there are no constraints that I would face onstage that I would face on TV. Its more of an amplified version of what youre used to seeing. Im sarcastic, its observational, I talk about my life, I talk about the world.

Despite a nice career in broadcast journalism, Tomasulo felt a calling.

When I was younger, I think I always had this very misplaced confidence when I would watch standup comedians and think, Oh, I could do that. But I had no idea how to do that, he said.

There were no comedy clubs where I grew up. I mean  I was the first person in my family to go to college. So the idea of being a comedian  I had no idea how to do that.

He arrived in Chicago in 2005 and started working at WGN. Some of his co-workers, like Mike Toomey and Ana Belaval, are also comedians. He got the inking that maybe he could do that, too.

Theres got to be something a little off with you to want to do that. Because in the beginning, youre just awful, he said. Youre just bombing all the time. Even when youre good, youre still pretty terrible when you start out. Even now, when I go up on new material nights, 40% of it works, at best.

But now Ive done it so long I dont care about bombing. It doesnt affect you anymore. Thats the reason you have to get so much stage time. Obviously, you have to get stage time to get comfortable, but you also have to get a lot of stage time to get comfortable with bombing.

People should come out because even though its cold outside, its not a late show.

Youll laugh tremendously. I will look fantastic  I just got a new windbreaker that I will wear for the people of Grayslake because they deserve it, he said. Im excited. Im always psyched to work new areas. Its going to be great and I am going to have a lot of new stuff and like I said, Im going to look tremendous.

Pat Tomasulo

When: 8 p.m. Jan. 27

Where: James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake

Tickets: $15-$35

Information: 847-543-2300; jlcenter.clcillinois.edu

Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
ABC News cancelled a Republican presidential debate scheduled for Thursday in New Hampshire, hours after Nikki Haley refused to appear in further debates unless Donald Trump or Joe Biden were participating.

The GOP presidential candidate accused Trump of avoiding his rivals on stage. Weve had five great debates in this campaign, said Haley in a statement. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it.

Haley reiterated her statement when appearing on CNN later on Tuesday: If hes [Trump] on that stage, Im there. CNNs own Republican debate in New Hampshire is still scheduled for Sunday. Although Ron DeSantis has accepted the invite to appear on the network, the former president scheduled a rally in New Hampshire that same day.

The challenge from the former South Carolina governor comes a day after Trump dominated the Iowa caucus. Haley finished in third place, following behind DeSantis.

The four-time indicted former president announced in August that he would be shying away from debating his opponents on stage, opting instead for one-on-one interviews and solo rallies. During a Republican primary debate in September, GOP candidates bashed a no-show Trump.

Donald, I know youre watching. You cant help yourself, said Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. I know youre watching, and youre not here tonight. And not because of polls, and not because of your indictments  youre not here tonight because youre afraid of being on this stage and defending your record.

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Editors note: The writer is executive director of ACLU-South Carolina.

Like so many of us, over the holidays I visited with extended family members whom I have not seen in some time. For me, times like this can be especially interesting because I am transgender  born with a female body but with a male mind, heart and soul. Some of my relatives remember quite a different version of me.

Being a part of uncomfortable conversations with distant relatives is almost synonymous with the holidays for most of us. This time, I had my fair share of uncomfortable conversations  mostly about myths that are circulating about transgender kids.

Jace Woodrum

These conversations arent just happening over holiday dinner. Theyre also happening at the state house. South Carolina lawmakers are debating bills, including House Bill 4624, that would ban healthcare for transgender kids. So, for those with questions about transgender kids, I thought Id put some facts out there.

Myth: There are a lot more transgender people than there used to be.

In the years since I came out as transgender, weve seen an increase in the visibility of transgender people of all ages. This is a good thing  more transgender people are finding acceptance and support from family and community so they are more willing to be open about who they are. Increased visibility has led to a perception that there has been an explosion in the number of transgender folks. But the transgender community is small. According to the Williams Institute at UCLA, there are 1.3 million transgender adults and 300,000 transgender youth ages 13-17 in the U.S. It just feels like a lot because many people havent felt safe to live openly until now.

Myth: Kids are too young to understand their gender.

It can be difficult to understand how a child can know their gender, especially since kids explore gender in many different ways. I remember my own son dressing up as a princess in preschool, despite his consistent assertion that hes a boy. For most of us, our internal sense of gender is developed at a young age. Think about kids who arent transgender  we trust them to understand their true gender.

Myth: Were hurting kids if we affirm them as transgender and allow them to transition.

Ive heard so many people express genuine concern for all kids during this debate because none of us want kids to be harmed. Doctors, therapists, psychologists and other medical professionals agree: Whats most harmful for children is to be rejected for who they are. Thats why so many parents are supporting their children when they consistently express their gender. For young kids, that support often looks like using a different name or trying out a different hair style. For tweens, it might look like delaying puberty through medication to allow more time for a child to understand who they are. For teens, parents might help a child begin taking hormones to change the voice and body. Its important to know that children in South Carolina dont receive gender-related healthcare without parental support, and gender affirmation surgeries arent performed on people under 18.

The bills S.C. lawmakers are deciding would take decisions about the health of transgender kids out of the hands of parents and medical providers. It can be hard to understand what it means to be transgender, but heres the most important thing to know: Like all youth, transgender youth have the best chance to thrive when theyre supported and can get the medical care they need when they need it.
Several pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place in Washington, D.C., over the weekend. While Saturdays demonstrations were largely peaceful, evening clashes at a temporary fence erected near the White House led to a flurry of videos, images, and comments online. In one viral tweet featuring video footage of protesters confronting law enforcement officers, Jon Levinea political reporter for the New York Posthighlighted that no arrests were made during the incident.

Levine cites a story in the New York Post detailing the extent of the protests and damage sustained to the fence. According to the story, sections of the fence were dislodged by protesters, requiring Secret Service officers to physically maintain the barrier. Additionally, objects were thrown at officers and some protesters attempted to scale the fence.

The New York Post story cited by Levine is correct: No arrests were made related to events in the evening near the White House. The Secret Service made no arrests associated with the march on Jan. 13, a spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service told The Dispatch Fact Check in an email. The D.C. Metropolitan Police also confirmed in an email that the department had made no arrests.

However, a spokesperson for the U.S. Park Policewho also hold law enforcement jurisdiction in the District of Columbia and its surrounding areastold The Dispatch Fact Check that its officers had arrested two individuals earlier in the day during the protests: one for assaulting a police officer and another for disorderly conduct.

In addition, Capitol Police arrested approximately 130 pro-Palestine protesters on Tuesday at the Cannon House Office Building. A group of people legally entered the Cannon House Office Building after they went through screening, a Capitol Police spokesperson told The Dispatch Fact Check in an email. Demonstrations are not allowed inside Congressional Buildings, so when they started to protest and refused to stop, we began arresting them. The Capitol Police also confirmed in an email that no arrests had been made by its officers during Saturdays protests. However, the Capitol Police hold law enforcement jurisdiction only around the Capitol Complex and adjacent grounds, not the areas around the White House where clashes occurred.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

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The anti-Zionist organization Defund Israel Now detailed in a recent tweet what the U.S. government could have done with the billions of dollars in aid sent in support of Ukraine and Israels war efforts.

The U.S. has sent $100B+ to Israel and Ukraine to fund their wars.



What could this $ have done for America?



1. $56B could send every American citizen to college for free;

2. $20B could end homelessness;

3. $6B could end student debt;

4. $12B could give us free healthcare.  Defund Israel Now (@DefundIsraelNow) December 27, 2023

The post was shared two days later by a user on Instagram, getting more than 37,000 likes. While the U.S. has provided both Ukraine and Israel with billions in military aid, the other cost figures listed in the post significantly understate the cost of their associated programs. Lets tackle each individually.

How Much Aid?

The posts first claim is that the U.S. has provided more than $100 billion in military aid to Ukraine and Israel. According to the Congressional Research Service, as of January 3, 2024, the U.S. had committed about $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russias invasion of the country in February 2022. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the U.S. had committed approximately $77.6 billion since January 2022 when factoring in financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine between January 24, 2022 and October 31, 2023more than any other nation in the world. Congress has not passed a spending package for military aid to Israel. However, the Biden administration has approved two emergency sales of military equipment to Israel, one for $106 million and one for $147.5 million. The U.S. currently sends Israel $3.8 billion annually in military aid.

Free College

According to a 2020 report by Georgetown Universitys Center on Education and the Workforce, first-year costs for three different free-college models would cost anywhere from $27.8 billion to $75 billion. While the $56 billion figure proposed by the post falls comfortably within this range, these numbers represent only the cost of a free-tuition program in its first yearongoing free tuition would cost significantly more when aggregated over multiple years. The report found that the plan proposed by President Biden, which would cover tuition and fees, as well as allow other financial aid to be used by students to cover additional costs, is estimated to cost $683.1 billion over 10 years. However, the Georgetown report also found that additional tax revenues resulting from higher educational attainment and workforce salaries could exceed the annual cost of the Biden plan within 10 years, allowing it to functionally pay for itself at that point.

Homelessness

The $20 billion figure to end homelessness originates from an unofficial estimate made in 2012 by Mark Johnston of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Johnston was quoted in the New York Times in a 2012 story addressing homelessness rates during the Great Recession: Mark Johnston, the acting assistant housing secretary for community planning and development, estimated that homelessness could be effectively eradicated in the United States at an annual cost of about $20 billion, said the storys closing paragraph.

This number is not accurate, however. In a 2021 story by Verify, Johnston clarified his previous remarks to the New York Times. It wasnt formal, wasnt verified, wasnt approved by HUD. And its certainly very much out of date now, 10 years later, he said. Politifact reported on similar claims in August 2021, concluding that there was no consensus on the cost of ending homelessness, and that It would likely cost significantly more than $20 billion to house Americas homeless population, after factoring in the expansion of the federal housing voucher program and affordable housing development.

Student Debt

The $6 billion estimate for ending student debt is wildly inaccurate. A 2023 report by the Education Data Initiative found that student loan debt in the U.S. totalled $1.766 trillion. The Biden administrations 2022 student debt relief plan, which was designed to forgive only limited amounts of debt for certain eligible borrowers, was estimated by the U.S. Department of Education to cost an average of $30 billion annually over the next decade.

The Supreme Court struck down Bidens 2022 plan for overstepping authority granted under the HEROES Act. But Biden has found other ways to cancel debt, approving over $132 billion of debt forgiveness for more than 3.6 million Americans.

Free Health Care

There is no consensus on the cost of implementing government-funded health care in the U.S., but estimates from a variety of policy groups and economists are significantly higher than the $12 billion claimed in the post. In October 2019 the New York Times asked economists at five institutions across the ideological spectrumincluding the RAND Corporation, Mercatus Center, and Urban Instituteto provide estimates on the total cost of a Medicare for all health care plan, which would expand the government-funded Medicare program to cover the health care costs of all Americans. Yearly cost estimates ranged from progressive economist Gerald Friedmans $2.76 trillion to the Urban Institutes $3.87 trillion projection, representing a significant percentage of the nations yearly budget.

Military aid to Ukraine and Israel is certainly sizable, and the merits of such support is open for debate. However, claims that the money spent on defensive aid could alone fund a slew of progressive policy programs is inaccurate and misrepresents the immense cost associated with these programs.

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The News

Transsion, the top smartphone seller in Africa, posted the highest annual growth in smartphone shipments in 2023 of the top five phone makers in the world.

The Shenzhen, China company shipped 95 million units of smartphones last year, 30.8% more than it did in 2022, according to technology research firm International Data Corporation. That was above Apples 3.7% growth, while Samsung, Xiaomi and OPPO each shipped fewer phones in 2023 than in the previous year.

Transsions performance last year, especially between October and December when it shipped 69% more phones than in the same period in 2022, means its share of the global smartphone market has grown from 6% to 8.1%, IDC said. Apple, now the worlds top smartphone maker for the first time after overtaking Samsung last year, has a 20.1% share.

Know More

Africa is Transssions largest market, accounting for 57% of its sales volume in the second quarter of 2023, according to Counterpoint, a research firm in Hong Kong. Africa was the main reason Transsion broke into the top five of the worlds phone makers for the first time last year, according to IDC. Transsion brands Tecno, Infinix and Itel accounted for the largest share of the 19.6 million smartphones shipped to Africa in the second quarter of 2023.

But while Africa dominates its total sales, Transsion has made inroads in other markets, growing 35% in Latin America, Eastern Europe, India and Southeast Asia in the second quarter of 2023, per Counterpoint.

Though it does its manufacturing in Shenzhen, Transsion remains largely unknown in China where Honor, another Shenzhen-based maker formerly owned by Huawei, is king.

After setting up its first Africa assembly factory in Addis Ababa in 2011, Transsion eclipsed Samsung as the continents top smartphone seller in 2017. Its tactics have been described as a textbook case of superior marketing and understanding consumers needs, such as marketing dual SIM card phones and camera phones better calibrated for darker skin tones.
Last weekend, Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, was elected president of Taiwan. He succeeds President Tsai Ing-wen, who served two terms and is the first woman to hold this top government position.

This result continues significant political complications with mainland China. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has won three presidential elections in a row. The party is formally committed to independence from China.

However, Mr. Lais vote margin was reduced and the DPP also lost its legislative majority. The conservative Kuomintang (KMT) gained the most seats. This could be a diplomatic plus given their more pragmatic approach to Beijing.

Beijing is not happy about continued DPP control of the executive office, but a greater KMT presence in the legislature provides opportunities for cultivation. China media have been relatively restrained about this election result compared to past extreme rhetoric.

Both sides likely will continue to avoid armed conflict. The first DPP government, from 2000 to 2008, was able to finesse the political challenges with Beijing. Today, economic concerns remain more important than ideological purity for Chinas struggling Communist leadership.

In 2016, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago, which represents Taiwan, hosted a remarkably instructive, insightful seminar on the implications of the return of the DPP to governing power. There was general agreement President Tsai had effectively endorsed the framework of cooperation initiated by Beijing and Taipei in 1992. This remains true despite her 2019 speech that emphasized independence.

One seminar participant suggested emphasizing the Chinese people globally, a primary source of overseas investment. This was a remarkably shrewd, insightful suggestion, still worth consideration by government leaders of Taiwan.

The two sides share a bitter legacy of battle and blood. In 1949, Nationalist forces of General Chiang Kai-shek evacuated to Taiwan. Mao Zedongs armies controlled the mainland of China. Except for the island territory, Communist revolution was complete.

The Korean War of 1950-1953 made the Cold War global, with China and the United States direct combatants. U.S. commitment to Taiwan security became explicit.

The foundation of cooperation has been built steadily, if slowly, over time. Pragmatism characterizes Taiwans approach to mainland China. Following formal U.S. diplomatic recognition of Beijing in 1978, a consequence of President Richard Nixons 1972 visit, Taipei immediately launched a comprehensive nonconfrontational strategic response.

In November 2008, agreement was reached on far-reaching trade accords, including direct shipping, expansion of weekly passenger flights from 36 to 108, and introduction of up to 60 cargo flights per month.

In 2010, the bilateral Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) was concluded. This has been a major triumph for then-President Ma Ying-jeou. His election as chief executive in 2008 and 2012 greatly furthered rapprochement with Beijing.

In February 2014, senior representatives of the island and the mainland agreed to exchange representative offices. Face-to-face negotiations were led by Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun of China, and Taiwan Mainland Affairs Minister Wang Yu-chi. Unfortunately, in 2016 Beijing suspended direct communications.

Taiwan has become essential investor for the economic revolution on the mainland. Commercially successful, generally well-educated overseas Chinese in turn are a vital source of capital for the mainland. Expatriate Chinese also vote in Taiwan elections.

Presidents Tsai and now Lai represent equality, fairness and progress. Open competitive markets undercut rigidities of tradition and ideology. The ECFA framework is now so strong that a return to earlier hostility across the Taiwan Strait is unlikely.

Taiwan without doubt has now effectively embraced representative democracy.

Arthur I. Cyr is author of After the Cold War  American Foreign Policy, Europe and Asia.

Contact: acyr@carthage.edu
Simply having American air defense systems like the Patriot in Ukraine is insufficient to secure Ukrainian airspace. What more is needed to achieve this goal?

An NV video report sheds light on why Ukraine requires a wide range of systems to defend its skies, from Patriot missiles and other air defense systems to electronic warfare (EW) capabilities and small strike aircraft.

Read also: Ukraine in talks on 'as many high-tech air defense systems as possible'  Kuleba

Since the onset of Russias full-scale invasion, securing Ukrainian airspace has remained a challenge. Ukrainian officials and diplomats work diligently with Western partners to bolster the country's air defenses. However, questions persist regarding how much is required to control the skies, and whether Ukraine can depend exclusively on the long-anticipated F-16 aircraft?

Oleksandr Kovalenko, a military-political analyst from the Information Resistance project, explained that dozens of air defense systems are required to safeguard Ukraine from attacks.

"One Patriot battery should be sufficient when we talk about cities with populations of more than a million. A battery consists of 8 launchers, on average, Kovalenko said.

Read also: Britains ASRAAM mobile air defense system has 90% success rate on Ukraines frontlines

But Patriot systems are only the start. Other air defense systems must work with the American systems to ensure complete coverage.

"These include medium and short-range systems. These might be an IRIS-T or NASAMS battery, or some other modernized system like the Buk or Kub, as there is little difference between them regarding capability," Oleksandr Kovalenko explained.

These systems ensure Ukraine's protection against missile attacks. However, the next challenge is countering guided aerial bombs launched by Russian aircraft from temporarily occupied territories. Suppressing these attacks can be achieved through electronic warfare systems (EW).

"We don't have enough EW systems to completely cover even those areas where guided aerial bombs are frequently used," Kovalenko said.

To effectively counter fighters near the Ukrainian border or frontlines, aviation particularly F-16s, would be a strong option.

"If we get [Western aircraft], then the Russian aircraft carrying guided aerial bombs would be destroyed before they even reach their launch locations. Dozens of kilometers before they got close enough to drop their payloads," an analyst from Information Resistance said.

Enemy drones also pose a growing threat. Currently, mobile ground units can destroy them, but deploying small strike aircraft would counter the drones more effectively.

Read also: How feasible is it to cover all of Ukraine with air defense

"These include, for example, the turboprop attack aircraft Tucano," Kovalenko said. Other options might include attack helicopters like Vipers or Cobras.

"The U.S. Army regularly auctions these helicopters off, as they are considered surplus property, Kovalenko noted.

They have more than they need."

Ukraine thus needs a variety of different air defense systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and light attack aircraft to counter a range of Russian threats effectively. Procurement of these resources should have begun long ago on a large scale.

Read also: US warns of limited supply of Patriot missiles to Ukraine  NYT

Ukraine is currently working to acquire new systems, especially Patriot missiles. Germany will soon transfer one Patriot system, while the Netherlands plans to provide the first batch of 18 F-16 fighter jets.

While Western allies are starting to provide key air defense and aircraft systems to help Ukraine defend itself, more is urgently needed.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Ukrainian forces shot down 19 of the 20 Shahed-type attack drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported on Jan. 17.

The drones were launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk in southern Russia, off the coast of the Sea of Azov, the Air Force said.

Air defense operated in Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kirovohrad oblasts.

According to Ukraine's Southern Operational Command, air defense units worked for almost three hours overnight. One drone was downed above Mykolaiv Oblast, and another was downed above Kirovohrad Oblast.

The drones mainly targeted Odesa and approached the city from a low altitude above the surface of the Black Sea, the Southern Operational Command reported. In total, 11 drones were shot down on approach to the coast, with the "vast majority" falling into the sea.

Debris from several downed drones damaged several shops, cars, and apartments, injuring three people.

Read also: Russian attacks on Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson Oblast injure 23 over past day

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Airbnb is launching an effort to examine how to address the nationwide issue of housing affordability, focusing on increasing the supply and driving down prices.

The company announced Wednesday the formation of a new housing council, chaired by former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who was also the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

The council will advise the company on partnerships and initiatives that will spur housing supply, according to a news release about the effort. The group will also explore how the vacation rental company can work with cities on short-term rental policies. The newly formed council will inform Airbnb on affordability policy frameworks and research.

As a former mayor, I know the challenges municipal leaders face in addressing housing challenges in their communities, Rawlings-Blake said in the release. There are no shortcuts or simple solutions to this crisisit was many years in the making and will take a coordinated, long-term effort to address. We need all community stakeholders  both the public and private sector  to work together to bolster Americas housing supply.

The cost of homes has doubled from 1998 to 2021, and land prices have increased by 60 percent from 2012 to 2019  all factors contributing to a crisis facing masses living in the U.S.

Richmond, Va., Mayor Levar Stoney, CEO and Executive Director of National League of Cities Clarence Anthony and other housing experts and advocates will also work alongside Rawlings-Blake.

Airbnb has dealt with pushback over its expansion in smaller communities. Some Airbnb hosts have been accused of cutting down the local housing supply, causing price jumps.

The vacation rental company has backed some initiatives in a couple of states to address the affordability crisis.

In 2022, the company backed a Colorado initiative that directs taxable income to help with increasing the housing stock in the state. It also donated $3 million to help a California-based housing nonprofit.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
'I felt like, if my mum says I can, then I can': The TV star told Vogue about how her background has influenced her work - Ben Weller/British Vogue

AJ Odudu has said that being black was not even the hardest thing when she was coming up in the industry as a TV presenter.

The 35-year-old, who hosted the 2023 ITV revival series of Big Brother alongside Will Best, said one of the biggest obstacles for her was geographical.

Speaking to British Vogue for its February issue, she said: Someone asked me once what it was like being a black female coming up in the industry.

I was like, Oh my gosh, being black was not even the hardest thing.

We just didnt have the means, she said.

The obstacle was geographical: how do I get from this corner of Blackburn to London, and then stay there? And that was just step one.

It has really shaped how I think

Odudu grew up in Lancashire with her seven siblings, born to Nigerian parents.

She attributes part of her hard-working mentality to her father James and mother Florence, who encouraged her to pursue her dreams.

Shes [Odudus mother] an immigrant, a cleaner, and she was telling me: Yes, you can be a presenter, why not? she said.

I felt like, if my mum says I can, then I can. It has really shaped how I think.

My friends are like: Go to bed

Now that she has found success, the TV star said she is having fun attending celebrity-filled events, most recently An Audience With Kylie, at the Royal Albert Hall and the Fashion Awards 2023.

I suppose I am out five nights a week, she said. But, Ive worked so hard to get here and be in these spaces.

Now Im having fun. Although sometimes my friends watch my Instagram stories and theyre just like: Go to bed.

Reflecting on her success and what she wants for her future, she added: Growing up, I never thought of myself as beautiful.

I was always leaning on my personality, so it was like, Of course Im not going to be doing this shoot or that shoot.

She went on: Ive come through so much hardship, so many knockbacks, so many barriers.

Now its just great to know that Im not defined by my class or my race. Im setting the boundaries myself, and thats exciting.

Odudu has hosted a number of TV programmes, including Channel 4s interior design show The Big Interiors Battle, reality programme The Bridge: Race To A Fortune and bidding show The Greatest Auction.

She also presented on spin-off shows Big Brothers Bit On The Side and Married At First Sight: Afters.

See the full feature in the February issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Jan 16.

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International Institute Community Support Specialist Seena Al Attibi, left, talks with Executive Director Madhu Sharma in their new Canal Place offices on Friday in Akron.

The Akron area continues to provide new hope and opportunity for hundreds of people leaving behind violent conflict or dire circumstances across the globe.

The International Institute of Akron says it resettled 518 new refugees in 2023, with the largest segments coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Sudan. Hundreds more received assistance through the nonprofit's immigration legal services, employment resources, extended social services, education and interpreting and translation.

The organization has been a crucial hub of support as the Nepali and Bhutanese refugee community has flourished  particularly in Akron's North Hill and surrounding neighborhoods  in recent years. And while the influx of newcomers is likely to continue steadily, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants  a nongovernmental organization and national partner of the International Institute  sees a geographic shift coming.

Said Afadhali, a case manager at the International Institute o Akron, works in the new offices at Canal Place downtown.

"In 2024, we expect our numbers to be roughly what they were in 2023," said Kevin Walter, the International Institute's advocacy and community outreach coordinator. He said the USCRI has advised "that we can anticipate an increase in refugee arrivals from Central and South American countries."

Despite some challenges, including and especially in finding affordable, safe housing, Walter said the International Institute is ready for 2024.

"We are always in need of donated items for our housing setups," Walter said. "The biggest ongoing needs are new pillows, bedding, pots and pans, cleaning products, and personal hygiene items. Grocery store gift cards are always appreciated, as they allow the recipients to make their own food choices."

International Institute Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator Kevin Walter shows the organization's donation room at Canal Place in Akron.

The organization's growth and its increasing workload fed into last year's move from North Hill to Canal Place in downtown Akron.

"Things are working out great at our new location," Walter said. "The increased space has allowed us to build capacity, and being located a short walk from the central Metro transportation hub has made it easier for clients from all over Akron to access our office."

Tamana Ziar, International Institute refugee resettlement case manager, talks to Oben Manirakiza, left, and his wife, Zawadi Bambanze, in the new Canal Place office lobby in Akron.

Walter said the International Institute is preparing to host a community event to celebrate the new location at 530 S. Main St., Suite 1762.

"We do not have an exact date for the open house yet, but it will be in the spring when the weather improves," he said. "Most likely closer to our one year anniversary in the new space."

The International Institute also continues to operates an education office and classrooms at 471 Schiller Ave. in Akron, he said.

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: International Institute helps new wave of refugees resettle in Akron
Baldwin, who once played a fast-talking foul-mouthed estate agent in Glengarry Glen Ross, stepped in as the value of the mansion has dropped - You Tube

Alec Baldwins latest role appears to be fronting a video selling his own home.

The 65-year-old star, who has admitted finding work hard to come by after being involved in a fatal onset shooting in 2021, is deploying his skills to help shift the five-bedroom nine-bathroom property in the Hamptons on Long Island.

Baldwin, who once played a fast-talking foul-mouthed estate agent in Glengarry Glen Ross, has stepped in as the value of the mansion has dropped.

Originally listed at $29 million (23 million) in September 2022, the asking price has since fallen to $19 million.

Complete with a swimming pool, a private cinema, a wine-tasting room and a wood-panelled library, the property is described as an impeccable retreat.

Alec Baldwin's $19 million Hampton's estate (pictured), that he is currently struggling to sell - Saunders & Associates

In the video posted by estate agents Saunders & Associates, Baldwin walks slowly across surrounding farmland and the beach reminiscing about his time on Long Island.

Hey, Im Alec Baldwin, he says.

Ive had a home out here on the east end of Long Island since 1982.

When I was younger, wed come out here and wed sleep all morning and lay on the beach all day. When youre young, this place is the best.

At first, he rented for five years.

Alec Baldwin (pictured), has made little secret of the damage done to his career by the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while filming Rust in New Mexico - AP

After that, I decided to buy my own place, Baldwin says.

I fell in love with this place the moment I came here, he adds.

I have always loved it here. Its a low-density area, I love coming here.

Extolling the virtues of the 10-acre plot and the 10,000 sq ft house, which he bought in 1995 and expanded, he tells prospective buyers: You just cant get this out here, you cant buy big pieces of land, especially in Amagansett.

No reason has been given for the sale, but Baldwin has made little secret of the damage done to his career by the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while filming Rust in New Mexico.

She died after a gun he was holding went off. Baldwin believed the pistol, which was being used in the western, was loaded with blanks rather than live ammunition.

Baldwin (pictured), has lost five roles following the Rust shooting - PA

Criminal charges against the actor were dropped by New Mexico prosecutors last April.

But in the wake of the controversy, Baldwin was dropped from several productions.

One was a lead in a spy thriller, Chief of Station.

I got fired from another job yesterday, he told CNN in an interview in August 2022. It was one of five roles he lost following the Rust shooting.

There I was all set to go to a movie, jump on a plane. Ive been talking with these guys for months and they told me yesterday, We dont want to do the film with you because of this, Baldwin said.

Baldwin, who had enjoyed major roles in Beetlejuice and The Hunt for Red October, sold a lake house in upstate New York for $530,000 in July 2022, according to records seen by the New York Post.

In February of the same year, he and his family bought a 55-acre farm in Vermont for $1.7 million.

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Business: Zorba

Address: 2139 CityGate Lane, Naperville

Phone/website: 630-579-4100, www.zorbabar.com

Director of Outlets for Hotel Arista: Devon M. Ley, 28, of Wheaton

Years in business: 10

What does your business do? It serves the hotel as the main restaurant. Dinner is seven days a week. Lunch is Tuesday through Sunday. Breakfast is Thursday through Sunday, but were working to expand that, Ley said.

Zorba restaurant and lounge, located in the Hotel Arista in Naperville, served an English tea over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Whats the background? Zorba opened in 2013. When Che Figata opened in 2018, they pushed what was originally the lounge concept here to encompass the whole restaurant.

What are the challenges? One of the challenges in managing a hotel restaurant is you are trying to navigate all the different experiences any individual may bring to the space. Being able to transition from breakfast service for a corporate traveler here for a convention to late night Friday, when we have a big wedding crowd coming through thats looking to keep the celebration going.  And every mix in between as well.

Are you doing something for Valentines Day? Well be looking to create some promotional opportunities with that. Last year, we did a Yours and Mine cocktail program. Two cocktails designed to balance each other out.

Whats new? We have an executive chef who joined the team back in September. Nicholas Restivo. A mutually beneficial opportunity. He has a tremendous background working in major cities throughout the world.  Im working with him to create promotional food and beverage pairings, talking about doing special nights throughout the week. What suits the space and whats going to be something different to the market.

Speaking of the market, what about competition for dining dollars in Naperville? There are 272 (places to eat). We keep weekly rankings to see where we sit in the market.  You talk of how youre creating an experience for so many different people with different backgrounds.

Is Naperville good for business? Yes. I generally see this as a gateway because youre sitting at a nexus between Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Winfield, Warrenville. You have guests who come in from Geneva, St. Charles, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn. It puts us as a destination, easy to get to. One of our regulars stops in two, three nights a week on his way home from work. Say hi to the bartenders, have his usual cocktail, have a nice little dinner.

Whats it like being part of the hotel? The Hotel Arista is a luxury hotel. We want to make sure were leading from a perspective that walks hand in hand with what the hotel is representing. But you dont want to price yourself out of the market.

And the prices? According to the menus, cocktails cost from $15 to $17 ($12 for non-alcoholic drinks), breakfast items $8 to $20, and the lunch and dinner entrees and sandwiches are $13 to $23, with market price for fresh seafood.

One of the restaurants at Hotel Arista in Naperville is called Zorba, a moniker that comes from the call name owner John Calamos used when he was a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. The restaurant artwork is from the movie Zorba the Greek.

What do you look for in employees? You can teach someone how to shake a cocktail, how to serve a table, but to find the personality thats really going to drive the experience is what makes a successful opportunity in a place like this.

How long have you worked here? A little over a year. I came on as a food and beverage manager. Spent a lot of time reviewing and revising the beverage program. In November, I was promoted to director of outlets.

How did the pandemic impact your business? The hotel was closed from March until June (of 2020).  My heart goes out to (the restaurants that did not survive).  As easy as it is to dwell on the challenges, I try to keep an optimistic light toward what were doing next.

Any favorite stories? Under the signature cocktails, the Have a Little Faith. This is an opportunity to showcase the talents of the individuals. The primary goal of that cocktail is to sit and talk with the guests. What is it that you like? Whats your spirit of preference? Something sweeter, something thats more a sipping cocktail, something rich and spice forward, something more citrusy?  Design a cocktail thats specific with what the guest is looking for.  The cocktail menu rotates seasonally. We offer signature cocktails, vintage cocktails and for the prohibitionist (non-alcoholic) cocktails.

Why Zorba? Zorba was the call sign of John P. Calamos (founder of Calamos Investments and owner of the CityGate complex) from when he flew more than 900 combat hour for the Air Force in Vietnam.

Whats your advice for someone starting a business? Whatever you want to do, you want to lead from a point of authenticity because it will help drive what you are doing, it will keep you motivated and it resonates through every step of what you are offering.

If you know of a business youd like to see to profiled in Down to Business, contact Steve Metsch at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.

Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
While Chicagoans woke up Wednesday with wind chills below zero, the region experienced a brief warmup thats expected to last until Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Wind chills will climb into the single digits and teens into Thursday afternoon, the weather service said. By Thursday night, it predicts another period of below-zero wind chills that will continue through Sunday morning.

A moderate increase in temperatures today can help improve things, but at the same time its still cold out there. Its January in Chicago, said David King, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Romeoville.

Electric vehicle owners struggle with low temps

The lull was a welcome reprieve for some electric vehicle owners. Teslas use more energy in the cold to heat the battery and cabin, according to the company. The increased energy consumption left many drivers with dying batteries and longer waits at charging stations during the cold snap.

On Wednesday afternoon, a dozen Teslas lined the fifth floor of a South Loop parking garage equipped with chargers. While most drivers didnt have to wait in line, many remained frustrated after a weekend of freezing temperatures.

Its ridiculous, said Chernara Baker, a dentist from the South Shore. Its a California car. There just arent enough charging stations in the Midwest.

When temperatures began dropping, Baker said her partner had to wait two hours at a station. Shes had to charge it every day since. An at-home charger isnt possible, she said, because she lives in a condo.

Derick Holmes, 42, walked across the parking garage to his Tesla. Over the weekend, he said it took him three hours to charge it each day, calling it a shock. When he was at a charging station on Saturday, he witnessed several peoples cars die while waiting in line.

It makes me regret getting a Tesla, Holmes said. They were stuck overnight.

Across the lot, 20-year-old Afil Alramahi sat in her Tesla with the heat on high. The University of Illinois at Chicago student just bought the car last week.

Every single time I try to charge it, the wait time is so long, Alramahi said. The battery runs out pretty fast, its so frustrating.

Metra addresses rail-service delays

After days of intermittent delays in Metra commuter rail service, CEO Jim Derwinski said Wednesday blowing wind and rapid temperature drops were to blame. Winter weather can wreak havoc on trains when quick changes in temperature can cause steel tracks to fracture, leading to issues for the signals that control the trains.

Fine blowing snow also causes problems for the railroad. The powder can get into nooks in the train cars and engines, then damage electrical systems when it begins to melt once the train is moved to warmer shelter.

As snow swept across the region Friday, and downed power lines near Barrington snarled service on the Union Pacific Northwest Line, about 86% of the commuter rail services trains were on time. Monday, as below-zero temperatures gripped the area, the on-time rate dipped to 69%.

Metra takes steps to winterize the system, including lighting fires at switches, where tracks converge, to clear them of ice that can fall off trains or the fine snow that can blow into the tracks.

Overall, the system did very well, Derwinski told board members. We did take a lot of delays over the last five days. The equipment performed very well.

On Monday, cold weather-related mechanical issues were partly to blame for Metras low on-time performance, spokesman Michael Gillis said. Metra also encountered problems with Amtraks signals and switches at Union Station, which is used by both train services.

A minor BNSF train derailment at Union Station further snarled service, and Metra was operating with speed restrictions because of the cold. Also, rails broke on four Metra lines, which can happen when extreme cold causes steel to contract, Gillis said.

Snow in the forecast

A person stretches at sunrise at the extremely chilly lakefront near Montrose Beach in Chicago on Jan. 16, 2024.

More snow was expected this week. Some parts of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana may see 1 to 3 inches of snow Wednesday night. A more widespread snowfall of 1 to 3 inches is expected Thursday night.

King said hes moderately confident that snow will fall north of I-80. He added its possible that snow would fall in Chicago but miss Gary, for example.

A little bit of fluctuation with the exact forecast, but were not expecting anything to really start snowing until later tonight and in the overnight hours, he said. Hopefully, most people are indoors and sleeping.

Snow is likely before noon Thursday, with a chance of flurries between noon and 3 p.m. The high is near 22 with wind speeds of 5 to 10 mph. The weather service predicts wind chill values as low as minus 1 degrees at night.

Severe wind chills can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes, the weather service said. It recommends avoiding outdoor activities if possible and wearing appropriate clothing when venturing outside.

Six people from around Cook County have had cold exposure as a possible, probable or secondary cause of their death since Friday, according to the medical examiner.

At OHare International Airport, 83 flights were canceled and 298 were delayed as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the flight tracking service FlightAware. Another 85 flights were canceled at Midway Airport and 33 were delayed.

Chicago Public Schools resumed classes Wednesday after canceling instruction and after-school activities Tuesday because of frigid temperatures. Mayor Brandon Johnson also announced that the enforcement of his 60-day migrant shelter limit policy would be delayed until at least Monday.

The weather service also warned that ice will be seen on almost all local rivers this week, leading to an increased risk of ice jams, which can cause significant water level fluctuations with little to no warning. Flood warnings are in effect for the Kankakee River near downstate Wilmington and the Illinois River from Ottawa downstream to beyond the LaSalle/Peru area.

The Will County Emergency Management Agency said flash flooding has occurred along the Kankakee since Monday, advising residents along the river to be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. They said theyre working with other local agencies to help evacuate residents in impacted areas.

rjohnson@chicagotribune.com

sfreishtat@chicagotribune.com

karmanini@chicagotribune.com
FILE - The Apple logo is illuminated at a store in the city center of Munich, Germany, Dec. 16, 2020. A potential redesign of two Apple Watch models, the Series 9 and Ultra 2, that would exclude the blood oxygen sensor has been approved by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to a Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, court filing by Masimo, a Southern California company pursuing the patent claim. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

Apple is prepared to remove the blood-oxygen sensor from its internet-connected watches if a court doesnt give it more leeway while it pursues a bid to overturn a ruling that has blocked its use of the technology.

A potential redesign of two Apple Watch models, the Series 9 and Ultra 2, that would exclude the blood-oxygen sensor has been approved by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to a Monday court filing by Masimo, a Southern California company pursuing a patent claim against Apple.

The document didn't disclose how Apple plans to remove the blood-oxygen sensor, although analysts have speculated the change could come through a software update.

Masimo won a favorable ruling from the U.S. International Trade Commission in late October that prompted Apple to temporarily halt sales of the Apple Watch models with the blood-oxygen sensor just before Christmas. But Apple then filed an appeal of the ITC ruling that resulted in a order clearing the way for the two Apple Watch models to return to stores shortly after Christmas while the appeal is under review.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington is expected to decide whether it extend the stay later this month. If it does, the Series 9 and Ultra 2 can remain on sale with the blood-oxygen sensors intact.

It will probably take at least a year for the appeals process to unfold, meaning Apple will need an extended stay to continue selling the watches with the blood-oxygen sensors as part of the company's effort to position the products as health-monitoring devices.

Apple declined to comment on the court filing disclosing its plans to remove the blood-oxygen sensor if the stay isn't extended.

In their arguments filed so far with the appeals court, Masimo and Apple have been painting dramatically different pictures of the technology involved in the dispute.

Masimo has depicted itself as a pioneer in the making of blood-oxygen sensors on wearable devices, prompting Apple to begin luring away some of its employees as far back as 2013  a year before the first version of the Apple Watch was unveiled.

When Apple finally introduced a watch with a blood-oxygen sensor in September 2020 during the throes of the pandemic, Masimo alleged the technology was so unreliable that it threated to taint its reputation and hurt sales of its W1 medical watch. Masimo says its pulse oximeters are used by hospitals and other professionals that treat 200 million patients annually.

Apple has denied infringing on a Masimo technology that has limited availability to consumers. Masimo's W1 watch wasn't even available on the market when the dispute started in 2021 and the device still has negligible sales, according to Apple. In contrast, Apple accounts for roughly one-third of smartwatch shipments  a business that generates an estimated $18 billion in annual sales for the Cupertino, California, company. That represents about 5% of Apple's annual revenue.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  Virginia Beach business owners can once again apply for a matching grant of up to $10,000 to help to spruce up their properties.

The Facade Improvement Grant (FIG) program administered through the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development is now in its fourth year. So far, the Virginia Beach Development Authority says its awarded $273,680 in grants to 39 small businesses for improvements.

In turn, those 39 businesses went on to invest $1.4 million overall, the VBDA says.

The response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive and has resulted in a noticeable enhancement of the attractiveness and marketability of our commercial and industrial corridors, said Lisa Murphy, Chair of the VBDA. We encourage all eligible businesses and property owners to take advantage of this opportunity, which will enable them to enhance the appearance of their buildings and properties in a manner that contributes to the overall vitality of our City.

The VBDA says the grant money can go toward a variety of improvements, including paint, fencing, parking improvements, security lighting and more.

To be eligible, business must licensed with the city and have 50 or fewer employees, must be up-to-date on taxes and fees in the city and be zoned for commercial or industrial use.

To read more and apply, visit www.yesvirginiabeach.com/fig.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Ariana Grande has announced that her seventh album, titled Eternal Sunshine, will be released on 8 March this year.

On Wednesday 17 January, the US pop star posted the date to her social media pages along with three artwork images, in which she can be seen wearing a white shirt with red lace gloves, paired with red lipstick.

Further details, including a tracklist and any collaborations, have yet to be revealed. The album is available for pre-order now.

The title appears to be a reference to the cult 2004 indie film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, the movie follows a couple who undergo a procedure to have each other erased from their memories after their breakup.

The film was in turn named after a line from Alexander Popes 1717 poem, Eloisa to Abelard.

Grandes last album, Positions, was released in 2020. It received mixed reviews, including three stars from The Independents Adam White.

This is a record firmly in her vibey R&B wheelhouse, dominated by sparse midtempos and fluttering melodies, he wrote. Production duties remain in the hands of those shes always worked with (TBHits, whos been on staff since her debut, is credited on every track)  though Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh, the ubiquitous Swedes behind many of her biggest pure-pop hits, are no-shows.

Lockdown probably didnt help in terms of collaborators, with Positions seemingly recorded at home or over Zoom, comfort zones fully stayed in.

The announcement of Eternal Sunshine comes shortly after Grande, 30, shared her first solo single in three years, Yes, And?, to positive reviews from critics.

In a four-star review, The Independents critic Helen Brown said the track was redolent of Madonnas Vogue thanks to its shuffling, house-influenced beat.

She also praised Grande for the lyrics, which appeared to hit back at speculation over her private life and the frenzy surrounding her split from husband Dalton Gomez.

Shortly after announcing her divorce, Grande was confirmed to be dating actor Ethan Slater, with whom she is set to star in a film adaptation of the musical Wicked.

My face is sitting, I don't need no disguise (I don't need no disguise), Grande sings. Don't comment on my body, do not reply/ Your business is yours and mine is mine/ Why do you care so much whose **** I ride?

Swifts wit is sharper, but Grandes ability to flutter so prettily through the storms of social media has its own warm, delicate appeal, Brown wrote in her review. She reminds me of a hummingbird, all iridescent precision and nectar, pretty notes flying so fast you dont notice the blur of her wings.
A traffic enforcement camera is shown at the intersection of McDowell and Scottsdale roads in Scottsdale.

Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article should not have included Tucson on a list of cities that have red-light cameras. Tucson voters banned their use.

After being shot down by Gov. Katie Hobbs, Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers wants to put a red-light camera ban in place in Arizona without the governor's signature.

Rogers has attempted to pass legislation that would prohibit cities from using red-light cameras since 2020, saying they infringe on the privacy rights of citizens. Now, the Flagstaff Republican wants to send the ban to the ballot, letting voters decide whether the cameras can be used.

Hobbs vetoed the ban in 2023 because red-light cameras allow law enforcement to allocate resources efficiently, according to a veto letter. Opponents of the ban say the cameras are effective at deterring dangerous driving and allow police to focus on more serious crimes.

In addition to an attempt to get the ban on the ballot, Rogers introduced the same bill that was vetoed last year. During a committee hearing on the measure, Rogers said red-light cameras do not increase safety and can be adjusted to make light times shorter.

"We need to pass this because my constituents want their privacy back," Rogers said at the hearing.

Red-light cameras are used in many Arizona cities, including Mesa, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale and Tempe. The cameras can be used to detect violations of speeding restrictions or traffic signs and signals.

ADOT freeway messages may see changes in the upcoming years due to new regulations

The chiefs of police for both Mesa and Paradise Valley testified against the bill at the hearing and said the cameras encourage safer driving and allow police to focus on more serious crimes. Ken Cost, the Mesa police chief urged lawmakers to oppose the bill.

"In Mesa alone, this tool has slowed people down; It has changed driving behavior," Cost said at the hearing. "Any tool that allows us to be efficient and change any driving behavior is critical to what we do on a daily basis."

The bill banning the cameras passed the Senate Transportation, Technology and Missing Children Committee on Thursday. The resolution sending the ban to the ballot has not yet been heard by the committee.

Democratic Sen. Christine Marsh, a member of the committee, said in an emailed statement that red-light cameras are effective at reducing crashes and deaths and are a "tool" for police.

"Red light cameras provide one more tool for our law enforcement entities to use, and since most  if not all  branches of Arizonas law enforcement community are understaffed, I am opposed to taking away a valuable tool," Marsh said in the emailed statement.

Republican Sen. David Farnsworth, the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, voted "yes" on the bill and said he thinks it's "great."

"I think constitutional rights are most important," Farnsworth said. "The proper role of government is to protect the liberty of the people and that's what's vital."

Reach the reporter at rpriest@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona GOP wants to go around Gov. Hobbs to ban red-light cameras
Arizona lawmakers returned to work earlier this month. For their labor, they are paid a $24,000 salary.

But thats only part of the picture.

Lawmakers are also entitled to daily payments of $35 to cover the cost of meals and expenses. For those who live outside of Maricopa County, the per diem covering meals and housing is $238.

That higher rate adds an extra $35,760 to an out-county lawmakers pay for the first 120 days of the legislative session, including weekends and holidays.

After the 120th day, the out-of-county pay is cut in half and the Maricopa County daily rate drops to $10. Thats what happened last year when the session dragged on to July 31. That session was punctuated by several long pauses, during which the per diem continued to be paid, drawing some complaints.

Stuck at $24K

But back to the salary.

Voters in 1998 approved a pay increase to $24,000 from $15,000. It hasnt budged in the quarter century since. In 2014, a state commission recommended raising the pay to $35,000 a year. Nearly 68% of voters shot it down.

In the ensuing decade, no one has bothered to broach the subject.

Arizona ranks in the middle of legislative salaries nationwide. The $24,000 pay is the 24th lowest in the nation, according to a 2023 survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures. New Mexico lawmakers dont draw a salary, while at the other end of the salary scale, New York pays its full-time lawmakers $142,000 annually.

More pay in another way

With faint hopes of voters approving a salary increase, Arizona lawmakers instead focused on the per diem pay.

In 2021, they engineered changes to their per diem pay after growing complaints from out-of-town lawmakers that they couldnt afford Phoenix rents on a daily per diem of $60.

In bipartisan votes, they increased the rate for any legislator living outside of Maricopa County, pegging it to the federal per diem scheme. The current payment is $238 a day.

In addition, lawmakers can claim mileage for their trips to and from the Capitol, and as they do legislative business in the state. They are reimbursed at the federal rate, which currently is 65.5 cents per mile.

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on Threads as well as on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @maryjpitzl.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona lawmaker pay has stayed at $24,000 for a quarter century
The Arizona Secretary of State erred by forcing the new No Labels Party to accept candidates for offices besides those of president and vice president, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

Under the order, the state has to help No Labels meet its goals by rejecting statements of interest from No Labels candidates in the primary election and disallowing any candidate to run in the primary under the partys banner.

If No Labels nominates any candidates for president and vice president, they can be placed on the ballot for Novembers general election, U.S. District Judge John Tuchi wrote in the ruling.

The Party has substantial First Amendment rights to structure itself, speak through a standard bearer, and allocate its resources, Tuchi wrote. The balance of equities thus tips in favor of the Party.

Arizonas interest in No Labels candidates, by contrast, is minimal, the order stated.

One side effect of the ruling is that the nearly 19,000 people registered statewide in the No Labels Party as of October won't be able to vote in the primary election. Unlike independents, party members can't request a primary ballot from any party they want.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes conducted a lottery on Dec. 18, 2023, to determine the order in which candidates will appear on the Republican and Democratic ballots for the state's presidential preference election in March. The event was streamed online.

The court is dead wrong, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said in a prepared statement, vowing to prepare an expedited review of the ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The ruling disenfranchises No Labels voters, he said. Even worse, existing law covering candidates would be overturned if Tuchis decision becomes a legal precedent. It could potentially derail the entire candidate nomination process," according to Fontes.

Other parties could seek similar deviations from decades of well-established legislative policies, he said. The results would be that parties, rather than voters, select candidates for the ballot.

No Labels said the ruling "strongly vindicates our constitutional rights."

"We will continue our fight to secure ballot access for the express purpose of allowing all Arizonans and all Americans to have another choice on the Presidential ballot," according to a statement attributed to the party's National co-chair, Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. and its director of ballot integrity, former Democratic Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. "Our ballot line cannot be hijacked. Our movement will not be stopped.

Party sued to limit ballot access

No Labels was founded as a centrist group a decade ago and was previously known mainly for its affiliated Problem Solvers Caucus in Congress. The group has sought ballot access for the 2024 election, saying it would field a third-party presidential candidate if voters have no other choices but President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Democrats and liberal groups have warned that No Labels potential third-party presidential candidate would only serve to tip the election to Trump by siphoning votes from Biden. The Arizona Democratic Party launched its own lawsuit last year to keep No Labels off the ballot at all, but a judge ruled in August the party could stay.

No Labels turned in more than enough valid signatures in March to qualify as an official political party. As of last week, the party had qualified for the ballot in 13 states including Arizona. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia appears to be preparing for a possible run for president with the party.

The party sued Arizona after Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, said he would not honor its wish to stop registered No Labels voters from running as candidates for any office they chose. Fontes claimed that the party wanted to break their promise to registered party members who signed nominating petitions that "explicitly stated" the party would participate in Arizona's August primary election.

Richard Grayson has won three primary elections in Arizona as a write-in candidate. He said he's seeking a fourth as a No Labels candidate.

Five people are now listed as No Labels candidates on the Secretary of States website for offices ranging from state legislator to U.S. senator. One of the candidates, Richard Grayson, has openly stated hes a Democrat who switched to the No Labels party and ran for office only to protest the new party.

Grayson told The Arizona Republic he thought Tuchi's ruling was "unfair," especially to No Labels voters.

Though he won't be on the ballot now in Arizona, Grayson's still an official No Labels candidate in Alaska for Congress.

"I will use the campaign to expose the scam of No Labels (and to) excoriate the selfish and evil people who have organized this effort and their attempt to make sure that Donald Trump wins in November," Grayson said.

Judge: No right to appear on ballot as party's candidate

Tuchi explained in his order that the rules behind state-run primary elections are intended to help avoid corruption by stopping parties from pre-selecting candidates in a proverbial smoke-filled room.

In a Jan. 5 hearing on the lawsuit, Tuchi noted, Fontes relied heavily on a 2008 ruling in Alaska denying third parties, including the Libertarian Party, from handling candidate selection in any manner they wanted. But that case involved parties that intended to run candidates in various offices.

Federal Judge John Tuchi delivers the convocation address at the Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law in downtown Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2016. The ceremony was the first to be held at the new law school campus.

The state does not have an interest in eliminating corruption in a primary election (or in a partys selection of its primary candidates) where the party is not running any candidates, Tuchi wrote.

Additionally, no case law supports the idea that registered members of a political party have the right to appear on a ballot as a partys candidate, he wrote, adding that citizens can take other avenues to run for office.

Fontes also raised concerns at the hearing that No Labels voters would be confused when they dont receive primary ballots, and that such confusion could lead to threats against election workers, Tuchi wrote. But the Secretary provided no evidentiary or legal support for these suggested interests.

Tuchi asked No Labels to present the amount of their attorneys fees for potential reimbursement by the state.

Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Judge: Arizona must adhere to No Labels wishes on candidates
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin is warning consumers about a common scam being run in the state.

Griffin said scammers will call a consumer and pretend to be a utility company representative. The caller will threaten a shut off, he explained, and demand immediate payment of the past-due amount right away.

5 signs its a scam call before you even pick up, according to an expert

Griffin said his office had received many complaints about this scam and offered several things to be aware of to avoid being scammed.

A utility company must give adequate notice before shutting off service for a past-due bill, Griffin said, adding that the companies often allow consumers to enter into a payment agreement to lessen any immediate burden.

Griffin also said utility companies do not typically call about shutoffs, preferring to send something by mail or email. A utility company also will never ask for payment by gift cards, bitcoin, or app transfers, he said.

Why scammers are texting you pictures of wine bottles, selfies

If a consumer thinks they are getting a scammer call, they should hang up and call the utility using the phone number from the last statement to check their account status, Griffin said.

If a consumer is tricked into paying a scammer, they should take the steps to stop payment and, in all cases, file a complaint with the attorney general, he said.

Griffin added that consumers should always be cautious when answering calls from unknown numbers, especially if the caller is threatening or demanding money.

Arvest Bank warns customers of text message scam

To file a complaint with the Attorney Generals office, call 800-482-8982, email or visit ArkansasAG.gov.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Several armed suspects were detained after police say they were trying to steal cars from a parking garage in Downtown Memphis.

Mitch Whitten and Andrew Marts say chaos ensued Wednesday morning in front of their apartment on Georgia Street.

Whitten said at around 6:50 a.m., he heard an alarm outside his window and saw a man climbing out of the sunroof.

I did visually see a man hop out of that car and get into a little silver car and drive away with his buddies, it looked like, said Whitten.

Memphis Police say this stemmed from a reported shooting at a parking garage on Tennessee Street.

People in the area say a garage was left open to prevent it from freezing shut. However, a group of thieves saw it as an opportunity to try stealing a car.

MPD was notified that shots were fired, but no one was injured. By the time they arrived, the suspects were gone.

Man shot while confronting thieves pushing wifes car

Moments later, police were told that three armed suspects were running towards the movie theater on Front Street.

Two other suspects were later detained along with a stolen vehicle.

At this time, no charges have been filed.

Many people we spoke to expressed their frustrations with crime in the downtown area. Crime is just ridiculous. Its gotten to the point where Ive debated actually moving out of the city because of the crime itself, one resident said.

Overnight shooting on Lamar Avenue leaves man dead

However, Memphis Police say things are moving in a positive direction this year so far.

Compared to this time last year, MPD says they are seeing a 25 percent decrease in all part-one crimes city-wide. That includes homicide, burglary, robbery, rape, vehicle theft, aggravated assault, and larceny.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
The Army has delisted its advertising campaign titled "The Calling" on YouTube, making it harder to find the videos on the platform. The 2021 effort to court potential applicants from LGBTQ+ and other diverse backgrounds sparked a backlash from conservative lawmakers and pundits.

"The Calling" was delisted from the service's YouTube channel last week, hiding it from search results and recommendations, according to Laura DeFrancisco, a spokesperson for the Army's marketing arm, who said usage rights for music were set to expire. One of the ads, called "Emma," featured a soldier who operated Patriot missile systems and was raised by a lesbian couple.

The series of ads focused on individual, personable, real service members from diverse backgrounds as a way to appeal to the shifting demographics of Gen Z. They were based on the idea that relatively low-ranking soldiers pitching service might be more trustworthy to potential applicants skeptical of institutions than corporate jingles or generic images of troops jumping from planes.

Read Next: First Wave of Army Noncommissioned Officers Gets Automatic Promotions for Completing Recruiting School

The service also delisted some ads from its "What's Your Warrior" campaign, a slick series of ads highlighting the Army's different job opportunities, particularly those in science and technology.

The military services have faced a historic recruiting slump in recent years. The Army came up 10,000 recruits short of its 65,000 goal last fiscal year.

Meanwhile, more than 20% of Gen Z identifies as LGBTQ+, according to a 2021 Gallup poll. The military has traditionally not been perceived as friendly to potential applicants with those backgrounds, with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" still a recent memory after being repealed in 2011.

"The Calling" spot featuring a female soldier raised by two moms in California immediately sparked the ire of Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill and partisan media. The military, particularly the Army, has increasingly become a target in the political culture wars, with the GOP attacking the Biden administration over what it sees as liberal policy creep.

"The Calling" was made exclusively for YouTube. It became a flashpoint amid the growing political criticism and is still routinely referenced on conservative media -- and on Capitol Hill as recently as December.

"Why do we have an Army in a recruiting crisis. ... What data drove 'The Calling?'" Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., asked defense officials at a hearing on recruiting shortfalls last month.

It wasn't the first time the campaign has been brought up in congressional hearings by Republicans. But the Army has been increasingly distancing itself from the ads.

"I don't know the genesis of it. Or why they ... 'The Calling' was before me," Agnes Schaefer, assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs, said in response to Waltz's questioning.

The Republican critiques have centered on allegations the military has become "woke" or so fixated on diversity and inclusion that it has abandoned its responsibility to be ready to fight. The criticisms seldom center on specifics, but generally zero in on the services opening up opportunities for women, LGBTQ+ troops, minorities and other historically marginalized groups.

Delisting a video on YouTube doesn't outright delete it; it hides the video from search results and recommendations from the platform's algorithm, though anyone with the original link can still view it.

The Army, like some companies in the public sector, licenses parts of advertisements such as music for a limited time. YouTube has a punishing copyright infringement system, and entire channels can be taken offline for only a few perceived infractions.

Related: Army Sees Sharp Decline in White Recruits
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This aerial photo taken on Dec. 18, 2023 shows the snow scenery of Badaling Great Wall in Beijing, capital of China. (Photo by Liu Yu/Xinhua)

Beijing's Yanqing District plans to build a comprehensive, world-class scenic area centered around the Badaling Great Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site, integrating surrounding sections of the Great Wall, local authorities have said.



Starting this year, the district will establish sightseeing trails linking surrounding Great Wall sections, and upgrade the business models of the China Great Wall Museum and nearby commercial strips to meet tourist demand for accommodation, catering and shopping in an improved manner.

Multiple activities are also expected to be launched, including a Great Wall culture festival, a forum and a concert, according to the district government.

The China Great Wall Museum's new exhibition halls are still under construction, with an estimated construction area of about 16,000 square meters.

The Great Wall has a total length of more than 20,000 kilometers and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of many interconnected walls. Beijing has an approximate total of 520 kilometers of Great Wall sections, of which the Badaling section is the most visited.

Since the Badaling Great Wall was opened to tourists in 1958, it has received more than 200 million visitors from home and abroad.
TAMPA (WFLA)  Movie star and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger was detained at Munich Airport for several hours over an unregistered luxury watch, according to the German newspaper BILD.

The newspaper reported that Schwarzenegger, 76, was heading to the World Climate Summit in Kitzbuhel with a luxury watch he planned to auction off for charity at a dinner on Thursday night.

Authorities searching for missing family with Tampa Bay area connection

BILD said the actor was stopped by customs agents for a suspicion-free bag check, which is when the luxury watch was discovered.

The watch, which Schwarzenegger reportedly said is worth 20,000 euros, was produced by Swiss manufacturer Audemars Piguet especially for Schwarzeneggers private collection, according to BILD.

Thomas Meister, spokesman for the Munich Main Customs Office, told the newspaper the watch should have been registered as an import and that criminal proceedings under tax law have been initiated.

This is the problem that Germany is suffering from. You can no longer see the forest for the trees, Schwarzenegger told BILD.

The Terminator star reportedly told officials the watch was being auctioned off but was still fined 35,000 euros, half of which had to be paid in cash according to BILD.

BILD said Schwarzenegger reportedly was escorted to a bank by an airport employee so he could withdraw the cash for the fine.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
POCONO TWP., MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A man was arrested after police say he was found with various drugs during a traffic stop in Monroe County.

According to the Pocono Township Police Department, on August 10 around 10:16 p.m., officers pulled over a Mitsubishi Outlander for multiple vehicle code violations.

Police say they immediately detected an odor of marijuana coming from the car and they requested to search the vehicle, which was denied by the driver, 31-year-old Anthony Robles, of Bronx, New York.

Two wanted for alleged $250 Target theft

Officers said they impounded the vehicle and applied for a search warrant. A search of the car revealed various amounts of narcotics, a digital scale, and packaging materials.

Pocono Township Police Department

Investigators noted they suspected Robles was headed to the Elements Music & Arts Festival held at the Pocono Raceway to sell the items.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
An arson suspect remains at large after setting a Christmas tree on fire in a Long Beach neighborhood, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Residents are shaken up and are hoping the arsonist will be caught before targeting another home.

Surveillance video captured the suspect walking up to an old Christmas tree that was left on the curb of a Belmont Shore home for disposal.

At first, the man fails to light the tree on fire with what appears to be lighter. He then sets a scrap piece of paper on fire before tossing it onto the tree.

In less than two minutes, the trees are fully engulfed, sending large flames shooting up an electrical pole before burning up near a gas line and catching the drapes of a home on fire.

Arsonist seen setting a Christmas tree on fire in a Long Beach neighborhood on Jan. 12, 2024. (KTLA) Arsonist seen setting a Christmas tree on fire in a Long Beach neighborhood on Jan. 12, 2024. (KTLA)

Arsonist seen setting a Christmas tree on fire in a Long Beach neighborhood on Jan. 12, 2024. (KTLA)

Arsonist seen setting a Christmas tree on fire in a Long Beach neighborhood on Jan. 12, 2024. (KTLA)

Arsonist seen setting a Christmas tree on fire in a Long Beach neighborhood on Jan. 12, 2024. (KTLA)

Arsonist seen setting a Christmas tree on fire in a Long Beach neighborhood on Jan. 12, 2024. (KTLA)

Neighbors extinguishing the large flames after an arsonist set a Christmas tree on fire in a Long Beach neighborhood on Jan. 12, 2024. (KTLA)

The extensive damage to a home after an arsonist set a Christmas tree on fire in a Long Beach neighborhood on Jan. 12, 2024. (KTLA)



The extensive damage to a home after an arsonist set a Christmas tree on fire in a Long Beach neighborhood on Jan. 12, 2024. (KTLA)

Arsonist seen setting a Christmas tree on fire in a Long Beach neighborhood on Jan. 12, 2024. (KTLA)

If it caught on fire a little bit more severely, then it couldve hurt somebody, said a neighbor named Kevin.

Kevin lives nearby and said the incident happened on Jan. 12 around 3 p.m. Kevin said had there not been cameras to notify neighbors of the fire, the devastation couldve been catastrophic and deadly.

Its really scary, he said. If we werent around, if the neighbors werent here and vigilant and we didnt have all these cameras around to see things happening in the alleys, it couldve easily have engulfed that house and who knows if it wouldve then spread to other homes.

Kevin said firefighters arrived almost immediately but he was concerned after learning the damage truly couldve been much worse.

The box right behind me is actually a gas line, and I dont know if theres a regulator or what exactly would have stopped the flames, but it couldve potentially caught on fire and caused a much more massive explosion, he said.

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Neighbors in the area said theres been a recent uptick in crime and are hoping local leaders and law enforcement will do more to protect their community.

Over the last few years, whether its COVID or whatever is causing it, its definitely increased, Kevin said.

Surveillance footage of the arson suspect is being released in hopes he can be captured before setting another fire. Although no injuries were reported, neighbors are concerned the next time the suspect strikes, it could potentially be deadly.

If we just let this slide, who knows whats going to happen next time? said Kevin.

The incident remains under investigation by the Long Beach Fire Department. Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information on the case is asked to call 562-591-7631.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
TRYON - A 29-year-old Asheville man died last week after an accident at a waterfall in Polk County, according the Tryon Fire Department and Polk County Emergency Management.

Tryon Fire Chief Josh Walton told the Times-News on Jan. 17 that William Andrew Lee, who had lived in Polk County but recently lived in Asheville, fell from Melrose Falls in the late-night hours of Jan. 10.

Lee was a 2013 Polk County High School graduate and graduated from UNC Asheville in 2018 with a degree in accounting. He was an active member of Biltmore Church in Arden and is survived by his parents, Rick and Amy Mueller Lee of Tryon, and sister Caroline Lee of Birmingham, Alabama, the obituary says.

After being rescued by emergency personnel at the scene, Lee was transported by Mission Health's helicopter, MAMA, to Spartanburg Regional Hospital in South Carolina, where he later died in the early-morning hours of Jan. 11, Walton said.

With cellphone service being spotty in the area of the accident, dispatchers were unable at first to understand the caller, who was a friend of Lee's, Walton said.

"We got dispatched at 10:10 p.m. The first call came around 9:45 p.m. By the time we got clarity that this was an actual event, we got dispatched," Walton said. "We had a Polk County deputy come in from the trailhead and meet the friend, and we had a rescuer come in from the opposite end on a trail that very few people know about. (Lee) is an avid outdoorsman."

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The trail leading to the falls

Located off U.S. 176 the trail to Melrose Falls is a half-mile hike to the upper falls, which is now managed by Conserving Carolina, a local environmental nonprofit, and parallels the North Pacolet River. According to AllTrails.com, the elevation gain is 131 feet, and the falls' height is a little more than 50 feet.

The AllTrails.com description of the final part of the trail is as follows: "It's a fairly easy trail but the final descent to the falls is very steep and can be slippery. It leads to a cliff that overlooks the falls. That cliff is high enough that people probably shouldn't take children or dogs on this trail."

Walton said due to slick, wet conditions from rain the previous day, and the rough terrain, the rescue took more than four hours. Tryon Fire was first on scene, then assisted by at least six other local agencies and rescue teams. Between 25 to 30 personnel responded, Arledge said.

Polk County Emergency Management Director Bobby Arledge told the Times-News on Jan. 17 that this isn't the first time someone has been injured at the falls.

"We have had a few minor injuries at these falls over the past few years but nothing to this extent," he said.

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The rescue

Walton said the deputy met with the friend on the trail and confirmed that someone had fallen and was seriously injured.

"The other rescuer immediately located the victim's flashlight on a ledge. ... The rescuer climbed down and located him. The victim was located within 20 minutes of the time of dispatch," Walton said.

Lee was found about 10 feet from the bottom of the falls, wedged between a rock and a pool of water, Walton said.

"When the victim was located, the crews that went in from Tryon and Saluda stated they would need more help, so we reached out to Henderson County Rescue Squad with their Mountain Search and Rescue Team," he said. "It was very cold conditions, with high water because it had rained and it was very rugged terrain."

Walton said crews rigged two rope systems to get the victim out.

"From start to finish, we got to the victim at 10:25 p.m. and got him to the ambulance at 2:45 that morning. That puts it in perspective. We were faced with the rain from the day before, so water levels were up and the falls were at a faster pace," he said.

Walton said when they got Lee out of the woods, he was still alive and semiconscious.

"He was very injured. Unfortunately, a few hours at the hospital, he passed away," he said.

According to Lee's obituary, there will be a celebration of life service on Jan. 22 in Arden.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Asheville man dies from fall at Polk waterfall
The Volkswagen Multivan has seven seats - five of which can be slid forward to make room for a Great Dane

Dear Alex,

We have a very large Great Dane, and take him over to Majorca with us for a couple of months each year. Our fully electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz is perfect for home, where we have a charger installed, and the same in Majorca, where charging is virtually free as we are off-grid and have photovoltaic panels. But the trip to and from the island is extremely tedious due to charging times involved along the way. Do you have any suggestions for a suitable alternative? We have test-driven a plug-in hybrid Defender 110, but the boot is just not big enough.

- SM

Dear VM,

I think you should probably head back to the dealership from which you bought your ID.Buzz, because the most logical replacement is almost certainly a Volkswagen Multivan.

Dont be fooled by the name; the latest Multivan is actually based on one of Volkswagens car platforms, so its rather less industrial to drive than a full-on van. Its roomier than the ID.Buzz, with seven seats, five of which can be slid forward or removed to leave you with an enormous space ideal for your Great Dane.

The Multivan comes in plug-in hybrid form with a real-world electric range of around 20 miles  ideal for local trips when youre at home or in Majorca. For the journey there and back, theres a petrol engine that you can refuel easily  though do keep in mind that you probably wont get stellar fuel economy when you arent charging the battery.

As an alternative, you could try a Ford Tourneo Custom instead. This is based on the Transit Custom which is, of course, a full-blown van  and that might be enough to put you off. But the Transit is widely acknowledged to be one of the best-driving vans out there  and in Tourneo form, you get a more luxurious, more car-like interior.

As with the Multivan, youll be able to slide the rearmost seats forward or even remove them, giving you plenty of space to allow your canine friend to travel in comfort. Again, expect a real-world electric range in the region of 20 miles; fuel economy will be poor on your longer runs, though, as the Transits petrol engine is bigger, and its a taller, heavier car than the Multivan.

For new and used buying guides, tips and expert advice, visit our Advice section, or sign up to our newsletter here

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Audio of the 911 call made on behalf of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Jan. 1 reveals that Austin's staff encouraged the dispatcher to keep the ambulance presence "subtle" as the secretary was taken to the hospital due to complications from surgery for prostate cancer.

CBS News obtained the audio through a public information request to the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications. The Daily Beast first reported the contents of the call.

"I'm requesting an ambulance to be taken [redacted]," the caller tells the dispatcher.

"Can I ask that, can the ambulance not show up with lights and sirens? We're trying to remain a little subtle," the caller adds.

The caller asks the dispatcher if it's possible to take Austin to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Much of the call is redacted, including the caller's name, Austin's symptoms and Austin's name.

Austin's failure to report his hospitalization  which included time in the intensive care unit  to the White House and his failure to disclose to President Biden that he had prostate cancer have become a public lesson in how not to handle a crisis in Washington. President Biden last week said that "yes," Austin showed a lapse in judgment in failing to tell him about the situation sooner.

Timeline: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization

Austin was only released from the hospital on Monday, two weeks after he was taken in an ambulance to Walter Reed to address an infection related to the surgery. Austin underwent an initial surgery to treat and cure prostate cancer on Dec. 22, unbeknownst to the White House.

Austin's doctors in a statement released by the Pentagon on Monday said Austin is "expected to make a full recovery."

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Related video  Missing in Florida: Families gather in Ybor City to get answers

TAMPA (WFLA)  Officials in Sumter County are searching for a missing family they say may have ties to the Tampa Bay area.

In a Facebook post Wednesday, the Sumter County Sheriffs Office said Debra Bergey and her two children, 6-year-old Dominic Bergey and 10-year-old Delainey Bergey, were reported missing on Tuesday. Additionally, it was reported that Debras boyfriend, Grady Sidney Matthew Johnson, was also unaccounted for.

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The sheriffs office said the last time the family had been seen was by a family member on Dec. 29, 2023, when they saw the family traveling south on U.S. 301 near CR-673. Officials said during the investigation, it was revealed Bergey made suicidal statements to family members via text message.

Detectives said the family is considered homeless and may be driving a 2007 Orange Dodge Nitro with a Michigan tag reading BERGEY.

Investigators said Ms. Bergey has contacts in Pasco, Hernando, and Polk Counties and the family may be in one of those areas.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sumter County Sheriffs Office at 352-793-2621 or to remain anonymous contact Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS(8477).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
On Jan. 14, the 9th Huilin Prize award ceremony, jointly organized by the Huilin Foundation and the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture at Beijing Normal University, took place at Jingshi Hall of the university.

The recipients of the prize for this edition are Luo Jinlin, a renowned director, and ancient Greek drama research expert from the Central Academy of Drama, and Marco Mueller, a distinguished Italian film producer, curator, and scholar.

Mueller, as one of the first batch of Italian students to study in China after 1949, embarked on his academic journey in 1976. During his study period, he immersed himself in numerous Chinese films, enjoyed connections with filmmakers like Xie Jin, and developed a keen interest in Chinese cinema.

After returning to Italy in 1978, he actively organized Chinese film exhibitions in Europe, translated Chinese films, wrote articles, and published books to extensively promote Chinese cinema and culture. Later, in various roles such as festival director, film selector, curator, and film intermediary, he played a crucial role in bringing more Chinese films to the global stage.

Mueller now sees his mission as discovering and promoting the new generation of Chinese filmmakers and remains dedicated to the promotion of Chinese cinema.

Luo has seamlessly combined the aesthetics of Chinese traditional opera with the ancient Greek drama, engaging in decades of research and creative practices that integrate Eastern and Western theatrical elements.

Luo said that, as a theater practitioner, director, and educator, he has practical experiences and insights in the dissemination and integration of Eastern and Western cultures in the realm of drama.

The Huilin Prize, launched in 2015 in honor of Huang Huilin, a distinguished professor at Beijing Normal University, annually recognizes one Chinese and one foreign individual for their exceptional contributions to the international promotion of Chinese culture.

For this edition, a total of 53 individuals were nominated. Among these candidates, 31 are Chinese, and 22 are from other countries, including the United States, Canada, France, Japan, Italy, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia.

Huang stated that the Huilin Prize remains committed to its core values: promoting outstanding traditions, bringing together knowledgeable individuals, and strengthening confidence in taking Chinese culture to the global stage.
How real is the threat from the military alliance between Russia and North Korea, and what other weapons can the enemy get?

On January 2, 2024, one of the North Korean-made missiles, the KN-23, most likely hit Kharkiv. Outwardly, it is an exact copy of the Russian 9M723 ballistic missile for the Iskander system.

However, the North Korean munition differs from its Russian counterpart in details. After all, why was it assumed that the KN-23 missile was used? The shape of the gas-dynamic rudders on the tail of this missile is much smaller than that of the Russian Iskander-M. This missile has a rectangular shape, while the Russian 9M723 has a rounded shape. This is due to North Koreas lower level of technical proficiency. The DPRK received a general technology from Russia, but it cannot copy the Russian analog completely and to such a high quality. These small elements made it possible to establish that it was most likely a KN-23, also known as a Hwasong-11Ga.

Now, there will be a lot of speculation and manipulation about what characteristics these missiles have, sometimes with inflated figures attached to them.

Some of the characteristics of these missiles have yet to be determined. North Korea is a closed country, and it is impossible to know for sure. After all, even the name KN-23 is not the actual North Korean name for this missile. This is the name under which it is listed in US intelligence reports.

As for the characteristics of this missile, it is stated that the range is 690 km. The warhead's weight is 500kg, with a total weight of just under 3.5 tons.

No one knows for sure what the characteristics of the kn-23 missile are

That is, the range is longer than that of the 9M723 Iskander, the warhead's weight is the same, and the total weight of the missile is lower. It turns out that the performance is better than that of its Russian counterpart. But I have my doubts. After all, if North Korea failed to make its gas-dynamic rudders rounded, but left them rectangular and cut off at the corners, then there are doubts that the DPRK could reduce the total mass of the missile while still increasing its range by 190 km.

There is an interesting point here. In August last year, in the presence of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, demonstration launches of these missiles were conducted in North Korea, and the range of 430 km was verified and recorded. That is 70 kilometers less than the Iskander-M. This is what I believe more than the claims that the KN-23 has a range of almost 700 km.

Those regions of Ukraine that fall within the verified kill zone of this missile are in danger. However, on the other hand, the Russians used this missile to hit Kharkiv. This is the minimum distance from the border with Russia. Even if we take a security buffer of 100 kilometers, it is still a relatively small distance. That's why I suspect that this missile has imperfect reliability characteristics.

In 1989, North Korea supplied Hwasong-5 missiles to the United Arab Emirates. They initially bought these munitions, but then decommissioned them because their quality was so low that the missiles posed a threat to the UAE troops themselves. Finally, even in 2023, there were repeated reports that the Russian occupiers complained that the ammunition they received from North Korea (primarily 152- and 122-caliber shells for cannon artillery, as well as 122-caliber shells for BM-21 Grad MLRS) differed from Russian ammunition of the same caliber. The North Korean shells are low-quality, so they frequently jam or backfire. The DPRK has no technical standards for their production.

The main issue is the number of missiles the Russians have now received. North Korea has a lot of rockets, and we have to admit it. This country has been implementing its missile program for decades, and it not only has a large number of ballistic missiles based on Soviet, Chinese, and Russian technologies, but it has also been actively exporting them to the UAE, Iran, and other countries.

For example, the Hwasong-5 missile I mentioned, which the DPRK made based on the Soviet R-17 liquid-fuel ballistic missile for the Elbrus missile defense system, was exported to Iran in 1985 and later to the UAE. In addition, Pyongyang exported its missiles to Syria, Yemen, and Vietnam. Hundreds of units were exported.

In nine years, North Korea has been able to produce thousands of Hwasong-6 ballistic missiles and exported 500 of them to Yemen, Syria, and Iran. That is, the DPRK is not spending missiles, but accumulating them.

Russia's alleged use of North Korean ballistic missiles shows that, on the one hand, it is a demonstration that Russia is currently having severe problems with the production of its own missiles, such as the 9M723 and 9M728 for the Iskander, and is therefore forced to look for replacements from other suppliers, such as Iran and North Korea.

Read also: Three conclusions after Russia's missile attack on Ukraine on January 8

On the other hand, this is a problem, since the DPRK did not need its stockpiles for war, but produced and accumulated them. And no one has stopped it for decades. Even when the DPRK demonstrated its KN-23 in 2019, no one imposed additional sanctions against Russia. However, the KN-23 is a twin missile of the 9M723 for the Iskander air defense system.

However, despite the problems with production, Russia continues to produce missiles for the Iskander. And the Russians will now use them in conjunction with the North Korean nomenclature.

These ballistic missiles will not change the situation critically. The fact is that when the Russians launched their full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they had a considerable number of Iskander missiles. They used dozens of them a day. Now, even with the help of the DPRK, they cannot reach the level they had at the beginning of the invasion.

The problem may arise when Russia needs fewer missiles or ammunition, but more equipment, especially mechanized equipment. Then, the aggressor will turn to North Korea to supply Russia with tanks, artillery, and so on.

Read also: Three powerful missile attacks in a short time. What is Russia's goal?

Of course, Pyongyang needs all of this itself. Its military-industrial complex has been accumulating all this, but it does not have such a frantic and large production. And Kim Jong-un needs these weapons himself. But the question is the price. What is Russia willing to give North Korea to get all this? And is North Korea willing to do so? Russia can offer the DPRK aircraft in exchange for such equipment. Today, North Korea does not have more modern aviation. Therefore, this could be a very interesting element in relations between Russia and North Korea.

There are ways to counteract the military alliance between Russia and North Korea. It is possible to carry out precision strikes on the military-industrial complex of North Korea. It is always possible to counteract such rogue states and bring them to the point where they can produce such products. It would be enough to raze it to the ground every time the DPRK started constructing such an enterprise.

However, we do not live in the time of Margaret Thatcher or Ronald Reagan. We are now living in the times of a spineless, amorphous, let's say, tolerant West. It is quite tolerant of those threats that may even destroy its democratic values in the future.

Therefore, in my opinion, dictatorships and tyrannies can only be dealt with by destroying them or keeping them at a zero level of development. If this is not done, then any tyranny or dictatorship will raise its head and, in 10, 20, 30, or 40 years, gain power. This will then be a big problem for generations that do not deserve it and is the result of the inability of previous generations to cope with this threat.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Baltimore Sun front page is seen, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Baltimore. David D. Smith, executive chairman of the Sinclair broadcasting chain and an active contributor to conservative causes, has bought Baltimore Sun Media from the investment firm Alden Global Capital. The purchase price was not disclosed. (AP Photo/Lea Skene)

A local buyer taking over a struggling newspaper in the 21st century is normally cause for some celebration. But The Baltimore Suns newly announced owner has a very specific political background, and some are concerned about what the 187-year-old publication could become.

David D. Smith, executive chairman of the Sinclair broadcasting chain and an active contributor to conservative causes, has bought Baltimore Sun Media from the investment firm Alden Global Capital. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Smith met with Sun employees on Tuesday to talk about his plans, saying he hopes to make the newsroom more profitable. He was not made available for an interview with The Associated Press.

In a Sun story announcing the sale a day earlier, Smith said that he was in the news business because he believes we have an absolute responsibility to serve the public interest. He also criticized the citys mainstream media while acknowledging that he began reading the paper regularly only a few months ago.

Have no fear of me, Smith told the Sun newsroom on Tuesday, according to someone who was there and relayed the statement on condition of anonymity because it was a private meeting. What you should fear is the marketplace.

THE NEW OWNER

Smith serves as executive chairman of the Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcasting Inc., which owns or operates 185 local television stations across the country and is known for infusing a right-wing sensibility into its news products. In 2018, the company ordered its anchors across the country to read a statement that largely echoed what former President Donald Trump had said about fake news.

The company was founded as the Chesapeake Television Corp. by Smiths father, Julian Sinclair Smith, and changed its name to Sinclair in the 1980s as it began expanding nationally.

Smith made clear that he used his personal resources to purchase The Sun, which will not fall under the Sinclair umbrella and will be under local ownership for the first time in 38 years. Smith told the newspaper he had one partner: Armstrong Williams, a commentator who hosts a show on Sinclairs affiliates.

The Sinclair-owned Fox station in Baltimore frequently airs coverage blaming the citys Democratic mayor, Brandon Scott, for gun violence and failing schools. And Smith has become a prominent player in local politics. In 2022, he helped finance an effort to impose term limits for some Baltimore officials.

Tax records show Smiths foundation has donated to the conservative group Project Veritas, which is best known for making hidden camera stings on media and liberal figures.

As a lifelong Baltimorean and reader of the Sun, I believe that a free and fair  unbiased  press is critically important, said former Baltimore City Solicitor Jim Shea. I hope that The Sun will not be controlled by those who want to spread their own partisan views.

Others celebrated the sale. A late Christmas present for common sense people in Maryland looking for honest and fair reporting. Embrace a new day Baltimore! Republican state Delegate Kathy Szliga posted on X, formerly Twitter.

THE CONTEXT

History is replete with media owners who have strong political opinions; Rupert Murdoch is only a recent example. What resonates is whether they use their products to push those views.

If the owner invests in it and truly cares about local news and how it is reported fairly, it could be a great thing, said Marty Kaiser, who worked at the Sun decades ago and now runs the Capital News Service for the University of Maryland. But his background sort of makes you pause.

Alden Capital, the investment firm that took control of the Sun with its purchase of Tribune Publishing in 2021, is notorious for its cost-cutting. Newspapers with local ownership  the Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Globe and Seattle Times among them  tend to invest more in their product, said Tim Franklin, senior director of the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University.

But while the Sun has shrunk, it has remained a credible news organization, winning the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting in 2020 for its stories on a book publishing scheme that led to the former mayors resignation.

It is also now competing with The Baltimore Banner, a digital-only news organization started in 2022 by hotel magnate Stewart Bainum Jr., who tried unsuccessfully to buy the Sun before launching his startup. The Banner employs more than 75 journalists  about 20% hired directly from the Sun over the past two years.

While the region certainly has people with conservative views, turning it into a rigid conservative publication would not seem a wise business decision, said Medills Franklin, who was editor-in-chief of the Sun from 2004 to 2009. One of the most important rules is to know your audience, Franklin said, and Baltimore is not a conservative area.

Smith has exhibited a pointed attitude toward the business hes getting into. In 2018, Smith told New York magazine that he dislikes and fundamentally distrusts print media. He said the industry is so left wing as to be meaningless and that accounts for its decline. Just no credibility, he told writer Olivia Nuzzi in 2018.

When asked about those comments by a Sun staffer Tuesday during a contentious meeting that left many staff members feeling depleted, Smith said he largely stood by them, according to people in attendance.

David Simon, a former Sun journalist who later gained fame as creator of televisions The Wire, said Tuesday that The Sun was already a hollow shell of its former self before the recent sale.

There are no great cities without great news organizations, Simon wrote on X, formerly Twitter, and absent an entity that truly covers its region independently and without ideological cant, corruption and grift will be unceasing.

Baltimore Sun Media, winner of 16 Pulitzer Prizes, employs more than 150 people and publishes seven other publications aside from the Sun, with more than 230,000 paid subscribers total. The largest newspaper in Maryland, the Sun was founded in 1837 and was locally owned by the Abell family until the 1980s.

___

Bauder, APs media writer, reported from New York. Skene reported from Baltimore.
The second edition of Oriental Civilization Summit Dialogue, co-hosted by the Mencius Foundation and Qufu School of Confucian Classics, was held on Saturday in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province.

Themed "The Mencius Wisdom: Exchanges and Mutual Learning Between Civilizations", the event gathered luminaries from home and abroad to discuss the contemporary relevance of the thoughts of Mencius (372-289 BC).

The event featured keynote speakers including Enrico Letta, a former prime minister of Italy and president of the Jacques Delors Institute, a think tank; Meng Liang, chair of the Mencius Foundation and the 79th-generation descendant of Mencius; and Kong Zhong, vice chair of the World Federation of Confucius' Descendants and the 78th-generation descendant of Confucius (551-479 BC).

Letta said in his speech that clashes of civilizations are often a result of ignorance, so to avoid clashes, the first step should be to eliminate ignorance and break stereotypes about each other to foster mutual understanding.

"The lack of mutual knowledge is the true beginning of every fight, but to have mutual knowledge, we have to start by knowing the legacy of different civilizations," Letta commented.

The dialogue provided a great opportunity to learn about Mencius' wisdom, which is not only a legacy for the Chinese people or a legacy for the Asian civilization, but can also offer many lessons for European people, he said, adding that traditional European wisdom, such as that of ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) and Italian Renaissance thinker Agostino Nifo (circa 1473-1538) shares similarity with Confucianism.

Letta, who is also dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po in Paris, highlighted the importance of education, a significant component of Mencius' legacy, for boosting mutual understanding and cultivating well-educated people to outperform technology and artificial intelligence which are becoming the very heart of everything.

Meng Liang said in his speech that the original intention of establishing the Mencius Foundation was to better communicate Confucianism, show the world the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and promote cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

Since 2017, the foundation has held a series of forums themed on oriental civilization, inviting dignitaries from the fields of politics, culture, art and economies, to share their insights about Confucianism.

Kong remarked that the creative transformation and innovative development of Confucianism amid the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation, can help the ancient Chinese philosophy shine brighter and enable it to contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions in addressing global challenges, promoting world peace and encouraging the development of world civilizations.
A barking dog kicked off a search that led rescuers to its missing owner, Hawaiian fire officials said.

On Monday shortly after 3 p.m., the Honolulu Fire Department received a call regarding a missing hiker on the Lanipo Trail in Kaimuk, the department said in a news release.

The Mauumae Ridge Trail is a nearly 7-mile-long trail popular among hikers near Honolulu. Dogs are generally not allowed on the trail, according to Alltrails.com.

Over a dozen personnel members promptly responded to air and on-ground search efforts, fire officials said.

Shortly into the search hikers reported a barking dog without its owner on a steep mountain slope two hours from the trailhead, according to fire officials. Rescuers in the air tracked down the location of the dog and rappelled about 20 feet down the slope to retrieve the pup, fire officials said.

"While airlifting the dog and rescuer to the landing zone, the Air 1 pilot noticed an object about 70 feet below where the dog was found," fire officials said.

Rescuers descended the mountain slope again where they discovered a bag filled with personal items, according to fire officials. As they cared for the dog back at the helicopter landing zone they saw the dog owner's contact information-- including a phone number-- on its collar but failed to reach the owner. Authorities said they went to the address but couldn't find the owner.

The owner's car was parked at the trailhead and search teams spread out on the ground and in the air to locate the missing female. Around 5:37 p.m. local time search teams found the 35-year-old female about 100 feet below her items but under thick foliage, according to fire officials.

She was airlifted to a local hospital after receiving basic medical treatment. No other injuries were reported, fire officials said.

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ROXBURY  Four long years after Andrea Stevens' last trip to her favorite bookstore, she happily settled into a chair Wednesday morning at the township's brand-new Barnes & Noble store and leafed through a copy of Weird NJ magazine.

"It broke my heart when they left," Stevens said, referring to the bookseller's exit from the nearly empty Ledgewood Mall in 2020. "I was so upset. They just closed out of nowhere."

Barnes & Noble was among the last tenants to abandon the mall along Route 10, which by that time had seen its Macy's and Walmart anchor stores demolished. The property has since been renovated and renamed the Shops at Ledgewood Commons. On Wednesday, Barnes & Noble cut the ceremonial ribbon for its venue, which is bordered by DSW Shoes and Ulta Beauty stores.

Elsewhere in the reimagined shopping center, the indoor concourse of the former 600,000-square-foot mall is gone. What remains is 470,000 square feet of shopping and dining destinations in a main building and additional pod sites. Macy's did not return, but Walmart, which closed in 2019, has since built a larger store on the property to replace its original location, the first Morris County Walmart, which opened in 1999.

New Ledgewood Barnes & Noble has a familiar face

A crowd of loyal former customers turned out for the grand reopening of Barnes & Noble at the Shops at Ledgewood Commons in Roxbury. The shopping center is a remake of the old Ledgewood Mall.

The reopening also marks the return former Barnes & Noble store manager Mary Videc, who left to run a New York store before the 2020 closure. She's back to steer the ship again.

"People have been knocking on the doors wanting to come in ever since we started to set up," she said. "The amount of enthusiasm when we opened the doors was wonderful. It was a great feeling after all the hard work."

Also on hand was author and New Jersey resident Amy Jo Burns, who was there to sign copies of her latest novel, "Mercury."

Barnes & Noble is in the midst of its biggest expansion in more than a decade. The company announced plans last year to open about 30 stores, including in spots it had previously abandoned. The chain opened a new outpost in Paramus in November, after shutting its previous location in the town earlier in the year.

"Everyone has been so incredibly excited about this store," she said. "The community is genuinely so thrilled that the store is here, and it's really cool to be a part of it. I feel very lucky."

More: Why is this Morris County town suing itself? Blame a fight over big housing development

Praise for a new layout

Casey Zipko of Hackettstown and her friends, Jasmine Polania of Dover and Missy L'Heritier of Parsippany, are former customers of the store who were among the many early shoppers there on Wednesday morning.

Zipko said she traveled to the Barnes & Noble stores in Morris Plains and East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, for the last four years. Polania was not a fan of the old Ledgewood mall store and preferred Morris Plains, but she likes the Ledgewood store's layout.

"I think it's beautiful," she said, holding a bag of book purchases. "It has what I want. And I'm buying more."

L'Heritier, a fan of murder mysteries, agreed. The new store is "a little more expansive and a really easy layout to navigate," she said.

Let's get Weird NJ

Mark Moran, left, and Mark Sceurman, right, of Weird NJ, joke with customer Earl Grosser at the grand reopening of the Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Shops at Ledgewood Commons in Roxbury.

Fans of Weird NJ also showed up and lined up for an appearance by publishers Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman, who cheerfully signed books and magazines and took selfies with the customers.

"The old location was good, but this one is great, nice and tidy and clean," Sceurman said.

The Marks added they get some of their best story ideas from chatting up fans.

"People can contact us through social and email at any time, and they do," Moran said. "But at live events, no matter where we are, people come up to us and tell us these great stories. We communicate better in person."

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com

Twitter: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Barnes & Noble reopens in Roxbury NJ, part of new Shops at Ledgewood
The BBC has agreed a deal to sell the Elstree Centre in Hertfordshire, which includes the EastEnders set, to the insurance company Axa.

However, the long-running TV soap will continue to be filmed on-site as the BBC has also agreed to lease back Albert Square for the next 25 years.

The BBC reports that the sale of the 16-acre site, which is thought to be in the region of 70m, comes as the broadcaster seeks to find 500m in annual savings.

The sale of the Elstree Centre site is part of an ongoing review of the BBCs property portfolio in order to provide the best value for licence fee payers, chief financial officer Alan Dickson said.

As part of the sale, the EastEnders site has been secured on a long-term lease and Elstree will continue to be the home of Albert Square.

It is only two years since the BBC finished rebuilding the EastEnders set at Elstree, at a total cost of 87m. That figure was reportedly 27m over budget and arrived four years late.

Albert Square will continue to be home to EastEnders following the sale (Getty Images)

The BBC also recently sold the Maida Vale music studios and is in the process of moving out of Wogan House, in central London, which is the current home of Radio 2.

Meanwhile, Axa have said that they will redevelop Elstree but will continue to operate the site as a commercial film studio.

The structure of the transaction allows the BBC to continue its production on the site for at least another 25 years, while providing us with the opportunity to invest in the site to create new world-class studios, said John ODriscoll, global co-head of real estate for Axa IM Alts (Investment Managers Alternative Markets).

The whole area has a long and illustrious history of producing some of the worlds most celebrated films and television series and, under our stewardship, we aim to continue that legacy.

In 2022, EastEnders royalty Danny Dyer welcomed the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to Albert Square at the Elstree Centre for a special episode in honour of the Queens Platinum Jubilee.

Charles and Camilla surprised the residents of Walford after Mick Carter, played by Dyer, decided to throw a street party for the Square in celebration of the late monarchs 70-year reign.

The partygoers were left in disbelief when the royal couple pulled up in a car outside The Queen Vic pub and were greeted by Mick and Linda Carter, played by Kellie Bright.
Richland County deputies have arrested Andre L. Greene, the final suspect and presumed shooter in a September attack at Sheldons Oyotunji African Village.

Officers charged Greene early Wednesday afternoon with attempted murder, aggravated breach of peace and a pair of firearm offenses. He is also one of four Sheldon residents charged for a targeted family mob that battered a woman from the village during the same incident.

The 39-year-old suspect was apprehended Tuesday in Richland County by local Sheriffs deputies and the S.C. Law Enforcement Division.

Greene reportedly fired multiple shots as the group of four attacked the woman the evening of Sept. 11  but instead of his target, an unrelated 47-year-old bystander was shot, Sheriffs Office spokesperson Maj. Angela Viens previously told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

The injured man was taken to the nearby Sheldon Fire Department, where residents met with police and first responders. He was treated and released later that week from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Greene was in custody at the Beaufort County Detention Center. Bond information was not immediately available.

Founded in 1970, the Oyotunji African Village is meant to emulate villages of the Yoruba religion in modern-day Nigeria. Its current population is believed to consist of less than 10 families, although the community was home to over 200 people at its height in the 1970s.
You are here: Business

Chinese technology giant Huawei launched its latest innovative products in Turkiye's Istanbul on Tuesday.

All of the four products launched at the event, themed Creation of Beauty, are designed to enhance creativity in business and can handle various office tasks with high performance, according to Huawei.

Adem Baris, a Turkish photographer, told Xinhua that he was particularly impressed by Huawei FreeClip, which features a C-bridge design that provides a comfortable listening experience on the move.

"The fact that it does not fall off the ear and its ultra lightness is very important for people, especially those who play sports," said Baris.

According to Huawei, FreeClip was designed with over 10,000 global human ear data and micron-level ergonomic craftsmanship with over 25,000 reliability tests.

Baris also hailed the functionality of HUAWEI MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition, which offers a pen-on-paper writing experience and a paper-like reading experience.

Tian Wenhao, president of Huawei Consumer BG Europe, said the company will continuously create and produce more innovative, creative, and fashionable products in 2024, stressing the importance of the market in Turkiye for Huawei.

Yao Wenming, the Turkiye manager of Huawei Consumer BG Europe, said the company's vision in Turkiye in the computer category is to become the top brand in high-performance ultra-thin PCs.
With the possible exception of fights over the national debt and Supreme Court nominations, there is no topic that arouses more partisan hypocrisy than presidential use of military force. And globally, there is no issue that arouses more hypocrisy than Israel. Put them together and you have a perfect storm of double standards.

Lets establish some relevant facts.

On October 7, Iran-backed Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel, a close American ally, from Gaza. Israel counterattacked. President Joe Biden repeatedly warned regimes in the region, specifically Iran, not to get involved. On October 24, Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed America would respond to attacks on American forces swiftly and decisively.

Iran didnt listen (and America didnt respond swiftly or decisively). Iranian-backed militias attacked American bases in Iraq and Syria. The Houthis, an Iran proxy that controls parts of Yemen, in November started launching rocket, drone, and missile attacks on both Israel and on international shipping in the Red Sea with logistical support from Iran.

Houthis claimed they were merely attacking ships trading with Israel, but the attacks were indiscriminate, ensnaring ships with no ties to Israel and dislocating global trade. In December, a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense.

Last week, after intense criticism for failing to make good on his warnings, Biden ordered significant attacks on Houthi assets in Yemen, with assistance from Britain and other allies.

There isnt room to feast on the banquet of hypocrisies on offer, but lets nibble on the most obvious. One of the first things Biden did upon taking office was remove the Houthis from the official list of terrorist organizations. He now says they are terrorists.

Many on the right who blistered Biden for dithering are now angry that he didnt consult with Congress before retaliating. Many on the left, who had no objections to the Obama-Biden administrations attacks on Libya in 2011, are mad at Biden for attacking a group allied with Hamas.

Israel critics, who make a big show of being supporters of international law, are rallying to the Houthi cause. One chant, heard in New York and London, was Yemen, Yemen make us proud, turn another ship around. This crowd insists that its animus toward Israel is driven by a passionate commitment to human rights, but seems to have no noticeable objections to Houthi atrocities (or Hamas atrocities), including the Houthis restoration of slavery in Yemen.

Antisemitism, were constantly told, has nothing to do with anti-Zionism. The official slogan of the Houthis is God is great, death to the U.S., death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory for Islam. You can tell me that death to Israel is merely anti-Zionist. But curse the Jews?

Perhaps because such hypocrisy is so hard to defend, the substance of opposition to the strikes, at home and abroad, is either to American military escalation or to escalation without required congressional approval (or parliamentary approval in the U.K.). Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal declared, This is an unacceptable violation of the Constitution. Article 1 requires that military action be authorized by Congress.

Throughout this crisis, escalation has been code for striking back. Even in the immediate hours after Hamas butchery, there were demands that Israel not escalate by responding. As for America, many opponents of escalation had no problem with Houthi and Iranian escalation by indiscriminately attacking global shipping and threatening American interests.

This illustrates the weakness of the constitutional argument. In March 1801, President Jefferson dispatched two-thirds of the U.S. Navy to wage war on the Barbary pirates. He didnt formally notify Congress until December. As legal historian Robert Turner notes, the Annals of Congress reveal no expression of concern that the president should first have obtained prior legislative sanction.

The constitutionally dubious War Powers Act requires congressional authorization for the use of force, except in cases of a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its Armed Forces. Even if, for some tendentious reason, you do not believe the Houthi attacks qualify for the exception, its worth remembering theyre just one facet of broader Iranian aggressionand escalation.

I have no objection to getting congressional buy-in, and Bidens critics have a point: If he was willing to wait this long to respond to the Houthi attacks, he could have consulted with Congress. But thats the real problem: He shouldnt have waited this long in the first place.

Read more at The Dispatch

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The Biden administration is pursuing a narrow definition of designating the Houthis as a terrorist organization, pushing back on calls to label the Iranian-backed military group as a broader, foreign terrorist organization under pressure from Congress.

The U.S. will designate the Houthis as a Specially Designated Terrorist Group (SDTG), in response to attacks the group launched against international commercial shipping in the Red Sea, and what the Houthis say is a response to Israels war against Hamas.

The SDTG label differs slightly from a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) label, a designation imposed by the Trump administration in the early days of 2021, but revoked by the Biden administration, over concerns that it would block humanitarian assistance to Yemen.

Senior administration officials briefing reporters Tuesday night on the move said the SDTG designation gives the administration more flexibility in preserving humanitarian aid and commercial goods to Yemen, for a population highly dependent on such deliveries.

We do think that the SDTG provides better flexibility, a senior administration official said.

The officials underscored that the SDTG designation was in direct response to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and not against the broader activities of the group. This is part of a larger effort to preserve U.S. progress in helping mediate a cease-fire in Yemens nearly 10-year civil war between the Houthis in the north, and the internationally recognized Yemeni government in the South.

Now, lets be clear, we are taking this action because the Iranian-backed Houthis continued attacks on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, a senior administration official said.

The ultimate goal of sanctions is to convince the Houthis to de-escalate and bring about a positive change in behavior. If the Houthis cease their attack, we can consider delisting this designation.

The designation is expected to take effect on Feb. 16, giving the Biden administration a month to ensure humanitarian groups and businesses delivering life-sustaining goods to Yemen are not impacted by the terrorist designation label.

Republicans who were critical of the Trump administrations designation of the Houthis as an FTO cited major concerns that such a designation would block life-saving aid for Yemeni civilians  an estimated 22 million people, half of them children, rely on humanitarian assistance.

The administration is looking to implement robust humanitarian carve-outs in the terrorism designation, to allow for the delivery of food, medicine, medical devices, and fuel. Other carve-outs will allow personal remittances  funds that can be sent from individual to individuals  telecommunications operations, operations of ports and airports.

U.S. government agencies like USAID will also be allowed to continue operations and work with partner groups on the ground, the officials said.

The administration officials said that the benefit of the SDGT designation is to highlight the malign activity and isolate Ansarallah and individuals involved with Ansarallah, using an alternate name for the Houthis.

It enables coordinated action across the U.S. government and within our international partners to disrupt terrorist activities, an administration official continued.

It denies targets access to the U.S. financial system. It enables the imposition of sanctions on other bad actors who support them, and it provides additional basis for U.S. law enforcement action, but it is really holding them accountable for its activities in the region, and then attempting to disrupt terrorism and terrorist threats  it is part of a broader strategy.

Lawmakers in recent weeks have called on the Biden administration to label the Houthis as an FTO in response to their attacks on the Red Sea.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) commenced Tuesday in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, with the attendance of delegates from the navies of the symposium's 30 member and observer countries.

This is the second time the biennial symposium, with over 30 years of history, has been held in China. The symposium boasts 23 member countries including China, Australia, Russia and the United States, and seven observers such as India and Mexico.

Delegates at the symposium will discuss the revision and renewal of relevant documents such as the WPNS Business Charter, the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea and the Disaster Response Guide, as well as the symposium's future activities.

Speaking at the opening of the symposium, Qu Tao, a senior official with the staff department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, said that the Chinese navy is willing to work with the navies of other countries to uphold multilateralism, stay committed to fairness and justice, jointly promote global and regional ocean governance, respond to security threats and challenges at sea, and advance the building of a maritime community with a shared future.
Washington  President Biden met with congressional leaders on Wednesday afternoon as a monthslong dispute over border security and aid for Ukraine made its way to the White House.

The high-stakes meeting involving congressional leaders, key committee chairs, ranking members and national security officials focused on supplemental funding for Ukraine, as well as enhanced border security measures and immigration policy changes, lawmakers said after the meeting.

"I am more optimistic than ever before that we come to an agreement," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, told reporters.

For months, the supplemental spending package requested by the president has been up in the air after congressional Republicans made their backing contingent on the Ukraine aid being tied to stricter border policies. Senate negotiations aimed at forging a compromise on immigration issues dragged through the holidays and into the new year.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries speak to reporters following a meeting with President Biden at the White House on Jan. 17, 2024. / Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

Seeking to attract a group of moderates from both parties to back the aid package, senators have been circling a middle-ground deal that would represent a major breakthrough after decades of failed efforts in Congress to reform the immigration system.



"There was a large amount of agreement around the table, that we must do Ukraine, and we must do border. There was tremendous focus on Ukraine, and an understanding that if we don't come to Ukraine's aid, that the consequences for America around the globe would be nothing short of devastating," Schumer said.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, described it as "a very positive, forward-looking, candid discussion" in which there was "broad agreement" that the U.S. should continue to support Ukraine. He said there was also "an openness" to address the situation at the border in a bipartisan manner.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said it was a "productive meeting" and that he was insistent with the president that border security be prioritized ahead of Ukraine aid.

"We understand that all these things are important, but we must insist that the border be the top priority," Johnson said after the meeting. "I think we have some consensus around that table. Everyone understands the urgency of that."



In a readout of the meeting, the White House said Mr. Biden made clear that inaction on Ukraine endangers the national security of the U.S and its allies and that there must be action to address the challenges at the border.

Before the meeting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Mr. Biden wanted to lay out why it was urgent to continue supporting Ukraine "and why that's needed now and how that affects our own national security."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, anticipated that the Senate could vote on a supplemental package next week.

But even if the Senate reaches and passes a deal on immigration, its prospects for approval in the House are far from certain.

House Republicans skeptical of Senate immigration talks

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks during a news conference following the Republican conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 17, 2024. / Credit: Kent Nishimura / Getty Images

Johnson said at a news conference earlier Wednesday that House Republicans were "anxious" to see the Senate agreement on border security and acknowledged the "thoughtful" negotiations. But he quickly cast doubt on whether there would be support for the immigration reform in the lower chamber.

"I don't think now is the time for comprehensive immigration reform, because we know how complicated that is," Johnson said, noting that it can't be done quickly. "I do think it's past time to secure the border."

House Republicans have stood firm on a demand that a House-passed border security bill known as H.R. 2 be the baseline of any immigration agreement  a nonstarter in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Johnson touted H.R. 2 again on Wednesday, noting that it would restore the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" policy, end the quick release of migrants into the U.S., reform the asylum and parole processes and resume construction of the southern border wall.

"Those elements are critically important," Johnson said. "You can't choose from among those on a menu and assume that you're going to solve the problem."

The speaker said House Republicans are "demanding real, transformative policy change," noting that they're "standing on that line," which he said he plans to tell the president at Wednesday's meeting.

He also said House Republicans need answers to "critical questions" about the U.S. strategy in Ukraine and accountability for funding to Kyiv.

"We need to know that Ukraine would not be another Afghanistan," Johnson said.

When asked how Mr. Biden would navigate Johnson's demand that the border be addressed before Ukraine, Jean-Pierre said the House speaker "is not the only congressperson in the room today."

"There will be other congressional members," she said. "The president has been really clear. He wants to talk about Ukraine, the urgency of making sure we continue that assistance to Ukraine, what that means not just for the broader world, national security, but also for us."

GOP Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, who serves as the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Mr. Biden acknowledged in the meeting that there needs to be "significant changes" at the border.

"He said the border's broken, we need to fix it," McCaul told reporters.

Alejandro Alvarez and Ellis Kim contributed reporting.

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President Joe Biden was set to meet Wednesday with the top four congressional leaders from both parties as he pushes for an elusive deal to unlock billions in aid for embattled Ukraine and secure the southern border.

House Speaker Mike Johnson will attend the White House meeting along with other top leaders. But he and his far right-wing Republican caucus have vowed to block any deal that does not rubber stamp their sweeping proposals for an extensive crackdown on illegal immigration.

Many House GOP lawmakers also oppose more money to help Ukraine repel the Russian invasion that is nearing its second anniversary.

Senate negotiators from both parties say they have been making slow but steady progress to a $110 billion deal that would include some, but not all, of the Republican border proposals.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is a strong supporter of aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and has pushed for a deal that would also ease the crisis at the border with billions of new funding.

But its not clear how or if they can break the logjam in the House, where Johnsons narrow majority could presumably block any deal.

The talks are complicated by the political calendar, with many House Republicans opposed to any deal that could hand a victory to Biden at the start of a presidential election year.

Former President Donald Trump, who is the overwhelming frontrunner in the GOP primary race, strongly opposes aid to Ukraine and has demanded harsh new measures against undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers.

The proposed package would also include aid to Israel as it continues to battle the militant group Hamas in the Palestinian Gaza Strip after an Oct. 7 terror attack.

The talks are not directly related to congressional efforts to avert a partial government shutdown as soon as the end of the week.

Johnson has agreed to work with Democrats to pass a fresh stopgap spending measure in a move that should clear the way for a deal. But conservatives, who hoped for deep spending cuts, have ripped the concessions as a form of surrender to big-spending liberals.

The White House has demanded more aid to Ukraine for months, suggesting that the dwindling supplies of weaponry and ammunition could hand victory to Russian strongman Vladimir Putin.

Democrats say abandoning Ukraine would send a signal of American weakness and effectively give a green light to dictators and authoritarian governments to sow instability.

Congressional Republicans are deeply split on the issue between traditional conservatives like McConnell who favor a muscular American foreign policy and MAGA firebrands who say the U.S. should not fund overseas wars under any circumstances.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Tuesday at the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos this week.

Sullivan said he remained confident the Biden administration would forge an agreement on Ukraine aid in the coming weeks.

I continue to believe and express confidence that we willafter a lot of twists and turns ultimately get there, Sullivan said.

Although the White Houses top priority is unlocking the stalled aid to Ukraine, Biden has also warmed to the idea of linking it to border security funding.
A new Biden administration rule released Wednesday aims to streamline the prior authorization process used by insurers to approve medical procedures and treatments.

Prior authorization is a common tool used by insurers but much maligned by doctors and patients, who say its often used to deny doctor-recommended care.

Under the final rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, health insurers participating in Medicare Advantage, Medicaid or the ObamaCare exchanges will need to respond to expedited prior authorization requests within 72 hours, and standard requests within seven calendar days.

The rule requires all impacted payers to include a specific reason for denying a prior authorization request. They will also be required to publicly report prior authorization metrics.

When a doctor says a patient needs a procedure, it is essential that it happens in a timely manner, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. Too many Americans are left in limbo, waiting for approval from their insurance company. Today the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing strong action that will shorten these wait times by streamlining and better digitizing the approval process.

The rule, which could impact millions of people, was released more than a year after it was proposed. It represents the Biden administrations strongest efforts to force insurers to make changes to one of the most contentious practices in health care.

A bipartisan majority from both chambers of Congress have been calling on the White House to finalize a regulation that would overhaul prior-authorization requirements within Medicare Advantage.

Insurers have said prior authorization is a necessary way to control costs and cut down on unnecessary and expensive treatments. But doctors and patients accuse insurers of using the process as an obstacle to necessary patient care, often forcing providers to navigate complex and widely varying paperwork requirements or face long waits for decisions.

A KFF study found that Medicare Advantage plans issued more than 35 million prior authorization requests in 2021. More than 2 million of these requests were fully or partially denied.

Traditional Medicare patients are only required to obtain prior authorization for a limited set of services. However, virtually all Medicare Advantage enrollees were enrolled in a plan that required prior authorization for some services in 2022.

But the new rules dont apply to veterans who receive their care through the Department of Veterans Affairs or the estimated 153 million Americans covered by private, employer-sponsored plans.

For some payers, this new time frame for standard requests cuts current decision timeframes in half, HHS said.

The agency estimated that the requirements would lead to cost-saving efficiencies, saving doctor practices and hospitals more than $15 billion in 10 years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Florida lawmakers advanced a bill (HB 901) Wednesday that would ban political flags, including ones related to race and gender, from being flown or displayed by the government on public property.

The prohibition would apply to government buildings, public schools, colleges, and universities.

In far too many circumstances our students attend classrooms where they are taught in an environment where theyre not just learning reading writing and arithmetic, but theyre also being subliminally indoctrinated with critical race theory, Marxism, transgender ideology, said bill sponsor State Representative David Borrero (R-Doral).

READ: Florida lawmaker proposes bill to ban pride flags from government buildings, facilities

Roughly 50 members of the public came to testify on the bill during its first committee stop.

Most were against it, including Kat Townsend who has a trans child.

She argued the legislation seeks to strip LGBTQ+ youth of safe spaces in the classroom.

Human rights are not political. My daughters existence is not political, said Townsend.

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Jon Harris Maurer with Equality Florida argued the bill leaves many questions unanswered, as the bill sponsor indicated it would apply not only to traditional flags but also to depictions of flags.

If its about images and emblems does that mean things like historical campaign materials in your offices now have to be stripped? That Make America Great Again hat must be taken off your shelf? How about the Confederate monuments that are still on local government grounds? said Borrero.

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Free speech issues were also raised, but the bills co-sponsor State Representative Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay) argued in his closing that the bill only restricts government speech and the speech of government employees on the jobs.

He contended case law makes clear the First Amendment does not apply in those situations.

If these people want to come in here wearing the Hamas flag or any other flag around them, they can do that. Theyre here in their private capacity, but those flags dont go at the back of this room, said Fine.

The bill passed on a vote down party lines.

It has one more committee stop before reaching the House floor.

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After enduring months of criticism, a company backed by billionaire tech moguls has pulled back the shroud of secrecy on their proposal to build a new California city  outlining a plan to transform farmland northeast of San Francisco into a pedestrian-friendly community that could grow to 400,000 in the coming decades.

California Forever, which quietly bought 60,000 rural acres in Solano County, says now it hopes to build on about a third of that land  with a mix of apartments and townhouses that would stand apart from traditional suburban developments.

Its medium density, said Gabriel Metcalf, the groups head of planning. Its not traditional suburbia, its not Manhattan, its in the middle.

First, however, they need to get through the voters  and that may not be easy.

The project, which would be located on what is now largely windswept farmland just west of the small city of Rio Vista, violates the countys decades-old Orderly Growth Initiative and General Plan and would require voter approval to go forward.

California Forever  which has not yet released a proposed name for its new city  is preparing a campaign for a November ballot initiative to secure that approval. At a series of town halls in recent weeks, the public reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, with many people insisting that new development stay within existing cities as the orderly growth initiative requires.

Documents shown by the company to POLITICO ahead of the launch aim to address some of the criticism levels at the town halls, with California Forever pledging to set aside thousands of acres around nearby Travis Air Force Base, the largest employer in the county, to ensure their project doesnt interfere with operations there or raise concerns for the military.

The company also plans to offer what it says is a legally binding agreement that the project will create at least 15,000 jobs that pay at least 125 percent of the county average weekly wage by the time the new city reaches its first 50,000 residents.

California Forever also says it will be able to buy sufficient water for the project and pay its required share to widen the state highways that provide the only access to the area.

The city itself will feature dense, walkable streets. Homes will either be apartments or townhomes, most of which will be attached. There will be no large-lot single family homes.

Organizers estimate theyll need to submit about 14,000 valid signatures by late April in order to put the measure on Solano County ballots in November.

They havent disclosed their campaign budget but it could be substantial. California Forever CEO Jan Sramek is a former Goldman Sachs trader who has created online social media and education companies. Project backers include uber-wealthy Silicon Valley investors, including Michael Moritz, chair of Sequoia Capital; Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn; Laurene Powell Jobs, founder of the Emerson Collective and widow of the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs; Stripe co-founders Patrick and John Collison; and Marc Andreessen, an investor and co-founder of Netscape.

If voters approve the measure in November, organizers estimate they could start building basic infrastructure  like roads, sewers and gutters  by 2026.
NEW YORK  Leonard Blavatnik, a billionaire businessman with a history of ties to a U.S.-sanctioned Russian oligarch, and cryptocurrency tycoon Brock Pierce are among the donors who have poured more than $650,000 into Mayor Eric Adams legal defense trust, contribution filings show.

The filings, which were first reported by the New York Daily News before their public release late Tuesday, show Blavatnik and Pierce each donated the maximum $5,000 allowed by law to the trust. Adams launched the trust in November to cover legal fees he and his associates may rack up as part of an FBI investigation into his 2021 campaigns finances and connections to the Turkish government.

Blavatnik, a Soviet-born investor with an estimated net worth of $31.3 billion, has a long record of dealings with Viktor Vekselberg.

Vekselberg, a Russian oligarch known to be close with President Vladimir Putin, was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2018 and 2022 for enabling and financially supporting the Kremlins worldwide malign activities, including its war in Ukraine and interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

In 1990, Blavatnik and Vekselberg, who were college classmates in Russia, co-founded Renova Group, a corporation with business connections to the Kremlin. The two men have also held stake in Rusal, Russias largest aluminum company.

In 2019, Vekselberg told the Financial Times of Blavatnik: All his main money, he made here in Russia, with me.

However, Blavatnik, who holds American citizenship, is not and has never been involved in Russian politics or government, a spokeswoman for him said Tuesday.

The spokeswoman also said Blavatnik is as of 2022 completely divested from all his Russian business interests and has not spoken with Vekselberg since he came under sanctions, other than communications authorized by the U.S. government related to divestments.

Blavatnik, who doesnt have a previous record of making political donations to Adams, contributed to his defense trust because he appreciates the mayors strong, consistent support for Israel amid its war with Hamas, the spokeswoman said.

Pierce, a childhood actor-turned-cryptocurrency industry booster, has donated to Adams political campaigns before. The billionaire crypto magnate also landed in the headlines after Adams flew on his private jet to Puerto Rico shortly after his 2021 election.

Representatives for Pierce could not be immediately reached for comment on his defense trust donation.

The filings show the trust has already spent more than $430,000.

The largest chunk of that  $397,189  was paid out to WilmerHale, an international law firm Adams retained last year to represent him and his campaign in the FBI investigation. The trust also paid out $6,432 to Haystack, a software company, for forensic data collection and $18,664 to Artus Group, a Connecticut-based private detective firm, for vetting and investigative services, the filing states.

Adams defense trust disclosure confirms others who have given the max amount to it include three members of the Cayre family, who run Midtown Equities, a real estate firm that owns downtown Manhattans Battery Maritime Building. The Maritime Building houses Casa Cipriani, a ritzy members-only club that the mayor is known to frequent, including by holding political fundraisers there.

Midtown Equities did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Other real estate developers who contributed the max $5,000 to the trust include Alexander Rovt and David Mack, according to the records.

Also among the defense fund donors are Frank Carone, the mayors former chief of staff, and six of his relatives, including his wife and brother, all of whom chipped in $5,000 each, the filing shows.

Carone, whos expected to help lead Adams 2025 reelection campaign and has launched a consulting firm since leaving City Hall, confirmed his familys donations in a statement to the Daily News on Tuesday afternoon.

We are encouraged by the outpouring of support from such a diverse body, all who recognize the mayors sincere commitment to NYC and see as well as feel the energy of the city coming back, said Carone, who acknowledged last year he planned to help raise money for the trust.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is known to advise Adams informally, also gave $5,000 to his legal defense trust, while state Assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar, a top ally to the mayor in Albany, gave $2,500, the filings reveal.

Vito Pitta, the mayors longtime compliance lawyer who serves as the trusts counsel, first confirmed Monday that about 220 donors have given more than $650,000 to the fund since its launch.

The trust received support from a diverse cross section of New Yorkers who believe in the mayor and what he is doing to improve our city, Pitta said in a statement Tuesday.

In a briefing at City Hall earlier in the day, Adams echoed Pittas sentiment.

You sometimes dont realize how people appreciate your life of service, from wearing that bulletproof vest to being the mayor of the city, so I just thank those New Yorkers who responded, said Adams, a retired NYPD captain.

The federal investigation that prompted the creation of the trust is scrutinizing allegations that the Turkish government funneled illegal foreign cash into Adams 2021 campaign coffers.

Neither the mayor nor anyone connected to his campaign has been formally accused of wrongdoing in the probe. The investigation has touched on the mayor directly, though.

In November, FBI agents stopped him in the street and seized his electronics, including two cell phones. Before that, the FBI raided the homes of Brianna Suggs, Adams top campaign fundraiser, and Rana Abbasova, an aide at City Hall.

_____
(Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was briefly stranded in Davos on Wednesday after his plane experienced a "critical failure" related to an oxygen leak and another plane is being flown to Switzerland to pick him up, according to a member of his traveling press pool.

The top U.S. diplomat had traveled to Davos for the annual World Economic Forum on Monday and was scheduled to fly back to Washington on Wednesday.

A Bloomberg report said the aircraft was a Boeing plane. Reuters could not immediately confirm what aircraft Blinken was using on this trip.

Blinken had taken a helicopter from Davos to Zurich, where he boarded his plane but was then informed that the plane was not able to fly him back.

Members of the press traveling with him and his aides were told to make arrangements to fly back to Washington commercially.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Berkrot)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken experienced a delay in returning home from Switzerland as planned Wednesday due to a malfunction with his plane, a modified Boeing 737 business jet.

Blinken was in Davos to attend the World Economic Forums annual meeting this week. After leaving Davos for Zurich on helicopters and boarding his aircraft, Blinken and his team were informed that the Boeing 737 business jet, modified to transport political figures and operated by the U.S. military, was unsafe to fly. Crew were unable to remediate a previously detected oxygen leak.

POLITICO confirmed the delay, first reported by Bloomberg News.

The modified Boeing 737 business jet Blinken uses is owned and operated by the U.S. Air Force out of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The base is home to the special airlift mission, which maintains planes secure enough to transport VIPs such as the president, vice president and cabinet secretaries.



Unlike the Boeing MAX family of aircraft at the heart of recent problems with consumer flights, the USAFs upgraded 737-700 is known as a C-40 under its military moniker. According to the Air Force, it entered service in 2003. Beyond being a military plane, the 737-700 is a different model than the 737 MAX 9 model thats been grounded pending inspections after a door panel blew out midair.

The secretary of state is expected to return Wednesday evening on a different government Boeing plane, according to a U.S. official. His staff and accompanying press pool flew back to Washington in commercial aircraft.

Alex Ward and Lara Seligman contributed to this report.
The United States is focused on making sure that Ukraine has what it needs to get strongly through this next year of 2024.

Source: European Pravda, citing remarks by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an interview with CNBC in Davos

Details: Blinken said that private sector investment in Ukraine, working with other countries to help Kyiv repel Russian aggression, and reforms on Ukraines pathway to EU membership are the best response to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Quote from Blinken: "You put those three things together, you can see a Ukraine that not only survives, but thrives. Thats the best answer to Putin. And its also the best answer for us, because it means theyll be off on their own two feet."

More details: Blinken insisted that the US presidential administration must make sure that Congress provides supplemental funding for Ukraine, as requested by Joe Biden.

"We are working very hard on that. I believe strongly there is bipartisan support in both Houses, we just need to tip it," Blinken added.

Blinken stressed that if the US allows Putin to get away with it and reduces its assistance to Kyiv, then Washington will open a Pandora's box, and Putin will not stop at Ukraine. Moreover, other aggressors will follow suit.

"Look, I think he would go full tilt on Ukraine and then NATO countries. And of course, if he attacked a NATO country, we have an Article 5 obligation under NATO to work to assist them. That would bring us in directly. We want to prevent that and make sure it doesnt happen," he summed up.

Background: It was reported earlier that US President Joe Biden will host Congressional leaders and senior politicians at the White House on 17 January to discuss the request for supplemental funding, including military aid for Ukraine.

Compromise has been hindered, in particular, by House Speaker Mike Johnson's position, which demands a much tougher approach to deterring migration at the US-Mexico border than the Senate negotiators agreed to.

The United States announced its latest military aid package to Ukraine, worth US$250 million, on 27 December. The White House later said that it had no more funds for further military support for Ukraine until it is approved by Congress.

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This photo taken on Dec. 13, 2023 shows Le Le at River Wonders Park in Singapore. [Photo/Xinhua]

Le Le, the first giant panda born in Singapore, arrived safely in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu on Tuesday evening, following a four-hour flight from Singapore Changi International Airport.

Le Le was born in Singapore in August 2021. It weighed only 200 grams at birth, and after more than two years of growth, its weight has now reached 70 kilograms.

Its name was chosen through a vote by tens of thousands of Singaporeans, symbolizing happiness and carefreeness.

According to customs requirements, Le Le will undergo a 30-day quarantine before meeting the public.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated his belief that finding a pathway for Palestine to become its own state is necessary for Israel to obtain genuine security, while giving remarks in Davos, Switzerland.

The problem is getting from here to there, and of course, it requires very difficult, challenging decisions, Blinken said Wednesday at the World Economic Forum, as reported by The Associated Press. It requires a mindset that is open to that perspective.

The secretary continued, claiming the biggest concern around security would be Iran and its proxies, including the Houthi rebels in Yemen, as war continues to rage in the region between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

He argued if Israel could be integrated into the region and partner with other Middle Eastern countries, they could isolate Iran and the threat, per the AP.

Were in the midst of what is human tragedy in so many ways in the Middle East right now  for the Israelis and Palestinians alike, Blinken said, calling for urgency on partnerships.

His comments come just days after he returned from a weeklong trip in the Middle East, where he visited nine countries. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller recently said the Arab nations are ready to partner with the U.S. on both short-term and long-term solutions for Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing war that began Oct. 7, but only if Israel is willing to get on board.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Saudi Arabian foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also attended the event in Davos, according to the AP.

Bin Farhan seemingly shared the same sentiment with Blinken, saying the country would agree to regional peace, including Israel, but it can only happen through peace for the Palestinians, through a Palestinian state.

In his address, Blinken called the continued conflict in Gaza gut-wrenching.

Since Hamas entered Israel in a surprise attack that killed 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostage in the fall, Israel has embarked on a deadly counteroffensive that has killed more than 23,000 people in Gaza and left many displaced, injured and eating less than one meal a day, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The suffering breaks my heart, Blinken said at the keynote address, Reuters reported, adding that the U.S. is hearing from almost every country in the Middle East that wanted to bring an end to Israels war.

The secretary urged the Israelis to decide on what comes next, saying its up to them to seize the opportunity that we believe is there. He called the moment an inflection point for the Middle East, per Reuters.

Blinken also spoke about the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and said he could not see a cease-fire in the immediate future.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Leela de Kretser and Alexander Smith

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told business and political leaders in Davos on Wednesday he could not think of a time in his career when there had been more global challenges, ranging from war in Gaza and Ukraine to tensions over Taiwan.

Blinken said that almost none of the problems that U.S. President Joe Biden's administration wanted to address could be tackled in isolation, echoing comments on Tuesday by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who called for greater global cooperation.

Describing the conflict in Gaza as "gutwrenching", Blinken said what was needed to resolve the situation was a Palestinian state with a government structure "that gives people what they want and works with Israel to be effective".

"The suffering breaks my heart," he said during a keynote session at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, adding: "The question is what is to be done."

The U.S. Secretary of State said that Washington was hearing from virtually every country in the Middle East that they wanted the United States to be at the table in discussions over how to bring about an end to Israel's war with Hamas militants in Gaza.

And he said Washington was also in demand elsewhere.

"There is a greater premium than ever on a U.S. partnership," Blinken told the WEF panel audience.

The war in Gaza started when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages. Israel says more than 130 remain in captivity.

Israel responded to Hamas' assault with a siege, bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza that have devastated the tiny coastal territory and killed more than 24,000 people, according to Gaza health officials.

NO IMMEDIATE PROSPECT SEEN FOR UKRAINE CEASEFIRE

Asked if there was any immediate prospect of a ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine, Blinken was said he did not think there was, although the U.S. was always open to one.

He said that in terms of money and resources needed to pay for Ukraine's reconstruction after nearly two years of conflict, the private sector was visiting the country and that the process was "taking on a life of its own".

After Chinese Premier Li's comments on China being open to foreign investment on Tuesday, Blinken said the United States was dealing "very directly and clearly" with Beijing on businesses and while there were differences between the two, there were also "places to cooperate more".

Asked about tensions over Taiwan, where the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the presidential election on Saturday, Blinken highlighted the importance of the Taiwan Strait and said the island had an outsized place in the world.

He said that everyone had the same interests, particularly given Taiwan's role in producing semi-conductor chips.

Summing up the challenges the United States was facing around the world, Blinken drew on the words of British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

"When it comes to the hard things ... when you are

going through hell, keep going," Blinken said.

(Reporting by Leela de Kretser and Alexander Smith; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken switched planes in Zurich on Wednesday after his original plane was grounded.

He first boarded a Boeing C-40, which is part of the U.S. military service, but that aircraft sustained a critical failure related to an oxygen leak.

A new plane was arranged for Blinken. The press pool traveling with him was advised to make commercial flight arrangements because the new aircraft was unable to accommodate journalists.

Blinken is still expected to return to Washington late Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told reporters, although several hours later than originally planned.

The mechanical issue did not cause any disruption to Blinken's meetings, Miller said, as the secretary had already left Davos, Switzerland, for Zurich.

Miller directed any further questions on the plane to the Air Force.

Blinken was in Davos this week to attend the World Economic Forum, a summit of government and business leaders.

The Boeing C-40 is a modified Boeing 737 used for trips by the vice president, first lady or secretary of state.

Boeing has been at the center of much controversy and scrutiny since the door plug of an Alaska Airlines flight detached midair, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to temporarily ground certain Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes operated in the U.S. or by U.S. airlines.

The FAA on Wednesday widened its probe into Boeing, saying it will pay special attention to the work of Spirit AeroSystems, a Wichita, Kansas, aerospace company that makes and installs plug doors for Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
One body was found in woods and another was discovered hanging from a tree when a murder plot came unraveled at a Florida home, according to investigators.

The dead were one victim and one suspected killer, the Hernando County Sheriffs Office reported in a news release.

Investigators made the grim discoveries around 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15, at a home in Spring Hill, about 50 miles north of Tampa.

A family member of William Scott Trudell called 911 to report he may have been killed by an acquaintance, prompting a welfare check at the home.

Deputies then conducted a search of the surrounding area where they located Trudells body lying on the ground in a nearby wooded lot, the sheriffs office said.

Deputies located drag marks from the side garage door of the residence to where Trudells body was located.

Dakota Lee Croft was also found dead, hanging from a tree in the back yard, officials said.

An investigation revealed that Croft and Dustin McMillan, 33, had devised a plan to attack Trudell at the home, officials said. The two men were upset with Trudell for being a cop caller and disrespecting women in the home, investigators say.

When Trudell entered the garage they ambushed him and killed him. A family member entered the garage a short time later and saw Trudells body lying on the floor. That family member immediately left the residence, the sheriffs office said.

The two suspects then dragged Trudells body to a wooded area and began cleaning the garage to remove evidence, officials said.

Its suspected Croft hanged himself after the clean up was finished, detectives say.

McMillan was arrested at the home and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, officials said. He is being held without bond.

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For almost 40 years, Lori Halpern has yearned for answers in her brothers murder. The Broward woman wants to know whos responsible for his grisly slaying.

Lori Halpern, the sister of William Billy Halpern, who was brutally murdered in his home, speaks at a press conference at the Miramar Police headquarters on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Pedro Portal/pportal@miamiherald.com

Closure wont bring Billy back, she said. But to be without your brother for that long is terrible.

On Oct. 21, 1986, William Halpern, a 28-year-old known by loved ones as Billy, was found dead in his Miramar townhouse. The former Hallandale firefighter-paramedic turned art and coin dealer was bound and beaten. His neck was slashed.

Images of William Billy Halpern, who was brutally murdered in his home 37 years ago in Miramar shown during a press conference where new developments were announced in the murder case at the Miramar Police Department headquarters, on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Pedro Portal/pportal@miamiherald.com

Advancements in DNA technology pushed Miramar Police Detective Danny Smith to review Halperns case file a year-and-half ago. He determined it to be solvable. At a Wednesday news conference, Smith said police are closer to uncovering who killed Halpern.

We have a 99% completed puzzle, Smith said. We need that one puzzle piece.

Apollo Gym connects slew of cases

Halperns murder wasnt an isolated incident, investigators believe. Its tied to anywhere between 12 to 30 killings in the 1980s across Miami-Dade and Broward, Smith said. The Apollo Gym & Fitness Center in Hollywood, a front for sketchy dealings like loan sharking, drugs and murder for hire, linked many of those cases.

A photo of the Apollo Gym and Fitness Center, which was owned by former Miami-Dade police officer Gilbert Fernandez Jr. Patrick Farrell/Miami Herald via Newspapers.com

The gym was owned by Gilbert Fernandez Jr., a former Miami-Dade police officer who was convicted in 1991, alongside associate Hubert Christie, of a 1983 execution-style triple murder. Fernandez and Christie, who was a manager at the gym, are suspected of also being involved in several killings of gym members.

Fernandez was a police officer at the time of the 1983 murder.

A photo of Gilbert Fernandez Jr., a former Miami-Dade police officer, and associate Hubert Christie, who were convicted in 1990 of a 1983 triple murder. Walter Michot/Miami Herald via Newspapers.com

Smith believes Halpern may have seen or heard something about the illicit activities  and ended up being killed so he wouldnt talk. The detective, however, doesnt believe that Halpern, an avid bodybuilder, was involved with the gyms criminal elements.

When investigators arrived at Halperns townhouse, they didnt find any signs of forced entry. For Smith, that indicates that Halpern likely knew one or more of the people who knocked on his door that day.

Smith suspects that multiple people are responsible for Halperns death, as it wouldve likely required more than one man to subdue him during a struggle. With more people involved in the killing, more witnesses may have crucial details, the detective emphasized.

Theories in the case have changed over the years.

According to the Miami Herald archives, investigators back in the 1980s believed Halpern may have been involved in dealing drugs. Halperns father told a Herald reporter at the time that his son was a trusting person. He had even advertised his business in several local newspapers, including his address in the promotions.

Since investigating, Smith said he has interviewed countless individuals who were unwilling to come forward in the 80s out of fear of Fernandezs retribution. He also located and tested dozens of pieces of evidence, through which investigators obtained multiple DNA profiles of unknown suspects.

Its currently unclear if the DNA was a match to Fernandez or anyone suspected in the slaying.

Lori Halpern, the sister of William Billy Halpern, who was brutally murdered in his home, joined Miramar Police Detective Danny Smith, as he announced new developments in the murder case that happened 37 years ago, at a press conference at the police headquarters on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Pedro Portal/pportal@miamiherald.com

Smith urged the public to come forward with any details that could help solve Halperns killing.

No matter how inconsequential, let us vet that out, Smith said. It could be that important piece that maybe they dont realize is as important.

Inching closer to possible leads?

Smith believes that the people responsible for Halperns murder are probably dead or in prison. But the detective said he hasnt ruled Fernandez out as a suspect, though the former cop, who is serving a life sentence, has been cooperative when interviewed.

Christie died in prison in 2000 while serving a life sentence.

Smith also said anyone connected to the gym who was killed after Halpern could be a suspect in the murder. He believes identifying the killer could help close other cases across South Florida.

My working theory is that people were killed systematically to keep them quiet, Smith said. Thats what we believe. Thats what law enforcement believed years ago.

Connecting the final puzzle piece

At the time of the murder, Halperns father, Saul Halpern, told the Miami Herald: What greed and crime will do. Someone who didnt give a damn killed my son and is also killing me and hes out there without a care in the world.

Miramar Police Chief Delrish Moss speaks during a press conference where new developments were announced in the murder of William Billy Halpern, who was brutally killed in his home 37 years ago, on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Pedro Portal/pportal@miamiherald.com

Miramar Police Chief Delrish Moss on Wednesday pleaded with the community to share any details that could shed more light in the case  for Halperns family. Anyone with information can call Detective Danny Smith at 954-602-4113.

Living a life with unanswered questions, especially with regards to a loved one, is probably one of the most painful things you have to do, Moss said. Our hope is that theres information out there that will help us solve this.

This report was supplemented by stories from the Miami Herald archives.
By Daria Sito-Sucic

SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik took to the stand on Wednesday in a trial in which he is accused of defying the rulings of an international peace envoy, calling the proceedings a "political process" and attacking prosecutors.

In an unexpected move towards the end of the day's hearings, following which the trial was adjourned for a fourth time, Dodik stood to say that his acts have been in line with the Serb Republic's constitution and the Dayton peace accords, of which Bosnia's constitution is part.

"This is a political process," Dodik said. "This court must not allow the political process to go on," he said, adding that the prosecutors were "good-for-nothing lawyers". It was the first time he has spoken in court.

Dodik, who is the president of Bosnias autonomous Serb Republic, was indicted along with another Serb official in August by state prosecutors after signing laws that suspended rulings by the constitutional court and by the peace envoy, even though the envoy had revoked the legislation.

The start of the trial has already been delayed three times in the past two months over procedural issues brought by Dodik's legal team.

On Wednesday, his lawyers requested the trial be adjourned because another defendant, Milan Lukic, did not show up in court for health reasons.

Judge Mirsad Strika refused that demand, saying that he suspected it was another reason for a delay, and decided to separate the two defendants' cases.

Dodik's lawyer Goran Bubic then requested that Strika and seven other judges be removed from the case over alleged bias towards Dodik and lodged a new request for the trial to be moved to a court in the Serb Republics main city of Banja Luka.

An earlier demand to move the case was rejected by the court's appeal chamber, which must now rule on the latest requests before the trial can continue.

Strika adjourned the proceeding until Jan. 30.

(Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by)
Chinese demographers propose reshaping fertility support policies

08:53, January 17, 2024 By Liu Caiyu ( Global Times

Nurses take care of newborn babies at a hospital in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese demographers on Tuesday proposed reshaping fertility support policies to support childbearing women to give birth and promote high-quality population development in response to the established reality of long-term negative population growth in the country.

The advice from demographers came on Tuesday, one day before the National Statistics Bureau was scheduled to release the annual population data of 2023. Most demographers believed that the 2023's annual new birth population will continue to decrease.

Yuan Xin, deputy head of the China Population Association and a demographer from Nankai University in Tianjin, said that in 2024, the negative population growth may be alleviated to some extent due to Chinese people's preference toward the Year of the Dragon and a birth rebound after the three-year COVID-19 pandemic. He made the remarks at a Tuesday seminar organized by the China Population Association.

The three-year COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in the number of women of childbearing age, weak fertility desires, delayed marriage and childbearing are factors that contributed to the negative population growth in 2023, Yuan noted.

"After the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in the end of 2022, the country experienced a peak of positive infection cases that lasted for about three months. Infected young people were advised to avoid getting pregnant for three to six months for health reasons," Yuan told the Global Times.

One main reason behind the negative population growth is the decline in the number of women choosing to have children. According to He Dan, director of China Population and Development Research Center, one survey conducted by her center showed that the average ideal number of children for women of childbearing age dropped from 1.95 in 2017 to 1.86 in 2022, and the number of children they intend to have dropped from 1.77 to 1.74.

He Dan believes most factors that result in the decline in women choosing to have children or get married can be adjusted through the implementation of supportive policies. "Though cities have released a slew of supportive policies to support childbearing women to give birth, the public's expectation is still not being met," He emphasized.

From central government to local governments, many fertility support policies have been released, but overall the current policies lack coordination among different levels and regions, Yang Fan from Center for Population and Development Studies of Renmin University of China told the seminar.

In order to achieve the goal, He emphasized the need for a "systematic policy reshape" in China. He suggested that the current supportive birth policies undergo an "all-round" adjustment to improve birth rates, such as reducing living expenses, alleviating educational anxiety and promoting female employment.

One proposed birth guarantee system by He Dan is to provide subsidies to individuals who care for newborns, aiming to encourage intergenerational support and help between family members, and strengthen training and guidance on scientific parenting.

Meanwhile, He believed the establishment of "entire lifecycle of family services support system" will be able to alleviate anxiety and stress related to childbirth, and provide comprehensive support for reproductive health services, marriage and relationship services, childcare services, among others.

"We should be aware that supporting birth is a mission that needs long-term persistent efforts and their results cannot be achieved overnight," Yang said.

Though the long-term population decline trend has already become an established fact, Li Yue, a demographer from China Population and Development Research Center, emphasized there are still some positive factors in China's demographic situation.

First of all, Li said, according to census data of 2020, the lifetime fertility level of women of childbearing age in China is 1.6. The fertility within marriage is high and the proportion of lifetime childlessness is low, meaning a high fertility potential.

In addition, Li noted that the number of marriage registrations in each quarter of 2023 is higher than the same period in 2022, and the number of marriage registrations in the whole year may return to more than 7 million pairs.

Yuan noted that facing a negative population growth, in the middle of this century, China will still be one of the two billion-level populous countries in the world, with a population of about 1.2-1.4 billion people.

China's population peaked at 1.413 billion in 2021-22. If the fertility rate gradually increases to 1.8 by 2050, the population will be around 1.4 billion. A fertility rate of 1.4-1.5 would result in a population of around 1.3 billion, while a rate of 0.8-0.9 would lead to a population of around 1.2 billion, according to Yuan.

"In short, in the next 30 years, China's modernization will lead 12-14 billion people, accounting for about 14-18 percent of the global population, into a modernized country," Yuan said. "Such a large-scale modernization process with such a huge population is unprecedented."

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
 Flash

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 and delivers a special address to the event in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

China neither walks away from agreements or pulls out of organizations, nor does it ask other countries to pick sides, and it has always been a staunch supporter of multilateralism, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Tuesday at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024.

The theme of this year's meeting, "Rebuilding Trust," echoes well with people's concerns, said Li as he delivered a special address to the event hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF.

Trust comes from our shared aspiration for a better future for mankind and from our common will to work together for it, Li said.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping noted, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, yet the overall direction of human development and progress will not change, the overall dynamics of world history moving forward amid twists and turns will not change, and the overall trend toward a shared future for the international community will not change, Li said.

All parties should discard prejudice, bridge divides, treat each other with sincerity, move in the same direction, and work together to address the trust deficit, said the Chinese premier.

Li made a five-point proposal on rebuilding trust, strengthening cooperation and promoting global economic recovery, the first of which is to strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, firmly safeguard the multilateral trading system, and build greater synergy for world economic growth.

The second, said Li, is to strengthen the international industrial division of labor and coordination, unswervingly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and effectively maintain the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains.

Li also called for strengthening global exchanges and cooperation on science and technology, working together to create an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological development, and breaking down barriers that restrict the flow of innovation factors.

Cooperation on green development should be strengthened, said Li, adding that countries worldwide should remove various barriers in this field, jointly work for green transformation, uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and actively address global climate change.

The fifth is to strengthen North-South cooperation and South-South cooperation, fully implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, bridge the development gaps, and strive to build a universally beneficial and inclusive world economy, said the Chinese premier.

Li stressed that China is a country that attaches great importance to commitments, honoring its words with concrete actions all along. With greatest sincerity, utmost efforts and concrete results, China has proven consistently to the world that it is a country worthy of trust.

Over recent years, China has been an important engine of global development, and is now advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development, Li said.

China has established sound and solid fundamentals in terms of the industrial base, production factors and innovation capacity, he said, adding its overall trend of long-term growth will not change and will provide continuous and strong impetus to the development of the world.

Li said China has a supersize market with rapidly unlocked demand, and it is also cultivating large-scale new growth drivers in areas such as a new type of urbanization and green transition. It will provide a broader space for boosting global trade and investment, he added.

No matter how the world changes, China will stay committed to the fundamental national policy of opening up and open its door still wider to the world, the premier said.

Choosing the Chinese market is not a risk, but an opportunity, Li said. China embraces investments from businesses of all countries with open arms, and will steadily expand institutional opening up, continue to shorten the negative list for foreign investment, provide national treatment for foreign businesses, and keep fostering a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment, he added.

After the address, Li answered questions from Schwab on topics including Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance and the multilateral system. He stressed that we must be people-centered, inclusive and bring benefit for all, work for good AI with good governance, and guide AI in a direction that is conducive to the progress of human civilization.

He said true multilateralism should be built on basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China neither walks away from agreements or pulls out of organizations, nor asks other countries to pick sides, and it has always been a staunch supporter of multilateralism, he added.

President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd, President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam, King of Belgium Philippe, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, President of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Daren Tang and about 1,500 political figures and representatives from the business community, academia and media organizations of various countries attended the event.
[Source]

The world set its eyes on Brunei this week as Prince Abdul Mateen married his long-time partner, Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, in the highlight of an extravagant 10-day wedding celebration.

About the newlyweds: Prince Mateen, 32, is the 10th child and fourth son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who has ruled Brunei since 1967. The prince, who is sixth in line to the throne, is a British-educated military officer in Brunei's Royal Armed Forces. He was once hailed as one of Asias most eligible bachelors and currently has more than 2.7 million Instagram followers.

Meanwhile, his bride Rosnah, 29, is reportedly the granddaughter of a royal adviser. She is an entrepreneur who runs a fashion and tourism company.

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What happened in 10 days: The couples wedding began on Jan. 7 with traditional Muslim ceremonies and reportedly ended with a prayer meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16. These ceremonies included the Khatam Quran, where the bride recites the entire Quran, and the Istiadak Berbedak, a powdering ceremony in which the couple is blessed by family members by applying paste on their hands.

On Jan. 11, a solemnization ceremony  attended only by male guests, excluding even the bride  took place at the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque to legalize the couple's marriage. Mateen and Rosnah formally exchanged vows at Istana Nurul Iman, the worlds largest residential palace, on Sunday, Jan. 14.

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International attendees: The high-profile wedding saw the attendance of royals and leaders from other governments, such as Bhutan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim were also present.

What this means for Brunei: The royal wedding holds significance for Brunei, a small, oil-rich sultanate in Southeast Asia. With its traditional rituals, it underscores the nations adherence to its Islamic roots. The marriage of Prince Mateen to a commoner also demonstrates a blend of tradition and modernity in the countrys evolving social landscape.

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Algeria reaffirmed on Tuesday its firm stance on supporting the one-China principle and China's national reunification.

During his separate meetings with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui in the Algerian capital of Algiers, Liu Guozhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, explained China's principled position on the Taiwan issue.

Both Tebboune and Larbaoui said that the Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affairs, and Algeria has always firmly adhered to the one-China principle.

Stressing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, the Algerian leaders also expressed support for China's efforts to seek national reunification, while rejecting any form of Taiwan independence.
On 17 January, Todor Tagarev, Bulgarian Defence Minister, has said that the shipment of 100 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from the Ministry of Internal Affairs warehouses to Ukraine, as agreed last year, has not yet begun.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the BNR

Details: At a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence, Tagarev said that the logistics part of the delivery of APCs to Ukraine is already clear: "It is already clear who will load them and where they will go. Again, this is a very serious logistics operation."

Quote: "We also know the amount of money that is needed (for transportation  ed.). It would be feasible for our budget, but first, we will try the Ramstein format to see if any of our other allies will say: "Oh, that's a very good idea; I'll pay for the transport," he added.

The Bulgarian Defence Minister stated that if the Ramstein allies do not agree to pay for the APCs transportation, "we will look for other options", including through a separate decision of the Bulgarian parliament.

Background:

In November 2023, the National Assembly of Bulgaria ratified an intergovernmental agreement between Sofia and Kyiv, which provides for the supply of 100 written off armoured personnel carriers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Bulgaria to Ukraine.

At the same time, the Bulgarian side claimed that even without the ratification of the agreement, it was possible to transfer the first APCs last autumn.

As previously reported, the APCs (armoured personnel carriers) have been in the possession of the Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs since the 1980s. This is the first time that the Bulgarian side has transferred armoured vehicles to Kyiv directly, rather than through intermediaries, as it had done before.

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Bulgaria has still not sent Ukraine the 100 armored vehicles the country's parliament approved in December, the Bulgarian media outlet BNR reported on Jan. 17, citing comments made at the parliament's defense committee.

Bulgaria's parliament approved two tranches of military aid to Ukraine on Dec. 8, including the delivery of 100 older armored vehicles from the Interior Ministry's stocks together with armaments and spare parts, free of charge. The decision to send the vehicles overrode a veto by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev said the delay in delivering the vehicles was related to shipping costs.

It is possible for the Bulgarian government to pay for the delivery itself, Tagarev said, but the government was still exploring other options, and hoped that other allies of Ukraine would support the transfer financially.

"This is...a very serious logistical operation," he said.

Bulgaria has provided Ukraine with a variety of aid since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, but pro-Russian sentiment has remained prevalent in the country.

Many Bulgarians also support a position of neutrality regarding Russia's war against Ukraine. A poll conducted in October 2022 found that 67.5% of respondents preferred their government take no side in the war.

Bulgaria has become increasingly supportive of Ukraine as the war has progressed.

Almost 65% of Bulgarians polled in June 2023 supported Ukraine's accession to the EU, and 64% were in favor of supplying military aid.

Another 66% wanted the government to ban Russian state-owned media.

Read also: Bulgarias Soviet stockpiles and large defense industry may be key to Ukraines success

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ASHEVILLE  The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved funding for sheriffs deputies to patrol Downtown Asheville on Fridays and Saturdays.

By approving the funds during their Jan. 16 meeting, commissioners heeded a request from nearly 40 Asheville business owners who sent a letter to city and county officials in September requesting increased public safety presence. While the letter did not blame danger in Asheville on any particular group, multiple passages focused on people experiencing homelessness, using the term "vagrants."

William Dissen, owner of The Marketplace Restaurant on Wall Street, Billy Ds Fried Chicken and Little Gem, coordinated the letter and the campaign for increased public safety downtown. In December, he declined multiple Citizen Times requests for comment, saying that he wanted to wait until the commissioners decided on the allocation to speak about the matter. Dissen did not respond to a request to comment the morning before the meeting.

Buncombe County Sheriffs deputies walk along Coxe Avenue after a false alarm in December.

Members of the sheriffs office and the county commission met with these business owners and their employees throughout the fall. The request to increase patrols downtown was a response to the letter and those conversations.

The problems experienced include assaults, robberies, break ins, damage to property, disorderly conduct, and more, read the request for board action, borrowing language from a December sheriffs office report delivered to commissioners. The Sheriffs Office agrees with the concerned parties. The environment created by some of the homeless individuals frequenting the business district is unacceptable.

Funding will last 26 weeks, paying for two pairs of deputies to patrol downtown on Fridays and Saturday between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. The disbursement will also allow one sheriffs office staff member to work in the countys Real Time Intelligence Center.

Why is county law enforcement patrolling in city limits?

Sheriff Quentin Miller said at the meeting that he expects the Asheville Police Department to eventually collaborate on the effort that he coined the Downtown Initiative. This is different from Asheville's Downtown Safety Initiative, a 60-day effort that began April 20, 2023, resulting in a visible downtown police presence.

This initiative will either cost the county $88,000 or $56,000  commissioners voted to approve the lesser. The price tag will ultimately be lower if the Asheville Police Department deploys officers to partner with deputies to patrol. Buncombe County will use extra funds initially committed to school resource officers to pay for the effort  schools did not ultimately need the amount initially allocated. Commission Chair Brownie Newman did not attend the meeting because of a personal matter.

More: Downtown crime dips: APD targeted operations, police presence, $2 million in overtime

More: Downtown Safety Initiative: APD reports an increase in both violent and property crime

Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller talks with attendees of the MLK, Jr. Prayer Breakfast, January 13, 2024.

The sheriffs office is providing a presence downtown while the police department continues with its staffing struggles, Miller said. Once APD has enough staff, the sheriffs department will withdraw. According to a December Citizen Times report, APD staffing is currently down 38%.

More: Asheville Interim Chief Lamb talks new APD focus, 'surprise' retirement, staffing issues

Im optimistic that a deputy presence during the late evening hours will help alleviate the safety concerns that many of our service workers and business owners have raised, Commissioner Martin Moore said in a statement to the Citizen Times after the meeting.

I think its important to recognize that we can focus on deterrence and crime prevention while also committing to strategies that will help address root causes of crime.

Moore, a former public defender, is running for the states Court of Appeals. He received an endorsement from Miller.

Miller said at the Jan. 16 meeting that deputies will take on overtime assignments to staff the initiative, assuring the public that the effort will not detract from sheriffs office presence outside of downtown.

Miller drew a distinction from APDs special operations, when police recently targeted low-level offenses, like second-degree trespass, panhandling and possessing drug paraphernalia. A majority of the people listed one of these operations listed a local homeless services center as their permanent address.

Were simply saying we want (to patrol) downtown as a presence, Miller said. If theres a crime committed in our presence, of course we take appropriate actions.

He said the sheriffs office's goal was to meet people where they were and give deliver the assistance they need.

The Citizen Times attempted to ask Miller follow-up questions after his presentation, but he did not take any questions. Spokesperson Christina Esmay did not respond to questions Jan. 16 the Citizen Times emailed, which included whether the sheriffs office would make arrests for misdemeanor offenses.

Miller said he wanted the flexibility to change the hours depending on what deputies encounter downtown and what he hears from business owners. He said that the sheriffs office has data to support where he believes their presence is needed. Miller did not present any of that data during the meeting, nor did any commissioners ask for it.

He distinguished the downtown initiative from the sheriffs office co-responder model, which partners a sheriffs deputy with a health care professional and is currently operating full-time at a small scale. Miller said he aspires to grow that program and marry it with the sheriffs office downtown presence.

More: Buncombe Sheriff proposes downtown patrols after restaurateurs and hoteliers ask for help

More: How many people are homeless in Asheville? 2024 point-in-time count begins Jan. 30

Commissioner Amanda Edwards commended Miller and the sheriffs office for taking into consideration thoughts from downtown business owners. Edwards is running for the boards top seat.

Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, who is a member of the Homeless Initiative Advisory Committees shelter work group, described the increased patrols as the latest component of county, city and homeless services providers' multi-faceted approach to addressing homelessness. She pointed to the community paramedic, co-responder and justice services programs as examples of the work the county has done.

From left, Buncombe County Commissioners Parker Sloan, Jasmin Beach-Ferrara, and Al Whitesides, sit in on a meeting addressing homelessness at Harrahs Cherokee Center, December 4, 2023.

In December, the sheriffs office submitted a report to the county board, laying out a four-stage plan to address homelessness in Buncombe County. To create that document, the sheriff's office did not consult a group of county representatives, city officials and local organizations that have collaborated for years to overhaul the areas homelessness response system, the Citizen Times previously reported.

Esmay did not respond to questions about whether the Sheriffs office spoke to these representatives as they developed their plan to patrol Downtown Asheville.

Ashevilles Homeless Strategy Division Manager Emily Ball told the Citizen Times in a Jan. 16 email that she would meet with representatives from the sheriffs office Jan. 17. In December, she said in an email that she did not know about the sheriffs office report until the Citizen Times sent it to her Dec. 19.

Miller did not mention the report during his presentation.

In a statement released through a spokesperson following the commissioners approval, Miller said that he intends for patrols to begin Jan. 26. Within 90 days from the beginning of the initiative, he said he would ensure that data and an assessment from the effort was available to the media and the public.

In other county news

Commissioners unanimously approved a raise for county elections director Corinne Duncan, increasing her salary by nearly $6,000 to $115,000 per year.

Commissioners unanimously accepted an external audit conducted by Atlanta-based accounting firm Mauldin & Jenkins. The auditor issued a clean opinion on the countys major statements.

Commissioners unanimously approved $684,061 funding granted by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to develop its public health workforce. The county will need to use the funds by October 2027.

Mitchell Black covers Buncombe County and health care for the Citizen Times. Email him at mblack@citizentimes.com or follow him on Twitter @MitchABlack. Please help support local journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville sheriff patrol funding approved to partially target homeless
Downtown SLO has hired Cal Poly alumna and local business leader LeBren Harris as its new CEO, the business outreach group announced.

Harris previously served as the chair of the SLO Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as well as area director of sales for Quorum Hotels & Resorts, according to a Downtown SLO news release.

Harris is expected to start in the position on Jan. 16.

I am absolutely thrilled and deeply honored to step into the role of CEO, she said in the release. The prospect of leading and inspiring a team united in our commitment to serve and uplift our community fills me with boundless excitement.

The group described Harris as a dedicated and accomplished professional who has been an integral part of the community since 2001.

Starting at Cal Poly as a student athlete  she still holds the schools record in the 400m hurdles  Harris earned a bachelors degree in kinesiology from the university in 2004, according to the release. She then earned her masters degree in sport management from Cleveland State University in 2006.

After obtaining her degrees, Harris returned to San Luis Obispo, where she began work as a front desk agent at Embassy Suites San Luis Obispo, according to the release. She would rise through the hotels ranks, ultimately becoming director of catering.

She then moved to Hampton Inn and Suites San Luis Obispo as its director of sales, and soon became the dual director of both Hampton Inn and TownePlace Suites by Marriott, according to the release. She most recently served as area director of sales for Quorum Hotel and Resorts, overseeing the Inn at the Pier in Pismo Beach and Hotel Virginia in Santa Barbara.

During her time in San Luis Obispo, Harris has served on a number of local boards, including the citys Tourism Improvement District, Cal Poly Stampede Club, Mission College Prep High School Board of Regents, Central Coast Economic Forecast and the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce.

As CEO of Downtown SLO, Harris will advocate for downtown vitality and oversee the organizations events, including the weekly Thursday night Farmers Market, Concerts in the Plaza and the annual holiday parade, according to the release.

We are thrilled to have LeBren join Downtown SLO to lead our amazing team, Downtown SLO Board President Donna Lewis said in the release. We are looking forward to her fresh perspective and the enthusiasm she brings to all she does in our community.
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People are seen on a street with damaged buildings in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on Jan. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

The ministry said in a press statement that the Israeli army killed 158 Palestinians and wounded 320 others during the past 24 hours.

It added that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has led to the injuries of 61,154 Palestinians since its outbreak on Oct. 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, it noted that a large number of victims were still under the rubble, and ambulance and civil defense crews could not reach them.

The ministry also warned of serious health complications facing patients with chronic illnesses, noting that 350,000 of them have been without medication.

It called on international institutions to provide medicines for chronic patients urgently.
Canada has formally requested the United States to expedite the delivery of a NASAMS air defense system to Ukraine, which was paid for almost a year ago, Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail reported on Jan. 17.

The newspaper cited Canadian officials who stated that the air defense system was purchased by the Canadian government in March 2023. Its shipment has been delayed due to the need for an arms sale agreement to be concluded between the United States and Ukraine, negotiations of which are still ongoing.

Read also: Canada has yet to deliver promised NASAMS air defense to Ukraine, one year after announcement

Journalists report that last week Canada's Defense Minister Bill Blair likely met with U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen to urge a speedy delivery of the crucial air defense asset.

Read also: Zelenskyy thanks Trudeau for additional NASAMS systems to protect Ukrainian skies

On Jan. 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. The Ukrainian leader thanked the prime minister for his work in strengthening Ukraine's air defenses as Russia continues its air strike campaign against Ukrainian cities.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Canal Fulton City Council

Tuesday meeting

KEY ACTION: Voters may see a fire levy on the November ballot.

DISCUSSION: Mayor Joe Schultz said two fire levies will be expiring in 2025 and 2026. One was approved to build the safety center and another one to buy equipment. Schultz said he wants to roll the two into one tax levy for operating expenses. The proposed levy would cost property owners no more than what they are paying for the two expiring levies, he said. City council members will consider Schultzs proposal.

OTHER ACTION:

In a work session, authorized the city manager and law director to draw up legislation regarding street closings. The ordinance will differentiate between closings for non-profit organizations and for-profit businesses with fees to cover the citys costs of erecting barriers and cleaning up after events. Council also agreed not to approve any street closings until the proposed ordinance is approved. Council does not expect street closings in residential areas for block parties to be affected by the proposed ordinance.

Accepted a $2,625 grant from the Ohio Fire Marshall to program MARCS radios to bring them up-to-date and cover usage fees.

Accepted a grant of $9,900 from the Ohio-Erie Canalway Coalition to buy two paddle boats. The coalition will contribute $4,200 with the city picking up the balance along with buying supplies such as life vests.

Approved a one-year agreement with the Massillon Law Department to provide for the prosecution in Massillon Municipal Court of criminal and traffic offenders arrested in Canal Fulton at a cost of $25,200, the same amount as last year.

UP NEXT: Meets at 6 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Safety Center. Work sessions and meetings are recorded and may be viewed on the citys Facebook page.

Joan Porter

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canal Fulton City Council to consider mayor's proposal about fire levy
After a house fire claimed the lives of a young elementary student and two adults in Ramona last Friday, Caney Valley Public Schools Superintendent Steven Cantrell expressed the district's profound sorrow and condolences Wednesday on the district's Facebook page.

"As with the communities we represent, we are devastated by this loss," Cantrell stated in a Facebook post. He urged the Caney Valley patrons, parents, and students to pray for the family.

The community is reeling from the loss of 6-year-old Laken Bowline, along with Linsay Bowline and Jayne George.

Fatal house fire in the 300 block of Keeler Street in Ramona.

Recognizing the impact of such an event on students, Caney Valley Elementary will provide counselors and specialists on Thursday to assist any student needing support.

In addition, anyone interested in helping the George family can donate to the "George Family Benefit Account" by mailing a check to or visiting any of the six American Bank of Oklahoma locations.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: School district announces support following fatal fire in Ramona
ST. BERNARD PARISH, La. (WGNO)  The St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs Office has introduced a new canine to its team to help fight drug-related crimes.

Leaders with the SBSO said the canines name is Pit, and he is an almost 2-year-old German Shepherd. He was assigned to the Special Investigations Divisions Narcotics Unit.

Martini of the Year served in this New Orleans bar

Having our own narcotics dog will give us the ability to better deter illegal drug activities, ultimately building a stronger, safer future for everyone in our community, said Sheriff James Pohlmann. It reinforces our dedication to public safety.

(Courtesy: St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs Office)

(Courtesy: St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs Office)

(Courtesy: St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs Office)

(Courtesy: St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs Office)

Pit, who was born in Hungary, was donated to the sheriffs office by an anonymous resident.

According to the sheriffs office, his journey to the parish began with a month-long training session in November 2023 at Alabama Canine in North Port, Alabama, where he received weeks of instructions in detecting narcotic odors.

Pit will help with traffic stops and search warrants during investigations done by the Special Investigations Division.

He will live with his sole-handler, SBSO Narcotics Agent Patrick Clark.

Clarks career began in 2019 as a patrol deputy with the Field Operations Bureau. He joined the Special Investigations Division as a Narctics Agent in 2023.

These highly-trained partners will enhance our ability to protect the community, our schools and build a stronger, safer future for everyone, Pohlmann said.

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Bob Pardo in 2017 in front of a model of an F-4 Phantom II at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona - USAF/Senior Airman Ridge Shan

Bob Pardo, who has died aged 89, was an American pilot who devised an aerial manoeuvre during the Vietnam War that kept his wingmans plane aloft until they could both reach friendly airspace; it was immortalised as Pardos Push.

In March 1967 Capt Pardo, flying out of an airbase in Thailand, was on a mission to bomb a steel mill near Hanoi in North Vietnam. With him was his weapons systems officer, 1st Lt Steve Wayne, while his wingman, Capt Earl Aman, was flying with Lt Robert Houghton.

The mission began to go wrong when both F-4 Phantoms were hit by anti-aircraft fire; Amans plane came off worse  its fuel tank was damaged and the plane was rapidly losing fuel.

In that area of North Vietnam, it was all rice paddies, Pardo recalled. There would have been no possibility of evading capture. I thought: If theres some way we could get him to the jungle, hes got a 50-50 chance of getting out of this. 

Pardo told Aman to jettison his drag parachute so he could insert his nose cone into the chute compartment, but the turbulence made it impossible, while the downwash of air meant that he was unable to simply carry the weight of the other aircraft.

It got a little discouraging after about 10 minutes because our left engine caught fire and we had to shut it down, Pardo recalled. But then he had an idea. I looked up and there was the tailhook [used for landings on aircraft carriers and in emergencies on airfields]. I thought, What do we have to lose? He put the tailhook down and we eased in very gently and put it on our windshield and started adding power. His rate of descent decreased from about 3,000 feet per minute to about 1,500 feet per minute.

Robert Houghton recalled in 1996: If he so much as bumped the windshield, he would have had that tailhook in his face. Were talking about glass here. It was phenomenal flying, nothing less.

Pardo estimated that without his help, Amans plane would have been able to travel perhaps 30 miles on its own, but his assistance doubled that  even when his own left engine caught fire and had to be shut down. We continued to push and it got us where we needed to go.

Both aircrews were able to eject over the Laotian border and were all rescued in less than two hours by HH-53 Jolly Green Giant helicopters.

But far from being hailed for his ingenuity, Pardo was nearly court-martialed for the loss of the F-4s  until his wing commander, Col Robin Olds, convinced the commanding general to drop the charges on the condition that Pardo and his wingman receive no recognition.

They lost eight airplanes that day, but the four of us were the only ones that made it back, Pardo said. What the general didnt understand was we had already got what we wanted, which was our friends. At last, in 1989, Pardo was awarded the Silver Star, along with Steve Wayne.

John Robert Pardo was born on March 10 1934 in Waco, Texas, to Lucille, nee Williamson, and William, installed gas pipelines. He briefly attended the University of Houston, dropping out to work with his father before enlisting in the USAF in 1954.

He was awarded his wings at Bryan Air Force Base in Texas and was stationed at bases in Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Missouri and Maine before his tour of duty in Vietnam in 1966-67. He retired in the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1974 and worked in civil aviation.

My dad taught me that when your friend needs help, you help, Pardo later said. I couldnt have come home and told him I didnt even try anything.

Bob Pardo was twice married and once divorced, and is survived by his second wife and by a daughter and son.

Bob Pardo, born March 10 1934, died December 5 2023

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New dash camera video shows the moments as a Preble County Sheriffs deputy tried to pull over a driver before a high-speed chase.

This happened in West Alexandria on Saturday. As News Center 7 reported then, the car involved in the chase was later involved in a head-on crash on S. Preble County Line Road near Lower Gratis Road.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Car drove off from attempted traffic stop before head-on crash; 2 people seriously injured

The attempted traffic stop started when the deputy clocked the driver going 86 mph in a 50 mph zone on US 35. The video showed the deputy taking a U-turn to pull over the driver, but the driver didnt stop.

The driver went so fast that it was hard to spot him in front of the deputy for most of the cruiser camera video.

At one point, you can see the black car speeding down Enterprise Road just after turning right off of US 35. Not long after this, the deputy stopped the chase when he lost the car but kept going in the direction he last saw the driver going and re-started the chase again when he found him.

As we previously reported, the second chase was stopped by the deputy due to speed and road conditions.

>> Bill taking aim at deepfakes introduced at Ohio statehouse

The deputy was already on their way back to West Alexandria to resume their normal patrol when the crash happened.

That crash sent the drivers of the two vehicles involved to area hospitals. Both of them suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

There will be two investigations of the incident, one for the chase and one for the crash. The sheriffs office told News Center 7s John Bedell that theyll be going after charges for the initial speeding violation and felony charges for not stopping for the deputy. State troopers are handling the crash. A spokesperson said there will be charges in connection with the wreck, but theyll let prosecutors decide exactly what those are.
Students and teachers were evacuated from Carroll High School in Southlake on Wednesday afternoon when police received an anonymous tip about a bomb threat, according to police and school officials.

A search of the school found no threat, police said in an update about 4:30 p.m.

The school, at 800 N. White Chapel Blvd., which is the campus for freshman and sophomores, was evacuated as a precaution, police said about 2 p.m., and officers and firefighters investigated the threat.

Carroll ISD officials said students were taken to Durham Intermediate School, at 801 Shady Oaks Drive, and were being dismissed from there Wednesday afternoon.

One parent said hundreds of people were waiting in line outside the building to pick up their children.

#SAFEdragon Reunification:

CHS Parents - Due to the ongoing investigation at CHS, we will be dismissing our CHS Dragons from the relocation site at Durham Intermediate School, 801 Shady Oaks Drive, ASAP. Any CHS riders who need to take the bus home will be driven from DIS. pic.twitter.com/gCh6ca3nXt  Carroll ISD (@Carrollisd) January 17, 2024

Parts of North White Chapel Boulevard were closed during the investigation but the road has since reopened, police said.

CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL EVACUATEDWe received an anonymous Stop It Alert of a bomb threat at Carroll High School at 800 North White Chapel. The school has been evacuated as a precaution and officers and firefighters are investigating now. We will update with more information here.  Southlake DPS (@SouthlakeDPS) January 17, 2024

Police said students and staff would be able to get their cars from the school parking lots after the situation was resolved.

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Earlier in the day, Carroll Senior High School at 1501 W Southlake Blvd, which is the campus for juniors and seniors, was evacuated because of water pipes bursting and activating the fire alarm system, the school district said. Staff and students were relocated while the fire department assessed the building.

#SAFEdragon Alert: CSHS has been evacuated due to pipes bursting and activating the fire alarm system. Staff and students have been safely relocated while the fire department assesses the building. Please stay clear of the area at this time. We will keep the community updated. pic.twitter.com/qrbpKsF0Yn  Carroll ISD (@Carrollisd) January 17, 2024
Residents and those visiting Central Florida will have the chance for some cute cuddle time with puppies with the option to adopt on-site.

Central Floridas Welcome Center will host its second annual Puppy Cuddle and adoption event to benefit SPCA Florida.

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The family-friendly event will take place from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20.

Visitors can enjoy five minutes of puppy cuddling time for a $5 donation - all proceeds go to SPCA Florida.

Read: Development plans are moving forward for Orlando Magics Sports and Entertainment District

The puppies will be adopted on a first-come, first-serve basis but will remain at the welcome center for the duration of the cuddling event, according to a news release. Adopted puppies can be picked up at 1 p.m. once the event is over.

Visitors are asked to leave their pets at home, as animals (other than the puppies brought by SPCA Florida, or service animals) will not be permitted to attend.

Read: Clermont set to hold Mega Food Truck Event this weekend

The center is located at 101 Adventure Court in Davenport.

Read: Paws in the Park returns to Lake Eola for its 30th year of bring your furry friends together

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
More than 20 central Ohio school districts have announced school closures or delays for Wednesday, Jan. 17, due to bitterly cold temperatures.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued a wind chill advisory from 9 p.m. Tuesday until 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, with wind chills forecast to reach as low as -15 degrees.

Columbus City Schools are closed Wednesday for students, but it's because of a scheduled staff records day and not the cold weather.

Here are the districts that reported as of 10 p.m. Tuesday that they would have weather delays or closures Wednesday morning. This list will be updated Wednesday morning as additional information becomes available. School districts are encouraged to send an email with any delays or closures to newsroom@dispatch.com.

More: How cold does it need to be for Central Ohio schools to close? It depends on who you ask.

School delays or closures for Wednesday, Jan. 17

@ShahidMeighan

smeighan@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here are central Ohio schools delayed or closed by cold Wed., Jan.17
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Charges have been filed against the man accused of killing his co-worker at a temporary storage facility in early January.

According to court documents, Nathan David Evans, 41, allegedly struck the 65-year-old victim, identified as David Hinkebein, 15 times with a hammer, killing him at their workplace. Evans has now been charged with first-degree felony murder and second-degree felony desecration of a human body.

According to the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office, a driver for Advantage Services told detectives he had picked up several people the night of the alleged murder, including Evans. The driver said he overheard one angry passenger, later believed to be Evans, say he was going to kill a guy at a warehouse by bashing his head in. The angry passenger allegedly admitted it was because he didnt like how he was being treated and the victim messed with his stuff.

Jazz-Warriors game postponed because of medical emergency

A few days later another co-worker went looking for Hinkebein in the back office, only to allegedly be stopped by Evans. The co-worker said he later noticed bloody handprints on the wall and blood stains on the carpet. When the coworker confronted Evans about the mess, Evans allegedly became defensive and used vague, short, abbreviated responses about the situation.

The co-worker reportedly asked Evans if Hinkebein was okay, to which Evans allegedly replied, Hes done, which the coworker took to mean Hinkebein was dead.

Responding investigators said they found a hammer that had blood on it as well as a garbage bag that matched clothes belonging to Evans covered in blood. A doctor with the Utah State Medical Examiners Office determined Hinkebein had suffered at least 15 blunt force injuries consistent with a hammer. The doctor also noticed at least 3 sharp force injuries to the neck which he said was done after Hinkebein had died.

Ogden woman arrested after allegedly throwing baby in snowbank, telling police a demon made her do it

When people go to work they do not expect to be faced with violence. Workplace violence is intolerable and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law by this office, said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. Our hearts go out to those who knew Mr. Hinkebein through his work with those experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake County.

Evans allegedly claimed he had not seen Hinkebein for days and denied going into the back offices or speaking to his coworker about the mess.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
FILE - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law hearing on artificial intelligence, May 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. ChatGPT maker OpenAI has outlined a plan, spelled out in a blog post on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, to prevent its tools from being used to spread election misinformation as voters in more than 50 countries around the world prepare to vote in national elections in 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  ChatGPT maker OpenAI has outlined a plan to prevent its tools from being used to spread election misinformation as voters in more than 50 countries prepare to cast their ballots in national elections this year.

The safeguards spelled out by the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence startup in a blog post this week include a mix of preexisting policies and newer initiatives to prevent the misuse of its wildly popular generative AI tools. They can create novel text and images in seconds but also be weaponized to concoct misleading messages or convincing fake photographs.

The steps will apply specifically to OpenAI, only one player in an expanding universe of companies developing advanced generative AI tools. The company, which announced the moves Monday, said it plans to continue our platform safety work by elevating accurate voting information, enforcing measured policies, and improving transparency.

It said it will ban people from using its technology to create chatbots that impersonate real candidates or governments, to misrepresent how voting works or to discourage people from voting. It said that until more research can be done on the persuasive power of its technology, it wont allow its users to build applications for the purposes of political campaigning or lobbying.

Starting early this year, OpenAI said, it will digitally watermark AI images created using its DALL-E image generator. This will permanently mark the content with information about its origin, making it easier to identify whether an image that appears elsewhere on the web was created using the AI tool.

The company also said it is partnering with the National Association of Secretaries of State to steer ChatGPT users who ask logistical questions about voting to accurate information on that group's nonpartisan website, CanIVote.org.

Mekela Panditharatne, counsel in the democracy program at the Brennan Center for Justice, said OpenAI's plans are a positive step toward combating election misinformation, but it will depend on how they are implemented.

"For example, how exhaustive and comprehensive will the filters be when flagging questions about the election process? she said. Will there be items that slip through the cracks?

OpenAI's ChatGPT and DALL-E are some of the most powerful generative AI tools to date. But there are many companies with similarly sophisticated technology that don't have as many election misinformation safeguards in place.

While some social media companies, such as YouTube and Meta, have introduced AI labeling policies, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to consistently catch violators.

It would be helpful if other generative AI firms adopted similar guidelines so there could be industry-wide enforcement of practical rules, said Darrell West, senior fellow in the Brooking Institution's Center for Technology Innovation.

Without voluntary adoption of such policies across the industry, regulating AI-generated disinformation in politics would require legislation. In the U.S., Congress has yet to pass legislation seeking to regulate the industrys role in politics despite some bipartisan support. Meanwhile, more than a third of U.S. states have passed or introduced bills to address deepfakes in political campaigns as federal legislation stalls.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that even with all of his companys safeguards in place, his mind is not at ease.

I think its good we have a lot of anxiety and are going to do everything we can to get it as right as we can, he said during an interview Tuesday at a Bloomberg event during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Were going to have to watch this incredibly closely this year. Super tight monitoring. Super tight feedback loop. ___

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.
Two Chick-fil-A workers fell in love over their first chicken nugget  then came a special marriage proposal.

We knew it was meant to be, Azeem Warthen of North Carolina told ABC11, The News & Observers media partner.

Warthen was at a New Years Eve party with his now-fiancee  Sarah Love  when he got down on one knee. A photo shared with ABC11 show the bride-to-be with her mouth wide open, while another shows the couple embracing.

Now, the newly engaged pair  who met at Chick-fil-A  plan to get married. To make sure their co-workers can join the celebration, the wedding is planned for a Sunday, when the fast-food restaurant is famously closed.

The couples romance blossomed after the two started working at the Chick-fil-A on North Roxboro Street in Durham. They became friends before going on their first date in December 2021, according to the couple and a Facebook post from the restaurant.

The Durham restaurant in its Jan. 5 post said the couple knew it was love when they shared their first chicken nugget. Now theyre engaged and we cant wait for them to become the Warthens!

In less than two weeks, the Facebook post racked up about 63,000 reactions and more than 1,000 comments. Fans couldnt get enough of the love story as they chimed in to congratulate the couple about their engagement.

This is literally a dream come true, Warthen told ABC11.

A Facebook user believed to be Warthen didnt immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment on Jan. 17.

Bride surprises groom with one of his favorites: Waffle House. See the unique reception

TV reporter rushing to breaking news scene finds boyfriend on one knee, video shows
BROCKTON  A judge ordered two men held without bail Tuesday in what District Attorney Tim Cruz called an "execution-style" shooting in a crowded buffet restaurant.

Jamal Augereau Bazile, 18, and Nathan Veiga, 22, pleaded not guilty to murdering Joe Araujo, 22, of Brockton. Prosecutors claim Veiga scouted the Hibachi Sushi Supreme on Crescent Street for Bazile on Friday evening, confirming that the victim was there with his girlfriend.

Then Bazile walked into the restaurant at 7:24 p.m, picked up a "to-go" container and went to where the victim and girlfriend were sitting. Prosecutors say Bazile dropped the container, pulled out a gun and fired three shots.

"He conducted a brazen indoor execution in front of small children," Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague said during a Tuesday arraignment at Brockton District Court.

The arrest Pair arrested in connection with deadly shooting at Brockton's Hibachi Sushi Supreme

From left, Attorney Eduardo Masferrer, his client Nathan Veiga, defendant Jamal Augereau Bazile and his attorney Louis Badwey are in Brockton District Court on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, for Veiga and Bazile's arraignments in connection with a fatal shooting at a city sushi restaurant on Friday evening, Jan. 12, 2024.

What the prosecution said in court

Two bullets struck Araujo, hitting him in the abdomen and leg. He was pronounced dead later at Good Samaritan Medical Center.

Sprague said the girlfriend, whom she did not name in court, said Araujo called Veiga "ops"  slang for an opposing faction.

Sprague said the shooting was "payback" for a February 2022 murder. The Enterprise has asked the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office to confirm which murder that was. The veteran prosecutor said Bazile and Veiga belong to the "East Side Boys" and that Araujo was in an opposing group.

Sprague told the court that investigators searched Veiga's bedroom and found a distinctive Nike jacket like the one worn by the shooter in surveillance video. Sprague said that search also uncovered crack cocaine. The assistant district attorney also said investigators fingerprints found on the dropped to-go container matched those of Bazile's middle fingers.

Bazile acted with "complete disregard to the physical, mental, emotional well being of everyone in that restaurant," Sprague said.

Graphic surveillance video released Video shows brazen fatal shooting inside Brockton sushi restaurant

Ana Inacio, the mother of the Joe Araujo, 22, who was shot to death on Friday evening, Jan. 12, 2024, at a sushi restaurant in Brockton, attends the arraignment for the two defendants in Brockton District Court on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

What defense attorney said

Veiga's attorney, Eduardo A. Masferrer, said his client denies ever going into the restaurant, and that he didn't case the place for Bazile. Masferrer said Veiga has cooperated with law enforcement by going to Brockton Police on his own.

Investigators from Brockton Police and Massachusetts State Police worked the case over the weekend. They located Bazile at a home in Hyannis on Monday evening. Sprague said he struggled with officers before being taken into custody. She said police found a loaded gun in his sweatshirt pocket.

From left, Attorney Eduardo Masferrer, his client Nathan Veiga, defendant Jamal Augereau Bazile and his attorney Louis Badwey are in Brockton District Court on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, for Veiga and Bazile's arraignments in connection with a fatal shooting at a city sushi restaurant on Friday evening, Jan. 12, 2024.

Bail denied

Judge Michael A. Vitali denied the defendants' bail on Tuesday. He's the same judge who on Dec. 4, 2023, set $5,000 cash bail for Bazile on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, Sprague said.

Ana Inacio the mother of the late Joe Araujo, 22, left, with her daughters during the murder trial for Nathan Veiga, and Jamal Augereau Bazile at Brockton District Court on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

'Significant' event for Brockton

Cruz attended Tuesday's arraignment in person. Speaking to reporters after the court session, he called the killing a "brazen, premeditated act" and a "significant event" for the city of Brockton. Cruz declined to criticize Vitali's Dec. 4 bail ruling. Cruz said his office had sought bail of $10,000 and imposition of a GPS monitoring bracelet.

Araujo's sister and mother declined to comment.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz at a presser after the murder arraignments for Nathan Veiga, and Jamal Augereau at Brockton District Court on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

What happens next?

Court officials set Feb. 13 as the next court date, which will be a probable cause hearing for Bazile and Veiga. Bazile is charged with murder, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and discharge of a firearm. Veiga is charged with murder and accessory to murder before the fact.

Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton sushi restaurant murder suspects held without bail
In this image made from video, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning gestures during a press conference in Beijing, China on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. China's Foreign Ministry summoned the Philippine ambassador and denounced remarks by the country's President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday congratulating the winner of Taiwan's presidential election, Lai Ching-te. (AP Photo/Liu Zheng)

BEIJING (AP)  Chinas Foreign Ministry summoned the Philippine ambassador Tuesday and denounced President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s congratulatory message to the winner of Taiwans presidential election, Lai Ching-te.

Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that Marcoss remarks seriously violated the political commitments made by the Philippines to China and rudely interfered in Chinas internal affairs.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be recovered by force if necessary, and angrily condemns statements that appear to confer legitimacy on the island's government.

We would like to sternly tell the Philippines not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue ... (and) immediately stop making wrong words and deeds on Taiwan-related issues, and stop sending any wrong signals to Taiwan independence and separatist forces, Mao said.

She said Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Nong Rong summoned the Philippine Ambassador to China Tuesday morning and made solemn representations, and urged the Philippines to give China a responsible explanation.

Marcos Jr. congratulated Taiwan's president-elect on Monday, saying in a statement shared on social media that he was looking forward to close collaboration and strengthening mutual interests. Lai, who is detested by Beijing, has pledged to safeguard the islands de-facto independence from China and further align it with other democracies.

On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwans next president, Marcos said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

After U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory, Chinas Foreign Ministry said that Blinken's message sends a gravely wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces. The ministry claimed the congratulations went against a U.S. commitment to maintain only unofficial ties with Taiwan.
Taiwans President-elect William Lai Ching-te and running mate Hsiao Bi-khim celebrate in Taipei on Jan. 13. Credit - Annabelle ChihGetty Images

As global congratulations have poured in for Taiwans Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, after the Democratic Progressive Partys presidential candidate emerged victorious in pivotal elections on Saturday, one unsurprising country is making its displeasure very clear.

China, which claims the self-governed island of Taiwan as part of its territory and insists that it will be brought under Beijings control, has long voiced its opposition to the pro-independence DPP and viewed Lai and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim with deep apprehension and mistrust. Now, China is rebuking any nation that dares to pay respect to Lai for his victoryor even to Taiwan for its successful democratic process.

Read More: Taiwans Election Isnt a Disaster for XiUnless He Makes It One

Here are some of the countries that have found themselves in the crosshairs of Beijing and on the receiving end of stern diplomatic warnings.

United States

Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent Lai a message of congratulations shortly after his election victory on Saturday, in a statement that emphasized the U.S.s commitment to maintaining cross-Strait peace and stability. Blinken added that he looked forward to furthering our longstanding unofficial relationship, consistent with the U.S. one China policy, referring to the ambiguous principle observed by numerous countries that there is only to be recognized one sovereign nation of China, the Peoples Republic, which Beijing asserts Taiwan is a part of.

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.  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 13, 2024

The Chinese foreign ministry said in response that the U.S. was sending a gravely wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces.

We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this, and have made serious representations to the U.S. side, the ministry said on Sunday. 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.

Chinas criticism, however, has not deterred the U.S., which sent an unofficial delegation of former federal officials to Taipei this week to convey their congratulations. Though the officials were said to be traveling there in their private capacity, during the visit, former U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley told outgoing Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, also of the DPP, on Monday that the U.S. commitment to the self-governed island was rock solid.

United Kingdom

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron offered warm congratulations to Taiwan in a statement on Saturday after the Taiwanese election results were clear. I hope that the 2 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 added.

"The elections today are testament to Taiwan's vibrant democracy."



Foreign Secretary @David_Cameron offers his congratulations to @ChingteLai following presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan.https://t.co/d5oj4rNHIX  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) January 13, 2024

The Chinese embassy in the U.K. swiftly condemned what it described as a wrong act by Cameron, and an embassy spokesperson urged the U.K. to refrain from any words or actions that interfere in Chinas internal affairs.

Australia

Australias foreign ministry published a statement on Sunday congratulating Lais victory.

The smooth conduct of the elections is a testament to the maturity and strength of Taiwan's democracy, the statement said. 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.

Australia congratulates Dr Lai Ching-te on his victory in the Taiwan elections held on 13 January.



The smooth conduct of the elections is a testament to the maturity and strength of Taiwan's democracy.



Read our full statement: https://t.co/97q1MLS3de  Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  (@dfat) January 14, 2024

In response, China on Wednesday made serious representations to Australia for its congratulations of Lais election victory, Chinas ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said during a press conference at the Chinese embassy in Canberra.

This is a very sensitive issue to our bilateral relationship, Xiao told reporters, adding that China had communicated to Australia its disapproval over the statement on what it described as Chinas local provincial elections.

On the question of Taiwan, there is no room at all for us to show flexibility or to make compromise, Xiao said, adding that he was seeking to speak about the matter further with Australian diplomats in the coming days.

Japan

Japans foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa congratulated Lai on Sunday in a statement that described Taiwan as an extremely crucial partner and an important friend.

We expect that the issue surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue, thereby contributing to the peace and stability in the region, Kamikawa said.

On January 13, Statement by Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko, regarding the Result of the Presidential Election in Taiwan, was issued. #Taiwan #FMStatement



Statementhttps://t.co/FVwbKrG2wy pic.twitter.com/8pttRjha7i  MOFA of Japan (@MofaJapan_en) January 13, 2024

That same day, the Chinese embassy in Japan released a statement calling Kamikawas comments serious interference in China's internal affairs. The embassy said that it had lodged serious representations with the Japanese side and urged Japan to avoid sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces and disrupting stability in both the Taiwan strait and China-Japan relations.

Singapore

Singapore shares a close and longstanding friendship with Taiwan and the Taiwanese people, and will continue to grow this relationship based on our One China policy, Singapores foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday. Despite the message emphasizing the One China policy, Beijing was still not happy.

MFA has issued Spokesperson's Comments on the Elections in Taiwan on 13 January 2024.



Read more: https://t.co/3YSiyybK4x  MFAsg (@MFAsg) January 13, 2024

China made solemn demarchesthe diplomatic version of a reprimandto the Southeast Asian country, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a press conference on Monday.

Singaporean leaders stated on multiple occasions that the Taiwan question is a deep red line for China, Mao said. China values this statement and hopes that Singapore will strictly abide by the one-China principle and uphold the overall friendly relations between China and Singapore with concrete actions.

Philippines

On Monday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. congratulated Lai in a post on X that noted close collaboration and mutual interests between Taiwan and the Philippinesjust one day after its foreign ministry issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to the one-China policy.

On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwan's next President.



We look forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace, and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead.  Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) January 15, 2024

In response to a question about Marcos post, Mao said at a press conference on Tuesday that China strongly deplores and firmly opposes Marcos Jr.s remarks and has immediately lodged strong representations to the Philippine side.

We would like to make it clear to the Philippines that it should refrain from playing with fire on the Taiwan question, said Mao. We suggest President Marcos read more to develop a proper understanding of the ins and outs of the Taiwan question and come to a right conclusion.

China also summoned Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime Florcruz on Tuesday morning to present a responsible response to China, said Mao.

The Philippine foreign ministry clarified in a statement on Tuesday that Marcos message was a reference to the large number of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) based in Taiwan and was the Presidents way of thanking [Taiwan] for hosting our OFWs and holding a successful democratic process.

Nevertheless, the Philippines reaffirms its One China Policy, the ministry said.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
BEIJING (Reuters) -China's position that it will not renounce using force to bring Taiwan under its control is aimed at foreign interference and a tiny number of separatists, but Taiwanese need to be disabused of "biases" against China, the government said on Wednesday.

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which won the presidential election on Saturday, rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims but has repeatedly offered talks that have been rebuffed.

China views president-elect Lai Ching-te as a dangerous separatist.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular news briefing in Beijing that the result of Taiwan's election does not change the fact that the island is Chinese and will eventually be "reunified".

"Our not promising to renounce the use of force is absolutely not targeted at Taiwan compatriots. We are targeting interference from external forces and the tiny number of Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities," Chen said.

Over the past year-and-a-half China has twice staged large-scale war games around Taiwan and regularly sends fighter jets and warships into the Taiwan Strait.

Mainstream public opinion in Taiwan wants peace not war, exchanges not distance, and to "take down" the DPP, he said, reiterating the office's comment on Saturday following Lai's victory with less than 50 pct of the vote and the loss of the DPP's parliamentary majority.

"If the DPP does not repent and goes further and further on the wicked path of seeking 'independence' provocations, it will only push Taiwan into a dangerous situation and bring serious harm to Taiwan," he said.

Chen said Taiwanese are "our flesh and blood", but some have been "poisoned" by ideas of independence and have a "biased understanding" of relations across the strait and national identity.

"We are willing to maintain sufficient patience and tolerance, continue to deepen the understanding of the mainland of the motherland by the majority of Taiwanese compatriots, and gradually reduce their misunderstandings and doubts," he added.

"We hope and believe that our compatriots in Taiwan can firmly stand on the right side of history and be upright Chinese people."

As if to underscore those differences in understanding, Chen told off a Taiwanese reporter for using "Beijing" to refer to China, saying the correct wording was "the mainland".

Opinion polls in Taiwan show an overwhelming number of people these days consider themselves Taiwanese not Chinese, and close to no support for China's "one country, two systems" model of autonomy to get the island to accept Beijing's rule.

However, Chen did not mention Lai, who takes office on May 20, by name, unlike before the election when the Taiwan Affairs Office repeatedly and directly called him a separatist and danger to peace.

China says talks can only happen under the proviso Taiwan recognises both sides of the Taiwan Strait are part of "one China", which the DPP-led government has refused to do.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Neil Fullick and Michael Perry)
An empty flag pole where Nauru's flag used to fly is pictured next to flags of other countries at the Diplomatic Quarter which houses embassies in Taipei

By Ryan Woo

BEIJING (Reuters) -A reporter from Xinhua landed in Nauru on Wednesday, the first from China's official news agency to step foot on the remote Pacific Islands nation after it ditched Taiwan for China, as Chinese state media raced to build up its local presence.

On the tiny island nation, which has a land area of just 21.1 sq km (8.1 sq miles), China's state television CCTV has moved even more quickly, filing its first report from Nauru on the same day when Nauru said it would no longer recognise Taiwan as a country and instead would re-establish ties with China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.

With the Nauru presidential office in the background, a CCTV reporter on Monday said Nauru had severed its "so-called diplomatic relations" with Taiwan and recognised the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

The CCTV reporter was in Nauru even before the island nation switched its ties back to China from Taiwan. Nauru briefly recognised China in the 2000s.

According to state-owned Beijing Daily, the CCTV reporter arrived in Nauru in May 2023 as the Communist Party representative of a Chinese harbour engineering company working on a local project.

The race to plant a Chinese media presence in the island nation of just around 12,000 people precedes even any official announcement on the arrival of Chinese diplomats in Nauru.

Xinhua, in a report filed from the Nauru capital Yaren on Wednesday, said it had hired a correspondent and set up a reporting office in Nauru on the same day when diplomatic ties changed.

Taiwan said the news of Nauru's diplomatic change of heart had come "suddenly" and China specifically chose the timing after the Taiwanese presidential election to target Nauru just as countries were offering congratulations to Taiwan on the smooth voting process on Saturday.

Since the break in ties, Taiwanese media have run stories about Nauru's health problems, particularly the high obesity figures, and its role in housing refugees for Australia.

Taiwan's internet users have also left angry messages on the Nauru government's Facebook page denouncing the decision, prompting the Nauru government to post that "This page invites educated, informed and constructive criticism. It does not condone abuse and profanity".

Nauru's government has since restricted comments on its official Facebook page, and warned that online abuse could attract criminal sanctions, after a wave of derogatory comments were posted in the wake of the announcement.

In Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the resumption of ties would "bring unprecedented development opportunities to Nauru".

(Reporting by Ryan Woo; Additional reporting by Liz Lee, and Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Michael Perry and Tomasz Janowski)
Over 30 school districts around Columbus closed Wednesday as the National Weather Service reported wind chills as cold as -8 degrees. But just how cold do temperatures need to get be for schools to close?

The answer to that question, it turns out, is hard to come by. Many schools dont publicize a hard temperature range for school closures. Much to the chagrin of students looking for an extra day off classes, what might be too cold for one district, might be perfectly fine for another.

Abby Day, 13, of Worthington sled rides at Olentangy Park in Worthington on Tuesday, February 2, 2021.

Upper Arlington City Schools  which chose to remain open Wednesday  is one of a few districts that clearly states how cold it needs to get before they shut down the district. It states on its website that school officials consider closing schools when wind chills drop to a brisk -22 degrees. However, the district left itself some wiggle room.

Keep in mind this is a general guideline and the decision to close or delay school can be impacted by many other factors such as snow, ice and building conditions, the district states on its website.

District officials say they often check road conditions early in the morning by driving around in the ice and snow. They also reach out to the city and police department for guidance and speak with other local school districts.

Westerville City Schools, which also reamined open Wednesday, says on its website that wind chills -15 degrees or below during peak walking-to-school hours are given "special consideration" in closing schools due to the risk of frostbite.

Columbus City Schools does not publish any temperature guidelines. Thats because sources often report different wind chill factors in the same area, the district says on its website. The district also notes that schools can typically remain open when the air temperature is below zero.

When closing schools, Columbus City Schools considers several factors, including:

Weather forecasts

Whether conditions are expected to improve

Road conditions

Impact on the transportation fleet

Whether buildings have electricity, heat and water

Accumulated snow and ice, and the districts ability to clear sidewalks

Temperature and wind chill factor

South-Western City Schools announced Tuesday that schools would be closed Wednesday, citing projected wind chill. The district lists guidelines very similar to those Columbus City School uses, including building conditions, road conditions, snow or ice accumulation and weather predictions.

Like Columbus City Schools, the district does not publish temperature or wind chill guidelines because those can vary by source.

Does Ohio provide guidelines for schools to close when it's cold?

The Ohio Department of Education doesnt list hard and fast rules for closing schools based on cold weather, making the decision a mostly local one.

It does lay out guidelines for how schools should deal with lost teaching hours. School closures are measured in hours, not days, and districts are encouraged to schedule excess hours so that a few snow days dont put them behind minimum hour requirements.

Central Ohio winter-weather outlook for the coming days

Good news for parents with cooped-up kids: the weather should warm somewhat as the week progresses. The bad news is that snow is likely for later this week.

Wednesdays wind chill advisory lifted at 10 a.m. The National Weather Service predicts sunny weather for the rest of the day with a high near 23. Wind gusts could reach 29 mph.

Wednesday night should bring a low of around 20 degrees with wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

A 50% chance of snow is predicted for Thursday, with less than an inch of snow accumulation possible and a high near 28. Overnight temperatures could drop to 23, and an inch or two of snow accumulation is possible.

More snow is likely before 1 p.m. Friday, which is forecasted to be mostly cloudy with a high around 26 degrees. Another inch or two of snow could accumulate, and temperatures could drop to 10 degrees overnight.

Saturday is forecasted to be partly sunny with a high near 18 and a low around 7.

Sunday is expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 23 and a low around 15.

bagallion@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How cold does it need to be for Central Ohio schools to close?
The shooter who killed five people and injured 19 others at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs in 2022 intends to plead guilty to 74 federal counts, including 50 federal hate crimes, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday.

Anderson Lee Aldrich, 23, reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors to plead guilty to 50 hate crime charges and 24 firearm violations, according to court documents filed in a U.S. District Court in Colorado.

The gun charges can carry a maximum penalty of death, which federal prosecutors will not seek under the plea deal, the filings stated. Prosecutors instead agreed to multiple, concurrent life sentences and another 190-year prison sentence.

The agreement was unsealed after Aldrich pleaded not guilty during a court appearance Tuesday afternoon. The deal still needs a judges approval.

Aldrich, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, pleaded guilty last June to state charges of murder and 46 counts of attempted murder, one for each person who was at Club Q during the Nov. 19, 2022, shooting. They pleaded no contest to two counts of bias-motivated crimes, one felony and one misdemeanor, and they were eventually sentenced to life in prison.

Aldrich appeared in court by video Tuesday, The Associated Press (AP) reported. The latest federal charges come after an FBI investigation into the shooting.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Aldrich, who previously lived in Colorado Springs, entered Club Q on Nov. 19, 2022, and began firing with a loaded assault weapon as part of a willful, deliberate, malicious and premeditated attack.

The shooting was stopped by a Navy officer who grabbed the barrel of Aldrichs rifle and an Army veteran who helped subdue and beat Aldrich before police arrived. Five people were killed and 19 were wounded, according to the DOJ.

The AP last year reported Aldrich expressed remorse for their actions and indicated through phone calls in jail that they were prepared to face the consequences.

Aldrich on Tuesday declined to speak at the sentencing hearing in state court and did not reveal why they hung out at the club, then went outside and returned in body armor while firing an AR-15 style rifle, the AP reported.

Prosecutors said Aldrich visited the club at least six times before the night of the shooting and that Aldrichs mother forced them to go, the news wire added. They told the AP they were on a very large plethora of drugs and abusing steroids when the attack occurred.

When asked if the attack was motivated by hate, Aldrich told the AP that was completely off base.

Colorado Springs area District Attorney Michael Allen said Aldrichs claim of being nonbinary is a tactic to avoid hate crime charges and argued there was no evidence of Aldrich identifying as nonbinary prior to the shooting, per the news wire.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Brad Brooks

LONGMONT, Colorado (Reuters) - A Colorado man who killed five people in a 2022 mass shooting at a gay nightclub has agreed to plead guilty to federal hate crime and gun charges, according to court documents unsealed on Tuesday.

Anderson Lee Aldrich, 23, will plead guilty to 74 federal charges, according to court documents unsealed in U.S. District Court in the District of Colorado. That will result in "multiple concurrent life sentences plus additional consecutive sentences totaling 190 years imprisonment," according to the filings.

The documents state that Aldrich chose his targets "because of the actual and perceived sexual orientation and gender identity" of those in the nightclub where he opened fire.

The shooting was reminiscent of a 2016 massacre at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where a gunman killed 49 people before police shot him dead.

The federal government will not seek the death penalty for Aldrich, the documents show.

The federal public defender listed in the court documents as representing Aldrich did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed in a statement that a plea deal had been reached.

Aldrich pleaded guilty to charges in state court last year and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for carrying out the killings at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs.

Aldrich appeared remotely before a federal judge on Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty, but his legal team has filed a document stating that he would plead guilty at a future appearance, once the judge sets a hearing date.

On Nov. 19, 2022, Aldrich, wearing body armor and armed with a rifle and a handgun, opened fire at Club Q. In addition to those killed, nearly two dozen others were wounded by gunfire or otherwise injured before "heroic" patrons stopped the rampage.

Before his sentencing, Aldrich told the state court that they identify as nonbinary. He declined to speak during the hearing, but their defense lawyer, Joseph Archambault, said Aldrich wanted the court to know that "they are deeply remorseful."

Aldrich had been known to law enforcement, having been arrested in June 2021 after his mother reported he had threatened to detonate a bomb and harm her with multiple weapons, according to a press release from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. But she declined to testify for the prosecution, and the case was dismissed.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado; Editing by Frank McGurty and Jonathan Oatis)
The shooter who killed five and injured 19 others during a 2022 attack on a Colorado Springs LGBT+ club was charged Tuesday with 50 counts of federal hate crimes.

Anderson Lee Aldrich, 23, waived the right to indictment and instead was charged today by an information with hate crimes and firearms charges related to the mass shooting at Club Q on 19 November 2022, according to the US Department of Justice.

Aldrich pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to 50 hate crime charges and 24 firearms violations. A bill of information charges that Aldrich murdered five people, injured 19 and attempted to murder 28 more in a willful, deliberate, malicious and premeditated attack at Club Q, according to prosecutors.

Aldrich is already serving life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty in June to five counts of murder and 46 counts of attempted murder in connection with the Club Q massacre. Powerful victim impact statements before a Colorado Springs court described how Aldrich opened fire at the club before being overpowered by patrons.

Killed in the attack were Daniel Aston, 28, and Derrick Rump, 38, Kelly Loving, 40; Ashley Paugh, 35; and Raymond Green Vance, 22.

Tuesdays charges followed an FBI investigation which alleges that Aldrich committed this attack because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of any person, according to the release.

Court filings unsealed Tuesday also indicate that a plea agreement has been reached in which Aldrich is expected to plead guilty and be sentenced on the same future court date. Federal prosecutors will not be seeking the death penalty, according to the documents.

In consultation with the victims of this incident, the parties jointly filed a motion requesting that the court schedule the change of plea and sentencing hearings on the same date, which the court granted, Justice Department prosecutors announced. The parties further informed the court that there is a plea agreement in this matter, and it is anticipated that the defendant has agreed to plead guilty to all charges in the information.

A hearing for that plea agreement has not been scheduled.

Aldrich also pleaded guilty to state bias-based crime charges last year  and the threat of the death penalty in the federal system had been a big part of what motivated the shooter to plead guilty to those, District Attorney Michael Allen said at the time, AP reported.
The Confidential Gentlemen's Club has had four homicides there in recent years, including the stabbing of Clyde Woods Jr.

Warren Tucker is heading to prison for a manslaughter conviction for a second time  this time for a stabbing prosecuting attorneys allege was over a broken necklace.

Tucker, 35, of Columbus' East Side, pleaded guilty on Friday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to voluntary manslaughter with a repeat violent offender specification as part of a plea agreement to avoid a murder trial scheduled for this week. Tucker admitted he fatally stabbed 34-year-old Clyde Woods Jr. during a 2021 fight at a Far East Side strip club.

Judge Sheryl Munson immediately sentenced Tucker to 19 years to 24 years in prison, as recommended by prosecutors and Tucker's attorney in a plea agreement.

Tucker previously went to prison for a decade after pleading guilty in 2010 to voluntary manslaughter in the 2009 fatal shooting of Kendall W. Freeman.

Woods was co-owner of the Double Take Bar & Grill in the Brewery District and an incident the night before at that bar precipitated the stabbing, said Assistant Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Jason Manning, who was for 14 years director of the office's gang unit, since renamed the major crimes unit.

A bouncer at the bar broke a chain necklace on Tucker's neck, and Tucker wanted the Double Take's owners to pay for it, according to Manning.

Tucker's defense attorney, Joseph R. Landusky II, told The Dispatch that a bouncer severely beat Tucker, but Woods had nothing to do with that.

Sometime between 2:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. on June 12, 2021, Tucker confronted Woods inside the Confidential Gentlemen's Club on Lake Club Drive on the Far East Side, according to Manning.

A fight broke out between multiple individuals, and during the melee Tucker stabbed Woods four times, Manning said.

If the case had gone to trial, Landusky said he intended to argue Tucker acted in self-defense, a defense that The Dispatch has reported has become increasingly popular in murder trials in Columbus.

Woods was transported by medics to a hospital in critical condition, where he later died around 6 a.m.

Manning said Woods' family supported the plea agreement.

The stabbing was one of four homicides at the Confidential Gentlemen's Club in recent years.

Other recent court stories:

Columbus man who represented himself at murder trial convicted in 35 minutes

Columbus HS teacher sentenced for taking upskirt videos of students, in stores

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus man pleads to second manslaughter, this one at a strip club
What makes a city beautiful, livable, walkable, and simply a desirable place to call home? And on the other side, what mistakes can destroy a citys appeal to residents, visitors, and investors?

For the last six years, Cal Poly Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning Dave Amos has been exploring answers to these questions through his hugely popular YouTube channel, City Beautiful.

The channel embraces a mantra: that cities are amazing, and then seeks to understand what makes some cities succeed while others stumble. Amos inquisitive, fast-paced, and approachable style has earned his channel more than 651,000 subscribers, with his videos about cities and city planning regularly attracting millions of views.

Nov 8, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The setting sun illuminates the downtown Columbus skyline during the last few minutes of daylight shortly after 5pm. The end of Daylight Saving Time has brought sunsets an hour earlier this week.

Amos has explored what happened when cities banned cars, why high-rise public housing projects were once thought to be part of the answer to Americas chronic housing projects, and even what urban planning looking like in the former Soviet Union.

CMC and City Beautiful creator, producer, and narrator Dave Amos and Manuel Santana Palacios, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning, The Knowlton School of Architecture, The Ohio State University, explore the factors that shape the cities we call home, with host, Belkis Schoenhals, Principal Planner, The City of Columbus.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Metro Club: Creating the City Beautiful
As the bitter cold wind whipped through Southwest Georgia this week, Vivian Nelson stayed warm thanks to a new central heat system. And, it was free; fully funded by the Georgia Weatherization Assistance Program.

The program is specifically designed to help low-income people make their homes more efficient and more comfortable by sealing air gaps, adding insulation, or in some cases, replacing broken systems.

The program is designed to keep utility costs down while keeping in mind the health and safety of the home, Jay Stewart, Weather Energy Auditor for the state agency Community Action for Improvement, Inc. (CAFI) said. Ive seen reductions in electric bills cut in half.

Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning Columbus was under a wind advisory with chills that made it feel in the single-digits. The temperature dipped to 17 degrees. The record low was nine degrees in 1977.

Stewart said about 50-60% of the clients end up getting new heating and cooling systems.

To qualify for the free service the household needs to be below 200% of the gross poverty index. Stewart said he hasnt received what the guidelines are for 2024 as far as income, but in 2023 it was $29,160 per year of gross income per person.

For a family of four with two working parents each earning under $30,000 the max income would be right around $60,000, Steward said, and they would qualify.

Nelsons 36-year-old heating and air conditioning system broke in December 2022. Nelson was planning on applying for a loan to buy a new HVAC system until she heard about this government program from a friend.

My friend has a cousin in South Carolina who said the government did this type of work for her, Nelson said. Maybe they have one in Georgia, she thought, Sure enough, they did.

Vivian Nelson,70, stands in front of her house in Columbus, Georgia. Nelsons broken A/C and heater were fixed for free through the weatherization program in early January. 1/16/2024. Kala Hunter/khunter@ledger-enquirer.com

Nelson is legally blind, widowed, and has difficulty getting around with her rheumatoid arthritis. A friend helped her fill out the application. As a 70-year-old disabled person, she was prioritized. However, she still was part of a queue and waited more than a year.

They call us and well send an application, Stewart said. As soon as the info is put in we mail out an approval or denial letter within a few weeks. The computer generates a priority number, we have no control.

CAFI averages about four to six homes in the six counties it serves per month. Stewart is the only auditor though. Between 2010 and 2021, Georgia weatherized an average of 467 homes per year with formula funds, according to the DOEs website.

Nelson moved in with her daughter temporarily while she waited for her turn to receive an audit and then construction. She lived in her daughters house for respite during the summer heat and these last few weeks of bitter cold.

The construction crew came by last Monday, January 8th, according to Nelson. They installed the new heater, a new hood over her stove. She moved back into her house shortly after.

I have it set to 70 degrees and havent turned it off, Nelson said with a smile. Im so thankful. Im so thankful the government had that program. God is good.

Weatherization Federal Funding

On Tuesday, the construction team paused the final weatherization item: blowing insulation in her attic. They will come back on Thursday after the winter stormfor their safety.

Stewart has been at CAFI for 19 years. Hes witnessed a lot of changes in the program. The program itself has been around since 1979 and CAFI is one of 14 state agencies that manage clients in certain counties.

The program got a huge pay bump in 2022 from the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law (BPL).

The BPL is quite an eye-opener, Stewart said.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The funding traditionally comes from the Department of Health and Human Services and The Department of Energy. Right now the state is diving up $4.3 million from the DOE and $7.4 million. from the HHS. A whopping $84 million from the BPI was added to the equation.

Of that 84 million, CAFI will get $4.7 million through 2026, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GIFA) spokesperson said. GIFA draws down the funds then distributes them to community action networks to implement the weatherization assistance program.

The winter storm and climate change

The freezing weather Columbus (and much of the U.S.) is experiencing comes on the heels of the warmest December in U.S. history.

Scientists are still trying to understand whether polar vortexes can be attributed to climate change.

Its an active area of research for the destabilization of the polar vortex as the arctic warms up,

Bob Henson, meteorologist and journalist with Yale Program on Climate Change Communications said. The theory that weve heard for the last decade is that the temperature contrast weakens between the poles and the tropics, making the polar vortex behave more weirdly. But, its still a concept.

The polar vortex has controversy and is still up for debate. However, Henson suggests that winter weather can happen in a warming world.

Its also an El Nino year, which brings cooler, cloudier, and wetter averages across the U.S. Henson said this weather is a mix of normal weather variation and El Nino.

This feels more dramatic because its been so off the charts, but this isnt necessarily a standout event, he said.

More data and time will help scientists understand whether these events are connected to climate change.

Nelson said patience has been a huge lesson for her. She felt especially connected to this quote from the bible,

Ephesians 3:20 He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think,

Find your Weatherization Agency here.

Vivian Nelson,70, stands in front of her house in Columbus, Georgia. Nelsons broken A/C and heater were fixed for free through the weatherization program in early January. 1/16/2024. Kala Hunter/khunter@ledger-enquirer.com
Civilians living near the border with Russia in northern Ukraine should heed the advice of local authorities to evacuate amid daily enemy attacks, Commander the Ukrainian Armed Forces Serhiy Nayev wrote on Facebook page on Jan. 17.

The border is a line of contact not only in the east and south, but also in the north, where "civilians have no place" because of the ongoing fighting, especially in Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts.

Read also: New evacuation route opens in Sumy Oblast for Ukrainians fleeing occupied territories

"Every civilian should listen to the advice of the military administrations, which are carrying out daily evacuations, Nayev said.

Every civilian should clearly understand that it is dangerous to stay near the border with Russia.

Read also: Ukraine evacuates nearly 200 children from Kharkiv Oblast amid ongoing Russian shelling

Nayev added that the evacuation was necessary to allow the Ukrainian military the ability to fully engage the invaders without endangering civilians.

43 civilians were evacuated from the Pokrovsk and Bakhmut districts, the State Emergency Service reported on Jan. 15, while more than 1,000 people remain in the frontline city of Avdiivka.

At the same time, city authorities in Kharkiv Oblast are expanding evacuation orders to new communities in the Kupyansk district. Due to ongoing Russian attacks there, local authorities in Kharkiv Oblast have ordered a mandatory evacuation, with 190 children already removed to safety, Governor Oleh Synehubov reported on Nov. 7.

90 children were evacuated from 23 frontline settlements in Kherson Oblast, the press service of the National Police in the region reported on Facebook on Oct. 27.

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
Former President Donald Trumps legal team in a series of new filings on Tuesday signaled that they plan to argue that the intelligence community and the investigation into classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago was politically motivated and biased.

The lawyers in a filing to Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon accused special counsel Jack Smith of withholding records from Trump and flouting basic discovery obligations, according to The Messenger.

Trump attorneys Chris Kise and Todd Blanche alleged that Smiths team is "seeking to avert its eyes from exculpatory, discoverable evidence in the hands of the senior officials at the White House, DOJ, and FBI who provided guidance and assistance as this lawless mission proceeded, and the agencies that supported the flawed investigation from its inception such as NARA, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence ('ODNI'), and other politically-charged components of the Intelligence Community."

The filing requested reams of additional materials from Smiths team, arguing that the prosecution team is larger than the FBI and DOJ.

"The prosecution team includes the Intelligence Community agencies and components that participated in the investigation, such as during classification reviews and damage assessments," Trump's lawyers wrote. "This includes the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the agencies identified in...the Indictment as 'equity' holders of some of the documents at issue: the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Department, the National Security Agency, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, the Department of Energy, and the Statement [sic] Department."

Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance told MSNBC that the filing furthers the fantastical narrative that Trump is the victim of a politicized federal branch.

Vance said that while it may be warranted for Smiths team to go back and talk to all of the FBI and DOJ personnel involved in the case, the other parts are just completely out of bounds.

"They want the special counsel to go and work with the entire intelligence community to turn over everything in the intelligence community's possession that touches on anything to do with this," said Vance. "So I think the safe thing to say is that we should wait for Jack Smith's response, which will undoubtedly be pretty harsh, given what the defense is requesting here."

Vance added that the filing also gives Judge Cannon, who has repeatedly delayed proceedings in the case, the opportunity to delay things even further.

This could be where that May trial date goes off the rails, she said.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

National security attorney Bradley Moss called the filing a political talking point and narrative dressed up with legal arguments.

They dont expect to find this evidence of collusion if they were to get some of this extra discovery they want to drag the process out, he said. Thats their point with this, to try to see if Judge Cannon will agree with them to expand the scope and produce information that would take longer to get through. Thats their goal with this. I dont believe they expect to find a lot of interesting information, they just want this to take longer.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Congress is racing to pass a short-term bill to keep the government open into March ahead of Fridays current deadline.

Lawmakers believe this will give them more time to negotiate a longer spending bill.

The Senate took the first steps Tuesday night to prevent a partial federal government shutdown on Friday.

Its a clear signal that the majorities in both parties in the senate want to pass this funding extension as quickly as we can, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)

The stop-gap spending bill would keep the government operating until March and give congressional negotiators time to try to hammer out a longer-term deal.

If both sides continue working in good faith, we can avoid a shutdown without last-minute drama, Schumer added.

House Speaker Mike Johnson continues to defend his agreement with Democrats to avoid a shutdown.

Conservatives in his own party say it doesnt go far enough to reduce spending, but Johnson says its a good first step.

I regard this as a downpayment on real reform that were going to do on the budgeting process, said Johnson.

Oklahoma Republican Congressman Tom Cole says he believes there are enough votes to pass the bill.

Its very unlikely well shut down the government, said Cole.

Republicans are demanding action to secure the southern border in exchange for their votes on a longer-term federal spending bill, as well as military aid for Ukraine and Israel.

With a narrow majority in the House, republicans will need support from House democrats to pass the bill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
The advert asks: Are you a terrorist in need of advice? Better call Keir

The Conservatives have released a Better Call Saul-themed attack advert directed at Sir Keir Starmer which asks: Are you a terrorist in need of advice? Better call Keir.

Sir Keir came under fire on Wednesday for once acting on behalf of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamist extremist group that was proscribed by the Government this week.

Last month, The Telegraph revealed that the Labour leader submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights in 2008 seeking to overturn a ban on the groups activities in Berlin, claiming it breached its rights to freedom of religion and expression.

In a foretaste of what will be a major Tory line of attack at this years general election, Rishi Sunak used his weekly question time in the Commons to attack Sir Keir after James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, declared Hizb ut-Tahrir as terrorists on Monday.

This week he backed the Home Secretary in banning the terrorist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, despite him personally using the European Court of Human Rights to try and stop them being banned, Mr Sunak said.

Rishi Sunak used his weekly question time in the Commons to attack Sir Keir - PA

And dont take my word for it. The extremists own press release said, and I quote, the Hizb ut-Tahrir legal team, led by Keir Starmer.

Now I know he doesnt like talking about them because theyve been [proscribed], but when I see a group chanting jihad on our streets I ban them  he invoices them.

Mr Sunak was quoting an announcement posted to the Hizb ut-Tahrir website on June 25, 2008, a year before Tory MPs began urging the then-Labour government to ban the group.

Immediately after Prime Ministers Questions, the Tory Party shared a poster on Twitter, which parodied the title card of Better Call Saul, the hit American drama whose central character is a morally dubious defence lawyer.

Sir Keir did not represent Hizb ut-Tahrir at any hearings because he was announced as director of public prosecutions a month after lodging the application, which was later rejected by the ECHR in 2012.

A Labour Party spokesman told reporters Sir Keir had been asked to give advice to Hizb ut-Tahri in a legal dispute between the group and the German government.

The nature of being a lawyer is that you represent and give advice to a whole range of clients including people that you dont agree with, the spokesman added.

Immediately after Prime Ministers Questions, the Tory Party shared a poster on Twitter (pictured), which parodied the title card of Better Call Saul

But the Prime Ministers press secretary insisted Sir Keir had opted to go and represent these people.

If Keir Starmer wasnt Leader of the Opposition, hed be representing a lot of these people still today, she said.

Keir Starmers not shy in raising his own record as Director of Public Prosecutions, but it seems when anyone else points to any bits of his record that are less favourable, he says it wasnt me or it wasnt my fault.

The Prime Ministers decision to emphasise Sir Keirs legal past foreshadows what is likely to be a highly personal general election campaign, with Conservative Campaign Headquarters set to highlight a number of clients represented by the now-opposition leader.

Mr Cleverlys decision to proscribe Hizb ut-Tahrir came after prominent members of the group described the massacre of around 1,200 Israelis by Hamas terrorists on Oct 7 as good news, while a pro-Palestinian march hosted by the group featured calls for jihad.

In his announcement on Monday, he labelled Hizb ut-Tahrir an anti-Semitic organisation that actively promotes and encourages terrorism as he confirmed their ban on British soil.

It joined a list of more than 50 banned organisations that also includes al-Qaeda, Islamic State, Hamas and the Russian Wagner mercenaries.

Lord Cameron and Sir Tony Blair had both sought to ban the group during their premierships but opted not to do so after campaigners insisted it was a non-violent group.

Labour has previously noted that Sir Keir went on to prosecute terrorists with links to Hizb ut-Tahrir and led the first ever prosecution of al-Qaeda during his time as director of public prosecutions.

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Sarasota County School Board members Karen Rose, left, and Bridget Ziegler listen to public comments Tuesday evening, Dec. 12, 2023, after the board members approved a resolution calling on Ziegler to resign.

The Sarasota County School Board convened Tuesday for the first time since members voted to ask their colleague Bridget Ziegler to resign from her position amid a continuing investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving her husband, Christian.

The meeting agenda contained 53 items ranging from revised district policies to joining a national lawsuit against social media companies. However, no item compared to the spectacle of the meeting's public comment time, which saw nearly 70 people speak for almost three hours, most asking for Ziegler's resignation. Tuesday marked the second consecutive School Board meeting dominated by the Ziegler scandal, as the former Mom's for Liberty co-founder and incumbent District 1 board member stands firm amid the boisterous calls for her resignation.

Ziegler's husband, former Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler, was accused of sexual battery by a woman with whom the Zieglers previously had a consensual threesome. Christian Ziegler was removed from his position as the head of the Republican Party of Florida in a one-sided vote on Jan. 8.

Public commenters at Tuesday's meeting and in December cited perceived hypocrisy in Bridget Ziegler telling law enforcement that she had a sexual relationship with a woman, given her support for legislation such as the Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" law by critics. Ziegler has also posted anti-transgender social media posts.

Ziegler has not responded to several requests for comment from the Herald-Tribune regarding the investigation or the calls for her resignation.

Bridget Ziegler speaks

Following public comment, which ended at almost 10 p.m., Ziegler addressed the public. She steered clear of discussing the sexual assault investigation into her husband and her involvement in a three-way sexual relationship, instead discussing student achievement and how the board worked together at that morning's workshop.

"I have come in every single day with the focus to work together as a board, to focus our mission with what our mission is, where we can agree and focus on academics," Ziegler said.

She then turned to Superintendent Terry Connor. She asked him if the district had banned any books, to which Connor answered "no." She then asked Connor if the district teaches slavery and civil rights in social studies classes, to which he answered "yes".

As of Jan. 16, Sarasota Schools had not removed any books challenged by the public. One book, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You" by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, reached the board for a removal vote but ultimately stayed in Sarasota district libraries.

Bridget and Christian Ziegler attend the first Moms for Liberty National Summit, in Tampa in July 2022. Bridget co-founded the parents' rights group in 2021, but Moms for Liberty has distanced itself from her since the sex scandal

Public comment lasts hours

Commenters continued to barrage Ziegler with passionate remarks calling her a "distraction" and a "hypocrite" as she continues to remain on the board. Unless Ziegler  who was re-elected in 2022  voluntarily steps down, she would serve on the board until 2026.

"Your presence on the dais is simply a distraction. It is evidence of your lack of compassion for our students, our teachers, our schools, our community and your very own coworkers" said Jennifer Bowles, a parent of three students in the district.

Some who spoke emphasized that they would continue to organize long public comment sections as long as Ziegler continued to sit on the board.

Paulina Testerman, an activist from the group Support Our Schools who helped organize a December rally calling for Ziegler to step down, said Ziegler lacked "self-reflection." She accused the board members of trying to placate the public by passing a non-binding resolution asking Ziegler to resign, but not approving a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis asking him to remove her.

The board cannot vote to remove one of its own members and unless Ziegler chooses to resign, the only person who can remove her from her seat on the board is DeSantis.

"While it may feel futile, it proves to our community that you actually want this distraction removed, and then I can finally stop making jokes and Mrs Ziegler's expense," Testerman said. "We are watching. Stop placating us. We're not done."

Jason Champion, the president of Project Pride SRQ, said Ziegler's actions on and off the board could harm the Sarasota area and its economy in the future.

He said young families could move out of Sarasota, causing the district to lose its "A" rating which could cause fewer people to want to move to the district  in turn, tanking property values.

"Calling out hypocrisy in politics often falls on deaf ears. But girl, your actions speak louder than words," Champion said. "You tarnish the reputation of Sarasota, all in the pursuit for you and now your unemployed husband's political gain. So it's time to address the consequences of those decisions."

Sarasota School Board member Bridget Ziegler listens to public comment calling on her to resign at a meeting Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

Elizabeth Bornstein said the School Board had lost the trust of the community and for it to be restored, Ziegler must step down. She said if Ziegler cared about the school district and community, she would resign.

"We can't forget your role in the distracting the district and matters of the board," she said. "I really didn't want to come tonight. I've grown weary of all of this chaos."

Two hours into public comment, Ziegler's stoicism broke as she appeared to tear up during a comment made by Louise Machinist. Machinist, who also asked Ziegler to step down, expressed empathy for Ziegler in having to endure hours of public comment all targeted at her.

A coalition of students also signed up to speak and call on Ziegler to step down. Hannah Silva, a senior at Sarasota Polytechnical High School, addressed Ziegler with an anecdote about how policies championed by her have affected students such as her friend, who is transgender.

"The image of Sarasota County school system has been shattered In the eyes of students and the rest of the world thanks to the work you've put in to derail education and make our schools your political playground," Silva said. "Enough is enough, Bridget. Your time here is done."

Few speakers, mostly near the end of public comment, spoke in support of Ziegler.

Larry Wilson, a speaker who said he was from Venice, urged Ziegler to hold strong in the face of the growing calls to resign. He said she's been the target of attacks from leftists and the media.

"They have targeted our most conservative board member hoping to drive her out," he said. "I hope she does not give in. We need her. She is the only one who has put children first; that's why they want to get rid of her."

Wilson also called living an LGBTQ+ lifestyle an "abomination" and "perverted".

Board business

Despite the three-hour-long onslaught of public comments before board business, the board did approve several notable agenda items.

The board approved a resolution to join a national lawsuit against the parent companies of prominent social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Youtube.

Sebastian Girstl, a junior at Riverview High School and regular meeting attendee, urged the board members to vote in favor of joining the lawsuit.

"We've seen it destroy both social and academic careers of our youth nationwide. Sarasota is no exception," Girstl said. "Whether it's the increase in depression, anxiety, suicide, or the decrease in sleep, academic success and attendance, social media has become a real and active threat to the development of youth everywhere."

Ziegler urged the board to discuss further restricting cell phone usage in schools at a future board workshop. She said if the board was serious about combatting damage to students from social media, it would discuss potentially prohibiting phones from bell to bell.

The board also approved the advertisement of 10 updated school district policies. The policies ranged from "Internet Safety" to "Distribution of Literature and Materials to Students."

The latter policy, numbered 9.50 by the district, states that "literature or materials which originate from out-of-school sources shall be approved by the Superintendent or designee" before being used in schools. It also explicitly states that the content must be free of pornography and content depicting sexual conduct.

During public comment, Rev. Jay Wolin from the Universalist Unitarian Church in Sarasota spoke against the policy.

"(The policy) will leave our students uneducated," he said. "Sex is an important and a very natural item that qualified teachers should be allowed to teach, to educate our children."

Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at sbwalker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota School Board hears more calls on Bridget Ziegler to resign
In the more than a decade since Alabama regulators allowed a landfill to take in tons of waste from coal-burning power plants around the US, neighbors in the majority-Black community of Uniontown frequently complain of thick air so pungent it makes their eyes burn.

On some days, it can look like an eerily white Christmas in a place that rarely sees snow.

When the wind blows, all the trees in the area are totally gray and white, said Ben Eaton, a Uniontown commissioner and president of Black Belt Citizens Fighting for Health and Justice, a local group that is pushing to shutter the facility.

Residents of the former plantation town complain of high rates of kidney failure and neuropathy  two symptoms of exposure to coal ash, whose toxic byproduct contains mercury and arsenic. The controversy has been covered for years in local and national news outlets, including a civil rights case Eatons group filed  and lost  to close the landfill.

Just last year, coal ash in the state drew national attention when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tentatively denied a state clean-up proposal that it found to be too weak for waste coming in part from its largest electricity provider  Alabama Power.

But neither the news from Uniontown, nor the EPA rejection, ever appeared in the Birmingham Times  a historic African American newspaper  or on the online-only Alabama News Center, an investigation by Floodlight found. A search for coal ash in the Birmingham Times yields just one reprinted story from HuffPost, and its a reference to coal ash in another state.

Both news outlets have financial ties to the main subject of those stories, Alabama Power.

For decades, Alabama Power has sowed influence across the state, according to interviews with more than two dozen former and current reporters, civil rights activists, utility employees and environmentalists.

Whats happening in Alabama is an example of how special interests have taken advantage of the diminishing reach and influence of shrinking mainstream newsrooms in the US. In their place have sprung up fake pink slime news sites operated by political interests; a utility that secretly created news outlets to attack its critics; and a Florida publisher who accepts payments for positive coverage.

This investigation into power companies infiltrating local media follows Floodlights revelation earlier this month about how utilities wield influence among civil rights groups.

In the last decade, nearly a dozen local reporters and editors were hired to staff the two Alabama news outlets. A Floodlight review of the content since the utility founded the Alabama News Center in 2015 shows it publishes overwhelmingly positive stories about the power company.

Coverage of the utility by the Birmingham Times, which was funded with money from Alabama Powers charitable arm the Alabama Power Foundation, consists of reprinted stories from the News Center and the utilitys own press releases.

The Birmingham Times executive editor, Barnett Wright, said the outlets coverage is limited due to its small staff and having to make hard editorial decisions on what to cover. The Alabama Power Foundation had or has zero influence in the newsroom, Wright said in an email. As the executive editor, I have never had any conversation with the Alabama Power Foundation about any article the Birmingham Times chooses to run or not run.

Alabama Power and its foundation did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Here is another example of news that readers of the Birmingham Times and the Alabama News Center do not see: when Alabama Power was granted three consecutive electric rate increases in 2022  raising the average annual cost of electricity by $274 in 2023  neither publication wrote about the rise, according to a search of their websites.

Residents of this seventh poorest state have the most expensive monthly electric bills in the US. This past summer  after the increases  Alabama Power customers railed against bills topping $700 a month for some households.

Clearly those communities that are suffering this way dont have pleasant things to say about those [Alabama Power] folks who are causing the problems in the first place, said the Rev Michael Malcom, executive director of Alabama Interfaith Power and Light, a faith-based organization that focuses on climate change. So how best do you silence these people? You control the narrative in the first place.

Wright countered that he does not have the staff to give those rate increase stories the comprehensive cover  they deserve.

But, he added, thats a fair question. Our readers turn on lights, flush toilets, take showers and warm their homes, and its a story that should be covered and will be going forward  even if I have to write them myself.

A good news site

The Alabama News Center was launched to promote the good news of this state. Its stories run in outlets around Alabama and are picked up by national aggregators including Google and Apple News.

Its ostensibly news  with an electric industry tinge. Recent top stories include a write up of University of Alabama students competing in an electric vehicle battery challenge and a feature on a career day for future lineworkers.

The News Centers operation is entirely paid for by electricity customers, Alabama Powers assistant treasurer, Brian George, said at a December public hearing.

Its helping establish us as a source of news Ike Pigott, Alabama Power communications strategist

The electric companys power over the news in the state is a significant silencer, according to 15 reporters interviewed by Floodlight. They cite Alabama Powers digital and broadcast advertising purchasing power and its aggressive stance toward reporters and outlets that publish critical stories.

Floodlight previously revealed the companys secret hiring of an Alabama-based consulting firm to pay for positive news coverage in three other Alabama news outlets. Coupled with its foray into newsroom financing, Alabama Power now exerts a heavy influence on what news is covered or ignored in Alabama.

The effect is compounded by hundreds of layoffs of news reporters in Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville and Mobile in the past decade.

If you just search Alabama Power and Google News, youre not going to find a lot thats very investigative or goes beyond the surface level of just covering press releases. There are a lot of factors that go into that, that arent just Alabama Power manipulating the media, said Lee Hedgepeth, an Alabama-based reporter at Inside Climate News.

Alabamas powerful power company

Alabama Power is a huge economic driver. Its parent company, Southern Co, employs about 27,700 employees, with more than 6,000 working for Alabama Power.

Its a significant player in the states mostly Republican politics. Using heavy lobbying and campaign contributions to utility regulators and politicians, Alabama Power has created strong allegiances that allow it to secure rate hike approvals without public hearings. The company also operates the nations dirtiest power plant.

And it places steep fees on homeowners, which stymie the competing rooftop solar industry. The result is that sunny Alabama trails far behind Alaska  which sees only a few hours of daylight in deep winter  when it comes to clean solar energy.

Alabama politicians have in large part allowed the utility to flourish. Shareholders of the publicly traded utility receive some of the highest returns on equity in the country. In fact, in 2022 Alabama Power reported more profit than allowed, and this past August had to refund $62m to its customers.

Even before Alabama Power created its own news entities, four reporters in the state said the utility was aggressive in squashing negative news coverage, including frequently challenging reporting by demanding to meet with top newsroom leaders or threatening lawsuits.

In 2001, Birminghams Fox6 station killed a story about an elderly woman who died after life-sustaining equipment was turned off in her home when Alabama Power halted her electric service over failure to pay. Three former newsroom staffers who asked not to be named said a station executive  who later went to work for Alabama Power  spiked the story.

The utility later settled with the family for $15m. The former station executive did not respond to a request for comment.

Two Alabama Political Reporter journalists recounted separate instances of a critical story they wrote about Alabama Power being killed without explanation by their outlet in 2013 and 2021. Each suspected the articles were held to appease Alabama Power. At least as far back as April 2013, the Alabama Political Reporter was being paid $8,000 a month by Matrix, the consulting firm employed by Alabama Power, leaked records show. The sites publisher didnt remember the stories and denied they were killed because of the utility.

Utility foundation buys Black newspaper

Founded in 1964 as a paper written by and for the Black community, the Birmingham Times emerged as the state became a leader in the civil rights movement, including the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march that culminated in brutal police attacks on protesters.

In 2016, the Birmingham Times was sold to the Foundation for Progress in Journalism, a non-profit established with $35,000 of Alabama Power Foundation money, tax records show. Alabama Powers charity gave the Foundation for Progress in Journalism $185,000 between 2014 and 2016. The chair of the board for the journalism foundation also was a vice-president at Alabama Power.

Birmingham Times publisher Samuel Martin says the papers founder at 91 years old had no clear successor and approached the foundation to purchase it. It was his hope that the Foundation would offer a way to preserve his legacy, with the Times being the only remaining Black newspaper in Birmingham. The foundation agreed, Martin said in an emailed response.

By controlling the media, they [Alabama Power] are able to present as good neighbors to the public The Rev Michael Malcom

On the surface, the Times appears to be a typical independent newspaper. It largely publishes profiles and stories about the states Black community, sometimes touching on hard topics like gun violence and poverty. A recent issue of the newspaper had a lead story about the citys Black homeless population. The back of the paper featured a full-page Alabama Power ad. The paper does not disclose its relationship to Alabama Power on its website or in the weekly print edition.

Martin said there is no reason to reference Alabama Power on its website or in its paper and stories because they have no ownership.

Influencing the Black community has been part of Alabama Powers playbook for years, Floodlight has learned. In 2018, the utility paid the owner of the consulting firm Matrix LLC $124,000 a month  or nearly $1.5m a year  to maintain ties to Black communities, according to a leaked copy of the contract. One provision called for the Matrix owner to continue strategic consulting and issue research that promotes [the] Companys commitment to helping develop the Black Belt region.

It is also a region, in central Alabama, that suffers from environmental and health impacts linked to coal. Some residents there tape up windows to keep black soot out of their homes.

By controlling the media, they [Alabama Power] are able to present as good neighbors to the public while drowning out those private conversations that talk about the [environmental] burdens that these communities have to bear, Malcom said.

Warding off a rate hearing

Alabama Power made its move into newsrooms on the heels of one of the biggest threats to its business model.

Back in 2013, a Republican member of the Alabama Public Service Commission wanted to know why customers bills were so exorbitant. Terry Dunn wanted Alabama Power and two other utilities to open their books and answer questions about how rates were determined.

It would be the first time in 30 years that Alabama Power was forced to answer to regulators in a formal public hearing.

Dunns more-tenured fellow commissioners pushed back. The Public Service Commission president, Twinkle Cavanaugh, who the year before reportedly received nearly $89,000 in campaign donations from coal interests, rejected Dunns call for a hearing as half-baked.

Around that same time, a non-profit, Alabama Citizens for Media Accountability, launched a website that attacked local reporters who covered Dunns arguments and his tight re-election race.

The group said it was devoted to exposing liberal bias in the Alabama media. Articles posted on its website often targeted reporters from AL.com, an online conglomerate of Alabamas three largest newspapers.

They went after me a lot, said John Archibald, a two-time Pulitzer prize-winning editorial writer for AL.com who frequently wrote about Alabama Power.

Public tax filings show that Alabama Citizens for Media Accountability was given $100,000 in 2014 from a non-profit directed by Alabama Power consultant Mike Fields. The funding made up nearly its entire annual budget.

Dunn ultimately lost his re-election bid. Six months later, Alabama Citizens for Media Accountability stopped posting, and its executive director, Elizabeth BeShears, left to join Yellowhammer News, which has financial ties to the Matrix consulting firm, as Floodlight and NPR reported in 2022.

BeShears, spokeswoman for a national school choice group, did not respond to requests for comment.

Alabama Powers brand journalism

In early 2015, less than a year after Dunns defeat, Alabama Power launched the Alabama News Center. Its motive: to bypass news organizations altogether.

Through the News Center, the utility would no longer have to rely on other reporters and news outlets to get their message out, explained Ike Pigott, Alabama Power communications strategist and former broadcast reporter, in a 2016 podcast about the News Center.

Its helping establish us as a source of news, Pigott said. And when you look at the kind of stories that we do, and the degree of professionalism we take with it, it is news. Its just not coming from what you would traditionally consider a news-only provider.

Pigott said in creating its brand journalism, Alabama Power looked to fossil fuel giant Chevron for inspiration. Chevron in 2014 was caught secretly running a community news site in Richmond, California, that published positive stories  many written by a public relations firm  about oil and gas drilling in the state.

We were looking at the Richmond Standard, we saw it for what it was, Pigott told the interviewer. And we saw it as an opportunity to say, Hey, we can get out and we can tell some of our stories too. Pigott did not respond to requests for comment.

Alabama News Center divulges that its a product of Alabama Power on its homepage. But it does not do so on its stories that are picked up by legitimate news sites. The News Center operates as a state news wire and also reaches national readers through Apple and Google News, which both treat the site as a regular news outlet.

Related: Power companies paid civil rights leaders in the US south. They became loyal industry advocates

Regardless of ownership, traditional media outlets are bound to ethics standards that maintain a distance between the business operations and working journalists.

The easy question to answer is, Are you being transparent? Are you levelling with the public about who you are? said Dan Kennedy, a professor at Northeastern Universitys School of Journalism in Boston.

But if theyre doing some extremely favorable coverage of the power company, and any fair-minded person looking at this would say, Theyre leaving out important information about what the power companys doing. It simply isnt ethical to do that.

Today, Alabama has just a handful of reporters fully devoted to covering environmental and energy issues in the state of 5 million people and the countrys third-largest coal exporter.

I always regarded doing environmental journalism in Alabama like shooting fish in a barrel. Theres always so much to cover, said Ben Raines, a former AL.com and Mobile Press Register environment editor who won several national prizes for his stories.

Raines left AL.com in 2019 and now spends his days on documentary projects and giving tours of the Mobile River.

We have lost the firepower of environmental reporting we used to have. And in place of it, we have almost no coverage.

Floodlight reporters Kristi E Swartz and Mario Alejandro Ariza contributed to this story. Floodlight is a non-profit newsroom that investigates the powerful interests stalling climate action
The Mississippi Court of Appeals has affirmed a womans conviction in the death of a man whose body was found stuffed into a freezer at his home.

In a unanimous decision Tuesday, the 10-member court also affirmed the sentences received by Samantha Simmons  life in prison for conviction on the murder charge in the killing of 54-year-old Thomas Burns, plus 20 years for conviction on a charge of receiving stolen property.

A Lamar County jury convicted Simmons in August 2022.

Burns body was found in a freezer in his home in Purvis in May 2018. Court records show Simmons had started dating Burns early that year, and she was living with him in his home.

The state medical examiner found zip ties around Burns neck, wrists and ankles, a belt around his legs and a trash bag over his head. An autopsy showed Burns died from either strangulation from the zip tie around his neck or environmental/positional asphyxia from being put in a freezer with a bag over his head.

According to court records, investigators found that Simmons had a key to a padlock that was on the freezer where Burns body was discovered by neighbors and his brother who checked his house after not seeing him for months. Court records also showed that tests run by the Mississippi crime laboratory found Simmons DNA on the zip ties.

Simmons argued that the DNA on the zip ties did not prove she killed Burns. But an analyst testified that the amount of DNA on the zip ties would be unusual for someone who just handled the items.

This testimony, coupled with the DNA evidence, could lead a reasonable juror to conclude that Simmons killed (Burns), the Court of Appeals wrote.

A witness testified that Simmons had contacted his wife about trying to sell some of Burns belongings.
As if this case couldnt get anymore frustrating, the three Washington state cops who were just acquitted in the killing of Manuel Ellis are also set to receive a hefty bag in exchange for their resignation from the department.



Tacoma police officers Christopher Bank, Matthew Collins and Timothy Rankine went to trial on charges in connection to the killing of Manuel Ellis in 2020. Prosecutors say the cops were sitting at a red light when they exited their patrol cars and ambushed Ellis as he was walking home from 7-Eleven. The cops allegedly punched Ellis repeatedly, tackled him to the ground, put him in a chokehold, and stung him with a Taser three times. After pinning him to the ground, Ellis began screaming, I cant breathe, according to a recording from a front door camera nearby, per The New York Times.

Read more

Read more from CBS News:

Three Washington state police officers who were cleared of criminal charges in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis  a Black man who was shocked, beaten and restrained facedown on a sidewalk as he pleaded for breath  will each receive $500,000 to leave the Tacoma Police Department, according to documents released Tuesday. The city released copies of the voluntary separation agreements with the officers Tuesday as police Chief Avery Moore announced findings that none violated the use-of-force policy in effect on March 3, 2020. Collins was found to have violated a policy concerning courtesy.

Ellis family attorney Matthew Ericksen argued that the payment was basically a reward for Ellis deatha the cherry on top of the $1 million they received while on paid leave during the years-long investigation.



The worst TPD officers are also the highest paid TPD officers! Ericksen said to CBS in an email. Everyone in the community should be upset by this.

Well, theyre technically not all the way cleared. Their resignation comes after the Western Washingtons U.S. Attorneys office opened an independent review of the case to determine whether the trio should face federal charges, per KIRO7. That investigation is still pending.

More from The Root

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Click here to read the full article.
Who watches the watchmen? All of us, if we're smart. In the age of surveillance, that means monitoring how and where the snoops put us under scrutiny. Among the people and organizations doing such important work is the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which recently updated one of its countersurveillance tools.

"The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today unveiled its new Street Level Surveillance hub, a standalone website featuring expanded and updated content on various technologies that law enforcement agencies commonly use to invade Americans' privacy," the group announced January 10.

Understanding How We're Being Watched

The hub consolidates information about such evolving and increasingly common technologies as automated license plate readers, biometric surveillance, body-worn cameras, camera networks, cell-site simulators, drones, face recognition, gunshot detection, and social media monitoring. There's also a news section featuring relevant articles about such topics as the huge amount of data modern cars collect about their drivers and the legal status of surveillance efforts in various jurisdictions.

Not all of the technologies and practices covered by the Street Level Surveillance hub are inherently bad; body-worn cameras (BWCs), for instance, have been championed by reformers as a means of recording interactions between police and the public so that there's an objective record of events.

"For nearly two decades, law enforcement agencies have explored and implemented the use of body cameras as a tool to help hold officers accountable and make departments more transparent," PBS News Hour reported in 2020.

But, as EFF points out, "because police often control when BWCs are turned on and how the footage is stored, BWCs often fail to do the one thing they were intended to do: record video of how police interact with the public." The organization says the cameras should be used only with strict safeguards regarding usage, privacy, and storage of recordings.

Other technologies are more obviously intrusive, such as automated license plate readers (ALPRs) which "capture all license plate numbers that come into view, along with the location, date, and time." While the readers have the potential to solve crimes by showing who was at the scene, they do so by following people's movements and can build patterns of life around where people travel and with whom they associate.

"Where you go can reveal many things about youwhether you attend political rallies, which religious institution you attend, if you go to the gun store," the ACLU's Allie Bohn warned the South Bend Tribune in 2014 about the use of automated license plate readers.

That was two years after New York City cops were found to be tracking mosque attendance using ALPRs.

EFF engages in extensive litigation to limit the use of ALPRs and to restrict data-sharing among law-enforcement agencies.

Where Are We Being Watched?

The Street Level Surveillance hub integrates closely with EFF's already established Atlas of Surveillance. Users can search the Atlas for jurisdictions to see what surveillance tools are currently in use in their hometowns or in places they're visiting.

Unsurprisingly, Washington, D.C. is closely monitored by the powers that be. Residents and visitors in the nation's capital are scrutinized by automated license plate readers, face recognition scanning by the FBI of driver's license photos, a registry of private security cameras, gunshot detection microphones (yes, they can overhear conversations), cell-site simulators which pinpoint the locations of phones and their users, and more. The Atlas lists the surveillance tools used in the city and links to more information on themincluding the extensive write-ups on the Street Level Surveillance hub.

The Atlas also includes an interactive map of the United States plotting the use of various surveillance technologies, including links to information about local implementations. It's a handy tool if you're planning a trip and want to see just how likely it is that you'll wind up on somebody's radar (or camera, or microphone). In 2022, I used the map to trace a road trip my son and I took to visit a college campus in Kansas.

"According to the Atlas of Surveillance, we passed through jurisdictions that, in addition to bodycams and doorbell cameras, register private surveillance cameras for official use, monitor the public with drones, detect gunshots, use facial recognition, track cellphones, and automatically check passing license plates against databases," I wrote at the time.

That route isn't becoming any more private, but the leg of our journey through northeastern New Mexico and into Kansas remains relatively unmonitored.

For those who truly want to marinate in the Big Brother experience, EFF also offers Spot the Surveillance, a virtual reality tool demonstrating how to identify spying technologies. According to the summary, "the user is placed in a 360-degree scene in the Western Addition neighborhood of San Francisco, where a young resident is in the middle of a police encounter. By looking up, down, and all around, you must identify a variety of surveillance technologies in the environment, including a body-worn camera, automated license plate readers, a drone, a mobile biometric device, and pan-tilt-zoom cameras."

No, thanks. I'm paranoid enough as it is.

We Can All Watch the Watchmen

For anybody concerned about privacy and surveillance, and interested in how the use of such technologies is implemented and regulated, EFF's Street Level Surveillance hub offers a handy resource. Instead of wondering just what biometric surveillance is, you can quickly look it up and be simultaneously informed and creeped out by discovering that it "encompasses a collection of methods for tracking individuals using physical or biological characteristics, ranging from fingerprint and DNA collection to gait recognition and heartbeat tracking."

Biometric surveillance is an evolving field and not yet widely implemented as such, though various technologies under the very broad heading (it includes tattoo recognition) are certainly gaining ground. But it's closely related to face recognition, which is all over the place.

It's all just a little bit spooky. But so long as the snoops are watching usand they areit's only fair that we return the favor by keeping an eye on them, too.

The post The Cops Are Watching You appeared first on Reason.com.
CORCORAN, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The Corcoran Police Department is warning the community about a direct mail scam circulating social media that falsely claims to be supported by the department.

Police say the group called Citizens Behind the Badge is allegedly sending out surveys and donation requests to residents.

The department emphasizes they do not have any affiliation with the group nor do they solicit donations with them.

Officers are telling residents not to send any money, checks, or personal information to the group.

Anyone with questions is asked to contact the Corcoran Police Department at (559) 992-5151.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
File - Tesla and SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk cheers as he speaks at the annual political festival Atreju, in Rome on Dec. 16, 2023. A recent report from anti-poverty organization Oxfam highlighted how the fortunes of the world's five richest people  Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, Bernard Arnault of luxury company LVMH, and investment guru Warren Buffett  have more than doubled since 2020. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  The world might see its first trillionaire sooner than you think. And that puts a spotlight on today's richest 1%.

In an annual assessment of global inequalities published earlier this week, Oxfam International said the first trillionaire could emerge within the next decade  as the anti-poverty organization pointed to the growing wealth gap that skyrocketed globally during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the findings, Oxfam highlighted how the personal fortunes of the world's five richest people  Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault and his family of luxury company LVMH, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Oracle founder Larry Ellison and investment guru Warren Buffett  have more than doubled since 2020.

To measure this jump, Oxfam pulled net worths from Forbes' real-time billionaires list as of March 2020 and the end of November 2023. Such lists fluctuate over time and even within hours  so while Buffett, for example, was the 5th richest person in November, he stood in 7th place per Forbes' Wednesday rankings.

Oxfam timed its report to the gathering of political and business elites in Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum meets annually. Numerous billionaires and multimillionaires also penned a letter calling on global leaders to fairly tax the super rich like themselves. Musk, Arnault, Bezos, Ellison and Buffett were not among the signatories  although Buffett has famously criticized the wealthy's lower tax rates and previously advocated for policy change in the same vein.

Here's a look at the wealth of these five billionaires spotlighted this week, and where their fortunes stand today.

Elon Musk: $226.6 billion

Elon Musk is currently considered the world's richest person, with a net worth of $226.6 billion per Forbes' real-time rankings as of Wednesday. That's down from $245.5 billion as of November 2023.

In addition to being at the helm of Tesla, Musk is CEO of rocket ship company SpaceX. In 2022, he also purchased Twitter, which is now called X, for $44 billion. While he no longer serves as CEO of the social media platform, his still holds broad influence  and has faced ample pushback from issues ranging from content moderation and hate speech to alienating advertisers.

Bernard Arnault and family: $175.1 billion

Bernard Arnault and his family currently hold a personal fortune of $175.1 billion per Forbes. That's down from about $191.3 in November 2023.

The French businessman has served as CEO of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the worlds largest luxury group, since becoming the majority shareholder in 1989. He is also president of the board for Groupe Arnault S.E., which is his family's holding company and primarily an investment firm.

Jeff Bezos: $173.6 billion

Jeff Bezos' net worth stood at $173.6 billion Wednesday per Forbes. That's up from $167.4 billion in November 2023.

Back in 1994, Bezos founded Amazon out of a Seattle garage  and his wealth skyrocketed as the company grew into the e-commerce giant it is today. He stepped down as CEO in early 2021, but still has broad influence over Amazon as executive chair and the companys biggest shareholder.

Larry Ellison: $134.9 billion

Larry Ellison currently has a personal fortune of $134.9 billion, according to Forbes, down from $145.5 in November 2023.

Ellison co-founded Oracle Corporation, a software and database management giant, in 1977 and served as CEO until 2014. He is now chief technology officer and chairman of the board. Ellison, who also had a stint on Tesla's board of directors from 2018 to 2022, has ranked high in billionaire lists for several years now.

Warren Buffett: $119.5 billion

At the time Oxfam pulled Forbes figures for its inequality report, Warren Buffett was the world's fifth richest person with a net worth of $119.2 billion. While his personal fortune has stayed relatively stable since ($119.5 billion as of Wednesday), Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates have surpassed him in Forbes rankings with current net worths of $129.5 billion and $120.1 billion, respectively.

Over the years, Buffett has gained a reputation for his investment success and aggressive business tactics. He runs Berkshire Hathaway, a holding conglomerate that owns dozens of companies across sectors like insurance, manufacturing, utilities, transportation and retail.
WASHINGTON  Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) plans to introduce a censure resolution against the No. 3 Republican in the House over her support for rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) earlier this month referred to imprisoned rioters as hostages, as though theyd been unlawfully kidnapped. More than 1,200 people were arrested for violating federal law that day, with the charges typically based on video evidence.

January 6th was the gravest attack on American democracy since the Civil War and Congresswoman Stefaniks persistent and continued support for the perpetrators of an insurrection is contemptuous, Goldman said Wednesday in a press release.

In putting her personal ambitions over her integrity, Congresswoman Stefanik has been Donald Trumps biggest congressional cheerleader, even though our mutual home state of New York overwhelmingly opposes him, he continued.

Goldman told reporters that he did not plan to file the censure resolution as privileged, meaning he would not force the House to take a vote. But he said he would consider doing so if Republicans didnt condemn Stefaniks remarks.

Censure is a formal reprimand that merely expresses the mood of the House. It has no practical consequences except that votes take up time.

Former President Donald Trump has openly embraced the Jan. 6 rioters, describing them as hostages and falsely claiming theyve gotten a raw deal from the criminal justice system. In reality, many Jan. 6 defendants facing assault charges have gotten lighter sentences than people convicted of assault nationwide, according to a recent Washington Post report.

Asked about Trumps comments during a Jan. 7 interview on Meet the Press, Stefanik echoed them.

I have concerns about the treatment of January 6th hostages, she said. I have concerns  we have a role in Congress of oversight over our treatments of prisoners. And I believe that were seeing the weaponization of the federal government against not just President Trump, but were seeing it against conservatives.

Stefaniks pro-rioter comment stands out even as her colleagues increasingly downplay the attack on Congress or suggest it was a setup by the FBI. But it aligns her more closely with Trump, who has called Jan. 6 a beautiful day and said he would consider pardoning rioters if hes reelected.

In his statement, Goldman said comparing Jan. 6 rioters to hostages demeans the actual hostages currently held in captivity in Gaza.

House lawmakers have increasingly taken disciplinary action against each other in recent years. Last year, the House expelled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) for fraud and Republicans censured Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.). In 2021, Democrats censured Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.).

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A record-breaking half a million migrants crossed the dangerous jungle that connects Central and South America in 2023, despite policy shifts from the United States and several other governments in the Americas to stop unauthorized migration in the region, according to data from Panamas immigration agency.

The Central American country registered that an unprecedented 520,085 people had crossed through the border with Colombia, a treacherous stretch of wilderness known as the Darien Gap, on their journey north towards the United States.

That number has doubled from 2022, when 248,284 people crossed the Gap. Nearly two thirds of those migrants were from Venezuela, which has seen an estimated 7.7 million people leave the country amid political, social and economic turmoil. Another 20% were either Ecuadorian or Haitian .

The record number of crossers reflects the changing trends of migration and raises questions about efforts from the U.S. and other countries in the region to curb irregular migration in the Western Hemisphere, as hundreds of thousands of people from countries in crisis leave their homes in search of better living and economic conditions elsewhere.

Human Rights Watch: U.S. policy is fueling migration through the dangerous Darien Gap

The challenges that the unprecedented population movements in the Americas pose are formidable  no country on its own is equipped to address them, said Filippo Grandi, high commissioner for refugees of the United Nations, in a statement last month.

The journey by foot across the Darien Gap is dangerous. The territory is controlled by criminal gangs and drug traffickers who shuffle people and illegal goods through it, and is filled with wild animals and harrowing terrains. Since 2014, at least 360 people have died in the Darien Gap due to drownings, harsh environments, sickness and violence, according to the IOMs Missing Migrant Project, although that number is likely an undercount.

The number of migrants crossing through the Darien Gap has historically been a mirror of the state of migration in the Western Hemisphere. Between 2010 and 2019, the Panamanian government registered over 109,000 Darien Gap crossers. Sixty-five percent were from Cuba and Haiti. As COVID-19 raged throughout Latin America and the rest of the world in 2020, migration in the Darien Gap slowed down to less than 7,000 and was made up of mostly Haitians.

Crossings sprang back up to 133,726 in 2021, with Haitians and Cubans fueling the uptick. However, the number of Cubans coming through Darien significantly dropped after Nicaragua made visa-free travel possible for people from the island. A little over a thousand Cubans illegally crossed in 2023. About 113,000 crossers were children last year, according to figures from the Panamanian government.

MORE: Migrant kids are moving through Latin America and the Caribbean in record numbers

In April 2023, the United States launched a joint, 60-day operation in the Darien Gap along with Panama and Colombia to, among other goals, end illegal migration in the jungle. But critics blasted the goal and timeframe of shutting down the illegal migration and trade route as unrealistic.

The U.S. government also launched a parole program for Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua that allowed people to come and live in the United States for a period of two years as long as they passed health and background checks, paid for their airfare and had a financial sponsor. But migrants are barred from entering the country through the program if they illegally entered Mexico or Panama after Jan. 2023. Over 297,000 people have arrived in the United States through the program.

The federal government has also set up centers known as Safe Mobility Offices that process parole, family reunification and refugee resettlement cases. There are offices in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Colombia. Services are available to Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Guatemalans, and Colombians, depending on location. The State Department also announced in October the launch of a new office in Ecuador.

At a regional summit in October that Mexico hosted for several Latin American and Caribbean countries, several governments pledged to address the structural causes of irregular migration, among other measures, and to urge destination countries to expand on regular pathways to migration.

READ MORE: How Nicaragua is helping  and charging  Haitians who want to reach the United States

Tens of thousands of migrants have also bypassed the Darien altogether by flying directly into Central America. Nicaragua has become a hotspot for visa-free migration for Haitians and other nationalities, although the Haitian government suspended Managua-bound flights, while the U.S. announced sanctions for charter flight operators and others aiding the Haitian migration to Nicaragua. Meanwhile, El Salvador slapped airport improvement fees on passengers from several African countries and India, who have also been coming through Central America to reach the United States.

Miami Herald staff writer Ana Claudia Chacin contributed to this report.
PALOMARES, Spain (WHTM)  It was called Operation Chrome Dome. On January 17, 1966, a USAF B-52G bomber, which flew from Seymour Air Force Base in North Carolina to somewhere near the Soviet Unions border with Europe, was preparing to perform its second mid-air refueling of the mission with a KC-135 tanker over the Mediterranean Sea. Then, as the B-52 pilot later put it, All hell seemed to break loose.

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The two planes collided, and the fuel load on the tanker plane exploded. All four crewmembers of the tanker were killed, as well as three of the seven men on the B-52. The other four were able to parachute to safety.

And from the destroyed B-52 fell four thermonuclear bombs-H bombs, as they are often called. One of them splashed into the Mediterranean. The other three crashed into the land around Palomares, an agricultural and fishing community in the Almeria province of Spain. One of them landed relatively intact, but the non-nuclear explosives in the other two detonated on impact. The nuclear explosives, uranium and plutonium, did not go off, but in a classic demonstration of the dirty bomb scenario, the conventional explosives scattered about seven pounds of Plutonium 239 across a large swath of land.

The wreckage of a USAF Jet tanker which collided Spanish officials in background search for bodies in Almeria, Spain on Jan. 18, 1966. (AP Photo)

The largest piece remaining of a U.S. jet tanker after its collision with a B52 bomber in Almeria, Spain, Jan. 18, 1966. Two of its crews were killed and the other two listed as missing. (AP Photo)

Part of the wrecked fuselage of an USAF B52 bomber lines where it crashed near Palomares, 60 miles Northeast of Almeria, Spain on Jan. 17, 1966 after a Collision in flight with an USAF Kc 135 tanker while refueling. The Tanker too crashed. 4 of the 7 B 52 drew men survived. (AP Photo)

Maj. Gen. Delmar Wilson, left, USAF, and rear Adm. William S. Guest, USN, are at Palomares Beach, Spain on April 8, 1966, inspecting the H-Bomb that was recovered from the Mediterranean. Bomb had been lost since January, following a crash of two USAF planes. Behind them is the torpedo grapple device which was used to recover the weapon from 2,500 feet below the surface of the sea. (AP Photo)

Spanish and Americans work together sorting the tons of wreckage from the B-52/KC-135 which crashed on the coast of Southern Spain on Feb. 22, 1966. (AP Photo)

A U.S. Air Force bulldozer cleans up rubble at the base camp from which the long search for a missing nuclear bomb continues in Palomares Beach, Spain on Feb. 11, 1966. (AP Photo)

Technicians of the U.S., Air Force use rubber gloves while picking up picking particular pieces of the wreckage and placing them in cardboard boxes in Palomares on Jan. 28, 1966. Main part of the wreckage in background. (AP Photo/Franco Mattioli)

Open air luncheon at Camp Wilson in Palomares Beach, Spain on Feb. 17, 1966. Nuclear search teams have noon-day meal from field kitchen. Two at right appear well fed. (AP Photo)

More than 1,000 sealed barrels containing radioactive soil near Palomares in Spain on March 18, 1966, where H-bombs fell and broke open. The soil is to be taken to the U.S., atomic energy commissions Burial Ground near Aiken, South Carolina, for disposition. (AP Photo)

Barrels of contaminated earth collected from the nearby area in Palomares, Spain on March 18, 1966, where a U.S. B52 plane crashed on January 17 with H-Bombs aboard. The earth will be shipped to the U.S., atomic energy commissions burial ground near Aiken, S.C., for disposition. (AP Photo)

No hair left unturned in great nuclear search, an expert from Spains Nuclear Energy Board checks a reluctant cow for signs of radioactivity in Palomares Beach, Spain in 1966. (AP Photo)

U.S., Navy frogmen arrive ashore with a LST to pickup a raft at the rescue and collection center set up in the beach in Palomares on Jan. 28, 1966, by U.S., Army and Air Force. The center has been set up to collect the pieces of the wreckage of a B-52 and a tanker jet which collided midair on January 17. They are also searching for nuclear devices which were aboard the B-52. One of the devices has been pinpointed at the bottom of the sea at about 1000mts offshore. (AP Photo/Franco Mattioli)

A U.S. scuba diver surveys a piece of aircraft wreckage that was found at depth 130 feet in waters of Palomares during search for missing H-Bomb in Palomares Beach, Spain on March 9, 1966. (AP Photo)

** FILE ** In this March. 1966 photo taken from 16mm film footage from the National Archives in Washington D.C., an unidentified U.S. military diver guides an Alvin mini-submarine into the water near Palamares in south-eastern Spain, after a U.S. B-52 bomber crashed with a tanker plane during aerial refueling Jan 17, 1966, causing four hydrogen bombs to fall to earth in Palomares. Spain and the United States have reached an agreement on cleaning up radioactivity in the area, 40 years and 9 months after the accident news reports said Sunday. (AP Photo/National Archive Record Administration, Washington D.C. File.)

The submarine Alvin sits in the well deck of a U.S. Navy landing ship dock as the deck is flooded to set the Alvin afloat. The two-man sub was one of two miniature subs used to search and recover debris in the depths off the coast of Palomares on Feb. 24, 1966. (AP Photo)

The two-man Midget submarine Alvin, which made pictures indicating that the H-bomb missing off Palomares Beach, Spain on March 18, 1966, had been located, is near the Spanish Coast. A frogman checks with crewmen inside the tiny craft as a U.S. Navy launch stands by. The sub what official sources said was undoubtedly the bomb five miles off the southern coast of Spain and 2,500 feet below the surface. (AP Photo)

U.S. Navy ordnance men check for contamination on an H-bomb on deck of the USS petrel off Palomares Beach, Spain on April 8, 1966, after the bomb was successfully recovered from the Mediterranean Sea. Bomb had been lost since last January following the crash of two U.S. Air Force planes. (AP Photo)

In the spotlight since a United States jet plane collision on January 17, residents of the area around Palomares, Spain, carefully grade the new tomato crop before packing and shipment to market on March 21, 1966. Farmers around Palomares are worried about sale of their crops because this is the area on which three hydrogen bombs dropped in the collision of two jets. U.S. experts are trying to raise on object which is believed to be a fourth bomb, found after long search on a ledge 2,500 feet down in the sea off Palomares. (AP Photo)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, and Spains Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo sign agreements at the Santa Cruz palace, Spains Foreign Affairs Ministry, in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Spain and the United States signed an agreement Monday to further discuss the cleanup and removal of land contaminated with radioactivity after a mid-air collision in 1966 dumped four U.S. hydrogen bombs near the southern Spanish village of Palomares. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

US Air Force personnel from Torrejon Air Base near Madrid were sent to Palomares to access the situation and begin cleanup. The U.S. Navy sent ships to search for the bomb which fell into the water. Included in the fleet was the DSV Alvin, a research submarine operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. (If the name of the sub rings a bell with you, its probably because twenty years later, in 1986, she would be the first manned submersible to explore the R.M.S. Titanic.)

Nagasaki marks A-bombing anniversary amid nuclear war fears

It took 80 days of looking, with scuba divers, hardhat divers, and submersibles, until Alvin finally located the bomb on March 15, in 2,550 feet of water. The first attempt to recover the bomb failed; it slipped loose while trying to attach lift lines and slid into deeper water. Alvin found it again on April 2 at a depth of 2,900 feet. On April 7 CURV-1, an unmanned, cable-controlled torpedo recovery craft, attempted to attach a line to the bomb but got entangled in the weapons parachute. The bomb and sub were winched up together to a depth of 100 feet, where divers attached cables. The nuclear weapon was brought to the surface, put on a ship, and taken to the United States.

Meanwhile ground cleanup continued around Palomares. 1,600 people, mostly Air Force personnel, spent months digging up soil, loading it into barrels, and shipping it off to a nuclear waste facility. In all about 10,000 cubic meters of soil were removed at a cost of about $80 million dollars.

Before long, people who worked on the cleanup started getting sick. Cancers, blood diseases, skin diseases, and a whole plethora of health issues began cropping up among veterans who moved the soil around Palomares. But many were denied disability benefits from the Veterans Administration based on Air Force radiation exposure estimates.

Experts warn senators of Russia, China nuclear programs

Then in 2016, the 50th anniversary of the accident, the New York Times published a scathing article detailing the sufferings of the veterans, and how theyd been stonewalled in their efforts to get help.

In 2017 one of the veterans, Victor Skaar, sued the Department of Veterans Affairs in the specialized Court of Appeals for Veterans Affairs, requesting, among other things, that the Palomares veterans be given class-action status. The court granted that status in 2019, and in 2020 ordered the VA to review the Palomares veterans eligibility for benefits. Then on August 10, 2022, President Biden signed the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which seeks to ensure compensation and benefits to military personnel exposed to toxins-including the radioactive material at Palomares.

Veterans of UK nuclear weapons tests win battle for medal

In Palomares itself, the people are still dealing with the aftermath of the event more than half a century later. While no official estimates have been published, there is still plutonium in the area. (In 2008 two trenches of radioactive soil were discovered, apparently buried by the Americans late in the cleanup.) Some areas are fenced off, and residents of the area are tested annually by Spanish and American research groups. Plankton and snails in the area show unusually high levels of radiation.

UN chief urges nuke powers to abide by no-first-use pledge

(To read the New York Times article click here.)

The half-life of Plutonium is 24,000 years.

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Katie Amess, second from right, with her father Sir David Amess, second from left, at a family wedding

The daughter of Sir David Amess is suing a police force and the Home Office over their failure to stop the terrorist who killed him.

Sir David, one of the countrys most respected parliamentarians, was stabbed to death by Islamist extremist Ali Harbi Ali during his weekly constituency surgery in Southend in October 2021.

Ali was referred to Prevent, the Governments deradicalisation programme, in 2014 but was left unchecked to carry out the attack after just one meeting, having deceived officers into thinking he was not a threat.

He was sentenced to life in prison in April 2022 after a jury took just 18 minutes to find him guilty.

Katie Amess, Sir Davids 38-year-old daughter, has now filed a High Court civil case for personal injury against Essex Police and the Home Office, the Mirror first reported.

Katie Amess has issued a claim at court following the murder of her father by an Islamist terrorist - GEOFF PUGH FOR THE TELEGRAPH

Daniel Machover, the head of civil litigation at Hickman & Rose, said: Like so many others, Katie Amess was horrified both by the fact of her fathers murder, and the circumstances surrounding it.

She has issued a claim at court as part of her desire to ensure proper accountability and learning from Sir Davids murder.

Terrorist boasted of manipulating Prevent

A landmark review of Prevent last February found that counter-extremism efforts should focus on the dangerous ideology of terrorists rather than their mental health.

Ali targeted Sir David because he was among MPs who had voted to bomb Islamic State in Syria.

He boasted during his murder trial about how easily he appeared compliant when forced to engage with the Prevent process.

I just knew to nod my head and say yes and they would leave me alone afterwards and they did, he told a court in April 2022.

In the wake of Sir Davids murder, MPs were encouraged to hire private security guards to keep them safe while they conduct surgeries with constituencies.

A Home Office spokesman told The Telegraph: The government takes the safety of members of Parliament extremely seriously, and significant work has been taken forward in response to the tragic killing of Sir David Amess.

It would be inappropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.

Essex Police said in a statement: We are aware that what is in effect a protective claim form has been filed at court, however, as these papers have not been served on our force, we are unable to comment any further upon them.

We remain committed to supporting our elected members across the county in the execution of their public duty and to this end we regularly review and advise around security arrangements for our members of Parliament. Sir David and the Amess family remain in our thoughts.

Essex Police sources emphasised that the protective claim form is mostly used when the time period within which claims must be submitted is coming to an end, and did not necessarily mean that legal proceedings would definitely follow.

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken gestures during his speech at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is taking place in Davos from Jan. 15 until Jan. 19, 2024.(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Israel cannot achieve genuine security without a pathway to a Palestinian state, insisting such a move could help unify the Middle East and isolate Israels top rival: Iran.

Speaking at the World Economic Forums annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, Blinken said the view of leaders in the Arab and Muslim world have changed on Israel and the creation of a Palestinian state would help Israel integrate in the region.

The problem is getting from here to there, and of course, it requires very difficult, challenging decisions. It requires a mindset that is open to that perspective, Blinken said.

The Biden administration has been at pains to navigate between longtime U.S. support for Israel and growing concerns that too many Palestinian civilians have been killed or injured in Israels war against Hamas militants since their deadly Oct. 7 rampage in Israel.

Blinken reiterated the need for a pathway to a Palestinian state and said Israel would not get genuine security absent that.

His comments came as Iran's foreign minister graced the same hallways of the glitzy event in the Alpine snows: Hossein Amirabdollahian warned that fighting could intensify in the region if Israel doesn't end its campaign.

Today, we are witnessing genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, this means that war is ongoing, so there is possibility of extension, Amirabdollahian said in a separate Q&A session. He didn't meet with Blinken.

The top Iranian diplomat also acknowledged a missile strike Tuesday on Pakistan, calling it part of a fight against terrorism," and said Iran targeted Israeli sites in Iraq this week  moves that threaten to further ignite violence in the Middle East. The governments of Pakistan and Iraq both criticized the action directed by Tehran.

We do respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan  also that of Iraq  but we dont allow our security to be compromised and played with, Amirabdollahian said through a translator.

With a barrage of attacks in recent days heightening fears of a broader war in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said on a Davos panel Tuesday that the kingdom agreed regional peace includes peace for Israel. He said Saudi Arabia certainly would recognize Israel as part of a larger political agreement.

But that can only happen through peace for the Palestinians, through a Palestinian state, he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a right-wing government that is opposed to Palestinian statehood, and Netanyahu himself recently said that his actions over the years prevented the formation of such a state.

Mohammad Mustafa, chairman of the Palestine Investment Fund who is believed to be a candidate for a future leadership position in the Palestinian Authority, said the international community has to move fast and boldly to stop this aggression.

He says the first step is getting food, water, medicine and other aid into Gaza to prevent hunger from causing more deaths, then pivot to what he calls the root problem: occupation.

Occupation cannot continue," he said. "No people will accept to be oppressed the way Palestinian people have been oppressed.

The leaders of France, Argentina and Spain also spoke on a busy second day of the elite gathering, where heads of state mingle with corporate executives, activists and more.

Do not let yourselves be intimidated by the political caste and by the parasites who live off the state, new Argentine President Javier Milei, said in a fiery speech addressing the worlds business class. "You are social benefactors, you are heroes.

Milei, a libertarian economist who was sworn in last month and promised changes to drastically reduce both Argentinas budget deficit and inflation of over 200% seen last year, warned that political and economic leaders were opening the doors to socialism in what is a threat to the Western world.

Argentine native Pope Francis went the other way  urging business leaders to not be guided by profit alone but by high ethical standards because national governments cannot regulate the global economy for the common good.

In a letter to Davos organizers, the pope said wars worldwide show the need to tackle what he called the root causes of conflicts: economic injustices, hunger and exploitation of natural resources.

Davos attendees are taking up other weighty issues, such as artificial intelligence and climate change, with International Monetary Fund head Kristalina Georgieva saying she's sick and tired" of hearing people say climate funding is too expensive.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres didn't hold back either: Let me be very clear  the phaseout of fossil fuels is essential and inevitable.

He cited scientists recent findings that last year was the hottest on record and warned that droughts, storms, fires and floods are pummeling countries and communities.

To combat those effects, Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an American pact on developing clean energy sources, which also would help ease the economic disparities between North and South America.

Meanwhile, Blinken, who met at Davos with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others, was asked in a conversation with New York Times columnist Tom Friedman whether Jewish lives matter more than Palestinian lives. He responded, No, period.

What were seeing every single day in Gaza is gut-wrenching, he said.

To ease that suffering, the U.S. is pushing to get more humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and press Israel to ensure it minimizes civilian casualties, said Blinken, whose return home was delayed after a mechanical issue grounded his plane and the U.S. Air Force had to bring over another aircraft from Brussels to ferry him home.

South Africa has formally accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians at the top U.N. court, and Israel has responded by calling its war a legitimate defense and saying Hamas is guilty of genocide in its attack that triggered the war.

France, along with Qatar, helped mediate an agreement to ship medicine into Gaza for dozens of hostages held by Hamas. The shipment was en route Wednesday, when French leader Emmanuel Macron spoke about both conflict and innovation at Davos.

He said Europe's top priority is to ensure that Russia cannot and must not win in Ukraine and called it a critical emergency to build a common framework to regulate deepfakes and AI at large amid upcoming elections.

___

AP writers Courtney Bonnell in London; Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran; Nicole Winfield in Rome; Almudena Calatrava in Buenos Aires; Sibi Arasu in Bengaluru, India; and Joseph Wilson in Barcelona, Spain; Ciaran Giles in Madrid; and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with King Philippe of Belgium and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Source: European Pravda, citing the Office of the President of Ukraine

The leaders discussed Belgiums priorities as the head of the Council of the European Union, particularly the upcoming commencement of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.

Zelenskyy thanked King Philippe and Alexander De Croo for their defensive support of Ukraine, highlighting the decision regarding F-16 fighter jets, the training of Ukrainian pilots by Belgian experts, and the recent 15th package of military aid.

He also acknowledged Belgium's leadership role in establishing a Fund of Ukraine, amounting to EUR 1.7 billion, funded by taxing profits from frozen Russian assets. Zelenskyy emphasised the importance of creating an effective mechanism for confiscating the aggressor's frozen assets.

The parties also discussed Belgium's participation in implementing steps of Zelenskyys Peace Formula.

Quote: "I assured President Zelenskyy that the EU's support remains steadfast  both financial and military," Alexander De Croo said.

I assured President @ZelenskyyUa that the EU's support remains steadfast - both financial and military.



We discussed Russias ongoing aggression against #Ukraine



At #EUCO we will decide on how we can honor the commitment of your brave people to freedom and democracy. pic.twitter.com/4pl8FkNil4  Alexander De Croo  (@alexanderdecroo) January 16, 2024

Background:

On the sidelines of the WEF, Zelenskyy also met with Polish President Andrzej Duda, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Ukrainian President and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to initiate the screening of Ukrainian legislation, which is a further step towards opening negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union, in a week.

Read also: Will Orban be allowed to "seize" EU power? Consequences of Charles Michel's resignation

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China predicted to experience mild spike in COVID-19 cases around the Spring Festival

Global Times) 08:54, January 17, 2024

People select decortations for Spring Festival at market in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 13, 2024. China's 2024 Spring Festival holiday will run from Feb. 10 to 17. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua)

Given the expected large floating population during the upcoming Spring Festival holidays and other factors, it's predicted that there will be a likely rise in COVID-19 infections around the holiday season, with several respiratory infectious diseases likely to coexist or alternate in prevalence in various regions across the country, Lei Zhenglong, an official from the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, said at a Tuesday press briefing.

Since the beginning of winter in 2023, China has witnessed multiple pathogens co-circulating and alternating peaks in acute respiratory infectious diseases. The influenza epidemic is experiencing significant fluctuations, while the COVID-19 remains at a low level, with the predominant strains being as XBB and its sublineages. However, the country has seen increasing infections with the JN.1 strain, Lei said.

Lu Hongzhou, head of the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, told the Global Times on Tuesday that "although the immune escape ability of JN.1 has increased, there is no evidence to suggest an increase in its pathogenicity."

Most residents have experienced two or even three COVID-19 infections since December 2022. Research data has shown that the infection experiences can lead individuals to produce neutralizing antibodies against Omicron variants, according to Lu. The country's existing experience and medical resources are sufficient to cope with this situation if there is a small rise in JN.1 infections, Lu said.

Authorities have implemented measures to ensure the stability of the epidemic situation during the holidays, including strengthening the prevention and control measures at ports, enhancing epidemic monitoring and early warning, according to Lei.

Officials are required to provide health services and management for key populations such as the elderly and patients with chronic underlying diseases, promoting the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.

Lu said that it's still necessary to use COVID-19 vaccines to better protect individuals against serious infection.

Authorities will also improve emergency response mechanisms, lift capabilities to ensure timely and effective handling of clustered epidemic outbreaks, Lei noted.

Targeted allocation of medical resources is also needed during the holidays, including increasing the medical resources of key departments such as outpatient, pediatrics, respiratory, and intensive care in medical institutions, while also increasing market supply and reserve of common drugs such as cold, fever, and cough medicines, Lei noted.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
FILE - A marker stands outside the Statehouse in Concord, N.H., Nov. 15, 2023, describing the history of the state's first-in-the-nation presidential primary. New Hampshire's attorney general Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, ordered national Democratic party leaders to stop calling the states unsanctioned presidential primary meaningless, saying do so violates state law. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Is a New Hampshire primary without the frontrunner on the ballot and no delegates up for grabs still a New Hampshire primary? Depends on who you ask.

On Tuesday, voters in the Granite State will once again help kick off the presidential primary season, on the heels of the Iowa caucuses that began the nomination process on the Republican side Monday. But this year, theres something different about the traditional first-in-the-nation primary, at least on the Democratic side.

For starters, the Democratic National Committee, which has the ultimate say in how its presidential nominee will be picked, says state party officials violated national party rules by scheduling its contest earlier than allowed. As a result, the primary will have zero delegates at stake on Tuesday. Normally, the contest would have determined how the states original allotment of 23 pledged delegates to the presidential nominating convention in Chicago this summer would be allocated to the various candidates.

Furthermore, President Joe Biden, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for a second term, decided to skip New Hampshire since their primary violates party rules and will not appear on the ballot. It was Bidens idea to bump the state from its prized primary calendar slot in favor of South Carolina, which resuscitated his struggling campaign in 2020. That year, Biden placed fourth in the Iowa caucuses and fifth in New Hampshire with only 8% of the vote.

The New Hampshire Democratic Party is nevertheless proceeding with the primary  which they note state law requires to be held before any other primary  and has already started the process of selecting people to serve as national convention delegates. This earned a sharp rebuke from the DNC, which called the upcoming primary both meaningless and detrimental.

In response, state Democratic party chairman Ray Buckley said in a statement, Well, its safe to say in New Hampshire, the DNC is less popular than the NY Yankees. State law requires the New Hampshire Secretary of State to conduct the first-in-the-nation primary and he is going to follow the law  period. Nothing has changed, and we look forward to seeing a great Democratic voter turnout on January 23rd.

Although Bidens name will not appear as a printed option on the ballot, some New Hampshire Democrats have mounted an effort to encourage primary voters to cast their ballots for Biden as a write-in candidate. Write-in candidates are eligible to win elections in New Hampshire. President Lyndon Johnson did exactly that in 1968 when he won the New Hampshire primary as a write-in candidate, although he dropped out of the race 19 days later after what was widely perceived as a disappointing 8-point win over Minnesota Sen. Eugene McCarthy.

In the 2020 New Hampshire Democratic primary, write-in votes comprised only 2% of the total vote, or about 6,000 votes. A large-scale write-in effort would increase the workload for local elections officials, but New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan has said that he expects results to be available on primary night, including a tally of write-in votes for Biden.

It sounds like it would be a big job, but you have to remember, it is one race where it is vote for one, and its fairly easy to sort through the ballots, he told reporters at a briefing in October. Its going to be some extra work. I dont know that its going to be that formidable.

Scanlan has also said the counting process will be largely unaffected in communities that already hand-count ballots. The process will take longer in larger jurisdictions that use machines to count regular ballots because they will have to hand-count write-ins. He added that local officials are enlisting additional help to speed up the count.

I think that is a challenge that can be overcome, he said. I fully expect the towns are going to be able to get the volunteer resources they need to help with that.

The New Hampshire primary ballot provides would-be write-in voters with the following instructions: To vote for a person whose name is not printed on the ballot, write in the name of the person in the WRITE-IN space, and completely fill in the oval opposite your choice. Scanlan advises voters to follow these instructions but adds that its important for local elections officials to determine the voters intent when reviewing ballots.

If somebody wrote in the name of a candidate and they did not fill in the oval, that does not disqualify that vote, he said in an interview with WMUR-TV. The intent of that voter would be for the name that they actually wrote on the ballot. And thats how that ballot would be counted.

In New Hampshire, ballots without a darkened oval in a particular contest are typically categorized as blank. Thus, write-in votes where the oval is not filled in might be initially included in the blank total instead of the write-in total. This would be corrected as local election officials determine whether a ballot initially categorized as blank is actually a valid write-in vote.

As for variations in the spelling of a write-in candidate's name, Scanlan says the name doesn't have to be spelled correctly or written a specific way if the voter's intent is clear.

If they write in just Biden, I think that intent is very clear. If they write in 'Bidon,' I think the intent is still pretty clear, he said in October. If they just write Joe, then you have to ask the question, well, are there any other Joes on the ballot or running. If there are, then you probably dont know which Joe the persons voting for.

The Associated Press will report a running total of unprocessed write-in votes as provided by election officials. The AP will then provide a breakdown of write-ins for Biden as well as a combined total of non-Biden write-ins as local officials sort the ballots throughout the night and the following days. As the number of write-ins for Biden and Other write-ins goes up, the number of unprocessed write-ins will go down.

A total of 21 Democrats will appear by name on the New Hampshire primary ballot on Tuesday, in addition to the option to vote for a write-in candidate. Republicans will also hold a primary, which features 24 listed candidates (while Republicans can also vote for a write-in candidate, the percentage exercising that option is expected to be minimal).

As for delegates, if recent history is any guide, its still possible that New Hampshire Democrats will send a delegation to the Democratic National Convention this summer and that theyll cast votes for the nomination. In 2008, when Michigan and Florida held primaries earlier than allowed under party rules, the DNC initially said both states would be stripped of all their delegates. Then, after negotiations with the campaigns of then-Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, it announced that delegates from both states could each cast half a vote. By the time the convention began, party officials voted to grant Michigan and Florida delegates full voting rights in the interest of party unity.

The last successful statewide write-in effort for federal office was in 2010, when Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska lost the Republican primary but won the general election despite not appearing on the ballot. She received 99% of the write-in votes cast, but the final result wasnt known for more than two weeks after Election Day.
A group of Senate Democrats voted Tuesday in favor of advancing a resolution sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to potentially freeze U.S. military aid to Israel, sending a pointed message to President Biden that the war in Gaza is becoming a major problem for his party.

The Senate voted 72 to 11 to table the matter, but the number of Democrats who supported the measure reflects rising dissatisfaction among progressives over the civilian casualties in Gaza, which are now said to exceed 24,000.

Liberals are also frustrated over the lack of a clear timeline for ending the war.

Nine Democrats voted with Sanders, as did Republican Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), a frequent critic of U.S. foreign aid.

Sanders, the Senates leading critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus handling of the siege and invasion of Gaza, says its immoral.

On Tuesday he pounded his colleagues over the mounting death toll and the extensive use of American-supplied bombs and artillery shells in what had been heavily populated civilian areas.

Whether we like it or not, the United States is complicit in the nightmare that millions of Palestinians are now experiencing, he declared on the Senate floor, warning that hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza are starving right before our eyes.

Sanders to force vote on potentially freezing military aid to Israel

He cited media reports that Israel dropped more than 22,000 American-supplied bombs on Gaza in a six-week span, including 2,000-pound bombs that can destroy entire neighborhoods.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who voted to advance the resolution, said she wanted to send a message.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has to understand that he does not get a blank check from the United States Congress, she said. We have a responsibility to stand up now and say that given how Netanyahu and his right-wing war Cabinet have prosecuted this war, we have serious questions that we are obligated to ask before we go further in our support.

She said while the Biden administration is pushing the Netanyahu regime to reduce civilian deaths and ratchet down the intensity of the fighting, Congress [has] a role here to play as well to make sure that Mr. Netanyahu understands were not writing blank checks.

The other Democrats who voted for the resolution were Sens. Laphonza Butler (Calif.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Ben Ray Lujan (N.M.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.) and Peter Welch (Vt.).

A group of progressive Democrats is also looking at attaching conditions to U.S. military aid to Israel.

Polls show that Bidens handling of the war in Gaza has become a growing political liability for his reelection.

A New York Times/Siena College poll conducted last month showed that 57 percent of registered voters nationwide disapprove of Bidens response to the conflict, including 37 percent of Democrats.

Especially concerning for Bidens political advisers, 72 percent of registered voters aged 18 to 29  a demographic that voted strongly for Biden in 2020  disapprove of his performance on the issue.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), the chair of the Senate Democrats Policy and Communications Committee, acknowledged younger voters are souring on Bidens Israel policy.

But she argued that the White House, not Congress, should take the lead in pressing Israel to keep the humanitarian crisis from getting worse.

We need to be very careful and thoughtful in working with the administration. I do not in any way support Netanyahu. I think his instincts are very much to overreact, she said.

Its such a horrible, horrible situation for everyone in terms of loss of life. And I know that President Biden understands that and is doing everything he can to stop it, she added.

Stabenow voted to table Sanderss proposal.

The resolution would have given the State Department 30 days to provide a report on any human rights violations committed during the invasion of Gaza. If the State Department failed to meet the deadline, assistance to Israel would be frozen.

The Vermont senator forced a vote to discharge his resolution out of the Foreign Relations Committee by invoking a little-known section of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act.

The only time the Foreign Relations Committee has demanded a report on the human rights record of a country receiving U.S. aid under the same provision of the Foreign Assistance Act was 1976, according to Sanderss office.

The vote was a test for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a staunch ally of Israel, who wanted to minimize Democratic votes for potentially halting aid to Israel, which Republicans are eager to use as political ammunition.

Its a highly sensitive issue within the Democratic caucus, triggering strong emotions on both sides of the question.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) warned that mere Senate passage of Sanderss resolution would immediately threaten U.S. aid to Israel.

Make no mistake, our passing the resolution triggers this, he said on the floor, his voice rising with passion. If we pass this, the process is triggered to cut off aid to Israel during war.

Schumer made no mention of the Sanders resolution in his Tuesday afternoon floor remarks, while Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) denounced the vote as performative left-wing politics.

It is not about authorizing a report of aid to Israel. Its not even about human rights. Its about tying the hands of a close ally locked in a necessary battle against savage terrorists. Its a gift to the left-wing, anti-Israel activists, McConnell declared on the floor.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) panned Sanderss resolution as the most tone-deaf thing in the history of the Senate.

It ignores the fact that Hamas has tunnels under hospitals, under schools, they use civilians as human shield, he argued.

The Senate fight over Israel aid came at a time of growing tension between Biden and Netanyahu over the management of the war. The two leaders havent spoken since a tense Dec. 23 call.

The two leaders didnt have a great relationship even before the war broke out this fall. Biden waited nine months after Netanyahus return to power before inviting him to the White House for a meeting.

The Biden administration has put pressure on Netanyahus government to reduce civilian casualties and to wrap up the heaviest fighting as soon as possible, but to little effect.

Netanyahu has largely ignored the administrations calls to reengage with Palestinian leaders once the fighting subsides in pursuit of a two-state solution to achieving lasting peace in the region. American demands to mitigate the suffering of Palestinian officials havent had much impact on Israeli tactics, either.

Netanyahu declared over the weekend that no one will stop Israels mission to eliminate Hamas, even though some foreign policy experts are skeptical that Israeli forces could fully eliminate Hamas leaders and militants if the conflict lasts months longer.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Progressive elections firm Elias Law Group asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday to consider a new congressional map in the Badger State by pointing to the high courts ruling last month that tossed out Wisconsins state legislative maps.

Democrats scored a big win last month when the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has a 4-3 liberal majority, tossed out the current state legislative maps and asked for new lines to be drawn.

The Tuesday filing asking for a redo on the congressional lines comes just months before the states primary, which is scheduled for Aug. 13, in a state that has become one of a handful of critical battleground states across the country.

Lawyers in the filing argue that the courts decision last month to toss the state legislature map renders the current congressional map lawless in the most literal sense by pointing to the courts discussion of their opinion of least change  a reference to the courts decision in 2021 that the fewest amendments possible would be made to the states current maps compared to ten years ago, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.

The liberal-leaning Wisconsin court wrote last month that As illustrated across the course of the Johnson litigation, least change is unworkable in practice. As such, we overrule any portions of Johnson I, Johnson II, and Johnson III that mandate a least change approach.

With the least change approach that justified the maps adoption overruled, the map now lacks any basis in Wisconsin redistricting law or precedent, lawyers said in the Tuesday filing, arguing the current map runs roughshod.

Lawyers also argued that the current congressional map suffers from serious partisan unfairness and that using least change contravenes separation-of-powers principles by abdicating this Courts duty of independent judgment.

The filing urged the state Supreme Court to let both parties propose a new set of congressional maps to be considered.

Wisconsins congressional map now has no basis in Wisconsin law or precedent, and the remedial process to adopt a new, lawful map must resume immediately, Elias Law Group Partner Abha Khanna said in a statement.

The development comes less than a year since liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz won a special election to fill a vacant seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court  making it the first time in 15 years that liberals had a majority on the state court.

Protasiewicz received scrutiny ahead of the April election last year for calling the maps rigged, though she nor her Republican opponent explained how they would rule on a potential case during the election.

Wisconsin has two Democrats and six Republicans serving in the House, though a potential for a new map to be ordered could impact Republican control over some of the seats. It also comes against a critical presidential year where both parties are eyeing Wisconsin as one of the states to clinch for the White House.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Denmark and the Netherlands are preparing to jointly deliver the first two of 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks, local media reported on Jan. 16.

The Leopard units were refurbished in Germany and will initially be sent to Poland where Ukrainian servicemen are expected to train.

"According to the current schedule, tanks, together with spare parts and ammunition, will be delivered to Ukraine this summer," Dutch defense officials said.

Tanks and other armored vehicles are expected to play a key role as Kyiv attempts to advance on multiple fronts.

Kyiv has long requested state-of-the-art Western tanks but has received quantities insufficient for major offensives.

A repair center for Leopard and other models was opened in Poland, with a batch of tanks arriving in Gliwice in December 2023.

Read also: First Leopard 2 tanks repaired in Lithuania to return to Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A dentist was arrested after being accused of groping one of his patients during an emergency visit, Pennsylvania officials said.

On Jan. 3, a woman went to an appointment at Main Line Dental Aesthetics in Tredyffrin Township, according to a Jan. 17 news release by the Chester County District Attorney.

The dentist, James Godorecci, is accused of fondling the womans breasts during her therapeutic procedure, officials said.

Godorecci, 56, of Wayne, was arrested and charged with indecent assault and harassment, the district attorney said.

McClatchy News reached out to Main Line Dental Aesthetics for comment on Jan. 17 and was awaiting a response.

Godorecci was ordered to have no contact with the victim and he must alert the state licensing board, officials said.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 22, officials said.

The Tredyffrin Township Police Department is investigating the incident and ask anyone with information to call 610-408-3651.

Tredyffrin Township is about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

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BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Authorities say an Indiana man and an Illinois man were arrested and believed to be involved in multiple burglaries across West Michigan.

The Kent County Sheriffs Office said detectives learned on Monday that cash, jewelry and crowbars were hidden in a rented vehicle. As part of the investigation, the sheriffs office said a 46-year-old man from Portage, Indiana, and a 19-year-old man from Schaumburg, Illinois, were arrested at a hotel in Byron Township.

Both men were taken to the Kent County Correctional Facility for first-degree home invasion for an incident in Cascade Township and possession of burglary tools.

Investigators believe the suspects may be involved in additional burglaries in Gaines Township, West Michigan and possibly out of state, according to the sheriffs office.

Authorities are searching for a third suspect, but the sheriffs office did not release a suspect description.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriffs office at 616.632.6125 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
PORTLAND, Ore (KOIN)  Police are investigating the suspect accused of stealing a Vancouver fire truck on Monday night.

The Vancouver Police Department responded to the report at West Mill Plain Boulevard and Kauffman Avenue around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 15. Officers were told the Squad 1 Dodge 5500 truck had been nabbed as paramedics treated a patient near the scene.

LIVE BLOG: Hood River County declares state of emergency; I-84 closes from Troutdale to Hood River

The agency partnered with the Clark County Sheriffs Office to conduct an extensive search of the Vancouver Fire Department vehicle, but they were initially unable to locate it.

Washington State Patrol then alerted local law enforcement that the truck had been seen on a freeway camera, and the suspect was driving into Oregon about five minutes after the incident would have happened.

According to Vancouver police, the vehicle was found unoccupied near the Linn County Sheriffs Office in the Albany area at 5 a.m. on Tuesday.

Rental market analysts name Portland among most popular cities for 2024

The Sheriffs Office contacted the man who was in an empty house near the scene. Following his interview with deputies, he was arrested for Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle. Authorities said the man was also arrested on an outstanding warrant in Washington County.

No other details, including the name of the man arrested, were immediately released.

VPDs Property Crimes Unit is conducting the investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Vigilant bank employees prevented a 77-year-old Apple Valley man from being scammed for a second time. Meanwhile, deputies arrested a suspect.

Vigilant bank employees prevented a 77-year-old Apple Valley man from being scammed for a second time, according the sheriff's deputies.

On Friday, an elderly man received a phone call from a person who informed him that his bank account had been hacked. The suspected scammer directed the man to withdraw money from his bank account for safekeeping, police stated.

The suspect then directed the elderly man to put the money in a box and wrap it with brown paper to be picked up by a courier, sheriffs officials said.

Later that afternoon, a suspect arrived and picked up the box with the money inside, authorities said.

Asking for more money

On Saturday, the same elderly man received similar calls.

Again, he went to his financial institution to withdraw more money. Bank employees realized the elderly man was being scammed and contacted one of his family members.

Deputies responded to the call for service on Tehachapi Road in Apple Valley.

During their investigation, the suspect called the victim again and gave information for the arrival of the courier who was to pick up additional money.

Suspect arrested

Deputies waited in the area of the man's home for the courier to arrive. When the courier arrived, deputies spoke with Kayvaughn Omaryeades Larry.

The 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of obtaining money by false pretense and being an accessory to a crime, sheriffs officials said.

Larry was booked into to the High Desert Detention Center. His bail was set at $15,000, sheriffs booking records show.

Law enforcement officials did not reveal the amount of money taken from the victim, or if other suspects have been identified.

Scam warning

Sheriffs officials reminded residents that phone scams are rampant, and everyone must be vigilant.

Here are a few tips to avoid scammers:

Always verify the information a caller gives you by hanging up, and then calling the business, agency, or institution the caller claims to be representing.

Financial institutions will not ask anyone to withdraw money and package it for a courier to pick up.

If you have been a victim of a scam, please report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The Federal Trade Commission uses this information to track scams, alert the public to new scams, and prosecute perpetrators.

Anyone with any information about this investigation is asked to call Apple Valley sheriffs station at 760-240-7400 or sheriffs dispatch at 760-956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to contact the We-Tip Hotline at 800-78CRIME (27463) or wetip.com.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Deputies arrest suspected scammer of senior in Apple Valley
Mr DeSantis pledged to fight on after the Iowa caucus where he came second to Donald Trump by a larger margin than expected - JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP

Ron DeSantiss main campaign backer began laying off staff on Wednesday, amid fresh questions about whether his presidential bid can survive.

Never Back Down, the Super PAC (independent expenditure-only political action committee) backing the Florida governor in the Republican primaries, began laying off staff in some of the next states to vote for a Republican nominee, including the key state of Nevada.

Mr DeSantis pledged to fight on after the Iowa caucus on Monday, where he came second to Donald Trump but trailed the former president by a much larger margin than expected, with just 21 per cent of the vote.

After a short campaign stop in New Hampshire, which will vote next week, Mr DeSantis planned to travel straight to South Carolina, effectively skipping the Granite State, where he is thought to have just 4 per cent support.

Never Back Down began sacking employees in several states, including Nevada, while the majority of remaining staff were told to move to South Carolina, the New York Times reported.

George Andrews, a Never Back Down staffer who had been campaigning in Iowa, said on LinkedIn he had lost his job because of budget cuts beyond my control.

Mr DeSantiss disappointing result in Iowa came after he spent months building a sophisticated ground campaign and pouring millions of dollars from the Super PAC into the state. Mr Trump won the caucuses by a landslide, taking 98 of Iowas 99 counties and more than half of all votes cast.

On Monday night, Mr DeSantis said he had stamped his ticket in the state and beaten Nikki Haley, who came third, but analysts said he had failed to capture the crucial constituency of evangelical Christians required to seriously challenge Mr Trump.

One poll on Tuesday suggested that Ms Haley is now neck-and-neck with Mr Trump in New Hampshire, with her campaign buoyed by independent voters, who are also eligible to vote in the states Republican primary.

She has said she will not participate in any more televised debates with Mr DeSantis unless Mr Trump agrees to appear, prompting the cancellation of two planned events on CNN and ABC in New Hampshire before Tuesdays vote.

Weve had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them, Ms Haley said.

He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it.

Mr DeSantis claimed Ms Haley was more interested in self-advancement than becoming the Republican presidential candidate.

The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, shes running to be Trumps VP, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. I wont snub New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and plan to honour my commitments.

ABC News confirmed the debate had been called off. Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race, a spokesman said.

CNN replaced its debate with town hall events where the candidates will be interviewed individually.

Although her supporters say Ms Haley now stands a serious chance of winning New Hampshire and her home state of South Carolina, it remains unclear how either her or Mr DeSantis can erode Mr Trumps commanding lead in the contest.

In response to her polling performance, Mr Trump has ramped up his attacks on Ms Haley, using and misspelling her legal first name of Nimarata in an apparent attempt to highlight her Indian heritage.

Anyone listening to Nikki Nimrada [sic] Haleys wacked out speech last night, would think that she won the Iowa primary. She didnt, and she couldnt even beat a very flawed Ron DeSanctimonious, whos out of money, and out of hope, Mr Trump posted online.

He has previously claimed, falsely, that Ms Haley is ineligible to run for president because of her Indian parents. As a US citizen born in the country, she fulfils all legal requirements.

Responding to the attacks on Fox News, she said: First of all, I was born with Nikki on my birth certificate, I was raised as Nikki, I married a Haley, and so that is what my name is, so he can say or misspell or do whatever he wants.

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Even after holding off Nikki Haley for second place in the Iowa Republican caucuses Monday night, Gov. Ron DeSantis chances to gain ground on Donald Trump in New Hampshire next week arent good, political analysts say.

Hes doing really poorly in the New Hampshire polls, said Dave Peterson, a political scientist at Iowa State University. Hes not doing much better in the other (state) polls. And I just dont know what would shift things in his direction.

So instead, the Florida governor flew directly to South Carolina, which holds its primary on Feb. 24, to attack former governor Haley on her home turf. He was due in New Hampshire for a town hall late Tuesday on CNN.

Haley, she was governor here for six years, DeSantis said at a campaign stop in Greenville, S.C., according to CBS News. Can you name major achievements under her tenure?

DeSantis lost to Trump in Iowa by nearly 30 percentage points and topped Haley by just 2.1 points. The second-place showing prompted the governor to proclaim his ticket punched out of the state.

But DeSantis trails Haley by large margins in most recent polls in New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Jan. 23.

A CNN/University of New Hampshire survey last week showed Haley at 32% to Trumps 39%. DeSantis was in fifth place at 5%, behind former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, both of whom have dropped out of the race.

Another poll released Tuesday from the New Hampshire-based American Research Group had Trump and Haley tied at 40% in the state, with DeSantis languishing at 4%.

Haley declared the Republican primary a two-person race in Iowa on Monday night. On Tuesday, she said she would not participate in the next presidential debate in New Hampshire on Thursday night with DeSantis unless Trump showed up as well. The former president has skipped all five previous GOP debates.

Dante Scala, a political scientist at the University of New Hampshire, said the DeSantis campaign has not made his state a priority.

Clearly, hes been focused solely on Iowa, Scala said. And when you turn on the television news here in New Hampshire, you see lots of Haley ads, Trump ads  but DeSantis is nowhere to be seen. And as a result, his support here has only dwindled.

His totals in Iowa helped dispel talk that he might drop out of the race this week if he came in a disappointing third. It could also help him somewhat heading into New Hampshire, Scala said.

Perhaps he takes some of those quote unquote soft Trump voters, Scala said. Maybe he picks up some (Vivek) Ramaswamy voters. He might kind of nibble around the edges of Trumps support and give those soft Trump voters a reason to believe (in him).

Any Iowa boost, Scala added, could also be short-lived as DeSantis brand of culture wars doesnt play well in his state.

New Hampshire Republicans tend to be looking for different things than Iowa Republicans, and in particular, New Hampshire Republicans dont tend to like social conservatives, religious conservatives, culture warriors, Scala said. So the Iowa bounce doesnt usually play out very well in New Hampshire.

In Iowa on Monday night, Trump gave faint praise to his two main opponents after finishing with 51% of the vote, surpassing his goal of 50%.

I want to congratulate Ron and Nikki for having a good time together, Trump said. Were all having a good time together. And I think they both actually did very well. I really do.

Scala said he believes DeSantis days as a presidential candidate are numbered.

The campaign death watch has started to tick, the New Hampshire professor said. Whatever he would do here wont stop that clock from ticking.

_____
Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens to a voter's question during a rally on Tuesday in Greenville, South Carolina.

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens to a voter's question during a rally on Tuesday in Greenville, South Carolina.

Things havent been going well for Ron DeSantis since his distant second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, even though the Florida governor argued after his loss Monday that he has a path forward in the GOP primary.

First, on Wednesday, Steve Cortes, the former spokesperson for Never Back Down, the super PAC backing the Florida governors presidential candidacy, came out behind Donald Trump for president, calling on the Republican Party and the rest of the field to read the room and coalesce and unite behind the clear preference of the GOP grassroots.

Cortes, who was also an advisor to Trump, wrote in a Real Clear Politics op-ed: I believed that Republican voters were ready for a new post-Trump chapter of the America First movement. I now believe I was wrong.

Cortes argued this flashpoint in history, when the country is confronting struggles with the economy, illegal immigration and its education system, calls for political unity among conservatives behind Trump in order to defeat Joe Biden in November.

Critics, including Trump allies, accused Cortes of playing both sides, but his comments underscore the perceived inevitability of Trumps nomination after he finished with 51% of the vote in Mondays caucuses  which represent an incredibly small sample size of the GOP electorate. DeSantis finished in a distant second with 21% of the vote, while former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley came in third with 19%.

Also on Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Never Back Down was beginning an unspecified number of layoffs. The super PAC had made a huge bet on Iowa, investing the bulk of its resources on a massive field operation to mobilize voters.

Never Back Down had been roiled by internal divisions in the run up to the first votes being cast, culminating in the resignation of chief political strategist Jeff Roe last month. The PAC isnt legally allowed to coordinate with the official DeSantis campaign operation, but tows the line by organizing campaign events where the governor is featured as a special guest.

DeSantis insisted on Monday that his second-place finish in the caucuses was his ticket out of Iowa to the next stop on the nominating calendar, New Hampshire. We got our ticket punched out of Iowa, he told a group of supporters in brief remarks Monday night. They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us.

A poll of the New Hampshire race released today shows Trump earning 50% of the vote, with Haley in second at 34% and DeSantis in third at 5%. ABC canceled its New Hampshire debate scheduled for Thursday after Haley refused to do it without Trump  depriving DeSantis a final opportunity to reach a large swath of New Hampshire voters.

In Iowa, Trumps momentum frustrated the supporters of other candidates, even though they would ultimately back Trump as the nominee given the choice between him and Biden.

Were not discouraged, Janne Kapfer, a 45-year-old DeSantis supporter from Clive, Iowa, told HuffPost Monday, shortly after Trump was declared the winner. I used to semi-support Trump, but his pro-life stance has shifted so much that I cant anymore. So thats the biggest problem with him. But people are very die-hard Trump.

The more they go after [Trump], the more his supporters just dig in, and its just baffling to me, said Chris Cournoyer, an Iowa state senator and Haley backer. If you really have your eye on the prize, we should be looking at the person that can win in November. And theres just so much drama and just so many unknowns with [Trump].

If we end up with Biden and Trump as our two choices in November  with all the people in this country, thats what our choices are? Cournoyer said. Thats crazy to me.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis argued Tuesday that his GOP presidential primary opponents campaign spending numbers suggest his rivals view him as a threat.

I had almost $50 million spent against me so far this presidential election campaign, DeSantis said Tuesday during a town hall with CNN. Thats more than has been spent against Joe Biden and Donald Trump combined. They wouldnt do that unless they saw me as a threat.

And one is the current president and one was a former president, but I think that should tell you something, he continued. They dont do that unless they think youre a threat.

DeSantis asserted former President Trump and President Biden perceive him as someone who will go to Washington to be a change agent.

This was the second time in as many days DeSantis referenced the nearly $50 million he claims his opponents shelled out for attacks. Speaking with a crowd in Des Moines, Iowa, following the states caucuses Monday night, DeSantis indicated he was in the race for the long haul despite coming in a distant second place behind Trump.

They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us, DeSantis told his supporters Monday night, adding later, we got our ticket punched out of Iowa.

Andrew Romeo, communications director for DeSantiss campaign, also took aim at Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley for spending what he said was a total of $24 million in false negative ads against the Florida governor.

An estimated $300 million worth of ads for Republican presidential nominees have been shown to voters in this presidential nomination cycle, according to analysis by NPR. A majority of that money is from super PACs and outside groups.

PACs and other outside groups shelled out the most for Haley, about $62.8 million, followed by DeSantis, who received about $54.8 million, NPR reported.

All eyes are now on New Hampshire, which will hold its primary Jan. 23. Haley has surpassed DeSantis in the Granite State while pulling to within about 8 points of Trump, according to the polling index from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ.

Tuesday polling showed Trump with about 41.4 percent support in New Hampshire, while Haley has the backing of about 33.4 percent. DeSantiss support has fallen to below 6 percent in the Granite State.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has decided to shift his presidential campaign away from New Hampshire just six days before the states first-in-the-nation Republican primary, a move that reflects his narrowing path to the 2024 GOP nomination.

DeSantis will instead reallocate the majority of his staff to South Carolina, the home state of rival Nikki Haley, with its primary in just over a month.

The moves were confirmed by a senior campaign official speaking to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to share internal strategy. CBS first reported the news.

The strategic shift by DeSantis underscores his weakness in the 2024 Republican nomination race after he finished a distant second to front-runner Donald Trump in Iowas caucuses Monday. DeSantis had made Iowa the centerpiece of his White House bid, yet Trump bested him by 30 percentage points there. Haley finished 2 percentage points behind DeSantis.

A CNN/University of New Hampshire poll conducted this month suggested that Haley could be approaching Trumps top spot in the state. About 4 in 10 likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire choose Trump, while about one-third picked Haley.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in response to the governors shift, DeSantis is still running?

DeSantis sidestepped a voters question about the lack of attention on New Hampshire as the candidate campaigned in the state Wednesday. He was set to return to Florida later in the day before making stops in South Carolina over the weekend.

DeSantis, when asked about his New Hampshire plans, said of Haley, I think her credibility is shot.

It was unclear whether DeSantis would return to New Hampshire at all before the Tuesday primary.

By shifting toward South Carolina, DeSantis team is trying to take advantage of Haleys perceived weakness in her home state, where Trump appears to have a significant advantage over both of them. Yet DeSantis allies believe that Haley will be forced to drop out of the race altogether if she loses South Carolinas Feb. 24 primary, giving DeSantis an opportunity to reemerge as a viable Trump alternative heading into the series of primary contests on March 5 known as Super Tuesday.

Its a risky strategy at best.

DeSantis made no mention of his decision when he held his first post-Iowa caucus event Wednesday in Hampton, New Hampshire, a seacoast town where the beach bars and souvenir shops were buried under piles of plowed snow.

Tom OKeefe, a retired engineer from nearby Nottingham, said he was a past Trump voter but felt like the Florida governor or Haley, a former U.N. ambassador, might offer a better chance of beating Democratic President Joe Biden in November.

OKeefe said DeSantis has not invested as much time in New Hampshire as he did in Iowa, which complicates his chances of winning here with less than a week to go.

I wish he really could, but I dont feel like he has it, and he doesnt have much time, OKeefe said about DeSantis pulling off a New Hampshire upset. Im saying a prayer that he will.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

DESPITE LEGAL TROUBLES, TRUMP CONTINUES TO HOLD COMMANDING LEAD

Two impeachments, a legal finding of liability for sexual abuse, a Congressional inquiry that found he fomented an insurrection and multiple felony indictments arent enough to turn California Republican voters off towards former President Donald Trump, who is running once again to seek the Republican nomination for president.

A new poll from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies finds that two-thirds (66%) of Republican primary voters are most likely to vote Trump in the March 5 primary election. Thats a nearly 10-percentage-point-increase from when Republican voters were surveyed last October.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley took a distant second place, with 11% support, while Florida Gov. (and Gavin Newsom nemesis) Ron DeSantis trailed with 8%.

Trump dominated in virtually every demographic category, according to Berkeley IGS, while Haley performed best among the relatively small segments of California Republicans who describe themselves as moderate or liberal in politics, those with a post graduate education and GOP voters living in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

Still, Trump is extremely unlikely to win a California head-to-head general election race with incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden.

The Berkeley poll found that Biden leads by 19 percentage points in a one-on-one matchup. The lead drops to 16 points when longshot independent candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West and Jill Stein are included.. Still, that lead is down significantly from the 30-point margin of victory Biden enjoyed against Trump in 2020.

These findings come from a survey of 8,199 registered California voters and between Jan. 4-8, with a sampling error ranging from 1.5% for overall registered voters, 2% for likely voters and 3.5% for likely Republican voters.. The poll survey of Republican voters included 1,351 likely voters.

LAWMAKER INTRODUCES BILL TO REMOVE INSURRECTIONISTS FROM BALLOT

Despite a plea from California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Secretary of State Shirley Weber expressed little appetite for removing Trump from the March 5 primary election ballot.

However, a new bill by State Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, would require the secretary of state to do just that, if the candidate has been credibly found to have participated in insurrection against the U.S. government.

Trump has repeatedly challenged the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, with no evidence. On Jan. 6, 2021, as Congress was certifying the results of that election, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and shut that process down, as Trump himself looked on from the White House.

Now, as Trump faces criminal liability for his alleged election interference, some states have taken up the question of whether to invoke the Fourteenth Amendments clause barring insurrectionists from seeking public office.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was ineligible to run for president in that state, and now the U.S. Supreme Court is set to take the matter up as well.

Mins bill, SB 929, would require the California secretary of state to determine a candidates eligibility before listing them on the presidential ballot.

If the bill becomes law, it could bar Trump from appearing on the November general election ballot.

While I recognize that many are uncomfortable with the proposition of actually applying this provision of the Constitution, I believe strongly that we are a nation of laws, and that the rule of law must apply to everyone equally, no matter how controversial that may be, Min said in a statement.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Mr. Speaker, liberty depends on the freedom of the press and journalists are often the first to expose government fraud, waste, abuse and encroachment on personal freedoms. In a free country, we need to make sure that the government cannot unmask journalists sources without good cause, and thats why the need for this legislation is so strong.

- Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives on behalf of House Resolution 4250, the PRESS Act, which would enact a federal shield law for journalists. Kiley is a co-author along with Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin.

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Education programs largely avoided steep cuts in Gov. Gavin Newsoms proposed 2024-25 budget, via Jenavieve Hatch .

Dual inquiries by national NAACP and Sacramento County officials following the suspected mismanagement of a county pandemic-era meals program by Greater Sacramento NAACP branch leaders are raising questions about whether county officials missed signs of potential self-dealing, via Darrell Smith .

New court filings shed light on seizure and slaughter of Cedar the goat, via Sam Stanton .

Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan will no longer be able to unilaterally direct the City Council to consider giving him a raise, via Theresa Clift.
Rickey Powell, the convicted felon who gunned down a George County sheriffs deputy on Jan. 4, shot and killed himself during an exchange of gunfire with authorities in the aftermath of the officers killing.

That was determined when the medical examiner did the autopsy, Sean Tindell, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety commissioner, told the Sun Herald.

After the 42-year-old Powell shot and killed George County Sheriffs Deputy Jeremy Malone after a traffic stop, witness Billy Mitchell jumped in his car and followed Powell to ensure authorities caught up with him.

The casket of George County Sheriffs Deputy Jeremy Malone is seen in a procession escorting Malones body from his funeral at Agricola Baptist Church in George County on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.

Powell then led authorities on a pursuit out of George County into Perry County, where the chase ended in the Beaumont Community. When Powells silver SUV came to a stop, Tindell said there was an exchange of gunfire before Powell shot and killed himself.

Information about Powells cause of death and other new details are starting to emerge as the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations continues its independent probe into the killings. MBI works under the direction of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, which Tindell heads up as MDPS commissioner.

Once the investigation is completed, the findings will be turned over to Attorney General Lynn Fitchs office for further review.

George County Sheriffs Deputy Jeremy Malone is pictured with his wife and children.

Powells death came within an hour of Malone initiating a traffic stop on Powells silver SUV on Mississippi 98 near Brushy Creek Road in the Rocky Creek community. Powell pulled over in a Dollar General parking lot, Tindell said, then got out of his SUV and gunned down Malone as he approached the vehicle.

Malone, 44, died at the scene.

At the time of the shooting, Tindell said, Malone was not equipped with a body camera to record the incident, but there were eyewitnesses at the store and possible dash cam footage.

Authorities believe Powell shot Malone because he knew hed likely go back to prison after the stop. Powell was a convicted felon carrying a gun, which is a felony offense, and he was wanted in Mobile County, Alabama, on a felony marijuana offense.

Law enforcement officers, primarily narcotics agents with the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team, knew who Powell was from his years of run-ins with authorities.

Powell had lived in Moss Point and surrounding areas for a significant portion of his life, and before that, he had lived in Alabama. At the time of his death, he was living in Purvis.

His problems with law enforcement began by the time he was 18 and arrested in Mobile.

Rickey Labarron Powell

In the years that followed, Powell was in and out of jail for committing various crimes, including attempts to avoid arrests by leading authorities on vehicle pursuits.

In one of the last pursuits before his death, Powell led Moss Point police officers on a chase through the city.

Powell had five felony convictions and spent time in prison for state and federal crimes that included convictions for assaulting a law enforcement officer, auto burglary, felony evading as a result of vehicle pursuit, and more.

Authorities in Alabama had hoped to pursue charges against Powell as a habitual offender. Before that could happen, Powell shot and killed the George County deputy.

Meanwhile, donations are still being accepted to help Malones family.

Those wishing to donate to the family may mail or deliver donations to the SMPDD office at 10441 Corporate Drive, Suite 1, Gulfport, MS, 39503. Checks should be made payable to the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, with the Fallen Officer Fund designation in the checks memo line.

To donate online, go to www.smpdd.com and click the Fallen Officer Fund Donate button to donate via PayPal, credit card or debit card.

In addition, Tindell set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses, which had raised over $45,000 as of Wednesday.

Wanted in Alabama, MS Coast deputys killer had string of high-speed pursuits & convictions

Man who shot, killed George County deputy is identified. He has a rap sheet.

George County sheriffs deputy killed in traffic stop was always there when you needed him
An EF2 tornado with wind speeds of up to 125 mph ripped through the small town of Bamberg last Tuesday afternoon causing the collapse of one brick building and seriously damaging several other adjacent properties on main street.

Members of Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue and Bluffton Township Fire District responded to Bambergs plea for assistance and traveled nearly 100 miles north to assist local first responders in securing the area. Five Hilton Head firefighters arrived Tuesday night, shortly after the tornado passed, with nine more members of the department pitching in on Wednesday. The firefighters responsibilities included assessing the damage and searching the area for anyone injured or trapped in the rubble. Given the severity of the destruction to the towns commercial buildings it is remarkable there were no reported injuries or fatalities.

Tornadoes are rated by their wind speed with an EF2 being the third most severe on a scale of zero to five. According to the National Weather Service, an EF2 tornado delivers destructive winds between 111 and 135 mph and is rated as significant.

Bamberg, South Carolina is damaged from an apparent tornado on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. The Tuesday storm damaged businesses and houses around the area.

Preparation is key

We train for it, Lt. Tim Huser said. Huser has been with the Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue for 14 years and is a member of one of the five regional teams that make up the South Carolina Emergency Response Task Force. Its something that a lot of us have seen before so it wasnt surprising.

The teams respond to a range of state disasters from earthquakes and hurricanes to churches catching on fire. Huser said not many people know about the teams and localities shouldnt hesitate to reach out to them for help.

Bamberg, South Carolina is damaged from an apparent tornado on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. The Tuesday storm damaged businesses and houses around the area.

Once a firefighter joins their local department, they must interview and take mandatory classes to join the task force. Then, they have to meet a minimum amount of training every year. Huser said it prepares them to stay safe and keep others safe.

Bamberg, South Carolina is damaged from an apparent tornado on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. The Tuesday storm damaged businesses and houses around the area.
The Missouri police have dug their heels into the sudden vanishing of four adults and two children believed to be in association with an online cult member who is currently behind bars. Their latest finding, however, suggests the group went off-grid on purpose.



Berkeley Police Maj. Steve Runge told NBC it is likely the group doesnt plan to be found given the recent bits of evidence hes collected.

Read more

Read more from NBC News:

Earlier this month, Yasmine Hider was hit with a 35-year prison sentence for her role in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Adam Simjee of Apopka, Florida, in the Talladega National Forest in Alabama. She and her accomplice, Krystal Pinkins, had been living off the grid in the forest when they tried to rob Simjee and his girlfriend. In social media postings seen by NBC News, Hider repeatedly mentioned Jamal. Pinkins, who received a life sentence for the Simjee killing, was also a follower of Jamal, according to various published reports.

The whole connecting to the cosmos, looking for portals to Africa in the Grand Canyon and hyperspiritual teachings would seemingly encourage a person to disconnect. However, their guru cant be of much guidance serving an 18-year sentence in prison on child molestation charges.

Actually, he denied knowing these people at all.

I am pretty sure I have never met these people. I get on my phone and I give a lecture. I go live, and then I get off the phone. I do not know the people that are in my live(stream). Its too many people, he said in a phone interview with St. Louis Post-Dispatch from Georgia prison.

He also denied being a cult leader but insisted he was an educator on metaphysics, molecular biology, Black history - and so on and so forth. With that being said, he then argued that the police put a target on his back upon the groups disappearance.

Berkeley Police Maj. Runge could not be reached for comment on next steps in the investigation.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  During a Wednesday press conference, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine revealed a sting operation that saw minors purchasing intoxicating hemp products from a gas station in the state.

On Wednesday, DeWine was joined by multiple public officials during his press conference to discuss the dangers of intoxicating hemp. At one point, Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson presented images of THC-infused candies compared to images of actual candy, to make the point that intoxicating hemp products are targeted at children. Wilson also said that he had conducted a sting operation to send minors into a local gas station, where he claims they purchased the products without having their ages checked.

Sen. Sherrod Brown says hes a target, pointing at opponents wealth and funding

DeWine said that the manufacturers of intoxicating hemp products knowingly target minors. He called on the state legislature to take immediate action. Additionally, he urged local business owners to take the products off their shelves.

DeWine first brought attention to the issue in early January. The products are currently legal due to a loophole in the 2018 farm bill despite causing marijuana-like effects  intoxicating hemp is defined as having a high-inducing active ingredient derived or processed from hemp.

Because the federal and state hemp laws refer only to delta-9 THC content, that left the door open for hemp producers to create products different types of THC, like delta-8 THC, said Tom Haren, Chair of Cannabis Practice at Frantz Ward.

Senate race: Dolan fires shots, Brown gets boost, J.D. Vance feuds with LaRose

In DeWines first public comments about intoxicating hemp, he claimed that children as young as 12, 13 and 14 years old can buy the products and that they are hallucinogenic. However, the owner of Columbus Botanical Depot challenged those claims as false.

In early January, DeWine said that State Sen. Stephen Huffman is currently drafting a bill to address intoxicating hemp. As of Wednesdays press conference, the bill was still being drafted.

The Ohio Senate passed HB86  its version of the recreational marijuana bill  in December. The bill, which is currently awaiting a vote in the Ohio House of Representatives, addressed hemp products. It added additional definitions to close several loopholes that unintentionally allow for the sale of hemp products with additional THC compounds that have an intoxicating effect.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Republicans leading impeachment hearings into Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have asked for written testimony from Mayorkas after saying he declined to testify in person, but a letter obtained by NBC News indicates he was willing to testify on a different date than the one requested.

The Republican-led Homeland Security Committee had asked Mayorkas via letter to testify this Thursday, Jan. 18. The letter did not offer alternative dates for Mayorkas to appear.

In a letter responding to the committee sent last Thursday, Jan. 11, the Department of Homeland Security said Mayorkas could not testify this week for scheduling reasons, in part because he was scheduled to host Mexican government officials to discuss border enforcement.

In keeping with the Secretarys commitment to cooperate with Congressional Committees, he will make himself available to testify before the Committee, said the DHS letter. We look forward to working through the details with Committee staff and agreeing upon the date and structure of the hearing. As you can appreciate, the Secretarys schedule is quite committed with the work of the Department including hosting Mexican Cabinet Members next week to discuss border enforcement.

The Mexican delegation, which includes members of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors Cabinet, is traveling to Washington to discuss and negotiate new policies to stem the flow of migration. The negotiations began last month when Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken went to Mexico to ask Mexico to do more to stop U.S.-bound migrants.

Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee, led by Chairman Mark Green of Tennessee, said in their letter that they are offering the Secretary the opportunity to submit written testimony for the record in defense of his refusal to follow the laws of the United States and betrayal of the public trust.

Two Democratic sources said Republicans on the committee refused to offer more dates for Mayorkas, in part because they want to have a vote to impeach him by the end of the month.

A spokesperson for DHS said that by refusing to offer more dates, its abundantly clear that they are not interested in hearing from Secretary Mayorkas since it doesnt fit into their bad faith, predetermined and unconstitutional rush to impeach him.

It was not immediately clear whether Mayorkas will submit written testimony to the committee. A DHS official noted that Mayorkas has testified before Congress more than any other Biden Cabinet member, 27 times over 35 months, where he has focused mostly on answering questions about immigration at the southern border.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Arizona Department of Public Safety deputies arrested a man last week in connection to a road rage shooting that occurred in early January.

Documents indicate that the agency received calls on the afternoon of Jan. 4 regarding a man covered in blood standing next to an SUV on Interstate 10 near Chandler Boulevard. Another call came from a Chevron station near that location, where a man claimed he was injured with a gunshot wound to the face.

The man told deputies and officers with the Gila River Police Department that the shooter was driving in a black Mercedes. The man was later taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition. Documents note that the man's car had what appeared to be a bullet hole in the driver-side window.

Detectives interviewed the man on Jan. 10, who told them he was driving on Interstate 10 when another man, later identified as 39-year-old Salvatore Kupreisis, cut him off before flipping him off in the rearview mirror.

According to documents, the man reported that he and Kupreisis had a verbal altercation, and when he attempted to pass Kupreisis, he matched his speed, leading to another argument. During this argument, the man claimed that Kupreisis pointed a finger at him like a gun. The man stated that he flipped off Kupreisis as their vehicles were separating, and he felt a gunshot. Subsequently, he pulled over, as detailed in the documents.

Police extracted and reviewed footage from a forward-facing dash camera in the man's car, which captured a black Mercedes with a license plate that returned Kupreisis' name.

According to documents, the man identified Kupreisis as the shooter from a lineup of driver's license photos. Detectives located and surveilled Kupreisis at Gila River Lone Butte Casino around 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 12. He was subsequently arrested once he left the casino at 6:25 p.m.

According to documents, detectives discovered keys to a Toyota Camry with temporary plates. Upon obtaining a search warrant, investigators found paperwork dated Jan. 8 indicating that Kupreisis had traded the Mercedes into a local car dealership.

Kupreisis was booked into jail on numerous felonies including attempted murder, drive-by shooting and aggravated assault. He is being held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court next on Jan. 19.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DPS arrest man suspected of road-rage shooting on I-10 that injured 1
The Illinois Supreme Court is forming a new task force consisting of justices from each of the five state appellate courts to review appeals of pre-trial detention cases brought before their courts.

The court cited a "dramatic" increase in the number of pre-trial release appeals since the Pretrial Fairness Act came into effect in September from circuit courts across the state as the rationale for forming the new Pretrial Release Appeals Task Force, which will have its first meeting within the next two weeks.

Data from the court shows that 1,376 appeals were filed in the final four months of 2023, with the Fourth Appellate District  including Sangamon County  making up 32% of all appeals.

More: 'Always living with a smile on his face,' but SHS coach is up against the fight of his life

Justice Eugene Doherty of the Fourth District will chair the new commission alongside Justice David Ellis of the First Appellate District (Chicago and Cook County), Justice Margaret Mullen of the Second Appellate District (Kane, Lake, McHenry, Kendall and DeKalb counties), Justice Lance Peterson of the Third Appellate District (DuPage, Will, LaSalle, Kankakee, Iroquois, Grundy and Bureau counties) and Justice Mark Boie of the Fifth Appellate District (most of southern Illinois).

Those justices are tasked with reviewing pre-trial appeals and their impact on each of the five appellate districts. They will also consult with related parties, such as the Illinois Attorney General's Office, the State's Attorney Appellate Prosecutor's Office, the State Appellate Defender's Office, each of the five appellate court clerks and the Illinois Appellate Lawyer's Association to get their thoughts on the current situation.

The task force will issue a report of their findings to the Supreme Court within 45 days.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Rise in pre-trial appeals leads to Illinois Supreme Court task force
SAN DIEGO  A motorcyclist was critically injured in a crash involving a single vehicle in Miramar Tuesday evening, authorities said.

According to the San Diego Police Department, a 71-year-old woman was driving a 2022 Chevy Bolt southbound in the 800 block of Padgett Street shortly before 5:30 p.m. She stopped at the a stop sign at the intersection with Miramar Road.

Woman killed in wrong-way I-8 crash; DUI suspect arrested

At that same time, police said a 21-year-old man was riding a Yamaha R1 motorcycle westbound on the 9300 block of Miramar Road in the westbound left lane.

According to SDPD, the woman proceeded straight from the stop sign across the westbound lanes of Miramar Road to turn left onto eastbound Miramar Road. She reportedly pulled into the path of the motorcycle.

At that point, the motorcycle impacted the vehicle in the front left quarter panel, authorities said. The man sustained a traumatic brain injury, fractured left rib, liver laceration, and broken right elbow. The woman was not injured in the crash.

SDPD Traffic Division officers responded to the scene and are investigating the collision. Anyone with information related to the crash is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
A 30-year-old man died Wednesday after the vehicle he was driving crashed into a utility pole in Merced County, according to authorities.

At about 2:17 a.m., California Highway Patrol officers responded to the crash in the area of Santa Fe Drive, north of Bradbury Road, according to the CHP. Arriving officers and medical personnel found the driver trapped inside due to live power lines on top of the vehicle.

The Turlock Irrigation District cut power to the lines and medical personnel rendered aid to the driver, who died of his injuries at the scene. According to the CHP, the man was driving a 2002 Toyota Camry north on Santa Fe Drive at an unknown speed, when the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a utility pole and a chain link fence.

Authorities said the driver was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and it is unknown if drugs or alcohol were a factor.

The crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to contact CHP Officer Salas at 209-356-6600 or the after hours office line at 209-356-2900.
A driver was hospitalized after crashing an SUV into a local garage of a home over the weekend.

>>STAY INFORMED: Latest school, business closures and delays

Beavercreek Police and medics were dispatched to the 400 block of Twelve Oaks Trail Saturday morning at 3:22 a.m. on initial reports of a one-vehicle crash.

A grey Honda SUV was traveling eastbound on Plantation Place when the driver went off the right side of the road at Twelve Oaks Trail, ran over a mailbox, went through a yard, and struck the garage of a home, Captain Scott Molnar told News Center 7.

Medics transported the driver to the hospital with minor injuries.

The driver was cited was cited for failure to control.

The estimated cost of damages to the home is not known currently.
Dua Lipa believes the public perception of her is far more one-dimensional than shed like.

The British-Albanian pop star, 28, has made headlines over the years as much for her political statements as for her musical achievements.

Along with her music career, which saw her break through in 2017 with the release of her hit single New Rules, she has launched a lifestyle newsletter, a book club, and an international music festival.

She is currently working on her third album, due for release next year, as well as preparing for the 2024 Grammy Awards, where she is nominated for Song of the Year.

In her cover interview with Rolling Stone, the singer appeared frustrated at being underestimated.

I don't know if people believe that I like to read books, she said. They don't want you to be political. They don't want you to be smart. There is so much more to me than just what I do.

Dua Lipa: I dont know if people believe that I like to read books (Getty Images for FIJI Water)

Dua Lipa said her existence was kind of political due to her familys history, with her parents fleeing the Kosovo war in the late Nineties.

I feel for people who have to leave their home. From my experience of being in Kosovo and understanding what war does, no-one really wants to leave their home, she said.

They do it for protection, to save their family, to look after the people around them, that kind of thing, for a better life. So I feel close to it.

In October last year, Dua Lipa signed a petition calling on US president Joe Biden to urge for and help facilitate a ceasefire in Gaza.

In her interview, she said she had observed parallels between her parents experience and the current situation for Palestinians.

I don't condone what Hamas is doing, she said, referencing the terrorist groups deadly attack on Israel. I feel so bad for every Israeli life lost and what happened on 7 October.

At the moment, what we have to look at is how many lives have been lost in Gaza, and the innocent civilians, and the lives that are just being lost.

There are just not enough world leaders that are taking a stand and speaking up about the humanitarian crisis that's happening, the humanitarian ceasefire that has to happen.

Dua Lipa at the European premiere of Barbie (PA Wire)

Dua Lipa also hit back at those who joked about her frequent social media posts showing her on holiday.

Following an extensive 2022 world tour and promotion for the release of her second album, Future Nostalgia, she took time off to travel last year and was pictured in glamorous locations including Cannes and Ibiza, leading some fans to dub her vacanza queen.

I think people are quick to forget, she said. I was on tour up until the end of December. I felt like I missed out on so much time with my family and friends. It shows how short our attention span is, which is why music comes out so much faster.

She continued: Of course, I was going to f***ing holiday and chill [during] the year that I was just going in the studio and had some time off. As long as Im doing my job, hitting my deadlines, and getting my s*** done, then I will find a way to relax, too. Its really work hard and play hard. Why not?

Dua Lipa is up for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year with her hit single Dance the Night Away, from the soundtrack to Greta Gerwigs blockbuster hit Barbie: The Movie. The ceremony is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on 4 February.
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda on the sidelines of the Davos forum on Jan. 16, Zelensky wrote on the social media platform X.

Just as the two leaders met to discuss bilateral relations, Polish truckers unblocked the last crossing point at the Ukraine border the same day. Zelensky and Duda last met at the UN General Assembly in September 2023, when tensions over Ukrainian grain exports were gaining momentum.

We discussed the battlefield situation and further defense assistance for Ukraine, Zelensky said.

The presidents also talked about cooperation on Ukraine's path to the EU and coordinated positions ahead of the NATO summit in Washington.

According to Duda, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will visit Kyiv in a few days, making it his first visit to Ukraine since he became the leader of the Polish government in December.

Duda said earlier that Russia's war against Ukraine would be one of the main topics of the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying that Ukraine's peace formula could be the basis for victory.

A 10-point peace plan includes the restoration of the country's territorial integrity, a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, and holding those responsible for war crimes accountable.

Zelensky held a series of talks as part of his trip to Switzerland, including with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Zelensky attends Davos forum, meets NATO, EU chiefs

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Durham Public Schools and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will each get millions of dollars to start a high school program for students interested in pursuing healthcare careers after graduation.

Bloomberg Philanthropies announced Wednesday that it is awarding $250 million in grants to create high schools around the nation that will graduate students directly into healthcare jobs. The grants will pair public education systems and hospitals in 10 communities.

For too long, our education system has failed to prepare students for good jobs in high-growth industries, Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and former New York City mayor, said in a news release.

By combining classroom learning with hands-on experience, these specialized healthcare high schools will prepare students for careers with opportunities for growth and advancement. America needs more healthcare workers, and we need a stronger, larger middle-class  and this is a way to help accomplish both goals.

Duke Health, Durham Technical Community College and Durham Public Schools will get $29.5 million. It was not immediately clear how much CMS and Atrium Health will get in their joint grant.

Durham and Charlotte were the only two North Carolina communities to receive grants. Other communities getting them include Boston, Dallas, Nashville, New York City and Philadelphia.

Durham partnership will lead to high-demand jobs

The Middle College at Durham Tech will expand into an early college high school where students can graduate with both a high school diploma and an associates degree or workforce credential. The school will be at Durham Tech in a newly renovated space.

Students will graduate with one or more credentials required to fill positions such as certified nursing assistant, emergency medical technician, phlebotomist and central sterile processing technician. Graduates will have an immediate pathway to jobs or research roles at Duke Health.

Its about creating a high-quality pathway to some of the most important jobs in our community, Durham Tech president J.B. Buxton said in a news release. Its about making sure our healthcare workforce looks like the patients it serves.

The program is expected to open in fall 2025 with 100 ninth-grade students. It will add 100 students for each of the next three years.

Durham Public Schools already offers medical career-focused courses and experiences at its City of Medicine Academy. But school leaders said the new partnership will allow them to do even more.

This innovative partnership marks a significant milestone in our collective commitment to provide students with unparalleled opportunities and prepare them for successful futures in the dynamic health sciences sector, Durham Superintendent Pascal Mubenga said in a news release. This will also help us keep qualified talent right here in Durham to strengthen our network of care.
NEW YORK  A federal judge threatened to bounce former President Donald Trump from the courtroom Wednesday after a lawyer for E. Jean Carroll said he repeatedly made comments within earshot of the jury at his latest civil defamation trial.

"Mr. Trump, I hope I don't have to consider excluding you from the trial, Judge Lewis Kaplan told the 2024 Republican presidential frontrunner after Carroll's lawyer complained that the jury could hear him disparaging the former advice columnist's testimony. I understand you're probably eager for me to do that.

I would love it, Trump growled from the defense table.

You just can't control yourself in this circumstance, apparently, Judge Kaplan said.

'I'm known as a liar, a fraud, and a whack job'

Carroll, 80, has claimed Trump, 77, sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room almost 30 years ago. The trial in lower Manhattan will determine what, if any, damages Trump might owe Carroll after he publicly denied her allegations in 2019 when he was president.

On Wednesday, Carroll told the jury that Trump's attacks in June 2019, after she first went public with her allegations, led to an avalanche of abuse and threats. She said she physically ducked after reading the first emailed death threat. "I thought I was gonna get shot," Carroll said.

More: Jury finds Donald Trump liable in civil sex abuse case of E. Jean Carroll

Carroll's lawyer Roberta Kaplan (no relation to the judge) led her through some of the threats she had received. One said the "penalty for lying about rape should be execution by hanging or firing squad," while another said "stick a gun in your mouth and pull the trigger and send yourself to HELL."

"I spent 50 years building a reputation," Carroll said. "Now I'm known as a liar, a fraud, and a whack job."

Disparaging comments within earshot of the jury

A lawyer for Carroll complained to the judge at a morning break from testimony and again during a lunch break that she could hear Trump making statements that shouldn't be heard by the jury. The attorney, Shawn Crowley, said she overheard Trump say "It is a witch hunt" and "It really is a con job." Some of the jurors, Crowley added, were sitting closer to Trump than she was.

Carroll's team began the morning by calling Carroll herself to the stand, as they make their case that Trump ruined her reputation and caused her to live in fear through his denials of sexually assaulting her.

Even as Trump made a courtroom appearance during jury selection on Tuesday, he continued to attack Carroll on his Truth Social platform as a woman with a "fake story" who is "seeking fame, fortune, and publicity." That behavior was still on display Wednesday, when Trump attended the full day's proceedings. He posted that Carroll's are accusations "false" and the case a "HOAX."

The ongoing attacks could come back to haunt him. Crowley raised them during opening statements Tuesday, saying there were 22 just that day as of her team's last count and jurors should think about how much money it will take to make the "self-proclaimed billionaire" stop.

"It's time to show him no one is above the law," Crowley said.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 8: E. Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan federal court on May 8, 2023 in New York City. Attorneys for E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump are set to give closing arguments Monday morning in the battery and defamation trial against the former president in Manhattan federal court. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775975213 ORIG FILE ID: 1253154783

More: No, Trump is not required to register as a sex offender after E. Jean Carroll case | Fact check

Trump's team, for their part, characterized Carroll as an attention-seeker who herself is to blame for the negative attention and threats she's received.

"She wants President Trump to pay for the risks she took," Trump lawyer Alina Habba told the jurors Tuesday. "Her career has prospered and she has been thrust back into the limelight like she always wanted."

What's the case about?

The case ties back to two lengthy denials Trump made while president in 2019 after Carroll came forward publicly with allegations that he raped her in a department store dressing room. Trump called her allegations "a disgrace" and said "people should pay dearly for such false accusations.

Crowley mirrored Trump's own language when she spoke to the jury on Tuesday, saying it is now his turn to "pay dearly for what he's done."

In May, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and for defaming her in a 2022 statement calling her a "con job," though it didn't find him liable for rape. He was ordered to pay a combined $5 million.

Donald Trump (left) and E. Jean Carroll (second from left, with then-husband John Johnson) in a photograph Carroll says dates from a 1987 party they attended. Ivana Trump is on the right.

More: 'We are not the liars. He is': Trump #MeToo accuser reacts to E. Jean Carroll verdict

Judge Kaplan has ruled Trump isn't allowed to argue to the current jurors that he didn't assault Carroll in light of that May verdict. Instead, the trial is restricted to determining what if any damages he must pay for harm caused by the 2019 statements and to deter Trump from ongoing defamatory attacks against Carroll.

Trump has stated he plans to attend the trial and "explain I don't know who the hell she is." Kaplan denied Trump's request for a delay to the trial in light of funeral arrangements for Melania Trump's mother, but did say Trump could have until Monday to testify even if other aspects of the trial conclude this week.

Trump mistrial request rejected

Carroll testified that she may have deleted threatening messages after the lawsuit began, saying she "didn't know how to handle death threats" and wanted them out of her mind. Habba pointed to it as grounds for a mistrial. "The witness just admitted to deleting emails," Habba said.

Judge Kaplan swiftly denied the request.

It was one of a series of tense exchanges between Habba and the judge. Habba opened the day by asking once again for scheduled proceedings on Thursday to be cancelled in light of funeral arrangements for Melania Trump's mother, even though Judge Kaplan has repeatedly denied that request in recent days.

Judge Kaplan instructed Habba to "please sit down" and she retorted that she didn't like how he was speaking to her. "I'm asking for an adjournment," she said. "It's denied, sit down," he replied.

Judge Kaplan also reproached Habba several times for attempting to introduce evidence improperly and trying to make statements about different laws in front of the jury, such as license requirements for the gun Carroll testified she inherited and keeps near her bed.

In cross-examination that is set to continue on Thursday, Habba asked Carroll about television appearances in which she discussed her allegations against Trump, as well as why Carroll didn't report death threats to the police.

"I'd be calling them constantly to come to my house," Carroll said.

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: E. Jean Carroll's evidence begins in Trump defamation damages trial
E Jean Carroll took the witness stand on Wednesday morning in her defamation trial against Donald Trump, marking the first time she has confronted the ex-president in a courtroom. Carrolls testimony so incensed Trump that he had numerous outbursts, prompting the judge to warn that he could be kicked out of court.

Im here because Donald Trump assaulted me, and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened, Carroll testified. He lied, and it shattered my reputation.

When Carroll first took the stand, Trump could be seen whispering to his lead attorney, Alina Habba. He sat with slightly hunched shoulders as Carroll testified.

As Carroll spoke, Trump complained audibly and appeared to double down on defamatory denials, her lawyer said during a morning break in the proceedings.

Mr Trump has been sitting at the back table and has been loudly saying things throughout Ms Carrolls testimony, said attorney Shawn Crowley.

Its loud enough for us to hear it, Crowley said, so I imagine its loud enough for the jury to hear it.

Before court resumed after the break, Judge Lewis Kaplan cautioned: Im just going to ask Mr Trump to take special care to keep his voice down when conferring with counsel, so that the jury does not overhear.

Trump did not heed Kaplans instruction and, before the lunch break, Crowley brought up his comments again.

The defendant has been making statements again [that] we can hear at counsel table, Crowley said.

He said it is a witch-hunt, it really is a con-job.

Kaplan said: Mr Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited, and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which is what has been reported to me, and if he disregards court orders.

Mr Trump, I hope I dont have to consider excluding you from the trial  I understand you are probably very eager for me to do that.

I would love it, I would love it, Trump said and gestured.

I know you would, you just cant control yourself in this circumstance, apparently.

You cant either.

Following Carrolls initial remarks, one of her attorneys, Roberta Kaplan, asked the former Elle columnist questions about her career. Jurors heard how Carroll ascended from writing articles for high-profile publications to landing the columnist position, as well as a talkshow and authoring multiple books.

Carroll is suing Trump over his June 2019 denials of her rape claim against him. This trial will determine damages.

Related: Trump used platform to tear E Jean Carrolls name to shreds, court hears

This weeks proceedings mark Carrolls second defamation trial against Trump. In May, a jury found the former US president liable of sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5m in damages.

Carroll said Trump raped her almost three decades ago, in the changing room of an upscale Manhattan department store. She came forward with her account in 2019 when an excerpt from her book, What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal, ran in New York magazine.

Trump, who was in the White House when Carrolls claim surfaced, quickly attacked, saying: Ive never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book  that should indicate her motivation. It should be sold in the fiction section. Carroll sued him in 2019, maintaining that Trumps denials smeared her reputation, sparking online abuse and serious threats.

During her testimony, Carroll explained the chain of events that unfolded after the excerpt ran. Carroll said she had never told anyone publicly about the incident.

Carroll said she expected him to respond, but not in the way that he did.

I expected him to deny it, but to say it was consensual, when it was not. But thats what I expected him to say.

Is that what Trump did?

No, Carroll said.

Roberta Kaplan referred to the language in Trumps denials.

The thing that really got me about this was, from the White House, he asked if anyone had any information about me, and if they did, to please come forward as soon as possible, because he wanted the world to know whats really going on  and that people like me should pay dearly, she said.

Carroll described the barrage of threats received in the years since Trumps comments.

I hope you die soon. I hope someone really does attack, rape and murder you, one missive presented in court stated.

Another simply said: Rape Jean rape jean.

Carroll described the methods she has taken to protect herself at her home in upstate New York. She bought a pit bull who goes leash-less on her property.

He now patrols very eagerly and enthusiastically, Carroll said. She also purchased bullets for the gun that had belonged to her father.

Roberta Kaplan asked Carroll where she kept the gun.

By my bed, Carroll said.

Much of Carrolls testimony detailed Trumps continuing to make statements about her after he was found liable of sexual abuse and defamation. This relates to jurors decision on damages, as they must determine a sum that would deter him from making similar statements.

Habbas cross-examination of Carroll bounced between themes. She questioned Carroll on the deletion of threats, suggesting that the extent was not great.

Habba said: So as [you] sit here today, I have no way of knowing how many death threats you have received, nor do the police?

Habba also tried to discredit Carroll by noting that the gun she has for protection is not registered.

Habbas cross-examination resumes on Thursday.

Carroll was initially not able to sue Trump for sexual assault, because the incident fell outside the civil statute of limitations. But in 2022, New York states Adult Survivors Act gave adult victims of sexual misconduct a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers for incidents outside this statute of limitations.

default

Carroll sued Trump once again, this time citing sexual assault and defamation claims for statements Trump made when he was no longer president. Judge Kaplan determined the key facts in that case would be accepted in this second trial  Trump cannot relitigate Carrolls rape claim.

Crowley, for Carroll, said in her opening that jurors needed to impose damages that would stop Trump from continuing to smear her client.

He is continuing to tell these lies to this very day  earlier this month, last week, even today. You will hear that as Donald Trump faces trial over how much money it will take to get him to stop defaming Ms Carroll, he keeps doing it. He sat in this courthouse. You saw him, Crowley said.

At the end of this trial, it will be your job to decide how much money Donald Trump should pay for what hes done to Ms Carroll, and how much money he should pay, it will take, to get him to stop defaming her, so that Ms Carroll can maybe, finally, live her life in peace, Crowley said.

We submit that that number should be significant. Very significant. Donald Trump, after all, is a self-proclaimed billionaire.
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Judge Lewis Kaplan threatened to kick Donald Trump out of court during E. Jean Carrolls second defamation trial against the former president.

Throughout Carrolls testimony on Wednesday, Trump maintained a stream of commentary and reactions from his place at the defense table. During a break in which the jury was excluded, Carrolls attorneys told the judge that if they could hear Trumps comments, it was likely the jury could as well. When the trial resumed, Kaplan asked that the former president take special care to keep his voice down when hes conferring with counsel so that the jury does not overhear it.

Trump clearly didnt get the message, because shortly after Kaplan threatened to have him outright removed from the courtroom.

Mr. Trump has the right to be present here, but that right can be forfeited and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive and if he disregards court orders, Kaplan said. I understand you are very eager for me to do that, I know you would because you just cant control yourself in this circumstance.

Trump responded by raising his hands. I would love it, he said.

I know you would, the judge countered.

The second day of the trial featured also featured several extremely tense exchanges between Kaplan and Trumps lawyer, Alina Habba.

The trial, which will determine what additional damages Trump owes Carroll after already having been found liable for sexual abuse and defamation last year, began on Tuesday alongside a barrage of attacks against Carroll by the former president. Shortly after arriving in court on Wednesday, Habba re-upped a previously denied bid to delay the trial so that Trump could attend the funeral of his mother-in-law Amalija Knavs  which hasnt stopped him from maintaining a packed roster of campaign events.

The application is denied, Kaplan told Habba, telling her to sit down and reminding her that Trump was not required to be present in the courtroom for the trial, and could attend the funeral if he wanted to. I will hear no further argument on it. None. Do you understand that word? None. Please sit down, he said.

I dont like to be spoken to that way. And we are going to be here for several days, Habba responded.

Tensions continued to simmer throughout Carrolls testimony. According to Politico, after Habba raised an objection from her seat at the defense table, Kaplan reprimanded her. When you speak in this courtroom, youll stand up, he said.

Politico reported that at one point during Carrolls time on the stand, Habba referenced pursuing a potential line of questioning that had been declared off-limits by Kaplan. The last I heard, Ms. Habba, I do not need announcements from counsel about what they intend to do, Kaplan interjected, once again telling her to sit down.

On Truth Social, Trump wrote Wednesday afternoon that he felt an obligation to be at every moment of this ridiculous trial because we have a seething and hostile Clinton-appointed Judge, Lewis Kaplan, who suffers from a major case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. The former president accused Kaplan of being extraordinarily hostile to his team, and of being abusive, rude, and obviously not impartial.

Habba herself attempted to accuse Kaplan of impartiality in court, submitting a request that the judge recuse himself from the trial under the guise that one of Carrolls attorneys had once served as his law clerk. Habba also complained of feeling a sense of general hostility from Kaplan, who denied her motion.

Carroll testified that since coming forward with her allegations that the former president raped her in the nineties, she has paid just about as dearly as is possible to pay, and that Trumps accusations that she made up her claims for monetary gain are a lie.

To have the President of the United States, one of the most powerful persons on Earth, calling me a liar for three days and saying Im a liar 26 times  I counted them  it ended the world that I had been living in. And I entered a new world, Carroll said of Trumps 2019 response to her allegations of sexual assault, adding that since coming forward she receives scores and scores of threatening and harassing messages, sometimes hundreds a day.

Carroll also described the various safety measures shes taken since coming forward, including hiring security for her court appearances and purchasing bullets for the gun I had inherited from my father.

Despite it all, Carroll told the court shes handling it all as best she can. I always say Im fine. That is what I say when people ask me how I am, she said.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Tourists looking for a good spot to view the April 8 eclipse are hitting the road. A new report from rental company RVshare found a 2,000% increase in RV rentals for the weekend of April 8 compared to the same time last year.

The RV rental surge could help many small towns along the eclipse path, like Ingram, Texas.

Were going to have vendors from the local area, were going to have bands on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, were going to have a VIP tent for some people who just come in on Monday, said Marvin Willis.

Willis serves as the eclipse watch party event organizer for Ingram. The town, with a population of nearly 2,000 residents, is a few miles west of Kerrville. That area of the state is expected to see up to nearly 500,000 visitors during the eclipse.

Weve never had 100,000 people in our town, but wed love to have as many as we can take, Willis said.

According to Willis, their festival grounds have hookups for 12 large RVs and around 200 small campers. Since publishing news about their festival on his Facebook page just one week ago, theyve had nearly one hundred people say theyre going to the watch party.

Its gonna be hard to travel from one side of the town to the other, Willis said.

Planning a trip? How to view Aprils total solar eclipse from a plane

Funds raised at the four-day watch party will go back to the town, repairing the very roads many RVs will be driving in on.

Were a small city, we can use it. I mean, I hit two potholes on the way home today, Willis said.

Rising Demand for RV Rentals

Willis can likely expect even more RVs visiting as the eclipse approaches. According to RVshare, theyre seeing seven times as many rentals as they typically do during Memorial Day weekend, usually the companys biggest weekend of the year.

I think a lot of people are interested in watching the eclipse from the beautiful like hill country, said Maddi Bourgerie, travel expert with RVshare.

Eclipse childrens book brings Mars family to Austin; teaches kids eye safety

According to Bourgerie, the greatest demand for RVs is in Texas, specifically in Austin and San Antonio.

RV demand has also spiked in Ohio and Arkansas, other states in the eclipse path.

In the last Eclipse (in 2017), we saw about 150% of bookings jumped during that time. So were definitely seeing more interest this time around, Bourgerie said that increased interest in this eclipse and awareness of the rental service likely contributes to this increase.

Bourgerie said rentals are ramping up as the eclipse nears. RVs are expected to sell out along the eclipse path, but those further out will still be available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
An elderly Philadelphia man died in a shootout with police Wednesday morning.

The victim has not been identified, and authorities did not confirm that he was killed by officers, local NBC affiliate WCAU reported. Responding officers said they believed the man was in his 70s.

The incident began when an officer on patrol spotted a pickup truck apparently crashed on the side of Roosevelt Boulevard in northeast Philadelphia, according to WCAU.

A cop exited his patrol car and asked the man with the truck if he needed help, but he was turned down and began walking back to his vehicle, local CBS affiliate KYW reported. However, as he was returning to his car, he heard multiple gunshots, according to police officials.

As the shots rang out, the officer took cover and called for backup, according to KYW. Additional cops arrived, and a standoff began, police said.

During the barricade situation, the man began throwing things out of his vehicle, but no officers opened fire, according to authorities.

Eventually, police called for a SWAT team. Police said the man opened fire on that team, and the SWAT officers returned fire, local Fox affiliate WTXF reported.

The man was later found dead inside the truck, according to WTXF. A gun was also found in the vehicle, according to police. No officers were wounded.

We dont know, as far as who struck who, deputy police commissioner Frank Vanore said at a Wednesday morning press conference.

A witness told WCAU that the standoff and shootout lasted about 20 minutes.

It was intense, Evan Crookham told the station. It was like a small warzone over there.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigned across all 99 Iowa counties to much fanfare, repeatedly touting the feat and holding a rally to celebrate its completion.

Yet in the end he didnt win a single county. Former President Donald Trump romped to victory in the Iowa Caucuses, relegating DeSantis to a distant second place.

Trump won 98 Iowa counties Monday. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley won the other county, and that was by just one vote.

DeSantis much-touted commitment to earning Iowa votes by campaigning relentlessly in the state proved to be no match for Trumps fervent base of supporters, who delivered him a 30-point win even as he spent much less time than DeSantis in Iowa.

DeSantis second place finish was enough for him to declare that his campaign got our ticket punched out of Iowa, and he appears set on continuing his presidential bid, holding events in South Carolina Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon, he told NBC News he was all in the race for the White House, whatever happens in Iowa: "We're going on with this. We've been built for the long haul. It's all about the accumulation of delegates."

Getting past Trump, however, appears to be a monumental task, as Iowa showed. DeSantis may have missed his best opportunity to shake up the race by not finishing stronger, said University of Iowa political science professor Tim Hagle.

"He really needed to close that gap to be able to make the case he was the most viable alternative to Trump and he needed some distance between himself and Haley to make that argument strong and it just didnt happen, Hagle said.

High favorability doesn't equal votes

DeSantis did leave frigid Iowa, where the temperature dropped below zero for the coldest Caucus ever, with some modest victories.

The governor outperformed the final polls in the race showing him in third behind Haley. He improved as a campaigner and impressed many GOP voters. Polls show the majority of Iowa Republicans view DeSantis favorably.

Yet many of these voters picked Trump instead, while Haley is winning anti-Trump Republicans  leaving DeSantis caught in the middle and struggling to find a path to primary wins.

DeSantis strategy was to try to pull those Trump supporters over and it didnt happen and Haley was scooping up the other folks," Hagle said.

New Hampshire (Jan. 23) and South Carolina (Feb. 24) are up next, but DeSantis trails both Trump and Haley in the two states, according to recent polls.

DeSantis supporters believe he can compete with Trump if the race becomes a one-on-one contest. Haley stands in his way, though, and she is moving into more favorable political territory. New Hampshire has a more moderate electorate that could benefit Haley, who was South Carolina's governor from 2011 to 2017.

Meanwhile, Iowa increased the sense of inevitability around Trumps nomination.

Presidential candidate and Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis speaks to supporters at the Sheraton in West Des Moines after he came in second to former president Donald Trump in the Iowa Caucus on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.

Its probably not DeSantis time

Voters attending one of DeSantis last campaign events in Iowa illustrated the candidates dilemma.

Among four voters interviewed at the Chrome Horse Saloon, a biker bar in Cedar Rapids where DeSantis drew a crowd of roughly 100 people Sunday to a room with motorcycles hanging from the ceiling, two said they like DeSantis but were strongly leaning toward Trump, while the other two were undecided but leaning toward Haley.

I like them both, Cedar Rapids resident Scott Pinter, who works in the construction industry, said of DeSantis and Trump as he waited for the governor to speak. If it wasnt for Trump Id be backing DeSantis.

Pinter, 58, said he feels Trump and DeSantis are both true conservatives but added that he feels its probably not DeSantis time. He listed off everything he likes about Trump, from the strong economy during his presidency to his border policies.

I dont care about the mean tweets, that doesnt mean anything to me, Pinter said of Trump. He did a great job.

After Mondays Iowa caucuses Ron DeSantis brought his presidential campaign to South Carolina on Jan. 16, 2024.This is his campaign stop at the Runway Cafe in Greenville.

Cedar Rapids resident Jamie Bradley, 44, also likes both Trump and DeSantis, but said Trump is my number one.

An account manager for an insurance company, Bradley went to a Trump rally in 2016 and saw him again last year. The Cedar Rapids event was her first time seeing DeSantis.

If Trump wasnt running Id vote for DeSantis, Bradley said, but I like Trump more.

Bradley likes that DeSantis hasnt been sharply critical of Trump. I havent seen him do digs against (Trump) and I think thats helped him, she said.

Yet while DeSantis relatively mild approach to criticizing Trump throughout much of the campaign  he sharpened his attacks toward the end  has helped him remain popular with many Trump fans, it also has made it harder to convince people to pick him over Trump.

Turns out ignoring the frontrunner and his countless vulnerabilities is not, in fact, a winning strategy, Brendan Buck, who worked as a senior aide for Republican U.S. House speakers Paul Ryan and John Boehner, posted on X after the caucus results were final.

Even as DeSantis struggles to make inroads with the MAGA faithful, he also is having a hard time fending off Haley and winning over voters seeking a Trump alternative.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley meets with supporters during a stop in Pella Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, at The Bread Board.

We need a change

Janet and John Albert drove from neighboring Marion to attend DeSantis Cedar Rapids event Sunday.

The couple had attended events hosted by Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the race after finishing fourth in Iowa, the week before. They were undecided, but leaning toward supporting Haley as they waited to hear DeSantis speak.

Janet Albert voted for Trump in the past but said, I just feel like we need a change that pulls us together more.

I just am afraid of what would happen if Trump became president again, she added. I just feel like hes got so many enemies  I just dont see it being a good situation.

Janet Albert said she was pretty impressed by Haley. John Albert also liked Haley, saying she seems to speak from the heart.

I wouldnt call us  hard core Republicans  (or) over the top Republicans. I wouldnt consider myself a fanatic Republican, said John Albert, who retired recently after selling a dry-cleaning business.

While DeSantis has run a hard right campaign aimed at winning over Trump supporters, Haley has attracted more moderate and center-right voters.

Supporters of GOP candidate Ron DeSantis await his arrival to his Iowa Caucus party on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.

Albert said hes comfortable with much of DeSantis record, but said the governor was a little aggressive with Disney after the company opposed his bill limiting discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. He also criticized DeSantis debate performances.

Overall, Albert viewed DeSantis as a solid candidate who has done a great job in Florida.

A Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa poll released Saturday found that 58% of likely Republican caucusgoers viewed DeSantis favorably. But even more  69% - viewed Trump favorably.

Looking for 'one-on-one contrast'

DeSantis campaign strategy has been squarely aimed at conservatives, but he is struggling to put a dent in Trumps base of support.

The campaign strategy assumed that Trump critics would back DeSantis in a one-on-one contest, but so far that matchup hasnt materialized.

The field of candidates has narrowed to three, after Ramaswamy and Asa Hutchinson dropped out this week. As long as both DeSantis and Haley stay in the race, the Trump opposition will remain fragmented.

We get this to a one-on-one contrast I think this is a different race at that point, said Ken Cuccinelli, a former Trump administration official who helped found the Never Back Down super PAC supporting DeSantis, as he waited for DeSantis to take the stage Monday at his caucus night party.

Defeating Haley in South Carolina would be a big blow, and DeSantis is focusing on that state over New Hampshire, where his conservative profile is less appealing. A New Hampshire survey released this week by American Research Group had DeSantis with just 4% support, well behind Trump and Haley.

Well see how South Carolina goes in Nikki Haleys home state and if shes out by that point before Super Tuesday then we get our one-on-one," Cuccinelli said.

It puts him squarely in the position as the alternative to Donald Trump, said Jose Oliva, who was Florida House speaker in 2018-20.

DeSantis allies attending the caucus night event argued that his second place showing proves hes Trumps strongest competitor.

It puts him squarely in the position as the alternative to Donald Trump, said Jose Oliva, who was Florida House speaker in 2018-20.

But if Haley upsets Trump in New Hampshire  polls show her within striking distance  DeSantis will have a tougher time claiming hes the best Trump slayer. If Trump wins the next two states he may have too much momentum to stop him, even if the field narrows, Hagle said.

DeSantis invested heavily in Iowa and the state may have been his best opportunity to change the trajectory of the race. After spending so much there, he could have a tougher time competing in other states. His team is vowing to fight on, though.

I think that theres still a lot of race to go and we shouldnt get ahead of ourselves over one state and one caucus, Oliva said. We should now turn our focus to the next states  and continue to make the case for an alternative because theres still a large part of the electorate looking for an alternative.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Can DeSantis compete with Trump? Iowa result didn't help his case
The Georgia 2024 legislative session is underway and lawmakers are working on which new legislation they want on the books come sine die.

According to a release from Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Sen. Randy Robertson (R-Cataula), banning ranked-choice voting is on the agenda for the current session.

In a statement, both Republican politicians pushed back on ranked-choice voting, saying it was designed to cause confusion among voters and that their proposed bill would be proactive to ensure Georgia voters can trust that their votes count.

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Bill author Robertson said the legislation, Senate Bill 355, continues the mission started with SB 202, a 2021 bill aimed at reforming parts of Georgias election system. Included in the bills provisions was a ban on passing out food or water to those waiting in line to vote, which was struck down by a judge in August.

The integrity of Georgias elections and increasing every Georgia voters faith in their elections system should be a priority for every member of the General Assembly, Robertson said in a statement. SB 355 was introduced to continue the mission we started with SB202 of being proactive in ensuring Georgians can trust their elections and trust that their vote will be counted.

According to the bill text, ranked-choice voting would be defined as a voting method that allows electors to rank candidates for an office in order of preference and has ballots cast be tabulated in multiple rounds following the elimination of a candidate until a single candidate attains a majority.

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The bill, if passed, would remove ranked-choice voting as an option for the election of any candidate for local, state or federal office.

Jones said the proposal for the ban is, at least in part, in opposition to proposals by those on the Left who have called for ranked-choice voting in Georgia elections. He said the option would open the door for voter confusion, political manipulation and increased polarization, adding that Ranked-choice voting is designed to cause confusion and fatigue among voters. This type of voting system, pushed by dark money groups, could cause a drastic increase in the number of ballots being thrown out, disenfranchising Georgia voters. Georgians deserve to have the utmost faith in their elections, and those pushing Ranked-choice voting are only hindering that faith.

In closing, Jones called ranked-choice voting an electoral disaster.

As it stands, Georgia does not currently have ranked-choice voting, while other states have versions based on the type of election, be it statewide, local, or opt-in for certain municipalities.

Five states currently have a ban on ranked-choice voting, including Georgias neighboring states Florida and Tennessee.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
A Democratic lawmaker has filed a formal censure for GOP Congresswoman Elise Stefanik after she referred to jailed Capitol riot convicts as "hostages."

Congressman Dan Goldman filed the censure on Wednesday, according to The New York Times.

Ms Stefanik made the comments during an appearance on Meet the Press earlier this month. The appearance marked the third anniversary of the Capitol riot.

The lawmaker said she had "concerns about the treatment of the Jan 6 hostages."

Donald Trump has also called individuals convicted for attacking Congress and the Capitol police during the riot "hostages."

She likened their convictions to the "weaponization of the federal government against not just President Trump, but were seeing it against conservatives.

Mr Goldman said he did not intend to force a quick resolution of the censure  which, as a member of Congress, he has the right to do  but said he hoped the GOP would stand up and hold their own accountable.

Our preference would be for Republicans to recognize that kind of rhetoric has to stop and find a spine and stand up to Donald Trump, he said in an interview.

Mr Goldman said he would consider forcing a vote on the matter if Republicans refuse to address Ms Stefanik's comments on their own.

Ms Stefanik defended herself in a post on X/Twitter.

Desperate corrupt Far Left House Democrats are attempting to force a vote to censure me for my unwavering support for the Constitution, the rule of law, and election integrity. Democrats are in desperate free fall because they know President Trump will defeat Joe Biden this November, she wrote.

House Speaker Mike Johnson also criticised the move, calling it absurd.

I just heard about Goldmans censure resolution against Elise Stefanik. I think Its patently absurd. Shes one of the best leaders and best communicators in Congress. She is doing an exceptional job and the the idea that he would use censure to attack a political opponent is just ridiculous, he said, according to Puncbowl News Jake Sherman.

Democrats have largely criticised Ms Stefanik's use of the word "hostages" to describe the individuals convicted of participating in the Capitol riot.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said she should be "ashamed of herself."

Congressman Jamie Raskin, who served on the House Select Committee that probed the Capitol riot, suggested she was trying to convince Mr Trump to select her as a running mate in the 2024 election.

Censuring has become more commonplace in the modern, highly divisive American political landscape. Last year, Republicans censured three Democratic lawmakers. Congressman Adam Schiff was censured for investigating Mr Trump, Congressman Jamaal Bowman was censured for setting off a fire alarm in an office building inside the House, and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was censured for comments she made regarding Israel's military action in Gaza.

Democrats have also censured other Republicans. In 2021, Congressman Paul Gosar was censured for posting an animated video that depicted him murdering Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Prior to that, only one other member of the House has been censured in nearly 40 years.

While Democrats have largely attempted to shy away from issuing censures over speech issues, Mr Goldman argued his move was justified considering the context of the comments made by Ms Stefanik.

What it comes down to is whether the speech by a member of Congress  does it go over the line where it promotes violence, some form of discrimination or bring serious disrepute on the institution, he said.

He went on, stating that her comments were directly related to "the safety and security" of the Congress.

If you provide comfort to those people who have been charged and convicted of violent attempts to overthrow our government, you are supporting people who attacked the Capitol and attacked this body," he said.
SpaceX's giant Starship rocket apparently performed better on its second-ever test flight than its explosive end would suggest.

The mission launched from SpaceX's Starbase site in South Texas on Nov. 18 of last year. It ended about eight minutes after liftoff, when Starship's upper-stage spacecraft (called, somewhat confusingly, Starship), detonated high in the Texas sky.

But the vehicle was performing quite well until that point, and likely would have continued on that successful path had it been a normal, operational flight, according to SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk.

"So, Flight 2 actually almost made it to orbit," Musk said in a recent company update, which SpaceX posted on X on Jan. 12. The explosion was caused by a venting of liquid oxygen, he added  and there was liquid oxygen left to vent only because Starship wasn't hauling any satellites that day.

"We normally wouldn't have that liquid oxygen if we had a payload," Musk said in the update, which he gave at Starbase to a crowd of SpaceX employees. "So, ironically, if it had had a payload, it would have reached orbit."

Related: See stunning photos and video of Starship's 2nd launch

SpaceX is developing Starship to help humanity settle Mars and achieve other bold exploration feats. The vehicle consists of a first-stage booster called Super Heavy and the Starship upper stage, which is about 165 feet (50 meters) tall. Both of these elements are designed to be fully and rapidly reusable.

SpaceX has launched two Starship test flights to date, both of them from Starbase. The first, which lifted off on April 20 of last year, ended about four minutes into flight with a controlled detonation. SpaceX ordered that explosion because Starship suffered several serious problems, most notably the failure of its two stages to separate.

The Nov. 18 flight went much more smoothly, as Musk noted, giving him optimism for future missions.

"I think we've got a really good shot of reaching orbit with Flight 3, and then a rapid cadence to achieve full and rapid reusability," he said in the recent update. SpaceX plans to launch Flight 3 next month, provided the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issues a license in time. (The FAA is currently overseeing an investigation into what happened on Flight 2.)

Musk hopes this anticipated rapid development leads to an operational capability soon; he said SpaceX aims to start launching its big, next-generation Starlink internet satellites aboard Starship by the end of the year.

NASA wants to see Starship get up and running soon as well; the agency selected the vehicle to be the first crewed lander for its Artemis program of moon exploration. Starship will put astronauts down on the lunar surface for the first time on the Artemis 3 mission, which is currently targeted to launch in September 2026.

RELATED STORIES:

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Starship is already the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. It stands about 400 feet (122 meters) tall and generates 16.7 million pounds of thrust at liftoff  nearly twice as much thrust as NASA's Space Launch System megarocket, a core part of the Artemis program.

But the current Starship is just a prototype. The final, operational version will be even bigger, Musk said in the recent update.

SpaceX is working on "a sort of a Version 2 ship that will be more reliable, better performance, [with better] endurance," he said. "We've got a Version 3 ship design that will stretch, that will be even taller  probably end up being, I don't know, 140 meters [459 feet] before it's all said and done, maybe 150 [492 feet] in the end, in length."

"So, it'll be even taller than it currently is," Musk added with a chuckle.

Editor's note: This story was corrected at 8:50 a.m. ET on Jan. 17 to state that Starship produces 16.7 million pounds, not tons, of thrust at liftoff.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (C) speaks during a plenary session of the European Parliament. Dati Bendo/European Commission/dpa

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended her commission's decision to release EU funds to Hungary in a speech to the European Parliament on Wednesday.

Budapest has passed legislation to strengthen judicial independence in Hungary, von der Leyen told the EU legislature. "This is what we requested and this is what Hungary delivered," she said.

In December, the commission released around 10 billion ($10.9 billion) in frozen EU funds to Hungary despite ongoing allegations of abuse of power and corruption in the country.

Other funds worth almost 12 billion, and billions more in coronavirus aid, remain blocked. This is the case until "Hungary fulfils all the necessary conditions," von der Leyen said.

A group of EU lawmakers from across the political spectrum believes that if the commission releases further funds to Hungary without the conditions being met, parliament would reserve the right to take further political and legal action.

This could include a vote of no confidence in the commission. If successful, it would require the commission including von der Leyen to resign.

A resolution on the measures is to be voted on in Strasbourg on Thursday and although it has little chance of success, anger is growing across the chamber.

Von der Leyen, a veteran German conservative politician, has been accused of allowing herself to be blackmailed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who previously announced he would block an EU aid package for Ukraine if money was not forthcoming.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (C) speaks during a plenary session of the European Parliament. Dati Bendo/European Commission/dpa
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported 368,048 tonnes of dry rubber in 2023, a slight decrease of 1.3 percent from 372,903 tonnes in a year earlier, said a report from the General Directorate of Rubber on Wednesday.

The country made 490.6 million U.S. dollars in revenue from exports of the commodity last year, down 7 percent from 527.6 million dollars in the year before, the report said.

The report attributed the plunge in rubber exports to a rise in domestic demand from car tire factories.

"A tonne of dry rubber averagely costs 1,333 U.S. dollars in 2023, about 82 dollars lower than that of 2022," Him Oun, the head of the General Directorate of Rubber, said in the report.

The Southeast Asian country exports the commodity mainly to Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and China.

Cambodia has so far planted rubber trees on a total area of 407,172 hectares, in which the trees on 320,184 hectares, or 78.6 percent, are old enough to be tapped, according to the report. 
The European Commission has clarified the details of how an important stage before Ukraine's negotiations with the EU will begin. It is the screening process, which involves checking Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU law. EC spokesperson Eric Mamer noted that the start of the screening process does not imply a specific date.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the European Commission's briefing in Brussels on Wednesday

Quote from Mamer: "The President said the screening is now going to start, so it means the screening is now going to start. This is not a formal process where you have to have specific dates, etc. It means that we are now starting the work on the screening process."

Details: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her speech to the European Parliament on the morning of 17 January that in preparation for accession talks with Ukraine, the EC was launching a screening process and creating a negotiating framework.

European Commission spokesperson Ana Pisonero clarified that the start of the screening process applies not only to Ukraine but also to Moldova, with which the EU has also decided to start accession talks. Pisonero said that the screening process would start immediately.

Quote from Pisonero: "The first step is for multidisciplinary teams to be set up, covering the entire acquis. You know that the screening process means the analytical examination of the EU acquis. You know that the EU acquis, when it comes to pre-accession negotiations, is divided into 33 chapters. So, again, the first step is now for interdisciplinary teams to be created, and the work will start immediately."

Background:

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. During the meeting, they agreed to conduct a pre-accession screening of Ukrainian legislation.

Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President, said that, according to the agreement, the screening should begin as soon as the Ukrainian delegation arrives in Brussels  no later than in a week.

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The European Commission has begun work on a draft negotiating framework for Ukraine  a document that outlines the principles and procedures for conducting negotiations on EU accession.

Source: European Pravda, citing European Commission spokeswoman Ana Pisonero at a briefing in Brussels

Details: "We have already started working on the draft negotiating framework also to be submitted to the Council in the coming weeks," said Pisonero.

She also noted that the European Commission is currently evaluating the recent measures approved by the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian parliament) so that Ukraine can get the final green light and effectively commence accession negotiations with the EU.

Negotiating frameworks traditionally consist of four structural components  guiding principles, substantive part, negotiation procedures, and annexes.

Despite a relatively stable and uniform structure, the negotiating frameworks for each candidate country have their specific features.

Background:

In December, the European Union's leaders at a summit in Brussels accepted the European Commission's recommendation to begin accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine.

In its decision, the European Commission recommended that the Council adopt the negotiating framework after Ukraine fulfils four conditions, including approving the lobbying law.

Media reported that the European Commission may release an assessment of Ukraine's progress with European integration reforms at the end of February, upon which the actual start of accession negotiations depends.

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Three Tacoma, Washington, police officers who were found not guilty in the case of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died in police custody in 2020, will each receive $500,000 for resigning from the police department.

Chief Avery L. Moore announced on Tuesday that the officers voluntarily resigned and left in good standing despite one of them violating the departments courtesy policy in 2020. All three were otherwise cleared of departmental violations under the policies at the time.

These agreements support a responsible, constructive path forward for our community and the Tacoma Police Department, Elizabeth Pauli, the city manager, said in a statement on Tuesday. I acknowledge that healing throughout Tacoma will require time, open dialogue, and shared respect.

: Marcia Carter-Patterson, mother of Manuel Ellis, a 33-year-old black man who died while in the custody of the Tacoma Police Department in March, reacts to new video of her sons final moments at a press conference at the Emerald Queen Riverboat Casino on June 9, 2020, in Tacoma, Washington. In the video, Ellis can be heard screaming I cant breathe sir. I cant breathe. Behind her are members of the Tacoma Action Collective. The family is requesting an independent investigation be undertaken. Protests demanding police reforms sparked by the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody two weeks ago, have spread worldwide. (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)

Matthew Ericksen, a lawyer for Mr. Elliss family, criticized the agreements as perverse. He highlighted that the former officers had already received about $1.5 million in total during their nearly four years on leave.

Everyone in the community should be upset by this, Ericksen said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorneys office for the Western District of Washington launched an investigation into the fatal arrest of Ellis a month after the three officers were acquitted on charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter in his death.

The federal review aims to reassess the evidence in the states failed prosecution to ensure no pertinent facts were overlooked and to determine whether the officers would face civil rights charges in the 33-year-old Black mans police custody death on March 3, 2020.

If that review reveals violations of federal criminal statutes, the Justice Department will take appropriate action, said Emily Langlie, spokesperson for acting U.S. Attorney for Western Washington Tessa Gorman.

No new evidence is expected to be introduced during the independent probe.

Ellis family held a press conference last week, saying they remained stunned by the verdict, and have called on the Justice Department to force the city of Tacoma to enact major policing reforms.

Previously, the Pierce County Sheriffs Office faced criticism for botching the investigation after failing to reveal that one of its own deputies was involved in restraining Ellis, leading to federal scrutiny, as well as the creation of a new independent office dedicated to investigating police misconduct in the district.

The trial lasted more than two months and ended Dec. 21 with the acquittals of Matthew Collins, 40, Christopher Burbank, 38, and Timothy Rankine, 34  two of whom are white  after defense attorneys successfully argued that Ellis died from methamphetamines he took before the fatal encounter and because he suffered from an enlarged heart. Rankine is Asian, the New York Times reports

While the Pierce County Medical Examiner concluded that Ellis died as a result of homicide from oxygen deprivation, the jury rejected arguments by prosecutors who accused the officers of causing Ellis death by beating, shocking, and choking the man while he was already hogtied and handcuffed on the ground.

On the night of his death, Ellis was unarmed and walking home with doughnuts from a 7-Eleven store.

He had not committed any crime when he was confronted by three white deputies, who held him down and brutalized him as he pleaded, I cant breathe.

Moments earlier, Ellis had passed a red light where Collins and Burbank were stopped in their patrol car.

During the trial, defense lawyers claimed the officers observed Ellis trying to open the door of another car at the intersection and emerged from their unit to confront him about it, saying Ellis turned aggressive immediately, which led to a struggle on the sidewalk.

During testimony, Collins described Ellis as having superhuman strength, claiming the man picked him up and threw him during the scuffle.

But witnesses at the scene disputed this account, saying Ellis approached the squad car but did nothing to provoke the officers and that Burbank had flung open the passenger side door of the patrol car, which knocked Ellis to the ground.

Witnesses also testified that they yelled at officers to stop beating Ellis.

The incident was captured in part by a nearby doorbell surveillance camera, which showed Ellis with his hands in the air when Burbank shocked him in the chest while Collins got behind Ellis and applied a chokehold.

Rankine was among multiple officers who showed up to the scene after Ellis was already handcuffed on the ground, but the officer still put his knee down on the mans back, leading to Ellis desperate pleas to be let up.

I cant breathe, sir. I cant breathe, sir. I cant breathe, Washington Assistant Attorney General Kent Liu told jurors in October when describing Ellis last words.

But Rankine testified that he was unmoved as Ellis begged him to get off his back as he struggled to breathe.

The only response at that point that I could think of is, If you can talk to me, you can still breathe, Rankine testified.

Ellis death coincided with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and received little attention compared to the police killing of George Floyd more than two months later in Minneapolis.

The charges were filed against the officers under a relatively new state law aimed at making it easier to prosecute police accused in cases of excessive force.

The Ellis case was the first to test the provision, approved in 2018 and known as Initiative 940, which eliminated a unique requirement that prosecutors prove officers acted with actual malice to bring criminal charges.

It also mandated independent investigations following instances where the use of force led to death or severe bodily harm, among other provisions.

An ongoing internal affairs investigation into the fatal arrest could result in a decision on potential disciplinary actions for the officers up to and including termination.

Last year, the Ellis family settled a federal wrongful death lawsuit against Pierce County, where Tacoma is located, for $4 million.

The officers still face a separate lawsuit from Ellis family, filed in U.S. District Court in September 2021, that had been on hold due to the criminal trial.

The civil case includes claims against two additional officers  Masyih Ford, who helped restrain Ellis, and Armando Farinas, who placed a spit hood on the victim  who were cleared to return to duty after an internal review found they did nothing wrong.

Everyone In the Community Should be Upset By This: Three Tacoma Officers Acquitted of Manuel Ellis Murder to Recieve $500K for Resigning from Department
The row over the Post Office scandal and the hundreds of victims who are yet to be fully compensated has dominated headlines over recent days.

Here are the answers to questions you may have about the Horizon row, which still shows no sign of abating.

What caused the Post Office scandal?

The rollout of Horizon computing software - manufactured by Japanese company Fujitsu - across UK Post Office branches led to the prosecution of more than 900 sub-postmasters between 1999 and 2015. Faults in the software made it look like money was missing and sub-postmasters were charged with theft and false accounting as a result. Some were ordered to undertake community service or sent to prison and four are known to have taken their own lives.

What did sub-postmasters do when they found out they had shortfalls?

The Post Office ordered sub-postmasters to pay back money that was lost or face prosecution if they did not comply. They were contractually obliged to make up for the losses with their own funds. This resulted in some losing their livelihoods and going bankrupt as a result.

What happened to the extra money which was paid in?

Forensic accounts have said that the extra money paid in by worried sub-postmasters was likely credited to the Post Offices profit and loss account. If this was the case, then the Post Office would have declared larger profits or smaller losses that it should have done and would have needed less government subsidy as a result. If so, then the taxpayer inadvertently benefited from money wrongly taken from sub-postmasters.

When were the shortfalls attributed to the faulty computer software system?

It wasnt until December 2019 when a High Court judge ruled that Horizon contained bugs, errors and defects and there was a material risk that shortfalls in Post Office branch accounts were caused by the system.

How many sub-postmasters have had their convictions overturned since the 2019 judgment?

So far, 93 sub-postmasters have had their convictions overturned, but hundreds more have not yet come forward.

Have any sub-postmasters received compensation?

Around 138 million has been paid out to approximately 2,700 sub-postmasters across three compensation schemes, according to the Post Office. However, hundreds of others are yet to receive a payout. In September, the Government announced that every worker whose wrongful conviction was overturned would be offered 600,000 in compensation. Those who had already received initial smaller payments or had reached a lower valued settlement with the Post Office would be paid the difference. However, some lawyers who represent victims have said that even 600,000 is not enough in all cases to make up for what has been lost over two decades.

How did the Government come up with the 600,000 figure?

The first time victims of the scandal received any money was when those involved in Bates & Others v Post Office reached an out-of-court settlement with the Post Office in 2019. The Post Office did not accept liability, so this was a costs settlement not compensation. However, the group was awarded 57.75 million in total. However, some 46 million was taken in legal costs - leaving only 20,000 for each person. In April 2021, Nick Read, the chief executive of the Post Office, urged the Government to provide funding, arguing that his organisation did not have the financial resources to provide meaningful compensation. The Government went on to announce that sub-postmasters wrongly convicted of offences would get interim compensation of up to 100,000 a few months later, in July 2021. In September 2023, it confirmed that those who had had their convictions overturned on the basis of Horizon evidence would be paid 600,000 in full and final settlement of their claim.

What about sub-postmasters whose convictions have not been overturned?

Without proof of the convictions having been overturned, victims cannot currently claim compensation. People with criminal convictions typically need to go through an appeal process in court and the Post Office has said it covers all fees for lawyers and experts. On Wednesday, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, announced that a new law would ensure those convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal are swiftly exonerated and compensated. However, experts have warned that such laws could undermine the independence of the courts and judges.

ITV drama Alan Bates vs The Post Office has helped highlight the issues raised in the Horizon scandal - ITV/Shutterstock

Who will fund the payouts?

So far the Government has funded the 138 million figure, but many have questioned whether Fujitsu - the firm behind the faulty software - should foot the bill. The multi-billion-pound Japanese firm typically receives more than 100 million in ongoing UK government contracts each year. On Tuesday, Mel Stride, Work and Pensions Secretary, told Good Morning Britain that he didnt think there was any working assumption at the moment that the taxpayer would fund the compensation payments. He said decisions going forward would be based on the outcome of an independent inquiry.

When will the independent inquiry finish?

The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry was initially set up as a non-statutory inquiry in September 2020. Following a request from Sir Wyn Williams, the Chairman of the Inquiry, it became statutory in June 2021. Statutory inquiries have certain powers - including the ability to compel witnesses to give evidence. The inquiry was initially set to conclude in August 2022 but it is still ongoing and is now due to finish this year.

Has anyone been held criminally responsible for what happened?

The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation in 2020 which saw Fujitsu experts, who were witnesses in the trials, probed for potential perjury and perverting the course of justice. Two people were interviewed under caution as a result, but nobody was arrested. However, last week the Met confirmed that the Post Office was under criminal investigation over potential fraud offences committed during the scandal.

Why did Paula Vennells hand back her CBE?

On Tuesday, Vennells, the former Post Office chief executive, confirmed that she would hand back her CBE, which she was awarded in 2019 for services to the Post Office and charity. Her decision came after mounting calls for her to be stripped of the honour.

Paula Vennells ran the Post Office while it routinely denied there was a problem with its Horizon IT system - Anthony Devlin

What else do campaigners want Paula Vennells to do?

Campaigners would like to see Ms Vennells return the 2.93 million she received in performance-related bonus payments in lieu of a pension. Overall, she is understood to have been paid as much as 5 million in total during her tenure as the chief executive of the Post Office between 2012 and 2019.

Why has the scandal come to light again?

Newspapers, broadcasters and websites, including The Telegraph, have reported on the scandal over the years. However, the scandal has come to public attention again following the release of ITVs drama Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, which is the channels most popular drama in three years.

Who is Alan Bates?

Alan Bates was a sub-postmaster who was accused of theft when his accounts showed a shortfall. He first reported issues with Horizon in 2000 and eventually had his contract terminated in 2003 when he refused to comply with his obligations to pay back the losses from his own pocket. Mr Bates led the campaign group Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance to its High Court victory in 2019.

Will everyone get justice?

At least 33 victims of the scandal have already died without receiving compensation. Campaigners warn many involved are only getting older and that it is crucial action is taken quickly.

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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Newly filed court documents offer new information on the death of a 5-year-old boy in downtown Kansas City.

Police found Grayson OConnor dead in November near 10th Street and Grand Boulevard after he fell from a window of a nearby apartment building.

Kansas City fire leaves child dead, 5 victims evaluated for injuries

A filing submitted Friday in Jackson County court now says Grand Boulevard Lofts is moving to evict Grayson OConnors mother from her apartment.

FOX4 is not naming the woman at this time because she has not been criminally charged.

But the eviction filing does shed new light on the conditions Grayson and his mother were reportedly living in before the 5-year-olds death and what might have happened.

The filing says the woman carelessly removed the window stops from the apartments windows.

The apartment complex also said during the investigation, the state deemed the apartment as uninhabitable due to very poor sanitary conditions.

The eviction filing does not elaborate on either of these allegations.

Cyclist injured in Overland Park crash dies weeks later

Grand Boulevard Lofts says it has made attempts to abate the situation through law enforcement and/or local mental health services, but the woman still hasnt vacated the apartment.

The issue will head to court Jan. 25.

Since Graysons death, the case has been sealed, making records unavailable to the public, and handed over to the Jackson County Prosecutors Office to consider for charges.

In an apparent mistake last month, court documents posted online indicated Graysons mother had been charged. The documents were later taken down, and the prosecutors office would not confirm any charges.

The Kansas City Star reported when police arrived at the apartment after Graysons death, his mother was seated near the window. Officers asked what happened to her son.

She responded, out the window, according to the court documents that were later taken down.

FOX4 has also confirmed a search warrant has been filed in this case, but it is not viewable under a new Missouri law.

Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android

That law took effect last summer, restricting what records are available for the public to see, according to a spokesperson for Jackson County courts. Previously the public could have seen information from a search warrant.

Last month, on what would have been Graysons sixth birthday, protesters called for transparency in the investigation, demanding more information about what led to the boys death.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
TIANJIN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- North China's Tianjin Port has launched a new direct shipping route to facilitate cherry imports from Chile, marking the first direct shipping service for Latin American cherries to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, said the port authorities.

A container vessel loaded with over 2,000 tonnes of Chilean cherries arrived at Tianjin Port on Tuesday evening, marking the maiden trip via the new service.

Another two ships carrying over 5,800 tonnes of cherries and other seasonal products are expected to dock at the port within the next seven days.

Chilean cherries are increasingly favored by Chinese consumers over the years. "Over 1,840 tonnes of cherries that we imported this time have already been pre-sold," said Wei Shujian, president of Hebei Sunhola Group, one of the Chilean cherry importers.

Previously, cherries sold in northern China were mainly transported via highways after the goods entered China through ports in the south or via air services, making the overall logistics cost relatively high.

Thanks to the new route, the cherries are expected to reach the fruit and vegetable wholesale markets in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei first. According to Pagoda, a fruit retailing company, its outlets in the region are estimated to see the overall price of the cherries drop by 50 to 70 percent thanks to the new logistics option. 
Claim:

A participant at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos said [expletive] you and "[expletive] your new world order" on stage to Chairman Klaus Schwab.

Rating:

Rating: Labeled Satire

In mid-January 2024, a viral video purportedly showed a participant at the 2024 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, saying [expletive] you onstage to WEF Chairman Klaus Schwab.

The participant appears to stare down Schwab while standing on stage and adds, [expletive] your new world order. We the people were born free, we will stay free, and you and all of your globalist friends including everyone in this room can go [expletive] yourselves.

The video was also uploaded to YouTube:

It appeared to originate from Damon Imani, a content creator, on Jan. 16, 2024, as it had his name as a watermark on the top left.

(@damonimani/X)

Many online users reposted the video, including this post in French with the caption: A guest like no other, Damon Imani on stage at #WEF in Davos.

Some people appeared to think the video was authentic. It is a work of satire, however, as pointed out by Imani, the original creator and the man in the video. In a post below the original video, he wrote, Satire but true. This video is also available on Rumble here and Klaus Schwab can go f himself. Based on that statement, and the lack of any evidence at all confirming the incident happened, we rate this claim as Labeled Satire.

According to his website (emphasis, ours):

Damon Imani is an Iranian producer and artist based in Denmark, who creates video content related to various topics, including societal issues, news, and current events. Known for his satirical approach, Imani draws attention to societal and political issues through his work. With the tense political climate of the world in the 2016-20 era, Imani's content gained traction from social media users from both sides, as well as public figures such as Donald Trump, Joe Rogan, Alex Jones, Elon Musk, and many other influential figures. His work has also been featured in major media outlets such as USA Today, InfoWars, The Associated Press, BPR Politics And Business, and many more.

It is also obvious from the contrast in lighting on Imani's face compared with the lighting on Schwab that Imani edited himself onto the WEF stage.

Posting on X after his video gained more attention, Imani complained about the language of the community note being placed under his original video, writing, I've requested additional review. Even the language of this CN is laughable; 1. It links to my own notice. Duh! 2. Makes opinion based argument that I can't use "breaking" for something that's not breaking. This is a straightforward hijack of Community Notes to demonetize a very smart immigrant.

I've requested additional review. Even the language of this CN is laughable;



1. It links to my own notice. duh!

2. Makes opinion based argument that I can't use "breaking" for something that's not breaking.



This is a straightforward hijack of Community Notes to demonetize a pic.twitter.com/QvifV3QWpl  Damon Imani (@damonimani) January 17, 2024

This is not the first time we have fact checked false claims involving Schwab. The WEF, as we have reported in the past, is an influential, international, non-governmental organization known for fostering private-public partnerships around economy, international development, and more. The organization, which Schwab founded in 1971, is the target of many conspiracy theories surrounding its real-life ties to elite networks that online rumor-mongers believe are nefariously planning to create totalitarian regimes.

For background, here is why we sometimes write about satire/humor.

Sources:

Ibrahim, Nur. Did WEF Say Humans Will All Wear a Uniform By 2030? Snopes, 7 July 2023, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/wef-fashion-humans-uniforms/. Accessed 17 Jan. 2024.

Imani, Damon. New? Start Here! Damon Imani, 15 Oct. 2018, https://damonimani.com/about. Accessed 17 Jan. 2024.

Kasprak, Alex. Was World Economic Forum Vice Chairman Aboard the Collapsed Titan Submersible? Snopes, 23 June 2023, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/wef-titan-submersible/. Accessed 17 Jan. 2024.

LaMagdeleine, Izz Scott. No, the World Economic Forum Hasnt Ordered Governments to Legalize Marriage With Animals. Snopes, 7 Mar. 2023, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/wef-legalize-marriage-animals/. Accessed 17 Jan. 2024.

"World Economic Forum Archives." Snopes. https://www.snopes.com/tag/world-economic-forum/. Accessed 17 Jan. 2024.
Claim:

On Jan. 6, 2020, a post on then-Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden's personal Twitter account read, "Let's be clear: Donald Trump does not have the authority to take us into war with Iran without Congressional approval. A president should never take this nation to war without the informed consent of the American people."

Rating:

Rating: Correct Attribution

In January 2024, Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted an image of a post that looked to have been sourced from U.S. President Joe Biden's personal Twitter account.

That post read, "Let's be clear: Donald Trump does not have the authority to take us into war with Iran without Congressional approval. A president should never take this nation to war without the informed consent of the American people."

Joe must have forgot.. pic.twitter.com/LOiMKlhZV0  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) January 12, 2024

This was a genuine post that was shared on Biden's personal account on Jan. 6, 2020.

Let's be clear: Donald Trump does not have the authority to take us into war with Iran without Congressional approval. A president should never take this nation to war without the informed consent of the American people.  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 6, 2020

At the time, Biden was campaigning to become the Democratic nominee for the 2020 presidential election.

Biden's Strikes on Iranian-Backed Houthi Rebels

The context underlying Greene's sharing four-plus-year-old post in January 2024 was breaking news out of the Middle East. On Jan. 11, U.S. and U.K. forces launched retaliatory strikes on more than a dozen sites in Yemen against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who had previously been warned by the U.S. and 12 allies to cease their drone and missile attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

The Houthi attacks were the rebels' way of avenging Israels offensive in Gaza against Hamas, The Associated Press reported.

On Jan. 12, during a stop at a coffee shop in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, Biden was asked by a reporter, "Are we in a de facto proxy war with Iran?"

"No," Biden answered, moments later saying that "Iran does not want a war with us."

Gen. Soleimani's Death and Troop Deployments

As for why Biden posted in early January 2020 about then-U.S. President Donald Trump needing congressional approval to go to war with Iran, that matter concerned the aftermath of the death of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Soleimani was killed in a drone strike at Baghdad International Airport on Jan. 3, 2020. The strike was authorized by Trump. At the time, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNN that the reason for the strike was concerns over an "imminent attack" that could potentially have led to American lives lost in the region.

On the same day that Biden posted his tweet, The New York Times reported that, in the aftermath of Soleimani's death, the Pentagon had directed about 4,500 additional troops to the Iraq and Syria on top of the roughly 50,000 who were already there. That escalation was likely what led to Biden's tweet.

In practical terms, the question of what military actions a president is allowed to take under the U.S. Constitution has remained a legal gray area, despite the passage of the War Powers Act in 1973. We explored that question in a previous article: Can US Presidents Launch Airstrikes Without Congressional Approval?

Sources:

Barnes, Julian E., et al. Pressed for Details on Suleimani Strike, Trump Administration Gives Few. The New York Times, 8 Jan. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/us/politics/trump-soleimani.html.

Cooper, Helene, et al. As Tensions With Iran Escalated, Trump Opted for Most Extreme Measure. The New York Times, 4 Jan. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/04/us/politics/trump-suleimani.html.

Copp, Tara, and Lolita C. Baldor. Who Are the Houthis? And Why Did the US and UK Retaliate for Their Attacks on Ships in the Red Sea? The Associated Press, 12 Jan. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11.

Crowley, Michael, et al. U.S. Strike in Iraq Kills Qassim Suleimani, Commander of Iranian Forces. The New York Times, 3 Jan. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/world/middleeast/qassem-soleimani-iraq-iran-attack.html.

Gambrell, Jon, and Aamer Madhani. US Warns Ships to Stay out of Parts of Red Sea as Houthi Rebels Vow Retaliation for US, UK Strikes. The Associated Press, 12 Jan. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a.

Gibbons-Neff, Thomas. How U.S. Troops Are Preparing for the Worst in the Middle East. The New York Times, 6 Jan. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/world/middleeast/troops-iran-iraq.html.

Magramo, Kathleen, et al. Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Houthi Targets in Yemen Struck by US and UK. CNN, 12 Jan. 2024, https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-01-12-24/index.html.

Miller, Zeke, and Aamer Madhani. US Warns Houthis to Cease Attacks on Red Sea Vessels or Face Potential Military Action. The Associated Press, 3 Jan. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/us-israel-hamas-houthis-red-sea-fef8d446852b6eae33d38ffd8f6b2d64.

Remarks by President Biden During Tour of Nowhere Coffee Co. | Emmaus, PA. The White House, 12 Jan. 2024, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/01/12/remarks-by-president-biden-during-tour-of-nowhere-coffee-co-emmaus-pa/.

Stracqualursi, Veronica, and Jennifer Hansler. Pompeo: Strike on Soleimani Disrupted an imminent Attack and Saved American Lives | CNN Politics. CNN, 3 Jan. 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/03/politics/mike-pompeo-iran-soleimani-strike-cnntv/index.html.
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak overcame a rebellion by his Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday to win a vote on his proposed law to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, but he still faces many stumbling blocks for his flagship scheme.

Here are some of the problems Sunak will have to overcome before his promise to send those who arrive in Britain without permission to the East African nation becomes a reality.

PARLIAMENT

After hours of debate, lawmakers in parliament's lower House of Commons passed the government's 'Safety of Rwanda Bill' by 320 votes to 276, with 11 right-wing Conservatives rebelling.

The essence of the bill is to override a decision by the UK Supreme Court which in November declared the policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda unlawful.

It now passes to the unelected upper chamber, the House of Lords, where Sunak does not command an automatic majority and where many peers could seek to oppose a bill which critics say might lead to Britain breaching international law.

The Lords could try to make amendments to the bill meaning it passes back and forth between the two parliamentary houses in what is known as a "ping pong" process.

Normally, peers avoid frustrating the will of the elected chamber and, under the "Salisbury doctrine", do not vote down a bill mentioned in a governing party's election manifesto. However, the Rwanda scheme was not included in Conservatives' 2019 manifesto, meaning peers could in theory refuse to pass the bill without amendments.

In such extreme circumstances, the law would be delayed for a year, which would mean it could not be passed until after the next election.

In a sign of the likely opposition, a Lords committee that scrutinises international agreements said a treaty agreed between the British government and Rwanda last month that seeks to prevent the East African sending asylum seekers anywhere other than back to Britain should not be ratified.

The committee said the treaty lacks safeguards including a system to prevent people being sent back to their country of origin where they could be at risk of ill-treatment.

LEGAL CHALLENGES

Sunak has described the bill as Britain's toughest proposed immigration law. But his right-wing critics say it does not go far enough and that there are loopholes which will be seized upon by asylum seekers to stop their deportation.

The first planned flight to take migrants to Rwanda was blocked when the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued "interim measures" under its Rule 39 provision - effectively a temporary emergency injunction.

Sunak says the bill will make it "vanishingly rare" for any asylum seeker to be able to block deportation by an appeal to the courts, and would also mean his immigration minister had the power to decide whether to comply with any ECHR orders.

But some legal commentators have cast doubt on both those assertions. They argue the bill itself could face challenges in the UK courts, that it would allow individual appeals, and that Britain would still have an obligation under international law to abide by any order from the ECHR.

OTHER ISSUES

According to information issued by the British government last week, the Rwandan government will need to pass a new asylum law "in the coming months" in order to ratify a new treaty agreed with the United Kingdom to allow the scheme to go ahead.

Last month, British media also reported that the government was struggling to find airlines which would agree to provide flights to take the asylum seekers to Rwanda.

While Sunak has promised the deportations would begin in spring this year, it is not clear whether, if the bill becomes law, how quickly deportation flights would begin.

(Reporting by Michael Holden, Editing by Elizabeth Piper and Alistair Bell)
This photo taken with a mobile phone on Jan. 17, 2024 shows the explosion site at a fireworks factory in central Thailand's Suphan Buri province. At least 17 people were killed in a fireworks factory explosion in central Thailand, local media reported.(Xinhua)

BANGKOK, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A fireworks factory explosion in Thailand's central Suphan Buri province killed more than a dozen on Wednesday, local media reported.

Local newspapers Thairath and Khaosod both reported that at least 17 people were killed. Local media published pictures showing black smoke at the scene near some paddy fields. 

This photo taken with a mobile phone on Jan. 17, 2024 shows rescuers inspecting the explosion site at a fireworks factory in central Thailand's Suphan Buri province. At least 17 people were killed in a fireworks factory explosion in central Thailand, local media reported.(Xinhua)
The claim: Nikki Haley

A Jan. 15 Real Raw News article claims the military arrested a staffer for a Republican presidential candidate.

"White Hats Arrest Campaign Staffer for Nikki Haley in Iowa," reads the story's headline.

The story states the U.S. Armys Criminal Investigation Division took the staffer into custody for offering voters $1,000 prepaid debit cards in exchange for casting a ballot for her boss."

It was shared more than 100 times in a day, according to the social media analytics tool CrowdTangle.

More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page

Our rating: False

A spokesperson for the Army Criminal Investigation Division said the claim is false. The agency that conducted the supposed arrest investigates violations of military law, not election fraud. The claim originated on a website that routinely publishes misinformation.

No evidence, no credible reports of arrest

Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, finished third in the Iowa Caucuses behind the only other two remaining Republican presidential candidates  former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis  after former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out.

But the claim is false, and the Army Criminal Investigation Division has made no such arrest, Keith Smith, a spokesperson for the Criminal Investigation Division, told USA TODAY.

There is no credible evidence anyone on Haleys staff has been accused of giving voters campaign brochures with prepaid debit cards, as the article claimed.

Real Raw News responded to USA TODAY's request for evidence by pointing to the About Us page of its website. It includes a disclaimer that states it contains humor, parody and satire. That notice, however, is not included in the article, which cites unidentified sources and claims the unidentified staffer was arrested by the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

While the arrest purportedly took place Jan. 14 in Des Moines, Iowa, there is no mention of it in any legitimate news outlets.

Fact check: No, New York attorney general was not 'arrested,' has been seen out in public

Nor is it mentioned on the website where the Army Criminal Investigation Division announces its highest-profile arrests. In fact, nowhere on that site are there any mentions of any arrests for election fraud.

Investigations handled by that agency involve war crimes, terrorism, criminal intelligence and other violations that impact the operational readiness of the Army, according to its mission statement.

The FBIs public corruption unit investigates federal allegations of election fraud. It specifically lists the distribution of money or items of value in exchange for voting as one of the crimes in its purview.

At the state level, the Iowa Secretary of State's Office collects reports of potential fraud, and the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board administers the state's campaign laws.

Ashley Hunt, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State's Office, told USA TODAY her office is not aware of any such reports. Zach Goodrich, the board's executive director, said in an email to USA TODAY that his organization has not received any information about such an allegation and does not have jurisdiction over federal campaigns anyway.

USA TODAY reached out to the FBI's field office in Omaha, Nebraska, which covers Iowa but did not immediately receive a response.

Real Raw News is a serial spreader of misinformation that often publishes fabricated stories about "white hats" trying to undermine "the deep state" and arresting government officials and other high-profile people. USA TODAY has previously debunked numerous other claims about the arrests of notable public figures stemming from Real Raw News.

Haley has been a target of misinformation in the past. Among the false claims debunked by USA TODAY include assertions that Haley is ineligible to run for president and that the former South Carolina governor white-washed her name.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.

USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No, Army did not arrest Nikki Haley staffer in Iowa | Fact check
Frustration and heartbreak underscored the pleas of families whose loved ones have been held by Hamas for more than 100 days, as they advocated Wednesday on Capitol Hill and called for their release.

Families shared gut-wrenching stories of the last moments of contact with their loved ones on Oct. 7, when Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, slaughtering people at a music festival and in their homes and taking an estimated 240 people hostage.

Yarden Gonin recounted the final conversation she had with her 23-year-old sister Romi, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival.

Mom, we were ambushed, they are shooting at us. Ben is most likely dead, Gaia was shot and shes not responding, Ophir is wounded badly. I was shot in my arm. If no one will come quickly, I will be dead, Gonin recounted.

A phone call that ended with my sister, my beautiful, amazing, gentle, caring and loving little sister, being kidnapped into Gaza by cruel terrorists after she saw her best friend murdered in front of her eyes. 103 days. No daylight. No fresh water. No food. No air.

More than 130 people are still being held hostage by Hamas, their specific conditions unknown.

But testimony from hostages released during a short-lived deal at the end of November have provided insight into harrowing conditions. This includes people being held in a maze of underground tunnels, at hospitals and in Palestinian homes, with little access to food, water and fresh air, relating stories of torture and sexual violence.

Ashley Waxman-Bakshi spoke on behalf of her 19-year-old cousin Agam Berger, who she said was kidnapped in her pajamas.

Whats really scary for us is being a family member of such a young girl, and we know that there is sexual abuse  we know that in captivity there is, and three months later pregnancy could be an issue. Every day that passes, you can only have an abortion up until a certain date, and this is something were really fearful [about]. Everyone needs to come home, but specifically young women cannot be, teenagers, she said.

The families were joined by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other senior lawmakers promising to keep efforts to secure the hostages release as their most important priority. Schumer said that he discussed with the families a new strategy that we can implement, and I promise to try and do that, but he did not elaborate.

Dont give up hope, there are always new initiatives as there are now, Schumer said.

Slow, slow, slow but important progress, not that that progress cannot come fast enough.

Theres little public insight into any potential deal between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of hostages.

An agreement to pause fighting between Israel and Hamas at the end of November saw about 100 hostages released by Hamas in exchange for the release of 180 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and a scaling up of humanitarian deliveries into the Gaza Strip.

The deal fell apart after Israel accused Hamas of holding back the release of women and children, leaving about 130 people  including children, women, men, elderly, the injured and the bodies of those killed  in captivity in Gaza with little information regarding their safety or health.

Israel and the U.S. have relied heavily on Qatar as a mediator with Hamas, with senior political figures in the group living in Doha, but they have yet to revive a deal to release the hostages.

A bipartisan pair of senators last month urged President Biden to make clear to the Qataris that their relations with the U.S. were at risk if they did not exercise more pressure on Hamas.

But some families are critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as being a major obstacle in securing a deal for the hostages release and are calling for the U.S. to exert more pressure on the Israeli leader.

This holdup is not with the U.S. or with the [Qataris], said Liz Naftali, the aunt of 4-year-old Abigail, who was released after 50 days of captivity.

This holdup is with the Netanyahu government, she said, accusing the Israeli prime minister of being unwilling to agree to the terms to release our loved ones, to make these deals final.

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, did not single out pressure on the Israeli government as a crucial factor, but he said that lawmakers will be making some strong suggestions to our own government, to the Israelis and to third-country leaders.

While Biden has stood by as one of Israels most stalwart supporters in its war against Hamas, the administration has voiced concern about the high death toll of Palestinians  an estimated 24,000 people, which includes thousands of Hamas fighters  and about the delay in humanitarian assistance deliveries into Gaza.

Axios reported last week that Biden  who had been outspoken in criticisms against Netanyahu before Oct. 7  is frustrated with the Israeli leader and has been running out of patience over the course of the war.

But not all families of hostages are centering criticisms on Netanyahu.

Waxman-Bakshi pointed to the hardship of feeling like there is a choice between securing the release of the hostages  an option Hamas has called contingent on Israel ending military action and releasing all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails  and the necessity for Israel to ensure Hamas cannot launch another attack like that of Oct. 7.

Im not a politician or a military strategist, but for me I want a solution that will solve both simultaneously, she said. Im not speaking politically, I have nothing for Netanyahu personally, if Im in favor or against, I do think that whatever solution comes out has to take into account both the release of the hostages and the security and safety of Israel.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A 71-year-old man last seen on a sailboat near Santa Catalina Island has been missing for days, according to a California sheriffs office.

Before his disappearance, Patrick Joseph Hall was seen near Avalon on a sailboat W43 (gray dingy boat) on Jan. 6, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said in a Jan. 16 Facebook post.

Deputies said his family is concerned for his well-being, given a recent storm in the area.

Hall stands 6 feet tall and weighs 175 pounds and has gray hair and green eyes, deputies said.

Deputies ask for anyone with information to contact them at 323-890-5500.

Santa Catalina Island is about 50 miles southwest of Los Angeles.

Sailboat runs aground near Alcatraz, and sailor goes missing for over week, CA cops say

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  A court proceeding for Raul Meza, who city officials have referred to as a potential serial killer, took about five minutes Wednesday morning.

The hearing  a pretrial conference  was reset to Feb. 15.

Were going to show up every time, said Christina Fultz, the daughter of Gloria Lofton, who police believe Meza killed in 2019.

The Austin Police Department arrested Meza in May 2023 after Meza called police implicating himself in Loftons murder as well as the murder of Pflugerville man Jesse Fraga.

In 1982, Meza was convicted of murdering 8-year-old Kendra Page.

In-depth history of Austins accused serial killer Raul Meza

Pages sister Tracy has been attending the recent court hearings as well, standing in solidarity with the loved ones of Fraga and Lofton.

I have a lot of questions, she said. Shes said shes paying very close attention to the criminal justice process this time around, because in the case of her sister  Meza received a plea deal, and ultimately got out of prison early for good behavior, due in part to state laws at the time.

READ: KXANs in-depth coverage on Raul Meza case

According to investigators, Meza may be linked to up to 10 area cold cases. Police are still looking into this. At this time, investigators have not yet connected Meza to those deaths.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Salacious accusations that Fulton County (Ga.) District Attorney Fani Willis (D) hired a romantic partner as a top prosecutor in former President Trumps criminal case have given new fodder to attacks from Republicans as well as Trump and his co-defendants.

The accusation first surfaced last week in court papers filed by an attorney for Mike Roman, a Trump 2020 campaign operative who is one of the former presidents co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case, although it did not contain any hard proof of the alleged relationship.

More than a week later, Willis has not denied the claims  and neither has the prosecutor in question, Nathan Wade.

Over the weekend, Willis appeared to respond to the accusation for the first time, not referencing Wade by name but seemingly calling him a great friend and defending his hiring. Willis also called out Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) after the lawmaker demanded a criminal investigation, saying her spirit is filled with hate.

I hope for yall this week I dont look like what Ive been through, Willis said while speaking at an Atlanta church service commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a worship service at the Big Bethel AME Church, where she was invited as a guest speaker on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Atlanta. The service celebrated Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the historic Black church. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Romans filing asserted that the purported relationship makes the indictment fatally defective, asking the judge to dismiss the charges and block Willis, Wade and the Fulton County district attorneys office from further involvement in the case.

Judge Scott McAfee, who oversees the case, has said he will hold a hearing on the matter; he signaled it wont occur until early February, if not later.

Even if the accusation is true, some legal experts have expressed doubts it would require Willis to be knocked off the case. But Greene and other Trump allies have nonetheless latched onto the revelation, using it to bolster their claims that the former presidents prosecution is politically motivated.

A spokesperson for the district attorneys office declined to comment for this story, saying it would respond in court filings.

Willis over the weekend insinuated race was playing a role in the criticism, noting she had hired three special prosecutors but that only Wade, a Black man, was questioned.

I want to be clear: All three of these special counselors are superstars, Willis said. But Im just asking, God, is it that some will never see a Black man as qualified, no matter his achievements? What more can one achieve? The other two have never been judges, but no one questions their credentials.

Top Stories from The Hill

Wade served as a municipal judge and before coming aboard the Trump prosecution ran a private practice focused on family law and contract disputes. But his relatively little experience with complex criminal prosecutions has come under scrutiny, and his critics have noted the hundreds of thousands of dollars he has received in pay for prosecuting Trump.

In one of four criminal indictments Trump faces, Williss team charged the former president alongside more than a dozen of his allies with racketeering for allegedly entering a months-long conspiracy to unlawfully keep Trump in power following the 2020 election. He pleaded not guilty.

The former president last week called for the case against him to be dropped, describing Willis as totally compromised.

Trumps lead Georgia attorney, Steve Sadow, has taken a more cautious approach to the revelation so far, however. Its in line with his less abrasive approach toward prosecutors throughout the case, even as his client regularly hurls incendiary comments.

Former President Donald Trump leaves his apartment building in New York, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Trump plans to attend the penalty phase of a New York civil defamation trial stemming from a columnists claims he sexually attacked her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

At a hearing last week, Sadow told the judge that he wanted to first allow Willis to respond before declaring Trumps position on the matter. After Williss comments over the weekend, Sadow did push back a bit more forcefully.

Madam DA: I must respectfully inquire why have you chosen to play the race card instead of being transparent with the public about your relationship with your great friend? You know that the matter raised before the court has nothing to do with race. If its truth you seek, tell it! Sadow wrote on LinkedIn.

Republicans on Capitol Hill, many of whom have long criticized Trumps criminal indictments as politically motivated, have taken a less heedful approach.

Greene responded by demanding that Georgias governor and attorney general order a criminal investigation into Willis and Wade.

This is part of Fani Willis unlawful partisan pattern, through her words and deeds, to illegally politicize and weaponize her public office to wage lawfare against President Trump for the purpose of interfering in the 2024 presidential election. And now we are learning she has allegedly enriched her secret boyfriend and herself during this process, Greene wrote to the officials in a letter dated Wednesday.

Dear God, I do not want to be like those that attacked me, Willis responded in her remarks Sunday. I never want to be a Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has never met me but has allowed her spirit to be filled with hate.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., talks to reporters after meeting privately with House Speaker Mike Johnson as he wrestles with a spending bill to fund the government, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

On Friday, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) launched an inquiry into the matter in attempting to probe Williss prosecution.

This new information released recently only reinforces the Committees concerns about politically motivated prosecutions by state and local officials, Jordan wrote in a letter to Wade.

Though the lawmakers remarks will likely have no bearing on the case, an appearance of impropriety could make it harder for Willis to secure a future conviction if she cant convince a jury there is no conflict of interest.

Eyes now turn to a Jan. 31 hearing, when Ashleigh Merchant, the attorney who first brought forward the romance accusation on behalf of Roman, will urge a judge to unseal Wades ongoing divorce case.

Merchant has said the case file includes further evidence of Wades alleged relationship with Willis. The district attorney was subpoenaed in the divorce case the day the accusations went public, according to a court document obtained by The Hill.

We support full transparency among all parties, Andrea Dyer Hastings, an attorney for Wades wife, said in a statement.

Our investigation as to Mr. Wades behavior is independent of any other court case or proceedings, Hastings continued. We expect that all questions raised will be addressed in court. Our singular focus is on Ms. Wade and helping her enter a peaceful new chapter in her life.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The FBI found cocaine on a gun holster owned by Hunter Biden, according to court documents.

Agents clinically tested a leather pouch which Mr Biden had used to store the .38-calibre Colt Cobra revolver.

The US presidents son has been charged with illegally possessing the gun and two counts of making false statements when purchasing it, after claiming he was not using illegal drugs at the time.

Mr Biden allegedly purchased the pistol in October 2018 but had Hallie Biden  his then-partner and widow of his brother Beau  dump it in a rubbish bin behind a Delaware convenience store 11 days later.

An elderly man then found the Colt as he sorted through the rubbish.

Five years on, FBI agents removed the gun from police storage to photograph it ahead of the trial.

Documents filed by special counsel David Weiss, the Delaware attorney who is prosecuting the case, say that they found white powder on the holster.

Hunter Biden allegedly purchased the pistol in October 2018 - Jose Luis Magana/AP

Cocaine found where gun was kept

An FBI chemist subsequently analysed the residue and determined that it was cocaine, court filings read.

To be clear, investigators literally found drugs on the pouch where the defendant had kept his gun.

Mr Bidens legal team is attempting to have the gun charges dismissed.

They say Mr Weiss buckled under political pressure to bring the charges, an allegation for which the prosecution says there is no evidence.

In his rebuttal, Mr Weiss said Mr Bidens own book  Beautiful Things  contained a string of admissions showing he was a drug user at the time.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

But they do not usually result in imprisonment if they are not accompanied by other charges.

Hallie Biden, right, with her late husband Beau Biden. She later dated his brother Hunter and is accused of dumping the gun. - Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Plea deal collapsed

A plea deal which was agreed last year and then collapsed would have allowed the presidents son to avoid charges if he pleaded guilty to misdemeanour tax charges.

Mr Biden is also facing three felony and six misdemeanour charges in Los Angeles after he was accused of evading $1.4 million (1.1 million) in tax between 2016 and 2019.

Republicans in Congress have opened an impeachment inquiry into the Biden familys business affairs.

But they have provided no evidence that Joe Biden did anything wrong and he has repeatedly denied knowledge of or involvement in his sons business dealings.

Hunter Bidens legal woes nevertheless appear set to continue throughout his fathers bid to win a second term as president.

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File image: Mike Jeffries, then-CEO of US clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, leaves the store on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris on 27 October 2012 (BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images)

The FBI is reportedly investigating the former chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch over allegations of sexual exploitation, abuse and trafficking of men at lavish events he and his partner hosted in America and abroad.

Mike Jeffries, the companys boss during its heyday in the 1990s and early 2000s, and his British partner Matthew Smith are facing a civil lawsuit over alleged trafficking operations.

The BBC reported on Wednesday that FBI agents are now interviewing and issuing subpoenas to potential witnesses as part of an investigation, citing multiple sources aware of the probe.

The FBI is yet to comment publicly on the matter, and the BBC said a lawyer for Mr Jeffries declined to comment.

FBI agents specialising in alleged sex crimes and federal prosecutors from the eastern district of New York were reported to be leading the investigation.

An earlier BBC documentary alleged that Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith used a network of middlemen to organise events in London, Paris, Venice and Marrakesh between 2009 and 2015.

At least eight men said that they attended the events, some of whom claimed they were exploited or abused. One man told the BBC he felt forced to let another man perform oral sex on him.

A middleman representing Mr Jeffries, 79, and Mr Smith, 60, has denied any wrongdoing and said the alleged victims went in to the events with their eyes wide open.

The eight men who attended the events said they were recruited by a middleman, who they described as having a missing nose covered with a snakeskin patch. He was identified as James Jacobson in the BBC investigation.

One of the accusers is David Bradberry, a former model who chose to go public with his allegations. He said he was introduced to Mr Jacobson by an agent  who described himself as the gatekeeper to the owners of A&F  in 2010 when he was 23, but that there was no mention of sex. He is now suing the company alleging it allowed Mr Jeffries to run a sex-trafficking organisation during his 22-year tenure.

Mr Jacobson, now aged 70, told the BBC in a statement issued through his lawyer that he took offence at the suggestion of "any coercive, deceptive or forceful behaviour on my part" and had "no knowledge of any such conduct by others".

In December last year, Mr Jeffries filed a lawsuit against the apparel retailer for allegedly refusing to cover his legal fees after he was accused of running a sex trafficking operation for two decades.

The ex-chief executive, who stepped down in 2014, filed a lawsuit in Delaware, stating that the company was ignoring his right to have his fees covered in relation to a class action suit filed in October.

In a statement released in October, Abercrombie & Fitch said: "For close to a decade,aa new executive leadership team and refreshed board of directorsa have successfully transformed our brands and culture into the values-driven organisation we are today.

"We have zero tolerance for abuse, harassment or discrimination of any kind." The company said it did not comment on pending litigation.
The FBI searching for a person they think may be connected to the 2022 homicide of Black trans woman Brazil Johnson in Milwaukee.

The FBI is searching for a person believed to be connected to the 2022 homicide of 28-year-old Black trans woman Brazil Johnson in Milwaukee.

The agency on Tuesday disseminated pictures of a person spotted on surveillance footage and asked that the public contact the Milwaukee Field Office at 414-276-4684 if they have information.

The FBI searching for a person they think may be connected to the 2022 homicide of Black trans woman Brazil Johnson in Milwaukee.

Johnson was found fatally shot near North Teutonia and West Garfield avenues on June 15, 2022.

Johnson was the 17th transgender person killed in the U.S. in 2022, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Her death came amid a rise in anti-LGBTQ, and specifically anti-trans, rhetoric and policies nationwide.

Brazil Johnson is seen in this undated photo.

At least 41 transgender or gender non-conforming people were killed in 2022. That number dropped to 31 in 2023.

At the time, Johnson's mother, Bernitha Gildart, told the Journal Sentinel that Johnson had dreams of designing video games and opening a bakery. She loved cooking and poetry.

She graduated from Rufus King High School and Milwaukee Area Technical College. She held jobs as an assistant manager at Cousins sub shop and in the kitchen of a local Applebees.

As a teenager, Johnson was a community health promoter for Diverse & Resilient, which serves the LGBTQ community. Staff there remembered her as sweet and kind, and pledged to continue their work to support trans people.

We failed to protect Brazil as we have failed so many other trans woman of color who are murdered every year, a statement released by Diverse & Resilient in 2022 said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: FBI seeks info on killing of Black trans woman Johnson in Milwaukee
Chinese premier says fragmentation will make world economy more fragile

Xinhua) 09:01, January 17, 2024

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Under the impact of global crises, if countries fragmentarily fight their own battles, the world economy will become more fragile, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Tuesday.

The Chinese premier made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- At the beginning of 2024, China and Africa are ready to enhance their long-standing friendship by honoring a fine diplomatic tradition for the 34th year.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is paying visits to Egypt, Tunisia, Togo and Cote d'Ivoire from Jan. 13 to 18.

Carrying on a 34-year-old tradition since 1991, the African continent has been the destination for the first overseas visits made by Chinese foreign ministers each and every year.

China, the world's largest developing country, and Africa, the continent with the largest number of developing countries, have supported each other over the years, creating a unique path of mutually beneficial cooperation.

The relationship between China and Africa has consistently reached new heights, entering a phase of developing a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

In August 2023, during the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Initiative on Supporting Africa's Industrialization, and expressed willingness to implement the Plan for China Supporting Africa's Agricultural Modernization and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development, so as to boost Africa's integration and modernization.

Over the years, China has assisted African countries in industrialization and development, ensuring they won't be left behind in the world's modernization process.

Landmark projects from the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, to the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone, from Ethiopia's Eastern Industrial Zone to the Hisense South Africa Industrial Park, as well as from the Tanzania-Zambia Railway to the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, the people of China and Africa are together modernizing their countries.

In recent years, African countries have embraced the digital economy as a new engine for development. In countries such as Nigeria and Kenya, mobile payment platforms built by Chinese-funded enterprises have provided tens of millions of users with safe and convenient digital payment services.

Zhang Xiangchen, deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization, said China has always maintained close ties with Africa and is a competent partner for it to develop its digital economy and achieve its modernization goals.

Agricultural modernization is also an important foundation for African countries to achieve independent and sustainable development.

Over the past decade, China has built 24 agricultural technology demonstration centers in Africa and promoted more than 300 advanced and applicable technologies, which have led to an average increase in local crop yields of 30 to 60 percent and benefited more than 1 million small-scale farmers in African countries.

Under the impetus of the Belt and Road Initiative, more and more African agricultural products such as Ethiopian coffee, Beninese pineapples, and South African pears are entering the Chinese market through the "green channel" for export to China. Several facilitation measures have contributed to the rapid growth of China-Africa agricultural trade.

The promotion of economic and social development and the enhancement of comprehensive national strength and international competitiveness ultimately depend on talent.

A batch of Luban Workshops have been set up in Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire, and Djibouti among others, which have contributed to the development of vocational education in Africa and have trained talents for economic and social development.

China has always stood shoulder to shoulder with the vast number of African countries in the process of promoting modernization. China-Africa cooperation has advanced with the times and deepened continuously, and both sides have achieved mutually beneficial development, playing a positive role in promoting the modernization process of their countries.

This year, the new session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will again be held in China. China and Africa joining forces to promote the cause of modernization will surely create a better future for the peoples of both sides and become a model for promoting the building of a community with a shared future. 
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the Texas Education Agency on Wednesday from enforcing a state law requiring booksellers to rate the explicitness and relevance of sexual references in materials they sell to schools.

The appellate court, one of the most conservative in the nation, agreed with booksellers who sued the state, claiming the 2023 law violated their First Amendment rights. The court affirmed a district courts temporary injunction, preventing TEA Commissioner Mike Morath from enforcing House Bill 900.

In November, a panel of 5th Circuit judges blocked a ruling from a federal judge who had barred Texas from enforcing the law in late August.
A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that a Texas law banning sexually explicit books from public schools likely violates the Constitution, partially upholding a preliminary injunction issued by a lower court.

The three-judge appeals panel issued a unanimous ruling that the plaintiffs  two Texas bookstores; three national trade associations representing booksellers, publishers and authors; and a legal defense fund  would likely succeed on their claims that Texass law violates their First Amendment right to free speech.

The Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources Act (READER) requires vendors who want to do business with Texas public schools to give sexual-content ratings for all library material and flag any sexually explicit or sexually relevant material.

The question presented is narrow: Are Plaintiffs likely to succeed on their claims that READER violates their First Amendment rights? Controlling precedent suggests the answer is yes, U.S. Circuit Judge Don Willett, appointed by former President Trump, wrote in the unanimous opinion.

We affirm the district courts grant of the preliminary injunction as to Commissioner Morath. We vacate the preliminary injunction against Chairs Wong and Ellis and remand to the district court with instructions to dismiss Plaintiffs suit against them. We deny as moot the States motion for stay pending appeal.

Texas has said the law aims to protect children and has pushed back on claims of free speech by the booksellers. The state also claimed there would be no irreparable harm, in arguing against the injunction.

The court rejected those arguments, however, upholding the district courts conclusion that the government-speech doctrine does not apply and that the ratings are the vendors speech, not the governments, and therefore the law mandating the ratings violates freedom of speech.

The court also argued that compliance costs alone could cause irreparable harm to the plaintiffs. And while the risk of irreparable injury must be weighed against the public interest, neither [the State] nor the public has any interest in enforcing a regulation that violates federal law.

Because Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their First Amendment claim, the State and the public wont be injured by an injunction of a statute that likely violates the First Amendment, the filing said.

The law, passed in 2023, is one of several passed in GOP-controlled states that restrict schools from carrying certain books that proponents of the laws argue contain inappropriate content, whether related to race, sex or LGBTQ issues.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Federal attorneys are looking for people who may have been scammed in a nationwide internet fraud scheme that operated for several years and had ties to West Michigan.

In December, four people were charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud: Fatai Okunola, 37, of Kalamazoo, Oluwaseyi Adeola, 33, Ijeoma Adeola, 35, and Cory McDougal, 32.

A federal indictment alleges the defendants conspired with people in Nigeria to scam people in the United States, many elderly or vulnerable. The partners in Nigeria used fake personas to develop relationships over the internet, by social media, text or phone. They then asked for money for a variety of reasons.

Court docs: Woman paid $400K in romance scheme, money mules charged

They told the victims to send the money to numerous bank accounts in West Michigan or P.O. boxes maintained under alias names or shall businesses. They transferred the money to each other and their partners in Nigeria, officials said.

The suspects received over $2 million dollars in their accounts from the scam between 2017 and 2022, according to the indictment.

Now, federal attorneys are looking for others who may have been scammed by this group. The following Post Office Boxes, emails, business names and false personas were used in the scheme:

P.O. Box 19216, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019

P.O. Box 2115, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49003

Shyons Auto

Fatjas Import & Export

Lola Adeola Jeweleries

Choices Auto

CJs Shoe Rejuvination

Fatairemix1@gmail.com

Omololaphlex@yahoo.com

pshyon@yahoo.com

corymc1991@gmail.com

False personas:

Robert Johnson

John Stevenson

Gaurav Dewan

Akarsh Sahil

Koti Constance Malia

Timothy Jacob

Amanda Lynn Contreas

Tushar Khade

Brandon Johnson

Gaurav Gupta

Gaurav Santosh

James Mason

Luciano Rossi

If you think you may have been scammed by this group, visit the Department of Justice website or contact Breane Warner, Victim Assistance Specialist at 616.808.2064.

To protect yourself from similar internet or email scams, federal law enforcement recommends being cautious of unsolicited phone calls, emails and mailings, not giving sensitive information like date of birth account numbers, passwords, credit or debit card numbers or money to unverified people or businesses. Resist the false sense of urgency scammers create to lure people into action. If you realize its a scam attempt, end all communication with the perpetrator.

Authorities initially said Oluwaseyi Adeola and Ijeoma Adeola had been living near Battle Creek and Cory McDougal had been living in the Kalamazoo area. On Wednesday, they identified the Adeolas as from being from Dallas, Texas, and McDougal of Romeoville, Illinois.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Jeff Walker texted his daughter Harleigh Thursday to tell her that the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals had allowed Alabamas ban on gender-affirming care to go into effect.

He received a colorful message in reply.

She said, What the hell are these people thinking? he said.

Transgender youth, their families and those who work with them met the two-page order  which had no opinion attached  with anger as they tried to figure out its impact.

Allison Scott, director of impact and innovation at the Campaign for Southern Equality, based in Asheville, said Friday it contributed to a mounting feeling that politicians want to legislate LGBTQ+ people out of existence.

They want us to go away, they want us to disappear, she said. And to me, thats even more evil and cruel than saying that you would want me to move. Its saying that you dont want me to exist.

The courts ruling allows enforcement of a law passed in 2022 that makes it a felony for physicians in Alabama to prescribe puberty blockers and hormones to transgender children. A doctor who does so could face up to 10 years in prison.

Destiny Clark, a healthcare worker from Birmingham, holds up a sign during a protest of bills aimed at making treatments for transgender youth illegal on March 2, 2022.

Everyone knew this could happen at any time

The law targets an exceptionally small number of people. According to the Williams Institute housed at UCLA School of Law, only around 1% of Alabamians aged 13-17 are transgender.

Families with transgender children sued to block the law shortly after its passage, saying the medications were critical to their childrens well-being. U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke, a Trump appointee, blocked the law in May 2022, ruling that it unconstitutionally interfered with a parents ability to make decisions for their children.

But a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit overruled Burke last August. U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa, citing the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jacksons Womens Health Organization, which struck down federal abortion rights protections, wrote that there was no fundamental right for parents to access the medication.

Dr. Morissa Ladinsky, a clinician at UAB who works with transgender youth, said the one sentence suddenness of Thursdays order was shocking, but not the decision itself.

Everyone knew this could happen at any time, she said.

Ladinksy said they are planning to support their families and will continue to provide all of the health care that they legally are able to provide, such as mental and behavioral counseling.

Were continuing to blanket our families, she said.

Scott said the ruling could wipe out transgender care for years to come. Providers may shut down operations until they can get legal guidance and may never start again.

And that is part of the way these laws are written and thats what weve been seeing in state after state thats passing these, she said.

Attorneys for the families who sued to block the law said they would continue to fight. Jennifer Levi, senior director of Transgender and Queer Rights at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), who is representing families in the case, said Thursday that the decision was unexpected and disappointing. She said the case is still set for trial in August.

I do feel hopeful that in the long run, this decision will be ultimately reversed and hopefully parents can get the support that they need, she said.

Protestors in support of transgender rights rally outside the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

A long-term impact

Harleigh Walker is going to graduate from Auburn City Schools in 2025, and her father said that she is not planning to stay in Alabama or any state with similar laws. Walker has a GPA of over 4.0 and is involved in debate.

Until recently, Jeff Walker said that the school has mostly ignored her, which has been his preference. A few months ago, the school began enforcing another 2022 law which restricts bathroom use to the one that corresponds to the sex on their birth certificate.

Harleigh Walker needs to go to the first floor of the Auburn High School for a gender neutral bathroom, when most of her classes are on the second and third floors. Her dad said shes stopped going to the bathroom at the school.

Theres health issues around this and its really upsetting, he said.

Messages seeking comment were sent to Auburn City Schools on Friday.

Walker said that Alabama lawmakers have defended parents rights when it comes to things like masks and vaccines, but the politicization around transgender kids have led to lawmakers trying to take away his rights.

Beyond college two years away, Jeff Walker said that they are trying to understand their next steps as a family. He said his son called him last night and asked if they were going to move.

Even he is concerned about his future in the state and what it means for him as it relates to his sisters healthcare, he said.

Walker said they will continue her care.

Corey Harvard, executive director of Prism United in Mobile, wrote in an email that they work with families in southwest Alabama. Some are exploring possibly leaving the state for care.

We want the broader LGBTQ community and their loved ones to know that they arent alone, he wrote. There are so many individuals and organizations on the front lines and behind the scenes organizing, cultivating community, developing supportive resources, and working to change the cultural climate. The immediate horizon may feel scary, but we believeand history backs this upthat there is a better future ahead of us.

Harvard also quoted Martin Luther King, Jr.: The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.

Prism United and other Alabama organizations are working with the Campaign for Southern Equality to launch the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project, a regional effort to provide support to families including through grants and patient navigation support.

Disillusioned

Others expressed disgust with the officials who voted to take their childrens health care away. Cardelia Howell-Diamond, a parent to two transgender children aged 19 and 15, said she was upset by what she called the hypocrisy of Alabama politics.

Ive been disillusioned of the fact that the legislators were working for me anyways, she said.

Howell-Diamonds hope is to keep her child alive for the next four years. Her family has lived in the state for 11 years, over half of all of her childrens lives. Their neighbors are supportive. Her kids have great friends. Her community is great, she says, but not the politics.

Their everyday life is amazing, she said. They have very supportive friends, teachers, a supportive church  theyre doing great. But when its time to get a drivers license and oh, no, theres a big tailspin because how do I get a drivers license with the right gender marker on it in Alabama?

Howell-Diamond said they cant leave the state and their other family is in Texas, which isnt much better, which has a similar law.

She said she dreams of an Alabama similar to the one of today, but where todays politicians would be gone and replaced by people who would study things and get to know people that their laws affect.

She said she dreamed of her neighbors being her lawmakers.

People who knew us, people who cared about kids who are trans and gender questioning and all of those things and really wanted to nurture and protect those kids, as opposed to being worried about those kids being like viruses.

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: Court ruling leaves families of transgender youth angry, uncertain
A federal judge last week dismissed a U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit against the Kansas Department of Health and Environment over an Army National Guard member's job loss.

The U.S. sued Kansas in June 2022, alleging the state health department violated federal law on military service member employment.

"Any attempt to deny someone employment based upon their dedicated military service to this country is wrong and a violation of that person's civil rights," then-U.S. Attorney for Kansas Duston Slinkard said in a news release.

U.S. District Judge Toby Crouse on Jan. 9 granted the KDHE's motion for summary judgment and subsequently dismissed the case.

"While a close call, the facts here demonstrate that Kansas was not Gonzales's 'employer' under USERRA," Crouse wrote. "As a result, it cannot be held liable for the alleged discrimination."

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act is intended to protect the civilian employment of military personnel.

Federal attorneys had alleged that KDHE eliminated Staff Sgt. Stacy Gonzales' job in 2010 because of her military service. She had been employed as a disease intervention specialist in Finney County since 2001. But the state said Gonzales was technically an employee of the Finney County Health Department, using money from a state grant on combating sexually transmitted diseases.

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Justice Department loses lawsuit against Kansas health department
FILE - A sign stands outside the U.S. Department of Labor's headquarters, May 6, 2020, in Washington. The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration found numerous safety violations in its investigation of the July 2023 workplace accident that caused the death of Duvan Perez, a Guatemalan teenager who had been a contract worker at the Mar-Jac Poultry plant in Hattiesburg, Miss., the agency said in a news release on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi poultry plant's failure to follow safety protocols led to the death of a 16-year-old worker who was pulled into a machine, federal regulators said Tuesday.

The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration found numerous safety violations in its investigation of the July workplace accident that caused the death of Duvan Perez, a Guatemalan teenager and contract worker at the Mar-Jac Poultry plant in Hattiesburg, the agency said in a news release.

Mar-Jac Poultry is aware of how dangerous the machinery they use can be when safety standards are not in place to prevent serious injury and death," said Kurt Petermeyer, a regional administrator for OSHA. The companys inaction has directly led to this terrible tragedy, which has left so many to mourn this childs preventable death.

After the accident, Labor Department officials said Perez's death offered a reminder that children remain vulnerable to exploitation in the U.S. workplace.

OSHA did not name Perez, but the Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity  a nonprofit focused on issues related to immigration  previously identified Perez as a contract worker at the plant.

Mar-Jac did not immediately respond to phone and email messages requesting comment. The company, which has facilities in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, has 15 business days to contest OSHAs findings.

The Labor Departments Wage and Hour Division has also opened a child labor investigation into the plant.

In 2022, the Department found that more than 3,800 children had been working illegally at 835 companies in various industries. In April, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the Labor Department had reported a 69% increase since 2018 in the number of children being employed illegally in the U.S.

Federal workplace safety officials launched a probe into Perezs July 14 death after Mar-Jac, a Georgia-based poultry production company, said the teenager had died while conducting sanitation operations. OSHA investigators found that Perez died while performing a deep clean of a machine in the plant's deboning area. He became caught in a still-energized machine's rotating shaft and was pulled in, officials said.

Before authorities arrived at the plant, Perezs coworkers had tried to extract him from the equipment, which stretched to the plants ceiling, according to police records obtained by The Associated Press in July.

Investigators said that plant managers should have ensured that workers disconnected the machine's power and followed steps to prevent the machine from unintentionally starting during the cleaning. They cited Mar-Jac for 17 workplace violations and proposed $212,646 in penalties.

Perez was the second employee in just over two years to be killed on the job at the Hattiesburg plant. Over that period, there was also an amputation at the plant. OSHA previously cited Mar-Jac Poultry in 2020 and 2021 for four safety violations in three separate incidents.

Only about two years later nothing has changed and the company continues to treat employee safety as an afterthought, putting its workers at risk," Petermeyer said.

___

Michael Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow him at @mikergoldberg.
SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Farmer Sang Yon and his fellow villagers here in northwest Cambodia no longer live in fear of the danger caused by war-left landmines and unexploded ordnances (UXOs) after a China-aided project has helped get rid of the threats to their lives.

Chhrey village in Chi Kraeng district's Khvav commune, about 90 km northeast of the Siem Reap provincial town, was formerly a battlefield riddled with mines and UXOs. Casualties were frequently reported in the past, and villagers did not dare to farm a large portion of the land.

But the situation has changed after the land was cleared of mines and UXOs by the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) under the China-Aided Cambodia Landmines Elimination Project.

Sang Yon, the 52-year-old father of four children, said he witnessed his brother-in-law lost one leg after stepping on an anti-personnel landmine while he walked to his rice fields in 2000.

"We were shocked and gravely concerned at that time when CMAC had not yet carried out any mine clearance project here," he told Xinhua on Tuesday.

"But since the China-aided CMAC deminers have searched and cleaned up mines and UXOs here, I have not heard any mine incidents anymore. We're very happy and have no fear or worry when we walk somewhere."

Sang Yon said previously, he grew rice and potatoes on a land of 1 hectare, but after all parts of his land were cleared of mines and UXOs, he has expanded farming to about 20 hectares.

Ry Sareout, a 37-year-old farmer in Khvav village in the same commune, said villagers are now safe to go anywhere and to do the farming.

The mother of three children said she also witnessed her auntie lost both legs after stepping on a landmine near her farm more than a decade ago.

"But now, there are no more landmines in our village. We are now safe to grow rice or other crops, and tractors can be used to plow farmland without fear of mines," she told Xinhua.

Sareout said previously, each family could farm only a land of 1 to 2 hectares due to the threat from landmines, but now some well-off families have farmed a land of 30 to 40 hectares.

"I'd like to thank China for providing assistance to CMAC to get rid of landmines in my village. Now, people are safe to make a good living," she said.

Sang Yon and Sareout are just two of nearly 1 million Cambodians benefiting from the China-Aided Cambodia Landmines Elimination Project, which is planned to be carried out in three phases from 2018 to 2025.

According to CMAC, so far, it has released 10,945 hectares of the remnants of war contaminated areas, and found and destroyed around 78,000 pieces of landmines and unexploded ordinances as remnants of war.

Rath Pottana, director of CMAC's planning and operation unit, said the project has saved many lives, reduced casualties, and help alleviate poverty in Cambodia's rural areas.

"Approximately 210,000 families with nearly 1 million people in those affected communities have benefited from this mine-clearance project," he told Xinhua.

"The Chinese assistance is very helpful to clearing mines and providing a safe land to people, contributing to economic development and livelihood improvement for the people in those communities," he added.

Pottana said the cleared lands have been used for agriculture, infrastructure development, and other purposes such as housing, and the use by villages, schools or healthcare centers.

"Now, they no longer live in fear of danger caused by landmines in their communities," he said.

Ma Shengkun, deputy director general of the Department of Arms Control at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Tuesday that China-Cambodia mine clearance cooperation has become a crucial part of the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries, demonstrating their joint commitment to the Global Security Initiative.

"This collaboration shows China's commitment as a responsible major country with a global vision, contributing to the well-being of humanity," he told Xinhua during a trip to a minefield in Siem Reap province.

"China looks forward to helping Cambodian people achieve the goal of a mine-free 2025," Ma said. "The Chinese government will continue to make contributions to assist the Cambodian people to realize this objective."

Cambodia is one of the countries worst affected by landmines and the explosive remnants of war (ERW). An estimated 4 million to 6 million landmines and other munitions had been left over from three decades of war and internal conflicts that ended in 1998.

According to Yale University data, between 1965 and 1973, the United States dropped 230,516 bombs on 113,716 sites in Cambodia.

According to a Cambodian government report, from 1979 to October 2023, landmine and ERW explosions killed 19,822 people and either injured or amputated 45,212 others.

The Southeast Asian country is committed to achieving a mine-free goal by 2025. 
The Florida Board of Education Wednesday approved rules that prohibit spending on diversity, equity and inclusion and remove sociology from general education core course options at community and state colleges. The decision echoes similar moves in Texas, which last year passed a law banning spending on DEI.

We will continue to provide our students with a world-class education with high-quality instruction, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said during the boards morning meeting on Tallahassee Community Colleges campus.

Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr.

The established rules follow Gov. Ron DeSantis conservative target on education in the state, where he signed a DEI law last year that dismantles such programs in public colleges and universities while making changes to the post-tenure review process for faculty.

While Floridas Board of Governors has already introduced similar DEI regulations for institutions in the State University System, the Board of Educations unanimous vote Wednesday officially implements the rule for the Florida College System  which consists of 28 colleges.

As of this January, 49 bills targeting DEI have been introduced in 23 states, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education tracker. Seven of those bills have been signed into law.

The regulation prohibits institutions from spending funds on DEI and from advocating for DEI, which is specifically defined as any program, campus activity, or policy that classified individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation and promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals on the basis of such classification, according to the rule.

More on DEI law: DeSantis signs bill banning funding for college diversity programs

But the colleges and universities can still spend money on student-led organizations, regardless of whether they consist of any speech or activity that might violate the DEI rule.

DEI is really a cover for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination, and that has no place in our state colleges at all, Chair Ben Gibson said during the meeting. Our state colleges need to be focused on learning and not any form of discrimination of any sort whatsoever.

Florida Board of Education Chair Ben Gibson.

In addition, the regulation about the sociology course comes after Diaz  who also serves on the Board of Governors  made the proposal to the board to remove "Principles of Sociology" from the states core courses for general education requirements during a November meeting.

The general education core courses rule adds "Introduction to Geology" and "Introduction to Oceanography" as two new options in the natural sciences category while also adding Introductory Survey to 1877, to the social science subject area  ultimately taking out the sociology course.

The new social science core course option will cover American history from the countrys earliest colonial beginnings to 1877.

But after Diazs initial proposal, sociology department leaders across the state expressed their discontent about the change, saying that it will "impoverish" the curriculum.

More: Florida faculty strongly object to removal of sociology from core college courses list

It's important to make sure that taking out sociology really allows us to focus more with that new American History course on those foundational principles  the breadth of American history that's covered in US history, Florida College System Chancellor Kathryn Hebda said Wednesday. Everything from colonization through the New Republic, to the Civil War and slavery, all of that is included in that first survey course.

Although the sociology class will no longer be on the core course options list for general education requirements, students will still be able to access the course if they are interested in taking it, Hebda says.

Students should be focused on learning the truth about our country instead of being radicalized by woke ideologies in our college classrooms, Diaz said.

Students walk on Tallahassee Community College's campus.

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Board of Education ditches DEI, sociology core course
TALLAHASSEE  The elections investigations office launched by Gov. Ron DeSantis, which has sparked controversy and outrage among many voter rights groups, is reporting it received over 1,300 complaints of elections misdeeds over the past year.

The Office of Election Crimes and Securitys 336-page annual report to the Legislature, released this week, shows that while dozens of complaints have been dismissed, the bulk of them are still in some category of review or investigation.

The overwhelming majority of the complaints involve accusations of someone either trying to register, or actually voting, illegally.

Enforcing Florida election law has the primary effect of punishing violators, but enforcement also and equally as important acts as a deterrent for those who may consider voting illegally or committing other election related crimes, the report says.

But the office, created in 2022 and drawing $1.4 million in taxpayer funding, continues to be a lightning rod, in part because of the cases it pursues.

Gov. Ron DeSantis created new Election Crimes and Security Office in 2022.

As cases pursued, controversy followed

Last fall, charges were dropped in Tallahassee against a 69-year-old woman arrested at her home at 3 a.m. for illegally voting in the 2020 and 2022 elections.

Marsha Ervin had successfully registered to vote and was sent a government-issued registration card even though she was still on probation for felony charges and had not regained her voting rights.

Cecile Scoon, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, said the Election Crimes and Security office has too frequently focused its firepower at minority voters.

The state is seeking out some people for prosecution, Scoon said. There is a definite pattern going on where enforcement seems to be only in one direction.

In its first major action shortly after being created, the office assisted law enforcement in conducting mostly early morning raids that resulted in the arrests of 20 former felons  just days before the August 2022 primary elections for having illegally voted two years earlier.

Most of those arrested were Black and had received government voter identification cards. The majority of the cases were later dismissed or resulted in plea deals with no jail time.

Office was proposed when DeSantis was allied with Trump

DeSantis proposed the office early in 2022 when he was still allied with former President Donald Trump, whose repeated falsehoods about the 2020 election being stolen continue to animate the Republican voting base.

DeSantis is now a Trump rival for this years Republican presidential nomination, having finished a far distant second to the former president in Mondays Iowa caucuses. But with another election looming, the state Election Crimes and Security office is certain to take center stage again.

Along with the 1,339 complaints it investigated in the past year, the office also said it dealt with hundreds of emails and more than 800 phone calls to its Voter Fraud Hotline.

The office still is recovering from the loss of its first director, Pete Antonacci, a longtime Florida government figure who died suddenly in fall 2022 during a meeting in the governors executive office suite at the Capitol.

Some critics see the Election Crimes and Security office as used by DeSantis to blunt political participation in communities that may lean Democratic.

DeSantis uses office to send a message, analyst says

It does send a message, said Abdelilah Skhir, a policy strategist with the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.

In addition to arresting those people who had genuine confusion around their voting status, it also chilled turnout. I heard from many folks who had been knocking on doors and talking to voters, and many people chose not to vote if they had any doubt about their eligibility, Skhir added.

The Florida Constitutions Amendment 4, approved by voters in 2018, can restore voting rights to most offenders, except those convicted of murder and felony sex crimes.

But a statutory requirement that all fees, fines and court costs be fully paid has led to confusion over eligibility, since no central database exists that allows offenders to check their status.

DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature have not actively called for creating any such system. But in the new report, the Election Crimes and Security office does touch on many of the cases it was involved in last year.

A scattering of cases; usually low-level offenders

Among them was the arrest and conviction of 10 Alachua County Jail inmates who registered and cast ballots in 2020, again stemming from confusion about their eligibility status following Amendment 4.

A ghost candidate in an Osceola County commission race was convicted of campaign violations in a scheme to siphon-off Hispanic votes to help another candidate retain her seat.

A Sumter County man in The Villages was convicted of fraud for completing his late-father-in-law's vote-by-mail ballot in the 2020 elections.

When office was launched DeSantis signs bill to create new elections security force to investigate potential ballot fraud

What first roundup was like Videos of stunned Floridians being arrested on voter fraud charges sparks renewed criticism

The office also touted having helped yield multiple five-figure fines against a third-party voter registration organization, Hard Knocks Strategies LLC, for election law violations, including for falsifying at least 58 voter registration applications in Lee and Charlotte counties.

A scattering of other cases cited in the annual report include the convictions of several people for illegally registering to vote or for casting more than one ballot in an election.

Office taking a wary look at signature campaigns

With high-profile petition campaigns underway seeking voter signatures for abortion rights and recreational marijuana ballot measures for November, the Election Crimes and Security office also pointed to its oversight of this area of elections law.

DeSantis and Floridas Republican legislative leaders oppose these ballot measure, which would create amendments to the state's constitution. And the offices annual report casts an ominous cloud, generally, over signature campaigns.

The office said that it had reviewed and referred to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement cases involving 32 petition gatherers in the last quarter of 2023 suspected of forging or duplicating signatures on forms.

In its report, the office concluded, this is the tip of the iceberg with respect to the fraudulent activities taking place with constitutional initiative petitions.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @JKennedyReport.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida election police handled 1,300 complaints, annual report shows
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Two men were arrested in connection to a 17 year olds death in central Florida last month.

On December 19, Seminole County deputies were called to a home in Winter Park for a reported death, according to NBC affiliate WESH.

Florida man dies after getting run over by own truck

The 17-year-olds family reported hearing gunshots at around 3 a.m., but did not see anything suspicious. The teenager was found dead later that day.

Detectives believe the killing stemmed from the teenager telling Alan Morris, 19, that he could no longer stay at his home, just days before his death. The two had several arguments in the following days, according to the sheriffs office.

Morris was accused of shooting through a window multiple times, killing the teenager. He was arrested and charged with first degree murder on January 12. Morris was also charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious battery on a minor in an unrelated case.

Deputies arrested Isaiah Crisp, 20, who is identified as Morris codefendant, but they did not elaborate on his involvement in the teenagers death. He was charged with first degree murder.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
WEST BEND, Wis. (WFRV)  A man from Illinois was taken into custody following an hourslong incident in Washington County.

According to the Washington County Sheriffs Office, on January 16 around 8:15 a.m., it responded to a residence in the town of West Bend at the request of the West Bend Police Department. Officials say that the department was actively investigating a violation of a temporary restraining order.

Fond du Lac Police Department: Less-than-lethal force used following pursuit

The violation allegedly included pointing and placing the barrel of a handgun directly onto a victim. The suspect, identified as a 41-year-old man from Illinois reportedly fled to the home of his 76-year-old mother in West Bend.

The suspect vehicle was reportedly found at the mothers home. Officials say that due to the recent alleged use of a firearm and possible hostage situation, tactical units were sent to the area.

The Washington County Sheriffs Office reportedly asked the Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Office to respond with their armored rescue vehicle as the incident developed.

Around 3:30 p.m. the suspect reportedly voluntarily left the home and was safely taken into custody. Investigators learned that the mother was not held against her will and will not face any charges.

K9 Mattis with the Brown County Sheriffs Office receiving advanced medical care

The release also said that the heavy police presence was due to the nature of the incident, but also compounded by the need to rotate operators from exposure to the cold temperatures.

No additional information was provided.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Lynne Marta, whose three-decade film acting career ran from 1971 to 2002, has died. She was 78.

The New Jersey-born actor was well-known for playing Lulu Warnicker, aunt of Kevin Bacons Ren, in 1984s Footloose.

She was also a regular on television, appearing on shows including Charlies Angels, Love, American Style, Starsky & Hutch and Columbo.

Marta died on Thursday 11 January at her Los Angeles home folllowing a battle with cancer, her friend Chris Saint-Hilaire told The Hollywood Reporter.

She was born on 30 October 1945 in Somerville, New Jersey. Her father, George, was commissioner of air and water pollution for the State of New Jersey. Marta was the younger of two daughters.

She began her career on the teen dance show The Lloyd Thaxton Show, before continuing her career in Los Angeles with appearances on Gidget and The Monkees in 1966.

Lynne Marta with David Soul at Heathrow in 1977 (Getty Images)

A few years later, she appeared on the first season of the ABC anthology series Love, American Style.

She had a major breakthrough in 1972s Joe Kidd, directed by John Sturges. Marta played the companion of a wealthy landowner (Robert Duvall) who catches the eye of a bounty hunter (Clint Eastwood).

In the 1980s, Marta was involved in what People described at the time as an open relationship with Starsky & Hutch star David Soul while he was married to actress Karen Carlson.

All through the Starsky & Hutch years, David and Lynne lived together but spent time with other people, the magazine noted. Marta appeared with Soul on his 1977 special David Soul and Friends.

In July 1989, Marta was a witness to the murder of young actor Rebecca Schaeffer.

Marta was in her apartment, a few feet down the hall from where Schaeffer was fatally shot by obsessive fan Robert John Bardo.

The door shook, the wall shook, she said in testimony reported in the Los Angeles Times at the time. The cat went up into the air. I fell to my knees and crawled into the bedroom. Then, I heard Rebeccas first scream.

She was still screaming while I was talking to 911, she continued. By the time I got to the door, she was wailing. I opened the small hatch in my door. There was a smell Ill never forget: the smell of gunfire. It was quiet except for light moaning.

Marta is survived by her sister, MJ, and her cat, Mr Peaches.
Boxes are stacked on the floor of the chemistry vault cabinet at the Austin Police Departments Forensic Science Laboratory in 2013.

A former city of Austin employee who was previously accused by the city auditor's office of fraud and theft now faces criminal charges.

Efrain Perez  a forensics science manager who was accused of using a city-issued credit card to buy about $3,000 in gift cards and firearm accessories  is facing two charges, property theft and tampering with government records, according to court records filed Jan. 10.

The Austin Police Department confirmed Friday that Perez had been arrested.

The probable cause arrest affidavit states that Perez used his city-issued credit card to make about $3,000 in personal purchases, including Amazon gift cards and AR-15 firearm accessories, and altered the receipts.

Perez, who managed daily operations and made and approved staff purchases for the Forensic Science Department, was hired by the city in 2013, according to employment records obtained by the American-Statesman. His 2023 fiscal year salary was listed as about $121,000.

Perez resigned in May, according to the audit published in late 2023. He could not be immediately reached for comment.

Findings of the audit and affidavits

The affidavit states that in February, a financial manager for the city's Financial Services Department alerted the auditor's office "that his office had documentation to indicate an employee had misused the City's ProCard (credit card) for personal expenses."

The city auditor's office in late 2023 published an audit accusing Perez of purchasing 15 Visa gift cards worth about $1,500 total and spending $1,550 on firearm accessories. Before his resignation, Perez denied the purchase of gift cards in an interview with the auditor's department.

The affidavit cites the findings from the city auditor's investigation and shows the detective on the case requested supporting documentation.

After further review, the detective stated in the affidavit, "there were 14 instances where Perez provided altered and/or modified receipts to the City as supporting information or his purchases. (In one instance, Perez provided no back-up receipt at all for the purchase.)"

Perez also altered or modified receipts including changing the shipping address, changing the item description and changing discounts Perez took that were intended for military or law enforcement officers only, according to the affidavit.

The city of Austin auditor claims this invoice was falsified by former city employee Efrain Perez.

Perez claimed he purchased the firearm accessories for the Forensic Science Department in the city's financial system, but that was disputed by a supervisor who stated the items purchased would not have been used by the department, according to the audit.

"The supervisor added that these products would be used by the Austin Police Department," the audit states. "Perez did not have any purchasing responsibilities for APD."

Attached to the audit is a memo from Dr. Dana Kadavy, director of the Forensic Science Department, stating that the Forensic Science Department and Police Department financial services reviewed the audit and did not dispute any of its findings.

In a December statement, Kadavy said she was "reassured that we have the correct policies and procedures in place that led to the misuse being detected."

When asked for a comment on the developments in the case, Michele Gonzalez, strategic communications and external relations officer for the city, said, The City is not in a position to comment on an ongoing criminal matter.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Former city of Austin forensics employee faces criminal charges
(KRON)  A Santa Clara County Sheriffs deputy was convicted of fabricating a story in which he said he was shot twice, the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office said Tuesday.

On Jan. 21, 2020, Sukhdeep Gill pressed the emergency broadcast button on his radio and said shots fired. Other deputies and officers from the San Jose, Morgan Hill and Gilroy police departments responded to his location on Uvas Road in unincorporated Morgan Hill.

Gill told the first officer who responded that he had parked on the shoulder of the rural road to urinate. He said that as he was walking back to his car, another car drove by with its lights off and the passenger shot at him. Gill said he fired two shots back.

FBI warns parents, minors of growing sextortion threat

At the time, officials said one shot hit Gills body camera.

An investigation found evidence, including ballistics, that exposed serious discrepancies in the deputys account, the DAs office said.

About a year later, Gill was arrested and accused of fabricating evidence. Gill, now 30, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor vandalism and false report of an emergency.

Gill will have to do 150 hours of community service, pay restitution and surrender his peace officer certification. He can never act as a peace officer again in California.

I have gone to officers funerals after they are shot, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. I hope to never hear again about an officer faking being shot. Its outrageous, diverts public resources, and dishonors officers who put their lives on the line to protect us.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Alaska Airlines and Boeing were hit with a lawsuit from four passengers who claimed they experienced havoc, fear, trauma, [and] severe and extreme distress during a midair blowout aboard a flight earlier this month.

The suit, filed in King County Superior Court in Washington state, is seeking damages for personal injuries after a door plug on a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft blew off while an Alaska Airlines flight was 16,000 feet above Oregon.

The blowout left a gaping hole on the side of the plane, and the pilots were forced to make an emergency landing at Portland International Airport instead of continuing to its Ontario, Calif., destination.

Attorney Mark Lindquist argued in a court complaint that the blowout prompted intense fear, distress, anxiety, trauma, physical pain and other injuries to his clients and other passengers. He also explained that one plaintiff thought, This is the end, while one of his clients sent text messages including one that said, Mom our plane depressed. Were in masks. I love you.

Lindquist alleged terror continued on the plane for several minutes as passengers were unsure of the planes ability to fly, and some feared death.

No serious injuries were reported on the flight.

Boeing declined to comment on the lawsuit, and Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment.

The four plaintiffs included two people from California  a school psychologist and teacher  and two from Washington state, including a college student and a business analyst. They are seeking economic and other damages for their experience.

The suit charges three counts  negligence and strict product liability against Boeing and negligence against Alaska Airlines.

The suit comes less than a week after a separate group of six passengers filed a class-action lawsuit against Boeing. Plaintiffs in the first case allege the emergency caused some to suffer physical and emotional distress.

The incident has sparked widespread calls for a deeper investigation into Boeing, Alaska Airlines and Spirit AeroSystems, the manufacturer that made the fuselage and door plug that flew off.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched a probe last week into whether the aircraft manufacturer failed to ensure its planes complied with the agencys safety regulations. The probe was expanded Wednesday to include Boeings manufacturing practices and production lines.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in an initial probe that a warning light indicating a pressurization problem with the plane that experienced the blowout lit up on three other flights, including two earlier this month and one in early December.

Lindquist pointed to the NTSBs findings in the court complaint and listed a series of documents related to Boeings previous incidents with other models, including two crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, where all the passengers on the flight died.

The FAA temporarily grounded the estimated 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft a day after the midair blowout and said safety of the flying public, not speed will dictate when the aircraft will return to service.

It took the FAA three months and a second crash to ground the Max 8, Lindquist said in a statement. So its good to see this quick action. Lessons were learned by the FAA, if not Boeing.

Boeing on Monday announced additional inspections of the production of its 737 Max 9 model will also take place at both Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems facilities. Under the new plan, the company will also inspect Spirits installation of the door plug and approve them before they are sent to Boeing, which has its main factory in Everett, Wash.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Four people charged in a conspiracy to make fake Xanax tablets and sell them in southeastern Kentucky through the dark web have pleaded guilty.

The final of the four, Reina Chirinos de Urena, pleaded guilty Jan. 12 in federal court in London.

The others charged in the conspiracy, Omar Thomas Wala, Michael Basalyga and Vienna Cavanaugh, pleaded guilty earlier.

All four admitted they took part in a conspiracy to make and sell counterfeit alprazolam, commonly called Xanax, which is used to treat anxiety.

People involved in the conspiracy made pills that looked similar to real tablets and were stamped with numbers used by legitimate manufacturers, but were made from other substances, according to Walas plea agreement.

Those substances included two, clonazolam and etizolam, that have no accepted medical use in the U.S., according to the pleas.

Trafficking and abuse of the drugs has become an imminent hazard to public safety, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said last year.

The conspiracy involved selling directly to people but also selling the counterfeit drugs on darknet marketplaces. The darknet, or dark web, is a part of the internet sometimes used by criminals, though it also has legitimate uses.

Buyers paid for the drugs with cryptocurrency, including bitcoin, according to court documents.

The conspirators sold drugs across the U.S but were charged in Kentucky based on sales here.

The charging document in the case said the conspiracy operated in Laurel, Knox, Clay and Shelby counties from May 2017 to December 2022.

The court record shows that Basalyga, Cavanaugh and de Urena were arrested in South Florida and Wala was arrested on Long Island, in New York.

Wala agreed as part of his plea to pay $186,100 to the government in lieu of forfeiting a piece of property in Miami-Dade County.

The four also agreed to the government taking property that includes a 2019 Jaguar, money and cryptocurrency and expensive watches and jewelry.

One charge the four pleaded to is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Four restaurants in South Mississippi failed their health department inspection in the last week, bringing the total for the first two weeks of the year to ten.

These restaurants scored a C for critical violations:

See-Wee-Roll at Edgewater Mall, 2600 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, had a scheduled inspection Jan. 11. It was cited for inadequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible.

This was the third inspection since a complaint in December. At an inspection on Dec. 16, the restaurant was cited for:

 Improper eating, tasting, drinking or tobacco use (repeat offense)

 Inadequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible (repeat offense)

 Food contact surface not cleaned and sanitized (repeat offense)

It also had two violations that were corrected during the inspection.

The restaurant was given a B after a follow-up inspection on Dec. 27, when the violations were corrected.

This is the third C since August.

Simply Southern Wiggins, 1119 Frontage Drive East., Wiggins had a scheduled inspection Jan. 11. It was cited for:

 Food contact surface not cleaned and sanitized (repeat offense)

 Improper cold holding temperatures (repeat)

This was the first C dating back to 2021.

King Buffet at 227 Eisenhower Dr., Biloxi had an inspection Jan. 11 for a permit renewal. It was cited for not having required records available for shell stock tags for required parasite destruction.

This is the first C since 2019.

Jalapeno Grill of Long Beach, 229 Klondyke Road, Long Beach, had a scheduled inspection Jan. 12 and was cited for no certified manager. The only other time the restaurant was inspected was in May 2023, when it scored an A.

Restaurants and other food service establishments in Mississippi are rated A if they pass the health department inspection, B if violations are corrected during the inspection and C if the violations are critical.

Most restaurants inspected since Jan. 11 in South Mississippi had no violations, with 38 kitchens scoring an A and 8 a B.
Just south of the cacophony of downtown West Palm Beach, a bushy-tailed denizen of the Flamingo Park Historic District has been spotted lazing on a lanai, trotting along the sidewalk and, last month, sitting serenely in the sunshine in someones backyard.

Foxes, a mainstay on Palm Beach County golf courses and in rural areas where they have room to roam, also retain residence on the fringes of urban uproar and in an enclave known more for its venerated 1920s-era homes than its wildlife.

While foxes are predators, animal experts say there is nothing to fear from the stealthy hunters who prefer small-size fare at mealtime, like mice, rats and moles.

Mar-a-Lago coyotes: Amid opulence and old money, discreet new resident slinks along streets of Trump's tony Palm Beach

Give thanks: 'Foxes are absolutely something to behold'

If people see a fox, they should be in awe and say a quick thank you to the wildlife gods because foxes are absolutely something to behold, said Dianne Sauve, a Flamingo Park resident and former director of Palm Beach Countys Animal Care and Control division. When I was observing a fox on my street, someone was in a panic, saying it was a coyote.

Sauve said shes seen several foxes in Flamingo Park but only one coyote, and it was on video.

A fox photographed in a Flamingo Park yard near downtown West Palm Beach.

People should not be concerned about the foxes, she said.

Two species of fox call Florida home. The gray fox is a native species, while the red fox is considered "naturalized," meaning it's not native but has adapted and established a stable population, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

At between 7 and 15 pounds, foxes are smaller than coyotes and have shorter legs. They generally eat mice and rats but are opportunistic hunters and will feed on kittens, rabbits, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, fruits, berries and insects.

Unfortunately, they can also grow fond of food left outside for pets or stray cats, and its then that foxes may get territorial.

A fox photographed in West Palm Beach's Flamingo Park Historic District.

Foxes don't need our food or help

They might try to protect the food and snap at your dog or cat, said Jan Steele, director of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. Sometimes people think its helpful to put food out for the foxes, but it makes them dependent on humans. They dont need our help.

Foxes may also stand their ground if they have pups nearby. That's when it's best to walk away.

Gray foxes are often mistaken for red foxes because they do have rust-colored fur around their necks and undersides, but their face, sides back and tail are gray or black. Red foxes are red over most of their body with a white tip on the end of their tail. Gray foxes are unusual in that they can scramble up trees  making them one of only a few North American members of the dog family capable of climbing.

A fox seen in a Flamingo Park backyard in 2019.

Amy Kight, executive director of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in unincorporated Jupiter, said she often gets phone calls from people who have spotted a fox and think it's an unusual sighting, or think they have spotted a fox, but it's a racoon, dog or other animal that is not a fox.

"Especially people who haven't lived here a long time can get animals confused," she said.

New home for wildlife: See birds, bears, reptiles and more at the new Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter

In Flamingo Park, the foxes are part myth  some longtime residents say they've never seen them  and part charm.

A Dec. 31 social media post with a picture of a gray fox in a Flamingo Park yard called the visitor a "regular" and said the New Year's Eve sighting was a good omen for 2024.

Theyre beautiful animals, said Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss, who lives in Flamingo Park and likes seeing foxes in his yard. Fortunately, they dont bother the cats, theyre skittish.

A fox photographed in a yard in West Palm Beach's Flamingo Park Historic District in December 2023.

Neighborhood Association President Linda Cullen said shes never seen a fox personally but was shown a photo of a furry animal in front of her house that wasnt a dog.

I hear people say coyote, but they are probably like me and dont really know the difference or whether this animal is a danger, Cullen said. Other than that, a lot of people think its interesting that there are foxes right here in downtown.

Coyotes are a concern for pets, especially those under 25 pounds, said Sauve, who called coyotes top tier predators. For small dogs, she recommends against using retractable leashes, which can be tricky to operate and easily yanked out of someones hand. Its also smart to be cautious at dusk or after dark because coyotes typically hunt at night.

As for foxes, Steele said they should be admired and left alone.

They were here first so we want them to have places to live. We can all coexist, she said.

Kimberly Miller is a veteran journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism, subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Foxes seen in Flamingo Park, a West Palm Beach historic district
Ukraine is reportedly in line to receive hundreds of AASM Hammer precision-guided munitions from France, Ukrainian military news outlet Defense Express reported on Jan. 17.

The AASM Hammer is essentially a conventional bomb equipped with special modifications that significantly enhances its range and accuracy.

Read also: German opposition seeks Bundestag vote on supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine

The AASM system includes a frontal guidance kit and a rear-mounted range extension modification that can be fitted to conventional bombs. It allows bombs to be guided by satellite, via thermal imaging, or with a semi-active laser guidance system. An airburst detonation capability is also available.

The AASM Hammer has a range of over 70 kilometers, providing a crucial advantage by allowing it to be dropped from a relatively safe distance from the target.

The AASM Hammer is currently used with French Rafale fighter jets, but it has also been deployed from F-16, Mirage 2000, and Mirage F1 jets, using the HASAS (Hammer Stand Alone System) system.

French President Emmanuel Macron also announced on Jan. 16 that Ukraine would receive a new batch of Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles from France.



Read also:

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
Semafor Signals

Insights from The Economist, Vox, and NPR.

The News

Frances population is older than ever, and its citizens are having fewer children. Just 678,000 babies were born in the country last year, the lowest number since 1946. The decline is primarily due to women having fewer children or none at all, according to Ined, Frances National Institute of Demographic Studies. The nations population still increased slightly last year, thanks to migration and a record high life expectancy of 85.7.

These trends are not unique to France  births are declining globally. In 2000, the worlds fertility rate stood at 2.7 births per woman. The replacement rate, at which a population is stable, is 2.1. As of 2023, the rate was 2.3  and falling.

China announced this week that its population dropped again last year, the second time in a row, with its birth rate hitting a new low and death rate reaching the highest level since 1974. Over the last several years, nations including China, South Korea, Japan, Germany, and Russia have tried to address lagging birth rates by offering incentives for having children.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Global fertility drops could impact the economy

Sources: The Economist, The International Monetary Fund

The implications of a dropping global birth rate include higher taxes, later retirements, lower real returns for savers and, possibly, government budget crises, The Economist wrote last year. Thats in part because as the population ages but isnt replaced, there are fewer young people to support the worlds pensioners. In high-income countries, one factor contributing to falling fertility rates is the fact that women participate in the workforce for much of their lives. Affordable childcare allows mothers to continue their careers after giving birth, which the International Monetary Fund found also ultimately increases the number of babies who are born. The IMF recommends investing in gender equality overall to address economic pressures on women who want to start a family.

But pro-family policies dont work in the long term

Sources: The Hill, Vox

Countries with pro-family policies, like child tax credits and paid parental leave, are still seeing declining birth rates. Theres some evidence that these policies increase the number of children born when theyre first implemented, senior Center for Community Progress fellow Adam Mallach wrote, but the gains are temporary. No matter what governments do to convince them to procreate, people around the world are having fewer and fewer kids, Vox reported. Government efforts could shift the timing of when people chose to procreate, but dont ultimately affect the number of kids people have, an expert told the outlet.

Immigration could help raise birth rates

Sources: NPR, Nikkei Asia

Only net immigration can ensure population stability or growth in the aging advanced economies of the North, economist Giovanni Peri wrote for the IMF. Immigration not only bolsters nations against population declines, it also tends to lower their overall age. This is especially true in places where the labor market is shrinking due to an aging population. Some countries already employ this strategy. A real bellwether for the future is South Korea, economics professor Michael Clemens told NPR. The country, which has the lowest birthrate in the world, augments its labor market with migrant workers. But those workers often endure substandard working conditions, mistreatment, and other forms of exploitation.
PARIS  France will supply Ukraine with about 40 more Scalp-EG cruise missiles and hundreds of bombs in coming weeks, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a press conference Tuesday evening.

The French defense industry is also working within the framework of a war economy to boost production and supplies of equipment to Ukraine, in particular 155mm Caesar howitzers, the president said.

Macron turned to international issues more than two hours into a sprawling press conference in Paris, calling the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine the biggest risk to the security of Europe. He said France is finalizing a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine similar to the one concluded by the U.K. last week.

We will basically continue to help Ukraine in its needs  for training, to hold on to the front, and to defend its skies, Macron said. With the deliveries I mentioned, with the agreements were finalizing.

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an agreement on security cooperation in Kyiv on Jan. 12, committing the U.K. to consulting with Ukraine in the event the country is attacked by Russia ever again, and to provide swift and sustained assistance for defense. The U.K. also announced military funding of 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion) for Ukraine in the 2024-2025 financial year.

Macron plans to visit Ukraine in February, by which time he said deliveries of munitions will have started, as France hands over equipment almost in real time with announcements.

France received its first Scalp from missile maker MBDA in 2003, and a senate report that year put the cost for a single missile at 860,000. The French started a midlife upgrade in 2016 to keep Scalp operationally effective until at least 2030.

French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecorne is scheduled to host his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov in France on Thursday, with visits to the KNDS site in Bourges, where the company builds the truck-mounted Caesar howitzer, and MBDAs production site of Scalp missiles in Selles-Saint-Denis.

France ranks behind Germany and the U.K. in value of military aid provided to Ukraine between January 2022 to October 2023, as well as behind smaller countries including Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, according to data tracked by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. At the same time, some of the equipment supplied by France expanded the long-range fire capabilities sought by Ukraine, including the Caesar cannons and Scalp missiles.

Macron said the world has become unstable, defined by the tension between China and the U.S., which risks upsetting Europe. He repeated calls for a more sovereign Europe that is an ally of the U.S. but which doesnt depend on it, and which can be a hub of stability.

Russia cannot be allowed to win in Ukraine, because that would implicate the security of Europe and all of Russias neighbors, the president said.

We will very clearly, us French and us Europeans, have new decisions to take in the weeks and months to come, precisely not to let Russia win.

Macron said increased military investment now needs to be complemented by developing European defense, more common programs and investments, standardization of major European industrial programs and a closer military culture with partners.
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference during the second day of the EU Summit. Macron has held out the prospect of a support agreement with Ukraine, similar to the one the UK signed with the country a few days ago. -/EU COUNCIL/dpa

French President Emmanuel Macron has held out the prospect of a support agreement with Ukraine, similar to the one the UK signed with the country a few days ago.

Macron will be travelling to Ukraine in February to discuss the proposal, Macron said in Paris on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile France will continue to support Ukraine militarily, with the delivery of 40 additional Scalp cruise missiles, hundreds of bombs and Caesar howitzers.

Russia must not be allowed to win the war launched against Ukraine, Macron said.

The agreement between the UK and Ukraine was signed last Friday during a visit by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Kiev. It stipulates that London will 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 Russian invasion for almost two years with Western support.
At least one type of ad hoc air defense system developed as part of a Pentagon initiative dubbed FrankenSAM is now in service, according to Ukrainian officials. One of these systems scored a kill against an Iranian-designed, Russian-built kamikaze drone in Ukraine just last night.

Col. Yuri Ignat, the Ukrainian Air Force's top spokesperson, told The War Zone that FrankenSAM systems are now in use and that one knocked down at least one Russian Shahed-type kamikaze drone overnight. A separate statement from Ukraine's Air Force today claimed that 19 Shaheds were intercepted overnight, but did not specify what air defense systems were used to bring them down.

Earlier today, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine's Minister of Strategic Industries, mentioned the employment of a FrankenSAM system to shoot down a Shahed drone last night. He added that this intercept occurred at a range of some five and a half miles (nine kilometers). Kamyshin made his comments while speaking at the annual meeting of The World Economic Forum, commonly referred to simply as Davos after the resort town in Switzerland where it is held. Back in October 2023, Kamyshin said that the first FrankenSAM systems had arrived in Ukraine.

FrankenSAM is an umbrella term for a U.S.-led crash program to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities and capacity by blending new interceptors and other Western components with Soviet-era systems the country already has in service. The existence of this overarching effort came fully to light in October 2023.

The FrankenSAM project includes at least three different systems. The first of these is conversion of Soviet-designed Buk surface-to-air missile systems in Ukrainian service to fire U.S.-made radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow/RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles. The second is another ad hoc system that uses repurposed U.S.-supplied heat-seeking AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles as its effector. The last is a blending of U.S.-designed Patriot surface-to-air missiles and their launchers with elements from existing Ukrainian air defense systems, which might include radars from the country's S-300P systems .

Neither Ignat nor Kamyshin has specified which of these systems are now in use. Kamyshin's disclosure of an intercept at a range of five and a half miles/nine kilometers provides some hints. This would be well within the engagement envelope for the Buk/Sparrow combination, which you can read more about here . The maximum range of the purpose-built surface-launched RIM-7 is classified, but it is understood to be around a dozen miles under real-world conditions, and possibly longer under certain circumstances.

The AIM-9M-based system could be another possibility, but an intercept five and half miles/nine kilometers away would likely be at the extreme end of its range capabilities. This is roughly the reported maximum range of the most capable variants of the purpose-built MIM-72 surface-to-air missile derivative of the Sidewinder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVYocmyJ9I8

Last October, a Financial Times story also quoted an unnamed Ukrainian official as saying the Sidewinder-based FrankenSAM systems would help "get us through the winter."

"Those [AIM-9] missiles were out of operation," that official added, according to the Financial Times. "We fixed them. We found a way of launching them from the ground. Its a kind of self-made air defense."

Details about exactly what this system consists of remain limited. One possibility is that it could involve the launching of AIM-9Ms from modified Soviet-era Osa wheeled surface-to-air missile systems, also known in the West as SA-8 Geckos. Polish defense contractor PGZ previously pitched a broadly similar Osa conversion with the European IRIS-T missile as its effector. Ukraine has separately received complete IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems from Germany.

There are, of course, other potential means for employing AIM-9Ms in a ground-based mode. In the past, U.S. defense contractor Boeing has pitched a variant of the turret used in the U.S. Avenger short-range air defense system capable of firing AIM-9X Sidewinders and millimeter wave radar-guided AIM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles .

A version of the 8x8 Stryker wheeled armored vehicle with a Boeing air defense turret armed with AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-114L missiles. Boeing/General Dynamics Land Systems

The Boeing turret, or a similar design, could be integrated onto various platforms already in Ukrainian service, including the Avenger. Ukraine has received standard Humvee-based Avengers from the United States, which are armed with Stinger short-range heat-seeking missiles and a .50 caliber M3P machine gun.

Reusing elements of MIM-72-armed Chaparral surface-to-air missile systems remain an option, as well. Chaparral components could potentially come from retired U.S. Army examples in storage or from one of the small set of remaining users of this system elsewhere around the world. The primary version of the Chaparral consists of a turreted launcher, which can be loaded with up to four MIM-72s at a time, mounted on a tracked carrier vehicle derived from the M113 armored personnel carrier. Trailer-mounted and navalized versions also exist . Multiple countries have supplied variants of the M113 to Ukraine already.

An example of a US Army Chaparral system using the M113-derived carrier vehicle. US Army

There is also the Patriot-based FrankenSAM system could have brought down the Shahed. Ukraine's Patriot systems are known to be in very high demand for use against Russian ballistic missiles and crewed aircraft at extended ranges . However, they have been used against lower-tier threats, including drones and cruise missiles.

A screen capture from a Ukrainian Air Force video showing kill markings on a Patriot surface-to-air missile system. Silhouettes of three Russian helicopters and two Russian fighters that were downed in a single day in May 2023 are highlighted, but representations of other types of aerial threats, including Shahed-type drones, are also visible. Ukrainian Air Force

There is, of course, the possibility, that multiple FrankenSAM systems are now being employed in Ukraine. Regardless, the program is reminder of the Ukrainian armed forces' continued demand for improved air defense capabilities and more of them.

Concerns about dwindling Ukrainian stocks of missiles for Soviet-era air defense systems remain. From the beginning, one of the biggest benefits of the FrankenSAM initiative is the opening up of vast new avenues for acquiring additional surface-to-air missiles. The War Zone has highlighted in past how valuable new supply chains like this are for Ukraine in the context of deliveries of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) together with tranches of the very popular AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).

The video below shows NASAMS and other air defense systems in use in Ukraine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8POxl_ufKg

AIM-9Ms are seeing increasingly limited use within the U.S. military and large numbers of these missiles have been exported, providing ample sources that Ukraine can leverage in the future. The same goes for AIM-7/RIM-7 missiles, which have been steadily being phased out of many armed forces worldwide in the past few decades.

Ukraine's air and missile defense needs have become more pronounced in recent months with Russia's resumption of large-scale missile and drone barrages. The strikes now include the use of North Korean short-range ballistic missiles and the Russian government is still pushing to acquire similar weapons from Iran. The War Zone has explored in detail how a large influx of additional ballistic missiles into Russia's arsenal could present serious challenges for Ukraine.

Though intercepting ballistic missiles is beyond the capabilities of most of the FrankenSAM systems, they can still provide valuable additional capacity against lower-end threats. Russian forces often layer drones and different types of ballistic and cruise missiles together during large-scale strikes to create complications for Ukrainian defenders.

The War Zone has been closely following indications in recent months that Ukrainian forces are adopting new tactics to better maximize their air defense capabilities, specially with regard to longer-range types like Patriot. This already appears to be paying dividends, including with Ukraine's recent claimed shootdown of one of Russia's very small number of highly valuable A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft. There is the possibility that a Patriot-based FrankenSAM system may have been responsible for that engagement.

There is also a steady need for additional air defense coverage along areas of the front lines in the eastern and southern end of Ukraine. Russian tactical combat jets and lower-end loitering munitions , as well as small improvised armed drones , are major threats to Ukrainian forces on a day-to-day basis.

The addition of new FrankenSAM system to the mix can only help Ukrainian air defenders further expand their overall ability to defend more of the country against a wide array of aerial threats.

Howard Altman contributed to this story.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  A Franklin County community is reminding residents and businesses to remove all snow and ice from sidewalks before Monday.

Chambersburg is advising residents and businesses that on Monday, Jan. 22, borough representatives will inspect all sidewalks within street wights of way in the borough. Officials will be issuing tickets to owners that fail to clear sidewalks of snow and ice.

When does rock salt start to become ineffective?

The fine amount for the first offense is $50, with a second offense ticket includes a fine of $100. For a second offense ticket to be issued it must occur within 12 months of the first offense.

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The borough said that failure to pay the fine would result in a charge being filed with the Magisterial District Judge.

Those who are uncertain about which streets are considered to be right-of-way- in the borough, you can click here. Questions can be directed to Chuck Nipe, Director of Public Works, at 717-251-2496 or cnipe@chambersburgpa.gov.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Individuals are contacted by criminals purporting to be either from the police or from their bank - AFP

Fraudsters are coercing pensioners into buying gold in a new scam, police forces have warned.

In one case, reported to the City of London Police, the national lead force for fraud, a victim lost 5.3 million, in another the individual lost almost 2 million.

Under the scam, known as courier fraud, individuals are contacted by criminals purporting to be either from the police or from their bank, claiming that the victims account has been taken over by fraudsters. The victim is then told to transfer money or buy gold bullion and jewellery, often with the criminal posing as a courier to collect these valuable items from the victims address.

Wiltshire Police, which has a dedicated team investigating courier fraud, urged pensioners to be vigilant after a rise in courier fraud in the East and South of the UK.

Duped out of 5 million by scammer

One victim was duped out of 5 million by a scammer, while another lost 50,000.

In the last three months, more than 19.6 million has been lost to courier fraud, with high-value gold bullion cases reported in Wiltshire, Thames Valley, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, a Wiltshire police spokesman said.

On November 30, a 91-year-old woman from the Marlborough area tried to withdraw 50,000 from her bank following a phone call claiming to be from London police. Luckily this transaction was blocked by the bank and her son encouraged her to report the incident.

In all cases reported that featured gold bullion being purchased, the victims were between 75 and 91 years of age.

The spokesman added: In some cases, criminals have even visited the victims home, posing as police officers to collect money, jewellery and bank cards.

Victims losing significant amounts

Det Sgt Victoria OKeefe, from the Lead Force Operations Room at the City of London Police, said: The victims of this crime are losing significant amounts of money and on some occasions, it amounts to their life savings.

In many of the recent reported cases, the victims are being encouraged to purchase gold bullion but may not ask to look at it, have no interest in the item or are not able to give a satisfactory reason for the purchase. They may also appear slightly evasive, nervous and will want to buy the item and leave as soon as possible.

She added: If you are a jeweller or gold dealer, we urge you to look out for the signs of courier fraud. The victims in these crimes are often told to give cover stories on why they are purchasing the item and they believe what they are doing is legitimate. Another tell-tale sign is that the victim may be on the phone to someone whilst they make the purchase.

If any members of the public hear of any friends and family being contacted out of the blue by the police or their bank to make purchases on their behalf, call the police and report it immediately.

Courier Frauds of great concern

Cheryl Hurren, Complex Fraud Team manager at Wiltshire Police said: Courier Frauds are of great concern to Wiltshire Police and we take this type of fraud very seriously.

We are aware that fraudsters use many devious tactics to coerce victims and we have been working closely with our local communities and Wiltshire jewellers to raise awareness of the dangers of this type of offence.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A teacher at Santa Teresa Elementary School was arrested earlier this month by U.S. Marshals, according to the Gadsden Independent School District.

The school district did not identify the teacher by name or say what the charges the teacher may be facing.

The incident happened on Jan. 2 and no students were present on campus.

Gadsden ISD also referred to the individual arrested as a former teacher in its statement and said that the charges against the former teacher do not involve any students within our district.

KTSM research found that the teacher who was arrested is Gerardo Flores. He is charged with sexual assault of a child and continuous sexual abuse of young child/children.

He was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center on Jan. 3 and extradited to El Paso on Jan. 10, where he later posted bond on Jan. 12. Bond was $150,000.

Here is the complete statement sent by Gadsden ISD:

On January 2, 2024, agents from the U.S. Marshals office presented themselves at Santa Teresa

Elementary, seeking to speak with an individual who was then employed as a teacher at the

school. Our campus administrator granted the U.S. Marshals representative access to the

campus. Subsequently, the individual was placed into custody and removed from the campus. It

is important to note that students were not present on campus during this incident.

Details regarding the nature of the charges and the arrest were not provided by the law

enforcement representative.



The charges against the former teacher do not involve any students within our district. We want

to assure our community that the safety of their children is of utmost importance, and we remain committed to maintaining a secure learning environment.



Our district will continue to collaborate closely with authorities throughout any ongoing

investigations.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Collierville Police stated that numerous citizens have complained of a gas odor present in the town.

Check the latest forecasts from WREG Weather

A little after 11 p.m. Tuesday, CPD released the news on social media.

Inspector David Townsend said officials checked with MLGW and the odor was traced to a substation off Highway 72 and Mann Drive.

Reports state that there is a leak from a storage tank that holds the chemical which gives gas its natural scent.

Collierville Fire confirmed it is not natural gas; MLGW is working to repair the leak.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
CHERRYVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Gaston County fire and police are investigating a Wednesday morning fire in Cherryville.

In a social media post, Hughs Pond Volunteer Fire Department responded to the Mountain Street fire Wednesday morning to assist Cherryville Fire at a two-story house. Crouse Fire officials said the fire started around 6:30 a.m.

Photos courtesy Hughs Pond VFD and Crouse FD

Cherryville Fire officials warned motorists about freezing water in the roadway that morning.

Cherryville fire officials arrived as the fire rose from the houses second floor. While firefighters extinguished the blaze, additional staff found no victims on the first floor. Emergency personnel did not report any injuries in the incident.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

The Gaston County Fire Marshals Office, Cherryville Fire Department, and Cherryville Police Department are investigating the fire.

Agriculture Center VFD, Cherryville FD, Crowders Mountain FD, Crouse VFD, Hughs Pond VFD, Ranlo FD, Tryonota VFD, Waco VFD, Gaston County OEMFS, Cherryville PD, and Gaston County EMS took part in the firefighting efforts.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Californias independent budget analyst believes Gov. Gavin Newsoms proposed spending plan includes overly-rosy revenue estimates and may lead to unsustainable financial conditions in future years.

The Legislative Analysts Office report released over the weekend analyzed Newsoms $291 billion budget, comparing it to the economic forecast the organization made in December.

It took a skeptical view of the governors spending plan, especially his revenue estimates, calling them optimistic but plausible.

The LAO report was critical of Newsoms $8 billion reduction in school and community college funding, saying he has not explained how its proposal could achieve $8 billion in savings, given the administration also indicates the proposal would not impact school and community college budgets.

The Legislature will need significantly more information before it can assess the proposal  including its potential effects on the state budget after 202425, the LAO report said.

The Newsom administrations decision to delay some budget items and add spending compound future projected shortfalls, making it likely unsustainable in future years. The governor estimates the state will face ongoing budget gaps of $37 billion to $28 billion from fiscal years 2025-2026 through 2027-2028.

State revenues in the (future) years would need to exceed the administrations forecast by roughly $50 billion per year in order to sustain the spending proposed by the governors budget, the LAO reported.

Newsom during his Jan. 10 budget presentation estimated California will face a $38 billion budget gap in the next fiscal year, which was significantly smaller than the LAOs $68 billion revenue projection late last year. Newsom insisted his lower deficit estimate should guide the view of the Legislature and of constituents as the budget process moves forward.

Those of you who have been writing about a different number, I hope youre immediately correcting it, the governor said of the LAOs larger figure. We have been pretty damn transparent with you. But Im making the point publicly, not just privately, that that number was not the number that seems to be reported as gospel.

Newsom said the differing deficit numbers were the result of his administration being a little less pessimistic than they are about next year.

LAO versus Newsom

Department of Finance director Joe Stephenshaw said the key reason for the widely differing estimates was his agency assuming higher revenues this year and in future years.

Newsom spokesman Brandon Richards said Tuesday the LAOs report represents one perspective on Californias budget shortfall and revenue projections, and the governor believes the state can produce a balanced budget without a wealth tax or any other broad-based revenue increases. Assemblyman Alex Lee, D-San Jose, has proposed a net worth tax for the wealthiest Californians, a plan the Legislature has all but killed.

What is consistent is that the governor and LAO have repeatedly noted the states revenues are somewhat difficult to predict and that the budget is often subject to wild swings in revenue year to year, Richards said.

Overall, the LAO now suggested there is a $10 billion net difference between their estimate of the budget gap and the one Newsoms office projects.

The organization in their report agreed with Stephenshaws assessment of the conflicting shortfall numbers. The LAO said California entered a revenue and economic downturn last fiscal year, causing tax revenues to drop by 20%. But Newsoms administration estimates tax revenue will increase 8% this fiscal year, the 12-month period that ends June 30.

While possible, we think this assumption is optimistic, the report said. Halfway through the current year, we are yet to see clear signs of such a rebound.

To close the states spending gap, Newsom wants to use about $13 billion in reserve funds, which will require him to declare a fiscal emergency.

The LAO in December also suggested the governor make use of reserve dollars, and the organization called his decision to maintain a healthy fund balance prudent given the continued budget problems likely for future years.
The Omari Mosque in Gaza was largely destroyed by Israeli bombardment on Dec. 8, 2023. It was one of the most ancient mosques in the region and a beloved Gazan landmark.

The mosque was first built in the early seventh century and named after Islams second caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, a successor to the Prophet Muhammad and leader of the early Islamic community. It was a graceful white stone structure, with repeating vistas of pointed arches and a tall octagonal minaret encircled by a carved wooden balcony and crowned with a crescent.

The lower half of the minaret and a few exterior walls are reported to be the only parts of the mosque still standing.

Gaza is rich in cultural treasures, with some 325 formally registered heritage sites within just 141 square miles, including three designated for UNESCOs World Heritage tentative list. The Omari Mosque is one of over 200 ancient sites damaged or destroyed in Israeli raids since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

As a scholar of Islamic architecture and archaeology, I know the Omari Mosque as a building that embodies the history of Gaza itself  as a site of frequent destruction, but also of resilience and renewal. While narratives about Gaza often center on war and conflict, Gazas rich history and pluralistic identity as expressed through its cultural heritage equally deserve to be known.

Layered histories

The sun-soaked coastal enclave of Gaza, with the tidy stone buildings of its old city and its verdant olive and orange groves, has been a trade hub that connected the Mediterranean with Africa, Asia and Europe for millennia. It was famed in particular as a transit point for incense, one of the ancient worlds most precious commodities. Given its abundant agricultural and maritime riches, Gaza has known conquest by nearly every powerful empire, including the ancient Egyptians, the Romans, the early Islamic caliphs, the Crusaders and the Mongols.

Gazas history of repeated conquest meant that buildings were often destroyed, reimagined and rededicated to accommodate changing political and religious practices. New sacred structures were continually built over old ones, and they frequently incorporated spolia, or stones reused from prior buildings. The Omari Mosque, too, was such an architectural palimpsest: a building embodying the layered, living material history of the city.

In the second millennium B.C., the site of the mosque is believed to have been a temple for Dagon, the Philistine god of the land and good fortune. The temple is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the one whose walls were felled by the warrior Samson, who is locally believed to be buried in its foundations.

In 323 B.C., Gaza fiercely resisted the conquest of Alexander the Great, and the city endured devastating destruction when it was finally subdued. Yet after Gaza was conquered by the Romans in 50 B.C. it entered a period of renewed wealth and prosperity. A concentric domed temple was built for Marnas, a god of storms and the protector of the city, on the site of the future mosque. He was venerated there until just before 400 A.D., when the Byzantine Empress Eudoxia imposed the new faith of Christianity and ordered the destruction of the temple.

The priests of the temple barricaded themselves inside and hid the statues and ritual objects in an underground room. But the temple was destroyed and a Greek Orthodox church rose in its place. The stones, however, preserved the tale: in 1879 a monumental, 10-foot-high statue of Marnas, portrayed in the guise of Zeus, was excavated and its discovery made international media headlines. The statue is now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.

The Byzantine church, too, was destined to be transformed. In the early seventh century, the Muslim general Amr ibn al-As conquered Gaza, and the church was converted into the Omari Mosque. Yet the continued presence of Gazan churches and synagogues attested to pluralistic norms that characterized the region under various Islamic dynasties until the modern era.

Gaza under Islamic rule

Gaza thrived under Islamic rule: Medieval travelers described it as a remarkably fertile, creative and beautiful city, with prominent Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities. It was still a flourishing urban center when the European Crusaders arrived. When the city fell to the Crusader King of Jerusalem, Baldwin III, in 1100, the Omari Mosque was converted once again  this time into a Catholic cathedral dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

The Muslim general Saladin defeated the Crusaders in 1187, and Gaza returned to Islamic rule. The church was transformed back into a mosque, and in the 13th century its elegant octagonal minaret was raised. Yet the reconversion into a mosque preserved much of the Crusader church, and the majority of the nave and the western portal were still visible in modern times.

It was in this period that the mosque became famed for its extraordinary library containing thousands of books, the earliest dating to the 13th century. After the library of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the Omari Mosques collection was one of the richest in Palestine.

In the 13th century, the mosque endured destruction by the Mongols as well as major earthquakes that would repeatedly topple the minaret. Its rebuilding after each of these disasters speaks to the ongoing centrality of the mosque in the communal life of the people of Gaza.

The stones tell the tale

Later, Gaza continued to flourish as a coastal port city, where Muslims, Christians, Jews and others lived in the vast, cosmopolitan Ottoman Empire.

In the late 19th century, as scholars explored Gazas heritage, an eloquent reminder of the buildings layered history emerged: a relief on a mosque pillar depicting a seven-branched menorah and Jewish ritual objects, including a shofar, or horn, surrounded by a wreath. The name Hanania, son of Jacob, was engraved in Hebrew and Greek.

Its date is uncertain, but it seems likely to have been a column from a synagogue reused during the building of the Byzantine church, which was used again in the building of the mosque: yet another layer in the architectural palimpsest that was the Omari Mosque.

A few decades later, during World War I, the mosque was severely damaged when a nearby Ottoman arms depot was targeted by British artillery fire. In the 1920s, the stones were once again gathered and the mosque was rebuilt.

After the 1948 creation of the state of Israel, Gaza became the sanctuary of tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees. The area was primarily administered by Egypt until it was captured by Israel in 1967.

It was at some point after the 1967 war, when Jewish symbols had come to be associated with the state of Israel and its occupation of Gaza, that the menorah relief was effaced from the column in the mosque.

A future for the Omari Mosque

On Dec. 8, 2023, Israel became the most recent military force to target the mosque. The library, too, may have been ruined, a treasure house of knowledge that will not so easily be rebuilt. A digitization project completed in 2022 preserves an imprint of the librarys riches. Still, digital files cant replace the material significance of the original manuscripts.

The hundreds of other heritage sites damaged or destroyed include Gazas ancient harbor and the fifth century Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, one of the oldest churches in the world.

From todays vantage point, it seems extraordinary that the menorah relief had endured for over 1,000 years: a Jewish symbol unremarkably cohabiting inside a Muslim prayer hall. In truth, both the relief and its removal embody the story of Gaza itself, a fitting reminder of the many centuries of destruction, coexistence and resilience embodied in the mosques very stones.

And if the Omari Mosques richly layered history is any indication, the people of Gaza will raise those stones again.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

It was written by: Stephennie Mulder, The University of Texas at Austin.

Read more:



Stephennie Mulder 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.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting at the request of the Hahira Police Department.

According to the GBI, officers with Hahira police were trying to arrest two minors suspected of breaking into multiple vehicles.

One of the minors was arrested without any problem, but the other ran away from officers.

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Officers searched the area and found him near Hall Road.

As officers searched, the boy was seen getting into a white Dodge Challenger that was parked in the area.

According to the GBI, the Challenger was being driven by a relative of the boy whom he had contacted to come pick him up.

As the driver of the Dodge tried to drive away, he drove towards an officer and two civilian witnesses.

One of the officers fired multiple shots, hitting the Challenger.

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The driver drove a short distance and then stopped when a police vehicle blocked his path.

The driver surrendered and no one was hit by the gunfire.

Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI Regional Office in Thomasville at 229-225-4090. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).

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Despite hosting some of the fastest growing economies in the world, persistent youth unemployment, and pervasive corruption and inequality may fuel clashes between ruling parties and opposition during the 2024 election cycle in nearly 20 African countries.

In West Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea-Bissau will go to the polls against a backdrop of military coups that swept the region in 2023. Mali and Burkina Faso, particularly, are in the delicate and uncertain position of transitioning back to democratic rule through elections in 2024.

Relatively stable democracies, such as Senegal and Ghana, have experienced violent conflicts between political factions. Widespread protests in Senegal forced President Macky Sall to shelve his ambitions to run for an unconstitutional third term. At the same time, supporters of the top opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, have clashed with law enforcement while protesting the numerous court cases against Sonko. These are seen as efforts by the government to stop him from being on the presidential ballot in February.

President Nana Akufo-Addo in Ghana is not eligible for re-election due to term limits. So the ruling party has put forward the current Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia as their candidate for Ghanas highest office. The government has grappled with mounting debt that has crippled the economy.

Frequent power cuts, a high unemployment rate, corruption and soaring crime are some of the key issues that South African residents will consider as they prepare to vote in March 2024. This widely anticipated national election is considered a litmus test for the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), after their three decades at the helm of the countrys leadership.

South Africas neighbors Mozambique, Namibia and Botswana will also be going to the polls in 2024 under an electorate that is increasingly disillusioned by the slow progress of democracy and economic gains from independence. Many perceive democracy as a failed means to political and economic growth, not just in Southern Africa states, but across the continent. This partly explains why military juntas in parts of West Africa and the Sahel were cheered and encouraged by citizens in the 2022 and 2023 coups.

Unlike in Latin America, where the evangelical influence in politics grown significantly in the recent past, Christians in Africa are divided on how to engage in politics, if at all. Theologian Bernard Boyo in his book, The Church and Politics: A Theological Reflection, argues that the emphasis on individual salvation has often led the church into neglecting its societal role of actively fostering social, political and economic justice.

We are not oblivious to the fact that most Christians in Africa have no theological or biblical foundation to guide their involvement in politics, Boyo said in his book. They have not been prepared to think biblically about what to do when personal, group, and national interests clash.

Pastor Confex Makhalira, a pastor and church planter in Malawi, has a different view of the church's role in politics. The Bible clearly teaches a separation between the Church and the State. Thus, the Church should not directly involve herself in politics, acting as a political party. However, when individual Christians are called into politics or government they may serve gladly.
Robert Habeck, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, gives a press statement in front of the Congress Center during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos. Hannes P. Albert/dpa

Members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) are authoritarians who pose a threat to the country's democratic order, German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck said in an interview published on Wednesday.

"The right-wing authoritarians are attacking the essence of the republic," Habeck, a Green Party leader, told Stern magazine. "They want to turn Germany into a state like Russia."

Habeck's comments come a week after news reports revealed that AfD politicians held a meeting with far-right extremists in November in Potsdam that included Martin Sellner, the founder of the far-right extremist Identitarian Movement Austria.

The revelations have helped fuel a controversial debate in Germany about whether the AfD should be banned. German law allows for suppressing political parties deemed hostile to the country's democratic and constitutional order.

Participants at the Potsdam meeting have acknowledged that they discussed how to encourage, or force, immigrants and other groups to leave Germany.

Sellner told dpa that he discussed "remigration" with the group, a term frequently used in far-right circles as a euphemism for the expulsion of immigrants and minorities.

Anti-AfD demonstrations have taken place in several cities in the week since the investigative news outlet Correctiv first reported on the meeting.

Habeck told the magazine that people on the far right are systematically preparing for their attack on Germany's republic.

Habeck, however, demurred when asked about a potential legal ban against the AfD, saying that Germany's Constitutional Court would ultimately decide and that democratic political parties would need to win back AfD supporters either way.

He said the banning is not a political but a legal question and that damage from a failed case would be massive.
Robert Habeck, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, attends the weekly Cabinet meeting in the Federal Chancellery. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) are authoritarians who pose a threat to the country's democratic order, German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck said in an interview published on Wednesday.

"The right-wing authoritarians are attacking the essence of the republic," Habeck, a Green Party leader, told Stern magazine. "They want to turn Germany into a state like Russia."

Habeck's comments come a week after news reports revealed that AfD politicians held a meeting with far-right extremists in November in Potsdam that included Martin Sellner, the founder of the far-right extremist Identitarian Movement Austria.

The revelations have helped fuel a controversial debate in Germany about whether the AfD should be banned. German law allows for suppressing political parties deemed hostile to the country's democratic and constitutional order.

Participants at the Potsdam meeting have acknowledged that they discussed how to encourage, or force, immigrants and other groups to leave Germany.

Sellner told dpa that he discussed "remigration" with the group, a term frequently used in far-right circles as a euphemism for the expulsion of immigrants and minorities.

Anti-AfD demonstrations have taken place in several cities in the week since the investigative news outlet Correctiv first reported on the meeting. In Cologne on Tuesday night, tens of thousands of people marched to denounce the far right.

Habeck told the magazine that people on the far right are systematically preparing for their attack on Germany's republic.

Habeck, however, demurred when asked about a potential legal ban against the AfD, saying that Germany's Constitutional Court would ultimately decide and that democratic political parties would need to win back AfD supporters either way.

He said the banning is not a political but a legal question and that damage from a failed case would be massive.

The Werteunion, a right-wing group within the conservative CDU/CSU opposition bloc, also confirmed on Tuesday night that two of its members attended the Potsdam meeting "as private guests and not as representatives of the Werteunion."

The Werteunion attacked Correctiv's reporting about the meeting, claiming that discussions were not the "mass repatriation of Germans with a migration background" but focused instead on deporting foreigners without full legal status in Germany or legal immigrants who have committed crimes.

Lars Klingbeil, the chairman of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), also denounced the AfD in an interview on Wednesday with the RND news agency.

"We will not allow our country to again be divided into 'them' and 'us,'" Klingbeil said. "We will not allow right-wing extremists to decide who is German and who is not."

Katharina Droge, who leads the Green Party's faction in parliament, called the mass demonstrations against the AfD encouraging.

"These people show that a loud minority on the far right cannot rely on the democratic majority to remain silent," Droge said.

A petition demanding that firebrand AfD politician Bjorn Hocke be stripped certain basic rights, including the right to vote or stand for elected office, has gained momentum in recent days with more than 1.1 million signatures.

Another petition to revoke Hocke's basic rights has been submitted to parliament and would be reviewed, according to Petitions Committee chairwoman Martina Stamm-Fibich.

Hocke leads the AfD's particularly radical state-level party in the eastern state of Thuringia. He is also currently facing criminal charges for having allegedly quoted the slogan of the Nazi Party's paramilitary SA stormtroopers during a speech.

Leaders of the SPD's left-wing youth organization, the Jusos, spoke out in favour of revoking Hocke's basic rights.

"The Nazi Bjorn Hocke has been proactively campaigning for years for these paragraphs to be applied to him," Philipp Turmer told the Tagesspiegel newspaper on Wednesday, referring to the provisions of German law allowing extremists to be denied rights.

Legal expert Ulrich Battis told the broadcaster RTL that Hocke's particularly extreme conduct made the possibility of stripping him of his rights "rather greater than I would ever have judged in the past."

The left-wing Die Linke party on Wednesday argued that the government should first move to ban the AfD's far-right youth organization, Young Alternative.

Katina Schubert, deputy leader of Die Linke, told dpa that outlawing the Young Alternative would be "much easier and quicker" than outlawing the entire AfD, since the youth wing lacks protected party status and a ban could be enforced with "a simple ministerial decree."
Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists on Jan. 7 killed 10 Christians in three villages in central Nigeria, sources said.

The assailants separated into three groups and attacked Mcia, Arufu and Chembe villages in Logo County, Benue state, simultaneously at about 8:30 p.m., residents said.

The terrorists invaded as the villagers were sleeping in their houses, Terlumun Unande told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News in a text message. The attackers moved from house to house, shot and killed 10 Christians, while scores were injured. Many more were displaced from the three villages as they had to flee in order to escape.

Two other residents corroborated the account, including Joseph Anawah, who said in a text message, In latest onslaughts against Christians in three communities of Arufu, Mchia and Chembe of Benue state, Muslim Fulani terrorists have killed 10 Christians.

The Rev. Jonathan Adagbe, Logo Local Government Council member, confirmed the attacks.

Armed Fulani herdsmen in collaboration with Muslim terrorists attacked three of our communities, Mchia, Arufu, and Chembe, on Sunday, 7 January, he said, while an area Roman Catholic priest, the Rev. Michael Mchia, responded to an inquiry with the same information.

Its disheartening that these attacks have been ongoing without abating, Mchia said. In similar attacks last year, 12 Christians were killed in attacks by terrorists and herdsmen against these Christian communities.

Terlumun Uke, another Logo County resident, said that on Dec. 26, a Christian in his village of Tse Abur Norsua also was slain.

The armed Fulani herdsmen on 26 December, as we were celebrating Christmas, killed a Christian member of the NKST [Universal Reformed Christian Church] church by the name of Abur Terkuma, Uke said. He was shot and killed at Tse Abur Norsua, a village in Logo Local Government.

Benue state has suffered similar slaughters. Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists on Oct. 29 killed six Christians in the state, following the slaughter of 10 others earlier that month. On July 16, Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists killed six Christians in Ushongo County, Benue state, the latest of 37 Christians slain over the course of three weeks in the state.

Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people.

In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year.

Militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery, the WWL report noted. This year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation Nigerias government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians rights are carried out with impunity.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.
Robert Habeck German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, attends German government questioning session in the Bundestag. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) are authoritarians who pose a threat to the country's democratic order, German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck said in an interview published on Wednesday.

"The right-wing authoritarians are attacking the essence of the republic," Habeck, a Green Party leader, told Stern magazine. "They want to turn Germany into a state like Russia."

Habeck's comments come a week after news reports revealed that AfD politicians held a meeting with far-right extremists in November in Potsdam that included Martin Sellner, the founder of the far-right extremist Identitarian Movement Austria.

The revelations have helped fuel a debate in Germany about whether the AfD should be banned. German law allows for suppressing political parties deemed hostile to the country's democratic and constitutional order.

Participants at the Potsdam meeting have acknowledged that they discussed how to encourage, or force, immigrants and other groups to leave Germany.

Sellner told dpa that he discussed "remigration" with the group, a term frequently used in far-right circles as a euphemism for the expulsion of immigrants and minorities.

Anti-AfD demonstrations have taken place in several cities in the week since the investigative news outlet Correctiv first reported on the meeting. In Cologne on Tuesday night, tens of thousands of people marched to denounce the far right.

Correctiv plans to hold a presentation of its journalism at the Berliner Ensemble theatre on Wednesday evening, and has said the presentation will include new investigative findings about the Potsdam meeting.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday expressed gratitude for demonstrators who have taken to the streets "against racism, hate speech and for our free democracy."

"This is encouraging and shows we democrats are many - much more than those who want to divide," Scholz wrote in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Habeck, in his interview with Stern magazine, said that people on the far right are systematically preparing for their attack on Germany's republic.

Habeck, however, demurred when asked about a potential legal ban against the AfD, saying that Germany's Constitutional Court would ultimately decide and that democratic political parties would need to win back AfD supporters either way.

He said the banning is not a political but a legal question and that damage from a failed case would be massive.

The Werteunion, a right-wing group within the conservative CDU/CSU opposition bloc, also confirmed on Tuesday night that two of its members attended the Potsdam meeting "as private guests and not as representatives of the Werteunion."

The Werteunion attacked Correctiv's reporting about the meeting, claiming that discussions were not the "mass repatriation of Germans with a migration background" but focused instead on deporting foreigners without full legal status in Germany or legal immigrants who have committed crimes.

Lars Klingbeil, the chairman of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), also denounced the AfD in an interview on Wednesday with the RND news agency.

"We will not allow our country to again be divided into 'them' and 'us,'" Klingbeil said. "We will not allow right-wing extremists to decide who is German and who is not."

Katharina Droge, who leads the Green Party's faction in parliament, called the mass demonstrations against the AfD encouraging.

"These people show that a loud minority on the far right cannot rely on the democratic majority to remain silent," Droge said.

A petition demanding that firebrand AfD politician Bjorn Hocke be stripped certain basic rights, including the right to vote or stand for elected office, has gained momentum in recent days with more than 1.1 million signatures.

Another petition to revoke Hocke's basic rights has been submitted to parliament and would be reviewed, according to Petitions Committee chairwoman Martina Stamm-Fibich.

Hocke leads the AfD's particularly radical state-level party in the eastern state of Thuringia. He is also currently facing criminal charges for having allegedly quoted the slogan of the Nazi Party's paramilitary SA stormtroopers during a speech.

Leaders of the SPD's left-wing youth organization, the Jusos, spoke out in favour of revoking Hocke's basic rights.

"The Nazi Bjorn Hocke has been proactively campaigning for years for these paragraphs to be applied to him," Philipp Turmer told the Tagesspiegel newspaper on Wednesday, referring to the provisions of German law allowing extremists to be denied rights.

Legal expert Ulrich Battis told the broadcaster RTL that Hocke's particularly extreme conduct made the possibility of stripping him of his rights "rather greater than I would ever have judged in the past."

The left-wing Die Linke party on Wednesday argued that the government should first move to ban the AfD's far-right youth organization, Young Alternative.

Katina Schubert, deputy leader of Die Linke, told dpa that outlawing the Young Alternative would be "much easier and quicker" than outlawing the entire AfD, since the youth wing lacks protected party status and a ban could be enforced with "a simple ministerial decree."

Robert Habeck, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, attends the weekly Cabinet meeting in the Federal Chancellery. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) are authoritarians who pose a threat to the country's democratic order, German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck said in an interview published on Wednesday.

"The right-wing authoritarians are attacking the essence of the republic," Habeck, a Green Party leader, told Stern magazine. "They want to turn Germany into a state like Russia."

Habeck's comments come a week after news reports revealed that AfD politicians held a meeting with far-right extremists in November in Potsdam that included Martin Sellner, the founder of the far-right extremist Identitarian Movement Austria.

The revelations have helped fuel a debate in Germany about whether the AfD should be banned. German law allows for suppressing political parties deemed hostile to the country's democratic and constitutional order.

Participants at the Potsdam meeting have acknowledged that they discussed how to encourage, or force, immigrants and other groups to leave Germany.

Sellner told dpa that he discussed "remigration" with the group, a term frequently used in far-right circles as a euphemism for the expulsion of immigrants and minorities.

Anti-AfD demonstrations have taken place in several cities in the week since the investigative news outlet Correctiv first reported on the meeting. In Cologne on Tuesday night, tens of thousands of people marched to denounce the far right.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday expressed gratitude for demonstrators who have taken to the streets "against racism, hate speech and for our free democracy."

"This is encouraging and shows we democrats are many - much more than those who want to divide," Scholz wrote in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Habeck, in his interview with Stern magazine, said that people on the far right are systematically preparing for their attack on Germany's republic.

Habeck, however, demurred when asked about a potential legal ban against the AfD, saying that Germany's Constitutional Court would ultimately decide and that democratic political parties would need to win back AfD supporters either way.

He said the banning is not a political but a legal question and that damage from a failed case would be massive.

In another development on Wednesday, Germany's domestic spy agency said that the Potsdam meeting last November was not the first of its kind.

Sinan Selen, the vice president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, met behind closed doors with Bundestag lawmakers on the Committee on Internal Affairs.

According to participants at the meeting, he told lawmakers there had been at least four other gatherings in which politicians met with hard-right extremists.

Berlin AfD chairwoman Kristin Brinker confirmed her participation in a meeting with radical right-wingers in the flat of former Christian Democrat (CDU) finance senator Peter Kurth in the summer of 2023. According to Brinker, Sellner was also there.

The Werteunion, a right-wing group within the conservative CDU/CSU opposition bloc, also confirmed on Tuesday night that two of its members attended the Potsdam meeting "as private guests and not as representatives of the Werteunion."

The Werteunion attacked Correctiv's reporting about the meeting, claiming that discussions were not the "mass repatriation of Germans with a migration background" but focused instead on deporting foreigners without full legal status in Germany or legal immigrants who have committed crimes.

Lars Klingbeil, the chairman of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), also denounced the AfD in an interview on Wednesday with the RND news agency.

"We will not allow our country to again be divided into 'them' and 'us,'" Klingbeil said. "We will not allow right-wing extremists to decide who is German and who is not."

Katharina Droge, who leads the Green Party's faction in parliament, called the mass demonstrations against the AfD encouraging.

"These people show that a loud minority on the far right cannot rely on the democratic majority to remain silent," Droge said.

A petition demanding that firebrand AfD politician Bjorn Hocke be stripped of certain basic rights, including the right to vote or stand for elected office, has gained momentum in recent days with more than 1.1 million signatures.

Another petition to revoke Hocke's basic rights has been submitted to parliament and would be reviewed, according to Petitions Committee chairwoman Martina Stamm-Fibich.

Hocke leads the AfD's particularly radical state-level party in the eastern state of Thuringia. He is also currently facing criminal charges for having allegedly quoted the slogan of the Nazi Party's paramilitary SA stormtroopers during a speech.

Leaders of the SPD's left-wing youth organization, the Jusos, spoke out in favour of revoking Hocke's basic rights.

"The Nazi Bjorn Hocke has been proactively campaigning for years for these paragraphs to be applied to him," Philipp Turmer told the Tagesspiegel newspaper on Wednesday, referring to the provisions of German law allowing extremists to be denied rights.

Legal expert Ulrich Battis told the broadcaster RTL that Hocke's particularly extreme conduct made the possibility of stripping him of his rights "rather greater than I would ever have judged in the past."

The left-wing Die Linke party on Wednesday argued that the government should first move to ban the AfD's far-right youth organization, Young Alternative.

Katina Schubert, deputy leader of Die Linke, told dpa that outlawing the Young Alternative would be "much easier and quicker" than outlawing the entire AfD, since the youth wing lacks protected party status and a ban could be enforced with "a simple ministerial decree."

Robert Habeck German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, attends German government questioning session in the Bundestag. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
ABC News and WMUR are canceling their planned Republican primary debate in New Hampshire on Thursday, citing a lack of candidate participation.

"Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race," an ABC News spokesperson said in a statement. "As a result, while our robust election coverage will continue, ABC News and WMUR-TV will not be moving forward with Thursdays Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire."

The decision comes shortly after a deadline set by ABC News and New Hampshire TV station WMUR for both former President Donald Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley to respond to their invitations to the debate by Tuesday afternoon.

Neither campaign confirmed they would attend.

Four Republicans had qualified for the debate under previously announced criteria. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie previously confirmed participation -- then Christie left the race last week.

Earlier on Tuesday, in the wake of Trump dominating the Iowa caucuses, Haley said in a statement that she would debate only Trump or President Joe Biden -- suggesting she would skip a showdown with rival DeSantis in New Hampshire ahead of its Jan. 23 primary.

"We've had five great debates in this campaign," the former South Carolina governor said. "Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it."

Haley's statement came after a third-place showing in Iowa's caucuses where she got 19% of the vote -- behind DeSantis with 21% and Trump with 51%.

MORE: Trump dominates with Republicans, and 5 other takeaways from Iowa caucuses

After Haley's statement, DeSantis fired back, posting on X that Haley "is afraid to debate because she doesn't want to answer the tough questions."

"The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, she's running to be Trump's VP," DeSantis wrote.

Appearing on CNN later on Tuesday, Haley echoed her statement. "If he's [Trump] on that stage, I'm there."

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a caucus night party at the Marriott Hotel in West Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 15, 2024. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Trump has not participated in any of the GOP debates so far, saying he saw no point given his large polling lead.

"President Trump's statement was that he would not attend the debates," adviser Chris LaCivita said after the second GOP debate. "Plural ... And that's his position until it's not."

Instead, Trump has favored counterprogramming events such as rallies or televised interviews.

The South Carolina Republican has seen a consistent bump in polling since September, including recent polls that showed her narrowly ahead of DeSantis in Iowa and one that had her closing the gap with Trump in New Hampshire.

The narrow divide in Monday's caucus results between her and DeSantis means that no candidate can claim the clear mantle of Trump alternative.

Haley has turned her focus to New Hampshire, where the GOP primary is set for Jan. 23. Haley's campaign is betting big on a performance next Tuesday that could propel her campaign forward.

MORE: Nikki Haley's 2024 campaign has growing popularity -- and several recent 'stumbles,' experts say

Both Haley and DeSantis vowed to carry on after losing to Trump in the Iowa caucuses.

"We're gonna make you proud, and we're off to New Hampshire," Haley told supporters Monday night.

On Monday night, Haley's campaign released a memo that said she would take on Trump and Biden and "go the distance in a long campaign."

"The Iowa results and the New Hampshire polls show Donald Trump is more vulnerable than commonly believed. He is the polarizing figure he has long been," campaign manager Betsy Ankeny wrote in the memo. "Trump and Biden are the two most disliked politicians in America."

ABC News' Nicholas Kerr contributed to this report.

ABC News cancels New Hampshire Republican primary debate originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Climate change might be keeping some people awake at night  it turns out its the same for mountain goats.

Scientists in Italy have found rising temperatures are forcing mountain goats to live a more nocturnal lifestyle, making them more vulnerable to predators.

A team of researchers from the University of Sassari in Sardinia and the University of Ferrara in northern Italy followed the activity of 47 Alpine ibexes, a species of mountain goat, between the months of May and October for 14 years. Tracking their movements, they used motion sensor data from GPS collars worn by the goats and found the species  which is normally diurnal, meaning active by day  has become more nocturnal.

The change in behavior can be attributed to feeling increased heat stress, Francesca Brivio, one of the co-authors of the study, told CNN. While goats are typically diurnal, warmer temperatures during the day mean they have to expend more energy foraging for food. This is also true for humans, said Brivio, [when] it is very hot, we stop working or we go inside home to avoid the sun.

By foraging at night, they can preserve more energy  but this can also bring new risks.

The research, which was conducted in Italys Gran Paradiso National Park and Switzerlands Swiss National Park, surprised scientists with one of its findings: They expected the species to be less active at night in areas where wolves, which are nocturnal predators, are active. But this wasnt the case.

We conjecture that for ibex, it is more important to avoid the heat stress rather than avoid predation risk, Brivio said.

An Alpine ibex grazing on a foggy day in Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. - Sergio Pitamitz/VWPics/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Not only does moving in the dark make it harder for these daytime animals to detect predators with their limited vision, but the ibex live on rocky slopes, which make movement and foraging riskier during the night. The study suggests that these new behaviors could ultimately lead to reduced reproduction and survival rates.

Habits can change, said Brivio, but at the moment, these findings seem to put ibex in some risk for the future.

Their research is not the first to detect how animals are adapting their behavior to rising global temperatures. With increasing global warming, these shifts from diurnal to nocturnal activity will be increased, she said.

As global warming and human activity push some animals toward nocturnality, the authors of the study highlighted the urgency of changing current management and conservation practices.

For example, a census that counts the number of ibex in protected areas is done only at dusk and dawn, Brivio noted. This increased nighttime activity means new methodologies must be developed for park rangers to have an accurate assessment of the animal population. She says it might also be valuable to prevent tourists from visiting areas that the ibex critically need for foraging.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) is introducing a resolution to censure House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) for calling the rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, hostages.

Goldman, who announced the effort Wednesday, argued that the description  which mimicked language used by former President Trump  demeans the situation of hostages being held in Gaza following Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

During an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press earlier this month, Stefanik said, I have concerns about the treatment of Jan. 6 hostages after being asked if individuals who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 should be held responsible by the law.

By echoing Trumps reference to the criminally convicted January 6 insurrectionists as hostages, Congresswoman Stefanik both demeans the actual hostages currently held in captivity in Gaza and provides support for those who attacked the Capitol to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, caused the death of five law enforcement officers, injured more than 100 others, and threatened violence against members of Congress and their staffs, Goldman said in a statement.

Her rhetoric betrays her oath of office and the House of Representatives and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, he added.

Goldman plans to introduce the resolution at around 5 p.m. EST, his office told The Hill. The legislation is not, however, privileged, which means GOP leadership would have to choose to bring it to the floor for consideration  which is highly unlikely. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the effort patently absurd.

The idea that he would use censure to attack a political opponent is just ridiculous, he added.

In a statement responding to Goldmans effort, Stefanik Executive Director Alex DeGrasse called Goldman a corrupt radical New York Democrat.

Dan Goldman and Democrats are desperate because they know Joe Biden is going to lose this November, DeGrasse added.

The censure resolution, which spans four pages, accuses Stefanik of supporting the duly charged and convicted January 6 insurrectionists, who attacked the United States Capitol, and it writes that she attempted to stop the certification of the 2020 Presidential election.

The legislation includes a number of comments Stefanik has made about special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the federal investigation into Trumps actions surrounding Jan. 6, including saying Smiths Jan. 6 indictment against the former president attempts to criminalize the First Amendment, and is an effort by President Biden to suppress the will of the voters and meddle with the election using the Department of Justice.

It also references Stefanik referring to the Jan. 6 select committee as a witch hunt.

Goldmans censure effort follows a recent trend in the House of lawmakers using the formal rebuke on a more frequent basis. Of the 27 lawmakers censured in the history of the House, three occurred in the current Congress.

Despite the increased use of censures, the punishment is largely symbolic; there are no repercussions for the nonbinding resolution, but it does carry the stigma of being disciplined by fellow lawmakers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A new 2,751-square-foot Original ChopShop restuarant  a good-for-you brand featuring protein bowls, salads (chops), sandwiches, breakfast items, fresh juice and more  is coming to Alliance Town Center in far north Fort Worth in August.

The Dallas-based chain is building a $700,000-restaurant at 2960 Amador Dr., adding to the more than 23 locations it already has across the U.S.

Even though we have grown Original ChopShop by almost six-fold over the last six years, we are still in the early stages of growth and have significant white-space across the country, CEO Jason Morgan told QSR Magazine in 2022. Our brand is unique because of its ability to work in varied real estate trade areas including suburban markets.

 More trending stories:

Arctic blast turns historic Texas town into a winter wonderland.

Here's how Dallas-Fort Worth got a dusting of snow over the weekend.

4 Texas cities to watch spectacular total solar eclipse in April.

The restaurant chain may be growing, but it has eschewed raising prices.

We wanted our food to stay affordable, Morgan told the website Restaurant Business Online. I want to build that relationship with the customer. I see other brands that may lose that.
(Reuters) - Google on Wednesday rolled out an AI-powered feature in the United States that will allow users to search with an image and text simultaneously using their mobile phones.

Users of smartphones such as Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and the new Samsung Galaxy S24 series would be able to use multisearch with gestures without switching apps from Jan. 31, the Alphabet-owned company said at the Samsung Electronics Unpacked event.

Mountain View, California-based Google makes most of its revenue from the online search market. It has been competing with Microsoft for the past year over generative artificial intelligence (AI).

The company said the multisearch feature can be used with its lens camera icon in the Google app for Android & iOS.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shweta Agarwal)
Google has updated its message for its Chrome incognito mode after settling a class-action privacy lawsuit last month that alleged the company collected data from users using the feature.

The updated message clarifies that websites and services, including Google, can collect a users data, even while browsing in incognito mode. This comes weeks after the company settled a $5 billion privacy lawsuit that accused Google of misleading users to believe that Google would not be tracking their data while using the browser setting.

Others who use this device wont see your activity, so you can browse more privately. This wont change how data is collected by websites you visit and the services they use, including Google. Downloads, bookmarks and reading list items will be saved, reads the updated message, according to The Verge.

The previous message did not mention how data could be collected on websites and services, including Google.

Now you can browse privately, and other people who use this device wont see your activity. However, downloads, bookmarks and reading list items will be saved, the previous message reads.

The Verge noted that MSPowerUser was the first to spot the updated change, which can only be seen on the latest build of Google Chrome. The bullets underneath the message, with information such as where the activity may still be visible, remained unchanged. The bullet points noted that activity may still be visible to websites a user visits, an employer, school or a users internet service provider.

Were pleased to resolve this case, which weve long disputed, and will provide even more information to users about Incognito Mode. Incognito mode in Chrome will continue to give people the choice to browse the internet without their activity being saved to their browser or device, Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said in a statement to The Hill.

 Updated 8:25 p.m. ET Jan. 16

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) demanded written testimony from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, abandoning plans to have the secretarys public testimony as part of his impeachment proceedings.

The Wednesday letter comes after Mayorkass office said he was unable to meet Greens demand for testimony that came just two weeks ahead of the slated Thursday hearing, noting that the secretary would be hosting a delegation from Mexico to discuss immigration issues.

While Mayorkass office asked to find another time, Greens letter characterized the response as declin[ing] to appear.

Since you continue to decline to come in person, I invite you to submit written testimony for the January 18th hearing record, so that our Committee Members may hear from you directly, Green wrote in the letter, first reported by Punchbowl News.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the disagreement over setting a date amounted to a rush to impeach on Greens part.

This is just the latest example of Committee Republicans sham process. Its abundantly clear that they are not interested in hearing from Secretary Mayorkas since it doesnt fit into their bad-faith, predetermined and unconstitutional rush to impeach him. Last week, the Secretary offered to testify publicly before the Committee; in the time since, the Committee failed to respond to DHS to find a mutually agreeable date, DHS spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said in a statement.

Instead, they provided this offer of written testimony to the media before any outreach to the Department. [Homeland Security Committee] Republicans have yet again demonstrated their preference for playing politics rather than work together to address the serious issues at the border.

Mayorkas appeared before the panel in November as part of the annual worldwide threats hearing and in April for a DHS budget hearing. He has testified before Congress more than any other Biden Cabinet official.

But Green has said the secretary has failed to respond to past invitations for testimony, including letters from August and September.

Green said during an interview on Fox News in late December that he would kick off a series of impeachment hearings for Mayorkas, making his formal request for Mayorkass appearance in early January. Committees organizing testimony from Cabinet officials often reach out to arrange it several weeks or even months in advance.

In a letter to Green last week, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Zephranie Buetow proposed the two parties try to find a different date, citing a second round of migration talks with Mexican officials in Washington next week.

In keeping with the secretarys commitment to cooperate with Congressional Committees, he will make himself available to testify before the Committee, Buetow wrote.

Consistent with the customary accommodations process, we look forward to working through the details with Committee staff and agreeing upon the date and structure of the hearing. As you can appreciate, the Secretarys schedule is quite committed with the work of the Department including hosting Mexican Cabinet Members next week to discuss border enforcement.

Mexico is a key partner as the U.S. works to stem migration flows from Central and South America.

Mayorkas, along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security adviser Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, last month visited Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico City for a first round of bilateral migration negotiations.

Hes also in the midst of negotiations with Senate leaders over a possible immigration reform package.

But Green previously blasted Mayorkas for putting the interests of Mexico ahead of the American people.

Apparently, he needs to be reminded that Congress is a co-equal branch of government, and our Committee, not Mexico, has oversight over his department, Green wrote last week on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Greens committee last week held its first of several hearings to examine a possible impeachment of Mayorkas, though Green previously said articles of impeachment have already been drafted and are expected to be marked up shortly. The hearing offered no new evidence to back Republican assertions that Mayorkas should be removed from office over his handling of the border.

While some Republicans such as Green have claimed Mayorkas is derelict in his duty to manage the border, its not clear that is an impeachable offense or even a legal term outside its use in the military.

Republicans have also accused Mayorkas of lying to Congress  a claim that largely rests over testimony hes given where hes maintained the government has operational control of the border, which the GOP disputes.

Republicans have mainly pointed to his testimony about the Secure Fence Act, which defines operational control of the border as a status in which not a single person or piece of contraband improperly enters the country.

No secretary of Homeland Security has met that standard of perfection, but GOP members have accused Mayorkas of lying by asserting his department has maintained operational control of the border.

Mayorkas has argued the law puts the onus on the secretary to maximize their resources to have the most effective results possible.

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

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.



Originally published by The Christian Post
Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., attends a session at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Dec. 9, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Duncan announced Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024 he is not running for reelection to an eighth term. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, file)

ANDERSON, S.C. (AP)  Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan said Wednesday he will not run for an eighth term in his solidly Republican South Carolina district.

Duncan said he ran for office after the September 2001 terrorist attacks because he wanted to serve his country. The businessman said he felt like he had completed that mission first in the state legislature and later in the U.S. House.

At some point in a career, one needs to step aside and allow others to bring fresh ideas and abilities into the fight for liberty, Duncan said in a statement.

Duncan was first elected in 2010. He made energy policy one of his chief concerns, pushing for more nuclear power. He thinks small-scale nuclear reactors need a boost in research and would be the best way to provide more power in the future.

Duncan also started his Faith and Freedom BBQ where he gathered thousands of conservatives in Anderson to hear from key Republicans from across the country.

But Duncan's reputation for conservative family values was diminished last year when his wife filed for divorce, saying the congressman left her and was having a sexual relationship with a lobbyist. She said he had been unfaithful before during their 35-year marriage.

Duncan hasn't talked about the breakup of his marriage, calling it a difficult and private moment.

Duncan is one of more than a dozen House Republicans retiring next year or seeking another office.

Filing for November's election begins in March with the primary in June. The last time the seat was open in 2010, it attracted several candidates who remain at the South Carolina Statehouse  Sens. Rex Rice and Richard Cash and Rep. Neal Collins. State Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey also announced a run before pulling out before filing.

Duncan represents South Carolina's Third District, a mostly rural area in the northern and western part of the state that includes Greenwood, Anderson, Edgefield and Easley. A Democrat hasn't won the district since Republican Lindsey Graham flipped the U.S. House seat in 1994.
Gov. Maura Healey, shown speaking in October at the annual Trooper George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery in Worcester, will give her State of the Commonwealth address on Wednesday.

As she gives her State of the Commonwealth address tonight, expect Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey to focus on some of her triumphs: enacting Massachusetts' first tax cuts in 20 years, extending free meals to all public school children in the state and launching MassReconnect, free community college for residents 25 and older without prior degrees.

But while the focus will be more on positives than negatives, there are challengers as Democrat Healey begins her second year in office. The governor has had to handle an ongoing influx of migrants into the Bay State that is straining the state's emergency shelter system and six months of flat tax revenues that prompted a downscaling of spending through the end of the current fiscal year.

Those less-than-robust collections prompted the governor to slash $325 million from the budget, a move that prompted some pushback from advocates. The majority of cuts were from human services programs, including funds supporting children and mental health services.

In a summary of her expected remarks, offered by a spokesperson for her office, Healey is expected to outline her priorities for 2024: creating a more affordable and competitive Massachusetts, and investing in education, housing and infrastructure improvements with the goal of lowering the cost of living and growing the economy. Healey will also outline her economic development bill, which includes investments in life sciences and climate change mitigating technology.

More Gov. Maura Healey's HERO Act pushes for more benefits for veterans

Initiatives on the table include shepherding the Affordable Homes Act through the state Legislature. The $4 billion proposal is designed to ease the housing crunch for renters, potential homebuyers and even senior citizens seeking to remain in their communities by creating new, affordable, dwellings throughout the state.

Expect the governor to discuss Gateway to Pre-K Agenda, a child care and early education program announced Tuesday. The project is designed to increase access to child care and establish universal prekindergarten programs in the state's Gateway Cities, while also expanding child care financial assistance for thousands of low-income families.

When does the State of the Commonwealth speech start?

Ceremonies will begin at 6 p.m., with the invocation offered by Rev. Clyde D. Talley, senior pastor of the Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church, Worcester, with North Quincy High School MA-841st Air Force Junior ROTC posting the colors. The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by East Boston Social Centers Sprouts Early Learning Classroom and the national anthem will be sung by a vocalist from Monomoy Regional High School in Harwich.

The Rev. Clyde D. Talley, senior pastor of the Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church in Worcester, will offer the invocation.

The benediction will be offered byRabbi Claudia Kreiman, senior rabbi at Temple Beth Zion in Brookline, and Dr. M. Faisal Khan, director of religious affairs and imam at the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland.

Closing out the ceremony after the governor's remarks is Duly Noted A Capella from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

How and where to watch the State of the Commonwealth

Healey is scheduled to begin speaking at 7 p.m.

Her remarks will be streamed live on YouTube and covered by WHDH, NBC 10, Boston 25 and WCVB.

Sen. Peter Durant, R-Spencer, will present the Republican rebuttal to the governors speech at about 7:30 p.m. from an off-site location. It will be broadcast on Durant's Facebook page.

Sen. Peter Durant, R-Spencer, will give the Republican rebuttal.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Gov. Maura Healey State of the Commonwealth speech: How to watch
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Grand Rapids Public Schools is closed Wednesday due to icy road conditions and frigid temperatures.

Our top priority is the safety of our scholars. With snow accumulation, icing, and the extreme cold, canceling classes today is in their best interest. With the cold weather continuing, we will monitor closely as we make decisions for the rest of the week, GRPS Superintendent Leadriane Roby said in a news release.

Frigid temps, lake-effect continue in West Michigan

The district noted administrative offices will remain open Wednesday.

It marks the third snow day of the 2023-2024 school year for West Michigans largest school district.

Several other school districts also decided to close on Wednesday, including Grandville Public Schools, Holland Public Schools, Kalamazoo Public Schools, Rockford Public Schools and Wyoming Public Schools.

Closings and Delays

Grand Valley State University also shifted classes to remote on Wednesday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Hostages being released by the militant group Hamas were driven toward the Rafah border crossing in the Gaza Strip to enter Egypt in November. (Said Khatib / AFP/Getty Images)

President Biden was right to issue a statement this week marking the 100th day in captivity for many of the hostages kidnapped in Israel by Hamas militants on Oct. 7. But what he left unsaid shows a craven and chilling political calculus.

The president recognized the pain and suffering of the captives and their families. Of more than 200 initially taken, Israel says about 100 remain hostages. That days strikes by Hamas left at least 1,200 dead.

The attack also started a war, which the statement conspicuously does not mention.

Israels response to Oct. 7 has killed more than 24,000 people in the Gaza Strip , mostly women and children, according to Palestinian authorities. No mention in the statement.

More than 50% of Gazas buildings have either been damaged or destroyed. Bidens 100th-day message doesnt acknowledge that.

Read more: Opinion: Israel's Gaza strategy: Create facts on the ground that can't be undone

The United Nations is warning of famine and disease in Gaza because of the war that has unfolded since Oct. 7. Not a word in Bidens statement.

Somehow the White House arrived at the political calculus that it was best for Biden to ignore all the tragedies in which Israel is implicated. This feels uncharacteristically cold from a president known for his warmth.

Read more: Opinion: How the International Court of Justice can hold Israel accountable in Gaza

It would have been possible for the White House to issue a different kind of statement marking the 100th day since the Oct. 7 attack. Imagine a statement that shows empathy not only for kidnapped civilians but also for those killed, maimed, made homeless. The people still being held by Hamas deserve every effort to secure their release. They should always be in our thoughts. So should the hundreds of thousands of others in Gaza who are suffering because of Israels bombing campaign and blockade.

There must always be a space in our reflections for wars casualties. It is that concern for all human life that informs the international laws and norms that give modern humanity some sort of guardrails.

Read more: Opinion: What does it feel like to be dehumanized? Just ask any Palestinian

The omissions from the White House statement were deliberate. Biden chose to not acknowledge the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have died  many in places they were told would be safe, such as hospitals and designated shelters. As much as Israels war depends on American weapons, it also depends on American silence. We Americans should not abdicate our role in the suffering caused by this war.

And yet Bidens remarks didnt even acknowledge the war.

I will never forget the grief and the suffering I have heard in my meetings with the families of the American hostages, the statement read. No one should have to endure even one day of what they have gone through, much less 100. On this terrible day, I again reaffirm my pledge to all the hostages and their families  we are with you. We will never stop working to bring Americans home.

I am in full support of those efforts.

However the United States can have multiple priorities. The administration can strive for the release of hostages while also supporting Israels right to defend itself while also recognizing that civilians in Gaza are suffering through no fault of their own. This wars innocent casualties are not just Hamas hostages or those slain in Israel on Oct. 7, and we should beware of any comments that pretend otherwise.

Bidens statement on the 100th day matters because rhetoric becomes reality. The comments of lawmakers or presidents  or even candidates for those offices  will inform future foreign policy decisions, such as which nations to give weapons to. And those decisions have repercussions, such as tens of thousands of civilian deaths.

The White House was not wrong to focus the bulk of its statement on those being held hostage and their families. Their lives these l ast 100 days are almost unimaginable .

But so is the growing desperation in Gaza, and that is a concern of the Biden administration as well. We cannot accept a landscape in which its politically risky to acknowledge that innocents are suffering.

@LZGranderson

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.
A woman accused of shooting her infant grandchild in December has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Grand jury indicts grandmother accused of shooting infant grandchild

Mia Harris, 43, entered the insanity plea Tuesday at the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, according to online Butler County court records.

The judge has ordered a forensic evaluation.

Her competency hearing has been scheduled for February 27.

Harris will be held without bond until the competency hearing is complete, according to our news partner WCPO in Cincinnati.

>>ORIGINAL COVERAGE: Grandmother intentionally shoots infant grandchild in Butler County, sheriffs office says

>>RELATED: Grandmother accused of intentionally shooting infant grandchild in the head held on $1.5M bond

News Center 7 previously reported that she has been charged with five felonies, including four counts of felonious assault and one count of improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habituation, online court records said.

Deputies say she shot at several family members before shooting the six-month grandchild in December 2023 in Liberty Township, WCPO said.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Grandmother accused of shooting infant granddaughter said sorry not sorry, detective says

Our news partner WCPO also reported that when detectives asked Harris why she did it, they said she told them, Sorry, not sorry.

The baby is still in the hospital.
LaShawnDa Pittmans book begins with a table of womens names  74, to be exact  listing their first name, age, marital or dating status, and the number of children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren they have.

The common denominators among the women are that they are Black grandmothers who are raising any number of their childrens offspring, creating what is known as skipped generation households, those consisting of only grandparents and grandchildren.

In her book Grandmothering While Black: A Twenty-First Century Story of Love, Coercion and Survival, Pittman, associate professor of American ethnic studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, plumbs the nuances of the role of contemporary Black grandmothers in todays landscape.

The Northwestern University alumna collected data from nearly 100 women on Chicagos South Side for four years through in-depth interviews with the women and ethnographic research via doctors visits, welfare offices, school and day care center appointments, and caseworker meetings.

In so doing, Pittman explored the myriad forces that help and hinder their caregiving, taking a deep dive into the relationship between elder and youth where the former is working to fulfill the functions of motherhood without the legal rights of the role.

Pittman, a sociologist, showcases the strategies Black grandmothers use to manage their caregiving role among state and federal systems to ensure the well-being of the next generation.

This book shows the complexity of what these grandmothers are up against. Its a lot, Pittman said. This long lineage of Black women dealing with a lot and the importance of us in giving voice to what that looks like and giving each other opportunities to share that information  its not small.

Pittman points out research that found more grandparents are currently raising their grandchildren than at any time in American history. The number of U.S. children living in a grandparents household more than doubled from 3.2% in 1970 to 8.4% in 2019, with 26% of those children in skipped generation households.

Two- and three-generational living arrangements are more prevalent in communities of color, with Black families being more likely than any other group to raise grandchildren in skipped generation households.

The factors that contribute to this range from changes in social and child-welfare policies and practices to increases in divorce rates and single parenthood and declining birth rates and marriage rates, as well as teen pregnancy, mental and physical health issues, child abuse and neglect. Black children also are the most likely to live in a single-parent family.

Compound that with some Black-grandmother-household incomes being at or below federal poverty levels and it raises a lot of questions. Why and how do Black womens traditional grandmother roles morph into surrogate parenting? How do they manage the demands of caregiving, including their lack of legal rights, challenges to making ends meet and inability to prioritize their personal lives? Pittman writes in the book.

Theres a lot of systemic things that force it upon us.  Incarcerated Black men and women, thats had a huge ripple effect  it decimated our communities and families, Pittman said. It used to be that a Black man could work in some kind of manufacturing job and send their children to college and buy a home. Now, the physical labor jobs are in the service sector, they pay less, they dont come with benefits, its harder to make it. Theres more discrimination. All of those kinds of things matter. Can you afford to live? Forget moving into the middle class, can you even maintain working class and not slip into poverty?

Over the course of more than 300 pages, Pitman pores over the economic survival strategies Black grandmothers employ during the struggle of kinship care. Its a mix of burden and blessing, rewards and consequences that range from an opportunity to parent again and a sense of purpose, to caregiving restricting retirement freedoms and impairing physical and mental health.

Raised in a family where her grandparents provided assistance to her immediate family, Pittman became interested in Black women and resilience as a graduate student at Northwestern. It was there that Pittman produced a thesis on Black women and their psychological well-being, and another work on the social capital of children in poverty.

All of it revolved around Black grandmothers raising grandchildren. Pittman found her purpose in making sense of the grandmothers perspectives, which eventually led to the book.

You can no longer have a conversation about grandparent caregiving without talking about how they create the structure to provide that care, she said. It is not the way that it used to be where Big Mama stepped in, got the baby, enrolled it in school and has this harmonious relationship with parents, where the parent is bettering themselves so they can get their baby back. While that does happen, in too many cases, it does not.

When conflict happens, and grandparents have no legal rights to their grandchildren, theres a different set of issues they have to deal with and no book was dealing with that, Pittman said. Do I go over the parent and get legal guardianship, prove that the parent is unfit? Do I want to do that to my own child? Its a complicated set of issues. Caregiving in the 21st century is a story that needs to be told for what it looks like today. How they navigate their lack of legal rights relative to parents, the child welfare system and in some cases, the criminal justice system. How they navigate to get resources, all of that is a big policy story.

Pittman has spoken to policymakers around the nation to say: Here are the resources that we say are available to these families, very few, and yet there are still all these barriers that theyre experiencing.

She hopes her book highlights the travails Black grandmothers face. Its a written charge for those in positions of power to think about the training of front-line workers who interact with these families.

Pittman said the people who work with skip generation families have a sense of what did they do to contribute to this happening?

But she says you shouldnt assume you know their story. Dealing with the explicit and implicit bias and misinformation in the training of agency representatives will go a long way, she said.

Pittman said too often during her interviews with grandmothers, she found they felt alone in their caregiver role. To help fix that, Pittman is building out her website so Black grandmothers can share resources, knowledge and their stories with one another. She also hopes her book is a shoutout to the Black community.

Its raising awareness and providing a sense of solidarity.  It is so important for us to understand what we are asking of our mothers, grandmothers and aunts, Pittman said. Understand that these are the kinds of sacrifices, complexities that our mothers and aunties have to deal with. And grandfathers too. Most skip generation households are headed by both grandparents. But Black grandmothers have the distinction of being more likely than all other grandparents of doing this without a parent or a partner.

Pittman said reaching out to the Black grandmothers in our communities would go a long way. She said Black matriarchs want to sustain their families and communities, but they also need to take care of their own health, and need respite and support.

If you know there are people in your family who are doing this, see what they need. Dont assume that they got it, she said. I hear people say stuff like, They do it out of love. Why should we not make sure that children have what they need in this country regardless of who their caregivers are? We do it for foster parents.

She looked at how in pop culture, Black grandmothers tend to be romanticized within the Black community and pathologized outside of it. And she wondered: Where do you go to get a sense of who these women really are?

Thats why Pittman is focused on making Real Black Grandmothers, the first digital archive created specifically with their reality in mind. Pittman said society has to continue to make changes that will support skipped generation households because putting together two vulnerable populations and asking them to figure it out themselves is asking too much.

The complexity of what theyre dealing with, the brilliance of we will find a way, the brilliance with which they navigated, the strategies they came up with to keep their grandchildren in their care safe and still try to get what they needed, blew me away, Pittman said. Yes, they did that in a miraculous and amazing way and its still not enough. We need to make it so its not so hard.
Police in Pakistan refused to file charges in the case of a Christian mother who lost her unborn child in a Muslim co-workers attempt to rape her, sources said.

Rakhil Nadeem Masih was eight months pregnant when a co-worker at a brick kiln near Clarakabad village in Kasur District, Punjab Province, attacked her in her living quarters at the kiln on Nov. 6, said her husband, Nadeem Masih.

He found her bleeding as the co-worker kicked and beat her, but after Masih took her to a government hospital, a doctor who stated that the violence led to her babys death refused to sign the medical report due to the influence of the Muslim kiln owner, Masih said. The kiln owner also influenced police, he said.

Rights activist Napolean Qayyum told Christian Daily International/Morning Star News that the case was another example of how influential Muslims circumvent the law.

The poor couples unborn child was murdered, Qayyum said. The medical report certifies that the woman was brutally tortured, which caused the babys death, yet the police are still refusing to register an FIR [First Information Report].

Qayyum said he has filed a complaint with the office of the Punjab Inspector General of Police, but there has been no progress on it.

Masih said that his 25-year-old wife had stepped out of their living quarters at the kiln on Nov. 6 to dispose of some garbage when she noticed the co-worker, identified only as Chand, taking photos of her with his phone. Rakhil Nadeem rebuked Chand and returned to her quarters, but he followed her inside and attacked her, Masih said.

Chand beat her and attempted to rape her, the impoverished laborer said, adding that his three children witnessed the violence.

Rakhil begged and pleaded Chand to leave her, repeatedly telling him to spare her and her unborn child, but he would not listen, Masih told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. I was working at the kiln when I heard the screams of my wife and children. I ran towards my quarters, where I saw Chand punching and kicking Rakhil, who was lying on the floor profusely bleeding.

He tried to seize Chand, but he broke free and ran outside, Masih said.

My immediate concern was for Rakhil, who was in a very bad condition, he said. I took her to a nearby government hospital with help from some co-workers, where we were told that the baby had died due to the torturous attack.

Doctors performed an emergency Cesarean section (C-section) on Rakhil Nadeem to remove the babys body, Masih said, in tears adding that it was then that he realized they would have been blessed with a second son.

His wife remained in the hospital for more than a week for treatment of internal injuries.

The thought of filing a police complaint immediately did not cross my mind at that time, because all my attention was focused on Rakhils condition, he said. I had already lost my unborn son, and I couldnt even think of seeing my three children losing their mother.

After Rakhil Nadeem returned home, Masih and his father went to the police station to file a complaint against Chand.

The police asked us to bring the medico-legal certificate from the hospital, which was required to file a First Information Report, Masih said. However, when we submitted the certificate, the police refused to register a case, saying that the certificate had not been signed by the concerned doctor.

When he went back to the hospital, the doctor declined to sign the document, he said.

I later came to know that both the police and the doctor have been influenced by the Muslim owner of the brick kiln, Chaudhry Abdul Rehman, Masih said. The accused, Chand, is a henchman of Rehman, and it is because of his influence that police are reluctant to file a case against Chand and arrest him.

He added that Chand was notorious for harassing Christian female workers at the kiln, and that complaints against him went unheard because of his association with the Muslim owner.

Chand continues to work at the kiln, and he and his family members have threatened Masih, warning him to stop pursuing legal action, Masih said.

The kiln owner is also pressuring me to reconcile with Chand and also offered me money, but Ive resolved not to give up till I get justice for my wife and our murdered unborn child, he said.

Sohail Habil, executive director of HARDS Pakistan, a Christian rights group, said they had decided to file a legal case against police for inaction against the suspect.

Registration of an FIR is the right of every citizen of Pakistan, regardless of their social standing, Habil told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. The police must ensure that the accused is booked for assaulting the poor woman and killing her unborn child.

Cases of sexual violence against women and children are common at brick kilns in Pakistan. Christians make up less than 2 percent of Pakistans population, and those at the bottom of the economic scale face even greater persecution.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2023 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, up from eighth the previous year.
DES MOINES, IowaI enjoyed every bit of West Virginia Universitys blowout victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels in the recent Dukes Mayo Bowl. I stayed tuned for the ceremonial mayo dump and everything. Gross, but oddly satisfying.

I hung around for close losses to University of Houston and Oklahoma State University. I held my breath for onsides kicks and Hail Mary passes.

But the 39-point drubbing from the Oklahoma Sooners in November? Click. Two quarters was plenty for me.

As predicted, the Iowa Republican caucuses generated the lowest voter turnout since the contest in 2000. For a sense of proportion, former President Donald Trumps 56,260 votes (as of this writing) represented 51 percent of the total. The same number would have netted him just 30 percent eight years ago.

Certainly the cold weather had its effect, as did the decision to hold the evening event on the third day of a holiday weekend. But there was something else driving down the numbers to a 24-year low: The landslide effect.

In 2016, the race was close, with three or four candidates in contention. This time, the race was very explicitly for second place. Now, when an unpopular candidate has a massive polling advantagethink Hillary Clintons 2016 general election fizzletheres the risk of unenthusiastic voters shrugging off their responsibilities. When you like your candidate, though, the expectation of a lopsided win can actually be an enticement. Theres low emotional risk and a high chance of reward.

But the difference between a commanding win and an honest-to-goodness landslide is what happens on the other side. The losing team has to know its over and just gives up. We see it in the famous presidential general election tsunamis, including the wipeout of 1984. Challenger Walter Mondale got close from time to time, but never led. Assured of defeat, Democrats in states where they should have carried the day, like Rhode Island and West Virginia, stayed home rather than be part of the losing effort. Democrats lost 49 states and the down-ballot damage was enormous.

Primaries are different in several ways, but particularly in that partisans might want to send a message in a losing vote, especially if there is a salient ideological or policy consideration. But thats not what was going on in Iowa.

Both Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former chief acolyte of the MAGA faith, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who served in Trumps Cabinet, agree that Trump had a successful presidency and that he was generally correct in his policies. Indeed, they argue that the problem was that Trump didnt accomplish more of what he promised. They contend that Trump should be replaced atop the party because he isnt the very stable genius he once was and that he is likely to lose again in the general election.

They nibble around Trumps main weaknesshis characterological deficiencies, corruption, and his bungled 2021 coup attemptbut basically hold that choosing one of them over Trump is a more prudent calculation. Electability isnt a terrible argument in a primary. But not if youre sure to lose.

There is a considerable minority in the Republican Party that is ready to fight for a lost cause in order to send a message, but that message is one that would all but concede defeat and alienate a majority of the party. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney have won many admirers and some loyal supporters, but most Republicansincluding many who know Christie and Cheney are right about Trumpwill never forgive them for airing the partys dirty laundry. Thats a sacrifice very few in politics are ever willing to make.

Haley is still hoping to skate through, winning the support of the motivated minority while still remaining palatable to most of her party. And its not an unreasonable idea. Voters often choose more pragmatic vehicles for protest, if there is even a modest chance for success. Thats why Haleys bronze medal in Iowa could hurt so badly. If victory is the trade-off for purity, theres little tolerance for defeat.

But shes still in it. A win in New Hampshire could solidify her standing as the candidate of both the resolutely Never Trump and the pragmatic partisans. It depends on how high an asking price she has to pay to the Trump resistance. If Christie comes out strongly for Haley and doesnt ask for any public renunciations in return, maybe she gets back on track and makes a race of it for at least the next month.

DeSantis, on the other hand, has a different challenge to face.

There are losing candidates in Republican history like George H.W. Bush, Bob Dole, John McCain, and Mitt Romney who very ably converted second-place finishes into nominations down the road. Then there are those runners up like Pat Buchanan and Rick Santorum who hung on in their contests to pressure the eventual winner on policy matters and to prove the power of their faction.

Both Haley and DeSantis have the organization and notoriety to persist in the race like McCain, but not a cause like Pitchfork Pat.

But if DeSantis can slog on through Super Tuesday and make it to Florida on March 19, he might rack up enough delegates to end up in second place. If he drops out then, endorsing Trump, DeSantis might be well positioned as a 2028 contender. Spend down the last of the cash paying your people, keep the name identification up, andmost importantlyoutlast Haley, and 2024 could be the beginning of the next chapter.

Thats why theres so little motivation for DeSantis to step aside now, despite the preposterous strategy of riding a third place finish in South Carolina 38 days from now back into contention. Yes, getting out now probably would be a net benefit to Haleys chances to winthough plenty of DeSantis voters would go back to Trump before they went to her. But it would also help Haley for 2028, something DeSantis seems unlikely to do.

Indeed, the path DeSantis is following looks like the one hes been on all along: That of Ted Cruzs 2016 dud. As Cruz found out, its awfully hard to get people to stay tuned for a blowout loss. Along the way, you neither endear yourself to the loyal opposition nor win the admiration of the majority.

And thats even worse than getting mayonnaise dumped on your head.

Read more at The Dispatch

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White-throated kingfisher spotted at a park in SE China's Xiamen

People's Daily Online) 09:08, January 17, 2024

A white-throated kingfisher and its reflection create a picturesque image. (People's Daily Online/Chen Bo)

A white-throated kingfisher hunts for food at a park near Yundang Lake in Xiamen city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo/Tao Hui)

A white-throated kingfisher splashes water as it catches fish. (Photo/Guan Zhiyuan)

A white-throated kingfisher flies over the water at a park near Yundang Lake in Xiamen city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Chen Bo)

A beautiful bird has been sighted at a park near Yundang Lake in Xiamen city, southeast China's Fujian Province. The bird, known as the white-throated kingfisher, has captivated onlookers with its vibrant blue back feathers that glisten in the sunlight.

Whether perched on branches, observing its surroundings, or gracefully gliding over the water, the bird has become a delightful sight for visitors. The white-throated kingfisher is a species under second-class state protection in China.

The white-throated kingfisher mainly feeds on fish, crabs, mollusks and aquatic insects. It is a resident bird in Xiamen and can be found in various parks and wetlands, according to Chen Hao, vice president of the Xiamen Bird Watching Association.

A white-throated kingfisher is seen on a branch of a tree near the water. (People's Daily Online/Chen Bo)

A white-throated kingfisher perches on a tree branch. (People's Daily Online/Chen Bo)

The bright blue feathers of a white-throated kingfisher shine brilliantly in the sunlight. (People's Daily Online/Chen Bo)

A white-throated kingfisher dives from a street lamp into the water. (People's Daily Online/Chen Bo)

A white-throated kingfisher chirps on a tree branch. (People's Daily Online/Chen Bo)

"Yundang Lake is home to many bird species, including egrets, herons, and night herons. However, spotting a white-throated kingfisher is rare. These birds prefer solitude and can often be found concealed among the branches of trees near the water's edge. Occasionally, they swiftly dart across the water's surface, making it quite challenging to capture them without professional equipment," said An Weiliang, a birdwatching enthusiast.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
As Pakistan gears up for general elections on February 8, the countrys religious minorities, including Christians, have launched a countrywide community engagement campaign as part of efforts to draw the attention of the mainstream political parties toward the challenges facing minorities.

The campaign titled Main Bhi Pakistan Hoon" or "I am also Pakistan is a joint effort of a consortium of rights groups from the Minority Forum Pakistan platform to raise public awareness on minority issues and to remind political parties of their promises to address them.

Peter Jacob, the Catholic executive director of the Lahore-based research and advocacy group Center for Social Justice, emphasised the need for a soft revolution through reforms as opposed to rigid revolutions that weaken institutions and political systems.

This approach is instrumental in strengthening accountability, institutions, and democracy, he told Christian Daily International.

Jacob said the Forum has launched a widespread community engagement campaign by putting up banners in minority settlements in major cities and localities, holding community-level meetings, advocating with election contestants, and organising district-level seminars to ensure that minority voices are heard and represented in Pakistans political landscape.

The Forum has highlighted five points in its campaign, which include criminalising forced conversions and strengthening the laws to end forced marriages of underage minority girls; removing Islamic content from the curriculum; establishing a statutory minorities rights commission; including Jinnahs public address of August 11, 1947, in the curricula and Constitution of Pakistan; and the implementation of Supreme Court Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillanis landmark judgement of June 2014.

Addressing the constituent assembly of newly-established Pakistan, the nations founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, spoke of an inclusive and impartial government, religious freedom, rule of law, and equality for all citizens irrespective of their religion, caste or creed. Christian groups have repeatedly called for the inclusion of the speech in the school curriculum and the Constitution of Pakistan to promote pluralism and religious tolerance in Pakistani society.

Supreme Courts former chief justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, in his landmark 2014 judgement, had directed the government to develop a framework for the protection of minorities. One of the recommendations in the verdict was also the creation of a national council to oversee the matters of minorities.

Jacob said that public representatives required public opinion and support to address human rights challenges effectively.

Civil society is responsible for shaping public opinion. Moreover, we believe we should focus on achieving whatever maximum we can in this election and then gradually moving on to the other issues, he said.

He added that the Forum advocacys efforts had resulted in the incorporation of its four demands in the election manifesto of the mainstream Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

This a great success and we hope that the other parties will also follow suit and add these demands in their election manifestoes, he said.

Commenting on the civil societys initiative, Dr Tariq Javed Tariq, a Christian nominee for the National Assembly from the platform of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that he supported the Forums campaign.

Minority voices are often snubbed in parliament and even within their respective parties. Therefore, support from the civil society is imperative to highlight the issues and advocate for their redressal, he told CDI.

It wouldnt be wrong to say that civil society strengthens the minority voices in legislatures, he added.

Ejaz Alam Augustine, a former Christian minister for human rights and minorities affairs in Punjab province, expressed similar views but said that effective lobbying with progressive Muslim political representatives could help in bringing about the much-needed relief for minority communities.

We need the support of mainstream political parties to legislate on sensitive issues like the misuse of the blasphemy laws and forced religious conversion of minority girls, he told CDI.

He added that community engagement campaigns were also necessary to raise political awareness in minority communities, especially Christians.

In January 2023, Jacobs Centre for Social Justice conducted an analysis of manifestos of seven mainstream political parties, promises made and parties performances concerning the protection of minorities based on empirical evidence from the elections held in 2008, 2013, and 2018.

The study revealed that the political parties found it challenging to address the core issues of religious freedom and equality among citizens in the context of rising religious intolerance.

It also noted that there was a lack of consistency in the pledges and a lack of follow-up on them. Some of the pledges were common to all the parties manifestos, including minority representation in Evacuee Trust Property Board, establishing a statutory Minority Commission, criminalising forced conversions, reviewing curriculum, implementing job quotas and reviewing discriminatory laws. Distinct pledges such as introducing an education quota, preventing misuse of the blasphemy laws, representation of minority women in legislative assemblies, and introduction of constitutional reforms, showed that political parties in Pakistan could only dare to dream, the report stated.

Christians account for only 1.59 percent of the total population of Pakistan as per the 2023 national census.
From the Dispatch Politics on The Dispatch

Happy Wednesday! No time to rest for the Dispatch Politics team, with the New Hampshire primary coming hot on Iowas heels next Tuesday. Mike is already braving the snow in the Granite State, with David and John (and some other Dispatch personalities!) to join him there soon. Andrew, however, is headed back to D.C. so his kids dont forget what he looks like.

Up to Speed

ABC News has canceled its planned Thursday primary debate in New Hampshirewhich would have been another one-on-one affair between Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantisafter Haley said she would not attend further debates if Donald Trump did not participate. Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race, a spokesperson for ABC News said in a statement. Haley lagged DeSantis by 3 points in Mondays Iowa caucuses, but is far outpacing him in New Hampshire primary polling.

Trumps convincing Iowa win has pulled a few more endorsements out of the woodwork this week, including Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Blake Masters, the GOP Senate nominee in Arizona in 2022. At this point, I believe this race is over, Cruz said on Fox News on Tuesday evening. I think its time for the Republican Party to unite, for us to come together. Weve got to beat Joe Biden, weve got to beat this disastrous cultural-Marxist agenda in the White House.

GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa was hospitalized this week to be treated for an infection, his office said Thursday. He is in good spirits and will return to work as soon as possible following doctors orders, it said in a statement. At 90, Grassley, who was reelected last year, is the oldest current member of the Senate.

Ahead of New Hampshire Primary, Haley Paints Trump as the Chaos Candidate

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event on January 16, 2024, in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

BRETTON WOODS, New HampshireFor the first 15 minutes of her remarks here at the historic Mount Washington Hotel, Nikki Haleys audience was polite, respectful, and quiet. As the former South Carolina governor rolled effortlessly through her stump speech with snow falling hard outside, her platitudes about fiscal responsibility, an active role for the United States in foreign affairs, and controlling the southern border with Mexico were greeted with silent signs of affirmation.

But the crowd here in New Hampshires North Country region started to come alive when Haley turned her attention to Donald Trump, the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination. I voted for President Trump twice. I was honored to serve America in his administration, she said, echoing points she made in her concession speech in Iowa the night before. Rightly or wrongly, chaos follows him.

Appearing to sense the murmur of acknowledgement from the crowd, Haley pressed the point. You know Im right, she went on, as heads began to nod. Chaos follows him, and we cant have 

Haley was then cut off by a spontaneous round of applause. She kept going, getting more enthusiastic reactions as she noted that the majority of Americans dont want a presidential contest between two 80-year-olds or a continued focus on investigations and past issues that keep the country from moving forward.

Whether or not she can actually beat Trump in Tuesdays primary election, its clear the people who are coming to see her love hearing Haley take on the frontrunner, even in her roundabout way.

Before her remarks even began, a common word from voters milling about in the hotel lobby regarding Trump was chaos. Rick Wright of Whitefield told The Dispatch that hes voting for Haley, not only because he agrees with her on most of the issues but because she represents a break from Trumps cycle of drama. Id like to get out of the chaos and the bullst from the past, Wright said. All the drama and investigation bullst going on.

Linda and Chuck Donovan of Bartlett were among those who said they appreciated Haleys comments about moving the party, and the country, past Trump. The couple said that they unregistered as Republicans in 2016 once Trump got the nomination, and, while they still lean toward the GOP on policy grounds, they wont vote for the former president in a general election. I think theres probably a lot of voters like myself, Chuck told The Dispatch.

Linda chimed in to note that there appears to have been a shift even among more loyal Republicans here in the rural North Country since the previous two presidential elections. When you drive to town, she said, there used to be some Trump signs. Theyve been replaced with Nikki signs.

Whether that apparent surge in enthusiasm will translate into actual votes remains to be seen. With the clock running out, polling still indicates at least a plurality, and maybe more, of New Hampshire Republicans are still on board with Trump. The latest New Hampshire primary poll from Suffolk University, released Wednesday morning, shows Trump with 50 percent support from likely voters and Haley in a distant second place with 34 percent. On the other hand, Haley fans can take comfort in another new poll from American Research Group released Tuesday, which found Trump and Haley tied at 40 percent in New Hampshire. The RealClearPolitics average (still constituted largely of polls taken before Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy exited the race) has Trump at 44 percent support and Haley at 31 percent.

Chris Sununu, the states governor who is campaigning relentlessly for Haley and introduced her here Tuesday night, told reporters afterward the polling certainly shows that Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is in single digits in both polls, isnt competing in New Hampshire. Theres no real path forward for him, Sununu said. Its definitely a two-person race. And thats what America wants.

Trump Once Again King of Earned Media

Some things never change.

As was the case during the last open Republican contest eight years ago, Donald Trump is commanding the lions share of earned media in this years presidential primarythe sort of media coverage that he does not have to pay for but is worth hundreds of millions of dollars in national exposure. Or, as its turned out this cycle, billions of dollars: nearly $5 billion since August 23, the day of the first televised Republican primary debate in Milwaukee.

Thats according to data collected and synthesized by Ax Media, a media intelligence firm affiliated with Axiom Strategies. The behemoth political firm is run by GOP strategist Jeff Roe, who was in charge of the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down until he resigned in mid-December. The information was shared with The Dispatch on Tuesday by a political operative who continues to advise Never Back Down.

How did Trumps competitors stack up? Over the same periodfrom August 23 through Mondays Iowa caucusesFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis received $1.2 billion worth of earned media; Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and ex-U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, received $942.4 million; and wealthy biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy received $489.2 million. Incidentally, this correlates with how all four candidates finished in the caucuses, the first contest on the GOP presidential nominating calendar.

When reporting on the competition for resources in a political campaign, the focus is understandably on which candidate and supportive super PAC is spending moreon television and radio, on digital platforms, on direct mail, on voter turnout. But earned media is a crucial component of any bid for office, especially for the presidency. It captures coverage, positive or negative, on cable television and network newscasts, written opinion and news reporting in newspapers, magazines, and online outlets (such as The Dispatch), podcast interviews, and discussions on social media platforms.

And Trumps domination of this metric is providing him with a massive advantage over his Republican opponents in the key early primary states, just as it did in 2016. Thats especially true because in the case of the former president, even negative earned media has juiced his support among Republican primary voters.

Heres how the competition for earned media played out on Saturday and Sunday, the final full two days of campaigning before the Iowa caucuses, per Ax Medias data: Trump, $99.5 million; DeSantis, $61.9 million; Haley, $61.2 million; Ramaswamy, $24.3 million. And how did the candidates finish in Iowa? Trump, 51 percent; DeSantis, 21 percent; Haley, 19 percent; Ramaswamy, 8 percent.

Viewing a color-coded graph tracking earning media for all four candidates since July 1, Trumps supremacy appears even more stark. The former presidents earned media coverage was eclipsed by the others only a handful of days during the six-and-a-half months leading up to the Iowa caucuses. And on most of those days that Trump garnered more earned media than DeSantis, Haley, and Ramaswamy, he did so by a significant margin.

Indeed, Trumps edge here was particularly pronounced on the four days the other Republican candidates were sparring in nationally televised debates, revealing that even the spotlight of a major media event that received blanket coverage from the national press corps was no match for the attention the former president is able to attract. Trump did not participate in any of these debates, but often counter-programmed them with competing events. The wall-to-wall coverage from his four criminal indictments also hogged attention from the competition. It mattered, and continues to.

Notable and Quotable

Thats an economy-class ticket out. Thats coach, right near the bathroom. A DeSantis-backing financial bundler to NBC News about the Florida governors claim that weve got our ticket punched out of Iowa, January 16, 2024

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The town manager in Littleton, N.H., has resigned amid a controversy over LGBTQ-themed public art in the town  a discussion that has included negative comments about the managers late son, a gay man.

Jim Gleason submitted his resignation at the January 8 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, the towns governing body, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports. His last day on the job will be February 2. He had been town manager for three years after stints in city administration in Georgia and Florida.

One of the board members, Carrie Gendreau, had called paintings commissioned by a local LGBTQ+ group, North Country Pride, demonic and said homosexuality was an abomination. The paintings appeared on the side of a restaurant in downtown Littleton.

Gendreau had also defended the actions of a Littleton woman who had made hateful remarks to Gleason, he said upon resigning.

The woman, Jean Chouinard, came to Gleasons office in October to complain about a production of La Cage Aux Folles by Theater UP at the municipally owned Littleton Opera House. She wanted Gleason to shut it down. He said he couldnt because it would be an infringement of First Amendment free speech rights but told Chouinard she could exercise her own rights by protesting the show. She then called him weak and asked if he was pleased that his son Patrick, who died of cancer in 2016, was in hell with the devil where he belonged, according to Gleason.

He recently obtained an order of protection barring Chouinard from contact with him. Last Friday, someone dropped off an envelope at the town government offices that contained a picture of him with the words Queer Bastard written across it, the Union Leader reports. Chouinard admitted to being the source, and Gleason cited it when seeking the order of protection.

When announcing his resignation, Gleason said the whole situation has been very hurtful, according to In Depth NH. There have been worries about the town government regulating public art in Littleton, he noted, but some members of the Board of Selectmen have denied theyre talking about a ban on certain art.

At the meeting where Gleason resigned, board member Roger Emerson said a ban was never considered, and he and Gendreau suggested it was a rumor started by Gleason or the theater company. But some board members said they may ask citizens to vote on art regulations, New Hampshire Public Radio reports.

I will say nowhere in any email from the Board of Selectmen or in public comment did they ever use the word ban, Gleason told the radio outlet. But when someone says, We need to do something to ensure that this art on these private buildings doesn't make it onto public property  that to me is a ban. Because the board has two choices: They cannot regulate content, so they either allow it or they dont. Meanwhile, the theater group is considering a move out of the Littleton Opera House.

Gendreau, a Republican who is also a New Hampshire state senator, has stood by her comments that the town shouldnt allow the murals sponsored by the Pride group, In Depth NH notes. She has said her religious faith guides all her decisions in elected office. Her spiritual guide is Jonathan Cahn, a Messianic Jewish minister who has claimed the Stonewall uprising, which jump-started the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, unleashed demonic forces on the world. Messianic Jews  which is a Protestant Christian sect  self-identify as Jewish but also believe in Jesus Christ as their savior.

Gleason has received much praise from townspeople. This gentleman here is the best of the best, resident Rudy Gelsi said at the meeting where Gleason resigned, according to In Depth NH. Another resident, Kerri Harrington, thanked Gleason for all hed done and said the recent debate was not about art. It was about hate for the LGBTQ community.

Pictured: Jim Gleason and greeting cards based on the "controversial" art, created by Meg Reinhold
Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley campaigns during a caucus night watch party in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday before placing third behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump, who won with 51% of the vote. Both Haley and Trump failed to respond by the deadline to participate in Thursday's Republican primary debate in New Hampshire, forcing ABC News to cancel it. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI

Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The Republican presidential primary debate scheduled for Thursday in New Hampshire has been called off due to a lack of candidate participation, ABC News announced Tuesday.

"Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race," an ABC News spokesperson said in a statement.

"As a result, while our robust election coverage will continue, ABC News and WMUR-TV will not be moving forward with Thursday's Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire."

New Hampshire's primary is scheduled for Jan. 23.

Neither former President Donald Trump nor former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley responded by Tuesday's deadline to participate, after Haley suggested -- following her third place finish in Monday's Iowa caucuses -- that she would skip the debate with rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had already committed.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives to speak to supporters at the Never Back Down Iowa headquarters in West Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday. DeSantis blasted Haley's decision to skip the debate, saying "she doesn't want to answer the tough questions." Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI

"We've had five great debates in this campaign," Haley wrote Tuesday in a post on X. "Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it."

DeSantis blasted Haley's decision to bow out of the debate in a post on X, saying Haley is "afraid to debate because she doesn't want to answer the tough questions."

Former President Donald Trump celebrates his win in the 2024 Iowa Caucus at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday. Next up in the race for the White House will be Saturday's New Hampshire primary. Trump has stated he will not participate in any Republican primary debates, citing his large lead in the polls. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI

"The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, she's running to be Trump's VP," DeSantis wrote Tuesday.

Haley and DeSantis sparred over facts, as the only two Republican participants, in last week's debate leading up to the Iowa caucus.

While Haley received 19% of the vote in Iowa, behind DeSantis who had 21%, Trump won with a resounding 51%. Trump has not participated in any of the Republican primary debates, citing his large lead in the polls.

"President Trump's statement was that he would not attend the debates," adviser Chris LaCivita said in September.

"Plural ... And that's his position until it's not."
Like many public libraries across the country, the main branch of the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library in Jonesboro, Arkansas, set up a variety of displays for Pride Month in June 2021. There were showcases of books by LGBTQ+ authors, an exhibit that explained the different community flags and a section of kids books featuring LGBTQ+ characters.

According to its staff and supporters, the library hadnt had any obvious issues celebrating Pride prior to 2021. But that month spurred community backlash that contributed to the county voting the following year to cut library funding in half.

More than a year after the vote, the cuts have finally gone into effect, and the results are dire. The library and its other branches (there are eight, including the main branch) are now forced to operate with reduced hours and smaller staffs and have had to cut services that community members previously relied on.

The Pride display in June 2021 was a huge catalyst and the main reason why the library was defunded, Dean MacDonald, a supporter and advocate for the CCJPL, told HuffPost.

Conservatives across the country began targeting public libraries during the backlash to the sweeping social justice movements that took hold in 2020 in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Using the guise of parental rights, conservatives whipped up a moral panic: first about children learning about the United States racist past and then about kids learning about LGBTQ+ rights, falsely asserting that members of the LGBTQ+ community were preying on children or that books about gay or trans people should be treated like pornography.

When the childrens [Pride] display went up, thats when it really hit the fan, said Vanessa Adams, the director of the CCJPL, who was previously the library director in another Arkansas county.

David Eckert, who was the library director in the summer of 2021, was surprised when the complaints started rolling in. He told KAIT-TV in Jonesboro that he initially got a lot of positive feedback  close to 30 support emails  about the Pride display, compared with the three formal complaints he received. But eventually that changed.

It had actually been up for three weeks before I heard a complaint, Eckert told the stations news team at the time. Im not exactly sure why there was a problem this year, especially because before I started working here, weve always put this type of material out every June. (Eckert resigned in November 2021 amid controversy over library policies.)

I dream of a world where this argument that we are having today will make us laugh at ourselves.A resident supporting the library at a board meeting

At a three-hour library board meeting in August 2021, residents argued over a proposal to allow the board to approve of displays and guest speakers. The vote failed to pass, with board Vice President Mike Johnson saying that librarians should be trusted to make such decisions.

But another library proposal quickly divided the area: Board member Amanda Escue went on to suggest a new policy that would require the board to approve sensitive materials before the library could make a purchase.

Many residents spoke out against the proposal.

I dream of a world where this argument that we are having today will make us laugh at ourselves and dismiss it as insanity, one resident said at a September 2021 board meeting, according to KAIT.

Others turned to mistruths about LGBTQ+ materials to support it. The topic is not about religion, the topic is not about your sexual orientation, the topic is why do the children, the young children, need to see the pornographic explicit material, one resident said during the public comment section of a library board meeting, KAIT reported in a separate story.

Escue resigned from her position weeks before the board could vote on her proposal about sensitive material, citing her familys move to Randolph County, Arkansas, as the reason, according to The Jonesboro Sun.

The board voted 4 to 2 not to adopt the proposal.

Then, at the end of September 2022, just weeks before the election, a group called Citizens Taxed Enough announced it had gathered enough signatures to put decreased funding for the library on the ballot. It framed the issue as one of tax relief for residents, but Citizens Taxed Enough said on social media that the group had looked into the librarys finances because staff refused to remove or move books it didnt approve of. Recently, Citizens Taxed Enough insinuated itself into a Facebook post to say that the library was a place where children could access pornography.

HuffPost reviewed Facebook posts identified as belonging to members of the Northeast Arkansas Tea Party, a right-wing group supporting the ballot measure to cut the librarys funding in half. In the posts, made in the lead-up to the 2022 election, the members falsely claimed that library staff were providing sexually explicit material and abusing children, and they criticized a Drag Queen Storytime event as predatory toward children.

It really blindsided us because we hadnt heard any rumors that they were going to put it on the ballot.Vanessa Adams, director of CCJPL

Library supporters and patrons in Craighead County, Arkansas, which is home to more than 100,000 people (the majority of whom live in Jonesboro), said they were taken aback when defunding the library ended up on the ballot in November 2022.

It really blindsided us because we hadnt heard any rumors that they were going to put it on the ballot, Adams said about the measure, leaving support groups like Citizens Defending the Craighead County Library little time to get the word out about voting.

The ballot measure to cut library funding passed by 48 votes.

I didnt think this would happen to start with, Adams said. I was certain this community would come out to support the library.

The effect of the November 2022 vote wasnt felt until the end of last year. The library is forward-funded, so it had enough funds to keep operating as is for a full year after the election.

The library will receive $2.6 million this year, down from $4.7 million the prior year. Adams managed to stave off closing any of the eight branches. However, she had to lay off 13 people while two people who retired were not replaced. Overall, the library is down to 30 employees from 45.

The branches also have reduced hours, with all of them  save for the main branch  closed on Saturday. None of the libraries is open on Sunday.

The library has also had to cut some services. Before the cuts, library staff would bring materials to elderly people and people in long-term health care facilities. Now theyll have to scale back such outreach. The library also wont be able to regularly support courier services, which can bring materials requested by patrons from one branch to another.

Perhaps most chilling is that the defunding means there are fewer books available.

Our materials budget has taken a big cut, Adams said. Its really sad. There are fewer books and fewer e-books, which were really popular.

Criticism and fearmongering surrounding public libraries is part of a disturbing trend thats taken hold around the country. Librarians have been fired for refusing to remove books with LGBTQ+ themes from shelves, and some libraries have dealt with threats of physical violence.

In Jonesboro, theres a chance that a measure to reinstate library funding could be on the ballot next year. But advocates are aware that they need to tread carefully  after all, this time around theyd be convincing residents to take on a tax increase. However, some community members are already offering financial support to the library after the cuts.

Were getting monetary donations left and right, Adams said. The community is understanding and is really stepping up to help us.

In the meantime, theres still support for the library  even with all the cuts.

The public perception is that Jonesboro is for all this, but there have been tons of people who have spoken up from all political backgrounds, MacDonald said. People have written off Arkansas, but there are people coming out of the woodwork that are people fighting back.

Related...
House Republicans in the Freedom Caucus have been warning Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) for months that his grace period to run the show sans their ire is over  ever since the newly minted speaker first worked with Democrats to pass a two-tiered clean continuing resolution to keep the government open last November, just a few weeks after he was elected. As soon as Johnson announced his plan to push the two-tiered proposal that would keep funding the government at current levels, it became clear that Johnson was not the Golden Boy that his most outspoken backers had promised, equipped with some magic power to unite the conference increasingly run by extremists.

That CR ended up passing with Democrats help and outcry from hardliners  though Johnson claimed the gimmicky two-tiered approach was thrown in as a bone to the House Freedom Caucus. The far-right flank has been suss about the speakers allegiances ever since, though only Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) has so far nodded at the fact that the motion to vacate is still on the table.

Now just days out from another partial government shutdown, Johnson announced over the weekend that hed worked out a deal for another stopgap bill with Senate leadership that would keep the government open until March. The same type of maneuver that got former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) canned nine months into his speakership.

Freedom Caucus members are angry, but appear reluctant, at least as of this week, to make use of the one-person motion to vacate threshold they used to oust McCarthy last year. Only Roy, who has suggested the option is still on the table, and Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), who told reporters that Johnson should never have been hired last week, have nodded in the direction of retaliation thus far.

Its becoming increasingly possible that, perhaps, the far rights enthusiasm for defenestration only applied, or especially applied, to McCarthy, as Freedom Caucus members are going out of their way to blame anyone but Johnson for doing things they dont like. Today, for example, at least one hardliner is suggesting that Johnson is getting bad advice from his staff. Per the Messenger:

Montana GOP Rep. Matt Rosendale believes House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to put up a bigger fight on spending and the border but that his staff is talking him down from leveraging government funding to force conservative policy changes. He knows the right thing to do. He is getting terrible counsel, Rosendale said in an interview with The Messenger on Tuesday. His staff is undermining his confidence, and thats what keeps him from doing the right thing. I think they all should be fired. Johnsons office did not respond to a request for comment.

When it comes to McCarthy, maybe they just didnt like the guy.

The Best Of TPM Today

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A protracted court battle is not over for a Finnish MP and bishop after the country's state prosecutor announced it would appeal a recent 'not guilty' verdict.

Charges were brought against Paivi Rasanen, former Minister of the Interior, and Bishop Juhana Pohjola after they shared their Christian beliefs on marriage and sexual ethics in a 2004 pamphlet.

Rasanen faced further charges relating to a 2019 tweet and comments she made in a radio discussion the same year.

They stood trial in 2022 and were found not guilty but were forced to stand trial again last year after the state prosecutor appealed the original verdict.

They were cleared of all 'hate speech' charges for the second time by the Helsinki Court of Appeals last November.

In its ruling handed down on 14 November 2023, the court stated that it "has no reason, on the basis of the evidence received at the main hearing, to assess the case in any respect differently from the District Court."

The Supreme Court must now decide whether it will hear the case.

Commenting on the latest development, Rasanen said she was prepared to fight to the end.

"After my full exoneration in two courts, I'm not afraid of a hearing before the Supreme Court," she said.

"Even though I am fully aware that every trial carries risks, an acquittal from the Supreme Court would set an even stronger positive precedent for everyone's right to free speech and religion.

"And if the Court decided to overturn the lower courts' acquittals, I am ready to defend freedom of speech and religion as far as the European Court of Human rights, if necessary."

Paul Coleman, Executive Director of the Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADF), which is supporting Rasanen's legal defence, expressed alarm at the state prosecutor's decision to continue pursuing the case.

"The state's insistence on continuing this prosecution despite such a clear and unanimous ruling by both the Helsinki District Court and Court of Appeal is alarming," he said.

"Dragging people through the courts for years, subjecting them to hour-long police interrogations, and wasting taxpayer money in order to police people's deeply held beliefs has no place in a democratic society.

"As is so often the case in 'hate speech' trials, the process has become of the punishment."



Originally published by Christian Today
On Jan. 15, 2024, former U.S. President Donald Trump cruised to a record-setting win in the Republican Iowa caucuses. The victory was a first step toward his potential reelection, in which, if selected as the party's nominee, he would face off against the Democratic incumbent, U.S. President Joe Biden, in a repeat of the 2020 election.

On the evening of the caucuses, just as Trump was giving his victory speech in Des Moines, a user on X posted the claim that half of the participants had voted "against" him.

For example, X user Victor Shi posted that "half of caucus goers voted against [Trump]." Shi is the strategy director for the youth-led politics and government organization Voters of Tomorrow. He also was the youngest delegate for then-U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, according to Politico.com.

Another user, @DogginTrump, who showed the display name of "WTFGOP," claimed, "I think the real story tonight is Trump only got 52,000 votes and the other candidates got a total of 49,000. He can't win with these numbers."

Here are the facts: According to The New York Times, with more than 95 percent of the numbers in from the Iowa caucuses, Trump received 56,260 votes. His votes accounted for about 51 percent of the total votes cast.

Meanwhile, the remaining 54,038 votes (roughly 49 percent) were cast for other candidates. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis placed second with 23,420 votes, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley brought in 21,085 votes and the additional 9,533 votes were mostly cast for entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Shi's post claimed that half of caucus-goers therefore voted "against" Trump. While it's true that just under half of the votes were cast for candidates other than Trump, semantically, that is not necessarily the same thing as saying all of the 54,038 voters who chose other candidates cast their votes against Trump. There simply isn't data to support that conclusion.

Further, in @DogginTrump's post, the user said that Trump "can't win" given the way that the votes were split. To put this theory to the test with the best available data, we turned to the year 2016  the same year Trump ultimately won the U.S. presidential election.

In the 2016 Republican Iowa caucuses, 186,874 total votes were cast. The caucuses that year were spared a winter snowstorm that began just hours after votes were done being cast.

Meanwhile, the year 2024 saw a lower turnout of 110,298 total voters. Caucus-goers who cast their votes braved both snow and cold temperatures.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz won the 2016 caucuses with 51,666 votes. Trump placed second with 45,427 votes. Compare Trump's tally from 2016 to his 56,260 votes eight years later and 2024 begins to look like a "commanding" win  a term used in reporting from The Associated Press. At the same time, however, it's possible that the lower total voter turnout for the 2024 caucuses could be somewhat of a concerning data point for the Republican frontrunner  cold weather factored in or not.

Basically, as of January 2024, no matter how much data is studied, it's way too early to predict how the November election will end.

For more information, we recommend our reporting about a false rumor that was featured in the same post from Shi that claimed Trump's win in the 2024 Iowa caucuses was the smallest margin of victory of any GOP candidate in history.

Sources:

Iowa Caucus Election Results 2016. The New York Times, 29 Sept. 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/primaries/iowa.

Iowa Caucus Results. The New York Times, 15 Jan. 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/15/us/elections/results-iowa-caucus.html.

Iowa Republican Caucus Results 2020. The New York Times, 3 Feb. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/02/03/us/elections/results-iowa-caucus-republicans.html.

Lerer, Lisa, et al. 5 Takeaways From Trumps Runaway Victory in the Iowa Caucuses. The New York Times, 16 Jan. 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/16/us/politics/iowa-caucus-takeaways.html.

Liles, Jordan. Was Trumps Margin of Victory in 2024 Iowa Caucuses the Smallest of Any GOP Candidate in History? Snopes, 16 Jan. 2024, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/donald-trump-iowa-caucus/.

Peoples, Steve, et al. Trump Notches a Commanding Win in the Iowa Caucuses as DeSantis Edges Haley for Second Place. The Associated Press, 15 Jan. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucus-haley-desantis-cold-voting-begins-0af10f1ba21d488af54776b2c8d4028c.

Rappeport, Alan. Weather Unlikely to Affect Caucus Turnout. The New York Times Politics and Washington, 1 Feb. 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/live/iowa-caucus-2016-election/weather-unlikely-to-affect-caucus-turnout/.

Ukenye, Lawrence, et al. Meet Bidens Gen Z Hype Man. POLITICO, 17 Aug. 2023, https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2023/08/17/meet-bidens-gen-z-hype-man-00111724.
A purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo named Bobi was crowned as the worlds oldest dog by the Guinness Book of World Records in October, 2023, when he passed away at the age of 31 years and 165 days. Prior to Bobis death, the oldest dog on record was an Australian hound named Bluey, who died at the age of 29 in the year 1939.

The life expectancy of a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo is approximately 12 to 14 years old.

However, some experts have now cast doubt on Bobis age. Not a single one of my veterinary colleagues believe Bobi was actually 31 years old, Danny Chambers, a veterinarian and council member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, told The Guardian.

An investigation by Wired in December stated that Bobi had only been formally registered in the Portuguese governments database for cats, dogs, and other pets in July 2022. The dogs owner, Leonel Costa, registered the dog as having been born in 1992, but there has been no proof other than the owners word. Portuguese law did not require dogs born prior to 2008 to be registered until October 2020.

Additionally, in pictures, many veterinarians noticed that Bobi seemed overweight, as well, which makes it even less likely that Bobi could be that old.

Even among humans it doesnt really happen that people with extra weight can survive for that long, Eniko Kubinyi, a dog longevity expert at Eotvos Lorand University in Hungary, told Wired.

As a result of the doubts, the Guinness Book of World Records has announced that it will investigate the matter, and has suspended the title in the meantime.

While our review is ongoing we have decided to temporarily pause both the record titles for oldest dog living and ever just until all of our findings are in place, Guinness World Records told The Associated Press via email on Tuesday.

Costa, Bobis owner, defended his dogs title, and said that the veterinary world has conspired against him because he fed his pet human food instead of dog food. An elite within the veterinary world tried to give people the idea that Bobi's life story was not true," Costa said in a statement on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, in an email to the Associated Press, Costa said that Guinness World Records had spent a year verifying Bobis age and that he had made no money from the title.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Noon Friday, Jan. 19, is the deadline to appear in next weeks Around Town listing. We must receive your event in writing with a contact phone number for questions. Submissions will be edited and appear in the week before the event date.

Send event info via email to lifestyle@bnd.com. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.

Wednesday, Jan. 17

 St. Louis Blues Blood Drive  Noon to 6 p.m. American Legion Post 365, 1022 Vandalia, Collinsville, and Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton. Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code BLUES, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. Missouri locations also available. Donors will receive a free Blues Blood Drive T-shirt while supplies last.

Friday, Jan. 19





 Aviston Legion Fish Fry  4:30-7 p.m. American Legion Post 1239, 601 S. Clinton, Aviston. Cod (baked or fried), catfish, shrimp, hush puppies, chicken strips, fries, baked potato, slaw, applesauce. Dine-in and carryout. 618-228-7311 or avistonlegion.com.

Saturday, Jan. 20

 Saint Louis Zoo Job Fair  9 a.m. to noon. The Living World, North Entrance, Saint Louis Zoo, One Government Drive, St. Louis. The Zoo is seeking applicants with immediate availability starting as early as the beginning of March. Energetic, responsible and service-oriented individuals with day and night availability are needed for part-time positions, including catering and food service personnel, attraction operators, education interpreters, security beats, retail and parking lot attendants and more. Dress for the fair is business casual. All successful candidates will be required to submit to a criminal background check and a drug test. For more information, call 314-646-4683 or visit stlzoo.org/employment.

 Tri-Township Library Book Sale  9 a.m. to noon. Tri-Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. Book donations accepted during the book sale and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays. During inclement weather, call the Library at 618-667-2133 after 9 a.m. to see if the sale is canceled. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Sunday, Jan. 21

 Germantown Fire Department annual Breakfast  8-11:30 a.m. Germantown American Legion, 1105 Sycamore St., Germantown. Dine in or drive-thru carryout. Serving pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits & gravy, cornbread, potatoes, plus juice, coffee and milk. Proceeds benefit GFD Fire Cadets and The Backstoppers.

 KC Sunday Dance featuring Dave Hylla & The Good Times Band  2-5 p.m. Highland Knights of Columbus, 12454 IL-143, Highland. Doors open at 1 p.m. Cash bar and kitchen open for snacks. Admission: $10 per person, children 17 and under free.

Wednesday, Jan. 24

 CNB Bank & Trust Speaker Series  11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Outlet at Edisons Entertainment Complex, 2477 S. State Route 157, Edwardsville. Doors open at 11:15 a.m. Featuring guest speaker Tim Schmidt, founder of DryDock Consulting and Executive Coach. Schmidt provides an engaging talk on the importance of the 7 Fs, Family, Faith, Fitness, Finances, Friends, Fun, and Future, in todays world and shares some compelling stories and illustrations for his audiences. The event includes a buffet lunch and beverages. For tickets and info: theoutletevents.com.

Thursday, Jan. 25

 U.S. Navy Fair Winds  7 p.m. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. U.S. Navy Fair Winds is a versatile woodwind ensemble with a repertoire consisting of a variety of styles including classical, military marches and patriotic compositions. Admission is free; however, tickets are required to attend. mckendree.edu/the_hett

Other area happenings

 Musical Fables with Animation and Film  7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St., St. Louis. Music Director Stephane Deneve leads the SLSO in a feast for the ears and eyes in a program that combines aural and visual art. French animator Gregoire Pont conjures an entire visual world with animation projected during the first SLSO performances of Albert Roussels The Spiders Feast. Sergei Prokofievs Peter and the Wolf is accompanied by the Academy Award-winning short film in a new reimagination of a concert hall staple.

 Prairie Heart Foundation Heart Walk & Education Event  5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. Korte Recreation Center, 1 Nagel Drive, Highland. Get powered up as you and your loved ones walk your way to a healthy heart. This low-impact, high-fun event for all ages includes a variety of activities to fuel your heart-healthy journey, along with prize drawings throughout the morning. Representatives from local HSHS hospitals will be at the event providing health information and education. Register for the walk by Feb. 9 at prairieheart.org/heart-walk.

* * *

(Left to right) HSHS St. Josephs Hospital Highland emergency department RNs Alyson and Colleen; Carol Lowery, team lead; and Patrick Small, emergency department manager, with the telemedicine cart and monitor used by St. Josephs Hospital to help rapidly diagnose stroke patients by connecting with a tele-neurologist for examination. Provided

HSHS St. Josephs Hospital Highland re-designated by IDPH as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital

HSHS St. Josephs Hospital Highland was recently re-designated as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). IDPH identifies hospitals capable of providing emergent stroke care and directs EMS providers to transport possible acute stroke patients to these hospitals.

Patrick Small, emergency department manager, shared, We are proud to have received this re-designation which recognizes that our emergency stroke care policies and procedures are aligned with nationally recognized, evidence-based standards and criteria. Our emergency department is able to immediately, and appropriately, respond to stroke patients when they arrive, Small explained. Having this high-level re-designation reaffirms our commitment to provide exceptional emergency care to area residents.

Outlined criteria to receive the Acute Stroke Ready designation includes developing and adhering to written emergency stroke protocols and the ability, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to provide all the following:

Brain image testing (CT scans)

Blood coagulation studies

Use of Tenecteplase (TNK) medicine to break up or dissolve blood clots (if appropriate)

Additionally, St. Josephs Hospital uses telemedicine to help rapidly diagnose stroke patients. Through this program, a telemedicine cart and monitor stationed in St. Josephs emergency department is used by physicians to allow a tele-neurologist to examine a patient suffering a stroke to help expedite treatment decisions, reduce disability, help avoid unnecessary transfers, and ultimately save lives.

Act FAST

HSHS St. Josephs Hospital Highland joins with the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association in suggesting everyone remember the letters in FAST to spot stroke signs and know when to call 9-1-1.

F - Face drooping : Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?

A - Arm weakness : Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S - Speech difficulty : Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like, The sky is blue. Is the sentence repeated correctly?

T - Time to call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

For more information about HSHS St. Josephs Hospital Highland, visit stjosephshighland.org.
Highland Park and Deerfield joined the growing list of municipalities who have placed regulations on one-way buses dropping off 10 or more passengers.

While the ordinances are generic and apply to all one-way buses, no matter who the passengers are, the regulations come after municipalities around Chicago have experienced an influx of unscheduled buses dropping off groups of migrants at all hours of the day and night.

Since August 2022, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot has sent more than 630 buses and 30,000 migrants to the Chicago area. Buses began arriving in the suburbs of Chicago when the city tightened rules regarding bus drop-offs in mid-December, seeking more coordination and communication about the drop-offs from Texas.

At the recommendation of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, suburban municipalities have started to approve regulations around when and where buses can drop off one-way passengers. The rules also seek advance communication from the bus companies about expected arrival date, times and a manifest of who is on the bus.

The Highland Park City Council and the Deerfield Board of Trustees unanimously approved their respective ordinances Tuesday night. The regulations took effect immediately.

For bus companies that fail to comply with the new regulations, fines will be imposed on the company with the potential for impoundment of the bus.

It is part of Highland Parks values, part of what we stand for, to support the humane care of individuals regardless of their legal status, regardless of where theyve come from, Mayor Nancy Rotering said at a pre-session before the council meeting. Humane care, public health, legal and human-service needs are all part of this process for people who are working to become part of our American culture.

At its Tuesday night meeting, Deerfield Mayor Daniel Shapiro said its the villages primary responsibility to connect the new arrivals with resources and help them get to Chicago. The ordinance and regulations are in place to accomplish that responsibly, he said.

Someone once said, its never a wrong thing to do something thats right, Shapiro said. The ordinance is intended to make sure those who are seeking asylum or are migrants are not left outside ... but rather are redirected on a bus that goes downtown, where intake services are available to help them.

Highland Park experienced two no-notice bus arrivals in December, according to City Manager Ghida Neukirch.

After the drop-offs, the city coordinated with Lake County Emergency Management to provide the migrants with shelter, food and transportation to the Chicago processing center, where all new arrivals must go for screening and intake services.

My hope is that all regulations that municipalities are enacting force the bus companies and the state of Texas to be more organized and proactive in their planning and communication with us, Neukirch said.

Neukirch emphasized the ordinance is to protect those who are on the buses from being dropped off during evening hours, and basically abandoned in suburban areas. With advanced communication, the city can properly prepare to welcome the migrants and provide them with proper resources before going to the Chicago intake center.

In recent weeks, groups of migrants were dropped off in the early hours of the morning at a Metra station in Elk Grove Village. In Kankakee, a group was dropped off at a gas station on the side of the highway.

To notify the bus companies of the new rules, Neukirch drafted a letter to Abbott to inform him of the regulations. The city manager is also planning to notify a list of charter bus companies in Texas and Chicago of the regulations.

After the two no-notice buses in December, Neukirch began coordinating with local volunteer organizations, such as the Rotary Club and Service and Learning Together (SaLT), to collect donations for welcome packages for the new migrants.

The goal is to give a Take Care package to each person who arrives from the Southern Border. Care packages will have books in Spanish and English, winter clothes, first-aid items, personal hygiene products and snacks.

Donations for the welcome packages really kicked off during the citys Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday. Neukirch said there was great community support through monetary and item donations.

After the care packages are assembled, the city plans to keep about 100 packages locally for buses that might arrive in the future. The rest of the packages will be sent to the Chicago migrant processing center.

chilles@chicagotribune.com
A 30-year-old hiker plunged 30 feet to his death below a Hawaii waterfall, police said.

Matthew Wu, of New York, fell at about 11:45 a.m Jan. 14 from the Hanakapiai Falls Trail on Kauai, the local police department said in a news release.

Wus body was found and recovered below the 300-foot waterfall, police said. An autopsy will be conducted.

The Kauai Police Department would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Wu, Acting Captain Kennison Nagahisa said in the release.

Hanakapiai Falls Trail is a 7.7-mile out-and-back hike with an elevation gain of 2,480 feet, according to AllTrails.

The hike takes nearly five hours and is described as being for experienced adventurers, the outdoor app said.

The trek up to the falls is rugged and slippery, according to AllTrails. Hikers should avoid this trail after it has rained.

Barking dog found near Hawaii trail helps rescuers find missing hiker, officials say

Family concerned after 71-year-old seen sailing near CA island goes missing, cops say

Hikers run out of food, water as phones die 11,000 feet up volcano, Hawaii rangers say
Two hikers got lost 11,000 feet up a freezing volcano in Hawaii without food or water, rangers say.

They were trapped there overnight in a severe winter storm that closed the peak of Mauna Loa  the largest active volcano in the world  above 10,000 feet, the National Park Service said in a news release.

The pair called 911 for help the morning of Sunday, Jan. 14, reporting that they were out of food and water, stuck in the windy, freezing weather  and their phones were dying, rangers said in the release.

A search-and-rescue ranger from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park flew with a helicopter pilot and found the couple around 11,000 feet on the remote slopes of Mauna Loa, rangers said. They landed so the ranger could check on the hikers, but the high elevation and dangerous gusting winds made it too risky for them to fly off the volcano in the helicopter.

The ranger gave the hikers food, water and a satellite phone and told them to hike to the nearest shelter and then hike out on their own, officials said.

Then just after sunset, the hikers texted the ranger that they had lost the trail near 10,300 feet in the foul weather.

The pilot wasnt able to fly the helicopter safely in the dark and stormy conditions, so rescuers flew up again on Monday morning and extracted the hikers one at a time, officials said.

The couple had hiked out with two others from Oahu, but their companions became separated from them on the grueling hike up to the closed summit area, officials said. They hiked back out on their own.

The extremely grueling, rocky and steep 10.2-mile hike is not for everyone, the National Park Service says of the Mauna Loa trek. Hikers are urged to be prepared and know their limits.

All four hikers were cited for hiking the volcano without a permit, officials said.

The search-and-rescue mission could have been prevented if the hikers had followed explicit directions to check in and pick up their permit from the parks backcountry office, Jack Corrao, the parks chief ranger, said in the release.

The park closed the summit of Mauna Loa and canceled all high-elevation backcountry permits on January 9 due to severe winter weather, and we immediately posted a closure alert on our website and social media outlets. Their actions put themselves, the pilot and our ranger at great and unnecessary risk.

What to do if you get lost while hiking

If you think youre getting lost, experts say its best to stop where you are and not panic. You should go over how you got to that point and if youre able to see any landmarks around.

Do not move at all until you have a specific reason to take a step, officials with the U.S. Forest Service said.

You should come up with a plan but stay put unless you are very, very confident in the route.

There are steps hikers can take to avoid getting lost and be better prepared for the unexpected:

Have more than enough food and water with you.

Take a compass that you know how to use, or have a GPS device on hand.

Dont rely solely on your cell phone. It probably wont work because of a lack of signal or a depleted battery.

Study the terrain and your route, and you should know how youll return.

Have the right clothing. Sturdy hiking boots and layers can help you be prepared for rapidly changing weather.

Pack a blanket, flashlight and matches.

Check with a local ranger for special warnings. They can tell you about fires in the area, bear sightings, flooding, trail or road closures.

Barking dog found near Hawaii trail helps rescuers find missing hiker, officials say

Hiker vanishes for hours, then friends discover body on trail, Hawaii officials say

Hiker missing for days is found after family calls for help on Facebook, rescuers say
The Hills Brooke Migdon was nominated by LGBTQ media watchdog GLAAD for outstanding online journalism article, with her deep dive into threats surrounding the LGBTQ community: Pride Month feels different as threats, fear of violence grows.

The GLAAD Media Awards honor outlets for fair, accurate and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues.

Migdon was named alongside journalists from The Associated Press, NBC News, Huff Post, Yahoo News, Teen Vogue and others.

Migdon covers news about LGBTQ politics and policy for The Hill. She previously reported on the U.S. economy and labor market for Market News International. She received her bachelors degree from The George Washington University, where she studied criminal justice and journalism.

Nominees for the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards reflect work published, released, or broadcast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023. This year, the organization announced 310 nominees across 33 categories.

The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held this year in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday, March 14, and in New York City at the Hilton Midtown on Saturday, May 11.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Large numbers of churches were closed last year, with only four of Algerias 47 official Protestant congregations continuing and at least 10,000 churches shut down in China, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Among other significant findings, seven times more church buildings and other Christian properties came under attack last year than in 2022, according to the WWL report released on Wednesday (Jan. 17)  14,766, up from 2,110 the prior period. The WWL reporting period was from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023.

The number of attacks on churches and Christian-run schools, hospitals and cemeteries has exploded in 2023, the report stated. Its been driven by mob violence in India, church closures in China, and attacks in Nigeria, Nicaragua and Ethiopia.

While violence against believers remained rare in China, church closures and raids continued to happen, with pressure across all parts of life steadily rising, the report stated. This year, the government passed regulations requiring churches to post signs that read, Love the Communist Party; Love the country; Love the religion.

More than twice as many Christians were forced to flee their homes compared with the previous year as war, as religious extremism, political instability and natural disasters hit them in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the report.

As in last years list, North Korea was the most dangerous place in the world for Christians.

Being discovered as a follower of Jesus is effectively a death sentence, the report stated. In 2023, the country strengthened its border with China so its now harder for Christians to flee and harder for support to reach them.

Among the countries where conditions worsened was Algeria, which moved up four places on the list to No. 15.

State pressure on Protestant Christians has increased to a level not seen in years, the report stated. While recent years have witnessed multiple church closures (and those churches have remained closed), the tactics seemed to change. Instead of officially sealing church buildings as in recent years, the government began threatening church leaders with prosecution if their churches did not cease meeting.

Some churches stopped meeting out of fear of the Algerian government crackdown, and several Christians received suspended prison sentences. Islamic extremist teachers exert influence over state authorities, leading to Christians, especially converts from Islam, suffering persecution from their families and communities as well from government officials.

Other countries making notable jumps were Nicaragua from No. 50 to No. 30, owing in large part to official hostility toward churches, and Oman from No. 47 to No. 31, with reasons withheld for security reasons.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place to follow Christ, accounting for 82 percent of the 4,998 Christians murdered for their faith in 2023. More than 4,100 Christians were killed in Nigeria, which remained at No. 6 on the list.

Sub-Saharan Africa remained the epicenter of both Christian growth and persecution, said Open Doors US CEO Ryan Brown.

Its heartbreaking to hear about what our brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing in Nigeria and other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, Brown said. Most of us cant imagine what its like to live in fear for our very lives because of our faith in Christ, but what a testimony these faithful believers are to the rest of us.

Throughout the world, 13 Christians a day lost their lives for their faith, according to the WWL report.

In total, 365 million Christians live in nations with high levels of persecution or discrimination (up from 360 million in the prior reporting period)  one in seven worldwide. That includes one in five in Africa, two in five in Asia and one in 16 in Latin America, according to the report.

All 50 of the countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian scored very high persecution levels on Open Doors rating system  as did seven others that fell outside the top 50.

Laos made a large jump for the worse, from No. 31 in 2023 to No. 21 on this years list.

This is largely due to a sharp rise in violence, the report stated. After many years without any Christians being killed for their faith, four were killed during the period analyzed. This has had a chilling effect on the wider church (for example, pastors deciding not to travel alone for ministry engagements, but in pairs), which in turn increased the pressure faced by believers in all spheres of life.

Among the top 10, Somalia remained at No. 2. Libya went from No. 5 last year to third in 2024, replacing Yemen, which ended at No. 5. Somalia remained at No. 2 and Eritrea at No. 4, while Sudan went from 10th in last years list to No. 8 this year. Iran went from No. 8 to No. 9, and Afghanistan went from No. 9 to No. 10 in this years ranking. India remained at No. 11.

In terms of where Christians face most violence, Nigeria led the list followed by Pakistan and India. Attacks on Christian homes in India doubled to 180, and deaths were nine times higher at 160. Significantly, assaults on churches and Christian schools in India spiked to 2,228 from 67 the previous period.

AfterChina and Indias high number of attacks on or closures of churches and other Christian properties was Nigeria with 750.



While Nigeria again led the world in the number of Christians killed, the country with the second highest number was the Democratic Republic of Congo with 261, followed by India with the aforementioned 160. Uganda, which at 70th place did not make the top 50, was next with 55 recorded killings, followed by Myanmar with 34, Burkina Faso with 31, Cameroon with 24, the Central African Republic with 23 and Colombia with 16.

The nearly 5,000 deaths worldwide represented a drop of more than 600 from the previous reporting period in Open Doors conservative estimates. Still, the decrease of 11 percent remained the third highest since the 2016 tally of 7,106 deaths.

Overall, Christians beaten or threatened increased from 29,411 reported cases in the prior period to 42,849. Attacks on Christian homes rose 371 percent, from 4,547 to 21,431. Christians forced out of their home or into hiding more than doubled, from 124,310 to 278,716.

As Christian persecution rises to the most significant levels in history, theres an opportunity for us as believers to come alongside and support our brothers and sisters in Christ as they are enduring persecution for the sake of the gospel, Brown of Open Doors US said.
Writer E. Jean Carroll's second trial against Donald Trump kicked off on Tuesday morning, with her lawyers imploring jurors to hit the former president with financial damages for continuing to defame her, per Business Insider.

Trump, who was ordered to pay Carroll $5 million after being found liable of sexually abusing and defaming her in May, has continued to deny the longtime columnist's allegations that he assaulted her in a department store dressing room in New York in the 1990s. "Can you believe I have to defend myself against this woman's fake story?!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday. The ex-president also doubled down on previous assertions that the case is a "hoax" and a "witch-hunt," language he has used to describe some of his indictments.

In his opening statement on Tuesday, Carroll's attorney Shawn Crowley asked jurors to hit Trump with monetary fines for persistently speaking ill of Carroll.

"How much money will it take to make him stop?" she told jurors. "Because he hasn't stopped. Ms. Carroll had taken on the most powerful man on Earth, and she won. And even that didn't stop him."

Business Insider reported that by the time Crowley delivered her opening statement, Trump's Truth Social account had posted about Carroll 22 times.

"It's time to make him pay dearly for what he's done," Crowley said. "Make him pay enough to finally stop him."

Crowley observed how Trump, while sitting in the Manhattan courtroom, "posted more defamatory statements. More lies about Ms. Carroll... Think about that when you consider how much money it will take to get him to stop."

NYU law professor and MSNBC contributor Andrew Weissmann argued that Trump's proclivity to fire off posts about Carroll may not bode well for him legally, alluding to former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani being ordered to shell out nearly $150 million to election workers in Georgia. "Trump's social media posts may play outside the courtroom," Weissmann tweeted, "but inside they may be as deadly to him as Rudy's comments were to him in the Freeman/Moss defamation case."

MAGA attorney Alina Habba responded by alleging the ex-president's posts about Carroll were in fact a boon for her career. "Her career has prospered, and she has been thrust back into the limelight, as she always wanted," Habba said. "She went on talk shows. She did interviews. She has gained more fame, more notoriety." Habba added that Carroll now wants to collect more money from Trump because "some people online said something mean to her." The writer "doesn't need to repair her reputation," Habba continued. "She likes her new brand" as an "anti-Trump figure."
On Thursday, U.S. and British forces carried out air raids on targets throughout Yemen, hoping to damage the Ansar Allah militia, otherwise known as the Houthis. The strikes were retaliation for attacks on unarmed ships in the Red Sea, as well as U.S. naval vessels, that have crippled global shipping.

History suggests that the strikes are a mistake. They continue a pattern of the world misunderstanding and underestimating the Houthis. These militiamen have overcome significant geographical and technological hurdles to establish control over the Yemeni highlands, while striking Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to the point that they were willing to negotiate. The strikes also ignore a long pattern of outside powers trying, and failing, to achieve military objectives in Yemen.

Air strikes may hurt the Houthis militarily in the short term. Yet, they will hand them a political victory, elevating their status in the Arab world for having expressed solidarity with Hamas and Palestinians, when most Arab states have failed to do so.

For most of its history, Yemens mountainous northern region was a monarchy ruled by a Zaydia branch of Shia Islamimam. The monarchy nominally controlled Southern Yemen, but tribes exercised de facto rule. After the British secured the port of Aden in 1839, they signed strategic agreements with surrounding tribes, enabling the British to have de facto control of South Yemen.

In September 1962, a group of military officers seized power in the capital Sana and proclaimed the north of Yemen a republic. Egypts president, Gamal Abdel-Nasserwho also had launched a coup and established a republichailed the new regime and sent an Egyptian force to aid it in the battle against monarchist tribesmen in the mountains, ready to fight for their imam.

Read More: Who Are the Houthi Rebels? Red Sea Attacks Result in U.S. and U.K. Strikes on Yemen

Yemens first civil war turned into a five-year struggle between conservative Saudi Arabia and revolutionary Egypt, who were battling for regional dominance. Though a puritanical Sunni theocracy, Saudi Arabia allied itself with the Shia Yemeni monarchy to fight against the secularist republican forces aligned with Nassers Egypt. Geopolitical calculations trumped any sectarian differences.

In 1967, Egypt lost the Six-Day War, costing it control over Gaza, in part because its best troops were fighting in Yemens civil war. The defeat prompted Nasser to pull his troops from Yemen. That meant that while the republican side held onto the capital of Sanaa, the northern hinterland remained dominated by the Zaydis.

The British also withdrew from Yemen in 1967, leading to the creation of the independent Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen in South Yementhe Arab worlds sole Marxist state.

Things remained static until 1990, when the USSR collapsed and South Yemen lost its Cold War patron. This prompted the north and south to join together to form the Republic of Yemen. Ali Abdallah Saleh, a field marshal in the Yemeni army, and a leader in North Yemen, became president. Saleh was a Zaydi, but he projected himself as a nationalist president rather than declaring loyalty to one religious sect, and the Zaydis in the north were marginalized.

Even so, tensions quickly erupted because the former Marxists believed the north was monopolizing power. In 1994, a second civil war broke out. Once again, Saudi Arabia intervened, this time hoping to boost the south to victory. As in the first civil war, the Saudis cared little about ideology. Instead, they supported the side whose victory would be most likely to ensure a divided Yemen to prevent it from becoming a regional rival.

The north ultimately prevailed, however, keeping the new country together.

Prior to the civil war in 1994, a puritanical Salafi form of Islam with roots in Saudi Arabia had begun emerging in north Yemen. In response, the Houthi movement arose among students, seeking to promote Zaydism, drawing its name from their leader, Hussein al-Houthi. The student-driven Houthis soon developed into a political party with members in parliament.

In 2004 the Houthis launched anti-government protests after President Saleh allowed the U.S. to conduct drone strikes on Yemeni territory. The strikes targeted Al Qaeda, but resulted in numerous civilian fatalities.

Saleh responded by moving to curtail Houthi power. He deployed military forces to crush the Houthis and ordered the assassination of al-Houthi. Despite the loss of their leader, the Houthis armed themselves and fought back. By 2010, the third Yemeni civil war was over, and the Houthis had survived.

What began as a student movement had evolved into a seasoned militia strong enough to counter the governments military campaign. Whats more, the Houthis began gaining support from other factions opposed to Saleh. In 2011, they allied with Sunni protesters revolting during the Arab Spring.

Saleh eventually resigned in 2012. His former vice president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, replaced him. Yet, Hadi proved ineffective at unifying factions, because he excluded the Houthis from any meaningful government positions. As a result, the Houthi military, which had grown stronger, seized the capital, and forced Hadi from power.

Continuing the long pattern, outside powers interjected themselves into the Yemeni conflict. In 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with U.S. assistance, launched an intense air campaign against the Houthis to restore Hadis rule. In response, in 2016, the Houthis fired missiles at an American destroyer off the coast of Yemen.

Read More: How Biden Can Stop Houthi Missile AttacksWithout Risking War

The U.S. struck back, destroying three Houthi radar sites on the Red Sea coast. That deterred the Houthis from taking further action against American targets.

But over the next few years, Iranseeking to outflank Saudi Arabiastepped up its support for the Houthis, including providing more advanced missile and drone equipment. With Iranian help, the Houthis made great strides in drone technology, which enabled them to routinely strike targets in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This sent the clear message that countries interfering in the Yemeni civil war were not invulnerable to retaliation.

Indeed, the Houthis staged increasingly aggressive drone maneuvers in Saudi Arabiastriking a Saudi Aramco oil refinery, taking photos of a critical water treatment plant to show the Houthis could reach it, and more. And since then, the Houthis have used satellite technology, 3D printing, GPS, and sophisticated coordination among imagery analysts, uplink engineers, mechanics, and pilot crews to stage ever more audacious and successful drone strikes.

The persistent drone attacks were one key reason Saudi Arabia and the UAE extricated themselves from the Yemen conflict in 2022. They concluded that the Houthi strength and mounting military costs, among other factors, made attempts to meddle in Yemeni affairs futile.

Now, in protest against the Israeli war on Hamas, the Houthis have brought global shipping to its knees thanks to their mastery of drone technology. Their most complex attack to date occurred on Jan. 9, when they launched 18 drones, two cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile, intercepted by U.S. and U.K. forces.

Two days later, those nations responded with airstrikes against Houthi targets.

Yet, despite vastly superior air forces and military technology, history suggests that the U.S. and the U.K. wont be able to crush the Houthis. Saudi Arabias air force tried and failed. And, although American strikes in 2016 forced the Houthis to retreat for a time, the group now has dramatically better weaponry and drone technology. The Houthis are battle-tested after decades of military conflict. And history is littered with failed military campaigns to topple the Zaydi in Yemena clear warning to the West.

Attacking the Houthis is also likely to extend their popularity in the Arab world, strengthen their presence in Yemen during an uneasy cease-fire with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, as well as boosting their sponsor, Iran. As Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two American allies, seek to withdraw from Yemen, the U.S. has made this task even more difficult, as the Houthis are now more emboldened and more popular, allowing them to dictate terms to the two Arab regional powers.

While it makes sense for the Western powers to want to keep the Red Sea open to shipping, Yemeni history indicates that taking military action against the Houthis wont deter them, and indeed, might create new problems down the line.

Ibrahim Al-Marashi is associate professor of history at California State University San Marcos and co-author of A Concise History of the Middle East, 12th edition. Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here.

Write to Made by History at madebyhistory@time.com.
On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson met with President Joe Biden along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss a proposed bill to provide security spending for Israel and Ukraine, among other aspects of national security.

To recap, the president and Democrats have bent as much as they could to pass a supplemental spending bill. But as The Independent reported early last year, Republicans were always going to oppose providing more aid to Ukraine. As a result, Republicans have demanded that any spending to support Ukraine be tied to provisions restricting immigration, which they have billed as border security.

But now, Mr Johnson is facing criticism from his fellow House Republicans, and the negotiations with the president and fellow congressional leaders could threaten his speakership.

House Republicans unanimously picked Mr Johnson after Rep Matt Gaetz led an effort to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker and Republicans cycled through multiple nominees. But Mr Johnson, a political newcomer only elected in 2016, did not have much experience as a congressional leader.

Most Republicans gave him a mulligan when he needed to pass a stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown late last year, blaming Mr McCarthy for not keeping the House on schedule to pass 12 individual spending bills.

Ukraine is different though. Much of the House Republican conference viscerally hates supporting Ukraine. Restrictions to immigration are the only type of sugar that would allow them to swallow the medicine of Ukraine spending. Furthermore, most House Republicans have shown an aversion to supporting a potential Ukraine-immigration deal that a bipartisan group of senators is brokering, despite the fact there is no final agreement.

Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, the right-wing conspiracist from Georgia, told The Independent that she would file a motion to vacate against Mr Johnson if any spending went to Ukraine.

The wars basically lost, Ms Greene said, saying that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for peace talks. It would be like continuing murdering a bunch of people at this point.

Rep Eli Crane of Arizona  one of the eight Republicans who voted to remove Mr McCarthy  for his part said he worried that Mr Johnson would cave to the Democrats.

We're gonna I think we're gonna continue to spend way too much money that we don't even have, he said. In return, we're not going to get a secure southern border.

Of course, this anger from conservatives is incredibly self-serving and only seeks to increase their own brands since it gives conservative voters grandiose expectations that somehow, Mr Johnson could somehow get a staunchly conservative wishlist bill on immigration when Republicans only have one half of one chamber of Congress while Democrats control the Senate and the White House.

House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole told The Independent that conservatives needed to realise that Republicans also only have a razor-thin majority given the number of resignations and absences on any given day.

I'm sorry, with a majority like this there's a limit to what you can do, he said. Mr Cole also shot down the idea. Mr Cole, a veteran lawmaker who resembles the olden days where members could hash out legislation in a smoke-filled room (the scent of cigars on which he likes to chomp often wafts through the doors of his office) understands how legislation is passed.

But some freshman lawmakers like Rep Cory Mills of Florida, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, seem to understand Republicans will not get everything they want are giving Mr Johnson the benefit of the doubt.

I know that he's put into a very difficult position because he's sitting there with a Democrat president, a Democrat, Senator, Chuck Schumer, and another Democrat, Senator Mitch McConnell, he told The Independent, he said despite the fact Mr McConnell takes joy in obstructing Democrats. So he's the only conservative in there who understands that we can't link the border security and American security to foreign security. And so I think that he's going to hold the line on that.

But Johnson still has to grapple with the fact the slim margins within his Republican conference and his opponents only need a handful of Republicans to make him suffer the same fate.

At the same time, he cannot risk allowing American leadership on the international stage to falter, or else he alone will share the blame if Ukraine falls to Russia. Talk about the end to a honeymoon phase.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 19-year-old man was arrested and charged with reckless driving and evading arrest/detention in a motor vehicle after fleeing police trying to conduct a traffic stop, and crashing into a rock wall Tuesday morning, Jan. 16 in Horizon City.

At 11:26 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, an officer with the Horizon City Police Department, who was conducting traffic enforcement on Eastlake Boulevard, observed two vehicle driving at a high rate of speed, both over 100 mph.

Horizon City Police says the unit attempted to conduct a traffic stop on both vehicles at which point they began evading the officer by swerving in and out of lanes and running a red light at the intersection of Eastlake and Darrington.

The officer disregarded the vehicles due to the reckless driving but observed the direction of travel on one of the vehicles.

Assisting officers checked the area of where the vehicle was last seen and discovered it had crashed into a wall at 600 Emerald Sands in El Paso. A witness state seeing the driver, Ramon Garcia Gomez, 19, lose control and crash into a rock wall, according to Horizon City Police

Officers were unable to locate the second vehicle, which Horizon Police are describing as a black Chevrolet Camaro.

Gomez was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility and charged with reckless driving with a $1,000 bond and evading arrest/detention in a motor vehicle with a $10,000 bond.

Additionally, Gomez posted bond the same day Tuesday, Jan. 16 and has been released, according to jail records.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Medicines could soon be on their way to Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip under a Qatar-mediated deal that also provides for more aid to Palestinians in the territory.

Two planes carrying food and medicine from Qatar and France landed in the Egyptian coastal town of al-Arish on Wednesday, a representative of the Egyptian Red Crescent said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said earlier that that medicine from France would be flown to Egypt on board two Qatari military aircraft. From there, they will be transported to Gaza.

Broadcaster Al Jazeera, citing the French Foreign Ministry, reported that 45 hostages were to receive three months' worth of medication for the treatment of their chronic illnesses.

An Israeli government spokesman has said that a third of the remaining 132 hostages suffered from chronic medical conditions.

Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior political leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, wrote on social media that Hamas had set several conditions before agreeing to the Qatar-brokered deal.

He said Hamas demanded that for every box of medicine intended for the hostages, a thousand boxes of medicine be delivered to benefit Palestinian civilians in the devastated Gaza Strip.

A further condition is that Israel's army does not inspect the medicine deliveries.

But the Israeli COGAT authority, which is responsible for contacts with the Palestinians and humanitarian aid, will go ahead an inspect the shipments, which are to be transported via several lorries, reported the Times of Israel.

Israeli media had previously speculated as to whether the deliveries would be inspected or not.

As a matter of course, Israel insists on inspecting all aid shipments before they are brought to Gaza, as there are fears that weapons could be smuggled in.

The supply of chronically ill hostages with necessary medication had been under negotiation for weeks. Al Jazeera reported Hamas feared that the medical aid could be prepared in such a way that it could be tracked and Israel could find out where the hostages are.

According to Israeli government figures, 253 people were abducted in the Gaza Strip during the raid and massacre by the Hamas and other Palestinian militants on Israel on October 7. Currently, 132 people are still being held. Israel believes 27 of them are no longer alive.

In southern Gaza, a field hospital set up by Jordan to treat the wounded has been severely damaged by Israeli fire, according to the Jordanian army.

One member of staff and a man being treated in the intensive care unit at the hospital in Khan Younis were injured, the Jordanian army said.

Israel bears "full responsibility for the safety of the hospital staff," it added.

The total number of people killed in Gaza since the start of the war has risen to 24,448, the the Hamas-run health authority said on Wednesday, adding that 61,504 people have been injured.

Gaza's telecommunications services were down for the sixth day in a row. It is the longest-running disruption since the war's start, the internet monitor NetBlocks said.

Paltel, the communications company based in the West Bank, reported last Friday that all communications and internet services in the were no longer functioning in Gaza. It cited the "ongoing aggression" by Israel as the cause.

More than 100 days after the start of the Gaza war, several Hamas leaders remain in hiding the Gaza Strip despite the intense Israeli military ground and air offensive.

They are believed to be in the huge network of underground tunnels Hamas had dug over the year. The Israeli army's main focus is on Yehya al-Sinwar, who is the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

A Hamas source told dpa in Beirut on Wednesday that Gaza is their land and that the group's senior members have no intention of leaving.

"It's either victory or martyrdom," the source said.

Violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has surged in parallel with war in Gaza.

Israel's army said it has killed the leader of a militant cell in the West Bank which was planning a "large-scale terrorist attack" on Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Abdullah Abu Shalal "was eliminated during a precise airstrike."

Abu Shalal was the head of the "terrorist infrastructure in the Balata [refugee] camp" in Nablus, the IDF said.

Three Palestinians were killed in the Israeli drone attack on the Balata camp, according to the Palestinians.

According to the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, which is close to the Fatah party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the three people killed were members of the armed group.

They mentioned three names, but Abu Shalal's was not among them. His family reportedly denied his death.

The Israeli army said Abu Shalal was responsible for carrying out several attacks over the last year, including a shooting in Jerusalem that left two injured and the bombing attack on the IDF in October in which a soldier was injured

The IDF wrote that the cell was financed and directed by Iranian sources.

Elsewhere in the West Bank, four people were killed in in the town of Tulkarm. The dead were killed in a drone attack, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.

The Israeli army said its forces had been carrying out a "counterterrorism operation" in a refugee camp in the city when shots were fired at officers and explosive devices thrown.

The Israeli force then opened fire and also attacked from the air, resulting in several armed people killed.

It was initially unclear whether the dead belonged to an extremist group.

The army said one military reservist was injured during the operation. The Palestinian Red Crescent said two paramedics were also injured when their ambulance was hit by a drone attack.

Witnesses reported that the Israeli army had completely destroyed the main road in the refugee camp.
Rashid Al Haddad has gone viral on social media after sharing footage of himself aboard hijacked container ships - @comrademika/TikTok

A Yemeni social media influencer dubbed the hot Houthi pirate has told his admirers to stop gushing over his good looks.

Rashid Al Haddad has gone viral on social media after sharing footage of himself aboard hijacked container ships. Online commenters have nicknamed him Timhouthi Chalamet, because of his resemblance to Timothee Chalamet, the American actor.

But he has now asked his tens of thousands of followers to focus their attention on the war in Gaza  not the way he looks.

I didnt talk about beauty or anything else, but our cause is Palestine, and this is not the time to talk about beauty, he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

I hope that my message reaches you, a free Palestine, and we ignite it against the Israeli aggression that violates human rights.

Mr Al Haddad has shared multiple videos of himself and other young men aboard the Bahamian-flagged, Japan-chartered Galaxy Leader container ship, which was first boarded by the Houthis on Nov 19.

The ships 25 crew members remain in captivity, while the Iranian-backed rebels have opened up the vessel for tour groups.

Other men in the videos taken by Mr Al Haddad from on board the ship appear to be filming and taking photos, having approached it on a small wooden skiff.

Photo from a tweet in which Rashid Al Haddad is dubbed the hot Houthi pirate - Twitter/X

They are part of a wider phenomenon of documenting the Red Sea conflict online, where Houthi pirates have routinely posted videos of their raids on the Telegram messaging app and Yemeni politicians and military leaders share their speeches on social media platforms.

Britains Royal Navy and the United States navy have showcased their efforts to safeguard shipping lanes in the region, sporadically posting images of sailors responding to missile and drone attacks.

One US captain has even documented his time onboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower by posing with cookies during his downtime.

Mr Al Haddad first posted footage from the vessel on his Instagram on Nov 29 and has since regularly reshared videos from the car carrier.

He has described himself as ready for sacrifice and eager for martyrdom and said the Houthis will bomb all Israeli ships.

Mr Al Haddad has also posed in photos posted on social media which show him wearing brown khaki webbing and others with an AK-47 slung over his shoulder.

Not a genuine Houthi pirate

But he does not appear to be a genuine Houthi pirate and has not shared any footage of the actual hijacking of the Galaxy Leader or from aboard any other vessels.

He describes himself on Threads  Metas rival to X  as a media personality, actor and photographer.

Mr Al Haddad has 27,000 followers on Instagram and 10,000 on X. He has amassed thousands of likes and views on TikTok and Instagram.

Some of his followers have made art depicting him, while one has even set up a fan account on X.

The Houthi pirates have wrought chaos on international shipping in the Red Sea since the war in Gaza began.

Britain and the United States led a series of Western air strikes on their positions in Yemen last week.

Joe Biden said the Houthis endanger freedom of navigation in one of the worlds most vital waterways and the strikes were a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel.

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 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Religious Liberty warns that attacks on churches constitute the largest threat to religious liberty in 2024 and could threaten the very lives of people of faith.

The USCCBs Committee on Religious Liberty released its annual report, titled The State of Religious Liberty in the United States on Tuesday. The document acts as a year in review highlighting developments on issues related to religious liberty such as abortion, human sexuality and immigration across all three branches of government as well as national trends in politics, culture, and law.

The report concluded with a list outlining the five largest threats to religious liberty in 2024 and five ways to respond. The Committee, which works to strengthen and sustain religious freedom by assisting the U.S. bishops, individually and collectively, to teach about religious freedom to the faithful and the broader public, and to promote and defend religious freedom in law and policy, identified attacks on houses of worship as the largest threat to religious liberty in 2024.

Were this threat limited to a continuation of the property crimes, that have been perpetrated on Catholic churches over recent years, perhaps it would not be the committees chief concern, the report stated. However, boiling tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict have elevated the chances of a terrorist attack on a synagogue or mosque.

As the report suggested, Catholic churches have found themselves subject to violence and vandalism following Politicos publication of the leaked draft decision in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which determined that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion. Catholic churches likely became targets of pro-abortion activists outraged by the draft Supreme Court decision due to the Catholic Church's outspoken opposition to abortion.

Churches vandalized in the immediate aftermath of the May 2022 publication of the leaked draft include: Holy Rosary Church in Houston, Texas; St. Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church in Katy, Texas; St. Josephs Priory in Armada, Michigan; St. John XXIII Catholic Parish in Fort Collins, Colorado, and the Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Boulder, Colorado.

While most instances of vandalism involved the spray-painting of graffiti on church facilities, the tabernacle was stolen in one case.

The attacks on Catholic churches continued in the months following the publication of the official Dobbsdecision in June 2022. Targeted churches included Holy Family Catholic Church in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and St. John Neumann Church in Reston, Virginia.

The violence and vandalism directed at houses of worship extends beyond Catholic churches and dates back to before the Dobbs decision. The Family Research Council, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group, published a report last year that found more than 400 churches were attacked between 2018 and 2022. Additional research from the socially conservative think-tank found that 69 churches were attacked in the first three months of 2023.

The Committee warned that the highly charged atmosphere around the 2024 election might lead far-left extremists to escalate the severity of attacks on Catholic churches, and far-right extremists may view Catholic churches and Catholic Charities facilities as targets for anti-immigrant sentiment or, worse, violent action.

The issue of abortion, seen as a motivating factor behind the targeting of Catholic churches, is expected to loom large in the 2024 election.

Voters in several states could find themselves voting on ballot measures seeking to enshrine a right to abortion in state constitutions, including: Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota. Pro-abortion groups have sought to pass such referendums following the Dobbs decision and have seen the ballot questions pass in California, Michigan, Vermont and Ohio.

The states that could vote on similar measures as early as this year all enacted strong pro-life protections in the wake of the Dobbs decision.

Noting that the Committee was founded in response to increasing legal threats that the U.S. bishops discerned at the time, the report cited the obligation to decry foreseeable threats to the very lives of people of faith as unusual: There is no greater threat to religious liberty than for ones house of worship to become a place of danger, and the country sadly finds itself in a place where that danger is real.

The Committee listed the possibility of doctors at Catholic hospitals being forced to perform elective trans procedures on children due to the federal governments interpretation of the Affordable Care Act as the second biggest threat to religious liberty in 2024.

Concerns about federal law possibly restricting the ability of Catholic nonprofits to minister to illegal immigrants, the potential use of federal law to force people to conform to the orthodoxy of gender ideology, and the prospect of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act forcing employers to give their employees paid leave to obtain an abortion rounded out the Religious Liberty Committees list of the five largest threats to religious liberty in 2024.



Originally published by The Christian post
A group of eight employees and two family members are suing the owners of the Sandman Signature hotel along with gas utility company Atmos Energy over an explosion that rocked downtown Fort Worth.

The group claims gross negligence was responsible for the explosion that injured 21 people on Jan. 8. They are looking for redress of their trauma and to get questions answered about what happened, said Matt Greenberg, an attorney with Houston-based Zehl & Associates representing the group.

Some of the plaintiffs have alleged they smelled gas for at least an 90 minutes before the explosion, he said.

This is at least the fourth case filed in Dallas County over the Jan. 8 explosion. A Dallas County court granted a temporary injunction to restaurant worker Jose Mira, 49, to allow his attorneys to investigate the wreckage.

Mira alleged in his lawsuit he reported a strong smell of gas to hotel management before the explosion.

Atmos Energy said in a statement Friday its internal investigation found no evidence its system was responsible for the explosion. The Fort Worth fire department followed with a statement noting representatives of the National Transportation Safety Board were on hand to supervise Atmos investigation.

However, Greenberg said Atmos should make its investigation public to give more transparency into the potential cause of the explosion.

Representatives for Atmos did not directly answer questions from the Star-Telegram asking if the company would release its findings. Instead, the representative reiterated the findings of its own investigation noting it was done in partnership with Fort Worths police and fire departments along with the state Railroad Commission.

When you stay in a hotel, you have a reasonable expectation it wont explode, Greenberg said. Several of his clients face mounting medical bills and mental trauma and are seeking monetary compensation of at least a $1 million.
House Republicans have paused their attempts to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress as they try to schedule the presidents son to appear and testify.

Mr Bidens lawyers and the House Judiciary and Oversight committees have restarted conversations about a date when that might happen, according to Politico.

It comes a week after the Republican-led committees voted to recommend that Mr Biden be held in contempt by the full House for defying a subpoena in the GOP impeachment efforts of his father.

Hunter Biden has offered to testify in public, which has so far been rejected by Republicans, but has refused to take part in any behind-closed-doors hearings.

A spokesperson for the Oversight Committee GOP told Politico that they were working with Mr Bidens lawyers on a date for him to appear.

Negotiations are ongoing this afternoon, and in conjunction with the disruption to member travel and canceling votes, the House Rules Committee isnt considering the contempt resolution today to give the attorneys additional time to reach an agreement, said the spokesperson.

An oversight meeting earlier this month descended into farce when Hunter Biden and his lawyers showed and offered to testify  if it was in public  up just as Republican members were castigating him for not being willing to show up and testify. Mr Biden and his team walked out just as Marjorie Taylor Greene got up to speak.

Republicans have focused on business deals involving Hunter Biden but have so far failed to provide any evidence that Joe Biden did anything as vice president or president to benefit his family through those business dealings. Meanwhile, Democratic members of Congress have published evidence showing that Donald Trumps hotel properties earned more than $7m from foreign governments, mostly from China, during his presidency. Mr Trump has declined to deny those claims. The Republican-led committees have so far refrained from opening investigations into Mr Trump and his familys business dealings during his time in the White House.

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of lying about his drug use in October 2018 on a form to buy a gun.

His lawyers have said that he did not break the law despite struggling with addiction to crack cocaine during the same period of 2018. Mr Biden has since said he has stopped using drugs.

He also pleaded not guilty to federal tax charges in Los Angeles last week, with prosecutors in California alleging he took part in a four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4m in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019.
Even as U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional leaders from both parties are set to meet on Jan. 17, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said that the time is not right for a deal on immigration and border issues that could pave the way for approval of new aid for Ukraine.

Politico reported on Jan. 16 that Biden had called for a bipartisan meeting of top leaders to try and hammer out a deal on border issues, Ukraine aid, and other spending issues. The U.S. has been stuck in internal battles over spending for months, stretching as far back as the ousting of previous Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy in October 2023.

Senate Republicans blocked the approval of $61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine in December, largely over concerns the bill did not contain border security measures.

"I dont think now is the time for comprehensive immigration reform because we know how complicated that is, Johnson said on the morning of Jan. 17.

"We have to secure our own border before we talk about doing anything else," he added, saying that he had already told Biden that he was not ready to make a deal earlier in the day on the phone.

"Im going to tell the president what Im telling all of you, what weve told the American people: border, border, border," Johnson said.

Johnson's other comments on Ukraine indicated that his concerns about the ability for new aid to be passed were not limited to border issues. Republicans have a very slim majority in the House, and some members have said they are categorically opposed to further aid for Ukraine, regardless of compromises on the border and immigration.

The White House is also lacking a strategic plan for the U.S.'s role in Ukraine, Johnson said.

"What is the endgame and the strategy in Ukraine?" he asked. "We need to know that Ukraine will not be another Afghanistan."

Read also: Opinion: What happens if the West abandons Ukraine?





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A new distillery that quietly opened this month near Lancaster is about to make a big splash in Kentucky bourbon.

Were swinging for the fence, said Ray Franklin, founder of Garrard County Distilling Co., a new operation that is the largest all-new independent distillery in the commonwealth.

In my opinion weve caught the golden age of distilling, Franklin said.

His goal was not to open in stages as many new Kentucky distilleries are planning to do, with one column still and then adding another. Instead, he wants to open with full capacity from the beginning to maximize the operation.

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With two 45-foot by 36-inch Vendome column stills, Garrard County Distilling isnt wasting any time ramping up production: The first barrels were filled on Jan. 2.

The $250 million project by Atlanta-based spirits company Staghorn, founded by industry veteran Franklin, already has begun producing its first barrels. The distillery is capable of filling up to 150,000 barrels a year.

The new Garrard County Distilling Co. sits on 210 acres in Lancaster, south of Lexington.

Ties to Prohibition, Carrie Nation

Its a big leap for a Kentucky county with unique ties to Prohibition, which banned sales and manufacturing of spirits from 1920 to 1933.

Garrard County was dry with no alcohol sales allowed until November. Garrard County Distilling is now the first commercial distillery there since the 1800s.

Staghorn sells All Nations Whiskey bourbon and rye, available in markets in Georgia and Kentucky for $70-$90 and coming to more states this year. They also have a Prohibition Reserve blend of rye and bourbon thats about $300 a bottle.

The name is a nod to a poster that hung in many bars during Carrie Nations temperance crusade in the late 1800s: All Nations Welcome Except Carrie.

Garrard County Distilling Co. is owned by Staghorn, which produces All Nations bourbons. The name is a nod to signs that hung in bars saying All Nations Welcome Except Carrie. Anti-alcohol crusader Carrie or Carry Nation was born in Garrard County.

Carrie {or Carry) Nation, a Kentucky native, was born in Garrard County, which earned it the nickname the birthplace of Prohibition. As a member of the Womans Christian Temperance Union in 1900, Nation gained fame as a hatchet-wielding crusader against alcohol, smashing bars in Kansas and Missouri.

Now Franklin has transported and reconstructed her Kentucky birthplace stone by stone to the distillery site. The house had been in disrepair but now travelers to the distillery will be able to visit it.

Scope of new Kentucky distillery

We started building in 2020 and we were able to keep it quiet because of COVID, Franklin said in an interview. We quietly built one of the largest all-new distilleries in the country.

Ray Franklin is the founder and president of Staghorn, which built the new $250 million Garrard County Distilling Co. in Lancaster. Its the largest all-new distillery in Kentucky and the first commercial distillery in formerly dry Garrard County since the 1800s.

Garrard County Distilling Co. is Staghorns first distillery and the dedication and size at which they are entering the category is a true testament to the worldwide appeal of bourbon from our great commonwealth, said Gov. Andy Beshear in a news release. Staghorns investment is a welcome addition to the Lancaster and Garrard County communities, as well as to Kentucky tourism. I want to thank the companys leadership for their vision to grow in the commonwealth, contributing to Kentuckys position as the bourbon capital of the world.

On a 210-acre site about 30 minutes south of Lexington, the project includes a 50,000-square-foot distillery capable of producing up to 8.5 million proof gallons a year, 18 fermenters and three rickhouses, with plans to build up to 24 25,000-barrel warehouses by 2030.

Garrard County Distilling Co. opened this winter in Lancaster with two new column stills and a distilling capacity that makes it the largest all-new distillery. The first barrels were filled on Jan. 2, 2024.

For comparison, thats bigger than the Whiskey House of Kentucky distillery under construction in Elizabethtown and is about the size of a new distillery announced by Heaven Hill in Bardstown, although that one will eventually be three times that size.

The distillery also plans to add a visitor center, tasting room and restaurant by the end of 2024. The distillery will create about 60 jobs, according to a news release.

Garrard County Distilling Co. has joined the Kentucky Distillers Association and plans to apply to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Franklin said they plan to use grain sourced from within 50 miles of the distillery.

Communities across Kentucky have benefited greatly from the recent bourbon boom and now I am pleased to say Garrard County will as well, said Garrard County Judge-Executive Chris Elleman in a statement.

As recently as three months ago, Garrard County was dry, but we were already working cooperatively with the team at Staghorn on this project because we clearly understood the benefits this distillery would bring to Lancaster and the surrounding area, said Lancaster Mayor Michael Gaffney in the release. We see Garrard County Distilling Co. as a real opportunity to not only grow our economy, but to share our central Kentucky heritage with folks from around the world ... over a glass of whiskey, of course.

How Staghorn got started; whats next

Franklin said Shane Baker and Pat Heist, founders of Wilderness Trail Distillery in Danville, were instrumental in helping him get the Garrard County distillery organized.

The first releases of All Nations Whiskey, launched in 2020, were producing using barrels sourced from the Danville distillery that sold in 2022 to Campari for $600 million.

Staghorn has about 17,000 barrels of the original whiskey aging on site that they will continue to use until their own whiskey has aged sufficiently to use, in about four years, with older releases planned as well.

Garrard County Distilling Co. outside Lancaster recently began filling new barrels. The rickhouse also has about 17,000 barrels sourced from another distillery. The distillery plans to build up to 24 rickhouses by 2030.

Besides All Nations Whiskey, Franklin said they will offer contract distilling for other small labels.

Garrard County Distilling Co. was built by Staghorn, which sells All Nations whiskeys including All Nations Bourbon, a reference to anti-alcohol crusader Carrie or Carry Nation, born in Garrard County. The new distillery will make bourbon and other whiskeys including All Nations and new labels to be announced soon.

Franklin said the company plans to announce its head distiller in coming weeks as well as new bourbon and whiskey brands. He said they are producing a high-rye bourbon and will add a wheated one as well as a single-malt.

All Nations wont be our only brand, Franklin said.
NEWS PROVIDED BY

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

Jan. 17, 2024



NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- This is a copy of the letter that Bill Donohue emailed to the president of MSNBC and to the parent company's CEO at Comcast.

January 17, 2024



Ms. Rashida Jones

President, MSNBC

30 Rockefeller Plaza, Bldg. 620

New York, New York 10112



Dear Ms. Jones:

Recent anti-Christian attacks by MSNBC hosts and guests demand a vigorous network response.

On January 16, MSNBC guest Tara Setmayer, representing the Lincoln Project, smeared Christians when she referred to them as a "death cult." She also accused evangelical Christians of being a national liability. "Not only have they failed America, but they've failed Christianity."

On January 15, MSNBC host Joy Reid complained that Iowa has too many "white Christians," saying they are overrepresented "in the caucuses." She attributed to them the conviction that "everyone who is not a white conservative Christian is a fraudulent American, is a less-real American."

If a guest or host on MSNBC said that Muslims are a "death cult," there would be repercussions. If it were said that Jews have failed both America and Judaism, there would be repercussions. If it were said that atheists believe that everyone who is not a non-believer is a fraudulent American, there would be repercussions.

Why have there been no repercussions regarding the anti-Christian remarks made by MSNBC guests and hosts? Bigotry against any demographic group should never be given air time on television.

I would appreciate a response to this serious issue.

Sincerely,

William A. Donohue, Ph.D.

President

cc: Michael J. Cavanagh, President, Comcast
New permanent rules will soon go into effect spelling out how people who own assault weapons and related items that are now heavily regulated in Illinois can register them with the Illinois State Police.

The legislatures Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted along party lines Tuesday to let the rules go into effect, ending months of negotiations and debate between supporters of the law and gun rights advocates.

Obviously, this is an issue where there is a difference of opinion on a partisan basis, and I think you saw that play out today, Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, a co-chair of the committee, told reporters after the meeting.

The rules are the result of an assault weapons ban that state lawmakers passed last year in the wake of a deadly mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park in 2022.

That law, known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act, bans the sale, purchase, manufacture, or possession of a long list of firearms that are defined as assault weapons, as well as several types of attachments, large-capacity magazines and certain kinds of high-power ammunition.

Under that law, people who already owned such items before the ban took effect are allowed to keep them. But to do so legally, they were supposed to register those items with the Illinois State Police before Jan. 1.

Last fall, ISP published temporary emergency rules that went into effect Oct. 1, enabling people to begin filing online registrations ahead of the Jan. 1 deadline. But many gun owners, gun rights advocates, and state lawmakers pushed back against the rules, complaining that they were too vague in some areas, too complicated in others, and generally impossible to comply with.

In response, ISP held additional public hearings in October and November as it worked to craft permanent rules.

One of the concerns raised during the discussions focused on how ISP planned to collect and store information about the items people registered, and what the agency would do with that information if the law is eventually overturned as unconstitutional.

So far, the law has survived legal challenges in both state and federal courts, but the National Association for Gun Rights, which is the major plaintiff in one of the federal lawsuits, has said it plans to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court within the next several weeks.

Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, who also co-chairs the committee, said Tuesday he was frustrated by the short timeframe used to adopt the new rules and by the way some issues were handled. He then offered a motion to prohibit ISP from adopting the rules, arguing that the rules do not meet a requirement in state statute that they be simple and clear so that people and groups affected by them can understand them.

That motion failed because it needed eight votes on the 12-member committee but only received six.

Spain then made a motion to object to the rules on the same grounds that they were not simple and clear. An objection has little practical effect on the rule, except that it requires the agency to respond to the objection in writing within 90 days before the rule can take effect.

That motion, which only requires a simple majority of members taking part, passed on a 6-5 vote.

That vote allows ISP to move forward by adopting the permanent rules and enforcing them into the future. But it remains unclear how many assault weapon owners will comply with the law by registering those firearms.

According to data maintained by ISP, just under 30,000 individuals had filed registration forms ahead of the Jan. 1 deadline. Those registrations covered roughly 69,000 firearms that fall under the ban as well as nearly 43,000 accessories.

It is not known what percentage that represents of the total number of assault weapons and banned accessories in circulation in Illinois, but many people have suggested that a large number of gun owners will refuse to comply with the registration requirement.

Cunningham, however, said he was not concerned about speculation of widespread noncompliance with the law.

I would just repeat what I said earlier, which is the law is in place, and I would encourage people to follow the law, he said.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.  A 64-year-old man from Mechanicsburg, Illinois, is facing charges for planning the murder of his former business partner in Florida.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Ben Patrick Mullavey, 64, offered up to $10,000 for the murder.

According to the affidavit, Mullavey said his partner owed him $200,000, and legal proceedings to get that money back were not going well.

How long should you let your car warm up before driving? The answer may surprise you

Mullavey tried hiring a man to carry out the murder and drove to Sikeston, Missouri, to meet with him to discuss the plan.

During the meeting, Mullavy provided the man with the name and description of his Florida business partner, as well as instructions on how he wanted the murder carried out. He gave the man $1,000 as a deposit, money to cover other expenses, a crossbow with arrows, directions to a restaurant next to the proposed victims wine bar, and a Florida license plate to help him blend in.

If convicted, Mullavey faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Over the past four weeks, the number of patients in the temporarily occupied city has increased

An infectious disease is quietly spreading in Russian-occupied Mariupol, raising the specter of an epidemic in the city, Mariupol City Council press service reported on Telegram on Jan. 17.

There has been a noticeable uptick in viral infections among the city's residents over the past four weeks, but the occupation authorities have made no public statements, local publications said.

"More and more residents are seeking medical help at hospitals, the report said.

Many have high fever, severe cough, and other troubling symptoms. Yet, the occupiers do not say whether this is an outbreak of acute respiratory infections or COVID-19."

Hospitals are ill-equipped to handle the surge in infectious disease, particularly for COVID-19 patients, the City Council said. There is a critical shortage of essential drugs and medical equipment in these institutions.

"Due to the shortage of medical supplies under the occupation, the number of cases is on the rise, the press service said.

The city now faces the possibility of an epidemic."

Read also: Russians coerce occupied Ukrainians with essential aid as passportization push intensifies

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Coalition of Pro-life Activist Groups to Hold Public Protests and Prayer Vigils in Washington, D.C. Surrounding the March for Life and Roe v. Wade Anniversary NEWS PROVIDED BY

Christian Defense Coalition

Jan. 17, 2024



WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- The groups will be focusing on the message of ending abortion violence, showing images of abortion victims and praying for an end to abortion abuse.



The groups will also be encouraging the pro-life movement to be a loud voice for human rights and ending abortion violence in their communities leading up to the 2024 national elections. Events:



Thursday: January 18 from 8:30-11:30 AM

Prayer vigil and demonstration in front of Planned Parenthood located at: 1225 4th St. NE Washington, DC 20002



Thursday: January 18 from 12:30-2:00 PM

Protest in front of the White House with large posters of "abortion victims," showing President what abortion really looks like. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C.



Monday: January 22 from 11:00-12:00 PM

On the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, activists will be laying flowers in front of the United States Supreme Court to remember and honor the nearly 65,000,000 innocent children who have died from abortion violence. Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Washington, D.C. based, Christian Defense Coalition, states; "Pro-life activists will be going to the streets of our nation's capital standing and praying for human rights as well as calling for an end to abortion violence. Following in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we will not be silent or indifferent when it comes to the issue of violence against America's children.



"As we stand in front of the White House, pro-life activists will be displaying large posters of children who have been tragically killed by abortion. We will be there to remind President Biden of what abortion really looks like as we prepare for the 2024 national and Presidential elections." For more information or interviews contact

Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741



SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition



CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741



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Vitaliy Shumey, a Ukrainian Air Defense commander currently undergoing rehabilitation after being seriously injured, has not received his salary since March 2023 and still has not been grated disability status, Ukraines public broadcaster Suspilne reported on Jan. 15.

Shumey had been receiving his military salary, combat pay, bonuses, and other payments before he went to Spain in March 2023 for inpatient treatment recommended by Ukraines medical commission, according to his father, Serhiy Shumey.

After our departure, all payments stopped, his father said.

The unit told us, You are abroad, no salary is provided. So, until we come back  there will be nothing.

Read also: Former Ukrainian POWs require extensive treatment, suspected as having been tortured

Vitaliy Shumey and his father returned to Ukraine in November 2023 and began rehabilitation in Lviv, which was immediately reported to his unit.

The deputy political officer said that I have to send a certificate of stay in the institution to the unit every week, Serhiy Shumey said.

I do this every Wednesday, but my son still doesn't get anything.

Read also: Seriously injured Ukrainian defender speaks of his treatment and family support

Vitaliy Shumey has not yet officially passed the medical examination needed to obtain disability status. However, the medical commission's ruled in February 2023 that Shumeys injuries were severe, linked to homeland defense, and that he was declared unfit for military duty.

The medical commission told Serhiy Shumey that this document would be valid for at least two years However, Vitaliy Shumeys brother sent the certificate to his unit on July 5, 2023, only to be informed that it was not, in fact, valid.

"When we returned and started to deal with this, they told me to take Vitalik back to the medical commission, Serhiy Shumey said.

How am I supposed to do that? You can't just interrupt rehabilitation.

Vitaliy Shumey served in the ATO (Anti-Terrorist Operation) after 2014 returned to service after Russias full-scale invasion in 2022 and was seriously injured near Avdiivka later that year.

His brother is also enlisted.

But, says their father, for the state, it turns out, it seems as if we are unnecessary.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A jail inmate who punched a pregnant Fort Worth hospital employee in an act that authorities alleged caused the death of the fetus has pleaded guilty to assault of a public servant.

In a plea agreement with the state, Cheri Akil, 39, was on Jan. 10 in the 485th District Court in Tarrant County sentenced to two years in prison.

Akil was in Tarrant County Sheriffs Office custody at John Peter Smith Hospital at the time the assault of the patient care technician occurred on April 12, 2023.

Akil was seven days later charged with murder. A grand jury in July indicted her on assault of a public servant.

In an interview with a reporter, defense attorney Kathy Lowthorp said she had explored her clients state of mind at the time of the offense. Akil was in the hospitals intensive care unit and under treatment for a medical condition that may have affected her ability to have the intent required of an assault crime, Lowthorp said.

The sheriffs office had Akil in single-cell lockdown after she was at the hospital, and she was ready to resolve the matter and get out, Lowthorp wrote in response to a reporters inquiry.

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Akil did not know the technician was pregnant, Lowthorp said. Because she was potentially suicidal, Akil was restrained at the time of the assault, according to the sheriffs office.

Akil punched the technician in the stomach as the technician stood next to a hospital bed, the sheriffs office has alleged.

The technician was taken to the trauma unit, where an ultrasound showed the fetus no longer had a pulse, according to the sheriffs office.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A new year begins with a renewed effort to shine a spotlight on some of the in-depth stories reported by the KXAN Investigates team.

Every Wednesday morning, investigative reporter Kelly Wiley will join KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree to discuss one of the biggest reports during the past week. They talked through the latest developments and share new insight during a live stream.

This week they talked about the following story:

A former juvenile corrections officer and former Austin Independent School District tutor has been indicted on felony charges in connection with his time working at Giddings State School, according to Texas Juvenile Justice Department officials. The two charges, brought by a grand jury in Lee County, accuse Isaiah Xavier Smith of indecency with a child and improper sexual activity with a person in custody. It comes less than a month after Smith was arrested after he was accused of inappropriately touching a student while tutoring at Akins High School. Smith remains in the Travis County jail on a charge of indecency with a child by contact.

Join Kelly Wiley and Will DuPree every Wednesday morning for a live recap of the latest headlines and in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The Ulrich Museum of Art is turning 50 later this year, and the staff has planned a rather mysterious series of dinners to help celebrate.

Starting on Jan. 29 and running nightly through Feb. 3, the museum  which opened on Wichita State Universitys campus on Dec. 7, 1974  will take over Public at the Brickyard for six fancy three-course dinners prepared by chef/owner Travis Russell that will also feature wine and scotch pairings. The restaurant at 129 Rock Island in Old Town will be closed to the public during the run of the series.

Internationally known illusionist Scott Silven will headline a series of dinners at Public at the Brickyard intended to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University.

The title of the dinners is At The Illusionists Table and  besides the food  the highlight will be a show by internationally known illusionist and performance artist Scott Silven. His mind-bending show, according to the description of the event, will be an unforgettable sensory experience weaving together fine dining, whiskey tasting, and Silvens singular illusion.

Silven regularly hosts dinners like this at venues across the globe. Attendees are all seated together at a long, candle-lit table and, after a toast, they listen to a mysterious story about Silvens childhood in Scotland. Through the course of the meal, he performs several mysterious feats.

Tickets to the dinners are $175 at and include the meal, the show and a pre-show cocktail reception. Each dinner is limited to 24 people. Reserve tickets at ulrich.wichita.edu/program/at-the-illusionists-table-featuring-scott-silven/

The Ulrich Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Though the ticket price may be a bit steep for college students, the Ulrich has reserved 24 tickets for Wichita State University students, which it will randomly give away in a drawing. Those interested must have a WSU student ID and register by 4 p.m. Jan. 26 at http://bit.ly/illusioniststudentdrawing

Heres the menu for the dinner:

COURSE 1

Diver Scallop | Saffron Lobster Soubise | Chive Oil | Caviar | Amaranth

Wine Pairing: Bouchard Beaune Du Chateau, Bourgogne, 2018

COURSE 2

Seared Duck Breast | Duck Jus | Ash Leeks Ravioli | Beet Cherry Gastrique | Duck Egg |

Sorrel

Wine Pairing: Chateau De Pez, St Estephe, 2018

Scotch Pairing: Benriach Smoky Twelve 12 Year Single Malt

COURSE 3

Champurrado Dark Chocolate | Marshmallow Cube | Graham | Ganache Tile

Wine Pairing: Henriot Brut Souverain

Scotch Pairing: Aberlour 12 Year Single Malt Scotch
Cellphone data, surveillance footage and Samantha Wolls blood all link Michael Jackson-Bolanos to the Jewish leader and Democratic activists slaying, investigators testified in a lengthy Tuesday hearing that revealed new details of the case against the Detroit man with a history of car theft.

Jackson-Bolanos, 28, is accused of fatally stabbing Woll eight times in the head and neck during an Oct. 21 home invasion in Detroit's Lafayette Park neighborhood, just east of downtown.

Michael Jackson-Bolanos, 28, of Detroit, accused of fatally stabbing Samantha Woll during an Oct. 21 home invasion in Detroit's Lafayette Park neighborhood, appears before 36th District Judge Kenneth King on Jan. 16, 2024 during a preliminary examination. He was charged with murder in the killing Dec. 13 and held without bond after a previous suspect was taken into custody, never charged and later released.

In a preliminary exam to determine whether theres enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial court, Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Ryan Elsey unfurled the states case against Jackson-Bolanos as the suspect sat handcuffed, his face obscured by a surgical mask, and Wolls parents looked on, at times growing emotional.

The hearing included testimony from six law enforcement officials and a neighbor and will continue Jan. 23. At least four more people are expected to testify before the hearing in 36th District Court concludes.

Jackson-Bolanos was near Wolls home shortly before she was found dead the morning after attending a wedding, authorities said, citing cellphone tower data and surveillance footage. Police believe he was there when Wolls home security system detected motion in Wolls living room, where she was believed to be sleeping on a couch. The system also showed her front door had been left open ahead of the attack, authorities testified.

Jackson-Bolanos later allegedly made his way to a Midtown block where police previously said his girlfriend lives. There they retrieved a black North Face fleece with a fleck of blood matching Wolls, Elizabeth Stockmeyer, the Michigan State Police detective in charge of the case, testified. Its the same jacket that was worn by a person captured on security footage near Woll's home, Stockmeyer said.

However, theres no DNA, fingerprint or other physical evidence placing Jackson-Bolanos inside Wolls home, Stockmeyer testified. Nor is there camera footage showing Jackson-Bolanos entering or exiting Wolls home, she acknowledged.

Attorney Brian Brown speaks on behalf of Michael Jackson-Bolanos, 28, of Detroit, accused of fatally stabbing Samantha Woll at her home Oct. 21, during a preliminary examination before 36th District Judge Kenneth King on Jan. 16, 2024.

Bolanos was charged with the killing Dec. 13 and held without bond after a previous suspect was arrested without being charged and later released. Brown has previously called his client the victim of circumstance.

Wolls door was left open shortly after she returned from a wedding at 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 21, Stockmeyer said, introducing a timeline of security system activity.

It showed motion in the living room when Woll arrived home, Stockmeyer said. At 1:01 a.m., it showed the front door was left open, and that a corresponding alert was sent to Wolls phone. The last outgoing interaction from the phone -- a text -- was meanwhile sent at 1:02 a.m. and the phone was last unlocked around 1:30 a.m., Detroit police detective Sara Markel testified.

Motion was detected in the living room again at 4:20 a.m., when cellphone tower data indicates Jackson-Bolanos was in the area. Between 3:50 a.m. and 4:20 a.m, his location was consistent with being in or around Wolls home, FBI Special Agent Bryan Toltzis testified. By 4:30 a.m., he was traveling west and into downtown. By 4:54, he was back at the Midtown block where authorities say hed been earlier in the night, Toltzis testified.

Wolls body was discovered outside at about 6:20 a.m. by a neighbor who had been walking a dog. Kevin Mull testified to finding the 40-year-old lying in the fetal position on the sidewalk, barefoot and blue.

The family of Samantha Woll watches the preliminary hearing of Michael Jackson-Bolanos in front of Judge Kenneth King on Jan. 16, 2024 at 36th District Court in Detroit.

"I approached to see if that person was in need of assistance and I realized that person was in a very bad situation and decided I needed to go for help," Mull said.

As he spoke in the courtroom, Wolls mother dabbed her eyes with a tissue. Wolls father briefly walked out.

Inside Wolls home, there were possible signs of a struggle, according to Sgt. Daron Zhou, a Detroit police homicide supervisor.

A fruit basket on a dining room table had been disturbed, Zhou said, with fruit lying on the floor and near the couch. Woll meanwhile had bruises to her face, knees and elbows.

"There was a lot of blood leading to the interior of the residence," Zhou said.

Blood soiled the entryway and living room, including the couch where authorities have said they believe Woll was sleeping before she was stabbed. There was also blood in the stairwell leading to the basement.

FBI Special Agent Bryan Toltzis testifies during Michael Jackson-Bolanos' preliminary hearing in front of Judge Kenneth King on Jan. 16, 2024 at 36th District Court in Detroit.

Bolanos-Jackson's defense attorney, Brian Brown, sought to poke holes in the state's case.

There was so little blood on the jacket that it was not visible to the naked eye, Stockmeyer testified under his questioning, but a forensics analysis found a swab from the sleeve was a likely match for Wolls blood.

Detroit Police Sgt. Daron Zhou testifies during Michael Jackson-Bolanos' preliminary hearing in front of Judge Kenneth King on Jan. 16, 2024 at 36th District Court in Detroit.

Stockmeyer said the police investigation also did not include a determination as to how long it takes for Wolls security system to go into idle mode. The living room motion detected at 4:20 a.m. was shown as "idle" two minutes later, while the living room motion detected after Woll came home around 12:30 a.m. was shown as idle at 1:24 a.m, according to a log presented in court. According to the website of ADT -- the system Woll had -- motion sensors go idle "if no motion has been detected in the last 60 minutes."

Brown also zeroed in on a spare key found at the scene, the latent prints on which Stockmeyer said were not cross-checked with Wolls because the autopsy was conducted very quickly. Woll was buried one day after her body was found, in accordance with Jewish tradition.

The display on Woll's phone also came on five times after it was last unlocked, until 4:41 a.m., Markel testified, which can be the result of notifications or the phone being touched.

Jackson Bolanos was initially taken into custody on Nov. 30 when he was pulled over in Roseville in a 2007 Dodge Charger registered to him following a surveillance operation, Michigan State Police trooper Alexander Martinez testified. He was arrested again in early December.

He previously spent two years on probation after being convicted of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle in 2019, and four years in prison for a similar offense in 2013, according to the Michigan of Department of Corrections.

Brown has said Jackson-Bolanos was employed full-time prior to his arrest.

The hearing is scheduled to continue at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 23.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Investigators testify to motion sensor, cell data in Sam Woll killing
Cities and counties in Iowa would be restricted from banning or regulating behavioral health practices such as "conversion therapy" under a proposed bill in the 2024 Legislature.

Senate File 2037, introduced by Sen. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, comes months after the city of Waterloo attempted to ban the practice, before repealing it under the threat of a lawsuit from a Christian organization.

"Conversion therapy"  trying to alter a person's sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling  has been discredited by major health associations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Under the bill, bans such as Waterloo's would not be permitted. Sen. Dennis Guth, R-Klemme, argued in a subcommittee hearing that local regulations would circumvent the state's licensing board and "undermine the rule of law."

State Senator Dennis Guth speaks to a group of anti-mask protestors at the Iowa Capitol before the opening of the legislative session Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.

More: Waterloo council votes to repeal gay conversion therapy ban after legal threat

LGBTQ+ advocacy groups criticized the bill in comments to lawmakers, arguing that it lent credence to an inappropriate and discredited form of counseling.

"I've been told over and over again that we don't need to address conversion therapy because it doesn't happen in Iowa," said Keenan Crow, director of policy and advocacy for One Iowa.

"It would seem that this legislation is an implicit admission that not only is it happening, but that the Legislature wants it to happen, and in fact wants to grant conversion therapists additional protections."

Lobbyists for Iowa's associations representing cities and counties said they were formally undecided on the bill but fundamentally opposed any attempts to preempt local authority.

And the Iowa director for the National Association of Social Workers, Denise Rathman, warned that it could have "unintended consequences" for how local governments address and implement other behavioral health programs.

Chuck Hurley, vice president of The Family Leader, argued that Waterloo's ban had been an infringement on the First Amendment as he spoke in support of the bill, which he said would save municipalities "time and expense, and frankly some embarrassment."

Pushing back, Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said the legislation amounted to "consumer protection" for "quackery" and "brainwashing," and that First Amendment protections do not apply to the practice of medicine and psychiatry, which are regulated.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames

"Thank goodness for Waterloo stepping up. I hope other communities will do that," Quirmbach said, as he urged the Legislature to "step in" and ban the practice statewide.

Guth said he had "heard of a number of people" for which the practice had been effective, to which Quirmbach responded that anecdotes were not an adequate basis on which to pass the bill.

The subcommittee chair gave initial approval to the legislation after Wednesday's hearing.

"Democrats have touted for years that government should not get between a patient and provider, and so on this bill, I agree with that sentiment," said Sen. Jesse Green, R-Boone.

Waterloo's city council banned "conversion therapy" in May of last year, before rolling back the ban in August after Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based Christian organization, threatened to sue the city on the basis of free speech.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

Galen Bacharier covers politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Legislature bill proposes halt on local conversion therapy bans
After former President Donald Trumps dominant victory in the Iowa Caucus on Monday, the field for the Republican nomination for president further narrowed.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out of the race after finishing fourth in the Hawkeye State, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ended his White House bid last week.

With voters finally casting ballots, and fewer candidates still in the race, The State made a slight change in the power rankings.

In previous power rankings, The State has asked political observers to rank their top five. In this power ranking, weve asked six political observers for their top three candidates when answering this question: If the South Carolina Republican presidential primary were held today, who has the best chance to win.

For every first place vote, the candidate received 3 points. Every second place vote received 2 points. A third place vote received 1 point.

Third Place: Ron DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who received 6 points in our poll, bet heavily on Iowa still ended up finishing 30 points behind the former president.

DeSantis has argued it is a two-man race between him and Trump. DeSantis contends if he dropped out, his supporters would go to Trump.

DeSantis spent a lot of time and money in Iowa, touring the entire state to plead his case to caucus-goers while picking up major endorsements along the way, said Adolphus Belk, a Winthrop University political science professor. Still, he didnt gain on Trump (who won by 30 points) and was almost chased down by Haley. The arrow is pointing down.

As eyes now turn to the Granite State, DeSantis made stops Tuesday in the Palmetto State to put pressure on former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in her home state, before heading to New Hampshire.

Unless his ground-game in New Hampshire kicks into gear, the real question for DeSantis is whether he can maintain enough momentum coming into South Carolina if hes limping out of New Hampshire, said longtime South Carolina political operative Dave Wilson. To do so, hes going to have to turn guns on his opponent  and the question for him is whether that opponent is Trump, Haley or Biden. The answer to that question will determine whether hes upped his game coming into bloodsport we know that is Palmetto State Presidential Politics.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running for the Republican Partys nomination for president, holds a rally in Gilbert, South Carolina on Friday, June 2, 2023.

Second Place: Nikki Haley

Haley received 12 points in the poll and hopes to win her home state when ballots are cast next month.

Before she returns to campaign in South Carolina, she heads to New Hampshire. Some polls in New Hampshire have her within single digits of the former president, and she has been trending upward in the Granite State.

She wanted a clear second place finish in Iowa to claim that she has momentum, but that didnt happen, said Chase Meyer, a political science lecturer at the University of South Carolina. She is still on track for a good showing in New Hampshire, but to have any chance to win in South Carolina she really needs to do more than have a good showing in New Hampshire.

Haley has argued she is in a two-person race with the former president, and announced Tuesday she wouldnt debate unless the former president participates.

If she wants to finish first, shell have to change her strategy and actually provide Trump supporters a reason not to vote for him, said Danielle Vinson, a professor of Politics and International Affairs at Furman University. With Trump winning more than 50% in Iowa, she cant just pick up everyone elses votes as they drop out; she has to win some Trump supporters.

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley signed autographs and rallied with supporters on March 13, 2023 at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Myrtle Beach, S.C. as she seeks the Republican nomination for president in 2024. March 13, 2023.

First Place: Donald Trump

Trump, who continues to be the unanimous first place choice in The States ranking, finished with 51% of the vote in the Iowa Caucus. He also continues to lead in the South Carolina polls, despite facing 91 criminal charges, or maybe even because of those charges.

(Its) his to lose, like the entire process despite his legal challenges which seemed to help him, said Chip Felkel, a public and political affairs strategist who worked on the presidential campaigns of George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. The base of the party is all Trump, and unless the non-activists put up a fight, its a cakewalk for him.

Trump has support of most of the biggest political names in South Carolina, including Gov. Henry McMaster, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, U.S. Reps. Russell Fry, William Timmons and Joe Wilson, Attorney General Alan Wilson, Secretary of State Mark Hammond, Treasurer Curtis Loftis, and House Speaker Murrell Smith.

Statewide polling has the front-runner so far ahead that the dust seems to be settling before second-wave candidates arrive, Wilson said. Paired with a less-than-expected third place finish for Nikki Haley (in Iowa), and South Carolina is Trumps to lose. The real question for him is how well do he and DeSantis go after her in New Hampshire, and in surprise visits to South Carolina, to throw a monkey-wrench in Haleys momentum.

Trump won all but one county in Iowa and has been the front-runner for much of the race.

It does not appear that anything is going to stop Trumps march to the nomination, Meyer said.

Former President Donald Trump holds a campaign event at the Sportsman Boats manufacturing plant in Summerville, South Carolina on Monday, September 25, 2023.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Two candidates have dropped out following the Iowa caucus and the urgency is picking up for others to make a move as Nevadas decision on presidential candidates draws closer.

Nevadas primary elections are Feb. 6. But for Republicans, only the Feb. 8 caucus will determine who gets the states delegates. The Nevada Republican Party decided months ago that any candidate who participates in the primary will be ineligible for delegates, choosing instead to use the caucus to select its candidate.

Heres why Donald Trump is missing on the Nevada primary ballot

Nevada Democrats will select their candidate in the Feb. 6 primary.

The Iowa caucus

According to The Associated Press, Former President Donald Trump took 51% of the vote in Iowa on Monday night, securing 20 delegates. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis won 21.2% of the vote (9 delegates) and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley took 19.1% of the vote (8 delegates).

The caucus cemented Trumps status as the Republican frontrunner, although polls made that clear heading into the political season.

Trump, DeSantis and Haley are the only lead Republican candidates standing after the dust settled in Iowa.

Results of the Iowa caucus led to the end of runs by former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Previously, seven other candidates had dropped out after declaring for the race: former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, radio talk show host Larry Elder, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, former Texas congressman Will Hurd.

For Democrats, President Joe Biden faces longshots Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson.

Independents Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Cornel West and Jill Stein (Green Party) are also still running, but wont appear on primary ballots.

Republican candidates in Nevada

Confusion among voters could be a problem when the Republican primary plays out on Feb. 6.

Leading candidates Trump and DeSantis will not even be on the ballot.

With Haleys early decision to file for the primary in Nevada, only Trump and DeSantis, and minor candidate Ryan Binkley will compete for delegates in the Feb. 8 caucus.

8 News Now asked the Nevada Secretary of States Office if Republicans would be breaking the law if they choose to vote in both the primary and the caucus. Because the primary is the only election being run by the state, it would NOT be illegal, a spokesperson said. That could cause some to take advantage of Nevadas unique none of these candidates option in the primary.

Haleys path could give her a platform to win what will be a primary without any delegates on Feb. 6. But she could use it to tout winning the primary.

An Emerson Poll on Jan. 9 showed Trump ahead of Biden in Nevadas general election, but the margin had narrowed since October.

The poll found more Republican voters in Nevada (about 19%) plan to vote in the Republican state-held primary compared to the party-held caucus (about 7%). About 15% said they planned to vote in bot the Republican primary and the Republican caucus.

Candidates who have dropped out of the Republican Party had captured about 11% of voters support in Nevada, and another 8% were undecided.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Iowa lawmakers are considering increasing penalties for filing false reports to law enforcement  known as swatting  after an increase in incidents last year.

Last spring, 30 school buildings around Iowa suffered a wave of swatting calls with fake threats of school shootings, prompting school lockdowns, cancelled classes and massive law enforcement responses before officials were able to determine that the calls were hoaxes.

A three-member Iowa House subcommittee unanimously advanced House Study Bill 545 Wednesday, passing it on to the full House Public Safety Committee.

What would the new swatting bill do?

The bill would make it a class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, to report false information to a law enforcement agency, fire department or public safety agency if the person reporting the information knows it is false or if they report a fake crime involving a violent felony, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, an act of terrorism or possession of biological agents or diseases.

If the false report results in someone being seriously injured or killed, the person who made the report would be subject to a class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Other false reports to law enforcement would continue to be punished as either a simple misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail, or a serious misdemeanor, which carries a one-year sentence. That's the same penalty that exists in current law.

The Clinton Police Department and neighboring agencies responded to the Clinton High School swatting call March 21, 2023.

Why was the swatting bill filed?

Josie Wagler, a legislative liaison for the Iowa Department of Public Safety, said the agency filed the bill because of an increase in swatting incidents. In 2021, the department recorded four swatting calls, she said, but in the 2022-23 school year there were 39 calls.

"Our purpose really is to just try and deter bad actors from tying up emergency resources and trying to keep the public and emergency response agencies safe," she said.

Will the bill help stop swatting calls?

Rep. Brian Meyer, D-Des Moines, voted to advance the bill. But he said the perpetrators of swatting calls are often hard to find because they can use internet phone numbers and obscure where they're calling from.

"I still think its going to be very difficult to find these people, but Im very supportive of the bill," he said.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: House bill would require higher penalties for fake law enforcement calls
Iran used its new Kheiber Shekan medium range ballistic missile for the first time during a strike in Syria on Monday.

Iran used its new Kheiber Shekan medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) for the first time Monday when it struck what it claimed was a "terrorist facility" in Syrias Idlib province . The attack was one of three Iran carried out in three countries over the past two days. Iran also attacked what it claimed was an Israeli Mossad facility in Erbil on Monday and what it claimed were "terrorist" sites in an unprecedented attack in Pakistan on Tuesday. While they all seem to have had their own objectives, they clearly serve as a timely demonstration of Iran's ability to execute precision ballistic missile strikes close to and far beyond its borders.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Aerospace Force (IRGC-AF) launched four Kheiber Shekan MRBMs from its facility in the southern parts of Irans Khuzestan Province on Monday, said Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, according to the official Iranian Tasnim news agency. Thats a distance of about 800 miles.

The strike is considered the longest ever by an Iranian ballistic missile.

The IRGC-AF also launched four other missiles from its Kermanshah facility and seven missiles from the West Azarbaijan Province at Erbil on Monday, Hajizadeh said. He added that they were targeting the base of Zionists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq  though Iraqi officials dispute that assertion . Hajizadeh did not specify what kind of missiles were fired in those attacks. Kermanshah is about 200 miles from Erbil and West Azarbaijan Province about 100 miles.

Iraq meanwhile filed a complaint against Iran at the U.N. Security Council.

Mondays attacks were significant for several reasons, Behnam Ben Taleblu , a senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) think tank, told The War Zone.

There were two historic firsts, said Taleblu, an expert in Iranian missile technology. It was the first military use of the Kheibar Shekan MRBM and it was the first time Iran targeted two territories in two different nations in the same operation. It was also the first launch from the IRGC-AF base in Khuzestan Province since the Iraq-Iran war, he added.

The Iranian strike on Idlib was the first missile attack launched from the IRGC-AF facility in Khuzestan Province since the Iran-Iraq war. (Google Earth image)

The Kheibar Shekan is a two-stage, solid-propellant, truck-launched MRBM that Iran first unveiled on Feb. 9, 2022. A third generation of the Fateh family of ballistic missiles, Iran claims it has a maximum range of 1,450 kilometers (900 miles).

Dubbed the Breaker of Kheibar, in reference to early Muslim conquests of a Jewish castle in Arabia, the Kheibar Shekan is Irans second attempt at producing an MRBM from the Fateh- family (with the Shahid Haj Qassem being the first), Talebu wrote in a February 2023 monograph . With a reported range of 1,450 kilometers and a separating warhead, the Kheibar Shekan is Irans most advanced solid-propellant system outside the Sejjil, which was Irans first solid-propellant MRBM.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKToT8ly5uw

During its unveiling, Hajizadeh said the weight of the new missile has been reduced by a third and it is six times quicker to launch, without identifying the type he was comparing it against, Jane's reported at the time . "He also said the missile is highly maneuverable in its terminal phase and that its warhead uses an explosive that is far more powerful than TNT."

He did not specify the weight of the warhead or which explosive. It is unknown what type of guidance system the weapon has but inertial navigation with embedded GPS is a given.

The Kheiber Shekan medium range ballistic missile and its transporter erector launcher (TEL) vehicle. (YouTube screencap)

The launch of a Kheiber Skekan medium range ballistic missile. (Twitter screencap)

Taleblu said Iran served several purposes in launching the Kheiber Shekans.

They were testing the range of the missile while at the same time serving notice on Israel that it could hit targets there, he said. Iran was also sending a reminder that it remains an active participant in the ongoing conflict in Syria.

In addition to attacking targets in Iraq and Syria, "two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jeysh al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan" were struck on Tuesday, Tasnim reported . The sites "have been obliterated through precision missile and drone strikes."

The focal point of this operation "was the region known as Kouh-Sabz (green mountain) in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, recognized as one of the largest hubs for the Jeysh al-Dhulm militants," Tasnim reported. Jaish al Adl has previously mounted attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan.

The publication did not specify what types of drones or missiles were used in the attack. Nor did it say who carried out the attack, but Press TV, the English-language arm of Iranian state television, attributed the attack to Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, according to The Associated Press .

Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry also blamed Iran, issuing a sharp rebuke of the attacks it said killed two children and injured three others.

Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran which resulted in death of two innocent children while injuring three girls, the statement read. This violation of Pakistans sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences.

While it is unclear what missiles Iran used to attack Pakistan, there is no mistaking that i t has developed a large arsenal of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.

The potential of Iranian-made ballistic missiles to cause significant destruction is in little doubt, with multiple instances of them having been employed in combat. In the last couple of years, such incidents have included the January 2020 attack against Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, which made use of a Qiam series short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), and the March 2022 attack on Erbil in Iraq, which used Fateh-110 SRBMs. These weapons hit very hard with an impressive degree of accuracy.

We do not know what, if any response nuclear-armed Pakistan will take yet. Clearly though, three Iranian missile attacks in three different countries over two days serve as a glaring deterrant and raises tensions in a regional already roiling over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war , Houthi attacks on shipping and Iranian-backed militia attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq and Syria.

We will continue to monitor this situation and update when warranted.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Tel Aviv  Tension fueled by the Israel-Hamas war was broadening across the Middle East and beyond Wednesday, as U.S. ally Pakistan condemned its neighbor Iran for launching what Pakistani officials called an unprovoked attack on their territory. Iran said its Revolutionary Guard struck bases of the Sunni Muslim militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan, but Islamabad angrily condemned the attack as a "blatant violation" of its airspace and said two children were killed in the strikes.

A local police officer told CBS News' Sami Yousafzai that two women injured in the strikes were brought to a regional hospital, along with the bodies of the two slain children, as rescuers sifted through the debris searching for any other victims.

Iran missile strikes in Pakistan

Resident Abdul Baluch told CBS News the strikes hit a village called Sabz Koh, near the Iranian border.

A map shows the countries of the wider Middle East and southwest Asia. / Credit: Getty

"We heard the blasts and sound of missiles," he said, adding that the houses targeted were near his home, and that he had never "seen any kind of military activists" in the area over the last five years.

A spokesperson for the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Tuesday that it was "even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran," adding that "Pakistan's strong protest has already been lodged with the concerned senior official in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran."

Pakistan later recalled its ambassador from Tehran and expelled the Iranian ambassador in Islamabad.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) military personnel walk along Enghelab (Revolution) Avenue as an Iran's Kheibar surface-to-surface missile is unveiled during the Ela Beit Al-Moghaddas (Al-Aqsa Mosque) military rally in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 24, 2023. / Credit: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Getty

The Iranian strikes, which officials in Tehran claimed had only killed Iranian nationals who were members of the militant group, came just a day after Iran's Revolutionary Guard fired missiles at targets in Iraq and Syria, with Tehran claiming those were also against "anti-Iran groups" operating in the region.

Houthis keep attacking ships in Red Sea

Iran's direct military action against regional foes comes after weeks of attacks by its proxy group in Yemen, the Shiite Houthi rebels, on international commercial shipping. Video has emerged of Houthi militants celebrating  even dancing  aboard cargo ships they have seized off Yemen's coast in the Red Sea.

The attacks on commercial vessels have continued, disrupting global trade and regional stability, despite strikes launched Friday by the U.S. and British militaries, with other allies, targeting Houthi missile sites in Yemen.

For months the Houthis have attacked the vital Red Sea shipping routes, claiming the drone and missile strikes and seizures are in support of Iran's other allies, the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is currently facing the full might of Israel's military in the Gaza Strip.

The U.S. has been a staunch supporter of Israel's offensive against Hamas, launched in response to the group's unprecedented Oct. 7 terror attack. Hamas has long been designated a terrorist organization by Israel, the U.S. and the European Union.

Last week, U.S. Navy SEALs raided a small vessel that was allegedly headed for the Houthis in Yemen. America's Central Command said advanced weaponry from Iran was discovered on the boat. Two Navy SEALs fell overboard during the Jan. 11 operation and remained missing on Wednesday.

Hamas-Israel tension spills into Iraq, Syria

In addition to Pakistan and the Red Sea, hostilities have been boiling over in the greater Middle East, with Iran launching attacks this week in Iraq and Syria  including a missile strike that killed four people in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, very close to a still-under-construction U.S. consulate. The U.S. condemned the Iranian strike as "reckless."

All of the flashpoints show the risk of the war between Israel and Iran's Hamas allies spiraling further out of control. All of the tension was sparked by the Hamas massacre in southern Israel on Oct. 7, which Israeli officials say left some 1,200 people dead and saw the Palestinian militants kidnap about 240 others.

The war in Gaza sparked by that attack has killed more than 24,000 people in the small, densely populated Palestinian territory, according to its Hamas-run Ministry of Health.

"My house was bombed and I fled here without bringing anything with me, not even money," said Gaza resident Youssef Abu Ishaq as he arrived at one of the enclave's few functioning hospitals. "We need food, bread, and blankets."

More humanitarian aid of that kind is on the way thanks to a deal brokered between Israel and Hamas on Tuesday. The agreement calls for the delivery of additional aid to Palestinians in exchange for medicine being allowed to reach the roughly 130 Israeli hostages who are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza.

That deal was brokered by Qatar, which was behind a weeklong cease-fire in November that saw the release of about half of the Israeli hostages in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners being freed by Israel. The hope on Wednesday was that the new agreement could lead to another halt in the fighting, and the release of more hostages.

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DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) -Iran's foreign minister said on Wednesday that attacks against Israel and its interests by the "Axis of Resistance" will stop if the Gaza war ends, warning that the conflict could heighten tensions across the Middle East.

The Islamic Republic backs Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in its war with Israel, which has devastated Gaza in an aerial and ground offensive, and Tehran accuses the United States of backing what it calls Israeli crimes in Gaza.

"An end to the genocide in Gaza will lead to an end of military actions and crises in the region," Amirabdollahian said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"The security of the Red Sea is tied to the developments in Gaza, and everyone will suffer if Israel's crimes in Gaza do not stop ... All the (resistance) fronts will remain active."

U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday called Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi forces a "terrorist" group, after American and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen overnight.

The Houthi militia, which has been targeting Red Seas shipping in what it calls solidarity with Palestinians against Israel, has threatened a "strong and effective response" to the U.S. and British strikes.

Amirabdollahian also said t Tehran shared intelligence with Iraq about what it said were activities of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad in the Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

Iran has said its Revolutionary Guards attacked Israel's "spy HQ" in Iraq in the city of Erbil on Monday. Iraq later denied that there was any such spy centre in the country.

(additional reporting by Elwely Elwelly; writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by Andrew Heavens and Mark Heinrich)
(Bloomberg) -- A string of Iranian cross-border missile attacks showcased a new part of the Islamic Republics long-range arsenal for the first time with a weapon potentially capable of hitting Israel directly.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched the precision-guided Khaibar-Shekan, or Khaibar-Breaker, ballistic missile this week in a 1,300 kilometer (800 mile) strike on ISIS in Syria from southwestern Iran, the Tasnim news agency reported. That would make it the farthest such attack in the IRGCs history.

The distance is almost identical to what would be required to hit Tel Aviv, and Iran has previously linked its development of the missile to a longstanding enmity with Israel. Iran has generally clashed with Israel via proxy groups, such as Hamas, rather than launch a direct attack.

Tehran claims Khaibar-Shekan has a 1,450 kilometer maximum range and that it can evade Israeli anti-missile defenses. The name appears to refer to a settlement in modern-day Saudi Arabia where the Muslim Prophet Muhammad fought against Jews in a seventh-century battle.

Read More: The Israel-Iran Shadow War Reaches a Risky New Phase: QuickTake

Its probably the most sophisticated missile they have with the range to strike Israel, said Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank.

But of course when you want to use it against Israel you always have to deal with the fact youre dealing with some of the worlds best missile defenses, he said.

Threat Assessment

A successful hit would depend on Irans ability to overwhelm those defenses, as Hamas tried to do in the Oct. 7 assault on Israel that sparked the ongoing war between the two sides. That would in turn depend on how many long-range missiles Iran has in its arsenal.

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The US estimates Tehran has over 3,000 ballistic missiles of different types and ranges including some that could reach the Jewish state.

In a further risk to regional stability, Iran appears to have supplied the missile to its allies in Yemen, the Houthis, Hinz added. The militant group has upended trade in the Red Sea with attacks on commercial shipping it says are intended to pressure Israel into ending the war with Hamas.

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The same missile was also used in Irans simultaneous attack on an alleged Israeli espionage headquarters in northern Iraq this week, alongside shorter-range Fateh-313 and Fateh-110 models, state-run Nour News reported.

Iran also hit eastern neighbor Pakistan with missiles on Tuesday, though its not clear which munitions were used. In that incident Tehran, targeted a separatist militant group.

The IRGC could have used a shorter-range munition in the Syria strike, Hinz said. By choosing not to, it was either testing out its latest technology or it was explicitly chosen to send a message to Israel, he said.

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Pakistan pulled its ambassador out of Iran after a cross-border missile attack on Tuesday killed at least two children and wounded three others.

The missiles targeted two bases belonging to Jaish al-Adl, a militant group that has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on Iranian security forces along the border with Pakistan, Iranian state media said.

Pakistan warned the strike was a violation of its sovereignty that could have serious consequences as the nuclear-armed state recalled its ambassador.

The attack was the third direct strike on foreign territory by Iran in recent days, one of which was used to showcase new long-range missiles capable of hitting Israel.

The string of attacks are Irans first direct military operation since war broke out last October in Israel with Hamas, the militant group backed by Iran.

Iranian state media claimed the missiles targeted two bases belonging to Jaish al-Adl, a Pakistani militant group

They have angered regional powers amid rising tension, with Iraq last night announcing an emergency meeting of the Arab League in response to a strike on Erbil.

Pakistan immediately condemned the most recent incident, which appears to have hit a small village in Balochistan province.

Iran claims it was targeting Jaish al-Adl, or the Army of Justice, a Sunni militant group founded in 2012, and primarily operates in Pakistan.

The group claimed it was behind an attack in December 2023, when militants attacked a police station in south-east Iran. Iranian state media said then that 11 security personnel were killed and several others injured.

While neighbouring Pakistan and Iran publicly declare close friendship, militant activity along their shared 559-mile, lawless desert border is a regular irritation.

Each country accuses the other of harbouring, or at least failing to root out, wanted militants.

Tensions have been rapidly escalating in the Middle East, as a result of the Hamas October 7 attacks and action from other Iran-backed proxies including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

A billboard depicting Iranian missiles in Tehran - ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

In the latest incident of its kind, a ship came under attack in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, likely from a bomb-carrying drone launched by the Houthis, the British military said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, an arm of the British navy, did not immediately identify the vessel targeted.

Meanwhile, analysts said Irans foray into direct attacks on neighbours was designed to send a message to Western rivals.

The dynamics of these strikes illustrate the variety of different security threats that Iran perceives it is facing at this time, said Gregory Brew, from the Eurasia Group risk firm. This is what connects everything  they are all intended to send a variety of messages to a variety of actors.

The recent strikes may also be retaliation, analysts said, for terror attacks inside Iran from various terrorist groups operating in countries including Syria and Pakistan.

A bombing earlier in January in Iran killed at least 84 people and wounded 284 others at an event marking the anniversary of the US assassinating Qassem Soleimani, an iconic Iranian battlefield commander.

Islamic State group claimed it was behind the attack. Since then, the Iranian regime has faced mounting domestic pressure to respond.

One of the Iranian attacks in Syria late on Monday night used its new Khaibar-Breaker missile with a range of 800 miles, Iranian media reported, the farthest attacks the regime has managed to achieve so far.

Irans regime believes it can get away with escalations without facing any consequences, said Kasra Aarabi, director of research on Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps at United Against Nuclear Iran. Thats whats driving this push.

The strike in Pakistan may also be designed to send a message from Iran to Baloch and Kurdish groups key to recent anti-regime protests that they cannot hide outside the country with impunity, said Prof Ali Ansari, of the Institute of Iranian Studies at St Andrews.

This is basically saying we can hit you in those places you think you are safe and out of range, it is however, a risky strategy, he said.

An abandoned medical facility in the village of Talteta, Syria, which was hit by Iranian missiles on Monday night - Omar Albam/AP

Pakistan may be poorly placed to respond to the attack. The country has been engulfed by political turmoil for more than 18 months and is being led by a caretaker prime minister ahead of elections in early February.

A document circulating online that purports to be from the Pakistani prime ministers office banned the countrys media outlets from covering the strikes.

Journalists are also reportedly barred from visiting the area where the missiles were thought to have landed in a move that appears aimed at restraining public anger over the situation.

Some analysts speculate that the recent strikes  aimed at the Kurdish region of Iraq and the Baluchistan province of Pakistan  could be directed at inflaming domestic ethnic tensions as a way to distract mass anti-regime protesters.

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(Bloomberg) -- President Isaac Herzog of Israel was heading to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday with family members of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza to step up pressure for their release.

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Herzogs office said he would give a speech at the forum on Wednesday and hold a series of meetings. In addition, it said, the president will continue to reveal to world leaders in a clear and in-depth manner details of the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists.

The hostage event will be hosted by Peter Thiels Palantir Technologies Inc. Its chief executive, Alex Karp, will speak.

Herzog will be accompanied by his wife, Michal, who will participate in panels on anti-Semitism together with Douglas Emhoff, the husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris, and Jonathan Greenblatt, Executive Director of the Anti-Defamation League.

Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the US and European Union, crossed from Gaza into Israel on Oct. 7 and killed 1200 civilians and soldiers, kidnapping another 240. About 100 were released in a deal where Israel freed Palestinian prisoners.

Israels subsequent aerial and ground offensive on the territory has killed more than 24,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Some 136 hostages remain in Gaza, including babies and the elderly. At least 20 of them are thought to be dead. The health of others is viewed as precarious.

--With assistance from Katherine Griffiths and Ethan Bronner.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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In their often shambolic and occasionally hysterical appearance before the International Court of Justice last Friday, at no point did the lawyers representing Israel give concrete arguments or convincing evidence that Israels three-month siege of Gaza should not be considered an act of genocide. Faced with a credible accusation of a crime one of their own called the epitome and zenith of evil, the crime of crimes, the ultimate in wickedness, they produced no proof they were not guilty.

Though they trumpeted the aid Israel is allegedly allowing into Gaza, Israels lawyers could not answer how it came to be that more than a million Palestinians will soon face outright famine. The Israel Defense Forces have to confront Hamas wherever they find its fighters, the lawyers insisted. But that cannot explain why a full 45 percent of Gazas housing stock is now a gray ruin or why entire city blocks are dynamited long after the area is cleared of the enemy; why indeed some of the oldest churches and mosques in the world are now husks. Proclaiming the high moral goal of rescuing hostages and insisting at every turn that the IDF obeys the rules of war, the lawyers gave no account for why Israeli soldiers felt able and entitled to shoot their own on sight: three men, shirtless, speaking Hebrew, waving a white flag. The leaflet drops, the text messages, the voicemails: This strategy of forewarning Gazas civilians was held up as an example of the armys duty to international law, though no rebuttal was offered for why unguided dumb bombs are dropped on the very towns and villages and camps Palestinians were told were safe from strikethe same places those leaflets informed them would guarantee their lives.

Instead, Israels lawyers and agents complained. The charge of genocide brought by South Africa in The Hague was a libel designed to delegitimize the Israeli state and society. South Africa, which gave its submission to the court on Thursday, was seeking to weaponize the Genocide Convention in a concerted and cynical attempt to pervert the laws true purpose. The lawyers, each in their turn, performed the usual acts of contrition and hand-wringing for the victims of so-called collateral damage: the tragic  heartbreaking  terrible civilian death toll that it attributed not to the designs and intent of the military but to the harsh realities of urban combat.

South Africa is seeking urgent provisional measuresan emergency ruling from the court based on the plausibility or possibility of a genocide taking place. South Africa had to prove Israel has a prima facie case to answer. In these preliminary hearings, there is no burden of proof. Evidence is not checked, witnesses are not called, facts are not validated. Truth, at this stage, does not matter. The Israeli team must have been thrilled. Galit Raguan, stressing at all times the IDFs difficulty fighting in civilian areas used by Hamas for cover, baldly claimed that hospitals have not been bombed. The World Health Organization has meanwhile documented 600 attacks on Gaza hospitals, clinics, and ambulances since October; there is no functioning hospital at all in Gazas north. Raguan later pointed proudly to a picture of an IDF soldier holding a handgun allegedly found in an incubator for newborns, as if a single pistol would justify the shelling of the hospital it was found inan attack that according to her never happened. Earlier, Tal Becker, a legal adviser to Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Raphael Lemkinthe deeply flawed and compromised architect of the theory of genocidewitnessed the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust. Lemkin did not; he was in the United States by 1941. On such shaky ground, it was very brave for Becker to then argue that South Africas 84-page, tightly argued written submission to the ICJ, sourced and footnoted almost exclusively from U.N. documents, was curated, decontextualized, and manipulative.

The defects of the Genocide Convention run deep. Unlike a charge of common murder or even crimes against humanity, and contrary to our impression of the breadth of its protection, the Convention does not shield everyone: Certain groups, such as ethnic or religious minorities, can be victims, but anyone outside that boundarypolitical groups, say, or the disableddo not qualify. Trickier still, it demands prosecutors prove the perpetrators intent to destroy, an almost impossibly high bar to clear, for a genocidaire rarely brandishes his own smoking gun. What South Africa had to demonstrate on Thursday was an equation: clear expressions of intent plus a persistent pattern of atrocity. Since October 7, and since the order was given for a bombardment without precision or mercy, Israeli leaders have been determined to make that equation easier to solve.

When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu implored the troops and the nation to remember what Amalek did to you, he was citing a biblical argument for acting indiscriminately, and his colleagues have dutifully followed this pattern of collapsing the crucial distinction between civilian and combatant, between war and vengeance. We will eliminate everything, said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, erasing the line between Hamas and not-Hamas. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich did the same with his appeal to take down Gaza, as did National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir when he described the whole Gazan population, guilty or otherwise, as terrorists. As Malcolm Shaw, an international lawyer on the Israeli team, conceded, each of these men are the principals of the war Cabinet that has the power to shape state policy and issue direct orders. Yet Shaw characterized South African lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobis thorough recitation of these quotes as little beyond random assertions, insisting instead that these were rash statements pronounced in a moment of national trauma. Better, Shaw said, to give more weight to the panicked statements of exculpation made by Netanyahu and others in the week before the ICJ hearings.

(Not unrelatedly: Parties to ICJ disputes are allowed to appoint their own ad hoc judge to bulk up the usual 15-member panel. Israel nominated Aharon Barak, former president of the Supreme Court, who solemnly swore to exercise his powers honorably, faithfully, and impartially. On November 1, Barak stated, I agree totally with what the government is doing. Square that circle.)

Throughout the four-hour hearing, Israels legal team referred again and again to Hamas, to its atrocities, to its genocidal desire to end all Jewish life. This is the rhetorical crutcha wind-up toys mechanical catchphrasefor committed defenders of Israels conduct in Gaza, and the early speeches looked more like a boisterous propaganda effort than a calm legal appeal. Yet the constant drawing of attention away from Israels actions and toward those of Hamas also had a subtle legal function. At the core of Israels arguments on Friday was a form of blackmail: a polite, legal, and deferential kind of blackmail, but blackmail nonetheless.

South Africa asked the court to rule that Israel should immediately suspend its military operations in and against Gaza, in the hope that the mass killing of Palestinians might cease. Such a verdict, argued Christopher Staker, one of Israels lawyers, would be an irreparable prejudice to the rights of the respondent, meaning Israels right to defend itself from attack. Because Hamas was not a party to the dispute between Israel and South Africa, it would not be bound by the courts judgment. If Israel were asked to stop bombing and Hamas were not, then by defending itself in any way Israel would be in immediate contravention of the courts ruling. Military action of any kindgenocidal or notwould be illegal. The nation would be, as Becker put it, denied the ability to defend its citizens. The court, legally speaking anyway, is being held responsible for Israels security.

Never mind that the real issue of substance is the methods Israel uses to defend itself, not the right to self-defense as such: It is on this crucial point of rights that the ICJs judgment will stand or fall. If the judges agree with Stakers subtle point and decline to call for a stop to the military campaign, the court will be denounced as morally bankrupt and utterly neutered by anyone who believes the Palestinians have their own right: a right to exist untroubled in the lands of their birth.

However humane and passionate and well reasoned the South African case, it contained a critical flaw. It failed to mention the simple fact of the ongoing warthis harsh, sanguinary war. And its omission meant that the Israeli lawyers were allowed to talk about nothing else. The South African team neednt have feared talking about the conflict: A genocide is still a genocide even if it takes place against the backdrop of war. Indeed, this is the case in every classic example: the Armenian Genocide, Rwanda, Bosnia, the Shoah. But in presenting their argument this way, the South African lawyers showed themselves to be caught in the rhetorical trap that can so easily snare anyone who believes the Convention is a faultless instrument of international justice.

The Conventionand the theory of genocide generallycorrupts our thinking about mass murder. To make the case that a people are suffering or have suffered genocide, advocates and lawyers often have to warp the details of the story so that the victims more closely resemble the familiar archetype. In this instance, it is an ironic and slightly grotesque distortion: To qualify as victims, to earn international sympathy, Palestinians must appear to be just as passive and just as innocent as the Jews once slain in the Holocaust. Then again, bereft of a diplomatic patron and legal linebacker like Israel has in the United States, these are the tactics Palestinians have to resort to: cut out from all other avenues of political pressure, such methods are not first preferences but last resorts.

Thirty years ago, the regime of human rights and international law was hallowed as a salve and corrective for the crimes of the recent past: a progressive vision of cold, hard legal doctrine to tend swiftly to the victims of atrocity anywhere, at any time. But 30 years of hypocrisy and unpunished, uncondemned violations of that same law and those same rights have delivered us breathless to this moment of extreme precarity. The honor and esteem of the court is at stake, and with it the whole value and worth of international law.
Ukrainian military. Stock Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Russian forces have made confirmed progress near Kreminna and Bakhmut, with positional combat operations occurring along the entire front line.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Russian forces have recently made confirmed progress near Kreminna during positional battles along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on 16 January. Geolocation footage posted on 15 January reveals that Russian troops have moved north of Dibrova (southwest of Kreminna).

Additionally, the Russians have achieved minor gains near Bakhmut and continued positional combat operations against Ukrainian forces in that area on 16 January. Geolocation footage from 15 January shows that Russian forces have advanced slightly north of Klishchiivka (southwest of Bakhmut).

To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 16 January:

Russian President Vladimir Putin continued to demonstrate that Russia is not interested in negotiating with Ukraine in good faith and that Russias maximalist objectives in Ukraine  which are tantamount to full Ukrainian and Western surrender  remain unchanged.

Russian President Vladimir Putin notably amplified a longstanding Kremlin effort to set information conditions for future escalations against Baltic countries, likely as part of his wider effort to weaken NATO.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated the importance of defeating Russia in Ukraine at the Davos World Economic Forum on 16 January.

Russian tactical aviation operations are reportedly decreasing near the Sea of Azov, and Russian aviation capabilities may be degraded after Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft and caused severe damage to a Russian Il-22 airborne command post aircraft on the night of 14 January.

At least two state-owned Chinese banks reportedly ordered reviews of their business with Russian clients and will sever ties with sanctioned Russian entities and entities with ties to the Russian defence industry.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov thanked North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui for North Koreas support for Russia in the war during Choes official state visit to Moscow on 16 January.

The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada adopted a law on its second reading to digitalise Ukrainian military records on 16 January.

Russian forces made confirmed advances near Kreminna and Bakhmut as positional engagements continued along the entire frontline.

Russian State Duma deputies from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) proposed a bill on 16 January that would create a legal status for volunteers of the Russian war in Ukraine that would grant them compensation in case of injury or death.

Russian occupation officials from occupied Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk oblasts attended a meeting of Russian municipal representatives in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 16 January.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin sets conditions for future escalations in the Baltic countries as part of the alleged plan to weaken the NATO alliance, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in its Jan. 16 assessment.

According to a Russian state-controlled media outlet, Putin said on Jan. 16 that Latvia and other Baltic countries were throwing Russians abroad, directly affecting Russian security.

Since September 2022, the Latvian government has adopted changes in its immigration law, obligating Russians who live in the country to follow the general procedure for obtaining EU permanent residence status. One of the requirements is to pass the Latvian language exam by November 2023.

Read also: Latvian-led coalition to arm Ukraine with thousands of drones

Maira Roze, the head of the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, announced in a January Latvian LTV TV channel interview that at least 985 Russian citizens must be deported as they failed to apply for a new residence permit by the deadline.

Putin has long employed an expansive definition of Russias sovereignty and trivialized the sovereignty of former Soviet republics, the ISW said. Russia has long claimed that it has the right to protect its compatriots abroad, including ethnic Russians and Russian speakers beyond Russias borders.

The ISW also said that it has not observed any indication that a Russian attack on the Baltics is imminent or likely. Still, the Russian president may be preparing information conditions for future aggressive actions to protect compatriots abroad as a pretext.

Putin did not invade Ukraine in 2022 to defend Russia against a threat from NATO but rather to weaken and ultimately destroy NATO  a goal he still pursues, the ISW said, recalling its previous assessment.

According to the ISW, the Kremlin has recently conducted information operations and hybrid warfare tactics to destabilize NATO. Currently, it is setting conditions for possible aggression against NATO members and their neighbors.

Read also: F-16s for Ukraine: When will they arrive and what can they do?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Sos Mediterranee-run charity rescue ship, Ocean Viking, is moored in Bari, southern Italy, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. The ship was detained by the Italian authorities with the accusation of not having followed the orders of the Italian coast guard. The year has gotten off to a slow start for the rescue ship that typically plies the Mediterranean Sea looking for migrants and refugees in distress. (AP Photo/Paolo Santalucia)

BARI, Italy (AP)  The year has gotten off to a slow start for a rescue ship that typically plies the Mediterranean Sea looking for migrants and refugees in distress. The Ocean Viking has been impounded, its crew accused of having deviated from a designated course, as Italy targets charity groups that operate such vessels.

It was the second time in as many months that Italian authorities detained the 69-meter (225-foot) ship, operated by the European group SOS Mediterranee, while enforcing a year-old Italian government decree that regulates maritime rescue charities.

The hard-right-led government of Premier Giorgia Meloni approved the decree as part of efforts to stem the flow of migrants and would-be asylum-seekers trying to reach Europe. Italian maritime authorities now routinely assign privately operated rescue ships to ports in central and northern Italy, hundreds of miles and several days of navigation away from where they find boats in trouble.

Authorities also forbid the aid groups' vessels from carrying out multiple rescue operations without authorization.

The government says the measures are intended to reduce migration pressure on southern Italy and to regulate sea missions that it maintains only encourage more migrants to attempt risky crossings from North Africa.

To date, 13 or 14 charity-run rescue ships have been impounded for various violations. The aid groups deny their activities provide an incentive and argue that Italy's procedures take their ships out of operation for days while leaving vulnerable migrants to the whims of the Mediterranean.

The SOS Mediterranee is accused of having deviated from its assigned route to a port in Bari, a city on Italys Adriatic coast, where the crew was directed after having rescued 244 people at sea. The Ocean Viking went off course on Dec. 27 to respond to a civilian aircraft's report of a boat in distress some 15 nautical miles away.

It resumed its original course to Bari after corrected coordinates showed the boat was too far away and Italian authorities had dismissed Ocean Viking from the mission.

We are accused of not having followed the orders of the Italian coast guard, and the only fault we have is that of having followed the law of the sea, Alessandro Porro, a senior rescuer and president of SOS Mediterranee's Italy operation.

After arriving as originally scheduled in Bari on Dec. 30, the crew received a 20-day detention order for the ship and a 3,300-euro ($3,600) fine. The detention order expires Friday, and SOS Mediterranee hopes to set out again as soon as possible, weather permitting.

We know this is a tactic to try and stop our operation rather than something that is valid in some way, Mary Finn, another Ocean Viking rescuer, said. And I find it painful to feel that humanitys not on our side or that the authorities arent on our side, because its so obvious when you do this work that what were doing is the right thing to be doing.

Sara Kelany, the migration policy coordinator for Melonis Brothers of Italy party, agreed that saving lives is a priority. But she said the presence of charity-run ships in the Mediterranean must be limited and strictly regulated.

Kelany alleged that many of the groups that organize humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean also have a stated political objective of changing the European Union's migration policies.

In essence, they want to be political actors within the dynamics of immigration, she said in an interview. Immigration is a states national competence, and we cannot allow private organizations to influence our migration policies with their policies.

More than 60% of the 260,000 people who reached Europe last year by crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa first arrived in Italy, according to U.N. and Italian statistics.

Meanwhile, more than 3,000 people drowned at sea while attempting the journey in 2023, according to the International Organization for Migration, which estimates that more than 28,800 people overall have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014.

It is unclear what, if any, effect the Italian governments regulation of maritime rescue groups has had on the number of migrants who made it to Europe or were lost at sea. Charity ships rescue only around 8% of the asylum-seekers who reach Italy, down from a peak of 41% in 2017. Most either landed in their own boats or were brought ashore by the Italian coast guard.

After taking office in late 2022, Melonis government pledged to curb migrant arrivals. Instead, Italy saw them sharply increase, with more than 157,000 in 2023 compared to 105,000 the year before. On one day in September, more than 7,000 migrants arrived on the island of Lampedusa.

Meloni has promoted deals designed to keep people from charting out for Europe and also formulated a development plan for Africa aimed at giving citizens greater economic opportunities so they won't be desperate to leave.

Details of the plan, named for Enrico Mattei, the former president of Italian oil company ENI, which has strategic interests in several North African countries, haven't been released.

Beyond that, Meloni was on hand in Tunisia in June when the president of the EU's executive commission president signed an accord with the Tunisian government pledging economic aid in exchange for help preventing departures.

More recently, Meloni reached a bilateral deal with Albania that calls for establishing two centers in the Balkan nation to process the fast-tracked asylum applications of migrants who were rescued by Italian navy, coast guard and border police vessels.

The Constitutional Court of Albania suspended the deal pending a review, but Prime Minister Edi Rama has said he expects it to go forward.

___

Follow AP's coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  In an appearance on CNBCs Squawk Box on Wednesday morning, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned against demonizing Trump supporters.

I think people should be a little more respectful of our fellow citizens, Dimon said.

Ron DeSantis super PAC begins laying off staffers: report

Dimon, who has been an outspoken critic of former President Trump since his arrival on the political scene eight years ago, went on to say, I do not like how [Trump] said things about Mexico  but he was not wrong about some of these critical issues, and that is why they are voting for him.

In recent weeks, President Biden and his re-election campaign have made terms like extreme MAGA Republicans a central part of their campaign messaging. However, Dimon, who has thrown his support behind former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the 2024 presidential election, warned Democrats away from scapegoating Trump supporters.

I think this negative talk about MAGA is going to hurt Bidens election campaign, Dimon said.

Former President Donald Trump remains the clear fronter runner in the Republican field, and all signs point towards a Biden-Trump rematch in the 2024 presidential election.

According to polling conducted by The Hill, former President Trump currently holds a one-point lead over President Biden in a head-to-head matchup.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
On Friday, District Judge Aileen Cannon issued a new order in the Donald Trump classified documents case adding to the mountain of evidence that she is firmly in the former presidents pocket. Trump appointed Cannon in 2020 and the Senate confirmed her appointment in the days after he lost the 2020 election. Its deeply offensive to the rule of law for judges to bend the law to benefit those who put them on the bench. Sadly, Cannon does just that.

Cannons new ruling rejected special counsel Jack Smiths entirely standard request that she order Trump to state whether he intends to rely on an advice of counsel defense ahead of the trial, currently scheduled for May 20. Advance notice of the defense helps expedite a trial because defendants asserting it need to provide additional discovery to prosecutorsraising the defense means that defendants must disclose all communications with their attorneys, as the defense waives the attorneyclient privilege.

Judge Cannons brief order asserted that Smiths motion was not amenable to proper consideration at this juncture, prior to at least partial resolution of pretrial motions and further discovery.

Sound innocuous? Its anything but. Instead, its part of a pattern weve already seen of Cannon laying the groundwork for delaying Trumps trialuntil its too late for a jury to be empaneled and the case tried to verdict before the election.

That is, of course, just what Trump has been angling for.

Back in November, Cannon issued an order slow-walking all pretrial motions in the case. As Politico reported, she has postponed key pretrial deadlines, and she has added further slack into the schedule simply by taking her time to resolve some fairly straightforward matters.

As Brian Greer, a former Central Intelligence Agency attorney, told Politico, Cannons decision not to expedite pretrial motions could be seen as a stealth attempt to delay the ultimate trial date without actually announcing that yet.

New York University law professor Andrew Weissmann, the mild-mannered and knowledgeable former deputy to special counsel Robert S. Mueller, put it with uncharacteristic bluntness: Judge Cannons bias is showing over and over again. On Twitter he declared her to be in the bag for Trump.

By continuing to maintain the trial date while rendering the date virtually impossible to keep, Cannon evidently hopes to maintain plausible deniability from charges like Greers or Weissmanns. At the same time, her pretense that the trial will commence on schedule prevents any attempt by Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis to seek to advance into May the scheduling of her prosecution of Trump for attempting to interfere with Georgias 2020 election.

All of this suggests that Judge Cannon has learned all the wrong lessons from her first, legally untenable pro-Trump ruling of September 2022, which was slapped down quickly by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

In that initial decision, Cannon blatantly violated precedent to help Trump delay Smiths national security prosecution by granting Trumps legally groundless request to appoint a special master to rule on the propriety of the FBIs seizure of the classified documents from his country-club home. The appellate court quickly reversed Cannons ruling as improper judicial interference with an entirely lawful executive branch exercise of investigative power. Such interference would grind our entire criminal justice system to a halt unless a special exception exists for Trump and him alone.

Nor could Cannon pretend otherwise. Indeed, she granted Trumps unprecedented request on the astonishing basis that the investigation and treatment of a former president is  unique  , thereby saying the quiet part out loud by defying the first principle of a society based on the rule of law: No one, not even the most powerful person, is above the law.

As the reliably conservative 11th Circuit stated in quickly reversing Cannons ruling: To create a special exception [for a former president] would defy our Nations foundational principle that our law applies to all, without regard to numbers, wealth, or rank.

Unfortunately, that humiliating admonishmentas Los Angeles Times columnist Harry Litman put itseems not to have taught Cannon the lesson that she mustnt play favorites with the man who put her in judicial robes and who might yet, should he return to power, elevate her to a still higher court. Rather, the cynical lesson she appears to have extracted from her slapdown is to be more careful going forward to camouflage her favoritism.

Our legal system entrusts trial judges with a wide swath of discretionary decisions in ruling on evidence, framing jury instructions, and controlling other facets of the cases they try, with barely any appellate supervision. As a result, its difficult to imagine that anything that deserves to be called justice will emerge from a criminal proceeding over which Cannon presides in which the fate of her benefactor, and thus her own career, is at stake.

It may well be that Smith is biding his time before moving to recuse this manifestly compromised jurist. He may be waiting until she finally does what seems inevitableorders that the trial date be vacated. If so, by that time, he is likely to have even more evidence of Cannons bias, both actual and apparent, to place before the court of appeals.

Lets hope it wont be too late for Trumps alleged crimes against the nations security be fairly tried before the election.
ASHEVILLE  A lawsuit filed by Buncombe County against a Mission Health physician contracting company will proceed, after a federal judge ruling Jan. 17. The judge denied the contractor's motions to dismiss, strike and stay.

The complaint, filed by Buncombe County in November 2022 in U.S. District Court of Eastern Tennessee, alleged that the Knoxville-based contractor, TeamHealth, created an elaborate system to bill patients for more severe visits than they presented, a process known as upcoding. Mission is not part of the lawsuit. HCA Healthcare contracts with TeamHealth to staff physicians in Mission emergency departments.

TeamHealth, the county alleged, attempted to conceal its overbilling scheme routing billings through subsidiary entities that contract with the parent company.

Mission Hospital is seen from the South Slope June 20, 2023.

Buncombe is suing on behalf of workers on its group health plan. The county currently employs 1,740 people, according to spokesperson Kassi Day.

The county sued under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, typically reserved for organized crime, conspiracy to commit RICO, unjust enrichment and declaratory relief for the company to bill prudently.

"We see this latest court ruling as nothing more than a procedural step, and in no way changes TeamHealths continued position that this lawsuit is frivolous and without merit," TeamHealth spokesperson Josh Hopson said in a statement.

"Buncombe Countys campaign attacks clinicians who provide top-quality care to the citizens of Buncombe County when they are the most vulnerable 24/7, 365 days a year. We continue to stand by them and the care they provide with upmost integrity."

Buncombe's lawsuit, however, distinguishes the doctors from the company's billing practices.

"The polarity as between TeamHealth and its doctors is reflected by the fact that in multiple class actions its own doctors have sued alleging that TeamHealth had failed to share with them certain patient billing revenues known as resident value units," the county's complaint reads.

According to its website, more than 15,000 clinicians are affiliated with TeamHealth across the country. The staffing agency doesn't describe the nature of the affiliation, or the types of providers. The Citizen Times asked Hopson for clarification.

Almost all Mission TeamHealth doctors reside in Western North Carolina.

Buncombe sought to bring these claims through three classes based on the unjust enrichment, RICO and declaratory judgment claims.

TeamHealth initially moved to dismiss, strike and stay the lawsuit in January 2023, then refiled in March after Buncombe amended its complaint.

County v TH Order Doc 50 by Mitchell Black on Scribd

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The emergency room staffing company argued that Buncombes claim did not meet two of the four elements necessary for a substantive racketeering claim: being part of an enterprise and committing racketeering activity.

TeamHealth argued that because Buncombe did not argue a plausible RICO claim, the conspiracy claim failed.

It also argued that the unjust enrichment claim failed because the county did not meet the heightened requirements for fraud-based RICO claims. TeamHealth also argued that the county did not establish that TeamHealths scheme would create future harm, eliminating the declaratory judgment claim.

More: ER billing fraud inside Mission? Buncombe files class-action lawsuit against TeamHealth

More: Mission ER fraud suit: contractor TeamHealth sued for more than $5M under 'RICO'

Judge Clifton L. Corker disagreed, denying each of these assertions.

TeamHealth moved to remove the alleged classes from the record, saying that members of the class did not have enough in common. Clifton argued that their arguments would be better reserved for the class certification stage, and ultimately denied TeamHealths claims.

Clifton denied TeamHealths motion to stay  halting discovery while he decided on the other actions  because he denied its other motions.

Buncombe County is contracting with law firms in Salisbury and Greensboro, and Brentwood, Tennessee and Tampa, Florida on the case.

"We are happy to proceed with the next steps in this case," Mona Lisa Wallace, one of the county's attorneys, said in a Jan. 17 news release.

Wallace's Salisbury firm, Wallace and Graham, represents plaintiffs in the original antitrust lawsuit against HCA Healthcare, a Nashville-based corporation that bought the Mission Health system in 2019 for $1.5 billion.

Her firm also represented two TeamHealth Mission Emergency Department doctors who filed a whistleblower complaint against the Mission Health hospital system, alleging HCA and TeamHealth overbilled patients by assigning superfluous tests. There has been no further action in this lawsuit since the summer because the North Carolina attorney general and the U.S. Department of Justice did not take on the claim.

This story will be updated.

Mitchell Black covers Buncombe County and health care for the Citizen Times. Email him at mblack@citizentimes.com or follow him on Twitter @MitchABlack. Please help support local journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: HCA Healthcare contractor TeamHealth lawsuit by Buncombe proceeds
PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD)  After Crossroads Mall sued the Kalamazoo County bus system for using its roads but not paying, the lawsuit has been dismissed.

On Tuesday, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuits three federal counts with prejudice.

The Court determines that Plaintiff has not stated a claim on which relief may be granted as to its federal claims, U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering wrote in her opinion.

She wrote that the mall has not alleged that the presence of buses deprives it of its right to use and enjoy the Property beyond what (the mall) has permitted by operating a commercial business.

The lawsuit, filed in May 2023, claims the defendants  the Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority, Kalamazoo County, the city of Portage and Central County Transportation Authority  have used the malls property since 2006, when a bus stop was first installed there, without the consent of Crossroads Mall or its predecessors and without an easement. Crossroads Mall bought the property in 2021.

Crossroads Mall sues Metro bus, seeking money for roads

In its lawsuit, the mall claims that about 3,136 buses travel through the property each month, and each illegal and improper bus trip allegedly exerts an extreme amount of weight, pressure, and wear and tear on the Property, such as potholes, damage to landscaping, excessive traffic and loss of business.

In Tuesdays opinion, the judge also declined to exercise jurisdiction over two state counts, instead dismissing them without prejudice.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
China's police chief meets with Iranian counterpart

Xinhua) 09:22, January 17, 2024

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meets with Iranian Police Chief Ahmad Reza Radan in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with Iranian Police Chief Ahmad Reza Radan on Tuesday in Beijing.

Wang expressed the hope that the two sides would work together to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, noting that the leaders met twice in 2023 to steer the direction of the development of China-Iran relations.

Wang also expressed the hope that the two sides would maintain regular strategic communication, strengthen practical cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, combating transnational crime and law enforcement capacity building, and continuously upgrade law enforcement and security cooperation to contribute to the security and stability of the two countries and the region.

Radan expressed Iran's willingness to advance exchanges and cooperation steadily with China in the field of law enforcement.

Wang and Radan jointly signed a memorandum of understanding on law enforcement cooperation after the meeting.

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meets with Iranian Police Chief Ahmad Reza Radan in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A Texas judge recently struck down an air pollution permit that was issued using a controversial and unofficial rule that requires challengers to live within 1 mile of a polluting facility.

What happened?

In December 2023, Travis County District Court Judge Amy Clark Meachum reversed a 2022 decision by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), which had denied a request for a pollution permit hearing, as Inside Climate News reported (and the Texas Standard republished).

The permit in question was for an expansion of Max Midstreams Seahawk Oil Terminal on the Gulf Coasts Lavaca Bay. Local shrimpers, led by Diane Wilson, had requested the permit hearing, arguing that Max Midstream had underrepresented expected emissions.

However, TCEQ asserted that the shrimpers lacked standing because they lived more than a mile from the new and expanded terminal, and the challenge was denied.

As a result of the new court ruling, TCEQ is now required to hold a hearing on all relevant and material disputed issues of fact.

Why is the 1-mile rule concerning?

In order to file an objection against a pollution permit in Texas, the filer must be deemed an affected person who will be impacted by the pollution more than the general public.

The TCEQ has been using the 1-mile rule since at least 2010 to determine whether someone is an affected person, and people living outside of that parameter cannot file an objection.

However, this rule is not found in any federal or state laws, nor is it in any TCEQ department documents, as Inside Climate News reported last year.

The rule is based on the notion that pollution does not travel further than 1 mile. However, pollution can travel much further depending on the wind. For instance, we now know that freeway pollution can drift over a mile from its source. And some types of air pollutants can travel hundreds of miles, affecting other cities and states.

This practice is arbitrary and unlawful, Erin Gaines, a lawyer with the nonprofit Earthjustice, told Inside Climate News, per the Texas Tribune.

Whats being done about the 1-mile rule?

Though courts rarely get involved with Texas pollution permits, according to the reporting, this was the second such ruling in a matter of weeks. Previously, the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans struck down another permit for an East Texas gas terminal.

The latest reversal was thanks to the push by Wilson and the shrimpers group. Wilson has been outspoken against pollution in the state for years, and in 2019 she won a landmark case against Formosa Plastics for illegal dumping of toxic plastic waste on Texas Gulf Coast.

Meanwhile, a growing number of cities, states, and countries are working to clean up their act to reduce harmful pollution. For instance, Wales is now banning most new roadway projects, Los Angeles and other California cities outlawed most gas power in all newly constructed buildings (although these restrictions were later challenged), and New Jersey is banning the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
A judge threatened to bounce Donald Trump out of his defamation trial. King Charles and Kate Middleton are both undergoing medical procedures. And the freeze that has been gripping much of the nation will ease its hold.

 Hey, hey! Laura Davis here. Its Wednesday! Ready for the news? Lets go.

But first: The end of punny signs.  Because we can't ever have any fun these days, federal officials are banning funny electronic messages on highway signs.

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here.

 Got a minute? Take this survey to help us enhance our coverage of the 2024 election.

Trump, heckling and threats in the courtroom

A federal judge threatened to kick former President Donald Trump from the courtroom Wednesday after he ignored warnings to keep silent during testimony by writer E. Jean Carroll during a civil defamation trial. Trump traded snips with Judge Lewis Kaplan after Carroll's lawyers complained that the jury could hear him disparaging the former advice columnist's testimony.  Here's the latest from the courtroom.

What is the trial about? Carroll, 80, claims Trump, 77, raped her almost 30 years ago. The trial will determine what, if any, damages Trump might owe Carroll after he publicly denied her allegations in 2019 when he was president. In May, a federal jury found Trump liable for defaming and sexually abusing Carroll.

E. Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan federal court on May 8, 2023 in New York City.

A couple of royal medical procedures

Princess Kate has been admitted to the hospital for a "planned abdominal surgery," Kensington Palace announced Wednesday. The Princess of Wales, 42, underwent a "successful" surgery on Tuesday and was expected to be in the hospital 10 to 14 days before returning home to recover. Also headed for some sick days is King Charles III, 75, who will be treated for an enlarged prostate, the palace said Wednesday. The king's public engagements will be postponed for a brief period of rest as he heals.  Here's what we know about King Charles. And what we know about Kate.

All this royal health news ignites gossip. But here's why you should mind your business.

Real quick

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

So long, subzero temps!

If you're sick of the bitter cold, there is some good news on the horizon: Next week looks to be significantly milder nearly coast to coast. In fact, about 90% of the nation should see normal to above-normal temperatures by the middle of next week, according to AccuWeather. But before that, we have to endure more cold: After a slightly milder Wednesday, a new surge of colder air is forecast to drop south through the end of the week. After that, temperatures will be 8 to 14 degrees above normal in the Plains and the Midwest next week, forecasters said  a far cry from the brutal, record-cold temperatures those regions have experienced this week.  Here's the full weather outlook.

Genevieve Kuhar, left, and Brody Kuhar play in the snow with their dog Maggie at Overton Park in Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday.

Houthis added back to global terrorist list

After waves of attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Biden administration Wednesday relisted Iranian-backed Houthis as a specially designated global terrorist group. Since last Thursday, the Pentagon, with initial military support from Great Britain, has launched three attacks on sites used by the Houthis to target and launch missiles at commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the Red Sea attacks "fit the textbook definition of terrorism" in a statement announcing the return of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, to the terrorist list.  What to know about the designation.

 Live updates: 2 hostages were killed after being featured in Hamas video, kibbutz says.

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hello: laura@usatoday.com. This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: E. Jean Carroll, Donald Trump trial, King Charles, Kate: Wednesday's news
Donald Trump left the court on Wednesday and accused the judge of having "Trump Derangement Syndrome" - REUTERS

The judge overseeing Donald Trumps defamation trial threatened to exclude him from court after he was accused of calling the case a witch hunt in earshot of the jury.

Mr Trump, 77, was found liable in a civil trial last year for sexually abusing and defaming E Jean Carroll. Judge Lewis Kaplan banned the former president from denying the assault happened in front of jurors hearing a second defamation case this week.

The new case in a Manhattan court focuses on comments he made in 2019 accusing Ms Carroll of making up the allegations to sell books.

On Wednesday, Shawn Crowley, Ms Carrolls lawyer, complained that Mr Trump had been making loud comments to his legal team discrediting the 80-year-old while she was on the witness stand.

Mr Kaplan had initially urged Mr Trump to take special care when conferring with counsel so the jury does not overhear.

But when the federal court in New York broke for lunch, Ms Crowley told the judge Mr Trump had continued making many statements during Ms Carrolls testimony, such as it really is a witch hunt and it really is a con job.

She added that Mr Trump said its true after the court was shown a video he shared on Truth Social last year in which he said he had no idea who Ms Carroll was.

Mr Kaplan said that while Mr Trump has the right to be present here, that right can be forfeited if he was disruptive and disregards court orders.

He added: Mr Trump, I hope I dont have to consider excluding you from the trial.

Mr Trump, who was sitting at the defence bench, threw his hands up in response.

The judge then added: I understand youre probably eager for me to do that.

The Republican frontrunner shot back, saying: I would love it.

I know you would, Mr Kaplan said. You just cant control yourself in this circumstance, apparently.

Ms Carroll claimed Mr Trump meant she was 'too ugly to assault' when he said 'shes not my type' in 2019 - Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Writing on Truth Social Mr Trump said Mr Kaplan suffers from Trump Derangement Syndrome as anyone can see from his last outburst against me in the Court.

I did nothing wrong, except defend myself from false, malicious, and defamatory accusations by somebody writing a book.

Mr Trump, who claimed the whole New York System is RIGGED against him, added that he did not attend the first trial because his lawyers advised him it was beneath me as a former president of the United States.

He also criticised Mr Kaplan for refusing to postpone the case by one day so he could attend his mother-in-laws funeral on Thursday.

In the afternoon session there were terse exchanges between Mr Trumps lawyer, Alina Habba, and Mr Kaplan. Ms Habba requested a mistrial on the grounds Ms Carroll said she deleted threatening messages she received on social media after receiving a subpoena. Ms Carroll said she stopped deleting the messages in 2023. Ms Habbas request was denied by Mr Kaplan.

Tthe court heard how Mr Trumps claims that Ms Carroll was a liar who made up allegations that he sexually assaulted her in a department store fitting room in 1996 had impacted the journalist.

Ms Carroll, who is seeking more than $10 million in damages, said Mr Trump meant she was too ugly to assault when he said shes not my type in 2019.

Ms Carroll also described how she struggled to get up in the morning and began avoiding mirrors after she started receiving thousands of emails attacking her appearance.

The court was shown several messages sent to Ms Carroll which threatened violence, including one which called for her to be publicly executed and others that warned she would be raped.

Ms Carroll said the messages have never stopped and she still received scores and scores of emails, sometimes hundreds a day.

Fearing for her safety, she bought bullets for a gun she had inherited from her father which she now kept by her bed, she said.

Asked about one of Mr Trumps statements in which he said Ms Carroll must pay dearly for her claims, she said she had paid just about as dearly as is possible to pay.

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 President Donald Trumps physical and verbal reactions to writer E. Jean Carrolls testimony against him prompted a judge to threaten to remove Trump from the federal courtroom, according to multiple outlets.

Shawn Crowley, an attorney for Carroll, told Judge Lewis Kaplan before a midmorning break on Wednesday that Trump had been loudly saying things, ABC News reported. She repeated her complaint a second time after jurors filed out for a lunch break.

Journalists in the New York City courtroom, where video cameras are banned, observed Trump shaking his head, scoffing and angrily speaking with his attorney Alina Habba.

At various points, Trump reportedly remarked She now seems to have gotten her memory back, and Its false. He also reportedly called the judge a nasty guy, and used terms like con job and witch hunt.

During the lunch break, Kaplan said he would make Trump leave if he continued to disrupt proceedings.

Mr. Trump has the right to be present here, Kaplan said, according to ABC News. That right can be forfeited and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which is what has been reported to me.

Mr. Trump, I hope I dont have to consider excluding you from the trial, he said. I understand you are probably very eager for me to do that.

I would love it, Trump replied.

I know you would, Kaplan said, according to CNN. You just cant control yourself in this circumstance, apparently.

You cant either, Trump muttered, per The Associated Press.

This is the second time Carroll has shared her story on the stand, but the first time Trump has heard her in person. He did not attend a trial last April that Carroll brought under New Yorks Adult Survivors Act.

Lawyer Alina Habba leaves Trump Tower for Manhattan federal court on Wednesday.

Lawyer Alina Habba leaves Trump Tower for Manhattan federal court on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Kaplan had taken a gentler tone with Trump. After the midmorning break, the judge reportedly said he was going to ask Mr. Trump to take special care to keep his voice down when hes conferring with counsel so that the jury does not overhear it.

CNN described the judge as not too stern, in a departure from the tone Kaplan has taken in various tense exchanges with Habba.

In one particularly charged moment, Habba requested that Kaplan adjourn the trial on Thursday so Trump could attend his mother-in-laws funeral  a request the judge had previously heard and denied, as Trump is not required to be in court himself.

I will hear no further argument on it. None. Do you understand that word? None. Please sit down, Kaplan reportedly said.

Habba then told the judge: I will not be spoken to that way, Your Honor.

Kaplan instructed her to sit down.

Habbas cross-examination of Carroll drew further admonishment from the judge Wednesday afternoon.

When Habba could not readily provide a copy of Carrolls deposition after making reference to it, Kaplan reportedly told her: We are going to do it my way in the courtroom, and that is all there is to it.

When Habba attempted to read from a threatening message Carroll received that had not yet been entered into evidence, Kaplan interjected, reportedly dismissing the jury for an impromptu break.

You should refresh your memory about how it is you get a document into evidence, Kaplan told Habba, per CNN.

Carroll maintains that Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. Trump forcefully denies the accusation, and has called Carroll a liar who is making things up to sell books.

A panel of New York jurors is expected to decide how much Trump should pay for defamation. Carroll is asking for upward of $10 million.

The former president is seen waving to spectators as he leaves Trump Tower for court on Wednesday. The nature of the red marks on his hand was not immediately clear.

The former president is seen waving to spectators as he leaves Trump Tower for court on Wednesday. The nature of the red marks on his hand was not immediately clear.

Carroll, an advice columnist, said in her testimony that Trump shattered my reputation, AP reported.

Now, Im known as the liar, the fraud and the whack job, Carroll reportedly said, adding that she receives far fewer letters asking for advice than she used to. She has reportedly fielded hundreds of messages threatening violence, some of which made her fear she might be shot.

After Kaplan threatened to toss him out, Trump posted complaints about the judge to his Truth Social page, expressing regret that he did not attend the first trial with Carroll last year.

The Judge in the Trial that I am attending today is a totally biased and hostile person, Trump wrote.

In another post, he said he feels an obligation to be at every moment of this ridiculous trial because we have a seething and hostile Clinton-appointed Judge, Lewis Kaplan, who suffers from a major case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

The court system, Trump wrote, was crooked and RIGGED.

Trump also staged a press conference after court adjourned. He used the time to further criticize the judge  again calling him a nasty guy  and to repeat his claim that he never had anything to do with Carroll.

I should be given money, given damages, Trump added.

Last year, a jury in a separate trial found that Trump sexually abused and defamed Carroll, which is why the currently empaneled jury is focusing on monetary damages, rather than the veracity of Carrolls claims.

Although the previous jury determined Trump did not technically rape Carroll under the letter of the law, Kaplan said the claim was substantially true under common modern parlance.

Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website.

Related...
NEW YORK  Donald Trump taunted the judge at his Manhattan defamation trial Wednesday as he was threatened with expulsion for mouthing off about E. Jean Carroll in front of the jury after being warned to stay quiet.

Mr. Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited, and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which is what has been reported to me, Manhattan Federal Court Judge Lewis Kaplan said.

Mr. Trump, I hope I dont have to consider excluding you from the trial ... I understand youre probably very eager for me to do that.

Trump then brazenly replied, I would love it.

I know you would, the judge said, because you just cant control yourself in this circumstance.

The tense back-and-forth came after Carrolls lawyer, Shawn Crowley, informed Kaplan outside the jurys presence that Trump had continued to criticize Carroll while she was on the stand after being admonished by the judge for doing so in the morning.

It is a witch hunt, Crowley quoted Trump, saying he was also overheard saying, It really is a con job, and, Its true, when Carrolls lawyers played footage of him deriding Carroll for the jury.

The attorney noted that some jurors were sitting closer to Trump than Carrolls lawyers when they overheard him. Earlier in the morning, Crowley told Kaplan of other comments Trump made, prompting the judge to lightly admonish Trump, warning he take special care to keep his voice down when conferring with counsel so that the jury does not overhear it.

Carroll, 80, took the witness stand on the second day of her defamation trial against Trump, who another jury determined sexually abused and defamed her last May.

The abuse aimed at her after Trump called her a liar continued long after he left the White House and shattered her reputation, the advice columnist told a packed courtroom as the former president glared at her from the audience.

Hey, lady, youre a fraud, read one message Carroll received this week, she told the jury.

The jury selected to decide the case on trial will determine how much Trump owes Carroll for defamatory statements he made in June 2019 after she first accused him of assaulting her in a Bergdorf Goodman changing room in the 1990s  the basis of the first lawsuit she filed against Trump when he was still president. Trump denied assaulting Carroll because he said she wasnt his type and accused her of being a democratic operative who fabricated the incident to sell books.

Im here because I was assaulted by Donald Trump, and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened, Carroll said Wednesday. He lied, and he shattered my reputation.

Asked what she thought Trump meant when he said she wasnt his type, Carroll said, It means Im too ugly to assault.

To have the president of the United States, one of the most powerful persons on earth, calling me a liar for three days and saying Im a liar 26 times  I counted them  it ended the world that I had been living in, and I entered a new world, Carroll said.

Known for decades as a respected advice columnist for Elle, Carroll told the jury, Now Im known as a liar and a fraud and a wack job.

Kaplan determined Trump was liable for defamation in September in light of the jurys finding at the last trial. The defamation claim in that case stemmed from a Truth Social post in October 2022 calling Carroll a complete con job. Kaplan found Trumps comments as president in the other lawsuit were substantially the same.

The case on trial stems from the first lawsuit Carroll brought against Trump years ago, which was delayed as he argued on appeal that presidents couldnt be sued.

Wednesdays proceedings got off to a dramatic start when Trumps lawyer, Alina Habba, made yet another request to the judge to postpone Thursdays proceedings so Trump could attend his mother-in-laws funeral in Florida without missing trial. When Kaplan denied the request and told Habba to sit down, the defense attorney scolded the judge for his tone.

Trump is slated to take the stand as one of two witnesses for the defense. The other is Carol Martin, a friend Carroll confided in about the assault decades ago. He wont be permitted to deny sexually assaulting Carroll or maliciously defaming her.

Trump came to the trial Tuesday fresh off the heels of his victory in the Iowa caucuses, left for a rally in New Hampshire before Carrolls attorney gave her opening argument, and was back in New York Wednesday morning. He declined to attend the last trial with Carroll when he had a chance to defend himself against the sexual abuse allegations.

In addition to the litigation with Carroll, Trump is facing four criminal cases in which hes pleaded not guilty as well as a slew of lawsuits.

---------
While sorting through leaves littering a forest floor in the Democratic Republic of Congo, researchers spotted something peculiar on the underside of a leaf: a small sheet of web with an eight-legged creature tucked inside.

Scientists were exploring Salonga National Park, searching for salticids, a type of jumping spider, according to a study published Jan. 11 in the journal Zootaxa. Between November and December 2022, they searched the forest floor, sometimes using traps and sieves, to sort through leaf litter and debris.

Thats when they came across eight specimens with distinct genitalia and other features and discovered three new six-eyed species: Thiratoscirtus iyomii, Thiratoscirtus kalisia and Thiratoscirtus khonvoum.

A male Thiratoscirtus iyomii specimen was distinguished by his genitalia.

Discover more new species

Thousands of new species are found each year. Here are three of our most eye-catching stories from the past week.

 Carnivorous flying saucer creature  with blade-shaped teeth

 Large-eyed mountain creature found hiding in stream in China

Shining blue creature  with false head  found basking in sun

Thiratoscirtines are a type of leaf-litter dwelling spiders found in Central and West Africa forests, study co-author Brogan Pett told McClatchy News in a Jan. 16 email. They are particularly abundant in rainforests.

Because the creatures live in incredibly difficult to access locations there is limited knowledge about their behavior in the wild, according to Pett.

Little is known of their specific ecology although they are certainly day active and will likely eat the majority of invertebrates of a similar size, including flying, ground active and fossorial ones, Pett said. As regards webbing for nesting, they likely make small sheets of web on the underside of leaves and tuck themselves in at night (this is how several were caught).

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in central Africa and borders nine countries: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Salonga National Park is in the center of the country.

Thiratoscirtus iyomii

The team examined four specimens of Thiratoscirtus iyomii, one male and three females, to diagnose the new species, according to the study.

Researchers said male spiders have a brown body covered with five distinctive spots of white bristles forming a wide U-shape and some fluorescent patches. The spiders chelicerae, which are like its jaws, are orange-brown and teeth, including a very large and tusk-like tooth. They have brown legs and a beige abdomen.

Female spiders have similar coloring to males, but their legs are pale yellowish-brown and their abdomen is streaky brown, scientists said. Females lack some of the same teeth as males.

A female Thiratoscirtus iyomii with several patches of fluorescence.

The species was partially distinguished by its genitalia, according to experts. Males have a broad and long embolus  which is used to transmit sperm to a mate during reproduction  and females have a small, spherical spermatheca  which stores sperm from males.

Thiratoscirtus iyomii was named after a great and powerful war chief, Iyomi, who was capable of miracles, researchers said.

Thiratoscirtus kalisia

Only one female specimen of Thiratoscirtus kalisia was collected, researchers said.

Scientists said the spider was distinguished as a new species by her unique genitalia, specifically her unusual and very large epigynal region  which is a female spiders external genitals.

Thiratoscirtus kalisia have dark brown chelicerae.

The spiders have a deep dark brown body with a very dark patch around their eyes, experts said. They have some fluroescence on their bodies, and their sternum is deep red brown.

Their chelicerae are dark brown with three teeth, and their legs are a darker brown, according to the study. Their abdomen is pale brown with alternating bands of light and dark patches.

The new species was named after Kalisia, a creator god and guardian of hunters and dense forests in the DRC, researchers said.

Thiratoscirtus khonvoum

Researchers collected and examined three female specimens to identify Thiratoscirtus khonvoum as a new species.

Like the other two species, Thiratoscirtus khonvoum was also distinguished by its genitals, particularly its very long fertilization duct and the very large anterior coils of its copulatory duct, which put sperm into the spermatheca.

Thiratoscirtus khonvoum has a lighter orange band crossing the middle of its upper body.

These spiders have a dark orangish brown body with a light orange band and small patches of fluorescence, scientists said. Their chelicerae are deep red, and their legs are light brown to pale cream.

The new species was named after the supreme god and creator Khonvoum in Bambuti Pygmy mythology, experts said.

Jumping swamp creature with 8 yellow legs discovered in Botswana. Its a new species

Carnivorous flying saucer creature  with blade-shaped teeth  is a new species

Cryptic 8-legged critter  carrying 40 eggs  found in Ecuador. Its a new species
NEW YORK  A federal judge threatened to kick Donald Trump out of court Wednesday after the former president made repeated comments within earshot of the jury hearing a civil defamation trial against him.

Trump muttered that the case is a witch hunt, among other similar comments, according to a lawyer for the writer E. Jean Carroll, who is suing Trump over derogatory comments he made about her while he was president.

The episode prompted a stern rebuke from U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who repeatedly tussled with Trump and his lawyers during a testy courtroom session Wednesday morning.

Mr. Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited, and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which is what has been reported to me, the judge said.



Kaplan then spoke directly to Trump, who was seated at the defense table. Mr. Trump, I hope I dont have to consider excluding you from the trial, he said. I understand you are probably very eager for me to do that.

At that point, Trump threw up his hands, saying, I would love it. I would love it.

I know you would. I know you would, Kaplan replied. You just cant control yourself in this circumstance, apparently.

Trump shot back: You cant either.





Kaplans threat came after Carrolls lawyers complained twice that Trump had muttered during Carrolls testimony in ways they believed the jury could hear.

Carroll lawyer Shawn Crowley told the judge that Trump had said it is a witch hunt and it really is a con job, echoing comments he has previously made about the case. After jurors watched a 2023 video of Trump calling an earlier trial against Carroll a witch hunt and a disgrace, Trump said, its true, according to Crowley.

Kaplan, who has been a federal judge since 1994, also oversaw an earlier trial in a case brought by Carroll, who has accused Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. The jury in that case ordered Trump to pay Carroll $5 million in damages after finding Trump sexually abused and defamed her. In the new trial, which began this week, Carroll is seeking at least $10 million in damages.

Trump never set foot in the courtroom during his first Carroll trial last year. But he attended the first two days of the current trial.

After a lunch break, one of Trumps lawyers, Michael Madaio, asked Kaplan to recuse himself, saying Kaplan had immediately accepted the assertions of Crowley, whom Madaio noted was once a law clerk for Kaplan, and that Kaplan had displayed general hostility toward the defense.

Kaplan replied: Denied.

Trumps agita came as he watched Carroll testify for hours about how Trumps denigrating comments have affected her. After Carroll came forward with her rape allegation in 2019, Trump claimed he had never met her and suggested she was motivated by money.



On the witness stand, Carroll told the jury that Trumps comments ended the world that I had been living in.

"Well, to have the president of the United States, one of the most powerful persons on earth, calling me a liar for three days and saying Im a liar 26 times  I counted them  it ended the world that I had been living in, she said. And I entered a new world."

Though Carroll said she was once known as a writer, "now Im known as a liar and a fraud and a whack job as a result of Trumps remarks.

Carrolls lawyers also asked her about the thousands of insulting and threatening social media comments she received and has continued to receive in the wake of Trumps verbal attacks.

Asked about derogatory messages about her appearance, Carroll replied: "It makes it hard for a girl to get up in the morning."

"I know Im old, I know Im 80, I know Im not a pretty young woman, but it makes it tough to go on with the day, she said.

Before the trial began, Kaplan ruled that Trumps comments about Carroll while he was president were defamatory, so the only issue for the jury to decide is how much money Trump should pay in damages.

Trump has nonetheless continued to attack Carroll on social media, calling the case a hoax and hurling numerous other insults and allegations even as court was in session. On Wednesday, Carroll's lawyers even introduced one of Trump's posts from Tuesday into evidence to demonstrate Trumps relentlessness.

Trump also repeatedly denigrated Kaplan on his social media account.

During cross examination, Trump attorney Alina Habba suggested Carroll had enjoyed the attention she received after she accused Trump of rape, questioning Carroll about multiple television appearances she made to promote a book in which she first made the claim.

Habba also asked Carroll about insulting messages she received in the five-hour window between when an excerpt of her book appeared online and when Trump issued his first comments denying her allegation, suggesting that such messages werent merely a consequence of Trumps words.

And she questioned Carroll about interviews she gave in the wake of last years trial, suggesting Carroll reveled in the publicity.

Once I spoke up, I wanted people to know that a woman can speak up and win a trial, Carroll responded. It was a major victory. I don't want to be quiet now. Im 80. Its not right to make women be quiet. Its been going on for too long.

Carrolls testimony is expected to continue Thursday.


A memorial of flowers is placed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 29, 2022, five days after a mass shooting left 19 children and two adults dead. On Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department is expected to release its report detailing how law enforcement responded to the mass shooting and why it took 77 minutes to confront the killer. File Photo by Jon Farina/UPI

Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Justice Department will release its report Thursday evaluating how law enforcement responded to the Uvalde school shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers.

Uvalde school district Superintendent Ashley Chohlis announced the report's impending release on Monday, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

The Department of Justice's critical incident review will provide a comprehensive account of how more than 370 officers from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies responded to Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, during the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, and what they did or failed to do to protect students and staff.

Uvalde families and Texas state officials have blasted police for taking 77 minutes to confront the killer. A SWAT team from the U.S. Border Patrol eventually shot and killed the lone gunman, identified as former student Salvador Ramos.

According to police, Ramos, 18, shot his grandmother and stole her truck before driving it into a ditch near Robb Elementary, where he jumped a perimeter fence and entered the school through an unlocked side door. Armed with an AR-15-style rifle, he shot teachers and students inside a fourth-grade classroom.

In a 77-page report two months after the shooting, a Texas House committee called the law enforcement response "chaotic" and "uncoordinated."

"The group was devoid of clear leadership, basic communications and sufficient urgency to take down the gunman," the committee report said.

Five months after the shooting, the Uvalde school district suspended its police force and requested more Texas Department of Public Safety troopers be stationed on school grounds.

At least five officers have lost their jobs over the response, including two Texas Department of Public Safety officers and Uvalde's school police chief.

The Justice Department report to be released Thursday was produced by the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services -- or COPS -- which is made up of former local, state and federal law enforcement officials.

"The goal of the review is to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses; identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events; and provide a roadmap for community safety and engagement before, during and after such incidents," the Justice Department said in a 2022 news release.

"Nothing can undo the pain that has been inflicted on the loved ones of the victims, the survivors and the entire community of Uvalde," Attorney General Merrick Garland said when the critical incident review was announced nearly two years ago.

"But the Justice Department can and will use its expertise and independence to assess what happened and to provide guidance moving forward."
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil rights lawsuit against a Moore man, alleging that he sexually harassed female tenants at residential properties he recently owned or operated in the Oklahoma City metro area.

In Oklahoma City federal court, Shevis Petties, 47, is accused of subjecting female tenants to unwelcomed sexual contact and comments about their bodies, physically assaulting tenants, entering tenants bedrooms without consent, photographing and filming female tenants in their bedrooms and bathrooms without their knowledge and permission, and demanding that female tenants engage in sexual acts with him under threat of losing their housing.

The Oklahoman could not reach Petties for comment.

Prosecutors also allege that Petties offered to overlook late or unpaid rent in exchange for sex, and refused to make repairs or do maintenance for female tenants who did not have sex with him.

These women lived in fear every day that their landlord would enter their bedroom unannounced, film them in the bathroom, make lewd comments about their bodies and appearance and grope them, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, said in a statement. The Justice Department is committed to enforcing federal civil rights laws to ensure landlords are held accountable for unlawful and predatory behavior.

More: Greer Center accused of shredding evidence; judge issues temporary restraining order

Lawsuit alleges Moore landlord sexually harassed tenants

Prosecutors say Petties has owned, operated or managed residential rental properties in Oklahoma City, Forest Park and Moore since at least 2016.

In one example of alleged sexual harassment filed in court documents, prosecutors accuse Petties of retaliating against two sisters who refused him sex.

In 2016, he rented a bedroom to two sisters who were minors at the time and looking for housing because of a difficult family situation, prosecutors wrote in court documents.

After moving in, prosecutors allege, the sisters noticed cameras in their bedroom and the bathroom where they showered.

Prosecutors accuse Petties of once pinning the older sister in place, telling her to pull her shirt up and touching her body around her breasts. He is accused of telling the older sister it would be that easy for her to have extra time to pay the rent.

In another alleged incident, when the sisters refused sex with Petties, he made them move into a detached garage that had no electricity.

One night, prosecutors allege, the sisters confronted Petties after catching him taking photos of them through the garage window as they were changing pajamas.

In response, Petties locked the sisters out of the garage and had their belongings placed on the curb for trash collection, prosecutors allege.

The lawsuit seeks a fine, monetary damages to compensate women harmed by the alleged harassment, and a court order prohibiting future acts of discrimination and harassment.

More: Ringling football players sue school, saying officials failed to stop coach's abuse

Fair Housing Act prohibits sexual harassment

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. It also prohibits sexual harassment, a form of sex discrimination.

The Justice Departments Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. attorneys offices across the country.

The initiative seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance works, loan officers and other people who have control over housing.

Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 38 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered nearly $11 million for victims of such harassment.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma landlord sexually harassed, filmed female tenants, lawsuit claims
Mayor Quinton Lucas will participate in a conversation about gun violence featuring Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday, following a record number of homicides in Kansas City.

Lucas is in Washington for the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors and is the chairman of the conferences Criminal and Social Justice Committee. He hosted a similar panel last year, without the vice president, where mayors talked about different approaches to gun violence, particularly in strengthening community ties to prevent shootings before they happen.

The vice presidents participation on the panel this year comes as Harris has been traveling the country speaking about gun violence as she and President Joe Biden hope to win a second term. Last week Harris traveled to North Carolina for a roundtable conversation about gun violence. This week, she traveled to South Carolina and gave a speech to the NAACP, where she criticized Congress for its inability to pass significant gun safety legislation.

Every person in our nation has a right to live safe and to live free from the horror of gun violence, Harris said. And yet, today, these so-called leaders stand by and refuse to pass reasonable gun safety laws to help protect our children and places of worship.

The 185 killings in Kansas City in 2023 were a record, even as killings dropped in many major cities across the country, like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Local officials have struggled to come up with solutions in the face of a lack of action from the federal government and lax state gun laws. While killings were up in 2023, the number of people shot fell by 19% from the previous record year for killings, 2020.

While Lucas offered his support for a rule by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that would expand the definition of which gun sellers come under its jurisdiction, the rule has faced opposition from conservatives like Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican.

After last years Conference of Mayors panel, Lucas said he wanted the federal government to provide money to help create more programs like Aim4Peace in Kansas City.

Money that is, importantly, related not just to more enforcement, Lucas said. Every now and then theyre very good at saying all right, were gonna give you a grant, you can hire 18 more cops. Thats wonderful. The problem in Kansas City right now actually isnt money to hire cops.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, is recovering after undergoing a planned abdominal surgery, Kensington Palace announced on Wednesday. | Associated Press

Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, is recovering after undergoing a planned abdominal surgery, Kensington Palace announced on Wednesday.

Kensington Palace did not provide further details on Kates diagnosis or operation, but noted the surgery was successful and not cancerous. The princess will remain in the hospital for 10-14 days for recovery and will convalescence at home until after Easter, according to the statement.

Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales was admitted to the London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery, per the statement from Kensington Palace.

The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private, the statement continued.

Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness progress when there is significant new information to share.

The Princess of Wales wishes to apologize to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.

Once discharged from the hospital, Kate will recover at Adelaide Cottage, a cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle, reports The New York Times. While Kate recuperates at the hospital, William is expected to temporarily suspend his public duties and potentially postpone events during the following months of Kates recovery.

King Charles reveals he received surgery for enlarged prostate

Following the news about Princess Kate, Buckingham Palace revealed King Charles III is seeking treatment for an enlarged prostate.

In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate, Buckingham Palace said in a Wednesday statement, per USA Today. His Majestys condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure.

Historically, members of the royal family do not offer details on their health so generously. However, Charles hopes being forthcoming about his condition may encourage other men experiencing symptoms to visit a medical professional, a spokesperson shared with The Washington Post. The information was also disclosed in anticipation of questions when several of the kings upcoming events get postponed or cancelled.

Broadcasting the health conditions of two royals in a single day is almost unheard of  the royal family has a reputation for keeping health status tightly under wraps. Both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philips official causes of death were listed as old age, per The Washington Post. Further details are limited and kept private from the public.

In April 2020  during the height of the pandemic  Prince William tested positive for COVID-19. William allegedly kept his diagnosis private to avoid alarming the country, per the BBC. It was roughly six months before news that William suffered from COVID-19 broke, and it was because royal reporters found out.

The palace also tries to preserve some privacy for the Royal Family, a BBC royal correspondent said in wake of Williams COVID-19 diagnosis going public.
Katharine Birbalsingh has said she was forced to ban Muslim prayers after teachers were racially harassed.

The school leader, known as Britains strictest head teacher, is facing a High Court challenge from a Muslim pupil over the prayer policy at Michaela Community School.

Commenting on the row for the first time, she warned that multiculturalism can only succeed when every group makes sacrifices for the sake of the whole.

In a statement shared on Wednesday morning, Ms Birbalsingh said the schools governing body decided to stop prayer rituals when some pupils started them against a backdrop of events including violence, intimidation and appalling racial harassment of our teachers.

Michaela school is facing a legal challenge from a pupil, who cannot be named, over Ms Birbalsinghs decision to introduce the ban in March last year.

The high-performing state school in Brent, north-west London, has around 700 pupils, about half of whom are Muslim. It is known for its strict approach to discipline, including silence in corridors and a ban on smartphones.

On Wednesday, a High Court heard that the school had taken action on prayers because of concerns about a culture shift over segregation between religious groups and intimidation within the group of Muslim pupils.

Jason Coppel KC, for the school trust, said: These were very difficult days for the school, with tensions running high.

He said that it is hard to see how matters would have been improved by taking more and more disciplinary action.

The schools actions were based on teachers conversations with pupils over certain incidents, such as hearing about a Muslim girl who had dropped out of the school choir because she was told it was haram, or forbidden, he added.

A number of children had been told that they were bad Muslims for not praying and had begun to pray, Mr Coppel said in his written arguments.

He told the court that the school is exceptionally successful academically, highly oversubscribed, aggressively promotes integration, is run with military precision and uses an ultra-strict enforcement of prescribed behavioural rules.

Prayer policies restored order

Ms Birbalsingh said the decision to ban prayer rituals restored calm and order to the school.

She said: We have always been clear to parents and pupils that when they apply to Michaela that because of our restrictive building combined with our strict ethos that does not allow children to wander around the school unsupervised, we cannot have a prayer room.

She added: We believe it is wrong to separate children according to religion or race, and that it is our duty to protect all of our children and provide them with an environment which is free from bullying, intimidation or harassment.

Multiculturalism can only succeed when we understand that every group must make sacrifices for the sake of the whole.

Michaela school was ranked top in the country last year for Progress 8, a measure of how much a secondary school has helped pupils improve since primary school.

Ms Birbalsingh said that to achieve its results, the school must be a place where children buy into something they all share and that is bigger than themselves: our country.

Pupils used playground to pray

About 30 pupils began praying in the schools wet and dirty yard in March last year, using blazers to kneel as they were not permitted to bring in prayer mats, the hearing at the High Court was told.

The court heard the school was targeted on social media with threats of violence, abuse, false allegations of Islamophobia, and a bomb hoax, but that the situation had since calmed.

The pupil said the schools stance on prayer was the kind of discrimination that makes religious minorities feel alienated from society, a judge was told.

Her lawyers claim the prayer ban uniquely affects the Muslim faith over other religions due to its ritualised nature and rules around prayer.

Conservative MPs expressed support for Ms Birbalsingh on Wednesday. Liz Truss, former Prime Minister, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: We need more schools like Michaela. She said Ms Birbalsingh must be allowed to maintain the ethos of the school and prevail in this case.

Miram Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said: Michaela is an outstanding school that offers so many opportunities to its pupils. Their success is evident not only in the academic results but also the happiness of the students. Their ethos of equal treatment for all as part of a unified school community is entirely justified and one that many others should seek to emulate.

Katharine Birbalsinghs statement in full:

We are in court to defend the culture and ethos of Michaela, and the decisions the governors have taken to maintain a successful and stable learning environment where children of all races and religions can thrive. We want our multi-cultural and multi-faith community to flourish. Ours is a happy and respectful secular school where every race, faith and group understands self-sacrifice for the betterment of the whole. We are one big Michaela family.

Michaela is rated Outstanding by Ofsted and has a unique culture that turns out young people with exceptional character. Our pupils achieve superb exam grades  including the highest ever recorded progress at GCSE level in a state-funded school - which help them win places at some of the best universities in the world. We are extremely proud of what we do to transform the lives of young people, many of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds. To achieve all this, our school must be a place where children of all races and religions buy into something they all share and that is bigger than themselves: our country.

We have a large number of Muslim pupils. Their positive experiences have helped grow the number of Muslim pupils at the school by 50 per cent. My own grandmother was Muslim. But the Governing Body had to take the decision to stop prayer rituals when some pupils started them, against a backdrop of events including violence, intimidation and appalling racial harassment of our teachers.

Our decision restored calm and order to the school. We have always been clear to parents and pupils when they apply to Michaela that because of our restrictive building combined with our strict ethos that does not allow children to wander around the school unsupervised, we cannot have a prayer room.

At Michaela, those from all religions make sacrifices so that we can maintain a safe secular community. Some Jehovahs Witness families have objected to Macbeth as a set GCSE text. Some Christian families have asked that we do not hold our GCSE revision sessions on Sundays. Some Hindu families have objected to dinner plates touching eggs. And our Muslim families have signed up to the school knowing that we do not have a prayer room. We all eat vegetarian food so that we can break bread together at lunch where children are not divided according to race or religion. We all make our sacrifices so that we can live in harmony.

We believe it is wrong to separate children according to religion or race, and that it is our duty to protect all of our children and provide them with an environment which is free from bullying, intimidation and harassment.

Multiculturalism can only succeed when we understand that every group must make sacrifices for the sake of the whole. We allow our children freedoms of all sorts, as long as those freedoms do not threaten the happiness and success of the whole school community. Our children, whatever their background, are British. As a school, we celebrate what we have in common so that the extraordinary diversity of cultures that we have under our roof can succeed.

I will never separate children according to race and religion.

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A Republican lawmaker has filed a bill to lower the legal age a Kentuckian can own and conceal carry a gun.

Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, filed House Bill 259 Tuesday, which would allow Kentuckians to possess and conceal carry a firearm once they turn 18, down from the current age requirement of 21.

Maddox, a well-established proponent of relaxing Kentuckys gun laws  she has filed legislation to this end each of her six years serving in Frankfort  said she filed HB 259 because its sensible.

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We clearly have no problem sending (18-year-old) adult men and women overseas to defend our nations interest, Maddox said Wednesday morning. They certainly should have the ability to defend themselves and their families here at home.

Maddox also noted litigation in other states, including Tennessee, challenging the prohibitions of such laws.

In 2021, a federal lawsuit was filed against the state of Tennessee, arguing that its 21-year-old age limit for firearm possession unconstitutionally deprived younger adults of their right to possess a handgun. As part of a settlement, Tennessees attorney general subsequently agreed not to enforce current law, and allow people as young as 18 to legally possess a gun.

Maddox said a lawsuit like this is only inevitable in Kentucky.

So, why not get ahead of the curve and avoid litigation, saving taxpayer dollars, because eventually this will play out in the court system, she said, if lawmakers dont change current law and lower the legal age limit.

Last year the Northern Kentucky Republican filed a bill to prevent colleges and universities from passing any policies that bar anyone over the age of 21 from carrying a concealed weapon on campus  a setting where they are otherwise banned.

The Council for Post-secondary Education, as well as leadership from each public college and university, unanimously opposed the bill, which won committee approval but never received a floor vote in the House.

A staunch 2nd Amendment defender, Maddox was lauded by the National Rifle Association in 2019 for working alongside then-Gov. Matt Bevin to pass a law that allows gun owners to carry a concealed weapon without separate permitting or training.

In September, she publicly criticized the Kentucky Medical Association after some of its members recommended, in the interest of public health, that lawmakers consider tightening some of its gun laws.

The association suggested creating a state Office of Gun Safety aimed at reducing firearm-related deaths, as well as enacting red-flag laws, or extreme risk protection orders to temporarily remove guns from people who are deemed by a court as a risk to themselves or others.

Maddox tweeted that the Kentucky Medical Association was coming for your guns and called red-flag laws unconstitutional.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has called for legislators to pass similar laws multiples times since he became governor  as far back as 2019 after two mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, left dozens of people dead, and again last year, after a gunman in downtown Louisville killed five people.

Maddox has also opposed efforts, even from within her own party, to enact red-flag laws. Though the commonwealth currently has no such laws on the books, Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, has said he plans to file a bill to this end this legislative session.

This story may be updated.
Kansas lawmakers are considering bills to limit Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys power to fill vacancies in statewide offices, a step that would allow Republicans to replace some elected officials if they leave office before the end of their terms.

One bill would limit the governors authority to appoint a state treasurer and insurance commissioner if the positions become vacant. Another would require U.S. Senate vacancies to be filled by someone who belongs to the same political party as the departing senator.

Under current law, Kelly has the authority to appoint a U.S. senator in the event of a vacancy to serve until the next election cycle. She also has the power to appoint a treasurer and insurance commissioner when there is a vacancy.

The bills would still allow the governor to fill the vacancy of the Kansas secretary of state and the state attorney general. To remove the governors appointment authority for those positions, a state constitutional amendment would be required.

Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican who introduced the legislation, said they were intended to give more power to voters and increase transparency in the appointment process.

Its a process thats needed to change for some time, she said. We have the ability to allow we the people to be heard in this process, which is the goal of the legislation. Its about transparency in the election process.

While Republicans and Democrats are both regularly elected governor, Democrats typically have less success winning other statewide offices. Vacancies in recent years have sometimes been the only way Democrats have taken control of some statewide offices.

For example, in 2020 Kelly picked her lieutenant governor at the time, Lynn Rogers, to be state treasurer after Republican Jake LaTurner won election to Congress. Rogers ran for a full term but lost in 2022.

Rogers said positions such as state treasurer should be appointed based on competency instead of political party and called the proposed process to fill vacancies totally inappropriate.

If youre a Republican or Democratic governor, youd be held responsible if their appointees didnt do a good job, he said. If unelected political parties make that decision, itll be years before a bad decision can be removed.

Four states  North Dakota, Oregon, Wisconsin and Rhode Island  require U.S. Senate vacancies to be filled only by special election, and 10 additional states require gubernatorial appointments to be a member of the same political party as the prior incumbent.

Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat, said the bills were another attempt to consolidate and concentrate power within the Republican party, especially since key counties could threaten the Republican supermajority in the upcoming election.

If you look at the whole structure of how things are in the legislature, theres a lot of power consolidated in certain positions, she said. So it does feel like a continuation of the trend weve seen over the past few years where maybe certain individuals werent happy with the results in the past couple of elections so theres that consolidation of power.

The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee will hold a hearing Thursday on the bills, which were introduced last year. Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican who chairs the committee, said it was important for the bills to receive hearings this year during an election cycle.

Thompson said the legislation only intends to reflect the will of voters, ensuring appointments are done correctly.

A vast majority of the state is red, and both of our U.S. senators are Republicans, he said. If the governor appointed one, it may not fit what the rest of the state voted for. So this really gives a voice to the people through their legislators.

Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, a Wichita Democrat and the ranking minority member of the Federal and State Affairs Committee, said she has not made a decision on whether the legislation aligns with her goals of protecting fair democratic processes.

Theres this gray, circumstantial area where in the event of an emergency, we may not have the luxury of going through such a long process, she said. Im not sure what the major problem is or why it is so high on our priority list yet, but I want to hear more before I decide anything.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba hopes that the US Congress will approve supplemental funding for Ukraine further to the White House's request by the end of January.

Source: Kuleba during the discussion programme at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 17 January, as reported by European Pravda with reference to Interfax-Ukraine

Details: According to Kuleba, the "optimistic scenario" for the approval of supplemental funding for Ukraine by US lawmakers is "by the end of January".

Quote: "Thats what our American partners tell us. And all of them, by the way, are optimistic about the outcome, regardless of which side of the political spectrum in Washington they come from."

Kuleba said Ukraine has held all the necessary negotiations and will continue to do so, "but ultimately, this decision has to be made within the framework of US domestic policy".

"If the aid does not come, the political consequences [for the US  ed.] will be devastating. For now, I think the situation is manageable," he said.

Background: In October, the White House sent a request to Congress for more than US$106 billion in supplemental funding, US$61 billion of which was intended for Ukraine. But negotiations in Congress have stalled due to the position of the Republicans, who want stricter migration controls on the border with Mexico.

On 27 December, the United States announced the latest military aid package to Ukraine, worth US$250 million. The White House has since said that it has no more funds for further military support for Ukraine until it is approved by Congress.

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Qatari PM Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim al Thani at International Conference of Council for Arab and International Relations in Kuwait City

DUBAI (Reuters) -Kuwait on Wednesday formed a government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah, the state news agency said, the country's first cabinet after the death of its previous ruler.

Sheikh Mohammed appointed new ministers for oil, finance and foreign affairs in the first cabinet formed under Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, which he said would carry out reforms to comply with the emir's guidance.

"This is a heavy responsibility of a new phase of Kuwait's history which includes challenges and aspirations, and requires further hard work and genuine accomplishment," the prime minister said, quoted by KUNA.

The prime minister appointed Emad Mohammed al-Atiqi as oil minister, Anwar Ali al-Mudhaf as finance minister and Abdullah Ali al-Yahya as foreign minister.

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who came to power in December after his predecessor Sheikh Nawaf died, is expected to preserve Kuwaiti foreign policies including support for Gulf Arab unity, Western alliances, and good ties to Riyadh - a relationship seen as a priority.

Kuwait will have to grapple with long-running strains between the ruling family and its critics in the deadlocked and fractious parliament that critics say has hindered fiscal and economic reform.

The legislature wields more influence than similar bodies in other Gulf monarchies, and political deadlock has for decades led to cabinet reshuffles and dissolutions of parliament.

(Reporting by Clauda Tanios; Writing by Tala Ramadan; Editing by Michael Georgy, Barbara Lewis and Angus MacSwan)
Two young women say in a lawsuit they and other girls were abused, neglected, humiliated and deprived of health care, education and basic hygiene in 2022 at the state-run juvenile detention center in Adair County.

Among their claims: Detention center staff often exposed girls nakedness to members of the opposite sex, either through conducting the forcible removal of clothing or by withholding clothing while in view of employees and other detainees, the suit alleges. Male staff regularly conducted cell checks on girls detained without clothing.

Also, youths were locked in isolation for weeks despite mental and physical health ailments that should have discouraged the use of extended lockdowns, according to the lawsuit filed digitally Monday.

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One youth also was held in an isolation cell with the doors window covered and a Spanish version of the toddlers song Baby Shark playing over and over on an audio loop, according to the suit.

Jamiahia Kennedy and Willow Neal sued the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green, citing violations of their civil rights. They seek class-action status to represent potentially hundreds of other youths who passed through the Adair Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Columbia.

Kennedy and Neal are now adults and no longer in the Department of Juvenile Justices custody, said their attorney, Laura Landenwich.

Youths held at the detention center were treated as sub-human by some employees, Landenwich said.

Talking to these girls, its just so tragic, just the entire experience. Its intolerable to treat people the way theyve been treated, she said.

Also named as defendants were several state officials, including Justice and Public Safety Secretary Kerry Harvey, who is set to retire shortly; former Juvenile Justice Commissioner Vicki Reed, who resigned last month; and Tonya Burton, superintendent of the Adair County facility.

The Department of Juvenile Justice has not yet been served with the suit and has no comment on it, spokeswoman Morgan Hall said Tuesday.

DJJ works tirelessly to provide safe and effective services to the juveniles in its care, Hall said. For any staff member who violates policy and procedure, corrective action is taken.

In their suit, Kennedy and Neal said they each spent part of 2022 housed in the long-troubled Adair County facility that in the past two years has been the scene of a riot, a rape, assaults and other serious problems.

Last year, the ACLU of Kentucky filed a complaint asking the U.S. Justice Departments Civil Rights Division to investigate unsanitary and nearly uninhabitable conditions inside the detention center.

And lawyers at the state Department of Public Advocacy issued a report last year warning that the facility violates the rights of youths by locking them alone in their cells for long periods for so-called non-behavior isolation, even when they didnt commit any offenses.

The new lawsuit alleges the Adair County facility is chronically understaffed, often operating with only five employees to oversee 40 youths. Many of its employees are too poorly trained to handle potentially dangerous confrontations or to work with at-risk youths who have emotional or mental health problems, the suit says.

Without enough employees available to supervise daily activities, the detention center simply locks youths in isolation for days or weeks at a time, the suit alleges.

In the lawsuit, Kennedy said she was held in an isolation cell throughout her four months at the Adair County facility, from August 2022 to December 2022.

Kennedy had access to a shower about 15 times, or less than once weekly, she said. On one occasion, she was accompanied to the showers by two male officers, she said.

Following a suicide attempt, Kennedy said she was moved into a padded cell where male employees cut off her clothing. She remained in the padded cell for about two months. The padded cell had neither a bed nor a functioning toilet, she said.

Without a working toilet, urine and feces overflowed into the cell, she said.

Although Kennedy initially was outfitted with an anti-suicide smock to prevent her from hurting herself, facility officials later removed it and did not provide her with any other clothing or shower access for about 12 days, she said.

On several occasions, she asked for feminine hygiene products but was refused, she said.

Kennedy was diagnosed with serious mental health conditions, but she did not get mental health treatment, she said. In November 2022, the facilitys staff withheld prescribed medicines from Kennedy and other youths as a form of collective punishment, she said.

The second plaintiff, Willow Neal, said she was held at the detention center from Nov. 10 to Dec. 15, 2022, while she was 17 years old and seven months pregnant.

Medical providers advised the facilitys management that Neal should not be locked in an isolation cell during her late stage of pregnancy, but she was anyway, Neal said. Over the course of her detention, she was allowed out of her cell to take a walk about once a week.

Neals cell was infested with insects, she said, but her requests for cleaning supplies were denied.

Instead of educational classes, Neal was given workbooks to complete on her own, with no school credit, she said. She did not receive any mental health care or prescription medicines, she said.

Nor was the mistreatment limited to them, Kennedy and Neal said in the suit. The young women said they both observed a girl held at the facility who spent days soaked in menstrual blood while detention center staff told her she was nasty and smelled like fish, according to the suit.

And another girl was left in an isolation cell without running water and frequently without lighting while her mental and physical health rapidly deteriorated, distressing medical providers at the facility, the suit alleged.
Rep. Nick Wilson, R-Williamsburg, spoke in the Kentucky House of Representatives during the 2023 General Assembly.

A Republican-sponsored bill that would remove first cousins from Kentuckys criminal incest law quickly went viral online Tuesday  but the lawmaker behind it says the much-ridiculed change was included in error.

The original text of House Bill 269, sponsored by Rep. Nick Wilson of Williamsburg, struck first cousins from the list of familial relatives it is illegal for an individual to have sex with. Other relatives that remained in the statute include parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings.

During the drafting process, there was an inadvertent change, which struck first cousins from the list of relationships included under the incest statute, and I failed to add it back in, Wilson wrote on Facebook Wednesday morning. During todays session, I will withdraw HB 269 and refile a bill with the first cousin language intact.

That afternoon, Wilson officially withdrew his bill.

Wilson said he filed the bill to combat a problem of familial and cyclical abuse that transcends generations of Kentuckians.

I understand that I made a mistake, but I sincerely hope my mistake doesnt hurt the chances of the corrected version of the bill, he wrote. It is a good bill, and I hope it will get a second chance.

Wilsons original bill quickly went viral on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, thanks to a combination of the bills content, stereotypes about Kentucky and the sponsors reality TV background.

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Wilson, an attorney, won Survivor: David vs. Goliath, the 37th season of the CBS competition, in 2018.

Wilsons bill would, additionally, expand the definition of incest to include engages in sexual contact with in addition to the already codified sexual intercourse and deviate sexual intercourse.

In his Facebook post, Wilson said sexual touching/groping by uncles, stepdads or anyone with a familial relationship is not included in incest, and thats why he wanted to broaden the scope of the law.

Such sexual contact would be a Class D felony, unless the victim is under age 12, at which point it becomes a Class C felony.

Intercourse, if committed by consenting persons, would remain a Class C felony.

Wilson filed two other bills Tuesday.

House Bill 270 would make it a Class D felony to travel to Kentucky to with the intent to engage in specified sexual offenses  rape, sodomy, sexual abuse and human trafficking  that involve commercial sexual activity.

House Bill 271 would allow for people who suspect child abuse or neglect to make a written report, in addition to the laws current oral reporting protocol.

This story has been updated with comments from Rep. Nick Wilson
A bill that would prohibit local governments from banning discrimination of tenants that use federal housing vouchers passed a Senate committee Wednesday.

The Senate State and Local Government Committee voted 8-1 to pass Senate Bill 25 which would prohibit local governments from enacting source of income bans, despite pushback from housing advocates and local government officials.

The bill will now go to the full Senate.

For months, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council has been debating whether to enact a source of income ban, which prohibit landlords from discriminating against people who use federal housing vouchers, such as Housing Choice, or other types of payments during the application process. Currently, landlords are allowed to advertise they dont take Housing Choice, formerly referred to as Section 8 vouchers.

Proponents of the ordinance say too few landlords take housing vouchers. Those who have vouchers struggle to find places that will take them. The issue is creating backlogs in the citys homeless provider system. Too often, landlords that take federal housing vouchers and other forms of payments are only in certain sections of town, limiting peoples housing choices.

Landlords who oppose the ordinance argue the inspection and bureaucracy involved with federal housing programs is too onerous. Others say rents will go up so they dont have to take federal housing vouchers.

Lexington is scheduled to take its first vote on the local ordinance at a January 23 meeting.

Lexington council members have said they plan to move forward with the ordinance despite the Republican-controlled legislatures push to ban such measures.

During Wednesdays meeting, Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, urged the committee to pass the measure. West represents part of Fayette County.

West said the bill would protect the property rights of landlords. Requiring landlords to take Housing Choice or Section 8 vouchers is not constitutional. Wests bill would also make it clear landlords have the right to evict tenants.

This is about property rights, West said. Forcing landlords to take federal housing vouchers is against property laws, he said. Its a slippery slope.

Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, was the only member of the committee to vote against the bill. Chambers Armstrong said the bill would invalidate Louisvilles source of income ban. That local ordinance was passed unanimously in 2020, she said.

That ordinance did not mandate landlords take Section 8 but only said landlords could not discriminate against people who use vouchers, she said.

Its racial discrimination

Bryanna Carroll, director of public affairs for the Kentucky League of Cities, urged the committee not to pass the measure. Carroll said the group believes local governments should have the right to set their own ordinances and policies.

This is impacting home rule and local decisions being made at the local level, Carroll said. Its a slippery slope when you begin to erode those decision making processes.

Lexington Councilwoman Shayla Lynch, who is co-sponsoring the local ordinance, told the committee SB 25 would exacerbate an affordable housing crisis. Lynch said she is concerned the language of the bill that talks about landlords right to evict, will mean landlords that take Housing Choice vouchers will evict those tenants.

Our housing crisis will only get worse, Lynch said.

More than 70% of people who receive federal housing vouchers are Black women in Fayette County. Yet, nearly all landlords who currently accept vouchers are on the citys largely Black north side, a review of available apartment listings showed.

Its racial discrimination, said Lynch, who spent 15 years working in fair housing prior to being elected to council. I dont think our commonwealth should be perpetuating that kind of law statewide.

The local ordinance will remove barriers for people who already have vouchers and other types of payment sources, but cant find landlords who will take them because the law currently allows landlords to advertise they dont take vouchers, she said.

The ordinance prohibits landlords from advertising they dont take vouchers, Lynch said.

George Eklund, director of education and advocacy for the Coalition for the Homeless in Louisville, said the Louisville ordinance has helped homeless clients find housing. It does not force landlords to take federal housing vouchers.

It has worked, Eklund said. It has not impacted the landlords and how they do business. If the rent is not covered by the voucher, the person has to move on to the next unit.

We were able to house clients faster, Eklund said. Clients also had more options of places to rent, he said.

West said if local ordinances only prohibit discrimination against Section 8 vouchers then the ordinances may not run afoul of SB 25. West said his bill only involves Section 8 vouchers. It does not speak to other types of housing vouchers, he said.

Emma Anderson, an organizer with the Kentucky Tenants, a tenants rights groups which has pushed for the source of income ban in Lexington, said she recently spoke to a young mother who was currently facing eviction and will end up living in her car. The Salvation Army in Lexington, which houses women and children, is full. There are people currently in that shelter who have vouchers who cant find landlords who will take them, she said.

Source of income discrimination has the greatest effect on mothers with children, Anderson said.

House Bill 18, filed by Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, who also represents parts of Fayette County, mirrors Wests bill. House Bill 18 has been assigned to the House State Government committee and has a hearing scheduled for Friday.

Louisville is the only other Kentucky city that has a similar source of income ban.
NASA's last-remaining, built-for-flight space shuttle external tank finally took to the sky, albeit for only two brief hops above Los Angeles.



In what was originally planned as an overnight move but extended into a two-day process due to wind concerns and added caution, External Tank-94 (ET-94) was taken aloft by two large cranes and lowered in front of and then between two solid rocket boosters such that together with the soon-to-follow orbiter Endeavour, the stack will form the world's only fully-authentic, upright space shuttle. The resulting 20-story-tall display will be the centerpiece of the California Science Center's Samuel Oschin Air and Space Museum when it it opens in the next few years.



"With the mating of ET-94 to the Solid Rocket Boosters, we have successfully completed a giant undertaking and the largest part of the space shuttle stack," Jeffrey Rudolph, president and chief executive officer of the California Science Center, said in a statement. "With this penultimate step, heartfelt appreciation goes out to our remarkable team whose dedication has made every stage of this complex and unprecedented operation a reality."

Related: End of year, end of exhibit: Space shuttle Endeavour goes off view for a few years

nose-on view of a horizontally aligned orange fuel tank, being held by a crane at night

Unable to wait until the new building is complete to move the shuttle in  the vehicle is just too large  the science center has been proceeding with a multi-part stacking process that is not unlike what was done within NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building in Florida, but conducted outside, where the components are subject to the elements. To reduce the chance that wind gusts could start the 154-foot-long (47 meters) orange tank swaying, the team executing the "Go for Stack" effort scheduled the lift to the overnight hours between Thursday (Jan. 11) and Friday (Jan. 12).



Even with that precaution, though, the winds were still a concern as the planned start drew near. A winter storm brought strong gusts to parts of Southern California on Thursday morning and, although they gradually diminished into the afternoon, the team was on alert.



Waiting until conditions were acceptable, two cranes began to hoist the 65,000-pound (29,500 kilograms) tank from its horizontal position at around 3:00 a.m. PST (1100 GMT or 6:00 a.m. EST). Gradually, the tank was rotated into the vertical, and then a single large crane raised ET-94 high enough to clear the partially erected walls of the new air and space center.

nighttime view of a yellow crane hoisting a vertically oriented, large orange fuel tank.

The tank was then set down in front of the two 149-foot-tall (45 m) solid rocket boosters and their surrounding scaffolding, as it was now daytime and the winds were starting to pick up again. A decision was made to take a break, give the team a chance to rest and resume the second and last part of the lift on Friday night.



Waiting again until after nightfall, a crane raised the tank and then slowly lowered it between the twin rockets. A laser projected from below helped guide the tank in as workers positioned on the scaffolding stood ready to "soft mate" ET-94 to each booster using the same attach points that held the hardware together for a launch.



"The ET and SRBs have eight attach points," Dennis Jenkins, a veteran NASA space shuttle engineer and the project manager for the California Science Center's Endeavour display, sad in an interview with collectSPACE.com. "The two forward attach points are the primary structure, one on each side. Then there are three struts on each side, so six struts total at the bottom that keep it essentially straight. They do not really take much load, but they are the ones that keep the tank aligned with the boosters."



"The forward points are secured by nuts and bolts. The struts are all pinned. The pins are a couple of inches in diameter, so they are big pins," said Jenkins.

aerial view of a large, cylindrical orange fuel tank and two white rockets, which are surrounded by scaffolding.

RELATED STORIES:

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Stacking the external tank brought to close a journey for ET-94 that began with the loss of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. The tank had originally been slated to launch with Columbia on a science mission, but after the tragedy it became a test article for improving the design of the external tanks still being produced and aided in early studies for the core stage of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket.



In 2015, two years after making a brief cameo in the movie "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," doubling as a missile, ET-94 was awarded to the California Science Center for use with Endeavour's future exhibit. A year later, the tank was loaded onto a barge at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans for a five-week, 5,000-mile (8,000 kilometers) voyage that delivered it to Los Angeles by way of the Panama Canal.



Off-loaded onto a transporter at Marina del Rey, ET-94 then embarked on a 19-hour road trip to the California Science Center. There, the tank sat, positioned alongside the pavilion built to house Endeavour, where it periodically was worked on to install hardware and apply new insulation while it waited for its lift into place.



Up next (quite literally) will be Endeavour. Recently enveloped in shrink wrap to prevent it from getting dirty, the winged orbiter will undergo a similar move, lift and mate as ET-94 sometime in the coming weeks. Once assembled, the stack will then wait to be configured for display as the Oschin Air and Space Center building is finished around and above it.

Click through to collectSPACE to see more photos from the lift of External Tank-94 into place for the future exhibit of the space shuttle Endeavour.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2024 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.
Bithlo residents, wary of well water that smells and tastes bad, may soon have a cleaner option.

Orange County has agreed to steer $12.6 million in federal funding to extend public water lines to Bithlo, one of the countys most impoverished communities, and hook up with an initial 337 homes south of State Road 50.

This is incredibly important for Bithlo, especially those residents impacted for years by environmental contamination and other water quality issues, said Tim McKinney, a community advocate and CEO of United Global Outreach, a not-for-profit, grassroots group at the center of efforts to improve the Census-designated area.

Many residents say they wont drink or cook with the well water that has been their only choice. Some say it stains their clothes and toilets.

A couple said theyd rather not bathe in it.

Some buy their water in plastic jugs from supermarkets or pay to fill their own containers.

But not everybody in the community of 10,000 residents is eager to tie into a county system.

These people out here dont need another bill, said Elly Bresnen, a long-time resident who got a new well three years ago and has invested in purification systems to filter contaminants.

She said she didnt sign up for county water.

I dont care where you go. Theres going to be some kind of contaminant in the water, Bresnen said.

After hurricanes flooded her yard in 2022, shed rather the county spent more money improving drainage.

The project was awarded to the low bidder, Lake County-based Carr & Collier, at a county commission meeting last week. When completed it will pipe water to homes on Alison Daphne Circle, Cochran Trail, Evans Trail and Caudel Road, according to county documents.

The expected completion date is fall 2025, Orange County Utilities spokesperson Alex Redkin said.

Goal for Bithlo: Lasting changes

The project costs, including connection fees, will be covered by money awarded the county in the American Rescue Plan Act, adopted by Congress in 2021 to address the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it spawned.

McKinney said he has been part of a 15-year-long effort to improve Bithlos drinking water, which he blamed on a hodgepodge of contaminants from salvage yards, illegal dumping sites and leaky fuel tanks.

All of it collectively has led to the historically terrible quality water there, he said.

McKinney said its not clear if the well water is safe to drink, though it clearly has high iron content, which causes numerous problems.

A lot of people arent testing their water, he said. But we know the quality is horrible because you can go into most any bathroom in a house out here without a filtration system and literally the bathtub will be orange from iron.

McKinney said waiving connection fees removed a financial barrier that impeded previous efforts.

About one of every five people in Bithlo live in poverty, according to Census data.

shudak@orlandosentinel.com
Crystal Nieves is grateful that she could send her three older children to the Holy Cross Schools preschool program, launching them into the sort of Catholic education that she had growing up. But, she says, her fourth child, born last month, will be especially blessed.

A new Holy Cross early education center is now under construction  the first school building the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph has built within Kansas City boundaries since St. Regis Academy opened in 1965.

The new preschool broke ground last fall and is set to open in August next to the current 101-year-old K-8 school at 121 N. Quincy Ave., in KCs Northeast area. In addition to four classrooms, it will have a gym and a theater stage for performances and will be large enough to host community events. It will replace the single preschool classroom in the elementary schools basement.

Im excited, says Nieves, herself a graduate of St. Marys High School, an Independence Catholic school thats now closed. My new kid is definitely going to benefit from it, and Im definitely looking forward to her enjoying it in the coming years.

Construction began last year on a new early childhood center next to the 101-year-old Holy Cross Catholic school at 121 N. Quincy Ave.

Over three years, the diocese raised $7.2 million for the new building through its Bright Futures Fund, says the funds executive director, Jeremy Liling. Enrollment throughout the diocese has grown 10% in the last year, and the need for early childhood education for Catholic families in the Northeast community is crucial, he says.

A bunch of people have seen and appreciated what our Catholic schools have done in all communities, but especially this community, and banded together to make sure that we were able to expand to meet the needs of the community, says Liling. With Catholic education, we are part of the puzzle, but we are not the ultimate solution for everybody, so I think its us continuing to find ways to serve kids in whatever learning environment best suits them to be successful.

The Holy Cross preschool opened 11 years ago with just half a dozen children and has now reached its limit of 24, so it has had to turn away families, said Shelley Henn, Holy Cross principal for the past three years. The new preschool can hold up to 60 students, ages 4 and 5.

That area has been identified as what has been referred to as an early childhood desert, meaning theres not a lot of options for parents, says Liling. There is this underserved population in that area and we determined that we wanted to serve that age range as much as possible to help prepare them for success.

Shelley Henn, principal of Holy Cross School.

The diocese oversees 31 Catholic schools, including early childhood education centers in Lees Summit, Blue Springs and Independence. Most Catholic elementary schools dont offer preschool.

After being in education for so long its important to have high quality early childhood education, and its fundamental to a childs development, says Henn. Building the facility will represent a long-term commitment, and it signifies that Holy Cross School is here to stay.

The Missouri Department of Education emphasizes that 90% of a childs brain develops by age 5, and childrens lifelong education benefits when they can get an early start. In 2022, Gov. Mike Parson created the Missouri Early Childhood State Advisory Council to combat inequities.

Holy Cross serves one of the most diverse areas in the city: 47% Hispanic, 28% white, 12% Black, 8% Asian and 5% other, according to the U.S. census.

According to showmekcschools.org 62% of the student body of Holy Cross is Hispanic, so the schools bilingual teachers are vital, Henn says.

The majority of our children are Catholic but we welcome anyone that wants to be here, she says. The biggest issue I see is the language barrier because many students come here speaking little or no English and some schools in the area may have limited resources to accommodate them.

My new kid is definitely going to benefit from it and Im definitely looking forward for her to enjoy it in the coming years, says Crystal Nieves, who has three children attending Holy Cross preschool and elementary school.

Though students of all faiths are welcome, there are required religious studies classes, daily prayers and a weekly Mass.

Parents like Nieves think children benefit from the faith-based learning.

I think faith in the classroom helps build a strong, loving foundation within the child where they learn to be kind to others and learn to be respectful, says Nieves, who, in addition to her baby, has one preschooler and two kids in the Holy Cross elementary school.

Tuition at Holy Cross is $6,375 per year, and the Bright Futures Fund provides a $2,575 scholarship. Liling said it has assisted over 17,000 families since its founding in 1989.

I am thankful for Bright Future and other great organizations that have been helping to push funds toward scholarships for parents who may not be able to afford tuition, says Nieves. I already thought the school was amazing, but this will really help a lot of parents in the area who are in need of a place for their child.

For Holy Cross enrollment information,visit hcskcmo.org.
Former tenants of the closed Latitude Five25 apartments will finally be able to receive their share of $1.5 million as part of a settlement filed in court on Wednesday.

The tenants have been waiting for the money since a U.S. bankruptcy judge dismissed the bankruptcy claim of the Latitude Five25's owners in August. That cleared the way for a receiver to take control of the property to fix it, and pursue the $4.3 million in fines Franklin County Environmental Judge Stephanie Mingo levied in February 2023 after holding the owner, New Jersey-based Paxe Latitude, in contempt, for not following court orders.

The closed Latitude Five25 apartments on Columbus' Near East Side.

The money is coming from insurance proceeds. The agreement was worked out between Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein's office and lawyers for Lument Commercial Mortgage Trust and the Legal Aid Society of Southeast and Central Ohio. Lument, the financial institution that held the mortgage of the apartments, agreed to the $1.5 million settlement. Klein's office brought the lawsuit.

Mingo signed the settlement on Tuesday. The order said that an arbiter will be appointed to address conflicting tenant claims.

The two 15-story Latitude Five25 towers at 525 Sawyer Blvd. were evacuated on Christmas Day 2022 over heating problems and burst pipes, displacing 154 households. Tenants also had to deal with nonworking elevators, asbestos and other code issues.

Since then, tenants have been prohibited from entering the building to retrieve belongings.

The settlement money should be in a client trust account within the next week or so, said Melissa Benson, Legal Aid's managing attorney. But the money won't be available then, since claims will have to be processed, she said.

Benson said each household will be able to take a lump-sum share. But if they feel that amount isn't fair, they can submit a claim to the court. "They have to prove their claims," Benson said. Each household will receive at least $1,000, according to the settlement.

The people who are eligible for settlement money have to be those who were evacuated from the buildings on Christmas 2022, Benson said. Any leftover money will be distributed to tenants, she said.

Tenants can call 614-255-2616 for more information, Benson said.

In a statement, Klein said, "The City, County and community partners have worked together over the past yearfar beyond what is typically done in cities across the nationto provide critical resources to tenants, run this problem landlord out of town, and ultimately deliver a significant win for those whose lives were turned upside down on Christmas morning 2022."

Klein said that the agreement "sends a clear message that bad landlords operating unsafe, unsanitary properties in the City of Columbus will be held accountable for deplorable living conditions.

In an interview with The Dispatch Wednesday, Klein said that the settlement only releases liability to the lender. He said tenants can still legally go after Paxe Latitude if they want.

Klein also said that his office is still considering a civil suit to pursue the owners for personal liability.

"They need to be held accountable," he said.

"Its a big legal hurdle. It takes some time to build a big case like that," he said.

Angela Kanode is one of many tenants who has been waiting for money. "That's awesome," she said when she heard the news. Kanode now lives in a South Side apartment, and wants to move to a bigger place. She also said she is waiting for money to help pay for a medical procedure.

mferench@dispatch.com

@MarkFerenchik

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Judge signs Latitude Five25 settlement, tenants to receive $1.5 million
Latvia is building a coalition of about 20 countries who will work together to bolster Ukraine's arsenal of drones, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 16.

Defense Minister Rustem Umverov said on Jan. 5 that Riga would helm a drone coalition in support of Ukraine's military after talks with his Latvian counterpart Andris Spruds. The officials met in Kyiv in mid-December to discuss strategies for Ukrainian defense.

Spruds said on Jan. 16 that the coalition aims to arm Ukraine with "thousands" of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

"The main goal is to do everything possible to ensure that as many of these drones as possible are also delivered to Ukraine," Spruds said.

Spruds also acknowledged the importance of drone warfare in Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression. President Volodymyr Zelensky promised on Dec. 19 that Ukraine would produce one million drones in 2024.

As Ukraine enters its third year of war amid weapons shortages and uncertainties over Western aid, Russia has intensified drone and missile strikes against civilian targets and critical infrastructure.

Read also: Deadly drone arms race intensifies as Ukraine, Russia embrace the future of war

Spruds did not say when the first shipments of drones would be delivered to Ukrainian forces.

"So far, we are at the stage when we are approaching 20 partners," he said.

Zelensky visited Riga on Jan. 11 during a tour of the Baltic States. In addition to the drone coalition, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics pledged a robust military aid package that includes howitzers, ammunition, drones, and anti-tank weapons.

Latvia is a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. The country has committed over 1% of its gross domestic product to military aid for Kyiv, one of the highest shares among all Ukraine's allies.

Read also: F-16s for Ukraine: When will they arrive and what can they do?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
State Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, is pictured at the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules hearing Tuesday in Springfield. The committee objected to proposed permanent rules governing the states assault weapons ban, although the ban and registration requirement remains in place.

New permanent rules will soon go into effect spelling out how people who own assault weapons and related items that are now heavily regulated in Illinois can register them with the Illinois State Police.

The legislatures Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted along party lines Tuesday to let the rules go into effect, ending months of negotiations and debate between supporters of the law and gun rights advocates.

Obviously, this is an issue where there is a difference of opinion on a partisan basis, and I think you saw that play out today, Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, a co-chair of the committee, told reporters after the meeting.

The rules are the result of an assault weapons ban that state lawmakers passed last year in the wake of a deadly mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park in 2022.

That law, known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act, bans the sale, purchase, manufacture, or possession of a long list of firearms that are defined as assault weapons, as well as several types of attachments, large-capacity magazines and certain kinds of high-power ammunition.

Under that law, people who already owned such items before the ban took effect are allowed to keep them. But to do so legally, they were supposed to register those items with the Illinois State Police before Jan. 1.

Last fall, ISP published temporary emergency rules that went into effect Oct. 1, enabling people to begin filing online registrations ahead of the Jan. 1 deadline. But many gun owners, gun rights advocates, and state lawmakers pushed back against the rules, complaining that they were too vague in some areas, too complicated in others, and generally impossible to comply with.

In response, ISP held additional public hearings in October and November as it worked to craft permanent rules.

One of the concerns raised during the discussions focused on how ISP planned to collect and store information about the items people registered, and what the agency would do with that information if the law is eventually overturned as unconstitutional.

So far, the law has survived legal challenges in both state and federal courts, but the National Association for Gun Rights, which is the major plaintiff in one of the federal lawsuits, has said it plans to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court within the next several weeks.

Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, who also co-chairs the committee, said Tuesday he was frustrated by the short timeframe used to adopt the new rules and by the way some issues were handled. He then offered a motion to prohibit ISP from adopting the rules, arguing that the rules do not meet a requirement in state statute that they be simple and clear so that people and groups affected by them can understand them.

That motion failed because it needed eight votes on the 12-member committee but only received six.

Spain then made a motion to object to the rules on the same grounds that they were not simple and clear. An objection has little practical effect on the rule, except that it requires the agency to respond to the objection in writing within 90 days before the rule can take effect.

That motion, which only requires a simple majority of members taking part, passed on a 6-5 vote.

That vote allows ISP to move forward by adopting the permanent rules and enforcing them into the future. But it remains unclear how many assault weapon owners will comply with the law by registering those firearms.

According to data maintained by ISP, just under 30,000 individuals had filed registration forms ahead of the Jan. 1 deadline. Those registrations covered about 69,000 firearms that fall under the ban as well as nearly 43,000 accessories.

It is not known what percentage of that represents the total number of assault weapons and banned accessories in circulation in Illinois, but many people have suggested that a large number of gun owners will refuse to comply with the registration requirement.

Those who do not comply are subject to a misdemeanor or Class 3 felony on subsequent charges. Many county sheriffs, however, including Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell have said they would not arrest violators.

More: Sangamon County sheriff won't arrest owners of banned assault weapons for not registering

County-level data finds that 804 Sangamon County residents registered with ISP between October and December, filing 2,959 endorsement affidavits.

Cunningham, however, said he was not concerned about speculation of widespread noncompliance with the law.

I would just repeat what I said earlier, which is the law is in place, and I would encourage people to follow the law, he said.

Patrick M. Keck of The State Journal-Register contributed to this report.

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.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Lawmakers clear path for assault weapon registration rules
In October, Georgia became the first state in the country to allow independent pharmacies to sell cannabis and hemp products.

Georgias first medical marijuana dispensaries opened in April 2023.

Now, state lawmakers want to raise the legal age to purchase them from 18 with an approved pharmacy card to 21 across the board.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

As written, Senate Bill 350 raises the age to purchase or possess consumable hemp products to 21, matching the legal age to consume alcohol. It is currently set at 18, with pharmaceutical card. In April, there were about 27,000 Georgians on the official registry to purchase medical cannabis oil products.

According to the bill, consumable hemp products include anything derived from hemp, designed to be eaten, absorbed or inhaled by humans or animals, and products that do not constitute or contain marijuana or other controlled substances.

Per the legislative text, products that contain low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil are not included in the provisions and regulations of the proposal.

RELATED STORIES:

Should SB 350 pass both chambers of the legislature, it would require 21-year-old hemp customers and consumers to present proper identification when purchasing the products.

The bill defines identification as any document issued by a governmental agency with a description of a person, showing their photograph and date of birth.

Qualifying items include passports, military identification, drivers licenses or other authorized identification cards, but not a birth certificate.

Once passed, the bill makes it illegal for anyone to knowingly sell, furnish, or cause to be furnished, hemp products to anyone younger than 21, as well as making it illegal for someone younger than 21 years old to knowingly buy or have consumable hemp products or falsely identify themselves as old enough to obtain them.

The responsibility for identifying and confirming the ages of customers will belong to sellers and distributors, according to the bill. Similar to purchasing alcoholic beverages, signage must be placed at points of sale showing the requirement to verify ages to purchase hemp products.

In recent weeks, Channel 2 Action News reported that federal officials were warning independent pharmacies not to sell medical marijuana, threatening criminal prosecution.

Neither marijuana nor THC can lawfully be possessed, handled, or dispensed by any DEA-registered pharmacy, the Drug Enforcement Administration said in a letter to Georgia pharmacists.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Congress is racing to fund the government ahead of a crucial deadline on Friday.

If lawmakers dont pass a spending measure, there will be a partial government shutdown.

Last night the Senate took the first step toward passing a bill to extend the funding deadline that sets up a high stakes vote later this week.

Time is of the essence. if we dont act soon, the government will run out of funding midnight this Friday, said Sen. Chuck. Schumer (D-N.Y.)

In a sprint to avoid a shutdown, the Senate approved a procedural measure Tuesday night to move forward with a bill to extend government funding deadlines until March, buying negotiators more time to hammer out a full budget.

Shutting down the government, even part of it, would interrupt this important progress, said Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Senate leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Mike Johnson already agreed to a funding framework for the full year.

Their deal sets a top line of $1.66 trillion but lawmakers still need to work out the details of where that money goes.

We want to move forward as quickly as we can, to turn this top-line number into legislation. But everyone knows we need more time, said Schumer.

Some House Republicans oppose the deal saying it doesnt cut spending enough.

But Minority leader Mitch McConnell points to conservative wins in the agreement, like cuts to the IRS and Covid relief claw backs. It will take support from both parties to pass the stopgap funding bill.

Senator Schumer says he hopes to have work on the extension bill wrapped up by Thursday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A high-ranking California emergency services official has been accused in a lawsuit of impeding wildfire recovery efforts as part of a retaliation campaign against a subordinate who had rejected his sexual advances.

Kendra Bowyer, whose job involved coordinating the removal of wildfire debris for the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, made the allegations against Cal OES Deputy Director of Recovery Operations Ryan Buras as part of a broader sexual harassment and workplace discrimination lawsuit filed Tuesday in Sacramento Superior Court.

Buras did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Cal OES said an outside law firm was hired to investigate Bowyer's allegations against Buras.

"Privacy considerations limit our ability to share confidential information," the agency said in an emailed statement. "Cal OES, however, took appropriate action upon conclusion of the investigation following the determination that no policy was violated.

Bowyer's lawsuit dismissed the agency's investigation, which arose after she took medical leave from the agency, as surface-level and insufficient, alleging that an attorney conducted only a short interview with her, engaged in "victim blaming" and asked her, "Why didn't you just tell him to leave you alone?"

The lawsuit accuses Buras, a 2019 appointee of Gov. Gavin Newsom, of harassing Bowyer over the course of two years. The suit describes a night in 2020 when Bowyer slept at Buras' apartment after a working dinner; she claims he climbed into the bed where she was sleeping and touched her without her consent.

The lawsuit alleges that Buras cut off all communication with Bowyer after she told him his sexual advances were unprofessional and needed to stop, which rendered her job helping local jurisdictions devastated by wildfires impossible to perform.

"Buras' retaliation prevented Ms. Bowyer from providing essential services to disaster survivors, placing their health and safety at risk," the complaint says.

Read more: How conservatives are waging a coordinated, anti-LGBTQ+ culture war in California schools

The lawsuit details a meeting in May 2021 at which Buras allegedly told Santa Cruz County officials that they were ineligible to receive federal funding for the removal of trees damaged by wildfires because Bowyer failed to submit the appropriate paperwork on their behalf. That claim was false, the complaint alleges, and "all a set up to make [Bowyer] look incompetent."

Santa Cruz County officials did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Cal OES and the state of California are also named as defendants in Bowyer's lawsuit, which alleges that agency officials knew Buras harassed women but kept him in the workplace and targeted his accusers for discipline or termination.

The lawsuit cites interviews about the harassment that Bowyer said she gave to a medical provider and an attorney for Cal OES after taking medical leave as a result of stress, anxiety and depression caused by Buras' actions. It also cites a separate lawsuit, filed in 2020 by former Cal OES statewide manager Steven Larson, which claimed that Larson was illegally terminated as punishment for filing internal whistleblower complaints about Buras for allegedly "creating a hostile work environment for women."

Larson claimed that several women in the agency had complained to him about Buras and that he was forced out of the agency for bringing those complaints to the attention of agency leaders.

Bowyer and Larson have the same attorneys, and her complaint includes emails in which Cal OES officials discuss her former colleague's allegations. In one exchange referencing Larson, according to the complaint, Buras wrote to Cal OES Director Nancy Ward, "I'm tired Nancy," and Ward responded, "Just hang in there! This is all just noise!!!"

"Cal OES's actions are egregious and demonstrate it does not care to stop a sexual predator and will take action to cover up its illegal activity including terminating employees, making false accusations against those employees, and forcing victims out," Bowyer's lawsuit alleges.

Cal OES has denied Larson's claims in court, saying his separation from the agency had nothing to do with his flagging complaints about Buras. According to Bowyer's complaint, Cal OES claimed Larson violated an anti-nepotism policy with a Cal OES contractor.

The agency declined to comment Tuesday on Bowyer's claims but said in a statement that "sexual harassment in the workplace is an affront to our values as an organization" and "will not be tolerated in any form."

Read more: Female commander fired after drunken incident calls out LAPD 'double standard'

"Nothing is more important than the safety and welfare of staff and the communities they serve. Put more plainly, every single Cal OES employee and contractor must have a safe and respectful work environment," the agency said.

In an interview with The Times, Bowyer, 36, said she had long worried that Buras would ruin her career in the emergency services field  and upend her life  if she rejected him outright. She said he constantly told her about people who had crossed him and were on a "dead to me," or "DTM," list he maintained. She said that because Cal OES paid her salary and covered her expenses for housing, car and food as she moved between disaster areas, she tried to put up with his unwanted advances.

Bowyer said she decided to say something after two incidents in late 2020.

In September of that year, according to her lawsuit, Buras invited Bowyer and another colleague to his apartment in Sacramento so they could share dinner and discuss disaster assignments in the field. Bowyer said Buras insisted she spend the night, even though she had booked a hotel, telling her to sleep in his bed while he slept in another living space with their other male colleague.

At some point that night, she woke up to find Buras beside her in the bed, the complaint said.

"The entire front side of his body wrapped around the backside of [her] body, and his left arm wrapped around and resting on [her] arm," the complaint said.

Bowyer "was instantly terrified" and "thought this was the moment she would instantly lose her job," the complaint said. It said he backed off and got out of the bed after she asked him what he was doing.

Two months later, in November 2020, Bowyer's mother visited her in California. When Buras found out about the visit, according to the lawsuit, he insisted on cooking the women a dinner of traditional dishes from their shared home state of Louisiana. The complaint says Bowyer felt "obligated to deal with" Buras and "too embarrassed and fearful to tell her mother" about her concerns, so she agreed to the dinner.

The complaint alleges that Buras, who was married at the time to a former state official, was unprofessional throughout that day, talking about taking Bowyer on a "surprise Christmas trip" and at one point taking her hand in front of her mother.

In an interview with The Times, Bowyer's mother, Maureen Bowyer, said she found the visit upsetting. She said Buras was constantly "hovering" around her daughter, clearly making her uncomfortable. At one point before dinner, while her daughter was out of the room, Buras "began to talk to me about the state of his marriage and his wife wanting a divorce and all this other stuff," she said.

When Maureen Bowyer saw Buras take her daughter's hand, "I was livid," she said, "and I did what any self-respecting mother would do: I just walked right up and cut them apart, like, 'What the heck?'"

Read more: Dianne Feinstein's frailty, fight for family millions color her final Senate chapter

Bowyer's complaint said she texted Buras soon after to tell him that "the relationship was unprofessional and needed to cease." The court filing includes a picture of text messages Buras allegedly sent in response  in which he said he would "forever be ashamed of myself" and probably looked to her mother "like a no good, unfaithful typical jerk."

After taking medical leave, Bowyer said she couldn't return to Cal OES and left for good in December 2021, moving in with her mother. She said she initially wanted just to "get away from" everything that had happened, mourn the career she had lost and move on with her life.

However, Bowyer said, she recently spoke with a former colleague who told her that there were other women at Cal OES who "couldn't afford to stand up for themselves and leave and do what was best for them because their family relied on that job."

That made her want to file the lawsuit, to "put a stop" to Buras and to "the administration who knows what he is doing and just sweeps it under the rug," she said.

Bowyer's lawsuit seeks compensation for lost wages, medical costs, attorneys fees and other damages, along with a Cal OES investigation into Buras and the firing of officials who allowed his alleged abuse to persist.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
FILE - This undated photo provided by the Alabama Department of Corrections shows inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was convicted in a 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher's wife. Alabama will be allowed to put Smith to death with nitrogen gas later this month, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, clearing the way for what would be the nations first execution under a new method the inmates lawyers criticize as cruel and experimental. (Alabama Department of Corrections via AP, File)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Attorneys for the first inmate slated to be put to death with nitrogen gas have asked a federal appeals court to block the execution scheduled later this month in Alabama.

Kenneth Eugene Smiths attorneys on Monday asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to block his Jan. 25 execution. The appellate court will hear arguments in the case on Friday.

The state plans to place a face mask over Smiths nose and mouth to replace breathable air with pure nitrogen  an inert gas that makes up 78% of the air inhaled by humans  causing him to die from lack of oxygen. The nitrogen gas would be administered for at least 15 minutes or five minutes following a flatline indication on the EKG, whichever is longer, according to the state protocol.

Three states  Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma  have authorized nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method, but none have attempted to use it. The question of whether Alabama will ultimately be allowed to attempt the nations first execution using nitrogen gas could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Smiths attorneys appealed a judges Jan. 10 decision to let the execution go forward. They argued that the new nitrogen hypoxia protocol is riddled with unknowns and potential problems that could violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. They said the concerns over the novel execution method and how Smith was chosen as the test subject should be more fully considered by a court before the execution proceeds.

Because Mr. Smith will be the first condemned person subject to this procedure, his planned execution is an experiment that would not be performed or permitted outside this context, Smith's attorneys wrote in the Monday court filing.

The low-oxygen environment could cause nausea leading Smith to choke to death on his own vomit, his attorneys argued. Or if he is exposed to less than pure nitrogen, they argued he was at risk of feeling the sensation of suffocation or being left in a vegetative state instead of dying.

The Alabama attorney generals office has called those concerns speculative and argued in court filings that the deprivation of oxygen will cause unconsciousness within seconds, and cause death within minutes. The state will file its objection to Smith's request for a stay later this week.

Smiths attorneys also argued that the mask placed over his month would also interfere with his ability to pray aloud before his execution and further argued that Alabama violated Smiths due process rights by setting his execution date while he has ongoing appeals.

The Alabama Supreme Court on Friday rejected Smiths appeal that it would be unconstitutionally cruel to make a second attempt to execute him after a previous attempt at a lethal injection failed. His attorneys wrote that they intend to appeal that ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Smith was strapped to a gurney in the execution chamber for nearly four hours in 2022 as the state prepared to execute him by lethal injection, his attorneys wrote. The execution was called off before any of the drugs were administered because the execution team could not get the second of two required intravenous lines connected to Smiths veins.

Smith was one of two men convicted of the 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of a preachers wife. Prosecutors said Smith and the other man were each paid $1,000 to kill Elizabeth Sennett. John Forrest Parker, the other man convicted in the slaying, was executed in 2010 by lethal injection.
LCPD: Suspect threatens clerk with taser, arrested after brief chase

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Las Cruces Police say they arrested an armed robbery suspect shortly after the crime was committed.



Alexander Ogburn, 33, is charged with one felony count of armed robbery, Las Cruces Police said.

He was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is initially being held without bond.



Shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, Las Cruces police were dispatched to a report of an armed robbery that occurred at Dylans convenience store at 1900 N. Main St.



Police learned the suspect threatened a clerk with what was believed to be a taser before taking an undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes from the store.



A short time later, after a short foot pursuit, police detained the suspect at the intersection of Spruce Avenue and North Campo Street. The suspect was identified as Ogburn.



The taser Ogburn allegedly used to commit the offense was determined to be a flashlight, police said.



The stolen money and cigarettes were returned to the business.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
LEANDER, Texas (KXAN)  A Leander High School teacher was charged with an inappropriate relationship between an educator and a student related to a September 2023 incident.

An information document filed Tuesday said Michael Winters engaged in sexual contact with a student at Leander High School on Sept. 8, according to the Williamson County District Attorney.

In a letter to families on Sunday, Leander HS Principal Chis Simpson said Winters, a special education teacher, was placed on administrative leave when the district learned about potential inappropriate contact, pending an investigation by Leander police and Child Protective Services. The letter said Winters is still on administrative leave.

Out of respect for privacy concerns and the ongoing legal process, we regret that we cannot disclose further details now, the letter said in part. We have arranged for highly qualified staff to support the continuity of instruction and services for our students.

Michael Winters (Courtesy Williamson County Jail)

Winters did not have an attorney listed on the Williamson County court website.

The Texas Education Agency said Leander ISD reported Winters on Oct. 4. He is currently under review by the TEA Educator Investigations Division.

Winters was booked in the Williamson County Jail on Saturday. He posted a $15,000 bond and was released Sunday.

The Leander Police Department said it cannot provide information about the case because it is ongoing and involves a minor.

LISD said Winters was employed since August 2023. Winters was previously employed at Burnet CISD and The Settlement Home for Children, a charter school run by the University of Texas, according to the TEA. BCISD said Winters worked as a classroom teacher from August 2021 to May 2023, and he resigned at the end of his 2022-23 contract.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a bomb-carrying drone into a U.S.-owned ship on Wednesday, officials said, the second such attack in recent days targeting vessels directly linked to America after U.S.-led strikes against the Houthis in recent days. The U.S. military launched another wave of ship- and submarine-launched missile strikes against Houthi-controlled sites, U.S. officials said.

In Gaza, a shipment of medicine for dozens of hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas entered the territory late Wednesday, Qatars foreign ministry said. The Gulf nation and France worked out a deal between Israel and Hamas to deliver medicine to both the hostages and for Palestinians.

More than 100 days into the Israel-Hamas war, Palestinian militants are still putting up stiff resistance across the besieged enclave. The conflict shows no sign of ending and has inflamed tensions across the Middle East, with a dizzying array of strikes and counterstrikes in recent days.

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has risen to 24,285 people, Health Ministry said Tuesday. In Israel, around 1,200 people were killed during Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war and saw some 250 people taken hostage by militants.

Currently:

 How watermelon imagery, a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians, spread around the planet

 U.S. pledges new sanctions over Houthi attacks will minimize harm to Yemens hungry millions.

 A freed Israeli hostage relives the horrors of captivity. She fears for her husband, still held in Gaza.

 U.S. senators reject Bernie Sanders effort to curb Israel-Hamas war. The vote signals rising unease.

 A chaotic wave of attacks and reprisals in the Middle East fuel worries of a broader regional war.

 Find more of AP's coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.

Here's the latest:

US military launches more missile strikes against Houthi sites in Yemen

WASHINGTON  The U.S. military launched another wave of ship- and submarine-launched missile strikes against Houthi-controlled sites Wednesday, U.S. officials said, marking the fourth time in days it has targeted the group in Yemen as violence ignited by the Israel-Hamas war continues to spill over in the Middle East.

The strikes were launched from the Red Sea and hit 14 missiles that the U.S. Central Command deemed an imminent threat.

The strikes followed the official announcement that the U.S. has put the Houthis back on its list of specially designated global terrorists. The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing.

The Houthis are continuing their campaign of harassment of commercial and military ships. On Wednesday, an attack drone launched from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen struck the U.S.-owned bulk carrier Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden.

 By Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor.

___

Yemens Houthi rebels attack a US-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden with bomb-carrying drone

JERUSALEM -- A U.S.-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden was hit Wednesday by a bomb-carrying drone launched by Yemens Houthi rebels, officials said.

The attack on the Genco Picardy was the second this week targeting vessels directly linked to the United States after U.S.-led strikes targeting the Houthis. It happened about 70 miles (110 kilometers) southeast of Aden, said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, an arm of the British navy that oversees Mideast waterways.

The ships captain reported that a fire onboard had been extinguished, it said.

In a statement, the Genco Picardys owner, New York City-based Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd., said the ship was carrying a load of phosphate rock. All seafarers aboard the vessel are confirmed to be uninjured, the company said, adding that the vessel has remained stable and underway on a course out of the area.

Satellite-tracking data had put the vessel off Saudi Arabia in recent days as it was bound for India.

On Monday, a Houthi missile hit the U.S.-owned bulk carrier Gibraltar Eagle. The U.S. militarys Central Command said the ship reported no injuries or significant damage.

The Houthis say their attacks on shipping are aimed at backing Hamas and Palestinians trapped in the Gaza Strip during Israels war on Hamas. The U.S. and its allies have carried out three rounds of airstrikes targeting Houthi sites over the last week to try to deter the militants.

UNTREATED WOUNDS, OVERCROWDED HOSPITALS AS GAZA'S HEALTH SYSTEM COLLAPSES

UNITED NATIONS  People are dying every day from untreated injuries in Gazas overwhelmed hospitals as the territorys health care system collapses, a U.N. health emergency expert says.

The World Health Organizations Sean Casey, who left Gaza recently after five weeks of trying to get more staff and supplies to the 16 partially functioning hospitals, told a U.N. news conference Wednesday about the health emergency he witnessed which deteriorated during his time in the territory.

At Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, I saw patients who were lying on church pews, basically waiting to die in a hospital that had no fuel, no power, no water, very little in the way of medical supplies and only a handful of staff remaining to take care of them, he said.

Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza City, once the territorys leading hospital with 700 beds, has been reduced to treating emergency trauma victims, and is reportedly filled with tens of thousands of people who have fled their homes and are now living in operating rooms, corridors and stairs, he said.

Literally five or six doctors or nurses are seeing hundreds of mainly trauma victims a day, Casey said, and there were so many patients on the floor you could barely move without stepping on somebodys hands or feet.

Last week, Casey said, he visited the Nasser medical complex, the main hospital further south in Khan Younis, which is at 200% of its bed capacity with only 30% of its staff, so patients are everywhere, in the corridors, on the floor.

He said a cease-fire is what's needed, first and foremost, to help some 60,000 injured people and several hundred new arrivals every day. To address the crisis, he said, safe and secure access to hospitals and health facilities is essential  and medical supplies need to be delivered to facilities where there is adequate staff and electricity to help the thousands in need.

MEDICINE SHIPMENT FOR ISRAELI HOSTAGES ENTERS GAZA STRIP, QATAR SAYS

CAIRO  A spokesperson for Qatars Foreign Ministry says that a shipment of medicine for dozens of hostages held by Hamas has reached the Gaza Strip.

The medicine arrived Wednesday as part of a France- and Qatar-mediated deal that was the first agreement between Israel and Hamas since a truce in late November that freed dozens of captives, mostly women and children. For every box that arrives for a hostage, 1,000 boxes will arrive to Palestinians in Gaza, a senior Hamas official said.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari did not say whether the aid had been distributed.

More than 100 captives remain, among them several older men. A group representing the hostages says about a third of those in captivity suffer from chronic diseases that require medical care.

IRAN SAYS ITS STRIKES IN IRAQ AND SYRIA WERE IN SELF-DEFENSE

UNITED NATIONS  Iran has told the United Nations that it exercised its right to self-defense in carrying out targeted attacks against the bases and facilities of terrorist groups situated in Syria and Iraq.

Irans U.N. Ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, reiterated his governments inherent rights, as recognized by international law, to safeguard its sovereignty, national security, and its citizens against any threats or attacks.

This commitment reflects Irans resolve to protect its interests and maintain peace and security within its borders, he said in letters to the U.N. Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.

He said the anti-terrorism operations were undertaken in response to two bombings on Jan. 3 targeting a commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the slaying of Gen. Qassem Soleimani that he said killed over 100 civilians and injured many others. The Islamic State extremist group, a battlefield foe of Soleimani's, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Iravani said ballistic missile attacks in the early hours of Jan. 16 targeted facilities of the Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syrias northwestern Idlib region and in northeast Syria.

In addition, he said, Iran targeted a facility in Irbil in Iraqs Kurdistan region used by anti-Iranian terrorist groups associated with the Israeli regime  for intelligence and sabotage operations in Iran. Iraq protested the violation of its sovereignty and recalled its ambassador to Iran.

Iravani reiterated Irans unwavering commitment to respect the sovereignty of Syria and Iraq.

The strikes heightened tensions in the region amid fears of a wider spillover of the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas following the militants' Oct. 7 surprise attacks in southern Israel.

The letter, dated Jan. 16, did not mention Irans airstrikes in Pakistans restive southwestern Baluchistan province on Tuesday. Iran claimed it targeted bases for a militant Sunni separatist group. Pakistan denounced the attack as a blatant violation of its airspace, said it killed two children, and recalled its ambassador to Tehran.

A BRITISH NATIONAL WAS KILLED IN IRAQ BY RECENT IRANIAN STRIKES, UK SAYS

BAGHDAD  The U.K.s ambassador to Iraq said Wednesday that a British national, Karam Mikhael, was among the civilians killed by an Iranian strike on the city of Irbil in northern Iraq earlier this week. Ambassador Stephen Hitchen issued condolences to Mikhaels family and those of the others killed in the attack in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Iran fired missiles late Monday at what it said was a Israeli spy headquarters in an upscale neighborhood near the sprawling U.S. Consulate compound in Irbil. Iraqi officials have denied that the location struck had any connection to Israeli intelligence.

The Iranian strike in Irbil killed at least four people, among them Mikhael, a British-Iraqi businessman, and Peshraw Dizayi, a prominent local businessman with a portfolio that included real estate and security services companies. Iraq recalled its ambassador from Tehran for consultations and summoned Irans charge daffaires in Baghdad to protest the attack.

HAMAS FIRES ROCKETS FROM LEBANON INTO NORTHERN ISRAEL

BEIRUT  Hamas said it fired 20 missiles from Lebanon toward a military barracks near Israel's northern coast on Wednesday.

It was first rocket attack from Lebanon by the Palestinian militant group since late December and came a day after at least 25 rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel in one of the strongest bombardments in more than a week.

A statement from Hamas said Wednesdays attack was partly a response to the presumed Israeli airstrike that killed top Hamas official Saleh Arouri on Jan. 2 in the Beirut suburbs.

It was not immediately clear if there were damage or casualties in Israel. The Israeli military said its warplanes and artillery struck launch sites in southern Lebanon.

Hamas later announced that one of its fighters, from the Mieh Mieh Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Sidon, had been killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon.

In recent days, the intensity of cross-border fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has escalated.

Regarding the prospects for another cease-fire agreement in Gaza and a release of hostages, Hamas political official Osama Hamdan told reporters in Beirut that the group had presented a vision to Egypt in Qatar in response to proposals put forward by those two countries, but accused Israel of stalling in its response.

The Hamas official also criticized the international community for its concern about getting medication to the dozens of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, when more than 2 million Palestinians there have been living for months in dire conditions without access to health care.

IRAN'S TOP DIPLOMAT WARNS THE WAR COULD EXPAND AS LONG AS ISRAEL TRIES TO CRUSH HAMAS

TEHRAN, Iran  Irans foreign minister warned that fighting could intensify in the Mideast if Israel does not end its war against Hamas.

Today, we are witnessing genocide in Gaza and the West Bank. This means that war is ongoing, so there is possibility of extension," Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said, speaking Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Amirabdollahian added that Lebanon's Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, was not itching to enter the conflict directly. Offering support for what he said was the militant group's desire to limit bloodshed, he said Hezbollah had been committed to upholding a weeklong November cease-fire in Gaza.

Amirabdollahian also claimed that Iran's airstrikes on a Kurdish area of northern Iraq had targeted Israeli sites. He called Israel a mutual enemy of Iran and Iraq.

A SECOND ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE IN THE WEST BANK KILLS 4 MORE PALESTINIANS

JERUSALEM  An Israeli airstrike killed four Palestinians during a Wednesday raid in the occupied West Bank.

The military says it targeted a group of militants who had opened fire and were throwing explosives at Israeli soldiers in the Tulkarem refugee camp, a built-up residential area in the northern West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said four people were killed. The Israeli army said a soldier was seriously wounded.

The army said the troops arrested seven others who Israel alleges were involved in planting roadside bombs during the raid.

An earlier airstrike near another West Bank refugee camp Wednesday killed five Palestinians. Israel said the target, a senior militant allegedly involved in attacks against Israelis, was killed along with members of his cell.

At least 360 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza started, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Most were killed in confrontations during violent protests or Israeli arrest raids.

Israels military says it has arrested some 2,700 Palestinians in the West Bank since Hamas Oct. 7 attack from Gaza into Israel, which ignited the war. It says around 1,300 are suspected Hamas members.

MOOD AND CONDITIONS ARE DETERIORATING IN SOUTHERN GAZA, HEAD OF U.N. AGENCY SAYS

JERUSALEM  The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says he is shocked by how poor conditions in the Gaza Strip have become after 3 1/2 months of war.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini spoke to reporters on Wednesday, a day after wrapping up his fourth visit to Gaza since Oct. 7.

Lazzarini said he was struck by the moods and circumstances of the masses of displaced people who have sought safety in the southern part of the territory, many living in sprawling tent camps. The U.N. estimates that over 80% of Gazas 2.3 million people have been displaced.

He said the conditions have steadily worsened with each of his trips. His previous visit came just before Christmas.

Now you have a plastic makeshift site having mushroomed almost everywhere, Lazzarini said. Hundreds of thousands of people living now in the street, living in this plastic makeshift, sleeping on the concrete.

He said U.N. shelters are not an option because they are overcrowded and suffering from poor sanitary conditions.

In some places, women have all but stopped eating or drinking because they do not want to use the filthy bathrooms, Lazzarini said. Diarrhea and skin diseases are fast spreading, he said.

Lazzarini said he also was struck by the sense of helplessness in the people he saw. He said they are in survival mode, exhausted and demoralized by the appalling hygiene conditions and lack of hope. Many think it will be impossible to return home when the fighting stops because the destruction is so vast, and many talk of leaving Gaza in hope of building new lives elsewhere.

They dont see how they can continue to bring up their children in this type of environment, Lazzarini said.

U.N. AGENCY SEEKS REVIEW OF ALLEGED PRO-HAMAS ACTIVITY IN ITS RANKS

JERUSALEM  The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says he has requested an independent review of claims by pro-Israel groups of unchecked pro-Hamas activity in his organization.

Philippe Lazzarini told reporters Wednesday he would soon appoint a professional consulting group or some other independent entity to look into the claims.

Israeli officials and their allies have repeatedly alleged that the refugee agency, known by its acronym UNRWA, allows anti-Israeli incitement to be taught in its hundreds of schools. They also alleged that some of the agency's tens of thousands of staff members support or collaborate with the Hamas militant group or have written inappropriate social media posts.

UNRWA serves millions of Palestinians across the Middle East whose families fled or were forced from properties inside what is Israel during the war surrounding Israels creation in 1948. Israel rejects a return of the refugees to their former lands, saying it would undermine the countrys Jewish character.

Those pushing back against the allegations say the refugee agency is being tarnished as part of a campaign to diminish the long-festering issue of Palestinian refugees and their descendants. Israeli critics have accused UNRWA of perpetuating the Palestinian refugee issue  a charge Lazzarini rejected.

Lazzarini said that constant scrutiny has had an impact on the agencys already-stretched operations by encouraging some donor nations to consider defunding the organization. He said it also has hurt morale at a time when UNRWA is conducting this huge humanitarian operation in Gaza.

Lazzarini said he wants the review to determine what is true or untrue and to look at how the agency deals with problematic cases. He says he is confident the investigation will find there is no systemic policy violating U.N. standards and that there is a proper system of oversight in place.

He said the assessment would also look at what is disingenuous, what is politically motivated among the critics.

JORDAN SAYS A MEDIC FROM A HOSPITAL IT RUNS WAS WOUNDED IN GAZA

AMMAN, Jordan  The Jordanian military says a medic working at a field hospital it operates in Gaza was wounded by clashes nearby.

An army statement released Wednesday said the individual was wounded in the thigh and hand and would be evacuated to the kingdom. It did not provide further details about the individual.

It said a Palestinian who was receiving treatment was also wounded. It says the hospital in Khan Younis suffered severe material damage as a result of continuous Israeli bombing nearby.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the incident.

Jordans military says it holds Israel responsible for the safety of the hospitals staff and described the attack on the hospital as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

Jordan, a close Western ally, made peace with Israel in 1994 but supports the Palestinian cause and has repeatedly called for a cease-fire in Gaza.

ISRAELI ARMY TRAINS FOR A POSSIBLE OFFENSIVE IN LEBANON

JERUSALEM  The Israeli army has held a training exercise simulating an offensive in southern Lebanon as it continues to exchange fire with Hezbollah fighters along the border.

Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, head of the armys Northern Command, said in a statement issued Tuesday: Were more prepared for this than ever before, even for tonight if needed.

More than 2,000 rockets have been fired toward Israel from Lebanon, the home of Hezbollah, since the start of the war in Gaza, killing 12 Israeli soldiers and six civilians, including a mother and son on Monday.

Israels airstrikes in Lebanon have killed around 150 militants and 20 civilians, according to Hezbollah. Earlier this week, Israel said it stopped an infiltration of militants into the contested Golan Heights.

Gordin says reserve soldiers are spread out along the border to bolster Israels defenses.

Hezbollah says its attacks are aimed at tying down Israeli forces and will continue until there is a cease-fire in Gaza. Israel has warned of an all-out war if Hezbollah does not pull back from the border in accordance with a U.N. resolution that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

HAMAS OFFICIAL: GAZA RESIDENTS TO GET MEDICINE AS PART OF HOSTAGE AID DEAL

CAIRO  Hamas has provided more details about an agreement brokered by France and Qatar to deliver medicine to Israeli hostages held by its fighters in Gaza.

Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk said Wednesday that for each box of medicine provided to the hostages, 1,000 boxes would be sent for use by Palestinian civilians.

In a posting on X, he said the International Committee of the Red Cross would deliver all the medicines, including those destined for the hostages, to hospitals serving all parts of Gaza.

The agreement also includes the delivery of additional food and humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Abu Marzouk says Israeli authorities will not have the chance to inspect the shipments. He says Hamas insisted that Qatar provide the medications and not France because of the European countrys support for Israel.

This is the first agreement reached between the warring sides since a weeklong cease-fire in November. Hamas and other militants are still holding around half of the estimated 250 hostages they captured during the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. Most of the rest were freed in November in return for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Those remaining in captivity in Gaza include several older men and others who require medication for chronic illness.

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE IN WEST BANK KILLS SENIOR PALESTINIAN MILITANT, ARMY SAYS

JERUSALEM  The Israeli army says it killed a senior Palestinian militant in an airstrike in the West Bank.

Ahmed Abdullah Abu Shalal, whom the Israeli military said was responsible for infrastructure and had planned multiple attacks against Israelis in Jerusalem, was killed along with four others early Wednesday near the built-up Balata refugee camp in the city of Nablus.

The Palestinian Red Crescent says Israeli forces prevented medics from reaching the site of the strike, saying in a social media post that gunfire was directed at our teams.

The military alleged that Abu Shalal and his cell planned to carry out an imminent attack and had received funding and guidance from Iranian sources. It did not provide evidence for the allegation.

Violence has surged in the Israeli-occupied West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza. Over 350 Palestinians have been killed in the last three months, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, mainly during Israeli arrest raids and violent protests.

Israel has increasingly used airstrikes in the West Bank as the fighting has grown more intense, but targeted killings are still relatively rare in the territory.
THIS BLOG IS NOW OUTDATED. Thank you for reading! Our new blog with the most recent information can be found here.

A winter weather advisory warns of the potential for more snow and ice on top of whats still around after Monday. The National Weather Service issued the advisory from 7 p.m. Thursday to 7 p.m. Friday, warning that rain and freezing rain moving into the region could drop up to an inch of snow and a tenth of an inch of ice in some areas.

That precipitation, plus overnight temperatures in the teens or even single digits and wind chill, could cause pavement could result in slick, icy roads the next few mornings, so continue to be careful if venturing out.

Here's what you need to know today as many nonessential functions have been slow to restart because of snow-covered roads and bitter cold temperatures.

City-County Building opens at 10 a.m. Jan. 18

The building will open but some services will still be unavailable:

City Court will not be in session the rest of this week, but employees able to safely get into the office will be available to help residents with questions.

Knox County Criminal Court will be closed Jan. 18.

KAT buses still suspended

KAT buses are not running today. They will operate severe snow routes starting at 11:15 a.m. Jan. 18. The final rides will leave at 8:15 p.m.

Severe snow routes are only along major corridors: Routes 11-Kingston Pike, 12-Western, 22-Broadway, 31-Magnolia, & 41-Chapman Highway. For more details, visit: www.katbus.com

Jan. 19 plans have not been finalized.

Knox County power outages are mostly fixed

As 2 p.m. neared and the temperature approached 20 degrees, the Knoxville Utilities Board reported 99.9% of its customers had power and only showed five outage zones affecting 160 customers on its live outage map. The Lenoir City Utilities Board reported no outage events.

Not all local power companies have the same process for reporting an outage. Here's how to let your utility know the lights are off and keep up with outage information at 13 East Tennessee utilities.

McGhee Tyson Airport is open, but cancellations persist

Knoxville's airport posted a photo this morning of staff de-icing an American Airlines jet, a sight the airport expects to happen often as temperatures hover around zero degrees.

While the airport is open and operational, representatives said several airlines decided to cancel flights in the icy conditions. McGhee Tyson had 25 flight cancellations in the last 24 hours, according to FlightAware, a site that tracks commercial flight data.

Fight information is available through the airport's website, which showed five canceled flights this morning, three on Delta Airlines and two on American Airlines. Several other flights were facing delays.

The airport encouraged passengers to check airline apps or websites for the most up-to-date information on delays and cancellations.

At 3 degrees below zero, TVA's system is stable

As the temperature in Knoxville hit the forecasted low of 3 degrees below zero Wednesday morning at 7:45 a.m., TVA's power system was stable. The pain point for its system will be between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., as people wake up and begin using more power.

The nation's largest public power provider saw 33,310 megawatt hours of power demand between 6 and 7 a.m., according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is above TVA's peak generating capacity of close to 33,000 megawatts. TVA leans on power purchased from other power companies when temperatures plunge and demand climbs.

For comparison, TVA's highest-ever winter power demand on Dec. 23, 2022, was 33,427 megawatts  enough to power between 20 million and 25 million average homes. The agency expects that record, and its all-time record of 33,482 megawatts, will be trounced this morning.

TVA sells power to 153 local power companies, such as the Knoxville Utilities Board, serving about 10 million people and thousands of businesses.

A megawatt is a measurement of instantaneous power demand, while a megawatt hour is a measurement of power consumption during one hour.

TVA asks customers to save electricity

This morning's freezing cold temperatures could lead to record demand on the Tennessee Valley Authority power grid. TVA is asking customers to do their part by being smart about their electricity use to avoid the need for blackouts.

Reducing the stress on the power grid was especially useful this morning.

The federal utility expects a demand to top 35,000 megawatts as wind chills dip below zero degrees across parts of the agency's service area, a spokesperson told Knox News. TVA's power system is capable of producing close to 33,000 megawatts and the agency has purchase power agreements with other companies for thousands of megawatts.

Ways to pitch in:

Adjust thermostat to between 65-68 degrees, or the lowest temperature that keeps you warm and safe.

Limit use of nonessential appliances and lights and unplug unused electronics

Unblock air vents

Postpone use of hot water

Wait to run the dishwasher or washer and dryer until warmer times of day

Open blinds and curtains during the day on the sunny side of the house and close them at night

Keep warm air circulating with ceiling fans

Wear more layers and blankets inside to keep warm

Parts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopen

Sugarlands and Oconaluftee visitor centers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened at 11 a.m., though Cades Cove, Twin Creeks and Tremont centers will remain closed.

Most park roads are still closed including Newfound Gap from Sugarlands to Towstring, Little River, Gatlinburg Bypass, Cherokee Orchard at the park boundary, Laurel Creek, Cades Cove Loop, Upper Tremont, Foothills Parkway East & West, Wears Cove Gap, Old NC 284, Lakeview Drive, Greenbrier, Cataloochee Entrance and Tom Branch.

Knoxville garbage pickup is delayed

Knoxville crews have been unable to collect residential trash and recyclables. Downtown crews likewise could not do pickups today.

Today's cancelations and closures

Knox County Libraries will be closed today.

The Knox County Commission Audit Committee's meeting scheduled for today has been canceled. It will be rescheduled in February.

The Knox County Sheriff Employees' Merit System Board of Directors meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled.

Knoxville city offices and recreation centers will be closed today. City services such as KPD, KFD, public service crews and fleet service technicians will continue to perform their duties.

The Knoxville Museum of Art will remain closed.

The Beck Cultural Exchange Center will be closed and will operate on a limited basis the rest of the week.

The Diocese of Knoxville Chancery will be closed.

The U.S. citizenship naturalization ceremony that had been scheduled for today is canceled. The next Knoxville ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. April 25.

Knoxville crews have been unable to collect residential trash and recyclables. Downtown crews likewise could not do pickups today.

Disaster recovery centers operating in Tennessee are closed today. Homeowners and renters can still apply for aid by going online to disasterassistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app or calling 800-621-3362.

The Knoxville Police Department's scheduled quarterly East District commander forum has been postponed to a later date.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory will remain closed today and plans to reopen 10 a.m. Jan. 18. Staff who can work remotely are expected to do so, a lab spokesperson said.

East Tennessee schools are closed - some until Monday

So many school districts closed, some for the rest of the week.

Snow damages downtown Knoxville business

Downtown Grill and Brewery's awning collapsed from the weight of snow on Jan. 16. The Gay Street business cleared the falling awning later that morning.

The awning that covers the patio outside Downtown Grill and Brewery on Gay Street collapsed from the weight of snow, and manager Brian Crabb told Knox News the restaurant took down the awning the morning of Jan. 16.

The restaurant was closed yesterday due to weather but is open today until 9:30 p.m., according to its Facebook page.

Stay safe in your car and in your home

There are a few steps to take  and a few myths to avoid  to keep your car running in the bitter cold.

You don't want frozen pipes or to feel cold in your own house. Take these steps now to be cozy and safe.

Power outages can be dangerous. Here's how to stay safe and avoid fires.

The three warming centers that opened Monday at Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church, Vestal United Methodist Church and Cokesbury Church remain open at night. The three centers served 123 people Monday, the first night. Call 211 or email the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability at office@KnoxTNHousing.org to donate money or food or to volunteer.

Thanks for reading! This service is offered for free so all readers can stay informed. Please consider subscribing to Knox News.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville weather live updates: East Tennessee wind chill warnings
PORTSMOUTH  Former President Donald Trump, seeking to hold off a challenge from former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley in next week's Republican New Hampshire primary, blasted Gov. Chris Sununu and the state for allowing undeclared voters to vote in the state's primary.

He called Sununu, unelectable in New Hampshire, though he won four straight terms as governor, and took more shots at Haley, who is running second to Trump in state primary polls. He claimed Sununu, who is campaigning hard for Haley, is allowing Democrats to vote in the Republican primary, a reference to New Hampshire allowing voters who are undeclared (no party affiliation) to vote in either the Republican or a Democratic primary.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Portsmouth, N.H., Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.

Trump took the stage more than an hour late to his scheduled speech in Portsmouth at the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel Wednesday night. Earlier in the day, he was in federal court in Manhattan as part of a civil defamation case against him.I'll tell you, if you want to defeat the radical left Democrats and save America, you vote for President Trump, he said.

More NH primary coverage: Haley says Trump is 'lying' about her record, chides him for refusing to debate

Trump urged the crowd to help him win big in New Hampshire.

We need big margins  because we have to set the tone for November, he said.

More: Trump, blending legal battles and campaign, tops long day in court with Portsmouth rally

Promises made by Trump on Wednesday included strengthening the southern border with Mexico, vowing to have the largest deportation of migrants in U.S. history and reducing inflation levels. He vowed "on day one" to eliminate federally mandated monitors from fishing boats and to indemnify all police officers." He also vowed to uphold the Second Amendment, ban transgender women from womens sports, make American airport experiences better and make Washington D.C. crime free.

Sherry Carignan of Derry waits outside in Portsmouth to see former president Donald Trump Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.

Speakers urge crowd to help Trump

Warming up the crowd prior to Trumps speech was Alan Forbes, chairperson of the Portsmouth Republican Committee. He encouraged voters to join the Trump train ahead of the New Hampshire primary.

After his absolutely astonishing victory in Iowa, I think we can expect the same thing here in New Hampshire, he said.

But attracting voters to Trumps legion of supporters isnt the easiest, he acknowledged. Forbes admitted that even members of his family find Trump to be a little unhinged.

But if you can crack open the light of truth, pretty soon, it's just an avalanche, Forbes added. And you can bring them up. That's all we can do. I'm going to ask all of you to try to find one or two voters who you can pull over, and don't do it by smacking them with facts and logic or stories that they cant relate to. Lets pull Donald Trump over the finish line.

Lilli Walsh, a Republican New Hampshire state representative, is serving as the chairperson of Trumps county re-election effort. She told voters to consider new ways to help Trump.

Considering all he does for us, let me ask you: What are you doing for him?

Trump loyalists sing his praises as they line up in cold hours before his arrival

Patricia and Bill Trujillo of Lee talk about their support for Donald Trump as they wait in freezing weather to see him speak in Portsmouth Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.

Bill and Patricia Trujillo, a married couple from Lee, voted for third-party candidate Gary Johnson in the 2016 election. By 2020, then-President Trump had won them both over and they cast their ballots for him in his unsuccessful re-election bid.

This year, theyre readying to vote for him again in the New Hampshire primary.

The Trujillos feel strongly that Trump is the candidate to take on the economy, illegal immigration and foreign policy. They feel that under Biden major conflicts have broken out across the world.

Hes already got the experience of how to handle things there, Bill Trujillo said of Trump. And with his previous foreign policy, no wars, and (he was promoting) a lot of peace.

Trumps event at the Sheraton was set to be the first time theyve heard him speak in person. Both sported Make America Great Again hats.

Weve seen him on TV, and he's just not a fictional character, Patricia Trujillo said. But to see him in person, I believe we're going to have a greater personal experience.

Derry resident Sherry Carignan arrived to the event with her two children, both of whom she pulled out of public school to homeschool after Trump lost the 2020 election. If Trump returns to office, she hopes he makes changes to the American educational system through an emphasis on history and cutting back on what she called slanted science teachings.

She believes the cost of living in America would decrease if Trump is elected and replaces Joe Biden as president.

I know one thing: When he was in last time, my family went on vacation a whole bunch of times and had money in the bank, Carignan said. I could afford groceries and I could afford to help other people. Since Biden has come into office, gas prices have skyrocketed, which has affected everything in our economy.

Geo Mann of Seabrook, who calls himself MAGA Mann stands outside in cold weather waiting to see Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Portsmouth Wednesday Jan. 17,2024.

Geo Mann, a Seabrook resident, carried a flag outside the hotel with a stars and stripes-adorned cartoon eagle, reading: 1776; Ultra MAGA; We the People. The Seacoast resident referred to himself as MAGA Mann and said he has attended flag waving events in support of Trump throughout New Hampshire.

I never miss any flag wave. I never miss any rallies. I don't care how cold it is, he said. We'll march around downtown to warm up and stuff. Anything to get the blood pumping.

As Trump supporters gathered, a truck with a traveling digital billboard in support of Haley drove up and down the downtown streets.

The New Hampshire primary is Tuesday, Jan. 23.

A truck with a digital billboard in support of Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley circles around Portsmouth near where Donald Trump was set to speak Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.

Trump faces defamation trial before Portsmouth stop

Before his Portsmouth speech, Trump was in a Manhattan federal courthouse earlier Wednesday for a civil defamation trial brought forward by writer E. Jean Carroll. In May, during the first trial involving the two parties, a New York federal jury found Trump sexually abused Carroll and defamed her, and she was awarded $5 million in damages.

More: Judge warns he will kick Donald Trump out of E. Jean Carroll defamation trial

Impeached twice during his presidency, Trump is the only former U.S. president to be criminally indicted. He currently faces 91 charges over four criminal cases, which are tied to allegations of federal and state election interference, stashing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago Club and committing business fraud in New York.

A line of people wait to get into the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel to see Donald Trump Wednesday, Jan. 17,2024.

Trump's past in Portsmouth

Trump is no stranger to the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel, where he received an endorsement in 2015 from the New England Police Benevolent Association. The visit also drew hundreds of protesters.

Trumps last known visit to Portsmouth prior to Wednesday came in October, when a spokesperson for his campaign said the former president attended a closed-door meeting with law enforcement officials at the AC Hotel.

A Toyota dealership in Portsmouth hosted him for a rally in October 2016.

In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the former president was scheduled to hold a rally in July 2020 at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease, with Air Force One serving as the backdrop in a hangar. The event was canceled.

Trumps current swing through New Hampshire began Tuesday in Atkinson. He appeared alongside Vivek Ramaswamy and took shots at rival candidate Nikki Haley after praising her a day earlier.

After his Portsmouth remarks, Trump has three additional public events in New Hampshire: a Friday event in Concord, a Saturday rally in Manchester and an appearance at the Rochester Opera House on Sunday at 7 p.m., according to his campaign events schedule.

Trump looks poised to again capture the Republican nomination for president, holding substantial leads in state and national polls.

Correction: This story has been updated to state Lilli Walsh is a current state representative.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Trump blasts Sununu, Haley and undeclared voting in NH primary
Local faith leaders, professionals from OneJax, and members of the Interfaith Center of Northeast Florida will join for a panel discussion at the Main Library in Downtown Jacksonville.

The event will be about Together Against Hate which is promoting unity in the community.

Read: Some residents living in fear after door kicking trend terrorizes Longleaf neighborhood

The event is presented by the Jewish Community Alliance and the First Coast YMCA.

Read: Its important to protect your plants as freezing temperatures expected in many local areas

It is free to the community but, attendees must register by the Together Against Hate event page.

This event will be on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Read: Two teens accused of stealing, yelling racial slurs at Nocatee Ben and Jerrys staff

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Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
From coverage of the struggles  and successes - of hurricane recovery to updates about the newest restaurant or retailer in your part of town, we focus on the local news and information that matters most and reflects your life in Southwest Florida. Were here to make a difference and to have a positive impact; we pride ourselves on holding public officials accountable, giving the average citizen a say, seeking solutions to our most complex community issues, and exposing wrongdoing.

By telling our communitys stories, we have an impact. We help you navigate life in Southwest Florida. We may spur someone to speak up at a city council meeting or take out their checkbook to donate to someone in need. Our reporting may lead to righting a wrong or making a policy change.

Our journalism provides life-critical information. For example: In 2023 The News-Press / Naples Daily News Reporter Amy Williams broke the story of a Fort Myers neighborhoods exposure to carcinogenic emissions from a plant that sterilizes medical equipment. The citizens in the area, where 3,000 children attend schools and day cares, have credited Amy for highlighting the danger.

"Back in 2016, EPA found out about the cancer-causing effects of EtO, and (the Fort Myers plant) pulled the permits to put the scrubbers on, but did not follow through," one father told the EPA. "Here we are seven years later, and as soon as The News-Press puts out a story, months later, everything is happening. So it shows us that they really didn't care until they were called out."

Another example came from Kate Ciminis reporting on insurance companies denying or slow-walking payment of Hurricane Ian claims. When she started asking one insurance company why it hadnt been paying the claims filed by a Southwest Florida homeowners association, the company vice president promised he would cut a check for a $2 million claim for mold removal that had gone unpaid for 10 months. One homeowner said she didnt think that the money would ever have been paid were it not for the hard work of Kate and the newspaper.

Another way we helped in 2023 was by donating our artwork to benefit a good cause. As Southwest Florida was knee deep in rebuilding from the devastation caused by Ian, we created an opportunity for people to support relief efforts through the purchase of stunning photographic prints by our staff.

The images, taken by our visual journalists, featured iconic places and landmarks as they looked prior to the storm's wrath, like a sunset at the Naples Pier, which was destroyed, and the Sanibel Lighthouse before it lost one of its legs in the storm. We sold thousands of dollars worth and donated the proceeds to the Heights Foundation, which has been helping the low-income Harlem Heights neighborhood rebuild.

These are just some of the many examples of journalism that has an impact. We do it because we are gratified by making a difference. This is our community, our home. We live here, work here, worship here, play here, raise our kids, and nurture our grandkids here. We promise to keep bringing you meaningful stories that help Southwest Florida thrive. Thank you for your support and loyal readership. It enables us to keep doing what we love  local journalism. It matters.

 Cindy McCurry-Ross is executive editor of The News-Press and may be reached at cmcross@gannett.com. Wendy Fullerton Powell is executive editor of the Naples Daily News and may be reached at wfullert@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: The News-Press, Naples Daily News journalism makes a positive impact
The Tipp City Exempted Village Schools Board of Education is being sued over allegations that it violated the Ohio Open Meetings Act.

The complaint was filed last week in Miami County Common Pleas Court by the nonprofit organization Open Government Advocates and Brian Ames.

>> Over 100 layoffs coming as Kettering call center prepares to close

The complaint was filed against the board of education and 2023 members Amber Drum, Richard Manis, Sr., Theresa Dunaway, Joellen Heatherly, and Anne Zakkour.

The court documents state that the Ohio Open Meetings Act requires public bodies to provide 24 hours notice of all specific meetings, and that notice must inform the public of the time, place, and purpose of those special meetings. These postings should be on the districts website.

Allegations in the complaint accuse the board of failing to inform the public of the purpose of its special meetings, claiming it rarely posts special meeting notices on its website.

Thus, the Board has routinely and habitually held numerous unlawful special meetings over the last two years, the complaint stated.

>> Its been overwhelming; Local restaurant broken into

The complaint mentioned special meetings in February, June, August, September, and October of 2023 that were either not posted on the boards website or were posted without the purpose details of the meetings.

Open Government Advocates is asking the court to issue an injunction against the board and award attorney fees and court costs.
The All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight was forced to return to Haneda Airport in Tokyo in the early hours of Wednesday morning (Getty Images)

A man has been arrested at a Tokyo airport after allegedly biting a cabin crew member on a flight bound for Seattle.

The All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight was forced to return to Haneda Airport in Tokyo in the early hours of Wednesday morning after the incident prompted the captain to make a U-turn over the Pacific Ocean.

Data from Flight Radar shows an ANA Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner departing from the major flight hub at 9:47pm local time before turning around at 10:50pm and landing back at the airport at 12:23am on Wednesday morning.

An All Nippon Airways flight bound for Seattle made a sudden U-turn over the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday night (Flight Radar)

Kyodo News reported that a 55-year-old American man was restrained by crew members and then handed over to police on suspicion of causing injury to a member of cabin crew.

Several local news outlets reported that the man denied the allegation and was cited as saying he does not remember what happened as he had taken a sleeping pill.

The Independent has contacted Tokyo Police, ANA and Haneda Airport for a comment.

Japanese air travel has made several headlines in recent weeks, with two crashes occurring within two weeks of each other.

On January 2nd, a fatal plane collision also at Tokyos Haneda Airport left five people dead when a Japan Airlines erupted into flames after the collision with a coastguard aircraft on the runway.

Footage from within the Japan Airlines Airbus-A350, which was carrying 379 people, including eight children, showed smoke pouring from beneath its wings as it landed at Tokyos Haneda airport at around 5.45pm local time (8.45am GMT).

On January 2nd, a fatal plane collision also at Tokyos Haneda Airport left five people dead (AP)

By the time the plane came to a standstill, it was engulfed by flames as rescuers rushed to evacuate all the passengers. Five coastguard crew members were killed in the collision. The pilot survived but was in a serious condition.

A passenger on board the commercial flight described the moment their plane appeared to have collided with the other aircraft.

I felt a boom, the unnamed passenger told the Kyodo news agency, like we had hit something and jerked upward the moment we landed. I saw sparks outside the window and the cabin filled with gas and smoke.

Just yesterday, A Korean Air Lines plane came into contact with a Cathay Pacific Airways aircraft at New Chitose Airport on Japans northern island of Hokkaido.

A Korean Air spokesperson said: A Korean Air aircraft came into contact with a Cathay aircraft during pushback at New Chitose (Sapporo) Airport by the third-party ground handler vehicle which slipped due to heavy snow. There were no injuries and the airline is cooperating with all relevant authorities.
A Cape Coral man charged after authorities say he left a Walmart store last month with food he hadn't paid for, leading officers on a chase on foot and swimming through the canals pleaded no contest and was adjudicated guilty.

A man who attempted to flee on a boat in Miami, charged in a Cape Coral shooting, pleaded innocent in Lee County.

Jorge Delgado Fonseca, 48, is charged with one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of improper exhibition with a firearm. He claimed his innocence Tuesday before Lee Circuit Judge Bruce Kyle.

Around 2:45 a.m. Nov. 5, Cape Coral Police responded to the 2800 block of Skyline Boulevard in reference to a shooting.

Officers found a victim with a gunshot wound and applied a tourniquet because of the severity of the wound. The victim was taken to a local hospital for further treatment.

Prior: Man arrested while attempting to flee in boat in Miami, charged in Cape Coral shooting

Cape Coral Police issued a warrant for Delgado Fonseca's arrest and Miami-Dade police located him Nov. 16 attempting to flee on a boat.

Jail records indicate he was released Jan. 11 on a $15,000 bond. He's next due in court Feb. 20 for a case management conference.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Man charged in Cape Coral shooting who tried to flee pleads innocent
A man who disappeared almost two months ago is still missing, Massachusetts police said.

The Boston Police Department issued a missing person alert for John Wesley, a 57-year-old Boston resident, Jan. 15 on X, formerly known as Twitter. His family hadnt heard from him since the day before Thanksgiving when he said he was traveling to Braintree, a town about 15 miles southeast of Boston.

That call was at about 7 p.m. on Nov. 22, police said. The next day  Thanksgiving  Wesley was nowhere to be found, according to police.

Wesley is about 6 feet, 3 inches tall and 300 pounds, police said. He is bald with facial hair and green eyes, according to police.

The man dresses in jeans and sweatshirts usually, according to the department. He sometimes visits the Malden area along Broadway Street, police said.

The Boston Police Department did not immediately return McClatchy News request for further comment.

Information on Wesleys whereabouts can be shared by contacting 617-343-5619. If anyone prefers to remain anonymous, they can reach out to the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS.

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MIAMI (WJW)  A boater who allegedly collided with another boat on Lake Erie, leading to the death of a local fisherman, is now in custody, more than seven years later.

U.S. Marshals on Sunday, Jan. 14, arrested Alen E. Gorishti, 33, in Miami, according to a Wednesday news release. Hes accused of driving a boat that collided with another boat two miles off the coast of Fairport Harbor on Nov. 6, 2016, causing it to capsize and sending its two occupants into the water.

Rare phenomenon on Lake Erie: Photos

One man was spotted by the harbors U.S. Coast Guard station and rescued, according to the release.

A search for the second man, identified as 55-year-old Roger S. Burton, was ultimately suspended. His body was found the following January along the shoreline in Conneaut.

Roger was a hard-working man. Loving father, husband and brother. Avid fisherman and hunter, Burtons widow Andrea said after her husbands body was recovered. Also he was a Mr. Fix-It. Roger could fix or repair just about anything. I thank God for finally bringing him home to us.

In 2021, five years after the crash, Gorishti was charged in Ohios Northern District federal court with seamans manslaughter, which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years under federal statute, and making false statements to law enforcement, which carries a sentence of up to five years.

Lake Erie waves go silent

Investigators learned Gorishti was living in Canada, and that he had recently traveled to Colombia, according to the release. His return flight stopped in Miami, and thats where Marshals apprehended him on Sunday, according to the release.

Outstanding cooperation between the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Marshals Service and law enforcement in Canada and [Colombia] resulted in the long-awaited arrest of this suspect, U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott is quoted in the release. Law enforcement hopes this arrest brings some justice to the victims family.

Gorishti will remain in southern Florida until he can be extradited back to Ohio to face the charges, according to the release.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Three years after Henry Tapia died during a road rage incident, the man convicted of his murder was sentenced.

A Middlesex Superior Court judge imposed a life-in-prison sentence Wednesday on Dean Kapsalis, who was convicted last May of second-degree murder. Kapsalis will be eligible for parole in about twelve years  given hes been in custody since 2021.

The incident took place on January 19, 2021 on Upland Road in Belmont. Kapsalis, who is from Hudson, was en route to visit his long-time fiance, Dineen Bartolo, when Tapia aggressively passed him and then stopped his vehicle in front of Kapsaliss. Both men exited and an argument ensued. In the end, Kapsalis was found guilty of hitting and killing Tapia by driving into him.

But before that happened, Kapsalis directed a racial slur at Tapia  and that, more than anything, defined this case, said his attorney, Jack Cunha  and unfairly so.

This was not a racially motivated incident, Cunha said. If it wasnt for that word, I think the verdict would either have been not guilty or, at most, manslaughter.

Cunha said after the slur was used, Tapia jumped on the hood of his clients vehicle.

One witness said his face (Tapias) went all the way up to the windshield, Cunha said. Sitting in the drivers seat, what would you feel at that point but terror? Youve heard the phrase perfect storm. Well, thats what happened that day.

Cunha said Kapsalis drove onto the sidewalk  not into Tapia.

A jury last May agreed, in effect, that Kapsalis did not intend to kill Tapia  by rejecting the states recommendation of a first-degree murder conviction.

Cunha said the verdict will be appealed.

Bartolo also disputed the idea there was a racial element to the incident.

If it was a racist thing, it was fighting words  and, unfortunately, it was the wrong word, she said. If it was a racist thing he would have said it right off the bat.

Bartolos relationship with Kapsalis goes back fifteen years. For the past five, theyve been engaged.

I know Dean is really remorseful about what happened, but if you saw the street, the way it was set up, he couldnt have backed out, she said. He couldnt have done a U-turn.

Bartolo also charged that evidence  including a history of aggressiveness on Tapias part  was left out of the trial. She also said Tapia flung racial slurs back at Kapsalis  calling him white trash.

Cunha said evidence of the slurs came from a home surveillance camera that barely picked up street audio because of the wind. However, he said Kapsalis was facing the camera  and thus was in a better position to be recorded clearly.

Before his sentencing, Kapsalis expressed regret and his condolences to Tapias family.

I am by no means a racist, nor am I a murderer, he said. I regret my choice of words that day, especially the extremely offensive racial slur I used.

Tapias fiance, Courtney Morton, read a victim impact statement. She said her companions death has been especially hard on the couples six-year-old son.

I made it down to the ambulance and I looked down at his eyes, she said. And his eyes told me Im sorry, I love you... but Im not going to make it back home.

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A man died Tuesday after firefighters found him in the bedroom of his Fair Oaks apartment where a fire had occurred, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

About 5:20 a.m., firefighters initially responded to an activated carbon monoxide alarm in a second-floor apartment in the complex, located along Primrose Drive near Madison Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard in Fair Oaks.

Capt. Andrew Whaley, a Metro Fire spokesman, said firefighters arrived, spoke with a resident and detected there was carbon monoxide in the second-floor apartment.

Authorities then evacuated the apartments in the complex as they searched for the source of the carbon monoxide.

Whaley said the firefighters entered a first-floor apartment directly below, where they found smoke-stained windows and a high level of heat. He said firefighters searched the apartment and found the man unresponsive in a bedroom.

He was taken by ambulance to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, Whaley said. The Sacramento County Coroners Office will release his name after his family has been notified.

Firefighters determined a fire had occurred in the first-floor apartment, which activated the carbon monoxide alarm in the apartment above, Whaley said. The fire was already extinguished when the firefighters searched the first-floor apartment.

Whaley said the fire damage was limited to the first-floor apartment. Nobody else was found inside the apartment.

As of Tuesday evening, fire investigators had not yet determined the cause of the fire.
A man last seen Sunday afternoon near Cumberland Falls State Resort Park was found, after two nights in sub-freezing temperatures, when someone heard him calling for help Tuesday.

The missing man, Walter Dewayne Dale, 35, of Williamsburg, was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center after being rescued by boat, Kentucky State Police said.

I dont know how he lived, to be honest with you, Trooper Scottie Pennington said in a telephone interview. He was without his shoes for two days.

Hikers found the man under a cliff, and he is doing well considering hes (sic) been out in the elements since Sunday around 4pm, the Eagle Sawyer Fire Department Volunteer Fire Department said in a Facebook post Tuesday night.

Pennington said Dale was in really bad shape, fatigued and overwhelmed.

He was just so dehydrated, he said.

While Pennington said hes not a medical doctor, he said Dale was believed to have suffered severe frostbite.

Dale had been last seen on foot near the Eagle Falls trailhead at about 4 p.m. Sunday, and a Golden Alert was issued for him Monday, state police said in a news release. State police said at the time that Dale had a backpack with him when he was last seen.

Pennington said park rangers at Cumberland Falls had talked to Dale before he set out Sunday afternoon, and he told them he planned to hike on the trails.

When he never returned, Pennington said, they started worrying about him and contacted state police.

He said Dale is one of those people that everybody knows, and everybody cares for him.

Pennington said drones had been used in the search for Dale, and searchers had continued to look for him over slick, dangerous terrain. Dales shoes were found during the search, Pennington said.

After his rescue, Pennington said Dale talked about crossing the creek, and his shoes got wet.

We dont know if he was ever in the water, Pennington said.

He noted that people suffering from hypothermia sometimes remove items of clothing (a phenomenon known as paradoxical undressing). Its kind of like your mind playing tricks on you, he said.

At about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, state police said they got a call from the Eagle Sawyer Fire Department, saying that a civilian had called McCreary County 911 because he could hear a male yelling for help near Eagle Falls.

State police said a staging area had been set up at the site of what was once a theme park, Six Gun City, and the fire department had deployed a search and rescue team from there.

After speaking with the Chief it was determined that the quickest route for evacuation would be by boat across the river, state police said in the release.

A boat and team went to the beach at Cumberland Falls, and swift water rescue deployed and brought the man across the river, where state police said they confirmed he was the missing person.

Whitley County EMS took Dale to the Whitley County Airport where PHI air medical was waiting to transport him to the University of Tennessee, state police said.

Pennington said Dale did not have camping gear with him.

Monday, four Asbury College students who had camped overnight on Courthouse Rock at the Red River Gorge were rescued by helicopter when they awoke to a blanket of snow and found it too treacherous to hike out.

Pennington said Cumberland Falls park rangers encouraged the public to use common sense when heading out, especially in extreme weather.

Do it in a safe and smart manner, he said.
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)  A Lebanon County man was sentenced to almost 9 years in prison for drug and firearms offenses.

The United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Friday that Warionex Martinez-Medina, 35, of Lebanon County, was sentenced on Thursday, January 11 to over 8 years in prison for attempting to possess with intent to distribute around 2 kilograms of cocaine and possessing a firearm.

2 vehicles struck 1 house 5 days apart in Franklin Twp.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Martinez-Medina previously admitted to accepting a package that he believed contained over 2 kilograms of cocaine.

Law enforcement says a search warrant was executed at Martinez-Medina`s Lebanon residence, where a loaded handgun, was found along with drug-packaging materials, and over $123,000.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Pennsylvania State Police.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
A Nebraska man was arrested after police say he took his bosss skid loader and went on a rampage, smashing into businesses and vehicles.

Bystanders caught the incident on cell phone video that was posted online.

Police in Lincoln were called around 2:30 p.m. Jan. 14 for reports that a man in a skid loader was vandalizing vehicles and a convenience store, according to KETV.

The man then drove to a Home Depot parking lot, where he damaged more vehicles, police told KOLN.

In a video, shared by KAKE News, the skid loader can be seen ramming into a police cruiser and pushing it across a parking lot.

The officer got out of his cruiser and pointed his gun at the skid loader but did not shoot, the Lincoln Journal Star reported. The man was then taken into custody and is charged with criminal mischief and assault on an officer.

Police say the man also damaged two businesses, KETV reported.

For why, I have no idea. He just looked at us and laughed at us, witness Hunter Gulliotte said, according to KETV.

The skid loader is owned by the mans boss. He took it to a gas station with a company-owned truck, police told KOLN.

One witness was sitting inside a parked truck at the Home Depot when he saw the skid loader plow through a fence, hit the front entrance of a liquor store and an ATM at a nearby bank, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.

It was scary, Dario Briseno Diaz told the Lincoln Journal Star.

Thieves dragging ATM from bank didnt realize they left a big clue, Florida cops say

Man driving stolen excavator rips up parking lot, destroys water lines, Utah police say

100-mph rampage saw driver violently ram cars that got in his way, Florida cops say
A federal judges ruling last week set the stage for more litigation on whether Centre County and the medical care provider at its jail bear liability for the treatment that left a man paralyzed from the upper torso down.

Chief U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew Brann wrote a reasonable jury could conclude the medical care David B. Rossman received during his stay at the Centre County Correctional Facility does not pass constitutional muster.

Messages left Tuesday with the county and PrimeCare Medical were not immediately returned. Ten PrimeCare employees and two county jail corrections officers were also named as defendants.

Rossman, 26, of Bellefonte, arrived at the county jail in October 2020, five days removed from a crash that required him to undergo emergency spinal surgery. He was jailed on an outstanding bench warrant; bail was set at $75,000.

He left in an ambulance. The hardware holding his fractured vertebrae came loose, rendering him a tetraplegic.

Rossman  whose lawsuit detailed how alleged ham-handed treatment resulted in his paralysis  believes he would still be walking today if the jails staff took appropriate steps to ensure his discharge instructions were followed.

Bob Elion, a longtime attorney who represents Rossman, described the lawsuit in April 2021 as the worst set of facts Ive ever encountered in my life, adding the care Rossman received was almost beyond imagination. A message left Tuesday with Elion was not immediately returned.

Rossman was ordered by his doctor to wear a brace and a cervical collar at nearly all times, save for when he was in the shower. Failing to heed those directions, Rossman was told, could lead to complications.

Once incarcerated, Rossman requested help from corrections officers with his braces on four consecutive days. It was refused each time, Brann wrote in his 57-page ruling.

Two corrections officers declined to help citing liability concerns, Brann wrote. On another day, Rossman called for help but received no response.

Liability concerns are not a valid reason to deny medical care, Brann wrote.

Rossman later reported excruciating pain after returning to his cell from a meeting and an X-ray was immediately ordered. Two nurses and a corrections officer, Brann wrote, required Rossman to walk to a wheelchair from his bed unassisted. They also told him to go back into his cell to retrieve his shoes, causing more pain and numbness.

A jury, Brann wrote, could find the nurses acted with deliberate indifference. Their obdurate response to Rossmans emergency condition, the judge wrote, is precisely what the Constitution forbids.

PrimeCare has been named in dozens of federal lawsuits since 2021, many of which allege the company was negligent in providing care to people while they were incarcerated. The company provided medical care to jails in 35 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties, PennLive reported in 2022.

Centre Countys commissioners approved a five-year contract with PrimeCare in 2021 at a rate of nearly $1.1 million for the first year. Annual increases were built into the agreement. The pact  as of the time it was signed  was set to expire Dec. 31, 2025.

A status conference in Rossmans case is scheduled for Feb. 2.
A man in his bathrobe raced to save his chihuahua from an attacking coyote in South Carolina, video shows.

Roxie is a part of my family, Timothy Snipe, who lives in the Charleston-area town of Mount Pleasant, told WYFF. Id do anything to protect her.

Snipe told news outlets he was taking Roxie outside when she kept barking Friday, Jan. 12. Thats when he looked over and saw a coyote running from the woods, ready to strike.

I thought it was going to grab her and take her back in the woods, Snipe told Inside Edition.

Video posted on Facebook shows Snipe rushing toward the dog before he came face-to-face with the wild animal.

The coyote jumped on me and bit me on my leg, and I wrestled it down, he told WCBD. I choked him out.

Snipe grabbed the coyote by its tail before stuffing it into a dumpster. But the lid on the trash container started lifting as the animal tried to get back out, video shows.

Snipe told WYFF he eventually shot the animal and brought it to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). After the ordeal, he received several rabies shots and has been dressing Roxie in a spike-covered vest for her protection.

A Facebook user believed to be Snipe didnt respond to a request for comment on Jan. 16, and DHEC didnt immediately share additional information with McClatchy News.

What to know about coyotes

Coyotes can be found almost anywhere in North America, including in cities and neighborhoods, according to National Geographic.

Adaptabilitythats the main reason for the success of the coyote. A coyote is naturally adaptable because it eats such a wide range of food, National Geographic reported. If it cant find mice or voles to eat, lizards, insects, or even garbage will do.

Heres how experts say you can avoid conflicts with coyotes:

Dont feed coyotes: Feeding a coyote in a residential neighborhood can cause the animal to lose its fear of people.

Dont let pets run loose: If coyotes live nearby, dont let pets out without a leash.

Dont run from a coyote: Instead, you should shout, wave your arms or throw something in its direction.

Dont haze or aggravate a calm coyote: If the animal is avoiding humans and pets, leave it alone.

Report aggressive coyotes: If the coyote doesnt show fear toward humans, let wildlife officials know.

Owners screams scare off coyotes dragging dog from back porch, Colorado family says

Coyotes bite 4-year-old child, others, in series of attacks, Arizona officials say
A Sacramento Superior Court judge sentenced the man who shot and killed a Capitol Casino security guard to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Dawan Pecot, 38, was convicted in November of first-degree murder with an allegation of using a personal firearm causing death and a special circumstances of murdering a person while committing robbery in the August 2022 incident, according to the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office. He was also found guilty of second-degree robbery with the allegations of personally using a firearm and intentionally discharging a firearm.

Security guard Sean Bernal caught Pecot trying to rob the card room, located on North 16th Street in Sacramentos River District, and walked him out of the establishment with a taser.

But the defendant went back inside the casino and pointed a gun at another casino employee, according to the District Attorneys Office. Bernal returned and tried to tase Pecot but the defendant fatally shot him one time in the neck, prosecutors said.

Pecot, who was sentenced Friday, took more than $38,000 and fled the establishment while being chased by another casino employee. He jumped out of his vehicle when police arrived and fired one gunshot toward a casino employee, prosecutors said. Police apprehended Pecot as he tried to run away.
A Canadian man who spread conspiracies that the government was starting forest fires pleaded guilty to starting a series of blazes that burned thousands of acres.

Brian Pare, 38, told investigators that he started the blazes to find out whether the forest was really dry or not, say prosecutors.

He pleaded guilty to 13 counts of arson and one count of arson with disregard for human life at the courthouse in Chibougamau, Quebec.

The court was told that Pare started 14 fires, two of which forced the evacuation of around 500 homes near the town of Chapais.

On May 31 at 8.30 pm, the town of Chapais issued a mandatory evacuation order due to the raging fires, in particular the fire at Lake Cavan as well as the airport fire, two fires that are included in the charges and were caused by the accused, said prosecutor Marie-Philippe Charron.

She told the court that the Lake Cavan fire was the largest set by Pare, charring more than 2,000 acres of forest.

Brian Pare, 38, told investigators that he started the blazes to find out whether the forest was really dry or not', say prosecutors. (Facebook)

It was the first of five fires that Pare set between 31 May and 1 June, days after the Quebec government had banned fires near forests because of dry conditions.

Investigator found that the fires had no possible natural cause and that there was evidence that they had been criminally set.

The prosecutor told the court that police first made contact with Pare on 2 June as a potential when he was spotted in the area of one of the fires.

He denied being responsible but demonstrated a certain interest in fires during his interview, making him a suspect for police.

Investigators then began to monitor Pares Facebook page on which he posted about Quebecs fire season.

In one post he claimed that the fires had been started by the government to convince people of climate change.

The prosecutor added that a judge allowed police to place a tracking device on Pares vehicle on between 1 September and 5 September is showed he was in the locations where other fires were started.

Pare was arrested on 7 September and admitted to starting nine of the fires.

At this point, the accused admitted he was the one who started the fires and, as his main motivation, claimed he was doing tests to find out whether the forest was really dry or not, said Ms Charron.

Pare has been held in custody since his arrest and a pre-sentencing report on his mental state and the risk he poses to the public will be submitted by 22 April.

Quebec suffered more than 700 forest fires in 2023, burning more than 11 million acres of land.

Officials say that 99.9 per cent of those fires were caused by lightning strikes.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A man was sentenced to 17.5 years for a 2022 incident, according to United States Attorney Dena J. King.

Officials say 50-year-old James Edward Whisenant, Jr., of Suffolk, Virginia was found guilty of traveling to western North Carolina to engage in sexual acts with a toddler. In addition to his prison term, Whisenant, is required to be a registered sex offender, be on lifetime supervised release and ordered to pay $39,500 in restitution.

New video shows stabbing on CATS bus in November, suspect remains at large

According to authorities, in March 2022, Whisenant started expressing interest in illegal sexual conduct with a female child to undercover agents. On May 27, 2022, Whisenant traveled from his home to N.C. to engage in sexual acts with a female toddler. He was then arrested.

Officials say they found hundreds of images and videos displaying child sexual abuse material (child pornography) on Whisenants devices. On November 30, 2022, Whisenant pleaded guilty to travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

Both N.C. and S.C. Homeland Security were part of this investigation. The case was brought by Project Safe Childhood.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Italian prosecutors have opened a manslaughter case after a woman who was allergic to dairy products died from eating a supposedly vegan tiramisu.

Anna Bellisario, 20, suffered anaphylactic shock after eating the dessert in a vegan restaurant she visited with her boyfriend in Milan last January.

The dish contained mascarpone, which was labelled as vegan but contained dairy products, prosecutors in Milan said.

As soon as she started to feel unwell, Ms Bellisario rushed to the lavatory to try to make herself vomit and also took the cortisone and asthma medication that she carried with her at all times.

She was taken to hospital but went into a coma and died 10 days later.

Prosecutors said the incident proved fatal because of her acute allergy to dairy products, which she had suffered from since birth.

The quantity of milk protein found in the product in question indicates that there was mascarpone presentnotwithstanding the fact that the product was sold as vegan, Marcello Viola, a prosecutor, said in a statement.

Victim very careful about what she ate

Ms Bellisario was always very careful about what she ate and that evening had specified to the restaurant that there must be neither eggs nor milk in the food she ordered, prosecutors said.

Not only did the tiramisu contain milk, but a purportedly vegan sandwich that Ms Bellisario ate contained egg in its mayonnaise - iStockphoto

Not only did the tiramisu contain milk, but a purportedly vegan sandwich that Ms Bellisario ate contained egg in its mayonnaise.

The two owners of the company that produced the tiramisu, Giuseppe Loiero and his mother, Giovanna Anoia, are being investigated for manslaughter. The tiramisu has been withdrawn from sale.

The pair are yet to publicly comment on the investigation.

Prosecutors said their firm, called Glg, had failed to respect food preparation procedures and that its training of staff was inadequate.

One employee had only completed a four-hour course on food hygiene.

In a wire-tapped conversation, Ms Anoia was overheard saying: When you produce a product like that you dont think about people who have allergies, youre doing it for vegans, not for those with allergies.

Prosecutors accused her of underestimating the different types of consumers that the product was being made for.

The firm produced vegan and non-vegan products in the same room at the same time, investigators alleged.

Employees allegedly mixed up animal-based products such as mascarpone with ingredients of vegetable origin.

The restaurant where Ms Bellisario ate, Flower Burger, is not thought to be under investigation.

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.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is touting the success of its fishery program with the latest data from fall fish stocking.

The DNRs fisheries raised and delivered more than 1 million fish across the state this fall, which helps drive Michigans tourism and provides more opportunities for anglers.

How the DNR supports the Great Lakes salmon population

It was another outstanding fall fish stocking season that will provide enhanced fishing opportunities throughout Michigan, Ed Eisch, assistant chief of the DNR Fisheries Division, said in a statement. When added to our successful spring and summer stocking efforts, that brings the total for 2023 to more than 10.4 million fish stocked in Michigans waters.

Michigan has six fisheries and three cooperative hatcheries across the state, working together to raise different fish species. While some species can be released within a month of hatching, others are held for up to 18 months.

For the fall, the fisheries focused on six different species: brook trout, coho salmon, lake trout, steelhead strain rainbow trout, walleye and muskellunge  commonly referred to as muskie.

Northwest Michigan declared a must-see destination for 2024 travelers

The Marquette State Fish Hatchery stocked more than 35,000 brook trout that were added to 42 different locations across the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.

A Michigan DNR fisheries technician stocks fall fingerling brook trout in Rock Lake, Alger County. (Courtesy Michigan DNR)

The Platte River State Fish Hatchery in Traverse City raised coho salmon, releasing more than 416,000 fish in four locations, including Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

The Thompson State Fish Hatchery in Manistique raised nearly 240,000 fingerling steelhead and more than 18,000 muskie that were dropped into 11 different lakes.

The Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery near Kalamazoo also focused on steelhead and muskie, releasing about 3,000 muskie and nearly 345,000 steelhead.

EGLE makes major progress on orphan oil wells

The number and type of fish stocked vary by hatchery, as each facilitys ability to rear fish differs because of water supplies and temperature, the DNR explained. These fish must then be delivered at specific times and locations for stocking to ensure their success.

The DNR allows visitors to tour the state fisheries and maintains an online database that details which local bodies of water have been restocked by the agency.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
FILE - Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman throws to a St. Louis Cardinals batter during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 20, 2023, in Chicago. Right-hander Marcus Stroman and the New York Yankees finalized a $37 million, two-year contract on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, FIle)

NEW YORK (AP)  Right-hander Marcus Stroman and the New York Yankees finalized a $37 million, two-year contract on Wednesday.

Stroman gets a $1 million signing bonus payable within 30 days of the deal's approval by Major League Baseball and yearly salaries of $18 million. He has an $18 million conditional player option for 2026 that could be exercised if he pitching 140 or more innings in 2025, a provision that could make the deal worth $55 million over three seasons.

The 32-year-old grew up on Long Island, about 55 miles from Yankee Stadium, and spent 2019 and 2021 across town with the New York Mets  he opted out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Stroman joins a Yankees rotation headed by AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole that likely will include Clarke Schmidt. Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes are coming off injury-shortened seasons.

Stroman opted out of the final year of his contract with the Chicago Cubs, giving up a $21 million salary for 2024 to test the market. He went 16-16 with a 3.73 ERA while earning $50 million over his two seasons with Chicago.

Stroman missed six weeks last season because of inflammation in his right hip and then a rib cartilage fracture. He finished with a 3.95 ERA that was his highest since 2018, but hes generally been reliable throughout his career. Last season marked his second All-Star selection.

Stroman is 77-76 with a 3.65 ERA since making his big league debut with Toronto in 2014. He sat out the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but his 2021 campaign was one of his best, as he posted a 3.02 ERA in 33 starts for the Mets. The Cubs then signed him to what could have been a three-year deal, but he declined his player option for 2024.

New York designated Oscar Gonzalez for assignment to open a roster spot.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
The Marion County Record, a small-town newspaper that fell into the national spotlight when its offices were raided by police in August, has won a press award recognizing excellence in journalism.

The newspaper will be the first organization as a whole to receive the William Allen White National Citation Award, according to a Tuesday press release from the University of Kansas. The award, which has been granted annually since 1950, is usually given to individual journalists.

Eric Meyer, the newspapers owner and publisher, will accept the award in April on behalf of the newsroom.

To be mentioned in the same breath as the great journalists who have received this award is an honor beyond comprehension, Meyer said in a statement shared by KU. Its an important motivator to our staff as it continues to struggle to serve as an example for community journalists facing intimidation.

This honor  especially being the first news organization selected for the award  has given us all a much-needed second wind to continue.

The Marion County Record is a weekly publication covering a community about 60 miles north of Wichita. It made headlines in August when then-Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody led raids of the newspapers main office as well as the home of Meyer, the publisher and editor, and a Marion city councilwoman.

Joan Meyer, mother of Eric Meyer and co-owner of the newspaper, died of a heart attack within hours of the raid. Eric Meyer has said his mother, who was 98 years old, was extremely upset by the actions of local law enforcement.

The search warrants were obtained on the basis that police had probable cause to investigate identity theft of Marion small business owner Kari Newell. In applying for the search warrants, Cody wrote that he was investigating a reporter who looked up Newells drivers license records  which are public  on a state database.

The warrants were also granted at a time when Cody was being investigated by the newspaper about his previous employment with Kansas City police. The Star reported in August that Cody left KCPD while facing possible demotion for allegedly making sexist comments to a female officer.

Amid widespread condemnation of the raids, the search warrants were withdrawn within days of being issued for a lack of sufficient evidence. Cody resigned weeks later.

In a statement Tuesday, Ann Brill, dean of KUs William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications, said the newspaper had shown incredible courage and determination in the face of a threat to American democracy and displayed the importance of trustworthy local news.

The selection of the Marion County Record as the recipient of this award continues a long tradition of the William Allen White Foundation board of trustees honoring distinguished journalists, said Brill, who is also president of the William Allen White Foundation.

The Stars Katie Bernard and Jonathan Shorman contributed to this report.
Chinese premier, Singaporean president vow to advance bilateral ties, cooperation

Xinhua) 09:23, January 17, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam pledged here on Tuesday to push for new achievements in bilateral relations and cooperation while they met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024.

In their meeting, Li recalled that last year, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, bilateral ties were upgraded to an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership, opening a new chapter in the high-level development of China-Singapore relations.

The Chinese side, Li said, is ready to work with Singapore to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, maintain high-level strategic mutual trust, expand all-round mutually beneficial cooperation, and enhance experience-sharing in various fields to push for new achievements in bilateral relations and cooperation.

Li also pointed out that China is willing to join hands with Singapore to give full play to the effectiveness of upgrading the bilateral free trade agreement, promote the upgrading of bilateral cooperation, and create new cooperation achievements in trade and investment, connectivity, finance, and other fields.

Noting that Singapore-China relations have been elevated to a new stage, Shanmugaratnam said his country attaches great importance to bilateral relations, and is ready to deepen dialogue and communication with China in various fields, as well as strengthen cooperation in such sectors as finance, digital economy, and green transformation, so as to push for the continuous development of bilateral ties.

Li elaborated on China's principled position on the Taiwan question.

In this regard, Shanmugaratnam said that Singapore sticks to the one-China principle and firmly opposes any remarks or acts for "Taiwan independence," adding that Singapore's position on the Taiwan question remains unchanged.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Leave it to Meghan McCain to offer the perfect example of the ironclad rule: Anyone who claims they are "not sexist" is about to say something ridiculously sexist. In this case, the former host of "The View" revealed her misogynist instincts with regards to Vice President Kamala Harris, in a recent episode of McCain's podcast.

"Not because of sexism," McCain claimed before she unloaded a series of sexist stereotypes about Harris, saying the vice president is "really unserious" and sounds like "a 19-year-old stoner in college who's high at 3 a.m." McCain insisted it's a mystery why "I have a very strong adverse reaction to her."

"If anything, Vice President Harris has proven to me that maybe a woman can't be Vice President. I actually think she's setting feminism back 10 years," McCain said. She then covered her tracks by claiming, clearly falsely, "There are so many female politicians I love and respect that I'd be happy with being President."

Ah yes, the old "I'd love to vote for a woman, just not that woman" gambit. As Maggie Astor of the New York Times wrote in 2019, "Few Americans acknowledge they would hesitate to vote for a woman for president." Instead, they simply hold women to a standard so high and contradictory that no woman could ever meet it. For instance, sexist voters dislike ambition in female politicians, but of course, the mere act of running for office is inherently ambitious. Or, as with McCain's "19-year-old" comment, sexists will sneer at the high timbre of a woman's voice. But if a woman has a voice low enough to sound like a man's, they would object that it's weird and off-putting.

Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only.

Voters of both parties fall into the "just not that woman" trap, though it's not a serious problem on the left. After all, Democrats mostly did turn out for Hillary Clinton, awarding her nearly 3 million more votes than Donald Trump received in the 2016 election. (He only won because of the Electoral College, which tilts unfairly towards Republican-controlled regions.) But there's little doubt that Republican voters, who back a party opposed to women's basic rights, are especially bad on this front. They may be OK backing female politicians for Congress or even as governors, but when it comes to the White House, knee-jerk views that women aren't "strong" enough, as McCain's comments show, will always win out in the end.

This is why South Carolina's former Gov. Nikki Haley never had a real shot at winning the Republican nomination, despite the endless cable news hype of her candidacy. It's not just that Trump is the 800-pound orange gorilla in the race. Haley didn't even manage to beat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the recent Iowa caucus. DeSantis is a historically bad candidate, snappish and known for eating pudding with his fingers. The media narrative is that he's flaming out while Haley, with her normal demeanor and political graces, is the only viable not-Trump candidate. But that's the power of being male with Republican voters, especially in a presidential race. A woman simply cannot win with these voters, no matter how much better at this she is than her male competitors.

It's true that Republican voters rarely come right out and say they will never vote for a woman for president. Gallup polling shows that 90% of Republicans say they would vote for a female candidate, compared to 97% of Democrats. But when the question is softened a little, so that it sounds less like an accusation of sexism, the true preferences come out. When YouGov pollsters asked if they hope to see a female president in their lifetime, enthusiasm stayed high for Democrats, at 89%. The number for Republicans, however, plummeted to a mere 41%. This is much closer to the real feelings people have on this issue. After all, if you think women are equal to men, you would hope that could be reflected in our leadership choices. But most Republicans still see women as less worthy than men.

Republican pollster  and never-Trumper  Sarah Longwell has turned up similar results in her focus group testing of Republican voters. On her recent podcast, Longwell described how Iowa Republican voters reacted to the mere idea. "I would love to see a woman president," Longwell recounted one person in the focus group saying as the rest of the group "just stared" at her in a hostile fashion. Longwell said this comes up a lot with Republican voters. "I often hear someone say 'I don't think a woman can be president,'" and "there are nods from the group."

Longwell reiterated this point on the Pollercoaster podcast, when discussing a group of Trump voters in New Hampshire: "Five out of seven people in the group said they would rather vote for a man than a woman." She said it's been "coming up in all these groups," this notion that a woman is not "strong enough" to be president.

Despite the chatter about "small government" over the years, it's clear that the main beliefs animating the Republican Party are about maintaining unjust racial and gender hierarchies. In-depth polling last year from PerryUndem shows a "majority of Republicans hold hostile sexist views," regardless of their gender. In fact, partisan identity was a far more reliable indicator of sexism than gender, with Republican women being more likely than Democratic men to cite cruel stereotypes about women. Over 80% of both Democratic men and women, for instance, agreed that it would be better if men and women had equal share of power in our society, while a majority of Republicans disagreed. Meanwhile, strong majorities of Republican men and women claimed "white men are the most attacked group." Few Democrats of either gender agreed.

Haley is certainly smart enough to know that the voters she's vying for are sexist. We know this because she panders to even the grossest forms of misogyny, such as sexual abuse denialism.

DANA BASH: How do you feel about your party's frontrunner being found liable for sexual abuse?



NIKKI HALEY: First of all, I haven't paid attention to his cases. All I know is he's innocent until proven guilty. You have investigations on Trump and Biden. pic.twitter.com/cqlX6QITZ9  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 16, 2024

Of course, Trump was found functionally guilty of sexual assault by a jury in May. While the statute of limitations for criminal charges had run out, the verdict in the civil trial was clear as day. By any meaningful standard, he is no longer "innocent until" anything. He was proven guilty.

But even this disgusting sexism from Haley won't save her, because she is still a woman herself. Republicans obviously tolerate some number of women running for higher office, which is why Haley got the South Carolina governorship to begin with. That's due, however, to the perception that governors are caretaker offices focused on administrative duties. They're like H.R. managers, but in government. The presidency, however, comes with titles like "commander-in-chief." For most Republicans, such power and prestige should only belong to men.

The mainstream press depends on the illusion of a competitive primary to generate clicks and ratings, so the hype machine is already in full swing for Haley's chances in New Hampshire's primary next week. A CNN poll that found Haley is only "single digits" behind Trump, for instance, far eclipsing the less exciting aggregate poll numbers that show she's running more like 14-15 points behind Trump in the Granite State. Worse for Haley, those numbers are goosed by the fact that New Hampshire has an open primary, meaning she's likely drawing support from independents and Democrats who want to register their distaste for Trump. The GOP is composed of voters who sound just like Meghan McCain: They may deny they're sexist, but they can't stand any woman who would actually make a run for president. Haley never had a chance with the Republican base.
The last of several men accused of orchestrating a kidnapping to extort money from a father has been sent to prison.

Gilbert John Montez, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit hostage taking in April.

Montez was an organizer of a kidnapping of a 4-year-old boy, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office, Southern District of Texas.

In March 2022, the boy was with his mother at a house in Mission, Texas, that was holding migrants who had been smuggled into the United States, authorities said. Thats when a man took the boy and gave the boy to two women, officials said.

The women transported the boy past a border patrol checkpoint, then handed him off to another man, according to officials. Then the boy was given to a man named Jonathan Orlando Ortiz-De Leon, officials said.

Montez and Ortiz-De Leon contacted the boys father, who was in Tennessee, and told him he would have to pay $4,500 to get the boy back, officials said.

Officials said Montez hired another man, Carlos Oyervides, to help Ortiz-De Leon get the ransom payment and take the boy to his father.

McClatchy News reached out to the attorneys listed for Montez, Oyervides and Ortiz-De Leon but did not immediately hear back.

Human smugglers have a bad habit of becoming human kidnappers. Montez targeted a vulnerable family and leveraged a young childs safety and a parents love to extort as much money as possible, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani said.

After the boys father was contacted, he reached out to authorities, according to a criminal complaint. A special agent posed as the boys uncle and began to negotiate with the men.

When the undercover agent spoke with the men, they threatened to harm the child if the money wasnt paid, court documents said.

He did not care that this child was passed from stranger to stranger, each time increasing the risk the child would be harmed. Instead, Montez put profit before people and only cared about making more money, Hamdani said.

Authorities tried to arrange a meeting for the release of the boy but failed, officials said. They then tracked the men to an apartment and took the men into custody and found the boy, authorities said.

Montez was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Man kidnapped pregnant woman, locked her in garage for 4-5 years, Texas police say

Man kidnaps woman again, ties her to cars gear shift and drives out of state, feds say

Man forced migrants to work on farms and raped 16-year-old he kidnapped twice, feds say
On a recent Zoom call, while discussing her work as an adult-content creator on OnlyFans, Cherie DeVille burst into tears. She explained that one of her most loyal subscribers, Simon, had died a few months before.

DeVille had formed a relationship with Simon on the subscription platform for two years, chatting with him regularly  often daily. She helped him bring his sexual fantasies to life but also discussed his everyday life, his hobbies, and his terminal cancer diagnosis.

"He'd request videos of us saying, 'Fuck cancer, we love you,'" DeVille said, referring to herself and other creators Simon interacted with on the platform.

In May last year, a few months had gone by without hearing from him. DeVille searched for him on Google and found out he'd died.

"It was just terrible," she said. "I'd never cried over a fan before."

DeVille, who's in her 40s, has been a mainstream porn actor for over a decade. She joined OnlyFans when work ground to a halt during the pandemic, and now she spends most of her time on the platform chatting with fans.

"OnlyFans is really different; it's really real," she said, comparing it to her other adult-content work. "You get to know people."

That sentiment appears widespread: Nine of the 10 OnlyFans creators Business Insider spoke with for this story said they'd had long-term digital relationships with fans that extended well beyond sexuality. Some call it a "girlfriend experience" and charge top dollar, while others treat them more like friendships. Many said they believed these connections were what set OnlyFans apart from other porn-focused platforms.

"They can go to Pornhub and get naked people and sexual videos," Rae Richmond, another content creator, said. "They don't come to OnlyFans for that. They come to OnlyFans to make a connection with the creator."

As a married medical executive in his 60s, Walter's not necessarily the type of person you'd expect to spend time on the platform. And when he chats with Farrah, an OnlyFans creator, things rarely get sexual. Instead, Farrah is a confidante on anything from parenting stress and relationship matters to his favorite NFL team.

"There are certain things that I shared with her, certain emotional things, that I probably wouldn't share with other people, that I certainly haven't shared with my family," said Walter, who asked to use a pseudonym to protect his privacy  as did the other fans referenced in this story.

Walter's decision to turn to OnlyFans comes at a time when researchers have found people around the globe are feeling more isolated and lonelier. A Meta-Gallup survey published in October found that 24% of responding adults felt very or fairly lonely.

Men, in particular, seem to show difficulties forming deep relationships. In a Pew survey published last year, 63% of responding men under 30 said they were single, while only 34% of responding women in that age group described themselves the same way. In another 2023 Pew study, responding women of all ages reported they were more likely to talk to their close friends about personal subjects such as family, health, and work.

OnlyFans has become a place for users  the majority of whom are men  to fill their emotional needs. Many creators on the platform aren't just selling photos and videos; they're selling connections. "Microtransactions"  such as pay-per-message chatting or custom content  pay-per-view videos, and tips account for over 50% of OnlyFans' revenue, which hit over $1 billion in 2022, the last year for which data is available.

Walter, for instance, pays hundreds of dollars whenever he chats with Farrah.

While the moneymaking potential of these OnlyFans connections is clear, the impact these relationships have on the lives of paying fans is murkier.

A 2023 study found that responding men and women reported improvements in real-life relationships  including better communication, greater intimacy, and clearer boundaries  after using OnlyFans.

But some experts warn that these relationships can kickstart a downward spiral: Lonely people turn to OnlyFans in search of connection, but some can leave feeling more isolated.

"If you're hungry and you go to the 7-Eleven, you buy a whole bag of chocolate bars and chips, is that going to fill you up? Over time, are you going to get what you need? No, of course not," Robert Weiss, a certified sex-addiction specialist who focuses on digital intimacy, told BI. "It's the same thing emotionally. I'm filling myself up with candy, but there's nothing real there for me."

Cherie DeVille at the 2023 XBIZ Awards for adult-content performers. Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Creators are cashing in on conversation

Minutes after the OnlyFans creator Amber Sweetheart's alarm goes off  before she walks her dog or heads to the gym  she grabs her phone to film personalized "good-morning" video messages for her four "boyfriends," subscribers who've been chatting with her regularly, sometimes every single day, for years.

She makes a different one for each of them, talking about her plans for the morning or the weather. She continues filming short snippets throughout the day and shares them regularly, incorporating inside jokes or things she knows the fans would appreciate.

During a recent trip to Italy, when she saw an old Aston Martin, she filmed a video of it for one of her "boyfriends," a fan of vintage cars.

"He was so happy," she said. "It's exactly how you'd do with someone that you are dating."

While OnlyFans creators make money on subscriptions to see their photos and videos, they can also earn money with more individualized fare such as custom content, direct messages, and tips. Several creators told BI that interactions with fans in direct messages make up a significant portion of their income, sometimes overtaking subscriptions.

"Users want to interact," Keily Blair, the CEO of OnlyFans, said at the Axios BFD conference in October.

Sweetheart has made well over half of the $2.6 million she's earned on the platform since 2020 from direct messages. "The queen of sexting," as she calls herself, spends up to eight hours a day chatting. She said she'd developed such close relationships with her "boyfriends" that she doesn't ask them for money for daily content  they give her a spontaneous "tip" depending on their interaction with her.

Sweetheart had hundreds of thousands of subscribers on OnlyFans. Amber Sweetheart

OnlyFans creator Jade Nicole has a free account with safe-for-work photos and another account  with a $14.99 a month price tag  with more explicit content. Clients pay extra to message her, unlock pay-per-view content, and receive custom content.

For $600 a month, Jade offers the "girlfriend experience": near-constant messaging and access to her personal-cell number. Those clients pay more for custom photos and videos and can end up paying nearly $2,000 a month. Over the past two years, she's earned more than $36,000 on OnlyFans from her "main man," as she calls him. Nearly $25,000 of that is from messaging.

"It's amazing that someone would pay $600 just to talk to me," she told BI, adding that she saw increased interest during the pandemic when people were more isolated. "A lot of us creators have seen a decline in the personal-connection type stuff, but some guys are still missing that connection."

OnlyFans creator Jade Nicole Jade Nicole

Mark talks to the OnlyFans creator Liensue, who is known for her cosplay content, almost every day about topics ranging from his mental health to his grandmother's illness. The conversations are sometimes the only interaction he has with another person all day.

"I don't have many friends in real life," he told BI. "I feel that Sue always makes extra time to take care of me, and make sure that I feel good and that I'm OK."

While the sexual content draws many of these fans to OnlyFans, they often stick around because of their connection to creators.

OnlyFans creator Elaina St James said Tom, a married man in his 70s, has turned into a sort of pen pal for her and spent $1,200 over about a year. There's nothing sexual about their conversations  Tom has told St James about his family and his previous health issues. She said he credited her with giving him the motivation to get fit again.

"He's like, 'Elaina, you don't know what you've done for me. I haven't been in this kind of shape for 20-plus years,'" St James said.

From strip clubs to phone sex, emotional intimacy has always been present

The idea of finding companionship in sex work is nothing new, and many experts said that OnlyFans is an evolution of phone-sex lines, strip clubs, and chatrooms  all places where men have sought connection.

The difference with OnlyFans, though, is the accessibility: No longer do people have to hide in bathrooms with a running faucet to call a phone-sex operator or sneak out of the house to go to a strip club.

"The more advanced the technology becomes, the more problems we see," Weiss said.

Ronald Levant  a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Akron and the author of several books, including "The Psychology of Men and Masculinities"  pointed to a 1999 study.

In the study, "G-Strings and Sympathy: Strip Club Regulars and Male Desire," Katherine Frank, an anthropologist, went undercover as a stripper.

"She found that her customers wanted to talk about the most anodyne things, and it was just like they were so lonely," Levant said.

A lot of it comes down to masculine norms  specifically "normative male alexithymia," which is characterized by difficulty in recognizing and expressing emotions. For some, it's easier to open up on OnlyFans than it is to be vulnerable to family or friends.

"They could consider themselves above the woman because she's a sex worker, and that enables them to feel OK about violating the masculine norms," Levant said.

"It has to do with how boys are socialized to conform to masculine norms from a very early age," he added. "One of the most destructive masculine norms is the norm to restrict the expression of vulnerable and caring emotions."

The phenomenon has experts split. Some think the OnlyFans relationships help, while others think they can make people lonelier.

One 2023 study surveyed 425 OnlyFans users, who reported feeling more comfortable expressing themselves and having improved self-expression.

"They mentioned improved communication, improved knowledge of their partner/s, improved boundaries, greater intimacy, and increased flexibility and openness to new shared experiences," said Marie Lippmann, an author of the study and an associate professor at California State University, Chico.

David, another fan of Farrah's, said he speaks with the OnlyFans creator before going on dates for a confidence boost, or after a rough day.

"You can just reach out and then have a chat or flirt with each other, and that gets you through whatever kind of difficult day you've had," he told BI.

But some experts said the relief from a platform like OnlyFans  with its transactional relationships  is a temporary Band-Aid to real-life problems, and that reliance on it can become a kind of addiction.

"They don't know how to be intimate. They don't know how to grow. They literally didn't learn that," Weiss said of some of his clients.

Liensue, an OnlyFans creator, is known for her cosplay content. Liensue

Genuine connection can be an unintended consequence for creators, too

Despite the transactional nature of OnlyFans relationships, a real sense of companionship can develop on both ends.

Liensue said she'd given out her home address to multiple fans, one of whom had made her a 10-foot-long epoxy table.

"The fans I give my address willingly are all people that I have known for years," she said, adding that she trusts that their relationship is "built on the mutual trust of chatting every evening."

Liensue said she considers the relationship she's built with some of her regular chatters "a kind of friendship." She asks them for advice about her content, talks to them about her day, and confides in them  sometimes sharing more than she does with people outside OnlyFans.

Many creators BI spoke with said that their daily interactions with subscribers had also led to bonds that transcended business transactions for them. Adult-content creators have described feeling judged for their jobs, which doesn't happen when they talk to their subscribers.

"We are so marginalized by society," St James said. "I've lost a lot of friends. I've lost all my family. My sisters have nothing to do with me because of what I do for a living. So we can be lonely too."

Sweetheart said she hadn't been on any dates since she began creating OnlyFans content over three years ago. She's become so accustomed to interacting online that she feels it would be "weird" to date someone in real life.

"I think a lot of men would struggle with it, the money situation, the content that's out there. I just want to save the hassle," she said. "If I dated in real life, it would be hard to not be viewed as some sort of porn star, or a sex kitten or whatever."

She said the emotional connections with her OnlyFans "boyfriends" are enough.

But being someone's online  and paid  girlfriend can easily cross boundaries.

Now that Candice, a New York-based creator on OnlyFans since 2020, is making enough money on the platform to feel comfortable, she's started to restrict clients who rely on her too much or go down dark paths.

"I have to say, 'This isn't healthy. I am not going to message you as much,'" she told BI. She pointed to one subscriber who often insinuated that he was dealing with major depression. "There are things I'm not equipped to handle."

That points to what is, perhaps, the most basic reality of most of these digital affairs: at the end of the day, they're transactional. While authentic emotion can  sometimes  be a side effect, the fan is paying for the creator's attention.

"Who doesn't want to be instantly adored? Instantly special?" Weiss asked. "Unless it wasn't real."

Read the original article on Business Insider
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Metropolitan Library System libraries are preparing for Dolly Parton fans.

Library administration says, this is in honor of Dolly Partons birthday. The Metropolitan Library System libraries will host Dolly Day on Friday, January 19.

Participants can join select locations for a full day of special festivities in support of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL), which facilitates childrens access to free books each month.

Coachella 2024: Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat and Tyler, the Creator set to headline

All Dolly Day events are free and open to the public.

Guitar-Take-Home-Kit: Participants can take home an all-ages guitar-themed notebook kit to

explore writing, music, and creativity inspired by Dollys Imagination Library journey.

The Little Engine That Could Scavenger Hunt: Attendees are invited to embark on a scavenger

hunt to locate trains inspired by The Little Engine That Could, the inaugural book gifted to children by DPIL.

Pop-Up Photo Booth: Attendees are invited to snap a photo at the pop-up photo booth, complete with Dolly wig, microphone, and guitar. at select locations.

When: January 19th, 2024, all day

Where: The following locations will be hosting all activities  Bethany Library (6700 NW 35th Street Bethany, OK 73008), Del City Library (4330 SE 15th Street, Del City, OK 73115), Downtown Library (300 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102), Edmond Library (10 S. Blvd., Edmond, OK 73034), Midwest City Library (8143 E Reno Avenue, Midwest City, OK 73110), Ralph Ellison Library (2000 NE 23rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73111), Southern Oaks Library (6900 S Walker Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73139), The Village Library (10307 N Pennsylvania Ave, The Village, OK 73120), Warr Acres Library (5901 NW 63rd Street, Warr Acres, OK 73132), Wright Library (2101 Exchange Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73108).

Dolly Partons Imagination Library is a book gifting program that will provide a free book each month for a child from the time they are born until their fifth birthday. The carefully chosen books aim to promote understanding of diversity, enhance self-esteem, and instill a lifelong love for reading.

About Metropolitan Library System: The Metropolitan Library System provides library services for more than 800,000 residents of Oklahoma County.

For more information, visit metrolibrary.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Metro police are searching for a suspect involved in a battery that occurred near a Las Vegas Strip property.

The battery occurred on Oct. 13, 2023 outside a Strip property, according to Metro police.

Metro police search for suspect involved in an assault outside of a Strip property on Oct. 13, 2023 (LVMPD)

Metro police search for suspect involved in an assault outside of a Strip property on Oct. 13, 2023 (LVMPD)

If you have any information on the suspect, contact Detective Kolinoski at A16751K@LVMPD.COM or call 702-828-1952. You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers of NV at (702) 385-5555.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Railway tracks in Russia's Saratov, Yaroslavl, and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts have been targeted in sabotage attacks, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported on Jan. 17.

"Unknown opponents of Putin's regime once again burned several relay cabinets on the railway" and other parts of the track used for military logistics, the HUR said.

The agency shared a video compilation of what appeared to show multiple arson attacks on relay boxes and other parts of track infrastructure.

As a result of the reported sabotage, railway traffic on certain track sections was "paralyzed," according to the HUR.

While the HUR did not state whether it was involved in the attacks, a number of incidents on Russian railways have been linked to Ukrainian intelligence services in recent months.

In November, the HUR claimed responsibility for its role in a joint operation with local resistance that disrupted trains in the region around Moscow.

Ukrainian media also claimed in late November and early December that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) carried out two sabotages on the Baikal-Amur railway in Russia's Buryatia Republic.

The Kyiv Independent has not independently confirmed these reports.

Russian Railways reported that 14 freight train cars were derailed in Russia's Far East on Jan. 8. The day before, there were reports of explosions at a railway track by an oil depot on the outskirts of Nizhny Tagil, an industrial city near the Urals.

Read also: F-16s for Ukraine: When will they arrive and what can they do?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Milwaukee's elected officials and dozens of top unelected city leaders will see their salaries rise later this year, many by tens of thousands of dollars, under a plan that divided a Common Council passed Wednesday.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson supports the pay plan, which comes on the heels of the city adopting a new 2% sales tax intended to shore up the city's bottom line.

Here's what you need to know about how much pay will increase, who will see the raises and what it will cost.

Who voted for and against the salary increase at council?

The bump was approved with a 9-6 vote, with council members Andrea M. Pratt, Mark Chambers, Jr., Jonathan Brostoff, Milele A. Coggs, Khalif J. Rainey, Larresa Taylor, Marina Dimitrijevic, Russell W. Stamper and council president Jose G. Perez in favor of the change.

Aldermen Robert Bauman, Lamont Westmoreland, JoCasta Zamarripa, Michael J. Murphy, Mark A. Borkowski and Scott Spiker were against the increase.

Spiker, who voiced his concerns at committee, reiterated them before his colleagues: "My grounds for objecting in committee were I didn't think the timing was good to ask for a sales tax and then ask for these increases."

The Common Council also voted on a resolution related to establishing accountability reporting requirements for certain positions, which was approved unanimously.

How much will salaries increase for elected officials?

Elected officials' salaries will change in the following ways:

Mayor : increase pay by 15%, from $147,335.76 to $169,436.12

City attorney: increase pay by 15%, from $147,335.50 to $169,435.83

Municipal judge: increase pay by 15%, from $133,049.02 to $153,006.37

Comptroller: increase pay by 15%, from $125,607.04 to $144,449.25

City treasurer: increase pay by 27%, from $114,039.64 to $144,449.25

Common Council member: increase pay by 15%, from $73,222.24 to $84,205.58

Common council president: increase pay by 14%, from $82,749.16 to $94,310.25

How much would salaries increase for unelected Milwaukee officials?

Dozens of people in unelected leadership positions would see raises, many of them substantial.

The retirement system executive director would remain the top-paid, with a range of $184,565 to $258,381, according to a report from the Department of Employee Relations.

Police and fire chiefs' annual pay range would rise from between $115,161 and $161,221 to between $174,117 to $243,756. The increases in the low and upper ranges represent a 51% change.

Commissioners in the departments of public works, neighborhood services, city development and health, along with the director of administration, would see their pay range rise to between $164,261 and $229,958. The lowest pay for those positions is currently either $115,161 or $122,746 while the top pay is either $161,221 or $171,838, potential increases of 42% for the lower and upper ranges.

When will the Milwaukee raises go into effect?

The raises would take effect at the beginning of the 2024 term in office, after the April 2 election.

On the ballot will be races for mayor, city attorney, comptroller, city treasurer and the 15 members of the Common Council.

Primaries will be held Feb. 20 for mayor and three Common Council seats.

How much will these salary increases cost?

The raises would cost $1.8 million for the remainder of 2024.

The cost for a full year, barring any future raises, would be $2.8 million.

How will the City of Milwaukee pay for the salary increases?

The raises are not part of the 2024 budget, which was adopted late last year.

That means this year departments will be relying first on any greater-than-anticipated salary savings, then other non-salary department savings, according to the city Budget Office.

If funds are still needed, the city plans to pull from its wages and supplement fund and then the contingent fund.

What do proponents say about the Milwaukee salary increases?

Those in favor of the salary increases argued that:

Elected officials last received raises in 2008.

The city needs to offer competitive salaries to better draw and retain employees.

Many rank-and-file employees received pay adjustments to better reflect the market rate for their positions before leaders' salaries were adjusted.

Not adjusting salaries to reflect market rates would lead to unpredictable service disruptions as employees leave for better-paying positions elsewhere and too few people remain at the city to perform the work.

Under state law, the council and mayor must change their salaries before a new term begins after the April election.

What do detractors say about the Milwaukee salary increases?

Council members who opposed the raises argued:

The increased spending could make budgeting more difficult in future years when the city's finances are predicted to again become strained.

The proposal comes just months after the council and Johnson approved a 2% city sales tax that went into effect Jan. 1 and helped the city avoid deep service cuts, raising questions among some constituents about the timing.

The increases for elected officials are too large.

The raises came under fire from conservative media and some Republicans in the state Legislature, who criticized city elected officials for pursuing raises for themselves after imposing a sales tax.

"Milwaukee officials begged legislators for months to bail them out of their financial mess," state Sen. Duey Stroebel posted on X Friday. "The legislature did, and then those same officials immediately pushed to give themselves a massive pay raise. At least some people in Milwaukee will be able to afford the new sales hike."

Before this summer's legislation allowing the sales tax and boosting shared revenue to local governments across the state, Milwaukee had been approaching a 2025 "fiscal cliff" that threatened to decimate city services.

A number of factors led to Milwaukee's fiscal problems: The state returned a stagnant amount of shared revenue to the city for more than two decades and limited local governments' ability to raise revenue through other means such as sales taxes or by raising property taxes. At the same time, the city's annual pension contribution spiked while other costs were also rising and reserves were dwindling, including the nearly $400 million Milwaukee received in pandemic aid.

The warnings had been coming as far back as 2009, when experts at what is now known as the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum were sounding the alarm about the city's fiscal situation.

Milwaukee-area leaders had long pushed for the state to allow a local sales tax and return more shared revenue to local governments.

Will Milwaukee elected officials get raises in future years?

That depends.

Starting in 2025, elected officials' pay would increase by 3% each year  but if general city employees receive a smaller increase, elected officials' pay raise would match general city employees', the legislation states.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Common Council approves elected officials' salary increase
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A lawsuit from four passengers on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was filed in Washington on Tuesday against Boeing and Alaska Airlines after the airplane lost its door plug mid-air after taking off from Portland International Airport in early January.

The lawsuit charges three counts including one count of negligence against Boeing, one count of strict product liability against Boeing (under Washingtons Product Liability Act) and one count of negligence against Alaska Airlines.

During the incident on Jan. 5, the door plug of the 737-9 Max blew out of the fuselage at 16,000 feet  leading the plane to rapidly depressurize, the lawsuit says.

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This shocking blowout caused intense fear, distress, anxiety, trauma, physical pain and other injuries to plaintiffs and fellow passengers, said Mark Lindquist of Mark Lindquist Law, an attorney representing the four passengers.

According to Lindquist, the plane was put into service in October, adding Boeing delivered a plane with a faulty door plug that blew out of the fuselage at 16,000 feet and air masks that apparently did not function properly.

Plaintiffs feared the gaping hole in the fuselage, rapid depressurization, and general havoc was a prelude to the planes destruction and their own likely death, Lindquist claims. Some passengers were sending what they thought would be their final text messages in this world.

How flight 1282 incident impacted thousands of Alaska, United flights

In addition to suing Boeing, the planes manufacturer, Lindquist also filed the suit against Alaska Airlines, claiming, Alaska Airlines management decided the subject plane was not safe to fly over the ocean, but was somehow safe enough to fly over land.

Calling the decision mind-boggling, he says, Theres no reasonable way for an airline executive to explain to the jury how they thought the plane was not safe to fly over the ocean but was safe to fly over land.

The attorney furthered that it was Blind luck that nobody died, as no passengers were seated directly next to the door plug and said passengers were still wearing seatbelts.

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As the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Jan. 9 that all Max 9 planes with plugs should remain grounded.

Lindquist formerly represented victim families in two fatal plane crashes of the Boeing 737 Max 8 in 2018 and 2019, and says hes encouraged that Boeing is reviewing their quality control now.

A few years ago, Boeing had back-to-back fatal crashes the Max 8. At that time, they were in total denial about the problems with the plane. This time weve seen the CEO of Boeing step up and seem to take at least some responsibility for what happened. I think thats an encouraging sign, Lindquist said. After the two Max 8 disasters, we all thought Boeing was going to really elevate their quality control programs, so nothing like this would happen again. Unfortunately, it has happened again, and they need to take another hard look at their quality control programs.

Arctic blast downs more than 350 trees, large branches in Portland

It took the FAA three months and a second crash to ground the Max 8, Lindquist added, so its good to see this quick action. Lessons were learned by the FAA, if not Boeing.

At this point in the investigation, Lindquist says officials are focusing on the four bolts that were supposed to hold the door plug in place.

Though its too soon to know for sure what exactly went wrong, Lindquist said. We do know Boeing is ultimately responsible for the safety of their planes and Alaska Airlines is ultimately responsible for the safety of their passengers.

Washington bill increases age to buy dangerous cannabis products

The attorney expects more passengers to join the lawsuit, along with more lawyers  noting that a judge has not certified this case as a class action. The plaintiffs may each be awarded differing damages from the lawsuit as well, Lindquist said.

While all the passengers have some things in common, their injuries are different based on where they were seated, their individual reactions, and how they are faring, Lindquist said. Each passenger is an individual with individual interests.

My clients want accountability for Boeing and for Alaska Airlines. But mostly, they want some assurance this isnt going to happen again to anyone, he added.

Alaska Airlines told KOIN 6 News they cannot comment on pending litigation, and Boeing declined to comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, attends the 189th NATO Chiefs of Defence Meeting in Brussels. To strengthen common defence and support Ukraine against the Russian invasion, there must be "a whole of society approach," the chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer said on 17 January. -/NATO/IMS/dpa

To strengthen common defence and support Ukraine against the Russian invasion, there must be "a whole of society approach," a top NATO military official said on Wednesday.

"The responsibility for freedom does not lie on the shoulders of those in uniform alone," said the chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, in Brussels.

Senior NATO military officials are discussing collective defence plans as well as progress in the Ukraine war in a two-day meeting at the Western military alliance's headquarters.

Calling for a "warfighting transformation of NATO," Bauer said the public and private sector need to change their thinking for "an era in which anything can happen at any time."

"We need public and private actors to change their mindset from an era in which everything was plannable, foreseeable, controllable, and focused on efficiency," he said.

Bauer added that Ukraine and NATO never posed a security threat to Russia and instead the war is "about Russia fearing something much more powerful than any physical weapon on Earth: Democracy."

"If people in Ukraine can have democratic rights, then people in Russia will soon crave them too. That is what this war is actually about," he said.

The committee is the highest military authority in NATO. It supports the decision-making processes of the civilian leadership in military matters. At the current meeting, an exchange with military officers from Ukraine was also planned as part of a NATO-Ukraine Council.
On the night of June 1 2019, there was an unusual disturbance at a museum in Geneva. Wearing ski masks and gloves, two brothers from south-east London, along with a third man, broke into the Baur Foundation at the Museum of Far Eastern Art by smashing a pane on the front door.

Once inside, they shattered a display case and helped themselves to Ming Dynasty artefacts worth around 3 million.

The heist was meticulously planned, said Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, the Metropolitan Police officer leading the investigation with the Swiss police.

Stewart and Louis Ahearne had carried out careful reconnaissance to ensure they could make a clean getaway with the stolen goods  two bowls and a vase from the 14th century. The whole operation was over in the blink of an eye.

Only, in the event, their getaway was not quite as clean as theyd hoped it would be  for all their meticulous planning, the duo ended up making some rookie errors. DNA at the scene was matched with 45-year-old Stewart.

Registration plates on a car leaving the scene matched a Renault Captur hired several days earlier at Geneva Airport in Stewarts name and collected by him. His 35-year-old brother Louis was no luckier: CCTV images linked him to the crime.

After the raid, the gang attempted to sell the items. They took one of the bowls to a Hong Kong auction house. Again, Stewart failed to cover his tracks, leaving his passport details when they made the 80,000 sale.

When they tried to sell the vase, they walked straight into a trap laid by the Metropolitan Police, who were by now on their trail. Posing as art buyers, officers arranged to meet the thieves at a central London hotel. Selling the stolen artefact to the officers for 450,000, Stewart and co-conspirator Mbaki Nkhwa were immediately arrested.

This week, the Ahearne brothers pleaded guilty at a court in Geneva after being extradited, and were sentenced to three-and-a-half-year jail terms, which for now will be served in Switzerland. They were banned from visiting the country afterwards for five years each, and ordered to pay 13,770 in damages to the Baur Foundation.

The gang, said Justice President Patrick Monney, had acted out of desire to enrich themselves, adding that this desire was considerable.

The brothers have been ordered to pay 13,770 in damages to the Baur Foundation - Baur Foundation

So how did the Ahearne brothers  the sons of a practising osteopath and both fathers themselves  become involved in an audacious international heist?

Their mother, Sue, is a qualified osteopathic therapist who studied at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine and runs a pain management clinic in New Eltham, south-east London. She told the court that Louis was a compassionate and empathetic person who had an unhappy childhood.

This week, she was said to be not in a capacity to speak about what had happened, with someone close to her telling The Telegraph, Its extremely hard for any mum.

Her son Louis attended Thomas Tallis School, a large mixed comprehensive in Kidbrooke, Greenwich, that also counts shoe bomber Richard Reid among its former students.

Louis appears to have had a number of jobs during his adult life, including as a transport manager and as the owner of a cleaning company based at a residential address in Sheerness, Kent.

Louis has a nine-year-old son, to whom he has been writing from prison in Switzerland, his mother told the court. His Facebook page, which features pictures of his child, suggests he is a proud father.

But the Swiss heist wasnt his only foray into crime. In 2020, also as part of a gang of three, he posed as a police officer to gain access to a gated property near Westerham in Kent, then stole money, handbags and designer trainers. This, too, ended unhappily for Louis: he was convicted of burglary and attempted burglary at Maidstone Crown Court and sentenced to five years imprisonment.

The brothers stole a cup, believed to be from the 15th century - PA

He told the court in Geneva he took part in the museum raid to clear a debt. Stewart, a tradesman, is a father of five who said he took full responsibility for his actions and had wanted to protect his younger brother. His partner, Nicola Berry, described him in court as a kind, loving and nice person. His employer had promised to give him a job when he left prison, she said.

In October, she posted (or possibly re-posted) a complaint on Facebook criticising the Government because they allegedly take care of prisoners and give them everything under the sun while causing vulnerable elderly people in society to go broke.

Stewart, with whom a friend on Facebook said she made a lovely couple, denied involvement in the planning of the heist. He claimed hed been used as a pawn, like in a game of chess and had been asked to come to Switzerland to do some driving.

Before his sentencing, he offered an apology. I would like to say sorry to the person who owns the museum for the pain and inconvenience caused, he said. I would like to say sorry to the Swiss society in general. Lastly, Id like to say sorry to Nicola and my mum.

Louis also displayed contrition, offering his condolences to the museum, Swiss society and my family for the stress I have put them through.

But there remains one thing missing: the third stolen artefact, a wine cup decorated with the image of a chicken, has not been recovered.

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.
German Minister of State for Culture and the Media Claudia Roth sits in her office in the Federal Chancellery during an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa). Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

German Culture Minister Claudia Roth said she is striving for a standardized approach by the federal and state governments to prevent anti-Semitism in the cultural sector.

"A patchwork of different regulations would not be particularly conducive to the common cause here," said the Green Party politician on Wednesday in Berlin during the "Remembering so as not to forget" conference organized by the Central Council of Jews in Germany.

"In the fight against the alarming outbreak of anti-Semitism in our country, the cultural sector is also called upon," said Roth, arguing that federally-funded institutions should develop "codes of conduct."

She is therefore seeking dialogue with Germany's 16 states, "as well as with all those involved in the cultural sector. We need to discuss what makes sense in terms of constitutional and administrative law and what is politically necessary."

After Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, "the majority in our country, including many in the German cultural scene," stood on the sidelines and remained silent, Roth said.

"Whatever reasons we give for this silence on Hamas' terror, I can find no explanation for it."

To the applause of the conference, Roth spoke of a lack of empathy.

"We must not remain silent, we must take a stand, clearly and unequivocally. We must show solidarity with Israel and protect and strengthen Jewish life in our country," said Roth.

Speaking on behalf of the Central Council, Michael Groys said that the aim of the event was to ask what a culture of remembrance and remembrance policy could look like in a pluralistic society, "especially when there are no more survivors" of the Holocaust.
Ukraine used the first hybrid air defense system under the FrankenSAM program, a joint project between the U.S. and Ukraine, to shoot down a Shahed drone launched by Russia on Jan. 17, Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"One of these systems was successfully used for the first time last night. We shot down a kamikaze drone from a distance of nine kilometers," Kamyshin said.

As further military aid packages for Ukraine remain stalled in Congress, the joint project, which combines old Soviet-era surface-to-air missile systems with new U.S.-made missiles and radars, has been a way for Ukraine to continue its fight against Russia in the meantime.

The AP earlier reported that U.S. engineers have been able to work with Ukraine to modify its numerous Soviet-era Buk air defense launchers to fire RIM-7 missiles, of which the U.S. has large stockpiles.

According to Kamyshin, five projects have been developed under the FrankenSAM concept. All the systems have already been deployed on the battlefield.

Read also: F-16s for Ukraine: When will they arrive and what can they do?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A woman in North Carolina is accused of stabbing her 10-year-old sibling to death and then leaving them in a backyard, the sheriffs office said.

Around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 16, an Enfield mother reached out to law enforcement to report her 10-year-old child missing, according to a Jan. 17 news release from the Halifax County Sheriffs Office.

By the time deputies arrived at her home, the mother had found her child, the sheriffs office said.

The 10-year-old was dead in the backyard, deputies said.

The sheriffs office said the child, whom deputies did not identify in the release, had been stabbed multiple times.

It is believed that the victim had been stabbed inside the home and moved outside to the rear of the home, the sheriffs office said.

Deputies said they believed 22-year-old Kaneijah Zyir Bradley, the 10-year-olds older sister, had stabbed the child, according to the release.

She has been charged with murder and taken into custody, deputies said.

The motive of the incident is unclear at this time and remains under investigation, the sheriffs office said.

More information was not immediately available.

This is such a sad incident, Sheriff Tyree Davis said in the release. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Enfield is about 75 miles northeast of Raleigh.

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(KRON)  The Fremont Police Department is searching for a missing woman who may be headed to South Carolina, FPD said Tuesday.

Tawnya Lopez, 48, has not been seen since Dec. 28, when she was spotted on foot in the area of Olive Avenue.

She is described as a white woman who stands at 5-foot-2 and weighs 180 pounds. Her hair may be red or blonde.

Image of Tawnya Lopez from the Fremont Police Department.

Police believe Lopez may be traveling to South Carolina, or she could be at a local motel. Anyone who sees her is asked to call (510) 790-6928.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
A Mississippi Coast woman died Tuesday night after a driver struck her on Bienville Boulevard in Ocean Springs, authorities said Wednesday.

Julie Trosclair, 49, of Ocean Springs was killed while walking near the road, Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd Jr. said.

Ocean Springs police responded about 8:16 p.m. to the westbound lanes of Bienville Boulevard and Carolyn Road, they said in a news release. Officers and emergency responders tried to save Trosclair but she died at the scene, the release said.

Two vehicles involved in the accident stopped on the right shoulder, Ocean Springs police said Wednesday afternoon.

Earlier Wednesday, Lynd called the accident a hit-and-run. Ocean Springs police instead called it a pedestrian death and said they did not suspect foul play. The release did not explain how both vehicles were involved in the accident.

The accident is still under investigation.

Ocean Springs police ask anyone with information to call 228-875-2211.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  The Mississippi Court of Appeals has affirmed a womans conviction in the death of a man whose body was found stuffed into a freezer at his home.

In a unanimous decision Tuesday, the 10-member court also affirmed the sentences received by Samantha Simmons  life in prison for conviction on the murder charge in the killing of 54-year-old Thomas Burns, plus 20 years for conviction on a charge of receiving stolen property.

A Lamar County jury convicted Simmons in August 2022.

Burns body was found in a freezer in his home in Purvis in May 2018. Court records show Simmons had started dating Burns early that year, and she was living with him in his home.

The state medical examiner found zip ties around Burns neck, wrists and ankles, a belt around his legs and a trash bag over his head. An autopsy showed Burns died from either strangulation from the zip tie around his neck or environmental/positional asphyxia from being put in a freezer with a bag over his head.

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According to court records, investigators found that Simmons had a key to a padlock that was on the freezer where Burns body was discovered by neighbors and his brother who checked his house after not seeing him for months. Court records also showed that tests run by the Mississippi crime laboratory found Simmons DNA on the zip ties.

Simmons argued that the DNA on the zip ties did not prove she killed Burns. But an analyst testified that the amount of DNA on the zip ties would be unusual for someone who just handled the items.

This testimony, coupled with the DNA evidence, could lead a reasonable juror to conclude that Simmons killed (Burns), the Court of Appeals wrote.

A witness testified that Simmons had contacted his wife about trying to sell some of Burns belongings.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
FREMONT- The NAACP Unit 3217 hosted its second annual community breakfast on Monday to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Despite the chilly weather, the event attracted a multitude of individuals from various backgrounds within the community.

Pastor Todd Chance from the Greater St. James church was the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast in Fremont Monday.

The keynote speaker was Pastor Todd Chance from the Greater St. James Church.

Pastor relates back to Civil Rights song lyrics

The pastor emphasized the power of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. By using the lyrics from the well-known Civil Rights song, "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round", and referencing the powerful legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he inspired his audience to keep pushing forward and speaking out against injustice. His words were a reminder that the fight for equality and justice is ongoing and requires unwavering determination.

Chance's speech also highlighted the unifying force of shared beliefs and common goals. The pastor stressed that the strength of the human spirit lies in coming together as a collective force against oppression and discrimination. By invoking the emotional impact of the struggle for freedom and equality, he galvanized his listeners to stand in solidarity and continue the fight for a just and equitable society.

Let me say that I am happy to be a part of this celebration today," he said. "I want to say thank you to all of you who are in attendance today for joining in this great occasion, Chance said. You are appreciated and of course, I want to recognize the memory of Doctor Martin Luther King Junior and his legacy.

Cassandra Tucker, the president of the NAACP unit in Fremont, thanked people who attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast on Monday.

Monday Morning, the breakfast commenced with a remarkable display as the Boy Scouts paraded in with the flag. Rev. Lorna McKinstry then graced the occasion with a soulful rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Otis student wins MLK Jr. essay contest

The Fremont Ross High School Orchestra then performed, followed by the announcement of the winners of the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Awards. A total of 44 applicants participated in the competition, and among them, Juliette Ollom, a fourth grader at Otis Elementary School, received special recognition for her outstanding essay.

Olloms said, I am overjoyed at being recognized and I plan to continue writing essays in the future.

Earlene Woodson, treasurer of the Fremont unit of the NAACP, attended the Monday breakfast.

Earlene Woodson, treasurer of NAACP Unit 3217, said, I come here every year for the children, and I love the unity of everyone. Woodson is a retired teacher of history and English.

Jeriah Martin, a seventh grader who also won last year, said in his speech, "In the heart of the civil rights movement we advocated love over hate, Imaginate a world where love triumphs over hate.

Following the awards ceremony, a breakfast was served by the African American Heritage Club from Fremont Ross High School. It included eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, banana bread, and pecan pie. All were provided by the NAACP, sponsors, and donations.

Jeremiah Risper, the president of the club, expressed his satisfaction in serving food and volunteering his time, which allowed him to enhance his culinary skills.

Cassandra Tucker, president of NAACP Unit 3217, mentioned that the pecan pie holds a special place as one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s favorite desserts.

It was 60 years ago on Aug. 28, 1963, when more than quarter million people gathered near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Historical March, for jobs and freedom. The March on Washington allowed for a lot of change to happen.

Cassandra Tucker, the president of the NAACP, said, We have this breakfast every year for people to remember and keep it in the front of their mind of Dr. Kings mission and that we are the ones to pursue the mission.

We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

For more information on the NAACP of Fremont visit naacp.org or their Facebook page www.facebook.com/FremontNAACP4.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Fremont NAACP hosts annual MLK Jr. breakfast Monday
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  A bill that would have raised the base minimum wage for tipped workers in Montgomery County was withdrawn by its sponsor, Councilmember Will Jawando (D) on Tuesday.

Councilmember Jawando co-introduced Bill 35-23, County Minimum Wage  Tipped Employees to lead the discussion in Montgomery County on addressing subminimum wages for tipped employees, the Office of Councilmember Will Jawando stated in a press release.

DC sees over 1 inch of snow for first time in almost 2 years

The bill would raise the minimum base wage for tipped restaurant workers, and sparked controversy in the county, even igniting a brawl at a rally held by tipped workers in October.

The councilmember also introduced Bill 34-23, County Minimum Wage  Wage Commission  Established, which would create a wage commission including business and employee interests to evaluate the minimum wage in the region and advise the Council.

Both bills were withdrawn by Councilmember Jawando.

The action to withdraw the bills is in coordination with other regional partners who are advancing similar measures to focus on state policy to support tipped employees. Advocates are hopeful that the Governor and General Assembly will take decisive action on this critical issue and champion the cause of economic fairness in our state, Councilmember Jawando stated in a release.

Here are the people working to clear streets, provide services in the DMV after the snow.

Every worker, regardless of their occupation, deserves to earn a wage that acknowledges their value and dignity. The two-tiered wage system undercuts this foundational belief by institutionalizing lower pay for certain classes of workers, Councilmember Jawando continued.

In a Council Session on Jan. 16, Councilmember Jawando emphasized that he was not withdrawing the bills because he did not believe in them, but because we can change the strategy to achieve the same outcome, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  A Montgomery County man was arrested Saturday morning during a traffic stop at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).

Maryland Transport Authority (MDTA) Police Officers stopped a silver Dodge Ram on the inner roadway of the airports upper level shortly after 2 a.m. During the stop, officers identified the driver as 27-year-old Wilfredo Pineda of Silver Spring.

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MDTA said that officers learned he was wanted on an open warrant through the Baltimore County Police Department for second-degree rape and assault charges.

Pineda was taken into custody and transported to the Jennifer Road Detention Center without incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Two side by side images of the moon, the image on the left shows bright red regions surrounded by green whereas the image on the right shows mainly blue regions with some green.

Scientists may finally understand how a unique rock type was created on the moon and came to be distributed across the lunar surface.

The revelation could solve a puzzle that has long confused researchers and may help paint a more complete picture of lunar geology.

An international team of scientists discovered a critical reaction that occurred deep with the moon 3.5 billion years ago that caused the exchange of iron in magma with magnesium in surrounding rocks. This changed chemical and physical properties in one of the three components of magma, "melt," which is made of ions from minerals that have liquefied.

Related: Scientists find hydrogen in Apollo moon rocks, suggesting astronauts can harvest lunar water

"The origin of volcanic lunar rocks is a fascinating tale involving an 'avalanche' of an unstable, planetary-scale crystal pile created by the cooling of a primordial magma ocean," University of Bristol professor and team co-leader Tim Elliott said in a statement.

"Central to constraining this epic history is the presence of a magma type unique to the moon, but explaining how such magmas could even have got to the surface, to be sampled by space missions, has been a troublesome problem." Elliott continued.

Since the NASA Apollo missions in the 1960s and 1970s returned samples of solidified, ancient lava from the lunar crust, it has been known that certain regions of the moon's surface are surprisingly rich in titanium (Ti).

Subsequent data collected by moon-orbiting satellites showed titanium-abundant magmas, or "high-Ti basalts," are widespread across the moon. The origin of such rocks was difficult to explain.

"Until now, models have been unable to recreate magma compositions that match essential chemical and physical characteristics of the high-Ti basalts," team co-leader and research fellow at the University of Munster Institute of Mineralogy Martijn Klaver said in the same statement. "It has proven particularly hard to explain their low density, which allowed them to erupt some three and a half billion years ago."

The team set about solving this puzzle using high-temperature laboratory experiments conducted here on Earth with molten rock that aimed to mimic high-Ti basalts.

They combined the results of these experiments with spectroscopic examinations of actual high-Ti basalts returned from the moon.

This mixed methodology revealed a distinctive composition of different isotopes of elements  the term for elements with a varied number of neutrons in their atomic nucleus  within high-Ti basalts.

A large rock sample on a grey plate.

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This is the fingerprint that points to the reaction between melt and solids in magma beneath the lunar surface billions of years ago that resulted in the creation of these unique rocks.

"It is great to have resolved this dilemma," Elliot concluded.



The team's research is published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
It's dangerously cold outside and many streets and sidewalks are still covered in ice. That can only mean one thing: Schools are closed again - in some cases, including Knox County Schools, for the rest of the week.

It's the fourth day missing school for many students who stayed home Jan. 12 because of high winds and this week from the winter storm.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk said the district can skip eight days before school days need to be made up later in the year. Other districts have a different number because of how their schedules are structured.

If KCS goes over that eight-day limit, Rysewyk will look at scheduling options. So far, the district has used five.

Days could be made up by eliminating the remaining three early release days, turning in-service days into school days or using its two available virtual learning days per semester, which he said isnt ideal. Days could be added to the end of the year, but Rysewyk said the district would like to avoid that.

However, Rysewyk is confident the district wont have to use more than its three remaining days.

Here are the latest East Tennessee school closures announced. Check back throughout the day as administrators announce their decisions.

Josh Elliott sleds down a hill at Baker Creek Preserve with his sons Sutton, 4, and Noah, 8, during a snowstorm Jan. 16.

East Tennessee school closures

Anderson County Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Annoor Academy - Jan. 18 and 19

Berean Christian - Jan 18 and 19.

Blount County Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Clinton City Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Concord Christian School - Jan. 18 and 19

Cumberland County Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Emerald Academy - Jan. 18 and 19

Grace Christian Academy - Jan. 18 and 19

Greeneville City Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Jefferson County Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Knoxville Catholic High School - Jan. 18 and 19

Knox County Schools- Jan. 18 and 19

Lenoir City Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Loudon County Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Maryville City Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Monroe County Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Oak Ridge Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Roane County Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Sevier County Schools - Jan. 18 and 19

Tate's School - Jan. 18 and 19

University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus - Jan. 18 and 19 (Online classes will continue)

Webb School of Knoxville - Jan. 18 and 19

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: East Tennessee schools announce closures as deep freeze settles in
Beloved reptile enthusiast and content creator Brian Barczyk died on Sunday. He was 54.

The herpetologist, with over 5 million subscribers on YouTube, recently said he entered hospice care due to Stage 4 inoperable pancreatic cancer. He first shared his diagnosis publicly in a March 2023 video.

The Reptarium, the zoo Barczyk owned in Utica, Michigan, announced his death on his social media pages with "profound sorrow." The Reptarium confirmed to USA TODAY that his cause of death was pancreatic cancer.

"More than the guiding light of our organization, Brians fervent passion for reptiles and wildlife, along with his steadfast dedication to education, has touched innumerable hearts and minds globally," the post said.

The post expressed deep condolences with Barczyk's family, friends and all the lives he has touched.

"Weve lost an exceptional individual  a visionary, mentor, and friend. For those of us who had the privilege of working alongside him, Brians absence leaves an immeasurable void," the post said. "As we navigate this difficult time, we find comfort in the memories and the lasting light of Brians work. He will be deeply missed but indeed, never forgotten."

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Dream Aquarium will feature Brian Barczyks handprints

Barczyk was unfortunately unable to see the complete LegaSea Aquarium, a longtime dream of his to open an interactive reptile zoo, before his passing.

The Reptarium said when the aquarium opens, visitors will find his handprints so they can place their hands in his to continue "his legacy in a simple, yet powerful gesture." The exhibit, which will feature an interactive reptile zoo in a 25,000-square-foot former thrift store, hopes to open by March, according to the The Reptarium's website.

The Reptarium owner Brian Barczyk, center, talks with animal educator Amy Karjala, left, as he holds a Capybara, a new addition to his business, in Utica on June 23, 2023.

"Brian, we will see you in the next one. Everyone else, see you at LegaSea," the post read.

Barczyk's family will also hold a memorial at the Public Memorial Walk in Utica's on Heritage Church on Wednesday afternoon. Instead of flowers, the family shared ways fans can support on a web page dedicated to Barczyk.

Barczyk told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, in June that he wants Macomb County and the broader area community to know that he will always offer a place for visitors to get their hands wet and horizons broadened "regardless of whether I live one year or 25 years."

'It's been an amazing journey'

Brian Barczyk posed with a two-toed sloth named Drogo in a habitat of his business in Utica on June 23, 2023.

In his last YouTube video, Barczyk thanked those who visited his reptile zoo and those who supported his work with snakes, geckos, lizards and other reptiles.

"It's been an amazing journey and one that has changed my life. Each one of you has changed my life like you can't believe," he said in the tearful video. "You never die until the last person speaks your name. My hope that the LegaSea Aquarium, my legacy throughout everything, is going to last a long time."

Barczyk said his team will continue to post videos on the channel after his death and hopes fans will continue show up for the content.

"We're going to tell great stories and we're going inspire people whether it's me or not. I hope you will continue to watch the vlog," Barczyk said. "I wish I was going to be there manning the front of it but let's keep getting people to love animals and wildlife and have experiences and dedicate their life to animals. If that happens I'm happy."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Reptile lover Brian Barczyk dies at 54 after pancreatic cancer fight
The Greenland ice sheet has lost about 1,965 square miles to glacial retreat since 1985, a new study says.

Thats an area roughly the size of Delaware.

The study analyzed satellite images to track retreat and found that the breakup of icebergs has accelerated in Greenland and that previous analyses might have underrated its influence.

Current consensus estimates of ice-sheet mass balance have underestimated recent mass loss from Greenland by as much as 20%, the studys authors wrote. In recent decades, almost every Greenland glacier has thinned or retreated.

The study, which was published Wednesday in the journal Nature, is yet another sign that Greenlands ice is melting at hastening and concerning rates. Scientists are growing increasingly concerned that the Earths warming could trigger tipping points for major ice sheets. Greenland contains about 8% of the worlds freshwater. Its total melt would raise sea levels by almost 7 feet and could change ocean circulation patterns.

The study also suggests that the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the worlds leading body on assessing the climate crisis, has underestimated how much ice is being lost in Greenland.

Several pieces of research published last year also drew attention to rapid change in Greenland.

One report, which evaluated satellite images and historical photos, determined that the rate of glacial retreat in the 21st century was about twice as fast as it was in the 20th century.

Another study showed that floating ice shelves in northern Greenland have lost more than 35% of their total volume and are weakening. These ice shelves buttress the ice sheet and prevent glaciers from flowing more rapidly out to sea. Their deterioration could threaten the stability of the ice sheet.

About 60 top snow and ice scientists published a report in November designed to draw attention to their increasing concern about the fate of the worlds ice sheets. The report warned that the planet could be committed to more than 40 feet of sea level rise in the coming centuries if global average temperatures settle at about 2 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial baseline.

Many ice sheet scientists now believe that by 2C, nearly all of Greenland, much of West Antarctica, and even vulnerable portions of East Antarctica will be triggered to very long-term, inexorable sea-level rise, even if air temperatures later decrease, they wrote.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Metro Nashville Police Department is continuing to look for a number of wanted fugitives, including several people accused of homicide, murder or attempted homicide.

The police department maintains a list of its Top 10 Most Wanted fugitives, which is updated every Wednesday on the Criminal Warrants Division Facebook page. According to officials, the people featured on the list are often considered to be some of the citys most violent offenders.

Over 70 of Nashvilles Most Wanted fugitives arrested within one year

Of the suspects on this weeks list, more than half are wanted on homicide, attempted homicide or murder charges, with some cases dating back more than a year ago. The rest of Nashvilles Most Wanted suspects are accused of crimes such as rape, child endangerment and aggravated assault.

Police said one woman was driving on the wrong side of I-40 with her child in her car when she crashed into a van head-on. While the search for these suspects continues, the Most Wanted list has aided police in several arrests.

Earlier this week, South Precinct detectives tracked down Elmer Vargas, who was wanted on over three dozen warrants related to a string of appliance thefts. He had repeatedly appeared on the list for about a month before his arrest.

Nashvilles Most Wanted: Suspect in appliance thefts arrested on 43 warrants

In total, at least 82 people who have appeared on the list have been taken into custody since the program was first launched in October 2022. According to authorities, tips from the public have been key in many cases, stacking up to a nearly 70% arrest rate among Most Wanted fugitives.

Below is a list of the suspects who made the police departments Top 10 Most Wanted list the week of Jan. 17.

1. Lagarrion L. Blacksmith

Lagarrion Blacksmith (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

At number one, Lagarrion Blacksmith, 34, is considered this weeks Top Most Wanted fugitive, according to the MNPD. He was added to the list on Nov. 29 after police were reportedly able to connect him to a deadly shooting that took place outside a Dickerson Pike bar earlier this year.

Officers said they found 35-year-old Chancellor Eddins lying on the ground just outside of Trvth Lounge on Feb. 18. He had reportedly been shot and later died at the scene. Another man who had also been hit by the gunfire was able to give officers an account of what happened.

RELATED: Man wanted for homicide, other charges following fatal February shooting on Dickerson Pike

According to police, the injured man told them he and Eddins had gotten into an argument with the suspect inside of the bar. Then, shots were fired as they left the location. At the time, the identity of the alleged shooter was unclear.

Months later, investigators announced Blacksmith had been identified as a suspect. On Nov. 22, officials said arrest warrants had been issued against Blacksmith for criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and felon in possession of a handgun.

However, efforts to locate him have reportedly been unsuccessful. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the MNPD at 615-862-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

2. Raceme Crutcher

Raceme Crutcher (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Police have been looking for Raceme Crutcher, 21, since July, when he was named as one of two suspects in a deadly Fourth of July shooting.

Officials said the shooting happened at the Fallbrook Apartments on Dellway Villa Road. Etabo Malanda, 16, was reportedly standing on the porch of an apartment when two armed individuals came from around the corner and confronted him.

RELATED: Teen killed in shooting at East Nashville apartment complex

Malanda allegedly tried to pull out a pistol that was inside his hoodie, but he was shot. Police said he died shortly after he was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

According to investigators, four guns were recovered from the apartment, including one that was reported stolen. Crutcher and 17-year-old Jaylin Brown were reportedly connected to the crime through witness accounts.

Investigators also obtained surveillance footage and additional information from community members that they said pointed to Crutcher and Brown as suspects in the case. Officials believe the motive may have been an ongoing dispute between the suspects and Malanda.

SEE ALSO: Teen wanted in connection with deadly Fourth of July shooting arrested

Brown was taken into custody on Aug. 31 after police reportedly caught him driving a stolen car. However, authorities said Crutcher is still on the run. He was added to the Most Wanted list on Nov. 15. His last location is unknown.

3. DeTynn Q. Smith

DeTynn Q Smith (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

DeTynn Smith, 20, has regularly appeared on the Most Wanted list since March 8.

He is believed to be the third and final suspect in the April 2022 murder of 39-year-old Tywane Miller. The incident happened in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven gas station near the intersection of Maxwell and Gallatin Avenues.

RELATED: Third suspect sought in deadly Nashville shooting from April 2022

Initial reports from police indicated that Miller was shot and killed by at least one person who got out of a white Ford Flex. Miller died at the scene and a passenger in his car suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

After the shooting, an officer reportedly saw the Flex on Shelby Avenue at I-24. The officer pursued the vehicle as it sped off, but eventually ended the pursuit because of the potential danger to other drivers.

The Flex then got onto I-40 and hit the center retaining wall and four other cars before coming to a stop on the interstate between Fesslers Lane and Elm Hill Pike.

Three occupants, including one believed to be DeTynn, then got out of the Flex and carjacked a 35-year-old Nashville man who was driving a 2013 Subaru Forester SUV, according to police. The Subaru was later found abandoned in a Bordeaux neighborhood.

SEE ALSO: Tywane Millers family continues hope for justice in his death

On March 1, MNPD detectives arrested one of the suspects, Deshawn L. Smith, 31, on a first-degree murder and aggravated robbery indictment. Another suspect, Michael Clay, 31, was charged last September.

DeTynn is wanted on a grand jury indictment charging him with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and possession of a gun during the commission of a felony, according to the MNPD. His last location is unknown.

4. Kejuan Jordan-Cole

Kejuan Jordan-Cole (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Kejuan Jordan-Cole, 21, is believed to be one of seven suspects involved in another deadly shooting on the Fourth of July, according to officials.

RELATED: Man dead after 7 people reportedly shot at him on Buena Vista Pike

Investigators said the victim, 27-year-old Christopher L. Harris, was found with multiple gunshot wounds inside his vehicle on Buena Vista Pike. Witnesses told police a group of young men approached Harris and around seven of them opened fire.

Harris was reportedly struck by the gunfire while standing next to his vehicle. Officers told News 2 as many as 100 rounds may have been fired during the incident.

The suspects  one of whom appeared to be shooting a rifle  left the scene in three separate vehicles, officials reported. Since the shooting, authorities have arrested and charged 16-year-old Jaden Wright, 17-year-old Erion Nesbitt, 16-year-old Kentrell Baugh and 23-year-old Deandre Jordan.

SEE ALSO: Metro police arrest 4th of 7 suspects from deadly July 4 shooting in Bordeaux

However, police said Jordan-Cole, who was identified as a suspect on Aug. 16, is still on the run. The charges against him include criminal homicide and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

He was added to the list on Dec. 13. Officials said his last location is unknown.

5. Michael A. Yarlett

Michael A. Yarlett (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Michael Yarlett, 28, is wanted on three counts of aided and abetted rape, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department. Court documents indicate he is one of two suspects in the incident, which happened more than a year ago in September.

Yarlett was added to the Most Wanted list on Nov. 22. His last location is unknown.

6. Terrance Boyd

Terrance Boyd (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Terrance Boyd, 43, is wanted on an outstanding warrant for statutory rape by an authority figure, according to officials. He was added to the list on Oct. 25. Police said his last location is unknown.

7. Charles B. Scruggs

Charles Scruggs (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Charles Scruggs, 49, is wanted for attempted homicide, felon in possession of a firearm and employing a firearm with intent, according to authorities. He was added to the list last week. Police said his last location is unknown.

Convicted felon surrenders months after fleeing from Nashville police

8. Elaura R. Settles

Elaura Settles (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Elaura Settles, 29, is wanted on multiple outstanding warrants for alleged violent crimes, police reported.

The charges include attempted homicide, felon in possession of a handgun, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault with serious bodily injury and another weapons offense.

Officials said Settles, who was added to the list on Jan. 3, was last seen in the Hermitage area.

9. Amber Fiddler

Amber Fiddler (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Amber Fiddler, 35, is wanted by the MNPD on outstanding warrants for two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment with a weapon and felon in possession of a weapon.

She first appeared on the Most Wanted list on Aug. 23. Her last location is unknown.

10. Taylor G. Lipert

Taylor Lipert (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Taylor Lipert, 25, is wanted on multiple outstanding warrants stemming from a Nov. 13 crash in which officers said Lipert was driving on the wrong side of Interstate 40 with her child in her car.

RELATED: Woman facing charges after wrong-way crash on I-40 in Hermitage

The crash happened just after 7 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-40 at mile marker 221 near exit 221A, which is the Hermitage exit. According to Metro police, Lipert was driving her Mitsubishi Eclipse west in the eastbound lanes for about one mile before she crashed into a van head-on.

The driver of the van, Lipert and her 3-year-old child all sustained injuries from the crash.

(Source: WKRN)

Detectives believe Lipert got onto the interstate from the 221A exit ramp, where multiple signs that read Do Not Enter and Wrong Way are posted. Lipert reportedly told officers she is new to Nashville, does not know the area and is an inexperienced driver.

Police said she did not show any signs of impairment at the scene. The charges against her include aggravated child endangerment and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Officials said her last location is unknown.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

Anyone with information on any of the suspects listed is asked to contact the MNPD at 615-862-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A top NATO military official called on public and private actors in the West on Wednesday to prepare for an era in which anything could happen at any time, including fighting a war.

"We need a warfighting transformation of NATO," the chief of the alliance's Military Committee, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, said as he opened a two-day meeting of national defence chiefs in Brussels.

He noted that in the past, NATO governments and companies lived in an era in which everything was plentiful, foreseeable, controllable, and focused on efficiency.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, they should adjust their thinking to "an era in which anything can happen at any time, an era in which we need to expect the unexpected, an era in which we need to focus on effectiveness in order to be fully effective", he said.

His remarks come at a time when military aid is either held up or limited by political wrangling in the United States and the European Union.

Bauer pledged NATO's continued help for Ukraine.

"Ukraine will have our support for every day that is to come, because the outcome of this war will determine the fate of the world," he said.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned Western hesitation in the backing for Kyiv and fears of an escalation in the war with Russia could prolong the fighting by years.

Last week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz berated European Union allies over what he called their insufficient support for Kyiv and urged them to ramp up their efforts.

At the same time, he said he was confident the bloc would agree its proposed 50 billion-euro aid package for Kyiv at an upcoming emergency summit on Feb. 1. The EU failed to agree on the deal at an EU summit in December due to opposition from Hungary.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; editing by Jan Strupczewski)
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, did not attend the first NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, which was held on January 17 at the level of heads of defence departments.

Source: Ukraines Mission to NATO on Facebook, Ukrainska Pravda sources

Details: Ukraine at this meeting was represented by Major General Serhii Salkutsan, although earlier it was planned that General Valerii Zaluzhnyi would join foreign counterparts in the format of a videoconference.

According to the UP, at that moment, Valerii Zaluzhnyi participated in the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff meeting held by Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

          

The first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of defence ministers

Photo: Ukraine's Mission to NATO

Quote: "Today was the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in a military format at the level of Chiefs of General Staff.

Major General Serhii Salkutsan, the military representative of Ukraine, addressed the Allies on behalf of General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

He informed the Allies about the current situation on the battlefield, stressed the priority needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and called for an increase in the supply of weapons, including air defence systems and missile systems."

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Cliffs Meat Market has been well regarded as the local butcher serving southern Orange County since 1973, but many may not realize that founder Cliff Collins doesnt run the shop anymore.

That may be because Collins never really left, and the new owner isnt outspoken about it.

Last week, Collins sat in a tall chair by the counter, munching on a strawberry ice cream bar and holding court with folks who popped into the Carrboro store for a cold drink or to shop for dinner.

Behind the counter, the new owner, Gerardo Martinez Galvan, 46, packaged orders while overseeing several young workers. Martinez  Tolo to friends and customers  is almost as much a fixture at Cliffs as Collins, having been by his right hand for over 25 years.

On Jan. 1, Martinez filed paperwork with the N.C. Secretary of State to make the business at 100 W. Main St. officially his own; it was initially registered under his daughters name because his English was limited, he said.

The deal actually went through in March 2020, just as COVID shut down many businesses and sent UNC students and employees home. Their wholesale business was decimated, from 50 restaurants before the pandemic to only 10 now, Collins said.

Martinez started online and phone orders with curbside pickup, and added a package deal with different cuts of meat, which grew so popular that its still on the menu, he said last week between customers.

From left, Cliffs Meat Market owner/operator Cliff Collins, 68, shows his grandson Ethan Truesdale how he slices fat off of slab of pork ribs and sidemeat while making fresh cuts of meat in his downtown Carrboro, NC butcher shop Wednesday, July 27, 2016.

Building a business, relationships

Restaurants continue to struggle, especially with the high price of meat, Martinez said. And the wholesale market has consolidated, with a few companies buying out their competitors and seizing the advantage to undercut prices for local markets, Collins added.

The shops meats, snacks, soup bones and cold drinks are now complemented by a wide selection of Latino spices and dry goods in an effort to better serve their local customers. He helps where he can, Collins said, and keeps the refrigerators running right.

Collinss crusty demeanor cracked a little, showing his affection for the younger man. He worked here 25 years. I never caught him stealing, and he got along with all the people, Collins said, when asked why he sold the business to Martinez.

One day, I left here, and I went and got some chickens. When I came back, Tolo was on the other side of the counter over there, dancing with an 84-year-old woman to Mexican music. I knew right then and there, he needs the store, Collins said.

Martinez credited Collins with teaching him everything he knows, from how to speak better English to how to run a business and butcher different meats. He grinned as Collins corrected his English while the staff broke for lunch with tacos in the back.

He may own the store now, Martinez said, but I always say Cliff is my boss.

Owner Gerardo Martinez Galvan stands outside Cliffs Meat Market in Carrboro with Cliff Collins, who established the butcher shop in 1973 and hired Martinez nearly 26 years ago. Martinez bought the store in 2020.

From a Mexican farm to local business owner

Martinez was born in Guanajuato, in the mountains of central Mexico, where his family were tenant farmers. His mother sold gorditas  corn cakes stuffed with cheese, meat or beans  from a cart to earn extra money. He didnt want to go to the United States, but at 17, he realized it offered a way to help his parents.

He started working at Carolina Car Wash in 1995, and his brother, who worked across the street at Crooks Corner, helped him get in the door at Cliffs Meat Market, cleaning fish on Thursdays. When another employee stopped showing up, Martinez took his place.

Martinez became one of his best employees, Collins said.

He was quiet, and he was nice, Collins said. After I got to know him and I talked to his family ... I said, hey, why dont you come work with me, and he looked at me and said, Ill work with you two years. I said, OK, Ill take you for two years. He worked with me for 25.

The money he saved was enough to build a home for his family in Mexico  the first one there to have indoor plumbing, Martinez said proudly. He got married and built his own house in Carrboro, and now rents out the house in Mexico, along with two more in Orange County, in part to support his mother, who came to live with his brother when their father died, he said.

He didnt have any dreams growing up but loves business, Martinez said. At the shop, he works with his wife, Flor Cervantes-Martinez, and their youngest daughter, a Carrboro High School student. Their other daughter is a social worker, and their son is a nurse, he said.

Its been 26 years, and I still love my wife, Martinez said, smiling. Shes a good wife.

They plan to buy more rental property and could expand with a second shop one day, he said. Collins once told him the key to being a good butcher is to be never mad with yourself or somebody else, never mad with customers, Martinez said. Youre always happy.

And try to make them think theyre always right, Collins opined from his seat by the counter.
North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls voluntarily withdrew her lawsuit against the ethics commission that was investigating her, saying the suit was no longer necessary since the complaint against her had been dismissed.

The Judicial Standards Commission, which considers complaints against judges, had opened an investigation into Earls after she publicly commented on issues involving diversity in the judicial system.

I continue to believe that the First Amendment protects my ability to speak about matters of racial equity in the legal system, Earls said in a statement. However, I see no need to continue the litigation since the commission has dismissed the complaint against me and at this time I no longer face being disciplined by the court.

The commission ended its investigation and did not recommend any disciplinary action to the state Supreme Court, according to a press release from Earls.

Representatives for the commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The News & Observer.

Earls first sued the Judicial Standards Commission in August, saying its investigation into her public comments violated her First Amendment rights.

In a June interview with a legal publication, Earls had noted the lack of diversity among clerks in the Supreme Court and spoke about the elimination of implicit bias training in the courts system.

When the culture is that male advocates and advocates who reflect the majority of the court, white advocates, when they get more respect, when they are treated better  I think it filters into peoples calculations about who should argue and whos likely to get the best reception and who can be the most persuasive, Earls said in the interview.

The commission told Earls that her comments may have run afoul of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which requires judges to conduct themselves in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.

After filing her lawsuit, Earls sought an injunction against the commission to force it to stop its investigation.

A federal judge denied this request in November, suggesting it was not Earls comments about diversity that prompted the investigation, but rather statements that could be reasonably interpreted as an accusation that plaintiffs conservative bloc colleagues unethically prioritize their conservative political principles in some decisions.
The number of active registered voters in Florida decreased by nearly one million from 2022 to 2023, according to a new report from the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Data gathered from the Florida Department of State showed that the number of active registered voters in Broward County, the states second-largest county, dropped from 1.28 million at the beginning of December to 1.09 million by January.

Palm Beach County saw a similar drop in active registered voters, going from 946,189 in September to 847,617 a month later.

Vote-by-mail restrictions: Vote-by-mail ballots in Florida could soon be limited to absent voters only

About 996,676 Florida voters were moved from active status to inactive, or about 7.4%, since January 2023.

So what exactly is happening? Routine maintenance, according to the state. Performing list maintenance, or moving voters who havent voted in some time into the inactive category, is a routine measure that all county supervisors of elections offices go through.

But as the Sun Sentinel points out, new laws that went into effect last year have led to some unusual numbers. Heres what you should know about your Florida voter registration status, including how to ensure youre registered to vote in this years elections.

Why were Florida voters moved to inactive status?

According to the state, the voters were moved to inactive status because they hadnt voted in the past two elections. These voters were notified 30 days in advance of the move, in which they could have responded.

The overwhelming majority of these voters did not respond to the notification. Palm Beach County Elections of Supervisors officials told the Sun Sentinel that of the 106,000 notices sent out, less than 4,500 people responded.

How to check your voter status in Florida

Checking your voter registration status in Florida is an easy process. Heres how to do it:

Visit the Department of State website

Enter your first and last name and your birthday

Accept the terms of service by checking the option that says you understand and agree

Submit your information

After submitting your information, youll see a form that provides your voter registration information. At the bottom, youll see your registration status, which will say either active or inactive.

Active vs. inactive voter registration status in Florida

The language used to describe voter status can be a little misleading. Active and inactive registered voters in Florida can vote.

Active voters are people who have voted in a recent election. Under Floridas new law, inactive voters are people who did not vote in the 2022 or the 2020 elections. Inactive voters can still vote by showing up to the polls with proper identification or engaging in any other voting-related activity, like requesting a mail-in ballot.

However, inactive voters who do not vote in the next two general elections, in 2024 and 2026, will be removed entirely. They will no longer be eligible to vote and must register again.

How to apply for voter registration in Florida

If you need to register to vote, the process is just as simple. Heres what youll need to do:

Visit RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov

Click on the register or update button

Answer the reason for application and eligibility questions

You will then be prompted to submit your Florida drivers license information, or an acceptable equivalent, and the last four digits of your Social Security number

You can also register to vote in person by visiting your tax collectors office or any voter registration agency.

Who is eligible to vote in Florida?

To be eligible to vote in Florida you must:

Be a U.S. citizen (a lawful permanent resident, such as a "green card holder," does not have the right to register or vote in Florida)

Be a Florida resident

Be at least 18 years old (you can pre-register to vote if you are 16 or 17 years old)

Not have been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state without having the right to vote restored

Not have been convicted of a felony without your voting rights having been restored

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Are you still registered to vote in Florida? Here's how you can check
British negotiators have held secret talks with EU officials over possible wriggle room in Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal for Northern Ireland in a bid to end the DUPs Stormont boycott.

The discussions in Brussels were part of a doomed effort to broker a last-minute deal with the Unionist party ahead of Thursdays deadline for fresh elections in the province after almost two years of deadlock.

The DUP pulled out of Stormont in protest against the creation of an Irish Sea border resulting from Boris Johnsons initial Brexit deal almost two years ago.

The senior British officials conceded there was no room for any renegotiation of the Windsor Framework, which currently sets post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Instead, Cabinet Office officials Mark Davies and Brendan Threlfall, as well as Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby, the UKs ambassador to the EU, asked for the bloc for favourable language on the implementation of the green lane, a channel for British goods exported to the province with less border controls.

Its on the implementation, the wriggle room, of how things are described and explained, a source told The Telegraph. Theres no room to renegotiate.

It was hoped that by securing confirmation from Brussels that its officials agree with the UKs interpretation of the deal it could weaken the DUPs opposition to the agreement.

The DUP has had a long-standing demand that goods shipped through the green lane must be done so with the bare minimum of controls.

The EU is not against finding ways to smooth trade as long as its single market is not put at risk by rogue products entering the province.

Ministers had also prepared legislation offering to protect Northern Irelands place within the UK, a 3.3 billion financial package and a new East-West council to bolster intra-UK ties.

But by last Friday, British officials were resigned that the Unionist party would not agree to a power-sharing deal almost two years after the devolved government collapsed.

The working assumption in Government was that legislation would have to be drawn up to delay new elections as talks with the DUP continue.

Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, was due to call fresh Assembly elections by mid-April if power-sharing was not restored.

No deal for public sector workers

The DUP has resisted calls to return to devolved government despite the Windsor Framework, which reduced Protocol border checks on British goods entering Northern Ireland after Brexit.

Failure to resolve the stand-off increases the chances of the deadlock lasting until after the next Westminster general election.

A mass strike of public workers from 15 trade unions including teachers and nurses over pay is set to cripple the region on Thursday.

Deals could not be hammered out for the public sector workers because Stormont is not in place to negotiate with them.

DUP divided over financial package

Labour, which is expected to deal the Tories their worst wipeout since 1997, has said it will sign a veterinary deal with Brussels and discussed those plans with Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader.

Such a deal would reduce plant and animal health controls between Britain and the EU and Northern Ireland, which follows single market rules to prevent a hard land border with EU member Ireland.

The Government, which has already imposed stringent budget cuts on Stormont and slashed Assembly members pay during the impasse, is frustrated after a breakthrough failed to emerge last week.

Mr Heaton-Harris is reportedly considering making its generous offer to the DUP public to increase pressure on the party, which is divided over the deal on the table.

He held talks with Stormont parties on Monday over the financial package, which was boosted from an initial offer in an effort to tempt the DUP and includes 600 million to settle public sector pay claims but is conditional on devolution being restored.

No timeline on return to Stormont

Sinn Fein, which wants a reunited Ireland, won the last Assembly elections for the first time in 2022, toppling the DUP as the dominant political force.

Michelle ONeill, the partys leader who would be First Minister if Stormont was restored, said there was no chink of light over a return to Stormont before workers from 15 trade unions in the 1.9 million people-strong region down tools on Thursday.

Sir Jeffrey said that significant progress had been made in negotiations with Westminster over the border but gave no timeline for a return to Stormont. He called on Mr Heaton-Harris to release the public sector pay awards this year otherwise it looks like the strike action will go ahead.

Mr Heaton-Harris said that if the executive was not restored by Friday, he would have some decisions to make.

Polls suggest that if a fresh Assembly election was called, the DUP would retain its status as Northern Irelands largest unionist party.

That would qualify it to be one half of a power-sharing executive, meaning it could continue its boycott of devolution regardless of the election.

The Northern Ireland Assembly was recalled on Wednesday in a last attempt to restore the executive.

There was no cross-community majority to elect a Speaker at the sixth attempt, which brought the meeting to an end with Stormont still mothballed.

DUP MLA Gordon Lyons branded the recalled session cynically orchestrated by Sinn Fein and urged the Government to release the funds for public sector workers now.

This recall is much like the five others that came before it. It is a stunt, he said in Stormont.

It has been cynically orchestrated to coincide with the industrial action scheduled across our public sector,

Mrs ONeill, Sinn Feins leader in Northern Ireland, accused the DUP of refusing to accept a nationalist First Minister after her election victory.

She warned Stormont might never be restored unless Sir Jeffrey Donaldson left suspended animation and returned to power-sharing.

If Jeffrey Donaldson does not change his approach, then this sitting may well be the final one of this assembly. I fear that the democratic institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are in freefall, she said.

A Downing Street source said it did not recognise this account of events and claimed it was based on limited information.

Further progress in talks was made last week and the Government believes there is a very good basis for the restoration of power-sharing, the source said.

As both the Government and DUP have said, significant and substantive progress has been made with the goal of strengthening the UK internal market and future-proofing Northern Irelands place in the economic union.

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Anne Gorsuch, a former chief of the Environmental Protection Agency, cut a flamboyant, defiant figure in early 1980s Washington as she slashed air and water quality regulations.

She fought with environmentalists, was held in contempt by Congress and eventually resigned under pressure from the Ronald Reagan White House that had championed her. Her memoir was, appropriately, entitled: Are You Tough Enough?

Her son Neil Gorsuch, a Supreme Court justice since 2017, has shown his own brand of defiance and anti-regulatory fervor.

In recent years, Justice Gorsuch has voted against regulations that protect the environment, student-debt forgiveness and Covid-19 precautions. During a Covid-19 spike in early 2022, Gorsuch was the lone justice who declined to wear a mask while sitting on the bench.

He has led calls on the court for reversal of a 1984 Supreme Court decision that gives federal agencies considerable regulatory latitude and that, coincidentally traces to his mothers tenure. The Supreme Court will hear a pair of cases on Wednesday testing that 40-year-old case known as Chevron USA, Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which has become the touchstone for resolving conflicts over agency power.

The issue comes down to Congress ability to write open-ended laws that delegate policy details to agency officials. The Chevron principle dictates that when disputes arise over regulation of an ambiguous law, judges should defer to agency interpretations of the law if the interpretations are reasonable.

The Chevron case has steered disputes over countless directives intended to protect the public, such as from air pollution, workplace hazards, risky drugs and medical fraud, or to guarantee certain benefits, such as people with disabilities and elderly.

The Chevron ruling grew out of challenges to EPA policy regarding stationary sources of air pollution (such as factories and power plants) under then-administrator Anne Gorsuch. The new cases test a National Marine Fisheries Service mandate that the fishing vessels pay the cost of certain onboard observers who monitor catches.

Business groups and conservative activists  including a network founded by Charles Koch helping to finance the challenge  say Chevron deference has led to an uncontrolled bureaucracy. The federal government, backed by public health, labor and environmental advocates, stresses the importance of agency expertise, such as in scientific and medical fields, and the value of uniform, nationwide rules.

Such conflicts have gotten hotter since the Supreme Court conservative supermajority coalesced in 2020 and demonstrated a desire to curtail agency power across the board. The Trump administration specifically sought judicial candidates like Gorsuch who have railed against the so-called administrative state.

The anti-regulatory forces in Wednesdays litigation have laced their briefs with phrases from the justice.

After 40 years of confusing experimentation and disastrous consequences, write lawyers for one of the commercial fisheries at the center of the new case, it is time to give the profoundly wrong Chevron doctrine a tombstone no one can miss.

Gorsuch invoked that tombstone motif in a 2022 dissenting statement when fellow justices declined to hear an earlier challenge to the Chevron doctrine. Rather than say what the law is, we tell those who come before us to go ask a bureaucrat, Gorsuch wrote. We place a finger on the scales of justice in favor of the most powerful of litigants, the federal government, and against everyone else.

The federal government has repeatedly emphasized the importance of agency authority for the public good, whether in environmental protection, worker safety or consumer safeguards.

Overruling Chevron would be a convulsive shock to the legal system, US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who will defend the 1984 precedent on Wednesday, told the justices in a filing. All three Branches of government, regulated parties, and the public have arranged their affairs for decades with Chevron as the backdrop against which Congress legislates, agencies issue rules and orders, and courts resolve disputes about those agency actions.

Neil Gorsuch was unhappy his mother quit EPA

Anne Gorsuch, the first woman to lead the EPA, served from 1981 to 1983. Appointed by then-President Ronald Reagan, she was part of that administrations massive deregulation agenda that swept across industries from airlines to manufacturing to telecommunications.

Hers was a rocky tenure. She clashed with congressional investigators who challenged her cuts to air-quality programs and overall management of the agency intended to protect the environment.

In one of her most defining battles, Gorsuch was held in contempt of Congress in December 1982 after she refused to turn over documents related to a hazardous-waste cleanup fund.

Administration lawyers had advised her to withhold the documents based on executive privilege, and she later criticized those lawyers  whom she called the unholy trinity in her memoir  for misusing her for their own agendas. Pressure mounted all around, and by March 1983 the White House forced her to resign. (In the middle of the ordeal, in February, the divorced Gorsuch married Robert Burford, then-director of the Bureau of Land Management; she became known as Anne Burford.)

In her 1986 memoir, she wrote that son Neil, then age 15, was distressed by her situation.

You should never have resigned, she recounted him telling her. You didnt do anything wrong. You only did what the President ordered. Why are you quitting? You raised me not to be a quitter. Why are you a quitter? She added, He was really upset.

Justice Gorsuch declined requests from CNN to talk about his mothers work.

In one of his own books, he referred to the fact that she was the first female EPA administrator but elaborated only on her earlier record in Colorado, including as a young lawyer and state legislator. He described her as a feminist before feminism and added, Her idea of daycare often meant me tagging along.

Chevron was a unanimous ruling

The late Justice John Paul Stevens, author of the 1984 Chevron decision, observed in a 2019 book that the opinion became one of the most cited in court history, mushrooming in importance over the years.

That point is backed up by Columbia University law professor Thomas Merrill, an expert in administrative law, who has referred to it as an accidental landmark, the leading statement about the division of authority between agencies and courts in interpreting statutes.

The core dilemma of the case turned on EPAs 1981 interpretation of stationary sources for anti-pollution permitting purposes. Congress had not precisely defined the phrase in the Clean Air Act, and environmental advocates contended the administrations view fell short of statutory protections.

But Stevens, in a unanimous opinion, wrote that when a statute is ambiguous, judges should uphold an agencys interpretation as long as it is reasonable and based on a permissible reading of the law.

Chevron was a rare six-justice decision. Three of the nine justices at the time did not participate because of health reasons or conflict of interest.

Merrill has written that although the impact was not immediately clear, it led over the years to expansive deference to agencies and seemed to offer a universal reason to prefer agency interpretations to judicial ones.

For Wednesdays dispute, Merrill submitted a friend of the court brief, formally backing neither side of the case but urging the justices to uphold the Chevron doctrine with limits that lower court judges have sometimes omitted.

He suggested the high court clarify that judges determine, in any given case, that Congress has actually delegated authority to the agency to regulate with respect to the matter at hand and that an agency interpretation flows from an appropriate interpretive process.

Conservative activists using fishing regulations to push the issue

The paired cases the justices will hear on Wednesday arise from federal monitoring requirements to prevent overfishing and to rebuild stocks for the long-term health of the fishery industry. In dispute is a regulation of the National Marine Fisheries Service that requires vessels to undergo regular monitoring and, when third-party observers are used, to pay the costs.

Two Atlantic herring fisheries, Loper Bright Enterprises and Relentless, Inc., claim the agency lacked authority to force vessel owners to pay for third-party monitoring services. They lost in lower courts, as judges said a federal law, the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act, gives the federal government the power to require vessels to carry at-sea monitors and to bear the costs.

In their appeal, the fisheries are backed by an array of wealthy businesses interests that have long tried to topple Chevron, including the network founded by Koch. The lawyers who will argue on behalf of the challengers are seasoned appellate advocates who once served as Supreme Court law clerks, as did Solicitor General Prelogar.

Lawyer Roman Martinez, representing Relentless and up first at the court lectern on Wednesday, told the justices in his written filing that the Chevron approach usurps the judiciarys responsibility to decide the meaning of statutes.

Acquiescence is mandatory so long as the agencys interpretation falls within an ill-defined zone of reasonableness  even if the judge believes the agencys interpretation is wrong, Martinez wrote. Chevron thereby forces judges to abdicate their most important duty: to faithfully apply the law.

Paul Clement, representing Loper Bright Enterprises, highlighted the recent Supreme Court pattern of disregarding the Chevron approach and reining in agencies.

Thus, the question is less whether this Court should overrule Chevron, and more whether it should let lower courts and citizens in on the news, Clement wrote. The reality is that Chevron has already proven itself unworkable, and its corrosive effects on our separation of powers have lingered long enough.

Prelogar, who will argue for the Biden administration in both cases, asserts that the Chevron precedent rightly puts authority for crucial policy in the hands of regulators who would know best how to protect the public interest. Chevron gives appropriate weight to the expertise, often of a scientific or technical nature, that federal agencies can bring to bear in interpreting federal statutes, she wrote.

That argument has prevailed in courts for decades, but the Supreme Court has signaled that it is ready for a new era.

The prospect appears likely because of Gorsuch and the other Trump appointees who have greatly tipped the ideological balance of the court.

Former White House counsel Don McGahn, who oversaw the selection of Trump nominees, often remarked that he was drawn to Gorsuch because of his anti-regulatory bent.

And Gorsuchs family history was not lost on him. (Anne Gorsuch Burford died in 2004.) As McGahn explained his own antipathy toward federal regulators, he quipped to a law school audience in 2020, Unlike Justice Gorsuch, my mother was not head of the EPA. Still, he added, Ive always had an aversion to concentrated power.

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Semafor Signals

Insights from Al-Monitor, Haaretz, and Semafor

The News

U.S. President Joe Biden has reportedly not spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in more than three weeks, as Washington grows increasingly impatient with the rationale of the Israeli leaders wartime conduct in Gaza amid mounting civilian casualties.

The last known call between the two leaders was on Dec. 23  which ended with the U.S. president angrily ending the conversation over Netanyahus refusal to release the Palestinian tax revenues Israel is withholding, Axios reported.

White House officials are reportedly in regular contact with Netanyahus war cabinet member and former defense minister Benny Gantz, who has clashed with the prime minister over Israels military goals in Gaza.

Netanyahu, observers say, is more concerned about the survival of his government and career. The end of war means the end of government, Israels ultranationalist national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote on X.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Biden has been given the finger at every juncture of the war

Sources: Al-Monitor, Axios

The U.S. president is quickly losing patience with Netanyahu who has repeatedly denied or evaded Bidens wartime requests. One of the issues that Biden and Netanyahu disagree on is the fate of the remaining Israelis held hostage by Hamas. U.S. officials who spoke with Al-Monitor believe that the Israeli leader is deliberately delaying progress on the issue because a return of hostages would require Israel to pull back its Gaza offensive, as well as efforts to capture or kill the militant groups leader, Yahya Sinwar. At every juncture, Netanyahu has given Biden the finger, one Democratic senator told Axios. They are pleading with the Netanyahu coalition, but getting slapped in the face over and over again. The White House is also frustrated by the Israeli leaders unwillingness to do more to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza or discuss post-war plans. Officials say that they are increasingly concerned that Israel wont meet its timetable to transition to low-intensity operations in the enclave by the end of January.

Bidens frustration with Netanyahu should make him course correct on Israel-Hamas war

Sources: Haaretz, Financial Times

Biden has so far resisted calls to shift his unequivocal support for Israels military campaign in Gaza, but he has to decide whether his growing frustration with an obstinate Netanyahu is enough for him to change course, one Israeli diplomat wrote for Haaretz. One audacious option for Biden to course correct is to present Israel with the U.S vision for postwar Gaza, he argued, which would include Israels integration into an axis with Arab countries and a revitalized Palestinian Authority. But signs from the past week show that the Gaza war has already escalated to a by-proxy regional conflict and that further escalation may be inevitable. Other U.S. politicians have said that America should start putting conditions on military aid to Israel. In a letter to Biden before Christmas, a group of Democrats urged the president to use the U.S. leverage for an immediate and significant shift of military strategy and tactics in Gaza.

Contempt for Netanyahu threatens Bidens 2024 hopes

Source: Semafors Global Security Editor Jay Solomon

Bidens continued support for Israels war against Hamas has emerged not only as his defining foreign policy initiative, but also as one of his biggest political threats ahead of the 2024 election, said Semafors Global Security Editor Jay Solomon. The presidents advisors are working towards finding a formula that lets Israel achieve its most pressing military aims without undermining Bidens reelection chances, Solomon said. But the White Houses efforts to separate Netanyahu from the policy debate to lessen political opposition inside the U.S. is a challenge, given that Israels military campaign is planned by a war cabinet that includes Netanyahu as well as his political opponents.

As Israels Gaza offensive enters a less kinetic phase with small-scale attacks that reduce the civilian death toll, the Biden administration hopes it can shift to developing post-war leadership in Gaza and engage in regional talks to build an independent Palestinian state. This transition could open the way for the next elections in Israel that spells the end of Netanyahus leadership, well ahead of the U.S. election, Solomon said.
After Donald Trump stormed the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary in January, blowing away his nearest challengers for the Republican presidential nomination, all eyes now turn to Nevada.

The race to be the GOPs candidate is now a two-way chase following the exits of Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy, Asa Hutchinson and Ron DeSantis, leaving Nikki Haley the only survivor.

She has it all to do if she is to weaken Mr Trumps stranglehold over their party after a strong showing in the Granite State that nevertheless left her a distant second.

Ms Haley and Mr Trump next find themselves heading west and thrust into one of the most bizarre electoral systems in the 50 states, where two competing nominating contests are being held.

Because why choose between a primary and a caucus when you could just have both and confuse everybody?

Heres a quick guide for the baffled.

Whats happening?

Whereas Iowa operates a traditional caucus system for choosing its presidential candidates and delegates, requiring voters to show up in person to party meetings at which they signal their preferences, New Hampshire opts for the more modern primary model in which voters cast ballots much as they do in a November presidential election.

This year, Nevada is playing with fire by staging both state-run Republican and Democratic primaries and a separate party-run GOP caucus, effectively giving registered conservative voters two opportunities to pick their preferred candidates for the Republican nomination.

The state-run primaries are scheduled for Tuesday 6 February while the Nevada Republican Partys caucus will follow two days later on Thursday 8 February.

Significantly, the caucus requires entrants to pay a $55,000 fee to participate (or $35,000 if they have agreed to take part in a Nevada Republican Party fundraiser).

That issue has divided the candidates seeking the GOP nomination into two pools.

As it stands, the primary will be contested between Ms Haley and three lesser-known candidates  John Anthony Castro, Heath V Fulkerson and Donald Kjornes  and will surely result in an easy win for the former UN ambassador.

Mike Pence and Tim Scott were previously scheduled to take part but have since suspended their campaigns, although their names will still appear on ballot papers.

The caucus will meanwhile be fought out between front-runner Mr Trump and Texas pastor Ryan Binkley, after Florida governor Mr DeSantis ended his campaign on the Sunday prior to New Hampshire.

The other crucial distinction between the two events is that only the winner of the caucus will wrap up Nevadas 26 delegates, so the victor in the earlier contest will have only a symbolic triumph as a reward for their troubles.

The caucus is therefore the only one of the two competitions that will have a meaningful bearing on the hunt for the GOP nominee for president.

What has brought this madness to pass?

A bipartisan bill passed by Nevadas state legislature in 2021 stipulated that the state must hold political primaries if more than one candidate is in contention for a given race, doing away with the old party-run caucus system the Silver State has traditionally employed.

While the Nevada Democratic Party has cheerily accepted that and both Joe Biden and challenger Marianne Williamson have filed the necessary paperwork to take part in its primary, the Nevada Republican Party is insisting on carrying on with its preferred caucus in addition to staging the now-mandatory primary.

The party did try to have the primary requirement dismissed in court last May and was thwarted, although it did succeed in ensuring that the award of delegates to the winning candidate would only take place as part of the caucus contest, thereby rendering the primary a somewhat empty formality.

What does it mean for the candidates?

The merits of the two formats have been hotly debated in recent months, with some conservatives insisting a caucus is more transparent and therefore less vulnerable to fraud and Mr Trumps camp in favour of it because it plays to the strengths of the extensive organisational network he has established in Nevada.

While you might think that the lack of delegates would deter major candidates from participating in the primary, Ms Haley, Mr Pence and Mr Scott did all agree to take part, if only to save themselves the hefty caucus entrance fee.

Speaking to ABC News, the Nevada Republican Party chairman Jim DeGraffenreid said recently of Ms Haley: I felt like she was still planning to be competitive. Of the three of them, I think I was most surprised that she chose to forego delegates here.

It remains to be seen how voters will react to that. Anybody that understands the process understands that delegates is the goal of every primary or caucus in the nation, so I certainly am perplexed as to why any serious candidate would file for a contest that doesnt allow them any delegates.

Ms Haleys decision not to pay up and enter the caucus suggests she may not have much confidence that she can out-do Mr Trump in this first-in-the-West contest but being able to say she has won the states Republican primary might deliver a timely messaging boost when she needs it most, even if it does not yield delegates.
A newly released 911 call has revealed that an aide seeking an ambulance for the US defence secretary Lloyd Austin on 1 January asked the dispatcher to have first responders discreetly arrive on the scene.

Can the ambulance not show up with lights and sirens? Were trying to remain a little subtle, said the caller, whose identity was redacted, according to an audio recording obtained by The Daily Beast.

The dispatcher responded by saying the ambulance, which arrived at Mr Austins home, could do that, noting that usually when they turn into a residential neighborhood, theyll turn them off.

She added that the ambulance is required by law to run the sirens and lights on main streets.

The partially redacted recording also revealed that Mr Austin was not experiencing chest pain at the time, but he did feel like he was going to pass out. The caller also said Mr Austin was alert and hadnt vomited blood or had blood in his stool.

Mr Austin was hospitalised on New Years Day with complications resulting from prostate cancer treatment after undergoing a procedure to treat his prostate cancer on 22 December.

Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, was hospitalised on New Years Day (Copyright 2023 the Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

He was subsequently transferred to intensive care on 2 January.

The defence secretary was heavily criticised after it was revealed that neither President Joe Biden nor Mr Austins deputy secretary, Kathleen Hicks, knew about the surgery or subsequent intensive care admission until 4 January. Mr Austin also kept his cancer diagnosis a secret from Mr Biden and senior officials until 9 January.

Mr Austin, who lives in Virginia, later apologised for keeping his surgery a secret, saying he takes full responsibility and that he could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed.

I commit to doing better, he added.

He was released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in Maryland on Monday and said he will continue to work from home as he recuperates.

Ms Hicks took on some of Mr Austins duties after he transferred decision-making power to her during the initial surgery and a portion of his hospital stay to treat the complications, according to the Associated Press.

However, Mr Austin did orchestrate and then monitor the nations retaliatory attack on Yemen-based Houthi militants on Thursday from the hospital, Pentagon officials revealed last week.

Officials from the White House and Pentagon said they have initiated a review of Mr Austins lack of disclosure as well as future procedures for notifying senior officials in the event of an absence that could require the transfer of decision-making capabilities.

Mr Biden called Mr Austins failure to disclose a lapse in judgement, but said he still had confidence in the top defence official.

Former president Donald Trump called for Mr Austin to be fired immediately last week for going missing for one week of work.
Newsmax host Eric Bolling and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) clashed on-air Tuesday over the governors support of GOP presidential primary candidate Nikki Haley.

In the interview, Bolling asked Sununu if he had changed his mind on his support for the former United Nations ambassador, to which Sununu replied that he hadnt.

Look, Nikki Haleys within single digits of beating Donald Trump and kinda hitting a reset button for the entire process, Sununu said in the interview, highlighted by Mediaite. That happens here in New Hampshire. We dont look backwards; we always go forward. Shes galvanizing support from Trump supporters, from DeSantis supporters, everyones getting on board. So the momentum is very, very real here in New Hampshire.

Bolling responded by saying Haley got smoked in Mondays Iowa caucuses, which she placed third in, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ.

She never had any expectations of winning the Iowa caucus, Sununu said. Everyone knew Trump was gonna run away with that.

Sununu then tried to highlight the differences between the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary and Haleys campaign strategy in New Hampshire. Bolling then brought up the differences between the Republican party before former President Trumps leadership versus after.

You old-school, establishment Republicans, [former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie], you, friends of mine, Christies a friend of mine, Nikki Haley, your times passed, Bolling said. You wanna go look forward? Look what Trump is doing; hes garnering groups that never  Republicans never won before.

Sununu then responded by noting his partys election struggles under Trumps leadership in recent years, saying he is tired of losers.

The conversation began to devolve shortly after, as Bolling and Sununu began talking over each other, with Sununu at one point saying the Newsmax anchor sounded foolish when talking about Haleys chances in the race.

I was around doing politics when you were in grammar school, Bolling said in his response to the New Hampshire governor.

Haley is currently 9.1 points behind Trump in Decision Desk HQ/The Hills New Hampshire Republican primary polling average, 43.1 percent to at 34 percent.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In high school, Alice Wade spent a year planning how they would come out as transgender. And to be safe, they planned what to do if it went poorly.

When I was 15, I made plans for what I would do, and which friends house I would go to, and how I would work to make enough money to live on my own if I had to become homeless, Wade told New Hampshire lawmakers earlier this month.

Wade wanted to do it on their own terms. The process was gradual: first, Wade told their close friends, then a teacher, then their mom. Finally, they felt they could tell their dad. That was crucial, Wade said.

While it wasnt perfect, if my parents had found out before I was ready to tell them, I dont know if Id be alive here to give you my testimony, Wade testified.

New Hampshire Senate Bill 341 would require any school staff member to answer any written requests sent by parents for information about their children within 10 days of receiving the request.

The experience of coming out in high school  and the choice of when to inform parents  is once again at the center of a legislative fight. State Senate Republicans are pushing for a bill this year that would require schools to disclose information to parents who ask for it, echoing efforts in the past two years that have fallen short. LGBTQ rights groups have said the bill could out a students sexual orientation or gender identity to their parents before they are ready to tell them.

Senate Bill 341 would require any school staff member to answer any written requests sent by parents for information about their children within 10 days of receiving the request.

School employees who feel that responding to such a request would put that student at risk of endangerment of physical harm, abuse, or neglect must file a report to the Division for Children, Youth, and Families within 48 hours, the bill states.

The bill adds that any violation of the requirement to provide the information must be referred to the school board to determine disciplinary action, which can include termination. Under the bill, if a parent isnt satisfied with the school boards chosen disciplinary action, they can appeal the decision to the state board of education, which could make its own final call to terminate the staff person.

Sen. Tim Lang, the Sanbornton Republican sponsoring the bill, likened it to the states right-to-know law, RSA 91-A. That law requires public officials to produce documents and information when requested by a member of the public, with exceptions for confidentiality.

This bill extends that to the school setting, Lang said during a press conference held by Senate Republicans this month.

The school is obligated to respond in an honest and complete answer, and not hide any information from the parent, he said.

During a Jan. 3 hearing, some members of the public agreed. Bridgewaters Aubrey Freedman, who is gay, doesnt support pronoun changes in school.

Its all about honesty, said Freedman. Nobodys outing anybody, (but) if the parents want to ask the school personnel a question, they should be honest. I dont think thats a big deal.

But advocates and young trans people countered that they believed the bill would result in children being outed, and would complicate the trust that teachers are trying to build with students.

Megan Tuttle, president of the National Education Association of New Hampshire, a teachers union, argued that parents and educators already work well together, and that the bill would fracture that relationship.

Tuttle said the bills disclosure requirements would override the chain of command within schools, and could interfere with collective bargaining agreements. And she cited a recent report by a legislative committee studying the teacher shortage that found that a climate of culture and fear has helped drive educators from the profession.

We believe Senate Bill 341 would only be an extension of the sort of legislation that the committee found was driving current and prospective educators away from the profession, she said.

Barrett Christina, executive director of the New Hampshire School Boards Association, took issue with the appeals process to the state Board of Education, whose members are appointed by the governor and Executive Council, calling them unelected bureaucrats.

Sara Smith, a retired teacher, also opposed the bill. I fundamentally believe in honesty, and if anybody asked me to lie I wouldnt, she said.

But Smith said as a teacher, her fundamental purpose was to teach children to think for themselves. Part of that effort involved building a scaffolding and a foundation of trust among students that the teacher would be there for them.

Teachers often have an open door for students to discuss personal issues, Smith said, which can help in the discovery of abuse and neglect issues. But once this law is enacted, students can no longer expect their teachers to keep confidential issues they have shared with them, Smith said.

The bill comes on the heels of two major attempts in 2022 and 2023 to pass similar legislation. Each time, the effort was thwarted in the House, which was narrowly dominated by Republicans in the 2021-2022 session and is now nearly evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.

Opponents to the bills have raised concerns that requiring a school to divulge information to parents about a students sexual orientation or gender expression at school could lead to dangerous situations of abuse or neglect if the parents disapprove. Lang said the bill was intended to give an option for school officials to not inform parents and instead file a DCYF report if abuse is likely.

But Chris Erchull, staff attorney at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), said the bill as currently written does not allow school staff the option to stop informing parents, even if they file the DCYF report.

In an interview last week, Lang said he listened to some of the concerns and will be making tweaks to the bill in an upcoming amendment.

Lang plans to add language to make clear that if teachers suspect abuse or harm could result, they do not need to disclose the information to parents, as long as they file a report with DCYF.

And Lang said he would narrow the bill to apply to certified school staff, such as teachers and administrators, and not other staff members like bus drivers or custodians.

I heard what people said, he said. Im adjusting accordingly  the things I think are reasonable requests.

Linds Jakows, an advocate who experienced their own retaliation from their father after being involuntarily outed in high school, said the bill would disrupt a delicate process.

Many LGBTQ young people feel a strong need to come out to peers first, regardless of whether or not their parents are affirming, Jakows said.  This bill doesnt explicitly name situations related to trans or LGBTQ youth like last years bill, but we know the forced outing will be the same.

The bill is likely to spur months of acrimonious testimony and contentious floor votes. To Lang, the bill is simply about strengthening communication.

I think weve lost sight of the fact that when we talk about trusting adults in the school system, the trust is between the parent and the teacher and the parent and the school system, Lang said  And so this bill seeks to make sure that that trust is not eroded.

This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH Republicans revive debate on schools' role in students coming out
(FOX40.COM)  A renaming and dedication for a stretch of Interstate 80 through Roseville is being proposed on the California State Assembly floor in honor of fallen United States Marine Nicole Gee.

Gee, a Roseville native, died at the age of 23 along with 12 other fellow U.S. service members during a bombing at a Kabul, Afghanistan airport on Aug. 26, 2021, when she was assisting in the evacuation of refugees from Afghanistan.

Roseville names roadway Nicole Gee Drive in honor of fallen Marine

Assemblyman Joe Patterson of Rocklin and Senator Roger Niello of Fair Oaks coauthored Assembly Concurrent Resolution 126 that would rename I-80 between Douglas Boulevard and State Route 65 as Nicole Gee Memorial Highway.

I saw the picture of Nicole in the news after the bombing, Patterson said. She was in uniform, holding an Afghan child around the same age as my youngest kid. You could see how much Nicole cared for the safety and well-being of a child she didnt even know. I couldnt shake that image and I knew I had to do something to honor her life.

Sgt. Nicole Gee honored at her former high school

The City of Roseville had their dedication ceremony in August 2023, when they unveiled Nicole Gee Drive in a soon-to-be-developed area of western Roseville.

We hold a special place in our hearts for Nicole, and I pray every time we drive by her memorial sign, we remember the joy she brought to everyone she knew, the light she was to others all around the world, and that we never forget the sacrifice she made for the people of this nation, Patterson said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Nikki Haley feigned ignorance about former President Donald Trumps sex abuse and defamation case and claimed hes innocent even though a jury has already found him liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll.

As the only woman running against Trump ramps up her GOP primary fight, Haley sought to dodge questions about the trial that started in a Manhattan courtroom, with decidedly mixed results.

I havent paid attention to his cases and Im not a lawyer, Haley said in an interview with CNNs Dana Bash. All I know is that hes innocent till proven guilty. ... Youve got investigations into Trump and Biden.

Asked what she thinks about Trumps claims that he is the victim of a partisan witch hunt, Haley agreed that the man she is running against has been unfairly targeted by prosecutors.

Some of the cases have been political. This one, I havent looked at, Haley asserted.

The former U.N. ambassador continued by falsely suggesting that Trump has not yet been found to have sexually assaulted and defamed Carroll.

If hes found guilty he needs to pay the price. If hes not found guilty, we need to move forward, she said.

Contrary to Haleys claims, a jury already found Trump liable and ordered him to pay $5 million to Carroll. A second trial that started Tuesday is focused only on how much more he must pay for continuing to defame Carroll after the verdict.

Trump appeared in court as the trial started in Manhattan just hours after he trounced Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Iowa caucuses, a victory that underlines his strategy to leverage his legal woes to boost his presidential campaign.

He faces four upcoming criminal trials on 91 felony charges as well as a looming decision in a civil fraud trial that could effectively put his real estate empire out of business.

Haley hopes to give Trump a run for his money in next Tuesdays New Hampshire primary, which boasts a more moderate and independent electorate than Iowas.

Haley has been rising in polls for months as she finds strong appeal among Republicans who dislike Trump, even though he remains the overwhelming favorite to win the GOP nomination.

She has stumbled with recent gaffes on the campaign trail, like failing to mention slavery when a voter asked her what caused the Civil War.

_____
The latest poll for New Hampshire shows a seven-point bounce in Nikki Haley's support, taking her level with Donald Trump on 40 per cent each

Nikki Haley has demanded to go head-to-head with Donald Trump as she called off a Republican debate in a crucial primary state.

Ms Haley, who according to one poll is in a dead heat with Mr Trump in New Hampshire, said he had nowhere left to hide after sitting out the previous five debates.

She added that she would only appear at other hustings if the former president was on stage with her.

ABC News was due to host the debate this week but cancelled it after both candidates refused to commit by the 5pm deadline on Tuesday.

Ron DeSantis, the Florida Governor, had previously agreed to take part and accused his rivals of snubbing New Hampshire voters.

Ms Haley, whose ratings have surged since the Republican debates began in August, said: Weve had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them.

He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it.

Mr Trump has refused to take part in any of the debates, citing his substantial lead in national opinion polls and status as a former president. The strategy has largely put him above the fray as rivals launch damaging attacks on each other.

Ms Haley, who finished third in Mondays Iowa caucuses, has concentrated her resources on New Hampshire in the hope of gaining momentum early in the race.

The latest poll showed a seven-point bounce in her support, taking her level with Mr Trump on 40 per cent each.

Mr DeSantis, who is polling in the low single digits in the state, claimed Ms Haley was more interested in self-advancement than becoming the Republican presidential candidate.

The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, shes running to be Trumps VP, the Florida governor wrote on social media. I wont snub New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and plan to honour my commitments.

Members of the Trump campaign, including his son Donald Jnr, have previously poured scorn on the idea that Mr Trump would select the former UN ambassador as a running mate.

ABC News confirmed the debate had been called off soon after the deadline expired on Tuesday.

Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race, a spokesman said.

Mr Trump won a landslide victory in Iowa this week, winning more votes than all of his rivals combined. He took 98 of the states 99 counties, losing the outlier by a single vote.

Mr DeSantis managed to see off a late surge from Ms Haley and nudged her into a close third. However, his momentum could stall as he lags behind the former UN ambassador in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

In a speech after the Iowa caucuses, Ms Haley declared that the contest was now a two-person race  a swipe at Mr DeSantis as well as a challenge to Mr Trump.

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Nikki Haley spoke in front of a crowd of voters at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire Jan. 16. 2024.

Bretton Woods, N.H.  A snowstorm threatened to knock Nikki Haley off the campaign trail once again on Tuesday. But with the pressure mounting to beat former President Donald Trump in next week's presidential primary, Haley pressed ahead, campaigning at a luxury resort in northern New Hampshire.

Haley joked about the blizzard, which blanketed the area with more than 3 inches of snow, as she began her remarks. A crowd of roughly 150 people had gathered in a ballroom, some driving more than an hour and a half to see the Republican politician deliver her first speech in New Hampshire since she came in third in the Iowa Caucus.

They came out in the snow, I love that! Haley said as she walked in.

Haley is on a tour of the state that will have her making a repeat visit to an American Legion in Rochester on Wednesday evening where she conducted a town hall earlier in the campaign.

The former South Carolina governor gave a shortened version of her stump speech in Bretton Woods amid hazardous driving conditions that led a group backing Ron DeSantis to cancel an event featuring the Florida governor the next morning in nearby Jackson.

Campaigning alongside New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a major booster of her campaign, Haley said that after spending the last few days in Iowa, where there was a negative wind chill, "I will never say that again.

I know that y'all were waiting on the snow, and the snow is beautiful. It looks great. But I know it wasn't necessarily easy for you to get here, so thank you for taking the time to care and to come out," Haley said.

Presidential candidate Nikki Haley holds a town hall event at the Omni Mt. Washington Hotel & Resort in Bretton Woods Jan. 16, 2024.

Haley's delivery of a well-worn campaign line that chaos follows Trump wherever he goes prompted loud applause from attendees of the event, which was held in a county the former president won during the contested 2016 battle for the Republican nomination.

The argument resonated with Karla Allen, a licensed forester and a resident of Center Ossipee. She came into the event undecided and left carrying a Haley yard sign.

"I really like Trump," Allen, 48, said.

But she said that she agrees with Haley that Trump's legal problems are too much of a distraction.

"Obviously he did somewhat of a decent job that she voted for him twice," Mike Eldridge, who attended the event with Allen, said of Haley, a former Trump administration official. "I voted for him twice. But unfortunately I feel like they're just going to continue to fight him."

Haley is appealing to disaffected Republicans and independents who can cast a ballot in either party's primary in the state of New Hampshire. She is also drawing support from Democrats, some of whom switched their party registration to support her in the Jan. 23 primary.

Chris Donahue, 56, of Holderness, a Democrat who said he drove an hour from his home in southern New Hampshire so he could get better educated" on Haley's views, even though he is ineligible to vote for her.

Im just not real happy with how things are going. And Im not afraid to say that I dont think a woman leader would be a bad thing right now. Because us men cant get it done."

If the general election were between Haley and President Joe Biden, Holderness said he would vote for Haley and that he regrets not dropping his party registration to be able to vote in the upcoming Republican presidential primary.

Haley for her part told New Hampshire residents who can vote for her next week that a blizzard like the one that depressed turnout in Iowa isn't awaiting them.

"The weather's going to be nice on Tuesday. Chris already checked," Haley said as she encouraged event attendees to vote.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Whiteout snow conditions didn't stop these New Hampshire voters from seeing Nikki Haley
North Korea's transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukrainian civilians crosses a red line, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Jan. 17.

Read also: North Korean FM to visit Russia at Lavrovs invitation

In addition to ballistic missiles, Pyongyang has provided Moscow with more than a million artillery shells, the Ukrainian leader added.

"This is about war," said Zelenskyy.

Artillery is about war on the battlefield. But there was another step. These are red lines. Because these are missiles.

The president stated that Russia had attacked Ukrainian civilians with North Korean-supplied missiles.

"We had a North Korean missile flying at civilians," he continued.

And civilians died. It was not on the battlefield, not at the front. It was directed against civilians.

Read also: Despite evidence to the contrary, North Korea insists ballistic missile transfer to RU baseless

White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said during a briefing on Jan. 4 that Russia was using North Korean ballistic missiles in Ukraine. The missiles were reportedly launched at Ukraine on Dec. 30, 2023, and Jan. 2. During the first attack, a North Korean missile landed in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, and on Jan. 2, Russia fired several such missiles, Kirby said.

Read also: Despite evidence to the contrary, North Korea insists ballistic missile transfer to RU baseless

South Korea's permanent representative to the UN, Hwang Joon-kook, said on Jan. 10 that North Korea is using Ukraine as a test site for ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

The United States later imposed sanctions on three Russian entities and one individual involved in the transfer and testing of ballistic missiles imported from North Korea.

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
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WFLA)  Deputies arrested a North Port man after he allegedly used someone elses phone to call in a bomb threat at a Walmart, according to a release.

The Charlotte County Sheriffs Office said at about 3 p.m. on Jan. 12, deputies responded to a threat toward the Walmart on Tamiami Trial in Port Charlotte over a 911 call.

Deputies said dispatch got a call from Coty J. Clements, 28, of North Port called 911 and warned that there was a bomb in the supermarket.

When dispatch called him back, the suspect allegedly picked up and said Tic Toc, Tic Toc before hanging up, according to a release.

The sheriffs office eventually got in contact with the person who actually owned the phone, who said he accidentally left the cell phone in the Walmarts bathroom. The owner said he noticed 911 was calling him on his Bluetooth watch, so he pinged the phone to find it.

After reviewing security video, deputies said they saw Clements in the bathroom at the time of the 911 call. He was found after coming back to the store, and during his questioning, the suspect admitted to making the call, saying he saw a trend on Tiktok of people doing the same thing.

Threats of any kind will not be tolerated in Charlotte County, and for this individual, I believe he learned that lesson promptly, Sheriff Bill Prummell said. Thankfully there was no actual threat to the public, but I want to commend the quick responses of my dispatchers as well as the deputies in ensuring the safety of the scene and in locating this suspect.

Clements was charged with false report about planting bomb or weapon of mass destruction.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
PARIS  Norways break with decades-old restrictions on arms export this year was driven by the possibility that Ukraine may be facing a long war with Russia, according to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry.

The Norwegian government allowed its defense industry to sell directly to Ukraine as of Jan. 1, creating an exemption to a ban from 1959 on arms and ammunition sales to areas at war. Companies must still apply for export licenses for direct sales of weapons to Ukraine.

Taken into consideration that the war could be going on for a long time, the Norwegian government believes it is important to give the Ukrainian authorities the possibility to purchase the weapons and the ammunition that they need the most, in addition to the donations that they receive, Foreign Affairs State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson said in an emailed reply to questions.

The war in Ukraine has caused attitudes to arms exports to shift across NATO countries and allies, including Germany becoming a prolific exporter of weapons to an active conflict zone, and Japan relaxing strict export regulations for defense equipment in December. Now the likes of Norway are preparing for the long haul.

Some Western European countries are still holdouts, with Switzerlands lower house of parliament last year repeatedly voted against a change in the rules that would allow re-exports of Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine, in opposition to the countrys upper house.

Supporting Ukraine is important for Norwegian and European security, and we must plan for the possibility that the illegal war of aggression may be prolonged, Petersson said.

The policy exemption was driven by the Norwegian government, according to the state secretary, who declined to say which companies are expected to benefit from the new rule. The change will make it easier for Ukrainian authorities to buy what they need directly from Norways defense industry, he said. Export licenses will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Norwegian defense company Kongsberg together with Raytheon developed the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, better known as NASAMS, of which several have been donated to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Finland expects to rely on production sites of Norwegian-Finnish ammunition producer Nammo to ramp up production of artillery shells, according to the countrys Defence Ministry.

Norway last year allocated 75 billion kroner ($7.1 billion) in support for Ukraine over five years as part of the so-called Nansen program. The country has set aside 15 billion kroner for 2024, of which half for military support.

There is room for flexibility in the distribution of funds within each budget year based on Ukraines needs, Petersson said. It is therefore too early to say how the distribution between civilian and military support will end up in 2024, and what the total amount will be.
Internal turmoil that plagued the National Rifle Association five years ago resurfaced Tuesday during testimony at a civil corruption trial in New York, when the gun rights group's former chief financial officer was asked about a contract agreement for then-NRA president Oliver North.

Wilson "Woody" Phillips, the chief steward of the NRA's finances from 1993 to 2018, said during his second day of testimony that he was aware that North in 2018 was entering into a contract with Ackerman McQueen, the group's longtime advertising firm. And while the firm then sought reimbursement from the NRA for paying North more than $1 million a year, Phillips testified that he didn't bring the contract to the attention of the nonprofit group's audit committee.

The contract, which involved North working as a host for an NRATV web series, was notable because the position of NRA president is typically unpaid and considered ceremonial.

North, a retired U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel who was at the center of the Reagan-era Iran-Contra scandal, would step down as president in April 2019, less than a year after accepting the job. His departure from the organization came amid reports that he was battling with Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's chief executive officer, over alleged financial impropriety with the organization's spending and that he threatened to leak damaging information about LaPierre if he did not resign as CEO.

North was once the co-host of the now-canceled MSNBC political talk show Equal Time from 1999 to 2000. MSNBC is owned by NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News.

LaPierre would appear to have won the feud with North by maintaining his power, but in the wake, scrutiny grew as New York Attorney General Letitia James brought a lawsuit in 2020 alleging LaPierre, Phillips and two other NRA executives violated nonprofit laws and misused millions of dollars of NRA funds for their personal benefit. John Frazer, the NRA's corporate secretary and general counsel, is another defendant in the civil trial.

Just days before the trial opened on Jan. 8, a fourth defendant  Joshua Powell, a former chief of staff and executive director of general operations  agreed to settle with James' office and pay $100,000 in restitution to the NRA. He is still expected to testify.

Before the trial began, LaPierre, 74, announced he would resign at the end of this month from the group he has helmed for more than three decades.

He is accused of diverting millions of dollars away from the NRA to spend on "lavish perks" for himself, including personal use of private jets, expensive meals, travel consultants, private security and trips to the Bahamas for him and his family.

The New York Attorney General's Office contends that Phillips engaged in practices that violated NRA policies and failed to assert his fiduciary duty and question conflicts of interest involving various vendors and NRA executives, including himself.

None of the defendants have been criminally charged as part of James' lawsuit. The NRA has operated as a nonprofit charitable corporation in New York since 1871, and James is seeking financial penalties from the defendants and to bar them from leading any nonprofit group conducting business in New York. James initially sought to have the NRA completely dissolved, but a judge disagreed.

Phillips, 75, had faced repeated lines of questioning from a lawyer with the attorney general's office over his actions as CFO and treasurer under the direction of LaPierre.

On Tuesday, he was asked about a $70,000 check that the NRA sent in May 2018 to an entity that was reportedly set up by an Ackerman McQueen lawyer to help LaPierre buy a $6 million mansion in Dallas. The deal did not move forward, but the check became part of the attorney general office's probe into the NRA's tangled finances, The Wall Street Journal first reported in 2019.

Phillips also noted that he had done annual audits with Ackerman McQueen, but the firm held those records and they were not kept at the NRA headquarters in Virginia because they contained sensitive information that not all employees were privy to.

"You didn't want them to see things that might make headlines," an AG office's lawyer asked.

"That is correct," Phillips responded.

In testimony last week, Phillips said the NRA reimbursed him for his commutes between Dallas, where he had moved to, and Virginia and for hotels for three years, and that he did not tell the NRA's compensation committee about those expenses.

A lawyer with the attorney general's office also questioned Phillips about contracts awarded to a former girlfriend that he had not disclosed.

On Tuesday afternoon, Phillips faced cross-examination from lawyers for the other defendants as well as his own. He agreed with his lawyer that he trusted outside auditors to help review the group's finances and that "if you see something, you say something."

Cross-examination was expected to resume on Wednesday.

Amid the fallout from the NRA's faltering financial picture, the group's membership has fallen in recent years and leaders have pulled back on spending on longtime programs to improve its budget deficits.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY)  Christopher Newport University (CNU) will cap off a weeklong celebration of Dr. martin Luther Kings legacy with a keynote address from the president of Norfolk State University.

Inspired by Kings book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos of Community, Dr. Javaune Adams-Gastons will explore what is required to build a new future for humanity.

In the book, King predicted the civil rights movement would not be smooth.

There will still be rocky places of frustration and meandering points of bewilderment, King said There will be inevitable setbacks here and there. And there will be those moments when the buoyancy of hope will be transformed into the fatigue of despair. Our dreams will sometimes be shattered and our ethereal hopes blasted.

The event takes place Thursday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. on CNUs campus in the David Student Union Ballroom.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
A registered nurse used pain medicine meant for patients and replaced the missing drugs with saline at a Massachusetts rehabilitation center, federal prosecutors said.

She removed liquid oxycodone from syringes, then refilled the syringes with saline and returned them to medication carts shared by other nurses at the facility in Dedham from February 2020 through May 2020, according to court documents.

Its possible patients were given saline instead of the narcotic as a result, prosecutors said.

Although the nurse didnt administer the diluted medication to patients, other nurses might have unknowingly done so, according to the womans plea agreement.

The woman, 44, of Dedham, has pleaded guilty in Boston federal court to tampering with a consumer product, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts announced in a Jan. 16 news release.

Shes no longer working as a nurse.

McClatchy News contacted Keith S. Halpern, the womans court-appointed defense attorney for comment Jan. 17 and didnt receive an immediate response.

The woman also consumed unused painkillers, including oxycodone pills, at the rehab center during most of her shifts between February 2020 and May 2020, according to her plea agreement.

The centers staff was supposed to dispose of any unused pills, but the woman used them instead, the plea agreement says.

Oxycodone, a schedule II narcotic, is a powerful opioid approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for pain management, according to the National Library of Medicine. The medications use can lead to physical dependence and addiction.

When the FDAs Forensic Chemistry Center tested 44 syringes on medication carts used by the woman at the rehab center, results revealed 40 were diluted, according to the womans plea agreement.

These syringes had between 2% and 33% of the liquid oxycodone that was supposed to be inside, the plea agreement says.

A sentencing hearing for the woman is set for April 4, prosecutors said.

The charge of tampering with a consumer product carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine, according to prosecutors.

Dedham is about 15 miles southwest of Boston.

What to know about US opioid crisis

Overdoses are a leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2021, there were more than 51,000 overdose deaths in the country, according to CDC data. In the past 21 years, drug overdoses have killed more than 932,000 people, the CDC reported.

The majority of overdose deaths involve opioids. Deaths involving synthetic opioids (largely illicitly made fentanyl) and stimulants (such as cocaine and methamphetamine) have increased in recent years, the CDC said. For every drug overdose that results in death, there are many more nonfatal overdoses, each one with its own emotional and economic toll.

Millions of people in the U.S. have an opioid addiction, according to the CDC. Addiction is a chronic and relapsing disease that can affect anyone.

Nurse stole painkillers meant for patients, replacing them with saline, Texas cops say

Nurse stole drugs meant for hospital patients over 400 times in 5 months, feds say

Florida doctor accepted $160K in bribes to prescribe unnecessary fentanyl, feds say

Patients endure excruciating surgeries after nurse swaps meds with saline, suit says
Investing in China to bring huge returns, better future: Chinese premier

Xinhua) 09:28, January 17, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends a luncheon hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and exchanges views with heads of multinational companies during the WEF Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Investing in China will bring huge returns and a better future, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Tuesday at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024.

Li made the remarks while attending a luncheon hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, and exchanging views with heads of multinational companies.

Multinational companies have been participants, witnesses, and beneficiaries of China's reform and opening up, Li said, adding that the long-term positive trend of China's economy will not change, and will provide more development opportunities for enterprises of all countries.

Under the current circumstances, Li pointed out that fragmented battles will only make it more difficult for the world economy to recover, stressing that China opposes all forms of camp division and confrontation, and will open its door wider to the outside world.

China welcomes foreign enterprises to invest and do business in the country, stands ready to seriously study and solve the difficulties and problems encountered by foreign-funded enterprises operating in China, ensures national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises, and creates a stable, fair, and predictable business environment, Li noted.

Li said that he hopes everyone will continue to make good use of the opportunities brought by China's development and achieve better and greater development in China.

Leaders of 14 multinational companies, including Walmart, JPMorgan Chase, Intel, BASF, Volkswagen, and Siemens, attended the luncheon. They said that over the years, their investments in the Chinese market have achieved tremendous success, and they are full of confidence in China's economic development, and are willing to deepen cooperation with China, persist in developing in China, and contribute to China's development.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends a luncheon hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and exchanges views with heads of multinational companies during the WEF Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Former One Direction star Zayn Malik is going back to his roots with a new song released in Urdu, and his brown fans are loving it.

Malik, who is half-Pakistani, collaborated with the Karachi-based pop band Aur to record new vocals on its single Tu Hai Kahan. Maliks familiar voice and the romantic melody brought former One Direction fans back to his days with the group, they said online, but for South Asian fans, it was a particularly special listen.

hearing zayn sing in urdu in tu hai kahanlike ive heard him sing in urdu before but it just does something to my heart every time seeing him come back to his pakistani roots, one person tweeted.

His 2016 album, "Mind of Mine," also featured an intermission recorded in Urdu called fLoWer. Fans said they hope this new collaboration inspires him to make an album entirely in Urdu.

So significant for so many young British Asians, another X user wrote about Tu Hai Kahan. Beautiful song in urdu. Zayn Malik has inspired many youngsters to be proud of who they are and celebrate their culture and background instead of hiding away.

South Asians around the world say its reached them, too.

As a first generation Pakistani American, thank you, one person commented on the YouTube video, which has over 5 million views. Proud to be Pakistani, proud to have Indian roots. I love you all.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A man was shot while sitting in his car at a residence near SE 104th Street and S Harrah Road on Tuesday night.

Shooting near SE 104th Street and S Harrah Road. Photo courtesy KFOR.

According to Oklahoma City Police, family members inside heard a gunshot and the victim says he saw a truck leaving the driveway, but doesnt know who shot him.

The victim is said to be up and talking, but police are unsure where he was shot.

OKCPD does not have any suspect information available at this time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
One person was killed and seven others injured in a Mi-8 military helicopter crash near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Jan. 17, the Russian propaganda agency Interfax reported, citing Kyrgyz air traffic control.

The incident occurred at the Frunze-1 air base during a training flight at about 11 a.m. local time. The fate of the crew is currently unknown.

Read also: Putin leaves hiding to meet Kyrgyzstan President in Bishkek in first foreign trip since ICC arrest warrant

Citing U.S. officials, the Washington Post reported that the Biden Administration is preparing new economic restrictions intended to pressure Kyrgyzstan into halting trade that helps Russia evade Western sanctions.

Kyrgyzstan has sharply increased its imports of goods from around the world, as well as exports to Russia, over the past year and a half. Some categories of goods have increased tenfold. Some goods, such as rifle scopes, had previously not been exported to Russia at all.

Read also: Fierce fighting breaks out between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Records show that Kyrgyzstan's total exports to Russia skyrocketed by 250% in 2022.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Bloomberg reported that Apple could lose dozens of employees in the relocation offer. Andy Wong, STF / Associated Press

More than 100 Apple employees could be packing their bags for Austin in a major cut of the San Diego-based AI unit, Bloomberg reported Saturday.

Apple informed the Data Operations Annotations team of 121 people last week that the unit is relocating to Austin, according to Bloomberg.

The team, which works on Apple's AI assistant Siri, was expecting a relocation but not as far as Texas, they told Bloomberg.

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Apple previously told staff the company planned to move to another San Diego office at the end of January and had given employees boxes to pack.

The relocation is an effort to unite the AI program in Austin, where most employees are already based, an Apple spokesperson said.

Bloomberg sources said that most of the affected staff do not want to move to Austin, but those who decide against relocating or taking a different job within the company will be let go on April 26.

Everyone currently employed will have the opportunity to continue their role with Apple in Austin, the spokesperson said.

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Those who head to the Lone Star State by June will be offered a relocation stipend of $7,000.
On Tuesday night, the United States Senate tabled a resolution that would have required the State Department to report to Congress on Israeli human rights violations committed in Gaza involving the use of U.S. arms and equipment.

Only 11 senators voted in favor of the resolution: nine Democrats [Sens. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.)], one Republican [Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)], and one Independent [Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)].

72 senators voted against advancing the resolution.

The United States is complicit in the nightmare that millions of Palestinians are now experiencing, Sanders, who introduced the resolution, said in a floor speech before the vote.

It shouldnt be controversial for Congress to ask for information on how U.S. arms are being used in Israels military campaign in Palestine, he added in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Sanders made clear that his resolution was not prescriptive, and would not alter aid to Israel in any way, He wrote last week that It simply requests that the State Department report on how our aid is being used.  I hope it is not controversial to ask how U.S. weapons are being used.

Since Hamas Oct. 7 attack against Israel, and the ensuing retaliatory military campaign that has devastated Palestinians, the United States government has remained steadfast in its diplomatic and military support of the Israeli government  in spite of growing domestic and international pressure to intervene in the worsening humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

In an interview with the Associated Press ahead of the vote, Sanders clarified that Israel has the absolute right to defend itself from Hamas barbaric terrorist attack on October 7, no question about that, but what Israel does not have a right to do  using military assistance from the United States  does not have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people  in my view, thats what has been happening.

Earlier this month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, began hearing arguments in a case brought by South Africa against Israel. The South African government charged the Israeli state with having committed genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 24,000 have been killed amid a relentless military operation and a blockade of basic humanitarian resources. If successful, South Africas lawsuit could result in a provisional ruling ordering Israel to halt its offensive against the Gaza Strip.

Israel has denied the charges, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced the case against Israel as meritless. According to a report from The Washington Post, however, behind the scenes the U.S. has been warning Israel that the brutal campaign against Gaza is quickly costing them public support, and pressing for efforts to scale down military operations  especially as the conflict threatens to spill over into all-out regional war.

While U.S. lawmakers and officials continue to balk at the notion of holding their longtime ally to the standards of humanitarian conduct they themselves have agreed to, Israels leadership remains committed to exacting punishment on the Palestinian people.

We are continuing the war until the end  until total victory, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote Saturday on X. We will restore security to both the south and the north. Nobody will stop us  not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anybody else.

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Hi there OnPolitics readers! Lets catch up with yesterdays Iowa Caucuses: Former President Donald Trump had a big win. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis survived the night. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley notched a third-place finish. And entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy called it quits.

Trump clinched victory in Iowa on Monday less than an hour after the caucuses started, USA TODAYs David Jackson reported And after the crucial early contest, Ramaswamy announced he was exiting the 2024 race for the White House. He was followed today by former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Here are USA TODAYs top takeaways from the Hawkeye State.

Donald Trump: The former president proved he is still the leader of the Republican Party by doing something he did not do during the 2016 campaign: Win the Iowa caucuses.

Nikki Haley: The former South Carolina governor landed a third-place finish with just under 20% of the vote. Now she turns to New Hampshires primary, where she is polling within striking distance of the frontrunning former president.

Ron DeSantis: The Florida governor spent most of the day swatting away rumors that he would withdraw from the race if he had a poor performance in Iowa. His second-place finish isn't great, but enough to justify moving forward.

Read more here: Blockbuster night for Donald Trump, not so much for Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump, Haley, DeSantis: Catch up with the Iowa Caucuses
Semafor Signals

Insights from Wired, The Wall Street Journal, and The Information

The News

OpenAI is working with the Pentagon on software projects, including ones related to cybersecurity, the company said Tuesday, in a dramatic change from its previous ban on providing its artificial intelligence technology to militaries.

The ChatGPT creator is also in discussions with the U.S. government about developing tools to reduce veteran suicides, Anna Makanju, the companys vice president of global affairs, said at the World Economic Forum  but added that it will retain its ban on developing weapons.

Last week, OpenAI removed language in its usage policy that would ban its AI from being used in military and warfare applications, sparking alarm among AI safety advocates.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Silicon Valley has changed its mind about collaborating with the Pentagon

Sources: Wired, The Wall Street Journal, Semafors Technology Editor Reed Albergotti

Silicon Valley has softened its stance on collaborating with the U.S. military in recent years. In 2018, thousands of Google employees protested a Pentagon project, fearing technology they developed could be used for lethal purposes. That proved to be the high water mark of Silicon Valley opposition to the Department of Defense, with Google since earning hundreds of millions from its defense contracts. The Pentagon has made a concerted effort in recent years to win over Silicon Valley startups in order to develop new weapons technology and integrate advanced tools into the departments operations. U.S.-China tensions and Russias war in Ukraine have also served to dispel many of the qualms entrepreneurs once had about military collaboration. Whats emerged lately is a kind of techno-patriotism in Silicon Valley, wrote Semafors technology editor Reed Albergotti.

AI may remake the military, but could come with profound risks

Sources: Wired, Vox, Foreign Policy

Defense experts have been bullish about the impact AI will have on the military. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, now a prominent defense industry figure, has compared the arrival of AI to the advent of nuclear weapons, Wired reported. Einstein wrote a letter to Roosevelt in the 1930s saying that there is this new technology  nuclear weapons  that could change war, which it clearly did. I would argue that [AI-powered] autonomy and decentralized, distributed systems are that powerful, Schmidt said. But advocacy groups have warned that integrating AI into warfare could come with profound risks given AIs tendency to hallucinate  make up fake information and pass it off as real  which could have far higher stakes if AI-powered systems are integrated into command and control systems. The Arms Control Association has warned that the rush to exploit emerging technologies for military use has accelerated at a much faster pace than efforts to assess the dangers they pose.

OpenAI rules are unclear about scope of possible military deals

Sources: The Information, Euromaidan Press, The Economist

Although OpenAI has ruled out developing weapons, its new policy would likely allow it to provide AI software to the Department of Defense for uses such as helping analysts interpret data or write code, The Information reported. But as the war in Ukraine has shown, the divide between data crunching and warfare may not be as clear-cut as OpenAI would like. Ukraine has developed and imported software to analyze large data, which has allowed its artillery operators to be rapidly notified of Russian targets in the area and dramatically speed up the pace at which they can fire. Meanwhile, The Information warned that the change in policy could be enough to reignite the debate over AI safety at OpenAI that contributed to Sam Altmans brief firing as CEO.
Operation Cyclone was the CIA's most expensive covert military assistance program during the Cold War. Initiated in 1979, the operation lasted until 1989. The aim was simple but strategic  bleed the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, just like the U.S. had been bled in Vietnam.

President Jimmy Carter approved this covert action following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan on December 24, 1979. His National Security Advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, was instrumental in pushing for U.S. involvement. Brzezinski saw the Afghan resistance as a golden opportunity to embroil the Soviets in a quagmire.

Weapons, money and middlemen

When it comes to war, hardware matters. In 1986, the CIA decided it was time to give the mujahideen a real shot at turning the tide against the Soviet military. Enter the FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, a game-changing addition to the resistance's arsenal. These missiles were far from ordinary; they came equipped with infrared homing guidance systems, meaning they could "seek" the heat source of an aircraft and destroy it in the air. Soviet helicopters and low-flying jets, once the uncontested rulers of the Afghan sky, found themselves outmatched. The CIA didn't cut corners when supplying these state-of-the-art missiles. Each cost around $38,000 in the late 1980s, with a range of up to 8,000 meters and a speed of Mach 2.2.

But the CIA wasn't acting alone in this arms bonanza. Saudi Arabia was matching the United States dollar for dollar. The Saudis saw communism as a real threat to the Islamic world. A stable Afghanistan would mean less potential unrest spilling over into their backyard.

Then there's Pakistan, an indispensable cog in this complicated machine. Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the country's powerful intelligence service, acted as the middleman. They took the money and arms from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia and funneled it to the mujahideen. ISI wanted a pro-Pakistan government in Kabul so they backed Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of the Hezb-e Islami faction. Hekmatyar was a hardliner known for his ruthless tactics, Islamist ideology, and staunch anti-Shia stance.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, BBC Persian - Sep 28, 2019. Wikimedia Commons

From high-tech Stinger missiles to intricate financial networks and calculated political maneuvering, Operation Cyclone was anything but simple. It was a carefully orchestrated play, with each country pulling strings in the shadows, each with its endgame in sight.

Charlie Wilson's War

Charlie Wilson , known by the affectionate moniker "Good Time Charlie," was no ordinary congressman. Representing Texas's 2nd congressional district, he was a twelve-term Democrat with a flair for the dramatic and an ability to make headlines. But what set him apart was his passionate involvement in Operation Cyclone. Wilson had access to a unique purse  the CIA's black budget through his seat on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Wilson didn't stop at rubber-stamping budgets. He went on what many termed "fact-finding missions," visiting refugee camps near Peshawar, Pakistan. There, he met with the mujahideen leaders, saw firsthand the devastation caused by Soviet bombings, and listened to tales of valor from injured fighters. These experiences fueled his resolve to channel more funds and advanced weaponry to the Afghan resistance.

Wilson teamed up with Gust Avrakotos, a blunt, no-nonsense CIA operative overseeing the Afghan task force to push his agenda. Together, they lobbied Congress, orchestrated media coverage, and successfully bypassed various bureaucratic hurdles. By the end of the operation, Wilson had managed to boost aid to the mujahideen to an unprecedented level, peaking at around $700 million per year by 1987.

Tom Hanks portrays Charlie Wilson and Philip Seymore Hoffman portrays Gust Avrakotos in the film "Charlie Wilson's War." Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Soviets call it quits

Meanwhile, the Soviets were losing service members and material at an alarming rate. Between 1986 and 1989, their casualties spiked significantly, particularly after the mujahideen received Stinger missiles. Unable to maintain a grip on Afghanistan and facing mounting internal pressures, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev made a pivotal decision. On February 15, 1989, the last Soviet troops crossed the Friendship Bridge back into Uzbekistan. Soviet involvement in Afghanistan had cost them nearly 15,000 lives and a tarnished international reputation.

But this wasn't a neat ending to the Afghan saga. The mujahideen, now well-armed and well-funded , found themselves in a fractured landscape. Different factions vied to control Kabul and other strategic areas, leading to a brutal civil war. The Afghan conflict devolved into a complex tapestry of tribal rivalries and ideological schisms, further complicated by foreign intervention from neighboring countries.

Mujahideen prayer in Shultan Valley Kunar, 1987. Photo: Erwin Lux/Wikimedia Commons

The Soviets' departure created a vacuum filled by competing mujahideen warlords. This chaotic period paved the way for the rise of the Taliban, a radical Islamic movement. By 1996, the Taliban had captured Kabul and imposed a harsh Sharia law. The intricate web of alliances and enmities dating back to the days of Operation Cyclone would later pose new challenges for the United States when it returned to Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

The final fallout

The end of Operation Cyclone led to a power vacuum. The mujahideen didn't disband. They splintered into different groups, eventually giving rise to factions like the Taliban and complicating the Afghan civil war.

The operation left Afghanistan awash in weapons, some of which ended up in the hands of groups that would later become adversaries of the United States, like al-Qaeda. The U.S. had to reckon with these unintended consequences during the invasion of Afghanistan 2001 and in subsequent counterterrorism operations.

The operation's success in driving the Soviets out of Afghanistan is indisputable. But its legacy is complex and tinged with irony. It serves as a lesson in the unpredictable outcomes of covert military interventions.
To make changes in national debt, social security will have to be dealt with. | larryhw - stock.adobe.com

Question: How do you know whether politicians are serious about tackling the national debt?

Answer: They will support reform of the Social Security system.

There is just no way of getting around it. Social Security benefits dwarf all non-defense discretionary program spending put together. There needs to be greater discipline in all government outlays, but we are kidding ourselves if we think that cutting back on food stamps or foreign aid or eliminating particular government agencies will do the job. We must deal with Social Security if we want to pull back our plunge into the debt hole.

How did Social Security get to where we are today, and what needs to be done?

By the end of the 1970s, it was clear that the Social Security program was not going to be able to cope with the upcoming retirement of the baby-boomer generation. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan convened a bipartisan commission to consider all the options and recommend reforms. Its unanimous recommendations resulted in the 1983 passage of a major reform of Social Security. The Social Security trust fund was greatly expanded by increasing the payroll tax 6.2% for both workers and employers. At the same time, the retirement age was gradually increased from 65 to 67, additional workers (including federal civil servants) were brought into the program, and up to 50% of Social Security benefits were taxed (in 1993 this was raised to 85%). None of these were popular measures, but the 1983 reform has proven remarkably successful over the past 40 years and stands as a testament to what can be accomplished with genuine bipartisan cooperation.

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But as resilient as the 1983 reform of Social Security has proven to be, it is soon to run its course.

The biggest challenge to the Social Security program is the aging of American society. While the average worker in the 1930s did not live long enough to receive any Social Security benefits, today the typical worker can expect to collect full retirement benefits for 12 years (retiring at age 67 and dying at the average age of 79). Moreover, the population 65 and older is increasing faster than the working age population (15-64 years old), even with the boost we get from immigration. Just 20 years ago, there were 5.4 workers to pay into Social Security for every one person receiving Social Security benefits. Today, there are only 3.8 workers contributing for each beneficiary.

We need an updated Social Security program for todays reality.

There are a number of ways that the program could be adjusted to continue to function as it has until now. For example:

Raise or eliminate the ceiling on income subject to payroll tax.

Gradually raise the age for eligibility.

Increase the payroll tax rate and/or the tax on benefits.

Reduce the cost-of-living adjustments or benefit levels.

Introduce means testing (limit benefits for those with other large sources of income).

Or, as was the case in 1983, some combination of these and other measures.

Importantly, many of the reform measures would kick in over time, meaning that benefits for current recipients, who structured their retirement under the current program, need not be reduced. Future retirees would have time to restructure their retirement under the updated expectations.

We can do this. Prudent and fair social security reform can be accomplished if, as under Reagan, a committee is formed with all sides participating to put forth the needed recommendations. If politicians are too timid to tackle Social Security reform, current benefit levels could only be maintained by vastly increasing the national debt.

We should laud those who take on Social Security reform, not those who refuse to engage for short-term political advantage.

Robert Griffiths is an adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at Brigham Young University.
WARSAW/ODESA  Western leaders are well aware of the dangers of a Russian victory in Ukraine. When dictators and autocrats are allowed to run roughshod in Europe, U.S. President Joe Biden recently observed, the risk rises that the United States gets pulled in directly, with the consequences reverberat[ing] around the world. Specifically, he noted previously, if Russian President Vladimir Putin attacks a NATO ally, well have something that we dont seek and that we dont have today: American troops fighting Russian troops. Similarly, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg recently warned that If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is real risk that his aggression will not end there.

Let us play Cassandra. The U.S. has failed to deliver the $60 billion in aid it has promised to Ukraine, and the European Union has likewise proved unable to fulfill its 50 billion euros ($54.8 billion) pledge. Because these failures are rooted solely in internal politics, no amount of charisma and persuasion on the part of President Volodymyr Zelensky, or pluck and perseverance on the part of the soldiers fighting under General Valery Zaluzhnyi, can make much difference.

Suppose that aid never materializes. Without sufficient weapons and munitions, Ukraines military would eventually have to capitulate to Russia. As commentator Simon Kuper recently pointed out, Russia has already carried out mass executions, castrations, rapes, torture, and abductions of children in Ukraine, there is good reason to think that such a surrender would not end the violence there. Putins forces  comprising largely ex-convicts and untrained soldiers  may well inflict terrible victors justice as they occupy all of Ukraines territory.

Read also: F-16s for Ukraine: When will they arrive and what can they do?

Russian occupation would not necessarily lead to total occupation and annexation, as was the case for Crimea, and later for partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Putin might choose, instead, to install a puppet regime and claim to have achieved the demilitarized, denazified, and neutral Ukraine he sought all along.

But would Putins revanchist agenda end there? We believe that Putin would then set his sights on NATO countries  beginning with Poland. Frequently targeted in Russian propaganda, Poland is not only a member of both NATO and the EU; Polish voters recently rejected right-wing populism in favor of a strongly pro-Western government. This makes it a prime target for a Russian invasion.

Officially, it might not be Russian soldiers who descend on Poland. Putin has been known to preserve deniability by sending proxy armies and troops without insignia (such as the little green men who seized Crimea in 2014) and flying made-up flags in made-up peoples republics. One should not be surprised if soldiers enter Poland wearing Ukrainian uniforms, carrying Ukrainian passports, and flying Ukrainian flags.

Putin may already be rehearsing for such a scenario. There have been reports of Ukrainian prisoners of war being drafted to fight against the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In a dispatch by RIA-Novosti, one of the 70 POWs fighting in the Khmelnitsky unit, Kirill Spassky, describes the POWs in combat and mentions that there were no Russian barriers standing behind them with their guns ready to prevent them from deserting.

Kremlin propaganda would spin any apparent clash between Ukraine (now a Russian puppet state, like Belarus) and Poland as a result of, say, grain disputes, while highlighting old animosities going back to the 1943 Volyn massacre. With the Kremlin already regularly perpetuating the lie that Poland dreams of taking back western Ukraine, it would be no great leap for it to claim that Ukraine had little choice but to strike first in what was an inevitable conflict. (In Putins own words, he learned in the streets of his hometown of Leningrad that when a fight is inevitable, you have to hit first.)

Read also: Opinion: The secret scars of Ukraines mental health crisis

This narrative might even convince some Ukrainians. After all, this scenario begins with the U.S. breaking its promise to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, and the EU failing to provide anywhere near the one million rounds of artillery ammunition it pledged in March 2023. Ukrainians have shown courage, determination, and patriotism in the fight against Russia, but if Western aid dries up, they will feel utterly betrayed.

A faux-Ukrainian invasion of Poland certainly should trigger Article 5 of the NATO Charter, which states that an armed attack against one or more NATO members shall be considered an attack against them all. But there is reason to believe that NATO might choose not to act. Already, some commentators are laying the groundwork for such a betrayal. Article 5 isnt sacrosanct, Kuper writes.

It would not be the first time Poland was left high and dry by those who had promised to protect it. When Hitler attacked Poland in 1939 and divided it with the Soviet Union, Polands allies, Britain and France, did not intervene. Likewise, both the U.S. and the United Kingdom have shirked their obligation under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum to guarantee Ukraines sovereignty.

So, are we headed toward World War III by proxy? Will Russia manage not only effectively to seize Ukraine, but also to invade Poland (and potentially other countries), without ever having to face NATO head-on? Putin is, after all, a master of deniability. Russians even have a saying for blunt disavowal of responsibility: ja nie ja (I am not me).

Such an outcome is hardly far-fetched, nor is it inevitable. The U.S. and the EU can avert this nightmare scenario by delivering the aid to Ukraine that they have promised. One hopes that recognizing the possible consequences of abandoning Ukraine will provide the wake-up call they need.

Editors Note: Copyright, Project Syndicate. This article was published by Project Syndicate on Jan. 12, 2024, and has been republished by the Kyiv Independent with permission.The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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Editors note: Peter Rutland is professor of government at Wesleyan University and an expert in politics, contemporary nationalism and the economy in Russia. He is a vice president of the Association for the Study of Nationalities, which promotes scholarship in ethnicity, ethnic conflict and nationalism in Europe and Eurasia. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

The war between Israel and Hamas has caused turmoil on American college campuses, leading to the resignation of the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania.

Peter Rutland - Courtesy Olivia Drake

It is unfortunate that instead of having a serious debate about the causes of the war, the issue has been co-opted by partisans on the left and the right to pursue their long-standing conflict over identity politics and cancel culture.

The United States needs a serious and reasoned discussion about how to resolve the conflict in Gaza. The US is a key player: the only one that has any leverage over the government of Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Institutions of higher learning, where students, faculty and staff alike are invested in the mission of academic freedom, should be fertile ground for fostering such robust discourse.

On most American campuses, however, there is no real debate about the war. Instead, we see two parallel sets of conversations, some more civil than others, organized by those who Stand with Israel and those seeking Justice for Palestine.

This bifurcation is understandable, given the trauma experienced by both sides in the conflict and increasingly visible in images and accounts from the region. But it is alarming to see the gulf that separates the two narratives widening among Americans.

While most Americans support Israel, polls show that a majority of young Americans, including many college students, are sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. For them, the Holocaust is ancient history, while they see the harrowing deaths of Palestinians in real time on their social media feeds.

Many college students are taught that American society is the product of settler colonialism  a history of conquest and exploitation. In this simplistic framing, the plight of the Palestinians is just one more example of the familiar evils of settler colonialism. For those who see the conflict through this lens, the founding of Israel is treated as the equivalent of the European colonization of the Americas.

The Gaza war is better understood as a conflict between two competing nationalist projects than as a case of settler colonialism. There are a number of inconvenient historical truths that complicate the settler colonialism narrative.

It is a conflict in which each side  with good reason  sees itself as an embattled and threatened minority. The Palestinians are vastly outmatched by the powerful Israeli security forces, but Israel lives in the shadow of the Holocaust and is outnumbered 50 to one by its Arab neighbors across the wider region.

The Palestinian side starts the historical clock with the 1917 Balfour Declaration, when the British foreign minister promised the Jews a homeland in Palestine. Or they go back to the founding of Israel in 1948 and the nakba, the expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians.

For Jews, history does not begin in 1948, or 1917. Zionism was not a product of the British empire. It was born in Vienna, Vilnius and Lviv. It was a response to the realization that there was no place for Jews, assimilated or not, in the Austrian and Russian empires. The word pogrom comes from Russian and entered the English language in the late 19th century with reports of state-sponsored killing of Jews in the Russian empire. The word genocide was coined during World War II by Raphael Lemkin, a Jew from Galicia, where more than 100,000 Jews were killed in pogroms in 1921.

The founding of Israel should also be seen in the context of state-building and ethnic cleansing throughout the region. Alongside the Palestinians expelled from Israel, there were 900,000 Jews driven from their homes in Arab lands in the mid-20th century. As recently as 1991, 14,000 Ethiopian Jews, fleeing famine, were evacuated to Israel. Egypt and Jordan occupied Gaza and the West Bank, respectively, from 1948 to 1967 and were indifferent to Palestinians rights.

Another problem with the settler colonialism narrative is that it treats each side as a monolithic actor, playing the role of colonizer and victim, respectively. In reality there is a diversity of ideas and interests in both the Israeli and Palestinian camps.

The tragedy of the past 30 years is that moderates on both sides, interested in making a genuine peace, have been repeatedly outflanked by radicals screaming that compromise means betrayal. This process of ethnic outbidding can be seen in many conflicts, from Bosnia to Northern Ireland.

For years, Netanyahu has obstructed efforts to forge a compromise peace with the Palestinians. He actually helped Hamas after the group came to power in Gaza, because that meant the Palestinians were divided and unable to make peace with Israel. However, Israel cannot achieve security through military means alone.

Hamas started the war on October 7 to undermine Israels image in the world and deter other Arab states such as Saudi Arabia from following the example of the 2020 Abraham Accords, in which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan made peace with Israel. The pro-Palestinian left on American campuses seems to oppose Israel making peace with its neighbors on the grounds that it is not connected to the creation of a Palestinian state. I was shocked to hear a Palestinian professor argue in a Zoom lecture that the more civilians that are martyred by Israel, the closer they will be to liberation.

The Hamas strategy seems to be working, with mounting global condemnation of Israels assault on Gaza and a surge in support for Hamas among Palestinians.

Hamas gets support from Iran, Turkey and Qatar. But the moderate Arab countries fear Hamas more than they fear Israel. Thats why the Arab League was unable to come up with a joint statement at its October 21 meeting in Cairo.

None of this is to excuse the mass killing of civilians in Gaza or the occupation regime in the West Bank  a literal case of settler colonialism. But peace will only be possible if we recognize that there are legitimate grievances on both sides. It is not a struggle between right and wrong, between good and evil, though partisans often frame it in those terms.

The United States has a vital role to play. It is the only actor with the ability to force Netanyahu to de-escalate, as it has done repeatedly in past wars fought by Israel. At the same time, it is working with its Arab allies to come up with a solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to coexist in peace.

Students and faculty on American universities should be working together to help forge a solution, and not using the conflict to open a new front in the culture wars and to score points against their political opponents in the US.

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China has tried the velvet glove. China has tried intimidation and coercion. China has tried political warfare. Nothing has worked. Taiwans people keep delivering election results that are anathema to Beijing.

On Saturday, voters in the island democracy elected Lai Ching-te to the presidency. Lai, the current vice president, now leads the Democratic Progressive Party, which emphasizes Taiwanese identity and is skeptical of closer ties with China. The current president, Tsai Ing-wen, also of the DPP, has described Taiwan as an independent country already under the name Republic of China (Taiwan). Lai has vowed to stick to that formulation, which is consistent with the decades-old status quo, though he raised some eyebrows several years ago by referring to himself as a pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence.

Read more: Taiwan's new president-elect is a historic choice  and a cause for more tension with China

Beijing warned last week of the extreme danger of Lai Ching-tes triggering of cross-strait confrontation and conflict. More than 40% of Taiwanese voters shrugged their shoulders and cast their vote for him anyway.

Beijing may take some solace in the fact that Lai won only a plurality of voters. Had Hou Yu-ih and Ko Wen-je, of the Kuomintang and the Taiwan Peoples Party, respectively, formed a unity ticket  as they attempted and failed to do in November  the results may have been different. Both the KMT and the TPP are more amenable to closer ties with China, and the KMT has long been the Chinese Communist Partys main dialogue partner in Taiwan. Beijing would have been content with a victory by either.

But if the opposition had won, strong anti-unification sentiment would still drive Taiwans politics. The last period of cross-strait detente, during the presidency of the KMTs Ma Ying-jeou, ended in 2014 with the Sunflower Movement . A student-led occupation of the legislature sparked the mass protest, which involved hundreds of thousands of marchers opposing passage of a cross-strait trade agreement. The movement put the brakes on tightening ties with China. In the lead up to Saturdays vote, Hou, the KMT candidate, had vowed not to pursue political talks with China.

Read more: Opinion: Why my Taiwanese American identity has become more complicated

Even if Hou wanted to  and Beijing would have ultimately pressured him to do so  thered be little domestic support for the effort. Three decades of public polling show shrinking support in Taiwan for unification and the development of a distinct Taiwanese identity .

Indeed, Chinese President Xi Jinping seems to have concluded some years ago that uncoerced unification was not in the cards. After voters handed the KMT a stunning victory in the 2018 nationwide elections for municipality and county leaders (roughly akin to American midterms in political significance), public approval ratings for Tsai and Lai, who was then the premier, hit a record low. A path seemed to open for the KMT to retake the presidency 14 months later.

Xi blocked that path. Delivering a speech in January 2019 to mark the 40th anniversary of Deng Xiaopings Message to Compatriots in Taiwan, Xi offered more restrictive terms for unification than previous leaders had, eschewing past promises that Taiwan could maintain its military and political institutions. He continued pushing a one-country/two-systems approach to unification  the arrangement under which Hong Kong had maintained political autonomy and personal freedoms  even as his crackdown on Hong Kong mounted.

Tsai deftly cast herself as a defender of freedoms that China was intent on crushing, and she marched to an easy reelection in 2020.

Xis approach to cross-strait relations in recent years, which has featured tough rhetoric, military intimidation, economic coercion and political interference, suggests that advancing unification by winning hearts and minds in Taiwan is of little interest to him, perhaps because he knows that, absent fundamental political change in China (and maybe even then), such cooperation will not be forthcoming.

Read more: Op-Ed: In China, Xi Jinping is getting an unprecedented third term. What should the world expect?

The turnout in Saturdays election  nearly 72%  provides ample evidence of the Taiwanese peoples commitment to their democracy, even if they have different ideas about how to best protect it.

Perhaps not this year, and perhaps not even this decade, a crisis is coming. Not because Taiwan has elected Lai, but because Taiwan has rejected China  and Beijing sees no practical way to change that. What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? The world may find out sooner than anyone would like.

Michael Mazza is a senior director at the Project 2049 Institute and a senior non-resident fellow at the Global Taiwan Institute.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Editors note: Paul Moses is author of The Italian Squad: The True Story of the Immigrant Cops Who Fought the Rise of the Mafia and An Unlikely Union: The Love-Hate Story of New Yorks Irish and Italians, both published by NYU Press. He is a professor emeritus at Brooklyn College. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinions at CNN.

Last month, former President Donald Trump said immigrants arriving in the United States were poisoning the blood of our country  prompting the Biden administration to draw a comparison to Adolf Hitler, who used the phrase blood poisoning in his manifesto, Mein Kampf. But Trumps comments also bring to mind the eugenics movement  and the influence it had on American life in the early 1900s.

Paul Moses - Matt Moses

In researching two books on Italian immigrants  one, on the detectives of the New York Police Departments Italian Squad, and the other on the once-contentious relations between New Yorks Irish and Italian communities  I came to see how powerfully the junk science of eugenics influenced the way society viewed people such as my mothers parents, who were immigrants from southern Italy.

In the process, I found news coverage, as well as the remarks of judges, academics, politicians and other public officials, echoing the racist notion that southern Italians were inherently inferior in the immigration debate in the early 20th century.

This nativist, pseudo-science rhetoric contributed to the failure of many people to see the dignity, decency and determination of impoverished newcomers and focus only on the negatives of mass migration.

Trump, in stoking support for his anti-immigration agenda, has brought that now thoroughly discredited racist thinking to play in the 21st century. In his victory speech after the Iowa caucuses on Monday night, the eugenicist slur that immigrants from some countries were innately inferior reverberated anew in his remarks. He went beyond his standard denunciation that the invasion of millions and millions of people at the southern border is filled with criminals, also claiming that theyre coming from mental institutions and insane asylums. Theyre being emptied out into our country.

In writing the two books mentioned earlier, I found that Italian immigrants, such as the great detective Lt. Joseph Petrosino, who was a pioneer in fighting organized crime, so often tried to explain that the newcomers would in fact make great contributions to American life, if given the chance. It does not take an Italian long to save money and contribute his mite to the Government, Petrosino, head of the police departments Italian Squad, told The New York Times in 1906. He works hard, has simple pleasures, loves the things that are beautiful, and sends his children to the public schools.

Italian immigrants disembark at Ellis Island in the early 1900s. Officials then echoed the racist notion that southern Italians were inherently inferior. - SeM/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

The Times story, headlined Petrosini (sic), Detective and Sociologist, calls the famous detective a natural student of sociology. But in the emerging field of academic sociology, influential professors such as Edward Alsworth Ross advocated overt racism. Contrasting the views of the amateur sociologist and the professional illustrates what Italians and other immigrants were up against at the time.

Ross coined the enduring term race suicide in 1901 when he delivered the annual address  The Causes of Race Superiority  to the American Academy of Political and Social Science, which gathered in Philadelphia. With that term, Ross gave name to the idea that a higher race  eliminates itself because it has failed to ward off the infiltration of an inferior race.

In 1914, the same year Ross became president of the American Sociological Association, he expanded on race suicide in his book The Old World in the New. Immigrants, he warned, would act on Americans standards for cleanliness, morality and education like a slow poison. A nation that relies on immigration to maintain its population deserves the extinction that surely awaits it, he wrote.

Ross promoted the bogus theory that rated entire nationalities by the supposed shapes of their skulls. Observing Italian immigrants debarking, he wrote that they show a distressing frequency of low foreheads, open mouths, weak chins, poor features, skew faces, small or knobby crania, and backless heads. He warned about they could mingle their heredity with ours and perpetuated the idea that southern Italians were inherently unintelligent and violence-prone: That the Mediterranean peoples are morally below the races of northern Europe is as certain as any social fact.

The prejudice beneath Ross opinions was obvious, but his ideas were mainstream and respectable  he was considered a progressive reformer. Petrosino was the better sociologist. He insisted that it was well worth helping the immigrants become Americans. The Italian newcomers needed a teacher, some one who will make them realize they are missing the greatest of all blessings this country affords, equal rights, he told a Times reporter.

Petrosino, who was assassinated while on an investigative mission to Sicily in 1909, gave his life to thwarting the criminals whose crimes were so damaging to the reputation of his fellow Italian Americans. Immigrants from many nations have followed Petrosino  one of the great heroes of American law enforcement  into the ranks of the NYPD and make great contributions: for some, the ultimate sacrifice.

By portraying millions of migrants as intrinsically inferior, popular anti-immigration writers such as Ross  and Madison Grant, whose 1916 book, The Passing of the Great Race, was a favorite of Hitlers  helped to set the stage for the Immigration Act of 1924, which established quotas and put a chokehold on migration from southern and Eastern Europe.

But Ross came to regret the implications of his ideas about supposedly superior and inferior races, writing shortly after World War II that we never imagined the theory being made a hinge for German aggression to turn on. Thats what the phony claims of eugenics led to  Hitlers Final Solution, which resulted in the murder of 6 million Jews. Its certainly worth having vigorous debates about immigration laws, but those whove been indifferent to or even supportive of Trumps increasingly clear turn toward racist, eugenic ideas should confront what theyve enabled.

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Recently I spoke with a sheriff in a rural, southern Utah town. He donned a thick brown canvas coat to block the too-cold wind that would undoubtedly hit us both when we walked outside.

I asked him about a topic few feel comfortable discussing  child sexual abuse. His interlocked, calloused hands opened and his head shook as he responded, Everyday. I see those cases everyday. And we dont talk about it. It makes it worse.

In those few words, this former Marine, who had likely seen more than his share of difficulty in the world, captured the reality of one of societys most pervasive and protected problems.

Pervasive because in Utah, 1 in 7 children will experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. Thats higher than the national average. And that number accounts for touch-only-abuse. It does not account for imagery, video or other materials  so the number of occurrences is likely low. Most occurrences are between the ages of 7 to 13.

And even at those young ages, the consequences can, and often do, last a lifetime.

For some sticky reason, victims of this crime often carry the load of guilt, shame and stigma  meanwhile perpetrators are protected because the very shame the survivor feels can keep them from talking about it. And 91% of the time, the child knows and trusts the perpetrator.

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Outcomes bear out that very struggle. Child sexual abuse can follow an individual into adulthood and is listed as a key factor in extreme long-term difficulties including homelessness, substance abuse, suicide, inability to develop meaningful relationships, drop-out rates, incarceration, trafficking, etc.

These long-term problems cost the state of Utah $1 billion annually.

The cost, monetary and not, for the state, for our families and for individuals is too high.

And because of that, our nonprofit policy group has formed our latest project  The Safe Child Project  dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse in Utah.

The nonprofit policy group, The Policy Project, has created The Safe Child Project to prevent child sexual abuse in Utah. | Emily Bell McCormick

This year, we are working with the Utah Legislature, private donors and the public to ensure that children and families can access resources to help prevent, or stop, this type of abuse.

And, lucky for Utahns, in 2014, the Legislature passed a law that recognized that our families and children may have access to a sexual abuse prevention curriculum, available in schools.

Similar in form to the school maturation program where parents are invited to join, preview the curriculum and learn how to discuss a difficult topic with their kids, the abuse prevention curriculum is 30-90 minutes annually for kindergarten to sixth graders. It is meant to help children understand their uh-oh feeling, help them identify five trusted adults they can tell if something is amiss, and ultimately, to help parents understand how to keep their kids safe.

Its easy, age-appropriate, family-supported education.

That said, as of 2024, only 11% of our families can currently access abuse prevention education. We can do better. We need 100% of families to have access to these resources. And thats what were asking the Legislature to do.

This idea of safety preventions is not new to Utah schools. They teach a lot of measures including earthquake drills, drug abuse awareness and anti-bullying. Stop, drop and roll, is one catchy-phrase taught to most of the 74.4 million U.S. children to prevent them from death or serious injury by fire  which happens at about the rate of 1 in 647 children.

But out of bullies, drugs, burns and earthquakes, none happen to our children at the same 1-in-7 rate as child sexual abuse.

And with a rate like that, every one of us loves someone or is someone who has experienced abuse. The list of survivors is long and extremely varied.

A dear friend and her sisters, whose father was a prestigious businessman, experienced sexual abuse repeatedly by their grandfather.

A local Rabbi was abused for a decade, from the age of 8, by his female nanny.

A school board member in southern Utah found out her husbands cousin had abused all of his own daughters  a discovery made only when one daughter spoke to her religious leader as she filled out an application for an LDS mission.

A legislator who said hed been assaulted as a child, in a field on his way to school. And he never told. Until now.

Child sexual abuse knows no socioeconomic class. It respects no relationships. It knows no gender.

And we have mistakenly believed that there is no way to stop this. We have empowered perpetrators by not talking about this. By not looking for solutions. By believing there is nothing to be done.

We were wrong. And we are changing this.

Emily Bell McCormick is founder of The Policy Project  a nonprofit that creates movements in order to forward healthy, long-term policy. They successfully implemented The Period Project and The Teen Center Project. She and her husband and five children live in Salt Lake City.
Dura Software continues to accumulate companies with its 17th acquisition  this time buying Invosys Ltd., a U.K.-based telecom services provider, for an undisclosed amount. Courtesy

Private holding company Dura Software is continuing its growth mode with its 17th acquisition  about a week after it announced the purchase of its 16th portfolio company.

San Antonio-based Dura Software bought Invosys Ltd., a U.K.-based telecom services provider, for an undisclosed amount, the holding company announced Wednesday.

Dura Softwares acquisitions come amid growing layoffs and closures in the tech industry across the nation. The company focuses on buying what it calls hyperniche software products.

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Invosys  deepens our focus and commitment to the U.K. market and the telecom services segment, Dura Software CEO Paul Salisbury said in a statement. Their outstanding track record for developing a strong suite of solutions and exceptional customer service make them a valuable addition to our portfolio.

Invosys, which specializes in technical solutions for call management, has been in business for 15 years, has 50,000 global users and has managed 1 billion minutes of calls since its launch, according to its website.

We are eager for the resources and expertise that Dura Software will afford our company, as it will enable us to accelerate our growth and enhance our product offerings to customers, said Jane Anderson, Invosys incoming CEO.

The announcement follows Dura Softwares acquisition of Satuit Technologies of Braintree, Mass. Satuit developed and operates asset and customer relationship management software and an investor portal for investment professionals.

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Paul Salisbury is CEO of Dura Software, a San Antonio-based private holding company. Dura Software

The acquisitions are the latest in Dura Softwares consistent growth since area businessman Michael Girdley, finance professional Chris Burney and former Rackspace Technology Inc. senior executive Paul Salisbury launched it in 2018. It has since grown into a business with more than $43 million in revenue in 2022.

In April, the privately held company raised $50 million to fund its acquisitions.

Dura Software has said it aims to buy companies with $2 million to $15 million in annual recurring revenue that are too large for an individual to buy and too small for private equity firms.

Invosys reported 61 employees in 2022. If Dura Software handles Invosys as it has prior acquisitions, the companys headquarters will move to San Antonio while its employees will remain remote.

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In April, Dura Software said it has 200 employees who serve more than 3,500 customers across its subsidiaries, which include 6Connex, dbtech, DVSAnalytics, Eventory, Fenestrae, Infinity, IT Retail Pro, Lane, Moki, Nordic IT, Oxlo, Paperwise, Revegy, SecureVideo and Vertex Systems.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A few days after the Oregon Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging Donald Trumps eligibility for the primary election ballot, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has shared a preliminary list of the presidential candidates that Oregonians could vote for this spring.

According to Griffin-Valades Tuesday announcement, this years Democratic candidates include current President Joe Biden, Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips and political activist Marianne Williamson.

How long will your EV driving range last with cold temps? Heres what AAA found

As of Jan. 16, the Republican candidates include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump.

During President Bidens first speech of his 2024 re-election campaign, he denounced Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Trumps involvement in the 2021 insurrection is also why five Oregon voters filed a complaint against Secretary Griffin-Valade for allowing the former president to be a candidate.

Lingering effects of ice storm causing problems for travelers at PDX

Free Speech for People argued that his placement on the ballot violates Section Three of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits people from holding any public office if theyve engaged in insurrection or rebellion.

In November of last year, Griffin-Valade confirmed that she wouldnt remove Trump from the primary ballot. The following month, Free Speech for People filed another case with the Oregon Supreme Court.

The court declined to hear the argument just last Friday, Jan. 12. The decision was deferred to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is set to review a similar case in Colorados highest court.

I-84 remains closed Wednesday due to icy conditions

By election day on May 21, Oregons primary ballot could look different.

The Secretary intends to review the list of candidates using then-current data and issue a final list after Oregons candidate filing deadline has passed and before providing the list to county clerks for inclusion on the primary ballot, Griffin-Valades office said. Names will be removed from the list if a candidate suspends their campaign or otherwise publicly announces that they are no longer running for President in the 2024 election.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Outback Steakhouse is the latest of several restaurants to join the lineup at Riverbend Village in northwest Charlotte.

The Australian-spirited steakhouse at 3812 Corning Place opened to the public on Tuesday at 4 p.m., according to its website and social media.

Charlotte Restaurant Week heats up dining scene in January

Also new to the center is Margaritas Mexican Kitchen & Bar, which opened a 3,345-square-foot restaurant at the center in December.

Outback and Margaritas follow breakfast and brunch spot First Watch, Nana Morrisons Soul Food and Jeremiahs Italian Ice in opening as part of Riverbend Villages second phase.

Read more on CBJs website here.




Justin Brooks works on clearing trees that fell around his home on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Lake Oswego, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  The Pacific Northwest was bracing for freezing rain and ice Tuesday even as tens of thousands of residents struggled with a dayslong power outage wrought by a weekend storm that was blamed for at least seven deaths.

Freezing rain was forecast in the Seattle area, and parts of southwest Washington and western Oregon  including the state's largest cities of Portland, Salem and Eugene  were under an ice storm warning, with meteorologists expecting up to half an inch of ice through early Wednesday. Warmer air was expected to provide some relief starting later Wednesday.

While the Pacific Northwest is more known for rain and wasnt set to experience the Arctic temperatures or significant snowfall blanketing other parts of the U.S., the heavily forested region is especially prone to the danger of falling trees and power lines, particularly during freezing rain and ice storms.

Freezing rain falls as water but freezes when it hits roads and other cold surfaces. It can weigh down trees and power lines, making them heavier and likelier to snap, especially in strong winds. Previous ice storms in 2017 and 2021 paralyzed the area and left hundreds of thousands without power.

Oregon transportation officials closed 47 miles (76 kilometers) of Interstate 84, a major east-west highway that runs from Portland through the Columbia River Gorge, because of the icy forecast.

"Ice accumulation creates some of the most treacherous driving conditions, and the Interstate is being closed to keep everyone safe. We will reopen when conditions improve, the Oregon Department of Transportation said in a news release.

Weekend weather that included snow and strong winds was blamed for at least seven deaths, including that of a man killed when a tree struck his house in Lake Oswego, a suburb south of Portland, and a woman who died when a tree crushed a recreational vehicle in Portland, trapping her and causing a fire, authorities said.

Were lucky to be alive, said Lake Oswego resident Justin Brooks, as he used a chainsaw Tuesday to cut up the trunks of two massive trees that narrowly missed his home when they fell on Saturday.

Elsewhere in Lake Oswego on Tuesday, arborist Ryan Cafferky scaled a towering 150-foot (46-meter) tree to start the laborious process of cutting it down. The city had deemed the 120-year-old tree a threat to the public because it was at risk of falling, he said.

Carol Flannery watched as Cafferky, clipped into a harness, worked to remove the massive tree from her property. In addition to its old age, cracking and fungus around its roots also made it dangerously susceptible to tipping, she said.

She said arborists told her that "we gotta get this out quick, because its gonna go.

Five people in Oregon were believed to have died of hypothermia in temperatures that hovered in the teens and 20s, authorities said.

As of midday Tuesday, about 52,000 people in Oregon still remained without power, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility outage reports. The National Weather Service warned residents to prepare for more power outages.

The ice storm forecast prompted Portland Public Schools, the largest district in the state, to cancel classes Tuesday and Wednesday. It amounted to additional missed days of in-person learning for students following a teachers strike in November that shut down schools for roughly three weeks.

Courts, libraries and parks were also closed in Portland and other parts of Multnomah County.

County officials extended a weather state of emergency until noon Wednesday and decided to keep a record 12 overnight emergency weather shelters open for an additional night Tuesday. The county said 1,181 people slept in the shelters Monday night, breaking the previous night's record of 1,136.

Officials issued an urgent call for volunteers, citing the high demand for shelter services in an area where thousands of people live outside at risk of cold exposure.

"The real limitation for us right now is staffing, said Dan Field, director of the joint county-city homelessness office. We have to have enough people to keep the doors open of the emergency shelters.

___

Associated Press journalist Jennifer Kane in Lake Oswego, Oregon, contributed to this report.
In this image made from a video provided by KGW, authorities work the scene Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Portland, Ore, after a power line fell on a vehicle, killing three people and injuring a baby during an ice storm that turned roads and mountain highways treacherous in the Pacific Northwest. (KGW via AP)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  A power line fell on a parked car in northeast Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, killing three people and injuring a baby during an ice storm that turned roads and mountain highways treacherous in the Pacific Northwest.

Shortly before noon, dispatchers started receiving frantic calls about a downed power line and people appearing to be electrocuted, according to a statement from the city's fire department. A branch had fallen on a power line, causing it to fall onto an SUV, the statement said.

As the chaotic situation unfolded, a resident grabbed the baby from one of the people lying in the street in a bid to save its life, according to the statement. The three killed  two adults and one teenager  were found dead upon firefighters arrival, and the baby was taken to a hospital. It is believed the victims were electrocuted after they got out of the vehicle, the statement said.

The power company later deenergized the line, the statement added without specifying which company.

Around Portland, driving and even walking were virtually impossible as slick ice coated roads and sidewalks. Icicles dangled from roofs and cars, and ice encased branches, plants and leaves like thick glass.

A large swath of the region was under warnings Wednesday for as much as 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of ice, promising only to add to the damage wrought by a deadly, powerful storm that hit over the weekend. The warning area was reduced later in the morning to parts of southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, including Portland, and further limited to the western edge of the Columbia River Gorge in the afternoon.

Freezing rain could return to the region Thursday evening through Friday morning, the National Weather Service said. The areas most likely to be impacted include the eastern Portland metro area and the western Columbia River Gorge.

Portland transportation officials asked the public to stay off the roads through Thursday morning, and numerous school districts, including Oregons largest, canceled classes for a third straight day as roads remained slick.

The three deaths Wednesday added to at least seven deaths linked to fallen trees and suspected hypothermia during the previous weekend's storm.

Daniel Buck, who lives just a few steps from where the deaths took place in northeast Portland, told The Associated Press he heard an explosion and then saw a person running out of a car with a downed power line laying on top in flames. When he got closer, he said, he saw that person and two others on the ground about 35 feet (10.7 meters) away from the car, where the rest of the power line had fallen. He said he saw one of the victims pant legs on fire.

All of them were making contact with the live wire, so nobody could touch them to help, said Buck, who described the victims as residents of a nearby apartment. It was just terrible.

Diane Flaherty, resident of a forested neighborhood in southwest Portland, said her home has been without power since Saturday. That day, she left her house to stay with her brother-in-law when she saw the large tree in her front yard start swaying in the strong wind.

It was like a war zone, she said, describing the sound of trees cracking as they toppled onto her neighbors' cars and homes. We were absolutely stunned.

The storm canceled or delayed flights, including in Vancouver, British Columbia, where heavy snow blanketed the city and snarled traffic, The Canadian Press reported.

The storm hit the northwest corner of the U.S. as much of the rest of the country coped with bitter weather that in some places put electricity supplies at risk. Some 90,000 homes and businesses across the U.S.  mostly in Oregon  did not have power as of late Wednesday, according to PowerOutage.us.

Freezing temperatures spread as far south as North Florida on Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service said.

It was 5 degrees in Chicago (minus 15 Celsius) and 6 degrees (minus 14.4 Celsius) in Detroit  significantly colder than Alaska's capital of Juneau, where it was 18 degrees (minus 7.8 Celsius). Some Midwesterners managed to find a bright side.

It's probably the most beautiful time in Chicago, ever, Richard Wineberg said as he admired the snow-covered landscape.

In western New York, the weather was blamed for three deaths in three days. Two people were apparently stricken while clearing snow, and a third was struck by a vehicle while brushing snow from his car, officials said Wednesday.

Five people were struck and killed by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 81 in northeastern Pennsylvania after they left their vehicles following a separate crash on slick pavement. Investigators were still determining the exact cause.

Heavy lake-effect snow was forecast in Buffalo, with up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) an hour expected through the afternoon. The blast came days after a storm that delayed an NFL playoff game for a day.

Early Wednesday, Patrick Sahr shoveled snow from his car and driveway in Buffalo after at least 18 inches (45.7 centimeters) of snow fell overnight  on top of 3 feet (1 meter) over the weekend.

I just want to keep up with it, he said during a lull.

On the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation near Fort Thompson, South Dakota, about three dozen people stayed in a shelter and the tribe paid to put up about 40 families in a motel. The tribe also provided propane and wood for home heating, and plastic to cover drafty windows, for what tribal Chairman Peter Lengkeek called substandard government homes.

It's expensive, but you cant put a price on life and suffering, Lengkeek said.

In Tennessee, health officials have confirmed at least 14 weather-related deaths. Memphis-Shelby County Schools, the state's largest public school system with about 100,000 students, canceled Thursday classes.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, which provides electricity to seven Southern states, reported a preliminary all-time record for peak power demand Wednesday morning as the region dropped to an average of 4 degrees (minus 15.5 Celsius).

___

Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri; Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Julie Walker in New York City; and Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, New York. Golden reported from Seattle.
A seating area between the rooftop restaurants Colette at the Phipps and Paramour just north of downtown San Antonio served as the temporary home of Colette a few days before New Years Eve. Mike Sutter/Staff Attorney Martin Phipps said he expects to prevail in litigation that alleges Holy Spirits LLC, which does business as Paramour, has failed to pay rent since September. JOHN DAVENPORT/San Antonio Express-News The rooftop bar Paramour opened in 2015. The bar sits atop the Phipps Building at 102 Ninth St. John Davenport/San Antonio Express-News The rooftop bar Paramour sits atop the 30,000-square-foot Phipps Building at 102 Ninth St. John Davenport/San Antonio Express-News The landlord of the Paramour, the rooftop bar at 102 Ninth St., says in a recently filed lawsuit that it's owed more than $260,000 in rent, late fees and interest. File photo An owner of the Phipps Building has sued to evict Holy Spirits LLC, which does business as the rooftop bar Paramour. Staff photographer file photo

The owner of the Phipps Building has moved to evict the swanky rooftop bar Paramour for allegedly failing to pay rent for the past several months.

CDC Enterprises L.P. last week sued Holy Spirits LLC, which does business as Paramour, seeking a court order directing the establishment to vacate the premises at 102 Ninth St. The suit was filed in Bexar Countys Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Court.

It came four days after CDC sued Holy Spirits in state District Court in an effort to collect more than $260,000 in rent, late fees and interest.

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Martin Phipps, a San Antonio attorney who is Holy Spirits manager, said in an email Tuesday he was saddened, shocked, and disappointed over the disputes. He had not yet been served with them, he said.

MIKE SUTTER RESTAURANT REVIEW: Overkill under the stars at Colette at the Phipps

This lawsuit is frivolous, based on information the plaintiff knows to be inaccurate, and we will win the case, plus damages, Phipps said. Currently the plaintiff owes Holy Spirits at least $498,383.35 and is in breach of contract and fiduciary responsibility due to their nonpayment of required fees like basic maintenance and repair.

Daren Connel, manager of Oklahoma City-based CDCs general partner, called it a minor dispute and said it will be resolved in due course.

Mr. Phipps is an old friend, Connel said in an email Tuesday. Im confident that he wants this resolved as much as we do.

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CDC acquired the building from Phipps Emet LLC for $11 million in December 2022, a contract filed in the litigation shows.

The sale closed less than three months after Emet had entered into a forbearance agreement with lender Frost Bank after allegedly defaulting on a more than $6 million loan. The agreement gave Emet time to refinance the debt or find a buyer for the building.

Turmoil

The 30,000-square-foot Phipps Building also is home to Phipps law firm. He represented Bexar County in a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors to recover damages caused by addiction to their products.

Phipps has had a fair amount of turmoil in his life in recent years.

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He was arrested in February 2021 on a Class B misdemeanor charge, accused of harassing a former employee  a legal assistant he had wed in December 2020. The marriage was annulled a month later. An attorney representing Phipps disputed the allegation.

The case was dismissed in April 2022 at the request of a special prosecutor, who cited lack of evidence.

The Bexar County District Attorneys Office recused itself from the case to avoid any appearance of impropriety because of Phipps' representation of the county in the opioid litigation.

The harassment charge occurred during a public falling out between Phipps and a former law partner against whom Phipps had filed a protective order.

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In 2020, a lender sued Phipps, his law firm and another defendant for allegedly defaulting on a $3.3 million loan used to acquired a 1997 Gulfstream IV. The lender later repossessed the aircraft and sold it at auction for $2.8 million.

Notice to vacate

Paramour opened in 2015. Two years ago, Holy Spirits and landlord Emet entered into a five-year lease agreement. Phipps signed the 10,768-square-foot lease agreement for both parties.

As part of the building sale to CDC in late 2022, an addendum to the contract gave Emet a right to repurchase it for at least $11 million. The right expires at the end of 2027.

According to the lawsuit CDC filed in state District Court, Holy Spirits has failed to pay its $46,000 monthly rent from September to January. CDC says it sent three notices of default before sending a notice to vacate on Dec. 7. Holy Spirits had until 5 p.m. Dec. 21 to leave.

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In June, Phipps opened Colette, a restaurant next door to Paramour on the buildings roof.

Holy Spirits enjoyed a great 2023 with Paramour and its new, critically acclaimed restaurant Colette, and 2024 is off to a great start, Phipps said.
Authorities say a pedestrian died Sunday after being struck by a train in Merced.

At about 9:10 a.m., officers responded to the area of V Street and 15th Street for a report of an accident involving a train and a pedestrian, according to Merced Police Sgt. Nathan McKinnon. Arriving officers located the pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said a freight train was traveling westbound through Merced on the Union Pacific Railroad tracks at the time of the accident, which was reported by the train operator. Authorities said it is unknown what the pedestrian was doing on the tracks and the Union Pacific railroad police is the agency investigating the incident.

According to police, a nearby train crossing and intersection were closed for approximately two hours after the acident until the train was able to be moved.
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)  Hours after lifting speed restrictions, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Tuesday they had reinstated multiple speed restrictions.

PennDOT announced the following roadways speed limits were reduced to 45 miles per hour and restricted commercial cars to the right lane only.

Interstate 81 in Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties

Interstate 81N closed due to multi-vehicle crash

You can stay up to date on speed limit restrictions, road conditions, and closures on 511PA.com.

This is a developing story and 28/22 News will provide updates as new information is made available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
Rain pours down at the intersection of South Pinto and Buena Vista Streets on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, as San Antonio firefighters respond to a structure fire that destroyed two residential buildings and damaged a third. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

The city will open its vacant fire chief position to applicants by late February  kicking off its first search for a fire chief since it hired Charles Hood in 2007.

The city announced Hoods retirement on Jan. 3, a decision that came after an external investigation found that he made comments with male San Antonio Fire Department rank-and-file personnel that included a vulgar word for female genitalia.

City Manager Erik Walsh on Thursday named Christopher Chris Monestier as interim chief and Valerie Frausto as interim deputy fire chief over administrative services.

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Monestier most recently served as deputy chief, a position he was appointed to in 2020, according to a city news release. He has been with SAFD for more than 30 years.

Frausto is the city fire marshal and joined SAFD 23 years ago.

Walsh will be tasked with hiring Hoods replacement.

Former City Manager Sheryl Sculley recruited Hood from Phoenix in 2007, where he had held the second-ranking position in the Phoenix Fire Department. Sculley had previously worked for the city of Phoenix.

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Christopher Monestier, interim Fire Chief for San Antonio Fire Department. Courtesy of the City of San Antonio

Walsh said San Antonio will conduct a national search for a new fire chief.

The search will contemplate internal and external applicants, Walsh said in a Jan. 3 statement.

Officials have provided no additional details, or a timeline by when they hope to make a hire.

The City Managers Office is working on the next steps and will share that with the Council, the Public, and the media once developed, city spokesperson Luke Simons said in a statement.
CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A Chester County dentist has been arrested and charged with assaulting a patient during a visit.

The Chester County District Attorneys office says James Godorecci was charged with indecent assault and harassment for allegedly assaulting a patient while working at Main Line Dental Aesthetics.

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The District Attorneys office says on January 3, the victim visited Godorecci for an emergency visit. During a therapeutic procedure, the victim alleged that Godorecci fondled her breasts.

Godorecci was released after bail was set at $25,000 and ordered to have no contact with the victim, as well as notify the state licensing board.

The Tredyffrin Township Police Department is investigating this case and if you have information related to this case youre asked to contact Detective Michael Cermignano at 610-408-3651.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Former President Trump is back in court a second time over statements he made denying that he sexually assaulted writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid 1990s. Back in May 2023, after only three hours of deliberation, a jury decided that former U.S. President Donald Trump had defamed Carroll. In January 2024, Trump returned to court, this time over separate denials of culpability he made during his presidency that were not considered in the earlier trial over the same assault.

A judge ruled in September 2023 that these additional statements, which were not considered when damages were awarded to Carroll in the first case, were also defamation. A trial was set for January 2024 to determine potential damages. This new jury's job would not be to determine liability, but only to determine additional damages owed to Carrol, as Judge Lewis Kaplan explained to the jurors during the trial's opening day and reported by ABC News:

Judge Lewis Kaplan told the nine jurors that they must accept as true that Trump forcibly sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll and defamed her when he denied it. [...] The judge made it clear the jury was only determining damages related to two defamatory statements Trump made in June 2019 when he denied Carroll's rape allegation. He said the trial was not an opportunity to re-litigate the prior trial, in which a jury found Trump liable for defamation and sexual assault. "This trial is not a do-over of the previous trial which determined those facts," Kaplan said.

Trump's reappearance in this case renewed semantic questions about what the jury concluded the previous year, with many people sharing a variation of the claim that the jury " convicted" or found Donald Trump "guilty" of rape:

As Snopes explained in May 2023, terms like "found guilty" and "convicted" are reserved for criminal cases. These cases, which center on defamation, are civil proceedings. These cases do not determine guilt but do determine "liability" for certain actions. Civil cases do not impose jail time or other criminal penalties, and as such require a different standard of proof:

Crimes must generally be proved "beyond a reasonable doubt," whereas civil cases are proved by lower standards of proof, such as "the preponderance of the evidence." The term, "the preponderance of evidence," refers to how it was more likely than not that something occurred in a certain way.

Because Trump was not convicted of a crime, it is not accurate to say that he is "a convicted sexual abuser." Instead, it is accurate to say that a jury unanimously decided that it was more likely than not true that Trump sexually abused and forcibly touched Carroll, and as such, her defamation claim was valid.

According to The New York Times, the judge said that "for the jury to establish that Trump raped Carroll, she had to prove that Trump engaged in sexual intercourse with her, and that he did it without her consent." He said that "sexual intercourse includes 'any penetration of the pen*s into the vaginal opening.'" The jury answered "No" to the question "Did Ms. Carroll Prove, by a preponderance of evidence, that Mr. Trump raped Ms. Carroll," but answered "Yes" to that same question asked regarding the claims that "Mr. Trump sexually abused Ms. Carroll" and that he "forcibly touched" Carroll.

Trump's denial of these facts in an October 2022 Truth Social post were at issue in the May trial. The jury further decided, more likely than not, that Trump's statement was knowingly false and made with actual malice, making it defamatory. Carroll described the assault in detail in court, as reported by the New York Times:

Ms. Carroll said Mr. Trump asked her to help select a gift for a female friend. "I love to give advice, and here was Donald Trump asking me for advice about buying a present," she said. She described to the jury how they went to the lingerie section and stumbled upon a gray-blue bodysuit. Mr. Trump directed her to "go put this on," she said. She declined and told him to put it on instead  banter that she described as "jesting and joshing." Then, she said, Mr. Trump motioned her inside the dressing room, immediately shut the door and shoved her against the wall. Ms. Carroll said Mr. Trump used his weight to pin her and pulled down her tights. She grew emotional as she spoke. "I was pushing him back," she said, adding, "I was almost too frightened to think." "His fingers went into my vagina, which was extremely painful," Ms. Carroll said. Then, she said, he inserted his pen*s. Ms. Carroll said she used her knee to push Mr. Trump away and fled. The event had lifelong consequences, she said: "It left me unable to ever have a romantic life again."

The jury awarded Carroll $5 million dollars in damages and punitive fees in that case. Presently, Carroll is seeking over 10 million dollars in damages.

Sources:

DocumentCloud. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23808241-carroll-ii-verdict-form-final. Accessed 9 May 2023.

"The Differences Between a Criminal Case and a Civil Case." Findlaw, https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-law-basics/the-differences-between-a-criminal-case-and-a-civil-case.html. Accessed 9 May 2023.

"Trump Found Liable for Sexually Abusing and Defaming E. Jean Carroll in Civil Trial and Is Ordered to Pay $5 Million." NBC News, 9 May 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/jury-reaches-verdict-e-jean-carroll-rape-defamation-case-trump-rcna82778.

Weiser, Benjamin, et al. "Jury Finds Trump Liable for Sexual Abuse and Defamation." The New York Times, 9 May 2023. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/05/09/nyregion/trump-carroll-rape-trial-verdict.

---. "Jury Finds Trump Liable for Sexual Abuse and Defamation." The New York Times, 9 May 2023. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/05/09/nyregion/trump-carroll-rape-trial-verdict.

2 Election Deniers Dont Make Cut as Jury Is Seated. ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/trump-defamation-trial/2-election-deniers-dont-make-cut-as-jury-is-seated-106420469?id=106403966. Accessed 17 Jan. 2024.

Scannell, Kara. Trump Is Liable in the Second E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case, Judge Rules; January Trial Will Determine Damages | CNN Politics. CNN, 6 Sept. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/06/politics/e-jean-carroll-trump-defamation-lawsuit/index.html.

Trump Damages Trial Gets Underway in E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case with Former President in Courtroom. NBC News, 17 Jan. 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-damages-trial-begins-e-jean-carroll-defamation-case-former-presi-rcna133677.


Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacquelyn Callanen answers a question during a press conference at Bexar County Elections Office in San Antonio, TX, on Oct. 19, 2022. Josie Norris, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

The Bexar County Election Commission on Wednesday will meet for the first time in nearly two decades  not since it appointed Jacque Callanen as county elections administrator in 2005.

Its Callanens future in that role that prompted County Judge Peter Sakai, who chairs the commission, to call the meeting.

Four years ago, Callanen said 2020 would be the last presidential election that she would oversee. But with the November 2024 presidential election fast approaching  and early voting for the March primaries just weeks away  Callanen, 78, has been publicly silent about her plans.

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I believe its fair to say that Jacque would like to continue in order that there is an orderly transition on her succession, which would include her oversight of the primary and general election, Sakai told the Express-News.

He met with Callanen privately in mid-December to discuss her succession plan for the elections department.

In recent months, voting rights advocates have ramped up their calls for the five-member election commission to prepare to find Callanens replacement.

Advocates have grown increasingly frustrated with the elections department over Callanens decision to reduce the number of polling places in the 2022 midterm election and in the 2020 presidential election, taking her to court in 2022 to force her to add more sites. Theyve also been angered by her reluctance to discuss putting a polling place in the Bexar County jail  like Harris County, which first opened a polling site in its county lockup in 2021.

Callanen also has her supporters, who view her as a reliable, competent administrator who isnt swayed by politics.

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Given the approaching election, Callanens inconsistent statements about her own future in this role, and her track record of administrative problems, a meeting of the Bexar County Election Commission is necessary to get answers about the future of Bexar County Elections, several voting rights and liberal groups said in a Dec. 20 letter to Sakai and the other commission members.

The letter signers included representatives of Texas Civil Rights Project, Radical Registrars, Jolt Action, Texas Rising, MOVE Texas and All of Us or None Texas.

The other members of the elections commission are County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark, County Tax Assessor-Collector Albert Uresti, and Monica Alcantara and Jeff McManus, the respective chairs of the countys Democratic and Republican parties.

Realistically, we probably dropped the ball, even before I got here, said Adame-Clark, who was first elected in 2018. The commission, if you look at other counties  like Hays County, Tarrant County, Harris County  they actually meet twice or three times a year. Not only do we hire or dismiss an elections administrator, were also accountable for transparency, the election administrators accountability and to make sure that the job is being done very well by the elections administrator.

After voting rights advocates met with Adame-Clark and shared their concerns, she directed them to request in writing that the election commission meet. The county clerk is vice chair of the commission.

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Adame-Clark said the commission should have met in 2020, when Callanen first voiced her retirement plans.

The fact that both the primary and the general election are just around the corner would make it risky for the county to immediately replace Callanen, Adame-Clark said.

I think its best, in my opinion, that we dont do anything this election, she said.

Sakai was equally baffled by the lack of meetings under his predecessor Nelson Wolff, who served as county judge from 2001 through 2022.

This was an attempt to be open and transparent and to follow the rules, which is the law, Sakai said of his decision to convene the commission. Though the Texas Election Code does not mandate how often a county election commission should meet, it tasks the commission with overseeing their county election administrator.

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As part of Wednesdays discussion about Callanens future, some of which will take place behind closed doors in executive session, Sakai said the commission will consider how regularly it should meet.

The meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. in the Double Height Courtroom on the second floor of the Bexar County Courthouse. It includes a public comment portion where members of the public will be able to share their thoughts on the process and on Callanen.
Poland is developing plans to expand domestic munitions and military equipment production to sustain future security assistance to Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Jan. 17, as reported by Reuters.

Sikorski said the new Polish government is considering all issues related to Ukraine with "fresh eyes."

Read also: Ukraine and Poland should become close allies within the EU  FM Kuleba

We're examining what options we have of making more ammunition and equipment and also what we still have in our stores, the minister said.

He added that Poland is telling its Western allies that the cost of containing Russia if Ukraine is defeated would be much greater than the cost of supplying Kyiv with weapons right now.

Read also: Ukraine prioritizes F-16s for air force modernization, explores other Western aircraft options

What we think and communicate to our allies is that the cost of deterring Putin after he'd conquered Ukraine would be much bigger than the cost of supplying Ukraine to effectively defend itself against his act of aggression, Sikorski said.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Polands new government is exploring ways to increase the production of ammunition and military equipment and is working on a new package of assistance for Ukraine.

Source: Reuters, citing Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski in Davos, as reported by European Pravda

Quote from Sikorski: "We are looking at all issues to do with Ukraine with fresh eyes. We're examining what options we have of making more ammunition and equipment and also what we still have in our stores."

Sikorski said Poland tells its allies that the cost of deterring Russia if it conquers Ukraine will be much higher than the cost of supplying Kyiv with weapons to effectively defend itself against Russias act of aggression.

Sikorski welcomed the agreement between his government and Polish hauliers to end the blockade of the border with Ukraine, but he also acknowledged that Warsaw and Kyiv must keep working together to find solutions to problems.

"Poland shouldn't be the country that bears the brunt of most of the cost of solidarity with Ukraine on behalf of all of the European Union the cost is inevitable, we accept it, but it should be born more fairly," he said.

The foreign minister also backed a US plan to confiscate up to US$300 billion in frozen Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine, pointing out that the aggressor must pay for the damage.

Background:

On 22 December, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski, saying he was hoping for a "new chapter" in relations between the countries.

Polands Foreign Ministry had previously stated that Sikorski would present a package of assistance to Kyiv that he was preparing.

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that Ukraine is stepping up contact with the new Polish government in order to resolve contentious bilateral issues.

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Posters with images of imprisoned members of Poland's previous right-wing government, former interior minister, Mariusz Kaminski and former deputy interior minister, Maciej Wasik, who have been convicted of abuse of power, displayed in the opposition section of the lower chamber of Poland's parliament during session, in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday Jan.16, 2024. The previously governing Law and Justice party, now in the opposition, are protesting the imprisonment and say the two are "political prisoners." (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Polands lawmakers voted Wednesday to lift the immunity of a far-right colleague who used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles during a ceremony in parliament last month.

The vote means that the Confederation party lawmaker, Grzegorz Braun, can face charges.

If convicted of destruction of property, insulting a religious symbol and hurting a person he could face up to five years in prison. Prosecutors want to present Braun with seven counts that also apply to earlier incidents of alleged aggression against the former health minister and public property.

Lawmakers voted to lift immunity on each of the seven counts.

The incident last month was an embarrassment to the new parliament, which was in its first session following October elections, and to the new pro-European Union government that would be sworn in the next day.

During a Hanukkah ceremony, Braun grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the menorah candles. A member of the Jewish community was sprayed and hurt in the incident and hospitalized.

Minutes later, Braun made a brief statement from the parliament lectern while the leader of his party, Krzysztof Bosak, was presiding. The party later condemned Braun's statement.

The lawmakers on Wednesday voted to allow Bosak to keep his position of deputy parliament speaker, saying the party should be represented at that level, but the vast majority abstained or did not take part in the vote.

The Hanukkah ceremony was peacefully repeated two days later, with the participation of President Andrzej Duda, in a sign that antisemitism would not be allowed.

Braun was fined by parliament authorities in December.
Jilson Duban Avelar-Rodriguez appears in the 226th District Court on the first day of his capital murder trial Tuesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Archie Anz, retired SAPD crime scene investigator, holds up a tire iron as he testifies in the 226th District Court on the first day of the capital murder trial of Jilson Duban Avelar-Rodriguez on Tuesday Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Prosecutor Willem VanZeben displays an exhibit of the crime scene on the first day of Jilson Duban Avelar-Rodriguezs capital murder trial Tuesday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Jilson Duban Avelar-Rodriguez appears in court on the first day of his capital murder trial Tuesday. He is accused of killing a young couple in their Medical Center area apartment in 2018. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Jilson Duban Avelar-Rodriguez killed a young couple in their San Antonio apartment in 2018 in a break-in likely motivated by drugs, or the proceeds from a sale of drugs, a prosecutor said at the start of a capital murder trial.

The assailant forced his way through a window and opened fire, fatally shooting Julia Chase Wright, 21, and Nicholas Andrew Milanovich, 23, in their Medical Center-area apartment in 2018, Assistant District Attorney Raul Jordan told the jury Tuesday.

This defendant, Jilson Avelar-Rodriguez, broke into Julia and Nicholas apartment like a thief in the night, Jordan said in his opening statement. He went in armed, went up to the second floor, saw them both lying in bed, helpless and asleep.

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Bang! Bang! Jordans voice resounded through the 226th District Court. He shot both of them in the head.

He warned jurors they would see photographs of a blood trail that started from the upstairs bedroom and led downstairs and out the door, to the doors of several apartments nearby, all made by Wright.

Although wounded, she ran knocking on doors for help until she died on the sidewalk, Jordan said.

In his opening statement, defense attorney George Shaffer told the jury that the why in this case is more important than the state wants you to believe.

The death of Mr. Milanovich and Ms. Wright is a horrible tragedy, he told the panel. These two were dealing drugs, and someone was also in that building who wanted to silence and shut down their operation.

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The family of Julia Chase Wright is comforted during testimony on the first day of Jilson Duban Avelar-Rodriguezs capital murder trial Tuesday. Avelar-Rodriguez is accused of killing Wright and her partner Nicholas Andrew Milanovich in 2018. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Shaffer said there was a lot of evidence to be presented, and it was the jurys job, he said, to decide the facts, where the facts take us.

San Antonio police responding to a 911 caller who reported the trail of blood on Sept. 30, 2018, found Wright dead outside the Sonoma Canyon Apartments, where she shared a residence with Milanovich.

Officers followed the blood to their apartment and found Milanovich gurgling blood in the bedroom. He died at a hospital.

The jury saw gruesome pictures of the couples bedroom that included blood-saturated sheets and a tooth on the floor.

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It took nearly a year before Avelar-Rodriguez was charged in their deaths, on Dec. 20, 2019. He had been detained at a federal immigration facility in Pearsall in connection with an unrelated robbery.

Avelar-Rodriguez, 24, a Honduran national, will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. The Bexar County District Attorneys Office did not seek the death penalty.

In addition to Jordan, Bexar County assistant district attorney Willem VanZeben is prosecuting the case. James Ishimoto is assisting Shaffer in representing Avelar-Rodriguez.

State District Judge Velia J. Meza is presiding over the trial.

If convicted, Avelar-Rodriguez, who is utilizing a translator for proceedings, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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Isaac Diego Gonzales, 17, left, appears alongside his attorney Adam LaHood, right, as he is sentenced Tuesday to 40 years for a drive-by shooting in 2022 that authorities say targeted the wrong house. He pleaded guilty to murder for killing Novita Brazil, 25. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News People give victim impact statements Tuesday via video at the sentencing of Isaac Diego Gonzales (not pictured), who got a 40-year prison term for killing Novita Brazil, 25, in a 2022 drive-by shooting. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Isaac Diego Gonzales, 17, waits to be sentenced for murder in the death of Novita Brazil, 25, in a drive-by shooting in 2022. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

A San Antonio teen who taunted law enforcement officers on social media to catch me following a deadly drive-by shooting at the wrong house has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Isaac Diego Gonzales, 17, pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated assault charges last week as part of an agreement between prosecutors and defense attorneys. The shooting on Oct. 4, 2022, killed Novita Brazil, 25, at the home in the 11400 block of Bald Mountain Drive.

On Tuesday, Gonzales was sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing Brazil and 20 years for shooting another woman in the leg. Both sentences will be served at the same time. He will have to serve at least half of his time before he is eligible for parole.

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Authorities said about 100 shots were fired at the home. Brazil, a 25-year-old college student, was married to a military member. The gunfire also wounded a 41-year-old woman who had been renting a room at the home while in town to see a San Antonio Spurs game. She survived.

Gonzales was 16 when he and three other teens, 15, 15 and 14, were charged with deadly conduct with a firearm. Gonzales and a 15-year-old were arrested on suspicion of driving a stolen Kia and later tied to the shooting.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said at the time that he believed the shooting to be gang-related and that the teens had targeted the wrong home.

After they posted bond, the pair cut off their ankle monitors and were on the run, Salazar said.

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While a fugitive, Gonzales took pictures of himself with guns and posted them on social media, daring authorities to find him.

Although a teenager at the time of the shootings, Gonzales later was certified to stand trial as an adult.
The San Antonio Independent School District headquarters is located at 514 W Quincy St. Google Earth

The San Antonio Independent School District will close all 98 of its schools Thursday and Friday to check heating systems after an embarrassing partial shutdown this week.

Stung by complaints about cold classrooms, the need to gather students in warmer areas of buildings and the suddenness of piecemeal school closure decisions midweek, the district said it would systematically check every schools hardware more thoroughly than it had earlier.

Superintendent Jaime Aquino said he took full responsibility for making the wrong call to reopen schools Tuesday. A number of factors contributed to the breakdown, he said, including human error in operating boilers that heat buildings, aging equipment, deferred maintenance partly blamed on a lack of state funding and the coldest temperatures that we have experienced in recent years without precipitation.

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Unlike the 2021 Winter Storm Uri, which resulted in two significant snowfalls, power outages and widespread school closures, the recent freeze left schools rebounding to open for classes immediately after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

This really was the first real test of our system, Aquino, who has been superintendent since May 2022, told reporters.

Wednesdays news conference came after the district announced 27 school closures before classes began that day, some as late as 5:30 a.m. It later added Lanier High School and three other campuses to the closure list, releasing students for parents to pick up early or sending them home on buses.

Students are able to stay as long as needed in the gym, which is warm, administrators said of the Lanier evacuation in a Facebook post.

The problems were more widespread than those 31 schools, however. Every campus except Burbank High School had been open Tuesday, but the inadequate protection from the citys coldest temperatures since February 2021 prompted an apology that afternoon from Aquino, who said in a statement posted on the district website that he was deeply sorry for the cold start in our schools.

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In announcing the more sweeping closures, he said about 70 percent of schools in the district have experienced failures of heating systems, with anywhere from 20 percent to 100 percent of those buildings unable to receive appropriate heat.

The district made a very difficult decision to close all schools to make all the necessary repairs and perform quality controls checks at all our schools. Unlike Mondays thorough check of all schools, the district will take a deep look this week at its infrastructure, decision processes and personnel, the superintendent said.

As we move forward, were not going to open a single school until its warm and safe, Aquino said.

In some cases, boilers were functioning Monday but were not reprogrammed through a manual override to run continuously, so they shut down as normally scheduled by the time temperatures dipped into the teens overnight, he said.

We have failed our students, our staff, our community by not having accurate, reliable information, Aquino said. People will be held accountable, but also there are some systemic issues that need to be addressed.

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SAISD board chairwoman Christina Martinez said trustees also will work to get to the bottom of this.

We take this very seriously, she said. Our board is convening a special committee thats going to be led by Trustee (Leticia) Ozuna, who is an engineer and former city councilperson, so that the board can also understand in detail how this happened and to make sure that this doesnt happen again.

Complaints about conditions Tuesday had erupted across social media. Natasha Beck-King, a teacher at Brackenridge High School, had chided the board that night for not making sure the school was ready for students and teachers to return.

It is known that our boiler system does not work to the capacity we need it to work at, said Beck-King, who estimated the boardroom temperature was 10 degrees higher than her classroom earlier that day and 15 degrees higher than other classrooms.

My students never got warm, Beck-King added. They came to school in temperatures below 20 degrees, and they never got warm. That is not acceptable.

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The district plans to continue providing meals for pickup at all 98 school campuses, and teachers will be called in to help with parent outreach and lesson planning, officials said.
The UN secretary-general has once again made a plea for an urgent humanitarian cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the heads of his aid agencies are urging for additional entry points to ensure the delivery of relief supplies and prevent famine and the outbreak of diseases.

UN Calls For Urgent Aid For Gaza

Antonio Guterres expressed his strong disapproval of the collective punishment inflicted upon the Palestinian people during a press conference at the United Nations. "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is beyond words. Nowhere and no one is safe," Guterres said.

"The people of Gaza are facing a grim reality of starvation, disease, malnutrition, and other health threats," he expressed.

On Monday, the aid agencies of the United Nations issued a warning about the growing risk of famine and disease among the population of 2.2 million people in the Gaza Strip. They emphasized the urgent need for additional access points to address this pressing issue.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the World Food Program (WFP), the UN Children's agency (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the importance of implementing certain measures to ensure the delivery of sufficient supplies to the Palestinians in Gaza.

These measures include the establishment of new entry routes, increased daily allowance of trucks passing through border checks, reduced restrictions on the movement of humanitarian workers, and the provision of safety guarantees for those involved in accessing and distributing aid.

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain emphasized the importance of ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches all those in need in Gaza in order to prevent famine. Since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, the WFP has provided assistance to over 900,000 individuals out of the 2.2 million people in Gaza.

There is a significant issue at the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza. This crossing, mainly designed for pedestrians, is unable to accommodate the number of trucks that need to enter the territory. As a result, there are substantial backlogs that need to be addressed.

Israel recently permitted the opening of the Kerem Shalom [Karem Abu Salem, in Arabic] crossing for humanitarian purposes. However, according to the UN, its usage varies depending on the prevailing security conditions.

According to aid chiefs, obtaining Israeli authorization is crucial to use a functional port near Gaza and access the border crossing points into the northern part of Gaza. According to reports, having access to Ashdod port, located about 40 kilometers to the north, would greatly enhance the ability to transport larger amounts of aid.

This aid could then be moved to northern Gaza by truck. Despite the evacuation orders issued by Israeli authorities, a significant number of Palestinians, estimated to be around 300,000, are still present in the northern region. Unfortunately, only a limited number of convoys have been able to reach them, as per VOA News.

Read Also: Hezbollah Leader Accuses US of Damaging Yemen's Houthis Maritime Security

Gaza Conflict Death Toll Rises

According to the health ministry in Gaza, 132 individuals who lost their lives in Israeli strikes have been taken to hospitals in the region. This brings the total number of casualties since the beginning of the conflict to 24,100.

A significant majority of the casualties in the conflict were women and children, as they do not differentiate between combatants and noncombatants. Israel claims that its forces have eliminated approximately 8,000 militants.

Yesterday, the military announced that its forces and aircraft conducted operations against militants in Khan Younis, the second-largest city, which is currently a major focus of the ground offensive. They also targeted militants in northern Gaza, where the Israeli military is actively expanding its control.

Israel attributes the high death toll to Hamas, alleging that its fighters utilize civilian buildings and carry out attacks from densely populated urban areas.

A tragic incident occurred in Israel, where a woman lost her life and 12 others were injured in a car-ramming and stabbing attack in a suburb of Tel Aviv. Authorities have stated that the attack was perpetrated by multiple individuals of Palestinian descent. They were subsequently apprehended. According to law enforcement, the individuals allegedly took possession of three separate vehicles and made reckless attempts to harm pedestrians.

There have been several incidents of violence targeting Israelis in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank during the ongoing conflict. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, approximately 350 Palestinians have lost their lives in the West Bank due to clashes with Israeli forces. According to Global News, these incidents have primarily occurred during Israeli arrest raids or violent protests.

Related Article: Gaza Hostages: Hamas Posts Video of Captives, Urging Israeli Military To Stand Down
China hosts regional naval symposium to discuss ocean governance

Xinhua) 09:40, January 17, 2024

Delegates attend the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. The WPNS commenced here on Tuesday, with the attendance of delegates from the navies of the symposium's 30 member and observer countries. (Photo by Xiao Yongli/Xinhua)

NANJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) commenced Tuesday in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, with the attendance of delegates from the navies of the symposium's 30 member and observer countries.

This is the second time the biennial symposium, with over 30 years of history, has been held in China. The symposium boasts 23 member countries including China, Australia, Russia and the United States, and seven observers such as India and Mexico.

Delegates at the symposium will discuss the revision and renewal of relevant documents such as the WPNS Business Charter, the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea and the Disaster Response Guide, as well as the symposium's future activities.

Speaking at the opening of the symposium, Qu Tao, a senior official with the staff department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, said that the Chinese navy is willing to work with the navies of other countries to uphold multilateralism, stay committed to fairness and justice, jointly promote global and regional ocean governance, respond to security threats and challenges at sea, and advance the building of a maritime community with a shared future.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin have reached an agreement to develop a plan for future initiatives that will enhance the already strong strategic partnership between their countries.

Prime Minister Modi expressed satisfaction with his discussion with President Putin, highlighting their fruitful exchange of perspectives on a range of regional and global matters, such as Russia's upcoming Presidency of the BRICS in 2024.

Modi, Putin Discuss Regional, Global Issues

In a recent visit to Russia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed the strengthening of military and technical cooperation between the two countries, with a particular focus on the manufacturing of modern weaponry.

In a later statement, the Ministry of External Affairs provided an update on the progress made between Modi and Putin. They discussed various areas of bilateral cooperation, building on the recent high-level exchanges between the two countries.

PM Modi extended his best wishes to Russia for its upcoming Presidency of BRICS in 2024 and assured India's complete support. The Ministry of External Affairs statement mentioned that the two leaders agreed to maintain regular communication. As of January 1, 2024, Russia has taken over the BRICS presidency.

During his recent trip to Russia, S Jaishankar had a productive meeting with Sergey Lavrov, his Russian counterpart. S Jaishankar and Lavrov had a discussion on various global matters, including the Indo-Pacific, the Ukraine conflict, the Gaza situation, Afghanistan and Central Asia, BRICS, SCO, G20, and the UN.

During a joint press conference in Moscow, Lavrov discussed with S Jaishankar the potential for military and technical collaboration, which includes the production of advanced weaponry, as per The Shillong Times.

They also expressed well wishes for the upcoming parliamentary elections in India and the presidential poll in Russia, according to the statement.

India has continued to uphold its long-standing diplomatic relations with Russia amidst the conflict in Ukraine. Despite its close ties with Western nations, such as the US, India has occasionally expressed concerns over Moscow's military actions.

Read Also: Ukraine Destroys 2 Russian Control, Command Aircraft-Here's Why It's a Big Achievement for Kyiv

India-Russia Ties

It is worth mentioning that during Putin's visit to India in December 2010, the Strategic Partnership was raised to a "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership." They also discussed regional and global issues that both parties found interesting.

As Russia takes on the 2024 BRICS chairmanship, Putin has highlighted their commitment to promoting equitable global development and security through multilateral cooperation. They aim to foster positive and constructive relationships with all relevant countries.

"Russia has assumed the BRICS chairmanship on January 1, following the decision made at the 15th BRICS Summit in August 2022. This association now includes 10 countries," stated Russian President Putin on January 2.

In addition, with Russia taking on the role of chairmanship, it eagerly anticipates fostering productive collaborations with all nations within the BRICS orbit.

Russia has been a reliable and trusted ally for India. India-Russia relations have been a significant focus of India's foreign policy, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs, as per Big News Network.

Ever since the "Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership" was signed in October 2000 during Russian President Putin's visit to India, the relationship between the two countries has taken on a new dimension. Cooperation has been strengthened across various sectors, such as politics, security, trade and economy, defense, science and technology, and culture.

Related Article: Germany Prepares for Putin's Plan To Attack NATO in 2025, Leaked Secret War Document Reveals
In the U.K., more than 30% of teenage Britons are climate change deniers. This was revealed in a new report, which was published by the Center for Countering Digital Hate on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

The poll conducted by the British tech watchdog aims to investigate how climate change denial spreads on YouTube, which is considered the favorite online platform of teenagers in the United Kingdom.

For the past years, climate change deniers have had the same belief; that global warming and climate change are not real. However, CCDH's new report revealed a new narrative that young climate deniers spread.

UK: Over 30% of Teenage Britons are Climate Change Deniers

According to The Guardian's latest report, CCDH's latest survey discovered that a third of teenagers in the U.K. are climate deniers.

The U.K. tech watchdog gathered a dataset of text transcripts from over 12,000 climate-related videos on YouTube, which were posted on more than 90 YT channels.

These climate change content were published from January 1, 2018, to September 30, 2023. After analyzing these climate change-related videos, CCDH included the results of polling company Survation's nationally representative survey.

Survation's survey discovered that 31% of Britons aged 13 to 17 years old are climate change deniers. When CCDH combined the results acquired by Survation and its findings, 13 to 17-year-old climate change deniers in the U.K. increased to 37%.

Since these young climate change deniers were discovered on YouTube, experts urged Google's video streaming platform to avoid directing the attention of teenagers to climate denials.

"Platforms like YouTube have developed technology to monopolize young people's attention and shouldn't direct that towards climate denial," said Friends of the Earth's Climate Disinformation Program Director Michael Khoo via Euronews.Green.

Read Also: Over 50% of Peru's Glacier Surface Lost Due to Climate Change; Experts Claim All of It Will Disappear After 88 Years

New Climate Change Denial Narrative Discovered

Climate change deniers usually believe that climate change and global warming are not real. However, the new denial narrative that CCDH discovered is quite different from these traditional deniers.

In its new survey, the tech watchdog said that the new climate change denial narratives move along three prevalent lines that claim the following:

Climate science and the climate movement are unreliable.

The impacts of global warming are beneficial or harmless.

Climate solutions won't work.

Aside from these, teenage climate deniers in the U.K. also agreed with the statement "Climate change and its effects are being purposely over-exaggerated."

The new climate change denial narratives are more concerning than the older ones since they either claim that climate change is beneficial, harmless, or just an overexaggeration.

"Scientists have won the battle to inform the public about climate change and its causes, which is why those opposed to climate action have cynically switched focus to undermining confidence in solutions and in science itself," explained CCDH Chief Executive Imran Ahmed.

Related Article: 2023 UN COP28 Discusses Climate Change's Contagious Effects on Human Health; WHO Says It's Most Important
Iran announced a series of strikes targeting what they referred to as a "spy headquarters and the gathering of anti-Iranian terrorist groups."

In response, the US State Department swiftly released a statement condemning the attacks, with spokesperson Matthew Miller expressing strong opposition to Iran's "reckless missile strikes" that, in their view, undermine stability in Iraq, as per Fox News.

Iran's Missile Strikes in Erbil

The strikes, focused near Iraq's northern city of Erbil, prompted the US State Department to emphasize support for the Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Government's efforts to meet the aspirations of the Iraqi people. According to two US officials, the strikes did not cause any casualties or damage to US facilities.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for the missile attack in Erbil, which resulted in large explosions and sirens, including at the American Consulate. Reports from the Kurdistan Regional Security Council indicated at least four civilian casualties, along with brief air traffic diversions.

A separate ballistic missile attack by the Revolutionary Guards targeted locations in Syria connected to the Islamic State, as outlined in their statement. The elite Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted that the Erbil strike aimed to destroy espionage headquarters and locations used by anti-Iranian terrorist groups for planning attacks, citing recent incidents in Kerman and Rask, Iran.

Conflicting narratives emerged regarding the Erbil attack, with initial indications of blame towards Israel from Iranian leaders. However, the Revolutionary Guards later shifted focus back to Israel, specifically naming Mossad, Israel's spy agency, as the target. Israel has yet to respond to these claims.

The attacks on the Suleimani memorial and the police station underscored Iran's perceived vulnerability to infiltration by extremist groups, despite possessing a formidable intelligence service and police capabilities, according to Devdiscourse.

Read Also: Ukraine Destroys 2 Russian Control, Command Aircraft-Here's Why It's a Big Achievement for Kyiv

US Condemns Surging Militant Attacks Amid Tensions

While direct attacks by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps are less frequent, militant groups aligned with Iran have launched over 130 assaults on US installations in Iraq and Syria since the conflict in the Gaza Strip commenced in October. The ongoing conflict involving Hamas in southern Israel has contributed to escalating tensions in the region.

Several explosions near the under-construction US Consulate in Erbil and the Erbil airport on Tuesday did not impact US facilities, according to an American official. The US State Department reiterated its strong condemnation of Iran's actions, offering condolences to the families affected and emphasizing the destabilizing impact on Iraq.

Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, witnessed the attack, leading the Kurdish region's security council to denounce it as a "blatant violation of sovereignty." They called on the international community to condemn the Iranian assault, characterizing it as baseless and unjustified.

Kifah Mahmood, a former media adviser to Massoud Barzani, accused the Revolutionary Guards of attempting to deflect from a security failure in Kerman through a retaliatory attack, expressing regret for civilian casualties.

The broader context involves Iranian-linked groups targeting US bases in Iraq and Syria, while Iranian proxies like Houthi militants in Yemen engage in actions against commercial shipping in the Red Sea amid Israel's conflict with Hamas. These developments heighten tensions in the already volatile Middle East, raising concerns about further regional violence, The New York Times reported.

Related Article: NATO Arctic Exercise: Britain Sends 20K Troops Across Europe for Largest Deployment Since Cold War
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has made a compelling call to Iowa caucusgoers to reconsider their support for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 White House race.

This plea comes in the wake of the Iowa Caucuses being called in favor of Trump by the Associated Press and other media outlets.

Nikki Haley Urges New GOP Leadership After Trump's Iowa Win

Haley, who has been trailing Trump in recent state and national polls, delivered a speech at a Des Moines caucus site on Monday night, emphasizing the need for the GOP to choose a "new generational leader." While not explicitly naming Trump, her remarks appeared to be a direct reference to the former president. Haley stressed the importance of avoiding "Republican chaos" to counteract the chaos posed by Democrats.

Despite Iowa's relatively modest number of voters and delegates, the state's first-in-the-nation caucuses have historically wielded significant influence, often propelling candidates from obscurity to nomination. In this year's caucuses, Trump is poised for a substantial victory, marking a striking turn of events from 2016 when Iowa voters rejected him in favor of Ted Cruz.

The polls suggest that the main competition might be for second place, a contest between Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. Trump's commanding lead, exceeding 30 percentage points, has left Haley and DeSantis lagging in the teens. However, even a second-place finish could be crucial for Haley's momentum, particularly as she has shown signs of surpassing DeSantis in recent Iowa polls.

For DeSantis, a third-place finish would be a significant blow, given his alignment with conservative values and strong endorsements from key figures in Iowa. This outcome could raise questions about his viability in other states, casting doubt on his ability to outpace Haley and Trump elsewhere, according to The New York Times.

Read Also: War Talks in Lithuania: Volodymyr Zelensky Makes Unannounced Visit to Ukraine's Key Ally Amid Russia's Invasion

Iowa Results Set Tone for New Hampshire

The dynamics of the Iowa caucus results have broader implications for the candidates as they move into New Hampshire. Haley, not a natural fit for the conservative caucus electorate, stands to gain momentum if she can outperform expectations. Conversely, a decisive loss for DeSantis could lead to calls for him to withdraw from the race.

As the Iowa caucus results unfolded, Trump secured a remarkable majority of 51% of the vote, a significant margin over his opponents. DeSantis, who had pinned hopes on a strong showing in Iowa, came in a distant second with 21.2%, while Haley closely followed with 19.1%. Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, with 7.7% support, decided to drop out of the race after his lackluster performance.

Trump's dominating win reinforces his influence within the Republican Party, showcasing the tight grip he has on GOP voters. The victory, combined with the loyalty of evangelical voters and widespread skepticism toward his legal troubles, positions Trump as a formidable force in the race for the nomination.

As the contenders shift their focus to New Hampshire, the state's primary will be a crucial battleground. While a win in New Hampshire by Haley would still leave Trump as the overwhelming favorite, it could provide her with momentum among highly educated and moderate Republicans, US News reported.

Related Article: Vivek Ramaswamy Suspends 2024 Presidential Bid, Endorses Trump After Iowa Caucus
On Tuesday, an Iranian missile strike on targets in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region caused a row, with Baghdad recalling its ambassador from Tehran in protest. For their part, the Iranians are insisting that the attack was to deter threats from Israeli spies.

The missile strike was carried out by Iran's elite Republican Guard. Iranian media also reported that the fighting force struck out against the Islamic State in Syria a day before. The Republican Guards also said they "fired a number of ballistic missiles in Syria and destroyed the perpetrators of terrorist operations" in Iran, including the Islamic State.

This is but the latest in a series of events that some fear will spiral into a region-wide conflict. There had already been significant rumblings about Iraq becoming a theater for conflict after U.S. strikes against groups alleged to be linked to Iran that are also part of Iraq's security forces.

Reuters reports that it is the first direct military action by Iran that is linked to the Gaza war. Iraq recalled its envoy from Iran and summoned Iranian officials in Baghdad. They further stated they would take all legal actions against what it called a violation of its sovereignty.

The attack took place in a residential area near the U.S. consulate in Kurdistan's capital, Erbil. Kurdish Prime Minster Msarour Barzani said it was a "crime against the Kurdish people." At least four civilians were killed and six injured according to reports. Influential Kurdish businessman Peshraw Dizayeee and several members of his family were reportedly among the dead when a rocket crashed into their home, according to Iraqi security forces.

What Does Iran Have To Say?

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said that it respected the territorial integrity of Iran but it was his country's "legitimate right to deter national security threats."

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for bombings in Iran that killed nearly 100 people at the memorial for commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a strike by United States armed forces.

France accused Iran of violating Iraq's sovereignty and Washington condemned the attacks as "reckless", while American officials said no U.S. facilities were struck and there were no U.S. casualties.

Iran has carried out strikes in the Kurdistan region in the past and asserts the area is a staging ground for Iranian separatist groups and Israeli agents.
An American Airlines mystery confuses many passengers. Although this unusual happening was already experienced by other American travelers, the issue became viral after Ben Schlappiga popular airline bloggershared his first-hand experience.

What Schlappig experienced was having an empty first-class seat next to his own. This is a mysterious incident since AA and other airlines tend to ensure that all first-class seats are occupied.

Some people, especially newbie travelers, might think that they can easily occupy empty seats on flights with few passengers. However, this isn't really the case since passengers who want to occupy empty seats need to ask flight attendants first.

Unlike lower-tier seats, first-class seats are usually occupied because of unlimited complimentary upgrades, which are offered to elite members.

This is why the empty first-class seat that Schlappig encounters baffles other American Airlines passengers.

American Airlines' Empty 1st-Class Seat Confuses Passengers

Ben Schlappig said that he encountered the unusual happening while flying via American Airlines first class from New York to Miami.

"I had the unthinkable luxury (well, at least on US airlines) of an empty seat next to me, though it came at the expense of someone else's upgrade," said Ben via his official blog post.

"This is the first time that I've personally witnessed something like this on American, so it's certainly an isolated incident," he added.

The airline blogger said that he couldn't recall if he already experienced seeing an empty first class on a mainline domestic AA airplane.

He clarified that he had already seen an empty first-class seat on a regional jet during an off-peak period. However, it is very rare to see one on a mainline domestic flight.

To answer other passengers' questions, Schlappig provided his theories regarding the empty first-class seat of American Airlines, as reported by TheStreet:

The passenger simply just didn't show up.

The first-class seat was left empty because of airline agents' laziness.

But, Ben said that the most possible explanation for the empty AA first-class seat could be the arrival time. He said that the flight was showing an on-time departure, but the arrival time was 18 minutes behind the original schedule.

He explained that AA must have been unable to wait for the passenger because there was pressure to get the flight out as soon as possible since there was an anticipated delay.

Read Also: DEI: United Airlines CEO Bashed for Trying to Reduce White Male Pilots to 50%; Critics Say Safety Before DEI

Other AA Passengers Share Speculations

After learning about the mysterious experience of Ben Schlappig, other American Airlines passengers also shared their theories as to why the first-class seat was empty:

The passenger offered the first-class seat upgrade needed two seats.

The lucky traveler chosen for the first-class seat upgrade preferred staying beside their companions.

Just like one of Ben's theories, other passengers think the first-class traveler just didn't show up.

These are just some of the speculations shared by AA passengers regarding the peculiar empty first-class seats. You can click here to see more.

Related Article: Spirit Airlines Puts Unaccompanied 6-Year-Old Passenger on Wrong Flight! Boy's Grandmother Demands Answers
Personnel from the US Navy recovered Iranian-made missile warheads and other components during a ship-boarding mission near Somalia last week.

The operation marked the first time the US Navy seized advanced Iranian-made weapons systems since 2019.

In a statement, the Pentagon said that the operation disrupted the weapons resupply of militants in Yemen, but at the cost of two US Navy SEAL operators who went missing due to poor nighttime visibility and rough seas. The SEALs boarded the vessel, described by US defense officials as a dhow lacking proper identification, origin, and destination, amid suspicions that there were arms on board.

One of the operators slipped from a ladder while attempting to climb aboard the dhow, while a second dove in to help before both of them were swept away by the sea, officials added.

Neither of the missing SEALs has been publicly identified.

The Washington Post reported that a massive search-and-rescue operation has been underway in the Arabian Sea since Thursday last week (January 11).

Read Also: U.S. and U.K. Launch Strikes on Rebels, Houthis Vow Retaliation

What US Operators Found Aboard

While rescue operations were underway, other operators continued with the mission and took 14 of the boat's crew members into custody before scuttling the vessel.

"Disposition of the 14 dhow crew members is being determined in accordance with international law," the Pentagon said in its statement.

Aside from Iranian-made warheads, other seized items include propulsion and guidance systems, as well as air defense components. According to an "initial analysis" made by US defense officials, the weapons were similar to the ones the Houthis have used to target ships on the Red Sea. This meant that Iran and its allies could be accused of violating international law and a related United Nations resolution regarding activity in Yemen.

The Houthis have initially said that their actions were in protest of Israel's military campaign in Gaza against Hamas.

Related Article: US, UK Attacking Houthi Rebels in Yemen-What We Know So Far
The foreign minister of Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that his country would be willing to recognize the state of Israel should a comprehensive agreement be reached that would also include statehood for Palestinians.

"We agree that regional peace includes peace for Israel, but that could only happen through peace for the Palestinians through a Palestinian state," Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

When asked if the Saudis would be willing to recognize Israel as part of a broader political agreement, responded: "Certainly."

Prince Faisal further stated that creating a Palestinian state was essential for regional security and peace, adding that it was: "something we have been indeed working on with the U.S. administration, and it is more relevant in the context of Gaza".

The Saudis were working on a way to formally recognize the state of Israel prior to the October 7 ignition of hostilities in Gaza, but that plan was soon divested in a "swift reordering of diplomatic priorities."

What Is The United States Doing?

Reuters, quoting two sources, reported that there may be a significant delay in a U.S. -brokered sitdown on normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. This is seen as a stepping stone toward what Saudi Arabia really wants, a defense pact with the United States.

Both Israeli and Saudi leaders had expressed interest in steadily moving toward establishing diplomatic relations that could reshape the power dynamic in the region.

As recently as September 2023, the United Nations was hopeful that a peace agreement between the two parties was imminent. "Such a peace will go a long way in ending Arab-Israeli conflict and will encourage other Arab States to normalize their relations with Israel," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the time, adding that it will also enhance prospects of peace with the Palestinians.

The agreement, he emphasized will "encourage a broader reconciliation between Judaism and Islam, between Jerusalem and Mecca, between the descendants of Isaac and the descendants of Ishmael."

Just weeks later, an assault on southern Israel by Hamas that resulted in the death of 1,200 people, and the kidnapping of an estimated 250 others, placed all calls for peace and reconciliation on the backburner.
A new UFO sighting in China baffles Chinese residents. The unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) was spotted on Sunday, Jan. 14. Images of the UFO are already going viral on Weibo, China's most popular social media platform.

On Monday, Jan. 15, UFO became the fifth most searched topic on the Chinese online website. It had over 900,000 threads as of writing. Many Chinese citizens posted their own images of the UAP, claiming that they saw the unusual flying object on Sunday at around 6:00 p.m. local time.

But, is this really an alien aircraft or just another SpaceX rocket sighting? Here's what Chinese netizens said.

UFO Sighting in China Baffles Chinese Residents

According to The South China Morning Post's latest report, many Chinese residents gave more detailed descriptions of what they saw on Sunday evening.

They said that a glowing object was seen in the sky. Since there were no clouds during that time, Chinese netizens said they were able to see clearly the UAP.

What's unusual about the flying object they saw was that it didn't have a flashing light. A netizen on Weibo said that the UFO was shaped like an isosceles triangle and had three light sources.

The Chinese resident said that after seeing the UFO, it suddenly dissipated like a mist and disappeared without a trace.

"Recording the UFOs I saw on the way to get off work today, just like in the video, it moved forward little by little, and the speed was quite fast, and suddenly disappeared after a few seconds, I was shocked, and I got goosebumps all over my body," said one of the Chinese citizens who saw the UAP.

While others are asking if it's really an alien aircraft, others speculated that it could be a new kind of weapon of other countries.

"Everyone saw a few hazy light clusters flying together, without a sound, flying and flying. What is this? Is it aliens coming to Earth? Or what kind of weapons from other countries?" said a Weibo user.

The latest UFO sighting was reported by many Chinese citizens in numerous places, such as Shandong in the east, the nearby city of Tianjin, and the central province of Shanxi.

Read Also: Pentagon UFO Metallic Orb Sighting Update: UAP Hunters Claim Solving This Mystery-What Is It?

Chinese Experts Doubt It's an Alien Aircraft

While Chinese citizens are still confused by the latest UFO sighting, Wang Zhuoxiao, a Center for Astronomy Technology researcher at Tsinghua University, provided a more possible explanation.

Zhuoxiao said that the mysterious cloud-like aircraft could just be the aftermath of a rocket launch, as reported by Interesting Engineering.

He added that it is most likely from the latest Starlink satellite launches of Elon Musk's SpaceX initiative. The Chinese astronomer further stated that a SpaceX rocket likely emitted excess fuel, which could scatter light and form a cloud around the spacecraft.

As of press time, the Chinese government and SpaceX haven't commented regarding the UFO sighting in China.

Related Article: Peru's Ancient 'Alien Corpses' Confirmed Fake; Mummies Are Dolls Made From Earthly Bones
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as Qatar's foreign minister, said a two-state solution was essential to ending the conflict and warned that the Israeli response to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack showed the region could not go back to the way it was before.

"Gaza is not there anymore. I mean, there is nothing over there," he said, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "It's carpet bombing everywhere," reported The Associated Press.

Al Thani warned of the massive destruction inflicted by Israel's offensive on Gaza and criticized the Israeli defense minister's rejection of a cease-fire in the battered enclave. The war has brought about a humanitarian catastrophe that has displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million population and pushed more than a quarter into starvation, according to the United Nations. Palestinian authorities have confirmed the death toll to have surpassed 24,000 in the coastal territory.

The AP published Al Thani's forewarning at the World Economic Forum, quoting that a military confrontation in the Mideast waterways "will not contain" the attacks by Yemen Houthi rebels who on Monday fired a missile, striking a U.S.-owned ship just off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden.

"What we have right now in the region is a recipe of escalation everywhere," Sheikh Mohammed added.

The conflict has spread to parts of the Middle East since the war between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas began on Oct. 7, with groups allied to Iran carrying out attacks in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, revealed Reuters.

"We need to address the central issue, which is Gaza in order to get everything else defused...if we are just focusing on the symptoms and not treating the real issues, (solutions) will be temporary," said Al Thani.

What Is The Background?

Since November, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group has been attacking vessels in the Red Sea as the route accounts for about 12% of the world's shipping traffic, in what they say is an effort to support Palestinians during Israel's onslaught of the region. U.S. and British forces have responded by carrying out dozens of air and sea strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since Friday, Reuters reported.

Sheikh Mohammed said U.S. and British attacks create "a high risk of further escalation and further expansion of" the conflict.

"We always prefer diplomacy over any military resolutions," he said.

Without a viable, sustainable two-state solution in Israel and Palestine, securing financial support from the international community may hinder the reconstruction of Gaza, Sheikh Mohammed said.

"The bigger picture cannot be ignored," he continued, urging the international community to require Israel to agree to a time-bound, irreversible pathway to a two-state solution.

"We cannot leave this just at the hand of the Israelis," concluded Sheikh Mohammed.
China adopts increased measures to prevent holiday season epidemic outbreaks

Xinhua) 10:05, January 17, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese epidemic control agencies will introduce more measures to prevent epidemic outbreaks during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, a senior health official said Tuesday.

The COVID-19 infection rate in China might rebound to a certain degree around the time of the Spring Festival holiday when an estimated 9 billion trips are set to be made, said Lei Zhenglong, chief of the epidemic control and prevention division of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, at a press conference.

Health authorities will step up monitoring at border ports and expand COVID-19 and influenza vaccination coverage for vulnerable population, particularly elderly people and those who have chronic diseases, Lei said.

Hospitals have been told to beef up manpower in their emergency wards and in departments focusing on paediatrics, respiration and critical diseases. In addition, pharmacies have been asked to increase their stock of cold and respiratory medicines, according to Lei.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Two planes from Korean Air Lines and Cathay Pacific Airways have made contact Tuesday, January 16, at Japan's New Chitose Airport, which serves the Sapporo metropolitan area. No injuries were reported.

Minor Collison at Japan Airport

In a report by South China Morning Post, a representative from Korean Air said that at around 5:35 PM local time, flight KE766 from Sapporo to Seoul was being pulled back from its parking spot by a towing truck in preparation for takeoff when it struck with a stationary Cathay aircraft.

She described it as a "clipping incident" that occurred at Hokkaido's New Chitose Airport when a third-party ground-handler vehicle fell in the severe snow, causing the Korean Air and Cathay planes to collide with one another. "There were no injuries and the airline is cooperating with all relevant authorities," the spokeswoman added.

There were a total of 276 passengers and 13 staff members on the Korean Air jet. Meanwhile, the Cathay plane was empty.

According to the Korean Air spokesperson, travelers will be placed on a flight that departs from Seoul's Incheon airport and arrives in Sapporo at 11:30 PM local time. She also said that the rescheduled flight would return to Incheon at 4:15 AM local time on Wednesday, January 17.

A portion of the Korean Air plane's wing was reportedly damaged.

An official from Cathay acknowledged that an incident had occurred on one of their planes. "Our aircraft, which was stationary at the time with no customers or crew on board, was struck by a Korean Air A330 which was taxiing past."

After the incident, Cathay announced that their Sapporo to Hong Kong flight CX583 was not going to operate as planned. However, they promised to transfer the majority of passengers to another route on Tuesday and the remaining customers the next day.

Flight attendants at Cathay were informed that the planes would be grounded for repairs and stringent inspection post-repair before flying again.

See Also: Japan Tightens Air Traffic, Pilot Protocols with New Rules After Haneda Collision

Two Accidents Within Two Weeks

This makes two accidents at airports in Japan in the span of two weeks. On January 2, a tragic crash occurred at Tokyo's busy Haneda airport between an aircraft operated by Japan Airlines and a plane belonging to the coastguard.

A fire broke out on both flights when JAL 516, which was carrying 379 people (including 14 Hongkongers and crew), touched down on the runway just behind the coastguard jet that was getting ready to take off from the same spot.

It only took 18 minutes for everyone on board the JAL Airbus A350-900 to get off the plane safely.

Five members of the coastguard's crew died. The commander managed to escape with burns. The coastguard aircraft did not get explicit takeoff clearance, according to a partially released transcript of the air traffic control conversation.

See Also: Alaska Airlines, Federal Officials Ground Boeing 737 Max 9 Planes Following Mid-Air Section Blowout
The Shell Oil company pioneered oil and gas exploration and drilling starting in Nigeria in 1930.

Through oil spills, sabotage, hostage scenarios, and political subterfuge, the British-based company maintained its holdings for nearly 100 years. Now, reports Reuters, they have finally decided to give up a portion of its holdings. Shell will sell its onshore oil and gas holdings to a consortium or mostly local companies for $2.4 billion.

Shell is responsible for hundreds of onshore oil spills, the most recent of which occurred in 2013. They've also suffered through theft, sabotage, and all-around mismanagement. These operational issues, as well as the lawsuits that spawned from them, are but a few of the reasons the company has decided to sell.

Shell will now focus on offshore oil and gas instead, which is more lucrative and less problem-filled. Shell is but the most recent Western company to withdraw from Nigeria. Exxon Mobil and Equinor, based out of Norway, have each sold off assets in Nigeria in recent years. The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria will be sold for $1.3 billion, and Shell will get an additional $1.1 billion for prior receivables at the completion of the deal.

What About Shell's Onshore Assets in Nigeria

"This agreement marks an important milestone for Shell in Nigeria, aligning with our previously announced intent to exit onshore oil production in the Niger Delta, simplifying our portfolio and focusing future disciplined investment in Nigeria on our Deepwater and Integrated Gas positions," Shell head of upstream Zoe Yujnovich said.

The buyers are ND Western, Aradel Energy, First E&P Waltersmith, and other local entities. Together they're called the Renaissance Consortium. Other partners in the joint venture are the state's Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which holds 55%, TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), with 10%, and Italy's Eni (ENI.MI) with 5%. The new company will take over responsibilities for onshore spills, theft, and sabotage.

Shell's SPDC Limited operates and has a 30% stake in the SPDC joint venture that holds 18 onshore and shallow water mining leases. Shell's resources in SPDC reached around 458 million barrels of oil equivalent by the end of 2022.

Shell still has a liquefied natural gas plant and other assets in Nigeria.

SPDC, which remains the operator, was formed in 1979, incorporating assets of the older Shell-BP consortium, with its current partners entering at later stages.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated Sunday that almost 40% of jobs around the globe could be affected by the expansion of AI.

They reported that the world stands at the cusp of a technological revolution with the potential to enhance productivity, propel global growth, and elevate incomes globally. However, it also carries the risk of job displacement and exacerbating inequality.

The Global Markets

The IMF article additionally focused on how certain markets and economies will be affected by this new adoption of AI Within advanced economies, AI could potentially affect approximately 60 percent of jobs. While around half of these exposed jobs might experience enhanced productivity through AI integration, the other half faces the prospect of AI taking over tasks currently performed by humans. This shift could reduce labor demand, resulting in lower wages and diminished hiring. In extreme scenarios, certain jobs may even cease to exist.

The IMF also revealed that low-income countries and developing markets anticipated AI exposure rates stand at 40 percent and 26 percent for advanced and emerging market/developing economies, respectively. While these figures indicate that emerging economies may experience fewer immediate disruptions from AI, the lack of infrastructure and skilled workforces in many of these nations poses a challenge. This raises concerns that, over time, AI could exacerbate inequality among nations by limiting the ability of certain countries to harness its benefits.

CNN also disclosed that certain tech firms have explicitly cited AI as a factor influencing their reconsideration of staffing levels. Although workforce dynamics may undergo changes, the widespread adoption of AI is projected to potentially raise labor productivity and contribute to a 7% annual increase in global GDP over a ten-year span. This estimation was put forth by Goldman Sachs economists in March 2023.

The general consensus seems to be that while AI integration will have a positive effect on our current way of living, it could also be a double-edged sword that could also widen the current income and overall wealth gap on top of making the human touch seemingly obsolete when it comes to some forms of work as Chat GPT continues to gain notoriety. For example at CES earlier this month AI had a big show out with Chat GPT blending with Volkswagens Ida as well as a new app that utilizes AI to translate your newborn's cries.
Wang Chuanfu, founder and CEO of BYD, the biggest manufacturer of electric vehicles (EVs) in the world, said that the company would spend 100 billion yuan ($14 billion) to research and develop smart car features. The China-based EV maker is taking this step to compete with competitors that are loading their cars with more advanced technology.

In the news announced on Tuesday, January 16, Wang withheld further information, including a projected duration of the investment.

Autopilot Navigation and More

According to Bloomberg, Navigation on Autopilot is a technology that BYD intends to provide that will enable drivers to remove their hands and feet from the wheel in specific circumstances. As part of the system, drivers are prompted to touch the wheel every 15 seconds.

Vehicles priced over 200,000 yuan ($28,000) will have the option to upgrade to it. Meanwhile, it will be standard in automobiles priced above 300,000 yuan ($42,000).

BYD's Denza N7 EV has Navigation on Autopilot pre-installed. According to the automaker, it will be included in the designer's high-end Yangwang brand models and maybe even in some of the company's more affordable lineups.

During its presentation at an event in Shenzhen, BYD also discussed other aspects that are not related to driving but might improve the experience for drivers.

For around 1 million yuan ($140,000), you may have the Yangwang U8, which can be customized with a drone attachment and a carrying case. The steering wheel can be detached from the control column, thanks to an engineering modification. This allows drivers to use it in conjunction with the car's pedals to simulate virtual racing games.

With the addition of palm-print motion sensor technology, BYD is allowing drivers of its more expensive models to unlock vehicle doors just by waving their hands over them.

See Also: Tesla Could Lose to BYD as Chinese EV Maker Boasts Producing Over 3 Million New Energy Vehicles

Other Appealing Features For Drivers

One of the most appealing features to buyers in China and elsewhere is the availability of advanced driver-aid technologies. In some locations and on certain routes, smart vehicles may park themselves and even go into autopilot mode. In fact, Chinese market leaders Xpeng and Huawei deploy advanced driver assistance systems to differentiate their cars and charge premium pricing.

Once Xpeng's navigation guided pilot system (XNGP) was released to 52 cities in the country, it solidified the company's reputation as one of the most cutting-edge Chinese smart driving manufacturers. Using Lidar sensors and cameras, the system can autonomously accelerate, stop, identify traffic signals, and change lanes.

A memory parking capability is another option available on certain Xpeng models. This allows the vehicle to navigate to a specific location by remembering its previous location in a parking garage.

See Also: Hyundai Reveals Infrastructure Innovations at CES 2024
In a ruling on Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights, based in Strasbourg, France ordered Greece to pay 80,000 euros (roughly USD 87,000) in damages to the wife and two children of Belal Tello, who died, more than a year after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head after Greek coast guards chased the boat he had been travelling in, said The Associated Press.

Tello, a Syrian refugee had been traveling in a motorboat carrying a total of 14 people that failed to stop when ordered to by a two-man Greek Coast Guard patrol boat as it arrived near the small eastern Aegean island of Pserimos on the morning of Sept. 22, 2014. The court stated the motorboat's captain "began dangerous maneuvers," colliding with the Coast Guard patrol boat on two or three occasions and causing limited damage.

According to the AP, a report drawn up on the day of the incident and cited by the court, the Coast Guard fired seven warning shots and 13 shots at the outboard motor, attempting to stop it. Two Syrians on board were wounded; Tello in the head and another passenger in the shoulder. A Greek court tried and convicted two Turkish nationals found to have been in command of the motorboat used for migrant smuggling.

Tello stayed in intensive care in a hospital on the nearby island of Rhodes until March 2015. Later, in August of that year, he was moved to Sweden for continued treatment, where his wife and children lived. However, Tello ultimately succumbed to his wounds that December.

What Were The Court's Findings?

The court concluded that the force applied to halt the motorboat and arrest its captain was "clearly disproportionate." Additionally, it was noted that Coast Guard officers failed to take necessary measures to confirm that no other passengers were on board before opening fire. The AP went on to reveal that the European court had also recognized shortcomings in Greek authorities' investigation of the incident,

Refugee Support Aegean, a rights organization that provides legal assistance for asylum seekers in Greece and was involved in Tello's relatives' lawsuit, said the case "demonstrates yet again well-documented, systemic deficiencies in the planning and implementation of Coast Guard operations and in the investigation of human rights violations at sea."

The brief, but often dangerous, voyage from Turkey's coast to nearby Greek islands has served as a significant route used by individuals escaping poverty and conflict in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia to enter the European Union.

Greece rejects accusations that its coast guard systematically carries out illegal summary deportations of recently arrived asylum seekers.
CISA is now warning Google Chrome and Microsoft Excel users over two new exploits that could enable malicious actors to easily get access to computers.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said that the newly discovered security flaws show that there's an urgent need for reinforced digital security.

Aside from civilian users, the operational component of DHS is strongly warning federal agencies since they are the ones that could become the main targets of hackers.

CISA Warns Google Chrome, Excel Users About Two New Hacking Exploits

According to Fox News' latest report, one of the security vulnerabilities was found in a library that reads Microsoft Excel files. It was identified by security firm Barracuda, which claimed that Chinese hackers already used the exploit in December 2023.

Meanwhile, CISA said that the other security vulnerability is a zero-day that comes in the form of cyberhacking on an open-source project.

Hackers are using it to overload browsers, causing the computer to crash. Aside from this, the vulnerability could also give them permission to do whatever they want on the PC.

What's worse about this exploit is that it doesn't only affect Google Chrome. Other open-source web browsers that use WebRTC to communicate are also at risk.

Since these two new exploits are pretty serious, BNN Breaking reported that CISA issued a deadline to federal agencies to take action, which is Jan. 23.

To help federal agencies and civilian users, CISA provided some tips on what to do to prevent hackers, as well as practices in case of an actual security breach.

Read Also: Comcast Reports Data Breach Affecting Over 35 Million Xfinity Subscribers | HNGN - Headlines & Global News

CISA's Cybersecurity Tips

CISA said that federal agencies need to ensure that they are only using trusted open-source applications; install antivirus protection; be cautious when accessing unknown attachments and links; as well as keep software up to date.

Aside from these, here are other safety practices that federal agencies can rely on to prevent hackers from accessing their computers:

Preventing Hackers

Always update software and other applications that are installed on PCs.

Only install reliable and safe antivirus protection; invest in this cybersecurity software if possible.

Never open links and attachments from unknown senders.

What To Do When Hacked

Change the passwords of your online accounts immediately. If you are accessing your bank accounts via the compromised computer, contact your bank right away.

When your PC is hacked, always monitor your online accounts and transactions.

If you are sure that your computer has been compromised, inform your contacts right away to protect them from hackers as well.

If you're okay with it, always conduct a factory reset.

Related Article: Romantic Killer? US Embassy Warns About Using Dating Apps in Colombia as Some Americans Mysteriously Die
Many Americans adhering to a certain religion have noticed they were being less accepted by society in previous years.

In its 2023 Religious Freedom Index, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty said that the greatest change in perceived feelings of acceptance could be seen among Christians. On the other hand, religious non-Christians report a significantly lower level of perceived acceptance.

The group further said that half of the people of faith in the US felt that their faith was "completely" accepted or accepted by "a good amount."

Growing Animosity Towards Religion

The figures were provided by the group, which tracks American public opinion on First Amendment rights, to the National Catholic Register prior to publication on Tuesday (January 16).

Becket added that the new figures meant a 5% decline in religious Americans' feelings of acceptance from its 2022 findings.

Overall, only 21% of all people of faith in the US said that they felt that their faith was "completely" accepted, while 16% said that they felt that their faith was only accepted "a small amount" or "not at all."

"[T]he decline in feelings of acceptance among religious Americans should motivate us to continue working to defend faith in the public square," Becket vice president and senior counsel Lori Windham said. "When religious people and institutions are free to exercise their beliefs in society, it makes for a more welcoming culture."

The survey was released as multiple incidents of vandalism and damage to places of worship and even residences of prominent believers were prominent since the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Read Also: Capitol Hill: Jim Jordan Says Biden Administration Targets 'Pro-Life Catholics'

Focusing on Faith among Women, Catholics

Windham also noticed that Becket's study found that young women of faith between the ages of 18 and 24 were most likely to report only feeling moderate or low acceptance in society.

Also notable was that 56% of the Catholics participating in the survey were most likely to feel that their faith was either "completely" accepted or done so to "a good amount."

The decline in overall feelings of acceptance came mostly from non-Catholic Christians, with 54% of whom said they felt either completely accepted or accepted a good amount, which was down from 59% in 2022.

Meanwhile, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released a separate report on the matter, saying that its Committee for Religious Liberty was founded to address and respond to "increasing legal threats to the free exercise of religion."

"There is no greater threat to religious liberty than for one's house of worship to become a place of danger, and the country sadly finds itself in a place where that danger is real," the bishops' conference said in its latest report.

Fort Wayne-South Bend Bishop Kevin Rhoades, who heads the USCCB's Committee for Religious Liberty, told EWTN that its report this year outlines the major issues occupying the committee over the past year.

"It reveals a wide range of concerns, such as federal agencies misusing laws meant to aid pregnant women in order to promote abortion, threats to the safety of our Jewish and Muslim neighbors, and the FBI's suspicion of Catholics who worship in the Traditional Latin Mass," Rhoades said.

Related Article: UW-La Crosse Fires Chancellor for Making Explicit Videos-Cites First Amendment
Iranian Noble Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to an additional 15 months in Prison, Mohammadi's family said in a written statement to CNN on Monday. Mohammadi has already spent 12 years in jail serving multiple sentences.

The extension follows a new charge, "spreading propaganda" against the Islamic Republic regime while in prison. During her trial, she refused to attend court proceedings or participate in questioning, the statement revealed. Atop the extra 15 months in prison, the new sentence orders Mohammadi to "two years of exile outside Tehran and neighboring provinces." She was also given a two-year travel ban, "a two-year ban on membership in social-political groups, and a two-year ban on using a smartphone," reported CNN.

This is Mohammadi's fifth conviction since 2021 and her third while incarcerated.

In a letter written from the notorious Evin Prison in 2023 and shared with CNN, Mohammadi railed against the government's policy of compulsory hijab, calling it a "deceitful scheme against women" and a tool "to strengthen the power of the religious government."

Last August she was sentenced to an additional year in jail for her continued activism behind bars, after she gave a media interview and a statement about sexual assaults in prison, which she says have "significantly increased," leading her to describe the abuse as now "systematic."

The Iranian government has denied the widespread allegations of sexual assaults against detainees, including in an in-depth CNN investigation last year, calling them "false" and "baseless."

Mohammadi has long campaigned for human rights in Iran and has been in and out of jail due to her devout activism according to BBC. The 51-year-old rights activist was awarded the Nobel Prize in October for "her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all." The achievement has come with a heavy cost as Mohammadi has spent most of the past two decades in prison.

Her teenage children accepted the prize, at Oslo's city hall, last month, on her behalf, having not seen their mother for years.

The children read a speech that had been smuggled out of prison, where Mohammadi denounced Iran's "tyrannical" government.

"I write this message from behind the high, cold walls of a prison. The Iranian people, with perseverance, will overcome repression and authoritarianism," quoted BBC.

As Mohammadi continues to serve out her sentence, The New York Times announced the temporary release of two journalists who reported on the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. The news came a day after Iran released the journalists Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi on bail while they appeal their sentences, according to state media. They had been jailed for their coverage of a young woman whose death sparked a nationwide protest movement that challenged the country's system of authoritarian clerical rule. Both women were charged with conspiring with foreign intelligence agencies to undermine national security, as well as spreading propaganda, and spent months in detention. After closed-door trials, they were sentenced in October - Ms. Hamedi to 13 years in prison and Ms. Mohammadi to 12 years.

Prosecutors filed a new complaint against the women on Monday.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines congratulated President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan on his recent election win, and China did seem to like it. Following the greeting, China reacted negatively on Tuesday, January 16.

The already-tense relationship between the two countries will most certainly become much more so after Beijing's undiplomatic remarks, in which it cautioned Manila "not to play with fire," escalate the dispute over competing territory claims in the South China Sea.

On Monday, January 15, Marcos expressed his eagerness to collaborate with Lai in a social media post. Lai is a strong critic of China and its claims to Taiwan.

In a report by Al Jazeera, the spokesperson for Beijing's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to Marcos' comments, calling on Manila to provide a responsible explanation.

In response, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that Marcos' comments were an effort to acknowledge the mutual interests of the two nations, which include the 200,000 overseas workers now working in Taiwan.

"The message of President Marcos congratulating the new president was his way of thanking them for hosting our OFWs [Overseas Filipino Workers] and holding a successful democratic process. Nevertheless, the Philippines reaffirms its One China Policy," the DFA stated, as reported by the local newspaper Manila Bulletin.

On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwan's next President.



We look forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace, and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead. January 15, 2024

The One China Policy

Mao emphasized that the comments continued to go against the "One China" concept, which Beijing asserts as the foundation for its sovereignty claim over Taiwan.

Aside from being an egregious intrusion into China's domestic affairs, Mao saw Marcos's comments as an obvious breach of the political promises the Philippines had made to China. She continued: "We are telling the Philippine side not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue ... and to stop immediately its wrongful words and deeds on Taiwan-related issues and sending wrong signals to separatist forces for Taiwan independence."

Some nations recognize Taiwan, although Beijing does not maintain diplomatic relations with them and opposes formal exchanges between other countries and Taipei.

See Also: Taiwan Loses Ally Nauru After Presidential Election! Is This China's Post-Election Tactic for Taipei?

Taiwan's Presidential Election

Last weekend, Lai breezed to an easy victory in Taiwan's presidential election. He is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). China has rejected the president-elect's request to meet with officials despite Lai's earlier willingness to do so.

In a three-way race, Lai was one of three candidates: Hou Yu-ih of the conservative Kuomintang (KMT), Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), and Lai himself. The Central Election Commission reported that 40.2% of the vote went to Lai.

Amid his victory speech, Lai expressed gratitude to both the Taiwanese people and his opponents, saying, "We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy."

Apart from Philipines' Marcos, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken are among the other world leaders who have congratulated Lai on his win.

See Also: China Condemns US for Congratulating Taiwan's New President
It was recently reported by the Associated Press that Sergey Lavrov, Russia's top diplomat met with his North Korean equivalent, Choe Son Hui to discuss strengthening the ties between the two territories amidst global concerns regarding an apparent arms collaboration between North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, and Russia's well known Moscow.

The Meeting Itself

The meeting opened with Lavrov stating he and Hui would converse about "active work" on fulfilling agreements reached by the two respective leaders of the territories. Recently last September leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un visited Russia and was hosted by President Putin where military sites were viewed which resulted in global concern about a potential arms alliance that would restore Moscow's weapons supplies amid the conflict with Ukraine. As the day goes on Putin himself is set to meet with Hui. In addition, Kremlin spokesperson, Demitri Peskov stated that he will also visit North Korea by invitation "at a convenient time" and "on mutual agreement".

Lavrov also spoke on Tuesday about a "close and fruitful" between the two territories at the United Nations and other global organizations. Also noting that Russia "highly appreciates" Pyongyang's support for Russia's military acts in Ukraine. Hui also echoed a similar sentiment stating "We will take every effort to develop our relations".

Both the United States and South Korea have assigned guilt to North Korea for providing Russia with artillery arms and missiles for Russia to use in its conflict with Ukraine. Even earlier this month United States National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, that Russia has already been using ballistic missiles provided by North Korea. However, both countries have dismissed these accusations.

It is still unclear whether the conflict between these two neighbors will have a ripple effect that pulls in other territories but it is clear that the conflict has other territories around the globe chatting about how the conflict will play a role in their politics and military actions. Ukraine has also discussed how currently Russian airstrikes have been placing a heavy burden on its air defense capabilities and has reached out to allies for more aid.
Book fair shows flourishing market, charm of traditional culture

Xinhua) 10:35, January 17, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Book Fair, held from Jan. 11 to 13, reported a record high of over 100,000 visits as China's book market continues to thrive.

According to an annual report on the book market issued under the guidance of the Publishers Association of China and the Book and Periodicals Distribution Association of China, China's retail sales of books totaled 91.2 billion yuan (about 12.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 4.72 percent year on year.

Regarded as a trendsetter in the publishing industry, the event featured 400,000 books from 720 exhibitors, drawing publishers, authors, and readers nationwide for the literal feast.

CHARM OF TRADITIONAL CULTURE

In the almost 400 diverse activities held during the book fair, numerous events spotlighting traditional culture and historical themes captivated the readers.

Among these activities is the unveiling of six-volume book series on Chinese culture, illuminating the cultural system with comprehensive coverage of literature, painting, calligraphy, music, drama, architecture, and aesthetics.

"Traditional Chinese culture is increasingly attracting the interest of young readers," said Nie Zhenning with the Guangdong Education Publishing House, publisher of the book series. Nie expressed the hope that through publication, more youthful vigor would be infused into traditional culture.

With a focus on introducing traditional culture to the youth, Beijing Xiron Culture Group Co., Ltd. selected over 100 books tailored for young readers.

The line of traditional cultural products will be further enriched to kindle even more interest from the younger generation, according to Wei Ling with Xiron.

FLOURISHING CHILDREN'S PUBLICATION

A diverse range of children's publications has revitalized the book market and become a feature of the book fair.

The annual report on the 2023 book retail market shows that China's book market has resumed growth, and children's books account for the largest share of the market at 27.21 percent.

Bringing a number of outstanding children's books to the fair, Lin Yun, head of the China Peace Publishing House, recognized the intense competition in the children's publishing sector.

Lin said that children's publications should continue to provide correct guidance and contribute to the development of future generations.

"At the beginning of the new year, the book market has ushered in a good start, about which we are very excited," said Wu Shulin, chairman of the Publishers Association of China.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The European Union has announced on Tuesday (January 16) that they have added Hamas political leader Yahya Sinwar into its terror list as a result of the group's surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7. He was already included in the US terror list in 2015.

Aside from Sinwar, the bloc also included prominent al-Shabab member Ahmed Khaled Muller to its autonomous sanctions list against the Islamic State and al-Qaeda as he participated in combat operations and committed terror acts on behalf of the mentioned groups.

The Jerusalem Post reported that being in the EU's terror list meant that Sinwar and Muller are now subject to the freezing of their funds and other financial assets in EU member states, while EU operators are prohibited from making funds and economic resources available to them.

"The EU remains committed to taking decisive action against those who continue to threaten international peace and security by planning, financing, and committing terrorist attacks and by spreading their deadly propaganda around the world," the bloc said in its statement.

Sinwar was the latest Hamas member being added in the EU's terror list after it named Hamas's top commanders Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa on December 8.

The EU's decision to add the political leader into the list was to reconfirm "the EU's resolve in countering the continued terrorist threat posed by al-Qaeda, ISIL (Da'est) and their regional affiliates."

The EU initiated its terror list in the aftermath of 9/11.

Read Also: Israel Cabinet Approves 2024 Budget With Addition of $15 Billion To Supplement War in Gaza

Reactions from Jewish, Hamas Leaders

Meanwhile, Israeli and Jewish European leaders welcome the development.

"This decision is also a result of our diplomatic efforts to strangle the resources of the Hamas, to delegitimize them and prohibit all support to them," Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "We will continue to eradicate the root of evil, in Gaza and wherever it raises its head."

As for the European Jewish Congress (EJC), the decision to add Sinwar in the EU's terror list was "welcome, correct, and logical."

"Hamas is a terror organization," EJC President Ariel Muzicant added, "there is no difference whatsoever between its so-called military and political wings and it should stand to reason that all its leaders should automatically appear on sanctions lists of the EU and its member states."

On the other hand, Taher Al-Nono, media advisor to Qatar-based Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, accused the EU of being biased and called for an end to what he said was its "double-standard policy."

"These are ridiculous and silly sanctions because everyone knows that Yahya Al-Sinwar has no assets or money, neither in Palestine nor outside it," he said.

Related Article: Qatari PM Warns of Massive Destruction, Says 'Gaza Is Not There Anymore'
Senator Bernie Sanders is leveraging an obscure provision to force a Senate vote on potentially freezing military aid to Israel unless the State Department reports on human rights abuses in Gaza.

Sen. Sanders is calling upon the Foreign Assistance Act to force the Senate to vote Tuesday afternoon on a measure that would potentially freeze military aid to Israel unless the State Department produces a report on human rights abuses in Gaza, The Hill said.

Should the resolution go into effect, The State Department would then be required to report any human rights violence committed during Israel's blockade and invasion of Gaza in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israeli civilians. U.S. assistance to Israel would freeze if the State Department fails to produce a report after 30 days.

The Hill noted that the resolution has little chance of becoming law because it must pass both chambers and be signed by President Biden.

Sanders introduced his resolution on Thursday to force a floor debate on what he has called the Netanyahu government's "indiscriminate and disproportionate military operations" in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attacks.

"In essence, we will be voting on a very simple question: Do you support asking the State Department whether human rights violations may have occurred using U.S. equipment or assistance in this war? This resolution is not prescriptive - it does not alter aid to Israel in any way. It simply requests that the State Department report on how our aid is being used," Sanders argued on the Senate floor last week.

The Washington Examiner announced Sanders initially filed the resolution last month and noted he has consistently been one of the advocates for adding conditions for aid to Israel with regard to how it handles its war with Hamas. Sanders has decried the war as illegal and immoral and said the U.S. "must no longer be complicit in destroying the lives of innocent men, women, and children in Gaza."

"The concern that I have is that we are now going to war against the Palestinian people in general," he revealed to Punchbowl News, as quoted by The Washington Examiner.

The New York Times reported other senators backing the resolution have argued that it should not be controversial to seek accountability in a deadly war.

"It asks important questions about the conduct of the war and the rights of civilians," Senator Peter Welch, Democrat of Vermont, said of Mr. Sander's resolution in a statement. "Congress and the American people deserve answers to these questions."

What Are Other Senators Saying?

However, Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, said, "I'm inclined against it," explaining that he was focusing his efforts elsewhere. Kaine is leading a push to preserve Congress' ability to review arms transfers to Israel, which would be waived under the emergency national security spending bill.

According to NYT, Republican Senator, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, has called the idea of placing restrictions on military aid to Israel "ridiculous."

Pro-Israel groups are lobbying intensely against the proposals to put conditions on aid to Israel, as well as Sanders' resolution. NYT went on to say that the Biden administration has resisted congressional efforts to place stipulations on aid and contends that the resolution is ill-timed and unnecessary.

However, The Biden administration's recent use of emergency powers to bypass Congress and speed weapons to Israel has also irked many of the lawmakers pressing for statutory changes.
TRIGGER WARNING: The following story may be distressing to some readers as it tackles topics such as suicide.

The fiancee of "All My Children" actor Alec Musser revealed that the late 50-year-old committed suicide via a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

People reported that the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office also confirmed the cause of death after he was found dead at the scene at his Del Mar, California home beside a firearm police and Press identified as a shotgun.

However, the coroners did not provide any contributing conditions to Musser's death.

In a press release immediately after Musser's death, Press said she last saw him alive before she went to bed on January 12 and only found the body of her lifeless partner "slumped forward on the bathroom floor" the next morning.

"RIP to the love of my life," Press wrote in an Instagram story following the discovery. "I will never stop loving you. My heart is broken."

Read Also: Lee Sun-Kyun's Death: 'Parasite' Director Supports Demand for In-Depth Inquiry Into Actor's Tragic Passing

Musser's Career Highlights

Musser starred in "All My Children," a long-running soap opera in the early 2000s, appearing in 43 episodes between 2005 and 2007.

Prior to this, he participated and won during the second season of the reality show "I Wanna Be a Soap Star," which launched his acting career.

He went on to play roles in the series "Rita Rocks" and "Desperate Housewives," as well as a short sequence in "Grown Ups," which was starred and co-written by Adam Sandler.

"I loved this guy," Sandler wrote about his role in the film. "[I cannot] believe he is gone. Such a wonderful, funny, good man."

Aside from TV and film, Musser also made a name for himself in the fitness industry. During his prime, he was a model and bodybuilder who was frequently shown in magazines such as Men's Health.

Related Article: 'All My Children' Actor Alec Musser Passes Away at 50
According to a recent report from Reuters, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated Tuesday that Ukraine's statehood is at risk of receiving what he described as an "Irreplaceable blow" should the current path of the conflict continue and that Russia wouldn't be put in a position to leave behind the gains it has made thus far.

The Full Statement

These comments were televised just a day after Switzerland had agreed to host a global summit requested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Putin dismisses what he referred to as the "so-called" Western and Ukrainian "peace formulas," heightening concerns for Ukraine's independence. He's also described these talks as "Prohibitive demands". Putin also stated the following "Well, if they don't want (to negotiate), then don't!". His statement continued with "Now it is quite obvious, not only (Ukraine's) counter-offensive failed, but the initiative is completely in the hands of the Russian armed forces. If this continues, Ukrainian statehood may suffer an irreparable, very serious blow."

Putin's words have recently come off as boastful which is expected because at this time of writing Russia is currently in control of 17.5% of Ukrainian territory. Putin described recent negotiations as "an attempt to motivate us to abandon the gains that we have realized over the past year and a half. But this is impossible. Everyone understands that this is impossible."

It is unclear what Putin described as an "irreparable blow" would entail for Ukraine but after recent meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and with high-level diplomats, Choe Son Hui and Sergey Lavrov, also having meetings regarding potential arms trades.

However, the United States has already accused the Russian military of using North Korean ballistic missiles but these accusations were ultimately dismissed by both North Korea and Russia. It's clear that more support for Ukraine will be needed especially with Russian airstrikes placing a heavy burden on Ukraine's air defense capabilities and overall aid from allies seemingly coming to a halt. But it is also clear that neither one of the two will come quietly. Hopefully, there will be an agreement that satisfies both Zelensky and Putin.
Republican candidates seeking to stop Donald Trump from being the party's White House nominee turned to New Hampshire on Tuesday having lost to the former president by historic margins in Iowa.

According to Reuters, more than half of Iowa voters stuck with Trump, propelling him toward what looks set to be a close and acrimonious rematch against Democratic President Joe Biden, 81, in the campaign for November's presidential election.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, 45, finished well behind Trump in second place in Iowa, pushing former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, 51, into third. Trump has dismissed debates with the other two, and on Tuesday, Haley said she would skip any future Republican debates unless Trump attends. Two such debates are due to take place in New Hampshire on Thursday and Sunday night.

Haley, a former South Carolina governor who has previously spoken of how voters in New Hampshire can "correct" the Iowa result, is polling second to Trump in the New England state, with DeSantis far behind.

"The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden," she wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter and quoted by Reuters.

The Northeastern state is recognized for its relatively moderate, libertarian-leaning form of Republicanism. Furthermore, the primary competition in New Hampshire is deemed "semi-open," allowing voters unaffiliated with any party to participate, a dynamic that may benefit candidates perceived as centrists. In pursuit of this opportunity, Haley has undertaken an extensive campaign in New Hampshire, while DeSantis had heavily bet on Iowa.

Trump's striking comeback after the political chaos of Jan. 6 doesn't guarantee he will claim the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin this summer. But his unprecedented 51% finish, obliterating Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley by 30 percentage points, left his would-be challengers rushing to formulate a believable path to slow Trump's streak.

USA Today published an article stating that during the Iowa campaign, Trump had derided DeSantis and Haley, whereas now he's praising them. "I think they both actually did very well," he said and mentioned the number of calls he was getting from Republican officials newly eager to endorse him. "And we love them all," Trump told USA Today.

Hope For Haley?

According to USA Today, Iowa has a sorry record in signaling the Republican presidential nominee. In the last seven contested caucuses, five of the winners failed to win the nomination, much less the White House. In 2016, for one, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz edged Trump. That's why Haley told an audience last week that New Hampshire "corrects" Iowa - a comment she made to a New Hampshire audience, naturally, not an Iowa one.

"When you look at how we're doing in New Hampshire, in South Carolina and beyond, I can safely say, tonight, Iowa made this Republican primary a two-person race," she told her supporters, congratulating Trump but not mentioning DeSantis. She then tied Trump to Biden as aging leaders who are "consumed by the past."

"America deserves better," she went on. "Our campaign is the last, best hope of stopping the Trump-Biden nightmare."

Meanwhile, DeSantis continues to press ahead. His campaign currently risks funding problems after failing to break through in Iowa.

"Can you name major achievements under Haley's tenure?" he asked voters in Greenville, South Carolina. "She hasn't been able to do it."

Despite Trump's sweeping win, he still faces 91 felony charges in four indictments, two in federal court and two in state courts, in New York and Georgia.

He left Iowa for New York after claiming victory to attend the opening of a trial that will determine what additional damages he must pay writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her after she accused him of rape.

Last spring, another jury awarded her about $5 million for sexual assault.
Australia has revealed its ambitious plans to venture into domestic missile manufacturing, marking a significant leap in the nation's defense capabilities.

Under a substantial A$37 million ($24.5 million) contract with the renowned American munitions powerhouse, Lockheed Martin Corp., Australia aims to commence the production of its first locally-made missiles as early as 2025, as per Blomberg.

Australia, Lockheed Martin Partner for Missile Production

Acting Defense Minister Pat Conroy, during a press briefing in Canberra on Tuesday, unveiled the collaborative effort between Australia and Lockheed Martin to construct an initial batch of missiles. The ultimate goal is to escalate production to a mass scale by the end of this decade, fostering a robust domestic missile manufacturing industry.

"This important first step towards the establishment of domestic guided weapons manufacturing in Australia will complement the acquisition of long-range precision strike capabilities and strengthen the ADF's ability to protect Australia and its interests," highlighted Acting Defense Minister Pat Conroy.

The venture is not only centered on missile production but also includes the acquisition of Precision Strike Missiles, capable of hitting targets up to 500 kilometers away. This strategic move is part of a broader $4.1 billion investment earmarked for long-range strike missiles and guided weapons enterprise, responding to the defense strategic review released last year.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles lauded the contract as evidence of the Labor government's commitment to delivering pivotal outcomes from the defense review. He emphasized that these milestones would equip Australia with the necessary technology to establish a sovereign industry while creating opportunities for a highly-skilled workforce.

The Albanese Government, under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, is resolute in ensuring that Australia embarks on manufacturing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles from 2025. The recently signed $37.4 million contract with Lockheed Martin Australia is instrumental in facilitating the initial batch of GMLRS missiles on Australian soil.

This undertaking is a crucial stepping stone toward establishing large-scale domestic missile manufacturing, involving the transfer of technical data, engineering certification processes, and the development of the technical skills of the Australian workforce, according to Yahoo News.

Read Also: Congressional Leaders To Vote on Stop-gap Spending Bill To Extend Government Funding

Australia Bolsters Defense with 500km Precision Missiles

The acquisition of Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), capable of engaging targets at a distance of 500 kilometers, is set to further enhance Australia's defense capabilities. Both PrSM and GMLRS can be launched from High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers.

These initiatives, integrated into the $4.1 billion investment plan, represent a commitment to not only bolster Australia's defense capabilities but also to establish a self-reliant missile manufacturing industry. The Albanese Government is steadfast in delivering on its promise to prioritize domestic missile manufacturing while concurrently accelerating the acquisition of long-range strike capabilities, fortifying the Australian Defence Force's ability to safeguard Australia and its immediate region.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles reiterated the significance of these contracts, stating, "Signing this contract with Lockheed Martin Australia to begin the manufacturing of GMLRS in Australia from 2025 is another example of the Albanese Government delivering key outcomes of the Defence Strategic Review."

He continued, "These are important milestones which will see Australia gain the technology we need to establish a sovereign industry, providing opportunities for a highly-skilled workforce."

The collaboration between Australia and the United States on the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise further underscores the strong and ongoing partnership, a notable outcome of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations in July 2023. This cooperative effort is poised to reinforce Australia's position in the realm of guided weapons manufacturing, aligning with the nation's strategic defense objectives, Australian Government reported.

Related Article: Germany Prepares for Putin's Plan To Attack NATO in 2025, Leaked Secret War Document Reveals
Emergency responders in Washington, DC swiftly mobilized to the White House early Monday morning following a 911 call reporting a structure fire within the iconic building.

The call, received just after 7 am, prompted units from the District of Columbia's Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department to investigate the purported emergency, as per PIX11.

False Alarm at White House Sparks Concerns

Noah Gray, the chief communications officer for DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services, stated that in collaboration with the Secret Service, responders determined that the alarm was false, and there was no actual fire emergency. Although no law enforcement team was sent, Gray pointed out the resemblance between this incident and recent "swatting" cases that have targeted public officials.

Swatting incidents typically involve the act of falsely reporting crimes in progress, with the intention of luring law enforcement to specific locations. The Secret Service spokesperson emphasized that in the event of a fire at the White House, it would have been quickly detected, despite the uncertainty surrounding the caller's identity and origin.

President Joe Biden, who was not present at the White House during the incident, had earlier traveled to Camp David and subsequently to Philadelphia for a service event at a food bank in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

The false alarm at the White House adds to a series of swatting attacks against high-profile officials in recent weeks. Notable individuals who have been targeted include special counsel Jack Smith, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, judges on the Colorado Supreme Court, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia, according to CNBC.

Read Also: Congressional Leaders To Vote on Stop-gap Spending Bill To Extend Government Funding

Threats Signal Urgent Call for Action

The threats made on Chutkan and New York Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing former President Trump's civil fraud case, underscore the gravity of these false claims. Amidst the closing arguments of Trump's trial, an alarming bomb threat was erroneously reported at Engoron's Long Island residence, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into what appeared to be a swatting incident.

Last year, the FBI took action to address the growing number of swatting events by creating a national online database to monitor and document these incidents. The White House's encounter with swatting on Monday morning underscores the urgency of addressing these dangerous criminal hoaxes.

Media outlets, including CNN, reported the incident, with Betsy Klein describing the event on social media. She emphasized the alarming nature of the incident, revealing that the caller falsely reported a fire at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the presence of someone trapped inside. The ensuing emergency response involved multiple units from the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

The rising trend of swatting, characterized by false emergency reports, has targeted various political and judicial figures, further highlighting the need for increased vigilance and preventive measures within the public safety domain. As law enforcement continues to grapple with these incidents, the broader question of enhancing security measures in the face of evolving criminal tactics remains a pressing concern, Mediaite reported.

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The United States has struck Yemen-based Houthi targets for the third time as international tensions continue to rise in the Red Sea.

The Pentagon said that the American strikes were said to have destroyed four missiles that posed a threat to the region. The attacks mark the third day in a row that the rebels have targeted passing ships with their missiles.

US Strikes Houthi Targets for Third Time

The US military said that its strike against Houthi ballistic missiles in Yemen was carried out on Tuesday. However, the latest incident against the Iran-backed rebel group left the White House struggling to find a way to stop the terrorist group from disrupting shipping lanes that are considered critical for global trade.

The Tuesday strikes destroyed the Houthi missiles that the Pentagon said posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels as well as Navy ships that travel through the Red Sea and nearby waters.

However, the pre-emptive American strike also came on the third day in a row that the Houthi rebels have defied the Biden administration and its allies. It fired missiles at passing ships and damaged a Greek-owned cargo vessel on the same day, as per the New York Times.

The Iran-backed terrorist group also damaged an American-owned commercial ship on Monday after it attempted to strike a US warship the day prior. In a statement, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said they are not looking for war or expanding the situation.

The American official said they will continue to defend against the Houthi rebels' strikes and counter them as appropriate. The situation leaves the administration with difficult choices as President Joe Biden could order another barrage of strikes against the rebels' air defenses, weapon depots, and facilities.

However, analysts have argued that doing so would risk widening the war in the region even more. The other choice that the Democratic leader has is settling for more limited tit-for-tat exchanges, similar to the Tuesday incident, but that would not necessarily resolve the current threat in the region.

Read Also: Houthi Missile Hits Greek Ship, Houthis Show No Sign of Letting Up

Seizure of Weapons

The development comes after a team of Navy SEALs that lost two sailors overboard while searching a small boat off the coast of Somalia discovered Iranian missile parts. These equipment were supposedly bound for Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to NBC News.

Despite the Navy SEAL team losing two crew members, they went on to find armaments, including ballistic missile and cruise missile components. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees the military in the Middle East and parts of Asia, said that the discovered arms were the same type that the Houthis have used to attack vessels in the Red Sea.

The seizure of the weapons followed US and UK strikes on Houthi positions in their attempts to prevent the Yemen-based rebels from targeting passing ships. CENTCOM said that the incident with the Navy SEALS highlighted the potential for the conflict to continue to spread and draw in Iran directly.

The discovery of the equipment happened as the Navy SEAL team was conducting a "flag verification." The Guardian said they executed a complex night-time boarding and had support from helicopters and drones.

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On Tuesday, Qatar announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement to allow the delivery of medicine to Israeli hostages and humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani raised the agreement after he met some of the families of the more than 130 hostages still being held captive in the Gaza Strip this month.

Qatar Mediates Humanitarian Aid Between Israel, Hamas

Qatari Ministry Spokesperson Majed al-Ansari announced that medication and humanitarian aid will leave Doha on Wednesday for the Egyptian city of El Arish to be transported to the Gaza Strip. He said Qatar mediated the agreement in cooperation with France.

On Tuesday, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the deal will see humanitarian aid delivered to civilians in the most affected and vulnerable areas in Gaza in exchange for the delivery of medication to Israeli captives held by Hamas. Qatar added that Doha will continue mediating a settlement between Israel and Hamas as part of its efforts to end the war in Gaza.

Philippe Lalliot, head of France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Crisis Center, which organizes aid efforts, said negotiations had been going on for weeks. He noted that the families of the Israeli hostages had initially proposed the idea of the agreement.

France produced specific medical packages for each of the 45 hostages that would last for several months. The International Committee of the Red Cross will cooperate with Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed the deal and said the premier "conveys his appreciation to all those who helped during the process." The office also stated that Israel will ensure the medications reach their destination.

Furthermore, a senior figure in the Gaza-ruling terror group claimed that medications from Qatar would reach the Gaza Strip and some medicine would be used to treat Israeli prisoners.

Read Also: High-Level Talks Between Russia and North Korea Amidst Concerns Over Alleged Arms Deal

US Negotiate With Doha to Release Hamas Hostages

Hamas took about 240 people as hostages during the October 7 attack on southern Israel, which also resulted in at least 1,139 deaths. Israel retaliated to the assault with a devastating bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza. According to Palestinian officials, over 24,000 people have been killed in the Israeli attack.

Over 100 hostages were released during a week-long ceasefire in late November after lengthy negotiations mediated by Qatar and the US. Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in return.

The White House said earlier on Tuesday that US Middle East Envoy Brett McGurk was in Doha to discuss a possible deal for releasing captives.

National Security Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that McGurk was involved in earnest and intensive discussions with the Qataris about another deal. McGurk said that they are hopeful that the discussions will bear fruit soon.

Related Article: Qatari PM Warns of Massive Destruction, Says 'Gaza Is Not There Anymore'




The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is threatening Texas with potential legal action that it can take over the latter's seizure of the park along the Rio Grande River.

The border row between the Republican-led state and the federal government continues as Texas has continued to block federal agents' access from a part of the southern border. The department claims that the state's actions are unconstitutional and impede Border Patrol operations.

DHS Warns Texas of Potential Legal Action

In a letter sent to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the DHS said they were demanding Texas cease and desist its efforts to block Border Patrol's access in and around the Shelby Park area. The DHS also called on Texas to remove all barriers to access in the area in question.

The Republican-led state took control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Wednesday, as the area had previously served as a staging area for processing during migrant surges.

On the other hand, the Texas Military Department said that the move was made to prepare for future illegal immigrant surges and prevent organizations that "perpetuate illegal immigrant crossings in the park and greater Eagle Pass area," as per Fox News.

That particular development marked a rapid escalation in already high tensions between the federal government and the state of Texas over border security. Currently, there are several ongoing lawsuits between the two parties.

The DHS said in its letter that Texas is blocking Border Patrol from approximately 2.5 miles of the border. The department also noted that some barriers the state deployed were on federal land.

The letter noted that while Texas has claimed that it has re-opened the use of Shelby Park to the public, it still prevented Border Patrol from entering the area. The state was also said to have been keeping federal agents from using the area under the adjacent port of entry where Border Patrol has certain property stored for use when migrants are taken into custody.

Read Also: Biden Administration Taps Supreme Court After Texas Blocks Federal Access to Parts of Mexico Border

Blocking Border Patrol Access

DHS General Counsel Jonathan Meyer was the one who wrote the department's letter that was sent to Texas authorities and was dated Jan. 14. He noted that Texas had until Wednesday to cease and desist before they refer the matter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for "appropriate action and consider all other options available to restore Border Patrol's access to the border," according to ABC News.

The American official said that the state's failure to provide access to the border persists even in instances of imminent danger to life and safety. This was a reference to three migrants who lost their lives after they drowned in the Rio Grande River last week.

A Texas Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar, said that the incident marked a tragedy, adding that the state should bear the responsibility. Before the news of the drownings, Border Patrol learned that six migrants were in distress in the Rio Grande at around 9:00 p.m. on Friday last week.

CNN said they reportedly tried to cooperate with the Texas Military Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety to respond to the issue but were unsuccessful.

Related Article: Biden Administration Demand Access to Border After 3 Migrants Reportedly Drown in Rio Grande River
China's consumer market enjoys festive aura as Spring Festival approaches

People's Daily Online) 10:37, January 17, 2024

A shopping fair held for the coming Spring Festival in Beijing is packed with citizens looking to make special purchases for the Spring Festival. (People's Daily Online/Wang Tianle)

Chinese cities are feeling an increasingly dense festive atmosphere as people across the country prepare for the upcoming Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 10 this year.

A Spring Festival-themed shopping fair in Beijing, which is in its 28th edition this year, is crowded with citizens looking to make special purchases for the Spring Festival, the most important traditional festival of the Chinese people.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, once considered a frontrunner in the race for the Republican nomination, faced a distant second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses held on Monday night.

While the first-place victory went to former President Donald Trump, DeSantis struggled to secure a solid position, trailing behind and just ahead of former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Ron DeSantis' $150M Campaign Falls Short

Despite an extensive campaign effort, with DeSantis pouring more than $150 million into the primary, the results painted a different picture from what had been anticipated. His meticulous strategy, including visiting all 99 Iowa counties and garnering key endorsements, did not translate into the desired success.

The caucuses, marred by a significant decrease in turnout compared to 2016, saw approximately 56,000 fewer participants. Political analysts pointed out that DeSantis failed to generate the passion needed for caucus participation.

MSNBC's Joy Reid criticized him, stating that his track record in Florida had been marked by controversial decisions, such as undermining the education system and secretly signing a six-week abortion ban at midnight.

Moreover, DeSantis' campaign raised concerns about "election interference," protesting the early projection of caucus numbers before the finalization of results. This unique process, unlike a primary, concludes with the closing of caucus doors, leaving no room for further voting.

The campaign trail was not without challenges for DeSantis, who faced relentless attacks from Trump throughout the race. The former president's organizational prowess over eight years and his popularity among Iowa Republicans posed significant hurdles for DeSantis.

Interviews with voters and insiders revealed a prevailing sentiment that DeSantis lacked the charisma and likability required for a presidential nominee, according to Raw Story.

Read Also: GOP Hopefuls Fare Better Than Biden in Latest Poll

DeSantis's Poll Numbers Deflate

Despite high initial polling numbers, DeSantis saw a gradual decline, likened to a deflating balloon. Some voters expressed disappointment in his perceived lack of connection with the people of Iowa, contrasting him with Haley, who garnered praise for her articulate communication and strong presence.

In a twist, DeSantis, known for his assertive and pugnacious approach, found himself on the defensive. Facing criticism from Trump, he lashed out at the former president, accusing him of favoring those who "kiss the ring" and trashing those who don't.

As DeSantis addressed supporters at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel, he spun the loss into a semblance of victory, ignoring Trump's declared win and emphasizing the need for continued effort. The setback in Iowa raises questions about DeSantis's viability as a candidate and leaves the path to the Republican nomination uncertain as the campaign progresses to New Hampshire.

The Iowa caucuses have set the stage for a challenging road ahead for DeSantis, once seen as the next embodiment of Trump's political legacy. The outcome underscores the unpredictable nature of the political landscape, leaving both supporters and critics awaiting the next chapter in the race for the Republican nomination, HuffPost reported.

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Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley is bowing out of the next Republican presidential debate, arguing that she will not join the discussions unless Donald Trump is present.

The former South Carolina governor's announcement on Tuesday meant that only Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be attending the next event, scheduled for Thursday. Haley noted that there have been five great debates in the campaign and said that Trump "ducked all of them."

Republican Presidential Candidate Canceled

She said there was nowhere left for the former president to hide, adding that she was looking forward to attending a debate with either Trump or Joe Biden. Haley's remarks were released following the Iowa caucuses, where the former president dominated the votes over Haley and DeSantis.

The latter two were locked in a heated competition for second place in the Iowa caucuses as Haley tried to make her electoral argument more about her rivals. As per the Associated Press, she repeatedly stated that her candidacy marks a turnabout from the "chaos" that follows the current GOP front-runner.

Furthermore, the former South Carolina governor's latest move could also result from the last GOP debate that only featured Haley and DeSantis. There, the former UN ambassador did not perform as well as expected, and the Florida Republican ultimately ended up beating her for second place in Iowa.

Haley had previously argued to caucusgoers that choosing her provides Republicans a better chance of defeating Biden in the November general elections. She pointed to a survey that showed her with the largest lead among the GOP field in a theoretical general election matchup against Democrats.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, DeSantis said that Haley "is afraid to debate" simply because she does not want to answer what he called the "tough questions." The Florida governor accused her of trying to run as Trump's VP, adding that he was looking forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week.

Read Also: Republican Attention Shifts to New Hampshire After Trump's Record Iowa Win

Urging Donald Trump To Join

A spokesperson for ABC News, which is responsible for hosting the next scheduled Republican presidential debate, announced the cancellation of the event. According to ABC News, the reason cited for the decision was the lack of candidate participation.

A statement noted they intended to hold a debate following the Iowa caucuses. However, the media outlet said that it always knew that the event would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race in the state.

Under previously announced criteria, four Republicans qualified for the latest debate, with DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie being the two who confirmed their participation. However, the latter announced last week that he was dropping out of the presidential race altogether.

On the other hand, DeSantis said he does not plan to snub New Hampshire voters, which is similar to what both Haley and Trump have done. Politico noted that the Florida governor would honor his commitments to the state's people.

Related Article: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Struggles To Secure Position Despite Pouring $150 Million Campaign
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing off against a conservative rebellion over his controversial Rwanda asylum plan as two Tories quit after a vote.

Sunak's controversial and expensive immigration policy was the center point of his attempts to win an election this year. However, to do so successfully, he must unite the Conservatives, who trail far behind the Labour opposition in opinion polls.

Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Deal

However, the liberal and authoritarian wings of the Conservatives are at loggerheads over Sunak's Rwanda asylum plan. Moderates expressed concern that the new immigration policy is too extreme, while many on the party's powerful right-wing did not think it would go far enough to deter migration in the United Kingdom.

Two of the party's deputy chairmen joined calls to toughen up the British government's flagship Safety of Rwanda Bill in the House of Commons. These were Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith.

They announced that they were quitting their posts on Tuesday to support amendments that seek to shut down asylum-seekers avenues of appeal against deportation to Rwanda by closing loopholes and sidelining judges, as per the Associated Press.

However, those amendments did not pass in the House of Commons on Tuesday, as roughly 60 Tories joined the rebellion. A bigger challenge for the prime minister will be on Wednesday when lawmakers will vote on the bill.

Some Conservative rebel officials said they would oppose the legislation if it was not strengthened. Along with opposition party votes, there might be enough support to kill the legislation altogether, which would deal a major blow to Sunak's authority and potentially fatal to the Rwanda asylum plan.

One of the rebels, former Cabinet minister Simon Clarke, said he would vote against Sunak's Rwanda bill if the legislation were not amended. Other Conservative lawmakers could also become hesitant to kill the prime minister's signature policy, which could trigger panic decisions to replace him or even a snap election.

Read Also: Tens of Thousands Protest in Poland Over Sweeping Changes Made By Donald Tusk-Led Government

Facing Against the Opposition

Following the vote, Anderson noted that he could no longer continue his role while fundamentally disagreed with Sunak's bill. He added that he cannot be in a position to vote for something that he does not believe in, according to The Guardian.

Despite the growing number of opposing lawmakers, there was little sign of panic from Sunak's administration. Insiders from the government suggested that the right-wing bloc did not yet have the needed numbers to inflict a potentially fatal blow to the prime minister's bill.

The Conservative rebels included former home secretary Suella Braverman, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, and former Prime Minister Liz Truss. Jane Stevenson also resigned after voting against the party whip.

Critics of Sunak's bill fear that there could be so many appeals, which can take up to two years to be heard, that the prime minister's plan will never get off the ground. Such a development could make Sunak's "stop the boats" pledge look hollow.

On the other hand, ministers argued that they would speed up the appeals process by drafting in scores of judges to hear cases, implying that they expect many appeals to take place. However, since the backlog in the justice system is causing delays of trials amounting to years, this is highly unlikely, said the Telegraph.

Related Article: European Court of Human Rights Rules Against Greece in Fatal Shooting of Syrian Refugee
Ohio City Mayor Kevin Brubaker of Elyria has ordered an investigation to look into the incident where a mother in the state claims that police raided the wrong house, which led to the injury of her 17-month-old toddler.

The city has also released body camera video footage of the incident that showed the home being raided by law enforcement personnel. The video was highly redacted but showed officials using a flash-bang grade to get inside the house, breaking a window to a room where the young boy was said to be sitting in a bouncer.

Botched Police Raid

The footage showed officers handcuffing the mother of the child out on the front lawn of the residence. While her face was blurred, she was later identified as Courtney Price and she previously said that her son Waylon was on a ventilator at the time of the police raid.

In a statement, Price said that she could be heard screaming, noting that she was scared at the time because her son was still inside the house. The young boy was later taken to UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, as per WKYC.

While he is now out of the intensive care unit (ICU), his mother said that he is still being treated for inflammation of the lungs and irritation of the eyes along with the lingering effects of smoke. Elyria police later denied that the toddler was exposed to chemical irritants and asserted that he was given proper medical attention.

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Price also claimed that one officer told her that the law enforcement personnel had gone to the wrong house, which is something that police also denied. However, the search warrant that police had had the Parmely Avenue address but the document was for a teen suspect.

The owners of the house were Price's aunt and uncle Redia and Marlon Jennings and the family continued to assert that they did not have any connection to the suspect that police were looking for.

Injury of 17-Month-Old Toddler

Despite police denying Price's claims, the mother said that audio from her Ring camera proved them wrong. On Tuesday, a clip that was shared revealed someone saying "It's the wrong house," according to Yahoo News.

It was not clear who was actually speaking in the recording because the camera fell to the ground and went dark after police deployed flash-bang devices. Brubaker called the incident "serious and disturbing."

Just a week before the police raid, Price, who is a single mother, moved from Kentucky to Elyria. Prior to the whole ordeal, she said that she heard the "loudest knock" that she had ever heard in her life at around 2:12 p.m.

Jennings noted that law enforcement personnel have been frequently visiting the home in the year that she rented it looking for a suspect who no longer lives there. She added that she no longer feels safe because of what had happened.

She said that all of their furniture was broken, adding that they were now stained as law enforcement personnel just "walked all over everything," said Cincinnati.



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White House officials announced on Tuesday that a US official was in Doha to discuss the possibility of a second deal to secure the release of the hostages in the Gaza Strip.

The US also seeks to talk with Hamas and Qatari officials to request a ceasefire.

US Negotiate With Doha to Release Hamas Hostages

National Security Council (NSC) Spokesman John Kirby told reporters during a virtual press briefing that US Middle East Envoy Brett McGurk engaged in very serious and intensive discussions with Qatari officials about the release of the hostages in the Gaza Strip.

"We are hopeful it will bear fruit and bear fruit soon," Kirby said.

The discussions would improve the Biden administration's image on the issue of Israel's military invasion of the Gaza Strip, which killed 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages.

According to Hamas officials, at least 24,285 Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed in Gaza in Israeli bombardments and ground operations since October 7.

The Independent reported that Hamas still has numerous hostages in the Gaza Strip, and several Americans are believed to be among those held by the militants.

Previously, some hostages were freed during a temporary ceasefire arranged by the Qataris. Israel reported that around 25 people have been killed in captivity, with Hamas and the Israeli government trading blame for their deaths.

On Monday, Hamas released a video in which one hostage reads from a script and claims that two others have been killed, blaming an Israeli strike.

Meanwhile, Kirby celebrated an important announcement from Israel that it would wind down the intense phase of the conflict that raised tensions throughout the Middle East.

The removal of a division of Israeli military troops from Gaza was a "positive step forward in terms of getting to lower intensity ops," he said. He added that additional aid might be distributed to Gaza if Israeli strikes were less aggressive.

Read Also: Brooklyn Subway Shooting: Grandfather Killed Trying To Break Up Fight

Biden Administration's Rocky Relationship With Israel

Progressives in the US have been criticizing the Israeli military's random demolition of entire city blocks around the Gaza Strip. The federal government is also organizing a strike to express its disapproval this week.

Arab-American groups and Progressives in the US have been furious with the administration for months, accusing Biden of only addressing the suffering of Palestinian citizens under Israeli siege.

Biden's relationship with Israel remains at the top of the list of his problems. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Biden's current relationship was described as frosty.

He abruptly hung up on his Israeli counterpart last year, ending their regular direct communication. Furthermore, Biden administration officials have been working overtime to improve the public's opinion of their efforts.

Related Article: Qatar Confirms Israel-Hamas Deal To Send Medications To Hostages, Humanitarian Aid To Gaza


Chinese Premier Li Qiang touted Beijing's economic growth last year, claiming that they observed it to have increased by roughly 5.2% last year.

The official's remarks at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, provided an early glimpse of crucial economic data prior to its official release. Li, the second-highest official in China following President Xi Jinping, said that Beijing had surpassed its target last year of economic growth of about 5%.

China's Economic Growth

The premier also insisted that the Asian country had successfully expanded its economy without using risky or short-term measures, including large spending or credit programs. Li said that in the court of economic development, China has avoided major stimulus and has avoided seeking short-term growth at the price of accumulating long-term risks.

The Chinese official's comments were consistent with publicly available estimates of economic growth that Beijing had last year. The Asian nation will also announce the official number in Beijing on Wednesday, as per the New York Times.

A Chinese news organization, Caixin, said that a survey of economists last week concluded that the country's economy had probably grown roughly 5.3%. Ever since the Chinese government delayed the release of economic growth information by a week in October 2022, the timing of official economic reports has become a sensitive subject.

The additional time allowed the Communist Party to finish an important national congress before lackluster statistics were made available to the public. A Yale economist and former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, Stephen Roach, said that Lil's mention of an estimate of China's economic growth was far less digression from any global norms than the 2022 incident.

He added that there are enough questions regarding the credibility of China's numbers that he does not believe there is any serious breach of confidence in such statistics. Li also mentioned that Beijing has been wary of rapidly ramping up economic stimulus to reverse a broad showdown.

Read Also: China Expresses Alarm Over U.S. Restrictions on Chip Production

A Series of Economic Problems

While the economic growth of 5.2% is significantly higher than China's previous record of 3% the prior year, it still marks one of the worst performances in the last three decades. China has been facing a series of economic issues, including a real estate crisis, record youth unemployment, deflation, and a rapidly aging population, according to CNN.

The array of problems has sent investors rushing to sever ties with China as the Asian nation's stock markets were the biggest losers in 2023. The country's blue-chip CSI 300 index fell more than 11% as Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 14%.

On the other hand, the MSCI World Index closed the year 22% higher, which was considered its biggest annual jump since 2019. Li noted that despite the twists and turns in China's economic operation, he said that its overall long-term positive trend will not change.

The Chinese premier added that in order to keep competition healthy and bring out the greatest vitality, there needs to be an enhancement in cooperation in innovation. Li said that scientific and technological fruits should benefit humanity as a whole and not be used to restrict or contain the development of other nations, said CNBC.



Related Article: China Condemns US for Congratulating Taiwan's New President
Ishikawa, Jan 17 ( News On Japan ) - With roads still blocked due to landslides following the Noto Peninsula earthquake, making it impossible for vehicles to pass, drones are being utilized to deliver essential supplies in disaster-stricken areas.

As of January 15, two weeks after the earthquake, 176 people in eight districts of Wajima City remain isolated.

Japan's Self-Defense Forces are distributing supplies to people in isolated villages, but manpower is limited. In light of this, a new initiative using drones to deliver support materials is being implemented.

Essential supplies such as light oil for generators are being delivered by drone to evacuation centers, including a primary school located several kilometers away.

A drone operator commented, "We are transporting goods in response to a request from the Ground Self-Defense Forces. While a human bucket brigade requires many people, with drones, we can transport items with less than one-tenth of the manpower, so we are utilizing that."

The initiative to deliver supplies via drones, including medication for elderly residents with chronic illnesses, is said to be the first of its kind in Japan during a disaster. Sixteen days after the earthquake, further use of drones in the affected areas is anticipated.

Source: MBS NEWS
MOSCOW, Jan 17 ( News On Japan ) - Russia's Ministry of Defense announced on January 16 that long-range strategic bombers flew over the high seas of the Sea of Japan, an action that appears to be a show of force aimed at Japan and the United States.

The Ministry released footage showing two Tupolev Tu-95 long-range strategic bombers conducting regular flights over the Sea of Japan, escorted by Russian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and other aircraft for approximately seven hours.

The Air Force commander stated, "The flight was carried out in strict accordance with international law. Our pilots regularly fly over the high seas of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and the Pacific."

Russia's deployment of strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons in the vicinity of Japan is seen as a move to deter Japan and the United States, with whom Russia's relations have soured due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Source: NHK
In response to recent updates to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Field Museum in Chicago has taken preemptive measures to comply with federal regulations. These new rules, effective as of Friday, mandate that museums seek consent from Native American tribes before displaying cultural items or human remains.

The Field Museum's decision has set the tone for other institutions across the country as they navigate the complexities of these regulations, impacting staffing and budgets for the foreseeable future, as per to Business Insider.

NAGPRA Overhaul Urges Swift Return of Cultural Artifacts

The NAGPRA, established in 1990, aims to protect and repatriate Native American remains and cultural objects. The federal government recently overhauled the NAGPRA to address concerns about the sluggish pace of repatriation, a process criticized by tribal officials and advocates for its lack of expediency.

The specific provision prompting the Field Museum's action requires institutions to obtain "free, prior, and informed consent" from tribes before showcasing cultural items or human remains. Now, museums face the dilemma of either risking non-compliance by leaving objects on display or engaging in a potentially lengthy process of obtaining tribal consent.

Disclosed on its website, pertains to displays in its halls dedicated to the ancient Americas and the Pacific Northwest. The institution has covered cases believed to contain cultural items subject to the new regulations, emphasizing its commitment to consultation with the represented communities. However, details about which items were obscured and the tribes involved remain unclear, as museum representatives have not responded to requests for further information.

The urgency around repatriation has gained momentum in recent years, spurred by broader efforts in museums and universities to address historical injustices. Grave robbing, archaeological excavation, and development on burial grounds often link to Native American remains. The Biden administration has also played a role in accelerating the repatriation process since 2021, with over 96,000 Native American individuals' remains still held in various institutions, according to Chicago Tribune.

Read Also: China Pushes Aggressive Tone Against Taiwan Independence as Taipei Holds Local Elections

Regulatory Shifts in Cultural Repatriation

The new regulations aim to eliminate practices criticized for delaying repatriation, such as labeling that remains "culturally unidentifiable." Additionally, they address concerns about the level of consideration given to tribes regarding exhibitions and research, signaling a shift towards a more respectful relationship.

While some argue that the new rules overstep and impinge on museums' autonomy in managing collections, others view them as necessary steps to rectify historical wrongs. In recent years, the Field Museum, founded in 1894, has actively renewed its commitment to repatriation and currently holds one of the largest collections of Native American remains.

Notably, the Field Museum is among the first to publicly acknowledge compliance with the new regulations. The American Museum of Natural History and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University have not yet announced how the new regulations will affect their exhibitions.

As museums grapple with the implications of the updated NAGPRA regulations, the spotlight is on their commitment to respecting Native American heritage while navigating the intricacies of legal compliance. The repercussions for violating these regulations, including fines exceeding $7,475, underscore the significance of this development in the ongoing dialogue surrounding cultural preservation and repatriation, Artnet reported.

Related Article: China Condemns US for Congratulating Taiwan's New President
TOKYO, Jan 18 ( News On Japan ) - Generative AI, capable of automatically creating text and images, is seeing increased utilization among many companies and local governments.

In a primary school in Warabi City, Saitama Prefecture, teachers gathered in a classroom after the children had left for home to conduct a practical experiment in creating tests using generative AI.

Instructor: 'We use generative AI to create our tests.'

'You are an excellent primary school teacher, a pro at creating questions.'

The initial instruction wasn't simply a request for 'test creation' but rather directing the generative AI to create test questions as if it were a 'primary school teacher.' The key to getting well-crafted questions is not just asking simply but inputting detailed conditions.

This teacher created health education questions for sixth graders and found it successful, but...

Primary School Teacher: 'The questions are very long, so only students with an A grade might be able to read them fully.'

Often, the desired questions are not yet achievable, and it seems necessary for users of generative AI to skillfully extract answers.

Mikio Mizukami, Director of DX Consulting Division, Benesse HD: 'Many people feel challenged because they dont have enough knowledge about how to use it properly, and technical collaboration with other companies is also important.'

While there are challenges in practical application, communication between companies and on-site practitioners is essential for further practical use.

To address this, Japan's first industry association for the utilization of generative AI was established on Wednesday. Not only IT companies but also businesses in food and travel will participate, discussing ways to utilize generative AI in collaboration.

Hiroaki Miyata, Representative Director of Generative AI Japan: 'We want to consider the future of Japan and the world together while collaborating.'

Generative AI, capable of bringing significant changes, demands consideration of how to coexist with it."

Source: TBS
Ishikawa, Jan 18 ( News On Japan ) - The U.S. Forces stationed in Japan have commenced disaster relief operations to aid those affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

On the first day of the support activities, January 17, a U.S. Forces transport aircraft loaded with supplies took off from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Komatsu Base, heading to Noto Satoyama Airport in Wajima City.

Approximately 40 boxes were delivered, containing food, paper diapers, powdered milk, and chargers. Thirty personnel were involved in the mission.

The support activities by the U.S. Forces are scheduled to continue on Thursday. Similar support was provided during the Great East Japan Earthquake under the name "Operation Tomodachi."

Meanwhile, the death toll from the Noto Peninsula earthquake has reached 232, with the safety of 21 individuals still unknown.

Source: NEWS
Iowa lawmakers are considering allowing medical marijuana patients to buy raw cannabis flower at the states dispensaries, a move that could potentially greatly increase the number of patients in the state's limited program.

Lawmakers advanced a bill, House File 532, to add the product out of a subcommittee on Tuesday, though they said they were looking to hear more from stakeholders and weigh other regulations to the states program and the sale of THC products.

Under the proposed change, Iowa law would define the types of products available for sale at Iowas five dispensaries, including vaporized dried raw cannabis, which is not currently allowed by state regulators.

State law currently vests the authority to allow or prohibit various cannabis products with the state Medical Cannabidiol Board. The board allows the sale of tablets and capsules, topical products, and products that vaporize cannabis oil. Patients are also required to purchase no more than 4.5 grams over 90 days unless they receive a waiver from their doctor.

The proposed bill specifies the cannabis would be intended to be vaporization, and existing law prohibits a medical marijauna patient from smoking cannabis. But some stakeholders said Tuesday they were concerned that the product could just as easily be smoked.

Iowas medical cannabis companies have advocated for the change, saying cannabis flower would dramatically reduce costs and could attract new patients that are currently turned off by high prices.

Selling cannabis flower would allow Iowas medical cannabis producers to bypass the process of extracting THC from the cannabis plant, said Dane Schumann, a lobbyist for Bud & Marys, formerly MedPharm, one of two cannabis producers and dispensers in the state. Schumann said allowing the change could cut production costs in half.

What we hear consistently from patients of the medical program, even those that like the effects of what it delivers for their conditions, is that the program is simply too expensive, he said.

Schumann also said that Iowa is one of the only medical programs in the country that does not allow the sale of raw cannabis flower.

The addition of raw cannabis to Iowas medical program would likely greatly expand the number of patients who hold medical marijuana cards, Iowa Department of Public Safety general counsel Catherine Lucas told lawmakers during Tuesdays meeting.

In Minnesota, she said, medical cannabis patients increased from 20,000 to 100,000 after the state added the product to its program.

She warned that increasing the number of people lawfully using cannabis in the state could lead to higher impaired driving fatalities.

Iowa currently has more than 18,000 medical cannabis cardholders, according to a December report from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Board physician opposes adding cannabis flower

Robert Shreck, a doctor and member of Iowa's Medical Cannabidiol Board, said he was concerned that the product, which can be smoked, would tarnish what he considers to be the strictly medical program Iowa currently offers.

Nowhere in American medicine is there another compound, molecule or substance that is dispensed by combustion, he said. It doesnt make medical sense.

The states medical cannabis board denied a petition to add flower to the list of available products earlier this year. They cited the same concerns around the introduction of smoking, the rise of telehealth certifications for the program, and an inaccuracy in dosing as reasons for the denial.

Lawmakers want more information

Though the bill was advanced unanimously by a subcommittee of two Republicans and one Democrat, lawmakers said they wanted to have further conversations on the effects of the bill.

Rep. Hans Wilz, a Republican from Ottumwa, said amendments were likely as the bill moves forward through the lawmaking process.

"There is room in this bill for amendments, for whatever might be brought to the table," he said. "But I do believe it is a spirited conversation, one that Iowans are having as well.

Cannabis tax boom: States collect a whopping $15.1 billion in revenue since weed legalization Cannabis tax boom: States collect a whopping $15.1 billion in revenue since weed legalization Cannabis Tax Revenue State By State
WASHINGTON (AP)  In a busy term that could set standards for free speech in the digital age, the Supreme Court on Monday is taking up a dispute between Republican-led states and the Biden administration over how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on
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The African Development Bank (AfDB), through its African Development Fund (ADF), has approved a $303 million loan for the building of a 1,500 km-long power line interconnecting Mauritania and Mali, as part of the Desert to Power Initiative.

The project requires $888 million and involves the construction of a 225 kV high-voltage line between Mali and Mauritania with a 600 megawatt (MW) transfer capacity between the two countries.

The power line per descriptions will be built in three lots, one in Mali and two in Mauritania, for a total length of 1,500 km. AfDB has included it in its Desert to Power Initiative as it features two solar power plants, each with a capacity of 50 MWp, and which will be built in Kiffa and Nema in Mauritania.

The bank, which deems the project strategic, argues that it will enable 100,000 new households (80,000 in Mauritania and 20,000 in Mali) to be connected to the electricity grid in the localities crossed by the cable. In addition, the project will create opportunities for agricultural entrepreneurship and services for young people and women.

This project forms part of the regional roadmap approved by the countries that will benefit from the Desert to Power Initiative. It is the first section of the trans-Sahel spine aimed at linking Mauritania to Chad via Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The interconnection will enable the development of new renewable power plants, whose production will be more closely integrated into interconnected grids. Commissioning it will facilitate access to a high-quality, low-carbon electricity supply at an affordable price.

The Desert to Power initiative aims to harness the Sahels solar potential by developing an installed capacity of 10,000 MW. The 11 beneficiary countries include Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan.
Gabons military-led government agreed this week to implement a decision by the former regime of President Ali Bongo Ondimba to grant armed and security forces a risk premium for their work in protecting populations, Gabo Review reports.

A cabinet meeting announced the plan pending modalities that remain to be defined, the media outlet notes. The risk premium payment was first introduced in 2015 but the policy has never been implemented after Bongo administration reportedly wiped out the special allowances for military personnel.

The administration back then indicated that armed and security forces will receive on-call allowance and risk premium but the plan never materialized.

A junta, led by transitional leader Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, seized power in the central African country on August 30, ending therefore decades of domination by the Bongo family.

Last week, the government also agreed to increase the defense budget by three per cent, up from $30 million of last year. The 2024 budget will cover clothing and food for the troops, as well as fuel for the various vehicles of the armed forces. The increase, follows several years of demands by the army for the improvement of working conditions under former President Omar Bongo Ondimba.
Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Fasos transitional leader, has announced that the West African country reeling with terror activities has acquired more powerful missiles and other military equipment to help in the fight against terror groups.

We have acquired much more powerful missiles. This is what has been experienced in Djibo. Some are 2, 3, 5, 10 times more powerful, and others keep coming. During the year, a lot of equipment will arrive. The firepower will increase considerably, he said.

The equipment planned to be deployed this year, the leader noted, is the result of a strict management of resources and prove that the country is capable of waging war.

The Transitional leader who came to power two years ago in a coup did not provide information on the suppliers or the countries providing the military hardware.

Burkina Faso under Ibrahim has turned to Russia, Turkey, and North Korea for defense cooperation at the expense of former colonial power France.

The country has been since 2015 confronting activities by jihadists after a series of terrorist attacks.
On Tuesday, Anderson Aldrich, the shooter who killed five people at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs, appeared in federal court to face new hate crimes.

Aldrich pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.

Aldrich Faces New Federal Hate Crimes

The documents revealed that Aldrich made a deal with the prosecutors to enter a guilty plea to 50 hate crime counts and 24 firearm violations. The plea agreement calls for 190 years in prison and multiple life sentences for Aldrich, which needs a judge's approval.

The plea agreement was made public after Aldrich had pleaded not guilty during his initial court appearance on Tuesday afternoon. The gun charges can carry a maximum penalty of death.

Alondra Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Corrections, said that Aldrich was sent to the Wyoming State Penitentiary last year due to safety concerns about the high-profile case.

Aldrich entered a guilty plea in state court last June to 5 murder charges and 46 counts of attempted murder, one for each person present at Club Q on November 19, 2022.

He also pleaded no contest to state charges of hate crimes charges under a plea agreement. The plea was an acknowledgment that there was a significant likelihood Aldrich would be found guilty of those charges without admitting guilt.

The federal charges came after an FBI investigation into the shooting. District attorney Michael Allen said at the time that the threat of the death penalty in the federal system was a big part of what motivated the defendant to plead guilty to the state charges.

Aldrich refused to speak at the sentencing hearing in state court and did not explain why they stuck around in the club, went outside, and came back wearing body armor. He pulled out a gun and began firing an AR-15 rifle when they returned.

The prosecutors claimed that Aldrich had visited the club at least six times before that evening, and his mother had forced them to go.

He informed the Associated Press over the phone that they were taking steroids and on a "very large plethora of drugs" at the time of the attack. He said that it was "completely off base" when he was asked whether the attack was motivated by hate.

Read Also: Arizona Hot Air Balloon Crash Leaves 4 Dead, 1 Injured

Aldrich Expresses Hate Towards LGTBQ+

Prosecutors claimed that Aldrich ran a website that featured a "neo-Nazi white supremacist" shooting training video during hearings in the state case in February. Police also testified that Aldrich used racial and homophobic slurs against the police, LBGTQ+ people, and minorities through his online gaming friends.

One noted that Aldrich sent an online message with a photo of a rifle trained on a gay pride parade.

The attack shattered the sense of safety at Club Q, which served as a refuge for the city's LGBTQ+ community. The authorities said that the shooting was stopped by a Navy officer who grabbed the barrel of the suspect's rifle, burning his hand, and an Army veteran helped subdue and beat Aldrich until police arrived.

Related Article: Russia: Police Search Gay Clubs After Move to Ban 'International LGBT Public Movement'




Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk Tuesday January 16 indicated that Moscow is keen to expand trade, economic and investment ties, and trade turnover with Niger, Sputnik reports.

Overchuk made the comment during a meeting with Nigers Premier Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine. He is in the Russian capital as part of an international tour seeking to identify opportunities and diversify partners of the West African country.

The Russian top official explained that for that purpose further joint steps to develop partnership in such promising areas as agriculture, energy, infrastructure, geological exploration, are required.

Zeine arrived in Moscow late Monday January 15 accompanied by a high-key delegation composed of the ministers of Defense, Oil and Gas, Agriculture, Trade, Youth, and Sports.

Russia is the first leg of the tour. Zeine is also expected to travel to Turkey, Iran, and Serbia.

Ties between Russia and Niger have quickly developed under new Niger authorities, a junta that seized power on July 26, after removing West-backed elected leader Mohamed Bazoum.
The Spanish police successfully intercepted a vessel carrying over 1,500 kilograms of cocaine off the coast of Gran Canaria. The intercepted boat, which was carrying 64 bundles of illicit substances, was apprehended, leading to the arrest of three individuals of different nationalities.

As part of a joint operation, agents from the national police and the Guardia Civil seized over 1,500 kilograms of cocaine in waters near the coast of Gran Canaria by intercepting a semi-rigid boat and arresting the three crew members.

Through collaborative surveillance and vigilance, and with information provided by the General Directorate of Surveillance of the Moroccan Territory (DGST), it was identified early in the morning on January 12, 2024, that an inflatable boat intended to access the coast of Gran Canaria near the Arinaga coastline. The Guardia Civil patrol boat Rio Orbigo spotted the mentioned boat, initiating a pursuit that resulted in its arrest and boarding.

After the boarding, the three crew members were apprehended, and 1,564.5 kilograms of cocaine, distributed in 64 bundles, were seized.

The 64 bundles of cocaine and the arrested individuals were transported to the Port of La Luz in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where the drugs were unloaded and weighed, totaling 1,564.5 kilograms. They were then transferred to the Las Palmas Command for custody.

The investigation and the arrested individuals were handed over to the Telde court, where detention was ordered for the three individuals.

This operation is part of the joint efforts of the police forces and positive relations with the General Directorate of Surveillance of the Moroccan Territory (DGST) to prevent drug trafficking.
Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

The New York judge presiding over writer E. Jean Carrolls defamation case against Donald Trump threatened to remove the former president from the chamber after he was disruptive during her testimony.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan warned Trump that he could be asked to leave the courtroom following repeated complaints from Carrolls attorney Shawn Crowley that Trump was making loud comments while Carroll was on the stand. Crowley said Trump could be heard speaking to his lawyers Alina Habba and Michael Madaio, saying things such as It really is a con job and It is a witch hunt, as reported by the Associated Press.

Mr. Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which what has been reported to me consists of. And if he disregards court orders, Mr. Trump, I hope I dont have to consider excluding you from the trial, Kaplan said, per CNN. He then added, I understand youre probably eager for me to do that.

Trump then retorted, I would love it.

Its not the only heated exchange to occur between Kaplan and Trumps team. The former presidents lawyers have been pushing for an adjournment of the trial for one week in order for Trump to attend the funeral of his mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs, who passed away last week. Kaplan has denied the request repeatedly, writing that a delay would disrupt and inconvenience prospective jurors, counsel, court staff, and security arrangements but noting that Trump is free to attend the funeral if he chooses. Notably, Trump did not attend the previous trial involving Carroll.

Habba attempted to raise the issue of an adjournment again on Wednesday, and Kaplan immediately shut it down.

I will hear no more argument on it, he said. None. Do you understand that word? Sit down.

The ongoing proceedings are intended to determine how much Trump will be ordered to pay in damages to Carroll after being found liable for defamation and sexual abuse last year. Carroll took Trump to court after he alleged she lied about her accusation that Trump sexually assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s, which she made in a New York cover story.

Carroll took the stand Wednesday, testifying about how Trumps verbal attacks on her character have shattered her reputation.

Previously I was known simply as a journalist and had a column, and now Im known as the liar, the fraud, and the whack job, Carroll said, according to the Washington Post.

The former Elle columnist described how Trumps words sparked an increase in online threats against her life, prompting her to ramp up personal security measures including buying bullets for a gun given to her by her father.

To have the president of the United States, one of the most powerful persons on earth, call me a liar for three days and say it 26 times  I counted them. It ended the world I had been living in, and I lived in a new world, she said. I was attacked. I was attacked on Twitter, I was attacked on Facebook, I was attacked in news blogs, I was attacked, brutally attacked, in messages.

In a series of TruthSocial posts that went up during the trial, Trump attacked Kaplan as a seething and hostile Clinton-appointed Judge and criticized his decision to not adjourn the proceedings Thursday.

He is abusive, rude, and obviously not impartial but, thats the way this crooked system works!, he wrote.
Eight defendants convicted of distributing methamphetamine in the Phenix City area have been sentenced following a 2020 drug trafficking investigation in East Alabama and West Georgia.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross shared a news release on Tuesday stating that eight defendants were sentenced in connection to the operation, four from Phenix City and four defendants from Georgia.

These cases resulted from a partnership among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce drug trafficking and violent crime, making our neighborhoods safer for everyone, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Middle District of Alabama.

The DEA began investigating a suspected drug trafficking operation in the area in 2020.

Officials learned that Justin Garrett of Columbus, Georgia, was supplying meth and cocaine to Andre Tremayne Franklin of Columbus and others to be resold. During Franklins trial, the jury heard evidence that Franklin stored and sold drugs in a stash house, in Phenix City.

Kahlia Nichelle Washington of Phenix City helped Franklin run the stash house and would contact Franklin when customers would arrive, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Several law enforcement agencies in Alabama and Georgia were involved in the investigation, including the Auburn Police Department, the Eufaula Police Department, the Phenix City Police Department and the Russell County Sheriffs Office.

The investigation was assisted by several agencies in Alabama and Georgia, including the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Kevin P. Davidson and Brett J. Talley, assistant U.S. attorneys, prosecuted the cases.

Kahlia Nichelle Washington, 27, of Phenix City

Convicted of conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute on July 11

Sentenced to 18 months on Jan. 8

Xavier Toombs, 35, of Phenix City

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute on June 22

Sentenced to 60 months on Dec. 27

Khourtney Jakeith Brown, 34, of Phenix City

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute on June 28

Sentenced to 262 months on Oct. 25

Ryan Brown, 33, of Phenix City

Pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth on June 22

Sentenced to 37 months on Oct. 6

Andre Tremayne Franklin, 38, of Columbus

Convicted of conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute on July 11

Sentenced to 320 months on Dec. 1

Justin Garrett, 31, of Columbus

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute on June 22

Sentenced to 204 months on Nov. 11

Lorenzo Miles, 34, of Columbus

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute on June 27

Sentenced to 87 months on Oct. 6

Torrez Jenkins, 28, of Jonesboro

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute on March 6

Sentenced to 64 months on June 23
Some school districts in the area have made adjustments to their Jan. 17 schedules due to the freeze warnings in place across East Alabama.

Phenix City Schools and the Russell County School District announced that all schools in their districts will be having a virtual/remote e-learning day due to the forecasts of frigid temperatures in the area.

The Chambers County School District announced that it will be delaying the start of school by two hours and Tallapoosa County Schools announced that they will be delaying school starting until 10 a.m.

According to the Lee County Emergency Management Agency, Lee County is currently under a hard freeze warning until the morning of Jan. 17. The expected low temperature for that morning is 13F with wind chills around 5F.

CCSD said in an announcement: "This step was taken due to the hard freeze warning and extreme temps projected as low as 13 degrees for tomorrow morning. The delay will make it safer for bus travel and students as well as staff to get to school in the morning."

CCSD said that all teachers are still expected to arrive at the school two hours later than usual.

Glenwood School confirmed that it will be having a normal school day tomorrow.

There has been no announcement made at this time from the following: Auburn City Schools, Opelika City Schools, Lee County Schools, Lee Scott Academy, Alexander City Schools and Lanett City Schools.
Opelika police unveiled a new training facility on Tuesday that allows them to hold various training programs under one roof.

City officials and first responders celebrated the opening of the Opelika Police Training Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.at 3809 Saugahatchee Lake Road. Police presented the new building and highlighted their techniques and training programs.

"Everything that we do revolves around training," OPD Chief Shane Healey said. "We learned a long time ago that the more that we train, the better that we train. The more realistically we train, the better we perform on the street. That's why having a facility that allows us to do all these different things in one place is so important."

Healey said that when he arrived at the OPD, the training facility was a double-wide trailer, like the ones schools use for classrooms. That was eventually replace by a newer trailer, but he said that neither version was what the OPD needed. Outside of holding some classes and using the shooting range, there was not much else that the facility offered.

The new facility has been in the works for some time, even predating Healey's appointment as chief in 2021. Despite the delays and costs, the cost estimate for the facility is around $450,000, Healey wanted a facility that reflected the work of his officers and the department as a whole.

"The work they put in, the training they put in and the job that they do on the street is amazing," Healey said of the officers in the department. "We wanted to do something that showed us to be the outstanding police department that I know we are."

OPD highlighted various training programs and assets, including the new Lenco Bearcat SWAT vehicle.

The Bearcat is the new purpose-built SWAT truck for the Lee County SWAT team, which a collaborative unit made up of members from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Auburn Police Department and OPD.

The vehicle was purchased as part of the memorandum of understanding(MOU) that the OPD has with the LCSO and APD to operate the county-wide SWAT team. Healey said that the county was able to secure most of the funding for the vehicle, which costs around $250,000, through a Homeland Security grant, and then the remaining costs were divided among the three agencies.

In highlighting the need for the vehicle, Healey stressed the importance of its maneuverability compared to other military surplus vehicles.

"This is basically an armored vehicle that allows us to get men and equipment into a very dangerous hostile situation in safety," Healey said.

Those particular situations include when armed individuals have barricaded themselves in an area and may already be engaged with law enforcement.

In addition to the new vehicle, the OPD showcased its virtual reality training program, Apex Officer. Healey explained that the system, started at the OPD in 2021, allows officers to work on various situations and techniques all within the confines of one room.

Healey said that the new facility can accommodate the virtual reality training set up far better than the training room at the Opelika Police Department could. At a room in the training facility, they have placed mounted sensors for VR training, and there is a lot of flexibility in terms of how they can use the space.

"We couldn't use it fully and effectively. We had to keep setting it up and taking it down," Healey said. "Here, we actually built the room in a way where we can permanently mount it. But then we can take the take it down and shrink it or move it to someplace else."

There is also another room at the facility for training the dogs in the OPD K-9 unit, which was on display following the ribbon cutting. In the room there is a wall with several holes carved into it so the dogs can search for hides and train with their handlers. Sergeant Jonathan Fordham explained that the wall is the "beginning of teaching a dog to find narcotics" because it teaches the dogs to follow the hand of their handlers.

In that same room, there are mats for officers to train in Gracie survival tactics which is focused on preparing for situations with potentially hostile suspects.

Major Johnathan Clifton said he oversees the recruiting and training for the OPD and he emphasized the importance of the new facility to the OPD.

"You look all across America and one of the key factors that police officers need is more training. Training on how to deal with people, communication, but also tactical training on how to do things the correct way," Clifton, who is in charge of the OPD's training and recruiting efforts, said. "This is really taking us into the future."

Take a peek at the Opelika Police Department's new training center
January 2024

Niklaus Wirth passed away on the first day of this year. He was one of the most important pioneers of computer science, probably the one who had the biggest practical impact while maintaining at the same time rigorous scientific and engineering principles. Niklaus described himself as an engineer, and thats what he was. As an engineer, he applied scientific discoveries and principles in the development of useful products, which included programming languages, compilers and other systems software. But he had to create a large chunk of the science himself, since it did not yet exist at the time.

I was privileged to have worked with him as his PhD student, and to have learned a lot from him. In this note I want to write about some of the ways Niklaus influenced my work and my approach to programming.

In fact, if it was not for Niklaus, its doubtful I would have ended up in computer science at all. My first degree was in Mathematics. I got interested in Computer Science because I was fascinated by compilers and programming languages. The first language I deeply appreciated was Pascal. It was simple and clean, and easy to understand from both design and implementation perspectives. Together with Peter Sollich, a fellow student, I then stumbled upon the source code listings of the Pascal to P-Code compiler. It was amazing that a full Pascal compiler could be written in about 5000 lines of easy-to-understand code. This set in motion our project to write our own Pascal compiler for a new Microcomputer, the Osborne 1. This was a year or so before Turbo Pascal came out.

About half-way through the project, Peter discovered another pair of slim yellow-bound research reports from Niklaus Wirth at ETH. One described the language Modula-2, the other the instruction set for the Lilith computer that implemented the language. We were immediately fascinated by both the language and the instruction set, which was both simple and very compact. At the time, saving memory was of paramount importance since our computer had only 54 Kilobytes of usable memory. So we switched the compiled source language to Modula-2 and the intermediate code to a variant of Liliths code. This compiler eventually became Turbo Modula-2 for 8 bit computers. We sold it to Borland, but the company did not distribute it under their own name.

After having experienced and worked with Wirths beautiful inventions, it was clear to me that I wanted to continue with PhD studies in programming languages and I applied to his group. I was very happy that my application was accepted and I started working at ETH in 1986.

The work in Wirths group was quite special. I realized how different the workplace was only after I had moved on. You see, everything we worked with was homebrew stuff, but at the same time was advanced way beyond the standard of the time. It started with the computer: A screen that could show a full a A4 page on a bitmapped display, and a mouse for interacting with it. This at least 5 years before a commercial computer with these characteristics came out. It continued with the fonts. Since there were no bitmapped displays there were no fonts for such displays either. So one member of the group was a professional font designer, and another member was a designer for font-designing tools! It continued with the operating system, and the programming tools. We had a simple but powerful text editor which was configurable to be a very productive IDE. We also had a simple and beautiful debugger that showed a thread-dump with full memory exploration in a set of tiled windows. I forgot to mention, of course the windowing system was also developed in house, everything was.

Now you might think that there would have been an army of developers doing these things. But no, it was Niklaus Wirth with 6 doctoral students, as well as some researchers in the associated groups of Jurg Gutknecht and Peter Mossenbock. The best thing was, if you had a question or suggestion, you would just walk into the office next door and talk to the person who wrote the software.

All this was possible only because Niklaus led the way with his approach to ruthless simplicity. Simplicity was mandatory. Every feature had to be justified to be both essential and very compact to implement. Famously, compiler optimizations were only added if they increased the speed of bootstrapping the compiler. Niklaus led the way in his own coding and in his teaching to us.

I think of the sequence of languages that Niklaus worked as a kind of culmination of Von Neumann languages. After his thesis project EULER he worked on ALGOL-W, a proposed successor to Algol 60, that was supported by other leading lights of computer science such as Tony Hoare or Edsger Dijkstra, but that was ultimately not accepted as the official next version of Algol. Next came Pascal, with huge success in teaching and on PCs. After Pascal came Modula and then Modula-2, which was the language I personally liked best. It added to Pascal modularity concepts that allowed a team of developers to work on a common code base, as well as concurrency concepts that were cleaner and more powerful than what came 15 years later with Java. The last of the Wirth languages was Oberon, which added a minimalistic construct to support the kind of extensible programs that were the domain of object-orientation and otherwise dropped quite a few features from Modula-2. It was consequently even easier to implement than Modula-2 and it was therefore possible to develop a complete operating system with GUI and compiler in a small code base and describe it in a single book.

My own thesis was about developing a new kind of attribute grammar and writing a specification of Oberon in it. Towards the end of my stay at ETH, I discovered and fell in love with functional programming, which was quite different from what we used to do at ETH. But the style and values I learned from Niklaus have stayed with me ever since, and I am very, very grateful that I could experience them first-hand.

A couple of specific things I remember:

Niklaus was not fond of committees, probably as a result of his experiences on the Algol 68 committee. I was invited to be part of the ISO standardization committee for Modula-2. Wirth told me I could go if I wanted, but made it clear that he did not think it was a worthwhile endeavor. He would not consider to attend himself. I attended a few sessions of the committee and then dropped out.

Niklaus saw his role mostly as a pioneer and a researcher, not so much as a leader of a language community. Shortly before I arrived in Zurich, Modula-2 had a small moment of fame, with a whole issue of the then leading PC Magazine Byte devoted to it. With more support, Modula-2 might have become a widespread systems language, it would have certainly deserved it, There was also a successor language proposal called Modula-3 developed by Luca Cardelli, Greg Nelson and others at DEC SRC. This was also a very clean and elegant language design, and more ambitious and powerful than Modula-2. If Niklaus had joined the effort, who knows, it might have been a popular successor and competitor to C++. But he was already working on his next thing, Oberon.

Niklaus combined theoretical and practical results more deeply than any other person I know. He was one of the fathers of structured programming and pioneered program refinement, beautifully explained in his book Data Structures + Algorithms = Programs. Yet he did all that to gain better practical abstractions that helped him design clean operating systems, compilers, and other tools, all in a few kilobytes of memory. Unlike other systems languages such as C, Wirths languages never compromised on having tight abstractions. I believe that is his lasting legacy: how theory and abstraction helps in day to day programming, but only if it is done right, with a ruthless focus on simplicity.
This limited vocabulary used combined with the doubling down and willfull ignorance is just a showcase of digging one's own hole.

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Nope. Stop talking. Please.

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Baby Billy makes everything better.

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I saw Walton Goggins is going to be on the third season of White Lotus and I wish to god it was the HBO crossover of the century where he does it in character as Baby Billy,

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I also don't know this man but I wish him Legos, dog barf and bare feet for the rest of his life.

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What a idiot, truly.

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palestinians are being horribly massacred and rich celebrities like brett gelman and his loser fiance are singing quirky songs about their made up oppression pic.twitter.com/lnmOIx11W9  caterina (@nullsentiments) October 31, 2023 Not surprised. He and his wife posted a shitty video of them singing some pro zionist trash awhile back

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He also went on a tour to Israel with Debra Messing. I saw a video of Debra giving a soldier a flower and telling them we're all rooting for you.



I wonder how much these celebs get for visiting Israel on propaganda tours.

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Why even bother to entertain anything this Zionist POS has to say?





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And again, please move away from calling things sexy which aren't in any way. Words have meaning. I don't want to think about how Zionism gives you a boner.

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please move away from calling things sexy which aren't in any way.



God PLEASE. I know this is not on the same level in any way but I was watching a video about trying out different cheeses for grilled cheese & the guy kept calling cheese stretches "sexy" ugh shut up.



Also the "consent is sexy" bs don't even get me started.

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Limited vocab and somehow always reminds me of Paris Hilton.

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what's wrong with "consent is sexy"? it's very clearly responding to a specific argument, i.e. that asking for consent "kills the mood."

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between the people who want to boycott it and the loss of interest given how much time has passed, I wouldn't be surprised if ST's next season had poor streaming numbers, but maybe I'm being too idealistic?

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I hope so. I was really excited for it and now I am like "well fuck that". I hope it flops so hard.

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Nah. ONTD nor the internet is a representation of the audience and the audience wants to know how things end and lust over teens.



Like I wish it would, but people need little excuse to not change a thing.

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tbf i was also grabbing twitter for that sample lol. the kids are fuming over there over noah and this brett guy being zionists.



the people who don't care enough to boycott... do they miss ST enough to tune in? I get the feeling people forgot about that show

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i don't see it tbh, the brand is still huge



and Netflix is so shady about their numbers we wouldn't even know probably

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I hope so but the show is so popular and I know the people not chronically online have no idea any of this is going on.

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A lot of people don't have the courage of their convictions. I'm not saying this as if I haven't done the same with some things, but people tend to think 'I'm one person' a lot of the time and not boycott.

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I get what you're saying but at the same time why should a show with a huge number of people suffer because of one person? Don't get me wrong, I'm only watching ST for Steve so I'm no big fan... but realistically not watching isn't going to change things since the show has way too many fans.

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There was a 3-year gap between S3 and S4. Vol.1 of S4 had the highest viewership on Netflix after Squid Games. It owned the Summer that year.



S5 most likely will premiere in 2025 which again is another a 3-year gap so I can see a semi-repeat cause its Netflixs biggest show.



The gap in time probably favors them more than not cause people got short-term memory so a lot of people saying theyll boycott will probably hate-watching or watch through other means.

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Arent most viewers children?

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In the world of capitalism anything that isn't I credential growth each year is kinda a failure so I do think any lower projections in subscribes or $$ for Neflix will make a difference. Netflix also depends on buzz and I don't think they will get as much esp not from the younger generation that is fairly informed and rejecting prior propaganda. So I might be idealistic along with you.



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The show will do fine (the MikexWill stans will throw the most hilarious tantrum when their boys don't hook up, tho) even if I think that it'll fall flat on its ass GOT style.



The issue is right now imo. The cast will go to cons where people WILL ask. And someone like Noah is more an influencer than an actor, and I don't see brands willing to link themselves to a guy that'll bring "Fuck him, we're boycotting you!" energy. I'm sure that his team is freaking out.

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I wish I could say with certainty that people will not watch but I'm a realist. By the time it gets released a lot of people will have forgotten.



But Brett definitely doesn't help with this defense, especially if Noah wants to push his both sides deserve peace rhetoric.

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well he didn't apologize so now what?

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another case of a man playing himself?

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Perfect gif.

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I was just looking for the video of this to post lmfao bless

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i was looking for this gif

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mte

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He was so agressively disgusting on Fleabag, makes sense he was just being himself.

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THAT'S WHERE I KNOW THIS GUY FROM!!! I was wracking my brain trying to figure it out before I saw this gif lol.



Edited at 2024-01-17 10:17 pm (UTC)

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Justthrow this series in the trash. I truly dont remember how the last season ended. Lets just say Vecna ate everyone, Eddie got eaten by bats, everyone dies. The end.

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oh the asshole from Fleabag

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Turns out he wasnt actingggg

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OH&S Launches 2024 Industrial Hygiene Awards

The deadline for the fourth annual program is February 23, 2024.

Occupational Health & Safety is pleased to announce the launch of the 2024 Industrial Hygiene Awards.

Now in its fourth edition, this award program honors the outstanding product development achievements of health and safety manufacturers whose products are considered particularly noteworthy in their ability to improve industrial hygiene.

This year, participants who enter their products can choose from 34 different categories, including:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools/Systems

Auditing & Compliance Software

Chemical Safety

Drug Testing

Education & Training

Emergency Preparedness & Response

Environmental Protection & Monitoring

Ergonomics

Exposure Assessment

Eye/Face Protection

Facility Safety

Fire Safety

Foot Protection

Gas & Vapor Detection

Hand Protection

Hazard Communication

Health and Safety/Cleanup

Hearing Conservation & Noise Reduction

Heat/Cold Stress: Apparel

Heat/Cold Stress: Equipment

Heat Stress Protection

Indoor Air Quality

Infectious Disease Control

IoT  Connected Devices

Lab Safety

Mobile Apps

Protective Clothing

Respiratory Protection: Fit Testing

Respiratory Protection: PPE

Risk Assessment & Management

SDS Management/Services

Signage & Labeling

Software

Ventilation

In addition to a digital badge to showcase their achievement, each winner will receive many other benefits. These include editorial coverage and special advertising rates in the April/May 2024 print issue of OH&S as well as the Industrial Hygiene Quarterly eNewsletter, recognition in OH&S marketing and promotions, inclusion in the special winners section on ohsonline.com and the option to include the winning product logo on a discounted OH&S print and digital ad.

A company may submit more than one product, though companies that enter the same product into multiple categories will be charged the first product rate for the first category entry and the discounted second category rate for additional category entries. Submitted products cannot be previous Industrial Hygiene Awards winners in the same category. However, updated versions of past winners are still eligible, and winning products can be entered into different categories.

A panel of judges selected from the health and safety industry by the OH&S editorial staff will review the submitted materials and determine the winners of each category. Awards will be given at the discretion of the judges, who have the sole right to determine eligibility. Incomplete or incorrect entries will be rejected, and all decisions are final. To ensure fairness, judge names will remain confidential. The deadline to submit entries is Friday, February 23, 2024.

For more information or to enter a product, visit the 2024 OH&S IH Awards page.
Fatal Accident Leads to OSHA Action Against Florida Landscaping Company

Bradenton-based TruScapes Industries faces $166,305 in proposed penalties.

Following a tragic accident in which a 36-year-old mower operator employed by TruScapes Industries Inc. drowned after being pinned underwater by a riding mower in a pond, the Bradenton, Florida-based company is facing OSHA citations for willful negligence.

According to a release dated January 10, the investigationwhich launched on July 4, 2023revealed that the mower's roll-over protection system was not engaged. OSHA cited TruScapes Industries for one willful violation for not using the rollover protection system and operating the mower on a slope exceeding the manufacturer's recommended limits. The company also received a citation for not providing potable drinking water, with proposed penalties totaling $166,305.

In July 2015, TruScapes Industries was the subject of an investigation involving a similar fatal accident in Bradenton. That case resulted in five serious citations and $18,200 in proposed penalties.

Once again, TruScapes Industries failure to implement required safety measures has cost the life of a worker, OSHA Area Office Director Danelle Jindra in Tampa, Florida, said in a statement. Employers are responsible for ensuring the correct equipment is used for each change in the work environment and that workers are protected from hazards associated with assigned job tasks.

TruScapes Industrieswhich employs about 150 workershas 15 business days from receipt of citations to comply, request a conference with OSHA or contest the agencys findings.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday announced his plans for a bilateral security agreement with Kyiv as he is set to visit Ukraine next month.

In a statement, Macron said that his country will continue to support its European neighbor in holding the front line and protecting its skies against continued Russian aggression. He added that the two nations are in the process of "finalizing a deal."

French Support for Ukraine

During a press conference in Paris, the French president announced the delivery of 40 Scalp long-range missiles and "several hundred" bombs to Ukraine in the coming weeks. The situation comes as France has been working on a new deal for several months as it seeks to shore up Ukraine's defenses and finances in the long term.

The president's recent statement comes in the wake of last week's visit to Kyiv by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. During that particular trip, the prime minister signed a bilateral security deal and pledged $3.25 billion in military aid to Kyiv over the next two years, as per Politico.

European partners have recently been under pressure to increase their military support for Ukraine as Russia continues its air strikes and as U.S. aid is stalled in Congress. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier this month issued a stark call to other EU countries to deliver more weapons to Kyiv.

He said that the arms deliveries that have been planned so far are "too small," despite Berlin's pledge to double its military aid to Ukraine to $8.7 billion this year. The Kiel Institute, which tallied military aid to Ukraine in the public domain, said that Germany was the second-highest donor last year behind the United States.

Macron also said that France and Europe would have to take "new decisions in the weeks and months ahead," which was seen as a reference to talks in Brussels. The discussions sought to resolve a dispute over a $54 billion aid package meant for Ukraine.

Read Also: EU Adds Hamas Leader to Terror List

War Against Russia

On top of pledging more support for Kyiv, the French president also said that he would find ways to work with former United States President Donald Trump in the event that the latter wins another presidency, according to the Associated Press.

Macron said, "I take the leaders that the people give me," adding that he was prepared to talk with anyone whenever his country's interests were at stake. He noted that he had already had to do so with Trump during the Republican businessman's term as leader of the U.S.

On Tuesday, France's defense ministry said that Ukraine's defense minister will be in Paris on Thursday. The developments come as in June, G7 countries unveiled an international framework for the long-term security of Kyiv.

Ukraine has repeatedly lobbied for long-term security commitments from its primary supporters and while France has been negotiating bilaterally since June, there have been few details regarding which nations are willing to cooperate.

Kyiv has also been looking to maintain flows of military and financial aid from its Western allies following the nearly two-year war with Russia, said Reuters.

Related Article: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Facing Opposition to Controversial Rwanda Bill
Several European powers are rapidly progressing plans to expand their nuclear energy sectors, despite a lack of support from major EU powers, such as Germany. The U.K. recently announced plans for its biggest nuclear expansion in 70 years, as well as plans to extend the life of several existing facilities. France continues to back its longstanding approach to nuclear power, with plans to build several new reactors in the coming years. Sweden recently voted in favour of the expansion of its nuclear power sector, and Hungary is moving forward with the construction of a massive nuclear plant.

This month, the U.K. government announced plans to make the biggest expansion to British nuclear power in 70 years, aimed at enhancing energy security, reducing consumer energy bills, and creating thousands of jobs. This move comes after the U.K. experienced greater energy volatility following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and subsequent sanctions on Russian energy. The governments Civil Nuclear Roadmap outlines the countrys nuclear power ambitions, including plans for the major Sizewell C development and its small modular reactor (SMR) strategy.

The U.K. hopes to increase electricity generation from nuclear sources by around four times, to 24 gigawatts (GW), by 2050, which would meet a quarter of the countrys electricity needs. It suggests that major giga-scale projects, such as Sizewell in Suffolk or Hinkley in Somerset, could provide enough electricity to power around 6 million homes each once completed. The government also pledged to invest up to $379 million in the domestic production of HALEU fuel needed to power advanced nuclear reactors, shifting its reliance away from Russia for the fuel. This could make it the first country in Europe to produce HALEU. The government aims to invest a further $12.6 million in skills development for the workers running the new fuel facilities.

In addition to developing new sites, the French energy major EDF recently stated plans to invest a further $1.6bn by 2026 to extend the life of its eight British nuclear facilities. EDF could also run the new 1.2 GW Sizewell B plant for 20 years longer than originally scheduled, until 2055.

The U.K. Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, stated, Nuclear is the perfect antidote to the energy challenges facing Britain - its green, cheaper in the long term and will ensure the UKs energy security for the long term. This is the right long-term decision and is the next step in our commitment to nuclear power, which puts us on course to achieve net zero by 2050 in a measured and sustainable way. This will ensure our future energy security and create the jobs and skills we need to level up the country and grow our economy.

France, Europes nuclear energy powerhouse, also plans to expand its nuclear capacity, despite pressure from Germany to invest in renewable energy instead of nuclear projects. In March last year, France's parliament voted in favour of the government's nuclear investment plan, with plans to build six new nuclear reactors. This month, the parliament will debate the possibility of increasing that figure to 14 new reactors, to meet the countrys growing electricity demand. This supports Frances aim of reducing its reliance on fossil fuels from 60 percent to 40 percent by 2035.

Swedens government is also backing nuclear expansion, as its parliament approved a bill that outlines the construction of additional reactors in November. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's government hopes to construct two new conventional nuclear reactors by 2035. There was a previous cap of 10 nuclear reactors, that has since been lifted. In addition, new reactors will be permitted to be constructed on sites beyond where the current facilities of Ringhals, Forsmark and Oskarshamn are located. The parliament stated, The Riksdag shares the government's assessment that fossil-free nuclear power will continue to play a central role in the Swedish energy mix. It added, The main reasons for this are an expected greater demand for electricity in combination with the need to phase out fossil fuels, not least for climate reasons.

Meanwhile, Hungary is continuing the construction of its Paks-2 nuclear energy project. There has been substantial criticism over the countrys ongoing energy ties with Russia, which has put pressure on several European companies, such as Germanys Siemens or Frances Framatome, to quit the project. However, the Paks development is currently the largest nuclear project in Europe, and several companies have signed binding contracts to participate in the development and operation of the facility, which is expected to contribute to the countrys green transition.

While some European countries are moving away from nuclear power in favour of renewable alternatives, several see the expansion of the regions nuclear capacity as key to decarbonisation and the achievement of a green transition. The U.K., France and Sweden all announced ambitious nuclear energy expansion plans last year, and Hungary is rapidly developing its massive nuclear power site, in collaboration with several European powers. This is expected to substantially boost the quantity of clean electricity being produced across Europe in the coming decades.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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Watching China for a sense of where oil prices are heading has become standard practice among analysts in the past decadeand with a good reason.

The Asian powerhouse has become a weathervane for global oil demand as it has become the top importer and second-largest consumer of the most traded commodity in the world. And despite nagging doubts, last year was another when China did not disappoint.

Earlier this month, customs authorities reported that oil imports had broken the previous record, reaching 11.28 million bpd last year. This was an 11% improvement on 2022 prompted by healthy fuel demand at home and abroad.

Yet imports were not the only ones on the rise. Domestic production of crude oil also hit a record in China last year. The annual total stood at 208 million tons, up by 3 million tons from the previous year. The average daily came in at 4.2 million barrels.

While all this was happening, China was also filling up its oil storage tanks. During the first 11 months of the year, the flow of oil into storage averaged an estimated 670,000 barrels daily, Reuters Clyde Russell reported.

Russell argued that this pace of storage filling suggested Chinas energy consumption was not as robust as it may look, which is a bearish sign for oil traders. The argument also included a mention of the record oil imports that, while indeed at an all-time high, fell short of the import rate forecast by the International Energy Agency.

Given the IEAs track record with oil demand forecasts lately, it looks quite likely that it overestimated Chinas demand for crudeas did all the analysts and institutional traders who expected the Asian economy to grow in leaps and bounds with no fluctuations whatsoever last year.

This, however, was not the case, prompting a worry about Chinese oil demand that became chronic in the course of the year and acted as a lid on benchmark prices for much of it. Yet the above data shows that demand for oil from China was indeed robusteven if it was not all domestic demand, as Reuters Russell noted in his report.

According to him, fuel exports from China booked yet another record-breaking figure last year, gaining 16.7%, or 190,000 bpd, to reach 1.37 million barrels daily. Per Russell, this suggested lukewarm demand at home. From another perspective, it might just as well suggest healthy demand for fuels outside of China, too. This demand was especially notable in Europe after Brussels imposed an embargo on Russian crude and fuels and urgently needed to find alternatives.

This may be about to change this year. The first batch of fuel export quotas issued by Beijing for this year were unchanged from a year ago. To bears, this would suggest expectations of weaker global demand. To bulls, that would be a wait-and-see moment, especially as energy analysts once again predict China will lead the worlds oil demand growth, regardless of hiccups in its economic growth trajectory.

Per Wood Mackenzie, for instance, China could see 540,000 bpd in oil demand growth this year, driving the global total to 2 million barrels daily. Most of the demand growth was expected in the second half of the year when economic growth was expected to gather pace, per Wood Mac analysts.

Meanwhile, however, demand for oil in China has slid down, and it has slid down substantially, shedding close to 600,000 bpd between October and November, per Energy Intelligence. The outlet attributed the decline to the tapering of the post-pandemic rebound in travel and, of course, weaker economic growth. This will, however, probably change in the coming days as the Lunar New Year holiday travel begins.

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Expectations about oil demand in China last year were loaded with optimism. Perhaps this year would see some more measured forecasts that are more in line with how economies actually grow rather than with how analysts want them to grow.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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A major Japanese corporation is planning a massive investment in what would be the worlds biggest green hydrogen project. The move is a sign that the industry is persevering and pursuing the construction of clean energy projects even as costs have increased.

Japans Mitsubishi Corporation, a giant trading house, plans to invest around $690 million (over 100 billion Japanese yen) in a green hydrogen production plant planned in Rotterdams Europoort industrial area, Nikkei Asia reported this week.

Worlds Biggest Green Hydrogen Plant

The project, Eneco Electrolyzer, will have a capacity of 800 megawatts (MW) and produce up to 80,000 tons of hydrogen every year. This would be a production capacity almost 30 times higher than any of the currently operational green hydrogen projects anywhere in the world, Nikkei Asia notes.

The Eneco Diamond Hydrogen joint venture of Rotterdam-based energy firm Eneco and Mitsubishi will build and operate the project, which will use renewable energy from solar parks and wind farms to produce clean hydrogen thats initially aimed towards the industrial sector.

Eneco submitted its planning application in November 2023. The application calls for construction beginning in 2026. The green hydrogen plant is currently scheduled to start operating in 2029. Related: China Awarded Major Contract By Iraq For Supergiant Oil And Gas Field

Producing green hydrogen is essential for a successful energy transition, Enecos chief executive As Tempelman said two months ago.

When direct electrification is not possible, green hydrogen is a good and sustainable alternative, both as a raw material and as a fuel.

Cost Challenges Hamper Deployment

While heavy industry and governments pin their hopes on hydrogen for faster decarbonization, and power-generating companies and oil and gas majors look to diversify into low-carbon hydrogen production, costs are still high for green hydrogen production and hold back massive deployment of projects, analysts say. Forecasters, including the International Energy Agency (IEA)a staunch supporter of all things green  acknowledge that costs need to be slashed significantly if clean hydrogen is to play a major role in the energy transition.

Green hydrogencurrently costing 3 euros to 8 euros per kg in some regionsis more expensive than grey hydrogen, produced from natural gas, PwC said in an analysis last year.

Low-emission hydrogen production can grow massively by 2030 but cost challenges are hampering deployment, the IEA said in its Global Hydrogen Review 2023 report in September 2023.

Equipment and financial costs are increasing, putting projects at risk and reducing the impact of government support for deployment, the agency warned, although it noted that interest in low-carbon hydrogen projects remained strong.

China is taking the lead in green hydrogen deployment, while North America and Europe have taken the lead in implementing initiatives to encourage low-emission hydrogen production, the IEA says.

The U.S. and European schemes to fund and support hydrogen production have lengthy time lags between the announcement of the schemes and the moment at which funds are made available to project developers. This is delaying project execution, and even putting projects at risk, the agency said.

Despite the momentum in interest in green hydrogen, currently installed capacity and volumes remain low as developers wait for government support before making investments. As such, low-emission hydrogen still accounts for less than 1% of overall hydrogen production and use, according to the IEAs annual 2023 report.

Greater progress is needed on technology, regulation and demand creation to ensure low-emissions hydrogen can realise its full potential, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a statement.

At the end of last year, President Bidens plan to extend $7 billion to seven hydrogen hubs across America was described by Wood Mackenzie as A significant step towards creating a low-carbon hydrogen economy.

However, real momentum will have to come from private investment because the seven hubs, if fully developed, will have a combined production capacity that will only contribute 30% to the U.S. goal of having 10 Mtpa hydrogen supply capacity by 2030.

WoodMacs analysis also showed that the goal of reducing the cost of clean hydrogen production to US$1 per kilogram by 2030 is currently out of reach for green hydrogen.

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This is primarily due to higher renewable power costs, a slower decline in capital expenditures for electrolytic hydrogen, and lower electrolyzer load factor assumptions, the energy consultancy noted.

Globally, there is huge interest in hydrogen projectsas of the end of the third quarter of 2023, there were over 100 Mtpa of announced projects, mostly green hydrogen, according to Bridget van Dorsten, Senior Research Analyst, Hydrogen and Emerging Technologies at WoodMac.

The pipeline shows the appetite, but developers are struggling to get projects to FID, van Dorsten said last month, noting that high costs, a lack of offtakers, and incomplete policy throughout the value chain are holding back faster progress in green hydrogen projects.

Policy support has been skewed towards production, but theres been little to none for transportation, storage and distribution or the broader infrastructure to support market development of hydrogen and derivatives such as ammonia and ethanol, van Dorsten added.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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With the Middle East conflict now past the 100-day mark, the Israeli military has launched a barrage of strikes deep within southern Lebanon while Iran has attacked a site in Iraq it has alleged is being used by Israels Mossad, stoking fears that the conflict could escalate into a full-blown regional conflict. Israel has, however, declared that it has ended its "intensive" phase of operations in northern Gaza and plans to do the same in southern Gaza.

Japanese shipping operator Nippon Yusen has become the latest among dozens of shipping companies to suspend sailings through the Red Sea following incessant attacks on ships by Yemen's Houthi movement. A week ago, China's state-owned shipping company COSCO suspended shipping to Israel due to the elevated risk of coming under Houthi attacks. Beijing has so far remained tight-lipped about the raging war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip despite China being Israels second-largest trading partner. This comes as little surprise considering that the war has come at a time when China has been prioritizing enhanced relations with the Muslim states of the Middle East, and has no tradition or commitment to support Israels security. Further, for decades, China has maintained a policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of other sovereign states and has, therefore, been unwilling to take a position that would upset relations with countries like Yemen, Egypt and Iran, all members of its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. Related: Largest Lithium Deposit in the World Suspends Output

That is, until now. Beijing has finally spoken out, calling for an end to attacks on civilian vessels in the Red Sea--and for good reason. After all, theres too much at stake for the Middle Kingdom to continue playing the passive observer in all this mayhem.

"The situation in the Red Sea has escalated sharply recently, and China is deeply concerned about this. 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," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said.

China has ramped up investment and commercial activities along Egypt's Suez Canal by a significant amount ever since Egypts President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi came to power in 2014. Beijing has actively encouraged state-owned companies to invest billions of dollars in Egypt's energy, transport and logistics sectors, and extended billions of dollars in loans to the north African nation, according to the World Bank.

Last March, Chinas COSCO invested $1 billion in Egypt's port infrastructure. COSCOs efforts will be supplemented by CK Hutchison Holdings, a prominent Hong Kong-based conglomerate, which announced plans to invest $700 million to develop a new container terminal in the Red Sea port of Ain Sokhna. Around the same time, Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipes unveiled plans to invest $2 billion in Ain Sokhnas iron and steel plants. But the biggest deals came later in the year after state-owned China Energy and Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone struck a $6.75 billion deal to develop green hydrogen and green ammonia projects while Hong Kong-listed United Energy Group agreed to invest $8 billion to build a potassium chloride production site, all in the Sokhna Industrial Zone.

Middle East Peace Broker

China has lately displayed a willingness to become a peace broker in the Middle East. Last year, it brokered a detente between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran in a bid to end decades of enmity and a formal cutting of ties in 2016. Viewed as a diplomatic win for all the parties concerned, Chinas top diplomat pledged to firmly support Tehran on issues concerning core interests and said the deal was driving a wave of reconciliation in the Middle East.

For years, China has been working hard to strengthen diplomatic ties with Egypt, with Egyptians now rating China as the countrys most important ally ahead of the United States and Russia.

Further, its worth noting that whereas China might not be a powerful ally of Israel on the level of the U.S., the two nations share warm relations. Israel was the first Middle East state to recognize the Peoples Republic of China in 1950, although they did not establish formal diplomatic ties until 1992. Relations have expanded particularly in the economic sphere over the past four decades, with Chinese companies upgrading ports and building infrastructure in Israel. Indeed, China now ranks as Israels second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade between the two rocketing from just $50 million in 1992 to $24.45 billion in 2022.

The United States has welcomed Chinas new-found role in the volatile region, and believes Beijing will play a key role in reining in Iran. China imports 10% of its oil from Iran.

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There are currently no tankers carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) left in the Red Sea as shipping firms avoid the region in fear of Houthi rebel attacks.

According to an X post this morning by Oeystein Kalleklev, chief executive of LNG shipping firm Flex LNG, carriers are now being re-routed through Cape of Good Hope or deviated to other destinations.

The below picture was captured by shipping investor Ed Finley-Richardson on Twitter using shipping tracking platform Sea by Clarksons.

Other LNG carriers are represented in green.

This comes after the UK and US led a coalition of forces launching attacks on Yemens Houthi positions, in response to an escalation. The Houthi movement claims it is targeting ships linked to Israel, because of its military action in Gaza.

Commodities analyst for Reuters, Clyde Russell, noted yesterday that the volume of LNG affected is relatively small, and current market dynamics are flexible enough to compensate without putting significant upward pressure on spot prices.

LNG prices were down 2.2 per cent this morning as they return to stability following a month-long spike  17 per cent above current levels  due to weather-induced high demand.

Prior to the escalation of Houthi attacks in the areas, insights firm GlobalData last year found that LNG is set to become a higher-trafficked fossil fuel than oil within the next five years.

By City AM

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Higher power demand and efforts to boost energy security pushed Chinas coal production to a record-high level in 2023, according to official statistics data published on Wednesday.

Chinese coal output rose by 2.9% year-over-year to 4.66 billion metric tons in 2023, per data from Chinas National Bureau of Statistics reported by Reuters.

Coal imports also rose last year, as some domestic mining operations were suspended for some time in 2023 due to safety inspections and concerns.

Higher demand after the COVID restrictions were lifted and higher domestic coal prices led to record-high coal imports into China, which soared by 61.8% year-on-year to 474.42 million metric tons in 2023, data from the General Administration of Customs showed last week.

In the latter part of 2023, China ramped up coal and natural gas production, imports, and consumption as its electricity demand jumped in the second half and looks to hit a record-high winter peak demand.

Chinese authorities have been keen to avoid a repeat of the 2022 shortages and spiking prices and have instructed utilities and producers to maximize imports and output before the winter.

China continues to rely on coal and coal-fired power generation to meet its growing power demand, and despite being the world's top investor in solar and wind capacity, it also plans a lot of new coal-fired electricity capacity.

During the first half of 2023 alone, China approved more than 50 GW of new coal power, Greenpeace said in a report this year. That's more than it did in all of 2021, the environmental campaign group said.

Chinas coal demand is expected to drop this year and plateau through 2026, and global demand is set to decline to 2026, but China will have the last word, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its Coal 2023 annual report.

The outlook for coal in China will be significantly affected in the coming years by the pace of its clean energy deployment, weather conditions, and structural shifts in the Chinese economy, according to the agency.

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Crude oil production in the United States is set to decline for the fifth month in a row in February, according to the Energy Information Administration.

In its latest Drilling Productivity Report, the EIA said that production across the shale patch in February was set to be 2,000 barrels daily lower than it was in January, at 9.68 million bpd. The only play where production is set to continue growing next month is the Permian, where output is seen rising to 5.974 million bpd from a forecast 5.97 million bpd this month.

However, the EIA has not always been accurate in its monthly output move predictions. Last summer, for instance, it kept forecasting decline after decline but actual production numbers revealed oil output in the shale patch had been growing.

More recently, the EIA predicted a production decline for December, to 9.653 million bpd from 9.654 million bpd in November. In actuality, December oil output grew, to 9.693 million bpd. Output for the current month is also predicted to have declined, to 9.682 million bpd.

For this year, the EIA expects overall growth in oil production but at a slower rate than last years. This time, the prediction is shared by some in the industry. 2024 production is seen adding 290,000 bpd to reach a record high of 13.21 million barrels daily. The rate of growth, however, would be around a third of the rate, at which crude oil production grew last year.

That rate took most observers by surprise, as rigs fell for most of the year, creating the perception that output was in decline as well. Yet drilling efficiency gains and better-than-expected well performance drove output higher by close to a million barrels daily.

Interestingly, the EIA does not expect higher oil prices despite its prediction for slower U.S. production growth combined with continued OPEC+ output cuts.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Iran carried out a missile attack in the western part of its neighbor, nuclear-armed Pakistan, targeting sites linked to militant group Jaysh al-Adl, and adding another flare-up to the already tense situation in the Middle East.

Jaysh al-Adl is considered the most active and influential Sunni militant group in Sistan-Baluchestan, according to the office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence. The group is designated as a terrorist group by Washington and Tehran.

This is the third strike in one week from Iran on another country in the region, after attacks on targets in Iraq and Syria in recent days.

Following the attack, which Pakistan said killed two children, Pakistan recalled its ambassador to Tehran and said the strike was a blatant violation of its airspace.

Pakistans Foreign Ministry denounced the attack and summoned an Iranian diplomat in Islamabad to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistans sovereignty.

Pakistan warned there would be consequences, saying that The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran.

Iran and Pakistan have had cordial relations but each has accused the other of harboring militants that perpetrate attacks.

The latest flare-up in the Middle East comes days after a missile attack carried out by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps killed a prominent Kurdish energy businessman at his home in Erbil.

Some outlets note that Peshraw Dizayee, who died in the attack with four family members, had purported ties with Israeli intelligence services and that the attack was in fact an assassination.

The tensions in the region have intensified in recent weeks, as the Iran-backed Houthis ramped up attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and declared open season on any U.S. ship transiting the area, in response to last weeks U.S.-UK missile strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

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Despite the most recent flare-up with the Iranian attack in Pakistan, oil prices fell early on Wednesday, reflecting worse-than-expected Chinese GDP data and a rising U.S. dollar.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Weakening oil demand growth and higher-than-expected U.S. oil production may force OPEC and the OPEC+ group to make deeper cuts to production levels if they want to balance the market, Marco Dunand, chief executive at one of the worlds top trading firms, Mercuria, told Reuters on Wednesday.

High U.S. (oil) production growth works well when Chinese demand is growing by 1 million bpd a year. But both Chinese and overall global demand are slowing and will probably grow by 1.5 million bpd this year, Dunand told Reuters on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Mercurias top executive expects lower global oil demand growth than OPEC, which said in its latest monthly report on Wednesday that demand is set to grow by 2.2 million bpd this year and by another robust 1.8 million bpd next year.

While the U.S. has surprised the market with higher-than-forecast oil supply growth last year, the current consolidation drive in the shale patch could slow growth, according to Mercurias Dunand.

U.S. oil production growth was underestimated over the past year. But it will probably slow down because of huge industry consolidation and cost reduction, he told Reuters.

On the demand side, slowing demand  if those expectations pan out  would put OPEC in a position to further support the market balance and prices with deeper cuts.

The Saudis might need to go further with production cuts if they want to control the price, Dunand told Reuters.

The oil supply and demand picture looks fairly balanced or in slight surplus this quarter, analysts say, and reckon a demand uptick in the second and third quarters would tighten the market and potentially push prices higher.

Much will depend on the OPEC+ supply policies. The alliance has announced additional production cuts for the first quarter of 2024. If the group decides to unwind those cuts, or part of them, after March, supply would be more than enough to meet growth in demand, considering that oil supply from non-OPEC+ producers  driven by the U.S., Brazil, and Canada  is also expected to continue rising.

Soaring supply from the United States and other non-OPEC+ oil producers could force OPEC+ to continue carefully managing its supply to the market for the next five years to prevent a collapse in oil prices, analysts at Rapidan Energy Group said last month.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Oil and gas companies operating offshore Norway have set their sights on exploring for natural gas in the Arctic Barents Sea, eager to unlock new supply in light of the strong European demand for non-Russian gas.

Over the next three years, some of the largest firms operating on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) are set to ramp up their exploration efforts in the Barents Sea, executives at Equinor, Aker BP, and Var Energi told Reuters after the latest Norwegian license awards were announced this week.

On Tuesday, the Norwegian Ministry of Energy offered 62 new production licenses in the latest licensing round for the most mature areas of the shelf. The number of awarded licenses was the highest in five years and compared to just 47 licenses awarded last year.

Eight of those licenses are in the Barents Sea, where companies are preparing to explore for more natural gas.

Commenting on the license awards, Norways Energy Minister Terje Aasland said,

Last year, I specifically encouraged companies to explore opportunities in the Barents Sea. This year we are offering more than double the number of production licenses in this region compared to last year's round.

This shows that several companies have responded positively to the call, and that they are conscious of their social responsibilities. Proving more gas resources is important for profitability, by increasing the export capacity from this region.

Equinor, which was awarded a large number of licenses as an operator and a partner, said, via Jez Averty, senior vice president for subsurface, the Norwegian continental shelf,

We now focus on exploration to uncover the potential for gas in the Barents Sea, working closely with Var Energi and Aker BP to explore as much as possible with good rig utilization.

Aker BPs chief executive, Karl Johnny Hersvik, told Reuters that it would take about seven years to bring any new gas discoveries to the market.

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Var Energi, for its part, is working to unlock the hydrocarbon potential in the western Barents Sea, CEO Nick Walker told Reuters.

Oil and gas companies plan to boost exploration activity and spending offshore Norway this year as Western Europes top oil and gas producer looks to maintain production and raise exports to the rest of Europe.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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On Tuesday, Iran launched attacks and targeted alleged Sunni militant bases in Pakistan, potentially further increasing tensions in the conflict in the Middle East.

Iran struck two bases of the Jaysh al-Dhulm militant group in Pakistan's mountainous southwestern Balochistan region.

Iran Launches Airstrikes in Sunni Militant Bases

According to The Guardian, Iran reported that the strikes occurred in the mountains of Pakistan's Balochistan province. Confusion followed the announcement from Iran as state media reports on it soon disappeared. However, Iran's attack on nuclear-armed Pakistan by Iran puts diplomatic relations between the two countries in jeopardy, which have long considered each other with suspicion.

Tehran launched strikes on Syria and Iraq in response to a dual suicide bombing of the Sunni extremist organization Islamic State, which killed more than 90 people.

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency and state television said that drones and missiles were used in the strikes in Pakistan to target the Jaish al-Adl militant group. Press TV, the English-language arm of Iranian state television, blamed the attack on Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

Jaish al-Adl, also known as the "Army of Justice," is a Sunni militant organization founded in 2012 that primarily functions in Pakistan across the border. The militants have claimed bombings and abducted Iranian border police in the past.

According to two security officials in Pakistan, Iranian strikes damaged a mosque in Baluchistan's Panjgur district, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) inside Pakistan from the Iranian border. The officials were not authorized to speak with journalists, so they only talked on the condition of anonymity.

The attack happened after Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Baluchistan has faced a low-level insurgency by Baluch nationalists for more than two decades. Baluch nationalists later initiated an insurrection for independence but initially wanted a portion of provincial resources.

Read Also: US, Doha To Discuss Efforts To Release Hamas Hostages

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry Speaks Out

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry denounced the strikes and said, "Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran, which resulted in death of two innocent children while injuring three girls."

Pakistan declared that terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. It added that such unilateral acts do not conform with good neighborly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence.

Iran has long suspected Pakistan of harboring rebels, potentially at the behest of its regional archrival Saudi Arabia. However, tensions decreased in March last year when Iran and Saudi Arabia achieved an agreement mediated by China.

Furthermore, Pakistani security forces have been the target of strikes by militants entering from Iran. In April 2023, four Pakistani soldiers were killed in the Baluchistan province by a militant strike coming from the Iranian border.

Related Article: US Condemns Iran's 'Reckless' Missile Attack in Iraq's Erbil




Retail gasoline prices in the United States changed course this weekafter falling for two consecutive weeksrising to $3.04 per gallon on Tuesday, according to the latest GasBuddy data.

The national average for a gallon of gasoline is still down 1.4 cents from one month ago, and down 23.9 cents from a year ago, GasBuddy data showed. According to GasBuddy, the attacks on vessels in the Red Sea is behind the most recent price increases.

While last week saw the U.S. attacking Houthi militants engaged in attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, oil prices jumped, but then promptly fell as economic concerns with weak demand sapped the upward move after the U.S. and allies attacked Houthi rebels. Gasoline inventories also saw another large rise, putting some downward pressure on gas prices and leaving an opportunity for the national average to potentially briefly fall below $3 per gallon. Well have to see if the stars finally align for such a move, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

While gasoline prices in the United States appear to now be on the rise, an emergency stoppage at Russias Lukoil 340,000 bpd refinery in Nizhny Novgorod last Friday has prompted Russia to consider a ban on gasoline exports to prevent domestic shortages and is also considering purchases of gasoline on the market to supply its petrol stations. Most of Russias diesel exports go to Turkey, the Middle East, Africa, and South America.

While the currentperhaps short-termtrend in the United States is looking at prices rising for retail gasoline, the EIA is forecasting that gasoline prices will decrease this year due to increased inventories stemming from increased refinery capacity.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Anna and Tim Sazama had been praying for snow for their wedding ever since they became engaged in June 2022.

I just wanted a snow scene, the former Anna Wichman said. Our dream was a winter wedding and the snowflakes. Any time anyone asked about my planning, I would say, All I need is snow. If I got snow, it will be a good day.

Well, I definitely got my snow.

The Sazamas, who live in Columbus, Nebraska, didnt want dead trees and grass as a backdrop for their big day Saturday. So when the Norfolk area picked up 10 inches of snow last week, they were thrilled.

A second round of snow, this time about 4 inches, didnt erode their excitement, although they did have to cancel rehearsal on Friday night.

Anna remembers looking at the forecast only once on Saturday, noting a wind chill of 36 below. She still thought the roads would be plowed as usual and the day would go as planned.

They werent, though, because of blowing snow. And then the calls from people canceling started coming in.

First, it was the hairdresser. Then the photographer. Maid of honor Morgan Wichman, husband Allen and their family, all part of the wedding, couldnt make it out of their rural Monroe property. The party bus was a no-go, because they didnt want anyone to get stranded.

Their pastor in Columbus, Mike Moser, tried to make it to Northern Heights Baptist Church in Norfolk to marry them but had to turn back. Instead, he officiated the ceremony virtually.

I was like, Uh-oh, we prayed a little too much, Anna said. I really didnt think it was going to be much of an issue.

While their wedding day appeared to be heading for disaster, neither Anna or Tim lost faith that it would all be OK.

Annas personal attendant, Brittney Dunker, turned into a lifesaver, taking hundreds of photos. Her daughter stepped in as a flower girl. A bridesmaid picked up the food for the reception.

And although it seemed that every road in the area was closed, somehow the route to Stanton and their reception was clear. So the people who still made it to the ceremony could celebrate.

We had 200 people that we invited and 150 had responded yes to coming, Anna said. We ended up taking a picture at the reception. And we had 45 people.

Anna said she lost it only once, when she saw her grandmother before the wedding and she asked how her day was going.

But then she wiped away her tears, determined to stay positive. The couple agreed  when one of them would get upset or frustrated, the other was there to get them back on track.

We were the calm of each others storm, Anna said.

Tim said there was even a silver lining. There was plenty of snow, people could use the embroidered throw blankets Anna had worked on all last summer, and he got the smaller wedding he wanted.

That was my favorite part of all, he said. We had the most important people there besides Morgan and her kids. It was friends and family. Everybody wanted to be there. Everybody was up and dancing.

Their troubles werent over after the wedding, however. They were able to make the journey to Omaha on Sunday night, only to have their flight to Belize delayed again and again.

But Tuesday at 5 a.m., they took off. By that afternoon, they were back on schedule, ready to spend their next few days snorkeling, cave tubing, enjoying the resident monkeys and manatees and just relaxing after a crazy wedding day.

The temperature was 84 degrees when they landed in the Central American country.

It was about 100 degrees different than when we started, Anna said.

Photos: Nebraska couple's wedding nearly derailed by snow

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
Asking Omaha Public Power District customers on Sunday to cut back on their energy use was an unusual  but important  move for the utility as eastern Nebraska wrestled with snow, cold and frigid wind chills, OPPDs top official said Tuesday.

Javier Fernandez, OPPDs CEO, said the utility and others in the region were facing critical conditions and needed to reach out to customers to provide early notice of potential problems and ask them for help.

At the time, all four of the utilitys coal-fired generating units  two in North Omaha, two more in Nebraska City  were offline. The Missouri River had frozen around the water intakes that supply plants the water they need to operate, interfering with their instrumentation.

The situation has eased somewhat in recent days, partly because of improving conditions for the coal plants but also because customers came through with energy savings.

The fact that our customers showed up helped us maintain the reliability of the system, Fernandez said.

OPPD had asked customers to voluntarily conserve energy by turning down thermostats a few degrees and avoid using appliances such as dishwashers, washers and dryers, particularly during peak times.

Preliminary data, Fernandez said, indicates that customers reduced use by about 14 megawatts on Sunday. After the utility reached out to commercial and industrial customers, reductions increased to 50 megawatts between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. Monday and to 75 megawatts during the same time period Tuesday.

Meanwhile, one Nebraska City coal unit, the newest of the pair and the one that requires the least water to operate, returned to operation Monday. And utility officials were seeing other utilities upriver bring plants back online, which tells them water levels are coming up. That water will take several days to flow south. In the interim, utility officials are watching the Missouri, hoping to bring the remaining units back up later this week or this weekend.

This was our biggest challenge, not having our baseload online during the last 48 hours, Fernandez said, noting that the issue wasnt just one facing OPPD but also other utilities in the region, since many of them have power plants on the Missouri.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had increased releases of river water from Gavins Point near Yankton, South Dakota, on Jan. 8 in anticipation of colder weather. The federal agency did so to reduce the chances of ice jams forming and to replace some of the water going into ice.

But John Remus, the corps chief of Missouri River Basin water management, said ice formation upstream caused dips in river stage at Sioux City and Omaha. With the river stage at Sioux City recovering, MidAmerican Energy was bringing its Sioux City plant back online Monday.

Fernandez said the recent storms illustrate the need for the utility to maintain diverse sources of electric generation. While some plants were offline, the utilitys natural gas, wind and solar units helped pick up the slack.

Wind power, he said, showed up beautifully. The regionwide blasts that contributed to wind chills of as much as 41 below zero in Douglas County kept wind turbines humming through the cold spell. Preliminary data indicated that wind turbines at times over the weekend produced about half the electricity generated in the 14-state regional power pool to which OPPD belongs.

This could have been exactly the other way around, Fernandez said. If the wind hadnt blown, we likely would have had a river that was flowing. So having that diversity in our generation portfolio is really important.

He thanked OPPD employees for their hard work in keeping systems operating. And he credited state and county road crews, particularly those in Cass County, with clearing routes to make sure employees and fuel supplies could reach natural gas and fuel oil turbines. The Metropolitan Utilities District redirected natural gas from one station to another when necessary.

The storm, Fernandez said, also demonstrated the importance of membership in the regional group, which was importing power from the east to balance the grid and assist members.

In February 2021, OPPD exported excess power to the pool to help other members. That step was driven by the regional transmission organization, which eventually directed member utilities to take some customers offline for short periods of time to conserve power and prevent longer, larger outages.

While many area residents heat their homes with natural gas, growth across the district continues to drive up demand for electricity each year. The utility now sees two peak load records each year, one in the winter and one in the summer, a pattern the utility expects to continue.

OPPDs electricity demand peaked at nearly 2,000 megawatts between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday. That fell short of the winter peak of nearly 2,100 megawatts on New Years Eve last year.

Fernandez noted, however, that the utility isnt out of the woods yet. The power pool planned to end its conservation status Tuesday night. OPPD crews continue to work to bring plants back online. But after a brief warmup Wednesday and Thursday, another storm system was expected to move through late Thursday and Friday. Temperatures were expected to drop to 21 below zero on Friday night, according to the National Weather Service.

As bad as it felt, the weekends cold stretch was not the worst the area has faced, although the effects were compounded by the amount of snow that fell, said Dirk Petersen, a meteorologist with the weather services office in Valley.

The Omaha areas longest stretch of days with high temperatures less than zero was four in 1936, he said. The area also has had a handful of three-day stretches, the latest in 1983. Omahas coldest wind chill, an unofficial record, was 52 below in 1983.

During this stretch, the high remained below zero for two days. By 4 p.m. Tuesday, the mercury had hit 11 degrees. But temperatures havent been above freezing in Omaha since Jan. 9 and arent expected to cross that mark until early next week.

This is just a really prolonged period of cold weather, Petersen said.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
Three semitrailer trucks were involved in a wreck that left cattle scattered over several miles of Interstate 80, the York County Sheriff's Office said.

At 6:38 p.m. Monday, deputies were dispatched to a multi-vehicle collision in the eastbound lanes at mile marker 354, said Sgt. Taylor Samek in a press release from the county.

An investigation found that a semi parked on the shoulder due to a mechanical issue was struck from behind by a cattle hauler, which then collided with another semi passing by. No injuries were reported by the drivers.

I-80 eastbound was closed for several hours from mile marker 348 to mile marker 360 so emergency crews could investigate, clean up and gather the cattle that escaped during the collision, the Sheriff's Office said.

The Sheriff's Office also said that both it and the Nebraska State Patrol responded to numerous stranded motorists between York and Waco who attempted to drive down impassable county roads after being diverted off the Interstate and got stuck.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
An 88-year-old Nebraska prison inmate serving a life sentence for first-degree murder of an Omaha bartender died Monday in Tecumseh.

Richard Holtan pleaded no contest in Douglas County District Court and his sentence began on Feb. 9, 1976. The cause of death has not yet been determined, but Holtan was being treated for a medical condition, according to a statement from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

Under state law, grand jury must be convened to conduct an investigation anytime a person in custody dies.

Holtan was a 39-year-old transient when he was charged with the shooting death of Lawrence Loder on Nov. 1, 1974 at the Dugout Bar in downtown Omaha. Holtan was scheduled to be executed in Nebraska's electric chair.

Holtan left death row in 1989 after being resentenced to life in prison. In an interview in 1977, Holtan said he recalled nothing about the robbery and shooting that led to Loder's death.

At that time, he said he had been in and out of jail since 1954 and that "nothing has ever been done to reform me regarding what's wrong with me, confronting the social problem I have."
LINCOLN  As Omaha officials take steps to establish an inland port authority within the city, a state lawmaker is looking at ways to set up that authority for success.

State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha introduced an amendment to Legislative Bill 164, which would switch the bill to focus primarily on making changes to existing law on inland port authorities. The original bill, McKinney said, was related to building codes, but the same measure is already on the books in a different bill.

An inland port authority is an area controlled by an independent board that can engage in marketing, issue and sell bonds, and acquire property. In 2021, the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill from Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha that allowed up to five inland port authorities to be set up within the state. Since then, several authorities have already been established.

Among other changes, McKinneys amendment would increase the maximum number of Nebraskas inland port authorities from five to seven. Now that some authorities are in operation, he said, that has increased the demand for them in other areas.

Earlier this month, the Omaha City Council voted to move toward establishing an inland port authority in Omaha. Thomas Warren, Mayor Jean Stotherts chief of staff, said the city supports McKinneys amendment, though officials are neutral about its funding provisions.

The amendment would establish a fund to support inland port authorities using cash transfers from the Legislature, as well as interest earned from federal pandemic relief dollars, the Perkins County Canal fund, and the fund supporting the construction of a new prison.

Wayne and McKinney are the leaders in a legislative effort that has allocated over $400 million in state and federal dollars to serve neighborhoods in North and South Omaha, along with some other underserved regions across Nebraska. Currently, the Department of Economic Development (DED) has control of most of the remaining funding, but McKinneys amendment would allow those funds to go straight to Omahas inland port authority once its established.

Both McKinney and Wayne have been critical of DED and major developers on the project for not doing more to seek community input. McKinney said an inland port authority would give the community a bigger voice in the effort. Jennifer Creager, senior vice president of public policy for the Greater Omaha Chamber, agreed that an inland port authority would better facilitate developments in North and South Omaha.

I strongly believe the community will benefit the most from this, McKinney said.

With Omahas port authority already in the works, McKinney said his amendment is a time-sensitive measure that he would like to get passed before the end of the legislative session.

We have one shot to get this right, he said.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
LINCOLN  Nebraskans could use deadly force to defend themselves, whether they are at home, at work, in their vehicle or out in public under a bill introduced Tuesday in the Nebraska Legislature.

Legislative Bill 1269 was among 106 bills and three proposed constitutional amendments offered during a day dominated by continued debate about legislative rules changes. Lawmakers are expected to finish the rules debate on Friday.

State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, who introduced LB 1269 with 14 co-sponsors, said it would add Nebraska to the list of states that allow people to defend themselves or others in all four locations. The bill also would protect anyone who used lethal force under the law from being charged with a crime or sued in civil court.

Current state law requires people to retreat, if they can do so safely, when facing a violent confrontation in their vehicle or in public. The law does not require people to retreat if they are in their home or workplace.

Hardin said he is concerned about the subjectivity of Nebraska law, which forces people to show that they had tried hard enough to safely retreat or escape a situation. He believes people should have a right to use lethal force against an aggressor while out in public or in their vehicle.

People everywhere have a legal right to stand their ground, in a nutshell, he said, while adding that the bill certainly doesnt give somebody a license to kill.

Melody Vaccaro with Nebraskans Against Gun Violence criticized the proposal.

Killing someone else is an action that cannot be undone, she said. It is a serious matter that impacts families for generations. If one can navigate a situation without killing another person, they must do that.

Stand your ground laws, sometimes called shoot first laws, have been controversial since Florida passed the first such measure in 2005. Some 25 states have passed some form of such laws since then, including most of Nebraskas neighbors.

Floridas law later was invoked by George Zimmerman, when he shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager, in 2012. Zimmerman faced criminal charges but was found not guilty under the stand your ground law.

Here are the highlights of the other bills introduced Tuesday:

Education  Lawmakers added to the long list of education bills with a collection of new proposals, including one that would do away with the states current school aid formula and replace it with a per-pupil funding system.

LB 1231, introduced by Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, would issue funds to school districts based on their fall enrollment numbers, with the baseline being $4,750 per student. Additional funding would go to smaller districts, and districts with students who qualify for free lunch or students with limited English proficiency.

Multiple lawmakers, including Gov. Jim Pillen, have tried to replace Nebraskas existing school funding formula, to no success. Wayne said he wants to eliminate the formula because its nearly impossible for people to understand.

Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, a former educator, introduced LB 1213, which would require employers to provide at least 20 hours of paid leave each year for employees to attend school activities for a family member, including parent-teacher conferences, extracurricular activities and disciplinary meetings, among others.

In addition to helping students succeed, Walz said the bill also acts as a workforce development measure  an issue lawmakers have pinned as a top priority this session. Walz said there are plenty of parents who want to be more involved in their childs schooling, but are limited because of their jobs.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area introduced two bills to do with reading comprehension. LB 1254 would appropriate $10 million to the State Department of Education to develop training for teachers who teach reading to students in kindergarten through third grade.

LB 1253 would create a grant program to support research on artificial intelligence systems that provide writing assistance for individuals with dyslexia.

Taxes  Sen. Brad von Gillern of Omaha introduced a bill that could become part of a property tax relief package this year. LB 1241 would impose a new type of levy limit on schools, counties and other local governments.

Under the bill, levies would have to be reduced by the same percentage that property valuations rise in a political subdivision. Von Gillern said his intent is to prevent local governments from getting a windfall when valuations increase.

Candy and pop would be subject to sales taxes under LB 1248, introduced by Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha. Both are exempt now. The idea has been proposed in earlier years. Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln would put an excise tax of 3 cents per kilowatt hour on electricity used to charge a motor vehicle at a commercial electric vehicle charging station.

Early voting  The number of days allowed for voters to cast early ballots would be cut by about one-third under LB 1211, introduced by Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair. He has 27 co-sponsors, including almost all of the Republicans in the Legislature.

The bill would require that ballots be ready for delivery to voters at least 22 days ahead of a primary or general election, down from 35 days allowed now. It would allow in-person early voting starting 22 days before an election, down from 30 days currently.

Hansen said he believes Nebraska allows too many days for early voting now, which he said gives more time for nefarious activities. He also said people who vote early may change their minds based on events in the last weeks of a campaign. Even allowing five to seven days for mailing, the proposal would give people at least eight days to cast their ballot.

911  Sens. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington and John Fredrickson of Omaha introduced several bills in response to the 911 outages that have hit varying parts of Nebraska in multiple incidents over the past few months. LB 1255 from Fredrickson would require telecommunications providers to use next generation 911, a digital system that is in the process of replacing the more traditional analog-based 911 service.

LB 1256 from DeBoer would require service providers to submit reports on 911 outages to the states Public Service Commission, and the commission must hold a public hearing within 90 days of receiving the report. Providers are already required to send reports on 911 outages to the Federal Communications Commission.

Capitol gallery  Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood would use $1.5 million from the states cash reserve fund to design and build a gallery in the fifth-floor area overlooking the State Capitols Rotunda under LB 1210. His proposal would bring the total allocated for the project to $3 million, including money appropriated last year.

He said the idea would be to have historical displays relating to the Capitol building itself and to the various branches of government housed within the Capitol. The bill calls for the project to be done during the last phase of the Capitols heating, ventilation and air conditioning update.

Tracking  Mobile tracking devices could not be used to track a persons movement or location without that persons consent under LB 1224 from Sen. Jen Day of Omaha. Day said the bill was modeled after a bill currently making its way through the Ohio Legislature.

Tracking devices being used to aid stalkers is a relatively recent problem, but Day said its increasing in frequency due to technology advancements, and local law enforcement currently doesnt have the means to help victims.

Artificial intelligence  LB 1203, introduced by Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, would impose a civil penalty for political advertisements that use artificial intelligence to present misleading information and do not disclose that artificial intelligence was used. Cavanaugh said he brought the bill in response to the growing use of artificial intelligence, and concerns that it could be used for malicious purposes in politics.

Legislative sessions  Nebraska legislative sessions would only happen during odd-numbered years starting in 2027 under Legislative Resolution 281CA. Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, who introduced the resolution, said he would prefer the Legislature return to the schedule they held until 1975.

Under the proposal, the Legislature would meet every other year for one 90-day session, unless lawmakers chose to extend that session through a four-fifths vote. Erdman is a proponent of limited government, and has more than once proposed ending sessions earlier than scheduled.
Rivers State AAC Deputy Governorship Candidate withdraws from the 2019 Governorship Election, defects to the PDP

The Rivers State Deputy Governorship Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) , Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh has withdrawn from the 2019 Rivers State Governorship Election , defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP).

Addressing journalists at his home in Port Harcourt on Monday, Chief Yeeh said the reason for his decision is for him to join hands with Governor Wike to move Rivers State forward.

He said: After due consultations with my immediate family, friends and supporters, I Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh, the Deputy Governorship of the AAC for the 2019 Governorship election hereby resign my membership of the AAC and announce my defection to the PDP to join hands with Governor Wike to move the state forward .

He added: I was the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the AAC in Rivers State up till today 25th March, 2019 , when I decided to withdraw my candidature and resign from the party with immediate effect.

The March 9 , Governorship election in Rivers State has been lost and won; lost by my party, African Action Congress (AAC) and its Candidate, Engineer Biokpomabo Awara and undoubtedly and overwhelmingly won by the Governor of Rivers State, the candidate of PDP, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike .

He said that despite the interference of the security agencies, Rivers people stood their ground and voted for Governor Wike.

He said: The collated results further showed that contrary to the false claim of fictitious lead by the AAC/APC alliance, the PDP overwhelmingly won all the elections in 18 out of the 19 LGAs, culminating in the declaration and return of the party 26 House of Assembly Constituencies by the Constituency Returning Officers.

This fact was confirmed on the 13th of March 2019, when INEC stated, as a matter of fact, that it had in its safe custody collated results for 17 Local Government Areas as well as the declaration of the PDP Candidates for 21 State Constituencies.

The outcome of the elections on March 9, 2019 clearly showed the preference of the people of Rivers State. Even the blind can see and the deaf can hear the echo that Rivers people overwhelmingly voted to stick with Governor Wike for the next four years to encourage him to continue with the good works.

The Former Deputy Governorship Candidate of the AAC informed that the Minister of Transportation forced him to sign an un-dated letter of resignation to be effective after their expected inauguration.

I was forced to sign an un-dated letter of resignation as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State to pave way for Rotimi Amaechi to nominate another person as Deputy Governor.

These were slavish conditions for any rational politician worth his name to accept, but I pretended to play along because doing otherwise at that time would have been too dangerous for the safety of my life, given Rotimi Amaechis desperation to remove Governor Wike from office and install his stooge in the person of Engr Awara against all odds.

He said that though the AAC Campaign was never serious and never campaigned for the office of the position of Governor of Rivers State, Amaechi during the adoption of the party, said that he would fund the elections and do everything under the sun to give AAC victory at the polls.

He said: Amaechi disclosed to us that he had already assembled security personnel drawn from the Nigerian Army, the Police, DSS and FSARS to provide adequate security cover and enablement for members of the AAC and APC to effectively rig the Governorship election and have us declared as winners on March 9 , 2019.

He stated that the adoption and promise to deliver AAC was with conditions that conferred de facto governance on the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Chief Yeeh outlined the conditions: First, he (Amaechi) must be the one to appoint 90 percent of all political office holders, including commissioners, Special Advisers, and chairmen and members of Government Agencies and parastatals.

Second, he must be the one to nominate and produce all the 23 Local Government Council Chairmen and other principal officers of the councils.

We, that is, Engr Awara and my humble self must consult and take instructions from him on all financial, policy and fiscal matters, as well as award and payment of all contracts and other financial transactions upon inauguration as Governor and Deputy Governor of the state.

He added: As a practicing Christian, I have come to the conclusion that the actions and desperate attempts by Amaechi and the AAC/APC alliance to rig the Governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers State are both morally and legally wrong, reprehensible and inimical to the collective interest of the people of Rivers State.

The Almighty God will not forgive me if I continue to lend my support to Rotimi Amaechis perfidy against the democratic rights of the people of Rivers State to freely elect their own leaders .

He condemned the Minister of Transportation for unleashing violence on Rivers people in his failed attempt to rig the 2019 Rivers Governorship election.

The Former Deputy Governorship Candidate of AAC stated that he has informed Engr Awara in writing of his withdrawal and resignation from the Governorship
A 25-year old painter in Ojodu Berger area of Lagos, Friday Eyaman has been arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS) on Lagos Island, Lagos for allegedly selling the unregistered Ford Edge SUV entrusted in his care by a customer to repaint for him, to a police officer who posed as a buyer for N1.5m.

The arrest, according to a police source was made possible by the

Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, in charge of FSARS, Lagos, Kola Kamaldeen who directed his team led by SP Olaniyi Festus to arrest the suspect following the intelligence report he received from a source that the painter was looking for a buyer for his customers SUV. According to a police source, trouble started for Eyaman in February, 2019 when DCP Kamaldeen received a tip-off from a source that Eyaman was looking for a buyer for his customers SUV. Following the report, Kamaldeen gave the suspects phone number the source provided for him to Olaniyi Festus and his team to contact the suspect and pose as a buyer of the SUV to enable them arrest him and recover the SUV from him before he disposed it at a give away price. Police alleged that a member of the police team later contacted the suspect to discuss the asking price of the SUV and the suspect allegedly told the caller that the price of the SUV was N1.5m and that if he was interested, he should come over to Orile bus stop, Lagos to inspect the SUV and pay for it, unknown to him that the person discussing with him about the SUV on phone was a police undercover agent. Following the discussion, the police team stormed Orile bus stop to mount positions ahead of the arrival of the suspect and as the suspect drove the SUV to the scene, the police agent after inspecting the SUV, told the suspect to drive him to a nearby bank to withdraw money to pay for the SUV and on the way, Festus and his team used their operational Vehicle to block the SUV and arrested the suspect and the alleged buyer and took them with the SUV to the station. A Police source said that it was at the station that the suspect realised that the supposed buyer of the SUV was a police officer. During investigation, according to the police, Eyaman allegedly confessed to the crime that he decided to sell his customers SUV to enable him raise money to perfect the bail conditions of his brother remanded in Kirikiri Prison, Apapa, Lagos for alleged manslaughter.

Eyaman allegedly stated: Problems started for me in February, 2019 when I went to visit my brother who was remanded in Kirikiri Prison, Apapa for alleged manslaughter and as I was about living, one of my brothers inmate friend advised me to sell my customers SUV and use part of the proceeds to perfect the bail conditions of my brother to regain freedom and I agreed to sell my customers SUV. But I am still in shock on how the police got my phone number to call me for the SUV.
The Forum of All Political Parties in Akwa Ibom has called for the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Mike Igini.

The forum accused the REC of working for the interest of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and therefore would not be able to conduct fair, free and credible elections.

Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Tuesday, the forum Chairman, Mr Kingsley Akaiso of FRESH Party said INEC should remove Igini so as to restore confidence in its ability to hold free, fair and acceptable elections.

We have had cause in the immediate past to call attention to the failure of the INEC leadership in the state to inspire the confidence of all parties in the political process by reason of the actions of the Commission and the utterances of its leaders.

INEC has betrayed unbridled partisanship through the selection of its adhoc staff, some of whom are drawn from the employees of the commission, contrary to extant practices and institutional requirements.

Through connivance with the state government, all the adhoc staff of the Commission is made up of loyal members and supporters of the PDP.

In addition, the commission has acted as though it is part of the Government House in Uyo.

In spite of our representations to the Head Office of the Commission in Abuja, nothing has been done to allay our concern that the INEC office in Akwa Ibom State is not a fair umpire and cannot deliver a free, fair and transparent election because it is partisan and in bed with the ruling PDP government in the state.

This anomaly must be addressed, the forum said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) youths in the state had also called for the redeployment of the REC.

In his reaction, Igini debunked the allegations, insisting that the commission had been non partisan, fair and unbiased in its dealings with all political parties.

He denied that the recruitment of ad-hoc staff was done in collusion with the state government.

This is untrue, totally inaccurate and wholly incorrect because poll officials of various category and the institutions from where they are sourced are well known to the Nigerian people.

According to him, apart from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, other election officials were drawn from federal agencies including the University of Uyo.

They are civil servants and by the law of the land, civil servants are not card

carrying members of any political party.

In any case, the list of the collation officers were sent from the headquarters. Why would someone make up this kind of allegation, Igini said.
Commentary: To renew China-U.S. sci-tech pact benefits both, world

Xinhua) 10:47, January 17, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- During the San Francisco summit meeting in November 2023, China and the United States agreed to start consultations on extending the China-U.S. Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement.

The agreement, signed in 1979 and renewed every five years since, has paved the way for sci-tech exchanges between the two countries, which serves the common interests of both sides and meets the common expectations of the international community.

Nevertheless, the renewal of the agreement was opposed by some U.S. politicians who held an ideological bias and chose to ignore the fact that both China and the United States have benefited from it.

As the largest developing country and the largest developed country, China and the U.S. made substantial sci-tech achievements to provide solutions for the global issues such as climate change, environment, ecology, energy, and diseases.

There has been cooperation in some cutting-edge programs, such as Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment, electron positron collider and nuclear fusion experiments. The sci-tech cooperation between the two sides also bears great significance for global scientific progress in fields such as genome research, quantum computing and space science.

In a latest example, scientists from China's Tianjin University and Georgia Institute of Technology of the U.S. have developed ultrahigh-mobility semiconducting epigraphene on silicon carbide, whose performance is 10 times better than that of silicon. This research has solved the key technical problems that have long hindered the development of graphene electronics and marked a key step forward in graphene chip making.

The U.S. academic community supports and has urged the U.S. government to renew the agreement. Two Stanford University professors have written an open letter to the White House advocating for its renewal. Over 1,000 U.S. scientists signed the letter within a week.

"The United States should renew the Protocol ... because it is in the best interests of the United States," said Steven Kivelson and Peter Michelson in the open letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, dated Aug. 21.

"We can attest that cutting off ties with China would directly and negatively impact our own research, the work of our immediate colleagues, and/or the educational mission of our universities," they said.

Cooperation is the right choice for China and the United States to get along with each other. Under the current circumstances, their common interests are growing rather than declining, and the necessity for cooperation is increasing.

"It can be said that for the two countries and the world, China-U.S. cooperation is not something dispensable or optional. It is a compulsory question that must be addressed in real earnest," said Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, while attending the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations in Beijing on Jan. 5.

Cooperation programs have generated fruitful achievements for all parties involved. Renewing the China-U.S. science and technology agreement is definitely in the interests of both countries and the whole world. It would be a huge loss if the efforts failed.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Renowned attorney Joe Tacopina, a key figure on Donald Trump's legal team, has withdrawn from representing the former president, according to court documents filed on Monday.

Tacopina's departure comes just ahead of a trial set to determine damages in the defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll against Trump, as per to Independent.

Trump Attorney Withdraws Amid Trial Challenges

Previously handling two major cases for Trump, Tacopina filed his withdrawal in each case on Monday, raising questions about the reasons behind this significant move. When contacted by The Independent, Tacopina declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding his departure.

The legal drama intensifies as Trump's current lawyer, Alina Habba, pushes back against Carroll's legal team's requests in the defamation trial. Habba expresses concerns about what she deems as "far-fetched and highly prejudicial" demands, including calls for evidence supporting Trump's planned testimony and objections to certain warnings and admonishments.

The trial, initiated by Carroll seeking $10 million in damages, aims to determine the repercussions of Trump's alleged defamation against her. The backdrop to this legal battle includes a previous jury finding Trump liable for sexual battery, setting the stage for a complex and contentious trial.

Habba contends that Trump should be allowed to provide testimony on various aspects, including responding to reporters' questions and explaining the circumstances of his comments in light of Carroll's extensive media coverage. She vehemently opposes a demand for Trump to acknowledge, under oath, certain established positions regarding the alleged sexual assault, according to The Hill.

Read Also: IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva Weighs Benefits, Risks of Artificial Intelligence on Global Economy

E. Jean Carroll Team Accuses Trump's Lawyer in Trial Delays

Amid these legal maneuvers, Carroll's team suggests that Trump's lawyer misrepresented the former president's need for trial delays related to the $10 million defamation damages sought by Carroll. Habba dismisses the notion that Trump has nothing valuable to offer in his testimony and argues that his testimony should not be prematurely shared with the plaintiff before the trial.

The shakeup in Trump's legal team, marked by Tacopina's withdrawal, adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing legal battles faced by the former president. Tacopina's departure comes at a critical juncture as Trump faces multiple criminal indictments, including the high-profile hush money case in New York. The case involves charges of falsifying business records to conceal payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election.

While Trump has pleaded not guilty to these charges, Tacopina's decision to part ways with Trump raises questions about the dynamics within the legal team. Susan Necheles leads Trump's defense in the hush money case, but Tacopina played a prominent role in defending Trump in the media. His departure on the eve of another defamation trial against Trump, not represented by Tacopina, underscores the complexities surrounding Trump's legal defense.

Tacopina, known for representing high-profile clients, has navigated numerous high-stakes cases, including those involving Fox News host Sean Hannity, rapper A$AP Rocky, pop legend Michael Jackson, and former MLB star Alex Rodriguez. His departure follows a pattern of legal professionals stepping down from Trump's team, underscoring the challenges faced by the former president in navigating these legal battles.

As the legal saga unfolds, Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, does not directly address Tacopina's departure but asserts that Trump has the most experienced and qualified legal team to fight against what he terms "partisan, Crooked Joe Biden-led election interference hoaxes." The developments in Trump's legal battles continue to captivate attention, with Tacopina's exit marking a notable chapter in this ongoing legal drama, Business Insider reported.

Related Article: William Lai's Victory Likely to Annoy China, Taiwanese Opposition
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has said that despite the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele being linked to the race for the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 presidential ticket, he did not ask him.

He also said that he could not have removed the apex banks chief from office because Emefiele did not tell him about any presidential ambition.

This account is contained in a book titled, Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015  2023), written by former presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina.

In the book officially presented in Abuja on Tuesday, Buhari also defended the naira redesign policy implemented by Emefiele, affirming that it helped to produce a cleaner election in 2023.

The former president maintained that those who had a problem with the policy were individuals who had too much money.

In chapter 12 under Buhari, in his own words, on calls for ING, Emefiele, naira redesign, 2023 polls, others, the former president stated: The scarcity of money was not deliberately done to punish Nigerians. Democracy allows people to express their will, and we did not attempt to control them. People understood the implications of their choices, and we did not force them.

My state, Katsina, showed the beauty of the whole system. In the presidential poll, APC lost. But they came back to win the governorship. Maybe they took things for granted earlier because it was my state, and they thought they would win easily. People do not like being taken for granted.

I met Emefiele in office when I came, and unless there was firm evidence against him, it would be unfair, and an act of injustice to remove him, acting on hearsay.

If you punish a man unjustly, it could dog his footsteps throughout life, so if you would punish, you must have evidence. And you should know that you wont be there forever. You would leave one day.

Im very conscious about the morale of people who serve with me. I also expect whoever succeeds me to be fair to me. I have family, and friends, who will feel it. Im very conscious of fairness.

When he was linked with the campaign for the 2023 presidency, I did not ask him, because he told nobody he was getting involved. Otherwise, I would have removed him and told the nation why.

There is no denying that the naira redesign policy gave us cleaner elections. It was people who had too much money that had problems with it.

When it was said that the new notes were not available, over N260 million was found with one bank chairman. Did I take on the Supreme Court on the issue? No, I could not have.

Some APC governors went to court. I refuse to judge people by my own standard, I am not a materialistic, but it will be too much to expect all Nigerians to be the same way. It is not fair to condemn anybody, but it is up to them and their conscience.

I want to continue to conduct myself with a clear conscience so that when I go to bed, I sleep off immediately.
Hawks within and outside the Presidential Villa who are scheming to take over the powerful job of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, have put in place a complex plot to link Gbajabiamila to the transactions carried out by the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviations, Betta Edu.

Memos have continued to leak from the humanitarian affairs ministry and its agencies following the suspension of Edu who is being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Recall that a leaked memo dated December 18, 2023, from the Office of Chief of the Staff to the President revealed that President Tinubu had approved the expenditure of N3bn from the COVID-19 Palliative Fund for verification of the National Social Register.

The memo had sparked outrage among some Nigerians on social media.

Reacting, however, a Spokesman to the President, Bayo Onanuga, said the N3bn was approved directly by the President himself and not by Gbajabiamila as earlier insinuated.

Speaking with our correspondent on the strict condition of anonymity, an aide to the President said such memos would continue to fly around in the coming days, adding that Gbajabiamila was the prime target.

The CoS did not convey his own personal approval. He conveyed approval of his boss, its the practice with Abba Kyari and others, the Chief of Staff conveys approval or otherwise of the President to Cabinet members and institutions that might have requested one or two things from the President. The current Chief of Staff has not faced twenty percent of attacks one of his predecessors, Abba Kyari got over wrong allegations. President Tinubus verdict on his Chief of Staffs integrity is known to public. 

He said, The latest memo that came out was just an attempt by some persons within and outside the Villa to tie Gbajabiamila to the Betta Edu investigation. Thankfully, One of the official spokesman of the President Mr. Bayo Onanuga has clarified that indeed, the N3bn was approved by the President himself and not by Gbajabiamila.

For the sake of clarity, it is not out of place for the President via his chief of staff to raise a memo to approve N3bn for verification of 11 million people inherited from the social register of the last administration base on official request from the minister. N3bn divided by 11 million means each person was verified at about N273 only. So the media trial of the President and his Chief of Staff is of no effect.

It is left for the humanitarian affairs ministry to prove the exercise was indeed conducted. However, the intention of those who released the memo was to soil Gbajabiamilas name. The President will rely solely on the outcome of the investigation team he already set up on the Humanitarian ministry

Recall that the President had at a Federal Executive Council on October 30, 2023, stated that he was aware of the campaign of calumny launched at Gbajabiamila and even passed a vote of confidence in him.

I have absolute confidence in my Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. So, all campaign of calumny, the buck stops here! If I make mistakes, Ill own up to them, the President had said
From Umar Ado Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government has assures traders who lost their business shops at the fire incident that their shops will be return to them immediately after the renovations of the ravage market area.

It could be recall that parts of Shehu Shagari Modern Market in Sokoto, popularly called New Market, was destroyed by fire in 2021.

The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Sokoto Central Market ,Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad Gidado gave the assurance while briefing newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday.

Owners of business shops razed down by inferno in the Central Market will be first considers in the allocation of business stalls after the renovation of the market.

He said already the affected traders were allocated with temporary business stalls within the market were they are conducting their daily businesses with ease .

He further said the state government has conducted census and documented all the victims data information with aimed of easing the government in the allocation of the shops after the completion of the renovation works.

According to him a task force has also constitute to assist in solving the social problems especially at its regards congestion and traffic inside the market and its vicinity .

He disclosed that the razed section of the market was resigned and under renovating in a way that would prevent reoccurrence of fire outbreak in future.

While security measures is being considered and implementing so to ensure and curb any eventuality of lives and properties of the market business community and other people patronising the market .

The Special Adviser disclosed that he inherited over seven months allowances of the security personnel attached to the market which has since been settled .

He urged the business communities in the market to support the government by abiding the rules and regulation of the market in sanitising business activities for general growth of state economy .

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From Umar Ado Sokoto

At least,10 Internally Displaced Persons Camps in Sokoto State have so far received Relief Materials and Cash donations from Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

Sen. Wamakko who is also a member Muslims World League and APC leader in Sokoto State, said the gesture is part of his invaluable succor toward alleviating the hardship faced by the needy once in the state.

The distribution of the relief materials to the IDP camps in the state by Senator Wamakko started, at Guiwa Eka, Gagi, and Gangaren Dadin Kowa areas in the metropolis.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment who is also the overseer of the Sokoto North Senatorial office of the Senator Alhaji Almustapha Abubakar Alkali who represented the lawmaker handed over the cash and relief materials to the IDPs.

He said it is disheartening to see these people living in that compound without food, shelter, and other social amenities that make their lives comfortable.

He further called on the government and other stakeholders to put more effort into making them joyful and have a sense of belonging.

Head of the IDPs Camp in Guiwa Eka Jamila Shehu, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the Almighty for gracing them with such a gesture.

She expressed delight and appreciated Senator Wamakko for bringing succor to them, which she said will no doubt ease their difficulties.

Items distributed include,bags of rice, mattresses, mosquito nets, detergents, soaps body creams, wrappers, towels, and cash assistance.

The permanent secretary was accompanied on the visit by Senator Wamakkos aides, Sulaiman Muhammad SA Student matters, and Hon. Nasir Bazza, Senior Special Assistant on new media to the Governor of the state.

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It is pretty alarming and shameful to hear that a group of abductors has managed to invade the capital city of a nation without facing any resistance. Such a situation not only puts the safety and security of the citizens at risk but also raises serious questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies and the governments ability to protect its people. Its a matter of great concern and calls for immediate action to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of the residents.

Those who have not experienced kidnapping cannot comprehend how traumatic and devastating it can be on the life of an individual. It will be hard for them to grasp or understand the gravity of a city being held hostage by kidnappers. However, for those who have gone through such an ordeal, the gravity of being held hostage by kidnappers is a nightmare. The fear and anxiety that they feel is overwhelming, as they never know who might be next. The constant threat of being taken away from their loved ones and held captive for ransom is a traumatic experience that can leave a lasting impact on the victims and their families. The psychological and emotional toll of such an event can be devastating and requires specialized care to help survivors overcome their trauma. The saying that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom has been a famous aphorism throughout history. People from different cultures and backgrounds have interpreted this statement in various ways. Some believe that it implies that having a fear of God is the foundation of knowledge and understanding. This interpretation suggests that recognizing a higher power can lead to a better understanding of life and the universe. Others interpret it to mean that having a sense of awe and respect for a higher power can inspire one to seek knowledge and wisdom. However, despite the positive interpretations of this proverb, some people have also misinterpreted it. For instance, some Nigerians have used it to mean that the fear of kidnappers is the beginning of wisdom. This interpretation is a stark contrast to the original meaning and highlights how proverbs can be taken out of context and used to justify certain beliefs or actions. Overall, the sense of this proverb is subjective and can vary depending on the individuals beliefs and experiences.

Recent reports suggest that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which houses the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja, is currently in the midst of a grave crisis. The FCT, which was once known for its peaceful and secure environment, is now plagued by a growing sense of fear and unease among its residents. This situation has arisen due to the alarming surge in kidnappings within the city, which has become a matter of great concern for everyone. The kidnappings have been reported across various areas of Abuja, including residential and commercial areas, and the problem shows no signs of abating. The kidnappings are not limited to any particular group of people and have affected locals and foreigners alike. The kidnappers use sophisticated techniques, such as tracking their victims movements and trailing them before abducting them, to carry out their heinous crimes. The victims are usually taken to unknown locations, where they are held captive until a ransom is paid. The situation has caused a lot of anxiety and distress among residents and visitors, who are now wary of moving around the city, particularly at night. The local authorities are taking the matter seriously and are working tirelessly to address the issue and restore calm to the city. They have mobilized themselves in the affected areas and have intensified surveillance. They are also collaborating with relevant stakeholders and neighboring regions to tackle the problem holistically. Despite their efforts, the situation remains a cause for concern among residents and visitors alike. The question now is, how safe in the center of unity?

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria has always been known for its relative tranquility and security. However, in recent times, the city has been gripped by growing cases of kidnappings as it continues to surge. Last November, my uncle was kidnapped in the heart of the city. He told me how his wife and children ran around to secure his release. The kidnappers demanded a huge ransom, but after some negotiations, part of the ransom was eventually given. He was released after one week of captivity. Barely six days into the new year, seven persons, all members of the same family, were abducted by gunmen around Zuma 1 in the Bwari Area Council. During the incident, one person, simply identified as Alhaji, was shot dead while two policemen sustained injuries during a gun battle with the kidnappers. The deceased, said to be a relative of the abducted family members, was informed of the incident and rushed to rescue them but was killed by the gunmen. On the night of 7 January, some armed men invaded Sagwari Layout Estate in Dutse, also in Bwari Area Council, and abducted nine persons, including a mother and her four children. The kidnappers, reportedly dressed in military uniform, proceeded to a nearby hotel and kidnapped a receptionist and a barman on duty. A security guard, who was also a victim but was lucky to escape, narrated his ordeal to Punch newspaper. A witness, Wilfred Akikayo, told the newspaper that the gunmen, who were bearing sophisticated weapons, broke the entrance of the estate back fence and exited through the top of a mountain close by.

In the last three years, Abuja has recorded close to 50 kidnap cases involving over 200 persons. From January 2021 to June 2023, there were about 40 documented cases affecting a staggering 236 victims. Between October and December 2023, there were 13 recorded kidnapped incidents and 80 victims. In a chilling repetition of an alarming trend, the abduction of over 23 residents in Dei-Dei town, situated off the Kubwa-Zuba Road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reignited concerns about the escalating wave of mass kidnappings in Abuja. This unfortunate incident unfolded in three housing estates, bringing to the fore the disturbing reality that kidnappings, often orchestrated by people donning military uniforms, persist despite official denials from the police. The details of this incident, reported with vivid clarity, underscore the urgency of addressing the pervasive insecurity that has gripped the nations capital. During the same period, a similar incident took place at the nearby Arab Road residential area in Kubwa town, also along the highway, where kidnappers abducted seven residents believed to be sharing the same base in the bush with the Dei-Dei operators. Recently, at least 85 persons, including travelers and residents, were said to have been abducted by terrorists in Katari along the Kaduna-Abuja highway near Katari in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State. It is understood that the criminals killed more than four residents. The breakdown of those abducted by the bloodthirsty terrorists indicated that between January 7, 2024, a total of 85 persons were seized. Just days after that, 22 people were abducted from Kawu village in Bwari Area Council.

On January 13, a young lady identified as Najeebah Al-Kadriyar, who was kidnapped alongside her five sisters and her father in Abuja, was reportedly killed by her abductors. Journalists reported that the victims were abducted on January 2, 2024, in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory. The bandits later freed the father to go and look for the ransom to secure the release of his children. His brother, Alhaji Abdulfatai, who led police to foil their abduction, was shot dead by the bandits. The family was ordered to pay a ransom of N60 million  10 million for each girl as ransom before January 12. However, they were unable to raise the money, and the assailants reportedly killed the oldest of the six girls, Najeebah, and dumped her body somewhere for her parents to bury. Several Nigerians took to social media to mourn the death of the deceased. Former Minister for Communication and Digital Economy Issa Ali Pantami confirmed the news of Najeebahs killing. He said he had spoken with the father of Najeebah over the remaining kidnapped girls. Earlier, Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, called on the police to take necessary actions on the matter. Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, says the police have intensified efforts to rescue the remaining victims.

Data from reliable sources reveal a disturbing pattern. The Kuje Area Council, in particular, has earned notoriety as a hotspot for kidnappings. The Nextier Violent Conflict Database documented a surge in kidnapping incidents, with two recorded in May 2023 and three in June 2023. The statistics underscore the urgency of addressing this menace as part of broader security reforms. From January 2021 to June 30th, 2023, 40 kidnap cases were recorded in FCT Abuja, with a staggering 236 victims. These incidents translate not only into human tragedies but also substantial economic losses, with alleged ransom payments amounting to 653.7 million between 2021 and 2022. A 2020 report by SB Morgen further revealed that Abuja ranked 11th among places with rampant abductions, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and sustained efforts to curb this menace. This situation has raised the question of whether the center of unity can no longer hold. Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, is not only the political nerve center of the country but also houses the headquarters of various security agencies, including military and para-military organizations. Yet, the city is traditionally regarded as a haven for kidnapping and other criminal activities, even with the high concentration of security personnel in the city center and its surrounding areas. The security situation in Abuja seems to have grown from bad to worse as there is a high number of kidnappings, robberies, and attacks by one-chance operators. These incidents have caused great concern amongst both residents and authorities and have led to calls for better security measures and vigilance by all concerned parties. The surge in ransom kidnappings in Abuja has plunged its populace into a profound sense of fear and instability. This troubling trend, observed across various regions of the Federal Capital Territory, including Bwari, Abuja Municipal Area Council, and Abaji, underscores the broader security predicament gripping Nigeria, amplifying concerns about the severity of similar incidents in other states.

Several factors have contributed to the deteriorating circumstances in Abuja. One of the primary reasons is that the capital city and several of the most violent states in Nigeria, located in the northwest and central regions of the country, are adjacent to one another. Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, and Niger are states with a history of conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, as well as militia attacks. According to data from the Nextier Violent Conflict Database, the northcentral region alone experienced 402 violent incidents between January 2021 and May 2022, resulting in 1,981 fatalities and 962 kidnappings. Numerous other parts of the country also face different security challenges. As a result of these security concerns, residents are often compelled to flee violent situations, especially in rural areas.

The issue of kidnapping in Abuja is intertwined with systemic problems such as weak security structures. Kidnappers often operate with impunity, taking advantage of the fragile security structures and lack of proper law enforcement policy in Nigeria. In the past, the government launched military operations involving the bombing of suspected hideouts to tackle banditry and rescue victims of kidnappers. But since the kidnappings spiked, there have been no arrests or prosecution. This lack of accountability, combined with the authorities failure to step up security and intelligence operations, contributes to a deep-rooted sense of mistrust among vulnerable citizens that puts them at odds with the government. Many have also criticized certain state authorities for negotiating with bandits and introducing amnesty schemes, saying they should instead focus on protecting citizens in the first place. Negotiations and impunity, critics say, end up encouraging criminal activity as perpetrators know they will be able to negotiate conditions for safety at least or even get paid huge ransoms. The government has, on many occasions, promised to tackle insecurity, but they now blame local and state authorities for the increase in mass abductions.

Numerous times, the government said they must improve security and warned the policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles. According to them, this kind of policy will backfire with disastrous consequences. Yet, people continue to pay ransom in exchange for the release of their loved ones. But the federal government has also come under fire. Experts say the members of the countrys security agencies are overstretched, poorly paid, and underequipped, while the police forces are primarily centralized and unable to handle internal security challenges. Others have also criticized the government for granting amnesty to repentant bandits for playing a role in the recent release of kidnapped victims. Criminality must be eliminated, not mitigated. Sadly, the government does not have the political willpower in Nigeria to achieve that. Bargaining with the enemy (the bandits) is a sign of weakness. Even if you want to bargain, do it from the side of strength by carrying out a risk analysis of what is happening, and then you prioritize the risk by attending to each security threat as it comes. There is a need to invest in Nigerian security by setting up CCTV cameras and checkpoints and deploying military personnel across the affected areas in Abuja. I am curious to know whether the CCTV cameras that were installed during the previous administrations are still operational. It would be great to know if any maintenance or repairs have been done to ensure that they are still effective in monitoring the area they were installed in.

Another problem of kidnapping in Nigeria deeply rooted in a systemic issue that has yet to be adequately addressed is a fragile judicial system. The countrys judicial system has proven to be ineffective in many cases of kidnappings. This is often due to a lack of resources, corruption, and political interference. As a result, many victims and their families are left without justice or recourse, perpetuating a cycle of impunity that only emboldens kidnappers further. To truly combat this issue, it is crucial to address the underlying problems within the countrys justice system. Amnesty International exposed the appalling state of Nigerias justice system, saying that they are filled with people who have no regard for the wellbeing of Nigerians. The organization said that the Nigerian justice system is utterly failing the Nigerian people, calling it a conveyor belt of injustice, from beginning to end. In a detailed and scathing 50-page report, the organization reveals how at least 65 percent of Nigerias kidnappers have never been convicted of any crime, with many awaiting trial for up to ten years. The organization decried how most prisoners are too poor to afford a lawyer, with one in seven inmates awaiting trial having access to private legal representation  with only 91 legal aid lawyers working in the country; and how appalling prison conditions, including severe overcrowding, are seriously damaging the mental and physical health of thousands. The problems in Nigerias justice system are so blatant and egregious that the Nigerian government has failed to recognize them. Although the government has promised several times to reform the justice system, the reality is that those in prison stand little chance to get justice. Those without money have even less opportunity. Some could end up spending the rest of their lives in jail without ever having been convicted of a crime. Sometimes, case files are missing, while other times, many inmates awaiting trial are presumed guilty despite the fact that there is little evidence to prove they committed a crime. Amnesty International also revealed how people who have not committed any crime are locked up in jail along with hardened criminals. Amnesty International emphasized that the Nigerian government has, on numerous occasions, stated its willingness to reform the justice system. However, despite many presidential commissions and committees recommending reform, the government has failed to implement the recommendations. Instead, the new administration set up new committees and commissions to study, review, and harmonize the previous recommendations.

The next kidnapping challenge in Nigeria is characterized by the inadequacy of law enforcements ability to prevent and respond to these crimes. The current state of law enforcement in the city needs to be improved when it comes to preventing and responding to crimes. Numerous security challenges need to be addressed in order to prevent and respond to crimes effectively. According to a recent report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, the city is facing several security issues, including a need for a more reliable and robust security presence. This is particularly challenging for the already overburdened police force, which is struggling to provide adequate protection to all communities. Some areas are receiving more police assistance than others, which highlights the issue of unequal distribution of resources. The report also sheds light on the corruption and bureaucratic obstacles that hinder the handling of kidnapping cases, making it even more challenging for law enforcement to do its job effectively. This is a worrying trend that we need to address urgently. Furthermore, economic inequality and limited opportunities exacerbate the problem, creating an environment where criminal activity can thrive. Criminals often exploit vulnerable individuals for profit, which is why it is crucial to address the root causes of the issue. Significant steps need to be taken to address the problem. It is essential to invest in resources and training for law enforcement personnel to ensure that they are well-equipped to handle the challenges they face. Additionally, the government needs to address the issue of economic inequality and provide more opportunities for individuals in vulnerable communities. This will help create a more conducive and just society where criminal activity is less likely to thrive. Without taking significant steps to address these underlying problems, the situation will only continue to worsen, leading to more harm and suffering for the people of the city.

The government, security agencies, and mobile companies need to improve the SIM, NIN, and BVN linkage policy. The current policy that governs the linkage of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards, National Identification Numbers (NIN), and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent times. Mr. Isa Pantami, the former Minister of Communication, said failure to use the NIN, SIM, and BVN policy will encourage criminality, especially kidnapping, in the country. Mr. Pantami said this while replying to a quote from an X user named Mentus, who questioned why Nigerians queued up for months to secure the National Identification Number (NIN), which would later be futile in fighting crimes. Mr. Pantami, who supervised the NIN-SIM policy as a minister, said the problem was not with the policy but the failure of relevant institutions to use it. He blamed the ineffectiveness of the policy on institutions meant to safeguard the citizenry but ignored it despite its relevance in tracking and getting essential user details. The NIN-SIM policy has been working. However, the relevant institutions fighting criminality are to be requested to ensure they use it effectively when a crime is committed. Lack of using it is the main problem, not the policy. Reacting to the kidnapping of the six sisters and their father, the former minister, in an earlier tweet, said one of his friends had raised N50 million as a contribution to the N100 million ransom the kidnappers demanded of six sisters in Abuja. He also said in another tweet that he had spoken with the father of the girls after one of them, Najeebah, an undergraduate, was killed by the kidnappers after he (the father) reportedly failed to meet the deadline for the payment of N60 million ransom. The question now is, why are relevant authorities failing to use this method to combat kidnapping? Are there some people benefiting from these loopholes?

There is an urgent need for the government, security agencies, and mobile companies to prioritize the improvement of this policy to ensure that individuals identities are accurately verified, thereby curbing illegal activities such as fraud, cybercrime, kidnapping, and terrorism. The inadequacies of the current policy have led to loopholes that criminals are exploiting to carry out their illegal activities. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a more robust and effective policy that will provide the safety and security of citizens and their personal information. This new policy should be designed to prevent identity theft, SIM swap fraud, kidnapping, and other forms of cybercrime that have become rampant in recent times. The linkage of SIM cards, NIN, and BVN is a critical component of identity management in Nigeria, and all stakeholders must work together to improve the policy. This will require collaboration between the government, security agencies, mobile companies, and other relevant stakeholders. By doing this, we can ensure that our personal information is secure, and we can go about our daily activities without fear of being victims of cybercrime, kidnapping, or identity theft.

It is disheartening, in our view, that Nigeria, with its rich history and potential, is marred by a negative global perception of kidnapping. Nine years after the Chibok girls abduction marked a turning point, the nation grapples with an unabated surge in mass kidnappings. Not only does this criminal activity persist, but it has also developed into a sophisticated and lucrative industry for criminals. Even with measures to reduce instability, the threat of kidnapping remains. A law requiring at least 15 years in prison for anyone who pays a ransom to free a kidnapped person was signed into law in 2022. Whats more, the rule provides that kidnappers can be sentenced to death in the event of the victims death. The effectiveness of this legislation is still up for debate despite the previous administrations efforts to strengthen Nigerias security posture. Resolving Abujas kidnapping conundrum requires a strict commitment from security stakeholders nationwide to revamp security infrastructures. This includes the use of advanced technology, enhanced police presence, and strengthened intelligence networks to thwart criminal activity. Furthermore, socio-economic empowerment must be explored by addressing root causes and investing in education, job creation, and poverty alleviation initiatives to weaken the breeding ground for criminal exploitation. Community engagement is also critical to fostering trust between law enforcement agencies and residents to gather intelligence and prevent such kidnappings. Given the nationwide scale of these criminal activities, coordinated national partnerships and intelligence sharing are critical.

To effectively combat kidnapping, it is crucial to provide security agencies with adequate resources, enabling them to respond swiftly and efficiently to kidnap cases. Collaboration with local communities to gather reliable intelligence is pivotal, emphasizing the necessity of community-oriented policing. The Rescue Me App, launched by the Nigerian police, should be widely publicized and optimized to ensure its effectiveness as a tool for public safety. To deter potential perpetrators, strict punishment for kidnappers must be enforced. The Nigerian government should intensify its efforts to strengthen law enforcement agencies, including increasing police presence, enhancing border controls, and establishing security checkpoints. However, addressing the root causes of kidnapping is equally essential. Socioeconomic issues contribute significantly to the prevalence of this crime; taking a holistic approach that addresses these underlying problems is instrumental in reducing incidents of kidnapping. Focusing on socioeconomic development, education, and job creation will create a more stable environment, ultimately mitigating the appeal of abduction as a criminal enterprise. Additionally, security agencies must conduct a thorough self-assessment to weed out compromised elements within their ranks, as reports of security personnel assisting kidnappers are becoming too familiar. Immediate and long-term measures must be implemented to eradicate the blight of mass kidnappings that threaten the very fabric of the daily lives of Abujas residents. They deserve a persistent and comprehensive response that goes beyond just a semblance of security.

Failure to effectively address the wave of kidnappings in Abuja not only poses a threat to the safety of citizens but also undermines economic stability and investor confidence. It sends a message of the federal governments difficulties in managing domestic issues, which hinders Nigerias potential for growth. To effectively combat this danger, proactive and systemic reforms must be implemented to address the root causes. While the challenge ahead is significant, safeguarding the capital and restoring confidence requires an unwavering collective determination. Therefore, it is pretty alarming and shameful to hear that a group of abductors has managed to invade the capital city of a nation without facing any resistance. Such a situation not only puts the safety and security of the citizens at risk but also raises serious questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies and the governments ability to protect its people. Its a matter of great concern and calls for immediate action to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of the residents.



Rev. Ma, S.J, is a Jesuit Catholic priest and PhD candidate in public and social policy at St. Louis University in the state of Missouri, USA.

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From Mba Nnenna- Abakaliki

The newly sworn in Coordinator of Ebonyi Development Center DC, Destiny Uchenna Nwodom, has pledge to prioritise Security, Human and infrastructural development in his development center.

Nwodom disclosed this to newsmen at a reception held, shortly after his inaugural ceremony in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state.

According to the new Ebonyi DC Coordinator, We are going to have complete paradigm shift. We will prioritize 3 things; Security, Human Development and Infrastructural development.

We are going to step down those policies/ Charter of Needs down to the local area of my development center,

so I am going to make sure that i effectively carry out those policies, he said.

Nwodom expressed appreciation to God for the privilege given him. He thanked the Governor for been youth friendly while congratulating him for the victory secured at the supreme court of Nigeria. He equally thanked the Chairman, Ebonyi local government area, Barr. Chinedu Uburu and other Stakeholders of the Development Center.

Speaking further, he encouraged youths who feel they ought to have been part of those appointed, to be patient that they will receive divine appointment. He urged them to join him to build Ebonyi Development Center to amiable heights.

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Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano State, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu was pressured to influence the Supreme Court verdict of the governorship election in Kano.

He said this on Sunday, the 14th of January, via a statement issued by Bature Tofa, the Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano.

In the statement, Yusuf had claimed that Abdullahi Ganduje, the immediate past Kano governor, and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) pressurized the President to make the influence.

He therefore, commended the president for not yielding to the alleged schemes of Ganduja.

Recall that on Friday, the Supreme Court restored Yusufs victory in the March 18, 2023 governorship election, after his victory was earlier nullified by both the Court of Appeal and election tribunal.

In the statement on Sunday, Yusuf expressed his satisfaction with Tinubu and Shettimas fidelity, notwithstanding the alleged pressure to interfere with the courts judgement.

On his behalf his spokesman said, Referring to the alleged efforts by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to use the Presidency to sway the Supreme Courts decision in favour of Gawuna, Yusuf said Tinubu and Shettimas unwavering stance was a testament to Nigeria being in capable hands.

After the appraisal, Yusuf also added that, As a true democrat and progressive, I call upon my opponents and their supporters to join me in the endeavor to develop our beloved state of Kano for the betterment of its citizens.

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 says victory, validation of peoples will From Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu BAUCHI

Yoruba Community in Bauchi State has followed other groups to congratulated the state Governor, Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed and his deputy, Hon Auwal Jatau on their election victory at the Supreme Court last Friday.

The President  General, Yoruba Community in the State, Special Apostle Segun Awofadeji in his congratulatory message issued and made available to Journalists Monday, described the victory as the validation of the will of the people of the state.

Awofadeji said : On behalf of the Yoruba Community in Bauchi State,I sincerely congratulate and rejoice with His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed,CON, fnipr, Executive Governor, Bauchi State, and his Deputy, Hon Auwal Jatau on their confirmed victory at the supreme Court, Abuja.

This judgement has put to an end the needless bickering, distractions and litigation that greeted the 2023 Governorship election. It is our hope that all of us as indigenes and residents in the state will team up with our dear Governor, Kauran Bauchi and Jagaban Katagum to move the state forward in the overall interest of the state.

According to the message, the Apex Court has once again stood by the people in validating the election the residents and indigenes of Bauchi State massively and convincingly voted to re  elect Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed as Governor of Bauchi State under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Its also important for us to note that the ruling of the Supreme Court is a victory for all people of Bauchi State irrespective of their political affiliations, and as such should put hands on deck to give maximum support to Governor Bala Mohammeds continuation of good governance and dividend of democracy.

The Yoruba leader added that Your commitment to the development of Bauchi State is truly inspiring, and I have no doubt that under your leadership, the state will continue to thrive. Your unwavering determination and vision for a better future for the people of Bauchi State are truly commendable, and I am very confident that you will continue to serve with excellence.

He pledged the unalloyed loyalty and support of the Yoruba Community to Governor Mohammed  led government in the actualisation of his pet project My Bauchi Project, stressing that we are committed to partnering with you to deliver good governance for the people of the State. We pray for progress,unity and prosperity of Bauchi State and Nigeria as a whole.

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Nigeria rapper, Oladips has expressed strong disapproval of comedian Nasty Blaq for creating a comedic sketch centered around his recent fake death controversy.

The incident, which initially had Nigerians mourning on November 15 following an announcement by Oladips management, was later debunked by a video shared by fellow rapper Qdot, who confirmed Oladips is alive.

Qdot playfully claimed that Oladips would make a comeback online if his album topped the music charts, leading to speculations that the rapper had orchestrated the death rumor to boost his music career.

Oladips, who had vehemently denied these allegations, has taken to Instagram, to drag Nasty Blaq for exploiting his past situation for financial gain through a skit parodying the death saga.

He pointed out that despite being neighbors and having a history of camaraderie, Nasty Blaq failed to check on him during the period when the news of his fake death was circulating.

The rapper expressed disappointment that Nasty Blaq chose to capitalize on the fake death saga for comedic purposes without considering the potential impact on him.

He further asked the comedian to keep his name out of any future skits and criticized him with strong language, referring to him as a fake individual.

Oladips wrote, Nastyblaq We Were Neighbours, Me & You Done Siddon Eat For The Same Plate, Siddon Play FIFA Together, Your Car Once Had Issue, That It Was My Car You Took Out!

You & CrazeClown! We Even did a Skit Together One Time! But When The News Of My Death Was Trending, The 1st Thing You Did Was Make A Skit About It, Without Checking My well-being! Yet You Get My Number, You Dey My WhatsApp, TheCuteAbiola & BaeU Wey Dey Leave Far From Me Reached Out, But Not You!

This ls The 2nd Time Your Making A Dead Skit With My Name & Ordeal! BRA KEEP MY NAME OUT YOUR MOUTH AND DEAD SKITS!!! FAKE ASS BITCH ASS NXGGA!!

KkanyiDaily recalls that Oladips had also called out celebrity blogger Tunde Ednut, for circulating the fake news of his death after ignoring his plea to promote his latest album.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday her proposal to extend mayoral control of NYC's public schools for an additional four years.

The proposal, embedded in the governor's executive budget, is expected to encounter resistance from lawmakers and diverts attention from a forthcoming state review of school governance.

Hochul Proposes $233 Billion Budget

The governor's budget, totaling $233 billion for the fiscal year 2025, outlines key allocations, with a spotlight on public safety initiatives, healthcare funding, mental health crisis management, and substantial investment in education.

Among the notable highlights, the budget earmarks $35.5 billion for Medicaid health care, $4.8 billion to address serious mental illness and the youth mental health crisis, and a record-breaking $35.3 billion for school aid - an $825 million increase from the previous year. New York has also secured $6 billion in federal funding through the 1115 waiver.

In a bid to bolster economic development, the budget allocates $435 million for resiliency projects aimed at protecting communities from severe floods. Additionally, it introduces the Redevelopment of Underutilized Sites for Housing Initiative, utilizing state properties for housing purposes.

Infrastructure and transportation projects receive attention as well, with $100 million allocated to the Pave Our Potholes Program and $61 million earmarked for advancing the Interborough Express and planning the Second Avenue Subway Extension.

Governor Hochul's proposal comes at a crucial juncture, building on the policy initiatives outlined in her recent State of the State address. Notably, it sets aside $10 million for teacher training, supporting a statewide literacy initiative to encourage the adoption of new curriculums in schools.

Despite the extensive budget allocations, the governor faces challenges in gaining approval for the extension of mayoral control over the city's schools. Her advocacy for this extension echoes a similar push in 2022, which resulted in a two-year extension. The state's Education Department is in the process of compiling a report on the effectiveness of the current governance system, and public hearings in New York City have underscored the divisive opinions on the matter, according to New York State.

Read Also: Virginia: Alerts Issued to Passengers at Dulles, Reagan Airports About Possible Measles Exposure

$2.4B for Migrant Services, Mental Health Boost

In addition to education-related proposals, Governor Hochul's budget includes a commitment of $2.4 billion to provide shelter and essential services to migrants and asylum seekers, drawing $500 million from the state's reserves. Mental health programs and services also receive significant financial support.

The proposed extension of mayoral control would grant the mayor authority in selecting the schools chancellor and appointing a majority of members to the Panel on Educational Policy (PEP), responsible for major policy decisions and contracts.

The budget, which initiates negotiations with lawmakers on funding allocation for the next fiscal year starting in April, reflects an $825 million increase in education spending. While this is a 2.4% jump from the previous year, it is a more modest increase compared to previous budgets.

Despite the concerns raised by the Alliance for Quality Education, highlighting a $475 million shortfall in school aid compared to expectations, Governor Hochul emphasized the need for fiscal responsibility and acknowledged that replicating the massive increases of recent years is not feasible.

As New York City schools and districts statewide face the end of federal COVID relief funds, set to expire in September, advocates stress the importance of continued funding to support essential programs.

The proposed four-year extension of mayoral control, if enacted, would represent the longest extension since former Mayor Michael Bloomberg's tenure. Advocates and critics alike await the outcome of legislative deliberations on this crucial governance issue, with State Senator John Liu cautioning against premature decisions before the release of the state Education Department's study.

Governor Hochul's budget proposal sets the stage for negotiations, encompassing diverse policy initiatives that will shape the state's fiscal landscape and impact education, public safety, and social services in the coming years, Chalkbeat reported.

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The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, sealed a tripartite deal between the State Government, the Chinese Government, and Yongxing Steel Company based in Edo State to boost vocational and technical education in Edo State.

Obaseki had before signing the deal at the Government House, Benin City, had a virtual meeting with the State and partners representative, including the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe; Rector of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, Engr. Sylvester Omoruyi; the Chinese Consular General in Lagos, Ms Yan Yu Qing and the Management of Fuzhou Polytechnic in China, led by Prof. Chen Niandong.

The agreement is expected to enhance vocational skills, and cultural and educational exchange and create opportunities for Edo youths to study in China.

The Management of Edo Polytechnic Usen and the management of Yongxing Steel Company were present to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), while the President of Fuzhou Polytechnic China, Prof. Chen Niandong signed virtually.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Obaseki said the deal is aimed at preparing youths in the State to work with Chinese firms and access quality technical and vocational training from the Chinese Polytechnic.

He said, We were in China in November and had the privilege of visiting your Campus and left a deep and emotional relationship between me and your school as the only Nigerian in your school told me how you gave him a scholarship to study in your polytechnic.

READ ALSO: Edo 2024: The boobys traps that could hinder fairness

This has made me ask myself if I will be able to get Edo youths to be trained in your school which is a world-class polytechnic offering technical and vocational training. I am happy today that we are signing a tripartite agreement.

Obaseki added, I am happy and glad today that we are signing this tripartite agreement as it is significant to us. We are not just sending our people to China to study but also preparing them for work with the support of a Chinese company already invested in Nigeria. We assure you of our support to ensure this relationship becomes very successful.

On her part, the Chinese Consular General in Lagos, Ms Yan Yu Qing commended Governor Obaseki for his commitment to technical and vocational education, noting that the tripartite agreement will boost Nigeria-China relationship and open more opportunities for more Nigerian youths to study in China.

She said, I am here in Benin City to witness the signing of the MoU. I remember the governor led a team to China where he promoted cooperation between the two institutions. I am here and hope to further facilitate the implementation of the relevant cooperation and contribute to technical education and talent development in Nigeria and China.

There is much we can do to achieve from the cooperation between the Edo State Government and Chinese Government in the area of talent development, especially in the implementation of Chinese Language, skills development, talent training and cultural exchange programmes.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has congratulated Chief Bisi Akande, on his 85th birthday.

Governor Sanwo-Olu in a goodwill message, highlighted: Chief Akande, a respected political figure and advocate of good governance, has made significant contributions to Nigerian politics and governance.

His dedication to public service, commitment to democracy, and unwavering integrity have set a remarkable example for current and future public servants.

The full statement read:

Babajide Sanwo-Olu

@jidesanwoolu

On behalf of my family, the government, and the people of Lagos State, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Chief Bisi Akande, Baba Omo kekeke, on his 85th birthday.

READ ALSO: Tinubu meets Obasanjo at Owerri after 2 years

Chief Akande, a respected political figure and advocate of good governance, has made significant contributions to Nigerian politics and governance.

His dedication to public service, commitment to democracy, and unwavering integrity have set a remarkable example for current and future public servants.

I wish him good health and look forward to benefiting further from his wisdom and exemplary leadership.
President Bola Tinubu and former President Olusegun Obasanjo met in Owerri, Imo State, at the swearing-in of Governor Hope Uzodimma for his second term.

That was first time the two leaders were meeting since Tinubu became President of the country.Their last meeting was in 2022.

READ ALSO: You left a lot of pens and files for me for continuity  Tinubu to Buhari

According to a statement by the Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga,

Bayo Onanuga

@aonanuga1956

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Olusegun Obasanjo met today in Owerri, Imo state at the swearing-in of Governor Hope Uzodimma for his second term.

The two leaders have not met since Tinubu visited Obasanjo in Abeokuta on 17 August 2022 during the presidential campaign.

What could be going through the minds of the two leaders as they shook hands?
The Federal Government of Nigeria has released over N5 billion for the funding of 185 successful research proposals under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund National Research Fund 2023 Grant Cycle.

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman in a statement on Wednesday noted, the report of the TETFund National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee recommended the funding of the 185 research proposals after a rigorous screening exercise that commenced in March 2023 with the receipt of 4,287 Concept Notes from prospective applicants.

Mamman while giving a breakdown of the approval indicated that, the sum of N3,784,635,923.00 was approved for the Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation thematic group; N759,875,400.00 for Humanities and Social Science while Cross Cutting received N583,669,300.63 with individual grants ranging between N8 million and over N46 million.

The statement further disclosed that, some of the approved research works under the Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation thematic group include Application of the Hydro-Biogeochemical Framework to Develop a National Rural Water Quality Assurance Plan for Sustainable Water Quality Management In Nigeria; Development and Use of Doubled Haploid Maize Lines for Improved Maize Yield and Tolerance to Armyworm.

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Also, Development of an Intelligent Multichamber Evaporative Cooling Preservative System for Post-Harvest Storage of Selected Fruits in Nigeria and Development of Electric Vehicle With Special Tracking Features, among others.

Projects under Cross-Cutting thematic group include Utilisation of Scrap Tires and Plastic Wastes as aggregate Conductive Material for Renewable Energy Storage System; Development of Appropriate Technology for the Production of Aluminum Alloy Sacrificial Anodes for Applications in Nigerias Oil and Gas Industry, as well as Development of an Economical Low Voltage Programmable Electroporator and Investigation of Pulse Electric Field for Wound Healing and Cancer Treatment; National Daily Newspaper gathered.
From Joshua Chibuzo Andrew

The Association of Imo Based Journalists, AIBJ, an umbrella body uniting all the home based Journalists who work in different tabloids in the State have cautioned Governor Hope Uzodimma on the implications of bringing back Mr. Declan Emelumba as the Information Commissioner.

A statement signed by AIBJ Chairman, Comrade Kelechi Ugo revealed that Emelumba instigated crisis amongst the components of media practitioners in Imo State including Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ Imo State Council,Imo Correspondent Chapel and Independent Newspapers Publishers just to have his way and selfishly divert largesse meant for practicing journalists by the State Government.

The Association recalled that Emelumba failed woefully in terms of liaising with journalists to manage and disseminate information that would promote good policies of Governor Hope Uzodimmas Government as well as addressing insecurity in the State.

It is appauling that someone who calls himself Information Commissioner does not even know or recognize the key players or first gatekeepers of news items in his own State. Instead,he decided to choose at least four journalists who he used as his stooges throughout Governor Hope Uzodimmas last four in the office.

This Association had earlier passed vote of no confidence in Mr. Declan Emelumba because of his inability to discharge his duties terms of picking cellphone calls and reacting to issuing arising from Government policies and other matters therein.

It is on records that Emelumba failed to lead all the practicing journalists in Imo to meet with Governor Hope Uzodimma for a press conference where necessary questions and answers can be exchanged throughout his four years in office.

And he is ever ready to continue injecting crisis and dividing Imo journalists so as to achieve his selfish interest. This Association has nothing against Emelumba,but only urging Governor Hope Uzodimma to look for an Information Commissioner with human face, the statement read.

In furtherance, AIBJ has commended Governor Hope uzodimma for dissolving his cabinet on Tuesday 16th November,2024 for a second term administration.

Imo Based Journalists also thanked uzodimma for his efforts to in connecting Imo State into national grid since 2020 he took over the affairs of Imo State as Governor.

We also wish to Use this opportunity to inform the Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope uzodimma that his first term administration was more or less unfavorable to the Association of Imo Based Journalists, which is as a result of his obvious wrong choice of Information Commissioner, Mr Declan Emelumba who nearly jeopardized the chances of his principal to return for second tenure.

No doubt, Governor Hope Uzodimma is a friend of the media, even when he was in the Senate,he donated vehicle to Journalists in Imo, but we have continued to wonder why his first term administration as the Governor of the State was centered on divide and rule system brought by Declan Emelumba.

In the history of Imo, Emelumba who served under uzodimma led administration was the only Commissioner for information who never addressed Journalists as a Union, rather he syndicate news stories to his preferred media establishments, thereby leaving some questions unanswered for the Governor who appointed him.

Imo journalists wish to recommend that Governor Hope uzodimma should appoint a character who is decent, credible and a progressive information expert to handle the office, instead of Emelumba to continue his selfish information anthis, the statement further read.

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Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Kayode Ajulo, has filed a suit seeking to stop Governor Similalaye Fubara of Rivers from re-presenting the 2024 budget to the state House of Assembly.

The SAN asked the court to stop such a move pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The lawyer in the suit with number No.: FHC/ABJ/CS/1718/2023 also called on the court to restrain the state House Assembly and the Speaker of the House from screening and confirming the commissioners appointed by Governor Similaiya Fubara.

Mr Ajulo particularly urged the court to take cognizance of motion on notice attached with the suit and stop the holding of plenary sessions by the 27 members of the State House of Assembly out of the 32 members.

He urged the court to stop the 27 members of the state house of assembly from holding plenary for defecting from the ruling PDP to the APC without any justification or lawful excuse whatsoever.

He said the 27 lawmakers decided to defect from the PDP, the platform under which they were elected as honorable members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, to the APC.

He said the seats of the 27 lawmakers have been declared vacant by the other five lawmakers who refused to join them in the defection, adding that they had no right to return to the house pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The SAN urged all parties, including loyalists or their representatives, to maintain status quo ante pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule, re-invited on January 15 to screen nine commissioners who resigned their positions in 2023.

The commissioners were, however, reconfirmed on Wednesday by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

It would be recalled that a group, the Convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, led by Edwin Clark, had called for the declaration of the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant.

The group insisted that the 27 lawmakers who defected to the APC without any known crisis in the PDP had no right to be members of the state house of assembly.

NAN
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 34 suspects for various crimes including armed robbery, stealing, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.

According to a statement posted on the official X handle of the commmand on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, disclosed this at a press briefing held at the commands headquarters on Tuesday.

Fayoade said that the suspects were arrested in different parts of the state between November 22, 2023, and January 13, 2024.

He added that items recovered from the suspects include 16 firearms, 72 live cartridges, 75 live ammunition, one expended cartridge, one pistol magazine, six axes, four daggers, one digger, five cutlasses, two vehicles, one POS Machine, fake registration plates, and charms.

Included in the report was the arrest of a group of suspected cultists who were apprehended on December 17, 2023 based on credible intelligence on the plan to retaliate their leaders death on other rival cult members in the Ayobo area of the state.

The arrested persons include Quadri Mukail, Adedoyin Azeez, Olayinka Ayodele, Orefunwa Olamide, Olabode Idowu and Anuoluwapo Ojo.

Also, on January 13, 2024, two men, Ifeanyi Nwodo, 39, and Dainel Johnson, 32, were arrested for trying to set up their occultic shrine named Indian Occultic Temple around Agunfoye area of Ikorodu with the intention of defrauding victims with the belief that the oracle has powers of making them rich and successful.

Several items including moulded human head, qmd crafted human effigies were found in their shrine.

In September 2023, the command paraded a fake Commissioner of Police for impersonation and unlawful possession of police warrant cards and police camouflage cap, among 12 others for various offences.
With a daily loss of about 10,000 barrels of oil from its pipelines to crude oil theft, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has cried out for help from government, communities and other stakeholders to stem the incessant attack on oil assets in the Niger Delta.

These are critical national assets with 55 percent government interest and they produce the crude oil that accounts for over 90% of Nigerias foreign exchange and the bulk of government revenue. Hurting these assets means hurting the nations revenue, the economy of the states, the health of the people and the environment, SPDCs General Manager External Relations, Igo Weli, said on Monday at a media workshop on Pipelines Right of Way Encroachment and Vandalism held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital city where the company has its headquarters.

Crude oil theft on the pipeline network resulted in a loss of around 11,000 barrels of oil a day in 2018, which is more than the approximate 9,000 bbl/d in 2017, Weli said, adding that since 2012, SPDC had removed more than 1,160 illegal theft points on its joint venture pipelines in the Niger Delta.

In its June 2019 monthly report, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation which controls Nigerias 55 percent interest in the SPDC JV said there was a 77% rise in oil pipeline vandalism and that 106 pipeline breaches were recorded in June, up from 60 in May.

Weli said SPDC was concerned about the lives and safety of those involved in pipeline vandalism and crude theft just as the company was concerned about the environment. As a responsible organisation, we put safety first and have constantly made this appeal to those involved in crude theft in the Niger Delta to stop destroying their land and heritage from the spill and pollution arising from their activities.

He described crude oil theft and artisanal refining of stolen crude as criminal acts that are not only against the law but are also capable of mortgaging the future of the community.

Also speaking SPDCs General Manager, Safety and Environment, Chidube Nnene-Anochie, noted that illegal refining and third-party interference with pipelines were the main sources of pollution in the Niger Delta. According to Nnene-Anochie, in 2018 alone, third party interference caused close to 90% of the number of spills of more than 100 kilograms from SPDC JV pipelines.

Represented by SPDCs Compliance Monitoring Lead, Temitope Ajibade, Nnene-Anochie said no spill was acceptable to the company. A key priority for Shell companies in Nigeria remains to achieve the goal of no spills from our operations. No spill is acceptable, and we work hard to prevent them. However, SPDC cleans and remediates areas impacted by spills from its facilities irrespective of the cause.

On the measures taken by the company to stem crude theft, she explained SPDC had enhanced its community-based pipeline surveillance while promoting alternative livelihoods through Shells flagship youth entrepreneurship programme, Shell LiveWIRE.
Niger State Government on Wednesday turned back trailer filled with over 50 people who were returning from Lagos State amid the coronavirus movement restrictions.

The truck was said to be stopped by security personnel in the Gidan Kwano area when they saw people on top of the trailer and their explanations were not reasonable.

The security personnel alerted the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ibrahim Matane, who is also the chairman of Niger State Task Force on COVID-19.

When Matane arrived at the scene, the driver explained that they were coming from Lagos and going to Kano, promising not to stop in the state.

But Matane ordered the security personnel to escort the trailer back to where it came from. He added:

There is no waiver for any truck that is not carrying food items, fuel or other essential products to enter the state.

An eyewitness told The Nation that the truck had been covered with tampoli, adding that while some of the boys were on top of the truck, others were under the covering.

The SSG had emphasised the state was determined not to allow anyone to cross the border while expressing his doubly over the health of the passengers in the truck.

Niger state is currently on a 24-hour restriction order to help prevent the spread of the corovirus which has infected over 400 person in Nigeria.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, has arrested John Ani Chukwuebuka for his alleged involvement in computer-related fraud.

It was gathered that the suspect, a 30-year-old graduate, was arrested on August 5, in the Jakande-Lekki Area of Lagos during a collaborative operation by the EFCC and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI.

The anti-graft spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said this in a statement in Abuja.

He added:-

Chukwuebuka alongside his conspirators, Idowu Adetokunbo Taiwo and Sherrif Shoaga (still at large) allegedly engaged in Business Email Compromise, BEC, where they redirected the sum of $4,000,000.00 (Four Million United States Dollar) to several accounts between 2016 and 2018. A Nissan car was recovered from the suspect at the point of his arrest.

EFCC affirmed that the suspect would soon be arraigned in court.
Apple has initiated a redesign of specific smartwatch models to eliminate blood-oxygen technology, strategically sidestepping an import ban, as disclosed in court documents.

The move, approved by the US Customs and Border Protection, allows Apple to maintain its market presence for the affected watches, as per to Daily Mail.

Masimo Approves Apple's Redesigned Watches

Masimo, the company accusing Apple of technology theft related to patents, filed a notice on Monday confirming the approval of Apple's redesigned watches by the US Customs and Border Protection's Exclusion Order Enforcement Branch. According to the court document, the agency determined that Apple's alterations fell beyond the scope of remedial orders in the International Trade Commission (ITC) investigation tied to Apple's appeal.

The dispute is caused by a ruling made by the ITC in October, stating that Apple's devices infringed upon Masimo's patents related to blood-oxygen measurement technology. As a result, Apple decided to temporarily suspend the sales of the smartwatches in question right before Christmas. However, they later allowed the products to be sold again in late January after a temporary pause.

To address the patent dispute, Apple developed a software workaround aimed at circumventing the issue, presenting it to the US Customs and Border Protection. Apple asserted that the redesigned watches unequivocally lack the contentious pulse oximetry technology.

The ongoing legal battle may prompt Apple to seek a longer stay from a federal appeals court, with expectations for a ruling on the motion as early as Tuesday. The potential duration of the entire appeal period is estimated to be a year or more.

During this period of legal uncertainty, the blood-oxygen feature remains available on newly sold Apple Watch units. While the US Customs and Border Protection has not publicly disclosed its decision, it has been shared with the involved parties, according to Time.

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Masimo Applauds Apple's Watch Update

Masimo welcomed Apple's acknowledgment that the redesigned watch excludes pulse oximetry, emphasizing the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and complying with ITC orders.

The removal of blood-oxygen technology from Apple Watches signifies a significant step, with engineers working on a software update to modify the app and algorithms without sacrificing the feature. However, eliminating the capability may be the swiftest route to avoid a potential reimposition of the ban, which could have occurred in the coming month.

Although addressing the immediate risk of a ban is seen as a positive development, the move could impact customer demand, according to analysts. Apple has already begun shipping modified Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches to US retail locations, with instructions not to open or sell the tweaked devices until receiving approval from Apple's corporate offices.

Simultaneously, a federal appeals court is anticipated to consider Apple's motion for a continued stay on the ban, which was temporarily overturned while awaiting a hearing. The ITC has urged the appeals court to reject arguments opposing the enforcement of the ban, deeming them "weak and unconvincing."

In the event that Apple's appeal is unsuccessful, it has been reported that the company will remove blood-oxygen functionality from its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2.

Masimo's claim of patent infringement revolves around the alleged use of its blood oxygen monitoring technology in certain Apple Watch models. Apple has assured the US Customs and Border Protection that the redesigned watches unequivocally lack pulse oximetry functionality, further emphasizing the ongoing accountability in intellectual property disputes.

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BLOOMINGTON  When Project Oz purchased its current building at 1105 W. Front St. about 15 years ago, staff utilized a 500-square-foot conference room for training programs and meetings.

But as the Bloomington-based nonprofit organization worked to expand services for homeless youth over the years, this room has been forced to take on a number of new purposes: group counseling space, office space for up to six employees, storage for donated items and a sorting station for food giveaways.

"It's really kind of the only open space for any creative activities," said Lisa Thompson, CEO of Project Oz. "But it's not necessarily designed in that particular way."

But with the approval of a 2,500-square-foot expansion to its Front Street facility, Thompson said Project Oz will be in a position to offer a fluid space with more resources for its clients.

The expansion, which received a positive recommendation from the Bloomington Planning Commission earlier this month, is expected to be up for City Council approval during its Monday meeting. If approved, the six-month construction period is expected to begin in March.

Over the years, Thompson said her staff has increased from 23 to 35, which has allowed Project Oz to serve a larger number of homeless youth as well as a broader age group.

She added that the nonprofit also has been able to expand its transitional living program from 18 to 30 beds for unhoused youth, which are filled every night. A juvenile justice diversion program also has been expanded.

"A lot of our work is preventative, so we want to work with young people during their first episode of homelessness so that they don't become recurringly unstable and unhoused," Thompson said. "Typically, when we can intervene in the first episode of homelessness, we can stop episodes of lifetime, chronic homelessness."

The expansion will add two more counseling rooms as well as a large family counseling area. Students would have access to docking stations to do homework and a "nutrition nook" to get a bite to eat, Thompson said.

Cheris Larson, program director for youth services at Project Oz, said there really isn't a place for unhoused youth to get cleaned up in a safe, private environment.

However, as part of the expansion, Project Oz will be able to offer laundry facilities and deep wash basins.

Once the expansion is complete, Thompson said the multi-purpose room will be split into six counseling rooms.

Project Oz will remain fully operational during construction, and services will not go off-site, she noted.

"The community and kids depend on us and rely on us to be open and to be functional, and so we'll make that happen," Thompson said.

Larson said it did not make sense to move to another location once Project Oz had outgrown its existing space because of its roots on Front and Morris.

"Trying to not disrupt (clients') lives as much as possible is what we're cognizant of," Larson said.

Some of the earliest benefactors to the expansion project were the John M. Scott Health Trust, Bank of Pontiac, Illinois Bond Fund and American Rescue Plan Act.

Although state and federal grant opportunities were available for Project Oz, Thompson said capital improvement projects were not included as an eligible expense for any of them.

An expanded parking lot was included in the design plan, but Thompson said her organization wasn't able to include it in the construction as presented due to increased costs.

However, Project Oz's fundraising campaign is still open and the organization is hoping to raise about $250,000 to get to the finish line.

To learn more about the expansion or how to donate, visit projectoz.org/fundraiser.

What every state received to support education for youth experiencing homelessness What every state received to support education for youth experiencing homelessness Where the funds go
NORMAL  One of the biggest worries during frigid weather is frozen pipes.

As Central Illinois braces through biting cold this week, plumbers and other professionals offer tips for keeping pipes from freezing and bursting.

Maggie Wille, co-owner and operational manager at Platinum Plumbing in Normal, said they have gotten an influx of calls during the freezing temperatures and have had their 24-hour answering service on for emergency situations.

There have been other calls for water heaters going out and main water lines being frozen shut, blocking water from reaching customers' homes, too, Wille said.

People just need to keep up to date with the plumbing within their home, Wille said. Theres many things that can cause plumbing fixtures to fail and there are a lot of plumbing companies in town that will offers free home plumbing inspection where you can get your water quality and pressure tested.

Wille said she is expecting for more calls to be made Wednesday and Thursday as the temperatures starts to warm up because the shift from extreme cold to warmer temperatures could cause a buildup of pressure and allow for a pipe to burst.

Wille said residents should allow for air and heat to flow near faucet pipes, so she recommends opening cabinets to let this airflow through. Turning on or opening a faucet to allow for a slow drip to flow through will also let the pressure be released, but Wille said residents should not leave running water unattended.

Another tip most people may not consider is locating any and all shut-off valves in case of emergencies, Wille said. Whether it is behind the toilet, underneath the sink or connected to the water main line, knowing where the water can be shut off in the event of a pipe burst or leak can make the difference between a catastrophe and manageable water damage.

Weve seen a lot people that are new homeowners, and they dont know where certain fixtures or the shut-off valves are, Wille said. Trust me, we dont want a disaster to happen either because its tough working till midnight and helping others in the community.

Wille said she remembers her husband being out till 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve in 2022 working on frozen pipes. Since then, they have started sharing information regarding shut-off valves and best practices on the company's Facebook page.

It was really tough since there was not enough plumbers in town, and we really felt for everybody out there, Wille said. We hopefully want to avoid that this year by education the community about what to do in these kinds of situations.

Homeowners and businesses throughout the area are facing the same problem, said Joel Robb, owner of Servpro in Decatur, who is also a licensed plumber. Servpro cleans fire, mold and water damage.

We've done about 30 or 33 units in the last couple of days, he said. It's not huge today, but I'm guessing when we get warmer temps, we'll get more. Typically as long as they're frozen they don't leak. It's when we get above freezing that they start leaking water, and that's when we get the damages. And any customers that do have damage, we have a waiting list. We tell them to get the furniture up on blocks to keep it out of water and prevent secondary damage to furniture and everything in the home.

To prevent frozen pipes, Robb also recommends turning on faucets to drip, noting the water's movement should prevent freezing, and allowing for airflow under sinks.

Chris Hembrough, chief operational officer for Peerless Cleaners in Decatur, said they received a call from a customer whose pipe broke on the second floor during the night without them realizing it.

The water came through from the second floor down to the first floor, and enough water came through it went into the basement of the home," he said. "In a scenario like that, first, turn the water off, turn the main valve off so you don't continue to have water in the home. Secondly, call a plumber to find the break and get it fixed.

If you have water damage, companies like Servpro and Peerless can dry carpets and walls to prevent mold.

We have several pieces of technology and tools to find what's wet, Hembrough said. Drywall oftentimes can be wet and you can't see that it's wet. You can't see it or feel it. If you don't get it dry, eventually you'll have mold.

With water extraction equipment, fans and dehumidifiers, it can still take several days to thoroughly dry a home or business where the pipes have burst and prevent mold.

Mattoon Fire Chief Jeff Hilligoss advised against using a torch or other open flame to thaw out a frozen water pipe. He said the heat can travel down the pipe and cause the insulation wrapped around it to start smoldering, which can spark fire inside a wall.

The chief said he has seen this be a common cause of house fires in past winters. He instead recommends resident open an access panel to the frozen pipe to allow natural heat to do the thawing. If a space heater is used to thaw a frozen pipe or for general heating purposes, any combustible materials should be kept at least three feet away.

Lee Enterprises' Valerie Wells and Rob Stroud contributed to this report.
PEKIN  Four individuals were sentenced to decades-long terms in the Illinois Department of Corrections this week for their part in the 2021 shooting death of a Mackinaw woman.

Nathaniel L. Maloney, 20, of Morton; Sage N. Raeuber, 21, of Morton and Andre T. Street, 19, of Groveland were accused of entering into a plan with 17-year-old Dahlia Bolin of Mackinaw to kill her parents in October 2021.

Rebecca D. Bolin, 51, was fatally shot and Douglas Bolin, 52, was critically injured.

According to a news release from the Tazewell County State's Attorney's Office, all four pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy. Dahlia Bolin also pleaded guilty to solicitation of first-degree murder for hire.

Tazewell County authorities previously said deputies were called about 9:15 p.m. Oct. 22, 2021, to a residence on American Legion Road in Mackinaw for a report of shots fired. There, they found Rebecca Bolin dead and Douglas Bolin wounded by gunshots in the residences front room.

Raueber, who was 19 at the time, told police she drove Maloney, then 18, and Street, then 17, to the residence where the two exited the car with firearms. She heard gunshots, and Maloney and Street exited the residence shortly thereafter. Street told police about the planned attack and Raueber told them money was offered in exchange, prosecutors said.

State's Attorney Kevin Johnson said all four defendants and two weapons were located within 48 hours of the shooting.

"Subsequent interviews of the defendants resulted in admissions by three of the defendants," Johnson said in a prepared statement.

Bolin was initially charged as a juvenile, but according to online court records, the case was moved to adult court last year. She was sentenced to a total of 60 years in prison for the charges, with credit for 816 days of time served.

Bolin will be incarcerated in the Department of Juvenile Justice until she turns 18 in May.

Maloney was sentenced to 66 years in prison, Street was sentenced to 55 years and Raeuber was sentenced to 30 years, all three with credit for 816 days served.

Assisting in the investigation were the Mackinaw and Peoria police departments, Peoria County Sheriff's Office, Illinois State Police Zone 4 and crime scene investigation units and the Illinois State Police Crime Lab.

A booking photos for Bolin was not available.

Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson Charles J. Tankson Davis, Micah S Livingston, Joshua D. Kevin L. Ewen Emmanuel K. Mpay Ahmad S. Manns Dylan R Mann Tony L. Jackson William R. Linden Zadek U. Moen Zachary T. Willis Cecily M. Sexton Tonisha A. Jackson James A. McConnaughay Jessica M. Longberry Barry D. Guyton Keon E. Spiller Melina Aguilar Carlos D. Cregan Wayne M. Damron Terrance L. Ford Stanley M. Miller Darryl R. Vinson Jarvis K. Heads Wesley M. Noonan Brad Carter Brian K. Burnett Kenneth D. Downey Kenyon J. Bones Brittany N. Greiner Maylon Tate III Maylon Tate IV
BLOOMINGTON  A 57-year-old Bloomington man is facing cocaine delivery charges in McLean County court.

Timothy S. McCowan appeared for his first court hearing Tuesday on four counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

Investigators for Illinois State Police Task Force 6, a narcotics enforcement detail, alleged McCowan provided between 1-15 grams of cocaine to informants.

The felony cocaine delivery charges McCowan faces are not eligible for pretrial detention, prosecutors said.

A judge ordered that McCowan abide to all standard court requirements and not possess or use any alcohol, cannabis or controlled substances without a prescription prepared with his name.

The man pleaded not guilty to the charges. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 4.

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NORMAL  Normal City Manager Pam Reece has been appointed to the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority, which provides access to bond money for economic development projects in Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties and the recently added McLean County.

The Normal Town Council approved the appointment Tuesday at a special meeting during which trustees also approved a video gaming license for Pizza Payaa in uptown Normal.

The votes were unanimous. Mayor Chris Koos and Trustee Andy Byars were not in attendance.

Reece's appointment comes after state legislators amended the law, adding McLean County to the authority's territorial jurisdiction on Aug. 11.

The Bloomington City Council previously appointed Patrick Hoban, chief executive officer of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, to the development authority in December.

Reece said it will be a great opportunity for both municipalities to have a voice on the development authority and to participate in its programs and support eligible projects.

"They have bonding authorities so they're able to help with projects and get them to the finish line," Reece said.

Trustee Karyn Smith said the appointment of Reece is similar to what other municipalities on the development authority have done in the past, including Peoria, which appointed its city manager.

"I think it's prudent that we follow what the other cities are doing and send someone with the knowledge and expertise of Ms. Reece to represent our interests on this board," Smith said.

According to council documents, the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority is one of 10 development authorities across the state.

Its primary function is to provide for low-cost, tax-exempt bond financing on eligible projects such as small manufacturing, affordable or senior housing, nonprofit entities, local government infrastructure, educational facilities and other special purpose projects, according to council documents.

In other news, the town council approved a water main improvement project along Linden Street from Shelbourne to Regal drives because of several severe water main breaks over the past 18 months.

According to council documents, this section of Linden Street contains areas where the water main is prone to failure because of corrosion and is to be replaced with new 12-inch ductile iron water main with new valves and fire hydrants.

The project was bid out on Jan. 4 and was awarded to lowest bidder George Gildner Inc. of Bloomington, for $435,904, which is almost 11% below the town's project estimate of $489,000.

The project is anticipated to start as soon as materials are available and weather is favorable, according to council documents. The project should be completed by this summer.

The town council also:

approved the final plat for Gullquist Subdivision at 108-112 Merle Lane;

waived the formal bidding process and authorized a three-year towing contract extension with Joe's Towing & Recovery;

awarded a contract to Brotcke Well and Pump for drilling test wells at four locations in town for $104,256 and approved a budget adjustment of $75,000;

amended the code of ordinances regarding on-street cafe seating in uptown Normal by raising the fee to $200 without electricity and $250 with electricity.

Photos: Bloomington at Normal Community girls basketball
Question: Ultimately, one of the biggest names in Bloomington-Normal history is one youve probably also never heard of: Verna Crusius Huffman. Do you know why?

Answer: Back in 1922, a Bloomington man was looking for an employee to help run the office while he was out on business and Verna became that woman. Thus, of the hundreds of thousands of employees who followed her in the now 102-year-old history of State Farm, Verna was the very first employee, sharing with founder George J. Mecherle a one-room office in downtown Bloomington. Eventually ending up in a northern California State Farm office, Verna retired in 1958 and died in 1987.
The Managing Director of the Consolidated Bank Ghana, Mr Daniel has reiterated their pledge to deepen investment in digitization, upscale support to SMEs, and further prioritize customer service, and operational efficiency.



According to him, their overriding ambition is to build market leadership in SME financing while building a resilient institution.



He explained that, in the SME sector, CBG has played a pivotal role, providing GHS1.6 billion in loans to over 5,600 businesses, introducing innovative programs such as the 'CBG SME Adesua Series, and optimized loan processing for swift access which has earned them recognition including the 'Euromoney Award for SME Market Leadership' in 2022 and 2023.



In his presentation during a press engagement with The Management of the Consolidated Bank Ghana, LTD, Mr Daniel Addonoted that in the Corporate and Institutional Banking segment, CBG has participated in loans totalling



GHS 2.35 billion, either as lead arranger or transaction advisor, benefiting crucial sectors like energy, tourism, and agriculture.



He also stressed that the Banks commitment to community impact is evident through various CSR initiatives, focusing largely on health and education.



To position the bank for further growth, and to restore balance sheet resilience, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) recently provided GHS 2.5 billion Ghana Cedis in capital to the Bank. The Bank is therefore solvent and liquid to discharge its core mandate of financial intermediation without any challenges. It is therefore ideally positioned to continue its growth trajectory and most importantly to continue to make a positive impact on the economy he said.



Mr Daniel Addo hinted that CBG is well positioned this year as they have met the regulator's capital requirement and will hugely support agriculture in a big way to grow Ghanas Agric portfolio



He also used the opportunity to announce CBGs five-year milestone as a market leader in Ghanas banking industry and highlighted some achievements within the space of 5 years.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Fidelity Bank Ghana, the nations largest privately-owned bank, has been recognized for its outstanding contributions to agricultural lending in Ghana, receiving two prestigious awards from the Ghana Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending Project (GIRSAL).



The bank was named the Most Responsive Partner Financial Institution of the Year and earned the Highest Staff Participation in GIRSAL's Agricultural and Agribusiness Finance Training Program.



Fidelity Bank's collaboration with GIRSAL, initiated in July 2019, has significantly strengthened the bank's position in the agricultural space. Through this partnership, the bank has provided guarantees for facilities and technical expertise on a case-by-case basis, resulting in a robust Agric portfolio.



The bank has played a vital role in supporting various actors within the agricultural ecosystem, including input providers, primary producers, aggregators, processors, and exporters. Fidelity Bank has leveraged GIRSAL's expertise to navigate challenges, providing funding of GHS 135 million across various value chains in the sector.



The "Most Responsive Partner Financial Institution of the Year" award recognizes Fidelity Bank's steadfast dedication to agility and proactive problem-solving.



This dedication was exemplified during the Akosombo Dam spillage last year, when the bank swiftly collaborated with GIRSAL to provide crucial assistance to affected clients. Fidelity Bank's prompt action, fueled by deep industry knowledge and seamless collaboration with GIRSAL's technical expertise, ensured rapid and effective support for its clients, solidifying its position as a reliable partner in navigating unexpected challenges.



Additionally, Fidelity Bank's commitment to continuous learning and skill development is unparalleled in the sector, reflected in its record-breaking participation in GIRSAL's training programs. Sending over 120 staff members, from credit officers to relationship managers, to gain specialized expertise in agribusiness finance, Fidelity has demonstrably invested in its workforce's capability.



This dedication to upskilling has resulted in a highly knowledgeable and capable team, equipped to provide the most informed and effective support to agribusiness clients.



This unwavering commitment to employee development earned Fidelity the well-deserved recognition of "Highest Staff Participation in GIRSAL's Agricultural and Agribusiness Finance Training Program," solidifying its position as a leader in building a skilled and empowered workforce for the agricultural sector.



Julian Opuni, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, expressed his gratitude for the recognition and reaffirmed the bank's commitment to working alongside GIRSAL to drive positive change. "We are committed to growing the agriculture sector to ensure that, as an indigenous bank, Fidelity will be at the forefront of impacting the agriculture sector," he stated. He reaffirmed Fidelity Banks dedication to doing more, emphasizing the potential within agriculture cannot be underestimated.



These awards serve as a significant milestone in Fidelity Bank's journey to empower the Ghanaian agricultural sector. The bank has consistently demonstrated its dedication to providing financial solutions and expert guidance to businesses across the entire agribusiness value chain.



With its unwavering dedication, collaborative spirit, and innovative initiatives, Fidelity Bank is poised to play a vital role in unlocking the full potential of Ghana's agricultural sector, paving the way for a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Assin Fosu Magistrate Court has sentenced a hairdresser and an auto electrician, to a fine of Gh 4,800 each for aiding a 17-year-old girl to commit an illegal abortion.



The convicts, 40-year-old Charlotte Asiedu, who administered a concoction to the girl, was charged with the offence of committing illegal abortion whilst 21-year-old Tetteh, the victims boyfriend, was charged with abetment of crime.



They both pleaded guilty to the charges before the court presided over by Abdul Majid Iliasu.



Prosecuting, Inspector Matilda Osaah Buabeng said Victoria Arthur, a trader and the victims mother, is the complainant who resides in Assin Fosu.



The Prosecutor said the victim, a Senior High School (SHS) form three student, noticed she was 17 weeks pregnant whilst in school.



He said the victim during her vacation from school, informed her boyfriend about her condition, but he advised her to notify her mother, but out of fear, she refused.



Instead, the Prosecutor said the girl demanded GH200 from Tetteh to buy some drugs at a pharmacy shop, but the pharmacist refused to sell those medicines to her with the reason that the pregnancy had advanced.



The Prosecutor said Tetteh discussed his ordeal with a friend who recommended Asiedu who accepted the offer and prepared a concoction worth Gh200 for them.



The Prosecutor said shortly after the victim took the concoction, she started experiencing severe stomach pains and was rushed to the St. Francis Xavier Hospital in Assin Fosu for treatment.



The Prosecutor said the victim was put under forced labour after an examination revealed the fetus had died.



Subsequently, an official complaint was made to the Police and the convicts were subsequently arrested and charged.



Currently, the victims education has been halted to enable her to undergo two major surgeries for survival, according to a medical report.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced on Tuesday a comprehensive strategy to address the security crisis.

The President, who assumed office after pledging to eliminate the nation's security challenges, has faced criticism for the persistence of deadly attacks, particularly in the northern regions, as per Fox News.

Tinubu Calls for Education Amid Kidnappings

Condemning the recent surge in abductions as "disturbing, ungodly, and sinister," President Tinubu emphasized education as a crucial antidote to the nation's troubles. According to a statement from his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu expressed the view that "there is no weapon against poverty that is as potent as learning."

The President asserted that security agencies were swiftly responding to the current challenges, promising the imminent rollout of resources, policies, and plans for the massive education of Nigerian youths.

Despite Tinubu's promises to mobilize the nation's assets for citizen protection, analysts, including Oluwole Ojewale from the Institute for Security Studies, argue that tangible improvements in the security situation are yet to materialize. Ojewale cautioned that Nigeria is at risk of becoming a failing state, with non-state armed groups challenging state authority, particularly in the face of ongoing conflicts with jihadi rebels in the northeast and armed groups carrying out mass killings and abductions in various regions.

The urgency of the situation has been underscored by the recent tragic incident involving the abduction of a young lady, Najeebah, and her five sisters in Abuja. Despite the release of their father, the gunmen demanded a ransom of N60 million for the sisters' freedom. Tragically, Najeebah was killed by the abductors after the ransom was not met, underscoring the gravity of the security crisis.

In response to such incidents, the Nigeria Police Force has assured the public of intensified efforts to rescue victims and prevent further kidnappings across the country. President Tinubu echoed these sentiments, highlighting the need for comprehensive education as a pivotal tool against poverty and instability, according to Newsday.

Read Also: EU Adds Hamas Leader to Terror List

Tinubu's Push for National Education Transformation

During a recent statement, Tinubu emphasized the transformative power of education and assured the public that the government is committed to changing the lives of its citizens. He outlined plans to involve teachers and educational institutions in a process relevant to the country's future.

Tinubu stressed the importance of updating knowledge through existing Islamic learning institutions, particularly in Northern Nigeria, as a means to expedite development not only in the region but also throughout Africa.

In a plea for unity and peace, Tinubu urged citizens to embark on special prayers and proper education for the youth. He emphasized that kidnapping and banditry run counter to the principles of peace and development, asserting that peace is integral to economic growth.

The President's call for collaboration was echoed by Muhammad Lamine Niass, the leader of the Jam'iyyatu Ansaridden movement, who affirmed their commitment to praying for Nigeria's peaceful development and encouraged the continued implementation of reform initiatives. As the nation grapples with these security challenges, the success of Tinubu's proposed "massive education" initiative will be closely watched, The Punch reported.

Related Article: Iran Sentences Nobel Prize Winner to Additional Prison Term
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, has opened the 11th edition of the Jospong Leadership Conference at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoah Fetteh.



The event, which took place on Monday, January 15, 2024, drew participants, mainly leaders and staff of the Jospong Group of Companies. Others also joined online from across the country.



Dr. Agyepong commenced the conference by expressing gratitude to God for another successful year and extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests, including the Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Samanjith Udumalagala, and the CEO of Asian African Consortium, Mrs. Adelaide Araba Siaw Agyepong.



Before delving into the conference's theme, Dr. Agyepong took a moment to remember colleagues who departed in the preceding year, emphasizing the importance of unity and remembrance within the Jospong family.



Reflecting on the past 11 years of the leadership conference, Dr. Agyepong highlighted the positive impact of the annual event, attributing its success to the dedication and hard work of the group's employees.



The theme for the 2024 Leadership Conference, "Driving Business Excellence through Innovation, Sustainability, and Empowerment," was unveiled, with a clear message that innovation is crucial for achieving the group's vision of becoming a leading business in Africa.



Addressing sustainability, Dr. Agyepong underlined the Jospong Group's commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. The call for collaboration and innovative thinking echoed throughout his speech, emphasizing the need for intentional efforts in sustainable businesses and financial modeling to empower employees and stakeholders.



Capacity building emerged as a key focus, with Dr. Agyepong emphasizing the importance of investing in the group's human capital. He highlighted various training programs undertaken in the past year, including international initiatives such as waste recovery and recyclables training in Thailand and participation in global conferences like COP 28.



The Jospong Academy's role in designing innovative learning programmes has been critical to the growth of the conglomerate.



Speaking on the topic "Empower for Greatness: Igniting Businesses," President of the Full Gospel Men's Fellowship International, Mr. Baba Mahama asked business owners to simplify and define their missions to employees if they want them empowered.



He said the first place to look for competition was no other place than within one's organisation.



Mr. Mahama was categorical, saying that excellence could only be achieved when efficiency and effectiveness are in equilibrium.



He said the first customer of an organization was none other than its employees, and their satisfaction transcends the external customer at all times.

Source: Prince Baffour Asamoah/Peace FM Newsroom









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Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II, the Kadehene has asserted his authority as the Kadehene, emphasizing the need for the enforcement of the November 13, 2023, Supreme Court ruling that grants him legitimacy as Chief of Kade.



The chieftaincy dispute traces back to December 21, 2022, when the National House of Chiefs in the Eastern Region entered the name of Asaretwe II into the register, leading to Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II challenging the decision.



The Chief filed a motion for Stay of Execution at the House of Chiefs and simultaneously sought leave to appeal against the judgment at the Supreme Court.



Addressing a press at the Palace in Kade on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II's legal representative highlighted his legal standing as the rightful Chief of Kade stressing that he will continue to carry out his functions as Kade Chief and will not tolerate any stampede to his authority.



I am the valid sitting legal chief of Kade. It is not proper nor lawful for Twum Barima Otibu Asare, Yaw Berchie Darko Ampem Yaw Danso and their followers to disturb the peace in Kade, he said.



Referring to the ruling in Kumasi, the Chief emphasized the significance of legal processes, saying, "the High Court in Kumasi gave a far-reaching comprehensive ruling citing the act by the National House of Chiefs as procedurally improper, unfair, unreasonable and same was in breach of natural Justice.



Ending on a plea for peace and respect for the law, Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II appealed to the Eastern Regional Minister and REGSEC to protect the people of Kade. "I am the valid sitting legal chief of Kade. It is not proper nor lawful for Twum Barima Otibu Asare, Yaw Berchie Darko Ampem, Yaw Danso, and their followers to disturb the peace in Kade," he declared.









Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A shocking footage circulating online shows an angry man shooting and injuring his partners son from point-blank range amid a heated argument before the the shooter takes his own life after a lengthy standoff with police.



Jeffrey Scott West, 68, of Friendsville, Tennessee, USA, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he fired a gun at Kyle W. Spitze, 24, hitting him once in the ear, following an argument between him and his stepson on Aug. 25, 2023, according to The Blount County Sheriffs Office.



In the shocking point-of-view footage from Spitzes phone, West is heard shouting at the man before he appears in his bedroom doorway brandishing a handgun.



Im getting ready to blow his goddamn brains out! Right fkin now, West is heard yelling as he appears from behind the door with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and the gun pointed directly at Spitze as he lays on his bed.



Spitzes mother is seen rushing over to West with her pants down, pleading with him to Stop it, eventually getting him away from the bedroom door.



Blow my brains out? Shoot me, and I guarantee youll go to jail for life, Spitze replies.



You want me to? West yells, coming back in view of the camera and pointing his handgun at the victim, still lounging on his bed.



West continues to threaten and points his handgun at Spitze throughout the incident.



Spitzes mother is seen rushing into the frame to try to stop West from pointing his gun at her son.



Spitzes mother begins arguing with West as she shuts her sons door to de-escalate the heated exchange. Im getting ready to blow his brains out, and yours! West shouts from behind the door, prompting Spitze to stand up and open it.



You gonna blow my moms brain out? the victim yells, now standing in the hallway of the home, and tells West to point that gun at him again.



As the camera pans toward West, the man again points the gun in Spitzes direction.



A single shot fires directly in the direction of the camera as the victims mother looks on in complete shock. After a few seconds of silence, Spitzes mother asks in total disbelief if West just fking hit him?



Blood begins to drip onto Spitzes feet and the hardwood floor.



Oh my god! Youre going to jail, Melanie shouts as West walks away.



Spitze quickly rushes out of the homes backdoor in a panic to get help as the clip ends.



The Blount County Sheriffs Office then reported soon after a 911 call would be made reporting the shooting.

Police Officers arrived on the scene at around 8:15 p.m. to find Spitze and his mother outside the home, as West had begun to barricade himself inside the residence.





Police SWAT teams were called to the scene to negotiate with the shooter, understanding the severity of the situation.

After nearly two-and-a-half hours of failed attempts at communicating with West, police deployed a Sheriffs K-9 into the home shortly before 11 p.m.



Police then found West dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Spitze was rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment of his non-life-threatening injury soon after police arrived on the scene.





Watch the video below-













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The immediate past Dean of the School of Law of the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Quashigah, is indifferent of the idea that introducing party-based local government system will help to address the challenges associated with the current non-party-based local government system in the country.



For him, the current non-party-based local government system had failed to address some of the basic needs of the people due to lack of strong state institutions.



He was of the view that if state institutions were empowered to work effectively and efficiently as expected, the local government system would work in the interest of all citizenry.



Prof. Quashigah was speaking at panel discussion on the topic: Local Government System, Election 2024, Security and Peace building at the 75th Annual New Year School and Conference (ANYSC) held at the University of Ghana on January 9, 2024.



The main theme for the 2024 ANYSC was: Nurturing Resilience: Adopting Technology and Embracing Humanism for Sustainable Development.



The Annual New Year School is a flagship programme of the University of Ghana under the School of Continuing and Distance Education, College of Education, which has championed national dialogue on developmental, social and political discourse to influence and impact policy, social cohesion and growth.



IDEG was one of the organisations that partnered the university to organise the 75th ANYSC.



The programme brought together academics, policymakers, business leaders, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to discuss critical issues affecting Ghana and Africa as a whole.





This years theme recognised the unprecedented challenges faced by institutions and the need to develop resilience, adapt to leverage on technology and promote human values and dignity.



Advancing his argument, Prof. Quashigah, noted that the mere fact of introducing party-based local government system was not a panacea to solving the many challenges which had confronted the countrys local government system.



He, therefore, proposed a proportional representation in the local level elections, and also called for measures to prevent state capture by one political party.





He observed that in a winner-takes-all electoral context where winners monopolise control over the entire executive arm of the state at both local and national level, contribute to the marginalisation of many different groups.



For his part, the Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, called for reforms of the current local government system.



He observed, for instance that, chiefs are particularly have been sidelined in the current local government system, noting that many chiefs are aggrieved with the system.



Similarly, he said, women who constitute more than half of the Ghanaian population also continue to experience heavy underrepresentation at every level of government.





Source: graphiconline.com









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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:

Geographic distribution, genetic structure and genetic diversity of ancient and contemporary Iberian lynx genomes. a, Contemporary and ancient sampling, with the number of individuals sampled in parenthesis. Ancient Iberian lynx distribution is shown in gray, and contemporary distribution is shown in black. b, PCA plots of PC1PC2 and PC2PC3, including the percentage of the variance explained by each axis (in parenthesis). c, Relationships among individuals based on individual-based clustering. d, Observed heterozygosity per sample versus depth of coverage of the sample. The shading represents the confidence interval around the regression line (thick line). Credit: Nature Ecology & Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02267-7

Cross-species hybridization is a more frequent phenomenon than previously thought. In the past, it happened with modern humans; it is estimated that our genome contains about 2% Neanderthal DNA.

We now know that the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) has also hybridized with closely related species in the recent past.

Bangor University has contributed to a new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution on 15 January 2024. The study shows that the Iberian lynx interbred with the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) over the last few thousand years. This would have helped to increase its genetic diversity and is important, given the current scenario, in which the long-term survival of the Iberian lynx is not guaranteed.

Led by Spain's Scientific research council, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), the scientific team analyzed the DNA of the three ancient Iberian lynx specimens: One from Andujar dated about 4,300 years ago, another from Alcanar in Catalonia dated 2,500 years ago, and another from Algarve in Portugal, dated approximately 2,100 years ago. Then they compared this information with genetic data from present-day individuals. What they observed was totally unexpected: The genetic diversity of ancient lynx was lower than that of contemporary lynx.

Dr. Axel Barlow of Bangor University's School of Environment & Natural Sciences contributed to the work. He said, "The study really demonstrates the power of ancient DNA. By looking into the past we were able to reveal a key process that shaped genetic diversity in these fascinating animals, which was undetectable when looking only at modern sources of DNA."

The increase in genetic diversity throughout history could not be explained by the historical population drift of the Iberian lynx. As its population declined over time, genetic diversity should be lower, not higher. Nor was it possible that the ancient individuals belonged to completely isolated populations, since genetic analyses showed they intermixed with each other and the ancestors of contemporary lynx. So, what could have happened in the last three or two thousand years?

The scientific team found a possible answer in hybridization.

Maria Lucena, first author of the study, from CSIC explains further, "The analyses revealed that modern lynx shared more genetic material with their sister species, the Eurasian lynx, than the older lynxes. This suggests that a genetic exchange has occurred between the two species during the last two thousand years."

Furthermore, the results indicate that the most recent ancient specimens of Iberian lynx, the ones from Catalonia and Algarve, have more genetic variants from the Eurasian lynx than the older one from Andujar. Thousands of years ago, the distribution of the Iberian lynx may have reached as far as the south of France and north of Italy, and the Eurasian lynx inhabited the north of the Iberian Peninsula until recent years, creating opportunities for the gene exchange between the two species. The gene flow of the Eurasian lynx to the Iberian lynx would have subsequently spread to all modern populations.

Genetic rescue

The genetic diversity of species is essential for their adaptation to changes in their environment. However, the genetic diversity of the Iberian lynx became one of the lowest in the world. The species experienced a major decline during the 20th century that left only about 100 individuals divided in two isolated, small populations in Donana and Andujar. In response to this situation, it was decided to mix the two genetically distinct populations.

"Allowing crosses between individuals that are not at all related to each other, we avoided the inbreeding that had accumulated in the two small populations," explains Jose Antonio Godoy, a researcher at CSIC's Donana Biological Station. "According to our data, it seems that the 'hybrids' of the two populations have greater reproductive success and possibly greater survival. At the same time, it also increases the genetic diversity available for adaptation to environmental changes."

Despite its successful recovery during the first decades of the 21th century, the Iberian lynx has not yet achieved a minimum population size which would ensure acceptable future genetic diversity. In another recent study, the research group calculated that at least 1,100 reproductive females were needed, while only 326 were registered in the 2022 census.

In addition, it was imperative to increase the number of subpopulations and improve connectivity between them for the genetic exchange. The LIFE-Lynxconnect project aims precisely to achieve a self-sustainable and genetically viable population of Iberian lynx in the long term, by connecting the different subpopulations and creating two new ones.

Could hybridization with other species be a solution to the low genetic diversity of endangered species, as the Iberian lynx? This option is often dismissed on the understanding that the offspring would have a lower probability of survival and reproduction, reducing the viability of the population rather than increasing it.

"In general, we expect that most of genes that enter a species from another one will have negative consequences and will be eliminated over time by natural selection, but some may restore functional variants or even allow the adaptation to new environmental conditions," explains Jose Antonio Godoy.

"However, we do not yet know what consequences the past gene flows we have detected in the Iberian lynx have had, and we can much less predict the consequences of future natural or intentional hybridization," he concludes. Further research in these lines will be necessary.

More information: Maria Lucena-Perez et al, Recent increase in species-wide diversity after interspecies introgression in the highly endangered Iberian lynx, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02267-7 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution
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:

Flood inundation map for five pond locations in Bagerhat. Credit: Climate Risk Management (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.crm.2023.100582

Bangladesh's aquaculture sector lost US$140 million in a decade due to climate change, reveals new analysis, highlighting the need for better climate data services.

Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events which are predicted to increase in the near and distant future, according to the study published in Climate Risk Management.

It said effective climate information services could help fish farmers reduce aquaculture losses caused by such events.

Flooding appears to be the most financially damaging and regularly occurring hazard for hatcheries, open water fish and shrimp, the study said.

Between 2011 and 2020, floods resulted in the estimated loss of about 54,000 tons of aquaculture production, valued at US$93 million.

Cyclones were the second most damaging, causing the loss of 12,000 tons of fish products, worth a total of US$24.8 million.

"Climate information services are a potential climate-risk reduction approach that could de-risk the aquaculture sector by supporting fish farmers' climate resilient decision-making and production management processes," the study said.

These services provide climate data that can support adaptation, mitigation and risk management decisions.

According to the analysis, countries in the global South have tended to be slow in developing climate services for aquaculture due to lack of awareness about their economic benefits and the focus of such tools on crops.

Peerzadi Rumana Hossain, WorldFish scientist and lead author of the study, said implementation of climate services in aquaculture depended on support from policymakers.

"We have already worked with the Bangladesh Department of Fisheries on developing a few propositions for policy level inclusion," Hossain told SciDev.Net.

She said climate information generated by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department could be conveyed via the fisheries department to help the sector produce advisories and manage climate risks.

"There is also a need for involvement and investment from private sectors for the sustainability of the digital platforms for providing climate information and advisory services to all value chain actors of aquatic food systems in the country to enhance climate services at scale," Hossain added.

More than 91% of global aquaculture production (102.9 million tons in 2017) is currently produced in Asia, with Bangladesh ranking fifth globally after China, Indonesia, India and Vietnam.

Fish and fish-based foods supply 60 percent of the total daily animal protein intake for Bangladesh's population, significantly contributing to nutrition and food security for the vulnerable and marginalized people of the country.

Aquaculture and fisheries contribute nearly 26% to the agricultural gross domestic product of Bangladesh, the study says.

But fish farmers are increasingly impacted by climate driven extreme weather events, while data on climate variabilitysuch as erratic rain, heat waves and cold spellsin aquaculture are scarce in the country. This makes it challenging to evaluate climate risk management interventions, the analysts say.

Hossain recalled how she and her co-researchers witnessed the loss of fish in a hatchery operation in south-western Bangladesh due to high temperatures and dry spells.

She said the fish farmer told researchers that if he had known there would be no rain in June and temperatures would be that high (36C40C), he could have scheduled the fingerling stocking period earlier or later.

Sudhir Kumar Das, professor of Fisheries Resource Management at West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, said that fisheries policy should focus on promoting fisheries and aquaculture to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

"Appropriate management of fisheries resources with emphasis on conservation of threatened fish as well as environment and social considerations need to be promoted in fisheries," Das told SciDev.Net.

More information: Shammunul Islam et al, Economic valuation of climate induced losses to aquaculture for evaluating climate information services in Bangladesh, Climate Risk Management (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.crm.2023.100582

Provided by SciDev.Net
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:

Female silkmoth (Bombyx mori) on the leaf of a mulberry tree, the only host plant for the offspring of these moths. The combed antennae, which act as the insect's "nose" to detect odors, are clearly visible. The lateral branches of the antennae are covered with thousands of hair-like structures called sensilla, which house the sensory neurons for odor detection. Credit: Markus Knaden, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, together with colleagues from the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, has studied olfaction in female silk moths. Using electrophysiological methods, they discovered that the antenna, which is specialized in males to detect female pheromones, is particularly sensitive to the scent of silkworm excrement in females.

Components of this scent turned out to be a deterrent for mated females, probably allowing them to avoid competition for their own offspring when laying eggs. The responsible sensory neurons are located in hair-like structures called sensilla.

In males, the detection of pheromones takes place in a long type of these sensilla, whereas the long sensilla neurons of females detect the odor of larval excrement. The odor of the mulberry tree, the only silkworm host plant, on the other hand, is detected by the female silk moths' sensory neurons in medium-length sensilla.

The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

The world smells different for female silk moths than for males

In humans, the sense of smell is similarly developed in men and women, although women have slightly more olfactory neurons and therefore a slightly more sensitive nose. On the whole, however, they perceive the same odors. Male moths, on the other hand, live in a completely different olfactory world to their female counterparts. For example, the antennae of male silk mothstheir "nose"are highly specialized to detect female sex pheromones, while females cannot even smell their own pheromones.

There are thousands of sensilla on the antennae, hair-like structures, that can be divided into morphologically and functionally distinct groups. The most common sensilla in males are long and contain two sensory neurons. One is specialized to detect bombykol, the sex pheromone of females, while the other responds to bombykal, a component of the pheromone of other moth species. While bombykol is highly attractive to male silk moths, bombykal is a deterrent.

"Because female silk moths cannot smell their own pheromone, it was long thought that their long sensilla also have a very specific function that is only found in females. After mating, the female's only task is to find a suitable plant on which to lay her eggs. It has therefore been suggested that the long sensilla of females are specialized to detect the attractive odor of mulberry trees. We wanted to test this assumption," says Sonja Bisch-Knaden, who leads a project group in the Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology.

Long sensilla of female silk moths recognize silkworm feces

Electrophysiological methods, such as measuring the activity of individual sensilla (single-sensillum recording), were crucial for the study's results. The scientists not only tested many different individual odors, but also natural odor mixtures, such as those found in the leaves of the mulberry tree, caterpillar droppings, the body odor of moths or the meconium, a liquid that moths secrete when they hatch.

All these odors, which play an ecological role in the silk moth's environment, had been collected. The research team was also able to match the expression of olfactory receptors to the corresponding sensillum type.

"We were surprised to find that neurons in the long sensilla of female silk moths were not specialized to detect the odor of the host plant, as expected, but that one of the two neurons in the long sensilla is very sensitive to odors such as isovaleric acid and benzaldehyde. The detection of the odor of the mulberry leaf itself is carried out by neurons in medium-length sensilla," says Bisch-Knaden.

Isovaleric acid and benzaldehyde are odor components of silkworm feces. Using a simple Y-maze test with an entrance arm that splits into two side arms through which either an odor or clean air (control) is introduced, the research team was able to elicit behavior in the otherwise immobile females that expressed attraction or aversion. Major differences became apparent when comparing virgin and mated females.

The researchers showed that odors associated with caterpillar droppings did not trigger a specific reaction in virgin females, but had a deterrent effect on mated females. Presumably, the smell of feces helps females avoid mulberry trees, which are already full of silkworms when they lay their eggs.

In search of the male silk moth pheromone

The pheromone of female silk moths, bombykol, was chemically characterized as early as 1959the first insect pheromone ever. So far, scientists have not been able to identify a male counterpart. The current study provides clues, but no answers to the question of a male pheromone.

"The second neuron in the females' long sensilla is highly specific for (+)-linalool, an odor already identified as a component of the male pheromone in other butterfly species. However, no linalool could be found in the body odor of male silk moths, and (+)-linalool alone had neither an attractive nor a repellent effect on female silk moths in behavioral experiments," says Bisch-Knaden.

Special features of the odor perception of silk moths

While investigating the molecular basis of odor detection in female silk moths, the researchers noticed a peculiarity in the spatial organization of olfactory receptors. There are two families of olfactory receptors, the evolutionary older ionotropic receptors (IRs), which detect mainly acids, and the odorant receptors (ORs), which detect a wide range of chemically diverse compounds. Based on studies in the model fly Drosophila melanogaster, it was long thought that neurons expressing IRs or ORs usually occur in different types of sensilla, and that IRs never occur in long sensilla.

In the silk moth, however, an IR co-receptor for the detection of acids and the obligate OR co-receptor are both found in the same neurons located in long sensilla. This co-expression of IRs and ORs increases the chemical receptivity of the sensory neurons. Odors detected by both receptor types are processed and transmitted together, which could be advantageous for the unambiguous detection of ecologically important odor mixtures.

"It is amazing that research on insect olfaction continues to produce surprising results. Our study shows that it is important to study more than just one model," says Bill Hansson, head of the Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology.

The researchers also found this co-expression of the two receptor types in the long sensilla of male silk moths, which is why they assume that the detection of acids could also play an important ecological role in males. Further investigations will now clarify this.
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Greenland. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Climate change has caused Greenland's ice sheet to lose 20 percent more ice than previously thought, according to research published Wednesday that used satellite imagery to track the retreat of glaciers over the past four decades.

Previous studies have found that about 5,000 gigatons of ice has been lost from the surface of the Greenland ice sheet in the past two decades, a major contributor to rising sea levels.

In the new study, researchers in the United States compiled nearly 240,000 satellite images of glacier terminus positionswhere glaciers meet the oceanfrom 1985 to 2022.

"Nearly every glacier in Greenland has thinned or retreated over the past few decades," lead author Chad Greene, a glaciologist from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told AFP.

"There really aren't any exceptions, and this is happening everywhere, all at once."

They found that over 1000 gigatons (1 gigaton is equivalent to 1 billion tons), or 20 percent, of ice around the edges of Greenland had been lost over the past four decades and not been accounted for.

"The Greenland ice sheet has lost appreciably more ice in recent decades than previously thought," researchers said in the journal Nature.

Because the ice at the island's edges is already in the water, the authors stressed that this would have had a "minimal" direct impact on sea level rise.

But it could herald further overall ice melt, allowing glaciers to more easily slip towards the sea.

Researchers found that the Greenland glaciers most susceptible to seasonal changesthat is expanding in winter and retreating in summerare also the ones most sensitive to the impact of global warming and experienced the most significant retreat since 1985.

The melting of Greenland's vast ice sheetthe world's second-largest after Antarcticais estimated to have contributed more than 20 percent to observed sea level rise since 2002.

Rising sea levels threaten to intensify flooding in coastal and island communities that are home to hundreds of millions of people, and could eventually submerge whole island nations and seafront cities.

Warming

Last year was the hottest on record, and ocean temperatures were "persistently and unusually high", according to Copernicus, Europe's climate monitor.

The Arctic, warming roughly four times faster than the rest of the planet, saw its warmest ever summer in 2023, the result of accelerating human-caused climate change.

Warming of the atmosphere can cause the surface of glaciers to melt and trickle down into the bottom of the ice sheet, which makes it easier for more ice to be lost.

"It's like putting water between the tire and the road, and the ice just starts to slide right off into the ocean," said Greene.

Warmer oceans, which have absorbed around 90 percent of the excess heat caused by humanity's carbon pollution, are linked to the melting of crucial ice shelves buffering the vast ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica.

Researchers also raised concerns about another potential impact: the disruption of the deep-water currents that are key drivers of global weather patterns.

They said this flood of extra freshwater melting into the ocean could affect the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a vast system that regulates the global transfer of heat from the tropics into the northern hemisphere.

A consortium of international scientists last year warned that AMOC changes and melting ice sheets were among some two dozen climate tipping points presenting humanity with an "unprecedented" threat.

More information: Chad Greene, Ubiquitous acceleration in Greenland Ice Sheet calving from 1985 to 2022, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06863-2. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06863-2 Journal information: Nature

 2024 AFP
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This illustration shows what exoplanet K2-18 b could look like based on science data. NASAs James Webb Space Telescope examined the exoplanet and revealed the presence of carbon-bearing molecules. The abundance of methane and carbon dioxide, and shortage of ammonia, support the hypothesis that there may be a water ocean underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere in K2-18 b. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)Science: Nikku Madhusudhan (IoA)

In the search for potentially life-supporting exoplanets, liquid water is the key indicator. Life on Earth requires liquid water, and scientists strongly believe the same is true elsewhere. But from a great distance, it's difficult to tell what worlds have oceans of water. Some of them can have lava oceans instead, and getting the two confused is a barrier to understanding exoplanets, water, and habitability more clearly.

This brings us to K2-18b, a mini-Neptune orbiting a red dwarf (M dwarf) star about 134 light-years away. The Kepler Space Telescope found it in 2015. NASA's Exoplanet Catalog describes it as a potentially rocky world almost nine times more massive than Earth. It takes about 30 days to complete one orbit and is about 0.1429 AU from its star.

When it was confirmed as a planet, the authors of the paper presenting the results published in The Astrophysical Journal wrote that "the planet orbiting K2-18 may be an interesting target for atmospheric studies of transiting exoplanets."

Prophetic words, and when the JWST examined K2-18b's atmosphere in 2023, it found the carbon-bearing molecules methane and carbon dioxide. "Webb's discovery adds to recent studies suggesting that K2-18b could be a Hycean exoplanet, one which has the potential to possess a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface," a NASA press release said.

Planetary scientists are very interested in Hycean exoplanets. As things stand now, they're purely hypothetical. But if scientists could confirm the existence of one of these ocean-bearing planets, the outlook for life elsewhere in our galaxy would change considerably. (If they're not subject to the runaway greenhouse effect.) If we could reliably find a population of Hycean worlds spread out among the stars, surely that would constitute a powerful signal that life is not confined to Earth.

But there's a lot of uncertainty regarding Hycean worlds. Do they exist? Can they hold onto their oceans, or are they too hot? Could something else explain the JWST's atmospheric findings? Why is there a discrepancy between observation and climate modeling? The authors of a new paper point out that, observationally, K2-18b is the archetypal Hycean world. As such, it's a good place to try to answer some of our scientific questions. The authors say that K2-18b could indeed be an ocean planet, but an ocean of lava rather than water.

The new paper is "Distinguishing oceans of water from magma on mini-Neptune K2-18b." The lead author is Oliver Shorttle, who studies planetary chemistry at the Institute of Astronomy at Cambridge University. The paper is in pre-print and hasn't been peer-reviewed yet but is available on arXiv.

"We propose a solution to this discrepancy between observation and climate modeling by investigating the effect of a magma ocean on the atmospheric chemistry of mini-Neptunes," the authors write.

K2-18b is a puzzle. Its density is in between Neptune's and Earth's, meaning its composition is uncertain. Its density covers a range of possible compositions. JWST observations show that it has a carbon-rich atmosphere and an ammonia-poor atmosphere. These observations are both indicators of an ocean world with a thick H/He atmosphere.

But there's another possible explanation: A magma ocean. "We demonstrate that atmospheric NH 3 depletion is a natural consequence of the high solubility of nitrogen species in magma at reducing conditions, precisely the conditions prevailing where a thick hydrogen envelope is in communication with a molten planetary surface," the authors write.

As is so often the case when it comes to atmospheres, the availability of oxygen plays an enormous role. Oxygen is a swinger; it likes to bond with almost anything. Its presence dictates a lot of what happens in an atmosphere.

"How oxidizing a magma is has a profound effect on the solubility of nitrogen," the authors. Nitrogen is necessary for ammonia to form since ammonia is NH 3 . So when the JWST found no ammonia in K2-18b's atmosphere, it may not indicate a Hycean world after all. Instead, it may indicate a magma ocean.

The researchers used models and simulations to try to determine what the JWST observations mean for K2-18b.

This figure from the study shows the relationship between oxygen fugacity and how much nitrogen can stay in the atmosphere of a magma ocean planet. "As oxygen fugacity is decreased, nitrogen's increased solubility depletes the atmosphere by orders of magnitude," the authors explain. (Each coloured circle represents a model run for a given set of parameters.). Credit: arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2401.05864

The researchers found that some of their modeled results of a magma ocean world agree with what the JWST found. "A set of the resulting atmospheres in the magma ocean scenario are consistent with the full transmission spectrum of K2-18b observed by JWST," they write, adding that "this self-consistent magma ocean model can produce a qualitatively similar transmission spectrum to that observed for K2-18b, and those hypothesized for Hycean planets generally."

If Shorttle and his colleagues are correct, then a dearth of ammonia can no longer be used to indicate the presence of an ocean on a Hycean world. Ammonia's profile in an atmosphere can be attributed to both the magma ocean scenario and the water-world scenario. They're not exclusive.

What's the solution?

"Thus, alternative mutually exclusive chemical tracers of the presence of a water ocean versus a magma ocean should be sought so that future observations can distinguish these potential scenarios," the researchers write.

The authors think they may have found a chemical tracer that can do the job. They say that finding both CO 2 and CO in an exoplanet atmosphere could contra-indicate a magma ocean. "One such possible tracer, and source of potential misfit of the magma ocean scenario with the observed spectrum of K2-18b, is the co-existence of CO 2 and CO," they explain. The problem is that the presence of any CO in K2-18b's atmosphere is uncertain.

The researchers have shown that we can't rely on the detection of carbon and the non-detection of ammonia to indicate a Hycean world because, in some circumstances, a magma ocean can produce the same atmospheric chemical profile. What can be done?

Better data and more research, of course.

"Developing clear disambiguating atmospheric tracers for the presence of liquid water versus magma oceans is key in our quest of finding potentially habitable worlds among the exoplanet population," they conclude.

More information: Oliver Shorttle et al, Distinguishing oceans of water from magma on mini-Neptune K2-18b, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2401.05864 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal , arXiv
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This 10-centimeter-diameter glass metalens can image the sun, the moon and distant nebulae with high resolution. Credit: Capasso Lab/Harvard SEAS

Metalenses have been used to image microscopic features of tissue and resolve details smaller than a wavelength of light. Now they are going bigger.

Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a 10-centimeter-diameter glass metalens that can image the sun, the moon and distant nebulae with high resolution. It is the first all-glass, large-scale metalens in the visible wavelength that can be mass produced using conventional CMOS fabrication technology.

The research is published in ACS Nano.

"The ability to accurately control the size of tens of billions of nanopillars over an unprecedentedly large flat lens using state-of-the-art semiconductor foundry processes is a nanofabrication feat that opens exciting new opportunities for space science and technology," said Federico Capasso, the Robert L. Wallace Professor of Applied Physics and Vinton Hayes Senior Research Fellow in Electrical Engineering at SEAS and senior author of the paper.

Most flat metalenses, which use millions of pillar-like nanostructures to focus light, are about the size of a piece of glitter. In 2019, Capasso and his team developed a centimeter-scale metalens using a technique called deep-ultraviolet (DUV) projection lithography, which projects and forms a nanostructure pattern that can be directly etched into the glass wafer, eliminating the time-consuming writing and deposition processes that were required for previous metalenses.

DUV projection lithography is commonly used to pattern fine lines and shapes in silicon chips for smartphones and computers. Joon-Suh Park, a former graduate student at SEAS and current postdoctoral fellow in Capasso's team demonstrated that the technique could not only be used to mass produce metalenses but also increase their size for applications in virtual and augmented reality.

Image of the North America Nebula, in the constellation Cygnus, taken by the metalens on the roof of the Science Center in Cambridge. Credit: Capasso Lab/Harvard SEAS

But making the metalens even larger for applications in astronomy and free-space optical communications posed an engineering problem.

"There is a major limitation with the lithography tool because these tools are used to make computer chips, so chip size is restricted to no more than 20 to 30 millimeters," said Park, co-first author of the paper. "In order to make a 100-millimeter diameter lens, we needed to find a way around this limitation."

Park and the team developed a technique to stitch together several patterns of nanopillars using the DUV projection lithography tool. By dividing the lens into 25 sections but using only the seven sections of a quadrant considering the rotational symmetry, the researchers showed that DUV projection lithography could pattern 18.7 billion designed nanostructures onto a 10-centimeter circular area in a matter of minutes.

The team also developed a vertical glass etching technique that allows the creation of high-aspect ratio, smooth-sidewall nanopillars etched into glass.

"Using the same DUV projection lithography, one could produce large-diameter, aberration-correcting meta-optics or even larger lenses on larger glass diameter wafers as the corresponding CMOS foundry tools become increasingly available in the industry," said Soon Wei Daniel Lim, a postdoctoral fellow at SEAS and co-first author of the paper.

Lim played a lead role in the full simulation and characterization of all the possible fabrication errors that could arise during mass-manufacturing processes and how they could impact the optical performance of metalenses.

After addressing possible manufacturing challenges, the researchers demonstrated the power of the metalens in imaging celestial objects.

Mounting the metalens on a tripod with a color filter and camera sensor, Park and the team took to the roof of Harvard's Science Center. There, they imaged the sun, the moon and the North America nebula, a dim nebula in the constellation Cygnus about 2,590 light years away.

Image of the moon taken by the metalens from the roof a building in Cambridge, MA. Credit: Capasso Lab/Harvard SEAS

"We were able to get very detailed images of the sun, the moon and the nebula that are comparable to images taken by conventional lenses," said Arman Amirzhan, a graduate student in the Capasso Lab and co-author of the paper.

Using only the metalens, the researchers were able to image the same cluster of sunspots as a NASA image taken that same day.

The team also demonstrated that the lens could survive exposure to extreme heat, extreme cold and the intense vibrations that would occur during a space launch without any damage or loss in optical performance.

Because of its size and monolithic glass composition, the lens could also be used for long-range telecommunications and directed energy transport applications.

More information: Joon-Suh Park et al, All-Glass 100 mm Diameter Visible Metalens for Imaging the Cosmos, ACS Nano (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09462 Journal information: ACS Nano
A Christian holy site in the West Bank fell victim to a violent attack by a group of Palestinians, causing significant damage, as reported by various media outlets.

The assailants, hailing from the Balata refugee camp in the city of Shechem, were reportedly armed with an array of weapons, including guns, firebombs, and stones during the Sunday night assault on Jacob's Well near Nablus. Sources from the Tazpit Press Service, an Israeli news agency, provided details on the incident.

Nablus Concerns Over Christian Violence

The city of Nablus, under the control of the Palestinian Authority, is now under scrutiny for allegedly failing to address the escalating violence against the Christian community. Elias Zarina, the co-founder and community manager of the Jerusalemite Initiative, a nonprofit promoting Arab Christian integration into Israeli society, expressed concern over the lack of protection for the Christian community.

The 80-year-old keeper of the attacked monastery, Father Ioustinos of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, fortunately escaped physical harm but was reportedly traumatized by the violent episode.

Local leaders emphasized that attacks on Christian sites by Palestinians have become a distressingly common occurrence. Dr. Naim Khoury, founder of the first Baptist Church in Bethlehem, noted the prevailing instability in the region, stating that such incidents are unfortunately widespread, even in Jerusalem.

The targeted site, Jacob's Well, holds religious significance for Christians, believed to have been purchased by Biblical Patriarch Jacob based on the New Testament. Construction of a Christian compound, including a church and monastery, began in 1908, with completion delayed until the 1990s due to financial and bureaucratic challenges.

The alleged assault unfolded amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, following the terror group's attack on Israeli communities in early October, as per to Fox News.

Read Also: EU Adds Hamas Leader to Terror List

Christian Community Faces Violence

Christian sources informed TPS that the attackers, armed with guns, firebombs, and stones, inflicted widespread damage on the monastery within the compound where Jacob's Well is situated.

Zarina reiterated concerns about the Palestinian Authority's failure to protect Christian communities and holy sites. Noting the absence of arrests and security measures, he emphasized the vulnerability of sensitive locations regularly targeted by attacks.

Zarina, who has extensively researched the Christian communities in the Holy Land, highlighted a concerning trend of dwindling Christian populations since the Oslo Accords brought the Palestinian Authority into power. Citing Bethlehem as an example, he revealed a drastic decline from 88 percent Christian population in 1993 to a mere 12 percent three decades later.

According to Zarina, many Christians have emigrated due to the challenging circumstances, often facing pressure from Muslim groups. He underscored the prevailing sentiment within Islam, where both Christians and Jews are considered heretics and, unfortunately, subjected to violence.

The recent attack on Jacob's Well serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the Christian community in the region, urging international attention and intervention to address the growing pattern of violence against them, according to The Print.

Related Article: Sen. Bernie Sanders Criticizes Israel's Gaza Blockade | Human Rights Watch Concerned With Supply Cuts
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Residents of Miami-Dade County appreciate Biscayne Bay for its ecological, cultural, recreational and economic offerings, but they see the estuary as "moderately healthy"despite a significant decline in water quality and habitat health in recent decades.

That's according to an online survey of more than 1,000 Miami-Dade residents I conducted in 2022 to understand how locals use, think about and value Biscayne Bay. The bay borders 35 miles of Miami's coastline and is made up of diverse ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs.

I research public attitudes toward the environment, and I currently work with an interdisciplinary team of scientists who analyze the health and composition of local marine ecosystems. We spend more than 100 days a year on Biscayne Bay.

My survey findings reveal that Miami residents interact with Biscayne Bay regularly and in a variety of ways. Residents spend time on the beach, out on the water boating, and fishing for both food and fun.

Respondents were concerned about a range of threats to the bay. However, highly visible impacts like plastic pollution were much more worrisome to them than less discernible or slower-moving threats, such as persistent algal blooms. Participants were also more troubled by loss of coral reefs than loss of less popular habitats such as seagrass.

While plastic pollution and coral reef loss are indeed concerning, algal blooms and seagrass loss also represent a fundamental shift in the makeup and health of the bay.

Overall, my research found that support for local policy actions to protect and restore the bay was extremely high. Such policy actions include new regulations on fishing and pollution from septic tanks and fertilizers, greater public investment in water treatment infrastructure and direct efforts to restore ecosystems.

Every policy option listed on my survey had an average rating between four and five on a five-point scale, where four corresponded to "support" and five corresponded to "strongly support." Importantly, this support was high regardless of political party affiliation.

Why it matters

Biscayne Bay is home to more than 30 endangered species or species of special concern, such as the smalltooth sawfish and the West Indian manatee. It is also home to more than 100 species important to recreational and commercial fisheries.

A 2019 government report describes Biscayne Bay as being "at a tipping point." It has experienced dramatic declines in water qualitydue to pollution from sewage, fertilizers and other sourcesand major die-offs of fish and seagrass beds since the 1990s.

Miami is on the front line of emerging issues facing coastal urban communities around the globefrom sea level rise to overfishing. In order to make effective management decisions regarding Biscayne Bay, local policymakers need a clear understanding of how the public perceives and interacts with its resources and what is important to them. This knowledge can help them prioritize actions and better understand potential consequences of policy decisions.

What's next

My findings could provide a road map for other coastal communities that want to explore local sentiments in order to improve conservation efforts. Approximately 40% of the global population lives in the 5% of land located within 100 kilometers (62 miles) of a coastline.

While I found that the public is supportive of new efforts to protect and restore Biscayne Bay, public outreach may be needed to make the impacts of new laws clear. This includes educating locals about the degree to which the bay's health has declined, the importance of mangroves and seagrasses, and how choices made on land affect habitats in the water.

My research now includes working with local environmental and community organizations to understand grassroots public engagement with the local political process. I hope to understand how local groups are collaboratingor failing to collaboratein their advocacy efforts to protect and restore Biscayne Bay, and how their work affects civic engagement.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Schematic of the proposed mechanism for the surface-mediated spontaneous emulsification process (ouzo) effect. Photos of the SMG stirring experiment are shown, including one taken at the beginning of stirring (Upper Left) and one taken after stirring for 8 h (Lower Left) in a PS container. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305770121

Medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are composed of molecules called acylated peptides that are designed to circulate in the body and regulate insulin production. This enables adults with type 2 diabetes to take a weekly injection instead of monitoring their insulin levels every few hours. With slight modification, this class of therapeutics is also approved for weight-loss use in the treatment of obesity.

But these molecules sometimes become unstable when in contact with certain container surfaces, making formulation and manufacturing of these types of medications challenging.

University of Delaware Professor Norman Wagner and a team of researchers worked with partners at the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly to study why this class of materials experiences this instability, a phenomenon known as ouzo formation, which can make the solution cloudy when in contact with certain surfaces designed to repel water, rendering the medication unusable.

The research team studied how the peptides behaved when in contact with surfaces such as glass, thermoplastics and synthetic polymers, to understand the fundamental mechanics behind what was happening in order to provide solutions for reducing drug product manufacturing failure.

The researchers reported their findings in a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), offering valuable insights to guide peptide synthesis, formulation, manufacturing and storage of this class of molecules. It's work that could help across this class of medications.

In addition to Wagner, co-authors on the paper from Eli Lilly and Company include Ken Qian, director, and Kevin Seibert, vice president. Other co-authors from UD include the paper's lead author Qi Li, a former postdoctoral researcher in UD's chemical and biomolecular engineering department and Center for Neutron Science, and Vasudev Tangry, a former undergraduate student on the project.

Stability is key

The commonality, Wagner explained, is that drug formulations need to remain stable in solution, so the molecules don't form large aggregates, which can be harmful if injected into the body.

"It's a fairly tricky pathway to go from a stable molecule in solution and formulation to an unstable one," said Wagner, Unidel Robert L. Pigford Chair, chemical and biomolecular engineering at UD. "It involves the molecule adsorbing, or adhering, onto a surface like a container and creating small aggregates that become a nuclei for the growth of visible aggregates, leading to a solution that looks like the classic drink ouzo."

Ouzo is a Greek liquor that is stable on its own but becomes cloudy when mixed with water. The cloudiness occurs because the anise contained in the liquor is not water soluble, so the droplets stay in solution, creating the drink's murky appearance.

This might be okay for a refreshing libation, but when it happens to molecules in the pharmaceutical industry, it's problematic. It also can be costly.

"So, I might have a vessel where I am making this molecule and, in final stages, this vessel might contain something like the equivalent of over a million dollars' worth of drug substance," said Wagner. "If that solution forms an ouzo, you've got a real problem. You've now lost that production."

It's not just a production problem either. If a formulation of drug product formed an ouzo while being transported to or stored at a doctor's office, the result would be the sameit would have to be thrown out. So, on both the production side and on the storage and delivery side of the formulation, preventing this from occurring is critical.

How they approached the problem

The Wagner group's work focused on predicting what surfaces cause problems and how rapidly this ouzo effect might occur. The research team used light and X-ray scattering along with other techniques to investigate how the molecules interacted with each other and solution. They also looked at how the molecules interacted with numerous different types of surfaces, ranging from glass to polystyrene and polytetrafluoroethylene, all common materials used in the industry.

The researchers measured the spherical shape, size, structure and the internal composition of the droplets in the solution, too. Their analysis revealed that the droplet formation was sparked by the water-repellent nature of the surfaces and depended on the rate at which the particles were stirred and mixed. The size of the particles was affected by the solution's salt concentration, independent of the surface material.

Interestingly, it seems that the particles remained in solution (rather than sinking to the bottom) due to interaction between the surface tension of the solution and the particles' electric charge.

While explaining, Wagner gave the example of oil and watera classic example of two types of molecules that separate when left alone. In salad dressing, two solutions are emulsified, shaken and mixed up, while products called surfactants sit at the interface between the solutions to prevent the molecules from aggregating and separating. This allows salad dressings to remain mixed over long time periods.

"In this case, though, we don't have any surfactants to create this, so it's curious. If it's going to separate, it should just separate like oil and water. But they don't, the molecules stay in this emulsion," said Wagner.

The UD team applied a well-established theory from Lord Rayleigh, a noted mathematician and physicist from the University of Cambridge, that showed the droplet size and stability could be predicted and thus controlled, connecting the phenomena to many other, naturally observed phenomena. Lord Rayleigh was awarded the 1904 Nobel Prize in Physics for investigations on the densities of the most important gases and the discovery of argon.

Wagner pointed to UD's deep history in colloid and interface science, surfactant self-assembly, and strengths in biophysical and biomolecular systems, as advantages in exploring this type of multifaceted problem.

"There's a scientific and engineering ecosystem here at Delaware that positions us to address problems like this, because these are inherently physical chemistry problems with engineering implications in the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries," he said. "You need all these pieces together to understand these specific molecules with very specific chemistries that are surfactant-like in some ways."

Additional questions for future research

Knowing how an ouzo forms is one factor, understanding how long it will take for an ouzo to form is a separate question. This is because medications, like many other materials used in our everyday world, are not static. They are slowly aging.

For example, think about the way plastics may be pliable when new, but become brittle as they age. If you are talking about a pair of wireless earbuds, the material's life expectancy may not matter much. No one expects them to be around in a hundred years, so engineering the plastic to last for five or 10 years is just fine.

But for medication, specificity matters.

Understanding how rapidly these molecules age or how long it takes for an aggregation to form under the right conditions is important. Understanding how long medications will remain shelf-stable can affect distribution and use timelines.

"Right now, we only know that this chemistry and that chemistry don't play well together, and we can predict that," said Wagner. "Now that we put the pieces together from a chemistry perspective, we want to understand what's going on at a molecular level that causes this and under what conditions."

Future work by the Wagner group will employ neutron scattering techniques to look inside the droplets in detail to ask what's going on within the molecules and their structure. Understanding what's happening inside the droplets, on an interface in a solution could provide insight on ways to modify or change the medicine's molecular formulation to prevent the ouzo effect from occurring despite the container it's in.

"Right now, we can control this problem by changing the surfaces," said Wagner. "The science question that we're asking next is whether there is something specific with this molecular structure that we could modify or change that would eliminate the problem in the molecules themselves."

The research team also plans to examine materials related to this work that were sent more than 250 miles above Earth to the International Space Station, to determine if gravity had any impact on the ouzo effect occurrence.
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Credit: INESC TEC

The use of lasers in space is a reality. Even though radio waves have been the backbone of space communications for ages, the demand to convey more data, in a faster way, made these lighter, more flexible, and more secure infrared rays (invisible to the human eye) the future of space communications.

Recently, WipTherm, a European project dedicated to the development of pioneering solutions for wireless energy transfer in the field of microsatellite power for space exploration, has ended. And the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC), one of the five partners of the project, focused on developing a high-power optic fiber laser. The Institute of Physics for Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology and Photonics (IFIMUP) and The Faculty of Science, University of Porto (FCUP) were the entities in charge of coordinating the project.

The team of researchers demonstrated the solution at an air base in Aveiro, a city on the Portuguese west coast. Orlando Frazao, researcher at INESC TEC Center for Applied Photonics (CAP), made "a very positive assessment" of the project's results. "We were able to increase our knowledge of high-power lasers and develop new optic fiber lasers with several potential applications."

Lasers like the one developed by the Portuguese R&D Institute are particularly important in space exploration. Fiber optic communication, in which light is used to carry the signalrather than electric currentis a relevant option in scenarios like space communications.

"Our role in the consortium focused on developing a high-power laser entirely in optical fiber, operating in a 1550-nanometer range, with a maximum power of 40 Watts. In addition, we designed a telescope capable of simultaneously lighting 27 thermoelectric sensors using an array of lenses," said the researcher and Professor at FCUP.

During the final demonstration of WipTherm, at the Sao Jacinto airbase, the researchers were able to achieve power outputs of 20 Watts to power the thermoelectric sensors. "Future developments may include converting these lasers into pulsed lasers to obtain powers close to kW," added Orlando Frazao.

"The main goal was to develop continuous emission lasers to obtain sufficient power and create a temperature gradient in the thermoelectric system. The use of lasers in space is a reality; however, lasers require increased care since they're instruments that can be used for military purposes. We are trying to understand which types of lasers and which features can be used for academic purposes or as commercial solutions," stated the researcher.

Lasers to power satellites

"Power" is one of the keywords of the project coordinated by the University of Porto. WipTherm's main goal was to create an innovative wireless energy transfer system to recharge the energy storage components used in CubeSat technologies (e.g. micro and nano satellites).

And that's crucial: with the advances in CubeSat technologies, energy demand in this market segment has also increased, requiring larger solar panels, efficient energy storage systems and other energy transfer and collection systems. During the demonstration, the team used a high-power laser to recharge a CubeSat. This very small satellite, equipped with thermoelectric sensors developed by IFIMUP, was able to absorb light at 1500 nanometers, thus increasing the charging efficiency.

According to Orlando Frazao, "it's still early" to understand the potential impact of the work developed within the scope of the project on the future of the industry. However, learning with WipTherm allows researchers to focus on a new European project, Transition. "In this new project, we have already included a business model for the idea of recharging using lasers," concluded Orlando Frazao.

Provided by INESC Brussels HUB
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Hebbian dynamics produce powerlaw connection strengths. Credit:bioRxiv (2022). DOI: 10.1101/2022.05.30.494086

A study by physicists and neuroscientists from the University of Chicago, Harvard and Yale describes how connectivity among neurons comes about through general principles of networking and self-organization, rather than the biological features of an individual organism.

The study, titled "Heavytailed neuronal connectivity arises from Hebbian selforganization," published in Nature Physics, accurately describes neuronal connectivity in a variety of model organisms and could apply to non-biological networks like social interactions as well.

"When you're building simple models to explain biological data, you expect to get a good rough cut that fits some but not all scenarios," said Stephanie Palmer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physics and Organismal Biology and Anatomy at UChicago and senior author of the paper. "You don't expect it to work as well when you dig into the minutiae, but when we did that here, it ended up explaining things in a way that was really satisfying."

Understanding how neurons connect

Neurons form an intricate web of connections between synapses to communicate and interact with each other. While the vast number of connections may seem random, networks of brain cells tend to be dominated by a small number of connections that are much stronger than most.

This "heavy-tailed" distribution of connections (so-called because of the way it looks when plotted on a graph) forms the backbone of circuitry that allows organisms to think, learn, communicate and move. Despite the importance of these strong connections, scientists were unsure if this heavy-tailed pattern arises because of biological processes specific to different organisms, or due to basic principles of network organization.

To answer these questions, Palmer and Christopher Lynn, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Physics at Yale University, and Caroline Holmes, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University, analyzed connectomes, or maps of brain cell connections. The connectome data came from several different classic lab animals, including fruit flies, roundworms, marine worms and the mouse retina.

To understand how neurons form connections to one another, they developed a model based on Hebbian dynamics, a term coined by Canadian psychologist Donald Hebb in 1949 that essentially says, "neurons that fire together, wire together." This means the more two neurons activate together, the stronger their connection becomes.

Across the board, the researchers found these Hebbian dynamics produce "heavy-tailed" connection strengths just like they saw in the different organisms. The results indicate that this kind of organization arises from general principles of networking, rather than something specific to the biology of fruit flies, mice, or worms.

The model also provided an unexpected explanation for another networking phenomenon called clustering, which describes the tendency of cells to link with other cells via connections they share. A good example of clustering occurs in social situations. If one person introduces a friend to a third person, those two people are more likely to become friends with them than if they met separately.

"These are mechanisms that everybody agrees are fundamentally going to happen in neuroscience," Holmes said. "But we see here that if you treat the data carefully and quantitatively, it can give rise to all of these different effects in clustering and distributions, and then you see those things across all of these different organisms."

Accounting for randomness

As Palmer pointed out, though, biology doesn't always fit a neat and tidy explanation, and there is still plenty of randomness and noise involved in brain circuits.

Neurons sometimes disconnect and rewire with each otherweak connections are pruned, and stronger connections can be formed elsewhere. This randomness provides a check on the kind of Hebbian organization the researchers found in this data, without which strong connections would grow to dominate the network.

The researchers tweaked their model to account for randomness, which improved its accuracy.

"Without that noise aspect, the model would fail," Lynn said. "It wouldn't produce anything that worked, which was surprising to us. It turns out you actually need to balance the Hebbian snowball effect with the randomness to get everything to look like real brains."

Since these rules arise from general networking principles, the team hopes they can extend this work beyond the brain.

"That's another cool aspect of this work: the way the science got done," Palmer said. "The folks on this team have a huge diversity of knowledge, from theoretical physics and big data analysis to biochemical and evolutionary networks. We were focused on the brain here, but now we can talk about other types of networks in future work."
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The DOLCE structure completely deployed, over the Canadian Arctic, on September 29, 2023. DOLCE structure's TRAC longerons and battens are clearly visible above the Arctic ice. The fiberglass batten connectors are shining under the Sun (right part). Credit: Space Solar Power Project/Caltech

One year ago, Caltech's Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD-1) launched into space to demonstrate and test three technological innovations that are among those necessary to make space solar power a reality.

The spaceborne testbed demonstrated the ability to beam power wirelessly in space; it measured the efficiency, durability, and function of a variety of different types of solar cells in space; and gave a real-world trial of the design of a lightweight deployable structure to deliver and hold the aforementioned solar cells and power transmitters.

Now, with SSPD-1's mission in space concluded, engineers on Earth are celebrating the testbed's successes and learning important lessons that will help chart the future of space solar power.

"Solar power beamed from space at commercial rates, lighting the globe, is still a future prospect. But this critical mission demonstrated that it should be an achievable future," says Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum, the Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair and professor of physics.

SSPD-1 represents a major milestone in a project that has been underway for more than a decade, garnering international attention as a tangible and high-profile step forward for a technology being pursued by multiple nations. It was launched on January 3, 2023, aboard a Momentus Vigoride spacecraft as part of the Caltech Space Solar Power Project (SSPP), led by professors Harry Atwater, Ali Hajimiri, and Sergio Pellegrino. It consists of three main experiments, each testing a different technology:

DOLCE (Deployable on-Orbit ultraLight Composite Experiment): a structure measuring 1.8 meters by 1.8 meters that demonstrates the novel architecture, packaging scheme, and deployment mechanisms of the scalable modular spacecraft that will eventually make up a kilometer-scale constellation to serve as a power station.

ALBA: a collection of 32 different types of photovoltaic (PV) cells to enable an assessment of the types of cells that can withstand punishing space environments.

MAPLE (Microwave Array for Power-transfer Low-orbit Experiment): an array of flexible, lightweight microwave-power transmitters based on custom integrated circuits with precise timing control to focus power selectively on two different receivers to demonstrate wireless power transmission at distance in space.

"It's not that we don't have solar panels in space already. Solar panels are used to power the International Space Station, for example," says Atwater, Otis Booth Leadership Chair of Division of Engineering and Applied Science; Howard Hughes Professor of Applied Physics and Materials Science; director of the Liquid Sunlight Alliance; and one of the principal investigators of SSPP.

"But to launch and deploy large enough arrays to provide meaningful power to Earth, SSPP has to design and create solar power energy transfer systems that are ultra-lightweight, cheap, flexible, and deployable."

DOLCE: Deploying the structure

Though all of the experiments aboard SSPD-1 were ultimately successful, not everything went according to plan. For the scientists and engineers leading this effort, however, that was exactly the point. The authentic test environment for SSPD-1 provided an opportunity to evaluate each of the components and the insights gleaned will have a profound impact on future space solar power array designs.

For example, during the deployment of DOLCEwhich was intended to be a three- to four-day processone of the wires connecting the diagonal booms to the corners of the structure, which allowed it to unfurl, became snagged. This stalled the deployment and damaged the connection between one of the booms and the structure.

With the clock ticking, the team used cameras on DOLCE as well as a full-scale working model of DOLCE in Pellegrino's lab to identify and try to solve the problem. They established that the damaged system would deploy better when warmed directly by the sun and also by solar energy reflected off Earth.

Once the diagonal booms had been deployed and the structure was fully uncoiled, a new complication arose: Part of the structure became jammed under the deployment mechanism, something that had never been seen in laboratory testing.

Using images from the DOLCE cameras, the team was able to reproduce this kind of jamming in the lab and developed a strategy to fix it. Ultimately, Pellegrino and his team completed the deployment through a motion of DOLCE's actuators that vibrated the whole structure and worked the jam free. Lessons from the experience, Pellegrino says, will inform the next deployment mechanism.

"The space test has demonstrated the robustness of the basic concept, which has allowed us to achieve a successful deployment in spite of two anomalies," says Pellegrino, Joyce and Kent Kresa Professor of Aerospace and Civil Engineering and co-director of SSPP.

"The troubleshooting process has given us many new insights and has sharply focused us on the connection between our modular structure and the diagonal booms. We have developed new ways to counter the effects of self-weight in ultralight deployable structures."

ALBA: Harvesting solar energy

Meanwhile, the photovoltaic performance of three entirely new classes of ultralight research-grade solar cells, none of which had ever been tested in orbit before, were measured over the course of more than 240 days of operation by the ALBA team, led by Atwater.

Some of the solar cells were custom-fabricated using facilities in the SSPP labs and the Kavli Nanoscience Institute (KNI) at Caltech, which gave the team a reliable and fast way to get small cutting-edge devices quickly ready for flight.

In future work, the team plans to test large-area cells made using highly scalable inexpensive manufacturing methods that can dramatically reduce both the mass and the cost of these space solar cells.

Space solar cells presently available commercially are typically 100-times more expensive than the solar cells and modules widely deployed on Earth. This is because their manufacture employs an expensive step called epitaxial growth, in which crystalline films are grown in a specific orientation on a substrate.

The SSPP solar cell team achieved low-cost nonepitaxial space cells by using cheap and scalable production processes like those used to make today's silicon solar cells. These processes employ high-performance compound semiconductor materials such as gallium arsenide that are typically used to make high-efficiency space cells today.

The team also tested perovskite cells, which have captured the attention of solar manufacturers because they are cheap and flexible, and luminescent solar concentrators with the potential to be deployed in large flexible polymer sheets.

Over ALBA's lifespan, the team collected enough data to be able to observe changes in the operation of individual cells in response to space weather events like solar flares and geomagnetic activity. They found, for example, tremendous variability in the performance of the perovskite cells, whereas the low-cost gallium arsenide cells consistently performed well overall.

"SSPP gave us a unique opportunity to take solar cells directly from the lab at Caltech into orbit, accelerating the in-space testing that would normally have taken years to be done. This kind of approach has dramatically shortened the innovation-cycle time for space solar technology," says Atwater.

MAPLE: Wireless power transfer in space

Finally, as announced in June, MAPLE demonstrated its ability to transmit power wirelessly in space and to direct a beam to Eartha first in the field. MAPLE experiments continued for eight months after the initial demonstrations, and in this subsequent work, the team pushed MAPLE to its limits to expose and understand its potential weaknesses so that lessons learned could be applied to future design.

The team compared the performance of the array early in the mission with its performance at the end of the mission, when MAPLE was intentionally stressed. A drop in the total transmitted power was observed. Back in the lab on Earth, the group reproduced the power drop, attributing it to the degradation of a few individual transmitting elements in the array as well as some complex electricalthermal interactions in the system.

"These observations have already led to revisions in the design of various elements of MAPLE to maximize its performance over extended periods of time," says Hajimiri, Bren Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering and co-director of SSPP. "Testing in space with SSPD-1 has given us more visibility into our blind spots and more confidence in our abilities."

SSPP: Moving forward

SSPP began after philanthropist Donald Bren, chairman of Irvine Company and a life member of the Caltech community, first learned about the potential for space-based solar energy manufacturing as a young man in an article in Popular Science magazine.

Intrigued by the potential for space solar power, Bren approached Caltech's then-president Jean-Lou Chameau in 2011 to discuss the creation of a space-based solar power research project. In the years to follow, Bren and his wife, Brigitte Bren, a Caltech trustee, agreed to make a series of donations (yielding a total commitment of over $100 million) through the Donald Bren Foundation to fund the project and to endow a number of Caltech professorships.

"The hard work and dedication of the brilliant scientists at Caltech have advanced our dream of providing the world with abundant, reliable, and affordable power for the benefit of all humankind," Donald Bren says.

In addition to the support received from the Brens, Northrop Grumman Corporation provided Caltech with $12.5 million between 2014 and 2017 through a sponsored research agreement that aided technology development and advanced the project's science.

With SSPD-1 winding down its mission, the testbed stopped communications with Earth on November 11. The Vigoride-5 vehicle that hosted SSPD-1 will remain in orbit to support continued testing and demonstration of the vehicle's Microwave Electrothermal Thruster engines that use distilled water as a propellant. It will ultimately deorbit and disintegrate in Earth's atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the SSPP team continues work in the lab, studying the feedback from SSPD-1 to identify the next set of fundamental research challenges for the project to tackle.
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Composite image of gelatinous deep-sea animals observed and sampled in the study. Clockwise starting from upper left: the holoplanktonic polychaete Tomopteris sp.,the siphonophore Marrus claudanielis, the siphonophore Erenna sp., and the salp Pegea sp. Photos courtesy of ROV SuBastian science camera, Schmidt Ocean Institute. Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute

A University of Rhode Island professor of Ocean Engineering and Oceanography, along with a multidisciplinary research team from multiple institutions, successfully demonstrated new technologies that can obtain preserved tissue and high-resolution 3D images within minutes of encountering some of the most fragile animals in the deep ocean.

URI Professor Brennan Phillips, the principal investigator on the project, and a team of 15 researchers from six institutions, including URI, have shown that it is possible to shave years from the process of determining whether a new or rare species has been discovered. The results of their work are published today (Jan. 17) in the journal Science Advances.

Roboticists, ocean engineers, bioengineers, and marine and molecular biologists from URI's Department of Ocean Engineering; the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine; the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University; Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California; PA Consulting, a worldwide firm that focuses on innovation; and the Department of Natural Sciences at Baruch College, City University of New York, made up the team. The paper represents five years of research.

Revolutionary advancements in underwater imaging, robotics, and genomic sequencing have reshaped marine exploration, the study asserts. The research shows that within minutes of an encounter with a deep-sea animal, it is possible to capture detailed measurements and motion of the animal, obtain an entire genome, and generate a comprehensive list of genes being expressed that point to their physiological status in the deep ocean. The result of this rich digital data is a "cybertype" of a single animal, rather than a physical "holotype" that is traditionally found in museum collections.

A rotary actuated dodecahedron (RAD-2) encapsulates a holoplanktonic polychaete (Tomopteris, a marine worm). Video from remotely operated vehicle (ROV), SuBastian science camera, Schmidt Ocean Institute. Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute

"Currently, if researchers want to describe what they believe is a new species, they face an arduous process," Phillips said. "The way it is done now is you capture a specimen, which is very difficult because a lot of these animals are so delicate and tissue-thin, and it's likely you may not be able to collect them at all. But if you successfully collect an animal, you then preserve it in a jar.

"Then begins a long process of physically bringing that specimen to different collections around the world where it is compared to existing organisms. After a long time, sometimes up to 21 years, scientists may reach consensus that this is a new species.

"Again, these are deep-sea, thin little wisps of animals. The current workflow is not appropriate. It's a major reason why we have so many undescribed species in the ocean."

Information gained from the studyand others that followcould be useful for extinction prevention studies, as it provides a wealth of information from a single specimen gained during a single encounter. The work also responds to the growing call among researchers for compassionate collection, which minimizes harm to animals by using advanced technologies to collect information. Future studies and development could allow for complete scans and inventories of life in the deep sea within a catch-and-release framework.

"The vision was: How might a marine biologist work to better understand and connect to deep-sea life decades or centuries into the future?" said David Gruber, Distinguished Professor of Biology at Baruch College, City University of New York, and an Explorer with National Geographic Society. "This is a demonstration on how an interdisciplinary team could work collaboratively to provide an enormous amount of new information on deep-sea life after one brief encounter.

"The ultimate goal is to continue down this path and refine the technology to be as minimally invasive as possibleakin to a doctor's check-up in the deep sea. This approach is becoming increasingly important with current extinction being 100 times higher than background extinction rates."

Phillips said because collecting these samples has always been hard, there are many deep-sea species that have yet to be identified. "When you look at climate change and deep-sea mining and their potential effects, it is unsettling," Phillips said. "You realize you don't have a full baseline of species, and you may not know what you've lost before it's too late. If you want to know what has been there before it's gone, this is a new way to do that."

The ROV SuBastian with rotary actuated dodecahedron (RAD-2) mounted on the front and about to be lowered into the sea. Credit: Brennan Phillips

The mission was conducted on the research vessel Falkor and included two expeditions off the coast of Hawaii and San Diego in 2019 and 2021. The team collected as many as 14 preserved tissue samples a day, along with terabytes of quantitative digital imagery. Together, the study provided:

The first complete assembled and annotated transcriptome (genes being made in the animals' habitat) of Pegea tunicate, a marine invertebrate animal;

Details of the molecular basis of environmental sensing of a holoplanktonic Tomopteris polychaete (marine worm), which spends its entire life in the water column;

Details of the full transcriptomes of two siphonophores, (gelatinous zooplankton composed of specialized parts growing together in a chain) Erenna sp. and Marrus claudanielis, as well as the Pegea tunicate and Tomopteris polychaete;

Full morphological (form and structure) characterizations using digital imaging of each animal while at depth.

The lead author of the paper, John Burns, a senior research scientist at Bigelow Laboratory, conducted the genomic analysis on four animals sampled at depths of almost 4,000 feet.

"What we were able to achieve with these animals is remarkable," Burns said. "For me, this is best seen in the sequence data we generated for the Tomopteris worm: We captured it while it was exploring its environment and were able to infer that it was scanning the water using two long sensory whiskers near its head for 'sweet' tastes: likely sugars associated with prey, and possibly for ammonia: a waste product of its typical prey.

"With that information, we can envision how it hunts by following chemical trails in its open water habitat," Burns said. "I don't think that would have been possible without the innovative technology invented and employed by the engineers on the team that allowed complete preservation of the information from the animals within minutes of an encounter."

Burns said another study with Gruber looked at how capture methods affect jellyfish ribonucleic acid, known as RNA, one of the building blocks of life. That sequence of information can start to change after about 10 minutes of stressful conditions, even with gentle collection. The Designing the Future technologies overcome this by preserving the information before the animal's cells start to respond to stress, according to Burns.

"We also discovered that three of the animals we captured have huge genomes: each having nearly 10 times the DNA in a cell compared to us humans," Burns said. "For the fourth, with a more modestly sized genome (about 3% the size of a human genome) we were able to use cutting edge sequencing methods to build the most cohesive and complete genome of a salp to date."

Harvard and URI brought to the mission a rotary-actuated folding dodecahedron (RAD-2), an innovative origami-inspired robotic encapsulation device, which collected animal tissue samples and almost instantaneously preserved that tissue at depth.

"We are seeing the impact of new types of marine robots for midwater and deep-sea exploration," said roboticist Robert Wood, the Harry Lewis and Marlyn McGrath Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University. "Not only are robots going places that are difficult or impossible for humans to reach, our devices investigate, interact with, and collect specimens using a gentle touch or no touch at all."

Imaging systems from MBARI's Bioinspiration Lab that included a laser-scanning imaging device called DeepPIV and a three-dimensional lightfield camera called EyeRIS enabled the measurement and reconstruction of three-dimensional morphology, or body shape, of the animals in their natural environment.

"We cannot protect what we do not yet fully understand. Advanced imaging technologies can accelerate our efforts to document the diversity of life in the ocean. The faster we can catalog marine life, the better we can assess and track the impact of human actions like climate change and mining on ocean environments," said Kakani Katija, bioengineer and principal engineer of the Bioinspiration Lab at MBARI.

"We have these remotely operated vehicles out there with advanced imaging systems, which can create a three-dimensional model after only a few minutes," Phillips said. "We were able to approach a tiny jellyfish in a matter of seconds, collect high-resolution 3D images to the control room, and our team was able to tell in a matter of minutes that the tentacles were exactly 5 millimeters long. Then, we had extremely well-preserved tissue samples of the same animal within a matter of minutes."

More information: John Burns et al, An in situ digital synthesis strategy for the discovery and description of ocean life, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4960. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adj4960 Journal information: Science Advances
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TOI-2107: Unbinned TESS and follow-up ground-based transits, phase-folded and shown in comparison to the best-fit time of conjunction with an arbitrary normalized flux offset. Multiple TESS sectors in the same cadence are stacked on top of each other. Credit: arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2401.05923

Using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), an international team of astronomers has discovered nine new "hot Jupiter" exoplanets. One of the newly detected alien worlds is almost four times more massive than Jupiter. The finding was presented in a paper published January 11 on the pre-print server arXiv.

TESS is conducting a survey of about 200,000 of the brightest stars near the sun with the aim of searching for transiting exoplanetsranging from small, rocky worlds to gaseous giants. So far, it has identified over 7,000 candidate exoplanets (TESS Objects of Interest, or TOI), of which 415 have been confirmed.

Now, a group of astronomers led by Jack Schulte of the Michigan State University confirmed another nine planets monitored by TESS. They report that transit signals have been detected in the light curves of nine distant stars. The planetary nature of these signals was confirmed later by ground-based imaging and spectroscopic observations.

"In this article, we present nine new hot Jupiters discovered by NASA's TESS mission as part of an ongoing effort to discover and characterize all HJs [hot Jupiters] orbiting FGK stars brighter than G = 12.5 mag," the researchers wrote.

The newfound exoplanets, designated TOI-1855 b, TOI-2107 b, TOI-2368 b, TOI-3321 b, TOI-3894 b, TOI-3919 b, TOI-4153 b, TOI-5232 b, and TOI-5301 b, are mostly similar in size to Jupiter, but their masses range from 0.55 to 3.88 Jupiter masses. TOI-3919 b is the most massive one, while the largest one is TOI-1855 bwith a radius of approximately 1.65 Jupiter radii.

All the newly discovered planets have orbital periods shorter than eight days, and their equilibrium temperatures were estimated to be between 1,000 and 1,772 K. The hottest exoplanet out of the nine turned out to be TOI-5232 K.

The properties of these extrasolar worlds allowed the team to classify them as hot Jupiters. Such planets are similar in characteristics to Jupiter, while their orbital periods are less than 10 days. They have high surface temperatures, as they orbit their parent stars very closely.

It was noted that TOI-3919 b and TOI-5301 b have significant orbital eccentricitiesat a level of 0.26 and 0.33, respectively. According to the authors of the paper, this suggests that they may have undergone high-eccentricity tidal migration.

When it comes to the host stars of the newfound exoplanets, they have radii ranging from 0.84 to 2.19 solar radii, while their masses are between 0.9 and 1.57 solar masses. The oldest two stars are estimated to be about 8 billion years old. The stars are located 5761,985 light years away.

Summing up the results, the researchers underlined that the new discoveries could help us advance our knowledge about how hot Jupiters form and evolve.

More information: Jack Schulte et al, Migration and Evolution of giant ExoPlanets (MEEP) I: Nine Newly Confirmed Hot Jupiters from the TESS Mission, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2401.05923 Journal information: arXiv

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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

When voters cast their ballots in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, many were driven by their concern for climate change, according to new research out of CU Boulder's Center for Environmental Futures (C-SEF). The new report determined that views on climate change played a significant role in whom people voted for, concluding that the climate issue very likely cost Republicans the 2020 election, all else equal.

"This is obviously information that politicians and advocates across the political spectrum will want to know, heading into the 2024 election cycle," said Matthew Burgess, CIRES Fellow and C-SEF director. "How to reduce political polarization of climate change is one of the questions our research group is most interested in currently, and this provides some insight."

In their new assessment, published today on Zenodo, Burgess and his co-authors, two C-SEF graduate students and researchers from Vanderbilt University and the University of California Santa Barbara, sought to understand the importance of climate change as a voter issue in the two most recent presidential elections. The team used data from the nonpartisan Voter Study Group to analyze how issue opinions and demographics affected the 2016 and 2020 elections.

The research team used several techniques to assess how climate change opinion shaped voters' choices: logistic regression, a machine learning model, and a simulation of the Electoral College in which they could turn the role of climate change on or off. Their conclusion: Republicans could have gained at least a 3-percent swing in the popular vote, which almost certainly would have been enough to have taken the White House in 2020.

The team found personal views on climate change were one of the strongest predictors of voting behavior in 2020, especially among independents. Not surprisingly, they found the majority of Democrats and independents are worried about climate change. And, many younger and moderate Republicans also see climate change as an important issueone-quarter of Republicans who think climate change is "very important" voted for President Biden in 2020.

Such widespread concern about climate change is currently a clear upper hand for the Democratic party. The party holds a 26-point advantage over Republicans on the issue, a lead larger than any other opposing topic between the two parties, in a recent poll.

Voters from a broad range of political persuasions seem to see Democrats as more capable of finding solutions and instating policies to address problems created by climate change, even if not every Democratic climate change policy is necessarily popular.

While the issue of climate change strongly predicts whom people voted for in 2020, overall, it is not the number-one concern among voters. Less than 5 percent of adults rank climate change as the single most important issue. More pressing issues include those that affect people's daily lives, like the economy, health care, education, and crime.

If climate change isn't voters' top issue, why is it such a strong predictor?

"One reason might be that most people see the evidence for climate change as so strong that, if a candidate were to deny or minimize that issue, they might trust that candidate less on other issues," Burgess said. "Another reason might be that voters are beginning to see a connection between climate change and the kitchen table issues they care about more, like the economy, security, and health. But we can't say for sure, and this is a key question for future research."

As the country prepares for the next election, the odds are good that climate change will influence whom they vote for.

More information: Matthew G. Burgess et al, Climate change opinion and recent presidential elections, Zenodo (2024). DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10494414
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:

Worden Farm's Anne Hall setting up for market in St. Petersburg, Florida. Credit: Lance Cheung/USDA

Having more women in agriculture is associated with greater community well-being, according to researchers at Penn State and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Their work is the first to quantitatively assess this link, and their findings suggest that women farmers approach their operations in ways that positively impact their communities.

The study, published in Applied Economics Perspectives and Policy, revealed that U.S. counties with a higher share of farms owned or operated by women have higher rates of nonfarm entrepreneurship, longer life expectancies and lower poverty rates.

"We know from previous qualitative research that women farmers tend to enter into farming for different reasons than men and often make decisions with the greater good in mind," said Claudia Schmidt, assistant professor of marketing and local/regional food systems at Penn State and the study's lead author.

"For example, they strive to meet a social need in their community or they prioritize environmental stewardship over profits. Our study is the first to use quantitative research methods to explore whether this concept of 'civic agriculture' actually translates to improved community well-being in places with higher shares of women farmers."

Using U.S. county-level data from the most recent U.S. Census and the Census of Agriculture, the researchers conducted a series of analyses to model the independent effect of women farmers on three local economic variables: the poverty rate, average life expectancy and the rate of new business formation.

The researchers chose these measures to approximate a community's quality of life. For example, the rate of new business formation relates to the entrepreneurial energy in a community, which is a good indicator of economic health, said co-author Steve Deller, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor and Community Development Extension Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who constructed the statistical models.

"Communities with more people starting businesses tend to be more dynamic and resilient to shocks, thus enhancing community well-being," Deller said. "Similarly, a county with less poverty, and where people tend to have longer lifespans, is likely to be a better place to live than a county with higher poverty rates and shorter lifespans."

They also controlled for the possibility that their findings could be attributed to other community factors, such as the racial composition, the number of single-parent households and the number of college graduates.

The researchers found that the positive association with women farmers spilled over into neighboring counties, meaning that more women farmers in one county was associated with greater community well-being in neighboring counties, too.

"The fact that these spillovers exist suggests having a critical mass of female farmers within a larger region, and not just within a county, has an even greater impact on regional well-being," said co-author Stephan Goetz, professor of agricultural economics and regional economics at Penn State and director of the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development.

Although the findings do not establish causality, they warrant a closer look by policy makers concerned with rural poverty and well-being, according to Goetz.

"Anything that can help reduce rural poverty is worth looking at more closely," Goetz said. "Even though women farmers tend to be less profit-driven and operate smaller farms than their male counterparts, our findings suggest that having more of them is good for a community."

The number of farms operated by women has increased over the past 20 years, according to Schmidt.

"Along with more women participating in agriculture than we've seen historically, we're also beginning to see more research investigating their role and impact in the United States," Schmidt said, noting that the trend is timely, especially given that the most recent Nobel Prize in economics was awarded for research on the previously unrecognized positive role of women in the general economy.

"I'm hoping our study will encourage more research in this area, because there are so many more questions to explore and perspectives to draw fromsuch as those from women of color or farmers who identify as a gender other than male or female. We need to understand these dynamics to develop sound rural policy strategies and to support greater participation in agriculture," Schmidt added.

More information: Claudia Schmidt et al, Women farmers and community wellbeing under modeling uncertainty, Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy (2024). DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13406
A Mississippi slaughterhouse supplying chicken to renowned companies like Chick-fil-A, has been found responsible for the tragic death of a 16-year-old sanitation worker.

The incident occurred in July 2023 when Duvan Perez, a young worker, was pulled into a machine while cleaning the deboning area at the Mar-Jac plant in Hattiesburg.

Chick-fil-A Supplier Mar-Jac Poultry Faces Severe Consequences

The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revealed in a press release that this marks the second instance in just two years where Mar-Jac Poultry has "disregarded safety standards," resulting in the death of a worker. OSHA, citing serious violations, has proposed fines exceeding $200,000 against the Georgia-based company.

OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer lamented the company's lack of action, stating, "Mar-Jac Poultry is aware of how dangerous the machinery they use can be when safety standards are not in place to prevent serious injury and death. The company's inaction has directly led to this terrible tragedy, which has left so many to mourn this child's preventable death."

Duvan Perez became the second victim at the Mar-Jac plant in a span of two years, both incidents involving workers being pulled into machines. OSHA officials highlighted that, despite a Mar-Jac manager being present in the vicinity during Perez's accident, proper procedures were not employed to disconnect power to the machinery.

Mar-Jac Poultry, when approached for comment on OSHA's findings, declined to respond. However, in an October statement, the company asserted that all safety procedures had been diligently followed. Mar-Jac attorney Larry Stine, in an earlier statement, mentioned the company's comprehensive investigation into the accident and emphasized that no errors were found in the actions of safety or human resources employees.

Chick-fil-A, a major buyer of chicken from Mar-Jac, has not yet commented on the OSHA findings. However, in October, a company spokesperson assured NBC News that they were reviewing their own investigation and response procedures to uphold high safety standards for their suppliers.

Debbie Berkowitz, a workplace safety expert and former OSHA official during the Obama administration, expressed grave concerns about the safety record of Mar-Jac Poultry. She asserted, "These are incredibly serious alleged safety violations that cost a child's life - a child who was not supposed to even be exposed to this dangerous workplace. ... The poor safety track record of this plant and the company is alarming - workers should not get killed in a poultry plant," according to NBC News.

Read Also: Virginia: Alerts Issued to Passengers at Dulles, Reagan Airports About Possible Measles Exposure

US Labor Dept Investigates Perez's Death

In the aftermath of Perez's death, the US Labor Department initiated two investigations. OSHA's investigation focused on the circumstances of the teenager's death, while the department's Wage and Hour Division delved into the hiring practices that led to the employment of a 16-year-old in such hazardous conditions. The latter investigation remains ongoing.

It has been revealed that Perez was hired using the false identity of a 32-year-old man, a violation of federal laws prohibiting the employment of individuals under 18 in slaughterhouses due to the inherent dangers of the job. Larry Stine clarified that Perez was recruited through a third-party staffing agency.

The Department of Labor highlighted a concerning surge in illegal child labor across industries, nearly doubling since 2019. Over 800 child labor investigations are currently underway in 47 states, reflecting a worrisome trend.

In a plea for cooperation, the Labor Department sought assistance from current and former Mar-Jac employees in their child labor investigation, citing reluctance among current employees to speak out due to fears of repercussions.

When asked about Mar-Jac's reaction to discovering Perez's real age, Larry Stine admitted, "Yes, they were surprised, that I can tell you. They were surprised and somewhat horrified." He also downplayed the potential impact of fines on the company, suggesting that the negative publicity is a more significant concern. As investigations continue, the tragic death of Duvan Perez underscores the imperative for stringent safety measures in workplaces, particularly in industries prone to hazards, Global Gastronaut reported.

Related Article: US Navy SEALs Discover, Sink Boat Carrying Iranian Warheads
Jurors in the trial of Kevin Monahan heard from the Washington County Sheriffs deputies, saw body camera video, and added what they saw to testimony last week from two of Monahans neighbors. The testimony helps to establish what happened in the moments, and hours, after Schuylerville resident Kaylin Gillis was shot and killed on April 15, 2023 when she had been riding in a car with her boyfriend and other friends. Monahan is charged with second-degree murder in her death and tampering with evidence.

Neighbors of Kevin Monahan testified on Friday, Jan. 12, and one resident of Patterson Hill Road in Hebron, where Monahan resides, said she had Post-it notes recalling the evening as it transpired.

Jill Madolski of Patterson Hill Road was working on personal projects for organizations she volunteers for and noted the vehicles driven by the teens involved going up and then speeding down the road on April 15, 2023. Madolski had the kitchen door open as it was a warm evening.

She heard two gunshots about five minutes after they drove by.

It was no question in my mind that they were gunshots, Madolski said on the stand last Friday.

After she heard the vehicles come back following the gunshots, she got up and stood at kitchen door because she said she felt something wasnt right as they turned right on Route 30.

Once I wrapped my head around what I saw, I called 911, she said.

Another neighbor, Scott Smith also of Patterson Hill Road was sitting in his backyard with a relatively good view of the Monahan residence. He said theres not a lot of traffic on their road, so they paid attention when the motorcycle and two vehicles went up the driveway.

They traveled up the driveway at a moderate rate of speed, and the vehicles stopped about halfway up, Smith said.

Attorneys on both sides of the argument agreed in opening statements that the friends driving in two cars and a motorcycle accidentally drove up Monahans long driveway that night assuming it was a house they were looking for and turned around when they realized their error.

Smith described their speed to be about 25 mph when coming up the road and used the word gingerly to describe the speed the motorcycle traveled the driveway both up and down.

I debated on calling 911 around 9:50 p.m. but my wife told me to wait; I told her to remember the time and what happened because it could be important, he said.

Prosecutors allege that Monahan shot at the car twice, in fear. The defense said during opening testimony that Monahan shot towards the car as a warning, but it was faulty and shot, accidentally, a second time. It was that second shot that killed Gillis.

When the trial resumed on Tuesday, the testimony turned to the sheriffs deputies on scene and the testimony spent quite a bit of time on body camera footage of Washington County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Christopher Murray.

Peoples exhibit 16 was a 56-minute-long video from the night Kevin Monahan was taken into custody for allegedly shooting Gillis.

Murray said he was the supervisor of patrols on the night of the shooting. Gillis, 20 at the time, was shot while the car was still in Monahans driveway, and her friends sped off desperately trying to reach a 911 operator and finding little cell phone service in that area.

When Murray heard the call, he made his way to Cemetery Road where Gillis and her friends had stopped. At the scene, he said he needed to start gathering information and facts of the incident.

Murray said he ended up at Monahans residence after confirmation of where the shooting happened according to the teens. He also said he pulled up to the base of the driveway and walked up the driveway to gather information from officers on scene around midnight. Other officers were there, taking positions of cover because of the reported shooting, not wanting to be shot themselves.

Murray said the residence was lit up inside and out. He made verbal contact by yelling to Monahan on the deck.

Assistant District Attorney Christian Morris asked deputy Sgt. Murray about Kevin Monahans whereabouts when Murray was yelling to Monahan. Murray said Monahan would walk from the deck on the side of the house, but never go on to the front part of the deck where A-frame windows were.

It took many minutes for the deputies to reach Monahans home and speak with him and his wife Jinx Monahan.

Monahan said nothing was going on that evening and that no one had visited the home that night that they knew of. At another point, Jinx said no one stopped by that evening, and they were awoken by the lights shining from outside the house.

The defendant also refused to step out of his home when asked to by Murray.

The video then showed Undersheriff John Winchell speaking with Monahan, and he added a comment that he knew Monahan was in communication with attorney Kurt Mussert. Mussert is one of the defense attorneys in this trial.

Defense Attorney Arthur Frost objected and moved for a mistrial at this point. Winchells statement in the body camera about calling Mussert was accusatory in nature.

Assistant District Attorney Christian Morris rebutted that the defendant didnt invoke his right to counsel. Morris added he didnt believe he legally needed to mute the moment Winchell referenced Mussert in the clip shown to the jury as he hadnt invoked his right to counsel.

Frost responded that the audio referencing Mussert needs to clarify its not an accusation, but the words mean something.

Michelini said there was no indication to the right to counsel at the moment in the video and denied the motion for a mistrial.

Michelini directed the court to disregard the comment and clarified that a person can contact their counsel and shouldnt be any indication of guilt. No unfavorable inferences should be made by the jury of the comment made either.

Frost, in his cross examination, asked Murray what would have been done if Monahan followed police orders and went to the driveway to speak with them. Murray said he would have been detained by police, verifying if he had any weapons and wouldnt be allowed back in the home.

Frost then clarified with Murray he never saw Monahan with a weapon.

Later Tuesday afternoon, Washington County Sheriffs Office Senior Investigator Harold Spiezio took the stand testifying his involvement at both scenes on Cemetery Road and Patterson Hill Road. He first observed Gillis body lying next to the orange Ford Explorer that she had been riding in. He said he asked for assistance from New York State Police that night since there were several witnesses.

I remained at Cemetery Road for a few hours directing witnesses for interviews, secured the scene with tape, and asked first responders to go to the Salem state police station, he said.

Spiezio said he assisted with searching outside of the property, but never went inside the home as state polices Forensic Investigation Unit would be searching inside.

With the information they knew, Spiezio said the shots were fired from the side of the deck facing the driveway and Spiezio said officers walked parallel in the yard to try to locate the shotgun shells, reaching into the grass and searching closely for about an hour. Spiezio said they also waited for state police to process the scene, but no shotgun shells were located.

Spiezio said they started to secure search warrants for three vehicles parked in the vicinity of the home, thinking any of them could be housing the shells. The vehicles were brought back to the sheriffs office for searching but still no shells.

Investigator Travis Earl also testified on Tuesday and talked about handling and recording evidence.

The last testimony of the day came from State Police Forensic Investigation Unit Crime Scene Technician Kolby Gabler. His team was responsible for collecting and recording evidence along with shooting photos and drawing sketches of the scenes both on Cemetery Road and at Monahans house.

Among the evidence was the glass and metal that prosecutors say were broken from the cars body as the shotgun bullet tore through it.

Gabler said based on witnesses statements they looked for a gun with a long barrel and any ammunition, which they found in the bedroom, leaning next to the head of the bed with ammunition boxes on the side table.

On the other side of the bed was a 22 revolver in a holster hanging off a stand. Both firearms were taken for evidence. Earlier testimony said that Jinx Monahan, Kevins wife, may or may not have had a revolver with her when her husband encouraged her to hide in a closet as he went outside to see what the commotion in the driveway was. Jinx Monahan testified that she could not recall if she had the revolver with her.

The prosecution says the shotgun found in the bedroom was the one that killed Kaylin Gillis.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  Saying he still supports their efforts to end indoor smoking in Atlantic City casinos, state Sen. Vince Polistina invited activists to rally inside his office instead of outside in frigid temperatures Wednesday.

Members of a local United Auto Workers union representing casino dealers and the group Casino Employees Against Smokings Effects were there to tell Polistina how disappointed they were that he is drafting a compromise bill rather than continuing to push for passage of a blanket smoking ban.

You want to build smoking rooms to be staffed by volunteers, said Pete Naccarelli, a dealer of 27 years who works at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. We are going to be voluntold to go in.

Several experienced dealers told Polistina that casinos will manipulate workers to staff smoking rooms, especially by targeting immigrants and younger people afraid to say no, and by arranging part-timers schedules so people who wont work them will not get hours.

I was with you from the start ... stood with you at the rallies, stood with you in Trenton, Polistina said. I agree with the fact that we should not have smoking in any indoor facility anywhere in the state of New Jersey.

The casino smoking ban bill (S264/A2151) had been set for hearings in November and December before the Senate Health Committee but was removed for lack of support, even though the majority of members had at one time co-sponsored it.

The casino industry opposes a smoking ban, saying it would lose customers and revenue if smoking were banned while still being allowed in casinos in nearby states.

The Casino Association of New Jersey has said the impact of a smoking ban could be 20% to 25% of casino revenue being lost, according to a statement released in March.

NJ Legislature pondering move on Atlantic City casino smoking ban State lawmakers are considering moving on legislation to end smoking in the resort's casinos during their lame-duck session.

A Stockton University poll found 62% of New Jerseyans favor such a ban.

If the original bill is reintroduced and comes up for a vote during the current legislative session, which got underway this month, he will still vote for it, Polistina said. But he said support in the Democrat-dominated Legislature evaporated during the lame duck session this fall.

Currently, smoking is permitted on 25% of a casino floor in Atlantic City.

Knowing we lost a huge segment of the Legislature, particularly the South Jersey Democratic delegation ... I was still trying to get to a point where we can eliminate smoking on the casino floor, Polistina said of the proposed compromise bill, which has not yet been introduced.

The rally attendees repeatedly said they will not support a compromise, but Beverly Perna Quinn, president of UAW Local 88 at Tropicana Atlantic City, said she would support building an open-air smoking room separate from the casino, with no slots or table games in it and no staff entering it.

We get training once a year to identify compulsive gamblers, Perna Quinn said, adding they are more likely than others to commit suicide after losing a lot of money. One sign is they never leave the table.

They also are more likely to be smokers, she said.

If they (legislators) care about humanity, about people instead of money, they would say these are the people who need help, Perna Quinn said.

Polistina says he plans to draft compromise to casino smoking ban bill With a bill to ban smoking in casinos seemingly stalled in the Legislature, state Sen. Vince Polistina said Wednesday he plans to propose a new bill he said would not ban smoking but would remove casino workers from secondhand smoke exposure.

Pausing for five to 10 minutes to smoke may help a compulsive gambler break the addiction long enough to regain control, she said.

You say we lost, but whats this loser mentality? Naccarelli asked Polistina. Youre our representative. We want you to say, We are going to pass this thing. Lets get it done.

There is still enough support to give the bill another try, Naccarelli said, but if there is a compromise bill competing with it, some of that support will move to the compromise.

These are people who put pregnant women and a guy with cancer on a smoking table, said one attendee. They do not care. They have no empathy.

Perna Quinn said her casino would not allow dealers to open a craps game an hour late to attend a co-workers funeral.

I have to believe people have empathy, Polistina countered. They just believe the economic rationale.

Casino lobbyists have told legislators that casinos will close and jobs will be lost, Polistina said, and lawmakers believe them.

Bring them into a room like this and let them hear peoples stories, said Carolyn Rush, a Democrat running to challenge U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd.

Candidates differ on offshore wind, immigration and more in 2nd District debate The candidates for state Senate and Assembly in the 2nd District debated Thursday night at Stockton University and stayed civil with each other even as they argued over allegedly unfair political ads and their accomplishments.

Polistina said the lack of a united message from Atlantic City has also hurt the cause.

When you have Local 54 on one side and the UAW on the other, the mayor (Marty Small Sr.) on one side and me on the other, people throw their hands up, Polistina said.

Small and Local 54, which represents cocktail waitresses and back-of-the-house staff, do not support the smoking ban.

UAW represents dealers and has joined with CEASE to support the smoking ban.

Perna Quinn said no one has polled cocktail servers, who have told her they favor a smoking ban.

After the meeting, Polistina said he would consider what he heard but still thinks some type of compromise will be needed to get a bill to pass.

GALLERY: Rally against casino smoking
Scott County's caucus results largely mirrored the rest of the state, with supporters of former President Donald Trump turning out despite the cold and support for other candidates split.

Trump won all but five precincts in the county, performing especially well in rural western Scott County. Although statewide Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis got second by slim margin over former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, she gathered more support than DeSantis in Scott County.

Scott County top 4 results

Donald Trump: 2,857 votes, 49.19% (Statewide: 51%)

Nikki Haley: 1,411 votes, 24.29% (Statewide:19.1%)

Ron DeSantis: 1,064 votes, 18.3% (Statewide: 21.2%)

Vivek Ramaswamy: 446, 7.6% (Statewide: 7.7%)

In Buffalo Township, for example, along the Mississippi River, 116 caucusgoers picked Trump, or 64% of the precinct. It was the precinct in Scott County where Trump picked up the largest number of votes.

Becky Tock caucused for the first time Monday in the frigid Walcott gymnasium for Trump, whom she said she backs "all the way."

"There are just so many things that need to be changed," she said. "And unless we come out here, it's not going to change."

In more urban areas, such as Bettendorf, Trump still won most of the precincts, but by a slimmer margin. In B42, in the northwestern corner of Bettendorf, 103 caucusgoers selected Trump as their nominee, or about 37% of the precinct. Haley was 10 votes behind Trump, at 93, and DeSantis had 54 votes in that precinct.

Haley won in five precincts in Bettendorf and Davenport by a slim margin over Trump. At B52, Bettendorf's northeastern corner, Haley garnered 75 votes, or 37% of the precinct, edging out Trump by just three votes.

Her largest margin was in B43, also toward the northeastern part of Bettendorf, where she received 46% of the 80 votes cast.

Haley got the second-most votes in Scott County overall and in 38 of the 66 individual precincts. She tied for second in four others.

During the campaign, Haley catered to more moderate voters who were not sold on further right rhetoric of Trump and DeSantis. She did better on caucus night in areas of Iowa with more college graduates and higher incomes, according to an analysis by the New York Times. She won Johnson County by one vote  the only county Trump didn't win, and got second in Linn, Blackhawk, and Story counties in addition to Scott County.

DeSantis gathered more support than Haley in other populous counties: Polk, Dubuque and Woodbury counties.

Turnout, according to the state's website Tuesday, was a little more than 110,000 people. More than 186,000 Iowa Republicans cast ballots in 2016, a record year. In 2012, about 122,000 Republicans turned out, with a similar number in 2008 of about 120,000 caucusgoers.

In Scott County, the trend was similar. About 5,800 Republicans caucused Monday night, fewer than 2016 (9,700) and slightly less than 2012 (5,900), but slightly more than 2008 (5,600).

How has Scott County gone in the past?

In 2016, Scott County went for Marco Rubio (26.2%), with Donald Trump and Ted Cruz not far behind with 25.3% and 24.6% respectively. Cruz won statewide that year, beating Trump by three percentage points. Rubio won in populous counties, Polk, Dallas and Johnson, in addition to Scott. Trump went on to win the party's nomination

In 2012, Mitt Romney won Scott County, and was within a percentage point of winning statewide. Two weeks after caucus day, the party declared Rick Santorum the victor by 34 votes.

In 2008, Scott County went for Romney, but statewide, Mike Huckabee won with 34.4% of the vote.

In 2000, George W. Bush won Scott County and statewide.

Images from Monday's caucuses at Davenport Central High School
DES MOINES  Many Iowa Republicans had not yet cast their choice for president, state party chairman Jeff Kaufmann said, when outside those schools and churches that were hosting the states first-in-the-nation presidential precinct caucuses, a slew of national media organizations had already declared Donald Trump the winner.

Kaufmann and at least one of the other presidential campaigns took exception with the early declaration of Trumps victory.

The Associated Press, Fox News, CNN, CBS News and NBC News all called the caucuses for Trump at around 7:30 p.m. Monday night, just a half-hour after the caucuses were scheduled to start.

The national news organizations expansive and sophisticated elections reporting operations often enable them to project election winners long before the official results are tallied, especially when the outcome is not particularly close, as was the case with Trumps 30-point win in the Iowa Republican caucuses.

Nonetheless, that early report rubbed Kaufmann the wrong way. The state chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, which put on Monday nights caucuses, on Tuesday morning issued a statement about the fast calls of Trumps victory.

In the statement, Kaufmann said just around 300 votes had been officially counted when the news organizations declared Trump the winner.

Media outlets calling the results of the 2024 first-in-the-nation caucus less than half an hour after precinct caucuses had been called to order  before the overwhelming majority of Iowans had even cast their ballot  was highly disappointing and concerning, Kaufmann said.

A spokesman for the campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who finished a distant second to Trump in the caucuses, equated the early projections of Trumps victory to election interference.

It is absolutely outrageous that the media would participate in election interference by calling the race before tens of thousands of Iowans even had a chance to vote, DeSantis campaign communications director Andrew Romeo said. The media is in the tank for Trump and this is the most egregious example yet.

Trump made history with his victory Monday night: he became the first non-incumbent presidential candidate to surpass 50% in an Iowa Republican caucus, and his 30-point victory margin was easily the largest ever by a non-incumbent in the Republican caucuses.

National news organizations were able to determine quickly that Trump would be the winner by analyzing data from interviews with Iowa Republicans on their way into the caucuses. Those entrance polls were conducted by the news organizations themselves, and by Edison Research, whose National Election Pool is used by multiple national news organizations.

Spokespeople for multiple news organizations that made the early call for Trump said the data in those entrance polls, combined with the early results that were reported by the Republican Party of Iowa, gave them all the information they needed to determine Trump was poised for victory.

Many of the news organizations, including the AP, CNN, Fox News and NBC News, reported on or explained on air Monday night how their organization came to determine so quickly that Trump would win the caucuses.

The Associated Press declared the former president the winner based on an analysis of initial returns as well as results of AP VoteCast, a survey of voters who planned to caucus on Monday night. Both showed Trump with an insurmountable lead, the Associated Press reported. Initial results from eight counties showed Trump with far more than half of the total votes counted as of 7:31 p.m. (local time), significantly ahead of the rest of the field. These counties included rural areas that are demographically and politically similar to the large number of counties that had yet to report.

On its caucus night live blog, CNN staff wrote, At the time of CNNs projection, at 7:30 p.m. (local time), the former presidents broad lead in the entrance polls representative sample was statistically significant. By that time, votes had been reported in multiple counties and from several sample precincts, which also suggested a broad Trump lead.

The news organizations early call was complicated by the difference between an election and a caucus.

In order to avoid disrupting voters participation in an election, news organizations will not project an elections winner until after the polls close  that is, they will not declare a winner until voters can no longer cast a ballot.

Caucuses do not have a hard time for the presidential preference section. The Iowa Republican caucuses began at 7 p.m. Monday, but when the presidential straw polls occurred depending on each of the 1,657 precincts order of business.

Kaufmann said the early calls of Trumps victory interfere with the caucuses because, unlike an election, at a caucus, participants hear from speakers and could be swayed to change their mind before making their choice.

One of the key differences between the Iowa caucus and a standard primary election is that Iowans have the chance to listen to presidential candidates or their surrogates and deliberate to make an informed decision, Kaufmann said in his statement. There was no need to rush one of the most transparent, grassroots democratic processes in the country.

Spokespeople for multiple national organizations who made the early call for Trump said they were told by the state party that voting would take place by 7:20 p.m. local time, 10 minutes before the networks called Trump the winner.

NBC News Chuck Todd said the same on the air on Monday night.

And what the state party told us is that doors open at seven and the voting begins at about 7:20. So look, there was some folks that thought, OK, well call it at 7:20. I was like, No, you should give people (time) as the voting begins, then that means youre gonna have that conversation, Todd said, according to a transcript of his remarks provided by NBC. So we decided not to even look at calling the race until at least the bottom of the hour, because according to the state party, voting should have already begun. Because we were mindful of this.

CNN said it had enough information to make the call at 7 p.m., but held off until after the caucuses were underway and the state party began reporting official results.

Photos: The 2024 Iowa caucuses
The Spearfish Fire Department quickly knocked down a vehicle fire Tuesday afternoon on Christensen Drive in Spearfish.

Multiple calls reporting a vehicle on fire came in around 12:25 p.m., and once on scene, firefighters found a 1995 Chevrolet K1500 fully engulfed. It had reportedly been started, after which the cabin began to fill with smoke.

Spearfish Fire Department Deputy Chief Brian Ziegler explained traffic was reduced to a single lane on Christensen Drive for a short time during suppression activities, there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Id like to thank the volunteer firefighters for all their hard work and dedication to the department and our community, he said. These cold snaps cause an increase in call volume, and our volunteers step up to take care of what needs to be done.

Ziegler reminded motorists when driving and coming across emergency vehicles with flashing lights along the roadway to please slow down, pay attention to the road, and follow directions from traffic control, especially with less than desirable road conditions.
West Plains Engineering, an engineering consulting firm in Rapid City, has announced that Marty Christensen has been appointed as the companys new president.

Doug Feterl, president since 2014  who has spent 32 years with West Plains Engineering  will step down as president before the end of the month.

Feterl was one of the first people hired when West Plains Engineering was founded in 1984, helping guide the firm through decades of expansion, increasing employment to more than 50 employees across four regional offices, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

It has been a privilege to serve and support our organization, clients and facility owners, Feterl said in the statement, Ive worked with a talented group at WPE and am proud of the many accomplishments weve made.

Christensen joined the firm as a mechanical designer in 1994 and was promoted several times throughout his career, most recently as firm-wide building services division manager.

I am honored and humbled to accept the responsibility of leading West Plains Engineering into its next chapter, Christensen said. Im aware these are some big shoes to step into and am committed to continue fostering an environment for collaboration, innovation, and unwavering dedication to our staff and clients. Together, we will continue to build on the legacy of success that defines our company.

As Feterl hands the reins over to Christensen, he looks forward to the next part of life, and also put his full support behind WPEs new leadership.

This isnt an end for me, just a new chapter, Feterl said, and I know this leadership transition will maintain the confidence of our clients and owners.

West Plains Engineering specializes in the design of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and power systems for all types of building environments, with offices in Rapid City and Sioux Falls; Casper, Wyoming; and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Numerous school staff at districts across Montana, including Hamilton and Victor School Districts, have reported receiving an email threat Tuesday night.

The threat is not believed to be credible. The Hamilton School District announced Wednesday morning that it plans to continue with its regular school schedule at this time.

"Hamilton School District is aware of a threat made by email that was sent to numerous individuals, including staff of school districts across Montana on Tuesday evening, said Tom Korst, Hamilton School Superintendent in a statement released Wednesday morning. Several district staff also received the email. We are in communication with our partners in law enforcement, and Hamilton School District plans to continue with our regular school schedule at this time.

The District said they would continue to work with law enforcement.

As always, we will continue to communicate with law enforcement to guide our response in the event of any threat to our school community, the statement read. The safety of our schools, students, and staff is our first priority. In the event of any developments in this matter, additional information will be posted on the HSD3 website and social media.

Victor School Superintendent Diane Woodard sent a message to parents and posted a statement to the Victor School website in response to the email threat:

Victor School District is aware of a threat made by email that was sent to numerous individuals, including staff and School Board Members of school districts in Montana on Tuesday evening. We are in communication with our partners in law enforcement. This threat is not believed to be credible, and Victor School District plans to continue with our regular school schedule at this time.

An updated statement Wednesday morning read:

The administration met with law enforcement early this morning and we will continue with our school plan, to be in session on January 17th, 2024. We will have an increased presence of law enforcement around the school. We will also have our counselor available to support staff and students as needed. We continue to keep the school community at the forefront of all of our decisions. If anything more develops in this situation we will communicate on all platforms to notify the public quickly.

Schools in Missoula, Dillon, Kalispell, Bozeman and Jefferson County have reported receiving similar threats.

Corvallis School District sent out a robocall on Wednesday morning stating:

"Corvallis School District is aware of a threat has been sent to numerous schools across Montana on Tuesday evening, the message said. We are in communication with law enforcement. The threat is not believed to be credible and the Corvallis School District plans to continue with our regular school schedule at this time. We will continue to work with law enforcement to guide our response in the event of any threat. In the event of further developments in this matter, information will be communicated to parents, families and the Corvallis community. Thank you.

Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton said his office has been in communication with the All Threats Intelligence Center, and does not find the threat to be credible.

We've been in touch with the Montana All Threats Intelligence Center last night, Holton said Wednesday morning. We have absolutely no credible information that that it's a real threat. It's part of a larger ongoing email threat system has been going on for about a month now. For credible threats we've got plans and policies in effect that that we're ready to institute anytime.
The trustees for the Bitterroot Valley Community College (BVCC) District announced on Tuesday their intent to run a 1.5 mill levy on the May ballot.

The mill levy would have a four-year duration and raise an estimated $197,000 per year for the district, according to a statement released on Tuesday. The approximate annual property tax impact per year will be $2.03 for a home with an assessed home market value of $100,000, $6.08 for a home value of $300,000, and $12.15 for a home value of $600,000.

The 1.5 mill levy is the minimum amount required by the state Legislature to secure state funding for the college, and would be used to cover operating costs.

The move comes after a 9.5 mill levy for the BVCC failed in the spring of 2022.

Feedback from our district residents who voted against the levy was very clear, explained Carrie Guarino, BVCC trustees chairperson. The levy was set too high, the permanent status of the levy did not allow future evaluation by voters, and the ongoing confusion between BVCC and UM Bitterroot [formerly Bitterroot College] made it difficult for the voters to know exactly what they were voting about.

With the failure of the 2022 levy, BVCC was not eligible for allocated state funding available to independent community colleges in Montana. Without funding, BVCC is not fully operational, with the exception of the Veterans Upward Bound program currently offered for local veterans.

In fall 2024, the state of Montana begins its next biennial budget process for fiscal years 2025-27. The budget under discussion will start in fall 2025 and extend through spring 2027. Having a levy approved in spring 2024 will allow BVCC to be eligible for state funding allocated to the community colleges in Montana during the next biennial legislative budget session.

Believe me, we wish we didnt have to a run a levy this year, said Jean Butler, vice-chairperson of the trustees. The timing of the budget session was the deciding factor. If not now, BVCC would have to wait until the next round of budget deliberations in fall 2027. We are eager to begin providing the robust workforce training, general education courses and lifelong learning experiences that our local community told us it wants and deserves.

The BVCC District was officially established in spring 2021 by the Montana Legislature and includes the communities of Lone Rock, Stevensville, Victor, Corvallis, Hamilton, Darby and Sula. Since the town of Florence falls within both Ravalli and Missoula counties, it could not be considered; however, Florence could consider a future ballot of its own, asking residents to join the BVCC District.

BVCC is the fourth independent community college in the state of Montana, joining Flathead Valley Community College, Miles Community College and Dawson Community College. Each community college is independently managed and controlled by a board of trustees who are local residents elected by fellow residents within each specific district.

Passing this levy will give BVCC the start-up funds required to offer courses and training that is needed and wanted, said Sue Smith, secretary of the trustees. This is a levy vote for the future  the future of workforce and educational training in the Bitterroot Valley for valley residents. Our students will become a local resource of essential workers, employers and taxpayers from the Bitterroot Valley who will remain here and enhance our local economy.

UPDATED: A previous version of this story stated that the trustees for the Bitterroot Valley Community College (BVCC) District announced their intent to run a $1.5 million mill levy on the May ballot. The story should have stated that the trustees for the BVCC intend to run a 1.5 mill levy. If the 1.5 mill levy is passed, it will raise approximately $197,000 per year over the four-year duration of the levy, not $1.5 million dollars. The Ravalli Republic regrets the error.
Belarus, closely aligned with Russia, has announced its intention to introduce a novel military doctrine, marking the first time the country has incorporated provisions for the deployment of nuclear weapons.

The announcement comes from Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin during a meeting of Belarus' Security Council, as per to Fox News.

Belarus Mulls Nuclear Doctrine

Last year, Russia dispatched tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, though specific details about the quantity remain undisclosed. Russia has explicitly stated its intention to retain control over these weapons, designed for battlefield applications with limited ranges and relatively lower yields.

The implications of Belarus' new military doctrine concerning the Russian-deployed nuclear weapons are yet to be clearly defined. Khrenin emphasized, "We clearly communicate Belarus' views on the use of tactical nuclear weapons stationed on our territory. A new chapter has appeared, where we clearly define our allied obligations to our allies."

The proposed doctrine is slated for consideration and approval by the All-Belarusian People's Assembly, a representative body operating concurrently with the country's parliament. This move underscores Belarus' commitment to articulating its stance on the use of nuclear capabilities within its borders.

Russia's utilization of Belarus as a strategic base for sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022 has been a pivotal geopolitical event. Notably, Belarusian forces did not actively participate in the conflict, while Russian military bases and weaponry have since been maintained in Belarus.

Alexander Volfovich, the Security Council Secretary, shed light on the purpose behind the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus, citing the need to deter potential aggression from Poland, a NATO member. He expressed regret over statements from neighboring countries, particularly Poland, as a driving force compelling Belarus to fortify its military doctrine, according to Stars and Stripes.

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Belarus Military Doctrine Scrutinized for Nuclear Concerns

Simultaneously, the Belarusian military doctrine will undergo scrutiny and potential ratification by the All-Belarusian People's Assembly, emphasizing its democratic approval process. Defense Minister Khrenin reiterated Belarus' clear stance on the use of nuclear weapons on its soil, emphasizing the inclusion of specific allied obligations in the updated doctrine.

The backdrop for these developments includes Russia's strategic placement of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, the details of which remain undisclosed. The intended purpose of these weapons, coupled with Russia's control over them, raises questions about how Belarus' new military doctrine will navigate the existing geopolitical landscape.

The strategic importance of Belarus in Russia's military operations, exemplified by its role in the Ukraine conflict, remains a focal point in discussions surrounding the country's security policies. The ongoing war in Ukraine, in which Belarus did not actively engage, adds complexity to the dynamics of regional security.

As Belarus takes this unprecedented step in shaping its military doctrine to include provisions for nuclear weapons, the international community closely watches how these developments may impact the delicate balance of power in Eastern Europe. The proposed doctrine, once approved, will set a new precedent for Belarus' stance on security matters, particularly in the context of its alliance with Russia and the broader geopolitical implications of nuclear capabilities, The Messenger reported.

Related Article: Germany Prepares for Putin's Plan To Attack NATO in 2025, Leaked Secret War Document Reveals
A Helena man who pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of threatening to conduct a bombing and shooting at Helena High School still faces state charges, officials said.

The state trial of Logan Sea Pallister, 25, is now scheduled for April 15, Lewis and Clark County Attorney Kevin Downs said Wednesday.

Pallister faces six charges of two felony counts of intimidation, one felony count of possession of explosives, felony possession of a silencer, misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor sexual assault. A state-administered evaluation determined Pallister to be fit for trial.

His bond was set for $750,000, according to court documents in October.

He was arrested on May 31, 2022, at his residence after an individual he threatened to kill if they told anyone contacted authorities about a bomb he had shown them.

He was walking toward his car from his residence, wearing a black trench coat and carrying a bag. His vehicle was searched at the time of his arrest, where authorities found ammunition with multiple firearms and semi-automatic rifles that had threading for an illegally possessed silencer made from an oil filter.

Inside his vehicle, authorities also found a catalog that sold equipment to make semi-automatic rifles shoot faster.

Pallister was found in possession of multiple homemade bombs.

He appeared Tuesday before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris in Great Falls and pleaded guilty to the possession of unregistered destructive devices and to the possession of an unregistered silencer.

Pallister faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each charge at his May 22 sentencing.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the court will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
As campaign season picks up, Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte announced in a Tuesday press release he is running for reelection.

The announcement was first reported by KTVH.

"When you elected me as your governor, it was to bring accountability to Helena and get real results for Montanans. Each and every day, Ive worked hard to do just that. Over the last three years, weve accomplished a lot together to create good-paying Montana jobs, expand opportunities for Montanans, and protect our Montana way of life, Gianforte said in the press release. Theres still work to do, as we build on what weve done. Serving as your governor has been the honor of my life, and today I humbly ask for your support to serve another term.

Gianforte's running mate will again be Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras, an attorney from Great Falls.

Gianforte will face a primary challenger in state Rep. Tanner Smith, R-Lakeside, who said he intends to run. In the general election, Gianforte could face off against Democratic activist Ryan Busse, who has announced his campaign. None of the presumptive candidates have officially filed with the secretary of state.

Gianforte assumed office when the COVID-19 pandemic was still raging and governors ascended to a new level of political leadership nationwide. During that time, his administration oversaw the allocation of millions of dollars in federal assistance funds, as well as the dissemination of vaccines. He also launched task forces meant to address skyrocketing property taxes and a crunch in affordable housing. Also in response to rising property taxes in certain parts of the state, Gianforte worked with Republicans in the Legislature to dole out up to $1,350 in property tax rebates to Montana homeowners, which was a historic investment, but one that some say did not do enough to make taxpayers whole.

The governor has also continued to make headlines from his pushback against the right-to-know in multiple arenas: His administration is being sued for blocking access to public records and the governor vetoed a bill that said state agencies cant deny records requests because of ongoing litigation. In his veto letter, Gianforte reasoned that the legislation encourages trial lawyers with deep pockets to abuse the Right to Know, giving them an unfair advantage. His veto was overridden with a two-thirds majority of the Legislature.

This will be the governor's third campaign for the seat. In 2016, he lost to former Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democratic incumbent. After that, he went on to serve in the U.S. House and later prevailed in the 2020 gubernatorial race by nearly 13 percentage points.

Gianforte has lived in Bozeman for over two decades. As a technology entrepreneur in the Gallatin Valley, Gianforte sold RightNow Technologies, a tech company he founded in Bozeman, to Oracle for about $1.8 billion in 2012.

The campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
By Jennifer Hicks





The recent disturbing surge in the 'India Out' movement in Bangladesh, spearheaded by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is reminiscent of the Maldives' analogous campaign that strained relations with India. As the largest opposition party in Bangladesh, the BNP's decision to launch such a movement, coupled with its historical roots in anti-India sentiments, raises serious concerns about the potential consequences.





The Maldives' recent 'India Out' movement, driven by a desire for closer ties with China and a perceived infringement on the nation's independence, has set a concerning precedent. President Mohamed Muizzu's anti-India sentiment and the derogatory comments made by Maldivian government ministers about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have strained diplomatic relations. The Maldives' actions serve as a backdrop to the emerging 'India Out' movement initiated by the BNP.





In the wake of global accusations branding the BNP as ultra-Islamist and designating it a Tier-III terrorist organization by US courts, the party launched the 'India Out' movement. Slogans such as "India is not a friend of Bangladesh" and "India is destroying Bangladesh" have emerged, with online activists attempting to incite anti-India sentiment not only within Bangladesh but also extending their reach to Nepal through social media platforms.





Reports suggest that the orchestrator of the 'India Out' movement is Tarique Rahman, the convicted terrorist and acting chairman of the BNP, who operates from London. Rahman allegedly instructed party members to replicate the anti-India movement observed in the Maldives, further fueling anti-Hindu and anti-Indian sentiments in Bangladesh. The cyber wing of the BNP has begun spreading hatred through social media, with specific instances identified on platforms like Twitter.





Commenting on BNP's fresh move promoting anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh, a section of Dhaka-based newspapers says:





Sitting in London, convicted terrorist and acting chairman of BNP, Tarique Rahman has instructed BNP leaders and activists to launch an anti-India movement in Bangladesh xeroxing that of Maldives and incite anti-Hindu and anti-India sentiment in the country. Accordingly, members of the cyber wing of the party have started spreading anti-Hindu and anti-India hatred through social media platforms. One such notorious act of a BNP activist has been identified on X (former Twitter) platform where the account is continuously spreading anti-Hindu and anti-India hatred.





Commenting on the tweet in the above-mentioned account, BNP activists are saying  "India has never been a friend of Bangladesh; not even in 1971, when they looted the valuables and taken away across the border", "Indian products boycott should be announced as soon as possible", etcetera, while some of the commentators are indirectly indicating arson attack on Hindus and those trading houses dealing in Indian products.





In one post, a BNP activist on X wrote: "There you go  anyone criticising or boycotting India is tagged as Jihadists or Islamic extremists whereas India is the hotspot for Hindu extremists. For ages India has applied this policy to their critics in the subcontinent and at present Maldives is no different".





It further said, "as part of its anti-India notoriety, BNP leader Tarique Rahman has reportedly instructed several members of the party to establish contacts with Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi, chief of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and provide them financial support in exchange for terrorist attacks inside India targeting key-point installations, media houses and offices of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)".





It may be mentioned here that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party was founded in 1978 by military ruler Maj Gen Ziaur Rahman in the aftermath of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's assassination in 1975. Trained in Pakistan and harboring deep hostility towards India, Gen Zia aimed to advance anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiment in Bangladesh, aligning the nation with a pseudo-Pakistani identity.





Gen Ziaur Rahman, trained in the Pakistan Military Academy, was decorated for his role in the Second Kashmir War against the Indian Army. As a diehard opponent of India, he steered Bangladesh's foreign policy away from India and the Soviet bloc, strengthening ties with the United States, Western Europe, and Islamic nations. Zia pursued an agenda of Islamization, amending the constitution to emphasize Islamic solidarity among Muslim countries and introducing Islamic religious education as a compulsory subject.





Ziaur Rahman believed that a significant portion of Bangladesh's population was grappling with an identity crisis and sought to address this through re-Islamization. He amended the constitution, introducing Islamic salutations and emphasizing trust in Almighty Allah. The introduction of Islamic religious education as a compulsory subject further reflected Zia's move toward an Islamic state policy.





Ziaur Rahman's policies had lasting effects on Bangladesh's identity and foreign relations. The BNP, founded under his influence, continued to harbor anti-India sentiments and actively worked towards advancing an anti-Hindu narrative. The party's recent 'India Out' movement is seen as a manifestation of these deep-seated sentiments.





The foundation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1978 was a response to the political landscape shaped by the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. Maj Gen Ziaur Rahman, the military ruler at the time, was trained in Pakistan and harbored a deep-seated hostility towards India. His goal in establishing the BNP was to advance an anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiment in Bangladesh, aligning the nation with a pseudo-Pakistani identity.





Military ruler Maj Gen Ziaur Rahman began reorienting Bangladesh's foreign policy, addressing concerns among right-wing factions that believed the country was overly reliant on Indian economic and military aid. He moved away from India and the Soviet bloc, developing closer relations with the United States, Western Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Gen Zia also sought to normalize relations with Pakistan, against which Bangladesh fought its liberation war.





Ziaur Rahman believed that a significant portion of the population in Bangladesh was grappling with an identity crisis and aimed to remedy this through re-Islamization. He issued a proclamation order amending the constitution, emphasizing Islamic solidarity among Muslim countries and introducing Islamic religious education as a compulsory subject for Muslim schoolchildren.





In public speeches and policies, Gen Zia began expounding ultra-Islamist and anti-India "Bangladesh Nationalism." He amended the constitution to change the nationality of citizens from Bengali, an ethnic identity, to Bangladeshi. Notably, Bangladeshi nationalism under Zia excluded the country's non-Muslim minorities, particularly the Hindu community.





The recent 'India Out' movement initiated by the BNP should be viewed as a continuation of historical sentiments deeply embedded in the party's foundation. With roots in anti-India and anti-Hindu ideologies, the BNP has consistently worked towards nurturing these sentiments in Bangladesh. The current movement represents a manifestation of these deep-seated animosities.





The 'India Out' movement, driven by millions of BNP supporters inclined towards jihadism and anti-Hindu sentiments, poses a serious security threat to the entire region. The historical alignment of the BNP with anti-India ideologies and its potential to mobilize supporters warrant immediate attention from key policymakers in Dhaka and New Delhi.





Bangladesh Nationalist Party's 'India Out' movement is not merely a contemporary development but is deeply rooted in the historical narrative of the party's foundation and its subsequent alignment with anti-India sentiments. As the BNP seeks to replicate the Maldives' approach, key policymakers must not underestimate the potential consequences. The movement, driven by historical animosity and ideological underpinnings, could escalate tensions in the region and jeopardize diplomatic relations.





Understanding the historical context is crucial for policymakers to formulate an effective response that addresses the root causes and mitigates the potential fallout of the 'India Out' movement. In a world where regional stability is paramount, addressing these historical sentiments is essential for fostering lasting peace and cooperation.





The launch of the 'India Out' movement by the BNP holds significant implications for the region. With millions of BNP supporters inclined towards jihadism and anti-Hindu sentiments, the movement could pose a serious security threat to the region  particularly India. BNP's historical alignment with anti-India ideologies, coupled with the potential mobilization of its supporters, warrants serious consideration by key policymakers in Dhaka and New Delhi.




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Sapporo is celebrating the Year of the Dragon with a limited-edition, artist-designed six-pack.

The Year of the Dragon six-pack was designed by artist Tokyo Hiro and is now available for sale at the Richmond taproom for Stone Brewing at 4300 Williamsburg Ave.

Hiro is known as a tattoo artist and for designing album covers for bands such as Bad Religion, The Offspring and Motley Crue.

The Sapporo Year of the Dragon six-pack features two dragons flowing around the package and the Sapporo can.

The open mouth on one dragon wards off evil spirits while the closed mouth of the other keeps good spirits in. The two together are representative of the end and beginning of the New Year, Sapporo said in a statement.

In 2022, Sapporo acquired Stone Brewing  with its Richmond and California breweries  for $165 million as the home base for its U.S.-based brewing operations.

The Richmond branch is currently undergoing $33 million in capital upgrades at Stone. Once fully operational, the Richmond side will make about 50% of the companys total domestic output.

Part of the estimated $33 million of capital upgrades at Stone is a new canning line for Sapporos iconic 22-ounce chalice can, all of which will be made only in Richmond.

The beer in the 12-ounce cans in the Year of the Dragon six pack has mostly been brewed in Richmond. A very small quantity was not, but as of Feb. 1, all beers filled in those six packs will have been brewed in Richmond or California.

The Japanese companys goal by the end of this process is for its beers to be made in the U.S. for the countrys market, where they will be fresher when hitting shelves and bars across the country.

Lunar New Year is Feb. 10. The Year of the Dragon symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck and success. It is believed to usher in a year of opportunities, changes and challenges.

Sapporo is the oldest beer of Japan and the top-selling Japanese beer in the U.S.

PHOTOS: Stone Brewing in Richmond
Shawn Jackson, the Huguenot High School student shot and killed after the school's graduation June 6, participated in the ceremony without the school principals authorization and without consideration of safety concerns that were known by several school staff members, according to the Richmond School Boards newly released report into the fatal shooting outside the Altria Theater.

On Wednesday the school board released the report on the order of a Richmond circuit court judge. The Richmond Times-Dispatch, WTVR-TV and transparency activist Joshua Stanfield sued the school board to force it to release the results of the investigation that it paid a law firm to conduct.

Jackson, 18, and his stepfather Renzo Smith, 36, were shot and killed and five others were wounded in the shooting. One suspect, Amari Pollard, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and with a firearms charge.

Jacksons mother, Tameeka Jackson-Smith, did not contribute to the report.

Jackson was on Homebound instruction, and the RPS home instruction handbook prohibits such students from participating in school-sponsored activities without the authorization of the school principal or his designee, according to the report, conducted by Sands Anderson, a Richmond-based law firm.

Despite this prohibition the Student in this case did participate in graduation without authorization from the HHS principal, Robert Gilstrap, according to the report. No information was provided that supported the proposition that Mr. Gilstrap authorized a designee to make that decision.

Jackson-Smith said Wednesday in an interview with The Times-Dispatch: If they felt like he wasnt supposed to be there, they should have let us know ... If he earned his grades, and he earned his credits, why was he not supposed to be there?

School system staff members had varying understandings as to whether the Homebound policy was a requirement or mere guidance.

Numerous staff members interviewed for the review advised that prior to the graduation they were aware of safety and security issues surrounding the Student, the report says, referring to Jackson.

The report says that on June 8, 2022, via email, Jacksons mother advised a school counselor and the schools principal, and copied RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras, that we are still homeless from our home being shot up by students in Huguenot.

Jackson-Smith said Wednesday that the familys home was shot at twice. She said she thinks the shooters were targeting her son because of his association with a suspect in a different shooting.

She recalled one bullet coming through the familys window right where her daughter, Rennyah, had been playing.

He was a good kid but he got caught up in the wrong crowd, Jackson-Smith said of her son.

Jackson-Smith emailed her sons school counselor, Monique Harris, on Feb. 2, 2023, saying that her son was placed in class to take a test with people who literally tried to kill him... Those kids could have had somebody in the parking lot waiting to follow him or anything, according to the report.

It was one of several instances in which Harris learned of threats against Jackson, according to the report, which says Harris did not initiate a threat assessment as school system policy requires in such circumstances.

The Altria refused to cooperate with Sands Anderson, according to the report.

Jackson did not participate in rehearsals for the graduation ceremony, according to the report, and his mother asked Harris a few days before the ceremony if her son could participate in the ceremony. Harris responded via email, I will just squeeze him in if you feel that (graduation practice is) too dangerous.

He was so excited, he really wanted to graduate, Jackson-Smith said.

RPS previously conducted its own internal investigation into the shooting. That report, which school board members received in July, concluded that Harris had acted as the principals designee to authorize Jacksons participation in the ceremony. The newly released external report says Harris repeatedly and explicitly advised that she did not engage in any discussions with then-Principal Gilstrap or other leadership about the issue.

As principal of Huguenot High during the 2022-2023 academic year, Gilstrap had ultimate responsibility for all activities and processes in the school building. Gilstrap was supervised by a principal director, but that position was vacant for most of the school year. Solomon Jefferson, the school systems chief academic officer who assumed those responsibilities, described Gilstrap in the report as checked-out and looking for another job.

Gilstrap declined to be interviewed for the external report. On Aug. 1, 2023, the state education department hired him as the assistant superintendent of educator preparation with an annual salary of $150,000.

According to the school divisions threat assessment handbook, school officials are required to report to higher-ups any communication or behavior that indicates an individual may pose danger to the safety of school students or staff through acts of violence or other behavior that would cause harm to self or others.

Although Harris, Gilstrap and other staff members were aware of safety concerns related to Jackson, the report did not identify any vetting of the security considerations.

School Board member Kenya Gibson, one of two board members who voted in favor of releasing the report, said Wednesday: The public can now fully comprehend where the district has failed. There has been a pattern with administration not following basic safety procedures.

These missteps have led to emergencies in escalating magnitude. We cant allow this to continue, Gibson added.

When Fox Elementary School burned down we learned the alarms didnt work. When the bus depot burned we learned there were no smoke detectors. We had security issues when there was a school shooting months before the graduation. After those events, I called for the board to hire a safety auditor to monitor compliance with protocols. I hope my colleagues can now agree that position is necessary, and I hope they will support funding it.

In response to the public records requests seeking the reports release, the school board had cited an attorney-client privilege exemption in Virginias public records law. Richmond Circuit Court Judge W. Reilly Marchant ruled Tuesday that, with few exceptions, the exemption did not apply to the 32-page report.

In a statement Wednesday, top Richmond schools officials said they welcome the reports release.

Our shared commitment is to learn from this tragedy and continue to improve in order to further safeguard our students and staff, said the statement, signed by School Board Chair Stephanie Rizzi, Vice Chair Elizabeth Doerr and Kamras.

The officials said RPS has already taken several steps, including updating our policies about who can authorize students to participate in a graduation ceremony, revising our security protocols for all student events (including graduations), and investing millions in updated security infrastructure, including cameras, access control systems, metal detectors, intercoms, digital school maps for first responders, and more.

School board member Jonathan Young, who represents the 4th District, which includes Huguenot, had advocated for the reports release.

The report shows there were personnel failures, there were policy failures, there were operational failures, Young said Wednesday.

Its very evident in reviewing the report that we put peoples lives in jeopardy.
The Richmond School Board must release the investigation it commissioned into last summers shooting outside the Altria Theater following Huguenot High Schools graduation, a circuit court judge ruled Tuesday afternoon.

The board has not released the report since its completion in November, when the boards nine members were allowed to read it.

In response to public records requests, the board cited an attorney-client privilege exemption in Virginia public records law.

In Tuesdays decision, Richmond Circuit Court Judge W. Reilly Marchant said the exemption mostly did not apply to the 32-page report.

The court finds that the School Board has failed to carry its burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the entire Report and its Exhibits are protected from disclosure under the attorney-client privilege as established by Virginia Code, Marchant wrote in his decision.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch sued the school board to force it to release the results of the investigation that it paid a law firm to conduct into the June 6 shooting outside the theater after the Huguenot graduation. Shawn Jackson, 18, and his stepfather Renzo Smith, 36, were fatally shot. Five others were wounded.

One suspect, Amari Pollard, has been charged in connection to the shooting.

Marchants explanation heavily weighs the school boards original request for the investigation, which was formalized in a resolution that board member Shonda Harris-Muhammed proposed on Aug. 14.

Clearly nothing within the four corners of the 8/14/2023 resolution sought legal advice, wrote Marchant.

Marchant said he will allow for some redactions to the 32-page report. The school board can redact several minimal parts of the Report that do constitute legal advice, the details of which were sent to the board in a confidential addendum.

His order requires that the school board release the report with those redactions by 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

The report by Sands Anderson, a Richmond-based law firm, contains details about whether the school was in compliance with its own policies and procedures in the events that led up to the shooting.

Jackson, still wearing his graduation gown, was shot and killed shortly after receiving his diploma. He had been on a Homebound study program that prevented him from attending school in-person and required he complete coursework online. An exception was made for his graduation by Richmond Public Schools.

The judge heard arguments for and against releasing the report Friday in Richmond Circuit Court. The hearing ended with Marchant deciding to view the report himself before ruling.

A lawyer for the school board, John Cafferky, proposed that Sands Andersons investigation was always meant to be confidential.

Inherent in their work is, were these policies complied with?  Cafferky said to Marchant in his closing argument. We submit that that is a legal analysis.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued that what the school board requested was a fact-finding mission.

No witness came into here today and told you there was any legal advice, said David Lacy, who represents The Times-Dispatch. In matters of FOIA law, the tie goes to the runner.

School Board member Jonathan Young, who represents the 4th District, issued a statement shortly after Marchants decision was made public.

Fortunately the judge has more wisdom than the School Board, said Young. RPS stakeholders have a right to know how their school district failed them culminating in the shooting.

The report was led by Sands Anderson attorney Pamela OBerry, who previously was a judge in Chesterfield County.

Its not yet clear what the report will include.

OBerry was told by the board to focus only on the school districts operations, and not on the criminal case.

In court, OBerry said she interviewed 26 people familiar with the shooting, most of whom were employees of the school district. She only had access to records and personnel within the school district.

OBerrys report excluded video, documents or other records law enforcement collected, such as footage from CCTV cameras outside the Altria Theater.

In his ruling, the judge said, At the time of consideration of the motion for the resolution, Dr. Harris-Muhammed stated multiple times that the third-party investigation would be about operations of RPS and not about any particular family, the Commonwealth attorney, or RPD. She reiterated that it had nothing to do with the criminal case.

School Superintendent Jason Kamras indicated in court that those records existed, but were not available to OBerry.

Kamras said he and School Board chair Stephanie Rizzi, who represents the 5th District, welcome the release of the report and will have a full statement tomorrow.

Ashley Pollard, Amari Pollards mother, attended most of the hearing alongside the familys lawyer, Jason Anthony. Pollard stands charged with one count of first-degree murder and an associated firearm felony.

Pollard has not been charged in the wounding of five other graduation attendees or for the killing of Renzo Smith.

Anthony said he believes the Sands Anderson report will be key in his clients trial, which is slated to begin on Feb. 26.
Tranelle Pollard stepped into the auditorium at Dogwood Middle School on Wednesday morning to a sudden eruption of applause and cheer from the room filled with students. It was then that she knew she had been named Richmond Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

Principal Christopher Jacobs had just told the students why they had been filed into the auditorium moments earlier. He said it at a whisper, in order to preserve the surprise for Pollard.

Visible shock on Pollards face as she walked into the raucous room appeared to signal that the amazement was a success.

I was not expecting this at all, Pollard said. RPS has phenomenal teachers, so to be considered in the top, that was truly an honor, and I was blown away this morning ... I was totally shocked.

Pollard is the lead counselor at Dogwood Middle School. Her job involves daily work in the lives of the schools students  an age of development where emotions can become more intense. She helps with social and emotional learning, academic guidance and career guidance.

Everyone has a person in their life that they can depend on to help them get through the tough times, Principal Jacobs said. (Pollard) is that person that helps many middle schoolers  understands why its important to get in and be around scholars that think like you, feel like you, share the ideas that you do. She helps them through adversity providing them with life experiences and stories to help them understand and collaborate with their peers and get through middle school.

Those students, Pollard said, are her driving force.

The students keep me going, Pollard said. Whether its a smile when they come in, a frown, a high five, even a little dance, the students keep me going. And, my faith.

Pollard was born and raised in Richmond. That includes having been brought up through RPS. Before herself moving through Dogwood Middle School  then called Binford Middle School  she went to Overby-Sheppard Elementary. It was there she decided she wanted to become an educator. Pollard later graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, where many of the Dogwood students will go next.

RPS made me who I am. I had the best educators, the best, Pollard said. I still remember all of my teachers by name, and that says a lot. The phenomenal educators are what has made me stay at RPS, and I believe in giving back to the community where you were born and raised.

The accolade Teacher of the Year means that Pollard will now be considered for the Central Virginia Teacher of the Year, with the chance to later be up for Virginia Teacher of the Year, and later National Teacher of the Year.

She represents the very best of our educators across RPS, and I hope you all feel very lucky and very blessed to have her working with you every day, Superintendent Jason Kamras said.

PHOTOS: Richmond teacher of the year 2024
As part of ongoing efforts to prevent and investigate human trafficking in Virginia, the Virginia State Police on Wednesday drew attention to its text message tip line and web form, which can be used by victims and witnesses to report human trafficking to law enforcement.

Police on Wednesday reminded victims and witnesses that they can submit anonymous tips by texting VSP to 847411, or by accessing the tip411 web portal on the VSP website.

The emphasis on the tip line and web portal came as police announced a successful undercover operation that resulted in multiple arrests connected to human trafficking and sex crimes in Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties.

Police said the Virginia Capital Area Human Trafficking Task Force in December arrested eight people in Chesterfield, five in Hanover and three in Henrico on charges of keeping or frequenting a bawdy place, prostitution and solicitation.

A VSP spokesperson said the operation, which was conducted jointly by state police and local law enforcement agencies, also aimed to identify and aid potential victims of human trafficking ... and connect them with available support services and resources.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics at the Department of Justice in October reported that 2,027 people were referred to prosecutors for human trafficking offenses nationwide in 2021, the most recent year for which national data is available. That figure marked a 45% increase over the last decade.

In Virginia, there were 140 cases of human trafficking involving 179 victims in 2021, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Indicators that a person may be a victim of human trafficking include dramatic changes in behavior and lifestyle, sudden withdrawal from community and absence from events, signs of physical or mental abuse and unsuitable living conditions, among others.

Assistance from the public is vital in successfully executing operations like the one that occurred in December, police said.

VSP Superintendent Col. Gary Settle said law enforcement depends on the public for help in identifying victims of human trafficking, and that the tip line and web form are key parts of that process.

The public plays a crucial role, Settle said. We especially want those being trafficked to come forward and use ... these tools to secure your freedom and safety.

It is an opportunity to take back control of your life.

5 hidden gem restaurants in Richmond
Virginia legislators on both sides of the aisle are working together to pass legislation that aims to improve youth mental health.

Virginia students, especially females, reported disconcertingly high levels of mental health issues during the pandemic, according to a late 2022 report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

The prevalence of serious mental illness among Virginias youth has grown faster than the rest of the nation, on average. The estimated prevalence of severe major depressive episodes among Virginias youth increased from 7% to 16% between 2011 and 2020. Some of the increase might be explained by a growing willingness to seek mental health services because of better societal awareness of mental illness, according to the report, but there is some evidence that the actual prevalence is increasing.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin, along with a bipartisan group of legislators, have made recommendations that, if passed, would revamp the commonwealths behavioral health system by adding more school-based mental health programs and putting more money toward crisis response programs.

The challenges that we face in our schools are deep and pervasive, said Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, at a press conference Tuesday.

You can look at many different reasons why that is, but theyre the socio-economics, the lack of emphasis on social-emotional growth and development, the rise in how addicted we are to social media and maybe our cell phones, and how weve grown away from each other.

Rasoul, new chairman of the House Education Committee, introduced legislation that would allow state psychiatric hospitals to delay admission of anyone under a temporary detention order until the hospital determines that the person doesnt have potentially life-threatening medical needs that require immediate treatment that the state psychiatric hospital cannot provide.

A bill from Del. Michael Feggans, D-Virginia Beach, would decrease the student to school counselor ratio from one counselor for every 325 students, to one counselor for every 250 students. The legislation came before the House K-12 subcommittee on Tuesday morning, which voted unanimously to report and refer the bill to appropriations.

Legislation from Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, would require that emergency services, with respect to an emergency medical condition, include a screening examination by a behavioral health crisis service provider and any further treatment that is required to stabilize the patient. The bill also adds crisis receiving centers to locations that would be covered by health insurance.

Youngkins proposed budget includes $15 million for the school-based mental health integration pilot, $10 million to establish additional comprehensive psychiatric emergency services programs, $10 million to establish additional mobile crisis teams in underserved areas, among other proposed investments.

The new Chesterfield Recovery Academy, Virginias first recovery high school program, is fully funded in Youngkins proposed budget.

But we dont stop there, said Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, just because we have one amazing recovery academy for high school students open to one region. We have a lot more kids throughout the entire Commonwealth that deserve the same opportunity to be in a safe environment, that they can graduate on time, they can have support in their recovery journey, and that whatever goals they have for their future, they can attain.

Lobby Day at the Virginia General Assembly 2024
A Democrat-led Senate panel on Tuesday voted down Republican efforts to scale back early voting and make additional requirements for voting.

I have a feeling youre not gonna be that receptive to it, Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, said with a smile as some members of the crowd chuckled.

As he spoke to the members of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, he defended bills that the panel ultimately defeated on party-line votes of 8-6.

Peakes Senate Bill 42 would have reduced Virginias early voting period from 45 days to three weeks. As Virginia has state or local elections every year, Peake said he is concerned for the workload on local registrars and election staff around the state.

You know who bears the brunt of all of that? Our hardworking registrars and staff, Peake said. This is for them.

Tram Nguyen, co-founder and co-executive director of New Virginia Majority, an organization that advocates for working-class communities of color, said when speaking in opposition, that early voting largely happens during normal operating hours for registrars. She was among representatives from several advocacy groups to speak against the bill.

Peake also pointed out that states like California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington have shorter early voting periods than Virginia. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, these range from 10 to 29 days for the states Peake listed.

These are not bastions of voter suppression, Peake added.

Allegations of attempted voter suppression have simmered against opponents of the expanded voting options Democrats first enacted in 2020 and 2021. Some Republicans have sought to undo or walk back these laws since they were first enacted, though much of the GOP coalesced this past fall around Gov. Glenn Youngkins push for early and absentee voting.

Weighing in on Peakes first bill, Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, the committee chair, said the early voting window makes participating in democracy easier for more Virginians  particularly those who are working 40-plus hours a week.

Peakes Senate Bill 92 would have still allowed for same-day registration for voters, but restrict it from happening on election day. The current law fostered a surge of election-day registrations this past November around college campuses in elections anchored in Williamsburg and Blacksburg. Ultimately, the Republican candidates won in both contests.

The panel also voted down Peakes Senate Bill 32 to require verification of Social Security numbers when registering new voters. It also voted down Peakes Senate Bill 45 to require photo identification be presented when voting. The panel voted to incorporate Peakes bill into Senate Bill 81, introduced by Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland, which it also defeated 8-6.

McGuire said that his bill could restore confidence in state elections.

(Leaders of the state Democratic and Republican parties, Susan Swecker and Rich Anderson, both attended the certification of Virginias 2023 elections to show support for the states electoral process.)

While photo ID is currently accepted in order to vote in Virginia, people can also present alternatives like utility bills or bank statements that contain the address of the voter, according to the Department of Elections.

No one spoke in support of Peakes or McGuires bills Tuesday.

Peake said that he had not invited anyone to speak. Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Chesterfield, a member of the committee, noted that there have been issues with online participation since the legislative session began last week.

National conversations in Virginia

With Democrats controlling both chambers of the legislature, its unlikely efforts to walk back or dramatically change Virginias voting laws will be successful this year. But conversations around early and mail-in voting along with election integrity have percolated nationally in recent years.

Though a newly elected state senator, McGuire has federal ambitions. He is challenging Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, for the districts congressional nomination. This week McGuire skipped some legislative meetings to boost former President Donald Trump in Iowa ahead of Mondays caucuses, in which Trump topped Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

One indictment accuses Trump of conspiring to subvert the 2020 presidential election  which hed lost  by attempting to obstruct the meeting of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021 to count and certify electoral votes. McGuire attended the Stop the Steal rally that day, which he said he did not know would turn violent. McGuire says he did not enter the U.S. Capitol.

As Trump emerged the victor in Mondays Iowa caucus McGuire issued a statement of support along with a photograph from his recent meeting with the former president.

Lets get Trump back in the White House so he can Save America, McGuire wrote.

7 bills to watch in the upcoming Virginia legislative session Raising minimum wage Mental health support Attempts to reverse Clean Car Act Gun laws Rights restoration Reproductive rights
Forrest Austin grabs a stack of firewood from the back of a truck as he and Mickey Taylor sell wood along FM 2920 on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Spring. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Thank you to everyone who conserved electricity on Monday and Tuesday and to those who did not; you owe us one.

Winter Storm Heather will not go down in history like 2021s Winter Storm Uri or 2022s Winter Storm Elliott, a sign the grid operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas has improved. But Texans need to avoid learning the wrong lessons from this success.

When ERCOT called for Texans to conserve electricity, it blamed cold temperatures and lower-than-normal wind power. But thats not the whole story; reducing reliance on renewable energy is not the answer.

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The wind in West Texas was unseasonably low, reducing the electricity produced by those turbines. But wind along the Lower Gulf Coast and South Texas blew like the dickens. The problem was not a lack of power but a lack of transmission lines.

A frozen fountain at the San Antonio Zoo on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Crews work Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, to de-ice planes at the San Antonio International Airport as a deep freeze its the city. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News A customer shops in one of the pipe parts aisles that are fully stocked next to the end caps that previously had pipe insulation, and is now sold out at Cox Hardware & Lumber on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer An employee fixes the winter covering on the planters outside of Houston Centers LyondellBasell Tower in downtown Houston on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

When wholesale electricity was selling for $300 a megawatt hour across most of the state, it was selling for $20 in Corpus Christi and Brownsville. Transmission is the secret sauce to building a reliable grid that does not overheat the planet with greenhouse gas emissions.

An example of the right move is Pattern Energys Southern Spirit transmission line, which is currently hung up by locals in Louisiana. The high-voltage, direct current line would bring nuclear power from the Mississippi to Dallas when needed and allow Texas to export wind and solar when we have extra.

I first wrote about the project in 2017, but its only now getting built, demonstrating the need for permitting reform. The lines will carry direct current, which, along with other factors, will allow the Texas grid to remain outside federal regulation while adding backup power.

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A freeze warning sign is placed outside an apartment complex as temperatures dropped below freezing on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Conroe. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

The oil and natural gas folks argue Texas needs more fossil fuel power plants to avoid another near miss. But thats a sales pitch by people who want to lock in a 40-year supply contract; there are a half-dozen cheaper ways to guarantee reliability.

Batteries provided 1,200 megawatts of backup power, enough for 240,000 homes, during the Tuesday morning crux after winds died down and the sun was still rising, according to ERCOT. That much power could have prevented the cascading blackouts in the first hours of Winter Storm Uri.

Battery operators, many co-located with wind and solar facilities, plan to more than double ERCOTs battery capacity by next winter, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights. Most emergency conditions on the ERCOT grid only last a few hours. Most batteries are good for at least four.

Producing more power only addresses the supply side. Texas can lower demand, too. Texans used 13% less electricity than ERCOT expected Monday morning and 10% less during Tuesdays critical 8 a.m. hour.

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Numerous studies show state building codes make Texas homes among the leakiest, costing homeowners hundreds of dollars a year in unnecessary energy bills. Contractors still install cheap furnaces that use electric heat strips and waste energy.

Requiring more insulation and replacing old furnaces could save enough electricity to reduce the need for new power plants. Not only would the upgrades cost less than natural gas power plants, but they would lower consumer electricity bills for a decade or more.

Implementing these programs from 2024 through 2030 could reduce summer peak loads statewide by about 14,800 megawatts and reduce winter peak loads by about 23,500 megawatts, an American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy report determined.

If given a choice between spending $18 billion on 10,000 megawatts of polluting natural gas power plants or investing $610 million in 23,500 megawatts of energy efficiency that will reduce bills by $13 a month, the choice should be obvious.

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Ryan Hans, manager, pushes a cart of containers of diesel to the Quick Quack Car Wash, 5311 Louetta, for use in heaters to keep the equipment warm Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Spring. He said, this was his fourth trip to the gas station down the street for diesel since yesterday. Each container is five gallons. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

We will always need natural gas power plants for backup, but that dependence remains the biggest threat. No federal or state entity ensures natural gas reliability in Texas, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission warned, and while the industry was on best behavior for Winter Storm Heather, we remain at the mercy of for-profit corporations that face no consequences when they fail.

The Texas Legislature should ban pipeline operators from owning the natural gas in their pipes and order ERCOT to monitor supply in a publicly transparent way. In return, we need a wholesale market that makes owning backup power plants profitable, even though they should operate only a few hundred hours a year.

Texans weathered this winter blast well, but a storm with ice and snow would have been different. Lawmakers must do more before we can sleep confidently, knowing we wont wake up freezing.
Three priority bills that Democrats filed this year have been continued to next year. Proponents say its a good move, however, for supporters of the measures.

The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee on Tuesday put off consideration of resolutions to create three constitutional amendments that would enshrine certain rights  one to protect abortion access, one to remove a prohibition on same-sex marriages from the state constitution, and one to automatically restore rights to felons who have served their prison time.

The measures are Senate Joint Resolutions 1, 2 and 11, respectively.

When protections are put into the states constitution, they are less subject to the shifting powers of the General Assembly. But passing a constitutional amendment requires a multi-year process.

The proposals would have to clear the legislature in two years with an election in the House of Delegates in between before appearing on ballots statewide for voters to approve or reject. If one or more of the proposals clear the entire process, they could take effect in late 2026.

In continuing consideration of the measures until next year, the legislature  in which Democrats will continue to control the House of Delegates and state Senate  will be able to begin advancing the bills ahead of the House elections in 2025.

We are excited that legislators took this first step and are working together to make sure that reproductive health care  including abortion  remains legal and accessible in our Commonwealth, said Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia director Jamie Lockhart. Getting this amendment on the ballot in 2026 is vital.

Abortion became a key issue in last years legislative elections as Gov. Glenn Youngkin and some Republican candidates wanted to bar most abortions after 15 weeks of gestation with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the pregnant person, and Democrats vowed to protect access. Abortion is currently legal until about 26 weeks with three physicians needed to approve later abortions. With Democrats gaining control of the House while holding their majority in the Senate, they will be likely to advance the first phase of their amendments next year.

Del. Tim Griffin, R-Bedford, has introduced a proposal for a near-total abortion ban with few exceptions. House Bill 1364 would prohibit abortions unless the pregnant persons life were at risk, but its unlikely to advance through the Democrat-controlled House.

Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, said in a text that she expected her proposed rights restoration amendment would be continued to next year but that she still files it every year. She has called it her lifes work as a legislator.

In Virginia, people convicted of felonies lose their right to vote unless a governor restores it. The process, which has been streamlined under three previous governors eventually became automatic. Under the Youngkin administration people must petition for rights restoration.

Locke previously told Richmond Times-Dispatch that rights restoration decisions can be subjective if left up to governors. She believes people who have served their time and reentered society should be able to participate in democracy again.

House Joint resolutions 1, 2, and 9  counterparts to their Senate versions  have yet to be referred to committees.

In order to address same-sex marriage sooner than it would take to pass a constitutional amendment, Del. Rozia Henson, D- Prince William, has a bill to require that marriage licenses are issued without regard to the sex, gender or race of the two adults seeking to enter into marriage.

Though same-sex marriages are legal in Virginia due to federal law and a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, language prohibiting such marriages remains in Virginias constitution as a result of an amendment Virginias voters approved in 2006.

Federal law renders the constitutional language moot currently, but proponents of repealing the Virginia amendment say that if Congress Respect For Marriage Act or the 2015 ruling be undone, new same-sex marriages would not be legal in Virginia.

As several LGBTQ lawmakers have been elected into the legislature over the years, Equality Virginia director Narissa Rahaman is hopeful.

Voters have shown that they support the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Virginians, she said in a recent email. Now, its time for the will of these voters to become the word of the law and in our constitution.

7 bills to watch in the upcoming Virginia legislative session Raising minimum wage Mental health support Attempts to reverse Clean Car Act Gun laws Rights restoration Reproductive rights
Standing before the crowd at The ARC of Virginia rally, Juan Rivas was choked up, struggling to find the heartfelt words he needed  turning to a friend, Peter Carrington, for help, he whispered them.

Juan just wants to say Thank you, Carrington told the several hundred gathered there. Many in the crowd sported bright orange scarves to symbolize their support for people with developmental disabilities, and some held signs saying 25 years of broken promises and the time is now.

Many were people like Juan, who sometimes needs a bit of help with the big tasks of life. Many were the parents and friends who help. All of them wanted to be sure legislators got a chance to hear about what they know about living in Virginia.

Shortly after Rivas spoke, Victoria Williamson stepped to the microphone to stress the importance of the services she can tap through the state Medicaid waiver program, which funds support outside the traditional medical services the system covers.

Then Gov. Glenn Youngkin, sporting an orange tie, stepped up.

The No. 1 concern Ive heard over and over from parents is: whats going to happen to my child when Im not there, Youngkin said. Thats why, he added, his proposed budget includes $300 million to get waiver-covered services for the more than 3,400 people on Medicaids priority one waiting list  that is, people who need supports now and within the next 12 months.

We want to do what we can, he said, so you dont have that worry and that anxiety.

Lets be sure there are opportunities to work. That there is housing, so people can live their independent lives.

More than 17,500 Virginians currently receive support through the waiver program, which pays for non-medical services that individuals with developmental disabilities need to live in the community, either on their own, with their families or in group settings.

Ending the waiting list for those in the most immediate need is a central element of Youngkins proposed expansion of behavioral health reform, which he launched last year.

Youngkins budget proposal also includes more than $2.3 million to fund a program, so that waivers can provide a total of $10,000 to an eligible individual for assistive technology and electronic home-based support services.

It also increases rates paid to providers by 5%. Agencies supporting people on waivers have for years complained it is tough to hire and retain staff because Medicaid rates are so low.

The increases in the number of waivers and the provider rate would come on top of the $120 million for 500 additional waiver slots in the current budget.

The budget also proposes financing more mobile crisis teams and crisis receiving centers, with $46 million. The number of mobile teams has already grown from three dozen when the state launched its Right Help Right Now behavioral health reform to more than 90, and the goal now is to increase the number. The idea behind a mobile team is to get emergency care to people by driving to where theyre experiencing a crisis, instead of waiting for someone else  often a police officer or distressed family member  to bring them to an emergency room.

Meanwhile, the Virginia Health Care Foundation announced a $2 million program to supplement the state push on behavioral health with three initiatives.

Its Brighter Days Ahead program includes a push to expand the number of licensed behavioral health care professionals, setting up school-based sites for childrens mental health services and providing support for providers in the states health care safety net to maintain their own mental health and well-being.

We know Virginia is in the midst of a mental health crisis, said Bill Mims, former senior justice of the state Supreme Court and on the foundations advisory panel.

About one-third of all Virginians reported experiencing a significant number of poor mental health days in the past two weeks in a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control, said Deborah Oswalt, the foundations executive director.

The foundation will deploy some $2 million in donations for the Brighter Days Ahead effort, sparked by a $500,000 challenge grant from the Collis-Warner Foundation. The grant was matched with donations from Humana, Sentara Health, the Anne Mullen Orrell Trust at Bank of America, Carilion Clinic, Dominion Energy and The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation.

The money will:

Add more scholarships to its psychiatric nurse practitioner scholarship program and enroll 20 more students in its push to help 200 Virginians earn licensed professional counselor, licensed clinical social worker and licensed marriage and family counselor credentials.

Set up five school-based health centers, supplementing the states own push for these.

Expand on the Medical Society of Virginias Safe Havens program, which is a confidential resource that provides medical, dental, behavioral health providers, nurses and pharmacists, as well as their families, a safe space to address burnout, career fatigue and mental health concerns without the fear of repercussions to their medical license and professional reputation.

The Virginia Health Care Foundation is a nonprofit partnership set up by the General Assembly in 1992, which has funded 536 community-based initiatives throughout the state, helping more than 800,000 uninsured and medically underserved Virginians get needed care.

Lobby Day at the Virginia General Assembly 2024
Five years ago, beneath a heated tent on a bitterly cold Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and Enrichmond Foundation signed a conservation easement to prevent development at Evergreen Cemetery.

That Day of Service and Celebration was to set the stage for one of the largest restoration efforts of an African American cemetery in the nation. But the festive atmosphere at Evergreen that day presaged a debacle: the 2022 dissolution of Enrichmond Foundation, which proved profoundly incapable of restoring the historic African American cemeteries  Evergreen and East End  that it had acquired.

Enrichmond left in its wake an apparently empty treasury and abundant ill-will between its former director, John Sydnor, and Friends of East End, the all-volunteer nonprofit that had been exiled from the cemetery after sounding alarms about EnRichmond.

But Monday, the latest MLK holiday, represents new life after the death of Enrichmond. About 70 volunteers showed up on this snowy day of service to clean sidewalks and grave markers and remove broom sedge, wild blackberry bushes and greenbrier overgrowth along the border of the East End and Evergreen cemeteries.

The community volunteer cleanup, the first in more than three years by Friends of East End, was part of its fledgling partnership with the city of Richmond.

There was no heated tent or lofty speeches; merely volunteers energetically engaged in their tasks.

As the volunteers left in mid-afternoon as the snow fell heavier, Friends of East End founding member Brian Palmer chatted quietly and amicably with Chris Frelke, director of Richmonds Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.

You have seen the discord, Palmer had said to me moments earlier, pointing to the presence onsite of Frelke and the parks departments deputy director, Shamar Young.

Were working hand in hand with the city of Richmond right now, Palmer said. I think thats all I need to say.

The parks department has been in relationship-building mode since September with the volunteers and descendants of those buried at the cemeteries. Emerging from a meeting was a clear consensus by the group desiring city ownership of the cemetery parcels, Frelke said. The city has also been working with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to get an agreement in place so that it might further partner with the volunteers in maintaining the cemeteries.

Also in the works is a cultural landscape of the parcels  an archaeological overview of where people are buried and other questions that need to be answered in advance of a restoration master plan, with experts providing guidance.

Our role is to really help facilitate what the community wants to see happen, Frelke said.

Evergreen Cemetery, located on 60 acres, was created in 1891 by African Americans seeking parity in both life and death. Conceived as Black Richmonds answer to Hollywood Cemetery, Evergreen would become the final resting places of such luminaries as banker and businesswoman Maggie L. Walker and John Mitchell Jr., the businessman and newspaper editor. Neighboring East End Cemetery, founded six years later, includes the gravesite of Rosa L. Dixon Bowser, a pioneering educator and civic leader.

But as Virginia Commonwealth University history professor Ryan K. Smith wrote in his 2020 book, Death and Rebirth in a Southern City, new African American cemeteries founded in the wake of emancipation struggled for short-lived parity only to fall to overgrowth and vandalism  a phenomenon that played out nationally during the Jim Crow era.

Palmer said Monday that he and a handful of East End volunteers never stopped doing what they could, but grew frustrated at the inability to adequately address the need.

But returning, at long last, with a large-scale community effort, It just feels right, he said Monday. You see all the goodwill here, people just working together. It feels right.

Palmer had been inspired that morning by an Instagram post hed read by Bernice King, the daughter of the slain civil rights leader. It featured a picture of herself on Coretta Scott Kings lap.

With my mother. Daddys funeral, it read. He wasnt assassinated because he wanted his children to be judged by the content of their character. But for dismantling racism, poverty & militarism. He wanted corrective measures to eradicate racism, not the delusion that it doesnt exist.

This is that work, at a much smaller scale, Palmer said. Im not equating necessarily what were doing to that magnitude of work, but certainly it connects to that. We are hopefully with our hands reestablishing, reinvesting this place with its sacredness. It never went away, right? But it was obscured by all the brush, all the trash that people dumped, the illicit activities going on.

And to reestablish this as this sacred site, as this hallowed ground, as well as this outdoor archive of the Black experience, I think speaks directly to what Dr. Kings legacy was, but also the fact that Dr. King was part of a community. ... We forget about the connective tissue, right? The connective tissue is here; its these people.

Monday, that connective tissue  clearing overgrowth and uncovering grave markers to be photographed for the Find A Grave website for relatives from Honolulu to Hackensack  were young and old, large and small, Black and white  what King described as the beloved community. They included Gary and Heather Payne and their young daughter, Hope.

When I stumbled upon them, Hope, a fourth grader at Short Pump Elementary School, was cleaning this grave marker:

ELDRIDGE TOWNES

July 8, 1898

Aug. 29, 1945.

Darby Hicks Soc. Club

Frankly, from a religious perspective, we believe were all Gods children, an emotional Gary Payne said. And this is hallowed and sacred ground, and were honored to serve here. Its meaningful service, and Heather got to serve next to someone who has some ancestors here, he said, speaking of descendant Jarene Fleming.

For a moment, civic drama and broken trust could be set aside for a greater purpose, in service of rebuilding a beloved community for the living and the dead.

Close Sherri Tinsley, Main Street Station Facility Manager, stands framed in the doorway leading out to a balcony on the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, JUly 12, 2017. Sherri Tinsley, Main Street Station Facility Manager, watches traffic on I-95 as she stands on a balcony of the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, July 12, 2017. A wooden scaffold holds the mechanism that rotates the hands on the giant clocks inside the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, JUly 12, 2017. One of the four clock faces on the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, JUly 12, 2017. The master clock which is hooked to the mechanism that rotates the hands on the giant clocks inside the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, JUly 12, 2017. The skyline of the city stands behind I-95 as viewed from the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, JUly 12, 2017. The clock tower rises above Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Thursday, July 13, 2017. Cyane B. Crump, Executive Director of Historic Richmond, stands in the basement of Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017, next to the crypt holding 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. Cyane B. Crump, Executive Director of Historic Richmond, stands in the sanctuary of Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017, and tells visitors about the history of the church, including the crypt in the basement that holds 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. A note written on one of the supports of a staircase appears to be signed by Robert Mills, architect of Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. There is a crypt holding 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. Cyane B. Crump, Executive Director of Historic Richmond, shows off one of the huge doors of Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. There is a crypt holding 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. One of two double curving staircases inside Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. A plaque on the pew once occupied by Chief Justice John Marshall inside Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. A wrought iron fence surrounds Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. A plaque on the pew once occupied by Chief Justice John Marshall inside Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. A view through the window shows the proximity of VCU to Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. A memorial at the entrance of Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017, names all those buried in the basement crypt holding 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Wednesday, July 26, 2017, where there's a crypt in the basement holding 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, stands beside one of the four clock faces inside the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, bottom, waits for a photographer to descend from the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, stands in one of the tower rooms as he waits for a photographer to descend from the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, climbs a spiral staircase leading to the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. A view onto a tiny balcony at the top of the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Signatures scratched onto one of the glass window inside the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Signatures scratched onto one of the glass window inside the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. The new Children's Pavilion reflects the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Names scratched onto many of the walls inside the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Stairs lead to the very top of the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. The clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, points out names carved inside the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. A view from the fourth floor of Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. A view from the fourth floor of Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Support columns are very ornate inside Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, points to lights that were originally set up for gas and ecectric energy at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Old City Hall in Richmond is shown on June 23, 2017. Richmond Times-Dispatch Senior Photographer Bob Brown sits Tuesday, August 1, 2017, in the same spot on the MCV West Hospital observation deck in Richmond, VA where he was photographed in May of 1958 with the other members of the first graduating class of photography majors from Richmond Professional Institute. Inside the Jefferson Davis Memorial Chapel in the MCV West Hospital in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Entrance to the Jefferson Davis Memorial Chapel in the MCV West Hospital in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Exterior of the MCV West Hospital in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks down a sub-basement hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks into a giant vault in the sub-basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Karl R. Hade, left, Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court and Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons, right, inspect a sub-basement vault of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons opens a wood-paneled door that leads to a hallway out of a conference room of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons turns away from the railing on the roof of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks into the darkened courtroom of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Penciled numbers on the door of a safe inside a sub-basement vault of the Virginia Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks down a sub-basement stairway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons looks up at a hand-written sign on the wall as he walks down a sub-basement hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Karl R. Hade,, Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court walks past one of the vaults in a sub-basement hallwayof the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Hand-carved details in a beam inside the former Federal Reserve Board Room in what is now the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Karl R. Hade,, Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court walks past main-frame computers housed in the-basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. A land-line telephone sits on computer equipment in the basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons looks around inside a vault in the sub-basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks down a sub-basement stairway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons stand outside a vault in a sub-basement hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons talks about the portraits of former justices in a hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons in the courtroom of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. A staircase behind bars lead down two more floors from a sub-basement hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks into a vault (now used for storage) in the sub-basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks past a map showing the Federal Reserve districts of the US as he walks down a sub-basement hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. This is the view that Justices see when they enter the courtroom at the Virginia Supreme Court in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. A view of Old City Hall and the equestrian statue of George Washington in Capitol Square from the roof of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. Karl R. Hade, Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia, shows visitors Friday, August 11, 2017, the old firing range that was used by Capitol Police in the basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA. The range is no longer in use. Karl R. Hade, Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia, shows visitors Friday, August 11, 2017, the impact area of the old firing range that was used by Capitol Police in the basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA. The range is no longer in use. Karl R. Hade, Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia, walks Friday, August 11, 2017, toward the impact area of the old firing range that was used by Capitol Police in the basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA. The range is no longer in use. The old firing range that was used by Capitol Police in the basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA. The range is no longer in use. Historic Marker for the Church Hill Tunnel, located near 18th St. in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. The tunnel was the site of a train disaster in 1925, when a cave-in trapped a freight train and crew. The sealed west entrance for the Church Hill Tunnel, located near 18th St. in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. The tunnel was the site of a train disaster in 1925, when a cave-in trapped a freight train and crew. The entrance was sealed in 1926. The sealed west entrance for the Church Hill Tunnel, located near 18th St. in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. The tunnel was the site of a train disaster in 1925, when a cave-in trapped a freight train and crew. The entrance was sealed in 1926. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, climbs the spiral staircase inside the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, heads for the spiral staircase inside the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, opens the locked gate at the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Inside is a spiral staircase to the top, which has a ventilated cover, just under the statue at the top. The equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. The monument has a spiral staircase leading up under the statue. A view looking down the spiral staircase inside the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Then-Governor (now US Senator) Tim Kaine waves to the camera after climbing the spiral staircase inside the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, August 15, 2009. Kaine is probably the only Virginia governor to be in this spot and for sure the only one to be photographed there. A large X-brace reinforces one foot of Washington's horse inside the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. With bracing on the two feet touching the base, the statue will withstand hurricane force winds. Sheila Payaqui, senior conservator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, talks about the statue she is working on inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. The statue, by French sculptor Raoul Francois Larche, is titled La Tempete Et Ses Nuees (The Storm And The Clouds). Sheila Payaqui, senior conservator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, lightly touches the statue she is working on inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. The statue, by French sculptor Raoul Francois Larche, is titled La Tempete Et Ses Nuees (The Storm And The Clouds). Sheila Payaqui, senior conservator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, left, talks with Stephen D. Bonadies, Senior Deputy Director for Conservation and Collections, right, about the Native American war shirt, foreground, inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Stephen D. Bonadies, Senior Deputy Director for Conservation and Collections, talks with visitors inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Sheila Payaqui, senior conservator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, looks through a glass sculpture titled "Untitled" by Fred Eversley inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Stephen D. Bonadies, Senior Deputy Director for Conservation and Collections, talks about how the silver content of the crosses, foreground, can help place the origin as he spoke with visitors inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Sydney Collins, conservation photographer for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, checks out the image of an artifact she is photographing using a 50mp Hasselblad digital camera inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Samantha Sheesley, Paper Conservator for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts,i talks with visitors about street rubbings by artist Sari Dienes that she is working on nside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Samantha Sheesley, Paper Conservator for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts,i talks with visitors about street rubbings, foreground, by artist Sari Dienes that she is working on nside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Samantha Sheesley, Paper Conservator for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, delicately lifts a street rubbing by artist Sari Dienes that she is working on nside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Samantha Sheesley, Paper Conservator for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, shows a street rubbing she did, similar to the type of work done by artist Sari Dienes as she talks with visitors inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Carol Woods Sawyer, the Margaret H. & William E. Massey, Sr. Conservator of Paintings at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, talks about "Winter Landscape", a painting by 17th century Dutch artist Aert Van Der Meer that she is restoring inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. "Winter Landscape", a painting by 17th century Dutch artist Aert Van Der Meer that is being restoring inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Some of the tools and chemicals used to restore and clean paintings inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. The grave of Grace Arents stands in front of the mausoleum of her uncle, Lewis Ginter, at Hollywood Cemetery. The grave of Grace Evelyn Arents stands in front of the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Three stained glass Tiffany windows surround he final resting place of Lewis Ginter inside his mausoleum at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. NOTE: The marble is white, but appears to be colored as a result of the light passing through the stained glass. Ornate doors at the entrance and sstained glass Tiffany windows surround he final resting place of Lewis Ginter inside his mausoleum at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. NOTE: The marble tomb is white, but light passing through the stained glass gives it color. One of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. One of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. One of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Detail of one of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Detail of one of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Detail of one of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Manufacturer's mark of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. One of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. The mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. PHOTOS: The hidden secrets of some of Richmond's best-known landmarks Some behind the scenes photos from Hollywood Cemetery, the VMFA, Old City Hall, Main Street Station, Monumental Church, the Church Hill Tunnel, the Virginia Supreme Court building and the George Washington Equestrian Statue in Capitol Square. Sherri Tinsley, Main Street Station Facility Manager, stands framed in the doorway leading out to a balcony on the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, JUly 12, 2017. Sherri Tinsley, Main Street Station Facility Manager, watches traffic on I-95 as she stands on a balcony of the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, July 12, 2017. A wooden scaffold holds the mechanism that rotates the hands on the giant clocks inside the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, JUly 12, 2017. One of the four clock faces on the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, JUly 12, 2017. The master clock which is hooked to the mechanism that rotates the hands on the giant clocks inside the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, JUly 12, 2017. The skyline of the city stands behind I-95 as viewed from the clock tower of Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Wednesday, JUly 12, 2017. The clock tower rises above Main Street Station in Richmond, VA Thursday, July 13, 2017. Cyane B. Crump, Executive Director of Historic Richmond, stands in the basement of Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017, next to the crypt holding 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. Cyane B. Crump, Executive Director of Historic Richmond, stands in the sanctuary of Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017, and tells visitors about the history of the church, including the crypt in the basement that holds 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. A note written on one of the supports of a staircase appears to be signed by Robert Mills, architect of Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. There is a crypt holding 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. Cyane B. Crump, Executive Director of Historic Richmond, shows off one of the huge doors of Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. There is a crypt holding 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. One of two double curving staircases inside Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. A plaque on the pew once occupied by Chief Justice John Marshall inside Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. A wrought iron fence surrounds Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. A plaque on the pew once occupied by Chief Justice John Marshall inside Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. A view through the window shows the proximity of VCU to Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017. A memorial at the entrance of Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Friday, July 14, 2017, names all those buried in the basement crypt holding 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. Monumental Church in Richmond, VA Wednesday, July 26, 2017, where there's a crypt in the basement holding 71 men, women and children killed in a fire at the Richmond Theatre on December 26, 1811. The church was build on the ashes of the theatre after the bodies were burried in a common grave. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, stands beside one of the four clock faces inside the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, bottom, waits for a photographer to descend from the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, stands in one of the tower rooms as he waits for a photographer to descend from the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, climbs a spiral staircase leading to the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. A view onto a tiny balcony at the top of the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Signatures scratched onto one of the glass window inside the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Signatures scratched onto one of the glass window inside the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. The new Children's Pavilion reflects the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Names scratched onto many of the walls inside the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Stairs lead to the very top of the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. The clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, points out names carved inside the clock tower at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. A view from the fourth floor of Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. A view from the fourth floor of Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Support columns are very ornate inside Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, points to lights that were originally set up for gas and ecectric energy at Old City Hall in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Old City Hall in Richmond is shown on June 23, 2017. Richmond Times-Dispatch Senior Photographer Bob Brown sits Tuesday, August 1, 2017, in the same spot on the MCV West Hospital observation deck in Richmond, VA where he was photographed in May of 1958 with the other members of the first graduating class of photography majors from Richmond Professional Institute. Inside the Jefferson Davis Memorial Chapel in the MCV West Hospital in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Entrance to the Jefferson Davis Memorial Chapel in the MCV West Hospital in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Exterior of the MCV West Hospital in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks down a sub-basement hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks into a giant vault in the sub-basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Karl R. Hade, left, Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court and Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons, right, inspect a sub-basement vault of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons opens a wood-paneled door that leads to a hallway out of a conference room of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons turns away from the railing on the roof of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks into the darkened courtroom of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Penciled numbers on the door of a safe inside a sub-basement vault of the Virginia Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks down a sub-basement stairway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons looks up at a hand-written sign on the wall as he walks down a sub-basement hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Karl R. Hade,, Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court walks past one of the vaults in a sub-basement hallwayof the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Hand-carved details in a beam inside the former Federal Reserve Board Room in what is now the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Karl R. Hade,, Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court walks past main-frame computers housed in the-basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. A land-line telephone sits on computer equipment in the basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons looks around inside a vault in the sub-basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks down a sub-basement stairway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons stand outside a vault in a sub-basement hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons talks about the portraits of former justices in a hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons in the courtroom of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. A staircase behind bars lead down two more floors from a sub-basement hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks into a vault (now used for storage) in the sub-basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons walks past a map showing the Federal Reserve districts of the US as he walks down a sub-basement hallway of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. The building, constructed in 1920, originally housed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and still contains vaults far below street level. This is the view that Justices see when they enter the courtroom at the Virginia Supreme Court in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. A view of Old City Hall and the equestrian statue of George Washington in Capitol Square from the roof of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA Wednesday, August 2, 2017. Karl R. Hade, Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia, shows visitors Friday, August 11, 2017, the old firing range that was used by Capitol Police in the basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA. The range is no longer in use. Karl R. Hade, Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia, shows visitors Friday, August 11, 2017, the impact area of the old firing range that was used by Capitol Police in the basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA. The range is no longer in use. Karl R. Hade, Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia, walks Friday, August 11, 2017, toward the impact area of the old firing range that was used by Capitol Police in the basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA. The range is no longer in use. The old firing range that was used by Capitol Police in the basement of the Supreme Court Building in Richmond, VA. The range is no longer in use. Historic Marker for the Church Hill Tunnel, located near 18th St. in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. The tunnel was the site of a train disaster in 1925, when a cave-in trapped a freight train and crew. The sealed west entrance for the Church Hill Tunnel, located near 18th St. in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. The tunnel was the site of a train disaster in 1925, when a cave-in trapped a freight train and crew. The entrance was sealed in 1926. The sealed west entrance for the Church Hill Tunnel, located near 18th St. in Richmond, VA Tuesday, August 1, 2017. The tunnel was the site of a train disaster in 1925, when a cave-in trapped a freight train and crew. The entrance was sealed in 1926. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, climbs the spiral staircase inside the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, heads for the spiral staircase inside the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Erich Thomas, Project Manager, Virginia Department of General Services, opens the locked gate at the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Inside is a spiral staircase to the top, which has a ventilated cover, just under the statue at the top. The equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. The monument has a spiral staircase leading up under the statue. A view looking down the spiral staircase inside the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. Then-Governor (now US Senator) Tim Kaine waves to the camera after climbing the spiral staircase inside the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, August 15, 2009. Kaine is probably the only Virginia governor to be in this spot and for sure the only one to be photographed there. A large X-brace reinforces one foot of Washington's horse inside the base of the equestrian statue of George Washington at Capitol Squarel in Richmond, VA, Friday, June 23, 2017. With bracing on the two feet touching the base, the statue will withstand hurricane force winds. Sheila Payaqui, senior conservator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, talks about the statue she is working on inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. The statue, by French sculptor Raoul Francois Larche, is titled La Tempete Et Ses Nuees (The Storm And The Clouds). Sheila Payaqui, senior conservator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, lightly touches the statue she is working on inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. The statue, by French sculptor Raoul Francois Larche, is titled La Tempete Et Ses Nuees (The Storm And The Clouds). Sheila Payaqui, senior conservator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, left, talks with Stephen D. Bonadies, Senior Deputy Director for Conservation and Collections, right, about the Native American war shirt, foreground, inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Stephen D. Bonadies, Senior Deputy Director for Conservation and Collections, talks with visitors inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Sheila Payaqui, senior conservator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, looks through a glass sculpture titled "Untitled" by Fred Eversley inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Stephen D. Bonadies, Senior Deputy Director for Conservation and Collections, talks about how the silver content of the crosses, foreground, can help place the origin as he spoke with visitors inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Sydney Collins, conservation photographer for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, checks out the image of an artifact she is photographing using a 50mp Hasselblad digital camera inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Samantha Sheesley, Paper Conservator for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts,i talks with visitors about street rubbings by artist Sari Dienes that she is working on nside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Samantha Sheesley, Paper Conservator for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts,i talks with visitors about street rubbings, foreground, by artist Sari Dienes that she is working on nside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Samantha Sheesley, Paper Conservator for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, delicately lifts a street rubbing by artist Sari Dienes that she is working on nside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Samantha Sheesley, Paper Conservator for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, shows a street rubbing she did, similar to the type of work done by artist Sari Dienes as she talks with visitors inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Carol Woods Sawyer, the Margaret H. & William E. Massey, Sr. Conservator of Paintings at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, talks about "Winter Landscape", a painting by 17th century Dutch artist Aert Van Der Meer that she is restoring inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. "Winter Landscape", a painting by 17th century Dutch artist Aert Van Der Meer that is being restoring inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. Some of the tools and chemicals used to restore and clean paintings inside the David and Susan Goode Conservation Studios at the VMFA in Richmond, VA Monday, June 19, 2017. The grave of Grace Arents stands in front of the mausoleum of her uncle, Lewis Ginter, at Hollywood Cemetery. The grave of Grace Evelyn Arents stands in front of the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Three stained glass Tiffany windows surround he final resting place of Lewis Ginter inside his mausoleum at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. NOTE: The marble is white, but appears to be colored as a result of the light passing through the stained glass. Ornate doors at the entrance and sstained glass Tiffany windows surround he final resting place of Lewis Ginter inside his mausoleum at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. NOTE: The marble tomb is white, but light passing through the stained glass gives it color. One of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. One of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. One of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Detail of one of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Detail of one of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Detail of one of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Manufacturer's mark of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. One of the stained glass Tiffany windows inside the mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. The mausoleum of Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA Friday, Nov. 3, 2017.
Missing Cozumel fishing boat found by Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Cozumel, Q.R.  Six Cozumel fishermen have returned home after being found adrift in the Gulf of Mexico. The small fishing vessel carrying six men and one dog was found Tuesday by a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

The ship came upon the drifting men after they left Cozumel three days earlier. State officials in Quintana Roo began an intense air and sea search for the missing vessel and its six crew. However, it was a Harmony of the Seas cruise ship that finally located the missing men.

Our Cozumel fishermen who were lost three days ago have been rescued and are safe and sound. We appreciate the invaluable support of everyone who joined, Governor Mara Lezama posted on social media.

The rescued men and dog Canelo are seen here aboard a Mexican Navy Vessel.

Photo: Secretaria de Seguridad Ciudadana de Q.Roo January 16, 2024.

Cozumel fishing boat Aris with six men and one dog was located by the cruise ship approximately 20 miles from Cabo Catoche, a Quintana Roo point on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

The small boat was seen adrift near the northernmost tip of the Yucatan Peninsula early Tuesday. Manuel C and his five boat mates along with dog Canelo were rescued by personnel from the ship.

A cruise ship rescue team was deployed to the Cozumel fishing vessel. Photo: January 16, 2024.

Upon seeing the stranded boat, a yellow rescue lifeboat was deployed from the cruise ship to attend the vessel in distress. The cruise ship also notified Quintana Roo authorities that they had found fishing boat Aris.

A rescue lifeboat was sent from the cruise ship to attend to the men while they waited for the arrival of a Mexican Navy vessel.

Photo: Secretaria de Seguridad Ciudadana January 16, 2024.

Navy personnel arrived at the site to escort the men and dog Canelo back to land. Aside from being dehydrated, everyone on board was found alive and well. An engine failure caused the boat to become stranded at sea after the group left Cozumel early Sunday.
Over 100 cruise ships dock at Mahahual and Cozumel in first 15 days of New Year

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  More than 100 cruise ships have docked in Quintana Roo in the first two weeks of the New Year. Between the passenger terminals of Mahahual and Cozumel, 106 cruise ships have docked during the first 15 days of January.

Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa says these figures confirm the tourism leadership of the state.

Lezama said in the first fifteen days of the New Year, 106 cruise ships have been received. Of those, 75 in Cozumel and 31 in Mahahual, which, she added, sets 2024 as an excellent year for this type of tourism.

She reported that cruise ship passengers to the state enjoy the natural wealth, historical and cultural attractions of Mahahual and Cozumel, the same types of attractions offered in all 12 of Quintana Roos destinations.

In the first 15 days of January, 75 cruise ships have docked at Cozumel. Photo: CGC January 16, 2024.

Last year alone, the state registered more than 5 million cruise passengers who arrived in around 1,500 ships, both at the docks of Cozumel and in Mahahual in the north and south of the state, she added.
A new novel boasts a keen style and considerable historical knowledge in the service of vilifying the West and its highest ideals, even justifying the most grotesque revolutionary violence. In short, it speaks to the moment.

Babel: Or The Necessity of Violence, An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators Revolution is a pernicious novel showcasing the ability of literature to make evil appear good. Evaluating Babel requires considering the purpose of literature; how can a novel be technically excellent, yet fail to achieve literatures high calling? This review contains substantial spoilers, including the ending. Reader beware.

Babel follows Robin Swift and his friends through their Oxford studies and into early careers as silver workers. Babels 19th-century world runs on silver, a metaphorical stand-in for oil, electricity, and industrialized technology in general. Silver, with words etched on each side of a bar in different languages, holds and manipulates mystical energy produced by the differences in meaning between the terms. Translators who dream in foreign languages can use these bars to power the world. Oxford, with its Royal Institute of Translation, is the power behind the British Empire; Britain has conquered the world through the silver industrial revolution. British hegemony is maintained by bringing in foreigners to be translators and gaining an endless supply of silver.

The novel moves through various phases of Robins life: the tragic death of his mother, his father (who does not recognize patrimony) taking him to England, studies in Oxford, joining a secret society, and finally becoming a true revolutionary. R.F. Kuang joins a long list of authors who capture both the joie de vivre and thrill of discovery of undergraduate life. She frames the early chapters with Robin and his friend Ramy exploring Oxford, picnicking, and discovering the joys of community and the life of the mind. Classes would not begin until the third of October, which left three full days in which Robin and Ramy were free to explore the city. These were three of the happiest days of Robins life. He had no readings or classes, no recitations or compositions to prepare. For the first time in his life he was in full control of his own purse and schedule, and he went mad with freedom. This love for Oxford returns in the conclusion: Robin went back to his first morning in Oxford: climbing a sunny hill with Ramy, picnic basket in hand. Elderflower cordial. Warm brioche, sharp cures, a chocolate tart for dessert. The air that day smelled like a promise, all of Oxford shone like an illumination, and he was falling in love.

But the halcyon days of Oxford life are stained by the twin evils of racism and exploitation. Oxford is filled with just-under-the-surface bigotry, and the Chinese Robin, Indian Ramy, and Haitian Victoire are always second-class citizens in their experience. As the novel progresses, these three discover that their stipends and studies are funded by an exploitative international system combining the worst of predatory capitalism and imperialist mercantilism. Oxford has no interest in sending them back to their homelands as translators; instead, they are expected to join the British imperial system and use their silver-working skills to extend British power. Their rejection of these expectations sets up the climax of the novel.

Robin radicalizes, launching a revolution and spouting settler-colonialist rhetoric; only violence will cause the empire to change its practices, he insists. Thus Robin justifies the accidental death of dozens of civilians: This is how colonialism works. It convinces us that the fallout from resistance is entirely our fault, that the immoral choice is resistance itself rather than the circumstances that demanded it. Accepting moral responsibility for the death of noncombatants, Robin contends, plays into the colonialist system.

The true revolutionary must be willing to use violence to provoke change. When his compatriots hesitate, Robin thinks, This was a failure of nerve. A refusal to push things to the limit. Violence was the only thing that brought the colonizer to the table; violence was the only option. The gun was right there on the table, waiting for them to pick it up. Why were they so afraid to even look at it? The novel concludes when Robin destroys the civilized world by leading his fellow revolutionaries to topple the tower of Babel (and themselves), bringing the international order founded on silver-working to a grinding halt.

Babel was published in August of 2023, just before Hamass attack on Israel (October 7) and the subsequent rise of riots across Western universities supporting violent terrorism as a rational response to settler colonialism. In one sense, this novel explains the unexpected student support for Hamas: if the ideas in Babel are the fruit of academic theory and instruction, then Kuangs novel works like J.D. Vances Hillbilly Elegy did for explaining Trumps 2016 election. Vance had been crafting his story for years; it was an accident of publishing that his book came out just as pundits were asking how they had gotten the American electorate so wrong. Babel, too, is just such an accident. How can so many well-educated students chant, Free, free Palestine! and fail to distinguish between civilian and military? Babel provides an answer.

If Babel were a poor read, I would have discarded it weeks ago. It is not: the characters, setting, pacing, and world-building are superb. Kuang writes with a level of detailed knowledge that makes her settings vivid and imaginable; her style is excellent. She writes with a love for the intellectual life and a sensitivity to undeniably dark moments of Western civilization, like the Opium Wars and the slave trade. The quality of her writing forces the reader to consider the purpose of literature. If technical execution of a series of literary tools is sufficient, then Babel is a strong novel. The literary tradition, however, maintains that humane letters has a higher burden. The tools of the literati exist to transmit norms from one generation to the next. It is on this register that Babel fails utterly as a novel.

Horace wrote that literature should delight and instruct. Aristotle thought that literary work was mimetic, mirroring reality to help the audience perceive it in all its depth. Sidney argued that literature was superior to history and philosophy because of its ability to provide living pictures of moral possibilities. In this traditional vein (to which we could add Shakespeare, Milton, Spenser, Austen, Dickens, Tennyson, Chekhov, Tolstoy, Chesterton, Lewis, Tolkien, and a host of others), the goal of excellent literature is to fill the moral imagination with images of moral reality. This is not to say that all literature works on a simplistic level like Aesops Fables or Pilgrims Progress; Conrads Heart of Darkness and Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment both fit this vision. By dramatizing unsettling realities, they help readers perceive moral truths.

This traditional view is largely rejected in academic literary study today in favor of applications of various critical theories. Such theories follow the academic work of Marx, Freud, and Nietzsche, who all suggested that our perception of reality hides the dark truths of sex, power, and economic relations. The literary task becomes the unmasking of this reality to reveal the dark underbelly of a worldwhether economic, psychological, or moralworthy only of destruction. In the case of Babel, the man who destroys his world is a hero.

The stories we tell shape how we live together in society, family, and culture; narratives shape our conceptions of abstractions like justice and heroism, good and evil. In Enemies of the Permanent Things, Russell Kirk describes the task of literature as normative:

Great literature possesses its own general norms; but, still more important, literature is a chief means for passing on to posterity the normative knowledge of a cultureand a means of censuring the abnormity of every age. Through the body of humane letters, we are provided with models for emulation and precepts for guidance. We learn from literature, far more than from personal experience, the character of the saint, the hero, and the philosopher. We learn from literature those insights into the human condition which make life worth living.

Babel is technically well written, but it fails to uphold basic norms: that life is good, civilization is better than anarchy, and morality is real. When Babel upholds abnormity as good, it uses the tools of literary craft to undermine the norms of human existence. It is thus a pernicious novel.

Babel also illustrates the kind of story that the modern academy is equipping people to write. Kuang holds degrees from Oxford and Cambridge, and is pursuing a doctorate at Yale. She is applying her training to write stories that further disenchant the world and to justify terrorist destruction of civilization. Though she is a beneficiary of the academy, her writing undermines the foundations of the academy.

Which way, Western man? or so the meme goes. Do we have the spiritual resources to ground ourselves in the Tradition and to see it as our source of moral values, rule of law, free trade, and peaceful coexistence? Or will we surrender to the revolutionary and see the work of millennia collapse into rubble? Babel is ultimately a warning that writers of the new generation are steeped in false ideologya truly false consciousnessand they are highly skilled in telling pernicious stories. We need to recover the purposes of humane letters and apply the literary arts to the preservation of civilizational norms. The barbarians are well within the gates, and they now have highly impressive academic degrees.
The second of three defendants charged with drug crimes after police raided a southeast Roanoke residence last March signed a plea agreement Wednesday and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Ronnie Edward Niday, 20, of Troutville, was originally charged with five crimes, Virginia State Police reported last year. But in April, he was indicted by a Roanoke grand jury on 11 felony charges: five counts of distributing methamphetamine, three counts of distributing a Schedule I or II substance, possession of a Schedule I or II substance, possession of a sawed-off shotgun and possession of a firearm with a Schedule I or II substance with intent to distribute.

On Wednesday, pursuant to Nidays plea agreement, six of those charges were dropped. For one count of distributing a Schedule I or II substance, specifically fentanyl, he was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended after he serves one. A $100 fine was also suspended.

For two counts of selling more than 20 grams of methamphetamine, Niday was sentenced to a total 20 years, suspended after he serves 10. Another $100 fine was suspended on each of those charges.

For one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, he was sentenced to five years, all of which were suspended. A fourth $100 fine was suspended.

And for possession of a firearm with drugs with the intent to distribute, Niday was sentenced to five years of active prison time.

Once released, he will spend two years on supervised probation.

Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Sheri Mason said after Wednesdays hearing that she and Nidays attorney, Patrick Kenney, both explained to the judge that Niday was 19 years old at the time he was charged.

He has no prior criminal history, and so that was taken into consideration when we reached the plea agreement, Mason said. At the same time, it was a significant amount of drugs involved and lots of firearms.

Nidays plea agreement includes the forfeiture of all guns seized in these cases. Mason said police seized 20 firearms from the raided residence in the 1500 block of Riverside Terrace Southeast last March.

State police said in a news release four days after the raid that members of the Star City Drug and Violent Task Force had seized several drugs with more than $1 million in street value, plus more than $6,600 in U.S. currency.

Good work on the part of the Star City Violent Crime and Drug Task Force for sure, Mason said.

One of Nidays co-defendants, 24-year-old Ashley Nicole Bobbitt, entered into a plea agreement on her charges in July and was sentenced to two years suspended after the time she had already served  about four months.

Nidays other co-defendant, 36-year-old Shawn Michael McCraw, is expected to appear at trial next month, Mason said.
BLACKSBURG  Ozempic and other drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes may also be used to treat alcohol use disorder, according to researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech-Carilion.

Since drugs such as semaglutide, better known as Ozempic, and tirzepatide started to be widely prescribed to treat diabetes, some have taken to social media to discuss their experience of losing the desire to drink alcohol.

From 2009 to 2023, there have been 1,580 posts on the social media platform Reddit discussing the subject of alcohol use and diabetes medication.

Where researchers at Fralin began was by surveying all of these posts, eliminating any that were under 100 characters long, and determining how many users had self-reported reduced drinking and cravings for alcohol as a result of using either semaglutide or tirzepatide.

The survey found that 71% of the posts discussed reduced cravings and reduced consumption of alcohol.

The second phase involved recruiting 153 individuals who self-reported having obesity and being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, as well as, to at least some extent, drinking alcohol. About a third of these participants were in a control group, as in not prescribed either semaglutide or tirzepatide for treatment.

The results of that study showed that alcohol consumption was significantly reduced in people who were prescribed one of the two drugs.

Alexandra DiFeliceantonio, an assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and one of the organizers of the study, said that the findings could be very significant in the world of addiction treatment.

We dont really have a good treatment for alcohol use disorder, DiFeliceantonio said. Its a disorder that is prone to relapse.

There are only three drugs currently approved by the FDA to treat alcoholism, disulfiram, which renders the body unable to process ethanol, naltrexone, which works to reduce cravings, and acamprosate, used to treat withdrawal symptoms.

None of these drugs, according to DiFeliceantonio, have been shown to be very effective in treating alcohol use disorder in the long-term.

Its not leading people to maintain abstinence, DiFeliceantonio said.

In 2019, about 14.5 million people in the United States had alcohol use disorder, according to a study by Yale Medicine.

Several recent studies have shown that alcohol consumption has been on the rise in the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the increased consumption has not yet been curbed since pandemic restrictions were removed.

The possibility of having a new treatment available for people struggling to stop relying on alcohol has prompted a lot of new research in more places than just Fralin, and the organizers of the study hope to see it expanded in the near future.

The researchers still dont know much about the exact mechanism whereby drugs such as Ozempic reduce alcohol cravings. DiFeliceantonio said that she hopes Fralin researchers will be allowed to hold more randomized controlled trials in the future, and expand the demographics involved, as most of the participants in the self-reporting trial were white and female, and more research will be needed to see if race or sex play a role in the results.

Warren Bickel, a behavioral health research professor at Fralin and another leader of this study, said that he hopes to add what he can to the ongoing research into these drugs being conducted around the world.

Although evidence supporting the use of these medications for alcohol use disorder is growing, the field still needs to learn considerably more about them, particularly in identifying the underlying mechanisms. We plan to contribute to that effort, Bickel said.
Last updated 6:45 a.m. Jan. 16, 2024

Closings

Alleghany Highlands Public Schools will be closed Tuesday.

Bedford County Public Schools will be will be closed Tuesday. Employee Code 2.

Botetourt County Public Schools will be closed Tuesday, employee Code 4. Evening Town Hall meeting scheduled for Eagle Rock Elementary School has been canceled.

Craig County Public Schools will be closed Tuesday.

Buena Vista City Schools will be closed Tuesday, employee Code 2.

Faith Christian School will be closed Tuesday.

Franklin County Public Schools will be closed Tuesday, employee Code 1.

Floyd County Public Schools will be closed Tuesday.

Montgomery County Public Schools will be closed Tuesday, employee Code C.

New River Community College in Dublin and Christiansburg will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Pulaski County Public Schools will be closed Tuesday, employee Code 1.

Radford City Schools will be closed Tuesday.

Roanoke City Public Schools will be closed Tuesday.

Roanoke County Public Schools will be closed Tuesday.

Roanoke Catholic School will be closed Tuesday.

Rockbridge County Public Schools will be closed Tuesday.

Roanoke Valley Christian Schools will be closed Tuesday.

Salem City Schools will be closed Tuesday.

Virginia Western Community College will be closed for day and evening classes Tuesday.

Delays/Modifications

Lexington City Schools will be operating on a two-hour delay on Tuesday.

Radford University offices will be opening at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Any classes schedule prior to 10:30 are canceled.

Roanoke College will have a delayed opening at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
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Jon Bernthal and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as husband and wife Brett Hamilton and Isabel Wilkerson in a scene from "Origin." Atsushi Nishijima/Courtesy NEON

Origin is a movie unlike any other. Its not a documentary, and yet it contains historical reenactments. Its a dramatic feature, but its not really about telling a story. Its about putting forward the ideas expressed by Isabel Wilkerson in her 2020 book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.

Writer-director Ava DuVernay sprinkles in Wilkersons ideas while dramatizing how the author came to write her book. She shows Wilkerson conceiving and then researching her central concept, which is that racism in America has parallels to the caste system in India and to the murder of the Jews in Nazi Germany.

To some degree, DuVernays approach works. Wilkerson wrote the book during a fraught period in her personal life in which she lost the people closest to her. Those scenes from Wilkersons life have impact. Also, the historical reenactments of the events leading up to Trayvon Martins death are heartrending and enraging. For about a half hour, it seems that DuVernay is making something extraordinary and that Origin will be a classic.

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But the movie starts to fray once we realize that DuVernay is not going to make a case for Wilkersons ideas. Rather, she plans to serve them up as undeniable truths.

'Origin' Rated PG-13: thematic material involving racism, violence, some disturbing images, language and smoking Running time: 135 minutes Where: Opens Friday at iPic Houston; Regal Greenway Grand Palace, Houston; AMC Gulf Pointe 30; Cinemark NASA, Webster.

A key scene comes when Wilkerson (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) is explaining the concept of her book to a German couple. The husband nods along, but the wife is skeptical. She asks Wilkerson how she can compare slavery in America and the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany. The purpose of the former was brutal economic exploitation. The purpose of the latter was extermination. Aside from the fact that both were evil, werent they clearly very different things?

Watching this, we expect that Wilkerson is going to reply with something amazing, which will set this woman straight. But DuVernay chooses rather to treat this moment as a faux pas, as though the German lady had said something racist or, at the very least, rude. DuVernays idea seems to be that Wilkerson missed a chance to tell this woman off. Theres no engagement with the point the woman made.

Later, Wilkerson discovers that some Nazi leaders saw parallels between what they were planning and what the South had done to its enslaved people. Wilkerson is depicted as pleased to find this, as though she has proven her thesis. But how? Just because racists might admire the work of other racists does not make the mechanisms behind their racist acts, nor the results of those acts, comparable, except in the loosest way.

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In DuVernays hands, Wilkersons caste concept begins to shrink until it seems like a very small idea. Are we really talking about an actual caste system, or are there just parallels in the forms that organized cruelty has taken over the course of centuries? And if the latter is the case, thats not exactly surprising.

Then, just as were beginning to doubt the intellectual groundings of Origin, the movie begins to fail as drama, too. Wilkerson travels to India, where everyone she meets makes a speech. People stop acting like people and become vehicles for expressing ideas. In this way, a movie that at first seemed rough-hewn and passionate becomes doctrinaire and clumsy.

Still, however disappointing, the movies subject, its originality and the commitment of its director keep Origin from ever being entirely boring.
Cardholders can earn air miles when making income tax payments. (PHOTO: Getty) (NongAsimo via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  Every year, many Singaporeans pay the mandatory income tax bill. Although the government recently announced a personal income tax rebate of 50 per cent for the Assessment Year 2024 as part of the Singapore Budget 2024, capped at S$200, there is no escaping this financial obligation.

While some may dread personal income tax payments, there may be a silver lining  the opportunity to earn air miles from tax payments.

In general, air miles are earned by spending with a rewards-based credit card. However, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) does not allow credit cards as an option to settle income tax payments. However, taxpayers can still use credit cards to settle their income tax payments and earn air miles. Read on to explore how this can be done.

Earning air miles from income tax in Singapore

Banks and third-party card payment providers offer tax payment facilities as an alternative method to pay income tax using credit cards. This allows cardholders to earn air miles or credit card rewards in exchange for an administrative fee.

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There are five banks in Singapore that offer income tax payment facilities: DBS, UOB, Standard Chartered, Citi and OCBC. Being a credit cardholder of one of these banks will enable the cardholder to make income tax payments using the credit card via the tax payment facilities. As for third-party providers, such as CardUp and ipaymy, taxpayers will first have to sign up for a free account before making income tax payments with credit cards.

Depending on which bank or third-party provider a taxpayer chooses, there are two methods of making income tax payments with a credit card.

The first method is an indirect settlement, where the bank credits the outstanding tax amount into the taxpayer's bank account, after which the taxpayer is responsible for settling the payment with IRAS. The credit card will be charged along with an admin fee before the money is credited into the taxpayer's bank account.

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In the second method, the outstanding tax amount is settled directly on the taxpayer's behalf between the bank (or third-party provider) and IRAS. The taxpayer's credit card is charged along with an admin fee without the need for the taxpayer to take the additional step of settling the payment with IRAS thereafter. Third-party providers such as CardUp and ipaymy use this method of income tax settlement for their users. Additionally, banks such as Citi and Standard Chartered also offer direct tax settlement services with IRAS.

Are there any additional fees involved?

An administrative fee is charged for the use of a credit card to pay for an income tax bill. The fee rates for tax payment facilities differ for each bank and third-party provider. By opting to pay for income tax through a credit card in order to earn rewards or air miles, the cardholder is effectively buying air miles, and the admin fee is the cost.

Here is a quick glance at the different fee rates charged by tax payment facility providers (rates are up to date as of February 2024):

Payment Facility Provider Fee DBS 3.0% Standard Chartered 1.6% Standard Chartered EasyBill 1.9% OCBC 1.9% Citi 2.2% UOB 1.7% - 2.2% CardUp 1.5% - 2.6% ipaymy 2.25%

What is the best air miles credit card to use for income tax in Singapore?

Ultimately, the best credit card to use for income tax payments is the one that gives cardholders the most air miles at the cheapest cost. This comes down to the cost per mile, which can be calculated with the simple formula of admin fee divided by the miles earned from a credit card.

The following table illustrates the different rates offered by credit card providers (rates are up to date as of February 2024):

Credit card Method of payment Fee Miles per dollar (mpd) Cost per mile Citi PremierMiles Card Citi PayAll 2.2% 1.2 1.83 cents DBS Altitude Card DBS 3.0% 1.5 2.00 cents UOB PRVI Miles Card UOB 2.0% 1.0 2.00 cents OCBC Voyage Card OCBC 1.9% 1.0 1.90 cents Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card Standard Chartered 1.6% 1.0 1.60 cents

It is worth noting that some banks apply different earn rates for tax payment facilities, usually resulting in a lower earn rate compared to what cardholders would earn on regular spending. This is where using a third-party provider such as ipaymy or CardUp can help maximise the earn rate when making tax payments, as it will allow cardholders to utilise the regular earn rates by considering the expense as local spend.

Cardholders will also earn miles on the admin fee charged by third-party providers, whereas banks do not give rewards for the payable admin fee on their tax payment facilities. Using this formula to calculate the cost per mile will reduce the cost per mile.

Taking the examples above, here's how using a third-party provider can lower the cost per mile:

Credit card Method of payment Fee Miles per dollar Cost per mile UOB PRVI Miles Card CardUp 2.6% 1.4 1.83 cents OCBC Voyage Card ipaymy 2.25% 1.3 1.71 cents Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card ipaymy 2.25% 1.4 1.58 cents

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SPCA Executive Director Aarthi Sankar highlights the significance of pet owners choosing trainers committed to humane training methods, discouraging the use of physical force on animals. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) saw a spike in dog abuse cases in 2023, with 69 reported incidents compared to 35 the year before, The Straits Times reported on Tuesday (16 January).

Over the span of five years from 2019 to 2023, there were a total of 202 reported dog abuse cases, with the figures for 2023 alone making up one-third of this cumulative total.

The Straits Times reported specific case numbers for each year: 48 cases in 2019, 20 cases in 2020, 30 cases in 2021, and 35 cases in 2022. Nine of the cases in 2023 involved dog trainers.

Choose humane trainers and collaborative training methods: SPCA

SPCA executive director Aarthi Sankar emphasised the importance of pet owners engaging trainers who employ humane training methods and avoiding using physical force on animals.

Aarthi's remarks came after an Instagram video posted on Monday (15 January) showed employees at the dog training firm Xavian and Pack allegedly pushing and hitting dogs.

According to The Straits Times, she cautioned against hiring dog trainers who utilise tools such as shock, choke, or prong collars, urging prospective pet owners to thoroughly research trainers and review customer feedback before enlisting their services.

Furthermore, the SPCA advised against engaging trainers who exclude pet guardians from the training process. Aarthi stressed that training is a collaborative effort, encouraging pet owners to actively participate in the process to strengthen the bond with their pets and acquire the necessary skills and mindset for effective guidance.

AVS investigating recent case of alleged dog abuse

In response to the video circulating on social media, the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) assured the public that it takes all feedback on animal cruelty seriously.

Joshua Teoh, the director of the AVS, told Yahoo Southeast Asia on Wednesday, (17 January) that it was looking into the matter. First-time offenders caught abusing an animal may face charges under the Animals and Birds Act, with potential fines of up to $15,000, imprisonment for up to 18 months, or both.

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"Safeguarding animal welfare is a shared social responsibility," he added, and urged members of the public to play a part by reporting suspected cases of animal cruelty. Members of the public can report cases to AVS promptly through their website at www.avs.gov.sg/feedback or by calling the Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.

Teoh said, "As with all investigations, all forms of evidence are critical to the process, and photographic and/or video-graphic evidence provided by the public will help. Information shared with AVS will be kept strictly confidential."

Two employees from the dog training company Xavian and Pack suspended on 15 January. amid allegations of mistreating two dogs, as captured in released videos. (PHOTO: Instagram/monkey_bear2)

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Taiwans diminishing diplomatic clout means it has fewer friends that can take up issues on its behalf in international forums like the United Nations. (Photo: An Rong Xu/Bloomberg)

By Bloomberg News

(Bloomberg)  Taiwan has lost another diplomatic ally, with the 12 friends it has left accounting for just 0.17% of the global economy and less than 0.5% of the worlds population.

The government of Nauru, a Pacific Island of 13,000 people, on Monday became the latest to cut ties with the democratically-ruled island in favour of China. Taiwans diminishing diplomatic clout means it has fewer friends that can take up issues on its behalf in international forums like the United Nations, where it lacks a seat.

Taiwans most economically powerful diplomatic partner is Guatemala, which had Central Americas largest GDP at $95 billion in 2022, according to the World Bank. Thats a drop in the ocean compared to China, whose economy amounted to $17.96 trillion that year.

The last nation to switch diplomatic relations to Beijing from Taipei was Honduras in 2023. Before that, Nicaragua jumped ship in 2021 and the Pacific Island of Kiribati did so in 2019.

Here are Taiwans remaining diplomatic partners and their GDPs in 2022:

China has been peeling off Taipeis allies for years as it ramps up military, economic and diplomatic pressure on the island it considers a breakaway territory. Taiwan elected the Democratic Progressive Partys Lai Ching-te as its next leader on Saturday, in a show of democratic freedoms that defied Beijings warnings.

The US said Naurus decision was disappointing and praised Taiwan as a reliable, likeminded and democratic partner. Despite its close ties to the island, including billions of dollars in arms sales, the US switched its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.

Why does Nauru breaking diplomatic relations with Taiwan for China matter? (1/n)  Timothy S. Rich  (@timothysrich) January 15, 2024

Beijing and Taipei have competed for diplomatic recognition since 1949, when Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-sheks flight to Taiwan established a stalemate, with each side claiming to be the legitimate ruler of China.

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
IDA GROVE, Iowa  An Ida Grove woman has pleaded not guilty of causing the death of her 3-year-old son in May.

Billie Mosier, 23, entered her written plea Tuesday in Ida County District Court to one count of child endangerment resulting in death, a Class B felony that carries a 25-year prison sentence.

On May 4, Mosier called 911 for first responders to come to her home in Battle Creek because her son, Jordan Reed, was unresponsive. The child was transported to Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove and then to Children's Hospital in Omaha. He was pronounced dead on May 5.

According to a complaint filed in Ida County District Court, Mosier told investigators she had driven home, found Jordan slumped over in his car seat when she arrived and believed he had fallen asleep and strangled on the chest strap of his car seat.

An autopsy concluded Jordan died of strangulation, but his injuries were not consistent with Mosier's explanation.

In a September interview, Mosier admitted she had found Jordan hanging from the rear driver's side window, the complaint said, and witnesses had reported seeing Jordan with his head or upper body out the same window during Mosier's drive home from Ida Grove to Battle Creek.
PRIMGHAR, Iowa -- A Sheldon, Iowa, man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Jose Jimenez, 20, pleaded guilty in O'Brien County District Court to one count of third-degree sexual abuse, which was reduced from second-degree sexual abuse as part of a plea agreement.

Jimenez also must register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry and he will serve a lifetime special sex offender sentence after he completes his prison sentence. If he were to violate terms of the special sentence, he could be sent to prison.

Jimenez had sex with the girl on July 1, 2022, on a public roadway near Sutherland, Iowa.
SIOUX CITY  Despite numerous efforts, The Woodbury County Attorney's Office is still struggling to find staffing.

Last year, Woodbury County Attorney James Loomis approached the board of supervisors about an ongoing staffing issue, asking for support to fill the empty positions.

The board made a variety of changes, but Supervisor Matthew Ung said while the issue has gotten better, there are between five and seven positions empty at any time.

Loomis said the shortage is not due to mismanagement or lack of effort, but due to many staff members needing to relocate for their families.

On Tuesday the board voted to advance the effective date of the assistant county attorney's union contract and temporarily increased the retention bonus from $1,500 to $3,000.

The new Woodbury County assistant county attorneys and victim witness coordinator union contract provides a 9 percent wage increase for employees. Instead of starting July 1, the wage increase will be effective Jan. 22.

"Drastic times require drastic measures. No other county department has worked without 1/3 of its budgeted staff for over a year, nor received fewer applicants for its open positions," Ung said

Ung said the financial impact of this move will be paid for by the county attorney's unspent staffing budget.

After being elected county attorney in 2022, Loomis approached the board with a plan to fill the vacant positions in his department.

The board approved giving 4 percent raises to staff, giving $1,500 retention bonuses, giving automatic vacation time, shifting a position to create a new deputy, starting new hires at a wage step equivalent to their experience and more. Loomis said there was an increase in applications after these changes.

"Unfortunately, it has done nothing to reduce the number of vacancies, which has been at 5-7 for the last year. This has resulted in felony attorneys handling over 100 cases," Ung said in board documents. Loomis added it should be around 40 or 50 cases.

Loomis said so far, the driving force for people to work in Woodbury County is that they were already local. He said money is a way to incentivize people to transplant to the area.

Currently, new hires in the county attorney's office can receive a $1,500 retention bonus after one year of employment. With Tuesday's change, anyone hired from Jan. 22 to June 30 will receive a $3,000 bonus after one year of employment.

In April, Loomis proposed giving support staff a $2,000 bonus because of the extra work they were taking on during the shortage but was denied by the board of supervisors.

The board denied the request, stating they did not want to set a precedent and citing a similar request from County Sheriff Chad Sheehan that was also denied.

Ung said the increased bonus and advanced union increase is not meant to "open the floodgates" but to bring meaningful remedy to the issue. He said advancing the wage increase allows them to hire staffing at the new wage sooner.

Loomis said he hopes to present these financial opportunities to graduating students this winter during on-campus interviews at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Creighton University, University of South Dakota, Drake University and University of Iowa.

"At the end of the day, money speaks," he said.
SIOUX CITY  Current and former Sioux City School Board Members took the stand Tuesday afternoon to testify against a lawsuit filed by former Sioux City Superintendent Paul Gausman claiming they violated open meeting laws.

In January 2023, Gausman filed a suit against school board members Dan Greenwell, Jan George, Taylor Goodvin and Bob Michaelson stating they violated open meeting laws.

All individuals named in the lawsuit, as well as Gausman and Board Secretary Seaniece Heilman, took the stand Tuesday.

The testimony dealt with two separate closed sessions, which Gausman claims were illegal meetings citing the wrong Iowa code sections in order to avoid notifying him of their discussion and decision to file a complaint against him with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.

Witnesses were asked about the process of setting the closed sessions, details of an event that was the basis of a complaint to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, documents showing Gausman's knowledge of closed sessions, minutes of closed sessions, board policies guiding the planning of meetings and policies guiding superintendent evaluations.

Due to the unique nature of the lawsuit, information that would normally be considered confidential from a closed session was discussed publicly.

The suit alleges that at special meetings on Jan. 24, 2022, and Nov. 30, 2022, the board met privately to discuss Gausman, his professional qualifications and a claim he attempted to bribe school board members.

Greenwell and Goodvin, who served as president and vice president of the school board at the time, testified that based on Iowa Code and Sioux City School Board policies, they followed the proper procedure for the closed sessions. Michaelson and George also said they believe proper policy was followed.

On Jan. 24, 2022, Gausman stated the board met in a closed session to discuss him and his professional qualifications and proposed to file a complaint against him with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.

To go into the closed session, the board cited the Iowa Code stating the closed session was to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individuals reputation.

The code section specifically states the individual being reviewed must request the closed session, Gausman claims this did not occur. He contends items other than his appointment, hiring, performance or discharge were discussed.

The documents reviewed in court Tuesday showed the Jan. 24 meeting was set as a quarterly review of Gausmans performance while he was still the superintendent. Greenwell and Goodvin testified the meeting included a discussion of Gausman's quarterly review, as well as a discussion of the information filed in a Board of Educational Examiner's complaint.

The pair testified Gausman was not included in the portion of the closed session discussing the bribery attempt and argued it was relevant to his evaluation in terms of ethics. Court documents showed board policy allows the board to decide who attends closed sessions. Goodvin testified that it was at the request of Greenwell that Gausman not attend that portion on the meeting.

The discussion claimed Gausman attempted to bribe Michaelson and George on Nov. 17, 2021, before their official swearing-in on Nov. 22, 2022. The letter to the educational examiners stated it was an attempt to solicit their support to re-elect Perla Alarcon-Flory to the board president. If they were to support him in this, they would be able to "make any of their desired changes in school operations, programs, activities and other matters," according to the complaint.

Gausman testified that he was not attempting to bribe the board members, and instead, lobby them towards voting for two individuals for board leadership based on ongoing work.

"I did not offer anything to them in exchange for that," Gausman said. "I did give that opinion, which is my opinion that I had the right to do and so I did."

He also said that as superintendent he works for the board, and the board can direct him to make any changes to the district they desire.

Documents included in the filings detailed Gausmans knowledge of the Jan. 24 meeting, including an emailed meeting invite to all of the board members from Heilman, who serves as board secretary and superintendent administrative assistant, on behalf of Gausman, Paul, and a screenshot of Gausmans Microsoft Outlook calendar, showing the closed session scheduled on Jan. 24 titled Closed Session re: Superintendent Quarterly Evaluation. An email dated Jan. 19, 2022, was also discussed, in which Gausman refers to his ongoing work preparing "evaluation documents."

The filing included a district document titled 2021-2022 superintendent evaluation, which was dated July 14, 2021. The document outlined the districts goals for the superintendent, as well as a timeline for quarterly superintendent evaluations scheduled for Sept. 27, 2021, Jan. 24, 2022, March 28, 2022, May 9, 2022 and June 13, 2022.

Gausman testified he knew about the Jan. 24 meeting, but believed it was a regular quarterly discussion of his performance based on prepared documentation, not about other items. He said he did not know that event was being discussed during the meeting and testified he would have asked that discussion take place publicly if he had been alerted.

He added by not notifying him, the board violated his due process and did not allow him to share his perspective of the event in question.

Greenwell and Goodvin said they met with Gausman a few days after the Jan. 24 meeting to alert him of the bribery claims and the discussions of it.

"His words were 'Paul did a dumb thing' and then he asked for grace," Greenwell said, when asked what Gausman's response was.

On Nov. 30, 2022, the board held another special meeting and closed session to discuss Gausman, he claims.

The board cited another section of the state code, saying the meeting was to review or discuss records which are required or authorized by state or federal law to be kept confidential. That code section specifically says public bodies are only allowed to discuss confidential records and Gausman claims the school board went beyond the specification.

Testimony on Tuesday confirmed the meeting on Nov. 30 was regarding the bribery accusations made against Gausman and the process of filing a complaint with the BOEE.

After the closed session ended and the board went into open session, Goodvin made a motion to direct Greenwell to file the BOEE complaint. Board members Monique Scarlett and Bernie Scolaro abstained from the vote. Perla Alarcon-Flory was not present. The motion did not publicly identify who the complaint was being filed against.

During testimony, Greenwell stated the reason members felt the meeting fit within the confidential records allowance for closed sessions was due to the prior complaint filed by himself to the Board of Educational Examiners and the discussion of a future complaint.

The prior complaint was filed by Greenwell himself against Gausman on Aug. 1, 2022, with the same claims in a similarly worded letter, without board support. The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners requires complaints to be from the district, and the one filed in August was not approved by the school board. Greenwell testified that he did not know at the time that complaints filed to the BOEE required board approval.

Greenwell said Gausman was not specifically named when voting to file the complaint to the BOEE because it would have identified him, disclosing confidential personnel matters.

Gausman testified he was not notified of the November meeting and was not given an opportunity to explain his side of the situation.

Tuesday was phase one of the trial and the judge did not make any rulings on the lawsuit. If the judge finds the school district did violate the open meetings law, a second phase could be conducted to determine remedies, penalties or mitigation.
SIOUX CITY  Republican caucus results in Northwest Iowa followed the statewide trend Monday night, as former President Trump carried all but one of the state's 99 counties.

Trump captured 51% of the statewide vote, losing only Johnson County by a single vote to Nikki Haley.

Sioux County was one of 12 counties, and the only in western Iowa county, that gave Trump less than a majority. The former president took 45% of the vote in Sioux, the state's most Republican county.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was backed by key evangelical leaders with ties to the conservative county, took 31% in the county, exceeded the 21.2% he received statewide.

DeSantis won both precincts in Orange City, the county seat, and two of the four precincts in Sioux Center, the county's largest city. In Orange City 1 Holland SW, DeSantis received 91 votes, compared to 56 for Trump, who faces charges in four criminal cases.

Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley finished third in Sioux County with 15.6%, below her statewide total of 19.1%.

Trump's performance in Sioux County was still a big improvement over how he fared there the first time he ran for president in 2016. The county, which has a strong Dutch Reformed heritage, gave the businessman and reality TV star only 10.9 percent of the vote in that year's caucuses, by far his weakest county.

Trump scored even larger margins of victory in other counties in Northwest Iowa Monday night.

2024 Woodbury County Republican caucus precinct results Precinct number and voting location Caucus location Donald Trump Ron DeSantis Nikki Haley Vivek Ramaswamy Ryan Binkley Asa Hutchinson Chris Christie 1 - Riverside Elementary West High School 49 4 5 0 0 0 0 2 - West Middle School West High School 55 10 9 2 0 0 0 3 - Loess Hills Elementary West High School 22 4 3 2 0 0 0 4 - Hunt Elementary Perry Creek Elementary 34 20 7 3 0 0 0 5 - Liberty Elementary West High School 21 14 10 2 0 0 0 6 - Hunt Elementary Bryant Elementary School 8 2 3 2 0 0 0 7 - Loess Hills Elementary West High School 14 5 0 1 0 0 0 8 - Liberty Elementary West High School 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 - Hunt Elementary Bryant Elementary School 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 10 - Loess Hills Elementary West High School 26 1 1 0 0 0 0 11 - Liberty Elementary West High School 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 - Perry Creek Elementary Perry Creek Elementary 102 31 56 5 3 0 0 13 - North Middle School North Middle School 57 26 22 11 0 0 0 14 - North Middle School North Middle School 47 11 21 11 0 0 15 - Leeds Elementary Leeds Elementary 42 14 4 2 0 0 0 16 - Unity Elementary Western Iowa Tech 14 1 2 4 2 0 17 - Lawton Comm. Center Lawton Bronson High School 102 37 9 7 0 0 0 18 - Bryant Elementary Bryant Elementary School 45 20 12 8 0 0 0 19 - Bryant Elementary Bryant Elementary School 21 16 6 1 0 0 0 20 - Irving Elementary Bryant Elementary School 6 3 4 2 1 0 0 21 - Unity Elementary Western Iowa Tech 20 0 1 2 0 0 0 22 - Spalding Elementary Western Iowa Tech 37 14 6 4 0 0 0 23 - Morningside Library Western Iowa Tech 15 15 4 7 5 0 0 25 - East Middle School East Middle School 41 20 11 4 1 0 0 26 - Morningside Elementary Western Iowa Tech 40 13 7 5 4 0 0 27 - Morningside Elementary Western Iowa Tech 28 18 7 7 2 1 0 28 - East High School Western Iowa Tech 88 49 43 14 17 0 0 29 - East High School Morningside Assembly of God Church 70 53 33 13 2 0 0 30 - Sgt. Bluff Comm. Center Sergeant Bluff Community Center 80 24 16 10 1 0 0 31 - Sgt. Bluff Comm. Center Sergeant Bluff Community Center 45 26 16 10 1 0 0 32 - Sgt. Bluff Comm. Center Sergeant Bluff Community Center 58 25 6 4 0 0 0 33 - Salix City Hall Westwood Community School 23 5 2 4 0 0 0 34 - Moville Comm. Center Moville Community Center 73 29 15 5 1 0 0 35 - Pierson City Hall Kingsley Pierson Middle School 15 3 2 0 0 0 0 36 - Correctionville Comm. Bldg. Correctionville Community Center 38 5 1 9 1 0 0 37 - Bronson City Hall/Comm. Bldg Lawton Bronson Elementary 39 8 3 6 1 0 0 38 - Cushing Fire Station Correctionville Community Center 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 39 - Hornick Fire Station Hornick City Hall 34 17 1 1 0 0 0 40 - Anthon Comm. Center Anthon Event Center 32 3 7 4 0 0 0 41 - Danbury Emerg. Service Bldg. Danbury Shelter House 19 10 1 9 1 0 0 42 - Sloan Comm. Hall Westwood Community School 36 10 4 4 2 0 0 43 - Smithland Fire Station Smithland Fire Station 15 3 0 2 0 0 0 44 - Oto City Hall Anthon Event Center 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 1,565 595 364 188 50 1 0

In Woodbury, western Iowa's largest county, Trump captured 1,565 votes, or nearly 57%, exceeding his statewide margin. The former president carried all but three of the county's 44 precincts.

DeSantis finished a distant second in the county with 21.7%, roughly in line with his statewide number.

Haley underperformed in Woodbury County, as the former South Carolina governor garnered just 13.3%, despite frequent stops to Sioux City and campaign spending in the market.

Vivek Ramaswamy, who finished fourth in Woodbury County with 6.8%, won one of the three low-turnout precinct that Trump didn't capture. The Ohio businessman received 9 of the 13 votes cast in precinct 11 on Sioux City's west side, with Trump taking the other four.

Trump received no votes in precinct 9 at Bryant Elementary School, where just two voters caucused. They split their votes between DeSantis and Haley.

In precinct 23, a Morningside precinct held at Western Iowa Tech Community College, Trump and DeSantis tied for the most votes with 15 apiece.

Bitter cold weather and snow-covered streets leftover from last week's winter storms likely kept some potential caucus-goers from showing up, said Suzan Stewart, co-chair of the Woodbury County Republican Party.

About 16% of the county's 16,0000 registered Republican voters, or 2,746, caucused on Monday night. That was down considerably from the last contested presidential caucuses in 2016, which attracted 5,055 voters, or 27% of GOP registered voters.

Stewart noted a state law passed a few years back now requires county auditors to classify more registered voters as inactive. There are now 6,281 inactive Republican voters, compared to 1,126 in 2016, she said.

Monday's caucuses drew just over 108,000 Iowa voters, or about 14.4% of the state's approximately 752,000 registered Republicans. It was the lowest turnout since 2000, when 87,000 voters caucused.

In addition to inclement weather, Stewart also attributed this year's lower turnout to fewer candidates and a less competitive race, compared to 2016. With Trump dominating the Iowa polls for months, his historic victory wasn't a surprise, as national media outlets, relying on entrance polls, declaring the former president the winner just about a half hour after caucusing began.
Warm Orange Glazed Hakurei Turnip Salad by Anita Jaisinghani Ajna Jai/Contributor Warm Orange Glazed Hakurei Turnip Salad by Anita Jaisinghani Ajna Jai/Contributor

These delicate little white Japanese turnips have become a fixture at farmers markets from New York to California to here in Houston. These days, there is a mountain of them at the prolific Plant It Forward stand, a must stop on my weekly trip to the Urban Harvest Farmers Market on Saturdays.

They can be eaten raw, shaved in salads, dipped into a tangy sauce, or cooked in a stir-fry with rice or noodles. Last week I decided to slow roast them with spices and orange juice and found them to be so delicious I had to stop myself from eating them all straight from the pan. I did not add any more sweetness than the fresh orange juice naturally provided but if you want a true sweet glaze, add a tablespoon or two of sugar.

WARM ORANGE GLAZED HAKUREI TURNIP SALAD

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4 bunches of Hakurei turnips (roughly 20-22)

5 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 teaspoon black mustard seeds

1 tablespoon peeled minced ginger

1 cup orange juice

1 teaspoon salt

Generous pinch chile powder

2 medium oranges

1 bunch red or green leaf lettuce

2 tablespoons sliced toasted almonds

Juice of 1 lemon

Instructions: Cut the turnips near the tops, reserving green leaves that appear edible. Wash the turnips thoroughly and set aside to dry.

In a medium sized frying pan over high heat, warm 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and pop the mustard seeds. Immediately add the turnips and fry on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently until they get some color on all sides.

Add the ginger, orange juice and salt and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the frying pan and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the turnips have softened.

Raise the heat and boil until the orange juice is mostly absorbed. Add the chile powder. Fold in the turnip greens. They will wilt a little but still be delicious.

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To enjoy them in a composed salad, arrange the lettuce in a large platter or individual little plates. Cut the skin of the oranges and slice them into segments and arrange on the lettuce. Place the warm turnips on the salad greens and scatter the toasted almonds on top.

Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and squeeze the lemon juice over the entire salad. Serve immediately.

Notes & variations

 The turnips can be made a day or two ahead, refrigerated and can also be served cold.

 Instead of making this composed salad, toss the glazed turnips with 4 to 5 stalks of thinly sliced celery and turn it into more of a tossed salad. Add the almonds, lemon juice and olive oil. This salad will keep for a few days in the refrigerator.

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 The black mustard seeds are not essential, but they do add a nice heat to the turnips. Eliminate entirely or replace with cumin, fennel or coriander seeds.

Serves 4 to 6
WASHINGTON  The Architect of the Capitol spent more than $14,000 in taxpayer money to bring in a yoga instructor to teach free midday classes twice a week to a small group of Senate staffers  expenditures that appear wasteful, according to the agencys inspector general.

The agency also paid $771 to an employee in the Senate Health and Fitness Facility to get certified to teach yoga to the staffers in 2021, an inspector generals investigative summary states. That would have eliminated the need to spend $14,400 on the outside yoga teacher, but, as of October 2023, the employee never got the certification.

The inspector general investigated the yoga issue because of allegations that the payments to the private yoga instructor were split into several smaller purchases to avoid transaction purchase card limits, a prohibited practice known as split purchasing.

While the watchdog did not find evidence to substantiate that accusation, the summary did express concern that taxpayer money was being spent for a service that already existed on the House side. That summary was made public in December.

In total, the inspector general identified both the multiple payments associated with the yoga instructor and the unfinished training certification amounting to $15,171.63, as Funds for Better Use.

The AOCs Health and Fitness Facility Branch on the Senate side has six full time employees, and none are certified to teach yoga, the summary states. On the House side, the AOC offers individual and group yoga classes taught by full-time AOC employees at the House Members Wellness Center.

Before COVID-19 hit, the Senate had a contract in place to provide yoga instruction at the Senate Health and Fitness Facility, but that teacher couldnt return after the pandemic due to a scheduling conflict, the inspector general found.

The Senate employee tasked with finding the yoga teacher reached out to several area vendors but had trouble finding someone because of the tight schedule requirements, the summary found.

Eventually, that employee hired the yoga instructor who would be paid through a government purchase card while the agency worked out a long-term contract, a process staff in an AOC division were in the loop on to ensure the classes were being funded, the summary states.

There were six processed credit card orders paid to the yoga teacher from May 2022 to March 2023 for $2,400 each  a total of $14,400, the summary states.

And while the yoga teacher was providing classes to the Senate staffers, that person was employed full-time by another agency. AOC Inspector General Christopher Faillas office referred any potential violations to that agencys inspector general, which was not disclosed in the summary.
DES MOINES  Iowa state health officials called for a broad overhaul of the states mental health and substance use treatment systems on Tuesday, presenting state lawmakers with a plan to merge several programs into one unified behavioral health system.

Marissa Eyanson, director of behavioral health at the Department of Health and Human Services, previewed the plan for lawmakers on Tuesday, saying it would help streamline services offered to Iowans, align the goals of existing systems and eliminate redundancies in state mental health and addiction treatment programs.

We have to reduce system redundancies, Eyanson said during an Iowa House Health and Human Services Committee meeting. Were wasting money when we have a better system, and were making it more confusing for people to access what they need.

Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds called for the merging of Iowas disparate behavioral health networks in her condition of the state address last week. Department of Health and Human Services officials said Tuesday the governors proposed bill to implement the change would be made public soon.

The proposal would dissolve Iowas 13 Mental Health and Disability Service and 19 Integrated Provider Network service areas, replacing them with seven behavioral health regions. Those regions would provide services and care for Iowans with mental health needs and substance use disorders.

Some disability services provided by the states Mental Health and Disability Service network would be shifted to the states Aging and Disability Services.

Our state is filled with capable professionals who care about getting Iowans the support they need, Reynolds said last week. But their talent and dedication are short-changed by a fractured system that makes coordination almost impossible.

The recommendations for the behavioral health overhaul came in a report by Health Management Associates, which the state hired to review the merger of the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The restructure would not lead to hiring any new state employees, officials said.

New system would transform funding

Iowa Health and Human Services director Kelly Garcia, who called the realignment a "once-in-a-generation opportunity," said the proposal would strike sections of state law dealing with addiction and mental health services and replace them with a comprehensive behavioral health system.

It will lay out the functions that are the state functions in that system, and then lay out the functions that ultimately are charged to local administrations at a district level, Garcia said.

The state would contract with local administrative service organizations, Garcia said, to carry out their services in each of the seven behavioral health districts.

Funding for the administrators would be similar to a block grant, Eyanson said, rather than the current model that funds individual services for each district.

Eyanson said the goal of the new system would be to target funding to measurable outcomes rather than services.

"We tend to fund a lot of things, we don't tend to fund a lot of functions," she said. "So what we want to do is move into a future state that says we're going to tie our funding to measurable outcomes."

Lawmakers react

Iowa Republican Rep. Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge, the chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, said the disparate health systems add difficulty.

It is a huge issue for every one of our districts, and weve been hearing about it from all of us for so long, she told the HHS officials on Tuesday. So thank you for the hard work addressing it.

Rep. Beth Wessel Kroeschell, a Democrat from Ames, said she recognizes there are problems that need to be addressed when it comes to accessing behavioral health services in Iowa.

She said she would be disappointed, though, if the proposed bill does not include any extra extra money going toward the states system to address the gaps in services state officials have seen.

We need to be serious about this, and you cant just shuffle the deck and expect new results if you dont fund it, she said.

How health insurance coverage impacts access to children's mental health care How health insurance coverage impacts access to children's mental health care How mental health coverage for children on Medicaid differs from those on private insurance
DES MOINES  Donald Trumps victory in the 2024 Iowa Republican caucuses was huge  the biggest anyone has ever seen in such a contest.

Trumps popularity among Iowa Republicans was on full display Monday night, when the former president who is seeking a return to the White House won the state partys presidential precinct caucuses by a historic margin.

Trump carried 98 of Iowas 99 counties  and came within a single vote in Johnson County of sweeping every one  while securing 51 percent of Iowa Republicans support in the caucuses.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished in a distant second place at 21 percent, and former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley finished third with 19 percent.

Trumps victory is far and away the largest ever in the Iowa Republican caucuses, which date to the 1970s. Before Monday night, the largest victory margin by a Republican Iowa caucus winner who was not an incumbent president was just 12 points: Bob Dole over Pat Robertson in 1988. Trump also became the first non-incumbent to surpass the 50 percent threshold in a Republican Iowa caucus.

So decisive was Trumps victory that multiple national media organizations called the Iowa caucuses for him at 7:30 p.m. Iowa time  while some precincts were still caucusing. Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann and the DeSantis campaign criticized those early projections by the media organizations.

Trump took the stage at his caucus-night rally at around 10 p.m. Monday and thanked Iowa Republican caucus participants, his family, the Iowa public officials who have supported him and his fellow GOP candidates: DeSantis, Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy. He then turned his remarks to current Democratic President Joe Biden, and celebrated his historic victory margin.

I want to thank everybody. This has been some period of time, and most importantly, we want to thank the great people of Iowa, Trump said.

The state party late Monday night said it projected statewide caucus turnout of roughly 100,000. Temperatures across the state reached historic lows for an Iowa caucus night, with wind chills in the range of minus 30 degrees.

Iowans braved record-low temperatures after a blizzard blanketed their state just days earlier to deliberate with members of their community about the future of our country and participate in true, grassroots democracy, Kaufmann said in a statement. Iowans coming out en masse demonstrates our peoples resilience and determination, as well as their confidence in the most transparent democratic process in the country.

Trumps victory in Iowa starts the nations presidential nominating process, and propels him on to New Hampshire, where he leads Haley in polling averages at Real Clear Politics and fivethirtyeight by roughly 14 percentage points. New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary election is next Tuesday.

Throughout nearly a year of caucus campaigning in Iowa, Trump held a consistent and commanding lead in public polls on the Republican presidential primary. The polls suggested Trumps popularity remains strong in Iowa, and Monday nights caucus results confirmed it.

After a second-place finish in the 2016 caucuses, Trump's campaign organization in Iowa left nothing to chance this time. The Trump campaign did a better job of doing the grassroots organizing work  finding and then securing the caucus commitments from supporters  that historically has been necessary to fuel a successful Iowa caucus campaign.

DeSantis edges Haley for 2nd

Despite finishing some 30 points behind Trump, both DeSantis and Haley celebrated the caucus results as a boost to their campaigns.

They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us, DeSantis told a raucous crowd of supporters gathered at his watch party at a West Des Moines hotel. They spent almost $50 million attacking us.  The media was against us. They were writing our obituary months ago.  But I can tell you, because of your support, in spite of all of that they threw at us, everyone against us, weve got our ticket punched out of Iowa.

The stakes were high for DeSantis, who is projected to do poorly in the New Hampshire primary. DeSantis was polling in a distant third in the Granite State with 5.8 percent support, according to FiveThirtyEights average of recent polls. Trump has about 40 percent of support among likely New Hampshire voters, while Haley follows at 30 percent.

DeSantis pinned his hopes for the Republican presidential nomination on Iowa, hoping a strong ground game and support from the states popular governor and an influential Iowa Christian evangelical leader could make up for lackluster polling. He bet on retail campaigning, visiting all of Iowas 99 counties, and intense ground organizing.

But his campaign became beset by infighting and dysfunction, and left much of the tricky task of organizing support for him to the Never Back Down PAC. Multiple senior officials of the PAC resigned or were fired following disputes.

Haley, the former South Carolina governor, cast her third-place finish as a victory, saying she rose from polling in the single digits to nearly taking second place. She pointed to the later contests in other states and said she was well-positioned.

I can safely say, tonight Iowa made this Republican primary a two-person race, she told supporters in West Des Moines.

Haley, who spent the weeks leading up to caucuses attacking DeSantis, quickly set her sights on Trump. She warned of the prospects of a rematch between Trump and Biden, saying Americans want to see the country head in a different direction.

Trump and Biden are both about 80 years old, she said. Trump and Biden both put our country trillions of dollars deeper in debt, and our kids will never forgive them for it.

Haley bolstered her support with national debate performances, a flood of anti-DeSantis advertising money from a super PAC and the endorsement and organizing power from the Koch conservative network, Americans for Prosperity.

Based on reported results, Haley gathered more support than DeSantis in urban and suburban areas like Scott, Black Hawk and Story counties, catering to moderates and independents who were not convinced by the far-right posturing of Trump and DeSantis.

Haley managed to beat Trump in Johnson County by only one vote, preventing the former president from winning all 99 Iowa counties.

Ramaswamy drops out

Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur from Ohio, was fourth at just 7.7 percent. Ramaswamy announced the suspension of his campaign and endorsed Trump.

Ramaswamy had promised his far-right and anti-establishment policy proposals could unite the country around a shared identity.

We are going to suspend this presidential campaign, Ramaswamy said Monday night. There is no path for me to be the next president, absent things that we dont want to see happen in this country.

Ramaswamy campaigned at lightning pace in Iowa in the months leading up to the caucuses. He held more than 200 campaign events and visited each Iowa county twice, his campaign said.

Ahead of the contest, Ramaswamy, a political newcomer, set sky-high expectations for himself, predicting he would win the Iowa caucuses and send a shock through the system.

Ramaswamy told reporters the strategy his campaign relied on  turning out non-traditional Republicans and first-time caucusgoers  failed to impact the results.

He failed, he said, to bring a sufficiently large number of them to actually sufficiently swing the election. I think because of the nature of the caucus process, its even different from a primary, that proved too difficult to actually translate into meaningful results.

Hutchinson drops out

Asa Hutchinson, the former Arkansas governor whose candidacy never got off the ground in Iowa, also suspended his campaign after the caucuses.

Hutchinson received just 191 votes across Iowa in the caucuses.

My message of being a principled Republican with experience and telling the truth about the current front-runner did not sell in Iowa, Hutchinson said in a statement. I stand by the campaign I ran.

Vanessa Miller of The Gazette contributed to this report.
Imagine if, whenever you went to your favorite bar, you ran the risk of your photo winding up plastered all over local media. Because of the type of bar in which you were spottedbecause of the types of people it servedfrom that moment forward, your ordinary, anonymous life would cease. Youd lose your job, your family would disown you, youd be an outcast and a laughingstock. How would the disgrace, however undeserved, make you feel? It would certainly make it hard to participate in everyday society; it might make life seem not much worth living at all.

Thisan ever-present fear of outing, social condemnation, and personal ruinwas the lot of gay men and gender-nonconforming people before Stonewall, when the riots in 1969 kicked off an era of resistance. And its a regime of terror that parts of the right-wing media are now trying to bring back where they can, sometimes with deadly consequences.

I was put in mind of the history of pre-Stonewall outing after following the story of F.L. Bubba Copeland, the mayor of Smiths Station, Alabama, who died by suicide this past fall after a forced outing campaign by a conservative site called 1819 News. The first story, published on Nov. 1, featured numerous pictures of Copeland, a local pastor as well as politician, dressed as a woman. The article revealed that Copeland maintained an Instagram account and online presence under the name Brittini Blaire Summerlin. In public life, Copeland presented as a heterosexual man with a wife and three children. On private social media accounts, Brittini presented as a transgender woman.

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In my work running the trans news site Assigned Media, I focus on monitoring these sorts of stories in the right-wing press, which is why I learned about this early, after a freelancer tipped me off to it on Nov. 2. It was just one of a few stories we batted around as possible topics for her Friday column. I was sickened by a passage that described how Copeland deleted the accounts when confronted by 1819 and begged the reporter not to make the information public, so I passed on covering it, hoping not to bring the story further attention.

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By Friday of that week, 1819 had followed up with four more articles: On the negative reaction of Alabama Baptist church leadership (Copelands denomination); Copelands sermon after the outing, in which he said a lot of things that were said were taken out of context; conservative radios harsh response to the story; and additional revelations on the contents of memes and erotic fiction Copeland had also posted, some of which mentioned or used the pictures of local residents. (In a meme pretending to show before-and-after photos of someone who had transitioned, Copeland used photos of a local brother and sister. A short story described a characters fantasy of killing and taking over the life of a local businesswoman.)

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By Friday evening, after five stories in three days and in a climate of intensifying harassment and mockery, Copeland was dead by suicide. The death happened in front of police, after a slow-speed chase by officers who were attempting to complete a welfare check. Friends had grown increasingly worried about the well-being of the mayor, but werent able to prevent the tragedy. After Copelands passing, he was remembered as a committed public servant who cared deeply about Smiths Station and its community.

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I read ugly hit pieces targeting the trans community every day in my work at Assigned, but this one felt different. It involved a person with no support or connection to the LGBTQ+ community, deeply embedded in conservative Southern culture, whose life was ruined by an outlet with no legitimate news interest. While later descriptions of Copelands misuse of local peoples photos and the creepy erotic story went outside of what Id consider ethical, the dresses and engagement online as a trans woman were the clear red meat of 1819s coverage. The whole situation didnt feel like a 2023 story at all, but something antiquated, from a time when people were regularly outed, their lives and careers ruined under a pretense of upholding moral values. What does the return of an outing-motivated suicide, decades after that sort of story had been relegated to the dustbin of gay history, say about where some in the online right want our culture to go from here?

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To answer those questions, I decided to consult some historians to better understand what life was like for LGBTQ+ people before Stonewall. I reached out to Charles Kaiser, a journalist and the author of The Gay Metropolis, a history of gay life since 1940, and Jules Gill-Peterson, an associate professor of history at Johns Hopkins (and Outward podcast co-host) whose new book on the history of trans misogyny will come out later this month. I asked them to describe the climate and culture where the humiliation of public outing had once routinely defined peoples lives, and sometimes led to their deaths. What I found was that my sense that Copelands outing resembled this earlier era was accurate.

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There were approximately four people who were out of the closet before 1960, Kaiser told me: Allen Ginsberg, James Baldwin, John Rechy, and Gore Vidal, sort of. (Vidal had a male partner and wrote about sexuality, but did not identify with the word gay.) In the time before Stonewall, Kaiser explained, outness was yet to exist as a valued or even coherent conceptbeing hidden was part of what it meant to be homosexual. As a New York Times reporter in the 1970s, Kaiser shared that he too had lived a closeted life at the time, with the understanding that if his sexual orientation became publicly known, hed be fired.

In most major metropolitan areas, in the 1950s and 60s, if there was a raid of a gay bar, the names of those arrested would be published the next day in the newspaper, he said. This was essential if you had any ambitions to do anything, he explained: Even the people who wrote West Side Story, all of them were in the closet.

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Gill-Peterson has studied the papers of Don Lucas, one of the leaders of the homophile movement, which was a precursor to the modern gay rights movement. She found that the noted homophile group the Mattachine Society identified shifting press coverage away from sensational outing stories as one of its key goals. Its the press that was the central vehicle, where this outing took place, she said. The police would call a local beat reporter and tell them to come down: Were raiding this bar, come down with your camera. 

For More on This Story, Listen to Outward: Slates LGBTQ Podcast

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The Mattachine members saw changing the press coverage of homosexuals as important, alongside forming relationships with police departments, because it was the press, as much as the police, who held their community in such terror. After a raid, whether or not those detained by the police were charged or arrested, police would make everyone theyd caught stand in a line. These lineups routinely included people identified as men wearing womens clothing; impersonation was a misdemeanor offense. It also made for a more lurid picture. The local beat reporter would snap a picture, police would pass on the names, addresses, and workplaces of each person, and all of that would go into the paper. The next day it would be public, and theyd all be fired, if they had steady work to begin with.

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The fear, and the excitement, of doing something with this level of risk defined gay life in the postWorld War II period. Kaiser described an informal rumor network that sought to establish which bars were raided regularly and limit the danger, but ultimately, chance played a huge role in who was outed and who wasnt.

This happened at a time, not dissimilar to our own in some ways, when much of America was gripped by an obsession with policing gender roles and sexuality. The disruption of the war had led to more gay men finding one another and to women working outside the home, wearing pants, and supporting their families. The consequences for those who strayed from tradition were public, swift, and intense. And for those made an example of, suicide sometimes followed.

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Its impossible to know how many victims of these outings killed themselves, but Kaiser and Gill-Peterson said that deaths by suicide were always part of the narrative. There were no straight allies. Gay people talked about it with themselves, people in the community discussed it, but there was no sympathy, Kaiser said. In the public, it was understood that since this was a mental illness, a response, perhaps the most likely response, to being outed was that they would want to kill themselves.

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When it comes to documented cases of suicides, we know that some occurred during whats now called the Lavender Scare, part of the 1950s Red Scare, where hunting and outing gay men in government jobs was presented as a matter of national security that went hand in hand with fighting communism. (The period was recently dramatized in the Showtime series Fellow Travelers.) This practice was justified because gay men were vulnerable to blackmail, a self-fulfilling prophecy if ever there was one. It was during this time that suicide became inextricably linked to the gay experience in the wider public consciousness, because of a few high-profile suicides connected to the Lavender Scare, including the suicide death of a U.S. senator, Lester Hunt, whose son was actually the one arrested and outed as a gay man.

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In America today, so much has changed that it might seem ludicrous to say that I fear a return to an environment like the 1950s and 60s moral panic over homosexuality, with its climate of secrecy and fear, and the central role of the press in driving harassment, humiliation, firings, and sometimes suicides. In parts of the country where LGBTQ+ acceptance is firmly ensconced, theres likely not much conservatives can do to roll back the tolerant attitudes decades of activism have won. But in other places where extremists have taken over governance, LGBTQ+ life, particularly trans life, seems much more precarious than we might have thought. For example, in Florida, trans teachers are already facing laws restricting what pronouns they can be called at work, and perhaps whether they can teach at all. If such laws drive more and more trans people into the closet, lower public visibility may lead to less social understanding and acceptance, driving a vicious cycle where the consequences of outing grow more dire as time goes on.

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I would think that trans people now, clearly, have the closest experience to what gay people had in the 1960s, in terms of the fear your existence activates in the population, and the cynicism of the right wing in exploiting that, Kaiser said.

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As for Bubba Copeland, I dont want this story to be taken as an attempt to place the mayor in a particular identity category or make his death represent a political argument. But the moral panic over transgender identities, which has stirred so much anger and hate for trans people, was clearly fuel for the outing that ended in Copelands suicide. Whether Copeland was a closeted trans woman, a gender-nonconforming man, a crossdresser, a hobbyist, a fetishist, or whatever else, an online presence that described Summerlin as a transgender curvy girl was what made the mayor a target. (1819 News did not comment on criticism of the articles, but did offer thoughts and prayers in a statement.)

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Copelands death comes in the context of an ongoing campaign by an emboldened, socially conservative right that openly seeks to bring back a regime of shame, self-loathing, and terror of being outed. When GOP politicians pass laws seeking criminal penalties for teachers and librarians for sharing sexually explicit materialand then define any mention of gay or trans people as sexually explicit or pornographictheyre seeking a return to the pre-Stonewall climate. When they make discussion of sexual orientation or gender illegal in schools, theyre seeking a return to the pre-Stonewall climate. When they attempt to ban drag performances, they are seeking a return to the pre-Stonewall climate.

The practice of press outlets terrorizing gender-nonconforming people over their private lives should have stayed in the past. That it could not only happen in 2023, but even end in suicide, should be a wake-up call for where the far right hopes their attacks on the trans community will go. Copeland hailed from the sort of small Southern town where attitudes about the LGBTQ+ community have changed the least, but attitudes arent static. Escalating attacks on the trans community, combined with laws designed to humiliate and stigmatize trans people by taking away the ability to change legal documents, barring trans people from using public restrooms, banning positive depictions of LGBTQ+ people in school libraries, forcing trans teachers to misgender themselves in classall of these measures seek to drive trans people out of public life in these places. Several Republican candidates for president in 2024 have made these their implicit or explicit nationwide plans, if elected.

When people cant exist openly in public, their true selves fight to be expressed in private, which leads to double lives marred by shame and fear of being exposed. Those are the toxic conditions some now seek: conditions in which outing can serve as the ultimate punishment for queer existence, threatening peoples social acceptance, their livelihoods, and even their very lives.
For President Biden, 2024 began much like 2023: with new polling data indicating that he is on track to lose his presidential reelection effort. The most recent USA Today/Suffolk University poll found Biden trailing Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, by two points nationally. A CBS News poll conducted the second week of January showed him losing in a hypothetical matchup to Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley.

If Bidens topline numbers are bad, his demographic cross-tabs look even worse: The presidents support among young voters, Black voters, and Hispanic voters, all critical constituencies, all seem to be cratering. Another late-2023 poll pegged Biden with record low favorability markswhich members of Bidenworld countered by telling the press they felt deep frustration, but, critically, that the White House feels no panic about the 81-year-olds prospects.

Its perfectly fine for Biden and his campaign staffers to feel that way. But its not OK for his administration to act like this is no big deal. Yes, polls are flawed, and were still a ways out from Election Day. But theyre not that flawed. Trump just trounced the field in Iowa, just as polls predicted. And theres a pattern here, a steady drumbeat since early last year of bad vibes, miserable polling numbers, and rock-bottom favorability figures for Biden.

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Theres only one thing left to do, legislatively. The president and his cabinet need to start governing like theres no tomorrowor rather, with the urgency of a team with only 10 months left to live (politically). They need to use the relatively tiny window of the remaining year to push through whatever remains of the Democratic agenda and to take the necessary preparations to minimize the damage of another Trump term.

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Troublingly, we havent seen enough of that. In November, the president pledged that he was committed to filling every judicial vacancy, a capstone to one of the greatest successes of the first Biden term. But he looks to be off-pace to get that done. Theres blame to go aroundmany of the nominees are hung up on Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbins insistence on outmoded procedural niceties that Republicans are using to slow the confirmation processbut there are currently about 60 vacancies, most of which the White House hasnt even nominated for yet, and most of which will be subjected to a long, grinding confirmation process. Without a change of course, the Biden administration is on track to hand over numerous judicial vacancies to a possible President Trump.

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The White Houses ongoing deliberation over immigration reformthe inaptly named border dealis even more jarringly shortsighted.

In negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators, the president has been pushing for a radical rewrite of the current immigration and asylum process, supporting some of the most punitive policy changes the Trump administration championed and sought in vain.

The deliberations are still ongoing, but, according to a report in the Messenger, the package is expected to contain new expulsion authority to rapidly turn away migrants without hearing their asylum claims; other restrictions to asylum and parole that would limit legal pathways of entry; expanding an authority that allows expedited removal of undocumented immigrants near the border to the interior of the country; and talk of mandatory detention for those who are allowed to remain in the country and have their asylum claims heard.

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Most alarming is the proposed abrogation of humanitarian parole, which would limit the executive offices authority to grant temporary protected status to immigrants fleeing conflict or acute instability: Ukrainians fleeing the war, for instance. Humanitarian parole has been the legal standard in place for 70 years; Biden has now signaled a willingness to overhaul it.

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Some of these policies seem ripped straight from notorious Trump adviser Stephen Millers wish list. The policy would expand detention at the border, which would almost certainly enable more family detention and/or family separation, re-creating those dire scenes of large-scale jail beds and tent cities that scandalized MSNBC anchors (and anyone with a heart) just six years ago.

It would also restart Title 42, re-empowering the executive office to limit immigration unilaterally, so long as there are exigent circumstances. Title 42 was the Holy Grail for Miller, who has sometimes been referred to as one of the most evil people to have worked for Donald Trump. Miller searched tirelessly for a justification to implement Title 42, and finally got one when COVID hit. The authority expired in Bidens term, but now the president is reportedly open to bringing it back. Reinstated under far less exigent circumstances than a global pandemic, this move would lend political legitimacy to the policy that it never had under Trump, and empower subsequent presidents to use and abuse it in various new ways.

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But forget talking about subsequent presidents in the abstract. Trump is, after the Iowa caucus, the undisputed front-runner of the GOP primary. Which means that Bidens immigration bargain is essentially implementing much of the astoundingly cruel, international lawdefying Trump policy program, supercharging the executive offices authority, and then potentially handing the reins back to Trump himself. At the very least, this agreement would empower a future Trump administration to go hog-wild on Day 1.

Some Biden watchers have said this is merely the price of getting further military aid for Ukraine, which the president desperately desires; others have said the president is motivated by his own desire for an immigration deal. It seems the one element of these miserable polls the president has chosen to pay attention to are questions of who voters trust to handle immigration and the border, where Republicans have a huge advantage after three years of harping on the issue tirelessly while the Democrats have mounted no defense and articulated no alternative.

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Its still possible, if not likely, that this deal will fall through. Republicans are more fractious than ever, especially in the House, where their majority will soon be down to two votes and Speaker Mike Johnson looks to be on the ropes. Republicans in-house intransigence and refusal to let Democrats accomplish anything may be the only thing saving Democrats from themselves on this. Sen. Chris Murphy, one of the Democratic masterminds behind this negotiation, seemed to indicate last week that the likelihood of passage was slipping away, while a partial shutdown looms and House Republicans line up in opposition to any actual governing.

Biden, now out on the campaign trail, is running strongly on the threat of another Trump term. But his teams lack of urgency and preparation for what Trump might do back in office indicates that Biden is still not taking that threat seriously enough. And that would be irresponsible even if Biden himself were leading in the polls.
This is part of Opening Arguments, Slates coverage of the start of the latest Supreme Court term. Were working to change the way the media covers the Supreme Court. Support our work when you join Slate Plus.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Courts conservative supermajority signaled its intent to overturn four decades of precedent and award itself even greater authority to strike down policies that govern every conceivable aspect of life in the United States. This revolution has been years in the making, the result of a lavishly funded campaign to transform the courts into a weapon against any regulation you can think of. The environment, the economy, health care, civil rights, education: All aspects of federal governance will be in peril, subject to the whims of unelected judges with zero expertise or accountability and a distinct bias toward deregulation. Throughout the morning, SCOTUS sounded hostile to the very notion that elections have consequencesat least when a majority of justices dislike those consequences. And the courts right flank evinced little concern about tossing 40 years of stable law, encompassing more than 17,000 federal court decisions, in favor of the Federalist Societys preferred regime. It appears ready, in Justice Elena Kagans words, to blow up one doctrine of humility, blow up another doctrine of humility, and then expect anybody to think that the courts are acting like courts.

Wednesdays arguments in Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo target a federal regulation that prevents overfishingthough their details are largely irrelevant in light of the courts grand, precedent-shredding ambitions. In 2020, the National Marine Fisheries Service compelled the fishing industry to help cover the cost of federal observers who monitor for overfishing. The fishers sued, drawing the government into a battle over the meaning of an overfishing statute that each side read differently.

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For decades, the Supreme Court has instructed judges to use a tool called Chevron deference when faced with such ambiguities. The doctrine is rooted in a 1984 decision, Chevron v. NRDC, which involved an EPA policy that loosened restrictions on air pollution. (This policy was enacted by Justice Neil Gorsuchs mother, EPA administrator Anne Gorsuch.) Environmental groups filed suit, but SCOTUS unanimously sided with the EPAs approach. The court explained that agencies are staffed by experts with far more knowledge in their specific area than judges. These agencies are accountable to the president, who is in turn accountable to the citizenry. The court thus held that it is entirely appropriate for agencies to make the policy choices inherent in interpreting ambiguous statutes. (This notion was already deeply entrenched in statutes and precedents going back to the 1940s.)

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At the time, Chevron drew staunch support from conservative judges like Antonin Scalia, who delivered a famous paean to the doctrine on the grounds that it accurately reflects the reality of government. This position aligned neatly with the Reagan administrations ongoing campaign of deregulation, which faced resistance from left-leaning courts. In the 1980s, Chevron deference forced judges to uphold Ronald Reagans deregulatory measures, making it a pet cause of the conservative legal movement.

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During Barack Obamas presidency, though, courts increasingly relied on Chevron to uphold a slew of new, progressive regulations. Predictably, the conservative legal movement and its industry backers abhorred this development. So right-leaning judges pulled an about-face, effectively declaring war on Chevron. In this era, the doctrine helped keep in place new regulationswhich the conservative legal movement abhorred. The Federalist Society, abetted by dark money groups linked to the Kochs, launched a crusade to turn Republican-appointed judges against Chevron. They rebranded the decision as an abdication of judicial duty that smothers the free market economy with illegitimate bureaucrat diktats. The gambit worked; even Justice Clarence Thomas, who once sang from the Chevron hymnal, turned against the precedent after he was befriended by its billionaire foes. It was no surprise, then, when the Supreme Court seized upon the herring cases as a vehicle to overturn Chevrondespite the fact that it had to exceed its own authority in the process, dropping the narrower question of statutory interpretation to take dead aim at precedent.

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The three liberal justices, led by Kagan, mounted an impressive defense of Chevron in the face of their colleagues open hostility. At its core, Kagan explained, the doctrine is about respecting democratic choices. Congress (whom the people elect) passes laws that grant the president (whom the people elect) broad discretion to make certain policy choices by assigning key decisions to executive agencies; federal judges (whom the people do not elect) must defer to these decisions so long as the accountable officials interpret the law reasonably. Some choices are highly technical and rely on the agencys specialized expertise. Others are contentious, allowing the agency to take sides in a public debate.

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With Chevron, each new administration provides its own answer to these questions. If the people dont like the answers, as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted, they can vote for a new president. Without Chevron, each administration is handcuffed to the federal judiciarys answer, replacing a democratic structure with judicial policymaking. Jackson didnt say this next part, but everyone knows it: Because SCOTUS is relentlessly hostile to the administrative state, this system stacks the deck in favor of deregulation. Whichlets be honestmeans boosting Republican presidents and hobbling Democratic ones.

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And yet, throughout Wednesdays arguments, the conservative justices condemned Chevron as some kind of anti-accountability chaos agent that sabotages good government. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who dissed Chevron during his audition for SCOTUS, assailed the decisions democratic traits as a bug, not a feature. The reality of how this works, Kavanaugh said, is Chevron itself ushers in shocks to the system every four or eight years when a new administration comes inwhether its communications law or securities law, competition law or environmental law, it goes from pillar to post. New administrations change policy, Kavanaugh continued, because they have disagreements with the policy of the prior administration.

But why is that a bad thing? Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who did a stellar (if futile) job defending Chevron, reminded Kavanaugh: Theres nothing inherently problematic or incompatible with our system of government to recognize that agencies can carry out new policies where Congress gave them flexibility. Gorsuch, archenemy of the administrative state, sounded aghast at this arrangement: The justice engaged Prelogar in lengthy sparring matches, trashing the purported fiction that Congress delegates policy questions to agencies. He claimed that Chevron has this disparate impact on different classes of persons, harming everyday people by putting a thumb on the scale of government and somehow stopping citizens from vindicating their rights in court.

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The remaining conservative justices were less dogmatic but made little effort to conceal their distaste for Chevron. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett played it straight at first, asking real questions that hinted at an understanding of the mess thatll flow from Chevrons demise. But by the end of arguments, both were hounding Prelogar with telltale complaints about the ostensibly arbitrary and power-drunk executive branch crushing the rule of law. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, who have gone on the record against Chevron, were only a bit subtler than Gorsuch and Kavanaugh. The writings on the wall of the marble palace, despite the liberals fierce fight.

Heres the bottom line: Without Chevron deference, itll be open season on each and every regulation, with underinformed courts playing pretend scientist, economist, and policymaker all at once. Securities fraud, banking secrecy, mercury pollution, asylum applications, health care funding, plus all manner of civil rights laws: They are ultravulnerable to judicial attack in Chevrons absence. Thats why the medical establishment has lined up in support of Chevron, explaining that its demise would mark a tremendous disruption for patients and providers; just rinse and repeat for every other area of law to see the convulsive disruptions on the horizon.

Judges should know what they dont know, Kagan protested on Wednesday, and leave these questions up to the people who do know. This Supreme Court, however, cannot conceive of the possibility that it is ill-equipped to decide every major policy question of the day. And this hubris is fueling a reckless race to snatch ever more power away from what remains of our democracy.
The long-shot, conspiracy-suffused, nakedly publicity-seeking campaign of Vivek Ramaswamy came to an ignominious end on Monday night, after he finished fourth place in the Iowa caucuses. Having failed to capture even 8 percent of the vote, the biotech entrepreneur departed the race by endorsing front-runner Donald Trump. Hes previously said he would turn down any potential offer for the VP slot, but he now seems to be considering that option (with conditions, of course). Meanwhile, Ramaswamys base of super-online trolls (e.g., Elon Musk, Bill Ackman, anti-woke venture capitalists) have gradually been moving on to their next great hope for shaking up the 2024 race: Democratic Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips.

Yep, you read that correctly: The wealthy oligarchs whove backed Ramaswamy and third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are now leaning toward a decidedly liberal, milquetoast Dem polling behind Marianne Williamson, who is unbelievably still in the race as well.

Sometimes if you build it, they dont come, Dean Phillips told reporters outside of the Manchester DoubleTree hotel this morning, after no voters showed up to his Government Repair Truck Coffee Conversations event in 22 degree weather. pic.twitter.com/x0lpVcRSnb  jake rosen (@JakeMRosen) January 9, 2024

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A lot of prominent, moneyed people are desperate for the 54-year-old Phillips to replace the 81-year-old Joe Biden on the Democratic ballot. Bill Ackman, the billionaire whos gained recent notoriety as a plagiarism hypocrite, said hell donate $1 million to a pro-Phillips super PAC because he sees a credible path for Phillips to overtake Biden down the line. Jason Calacanis, an angel investor and podcaster with an undying love for the Musk era of Twitter, started hosting a series of conversations with Phillips last month. Calacanis has been backing RFK Jr., but maybe hell be influenced by Musk himself, who seems to be turning into a Phillips reply guy. Indeed, right as Iowans braved frigid conditions to cast their votes, Ackman, Calacanis, and Musk hosted an hourlong Twitter Space with Phillips. Perhaps understanding the right-leaning tendencies of his hosts, Phillips took the opportunity to say he would set up the most extraordinary bipartisan Cabinet in American historyone that might perhaps include Musk and/or Ackman. One eager listener to the Space? Andrew Yang, whos rebranded himself as one of Phillips most enthusiastic supporters.

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Related From Slate Biden Needs to Govern Like Hes Probably Going to Lose Read More

Such glad-handing between Phillips and the business world isnt new. For much of his campaignwhich started this past October after he fruitlessly begged his party to primary Biden, due to legitimate concerns around his old age and frankly alarming approval numbersPhillips has found most of his tiny support within this community of tech-bro business guys. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has taken interest in the congressman, and a couple of his Silicon Valley associates launched the super PAC to which Ackmans donating. Joe Rogan believes Phillips could maybe pull it off. The conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board praised Phillips for his willingness to challenge Biden, saying he isnt a flake like RFK Jr.

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Its more than fair to be worried about Bidens reelection prospects amid the sea of grim polling numbers and an increasing certainty that hell be the main thing standing between America and a second Trump term. But  what assures these great minds that Phillips can take over? Perhaps its that Phillips, one of Congress wealthiest members, has an extensive business background. Hes an MBA holder, heir to the Phillips family liquor dynasty, former head of Talenti gelato, and founder of Twin Cities coffee chain Pennys. Plus, he won his seat by flipping a Republican-held district in 2018. Backers also seem to like that despite his Biden-aligned voting record and progressive outlooks on health policy and the filibuster, Phillips has bashed his party for demeaning Border Patrol agents, called the current migrant influx an unforgiveable disaster, and stood firm in his support of Israel.

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But for all Phillips insistence that Biden cant beat Trump again, its unclear whence his own confidence arises. He only raised $1 million last quarter and has already had to lend twice that amount to his campaign from his own pockets. So far, hes only broken through in right-leaning conservative media markets that love his border stance, his Biden-mocking ads, and the false equivalency hes made between his state-ballot troubles and the Jan. 6 insurrection. The audience for his New Hampshire debate with Marianne Williamson consisted of seventh graders.

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The tech-bro billionaire set might be deluded enough to think that their money and influence can make a contender out of an unknown, uninspiring, Midwestern congressman whose primary message is Biden is old. But its weird for Phillips to think he can make it in the Democratic primary and beat Trump by kowtowing with people like Musk, whos been parroting racist pseudoscience and boosting Stephen Millers America First Legal firm. Then again, Phillips isnt really here because he thinks he can become president. Hes here to mingle with exactly these typesjust like Vivek Ramaswamy was. Maybe the shift isnt so confusing after all.
Are you looking for box truck business ideas? The trucking industry is competitive, but these businesses are becoming increasingly popular, thanks to the growing trend of online shopping.

And these trucks are among the most demanded commercial vehicle types. With a little creativity and imagination, you can come up with a variety of ways to make your business stand out from the competition in this competitive industry.

What is a Box Truck Business?

These small businesses use a truck with a large, square-shaped box on the back to transport goods. This type of truck is often used for delivering large items or multiple items at once.

The box on the back of the truck protects the goods from bad weather and keeps them from being damaged during transit. This is a great option for those who want to start their own small businesses but dont have a lot of money to invest.

These businesses can be started with a relatively small investment and can grow quickly. With the right marketing, this can become a very successful business.

Why You Should Start a Box Truck Business

Starting a box truck business can be a game-changer for aspiring entrepreneurs. The versatility of box trucks makes them a valuable asset in various industries, and the demand for their services is consistently high. Here are five compelling reasons to consider this venture:

Low Startup Costs : Unlike many businesses that require a significant initial investment, starting a box truck business can be relatively affordable. Whether you already own a truck or decide to lease one, the operational costs can be manageable, allowing for a quicker return on investment.

: Unlike many businesses that require a significant initial investment, starting a box truck business can be relatively affordable. Whether you already own a truck or decide to lease one, the operational costs can be manageable, allowing for a quicker return on investment. Versatility and Diversity : A box truck can be utilized for numerous purposes, from moving services to advertising or even starting a mobile salon. This flexibility allows entrepreneurs to pivot their business model based on market demands.

: A box truck can be utilized for numerous purposes, from moving services to advertising or even starting a mobile salon. This flexibility allows entrepreneurs to pivot their business model based on market demands. High Demand : With the increasing need for delivery services, moving assistance, and more, the demand for box truck services remains high. This ensures consistent opportunities to generate revenue.

: With the increasing need for delivery services, moving assistance, and more, the demand for box truck services remains high. This ensures consistent opportunities to generate revenue. Opportunity for Expansion : Starting with one box truck doesnt mean youre limited to one. As the business grows, theres potential to expand the fleet, diversify services, or even franchise the business model.

: Starting with one box truck doesnt mean youre limited to one. As the business grows, theres potential to expand the fleet, diversify services, or even franchise the business model. Be Your Own Boss: Running a box truck business provides the freedom of self-employment. Entrepreneurs can set their own schedules, make strategic decisions, and reap the direct benefits of their hard work.

Our methodology for Deciding On the Best Box Truck Business Ideas for Small Business Owners

In our effort to guide entrepreneurs towards profitable and sustainable box truck business ventures, we apply specific criteria to evaluate the viability of each idea. Each criterion is rated on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates the least importance and 5 the highest importance in our review process:

Market Demand and Local Needs Importance: 5

We assess the demand in the local market for the services a box truck can provide. High demand in areas such as delivery, moving, or specialized transportation indicates a stronger business opportunity. Initial Investment and Operational Costs Importance: 4

The costs associated with acquiring a box truck, maintenance, insurance, and fuel are considered. Business ideas that require a lower initial investment and have manageable ongoing costs are preferred. Flexibility and Scalability Importance: 4

We evaluate the flexibility of the business idea in terms of the ability to adapt to different clients and scalability for future growth. Revenue Potential Importance: 5

The potential for generating steady income and profit margins is a critical aspect. We look for business ideas that offer sustainable and growing revenue streams. Regulatory Compliance and Licensing Importance: 4

Ensuring compliance with local and national transportation regulations, as well as the need for specific licenses, is vital for the legal operation of the business. Competitive Landscape Importance: 3

Understanding the level of competition in the area and the business ideas ability to stand out or offer something unique is important for long-term success. Experience and Skill Requirements Importance: 3

We consider the level of skill or experience required to successfully run the business. Ideas that are accessible to a wider range of entrepreneurs, including those with minimal experience, are rated higher. Environmental Impact and Sustainability Importance: 2

Given the growing awareness of environmental issues, we also consider the ecological footprint of the business and opportunities for sustainable practices.

By applying these criteria, our aim is to guide entrepreneurs towards box truck business ideas that are not only profitable but also feasible, sustainable, and well-suited to their local market conditions and capabilities.

12 Box Truck Ideas That Earn Money

If youre a box truck owner operator or have a box truck lease and youre looking to be your own boss as a business owner or an independent contractor, then youre going to love this list. If you already know How to Make Money with a Pickup Truck , then youll love some of the options listed below.

1. Box Truck Owner Operator for Hauling Junk

A Box truck independent contractor will never have a shortage of customers who need their junk hauled away. Just think of all the people who need their old furniture removed before they move to a new house. Or the businesses that need to get rid of outdated equipment.

And lets not forget about all the folks who finally decide its time to clean out their garage or storage unit. Theres always someone who needs junk hauled away, which means theres always money to be made for box truck owners. This can also be a flexible business opportunity thats easy to grow over time. And it requires little skills and experience to get started.

2. Provide Local Moving Services

If youre looking for a business idea thatll let you help your community while also making a profit, then consider starting a moving service.

The moving business doesnt only provide moving services as a great way to help people relocate, but its also an excellent opportunity for box truck drivers to make some extra cash on the side. You can even scale over time by adding additional services or expanding your service area.

3. Advertise with Your Box Truck

Its no secret that businesses need to advertise in order to get their name out there and attract customers. However, many box truck business owners may not know that selling advertising on their trucks is a great way to generate additional income. This requires little upfront investment and almost no skills and experience to get started.

4. Cater and Deliver Food, Furnish Events

Starting a truck business that caters and delivers food and furnishes events can be a great way to earn extra income.

Catering businesses can be very profitable, especially if you are able to get regular clients. Furnishing events can also be a great way to make money, as there is always a need for event furniture rental businesses.

5. Partner with Reliable Logistics Companies

By forming a partnership, the box truck business can provide transportation for goods to and from reliable logistics companies, and in turn receive a commission for each delivery.

This is a great way to generate additional income, and it also helps to build relationships with other businesses in the community. This can improve profit potential and limit startup costs, since you wont need to market to multiple customers or potential clients.

6. Deliver to Local Stores

One way that a box truck business can make money is by delivering to local stores. Local businesses often need products delivered quickly and efficiently, and your business can provide this service.

By delivering to local stores, a box truck business can build relationships with businesses and become their go-to delivery service. If theres significant demand for certain items in your area, you can even specialize in a particular type of store or delivery.

7. Be an On-Demand Courier

On-demand couriers are businesses that provide same-day delivery services for their customers. This is a great service to offer for businesses that need items delivered quickly, and its also a great way to make money on the side.

To become an on-demand courier, youll need to have a vehicle that can transport the items youre delivering, and youll need to be able to navigate your way around town.

Youll also need to be customer service-oriented, as youll be dealing with customers who are expecting their items to be delivered in a timely manner.

8. Offer Package Delivery Services

If youre looking for a way to make money with your box truck, then consider offering package delivery services. With this type of service, youll be responsible for delivering packages to businesses and homes in your area. Theres significant market demand for this service.

To get started, youll need to create a list of businesses and residents who may be interested in your services. Once you have a list of potential customers, you can start marketing your delivery services to them.

To make sure that your package delivery business is successful, its important to provide excellent customer service. This means being on time with your deliveries, being polite and friendly to customers, and providing a tracking number for each package that you deliver.

If offering a package delivery service sounds right up your alley, then you should learn How to Start an Amazon DSP Business .

9. Provide Storage Services

If you have a large box truck, then you could start a business that provides storage services. This could be a great option for people who are moving and need somewhere to store their belongings.

You could also provide storage units for businesses that are looking to declutter their office space. Having flexible payment options can help owner-operators increase business.

10. Mobile Hair Salon

You could start a mobile hair salon using a box truck by purchasing or leasing a truck that has been outfitted with all of the necessary equipment.

This would include items such as sinks, countertops, mirrors, and storage cabinets. You would also need to stock the truck with supplies such as shampoo, conditioner, towels, and hairdryers.

11. Rent Box Trucks

Owner-operators renting their trucks can be a great way to start a business. They can be used for a variety of purposes, such as moving furniture or delivering goods. You can also rent them out to other businesses that need them for their own operations.

There are a few things you need to do in order to get started, such as obtain the necessary licenses and insurance. Once you have those things squared away, you can start marketing your business to potential customers.

12. Start a Food Truck

Using a box truck is a great way to get started with a food truck business. Youll need a truck thats large enough to hold all your equipment and supplies, but not too large that its difficult to maneuver.

Youll also need to outfit your truck with the appropriate cooking equipment. You could specialize in a certain type of food, such as Mexican or Chinese, or you could offer a variety of dishes. Theres plenty of market demand for various food trucks, and this business model improves profit potential by targeting in-demand events and cutting down startup costs.

Box Truck Business Ideas Summary

Type of Service What You Could be Doing Description Hauling Services Box Truck Owner Operator for Hauling Junk Assist customers in removing unwanted items such as old furniture or outdated equipment. Useful during relocations or cleaning out spaces. Moving Services Provide Local Moving Services Aid people during relocations by transporting their belongings. Advertising Advertise with Your Box Truck Generate additional income by selling advertising space on the truck. Event Services Cater and Deliver Food, Furnish Events Cater food and furnish events for various functions, which can be a profitable venture. Partnership & Logistics Partner with Reliable Logistics Companies Partner with logistics companies to transport goods, generating income and fostering business relationships. Store Delivery Deliver to Local Stores Provide quick and efficient product deliveries for local stores, becoming their primary delivery service. Courier Services Be an On-Demand Courier Offer same-day delivery services for businesses and individuals, requiring timely transportation and excellent customer service. Package Delivery Offer Package Delivery Services Deliver packages to homes and businesses in the local area, focusing on timely deliveries and good customer service. Storage Provide Storage Services Offer storage solutions for individuals and businesses. Especially useful for those in transition or decluttering. Beauty & Personal Care Mobile Hair Salon Convert the box truck into a mobile hair salon equipped with all necessary tools and equipment. Truck Rental Rent Box Trucks Rent out box trucks to individuals or businesses for various purposes, from moving to deliveries. Food Services Start a Food Truck Transform the box truck into a food truck business, specializing in specific cuisines or offering a diverse menu.

Is it Worth Starting a Box Truck Business?

A box truck business is one of the best Small Business Ideas for Beginners since its a relatively easy business to start and doesnt require a lot of capital.

There is a lot of variation in the average annual pay for a box truck owner-operator. Some people make less than others with their own box truck business, but its clear that there are opportunities out on those streets.

If this sounds like a good opportunity to you, then maybe its time to set up a limited liability company or sole proprietorship, get a box truck lease, and get a healthy cash flow going.

What do You Need to Make Money with Box Trucks?

A commercial drivers license is a requirement for anyone who wants to operate a box truck for commercial purposes. Obtaining a CDL requires passing a written test, as well as a skills test that demonstrates your ability to safely operate the vehicle.

There are different classes of CDLs, depending on the weight and type of vehicle you will be driving. For example, a Class A CDL is required to operate any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more.

Having a fleet of trucks is the key to making money with them. You can either purchase your own trucks or get a box truck lease them from a trucking company.

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Box Truck Business?

Owning your own truck can be a very lucrative business with a stable income, but it does require money upfront to get started. The cost of purchasing a box truck varies based on its size, options, and where youre located in the world.

For example, the price of a Class 3 truck starts at about $30k, with class 4 trucks costing between $35k and $50k. As for Class 5 trucks, they usually run about $40k to $75k. The most expensive trucks are Class 6, which cost right around $50k to $100k.

The average annual pay for someone in the US owning and operating such a successful box truck business is between $93k and 186k, so there is potential to make a good living depending on your location and the box truck services you offer.

How do You Get a Box Truck Business Started?

Starting your own business is always a challenge, and starting a box truck business is no different. There are several things you need to do in order to get your business off the ground, and having a fleet of trucks can give you an advantage over your competition.

You need to create a business plan, obtain the proper permits and licenses, find a good location for your business and adhere to strict regulations. And make sure your legal papers are in order to avoid any unnecessary headaches down the road.

Conclusion

Embarking on a box truck business venture can be a transformative step for aspiring entrepreneurs. The versatility, low startup costs, and consistent demand make it an attractive choice for those looking to be their own boss and generate a stable income. Whether you already own a box truck or are considering a box truck lease, there are various profitable avenues to explore within this industry.

The 12 box truck business ideas presented in this article offer a diverse range of opportunities, catering to various interests and expertise. From hauling junk and providing local moving services to advertising on your truck and offering catering and event furnishing, the possibilities are vast. The key to success lies in identifying a niche that aligns with your skills and local market demand.

A box truck business not only provides financial opportunities but also offers the freedom of self-employment. Entrepreneurs can set their schedules, make strategic decisions, and directly reap the rewards of their hard work. However, its essential to adhere to all legal requirements, obtain the necessary permits and licenses, and maintain the integrity of your business.

Starting a box truck business may require some initial investment, but with dedication and a well-executed business plan, its possible to achieve a profitable return on investment. Owning and operating a successful box truck business can lead to a stable and rewarding career, with the potential for substantial earnings based on your location and the services you provide.

To get started with your box truck business, youll need to follow a series of steps, including obtaining the required commercial drivers license (CDL), securing permits and licenses, selecting the appropriate truck size and type, and creating a comprehensive business plan. Additionally, having a fleet of trucks can give you a competitive advantage and expand your businesss potential.

In the end, the key to success in the box truck business is a combination of industry knowledge, determination, and a customer-focused approach. By offering valuable services and consistently meeting the needs of your clients, you can build a thriving box truck business that provides financial stability and the satisfaction of being your own boss.
Sending holiday gifts to your clients, employees, partners, and service providers can help you show your appreciation for their hard work and support throughout the year. However, gift giving can also get expensive. Thats why you need to set a business gift budget before going on a shopping spree.

Are there a lot of people on your gift giving list this year? That can add up quickly. Here are some tips on coming up with a gift budget for your business:

Review Your Financials : Determine how much you can afford without compromising essential operations.

: Determine how much you can afford without compromising essential operations. List Recipients : Include everyone youre considering giving a gift to, such as clients, employees, partners, etc.

: Include everyone youre considering giving a gift to, such as clients, employees, partners, etc. Allocate Budgets : Assign a rough budget for each category of recipients.

: Assign a rough budget for each category of recipients. Tax Deductions : Remember that gifts costing $25 or less might qualify for business gift deductions.

: Remember that gifts costing $25 or less might qualify for business gift deductions. Consider Alternatives : Think about non-material gifts or gestures to recognize contributions.

: Think about non-material gifts or gestures to recognize contributions. Spread the Expense: Consider giving throughout the year rather than all at once.

Creating a Business Gift Budget

Determine the Total Amount You Can Spend

Every business, be it a startup or an industry giant, operates with diverse financial frameworks. Young businesses, particularly, are focused on frugality and cost-saving measures.

Such businesses might find it tough to allocate significant amounts for holiday gifting compared to their established counterparts.

Therefore, as an essential first step in budgeting for gifts, comb through your annual financial statements. Identify what remains after covering crucial operational costs.

This gives you a clear picture of the disposable amount for gifts without hampering crucial business activities.

Analyze your year-end financial statements to identify disposable income.

Ensure that gifting does not impact essential business operations or cash flow.

Consider past years gifting expenditures for reference.

Create Your Gift List

Before diving into the gifting process, its essential to quantify the recipients. A business that boasts a vast network comprising numerous employees, collaborators, and clients will naturally have to be more frugal with each gift.

On the other hand, if youre steering a smaller ship with a tight-knit crew, the leeway for individual gifts could be broader.

Regardless of the financial value, the symbolic value of appreciation remains priceless.

While penning down names, remember to account for everyoneemployees, clients, freelance partners, colleagues, and even behind-the-scenes helpers like service providers. Every entity thats touched your business journey deserves acknowledgment.

Categorize recipients into groups such as employees, clients, partners, and service providers.

Ensure no key person is overlooked; consider length and depth of the relationship.

Prioritize recipients based on their impact on your business.

Break It Down

Some simple math can help you determine how much to spend on each person on your list. You should spend roughly the same for the people in each category. But you dont necessarily need to keep it consistent throughout different types of recipients.

For example, you should spend about the same on every employee. But you will probably spend a bit less on the gift for your letter carrier.

You might also spend a bit more on clients with big accounts or people in your upper management team. Just make sure not to show overt favoritism with your gift budget.

There isnt a specific rule about what to spend one clients or employees. If you have a huge team or extensive list of clients, you might get small gifts that are worth around $10.

But if you have a small, close-knit team then you should spend a bit more if youre able to. With service providers, the amount can also vary depending on their relationship with your business. But gifts of around $20 in value are usually pretty safe for people like postal workers.

Divide your total gifting budget among the recipient categories.

Consider the nature of your relationship with each recipient group to determine appropriate spending.

Allocate more for clients or employees who have significantly contributed to your business success.

Remember Business Gift Deductions

While the act of gifting is rooted in gratitude, it doesnt hurt to be aware of its financial implications. Business gifts, while an added expense, can swing in your favor during tax season.

If your gifts hover around or below the $25 mark and you meet specific IRS criteria, you stand to gain from business gift deductions.

Its a silver lining that can offset a portion of the gifting expenditure, providing a financial cushion. Check the details on the IRS website to ensure you leverage this provision to the fullest.

Familiarize yourself with IRS rules regarding business gift deductions.

Keep individual gift expenses around or below the $25 mark to qualify for deductions.

Maintain proper documentation and receipts for all gift purchases.

Consider Alternative Gifts

Monetary constraints shouldnt dampen the spirit of gratitude. If the budget tightens, its time to think out of the box. After all, its the thought that counts, and sometimes, more heartfelt gifts come without hefty price tags.

Personalized letters, offering exclusive service/product discounts, or sharing a batch of homemade treats are all gestures that scream appreciation.

Another avenue to explore is hosting an office or business festive gathering. It might come with its price tag, but the shared moments and camaraderie can more than compensate.

Get creative with non-material gifts such as service discounts, exclusive offers, or heartfelt notes.

Explore group activities or events as alternative ways to show appreciation.

Personalize gifts to add emotional value without significant financial costs.

Spread Out the Expense

Strategic financial planning is key to sustainable gifting. If the holiday season feels financially overwhelming, it might be wise to stagger your gifting throughout the year. This not only ensures your bank doesnt break but also offers regular touchpoints of appreciation.

Maybe, service providers get a token of appreciation during the festive season, while top-tier clients get a new year gift. Employees might be celebrated on personal milestones like birthdays.

The crux is to remain consistent in your appreciation, ensuring that delaying gifts doesnt translate to forgetting them.

By forward-planning, the financial burden gets diffused, making the process more manageable.

Plan to give gifts throughout the year to manage cash flow better.

Celebrate individual milestones or seasons to keep the gesture meaningful.

Regular, smaller gestures of appreciation can be more impactful than a single large gift.

Embrace Bulk Purchasing

Bulk purchasing involves buying gifts in larger quantities, which often leads to cost benefits and streamlines the gifting process.

Cost Savings: Bulk buying usually comes with reduced prices per unit.

Bulk buying usually comes with reduced prices per unit. Uniformity: Provides consistency in gifts, especially beneficial for larger teams or client groups.

Provides consistency in gifts, especially beneficial for larger teams or client groups. Time Efficiency: Reduces the time spent on selecting and acquiring individual gifts.

Leverage Promotional Deals

This strategy involves taking advantage of special offers, seasonal discounts, and vendor relationships to make the most of your budget.

Seasonal Offers: Utilize holiday or seasonal discounts for savings.

Utilize holiday or seasonal discounts for savings. Early Bird Discounts: Purchase gifts early to capitalize on early offers.

Purchase gifts early to capitalize on early offers. Vendor Relationships: Cultivate vendor relationships for potential discounts on large orders.

Incorporate Handmade or DIY Gifts

Opting for handmade or DIY gifts adds a personal touch and can be more cost-effective compared to buying ready-made items.

Personal Touch: Handcrafted gifts offer a unique and memorable experience.

Handcrafted gifts offer a unique and memorable experience. Cost-Effective: Typically more budget-friendly than purchasing retail items.

Typically more budget-friendly than purchasing retail items. Team Building: Creating DIY gifts can be a team activity, enhancing team bonding.

Gift Experiences Over Items

Instead of physical gifts, offering experiences can create lasting memories and provide a range of options to fit different budgets.

Memorable Impact: Experiential gifts tend to be more impactful and memorable.

Experiential gifts tend to be more impactful and memorable. Cost Versatility: Range of options from affordable local experiences to more exclusive ones.

Range of options from affordable local experiences to more exclusive ones. Personalization: Tailor experiences to individual tastes and preferences.

Utilize Digital Gifting Options

Digital gifts such as e-gift cards or online subscriptions offer flexibility and are an increasingly popular gifting choice.

E-Gift Cards: Convenient and adaptable to a wide range of preferences.

Convenient and adaptable to a wide range of preferences. Subscriptions: Offer subscriptions to relevant services or digital platforms.

Offer subscriptions to relevant services or digital platforms. Flexibility: Allows recipients to choose their preferred items or experiences.

Implement a Gifting Policy

Establishing a company-wide gifting policy ensures consistency, fairness, and financial discipline in corporate gifting.

Set Clear Guidelines: Clear policies help in maintaining uniformity and fairness in gifting.

Clear policies help in maintaining uniformity and fairness in gifting. Budget Limits: Define and adhere to budgetary constraints.

Define and adhere to budgetary constraints. Transparency: Ensures clarity and prevents misunderstandings or disputes.

Focus on Charitable Giving

Incorporating charitable donations as gifts aligns with social responsibility and can provide tax benefits.

Social Responsibility: Reflects the companys commitment to social causes.

Reflects the companys commitment to social causes. Group Impact: Donations made in the name of employees or clients can have a broader impact.

Donations made in the name of employees or clients can have a broader impact. Tax Benefits: Often, charitable donations are tax-deductible.

Monitor and Adjust Annually

Regularly reviewing and adjusting the gift budget strategy helps in maintaining its relevance and effectiveness.

Annual Review: Assess the budget and strategys effectiveness yearly.

Assess the budget and strategys effectiveness yearly. Feedback Inclusion: Use recipient feedback to refine future gifting plans.

Use recipient feedback to refine future gifting plans. Adapt to Changes: Modify the strategy based on business evolution, financial changes, and feedback.

As you work to determine your gift budget, utilizing a structured breakdown can simplify the process. The table below provides a framework for you to fill in, allowing you to tailor your budget allocations to different recipient categories within your business community:



Recipient Type Approximate Budget Notes Employees _______ Consider spending roughly the same for each employee. Clients (big accounts) _______ Adjust based on client's importance or account size. Service Providers _______ Think about individuals like postal workers, cleaners, etc. Upper Management _______ You might opt to allocate a bit more for these individuals.
China's tech giant Huawei launches latest smart products in Turkiye

Xinhua) 11:17, January 17, 2024

ISTANBUL, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese technology giant Huawei launched its latest innovative products in Turkiye's Istanbul on Tuesday.

All of the four products launched at the event, themed Creation of Beauty, are designed to enhance creativity in business and can handle various office tasks with high performance, according to Huawei.

Adem Baris, a Turkish photographer, told Xinhua that he was particularly impressed by Huawei FreeClip, which features a C-bridge design that provides a comfortable listening experience on the move.

"The fact that it does not fall off the ear and its ultra lightness is very important for people, especially those who play sports," said Baris.

According to Huawei, FreeClip was designed with over 10,000 global human ear data and micron-level ergonomic craftsmanship with over 25,000 reliability tests.

Baris also hailed the functionality of HUAWEI MatePad Air PaperMatte Edition, which offers a pen-on-paper writing experience and a paper-like reading experience.

Tian Wenhao, president of Huawei Consumer BG Europe, said the company will continuously create and produce more innovative, creative, and fashionable products in 2024, stressing the importance of the market in Turkiye for Huawei.

Yao Wenming, the Turkiye manager of Huawei Consumer BG Europe, said the company's vision in Turkiye in the computer category is to become the top brand in high-performance ultra-thin PCs.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1866. Jack Yates once served as pastor of the church, Houston's first African American congregation. Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer A student is framed by the stained glass windows of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church as she presents her speech on MLK Day in 2018. Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle A photo of the Rev. Jack Yates, minister of Antioch Baptist Church (1870-1891) is incorporated into a stained glass window honoring former ministers of the church. E. Joseph Deering/Houston Chronicle Antioch Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1866 in Houston on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Jack Yates once served as pastor of the church, which was Houston's first African American Baptist congregation. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Now entering its second year, the National Trust's African-American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has awarded $4 million to 31 historic Black churches as part of the Preserving Black Churches grant. The investment aims to protect the legacy of Black churches against preservation threats, including deferred maintenance and demolition.

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Houston's oldest Black Baptist Church, was named the recipient of a $180,000 capital grant to support the restoration of its stained-glass windows. Antioch's windows, gothic frames and sills initially sustained damage during Hurricane Ike in 2008.

Finalist Edlawit Getachew of Briarmeadow Elementary, competes in the MLK Jr. Oratory Competition at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

The Fourth Ward church was founded in 1886 by nine formerly enslaved men and women. Jack Yates once served as pastor of the historic church.

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"We launched the initiative in 2021, then the first round of grants in 2023 awarded $4 million to 40 churches," said Tiffany Tolbert, the Action Fund's senior director of preservation. "We reopened the grant cycle this past fall and received more than 600 applications."

Selected grant recipients represent multiple denominations. Some churches have been repurposed for community centers, serving as pillars of African American life, social justice and support.

Awards were considered for projects that fall in five categories: capital projects; project planning; programming interpretation; organizational capacity building; and financial sustainability and endowment.

Primary support for the grant program stems from the Lilly Endowment's $20 million gift in 2021 to establish the Preserving Black Churches Project.

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"It also supports emergency funding grants to address really pressing issues and comprehensive preservation planning," Tolbert said.
Are you wondering how to sell Amazon products on Instagram and boost your Amazon stores presence on social media? Tired of relying solely on Amazon search for new sales and eager to expand beyond the platform? Selling products from your Amazon store on Instagram is a prime opportunity for eCommerce companies.

It allows you to showcase your products, connect with your target audience, and build a broader presence that keeps your brand at the forefront of your ideal customers minds. Learn how to sell Amazon products on Instagram and elevate your online reach today!

Heres a related video from Learn from Shopify that teaches you how to sell by setting up an Instagram shop in no time that you can check out after reading:

How to Get Started Selling Amazon Products on Instagram

If youre looking for guidance on how to begin selling Amazon products on Instagram, heres a step-by-step guide that may be helpful. By following these steps, you can tap into Instagrams vast user base and promote your Amazon products successfully:

1. Set Up an Instagram Business Account

If you dont have one, create an Instagram Business Account.

Connect your account to your Facebook Business Page, which must also be connected to your Amazon store.

2. Understand Your Target Audience

Research your target demographic on Instagram.

Use insights and analytics to understand what appeals to your potential customers.

3. Create Engaging Content

Develop high-quality photos and videos of your products.

Share compelling stories that resonate with your audience.

Use relevant hashtags to enhance discoverability.

4. Utilize Instagrams Shopping Features (If Applicable)

If suitable for your business, use Shopping on Instagram.

Tag products in your posts, providing more information and direct links to your Amazon product pages.

5. Build a Community

Engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages.

Collaborate with influencers in your niche.

Offer exclusive discounts or promotions to your Instagram followers.

6. Use Instagram Ads (Optional)

Consider running Instagram ads to reach a broader audience.

Use Facebooks Ad Manager to create targeted ad campaigns.

7. Analyze and Adjust

Regularly review Instagram Insights to understand whats working and whats not.

Adjust your strategy based on data-driven insights.

8. Comply with All Applicable Rules and Regulations

Ensure that youre following all of Instagrams policies and any applicable laws related to online selling.

9. Consider Professional Tools (Optional)

Tools like Vizns social media management might be helpful to target niche audiences and avoid fake followers.

10. Maintain Consistency and Authenticity

Keep a consistent posting schedule.

Maintain authenticity and trust with your followers by being transparent and true to your brand.

This table provides a concise overview of the essential steps for selling Amazon products on Instagram, making it easy to use as a checklist as you embark on your selling journey:

Step Description Set Up an Instagram Business Account Create and connect an Instagram Business Account to your Facebook Business Page and Amazon store. Understand Your Target Audience Research and analyze your target demographic on Instagram. Create Engaging Content Develop quality photos, videos, and stories; use relevant hashtags. Utilize Instagram's Shopping Features If applicable, use Shopping on Instagram and tag products in posts. Build a Community Engage with followers, collaborate with influencers, and offer promotions. Use Instagram Ads (Optional) Run Instagram ads to reach a broader audience through targeted campaigns. Analyze and Adjust Review insights regularly and adjust your strategy accordingly. Comply with All Applicable Rules Follow Instagram's policies and all relevant laws related to online selling. Consider Professional Tools (Optional) Consider using professional tools like Vizns for targeting niche audiences. Maintain Consistency and Authenticity Keep a consistent posting schedule and maintain authenticity with your followers.

Benefits of Instagram to Amazon Sellers

Instagram can provide a number of benefits to Amazon sellers. 60 percent of users learn about new products through Instagram. More than 200 million users visit a business profile on the platform at least once per day. By creating a reliable presence on the platform, you position your products to be the one that Instagram users are learning about.

Some of the benefits that Amazon sellers will find in maintaining and growing a presence on Instagram include:

A Visual Platform

The fact that Instagram is a visual-first platform makes it ideal for Amazon sellers. You want to make sure that you are getting your products in front of interested parties, and nothing can do that better than a picture. Shoppers want to see what they are buying. They want to see the product image, and if you can, images that show how the product works to the benefit of your buyers, either in its usefulness or in the lifestyle that it helps to create.

Get Your Products In Front of Your Intended Audience

Instagram has become a giant in the social networking space. With more than one billion users, you can rest assured that a healthy portion of your audience uses the platform. Additionally, Instagram allows for unfettered access to audiences. Facebook compels companies to pay for their advertising services. They restrict the reach of organic business pages, pushing companies to pay for ads.

Instagram, on the other hand, doesnt have those sorts of limitations in place. All of your followers will be able to fully access all of your posts. While Instagram does offer advertisement placements it is best to build an organic audience simultaneously.

Promote a Trusted Name

One benefit that Amazon sellers are keenly aware of is the fact that promoting products that are sold on Amazon are generally much easier than trying to promote products on your own website. Amazon is a name that packs a lot of built-in trust with any audience. The trust is inherent. That makes for fewer objections and more conversions on Instagram and other social traffic sources.

Stay Top-of-Mind

For Amazon sellers, its so important to stay top-of-mind with your audience. Amazon is a big site and users can quickly lose interest in your product, stumble across a competitor, or forgot to come back and buy after initially discovering your item. Instagram provides you with the ability to consistently drip-feed information about and images of your products to your audience.

Your ability to engage in real-world conversations and develop connections with your ideal customers and industry influencers can put you in a position to reach a wide cross-section of your audience, driving targeted traffic to your Amazon product pages regularly.

Targeted Marketing with Hashtags and Influencers

Instagrams use of hashtags allows Amazon sellers to target their marketing efforts more precisely. By using relevant hashtags, sellers can reach audiences specifically interested in their product categories. Furthermore, collaborating with influencers who have a significant following in a relevant niche can amplify a products visibility. Influencers can provide authentic endorsements, tapping into their followers trust, which can lead to increased traffic and sales on Amazon.

Customer Engagement and Feedback

Instagram offers a direct line of communication with customers. Amazon sellers can use the platform to engage with their audience, respond to queries, and gather feedback. This interaction not only builds customer loyalty but also provides valuable insights into customer preferences and trends. By understanding what their audience likes and dislikes, sellers can optimize their Amazon listings and develop products that better meet the needs of their target market. This proactive engagement can lead to improved customer satisfaction and repeat business.

Instagrams Demographics Benefit eCommerce Companies

Instagram is used by more than 35% of all U.S. adults. Their users are very engaged, with more than 500 million (of the 1 billion total) using the platform on a daily basis. They are slightly more popular with women with 39% of online women using the platform vs. 30% of online men.

Their users skew young and engaged  very young. More than 70% of all 13-17 year olds are on the platform. But their young user-base doesnt mean that they arent popular with the prime buying ages. A whopping 40% of U.S.-based 30-49 year olds use Instagram as well.

U.S. Instagram User Reach by Age

Source: Pew Research Center

The upside of Instagram having the audience it does it that it can help eCommerce companies to reach a younger audience without missing out on individuals within the prime buying age bracket of 30-49.

Instagram users also tend to be educated, with 42 percent of adults who graduated college using the platform. They earn more than the user bases of other platforms. 32% of adults that make between $50,000-$74,999 use Instagram, and 42 percent of adults who make over $75,000 use the platform. In other words  Instagram users have money to spend.

Why Instagram for Amazon and Not Another Social Platform?

Instagram is often cited as the best platform for eCommerce companies to establish a presence. While Facebook and Twitter can be helpful and viable choices for eCommerce companies, Instagram typically stands heads and shoulders above the competition in terms of ROI produced.

First, it is important to understand that when you establish a presence on Instagram, you are securing your position on a rapidly growing platform. After their acquisition by Facebook in 2012, the company has seen sustained growth each year and grew to more than 1 billion users worldwide in 2018.

Showing no signs of slowing down, we can expect to see more rapid growth from the platform in 2019. But the importance of Instagram as a network is about more than just the total number of users. Understanding who those users are and how they use the internet in their buying decisions helps to paint the picture of how useful Instagram can be to eCommerce companies.

Utilizing Instagram for Amazon Sales: Building Real Community and Brand Credibility without Expensive Ads

But how do amazon sellers market their products on Instagram to build a real community without expensive ads? Vizns social media management is a new product that allows Amazon sellers the ability to target niche audience and then reach out to them using anti-fake follower technology. This allows brand to create a fanbase of real followers that convert to sales in an environment that is normally notorious for bot traffic. The best part is that their algorithms help boost you to the top of the explore page which repeatedly makes your posts viral. We will talk about e-commerce features shortly but first lets talk about why Instagram is the best platform for these strategies.

The Main Challenges with Selling on Amazon

Often, brands that sell on Amazon become too reliant on internal mechanisms to generate sales. Particularly brands that dont operate a separate eCommerce property and rely on the platform for the majority of their sales. They too often focus on what they can do on Amazon, without putting enough thought into how they can grow their sales by promoting on outside channels and establishing brand credibility that differentiates their listings.

But identifying the right platform can be tough. There are so many social media platforms to choose from, and knowing where your demographic spends their time requires that you dig in and conduct some research. Even so  there are few platforms that perform as well as Instagram does for eCommerce companies and Amazon sellers. Instagram provides a visual medium, engaged audience, and a user-base with demographics that put them among the most frequent online shoppers.

Instagram for Amazon Sellers Best Practices

Even though Instagram is often the right choice of social platform for Amazon sellers, it can still be a tough nut to crack. There are still best practices that must be followed to ensure that you are continually growing your presence and getting your posts in front of your intended audience.

As you start the journey of establishing your brand on Amazon and promoting your Amazon products, keep these best practices in mind:

Consistency is Key

Consistency matters when it comes to Instagram. You need to find the happy medium between posting often enough to stay on the radar of your intended audience without letting the quality of your posts dip. Brands see engagement rates that are 10x on Instagram than they are on Facebook. Instagram images in particular receive an average of 23 percent more engagement than Facebook images. But brands work hard to drive that engagement, with the average brand posting an average of 27+ times per month. Aim to post consistently but not sacrifice quality in the process.

Create Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are perhaps the hottest feature on Instagram. With more than 400 million daily active Instagram Stories users, the video-centric feature produces high levels of engagement and helps you to stand out from the competition because Instagram Stories show up in a different section of the app than typical postings. Creating regular Instagram stories can be a great way to stay top-of-mind with your customers and grow awareness over time.

Additionally, Instagram stories help to create more reach for your standard posts as well. The more that a user interacts with your Instagram Stories, the more likely your posts are to show up on their feed.

Quality over Quantity

While it is important to ensure that you are posting enough to keep your audience engaged and aware of your presence, you do not want to sacrifice the quality of your posts in the process. Ultimately, the amount that your audience engages with your content affects how often your posts will show up in their feed. Accounts that generate higher levels of engagement have their posts show up more often than accounts that dont.

Here are a few facts about the Instagram algorithm that all Amazon sellers need to know:

The Instagram algorithm looks at total engagement when deciding what content will be displayed on your followers feeds. This means the total number of likes, comments, views, and profile click-throughs all have an effect on your overall score.

Instagram doesnt just look at overall engagement, they also look at how quickly your audience engaged with the posts as well. Posts that get a lot of comments and likes shortly after posting signal that youve posted quality content and Instagram places more priority on displaying it.

The length that a user views your post also plays a role. This is why writing a good caption is so important. You want to give your audience every reason to continue interacting with the content that you share for as long as you possibly can.

Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to maximizing the reach of each post that you make.

Share User-Generated Content

Dont just share product images with your audience! When your users share a picture of themselves with your product, reach out to them and ask if you can post it on your official page. You can even go a step farther and find ways to encourage your users to share user-generated content through contests or similar strategies.

Heres an example from Wayfair, who invited their users to share pictures with their products only to find out that theyre shelving unit doubled as a pretty effective cat tree:

Optimize Your Profile

As an Amazon seller on Instagram, your goal is to increase awareness for your brand and direct Instagram users toward your Amazon product pages. If you dont explain who you are and where they can find your products, you wont be doing your brand much good. Make sure that you provide at least a link to your brand page, along with a short description of your company.

Engage Regularly with Followers

Conversations are a two-way street. One of the biggest mistakes that eCommerce brands continually make is treating their Instagram presence like it were a bullhorn. They constantly post new product images and updates but fail to consistently engage with their audience. The thing that they dont understand is that engagement is the whole point of establishing a presence on Instagram or any social media property.

Talk to your fans. Jump into conversations. Answer questions that they might have. While its alright to automate a portion of your overall presence on a platform, you have to make sure that you are genuinely engaging and developing connections with your customers, or else you are diminishing the returns you receive for your efforts.

Seek Out Cross-Promotion Opportunities

Being mentioned by other accounts can expose your brand to new audiences. Working out deals with similar brands and Amazon sellers to cross-promote each others products will help you secure more sales. Additionally, it will also help you to grow your following, as well. This business development aspect of growing your social presence does require some effort and acuity to navigate but can pay off for brands of any size.

Consider Influencer Marketing

Sometimes eCommerce brands and Amazon sellers dont have the time and patience to build an organic following on Instagram. They may have a budget for outsourcing those tasks, though. Paying for mentions, posts, or stories from an influencer with an audience that closely matches your own can help to generate immediate sales. It will also jumpstart awareness within your industry. Influencer marketing can be expensive, with influencers charging brands between $75 and $3,000 per post . Fortunately, they do provide you with a shortcut to generating sales and awareness.

Instagram has Embraced eCommerce with New Features

Instagram is not just a social media platform; it has evolved into a robust channel for eCommerce, especially for Amazon sellers. In the sections below, well explore how Instagram has aligned with eCommerce demographics, engaged active shoppers through specific features, and evolved to support brands with innovative tools.

Aligning with eCommerce Demographics

Beyond the fact that Instagrams demographics closely align with what any eCommerce business would like to have access to, the platform is an exceptional choice for Amazon sellers. Instagram has gone out of their way to embrace eCommerce companies, recognizing the potential for both buyers and sellers, and has provided numerous features and tools to accommodate both.

Shopping on Instagram: Engaging Active Shoppers

The most prominent example of Instagrams commitment to eCommerce comes from their Shopping on Instagram features. While not a requirement, it could be an ideal strategy for some businesses.

Engagement with Shopping Posts : Shopping on Instagram allows access to over 90 million people who engage with shopping posts monthly.

: Shopping on Instagram allows access to over 90 million people who engage with shopping posts monthly. Visual Information Sharing : Provides eCommerce companies with a visual way to share more information about products rather than just linking to their store.

: Provides eCommerce companies with a visual way to share more information about products rather than just linking to their store. Direct User Engagement: Companies can show product prices, direct users to product pages, and reach an audience of active shoppers.

Evolution of eCommerce Features on Instagram

These features are part of Instagrams ongoing support for eCommerce brands.

Shop Now Button (2016) : Launched the Shop Now button, allowing users to be redirected to outside websites.

: Launched the Shop Now button, allowing users to be redirected to outside websites. Shopping in Explore (2018) : Announced a new Shopping section in the Explore category, boosting their Shopping on Instagram program. Over 200 million accounts visit the Explore section daily, offering significant exposure.

: Announced a new Shopping section in the Explore category, boosting their Shopping on Instagram program. Over 200 million accounts visit the Explore section daily, offering significant exposure. Product Tagging in Stories: Enabled product tagging in Instagram Stories, which features over 400 million daily users.

These features all taken together make one thing clear  Instagram understands the power that their platform has for driving eCommerce sales and appears to be wholly committed to furthering that bond in the coming years.

Now that we know how important Amazon is to eCommerce companies and Amazon sellers, now well dive into why. What benefits does the platform bring to Amazon sellers to make it rise into such a powerful tool in the last ten years?

A Cant-Miss Opportunity

Getting started with selling Amazon products on Instagram is a process that involves understanding your audience, creating engaging content, utilizing the platforms unique features, and consistently analyzing and adjusting your approach. B

For Amazon sellers, Instagram is an opportunity that you cant let pass you by. Its best to begin establishing a reliable presence on the platform now while it is still experiencing rapid growth. Through consistent, high-quality updates, youll grow awareness within your industry. More importantly, youll sell more products on Amazon, and develop close-knit connections with your customers and prospects.
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Wondering how to start a brewery? Its an excellent idea with a lot to consider, especially if youre aiming to carve out your own niche in the thriving craft beer industry.

From navigating the complexities of federal and state laws to understanding the significant investment in equipment costs, theres much to think about for anyone looking to start this type of small business.

This post is designed to be your go-to guide, offering not just an overview of the key steps involved in launching a brewery but also exploring crucial aspects like market analysis, branding strategies, and financial planning.

How to Open a Brewery

Starting your own business is about more than just figuring out start-up costs. You might be looking to turn your home brewery into a business, so there are many options. Use the following steps as a guide and watch your craft brewery take shape.

1. Look at the Current Market (and other Brewery Owners)

Brewing beer is competitive. Get excellent stats here. But youll need to have an account.

Look into neighborhood features and demographics. And what other breweries are doing, as well as problems facing the beer industry.

2. Name and Brand Your Business

Brand identity will separate you from the competition. A good name gives the customer a first impression. It should be meaningful and distinctive. You need to trademark it. And youll get more sales when its visually suited to graphics and packaging.

3. Choose a Niche

Choosing the right niche is a big part of success when selling craft beers. There are several options that appeal to specific craft beer drinkers.

A Taproom brewery sells beer onsite. Theres no restaurant. A Nano Brewery is the smallest. A Microbrewery produces 15,000 barrels a year. A Brewpub adds food in a restaurant/bar setting. Contract Brewing Business. These hire other SMBs to produce their beer. Regional Brewery. These are recognized worldwide.

4. Write a Brewery Business Plan

A good business plan is a financial road map. Its also an overview detailing things like the startup capital needed. And it includes numbers like projected cash flow.

Here are a few boxes to check.

Executive Summary. Cover whats to come in one page.

Cover whats to come in one page. Business Overview . Just the facts herecontact details, legal address, name.

. Just the facts herecontact details, legal address, name. Description. Add the goals and objectives.

Add the goals and objectives. Market Analysis . Fill in the stats and trends for your niche.

. Fill in the stats and trends for your niche. Competition Analysis. Make sure to include both direct and indirect competitors.

Make sure to include both direct and indirect competitors. Marketing. Whats your strategy? Add in promotion ideas, pricing, etc.

Whats your strategy? Add in promotion ideas, pricing, etc. Operations . An overview of your day-to-day. Dont forget staffing and licensing requirements.

. An overview of your day-to-day. Dont forget staffing and licensing requirements. Financials. Pitching to investors and/or looking for a loan? Include the money details here, like expenses, costs, and forecasted revenue.

5. Register and Form a Business Structure

The right business format is critical. The one you choose dictates your SMB structure.

Sole Proprietorship. This is top-of-list because its the simplest. But youre responsible for all the liabilities and debts. General Partnership. There are two or more owners here. Partners divvy up both profits and losses. Limited Partnership. Youll need to file paperwork in your state to form an LP. A limited partner is usually an investor. C Corporation. A business entity with shareholders and others with control over the brewery. Lots of tax deductions. S Corp. The profits and losses here can be filtered through the owners personal returns. Limited Liability Company. There are big bonuses here. Less paperwork and no owner personal liability for profits and losses.

6. Create a Business Bank Account

Opening a business bank account leads to a business credit card. Buy equipment and supplies. Youll need an Employer Identification Number and other documents like a business license.

7. Look into Small Business Loans

There are costs involved with breweries. Youll need funding. Here are a few options.

Traditional avenues like bank loans, SBA loans, and business lines of credit. Heres a bit of the process for these.

Crowdfunding or CrowdBrewed is a relatively new way to get funding. Supporters donate cash online.

Investors. A solid business plan helps your pitch.

8. Choose a Location

Choosing the right location is about how much space youll need. Craft breweries should consider the following.

Utilities. Look to see if your gas, electric, water and sewer needs will be met.

Your needs and wants. For example, your day-to-day operations might not need a loading dock. Sometimes a forklift and drive-in door will do. This depends on how much beer you sell.

Youll need to have some restroom stalls for a tap room.

Other considerations include local zoning regulations and leasing considerations.

9. Have the Required Licences and Permits for Starting a Brewery

You need to remember a brewery is connected to alcohol production and sales. That means there are state regulations to follow. Check with your local government or the feds for:

A Retailers License . So you can sell stuff like shirts and such.

. So you can sell stuff like shirts and such. Insurance . Get liability, casualty and property.

. Get liability, casualty and property. An Operating Agreement. Covers the rules for an LLC.

Covers the rules for an LLC. A Federal Brewers Permit. To produce beer and serve food.

To produce beer and serve food. A State Liquor License. So you can sell beer to your target consumer.

So you can sell beer to your target consumer. A Brewers Bond. Ensures you pay state and federal taxes.

10. Get Your Taxes in Order

There are both government and state taxes youll need to pay. Here are the main ones a brewery will have to dole out.

Federal Excise Tax. The first 60,000 barrels will cost $3.50 per . Heres more about those rates.

Heres more about those rates. There are state taxes too. Only five states dont charge.

11. Purchase Business Insurance

Business insurance is another must. A brewery owner needs these standard types.

Commercial Property. Covers physical damage.

Business Income. Covers you if you need to shut down.

General Liability. Protects against injuries and lawsuits. Important for new brewery owners.

12. Finalize Plans for the Brewing Process

Dont forget why you opened a business. How you brew your beer makes all the difference.

Most breweries start with a milling and mashing process. Down the list are boiling and fermentation.

13. Purchase Brewing Equipment and Other Essential Items

Equipment prices are important to consider. The right brewery equipment is as critical as the suds themselves. Getting the most from brewing equipment ultimately depends on your skill level.

These items need to be on the list. Some are the same as for liquor stores.

Refrigeration Equipment. Heres a checklist covering compressors and pump motors.

Canning Lines. These are cheaper than bottling lines. Look at cans per minute speed.

Cleaning Equipment. Youre tackling things like protein and mineral scale. Look for a strong alkaline cleaner.

Other items include kettles, boilers and storage tanks. Some items are the same for companies that sell alcohol.

14. Set Your Prices

The average markup for beer is as much as 300 percent. The same price works for draft, bottles and canned beer.

15. Find Beer Distributors

A contract brewing company needs distributors, Look for clearly laid out policies. Decide on your distribution approach, whether you plan to distribute your products locally, regionally, or nationally. This will impact your logistics and supply chain management.

16. Hire Employees

Good employees make everything happen.

Like a Head Brewer . They choose ingredients and create recipes.

. They choose ingredients and create recipes. A General Manager looks after the other employees. They look after inventory too.

looks after the other employees. They look after inventory too. The Assistant Brewer is basically an apprentice.

17. Market Your Business

Here are a few proven ideas.

Look for a Brand Ambassador . Make sure theyre willing to undergo product training.

. Make sure theyre willing to undergo product training. Be An Active Community Member. Your city should have events, festivals and the like. Get involved. Be a vendor or sponsor.

Your city should have events, festivals and the like. Get involved. Be a vendor or sponsor. Optimize Your Profiles. Review sites attract customers. Heres a list to get started.

18. Expand Your Brewery

Expanding your brewery can be challenging and the fact that you are considering is a good sign, but it requires careful planning and execution. Heres a proven framework to help you navigate the expansion process:

Market Research: Conduct thorough market research to identify demand, trends, and potential competition in your target area. Understanding the market will help you determine the viability of expansion and make informed decisions. Financial Assessment: Evaluate your current financial situation and project the costs associated with the expansion. Consider expenses like equipment, raw materials, labor, marketing, and any necessary permits or licenses. Ensure you have sufficient funds or access to financing options. Business Plan: Create a detailed business plan outlining your expansion strategy, objectives, target market, marketing approach, and financial projections. This plan will serve as a roadmap to guide your expansion efforts and attract potential investors or lenders. Location Selection: If you plan to open a new brewery, choose a location strategically. Consider factors such as accessibility, proximity to your target market, competition, and local regulations. If expanding an existing brewery, assess the current locations capacity and potential for growth. Production Capacity: Assess your current production capacity and determine how much you need to increase it to meet the demand. This might involve investing in larger equipment or optimizing existing processes. Quality Control: Maintain or improve the quality of your products during expansion. Implement strict quality control measures to ensure consistency and customer satisfaction. Staffing: Analyze your workforce needs and hire skilled personnel as required. Well-trained and motivated employees play a crucial role in the success of your brewery. Regulatory Compliance: Be aware of all local, state, and federal regulations related to alcohol production, distribution, and sales. Ensure that your expansion complies with all legal requirements and obtain the necessary licenses and permits. Marketing and Branding: Develop a robust marketing and branding strategy to create brand awareness and attract new customers. Utilize both traditional and digital marketing channels to reach a broader audience. Distribution Strategy: Decide on your distribution approach, whether you plan to distribute your products locally, regionally, or nationally. This will impact your logistics and supply chain management. Sustainability: Consider implementing sustainable practices in your expanded brewery, such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water conservation. Consumers are increasingly interested in environmentally responsible businesses. Customer Feedback: Continuously collect feedback from customers to understand their preferences and adapt your products accordingly. Building strong customer relationships is essential for long-term success. Partnerships and Collaborations: Explore opportunities for collaborations with other businesses or breweries. Partnerships can open up new markets and help expand your reach. Risk Management: Identify potential risks and have contingency plans in place. Expansion involves inherent risks, and being prepared to handle unforeseen challenges is crucial. Monitoring and Evaluation: Regularly monitor the progress of your expansion and evaluate its success against the objectives outlined in your business plan. Be prepared to adjust your strategies based on the results.

19. Be the Successful Business Owner of Your Own Brewery

Your new brewery is waiting. Take these ideas and get started today.

Is Owning a Brewery Profitable?

Any new business is concerned with the bottom line. A new venture in the brewing industry is no exception. Here are some numbers budding entrepreneurs can mull over.

Small-scale breweries are a great model. The profit on a keg is 75 percent.

There are some headwinds. The Brewers Association reported a 9% decline for craft brewers in 2020. Thats pandemic related.

Overall, the beer market in the USA was worth $94.1. billion in 2020. The craft beer market was $22.2 billion.

Whats the Most Profitable Type of Beer?

The most profitable beer or flavor of beer can vary depending on several factors like market trends, consumer preferences, and geographical location. However, some general trends can be identified:

Craft Beers: Craft beers often have higher profit margins than mass-produced beers. This is because consumers are usually willing to pay more for unique, high-quality, and locally produced beers. IPAs (India Pale Ales): Within the craft beer category, IPAs are particularly popular and profitable. Their strong flavor profile and variety, including New England IPAs and West Coast IPAs, appeal to a broad audience. Seasonal and Limited-Edition Beers: These create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, often fetching higher prices. Seasonal flavors like pumpkin ales in autumn or spiced beers during the holidays are examples. Light Beers: For the broader beer market, light beers remain highly profitable due to their widespread appeal and lower production costs. They cater to consumers looking for lower-calorie and lower-alcohol options. Specialty Beers: Beers with unique ingredients or brewing methods, such as barrel-aged beers, sour ales, or beers with exotic flavors, can be quite profitable. They often target niche markets willing to pay premium prices. Non-Alcoholic Beers: This emerging segment has gained popularity, particularly among health-conscious consumers, and can offer good profit margins due to the growing demand.

Its important to note that the profitability of a beer type also depends on the brewerys brand positioning, marketing strategy, distribution channels, and the ability to tap into the target audiences preferences. Trends can also shift rapidly, so staying informed about current consumer tastes and market trends is crucial.

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Brewery?

You need to spend money to start one of these small businesses. Many breweries will set you back $500,000 to $1 million.

Both major and smaller expenses must be covered in your startup costs. These include staff salaries, ingredient prices, utilities, rental fees and, of course, the cost of equipment, to name just a few.

Dont forget to put a market analysis focusing on the craft beer community in your business plan.

Getting Your Own Brewery or Contract Brewing

Aspect Owning Your Own Brewery Contract Brewing Ownership You own the entire operation - brewery, equipment, brand. You rent space and equipment, don't own the brand. Investment Major investment required (brewery, equipment, ingredients). Lower-cost option, pay for ingredients and brewing time. Risk Risky venture, no guarantee of success, potential for high losses. Lower-risk, less investment, not responsible for day-to-day operations. Control Complete control over brewing process, beer selection, marketing. Less control over brewing process, limited beer selection. Branding Create your own unique brand identity reflecting your vision. Limited ability to build your own brand, may use another brewery's brand. Distribution Control over distribution, choose where to sell and set prices. Less control over distribution, handled by other brewery. Profitability Potentially more profitable due to full profit from beer sales. Typically less profitable due to brewery/equipment costs. Time commitment Very time-consuming, involved in all aspects of the business. Less time-consuming, focus on brewing and marketing. Flexibility Greater flexibility in brewing and marketing decisions. Less flexible, may have to brew beers as per other brewery's wishes. Scalability Can scale brewery up or down based on demand. Less scalable, limited by capacity of the other brewery.

Keep in mind that the decision between owning your own brewery and contract brewing depends on various factors, including financial capacity, risk appetite, desired level of control, and long-term business goals.

Ownership: When you have your own brewery, you own the entire operation. This includes the brewery itself, the equipment, and the brand. When you contract brew, you are essentially renting space and equipment from another brewery. You do not own the brand and may not have as much control over the brewing process.

When you have your own brewery, you own the entire operation. This includes the brewery itself, the equipment, and the brand. When you contract brew, you are essentially renting space and equipment from another brewery. You do not own the brand and may not have as much control over the brewing process. Investment: Starting your own brewery is a major investment. You will need to purchase the brewery, the equipment, and the ingredients. Contract brewing is a much lower-cost option. You only need to pay for the ingredients and the brewing time.

Starting your own brewery is a major investment. You will need to purchase the brewery, the equipment, and the ingredients. Contract brewing is a much lower-cost option. You only need to pay for the ingredients and the brewing time. Risk: Starting your own brewery is a risky venture. There is no guarantee of success, and you could lose a lot of money. Contract brewing is a lower-risk option. You do not have to invest as much money, and you are not responsible for the brewerys day-to-day operations.

Starting your own brewery is a risky venture. There is no guarantee of success, and you could lose a lot of money. Contract brewing is a lower-risk option. You do not have to invest as much money, and you are not responsible for the brewerys day-to-day operations. Control: When you have your own brewery, you have complete control over the brewing process. You can decide what beers to brew, how to brew them, and how to market them. When you contract brew, you have less control over the brewing process. You may have to brew beers that the other brewery wants to brew, and you may not be able to use your own recipes.

When you have your own brewery, you have complete control over the brewing process. You can decide what beers to brew, how to brew them, and how to market them. When you contract brew, you have less control over the brewing process. You may have to brew beers that the other brewery wants to brew, and you may not be able to use your own recipes. Branding: When you have your own brewery, you can build your own brand. You can create a unique brand identity reflecting your brewerys vision. When you contract brew, you may not be able to build your own brand. You may have to use the brand of the other brewery, or you may have to share the brand with other contract brewers.

When you have your own brewery, you can build your own brand. You can create a unique brand identity reflecting your brewerys vision. When you contract brew, you may not be able to build your own brand. You may have to use the brand of the other brewery, or you may have to share the brand with other contract brewers. Distribution: When you have your own brewery, you can control your own distribution. You can decide where to sell your beer and set your own prices. When you contract brew, you may not have as much control over distribution. The other brewery may handle distribution for you, or you may have to find your own distributors.

When you have your own brewery, you can control your own distribution. You can decide where to sell your beer and set your own prices. When you contract brew, you may not have as much control over distribution. The other brewery may handle distribution for you, or you may have to find your own distributors. Profitability: The profitability of a brewery depends on a number of factors, including the size of the brewery, the type of beer brewed, and the marketing strategy. Contract brewing is typically less profitable than having your own brewery. This is because you are paying for the use of the brewery and the equipment, and you are not getting the full profit from the sale of your beer.

The profitability of a brewery depends on a number of factors, including the size of the brewery, the type of beer brewed, and the marketing strategy. Contract brewing is typically less profitable than having your own brewery. This is because you are paying for the use of the brewery and the equipment, and you are not getting the full profit from the sale of your beer. Time commitment: Starting your own brewery is a very time-consuming venture. You will need to be involved in all aspects of the business, from brewing the beer to marketing it. Contract brewing is a less time-consuming option. You will not need to be involved in the brewerys day-to-day operations, and you can focus on brewing the beer and marketing it.

Starting your own brewery is a very time-consuming venture. You will need to be involved in all aspects of the business, from brewing the beer to marketing it. Contract brewing is a less time-consuming option. You will not need to be involved in the brewerys day-to-day operations, and you can focus on brewing the beer and marketing it. Flexibility: Having your own brewery gives you a lot of flexibility. You can brew whatever beers you want and market your beer however you want. Contract brewing is less flexible. You may have to brew beers that the other brewery wants to brew, and you may not be able to market your beer as you want.

Having your own brewery gives you a lot of flexibility. You can brew whatever beers you want and market your beer however you want. Contract brewing is less flexible. You may have to brew beers that the other brewery wants to brew, and you may not be able to market your beer as you want. Scalability: A brewery can be scaled up or down depending on demand. If demand increases, you can brew more beer. If demand decreases, you can brew less beer. Contract brewing is less scalable. The capacity of the other brewery limits you.

FAQs

What are the legal requirements for starting a brewery?

You need to obtain necessary licenses and permits to produce and sell alcohol.

Compliance with local, state, and federal regulations is crucial.

How much capital do I need to start a brewery?

The required capital varies based on the scale and location of your brewery.

Consider expenses for equipment, ingredients, staff, and marketing.

Do I need prior brewing experience to start a brewery?

While prior experience is beneficial, its not mandatory.

You can hire experienced brewers or take brewing courses to learn the craft.

What equipment is essential for a brewery startup?

Basic equipment includes fermenters, kettles, bottling lines, and storage tanks.

The size and capacity of equipment depend on your production scale.

How do I select a suitable location for the brewery?

Look for areas with access to your target market and distribution channels.

Consider factors like zoning laws, proximity to suppliers, and customer footfall.

What marketing strategies can I use to promote my brewery?

Social media, events, brewery tours, and collaborations with local businesses.

Focus on building a strong brand identity and connecting with the community.

Is sustainability important in brewery operations?

Yes, sustainable practices can attract environmentally conscious consumers.

Consider energy-efficient systems, waste management, and eco-friendly packaging.

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) commemorates the one-year anniversary of its Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) program today. This program is a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administrations commitment to expanding federal contracting opportunities for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs).

Remarkable Achievement in Veteran Business Certification

Since its inception, the VetCert program has approved over 10,400 applications from VOSBs and SDVOSBs, boasting an impressive average processing time of just 15 days. The SBAs VetCert, in just its first year of operation, has delivered a platinum standard of customer experience in this critical veteran small business certification program, said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. She highlighted the programs role in promoting innovation, job creation, and wealth generation for Americas military community.

Empowering Veteran Entrepreneurs through Federal Contracting

VetCert serves as the primary certification vehicle for VOSBs and SDVOSBs, enabling these businesses to compete for sole-source and set-aside federal contracting awards. The program has significantly streamlined the certification process for veteran entrepreneurs, aligning ownership and control requirements with other SBA programs like 8(a) and WOSB.

Notable Milestones and Enhancements in VetCert

The SBA has implemented various improvements in the VetCert program, including:

A central support platform for veterans small business certification needs. Reciprocal certification for businesses with eligibility in the WOSB and 8(a) programs. The launch of the VetCert web-based Veterans Case Management System (VCMS) material change module allows veteran-certified companies to report changes efficiently. Retention of customer-friendly aspects from prior veteran certification programs, including a dedicated call center and the ability to contact case processing agents directly. Rollout of the VCMS recertification module, streamlining the recertification process.

The SBA has also initiated monthly virtual VetCert webinars to guide veteran applicants through the certification process.

Eligibility and Certification Process

To qualify for the VetCert program, businesses must be majority-owned and controlled by one or more veterans, with additional criteria for SDVOSBs. Newly certified businesses from January 1, 2024, will receive a standard three-year certification period.

The SBAs database now includes over 25,000 certified veteran-owned small businesses. The success of the VetCert program underlines the SBAs commitment to supporting veteran entrepreneurs and enhancing their access to federal contracting opportunities.

This milestone marks a significant advancement in supporting veteran-owned small businesses, reflecting the SBAs dedication to fostering growth and opportunity within this vital community.
With templates, elements, and tools easily accessible from its user-friendly interface, Canva can help businesses elevate their design game. In this article, well answer the question what is Canva and explore how it can be used to enhance your business. Keep reading to learn more!

What is Canva?

Canva is a popular and user-friendly graphic design platform, providing users with a wide range of tools to create professional-looking visuals. Its capabilities include the following:

Easy-to-use design tools : Canva provides a wide range of drag-and-drop design tools that are intuitive and easy to use, making graphic design accessible even to those with no prior design experience.

: Canva provides a wide range of drag-and-drop design tools that are intuitive and easy to use, making graphic design accessible even to those with no prior design experience. Variety of Templates : The platform offers thousands of customizable templates for a wide variety of design needs. These range from social media posts, presentations, and logos, to marketing materials, infographics, invitations, and more.

: The platform offers thousands of customizable templates for a wide variety of design needs. These range from social media posts, presentations, and logos, to marketing materials, infographics, invitations, and more. Design elements : Canva has a vast library of design elements such as fonts, shapes, lines, grids, frames, stickers, icons, and illustrations that users can use to enhance their designs.

: Canva has a vast library of design elements such as fonts, shapes, lines, grids, frames, stickers, icons, and illustrations that users can use to enhance their designs. Stock Images and Videos : Canva includes a library of millions of high-quality stock photos, videos, and graphics that can be easily inserted into any design.

: Canva includes a library of millions of high-quality stock photos, videos, and graphics that can be easily inserted into any design. Brand Kit : This feature allows businesses to save their branding elements (logos, color palette, typography, etc.) for easy access and consistent application across all designs.

: This feature allows businesses to save their branding elements (logos, color palette, typography, etc.) for easy access and consistent application across all designs. Collaboration Tools : Canva allows multiple users to work on a design simultaneously, making it easy for teams to collaborate in real time. Comments can also be added directly to the design.

: Canva allows multiple users to work on a design simultaneously, making it easy for teams to collaborate in real time. Comments can also be added directly to the design. Printing Services : Canva is not only a design tool but also provides printing services. Users can have their designs printed and delivered directly to their doorsteps.

: Canva is not only a design tool but also provides printing services. Users can have their designs printed and delivered directly to their doorsteps. Learning Resources : Canva also offers many educational resources for users to learn more about graphic design and how to get the most out of their platform.

: Canva also offers many educational resources for users to learn more about graphic design and how to get the most out of their platform. Accessibility : Canva can be used on any device with an internet connection, including computers, tablets, and smartphones. It also offers free and paid versions, depending on the users needs.

: Canva can be used on any device with an internet connection, including computers, tablets, and smartphones. It also offers free and paid versions, depending on the users needs. Canva Pro: Canvas premium subscription offers additional features such as access to even more templates, stock photos, and elements, as well as the ability to save transparent PNGs, create GIFs, and schedule social media content directly.

Overall, Canva is highly popular among small businesses, individual users, and students due to its wide range of features and user-friendly interface. It provides a simple solution for creating professional and appealing visual content without needing extensive design knowledge or expertise.

What is Canva Used for?

From ads and signage to logos and layouts, Canva has everything a business needs to create impactful designs. So lets take a look at how it can be used.

Photo Editing

Canva Photo Editor is a powerful tool for enhancing your own images. With its easy-to-use interface, you can adjust the photo subject, add background blur for a more professional look, and apply aesthetic filters to create the perfect vibe. Whether youre a professional photographer or just looking to improve your personal photos, Canva Photo Editor has everything you need to get the job done.

Photo Collages

Canva Photo Collage Maker is an easy and fun way to showcase multiple photos in one design. It offers a variety of templates and layout options, allowing you to create collages for any occasion. You can easily customize the design with your own photos, add text and graphics, and choose from a range of filters and effects to enhance the overall look. With Canva Photo Collage Maker, you can easily create stunning collages in minutes.

Social Media Posts

Canva offers templates and design elements to help you make social media posts that stand out on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You can easily schedule posts directly from Canva to these platforms with a Pro or Teams account, saving time and effort in managing your social media presence. With its intuitive design features, Canva makes creating professional-looking posts a breeze.

Logos

The Canva logo maker is a quick and simple way to create a unique, professional logo for your brand in minutes. You can choose from a variety of templates or start from scratch to create a custom logo that accurately reflects your brand identity. Once youre happy with your logo, you can easily download it in various file formats for use on your website, business cards, and other marketing materials.

Graphic Design

Canva is a valuable tool for graphic designers. You can use it to create logos, social media posts, presentations, flyers, brochures, and infographics for clients. Canva offers templates and design elements to bring your clients vision to life, providing opportunities for your design business or freelance work.

Presentations

The Canva presentation tool simplifies creating professional presentations with its templates and design elements. Personalize your presentation with your own images, graphics, and text, and create unique presentations for your brand. Download or share your presentations after crafting them with ease. Canva helps you create engaging presentations with impact.

How Much Does Canva Cost?

Canva offers multiple options for businesses looking to take advantage of its design capabilities. From the free plan to Canva Pro and Canva Teams, there is a range of features and costs to consider. Lets explore them all and work out which plan best suits your business

The Canva Free Version

Canva Free is a great way to start exploring the Canva design world. With its drag-and-drop editor, you can quickly create stunning visuals, access over 250,000 free templates  including virtual classroom templates  over one million free images, and 5GB of cloud storage. Perfect for starting your design journey.

Canva Pro

For just $12.99/month or $199.99/year (16% savings with yearly), you get unlimited access to 100+ million premium stock photos, videos, audio, and graphics, plus powerful features like scheduling social media content to eight platforms, 1TB cloud storage, unlimited folders and premium content, and background remover that let you remove image backgrounds instantly. 24/7 customer support is also available for extra help whenever needed. Get Canva Pro today and make your designs stand out!

Canva for Teams

With Canva for Teams, you get all the features of Canva Pro and more for only $14.99/month or $149.90/year for up to five people. Some extra features include brand controls that help ensure consistency across your teams designs, team reports and insights to see how well your designs have performed, ISO 27001 certification and compliance so you can rest assured that all confidential data is safely stored and encrypted, and much more. Get Canva for Teams today!

How to Use Canva

If youve been wanting to explore the possibilities of Canva but dont know where to start, this guide is for you. Well take you through the process of creating beautiful visuals with Canva step-by-step so that you can get the most out of its powerful design features. Before diving in and getting started, though, heres a table that you can quickly reference for an overview of the steps involved:

Step Number Description 1. Sign Up or Log In Sign up for a new Canva account or log into your existing account. You can sign up or log in using Google, Facebook, your email, or other ways such as Apple, Microsoft, Clever, your work email, or mobile. 2. Choose What to Design After logging in, choose what type of design you want to create. For example, a Facebook post. 3. Select a Template Canva offers both free and premium templates. Select a template according to your design needs and click "Customize this template". 4. Canva Editor Overview Familiarize yourself with the Canva editor interface. It includes tabs like Search box, Design tab, Elements tab, Uploads tab, Text tab, Projects tab, Apps tab, and more. 5. Add Images Modify the selected template by adding your own images. You can drag and drop images directly onto the canvas to replace the original template image. 6. Move and Modify Text Adjust the position of the text on the canvas and change the color or add effects to make it stand out. You can add a background to the text, adjust the transparency, spread, and roundness of the background. 7. Add Animation Add animation to your design for a more dynamic look. You can choose from a variety of animations available. 8. Download the Finished Design Once you are satisfied with your design, you can download it by clicking on the "Share" button and then "Download". You can select the file type and adjust the image size before downloading. 9. Share Your Design After your design is complete and downloaded, you can share it with others on various platforms.

Now lets get started learning about the steps in detail:

Step 1: Sign Up or Log In

The first step is to either sign up for a new Canva account or log in to your existing account by clicking on one of the buttons as shown in the screenshot below. Youll need to select how to sign up or log in using one of several methods.

You can sign up or log in to Canva using:

Google, Facebook, Your email, or Another way

Choosing another way opens up five more ways to sign up or log in to Canva including Apple, Microsoft, Clever, your work email, or mobile.

Step 2: Choose What to Design

Now that youre logged into your Canva account, its time to choose what to design. For this guide, well be creating a Facebook post.

If you dont see it immediately, click on the right arrow to scroll right until you find Facebook Post (Landscape).

Well be using a template for our design, so hover over the magnifying glass in the top right corner of Facebook Post (Landscape) and not Create blank.

Step 3: Select a Template

If you have a Free account, youll be limited to using only the free templates. Any other templates will require a Can Pro or Teams account, or they have elements in them such as images thatll require you to pay for them. For this guide, well be using a free template.

Once youve settled on a template, click on the Customize this template button.

Step 4: Canva Editor Overview

Canva is feature-rich and can be overwhelming for new users. To help you quickly become acquainted with the Canva editor, heres a quick overview:

Search box  You can find images, videos, icons, and more using the search box, which will be specific to the tab youre in. So to search for templates, you would search within the Design tab. To find shapes or other elements, use the search box within the Elements tab. Design tab  Here you can select a new template, or experiment with different fonts and color combos in Styles. Elements tab  In this tab, youll find lines, shapes, graphics, stickers, photos, videos, frames, grids, and more. Uploads tab  You can upload your own images, videos, and audio here. Text tab  Use this tab to add text to your design as well as pre-formatted font combinations. Projects tab  In Projects youll be able to find your previous designs as well as any project folders you or anyone from your team has created. Apps tab  Access even more content to create amazing designs such as emojis, YouTube videos, GIPHY, Flickr, and so much more. Notes  Add any notes here, which will be displayed in Presenter View. Pages  This shows the total number of pages in your project and which page number youre currently working on. Add page  Click this button to add additional pages to your project. Show/hide pages  Click this little arrow to show or hide the pages in your project along with a small screenshot of each page. View and resize  In this section, you can adjust the zoom, put the pages in Grid View, and turn the full-screen mode on for presentations. Help  Click this button if you need any help while creating your designs. Canvas  This is where all the magic happens. In addition to using this area to design, you can lock the current page, duplicate the page, add a page (like #10 above), and comments to the page youre working on. Share  Clicking this button will give you options to download your design in several formats, share it on social media, turn the design into a QR code, and a lot more. Insights  Here you can view the latest insights for designs you share. Youll see total views, viewers, engagement, and much more. Project collaborators  Youll be able to see who on your team is working on the current project. Try Canva Pro  If you have a free account, youll see this button, which will allow you to try Canva Pro on a trial. Design name  This is where you name your current project. Page animations  Add animations to your page and bring it to life. Other options  Here you can go to Canvas home, save your project, view version history, resize your project, undo, redo, and a lot more.

Step 5: Add Images

Now that youre familiar with the Canva editor, its time to modify the template design for our own purposes. To start, well add an image by first clicking on Apps, and then clicking on Photos.

I like the original image from the template, but I want to include a person in the image. To do this, I search for person overlooking mountain in the Photos tab. When I find one I like, I left-click on it and drag it to the top left corner of my canvas so it overwrites the original image from the template.

After doing that, my canvas now looks like this

Step 6: Move and Modify Text

The text is now in a bad spot and needs to be moved. To do so, left-click the mouse, hold, and drag the text to a better location on the design.

Its still difficult to see because of the background image, so the text will need to be a different color or some effects added to make it stand out. For this example, well add a background. To do this, make sure the text is still selected, click Effects then choose Background.

Stretch the text area if needed by left-clicking one of the sides and dragging your mouse pointer to the desired position. Use the sliders to adjust the:

Background color

Transparency (how transparent you want the background to be)

Spread (how large you want the background to be)

Roundness (how sharp or round you want the corners)

Step 7: Add Animation

Next, well add animation to our design. To do so, click Animation and then choose one of the many animations available. For this example, well use Pan which has the text slide in from the left side and stops right in the middle.

Step 8: Download the Finished Design

While there are a ton of features you can use in Canva, our design is complete for the sake of this example now that you know the basics. You can experiment by adding video, audio, clipart, or anything else available as part of your membership. Since were done with this design, its time to download it by clicking on Share in the top-right corner of your screen. Once the share options open, click Download.

With the share settings open, you can select your file type, adjust the image size, and modify other settings. When theyre all to your liking, click the Download button.

Step 9: Share Your Design

Now that your design is complete and downloaded, you can share it with the world. As youve seen by our step-by-step tutorial, using Canva is very easy and all it takes is getting your hands a little dirty to become a pro!

Enhancing Your Business Visuals with Canva

Customizing Designs to Match Your Brand

Canvas diverse template library offers a foundational start to your designs, but the true power lies in customization. You can tweak these templates to perfectly align with your brands visual identity. This includes adjusting color schemes to match your brand palette, incorporating your logos, and selecting fonts that resonate with your brands voice.

This feature ensures that every piece of content you produce, from social media graphics to business presentations, consistently reflects your brands style and ethos.

Collaborative Design Features for Teams

Collaboration is a cornerstone of modern business operations, and Canva facilitates this beautifully. Whether youre working with a remote team or coordinating with various departments, Canvas platform allows multiple users to work on a design simultaneously.

You can share your designs with team members, gather feedback directly on the platform, and make real-time edits. This feature not only streamlines the design process but also fosters a collaborative creative environment.

The video Have 10 minutes? Ill make you a designer! | Canva for Beginners + Small Business 2023 is a concise guide to Canva for beginners and small businesses. It complements the article What is Canva? by providing a practical walkthrough of the platform.

Using Canva for Marketing and Promotions

Creating Engaging Marketing Material

Canva empowers businesses to create a wide range of marketing materials with professional flair. From captivating flyers and posters to engaging social media graphics and email headers, the possibilities are vast. The platforms intuitive interface makes it easy to experiment with different layouts and visual elements, enabling you to craft marketing materials that not only grab attention but also effectively communicate your message and engage your audience.

Utilizing Canva for Social Media Success

In the digital age, social media is an indispensable marketing channel, and Canva is your ally in creating content that shines on these platforms.

Whether its eye-catching Instagram posts, informative LinkedIn graphics, or engaging Facebook covers, Canvas tailor-made templates for each platform make it easy to maintain a strong and visually appealing social media presence.

Plus, with Canvas scheduling feature, you can plan and publish your content directly from the platform, streamlining your social media management.

Advanced Features in Canva for Professional Use

Canva Pro, the platforms premium subscription, offers a suite of advanced features for businesses looking to elevate their design game. This includes access to an extended library of premium stock images, advanced editing tools, and the ability to save designs with transparent backgrounds.

Canva Pro also offers a Brand Kit feature, where you can store your brand assets for easy access, ensuring brand consistency across all your designs.

Integrating Canva with Other Business Tools

Canvas versatility extends to its ability to integrate with various business tools and platforms. Whether its embedding designs in your website, connecting to your social media accounts for direct publishing, or using Canvas API for custom integrations, the platform offers numerous ways to streamline your workflow and enhance your overall business operations.

Pros of Canva

Canva is a great tool packed with features and plenty of pros. Here are just six of the top benefits it offers:

Easy to Use  Canva has an incredibly simple and user-friendly interface, so you dont need any experience or prior knowledge to get started.

 Canva has an incredibly simple and user-friendly interface, so you dont need any experience or prior knowledge to get started. Plenty of Templates  No matter which projects youre working on, youll find templates in Canva to help make creating your design easier and faster.

 No matter which projects youre working on, youll find templates in Canva to help make creating your design easier and faster. Intuitive Drag and Drop Feature  This feature makes it easy to add text, images, and other elements to your designs in no time.

 This feature makes it easy to add text, images, and other elements to your designs in no time. High-Quality Graphics  The finalized images created with Canva look clean and professional, no matter what type of design youre making.

 The finalized images created with Canva look clean and professional, no matter what type of design youre making. Free Stock Photos and Assets  You can access free backgrounds, icons, illustrations, and more which come in handy when creating designs from scratch.

 You can access free backgrounds, icons, illustrations, and more which come in handy when creating designs from scratch. Shareable Content  Once your design is complete, you can publish it as a post or page on social media platforms such as Facebook directly from the app.

Cons of Canva

Canva is a great tool, but its not without its drawbacks. Here are 4 of the main cons to consider:

Limited Free Version  The free version has limited stock photography, templates, and font options plus limited team-sharing abilities.

 The free version has limited stock photography, templates, and font options plus limited team-sharing abilities. Lack of Export Options  The formats you can output your visuals to are pretty limited, particularly the absence of an export to PSD option.

 The formats you can output your visuals to are pretty limited, particularly the absence of an export to PSD option. Internet Required  Canva needs an internet connection to access and edit graphics, so no Internet means no designing.

 Canva needs an internet connection to access and edit graphics, so no Internet means no designing. No phone support  Lack of phone support can be inconvenient for members who need immediate assistance.

Practical Tips for Maximizing Canva in Your Business

Define Clear Design Objectives : Before starting, clarify what you aim to achieve with your design. This helps in selecting the right templates and design elements.

: Before starting, clarify what you aim to achieve with your design. This helps in selecting the right templates and design elements. Utilize Custom Dimensions : For unique projects, use Canvas custom dimension feature to ensure your designs fit perfectly wherever theyre intended to be used.

: For unique projects, use Canvas custom dimension feature to ensure your designs fit perfectly wherever theyre intended to be used. Experiment with Filters and Effects : Explore Canvas range of filters and effects to add a creative touch to your designs.

: Explore Canvas range of filters and effects to add a creative touch to your designs. Employ Grids and Frames for Structure : Use grids and frames to organize your design elements neatly, giving your projects a professional look.

: Use grids and frames to organize your design elements neatly, giving your projects a professional look. Regularly Update Your Brand Kit : Keep your Brand Kit up-to-date with your latest logos, color palettes, and fonts to maintain brand consistency.

: Keep your Brand Kit up-to-date with your latest logos, color palettes, and fonts to maintain brand consistency. Leverage Canvas Tutorials and Courses : Take advantage of Canvas learning resources to improve your design skills and stay updated on new features and trends.

: Take advantage of Canvas learning resources to improve your design skills and stay updated on new features and trends. Optimize Designs for Different Platforms : Tailor your designs to fit the requirements of various platforms, whether its social media, print, or web.

: Tailor your designs to fit the requirements of various platforms, whether its social media, print, or web. Collaborate and Share Feedback : Use Canvas collaboration tools to work with your team and share feedback directly on the platform.

: Use Canvas collaboration tools to work with your team and share feedback directly on the platform. Schedule Social Media Content : Plan and schedule your social media posts directly from Canva to manage your online presence efficiently.

: Plan and schedule your social media posts directly from Canva to manage your online presence efficiently. Monitor Trends and Audience Preferences: Stay informed about current design trends and audience preferences to keep your content relevant and engaging.

Amazing Canva Features for Small Businesses

Small businesses can elevate their visual communication with Canva and its amazing tools. This section highlights some of its most valuable features for small businesses.

Canva Video Editor

Canvas Video Editor is a great tool for creating professional videos with ease. Its chock-full of useful features, allowing you to quickly and easily create stunning visuals like titles, transitions, animations, and more. And its super simple to get started, with step-by-step tutorials available to show you how to create videos in Canva. Plus, you can use the video editor for free or upgrade for access to premium features.

Canva Print

Canva Print is a great printing service for any creative project. It offers high-quality photos and artwork, or you can upload your own designs to get great results every time. With its intuitive interface and editing tools, Canva makes it easy to make something beautiful. Create something special today and print something youre proud of.

Canva Docs

Canva Docs is a document creation tool that combines text and visuals to make documents more engaging and impactful. With a range of design elements, collaboration features, and real-time editing, Canva Docs helps you create professional, visually stunning documents for any purpose.

Canva Templates

Canva Templates are an amazing way to get a head start on your designs. With hundreds of thousands of stunning, pre-made layouts and templates, you can create professional-looking visuals in no time. Choose from categories like business cards, flyers, posters, and more. Plus, with high-resolution images and videos included in the templates, youll have the perfect backdrop for your projects.

Canva Brand Kit

With Canvas Brand Kit, you can curate a cohesive collection of your business distinctive typefaces, hues, logos, and feature images to ensure consistency in your companys designs. All selected elements will be conveniently available on your design platform. By utilizing the Brand Kit, you can streamline your companys design process and promote brand recognition.

Canva Magic Resize

The Magic Resize tool eliminates the hassle of manually adjusting designs and documents. It comes pre-configured with the optimal sizes for each platform, enabling you to effortlessly resize your social media posts without sacrificing their appearance. With this tool, you can maintain a professional, polished, and cohesive look for all of your online content.

Canva Alternatives

If youre looking for alternatives to Canva that offer similar features and tools, you should definitely check out these four graphic design apps:

Adobe Spark  Adobe Spark is a strong Canva alternative with its feature-rich set. Part of the Adobe suite, it doesnt require you to own Photoshop or InDesign. One of its plans is free and the premium ones are very affordable.

 Adobe Spark is a strong Canva alternative with its feature-rich set. Part of the Adobe suite, it doesnt require you to own Photoshop or InDesign. One of its plans is free and the premium ones are very affordable. Visme  Visme focuses on complex designs such as infographics and marketing materials and is a bit pricier. It excels at creating charts and widgets for in-house use and team collaboration, making it a useful tool for social media marketers.

 Visme focuses on complex designs such as infographics and marketing materials and is a bit pricier. It excels at creating charts and widgets for in-house use and team collaboration, making it a useful tool for social media marketers. Crello  Crello offers a Canva-like interface, with a search bar for easy access to templates and pre-set dimensions for Instagram posts. The free plan allows five monthly design downloads, with the option to add objects and use the branding kit for color palettes.

 Crello offers a Canva-like interface, with a search bar for easy access to templates and pre-set dimensions for Instagram posts. The free plan allows five monthly design downloads, with the option to add objects and use the branding kit for color palettes. Stencil  Stencil is a user-friendly and sleek design tool that creates high-quality images without requiring complex software like Photoshop. Its perfect for small businesses seeking basic visual content needs.

Final Words

Canva is an online graphic design platform that makes it easy to design professional images without needing any design experience. So you can make an infographic on Canva, make business cards on Canva, sell products made with Canva, or even create color combos in seconds with the Canva color palette generator.

You can also create amazing marketing materials such as a Canva brochure or use the Canva flyer maker and Canva poster maker. And if you want to add a bit of personality to your emails, you can even customize an email signature on Canva. All said and done, Canva is an immense help to businesses looking to put together professional visuals quickly and easily, making it the perfect solution for creating stunning visuals for any brand.

Is Canva free to use?

Canva offers a limited range of features for free, including access to its vast library of designs and images. However, to benefit from the full range of features and templates, businesses need to upgrade to Canvas paid plan.

How different is Canva to Photoshop?

Photoshop is a high-end image editing program that requires significant design experience. In contrast, Canva offers an easier-to-use interface with tools and templates that dont require any prior design knowledge, making it more suitable for a wider audience.
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Shopify is one of the most popular platforms to sell online. It can help you create an online store quickly and easily. But what is Shopify, how does it work, or is Shopify good for your business?

We will explore everything you should know before opening your Shopify online store.

What is Shopify?

Shopify is an eCommerce platform that helps businesses run their online stores. It offers an excellent alternative to opening brick-and-mortar stores to reach customers on a global level. It enables you to increase both your sales and reach without experiencing the growing pains that come with outlet expansion.

How Does Shopify Work?

Shopify is an easy-to-use application to start selling online. It also comes with a Point Of Sale (POS) app for payment of goods in physical locations.

Shopify offers merchants the ability to create a multi-channel experience that helps showcase the brand. With this subscription-based platform, you can create a website and use their shopping cart solution to sell, ship, and manage your products.

The Shopify eCommerce platform comes with a range of tools that help you analyze every aspect of your online store. With these tools, users can design customized online experiences for customers and maximize the Return on Investment (ROI) on their marketing spending.

The technology also helps cut costs across the board by automating customer relationship management, inventory management, transactions, and more.

What is Shopify Used for?

The Shopify platform is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms, allowing business owners to set up their online stores quickly and effortlessly. The web-based platform, Shopify offers everything eCommerce shop owners require to succeed.

Here is what Shopify allows you to do:

Launch Your Own Online Store

With Shopify, you can easily set up your online store with minimal technical knowledge or experience.

From web hosting to integrated payment processing to shipping, the platform makes creating a fully functional eCommerce website easy.

On the Shopify theme store, you can find various customizable Shopify themes that allow you to create a unique look and feel for your online store.

Do Inventory Management Easily

Shopify allows you to manage your products and inventory, including adding, editing, and deleting products, setting pricing, and managing stock levels.

Process Payments Quickly

A great thing about Shopify is you can quickly process payments. You can integrate leading payment gateways to accept customer payments using multiple payment methods, including Apple Pay, PayPal, credit cards, and others.

Manage Orders

With Shopify, you can easily manage customer orders, process payments, track shipments, and issue refunds.

Check Finance

Shopify sellers can check critical financial information about their businesses easily. So if you want an overview of your sales, payments, pending sales data, or full finance reports, the Shopify platform is the way to go.

Grow Your eCommerce Business

The platform offers a wide range of marketing and sales features to help Shopify online stores grow their businesses.

From email marketing to social media integration to discounts and promotions, you have multiple tools at your disposal to grow your eCommerce sales. You can check the Shopify app store to find the right apps to build your business.

Uses and Functionalities Description Launch Your Own Online Store Shopify enables users to easily set up their own online stores with minimal technical knowledge or experience. It provides all the necessary features, from web hosting to integrated payment processing, allowing users to create fully functional eCommerce websites. Do Inventory Management Easily Shopify offers robust inventory management capabilities, allowing users to efficiently manage their products. This includes tasks such as adding, editing, and deleting products, setting pricing, and managing stock levels. Process Payments Quickly Shopify provides seamless payment processing capabilities, enabling users to accept customer payments through various payment methods, including Apple Pay, PayPal, credit cards, and more. Manage Orders With Shopify, users can easily manage customer orders, process payments, track shipments, and issue refunds. It provides a streamlined system for handling the entire order fulfillment process. Check Finance Shopify offers comprehensive financial reporting and analytics tools, allowing users to monitor critical financial information about their businesses. This includes sales overviews, payment status, pending sales data, and customizable finance reports. Grow Your eCommerce Business Shopify provides various marketing and sales features to help users grow their eCommerce businesses. This includes email marketing, social media integration, discounts, promotions, and access to the Shopify app store to find additional tools for business growth.

Is Shopify Good for Small Businesses?

Shopify comes with a full suite of features that helps you launch and manage your online store. And it doesnt require any coding for users to start using it and requires no software installation or hosting services.

So whether you sell crafts online or want to start a large dropshipping enterprise, the platform can work for your needs.

Whats more, Shopify is also cost-effective with plans ranging from $29 to $299/month. Plus, there are no additional transaction fees if you use Shopify Payments.

The basic plan comes with features that include:

Abandoned cart recovery, gift cards

Discount creation

Fraud analysis

Shopify starter plan also offers the ability to sell in a whopping 133 currencies. Also, you can easily assign inventory to retail stores, warehouses, or other locations you store products. Shopify is best known for its ease of use and modern web design feature.

Additional perks include the ability to include unlimited products and a custom domain. Whats more, Shopify Payment lets you accept credit cards (in addition to PayPal payments) without setting up a third-party payment gateway, customer support, and more.

Additional plans are also available if you need more users and advanced features for growing businesses which is good news if you are experiencing growth.

In addition to the above features, Shopify also enables online retailers to sell on social media such as Facebook, generate reports and analytics, and even offer mobile access.

Pros of Shopify

Shopify comes with a set of tools that helps ease your e-commerce efforts. Besides creating additional revenue and accessing more customers for your business through online sales, it also offers the following benefits.

Ease of Use

Shopify helps you sell goods or services with a minimal amount of configuration. It comes with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor where you can edit the look of your online store homepage without the need for any coding.

Plus, it offers a good alternative for those who want a complete solution, with no technicalities related to site development and hosting.

If you want more control over the look and feel of your homepage, you have the option to edit your site using code as well.

Mobile-Friendly Designs for Your Online Store

The benefits of having an online store are that it allows for a rapid buying/selling process and ease in terms of finding the best product for customers.

Online stores operate 24/7, allowing customers to get online any time of the day and buy products and services. This has led to more and more customers moving from the traditional brick-and-mortar store to buying goods and services on the Internet.

Shopify comes with a mobile-friendly design that helps customers use their mobile devices to shop at your e-commerce store. Shopifys mobile responsive themes help draw more customers to your store from the palm of their hands. Installing the Shopify app lets you log in to your account and start running your store from your mobile device.

Shopifys app runs both on iPhone and Android devices.

Excellent Shopify Support

With Shopifys e-commerce platform, you get round-the-clock customer support.

Support comes from experts available 24/7 through email, live chat, or phone to help resolve any issues.

Through Shopify Learn, you get access to free tutorials, online courses, and webinars to get a better understanding of online sales.

Ability to Use Your Own Domain Name

With Shopify, you can use your domain name and connect it to the platform from your Shopify admin. In case you dont have a domain name, you can either buy a domain name through Shopify or a third-party provider.

Social Media Integration

With Shopify, you can sell not only on the web but through social media, online marketplaces, brick-and-mortar locations, and pop-up shops. To boost your marketing and sales, you can integrate Shopify with Facebook and Instagram to reach your target audience as well. This makes Shopify one of the most popular social media business ideas today.

Shopifys Ecosystem and Third-Party Apps

Shopifys ecosystem extends beyond its core features, thanks to a comprehensive range of third-party apps available in the Shopify App Store.

These apps offer extended functionalities in areas like marketing automation, advanced SEO strategies, customer loyalty programs, inventory management, and more. Whether its enhancing your stores marketing efforts or streamlining the fulfillment process, Shopifys App Store is a treasure trove of tools that cater to a variety of business needs.

Shopifys Integration Capabilities

A key strength of Shopify is its ability to seamlessly integrate with numerous third-party systems and platforms. This includes popular accounting software like QuickBooks, CRM systems such as Salesforce, and various email marketing tools like Mailchimp.

These integrations facilitate a seamless workflow, making it easier for businesses to manage their operations efficiently without leaving the Shopify environment.

Customization and Design Flexibility

Shopifys platform is not just powerful but also highly customizable. Merchants can choose from a variety of themes and have the freedom to modify these themes to suit their brands aesthetic.

For businesses that require unique designs, Shopify offers the flexibility to create custom designs. This level of customization ensures that each Shopify store can have its own unique look and feel, resonating with the brands identity.

Shopify for Different Business Models

Shopifys versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of business models. Beyond traditional e-commerce, Shopify efficiently supports various models like digital product sales, subscription-based services, and even complex dropshipping operations.

This makes Shopify an ideal platform for businesses looking to explore and innovate in how they sell online.

Shopify Analytics and Reporting Tools

Analytics and reporting are crucial for any online business. Shopify offers robust analytics and reporting tools that allow merchants to track their stores performance, understand customer behavior, and make informed decisions.

These tools provide insights into sales trends, customer acquisition costs, and other key performance indicators essential for business growth.

Shopifys SEO and Marketing Tools

Shopify comes equipped with a suite of SEO and marketing tools designed to improve your stores visibility and attract more customers. From its built-in blogging platform to SEO-friendly site structure, Shopify ensures that your store ranks well in search engines.

Additionally, Shopifys marketing tools allow merchants to create and manage effective marketing campaigns directly from their dashboard.

Customer Support and Community

One of the reasons behind Shopifys popularity is its comprehensive support system. Shopify provides round-the-clock customer support, extensive documentation, active community forums, and various educational resources.

This support network is invaluable for merchants, especially those new to e-commerce, ensuring they have the necessary guidance to successfully run their stores.

Shopifys Global Reach

Shopifys platform is designed for global commerce. It supports international e-commerce features such as multi-currency transactions, global shipping integrations, and multilingual storefronts.

This global reach ensures that Shopify merchants can easily cater to customers around the world, expanding their market and increasing their sales potential.

Shopifys Scalability

Shopify is a platform that scales with your business. From small startups to large enterprises, Shopify offers plans and features tailored to each stage of business growth.

Its ability to handle increased traffic, more products, and complex e-commerce operations makes it a reliable choice for businesses looking to grow without switching platforms.

Amazing Themes

With Shopify, you can customize or build the look and feel of your store by changing the website theme to suit your branding needs. Shopifys Theme Store offers a collection of over 70 premium and free e-commerce templates.

Among Shopifys best selling points is the availability of high-quality visual Shopify themes. Shopify offers diverse shop templates, of which a number of them are available for free. The templates are compatible with products, clothing and fashion, electronics, art, and other types of e-commerce sites.

These themes can be tweaked without requiring HTML or CSS knowledge and allow you to upload logos, change fonts, colors, and more. Users can also customize the layout of their homepage, add banners, slideshows, and more.

Dropshipper Friendly

Shopify touts to provide users with a lower-risk approach to start dropshipping. If youre unfamiliar with this concept, consider taking a dropshipping course or reading more about What is Shopify dropshipping?

Simply put, Shopify dropshipping lets you sell products by using a supplier that holds the inventory and ships the product for you. Through it, you can find a product to sell, find a dropshipping supplier, build your e-commerce store, upload your products onto your site, and launch and start marketing your dropshipping store.

Cons of Shopify

Like any application, Shopify can fall short in some aspects. For example, Shopify charges a monthly fee to use the platform while open source solutions are free to download, some of the cons of Shopify may include:

Theme Customization Challenges

The most common type of Shopify theme issue is probably compatibility with HTML, CSS, or JavaScript code.

Often these issues relate to how different browsers, operating systems, and devices display your Shopify themes design and layout.

Transaction Fees

Although most shopping carts have dropped their transaction fees entirely over the years, Shopify has retained its 0.5% to 2.0% fees transaction fees. Users, however, have the option to have Shopify waive these fees when you accept payments through Shopify Payments.

Expensive Add Ons

Though Shopify offers almost every basic feature, it does lack many advanced features that e-commerce businesses might need.

To get these advanced features, you will need to purchase add-ons. In some cases, the cost of add-ons can significantly increase your monthly subscription fees.

Content Management Issues

Some issues related to content management when it comes to Shopify include the inability to edit tag pages; duplicate content; duplicate page titles; forced URL structure; and limits on page titles and meta descriptions.

Shopify Pricing

Shopify has something to offer for businesses of all stages and sizes. Shopify offers multiple plans: Basic, Shopify, Advanced, Starter, and Shopify Plus.

Though pricing is an essential aspect of any service, it is important to consider what solutions you need the most and which might not apply to you. The different Shopify plans on offer bring with them different features and abilities.

Shopify also offers a 14-day free trial for you to try out a Shopify account and see if the platform is the right fit for you.

Shopify Starter

This plan comes with a budget-conscious monthly subscription of $5. With this plan, you can sell products through WhatsApp, SMS, email, social media, and more. It has essential features like a simple storefront, checkout, inbox, product pages, Linkpop, Shopify order management & integrated fulfillment network, and more.

Shopify Starter plan is ideal for businesses who want to test their business idea of selling online without opening a fully-functional eCommerce website.

Basic Shopify

This plan starts with a monthly subscription of $29 per month (if billed annually) and is ideal for businesses trying to build an online storefront.

It comes with basic e-commerce functionality. With this plan, you get to include two staff accounts, 24/7 support, unlimited products, an online store with a blog, and sales channels.

You also get a free SSL certificate, discount codes, manual order creation, and abandoned cart recovery. The downside is that if your products are expensive, there is a 2% transaction fee.

Shopify Plan

Shopifys standard pricing plan is available for $79 per month (if billed annually) and is touted to offer everything you need for growing an eCommerce business.

It comes with everything you get in your Basic Shopify plan, including gift cards, professional reports, and five staff accounts. With this plan, you can add unlimited products with the abandoned cart recovery tool, which is a huge selling point.

With the abandoned cart tool, you can send automated emails based on your preferences. Transaction fees for this plan are set at 1% when not using Shopify payments.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus offers you all the tools needed to run a large operation. This plan comes with a whopping $2,000 monthly fee in exchange for whatever additional features you need.

Unlike other plans, this plan offers tailored-made solutions to your particular business model. Shopify advertises that you can get up to 18% higher conversion with Shop Pay and a 60% faster checkout.

You also get AR, video, and 3D media on product pages, along with localized shopping experiences with multiple stores, currencies, and languages, for B2B and direct to customers.

Additionally, you can customize your checkout, offer advanced discounts and shipping rates, and get unlimited transactions, products, and 99.99% uptime.

Advanced Shopify Plan

The Advanced Shopify Plan is designed for medium to large online businesses for a monthly subscription of $299 (billed annually). This plan comes with shipping, rock-bottom transaction fees, and more advanced reporting.

Also, the advanced plan offers users the ability to create custom reports that include reports on your at-risk and loyal customers. You also get unlimited product uploads, and your transaction percentage fees go down a bit when using external payment gateways.

You can upload as many products as you want, post as many videos and images as needed, and bring in all the traffic you require. Abandoned cart recovery also comes with this plan, which ensures you can reach those sales numbers that make the increased plan pricing worthwhile.

Transaction fees when not using Shopify payments for this plan are set at 0.5 %.

Taxes

As a business, you might need to charge taxes on your sales and then report and remit those taxes to the government.

Bear in mind that tax laws and regulations can be somewhat complex and can change often. In this regard, Shopify can be set to automatically handle the most common sales tax calculations.

You also have the option to set up tax overrides to address unique tax laws and situations.

Shopify doesnt file or remit your sales taxes for you. This means you will need to register your business with your local or federal tax authority to handle your sales tax. The calculations and reports that Shopify provides can help make things easier when its time to file and pay your taxes.

How to Grow Your Shopify Business

Shopify has you covered when it comes to building your online store; however, having a web presence is only the beginning.

You will need to attract customers, promote your products, and offer excellent customer service to make sure you remain competitive. Theres no single sure-shot formula to guarantee the success of your online store.

However, there are some great tips that can raise your chances of success. Here are some tips to grow your online store.

Test Your Mobile Settings

Lets face it, mobile devices are the new online frontier when it comes to online sales. Devices like tablets and smartphones are now the number one go-to devices for Internet browsing and purchasing. If you want to succeed in the online market, ensure your online store is mobile-responsive for maximum success.

Optimize for SEO

You will need to optimize your web store for SEO in order to drive more traffic to your store.

Your stores online traffic will mostly come from search engines like Google. As such, you will need to rank high among your competition.

Ranking high in search engines can get you more daily traffic and is a cheaper form of capturing customers through search engines versus paid advertising.

Use High-quality Photos

The quality of images in your store impacts your brand image. If all the images on your eCommerce store are top-quality, your audience will perceive your store as more professional.

So always use high-quality images for products, social media, Instagram, or Pinterest.

Create Some Ads

To harness the power of online selling, you will need to effectively and efficiently reach your target audience.

You can run ads on Facebook, Google, Instagram, and other social networks. To be effective, however, you will need to identify the platform where your audience spends the most time and the media that are best for your niche.

You cannot overlook the benefits of online advertising for your business to deliver relevant, personalized, and timely messages to your customers. You can use paid media to target the right market but watch out for mounting costs.

Add Positive Reviews to Your Site

Social proof comes in handy when customers are on the fence about buying your products. Good reviews and star ratings help shoppers shortcut their research and make decisions faster and with greater confidence.

A positive reputation by way of reviews on your products and services positively impacts your sales.

Encourage customers to write reviews of your product and services to help garner that much-needed third-party validation. Good reviews can boost sales because consumers actually go through customer reviewseven those written by strangers.

Also, you should make a practice of regularly responding to reviews your customers leave. Try to address the grievances of your customers proactively to let them feel that you care for your audience.

Use Social Media to Give Your Sales a Boost

You can use social media to create a relatable brand for customers to support.

Social media allow your business to connect with customers, leading to a direct increase in sales and interactions with your brand. You can integrate your Shopify store with your blog and social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

The key to success is to understand you need to be consistent with social media if you want to gain a bigger online presence. The more you engage your target audience, the more loyal they will be, and the more your followers will grow.

Shopify enables you to grow your audience across 100+ social media channels and 80+ online marketplaces. And the best part is you can manage your products from one place.

Put Shipping Tracking on Auto

By offering shipping tracking, you not only provide real-time updates on the status of the delivery but more importantly peace of mind that your delivery is en route.

One of the main advantages of investing in a shipment tracking system is that you can greatly lower your logistics costs. Shipment tracking can help you reduce your expenses, as it allows both you and your customers to gain better insights into the status of a package.

Add Blog Posts

You can add blogs to your online store to provide customers with information and updates on your products and services.

Your blog posts can also drive traffic to your site by boosting your stores SEO, converting visitors into customers, and increasing customer engagement.

Unlike investing in ads that could impact your bottom line with content marketing, you can drive free organic traffic to your store.

Ideally, you should create and share helpful content on your blog to help your audience make informed decisions. How-to guides, product comparison guides, and gift guides are some blog post ideas for your Shopify blog.

You should also think about writing guest posts on relevant websites to increase your brand exposure.

Offer Free Shipping

Free shipping is a powerful tool to sway your audiences mind into buying. If you dont incorporate free shipping, you may lose tons of leads to your customers. This is because 68% of US customers dont buy things online for at least half of the time if the retailers dont offer free shipping.

If youre not in the position to offer a no-string attached free shopping policy, you can opt for conditional free shipping. For example, customers can avail of free shopping if the cart reaches a certain (or more). Conditional free shipping is also an excellent strategy to increase average order value (AOV).

In addition to free shipping, you should also offer an easy-to-return policy to delight your customers. As 52% of customers dont purchase online, fearing a difficult return policy, having an easy-to-return policy can help you increase your sales.

Use Upselling and Cross-Selling Techniques

Though two different tactics, cross-selling and upselling work in tandem to grow your stores revenue.

Cross-selling persuades shoppers to buy complementary products, and upselling persuades them to upgrade their purchases.

For example, someone is interested in buying a coffee maker from you. Persuading them to buy coffee powder from your store would be cross-selling. And encouraging the shopper to buy a higher model of a coffee machine than the model they have already added would be upselling.

Cross-selling and upselling are often done by showing related products to the shopper.

Run Email Marketing Campaigns

Email marketing is the most effective tool to reach your target audience.

Plus, it is cheaper than other marketing avenues, like paid ads. And return on investment for email marketing is excellent. For every dollar you spend on email marketing, you will receive $42 in return.

Shopify makes it easy to leverage email marketing for small business owners. With Shopify Email, you can:

Create branded emails easily

Use a pre-built template that can automatically fetch products, pricing, and branding from your store

Automate email campaigns quickly

Manage and track all email campaigns in one place

The best part of Shopify Email is that you can send 10,000 emails (manual or automated) each month. After that, you just have to pay $1 per 1000 additional emails.

Shopify Email is available for all Shopify plans.

Take a Shopify Course

When you start selling on Shopify, you may not know all the things required to succeed. So taking a Shopify course can help you learn about how exactly Shopify works, SEO strategies to grow your business, and marketing strategies can set you on the path to success and increase your online retail sales.

The good news is Shopify has a rich library of learning resources to help you succeed. In these courses, you can learn a wide range of skills, from email marketing to SEO to Facebook ads.

And the best part is it does not cost you much to access these courses. Select a plan starting at $9 per month, and you can access these courses for free.

Shopify Collabs

To boost the success of your Shopify store, you have to increase the reach of the store. And collaborating with creators, influencers, and other brands is one way to do it.

With Shopify Collabs, you connect to an active community of creators, influencers, affiliates, and brands. You have to set up your profile and connect with brands or influencers that are in line with your products/services.

Shopify Alternatives

If you find Shopify costs higher, you can pick another alternative to start selling online.

The most important thing to look for when shopping for an e-commerce website builder or platform is that it lets you build, customize, and run an online store.

Most platforms in the market come with tools to help walk you through the entire process of setting up your e-commerce venture.

They will also offer help in navigating through the steps involved, such as hosting, design, pricing and payment options, marketing tools, and reports. Below are some of the Shopify alternatives:

Woo Commerce

Woo Commerce is a customizable, open-source eCommerce platform built on WordPress.

You can add the WooCommerce plugin to any WordPress site and set up a new store in minutes. You can even add features and extend the functionality of your online store with official extensions from the WooCommerce Marketplace.

This online selling platform is easy to use for both vendors and customers. It comes with free features that offer complex coupon campaigns, product and inventory management, order management, sales reports, a customer account area, control over shipping and tax charges, and more.

You can also manage your online store on the go through WooComemrces mobile app.

Wiz Ecommerce

Wiz eCommerce is a multipurpose WordPress WooCommerce theme. Wizs theme is suitable for any kind of eCommerce store, is fully responsive, and is lightweight.

You can tweak your landing page to your hearts content, including the color scheme, social icons, scroll-to-top, custom background, and other features.

Wix

Wix is a cloud-based web development platform that offers lots of flexibility to customize whatever you want to do with your eCommerce store.

You can use it to promote your online business or showcase using Wixs website builder. Its unstructured editor lets you drag and drop elements anywhere you want on a page and packs tools like restaurant ordering, music distribution, appointment scheduling, and more.

When it comes to themes, you will not run out of options as it offers more than 500 themes.

Squarespace

Squarespace is yet another alternative to Shopify for small businesses. It offers some great templates that can help your business to draw attention to your products, and are also easy to customize.

It lets you explore which tools you want to add to your online business whether its setting up an online store, booking services, or adding third-party extensions.

Additional tools under its hood include an inventory system and analytical tools. To market your business, it comes with built-in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) features, on-brand email campaigns, and social tools. These features make it easy to retain customers and grow your audience.

When it comes to Shopify Vs Squarespace, both offer free trial periods. So you can compare the features and user experience for yourself.

Is Shopify legit?

Yes, Shopify is legit. With Shopify, you can start your eCommerce business and manage it from anywhere, with no coding or design skills needed.

With it, you can sell products and services, add customer reviews, improve email marketing, publish your products on Facebook, or get in-depth analytics.

Shopify comes with a selection of free themes that can be loaded onto your store automatically, where you can start customizing any way you want.

You can choose free fonts or up the color scheme, add your own photos, arrange sections, and more. This makes Shopify ideal for beginners wanting to dive in or play around with the feel and look of their online store.

Shopify doesnt limit the number of products you can offer in any way. You can sell unlimited products on all Shopify plans. It allows you to sell both online with your own website and/or in person with its Shopify POS system.

Shopifys online store builder has features for everyone from novices to experts. Theres plenty of functionality that comes with this platform that can help you convert website visitors into buyers and one-time shoppers into loyal customers.

The Bottom Line

Shopify has established itself as one of the leading e-commerce platforms. It makes it easier than ever for businesses to start selling on Shopify.

The comprehensive suite of features offered by Shopify enables Shopify merchants to easily manage their stores, listing products and managing orders alike. On the Shopify dashboard, you can find the most valuable metrics that provide you with insight into the performance of your store and the behavior of your customers.

What are you waiting for? Register for a free trial of Shopify to check how this ever-popular e-commerce platform can help you start selling online.

Can I use Shopify on my phone?

Yes, You can use Shopify on your phone. By installing the Shopify app, you can log in to your account and run your online store from your mobile device. Your staff can also log in to the Shopify app, but they will have limited access. They can only view the areas of the Shopify app that they have permission for. But with the right access, they can review orders, products, and customers.

What is Shopify Plus?

Simply put Shopify Plus is a more robust version of the core Shopify plan and includes the following:

A dedicated account manager: Unlike getting support through phone, email, and live chat Shopify Plus offers personalized and dedicated support to your store.

Unlike getting support through phone, email, and live chat Shopify Plus offers personalized and dedicated support to your store. It assigns what it calls a Launch Engineer to your website to help you navigate any obstacles that may arise during your stores setup or migration stages.

The Launch Engineer is on standby to help you iron out third-party integrations or find partners to work on projects specifically targeting your business.

More theme customization and access to Liquid: With Shopifys standard plans, you can only customize your Shopify theme using the editor, and can be challenging to switch to a completely new theme.

With Shopifys standard plans, you can only customize your Shopify theme using the editor, and can be challenging to switch to a completely new theme. However, Shopify Plus comes with a higher degree of flexibility in terms of customization, as you can access Shopifys theme language, Liquid.

With Liquid, you can make changes at the code level and also have greater control.

Unlimited staff accounts: Shopifys basic plan only allows a few limited staff accounts while Shopify Plus allows you to add unlimited staff accounts and additional permission settings.

Shopifys basic plan only allows a few limited staff accounts while Shopify Plus allows you to add unlimited staff accounts and additional permission settings. More control over the checkout: Shopify Plus lets you offer clients personalized offers to high-spending customers. You can also customize the checkout experience based on shopping cart values or any other condition.

Shopify Plus lets you offer clients personalized offers to high-spending customers. You can also customize the checkout experience based on shopping cart values or any other condition. More API integrations: You also get more Application Programming Interface for your website to facilitate integrations with third-party apps such as GiftCard, User, and Multipass.

You also get more Application Programming Interface for your website to facilitate integrations with third-party apps such as GiftCard, User, and Multipass. Exclusive apps: You also get access to some top-end exclusive Shopify apps that are not available to regular Shopify users.

What is Shopify Lite?

The Shopify Lite plan allows you to create a simple e-commerce store within a few minutes. For just a $9 monthly subscription, Shopify Lite can help integrate e-commerce into your website or social media page, including a blog and Facebook.

You can merge your store with your current Facebook Business page by simply adding a Shop tab on the page while also displaying product galleries along with your own shopping cart inside Facebook. Besides getting an integrated Facebook store, you also get a live chat module powered by the Facebook Messenger app.

In addition to selling on Facebook and blogs, the Shopify Buy button is the prominent main draw for Shopify Lite. This plan gives you the ability to provide embeddable modules for products and collections. You can also embed a shopping cart and customize each module for your brand.

Note: Shopify Lite is not available to new merchants. So new merchants can try the Shopify Starter plan.

Can I choose my own domain name with Shopify?

If you buy a domain through Shopify, your domain will automatically be configured to work with your primary domain. Usually, your primary domain has the format ***.myshopify.com when you sign up for Shopify. If you want to change the domain thats displayed to customers while they browse your online store, then you can add a custom URL, such as www.****.com.

Alternatively, if you already own a custom domain from a third-party provider, then you can use a domain that you already own. You can either connect your custom domain to your online store or have the option to transfer management of the domain to Shopify.

Is Shopify good for beginners?

Yes, Shopify is widely considered to be beginner-friendly. It is an easy-to-use platform that lets users quickly set up an online storefront without learning complicated coding languages or having a deep understanding of web design.

Whats more, Shopify offers a range of easy-to-customizable themes. With a large active community of Shopify users, you can quickly get support and guidance whenever you are stuck.

The platform includes all of the tools and features needed to run an online store, including payment gateway integrations, shipping and tax options, and inventory management. So once you choose what to sell on Shopify, its easy to get up and running quickly.

So without any doubt, Shopify is an excellent choice for beginners to start selling online without having any coding or designing knowledge.

Can I pause my Shopify subscription?

Yes, if your store is eligible, you can pause your Shopify subscription.

To be eligible for this feature, your Shopify store should be on a paid plan, past the free trial. In case your Shopify store doesnt meet these criteria, you cannot pause your Shopify subscription.

Eligible owners of Shopify stores should go to their Shopify admin panels and select Pause and Build.

Is Shopify better than Amazon?

It is difficult to say which platform scores more in Shopify vs. Amazon comparison. This is because both platforms serve different purposes.

Shopify is an e-commerce platform enabling you to build your own online e-commerce website and start selling online. On the other hand, Amazon is the biggest online marketplace that allows you to list and sell your products online.

The better platform between Shopify and Amazon is the one that aligns with your business goals.
Kofola Group recently bought three breweries.

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Before last year's Christmas, Kofola, a company that produces soft drinks, once again relied on its traditional ad depicting a wild boar and a Christmas tree. It has been used for 20 years. In reality, however, the company cut back on TV spots last year.

"We were more in the field. In advertising, illusory stories no longer work," says Kofola co-owner Jannis Samaras.

This is not the only significant change in the company's strategy. Kofola recently bought a stake in the Pivovary CZ brewery group, which owns well-known brands such as Holba, Zubr and Litovel, and also invests in apple cider.

Related article

Related article Christmas comes with the legendary golden piggy Read more

During Christmas, your old ad aired again on TV. Does it still work?

It does because it has become a part of Christmas. This part of the year is a shorter, but stronger season. We have bottles with Christmas designs as well as seasonal flavours.

Throughout the year, your advertisement for bringing people together with the theme of love also ran. Did that work too?

Yes, love is always going to be a theme. In Slovakia, we limited TV ads last year. In advertising, illusory stories no longer work. We were more in the field. Since Kofola is also supposed to be about love, we were looking for ways to work with the theme. That's why we held several weddings at summer music festivals.

Buying Steiger is not on the table

The Kofola group recently entered brewing industry. Why did a soft drinks company buy a brewery group? What synergies do you see in this?

There will definitely be some, but that wasn't the primary reason for the purchase. The breweries will not be connected to Kofola and the ownership structure is also different [Kofola is only one of the three owners of the brewery group - Ed. note]. We were particularly interested in the fact that the beer brands are local ones; moreover, from the region where I was born [northern Moravia - Ed. note]. Their high quality comes from tradition. The soft drinks business is close to the beer business, and we understand the business as a whole.

There are big global players on the Czech market. You're not afraid of them?

That was one of our motivations for the purchase, to test whether we can compete with them just as we do when it comes to soft drinks.

There is a rumour in Slovakia that you will buy the Steiger brewery in Vyhne, Ziar nad Hronom district. Your co-investors in the Czech breweries have long-term managerial cooperation with it. What is your plan?

It's not on the table.

Related article

Related article Vinea reigned supreme during communism, then came Coca-Cola Read more

Healthy drinks take time to adopt

Your third quarter of 2023 sales grew by 9 percent, mainly due to the sale of the Kofola drink in establishments. Does it mean consumers don't save money, but they go to pubs?

They do save, because overall, the consumption of soft drinks and beer is decreasing, but at least we managed to keep draught Kofola at the same volume. The nice weather in summer and autumn helped us, but we are also trying to expand distribution and do good marketing. We ended 2023 with a profit at the upper limit of our estimates, roughly 51 million.

What about this year?

It will depend a lot on how the economy fares. It will also depend on people's perception of the economy. I think we could use a more conservative approach to public finances. In the Czech Republic, but also elsewhere in Europe, businesses that work are taxed, and those that don't are subsidised. More money should be saved, but that is not popular.

In the past, you fought against unfair competition. In Slovakia, there are still drinks such as Topcola or Lokalka. Do you still see it as a problem?
Tom Devine of the Government Accountability Project visited Slovakia in December 2023. (Source: Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers)

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Tom Devine, a US advocate for whistleblowers, has helped thousands of whistleblowers in his long career but the Slovak governments current attempts to strip police officer-whistleblowers of their right to protection is something that he has never seen before. The expert notes that the Fico governments actions targeting a group of whistleblowing police officers are illegal.

In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, he also talks about cases he has worked on in the past, the importance of a whistleblower protection office, and why solidarity with whistleblowers matters.

Have you witnessed a situation in which a government would withdraw the right of protection to police officers who become whistleblowers?

In 45 years working with whistleblowers, its unprecedented for the government to cancel anti-corruption rights for the police force. The situation in Slovakia is a new one for me.

The Slovak government says that police officer-whistleblowers dont need any legal protection for reporting illegal activities as its their job to uncover them. Isnt the government right?

Well, the police are required to be covered by whistleblower rights under the EU Whistleblower Directive. That was passed in 2019. Its a legal requirement for all member nations of the EU. Twenty-four out of 27 member states have passed whistleblower laws to implement the directive. No other country has removed the police force from the laws coverage because that would be flatly illegal. The EU Whistleblower Directive requires protection for all workers in the government, whether theyre civil servants or not. In fact, it requires protection for all citizens of the country, whether or not they work for the government. Theres no accountability loophole for law enforcement agencies.

Youre suggesting that what Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok did was against the law?

Tom Devine (72) legal director of the Government Accountability Project; has worked at the American nonprofit whistleblower protection organisation since 1979

has formally or informally assisted over 7,000 whistleblowers

has not lost a case since 2006

has authored or co-authored numerous books, including 2011s The Corporate Whistleblowers Survival Guide: A Handbook for Committing the Truth

has been a leader in campaigns to pass or defend 34 national or international whistleblower laws

graduate of Georgetown University

The legislative proposal to remove the police is flatly illegal under the EU as a broad directive. Theres no other way to package it.

What would you then tell the minister? What should he do?

I would tell him that if he wants to gain confidence in fighting corruption, he has to obey the law about corruption fighters.

And if he refuses to?

If he doesnt want to, there are legal actions that can be taken. The European Commission can take Slovakia to the European Court of Human Rights for violating the EU directive and organise the international community to challenge this abuse of power.

How familiar are you with the Slovak Act on the Protection of Whistleblowers?

Ive studied the current law. The Government Accountability Project where I work is doing an assessment of all the European laws for compliance with the directive. And so Ive studied Slovakias law and, you know, the legislation thats been passed is a good-faith effort at complying with the directive. Its not perfect. Its a work in progress, but its an excellent foundation. The new government has just created a loophole in one of the cornerstones of the law. The point of whistleblower laws is to more effectively enforce the law. And if police officers whose job is law enforcement dont have protection under the law, it severely handicaps that commitment.

The Slovak interior minister would probably disagree with you.
Culture Ministry stops funding of respected institution, an interview with 'whistleblowers ambassador', have a look at a beautiful 'icefall'.

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Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, January 17 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

MEPs' resolution criticises Slovak government

The European Parliament. (Source: TASR/AP)

On Wednesday, MEPs adopted a resolution criticising the draft amendment to the Criminal Code submitted by Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer) government. Out of 630 MEPs, 496 voted for the resolution, 70 were against and 64 abstained.

MEPs are concerned about the ability of the new Slovak government to fight corruption and protect the financial interests of the EU if the amendment is approved.

Among other things, the changes will include the abolition of the Special Prosecutor's Office which prosecutes cases against people engaged in high-level corruption. The government has also proposed more lenient punishments for some crimes.

In December, the European Commission asked the government not to proceed with the amendment. The European Public Prosecutor's Office said the steps posed a serious risk of violating the principles of the rule of law.

Opposition parties have since initiated a series of anti-government protests that have been gaining strength. On Thursday evening, another round of protests will take place in at least 15 towns across the country.

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FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY

An interview with the 'whistleblowers ambassador'

Tom Devine of the Government Accountability Project visited Slovakia in December 2023. (Source: Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers)

Tom Devine, a US advocate for whistleblowers, has helped thousands of whistleblowers in his long career but the Slovak governments current attempts to strip police officer-whistleblowers of their right to protection is something that he has never seen before.

In an interview, he says the Fico governments actions targeting a group of whistleblowing police officers are illegal.

FILM FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS

Much-anticipated movie arrives

The Boy and the Heron will be screened in Bratislava. (Source: SME ARCHIVE)

The legendary master of Japanese animation, Hayao Miyazaki, once again ventures beyond the boundaries of fantasy and dreams in his critically acclaimed latest film, The boy and the heron. Cinemas in Bratislava, such as Nostalgia, Kino Film Europe, Mladost and others will screen the movie in the coming days, offering you a chance to see one of most anticipated films of recent years. Learn more here.

IN OTHER NEWS

Next school year, Slovak medical faculties will be able to accept 150 more students. Both the Faculty of Medicine of the Comenius University in Bratislava and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Pavel Jozef Safarik in Kosice should accept 45 additional students, while the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin and the Slovak Medical University in Bratislava 30 more. Academic senates of individual universities must approve the agreement first. At Slovak medical faculties, the number of foreign students continues to increase year by year. (TASR)

Both the Faculty of Medicine of the Comenius University in Bratislava and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Pavel Jozef Safarik in Kosice should accept 45 additional students, while the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin and the Slovak Medical University in Bratislava 30 more. Academic senates of individual universities must approve the agreement first. At Slovak medical faculties, the number of foreign students continues to increase year by year. (TASR) At the moment, the city of Bratislava is unable to offer a specific date for the completion of the tram line extension in the borough of Petrzalka. The extension was supposed to be built by the end of September 2024. However, according to Petrzalka Mayor Jan Hrcka and the head of the city's transport commission, Jozef Uhler, it will not be finished until 2025. (TASR)

The extension was supposed to be built by the end of September 2024. However, according to Petrzalka Mayor Jan Hrcka and the head of the city's transport commission, Jozef Uhler, it will not be finished until 2025. (TASR) Police in Trencin have charged an 18-year-old student who threatened to shoot his classmates, one of which reported him to the school's headmaster. The student allegedly owns a revolver and visits a shooting range. If found guilty, he could spend up to three years in prison. (TASR)

The student allegedly owns a revolver and visits a shooting range. If found guilty, he could spend up to three years in prison. (TASR) A 48-year-old man from India has been charged with illegal production of narcotic and psychotropic substances, as well as of obstruction. He was detained in Poprad on January 13, and police subsequently found out that he was in Slovakia illegally.

WEATHER FOR THURSDAY

Cloudy, with snowfall locally and later rain in many places. Daily temperatures between 3 C and 11 C. Several level 1 weather warnings, including for wind, ground ice, snowdrift, have been issued for central and eastern Slovakia, see the map here. (SHMU)

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The ministry independence questioned after Kunsthalle funding stopped.

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Questions have been raised over the independence of the Culture Ministry after it stopped financing for a prominent cultural institution known for hosting LGBT+-related events.

On Tuesday evening, Kunsthalle Bratislava director Jen Kratochvil resigned after the Culture Ministry refused to finance its artistic and educational programme for 2024.

A post on the organisation's social media accounts said: "We stand at a point where experienced, respected, professionals, scholars, artists, pedagogues, curators and cultural workers are facing accusations of propagating values that are 'putting the future of children in Slovakia in jeopardy'. We are disturbed by the current steps the Culture Ministry has taken, and we have strong reasons to worry about the independence and freedom of this national institution."

Kunsthalle Bratislava has held several LGBT+ community related events and exhibitions, and was part of the Slovenska Teplaren festival initiated in response to the terrorist attack on Zamocka Street in Bratislava in 2022 in which two LGBT+ people were murdered.

Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (SNS nom.), and a star of pro-Russian TV Slovan with anti-immigration views, is repeatedly making homophobic comments, and once described LGBT+ people as "the most perverted of the perverse."

Last Friday, she announced that "LGBTI+ NGOs will not get a cent from the Culture Ministry", and specifically targeted Saplinq, a civic association based in Kosice that offers counselling and support for members of the community.

Anti-LGBT+ poll

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a poll appeared on the Culture Ministry Facebook page, asking people whether it should support cultural heritage sites or LGBT+-related events where "underage children are taught how to present themselves during sexual shows, pride events, where half-naked people show up in squares".

A huge number of comments criticised the ministry for posting the poll on its official channel, accusing the ministry of inciting hatred against the LGBT+ minority.

"Some of the children you mention might want to take their own lives in the future because they find out that they belong to the LGBT+ community, which is apparently considered a kind of dangerous evil in our country. Maybe they will want to take their own lives because of you, minister," one of the comments reads.

The opposition party Progresivne Slovensko (PS) also slammed the minister for the poll and her comments, while more than 6,000 people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the minister in an online petition that demands her resignation.

"Whoever wants to manage this ministry must have the ability to understand culture in its broadest contexts, to know its various forms and actors, to deeply perceive its diversity, and their contribution to the whole society," said PS MP Zora Jaurova from the culture committee in the parliament.

Read also:

Read also: Culture minister outraged by a painting depicting queer love Read more

National gallery takes over Kunsthalle

On Wednesday, the ministry announced that Kunsthalle Bratislava will be taken over by the Slovak National Gallery. According to the ministry, "Kunsthalle failed to make use of a historic chance in terms of its programme content, public expectations and financial efficiency".

Culture Ministry spokesperson Pavol Corba said that Kratochvil had asked Simkovicova to release him from his post as "he wants to devote himself more to curating and teaching activities".
In June of 2020, former US Barista Champion and WBC Runner-Up Charles Babinski announced that he was stepping away from Go Get Em Tiger and G&B Coffee, the renowned Los Angeles chain of cafes he founded alongside fellow USBC champion Kyle Glanville. While he would retain his ownership stake, Babinski would be otherwise stepping away from day-to-day operations.

In the near four years since, news about Babinskis next steps were all but non-existent, as was his social media presence. Now, in 2024, Babinski is back with the opening of his all-new coffee shop, Cafe 143 in the Sydney suburb of Bronte.

News of the new cafe broke in December by the Sydney Morning Herald, though the majority of the article was spent on discussing Cafe 143s neighbor, Bar Buci, a fashion retail spot by day and bar by night started by the family behind the famed Iggys Bread. Taking over both of the side-by-side storefront, the Ivanovics persuaded one of the rising stars of the North American coffee scene to relocate to Australia and operate a cafe.

My dream was to start another coffee bar, I just left at the worst possible time to start a new business, Babinski tells Sprudge. There had been rumors in previous years of the GGET co-founder starting a new shop in the Northeastern United States, but those plans ultimately got put on hold due to COVID, and Babinksi and his family eventually decided to move halfway around the world to Sydney, where he finds himself a coffee shop owner once again.

With Cafe 143, Babinksi is getting the chance to start over and get back to what drew him to coffee in the first place. The thing that is exciting about it, that I wanted, is to go back to Square One, and figure out how to do the thing that I love about coffee, Babinski states. Which for him, is working the bar. I like working behind the bar. It connects a lot of different seasons of my life. I love meeting people in the community and being a small part of their day.

Open for about five weeks now, the program at Cafe 143 is rolling out slowly. Currently, coffee is being provided by Sydneys Mecca Coffee Roasters, and Babinski states that he plans to offer different roasters at some point, though Mecca is expected to play a significant role. There are all the standard cafe accoutrementsteas, chocolates, pastries from Iggyswith a more expansive food menu to premier in the coming weeks.

Its a significant change of pace for Babinski, going from running a multi-location business with over 100 employees to owner-operator of a fledgling coffee shop, from one of the biggest names in American coffee to one of its rising stars. But thats kind of the point. There are no plans for world domination, he states. In a lot of ways, its a return to form. Babinksi made a name for himself helping to open Intelligentsia Venice, the brands second outpost outside of Chicago. And he finds himself once again trying to gain footing as a familiar commodity in an unfamiliar place. After a near four-year hiatus, Babinski is back where he love, back behind the bar, and hes never been better.

For more information on hours and updates, visit Cafe 143s Instagram.
Missouri City Police Department welcomes Brandon Harris as its new chief. City of Missouri City

Brandon Harris took the reins as Missouri City Police Departments chief of police on Jan. 8.

Harris, 56, became interim chief of police in May 2023; his predecessor was Chief Mike Berezin, who served with the department for 34 years.

Harris brings nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement, having started as a reserve police officer in Missouri City in 1995. He was hired as a full-time officer in June 1996 and promoted to corporal in 1998.

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Missouri City is a fast-growing community, and we need to ensure our police department keeps pace, Harris said. Agencies nationwide are finding it more difficult to hire police officers, and our agency is no different.

Over the past three decades, Harris has held every rank in the department, the city said in a statement. His responsibilities have included being a field training officer, an advanced accident reconstructionist and the Honor Guard commander.

Harris grew up in Alief and lived in Park Glen, near Wilcrest and U.S. 59. He attended Alief ISD schools, graduating from Elsik High School in 1986.

My childhood home is less than five miles from Missouri City, and as a kid, we would often find our way to Missouri City to go fishing, Harris said.

In 1994, Harris took part in the Missouri City Citizens Police and Fire Academy, where he met a few Missouri City police officers, as cross-training was a common practice for officers and firefighters in the city during that period.

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Towards the end of the fire academy, I went on a ride-along with a Missouri City officer and I was immediately hooked, Harris said. The excitement and adrenaline were a key factor. I knew I wanted to serve, and I felt as a police officer, I could have more of an influence. As soon as I graduated the fire academy, I began attending the police academy.

Harris said he is proudest of graduating from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, class 258th, and the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, for which he was part of class No. 83.

He is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Texas Police Chiefs Association. He is also a member of the Fort Bend Independent School District's safety and security committee.

As interim police chief, Harris has overseen community engagement initiatives such as the Blue Santa Toy Drive Program, which provided hundreds of children with toys for Christmas, and Operation Thanksgiving Food Drive, which provided meals and nonperishable foods to the Fort Bend Womens Shelter.

Officer mental health is a concern of mine, because officer suicides are on the rise nationwide, Harris said. We are in the process of creating a peer-to-peer program in our police department in conjunction with the Texas Law Enforcement Peer Network.

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Harris and his wife, Tracy, have been married 32 years and have two adult sonsRoddy, an officer with the Rosenberg Police Department, and Ryan, a real estate agent.

The Missouri City Police Department has an authorized strength of 106 sworn peace officers and 34 civilian employees.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240116/israels-army-strikes-building-near-group-of-journalists-in-southern-gaza-1116211248.html

Israel's Army Strikes Building Near Group of Journalists in Southern Gaza

Israel's Army Strikes Building Near Group of Journalists in Southern Gaza

Sputnik International

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has hit a building in the vicinity of a group of journalists as they were trying to send information on the wounded after another Israeli strike, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Tuesday.

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An Israeli warplane has bombed a house in the west of the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip as several journalists were nearby to make their reports. The journalists were standing next to ambulances that had arrived to evacuate those wounded by the ongoing Israeli bombing, the correspondent reported. The correspondent reported that the bombing of Khan Yunis is still underway despite the IDF order to the residents of the enclave to evacuate from the north to the supposedly safer south. The continuous bombardment makes the city look like a war zone. Medical sources told Sputnik that seven Palestinians have been killed and several others have been wounded in the past few hours as a result of the continuous bombing of the city, adding that the wounded have been taken to the Nasser Hospital. 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, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. 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 24,200 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. Over 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/art-dealer-drops-bombshell-hunter-bidens-art-sales-coincided-with-joes-presidency-1116205766.html

Art Dealer Drops Bombshell: Hunter Biden's Art Sales Coincided With Joe's Presidency

Art Dealer Drops Bombshell: Hunter Biden's Art Sales Coincided With Joe's Presidency

Sputnik International

The latest revelations from the gallerist of President Biden's son revealed key details during an appearance before Congress. He disclosed the timeline, contract changes, and sales, emphasizing a pre-election connection.

2024-01-17T05:16+0000

2024-01-17T05:16+0000

2024-01-17T05:16+0000

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us

newsfeed

hunter biden

joe biden

hollywood

new york

burisma

white house

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Hunter Bidens debut on the art scene coincided with his father President Joe Bidens election as US president, his New York-based art gallerist Georges Berges revealed during recent Congressional testimony.Berges said the first sale of Hunter's artwork through their collaboration occurred on December 11, 2020, shortly after they formalized their agreement in 2020. Their relationship commenced in 2019, initiated by Hollywood producer and Democratic donor Lanette Phillips.The gallerist clarified that his connection with Hunter Biden predates Joe Biden's presidential election, stating, "I met him maybe a year before his dad even was elected." The initial introduction by Phillips led to a collaboration founded on a mutual appreciation for Hunter Biden's art and personal journey.In December 2020, the art vendor entered a contract with a 60-40 percent split between Hunter and himself. Their partnership continued with a new contract in September 2021 featuring a slight commission increase for Hunter. Initially Hunter had access to his art buyers' identities, but this provision changed in the second contract. After President Biden's inauguration, Democratic donor Elizabeth Naftali bought Hunter's art pieces for $52,000 in February 2021 and $42,000 in December 2022.Despite Elizabeth Naftali's appointment by President Biden to a preservation commission, the art vendor denies disclosing buyer information to the White House. Berges, a donor to Republican and Democratic politicians, sold around $1.5 million worth of Hunter Biden's art, with Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris contributing $875,000 to total sales. Hunter's art dealer also confirmed exclusive representation of the president's son in the art world.Hunter Biden has a history of controversy, notably highlighted by a New York Post expose. The article revealed alleged unethical and potentially illegal influence peddling by his father, Joe Biden, based on damning emails obtained from a laptop reportedly abandoned by Hunter at a Delaware repair shop.Documents indicated that then-Vice President Biden met Vadym Pozharskyi, a Burisma executive, less than a year before Ukraine's General Prosecutor Viktor Shokin was fired at the vice president's request. Additional emails hinted at a business venture with a Chinese firm, allocating "20 [percent] for H[unter]" and "10 percent" for "the big guy." Former associate Tony Bobulinski suggested that the "big guy" was Joe Biden.Hunter Biden faced a Justice Department tax probe dating back to 2018 linked to suspicious foreign transactions. The Biden scandal, however, was allegedly downplayed with media and Silicon Valley's assistance. Social media companies restricted access to the "laptop from hell" story and former US intelligence officials dismissed it as potential "Russian disinformation."Investigative journalist Jason Goodman asserts that the Bidens show indifference to ethical concerns in their influence peddling. He suggests the Bidens are shielded by law enforcement, big tech, and the mainstream media, allowing them to rest easy. The Biden administration appears to reciprocate this protection.House Republicans are contemplating holding Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress amid ongoing questions about the ethics of his art sales. Berges asserts that artistic appreciation, not political affiliation, influenced the sales. The situation is evolving, and there are prospects of subpoenas for Hunter Biden to testify before Congress.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210710/money-laundering-netizens-suspicious-of-white-house-deal-for-sale-of-hunter-bidens-art-1083355082.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240112/hunter-biden-faces-congressional-contempt-vote-for-defying-subpoena---scalise-1116133421.html

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hunter biden, hunter biden's artworks, joe biden, presidential election, georges berges, congressional testimony, art collaboration, lanette phillips, art contract, art sales, elizabeth naftali, hollywood attorney, kevin morris, exclusive representation, hunter biden's laptop scandal, influence-peddling.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/china-calls-on-iran-pakistan-to-exercise-restrain-after-deadly-strikes---foreign-ministry-1116225047.html

China Calls on Iran, Pakistan to Exercise Restraint After Deadly Strikes

China Calls on Iran, Pakistan to Exercise Restraint After Deadly Strikes

Sputnik International

China calls on Iran and Pakistan to show restraint and desist from actions that could lead to escalation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday after Tehran's strikes on a terrorist group targets in Pakistan killed two children.

2024-01-17T11:47+0000

2024-01-17T11:47+0000

2024-01-17T12:39+0000

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"Iran and Pakistan are neighbors, and both are major Islamic countries. We call on the sides to show restraint, avoid actions that could lead to escalation and together safeguard regional peace and stability," Mao told a daily briefing. On Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles and drones at a base of terrorist group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan region in retaliation for terrorist attacks on its own territory. This was the first missile strike by the Iranian armed forces on Pakistani territory. Pakistani authorities said that the attack left two children killed and three people injured, condemned Iran's actions and voiced concerns over Tehran not forewarning Islamabad about the strikes via existing communication channels. In December 2023, a bombing attack on a police headquarters in Iran's Rask city left 12 officers killed and seven others injured. Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni terrorist group based in Pakistan's Balochistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240116/going-ballistic-what-are-irans-medium-range-missile-capabilities-1116206189.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/china-refused-to-meet-with-ukrainian-officials-in-davos-despite-kievs-request---reports-1116231640.html

China Refused to Meet With Ukrainian Officials in Davos Despite Kievs Request - Reports

China Refused to Meet With Ukrainian Officials in Davos Despite Kievs Request - Reports

Sputnik International

Beijing has rejected Kiev's request to hold a meeting between the Ukrainian and Chinese delegations on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed US officials.

2024-01-17T16:09+0000

2024-01-17T16:09+0000

2024-01-17T16:09+0000

world

davos

kiev

china

world economic forum

world economic forum (wef)

volodymyr zelensky

russia

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The Ukrainian delegation, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, left Davos without meeting with the Chinese delegation led by Premier Li Qiang, although Kiev clearly expressed its intent to hold such a meeting, the report said. According to a US official cited in the report, Kiev requested a meeting with the Chinese delegation in Davos but was refused. However, the report also cites an unnamed Ukrainian official who refutes this account by saying that Zelenskys team never asked for a meeting with their Chinese counterparts. Another US official claimed that Russia asked China to cease diplomatic encounters with Ukraine and that was the main reason that a meeting was not held in Davos.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240116/ukraine-meeting-in-davos-is-failure-for-kiev-west---russian-foreign-ministry-1116209970.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/china-to-oppose-taiwans-independence-promote-peaceful-reunification-1116222142.html

China to Oppose Taiwan's Independence, Promote 'Peaceful Reunification'

China to Oppose Taiwan's Independence, Promote 'Peaceful Reunification'

Sputnik International

China will continue to push back at Taiwan's independence in 2024, while also promoting cooperation and peaceful reunification under the "one country, two systems" policy, a spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday.

2024-01-17T09:59+0000

2024-01-17T09:59+0000

2024-01-17T09:59+0000

asia

taiwan

china

beijing

democratic progressive party (dpp)

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one china policy

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"In the new year, we will steadfastly adhere to the policy of 'peaceful reunification' and the 'One-China' principle, in line with the 1992 Consensus. We will follow the common aspiration of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait for peace, development, exchanges and cooperation, to unwaveringly oppose Taiwan independence, to maintain peace, expand exchanges, promote cooperation, deepen integration and advance reunification," Chen Binhua told a briefing. He also expressed hope that the Taiwanese "will stand on the right side of history and work with us to remove obstacles and jointly promote the peaceful and comprehensive development of relations between the two sides." Chen also said that the results of the recent elections on the island cannot question the fact that Taiwan is a part of China, neither would they change the model of the relations between Beijing and Taipei and their inevitable reunification. On Saturday, Taiwan held a general election in which pro-independence candidate Lai Ching-te of the ruling DPP party won with 40.05% of the vote to head the island's administration. His inauguration is scheduled for May 20. Meanwhile, the DPP itself lost 11 seats in the island's parliament. 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. The 1992 Consensus refers to a meeting between Beijing and Taipei delegations during which they agreed to the one-China principle. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/us-delegation-to-travel-to-taiwan-on-sunday-just-after-regional-leader-elections-1116154727.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/ecuadors-forces-detained-over-1750-people-since-january-9-amid-unrest-1116211820.html

Ecuador's Forces Detained Over 1,750 People Since January 9 Amid Unrest

Ecuador's Forces Detained Over 1,750 People Since January 9 Amid Unrest

Sputnik International

The Ecuadorian police and army have detained more than 1,750 people from January 9-16, including 158 suspected of terrorism, amid a wave of gang violence that swept the South American country last week, the office of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said Tuesday.

2024-01-17T00:29+0000

2024-01-17T00:29+0000

2024-01-17T00:30+0000

world

ecuador

violent crime

crime rates

ecuador

christian noboa

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As of Tuesday morning, the country's security forces detained as many as 1,753 people in the said period, including 219 people over the past 24 hours, the office said in a blog post. A total of 645 pieces of firearms and 488 pieces of explosives and explosive devices, nearly 15,000 rounds of ammunition, 400 vehicles, 235 motorbikes and 15 boats have been seized in 18,108 operational actions and 41 large-scale operations from January 9-16, the office added. Violent unrest erupted in Ecuador at the beginning of last week after the prison break out by the leader of the Los Choneros gang, Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, also known as Fito, who is considered the most dangerous criminal in the country. Fabricio Colon Pico, the leader of Ecuador's second-largest criminal gang, Los Lobos, has also escaped from prison. On January 8, Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency in Ecuador as multiple hostage-taking incidents took place in various cities and prisons. After that, riots broke out in a number of cities  on the night of January 9, criminals started burning cars and buses, using improvised explosive devices. Several police officers were kidnapped. On January 9, Noboa declared a state of internal armed conflict and ordered Ecuador's army to neutralize the criminal groups operating in the country.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/ecuador-security-forces-release-all-prison-workers-held-hostage-by-rioters--authorities-1116152273.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/eu-ready-to-fast-track-new-naval-mission-in-red-sea-1116215096.html

EU Ready to Fast-Track New Naval Mission in Red Sea

EU Ready to Fast-Track New Naval Mission in Red Sea

Sputnik International

The European Union is reportedly ready to establish its own naval operation to defend commercial vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.

2024-01-17T07:53+0000

2024-01-17T07:53+0000

2024-01-17T08:19+0000

european union (eu)

red sea

houthi militants

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world

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The European Union is reportedly ready to follow the lead of the US and establish its own naval operation to defend commercial vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.The EUs Political and Security Committee has given its initial approval of plans that could see the bloc send at least three destroyers or frigates with multi-mission capabilities to the Red Sea, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.The EU operation would reportedly be acting "in a broader area of operation, from the Red Sea to the Gulf in line with a proposal put together by the European External Action Service (EEAS) - the EU's diplomatic service. Such an operation would be authorized to exchange "secret maritime information" with the US-led mission Prosperity Guardian.The EU's new naval mission may be based on AGENOR, a French-led European mission in the Persian Gulf which is the military component of the European Maritime Surveillance Initiative in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASoH).While no details have yet been fleshed out, the initial plans could be signed at a meeting of the blocs foreign ministers in Brussels on January 22, as per the outlet. As the EU purportedly seeks to fast-track the process, after approval, the naval operation could be launched by late February."The consensus is that we have to act quickly and pragmatically, an EU diplomat was cited as telling the media.There has not yet been any comment on the report from the European External Action Service.The mission will be assembled as the US and the UK carry out air strikes on Houthi targets in northern Yemen. Russia has denounced the US attack on Yemeni territory, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova branding them as a sign of "blatant disregard for international law in the name of escalating the situation in the region for their own destructive purposes."In November, the Houthis announced their intention to attack any ship associated with Israel until Tel Aviv ended its military actions in the Gaza Strip. In December, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation ostensibly tailored to secure the Red Sea. The Houthis vowed to attack ships that join the US-led maritime coalition.Last week, the US and the UK carried out air strikes on Houthi targets in northern Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa and the cities of Al Hudaydah, Taizz, and Sadah, claiming the strikes sought to deter attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea. A member of the Houthis' high political council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, described the Western attacks as "barbaric terrorism" and "deliberate and unjustified aggression." The Houthis wasted no time showing that the US attacks would not deter them, targeting a US-owned container ship, the Gibraltar Eagle, with a ballistic missile off the Yemeni coast in the Gulf of Aden on Monday. They also attempted a precision strike against the USS Laboon missile destroyer a day earlier. The Houthis have listed all US and British warships taking part in the campaign against them as hostile targets.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240115/houthis-confirm-missile-strike-at-us-owned-ship-in-gulf-of-aden---spokesman-1116183566.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240116/american-losers-cant-pass-through-bab-el-mandeb-strait-yemens-houthis-say-1116201118.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/four-rockets-of-rm-70-vampire-mlrs-two-drones-destroyed-over-belgorod-region---mod-1116214438.html

Four Rockets of RM-70 Vampire MLRS, Two Drones Destroyed Over Belgorod Region - MoD

Four Rockets of RM-70 Vampire MLRS, Two Drones Destroyed Over Belgorod Region - MoD

Sputnik International

Russian air defense systems destroyed four rockets fired using the RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and intercepted two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the Belgorod Region overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

2024-01-17T04:39+0000

2024-01-17T04:39+0000

2024-01-17T04:39+0000

russia

ukrainian drone attacks on russia

belgorod region

ukraine

belgorod

russian defense ministry

multiple-launch rocket systems (mlrs)

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"This morning, yet another attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack on facilities in the territory of the Russian Federation with the use of the RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system and aircraft-type UAVs was foiled," the ministry said in a statement, adding that four rockets were destroyed and two drones were intercepted over the territory of the Belgorod Region.Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said earlier in the day that seven Ukrainian drones were shot down over the region and the city of Belgorod, adding that the preliminary information showed that there were no casualties. The rocket danger was declared in Belgorod earlier on Wednesday, the Belgorod city mayor's office said, urging residents to stay at home and stay away from windows.Ukraine has been sending drones and missiles into the Russian territory almost daily since it launched a counteroffensive in early June. The United Nations said in August, following a botched drone strike on Moscow, that it did not want to see any targeting of civilian infrastructure.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/air-defenses-destroy-7-olha-missiles-4-drones-over-russias-belgorod-region-1116212386.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/france-turns-to-war-economy-to-boost-military-production-for-ukraine---macron-1116214736.html

France Turns to War Economy to Boost Military Production for Ukraine - Macron

France Turns to War Economy to Boost Military Production for Ukraine - Macron

Sputnik International

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Paris will finalize the work on a bilateral agreement on security guarantees for Kiev in the coming weeks and will announce its signing during his visit to Ukraine in February.

2024-01-17T04:54+0000

2024-01-17T04:54+0000

2024-01-17T04:54+0000

world

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france

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"We are finalizing a bilateral agreement on guarantees that will be signed in the coming weeks. We will proceed with new [arms] deliveries: about 40 SCALP missiles [also known as the Storm Shadow] and several hundred bombs that our Ukrainian friends are waiting for," Macron told a news conference aired by the Elysee Palace on X. The president added that France has moved to a war economy to step up military production, "which would allow us to supply much more equipment to our Ukrainian partners, especially the Caesar howitzers that they are expecting." The French president further said that France and the European Union "would need to make new decisions" in the coming weeks and months to continue supporting Ukraine. Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov said in late December 2023 that "the United Kingdom and France have provided over 200 guided air-to-surface Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles to Kiev that are being used to target civilian objects in Crimea and Donbas."Western countries, including member states of the European Union, have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240108/germany-singlehandedly-pays-for-half-of-all-eu-aid-to-ukraine-minister-reveals-1116058230.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/french-troops-withdrawal-facilitated-nigers-fight-against-terrorism---defense-minister-1116228936.html

French Troops' Withdrawal Facilitated Nigers Fight Against Terrorism - Defense Minister

French Troops' Withdrawal Facilitated Nigers Fight Against Terrorism - Defense Minister

Sputnik International

During the official visit of Nigers top military command to the Russian federation, the two sides discussed a variety of issues pertaining to bilateral military cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts.

2024-01-17T16:58+0000

2024-01-17T16:58+0000

2024-01-17T16:59+0000

africa

russia

niger

france

moscow

africa insight

nigerian army

russian ministry of defense

ministry of defense (mod)

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Nigers Minister of National Defense General Salifou Modi arrived in Russia on January 15 as part of a governmental delegation.During his visit, Modi highlighted the "positive" impact of the exit of French troops from the African country."French troops have left Niger, the last [remaining] soldiers left on December 22. When it comes to how this factor affects our national security, it should be noted that the withdrawal of the troops has, on the one hand, given us a clear picture of the fight we are waging against terrorism and, on the other, has allowed us to realize our own responsibility [in the matter]. "We can say that their [French troops] withdrawal has had a positive impact on our fight against terrorism," he told Sputnik.At the time, the rebels demanded the expulsion of the French ambassador and denounced military agreements previously signed with France, demanding a complete withdrawal of its troops from the country.In turn, French officials have repeatedly stated that they only recognize demands made by the legitimate but ousted Nigerian authorities. Last September, however, France decided to recall its ambassador to Niger amid tensions between Paris and the new authorities.The withdrawal of Frances military presence began last October when French military units handed over control of a strategically important camp in the town of Ouallam (Tillaberi region) on the Mali border to the Niger Armed Forces. During talks between the top Russian and Nigerian military commands, the two sides additionally discussed enhancing the military potential of Nigers Armed Forces.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230925/france-losing-great-power-status-as-africa-turns-to-brics-1113661328.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231221/how-frances-military-presence-in-africa-is-dwindling-1115702382.html

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A historical marker denotes the Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Sugar Land. The existing cemetery is not far from where human remains were found during the construction of Fort Bend ISDs James Reese Career and Technical Center in 2018. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Sugar Land is exploring the idea of constructing a senior center on its 65-acre parkland property next to Fort Bend ISDs James Reese Career and Technical Center, approximately half a mile from where the remains of Sugar Land 95 were discovered, and around 500 feet away from the Old Imperial Farm Cemetery.

This is going to be a huge project, so we are looking into the funding resolution and also develop a phasing plan, said Fenglin Du, the citys parks development manager. Were trying to propose this project in the parks bond, in the 2024 elections."

Du made her remarks Jan. 9 during a presentation at the Parks, Art, Recreation, Culture and Streetscapes Advisory Board meeting.





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The Old Imperial Farm is photographed Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in Sugar Land. Fort Bend ISD and the Texas Historical Commission have identified a historic cemetery on the site of a new technical center under construction near the area where Moore has been focused for years, according to a news release issued Friday by the school district. Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle

The Sugar Land 95 were 94 men and one woman whose remains were discovered on Fort Bend ISD property in 2018. They died more than 100 years ago at brutal forced labor camps in the convict leasing program.

In response to persistent community appeals to do more to memorialize the Sugar Land 95, the district opened an educational exhibit at the center. However, local leaders and residents continue to differ on the best way to navigate the situation and give them proper recognition.

A headstone rests in the Old Imperial Farm Cemetery - TDCJ Central Unit historical site, Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in Sugar Land. Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle The Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Sugar Land. The existing cemetery is not far from where human remains were found during the construction of Fort Bend ISDs James Reese Career and Technical Center in 2018. Reginald Moore, who maintained the Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery, made it his mission to implore people that there were more remains of victims of Texas convict-leasing program on the land. A new cemetery next to the James Reese Career and Technical Center now marks the remains of the Sugar Land 95. Fort Bend ISD last month approved a contract with MASS Design, an international architecture non-profit, to create a design for an outdoor exhibit to honor the Sugar Land 95. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer A cross rises over the Old Imperial Farm Cemetery - TDCJ Central Unit historical site, Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in Sugar Land. Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle Reginald Moore, who has been striving for years to get recognition for the Old Imperial Farm cemetery that houses some bodies believed to be a part of the convict leasing system in Sugar Land, stands inside the cemetery wherehe serves as the steward, Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in Sugar Land. Fort Bend ISD and the Texas Historical Commission have identified a historic cemetery on the site of a new technical center under construction near the area where Moore has been focused for years, according to a news release issued Friday by the school district. Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle Local historian Reginald Moore, from left, joins Sugar Land residents Bruce Lemmie, Samuel Davis, Gary Jackson, Paul J. Matthews and Ashley Baker on land that Sugar Land plantation owners once farmed using convict labor. The remains of 95 African-Americans, part of the convict leasing system, were discovered near the site in 2018. The group is working to have streets currently named after the plantation owners renamed to honor Walter Burton and Garrett Gamble. Burton was the first black sheriff of Fort Bend County. Gamble was a Marine killed serving in Afghanistan. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The Texas Department of Corrections prisoners and guards whose remains are in the Old Imperial Farm Cemetery died between 1912 to 1942 at the local prison unit, according to the City of Sugar Land.

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Addressing concerns about the presence of more unmarked graves, Du said the city already conducted an archaeological study covering the four-acre area around the Old Imperial Farm Cemetery and found no cause for concern.

For the rest of the area, if we move forward, we will do another archaeological study, Du said in a phone interview. Archaeological studies are expensive, with the most recent one costing $2,000.

Du reiterated that the senior center project was in a very early stage, and the reason for bringing it up it at the meeting was to initiate discussions and introduce the idea to the attendees.

Remains commonly referred to as the Sugar Land 95 are now occupying what is being called Bullhead Camp Cemetery next to Fort Bend ISDs James Reese Career and Technical Center, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Sugar Land. The remains are believed to belong to people who were part of the convict-leasing program perpetrated by the Texas prison system on the Imperial Sugar Companys land. Fort Bend ISD last month approved a contract with MASS Design, an international architecture non-profit, to create a design for an outdoor exhibit to honor the Sugar Land 95. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The 2018 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan identified the 65-acre Community Park as one of the high priorities in the next 10 years.

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The city studied the site in partnership with consultants BRW Architects, and one potential recommendation is the development of a senior center on a specific section.

Studies affirmed the feasibility of the plan, and according to Du, it's an ideal site. However, the city still lacks funding for the project.

To gather input and study the future of senior programming, community members, including seniors from the T.E. Harman Center, joined PARCS board members in a public engagement activity in July 2023.

The preliminary study for the new senior adult center addresses key objectives like fostering the health and well-being of a diverse population of seniors, Du said.

Remains commonly referred to as the Sugar Land 95 are now occupying what is being called Bullhead Camp Cemetery next to Fort Bend ISDs James Reese Career and Technical Center, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Sugar Land. The remains are believed to belong to people who were part of the convict-leasing program perpetrated by the Texas prison system on the Imperial Sugar Companys land. Fort Bend ISD last month approved a contract with MASS Design, an international architecture non-profit, to create a design for an outdoor exhibit to honor the Sugar Land 95. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

She said she thinks it would be good idea to design a pedestrian trail connecting the Old Imperial Farm Cemetery to the Sugar Land 95 exhibit in the Reese Center.

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Our cemetery has prisoners who were buried between 1912 and 1942, Du said. The Sugar Land 95 were buried between 1878 and 1911.

The senior center would occupy approximately 25,000 square feet, according to the presentation.

Looking through the Old Imperial Farm Cemetary, construction can be seen ongoing on The James Reese Career and Technical Center, located at University Boulevard and Chatham Avenues, where it was announced that over 20 bodies were found Friday, on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in Sugar Land. The site is on land that was formerly a plantation. ( Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle) Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle

"There are preliminary discussions about possibly including the project in a future bond election, but we dont have specifics on the project to share yet like size, programming, images, etc," said Doug Adolph, communications director for the City of Sugar Land. "Its not a done deal."

"For our next steps, we will be reviewing floor plan options for the new facility," Du said. "We will be organizing future public meetings to receive input on various items.There are many steps still to take in the process."
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/gold-rush-and-yuan-frenzy-russian-wealth-fund-dumps-euros-1116226947.html

Gold Rush and Yuan Frenzy: Russian Wealth Fund Dumps Euros

Gold Rush and Yuan Frenzy: Russian Wealth Fund Dumps Euros

Sputnik International

By the end of 2023, the total value of Moscow's National Wealth Fund was 11.965 trillion rubles, equivalent to about $135.3 billion.

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Russia's Ministry of Finance has completely excluded the euro from the National Wealth Fund, as stated in a press release on the department's website."In December 2023, a portion of the assets of the National Wealth Fund in the accounts at the Bank of Russia, to the amount of 114,947.6 million Chinese yuan, 232,584.5 kilograms of gold in non-personalized form, and 573.7 million euros, was converted into 2,900,000 million rubles," the document said.As of January 1, the volume of the National Wealth Fund (NWF) amounted to 11.965 trillion rubles or eight percent of the GDP projected for 2023 equivalent to $133.4 billion. Thus, in one month the volume of the fund decreased by one and a half trillion rubles.The volume of liquid assets at the beginning of the year amounted to the equivalent of 5.012 trillion rubles or $55.88 billion.The proceeds were credited to the unified account of the federal budget to cover its deficit. As a result of these operations, the euro account formed a "zero balance".Russian authorities stopped investing National Wealth Fund funds in dollar assets in mid-2021. At the end of 2022, they likewise zeroed out accounts in British pounds and Japanese yen.The government then approved a new structure for the National Wealth Fund: funds can only be invested in gold and yuan. The maximum share of yuan in the NWF's assets is 60%, and 40% for gold.In particular, as of January 1, on separate accounting accounts for funds of the National Wealth Fund at the Bank of Russia, there were: 227.331 billion yuan, 358.961 kilograms of gold in non-personalized form, and 1.514 billion rubles. Deposits in VEB.RF, Russias major financial development institution, amounted to 658.822 billion rubles. In addition, $3 billion are placed in the bonds of Ukraine, which the country defaulted.The total income from the placement of funds of the National Wealth Fund, excluding funds in accounts of the Bank of Russia, in 2023 amounted to 355.663 billion rubles, equivalent to $4.182 billion.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/one-in-three-un-countries-are-opting-for-de-dollarization-1115987761.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/houthis-consider-any-us-uk-ship-as-legitimate-target---official-1116235948.html

Houthis Consider Any US, UK Ship as Legitimate Target - Official

Houthis Consider Any US, UK Ship as Legitimate Target - Official

Sputnik International

Yemen's rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, considers any US or UK ship a legitimate target and will continue attacking them, Deputy Head of the Ansar Allah Media Authority, Nasr al-Din Amer, said on Wednesday.

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The Houthi official told Italian newspaper Corriere della sera that the recent attack on a US-owned ship in the Red Sea was a response to the airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen by the United States and the United Kingdom last week. A potential naval blockade of Yemen to prevent the Houthis from receiving arms supplies from Iran will not be a problem, because all weapons used by the rebel movement are fully produced in Yemen, the official said. He also dismissed the statements about Iran's arms supplies to Yemen as "false." The Houthis vowed in November to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. This led US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to announce the creation of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the Red Sea. US and UK forces launched major strikes against Houthi positions last week in a bid to degrade the rebels ability to target commercial vessels.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/invasion-rehearsals-north-korea-slams-joint-us-south-korea--japan-drills-as-tensions-escalate-1116223165.html

Invasion Rehearsals? North Korea Slams Joint US, South Korea & Japan Drills as Tensions Escalate

Invasion Rehearsals? North Korea Slams Joint US, South Korea & Japan Drills as Tensions Escalate

Sputnik International

The United States, South Korea and Japan held joint naval exercises involving nine warships in international waters near the Souths Jeju Island in a show of force aimed at North Korea.

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Washington is continuing to fan escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with yet another show of strength unequivocally aimed at North Korea.As part of the latest provocative run, the United States, South Korea, and Japan have held joint naval exercises involving nine warships. The three-day drills wrapped up on Wednesday in international waters near the Souths Jeju Island, according to the South Korean Ministry of National Defense. Joining American aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson and guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton were South Korean and Japanese destroyers equipped with the Aegis missile-defense system.'Invasion Rehearsals'US Navy Region Korea spokeswoman Enjoli Janel Di Patri was cited by media reports as describing the recent drills as "routine" training with "our allies. But the exercises which North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has denounced as "invasion rehearsals," are hardly the first this year. Earlier in the month, South Korea and the United States conducted joint military drills with live firing near the former's border with North Korea to increase their joint combat readiness amid threats allegedly posed by Pyongyang.Last year, the trilateral alliance of the United States, the Republic of Korea (South Koreas official name), and Japan carried out their first-ever joint aerial drills south of the Korean Peninsula, over waters overlapping both the South Korean and Japanese air defense identification zones. The exercise was dubbed the "Spirit of Camp David" in the wake of a meeting of US President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in August 2023 at Camp David, Maryland. The exercise saw American, Japanese, and South Korean fighter escorts fly an escort mission alongside a US Air Force nuclear-capable B-52 strategic bomber. The South Korean Air Force characterized the drills as a signal of joint security cooperation against North Koreas escalating nuclear and missile threats. Taking part were US F-16 Fighting Falcons, South Korean F-15Ks, and Japanese Mitsubishi F-2 fighters.At the time, the three countries vowed to conduct further annual, named, multi-domain trilateral exercises on a regular basis.North Korea slammed the latest US-South Korea-Japan military drills as an instigation threatening the countrys stability. The timing of the new show of force by the US, South Korea, and Japan is particularly noteworthy. It came a day after the North Korean government said that it had successfully launched a solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile. The DPRK has been ramping up its missile testing in response to the provocative drills held near its nations borders. Kim Jong Un has reiterated on numerous occasions that North Korea is building up its forces as an exercise of its right to self-defense.The missile was equipped with a hypersonic maneuverable controlled warhead, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported on Monday. The launch was conducted to check the gliding and maneuvering characteristics of the warhead and the reliability of newly developed multi-stage high-thrust solid propellant engines, the report added. Furthermore, it was noted that the test launch did not affect the security of neighboring countries and had nothing to do with the regional situation. Previously, Pyongyang launched a reportedly Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile on December 18, 2023. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered a cutting verbal response to actions of the trilateral military alliance, described by North Korea last year as cancer tumor" undermining the international UN-based order. Kim said in a speech on Monday that South Korea should be designated in the constitution as the number one hostile country, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA. The speech to the Supreme Peoples Assembly laid bare the conclusion that unification with the South was no longer possible, and accused Seoul of seeking regime collapse and unification by absorption. As for the South Koreans, Kim Jong Un called them top class stooges of the US.Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul deteriorated significantly between 2021 and 2022 with the election of new governments in the US and South Korea. The arrival on the scene of Democratic POTUS Joe Biden, the Republic of Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol, along with Japan's military-minded Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dramatically altered the geopolitical climate of the highly militarized peninsula.The "North Korea threat" narrative driven by the US and its allies, along with their military maneuvers, prompted Pyongyang to announce last year that it reserves the right to launch a preemptive attack on strategic forces of the US being transferred to South Korea.Any US strategic assets deployed in South Korea would become "the first target to be destroyed," and Washington "would be well aware that the Korean peninsula is technically at war," the North Korean state-run news agency reported. It added that gone were the days "when the right to preemptive strike was 'monopoly' of the US." The DPRK officially proclaimed itself a nuclear power in September 2022, publishing details on its nuclear doctrine. The latter allows the country to use its nuclear weapons in the event of enemy nuclear aggression, or a potentially fatal conventional attack. Furthermore, the doctrine emphasizes that the North Koreas powerful means for defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity and fundamental interests of the state is designed to prevent a war in the Korean Peninsula and the northeast Asia region and ensur[e] the strategic stability of the world.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240104/south-korea-us-hold-drills-near-border-with-north-korea---reports-1115973156.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/iran-strikes-targets-in-iraq-taiwan-elections-russia-and-dprk-meeting-1116211096.html

Iran Strikes Targets in Iraq, Taiwan Elections, Russia and DPRK Meeting

Iran Strikes Targets in Iraq, Taiwan Elections, Russia and DPRK Meeting

Sputnik International

Iran has retaliated against forces accused of implementing a terrorist attack, Taiwan elected a pro-independence candidate, and the foreign ministers of Russia and the DPRK expanded cooperation.

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Iran Strikes Targets in Iraq;Taiwan Elections;Russian and DPRK Foreign Ministers Work on Agreements Sputnik International Iran has retaliated against forces accused of implementing a terrorist attack, Taiwan elected a pro-independence candidate, and the foreign ministers of Russia and the DPRK expanded cooperation.

Laith Marouf, a broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the expanding conflict in West Asia as Iran launches retaliatory missile strikes and Yemen strikes a US merchant ship.Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, TX, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss the results of the Taiwan election as a pro-independence candidate William Lai wins. Still, his party loses control of the legislature.Dr. Radhika Desai, author and professor in the Department of Political Studies and Director of the Geopolitical Economy Research Group at the University of Manitoba in Canada, discusses the anti-war protest in Washington DC, the crisis in the Red Sea, and instability in the Korean Peninsula.Misty Winston, radio host and free speech and press freedom activist, joins us to discuss domestic politics as Donald Trump wins in Iowa, Americans protest in DC, and Bernie Sanders moves to force a vote on Israel.KJ Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss US preparations for war with China.Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to discuss the US attack on Yemen and how it exposes the hypocrisy and narcissism of the rules-based international order.Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, discusses Russias increased cooperation with North Korea, Moscows reaction to claims that it will attack NATO, and Ukraines alleged move to a static defensive posture.Melik Abdul, Cohost of Fault Lines, joins us to discuss former President Trumps victory in Iowa.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/iran-targets-terrorist-group-in-pakistan-respects-states-sovereignty---foreign-minister-1116227631.html

Iran Targets 'Terrorist Group' in Pakistan, Respects State's Sovereignty - Foreign Minister

Iran Targets 'Terrorist Group' in Pakistan, Respects State's Sovereignty - Foreign Minister

Sputnik International

Iran targeted a "terrorist group" in Pakistan and respects the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Wednesday.

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On Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles and drones at a base of terrorist group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan region in retaliation for terrorist attacks on its own territory. This was the first missile strike by the Iranian armed forces on Pakistani territory. Islamabad said that the attack left two children killed and three people injured, condemned Iran's actions and voiced concerns over Tehran not forewarning Islamabad about the strikes via existing communication channels. The strikes were made against the position of a terrorist group sheltering in Pakistan, the minister said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/pakistan-informs-iran-about-decision-to-recall-its-ambassador---foreign-ministry-1116225968.html

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Iran to Join South Africa's Suit Against Israel as Third Party

Iran to Join South Africa's Suit Against Israel as Third Party

Sputnik International

Iran is preparing documents to participate as a third party in the process initiated by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Iranian Vice-President for Legal Affairs Mohammad Dehghan said on Wednesday.

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South Africa filed a lawsuit accusing Israel of genocidal intent in Gaza at the ICJ on December 29 in response to a rising civilian death toll in the besieged Palestinian enclave. It seeks to prove that Israel's military campaign is genocidal in nature and targets Gazans as a part of the broader Palestinian people. On January 11-12, the top United Nations court in The Hague held public hearings on South Africa's suit. In its address, South Africa's representatives urged the ICJ to obligate Israel to end its military operation in the Gaza Strip, ensure that the enclaves' residents have access to food, water and humanitarian aid, and abstain from actions that could worsen the situation. Israel, for its part, argued that the escalation of conflict in the Gaza Strip started with Hamas's October 7 attack and insisted on its right to self-defense.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/irans-army-irgc-to-hold-joint-air-defense-drills---reports-1116230607.html

Iran's Army, IRGC to Hold Joint Air Defense Drills - Reports

Iran's Army, IRGC to Hold Joint Air Defense Drills - Reports

Sputnik International

Iran's regular army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will conduct joint aerial drills, Iranian media reported on Wednesday.

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The drills are codenamed the Guardians of the Velayat Sky 1402, the Tasnim news agency reported, without providing any details on the program, date and participants. A similar joint air defense exercise between the Iranian army and the IRGC took place in Iran's central areas in August 2023. It involved homegrown electronic warfare devices, drones and radars in addition to conventional military aircraft and air defense equipment.The announcement of the joint drills comes amid missile and drone attacks carried out by IRGC against a number of "anti-Iranian terrorist groups".

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/irans-strikes-into-pakistan-sent-strong-message-to-us-israel-and-their-terror-proxies-1116226148.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/irans-strikes-into-pakistan-sent-strong-message-to-us-israel-and-their-terror-proxies-1116226148.html

Irans Strikes Into Pakistan Sent Strong Message to US, Israel and Their Terror Proxies

Irans Strikes Into Pakistan Sent Strong Message to US, Israel and Their Terror Proxies

Sputnik International

The IRGC bombarded bases belonging to the Jaish al-Adl* terrorist militia group in a remote area of Pakistan on Tuesday, with the strikes coming less than 24 hours after separate Iranian attacks targeting jihadist and Mossad targets in Syria and Iraq. Sputnik asked veteran political analyst Mohammad Marandi about the Pakistan strikes implications.

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Iranian media has released details about Tuesdays dramatic Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) missile and drone attacks against two major bases belonging to the Jaish ul-Adl (lit. "Army of Justice") terrorist group in Baluchistan, western Pakistan, revealing that the strikes targeted the Koh-e-Sabz area of the province, the militants home base.Pakistan recalled its ambassador to Iran on Wednesday and barred Tehran's envoy from returning to Islamabad, with the Pakistani Foreign Ministry condemning the illegal and unacceptable Iranian strikes and reserving the right to respond. Just hours before the attacks, warships from the two countries held a naval drill in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf near the port city of Bandar Abbas.Strong MessagesThe Iranians are sending strong messages both to the Israeli and US regimes as well as their proxies through their campaign of long-range missile and drone strikes, political analyst and Tehran University Professor Mohammad Marandi told Sputnik. The so-called Jaish ul-Adl terror group has massacred many innocent Iranians. Since Pakistans government has limited control over areas near the Iranian border, Iran felt that it had no option but to strike at this group, Marandi explained.While Pakistan has condemned the strikes, there is more understanding between the Iranian government and the Pakistani government than meets the eye, with the two countries traditionally enjoying very good ties and remaining in constant dialogue, according to Marandi.Ultimately, Marandi believes Irans hand was forced in Pakistan by the recent escalation of terror attacks inside Iran, including in Rask and Kerman, which the observer characterized as an attempt to pressure the Islamic Republic over its support for the Palestinians in Gaza amid the Israeli militarys assault.The United States and Israel are using terror organizations to strike at Iran and the Resistance Front, Marandi said, referring to the loose anti-US and anti-Israeli coalition of countries and groups including Iran, Syria, Lebanons Hezbollah and Palestines Hamas militias.Who are Jaish ul-Adl?Hiding outside Iran to avoid a crackdown by the Islamic Republics military and security services, Jaish ul-Adl is a Sunni Salafist separatist group with links to al-Qaeda* which has waged a decade-plus long campaign of low-intensity guerrilla warfare and terrorist attacks against the Iranian government since its founding in 2012. Over the past 12 years, the militants have targeted IRGC troops, border guards, police, and dozens of civilians in armed attacks, kidnappings and suicide bombings - with their latest attack occurring in mid-December, when Jaish ul-Adl attacked a police station in Rask in southeastern Irans Sistan and Baluchestan province, killing 11 police officers in an ambush. The group has also been accused of drug smuggling, with Sistan and Baluchestan long serving as a crossroads of the international drug trade from Afghanistan to Europe before the Taliban** crackdown on opium poppy cultivation following the collapse of the US puppet government in the country in 2021.* A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.** A group under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/specs-of-kheibar-shekan-missile-iran-uses-to-strike-terror-targets-1116222276.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/irans-top-diplomat-reiterates-tehrans-readiness-for-all-parties-to-return-to-jcpoa-1116212566.html

Iran's Top Diplomat Reiterates Tehran's Readiness for All Parties to Return to JCPOA

Iran's Top Diplomat Reiterates Tehran's Readiness for All Parties to Return to JCPOA

Sputnik International

Tehran is ready for all parties to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told a meeting with his Spanish counterpart, Jose Albares, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, on Tuesday.

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"In response to the Spanish foreign minister's support for the continuation of talks to restore the JCPOA, Amirabdollahian emphasized our country's readiness for the return of all parties to the JCPOA," the ministry said on Telegram. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Monday that Tehran does not find it necessary to conclude a new international nuclear deal that would replace the JCPOA, adding that ideas of a new nuclear deal, often referred to as JCPOA 2, "are presented by the parties that have reneged on their commitments." Amirabdollahian said in late December 2023 that Iran was not on the path to signing the JCPOA but noted that he does not exclude this agreement as an option. In 2015, Iran signed the JCPOA with China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the involvement of the European Union. The deal committed Iran to scaling back its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The US withdrew from the deal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump but resumed talks with Iran in a bid to revive the deal under incumbent President Joe Biden. Their talks in Vienna are now considered frozen.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230827/iran-takes-giant-step-toward-nuclear-self-sufficiency-with-homegrown-cesium-137-1112931550.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/irgc-strike-on-pakistani-territory-damages-tehran-islamabad-ties---pakistani-ministry-1116234737.html

IRGC Strike on Pakistani Territory Damages Tehran-Islamabad Ties - Pakistani Ministry

IRGC Strike on Pakistani Territory Damages Tehran-Islamabad Ties - Pakistani Ministry

Sputnik International

Irans recent missile strike on the Pakistani territory has seriously damaged bilateral ties between Islamabad and Tehran, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, adding that Islamabad has a right to respond.

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On Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles and drones at a base of terrorist group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan region in retaliation for terrorist attacks on its own territory. This was the first missile strike by the Iranian armed forces on Pakistani territory. Islamabad said that the attack left two children killed and three people injured, condemned Iran's actions and voiced concerns over Tehran not forewarning Islamabad about the strikes via existing communication channels. Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian held a phone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani, to discuss this issue. Jilani also described terrorism as a "common threat," adding that unilateral actions could "undermine regional peace and stability," according to the ministry.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240116/going-ballistic-what-are-irans-medium-range-missile-capabilities-1116206189.html

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A barge passes through the area between Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Galveston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Editor's note: The Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday night for the missing crew member.

A Coast Guard search was underway Tuesday near the Bolivar Peninsula for the missing crew member of a fishing boat.

The Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center received the alert around 8:58 a.m. from the captain of the St. Joseph VII, a commercial fishing vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release. The captain informed the Coast Guard of their missing crew member, who is a Nicaraguan man and was last seen wearing black windbreaker pants and a blue sweater.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

An urgent marine information broadcast was issued and led to the launch of two Coast Guard Station Galveston response boat crews and a Coast Guard Air Station Houston helicopter crew, according to the release.

The Galveston County Sheriffs Office is also assisting in the search.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/nato-official-sounds-alarm-warns-of-shifting-global-powers-1116236989.html

NATO Official Sounds Alarm, Warns of Shifting Global Powers

NATO Official Sounds Alarm, Warns of Shifting Global Powers

Sputnik International

The head of NATOs committee of military chiefs urged the alliances members to expect the unexpected and warned the tectonic plates of power are shifting, at a meeting in Brussels Wednesday.

2024-01-17T21:42+0000

2024-01-17T21:42+0000

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The head of NATOs committee of military chiefs urged the alliances members to expect the unexpected and warned the tectonic plates of power are shifting, at a meeting in Brussels Wednesday.In order to strengthen our collective defense we need a whole of society approach, said Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer. Russias special military operation in the Donbass played a key part in Bauers address. Today is the 693rd day, of the conflict he noted, adding, Ukraine will have our support for every day that is to come.Meanwhile, European economies have faltered under the strain of skyrocketing energy prices resulting from the Western sanctions.Bauer nevertheless insisted European countries should devote more funds to military spending, saying, we need a warfighting transformation of NATO.NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana agreed, noting at last years NATO Summit in Vilnius [Lithuania], our leaders agreed a new defense spending target of at least 2% of GDP.But internal divisions among European leaders are also threatening the continued shipment of lethal aid to the Zelensky regime. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico announced his opposition to the sending of weapons to Ukraine last year. Disputes have emerged among Central European countries over the EUs free trade policy towards Kiev, which Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently complained was causing hardship for local farmers.Bauer insisted it was NATOs task to spread the continents values around the world, by force if necessary.Together, more than 3 million service men and women uphold NATOs defensive shield, the admiral warned.Despite NATOs frequent portrayal as a defensive alliance, the coalition played a key role in recent wars in Afghanistan, Libya, and Yugoslavia. NATO also collaborated with the US Central Intelligence Agency in a clandestine program known as Operation Gladio, which trained fascist and neo-Nazi fighters in an ostensible effort to prepare for a Soviet invasion of Europe. Some of these extremist groups would go on to carry out deadly terrorist attacks throughout the continent.Even with the fear of Soviet military might throughout the Cold War, Russia never invaded any NATO member. On the contrary, it was the United States that invaded Russia shortly after the October Revolution in an effort to attempt to defeat the countrys popular government.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240115/ukraine-crisis-wont-end-until-nato-sponsors-push-kiev-to-negotiating-table-1116172309.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/new-zealand-refugee-mp-resigns-over-shoplifting-allegations-1116211914.html

New Zealand Refugee MP Resigns Over Shoplifting Allegations

New Zealand Refugee MP Resigns Over Shoplifting Allegations

Sputnik International

On Tuesday, Golriz Ghahraman resigned from her role as a Green Party Member of Parliament over allegations that she had stolen three items from two clothing stores.

2024-01-17T01:52+0000

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On Tuesday, Golriz Ghahraman resigned from her role as a Green Party Member of Parliament over allegations that she had stolen three items from two clothing stores. Ghahraman, who has not been charged, previously held her partys justice portfolio. The 43-year-old said that work-related stress caused her to behave out of character.It is clear to me that my mental health is being badly affected by the stresses relating to my work, Ghahraman said in a public statement. This has led me to act in ways that are completely out of character. I am not trying to excuse my actions, but I do want to explain them."With that in mind, I dont want to hide behind my mental health problems, and I take full responsibility for my actions which I deeply regret, the MP added. I have let down a lot of people and I am very sorry.The shoplifting allegations, which Ghahraman did not address, first arose in New Zealand media earlier this month. The MP made her resignation about 17 hours after a third shoplifting allegation was made against her. A CCTV video of the MP appearing to shoplift a designer handbag from a Scotties Boutique in Ponsonby, Auckland was also published.Green Party leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson spoke during a press conference, saying they supported her decision to resign.Shaw refused to comment on the allegations, adding that what is important is that Ghahraman is taking responsibility.Im losing a friend and a colleague who I have been close to and have worked with for six years, added Davidson.Police are reportedly investigating three alleged shoplifting incidents, two which occurred at Scotties in December and one which occurred at a high-end Wellington store called Cre8ivework in October.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231206/mori-mps-unconventional-oath-sparks-controversy-charles-or-skin-rash-1115417197.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/next-gop-debate-canceled-after-haley-said-shed-only-participate-if-trump-does-1116213493.html

Next GOP Debate Canceled After Haley Said Shed Only Participate if Trump Does

Next GOP Debate Canceled After Haley Said Shed Only Participate if Trump Does

Sputnik International

On Tuesday, the next GOP presidential debate was canceled after Nikki Haley, 51, said she would only participate if former President Donald Trump does.

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On Tuesday, the next GOP presidential debate was canceled after Nikki Haley, 51, said she would only participate if former President Donald Trump does. Her decision made Florida Governor Ron DeSantis the only candidate of the three willing to take part in the debate.The debate was planned for Thursday, just days before the New Hampshire primary. On Monday, the former governor and US ambassador to the United Nations placed third in the Iowa caucuses. DeSantis came in second, and Trump finished in first by a wide margin.While campaigning, Haley argued that she was the best chance for Republicans to defeat Biden in November based on survey data. While Trump may have GOP voters in his pocket, Haley has attracted both Republicans, independents, and crossover Democrats.On Tuesday, Trumps spokesperson Steven Cheung called Haley a desperate globalist who wants higher taxes, open borders, and China to dominate the United States, Adding, Thats why the only people who are voting for her are Democrats who are trying to interfere in a Republican primary.DeSantis also came out to criticize Haley's decision, accusing her of being afraid to debate because she doesnt want to answer the tough questions. And claimed her of running to be Trumps VP adding that he looked forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week.The decision has cast doubt on whether another New Hampshire debate scheduled for Sunday will take place.Following the Republican caucuses in Iowa, Haley flew to New Hampshire where she planned an event with New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu. Haley seems confident that the state will provide her with enough support to push her ahead of Trump and DeSantis. The Florida governor, though, chose not to fly straight to New Hampshire, but landed in the state of South Carolina firstHaleys home state of which she was governorin preparation for their race in the state next month.On Monday, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out of the 2024 presidential race after falling well behind the other candidates in Iowa. He then endorsed Trump, calling him to congratulate him on his victory. After his success in Iowa, Trump flew to New York for a defamation trial in just one of the many legal battles the former president finds himself embroiled in. He then held a rally in New Hampshire on Tuesday evening.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231222/trump-lets-loose-on-birdbrain-haley-as-poll-shows-them-running-neck-and-neck-in-key-state-1115756435.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/norway-to-allocate-over-190mln-to-boost-defense-industry-capacity-1116225846.html

Norway to Allocate Over $190Mln to Boost Defense Industry Capacity

Norway to Allocate Over $190Mln to Boost Defense Industry Capacity

Sputnik International

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said on Wednesday that Norway would earmark over $190 million to boost the capacity of the country's defense industry after the Ukraine conflict had created a situation that required expansion of ammunition production.

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"A billion kroner [over $95 million] will go to Nammo's [Nordic Ammunition Company] specific projects to increase the production of artillery ammunition. A billion kroner will be earmarked for other projects of the Norwegian defense industry," the prime minister said in a statement published by the Norwegian government. The Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram clarified that boosting defense industry capacities would play an important role for both Ukraine and Norway's security. Norway is one of Ukraine's major military aid donors. It has provided around 11 billion kroner worth of military aid to Ukraine in 2023 alone and plans to continue supporting Kiev militarily during what its government says may become a prolonged conflict. On January 1, the Norwegian government allowed domestic arms makers to export weapons directly to Ukraine, thus making an exception from a 1959 guideline that advises against funneling Norwegian arms to war zones.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/pakistan-informs-iran-about-decision-to-recall-its-ambassador---foreign-ministry-1116225968.html

Pakistan Informs Iran About Decision to Recall Its Ambassador - Foreign Ministry

Pakistan Informs Iran About Decision to Recall Its Ambassador - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik International

Islamabad has informed the Iranian government about its decision to recall its ambassador in Tehran in light of the recent attacks on the Pakistani territory, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

2024-01-17T12:23+0000

2024-01-17T12:23+0000

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On Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles and drones at a base of terrorist group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan region in retaliation for terrorist attacks on its own territory. This was the first missile strike by the Iranian armed forces on Pakistani territory. Islamabad said that the attack left two children killed and three people injured, condemned Iran's actions and voiced concerns over Tehran not forewarning Islamabad about the strikes via existing communication channels. Islamabad considers the attacks "unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistans sovereignty by Iran," the ministry said, adding that this is a "violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations." "This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever. Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act. The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran," the statement read.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240116/going-ballistic-what-are-irans-medium-range-missile-capabilities-1116206189.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/putin-north-korean-foreign-minister-discuss-situation-on-korean-peninsula---kremlin-1116221369.html

Putin, North Korean Foreign Minister Discuss Situation on Korean Peninsula - Kremlin

Putin, North Korean Foreign Minister Discuss Situation on Korean Peninsula - Kremlin

Sputnik International

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui the situation on the Korean Peninsula, but key... 17.01.2024, Sputnik International

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Putin and Choe met in the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday. "It was generally about bilateral relations, the situation on the Korean peninsula, and the exchange of views on the most pressing international affairs. But the main focus was on the development of bilateral relations. We have repeatedly said, and I am ready to repeat it again, that North Korea is our very important partner, and we are aimed at further developing our relations in all areas, including sensitive areas," Peskov told reporters.The North Korean foreign minister, heading a government delegation, arrived in Moscow on January 15 at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and will remain in Russia until January 17.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240115/russia-intends-to-further-develop-partnership-with-north-korea-in-all-areas---kremlin-1116170920.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/qatar-france-broker-deal-for-urgent-medical-aid-delivery-to-gaza-1116219707.html

Qatar, France Broker Deal for Urgent Medical Aid Delivery to Gaza

Qatar, France Broker Deal for Urgent Medical Aid Delivery to Gaza

Sputnik International

The Israeli PM's office has confirmed that humanitarian aid will arrive in Egypt on Wednesday. The items are set to be delivered to hostages, as well as the populace in Gaza, worst-hit and exposed to the effects of the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This is a joint effort by France and Qatar to alleviate the hardship from the hostilities.

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In a joint effort, Qatar and France have brokered a deal involving Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The arrangement focuses on the prompt delivery of medical aid to 45 Israeli hostages currently held by Hamas in Gaza. As part of the agreement, humanitarian and medical assistance will be extended to the severely impacted civilian population.The two nations confirmed that the aid will depart Qatar bound for Egypt on Wednesday and proceed through the Rafah border crossing.However, specific details about the amount or type of aid for civilians were not disclosed.The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that two Qatari Air Force planes, carrying medicines purchased in France based on an Israeli list, were scheduled to land in Egypt. Each of the 45 hostages will receive specific medical packages for several months, which would be coordinated on the ground by the International Committee of the Red Cross.Philippe Lalliot, the head of France's foreign ministry crisis center responsible for coordinating aid efforts, revealed that negotiations for the release of the Israeli hostages had been ongoing for several weeks, with the initial idea originating from the families of some of the Israeli hostages. The official confirmed that France currently has three of its nationals held captive by Hamas in Gaza.The ongoing conflict in Gaza was triggered when Hamas launched what it called Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023, a massive, multipronged armed infiltration into Israel by air, land, and sea, in addition to unleashing a barrage of rockets on the Jewish state. This explosion of violence and bloodshed set off the unrelenting bombardment of Hamas targets by the Israel Defense Forces.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231222/unsc-adopts-resolution-appointing-humanitarian-coordinator-to-facilitate-aid-into-gaza-1115754442.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/russian-strike-destroys-building-in-kharkov-hosting-french-mercenaries---defense-ministry-1116232392.html

Russian Strike Destroys Building in Kharkov Hosting French Mercenaries - Defense Ministry

Russian Strike Destroys Building in Kharkov Hosting French Mercenaries - Defense Ministry

Sputnik International

The Russian military has destroyed a building in Ukraines Kharkov that hosted French mercenaries after it launched a precision strike against it, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

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"On the evening of January 16, the Russian armed forced carried out a high-precision strike on the temporary deployment location of foreign fighters in the city of Kharkiv, and the majority of fighters were French mercenaries. As a result of the strike, the building in which the mercenaries were located was completely destroyed. More than 60 fighters were killed, and more than 20 were taken to health facilities," the ministry said in a statement.Meanwhile, Sputnik has found out that a US mercenary, retired officer, and founder of the Trident Defense Initiative mercenary group who is operating in Ukraine has published the aftermath of the presumably Russian strikes on Kharkov on his social media.In late December, the Russian armed forces have hit Ukrainian decision-making centers and military facilities in Kharkov in response to the Ukrainian terrorist attack in the Russian city of Belgorod.In particular, the former Kharkov Palace Hotel, where Ukrainian intelligence and military officials, along with up to 200 foreign mercenaries were staying, was hit that day. The mercenaries were supposed to participate in terrorist raids into Russian border areas.The Russian military also launched another high-precision missile strike on the building of the Ukrainian intelligence service in the city, destroying special service officials, foreign mercenaries and volunteer unit fighters, who were preparing sabotage on Russian territory.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240110/chaos--panic-mercs-bolt-from-ukraine-as-russian-strikes-torpedo-all-western-efforts-1116095328.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/scores-of-american-military-bases-in-iraq--syria-explicitly-serving-us-agenda--1116200064.html

Scores of American Military Bases in Iraq & Syria Explicitly Serving US Agenda

Scores of American Military Bases in Iraq & Syria Explicitly Serving US Agenda

Sputnik International

US military presence in Iraq and Syria.

2024-01-17T15:36+0000

2024-01-17T15:36+0000

2024-02-07T13:24+0000

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The escalation of major regional tensions linked to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict poses an ever-growing threat of violence spilling over into the wider Middle East region.After Washington vouched unwavering support for Tel Aviv in the wake of the violent ambush launched by Hamas against Israel last October, US troops and military contractors in Iraq and Syria have been targeted in over a dozen attacks. Risks were further heightened after the US and the UK carried out air strikes on Houthi targets in northern Yemen last week.If a larger conflict were to explode, that could impact American military personnel based across the region. Sputnik puts the spotlight on the US's military footprint in Iraq and Syria.IraqAfter invading Iraq in 2003 in a campaign based on false allegations that led to years of devastating hostilities and destruction, the United States continued its occupation of the country for almost 20 years. The US combat mission was finally brought to a formal end in December 2021. In July that year, US and Iraqi officials had agreed that the American contingent in the country would be reduced to a non-combat advisory role. The current strength of the US so-called train and assist personnel is around 2,500, the Defense Department acknowledged early this year. Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder told a news briefing on January 8 that the DoD had no plan for withdrawal, adding: We continue to remain very focused on the defeat IS* mission.Remaining soldiers under Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOIR) - the official name for the US-led military coalition against IS* set up in 2014, were ostensibly tasked with training, advising, and providing intelligence to the Iraqi Armed Forces amid the ongoing fight against IS*.We continue to remain very focused on the Defeat ISIS* mission under CJTF-OIR, as we advise and assist the Iraqis. And as youve heard us say many times before, were there at the invitation of the government of Iraq, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder told reporters earlier this month. According to various sources, American military presence in Iraq is spread out across some of the following locations:Al-Asad Airbase (originally known as Qadisiyah Airbase) in Haditha and Hit district of Al Anbar Governorate used to be the second largest US military airbase in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.The base is believed to boast a perimeter of over 15 miles (24 km), and is the second largest USAF base in Iraq. It reportedly has 23 hardened shelters, two 3,990-meter paved runways and a 3,090-meter long dirt runway.This is the air base that was targeted on January 8, 2020, by an Iranian ballistic missile in retaliation for the US killing of IRGC Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike. It is believed to be still in use by American forces as of January 2024. In 2023, the base was attacked amid the Gaza conflict escalation by Shia armed groups operating in the country. The rocket and drone attacks have been triggered by the latest explosion of violence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.The Harir Air Base, which hosts US and international forces, is situated in the vicinity of Erbil International Airport. Erbil is the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in the Erbil Governorate. Al-Harir Air Base, in Shaqlawa District, Erbil Governorate, used to bear the name of Bashur Air Base. It was taken over in the course of US-led Operation Northern Delay during the invasion of Iraq. The airbase, which houses the US-led global coalition against IS* was one of those targeted by attacks in response to Washington supporting Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The base is also deemed strategically important given it is the closest to the Syrian border. The largest military air base in Iraq, Balad Air Base or Al-Bakir Air Base, is located near Balad, within the municipality of Yathrib. Its original name was Al-Bakr Air Base, but it was renamed after being seized in 2003 by the American forces during the Iraq War to Camp Anaconda. Camp Anaconda was colloquially dubbed at the time "Life Support Area Anaconda" or the "Big Snake," and housed 28,000 military personnel and 8,000 civilian contractors.Camp Habbaniyah, which is currently a major Iraqi military airbase, used to be a British Royal Air Force station at Habbaniyah, about 89 km west of Baghdad, on the banks of the Euphrates. After the end of Britain's presence, it began to be used by the United States Armed Forces, becoming known as Camp Habbaniyah. In 2015, the camp was a base for American 'trainers' amid the campaign against IS*.Camp Victory at Baghdad International Airport and al-Taji military base, Baghdad Governorate, have been used for training Iraqi forces. The facilities sustained their share of rocket fire from the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which includes Shia militant groups, in October 2023, according to Iraqi media.Qayyarah Airfield West is an Iraqi Air Force base in the Qayyarah subdistrict of Mosul District in northern Iraq. It is located approximately 300 kilometers north of Baghdad, and was captured by the US Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, serving as a logistical hub.Atrush Base Camp sits upon a high-quality oilfield near Dohuk, Iraqi Kurdistan, discovered by the Consortium of General Exploration Partners. SyriaAt least a dozen US bases dot the eastern third of Syria, with all of them tailored to serve the US agenda of weakening the legitimate Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad.Most of the US military presence can be found in the Trans-Euphrates region, which is administratively divided into three provinces: Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa and Hasakah. The US occupation forces have been plundering oil and food-rich areas of the country's northeast since the mid-to-late 2010s. While initially wading in under the pretext of chasing IS,* American troops lingered behind after the terrorist group was routed from the war-torn country.According to varying sources, there are anywhere between 900 and 2,000 US soldiers in Syria to ostensibly conduct counterterrorism operations against IS*, with a contingent of around 100 believed to be providing support to the so-called 'Free Syrian Army,' a coalition of opposition militias. Syria has repeatedly demanded that the US end its occupation, with Damascus and its allies emphasizing that the presence of American troops is "illegal."Multiple media outlets have suggested that there are a total of 17 US military bases in Al-Hasakah, nine in Deir ez-Zor, and two in Homs. It is not surprising that the distribution of US presence creates a sort of cordon around the sources of Syrian oil and gas, which are situated to the east of the Euphrates River.One of the main bases of the illegal US occupation of northeastern Syria, with its concentration of lucrative oil fields, is the al-Tanf outpost, in the southern desert that spreads to the Syrian-Iraqi-Jordan border. Al-Tanf, situated along the strategically significant Baghdad-Damascus highway, has been used by US troops for 'counterterrorism operations' and to train Syrian opposition factions since at least 2016. Syrian officials have often claimed that the US is using al-Tanf to destabilize the two countries' borders by enabling the transfer of terrorists from one side to the other. Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director, Sergei Naryshkin, recently accused the Americans of transporting ISIS* militants to al-Tanf, with the intention of conducting subversive activities on Syrian soil, and even targeting Russian sites. Unlike the US, who are currently operating in Syria without any official mandate, the Syrian government has invited Russia to aid in their fight against terrorismAl-Omar, in eastern Deir ez-Zor province, northeastern Syria, is a US military base that sits atop the country's largest oil field. When the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and their US allies seized control of most of the countrys northeast, this included oil-rich territories east of the Euphrates River, such as the Al-Omar oilfield, and the massive al-Tabia gas field (both in Deir ez-Zor province), which has the capacity to produce up to 13 million cubic meters of gas per day.These areas are only part of several major energy-rich areas illegally occupied by US forces in the countrys northeast, with American troops and their Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces allies regularly extracting oil wealth and smuggling it into neighboring Iraq in convoys of tankers.Hemo base, located 4km west of Qamishli Airport, is believed to be a vital one for the US occupation forces in Syria. The village of Hemo is said to have housed a special training camp for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) where American forces train SDF militants. The facility hosted close to 350 American soldiers, however, according to Arab news reports, troops were evacuated as a result of repeated attacks by Islamic resistance factions in Iraq.Other sites believed to be utilized by the US military are:*IS, also known as ISIS/ISIL, is a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231217/us-plunders-nearly-100-more-trucks-worth-of-syrian-oil-wheat-and-barley-1115646033.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230316/syria-has-evidence-that-united-states-training-terrorists-at-al-tanf-military-base-assad-says-1108445801.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/top-5-deadliest-weapons-in-irans-arsenal-1116233222.html

Top 5 Deadliest Weapons in Irans Arsenal

Top 5 Deadliest Weapons in Irans Arsenal

Sputnik International

The Iranians are masters of asymmetric warfare, showing a penchant for developing, building, fielding and using an array of homegrown weapons systems to counter adversaries that are better-funded, more numerous and far more heavily armed. Check out some of the advanced arms keeping Irans enemies up at night.

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force demonstrated its capability to lob ballistic missiles at targets over 1,000 km away on Tuesday, firing four Kheibar-Shekan (Castle Buster, Fortress Buster) missiles at terrorists in Idlib, Syria from Khuzestan province in Irans southwest.Tuesdays strikes broke Irans range record in the use of missiles in combat, and constituted the first major missile attack from the IRGCs Khuzestan bases since the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988.Observers quickly dubbed the Kheibar-Shekan one of Irans most advanced solid-propellant missile system[s], and focused on the strategic implications of the missiles deployment. Because if the Islamic Republic can use its long-range strike weapons to target terrorists in faraway places, it could very easily use the same capability to target Israel  its regional arch nemesis, or any one of the dozen-or-so major American military bases across the Middle East, in the event of enemy aggression.So what? readers who know a thing or two about Irans missile capabilities might ask. After all, the Islamic Republic is known to have developed and fielded more than a dozen other missiles with a range and capabilities similar to the Kheibar-Shekan, including the Ashura, the Fajr-3 and the Khorramshahr. But in the capitals of countries considering a surprise attack against Iran, Tehrans use of its missiles in combat carries an important psychological message.Iran can be expected to continue devoting substantial money and manpower to developing more effective, longer-range ballistic and cruise missiles and drones, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, an influential DC-based pro-Israeli think tank said in a report last July. It will do so not only to boost its deterrence and negotiating leverage, but also to gradually increase psychological and kinetic pressure on the United States and Israel.#1: Fattah-1 Hypersonic MissileIran not only can be expected to increase its missile power, as the Washington Institute suggests, but is actively doing so, not only upgrading its ballistic and cruise missile capabilities, but actively pursuing advanced technologies possessed by only a handful of top military powers, such as ramjet air-breathing engines, and hypersonic technologies.Iran made its first foray into hypersonic missiles last year, unveiling the Fattah-1 (lit. Conqueror or Victory Giver)  a new hypersonic missile with a 1,400 km range which can accelerate up to Mach 13-15, in June 2023. The missile can maneuver in flight, which together with its blazing-fast speeds allows it to evade all existing and prospective air defense systems. The Fattah-1 is powered by a two-stage, solid fuel engine.Just a few months after the Fattah-1 was unveiled, Iran showed off a cruise missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle known as the Fattah-2. That mystery missiles characteristics are unknown, and, unlike the Fattah-1, it remains unclear whether the weapon has been tested. Nonetheless, Irans work in this direction clearly demonstrates that the country is striving not only to match, but surpass the capabilities of the United States (which still does not have a functional hypersonic capability).#2: Abu Mahdi Cruise MissileOn January 3, 2020, a US drone strike killed senior Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and IRGC Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. Iran responded by bombarding a pair of US bases in Iraq with ballistic missiles.In honor of the slain Iraqi commander, the Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) aerospace manufacturer decided to name Irans newest and most advanced naval cruise missile in his honor.Launchable from the ground, from warships or from military aircraft, the Abu Mahdi puts Iran into a small club of nations with the capability to produce long-range anti-ship cruise missiles. Its unknown how many Abu Mahdis the IAIO has been able to manufacture since the systems introduction into service, but if they are deployed in large numbers, they can effectively provide Irans military with total control over the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and blanket almost the entirety of the Arabian Sea. Whats more, if fielded aboard Irans Makran forward base ship, the Iranian Navy could tote the missiles around with them in mini-flotillas to virtually any point on Earth.#3: Mohajer-10 DroneAlong with advanced missiles, Iran is known for its world-renowned drone design capabilities, excelling in the development and production of all kinds of rocket and turboprop-powered, reconnaissance, long-range strike, kamikaze and even flying wing drones.Among the newest of these developments is the Mohajer-10 (lit. Immigrant or Holy Migrant), a new, multipurpose UAV designed for surveillance missions, long-range strikes, electronic warfare and full-spectrum superiority.The Mohajer-10 is the latest in a long lineup of Mohajer-series drones whose origins go back to the 1980s and the Iran-Iraq War, where the Islamic Republics military and the IRGC first realized the importance of drones in modern warfare. Forty years on, even US media are forced to begrudgingly recognize Iran as one of the top five drone powers in the world.#4: Sevom Khordad Air Defense SystemIrans offensive missile and drone capabilities would mean very little if they could be easily decimated in a surprise enemy first strike. Thats why Tehran has put immense focus on both long and short-range radars capable of detecting intruding enemy missiles, drones and aircraft, and air defense missiles and electronic warfare systems to shoot them down.While theorizing about the effectiveness of Irans dense, highly integrated air defense network is easy, actually proving its capabilities against enemy incursions is more difficult, requiring real-world examples. One such opportunity came on June 20, 2019, when a US RQ-4A Global Hawk BAMS-D spy drone flew accidentally-on-purpose into Iranian airspace over the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran to fire a missile from a Sevom Khordad air defense missile system and turn the $180 million piece of American military hardware into scrap metal.The Sevom Khordad was built by Iran from the ground up, and features completely indigenous defense electronics and Iranian-made Taer-2B radar-guided solid fueled surface to air missiles (SAMs), and is named after the third day of the third month of the Iranian calendar, in honor of the liberation of the Iranian city of Khorramshahr from Iraqi forces in 1982.Sevom Khordad batteries can be plugged into regional and national air defense systems, and can also fire shorter-range Sayyad SAMs 40-150 km in engagements against aircraft and drones.The June 2019 shootdown of the Global Hawk by an IRGC-operated Sevom Khordad brought Iran and the US to the brink of war. The drone had ignored multiple radio warnings sent by Irans air defense troops before being targeted. President Trump was pressured by neocons in his administration to respond to the drone downing with attacks against Iranian missile sites, but ultimately decided against it. Tehran quickly revealed that it had communicated to Washington that it could have easily also shot down a manned Boeing P-8 Poseidon spy plane with nearly three dozen servicemen onboard at the same time that it shot down the Global Hawk, but didnt do so to avoid escalation. Trump appeared moved by this information, saying he appreciated that the Iranians made the very wise decision not to shoot down the P-8. In any case, the IRGC said that the whole incident sent Washington a clear message that while Tehran does not want a conflict with the United States, it is ready for one.#5: Sayyad Armored Fighting VehicleMuch has been said and written about Irans missile, drone and air defense capabilities, but far less about the potential of Irans ground forces. With a standing Army of some 350,000 men, and a 150,000 contingent of elite IRGC troops (plus 40,000 paramilitaries), the Islamic Republic has one of the largest active duty militaries in the Middle East, and a pool of over 350,000 reserve personnel to draw on in case of an emergency.An army that size requires an array of tanks, armored and support vehicles, artillery, mortars, small arms, and protective equipment  all of which Iran has sought to source domestically, or, in more limited quantities, to buy from its Russian and Chinese partners.One facet of Irans armored unit capabilities has received virtually no media attention is the Sayyad (lit. Hunter), a tiny, multipurpose tracked armored vehicle built by the Defense Industries Organization (DLO).Much like Irans fleet of sea-going gunboats, which the IRGC has equipped with everything from machine guns to rocket launchers, the design philosophy behind the Sayyad seems to be that of creating a peppy and nimble quick reaction tankette for a wide variety of missions.The vehicles were introduced into service with the ground forces in 2010, with their design based on Irans experiences in the Iran-Iraq War. Iran is estimated to have at least 150 of the tankettes in operation, and the DLO is continuing their manufacture.Whether in the area of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, drones, anti-air missile defenses or armored vehicles, Irans defense design bureaus and military industrial complex have proven time and again through the past four-and-a-half decades that they are more than capable of facing off against powerful regional and large global adversaries, and forcing enemies to think twice before starting aggression which could quickly turn into a real-life battle of David vs. Goliath.

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A screenshot from a police car dash camera shows officers responding to a Dec. 17, 2023 police shooting in northeast Houston. The police department on Jan. 16 said it planned to change body camera policies after the body camera of the officer who fired his gun, wounding a man, didn't record the incident on his body camera. COURTESY/Houston Police Department

Houston Police Department said it will change its body camera policy change after the release of a video showed the moments after a man was shot in the back by a Houston police officer, but was missing any of the events that led up to the shooting.

In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, the police department said the officers body camera was not activated during the Dec. 17 shooting of Kevin Lyn Mitchell in northeast Houston

The departments internal affairs division is investigating why the camera wasnt turned on. The officer, whom spokesman Shay Awosiyan identified as David Reinhold in a news release, is on active duty while the shooting is being investigated.

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Houston Police Chief Troy Finner expects to announce a change to the departments body camera policy sometime next week. The change would allow the department to capture additional law enforcement activities, especially during critical incidents, even if a recording is not initiated, the statement read.

Chase ended in shooting

Mitchell, 30, was shot on a Sunday afternoon after a report of a robbery at a business, police said. Reinhold chased Mitchell after seeing him running away from the scene carrying merchandise believed to have been stolen from the business.

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Mitchell was hospitalized after the shooting and booked into the Harris County Jail Dec. 21.

Mitchell hasnt been charged with robbery in connection to the reported theft, according to court records. He was charged with attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer and aggravated assault of a public servant, over his alleged attack on Reinhold with a stick.

He was also subsequently charged with retaliation after being accused of threatening someone while in jail and charged with theft from a North Freeway Walmart in November. Mitchell was being held on $95,000 bond and is next scheduled to be in court in February, according to jail records.

The only description of what happened between Mitchell and Reinhold came from a Dec. 18 police department news release.

In the statement, police said Mitchell didnt follow orders to stop, and Reinhold chased him on foot. When the officer caught up to Mitchell, police said he punched, bit, hit and stabbed the officer with tree branches. The statement said Mitchell grabbed at Reinholds gun and then ran again, leading to another chase and physical altercation.

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During the second fight, police said Mitchell tried to take Reinholds Taser, and the officer shot Mitchell once.

Video related to the shooting released Tuesday doesnt show the chases, fights or the shooting. The video starts with the arrival of other officers at the scene and shows Reinhold telling them to report shots being fired and to call EMS. One officer describes Mitchell as being shot in the back, as other officers begin to provide medical treatment.

Mitchells court-appointed defense attorney said Wednesday the shooting left Mitchell in a wheelchair and dealing with continued pain. Quentin A. Brooker said he had only recently received discovery material on Mitchells arrest and was still formulating an opinion about the case.

I would love for there to have been body cameras activated, Brooker said. Then we could see everything and then draw our own conclusions. But now we have this shroud. Why was my client shot? We can take the officers word or other peoples that may or may not have been there. Its problematic. I dont love it. But right now, this is what were working with.

General orders

There is no explanation in the police departments summary video of why Reinholds camera wasnt turned on. He joined the police department in July 2022 and is assigned to the northeast patrol division.

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The police departments general order on body cameras, last updated in January 2021, requires officers to activate their cameras during any police action including vehicle and foot pursuits and states officers who are not justified in failing to activate their cameras can be disciplined or indefinitely suspended.

Gregory Fremin, a retired Houston Police Department captain and a professor at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, said department policy has long stipulated that officers turn on their body cameras before any police action. But administrators have seen some officers forget or not have time to ahead of quick responses, or life-and-death situations, Fremin said.

Officers have been suspended from the force for violating the rules regarding turning on body cameras, Fremin said.

The professor and retired law enforcement officer wasnt sure what changes might come from the recent shooting, but said department administrators might consider revisions that would require officers to engage their cameras as soon as a call dropped that might involve someone with a gun or weapon. Fremin said they also now make body cameras that turn on whenever an officer pulls their firearm.

The limited video of shooting was released about noon Tuesday. The department announced its plans for policy changes five hours later.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/turkish-delegation-to-visit-russia-this-week-to-discuss-gas-hub---source-1116218956.html

Turkish Delegation to Visit Russia This Week to Discuss Gas Hub - Source

Turkish Delegation to Visit Russia This Week to Discuss Gas Hub - Source

Sputnik International

A delegation from Turkey will pay a visit to Russia this week to discuss the details of a gas hub, a source in the Turkish Energy Ministry told Sputnik on Wednesday.

2024-01-17T07:52+0000

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"A Turkish official delegation will leave for Russia this week. The delegation will receive information about the creation of a gas hub and discuss the details. Based on the results of this inspection visit, it is expected that a calendar of actions for the implementation of the project will be prepared and work will be accelerated," the ministry said.Earlier, Turkiye and Russias Gazprom have agreed to draft a roadmap for a gas hub in near future, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Thursday.In October 2022, the presidents of Turkiye and Russia instructed their relevant authorities to map out the possibility of creating a gas hub in Turkey where traffic could be diverted from the damaged Nord Stream pipelines.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230904/what-is-the-russia-turkiye-gas-hub-and-why-is-it-important-1113114324.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/ukrainian-top-diplomats-competence-questioned-after-violent-comment-1116212867.html

Ukrainian Top Diplomats Competence Questioned After Violent Comment

Ukrainian Top Diplomats Competence Questioned After Violent Comment

Sputnik International

The impolitic comment has inflamed tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

2024-01-17T03:42+0000

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba contemplated slugging his counterpart Sergey Lavrov in the face during tense negotiations in the early days of Russias special military operation, it was reported Monday.The revelation came from the release of an interview with an online Ukrainian influencer who asked Kuleba about his most challenging negotiations as the countrys chief diplomat.Russian and Ukrainian diplomats met for a series of talks shortly after Russia initiated their special military operation in 2022, one of which took place in the Turkish resort city of Antalya. Following advice of its Western partners, Ukrainian representatives reportedly refused to continue negotiations, opting for an armed conflict with Russia. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly rejected negotiations with Russia since then.Zelenskys rejection of negotiations with Russia represents a continued about face for the Ukrainian leader, who ran as a peace candidate for the countrys presidency in 2019. Zelensky campaigned on implementing the so-called Minsk agreements to end tensions with Russia, which would have granted ethnic Russian regions in the Donbass a degree of autonomy.Zelensky later admitted his promise was merely a ruse with European leaders to provide time for Ukraine to expand its military capabilities. Zelensky foresaw a war with Russia as inevitable, although his campaign rhetoric suggests the Ukrainian public was less willing to violently confront its neighbor. Indeed, members of Ukraines military often refused to fight separatist forces in the countrys east until leaders recruited members of the Azov Battalion* and other extremists.Many observers speculated that Azov Battalion* members and other neo-Nazi elements of Ukrainian society also played a role in Zelenskys rejection of peace with Russia. Such far-right paramilitaries forced former President Viktor Yanukovych to step down from his position and flee Ukraine in 2014. Ukrainian leaders operate under the threat of such Russophobic elements doing the same if Ukraine backs down; indeed, extremist leaders have made it clear they consider the prospect of peace with Russia to be unacceptable.Maria Zakharova of Russias foreign ministry responded indignantly to Kulebas comments.Before he became leader of Ukraine, Zelensky was formerly an actor and comedian who played the president on the popular television program Servant of the People.*The Azov Battalion is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231127/uk-media-mum-on-shocking-claims-boris-johnson-sabotaged-russia-ukraine-peace-talks--1115230732.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/us-investigators-found-cocaine-on-hunter-bidens-gun-holster-last-year---reports-1116218815.html

US Investigators Found Cocaine on Hunter Biden's Gun Holster Last Year - Reports

US Investigators Found Cocaine on Hunter Biden's Gun Holster Last Year - Reports

Sputnik International

US investigators found cocaine residue on Hunter Biden's gun pouch last year, which prompted federal prosecutors to oppose his requests to lift illegal gun possession charges against him, the ABC News broadcaster reported on Wednesday, citing prosecutors.

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"The strength of the evidence against him is overwhelming ... To be clear, investigators literally found drugs on the pouch where the defendant had kept his gun," the prosecutors were quoted as saying by the broadcaster. An FBI lab has identified the substance removed from a brown leather case as cocaine and the incriminating discovery was made last year, the broadcaster wrote. The prosecutors asked a judge on Tuesday to turn down Hunter Biden's efforts to dismiss gun charges, the broadcaster added. US President Joe Biden's son is refusing to plead guilty to allegedly lying about his drug use while filling out a form when purchasing a gun in October 2018. In doing so, Hunter Biden revealed in his memoirs that he was addicted to drugs at the time.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/watch-russian-tank-eliminate-temporary-position-of-ukrainian-armed-forces-1116223058.html

Watch Russian Tank Eliminate Temporary Position of Ukrainian Armed Forces

Watch Russian Tank Eliminate Temporary Position of Ukrainian Armed Forces

Sputnik International

The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage of the Russian tank crew annihilating a temporary position of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel.

2024-01-17T15:42+0000

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The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage of a Russian tank crew annihilating a temporary position of Ukrainian military personnel.After receiving coordinates from a UAV operator pinpointing a house where a group of 12 Ukrainian nationalists had gathered, the crew of a Russian Armed Forces T-90M tank quickly moved into position, the ministry said. They used direct fire to hit the given coordinates."We all know how to work both with direct fire and from closed positions. When we work with direct fire, we work mainly with guided missiles. We destroy dugouts, fortifications where infantry cannot get through," the tank commander explained.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/world-on-escalation-spiral-towards-war-as-biden-struggles-to-maintain-credibility-1116213658.html

World on Escalation Spiral Towards War as Biden Struggles to Maintain Credibility

World on Escalation Spiral Towards War as Biden Struggles to Maintain Credibility

Sputnik International

Events in the Middle East and the US Presidents need to consider domestic politics during an election year combine to create a dangerous situation for the world, according to one analyst.

2024-01-17T04:21+0000

2024-01-17T04:21+0000

2024-01-25T18:17+0000

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The likelihood of global military confrontation is increasing according to analyst Yezid Sayigh, a senior fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center.Sayigh made the assessment during an interview with Chinese media that touched on Israel, the crisis in the Red Sea, and the United States so-called pivot to Asia policy. Commenting on tensions between Israel and its neighbors in the Middle East, Sayigh offered sobering insight on the potential for events to escalate beyond world leaders control.I think the risk of a wider war is obviously increasing, said Sayigh. However, at the same time, I think that the key parties will not go beyond a certain point into direct confrontation. At the same time, they have already started what we call an escalation spiral.Sayigh employed the metaphor of World War I to explain how events could lead towards war even without world leaders consciously seeking to initiate conflict. World War I was famously set into motion by the murder of Austro-Hungarian heir apparent Archduke Franz Ferdinand. But Sayigh argued the key factor in the wars outbreak was not the killing itself, but rather the greater zeitgeist of global tension created by previous events.Part of what makes the current moment so perilous are the set of incentives created by domestic politics, Sayigh argued. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces corruption charges, as well as an Israeli public likely to hold the longtime leader accountable for Hamas October 7 attack. Netanyahu has an interest in the continuation of military conflict to prevent either of those things threatening his political career.But domestic politics also alters the calculations of US President Joe Biden, the analyst argued. Previously Biden showed signs of returning to former President Barack Obamas policy of detente with Iran, resisting many neoconservatives' call for war on the Middle Eastern country. Now, domestic support for Israel makes it harder for Biden to pursue reconciliation with the countrys fierce enemy.Foreign policy in the Middle East will become hostage to American domestic politics, which is very dangerous, he warned.Sayigh argued that the very credibility of the entire Western world order is threatened by Israels ongoing military action against the Palestinians. He noted that the West has done little to pressure Israel or discourage its most significant abuses. Rather, it has seemingly turned its back on the entire post-World War II order it created in favor of supporting its ally.Sayigh asserted that the moment comes just as the United States had committed itself to focusing its attention on East Asia, hoping to prevent Chinas rise along with a resurgent Russia. On the contrary, the disruption caused by events in the Middle East could actually accelerate the decline of the Wests hegemony.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231121/ex-cia-analyst-us-responsible-for-gaza-genocide-by-empowering-netanyahu--1115100230.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/iran-reserves-right-to-deterrent-measures-as-us-sends-f-16s-to-its-backyard-1111947688.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231226/2023-in-review-how-us-pushed-deeper-into-asia-while-focus-was-on-ukraine--israel-1115825784.html

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Buffalo Raceway and Saratoga Casino Hotel will be implementing stricter whipping guidelines for the 2024 racing season. Both tracks have worked together to expand whipping rules in an effort to better racing for all involved.

In addition to the current New York State Gaming Commission regulations, both tracks have restricted whipping ...to wrist action only, and the whipping arm shall not be raised above the drivers shoulder. Additionally, the use of the whip will be restricted to use ...above and between the shafts only. Whipping below the shaft in the stifle area will be in violation.

Drivers will be subject to penalties set down by track management.

While this is the first rule of its kind in New York State, a similar rule is currently enforced in New Jersey, Indiana and Ontario.

Buffalo Raceway is on grounds owned by the Erie County Agricultural Society, which hosts many animal related events, including the Erie County Fair in August.

Our racing operation is in line with the Erie County Agricultural Societys mission statement that the welfare of all animals on the grounds is a top priority, said Jon Cramer, General Manager.

Saratoga Casino Hotel wants to ensure that the well-being of the equine athletes is protected in every way possible, said John Matarazzo, Director of Racing. The rule changes reflect this objective.

Buffalo Raceway and Saratoga Casino Hotel have worked together to expand the whipping rule in efforts to better racing for all involved -- both the horses and its participants.

(Buffalo Raceway)
The Turkish escalation serves as an opportunity for Ankara to reassert its commitment to expanding and fortifying its military presence in Syria, according to Athr Press.

Since January 13, the Turkish Air Force has initiated an extensive targeting campaign in northeastern Syria in response to an operation conducted by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The PKKs assault resulted in the unfortunate loss of nine Turkish soldiers and the seizure of their vehicles, prompting a robust Turkish reaction.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed this escalation, acknowledging the destruction caused to Syrian infrastructure, particularly in the electricity and oil sectors. According to Athr Press sources, Turkish drones targeted electricity transmission stations in al-Qahtaniyah, Qamishli, North Qamishli, al-Darbasiya, and Amudah, as well as the generation facility in al-Suwaidiyah, rendering them inoperative.

The power outage subsequently affected water pumping stations in al-Qahtaniyah, Qamishli, Amuda, and al-Derbasiya. Turkish forces also focused on oil facilities, notably the Awda oil station in the Qahtaniyah area of the eastern countryside of Qamishli, and the natural gas generation plant. A statement from the Turkish parliament on Tuesday indicated Ankaras decision to persist in these targeted actions.

Analyst Igor Sobotin, specializing in Turkish and Iraqi affairs, highlighted in an article published by the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta and translated by Russia Today= that Turkeys response strategy involves substantial reprisals against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) whenever the PKK attacks its forces in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Sobotin emphasized that this policy serves dual purposes: firstly, creating a division between the PKK and the SDF, exploiting the fact that PKK attacks in Iraq trigger retaliatory actions in Syria. Secondly, Turkey aims to elevate the cost of PKK attacks on its forces, demonstrating its determination to make such actions prohibitively expensive.

Turkey unites t operations between Syria and Iraq

According to Turkish defence statements, the targets in the recent military operations are in response to a PKK operation in the Zab region in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. However, the repercussions of the Turkish response have affected both northern Iraq and northeastern Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan assured that the operations in northern Iraq are conducted in coordination with the Iraqi authorities. Addressing the Turkish parliament on Tuesday, Fidan stated, We continue to collaborate with the Iraqi authorities to strengthen their approach against the PKK terrorist organization.

Contrarily, in Syria, these operations not only breach Syrian airspace but also inflict damage on the already war-torn and depleted Syrian state infrastructure. Dr. Muhammad Noureddine, a writer and history professor at the Lebanese University in Beirut with a focus on Turkish affairs, highlighted in an article in al-Akhbar that the east of the Euphrates and northern Iraq have become a unified theatre for Turkish military operations, as Turkish aircraft persistently violate Syrian airspace under the pretext of targeting Kurdish sites.

Beyond violating Syrian airspace and causing infrastructure damage, this Turkish escalation serves as an opportunity for Ankara to reassert its commitment to expanding and fortifying its military presence in Syrian territory. During a government meeting on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized, Our military presence beyond our borders is crucial for the security of our homeland and the well-being of our citizens, and this is irreversible. He added that Turkeys operations beyond its borders have thwarted schemes aimed at involving Turkey in internal unrest through irregular migration waves.

Additionally, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, aligned with the ruling Justice and Development Party in Turkey, cited sources indicating that Ankara plans to enhance the capabilities of its military bases in Syria and Iraq.

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.
Rosalva Vergara, leaves with her son, Christopher, 6, from school early after learning that the water was shut off at Felix Cook, Jr. Elementary School, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Houston. Cook Elementary was not dismissing early, but several other HISD schools including Henry Middle School, Port Houston Elementary, and Love Elementary were having early dismissals due to weather related issues. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Several Houston ISD schools struggled to provide adequate heating and plumbing to students upon their return to school on Wednesday, leading the district to dismiss classes early at three campuses, a day after freezing temperatures and hazardous driving conditions forced the district to close completely.

Henry Middle School, Port Houston Elementary School and Love Elementary School were all dismissed early Wednesday afternoon due to a lack of heat and burst pipes. Parents and students at several more campuses  including Pershing Middle School, Cook Elementary School, Harvard Elementary School, Durham Elementary School, the DeBakey High School for Health Professions and others  also reported heat and water outages at various points in the day, which started with temperatures in the low 20s.

Superintendent Mike Miles said that the district was not closing more schools because, in most cases, heating and plumbing failures were isolated to individual classrooms or areas of the building. Space heaters were being provided to campuses that reported outages, though at Henry Middle School, those heaters caused an electrical failure that necessitated the campus' closure for the day, according to Leila Walsh, HISD's chief of communications.

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FREEZE CLOSURE: HOUSTON ISD Superintendent says he regrets canceling school during freeze

Walsh was unable to provide an estimate of exactly how many schools were dealing with heating or plumbing issues, but said they were happening mostly in older buildings and that the vast majority of the district's 274 schools were having classes without issue Wednesday.

Portable potties are shown outside Felix Cook, Jr. Elementary School that were provided due to the water being shut off Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Houston. Cook Elementary was not dismissing early, but several other HISD schools including Henry Middle School, Port Houston Elementary, and Love Elementary were having early dismissals due to weather related issues. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

The weather-related problems come just a day after HISD shut down schools due to a hard freeze in the area, a move that Miles said Tuesday he regretted. The superintendent doubled down on those comments Wednesday, arguing that HISD needs to build a culture of "essentialness" by staying open except only under the direst of circumstances.

"We provide a public service, the absence of which would do great harm to the community. We should be very slow, then, to close schools," Miles said.

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Some HISD parents, however, expressed frustration with what they said was the district's poor planning and communication around school conditions Wednesday, and wondered if the decision to push forward with classes was due to mid-year benchmark tests and practice STAAR exams that were scheduled for this week.

Heather Taylor, a parent at Love Elementary, said she was only given about half an hour's notice that her fourth grader would be dismissed from school at 1 p.m., leaving her and other parents "scrambling" to make arrangements. In the end, her husband ended up missing a work meeting to go pick up her son.

"Our campus did the best with what they have, but the superintendent should have seen the bigger picture and realized he'd get a better outcome if he'd postponed the tests," Taylor said.

A man and young boy walk out of Love Elementary School in the Heights on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Houston, as parents came to pick up students dismissed early because of weather related issues Karen Warren/Staff photographer Administrators stand outside at Love Elementary School in the Heights on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Houston, as parents came to pick up students dismissed early because of weather related issues Karen Warren/Staff photographer A woman and student walk past the gates at Love Elementary School in the Heights on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Houston, as parents came to pick up students dismissed early because of weather related issues Karen Warren/Staff photographer Administrators stand outside at Love Elementary School in the Heights on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Houston, as parents came to pick up students dismissed early because of weather related issues Karen Warren/Staff photographer Leila Walsh, HISD chief communications officer, speaks to the media outside Felix Cook, Jr. Elementary School, 7115 Lockwood Dr., Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Houston. It was announced that Cook Elementary was not dismissing early, despite the water being shut off, but several other HISD schools including Henry Middle School, Port Houston Elementary, and Love Elementary were having early dismissals due to weather related issues. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Rosalva Vergara was one of several parents who drove to Cook Elementary School to pick up her kid early. Cook also lost heat in parts of the building throughout the day, and a lack of water left teachers to escort children to outdoor port-a-potties when they needed to use the bathroom. HISD said the water issues at Cook were due to city maintenance on a nearby water line and unrelated to the cold weather.

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"I didn't want my son to be outside in this weather, so it's mostly for his safety," Vergara said. "They should have told us from the beginning that there would be no water before I dropped him off in the morning."

Miles acknowledged that infrastructure issues could distract students from their tests, but said it was "not enough to where we would have to close or postpone." The superintendent said he was proud of the way that district staff had handled the challenges posed by Wednesday's weather, and argued that the aging infrastructure in much of the district made issues like these unavoidable.
The conference seeks to establish an appealing investment environment and identify the investment needs in northern Syria, according to Shaam Network.

Civil and economic events in northern Syria orchestrated the First Investment Conference in the countryside of Aleppo on Wednesday. The event witnessed the active participation of official bodies and economic stakeholders, aiming to enhance the investment landscape in northwestern Syria and apprise investors of the actual realities of the region.

Abdul Hakim al-Masri, Minister of Economy in the Syrian Interim Government, emphasized that the conference serves as a foundation in the reconstruction of Syria, signifying both an opportunity and responsibility for the government to foster relationships with local and foreign investors. Masri noted, Today, we celebrate a gathering of our expatriate investors who seek the greater good and comprehend the magnitude of the challenges.

Masri elucidated that the conferences objectives encompass elevating the investment profile in northwestern Syria and providing insights into the actual conditions of the region. The conference is structured around seven key pillars, encompassing support for investment in political, security, and legal dimensions, as well as the reality of investment in the region. Additionally, it focuses on infrastructure rehabilitation requirements, and the facilitation of financing sources and financial institutions.

In this context, Ali Hallaq, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Conference, highlighted the economic development goals for northern Syria. The conference aims to contribute to the economic growth of the region, improve living standards, and create more employment opportunities.

Hallaq emphasized that the conference seeks to establish an appealing investment environment, identify the investment needs in northern Syria, create business incubators for small projects, encourage young talents to engage in entrepreneurship and foster strategic partnerships both domestically and internationally within the investment sector.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy, under the Syrian Interim Government, confirmed that the management committee of the first investment conference in northern Syria is actively engaged in preparatory efforts. The committee is led by the Minister of Finance and General Coordinator of the conference, Dr. Abdul Hakim Masri, along with Dr. Muhammad Nader al-Othman, Deputy General Coordinator, and Engineer Ali Hallaq, Head of the Organizing Committee.

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.
Syria's delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh, is actively participating in the Non-Aligned Movement ministerial meeting, according to al-Baath.

The preparatory ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) commenced on Wednesday in Kampala, Uganda, setting the stage for the movements 19th summit, slated for Friday and Saturday. Syrias delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh, is actively participating in the event.

Key topics at the ministerial meeting include recent developments in the international sphere, notably the escalating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. The meeting also focuses on various political and economic matters of mutual interest to NAM member states.

Additionally, delegates are collaborating on the formulation of the summits final document and the Kampala Political Declaration. This declaration is expected to articulate the movements stance on a range of global issues and challenges.

The Non-Aligned Movement, with a membership of 121 countries, traces its origins to its inaugural conference in Belgrade in 1961. It is grounded in the principles established at the 1955 Bandung Conference, advocating state sovereignty and equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and the denunciation of the use or threat of force in international relations.

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.
Sources within the SDF and the Autonomous Administration informed Syria TV that PKK leaders and SDF officials of non-Syrian origin are seeking refuge from Turkish attacks in shelters, tunnels, and secure facilities.

The institutions of the Autonomous Administration and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are currently experiencing a surge in discontent among their Syrian members, particularly from officials associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) of foreign nationalities. This dissatisfaction stems from the ongoing escalation by the Turkish forces in northeastern Syria.

The Turkish military has intensified its operations, targeting locations affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and SDF in northern Syria and Iraq. This escalation is in response to the killing of Turkish soldiers in Iraqi Kurdistan, marking a continuation of Ankaras air campaign against these groups, which it categorizes as terrorist organizations.

Sources within the SDF and the Autonomous Administration informed Syria TV that PKK leaders and SDF officials of non-Syrian origin are seeking refuge from Turkish attacks in shelters, tunnels, and secure facilities. Meanwhile, they are urging Syrian members and employees to remain committed to their duties and stay in their assigned centers.

Since Friday, Turkey has launched numerous airstrikes on military installations, oil stations, infrastructure, and various targets associated with the Autonomous Administration in northeastern Syria. An employee at the Rmeilan fields in Hasakeh countryside expressed concern, stating that these attacks put the lives of military personnel and workers at risk. Despite this, PKK officials are pressuring Syrian employees to continue working while they reside in undisclosed safe areas.

Although the SDF initially evacuated most of its sites and facilities, there was a reversal of the decision, compelling Syrian personnel and employees to adhere to their duties despite the ongoing shelling.

A worker at the Suwaidiyah oil station in the Hasakeh countryside, under the control of the Autonomous Administration, revealed that all employees were compelled to stay at the station even after it was bombed. Despite warnings of potential renewed targeting, the station was indeed bombed the following day, prompting a complete evacuation by employees.

Some employees disclosed that despite the threats, many did not comply with the decisions of their officials and chose to be absent from work in service and security institutions.

Syria TV sources reported that the PKK and SDF relocated senior military and security officials to the city of Hasakeh a day before the PKK launched an attack on Turkish army bases in northern Iraq.

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.
Clashes erupted in Latakia on Tuesday as security forces attempted to raid a warehouse owned by Abu Ali Khodr, according to Sawt al-Asima.

Clashes erupted in Latakia on Tuesday as security forces attempted to raid a warehouse owned by Abu Ali Khodr. Tensions had escalated following disputes between Khodr and the Fourth Division, where he had been employed for several years.

According to confidential sources, the clashes resulted in the death of one member of the raid group, with others sustaining injuries and being transported to Tishreen University Hospital.

Conflicting reports emerged regarding the warehouses nature, which Khodr had assigned a dedicated guard group to protect. Speculation circulated about the presence of a secret prison within the warehouse.

On Sunday, properties owned by Khodr, his associates, and employees were subjected to raids by Republican Palace patrols. This action followed news of the removal of immunity for the Assad family from Khodr, leading to a pursuit and the confiscation of his assets.

Confidential sources disclosed to Sowt al-Asima that Maher al-Assad had withdrawn his protection of Khodr several months ago, presenting him as a gift to the Republican Palace. This move aimed to subject Khodrs business dealings and investments to scrutiny by the Economic Committee overseen by Asma al-Assad.

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.
The Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office says theyve made two arrests in a possible string of suspected local car thefts.

Deputies arrested Jordan Shane Harris, 23, of Longview, Friday for outstanding warrants, plus additional possible crimes.

According to a department Facebook page post, Harris was located in Longview and after a brief negotiation, he was apprehended and transferred to the Cowlitz County Jail. The sheriffs office says he was also under investigation in Oregon.

Harris, who has seven outstanding warrants, faces multiple charges ranging from possession of a stolen vehicle, attempt to elude, driving with a suspended license, and violating the Uniform Control Substance Act.

Mallory Elizabeth Floyd, 32, of Longview, who knew Harris, was also arrested for suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, according to the sheriffs office.

Detectives say the investigation could include more stolen vehicles. Anyone with local information can contact Detective Derek Baker at 360-577-3092.
Spirit AeroSystems  Boeings supplier that built the Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 that had a panel blow out mid-flight earlier this month  is stepping up its inspections, according to a note Spirit CEO Pat Shanahan sent to employees Tuesday.

There have been learnings from the airplane inspections to date and there will be more, Shanahan wrote. One important takeaway is that we can take steps now to improve our first-pass quality.

We must work in lock step with Boeing to enhance quality assurance and controls across our production system, he continued.

Spirits message comes a day after Boeing said it will also introduce new measures to strengthen its quality control system and ensure its planes are safe to operate before they take to the skies. Those new measures include an independent outside assessment of Boeings airplane assembly practices and opening its factory doors to inspectors from the airlines whose jets they are building.

Boeing, Spirit and the airlines that operate the 737 Max 9 came under fire when a piece of fuselage blew off at 16,000 feet in the air on a flight out of Portland. The panel that blew off during the Jan. 5 incident was a door plug filling a hole where an emergency exit could be installed.

The plane returned safely to Portland International Airport, where some passengers were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all Max 9 planes that fill the hole with a door plug. The planes remain grounded while Alaska and United Airlines  the only U.S.-based airlines to operate the Max 9  inspect each aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the inspection into the fuselage blowout.

In the days since the incident, passengers have sued Boeing and Alaska, the FAA has opened an investigation and an audit into Boeings processes for ensuring its planes are safe to fly and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, has asked for into Boeing.

On Tuesday, roughly 1,100 people signed a petition demanding a congressional investigation into Boeings quality and the companys leadership. The effort was led by a contingent of families and friends of the victims of the Boeing 737 Max 8 that crashed in Ethiopia in March 2019.

We cannot rely only upon accident investigators to determine the broader truth of Boeings failures, the petition read.

It calls on the Senate Commerce Committee, which Cantwell chairs, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the fuselage blowout on Alaska Flight 1282, the pattern of Boeing Max quality failures, and the ability and willingness of the Boeing board to reform corporate dedication to safety.

Members of the Commerce Committee had already planned a meeting for Wednesday with NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The meeting is not an oversight hearing, but a chance for members of the committee to ask questions, the person said. They dont expect the NTSB or the FAA will reveal new information at the closed-door session.

Spirit AeroSystems, based in Wichita, Kansas, assembles the entire fuselage of the Max jet, including the plugged door panel that flew off. The parts then arrive at Boeings Renton plant by train.

There, Boeing mechanics and quality inspectors complete the cabin interior  adding wiring, insulation, sidewalls, seats, galley and lavatories.

As part of its increased oversight, Spirit said Tuesday it would add more inspections, focus on risk management efforts, and align audits and oversight with the airlines, Boeing and the FAA.

It plans to add inspections that will replicate the assessments United and Alaska Airlines are currently performing to ensure the planes are set to return to service. Those inspections are following instructions issued from Boeing that must be approved by the FAA. The FAA said last week it would not approve the instructions fully until it reviewed data from the first 40 inspections.

Spirit also said it would increase communication with front-line employees in order to increase those workers focus and knowledge on the companys quality management system.

The company already performs thousands of operations on each 737 fuselage, and validates those with more than 9,000 inspections, according to Shanahans note.

We will be measured, meticulous and disciplined in our efforts going forward, which is the same approach we must take as we perform each and every job, Shanahan wrote. Our end customers and their passengers are depending on us to do so.

On Tuesday, Boeing named Adm. Kirkland Donald, a retired U.S. Navy director, to lead an assessment into its manufacturing facilities and its oversight of commercial supplier quality.

Donald and a team of outside experts will assess Boeings programs and practices in its manufacturing facilities and its oversight of commercial supplier quality, the company said in a news release. The team will then offer recommendations to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun and the aerospace safety committee of Boeings Board of Directors.

Donald will have any and all support he needs from me and from across The Boeing Company, Calhoun said in a statement.
10. Galaxy Ring - Samsung also teased its latest wearable health device, the Galaxy Ring. However, the South Korean tech giant did not delve into any specifics about the device. Perhaps at a later date?

9. AI-editing tools - Samsung also unveiled a host of AI editing tools at the Galaxy Unpacked event. The Edit Suggestion uses Galaxy AI to suggest perfectly suitable tweaks for each photo. Meanwhile, Generative Edit can fill in parts of an image background with generative AI. The Instant Slow-mo feature on the Galaxy S24 series can generate additional frames based on movements to smoothly slow down action-packed moments for a more detailed look.

8. HDR across social media apps - With the Galaxy S24 series, features such as Super HDR, and Nightography will be available across social media apps. Samsung says it has become the first smartphone maker to bring HDR-enabled photos on Instagram. Even MrBeast's latest YouTube video was shot with the Galaxy S24 Ultra!

7. Circle to Search - Samsung says the Circle to Search feature opens up new forms of discovery with a simple gesture. With a long press on the home button, users can circle, highlight, scribble on, or tap anything on Galaxy S24's screen to see helpful, high-quality search results. Using this feature, you can even learn about someone's wardrobe, and get links to purchase them.

6. New way of expression with Photomoji - Harnessing the power of Google's Gemini, users can turn their photos and stickers into Photomojis. This move could help Samsung directly compete against Google's AI prowess!

5. Samsung joins forces with Google Cloud - Samsung announced a multi-year partnership with Google Cloud that will see generative AI experience come to Galaxy smartphones. Samsung will be the first Google Cloud partner to deploy Gemini Pro and Imagen 2 on Vertex AI via the cloud to their smartphone devices starting with the Galaxy S24 series.

4. Galaxy AI - Samsung also unveiled its highly anticipated and latest tech innovation - Galaxy AI. The tech giant says Galaxy AI introduces meaningful intelligence aimed at enhancing every part of life, especially the phone's most fundamental role - Communication. It has various features such as Interpreter, Live Translate, Chat Assist, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, and Circle to Search. Galaxy AI will be available for select Samsung devices starting first half of 2024. This hints at possiblity of it coming to other Galaxy devices as well!

3. 7 years of OS updates - TM Roh, Samsung's President of Mobile Divison took to the stage and made a historical announcement. With the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, the South Korean tech giant will offer 7 years of OS updates!

2. Corning Gorilla Armor - On the front, the Galaxy S24 Ultra gets Corning Gorilla Armor which is claimed to show superior durability against damage caused by everyday scratches. Samsung says Corning Gorilla Armor also reduces reflection by up to 75%.

1. Samsung Galaxy S24 series unveiled - Samsung took the wraps off its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S24 series and a major chunk of the event was focused solely on the features of the top-end model, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Samsung says the Galaxy S24 Ultra is a gamers smartphone, boasting an optimal thermal control system with a 1.9 times larger vapor chamber than its predecessor. The quad camera system features a 200MP main camera, a 50 MP camera with 5x optical zoom, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera. On the front, the Galaxy S24 Ultra features a 12 MP selfie camera.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch highlights: The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event took place on January 17 in San Jose, California, and it was a fun fest filled with tons of announcements. The highlight of the event was the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, but it wasnt the only announcement. From Galaxy S24 series to Galaxy AI, check out the 10 big things that happened at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Samsung announces Galaxy Ring! The Galaxy Ring is here!

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Samsung Galaxy S24 series prices revealed! Samsung has just announced the pricing of the Galaxy S24 series, and as expected, there has been a price increase, but only for the top-end model. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at $1299, a $100 price increase compared to its predecessor. On the other hand, the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus start at $799, and $999 respectively in the US. There has been no price hike here! All three models will go on preorder starting today, January 17, and will be available for purchase starting January 31.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: All the colours Samsung says the new Galaxy S24 series comes in Earth mineral-inspired colour tones. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes in Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet and Titanium Yellow colours. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus come in Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, and Amber Yellow. Samsung also announced that all three smartphones will be available in additional colours on Samsung website.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: After iPhone 15 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra gets Titanium frame! The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features a Titanium frame, enhancing device durability and longevity. Samsung says the smartphone features a significantly thinner body, providing a more comfortable grip and better on-the-go experience. On the front, the Galaxy S24 Ultra gets Corning Gorilla Armor which is claimed to show superior durability against damage caused by everyday scratches.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Galaxy S24 Ultra is a gamer's smartphone! The new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is the flagship smartphone chipset in the market. Samsung says this chip is optimized especially for Galaxy users, and delivers remarkable NPU improvement for incredibly efficient AI processing. All three Galaxy S24 models feature 1-120Hz refresh rate and support up to 2600 nits of peak brightness! Moreover, the Galaxy S24 Ultra boast an optimal thermal control system with a 1.9 times larger vapor chamber than its predecessor, improving the device surface temperature while also maximizing sustained performance power. Ray-tracing also comes to the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Samsung partners with Instagram, MrBeast! With the Galaxy S24 series, features such as Super HDR, and Nightography will be available across social media apps. Samsung says it has become the first smartphone maker to bring HDR-enabled photos on Instagram. Even MrBeast's latest YouTube video was shot with the Galaxy S24 Ultra! How cool is that!

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Samsung reveals Galaxy S24 Ultra's camera features! The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra gets the same Quad Tele System but with a new lens - 5x optical zoom. Samsung says it works with the 50MP sensor to enable optical-quality performance at zoom levels from 2x, 3x, 5x to 10x. It also captures better shots in all lighting conditions, courtesy of enhanced Nightography capabilities. This year the camera will also support AI features which will make your photography experience even better. The quad camera system features a 200MP main camera, a 50 MP camera with 5x optical zoom, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera. On the front, the Galaxy S24 Ultra features a 12 MP selfie camera.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Circle to Search feature revealed! Samsung says the Circle to Search feature opens up new forms of discovery with a simple gesture. With a long press on the home button, users can circle, highlight, scribble on, or tap anything on Galaxy S24's screen to see helpful, high-quality search results. Using this feature, you can even learn about someone's wardrobe, and get links to purchase them. The generative AI-powered overviews can provide helpful information and context pulled together from across the web, and users can ask more complex and nuanced questions. The Circle to Search feature will be available across all three Galaxy S24 models!

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Samsung brings New way of expression with Photomoji Harnessing the power of Google's Gemini, users can turn their photos and stickers into Photomojis. This move could help Samsung directly compete against Google's AI prowess!

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Note Assist comes to Samsung Galaxy S24 series! This feature brings AI-generated summaries, template creation that streamlines notes with pre-made formats, and cover creation to make notes easy to spot with a brief preview.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Galaxy AI unveiled! Samsung has just unveiled its highly anticipated and latest tech innovation - Galaxy AI. The tech giant says Galaxy AI introduces meaningful intelligence aimed at enhancing every part of life, especially the phone's most fundamental role - Communication. It gets various features such as Interpreter, Live Translate, Chat Assist, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, and Circle to Search.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: 7 years of OS updates with Galaxy S24 series! TM Roh, Samsung's President of Mobile Divison took to the stage and made a historical announcement. With the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, the South Korean tech giant will offer 7 years of OS updates! With this announcement, Samsung became the second smartphone manufacturer to offer 7 years of OS updates after Google announced the same move with its Pixel 8 series in October. TM Roh says the launch of Galaxy S24 series is Samsung's Eureka moment'!

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: The Galaxy Unpacked event has kicked off in California!

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Galaxy Unpacked set to commence in 30 minutes!

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Could Galaxy Ring make its debut? Smart rings have become all the rage nowadays. Unlike smartwatches, these devices do not require you to wear them on your wrist, but on a finger. Thus, smart rings are more subtle than smartwatches. Rumours suggest Samsung might capitalize on this recent boom of smart rings by launching its own Galaxy Ring. This new wearable technology in the form of a smart ring might enable users to track their fitness just like a smartwatch. Initial patent filings hint at cutting-edge health tracking features, incorporating ECG and PPG sensors for heart rate and temperature monitoring, aligning it with competitors like the Oura Ring 3.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Just one hour to go till the Galaxy Unpacked event kicks off!

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: When, where to Galaxy Unpacked event watch online The Samsung Galaxy S24 launch takes place today, January 17. The launch event, called Galaxy Unpacked, will showcase the South Korean tech giant's latest flagship smartphone series, but it is not the only announcement that is likely to take place. Rumours suggest that big announcements in AI could also be on the way. Want to watch the Galaxy S24 launch live? You can do so online! The event will be live-streamed on various platforms including the Samsung website and YouTube Channel so that fans and interested smartphone buyers can see what new is coming to the Galaxy S24 series. The event livestream will start at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM GMT. Samsung fans in India can catch all the announcements of the Galaxy Unpacked event live starting 11:30 PM IST.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Every rumour about the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Ahead of the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, check everything we know about the flagship Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra so far including features like a titanium frame, powerful processor, new camera, and more. Read here: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra rumours roundup

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Galaxy S24, S24 Plus to adopt Galaxy S24 Ultra's refresh rate? According to specs leaked by WinFuture, the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S24 models might get a big feature that was previously exclusive to the top-end Ultra smartphone - a 1Hz refresh rate. While the standard models have featured a 120Hz refresh rate in the past, only the Ultra variant featured a variable refresh rate as low as 1Hz. However, that could change as leaks suggest that Samsung might introduce this feature in the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus devices as well. Although the standard models are set to get the QHD+ displays, they will benefit from the adoption of LTPO technology. In theory, it could have a positive effect on the battery life of the smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Leaked promo teases AI features! Samsung Galaxy S24 series leaked promo video reveals groundbreaking AI features, including live translation and photo editing tools ahead of big announcement. Read all about it here: Samsung Galaxy S24 promo leaked!

Samsung set to unveil revolutionary smart ring at Galaxy Unpacked Event today Samsung is rumoured to launch its first smart ring at today's Galaxy Unpacked Event in 2024. The tech giant is actively developing the Samsung Galaxy smart ring, aiming to surpass the accuracy of existing health-tracking devices like smartwatches, possibly leading to their eventual replacement. Reports and speculation strongly indicate that Samsung may unveil this innovative smart ring during the Galaxy Unpacked event, where the highly anticipated Galaxy S24 series of smartphones is set to be revealed. Tipster Ice Universe, sharing insights on Weibo, suggests the smart ring could be a highlight of the event, potentially becoming the primary health-tracking device, supplanting the Galaxy Watch models.

Galaxy Unpacked event: Samsung to unveil next-gen Galaxy Book 4 laptops with intel's latest processors The Galaxy Unpacked event is set to launch the newest generation of Galaxy Book 4 laptops. Although no leaks have surfaced regarding these devices, Samsung may opt to refrain from significant design alterations and focus on annual processor upgrades. The inclusion of Intel's 14th Gen Meteor Lake processors, complemented by built-in AI processing units, positions Samsung to introduce its Galaxy AI features on these laptops, enhancing their overall capabilities. The anticipation revolves around potential advancements in processing power and the integration of intelligent features, making the Galaxy Book 4 laptops a noteworthy addition to Samsung's lineup.

Leaked Samsung Galaxy S24 promo video reveals revolutionary AI features and live translation capabilities A leaked promotional video for the Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup, shared by user Arsene Lupin (@MysteryLupin), offers a sneak peek at the smartphone's innovative AI features ahead of its launch. The video showcases sophisticated AI-based functionalities, with a focus on innovative camera features. Users can effortlessly manipulate and enhance photos by drawing a circle around objects, enabling actions like shrinking, deleting, and moving within the image. As reported by Android Headlines, the leaked content also suggests the integration of live translation capabilities across the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra. This on-device AI technology is anticipated to facilitate real-time language translations during calls.

Samsung Galaxy S24 series to introduce innovative 'Galaxy AI' features: real-time translation, and more The upcoming Galaxy S24 series is bringing some exciting features with the introduction of One UI 6.1, which includes a set of AI tools collectively known as "Galaxy AI." Leaks indicate that these tools will offer real-time translation during phone calls, making it easier for multilingual conversations. The Samsung Gallery is expected to get a Magic Editor-like photo enhancement tool powered by AI, while the Samsung keyboard may incorporate AI-based conversational tones and emoji integration. Additionally, users can anticipate dynamic and context-aware backgrounds with an AI wallpaper feature. The overall note-taking experience is also set to be enhanced through AI processing, making it more organised and user-friendly.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra expected features and price The upcoming Galaxy S24 Ultra is anticipated to boast impressive features. With a sizable 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, it promises a top-notch viewing experience. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy will power the device, offering swift performance. Users can enjoy up to 12GB of RAM and storage options extending up to a whopping 512GB. The camera setup is remarkable, featuring a 200MP primary sensor, a telephoto lens with 10x digital zoom, and the ability to shoot videos in stunning 8K resolution. The phone will be equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, and the starting price is expected to be $1199 for the 256GB storage variant.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus expected specs and price The anticipated Galaxy S24 Plus is expected to come with a large 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display offering a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for a vibrant viewing experience. It will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, with options for up to 8GB of RAM and storage reaching up to 256GB. The camera setup is noteworthy, featuring a 50MP primary sensor, a telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and the ability to record videos in impressive 8K resolution. The device will pack a robust 4,900mAh battery, and the starting price is estimated to be $999 for the 256GB storage variant.

What to expect in todays Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event The Galaxy S24 line will be showcased at the launch ceremony in an enhanced version. The Galaxy AI and the rumoured 50MP 5X telephoto sensor in the Galaxy S24 Ultra variant are believed to be the event's main draws. Furthermore, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor may be used in the Ultra version, and the Exynos 2400 chipset may power the Indian versions of the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus. Keep in mind that these are rumoured specs and have no legitimacy until Samsung officially announces the items.

Samsung Galaxy S24 launch livestream: When and where to watch Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event online Get ready for the Samsung Galaxy S24 launch, happening today! Samsung is expected to launch three smartphones and perhaps a smart ring. The phones include Samsung Galaxy S24, Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event is set to take place at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, starting at 1 pm EST. For viewers in India, catch the action live from 11:30 pm IST. Samsung will livestream the entire event on its official website and YouTube. Tune in for some major announcements.

Samsung Galaxy S24 pre-order bonanza revealed - double storage, exclusive offers, more! Galaxy Unpacked: Exclusive Pre-Order Offers: Discover the amazing offers Samsung has in store for those who pre-order its flagship smartphones. These deals are designed to make your Samsung Galaxy S24 experience even more special. In a unique move, Samsung allowed customers to reserve their handsets before the official pre-order period began, offering a $50 credit for those who secured their spot by January 16th. Samsung is also expected to roll out a "double your storage" option, meaning if you order a 128 GB Samsung Galaxy S24, you'll get the 256 GB model. This offer extends across the entire range, with the 512 GB Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra upgrading to the colossal 1 TB model.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: What could the prices be? With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series just hours away, it is time to look at the expected prices. As per tipsters, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra could start at $1299 in the US for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage option. This would mean a $100 price increase over its predecessor which cost $1199 for the same variant at launch. Meanwhile, price hikes have been tipped for the standard models too. The Samsung Galaxy S24 is expected to cost $899, while the Galaxy S24 Plus may be priced at $999. Thus, a $100 price hike here is also rumoured. Also read these related stories: 1. iPhone crowned no. 1 in 2023! Apple passed Samsung as world's top phone maker https://tech.hindustantimes.com/mobile/news/iphone-crowned-no-1-in-2023-apple-passed-samsung-as-world-s-top-phone-maker-71705476347834.html 2. Planning to preorder Samsung Galaxy S24 series? From Galaxy Watch 6 to Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, know what you will get https://tech.hindustantimes.com/mobile/news/planning-to-preorder-samsung-galaxy-s24-series-from-galaxy-watch-6-to-galaxy-buds-2-pro-know-what-you-will-get-71705394505464.html 3. Samsung Galaxy S24 launch today! Know when and where to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked https://tech.hindustantimes.com/how-to/samsung-galaxy-s24-launch-live-today-know-when-and-where-to-watch-samsung-galaxy-unpacked-71705464945408.html 4. Samsung Galaxy S24 series packs AI features, but will it be a free or paid model? https://tech.hindustantimes.com/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-s24-series-packs-ai-features-but-will-it-be-a-free-or-paid-model-71705387057494.html 5. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra camera upgrade defies downgrade fears in leaked details https://tech.hindustantimes.com/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-camera-upgrade-defies-downgrade-fears-in-leaked-details-71705311976026.html

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Know about the upcoming Circle to Search feature A standout revelation from the Galaxy S24 leaks introduces Circle to Search', a new Google-powered feature that allows users to search any image, video, or text on their screen without the need for screenshots. The functionality involves circling, highlighting, scribbling, or tapping to identify points of interest, reminiscent of a new iteration of Google Lens, possibly integrated with the S-Pen. This leak underscores the growing partnership between Samsung and Google, with expectations of Google Assistant with Bard making an appearance on the Galaxy S24 series as part of Samsung's latest AI push.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: All the upgrades coming to Galaxy S24 Although the first Galaxy S24 Ultra is the top-end smartphone offering all the bells and whistles, the Galaxy S24 is the vanilla variant. But that doesn't mean it will not get any major features. It is expected to feature a 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate. Rumours say it might get a big feature that was previously exclusive to the top-end Ultra smartphone - a 1Hz refresh rate. Some rumors have mentioned that the vanilla Galaxy S24 will get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in the US and Canada, while in other regions it may come with Exynos 2400 SOC. It could run on OneUI 6.1 based on Android 14 out of the box. It may also feature a triple camera system with 50MP+10MP+12MP cameras, which is identical to its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Check exciting preorder benefits! The preorder offers on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series have been leaked, and it may include a free Galaxy Watch 6, Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Pokemon case, and more in some regions. Check out all the preorder offers here: Samsung Galaxy S24 preorder details leaked

Samsung Galaxy S24 Launch Live: Pay to use AI features? A rumour suggests that the new Samsung Galaxy S24 series may come with a subscription model in which users will have to pay to take advantage of advanced AI features. The report states that the AI features might be available for free till 2025 which is just a year after the official release. Thereafter, Galaxy S24 users may have to pay a fee for using some of those advanced AI features of Galaxy AI post 2025. The adoption of AI has been massive in the last few years and a huge number of startups have been curating a subscription model for their high-end features. Now, it appears that Samsung might become the latest tech giant to go in the direction of subscription-based AI services.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked LIVE: Rumours about the Galaxy S24 Ultra Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live updates: The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to be the highlight of the show, with major upgrades coming its way. A rumour claims that the upcoming flagship smartphone might feature a titanium frame. It is also reported to feature the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip with 12GB RAM under the hood, giving a big power boost to Samsung's upcoming flagship. It will likely sport a quad camera setup with 200MP+12MP+50MP+10MP cameras, according to analysts. While the camera system looks almost the same on paper except for one sensor, leaks claim it could be better courtesy of a new chip and AI features. Lastly, Samsung is also likely to showcase a host of new AI features onboard the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It has already teased that Galaxy AI is coming'.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked LIVE: Galaxy S24 series to be a gamers phone? Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live updates: Tipster Tarun Vats has suggested that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S24 series will feature larger vapour chambers that will allow for enhanced cooling performance. In theory, this will allow the Galaxy S24 to cool down faster and retain its performance at its peak. The Samsung Galaxy S24 is tipped to feature a vapour chamber 1.5 times bigger than its predecessor, while the S24 Plus will reportedly be 1.6 times bigger. Meanwhile, the top-end Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra might get a vapour chamber 1.9 times bigger than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. This feature might particularly appeal to gamers as smartphones tend to get heated up after long and intense gaming sessions. The rumour is bolstered by a leak by another tipster who posted presentation slides of the S24 launch on X. One of the slides also states a 1.9 times bigger vapour chamber.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked LIVE: Galaxy S24 series preorder offers LEAKED! Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live updates: Leaks suggest that Samsung might offer a free storage upgrade to buyers of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series in some regions, including Korea. This would mean prices for the 128GB model would apply on the 256GB variant, the 256GB price would be valid on the 512GB model, and so on. Moreover, Samsung will also reportedly bundle a one-year Samsung Care+ guarantee with preorders of Samsung Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra. A customized Pokemon or Maeil Milk Buds case will also be selected at random and bundled along with the preorders. The tipster also claimed that Samsung will offer Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for those who preorder the Galaxy S24 series. In the UK, Samsung will reportedly bundle the Galaxy Watch 6 for free with the Galaxy S24 preorders. As per tipster Roland Quandt, this offer will not only be live on the top-end Galaxy S24 Ultra but the vanilla Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus as well.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked LIVE: What is Galaxy AI? Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live updates: It is being teased that Samsung will introduce new Galaxy AI features with the Galaxy S24 series which means we may see new features that will give tough competition to the Apple iPhone 15 series and Google Pixel 8 series. Samsung described it as a comprehensive mobile AI experience that is powered by both on-device AI developed at Samsung and cloud-based AI which is enabled through the company's various open collaborations. This likely means that the technology is being built for smartphones, and it will have both on-device AI. Galaxy AI may also bring a feature called AI Live Translate Call that will give users a personal translator. This means the smartphone will come with audio and text translations in real-time.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked LIVE: All the expected launches at the event Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live updates: As per the rumours, the highlight of the event is expected to be the new Samsung Galaxy S24 series. It may include three models - Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra. However, it is not likely to be the only announcement. Leaks suggest Samsung will have plenty on offer, including a major emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI). The South Korean tech giant has already teased a new product called Galaxy AI, stating that it will bring a comprehensive mobile AI experience. Other announcements could include a Galaxy Ring. While rumours say Galaxy Book Pro laptops could also see the light of day, it is unlikely as Samsung launched its Galaxy Book 4 series in December 2023.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked LIVE: When is it taking place? Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live updates: The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event is set to take place today, January 17, at 11:30 PM IST/10:00 AM PT. This will be the first Samsung event of 2024, following the Galaxy Unpacked in July 2023, where the Galaxy Z smartphones were unveiled. The event will be held in San Jose, California, USA, instead of the Samsung HQ in South Korea where it was held in July. The South Korean tech giant has announced that this event will unveil an all-new mobile experience powered by AI.
Altair announced its collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras to establish an eMobility simulation lab on the institutes premises. This collaboration underscores Altairs commitment to advancing research and development in the field of electric vehicles (EVs), aligning with its commitment to sustainability and innovation.

Altair will facilitate the provision of Altair HyperWorks and the requisite compute infrastructure backbone to run Altair simulation codes to the eMobility Simulation lab established in the Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras. This support is integral to empowering startups, researchers, and students with cutting-edge tools and resources to further the study and development of EVs. The creation of the eMobility simulation lab at IIT Madras represents a pivotal stride in advancing research within the EV domain and advocating for sustainable transportation solutions.

Welcoming the launch of this new facility, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, Given the Governments focus on eMobility and rapid expansion of the market that is expected, there is a need for IIT Madras to play its role in the academic space. eMobility-related initiatives in Academic Programs, Research and Policy are all managed and offered with multiple Departments contributing with the Department of Engineering Design acting as the nodal department.

We are thrilled to join forces with IIT Madras in this endeavour, turning this forward-thinking initiative into reality, said Vishwanath Rao, Managing Director, Altair. In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, Altair stands at the forefront of convergence by integrating cutting-edge technologies. Whether its the fusion of artificial intelligence with simulation, the synergy between cloud computing and design optimization, or the harmonious collaboration between data analytics and engineering, we are committed to creating solutions that seamlessly converge technologies for transformative outcomes. And this will also extend to the e-mobility lab at IITM.

Prof. V. Kamakoti added, In the coming years, we will be seeing a cluster of initiatives, facilities and Programs in eMobility from IIT Madras to equip Industry and Government to address the challenges in ramping up the market for EVs.

Commenting on the partnership with Altair, Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relationship, IIT Madras, said, We are delighted to partner with Altair in creating a lab that will be the nursery for the next generation of eMobility solutions. Partnerships such as this bring together industry and academic expertise  both increasingly essential ingredients for creating successful startups and ideas.

IIT Madras, a leading academic and research institution, is uniquely positioned to provide a boost to technology-based entrepreneurship. The institutes extensive social, academic, and industrial network, combined with Altairs expertise, will create a fertile ground for innovation and collaboration.
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IEA chief Fatih Birol told AFP fair trade is 'a good friend' of the energy transition.

Trade barriers can slow the world's energy transition but commerce also needs to be fair, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Wednesday, as world powers tussle over the technologies key to fighting climate change.

Clean energy is among the hot topics this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with China denouncing "barriers to green trade" and the EU voicing concerns about "trade imbalances".

"Trade barriers can well be a factor slowing down the global clean energy transitions," Birol told AFP on the sidelines of the conference in the Swiss Alpine resort.

"But the general philosophy is, fair trade is a good friend of (the) clean energy transition," he said.

China leads the world in the deployment of solar and wind energy and it is also the biggest producer of electric cars.

Fears of a trade war erupted after the European Union launched a probe into Beijing's subsidies for its electric car industry, which could lead to punitive tariffs.

But EU nations are also worried about losing business to huge energy transition subsidies in the United States, which include tax breaks for US-made electric vehicles.

Trade tensions

Birol said China "plays a critical role when it comes to clean energy" that "provides a service to the rest of the world".

"But of course countries have to look what are the trade implications ... for their economies, whether or not this production is done in a fair way compared to other production," he added.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang told the forum on Tuesday that "discriminatory" trade measures are a threat to the world economy as "some high quality and efficient green and low carbon technologies and products cannot flow freely".

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told reporters that she had "clear and frank" discussions with Li on the "trade imbalances" with China.

Birol said Europe was at a "crossroads" as it was behind China in clean technology manufacturing, "and maybe soon behind the United States".

"It is time for Europe to come up with a roadmap, how we are going to revive our technological leadership in Europe, looking at the new market and technological framework conditions," he said.

Ex-oil boss heads COP29

The wealthiest countries also need to fund the energy transition in developing nations for the world to meet its goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.

The target was agreed at the UN's COP28 climate summit in Dubai last month, along with an agreement to work towards "transitioning away" from fossil fuels.

Financing for developing countries was "the single most important item missing" in Dubai, Birol said.

Birol said he told a minister from Azerbaijan in Davos on Tuesday that he hopes the issue will be discussed when the country hosts COP29 in Baku later this year.

The Baku talks must address the problem for it to have a "fighting chance of being a successful" climate conference, he said.

Azerbaijan disappointed climate campaigners by appointing a former state oil company executive, now ecology minister Mukhtar Babayev, as president of COP 29.

COP28 was chaired by the head of the UAE's state oil company, sparking anger among activists.

Birol said there are "legitimate" questions over appointing someone who devoted their career to fossil fuels.

"However, in my view ... we shouldn't jump" to conclusions and "give them the opportunity to prove that they deserve to be the presidents of COP and they do deliver,' he said.

In his talks with Azerbaijani officials, he added, he saw "a lot of goodwill there. Whether or not goodwill be transformed into good outcomes is another story altogether."

 2024 AFP
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Sketch of the negative perceptron's solution landscape satisfying the required constraints (blue and white) or with nonzero energy (orange). Credit: Annesi et al.

Recent numerical studies investigating neural networks have found that solutions typically found by modern machine learning algorithms lie in complex extended regions of the loss landscape. In these regions, zero-energy paths between pairs of distant solutions can be established.

Researchers at Bocconi University, Politecnico di Torino and Bocconi Institute for Data Science and Analytics recently carried out a study aimed at exploring these regions using one of the simplest non-convex neural network models, known as the negative spherical perceptron. Their paper, published in Physical Review Letters, found that solutions of this neural network model are arranged in a star-shaped geometry.

"Recent research on the landscape of neural networks has shown that independent stochastic gradient descent (SGD) trajectories often land in the same low-loss basin, and often no barrier is found along the linear interpolation between them," Luca Saglietti, co-author of the paper, told Tech Xplore. "We started to think if we could reproduce analytically this phenomenology in a simple model of neural network."

In their paper, Saglietti and his colleagues introduced an analytical method that can be used to compute energy barriers on the linear interpolation between pairs of solutions. As part of their recent study, they applied this method to the so-called spherical negative perceptron , which is essentially a paradigmatic toy model of a neural network.

"This model is particularly interesting because it is both continuous and non-convex," Clarissa Lauditi, co-author of the paper said. "It involves a set of parameters (called weights) that need to be tuned in such a way to satisfy a training set of input-output associations. In the negative perceptron the constraints can be relaxed, and in this overparameterized regime the geometry of the solution space becomes surprisingly rich."

The researchers probed this model and the rich solution landscape associated with it by characterizing the energy barriers on the linear interpolation between pairs of solutions using the so-called replica method. This is a well-known and established technique that is commonly applied in statistical physics studies.

"Unexpectedly, we unveiled that the solutions are arranged in a star-shaped geometry," Enrico Malatesta, co-author of the paper said.

"Most of them are located on the tips of the star, but there exists a subset of solutions (located in the core of the star) that are connected through a straight line to almost all the other solutions. We have found that this shape actually impacts the behavior of the training algorithms: common algorithms used in deep learning have a bias towards the solutions located in the core of the star. Those solutions have desirable properties, e.g. better robustness and generalization capabilities."

The recent work by this research team offers interesting new insight about the geometrical shape of solutions associated with the spherical negative perceptron. The team found that the way the solutions are arranged affects the performance of algorithms, with the algorithms often preferentially selecting solutions located at the center of the star-like geometry, which often exhibit advantageous characteristics.

"Our future research aims to understand to what extent the star-shaped geometry may be a universal property of overparameterized neural networks and weakly constrained optimization problems," Gabriele Perugini, co-author of the paper added. "The possibility that also completely different non-convex optimization problems can develop simple connectivity properties when overparameterized is certainly intriguing."

More information: Brandon Livio Annesi et al, Star-Shaped Space of Solutions of the Spherical Negative Perceptron, Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.227301. Journal information: Physical Review Letters

 2024 Science X Network
Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles speaks to reporters during a press conference Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at James Madison High School in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles said he is not sure it was the best decision to cancel classes for students during Tuesday's freeze, saying school employees should see themselves as essential workers.

The district said in a social media post Monday that it was canceling classes on Tuesday due to weather and road conditions  hours after most other Houston-area school districts had made the same call. The mayors office, Houston Police, Houston Fire Department and other local agencies had urged people to stay off the roads due to ice and other hazardous roadway conditions.

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Miles said during a District Advisory Committee meeting  which is not open to the public  that while he had made the decision to close HISD schools, he was not going to make the same mistake again. He said that the district had missed an opportunity to develop a culture of essentialness and that school districts close too often in this country," according to a leaked video recording of the meeting.

Despite the noise, despite the warning (and) despite the people who are exaggerating saying we're gonna cost people's lives, I gotta ignore that and think about the kids and our core function, Miles said. "That doesn't mean we'll go to school when there's a hurricane.

He said other essential services, like fire departments, police departments, hospitals and other businesses, were all open on Tuesday and implied HISD should have been as well. Several other Houston-area school districts, including Katy, Fort Bend and Cypress-Fairbanks ISDs, canceled class due to the weather.

FREEZE GRIPS HOUSTON: Photos from the 2024 Houston freeze

If we were to stay open, parents get a choice. They can keep their kids home, but when we close, they don't have a choice. ... There's some kids who needed us today. There's some homes who didn't have power today, and there's some kids who didnt get a hot meal today, Mile said. There's some kids who got left alone today. It doesnt feel like were essential.

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The freeze set mid-January records, per the National Weather Service, and it led to several road closures in Houston due to slick icy spots on roads. The city saw more than 250 non-fatal traffic crashes Tuesday with no fatalities or serious injuries, Police Chief Troy Finner said in a press conference.

Miles has previously said he believes that HISD students need to be in school for more than 172 days, citing below average student achievement in the district. His administration has also cracked down on teacher absences, stating that teachers are the most important variable in the classroom and need to be in classrooms whenever possible.

The superintendent has also led HISDs successful push to become a District of Innovation, which will allow the district to start the upcoming school year before the fourth Monday in August and have up to 180 days of class next year. The proposed 2024-25 draft calendar options would start the school year as early as Aug. 7 and end in early June.

District spokesperson Joseph Sam said HISD has not finalized a decision about if and when its students would potentially have to make up the class time they missed due to the winter weather at a later date.

School districts dont have to make up for a missed day of school if they already have enough minutes built into the board-approved calendar to meet the state requirement, as Houston ISD does, according to the Texas Education Agencys Student Attendance Accounting Handbook.

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If the district misses enough days to fall short of the minute requirement, they can make up the first two missed school days on their scheduled makeup days. School districts that are still falling short of the minutes requirement after using their makeup days must submit a missed school day waiver application to the TEA.
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(From left) Bo Ji, Brendan David-John, and graduate student Matthew Corbett devised a new method to protect bystander privacy in augmented reality. Credit: Kelly Izlar/Virginia Tech

An emergency room doctor using augmented reality could save precious seconds by quickly checking a patient's vitals or records. But the doctor could also unintentionally pull information for someone else in the room, breaching privacy and health care laws.

A Commonwealth Cyber Initiative team created a technique called BystandAR to protect bystander privacy while still providing an immersive augmented-reality experience. The researchers presented the technology at ACM MobiSys 2023 last summer and explained it in a December IEEE Security & Privacy article.

"Protecting bystander privacy is an important problem," said Bo Ji, associate professor of computer science. "Our work raises awareness and encourages the adoption of augmented reality in the future."

Early results, which were presented last summer, correctly identified and protected more than 98% of bystanders within the data stream while allowing access to more than 96% of the subject data. In addition, BystandAR does not require offloading unprotected bystander data to another device for analysis, which presented a further risk for privacy leakage.

With support from Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties and the LINK + LICENSE + LAUNCH Proof of Concept Program, the team filed a provisional patent on BystandAR, which distorts bystanders' images in augmented-reality devices.

Concerns about privacy violations contributed to the failure of Google Glass almost a decade ago. Like similar devices, the eyewear projects interactive computer-generated content, such as video, graphics, or GPS data, onto a user's view of the world. But Google Glass' cameras and microphones allowed users to record their surroundings without the consent of those around them.

"It made people uncomfortable, and for good reason," Ji said. "Maybe you're in a restaurant with your kids. You have no control over who is collecting their data or what happens to it."

BystandAR builds on a key insight from psychological studies: An individual usually looks most directly and longest at the person they are interacting with. Therefore, eye gaze is a highly effective indicator for differentiating between bystander and subject in a social context. Ji's technique leverages eye-gaze tracking, near-field microphone, and spatial awareness to detect and obscure bystanders captured within sensor data in real time.

In a related work, for which he recently received a $1.2 million National Science Foundation award, Ji is developing a method to improve the efficiency and performance of next-generation wireless networks so that more people can take advantage of seamless, immersive augmented reality experiences.

"Although these are two separate projects, you can think of it as a part of the same effort to improve augmented reality from both sidesensuring privacy for individual users locally, and improving the network to provide a seamless, secure, and functional experience globally," Ji said.

More information: Matthew Corbett et al, Securing Bystander Privacy in Mixed Reality While Protecting the User Experience, IEEE Security & Privacy (2023). DOI: 10.1109/MSEC.2023.3331649 Matthew Corbett et al, BystandAR: Protecting Bystander Visual Data in Augmented Reality Systems, Proceedings of the 21st Annual International Conference on Mobile Systems, Applications and Services (2023). DOI: 10.1145/3581791.3596830
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo speaks during a press conference at HPD headquarters on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, in Houston. Former HPD officers Gerald Goines and Steven Bryant, along with Patricia Garcia, a neighbor of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas, were taken into custody today and charged with a variety of federal crimes. Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Former Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo is leaving his post next week as interim police chief of the Aurora Police Department in Colorado.

Acevedo will have served in the role for 13 months after starting in December 2022. His last day is Jan. 22, and he said he will be returning to Texas to be with family.

"I thought I would be here two to three years, but I miss my kid," Acevedo said during a news conference Tuesday.

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The 59-year-old Acevedo served as the Houston police chief from 2016-2021. He had previously been the chief in Austin and left Houston for the top job in Miami.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Acevedo survived controversy on way to top policing jobs

However, his tenure in Miami was short-lived. He lasted about six months on the job before he was fired.

Aurora Interim Deputy Chief Heather Morris is replacing Acevedo. Morris was a police officer in Houston for 22 years before retiring in 2021.

The Aurora Police Department has had a lot of turnover over the past half-decade as Morris will be the fifth leader in the past five years. It has also dealt with the fallout from the death of Elijah McClain, who died in Aurora police custody in 2019.

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Acevedo was hired after a search for a permanent chief was unsuccessful after former Chief Vanessa Wilson left the department in April 2022.

They will be searching once again as Acevedo heads back to the Lone Star State.
Icicles form on a sign at a convenience store along FM2920 on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 in Spring, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP) Brett Coomer/Associated Press

Most Texans woke up Tuesday morning and turned their lights on  even those of us who lost power for an hour or two during the night. Roughly 48 hours into a cold spell that has engulfed most of Texas, clearing such a low bar feels like a win.

With at least one more day of icy temperatures expected, were hardly out of the woods. Yet the states resiliency  judging by the relatively few power outages and reported deaths  has been impressive. The winter storm three years ago that killed more than 200 people is still fresh in our memories. This time, those who stay off ice-slicked roads and highways stand a good chance of coming out of this arctic stretch unscathed.

Indeed, Gov. Greg Abbott boasted on X Tuesday morning of the Texas power grids flawless performance amid three days of record-high power demand.

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Abbott and state lawmakers deserve credit for weatherization requirements for gas plants they passed two years ago, not to mention requiring certain generators to have additional gas supply on site for emergencies. Yet in Abbotts post he failed to include a few thank yous: To any Texans who dutifully conserved power when they were asked to from 6-9 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday. To natural gas plants for doing the heavy lifting in providing roughly 40% of the states fuel mix. To solar operators for continuing to outperform expectations and setting a new record for energy production. To utility-scale batteries for juicing the grid during a crucial window from 7-8 a.m. when power margins were thinning. For the past two days at least, Texas all-of-the-above energy market seems to have paid off.

Of course, the relatively mild nature of this cold blast helped, too. Whereas Winter Storm Uri was a lethal combination of polar winds and icy precipitation, this cold front has been mostly dry, meaning fewer frozen gas wells and pipes that caused millions to lose power three years ago. Even so, in a state that is still building the muscle memory to adequately prepare for increasingly intense winter storms, merely keeping the lights on cant be taken for granted.

If theres one clear takeaway from the past two days, its that ERCOTs models for forecasting Texans' power demand have been overstating the cause for alarm. Our energy usage has not come close to aligning with the predictions of a winter grid emergency that the grid manager made public in November. While ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas attempted to walk back the doomsaying in a public event with Abbott in December, the mixed messaging didnt exactly put our worst fears of a Uri repeat to bed.

The pessimistic forecasts are preferable to irresponsibly rosy ones, but they frustrate consumers who shoulder the burden of voluntarily conserving energy during peak demand hours. On Monday, for instance, ERCOT forecasted peak demand at nearly 84,000 megawatts. In reality, it peaked at around 74,000 megawatts.

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Unlike many industrial consumers  and bitcoin miners  none of us who resisted the temptation to crank up the heat received a cent for our troubles. In fact, the inaccurate forecasts cost us more money in the long run. On days when grid conditions are predicted to be tight, ERCOT contracts with power plants through its Reliability Unit Commitment program, which pays those producers to quickly dispatch energy to the grid if needed, even if they ultimately arent deployed. ERCOTs independent market monitor estimated that in 2022 the use of RUCs cost consumers roughly $1 billion. While we can appreciate that inaccurate forecasts force Texans to prepare for the worst, we wish we didnt have to pay such a steep price for those inaccuracies.

No matter what the forecasts say, its important for Texas households and businesses to remain vigilant. Keep your water pipes wrapped. Make sure those outdoor plants are still blanketed. Dont unplug those space heaters just yet. Have one eye trained on ERCOTs supply and demand dashboards.
A freeze warning sign is placed outside an apartment complex as temperatures dropped below freezing on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 in Conroe. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Freeze

Regarding "Texas' grid has held steady during freeze. Who deserves credit? (Editorial)," (Jan. 16): It is the basic responsibility of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas executives, the governor, the power suppliers and the fuel sources to maintain a consistent, constant source of energy to the state of Texas  especially during a weather event.

I do not find myself wanting to thank any of those mentioned in the editorial on Wednesday. That is their job. It is their bare-bones responsibility to provide paying customers with power.

If you want to be the only state in the union that goes rogue and operates off the grid by using an independent grid from the rest of the nation, then show up. Every time. All the time. Without fail.

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Texas residents should never be watching the power grid, in the middle of an Arctic freeze or the peak of a heat wave, fearful that we will lose power. Like the 4 a.m. power loss I experienced in the freeze of 2021. For 36 hours, no power. My home was 41 degrees inside. Isnt it enough that we may have a tree fall and disconnect a power line or that extreme rain will cause us to leave our homes?

Although I am extremely grateful that I did not have to trudge out to my shed, Monday or Tuesday, in 20-degree weather to start my generator (purchased after the last ERCOT fiasco), I will not call that a success. It is an expectation.

I will congratulate you, ERCOT, and name your work a success, when you provide your patrons with outstanding service and clean, cost-saving measures to cool and heat our homes that do not put the environment at risk. I have never received praise for showing up and doing my job. The only time I have received praise is when I do something extraordinary.

Elizabeth Pudwill, Houston

Regarding "3 lessons learned from the Texas electric grid powering through the 2024 freeze," (Jan. 17): So, we were lucky and did not have to go through another deadly winter storm. While many voluntarily lowered their temperatures to conserve energy, I'd be willing to bet my last dollar that the so-called leaders in Texas government and ERCOT weren't uncomfortable in their mansions. When are the voters going to finally accept that these people have no wish to consider customers with low or set incomes? The most recent energy bill I and many others received was one of the largest I have ever had, even relative to the summer months. This was for a month in which I used little to no air conditioning or heat.

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We should all be grateful to Chris Tomlinson, who stays on top of this continuing grid threat and is not easily fooled by these con men.

Pat Reagin, Montgomery

Follow the money

Another salvo against voters is Gov. Greg Abbott's scheme to give our taxpayer money to for-profit schools that teach fake science and history. Fortunately some, mostly rural, politicians are against this money grab, as it will take school money away from them. Yet Abbott shamelessly keeps calling them back for special sessions, away from their families, and trying to coerce them into submission. Claiming he cares about children. Put this on the ballot and let the voters decide, if this is truly about choice.

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G.E. Turski, League City

In his memoir, Willie Sutton, answering why he robbed banks, wrote, "Go where the money is and go there often."

The "banks" where the real money resides today are the issues of common-sense gun control, sane abortion laws, workable and humane immigration laws, good schools for all children. Both parties have controlled all the levers they needed  House, Senate and presidency  at various times over the last 30 to 40 years and could have solved these issues with just a little compromise. But that would have risked their money source: You. For you to be less outraged might jeopardize their access to your money and their influence. They are incentivized to not solve these problems.

Remember that when your favorite politician or party reaches out to you for a contribution, or you get that evening call from someone wanting to "help" you vote. Ask your preferred candidate how they would compromise and who they would work with across the aisle to actually get something done. Ask for examples. If they constantly go back to a hardline, no-compromise position, then you will know they only care about getting your money, staying in power and making sure you are angry at the world.

Compromise is not evil. If you have ever been in a relationship, held a job, had children, been in a family, you know compromise is required and is a good thing. Sadly, in politics, compromise will not get you elected or funded unless we demand more from our representatives.

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L.A. health department investigates illnesses linked to raw oysters

Xinhua) 11:18, January 17, 2024

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The public health department of Los Angeles County, U.S. state of California, is investigating a cluster of gastrointestinal illnesses potentially linked to raw oysters, according to the department.

There are 27 associated cases so far, and the L.A. health department is currently working with the California Department of Public Health to investigate and confirm the source of this cluster of gastrointestinal illness cases.

The health department warns residents -- specifically those most vulnerable such as young children, older adults, and people who are immunocompromised -- of the risks of 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 Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis in a statement.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Google is set for another trial this year after a $1.67 billion lawsuit has been filed against the tech giant for stealing patented AI technology.

Singular Computing, a Massachusetts-based hardware and software tech firm, filed an infringement case against Google for using its patented Tensor Processing Units in its own AI system.

The lawsuit claims that Google used Singular's technology for its services like Search, Gmail, Translate, and many more after its meetings with Singular founder Joseph Bates between 2010 and 2014.

Court documents reveal that Google's current chief scientist Jeff Dean told Bates in an email that Singular's technology is "really well suited" for Google's future projects.

Google's lawyers insisted that its scientists never met Bates and that Google's AI chips are "fundamentally different."

Also Read: Google Agrees to Settle $5 Billion 'Incognito Mode' Privacy Lawsuit

Google Faces More Lawsuits Amid Regulation Hurdles

The news of another lawsuit against the search giant comes in as US regulators clamp down on Google's services.

Just last September, Google faced its biggest antitrust trial after the US Department of Justice accused the company of paying billions of dollars to phone manufacturers to make Google the default search engine.

Three months later court documents revealed that Google agreed to pay a $700 million settlement in an antitrust case against Fortnite publisher Epic Games.

The lawsuit tackled Google's longstanding monopoly on in-app payments through the Google Play Store.

Google also paid $5 billion in a settlement last December following a 2020 consumer privacy lawsuit alleging the tech giant of collecting "millions" of user data even when they are in "Incognito" mode.

Related Article: 102 Million People Eligible for $630 Million Google Play Settlement: How to Get Your Share

Regulators Crack Down on Google's Monopoly

The series of lawsuits last year has brought regulators in the US and Europe another foothold to crack down on Google's monopoly on the majority of online markets.

The US Department of Justice aims to further take steps on Google's dominance on the internet, the first time in the era of the modern Internet.
GPT Store, OpenAI's dedicated online store for custom ChatGPT programs, is now filled with "girlfriend" bots just days after the platform first launched.

Despite clear rules against "romantic companionship" on the platform, the majority of the custom-made "GPTs" that appeared on the site are "AI girlfriends" and "sweethearts."

Several chatbots have over 500 conversations.

Several "AI boyfriends" also populated the platform, including a character AI for YouTuber Wilbur Soot. Similar results will also show up when the keyword "husband."

The romance chatbots were first spotted by business news site Quartz last Thursday, Jan. 11, just a day after the store was reported to be open.

OpenAI has yet to respond to the reports of romantic AI companions on its platform. The AI "girlfriends" and "boyfriends" still remain on the GPT Store as of writing.

Also Read: OpenAI Starts GPT Store After ChatGPT's Commercial Success

Romantic, NSFW Chatbots Continue to Rise Amid AI Revolutions

OpenAI is not the only AI firm experiencing an influx of romantic and not-safe-for-work chatbots in its platforms.

Since the AI boom last year, relationship chatbots have become widely popular across multiple app platforms.

In the US alone, seven out of the 30 AI chatbots downloaded from Apple and Google Play were some sort of AI friend, girlfriend, or partner, according to Quartz's analysis.

Several online sites like Romantic AI have also launched promoting romantic relationships with AI characters.

While harmless at the surface, experts and legislators express concern that the technology promotes exploitation of the AI to use real-life images of minors for NSFW purposes.

The technology has already been used to generate deepfakes of celebrities, mostly female, for adult videos.

OpenAI Faces Another Controversy Over AI Use

The presence of the relationship chatbots is a headache for OpenAI as the tech startup skirts around government regulations in the United States and the European Union.

Several world leaders and top executives in business sectors have expressed concerns about the growing risk brought by AI, primarily threats of misinformation and data privacy violations.

The continued operation of its users in clear violation of the platform's policies put a dent in OpenAI's management capabilities, especially following its promise to fight disinformation in the upcoming 2024 elections.

US lawmakers are currently pushing a new legislation to require federal agencies and AI platforms to adopt AI guidelines following the Commerce Department's proposals.

Related Article: Silicon Valley Moves to Regulate 'Emerging Risk' of AI
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claimed that training AI models does not require vast quantities of data from publications like The New York Times, following the ongoing copyright infringement fight between the two.

Read Also: Thomson Reuters Enters Discussion With AI Firms to License Media Content

OpenAI vs. The New York Times

During the World Economic Forum, Altman debunked the general belief that training AI models, like ChatGPT, require a huge amount of data. He also stated that not all material is automatically valuable for training.

"Actually, that is generally not the case. We do not want to train on the New York Times data, for example," the CEO shared.

Before entering a new year, The New York Times made headlines for suing both Microsoft and OpenAI for alleged billion-dollar damage over copyright infringement. In response, the AI company argued that the publication manipulated the ChatGPT results to justify the lawsuit.

OpenAI Opens Partnership With Other Publishers

On the other hand, the company is currently discussing with major publications like CNN, Fox, and Time to strike a licensing deal for their news content. Altman also revealed that while some companies are open to partnering with them, some people don't.

"What we want to do with publishers - if they want - is when one of our users says, what happened at Davos today, we'll be able to say, here's an article from Bloomberg, here's an article from the New York Times," he explained.

As of writing, OpenAI has successfully entered agreements with the Associated Press, allowing them access to the company's archives. Meanwhile, Alex Springer SE had struck a three-year deal with the AI company.

Related Article: OpenAI in Talks with Publishers to License Contents for Over $1 Million Per Year
With the temperature climbing to 0 on Monday afternoon, this crew cleaned off some sidewalks by an apartment building on South Locust. More snow is possible on Thursday.
Vietnam in process of ascending as influential global player: World Economic Forum chairman

By Minh Hue Wed, January 17, 2024 | 2:57 pm GMT+7

Vietnam is not only a star in East Asia but also a nation in the process of ascending as an economically influential player on the global stage, said Prof. Klaus Schwab, World Economic Forum (WEF) founder and executive chairman.

At a policy dialogue on Vietnams global vision during the 54th annual meeting of the WEF in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday (local time), Schwab praised Vietnam's role as one of the trailblazers in the development of a green and smart economy.

Renowned international relations commentator Thomas Friedman from The New York Times (left) and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a policy dialogue on Vietnams global vision during the 54th annual meeting of the WEF in Davos, Switzerland, January 16, 2024 (local time). Photo courtesy of the government's news portal.

Sharing a similar view with Schwab, renowned international relations commentator Thomas Friedman from The New York Times described Vietnam as an exemplary model of reform and development, internationally recognized for its rapid and sustainable economic progress.

In his keynote speech delivered at the event, one of the eight policy dialogues featuring heads of states and governments organized by the WEF, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presented two suggestions regarding national development.

First, motivation is rooted in innovation and strength is derived from the people, he said, underscoring the role of international solidarity and multilateralism in addressing global challenges.

The second suggestion was placing people at the center as the main player, the most crucial resource, the driving force and the ultimate goal of development. Accordingly, people should be directly involved in policy-making and benefit from policies.

In response to Friedman's query regarding Vietnam's stance on balancing relations with major powers, PM Chinh stressed his nations status as one of the most adversely affected since the Second World War, enduring persistent impacts from wars, blockades, and sanctions.

Nevertheless, Vietnam has shelved the past, overcome differences, promoted similarities, and looked toward the future to turn adversaries into friends, he noted.

Chinh affirmed that the visits to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden last year demonstrate strong political trust between Vietnam and the two partners as well as Vietnams foreign policy of independence and self-reliance for peace, cooperation, development and prosperity, multilateralization and diversification.

Highlighting several priority areas for Vietnam in the near future, including digital transformation, science and technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and green transition, the PM considered these both objective requirements and trends, and strategic choices.

Regarding the semiconductor field, he shared Vietnam's endeavors in developing strategic infrastructure, particularly in information technology, and disclosed plans to train 50,000-100,000 engineers in the time to come.

Regarding AI, Chinh said Vietnam will proactively leverage its advantages and mitigate its negative aspects, starting with building a national database, refining investment attraction policies, and boosting the effectiveness of manpower training.

He stressed the Vietnamese government's commitment to further developing three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure, and human resources, creating the most favorable conditions for foreign companies to engage in business partnerships, based on maximising mutual trust. He said he wishes businesses to associate production and consumption with research and training.

The PM noted that Vietnam stands among the nations most severely impacted by climate change, underscoring its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 made at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

Over the past time, Vietnam has worked to adapt to landslides, droughts, and natural disasters, implementing an innovative initiative for cultivating one million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice, which aligns with global sustainability trends and promotes Vietnam's crucial role in ensuring global food security, he added.
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A 39-year-old Elloree woman is serving time in prison after she pleaded guilty to hit-and-run resulting in death.

Drema Nicole Hardy, of Mallard Lane, entered her guilty plea before Circuit Judge Heath P. Taylor during a recent term of court held at the Orangeburg County Courthouse.

Taylor sentenced her to five years in prison and gave her credit for having already served one day in jail.

Hardy also faced the following charges, but they were dismissed: first-offense driving under suspension license not suspended for DUI and driving on wrong side of divided highway.

Hardys charges stem from a collision that occurred around 10 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2020 on Old Number Six Highway near the intersection with U.S. Highway 301, near Santee.

Betty Jane Ferguson, 77, of Vance, died at the hospital just hours after the crash.

Hardy was driving a 2016 Toyota Highlander west on Old Number Six Highway when she crossed the center line and struck Fergusons 2008 Nissan Altima, according to S.C. Highway Patrol Master Trooper Brian T. Lee.

Neither of the drivers was wearing seatbelts.

Hardy surrendered to law enforcement on March 30, 2021.

In other recent guilty pleas:

 Keyon Jomell Council, 36, of 209 Cecelia Street, Santee, pleaded guilty to first-offense failure to stop for blue lights and first-offense possession of cocaine, although he was originally charged with first-offense possession of scheduled narcotics.

Taylor sentenced him to three years in prison. Because Council already served 30 days in jail, his term was suspended to 90 days in jail.

Taylor is allowing him to serve his jail time on weekends only.

Council faced the following charges, but they were dismissed: no tag taillight, first-offense failure to stop for blue lights, first-offense driving without a license, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance near a school and second or subsequent offense possession of one ounce or less of marijuana.

 Desmon Leon Davis, 33, of 2401 U.S. Highway 78, Dorchester, pleaded guilty to first-offense failure to stop for blue lights.

Taylor sentenced him to three years in prison. Because Davis already served one day in jail, his term was suspended to probation for one year.

 Isreal Samuel Devore, 50, of 510 Jamison Avenue, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle valued $2,000 or less and resisting arrest.

Taylor sentenced him to prison for one year. Because Devore served three days in jail, his term was suspended to probation for one year.

 Keenana Tyree Dibble, 31, of 2809 Plymouth Rock Road, Columbia, pleaded guilty to strong-arm robbery.

Taylor sentenced Dibble to prison for two years. He gave Dibble credit for having already served 108 days in jail.

Taylor recommended Dibble be housed in the addiction treatment unit in prison.

 Montana Zohn Dishong, 30, of 185 Brown Deer Run, Ridgeville, pleaded guilty to grand larceny valued $10,000 or more and first-offense failure to stop for blue lights.

Taylor gave him credit for having already served 260 days in jail.

He also recommended Dishong be housed in the addiction treatment unit in prison.

Dishong faced the following charges, but they were dismissed: possession of a stolen vehicle valued at $10,000 or more, habitual traffic offender status and possession of a stolen vehicle valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000.

 Collin Edward Emery, 24, of 141 Coconut Court, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-offense DUI less than .10.

Taylor ordered him to pay a $400 fine within 90 days or report to jail for 30 days.

Emery faced the following charges, but they were dismissed: transporting alcohol with a broken seal in a motor vehicle, first-offense possession of one ounce or less of marijuana and first-offense manufacturing/distributing/possessing scheduled narcotic drugs.

 Olivia Juanita Forbes, 27, of 121 Satawen Drive, Eutawville, pleaded guilty to first-offense possession of less than one gram of methamphetamine/cocaine base and first-offense possession of a controlled substance.

Taylor sentenced her to prison for two years. Because Forbes already served 70 days in jail, her term was suspended to probation for two years.

Taylor also ordered her to complete substance abuse counseling and undergo random drug/alcohol testing.

 Henry Forman Fuller, 78, of 11322 Old Number Six Highway, Eutawville, pleaded guilty to resisting arrest.

Taylor sentenced him to prison for one year. Because Fuller already served three days in jail, his term was suspended to probation for six months.

Fuller also faced two counts of threatening the life of a public official, but those charges were dismissed.

 Kevin Devon Greene, 37, of 728 Heyward Drive, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to second-offense DUS, license not suspended for DUI.

Taylor sentenced him to 90 days in jail. He was given credit for having already served two days. Greene is allowed to serve his jail time on weekends only.

Hes also required to pay a $600 fine.

He faced the charge of blocking the entrance to a business or residence, but that charge was dismissed.
Hillian receives

scholarship

South Carolina State University student Kassidy Hillian of Orangeburg has been awarded the Aaron and Ruby Dicks Scholarship.

Funded by Dicks-Bussey, whose mission is to provide scholarships to black South Carolina students seeking an undergraduate degree.

SNHU announces

fall honors lists

MANCHESTER, NH  Five students from The T&D Region have been named to the fall 2023 President's and Deans Lists at Southern New Hampshire University.

Named to the Presidents List are Patrick Permenter and Ashton Blewer, both of Cordova; Kayleigh Varn of Orangeburg; and Brandi Crago of Swansea.

Melody Kimpson of Orangeburg was named to the fall 2023 Deans List at Southern New Hampshire University.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

Lyde earns

President's List

at SUNY Canton

CANTON, N.Y. -- Latitia B. Lyde of Holly Hill, a student at State University of New York, has earned a spot on the President's List during the fall 2023 semester.

Lyde is a Canton Health Care Management major.

The President's List recognizes full-time students who achieve a 3.75 or greater GPA during a single semester.

Wassell named

to SMCs

honors list

SPARTANBURG -- Isabelle Wassell of Orangeburg has been included on the President's List for grades earned during the fall 2023 academic semester. President's List students have achieved a grade point average of 3.8 or higher.
Orangeburg Countys voter registration and election official is asking local lawmakers to increase the pay for poll workers.

They are very, very hard to get, especially for a Saturday election," Orangeburg County Voter Registration and Elections Director Aurora Smalls said.

The first thing that comes to mind is, That is all day! You want me to be there all day? she said.

Smalls addressed the Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation during its quarterly meeting on Jan. 8.

Smalls would like to entice poll workers by offering a little more money.

Some have said Well, it really doesn't matter about the money, but some will come if we have a little more money, she said.

Smalls requested a $100 increase for poll workers, bringing the total pay for each poll worker up to about $235.

She said she needs about 200 workers for an election but now has about 150.

The proposed increase would cost a total of about $15,000 to $20,000.

Currently, a poll worker gets $75 for working on Election Day and another $60 for a one-time training for a total of $135. Poll managers get paid $60 more than poll workers, but they have to work longer hours than other poll workers and have to travel, Smalls said.

Smalls said the money is not enough to keep workers, explaining that workers put in over 12 hours for that day with a few short breaks in between.

The Orangeburg County office is always short poll workers, she said. Four people are needed per precinct, but oftentimes only one individual shows up.

Wed rather have more than enough workers than not enough, Smalls said. I have had to move people on Election Day to make sure that the precincts were covered.

Smalls said she has tried recruiting from colleges and schools and has had varied success.

Whatever we can do to entice the workers to come out is great, Smalls said. Some places don't have that issue and I am thinking maybe it is because of the pay, but we do have issues.

The state reimburses the county for poll workers, with supplemental pay coming from the local government.

Berkeley County is paying $25 more, Charleston $60 more, Dorchester $100 more and Lexington is paying $185 more, Smalls said.

The delegation said it would look into what can be done to increase the pay, including working with the county to see where money can be found.

We understand the issue and we will see what we can do, said delegation Chair Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg.

Smalls also requested money for the Norway Community Center at 5004 Norway Road.

The center has been used as a new voting location.

It needs to be made handicap accessible. Improvements will also include additional parking, sidewalks and an expanded ramp. When not being used during elections, the building serves as a community and senior housing building.

Orangeburg County has already approved $207,455 for building upgrades.

The former voting location, which is within walking distance of the new location, was deemed inadequate.

Smalls also requested the delegations assistance with the construction of a storage building to house election bags, signs and other items used during an election. The items are currently stored at the former Orangeburg County library but the library will be used for other purposes in the future.

We will have to move, Smalls said.

Smalls hopes to eventually store all election equipment at the site.

We will need money to help with the building and with security, including cameras, Smalls said.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, suggested Smalls ask the county to consider including the building request in the next round of the capital project sales tax that will come before voters in November.

Cobb-Hunter also suggested Smalls look for space at the former hospital on Carolina Avenue, where she has heard there could be adequate space for storage.

Smalls said she will look into the location.

In other business, Smalls said two new election commissioners are needed.

An individual is needed from the Bolentown, Cope, Cordova, Norway or Pine Hill area. The other vacancy is in the Bowman, Bethel, Branchville and Rowesville area. The commission consists of seven members.

We have to certify the election and so that means we will need more people to be present to certify the election, Smalls said.

The vacancies will be posted and a recruitment effort will begin.
(TBTCO) - San luong nha may va doanh so ban le cua Trung Quoc vuot ky vong trong giai oan tu thang 1 en thang 2/2024, anh dau su khoi au vung chac cho nam 2024 va mang lai mot so cuu tro cho cac nha hoach inh chinh sach, ngay ca khi su yeu kem trong linh vuc bat ong san van la luc can oi voi nen kinh te va niem tin.
Like a story you've heard many times before, it seems that the rich want to get richer, particularly Elon Musk. The tech billionaire threatens to take his contributions elsewhere, whatever they are, if he does not see an increase in his stakes at the company.

Musk Wants a 25% Stake

Tesla, being one of the leading EV manufacturers, has a lot of shareholders on its list. Still, the most recognizable and arguably the face of the company is Elon Musk. With that said, the CEO says that he would rather build outside of Tesla if his stake was not 25%.

According to Musk, he was "uncomfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI & robotics" without having his preferred percentage of control. He added that 25% was "Enough to be influential, but not so much that I can't be overturned, as reported by Gizmodo.

Since AI is becoming increasingly popular and useful, this can serve as leverage for the tech billionaire when it comes to negotiations. As you might have heard, Tesla is already using AI in its systems, particularly its autonomous features.

The thing is, Musk used to have a bigger share in Tesla, but the CEO had to sell billions of his stock in the company to be able to buy arguably one of his most regrettable acquisitions, Twitter. Still, he has one of the biggest shares in the company.

It's not just the cars that will be utilizing artificial intelligence. In case you don't know, Tesla is in the process of developing humanoid robots that are intended to help people with everyday tasks. To do that, the robot must also be equipped with an AI.

The robot called Optimus has already shown demonstrations of what it's capable of. More recently, it showed how it can fold clothes, although it still needs more work. It's still far from the initial demo, where it turned out to just be a man in a spandex suit.

Read Also: Tesla Optimus Robot Shows Skills at Folding Laundry During Pre-Scripted Demo

Selling Tesla Stocks for Twitter (X)

The tech billionaire started selling stocks back in April 2022 to have the funds needed to complete the Twitter deal. He sold nearly $23 billion worth of shares to pay for the absurd price of the social media company at $44 billion.

Most would say that this was a mistake, some agreeing that it was already apparent from the start. Even Musk saw that purchasing Twitter might not be the best idea as he tried to back out at the last minute. Unfortunately for Musk, he was forced to go through with the deal.

If you ask anyone about whether the acquisition was worth it, the majority would say that it was not. If you look at the current state of the company, you might also agree that the Twitter acquisition was a big mistake.

For one, the company is no longer worth what it was. Musk had ambitious plans for the site, saying that it will be worth way more than the $44 billion he paid it for. In the last official announcement, X was now less than 50% of what it used to be worth.

Related Article: Elon Musk's Defamation Case to Push Through in Ireland
CHEYENNE  Wyomings fire departments are the second state entity to consider rehiring retired personnel amid a depleting workforce.

With limited budgets that barely cover the costs of equipment, maintenance and fuel, rural fire districts depend on volunteer firefighters to staff their departments. Fire Chief Derek Walls, who oversees Laramie County Fire District 5, said people are rarely willing to make the voluntary time commitment.

Its hard to find people that can leave their job for six hours in the middle of the day, Walls told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle on Wednesday.

Senate File 4, also known as the Rehire retired firefighters bill, would allow smaller city and county fire departments to rehire retired firefighters to fill chief-level positions.

Although Laramie County Fire District 1 has a larger volunteer pool to recruit from than most special fire districts, including military personnel from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Fire Chief Darrick Mittlestadt said the passage of SF 4 would be a huge help to his department.

It really helps us out because were missing some of that senior staff and the senior experience, he said.

This bill is one of four to be considered in the upcoming budget session that addresses the firefighter shortage in Wyoming. The framework for it was pulled from a similar House bill that passed last legislative session, which allowed the Wyoming Highway Patrol to rehire retired state troopers.

A provision in the Public Employee Pension Plan allows employers in state/local entities and school districts to rehire retired employees. Specifically, employees can temporarily fill full-time vacant positions, as long as its the same position from which they retired.

Federated Firefighters of Wyoming President Kevin Reddy said most professional fire personnel have an early retirement age of 50. Wyoming law allows them to work until 65, but after turning 50 years old, firefighters stop accruing pension benefits.

Theres no incentive to stay with your department or work for another Wyoming fire department past age 50, Reddy said. If they were allowed to continue drawing their pension, (however), they potentially could be picked up by a smaller agency that may not have the revenue to compete with the larger departments.

With limited budgets that barely cover the costs of equipment, maintenance and fuel, rural fire districts depend on volunteer firefighters to staff their departments.

Reddy said he couldnt guarantee this bill, if passed, would be successful in solving recruitment issues in every fire department, but it was at least a step in the right direction.

Other incentives to boost recruitment

There are other bills that may be considered in the upcoming budget session that aim to boost recruitment of volunteer personnel. Senate File 3, for one, would grant leave to state employees to volunteer for fire or emergency medical services, and Senate File 8 would grant health insurance to volunteer emergency responders.

Walls said these two bills, if passed, would have the biggest impact on special fire districts. Should SF 3 pass, the district fire chief said he could recruit state employees in his area, such as from the local Wyoming Department of Transportation road shop.

Theyd be able to leave work and still get a paid wage from the state, he said.

Not every rural district has state employees to recruit from, but that doesnt mean there arent other resources.

Laramie County District 4 Chief Cy Thorup said theres not a state employee in sight, but there are plenty of farmers and ranchers within his area.

The farmers and ranchers cant get insurance, Thorup said. If (SF 8) gets through, that could highly help us out in recruitment.

Recruitment numbers spiraling down

A Wyoming Fire Recruitment Survey was sent out early last year to fire districts across the state to review staffing shortages in various departments. Wyoming Fire Advisory Board President Shad Cooper said the survey captured a nearly 50% response rate of all the states fire departments.

Nearly 90% of respondents said their department experienced challenges in recruiting new firefighters.

The numbers show that were about 500 firefighters short in the state, Cooper told lawmakers last September.

Theres definitely a strong need to provide incentives and recruitment retention benefits for our firefighters.

Reddy, who has been in the fire service for 24 years, said he used to have to compete against 300-plus applicants for two or three positions a year. That number dropped to about 100 annual applicants for the same number of positions.

Recruitment in the number of applicants has gone down in the last 20 years, he told the WTE.

Rural fire districts are being hurt the most. Fire chiefs Walls and Thorup said their departments are 100% run on volunteer firefighters but receive only one to three applications a year.

Volunteering, in general, is a bygone past, Walls said.

There are so few people out there who want to do it anymore.

Fire District 1 currently has two fire stations, with a third set to open in March, and has a combination of paid and volunteer firefighter positions.

Chief Mittlestadt said nine out of 12 paid positions are filled, and his department has an active roster of 22 volunteers.

As the busiest fire district in the state, receiving an average of 2,000 calls annually, Mittlestadt said hed ideally like to take on 20 to 30 more volunteers.

One of the things that were seeing in the fire service is a lot of vacancies, especially with the volunteer positions, Mittlestadt said. This is my 27th year in the fire service, and what was normal just 10 years ago isnt even close to normal now.
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.
SpaceX and tractor manufacturer John Deere have entered into an agreement to deliver "cutting-edge" internet connection for rural farmers in the US and Brazil.

John Deere announced the partnership on Tuesday, Jan. 16, stating tractors can be equipped with the Starlink terminal to connect with the John Deere Operations Center.

The terminal will be outfitted with a 4G LTE JDLink modem for continued connectivity, allowing for autonomous real-time data sharing, diagnostics, and self-repair solutions.

John Deere has been improving its internet services for its agricultural robots since last year, upgrading its 3G connection to 4G.

The SpaceX SATCOM terminal for automated tractors will be available at a limited release in the second half of 2024.

Also Read: Starlink Rival HughesNet is Offering Up to 100Mbps for Rural US

Internet Connection Remains a Challenge in Rural Areas in the US

With more limited access to affordable internet service, many rural residents and farmers do not have the privilege of regular connection amid the US government's push for agricultural tech.

According to an agricultural study in 2022, only 30% of the big US farmers have "high-quality" internet. The numbers are far worse in rural Brazil.

This is due to the more expensive satellite internet fee in the rural household compared to those in urban cities.

Internet connection has been proven to be important for farmers as it does with industries in the city, allowing for precise, effective, and efficient automation of agricultural workload.

Several legislative proposals have already pushed for better broadband coverage for rural areas, especially in agricultural regions, but only a few have come to fruition.

SpaceX Expands its Customer Service

The partnership with John Deere marks SpaceX's latest effort to expand its market service towards agricultural technology.

The aerospace manufacturer has begun tapping into the agriculture industry since 2014.

SpaceX has previously been reported to be looking for agriculture farmers to manage crop production in rockets and outer space. The announcement was made after the release of the space Odyssey film "Interstellar."

Then just last year, SpaceX partnered with Maple Grove farmers in Minnesota for real-time imaging of their farms via satellite.

Related Article: AT&T to Increase Service Fee for Unlimited Plans
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.
From that iconic rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat snare drum intro and the romantic interlude of the flute, oboe and other wind instruments, Ravels Bolero unfolds like a whimsical dance.

It makes sense since the 20th century French composer set out initially to create a ballet score.

But University of Arizona School of Dance Director Duane Cyrus sees much more than ballet in the work, which was one of Ravels most famous and enduring pieces.

I was really interested in how the music takes a motif and progresses it. How the whole piece sort of crescendos and builds and something about how each phrase takes an instrument  the oboe, the flute the French horn  and that instrument contributes a voice and it speaks, said Cyrus, who with his colleague Tamara Dyke-Compton, an associate professor and the schools associate director, choreographed a dance to accompany the Tucson Symphony Orchestras performance of Bolero this weekend. Sometimes you hear it and youre like wow thats a unique way of saying something.

Thirteen UA dancers will join the orchestra and Conductor Jose Luis Gomez at Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave., for performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, as part of the orchestras Celebracion Latina! series.

This is the latest collaboration between the orchestra and School of Dance, which has partnered with the orchestra eight times in the nearly 20 years since longtime former co-director Melissa Lowe created a dance for Strauss's "The Emperor's Waltz" in 2005-06. Lowe and her husband/co-director Jory Hancock led the School of Dance for 34 years before retiring in 2021.

Its exciting, said Cyrus, who has led the school since fall 2022. "It brings students exposure. The excellent performance of the students gets them out into the community and I think that is very important. I am committed to that.

Cyrus tapped costume designer Shane Ballard to create pieces that would allow the dancers to stand out among the full complement of the orchestra. He also brought in Dyke-Compton and the pair set about building on the idea of community and progression. The choreography incorporates contemporary dance and ballet, with a constant processional crossing the stage as solos, duets, trios and quartets until the ensemble comes together in what Cyrus described as a river of humanity that defines a community.

I just think about these young dancers and how they are standing on the shoulders of people who have come before them, he said. Something about that idea of building, of community coming together, is important.

Its very strong. Its very meaningful, Gomez said of the choreography. I think it speaks for the music definitely because this music was originally for ballet. (Cyrus) captured immediately the energy and the incredible potential that this piece has.

This weekends collaboration has been in the works since Cyrus stepped on the UA campus, he said. TSO President and CEO Paul Meecham reached out to him not long after he started in the fall 2022 semester about working together.

Cyrus said the opportunity to put his students on a stage outside of the UAs Stevie Eller Dance Theatre is part of his goal to prepare students for professional careers in dance. Its the first of several collaborations in the spring semester that includes a scholarship benefit on Feb. 16 at Stevie Eller with Ballet Tucson and Hubbard Street Dance Company; legendary ballerina Misty Copland will be a guest speaker. In March, UA dancers will perform at the fundraiser Destiny Rising in New York City.

My vision for the School of Dance is that we continue to meet the needs of todays dance artists by preparing them for all the things they need to do, he said, from modern, post-modern, jazz and ballet dance forms to choreography, production and fundraising. They also need to understand what does it mean to go out in the community and engage the community as artists. What the School of Dance is now is we are accessible and we are engaging.

UA dance has an incredible reputation. Gomez said. They are well respected in the dance world. And having them here in our town it is impossible not to reach out to them.

Tickets for Ravels Bolero are $14-$90 through tucsonsymphony.org.
The University of Arizonas former Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer Lisa Rulney will serve in her new advisory position through the end of June, UA President Robert Robbins said Tuesday.

Rulney stepped down from the CFO role on Dec. 13 and now serves as senior advisor to business operations. She has retained the same salary of $506,325.

In an email to faculty and others, Robbins wrote that he wanted to take a moment to correct the record.

For clarity, Lisas position is advisory, and her role is solely to provide support to our interim CFO as he focuses on implementing the universitys financial action plan and managing the divisions broad operations, Robbins wrote. This transitional position is valuable to the university and ensures that the exchange of information and transfer of all leadership duties will support our success in the months and years to come.

He said Rulney will have the position through June 30 to ensure a minimally disruptive and well-informed transition.

Many faculty and others blamed Rulney for the $240 million miscalculation in cash reserves that Robbins disclosed at an Arizona Board of Regents meeting in November. Rulney, who served as CFO since April 2019, oversaw the team responsible for financial projections and management.

Robbins told ABOR in a special December meeting that he had accepted the resignation of Rulney. He did not disclose that she had taken a new role within the university and retained her salary.

John Arnold, the executive director of ABOR, has taken over as UAs chief financial officer and senior vice president of business affairs in an interim manner, and his work has been successful, according to Robbins.

John has made great strides in understanding our universitys financial situation and working with senior leadership to map out effective, strategic solutions, Robbins wrote in his Tuesday message. He will continue meeting with college, department and unit leaders in the days to come, and we expect to have updated campus guidance by the end of the month.

Despite Robbins assessment, a committee representing more than 250 department heads at the university sent a letter last week to Robbins, Arnold and others in senior leadership urging more faculty and staff involvement in the financial action plan during the UAs ongoing budget deficit.

Heads and directors are the hands-on managers of countless faculty, staff and student processes that help the university pursue its vision, meet its mission and live its values, their memo stated. We are often called upon to implement university policies in difficult, complex and idiosyncratic situations, such as this new financial landscape.

Among other issues, the memo said department heads are concerned about the UAs across-the-board hiring and compensation freeze.

They fear it will make it harder to grow programs and generate revenue, will significantly impact recruitment and retention of faculty and staff, add to the work burden and stress on directors, staff and faculty and reflect poorly on the universitys reputation amongst our peers as we cancel searches that are already in process, creating significant ill will and making the recruitment of high-quality faculty much more difficult down the road.

But Robbins continues to express optimism about the financial action plan.

Finally, let me provide my sincere thanks to all across our institution who are working diligently to address our financial issues, to contribute to solutions and to keep our university strong and moving forward, he wrote. I am confident that together, as one Wildcat community, we can emerge from this period more focused and effective, and better positioned to fulfill our mission than ever before.
The first giraffe born at Reid Park Zoo in nearly 24 years is standing  at about 6 feet tall already  and snuggling with mom Penelope after being born Monday.

Penelope, known as Penny, went into labor around noon Monday and gave birth several hours later to the male, her first calf.

"Both mom and baby are doing well. The calf is standing and nursing, and Penelope has been very attentive and nurturing to her newborn," the Tucson zoo said in a news release Tuesday evening.

The newcomer measured approximately 6 feet tall at birth.

"Mom and calf are behind the scenes having some quiet bonding time. The zoo expects the pair will be on habitat in a few days."

Were excited to be able to bring baby giraffes back to Tucson after such a long time, and inspire future generations to conserve these amazing animals, said Adam Ramsey, director of animal care, in the release.

Penelope came to Reid Park Zoo in 2020 as a part of the Giraffe Species Survival Plan with a breeding recommendation for Jasiri, the zoos male giraffe and father of the calf.

Penny, Jasiri, and the yet unnamed calf are reticulated giraffes, featuring distinctive chestnut colored patches outlined by thin white lines.

The birth marks the second in Reid Park Zoos current baby boom. The zoo welcomed a Grevys zebra foal on Christmas morning, and is also preparing for the birth of an African elephant calf in the coming months.

Reid Park Zoo supports the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Giraffe SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) Program, providing fieldwork in Uganda to stabilize wild populations of the endangered reticulated giraffes. "By supporting Reid Park Zoo, guests are also helping support these programs."
What the state giveth, the federal government taketh away.

Qualifying Arizona families have gotten deposits of up to $750 in their bank accounts because of a rebate plan demanded by some Republican lawmakers last year as part of a state budget deal.

But the state Department of Revenue said Tuesday that the Internal Revenue Services has informed it those funds are subject to federal income taxes. That means recipients will have to give back some of what they just got when they file their 2023 tax returns later this year.

How much depends on a variety of factors.

It starts with how much someone got.

The deal inserted into the state budget by the Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers, provided a one-time tax credit of $250 for each child younger than 17, and $100 for dependents 17 and older  with no age limit  though the number of credits is limited to three dependents. About 750,000 families were eligible.

Then theres the federal tax bracket.

There are seven brackets, ranging from 10% for individuals with a federally adjusted gross income of up to $11,000  or double that for married couples filing jointly  to 37% for those making $578,126 or more.

So, everything else being equal, someone getting a $500 rebate whose income is in the 22% bracket  from $44,726 to $95,375 for individuals  will be giving back $110 to Uncle Sam.

The state is issuing a 1099-MISC form, with the amount of the rebate, to those who got either the direct deposits or the checks.

A copy of that form goes to the IRS. So not including the amount on your 2023 tax returns due in April could result in some unwelcome correspondence from the feds.

One complicating issue for some taxpayers is that the Department of Revenue is not mailing out those forms. Instead, taxpayers who got a rebate will have to either go to the departments website or check their bank statements to figure out how much to report.

And for those who may lack computer savvy, department spokeswoman Rebecca Wilder said they can contact the Department of Revenue directly to get the information.

While the IRS wants its cut, the state isnt planning to claw back a share: The state budget plan that includes the rebate specifically exempted the proceeds from state taxes.

That, however, will require taxpayers to do an extra calculation.

State tax returns all start with the federal adjusted gross income, which will include the rebate money.

So recipients will have to deduct those dollars when coming up with their state adjusted gross income, the amount against which the state income tax is computed.

Republican lawmakers are not reacting well to the IRS determination, with Senate President Warren Petersen calling it an example of the Biden administration showing how little they care about Arizona families who are struggling to make ends meet.

But, politics aside, Petersen said theres a legal issue.

More than a dozen states issued similar payments to their citizens in 2022 that the IRS determined would be excluded from federal income tax, he said. Petersen said he wants the Department of Revenue and Arizonas attorney general to fight this attack on Arizona families from the money hungry federal government.

Not everyone with dependents got the rebate.

Only those who claimed a dependent tax credit on their 2021 full-year Arizona resident individual income tax returns were eligible. They also would have had to have paid at least $1 of Arizona individual income tax on that 2021 return or paid at least $1 in 2019 or 2020 under the same filing status as their 2021 return.
Arizonans cant run for office under the No Labels banner unless the party gives them permission.

In a new ruling Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge John Tuchi barred Secretary of State Adrian Fontes from accepting any requests by any individual  including those registered with the party  to be a candidate in the 2024 primary election.

The decision also means that it will be the party that decides if it wants to run candidates for president and vice president in the general election.

Fontes criticized the judges decision, and not only because of the immediate impact on those who already have filed to run as No Labels candidates for various offices. He said the ruling, unless overturned, could pave the way for other political parties to decide that they, too, want final say over who does  and does not  get to run as a candidate.

What it also does, Fontes said, is disenfranchise nearly 19,000 Arizonans who have chosen to register as members of the No Labels Party who presumably want a say in who are the partys candidates.

If it stands, it could potentially derail the entire candidate nomination process, he said in a prepared statement.

But Tuchi, in a 12-page ruling, said the state cant impose its laws in cases when a party does not want to offer a candidate for office.

The party was founded in 2009 with the stated goal of combating what it calls the polarized political climate that has led to the most prominent voices often found the farthest from the center. It has advanced the goal of creating a unity ticket to run in the 2024 presidential race if the two parties select unreasonably divisive presidential nominees.

But since filing the paperwork to get ballot status in Arizona, a half-dozen individuals have filed statements of interest to run as No Labels candidates in various other races. That led the party to sue Fontes to keep their names off the ballot.

Tuchi said that is the partys constitutional right.

The First Amendment protects the right to associate with others to exercise the freedom of speech expressly protected by the text of the First Amendment, including the freedom to join together in furtherance of common political beliefs, he wrote.

Fontes did not dispute that right. But he also argued that the partys freedom of association ends where the fundamental political rights of other begin, including the right to vote.

And that he said, outweighs what he called the partys nomination-by-fiat preference.

The judge disagreed.

Arizona voters do not have the right to select a nominee for an office the party is not seeking, Tuchi wrote. And he said an argument by Fontes that individual members of the No Labels party have the right to appear on the ballot as their partys candidate is unsupported in case law.

The (No Labels) Party has First Amendment rights to define the boundaries and structure of its association, including what offices it intends to seek, the judge wrote.

This isnt the first litigation involving the party and its presence in Arizona.

The Arizona Democratic Party filed suit last year to keep the party  and, more to the point, its candidates  off the 2024 ballot. Attorneys for the Democrats argued that No Labels did not meet the legal definitions of a party, citing among other things its refusal to disclose donors which is a requirement of all other parties.

But Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper said that No Labels had met all the legal requirements to qualify for ballot status.

At least part of the fight about No Labels is political.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

Across Arizona, the story of the Latino community is one of resilience, resourcefulness and a relentless pursuit of the American dream. We are a community of builders, of dreamers, of those who bridge divides and light the way for future generations. But in the digital age, a silent barrier threatens to impede our progress: the digital divide.

That's why the Affordable Connectivity Program has been such a game-changer. Thanks to many of our congressional leaders, this vital initiative has connected millions of low-income families to affordable, high-speed internet, unlocking a world of opportunity for education, health care, and economic advancement. For Latino families, in particular, the ACP has been a lifeline, bridging the gap between limited resources and a boundless future. We pride ourselves in our ability to work to provide a better life for our kids. And the ability to do so is difficult when Latinos lack the access to broadband.

Think of a single mother juggling two jobs while trying to ensure her children have access to quality education. The ACP allowed her to get her kids connected, opening doors to virtual tutoring, online educational resources, and even college application portals. Or picture a young small business owner in rural Arizona looking to expand his reach. Without the ACP, his business might not grow and create more jobs, unable to compete in the fast-paced digital marketplace.

The impact is undeniable. Yet, the sun setting of the ACP funding this year threatens to plunge over half a million Arizonan households who subscribe to the program back into the darkness of digital isolation. This is not just about convenience; it's about equity, about ensuring every child and business owner has a fair shot at success, regardless of their zip code or income bracket. Governor Hobbs spoke of the importance of access to broadband and included this in her address at the 56th legislative session opening. High-speed internet is crucial for businesses, healthcare, and education, particularly for our rural and tribal communities who are on the frontlines of our rapidly changing economy. We must build fast, reliable, and affordable broadband access for every Arizonan no matter where they live. Access to broadband is key to economic growth in Arizona and, the quality education our students receive. It is up to us to collectively advocate for the extension of the ACP.

As a LULAC leader in my Hispanic community, I urge the White House and Congress to come to an agreement and continue funding the ACP. The ACP is not just a program; it's a promise. A promise of equal opportunity, of closing the digital divide, and of unleashing the full potential of Latino communities. Let us not break that promise.
James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow James D. Watts Jr. 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

Step through the door of Bishop Quigley, and one is borne back into owner Elliot Nelsons past.

The long, narrow space is decorated with a number of Nelson family photographs, some of which date back more than a century, as well as heirlooms the family has collected through the years.

That picture there, he said, pointing to a frame containing two images of young men in military uniform that hangs behind the bar, thats my great-grandfather and my grandfather in uniform. My great-grandfather was in World War I, and my grandfather was in World War II.

Having such things on display is all part of the atmosphere Nelson wants to create with Bishop Quigley  the sort of quaint pub that Nelson would frequent during his travels to Ireland and Great Britain.

In Ireland, the local pub is really like the towns living room, Nelson said. And the ones I always enjoyed the most were the pubs that had a very personal quality to them. It wasnt just a place to eat or have a drink, but a place where you want to spend some time, get to know the people around you.

Basically, this is about 40 years of me visiting pubs distilled down into a single room, he said, laughing.

Bishop Quigley opened in late December as part of the latest concept from Nelsons The McNellies Group. But it was a late addition to the project.

Originally, this was going to be a private dining area for Maple Ridge Grocer, said Nelson, referring to the all-day bistro that takes up the majority of the building that previously had housed a print shop.

But while we were in the planning stages, I took a trip to New York City, and I went to McSorleys Old Ale House, which is my favorite bar there, he said. Its about the same size, the same dimensions as the space here, and I thought, This has to be a pub.

Nelson knew he wanted Bishop Quigley to have an authentic ambiance, which is one reason why most of the furnishings were imported from Great Britain, including the wood church chairs (complete with hymnal racks) and the small stools covered in carmine-colored suede-like material.

These little stools are something you see everywhere in Irish pubs, and some people thought it was kind of crazy to have them, Nelson said, laughing. I wanted to get them from Ireland, but they werent as well made as the ones we ended up getting from England. But theyre here, and I love them.

The dark woods and cream accents help give Bishop Quigley a cozy atmosphere. A smaller back room has tables (and little stools) that can accommodate slightly larger parties.

This back room also has a door that connects Bishop Quigley with Maple Ridge Grocer, which provides the pub with food.

Having the restaurant next door was really the only way to make the economics work, Nelson said.

Bishop Quigley has six beers on tap, including Guinness, Stella Artois, American Solera and Marshall Brewings Sundown. An additional 25 or so brews are available in bottles and cans, including McNellies Pub Ale, Fullers London Pride, St. Bernardus and Westmalle Tripel.

The food menu is equally concise, consisting of eight items.

One of the fun things about this project, Nelson said, was giving Ben (Alexander, executive chef of the McNellies Group) a limited menu like this and letting him come up with ways to punch things up.

With the possible exception of the Caesar Salad ($10, augmented with chicken or salmon for an additional charge), each item is something one might expect to find on a pubs menu.

During a recent visit on a brisky cold evening, we tried the Brown Soup of the Day ($8) and the Fish and Chips ($18).

The Brown Soup is something of a joke, especially as the soup that was presented to me was very obviously white. Those who inquire about the soup are presented with a Bishop Quigley Soup of the Day Chart, which describes offerings that are characterized as being anywhere from dark brown to white-ish.

In this instance, it was a potato chowder, flavored with bits of ham in a rich, buttery, and not too thick broth. A drizzle of a mild chili oil added a slight kick.

Several McNellies Group restaurants offer fish and chips, and use the same recipe. Bishop Quigleys fish and chips follows suit, serving a large plank of haddock coated in a batter that fries up light and airy.

One thing we do differently here is that we season the fish before we batter it, Alexander said. That way no one ends up with a bland piece of fish.

The chips are cut into what might best be described as petals, whose cupped shape makes them excellent for scooping up ketchup, or some of the tartar sauce that accompanies the fish. Unfortunately, while the fish was still hot, the chips were quite cold  although not as cold as the grilled lemon that garnished the plate, which was so cold it was difficult to squeeze.

During the photo shoot for this article, we were able to sample the Pub Curry ($17), which can be made with seasonal vegetables, shrimp or chicken, along with basmati rice and garlic naan.

The chicken  which, thankfully, was chunks of dark meat  was meltingly tender, and the tikka masala-style sauce was complex and savory. Its a dish Id happily order time and again.

Other choices include a Ham and Cheese Toasty ($13), a toasted sandwich with tomato and onion; a burger ($14), topped with cheddar cheese, onion and mustard; fries ($6); and Cheese and Crackers ($10).

Thats something straight out of McSorleys, Nelson said, laughing. Its exactly what it says  white cheddar, saltines, raw white onions. But its the outrageously hot mustard that really makes it.

Outrageously hot might not be the description we would use, but the mustard definitely was made with an assertive amount of horseradish, which complemented the chunks of cheese.

While bar seating is reserved for those 21 and older, the rest of the space is for all ages.

We want people to bring their kids here  I bring my kids here, Nelson said.

As for the name, thats another family story.

My great-great grandmother was a Quigley from Ireland, and the story is that there was a Catholic bishop in the family back in the 17th century, Nelson said. Then, I found that there was a Bishop Quigley in Chicago in the 1800s, but we have no connection to him.

BISHOP QUIGLEY 1810 S. Cincinnati Ave. 918-550-4120 bishopquigley.com Food: 3 stars Service: 3 stars Atmosphere: 4 stars (on a scale of 0 to 5 stars) Cost: $$ ($=inexpensive to $$$$=very expensive) Vegetarian/Vegan options: Yes Noon-10:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, noon-11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. All major credit cards accepted.

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Apple finally beat Samsung for the first time to become the leading phone manufacturer in the world in 2023, displacing the South Korean brand from the top spot after 13 years.

Business Wire, citing International Data Corporation's data, reported that Apple made a total of 234.6 million mobile shipments last year in contrast to Samsung's 226.6 million deliveries.

Samsung held the first place in the annual board since 2010.

iPhone devices accounted for a fifth of Apple's market sales last year thanks to a huge holiday record following the release of the iPhone 15 Pro.

The report comes in as Apple started marketing iPhones at discounted prices in China, its biggest market to date.

Also Read: Foxconn Pledges $1.5 Billion India Investment for Operations Outside China

Android Phones Record 'Strong Growth' in 2023

Apple may have the top spot for the mobile brand category but Google takes the bag for the overall sales performance of its Android OS.

Low-end Android devices from Xiaomi and Transsion recorded larger sales, placing the two in third and fourth place respectively.

Even Huawei experienced relative growth in the past 12 months despite government restrictions on the phone brand.

Google has been diversifying its Android OS for quite some time now as it aims to market affordable and widely accessible products to low-income customers.

Apple has previously been locked out of sales growth in the past years due to high prices and exclusive features unusable for non-iPhone owners.

Smartphone Shipments at a Decline in 2023 - IDC

While several notable phone brands experienced, the IDC noted a huge smartphone shipment decline in the past year by 3.2%, or at least 1.17 billion units, compared to 2022's records.

Samsung itself recorded the biggest shipment decline at 13.6% on a year-to-year basis. Its market share also slipped by 10.9% over the past year.

The IDC blamed macroeconomic challenges in major phone market countries and a surplus of inventory from last year.

Phone manufacturers were only able to regain some profits in the second half of 2023. The IDC expects Apple to continue its fast growth in the first half of 2024.

Related Article: iPhone for 2024: iPhone 13 Pro is Still the Best Apple Product to Buy in 2024
A strip of land 34 miles wide and 167 miles long is part of Oklahoma because Texas didn't want it.

That's an oversimplification, but it's a fairly accurate explanation of why the Panhandle didn't remain part of Texas when the Lone Star State was admitted to the union in 1845. There were other later factors, too, that prevented that narrow strip from being attached to another state.

The Panhandle, the only part of what now is Oklahoma that was not part of the Louisiana Purchase, was claimed by Spain, Mexico and finally by the newly independent Republic of Texas.

But when Texas, a slave state, joined the union, it had no interest in land above the 36-degree 30-minute parallel, where slavery was not legal. That parallel had been the boundary between North Carolina and Virginia since the 1600s and later was extended as the line between Tennessee and Kentucky and Arkansas and Missouri.

But the Kansas-Nebraska bill approved by Congress in 1854 identified the southern boundaries of Kansas and Colorado as the 37th parallel -- 34 miles north of the slavery limit. The eastern boundary of New Mexico had been established as the 103rd meridian -- leaving the strip now known as the Panhandle as the only unallocated land in the country.

That strip was a no-man's land, without laws, until 1889, when it was tacked onto Oklahoma Territory.

"It was the only spot on the American continent where civil government had no power, law no existence and courts no dominion," a 1944-45 Chronicles of Oklahoma article said.

Cattle ranchers enforced their own laws, and the only two recognized crimes were murder and cattle theft. "The latter was the worst of the two but death was the penalty for both," the Chronicles article said.

The Panhandle wasn't the only part of the Sooner State where unusual circumstances determined the boundary. The U.S. Supreme Court fixed the final boundaries by rulings in 1923 and 1930.

Texas, acting under an 1819 treaty with Spain, claimed a large area of southwestern Oklahoma that later became Jackson, Greer, Harmon and half of Beckham counties. The treaty identified part of the area that became the Republic of Texas as being west of the 100th meridian and south of the Red River.

But where was the 100th meridian?

According to the Chronicles, surveys moved that line several times after it was identified in 1818 as being a few miles east of Fort Sill; the last shift came in 1930 when the Supreme Court pegged it at 4,000 feet west of where it was believed to be in 1859. The court based its ruling on a survey it commissioned.

The Red River, another part of the boundary, should have been a simple matter, but wasn't.

The first issue was whether the treaty with Spain referred to the river's north fork or south fork. If it meant the north fork, then more than 1.5 million acres would be part of Texas; if the south fork, the land would become part of Oklahoma.

The Supreme Court ruled in 1896 that the treaty meant the south fork of the river, but that didn't end the boundary dispute between Texas and Oklahoma.

The treaty also specified the south bank of the river, an issue settled by the high court in 1923. There had been no dispute about what the south bank was until 1918, when oil was discovered in the Big Bend of the river's bed, according to the Jan. 16, 1923, Tulsa World.

Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive.
Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

A federal appellate court panel heard oral arguments Tuesday in the state of Oklahomas challenge to a judges order that freed a woman serving a 107-year state prison sentence based on McGirt jurisdictional grounds.

At issue is whether a Tulsa federal judge acted legally when she ordered Kimberly Graham released from state prison and barred the state from retrying her.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummonds office is seeking to reincarcerate Graham, 53, who has been free since U.S. District Judge Claire Eagan ordered her released from state prison.

Graham was freed after the federal judge found that an Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruling violated her rights when it ordered her back to prison.

The state of Oklahoma claims that Eagan erred when she ordered the state to release Graham from custody after Graham challenged her incarceration based on the U.S. Supreme Courts 2020 McGirt decision.

Graham had been serving a 107-year state prison sentence after a Tulsa County jury convicted her of five counts of manslaughter and one count of leaving the scene of a fatal accident in 2007.

Graham was initially freed from state prison April 8, 2021, after a Tulsa County District Court judge granted her post-conviction relief based on the U.S. Supreme Courts 2020 McGirt ruling.

Four months after Graham was freed, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals issued a ruling in an unrelated criminal case that effectively barred post-conviction appeals based on the McGirt ruling, as was the case with Graham.

A Tulsa County District Court judge in November 2021 then ordered Graham back into state custody after siding with prosecutors claims that the earlier ruling was erroneous because it was based on a decision that has since been withdrawn by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Graham was permitted to remain free while she challenged the November 2021 ruling.

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on April 16, 2023, denied Grahams appeal of the order, sending her back to prison.

Graham on April 25 challenged the decision in federal court.

Eagan wrote in a June 22 opinion that the OCCA arbitrarily disregarded the crushing weight of the state law and its own procedural rules governing post-conviction review and capriciously rested its conclusion that the TCDC had authority to vacate the April 8, 2021, order granting post-conviction relief on the demonstrably false premise that the April 8, 2021, order was unauthorized by law.

Eagan noted that on April 8, 2021, when the order freeing Graham was issued, it was the law at the time despite the OCCAs recalling the decision the next day.

One judge on the three-member appellate panel pressed Oklahoma Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Crabb on the timeline during the hearing Tuesday.

My question is this: The OCCA says the district courts April 8 order was unauthorized, one of the judges said during the hearing, audio of which was streamed on YouTube live.

Now that cant be right on April 8, the appellate judge said. It wasnt unauthorized on April 8. So isnt that a mistake of fact  an unreasonable determination of fact by the OCCA?

Crabb reiterated that since McGirt could not be applied retroactively, it meant the lower court ruling freeing Graham was unauthorized.

As this court knows, judges dont make law; they decide law, Crabb said. So McGirt was not supposed to be applied retroactively, including on April 8.

Richard OCarroll, Grahams attorney, told the panel that the OCCA had no legal right to order her reimprisoned after a lower court ordered her released April 8, 2021.

After April 8 she is released and she is walking around untethered in any form or fashion to the government, OCarroll said.

If judges are making false findings of fact, then I think everybody should view it as egregious, and thats what happened here, OCarroll said. So its a substantive due process violation because of that.

During her trial in Tulsa County District Court, a prosecutor maintained that Graham was impaired by alcohol on Nov. 9, 2007, when she drove a Dodge Ram pickup into a group of people who had gathered on Memorial Drive to help an injured motorcyclist.

Killed were De Anna Rosser-Coatney, 42; her husband, Ronald Coatney, 49; Anita Pauline Polly Foote, 50; Casey Jones, 29; and Shannon Montgomery Lacey, 36.

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Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

A man who shot a Tulsa police officer during a traffic stop has been sentenced to prison.

Edward Leon Pulley, 34, will serve a 40-year state prison term after he pleaded guilty earlier with no plea agreement with prosecutors.

A Tulsa County judge sentenced Pulley on Tuesday after accepting his plea for assault and battery with a deadly weapon, resisting an officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm and other charges.

Pulley was arrested Aug. 13 after a Tulsa police officer on patrol stopped a vehicle Pulley was driving for not displaying a license plate.

After Pulley gave evasive answers to the officers questions, the officer attempted to detain him.

While being detained, Pulley pulled a pistol from his waist behind his back and tried to point it at the officers torso.

However, the officer was able to overpower the man and keep the gun pointed down when it discharged, striking Pulley in an undisclosed location and the officer in a foot.

Pulley was then shot in the torso by another officer who was standing nearby.

Both the officer and Pulley recovered after being hospitalized.

Edward Pulleys actions turned a simple traffic stop into a dangerous, potentially deadly, situation, said Tulsa County Assistant District Attorney John Tjeerdsma, in a statement.

This incident shows how law enforcement put their lives on the line every day to keep our community safe. We commend these officers for their willingness to do so. We also thank the judge in this case for holding Pulley accountable for his crimes.

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Felix Clary Tulsa World Indigenous Affairs Reporter Follow Felix Clary Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

The Osage Nation flags are at half-staff this week as citizens mourn the loss of a former chief, John Red Eagle.

Red Eagle died Jan. 12 with family members at his side. He was 75.

His funeral and commemoration were held Wednesday at the Wakon Iron Chapel in Pawhuska.

The Osage Nation posted on Facebook: We honor the life and legacy of former Chief John D. Red Eagle. May Chief Red Eagles teachings and good ways continue to guide us all. Rest in peace, Chief Red Eagle.

Red Eagle was originally from the Barnsdall area and served as chief from 2010-2014. He was the third generation of the Red Eagle family to serve as chief. His father was Chief Edward Red Eagle Sr., and his grandfather was Chief Paul Red Eagle.

John was very extremely proud of his Osage Ancestry and culture; he loved his Osage People. Tsi Zho Zhi was his Osage name meaning Little Chief, which comes from the Eagle Clan (Tsi Zho Clan), the Osage Nation obituary statement for Red Eagle reads.

Red Eagle became the name giver for the Eagle Clan. He was one of the last six full-blood Osage members, as well.

Red Eagle was impeached in 2014, creating the Osage Nations first-ever removal trial in the Congressional Chambers in Pawhuska.

His impeachment was the result of accusations regarding contract violations and interfering with investigations against an employee of the tribe.

Red Eagles obituary noted his commitment to education and health.

He earned two bachelors degrees, the first from Colorado Community College of Nuclear Medicine and later from the University of Oklahoma.

He went on to become the chief of nuclear medicine and cardiology of Tulsa Nuclear at Hillcrest Medical Center Nuclear Medicine.

He was also dedicated to the Red Eagle Native American Church and served as an associate pastor at Victory Christ Center in Tulsa.

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SHANGHAI -- Victor Li is determined to get married soon, but like many other young Chinese grappling with an uncertain economic outlook, the well-heeled Shanghai entrepreneur isn't sure he can afford to.

"It's very expensive for us to get married, especially in a big city like Shanghai," the 32-year-old said, as he took a break from a ticketed networking event for wealthier, top university-educated singles at an upmarket Shanghai jazz bar.

"In terms of financial ability, it actually puts a lot of pressure on young people, including me."

Couples prepare to get their photo taken during a wedding photography shoot on a street, in Shanghai, China September 6, 2023. Photo: Reuters

As the world's second biggest economy slows, an increasing number of people are opting to stay single due to poor job prospects amid record youth unemployment and chronically low consumer confidence, leading to a record slump in marriage registrations in 2022.

This reluctance to tie the knot is worrying policymakers grappling with a decline in births and a rapidly aging population in a country that was once the world's most populous, and where marriage rates are closely tied to birth rates as unmarried mothers are often denied child-raising benefits.

China's fertility rate is currently one of the world's lowest, and official data on Wednesday is expected to show that the population fell for a second consecutive year, renewing concerns about the demographic decline.

Last year, President Xi Jinping said it was necessary to "actively cultivate a new culture of marriage and childrearing" to foster national development. Local governments have also announced various measures to encourage new families, including tax deductions and housing subsidies, as well as cash 'rewards' for marriages if the bride is aged 25 or younger.

A man pushes a stroller and a woman holds a child as they walk past a billboard in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China April 21, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Julia Meng, whose company "Julia's Events" organised the Shanghai singles event, said an increasing number of people aged 35 and older had effectively "given up" on marriage.

Younger Chinese, like event attendee Jack Jiang, say they want to get married, but high housing prices, uncertain job prospects and the general economic situation isn't helping.

"It's not that we want to be single, it's the urban structure, economic situation that have led to this result," the 32-year-old entrepreneur said.
Vietnam will focus on four main solutions to accelerate transformation and generate new growth momentum for the national economy, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a dialogue within the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday.

The Vietnamese government leader was speaking as he presided over the WEF National Strategic Dialogue on Vietnam, a part of the WEF gathering that commenced a day earlier.

The event, themed 'Rebuilding Trust,' attracted over 2,800 leaders from 120 countries.

Joo-Ok Lee, head of regional agenda for Asia-Pacific at the WEF, and about 60 leaders from the WEFs global member groups attended the dialogue on promoting transformation and opening up new growth drivers in Vietnam.

The purpose of the event was to unveil Vietnam's socio-economic development strategy and highlight priority areas for investment.

Specific policies that the government plans to implement in the near future were also discussed, with the goal of creating an appealing business environment for foreign investors.

At the dialogue, partners showed their interest in Vietnams policies in emerging areas such as green transition, renewable energy, rare earth exploitation, semiconductor industry, carbon credit market, and power development planning.

Creating new growth drivers is an inevitable trend in today's world and no country or economy can develop rapidly and sustainably if it still sticks to old thinking and simply relies on traditional growth catalysts, the PM told the dialogue.

Vietnam will concentrate on four primary strategies to stimulate transformation, foster innovation, and open up new growth drivers.

The country will first review and perfect institutions and laws in the spirit of creating the most favorable conditions for businesses and investors.

It will then concentrate on developing strategic infrastructures, especially those for transportation, digital transition, and climate change response.

Thirdly, it is a must to develop high-quality human resources.

Last but not least, Vietnam will restructure its economy with priority given to developing renewable energy industries, green transformation, digital transformation, semiconductor industry, and innovation.

PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is accelerating the development of a circular, sharing, and knowledge-based economy, the transformation of human resources, and relevant mechanisms and policies.

He called on foreign partners to invest in Vietnams priority areas such as innovation and high-tech science, including semiconductor technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

The Vietnamese government chief reiterated Vietnam's policy to accompany and cooperate with investors in a win-win manner, based on the principle of harmonizing interests and sharing risks.

The overall scene of the National Strategic Dialogue on Vietnam chaired by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Davos, Switzerland on January 16, 2024, an event within the framework of the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum. Photo: Nhat Bac / Tuoi Tre

Speaking at the event, WEF leaders and business representatives lauded the achievements of Vietnam in economic recovery and development after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the countrys determination in economic transformation.

Furthermore, they expressed high regard for Vietnam's economic prospects, recognizing the Southeast Asian country as a beacon of economic recovery in the region.

Vietnam is acknowledged for its pioneering role in global growth model transformation and unwavering commitment to energy transition.

WEF leaders commented that Vietnam is one of the countries drawing the most interest from the business community at this annual meeting.

They underlined that the chosen theme for the dialogue reflects a shared belief Vietnam is poised to continue its sustainable development trajectory, contributing significantly to and playing an increasingly vital role in the global economy.

The majority of business representatives expressed satisfaction with their investment projects in Vietnam, hailing the Vietnamese government's proactive policies aimed at establishing an attractive and supportive environment for foreign investors.

Many participants said the business community regards Vietnam as one of the most suitable options for those who are seeking long-term investment and cooperation opportunities.

They wished to continue supporting and accompanying Vietnam in its process of development and transformation, while recommending that the country maintain stable and long-term policies.

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Nguyen Cong Khe and Nguyen Quang Thong, former editors-in-chief of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper, have been detained for allegedly causing losses to state assets in a real estate deal, Lieutenant General To An Xo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security, said on Tuesday.

Police from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security also searched their residences and workplaces, Xo added.

Findings from police officers showed that Khe, currently board chairman of Thanh Nien Media Corporation, and Thong committed multiple violations during the development of a property project incorporating office building, shopping center, and premium apartment components at 151-155 Ben Van Don Street in Ward 6, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City.

The municipal police departmen is broadening the scope of its investigation to identify any potential violations implicating relevant agencies and individuals, Xo said.

A police officer recites a warrant pressing charges against Nguyen Quang Thong, former editor-in-chief of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper based in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Supplied

Khe, a 70-year-old native of Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam, served as the editor-in-chief at Thanh Nien, based in Ho Chi Minh City, from 1988 to 2008.

He was succeeded by Thong, who held the position from 2009 to 2021 before retiring.

Thong, aged 63, worked in Long An Province, next to Ho Chi Minh City, prior to holding various posts at the daily paper for more than 30 years.

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The Department for Education in South Australia has issued a call to the Vietnamese exchange students who were reported missing in Adelaide City, urging them to promptly contact local police officers to provide information about their current status, according to Australian broadcast news service 7 News.

This is concerning for all involved and we would ask the students to make contact with the police to ensure their well-being, the department said.

Earlier, 7 News reported that police in South Australia were investigating the whereabouts of four Vietnamese exchange students who were believed to have gone missing at different times between last month and this month.

Police officers believed that the students may have gone interstate and are not in immediate danger.

Five Vietnamese students who came to study at Hamilton Secondary College in Adelaide vanished without a trace. One of the girls has been located.

The latest missing case is Sunnie Nguyen, 17, who was last seen at her host familys home in South Plympton, Adelaide on Monday last week.

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.

Her phone has been disconnected and her social media accounts have been wiped.

I hope she is OK. Im just worried because her English is not that good," Zervaas added.

According to 7 News, Nguyen came to Adelaide City six months ago.

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.

Meanwhile, Mi Tran, the owner of a nail shop where Nguyen has a part-time job, described her as a reliable employee.

Im very fortunate to have her in my team. She would be the type that would let me know if she were late for work, even five or 10 minutes (late), Tran told 7 News.

We are all very worried because she is the little sister of the group. We couldnt sleep properly."

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Nguyen Van Cu, known as a genie,' along with a team of engineers, successfully relocated a temple gate, which is over 200 years old and weighs more than 100 metric tons, to a secure, new location in Hong Linh Town, Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam after 10 days of hard work.

Relocation guru Cu and his team moved Thanh Van Chang Temple in two sections which formed a right angle, Nguyen Xuan Thang, chairman of Duc Thuan Ward in Hong Linh Town, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Tuesday.

They had to relocate the gate on the initial 32-meter-long section and rotate it by 90 degrees, before proceeding to advance it along a 31-meter-long section.

The gate is propped up during the relocation process. Photo: Le Minh / Tuoi Tre

Cu and his team have successfully relocated the temple gate. Currently, they are in the process of transporting machinery and equipment to the site to augment the foundation of the gate by an additional 1.2 meters. The entire task is anticipated to take approximately 10 more days to complete.

Engineers and workers get involved in the relocation of the temple gate. Photo: Le Minh / Tuoi Tre

Thanh Van Chang Temple was built in the 18th century and eventually fell into ruin.

Only the gate, which is five meters high and three meters wide and made of honeycomb stones, bricks, and mortar, remains.

At the end of 2022, the administration of Hong Linh Town kicked off a beltway project with a length of three kilometers and a width of 30 meters.

Many local residents witness the relocation of the temple gate. Photo: Le Minh / Tuoi Tre

However, the gate of Thanh Van Chang Temple obstructed the project.

Local authorities decided to invite Cu to relocate the temple gate.

The relocation initiative commenced on January 4, incurring a total cost of VND800 million (US$32,670).

This amount comprises VND700 million ($28,699) designated for the actual relocation process and VND100 million ($4,092) allocated for reinforcing the foundation of the temple at its new position.

Relocation guru Nguyen Van Cu and his team have successfully moved an over-100-metric-ton temple gate to a new site in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam.

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Phan Van Mai, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, signed a collaboration agreement with the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday to establish the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in the city.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and WEF executive chairman Klaus Schwab.

The Ho Chi Minh City C4IR, the second of its kind in Southeast Asia after the Malaysian C4IR established last year, is expected to become a platform for the southern city, and Vietnam in general, to develop strategies for the fourth industrial revolution.

Slated to begin operation in June this year, the C4IR in Ho Chi Minh City will serve as a hub for policy research and recommendations, technology application and transfer, and resource mobilization in the fields of green growth, smart cities, and AI.

It will be located at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Thu Duc City, an administrative district under Ho Chi Minh City.

The center is considered one of the main drivers for the Vietnamese citys economic growth in the years ahead.

Chairman Mai attached importance to the establishment of this center, saying that it is among the countrys top priorities and would bolster collaboration among experts, researchers, Vietnamese businesses, and their international partners.

Delegates from Vietnam and the World Economic Forum pose for a group photo in Davos, Switzerland. Photo: Supplied

Through the center, the city could engage in global initiatives launched by the WEF and then attract more investors and enhance the countrys competitiveness.

WEF managing director Jeremy Jurgens said setting up the Ho Chi Minh City C4IR would mark an important milestone in the Vietnam-WEF partnership.

The WEF will support the Southeast Asian country in fulfilling the latters goal of achieving innovation and robust growth by boosting international cooperation with many other parties, Jurgens said.

C4IR is a global platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue and cooperation in both private and public sectors to harness the full potential of technology, minimize risks, and facilitate the application of emerging technologies.

The WEF launched its first C4IR in San Francisco in 2017, followed by facilities in Japan, India, and other nations.

The C4IR network includes the Center for Trustworthy Technology in Austin, Texas; the U.S. Centers for Advanced Manufacturing in Azerbaijan, Brazil, Colombia, Detroit; the Global Government Technology Center in Germany; the HUB Ocean in Israel, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Norway; and C4IR units in Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Telangana, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

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(Photo : Unsplash/Jakayla Toney )

Three out of the four transgender candidates aiming for Democratic seats in the Republican-dominated Ohio House and Senate have either been challenged or disqualified for not including their former names, also known as "deadnames," on the petitions required to get on the ballot.

Lack of Candidate's Requirement Guide

State law requires candidates to list any name changes in the last five years, even though this information is not in the Secretary of State's 33-page candidate requirement guide. The petition form also lacks space to list former names and exempt name changes resulting from marriage.

Scheduled Disqualification Hearings

Bobbie Arnold, a certified contractor from West Alexandria, is scheduled for a disqualification hearing before the Montgomery County Board of Elections on Tuesday. Arienne Childrey, a previously certified candidate from Auglaize County seeking to run against Representative Angie King, a Republican sponsoring anti-LGBTQ legislation, has her disqualification hearing on Thursday.

READ ALSO: Facebook Gay Profiles: Why Rainbow-Colored Profile Pics Invade Social Media

Ohio Law on Declaring "Deadnames"

Michigan has a law similar to Ohio's elections law, requiring candidates to list any name changes in the last decade, but It's unclear which other states have such law. The Associated Press contacted various election experts and organizations monitoring election laws, and none were aware of how many states mandate candidates to disclose name changes.

The Ohio law has existed in various forms since the 1920s, with the current version established in the 1990s. Enforcement has been infrequent over the decades, only when candidates want to use a nickname on the ballot.

Cases of Disqualifications

The Ohio Supreme Court resolved the latest case involving a mayoral candidate and a legal name change in 2023, where the candidate had sued the Washington County Board of Elections for disqualifying him for not disclosing his former name on his petition paperwork, which the state's highest court ruled in favor of.

Vanessa Joy, a real estate photographer from Stark County, was the first candidate to be disqualified for not including her deadname, even though she was certified. She appealed the disqualification but was denied. The Stark County Board of Elections did not respond promptly to a comment request on Tuesday as their media representative was unavailable.

Joy mentioned in an email last week that she is collaborating with legal counsel and the Ohio Democratic Party to amend the law, as she believes it to be an additional obstacle for transgender individuals striving to make their voices heard.

Considering Include the Law in the Candidate's Guide

Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose informed the AP that he and his team are considering including the law in the candidate guide, but they are unwilling to change it. He emphasized, "Candidates for public office don't get anonymity," so voters know who is seeking a place on the ballot.

LaRose mentioned that the guide includes a disclaimer stating it doesn't cover every rule, and candidates should seek advice on any other rules that might affect them. However, for the transgender community, disclosing a deadname could pose personal safety concerns.

Personal Safety Concerns in Transgender Community

Zooey Zephyr, a transgender Montana lawmaker silenced by the Montana state House, legally sealed her name change records before taking office. However, people still attempted to uncover her birth certificate, leading to harassment and threats against individuals associated with her deadname.

Zephyr expressed disagreement with LaRose's argument about candidates not having anonymity, calling it "hollow," considering the statute exempts name changes due to marriage. She believes that the Secretary of State's stance fails to acknowledge the significance of the issue for transgender individuals while allowing that for women who are getting married.

Four Candidates' Stances

Ari Faber, a candidate from Athens, Ohio, running for the state Senate, is the only one among the four candidates unaffected by the law. Since he has not legally changed his name, he was not permitted to run under his current name, so his paperwork includes his deadname.

Joy, Arnold, and Childrey all strongly expressed that they would have revealed their deadnames had they been aware of the law. Representing the LGBTQ community is crucial for them, particularly in the face of potential bans on gender-affirming care and the exclusion of transgender athletes from female sports.

"If I am kicked off the ballot, then I have every intention to refile for the very next election and I will continue to fight this battle." Childrey said.

RELATED ARTICLE: US Election Voting Ballot Guide To Be Provided By Facebook To Its Users; Move To Encourage People To Vote

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The United States Mission to Vietnam, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), on Tuesday announced training and technical support for Bach Mai Hospital Stroke Center to improve stroke care in Vietnam and the Mekong sub-region.

The announcement affirmed U.S. support for strengthening health cooperation and assisting Vietnams critical medical facilities under the U.S.-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level in the Southeast Asian country's international relations, the USAID said in a press release on the same day.

The two nations upgraded their ties in September last year in U.S. President Joe Bidens visit to Vietnam.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi and USAID implementing partner Federation Handicap International was signed to enhance the hospitals leadership as a national and Mekong sub-regional Center of Excellence for stroke care.

The MOU, signed by Associate Professor Dao Xuan Co, director of Bach Mai Hospital, and Mazedul Haque, Federation Handicap International country manager, will strengthen the care for persons with stroke at the Bach Mai Stroke Center.

Vietnam is among the countries with the highest incidence rate of stroke, with about 200,000 cases yearly.

Stroke is the second-most common cause of death in the country. Among survivors, this condition leaves a high rate of disability.

We are pleased to continue the partnership with Bach Mai Hospital through its stroke and rehabilitation centers, said Aler Grubbs, USAID mission director in Vietnam, was quoted as saying in the press release.

We look forward to helping Vietnam expand the application of international best practices in saving lives and reducing disabilities among stroke victims."

According to the MOU, the USAID implementing partner will collaborate with Bach Mai Hospital over the next two years to develop a specialized workforce by supporting postgraduate training, particularly in the fields of stroke and cerebrovascular disease for doctors.

The initiative also aims to enhance the delivery of multidisciplinary services for patients, with specific attention to ensuring a seamless continuum of care throughout the entire care pathway.

This deal will facilitate enhanced coordination between the two parties, promoting the exchange of best practices and technical support through both national and international networks.

It is also targeted at strengthening the research capacities of both the Stroke Center and the Rehabilitation Center at Bach Mai Hospital.

The United States Mission to Vietnam, through the USAID, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control have partnered with Bach Mai Hospital for over 30 years as the hospital has become one of the leading institutions in rehabilitation in Vietnam.

In the previous year, USAID administrator Samantha Power visited Bach Mai Hospital.

In 2022, the United States contributed a new liquid oxygen system, marking the largest of 13 such systems provided to healthcare facilities throughout Vietnam.

This support is meant to augment the care for patients, particularly those with severe cases of COVID-19 and other ailments.

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An exhibition of a variety of rare ceramic antiquities, dated from the 11th century to the mid-20th century, is open to the public at the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City in District 1, casting visitors' minds to the past.

The Museum of Ho Chi Minh City teamed up with the Ho Chi Minh City Antiquities Association to launch the exhibition on Tuesday.

The display, which is set to last until April 16, features 150 unique and antique ceramic items contributed by 21 collectors nationwide.

A pair of ceramic unicorns inlaid with bright enamels produced in the 20th century is being showcased at an exhibition at the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City in District 1. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Rare centuries-old ceramics such as tea sets, pots, incense burners, and statues are on display.

Collector Ho Hoang Tuan has contributed to the exhibition by showcasing a collection of incense burners adorned with white and blue enamels.

These artifacts were crafted in Ho Chi Minh City at the beginning of the 20th century.

Tuan said that he had bought these items from a household in Tien Giang Province, located in the Mekong Delta region.

Collector Le Thanh Nghia has brought multiple ceramic antiquities to the showcase, including a tea set and a charming pipe bowl, both made in China from 1841 to 1847.

Collector Pham Quoc Dinh possesses a pair of ceramic unicorns embellished with vibrant Vietnamese enamels, originating in China.

He has contributed terracotta elephant statue seats that date back to the end of the 19th century for display at the exhibition.

A set of incense burners is on display at an exhibition at the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City in District 1. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

A statue of ceramic crafted at the end of the 19th century. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Doan Thi Trang (R), deputy head of the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, receives a ceramic exhibit from a veteran. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Le Thanh Nghia, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Antiquities Association, said that these antiquities were made of various ceramic materials and hail from Vietnam, China, Japan, and France.

Most of them are Vietnamese porcelain objects crafted during the Ly, Tran, Le, and Nguyen dynasties, spanning from the 11th century to the mid-20th century.

The expo is meant to take antique enthusiasts back in history and provide visitors with knowledge about Vietnamese cultural features, according to Nghia.

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Many parents in a Vietnamese Facebook parenting group with nearly 200,000 members are actively embracing a movement to set up a book corner in their homes, aiming to steer their children away from digital devices and toward a love for books.

Duong Quang Minh, a teacher from the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, who initiated the idea, said that the campaign provides guidance to parents on seamlessly incorporating a reading habit into children's daily routines, following a practical and effective roadmap that has been successfully applied in numerous families.

The program is segmented into multiple sessions scheduled throughout 2024, starting with 12 interactive workshops from January 1 to February 7.

Le Thi Thuy Phuong reads a book with her daughter in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Supplied

Following the introductory workshop, the program encourages parents to participate in a competition to create a reading alcove within each family.

This space should not require a lot of shopping or substantial investments; it can be fashioned using readily available household items, Minh said.

The mere presence of a book corner in each household has significantly enhanced the likelihood of children engaging in reading.

A reading nook created by Do Quang and his son from Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Supplied

In response, many parents have enthusiastically shared evidence of their participation in the competition on the Facebook community page, showcasing the delight their children find in the world of books.

Do Quang from northern Phu Tho Province repurposed old mattresses, worn-out curtains, and his mothers shelves to create a book space in his home.

I shared the idea with my son, and he was eager to help me realize it, Quang said.

Pham Thi Hoai Anhs son enjoys a book at a reading corner in their house in Hanoi. Photo: Supplied

I let him join me in every step, from measuring and cutting fabric to processing cushions, setting up bookshelves, and arranging books.

Indeed, when joy and excitement are sparked, children willingly immerse themselves in the experience.

Through this activity, Ive observed that my son develops a stronger motivation and interest in reading books.

"Children also gain an understanding of the importance of repurposing items to conserve resources, fostering perseverance in their pursuit of goals."

Vu Thuy Ngas child takes a book from a shelf in their house in Ninh Binh Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Supplied

Pham Thi Hoai Anh from Hanoi, who transforms the stairs leading up to her childrens bunk bed into a bookshelf and reading corner, said that tending to the space consistently brings immense joy to the entire family.

Anh emphasizes that the number of books in a home is not as important as the enjoyment and bonding that parents and children experience while reading together.

Le Dung reads books with her children in Ha Nam Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Supplied

Vu Thuy Nga from northern Ninh Binh Province has put together a bookshelf for her daughter, using leftover wood from the production of tables and chairs donated by a colleague.

Seat cushions were crafted from her husbands old furniture.

She was so happy with the book space, Nga said.

Each morning, upon waking up, she eagerly descends to the book burrow, choosing the tomes to read immediately instead of reaching for toys as she did before.

At the end of each reading session, she collaborates with me to rearrange the books, consistently ensuring they are correctly oriented, regardless of how I initially handed them to her.

A reading nook created by Nguyen Van from Ho Chi Minh City, using an old mosquito net, a second-hand mattress, and a gifted blanket. Photo: Supplied

Tran Thi My Duyen from central Quang Ngai Province ingeniously reused a second-hand foam mat puzzle set, a rechargeable lamp, a book basket, and a homemade pillow to establish a book niche, all accomplished at a total cost of less than VND300,000 (US$12.22).

Upon returning home from school, my child is captivated by the corner, dedicating a significant amount of time to exploring it," Duyen said.

"Soon after, he grabs a book and immerses himself in reading, often forgetting about watching TV.

Tran Thuys husband builds a bookshelf for their son in Hanoi. Photo: Supplied

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Screen producing organisations have joined fores to call on Streaming platforms to contribute to local content in the territories they screen and to ensure independent producers retain intellectual property rights.

Screen bodies from Europe, Australia + New Zealand, Canada and Latin America, issued the unprecedented statement overnight.

They also want governments to address market failure and any imbalance in commercial bargaining power.

The organisations, including Screen Producers Australia and NZs Screen Production and Development Association, cite the cultural and economic importance of local storytelling, and emphasise the cultural responsibility of digital platforms to make fair and proportional contributions to the creation of new local content in the markets in which they receive revenue.

Central to these principles is the need for a healthy screen independent sector, encompassing development, production, distribution, and post-production. Governments are urged to address market failures and imbalances in commercial bargaining power, with a particular emphasis on recognising the critical role of independent screen businesses, they stated.

Most importantly, the joint statement calls for governments to recognise the growth opportunities tied to intellectual property (IP) protection. Independent screen businesses should own and / or retain control of their IP, ensuring financial participation in the success generated by their work on platformsa crucial aspect of preserving a nations unique cultural heritage.

This isnt just about regulations; its about safeguarding the heart and soul of our cultural narratives.

SPA CEO Matthew Deaner said, Our members have been telling us for some time that without intervention their financial viability and future existence cannot be taken for granted.

As this global statement shows, Australian producers are not alone in this fight for survival. We welcome this expression of solidarity from around the world.

With the Australian Government shortly to bring forward legislation to ensure streamers invest some small percentage of their Australian-derived revenue into making Australian stories, there has never been a better time also to address this critical issue brought about by the abuse of market power by streamers.

Screen producers are increasingly unable to do business deals on fair terms with powerful digital platforms and therefore, cannot solve this problem on their own.

Global Screen Producers Statement on Streaming Platform

Regulation & Intellectual Property Protections.

Together we represent thousands of screen industry businesses and share a commitment to securing regulation from our respective governments that will ensure that our industry continues to both be sustainable and maintains our nations cultural sovereignty.

To help achieve this, government regulation of digital streaming platforms should be guided by the following principles:

 Local content has both significant cultural and economic importance and is a strategic national asset.

 Local audiences should have access to a broad range of new local stories across all the platforms they are using.

 All platforms that derive financial benefit from conducting business in the local market should financially contribute, proportionally, to the creation of new local content for the benefit of local audiences.

 To meet audience expectations, there is a need to maintain and support a healthy screen sector (development, production (including post-production), distribution), that delivers employment, economic activity, industry upskilling, exports, and growth opportunities.

 Government has a role to address market failure and any imbalance in commercial bargaining power in the creation and delivery of quality new local screen content.

 Independent screen businesses (SMEs) are critical to achieving this cultural and economic objective.

 There is significant scope for growth in existing levels of production, investment, employment, commissioned content hours and exports, provided fit for purpose regulation, that protects local cultural assets, is in place.

 Independent screen businesses should own and / or retain control of the intellectual property (IP), and rights in their work, including the right to financially participate in the success generated by their work on a platform, created as part of a nations own unique cultural heritage.

 Any government regulated investment framework should specify that the majority of this investment should be fulfilled through projects where IP is under the control of independent screen businesses. This principle will assist businesses to remain strong and sustainable, thereby enhancing their capacity to invest in the development and production of new IP.

This statement is supported by:

 AECINE  Asociacion de productoras de Cine Independiente (Spain)

 Animation in Europe (Europe)

 AnimFrance (France)

 APA  Associazione Produttori Audiovisivi (Italy)

 APCA  Associacao Producers Cinema Audiovisual (Portugal)

 APFC  Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada (Canada)

 APIT  Associacao de Produtores Independentes de Televisao (Portugal)

 AQPM  Association quebecoise de la production mediatique (Canada)

 CEPI  European Audiovisual Production Association (EU)

 CMPA  Canadian Media Producers Association (Canada)

 EPC  The European Producers Club (EU)

 FIPCA  Ibero-American Federation of Film and Audiovisual Producers (LatAM)

 FPS  Association of Slovene Film Producers (Slovenia)

 PATE  Asociacion de Productores Audiovisual Independientes (Spain)

 Produzentenverband (Germany)

 SPA  Screen Producers Australia (AU)

 SPADA  The Screen Production and Development Association (NZ)

 SPI  Screen Producers Ireland (Ireland)

 UPFF+  Union of Francophone Producers of Films & Series (Belgium)

 USPA  Union Syndicale de la Production Audiovisuelle (EU)
Helen Wong, managing partner at AC Ventures, has been inducted into the Forbes 50 Over 50: Asia list. (PHOTO: AC Ventures)

SINGAPORE  Three Singapore women are featured in Forbes' 50 Over 50: Asia 2024 list that was released by Forbes on Wednesday (17 January).

The annual list, which recognises women who are exerting their influence on fashion, pharma, finance and beyond, features 50 inspirational women across Asia-Pacific who are "proving that the years after 50 are the new golden age", said Forbes.

Women on the third annual unranked list hail from 14 countries and territories and more than two dozen sectors of work.

The oldest Singapore woman on the list is 80-year-old sculptor Han Sai Por. The artist, Forbes said, has become a pivotal figure in Singapore's art scene.

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Han's stone sculptures adorn global locations, from Changi Airport to Australia's Parliament House. Her contributions to culture and education were recognised with a Singapore Cultural Medallion in 1995 and in the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame in 2014.

Also on the list is Leong Wai Leng, the 67-year-old chair of Singapore Power Limited. She was previously the Chief Financial Officer of Temasek Holdings and later, of Temasek International's Singapore projects. Leong also held senior roles in Singapore Health, NTUC Enterprise Co-operative and Raffles Holdings.

The youngest of the three featured Singapore women is Helen Wong, who has spent more than two decades identifying successful entrepreneurs and opportunities in the tech industry and China's startup scene. At age 50, Wong joined AC Ventures in Singapore as a managing partner after working for prominent Chinese VC firms Qiming Ventures and GGV Capital.

"She is credited with leading investments into some of China's most dynamic internet companies, including China's Mobike and Tudou/Youku," Forbes said.

Story continues

"With AC, she spotted Indonesia's fintech platform Akulaku, a unicorn that recently obtained $200 million in funding from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group."

19 Southeast Asian women

Actor Christine Hakim is one of three Indonesians on Forbes' 50 Over 50: Asia 2024 list that was released on Wednesday (17 January 2024). (PHOTO: Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie) (Fred Hayes via Getty Images)

There are a total of 19 Southeast Asian women on the 2024 list.

Malaysia and Indonesia each have three women on the list, while the Philippines leads with five. Thailand has four names and Vietnam one.

Film director Tunku Mona Riza, 57; prominent lawyer and human rights advocate Ambiga Sreenevasan, 67; and executive director of the APEC Secretariat Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, 65, represent Malaysia.

The grand dame of Indonesian cinema, actor Christine Hakim, 67, leads the country's charge on the list that also includes BINHouse founder-designer Josephine Komara, 68, and Dian Siswarini, 55, the President Director-CEO of telecommunications firm XL Axiata.

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First cousins Elena and Frode invite Ben Fogle to their lighthouse in Norway. (Geraint Warrington/Channel 5)

What did you miss?

First cousins who fell in love and live on an island on Norway's Artic coastline have shared their "unusual" story with adventurer Ben Fogle in New Lives in the Wild.

The latest episode of New Lives in the Wild saw Fogle travel to remote Norway to a lighthouse where he met with first cousins Elena Hansteensen and Frode, who are living as a romantic couple. Over an intimate dinner, Frode told their love story and how fate brought them together again in their adult lives.

What, how and why?

Carpenter Frode said: "There was one day we had a glass of wine - maybe two, three, four glasses of wine. Then Elena asked me, 'Are you in love?' I said, 'No! I'm not in love.' I'm an honest person and I think I have to tell her. I told Elena in one hour - one minute - I'm in love with Elena."

Elena revealed how attraction between them developed when they met. She said: "I had also felt it was a new attraction... It gradually happened. When it happened I was kind of thinking this should not happen. Because there are also an extra layer to our story."

Having been sent to foster care when he was just six years old, Frode explained he had been searching for his family and he shared that was how he had found Elena. He said: "I was born in Oslo and I went to a foster home when I was six years old. I didn't know about my original family. In 2008, my sister called me and told me that I have a cousin living in an island alone."

Ben Fogle travelled to the lighthouse in Norway in New Lives in the Wild. (Channel 5)

The former Middle East peacekeeper then confided in Fogle that they were first cousins. She said: "His biological and my father were brothers." Adventurer Fogle was taken back by the story and he simply said: "Wow."

Speaking openly, Elena remembered how they had met when they were kids. "Because Frode's father died," she said. "Because of this we never met in our grown up life. We found a photo of both of us when we were kids." Surprised by the story, Fogle added: "Oh wow."

Story continues

Trusting Fogle, the couple then shared a private photograph of them both sat smiling together in each other's company as children. Elena continued to explain that: "We don't really remember that." Frode thought he would have been four or five in the photograph with Elena. Fogle remarked, "This would have been before you went to the foster home."

"It's incredible," Fogle concluded after they had finished sharing their story with him. He added: "I don't think I've met two first cousins who have become a couple before."

Elena said she understands the reaction that some people would have to the revelation that they were first cousins but she said they didn't plan for it to happen. Fogle summed up what she was trying to say as he added: "You didn't plan to fall in love."

Elena and Frode introduce Ben Fogle to life on the island. (Geraint Warrington/Channel 5)

Speaking from the heart, Elena said there had been many considerations before they embarked on a romance together. She elaborated: "We talked about it. We are much too old to have children for example. We have this story that we hadn't met for - we kind of decided that maybe we should just let it happen."

Interviewer and reporter Fogle asked the couple how their family and friends had responded to the news. "We feel we have support," Elena said. But she admitted, "Some people had to think twice." Initially Elena had asked her partner not to tell people that they were a couple on Facebook and advised they should "wait a bit".

After the dinner, Fogle had some time to reflect on the love story. He said: "I can see the pride Frode has in his unusual story and he wanted to share it." He added: "They were brave sharing that story. There will still be a lot of people who disapprove. It's an amazing tale isn't it? They have followed their hearts and hearts of not only brought them to this island but brought them together as a couple."

What else happened on New Lives In The Wild?

Elsewhere in the episode, Elena shared her heartache over losing her brother and how it spurred her on to live in the wild. "Something happened that made me rethink my life," she told Fogle. "My brother died quite suddenly, he was 11 years younger than me. He died of an overdose."

She added: "I continued my work but I felt I had so little energy so after a year I decided i just need to do something that feels good - not to think about career." It was after this that Elena spotted a tiny ad in a newspaper about a house to be given away in B. While it wasn't the lighthouse, she explained it was that advert that brought her to B.

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An explosion at a fireworks factory happened near Sala Khao township in Thailand's Suphan Buri province (Courtesy of Anuwat Shoprom/AFP)

At least 15 people have been killed in an explosion at a firework factory in Thailand on Wednesday, a rescue worker has said.

Workers were trying to confirm the exact number of deaths, said Kristada Manee-In with the Samerkun Suphan Buri Rescue Foundation, but he estimated that beteen 15 to 17 people were killed.

Photos posted online by local rescue workers in the Suphan Buri province showed the site levelled.

The incident occurred in the afternoon in the province, which is about 75 miles north of Bangkok, police said.

The blast came less than a month before Chinese New Year in February when there is a strong demand for fireworks.

Its cause was not immediately clear.

In July last year, a large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 100, according to officials.

That explosion in Narathiwat province was in a residential area, damaging about 100 houses within a radius of about 1,640ft, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

The Narathiwat governor said that blast was likely ignited by construction work that was taking place in the warehouse, with sparks from metal welding causing the fireworks stored inside to catch fire and explode.
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Kuwaiti Dinar is world's strongest currency, US Dollar ranks...

The strongest currency in the world is Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) followed by Bahraini Dinar (BHD), Omani Rial (OMR) and Jordanian Dinar (JOD), according to the Forbes India. Read More

Wednesday January 17, 2024 6:12 PM , ummid.com News Network

Washington: Forbes India recently released the list of top 10 strongest currencies in the world, giving some insightful information about the legal tenders used worldwide.

But what amazed the people is that top four strongest currencies in the list of ten are of countries ruled by Muslims.

The strongest currency in the world is Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) followed by Bahraini Dinar (BHD), Omani Rial (OMR) and Jordanian Dinar (JOD), according to the Forbes India .

The top four strongest currencies listed above are followed by Gibraltar Pound (GIP) on the 5th position, British Pound (GBP) on 6th, Cayman Island Dollar (KYD) on 7th, Swiss Franc (CHF) on 8th, Euro (EUR) on 9th and United States Dollar (USD) on the 10th spot.

The US dollars is the most widely traded currency globally and holds the position as the primary reserve currency. Despite its popularity, it ranks 10th among the world's strongest currencies, Forbes said.

About Euro, Forbes said:

It is the second-largest reserve currency and the second-most traded currency worldwide. The euro stands as one of the strongest currencies, holding the 9th position.

Forbes said the Kuwaiti Dinar has consistently ranked as the world's most valuable currency since its launch in 1960.

Forbes also said that there was also a time when the Indian Rupee was the official currency in the oil rich Oman.

Omani Riyal is third most valuable currency in the world and it remains so since Oman stopped using the Indian Rupee as its official currency, Forbes said.

According to Wednesday's exchange rate published on International Monetary Fund's (IMF) website, India ranks 15 with value listed as 82.9 per US Dollar.

Forbes has put the Bahraini Dinar on the second position and attributed this to the large number of foreigners in Bahrain besides other reasons.

With a strong expat community, including a significant number of Indians, the BHD holds the position as the second strongest currency globally, Forbes said.

The United Nations officially recognises 180 currencies worldwide as legal tender. However, popularity and wide usage do not necessarily equate to the value or strength commanded by a currency.

The concept of currency strength revolves around the purchasing power of a nation's currency when exchanged for goods, services, or other currencies.



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Actors say they did not hesitate to take part in series

By Lee Gyu-lee

Netflix's original series, "Gyeongseong Creature," which delves into Korea's painful history during Japanese rule (1910-1945), faced significant delays. Many actors were initially hesitant to take part in a project that highlights Japan's historical wrongdoings, fearing potential repercussions on their careers in that country.

However, the lead actors of the new series, Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee, said they did not hesitate to join the project.

"Throughout my 10-plus-year career, I've yearned to be a part of a project that captures that historical era. Just as I was eager to explore a period genre piece, I encountered 'Gyeongseong Creature.' The fusion of a historical series with the creature genre felt remarkably distinct. I was intrigued by the prospect of portraying a character living in that era," Park said in a recent interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Jongno District, Seoul.

"I don't chase popularity. I'm simply grateful to those who enjoy the work I do. While people around me may have had concerns when I joined the series, personally, I didn't have any such worries," the actor said.

Set in Gyeongseong, which is the old name for Seoul, the 10-part historical action series follows the city's most eligible bachelor Jang Tae-sang (Park) and a sleuth named Yoon Chae-ok (Han), who sneak into a hospital to find missing people. Jang is searching for a geisha, while Yoon is trying to find her mother.

In the hospital, the two discover that the Japanese army has been conducting covert biological experiments, leading to the creation of monsters.

The series is led by director Chung Dong-yoon, whose previous works include the hit series It's Okay to Not Be Okay(2020) and Hot Stove League(2019), and is scripted by Kang Eun-kyung, who wrote Dr. Romantic series.

"There have been works about Gyeongseong in the past. So I didn't give much thought to doing a story about this era. I really enjoyed 'Hot Stove League,' and I heard director Chung will be leading ('Gyeongseong Creature'), and writer Kang, who cares about me like her own child, is also involved," Han recalled.

For me, doing a piece is about working with people, so I cant work on a project if I dont like the people. There was the director who I admired and a writer I loved. And Park is an actor I've always admired, so there was no reason not to do it.

Both actors immersed themselves deeply in the historical context to bring authenticity to their roles, considering that the series is set against a backdrop of actual history.

Park shared that he concentrated on portraying the resilience of people living in the challenging era under harsh oppression.

I think it's a painful history that carries weight and is not something to be ashamed of. I believed this work could be an opportunity to inform those who didn't know and to remind those who've forgotten... As a Korean, I cannot fully express the gravity of this history, but I focused on effectively portraying the people living in this era," he said.

I need to understand the script in order to play a character. So I researched things about that history that I didnt know or had forgotten. Seeing that era in images shocked me a lot. There were a lot of situations that weighed heavily on my heart in various ways," the actor added.

Similarly, Han, who conducted thorough research, expressed regret over viewing images, especially those depicting the harrowing real-life chemical and biological experiments conducted by the imperial Japanese army in the 1930s and '40s.

"I looked into actual experiments that took place to immerse myself in the era. Many of them were related to women and testing their maternal instincts in the face of death, which were truly horrifying and shocking. To be honest, I wished that I hadn't looked them up," she said, adding that she tried to detach herself from her emotions to effectively portray the character Yoon.

"I felt I shouldn't bring these emotions into my acting. Yoon is a sleuth, searching for her mother, not an independence fighter... She's accustomed to Japanese oppression and feels powerless. So, I tried to avoid letting those emotions influence the character," she explained.

Park hinted that the second season of the series, set to be released later this year, will feature a much faster development of its storyline.

"I've seen reviews about Season 1's pace, but the second season is definitely much faster-paced and has unexpected elements," he said. "The story needed to have a solid build-up with Season 1 to let viewers enjoy the different aspects of Season 2. I feel people might re-watch Season 1 when Season 2 is released."
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Malegaon: 7-yr-old Mohammad Kaif abducted on Jan 7, murdered; accused arrested

Malegaon Central MLA Mufti Ismail Qasmi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) claimed that the accused has confessed to his crimes, without revealing his identity. Read More

Wednesday January 17, 2024 10:39 PM , ummid.com News Network

Malegaon: In a sensational case of abduction and brutal murder of 7-yr-old Malegaon teen, Mohammad Kaif, local Police Wednesday January 17, 2024 arrested the accused whose identity has been withheld.

Mohammad Kaif, a resident of S No 42, Naya Islampura in Ramzanpura area of Malegaon, went missing on January 07, 2024. His father, Mohammed Ilyas, tried his best to trace his only son, first with the help of family friends and later with the help of social workers.

Failing to get any information, he finally lodged a missing complaint on January 08, 2024 at Aisha Nagar Police Station, Malegaon.

Chilling details

The Aisha Nagar Police launched a massive hunt to trace the missing teenager. With the help of Gumshuda Bachchon ki Talash - a social group which helps parents to trace missing children, and others scanned the CCTV recordings of the nearby areas.

Hundreds of posters with the images of Mohammad Kaif were circulated on social media and through public transport systems. Alert messages were also sent in whole of the Nashik district and other places. These efforts however failed to yield any result.

In a tragic twist in the case, Chandwad Police Tuesday discovered dead body of a child. The dead body was found deep under the Rahod Ghat, also famous as Chandwad Ghat. Eyewitnesses who reached there said it required about 8-km long walk to get to the spot.

The Chandwad Police informed the Malegaon Police Department. The Malegaon Police officials led by Additional SP Aniket Bharti rushed to the spot. Missing Mohammad Kaifs father, Mohd Ilyas, was also called there. He later identified the dead body and confirmed that it was of his son's.

The local police officials said, preliminary investigations indicated that Mohammad Kaif was abducted and then murdered.

We have arrested one person based on certain clues. Further investigation in the case is underway, Malegaon ASP Aniket Bharti told the media without giving more details.

Confession?

The Malegaon Police late afternoon Wednesday produced the accused in the local court which granted him Police Custody.

Meanwhile, talking to local media, Malegaon Central MLA Mufti Ismail Qasmi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) claimed that the accused has confessed to his crimes, without revealing his identity.

Different WhatsApp groups however are flooded with posts revealing not only the identity of the accused but also his images.

The Police has so far not revealed the exact motive behind the kidnaping and brutal murder of the 7-yr-old teen. In the absence of official version, the powerloom city is abuzz with different conspiracy theories.



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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  India

Ujjain Spitting Case: Will Bulldozed House Be Rebuilt, Victims Compensated

After the MP Court Verdict, will the Ujjain district administration, which got the house of the father of the accused bulldozed, get the house rebuild or pay compensation to the family? Read More

Wednesday January 17, 2024 11:58 PM , Pervez Bari

Bhopal: How Bulldozer Justice in the name of instant justice being practiced by the governments of the day in many states of the country in even many petty criminal cases is ruining families, especially the poor, is beyond ones comprehension.

Without giving any chance to the accused to explain his side or verifying the facts of the case his house is bulldozed in a hurry even though he may not be the owner of it. Generally for one persons crime the whole family is penalised for no fault of theirs.

A latest example of this came to light when the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court released on bail an 18-year-old Muslim teenager of Ujjain who had been in custody for 151 days for allegedly spitting on a Hindu 'Mahakal' procession after the complainant and the eye witness turned hostile.

The above ruling came in a bail application filed under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The applicant, Adnan Mansuri was in jail since 17.07.2023 in connection with a criminal case for commission of offences punishable under Sections 295-A, 153-A, 296, 505 and 34 of IPC.

Justice Anil Verma observed:

Considering all the facts and circumstances of the case, arguments advanced by counsel for the parties, nature and gravity of allegation as also taking note of the fact that complainant Sawan Lot has been examined before the trial Court but he has turned hostile and did not support the case of prosecution and even he has also denied his relevant portion of his FIR (Ex. P-1), eye- witness Ajay Khatri also turned hostile and not supported the case of the prosecution. No T.I. parade has been conducted by the investigating officer, investigation is over and charge sheet has been filed, applicant is not having any criminal background, in view of the above, I deem it proper to release the applicant on bail, Justice Verma held.

According to the prosecution's account, on the evening of July 17, 2023, a Hindu procession was underway in Ujjain, when the complainant and his friends joined the procession. As the procession reached Tanki Square, unidentified individuals on the terrace of a building along the route allegedly began spitting on the procession vehicle.

Subsequently, the complainant reported the incident to the police, leading to the registration of a case against the accused under the aforesaid sections.

The counsel for the applicant had contended that the applicant was innocent and was being falsely implicated in the matter. The counsel further contended that the applicant had been in custody since 17.07.2023, and the investigation was over, with a charge sheet having been filed.

The counsel submitted that a complainant, namely, Sawan Lot, and an eyewitness, namely, Ajay Khatri were examined before the trial court, and they both had turned hostile and did not support the case of the prosecution.

Further, the counsel submitted that the applicant was a permanent resident of Ujjain, and a final conclusion of the trial was likely to take a sufficiently long time. Thus, under the above circumstances, the prayer for the grant of bail was requested to be considered on such terms and conditions.

Contrarily, the Government Advocate, appearing on behalf of the State asserted that the applicant had been identified in the CCTV footage. He contended that it was a serious case concerning communal harmony, and consequently, the applicant was not deemed eligible for bail.

The Court, however, without commenting on the merits of the case, allowed the application, and directed:

The applicant be released on bail upon his furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.75,000/- with one solvent surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court for his appearance before the trial Court, as and when required. He shall abide by the conditions enumerated u/S. 437(3) Cr.P.C.

Meanwhile, it may be pointed out here that three people, including two minors, both aged 15 years, were arrested by the MP police on July 17, 2023, over the allegations of spitting water on Mahakal ki Sawari, a Hindu religious procession, that passed by their house.

The minors were granted bail only in September 2023 by the Madhya Pradesh High Court after the juvenile court denied them bail on two occasions. The HC while granting the two minors bail found fault on the part of the justice board. It held that the board committed jurisdictional error and illegality in passing the orders.

An FIR was registered and the arrests were made based on the complaint of Sawan Lot, 28, from Indore who had joined the procession alongside his friends. The statement of Lots friend, Ajay Khatri, was also recorded.

Lot had accused Adnan and the two other minors of spitting on the religious procession. This incident has offended my religious sentiments and those of the entire community, Lot was quoted as saying in the FIR, adding that he had submitted two videos of the incident to back his claim.

However, the MP police only spoke about one video in the charge-sheet, where a minor was seen spitting on the procession from the rooftop of a three-storey building.

Advocate Devendra Sengar, who appeared for Adnan Mansoori, reportedly said that the MP police failed to present the video in court.

Witness deny incident

Five months later, during deposition before the court, Lot and Khatri denied witnessing the incident. In a written statement to the judicial magistrate, Lot claimed that he was misquoted by the police who asked him to sign some papers and did so without telling why.

Lok stated that they learned of the spitting incident after the MP police picked them up and took them to the police station alongside a few others who took part in the procession. I dont know what was written in the FIR, said Lot in his statement, adding that he was misquoted on several instances by the police in the FIR. Lot also denied being acquainted with Mausam Jaiswal, the person who shot the video of the alleged incident.

The other witness, Ajay Khatri, stated that he was taken to the police station alongside 40-50 others and was called to the first floor of the police station after an hour where he was asked to sign some papers, which he did without the knowledge of what was written on them. He also added that he did not witness the incident and neither could he identify the accused and that the police had misquoted him.

Accused house bulldozed

Following their arrest, a three-storey building, belonging to Ashraf Hussain Mansoori, the father of the two accused, was demolished by the MP authorities in Ujjain amidst the beating of drums and loud cheers by a group of people who had arrived to witness the demolition.

However, a backdated notice was pasted on the ground floor of the building half an hour before the police and administration arrived with a bulldozer to demolish the dangerous structure. Thereby the Mansooris, and a dozen other men, women and children, who had been residing in the building for years, were rendered homeless.

The small shop on the ground floor of the building, the only means of livelihood for the family was also demolished. The family, who has been living in a rented house for the last five months, recently restarted the business with minimal repairs.

Will the Ujjain district administration, which got the house of the father of the accused pulled down, get the house rebuild or pay compensation to the family?

Does Bulldozer Justice in the name of instant justice hold any ground in a humane society? This is to be pondered upon by those in power while administrating justice to the common man in society.

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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Middle East

Watch: Jewish teen reveals what he learnt while in Hamas captivity

In a touching video shared by the Israeli media, a Jewish teen revealed he learnt Tasbeeh and Shahadah while in the custody of the Palestinian Resistance Group Hamas in Gaza. Read More

Wednesday January 17, 2024 4:01 PM , ummid.com News Network

[Ohad Munder being handed over to Red Cross by Palestinian Resistance Fighters on Nov 24, 2023. (Video grab)]

Tel Aviv: In a touching video shared by the Israeli media, a Jewish teen revealed he learnt Tasbeeh and Shahadah while in the custody of the Palestinian Resistance Group Hamas in Gaza.

Tasbeeh is the glorification of Allah, the Almighty, and Shahadah is the creed Muslims pronounce to declare there is no God but Allah and Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the messenger of Allah.

9-year-old Ohad Munder was taken hostage along with his mother and grandmother on October 7, 2023 when Hamas and other Resistance fighters stormed the occupied Palestinian territories under the Zionist occupation as part of their Operation al Aqsa Flood.

Ohad Munder, his mother and grandmother were among the 13 Israeli hostages released by Hamas on November 24, 2023 as part of a prisoners exchange deal.

In an interview with Hebrew Channel 13, Ohad Munder when asked did he learn anything while with Hamas militants in Gaza, he replied it was Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah and Allah o Akbar (Tasbeehat) and Shahadah (La Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah).

They taught me how to say Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, La Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah and Allah o Akbar, he said.

When asked if he learnt any Arabic. He said:

Yes. A little bit.

When asked to give example, he said:

Khiarah.

Khiar or Khayara is the Arabic equivalent of Cucumber.

Watch Video

Ohad Munder also revealed the Palestinian fighters use prayer beads which he described as rosary used to say the Apostles' Creed.

They use the rosary, and they taught me what to say using it, he said adding Muslims use it for Tasbeeh in different ways, describing what he learned as enjoyable to say Subhan Allah (Glory be to God), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest). It was a good experience, by the way, he said.

Ohad Munders interview is the latest to demonstrate how Hamas and other Palestinian fighters treated the hostages despite facing strict blockade and relentless round the clock bombardments by the Israeli Occupation Forces.

Earlier, an Israeli mother, Daniel Aloni, left behind a handwritten letter thanking the Resistance Fighters for treating them well during the captivity, especially according a queen like status to her 6-year-old daughter Emilia.

The videos that surfaced during the hostage release process also showed emotional moments, exchanges of greetings, handshake and warm displays of hi five, as if the Israelis in Gaza were on some family tour and after a pleasant stay are now saying good-bye to their hosts.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces in more than 100 days of airstrikes on Gaza killed more than 24,000 Palestinians, more than 70 percent of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry of Palestine.

On Tuesday January 16, 2024, the Hamas released a video confirming the deaths of two hostages -Yossi Sharabi (53) and Itay Svirsky (38), have been killed in the airstrike by the Israeli Occupation Forces.

The Hamas also said that Noa Arugmani, a 26-year-old female, is injured in the Israeli missile attack. In the video, Noa described in details how Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky were killed in the Israeli missile attacks.



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What is Nuclear Battery, and Why It is in News This Week?

Said to be in early stages of development, the nuclear battery triggered interest once again after a Chinese start-up announced a miniature atomic battery that can last for 50 long years with a single charge. Read More

Wednesday January 17, 2024 12:10 PM , ummid.com News Network

Mumbai: The Nuclear or Atomic Batteries had earlier hit the headlines for their longer life and peculiar characteristics of never losing their charge.

Said to be in early stages of development, the nuclear battery triggered interest once again after a Chinese start-up announced a miniature atomic battery that can last for 50 long years with a single charge.

'Battery smaller than a coin'

Betavolt New Energy Technology, a Beijing based start-up, said the size of the battery will be surprisingly tiny, as it has managed to squeeze 63 isotopes into that module thats smaller than a coin.

The atomic energy battery, named BV100, was unveiled on January 8 and Betavolt boasts of the new technology, calling it way ahead of European and American scientific research.

Moreover, the company claimed that it is the first battery in the world to realize the miniaturization of atomic energy.

Mass production soon

The company in a statement claimed that these atomic energy batteries can meet the needs of long-lasting power supply in multiple scenarios, such as aerospace, AI equipment, medical equipment, microprocessors, advanced sensors, small drones, and micro-robots, and also smartphones.

China is already a top battery supplier. But, this new innovation will help China gain a leading edge in the new round of the AI technological revolution in the era of Artificial Intelligence, the company said.

The company further said that its next-generation battery is already going through different tests, but it will soon be mass producing them for commercial usage like other gadgets.

More about atomic batteries

The nuclear battery is made of wafer-thin layers of nuclear isotopes and diamond semiconductors. The dimensions of the battery are 15x15x5 mm, according to Futurism, a tech-oriented media outlet.

Currently, it generates 100 mW of power at 3V. The goal, however, is to reach 1W of power output by 2025.

The radiation poses no danger to the human body, making it usable in medical devices such as pacemakers, Betavolt said.

Furthermore, the design is layered, which prevents the battery from catching fire or exploding due to sudden force.

The company also claimed that the battery can potentially work in temperatures ranging from -60 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius.



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KB Kookmin bears brunt of impact from Hong Kong-linked ELS sales

By Yi Whan-woo

Five major commercial banks in Korea  KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and NH NongHyup  are increasingly at risk of facing lawsuits from customers experiencing escalating losses. These losses stem from the purchase of equity-linked securities (ELS) products linked to Hong Kong's declining benchmark index.

The lenders face complaints from retail investors for the possible mis-selling of fixed-income derivatives products that pay out a return based on the performance of Hong Kong's Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI).

The investors on the other hand could suffer heavy losses if the underlying stock index falls below a certain level, usually 50 percent of the price at the time of the ELS purchase, when the products mature.

As of January 12, the principal losses for this year have already reached 106.7 billion won ($81.1 million). This is attributed to the sharp decline in HSCEI-listed Chinese stocks, with over 50 percent of the 210.5 billion won worth of derivatives that matured during this period evaporating.

The botched investment is anticipated to have a more significant impact on investors, particularly as the majority of the three-year maturity ELS products linked to HSCEI are set to mature in 2024. The first half alone will see around 10.2 trillion won of these products reaching maturity.

The HSCEI hovered between 10,000 points to 12,000 points in the first half of 2021, but slid more than 50 percent to remain at around 5,100 points this month.

KB Kookmin Bank is consulting with law firms to brace for potential lawsuits from customers, according to industry sources, Wednesday.

Of the 10.2 trillion won worth products that will mature by June, the five banks combined sold 9 trillion won.

KB Kookmin Bank's exposure amounts to 4.77 trillion won, surpassing the combined total of the other four rivals. NH NongHyup sold 1.48 trillion won, followed by Shinhan at 1.37 trillion won, Hana at 753 billion won, and Woori at 26 billion won.

Whether the four lenders are also preparing for possible lawsuits remains uncertain, the sources said.

An attorney at Jeongse Law said if legal disputes materialize, they are likely to focus on whether the lenders "adequately informed customers to enable them to make informed and rational judgments regarding their investments."

"The sellers will be asked to prove that they sufficiently gave explanations on risks associated with the HSCEI ELS products, mainly on principal losses," he said, asking not to be named.

He said the protection of investors has been underscored recently, referring to punitive measures taken by the financial watchdog as well as the courts against financial services firms, particularly in cases of mis-selling hedge funds operated by the now-defunct Lime Asset Management.

Retail investors faced substantial losses when the redemption of funds worth around 1.6 trillion won was suspended in 2019. This action was taken after Lime Asset Management was accused of selling and operating fraudulent financial products.

The most recent case in favor of investors was in December, when the Seoul High Court ruled that Woori Bank, a seller of the fund, should fully compensate the amount demanded by an individual investor. The lower court only ruled 60 percent of the amount should be compensated.
HA NOI  The European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam (EuroCham) released its 2024 Whitebook on Tuesday in Ha Noi. According to EuroCham, the release aims to bring together key stakeholders to bridge commerce and policy, while offering insights from the European business community on Viet Nam's business policy.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of EuroCham in Viet Nam Gabor Fluit said the Southeast Asian country has worked diligently to develop its economy, generating new jobs, developing new industries and improving livelihoods nationwide.

He highlighted the importance of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which has played a crucial role in boosting bilateral trade between Viet Nam and the EU, bringing total trade volume from US$57.81 billion in 2019 to $66.78 billion in 2022, a 15 per cent increase.

Investors from European companies are also more confident now about doing business in Viet Nam. According to the EuroCham Business Confidence Index, 31 per cent of EuroCham members now rank Viet Nam among their top three global investment destinations.

Throughout the years, Viet Nam has been an important partner of the EU when it comes to economic issues, digital transformation and the green transition, in addition to regional security and stability. However challenging the future may be, the EU is and will remain one of Viet Nam's closest partners, Fluit said.

EuroCham is dedicated to open dialogue among all stakeholders. We strongly believe in Viet Nam's capacity to guide its growth and development and are here to support and collaborate on this journey. Let's work together towards these shared goals, harnessing the power of collaboration and innovation, he added.

H.E. Julien Guerrier, Ambassador of the European Union to Viet Nam, said that to boost trade and economic growth, openness and transparency should be continuously improved, and public administration should be modernised.

The EVFTA plays a crucial role in this process and contributes to the country's success in overcoming economic challenges arising from supply chain disruptions, rising fuel prices and food insecurity.

By carefully considering the recommendations in this Whitebook, listening to each other's opinions, and actively engaging in the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and other EU-Vietnam initiatives, we can contribute to the growth and prosperity of our economies, he said.

According to EuroCham's 2024 Whitebook, though the Southeast Asian economy's Q3 GDP grew a promising 5.3 per cent year-on-year, companies remain cautious. Expectations regarding increased revenue or orders remained stable, with no change from the previous quarter. Just 22 per cent of companies planned to expand their teams in Q4 with only 16 per cent expecting an increase in investments.

The country's global investment, however, appeals strongly as 63 per cent of surveyed businesses positioned Viet Nam among their top 10 FDI destinations, with 31 per cent ranking Viet Nam among their top three, while an impressive 16 per cent hailed it as their foremost investment destination, with over half of those surveyed planning to increase their foreign direct investment in Viet Nam by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, hurdles persist. Fifty nine per cent cited administrative difficulties as their main challenge when operating in Viet Nam. Challenges such as uncertainties in rules and regulations, hurdles in permit acquisition, and strict visa and work permit requirements for foreign workers also stood out as prominent barriers.

To improve the nations FDI attraction, 58 per cent of respondents said streamlining bureaucracy is key, 48 per cent advocated for enhancing the regulatory environment, one-third called for upgrading transport infrastructure, and 22 per cent emphasised easing visa and work permit requirements for foreign experts.

The book highlighted sustainability as a priority for European companies in Viet Nam, with 80 per cent citing ESG alignment as highly or moderately important. However, major obstacles remain when translating priorities into practice. Regulatory uncertainty, infrastructure gaps and insufficient government support were cited as hindrances to implementing sustainability measures locally.

Additionally, only 20 per cent of firms are proactively preparing for impending EU green regulations, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Meanwhile, 38 per cent currently have no plans for alignment. This distinct lack of preparedness not only poses challenges domestically, but can hinder international competitiveness, especially in the crucial EU market.

The Whitebook is a collaborative compendium of recommendations for stimulating investment and trade priorities for Viet Nam's growth. It provides Vietnamese and European policymakers, businesses, academics and other stakeholders with practical perspectives on key economic issues. The analysis and recommended policy updates seek to support bilateral dialogue on trends, challenges and opportunities in areas like sustainability, digitalisation, finance and infrastructure. By informing discussions among diverse interest groups, the Whitebook plays an important role in shaping future initiatives and investment strategies between Viet Nam and Europe.  VNS
DAVOS  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted separate receptions in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday (local time) for leaders of the world's top businesses in the fields of technology, e-commerce, finance and tourism on the sidelines of the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Meeting Ryan McInerney, CEO of Visa Inc, a world leading digital payment enterprise with revenue of US$32.6 billion in 2023, PM Chinh hailed Visas long-term investment strategy in Viet Nam.

Noting that Viet Nam has launched the National Innovation Centre (NIC), the PM suggested Visa strengthen cooperation with authorised Vietnamese agencies in supporting the development of programmes for start-up and innovation communities.

The government leader welcomed Visa to continue investing and engaging in the innovation and digital transformation process of Viet Nam, including cooperating with the State Bank of Vietnam to build a comprehensive financial strategy and develop a stable and sustainable financial system with diverse forms and a large scale, meeting the countrys socio-economic development requirements.

PM Chinh proposed Visa launch high-tech solutions in in different regions of Viet Nam to ensure that all people can access financial services without anyone left behind.

McInerney said that Visa, which has operated in Viet Nam for 20 years and opened its office and innovation centres in Ha Noi and HCM City, has always considered Viet Nam one of its most important markets.

Viet Nam is developing dynamically with strong demand for technologies and innovations, especially in e-payment, which is a strength of Visa, he said, underlining that his firm hoped to continue engaging more deeply into the countrys innovation and digital transformation process.

Meeting Vice President for Global Public Policy of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Michael Punke, PM Chinh praised Amazons proposal to cooperate with Viet Nam and contribute to the digital transformation, digital economy and digital society building efforts of Viet Nam.

He asked for Amazons assistance in Viet Nams digital transformation, application of cloud computing technology and building of network security solutions.

The PM suggested Amazon help Viet Nam design training and sales consulting programmes for potential Vietnamese partners on the Amazon platform, strengthening cooperation with Vietnamese businesses and helping Viet Nam maximise its potential and strengths and overcome limitations to achieve goals in digital transformation and innovation.

Amazon should increase collaboration with the NIC to promote trans-border export activities and build Vietnamese trademarks on its e-commerce platform, the Vietnamese leader said.

Punke said that Amazon is focusing on supporting Vietnamese firms in the fields of banking, finance, telecommunications and production by providing them with cloud computing services to speed up their digital transformation process. Since 2017, Amazon has worked with universities to train 50,000 Vietnamese learners on cloud computing skills, he noted.

Amazon wants to join the Vietnamese Government in building a policy that prioritises the use of cloud computing, said Punke, recommending the Vietnamese Government to design policies to encourage businesses in the field of digital commerce and new services such as data centres/cloud computing and support cross-border data flows.

At a reception for Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com, PM Chinh asked the group to prioritise supporting Vietnamese businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to participate in its network to reach customers on a global scale, thereby contributing to the general development of the tourism market in Viet Nam.

Trip.com is a multinational online travel service group that has 45,000 members of staff and 400 million users around the world with a revenue of $5.53 billion in 2023. The firm is seeking opportunities to invest in the Vietnamese market.

Briefing the Trip.com CEO on tourist attraction policies of Viet Nam, the PM said that said he hoped with its resources, reputation and experience in developing digital platforms in general and online tourism service platforms in particular, the firm will expand investment in Viet Nam in the future.

He also asked for Trip.coms support in promoting innovation and technology application and human resources training for the Vietnamese tourism sector.

Jane Sun said she highly valued Viet Nams advantages in tourism with a large number of heritages, historical relics and natural landscapes, as well as rich and diverse culture and cuisine.

She suggested that Viet Nam should continue to concentrate on developing the infrastructure system and provide more favourable visa policies for foreigners, while focusing on training human resources for tourism.  VNS
HA NOI  Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan hosted a reception for President of Ford Motors International Markets Group Kay Hart in Ha Noi on Wednesday, during which she proposed the US company consider expanding investment cooperation in Viet Nam.

Congratulating Ford Motor on its achievements over the past 120 years and Ford Vietnam Co. Ltd. on receiving a first-class Labour Order from the Vietnamese State, Xuan said that Ford has invested US$208 million in the Southeast Asian country, and created jobs for over 5,000 local labourers.

With its advantages such as a large population and an important role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Viet Nam is speeding up administrative and institutional reforms to create the most favourable environment for foreign businesses, including those from the US, she said.

In the current period, Viet Nam invites partners to invest under new-generation free trade agreements, and carries out policies on green transformation, digital transformation, and sustainable development. Therefore, it hopes the group will have innovations in technology, corporate governance, and human resources training, Xuan said.

The Vice President also expressed her hope that Ford Vietnam will continue to carry out community activities to support customers and people, especially in remote and disadvantaged areas.

Hart affirmed that Viet Nam is one of the companys key markets in the world, and Ford Motor's factory in Hai Duong Province is one of its three important assembly plants in the region.

She informed the host that Ford Motor is considering the development of products and new technologies in Viet Nam, and hopes to continue receiving support from Hai Duong Provinces authorities and the Vietnamese Government.  VNS
HA NOI  FV Hospital is officially a member of Thomson Medical Group after the two sides completed an acquisition deal on Wednesday worth more than VN9 trillion (US$366.7 million).

This is considered the biggest M&A deal in the history of Viet Nam's healthcare industry, and also the biggest one of its kind in Southeast Asia since 2020, said FV Hospital.

Thomson Medical Group agreed to acquire the Vietnamese company last July. It marks the official presence of the group in Viet Nam. Thomson is one of the leading listed healthcare companies in the region, with operations in Singapore and Malaysia.

"The acquisition of FV expands our presence in three of the most important geographies in Southeast Asia's healthcare sector, giving us access to a growing market and rich talent pool while making an important step into neighbouring countries such as Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar," said Kiat Lim, Executive Vice Chairman of Thomson Medical Group.

At the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, said that the Ministry's perspective is not to distinguish between public and private hospitals.

"We highly encourage private healthcare to receive investments from international corporations. FV officially becoming a member of Thomson Medical Group is not only a joy for the hospital but also a joy for the Ministry of Health," he added.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has recently issued a legal document laying down the national hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) production and consumption between 2024 and 2028.

Decision No.4134 stipulates that the country will produce zero CO2-equivalent tonnes and consume less than 14 million CO2-equivalent tonnes of HFC from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2028.

The ministry will assign its Department of Climate Change to collect annual HFC consumption data and submit it to the Ozone Secretariat. The department will also be in charge of periodically submitting a plan for HFC consumption to the ministry.

Viet Nam has always been an active player in the global efforts to protect the ozone layers. The country prohibited the use of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and halons in early 2010 and imposed import restrictions on methyl bromide several years later.

Documents guiding the implementation of the Law on Environment Protection 2020 have clarified contents of the roadmap for management and elimination of HFCs according to Viet Nam's responsibilities and obligations to implement the Montreal Protocol, along with sanctions for violations in the field.

The country has joined hands with the international community in protecting the ozone layer, controlling and eliminating substances that deplete the ozone layer, including CFC, Halon, CTC, HCFC, and Methyl bromide, and HFCs which are fluorinated greenhouse gases (GHGs). Viet Nam has completely eliminated the consumption of CFC, Halon, and CTC substances since January 1, 2010, and limited the import of Methyl bromide substances which were only used for disinfection purposes.

Between 2020 and 2025, Viet Nam has set a target to reduce hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) consumption by 35 per cent. Imported HCFC has been reduced to 2,600 tonnes and is expected to be banned in 2040.

Decision No.4134 is just the starting point for the phase-out of HFC in Viet Nam. The country aims to cut HFC consumption by 10 per cent between 2029 and 2034, and 80 per cent in 2045.  VNS
HA NOI  The Government issued a directive addressing the escalating impacts of climate change and El Nino, leading to unpredictable weather patterns and heightened risks of drought, water shortages and saline intrusion.

The directive, signed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, underscores that proactive response is imperative, particularly in light of the increasingly abnormal weather conditions and rising saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta following tidal patterns.

According to assessments from the National Centre for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting, the dry season of 2023-2024 is expected to bring heightened saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta, surpassing the average and mirroring the levels observed in 2020-21. The peak period, expected around February to April, may see localised freshwater shortages and intensified saline intrusion into river mouths. The central and Central Highlands regions could experience drought and localised water shortages, impacting livelihoods during the dry season.

To address these challenges, Prime Minister Chinh instructs relevant authorities to monitor and implement measures during the peak months of the dry season.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) should monitor El Nino impacts, weather developments and water sources. MONRE must provide timely information on the hydrological situation, water sources and risks nationwide, particularly in the Mekong Delta and central region, to raise awareness and facilitate preventive measures.

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) should implement specialised monitoring and forecasts on water sources, water quality, and the risk of shortages and saline intrusion. MARD's mission is to disseminate information to localities and residents, offering guidance on suitable preventive measures and coordinating with other ministries to ensure efficient operation of irrigation reservoirs and hydroelectric power systems, optimising water resource use.

Local people's committees should closely monitor weather developments, hydrological and meteorological forecasts, and drought and saline intrusion information. Localities must determine impact levels on each locality, deploying specific measures as directed by the MARD, as well as providing guidance to residents on water-saving practices, prioritising essential needs and preventing water shortages.

Related ministries and agencies must proactively direct, coordinate and support localities in responding to and overcoming drought, water shortages and saline intrusion, ensuring the well-being of the people.

The Government Office will monitor assigned functions and tasks to ensure effective implementation of the directive.  VNS
Nguyen Vu Xuan Lan went to London last month to attend the exhibition The Return of the Spoon-Billed Sandpiper. The exhibition is fruit of a workshop in Ha Noi for Vietnamese artists, held by British and Vietnamese partners.

Viet Nam News reporter Nguyen Binh interviews Lan about the workshop and her trip to London.

Could you introduce yourself? How was your journey to London?

Im Xuan Lan, a freelance illustrator based in Ha Noi. Ive been working in illustration for several years, after quitting previous jobs as an English lecturer at my college and a manager in a company. You can see most of my works at my facebook page X.Lan.

Theres a common misunderstanding about my trip to London. There was no winner in the workshop. I was just chosen to attend the exhibition in London on behalf of my classmates.

When our graduation artworks were on display, all of us were supposed to travel there. However, due to a limited budget, only one of us could be sponsored.

I guess there are some reasons I was chosen as the representative for my class. I was the oldest, and probably have more working experience than other members in the workshop, and I can speak English quite fluently.

At this moment, we still dont know who will be chosen as the one to illustrate the complete book to be published this year. Nha Nam publisher and our instructors still have to make that decision.

What did you gain from the workshop with UK artists Jan Fearnley and Jane Buckley?

We all learned a lot from our two instructors, especially young artists just starting their illustration careers.

Even with several years of experience, I still found new approaches to making books for children when listening to what Jan and Jane shared, from drawing and story-telling skills like character design and emotion expression, to more technical things such as printing and layout.

They really made an effort to spend time with each member of the class, paid attention to each of our struggles, offered advice and, most important of all, encouraged us to follow and improve our own drawing styles.

What I appreciated most was the time I had with my classmates. You may know this or not, but illustrators are quite often introverts.

The nature of our work is individual, so we dont have much chance to hang out with fellow artists.

This workshop is a perfect opportunity for us to meet up, work together and learn from one another. It was refreshing to be able to communicate with our kind.

Did you know writer Trang Nguyen before the workshop? What was the biggest difficulty for you and other workshop participants in illustrating her story?

We knew Trang from before as she had published two books on rescuing bear and elephant, with phenomenal illustrations by Jeet Dzung. Some of us had even worked with her.

Regarding the story, wildlife conservation is not a common theme for childrens books. Therefore, its a challenge as well as a chance for us to learn about bird migration and relevant issues.

We had quite a lot of difficulties through the process, most of which concerned how we should visualize and stylise the characters and other details.

As illustrators for children, we tend to stylize things and prioritise the aesthetic aspects of the illustrations.

However, when the story has a certain educational purpose, some details should be kept relatively realistic and recognisable, especially the spoon-billed sandpipers and other specific birds.

Most of us struggled for a while before we could find our own way of depicting the characters and environment.

For me, my strong point is drawing human characters. Illustrating animals and birds is quite challenging for me as I have to look for other ways to express their emotion.

Which illustrations by others at the workshop do you like?

I was amazed that each of the participants had their unique drawing style. The final illustrations for the exhibition are our best takes, so its difficult to choose just one that I like better than others.

The exhibition is arranged in a way that allows audience to actually read the whole story, but each page is the work of a different artist.

If you follow the story, you will find yourself surprised every time you move on to the next page.

It is still that spoon-billed sandpiper on her journey, but with radically different design. Our instructors, Buckley and Fearnley encouraged us to push our personal style in these artworks without worrying too much about the final book (because that will come much later). And that worked.

You went to London to attend the exhibition The Return of the Spoon-Billed Sandpiper opening ceremony. How did you feel? Could you talk about the trip?

I was super proud of my mates, and of myself too. Looking at our drawings printed out in large size and displayed at a splendid venue, I felt that the hard times studying and struggling with deadlines were all worth it.

The trip to London was very unexpected for me, so I was excited and nervous at the same time. It was not my first time travelling abroad, but going to a new place is always an eye-opening experience.

I spent most of my time there at museums and bookstores. I also had chance to meet Jane Buckley again, at Simon & Schuster publishers, and had a nice talk after two months since our last class.

Overall, I couldnt be more grateful to Nha Nam and British Council, for both the trip and the workshop.

You were not trained in the arts, and used to be an English lecturer at the University of Languages and International Studies at Viet Nam National University. What are the advantages and disadvantages for you to pursue the arts?

Working as a self-taught illustrator, I have a number of disadvantages. The most prominent one is the lack of foundational skills. I had to spend lots of time learning from any source I can find, from my seniors and my peers.

I did improve, but at a very slow rate, which sometimes was frustrating. Therefore, I would always sign up for drawing workshops or courses whenever I had the chance.

On the other hand, the time I spent at university, both as a student and a lecturer, did offer me an important skill set. Its logical thinking and writing skill, which contributes remarkably for my story-telling in art.

Also, working with students trained my teamwork and presentation skills, which later transferred to how well I communicate with fellow artists and clients.  VNS
Romanian Ambassador to Viet Nam Cristina Romila talks to the media about Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Romania.

Viet Nam-Romania cooperation has been progressing well. Can you outline the significant achievements the two countries have attained recently?

Over the past five years, there has been a profound reaffirmation of the traditional friendship between the two countries. This has been achieved through the promotion of high-level delegation exchanges and cooperation to address major challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the evacuation of over 1,000 Vietnamese citizens from the Ukraine conflict.

I would like to highlight recent high-level meetings between Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, occurring on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA - September 2023) and the ASEAN - European Union (EU) Commemorative Summit in Brussels, Belgium (December 2022). Also, a phone call between the President of Viet Nam and the Romanian President (July 2021).

Political and diplomatic dialogue has seen significant developments, particularly at the European Union level, reflected in economic cooperation. Notably, Romania's achievements during its EU Council Presidency include the signing of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) in June 2019. Romania was among the first EU member states to ratify the IPA.

People's diplomacy has thrived post-COVID-19, promoting cultural, academic, and business exchanges. Over 30 Romanian universities' representatives have visited Viet Nam, and the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra is set to perform in Ha Noi and a Lat in 2022 and 2023. Economic delegations have explored opportunities to deepen bilateral economic cooperation.

With the achievements in bilateral cooperation, what are your expectations for the official visit to Romania by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh?

The visit will further enhance Prime Minister-level dialogue between Romania and Viet Nam, following recent contacts in 2016 and 2019. It symbolises the strong people-to-people ties that have underpinned bilateral relations over the past 74 years. We are honoured that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh studied in Romania.

Many areas of common interest will facilitate a successful and substantive visit. We anticipate progress in projects and bilateral legal cooperation frameworks. The visit has the potential to be an important milestone in industry cooperation, enhancing understanding of each other's priorities and interests.

What are the key and priority areas of cooperation between the two countries to promote the relationship in the coming time?

Firstly, we emphasise the excellent results from the 17th meeting of the Viet Nam-Romania Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation in Ha Noi last November at the ministerial level.

The two sides agreed on significant cooperation mechanisms in areas of common interest such as trade, agriculture, sanitation, energy, labour, science, technology, and culture.

Romania can be a gateway to bring Vietnamese goods into Europe, similar to Viet Nam creating conditions for Romania to enter the ASEAN market.

We need to effectively leverage the EVFTA to open each other's market and attract investment in areas of mutual interest.  VNS
Viet Nam and Canada concluded a vibrant year filled with a multitude of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (1973-2023). On the occasion of the New Year 2024, the Vietnam News Agency held spoke with Ambassador of Canada to Viet Nam Shawn Steil, discussing achievements in bilateral relations and the prospects for future cooperation between the two countries.

2023 marked the 50th anniversary of Canada-Viet Nam diplomatic relations. Over the past half a century, the two countries have recorded significant achievements in various aspects. What are your thoughts on the potential for further cooperation in the years to come?

It is the beginning of the new year. It's an exciting time to think ahead of what we can do more. But it's also important to acknowledge the foundation on which we built and on which we go forward.

And as you rightly suggest, 2023 was the year we marked 50 years of diplomatic relations. Canada is very proud of its contributions and support to Viet Nam's remarkable development over more than 50 years. But particularly over the last 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, we've seen a deepening and broadening of the relationship in all aspects.

In fact, in 2017, our leaders marked the establishment of a comprehensive partnership, identifying a full range of areas where we should work further. So if we look at back from that period 2017 until now, you can see that we've really progressed in all areas into a really broad and comprehensive partnership, in trade, in politics, in defence and security, in science and innovation, in education and in people-to-people exchanges.

Across all of those fields, despite the pandemic that affected all countries from 2020, we've seen remarkable growth in the relationship. Moving forward on this foundation, I think it's time for us to start to look at how the relationship between Canada and Viet Nam, as strong as it is bilaterally, can now be a positive force for change in the world. We are two countries that see eye to eye on many global issues. But we need to deepen our understanding of our positions on those global issues and find areas where we can actually cooperate for positive change in international relations.

Viet Nam is currently Canadas largest trading partner in ASEAN and a top destination for Canadian products. Given the challenges in the global economy, how do you view Viet Nams economic recovery? What measures do you think both nations should take to promote trade and investment relations?

This is a pivotal time for global trade, and for economic development in Viet Nam and around the world. So now is the time to make sure that we are not relying on the things that have been working up to now, but that we are actually looking forward to how we can push things further.

Canada and Viet Nam's trade has seen remarkable growth, 20 to 30 per cent in some areas in two way exports. We've seen because of the CPTPP, our multilateral free trade agreement, that borders have been opened and trade has increased across the borders, most of the trade is still Vietnamese exports to Canada. And we are proud that Canada is now in the top 10 purchasers of Vietnamese products globally. That's a remarkable achievement. We would like to see more growth in Canadian exports. And as incomes are growing in Viet Nam, I expect that is going to take care of itself.

We already see really good growth and high quality food products being exported from Canada to Viet Nam, as Vietnamese consumers are looking for high quality, safe, nutritious foods. Canadians are supplying that food, so the growth is there. But we need to continue to push and promote exports from Canada to make sure that we're keeping pace with the growth of the Vietnamese economy.

Investment is another area of strength. Canada is around the 14th largest investor in Viet Nam, but that has remained relatively stable over time. We need to see more breakthrough in the opportunities for us to build supply chains, value chains, not just trading goods, but actually participating as equal partners in supplying the globe with products, technology and other services. We need to partner more closely with each other on that, including through investment.

What Canadian companies are really looking for in investing in Viet Nam is stability, transparency, and an understandable regulatory framework. So we continue to work with the Vietnamese Government to ensure that the needs of Canadian investors are sustained over time.

How can Viet Nam and Canada work together to promote sustainable development and prosperity in line with Canadas Indo-Pacific Strategy, which focuses on building a sustainable green future?

This is a key question for everyone. Canada's focus on a green and sustainable future in the Indo Pacific region is recognition that high rates of growth in this part of the world also come with risks. And those risks are around ensuring that everyone benefits from economic growth and that the environment is not harmed.

So Viet Nam has a challenge now with its remarkable economic growth to ensure that it is sustainable environmentally, socially through the long term. And Canada is a partner for Viet Nam and supporting the transition to clean energy for example.

Few countries have the growth in energy demand that Viet Nam does, estimated at 10 per cent a year at least. So in order to meet that energy demand, we think it is strategic moment for Viet Nam to invest in clean sources, and renewable sources of energy. But that requires remarkable investments, it requires a regulatory environment, and it requires technology. All of this Canada has experience with. So we are working through our development assistance and our advocacy to ensure that Viet Nam has access to world class technology, expertise, and finally investment.

As Viet Nam grows, less of the investment is going to come from official development assistance, and more is going to be coming from international loans and even concessional finance. But taking on debt has its own risks. And so we want to work with Vietnamese Government to ensure that Viet Nam is comfortable with taking on the risks of loans to ensure that it can invest in a sustainable future.

In terms of external affairs, 2023 was believed to be a highly successful year for Viet Nam. We would like to hear your perspective on this. How do you assess the countrys achievements in external affairs during the year?

What a year for Viet Nam in 2023. First we have to state the obvious (that Viet Nam was) the only country in the world to host presidential visits from the world's two superpowers, the United States and China. That in itself I think is a sign of the attention that Viet Nam is attracting from around the world.

I think weve also seen that success through economic development and investment. Investors are looking to Viet Nam as a safe haven for investment in an era of turbulence globally, both economically and in terms of security issues.

Viet Nam is seen as a reliable partner and that is a precious asset for Viet Nam, that the country has successfully exploited for its own benefit over the last year. Viet Nam's membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council is another major achievement.

But with all of this attention, comes also responsibility. And so Canada, for example, is hoping that Viet Nam will not forget its other partners who are not superpowers such as Canada and look forward to a future of engaging with us on issues such as international rules and the rules-based international order.

We find that superpowers do have the tendency to sometimes ignore international law. Countries like Canada and Viet Nam depend on consistent application of international law to secure our sovereignty and our prosperity and our security. So Canada sees Viet Nam as a valuable partner in bolstering international law and respect for the rules internationally, and partnering on that as we move forward.

Clearly, Viet Nam has integrated very fully into the international system, and is seeing the benefits of that integration for its own people. Now we want to partner with Viet Nam to ensure that those benefits remain sustainable well into the future.  VNS
DAVOS Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a speech at the World Economic Forums Country Strategic Dialogue on Viet Nam in Davos, Switzerland, on January 16 (local time).

The event saw the participation of Joo-Ok Lee, Head of Regional Agenda for Asia-Pacific at the World Economic Forum (WEF) and about 60 leaders from the WEFs global member groups.

This is one of eight national dialogue activities held within the framework of the 54th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) to introduce Viet Nams socio-economic development strategy, priority areas to draw investments, and specific policies that the Government will carry out in the future in order to create an attractive environment to investors.

At the dialogue, partners showed their interest in Viet Nams policies in emerging areas such as green transition, renewable energy development, rare earth exploitation, semiconductor industry development, carbon credit market, and power development plan implementation.

The PM affirmed that transforming, finding and creating new growth drivers is an inevitable trend in today's world; no country or economy can develop rapidly and sustainably if it still maintains old thinking, and only relies on traditional growth drivers.

He stressed to promote transformation and creation of new growth drivers, Viet Nam will focus on four main groups of solutions, namely reviewing and perfecting institutions and laws with the spirit of creating the most favourable conditions for businesses and investors; developing infrastructure with focus on strategic infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and infrastructure to respond to climate change; developing human resources, especially high-quality human resources; and restructuring the economy associated with renewing growth model, with priority given to renewable energy industries, green transition, digital transformation, semiconductor industry, and innovation.

Chinh said Viet Nam is accelerating transformation, including economic transformation with the renewal of old growth drivers and promotion of new growth drivers; digital transformation, green transition, the development of circular economy, sharing economy, knowledge-based economy; transformation of mechanisms and policies, building strategic infrastructure for transformation; and human resources transformation.

Highlighting the countrys potential, Chinh suggested the WEF and its members continue cooperating with Viet Nam, while calling on investors to accompany the country to intensify investment in priority areas such as innovation, high sci-tech, including semiconductor technology and artificial intelligence. He affirmed that Vietnam always accompany and cooperate with investors in the spirit of win-win cooperation, harmonised benefits, and shared risks.

Agreeing with PM Chinhs speech, WEF leaders and representatives of businesses spoke highly of the achievements in recovery, development, growth of economic size, trade scale, as well as Viet Nam's determination to transform and economic prospects. They assessed Viet Nam as one of the bright spots for economic recovery in the region, playing a pioneering role in growth model renewal and commitments to energy transition.

The WEF said Viet Nam is one of the countries drawing most interest from the business community at this meeting.

Many businesses affirmed their pleasure with investment projects in Viet Nam, and showed their impression on the Vietnamese Governments policies and drastic measures to create an attractive environment as well as its support to the business community.

The business community said that Viet Nam is one of the most suitable options, a destination for those seeking long-term investment and cooperation opportunities. They wished to continue to accompany Viet Nam in its development and transition process, while suggesting Viet Nam continue sharing issues that the country needs support, and maintaining stable, long-term policies. VNA/VNS
Korea's beer imports from Japan soared last year to regain its leading position in the country's import beer market after five years, according to the customs office Wednesday.

The resurgence of Japanese beer products appears to have benefited from the release of a viral video showing a worker urinating into a tank at Tsingtao Brewery.

Last year, beer imports from Japan topped other import brands with $55.5 million, jumping from $14.5 million in 2022, $6.9 million in 2021 and $5.7 million in 2020, data from the Korea Customs Service (KCS) showed.

Japanese beer imports ranked first with $78.3 million in 2018, but they nosedived to $39.7 million in 2019 due to Japan's restrictions on exports to Korea of key industrial materials for the production of semiconductors and displays.

In 2019, Japan also removed Korea from its list of countries given preferential treatment in trade procedures.

Korea viewed the moves as retaliation against 2018 Supreme Court rulings here ordering Japanese firms to compensate Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

Little doubt, the rebound in beer purchases from Japan is attributable to improved relations between Seoul and Tokyo from last year after President Yoon Suk Yeol offered to resolve the forced labor issue by compensating victims on Korea's own without asking for contributions from Japan.

Japan also reinstated Korea on its "white list" of trusted trading partners last year, about four years after the removal, in a move to improve the bilateral economic relationship.

In contrast, beer imports from China ranked third last year with $30.1 million, down from the previous year's top ranking with $36.4 million.

The video released on Oct. 19 shows a uniformed man climbing over a high wall and urinating into a Tsingtao beer tank.

Tsingtao said the batch of malt had been sealed off from use, and BK, which imports Tsingtao beer for distribution in Korea, said the plant in the video produces beer for local consumption in the Chinese market.

But the pee incident reignited concerns among consumers over the safety of Chinese food and beverage products. (Yonhap)
HA NOI  China supports Viet Nam's efforts toward industrialisation and modernisation, particularly in such key areas as green economy, digital economy, and energy transition, Chinese Ambassador to Viet Nam Xiong Bo has affirmed.

The diplomat told local press that potential for bilateral cooperation in these sectors is substantial, as the two nations are important economic, trade, and investment partners of each other.

He said their synergy in trade-investment collaboration is conducive to the establishment of stable and sustainable supply chains. Furthermore, their status of being newly emerging economies with rapid and robust development rates further amplifies the significant contributions of their bilateral cooperation in maintaining regional and global peace, stability, and development.

The ambassador disclosed that Viet Nam and China are intensifying efforts to promote the Lao Cai-Ha Noi-Hai Phong railway project connecting Yunnan in China to Viet Nam's border, which is currently in the stage of feasibility study report.

He stated China is ready to meet Viet Nam's requirements and utilise preferential funding to help it plan the upgrade and rebuilding of the Bac Giang-ong ang-Ha Noi railway line, as well as carry out the next phase of planning for the Mong Cai-Quang Ninh-Hai Phong railway.

Upon completion and becoming operational, these railway lines are expected to significantly enhance the efficiency of cargo transport between the two countries, reducing border gate congestion, he said.

Additionally, both countries are implementing a pilot smart-customs programme at the Huu Nghi border gate, aiming for around-the-clock efficient automated customs procedures. These railways, when completed, will open economic corridors linking Viet Nam to Central Asia, and even Europe via China, shortening the distance between Viet Nam and Central Asia and turning the northern border provinces of Viet Nam into a gateway to the north.

On people-to-people diplomacy, Xiong emphasised the importance of enhancing the two peoples' mutual understanding, support, and deep engagement in the nations' cooperation. He noted that the scale of mutual visits between Vietnamese and Chinese citizens remains modest compared to their populations.

Top leaders of both Parties have been highly valuing the strengthening of people-to-people exchanges and underscoring the need to enhance the bilateral friendship, the ambassador stated.

Xiong suggested that cultural and artistic activities also serve as bridges to enhance mutual understanding between Vietnamese and Chinese peoples, particularly the younger generations. In fact, Vietnamese youth enjoy Chinese films, television programmes, while Vietnamese artists taking part in popular Chinese shows are a favour of young Chinese, having millions of fans in China.

He expressed his hope that the media of both countries will continue to positively and comprehensively popularise the exchanges and friendly cooperation between the sides sectors and localities, as well as the significant achievements they have attained. This, he believed, will further deepen the understanding between the two peoples.  VNS
NGHE AN  President Vo Van Thuong presented gifts and extended warm Tet greetings to people in Thanh Chuong District, and officers and soldiers at Thanh Thuy Border Guard Station in the central province of Nghe An on Wednesday.

Visiting Thanh Chuong District, President Thuong lauded the efforts made by the local Party Organisation, administration and residents to overcome challenges and obtain significant socio-economic achievements, with the rates of poor and near-poor households falling to 3.4 per cent and 5.7 per cent, respectively, much lower than the provinces average.

The Party and State always put the people at the centre of development policies, and pay due attention to taking care of the impoverished and those with difficult circumstances and policy beneficiary families, he stressed.

The President requested the local Party Organisation, authorities and people to improve livelihoods of residents, well implement the social security policy and ensure that there will be no poor and near-poor households in the coming time.

On the occasion, President Thuong and leaders of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour, Viet Nam Red Cross Society and Nghe An Province presented Tet gifts to families of people who rendered service to the nation, families with difficult circumstances, poor people, and workers.

In a meeting with officers and soldiers at the Thanh Thuy Border Guard Station, the State leader hailed their efforts and congratulated them on the outstanding achievements they have made to contribute to building a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

Laying stress on the significance of the Thanh Thuy Border Gate to the countrys trade and economy, President Thuong underscored that smooth immigration and trade activities via the gate will help bolster local socio-economic development as well as maintain a peaceful and stable borderline.

He ordered the border guard force to promote solidarity and creativity, handle problems in the area in a timely manner, ensure sound trade activities, and prevent trade frauds.

The officers and soldiers must stay vigilant and defeat all sabotage plots and riots by hostile forces, he said, adding they should cooperate well with the border guard force of Laos to carry out joint missions.  VNS
HA NOI  The National Assembly (NA) continued its fifth extraordinary session on Wednesday, with discussions focusing on the execution of national target programmes, public investment and law amendments.

At the Wednesday meeting, head of the NA committee for economic affairs Vu Hong Thanh presented a report on the changes in the draft amendment to the land law based on NA deputies comments.

The document was compiled in coordination with the NA secretary-general, the NA committee on law, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as well as other relevant agencies.

Clauses within the amendment have been adjusted to ensure clarity and coherence, avoiding different interpretations.

The NAs fifth extraordinary session saw 29 spoken and nine written comments from the NA deputies on the draft land law amendment, which were sent to the drafting and management committees for review.

The draft amendment to the Law on Credit Institutions also received 14 comments for adjustments, which were taken into account by the NA committee on law, the State Bank of Vietnam and other related departments.

The NA Standing Committee on Wednesday also discussed changes to the medium-term public investment plan using the central budget for the 2021-2025 period, as well as several special policies and mechanisms to accelerate the execution of national target programmes.

As part of the public investment plan, general contingencies are expected to be allocated to 50 projects in five priority sectors, which include exports, agriculture, advanced technology, small- and medium-sized businesses and supporting industries.

Approximately VN60 trillion (US$2.4 billion) is allocated to key transport projects.

There was also VN30.6 trillion ($1.2 billion) expected to be distributed to projects with unfinished investment procedures.

Once these procedures are completed, the Government will report to the NA for approval before allocating funds to the ministries, departments or localities in charge of the projects.

The NA Standing Committee also review the draft resolution on special policies and mechanisms to mitigate bottlenecks and accelerate progress in the execution of national target programmes, and clarifies the roles of local Peoples Committee and Peoples Council on this matter.

Regarding the adjustment of State budget estimates and investment plans, NA Chairman Vuong inh Hue agrees with the Government on decentralisation for flexibility and proactiveness in management, emphasising the goal achievement of each project.

The authority to make changes is confined within the scope of each project to ensure coherence among different programmes and avoid complicated administrative procedures.  VNS
DAVOS  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a keynote speech at the policy dialogue on Viet Nam's global vision during the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on January 16 (local time).

It was one of the eight policy dialogues featuring heads of States and Governments organised by the WEF, reflecting the organisations positive evaluation of Viet Nam's international role, position, achievements, vision and development prospects.

As a highlight of the WEF Davos 2024, the event saw the distinguished presence of Prof. Klaus Schwab, WEF Founder and Executive Chairman, along with 100 leaders and representatives from various countries, international organisations, corporations and businesses that are members of the WEF. Renowned international relations commentator Thomas Friedman from The New York Times and author of the book "The World is Flat" assumed the role of event coordinator.

Schwab expressed his delight at welcoming PM Chinh for the first time to the WEF Davos meeting, hailing Viet Nam not only as a star in the East Asia but also a nation in the process of ascending as an economically influential player on the global stage. He also highly praised Viet Nam's role as one of the trailblazers in the development of a green and smart economy.

Sharing a similar view with Schwab, Friedman described Viet Nam as an exemplary model of reform and development, internationally recognised for its rapid and sustainable economic progress. In his coordinating role, he expressed a keen interest in understanding Viet Nam's experiences, development directions and contributions to the global problem-solving process.

In his speech, PM Chinh highlighted Viet Nam's key directions and stance throughout its nation-building and development process, and great achievements of historical significance during the nearly 40 years of reform.

Drawing on these successes, he outlined five major lessons, including steadfastly pursuing the path of socialism, maintaining a consistent stance on the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification of external ties, being a trusted friend, reliable partner and responsible member of the international community; considering the people the architects of history; upholding the strength of great national unity; combining the power of the nation with contemporary forces; and upholding the leadership role of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV).

Building upon these lessons, PM offered two suggestions to other nations. He proposed that they identify resources starting from mindset, motivation rooted in innovation, and strength derived from the people. He also underscored the role of international solidarity and multilateralism in addressing global challenges.

The second suggestion was placing people at the centre as the main subject, the most crucial resource, the driving force, and the ultimate goal of development. Accordingly, people should be directly involved in and benefit from policies.

In response to Friedman's query regarding Viet Nam's stance in balancing relations with major powers, Chinh underscored the nations status as one of the most adversely affected since the Second World War, enduring persistent impacts from wars, blockades, and sanctions. Nevertheless, Viet Nam has put the past aside, overcome differences, promoted similarities, and aimed towards the future to turn adversaries into friends.

He asserted that the recent visits to Viet Nam by Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden demonstrate unwavering political trust between the nation and its two partners, as well as its foreign policy of independence and self-reliance for peace, cooperation, development, prosperity, multilateralism, and diversification.

Highlighting several priority areas for Viet Nam in the near future, including digital transformation, science and technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and green transition, the PM considered these as both objective requirements and strategic choices.

Regarding the semiconductor field, he shared Viet Nam's endeavours in developing strategic infrastructure, particularly in information technology, and disclosed plans to train 50,000-100,000 engineers in the time to come.

Addressing artificial intelligence (AI), Chinh affirmed Viet Nam's proactive approach in leveraging its advantages and mitigating its negative aspects, starting with building a national database, refining investment attraction policies, and boosting the effectiveness of manpower training.

He stressed the Vietnamese Government's commitment to further developing three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure, and human resources, creating the most favorable conditions for foreign companies to engage in cooperative endeavors, based on maximising mutual trust, hope, and determination. He said he wishes businesses will integrate production, consumption, research, and training.

The PM said Viet Nam stands among the nations most severely impacted by climate change, underscoring its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). Viet Nam has worked to adapt to landslides, droughts, and natural disasters, implementing an innovative initiative for cultivating one million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice, which aligns with global sustainability trends and promoting Viet Nam's crucial role in ensuring global food security.

His remarks received high praise from delegates participating in the session, whose open and interactive format as well as diverse media coverage effectively disseminated the message of a Viet Nam with a new great plan, potential, position, and credibility.  VNS
HA NOI  Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen uc Hai hosted a reception in Ha Noi on January 17 for Bernd Lange, Chairman of the European Parliament (EP)'s Committee on International Trade, during which the legislator affirmed that Viet Nam always wishes to enhance its partnership and comprehensive cooperation with the European Union (EU).

Hai noted with pleasure positive developments in the relations between Viet Nam and the EU as well as the Vietnamese legislature and the EP, saying Viet Nam is now an important partner of the EU in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific.

The Vietnamese NA highly values joint efforts in maintaining the substantive and effective inter-parliamentary dialogue channel through delegation exchange, he said.

Regarding the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which went into force on August 1, 2020, he said it has helped push the two-way trade, affirming that Viet Nam will seriously and fully fulfill its commitments in the deal as well as other international commitments it has made.

The legislator held that there will be more ample room for the two sides to boost their trade ties once the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) ratified by all parliaments of EU member countries and put into force.

He called on the EP to support strengthening the partnership and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and the EU and its member countries across fields, including inter-parliamentary cooperation, and Vietnam-EU collaboration in green transition, digital transformation, and climate change response.

Hai suggested Lange urge the European Commission (EC) to soon remove its yellow card warning against Vietnamese seafood to contribute to ensuring livelihoods for Vietnamese fishermen and supplies to the EU market; and the EU and its members to further back Viet Nam s and ASEANs stance on settling disputes in the East Sea peacefully on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

For his part, Lange said the two sides have held many activities to materialise commitments between the Vietnamese legislature and the EP on the establishment of a regular dialogue mechanism on the EVFTA, stressing it is significant to promoting Vietnam - EU cooperation.

Sharing Hais view on the importance of the trade deal, he said it has given many boosts to the economic and political relations, and affirmed that Viet Nam is the EUs important partner in the ASEAN, and that the impressive trade growth reflects their huge potential for development cooperation.

For the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Lange cited the EC's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries as saying that Viet Nam has made great efforts in equipping its fishing boats with the vessel monitoring system, fixing shortcomings in the implementation of EU recommendations, and internalising international treaties.

He suggested the two sides maintain their exchange and dialogue mechanisms in an open and constructive manner to forge the partnership and comprehensive cooperation. VNS
HA NOI  President Vo Van Thuong and Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan have sent messages of congratulations to King Frederik X of Denmark on his coronation on January 14.

On January 16, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc visited the Embassy of Denmark in Hanoi to write in the well-wishing book for King Frederik X.

The deputy minister congratulated the King, the royal family and the Government of Denmark on the event, and noted his belief that Denmark will further prosper under the reign of King Frederik X.

He affirmed that Viekt Nam attaches importance to and wishes to deepen the comprehensive partnership with Denmark for the interests of the two countries and for peace, cooperation and development in the two regions and the world as a whole.  VNS
HA NOI  The diagnosis of tuberculosis at community healthcare facilities is key as Viet Nam stands at high risk of tuberculosis outbreaks.

inh Van Luong, director of the National Lung Hospital and head of the Executive Board of the Viet Nam Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Project, said community level healthcare facilities are a competent, responsible, and dedicated force protecting the community against the disease.

Assessing the COVID-19 impact on tuberculosis prevention and control, he said the pandemic delayed by five to eight years the provision of essential TB services and increasing the global TB burden.

Viet Nam is still a country with a high tuberculosis burden, ranking 11th among the 30 countries with the highest proportion of tuberculosis patients and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the world, according to World Health Organizations Global TB Report 2023, he told Vietnam News Agency.

During the pandemic, Viet Nams TB fight faced challenges with the over 20 per cent decline in the number of infections detected in the community in 2021 compared to 2019 and 2020.

This put Viet Nam on the list of countries with the highest rate of reduction in tuberculosis detection in the world due to the impact of the pandemic.

The TB death rate in Viet Nam has been also on the rise, reaching 12,000 people in 2021, an increase of 35.8 per cent compared to 2020.

The National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Programme has strived to launch the TB prevention task at all communes and wards across the country, with 100 per cent of the population getting access to the programme.

Fifty one out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide have established lung and tuberculosis hospitals.

The programme has expanded cooperation with partners such as the Ministry of Public Security, Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as central and provincial general hospitals.

Local authorities have committed to implementing the model of TB detection in the community.

Everyone who has a health check-up at community medical facilities will have TB screening and check-up for other lung diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Thanks to that effort, in the first nine months of 2023, the total number of TB patients detected by public and private healthcare facilities reached 26,300 patients, accounting for 33.4 per cent of total patients.

This has demonstrated the efficiency of grassroots TB detection, Luong said.

Luong said the medical sector needs to strengthen TB diagnosis at the community level, focusing on high-risk groups to early detect and treat TB, looking towards ending the infection source in the community, and soon ending the epidemic.

AI in TB diagnosis

In 2023, one of the most outstanding achievements in the fight against TB in Viet Nam was the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the disease diagnosis.

The application of AI will facilitate the detection of tuberculosis, especially cases that are easily missed or difficult to reach, Luong said.

The medical sector has also stepped up TB detection in the community and at healthcare facilities by applying X-ray and Xpert testing for diagnosis.

Thanks to active participation of the community level healthcare system, in the first nine months of 2023, the National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Programme detected 78,674 cases, a year-on-year increase of 1,909 cases.

Detection of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis during this period also rose by 44 per cent compared to the same period in 2021.  VNS
HA NOI President Vo Van Thuong and a working delegation paid homage to President Ho Chi Minh at Chung Son temple, a sacred site dedicated to ancestors of the revered leader, and at the Kim Lien special national heritage site in Nam an district, the central province of Nghe An on January 16.

They respectfully offered incense and flowers in memory of President Ho Chi Minh, the great leader of the Vietnamese Party and people, and a national liberation hero.

The Chung Son temple, situated atop Chung mountain in Kim Lien commune, holds deep historical ties with the childhood of the late President. It was inaugurated in 2020 to commemorate his 130th birth anniversary.

Located in Kim Lien and Nam Giang communes, the Kim Lien special national heritage site preserves artifacts and relics closely connected to the family, childhood and two visits the President made to his hometown.

The same day, the delegation extended their tributes by offering flowers and incense at the memorial site of Party General Secretary Le Hong Phong, an eminent disciple of President Ho Chi Minh, in Hung Thong commune, Hung Nguyen district. VNA/VNS
ONG NAI  Lilama 2 Technology International College in the southern province of ong Nai on January 17 signed a contract with the UKs BTEC Pearson on the transfer of training programmes in semiconductor technology and carbon credits.

With this transfer, the college becomes the first educational establishment in Vietnam to offer a training programme in carbon credits and the second to provide training in semiconductor technology.

The college principal Nguyen Khanh Cuong said that the first semiconductor technology and carbon credit training courses will be offered in 2024, enrolling 25-50 students in each class.

BTEC Pearson has transferred to the school the curriculum and supported the school in training teachers. In recent years, the college has received equipment from the German Government to facilitate semiconductor technology and carbon credit teaching and learning.

According to Cuong, the value of Viet Nam's semiconductor market will increase by around 6.5 per cent a year from now to 2025 but the sector is facing a serious shortage of human resources, with local supply can meet only about 20 per cent of demand.

Le Tuan Dung, Director of BTEC Pearson in Viet Nam, said that to develop a green economy and circular economy and realise its climate change commitments, Viet Nam needs a big, professional, and competent workforce, and a mandatory carbon credit market.

The cooperation between BTEC Pearson and Lilama 2 Technology International College will help supply quality personnel for the semiconductor and carbon credit industries, he said.  VNS
According to data from the International Data Corporation released on Monday, the iPhone stole Samsung's crown in 2023 with 234.6 million units sold, compared to the South Korean firm's 226.6 million units.

Apple ends Samsung's 12-year run as world's top smartphone seller, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

The US tech giant commanded a 20.1 percent market share ahead of Samsung's 19.4 percent, the IDC said.

Analysts from the closely watched market tracker said Apple's rise was due to the success of premium devices such as the iPhone.

They also pointed to an increasingly fragmented market for smartphones that run on the Android operating system, citing low-end Samsung rivals such as Transsion and Xiaomi as well as Honor and Google.

The success of Huawei's well received offerings in China also had an effect on Samsung's drop in sales, the IDC said.

The sales data came ahead of the latest release of Samsung models expected at an event in California on Wednesday.

According to IDC, global smartphone shipments declined 3.2 percent to 1.17 billion units in 2023, though the group said the industry was recovering after a sluggish period.

"Growth in the second half of the year has cemented the expected recovery for 2024," the IDC said in a statement.

Apple to appeal US watch ban Apple said on Tuesday it will appeal a US ban on its latest smartwatch models after the Biden administration opted to not veto a ruling on patent infringements.

Apple wins watch ban pause in US patent feud A federal court handed Apple a victory on Wednesday by suspending a ban on the US sale of its latest watch models in a feud over patents with health company Masimo.

Apple suppliers spend billions diversifying from China A recent research report from TD Cowen cited by newswire Appleinsider has revealed that Apple suppliers are diversifying their manufacturing bases from China as a result of production delays, the country's COVID-19 measures, problems with energy supply, and the ongoing trade tensions with the United States.
China, Algeria pledge to continue mutual support, cooperation

Xinhua) 11:20, January 17, 2024

ALGIERS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- China and Algeria on Tuesday vowed to continue firm support to each other on issues related to their core interests and enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The two sides made the pledge during the visit of Liu Guozhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, who met Tuesday separately with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui in the Algerian capital of Algiers.

During the meetings, Liu spoke positively of Algeria's development achievements, adding that China and Algeria are "sincere friends and natural partners in the pursuit of common development and national rejuvenation."

The Chinese vice premier noted that an important consensus was reached last July by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tebboune, who paid a successful state visit to China.

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Algeria comprehensive strategic partnership, Liu said that China is willing to take it as an opportunity to work with Algeria to continue firmly supporting each other on issues related to their core interests and promoting mutual exchanges and cooperation under the framework of high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road.

He noted that China is also committed to continuing its close coordination and cooperation with Algeria in international and regional affairs and making active efforts to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Tebboune and Larbaoui said that strengthening cooperation with China is a strategic choice for Algeria, vowing to actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, attract more Chinese companies to Algeria to invest, and jointly promote development.

The Algeria-China relations are unbreakable, as the two sides have a broad consensus on major international and regional issues, said the Algerian leaders, who voiced Algeria's willingness to work with China to uphold international fairness and justice and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

During the visit, Liu also held a meeting with representatives of the Chinese medical teams on an aid mission in Algeria.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
FSC to scrap capital gains tax, lower stock exchange tax rate

By Anna J. Park

President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to enhance shareholders' rights by institutionalizing online shareholders' meetings, aiming to amplify the collective voice of minority stockholders. Additionally, he intends to amend the country's Commercial Act to curb corporate directors from pursuing personal gains.

The comments were made during a government-hosted town hall meeting on financial policies held at the Korea Exchange (KRX) in Seoul on Wednesday. This marked Yoon's second visit to the bourse operator this month alone, with the first one taking place at the opening ceremony of the first stock trading day of the year on Jan. 2.

"Since my candidacy, I have consistently established and adhered to two principles regarding financial policies. First, we need to further activate the domestic capital market to facilitate the shared growth of the nation and businesses. Second, we need to create a fair financial market by fostering stronger competition to get rid of side effects stemming from financial cartels," Yoon said during the meeting.

He also stressed the need to revise domestic regulations that no longer align with global standards, committing to revamping tax schemes that lack economic justification.

"In addition, the government plans to institutionalize virtual shareholders' meetings and seek an amendment to the Commercial Act to deter directors from pursuing personal interests. Furthermore, there are plans to increase the upper limit of payment and the tax-free threshold for the Individual Savings Account (ISA) while broadening the eligibility criteria for account participation," he said.

It was the fourth town hall meeting this month focusing on the overarching theme of revitalizing the economy for the well-being of the people. These sessions aim to replace conventional annual reporting sessions conducted by each ministry to the president. Additional sessions are planned, featuring discussions among the president, citizens, and experts across diverse policy domains.

Besides key government officials, around 50 people from various walks of life attended the discussion, including financial influencers, retail investors, scholars, entrepreneurs and company employees. They shared their own opinions and suggestions concerning financial policy directions by the government during the meeting.

In the meeting, Kim Joo-hyun, chairman of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the country's foremost financial regulator, reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring the public's prosperity and to weed out perpetrators of financial crimes who harm the fairness and transparency of the capital market.

"The government will strengthen the role of the capital market, which is not only a platform for mutual growth between citizens and corporations, but also serves as a 'ladder for asset formation' enabling people's wealth creation," the FSC chief said.

Specifically, the FSC confirmed that the government will scrap plans to introduce a capital gains tax by 2025. The financial regulator also said it plans to lower the stock exchange tax rate to 0.15 percent by 2025, from the current 0.2 percent.

While the government raises the upper limit of payment as well as a tax-free limit for the ISA, another type of ISA, or ISA2, will be created to focus on investing in domestic shares.

The government said it will also continue to work on establishing a fair and transparent capital market order. During the short selling ban, which continues until June this year, financial authorities plan to set up computer systems to detect illegal short selling practices, while implementing policies to level the playing field for both retail and institutional investors with regard to short selling. Also, stricter investigations and punishments will be applied to root out the motivations for financial crimes.

"The government will rigorously punish unfair trading practices by raising the reward for reporting such crimes to 30 billion won ($22 million) from the current 20 billion won," Kim said.

In addition, the government vowed to overhaul financial regulations to prevent the abuse of Treasury stocks and convertible bonds exploited by major shareholders for pursuing personal gains, with a goal to create an investor-friendly capital market.
Detech Coffee is a successful women-owned and operated enterprise in northern Vietnam and is renowned for its sustainable and certified Arabica coffee production and collaboration with ethnic minorities. The $500,000 fund via debt investment boosts its working capital and production volume.

Founded as a family business, the company has thrived through the Impact Investment Readiness Vietnam (IIRV) initiative, a collaboration between IIX and Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

This scheme is dedicated to empowering Social Impact Businesses (SIBs), organisations that prioritise serving local or global community needs, particularly women-focused businesses, and equips participants with essential skills and knowledge to enhance their readiness in raising capital and make a valuable impact.

The IIRV project, with support from GAC, has played a crucial role in the success of Detech Coffee's fundraising efforts. "SIBs have shown great ability to empower women, ethnic minorities, and other marginalised groups through the goods and services they provide and the support they offer to local communities," said Shawn Steil, Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam.

"GAC is pleased to partner with IIX in supporting the development of social impact businesses in Vietnam and improving their ability to pull in impact investment. Our goal is to catalyse positive change, foster sustainable growth, and shape a future where social impact businesses thrive, transforming poor communities and building a more inclusive, resilient economy together," Steil added

In its commitment to global impact, IIX is strengthening its ecosystem through innovative programmes like IIRV, whose overarching goal is to enhance the region's economic landscape by engaging socially responsible investors.

Detech Coffee has made significant strides in both gender equality and climate action and has produced tangible results in its ongoing efforts.

Over the next four years, the project aims to nurture growth in the impact investing ecosystem by offering training to 200 local SIBs to prepare them for effective capital-raising endeavours.

Durreen Shahnaz, CEO and founder of IIX, said, "We are proud to extend our transformative expertise to the vibrant landscape of Vietnam. As we continue to pioneer impact investing worldwide, our commitment to fostering sustainable development and driving social change in Vietnam and the world over remains unwavering."

The collaboration between IIX and Detech Coffee has been marked by dedicated efforts to enhance the coffee producer's financial foundation and impact potential.

Ngoc Anh Dao, founder and chairwoman of Detech Coffee, said, "Working with Incofin and IIX is a lesson in fundraising and affirmation of the shared love for nature and a commitment to our cause. Their conviction in guiding us through the intricacies of impact investing is a source of great inspiration. It's a genuine boost to feel supported and understood. Im grateful for the energy they bring to the table, which spurs me to push boundaries and continue making a difference."

Detech Coffee has made significant strides in both gender equality and climate action and has produced tangible results in its ongoing efforts. In April 2023, the company launched the Rainforest Alliance training scheme, which had a positive impact on 500 small-hold farmers in Son La, complementing their existing collaboration with 2,000 conventional farmers in the region.

The company embarked on several key environmental initiatives last year, including afforestation and soil regeneration through agroforestry practices. Moreover, its commitment to sustainability extends to water conservation efforts initiated in 2019.

Wiith the support of IIX, the company is actively seeking impact investors to expand its scalable coffee agroforestry, invest in infrastructure, cultivate plantlets, and embrace digital innovation.

These initiatives aim to ensure sustainable growth for Detech Coffee, generate additional employment opportunities within local communities, and contribute to climate change mitigation.

IIX has taken a comprehensive approach to support the coffee grower, addressing crucial aspects such as financial modelling, valuation updates, impact assessment verification, investor outreach, due diligence visits, strategic management consulting, and more.

This commitment will persist as Detech Coffee pursues its Series A fundraising, with IIX providing crucial support.

David Dewez, managing partner at Incofin Investment Management, said, Not only are we are delighted to partner with like-minded, impactful organisations such as Detech and IIX, this is the first agriculture enterprise investment in Asia for our Fairtrade Access Fund. FAF has been helping small-hold farmers unlock access to capital in Latin America and Africa since 2012, and we are excited about the role the fund can take in supporting smallholder farmers in Asia going forward.

Learn more about IIXs initiatives in Vietnam: https://iixglobal.com/impact-investment-readiness-vietnam-viet-page/

Preparing for the next tech funding wave Without knowing when the fundraising winter will end, Trinh Ngoc Duc, chairman of D.lion Holdings, told VIRs Vu Anh why there could be a change of weather in 2023, and how startups could be more prepared in terms of legal, financial, and human resources.

Indonesia stepping up its funding priorities Vietnam and Indonesia are intensifying their digital and investment ties, with both sides set to venture into new activities together.
According to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2024 report by the Urban Land Institute, the real estate industry is entering a new era of thinking, building, and operating.

Farook Mahmood Frics, chairman and managing director Silverline Group

The reports overarching theme is The Great Reset, which determines that the industry must form new norms and can no longer rely on past benchmarks to determine how the market will function in the future.

The report includes proprietary data and insights from more than 2,000 leading real estate industry experts, exploring shifts in the property sector since the pandemic, changing investor sentiment towards climate risks, the emergence of impact investing, and other real estate issues within the US and Canada.

The landscape of real estate will be undergoing significant transformations in 2024, driven by a confluence of technological advancements, shifting market dynamics, and evolving consumer behaviours.

Despite uncertainties, optimism is likely to pervade the industry, with companies leveraging partnerships and eyeing potentially lucrative initial public offerings in the future. The resilience and innovation demonstrated by the formation of new companies underscore the sectors potential to thrive in both adversity and stronger conditions.

As we enter 2024, proptech companies are likely to place an unprecedented emphasis on monitoring their balance sheets, with a sharp focus on immediate-term profitability. The year will unfold with a strategic shift in business models, emphasising the expansion of product offerings and investments in consumer education to adeptly navigate the housing market slowdown.

Technology is set to emerge as a crucial tool in such sectors as the rental segment, with the advent of online rental screening software, enhancing efficiency, rent payment reporting, and thwarting fraudulent activities.

The technology likely to have the biggest impact in 2024 is data-driven property management. Real-time insights into property performance optimise rents, maintenance schedules, and tenant satisfaction in remote work. Technology enablement creates more flexibility and freedom.

Cybersecurity in real estate increases investment and protects sensitive property and financial data in the digital realm. AI and predictive analytics revolutionise decision-making with data-driven insights, predictive property values, and investment opportunities, expediting the process by removing manual tasks. Augmented and virtual reality will transform property viewing experiences with virtual tours and enhanced property visualisation.

This is underpinned by two fundamental factors. Firstly, housing affordability has plummeted to its lowest level in over 30 years. The combination of escalating home prices and rapid increases in borrowing costs has prompted individuals to explore housing options beyond their current locations.

Secondly, remote and hybrid work options, increasingly prevalent since the pandemic, are becoming a permanent fixture of the professional landscape.

In 2024, the challenges of affordability and the evolving nature of work will foster increased migration to secondary markets nationwide. This shift not only holds promise for relative affordability but also aligns with lifestyle preferences.

The more nationalised approach to real estate will impact organisations supporting industry professionals and the individuals actively servicing the sector.

The paradigm shift of multiple listing services in the real estate landscape presents a unique opportunity for real estate professionals. With the for-sale market navigating a precarious juncture marked by compensation lawsuits and affordability concerns, the emphasis in 2024 will be on generating leads and income through other avenues, such as the rental market.

With affordability as the primary concern heading into 2024, tools intended to support greater financial empowerment will continue to gain prominence this coming year. Rent payment reporting is one of the initiatives that will play a more prominent role in fostering a fairer financial future for all participants in the real estate ecosystem.

As charting the trajectory towards a more equitable financial future, additional private sector solutions are likely to emerge in 2024 and become instrumental in facilitating this transformative change. Success in 2024 will hinge on the capacity to embrace change and capitalise on emerging opportunities.

Real estate market prepares for renewal from 2025 Along with positive changes in the macroeconomic picture, real estate players are pining for 2025 when new laws come into play.

New major projects can spearhead future real estate Despite plenty of work on reviving Vietnams real estate taking place last year, fruition may not be felt for quite a while yet.
In early January, Vietnams National Innovation Centre (NIC) and Japans MUFG entities consisting of MUFG Bank, MUFG Innovation Partners, Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri), and Krungsri Finnovate signed an MoU pledging to work together to nurture and promote Vietnams innovation and startup ecosystem.

Startups of various sizes will benefit from the partnership between MUFG and Vietnams National Innovation Centre

Under the MoU, the organisations will collaborate on an array of promotion activities such as business matching fairs and investment and knowledge exchange seminars. This agreement will allow all parties to unveil a promising and exciting roadmap for startups to grow in Vietnam, fostering a new era of economic and technological progression.

This partnership will facilitate efforts to introduce Vietnamese startups to global markets while encouraging promising tech firms from around the world and in Asia, to make headway in Vietnam. It will also encourage business and investment flows between ASEAN countries like Vietnam and Thailand with Japan, thereby diversifying the regional economic landscape.

The tie-up will facilitate efforts to get Vietnamese startups onto a global stage

Vietnam is increasingly deemed attractive as an investment destination, specifically for startups, and there is a clear trend towards further development. There are many Japanese companies interested in Vietnamese startups, especially in e-commerce, cars, healthcare, gamification, and logistics. Furthermore, with the recent elevation of bilateral ties between Vietnam and Japan, it is believed that Japanese investors are continuing to accelerate their expansion in Vietnam.

The NIC, led by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, is a hub for innovation with a mission to promote digital innovation at a national level and develop the countrys tech ecosystem.

MUFG Bank, with its unrivalled network globally and longstanding presence in Vietnam, has laid a solid foundation to support customers growth.

As a gateway connecting Vietnam with the world, MUFG Bank has promoted Vietnam to multinational corporates and investors globally and within Asia, fostering real economic growth and the development of sound and robust capital markets.

Kojima Masao, regional head of MUFG Bank Vietnam, said that the three important pillars outlined by Vietnam as its growth trajectories including green transition, digital transformation, and infrastructure are interconnected and indispensable to the countrys modern sustainable development.

Digital technologies can optimise resource use, decreasing costs of producing green energy, and align between economic efficiency and the environment, all contributing to a green transition. Startups with technological applications to solve social and environmental problems will lead the new front, Kojima said.

The new agreement will offer new value for enterprises

With its strong track record in environmental, social, and governance financing and deep commitment to promote carbon neutrality both from within and across society, MUFG will provide value to enterprises and startups, Kojima added.

The expertise and experience MUFG together with its partner bank relationships, subsidiaries, and affiliates form the basis of its unrivalled network and competitive advantages. Through the collaboration with the NIC, both parties will utilise and complement each others strengths.

Collaboration is expected to reach new horizons as technology startups from the likes of Thailand, Japan, and Vietnam come together, creating a powerful network that will stimulate constant expansion and technological progress.

Along with the significant step for the promotion of Vietnamese innovations globally, it also bridges foreign startups to bring their operations to Vietnamese soil, Kojima explained, thus creating an environment teeming with potential and setting the stage for a vibrant, innovative, and globally connected startup culture in Vietnam.

Prime Minister officially opens NIC Hoa Lac The National Innovation Centre (NIC) in Hoa Lac High-Tech Park was inaugurated with the participation of PM Pham Minh Chinh on October 28.

NIC fulfilling promise with wide-ranging programmes Vietnams National Innovation Centre has created a solid launch pad for startups to develop new technology nationwide.

NIC runs on ABB smart building tech The new National Innovation Centre (NIC) in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, Hanoi is playing a key role in connecting the countrys domestic technology ecosystem with global networks, helping accelerate the countrys position as a regional innovation destination.

MUFGs gateway to the global business community As 2021 draws to a close, MUFG Bank Vietnam would like to take the opportunity to thank our clients for your partnership and regulators, partners, and colleagues for your incredible support and guidance throughout the year.

MUFG, Mizuho, SMFG, and Grab vying to acquire Home Credit Japanese financial behemoths and Grab have allegedly shown their appetite to acquire Home Credit in Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and India.

The 10th anniversary VietinBank - MUFG strategic alliance The year 2023 will mark the 10th anniversary of the VietinBank - MUFG strategic alliance. This is a significant milestone on the collaboration journey of the two banks and triggers so many special memories.

Committed to empowering a brighter future MUFG Vietnam believes empowering members of business and society to address environmental and social issues is an integral part of its mission. With that, we have been making relentless efforts to initiate conversations with clients and policymakers about the importance of transition finance.
Established in Vietnam in 2008, Novartis has become a trusted partner of the government in supporting the domestic healthcare system through long-term and comprehensive cooperation programmes. Novartis Vietnam focuses on key therapeutic areas including cardiovascular, immunology, oncology and gene therapy.

In early 2015, Novartis discovered a company in Binh Duong province had been producing a drug that infringed on its Vildagliptin patent. After nearly eight years of litigation, in October last year, Novartis was granted victory by the High Peoples Court of Ho Chi Minh City, successfully securing its patent for Vildagliptin in the Vietnamese market. The defendant was required to publicly apologise and compensate for the infringement.

The judgement has set an important precedent for pharmaceutical patent protection in Vietnam, helping similar cases to be resolved fairly and transparently. Moreover, it has also boosted confidence in the improving business environment and offers encouragement to investors to fund research and innovation in Vietnam.

"Protecting intellectual property rights is a crucial condition for companies to confidently invest in product research and development," said Karina Ng, country president of Novartis Vietnam. The Vietnamese court made a fair ruling protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Novartis, and we expect relevant parties to comply. This will improve investor confidence in Vietnam, especially regarding challenging medical issues.

Over the past year, with the enactment of the amended Law on Intellectual Property, Vietnam's intellectual property legal system has met practical requirements as well as commitments in new-generation Free Trade Agreements like the EUVietnam Free Trade Agreement and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

"We greatly appreciate the continued efforts of the Vietnamese government to strengthen intellectual property rights protection," said Le Xuan Loc, a representative of T&G Law firm LLC. "A fair and transparent intellectual property law will establish a healthy business environment, thereby encouraging businesses to invest here."

Private companies also play a vital role in ensuring a sustainable business environment. With long-term commitments to development and investment in Vietnam, Novartis conducts ethical and responsible business activities, maintaining its efforts to create breakthroughs for community health.

Novartis is an innovative medical company, working to reimagine medicine that can improve and extend lives so that patients, healthcare professionals, and communities are empowered in the face of serious disease. Novartis' products are used by more than 250 million people worldwide.

Stakeholders discuss solutions to improve hospitalisation in Vietnam The Health Strategy and Policy Institute (HSPI) has cooperated with Novartis Vietnam to organise a workshop to discuss improving appropriate hospitalisation to enhance the operational effectiveness of the health system.

25 years of development - Novartis affirms long-term commitments to community health Novartis on November 22 celebrated its 25th anniversary to mark its development journey. With great achievements in increasing the communitys access to healthcare, Novartis affirms its leading global position in healthcare as well as its long-term commitments globally.
The most notable feature of its Lunar New Year hampers this year is that for the first time, two box options will be presented to give guests choices to consider when selecting the most suitable gift.

By utilising a rectangular box, the collection gives off a sturdy and classic vibe that best matches the Dragon designs, delivering best wishes to its guests for a harmonious and prosperous new year.

The Deluxe Box features an intricately foiled, 'Tet-tastic' red dragon on the front. At first glance, the Deluxe Boxs Dragon is captivating with a radiant gold shade but will turn iridescent with different viewing angles and lighting, reflecting the Dragons magical characteristic in the design.

In contrast to the Deluxe Box, the Luxury Box puts on a coat of glorious yellow to save the spotlight for the shiny scarlet Dragon. The Dragon on the Luxury Box is also depicted with more grace and flexibility to pair with the appearance of a dahlia, a flower that is very familiar to Vietnamese during the Lunar New Year.

From the fruity taste of dried mango to the nutty macadamias in the Luxury box, the honeylike dried dates, dried cranberries with a hint of sourness, and the spicy cashews, the gift contents of the Xuan Hoa, Tet Rong collection are carefully selected to be well-balanced.

Besides nuts and fruits, the Luccarelli red wine in the Deluxe Box, and the prestigious Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky are both sophisticated gifts to share with friends and loved ones during conversations at the beginning of the year.

Priding itself as the first 5-star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City to offer logo customisation on its hampers for businesses, InterContinental Saigon will continue to make Lunar New Year hampers this year delivered with the most gracious presentation. Those with high demands can choose to further elevate the value of their gifts by customising the wine part of the hamper.

A glorious Tet hamper from InterContinental Saigon With an eye-catching shade of yellow, the gloriously blooming apricot blossoms motif, and a glance of soaring swallows, the Lunar New Year hamper 2023 from InterContinental Saigon has brought festive cheer to everyone a little earlier.

Savouring Latin America week at InterContinental Saigon Join Market 39 of InterContinental Saigon and our Guest Chef Jaime 'Jimmy' Rojas from Hotel Indigo Bangkok this May to explore the colourful cuisines of Latin America.

InterContinental Saigon unveils Ly Ngu Vong Nguyet mooncake collection Ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, InterContinental Saigon is presenting its 2023 mooncake collection with two elegant and sophisticated box designs.
The growth momentum of Vietnam's construction industry is expected to continue over the forecast period, recording a compound annual growth rate of 13 per cent from 2023 to 2027. Construction output is expected to reach VND903 trillion ($38.1 billion) by 2027.

The nation's construction industry faced considerable challenges in 2023. Rising material prices, higher debt taken by builders, and dampened demand during the pandemic have all resulted in the downfall of hundreds of construction firms in the Vietnamese market in recent quarters.

To spur economic growth and development in the country, the government has been increasingly investing in transport infrastructure. Several projects were completed in the second half of 2023, with many more planned to be finished over the next 2-3 years. These projects are set to keep supporting the recovery of the struggling industry in Vietnam over the short to medium term.

The report also pointed out that developers stalled more than a thousand projects in Vietnam last year due to the funding crisis. The crackdown by the government on corruption and builders taking on too much debt are among the various factors that have triggered a property crisis. According to the Ministry of Construction, this has affected more than 1,800 builders, forcing 340 companies into insolvency in the first quarter of 2023.

The Vietnamese Real Estate Association also revealed that the government has frozen resources, leading to a funding crunch for developers. As a result, builders have suspended more than 1,200 real estate projects totalling $34 billion.

The association also revealed that each of the 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam has an average of 20 suspended projects. The stoppage of these construction activities is impacting the growth of the domestic market.

Meanwhile, construction material prices further increased in the second half of 2023. Despite the government's attempts to boost demand for iron and steel by reducing supply through measures such as cutting public investment, defunding crucial projects, and emphasising social housing initiatives, construction material prices remained high in the first half of 2023.

This has added further pressure to the market's growth. In the first half of last year, the surge in material prices resulted in many firms halting their projects, as they were unwilling to take on the financial risks.

Domestic construction companies broaden horizons Vietnamese construction firms are increasingly setting their sights on international markets, with some industry leaders undertaking ambitious projects abroad.

Encouraging green urban and construction finance Green finance is crucial for Vietnams sustainable urban and construction development. To encourage it, banks are considering regulatory support to boost green financing.
City officials addressed neighborhood concerns Tuesday as they laid out a proposal to built a wastewater treatment plant about a decade from now by the Brazos River in Chalk Bluff.

At a Waco City Council work session Tuesday, staffers said they have met individually with neighbors concerned about odors, noise, visual impact, traffic and pollution risk on the river, and they outlined steps to minimize those impacts.

The city in June bought the 150-acre proposed plant site at the end of Buster Chatham Road, just outside the Waco city limits. The site search followed an April 2019 study to explore a new sewer plant to handle ongoing growth in the China Spring area.

Many residents in the unincorporated Chalk Bluff neighborhood say they were not aware of the plans until the last couple of weeks. A neighborhood group has created a Facebook page to express concerns, including the lack of communication from Waco, the possible odor and noise from the plant, the increased traffic on the small county roads and the possibility of sewage spilling into and polluting the Brazos River.

During the hour-long council discussion Tuesday, water utilities director Lisa Tyer and council addressed many of those issues.

Tyer said any plans for the plant are far in the future: Construction likely would not begin before 2032, and operations at the plant would not begin until the end of 2034.

She also said waste from the plant will not end up in the river. The solids, which make up only 3% of the waste processed at treatment plants, will be hauled off to Wacos central wastewater plant to be repurposed into soil additives and wont be put into the river. The remaining effluent water will be treated, disinfected and run through a wetlands as it is at Bull Hide Creek treatment plant near Lorena.

Several residents signed up to speak at the business session of the council Tuesday evening.

Gail and Mark Blanpied live in Chalk Bluff and own a pecan orchard, Rascoe Pecans, adjacent to the planned plant.

Mark Blanpied told the council Tuesday that he was concerned about the size of the property the city purchased and the impact construction will have on the small community nearby. He called the purchase of property an invasion of the rural neighborhood.

Chalk Bluff resident Jeanna Maughan told the council she was concerned about the lack of communication from the city regarding the plans for the plant after purchasing the property in June.

Its been so unsettling, Maughan said.

Maughan said she joined several residents on a tour of the Bull Hide Creek plant last week with city officials after the residents inquired about the project. She said the residents shared their email addresses with utility officials then but were not informed about the agenda item until a Tribune-Herald article on Tuesday.

Maughan said the Bull Hide plant had an odor that she worried would become worse during the hot summer months. She also expressed concerns that the city was going against regulations laid out in ordinances protecting the Brazos River Corridor District.

Why were they so concerned about protecting the river corridor just a few thousand feet downstream? Maughan said. Its a corridor where you cant have signs, you cant build certain buildings of a certain height, you cant park your RV too close to it. I mean, theres all kinds of tiny little ordinances, but you can put a wastewater treatment plant just a few feet upstream of it.

Craig Pollard, a geologist who lives near the planned facility, said in an interview that his main concern with the plant is the fact that it would be located in a flood plain. If flooding were to occur, Pollard said the raw sewage from the plant would flow downstream to Waco and devastate the river.

Pollard also said he felt it was bizarre to construct a treatment plant for China Spring and Bosqueville across the river from those communities, as it necessitates the construction of an underground pipe.

If there is any kind of breach in that system, whether the facility gets swamped or the pipe gets in some kind of disrepair, that directly affects the Brazos River, Pollard said.

He said the plant would provide no benefit to Chalk Bluff residents, who rely on septic systems.

In the work session, Tyer said new technology could become available that would allow the new plant to operate much differently from the Bull Hide plant. Tyer said the city has already invested $2 million in odor control technology at the citys new transfer lift station off University Parks Drive.

Tyer said only a small fraction of the 150 acres would be needed for the facility, which would be located outside the flood plain. Trees would be planted around the facility as a buffer to reduce light and noise pollution to nearby residents.

In response to concerns about a possible rupture of pipes under the Brazos, Tyer also said the city already has many pipes running beneath the river.

Council Member Jim Holmes, who represents China Spring, said he welcomes the discussion with Chalk Bluff residents about their concerns and said the discourse is important to the public process. He said more meetings with the residents are planned in coming weeks, and the city will take great care to prevent pollution.

Mayor Dillon Meek said he is also looking forward to further conversations with the residents. While he said he doesnt love the idea of building a new facility, he said it is needed to get ahead of growth in the area.

The good news I believe is that we have a track record of having water treatment facilities that do not cause a problem to neighbors, as evidenced by the neighbors of the Bull Hide, that produce no odor, that produces clean water being put back into the system, Meek said. We can point to that and say that we do take this seriously. And we have a track record of doing it.

We will again ensure that we work with the residents to strike this balance.
WATERLOO  Police have arrested a Waterloo man following a Tuesday night traffic stop.

Keon Trevon Sexton-Pate, 22, was arrested for felon in possession of a firearm, carrying weapons, interference and possession of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $10,000.

Officers attempted to pull over a Volkswagen Taos, but the driver took off, parked in the 400 block of Thompson Avenue and walked away.

Sexton-Pate was found walking nearby, and he allegedly struggled with officers. Police found keys to the vehicle and K2 synthetic marijuana on his person, according to court records.

In the vehicle, authorities found a loaded .357-caliber Taurus revolver and a box of ammunition under a seat.

Sexton-Pate is prohibited from handling firearms because of a prior burglary conviction, according to court records.

Photos: Guns in Northeast Iowa crime cases
By Lee Yeon-woo

Despite the approval of the much-waited bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its value is continuing on a downward trend. This deviates from market expectations that the price would continue to soar due to an influx of institutional investments.

According to the crypto price tracker CoinMarketCap, the price of bitcoin has been hovering around the $43,000 range since last weekend. Its price had been on an upward trend since the beginning of 2024 in anticipation of the decision, yet it faltered by over 10 percent just a day after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's decision.

As of 3:30 p.m., on Wednesday, it is trading at $42,804, relinquishing most of the gains it had made earlier this year.

Market observers note that the recent drop in bitcoin prices can be attributed to a significant influx of sell orders, driven by investors seeking to realize immediate profits. According to CryptoQuant, approximately 90 percent of the bitcoin supply is currently showing unrealized gains in comparison to their purchase prices.

Additionally, there has been a notable shift of funds from the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) to other ETFs.

Previously, GBTC operated as a trust product, pooling money from institutional investors to purchase bitcoin on their behalf, and selling it in the form of securities. When it recently transitioned to an ETF and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, its transaction volume accounted for almost half of the total. However, due to its relatively high fees compared to other ETFs, a significant number of investors appear to be transferring their investments to alternative funds.

"Large bitcoin wallets were moving older coins at a high rate, pushing the average age of coins sitting in their wallets down significantly. There are mild signs that this continued movement of older coins is finally done for the time being. This would increase the likelihood of crypto's bull cycle finally halting for now," market intelligence platform Santiment wrote in a report to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, anticipation of future approval for an ethereum ETF is attracting investor funds. The price of ethereum has risen by approximately 10 percent compared to just before the approval of the bitcoin ETF.

However, market observers anticipate a rebound in the prices soon, as the bitcoin halving event is expected this April.

Anthony Scaramucci, the founder and CEO of hedge fund Skybridge Capital, told the Reuters Global Markets Forum on Tuesday, "Wherever the price is on the day of the halving in April, multiply it by four, and it'll reach that price in the next 18 months."
DES MOINES  The Iowa Board of Regents needs a new president as Mike Richards has stepped down from his role effective immediately.

Richards has served on the board, which oversees Iowas three state universities, since 2016. He was appointed by Gov. Kim Reynoldss predecessor, Gov. Terry Branstad. He was elected president by the board in 2017.

According to a news release, Richards will remain on the board until April 30, when he plans to resign. Board member and President Pro Tem Sherry Bates will take over the president position in an interim role until a new leader is elected at a future board meeting.

Serving as a member of the Board has been a true honor and privilege, Richards said in the release. I want to publicly thank Governor Reynolds and Governor Branstad who gave me the opportunity to serve in this important role. I also want to thank all the Regents that I have served with.

I am extremely proud of all that we have accomplished over the past seven years, he said. Our public universities are among the finest in the nation, and I have enjoyed the collaborative relationship to find ways to continue to improve. I am making this announcement now to allow for a smooth transition in leadership, and to hopefully give Governor Reynolds ample time to find and name my replacement.

Regents spokesperson Josh Lehman said in an email that Richards wishes to spend more time with friends and family. He is announcing his resignation at this time to give more time to search for his replacement.

Saving for your kids' college education? Everything you need to know about 529 plans Saving for your kids' college education? Everything you need to know about 529 plans
The civil rights struggles in the United States and the end of colonialism in Africa came at the same time and naturally the movements dovetailed.

In 1957, the Kings went to Ghana in West Africa to attend its independence ceremony from Britain, according to the King Encyclopedia at Stanford University. In the capital of Accra, he met then-Vice President Richard Nixon, among others.

His first overseas trip, Ghana a profound effect on King. Upon his return to the United States, he said, "Ghana has something to say to us. It says to us first, that the oppressor never voluntarily gives freedom to the oppressed. You have to work for it."

Before the pandemic, Ghana was emerging as a prime tourist destination not just in West Africa but the entire continent. It is open to US visitors. While many people come for the beaches, wildlife and food, it also holds important historical sites.

That includes Cape Coast Castle, which was a hub of the transatlantic slave trade. A visit there is a somber reminder of centuries of oppression and its ramifications during MLK's time up to today. Victoria Road, Cape Coast, Ghana, +233 024 587 3117
WASHINGTON  A barrage of U.S., coalition and militant attacks in the Middle East over the last five days are compounding U.S. fears that Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza could expand, as massive military strikes failed to stall the assault on Red Sea shipping by Yemen-based Houthis.

Even as the U.S. and allies pummeled more than two dozen Iran-backed Houthi locations on Friday in retaliation for attacks on ships, the Houthis have continued their maritime assaults. Tehran struck sites in Iraq and Syria, claiming to target an Israeli "spy headquarters," then followed that Tuesday with reported missile and drone attacks in Pakistan.

The chaotic wave of attacks and reprisals involving the United States, its allies and foes suggested not only that last week's assault failed to deter the Houthis, but that the broader regional war that the U.S. has spent months trying to avoid was becoming closer to reality.

Underscoring the gravity of the roiling situation, the Biden administration was expected to announce plans to redesignate the Houthis as global terrorists, according to people familiar with the decision who requested anonymity.

At the White House Tuesday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. is "not looking for a war. We're not looking to expand this. The Houthis have a choice to make."

But in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned that the expanding array of attacks mean that allies must "be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage."

Ever since the devastating attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7 prompted a massive air and ground campaign by Israeli forces, the U.S. and other allies worried about it expanding to a broader regional war.

U.S. diplomatic and military officials have shuttled urgently across the Middle East, working to ease tensions but the enormous Palestinian death toll has fueled anger and is being touted as a reason for at least some of the attacks.

Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel's offensive 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.

In rapid succession in recent days, the Houthis fired an anti-ship cruise missile toward a U.S. Navy destroyer over the weekend, but the ship shot it down. The Houthis then struck a U.S.-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden on Monday and a Malta-flagged bulk carrier in the Red Sea on Tuesday. The attacks came despite the bombardment by U.S. and British ships and fighter jets of more than 60 Houthi targets in 28 locations on Friday.

Though the U.S. said the subsequent Houthi maritime attacks have been smaller, and not as complex as earlier ones, it appears the militant group has not been deterred. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has praised the group's actions.

According to U.S. Central Command, the U.S. launched a new strike against the Houthis on Tuesday, hitting four anti-ship ballistic missiles that were prepared to launch and presented an imminent threat to merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the region.

Hours later, the Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia. The ship was hit, but no one was injured and it continued on its way.

The attack Monday on the U.S.-owned Gibraltar Eagle also resulted in damage but no injuries, and it too continued on its journey.

The Houthis' military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a statement it fired at the Zografia after the ship's crew refused to answer warning calls and that the vessel was heading for a port in Israel. According to the shipping tracking website Vessel Finder, Zografia was bound for Suez, Egypt.

While Iran arms and backs the Houthis, its not been clear how much it helped plan or direct the attacks. Tehran launched its own assault on Israel's interests late Monday, firing missiles near the U.S. Consulate in northern Iraq at what it said was a headquarters of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency.

Four civilians were killed and six injured in the strike in Irbil, the seat of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, according to the security council of the Kurdish regional government. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement it also fired ballistic missiles at "terrorist operations," including Islamic State targets, in Syria and destroyed them.

On Tuesday, Iran struck targets inside Pakistan, killing two "innocent children" and wounded three other people, the Pakistani government said. Iran described the targets as bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl, state media reported.

Jaish al-Adl, or the "Army of Justice," is a Sunni militant group which largely operates across the border in Pakistan. Iran has fought the militants in border areas, but a missile-and-drone attack on nuclear-armed Pakistan would be unprecedented for Iran.

How Houthi attacks crimp global trade Why are Houthis attacking ships? Why is the Red Sea important? How are Houthi attacks affecting trade? What does it mean for oil prices? How is the world responding?
CHICAGO (AP)  A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced an American woman to 26 years in prison for helping to kill her mother and stuffing the body in a suitcase during a luxury vacation in Bali nearly a decade ago

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly in Chicago sentenced Heather Mack, 28, for conspiring to kill Sheila von Wiese-Mack with her then-boyfriend in 2014 to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund.

Prosecutors have said Mack covered her mothers mouth while Tommy Schaefer bludgeoned Wiese-Mack to death with a fruit bowl in a hotel room. Mack was 18 and pregnant at the time. Prosecutors recommended a 28-year prison sentence.

Macks lawyers had sought a 15-year prison term, but with credit for the seven years she spent in an Indonesian prison after her 2015 conviction for being an accessory to Wiese-Macks murder and her more than two years in custody in Chicago.

This is an update. APs earlier story follows below.

Today in history: Nov. 3 1868: Ulysses S. Grant 1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt 1954: "Godzilla" 1961: Agency for International Development 1970: Salvador Allende 1986: Iran-Contra 1992: Bill Clinton 1994: Susan Smith 2004: George W. Bush 2011: George Papandreou 2014: One World Trade Center 2016: Tim Kaine 2020: Election 2012: Brooklyn Nets 2017: Rand Paul 2021: Cleo Smith 2021: Heather Mack
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (16 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 aviation and artillery repelled six attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 95th Air Assault Brigade close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region). The enemy losses amounted to up to 160 troops, three tanks (two of them  Leopards), and two pickup trucks.

In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces, supported by artillery fire, repelled four attacks launched by assault groups of the 63rd mechanised and 25th air assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic), and Yampolovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses amounted to up to 250 troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, and six motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces, supported by artillery, repelled five attacks launched by assault groups of the 10th mountain assault and 24th mechanised brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces close to Veseloye and Bogdanovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

In addition, artillery and heavy flamethrowers hit the enemys manpower and military hardware near Kurdyumovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy lost up to 280 troops, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles. During the counter-battery warfare, the following were hit: one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, as well as one D-20 gun.

In South-Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces in cooperation with artillery and heavy flamethrowers, inflicted fire damage on the 72nd mechanised and 79th air assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Vladimirovka and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemys losses amounted to 120 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and one MT-12 anti-tank gun.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery defeated clusters of manpower and military hardware of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade and the 116th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Verbovoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). The AFU lost up to 115 troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and two D-30 guns.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the Russian Group of Forces actions and artillery, the AFU losses amounted to up to 65 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles. Moreover, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one M-109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and three Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems were neutralised in counter-battery warfare.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 112 areas during the day.

Air defence systems have shot down 69 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles during the day, including close to Novaya Mayachka, Golaya Pristann (Kherson region), Pologi (Zaporozhye region), Staromikhailovka, Peski, Spornoye, Maryinka, Lipovoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Belogorovka, Nyrkovo, Topolevka, Verkhnekamenka, and Krivosheyevka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), as well as 13 HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,758 unmanned aerial vehicles, 450 air defence missile systems, 14,645 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,202 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,750 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,507 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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(CNN)  The worlds oldest ever dog Bobi, who died in October reportedly aged 31, has provisionally lost his title as Guinness World Records (GWR) investigates his age, a spokesperson for the company told CNN on Tuesday.

While our review is ongoing we have decided to temporarily pause both the record titles for oldest dog living & ever just until all of our findings are in place, the spokesperson said.

Bobis age had initially been confirmed by Servico Medico-Veterinario do Municipio de Leiria (Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria), which said he had been registered in 1992 while SIAC, a Portuguese government-authorized pet database, verified this, according to GWRs February announcement of the record.

He was reportedly 31 years and 165 days old when he died in October.

However, suspicions began to emerge soon after Bobis death regarding the evidence that reportedly proved his true age.

A spokesperson told CNN Tuesday that GWRs formal review occurs when a record title is challenged and involves analyzing existing evidence, seeking new evidence, reaching out to experts and those linked to the original application.

Bobis owner Leonel Costa, who said he was 8 years old when his dog was born in 1992, told GWR in February that there were many secrets to the dogs extraordinary old age.

Bobi always roamed freely, without a leash or chain, lived in a calm, peaceful environment and ate human food soaked in water to remove seasonings, Costa said.

He was a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo  a breed of livestock guardian dog  according Costa. Rafeiro do Alentejos have a life expectancy of about 12-14 years, according to the American Kennel Club.

Bobi spent his whole life in Conqueiros, a small Portuguese village about 150 kilometers (93 miles) north of the capital Lisbon, often wandering around with cats.

The previous record holder for oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever was held by Australian cattle-dog Bluey, who was born in 1910 and lived to be 29 years and five months old.

The-CNN-Wire

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How your dog's nutritional needs change as they age How your dog's nutritional needs change as they age Puppies need more calories and protein than adult dogs Adult dogs' dietary needs largely depend on activity level Adult dogs can consume more fat than senior dogs, but levels should be monitored Senior dogs need fewer calories but more fiber and higher-quality protein. Nutrient levels of senior dogs must be monitored closely
A St. Croix Falls native was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Jan. 5 for eight charges related to sex and narcotics crimes involving children.

Eric Wirth, 44, was sentenced in Monroe County to the 25 years plus 15 years of extended supervision by Circuit Court Judge Todd Ziegler. On Sept. 14, Wirth was found guilty of the following offenses:

Repeated sexual assault of the same child.

Sex with a child 16 years of age or older.

Use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.

Cause a child aged 13-18 to view sexual activity.

Exposing a child to harmful material.

Possession of cocaine.

Two counts of child sexual exploitation.

All of the charges stem from conduct over a four-plus year period, from May 2017 to July 2021, in which Wirth used children for his own sexual gratification, according to a news release from Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger.

Croninger recommended the 25-year confinement after a 10-year sentence was initially recommended by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

We are grateful to Judge Ziegler for the sentence he ordered in this matter and for going well above what was recommended by the Department of Corrections, Croninger said in the release, adding sentiments regarding the severity of Wirths actions.

The Monroe County District Attorneys Office, Sparta Police Department and Monroe County Sheriffs Office conducted the investigation that led to Wirths sentencing.

This is a case that involved numerous perverse acts by the defendant, Croninger said in the release. The officers involved demonstrated the highest levels of professional integrity and investigative skill in procuring the facts that proved the defendant was guilty.
South Korea on Wednesday imposed independent sanctions on 11 vessels and five individuals and entities engaged in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of oil and other products to North Korea, tightening the sanctions against the North's maritime activities.

The latest sanctions designation is part of South Korea's efforts to discourage the North's illicit procurement of resources and financing that are used to fund its nuclear and missile programs, the foreign ministry said.

It also marks the first designation of sanctions on ships by the South Korean government in nearly eight years, the ministry said.

The 11 vessels under sanctions are the Nam Dae Bong (formerly Diamond 8), New Konk, Unica, Xing Ming Yang 888, Subblic, A Bong 1 (formerly Heng Xing), Kyong Song 3 (formerly Anni), Liton, A Sa Bong (formerly Hai Jun), Gold Star and Athena.

The vessels are suspected of involvement in the transshipment with North Korean ships, smuggling refined oil and coal into the North and supplying, selling and transferring goods to and from the North.

All the vessels have been specified in the U.N. Panel of Experts reports from the Security Council sanctions committee on North Korea. The panel has recommended seven of them be added to the U.N. sanctions list.

South Korea is the first country to sanction all the vessels but the New Konk and Unica. The two were sanctioned by the European Union in 2022.

The sanctions also apply to two North Koreans. Pak Kyong-ran, an employee of the Korea Paek Sol Trading Corp., is suspected of purchasing used vessels and bringing in refined oil into North Korea.

The second individual, Min Myong-hak, an executive at Risang Trading, is allegedly involved in the sending of North Korean workers and ship-to-ship transfers.

Along with Risang Trading, Mangang Trading Co. and Yua Trading were designated as the three entities subject to the sanctions.

The sanctions require special approval from South Korean authorities to enter a port in the country. The individuals and entities are banned from any financial or foreign currency transactions unless they obtain prior approval from the central bank or financial regulator.

North Korea has long engaged in the transport of petroleum and related products, exports of coal and smuggling of goods via ships to evade multiple U.N. Security Council sanctions banning the regime from any such activities in response to its weapons programs.

Wednesday's designation of sanctions marks the 15th of its kind by the Yoon Suk Yeol government. (Yonhap)
After spending one year as an assistant to Daniel Hardman learning the ropes, Eric Thunbergs tenure as Lake Delton police chief is underway.

The new department leader was officially sworn in as chief during the Village Boards monthly meeting on Jan. 8. Thunberg began as acting chief in early November and said Hardman officially stepped down on Jan. 1.

Hardman moved to Lake Delton in 2013 and began his nine-plus year tenure as chief on July 1, 2014, succeeding Tom Dorner, a current Sauk County Board supervisor who was department chief from 1990 to 2014.

Prior to joining the department on Jan. 3, 2023, Thunberg was a police officer in Chula Vista, California, where he worked with Hardman from 1993 to 2013. Thunberg is also succeeding Hardman as the villages director of public safety, which includes oversight of the Delton Fire Department and Dells-Delton EMS.

Operations within the department are going well and continuing to improve, according to Thunberg, who said he wants to continue leading the department in a positive direction. The Lake Delton Police Department has been accredited by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group since 2017, and Thunberg sees that as an endorsement of department methods, adaptability to change, and accountability.

As we look forward to what we do in the future, a big part of that is looking back over the last 10 years and recognizing just how far this department has come, Thunberg said, adding that the departments professionalism improved under Hardmans leadership and that the accreditation allows LDPD to rank among the top law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin. My goal in my new role is to continue the organizations trajectory forward.

Forty-four agencies are accredited by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group, including the Baraboo and Reedsburg police departments. Thunberg said department policies, procedures, protocols, evidence storage, open records processes and many other aspects are examined during the three-day process, which now has 262 standards which a department must meet to earn accreditation or renewal. The department earned another three-year accreditation in 2023.

Accreditation is an evolving process, and were always looking to make sure we can attain that, Thunberg said, adding that the department remains self-critical and is not resting on its laurels.

Thunberg spoke highly of the departments collaborations with the fire and medical services and the villages Public Works Department and board. He has built relationships with members of the Police Department and other first responder agencies by joining them on calls and during shifts, as well as being currently enrolled in a fire officer course after previously training in firefighting.

I met with folks, talked with them, let them know me, Thunberg said of his bonds with other responders. Im extremely proud of our EMS folks. I watched the care that they give to people. Its been awe-inspiring to me. The same thing goes for the Fire Department. We have excellent collaborations.

Working directly with paramedics was new for Thunberg, who said a contractor provided those services in Chula Vista. He worked collaboratively with area fire departments in his previous positions.

Im learning new things at my age, which is challenging and fun, Thunberg said. The more we understand each other and the more were willing to work together, the better off we are. Im happy to be a part of it.

A native of Jamul, California, Thunberg embraces his small-town upbringing and said he always wanted to return to a smaller community for law enforcement. Lake Delton fits that mold, he said, and also presents unique challenges as a tourist community, particularly with the large amount of summer visitors. Public safety for residents, employees and tourists is of paramount importance to Thunberg, along with being responsive to their needs.

We are a customer service organization, Thunberg said, adding he wants department staff to remain responsive, approachable and accountable, along with conducting prompt and thorough criminal investigations.
Republicans who control the Wisconsin state Senate voted Tuesday to fire a state utility regulator because he supports setting energy rates according to customers ability to pay and opening up the solar energy sector.

The Senate voted 21-11 to reject Public Service Commissioner Tyler Huebners confirmation. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers appointed him to the commission in March 2020 and again in March 2021. Huebner previously served as executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization that advocates for renewable energy.

The commissioner is the latest in a line of gubernatorial appointees the Senate has fired over the last five years as Republican lawmakers chafe under the Evers administration. Democratic Sen. Brad Pfaff  who served as Evers agriculture secretary until the Senate fired him in 2019  argued that Huebner is one of the brightest minds in renewable energy and accused Republicans of trying to cripple state government.

Rejecting Huebners confirmation is not something you should be doing so you can be bragging about it to your base, Pfaff said. It sends a signal it doesnt matter what your background is. It doesnt matter your qualifications, your hard work ... what matters is the political party and who appointed you.

Republican Sen. Julian Bradley, a member of the Senates utilities committee, said the vote wasnt political, pointing out that the Senate has confirmed scores of Evers appointees since the governor took office. The Senate voted 27-5 on Tuesday to confirm Commissioner Summer Strand, whom Evers appointed in March 2023, after firing Huebner.

Bradley said on the Senate floor that Huebner supports setting energy rates based on a customers ability to pay rather than usage, a concept known as income-based rates. State law doesnt allow the PSC to take that approach, Bradley said, but Huebner insists it does. The senator dubbed that activism.

Republican Sen. Van Wanggaard, another member of the Senate utilities committee, said in a statement after the vote that Republicans also were upset that Huebner voted in December to allow property owners to lease panels from a solar power company at lower rates than what an electric utility might charge. Utilities have generally opposed such deals and Wanggaard said the Legislature hasnt approved them.

He added that the PSC in 2021 ordered utilities to provide workplace diversity data in annual reports without any authority to do so and he found Huebner to be evasive during meetings.

Huebner said in a statement that he was proud of the decisions he made to balance safety, reliability, and affordability.

Evers issued a statement saying the vote defies justification and logic.

These are qualified, hard-working Wisconsinites were talking about, Evers said. They should be celebrated for service and experience, not bullied, vilified, and fired simply for doing their jobs.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Evers appointed Kristy Nieto, administrator of the commissions Division of Energy Regulation and Analysis, to replace Chairperson Rebecca Valcq, who announced earlier this month that she plans to leave the agency in early February. Evers first appointed Valcq in 2019.

All the changes leave the three-member commission with one vacancy heading into the spring.

Senate Republicans have voted to reject multiple appointees confirmation since 2019, beginning with their refusal to confirm Pfaff.

Last September they voted to reject Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe, but Attorney General Josh Kaul won a court ruling nullifying the rejection.

In October, Republicans rejected eight more Evers appointees, including Joseph Czarnezki, a Democratic member of the elections commission who abstained from voting on whether the commission should reappoint Wolfe. The move resulted in a deadlock that prevented Wolfes reappointment from legally reaching the Senate, angering Republicans who have vowed to oust Wolfe.

Also among the eight appointees who lost their jobs were four members of the state Department of Natural Resources Board. They angered Republicans by hedging on whether a new wolf management plan should include a hard population cap.

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Jose spent decades working in the nickel-plating industry in California, rising from the shop floor to become a manager at various companies. That was before a host of physical and mental health issues, including lumbar disc disease, asthma, depression and PTSD, forced him to stop working in his 50s.

The East Bay resident, who spoke on condition that he be identified only by his first name, applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). His claim was approved in 2021  but only after five years and two denials, during which time he was forced to go on public assistance.

I had eight surgeries and couldnt go to work, he says. It was real bad.

Jose, now 63, is among hundreds of thousands of Americans whove been left in limbo for months, even years, by Social Securitys disability system, where prolonged delays on benefit decisions have become the norm.

Send a message on Social Security Ever-longer waits for decisions on disability benefits are just one facet of Social Securitys customer-service crisis. People calling the SSAs national help line are waiting on hold for nearly 36 minutes, on average, to get answers to routine questions. AARP members have sent nearly 1.2 million messages calling on their members of Congress to support increased funding for Social Security customer service. Find out how to join the campaign and make your voice heard.

In the late 2010s, it typically took the Social Security Administration (SSA) 110 to 120 days to process an initial application for disability benefits, according to agency data. In December, the average wait was 228 days, or more than seven months.

The average wait for a reconsideration by the SSA, the first step in appealing a denied claim, is seven months. If reconsideration is denied, It takes another 15 months on average to get to the next step, a hearing before a Social Security administrative law judge, the stage at which Jose finally won approval.

In one sense, at least, he was lucky. According to federal data, about 10,000 people die each year while their applications for disability benefits are grinding through the system.

Ive been doing this since 1976 and its the worst Ive ever seen, says John Heard, a San Antonio attorney and former president of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives, a membership group for lawyers and professional advocates who focus on disability cases.

Delays are affecting everybody

Social Security administers two types of disability payments. SSDI is a general form of disability benefit, available to people who have worked but can no longer do so due to a severe medical condition. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a safety-net payment for people who are 65 and older or have a disability and have very limited income and assets.

The programs differ, but the medical requirements to qualify for them are the same. You must have a medical condition that prevents you from earning substantial income and will last at least a year or result in death. The process is cumbersome at best, requiring extensive documentation of the applicants condition and multiple layers of appeals when claims are initially denied, as happens in most cases.

Those who have worked within the system for decades say there have always been delays, especially at the hearing level. But in recent years, everyone who files a claim is feeling the pain.

Weve seen a tremendous increase in the time its taking at the lower levels over the last two or three years, says Chris Doherty, an attorney in Beverly, Massachusetts, who has practiced disability law more than 30 years. The extraordinary levels of delay are affecting everybody, because everybody who applies is experiencing them.

The delays are part of a larger crisis in customer service in the wake of the pandemic, which shut down Social Security offices to most in-person business for more than two years and saw the agencys workforce shrink to its lowest level in a quarter-century, leaving those most in need in a prolonged state of uncertainty.

SSA officials largely pin the breakdown on chronic underfunding. The agencys administrative budget has shrunk by 17 percent since 2010, accounting for inflation, while the number of beneficiaries it serves has increased by 22 percent, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington-based think tank.
A U.S. expert said Tuesday that it is "not implausible" that former President Donald Trump, if reelected, could allow North Korea to keep its nuclear program under certain conditions, including its halt on intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches.

Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), made the remarks, touching on a Politico report last month that Trump is considering a negotiation formula, under which Pyongyang freezes its nuclear program and stops building new weapons in return for incentives.

Trump has dismissed the report as "fake news," but speculation about his potential approach to the North's nuclear quandary has persisted as he is seeking a second White House term.

"(The article) which talked about Trump willing to basically accept North Korea as a nuclear weapons state as long as they didn't fire ICBMs in the direction of the United States and then lifting sanctions in order to get them to behave responsibly as a nuclear weapons state," Cha said at a virtual CSIS forum.

"I think that is not implausible in the sense that it would cost Trump least. It would probably mean less U.S.-Japan-ROK military exercising, which he doesn't like because it's too expensive," he added. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Cha pointed out that Trump's foreign policy is "largely dictated by money."

"That is like his primary compass for foreign policy. It is not protection of values and democracy," he said. "It is really about money."

The notion of North Korea being accepted as a nuclear weapons state would have ripple effects for security in the region, Cha said.

"It would affect the way South Korea looked at their security, would affect the way Japan looked at their security," he said.

Touching on growing military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, Cha predicted that China would feel the need to get closer to the North.

"The closer Russia and North Korea get, the more China will feel its need to try to engage (and) try to strategically tighten its relationship with North Korea," he said, raising the prospects of a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. (Yonhap)
The number of North Korean defectors coming to South Korea almost tripled to around 190 last year from a year ago, with defections by North Korean diplomats and trade officials on the rise, South Korea's vice unification minister said Wednesday.

The preliminary tally for 2023 compared with 67 recorded for the whole year of 2022, according to data from Seoul's unification ministry. The government will soon disclose confirmed yearly figures.

"There is a trend of more elite North Koreans defecting to South Korea," Vice Unification Minister Moon Seoung-hyun told a television program, without providing further details.

North Korean diplomats stationed at the country's overseas missions and officials engaged in trade affairs are believed to have chosen to flee their oppressive home country, as they are under pressure to send hard currency to the regime.

South Korea has a longstanding policy of accepting any North Korean defectors who want to live in the South and repatriating any North Koreans who stray into the South if they want to return.

South Korea is now home to more than 34,000 North Korean defectors, and the flow of defectors continues amid chronic food shortages and harsh political oppression in North Korea.

The number of North Koreans who arrived in South Korea hit a record low of 63 in 2021 as North Korea kept its borders closed to fend off the COVID-19 pandemic. This marks a dramatic decline from a record high of 2,914 in 2009, according to the ministry. (Yonhap)
ACKO has announced the appointment of Dr Mallesh Bommanahal as the Chief Data Scientist to lead the companys data science initiatives and leverage AI for a customer-centric technology development. A distinguished figure in the world of artificial intelligence, Mallesh brings with him a rich cascade of experience, especially in the insurance and healthcare industries. He is also the founder of i3systems.ai, widely known for its groundbreaking AI solutions in insurance underwriting and claims processing. His entrepreneurial venture has played a pivotal role in advancing AI applications across the insurance sector, establishing itself as an AI pioneer in India.

With over 16 years of experience, Mallesh brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise across forums to focus on enhancing AI technology to elevate customer experience, refine risk modeling, and streamline process automations. His strategic vision and execution capabilities contributes to ACKO's pursuit of innovation and excellence in the D2C insurance landscape. Mallesh has a Doctorate degree in Aerospace Engineering, specializing in mathematical modeling of aircraft and UAVs using experimental data. His academic achievements include prestigious degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay where he also founded cutting-edge projects such as student satellite development and advanced toilet-flushing systems.

Commenting on the appointment, Vishwanath Ramarao, Chief Technology and Product Officer at ACKO, said, "Malleshs deep understanding of artificial intelligence and his proven track record of delivering innovation, align seamlessly with ACKO's commitment to technological excellence. Mallesh will further ACKOs capabilities in leveraging AI for transforming insurance CX and I am confident that his expertise will contribute significantly to the evolution of the companys tech-centric approach. His leadership in data science will play a critical role in shaping our tech-first approach to insurance solutions."

Commenting on his stint at ACKO, Mallesh says, "Joining ACKO, is an exciting prospect for me to continue to deploy AI for advancing insurance in India, and ACKO being a D2C digital insurer is uniquely placed to lead this revolution. I was also drawn to ACKO due to its high talent density, and its strategic focus to advance AI solutions that cater to the dynamic needs of our customers. I hope together I will be able to contribute to the companys success.

ACKO's appointment of Dr. Mallesh Bommanahal signifies another strategic move towards reinforcing its technological leadership in the insurance industry.
Amazon's global restructuring is sending ripples through its Southeast Asia (SEA) operations, with implications for its partnership with IPG Mediabrands. A leaked memo from Gaurav Gandhi, Vice President for Asia-Pacific, reveals plans to prioritize certain regions for growth, leading to the scaling back of specific Prime Video programs and initiatives in SEA. This shift in focus could significantly impact IPG Mediabrands' role in managing Amazon's marketing and advertising efforts in the region.

To sharpen operational efficiency, Amazon is tightening its belt in Southeast Asia. Original content production will be scaled back, a move aimed at maximizing return on investment. Gaurav Gandhi has appointed David Simonsen to lead the region's streamlined team, based in Singapore. Simonsen's mandate is to forge closer links with core business units and prioritize customer acquisition initiatives.

Despite this shift, Gandhi affirms that the investment strategy in other Asia-Pacific territories like Japan and India remains steadfast. Nevertheless, this strategic realignment has necessitated the reduction of positions within the SEA team.

Of notable consequence is the effect on Initiative, IPG Mediabrands' agency, where Amazon stands as the global flagship client serviced through the Rufus team. While Initiative successfully retained Amazon in 2022 with billings exceeding US$200,000, a change in course occurred when Amazon initiated a media account review in October 2023. Mediabrands has been pivotal in managing Amazon's media acquisitions since 2017.

Initiative leverages its expertise to support Amazon's diverse initiatives in different Southeast Asian markets. In Singapore, they act as a comprehensive partner, overseeing AWS, Prime Video, and Workforce Staffing. Across Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, they lend their strength to AWS and Prime Video growth. Notably, their Japanese partnership expands to encompass Amazon Advertising, Amazon Business, and Workforce Staffing, showcasing their versatility, while in Korea, their focus on AWS showcases their expertise in cloud computing.
Mamaearth, the flagship brand under Honasa Consumer Limited, India's largest digital-first Beauty and Personal Care (BPC) company, celebrated the opening of its 100th Exclusive Brand Outlet (EBO) in Mumbai. Situated at the bustling R-City Mall in Ghatkopar, this new store signifies a significant milestone in Mamaearth's journey and reinforces its commitment to making toxin-free personal care products accessible to all. The Store was inaugurated by the founders- Ghazal Alagh & Varun Alagh along with the renowned influencer Nikhil Sharma, popularly recognized as Mumbaiker Nikhil and famous beauty and lifestyle influencer Shanice Shrestha Sharma.

With the intent to connect with the consumers in an immersive manner, exclusive brand outlets helped the brand curate richer brand experiences and deepen engagement with them in the offline retail environment. Along with being a great experience center, the exclusive stores have catalysed development of strategic categories such as color cosmetics that require a more personalized service and experience to facilitate purchase conversion. Since the inauguration of its first store in early 2021, Mamaearth has displayed remarkable growth, and the opening of the 100th store is a testament of the brand's commitment to making Mamaearth products accessible offline as well. Over the past year, Mamaearth has experienced an impressive retail store count growth with a diversification of its product range to encompass an extensive 250+ SKU collection.

Commenting on the launch of the Exclusive Brand Outlet launch, Mr. Varun Alagh, Chairman & CEO, Honasa Consumer Ltd. said, "Venturing into exclusive brand outlets has been an extension of our quest towards building omni channel presence of the brand. We take immense pride in our team's achievement of reaching the remarkable century mark for Mamaearth in record time. We are truly grateful to our customers who have showered so much love upon us, which has fueled this growth. At Honasa, we are deeply committed to building consumer brands that serve a purpose along with solving personal care problems and we promise to stay committed to this and continue serving the consumers."

Mamaearth is a purpose-led brand that strongly believes in the principle of Goodness Inside and is committed to furthering goodness through its products and initiatives. The inauguration of Mamaearth's 100th store in Mumbai marks a resounding success and a pivotal milestone in the brand's journey.
Montra Electric, the EV brand of 123 years legacy Murugappa Group, today introduced its new ad campaign, Bharat ka Super Auto. This campaign marks a significant leap forward for Montra Electric's mission to redefine the last-mile mobility sector in India.

With its distinctive design, powerful performance, and robust build quality, Montra Electric aims to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) three-wheeler sector. The "Bharat ka Super Auto" campaign is poised to engage audiences nationwide in six diverse languages, highlighting the effectiveness of the Super Auto.

The new ad campaign also emphasizes the Super Auto's impressive range of 203 km with just one charge, ensuring unmatched convenience and reliability. Furthermore, the campaign highlights the increased legroom for both the driver and passengers, coupled with a boot space that sets the standard in its category, and seamless charging via a standard home socket making it an optimal selection for urban commuters and travelers alike.

Mr. KK Paul, Managing Director, TICMPL, said, "The new ad campaign for Montra Electric not only serves as a promotional initiative but also emerges as a driving force for positive change. It aspires to not only showcase the technological advancements of the Super Auto but also to inspire a collective movement towards a greener and more environmentally conscious tomorrow. The Electric 3W segment holds significant growth potential, serving as a crucial player in India's ambitious quest to attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, and Montra Electric aspires to be a part of this journey."

Mr. Piyush Pandey, Head Marketing & Exports, Montra Electric said, We are delighted to launch the new campaign for Montra Electric, 'Bharat ka Super Auto.' It symbolizes our dedication to providing state-of-the-art technology while placing the highest emphasis on addressing the varied needs of our esteemed customers. This new ad campaign transcends the mere display of innovation; it mirrors our steadfast dedication to sculpting an exquisite, customer-centric journey. Join us as we go full throttle on this journey with the 123-year-old legacy of Murugappa Group to provide eco-friendly commercial mobility solutions for an efficient tomorrow."

The new ad campaign, conceptualized with Schbang, underscores the customer-centric approach of Montra Electric and showcases the brand's technological innovations in the EV sector.

Mr. Dhruv Rajput, vice president- brand solutions and head of planning, Schbang expressed, "Crafting the Bharat ka Super Auto campaign for Montra Electric was a journey of imagination and innovation. Our creative endeavor sought to infuse life into metal, turn technology into a story, and make every kilometer an adventure.

Montra Electric's "Bharat ka Super Auto" campaign goes beyond advertisement; it signifies the brand's dedication to providing a sustainable, efficient, and stylish solution for the future of last-mile mobility in India. As the nation embraces the electric revolution, Montra Electric stands at the forefront, propelling positive change towards a greener and cleaner tomorrow.
Republic Bharat, the flagship Hindi News channel for the Republic Media Network, proudly announces a milestone achievement - 20 million subscribers on YouTube. Launched on 2nd February 2019, Republic Bharat has emerged as a beacon of trustworthy journalism, successfully fulfilling its mission to deliver Hindi news and connect with the Hindi heartland in India.

Today, with the monumental achievement of crossing 20 million subscribers on YouTube, Republic Bharat can confidently declare the success of this mission. The channel has become an integral part of the lives of millions, delivering real-time news with accuracy and impact. The channels commitment towards unbiased journalism and putting the nation first has resonated well with the people of India.

In addition to the impressive subscriber count, Republic Bharat has garnered a staggering 12.2 billion views on its YouTube channel, accompanied by an impressive watch time of 1 billion hours. This stunning digital impact reflects the channel's significant presence in the digital landscape and its capacity to engage audiences on a massive scale.

The R Bharat YouTube channel stands out as the most cherished platform among the Hindi heartland audience, garnering a substantial subscriber base primarily from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra.

The channel's diverse content includes Live TV feeds to agency reports and exclusive material from the R Bharat Digital Desk, providing comprehensive coverage of breaking news as well as stories across vibrant consumer categories such as auto, lifestyle, politics, sports, business and many more.

Republic Bharat extends its heartfelt appreciation to its viewers and supporters that have played a pivotal role in achieving this remarkable milestone. The channel remains committed to upholding the principles of unbiased journalism and providing news that resonates with the diverse interests of its audience.
Dispatch of NK workers, Trumps possible return to power expected to be on Kim-Putin summit agenda

By Jung Min-ho

As Russian President Vladimir Putin cordially greeted North Koreas top diplomat in Moscow on Tuesday (local time), a Kremlin spokesman confirmed that the Russian leader will visit Pyongyang at a convenient time.

Speaking to The Korea Times on Wednesday, international relations experts said the North Korean capital will likely be the autocrats first overseas destination after his all-but-certain election victory and inauguration on May 7 as part of his effort to strengthen diplomatic and military ties with the North amid Russias war in Ukraine.

They added Putin might fly there even before the election (March 15-17) as the move would not affect his popularity at home where he enjoys stable approval ratings that surpass 80 percent.

Most likely, Putin would be there after the inauguration as he begins his fifth term in office to highlight Russias ties with North Korea and to maximize its diplomatic effect, said Hyun Seung-soo, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a state-funded think tank. China would be another top destination for him. My guess is that he would visit Pyongyang first and then head to Beijing where he may talk about North Korea issues with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

That would be Putins first visit to Pyongyang since July 2000, when he engaged in talks with Kim Jong-il, the late father of current leader Kim Jong-un.

Evidence shows Russias military has been using North Korean arms including missiles in its war in Ukraine. Giving the Kremlins diplomatic support to Pyongyang would be one of the most symbolic and cost-effective options for repayment, Cho Han-bum, another Russia expert at the think tank, said.

"North Korean ammunition supplied to Russian troops has played a crucial role in the ongoing war. Given the Kremlin's reluctance to fulfill North Korea's requests, such as providing technology for advanced weapons, due to international sanctions and its own national interests, holding a summit in Pyongyang could serve as a reciprocal gesture to North Korea without incurring high costs," Cho said.

During her visit to Moscow, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui hailed the progress made in implementing agreements reached last September between Kim and Putin, although she did not go into details.

When questioned about the possible agenda items in her meeting with Putin and her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, experts suggested that key issues likely included the dispatch of North Korean workers to Russia, North Korea's potential for further arms support, and the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House.

At that meeting, North Koreas possible participation in rebuilding Ukraines eastern region under Russian control was possibly addressed as one of the main issues. Already, data suggests that a growing number of North Koreans have recently entered Russia probably on fake visas to fill Russias labor void amid the war, Hyun said. If Russias military manages to stabilize its control over the region, which I believe is not impossible this year, Russia will try to expand that collaboration to recruit workers it lacks.

Another issue that unites the two countries is their shared hostility toward the current U.S.-centric world order. Experts said both North Korea and Russia clearly prefer Trumps win in the Nov. 5 election as they are keen to change the status quo sustained under President Joe Biden. These topics may have been discussed during Choe's meetings with Putin and Lavrov, and if the expected summit in Pyongyang takes place, they are likely to be once again among the key subjects at the talks between Putin and Kim, the experts added.

On Monday, Trump secured a sweeping victory in the Iowa caucuses as surveys show he will highly likely win the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, recent polls show Bidens approval ratings hovering at record-low levels.
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) partnered with Kaizzen, a leading integrated communications agency, has partnered with to curate the media and social media outreach for the upcoming World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2024 to be held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi in February.

The 23rd edition annual flagship event of the not-for-profit, policy research organization is scheduled to be held from 7th February to 9th February 2024. WSDS 2024 will focus on the umbrella theme: Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shailly Kedia, Senior Fellow and Associate Director, TERI said, We are living in a time of Polycrisis. Key challenges confronting the world include planetary crises, sliding back of key sustainable development goals and the ever-growing conflict situation threatening world peace. It is more important than ever that environment stewardship is promoted at all levels and across all spheres. Todays challenges for attaining sustainable development are complex and interconnected and will need everyone to work towards creating a more sustainable future. With this backdrop, the umbrella theme of the World Sustainable Development Summit 2024 is: Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice.

Sharing views on the association, Vineet Handa, CEO, Kaizzen, said, WSDS (World Sustainability Development Summit) by TERI over the years has established itself as the most impactful and prominent summit on sustainability and environment around the globe. Key opinion leaders from across the globe share their vision on this platform which has had a clear impact on creating momentum towards impactful policy change. Relevance of all the topics deliberated during these summits are of immense importance for mankind and therefore it is a matter of pride for Kaizzen to continuously partner with WSDS for this flagship event.
Bangladeshis on Sunday turned up in low numbers to cast their votes for the general elections likely to be won by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for a fourth straight term, amid pre-poll violence and a boycott by the main opposition party BNP and its allies.

The first four hours of voting in the 12th parliamentary election saw a voter turnout of 18.50 per cent, Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam said.

The polls opened at 8:00 am (local time). The voting will continue till 4 pm.

Voters cast their votes without any disruption in the absence of long queues, leaving presiding officers with idle time.

Voting has also been cancelled at three centres  one in Narsingdi and two in Narayanganj. The Election Commission ordered the arrest of Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayuns son on charges of electoral fraud in Narsingdi, according to reports.

A total of 119.6 million registered voters are eligible to vote at Sundays polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the countrys Election Commission.

The voting is being held in 299 out of the 300 constituencies. The election to one seat will be held later due to the death of a candidate.

More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties are contesting in the election, besides 436 independent candidates.

Over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, will monitor the 12th general election, which is being held under tight security.

More than 7.5 lakh members of law enforcement agencies and security forces have been deployed to ensure law and order during the polls.

The election commission said that it expected the results to start flowing from early on January 8.

Prime Minister Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College polling centre soon after the voting started. Her daughter Saima Wazed accompanied her.

Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009 and her Awami League won the last election in December 2018.

She is set to secure a fourth consecutive term as prime minister and a fifth overall term in the one-sided election.

Polling in the country is going on very well. I hope all the people will come to vote and establish their rights. Maintain the democratic flow in the country and work for the socio-economic development of people, Hasina told reporters after casting her vote.

She alleged that the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance does not believe in democracy. People will vote as they wish. And we were able to create that voting environment. Although the BNP-Jamaat alliance has caused many incidents, including arson attacks, she said.

In response to a question, Hasina told reporters that India is a trusted friend of Bangladesh.

We are very luckyIndia is our trusted friend. During our Liberation War, they supported us not only that after 1975, when we lost our whole family  father, mother, brothers, everyone (in a military coup)  and only we two (Hasina and her younger sister Rehana) survived they gave us shelter. So, we have our best wishes to the people of India, she told reporters.

In August 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his wife and their three sons were assassinated in their home by military officers. His daughters Hasina and Rehana survived the purge as they were abroad.

In response to a question on how acceptable the election will be while the BNP is boycotting it, Hasina said that her responsibility is towards the people.

Whether people accept this election or not it is important to me. So, I dont care about their (foreign media) acceptance. No matter what did the terrorist party say or not? she said.

Hasinas ruling Awami League (AL) is expected to win the election as the BNP of former premier Khaleda Zia, 78, who is under house arrest as a convict of graft charges, boycotted the polls.

The BNP boycotted the 2014 election but joined the one in 2018.

The 27 political parties that are contesting the elections include the opposition Jatiya Party (JAPA). The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, which experts dub as satellite parties. The BNP is observing a 48-hour nationwide general strike which began at 6 am on Saturday and will end at 6 am on Monday. It has called upon voters to shun the election to mark the beginning of an end of what it calls a fascist government. Ahead of the elections, Hasinas government arrested tens of thousands of rival politicians and supporters, a move which rights groups have condemned as an attempt to paralyse the Opposition.

As part of its boycott campaign, the BNP has been calling countrywide general strikes. It has enforced intermittent transport blockades and strikes for the past three months.

The party has been claiming no election under the incumbent government would be fair and credible and pressing for a non-party neutral government and the release of all party leaders and activists from prison.

If elections were held in a free and fair manner, then (PM Sheikh Hasina-led) Awami League would win just 20 to 30 seats, BNP leader Nitai Roy Chowdhury said.

Fifteen other political parties are also boycotting the election that is being watched globally.

The boycott as well as fear of violence can keep a large number of voters away from voting.

Whats the point of going to the polling centres when the election is nothing but a battle between two groups of the same party? We all know Awami League will win the race at the end of the day, The Daily Star newspaper quoted Md Monir Hassan, a resident of Dhanmondi, as saying.

Monir also fears violence.

On Saturday, at least 14 polling stations in Bangladesh were set on fire, including one on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka.

On Friday night, at least four people were killed and many others injured as arsonists set a running train on fire in Dhaka. Overall, nine people have lost their lives in eight incidents of arson on trains since November 16.

Additionally, at least five people have been killed in clashes and attacks on rival rallies since the official start of the election campaigns on December 18.

The ruling party has done everything it could to make the election look participatory and competitive. It allowed party leaders to join the polls in droves as independent candidates. As a result, in every seat, two or more AL candidates are pitted against each other.

The AL also formed dedicated teams across the country to bring as many voters as possible to the polling centres to ensure high turnout in efforts to garner international support.

Former Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hussain termed Sundays polls a unique one compared to the previous two elections.

This time the election is taking place between candidates from the same party in the name of independents and dummies. As a result, voters are less interested in the polls, said Sakhawat.

He also said some parties that joined the race are not well-known, while some are facing existential crisis.

So, it is a unique model election  Results of the election are certain, everybody knows who is going to win. The only uncertain thing is who will be in the opposition bench, he added.
Days after top leaders in the Congress turned down the invitation to attend the Ram Mandir event in Ayodhya, its former Uttar Pradesh party chief Nirmal Khatri said that he has accepted the invite for the January 22 event, saying that being a Ram Bhakt (devotee of Lord Ram) is not a sin.

in connection with the programme of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha on 22nd in Ayodhya, I will participate in this programme in honour of the personal invitation of respected Champat Rai ji, General Secretary of Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, Khatri said in a post on X.

Being a devotee of Ram is not a sin; I am proud of this devotion, he reasoned. The former Faizabad MP further said that there is no instruction from the Congress party prohibiting its leaders from visiting the temple and only the top leaders in the party have turned down the invitation. Khatri also reasoned that even the Uttar Pradesh Congress unit has asked its workers to visit the Ayodhya temple and take a dip in the Saryu river to mark the Pran Pratishtha event.

There is no instruction from the Congress Party that no Congressman should participate in this program on 22nd. Only our top leaders have expressed their inability to attend the event on 22nd. Hence I accept the invitation on 22nd and will participate in it. And now the state Congress unit has also inspired the state Congress unit to accept the invitation of the 22nd by doing the Ayodhya Yatra and take a dip in Saryu at all costs, Khatri said. The former Uttar Pradesh Congress said that the fight against the ideology of any party or organization can be done only by strengthening its organization on an ideological basis and not by any reaction.

We will not be able to compete with our opponent in the battle of events. Only by strengthening our organization on an ideological basis will we be able to fight our opponent, to which no attention is being paid, he complained. Khatri urged his party colleagues to work on strengthening the party on ideological grounds which will help in influencing the public mind.

I request the leaders of Uttar Pradesh that leaving aside the politics of events, we should defeat our opponents on the ideological ground by strengthening our organization and through it, we will influence the public mind. We can do this only by spreading our sentiments, he said. Speaking about his belief in Lord Ram, Khatri said, Valmiki, the first author of Ramkatha, has written- Ramo Vigrahavan Dharma which means Ram is religion and religion is Ram. That means whatever Ram does becomes religion, and explains religion.

The former Uttar Pradesh Congress chief said that he is against the hypocrisy of religion and is against the tactics of taking political benefits with the help of religion. Earlier on Tuesday, while speaking at the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Nagaland, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that RSS and the BJP have made the January 22 function at Ram Temple in Ayodhya a completely political Narendra Modi function and that it is difficult for Congress leaders to go to a political function which is designed around the Prime Minister of India and around the RSS.
A statewide specialty high school focused on training Alabamas future healthcare professionals could be closer to opening after securing a multimillion dollar donation from one of the nations largest philanthropies.

The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences Foundation, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Education and Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis, recently received a pledge of $26.4 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies  the largest known gift to a rural education project in Alabama, officials announced Wednesday.

The proposed Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will work with local hospitals and colleges to offer specialized healthcare classes, on-the-job learning and an opportunity for students to earn work credentials and certifications along with their high school diploma.

The tuition-free residential school is proposed to open in 2026 in Demopolis and will serve between 85-100 high school students.

Funding, however, is contingent on approval of the school by the Alabama legislature, which did not approve state funding for the school last year.

Years in the making, were not to the finish line yet, but we certainly are a lot closer than we were, Rob Pearson, founding chair of the ASHS Foundation, said at a news conference in Demopolis Wednesday.

If the school is built, it will be the fourth statewide public school that is focused on a specialized area of study. The others are the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, the Alabama School of Math and Sciences in Mobile and the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville.

The award is part of a $250 million Bloomberg initiative to support healthcare education in 10 communities across the country. The investment will support school start-up costs including personnel needs and classroom and lab renovations, as well as other instructional costs.

Its not a small amount of cash and its going to be a gamechanger for the region and for healthcare education for the whole state of Alabama, said Majd Zayzafoon, a University of Alabama at Birmingham professor who submitted the funding request to Bloomberg. Zayzafoon was appointed to help the state create a strategy for sustaining the school.

In a statement, Gov. Kay Ivey said she looked forward to working with the legislature in the upcoming session to approve the schools construction.

This first-of-its-kind school will provide Alabama students with career pathways in healthcare and will serve as a solution to the healthcare workforce shortage across all of rural Alabama, she said.

The proposal for the school comes as the state grapples with rural hospital closures and labor shortages.

According to the Alabama Department of Labor, the states top 20 fastest growing occupations between 2014-2024 include 14 health-related professions. Officials project a need for at least 5,815 new healthcare positions in Alabama each year.

Ivey originally announced plans for the school in her 2023 State of the State address, but lawmakers later removed a $31 million allocation for its construction. In the meantime, officials have been working to raise outside funding for the schools construction, which was originally estimated to cost $62 million.

In September 2023, a legislative contract review committee approved a $500,000 contract to begin a feasibility study to determine whether the school is needed, and its potential sites. The study is expected to be completed in early February.

Pearson told AL.com that, ahead of the studys completion, the foundations proposal will be updated to include site evaluation, in-state and out-of-state philanthropic support, and more information about the ability to scale the school to graduate more students in the future.

At Wednesdays press conference, Demopolis Mayor Woody Collins said the city has already secured a site for the school adjacent to the Whitfield Regional Hospital, and conducted a geotechnical and environmental survey of the location.

The leadership of this community are firmly committed to supporting and making this happen whatever it takes, he said.
The range of weather Alabama has experienced in the last week has put schools in a difficult position of whether to require students to be at school for in-person learning, to move to at-home virtual learning, or to close schools altogether.

On Friday, Jan. 12, a dozen school districts closed for the day ahead of strong winds and storms, while 60-plus districts moved to virtual or remote learning. And snow and ice across much of Alabama led to closures Tuesday, too  with more remote learning and closures planned for Wednesday.

Closures during bad weather makes sense, but State Superintendent Eric Mackey told local officials in the fall that they should be careful to not over-rely on e-learning in place of in-person school.

Ive been concerned about possible overuse of e-learning days, Mackey said. Weve got to be a lot more careful about e-learning days when there is not an actual natural disaster.

While schools try to give as much notice as possible about e-learning days, unexpectedly having a child home and figuring out how to oversee virtual school work can be difficult.

It seems we didnt learn anything from the pandemic, Hoover parent Danielle Hill said. What we proved was that e-learning was not consistent across the board, parents were not equipped to pick up the educational tasks at home in a teaching capacity, students did not stay engaged long-term and proficiency suffered.

Related: Schools close, go virtual on Wednesday, Jan. 17 due to ice, snow and road closures

Hill works from home and when her children stay home during a virtual learning day, her work is impacted. Instead of allowing my kids to do chores, read books and relax all day, she said, I had to check their Google classrooms for new assignments, outline the day, follow up on the assignments for completeness, schedule in breaks, answer questions and generally be on call, all while juggling work meetings, deadlines, fielding emails and calls from customers and not allowing my productivity to slip, lest I be perceived as slacking off at home by my peers.

Tuscaloosa parent Heather Lowery said she doesnt mind having e-learning days as opposed to having the day off. Id much rather do this versus having to make the day up later, she said.

Not everyone has access to the internet, though, and she worries that e-learning days can end up punishing students without it.

I appreciate that Tuscaloosa County School System mentioned that if you dont have access to the internet you would be able to make the assignments up, she said.

Just because the kids are home doesnt mean the parents are off work, too, Hoover parent Beth Lynch said. We just cant sit a 7-year-old in front of a screen and walk away expecting them to learn on their own.

Parents cant always help children with their school work, either, particularly with younger children. We need to sit with them and walk them through lessons, Lynch added, when we arent even entirely sure about how they are being taught because its all different from when we were in school.

E-learning is a decent filler for weather days, but not a permanent option for education. Children need interaction with other children.

When a natural disaster is expected, Mackey said, it obviously makes sense to either move to virtual learning or to close school. When the governor declares a state of emergency, as she did for 25 counties during the current winter weather outbreak, he said, schools can close and do not have to make up the missed day.

But if no state of emergency has been declared, closing school typically means the day has to be made up later in the school year. That may be why school officials prefer to shift to virtual learning, state board of education member Wayne Reynolds said.

Heres what happens, Reynolds said. They stay home, they have to make it up. They call it a virtual learning day, they dont have to make it up.

Data has shown over time, that during the pandemic, virtual days and online days caused significant reductions in student learning, he added.

Reynolds, a former educator and superintendent, said the lack of oversight as to whether virtual learning is actually taking place adds to the problem.

Im not certain how we as a state board, or as an oversight group, look at people who just say its virtual learning without some proof that theres actually a connection and students are actually being taught during those hours.

A simple declaration that its a student elearning day by anyone doesnt prove that learning went on, Reynolds added. And it may not be in compliance with state laws requiring certain days of instruction in Alabama.
Brian Barczyk, known worldwide for his infectious fascination with reptiles and overall enthusiasm with life, has died following 10 days in hospice care after a inoperable battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mr. Barczyk died peacefully Sunday, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He was 54.

Staff members at his Reptarium Reptile Zoo in Utica, Michigan made the announcement Monday on social media. They called him an exceptional individual  a visionary, mentor, and friend in their online tribute.

More than the guiding light of our organization, Brians fervent passion for reptiles and wildlife, along with his steadfast dedication to education, has touched innumerable hearts and minds globally, the staff wrote.

The post from Reptarium Reptile Zoo workers went on to say: For those of us who had the privilege of working alongside him, Brians absence leaves an immeasurable void. As we navigate this difficult time, we find comfort in the memories and the lasting light of Brians work. He will be deeply missed but indeed, never forgotten.

Mr. Barczyk released news of his stage four pancreatic cancer diagnosis almost a year ago and shared an emotional farewell video last week. He was diagnosed on Feb. 27, 2023, with stage two pancreatic cancer, but it quickly advanced.

He had more than 5 million subscribers on YouTube, where he shares his adventures with snakes, alligators and other critters in videos or vlogs. His outgoing personality made him a media favorite, including as a star on the TV series Venom Hunters by the Discovery Channel.

He reportedly owned the third largest collection of snakes in the world with over 30,000 snakes.

Utica Mayor Gus Calandrino called Mr. Barczyk one of the brightest shining lights in Utica.

He can not be replaced but we must all follow his direction and strive to live our best lives based on Brians example of love and kindness, the mayor said in a statement.

Mr. Barczyk, who had loved animals since he was a child, opened The Reptarium reptile zoo in Utica six years ago. The facility now houses some 3,000 critters including bearded dragons, a python and others.

His newest adventure spot, LegaSea Aquarium, a 30,000-square-foot, interactive zoo and aquarium, is expected to open in March. It will feature sharks, stingrays, a variety of fish and reptiles. The facility will also feature a tank to swim with stingrays, a stingray touching station, feeding opportunities, and a shark tank.

For those of us who had the privilege of working alongside him, Brians absence leaves an immeasurable void, the staff said. As we navigate this difficult time, we find comfort in the memories and the lasting light of Brians work. He will be deeply missed but indeed, never forgotten.

The Barczyk family invites his friends, customers and others to be part of a public memorial walk-through to honor his memory from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday at Heritage Church, at 44625 Schoenherr Road (south of Hall Road) in Sterling Heights.

Stephanie Kent, the reptile zoos marketing director, said one of the ways they will honor Mr. Barczyks legacy will be through LegaSea wall plaques, which will grace the entrance of the LegaSea Aquarium, a lasting tribute to be unveiled when the aquarium opens its doors.

This initiative is more than a tribute; its a way to intertwine Brians spirit with the very essence of the Aquarium from the outset, Kent wrote in an email. The plaques, collectively forming a sea at the Grand Opening, will be a poignant reminder of the love and respect we all hold for Brian.

Guests will also have the opportunity to place their hands into Mr. Barczyks handprints when the aquarium opens.

Mr. Barczyk is survived his wife of 31 years, Lori, and their children Noah and Jade.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages people to visit thereptarium.com/pages/brianbarczyk.

___

(c)2024 The Macomb Daily, Mount Clemens, Mich.

Visit The Macomb Daily, Mount Clemens, Mich. at https://www.macombdaily.com/

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Update: In later posts, the owner posted that he wanted to reopen, and that The Spot of Tea is going to reopen, but not with me at the helm. The original story follows.

The owner of downtown Mobile restaurant Spot of Tea, a fixture on Cathedral Square for 30 years, has announced he has closed the business and selling the property after a clash with health inspectors.

Its with a heavy heart and tearful face I must announce we cant reopen, owner Tony Moore said in a Facebook post, following that with a litany of complaints about alleged unfair treatment and criminal conduct by the Mobile County Health Department. The message concludes with a postscript that the building, equipment and business are now officially for sale.

Online real estate listings said the 16,808-square-foot property was for sale with an asking price of $2.3 million. Two sites, remax.com and realty.com, said their listings had been up for more than 40 days.

Spot of Tea, at 310 Dauphin St., was opened in December 1994 by Moore and his mother, Ruby Moore. Offering a hearty breakfast-and-brunch menu in a prominent spot on the north site of Cathedral Square, it enjoyed consistently heavy traffic and at one time expanded to include a comedy club, LEstrade, on the back side of the building.

The recent troubles apparently began, according to information provided by Moore, with issues that snowballed into a recent shutdown order. Moore shared a message that he said he had sent to MCHD Executive Director of Prevention & Wellness Stephanie Woods-Crawford and District Manager of Inspection Services Brad Philips on Jan. 7. Its tone was conciliatory:

I want to start by saying thank you for allowing Mrs. Sonja Evans to work with us on the Vector issues over the past several months, shes definitely a gem. Be good to her or shell be on my team, she seems to care about the Spot of Tea more than most of my employees. I cant keep doing what were doing and something tells me yall arent happy with our relationship either, the past 10 days has had a bad effect on my son, its bothered him immensely. Hes really disturbed watching the torture I go through with the threats of closing, the closings, the not closings, our financial situation, losing business. Its all taken its toll o me physically, mentally, and emotionally, to the point that Im ready to hang it up. I plan on retiring Dec. 31, this year, Ill be 62 years old and will be in my 31st year of business, I think the longest running restaurant downtown ever.

In that message, Moore detailed steps he had taken, or was taking, to correct deficiencies identified by inspectors. This lengthy list included repairing holes, replacing stained ceiling tiles, sanitizing equipment, repairing sinks and making sure all employees had valid food handler cards.

More recent statements from Moore, both on social media and in messages he says he sent to public health officials, have been marked by rage. In a Jan. 10 letter that Moore said he sent to MCHD officials, Moore opened by saying Im letting this town know you run a corrupt operation, whether yall let me stay open or not  Im going scorched earth on you  Im not insinuating you extorted & blackmailed me, Im stating it as a fact. That letter laid out a timeline of alleged persecution going back to July 2023.

Its not the first time Moore has shown his temper. In March 2021 he created a social-media stir with a furious memo he posted to chastise employees for alleged dishonesty, laziness and thievery. This staff needs an enema, read one section title.

Asked for comment, a spokesman for the Mobile County Health Department provided the following statement:

Mobile County Health Department (MCHD) does not report on active investigations or inspections. The Health Department is responsible to review and issue health permits to business in any municipality or city located or operating in Mobile County that require a health permit based on state/county laws.

MCHD will inspect health permitted businesses to ensure that the businesses are meeting sanitary conditions to prevent the spread of any bacterial or viral diseases. Our inspectors use this opportunity to educate and document that owners and operators are meeting sanitary practices.

In many cases, immediate corrections are possible by owners and operators. If corrections are not possible in the short term, a business may elect to close to fix the findings or be closed by Dr. Kevin Philip Michaels, Mobile County Health Officer, based on the nature of the deficiency and previous inspection results.

Michaels later elaborated in a statement provided to AL.com. Mobile County Health Department does not comment on any personnel actions, he said. We do take all allegations, complaints, and comments seriously. We are public health professionals and are professional and respectful to the community. We do not report on any active investigations or inspections. However, our sanitary ratings can be obtained on our MCHD APP. It can be downloaded to your smartphone by searching for My MCHD Health Check.

The MCHD ratings also can be found online. The latest score shown for Spot of Tea is a 60, given on Jan. 5. It previously earned at 87 in late June.

The Alabama Department of Public Health website lists Spot of Tea as closed due to Failure to make corrections for a score of 75 within 48 hours. A spokesperson said ADPHs Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Services, reports that there is no additional information on this situation other than what has been provided by the Mobile County Health Department.

In announcing the closure, Moore said hed tried repeatedly to get a follow-up inspection, to no avail. He also repeated his accusations of bullying and extortion, and said the shutdown was breaking up a kitchen staff he praised for its longevity and referred to as Team Tea and the Bad Boys of Dauphin Street.

The post reiterated that Moore was having to cancel a number of large group bookings including some related to the Mardi Gras season. It concluded, Mobile, thank you for over 29 years, The Moore Family & Team Tea -- January 16, 2024.
Inaugural summit meeting scheduled for June

Editors note This article is the first in a series of interviews with African ambassadors to Korea ahead of the Korea-Africa Summit in June.  ED.

By Kim Hyun-bin

Tunisian Ambassador to Korea Kais Darragi expressed his optimism about the upcoming Korea-Africa Summit, emphasizing Seoul's unique approach and the potential for a groundbreaking partnership between the two.

We hope that the Korea-Africa Summit will offer possibilities for us to promote the investment side of Tunisia to demonstrate the attractiveness of Tunisia, Darragi said during an interview with The Korea Times at the Embassy of Tunisia in Seoul, Friday.

"I think it is going to lay the grounds for a new partnership that is based on mutual respect, that is based on a win-win approach, and that is something that would differentiate this kind of partnership from other partnerships."

Tunisia warmly welcomes the Korean initiative, with the ambassador emphasizing that it is the right moment for Korea to be more involved with Africa. He said that Africa is no longer a passive player in global affairs with it having its own say and ownership of some projects.

"I think the Korea-Africa Summit is called upon to offer something different, and Korea has something different to offer in the new scramble of Africa. Korea is not a country that is focusing on natural resources; it's a country that focuses on values."

The ambassador said Tunisia seeks partnerships that would concentrate on the human element, human resource development, human exchanges and inclusive development.

Highlighting the collaborative efforts between Tunisia and Korea, Darragi said, "We have some initiatives and some ideas that we put forward to our friends in Korea to develop together. This is a joint collaborative effort that takes into account African needs and African development agendas."

Darragi outlined key areas for the partnership, including better targeting of official development assistance (ODA) projects, private sector engagement, public-private partnerships and a focus on science, technology and innovation.

55 years of diplomatic ties

Darragi highlighted the longstanding and robust diplomatic relations between Korea and Tunisia as the two nations celebrate the 55th anniversary of establishing ties this year. The ambassador emphasized the excellent political relations, understanding and dialogue that have characterized the bilateral relationship.

"We don't have any issue that could hinder the further development of relations between the two countries," he said.

The ambassador expressed optimism about entering a new phase of cooperation, aiming for a mutually beneficial partnership in both economic and diplomatic spheres. He acknowledged Korea's global aspirations and new responsibilities, particularly in the United Nations Security Council and as an OECD member with significant economic resources.

"We would like to partner with Korea to develop a political agenda for peace, the promotion of dialogue and cooperation worldwide," Darragi said.

He highlighted the progress of Korean investments in Tunisia, particularly in the technology sector and expressed hope for increased Korean investments, especially in the automotive industry, building on the success of existing collaborations.

Because of the strategic location of Tunisia we are very well positioned to serve as a showcase of Korean technologies as a platform for Korean industries to expand in Africa in Europe and in the Middle East, the ambassador said.

Darragi emphasized that Tunisia's appeal goes beyond providing cheap labor; it offers quality human resources and sophisticated services, making it an attractive destination for investments in the technology, automotive and pharmaceutical sectors.

The ambassador addressed challenges such as tariffs, emphasizing ongoing discussions to lower trade barriers and eliminate obstacles. He mentioned exploring possibilities like expanding the generalized system of preferences and updating existing trade agreements to facilitate smoother commerce between the two countries.

Despite most trade being with the European Union and North African countries, Ambassador Darragi expressed confidence in Tunisia's untapped potential with Korea. He encouraged Korean companies to consider the Tunisian market, highlighting its openness and strategic positioning as a gateway to multiple regions.

Darragi outlined three key areas of focus for future collaboration: technology and the automotive industry, science and technology partnerships and tourism. He stressed the importance of promoting tourism to raise awareness about Tunisia's rich history and human capital, paralleling Korea's emphasis on human resource development.

As Korea and Tunisia continue to strengthen their ties, the ambassador looks forward to fostering a new era of cooperation, one that transcends economic transactions to embrace shared values, dialogue and mutual growth.

Cultural ties, tourism

Darragi also delved into the burgeoning cultural ties between Korea and Tunisia, emphasizing the potential for increased tourism.

"Many people here in Korea are familiar with Carthage, and many recognize Hannibal as a military genius. However, few people would associate Carthage with Tunisia," the ambassador explained. "Therefore, there is a significant amount of work to be done in educating people about the heritage, history and importance of Tunisia."

The ambassador acknowledged the current low figures in tourism but expressed optimism about the future.

"We are working with travel agents to promote the destination of Tunisia. We hope that we could in a few years considerably increase the number of tourists," he said.

Despite limited human exchanges compared to other countries, Darragi highlighted the positive image of Korean culture in Tunisia.

"K-pop is the new world now in Tunisia. People know very much about Korean pop culture, Korean food and Korean culture," he said.

"We'd like to make use of that to increase the flows and the exchange, both for Koreans to visit Tunisia and for Tunisians to be more interested in Koreans, to learn the Korean language."

Tunisia has already initiated Korean language programs and established memoranda of understanding with five Korean universities, with plans to expand this cooperation further.

Ambassador Darragi spoke about the joint research projects between universities in Korea and Tunisia, expressing the desire to build on these collaborations to create dynamic new moments beneficial for both nations.

Regarding his personal experiences with Korean culture, Darragi said, "People are very kind, and it is very rich in terms of cultural experiences and heritage.

Tunisia, the northernmost country in Africa, is characterized by its diverse cultural heritage and historical influences. It is located along the Mediterranean Sea, which lies to the north and east, Algeria to the west and southwest and Libya to the southeast.

The nation's rich history is a result of various civilizations and successive dynasties that have shaped its identity.

From the founding of Carthage over 3000 years ago. The linguistic landscape of Tunisia reflects its historical ties, with Arabic, French and English being the prevalent languages. The country boasts a population of 11.8 million. In terms of economic indicators, Tunisia's GDP stood at $46.3 billion in 2022. Notably, 94 percent of the nation's GDP is attributed to its foreign trade.












Eight people have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a drug operation that distributed methamphetamine in the Phenix City area.

The sentencing hearings took place from June 2023 through last week and were announced Tuesday by Middle District of Alabama Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross.

The multi-agency investigation began in 2020 and covered east Alabama and west Georgia.

The probe was carried out by DEA, FBI, and police investigators from the Abbeville Police Department, the Auburn Police Department, the Eufaula Police Department, the Phenix City Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriffs Office.

Agencies assisting included the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, ALEA, the Alabama National Guard Counterdrug Program, the Elmore County Sheriffs Office, the Henry County Sheriffs Office, the Millbrook Police Department, the Montgomery Police Department, the Prattville Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the Muscogee County, Georgia Sheriffs Office.

Those sentenced were:

 On Jan. 8, 2024, Kahlia Nichelle Washington, 27, of Phenix City, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute after her July 11, 2023, conviction at trial.

 On Dec. 27, 2023, Xavier Toombs, 35, of Phenix City, was sentenced to five years prison for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Toombs pleaded guilty to the charge on June 22, 2023.

 On Dec. 1, 2023, 38-year-old Andre Tremayne Franklin, of Columbus, Ga., was sentenced to more than 26 years prison. A jury on July 11, 2023, a jury convicted Franklin of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute the drug.

 On Nov. 11, 2023, Justin Garrett, 31, also from Columbus, received 17 years in prison for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Garrett pleaded guilty to the charge on June 22, 2023.

 On Oct. 25, 2023, 34-year-old Khourtney Jakeith Brown, of Phenix City, was sentenced to 21 years in prison conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Brown pleaded guilty to that charge on June 28, 2023.

 On Oct. 6, 2023, Ryan Brown, 33, also from of Phenix City, received a sentence of nearly four years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Brown pleaded guilty on June 22, 2023.

 On Oct. 6, 2023, 34-year-old Lorenzo Miles, of Columbus, was sentenced to more than seven years for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute after pleading guilty to the charge on June 27, 2023.

 On June 23, 2023, Torrez Jenkins, 28, of Jonesboro, Ga., was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He pleaded guilty to the charge on March 6, 2023.
Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey is headed to the White House to share Alabamas experience with summer reading and math camps Wednesday afternoon.

Weve gotten a lot of notice around the country because weve poured so much into summer reading and math, Mackey said. The state has poured an estimated $101 million of federal pandemic relief money into funding those programs.

We have seen some growth in reading, Mackey said. Math is a little bit behind the reading, so well find out a little more at the end of this year. But in reading, because we have a really good way to measure it, weve been able to see some pretty significant growth where the kids have come to camp.

Mackey is one of six participants invited to talk about how to accelerate learning to improve student achievement. The governors of Maryland, New Jersey and New Mexico will participate as will the chief state school officers - akin to Alabamas state superintendent position - of Connecticut and Washington, D.C.

The Biden administration is announcing its Academic Acceleration Agenda for 2024, which is focused on proven strategies to improve academic success for all children based on the following components:

increasing student attendance,

high-dosage tutoring; and

summer learning and expanded and afterschool learning time.

Mackey said he is excited about being asked to participate.

Im so happy to have just a small stage to highlight the really good things that are going on, he said. I think the broader audience has a more negative view about education in Alabama, so its nice anytime I can take the bully pulpit for our students.

The discussion is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and will be livestreamed on the White House YouTube channel.
Attorney Bill Slaughter, a former state legislator who was one of the most influential lawyers in Birmingham and Jefferson County politics for decades, has died.

Slaughter died on Jan. 14. He was 84.

Bill was as smart and brilliant a lawyer as they come, said former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones. For better or for worse, he had a lot of influence in Jefferson County.

Slaughter was paid millions of dollars as lead attorney for the Jefferson County Commission during a time of crisis, that saw a massive sewer debt and bond deals that led to one of the largest municipal bankruptcies in U.S. history.

He successfully defended the county against lawsuits challenging its education sales tax and occupational taxes.

I would liken Bill Slaughter to the Nick Saban of lawyers in Alabama, said attorney Michael Choy, who worked at the firm of Haskell and Slaughter with Slaughter from 1994 to 2009. He had a process, and he would not delegate writing briefs.

Slaughter was elected to the state Legislature in 1986, served until 1990 and wrote 300 pages of gaming legislation allowing gambling casinos at dog tracks.

He later worked as an attorney for the Birmingham City Council and oversaw the transfer of the citys ownership of water works assets to the independent Birmingham Water Works Authority.

He told me that you do not want a utility, particularly a water utility, one of the central things that people need, in the hands of an elected official, Choy said, noting that expensive maintenance must be done to ensure high-quality, clean, safe water for ratepayers. An elected official would never raise rates, because it would be unpopular.

Slaughter resigned from city work in 2001 after the incoming City Council tried to take back Water Works assets.

He was the controversial lead attorney for the Jefferson County Commission from 2002 through 2007 as it negotiated bond swap deals that later went bad when the market tanked in 2008, leading Jefferson County to declare bankruptcy.

Slaughter helped negotiate $475 million in 40-year bond sales in 2002 to help finance the countys sewer debt from a billion dollars in court-ordered sewer repairs.

It may not be the most prudent thing, but more a matter of necessity, Slaughter said in 2002.

He was the godfather of municipal finance in Alabama, Choy said. I believe he deserves credit, even though nobody would be willing to give him credit for it.

Choy said the blame for the bankruptcy properly belongs to the financial institutions that caused the collapse by bundling and leveraging mortgage-backed bonds and the regulators who allowed it.

If not for the 2008 financial crisis, the county likely would have never gone bankrupt, Choy said.

Bill doesnt deserve the blame. Neither does (former Jefferson County commissioners) Larry Langford or Gary White. A lawyer can only negotiate what the decisionmakers decide they were going to do. The commission decided based on what J.P. Morgan told them. Bill advised them on the risks.

Slaughter was born in Fairfield and grew up on Army bases while his father served during World War II. The family settled in Homewood and Slaughter later lived in Mountain Brook.

Slaughter was one of the first to enroll at Indian Springs School in 1952 and he was later a financial supporter and chairman of the board.

He graduated from Harvard College and returned to Birmingham in 1961 to work for Rust Engineering.

In 1963, he went to the University of Virginia Law School and in 1973 he founded the Birmingham law firm, Haskell, Slaughter and Young.

I saw him many times beat lawyers in close cases because he could explain the historical context of a statute, Choy said.

Bill was one of the smartest, brightest, most intellectual people that I have ever met, not just in terms of the law, but American history and politics and life in general, Choy said.

Every answer he gave he had to start in the pre-revolutionary period, then come to the Revolution, then come to modern times to give his final answer.

Slaughter had a soft personal side, Choy said.

When I was going through my divorce, he counseled me personally, said Choy, who told Slaughter he had no plans for that upcoming Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

He said, Youre going to go to church with us at (Cathedral Church of the) Advent, then on Christmas Day, youre going to have Christmas dinner with us.

Not everyone saw the side of him that helped people in need and loved animals and nature, said his son, Hanson Slaughter.

Dad was a very unique and complicated person, Slaughter said.

I dont think a lot of people realized what a truly empathetic person he was underneath. He was a huge conservationist. He did a lot of work establishing the Black Warrior Land Trust and enlarging Ruffner Mountain. Philanthropy was near and dear to Dad, but he never wanted recognition for it. He did it very quietly.

In the end, his father was harshly judged for being a face of the bond deals that ended badly with the county bankruptcy, fairly or not, Hanson Slaughter said.

It was a highly charged situation, Slaughter said. A lot of people misunderstood Dads role in all of that He and I both felt very strongly that the county shouldnt declare bankruptcy, but at the end of the day thats what happened.
PIPE BURST: There is water inside a portion of Decatur Middle School-Decatur, Al. We have crews at the school working to resolve the issue from a burst pipe. Well post more info as it becomes available. Posted by Decatur City Schools - Alabama on Monday, January 15, 2024

Decatur City Schools on Tuesday said officials are assessing damage from a burst pipe at Decatur Middle School.

Workers were dispatched to the school after a coil broke on a rooftop HVAC unit Monday night, causing flooding inside the school.

We have a maintenance crew at the school to make repairs to the pipe and clean up any water damage, the system stated in a social media post.

Deputy Superintendent Dwight Satterfield told WAFF it could cost more than a million dollars to repair the damage. Students will be conducting virtual classes until further notice.
An appeals court has upheld the murder conviction of a woman who stuffed her boyfriends body in a freezer.

In August 2022, a jury in Lamar County, Miss., found Samantha Simmons guilty of murdering 54-year-old Thomas Burns, according to records from the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

She was sentenced to life in prison for murder, plus 20 years for receiving stolen property.

Burns body was found by his brother and neighbors inside a freezer in Burns home in Purvis, Miss., in May 2018 after he had not been seen for weeks. The body was found with zip ties around his neck, wrists and ankles, with a belt around his legs and a trash bag over his head.

An autopsy concluded that Burns had died either from strangulation due to the zip tie around his neck or from asphyxia from being put in freezer with a plastic bag over his head.

Simmons and Burns had been dating and she had been living with him in the home, according to court records. Investigators found a key to the freezers padlock on Simmons key chain and the Mississippi Crime Lab found Simmons DNA on the zip ties.

Additionally, witnesses testified Simmons had contacted them about purchasing some of Burns possessions, including his Dodge Challenger. Other witnesses testified they had attempted to contact Burns, but each time were turned away by Simmons, who would say Burns was out of town.

In one instance, a witness said Simmons had said Burns was in school in Texas, which the witness said was unlikely, given Burns could neither read nor write.

In Simmons appeal, her lawyers argued the evidence was largely circumstantial and did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt Simmons had killed Burns, saying it only proved she attempted to take advantage of Burns death.

The 10-member appeals court, while agreeing on the circumstantial nature of the evidence, ruled the amount of evidence was sufficient to prove Simmons guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Based on our review of the record, Simmons challenges to her receiving stolen property and first-degree murder convictions are unpersuasive, wrote Judge Latrice Westbrooks, writing for the 10-member appeals court. The evidence the State presented was sufficient to prove both counts. Also, the overwhelming weight of the evidence was not contrary to the jurys verdicts.
Alec Musser, known for the ABC soap opera All My Children and the 2010 comedy film Grown Ups, died by suicide due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound, per the San Diego Medical Examiners Office. He died at age 50 in his home in Del Mar, Calif.

Mussers fiancee, Paige Press, last saw him the night of Jan. 12. She found him dead the morning of Jan. 13. Paramedics and law enforcement responded and confirmed Mussers death.

On her Instagram Story on Jan. 13, Press wrote, RIP to the love of my life. I will never stop loving you. My heart is so broken.

Mussers Grown Ups co-stars Adam Sandler and Salma Hayek also paid tribute to Musser on Instagram.

I loved this guy. 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, Sandler wrote.

Hayek posted a clip of Mussers Grown Ups scene, in which the chiseled actor emerges from a water park pool and walks over to Hayeks character and her friends, before opening his mouth to reveal a ridiculous, high-pitched voice. In loving memory of Alec Musser. He was so kind, professional and absolutely hilarious, Hayek wrote. His early departure breaks my heart. I feel so blessed that I got to meet him. My sincere condolences to his family and loved ones for this great loss.

If you or anyone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

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 2024 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
The ACLU of Alabama is calling for Decatur officials to stop the crackdown on peaceful protests in the wake of the police killing of Stephen Perkins.

The City of Decatur may not regulate speech and protest because of disagreement with the message or finding the activities inconvenient, the group wrote in a letter to Mayor Tab Bowling today.

Therefore, those who have protested and continue to protest the police murder of Mr. Perkins do not lose their constitutional protection because their topic is potentially controversial or the City of Decatur is concerned about the publics reactions, the letter states.

After Decatur police killed Perkins in his front yard on Sept. 29, protesters have continued to demand justice, demonstrating each day in the city. Decatur police have arrested some protesters and charged them with disorderly conduct.

Mayor Tab Bowling announced on Dec. 28 that demonstrators must now get parade permits from the police or risk arrests following protests in his neighborhood.

In the letter, the ACLU stated that the citys parade permit application gives too much discretionary power to the police chief. The group said Decatur should not require such a permit for stationary protests on sidewalks, for people protesting without the need for traffic management and street closure.

The ordinance does not mention stationary protests, but the City of Decatur has indicated that it will apply this ordinance to any protest, even those that are not mobile and do not violate traffic laws, the ACLU wrote.

The ACLU asked the mayor to consider adopting an ordinance like Nashvilles. In that city, protests on sidewalks do not require a parade permit, the ACLUs letter says.

Mayor Bowling told AL.com in an email this morning that the city disagrees with the ACLUs interpretation of the law. He said the city only considers the impact on the public when granting permits, not the message of the protesters.

The ACLU has every right to express their opinion and interpretation of the law, the mayor said.

Our interpretation differs from theirs. To be clear, the purpose of the proposed parade is not material to the decision of whether the disturbance of the public will be allowed  in other words, when granting permits, the City of Decatur will only consider impacts to the public, not the issue or topic of the demonstration.

The ACLU of Alabama offered to collaborate with Decatur to revise its ordinances by balancing First Amendment rights and public safety.

Protesters continue to demonstrate in Decatur, even as the city fired three officers and suspended a fourth. The officer who shot Perkins faces a murder charge.

Police shot Perkins in his front yard following an attempt to repossess his vehicle. In December, his family sued the city, the officers involved, AllStar Recovery, LLC, and Pentagon Federal Credit Union in federal court.

Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson, on Jan 5, announced that a grand jury had indicted former Decatur police officer Bailey Marquette for murder. Marquette is out on a $30,000 bond.

Video footage released by the family and posted to social media showed Perkins coming out of his home with a bright light at about 2 a.m. and telling the tow truck driver to put down his vehicle. In the video, a police officer appears to emerge from a dark corner near the house, shouting, Hey, hey, police, get on the ground. The officer immediately fired multiple rounds, the video shows.

Police said that Perkins had threatened a tow truck driver with a gun. The driver left but later returned to Perkins house with police.

In 2020, in Florence, a city 50 miles from Decatur, police created a protest-free zone for businesses after weeks of confederate monument demonstrations in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

Project Say Something, a social justice group. sued Florence in 2022. The group said the city stifled its activities when the city said their rallies fall under the citys parade ordinance and required permits.

Project Say Something said in the federal lawsuit that the parade ordinance does not apply to stationary protests.

They accused Florence of using the parade permit ordinance to move demonstrations to a protest zone away from the courthouse where the Confederate monument is and threatened citations for violating the noise ordinance.

The group settled the case with Florence in September after the city enacted new noise and parade ordinances that month.

Florences parade ordinance now says that a parade is an activity that would require public street closure or traffic control at intercessions. The noise ordinance clarified that it does not apply to unamplified human voices.
Madison police said one person is recovering after being shot Sunday night during an altercation at an apartment complex.

Capt. Terrell Cook said the incident happened at 7:15 p.m., at 101 Royal Drive, at the 900 building of The Elements of Madison apartments.

Investigators determined that a resident and another person exchanged gunfire in the building, with one bullet striking an uninvolved person.

The victim is expected to make a full recovery.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen suspicious persons or vehicles around the area Sunday evening to contact (256) 772-6252 or e-mail tellmpd@madisonal.gov.
Gabrielle Mays-Gordon had to put off buying groceries for her family because paying the power bill was more urgent.

Not only does her 8-year-old son need an oxygen machine to breathe, but if the heat dips below 75 degrees in her home, his muscles begin to spasm and hes in so much pain that it takes forever to get under control, she said.

Mays-Gordon is one of about 7,000 Alabamians who rely on payments from the state to care for an elderly or disabled family member.

But for about a month, many families say they did not receive any money from the Alabama Department of Senior Services, the state agency that administers the program. The department last month changed to a new financial management company responsible for distributing payments.

We need to get paid so we can maintain our way of life so we dont have to figure out how were gonna eat for the next week, Mays-Gordon told AL.com. Along with putting off buying groceries for the week, she also had to set up a payment plan with her phone company because she did not have enough money to pay her bill due on Friday.

AL.com spoke with a dozen families throughout the state who said they did not receive pay from Acumen, the new financial management company, on Friday as scheduled. Families also say they did not receive pay last month from Allied, the company responsible for making payments prior to the transition on Dec. 22.

The money comes from the Elderly and Disabled Waiver, a program that helps people who are elderly or disabled receive long-term care at home or in their communities. Through the personal choices program available to people enrolled on the waiver, caregivers receive bi-weekly payments to help pay bills, buy food, and purchase medical equipment, as well as to pay for nurses and health care providers to assist with treatments or give caregivers respite.

Caregiving is often a full-time job when a family member has complex medical needs, and for some families, money from this program is their only source of income.

Denise Champion, a single mother from Hoover cares for two sons who are disabled, Miles and Caleb. She said that because of the missed payment from Acumen, she overdrew her bank account over the weekend in order to buy groceries for her kids.

Now I have to deal with overdraft fees that will recur every three days, Champion told AL.com. Because I dont know when Im gonna get paid, Ive had people calling for bills due today and I know Im not gonna be able to pay them.

Raising two small kids with full-time disabilities, thats all I have to keep them alive and thrivingwondering how Im gonna pay my bills and how Im gonna feed them adds a lot of stress to an already high stress environment, she added.

Acumen did not respond to multiple requests for comment at the time of initial publication of this story. But in a statement to AL.com on Jan. 20, Josh Auer, the CEO of Acumen, said the company faced issues with the previous financial management company.

Allied was responsible for transferring participant data to Acumen during the transition. Allied has not been an ideal partner during the transition, he said in the statement. Data transfers have been late and much of the data has been inaccurate or incomplete...Acumen has been working diligently with the support of ADSS to collect or recreate needed information to process payments...Acumen has completed all services to date to the satisfaction of ADSS.

In a statement to AL.com on Saturday, Allied, the old financial management company, said that we understand the importance of timely compensation and have been working with the Alabama Department of Senior Services to coordinate the transition of payment responsibility to a new fiscal intermediarywe have continued to work into 2024 beyond our contract period and plan to make another payment next week.

The state Department of Senior Services said in a statement Friday that Acumens team will be working all weekend to process timesheets with a goal of processing payments as quickly as possible. The entire Acumen Customer Service Team is working diligently to answer questions on the companys help line as soon as possible.

However, families told AL.com that they had been on hold with Acumen for up to eight hours to ask about the status of the payment and most never were able to get through to the company. Acumen also did not send out any emails to families notifying them of the issue.

As of Tuesday, Gordon-Mays said she had received payment from Acumen. Champion said she also received payment from Acumen over the weekend but four other families AL.com spoke with said they still had not. Only one of the families AL.com spoke with said they received payment from Allied that was scheduled for December.

This is a government agency I should be able to rely on, but theyve shown me that I cant, Champion said.

Acumen received a $20 million contract from the state that runs from Jan.1- Dec. 31, 2025. The Department of Senior Services put out a request for a new financial management vendor in July and received six bids, according to the agency. Acumens bid was the lowest and was awarded after a thorough review and demonstrations from each vendor, Debra Davis, Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Senior Services said in an email Friday.

Families said the department didnt notify them of the transition from Allied to Acumen until November. Even then, many families told AL.com that the transition was handled poorly. Champion said she did not receive any information about how to set up direct deposits or submit timesheets to the company until after they were due.

She said she instead had to rely on other families who were enrolled in the waiver for information. One family sent her a paper copy of the timecard she needed so she could submit it.

We have a group chat of families and it was all I had to rely on to get this information, she said.

But for many families, the late or missing paychecks were just one part of the problem.

When Mays-Gordon logged into her online portal to see the status of her timesheet on Thursday night, she saw that her and her sons information, including their address, contact information and the last four digits of their social security number could be viewed by anyone with a login to Acumens site.

Its too much information about a little 8-year-old to be on there, Mays-Gordon said. This is like a major violation of privacy.

AL.com reviewed videos from multiple families showing that they could view personal information, including partial social security numbers, for 2,459 people in Alabama.

Davis, the deputy commissioner for the Department of Senior Services, said the agency contacted Acumen with concerns as soon as the data breach was reported.

ADSS has been in communication with Acumen to make it aware of these concerns. ADSS has contacted officials with the Alabama Medicaid Agency and the Alabama Attorney Generals office to notify them of the concern, Davis added.

Gordon-Mays and others AL.com spoke with whose information was made public said they were never notified by Acumen about the data leak. By Saturday, Gordon-Mays information was taken down from the online portal. However, as of Tuesday morning, information was still public for 59 people, according to additional videos sent to AL.com.

In the statement to AL.com, Auer said Acumen investigated and found that allegations of a data breach are inaccurate.

Acumen can confirm there was no data breach, he wrote.

The Department of Senior Services administration of the waiver program is currently under investigation by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, according to the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, an organization that filed a federal complaint seeking a complete overhaul of the state agency in November of 2022.

In their complaint, ADAP alleged that the department places extreme barriers on disabled children and adults who are trying to access Medicaid services.

ADAP said the Department of Senior Services has failed to properly administer the waivers over the last three years due to the failure at the highest level of ADSS to develop and maintain standard procedures for how to administer their waiver programs, leading to fatal consequences. While the organization was preparing their complaint, two potential clients died awaiting services, ADAP said.

In response to the data breach and non-payments, ADAP on Friday told AL.com that they are deeply concerned about the impact they will have on families and caregivers.

We hope the agencies will take all necessary steps to resolve these problems as quickly as possible, Shandra Monterastelli, a senior staff attorney at ADAP who is representing over a dozen families on the waiver program in their complaint against ADSS, said in an email.

Editors note: This story was updated on Jan 22, 2024 to correct the amount of the states contract with Acumen. It was also updated with comments from Acumens CEO.
Donald Trump was threatened with expulsion from his Manhattan civil trial Wednesday after he repeatedly ignored a warning to keep quiet while writer E. Jean Carroll testified that he shattered her reputation after she accused him of sexual abuse.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan told the former president that his right to be present at the trial will be revoked if he remains disruptive. After an initial warning, Carrolls lawyer said Trump could still be heard making remarks to his lawyers, including it is a witch hunt and it really is a con job.

Mr. Trump, I hope I dont have to consider excluding you from the trial, Kaplan said in an exchange after the jury was excused for lunch, adding: I understand youre probably eager for me to do that.

I would love it, the Republican presidential front-runner shot back, shrugging as he sat between lawyers Alina Habba and Michael Madaio at the defense table.

I know you would like it. You just cant control yourself in this circumstance, apparently, Kaplan responded.

You cant either, Trump muttered.

Afterward, Trump ripped Kaplan on social media while the judge denied a request that he step aside from the case. In a Truth Social post, Trump described the Bill Clinton appointee as seething and hostile, and abusive, rude, and obviously not impartial.

Kaplan cracked down after Carroll lawyer Shawn Crowley complained for a second time that Trump could be heard loudly saying things that are false as he sat at the defense table, frequently tilting back in his chair and leaning over to speak with his lawyer.

Among his comments, Crowley said, were that the longtime Elle magazine advice columnist was lying about the assault and that she seemed to have gotten her memory back. Crowley suggested that if Carrolls lawyers could hear Trump from where they were sitting, about 12 feet (3.7 meters) from him, jurors mightve been able to hear him too.

Im just going to ask that Mr. Trump take special care to keep his voice down when conferring with counsel to make sure the jury does not hear it, Kaplan said before jurors returned to the courtroom after a morning break.

Earlier, without the jury in the courtroom, Trump could be seen slamming his hand on the defense table and uttering the word, man, when the judge again refused his lawyers request that the trial be suspended on Thursday so he could attend his mother-in-laws funeral in Florida.

Trump, fresh from a win Monday in the Iowa caucuses, has made his various legal fights part of his campaign. He sat in on jury selection Tuesday, then jetted to a New Hampshire rally before returning to court Wednesday. Last week, he attended closing arguments in the New York attorney generals fraud lawsuit against him and, defying that judge, gave a six-minute diatribe after his lawyers spoke.

Carroll, 80, was the first witness in a Manhattan federal court trial to determine damages, if any, that Trump owes her for remarks he made while he was president in June 2019 as he vehemently denied ever attacking her or knowing her. A jury last year already found that Trump sexually abused her in 1996 and defamed her when he made a round of denials in October 2022.

Carrolls appearance, which continues Wednesday afternoon, was somewhat of a tight rope walk because of limitations the judge has posed on the trial in light of the previous verdict and prior rulings hes made restricting the infusion of political talk into the proceedings. Habba lobbed multiple objections seeking to prevent the jury from hearing details of Carrolls sexual assault allegations.

Ive paid just about as dearly as its possible to pay, Carroll said, referencing the damage she said Trump had caused to her reputation.

She said that Trumps vitriol toward her has not ceased, pointing to multiple social media posts he made about her in recent days, and that his rhetoric continues to inspire venom against her from strangers because she claimed he sexually abused her decades ago. On Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump said Carrolls fabricated lies were attempted EXTORTION.

He lied last month. He lied on Sunday. He lied yesterday. And I am here to get my reputation back, Carroll said.

Carroll said her worries about her personal safety after a stream of death threats led her to buy bullets for a gun she inherited from her father, install an electronic fence, warn her neighbors of threats and unleash her pit bull to roam freely on the property of the small cabin in the mountains of upstate New York where she lives alone.

She also brought security along for the trial this week and last May and said shed thought often about hiring security more often to accompany her.

Why dont you? her attorney, Roberta Kaplan  no relation to the judge  asked.

Cant afford it, Carroll answered.

She took the stand after a hostile encounter between Habba and Kaplan  culminating in Trumps desk slam  over the judges refusal to adjourn the trial on Thursday so Trump could attend the funeral for former first lady Melania Trumps mother, Amalija Knavs, who died last week.

Habba called the judges ruling insanely prejudicial and the judge soon afterward cut her off, saying he would hear no further argument on it.

Habba told the judge: I will not be spoken to that way, your honor. When she mentioned the funeral again, the judge responded: Its denied. Sit down. Bring in the jury.

Carrolls testimony came nine months after she was in the same chair convincing a jury in the hopes that Trump could be held accountable in a way that would stop him from frequent verbal attacks against her as he campaigns for the presidency.

Im here because Donald Trump assaulted me and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened. He lied and shattered my reputation, she said.

Once, Carroll testified, she was a respected advice columnist. Now, Im known as the liar, the fraud and the whack job.

Carroll said Trumps repeated smears cost her millions of readers and her Ask E. Jean advice column, which ran in Elle for more than 25 years. The magazine has said her contract wasnt renewed for unrelated reasons.

Because the first jury found that Trump sexually abused Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her in 2022, the new trial concerns only how much more  if anything  hell be ordered to pay her for other remarks he made in 2019 while he was president.

Carroll accused Trump of forcing himself on her in a dressing room after a chance meeting at a luxury department store near Trump Tower in 1996. Then, she alleges, he publicly impugned her honesty, her motives and even her sanity after she told the story publicly in a 2019 memoir.

Trump asserts that nothing ever happened between him and Carroll and that he never met her. He says a 1987 party photo of them and their then-spouses doesnt count because it was a momentary greeting.

Trump did not attend the previous trial in the case last May, when a jury found he had sexually abused and defamed Carroll and awarded her $5 million in damages. The jury said, however, that Carroll hadnt proven her claim that Trump raped her.

Carroll is now seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and millions more in punitive damages.

The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done.
Vice Veterans Minister Lee Hee-wan will visit an island near the western border with North Korea this week to pay his respects at the memorial for his former comrades killed in the 2002 inter-Korean naval clash in nearby waters, the veterans ministry said Wednesday.

The former Navy captain will visit Yeonpyeong Island, just south of the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas, on Thursday, as tensions run high after the North fired artillery shells near the sea boundary earlier this month.

Lee lost his right leg after being hit by a North Korean shell during the 2002 naval skirmish off the border island.

The skirmish began with a surprise attack by North Korean patrol ships and left six South Koreans killed and 18 wounded, while some 30 North Koreans were presumed to have been killed or wounded, according to the South's Navy.

Lee plans to visit a Marine Corps unit on the island to encourage the troops and pay his respects at the remembrance wall for those killed in the 2002 clash.

He will also meet a 1950-53 Korean War veteran living on the island and visit the memorial for two Marines killed during North Korea's shelling of the island in 2010. The bombardment also killed two civilians on the island. (Yonhap)
Jury selection has begun for the trial of a Theodore man accused of gunning down a Mobile police officer in 2018 -- although the judge has yet to rule on a defense motion to delay the trial.

Marco Antonio Perez is charged with capital murder in the death of Mobile police officer Sean Tuder, who was shot to death at the Peach Place Inn in January 2019.

According to court documents, Perez, who was 19 at the time of the murder, shot Tuder with a stolen gun as Tuder attempted to take Perez into custody on multiple warrants. Investigators say Perez was involved in a drug trafficking ring and the gun that killed Tuder had been stolen only a few days before Tuders murder.

Perez, with the help of his mother, also attempted to fake his own kidnapping in order to avoid prosecution on federal gun charges.

Tuder had agreed to work on what was normally a day off after receiving information that Perez had been spotted at the Peach Place Inn on Jeff Hamilton Road in Mobile. Tuder had been among the officers tracking Perez whereabouts in order to take him into custody.

Working undercover, Tuder was wearing civilian clothes and driving an unmarked vehicle when he arrived at the apartment complex. He was alone, not wearing a bullet-proof vest and did not have a body-worn camera.

According to court testimony during Perez preliminary hearing, video surveillance showed Perez walking toward Tuders vehicle, believing it to belong to a relative who was picking him up. Instead, Tuder got out of the vehicle, with his weapon pointed at Perez.

Tuder attempted to take Perez into custody, but a struggle ensued and, out of range of the surveillance camera, Tuder was shot three times. Other officers arriving at the scene found Perez in a nearby wooded area, tased him and took him into custody.

While awaiting trial for Tuders murder, Perez was tried on federal gun charges, with a jury finding him guilty in 2021 of receiving a firearm while under indictment and possession of a stolen firearm. Perez was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. He appealed the sentence, but the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court ruling.

Mobile County prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty in the capital murder case, but how soon that trial actually begins will be determined by how Judge Ben Brooks rules on Perez motion to have the trial continued to a later date.

Perez attorneys argue that publicity surrounding the Jan. 4 murder of George County, Miss., deputy Jeremy Malone by a convicted felon would cause undue prejudice to Mr. Perez in the form of a tainted jury pool that would unfairly conflate the two incidents.

In addition, the motion says social media was replete with discussions regarding the incident and heartfelt expression of grief and condolences regarding the Malone murder. Perez attorneys attached multiple news articles and social media posts in support of the motion.

As of Wednesday, court records indicated Brooks had yet to rule on the motion and the Mobile County District Attorneys Office told AL.com they were moving forward with jury selection.

Tuder was 31 years old at the time of his murder and had been with the Mobile Police Department for roughly three years. He also served in the Alabama Army National Guard.
A Montgomery man is behind bars on charges that he tossed backpacks full of contraband over the fence of an Alabama prison.

Glenn Norman, 36, is charged with three counts of illegal drug trafficking, first-degree and second-degree promoting prison contraband, and trespassing.

Norman was arrested two weeks ago at a different prison on similar charges.

Authorities said an officer at Elmore Correctional Facility on Monday saw someone throw a backpack over the fence behind one of the prison dorms.

ADOCs Law Enforcement Services Division agents and drug-sniffing dogs were dispatched to the scene and the perimeter was secured.

A Montgomery is under arrest after authorities say he tried to smuggle four backpacks full of contraband into Elmore Correctional Facility.(ADOC)

Norman, they said, was found hiding nearby and taken into custody.

Investigators found four backpacks filled with illegal drugs, cell phones, weapons, lock-picking and re-keying kits, and assorted tobacco products.

Authorities said he was arrested Dec. 28 at Bullock Correctional Facility.

In that incident, court records show, Norman was trying to smuggle in 28 cell phones, 17 charging blocks, seven pair of wireless earbuds, a pocketknife, three water bottles filled with alcohol, and a safety vest.

He faces multiple charges in connection with the December incident.

He remains held in the Elmore County Jail.

Stopping the flow of illegal contraband into ADOC facilities is critical to reducing drug abuse, overdoses, and inmate violence, said Commissioner John Hamm.
A new body camera ordinance was approved Tuesday by the Mobile City Council, but not until after a lengthy debate over whether the council was overstepping its legal authority in doing so.

The councils 6-1 vote came after City Attorney Ricardo Woods recommended council members tweak some of the ordinances language to ensure it did not appear to be giving a directive to city employees, which he claims would be a violation of the 39-year-old Alabama state law that established Mobiles form of government called the Zoghby Act.

On a separate but related matter, the council opted to wait 45 days before voting on an ordinance that prohibits no-knock warrants and pre-dawn raids by police largely out of concern that it represented a directive to a city agency, which could be a violation of the Zoghby Act.

From a legal standpoint, the verbiage (of the ordinances) matters, said Woods, concerned over the body cam ordinances inclusion of the word shall. He said that word illustrated a directive to city employees, which would represent a violation of the Zoghby Act.

Some council members were frustrated with the explanation, saying that Woods interpretation of the state law would hamstring council members from doing their jobs as a legislative branch.

What is clearly happening here is the Zoghby Act is being used to weaponize against the council and put fear up here, said Councilman William Carroll.

Councilman Joel Daves said Woods logic would limit the council from doing anything, such as imposing speeding ticket fines because it could be construed as a directive to the mayors administration or someone else.

Its just simply not the case, Daves said.

Woods acknowledged that the current ordinances represent policies that Stimpson has in place. But he also said that another future mayoral administration might disagree with the policies, and that including words directing the citys executive staff to do something might become an issue.

Will it cause any problems? Woods said. Probably not. The administration is doing the same things. The issue is only ... who gets to give this directive.

The disagreement over the Zoghby Act brought back memories of 2018, when Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpsons administration filed a lawsuit against the council over a dispute over Zoghby authorities. In essence, the court case represented the city suing itself.

Councilwoman Gina Gregory, the lone No vote, said she did not want a replay.

Ive been through a lawsuit against this council by the administration for overstepping our bounds, Gregory said, advocating for a 45-day wait before voting on any ordinance and allowing enough time for Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall to review them. It was not pleasant. I dont want us to go there again.

Some council members have been hesitant toward forwarding the proposed ordinances to Marshall for review, citing concerns over his political aspirations.

Woods told the media after the meeting that the Stimpson administration has no interest in challenging this issue in court.

Said Gregory, We do not direct employees. If (an ordinance) affects all citizens, thats one thing. But if we direct specific employees, thats another.

The two ordinances surfaced in December as an answer by council members following months of complaints about policing.

The body cam ordinance essentially codifies Alabama state law, and does not include anything that goes above and beyond what the Legislature has already adopted.

Under the ordinance, any body cam video in custody by the Mobile Police Department shall be disclosed in response to any properly made request unless that request is contrary to state law. A written statement identifying the legal reason for a non-disclosure shall be given whenever there is a denial to allow someone to view body cam footage.

The other ordinance on no-knock warrants and pre-dawn raids would codify a policy that Stimpson has had in place since November, following the tragic shooting of a 16-year-old who was killed by police during a pre-dawn raid. The teenager was not the person who police were looking for. The ban includes limited exceptions.

Both ordinances were opposed by a large contingency of police who showed up to a council meeting last month to show their concerns. One police sergeant claimed during the councils Dec. 13 meeting that passing the ordinances would foster mistrust in the communities they serve.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said Tuesday his agency will hunt down the people who shot and killed a 15-year-old teenage girl during a rolling shootout on Interstate 165 Monday.

Burchs comments come after a second day of an investigation that included shutting down the I-165 exits to Bay Branch Road on Tuesday, and the recovery of gun shell casings that indicated the shooters were firing semi-automatic weapons.

We will stay on this and hunt down these people like the thugs they are that indiscriminately shoot into vehicles and houses hitting the innocent, Burch said.

A 9-year-old was also shot during the shootout that occurred around 3 p.m. and was taken to a hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

It was the second time the 9-year-old had been shot during an incident in which a shooters intended target was his 18-year-old brother.

The 15-year-old who died was a cousin to the 9-year-old and 18-year-old.

All three were inside the SUV seated in the middle row. In the backseat was a 4-year-old child who Burch described as the sibling of the 15-year-old who was killed.

Burch said his agency has not identified the shooter.

He said the mother of the intended victim is being less than cooperative with us, and I find that very alarming.

The Sheriffs Department has not yet released the name of the 15-year-old victim.

The agency is asking the public, if they have any information about the shootout, to contact them at 251-574-8633 or to leave information on their online Crime Tip form.
The cost to overdraw a bank account could drop to as little as $3 under a proposal announced by the White House, the latest effort by the Biden administration to combat fees it says pose an unnecessary burden on American consumers, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck.

The change could potentially eliminate billions of dollars in fee revenue for the nations biggest banks, which were gearing up for a battle even before Wednesdays announcement. Exactly how much revenue depends on which version of the new regulation is adopted.

Banks charge a customer an overdraft fee if their bank account balance falls below zero. Overdraft started as a courtesy offered to some customers when paper checks used to take days to clear, but proliferated thanks to the growing popularity of debit cards.

For too long, some banks have charged exorbitant overdraft fees  sometimes $30 or more  that often hit the most vulnerable Americans the hardest, all while banks pad their bottom lines, President Joe Biden said in a statement. Banks call it a service  I call it exploitation.

Under the proposed rule, banks could only charge customers what it would cost them to break even on providing overdraft services. This would require banks to show the CFPB the costs.

Alternatively, banks could use a benchmark fee that would apply across all affected financial institutions. Regulators proposed several fees  $3, $6, $7 and $14  and will gather industry and public input on the most appropriate amount. The CFPB says it arrived at these figures by looking at how much it cost banks to recoup losses from accounts that went negative and were never paid back.

According to research conducted by Bankrate last August, the average overdraft fee was $26.61. Some banks charge as much as $39. The nations biggest banks still take in roughly $8 billion in overdraft fees every year, according to data from the CFPB and banks public records.

Biden has made the elimination of junk fees one of the cornerstones of his administrations economic agenda heading into the 2024 election. Overdraft fees have been at the center of that campaign, and the White House directed government regulators last year to do whatever is in their power to further curtail the practice.

We are proposing rules to close a longstanding loophole that allowed many large banks to transform overdraft into a massive junk fee harvesting machine, said Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in a prepared statement to reporters.

Banks could also provide small lines of credit to allow customers to overdraft, a service that would operate like a credit card. Some banks like Truist Bank currently offer that type of service.

The CFPB has signaled for months that it planned to curtail the collection of overdraft fees, with regulators making statements and the bureau putting out research that shows overdraft fees overwhelmingly impact the poor and households of color, who often overdraft multiple times a year.

In response, banks have prepared a massive lobbying campaign to rebuff the Biden Administrations proposal. Whichever proposal is adopted is almost certain to be challenged in court.

The rules would apply only to banks with more than $10 billion in assets, which is roughly 175 banks that make up most of the financial institutions Americans do business with. The rules spare small banks and credit unions, some of which rely disproportionately on overdraft fees. CFPB officials told reporters that it chose to focus on the largest banks since most Americans bank at these large institutions and that is where the widespread abuses have historically happened.

Decades ago, banks created a service that allowed certain customers with checking accounts to go negative in their accounts to avoid bouncing paper checks. What started as a niche service became a massive profit center for the banks after the proliferation of debit cards that caused customers to debit their bank accounts for small and large amounts of money multiple times a day.

Overdraft fees have been a financial bonanza for the banking industry, with the CFPB estimating that banks collected $280 billion in overdraft fees in the last 20 years. These fees became so popular that one bank CEO named his boat the " Overdraft.

Caving to popular and political pressure, most of the biggest banks have added safeguards to customers accounts to allow them to bring the balance back into positive territory before they incur a fee. Bank of America, once considered by industry critics to be the biggest abuser of overdraft fees, cut its fee from $35 to $10 two years ago and says revenue from overdraft fees is now less than 10% of what it had been.

While overdraft fees have fallen in recent years, a Bankrate survey found that 91% of bank accounts still can charge overdraft fees.

If the rule is adopted and survives political and legal challenges, the new regulations would go into effect in the autumn of 2025.
The tangled tale of a man eventually convicted in a brutal 2018 Alabama triple homicide led to reforms and changes in leadership at the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, and in the rate of paroles granted dropping sharply.

Jimmy ONeal Spencer was sentenced to death in November 2022 after being found guilty of seven counts of capital murder in the deaths of Martha Dell Reliford, 65, Marie Kitchens Martin, 74, and Martins great-grandson, Colton Ryan Lee, 7.

A jury a month earlier had recommended the death penalty.

If there ever was a reason for the death penalty to exist in this state, youre it, Judge Tim Riley told Spencer, according to WHNT.

Nellie Wray, Relifords sister, said simply, He belongs in hell, she said. He killed a baby and two innocent women.

Spencer was accused of killing Martin and her great-grandson in a robbery that garnered $13.

In a taped confession, Spencer told police he killed Reliford for about $600, and murdered the child to prevent leaving a witness.

At the time of the murders, the homeless convict was a violent offender just out of prison.

Authorities said Spencer strangled and stabbed Martin before taking off with her money. Lee, they said, died from blunt force trauma.

The boy and his great-grandmother were found dead that Friday at her Mulberry Street home in Guntersville.

Reliford - also killed by blunt force trauma - was found dead in her home across the street. Investigators said she was hit with the flat side of a hatchet, stabbed and robbed.

By the time of his arrest in the murders, Spencer had a long record of offenses, stretching back to 1984 when he was 19. Over the years, he was twice sentenced to life imprisonment.

In 2017, he was serving two life sentences for eight convictions, including three for burglary, three for escape, one for assault, and one for unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle.

He was granted parole on Nov. 2 of that year, and released to a homeless shelter in Birmingham, where he was supposed to remain for six months.

He left three weeks later.

Spencer traveled to Guntersville, where he had several run-ins with law enforcement and was charged for multiple violations of the law, from traffic offenses and possession of drug paraphernalia, to attempting to elude police, resisting arrest and illegal possession of a firearm. However, his parole was not revoked.

In 2022, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, the former district attorney of Marshall County, argued before the states Board of Pardons and Paroles to reject parole for him for his earlier crimes.

What I am grateful about is the fact that as a result of this case, we highlighted the fact that decisions you make should be based upon what is appropriate for community safety, for what is appropriate for releasing individuals in our society that can live there as productive citizens, Marshall said.

Jimmy Spencer was given that opportunity, wrongfully so. And almost within hours of that release ignored the rules established by this organization and decided to commit additional offenses, which should not be surprising to anybody that knew his record. As a result of that, three innocent people, two of which I personally knew well, lost their life.

At his 2022 capital murder sentencing hearing in Guntersville, Spencer appeared to show some remorse after hearing victim impact statements.

Speaking to the courtroom, he said, I am sorry about what happened. Theres no way I can change it. If I could I would.

Alabama began deciding not to let nearly anyone out of prison around the time of the triple murder.

By being reckless, three people got killed, Janette Grantham, the director of Victims of Crime and Leniency, said of his parole.

Following the triple-killing, Gov. Kay Ivey and Marshall criticized the handling of the case and other parts of the parole agencys work.

By any measure, Spencer is unworthy of parole, the governor wrote in 2022. He has proven that he is a danger to the public and cannot be trusted in any way. His first award of parole was a grievous error, with deadly consequences for three precious lives.

State lawmakers in 2019 passed legislation that made some changes to the board, how it operated and how its members were appointed.

Lyn Head, a prosecutor for nearly two decades who joined the board in 2016 and became chairperson in 2018, resigned as head of the parole board in October of 2019.

Head, who did not vote on Spencers release, said she left after changes gave the governor more control of the board.

I felt like I no longer had a place there because I was interested in reducing recidivism, said Head. And there was nothing indicating that was going to happen.

Ivey named Leigh Gwathney, who had worked as assistant Alabama attorney general and in the Jefferson County District Attorneys office, as Heads replacement.

Gwathney, the board chair, votes against nearly everyone whose case comes before the board.

Paroles dropped almost immediately after the 2019 changes.

According to the boards data, in fiscal year 2023, there were 3,583 parole hearings. Just 297 were granted.

Five years ago, more than half of those who had a parole hearing were granted release.
The spiritual advisor for an Alabama Death Row inmate set to be the first person to be executed using nitrogen gas is demanding the Alabama prison system provide safeguards for him and other bystanders.

Rev. Jeff Hood, the advisor for Kenneth Eugene Smith, provided al.com with a letter his lawyer sent to the warden of William C. Holman Correctional Facility, where state executions are conducted, and to Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm.

Nitrogen hypoxia is a novel execution method, reads the letter. Use of this deadly gas, unlike lethal injection, poses a high risk of exposure to all bystanders. As such, its use requires special safeguards to protect all bystanders and observers

Hood demands sources of readily available oxygen, training on how to access that oxygen, and oxygen-monitoring meters.

In August, the Alabama Department of Corrections released a redacted version of its protocol for the new method. It revealed that an inmate would inhale nitrogen gas through a tightly fitted gas mask, with no source of oxygen. The inhalation of pure nitrogen is designed to lead to an inmates death, but the method hasnt been tested.

If the execution set for next Thursday evening (Jan. 25) or early Friday morning happens, it will be the first official execution using nitrogen gas.

According to forms signed by Hood and sent to the department, the prison claimed that oxygen sensors would be installed on the execution chamber walls to ensure safety for any officers, spiritual advisors, or other people in the execution chamber. Those forms, obtained by AL.com, state: However, in the highly unlikely event that the hose supplying breathing gas to the mask were to detach, an area of free-flowing nitrogen gas could result, creating a small area of risk The form said that area of risk would be about two feet from the mask.

The new letter from Hoods lawyer also states the reverends request for the prison to save any evidence after the execution is conducted.

In addition to these safeguards, Dr. Hood demands that you preserve all evidence involving Mr. Smiths execution. This evidence includes physical evidence, multimedia evidence, statements of participants, readings of instruments, other documents, and any other evidence.

Hood calls the method a danger to anyone in the execution chamber.

He also asks for independent ambulances and paramedics to be on standby outside the prison walls.

Heres the full list of Hoods demands:

The presence of operational oxygen monitoring meters in the execution chamber

The presence of a Correctional Facility employee in the execution chamber trained in maintaining the meters and interpreting the meter readings

Training Dr. Hood how to ascertain if the oxygen monitor meters are activated

Training Dr. Hood on how to determine if he is experiencing symptoms of nitrogen exposure

Training Dr. Hood regarding the quickest and safest exit route from the execution chamber

Having oxygen supply sources available so that they can be quickly reached

Training Dr. Hood on how to quickly reach these oxygen supply sources

Granting Dr. Hood permission to place a telephone call to his attorney

Securing the presence of independent paramedics directly outside the execution chamber

Securing the presence of independent ambulances at the closest possible exit to the execution chamber.

Hood said while the department confirmed they received his letter, they have yet to respond.

Smith was twice convicted by juries for the murder-for-hire of Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett in her home in Colbert County in north Alabama in 1988. Sennett, a pastors wife, was beaten and stabbed repeatedly. Smith, who was hired by the victims husband to commit the slaying, confessed to his role in the crime and has been on death row since 1996.

He was first set to die in November 2022, but the execution didnt go forward after prison workers couldnt get the intravenous lines needed for the three-drug lethal injection established before Smiths death warrant expired. That failed execution attempt led to a temporary halt to executions, before the state said Smith would die by nitrogen hypoxia- a new and untested method.

The execution is set for next week.

Read more about the set execution here.
This is a guest opinion colum

Imagine preparing to welcome home a new baby, only for your child to be born too sick and too soon. McKynlie Scott was born at 29 weeks, weighing just 1 lb. 14 oz., requiring her to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Ascension St. Vincents Birmingham for 107 days. For over three months, McKynlie received special care that helped her build the critical strength she needed to go home with parents Melodie and Greg.

While McKynlie overcame major obstacles associated with preterm birth, including chronic lung disease, heart failure and liver and kidney issues, she still attends medical appointments and receives interventions at 8 years old. All of this support has helped her grow into a very fashionable, fabulous, and sassy girl. While the Scotts story has a happy ending, the worry, sadness, and fear that impacts families like theirs facing a preterm birth can be devastating, and are sadly the reality for over 7,400 families in Alabama.

In Alabama stories like that are true for one in eight moms and their families. March of Dimes 2023 Report Card is a clear reminder that the state of maternal and infant health in the U.S., and, particularly in Alabama, is in crisis. The Report Card features key indicators across infant and maternal health, offering a full picture of the challenges we face today. The results are clear: As a nation were not doing enough to prioritize the well-being of moms and babies and, in Alabama, theres even more work to be done.

Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S. and globally, and this years report reveals that preterm birth nationwide stands at 10.4%. While this marks a meager improvement from the historic high of 10.5%, this is not nearly enough to elevate the nations D+ grade, which weve held for the second consecutive year. In Alabama over 7,400 babies were born too soon, bringing our rate to 12.8%, just above the national rate. Some factors contributing to preterm birth in Alabama include hypertension at 29.2%, smoking at 16.1%, and diabetes at 37.3% of all preterm births.

The data looks beyond preterm birth to shed light on infant and maternal mortality rates and reveal inequities in our systems, policies, and environments that impact Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) populations, who continue to carry a higher burden of these outcomes nationally. In Alabama the preterm birth rate among babies born to Black birthing people is 1.5X higher than the rate among all other babies.

Early data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention shows a 3% spike in infant mortality last year, the largest increase in more than 20 years. There has also been a drastic increase in maternal mortality rates, nearly doubling from 17.4 to 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. For both infant and maternal mortality, the rates are even more startling in communities of color.

The factors that influence outcomes for moms and babies are addressable, and many of them can be prevented through expanded access to care, managing chronic conditions, policy change, increased research, and more.

The time to act is now. Many of the factors that contribute to outcomes for moms and babies are central to all health and impact all of us. Its up to us in Alabama to make a difference and ensure the best possible start for all families.

March of Dimes is leading the charge by advocating for policies like Medicaid extension, which Alabama has extended coverage for women to one year postpartum, as well as adopted the policy of Medicaid expansion, which allows birthing people greater access to preventative care during pregnancy. Theyre also supporting research, innovation, and programs nationwide to improve maternal and infant health, including Mom & Baby Mobile Health Centers, funding Prematurity Research Centers, and the newly launched March of Dimes Health Equity Center.

In 2022, the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative based out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, was awarded federal funding to launch the Alabama Maternal Health Task Force. The role of the Task Force is to bring together partners and community members from across the state to address some of the greatest problems in Alabamas maternity care systems. But the change we need wont happen without everyone getting involved. Whether youre a concerned citizen, a patient, a policymaker, or a healthcare provider, you can play a vital role in improving maternal and infant health. Visit marchofdimes.org/reportcard to learn more about how you can get involved.

In the end, the health of moms and babies is a collective responsibility, and together, we can make a significant impact on the state of maternal and infant health in Alabama and across the nation.

Dr. Tori Anderson, is a local pediatrician at Redmont Pediatrics and is chairwoman of March of Dimes Mission Impact Committee.
The political adage If you cannot beat them, join them has been well-known for centuries. So, the Left made one extra step and arrived at the if you cannot beat them, lead them. The Left has been trying (unsuccessfully) various methods to eliminate capitalists and private property.

Eventually, Leftists learned their lesson and decided to preside over private property instead of confiscating and spreading it around. Lenin used it (the so-called New Economic Policy in the Soviet Union 1921-1928), Mussolini used it, Hitler used it, and the Chinese used it. It blatantly violates a well-demarcated borderline between the government and the governed. However, by now, it is the cornerstone of globalism.

Note that the systematic and deliberate infiltration of the state into private economic affairs did not begin with Mussolini. In 17th-century France, for example, Chief Minister Cardinal Richelieu established state-sponsored and state-directed cartels. That resulted in public-private entities that were granted monopoly status in their respective fields. Richelieu aimed not to build a proto-fascist state per se; his cravings were more down-to-earth: France had a war to win. (The following definitions are used: Socialism is a state of society where most wealth, either de jure or de facto, belongs to a government. Fascism is a form of Socialism where most wealth de facto but not de jure belongs to a government.)

Nevertheless, Cardinal Richelieu deployed state power to consolidate state power even more. His offer to the French merchants was one they could not refuse: guaranteed profits under the protection of the state or guaranteed imprisonment at the Bastille.

The resultant economic landscape in France in the middle of the 17th century comprised numerous stable, privately-owned cartels controlled directly or indirectly by the government. Nevertheless, it did strengthen and consolidate French economic power, especially concerning rivals -- the Habsburgs and England. However, the other side of the same coin was unavoidable -- the government-chartered monopolies, insulated by the state from external competition, pressed the brakes on innovations. In the end, Cardinal Richelieu led the Habsburgs to bankruptcy and France to the dominant power on the European continent.

England and her colonies were provided more economic freedom during the same period. That sealed the fate of two revolutions at the end of the 18th century. The French had no choice but to continue their Left turn. On the other hand, the thirteen overseas British colonies turned Right.

The story of the proto-fascist policies of Richelieu demonstrates the theme observable in all future left-wing economies: a short-term boost in economic activity due to crushing, inescapable state intervention, and then, in the long run, unavoidable decline and stagnation. As it is known, the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Cuba, Venezuela, and the entire Soviet bloc post-World War II followed this course. The demise of Communist China is inevitable for the same reason. A similar fate is awaiting the Davos Oracles of stakeholder capitalism. From that outlook, all four of Dumass three musketeers were the first proto-anti-fascists.

State-managed stakeholder capitalism was known in the 1600s as mercantilism. To use 21st-century terminology, Cardinal Richelieu established a form of stakeholder capitalism in France, where the government served as the only principal stakeholder.

Karl Schwab publicizes the third way, stakeholder capitalism, as the ultimate solution. His capitalism must be quoted because it corresponds to free-market capitalism in only the remotest sense. Note that National Socialists of the Third Reich also run under the banner (or, rather, the smokescreen) of the third way. Schwab is painfully aware that the stakeholder concept competed head-on with Friedmans notion that the business of business is businessand it ultimately lost out.

There are no surprises here. Schwabs stakeholder capitalism is just a reformulated branch of leftism, rebranded for the 21st century, commonly known as Fascism. Of course, it is not a replica of 20th-century Fascism; it has been updated and modified to incorporate climate change, digital technologies, and the pandemic, and has expanded global outreach. Planets health becomes the central stakeholder in the global economic system.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 provided conclusive evidence of the unsustainable character of the socialist economy. With its fall, progressive intellectuals were forced to find a new source of inspiration and income, with the latter being their primary concern. Therefore, the myths conceived by the previous generation of leftists had to be revised so that global cooling quickly turned into global warming. As for the new source of income, the international Left panicked for many years until it realized that its quintessential enemy -- capitalism -- could be exerted to combat capitalism.

From that account, the WEFs ascendance as the international Lefts de facto leader directly resulted from the Soviet Unions crash of 1991. The WEF was founded in 1971 under the name of the European Management Forum when cracks in the Soviet Union became an open secret. Shortly after, a campaign began to rehabilitate corporatism. By the time of renaming the European Management Forum into the World Economic Forum in 1987, the term neo-corporatism had sufficiently emasculated from any links to old corporatism/fascism.

Despite this, the organization went unnoticed for over two decades, remaining in the shadow of more powerful socialist organizations. The tool the WEF used to win the international socialist race was not its invention: they just modernized the old 1930s Leftist guaranteed profits thesis of getting political power from the semi-educated by utilizing control mechanisms instead of ownership redistribution. Thus, the evolution of the WEF runs in parallel with the revival of corporatism.

By the second Obama presidential term, the WEF had decisively won the evolutionary struggle with fellow left-wing peers. Davos became the ecumenical council of the New Left Caliphate, and the race for Assets Under Management was catapulted to the top leftist strategies. Davos is where the blossoming romance between the rich and the left-wing beau monde happens.

The Davos gatherings are a microcosm of what the Left has in mind for the rest of the world. Davosians cling to one of the strictest caste societies, indicated by the color of their badges. Meritocratic considerations do not solely determine the ranking of these individuals in the WEF hierarchy. The color ranking in Davos is loosely based on a persons position in the outer world. However, like all other left-wing movements, the actual hierarchy in the WEF strictly adheres to inner-Davos priorities -- the distance from the party Fuhrer.

The Alpine resort town of Davos has emerged as a symbol of modern anti-capitalism, but that is only half true. Indisputably, Davos has been propelled to the top of Left Imperialism executives and become the de facto Olympus of left-wing half-men-half-gods. They genuinely believe they have found the cornucopia and met Goddess Abundantia, who has changed her name to State.

Gary Gindler, Ph.D., is a conservative columnist at Gary Gindler Chronicles and a new science founder: Politiphysics. Follow him on Twitter/X. This piece is adapted from Garys forthcoming book, Left Imperialism (Paragon House, 2024).

Image: Ivan Radic
South Korea's deputy nuclear envoy Lee Joon-il met with Thai officials earlier this week and called for Bangkok's support in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Lee met separately with Bolbongse Vangphaen, deputy director-general of ASEAN affairs at Thailand's foreign ministry, and Luejit Tinpanga, director of international security at the National Security Council, according to the ministry.

During the meetings, Lee explained the North's recent escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, including its labeling of the South as a "principal enemy," and noted the importance of joint international efforts to deter Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development.

He urged Thailand and other ASEAN members, in particular, to join such efforts, stressing the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is the only regional multilateral security forum that North Korea attends.

The two sides also agreed to boost cooperation against North Korea's cyberthreats and in blocking illegal North Korean workers in the information technology sector known to be generating revenue for use in its weapons program.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. (Yonhap)
The United States has claimed that the air strikes against Houthi military sites in Yemen are not related to the war in Gaza, and are not meant to escalate the regional confrontation with Iran. This should be seen as mere diplo-speak, because not every member of the 22-nation coalition put together by Washington to protect shipping in the Red Sea is on board with shifting from defensive to offensive operations (though most are). The Houthis are explicit in their declarations that they have been attacking both shipping and Israel in support of Hamas, who stated this round of war with its horrific and sadistic October 7 assault on Israeli civilians.

Immediately after the Hamas aggression, the Houthis mobilized their forces in Yemen to support Hamas against the Israeli counterattack into Gaza, Other Iran-backed militia groups across the region also went into action, hitting American bases over 130 times. But the Houthis are the best armed and most fanatical fighters in the Iran network outside of Hezballah in Lebanon. They are the Shiite minority in Sunni Yemen, which opened a civil war for control of the country in 2014 when they captured the capital, Sanaa City. This is vital to remember when Iran asserts that the U.S.-UK strikes were "a clear violation of Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international laws or when protesters outside the White House claim we attacked Yemen. The Houthis are not Yemen (the legitimate government has moved its flag to Aden), they are a rebel group that controls about a third of the country, which unfortunately includes the Red Sea coast.

China made the connection: The skewed stance of the US in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has led to the conflict becoming protracted and caused spillovers. Russia warned "A large-scale military escalation in the Red Sea region could strike out the positive trends that have emerged recently in the Yemeni settlement process. This reference is to a UN-brokered truce that has been in effect for nearly two years, renewed in August 2022. A truce which has allowed the port of Hudaydah and the Sanaa airport to operate under Houthi control to supposedly bring in humanitarian aid, but which has obviously been used to supply the Houthis with advanced weapons beyond what is used in the civil war including drones, air-defense systems, and a variety of offensive missiles from Iran. When the truce was first declared in April 2022, the U.S. State Department proclaimed, Yemenis are demanding peace the parties should turn their efforts to securing a lasting ceasefire and participating in an inclusive political process. Yet, the truce has not led to any negotiated settlement. It has only allowed the Houthis to consolidate their position, rebuild, and expand their capabilities, and devise new and expanded strategies for aggression.

In the months before the truce, the Saudi-led coalition had stepped up its operations against the Houthi. As the UN reported Recent attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia indicate how the conflict in Yemen risks spiraling out of control. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg described the sharp increase in airstrikes, including on residential areas and civilian infrastructure in Sanaa and the crucial port city of Hudaydah The past month has seen particularly severe shortages in fuel and oil derivatives, notably in areas controlled by Ansar Allah [the Houthi]. So, the truce was meant to save the Houthi, just as demands for a ceasefire in Gaza are meant to save Hamas.

Starting with President Barack Obama, the U.S. gave the Saudi-led coalition logistical support, a supply of weapons, intelligence reports, and aerial refueling for air strikes. In Congress, a coalition of progressive Democrats and a handful of isolationist Republicans charged that the naval blockade had caused starvation which in polite circles is now considered unacceptable in modern war. The premier modern strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan discussed commercial blockades as a standard use of sea power. Historians like Andrew F. Smiths Starving the South: How the North Won the Civil War have studied this strategy, which was also used effectively by the Allies in both world wars. But strategic logic has been pushed off the stage. After the Democrats captured Congress in the 2018 elections, a resolution calling for the U.S. to end all support for the Saudi-led war effort was passed but vetoed by President Donald Trump who had continued support for the Arabs fighting the Iranian proxy in Yemen.

Even before collapsing Afghanistan and opening the door to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Biden cut off all aid to the Saudi coalition within days of taking office. This was fully in line with progressive opinion and broke with President Trumps hardline policy towards Iran. At a February 5, 2021 press briefing, State Department spokesperson Ned Price concluded his review of recent administration statements on Yemen by conceding that Saudi Arabia faces genuine security threats from Yemen and from others in the region well look for ways to improve support for Saudi Arabias stability, to defend its territory against threats. This reference seemed like an afterthought given that the focus of Prices remarks was ending all American support for offensive operations in Yemen, including relevant arms sales and ending our intelligence sharing arrangement with Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-led coalition. No mention was made about the security of the Red Sea. The Houthis were also taken off the list of terrorist organizations, the reason being given that such a designation would interfere with providing humanitarian aid to Yemen, implying that at least some of that aid would go to the Houthis.

A year later, after the Houthis launched a series of attacks against Saudi Arabia, President Biden had to call King Salman to assure him that the U.S. is firmly committed to supporting the defense of Saudi Arabia. The State Department acknowledged The Houthis have pursued a dangerous pattern of increasingly obstructive and aggressive actions against Yemenis, Yemens neighbors, and the international community. Yet, the U.S. remained on the defensive until this week, content to shoot down wave after wave of Houthi drones, cruise missiles and for the first time anywhere, ballistic anti-ship missiles. These latter weapons are undoubtedly Iranian weapons based on Chinese designs. Beijing has taken the lead in developing ASBMs for use against U.S. aircraft carriers. China has been supplying Iran with anti-ship missiles for decades.

The State Department has noted the violent connection of Iran, Israel, Palestine, Hamas, and the Houthis. A December 7 press release read The Iranian regimes support to the Houthis has enabled unprovoked attacks on civilian infrastructure in Israel and on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Attacks launched from Houthi-controlled areas have also threatened U.S. warships operating in international waters. Such attacks disrupt maritime security and impede freedom of navigation for commercial vessels, increase regional instability, and risk broadening the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In its 2022 report on state-sponsors of terrorism, it was noted Iran continued providing weapons systems and other support to Hamas and other U.S.-designated Palestinian terrorist groups In Bahrain [headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet], Iran has continued to provide weapons, support, and training to local Shia militant groups In Yemen, Iran has provided a wide range of weapons, training, advanced equipment such as UAS [unmanned aerial systems], and other support to Houthi militants, who engaged in attacks against regional targets in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. On at least five occasions in 2022, the U.S. Navy and partner forces interdicted vessels suspected of traveling from Iran to Yemen, with cargoes that included more than 300 tons of missile fuel components. Yet, President Biden continued to follow a policy of restraint which was not reciprocated. Restraint is the current term used by progressives seeking a less military-oriented policy on our part, but not on the part of enemies who see restraint as a form of weakness inviting attack -- and attack they have. Yemen is thus a test case for policy failure based on unrealistic hopes that irresponsibly breed wider conflicts. Lessons of history are thus confirmed.

William R. Hawkins is a former economics professor who served on the professional staff of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee. He has written widely on international economics and national security issues for both professional and popular publications.

Image: USAF
A doctrine used once in December 1868 to make sure that former Confederate President Jefferson Davis never held office again has been revived to justify removing former U.S. President Donald Trumps name from the ballot of the Colorado Republican primary. The doctrine, called self-execution, allows the terms of the 14th Amendment to be applied without action by Congress.

Self-execution is inconsistent with the 14th Amendments text, which provides for enforcement by the U.S. Congress. If it were ever applied to cases beyond those of Davis and Trump (and, as this essay argues, its seriously doubtful it should apply to Trump), the results would be chaotic.

Trump has appealed on the grounds that the Colorado ruling violates his due process rights. U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on February 8.

Section 3

In December 1865, Alexander Stephens, the former Confederate vice president, showed up at the U.S. Congress with several other former Confederates and demanded to be seated. It had been only eight months since Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomattox. Stephenss grandstanding prompted Congress to add Section Three to the as-yet-unratified Fourteenth Amendment, the section used by the Colorado Supreme Court to challenge Trumps ballot status.

Section Three provides that No person shall hold U.S. public office who previously took an oath of loyalty to the United States but then engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same.

Jefferson Davis

In June 1867, Davis was charged with rebellion, treason, and insurrection at the federal courthouse in Richmond. Ironically, this was the same building that he had used as an office during the war. His case was highly anticipated. It would be the trial of the century.

From the governments point of view, a lot could go wrong. Trying Davis before a jury that included newly freed blacks could provoke a backlash. Were they truly his peers? At the very least, Davis would get a platform to present his views.

Even if he were convicted, Davis could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Four justices had been appointed by Lincoln, but five had been appointed by earlier pro-slavery presidents. The judges who would ultimately decide the case were Supreme court Chief Justice Salmon Chase and District Judge John Underwood. No one knew how either court might rule. The prosecutors yearned for a solution that would get Davis out of public life.

The 14th Amendment had been ratified in July, but Congress had not yet passed legislation to enforce it.

Davis moved that the case against him be dismissed. Trying Davis was double jeopardy since he had already been punished by the Fourteenth Amendment, which banned him from federal office, according to the motion. If Section Three applied to Davis and to other former Confederates automatically the moment it was ratified, there was no need for Congress to pass legislation to implement it.

As Chase later put it, the amendment executed itself. This novel and intricate argument originated with Chase himself, who had earlier met privately with Daviss lawyer and advised him to present it.

Underwood dissented from this point of view. Or perhaps he agreed to disagree. On December 3, 1868, the question was referred to the U.S. Supreme Court with no precedent recorded in the courts syllabus.

On December 25, however, President Andrew Johnson issued a full pardon to former Confederates, including Davis, making the case moot. In February 1869, U.S. Attorney General William Evarts dropped the case.

Griffins Case

The first major opinion on the Fourteenth Amendment was Griffins Case, decided in May 1869. This time, however, Chief Justice Chase came down the opposite way on the self-execution question. Chase ruled that proceedings, evidence, decisions, and enforcements of decisionsare indispensable; and these can only be provided for by congress. Self-execution could justify overriding due process and other civil liberties, something Chase wanted to avoid, according to a 2021 law review article by Gerard Magliocca.

Griffins Case concerned the validity of writs issued by judges who were former Confederates. Chase worried that, if these judges were summarily dismissed, there would not be enough judges in the South to process cases. As he explained, self-execution was a construction which must necessarily occasion great public and private mischief, and, therefore, must never be preferred to a construction which will occasion neither, or neither in so great degree, unless the terms of the instrument absolutely require such preference.

In 1871, the North Carolina state legislature selected Zebulon Vance to be U.S. Senator. Vance had been the Confederate governor of North Carolina. This time, the response was more sympathetic. His case spurred the Amnesty Act in 1872, which removed restrictions on former Confederates. Since that time, Section Three has been forgottenvestigial, as Magliocca calls ituntil Trump and January 6.

Is the president an officer?

Another question that has been much discussed recently is whether the president is an officer of the United States for purposes of the amendment. According to Article II, the president shall Commission all the Officers of the United States. That suggests that the president himself is not an officer.

Magliocca went through the debate that took place in the 1860s. He found that various participants assumed that the offices of president and vice president were covered. No one argued that they werent. Although various modern commentators recommend that SCOTUS make use of this loophole (or perhaps drafting error), that would lead to an absurd result.

Colorados standardless removal

On December 19, the Colorado court ruled in Anderson v. Griswald that Trumps name could not be put on the ballot in Colorado, citing the 14th Amendment.

If the Colorado court acted without legal authority, it violated Trumps right of due process granted under Section 1 of the 14th Amendment: nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. This aspect of the case is what justifies intervention by a federal court.

As for self-execution, it flies against the text of the 14th Amendment: Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Whatever the situation in 1868, there is now a statute to enforce the insurrection clause, namely 18 USC  2383. Trump would have to be convicted of insurrection in federal court for Section Three to apply.

Congress does not need to pass implementing legislation for Section Threes disqualification provision to attach, and Section Three is, in that sense, self-executing, according to the Colorado court. This overlooks both the Griffin Case and the fact that implementation legislation is already on the books.

No one knows what self-execution would mean in practice. If it is legitimate for state courts to rule on this issue, the result would be even more chaotic than anything Chase contemplated. If the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the Colorado decision, it wont stop with Trump. In his dissent, Colorado Justice Carlos Samour warns against the potential chaos wrought by an imprudent, unconstitutional, and standardless system in which each state gets to adjudicate Section Three disqualification cases on an ad hoc basis.

Peter Kauffner is a writer who lives in Vietnam.

Image: Salmon Chase by Matthew Brady.
The southern border in the United States is the place that causes half of all migrant deaths in the world, yet most of the media rarely even mention deaths at the border; remember this September report?

A report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) found that the U.S.-Mexico border was the deadliest land route for migrants worldwide on record in 2022. IOMs Missing Migrant Project, which maintains a large database of worldwide migrant deaths, counted 1,457 deaths hemisphere-wide last year, of which 686 occurred on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. As the organization acknowledges, this is an undercount. On the U.S. side alone, In FY [fiscal year] 2022, more than 890 migrants died attempting to enter the United States between ports of entry across the SWB.  The 890 figure, too, is an undercount, as regional humanitarian groups along the border find a higher count of migrant remains than Border Patrol does in the regions that they cover.

The Biden administration could prevent most of these deaths by enforcing immigration laws, but they dont care; they are more interested in admitting people into the U.S. as fast as they can instead of doing their job. The vicious Mexican cartels are thriving in this lawless environment.

And, when the media and other Democrats believe they can blame these deaths on a Republican (like Governor Abbott) or anyone else attempting to enforce a border and follow the laws in place, they are anxious to report the story; see below, from CNN:

2 children and a woman drowned in the Rio Grande, authorities say, days after Texas blocked the feds amid migrant crisis 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.

Only deaths that fit the agenda matter.

Most mass shootings are properly reported in the U.S., and the media and other Democrats use the shootings as ammo to further infringe on Americans right to self-defense. But, annual deaths at the southern border are as high or higher than the total number of people killed in mass shootings, and yet most of the media shows little interest. From a report by ABC News in December:

There have been more than 632 mass shootings in 2023 so far, which is defined by the Gun Violence Archive as an incident in which four or more victims are shot or killed. These mass shootings have led to 597 deaths [emphasis added] and 2,380 injuries.

Why dont the Democrats tell the Biden administration to enforce the border laws, which actually fall under the purview of the executive branch, to prevent many of these migrant deaths? Well, because they dont actually care.

A lot fewer people died in climate-related disasters in the U.S. than die at the southern border, yet they still call climate change an existential threat to our survival and seek to destroy entire industries that directly and indirectly employ tens of thousands, and which have sustained millions of lives over the last 160 years. According to federal bureaucrats at the Department of Commerce:

2023 was also deadly, causing at least 492 direct or indirect fatalitiesthe 8th most [climate] disaster-related fatalities for the contiguous U.S. since 1980.

They pretend they can save these lives by making us drive electric cars that dont work in the cold, while they wont even enforce the border laws to save lives.

Here is a sample of how the media is willing to intentionally spread lies to push the Democrat agenda:

Democrats have wanted more illegals to come in so that, when they got the opportunity to spread lies about border agents being racists, media members enthusiastically complied. They falsely told the public that agents were whipping Haitians. The truth was irrelevant, and the media didnt care that they destroyed agents lives and reputations without facts. From a congressional report:

Photographs from the incident were misinterpreted by commentators, reporters and some Democrats as showing the agents whipping migrants. In fact, as the eventual CBP investigation confirmed, the agents were using reins to control their horses, were not carrying whips and did not whip anyone.

The media spread the despicable lie that a white cop shot a black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri. The talking point Hands up dont shoot was repeated widely. The purpose of the lie was to gin up racial hate against white cops. How many cops have been injured or killed because of that intentional lie?

The media showed pictures of kids in cages at the border to prove that Trump didnt care about kids and that he was a racist. If the media parrots werent so hellbent on destroying Trump in the minds of the public, they would have never shown those pictures, because the images were actually from 2014, during the Obama/Biden yearsthey built the cages. Of course, the media didnt care about kids in cages when the compassionate Obama/Biden administration was running the show.

The media operatives wanted to claim that Trump supporters were racists, so they were willing to destroy white Christian boys for the crime of wearing MAGA hats; its all a means to an end, which is to promote the Democrat agenda.

The media members reliably spread the lie that Trump supported Nazis and white supremacists, all to gin up animus.

The FBI says there was no insurrection on January 6th, yet the media and other Democrats continue to repeat the lie that Trump caused an insurrection.

The media continually treated everything that Anthony Fauci said as sound science, yet when he admits it wasnt, they essentially buried the story.

How do you get so many people to hate Jews and root for the destruction of Israel without media accomplices?

How do you get people to show up in Iowa and protest climate change and global warming when it is record-cold without constant indoctrination from the media?

Summary: Most of the media has an agenda, and it is to interfere in elections to destroy Republicans and elect Democrats. Do not trust them! Always do your own research and ask questions, because they wont. They havent cared about facts for a long time.

Image generated by AI.
[UPDATED/CORRECTED ITEM: An earlier version of this piece cited a New York Post story about Ackman that he and others present have explicitly denied happened. Ackman's description of what really happened is a doozy.]

Bill Ackman, whose outspoken criticism of Claudine Gay's inadequate response to antisemitism at Harvard and subsequent vow to expose plagiarism in academia and in the media, is a force to be reckoned with.

So when he declared in the wake of the Iowa Caucus that President Trump was going to blow Joe Biden out of the water come November, it drew headlines.

According to the New York Post:

Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman reacted to former President Donald Trumps landslide victory in Mondays Iowa caucuses by warning Democrats that incumbent President Joe Biden is toast. If you havent figured it out already, it is now abundantly clear that @realDonaldTrump is going to crush @POTUS, the founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management wrote on his X social media account on Tuesday. Ackman, who has become far more vocal in the public sphere since the Oct. 7 Hamas assault on Israel and the subsequent eruption of antisemitism on college campuses, repeated his call for the 81-year-old Biden to step aside so that the Democratic Party can quickly get behind a strong, credible contender for the presidency.

Ackman's a hedge fund guy and hedge fund guys are hard realists who are paid to know what is going to happen. Ackman's one of the best, given that he's a billionaire, so he often gets a lot of such predictions right.

That's bad news for Joe Biden, of course, and it's what a lot of us think intuitively. It's doubly bad for him because Ackman's a Democrat, not a Republican, and he doesn't make money through wishful thinking.

All the same, there's such a thing among the Wall Street sharks known as 'talking one's position.' That's when a trading ace like Ackman might say what he hopes will happen when he's really hoping that others will make their trading decisions accordingly.

Based on the Post's reporting of the bad blood between Joe Biden and Bill Ackman, that appeared to be a possibility as to what was happening.

Ackman and Biden have history. In 2017, Biden referred to Ackman as an ahole, according to an item recently unearthed by the news site Mediaite.

The two men were guests at a dinner hosted by former Trump press secretary and hedge funder Anthony Scaramucci, according to Fox Business. During the get-together, Biden was asked by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush why he declined to run for president in 2016. He then told the assembled guests that he passed up the White House run because he was still in mourning over the death of his son Beau in 2015. When the room grew quiet, Biden apologized, saying: Im sorryIve said enough. Ackman is then reported to have chimed in: Why? Thats never stopped you before. Biden then turned to someone near him and asked, in reference to Ackman: Who is this ahole? He then turned directly to Ackman and said: Look, I dont know who you are, wiseass, but never disrespect the memory of my dead son!

The Post reports that Ackman then tried to apologize, even though he insulted Biden, not his dead son -- and Biden got more aggressive.

When Ackman reportedly tried to apologize, Biden would hear none of it, saying: Just shut the hell up.

UPDATE/CORRECTION:

But we got an email note from the public relations agency of Pershing Capital Management stating that this report was inaccurate and didn't describe what happened.

They provided us with these two recent links.

Ackman's post is well worth reading, click on the part that isn't visible because that's where it gets good and the computerized embed is hiding it.:

This is absolutely and totally false. I never disrespected Bidens dead son, nor was I ever disrespectful to Biden.



I also have never disrespected anyones son, let alone one that tragically died of cancer. Why would I possibly do this? Obviously it makes no sense.



We tried  Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) January 16, 2024

Here it is again:

This is absolutely and totally false. I never disrespected Bidens dead son, nor was I ever disrespectful to Biden. I also have never disrespected anyones son, let alone one that tragically died of cancer. Why would I possibly do this? Obviously it makes no sense. We tried to get the story corrected, but the Biden camp let it run because his team perhaps thought it looked good for him to play tough with a hedge fund manager. It was a very strange moment for everyone at the table. He either had a senior moment or he misheard me. At one point, he asked me if I wanted to go outside and fight. I thought he was joking. I had no idea what set him off, nor did anyone else at the table. I was nothing other than respectful and polite to Biden at that dinner. I did at one point ask him why he wasnt running for president. He said that Beau wouldnt have wanted him to run. I was surprised by his answer, but I of course accepted it as true. That was the only dialogue we had about his son and I have not interacted with him since. Dont believe everything you read in the media.

There's no reason to doubt Ackman, because unlike Biden, there isn't any evidence out there that he lies or insults people.

Ackman in fact says that the calumnous story about him was the doing of Biden's people. In their claim that Ackman insulted Biden first, they sound like soccer players who justify their fouls by claiming their mother was insulted, or criminals arrested for hate crimes who tell cops the dead victim called them an expletive. It's rare for these stories to not be fake.

If anything, this explanation makes Joe Biden look even worse -- flying off the handle with that well-known temper of his against a blameless man for no reason whatsoever. Does it sound like something Biden or the dirty political tricksters in his orbit would do? I think we all know the answer to that one.

So now Ackman's bankrolling Biden's primary challenger, Democrat Dean Phillips, not because he wants revenge but because he's encountered up close someone with stability issues.

It won't be a smooth sail to the Democrat nomination for Old Joe, and this comes amid many calls among Democrats to get rid of him based on his dotage -- and here's a sleeper issue Ackman hasn't addressed yet but voters are onto -- Biden's corruption, as a new TIPP poll reports. Ackman is putting his money where his mouth is, giving Joe a well-financed political campaign machine to compete against him as just one more thing for him to worry about.

So in being an absolute dinner-party creep, Biden bought himself a primary challenger and a big hedge fund billionaire exuberantly announcing to the world, via Twitter, that he was going to lose big.

It's all in line with what is really happening... it's just that Ackman knows Biden better than most and is amplifying Biden's challenges and problems.

It's not for nothing that Joe Biden has been called stupid in many contexts.

His making a guy he didn't know look bad in front of others [Update: through spreading calumny about him] which pretty well all by itself tells us all we need to know about why Joe Biden is unfit as U.S. president. Imagine him trying to cut deals in Congress or negotiate with dictators. That complete absence of common sense is a disqualifier in itself. Now Ackman's after him, getting ready to put another antler-head on his wall, and Claudine Gay can tell Joe all about it.

Image: Insider Monkey, via Flickr // CC BY-ND 2.0 DEED
A Green Party communist turns out to be an impulsive criminal who cant help herself from taking stuff that belongs to other people? You mean, the theft she promotes as policy doesnt stay confined to that realm, but seeps over into her personal life too? The gal who empathized and resonated with Muslim terrorists in Israel has a skewed sense of whats right and whats wrong? The leftist lawmaker is actually a corrupt lawbreaker?

Well knock me over with a feather!

Here are the details, reported via Breitbart today:

New Zealand Police said Golriz Ghahraman  had been charged on Wednesday with two counts of shoplifting at a store in Aucklands trendy Ponsonby neighborhood. Today, a 43-year-old woman has been summonsed to appear in the Auckland District Court on two charges of shoplifting, a police statement said. These charges relate to incidents at a Ponsonby retailer that allegedly occurred on 21 and 23 December 2023.  Local media had earlier accused Ghahraman of shoplifting two times at Scotties Boutique in Auckland, and once at Cre8iveworkz [sic] in Wellington in the weeks leading up to Christmas. On Tuesday, the New Zealand Herald published CCTV footage of the 42-year-old appearing to steal a handbag from the Auckland-based store.

Ghahraman was New Zealands first refugee lawmaker having been elected to parliament in 2017 as a member of the Green Party; in the wake of being charged she promptly resigned from her elected position, and in a statement released yesterday Golriz Ghahraman wrote, I understand Im not well. (Her political ideology already gave her away.)

As also reported, Ghahraman did not explicitly address the allegations of theft, but did say that stresses relating to my work caused her to behave in ways completely out of character.

Hold up though, and lets get one thing straightits entirely in her character to steal what others earned. After all, not only has she been drawing a sizable salary off of the taxpayer (MPs make between $160,000 and $180,000 a year), shes been doing it while advancing policies that grow big government, which in turn steal even more from the citizen class shes ostensibly supposed to be serving.

Second of all, stress is a legitimate reason to commit crime? I mean, seems a little ludicrous, but then again, it works for the Muslim rapists all across Europe. Its a good thing for Ghahraman that she didnt try this in her home country of Iran, because we all know what Sharia governments do to the hands of those who get caught stealing

Lastly, its worth mentioning that foreigners (like Ghahraman), fleeing to Western nations (like New Zealand), dont come from the Western world; they come from chaotic and failed countries. Problems inevitably arise when they bring their backwards cultures of failure, and refuse to embrace the host countrys system of functionality and success. And then, the villains in the equation are the bigoted white people, who are either consciously or subconsciously oppressing the underprivileged.

Image: Richard Myburgh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
A few days ago, a Mexican friend brought this topic of "capital flight" to my attention. I've known him for a long time, long enough to remember August 1982 and December 1994. What happened on those dates? The peso was devalued sharply and lots of people got hurt.

So this article caught my attention:

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is set to conclude his six-year term as the first Mexican president in over 20 years to see a net outflow of foreign capital invested in government securities. Citing data from the Mexican bank Banco Base, the newspaper Reforma reported Monday that a net total of just under 349.86 billion pesos (US $20.7 billion) in investments in government securities was taken out of the country between the commencement of the current federal government on Dec. 1, 2018 and the end of last year. Reforma described the accumulated capital flight as a record for a six-year period of government. During the 2012-18 government led by former president Enrique Pena Nieto, a net total of almost 666 billion pesos in foreign capital flowed into government securities. Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Banco Base, told Reforma that Lopez Obrador, who will leave office Oct. 1, is on track to be the first president since Ernesto Zedillo (1994-2000) to record a net outflow of foreign money invested in government securities. A total of 68.97 billion pesos left Mexico when Zedillo was in office.

Let me add this: Last week, another Mexican friend said that the peso needed an adjustment because the exchange rate did not seem right. He was referring to his family visiting Mexico and complaining about prices. Just remember than an overvalued peso makes dinner in Mexico more expensive.

Unlike 1982, Mexico lets the peso float these days. So a massive devaluation is not likely, but erosion is very likely.

Why capital flight in Mexico? That's complicated, but I think that a lot of people are worried about organized crime in Mexico.

I've also heard complaints about the upcoming election. The contest is between two ladies, a supporter of AMLO and a huge critic. Neither one seems to be generating much enthusiasm or talking about insecurity, topic # 1 for most Mexicans.

As a friend once said, its always interesting in Mexico.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Image: Dennis Sylvester Hurd
With Iowa in the rearview mirror, the Trump Boomerang hit the MAGA haters in the Democrat party and their pathetic mass media friends, who belch bile on MSNBC, on the backs of their heads.

How could this happen? From my perspective, it was totally predictable. Why? Because the more Trump was pilloried, the more he benefited, because most Americans resent bullying and piling on and recoil when they are exposed to this type of behavior.

From the time Donald and Melania came down the escalator, the likes of Hillary and her slick lawyers did everything in their power to spy on his administration and to accuse Trump personnel of a variety of outlandish abuses. Hillary even went to extreme lengths to concoct a false dossier alleging that Trump was in bed with Putin and would destroy our nation. There have never been comparable efforts to destroy a presidential opponent.

Were it not for our two-tier system of justice, Hillary would be in jail for her defiance of a judges orders not to destroy evidence, for the smashing of her cell phone, etc. The woman has a history of underhanded activities. Win at any cost has always been her goal and motivation.

As for the Democrat MAGA haters, they have applauded a series of unconstitutional efforts on the part of rabid state and local district attorneys in pursuit of the former president. They have sought to deprive a candidate for federal office of his various freedoms, by harassment and lawsuits in conflict with campaign scheduling. The attacks on Trump are contrived vendettas because he bested their Queen Bee, gave the deplorables a voice, and threatened the efforts of neo-Marxists who wish to destroy American culture because of their outlandish contempt of our republic.

To make matters more dangerous, we have a president who accuses his opponent of everything he is actually guilty of as if he were a disciple of Goebbels. Age is not Bidens problem; rather, the problem is his mean-spirited incompetence...and I have yet to mention his chronic, pathological lying and alleged corruption. There has never been a president, in my memory, who has apparently marketed his office for so much gelt. Neither have I ever experienced a president who has spent 40% of his time on vacation, hidden from the people and, more recently, did not even know where his secretary of defense was for three days.

Biden also violated his oath of office, early on, because he has failed to protect our nation from adversaries foreign and domestic. For his open border failures, he should have already been impeached. Nor have I mentioned his Chamberlain-like foreign and domestic conduct, his pusillanimous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and his lack of a meaningful response to attacks on our military.

We have allowed far too many Trojan horses to inflict serious damage to our nation. We have no one to blame but ourselves. I fear that the foundation of WW3 has been laid.

Image via Raw Pixel.
China is a serious threat to Americas dominance in the world, and when Americas dominance collapses, so does Americas lovely standard of living. Nothing happening within the U.S., especially on Bidens watch, will change that. However, China is at very profound risk from its internal problems. The latest one to catch the headlines is Chinas continuing and, indeed, accelerating demographic collapse.

China famously instituted its one-child policy in 1979 when it was afraid that its population growth was out of control. Not only did the policy have the effect of lowering the birth rate, but it also decimated the number of female babies being born.

Normally, the ratio of male-to-female births is roughly 101 males to 100 females. However, across China, especially in rural districts, families wanted boys, so female babies were aborted in utero or became victims of infanticide. That skewed the ratio to a peak of 117 males to 100 females. The problem, of course, is that females cant produce as many babies as males can. One woman and 100 men will have a much lower birth rate than 1 man and 100 women.

Image: A Chinese elementary school. YouTube screen grab.

By the 1980s, recognizing the disastrous problem of the missing women and realizing that its population was about to hit a decline from which it could not recover, the Chinese government began to back off from the one-child policy. In the 1980s, it said that, if you were a rural family and your first child was a girl, you could try for a second child in order to have a boy. By 2015, the government set a new two-child limit. In Spring 2021, it went for a three-child limit only to abandon that months later, removing all limits entirely. Now, it offers financial incentives to have children.

But even with changed laws and financial incentives, China is running into a problem: Chinese women. They dont want babies. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal:

Births in China dropped by more than 500,000 last year to just over 9 million in total, accelerating the decline in the countrys population as women shrugged off the governments exhortations to reproduce. The number of newborns has gone into free fall over the past several years. Official figures released Wednesday showed that China had fewer than half the number of births in 2023 than the country did in 2016, after China abolished the one-child policy. The latest number points to a fertility ratethe number of children a woman has over her lifetimethat is close to 1.0, a level considered by demographers as ultralow.

Currently, India, not China, is the worlds most populous nation, something that is sure to make old games of Trivial Pursuit instantly obsolete. Nor will that change soon.

For a country to maintain its population, it must have a replacement rate of 2.1 babies per woman. Japan, considered a dying nation because of its low replacement rate, still comes in at 1.66 babies per woman, while Italy, another dying nation, has an even lower replacement rate of 1.25 babies per woman. America, incidentally, is also failing the replacement rate algorithm, with only 1.78 births per woman. Israel is one of the few developed nations with a high replacement rate, boasting a rate of 3.11 children per woman.

So, while the developed worlds birthrate is generally trending downward, something is very wrong in China. The Wall Street Journal offers some theories: women want careers, not children; economic uncertainty; and COVID policies. Those are guesses. The sure thing is that the Chinese population is aging rapidly, without youthful replacements. Theres also the intangible of hope. The declining birth rate means that people dont see a good future for their children.

China has other problems as well. Its much-vaunted Belt and Road Initiative is flagging somewhat (although its still a powerful force), and its economy is struggling. A serious problem for China is that its manufacturing sector, which has driven its growth for decades, is shrinking.

Why? Several reasons: Surrounding Asian nations are growing their manufacturing sectors; Chinas COVID responsibility and response took the bloom off the rose; and, Id like to think, people in America are (a) sick of shoddy Chinese-made goods and (b) worried about not having any domestic manufacturing.

All in all, China is not doing well despite Xis military parades and projection of strength around the world. Dont kid yourself, though, that this makes China less of a threat to America and the East Asian region, whether economically or militarily. Instead, it probably makes it more of a threat, at least militarily. The likelihood that China will quietly shrink away is small; the likelihood that it will act hard and fast in 2024 while the weakling Biden is still in the White House is very big.
Prior to the 1800s, scientists were skeptical about the existence of meteorites. Despite historical reports of meteorite sightings dating back to Roman times, the idea of rocks falling from the heavens seemed implausible to scientists of that era. The prevailing belief was that meteorites were of terrestrial origin, possibly originating from volcanic activity or, as suggested by Rene Descartes in the 17th century, formed by the fusion of atmospheric dust particles due to lightning.

A meteor shower in 1783. Image credit: Wellcome Collection

In 1794, the German physicist Ernst Chladni challenged this view by proposing in a book that meteorites are extraterrestrial in origin. Chladni suggested that these celestial bodies were fragments scattered throughout the solar system that never coalesced into planets. He argued that this explanation could account for the high velocities of the falling masses, resulting in their intense brightness upon entering Earth's atmosphere. Chladni also pointed out the correlation between reported fireballs and instances of stones falling, along with the physical similarities observed in the recovered rocks from these falls.

Chladni's hypothesis faced considerable controversy during its time, as it contradicted the views held by both Isaac Newton and Aristotle regarding celestial bodies. Moreover, his assertions challenged the prevailing belief that beyond the Moon, there existed nothing but stars and planets. Despite these challenges, Chladni's book sparked debate among scientists. While some embraced his extraterrestrial origin theory for meteorites, others staunchly rejected it, favoring alternative explanations involving volcanic activities, turbulent ocean currents, or the formation through lightning striking iron ore.

Ernst Chladni

Several years following the publication of Chladni's work, astronomers began making groundbreaking discoveries that added weight to the idea of extraterrestrial objects in the solar system. In 1801, Giuseppe Piazzi identified Ceres, marking the first detection of what we now recognize as asteroids. Heinrich Olbers continued this trend in 1802 by discovering Pallas. Concurrently, in 1802, chemists Jacques-Luis de Bournon and Edward C. Howard delved into the analysis of meteorites, revealing distinct chemical compositions and mineral contents that set them apart from terrestrial rocks. These emerging findings gradually lent support to the notion that meteorites were indeed extraterrestrial in origin.

In the early afternoon of April 26, 1803, the town of L'Aigle in Normandy, France, experienced an extraordinary event as over 3,000 meteorite fragments showered down. The French Academy of Sciences promptly dispatched the young scientist Jean-Baptiste Biot to investigate this celestial occurrence. Through meticulous fieldwork, Biot gathered diverse eyewitness testimonies and analyzed stone samples from the vicinity, ultimately presenting compelling evidence supporting an extraterrestrial origin for the fallen stones.

Jean Baptiste Biot

Firstly, Biot noted that the composition of the stones differed significantly from any local materials, yet bore striking similarities to stones previously documented from celestial falls in other locations. This observation suggested a common extraterrestrial source for these stones. Biot emphasized, The foundries, the factories, the mines of the surroundings I have visited, have nothing in their products, nor in their slag that have with these substances any relation. No trace of a volcano, can be seen in the region.

Secondly, Biot reported to have interviewed many witnesses who independently attested to observing a "rain of stones thrown by the meteor." These witnesses came from various backgrounds, and Biot argued that it would be implausible to believe that they had collaborated to fabricate a description of an event that did not occur. This combination of geological evidence and diverse eyewitness accounts provided strong support for the idea that meteorites indeed had an extraterrestrial origin.

The L'Aigle meteorite. Photo credit: Marie-Lan Tay Pamart/Wikimedia Commons

Biot's impassioned paper, unequivocally asserting the extraterrestrial origin of the stones from the L'Aigle meteorite shower, marked the inception of the science of meteoritics. A mere month after Biot's report, Professor Prevost declared, Few facts are more established in physics than the fall of meteoritic stones. And within a few months, we moved from doubt to certainty. The report of C. Biot on the meteor of Florral 6th an XI and on the fall of stones that happened at the north of L'Aigle leaves nothing to be desired in that respect.

Today, the L'Aigle meteorite, alongside Angers, another meteorite that struck France 19 years later, is preserved in a dedicated room at the Museum d'histoire naturelle d'Angers, a French natural history museum. These meteorites stand as tangible reminders of a pivotal moment in the history of science, where skepticism gave way to acceptance, and the study of meteoritics emerged as a legitimate field of inquiry.

References:

# Matthieu Gounelle, The meteorite fall at LAigle and the Biot report: exploring the cradle of meteoritics, Geological Society, London, Special Publications

# LAigle Meteorite Fall of 1803, American Astronomical Society
Mobile banking is one of the coolest innovations of recent times. One such app that deserves noble credit for this is Google Wallet. It lets you pay conveniently from your devices and also lets you store some important documents like government-issued ID cards, gym or yacht membership cards, or even loyalty cards. While we know that Google Wallet does more than payments, payment is its core functionality. After all, a wallet without cash might be of little use. So, youd be happier to know that Google Wallet now supports 44 more banks.

Google Wallet adds support for 44 more banks

Google Wallet has further boosted its number of supported banks. It has added support for 44 more banks. Youll see that the new list also includes Venmo and several other popular banks. So, it significantly enhances the convenience of using accounts for everyday payments and transactions within Google Wallet. If your bank is not currently listed, theres a good chance its already supported, thanks to the grand list of supported banks. Its worth noting that more banks may extend support for the app in future releases. This is particularly plausible considering the whopping number of more than 4,000 commercial banks in the United States.

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List of newly added banks

Google Wallet has expanded its roster of supported banks. Now, it works with more banks and credit unions across the United States.

Some of the new ones include Aesthetics, City Federal Credit Union, CommerceWest Bank, Country Bank, County National Bank, CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union, Extra Credit Union, First National Bank in Taylorville, Madison County Community Bank, Main Street Bank, Northstar Bank, Opportunity Bank of Montana, Venmo, Pacific Valley Bank, People Savings Bank, Sherburne State Bank, State Bank of Missouri, United Valley Bank, West Michigan Community Bank and many more. Good folks at Android Police have uploaded a complete list that you can refer to.
The chief nuclear envoys of South Korea and Japan held talks in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss North Korea's military provocations amid its growing ties with Russia.

Kim Gunn, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, met with his Japanese counterpart, Hiroyuki Namazu, at the foreign ministry in Seoul earlier in the day.

On Thursday, the two sides are set to hold a three-way meeting with their U.S. counterpart, Jung Pak. Separately, Kim will also hold bilateral talks with Pak.

Earlier, the ministry said the three envoys plan to share their assessments of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's recent provocations and deepening military cooperation with Russia.

The meeting came as North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui traveled to Moscow this week and met Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on ways to expand their ties, further raising concerns over their military ties.

South Korea and the United States have accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine in exchange for technical assistance in its advanced arms development. (Yonhap)
HONOR announced its partnership with Porsche Design not long ago. The two companies released their first joint product soon after that, the Porsche Design HONOR Magic V2 RSR. That being said, the second product from this partnership is coming soon, the Porsche Design HONOR Magic6 RSR. The phone is expected to arrive in March.

This information comes from Digital Chat Station, in case you were wondering. That is one of the best-known and most reliable tipsters from China. He shared the news via Weibo.

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The Porsche Design HONOR Magic6 to launch in March with a new camera sensor

Now, in addition to the Porsche Design HONOR Magic V2 RSR, HONOR also announced its Magic6 and Magic6 Pro smartphones. The Porsche Design HONOR Magic6 will likely be a slightly altered version of one of those two phones.

I doubt that Porsche Design and HONOR will re-release both phones in a Porsche Design variant, though. If I had to guess, Id say that the Pro model will get the new treatment, with an altered backplate.

The thing is, it may include some more changes. Digital Chat Station also says that the phone will ship with a 1-inch camera sensor by OmniVision. That means that the changes compared to the standard variant wont be only aesthetic.

This phone will utilize OmniVisions first 1-inch camera sensor

The camera sensor in question will be the OV50K, and it has the highest dynamic range in the industry, says the tipster. For comparisons sake, the HONOR Magic6 Pro utilizes the OVH9000 sensor from OmniVision for its main camera. Thats a 1/1.3-inch sensor.

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OmniVisions new 1-inch camera is supposed to be in direct competition with the Sony LYT-900 camera sensor. We dont really know what to expect, as this will be the first 1-inch camera sensor from OmniVision.

We still dont know the exact launch date of the Porsche Design HONOR Magic6 (Pro), but its coming in March. So, it seems like HONOR will aim to launch this phone after the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, which will take place towards the end of February. The regular HONOR Magic6 and Magic6 Pro could launch globally at MWC, though.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 series is just hours away from officially launching. Amid that, Samsung is prepping to release its next operating system update, One UI 6.1. Ahead of the launch, we have come across several features that will be coming in the next update. Interestingly, One UI 6.1 update could be released soon and be coming to many Galaxy devices.

What features to expect?

Reliable tipster Ice Universe has shared some details about One UI 6.1 before it goes live. The tips suggest users might be able to download different clock styles for their phones lock screen from Samsungs Galaxy Store. So, one could use a variety of clock styles with possible support for further customization. Additionally, Ice suggests that One UI 6.1 has made improvements to animations and styles throughout Android 14, promising a smoother user experience.

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Moreover, the upcoming update may feature battery protection options, and likely make your Galaxy phone compatible with Googles AI wallpapers. After all, the AI game is on, signals the recently concluded CES has been filled with AI innovations.

Samsung One UI 6.1 eligible devices

This comes from tipster Tarun Vats (via 9to5Google). He shared a list of Galaxy phones claiming eligible for the One UI 6.1 update. Most importantly, Samsung hasnt officially announced the list of devices running One UI 6.1, but this list seems just right.

According to Vats, some of the devices that are almost certain to get the One UI 6.1 update include Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy A54, Galaxy A34, Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. Plus, most devices that received the Android 14-based One UI 6.0 update will eventually receive the One UI 6.1 update. And goes without saying, that Samsung Galaxy S24 will also be among the first to receive One UI 6.1.
China's Tianjin Port launches direct route for Chilean cherry imports

Xinhua) 15:30, January 17, 2024

TIANJIN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- North China's Tianjin Port has launched a new direct shipping route to facilitate cherry imports from Chile, marking the first direct shipping service for Latin American cherries to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, said the port authorities.

A container vessel loaded with over 2,000 tonnes of Chilean cherries arrived at Tianjin Port on Tuesday evening, marking the maiden trip via the new service.

Another two ships carrying over 5,800 tonnes of cherries and other seasonal products are expected to dock at the port within the next seven days.

Chilean cherries are increasingly favored by Chinese consumers over the years. "Over 1,840 tonnes of cherries that we imported this time have already been pre-sold," said Wei Shujian, president of Hebei Sunhola Group, one of the Chilean cherry importers.

Previously, cherries sold in northern China were mainly transported via highways after the goods entered China through ports in the south or via air services, making the overall logistics cost relatively high.

Thanks to the new route, the cherries are expected to reach the fruit and vegetable wholesale markets in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei first. According to Pagoda, a fruit retailing company, its outlets in the region are estimated to see the overall price of the cherries drop by 50 to 70 percent thanks to the new logistics option.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
South Korea, the United States and Japan have jointly conducted naval drills in waters south of the Korean Peninsula following North Korea's recent launch of a hypersonic missile, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Wednesday.

The joint exercise took place in southeastern waters off Jeju Island involving nine warships of the three nations, including the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, from Monday to Wednesday.

The South Korean Navy's Aegis combat system-equipped destroyers and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kongo-class destroyers joined the maritime exercise.

It began a day after North Korea test-fired a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile carrying a hypersonic warhead into the East Sea in its first missile launch this year.

"The exercise is aimed at bolstering the three nations' deterrence and response capabilities against North Korea's nuclear and missile threat as well as maritime threats," the JCS said in a release.

"It also focused on responding to maritime security threats, including transporting weapons of mass destruction, and enhancing the trilateral cooperation in establishing the rules-based international order," it added.

It marks the first trilateral drill held after Washington and its Asian allies launched a real-time sharing system for North Korea's missile launches and agreed to jointly establish a multiyear exercise plan to better counter Pyongyang's evolving threat.

On the first day of the exercise, JCS chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo visited the aircraft carrier to highlight the importance of the trilateral naval drill, vowing to step up the combined posture in accordance with the multiyear exercise plan, the JCS said.

The latest drill came amid heightened security concerns following the North's latest test-firing of a hypersonic missile, which is considered harder to detect and shoot down.

Hypersonic missiles fly at speeds of at least March 5, referring to five times the speed of sound, and are highly maneuverable and able to change course during flight.

A hypersonic weapon is among the list of high-tech weapons that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to develop at a party congress in 2021. The North test-fired a liquid-fuel hypersonic missile in January 2022. (Yonhap)
Astronomers have discovered the oldest black hole ever detected, and found that it is eating its host galaxy to death.

The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge, used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to detect the black hole, which dates from 400 million years after the big bang, more than 13 billion years ago.

According to the researchers, the existence of the massive black hole  a few million times the mass of our Sun  so early in the universe challenges assumptions about how black holes form and grow.

Astronomers believe supermassive black holes found at the centre of galaxies like the Milky Way grew to their current size over billions of years.

However, the size of the new discovery suggests they might form in other ways.

They might be born big, or they can eat matter at a rate that is five times higher than had been thought possible.

Lead author Professor Roberto Maiolino, said: Its very early in the universe to see a black hole this massive, so weve got to consider other ways they might form.

Very early galaxies were extremely gas-rich, so they would have been like a buffet for black holes.

Standard models suggest supermassive black holes form from the remnants of dead stars, which collapse and may form a black hole about a hundred times the mass of the Sun.

The newly-detected black hole would take about a billion years to grow to its observed size, if it had grown in this way.

However, the universe was not yet a billion years old when this black hole was detected.

Like all black holes, this young black hole is devouring material from its host galaxy to fuel its growth.

However, the study suggests it gobbles matter much more vigorously than others.

The black hole is at the centre of a young host galaxy, called GN-z11.

GN-z11 is a compact galaxy, about one hundred times smaller than the Milky Way, but the black hole is likely harming its development, researchers say.

When a black hole consumes too much gas, it pushes the gas away like an ultra-fast wind, and this could stop the process of star formation, slowly killing the galaxy.

This would also kill the black hole itself, as it would also cut off its source of food.

Prof Maiolino says that the gigantic leap forward provided by Nasa/European Space Agency (Esa)/ Canadian Space Agency (CSA)s JWST makes this the most exciting time in his career.

He explained: Before Webb came online, I thought maybe the universe isnt so interesting when you go beyond what we could see with the Hubble Space Telescope.

But that hasnt been the case at all: the universe has been quite generous in what its showing us, and this is just the beginning.

Black holes cannot be directly observed, but instead they are detected by a tell-tale glow which forms near the edges of a black hole, and energy being radiated in the ultraviolet range.

The research, supported in part by the European Research Council, the Royal Society, and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is published in the Nature journal.
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has written to Fujitsu to demand talks on compensation for subpostmasters wronged in the Horizon scandal.

It came after an executive at the technology giant which developed the faulty system for the Post Office told MPs it had a moral obligation to contribute to any redress.

Ms Badenoch has requested a meeting with the company as soon as possible to discuss a compensation package.

In a letter to global chief executive Takahito Tokita, the Cabinet minister wrote she was committed to ensuring that postmasters affected get the justice they deserve, Sky News reported.

Fujitsu Europe director Paul Patterson said there is a moral obligation for the firm to contribute to compensation for subpostmasters (House of Commons/PA)

The Prime Ministers spokesman told reporters on Wednesday: The Department for Business and Trade has formally started the process of requesting discussions about how we explore that.

But the official suggested the Government would not move to hold Fujitsu to account until the Horizon IT inquiry has established all the facts.

He said: The inquiry does need to establish the facts, but were keen to be as prepared as possible to act at the appropriate point.

The spokesman added: Its important that we dont do anything that would jeopardise our approach and we will set up these discussions so that we can move as quickly as possible, but its right that we establish culpability fully.

The role played in the scandal by the Japanese firm came under the spotlight in a Commons Business and Trade Committee hearing on Tuesday.

Fujitsu Europe director Paul Patterson apologised to subpostmasters who had been wrongly convicted as a result of problems within the Horizon software.

He conceded there were bugs and errors in the system and said Fujitsu had a moral obligation to contribute towards compensation.

Days after an ITV drama on the scandal prompted outcry, Rishi Sunak announced that the wrongly prosecuted in England and Wales could have their names cleared by the end of the year under fast-tracked legislation after growing pressure to take more serious action.

Alan Bates, the subpostmaster whose story was dramatised in an ITV series that thrust the scandal to the political fore (House of Commons/PA)

Those whose convictions are quashed are eligible for a 600,000 compensation payment, while Mr Sunak offered 75,000 to subpostmasters involved in group legal action against the Post Office.

The scale of the eventual bill is unclear, but ministers have set aside up to 1 billion for compensation.

Mr Patterson was challenged by SNP MP Marion Fellows to pay a 10 million initial contribution to a compensation fund by the end of this month as a show of good faith.

Alan Bates and other former subpostmasters leading the campaign for justice have hit out at delays in compensation.

Mr Bates, who was at the centre of the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, told MPs financial redress for those affected was absolutely bogged down in red tape and that people were dying waiting for payments.

The Horizon scandal saw more than 700 subpostmasters and subpostmistresses handed criminal convictions after Fujitsus flawed Horizon software made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

The public inquiry into the crisis on Wednesday heard that Fujitsu staff feared being hauled over the coals after realising the Post Office was using manipulated audit data to criminally investigate subpostmasters.

The statutory inquiry, chaired by retired judge Sir Wyn Williams, began in 2021 and hearings are expected to conclude this year.
Lord Cameron and Argentinian leader Javier Milei agree to disagree over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, the Foreign Office has said.

The Foreign Secretary met the Argentine president for talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Mr Milei has suggested a Hong Kong-style agreement which would see the UK hand sovereignty of the islands in the South Atlantic to Buenos Aires.

He said Foreign Secretary and his Argentine counterpart Diana Mondino would move forward in finding a solution to the dispute over the islands.

But the Foreign Office made clear the issue of sovereignty was not up for discussion.

A spokesman said it was a warm and cordial meeting.

On the Falkland Islands, the Foreign Secretary and President Milei said they would agree to disagree, and do so politely, the spokesman said.

The UK position and ongoing support for the Falkland Islanders right to self-determination remains unchanged.

In a social media post Lord Cameron said the pair discussed building co-operation on trade and combating global threats and there was much that the UK and Argentina can achieve by working together.

President of Argentina Javier Milei (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falklands and Mr Milei has previously suggested the UK should approach the issue in a similar way to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

After the meeting with Lord Cameron, Mr Milei was asked by Latin American news website Infobae whether there was scope for a resolution to the Falklands issue based on that model.

We have not made in-depth progress, but we have made it an item on the agenda for our minister Diana Mondino and minister Cameron to move forward in finding a solution on the topic, he said, according to a translation.

The Falklands, known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina, were the subject of a bloody conflict in 1982.

The war claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel.

UK ministers have repeatedly cited the results of a 2013 referendum which saw close to 100% of voters on the islands, which have a population of about 3,500, opt to remain a British Overseas Territory.

The Falklands are about 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from mainland Argentina.
Chinas second-most powerful man has told Irelands president that Chinese-Irish relations are a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between two countries.

Li Qiang, the premier of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived in Dublin on Tuesday night where he was greeted by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Irelands ambassador in Beijing, Ann Derwin.

On Wednesday morning, he received a strong welcome by Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at his official residence at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Mr Li told them it was a great pleasure to make their acquaintance and passed on the greetings of Chinese president Xi Jinping.

Chinese premier Li Qiangs visit comes after a trip to the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland (Niall Carson/PA)

The two shook hands and Mr Li asked about Mr Higgins visit to his home province of Zhejiang.

Warmly welcoming Mr Li at the state reception room, Mr Higgins said that he remembered his state visit to China and Xi Jinpings visit to Ireland in 2012 while he was vice-president. Mr Xi became Chinas president the following year.

Mr Higgins said his 2014 visit to China gave him the opportunity to have discussions on many topics and also visiting parts of the Peoples Republic of China.

I very much welcome you, premier, and all of those travelling with you, he said.

Mr Li noted that Mr Higgins had previously visited China and said: You also had an in-depth exchange of views and a frank meeting with President Xi, and reached common understanding on a wide range of issues.

Over the years our results-oriented co-operation has made steady progress and produced rich fruit. Our relations have set a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between countries that are different in political systems, cultural divisions and geographic size.

Chinese premier Li Qiang speaks to President Michael D Higgins (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Li then travelled to nearby Farmleigh House where he met Irish premier Leo Varadkar.

He was greeted there by a Lieutenants Guard of Honour from the 12th Infantry Battalion out of Limerick.

A band from the Irish Defence Forces played as Mr Li inspected the soldiers.

Mr Li was scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Mr Varadkar there on Wednesday afternoon for discussion on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar welcomes Chinese premier Li Qiang to Farmleigh House (Niall Carson/PA)

Beef is expected to feature on the menu for a working lunch amid a ban on exports of the meat from Ireland to China.

China suspended beef imports from Ireland when a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) was discovered by Irish veterinary officials in November.

Mr Lis trip comes after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since President Xi in 2017.

The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite the strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some Western countries have also avoided using, or criticised, technologies linked to the Chinese state over security concerns including TikTok and Hikvision, the latter of which manufactures CCTV cameras used in the Irish parliament.

There was a heavy garda presence around Phoenix Park, which was closed to the public until 7pm on Wednesday.
It is the responsibility of civil servants to implement a ministers decision to ignore injunctions from Strasbourg blocking flights to Rwanda, the Government has set out in draft guidance.

The Cabinet Office detailed advice for Whitehall on the application of the Rwanda Bill in a letter to the Home Offices top civil servant, which will be formally issued if the legislation passes through Parliament unamended.

Civil service unions reacted with fury to the suggestion that officials could be asked to break international law.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is braced for further Tory revolts over his Rwanda legislation (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The Government is seeking to assuage concerns by right-wing Tory MPs that the legislation does not do enough to block last-minute injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights.

A late-night order by the Strasbourg court grounded the first flight planned to carry asylum seekers to Kigali in 2022.

Rishi Sunak said there are circumstances under which he would be prepared to ignore the so-called Rule 39 orders.

Downing Street said the Government wants to provide clarity for ministers and officials about the orders.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: What we are looking to do is to provide further guidance so there is clarity for ministers and civil servants on the application of this.

This is simply about making sure that weve taken every conceivable step to ensure that we get flights off the ground as quickly as possible should the Bill progress through the House, as we continue to believe it will.

The draft guidance set out in the letter to Home Office permanent secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft reads: As a matter of UK law, the decision as to whether to comply with a Rule 39 indication is a decision for a Minister of the Crown.

Parliament has legislated to grant ministers this discretion. The implications of such a decision in respect of the UKs international obligations are a matter for ministers.

In the event that the minister, having received policy, operational and legal advice on the specific facts of that case, decides not to comply with a Rule 39 indication, it is the responsibility of civil servants  operating under the Civil Service Code  to implement that decision. This applies to all civil servants.

But unions said this puts civil servants in an invidious position.

Prospect deputy general secretary Garry Graham said: This in effect could put civil servants in an impossible position where the choice is potentially between breaking international law, disobeying the instructions of a minister (and facing potential disciplinary action) or resigning.

Dame Priti Patel has urged the Prime Minister to remove roadblocks from the Rwanda plan (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

This is a problem of the Governments own making and they should not be putting civil servants in this invidious position.

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union which represents senior civil servants, told the PA news agency: Civil servants come to work every day expecting to serve the government of the day without compromising their professional integrity.

Not asking them to breach international law and telling them not to worry about breaching international law are two very different things.

This guidance tells them its a matter for ministers, not that its legal.

Not only do they deserve better, but ministers have an obligation under their own ministerial code to ensure that no civil servant feels theres a conflict between the instructions of ministers and their obligations under the civil service code.

Earlier, No 10 was forced to deny it was seeking to rewrite the formal set of principles for civil servants, after illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson said the Government was considering tweaking the code.

The proposal emerged after former home secretary Dame Priti Patel on Tuesday urged Mr Sunak to ensure all potential roadblocks are removed, including the Civil Service blob.

The senior Tory said the Prime Minister should make clear that the Civil Service code cannot be used by officials to obstruct decisions.

But some Conservative MPs were unimpressed with the Government advising officials rather than amending the Bill to state that emergency injunctions from European judges can be ignored.

A senior Tory rebel source said: Its a distraction tactic. A put-up job to say Look over there! and blame the civil servants.

The courts are the ones who block the flights and the Attorney Generals advice alongside (barrister) Sir James Eadie is clear  you cant ignore Strasbourgs Rule 39s, in all but exceptional and irrelevant circumstances, without breaching international law.

We need to legislate to sort the problem.
The daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess, who was stabbed to death while hosting a constituency surgery, is taking legal action against Essex Police and the Home Office.

Katie Amess has filed a personal injury claim at the High Court as lawyers said she wants to ensure proper accountability and learning from her fathers murder.

The veteran MP, 69, was knifed to death by Ali Harbi Ali, then aged 26, at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex in October 2021.

The father of five had been holding a surgery in his Southend West constituency when he was attacked.

Katie Amess, the daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess, is taking legal action against Essex Police and the Home Office (PA Archive)

Ali, a homegrown terrorist who murdered Sir David in a warped retaliation against politicians who voted to bomb Syria, was sentenced in 2022 to a whole-life prison term for the murder.

The Old Bailey was told that Ali had been known to authorities and was referred to the Governments Prevent programme, but continued plotting in secret.

Now Sir Davids daughter Katie has filed a High Court claim against Essex Police and the Home Office.

Daniel Machover, head of civil litigation at Hickman & Rose solicitors, which is representing Ms Amess, said: Like so many others, Katie Amess was horrified both by the fact of her fathers murder, and the circumstances surrounding it.

She has issued a claim at court as part of her desire to ensure proper accountability and learning from Sir Davids murder, including for the future benefit of others.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The Government takes the safety of Members of Parliament extremely seriously, and significant work has been taken forward in response to the tragic killing of Sir David Amess.

It would be inappropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.

An Essex Police spokesman said: Sir David Amess was a thoroughly committed public servant who worked tirelessly for his community.

In the immediate aftermath of his murder, two of our heroic unarmed officers ran into the face of danger, trying desperately to save him and of course detaining his killer.

Several other of our officers attended shortly afterwards and worked with paramedic colleagues to help save Sir David, sadly they were unable to do this.

In the days and months after that day our team worked around the clock to reassure the community and support colleagues from the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terror Command to do all we could to help them secure justice.

We are aware that what is in effect a protective claim form has been filed at court, however, as these papers have not been served on our force, we are unable to comment any further upon them.

We remain committed to supporting our elected members across the county in the execution of their public duty and to this end we regularly review and advise around security arrangements for our Members of Parliament.

Sir David and the Amess family remain in our thoughts.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is braced for further Tory revolts over his Rwanda plan as Conservative MPs stepped up criticism of the legislation.

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick is pushing changes aimed at overriding the Human Rights Act and explicitly stating that emergency injunctions from European judges can be ignored.

In an attempt to avert another damaging rebellion, the Government is considering giving advice to officials that they would not necessarily have to comply with the so-called pyjama injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights.

Allies of Mr Sunak have insisted there is only an inch between party colleagues, despite two deputy party chairmen and a ministerial aide quitting their posts to join a 60-strong Tory rebellion in the Commons on Tuesday night.

Further rebellions are expected on proposed amendments to the Safety of Rwanda Bill, but ministers hope Conservatives will pull back from the nuclear option of voting against the legislation as a whole at its final Commons hurdle on Wednesday night.

At Prime Ministers Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Tory party was tearing itself apart, hundreds of bald men scrapping over a single broken comb.

But the Prime Minister said: I have absolute conviction that the plan weve put in place will work because I believe it is important that we grip this problem.

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson sought to play down the depth of Tory divisions in a message to party colleagues, saying: We all want the same thing.

There are disagreements of emphasis. Theres an inch between us, theres a determination to ensure that the policy works, he told the BBC.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told broadcasters the party was having a lively debate on the matter.

Senior red wall MPs Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned from their party positions to vote in favour of changes tabled by Sir Bill Cash and Mr Jenrick during the first day of detailed debate on the legislation on Tuesday.

Jane Stevenson also quit her role as a ministerial aide in the Department for Business and Trade to back the amendments, which MPs on the Tory right say will help protect the Rwanda plan from further legal challenge.

Former prime minister Liz Truss, former ministers Suella Braverman and Sir Simon Clarke and former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith were also among those to support the changes.

Downing Street hopes any revolt at the third reading stage will be kept to a minimum on Wednesday night.

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson sought to play down the depth of Tory divisions (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

No Conservatives voted against the Bill at second reading  despite similar warnings from the right of the party which had appeared to put it in jeopardy beforehand.

In a message to Tory MPs, the Prime Ministers press secretary said: We are unified in our position in wanting to stop the boats, so we encourage them all to get behind this Bill so we can get this deterrent up and running as quickly as possible.

Even if the Rwanda plan does successfully pass the Commons, it is expected to face serious opposition within the House of Lords.

The role of the European Court of Human Rights has come under the spotlight during the Rwanda row, after a late-night order  nicknamed a pyjama injunction  grounded the first planned flight in 2022.

The Government wants to prevent the Strasbourg court using the measures, formally known as Rule 39 orders, from blocking further flights.

Downing Street said the Government would ensure there was clarity for ministers and officials about the orders, but said it was not right to say that the Government is seeking to rewrite the civil service code to ensure that.

Civil service unions have reacted with fury to the suggestion that officials could be required to ignore international law.

Asked whether there had been conversations with unions about the matter, the Prime Ministers spokesman said: I think its important to allow for further guidance to be issued before forming a judgment on what it is we are or are not doing.

A group of people thought to be migrants were brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel on Wednesday following a small boat incident in the Channel (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Mr Jenrick, backed by dozens of Tory MPs, has put forward an amendment to make it the default position that Rule 39 indications from Strasbourg are not treated as binding on the UK.

Under the Governments Rwanda plan, migrants who cross the English Channel on small boats could be sent on a one-way trip to Rwanda rather than being allowed to try to seek asylum in the UK.

The legislation, along with a recently signed treaty with Kigali, is aimed at ensuring the scheme is legally watertight following a Supreme Court ruling against it last year.

The stalled policy comes with a 290 million bill but no asylum seekers arriving via unauthorised routes have been relocated as yet following a series of challenges in the courts.

Rwandas president Paul Kagame said it was the UKs problem not his countrys and suggested taxpayers money could be returned if there were no flights.

Meanwhile, migrants continued to cross the English Channel on Wednesday, with groups of people pictured being brought ashore by Border Force in Dover, Kent.
A new plan will bolster the security of supply chains for key goods from medicines to minerals, the Government has said.

Ministers on Wednesday published a strategy for critical imports and supply chains, which the Department for Business and Trade said would help create a more secure trading environment for businesses.

Publication of the plan, which officials have been working on for several months, comes as continuing Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea have sparked concerns about the impact on global trade.

The Government has said that the strategy will make it easier for firms to cope with threats to the global supply chain.

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani, who will launch the plan at Heathrow Airport later, said it would help make the UK a truly safe and reliable place to do business.

She said: There are many unpredictable events that can threaten our access to vital goods, from the pandemic, Russias illegal war in Ukraine, and the ongoing attacks in the Red Sea. Thats why were taking action to ensure crucial imports like medicines can reach consumers, no matter what happens around the world.

With this strategy were equipping business so they no longer have to rely on unpredictable partners for supplies of the goods that keep our country going.

The department said the strategy will enable the Government to share key information and guidance with businesses on the risks to supply chains, as well as practical steps to protect against disruption.

A new online portal will be created to allow businesses to report red tape or disruption, with ministers also committed to seeking further trade deals in pursuit of improving importers access to key materials.

A Critical Imports Council will also be set up where the Government and business can work together to build supply chain resilience.

Chief commercial officer at Heathrow Ross Baker said the airport welcomed the move.

We welcome Government initiatives that make doing business in the UK easier and more efficient, from shoring up supply chains to streamlining cargo processes at the airport, so Heathrow can meet growing demand to import and export across the globe, he said.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry also backed the plan.

Chief executive Richard Torbett said: Recent global events like the pandemic have shown that our industry can manage and address global supply chain shocks, especially when working collaboratively with government, and this strategy supports our industry in doing so going forward.
S. Korea, US, Japan show strengthened military cooperation following Pyongyang's IRBM launch

By Lee Hyo-jin

South Korea, the United States and Japan have conducted joint naval exercises including the participation of the U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, in a show of strengthened trilateral military cooperation in response to North Korea's increasing missile threats.

The drills, held from Monday to Wednesday in international waters south of Jeju Island, involved a total of nine warships, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). This included two each from the Republic of Korea Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and five from the U.S. Navy.

In addition to the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, South Korean Navy's Aegis combat system-equipped destroyer Sejong the Great and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kongo-class destroyer participated in the exercises.

The scale of the exercises was larger than previous ones which typically involved three to five warships.

Also, it marked the first exercise after the three nations agreed in December to conduct military drills regularly in order to enhance collaborative defense operations against North Korea's nuclear threats. In a trilateral defense ministers' meeting, a multiyear plan to hold regular trilateral exercises was approved, enabling a more systematic and efficient approach to the joint drills.

"The training focused on enhancing the deterrence and response capabilities of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, as well as underwater threats," the JCS said in a statement.

"It also aimed to improve maritime security responses, including the interdiction of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) transportation, and strengthen trilateral cooperation to establish rules-based maritime order."

The exercise took place a day after North Korea claimed to have successfully test-fired a new solid-fuel missile tipped with a hypersonic maneuverable warhead toward the East Sea, Sunday.

JCS Chairman Kim Myung-soo visited the USS Carl Vinson on the first day of the drills.

"The joint maritime exercises between the three nations have played a crucial role in deterring and responding to the escalating nuclear and missile threats posed by North Korea," Kim said.

"We will further strengthen the cooperative posture between South Korea, the United States and Japan in accordance with the multi-year trilateral training plans in order to effectively address the evolving security challenges in the region."

Since the trilateral summit held at Camp David last August, visible progress has been made on security cooperation between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.

The three nations now share a real-time North Korean missile data warning system, which was activated for the first time last Sunday when Pyongyang launched the intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nuclear envoys of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are set to meet in Seoul, Thursday, to discuss coordinated response measures regarding recent developments surrounding the Korean Peninsula, including ongoing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

The meeting will gather Kim Gunn, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, and his Japanese and U.S. counterparts Hiroyuki Namazu and Jung Pak.
Ireland to resume beef exports to China following premiers visit

Irish beef exports to China are to resume as part of measures agreed during a bilateral meeting of senior government figures in Dublin.

Li Qiang, Chinas second-most powerful man, met Irish premier Leo Varadkar during a brief diplomatic visit to Ireland.

Mr Varadkar said there was a clear desire to deepen relations and it was also agreed that Irish citizens could visit and stay in China for up to 15 days without a visa.

Mr Li, the premier of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived in Dublin on Tuesday night where he was greeted by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Irelands ambassador in Beijing, Ann Derwin.

Chinese premier Li Qiangs visit comes after a trip to the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland (Niall Carson/PA)

On Wednesday morning, he received a strong welcome from Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at his official residence at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Mr Li told them it was a great pleasure to make their acquaintance and passed on the greetings of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The two shook hands and Mr Li asked about Mr Higgins visit to his home province of Zhejiang.

Warmly welcoming Mr Li at the state reception room, Mr Higgins said that he remembered his state visit to China and Mr Xis visit to Ireland in 2012 while he was vice-president.

Mr Xi became Chinas president the following year.

Chinese premier Li Qiang speaks to President Michael D Higgins (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Li said that Chinese-Irish relations are a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between two countries.

He added: Over the years our results-oriented co-operation has made steady progress and produced rich fruit.

Our relations have set a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between countries that are different in political systems, cultural divisions and geographic size.

Mr Li then travelled to nearby Farmleigh House where he met Mr Varadkar.

He was greeted there by a Lieutenants Guard of Honour from the 12th Infantry Battalion out of Limerick.

A band from the Irish Defence Forces played as Mr Li inspected the soldiers.

Chinese premier Li Qiang receives a guard of honour at Farmleigh House, Dublin (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

Mr Li then held a bilateral meeting with Mr Varadkar for discussion on issues including climate change as well as conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The two leaders ate beef during a working lunch.

The meat was included on the menu amid a ban on beef exports from Ireland to China since November following the detection of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in an Irish cow.

During the trip, Chinese officials agreed to immediately restart Irish beef imports.

Mr Varadkar said Ireland is seeking a strong and constructive relationship with China built on trust and respect.

The Taoiseach said 2024 marked 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adding Ireland and China had growing economic relations as well as flourishing people-to-people ties and culture exchange.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar welcomes Chinese premier Li Qiang to Farmleigh House in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

He added: I believe Chinas role is indispensable in the world when it comes to finding ways to overcome the challenges we face, not least when it comes to climate, global security, global inequality and the conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Myanmar.

Mr Varadkar said the Irish Government also raised human rights concerns with the visiting Chinese delegation.

He said: We raised, in particular, our concerns about human rights in what are called the special autonomous regions: Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau.

We need to be frank about these things  that China is on the UN Human Rights Council and has international responsibilities.

Any country, including our own country, should be judged by the way it treats minorities.

Mr Varadkar said Mr Li was happy to discuss the matters, but added: I dont want to speak for him, but I think its fair to say that they would have a very different view of the facts and dispute a lot of whats said in the media.

The Irish side also raised concerns about the trial of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, he said.

Chinese premier Li Qiang during his meeting with President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin during his two-day visit to Ireland (Maxwells/PA)

Mr Lis trip came after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since President Xi in 2017.

The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some Western countries have also avoided using, or criticised, technologies linked to the Chinese state over security concerns including TikTok and Hikvision, the latter of which manufactures CCTV cameras used in the Irish parliament.
A jealous and controlling man stormed into his ex-girlfriends flat and repeatedly stabbed her new lover as he slept in her bed, a court has heard.

Kaydon Prior leapt onto Harrison Tomkins, 25, and stabbed him in the chest, legs and back with a hunting knife in a brutal and frenzied attack in Crawley, on August 13 2023.

In the trial opening at Chichester Crown Court, jurors heard how Priors ex-girlfriend, Alicia Parrin, had ended their relationship but that Prior did not think it was over.

He took violent and angry objection to finding out she was out in Crawley with another man that night, the prosecution said.

The 23-year-old cut short a birthday night out in Chelsea, London, with his friend Jason Curtis, 22, and the pair travelled to Miss Parrins address in Arthur Road, Ifield.

Prior knifed Mr Tomkins, who tried to defend himself with his legs, and punched Miss Parrin, 20, at around 5.30am before leaving her flat, the court heard.

Prior and Curtis are both charged for the murder of Mr Tomkins.

Prosecutor Alan Gardner KC said: The prosecution case is that Kaydon Prior armed himself with a hunting knife and, assisted by his close friend Jason Curtis, burst into Miss Parrins flat where the defendants knew they would find her and the man she was sleeping with.

Harrison Tomkins had no chance. The sudden onslaught was completely unexpected.

Chichester Crown Court heard that controlling Kaydon Prior stormed into his ex-girlfriends flat and stabbed her new lover as he slept in her bed (Gareth Fuller/PA)

He may well have been asleep when the defendant burst into the bedroom.

The prosecution allege Curtis assisted and encouraged Prior in his murderous enterprise including following Prior into the bedroom where he watched the knife attack.

Jurors heard how Prior dropped the knife in the bedroom and walked out of the building where he rejoined Curtis, telling him to burn his clothes as they escaped.

Curtis was hiding in bushes nearby when police arrested him, while Prior was found by officers later that morning in his flat with a bag of clothes stained with Mr Tomkins blood.

Jurors heard how Prior and Miss Parrin had been in a relationship and had been living together in Priors flat in Three Bridges from around March 2023.

Miss Parrin alleges Prior was violent and jealous in their relationship, and had told her on one occasion that he would kill her if she was ever with somebody else.

In another instance, Miss Parrin said Prior would sing a song to her with the lyric I wouldnt let you be with anybody else.

In July 2023, Miss Parrin got her own flat in Arthur Road, in a step towards breaking up with Prior, and on August 11, she told him their relationship was over.

The court heard how Miss Parrin and Mr Tomkins had got to know each other by working at the K2 leisure centre, and things had got flirtier between them in a couple of weeks leading up to August 12, when the pair decided to meet at a work colleagues leaving do.

They were spotted at a pub and club in Crawley town centre by a mutual connection, Ella Stanford, who messaged Curtis on Snapchat that Miss Parrin was out with friends.

Curtis replied: Kaydon says to keep an eye out for her and see what she is doing.

When Curtis was told that the same man was trying it on with Alicia, he replied that they were coming to see Ms Stanford, and the pair travelled from London to Three Bridges in the early hours of the morning.

Prior and Curtis met Ms Stanford in Crawley, hanging around outside the club Medusa with laughing gas, before getting a taxi to Miss Parrins flat.

Ms Stanford described Prior as tense and angry and she believed Prior was planning to scare the man and maybe beat someone up, the prosecution said.

Prior, 23, Hazelwick Avenue, Three Bridges, and Curtis, of Lairdale Road in Lambeth, south London, both deny charges of murder and manslaughter of Mr Tomkins.

The prosecution opening continues.
The Princess of Wales is being treated in hospital after undergoing successful abdominal surgery, Kensington Palace has announced.

Kate, 42, was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday for the planned procedure.

The future Queen is expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days before returning home to continue her recovery.

The princess is likely to spend between two and three months recuperating and is not expected to return to public duties until after Easter based on current medical advice, the Palace said.

The Princess of Wales at the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace in December (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The Prince of Wales will not undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital and during the immediate period following her return home.

Heir to the throne William will combine being at Kates side with caring for their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Princes Louis, and he has postponed a number of engagements.

The Wales family at Kates Together at Christmas Carol concert (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Palace refused to confirm what Kate was being treated for but confirmed the condition was non-cancerous.

Kate is close to her family, and her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and sibling Pippa Matthews and James Middleton are set to rally round and help support her recovery at the Waleses home in Windsor.

A spokesperson said: The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate.

She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

A statement from Kensington Palace pic.twitter.com/6h3BCrqj5L  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) January 17, 2024

Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness progress when there is significant new information to share.

The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements.

She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.

There will now be no international travel for the prince and princess in the coming months.

The Princess of Wales meeting Grayson Stevenson and his father Mark during a visit to Dadvengers  a community for fathers and their children, in north London (Yui Mok/PA)

The princess marked her birthday just over a week ago, with the monarchys official social media accounts sharing a new behind-the-scenes photo of the princess at the Kings coronation.

Kate usually enjoys good health but was previously admitted to hospital while pregnant after suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum  severe morning sickness.

Like the rest of the royal family, she has had a busy, turbulent past couple of years, with the Platinum Jubilee and the late Queens death in 2022, and the coronation in 2023, as well as adjusting to her new role as the Princess of Wales.

The Waleses also faced the ongoing rift between William and his brother the Duke of Sussex, with Harry making controversial claims about Charles, Camilla, William and Kate in his Netflix documentary and memoir Spare.

The Princess of Wales arriving at the coronation ceremony (Dan Charity/The Sun/PA)

Williams former university flatmate has carefully carved out her charity work since marrying the prince in 2011 and becoming an HRH, focusing on mental health and early childhood.

Seen as the monarchys safe pair of hands and as having a keep calm and carry on approach, Kate has been heralded as channelling the same characteristics of charm, politeness and toughness as the late Queen Mother, who was once described as a marshmallow made on a welding machine.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, who was private secretary to the Cambridges and the Duke of Sussex, and used to work for the Queen Mother, told The Times: She takes time to talk to people. She is tough.

She has got that Queen Mother feel in her, so that when things need doing, she is there to do them.
Lab-grown mini placentas could be crucial to better understanding major disorders in pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia, scientists have suggested.

Academics said the development of pre-eclampsia can depend on issues with how the placenta develops in the first weeks of pregnancy and is a process that is incredibly difficult to study.

Using the mini placentas  developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Switzerland  could be key to understanding, predicting and preventing the condition.

The cellular models, also known as trophoblast organoids, gave the team a window into early pregnancy and how pregnancy disorders may develop.

Professor Ashley Moffett, of the department of pathology at the University of Cambridge, added: This is a process that is incredibly difficult to study  the period after implantation, when the placenta embeds itself into the endometrium, is often described as a black box of human development.

Over the past few years, many scientists  including several at Cambridge  have developed embryo-like models to help us understand early pre-implantation development. But further development is impeded because we understand so little about the interactions between the placenta and the uterus.

In her previous work, Prof Moffett and her team pinpointed genes that can increase the risk of conditions such as pre-eclampsia or protect against them.

The research highlighted the role of cells found in the uterus, known as uterine natural killer cells, which cluster at the site the placenta implants on the endometrium.

Pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some pregnant women and carries a risk of serious complications. The cause is not known, but it is thought to happen when problems with the placenta occur.

Early signs include high blood pressure and protein in the urine, with other symptoms including headaches, vision problems, vomiting and pain below the ribs.

For the latest study, published in Cell Stem Cell, the team used proteins secreted by these cells to the mini placenta to study the condition.

They identified proteins that aided the process and allowed the placenta to attach to the uterus, as well as several genes which help regulate blood flow.

Prof Moffett said: This is the only time that we know of where a normal cell invades and transforms an artery, and these cells are coming from another individual, the baby.

If the cells arent able to invade properly, the arteries in the womb dont open up and so the placenta  and therefore the baby  are starved of nutrients and oxygen. Thats why you get problems later on in pregnancy, when there just isnt enough blood to feed the baby and it either dies or is very tiny.

Dr Margherita Turco of the Friedrich Miescher Institute, added: Despite affecting millions of women a year worldwide, we still understand very little about pre-eclampsia.

Women usually present with pre-eclampsia at the end of pregnancy, but really to understand it  to predict it and prevent it  we have to look at whats happening in the first few weeks.

Using mini-placentas, we can do just that, providing clues as to how and why pre-eclampsia occurs. This has helped us unpick some of the key processes that we should now focus on far more.

It shows the power of basic science in helping us understand our fundamental biology, something that we hope will one day make a major difference to the health of mothers and their babies.

The study was supported by Wellcome, the Royal Society, the European Research Council and the Medical Research Council.
The majority of Conservative rebels are expected to back the Prime Ministers Rwanda Bill after holding an 11th hour meeting in Parliament.

A Conservative rebel source said they expected the Safety of Rwanda Bill to pass quite comfortably during its third reading in the Commons, with only a small number of MPs voting down the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its third reading.

The announcement was made after more than 45 right-wing Tories, including former home secretary Suella Braverman and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, met in a Commons committee room to discuss their approach to a series of crunch votes for Rishi Sunak on Wednesday evening.

Former business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg confirmed to reporters after the meeting that he would be voting with the Government during the third reading of the Bill.

Speaking on behalf of the rebels after their meeting, a source said: The majority of those people who spoke in the room have decided to back the Bill at third reading.

A small number of colleagues will vote No on a point of principle.

But the overwhelming likelihood is that the Bill will pass probably quite comfortably this evening.

The source, who rallied against Downing Streets handling of negotiations with the rebels over amendments to Mr Sunaks flagship immigration policy, said some MPs in the room considered the third reading a confidence matter and that they wanted to support the Government.

Others, such as Mr Jenrick, who tabled a number of amendments designed to tighten the legislation, have publicly stated that they are preparing to vote it down if changes are not made.

The 11th hour announcement by the rebel camp did not quell a rebellion in favour of an amendment designed to make the deportation legislation tougher, with 59 Tory MPs voting for a proposal designed to allow UK ministers to ignore emergency injunctions by European judges.

But the decision to ultimately fold on voting the Bill down at third reading will be welcome news to the Prime Minister, who had already faced a similar revolt by 60 of his MPs a day earlier, along with the resignation of two party deputy chairmen and a ministerial aide.

Senior red wall MPs Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned from their party positions to vote in favour of amendments on Tuesday, while ministerial aide Jane Stevenson left her government job to back changes.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg confirmed he would be supporting the Governments Rwanda Bill (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mr Sunak, the Conservative Party leader, has made the Rwanda policy  first proposed in 2022 while Boris Johnson was in No 10  central to his premiership, forming part of his pledge to stop small boats of migrants from coming to Britain via the English Channel.

He has been looking to tread a middle path with his Safety of Rwanda Bill, hoping to avoid a damaging rebellion on the right of the party while keeping liberal so-called One Nation Conservatives content that the legislation did not breach the UKs international commitments on human rights.

The Prime Ministers press secretary sent a message to Tory MPs ahead of Wednesdays votes, urging them to get behind this Bill so we can get this deterrent up and running as quickly as possible.

Under the plan, migrants who cross the Channel on small boats could be sent to Rwanda rather than being allowed to try to seek asylum in the UK.

The legislation, along with a recently signed treaty with Kigali, is aimed at ensuring the scheme is legally watertight following a Supreme Court ruling against it last year.

The stalled policy comes with a 290 million bill but no asylum seekers arriving via unauthorised routes have been relocated as yet following a series of challenges in the courts.

Robert Jenrick emerged as a rebel ringleader over the Rwanda Bill (Aaron Chown/PA)

Mrs Braverman, during the debate on proposed amendments, said the British people would not forgive Mr Sunaks government unless the Rwanda legislation was toughened up to sideline Strasbourg judges.

A so-called Rule 39 injunction by the European Court of Human Rights grounded a deportation flight in 2022.

When defending his Bill, Mr Sunak has said there are circumstances under which he would be prepared to ignore such orders but hardline Tories wanted the pledge written into law.

Mr Jenrick, a rebel ringleader who resigned as a Home Office minister in protest at the Rwanda Bill, had led the call for changes aimed at ensuring the European emergency injunctions could be ignored by ministers in order to allow migrants to be sent on the one-way trip to Rwanda.

The Commons rejected the amendment by a majority of 471, with 65 MPs voting in favour of it.

Among its supporters were former prime minister Liz Truss, former cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke and Mr Anderson, as well as Mrs Braverman and Sir Jacob.

After rebels announced they were minded to back the Governments legislation on Wednesday, Mr Jenrick, MP for Newark, withdrew a second amendment he had tabled which aimed to disapply elements of the Human Rights Act in relation to removals to the east African country.

Despite Tory rebels standing down, Mr Sunaks Rwanda Bill is expected to face serious opposition in the House of Lords during its next stage.

Rebels have not ruled out proposing further amendments when the draft law is returned by peers to the Commons ahead of it entering the statute book.

Migrants continued to cross the English Channel on Wednesday, with groups of people pictured being brought ashore by Border Force in Dover, Kent.
A 27-year-old man has been extradited from Pakistan and charged with the 2015 murder of known gang member Andre Marshall, police said.

Abdul Ahsan was initially arrested in 2015 but failed to answer police bail later that year.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) placed a 10,000 reward on Ahsan seeking information from the public that would lead to his capture.

After fleeing to Pakistan to evade detection, police said Ahsan, of no fixed abode, was tracked to the country and extradited on Tuesday in a joint effort by UK and Pakistani authorities.

#CHARGED | Abdul Ahsan (21/06/1996) of no fixed abode, has been charged with murder in relation to the death of Andre Marshall in 2015. After being on the run for eight years, he was tracked down to Pakistan and extradited in a joint effort. Read more  https://t.co/nSJEc52bFY pic.twitter.com/AssZwkMgUX  Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) January 16, 2024

He was escorted back to the UK by officers from the Joint International Crime Centre where he was remanded into GMP custody.

Marshall, 29, who was a member of the Manchester-based Gooch gang, was found in the early hours of May 20 2015 with gunshot wounds to his torso and leg in the Manor Park area of Urmston, Trafford.

Police later confirmed the cause of his death was due to multiple gunshot wounds.

Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand of GMPs Major Incident Team said: This charge is an important development in the investigation into the death of Andre Marshall.

On behalf of our investigation team, I would like to thank our colleagues in the National Crime Agency and also the Pakistan Federal Investigation Agency and the UK Crown Prosecution Service, who have all jointly worked together to facilitate this progress in our investigation.

GMP continues the pursuit to finding justice for Andres family.

Two people have already been sentenced for their involvement in Marshalls murder.

On May 19 2016, then 18-year-old Danial Shahid was found guilty of assisting an offender following a trial at Manchester Crown Court.

He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Kadell Rivers, then aged 20, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and possession of an offensive weapon at an earlier hearing on the same day.

He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

Ahsan will appear at Manchester Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Unions representing steelworkers will meet industry giant Tata on Thursday for talks about the future of the company.

There have been fears of heavy job losses, especially at the plant in Port Talbot, South Wales, under moves to move to a greener form of steelmaking to cut emissions and stem financial losses.

Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB national officer, said unions had produced a well thought-out and researched alternative proposal aimed at saving jobs.

She said: Our position remains any compulsory job losses are wholly avoidable and the people of South Wales, as well as the industry as a whole, deserve the support and consideration that our plan outlines.

Jonathan Reynolds (Aaron Chown/PA)

Jonathan Reynolds, shadow business and trade secretary, said: The Conservative Government has pushed a plan that uses millions of taxpayers money only to make thousands of people redundant and leave us unable to produce primary steel in the UK.

What the Government offered was never a serious plan for the long term for our steel industry. It is yet another sticking plaster from a Government living crisis to crisis unable to take a long-term view.

Labour knows that the British steel industry can have a bright future and we have a cast-iron commitment to the steel industry.

We have earmarked up to 3 billion for investment in green steel alongside industry, working with steel communities to ensure the transition to green steel comes with jobs.

While the Conservatives scramble around for last-minute deals, Labour will make long-term investments through our industrial strategy to protect British jobs, safeguard our national capabilities and create jobs rather than throw British steelworkers on the scrapheap.
There is no evidence that racism played a role in the death of a 13-year-old boy who drowned in a river after allegedly being pushed in, an inquest has been told.

Christopher Kapessa died after the incident in the River Cynon near Fernhill in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, on July 1 2019.

Witnesses have told South Wales Central Coroners Court in Pontypridd that another boy, then aged 14, had pushed Christopher from a ledge into the water.

The boy, now aged 19 and who cannot be named for legal reasons, has insisted to the inquest that he accidentally fell into Christopher and did not deliberately push him.

Christopher began panicking and shouted for help  with other children jumping in and trying to rescue him before he disappeared below the surface at about 5.30pm.

Emergency services attended and Christopher was recovered from the water at 7.25pm. He was later declared dead at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, Detective Chief Inspector Matt Powell of South Wales Police said he was the senior investigating officer for the case.

He told the inquest that initial accounts from those present suggested Christopher had fallen into the water, with no indication that there had been any push, pull or similar action.

However, rumours began circulating at Christophers school and the boy alleged to have pushed Christopher in told his mother he may have slipped and pushed Christopher into the water by accident, Mr Powell said.

He added: There were other accounts that he had pushed Christopher into the water, albeit in the context of childs play.

Police re-interviewed those present at the scene, with Mr Powell developing five hypotheses about what happened.

Tom Leeper, counsel to the inquest, asked whether police had found any evidence that bullying may have been responsible for the incident.

Mr Powell replied: No I didnt. That became hypothesis five for me, as to whether Christopher was bullied or encouraged to enter the water. I found no evidence of that.

Certainly no evidence of racism playing a role in him entering the water or any of the events that happened on the riverside.

Mr Powell said there had been inaccurate reporting of the death, including describing the boy alleged to have pushed Christopher as a killer or murderer.

He described a press conference by a group supporting Christophers mother Alina Joseph that took place in Butetown, alleging there was evidence parents and children had perverted the course of justice.

That evidence never existed, Mr Powell said.

Mr Leeper asked: Is there evidence of race having played any role in relation to Christophers tragic loss on July 1 2019?

Mr Powell replied: Neither I or my team uncovered any evidence that racism played a role.

The senior officer was also asked about a social media campaign which aimed to obtain justice for Christopher.

He said: There were links to the terrible murder of Stephen, that this case was akin to that murder and incidents of police institutionalised racism in the UK.

When asked if there was any foundation for those assertions, Mr Powell replied: None at all.

Mr Powell said he felt those comments affected tensions within the community, with the children who were present at the river and their families feeling pressure.

He added: The particular consequences would be to (the boy alleged to have pushed Christopher into the water) and his family.

For short periods, at certain times, they were moved from the area. There were police safeguarding measures to help protect them and their home address.

Mr Powell said he believed there was potentially a risk to them as a result of the inaccurate reporting, with that risk continuing into 2023.

David Hughes, representing the boy, asked: You have told us that you found no evidence that racism played a part in how Christopher came to enter the water.

Would it be fair to say that it is not only a question of there being no racism but the evidence was that Christopher was positively cherished and valued by the children with him?

Mr Powell replied: Christopher was very good friends with them, very well respected by lots of them and someone they found fun to be around.

I do understand the familys concern that racism played a role. I could only find that they were good friends in this case.

The officer agreed that the boy alleged to have pushed Christopher into the water was distraught at his death, voluntarily attended interviews and had co-operated with the inquiry.

During the inquest, witnesses have described how the group of school friends from Mountain Ash Comprehensive School arranged to meet at the site after school on July 1 2019.

Some of the group have told the hearing that Christopher was saying both that he could and that he could not swim. He removed his glasses, top and sliders before going to stand on the ledge.

The inquest continues.
Royals hit by double health scare as King and Kate need hospital treatment

The monarchy has been hit by a double health scare with the Princess of Wales in hospital after abdominal surgery and the King facing treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Kate  a future Queen  is expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days and is set to be away from official duties for up to three months to give her time to recover.

The nature of the princesss condition has not been revealed although Kensington Palace confirmed it was not cancerous.

It is serious enough, however, for the Prince of Wales to be stepping temporarily back from official duties while his wife is in hospital and in the immediate aftermath while she recuperates.

A source said of the Princess: Shes doing well.

William was understood to be looking after Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis on Wednesday evening.

The Princess of Wales attends the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace in December (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The royal youngsters were at school all day and are yet to visit their mother in hospital.

The King, who was up in Scotland when he received his diagnosis, is said to have supported William and Kate, with a source adding: Theyre a close family so theyre in close touch.

Buckingham Palace announced just an hour and a half after Kensington Palaces shock news that Charles, 75, will be treated in hospital next week.

The Palace said Charless condition was benign and he would be having a corrective procedure.

His engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.

The King will be treated in hospital next week (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Kate, 42, was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday for her planned procedure, rather than King Edward VIIs Hospital which is usually the go-to establishment for royal medical matters.

Media have descended on the private hospital in central London with photographers, journalists and broadcasters awaiting news behind barriers on the opposite side of the road.

The princess is not expected to return to public duties until after Easter based on current medical advice, Kensington Palace said.

Heir to the throne William will juggle being at Kates side with caring for their children George, 10, Charlotte, 8, and five-year-old Louis, and he has postponed a number of engagements.

The Wales family attend Kates Together At Christmas Carol concert (Aaron Chown/PA)

Kate is close to her family, and her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and sibling Pippa Matthews and James Middleton are set to rally round and support her recovery at the Waleses home, Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

A spokesperson said: The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate.

She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

A statement from Kensington Palace pic.twitter.com/6h3BCrqj5L  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) January 17, 2024

Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness progress when there is significant new information to share.

The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements.

She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.

There will now be no international travel for the prince and princess in the coming months.

The Princess of Wales meets Grayson Stevenson and his father Mark during a visit to Dadvengers, a community for fathers and their children, in north London (Yui Mok/PA)

It is understood Charles was keen to share the details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked in line with public health advice.

Buckingham Palace Palace said in a statement: In common with thousands of men each year, the King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.

His Majestys condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure. The Kings public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.

The King had a series of meetings and events planned at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire on Thursday and Friday, which are being postponed on his doctors advice.

Media opposite the London Clinic, in central London, where the Princess of Wales is recovering (Jeff Moore/PA)

The announcement was made on the same day as Kates hospital stay because guests, including foreign dignitaries and members of the Cabinet, were due to travel to Scotland and needed to be made aware of the situation.

The 75-year-old monarch acceded to the throne just 16 months ago after spending 70 years as the heir to the throne, and was crowned last May in Westminster Abbey.

The princess marked her birthday just over a week ago, with the monarchys official social media accounts sharing a new behind-the-scenes photo of the princess at the Kings coronation, but there was no usual response thanking well-wishers from the Waleses account.

Kate leaving King Edward VIIs Hospital after being admitted with severe morning sickness in 2012 (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Kate usually enjoys good health but was previously admitted to hospital while pregnant after suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum  severe morning sickness.

Like the rest of the royal family, she has had a busy, turbulent past couple of years, with the Platinum Jubilee and the late Queens death in 2022, and the coronation in 2023, as well as adjusting to her new role as the Princess of Wales.

The Waleses also faced the ongoing rift between William and his brother the Duke of Sussex, with Harry making controversial claims about Charles, Camilla, William and Kate in his Netflix documentary and memoir Spare.

The Princess of Wales arrives at the coronation ceremony (Dan Charity/The Sun/PA)

Williams former university flatmate has carefully carved out her charity work since marrying the prince in 2011 and becoming an HRH, focusing on mental health and early childhood.

Seen as the monarchys safe pair of hands and as having a keep calm and carry on approach, Kate has been heralded as channelling the same characteristics of charm, politeness and toughness as the late Queen Mother, who was once described as a marshmallow made on a welding machine.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, who was private secretary to the Cambridges and the Duke of Sussex, and used to work for the Queen Mother, told The Times: She takes time to talk to people. She is tough.

She has got that Queen Mother feel in her, so that when things need doing, she is there to do them.
An 11-year-old girl who allegedly died after a neighbour used a poisonous substance to tackle bedbugs can been named in a victory for open justice.

Fatiha Sabrin died in hospital on December 11 2021 after the dangerous gas phosphine seeped from a nearby flat, it is claimed.

At a hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday, Jesmin Akter, 33, of Sutton Street, Tower Hamlets, east London, denied her manslaughter and importing a regulated substance.

But the child at the heart of the case could not be identified under an order made at Thames Magistrates Court last August 22.

At the time, the PA news agency had queried an order banning her identity being published under section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.

Despite informing the court that it did not have the power to make an order relating to a deceased child, the media was advised to raise it when the case was heard at the Old Bailey.

On Wednesday, Judge Simon Mayo KC addressed a joint written application by PA and the BBC to lift the order.

The media cited Judicial College guidelines that a child must be alive for the court to make a valid order.

It was also pointed out that the child had already been identified in earlier national newspaper reports.

Judge Mayo thanked the media for the helpful and very succinct submissions.

He said the BBC and PA were absolutely right about the extent of the courts power and he lifted the order as it related to Fatiha.

While making clear he meant no criticism of the magistrate concerned, the judge said: It is a pity the matter was not dealt with at that stage as these matters involve important principles of wider public importance.

He went on to say that open justice was of fundamental importance and lay very close to the heart of the function of the courts within a democratic society.

At the plea hearing last week, the judge set a three-week trial from July 1 at the Old Bailey with a further hearing on April 19.

It is alleged the defendant imported a regulated substance, namely aluminium phosphide, from Italy without a licence on November 26 2021.

She allegedly scattered pellets of the substance around her flat to tackle a bedbug problem that was rife in her block of flats.

The aluminium phosphide is alleged to have been activated by moisture to create the dangerous gas phosphine which travelled to the flat of an 11-year-old girl.

The defendant has been granted bail ahead of her next court appearance.
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho visited a military base near the border with North Korea on Wednesday, the latest in a series of inspection tours by top South Korean officials amid heightened tensions.

Kim underscored the role of the unit in bolstering deterrence against North Korea during his visit to the Army unit in the western border city of Paju, according to the ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs.

The rare visit came as North Korea has ratcheted up tensions on the peninsula with weapons tests, including the launch of a hypersonic missile this week, and its leader Kim Jong-un's hostile rhetoric against the South.

At a key parliamentary meeting on Monday, the North's leader called for revising the country's constitution to define South Korea as its "primary foe" and codify the commitment to "completely occupying" the South Korean territory in the event of war. (Yonhap)
Health officials have urged young adults to donate blood after it emerged that the number of the youngest donors has drastically diminished in recent years.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said that the proportion of regular donors in England aged 17 to 24 has fallen to almost half the rate it was five years ago.

It comes as the age demographics of blood donors appears to be changing, bucking recent trends of a younger donor pool.

Since 2018, the majority of donors have been aged 17 to 44, but now, more than half of donors are over the age of 45, NHSBT said.

Figures from NHSBT show that in 2017-18, young people aged 17 to 24 made up 13.07% of the donor pool but in 2022-23 this fell to just 7.2%.

Meanwhile, about 408,000 of the 798,000 people who regularly give blood are aged 45 or over (51.1%).

Older donors are now in the majority in every region of England except for London, NHSBT said.

Officials believe that the change in the donor pool could be down to a number of factors including an ageing population and knock-on effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, which interrupted usual recruitment drives to encourage young people to become donors.

While face-to-face drives  such as Fresher events at universities  have restarted again, NHSBT has also launched new campaign Giving Types to encourage people to consider becoming a blood donor.

Dr Jo Farrar, chief executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: Because lifesaving blood only has a short shelf life, we need to constantly collect it and need a steady stream of new donors.

For the first time in five years, we have more donors who are aged over 45 than under, so it has never been more important for younger people to become lifesavers by giving blood.

Giving blood feels great. In just one hour you can save up to three lives. Please register and book your first appointment today.

NHSBT needs to collect 1.45 million units of blood each year to meet the needs of patients across England.

Did you know that men can give blood every 12 weeks, whereas women have to wait 16 weeks to protect their iron levels?  Men's blood often contains fewer antibodies making it easier to use in blood products such as plasma and platelets. #InternationalMensDay #GiveBlood #NHS pic.twitter.com/PTV49Cz0iD  NHS Blood+Transplant (@NHSBT) November 19, 2023

As well as encouraging more young people to give blood, NHSBT is also trying to recruit more donors with black heritage.

They are more likely to have the blood type urgently needed to treat people with the genetic blood disorder sickle cell.

 People can register as a blood donor and book their first appointment via the GiveBloodNHS app or at www.blood.co.uk
Scotlands First Minister has called for talks with Labour ahead of a general election on the renewable sector north of the border.

There will be a change of government in 2024, Humza Yousaf said, opening the door for Sir Keir Starmer and Labours energy spokesman Ed Miliband to work with the Scottish Government before the party wins the keys to Downing Street.

An election is due to take place this year, with the Prime Minister saying he favours the second half of the year.

The First Minister was speaking on the Chamber Talk podcast (AGCC/PA)

Speaking to the Chamber Talk podcast, produced by the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, the First Minister said: Theres going to be a change of Government in 2024, of that I have no doubt in the slightest.

My offer to Keir Starmer, to Ed Miliband  who drives their energy policy  is come and speak to us in advance of a general election.

Lets work together so that we can unleash the potential of Scotlands renewables sector, and thats got to be a just transition.

Lets do that in a way that gives investors the confidence they need to invest now in Scotland and that investment. Well see a great economic return for that in the years and decades to come.

The First Minister also stood by the Governments draft energy strategy, which was released before he took office, where a presumption against new oil and gas fields was adopted.

The cabinet he appointed, Mr Yousaf said, spoke with one voice on the issue.

But he stressed plans for a 20 billion fund financed by oil and gas revenues would not mean going back on licences already approved and nor would it mean there could never be any more exploration or extraction of hydrocarbons.
As the Republican presidential candidates jockeyed for votes during the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses on Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris was in South Carolina, shoring up support in a state that will kick off Democrats' primary season next month.

"It's good to be back," Harris, who was making her second trip to South Carolina since the start of the new year, said before getting in her motorcade.

ABC News was granted exclusive access to the vice president during her trip, getting a rare, behind-the-scenes look as the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign kicks into high gear. ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce followed Harris as she traveled on Air Force Two, delivered a speech outside the South Carolina State House and met with supporters.

MORE: Trump dominates with Republicans, and 5 other takeaways from Iowa caucuses

Harris has taken an expanded role on the campaign trail, traveling to at least 18 states over the last six months -- taking on political fights over abortion access, race and voting rights.

This, as many voters say President Joe Biden's age is a top concern. The oldest-ever sitting president, Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term. A new ABC News/Ipsos poll shows only 28% of those surveyed say Biden has the mental sharpness to serve another four years, down from about 50% in May 2020.

PHOTO: Vice President Kamala Harris speaks outside the South Carolina State House in Columbia, South Carolina, on Jan. 15, 2024. (Kevin Wurm/Reuters)

Bruce pressed Harris on how the campaign plans to change that perception.

"I'll tell you, the reality of it is, and I've spent a lot of time with Biden, be it in the Oval Office, in the Situation Room and other places -- he is extraordinarily smart. He has the ability to see around the corner in terms of what might be the challenges we face as a nation or globally."

Harris added: "Well, I mean, listen, you're here with me in South Carolina. You saw every room we went in. The numbers of people who are there, applauding quite loudly, and they're applauding for me and they're applauding for Joe Biden and for what we as an administration have accomplished. They're there because they believe in what we're doing and they want to see us continue to do this work."

MORE: Kamala Harris laughs off Nikki Haley's criticism: 'Let's see what Iowa says to her!'

On Monday, Harris spoke to a crowd of hundreds outside the state Capitol to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day and laid out what she saw was at stake in the coming election.

"As vice president of the United States, I'd say, at this moment, in America, freedom is under profound threat," Harris said. "Today, in fact, we are witnessing a full-on attack on hard-fought, hard-won freedoms."

South Carolina has played a critical role in Democratic primary politics. Most voters who participate in the state's Democratic primary are Black -- the party's base. It also revived Biden's campaign in 2020 after he came in fourth in Iowa, and fifth in New Hampshire.

In a nod to South Carolina's role in Biden's 2020 win, the Democratic National Committee changed its 2024 presidential primary calendar to elevate South Carolina to be the first state to vote while demoting Iowa and New Hampshire, which national Democrats argue are not representative of their voter base or of the country, despite sharp outcry from both states.

"We're not going to wait and parachute into these communities at the last minute and ask them for their vote, we're going to earn their vote," deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks told reporters on a call earlier this month.

"Well, that's why I'm out here," Harris told Bruce in an interview before departing Columbia. "We've done really good work, our challenge will be to let people know who brung it to them."

PHOTO: Vice President Kamala Harris visits the currently number 1 ranked women's NCAA basketball team South Carolina Gamecocks, in Columbia, South Carolina, on Jan. 15, 2024. (Kevin Wurm/Reuters)

She added: "We have done the work that has been about bringing down unemployment, Black unemployment, to some of the lowest numbers we've ever seen  What we've done on student loan debt, we have now erased student loan debt for over three-and-a-half million people and with more to do, so we've delivered."

An area where they have not delivered, according to the ABC News/Ipsos poll, is on immigration, a critical issue for voters. Just 18% approve of Biden's handling of the border.

MORE: After unprecedented border crossings, a record 3M cases clog US immigration courts

Biden assigned Harris the responsibility of addressing the root causes of migration at the southern border.

Democrats and Republicans are negotiating on Capitol Hill as the country faces record-shattering numbers of encounters at the southern border. Some Democrats are pressing the administration to do more, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, who has chided Washington for lacking urgency on the issue.

"Does your administration bear responsibility for that?" Bruce pressed the vice president.

"It is no secret for anyone that we have a broken immigration system, and it needs to be fixed and it would be great if we could get some bipartisan consensus to do just that," Harris resonded.

PHOTO: Vice President Kamala Harris holds a ball signed by the members of the currently number 1 ranked women's NCAA basketball team South Carolina Gamecocks during a visit in Columbia, South Carolina, on Jan. 15, 2024. (Kevin Wurm/Reuters)

Harris has also taken a leading role when it comes to abortion rights. The California native will be embarking upon a nationwide "Reproductive Freedoms Tour" next week to highlight the administration's fight for abortion access.

While the White House has said it wants to codify the rights previously guaranteed under Roe v. Wade, without Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, its ability to act is limited.

"What can you realistically promise the American people you would do to protect these reproductive rights? Bruce pressed.

"Well, we're gonna continue to do what we've been doing, and so that includes what we're doing through the court system, what we're doing to ensure emergency care and protection for all people in terms of access to emergency care, what we're doing to protect access to contraception is another big piece of this," Harris said.

"But here's the bottom line: From Kansas to California from, from Ohio to Virginia. When this issue has been on the ballot, the American people have voted in favor of freedoms," she added.

MORE: Harris raises alarm about abortion restrictions but has 'faith in the people of America'

With a potential Biden-Trump rematch on the horizon, the Biden-Harris campaign says in the coming months voters will be presented with a stark choice involving "democracy and freedom." Harris told Bruce the campaign is gearing up for a tough fight.

"Well, I mean, we're talking about an election for president of the United States, vice president of the United States, and we have to earn that reelect. I mean, these are challenging times," she said. "I have been traveling our country, and it is clear to me that there is an intent to attack these most fundamental freedoms and liberties."

Bruce asked Harris if a rematch with former President Donald Trump, who went on to handily win the Iowa caucuses later on Monday, was a foregone conclusion.

"I don't know," Harris said. "But look, if it is Donald Trump, we've beat him before and we'll beat him again."

ABC News gets rare access to VP Kamala Harris as she hits the 2024 campaign trail originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Secretary of State Antony Blinken switched planes in Zurich on Wednesday after his original plane was grounded.

He first boarded a Boeing C-40, which is part of the U.S. military service, but that aircraft sustained a critical failure related to an oxygen leak.

A new plane was arranged for Blinken. The press pool traveling with him was advised to make commercial flight arrangements because the new aircraft was unable to accommodate journalists.

Blinken is still expected to return to Washington late Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told reporters, although several hours later than originally planned.

The mechanical issue did not cause any disruption to Blinken's meetings, Miller said, as the secretary had already left Davos, Switzerland, for Zurich.

Miller directed any further questions on the plane to the Air Force.

Blinken was in Davos this week to attend the World Economic Forum, a summit of government and business leaders.

The Boeing C-40 is a modified Boeing 737 used for trips by the vice president, first lady or secretary of state.

Boeing has been at the center of much controversy and scrutiny since the door plug of an Alaska Airlines flight detached midair, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to temporarily ground certain Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes operated in the U.S. or by U.S. airlines.

The FAA on Wednesday widened its probe into Boeing, saying it will pay special attention to the work of Spirit AeroSystems, a Wichita, Kansas, aerospace company that makes and installs plug doors for Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes.
Congressional leaders left the White House on Wednesday seemingly still at odds over how to break the logjam over Ukraine aid and U.S. border policy.

President Joe Biden hosted top lawmakers for more than an hour to discuss his $106 billion supplemental request that would include roughly $61 billion in military assistance to Ukraine as it fights Russia's invasion.

The bill, which also includes aid for Israel and Taiwan as well as $14 billion for border security, has been stalled amid fierce debate over immigration policy as House Republicans demand stricter protocols on asylum and parole.

Leaving the meeting, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters, "We understand that all these things are important, but we must insist, we must insist that the border be the top priority."

"We understand that there's concern about the safety, security and sovereignty of Ukraine but the American people have those same concerns about our own domestic sovereignty and our safety and our security," he said.

MORE: Speaker Johnson, GOP visit border to pressure Biden, Democrats on immigration deal

PHOTO: House Speaker Mike Johnson, second from right, flanked by, from left, Rep. Mike Turner, Rep. Mike Rogers, and Rep. Mike McCaul, speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, Jan. 17, 2024. (Susan Walsh/AP)

Schumer countered that both Ukraine and the border need to be addressed at the same time.

"The president himself said over and over again that he is willing to move forward on [the] border. And so we said we have to do both," Schumer said.

The Senate Democratic leader added, "The only way we will do border and Ukraine, or even either of them, is bipartisan. You cannot, cannot do things with one party in a divided Congress. Any party that says, 'Do it my way or no way', we're not going to get anything done."

A White House readout of the meeting called the need for Ukraine aid "urgent."

"In the meeting, President Biden underscored the importance of Congress ensuring Ukraine has the resources it needs -- including air defense and artillery capabilities -- to defend itself against Russias brutal invasion. The President discussed the strategic consequences of inaction for Ukraine, the United States, and the world. He was clear: Congresss continued failure to act endangers the United States national security, the NATO Alliance, and the rest of the free world," the White House statement said.

Ahead of the meeting, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said meeting would center on Ukraine.

"That's what we're gonna focus on in this discussion," Kirby told reporters at the daily briefing. "And as the speaker knows quite well, we continue to negotiate in good faith in a bipartisan way with the Senate, Republicans and Democrats up there on Capitol Hill, about the national security supplemental and which obviously includes money for border security."

Kirby said that could include sharing some classified material with the lawmakers to help demonstrate the "desperate, urgent need" for weapons and other capabilities to be provided to Ukraine.

It's been more than a year since Congress approved major funding for the war-torn Eastern European nation, and the administration has said it is quickly running out of funds to continue providing aid to Ukraine.

Describing the White House meeting, Schumer said there was an "understanding that if we don't come to Ukraine's aid, that the consequences for America and around the globe would be nothing short of devastating."

PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jefferies, arrive to speak to reporters following a meeting with President Joe Biden outside the West Wing of the White House Jan. 17, 2024. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Johnson said while House Republicans "understand the necessity about Ukraine funding" they still have questions about Ukraine's "strategy and endgame."

Biden's requested supplemental national security package sets aside $14 billion for border policies, including the hiring of more than 1,000 additional border patrol agents and asylum officers. It also includes $1.2 billion to combat the flow of fentanyl.

But Republicans are demanding more sweeping changes to U.S. immigration policy, pointing to the influx of migrants at the southwest border.

Negotiations have been going on for months, and were carried on throughout the holiday recess by a bipartisan group of senators.

Heading into the meeting with Biden, Schumer and McConnell gave a brief update on where things stand.

McConnell said the supplemental package could go up for a vote in the Senate as soon as next week.

"This is a unique opportunity to accomplish something in divided government that wouldn't be there under unified," McConnell said. "I keep reminding my members that if we had a 100% Republican government -- the president, House, Senate -- we probably would not be able to get a single Democratic vote to pass what Senator Lankford and the administration are trying to get together."

Schumer said he wouldn't make promises on timing for a vote but said they were "making good progress."

MORE: No snow day for the Senate as Congress looks to avert a government shutdown

But Johnson has only grown more insistent that the House should not accept the Senate's work, and instead has pointed to H.R. 2, a House-Republican backed bill filled with border policies the Democratic-controlled Senate wouldn't support and that the White House would likely veto.

"We have talked about the necessary elements to solve this problem," Johnson said outside the White House.

"We passed our bill and it has critical elements. It's a historic restoration of the 'Remain in Mexico' policy, it is the end of catch and release, it is reforms to the broken asylum and parole systems. We're not insistent upon a particular name of a piece of legislation, but we are insistent that the elements have to be meaningful."

ABC News' Lauren Peller, Arthur Jones, Jay O'Brien, Selina Wang and Fritz Farrow contributed to this report.

Biden, Johnson appear still at odds over Ukraine aid, border originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Brothers John and Vince Giovannitti grew up in a family of seven kids, so they're used to sharing  even when it comes to job titles.

The brothers are both newly elected mayors, and they serve South Jersey towns that are literally across the street from one another.

Vince Giovannitti is the now two-term mayor of Greenwich Township, while John Giovannitti is serving his first term as Paulsboro mayor. Both are Democrats.

"The towns are intertwined," John Giovannitti told CBS News. "We go to their church. And so it's all connected in a positive way."

The Giovannittis, sons of a butcher and a homemaker, say they grew up in a family that took pride in supporting the local community.

"Whether it's a church, a senior citizens club, and I think when you're growing up, you see that community service and you feel like, well, that's part of what we were taught, and we have to do it," John Giovannatti said.

Asked which town was better, Vince Giovannitti told CBS News, "It's a tie."

"Tied together with love," John Giovannitti added.

That spirit of brotherly love is what they hope to give back to these two small towns.

"I think it's real special for our families," John Giovannitti said. "For our dad and our relatives who are in heaven watching us. I think they'd be real proud of us."

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WASHINGTON  A former Internal Revenue Service contractor, who leaked tax information about Donald Trump and other wealthy individuals to news organizations, got his job to intentionally to spread the confidential records, according to Justice Department prosecutors.

Charles Edward Littlejohn, 38, of Washington, pleaded guilty in October to unauthorized disclosure of tax return and return information. U.S. District Judge Ana Reye scheduled sentencing for Jan. 29. Prosecutors recommended Tuesday he receive the maximum sentence of five years in prison.

After applying to work as an IRS consultant with the intention of accessing and disclosing tax returns, Defendant weaponized his access to unmasked taxpayer data to further his own personal, political agenda, believing that he was above the law, wrote prosecutors Corey Amundson, chief of the Justice Departments public integrity section, Jennifer Clarke and Jonathan Jacobson.

View of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2023.

Littlejohn hasn't filed his own arguments about his sentencing yet. But prosecutors described him as a college graduate with a loving family who had started a successful business and worked as a consultant.

"Based on his training, his personal experience, and his work, he understood the gravity of his offense," prosecutors wrote. "He understood the impact that it would have on his victims. But he acted anyway."

Littlejohn, who had worked as an IRS consultant from 2008 to 2013, applied to return in 2017 "with the hope and expectation of accessing and disclosing tax returns and return information," prosecutors said.

Rather than search specifically for Trump's returns, which might have triggered scrutiny, he submitted sophisticated searches that gathered data about the former president and others, according to court records. Littlejohn later destroyed machines he downloaded information onto, according to court records.

"Throughout Defendants scheme, he undertook efforts to obstruct and impede the investigation that he anticipated would follow the publication of the tax data he had stolen," prosecutors said.

The news organizations arent named in court records, but the description of the tax records and timing in late 2019 and late 2020 coincide with stories about Trumps tax returns in The New York Times and about wealthy Americans taxes in ProPublica, which published more than 50 articles.

In July and August 2020, Littlejohn stole tax information for thousands of Americans, according to court records.

Littlejohn evaded IRS protocols to detect and prevent large downloads from government computers and then saved the tax returns on multiple devices, including an iPod, according to court records. He also obstructed the investigation by deleting and destroying evidence of his disclosures, according to court records.

The New York Times reported in 2020 Trump paid $750 in federal income tax the year he entered the White House and no income tax at all some years thanks to colossal losses. Six years of his returns were later released by the House Ways and Means Committee, when it was controlled by Democrats.

ProPublica reported in 2021 on a trove of tax-return data about the wealthiest Americans. It found the 25 richest people legally pay a smaller share of their income in taxes than many ordinary workers do.

"And the human impact of Defendant's crimes is enormous," prosecutors wrote. "Many victims have come forward, expressing anger and embarrassment about the exposure of their personal financial information. Worse, it appears that the harm may continue indefinitely" because stories continue to be published.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: IRS consultant got job to leak Trump's tax returns, DOJ says
Two Federal Reserve officials this week suggested changes to new bank capital rules proposed by their own agency, adding to the pressure on regulators to revise the controversial requirements.

Fed Governor Michelle Bowman used a speech Wednesday before the US Chamber of Commerce to argue that the plan needs "substantive changes" and that an increase in capital requirements at the scale proposed by regulators could significantly harm the economy.

"Higher levels of capital enhance financial resilience  up to a point," Bowman said. "But capital is not costless ... Relying simply on the 'more is better' approach downplays or ignores ... critically important tradeoffs."

Bowmans comments came one day after another Fed governor, Chris Waller, said the proposal has "got to have a major overhaul in my view to get a reasonable product." One possibility, he added, is "taking it back and starting over."

Federal Reserve Governors Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller have both raised concerns about a controversial bank capital proposal pushed by their own agency. (Ann Saphir/REUTERS) (REUTERS / Reuters)

At issue are higher capital requirements that were unveiled last summer by Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr. Those requirements focused on the amount of capital that banks must have in reserve to protect themselves from insolvency.

Regulators have said the proposal would result in a 16% increase in capital levels and a 20% increase in risk-weighted assets for big banks.

Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr. (Evelyn Hockstein/REUTERS/File Photo) (REUTERS / Reuters)

In the months since, the banks have launched a campaign to roll back the new rules  or scrap them entirely. Many banks submitted letters to the Fed listing the many problems they have with the rules ahead of a deadline for those comments that ended Tuesday.

The banks have contemplated suing if the rules dont get changed. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CFO Jeremy Barnum openly discussed that possibility with reporters during a conference call last Friday.

Suing the banks own regulator "is never a preferred option," he said, but "it cant be taken off the table."

The Bank Policy Institute, a trade group representing JPMorgan and other big banks, has reportedly hired a lawyer to prepare a lawsuit if the rules dont get changed, according to a report by Semafor.

Goldman Sachs (GS) CEO David Solomon told analysts Tuesday the capital proposal "should be withdrawn and re-proposed."

But the Fed, he added, "is listening carefully" to the feedback, calling this moment "the end of the beginning of the process."

Solomon said he doesnt think anyone assumes the rules will move forward as proposed.

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon. (Brendan McDermid/REUTERS) (REUTERS / Reuters)

Bowman, the Fed governor, said she is "cautiously optimistic" that policymakers can work toward a "reasonable compromise" that addresses what she views as the two most critical shortcomings of the proposal: capital requirements that are too high and the lack of regulatory tailoring.

She wants the Fed to tailor capital requirements to a banks size and risk profile as the regulator does now, arguing that she hasnt seen compelling evidence that changing this approach would bolster the banking system.

Bowman argued that the cost of capital impacts every aspect of banking and the cost and availability of products and services, cautioning that the higher costs will get passed on to consumers in the form of higher costs for financial services or fewer services.

She said the Fed needs to carefully weigh the costs and benefits  safety from higher capital levels, with the direct costs to banks, and the effects on consumers, businesses, and the broader economy.

Bowman noted that banks near the $100 billion asset size are already thinking of the viability of holding assets near that size to avoid higher capital requirements, while banks above that threshold are considering ways to either shrink or merge to better absorb the costs of the new requirements.

"As I view the landscape today, I do not view these differences as insurmountable obstacles to achieving a more effective and efficient set of Basel capital reforms," Bowman said.

"The data collected and released should  serve as a guide to assist in shaping the next iteration of this proposal, whether that be in the form of a re-proposal or significantly revised final rule."

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WASHINGTON  Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence a former IRS contractor to five years in prison for leaking the tax records of former President Donald Trump and other wealthy Americans to the media.

In court papers Tuesday, prosecutors urged the judge to impose the statutory maximum of five years in prison for Charles Littlejohn of Washington, D.C., after he pleaded guilty in October to one count of disclosing tax return information without authorization. Littlejohn also admitted to leaking tax records belonging to over a thousand other wealthy people.

In a plea agreement last year, government attorneys estimated eight to 14 months imprisonment based on federal sentencing guidelines, with both parties reserving the right to seek a deviation from those guidelines, prosecutor Jonathan Jacobson said in Tuesdays filing.

But he also called the sentencing range flatly inconsistent with the gravity of the offense."

The scope and scale of Defendants unlawful disclosures appear to be unparalleled in the IRSs history, Jacobson contended. There simply is no precedent for a case involving the disclosure of tax return and return information associated with over a thousand individuals and entities.

In 2020, The New York Times published a report saying that it had obtained more than two decades of Trumps tax information and that he had paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017. The following year, ProPublica published reporting on the taxes of wealthy people.

Attorneys for Littlejohn did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29 before District Judge Ana C. Reyes of Washington.

Daniel Barnes reported from Washington and Zoe Richards from New York.
Eager to sell your Charlotte-area home? You might want to consider one of the many companies that buy Queen City houses for cash. These we buy houses enterprises make it quick and easy to unload a home, without the need to go through the lengthy process of a traditional home sale.

If you are in a rush to relocate for work, are overwhelmed by the cost of needed repairs, inherited a property you dont want or simply need the money ASAP, a cash-homebuying company could be a good option for you. However, the flipside is that when you sell to one of these companies, you are likely to make less money than if you were to sell via traditional means.

Find out more about the benefits and disadvantages of companies that buy houses in Charlotte below.

How do we buy houses companies work?

We buy houses companies specialize in purchasing properties for cash directly from homeowners. They commonly offer to buy your home as is, which can be an appealing prospect to those who dont have the means or desire to make repairs or updates.

Their business model generally operates on buying lower-priced distressed or dated homes, making major renovations and then selling that property at a higher price, says Kevin McClave, a Charlotte-based broker with Opendoor.

The primary benefit of selling to a we buy houses company is the speed with which they operate. These businesses purchase properties with cash and can close sometimes within 2 to 3 days, says real estate investor Cody Rudolph. Compare that to the traditional buying process, where multiple parties and complex steps involved can slow down or stall the sales process.

Consider, too, that when you list and try to sell your home conventionally with the help of an agent, you are hoping for the eventual buyer to secure needed financing. These companies pay cash, so you dont have to worry about them potentially getting turned down for a loan.

To get an offer, all you typically have to do is send in your street address and some basic information about the property. Some companies will ask for pictures or send a representative to check out the home in person. Most will make you an offer within 48 hours, or often even less.

Be aware, however, that these outfits operate on tight margins, so they usually wont be willing or able to offer top-of-the-market prices. You should not expect to make as much money on the sale as you would on the open market  however, you can expect the sale process to happen much faster and without the hassle of showing the home to a crowd of potential buyers.

You are not obligated to accept an offer from a we buy houses company. If you do want to accept it, though, dont dilly-dally  they usually come with a relatively quick expiration date  and be sure to read everything very, very carefully before you sign on the dotted line.

Types of companies that buy houses for cash in Charlotte

If youre interested in selling to a homebuying company in the Charlotte market, there are several options to choose from, from iBuyers to national franchisees to small, locally owned outfits.

iBuyers

Charlotte is a competitive market, and both of the biggest iBuying players, Opendoor and Offerpad, operate here. Both use algorithms and publicly available data to provide a fast cash offer after you provide information about the property online. They typically will not purchase homes in very poor condition, and the amount of your preliminary offer will likely be subject to an inspection. There could be hefty service fees as well, but both pay in cash and operate quickly.

National homebuying companies

Two of the biggest national homebuying chains also operate in Charlotte. The first, known simply as We Buy Houses, will arrange an in-person assessment of your property after you contact them. After the representative evaluates your homes condition, you will receive a cash offer, typically within 24 to 48 hours. If you accept, the company aims to finalize the deal within 7 to 14 days.

HomeVestors (often known as the we buy ugly houses company) operates in a similar manner: A representative will visit your property to assess it, and shortly afterward, youll receive a cash offer. The closing process can be completed in as little as three weeks.

Local homebuying companies

Harmony Home Buyers: This local outfit buys all types of properties in any condition, including multi-family homes, condos, townhouses and mobile homes, and lets you choose your own closing date.

Opening Doors Properties: Run by a brother-sister team for more than 10 years, this outfit is based in nearby Denver, NC, and buys Charlotte-area homes in any condition. They specialize in customized solutions.

Travis Buys Homes: A family-owned company founded by a North Carolina native, they also buy homes in any condition. They also pay all closing costs and do not charge any fees.

Tiffany Property Investments: In business since 2015, Tiffany buys homes all over North Carolina, and a few locations in South Carolina, but its based in Charlotte. They buy in any condition, charge no fees and can close in 714 days.

Alternatives to consider

If youre not sure whether a we buy houses enterprise is right for you, consider the following options:

List with an agent: Selling your home with a local real estate agent will certainly take longer  Charlotte homes spend a median of 40 days on the market before selling, according to November 2023 Redfin data  but its the surest way of earning top dollar.

Sell the home yourself: A for sale by owner (FSBO) listing takes a hands-on approach. Its a lot of work, because you are essentially doing the job an agent would normally do, but it lets you avoid the cost of a listing agents commission.

Rent it out instead: This could be an excellent alternative to selling, but only if you can rent the property for a monthly amount that covers your mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance and other costs while retaining a small profit, says Rudolph. The median rent for a single-family house in Charlotte is $2,000, according to Zillow Rental Manager.

Next steps

Be careful to weigh the benefits of working with a we buy houses company against the drawbacks, the biggest of which is that you will likely receive much less than if you had listed your home traditionally. Also, research the company carefully before committing to any deal, and consult with a lawyer when in doubt. If speed and convenience are your top priorities, companies that buy houses in Charlotte could be a good option. But if youd rather maximize your profit, hire an experienced local real estate agent.

FAQs
Kim Hyun-mi, who served as the minister of land, infrastructure and transport during the previous Moon Jae-in government, was grilled by prosecutors Tuesday over allegations of economic data manipulation, prosecution officials said.

The former minister was summoned to the Daejeon District Prosecutors Office in the morning as a suspect in its investigation into suspected manipulation of national statistics, including housing prices, under the Moon administration, they said.

The investigation began after the Board of Audit and Inspection said in September last year that the Moon administration exerted undue pressure on government agencies to manipulate official data on income, employment and housing prices to support its key economic and real estate policies. The audit agency asked the prosecution to investigate 22 former government officials, including Kim.

The audit agency suspects that Moon's presidential office and the land ministry exerted undue influence on the state-run Korea Real Estate Board (KREB) to manipulate real estate data at least 94 times between 2017 and 2021.

A land ministry official, for instance, is accused of requesting the KREB to doctor data to show that housing prices had fallen in the third week of June 2019, as property prices showed signs of rising despite government measures.

Kim was intensively questioned about whether she gave such an instruction to the ministry official at that time, according to the officials. The former minister reportedly denied the suspicion.

In a related move, the prosecution last week requested an arrest warrant for former Vice Land Minister Yun Seong-won and Lee Mun-ki, former chief of the National Agency for Administrative City Construction, on charges of violating the Statistics Act, but the court dismissed the requests. (Yonhap)
The Securities and Exchange Commission has agreed to delay until April the trial of Do Kwon, the South Korean cofounder of Terraform Labs, to allow for his extradition to the U.S.

In a Monday filing, the regulator agreed to Kwons postponement request because he's already consented to be extradited and could arrive by March. The SEC, according to the filing, took into account that Kwon wishes to attend his trial and that if it were to take place on Jan. 29 as scheduled he wouldn't have time to consult with his attorneys.

Mr. Kwon will make no additional requests for adjournment of the trial date, even if he is still not able to attend trial on the new date set, Kwons attorneys wrote in a separate filing on Monday.

Kwons lawyers also said he would not oppose the court separating his case from that of the company he cofounded, Terraform Labs, although the SEC doesn't appear interested in doing that. Splitting them up, the agency said, would unnecessarily require witnesses, including SEC whistleblowers and retail investors with limited financial means, to testify twice about identical facts in different trials.

Kwon remains in custody in the Balkan country of Montenegro, where he was arrested in March for trying to use a falsified passport to reach Dubai. After the $40 billion collapse of the stablecoin TerraUSD and sister cryptocurrency Luna in 2022, Kwon left Singapore, where he had been based, and reportedly spent some time in Serbia and then Montenegro as an Interpol Red Notice was issued for his arrest.

In December, U.S. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff sided with the SEC and said Kwon and Terraform Labs broke the law by not registering TerraUSD and Luna with the regulator. The 32-year-old disgraced crypto entrepreneur is facing criminal charges in the U.S. meanwhile authorities in his native South Korea also seek to bring him to justice.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Washington  The Republican presidential debate that was expected to happen Thursday, days before the New Hampshire primary, has been canceled after candidates were unwilling to participate.

"Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race. As a result, while our robust election coverage will continue, ABC News and WMUR-TV will not be moving forward with Thursday's Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire," an ABC News spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday.

Former President Donald Trump finished in first place in the Iowa caucuses on Monday, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis coming in second and Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, placing third, according to CBS News' projections.

Haley argued that her performance in Iowa makes the primary campaign a "two-person race" between her and Trump.

She said Tuesday that she would not participate in Thursday's debate unless Trump was also there, making DeSantis the only candidate who had committed to the event.

"I've done five debates," Haley told CBS News political correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns. "He's done none. I want him on that stage. I welcome him when he says he's going to do it. We'll be there. But until then, I'm not going to bother."

Trump has avoided debating his GOP rivals in any of the five primary debates, citing his dominant lead in the polls.

DeSantis and Haley were the only two candidates to participate in last week's debate hosted by CNN in Des Moines, Iowa, ahead of the state's caucuses.

What to expect from the New Hampshire GOP primary next week

World leaders set to tackle threat of hypothetical "Disease X"

How artificial intelligence may reshape the way we live and work
Miranda Lambert's husband of nearly five years, Brendan McLoughlin has a unique way of supporting the Grammy-winning singer.

While on "Tamron Hall" promoting her upcoming Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Lambert, 40, explained how two of her biggest fans have different ways of cheering on her career.

"My husband tells me the truth," she told Hall in Tuesday's episode. "He gives me harsh reality, and I love it."

She added, "Everybody needs somebody in their life like a truth-teller, and he's very New York about it."

Meanwhile, her mom  who has been cancer-free for a year  is "my #1 fan," Lambert said. Compared to McLoughlin, "My mom is more like a hype girl." Despite her mom and husband's different ways of showing their love, Lambert knows "they're so proud and they were part of every step of the way.

Though he might be blunt, McLoughlin, 32, has also been effusive about his love for his wife. In an Instagram post celebrating Lambert's 40th birthday last November, he gushed about how he's "the lucky one, because 40 has never looked so good."

"I cant tell you how thankful I am to stand beside you for yet another year around the sun," he wrote in the caption. "Don't change for anyone, you have touched so many lives, both human and animal. You bring smiles to every room you walk in. The world is (a) much better place with you in it."

How country star Miranda Lambert fell in love with NYC cop Brendan McLoughlin

Miranda Lambery and Brendan McLoughlin

Lambert and McLoughlin, who's a former New York City police officer, are about to celebrate five years of marriage this month. They met in the fall of 2018 when she and her country music group, Pistol Annies, performed on "Good Morning America."

In an October 2019 interview with The New York Times, Lambert divulged how, exactly, she fell in love with a New York cop.

"I met my husband doing press for the Pistol Annies record, this time last year," Lambert told the outlet. "Our record came out the day after Halloween, and we did 'Good Morning America.' My husband was doing security there for the show."

Something about Mcloughlin caught the attention of the other members of the musical trio, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley.

"My girlfriends, the Annies, saw him and knew I might be ready to hang out with someone," said Lambert. "They invited him to our show behind my back. They plucked him for me."

"My security guy Tom, he was in on it too," she continued. "He said to me, 'Hes here. And hes pretty.'"

Contributing: Erin Jensen, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miranda Lambert says husband Brendan McLoughlin is brutally honest
The four people missing from a St. Louis suburb, who are believed to have ties to an online cult led by a convicted child molester, have gone completely off the grid with two young children in tow, the Missouri police officer leading the investigation said Wednesday.

"They've shut off their phones, shut off their social media, shut off everything," Berkeley Police Maj. Steve Runge told NBC News. "We've even sent them money via a cash app and they haven't collected it. They're just gone."

In a telephone interview, he said, "it's like they don't want to be found."

The six were last seen at a Quality Inn in Florissant, about 18 miles north of downtown St. Louis, Runge said. They stayed there from Aug. 2 to Aug. 6 of last year, he said.

Before that, the group was renting a home in nearby Berkeley.

There have been reports that they were evicted from that home, but, Runge said, "I don't know that to be the case."

What is clear, he said, is that the adults appear to have ties to the cult led by Rashad Jamal, who is serving an 18-year prison sentence in Georgia after he was convicted in August of one count of child molestation and one count of cruelty to children.

The former rapper-turned-online guru operates what he calls the University of Cosmic Intelligence. And in an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, he denied knowing the six missing people.

Jamal also denied being a cult leader even though, in videos posted online that have had more than 200,000 views, he regularly calls himself a god, a prophet or a messiah.

His website claims its mission is to illuminate the minds of Black and Latino people.

The missing six have been identified as Gerielle German, 26, and her 3-year-old son, Ashton Mitchell; Naaman Williams, 29; Mikayla Thompson, 23; MaKayla Wickerson, 25, and her 3-year daughter, Malaiyah.

MaKayla Wickerson, 25, and her 3-year daughter Malaiyah. (via KSDK)

Wickersons mother, Cartisha Morgan, told NBC affiliate KSDK of St. Louis recently that she has not had any contact with her daughter or her granddaughter since August.

Like Williams and Thompson, Wickerson is from the St. Louis area. And Williams, according to business records, appeared to be running a business out of a home in St. Louis called Crystal Clarity that offers "people access to a variety of metaphysical items and life clarity via readings."

Unlike the others, German and her 3-year-old son are from Mississippi and moved to the St. Louis area abruptly last year, her mother, Shelita Gibson, told KSDK.

Before they left, Gibson said, German had started meditating on a blanket outside her house and was quoting Jamal.

She was saying things about high frequency, low frequency and cosmic husbands," Gibson said. "And she was kind of acting a little weird, but I really didnt pay any attention to it at the time."

When German announced that she was leaving for Missouri with her son  and abandoning her 4-year-old daughter, as well as the rest of her family  Gibson said she told her, "You need to rethink this."

But German simply replied, "Well, I'm leaving," her mother recalled.

Jamal, who is originally from Chicago, appears to have followers across the country. And some of them have had serious run-ins with the law.

Earlier this month, Yasmine Hider was hit with a 35-year prison sentence for her role in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Adam Simjee of Apopka, Florida, in the Talladega National Forest in Alabama. She and her accomplice, Krystal Pinkins, had been living off the grid in the forest when they tried to rob Simjee and his girlfriend.

In social media postings seen by NBC News, Hider repeatedly mentioned Jamal.

Pinkins, who received a life sentence for the Simjee killing, was also a follower of Jamal, according to various published reports.
By Leela de Kretser and Victoria Waldersee

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) -Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei praised free markets and slammed socialism at Davos during the first overseas tour for the self-proclaimed 'anarcho-capitalist', who is battling to fix a major economic crisis at home.

The trip marks a test for right-wing Milei, a relative political newcomer who took office last month after a rapid ascent from acid-tongued economist and TV pundit to the presidency. He is keen to win backing for his economic ideas, which include shutting the central bank and adopting the dollar.

"Socialism is a phenomenon that creates poverty," he said in a special address to a large and well-heeled crowd at the World Economic Forum, where he is later set to meet with International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva.

"Free enterprise capitalism is the only tool we have to end hunger and poverty," he added.

Milei, who is battling to bring down inflation that topped 200% last year and rebuild depleted Argentina's foreign currency reserves, shot to power last year on the back of voter anger at the worsening economic crisis, often campaigning with a chainsaw to underscore his plans to slash the size of the state.

He is pushing major economic reforms, including spending cuts and deregulation, in a bid to improve the government's finances and boost the economy. But he faces poverty levels which are climbing above 40% and the threat of social unrest.

Ahead of the speech, Milei met British foreign minister David Cameron and was set for a head-to-head with IMF chief Georgieva, after Argentina struck a staff level agreement last week to salvage its $44 billion loan program with the fund.

"We talked about deepening commercial ties, the support they will give us in the IMF and how to promote British investments in Argentina," Milei said after his meeting with Cameron, according to a readout shared by his office.

Argentina and Britain have a longstanding foreign policy conflict over the sovereignty of the British-run Falkland Islands, where they fought a brief war in 1982. Argentina's government said the topic was raised, without adding details.

Buenos Aires has long sought to restore negotiations over the sovereignty of the Falklands, which Argentina calls Las Malvinas, but Britain has said that was not on the table for as long as the islands' inhabitants wanted to remain British.

En route to Switzerland by commercial jet, Milei had said he was attending the WEF in order to "plant the idea of freedom in a forum contaminated by the 2030 socialist agenda".

During his speech, Milei focused on the role of the state across a wide range of activities, which he said amounted to levers of control rather than allowing citizens the freedom to prosper through their own efforts.

Milei's foreign minister Diana Mondino will also meet Cameron, as well as the foreign ministers of the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Lithuania and the Swiss secretary for economic affairs, according to her agenda.

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee and Leela de Kretser in Davos; Writing by Adam Jourdan in Buenos Aires; Editing by Alex Richardson and Alexander Smith)
HONG KONG  Chinas population declined last year for the second year in a row, officials said Wednesday, spurred by record-low births and a wave of Covid-19 deaths that have deepened demographic worries in the worlds second-largest economy.

The total population of mainland China was 1.409 billion at the end of last year, the National Statistics Bureau said, down more than 2 million from 2022. That compares with a decline of 850,000 from 2021 to 2022, Chinas first population decline in six decades.

There were around 9 million newborns last year  a birthrate of 6.39 per thousand  more than half a million fewer than the previous year and the lowest since the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949.

It was the second year in a row that China recorded fewer than 10 million births, with young people citing a lack of work-life balance, the high cost of living and the persistence of traditional gender roles as reasons for their reluctance to have families.

Officials said there were more than 11 million deaths, the most since 1974, when China was in the throes of the Cultural Revolution. A U.S. study found last year that China had almost 2 million excess deaths in early 2023 after officials abruptly lifted three years of zero-Covid restrictions, unleashing the coronavirus on a population that had barely been exposed to it.

The population decline was within expectation given the expected effects of Covid, Su Yue, principal economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit in Shanghai, told NBC News. A rebound in newborns is expected in 2024, she added.

Roughly a third of the children born in 2023 were conceived in 2022, when many were not able to reunite with their families due to the policies during the pandemic, she said. All of this actually happened in 2022, but the impact was reflected in 2023.

Chinas declining and aging population  last year it was overtaken by India as the worlds most populous country  has raised questions about whether it can overtake the U.S. as the worlds largest economy.

Officials said Wednesday the economy grew 5.2% last year, in line with the governments goal for the year but below the growth rate before the pandemic.

The situation of the national economy is picking up and improving, Kang Yi, the director of the National Bureau of Statistics, said at a news conference in Beijing, adding that economic development will continue to face challenges amid the growing complexity and uncertainty of the global environment.

Raising the birthrate has been a top priority for the government, which in recent years has eased strict family planning policies that restricted most couples to only one child from the late 1970s until 2015 to prevent the population from growing too quickly. Couples are now allowed to have up to three children.

President Xi Jinping said last year that China needed to actively cultivate a new culture of marriage and childbearing and that women had a critical role to play in establishing a new trend of family.

Local governments have responded by introducing tax breaks, child care subsidies and other incentives to have children, in some cases even making it easier for women to have children without being married, long a cultural taboo. In the central city of Wuhan, a statue of a family of three was altered late last year to add two more children, state media reported.

Children play at a kindergarten in Fuyang City, China (CFOTO / Future Publishing via Getty Images file)

The response from the public has been less than enthusiastic. According to the statistics bureau, the number of newborns peaked in 2016 at 17.86 million and has declined every year since then. Marriage rates are also at a historic low.

Young Chinese cite the stress of life as one of the main reasons they are hesitant to have children, many of them having grown up as only children who are now solely responsible for their aging parents.

Why do we have to give birth to babies? read a comment this month on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. In the face of so much stress, we still need to take care of the elderly and babies. But without babies, the pressure would be halved.

They also have economic concerns, as the millions of graduates leaving universities each year struggle to find jobs that match their skills.

Chinese officials on Wednesday resumed sharing the unemployment rate for people ages 16 to 24, saying it was 14.9% in December, not including those who are in school. Officials had stopped sharing the data last summer as youth unemployment hit record highs of more than 20%, citing the need to reassess calculation methods.

In Chinese tradition, you start a career and then start a family, said Su, the economist. The youth unemployment rate has an actual impact on the family. It delayed the process of people having children.

Shoppers and pedestrians in Shanghai, China (Qilai Shen / Bloomberg via Getty Images file )

The falling birthrate has deepened experts concerns about Chinas aging population and the labor shortages that could result, with some calling for raising the retirement age to expand the workforce.

In 2023, the proportion of people over 65 in China was 15.4%, official data showed, meeting the United Nations definition of an aged society. (In the U.S., that figure was about 17.3% in 2022.)

On Monday, Chinas State Council announced plans to strengthen the countrys silver economy, encouraging both state-owned and private companies to develop goods and services tailored to the needs of older people so they can enjoy a happy old age.

The silver economy makes up about 7 trillion yuan ($980 billion) of Chinas gross domestic product, or 6%, and by 2035 it could grow to 30 trillion yuan ($4.2 trillion), or about 10%, according to state media.

Some social media commenters welcomed Chinas shrinking size.

Without so many people in the country, the competition will be less and less fierce, a Weibo user wrote Wednesday after the release of the data. It is a good thing for our everyday people.
LONDON (AP)  Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Ireland on Tuesday for talks with the Irish leader on China's relations with the European Union and other global and bilateral issues.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will host a lunch and bilateral meeting with Li on Wednesday at Ireland's state guest house in Dublin.

China is a very important political and economic power in the world and becoming bigger all the time in that sense. So its important that we have good relations with China but also some questions we will need to talk about as well, Varadkar said ahead of the visit. He didn't elaborate on what questions he was referencing.

Li, a close confidant of Chinese President Xi Jinping, was appointed last March as the country's No. 2 leader and top economic official. A former party secretary for Shanghai, he enforced a strict zero-COVID lockdown on Shanghai in 2022.

He made Europe the destination for his first trip abroad last summer, visiting Germany and France, Europe's leading economies, amid increasing concerns over Europe's economic dependence on China and tensions over Beijing's stance on the war in Ukraine.

At the time, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected the idea of decoupling from China and instead called for de-risking  avoiding overreliance on Chinese trade.

That approach was reiterated Tuesday by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said the EU cannot risk depending too heavily on trade with Beijing and needs to aim for a more level playing field and better access to the Chinese market.

This is the first time a senior Chinese leader has visited Ireland since Li's predecessor, Li Keqiang, visited in 2015.

He arrived late Tuesday from the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, where he pitched China as an investment opportunity despite its slowing economy. Li was the first senior Chinese official to attend the annual gathering since Xi took part in 2017.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier that Li's visit to Switzerland and Ireland would kick off the high-level exchanges between China and Europe in 2024.

Bilateral trade between Ireland and China has grown significantly in recent years, with China now Ireland's fourth largest trade partner and fifth largest export market.

Asia Matters, an Irish group focused on promoting business links with Asian countries, said one of the topics that could be on Wednesday's agenda is the resumption of Irish beef exports to China.

The exports were suspended in November after a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, was discovered by Irish veterinary officials.
The Federal Aviation Administration widened its probe into Boeing and will pay special attention to the work of a subcontractor used by the aerospace giant, officials said Wednesday.

Federal investigators want to know more about Spirit AeroSystems, a Wichita, Kansas, aerospace company that makes and installs plug doors for Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes.

An Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing on Jan. 5 when a door plug fell off the fuselage midair after it had left Portland, Oregon.

That incident led the FAA to ground certain Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory during the probe.

"After taking decisive action to ground 171 Boeing 737-9 MAX airplanes, the FAA is now investigating Boeings manufacturing practices and production lines, including those involving subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems, bolstering its oversight of Boeing, and examining potential system change," the FAA said in a statement Wednesday.

Spirit AeroSystems said it is cooperating with investigators.

Spirit is supporting Boeings efforts with the FAA, and the affected airlines, as they inspect the 737-9 fleet and work to safely return those airplanes to service," company spokesperson Joe Buccino said in a statement.

Alaska Airlines has 65 Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes, representing about 20% of its fleet, CEO Ben Minicucci said Wednesday.

The sudden shortage of craft is leading to 110 to 150 cancellations a day.

Minicucci apologized to customers for the ongoing difficulty.

"When you make plans, you put your trust in us, and we havent been able to deliver," he said in a video statement.

But he said Alaska Airlines will not rush any craft back into service.

"We will return these aircrafts to service only when all findings have been fully resolved and meet the stringent standards of Boeing, the FAA and Alaska Airlines," he added.

The FAA expanded its probe just days after it said it would increase oversight of Boeing production and manufacturing.

The FAA said Friday that it would audit Boeings 737 Max 9 production line and its suppliers to evaluate Boeings compliance with its approved quality procedures.

The results of the initial audit will determine whether additional audits are needed, the agency said.

Inspections of the first 40 of the 737 Max 9s have been completed, the FAA said Wednesday.

"The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning these aircraft to service," the agency said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, which had been set to fly from Portland to Ontario International Airport, which is about 40 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

The detached door plug landed in the backyard of an Oregon high school teacher and is now in the hands of investigators.
By Nate Raymond and David Shepardson

(Reuters) -Iowa's attorney general on Wednesday sued TikTok, accusing the video-based social media platform of misleading parents about their children's access to inappropriate content on the company's app.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird in a lawsuit filed in a state court in Polk County accused TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance of lying about the prevalence on its platform of content including drugs, nudity, alcohol and profanity.

"TikTok has kept parents in the dark, Bird, a Republican, said. "Its time we shine a light on TikTok for exposing young children to graphic materials such as sexual content, self-harm, illegal drug use, and worse."

Alleging consumer fraud, Iowa is seeking financial penalties and an order barring ByteDance-owned TikTok from engaging in deceptive and unfair conduct.

TikTok said it "has industry leading safeguards in place for young people, including parental controls and time limits for those under 18. We are committed to tackling industry wide challenges and will continue to prioritize community safety."

It was the latest lawsuit by a U.S. state against TikTok, which along with other social media companies faces pressure from regulators globally to protect children from harmful content.

States including Arkansas and Utah have filed similar cases. A judge in Indiana in November dismissed a lawsuit against TikTok by that state's attorney general. Other states are investigating.

On Jan. 2, Montana said it was appealing a decision by a U.S. judge in November to block Montana's first-of-its kind state ban on use of TikTok.

Montana's ban had been set to take effect Jan. 1 but U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy on Nov. 30 issued a preliminary injunction to block the ban, saying Montana's law "violates the Constitution in more ways than one" and "oversteps state power."

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will be among the social media CEOs testifying on Jan. 31 before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on online child sexual exploitation.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston and DAvid Shepardson in WashingtonEditing by David Gregorio)
A veteran South Carolina defense attorney said Alex Murdaughs quest for a new trial got harder Tuesday when the judge said she will only hear evidence on what jurors heard the clerk of court say and whether it affected their guilty vote.

Jack Swerling, who watched the hearing in court, said, though, the true test will come later this month when Judge Jean Toal questions the jurors.

Swerling said he believed its unlikely Murdaugh will get a new trial unless one of the jurors testifies that Hills comments made them change their vote.

Its not as clear this afternoon as it was this morning, he said Tuesday evening.

Some lawyers in the courtroom Tuesday felt the defense had a slam dunk case until Toal ruled, he said.

Swerling is a longtime defense attorney based in Columbia who has handled more than 200 murder cases and is a former law partner of Dick Harpootlian, one of Murdaughs attorneys.

Harpootlian and co-counsel Jim Griffin sought to have alternates and a dismissed juror testify about what they say Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill said.

Affidavits submitted to the court have alleged Hill told some jurors a guilty verdict would drive up her book sales and warned them to watch Murdaugh on the stand to judge his credibility.

Toal said that is extraneous information. What matters is whether a juror was influenced by what Hill allegedly said. Hill has denied making those statements.

She said Hill is not on trial. The hearing on Jan. 29 should remain focused on whether Murdaugh got a fair trial.

Hill will also be questioned by Toal.

Swerling said hes known Toal since he was a first-year law student at the University of South Carolina in the 1970s.

Toal practiced law for 20 years before being elected to the South Carolina Supreme Court in 1988, the first woman to serve on the court.

She was also the first female chief justice, serving a 10-year term from 2004-2013 and portions of two other terms beginning in 2000 and 2014. She retired in 2015 from full-time judicial service.

Swerling said he has appeared before her while she was a full-time judge and has tried cases with her.

Swerling said she is highly effective as an interrogator and will dig for the truth.

She is going to pepper you with questions, Swerling said.

She does her homework and will keep control of the proceedings.

He said he believes her decision to limit the scope of the hearing took both the defense and the prosecution by surprise.

Her decision took some of the wind out of the defenses sails, he said.

Murdaugh was convicted last March of murder in the deaths of his wife Maggie and son Paul at their Islandton estate in June 2021. He was sentenced to two life terms. In addition, he pleaded guilty in federal and state courts to stealing millions from clients and his law firm.

A scion of a legal dynasty in the Lowcountry, Murdaugh lost his law license as his crimes unraveled after his wife and son were killed  Maggie with an assault rifle and Paul with a shotgun blast at close range.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung returned to work Wednesday, 15 days after he was stabbed in a knife attack and underwent surgery.

"It feels new coming to the National Assembly and meeting the press," Lee, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said to reporters upon his arrival at the National Assembly.

"I think what I have experienced is trivial compared with the pain people around the world experience from real hardships," he said.

He also thanked all who helped his recovery and vowed to fulfill his responsibilities as party leader.

"I will do my best to fulfill the responsibilities given to me. I was able to come back to work thanks to so many people. Thank you," he said.

As his first official schedule, Lee presided over a Supreme Council meeting.

During the meeting, Lee underscored the party's commitment to passing judgment on the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol in the April elections.

"This election will be a mid-term evaluation of the administration, as well as a judgment against power," Lee said. "The Democratic Party of Korea will do our best to bring (the government) to account. Although they try to kill (us) with the law, or a pen and even a knife, we will never die."

Lee was stabbed in the neck by a man in his 60s posing as an autograph-seeker during his visit to the southeastern port city of Busan on Jan. 2. He was airlifted to Seoul and underwent surgery for a laceration to a major vein in his neck.

The assailant told police he stabbed Lee to prevent him from becoming president. (Yonhap)
BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand is set to delay the launch of a controversial $14.3-billion "digital wallet" handout scheme until after May, in a setback for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who has been touting the policy as essential in boosting a sluggish economy.

"Today, looking at the timeframe, it's unlikely for May," Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said on Wednesday, without specifying a new timeline.

While the government insists it will move ahead with the project, Julapun said there was no back-up plan if the scheme could not be implemented.

The programme, originally slated for February and delayed to May, has been hounded by concerns over how it will be funded, with some experts calling it fiscally irresponsible.

The government has insisted the scheme, which would transfer 10,000 baht (around $285) each to 50 million Thais via a mobile app to spend in their local communities, would be managed carefully through cascaded borrowing.

It was also greenlit by an independent panel that provides legal guidance to governments, that said the scheme should only be rolled out in an economic crisis.

The latest delay comes as the government and central bank trade barbs over how to revive Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy, which has been lagging regional peers.

Earlier this week, amid calls from Srettha and his government to lower borrowing costs, the Bank of Thailand said adjusting interest rates could not be a "quick fix" for an economy that is weighed down by external factors like weak demand for its exports.

The government wants to boost economic growth to an average of 5% over four years, as Thailand trails regional peers with growth forecast at 2.4% last year, short of the 2022 figure.

The digital wallet was a key election campaign policy of the ruling Pheu Thai party. It is core among a raft of stimulus measures that Srettha's government has promised, including debt suspension for farmers and a minimum wage hike.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Orathai Sriring; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Michael Perry)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The United States, South Korea and Japan conducted perhaps their biggest-ever combined naval exercises in a show of strength against nuclear-armed North Korea, South Koreas military said Wednesday. The three allies senior diplomats were to meet in Seoul to discuss the worsening standoff with Pyongyang.

The training in waters off South Koreas Jeju island, which involved an American aircraft carrier, was aimed at sharpening the countries combined deterrence and response capabilities against North Korean nuclear, missile and underwater threats, and also training for preventing illicit maritime transports of weapons of mass destruction, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It didnt specify whether the training reflected concerns about North Koreas alleged arms transfers to Russia to help that countrys war in Ukraine.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been on a provocative run of weapons testing and threats that raised regional tensions to their highest point in years.

On Monday at Pyongyangs rubber-stamp parliament, Kim declared that North Korea would abandon its long-standing commitment to a peaceful unification with South Korea and ordered a rewriting of Norths constitution to eliminate the idea of a shared statehood between the war-divided countries. He said South Koreans were top-class stooges of America who were obsessed with confrontation, and repeated a threat that the North would annihilate the South with its nukes if provoked.

Kims speech came a day after the North conducted its first ballistic test of 2024, which state media described as a new solid-fuel, intermediate-range missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead, reflecting its push to advance its lineup of weapons targeting U.S. military bases in Guam and Japan.

In response to the Norths heightened testing activity, the United States and its Asian allies have been expanding their combined military exercises. Kim condemns the demonstrations as invasion rehearsals, and the drills increasingly feature major U.S. military assets, including aircraft carriers, long-range bombers and nuclear-capable submarines.

Kim has also been strengthening his regional footing by boosting the visibility of his ties with Russia and China  two neighbors that are also locked on confrontations with the United States  as he attempts to break out of isolation and join a united front against Washington.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui traveled to Moscow, where she met Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on improving bilateral relations amid growing international concern about alleged arms cooperation between the countries.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the trilateral naval drills  a three-day program that concluded Wednesday  involved nine warships, including U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and Aegis destroyers from South Korea and Japan. The drills usually involve around five vessels. South Koreas military did not immediately confirm media assessments that the exercise was countries largest trilateral naval drill.

In Seoul, South Korean nuclear envoy Kim Gunn met Wednesday with Japanese counterpart Hiroyuki Namazu ahead of a trilateral meeting planned for Thursday with U.S. President Joe Bidens deputy special representative for North Korea, Jung Pak, to coordinate their response to the North. Kim and Namazu discussed the North Korean leaders latest comments toward the South and the Norths recent military actions, including Sundays missile test and its recent artillery firings near a disputed sea boundary with the South, Seouls Foreign Ministry said.

The two sides regretted North Koreas aggressive rhetoric that misrepresents the cause of rising regional tensions and threatens war, and agreed that such actions will only strengthen trilateral security cooperation with Washington, the South Korean ministry said in a statement.

The envoys also discussed Choes visit to Russia and vowed to coordinate a stern and unified international response to any illicit military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, the ministry said, including the alleged transfers of North Korean missiles to Russia.

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. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusation.

While expanding his countrys military cooperation with Washington and Tokyo, conservative South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has also been seeking stronger reassurances from Washington that it would swiftly and decisively use its nuclear capabilities to defend its ally in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack.
By Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's chief executive voiced confidence on Wednesday that all 27 member states will agree to jointly extend more financial aid to Ukraine.

Hungary has resisted agreement on an aid package, raising the possibility of the other 26 countries giving funds to Ukraine under separate bilateral deals with Kyiv.

But Ursula von der Leyen, who heads the executive European Commission, told EU lawmakers: "I am confident that we will find a solution by 27."

EU leaders last month agreed to start accession talks with Ukraine but Hungary vetoed granting 50 billion euros($54 bln) in aid for Kyiv through 2027.

The bloc's 27 national leaders will meet again in Brussels on Feb.1 to try to agree on providing more financial assistance to Kyiv, which relies heavily on Western support to defend itself against Russian forces who invaded almost two years ago.

The European Commission proposed extending the support through a review of the EU's shared budget, which would also provide more financing for migration and other priorities.

But Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has refused to channel the aid through the joint budget run by the Commission, leaving the other 26 countries considering proceeding without Budapest.

The prospect of 26 countries giving aid to Ukraine under separate bilateral deals with Kyiv is one alternative that is under discussion. That is seen as more complicated and expensive than going via the EU budget, as well as damaging the bloc's unity. ($1 = 0.9194 euros)

(Additional reporting by Tassilo Hummel and Bart Meijer, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
A Rhode Island woman has sued Panera Bread, alleging the restaurant chains highly caffeinated lemonade caused her to have permanent cardiac injuries.

Lauren Skerritt, 28, an occupational therapist, had been an athlete with no underlying health conditions who regularly competed in obstacle course races, according to the suit, which was first reported by NBC News. She now requires daily medication and has heart problems that have reduced her ability to work, exercise and socialize, says the complaint, which was filed Tuesday afternoon.

Lauren Skerritt (Courtesy Elizabeth Crawford)

The complaint says that Skerritt drank 2 Charged Lemonade drinks from a Panera cafe in Greenville, Rhode Island, on April 8 and then experienced palpitations.

The next day, it says, Skerritt went to the emergency room, where tests showed that she had atrial fibrillation  an irregular heartbeat that can lead to a stroke, heart complications or other serious health problems.

Skerritt has since had recurrent episodes of rapid heartbeat that occur suddenly and without pattern, says the suit, which was filed in Delaware, where Panera is incorporated.

Lauren continues to experience supraventricular tachycardia with associated shortness of breath, palpitations, brain fog, difficulty thinking and concentrating, body shakes, and weakness, the suit says, noting that Skerritt and her husband have put plans to start a family on hold because she will have a high-risk pregnancy and may have complications during the pregnancy. Skerritts husband, Christopher Skerritt, is also a plaintiff.

Its at least the third lawsuit in recent months against Panera over its Charged Lemonade. The previous two  which were filed in October and December, months after Skerritt drank the beverage  blamed the lemonade for the deaths of an Ivy League student with a heart condition and a man in Florida who had a chromosomal deficiency disorder.

Panera did not immediately comment on Tuesdays lawsuit. It has previously expressed sympathy for the families in the two other lawsuits; following the second one, it said in a statement that it felt the customer's unfortunate passing was not caused by one of the companys products and that it stands by the safety of the items on its menu.

'Everything in her life has been altered'

Panera has advertised its Charged Lemonade as Plant-based and Clean with as much caffeine as our Dark Roast coffee. But at 390 milligrams, a large, 30-fluid-ounce Charged Lemonade has more caffeine in total than any size of Paneras dark roast coffee, the legal complaints say, referring to the amount that is in the drink with no ice. A large cup of Charged Lemonade contains more than the caffeine content of standard cans of Red Bull and Monster energy drinks combined, plus the equivalent of almost 30 teaspoons of sugar, according to the complaints.

The Food and Drug Administration says healthy adults can generally safely consume 400 milligrams of caffeine a day.

Elizabeth Crawford, a partner at the Philadelphia-based law firm Kline & Specter PC, is representing the relatives of the two people who died, as well as Skerritt. She said Skerritt had a healthy and active lifestyle and chose the Charged Lemonade because of how Panera advertised it. It was her first time trying the drink.

You put an innocuous product like lemonade in an innocuous bakery-cafe like Panera, what reasonable consumer is going to be thinking that theyre drinking, essentially, three Red Bulls? she said.

Skerritt has been profoundly changed by the health issues she developed, Crawford said.

Everything in her life has been altered because of this situation, she said. Its devastating. She has to adjust to a new normal.

Tuesdays lawsuit calls the Charged Lemonade a dangerous drink that is defective in its design. It includes medical notes from Skerritts visit to the emergency room in April, in which a nurse wrote that she had consumed more caffeine than normal the day before.

The other lawsuits Crawford filed were on behalf of the family of Sarah Katz, 21, a University of Pennsylvania student with a heart condition called long QT syndrome type 1, who avoided energy drinks at the recommendation of her doctors; and Dennis Brown, 46, of Fleming Island, Florida, who did not consume energy drinks because he had high blood pressure.

Panera moved to dismiss the lawsuit that was filed on behalf of the Katz family, but a judge denied the request last month.

After that lawsuit, which was reported first by NBC News, Panera put more detailed disclosures in all of its restaurants and on its website warning customers to consume the Charged Lemonade in moderation, stating that it is not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine or pregnant or nursing women.

At the time of Katzs and Browns deaths, and when Skerritt consumed the beverage, the Charged Lemonade had been available in Panera cafes self-serve section alongside other beverages that had no caffeine or less caffeine, Crawford said.

Since the suits were filed, Panera has moved the Charged Lemonade to behind the counter, Crawford said. But she feels the drink should be taken off the menu entirely.

The fact that they still have it on the shelf  I find that to be reckless, she said. How many more lawsuits do I need to file, both injury and people that have died, before they do the right thing?
Illustration by Ramon Padilla/USA TODAY

Editor's note: This report was published on Jan. 1. In early January, data was released further confirming that 2023 was Earth's hottest year on record.

It's a moment scientists have warned about for months: Earth has just ended its warmest year since people began keeping records, and scientists say it may have been the warmest in 125,000 years.

Even though the December data isn't yet official, the results were already "locked in" by mid-December, Gavin Schmidt, a scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, told USA TODAY.

Given the six consecutive months of extremely warm temperatures, it was virtually impossible for December to be cold enough to alter the final results.

"We are already beyond the point that any normal process would be able to keep 2023 from being the hottest year," Robert Rohde of Berkeley Earth, said in mid-December.

Official reports from organizations such as the Copernicus Climate Change Service in Europe, and U.S. agencies such as NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are set to make their "warmest year on record" announcements over the next couple of weeks.

What's especially concerning, experts say, is that "the rate of warming over the past century has no precedent as far back as we are able to look, not only hundreds or thousands, but many millions of years," according to University of Pennsylvania meteorologist Michael Mann's book "Our Fragile Moment."

"We are engaged in an unprecedented experiment with our planet," Mann told USA TODAY. "There is still time to prevent devastating climate consequences, but the window of opportunity is shrinking."

2023 set to be the hottest year on record

Each year since 2014 stands among the top 10 warmest years since people began keeping track, based on increases in global average temperatures above the previous century, according to NASA and NOAA. The year 2016, which included the influence of a strong El Nino, was the warmest year on record. Then 2020 matched it.

Once a series of marine heat waves and another developing El Nino began influencing Earth's temperatures in 2023, it became increasingly clear to the world's scientists that the year was likely to see the biggest increases in average temperatures compared to last century.

By November, NOAA reported the January-November global surface temperature was 2.07 degrees Fahrenheit above the 1901-2000 average of 57.2 degrees, blowing past the 2016 average for the same period by more than a tenth of a degree.

The only question remaining is how much warmer 2023 will wind up being when the world's agencies complete their final analyses over the next two weeks.

Experts on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and at institutions around the world have warned the long-term global average temperature increase should be kept below 1.5 - 2.0 degrees Celsius to avoid catastrophic consequences, such as higher sea levels and an even greater number of intense heat waves that claim lives, devastate crops, kill wildlife and drive warmer temperatures.

Most records are measured in 'temperature anomalies.' What's that?

Calculating the global average temperature and how it's changing over time is challenging and complex. To do it with confidence, climate scientists use a combination of strategies to estimate the change.

For example, they use weather stations and ocean temperature readings and track how much warmer or colder those temperatures are compared to a set reference period in the past, Schmidt said. The resulting anomalies are then averaged over the globe.

In a second method, satellite data that is close to surface air temperature is averaged together, then adjusted for gaps in resolution or data. The anomalies also are the most robust way to look at this data, he said. A third method reanalyzes by plugging satellite and other data into a weather model that calculates an average.

The best analyses use all three methods to examine the data, Schmidt said.

Global temperatures keep trending upwards. What next?

A host of international scientists have warned in one report after another that they expect global temperatures to continue on an upward trend. They say a combination of heat-trapping fossil fuel emissions (such as carbon dioxide), natural cycles and human development will fuel the trend.

Reports from the intergovernmental panel and others say the temperature increases can be reversed, but not without more significant effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the levels of harmful gasses in the atmosphere.

Until then, scientists say more years will look like 2023.

And 2024 could be even warmer. Many climate scientists expect a strong El Nino to fuel an even hotter year globally, perhaps temporarily hitting the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold even more often.

"We expect two new temperature record-breaking years in succession," stated Nick Dunstone, with the Met Office, the national meteorological service for the United Kingdom.

The World Meteorological Organization estimates the five-year period 2023-2027 will almost certainly be the warmest five-year period ever recorded.

Month after month in 2023 broke records

Since June, every month has comfortably set an all-time temperature record and Earth has seen 547 consecutive months with temperatures above the 20th century average.

In May, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reached a record high, the fourth-largest annual increase on record.

Among the other milestones:

During Earths single hottest month on record (July 2023), 81% of people on the planet experienced heat made more likely by human-caused climate change, according to Climate Central.

Heat waves driven by climate change affected parts of Europe, China, the U.S., northern Africa, South America, South Asia, and Madagascar.

In the U.S., through November, four states on the southern coast had sweltered through their warmest year on record: Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

The planet hit a global average temperature of 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures on Nov. 17.

Air temperatures were hot in 2023. Water temps were even hotter.

Daily air temperatures 6.5 feet (2 meters) above the surface by years since 1979:

Ocean temperatures set new record highs for months in a row, causing widespread coral bleaching in the Florida Keys. At one point in July, the temperature of the ocean in the Keys surpassed 100 degrees, which may have been a world record.

Daily sea-surface temperatures by year since 1982:

Climate scientists say the world's oceans are hotter because they've absorbed the majority of the excess warming caused by an increase in greenhouse gas emissions over decades. Additionally this year, ocean heat was fueled in part by the June return of El Nino, a pattern of warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures along the equator in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which affects weather around the world.

Scientists also are studying whether the warming was driven in part by the effects of shipping regulations that reduced the sulfur in shipping fuels and the temporary massive shot of water vapor to the Earth's stratosphere from the eruption of the Hunga Tonga - Hunga Ha'apai volcano in January 2022.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2023 was Earth's hottest year, experts say. Charts show what happened.
CHARLESTOWN, Mass.  It took Hisham Awartani some time to realize he'd been shot after falling to the ground during a walk near his grandmother's house with two friends, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad.

"I didnt quite process the fact until I, like, looked at my phone and I saw my phone had blood on it," said Awartani, who along with Abdalhamid, spoke exclusively with NBC News about that night. "I was like, 'Oh, Ive been shot.'"

But having grown up in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinians often face violence and aggression, it came as no surprise to the 20-year-old U.S. students that something like this would happen to them.

Read more on this story at NBCNews.com and watch NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT.

"Its odd because it happened in Burlington, Vermont. Its not odd because it happened, full stop," Awartani said about the Nov. 25 shooting. "In the West Bank growing up, its just something thats normal. Like, so many unarmed young men getting shot by the Israeli army, and theyre just left to bleed out."

"Therefore, when it happened to me, it was like, 'Oh, this is where it happens. This is it,'" he said.

The friends, who have described themselves as family, sat down with NBC News in a conference room at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown, Massachusetts, where Awartani is receiving treatment. Awartani sat in his wheelchair. Abdalhamid next to him in a chair.

Kinnan Abdalhamid and Hisham Awartani (Tony Luong for NBC News)

A walk around the block ends in tragedy

Awartani, Abdalhamid and Ahmad had just come back to Awartani's grandmother's house from a bowling alley when they decided to take a walk around the block. The three friends were in Burlington to celebrate Thanksgiving at the house of Awartani's grandmother.

This was a walk the three almost lifelong friends had done more than once. Just the day before the shooting, they'd walked on the same path along the street that Awartani's grandmother's house is on. Abdalhamid was wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, a scarf that has become a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.

But on Nov. 25, as they walked they saw a man standing across the road come down the porch of a home, pull out a pistol and shoot them. Awartani and Abdalhamid believe the man may have seen them before and was possibly waiting for them that day.

"I dont know why hed have a loaded pistol and stand on the porch," Abdalhamid said.

Awartani and Ahmad were wearing keffiyehs when they were shot, and all three of them were speaking Arabic with occasional English words woven in.

The man pointed the pistol at Ahmad first, then Awartani, Abdalhamid said.

"Tahseen was screaming. He was shot first," Abdalhamid said. "Hisham didnt make a sound. As soon as Tahseen started screaming, I was running."

Jason Eaton, 48, was arrested two days later in connection with the shooting. He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of second-degree attempted murder. Police have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting, saying the investigation is ongoing.

The agencies handling the investigation  the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and police  have not responded to NBC News' requests for an update.

There's not a doubt in Abdalhamid and Awartani's minds that all three of them were shot because they are Palestinian, they said. They believe what happened to them was a hate crime.

"I dont think too much about if theres gonna be hate crime charges," Awartani said. "I just care that, like, justice is served. And to me, that is a part of it. But I know that it is a hate crime."

The house where Eaton was staying when he allegedly shot three Palestinian college students. (Hasan Jamali / AP)

The shooting is part of a 'larger systematic issue'

Abdalhamid warns against pinning the climate of hate on one person.

"I think theres been a lot of attempts for us to fully only demonize the guy, but we realize this is part of a larger systematic issue," he said.

A missile explodes in Gaza City (Mahmud Hams / AFP via Getty Images)

"But the truth is, hes a symptom of a larger issue. And the root cause is, again, like I said, systematic dehumanization."

Abdalhamid said it's this systematic dehumanization of Palestinians that bred the environment of hate, which he alleges is the reason Eaton shot them.

"Its something that, you know, has always been the case, like, in, Western discourse through the media. Like, the Palestinian is assumed by default to be terrorist," Awartani said. "And when he saw us, it was like  he just connected the dots."

Abdalhamid and Awartani have some hope that things in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank will get better.

"As Palestinians, were hopeful, but were not optimistic. Because, I mean, theres never been room for optimism for us because its just been the same as it was all this time," Awartani said.

Hisham Awartani (Tony Luong for NBC News)

'Its one drop in the ocean of whats going on in Palestine'

Abdalhamid and Awartani said they don't think about what happened to them that day.

Instead, they think about those who are suffering in Gaza and the West Bank. More than 24,000 people have been killed in Gaza, including more than 10,000 children, in 100 days of Israeli strikes, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The strikes, which have left more than 60,000 injured, began after 1,200 people were killed and about 240 hostages were seized by Hamas in a multipronged attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Awartani says that what happened to them is "one drop in the ocean of whats going on in Palestine."

"Whats going on in Palestine, its still going on," he said. "And, like, thats more on my mind right now, how there are still people  like, theyre starving to death. There are still people who are being maimed. There are still people who are  like, you know, dont have access to clean water. There are still people who are, like, being shot at protests. So that, to me, is far more relevant than what happened to me."

The shooter left a bullet lodged in Awartani's spine, which resulted in paralysis from the chest down. While he has a long road to recovery ahead and his family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with the staggering cost, he's grateful that he has access to the care he needs.

"I take solace in the fact that Im able to receive this care, and Im able to receive this physical therapy, and Im able to, you know, go to a good hospital," he said. "When, like, it makes me think of, like, other people in Gaza that are, like  who are in wheelchairs, and who, you know, have been disabled by bombings."

When it comes to the bullet still lodged in his spine, Awartani says it may present some new challenges.

"Well, I havent been through TSA yet, but I think thats gonna make it a lot harder," he joked.

Tom Llamas reported from Charlestown, Mirna Alsharif reported from New York City.
Sofia Vergara isnt saying no to a future Modern Family reunion  joking that they need to act fast.

On the Tuesday, January 16, episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Vergara addressed Jimmy Fallons hopes for a future reunion. We dont have much time, since Ed [ONeill] is old, Vergara, 51, joked.

In reality, Vergara doesnt think they need a reunion just yet as the show ended in 2020. No, its only been four years, she told Fallon, 49. The late-night host quipped about how much time there needs to be before a reboot could happen. I dont know but it doesnt seem right. Vergara continued. I feel like we need a little more time.

A Modern Family reunion was on the top of Fallons mind because Vergara threw a party with the cast sans Ty Burrell, who couldnt make it, in November 2023. We didnt see each other for almost four years until I did this thing, Vergara shared, noting that the casts plans to keep in touch were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ariel Winter Modern Family Cast Then Now From 2009 2020

From the beginning, fans fell in love with the cast of Modern Family  but they sure have changed over the past 13 years. When the series debuted, many of the cast members were so young that they ultimately grew up on screen. Theres definitely one season for me when I hit puberty right when []

That doesnt mean they havent been in touch, however. Vergara mentions the cast is always on chats  but one cast member isnt the best at texting back. The only one who is not very good because hes very old is Ed ONeill. Hes not good with them, she says. We joke about something or we say something and he reacts like 26 weeks later. And then nobody knows what hes talking about.

Dan MacMedan/WireImage

ONeill, 77, recently had a Modern Family reunion of his own when he appeared on Jesse Tyler Fergusons podcast Dinners On Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson on Tuesday. Ferguson, 48, shared via Instagram that ONeill was at the top of his list because of all the amazing stories from his lengthy career.

I had friends whose fathers were in organized crime, ONeill told Ferguson on the show. His dear friend Jim took him for a ride where they went to a fancy bar and Jim had a conversation with the bartender about if he had seen an old friend of Jims. We left and [Jim] said, You can do this kind of stuff for me  Ill protect you, ONeill recalled. Ill give you easy stuff. Just you collect here. You do that. You run, you drop something off here and there. You may have to lean on a guy, but youre good at that. You can make some good money.

Modern-Family-ending

The end has arrived. On Friday, February 21, the cast of Modern Family filmed their final episode and wrapped the series after 11 seasons. The sitcom, which launched on ABC in 2009, has an all-star cast who quickly became a family: Sofia Vergara (Gloria Delgado-Pritchett), Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker), Ed ONeill (Jay Pritchett), Sarah Hyland []

ONeill thought about Jims proposition but ended up heading to New York to give acting a shot.

Funnily enough, his story has great timing for Vergaras latest project which shes been doing press for. Shes starring in Netflixs Griselda, out on January 25. She stars as the titular Griselda, a Colombian drug lord working in 1980s Miami and was known as the Godmother of Cocaine.
This Southeast Asian staple is having a moment in the sun.

bonchan / Getty Images

Suddenly it seems there's no escaping ube. Native to the Philippines, this unique tuber, also known as purple yam, violet yam, or water yam, is on the fast track to ubiquity, popping up on Instagram feeds, going viral on TikTok, headlining dessert and ice cream menus, crowding the frozen food fridges at grocery chains, and even garnering recognition as the flavor of the year, according to some food and beverage trend reports. Needless to say, much of this root vegetable's burgeoning popularity has to do with its vivid violet hue.

We reached out to Filipino food experts to learn more about ube and its newfound currency. It turns out that not every ube creation you see is the result of nature itselfand some may even be the product of an entirely different vegetable.







Meet Our Expert

Amy Besa, co-owner of Purple Yam restaurant in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Purple Yam Malate, a bakery in Manila, Philippines.

Romy Dorotan, chef and co-owner of Purple Yam restaurant in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Candice Mallari, catering event manager at Coney Island Creamery in San Dimas, Calif.







Related: Yes, There Is a Difference Between Yams and Sweet PotatoesHere's How to Tell Your Tubers Apart

What Is Ube?

Grown in Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, ube (Dioscorea alata) is a perennial twining vine that thrives in tropical weather, producing tubers rich in anthocyanins, the antioxidant that lends fruits and vegetables their red, blue, and purple colorations.

This root vegetable varies dramatically in color, size, shape, and even taste, depending on the climate and soil in which it is grown. Ube can be large and knobby, growing as big as a boulder, with hairy skin, says Amy Besa, who co-owns the Filipino restaurant Purple Yam in Brooklyn, N.Y. with her husband, Chef Romy Dorotan.

Given its purple presence on social media, it seems logical to assume that the ube's flesh is always brilliant violet, but that's hardly the case. "There are so many varieties, even white purple yams, and they all have different flavors," says Besa.

Ube Imposters

Ube has a doppelganger, of sorts. Many of the photogenic tubers making a splash in the virtual world may actually be purple sweet potatoes masquerading as ube, says Besa. Some ube products are natural, but many are made with artificial flavorings and colorings. Ube powder, made with dehydrated, ground ube and ube extract, can also impart that heavenly hue.

Given the recent spate of interest in the vegetable, there's pressure to make it appear purple, says Besa. "The reason it's so popular is the novelty of the color," she says. What's more, ube is not very accessible. "It's very hard to get ube in the U.S. Even in the Philippines, it's difficult to get good ones," says Besa, adding that most Filipinos probably don't know what the tuber looks like.

Potatoes vs. Yams

Purple sweet potatoes, which are long and elongated, are not botanically related to purple yams, and as their name indicates, are much sweeter, too. If you were to cut a cross-section of each, the difference would be striking: The purple yam is layered with white, lavender, or purple streaks, some very light, while the sweet potato is circular, more solid, says Besa. The texture is also different. "The sweet potato is smooth, more compact, while the ube is rougher," says Dorotan.

How Ube Is Used

This prized ingredient typically turns up in sweet treats. Ube has been beloved in its homeland for generations, and despite being a vegetable, is rarely incorporated into savory recipes. "Ube is traditionally used in Filipino desserts like halo-halo (shaved ice), various kakanin (rice cakes), ube halaya (jam), and ice cream," says Candice Mallari, catering event manager of Coney Island Creamery, a women- and family-owned artisanal ice cream manufacturer that specializes in tropical and Southeast Asian flavors, including ube, macapuno ( a coconut cultivar), and langka (jackfruit). According to Mallari, ube lends a natural sweetness to the frozen treats, and it's creamier than the company's other ice cream flavors.

Dorotan makes his own ube jam (also spelled haleya) with coconut milk and sugar, and uses it to make ice cream and desserts, such as young coconut pie, spreading a layer of jam, then adding the coconut on top.

Taste Sensation

Ube's flavor is not only nuanced, but transporting, says Mallari. "Ube's taste is often described as having an earthy, nutty flavor, with notes of coconut, and many compare it to vanilla," says Mallari. "But for us, the flavor of ube is one that brings us back home to the Philippines and carries memories from all the times we've spent eating it."

In some instances, those ube taste descriptions may have more to do with other ingredients than the ube itself, says Besa. "When people say ube tastes like vanilla or coconut, it's because of what's added," she says. Mallari regards it as something of a flavor booster. "We've found that ube is a very complementary ingredient in that it enhances other flavors when paired," she says.

Where to Buy Ube

Though ube is seemingly everywhere, the fresh tuber is rarely found stateside. "Ube is not typically sold at your local grocery store, but can be found at Filipino grocery stores in a frozen grated form, and occasionally, the tuber itself, says Mallari.

The ube-curious may have better luck locating ube jam, sold at Asian specialty stores and online, or, better yet, exploring ube concoctions at Filipino eateries.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart.


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A man accused of embezzling billions of won while working at the state-run National Health Insurance Service was extradited from the Philippines on Wednesday.

The man, identified only by surname Choi, 46, arrived at Incheon International Airport around 5 a.m. and was immediately transferred to the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency in the city of Chuncheon for investigation.

Choi allegedly wired a total of 4.6 billion won ($3.4 million) in company funds to his account on seven occasions since April 2022 and fled to the Philippines. The embezzled money was concealed after conversion into cryptocurrency, officials said.

Police launched an investigation after the health insurance firm filed a complaint in September 2022. After one year and four months of tracking, police located Choi at a luxurious resort in Manila and arrested him on Jan. 9.

"I am sorry to the company and to the people," Choi told reporters at the airport when asked if he had anything to say to the company. Choi said he acted alone without any accomplice, but remained silent when asked if there was any leftover money and why he committed the crime.

The police plan to look into where the embezzled money was used and whether there is any money remaining, aside from the 720 million won already retrieved by the health insurance firm.

Police plan to seek an arrest warrant for Choi as early as Wednesday evening. (Yonhap)
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. A number of events honoring the 120th anniversary of birth of prominent Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian were organized in China in 2023.

For the first time, Beijing hosted the Khachaturian International Competition.

The 19th Khachaturian 120th Anniversary International Violin Competition was organized by the Aram Khachaturian Cultural Foundation, China National Opera and Chinas state organizations. The competition was supported by the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.

The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra was invited by the Chinese side to play with participants in the final round, and perform at a gala concert. The orchestra, conducted by Sergey Smbatyan, then delivered 3 concerts in late December 2023, one in Beijings national Opera House and two at the Xinjiang Culture Center.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Amundi-ACBA Asset Management are joining forces to facilitate access to local currency financing and strengthen the local capital market in Armenia.

In an innovative move, the EBRD and Amundi-ACBA have executed the first cross-currency repo transaction, setting a new threshold for secure and strategic financial transactions in Armenia. The transaction was executed under the Global Master Repurchase Agreement, which the two entities signed on 21 June 2023.

This landmark transaction has allowed the EBRD to pledge high-quality liquid assets denominated in hard currency and receive local currency funds in return. This cross-currency repo agreement serves as a secure avenue for Amundi-ACBA to deploy pension fund assets, while remaining aligned with its commitment to prudent financial management.

For the EBRD, the transaction secures long-term Armenian dram funds at onshore market rates, helping to strengthen and diversify its funding sources.

The economic impact of the transaction is significant, and the EBRD is dedicated to maximising its effect. The proceeds will be strategically reinvested into the real economy, creating a positive transition impact and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Gursu Keles, EBRD Associate Director, Senior Trader, said: The EBRD continues to invest in the local markets financial capacity and know-how by employing simple yet innovative products in its portfolio management. Cross-currency repos will be an additional tool to expand and strengthen our funding base in Armenian dram.

Hrayr Aslanyan, Deputy CEO at Amundi-ACBA, said: This is another innovation we are pleased to introduce to the market, together with the EBRD. This scheme will allow us to deploy pension fund assets more effectively, contribute to developing the local capital market and, ultimately, help to finance the local economy.

Amundi-ACBA Asset Management manages three mandatory pension funds in Armenia, with assets under management surpassing AMD 400 billion (900 million). The company has extensive expertise in fund management and is owned by Amundi, a leading European asset manager, and ACBA Bank, one of the leading banks in Armenia.

This is the second time the EBRD has engaged with Amundi-ACBA Asset Management in Armenia. The agreement is part of the Banks efforts to step up its local currency lending and further develop the capital markets in Armenia. This innovative transaction secures reliable access to domestic currency liquidity, while eliminating foreign currency risks for local borrowers.

The EBRD is the leading institutional investor in Armenia, active in all sectors of the economy. Since the start of its operations in the country, the Bank has invested more than 2 billion in 210 projects in its financial, corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors, with 92 per cent of investments in the private sector.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan has met with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Both sides praised the effective cooperation of over 30 years between Armenia and the UNHCR, Khachaturyans Office said in a readout.

Khachaturyan and Grandi discussed the humanitarian and social problems facing the forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh and the steps aimed at resolving the issues.

Grandi inquired about the social protection and accommodation conditions, as well as other humanitarian issues, of more than 100,000 forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh. In this context the President presented in detail the Armenian governments rapid response programs and actions aimed at resolving both the primary and complex problems of the forcibly displaced persons.

An agreement was reached to continue close cooperation to resolve the existing issues.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. All government actions continue to be aimed at establishing and protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this during Wednesdays question-and-answer session in the National Assembly of Armenia, responding to the MP Artur Khachatryan's question about the solutions the government offers in the new security situation created in the region.

"Throughout our entire period of independence, we have not clearly defined and have blurred Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is a fundamental problem.

All actions continue to be aimed at establishing and protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia.

In these common security challenges, our strategic perception is as follows that all our positions must be based on legitimacy-exclusively legitimate.

As for the announcements coming from official Baku, I have publicly responded to them, and I will not hesitate to provide a specific response to your question. In fact, 'Crossroads of Peace' encompasses the answer to your question," said Pashinyan.

The Prime Minister also addressed a question regarding statements from Baku, highlighting that in response to inquiries from the Armenian side, Azerbaijan presents two counterarguments.

"The first is that if Armenia is not ready to open the roads, then Azerbaijan will make use of the passage through the territory of Iran. The second question is why there should be any inspection processes during the transition from the main part of Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan, which is 47 kilometers.

And we answer in the following way: Armenia is ready to give that passage under the same conditions as Iran. If the passage through the territory of Armenia is 47 kilometers, it is 49 kilometers through the territory of Iran. If inspection functions can be accepted for 49 kilometers, naturally they cannot be unacceptable for 47 kilometers, said the PM.
During a press conference held on January 16, 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron made a significant announcement regarding France's support to Ukraine amidst ongoing tensions. Answering a journalist's inquiry about the situation in Ukraine, President Macron revealed a key decision involving military aid. The French government plans to deliver 40 SCALP-EG air-to-ground missiles to Ukraine.

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A Ukrainian Su-24M bomber aircraft armed with SCALP-EG air-to-ground missiles. (Picture source Ukraine MoD)

This move is part of France's commitment to providing short and long-term support to the country. The delivery of these missiles marks a crucial step in France's efforts to aid Ukraine in its defense capabilities.

Firstly, he announced the upcoming signing of a bilateral agreement between France and Ukraine. Additionally, France will deliver about forty SCALP-EG air-to-ground missiles and a hundred bombs, the model and type of which are unknown. This delivery will be swift, with a portion arriving during the French President's visit to Ukraine in February 2024. France will also supply CAESAr self-propelled howitzers (155 mm), a significant boon to the Ukrainian artillery with their shoot-and-scoot capability and mobility.

As of the information available, France is the primary country that has delivered SCALP missiles to Ukraine in the context of the conflict with Russia. The first batch of these French SCALP long-range cruise missiles was received by Ukraine on August 22, 2023. This delivery was confirmed by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Paris, Vadym Omelchenko, and was mentioned as a trial run with the missiles performing well in testing. The SCALP missiles have a significant range and are known for their precision and destructive capabilities. There are no reports of other countries having delivered SCALP missiles to Ukraine in this context.

The SCALP-EG missile, known as the Systeme de Croisiere Autonome a Longue Portee et d'Emploi General, offers Ukraine a long-range strike capability. With a range of 250 kilometers, Ukrainian Su-24 Fencer tactical bombers have successfully launched SCALP-EG missiles and their English equivalent, Storm Shadow, against Russian targets in Crimea, including a corvette, a heavy landing ship, a submarine, the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, several strategic bridges, and a command center (summary of impacts and consequences in this article).

The SCALP-EG missile is formidable: developed and produced by MBDA, it uses a triple guidance system (GPS, INS, and terrain-referenced navigation). Although not stealthy, it has a reduced radar signature compared to equivalent missiles. It flies at a low altitude (about thirty meters) to its target, with meter-precision targeting. The missile features a dual warhead, capable of penetrating the roof of a building or bunker before detonating the main charge inside the target, significantly increasing damage to the objective.

The Ukrainian Air Force has showcased its Su-24 tactical bomber armed with the French SCALP EG cruise missile. This demonstration of the foreign air-launched cruise missiles occurred during the celebration of Air Force Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on July 6, 2023. The adaptation of these missiles to the Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft is similar to the process used for the British Storm Shadow missiles, indicating a significant enhancement in Ukraine's military capabilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also seen making an inscription on a SCALP EG missile mounted on the Su-24 bomber, underlining the importance of this new armament for Ukraine's defense strategy.

Additionally, it's noteworthy that the SCALP-EG can be considered the French "sister" of the British Storm Shadow missile, sharing a visual similarity and being based on the same project. This missile is known for its long-range air-to-ground capabilities and can effectively penetrate air defense systems to destroy significant stationary targets. It's reported that the French Air Force has previously used SCALP-EG missiles in military operations in Libya, against ISIS, and in Syria. The operational range of the SCALP-EG is over 250 km in the export version, with a greater range for the French and British armies. This new capability significantly boosts Ukraine's military strength, especially in terms of conducting precise and effective strikes.

Defense News January 2024
The addition of Thirdera, an Elite ServiceNow partner, aligns with Cognizant and ServiceNow's partnership to build a $1 billion combined business focused on artificial intelligence- (AI)driven automation.

Thirdera has ServiceNow consultants in North America, Spain, Colombia, the Netherlands, Australia, India and the Philippines, among other locations, and holds training and certifications such as including Certified Master Architects and Certified Technical Architects. In May, Thirdera landed in New Zealand with the appointment of Kat Carter as the first country lead.

The acquisition represents our commitment to offer clients one of the most comprehensive experiences in the ServiceNow ecosystem, with robust capabilities in professional services across key ServiceNow workflows and emerging products including generative AI, Cognizant Asia Pacific CEO, Jane Livesey said.

Additionally, with Thirdera team members based across APAC, including Australia, New Zealand, India and the Philippines, this acquisition continues Cognizant's commitment and growth to the region.

This will create a combined Cognizant ServiceNow Business Group with more than 2,400 specialists and 14,000 certifications - together creating one of the largest and most highly accredited ServiceNow partners globally.

This is a pivotal moment for redefining customer engagement and operational efficiency, Thirdera CEO and co-founder Jason Wojahn said.

We believe leveraging Cognizants scale, resources and cross-industry expertise will help us revolutionise how our clients work.

"We aim to transform the fabric of our clients work environments, creating substantial value and offering our employees significant opportunities for professional growth and learning.

Cognizants bold move is an example of how our partners are looking to capitalise on the enormous market opportunity with ServiceNow."

ServiceNow CEO and chairman Bill McDermott said Cognizant's plan to acquire Thirdera, the largest pure-play ServiceNow partner, will turbo-charge the business ability to build generative AI (genAI) industry leading solutions on the ServiceNow platform.

The acquisition is expected to close in January 2024.

Cognizant has made several acquisitions throughout the years, including Servian and Magenic in 2021 and Contino in 2019.
Distributor Pax8 has hired Robb Reck as its global chief trust and security officer to promote trust with the various parties the company interacts with.

In the role, Reck will report to CTO Scott Chasin and be tasked with making sure Pax8 "maintains the trust of managed service providers (MSP), vendors and customers", according to the distributor, via its Marketplace.

With an impressive 25 years of experience in the IT space, Robb brings invaluable expertise to Pax8," said Chasin. "Were fortunate to have his leadership in developing and implementing robust security strategies and formalising and communicating a culture of trust with our partners, helping them integrate security practices into their offerings.

That experience comes from his years working at security-minded companies. His previous role was field CISO at managed detection and response (MDR) vendor Red Canary. He has also held roles at Ping Identity and Code42, among others.

Additionally, in 2017, he co-founded Colorado = Security, which Pax8 described as a community that services over 2,500 information security professionals in Colorado.

Reck's appointment comes months after Pax8 added web and network security vendor Perimeter 81 to its Marketplace for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region in October.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Zaparov's administration would like full power to refuse state registration to undesirable media without even having to go through the judgment of a court. Alarm from representatives of the news media at home and abroad.

Bishkek (AsiaNews) - The administration of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zaparov has drawn up a new bill "on the mass media", which according to jurists from the international foundation Institute Media Policy (IMP) still contains several risks for freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan.

The text contains contradictions with the national Constitution, in addition to the international norms of the Covenant on civil and political rights, and the observations of the ministries of culture and justice of Bishkek were not even taken into consideration.

The previous variant was presented in May 2023, and according to the IMP in the new proposal there are "excessive and baseless limitations on the activities of journalists". State bodies would be given full freedom to refuse state registration to unwelcome media, and also to block the activity of those already in possession of registration, without any particular legal complications.

Furthermore, the obligation for all websites to register as media outlets remains, increasing the number of institutions and officials involved and thus also causing further burdens on the state budget. There are also no clarifications on the procedures for registering sites, which know no borders on the internet.

The Ministry of Justice would receive the power to unilaterally cancel registration certificates, without the need to go to a court to obtain confirmation of this decision, which appears more authoritarian even than Russian laws, which at least formally pass through the competent judicial offices. This would be one of the most obvious contradictions with Kyrgyzstan's constitutional provisions, which defend the interests of editors, owners and entrepreneurs, as well as those of the user public.

The members of the IMP then turned to the Kyrgyz authorities, asking to entrust a new variant of the law to the competent commissions of the Zogorku Kenes, the Bishkek parliament, rejecting the text proposed by the presidential administration, presented to parliament last December 15th.

The authors of the project insist on the need to modify the current law on the media as it is outdated and unsuitable to respond to the "challenges of the contemporary world" and the needs of Kyrgyz society.

Many jurists and experts, as well as representatives of the world of information in the country, have repeatedly criticized the previous (five) variants of the project, considered threats to freedom of speech and the parameters of a democratic society.

The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe also gave a negative assessment to the bill, which would undermine the rights of free expression of opinions and would entail serious consequences for the activities of the media, which exercise "a role of social control" on life of the country.

The Kyrgyzstan Human Rights Guarantor Agency itself asked last November to rewrite the text of the law, the first variant of which dates back to October 2022, and the speaker of parliament, Nurlanbek Sakiev, assured that the Zogorku Kenes "will evaluate the bill very carefully, taking into account the proposals of journalists and citizens".
A court sentenced Kim Ye-won, a former co-leader of a minor political party, to a suspended prison term Wednesday on charges of possessing and habitually smoking marijuana.

Kim of the Green Party Korea was charged with smoking marijuana multiple times between late 2021 and early last year, and keeping the illegal substance at her home.

The Seoul Western District Court sentenced Kim to a a one-year and six-month prison term, suspended for three years, along with 80 hours of drug addiction treatment programs.

Prosecutors had demanded an unsuspended prison term of 1 1/2 years for Kim. (Yonhap)
by Dario Salvi

Iran struck first in Iraqi Kurdistan, then into Pakistani territory, fuelling tensions with Islamabad, while China calls for "restraint". A Christian businessman from Mosul was among the victims in Erbil. In solidarity with the victims, Pope Francis calls for "good relations between neighbours." For the Chaldean primate, Card Sako, Iraq is a "divided" country, its people "tired and beaten. The path of diplomacy is increasingly fragile.

Milan (AsiaNews)  This was a "reckless and irresponsible" attack against Iraq, a "divided" country that is looking to the future with uncertainty, its people "tired and beaten, said Card Louis Raphael Sako, Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad, reacting to Iran's military strike in the north with missiles and drones striking targets in the autonomous region of Kurdistan that killed several people, including a prominent member of the Christian community.

Such acts of violence have been going on for some time," the cardinal notes, but they make no sense and will not lead to any result other than to fuel an already tense situation. They wont change reality, just complicate it", while the path "of dialogue and diplomacy" is becoming increasingly fragile, now stifled by the "deafening sound of weapons".

"Every war, he warns, involves a shocking human tragedy and the responsibility lies with the major powers. All leaders must overcome the chain of divisions, revenge, violence, conflicts, and wars."

In the attack Iran launched across the border in Iraq, in the Kurdish-majority area, a Christian was killed. Mikhail Sridar was a member of an "important and well-respected" family originally from Mosul, who rose socially over the years by setting up businesses from London to the United Arab Emirates.

For Christians, Muslims," the Chaldean patriarch stressed, it makes no difference  here are stricken men and women, brothers and sisters who lost their lives for no good reason. We don't know what those who attacked had in mind, but what remains on the ground are the dead."

Turkey's repeated raids in Iraqi Kurdistan are another factor, troubling Pope Francis himself, who today, at the Wednesday general audience, expressed sympathy and solidarity with the victims, all civilians, in Erbil.

Good relations between neighbours are not built with such actions but with dialogue and cooperation, the pontiff said. I ask everyone to avoid any step that increases tension in the Middle East and other scenarios of war.

Such words of peace and commonsense risk being lost in the deafening sound of bombs and missiles that, from Gaza to Lebanon, from Syria to Yemen, are making the region increasingly unstable and insecure.

These fronts, Card Sako said, can widen the war and thats terrible. Almost every day there are attacks, while world leaders lack seriousness and cannot find solutions.

Instead, They look on from the outside but do not know how to take clear and strong action to solve the problems in the Middle East, nor in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This could legitimise other attacks by stronger countries on smaller ones.

"The United States speaks of democracy, but where is this democracy? Each country pursues its own interests, certainly not human rights, the prelate laments.

Even the role of the worlds wise, its religious leaders, is now made up "only of speeches" against wars, but they lack concrete actions "to respect the lives and rights of others" while "the risk of a war with religious connotations between Jews and Muslims with the involvement of Eastern Christians" is becoming ever greater.

According to Iranian sources, Tehrans missile strike in Erbil (and Idlib in Syria) is reportedly not linked to the war in Gaza, yet the latters influence is undeniable. What is more, the distance between the Syrian province that was hit is as great as the distance that separates the Iranian border from Tel Aviv, something that has not gone unnoticed.

In the end, what counts is that the operation  reportedly against a secret Israeli Mossad base, according to the official Iranian line  killed five Kurdish civilians, including a child, and a Christian.

These attacks violate Iraqi sovereignty," said former Christian lawmaker Yonadam Kanna, founder and leader of the Assyrian Democratic Movement, speaking to AsiaNews. Nevertheless, it is Iraq's responsibility to stop any threat to Iran and Turkey" from within its territory.

"Turkish forces are fighting the PKK in mountains far from the cities," the Christian leader explained, but the threat is real for rural residents who are "forced to abandon their villages and flee."

Iranian targets instead "are at or near cities" but, as an Iraqi national security adviser pointed out, "there is no Mossad centre" in the targeted area in Erbil. This is why the attack, in his view, could be construed as "a kind of pressure on the authorities" of Kurdistan, with no link to Gaza.

What is certain is that "all Iraqis suffer from corruption, poor public services, joblessness, and have no faith in the future."

For the former lawmaker, Christians "suffer much more from discriminatory policies and legislative problems (poorly represented under the existing election law) that increase their level of poverty and fuel emigration.

After Iraq and Syria, Iran has also opened a south-eastern front following its attack with missiles and drones in Pakistan, defined as "illegal" by the Pakistani government, killing at least two children, and wounding three more.

Iran reportedly targeted two bases of the jihadi group Jaish ul-Adl, linked to al-Qaeda, but civilian casualties risk triggering a new escalation amid existing conflicts and deep rifts.

In view of the situation, China has called on Iran and Pakistan to show caution. Through Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, Beijing asked the two sides to exercise restraint, avoid actions that escalate the tension, and jointly keep the region peaceful and stable.

Both Iran and Pakistan are allied with China and members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which China dominates.

For Pakistan, the attack was "totally unacceptable" because it is unrelated to any provocations coming from its territory.

Iran was quick to react saying that it respected the territorial integrity of other countries, including Iraq and Pakistan, but noted that it was ready to respond to any outside threat.
Today's news: in Gaza, a hospital again under attack; In Vietnam first hearing of maxi-trial for "gun attack" in Central Highlands; Indian migrant workers going to Israel will not be entitled to Delhi's social protections; Fourth spill of treated water from Fukushima in February; Istanbul, a fee for foreign visitors to enter Hagia Sophia.

CHINA

For the second consecutive year, there has been a decline in the Chinese population, overtaken in 2023 by India as the largest nation in the world, casting a further shadow on the growth prospects of the world's second largest economy. The overall population is 1.409 billion, a decrease of about 2.08 million from last year. The decline is more than double the 850,000 in 2022. The birth rate has now fallen to 6.39 per 1,000 people, the lowest on record.

GAZA

The Israeli army has carried out attacks (again) near a hospital in the Strip. According to fragmentary information, the military has been operating around a facility in Khan Younis for hours, forcing patients and displaced people to flee. The hospital is shaking - says a doctor, with sounds of gunshots in the background - and panic is widespread. Meanwhile, the UN raises the "famine" alarm in Gaza.

VIETNAM

First hearing yesterday for around a hundred people accused in a maxi-trial for "coordinated attacks with firearms" against government offices. The incident dates back to last year in the central plateaus, an area inhabited by ethnic minorities; nine victims, including four policemen. According to the accusation, the attackers aimed at an independent state and risk the death penalty.

INDIA - ISRAEL

Indian migrant workers seeking employment in Israel will not be entitled to the social welfare the government offers to those who go abroad to conflict zones. The Hindu newspaper reports this, citing official documents according to which those concerned will not be able to benefit from "medical coverage or employment guarantees" usually granted by Delhi to fellow citizens heading to the Gulf.

JAPAN

Tepco plans a fourth release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima plant, scene of the 2011 nuclear accident, in February; a safe procedure for Japan, but strongly criticized by nations in the area such as China and Russia. For Tokyo it is a fundamental step in the dismantling of the plant. At least 7,800 cubic meters will be sent to the Pacific.

TURKEY

Since January 15, foreign tourists have paid 25 euros to enter Hagia Sophia, the former Christian basilica then a museum with Ataturk and converted into a mosque at the behest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a decision that has raised international criticism, starting from UNESCO. There are now separate entrances for believers and tourists. Turks visiting for religious purposes are exempted, while there is no certain information on non-Turkish Muslims who enter to pray.

RUSSIA - CHINA

As Kommersant informs, electricity exports from Russia to China collapsed by 34% in 2023, over 3 billion kWh, returning to the levels of the 2012-2020 period. Among the causes are the increases in domestic consumption in the regions of the Russian Far East and the continuous failures of Russian structures, especially in the coldest months of the year.

AZERBAIJAN - UAE

27-year-old Gejdar Aliev junior, son of Azerbaijani president Ilham, has begun appearing at public events alongside his father, despite currently having no official position. Nonetheless, there is already talk of "dynastic succession" especially after the reception in Baku in honor of the President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahayan with his family.
by Daniele Frison

Open Doors just released its World Watch List, focused on the 50 countries with the highest levels of discrimination against Christians. Around the world, about 365 million were affected in 2023, up from previous years. North Korea is still at the top. In Asia, Yemen, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan follow. India is 11th with concerns for rising acts of hostility ahead of this years elections.

Rome (AsiaNews)  Two out of every five Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination on religious grounds in Asia, the largest region of the world affected by this issue, followed by Africa (one in five), and Latin America (one in 16). On a global scale, more than 365 million Christians are persecuted (one in seven), the highest figure in the last 31 years.

Hostile acts include assault, torture, kidnapping, and, in extreme cases, killing. But the violence is not only physical; many Christians also endure daily mistreatment and pressure at work, in access to health, education and places of worship, as well as crippling red tape.

This is the sad picture that emerges from the annual World Watch List (WWL) for 2024 by Open Doors, an international NGO that supports persecuted Christians in the world. The survey was released today, for the period October 2022-September 2023.

In Italy, the WWL was presented today in the press room of the Chamber of Deputies, at the invitation of the Intergroup for the Protection of the Religious Freedom of Christians in the World, represented on this occasion by Italian MP Emanuele Loperfido. Also present were Timothy Cho, a North Korean activist, and Cristian Nani, director of Open Doors since 2015.

"In 31 years of research, we have seen a steady increase in anti-Christian persecution in absolute terms. 2023 was a record year," Nani said.

The Open Doors World Watch List is produced every year according to a specific methodology. The organisation relies on the support of "persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries," the report reads, with field research done thanks to many "local networks. Researchers, experts, and analysts contribute as well, for a total of about 4,000 people involved.

About 100 countries are potentially affected by the problem of persecution", and every year about 50 are picked with the most disturbing situations of persecution and discrimination against Christians from all denominations and confessions.

In the list released today, North Korea, like in previous years, is still in first place, followed by Somalia, and Libya, while the number of countries experiencing the "most extreme persecution rose from 11 to 13 compared to last years list.

In Asia and the Middle East, North Korea is joined by Yemen, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. Globally, instability is growing in sub-Saharan Africa, causing greater religiously motivated violence; however, fewer Christians have been killed, 4,998, down from 5,621 last year. The reason is the decline in Nigeria, which nevertheless remains the "epicentre of massacres", the latest taking place unfortunately at Christmas.

The number of victims of "abuse, rape and forced marriages" is disturbing, 3,231, increasing and hard to assess. There was also an "unprecedented" rise in attacks on churches, from 2,110 to 14,766.

Making matters worse are Chinas model of digital persecution" and violence in India, which has increased as the countrys upcoming elections approach. Added to this is the rapid growth of the "refugee" Church, accelerated by the influence of China and Russia. In the Middle East and North Africa, Christians feel less and less at home," the WWL points out.

Looking at Asia and the Middle East, North Korea ranks first due to the regimes zero tolerance towards Christians. One of the most significant acts of persecution is "the forced repatriation of North Korean fugitives by China. For Open Doors, Being discovered to be a Christian in North Korea is effectively a death sentence.

Yemen follows in fifth position. Like Somalia and Libya, it is strongly Islamic where "anti-Christian intolerance" is fuelled by tribalism, "active extremism" and "endemic instability", driving Christians to hide their faith.

Pakistan is in 7th place, consistently at the top of the list for many years. After Nigeria, it is "the second nation in the world for the most anti-Christian violence," according to the WWL, as evinced by the attack in Jaranwala in August 2023.

In 9th place, we find Iran, which drops one position over 2023. Here Christians are second-class citizens, forced to "meet in small groups at home since the Islamic regime sees churches as "threats", notes Open Doors.

Afghanistan comes in 10th place. Because the Taliban are focused on consolidating their power, violence against Christians as somewhat decreased.

India, on the other hand, remains in 11th place. For years, Open Doors has spoken out against the decline of the fundamental freedoms of the Christian minority, which is the target of violence and discrimination.

In 12th place, Syria is a country where " the challenges facing Christians continue to be numerous and severe.

Finally, in 13th place is Saudi Arabia, where the "small number of Saudi Christians has been slowly increasing," the survey reads, but "it comes at a cost, that of mistreatment and harassment, even against youth, since conversion from Islam to Christianity is deemed unacceptable.
At his general audience, Pope Francis called to look at the root of "toxic relationships" that tragic news events also bring to the fore. On the eve of the Week for Christian Unity the invitation to pray that "Christians may reach full communion and bear unanimous witness of love toward all." And at the World Economic Forum he writes, "Peace can be nothing other than the fruit of justice."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Behind the "toxic relationships" that transform the sexual instinct into a possession that preys on and consumes others and which increasingly often leads to tragic news events such as feminicides, there is the trivialization of idea of chastity. Which should not be confused with "sexual abstinence" but is education in respect for others in the couple's relationship.

Pope Francis said this today while addressing the faithful during the general audience held in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. Continuing the cycle of catechesis on vices and virtues, the pontiff focused on lust. While gluttony is voracity towards food  he explained  this second vice is a sort of 'voracity' towards another person, that is, the poisoned bond that human beings maintain among themselves, especially in the sphere of sexuality .

The Pope recalled that "in Christianity there is no condemnation of the sexual instinct", so much so that a book of the Bible, the Song of Songs, "is a stupendous love poem between two engaged couples". However, he added, this beautiful dimension of our humanity is not free from dangers. If it is not polluted by vice, falling in love is one of the purest feelings. A person in love stops thinking about himself to be completely projected towards the other. And if you ask a lover why she loves, she won't find an answer: in many ways her love is unconditional, without any reason."

But lust is precisely the vice that disfigures this feeling, and it is "particularly hateful". First of all because it devastates relationships between people. To document it  commented Pope Francis  unfortunately, everyday news is sufficient. How many relationships that started in the best way have then changed into toxic relationships, ones of possession of the other, devoid of respect and a sense of limits?.

In these loves, chastity was missing: "a virtue that should not be confused with sexual abstinence", but is rather "the will to never possess the other". To love is to respect the other, to seek his happiness, to cultivate empathy for his feelings, to understand a body, a psychology and a soul that are not ours, and which must be contemplated for the beauty of which they carry. Lust, on the other hand, mocks all of this: it preys, robs, consumes hastily, it doesn't want to listen to the other but only to its own needs and pleasure."

But there is also a second reason why lust is a dangerous vice. Among all man's pleasures  Francis said  sexuality has a powerful voice. It involves all the senses; it dwells in both the body and the psyche; it is beautiful but if not disciplined with patience, if not inscribed in a relationship and in a story where two individuals transform it into a loving dance, it turns into a chain that deprives man of freedom. Sexual pleasure is undermined by pornography: satisfaction without a relationship that can generate forms of addiction."

Winning the battle against lust, against the 'thingification' of the other - added the Pope - can be a lifelong undertaking. However, the prize of this battle is the most important of all, because it is about preserving that beauty that God wrote in his creation when he imagined the love between man and woman. That beauty that makes us believe that building a story together is better than chasing adventures, cultivating tenderness is better than bowing to the demon of possession, serving is better than conquering. Because if there is no love - he concluded - life is sad loneliness".

Finally, in his greetings to the groups of pilgrims present, Pope Francis recalled that tomorrow begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which this year has as its theme the commandment "Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself . I invite you to pray - said the pontiff - so that Christians may reach full communion and bear a unanimous testimony of love towards all, especially towards the most fragile.

Also today, the Holy See released the text of a letter that Pope Francis sent to the personalities of world politics and economics participating in the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"The peace for which the peoples of our world yearn - the pontiff writes to them - cannot be anything other than the fruit of justice. It requires something more than the simple setting aside of the instruments of war; it requires addressing the injustices that are at the basis of conflicts How is it possible that in today's world we still starve, are exploited, condemned to illiteracy, deprived of basic medical care and shelter?"

"In a world increasingly threatened by violence, aggression and fragmentation - concludes the pontiff - it is essential that states and businesses unite in promoting far-sighted and ethically valid models of globalization, which by their very nature must entail the subordination of the search for power and individual gain, be it political or economic, to the common good of our human family, giving priority to the poor, the needy and those who find themselves in the most vulnerable situations".
The National Bureau of Statistics has resumed publishing data after suspending their release in the summer. The drop from 21.3 to 14.9 per cent is linked only to the removal of job-seeking students from the total. Meanwhile, last years 5.2 per cent growth in GDP trumpeted by Premier Li Qiang does not convince the markets.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies)  After suspending the release of youth unemployment figures last summer, Chinas National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) resumed publishing the data, reporting a drop from 21.3 to 14.9 per cent in just six months.

The NBS today released data for this major economic indicator, which highlights the country's critical economic situation, along with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2023, 5.2 per cent, which Chinese Premier Li Qiang cited yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, up from 3 per cent last year.

The gains in employment among those aged 16 to 24 is, in fact, an accounting trick rather than real progress. As the English edition of the Global Times, a semi-official tabloid, explains, the only thing that has really changed is how the figures are calculated.

To make it more "reliable", the NBS removed students looking for a job while studying. Since The main task of students is to study at the campus rather than finding part-time jobs, writes the Global Times, If they are included, the index could not accurately reflect the country's unemployment situation of those really needing full-time jobs.

The real rate of youth unemployment will thus be shown in the coming months since the NBS has started to release data again.

According to Chinas Ministry of Education, a record 11.79 million students are expected to graduate in 2024, about 210,000 more than last year, increasing faster than the demand for skilled labour.

Meanwhile, the GDP grew around 5.2 per cent in 2023, in line with the 5 per cent target set by the authorities, still the worst result for Chinas economy since 1990, except during the two years of pandemic.

This explains the subdued market reaction. Despite Li Qiang's reassurances to investors about the strength of the Chinese economy, Hong Kongs Hang Seng index fell by 3.71 per cent today, while the Shanghai Composite Index and Shenzhen Composite Index were down by 2.09 and 2.54 per cent respectively.
The amount of drugs seized before being smuggled into Korea jumped 23 percent on-year in 2023, the customs agency said Wednesday.

A total of 769 kilograms of drugs had been seized at borders last year, up from 624 kg from the previous year, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS).

The number of smuggling attempts fell 9 percent to 704 cases, but the average volume involved in each case had risen sharply from 446 g in 2021 to 1,092 g last year.

Korea has tightened its border control in line with rising demand for narcotics here and the subsequent rising prices.

Of the total, 43 percent was carried out through international mail, followed by express cargo accounting for 36 percent and air travelers with 19 percent.

The drug smuggling attempts through travelers, in particular, have surged in 2023 in line with the growing international travel after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The amount of drugs to be brought in via travelers more than quadrupled to 148.1 g in 2023 from the previous year's 36.2 g, and the number of such cases climbed 58 percent on-year to 177 such cases.

By type, methamphetamine accounted for 57 percent of all the drugs seized, followed by hemp at 19 percent and ketamine at 5 percent.

By origin, Thailand topped the list by accounting for 24 percent of the total volume, or 187 kg, followed by the United States with 20 percent, Germany with 12 percent and Laos with 9 percent, the data showed. (Yonhap)
I have shifted my attention towards collecting Premium Hot Wheels items. But I'm still keeping a close eye on what's happening over in the Mainline series. I have yet to see Case C in stores around me.

Super Treasure Hunt

Photo: Ministry of Diecast

Regular Treasure Hunt

Photo: Ministry of Diecast

EV

Case F Highlights

Photo: Ministry of Diecast

Photo: Ministry of Diecast

But Case F for 2024 is ready to leave the factory in Malaysia. That means we should have the first few items in two months tops. If you don't like fantasy cars, I'll give you some free advice. Don't buy an entire case of Mainline vehicles. The only reason you'd want that is if you can get the sealed one, hoping for a Super Treasure Hunt inside.But if that's your plan, double-check your source. These days, many intermediaries are opening up cases to extract rare items. If you don't care for my advice, at least I hope you have a lot of kids or nephews that like the fantasy items. That's how I got rid of my unwanted collectibles.If you have not seen any sneak peeks, the sixth Super Treasure Hunt item for 2024 is here. The STH line-up has been formidable this year, and it will be challenging for the '71 El Camino to stack up against some of the other models.Wayne Scott designed this casting for its 2010 debut. All four iterations released that year featured Real Riders Steelie wheels. Mattel developed five more premium versions of this El Camino since. The newest one came out last year, but I immensely enjoyed the Ultra Hots model.If you've been enjoying my STH reviews, you may remember that Mattel used this casting for that purpose in 2013, too. Both cars are in the $30 to $70 neighborhood each. So you might be better off not hunting for it in stores.The Regular Treasure Hunt item for Case F is the Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400 . Almost four years have passed since the American manufacturer unveiled this monster of an. Ford Performance even teamed up with Vaughn Gittin JR for a "Free Rein" experience around the Faroe Islands. The Ryu Asada-designed replica of this vehicle debuted in the 2022 Mainline series, and we have seen four more iterations since.The new TH variation is similar to the Dark Blue model we saw last year but slightly better overall. And it's hands down the most exciting TH for 2024 so far. But that may be because competition has been relatively moderate in this department.Let's see what else is inside with the show's two stars out of the way. As you would expect, there are a lot of recolors and fantasy vehicles. We'll skip those altogether and focus on the exciting bits and pieces. Some collectors enjoy seeing the Custom Otto, which has a new livery. If I had to choose one unlicensed model from this case, it would be the Terra-Tracktyl.At least this is a brand-new casting for 2024. If there's one trend I don't think I'll ever become a fan of, it's Hot Wheels keychain castings. You'll see quite a few people using the old Coupe Clip for that purpose, but you could already do that with standard HW items, too. So why did we need a Porsche 911 Carrera keychain? It's silly at best.And I would much rather buy the latest variation of the Mighty K kei-truck instead. The Tesla Model Y is back with the second release for 2024; this time, it features that black-on-black murdered-out look. After being off the grid in 2023, the '70 Plymouth Barracuda is doing alright this year. We had a dark blue version a while ago, and now we're looking at a red one. And if everything goes according to plan, you'll see a Kroger-exclusive recolor, too.I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about the Czinger 21C, although it's pretty impressive on paper. Besides the ZAMAC iteration, you can get a red one this year. Ford fans will likely be ecstatic to see the tiny replica of the Ford Performance Supervan 4. Expect a wave of recolors coming soon. Even the Texas Toot has a new look, but the color combo needs to be more enticing if you ask me.And that's valid for the Audi RS e-tron GT. This particular shade of green could make for an exciting appearance in the real world, but it's slightly off-putting at the 1/64 scale. You can always find better models at the bottom of every case. And on this occasion, the Ford GT40 sets the tone. The blue, white, and black combo makes for a classic look, and I'm sure scalpers will be all over it once it arrives in stores.The black '91 Mazda MX-5 Miata isn't entirely on the same level, but it's a sure sell for Mattel, as people won't ignore it given its status. And you'll see the same situation with the new color for the '94 Audi Avant RS2 . It's the sixth iteration of Ryu Asada's casting. And it's impressive because it just debuted in 2022. In this short timeframe, Mattel has unveiled a Super Treasure Hunt variation and a Premium one.But collectors are itching for a Car Culture or Boulevard RS2, which is bound to happen sooner rather than later. Laser Red is just as exciting as Nogaro Blue, and I can't help but wonder what the design team in El Segundo has in store for us next. If you're lucky, you can ignore the case-by-case release pattern from the diecast manufacturer and skip to the Treasure Box release in January 2025. The latest one caused quite a stir in the community, and I don't know a single collector who managed to secure one.
The 2017 to 2018 model year Giulia sedan is under investigation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 12 complaints alleging low-pressure fuel pump failures, with one complaint reporting a minor crash attributed to the loss of motive power.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NHTSA

Photo: Alfa Romeo

That's not all, though. Multiple complaints allege repeated failures, which is a bit uncanny. According to documents published by the, this condition concerns the 2017 to 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia with the aforementioned 2.0-liter turbo and the optional V6. The larger engine is a Ferrari-derived sixer with more than 500 ponies on tap, a 2.9-liter V6 exclusive to Alfa Romeo's Quadrifoglio range.Headed bysafety defects engineer Arnaldo Torres Dia, preliminary evaluation PE24-000 reads that Alfa Romeo addressed this problem by means of a technical service bulletin. Applying to vehicles produced on and before August 30, 2017, technical service bulletin 18-001-18 instructs dealer service technicians to replace the low-pressure fuel pump.However, a technical service bulletin is a completely different animal from a safety recall. Considering that 2017 to 2018 model year Giulia sedans can stall while driving at high speed, there's no denying that Alfa Romeo should have issued a recall instead of a service bulletin. The Office of Defects Investigation estimates that approximately 22,000 vehicles may be recalled if preliminary evaluation PE24-000 does turn into a safety recall.If necessary, the Office of Defects Investigation may expand the scope of the subject population during the investigation. Both the 2.0-liter I4 and 2.9-liter V6 are shared with the Stelvio, which features the Giulia's rear-biased Giorgio platform.Designed for D- and E-segment vehicles, the Giorgio isn't exclusive to Alfa Romeo. This platform was adapted for both the Jeep and Maserati brands. In Jeep's case, the culprits are the Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L. As for Maserati, the Stelvio-twinned Grecale and the all-new GranTurismo are also based on the Giorgio.Unfortunately, this architecture will be discontinued in favor of the STLA Large platform. Named after the Stellantis group, STLA Large will underpin the likes of the 2025 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. Thus far, the Italian-American-French group confirmed STLA Large production at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada and at the Cassino Assembly Plant in Italy.Turning our attention back to the Giulia, deliveries fell 32 percent in 2023 compared to 2022. The sales report for 2023 lists the Giulia with only 3,461 deliveries in the US market, down from 5,092 in 2022. By comparison, BMW 3er deliveries totaled 33,997 units in 2023 and 30,400 back in 2022.Priced similarly to BMW's long-running 3 Series, the Giulia carries a starting price of $43,340  sans destination charge  for model year 2024. At the other end of the spectrum, the Quadrifoglio is $82,030 (or $86,030 for the Carbon Edition ).
Scientists are having a hard time pushing the boundaries of Li-ion batteries or other energy storage methods. Still, once in a while, an obscure company announces an unlikely breakthrough. Betavolt, a Chinese company that didn't even exist a couple of years ago, claims it developed an atomic energy battery that could generate electricity for 50 years without the need for charging or maintenance. Too good to be true?

While most of the research revolves around rechargeable batteries, some companies are still working on batteries that generate electricity instead of storing it from an outside source. Like alkaline batteries used in some toys and remotes, these don't need to be charged before use and can't be charged when they are depleted. At the end of their lifecycles, they are discarded, hopefully recycled. It's not very economical or even environmentally friendly, but rechargeable batteries don't make sense in all situations.Betavolt claims it researched a non-rechargeable battery that can work for about 50 years, generating electricity constantly irrespective of outside conditions, including temperature and load. Unlike alkaline batteries, this uses atomic energy, which explains the long service period. The battery entered the pilot stage and is close to mass production. If successful, it would prove a boon for the aerospace industry, AI equipment, medical equipment, advanced sensors, small drones, and microrobots.Betavolt's battery is what is called a radioisotope power source , converting the energy released by the decay of nuclear isotopes into electricity. To do that, it uses a semiconductor converter generating electric current from the transition of beta particles (electrons) emitted by the radioactive source nickel-63. Betavolt's innovation is precisely this semiconductor converter, which consists of a unique single-crystal diamond semiconductor that is just 10 microns thick. Betavolt placed a 2-micron-thick nickel-63 isotope sheet between two diamond semiconductor converters. The first product that is now close to manufacturing is called BV100 and only delivers 100 microwatts of power at 3 volts. Sized at 15x15x5 millimeters (0.59x0.59x0.2 inches), it's smaller than a coin. The power is indeed very weak, but because electricity is generated continuously for 50 years, the energy density is huge. Betavolt claims the battery generates 8.64 joules per day and 3,153 joules per year.Multiple such batteries can be used in series and parallel, depending on the application. The company plans to launch a 1-watt battery next year and improve on this value with future iterations. Such low figures don't give me high hopes about the possible use in electric vehicles. Still, the atomic battery might pave the way for mobile phones that don't need to be charged and drones that can fly continuously.Betavolt claims its battery is safe, has no external radiation, and will not catch fire or explode in response to acupuncture and gunshots. It's also environmentally safe, being easy to recycle at the end of its life. After the decay period, the nickel-63 isotope turns into a stable isotope of copper, which is non-radioactive and does not pose any threat or pollution to the environment. The company continues research on using various isotopes such as strontium-90, promethium-147, and deuterium to develop atomic energy batteries with higher power levels. Depending on the isotope, the service life could be shorter, between two and 30 years.
Manufactured at CAMI Automotive in Canada, the BrightDrop Zevo has been hit with a safety recall. As per documents filed by General Motors with the federal watchdog, the front drive unit in certain delivery vans from the 600 series may leak oil.

Photo: General Motors

EV

kWh

The Detroit-based automaker was informed about said condition by an employee through Speak Up For Safety, a program that encourages the automaker's workforce to report safety-related concerns. SUFS rolled out during a time when GM's biggest headache was the infamous flawed ignition switch that saw the death of 124 people.According to the report attached below, the front drive unit of a 2022 model year BrightDrop Zevo 600 caught fire on December 7 last year. Not even a week later, on December 13, General Motors received another SUFS report over a front drive unit fire. For some reason or another, the largest automaker of the Detroit Big Three didn't open an investigation into these fires until December 22.The investigation determined that drive units manufacturing during a specific build window may feature out-of-specification hardware. As it happens, the drive pinion may cut its way through the outboard side of the front drive unit's case, thus causing an oil leak. Oil and hot components don't really mix, hence the reported underhood fires.Ultimately, the Safety Field Action Decision Authority decided to recall potentially affected vehicles due to the high risk of underhood fires. Referred to as X80, the front drive unit bears part number 24041528 in the American automaker's parts system. GM didn't mention whether this drive unit is made by General Motors or a supplier.An estimated 66 vehicles were assembled with suspect drive units, namely 2022 model year electric vans assembled between November 2021 and May 2022. All of them are owned by a fleet customer, and  get this  all of them will be replaced. The vehicles, that is, not the drive units. Replacement vehicles will be fitted with front drive units produced outside of the suspect window.Dealers have already been informed about this blunder, whereas the fleet customer will be notified on February 15. The X80 drive unit is also found in the GMC Hummerpickup truck and sport utility vehicle, with General Motors promising up to 255 kilowatts or 342 mechanical horsepower.Codenamed BV1, which stands for battery-electric van one, BrightDrop's first vehicle was revealed in January 2021 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. At the moment of reporting, the Detroit-based automaker lists two versions of the Zevo.400 means 153 inches of wheelbase and 239 inches in overall length, whereas the 600 rocks 183 and 290 inches. Cargo volume obviously favors the 600 (615 cubic feet versus 412), but in terms of payload, the 400 is better (1,800 pounds versus 1,460). Both are good for 250 miles (a little over 400 kilometers) on a full charge of the 165-battery pack.
The Vette received several notable changes in 1961, including more subtle refinements that addressed some of the biggest customer complaints.

In addition to the restyled front and back, with the latter now using the signature Corvette four-piece taillights, the car also received aluminum radiators as standard equipment and a redesigned exhaust placed directly under the rear bumper. The previous Corvette came with the exhaust integrated into the bumper, causing the back of the car to be dirty after every long journey. Chevrolet produced 10,939 cars for this model year, all fitted with 283 engines  the top choice produced 315 horsepower on the fuel-injected engine.The 1961 Vette in these photos landed on eBay with tear-inducing purpose. The car sells for parts, as putting it back together and bringing it to the road is an ambitious goal that nobody seems to be interested in.eBay seller samsfd says the Corvette was taken to a paint shop 43 years ago. The mechanics stripped it down, but the repaint was never finished. The car ended up disassembled in a garage, where it remained until it was pulled not long ago.Despite selling for parts, the Corvette is 95% complete. It only lacks the radio, the carpet, the grille, and one part of the side chrome. Otherwise, it has everything you'd need to put it back together in one piece, as all the parts already removed are in the car.It's safe to say this Corvette doesn't come in tip-top shape. The four decades in a garage produced the typical damage, so the seats and the door panels are rough. The doors, the hood, and the trunk lid are resting on the car for presentation.Surprisingly, the Vette still has an engine, though it's not the original unit. The owner says it's a later 283 paired with a four-speed transmission, but it's unclear if the mill at least turns over by hand. I wouldn't expect good news on the engine front unless the V8 comes from a different car that donated it recently (not when the Vette left for the paint shop).Unfortunately, the Corvette looks ready for the final goodbye, though I'm pretty sure someone with solid experience in the restoration business could bring it back to the road. However, buying the car won't be cheap, as the owner won't let it go unless someone is willing to pay $28,000. The listing will expire in 26 days, and if you want to see this Corvette in person, you must travel to Feeding Hills, Massachusetts.eBay's statistics indicate the Corvette has already caught the attention of many petrolheads, as 169 users are already watching the listing. Fingers crossed for at least one to send an offer and keep this Vette alive.
PHEV

AWD

Adaptive Cruise Control

Over in Europe, its third-generation Ford Kuga twin was recently spied on by our spy photographer partners in two flavors  and it looked mostly identical to the refreshed Ford Escape. Well, as it turns out, now that the cat is out of the bag and the Blue Oval company has officially unveiled the facelifted 2024 model year Kuga, that is not a bad thing at all.A big competitor of the all-new Volkswagen Tiguan , among others, the 2024 Ford Kuga will have more leeway in attracting customers from now on thanks to the updated design, upgraded hybrid powertrains seeking "to suit all needs and deliver best-in-class towing ability," and its new embedded technology.Ford's Kugais on track to becoming Europe's best-selling plug-in hybrid model for the third year in a row in 2023, and the refreshed model offers up to 69 km (43 miles) of zero-emissions driving; the Kuga Hybrid boasts "the convenience and comfort of an electrified powertrain, with up to 900 km (559 miles) of driving range on a single tank of fuel and up to 64 percent pure electric driving in the city." The company also offers a wide array of latest-generation driver assistance systems "that make it the ideal companion for everyday adventures."Without giving us all the technical details just yet, Ford says the 2024 Kuga Plug-In Hybrid and Kuga Hybrid have improved acceleration times and up to 2,100 kg (4,630 lbs.) of towing capacity. The new design is fresh and riddled with unique features for the Titanium, ST-Line, and new Active trims, says Ford. Meanwhile, inside the cabin, there is a standard 13.2-inch landscape touchscreen display boasting the latest version of SYNC 4 with 5G connectivity, cloud-connected navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa Built-in, and functionalities like the Trailer Connection Checklist or Trailer Tow Navigation.The advanced driver assistance technology bundle includes the new iteration ofwith enhanced braking function or a 360-degree camera system, among others. The facelifted Kuga is easy to recognize thanks to the new full-width LED light bar at the front, and practical features include the sliding second row. Of note, there is a new Active trim included in the range for those seeking a rugged experience, and Ford promises the new Kuga will reach dealerships in its main European markets later this month.
PHEV

FWD

CVT

Just like the American Ford Escape's fourth generation was updated not long ago, now it's time to enjoy the third iteration of the European sibling with the same comprehensive upgrades. On the outside, the new Ford Kuga will be easy to recognize thanks to the new full-width front LED light bar and the addition of the rugged Active series.On the inside, the American company boasts a new 13.2-inch landscape touchscreen display with the latest generation of the SYNC 4 infotainment setup, more tech features like 5G connectivity, and additional driving assistance systems. More importantly, there are also changes under the hood  but the automaker didn't outline them in the press release. Instead, we only heard the hybrids were better and more powerful.Well, a little digging on the national online configurator tools in Germany and the UK, two of the carmaker's most important markets on the Old Continent, and we have the puzzle complete . For starters, unlike in America, where the Active trim is also the base option starting from $29,495, in Germany or the UK, this is the flagship grade or an intermediate step.More precisely, in Germany, pricing kicks off at 39,950 with Titanium, followed by ST-Line and ST-Line X at 41,650 or 45,650, respectively, and the Active plus Active X at 45,550 and 49,550, respectively. Over in the United Kingdom, the series has Titanium, ST-Line, Active, and ST-Line X options between 32,080 and 39,670. That's substantially more than in America, by the way  and the base prices have also gone up quite seriously compared to the outgoing Kuga  it's 36,250 in Germany. Curiously, in the UK, it's the other way around, as the old model starts from 33,380.Additionally, we now know that the company has dropped the diesel options and only boasts gasoline, hybrid, andsetups, just like in America. The base unit is the 1.5-liter EcoBoost with 150 ps (148 hp), followed by the 2.5-liter Duratec full hybrid with 180 ps (178 hp) and a choice ofor all-wheel drive, as well as the PHEV variant now boasting 243 ps (240 hp) along with the same 2.5-liter Duratec andgearbox as the HEV model.Interestingly, the hero Bursting Green color is free of charge, whereas even a Frozen White is 350  meanwhile, the Desert Island Blue is no less than 1,000! Meanwhile, there aren't too many options  the most important are the 19 or 20-inch alloy wheels, the electric panoramic sunroof, the Winter Pack, or the Technology Pack, which adds the LED matrix adaptive headlights.
We all dream of some car when we are kids. We glue a poster of it on our bedroom wall, use a photo of it as a screensaver, and turn the internet upside down, searching for information about it. But there is one man from Michigan who took his obsession to a whole new level. He bought a Toyota Land Cruiser or two every month for the past 15.

Photo: Chad Nasir | Instagram

Chad Nasir, currently residing in Michigan, has a collection of 24 Toyota Land Cruisers and counting. Almost all of them are left-hand drive, almost all are in light colors, and almost all are imported from the Middle East. Because, hey, that's where they are way more affordable than they are in the United States.And there is one more thing all of these vehicles have in common: they are all equipped with a manual transmission. It does sound like an obsession, doesn't it? The largest part of the collection arrived in Michigan in the past year.Chad's love affair with the Japanese model dates years back. Nasir grew up in Libya, a country where Land Cruisers were not for everyone. They were actually reserved for the very wealthy members of society and labeled as luxury cars. Only politicians, businessmen, and drug dealers could afford them. As a young man, Nasir made a pledge: he would start buying Land Cruisers, one by one, when he would afford them.And he does afford them now. Chad owns a shop where he and his team of experts modify cars or apply protective coating on vehicles, which is useful for his own collection as well, because the Land Cruisers he buys are not always in mint condition.Chad Nasir bought the first two SUVs around a year ago in the United States. One is a 2013 Land Cruiser, and the other one rolled off the production line in 2015. But afterward, he found them cheaper in some other countries. He bought a 70-Series pickup from Saudi Arabia.We all have our monthly responsibilities: pay the mortgage, pay for the utilities, pay for the gym membership, and so on. But Chad Nasir has one more: he buys Land Cruisers every month.For the past 15 months, he purchased one or two SUVs every single month. And he is not going to stop any time soon. His collection includes cars with mileages between 60,000 miles (96,560 kilometers) and 180,000 miles (289,682 kilometers). But, regardless of their age and mileage, all of them are perfectly functional.The oldest vehicle in Nasir's collection is a 1984 Line Cruiser FJ40 LX. His daily driver is a 1997 Land Cruiser 80 VXR Limited. He remembers every single detail about every single car that he bought: year of manufacturing, month of purchase, mileage, issues to be fixed, everything. He keeps them all in a warehouse belonging to his car business.Chad Nasir is not going to stop here. He believes that 24 Toyota Land Cruisers are really not that many. And since money and space are not a problem, he will keep on buying cars. He is currently on the verge of purchasing three more: one from Qatar, one from Yemen, and another one from Oman, taking his collection to 27 units. He pays cash for each and every unit.
Whenever the term ICBM comes up I feel chills running down my spine. That's because it is meant to designate some of the world's deadliest, most far-reaching, and most of the time nuclear-capable weapons ever devised by humanity.

ICBM stands for intercontinental ballistic missile and is used to name long-range transport systems meant to defeat far-away adversaries. Tracing its roots back to the German V-2 rocket program, the ICBM family of missiles is supposed to strike targets located at least 3,400 miles (5,500 km) away from the launch point, most of the time using nuclear warheads.Lucky for us, to date no actual ICBM was fired in a real-life war. But plenty of them have been launched for testing purposes, painting a picture of a future all of us hope will never come to pass. But even if we hope for that we can't stop from getting ready for such an eventuality.The backbone of America's ICBM arsenal is presently comprised of Minuteman III missiles. Those are ground-based weapons systems devised in the 1960s at a time when the (first) Cold War was at its height.Minuteman can launch from silos and hit targets located as far as 6,000 miles (9,600 km) away, and it still is a very capable system. But it's growing old, and in the fast-evolving world we live in something even better and more capable is required.The American military started looking for that something in late 2020, when the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program was devised. It's an effort conducted by a consortium led by Northrop Grumman that in a few years' time should result in the arrival of a new ICBM.The new one is called LGM-35A Sentinel , and it is supposed to be a modular device that will allow the incorporation of new technologies as soon as they develop. The military also wants them because, in theory, they should be easier and cheaper to maintain and operate.The exact specifications are not known, but we do know Northrop Grumman is handling the development of the ICBM's stage one and two components (the missile has three stages), and it's pretty far along in the process.We got word this week of the company conducting a live fire test of Sentinel's stage two solid rocket motor. The procedure was conducted at the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tennessee and it was deemed a success.The rocket did not fly, as this was a static test. It was conducted inside a vacuum chamber designed in such a way as to simulate the real conditions the ICBM will encounter during its flight to the edge of space and back down to Earth.The defense contractor and its military partners will now use the data generated from the test to get an idea of whether the real thing and its capabilities match modeling predictions. If all checks out, the ICBM will move into a more advanced stage of testing, one that will qualify the tech for both stages.Northrop Grumman and the military overlords of the Sentinel ICBM hope to have it operational by the end of this decade. This family of missiles should stay in service until the late 2070s.
An appellate court struck down a lower court's ruling and imposed a fine on Choi Kang-wook, a former opposition lawmaker, for slandering a former reporter of a cable news channel.

Choi was charged with spreading false information on his social networking account in 2020, claiming Lee Dong-jae, a reporter formerly affiliated with Channel A, urged a businessman to give false testimony that he bribed Rhyu Si-min, a former health minister and an influential liberal commentator.

The businessman is currently serving a prison term for various financial crimes.

An appellate bench of the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Choi to a fine of ten million won ($7,424), overturning the previous not-guilty verdict.

In the previous ruling, the court had acquitted Choi, stating his online remarks were not slanderous and pertained to an issue of public interest.

Choi, who earned his first parliamentary term on a proportional representation ticket with the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea in 2020, lost his seat last year after the Supreme Court finalized a suspended jail term for him on charges of forging an internship certificate in favor of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's son. (Yonhap)
Vertiia is the name of an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) with two major characteristics that set it apart: first, it's one of the few to harness the power of green hydrogen; second, it was designed and developed in Australia, as the invention of Andrew Moore, co-founder of AMSL Aero.

AMSL Aero is one of the few green aviation companies in Australia that have taken on the challenging task of pioneering eVTOL development and manufacturing. It was founded seven years ago by husband and wife Andrew Moore and Siobhan Lyndon. Moore, who invented the Vertiia aircraft concept, has decades of experience in the aircraft industry, supported by Lyndon's equally impressive experience in technology and telecommunications.In just a few years, the two have successfully grown their company and tested the first Vertiia prototype. Starting this year, they'll get a helping hand from the company's newly-appointed CEO, Max York. York is both a military veteran (he was a Royal Australian Navy Commander) and former CEO of GE Australia, where he led commercial activities in the Asia Pacific region.With Mark York onboard, AMSL Aero is now ready to step into its next phase and get closer to commercial operations for its flagship aircraft. The Vertiia eVTOL was designed with the particularities of the Australian environment and operational needs in particular, but with a global vocation as well. At the time of its unveiling, it claimed to be the first eVTOL in the world to be powered by hydrogen and also boasted "the most efficient long range."Indeed, the numbers look promising. On paper, at least, Vertiia promises a 1,000 km (621 miles) range, coupled with a 300 kph (186 mph) speed and a maximum payload of up to 500 kg (1,100 lb). In other words, Vertiia is faster than similar eVTOLs and able to reach further, and it's mostly thanks to the use of sustainable hydrogen power.In terms of efficiency, the Aussie aircraft is said to use less energy per seat than a high-speed train. It also operates quietly (65-70 decibels) and takes only 10 minutes to refuel without depending on airport infrastructure.By combining battery technology with green hydrogen power, it's supposed to be more sustainable compared to other eVTOLs while promising better performance. Plus, this efficiency would also be reflected in financial terms, with the Vertiia eVTOL claiming to lower operational costs by a drastic 70% compared to conventional helicopters.Last but not least, this pioneer Aussie aircraft was also designed with versatility in mind. In addition to the standard passenger and cargo configurations, Vertiia will be equipped for air ambulance and emergency response operations.So far, the initial tests of the first prototype have confirmed the promises of this bold concept, and AMSL Aero seems to be on the right path toward certification.
I've always been a big fan of wireless connections for evident reasons. The whole thing is even more obvious behind the wheel, where nobody likes to have cables lying around the cabin.

However, a recent error also hitting my setup makes returning to Android Auto wired the only option. At least temporarily, as Google has already asked for more information, possibly as it plans to begin an investigation.One of our readers told me in a recent message that updating Android Auto to the latest version causes a mysterious error that prevents the app from issuing notifications when they receive a new message. The problem has also been confirmed by several other Android Auto users in this discussion thread on Google's forums.However, while Android Auto looked to be the culprit at first glance, it seems the operating system is the one to blame. All users who reported this behavior claim they were running Android 14, so the broken text notifications probably appeared after updating to the latest OS version.I also encounter the same problem in my car on a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. I'm already running Android Auto 11.1 (the latest version that reached the stable channel a few days ago), but as far as I can tell, the error is not tied to the app version. It took me a while to observe the bug, mostly because the messages were silent on Android Auto, but I think it appeared in November after I installed Android 14 on the smartphone.Users who took to Google's forums claim it only happens on Android Auto wireless . Indeed, I use the no-cord version in my car and switching to a wired connection brings things back to normal.There's one more thing that could indicate that Android 14 is the culprit. The new operating system has already wreaked havoc on Android Auto, causing several wireless connection problems. I didn't hit other problems after updating the smartphone to Android 14, as Android Auto still connects wirelessly instantly after I start the engine. The broken notifications are the first problem I encounter after updating the smartphone.Switching to cables isn't the most convenient solution, but it is the only way to get text notifications if you need this feature while driving. Some users say Android Auto also can't read new messages when they land in their inbox, but this is unsurprising, considering the application doesn't generate a notification.Google recently asked for more information about the bug, but it's worth knowing that this behavior doesn't impact all users. It's unclear who's affected, but given that the search giant is still collecting bug data, you'd better not hold your breath for a fix. You should still keep Android Auto up-to-date in case improvements go live.
Pashinian voiced the proposal on January 13 just as he accused Azerbaijan of effectively laying claim to Armenian territory and dealing a serious blow to the peace process. He referred to the latest statements made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his top aides.

Aliyev last week renewed his demands for Armenia to open an extraterritorial corridor to Azerbaijans Nakhichevan exclave. Also, he again demanded Armenian withdrawal from eight Azerbaijani villages and dismissed Yerevans insistence on using the most recent Soviet maps to delimit the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Pashinian also complained that Aliyev has rejected a mutual withdrawal of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops from the border and other confidence-building measures proposed by him earlier.

I can make another proposal: lets sign a treaty on arms control so that Armenia and Azerbaijan reach concrete agreements on weapons and are able to verify the implementation of that agreement, he told members of his Civil Contract party.

Artur Khachatrian, a senior member of the main opposition Hayastan alliance, scoffed at Pashinians remarks, saying that the premier simply wants to make Armenians believe that his conciliatory policy on the conflict with Azerbaijan has not been an utter failure.

Azerbaijan has never accepted any proposal made by Pashinian, Khachatrian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. Its illogical to assume that he will agree to formally limit his arsenal of weapons.

Just a few months ago, he bought $1.2 billion worth of new weapons from Israel, he said. Will Aliyev now agree to let the defeated Pashinian tell him how many tanks, drones, warplanes or assault rifles he should have? Thats a joke. Who is Pashinian mocking?

Pro-government lawmakers pointedly declined to comment on Pashinians latest offer to Aliyev. Baku has still not reacted to it.

Aliyev has repeatedly stated that Azerbaijans will continue its military buildup despite its victory in the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku was due to spend a total of $3.5 billion on defense and national security last year. By comparison, Armenias 2023 defense spending was projected at $1.25 billion.

Aliyevs latest statements were construed by Armenian opposition politicians and analysts as a further sign that he plans to ratchet up military pressure on Yerevan. Some of them suggested that Azerbaijan is gearing up for another military offensive against Armenia.
17 January 2024 12:45 (UTC+04:00)

Nigar Hasanova Read more

Azerbaijan's economy has seen a significant change in the last several months, especially in the non-oil sector, where the renewable energy industry has led to a rise in exports. A noteworthy turning point was reached in November 2023, when the identities of five important non-oil industry exports from Azerbaijan were made public. With a significant increase from the same time in 2022379.3 million US dollarselectric energy emerged as the top export.

Azerbaijan has always prioritised oil and gas production over advancements in the renewable energy industry. However, the nation has started to utilise its significant renewable energy resources as it recognises the need for diversification and environmental sustainability. Azerbaijan has adjusted its policies in favour of a renewable energy revolution due to its abundant offshore wind potential and heavy reliance on thermal generation powered by nearby natural gas deposits.

Besides, the country has made domestic progress towards decarbonisation and the use of renewable energy. The government's commitment to developing a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy industry is demonstrated by the creation of the State Agency for Renewable Energy Sources in 2020 and the passing of regulations like the Law on Using Renewable Energy Sources in Electricity Production.

Additionally, within a legal framework, Azerbaijan has taken steps to facilitate the switch to renewables from fossil fuels. In June 2022, the nation unveiled the Offshore Wind Roadmap in association with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Plans to utilise offshore wind potential are outlined in the roadmap, which has attracted considerable participation from the Dutch diplomatic community. Furthermore, in 2021, Azerbaijan passed legislation, including the Law on Efficient Use of Energy Resources and the Law on Utilisation of Renewable Sources in Electricity Production, to lure international investment and streamline the implementation of renewable energy.

Furthermore, several studies are being conducted to assess the potential for producing power from renewable energy sources and to determine the actions and strategies that need to be put in place to maximise this potential. The process of using an auction to finance the purchase of well-chosen and highly prospective renewable energy sources is still ongoing. With the assistance of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the project Support for Holding Renewable Energy Auctions in Azerbaijan is now being implemented. The project will include the following: the set of guidelines for auctions, the regulations governing them, the electricity purchase and sale agreement, the qualification document, and the request for bids document.

To put those plans into practice Azerbaijan makes efforts to find partnerships on the global scene in regards to renewable energy. To promote the Green Energy Corridor throughout the region, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Romania, and Hungary inked an agreement on the development of a high-voltage underwater electrical line beneath the Black Sea. To tie the electrical networks of these nations and continental Europe together, this energy project will be the longest power line installed underwater in history. It will connect the South Caucasus region with south-eastern Europe.

Supportive laws and incentives show that the government is working to get the private sector to invest in renewable energy sources. Azerbaijan reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of renewable energy by signing several agreements, including partnerships with China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These agreements cover a wide range of projects, from offshore wind resource exploration to solar and wind power installations.

To develop 2 GW of renewable energy projects in Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Energy and the Chinese company China Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 1, 2023. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) calls for collaboration in evaluating the viability of investments in large-scale solar energy, wind energy, energy storage, integrated smart energy systems, and green hydrogen production projects in Azerbaijan. The document also outlines the companys plans to conduct geological and topographical studies, an environmental impact assessment, and a network connectivity investigation of the project.

Moreover, between Azerbaijan and the UAE, the following agreements have been made: a Memorandum of Understanding on investment cooperation on electricity transmission projects between the Ministry of Investment of the United Arab Emirates and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan; a Framework Agreement on Strategic Collaboration in further strengthening Azerbaijan's capacities for renewable and clean energy and enabling Green Energy Export Operations; a Calendar of Actions (roadmap) for the construction of onshore solar and wind power plants with a capacity of 1 GW; and a Strategic Partnership Agreement between SOCAR and ADNOC.

The MoU calls for the development of a framework for collaboration on investments in the energy sector, particularly in projects involving the transmission of power, network expansion, and the sharing of technical expertise. In addition to 2 GW of solar and 2 GW of wind onshore projects and 6 GW of offshore wind energy, the strategic cooperation document covers cooperation and investment opportunities in new areas such as rooftop solar projects, green hydrogen, green ammonia, synthetic methane, sustainable aviation fuel production, and the export of green energy. The execution plans for the two solar and one wind energy projects scheduled for 20242027 are reflected in the Calendar of Actions (roadmap) for the building of 1 GW of solar and wind onshore projects to be installed in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has established goals for renewable energy, hoping that by 2030, 30% of the nation's electricity-generating capacity will come from renewable sources through changes to its laws and international cooperation. With 135 GW of onshore and 157 GW of offshore renewable energy sources, the nation has substantial economic potential. With its combination of wind, solar, bioenergy, and mountain river resources, Azerbaijan is positioned to play a significant role in the world's renewable energy landscape. In addition to promoting environmental sustainability, the nation's emphasis on utilising its renewable energy resources creates new economic prospects and solidifies its place in the world energy market. With its successful alliances and ongoing implementation of its roadmap, Azerbaijan appears to have a bright future as it transitions to a more diverse and environmentally friendly energy portfolio.

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17 January 2024 15:44 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

The French authorities' series of failures to prevent the peace process in the South Caucasus and Azerbaijan, in general, push them to continue this action. The next step that the pro-Armenian authorities of France have taken may have a strong impact on the political power that is already drowning in a swamp.

This was told by the Irish historian and political analyst, Patrick Walsh, in a comment to Azernews while discussing the decision of the French Senate to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan.

Note that, today, the French Senate discussed a resolution aimed at condemning Azerbaijan and guaranteeing the right of Armenians to return to 'artsakh' (Khankandi).

According to the official report by the Senate, "the resolution calls for the imposition of sanctions against Azerbaijan, as well as guaranteeing the right of the Armenian population to return to "artsakh".

On December 1, 2023, the French Senate submitted for consideration a resolution aimed at condemning Azerbaijan's military attack on "artsakh."

-prevent any attempt of aggression, violation of Armenia's territorial integrity,

-call for sanctions against Azerbaijan and demand the right of the Armenian population to return to "artsakh".

Walsh says that the French demand for the "right of return" is just political posturing by the country.

"The Armenian population of Garabagh left it voluntarily, of their own free will. Unlike the Azerbaijani population in the 1990s, they were not expelled at gunpoint. They are free to return whenever they wish, and appropriate measures have been taken for their integration," the expert said.

Even though Armenians left Garabagh voluntarily, as well as by the will of the authorities in Yerevan, there were a small number of Armenians who wanted to stay and reintegrate as citizens of Azerbaijan. The professor added that the only requirement for Armenians who want to reintegrate is to become normal citizens of the state.

"So the French Senate's move is ridiculous and possibly aimed at advancing the dead status issue."

French authorities have been adding fuel to the fire in Azerbaijan's relations with Armenia since as far back as 2023. They diligently undertook to "help" the separatist clan, and the French authorities recognised the so-called "artsakh" republic, which is not recognised by the international community or anywhere else. After that, French officials made baseless and fabricated statements against the state of Azerbaijan.

Subsequently, France's adoption of a resolution against Azerbaijan led to further aggravation of relations between the two countries. To consolidate their anti-Azerbaijani actions, the French armed Armenia with military equipment and air defence systems, further stooped even lower, desecrated the monument to Azerbaijani poetess Natavan in the city of Evian-les-Bains, and recruited its citizens in Azerbaijan as spies.

According to the Irish expert, these moves by France can be characterised as a "geographical move" because France, as an EU frontrunner, is seeking to replace Russia in Armenia as the guarantor of Armenian security.

"This is seen to have commercial and political advantages for France, especially for its arms industry," P. Walsh added.

Until now, political aggression emanating from France has not caused any damage to the economies of the two states. Oil companies, such as Total Energy, which has been one of the leading gas producers in Azerbaijan since 1996, have not suffered any damage due to the policies of their state. But as a consequence of the deterioration of relations and the French Senate's discussion today of a resolution aimed at condemning Azerbaijan, there may be a strong backlash.

The Irish expert emphasised that France would probably suffer from reverse sanctions, which would likely play into the hands of other states looking for opportunities in Azerbaijan, such as the UK.

"This also raises the question of EU-Azerbaijan relations in the energy sector. How can France apply sanctions against Azerbaijan when the EU, of which it is a leading member, is making an energy deal? If the French move is carried through, it will lead to a contradiction that will undoubtedly damage the country's common interests," he added.

Political aggravation of relations between the countries and a possible French resolution imposing sanctions on Azerbaijan could deal a serious blow to the French economy. It is known that French companies "Total," "Alstom," "Suez," "Thales," "Danone," "Airbus," "Bouygues," "Iveco," "Sanofi," and "And Rothschild" have been working in Azerbaijan for many years in various spheres of the economy.

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Abbas Ganbay is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Noend33

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17 January 2024 11:23 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijan's Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov held a meeting with the representatives of Japan Tobacco International (JTI) within the framework of the Davos Economic Forum, Azernews reports, citing a post shared by the Minister in his official X network.

Japan Tobacco was represented by the President and CEO of the company Eddy Pirard and Director for the International Affairs Ana Veljkovic.

The meeting discussed the bilateral cooperation. Additional, the sides addressed the upcoming events within the framework of COP29 to be hosted by Azerbaijan, as well as the attraction of the private sector to the activity of COP29.

Within the Davos Economic Forum (@wef), we held a meeting with Eddy Pirard, the President and CEO of Japan Tobacco International company (@JTI_global), and Ana Veljkovic, the Director for International Affairs. Our discussions focused on the bilateral cooperation with the pic.twitter.com/iOBSLCZref  Mikayil Jabbarov (@MikayilJabbarov) January 17, 2024

It is worth noting that Japan Tabaccos has a representative office in Baku. JTI is a leading international tobacco company in Azerbaijan and it started its business in the country in 2007. The company is one of the very few companies in Azerbaijan that has sustainability built in its DNA thanks to its global 4S model  responsibility towards consumers, shareholders, employees and wider society. Besides, JTI is recognized as Top Employer thanks to the company's exceptional HR practices.

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17 January 2024 14:35 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

A meeting was held in Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park with the delegation led by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Belarus Republic to Azerbaijan Andrey Ravkov, Azernews reports.

The guests were informed about the industrial zones under the management of the Economic Zones Development Agency, the favourable investment environment created here for entrepreneurs, the applied tax and customs benefits, and the presentation of the industrial zones.

Within the framework of the meeting, the possibilities of establishing cooperative relations between the industrial zones and agricultural parks of both countries and exchanging joint experiences were discussed. Belarusian businessmen were invited to take advantage of the favourable business and investment environment in the industrial zones.

Ambassador Andrey Ravkov pointed out that his country attaches importance to the development of relations with Azerbaijan, and that there is great potential for expanding cooperation in the fields of industry and agriculture.

In the end, the delegation, with the works done in the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park, the resident of the Industrial Park, "Azerbaijan Vanhong Ceramics Co." He got acquainted with the activity of the ceramic tile production enterprise of MMC.

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17 January 2024 17:39 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

In the International Sea Port of Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan), for the first time in the current year, two vessels with cargo from Baku, Azernews reports.

According to the official source of Turkmenistan, from Baku to the port of Turkmenbashi, a dry cargo ship "Turkmenistan" docked at the berth of the container terminal on January 11, followed by a dry cargo ship "Magtymguly" with containers on board.

In addition to the two arriving dry cargo ships, the busiest line on the Caspian Sea between Turkmenbashi International Sea Port and Baku International Sea Trade Port is served by Turkmen RO-PAX car-passenger vessels "Berkarar" and "Bagtyyar".

Each of these vessels can take 54 trucks and 200 passengers on board, covering the route in 12 hours.

In addition, the Merchant Marine Fleet of Turkmenistan includes various types of vessels: dry cargo ships, tankers for transportation of oil and oil products, passenger ships, car-passenger ferries, yachts, tugboats of various classes, and auxiliary vessels.

The existing sea routes connect Turkmenbashi International Sea Port with the ports of Baku (Azerbaijan), Astrakhan and Makhachkala (Russia), Aktau (Kazakhstan), Enzeli, Noushehr, Bandar-Turkmen (Iran) and other ports.

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Azerbaijani jazz music has captivated Austrian music lovers.

Organized by Azerbaijani Cultural Centre in Vienna, the concerts themed "Jazz in Azerbaijan" were successfully held in jazz clubs Frau Mayer and Porgy & Bess, Azernews reports.

Musicologist Turan Mammadaliyeva, Ph.D. in Art History, welcomed the guests to the event. She spoke about the history of Azerbaijani jazz, the main directions of development, genres, leading figures, groups, and orchestras, in particular jazz mugham, which is an integral part of Azerbaijani music.

Musicologist Christoph Huber stressed the importance of the project in the further development of cultural bridges between countries and acquaintance with the Azerbaijani national jazz culture.

Next, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Salman Gambarov was invited to the stage.

Salman Gambarov's performances were accompanied by Fuad Jafarov (bass guitar), Nijat Bayramov, Eyvaz Gashimov (drummer), Fakhraddin Dadashov (kamancha), Klara Kaltenbock (vocals), and Daniel Vebor (saxophone).

Note that Salman Gambarov is the artistic director of the Bakustic Jazz group and the Rashid Behbudov State Song Theater.

The concert programs included original compositions and works by Azerbaijani composers Telman Hajiyev, Rauf Hajiyev, Tofig Guliyev, and Emin Sabitoglu, as well as jazz improvisations and interpretations were presented.

One of the interesting moments was the presentation of the Latif project based on the 1930 silent film of the same name, directed by Mikail Mikailov, with an improvised soundtrack in the style of ethno-jazz.

This project was created by Salman Gambarov in 2001 and is still successfully demonstrated in various countries around the world as part of international festivals.

The project idea was proposed by Honored Artists, art historians, Jahangir Selimkhanov and Ayaz Salayev, who proposed creating an interesting synthesis by dubbing a silent film from the beginning of the last century in a modern style. The initiative aroused great public interest.
17 January 2024 19:54 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Iran fired missiles at the north of Iraq and Syria, which caused the death of five people including two children, on Monday night.

Iraqi Foreign Ministry denounced the attack and called it as aggression against the sovereignty of Iraq and the security of the Iraqi people and harming good-neighbourly relations and the security of the region.

The Ministry noted that the Iraqi government will take all legal measures against these actions.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry added that Iranian charge d`affaires in Baghdad was summoned to the Ministry to protest against the attacks and also Iraqi ambassador to Iran was summoned for discussion.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attacks. IRGC claimed that the targets in Iraq were the US military base and MOSSAD headquarters. As for the targets in Syria, according to the data of IRGC they were bases of ISIS.

Iranian officials noted that the attacks were retaliation for Israeli attacks on IRGC leaders in Damascus, the capital of Syria in which senior IRGC commander had been killed.

This headquarters was responsible for planning and running espionage operations and terrorist activities in the region, mainly our beloved country, Iranian officials said.

Kurdish politician called the Iranian action as an unjustified attack on a civilian home.

The White House called the missile attacks as a reckless and imprecise set of strikes. Besides, despite Iranian claims, US officials noted that no US bases in Iraq was affected by the missile strikes and there were no American casualities.

Given that the region holds one of the globally biggest fossil fuel reserves, any military confrontation in the region causes concern. Besides, naming the USA in the conflicts poses questions if America can conduct any operations against Iran.

Speaking to Azernews on the issue, Dr. Imran Khalid, a Pakistani pundit, noted that the situation in the region will deteriorate and aggravate and it will certainly impact oil prices. The situation is not likely to cool down in the coming days because in the whole of the Middle East, we will see a lot of disruption, be it in Gaza, be it in Lebonan, be it in Syria and now in Iraq.

So, there is complete unrest. The only person who is likely to aggravate the situation for his own benefit is most probable is the US president Joe Biden. Because his popularity is going very low in those days, and the presidential campaign is on in America and Trump is leading by margins. He is much ahead on the surveys. Biden is not likely to win. Biden is seeking some narratives to attract the American voters and the best part could be to show some kind of military success in the region. Small scale, a surgical strike can not be ruled out and it will be enough to impact oil prices. As a matter of course, it will affect all countries engaging in fossil-fuels, Imran Khalid said.

He added that surely, Iran will be definitely affected by the whole scenario. All the people in Iran and all its neighbors will be affected as well. The pundit added that there is a huge Azerbaijani population in Iran, and definitely, the situation is not going too well in any military confrontations for them. Because, there will be a big pressure on Iran and of course, its population will feel the same pressure. Imran Khalid added that needless to say, this pressure will come to its neighbors, as well.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

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A KBS TV producer and two other staff members at the public broadcaster were sentenced to ten million won ($7,438) in fines each Wednesday on charges of animal abuse over the 2021 death of a horse during the filming of a drama series.

The three were accused of tying up the horse's forelegs and making it sprint forward, leading the animal to fall flat on its face, while shooting a scene of the drama, "The King of Tears, Lee Bangwon," on Nov. 2, 2021.

The horse, which was left unattended without proper care, died five days later.

"The gravity of the crime is not light, taking into account the pain that the horse must have felt and the impact the case had on society after it was aired," the Seoul Southern District Court said.

There were other methods to shoot the scene, including having a stunt fall from a horse, or utilizing computer graphics instead, but the crew went ahead by knocking down the horse, citing unrealistic expressions or the high cost of other methods, the court added.

The court also sentenced the TV station to five million won in fines.

The court said, however, it also took into account the fact that the defendants followed the customary method of filming and they established a set of guidelines after the incident. (Yonhap)
17 January 2024 11:00 (UTC+04:00)

Nigar Hasanova Read more

Spokesperson for Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aykhan Hajizada, has responded to the question raised by the local media concerning Farid Safarli, an Azerbaijani citizen arrested in Iran, Azernews reports.

Following Farid Gabil oghlu Safarli's detention on March 4, 2023, in Iran and subsequent court decisions against him, his parents expressed concern about their son's condition, prompting them to seek assistance from Azerbaijani state institutions.

As detailed in press releases of the Ministry dated March 9, June 2, and August 2, 2023, significant efforts have been undertaken by both the Ministry and the consulate general of Azerbaijan in Tabriz. These efforts aim to investigate the fate and health of Farid Safarli, seek clarification from Iran, safeguard the citizen's judicial and procedural rights, and ensure he is provided with a lawyer.

During the trial held on July 19 of the previous year, the initial charge of spying against F. Safarli was modified to an intention to spy. Subsequently, the court decided to impose a 2-and-a-half-year sentence on him.

In addition, employees of the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Tabriz, Iran, regularly meet with Farid Safarli in prison and provide conditions for him to maintain telephone contact with his family members.

The Government of Azerbaijan continues to take all necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of Farid Safarli.

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17 January 2024 14:56 (UTC+04:00)

Nigar Hasanova Read more

Holding discussions on the results of COP28 and the impact of Global Climate Change on Azerbaijan is included in the Spring Session Legislative Work Plan of the Parliament Committee for Natural Resources, Energy, and Ecology, Azernews reports.

According to the plan, meetings and discussions with non-governmental organisations specialising in environmental issues are also scheduled within COP29.

This also includes hearings on air pollution management in Baku city within COP29.

The decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023.

Besides Azerbaijan, both Armenia and Bulgaria nominated their candidatures. However, after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia on December 7, 2023, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in favour of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed suit and also withdrew its candidacy.

On January 4, 2024, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, was appointed as President of COP29.

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17 January 2024 15:28 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikail Jabbarov wrote in his X social account that Azerbaijan and Finland discussed opportunities for strengthening regional economic cooperation, Azernews reports.

On the margins of the Davos Economic Forum (@wef), we held a meeting with Elina Valtonen (@elinavaltonen), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland. We exchanged views on the priority directions of the relations between our countries, emerging opportunities for enhancing  Mikayil Jabbarov (@MikayilJabbarov) January 17, 2024

"We held a meeting with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on the margins of the Davos Economic Forum. We exchanged views on priority areas of relations between our countries, opportunities for strengthening regional economic cooperation, and prospects for bilateral ties," the publication reads.

Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikail Jabbarov also discussed new opportunities for cooperation with the Carlsberg Group within the Davos Economic Forum.

Within the Davos Economic Forum (@wef), we met with Jacob Aarup-Andersen, the CEO of the Carlsberg Group company (@carlsberggroup). Our discussions covered the successful operations of the company in Azerbaijan and the favorable effects of the #economic reforms implemented in our pic.twitter.com/6in6oVyEOT  Mikayil Jabbarov (@MikayilJabbarov) January 17, 2024

"Within the Davos Economic Forum, we met with Jacob Aarup-Andersen, CEO of Carlsberg Group. We discussed the company's successful activity in Azerbaijan and the favorable impact of economic reforms carried out in our country on the business climate. We also assessed the company's efforts to localise production in Azerbaijan and explored new opportunities for cooperation," the publication says.

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17 January 2024 17:21 (UTC+04:00)

The Azerbaijani Defence Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, met with the delegation led by Turkish Deputy National Defence Celal Sami Tufekci, who is on a working visit to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the Defence Ministry.

Before the meeting, the Turkish delegation visited the graves of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva, in the Alley of Honour, as well as the Alley of Shehids (Martyrs) and Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery. The guests laid wreaths and flowers and honoured their blessed memory.

Then, the Defence Ministry hosted the meeting with the Turkish delegation.

Colonel General Z. Hasanov welcomed the guests and expressed his satisfaction with seeing them in Azerbaijan.

The sides honoured the memory of the servicemen of both armies martyred during the military operations and prayed to Almighty Allah for the repose of their souls.

The Defence Minister noted that Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation is constantly developing in all fields, including the military. He emphasised that the strategic alliance between the two fraternal countries is based on friendship and brotherhood.

The Minister noted that the friendly relations of the heads of two states play an invaluable role in reaching a high level of Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation.

C.S. Tufekci expressed his satisfaction with the visit to Azerbaijan. He expressed the importance of further expansion of cooperation based on mutual trust, confidence, and support between the two countries.

The importance of joint projects in military provision was noted at the meeting attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkiye to Azerbaijan, Cahit Bagc, and the leadership of the defence industry companies of the fraternal country. The meeting discussed further expansion of Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation in military, military-technical, and other fields, including regional security issues.

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The newly appointed Australian Ambassador to Russia, John William Geering, paid a courtesy visit to the doyen of the diplomatic corps, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Polad Bulbuloglu, on January 16.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador congratulated John Geering on his appointment and wished him professional success, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, the ambassadors discussed a number of issues, including the current relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The Australian Ambassador was informed about the situation in the already-ended Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and noted that Australia has always supported Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Polad Bulbuloglu spoke in detail about the history of the conflict, the long-term and fruitless negotiation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the victory in the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020, as well as local anti-terrorist measures on September 19, 2023, during which our country restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

He also spoke about the post-conflict period and the large-scale restoration and reconstruction work being carried out in Azerbaijan's liberated territories.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador also informed John Geering about the reintegration process of the Armenian residents living in the Garabagh region into Azerbaijan's legal and socio-economic fields.

The Azerbaijani diplomat drew special attention to the fact that peace, stability, and security in the South Caucasus are possible only through the establishment of good neighbourly relations based on mutual respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of both countries.

During the meeting, issues of transport communications in the region were also discussed. Polad Bulbuloglu spoke about the current situation in the development of the North-South Corridor and the construction of a road through Iran, pointing out that Baku stands for the fastest possible restoration and opening of all communications in the region.

The Ambassador, John Geering, congratulated Azerbaijan on the choice of the city of Baku to host COP29 in 2024.

The conversation took place in a warm and trusting atmosphere. The parties discussed various topics on the agenda between the countries and exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

The Ambassador, Polad Bulbuloglu, thanked his counterpart for the visit and expressed hope for the continued development of relations of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Australia.

In conclusion, the Australian Ambassador was presented with a book entitled "Garabagh: Before and After the Occupation," published by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

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17 January 2024 16:08 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

"We want to restore the Imarat complex and return it to its pre-occupation state," international expert on restoration of ancient monuments Alessandro Bianchi said in a statement to journalists, Azernews reports.

According to the expert, who said he was invited to Azerbaijan to work on the restoration process of the Imarat complex, he noted that the complex is not only an ancient historical monument but also has an ancient cemetery.

"When we came here for the first time after the liberation of Aghdam, we noticed that the condition of the Imarat complex was quite deplorable. We know that the restoration of the complex is very important for the Azerbaijani people. At the same time, from a religious point of view, it is a sensitive place," the expert said.

According to Alessandro Bianchi, after the liberation of Aghdam from occupation, negotiations were held with the Ministry of Culture, and last year a plan for the restoration of the "Imarat" complex was prepared. The works carried out in the "Imarat" complex were divided into two stages.

The first phase is the restoration of the existing buildings, and the second phase is the restoration of the ancient cemetery. The restoration of the cemetery faces great difficulties.

"Almost all the graves are destroyed and looted. In addition, the lack of knowledge about the graves creates additional difficulties for us. So the graves are out of place, each one destroyed in a different direction."

Bianchi emphasised that Azerbaijani archaeologists have done great work in the "Imarat" complex: "Currently, the second stage of research is underway, that is, the restoration of the complex at the highest level and its commissioning.

The complex of Panahali-khan was restored in the late 1970s during the Soviet period. We are conducting a study of these archival documents and preparing a restoration project based on these documents. The main goal of the current restoration is to return the Imarat Complex to its pre-occupation state. President Ilham Aliyev was informed that the main goal is to return the complex to its pre-occupation state".

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17 January 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

New York authorities are taking measures to regulate the stay of migrants in the city, Azernews reports, citing Foreign Media Outlets.

From Tuesday a curfew will be imposed in four temporary migrant centers from 23:00 to 6:00 to prevent complaints from local residents about begging by illegal migrants. The problem became especially urgent after the governor of Texas began sending illegal migrants to New York.

Near the centers of stay, you can observe crowds of migrants who loiter around even at night. New York Mayor Eric Adams expressed fears that the dominance of migrants could lead to the destruction of the city. The curfew will affect only four temporary stay centers, where migrants will have to check in every day and confirm their presence in shelters during the specified period. Exceptions will be possible only when a visitor is working or studying, as well as when visiting medical institutions and legalization authorities.

New York authorities plan to sue 17 bus carriers for $708 million for expenses related to the maintenance of thousands of migrants brought from Texas.

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17 January 2024 11:46 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Today marks the dispatch of 1500 patrols of the European Union Mission to Armenia's border regions. Azernews reports referring to the tweet on the X account of the EUMA mission.

Today, #EUMA marks 1500 patrols to the border areas.  The Mission is tasked with observing and reporting on the situation on the ground. #EUMA conducts patrols from 6 operating bases in Kapan, Goris, Jermuk, Yeghegnadzor, Martuni & Ijevan. pic.twitter.com/nyg1zpeos8  European Union Mission in Armenia (@EUmARMENIA) January 17, 2024

It is noted that the mission is tasked with observing the situation on the ground and preparing a report.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, when asked about the increase in the number of civilian missions of the European Union, said that on December 11, 2023, the EU decided to expand from 138 to 209 and added:

"It is a neutral mission that operates exclusively on Armenian territory and has no executive function, the EU Council said in a statement. It is intended for two years to promote stability in Armenia's border regions and normalise relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The European Union Civilian Mission to Armenia (EUMA) started its work on February 20, 2023.

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17 January 2024 12:21 (UTC+04:00)

By Ali Kursat Buyukada

Turkiye's space age is beginning. The first Turkish astronaut, Alper Gezeravc, is going on a 14-day space journey tonight. The launch, which will take place at 01.11 tonight, will be made in the US state of Florida.

Within the scope of the first manned space mission of the National Space Program, the historical 14-day journey of the first Turkish astronaut, Alper Gezeravc, will begin on the night between January 17 and January 18. The Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew, including Turkiye's first space traveller, Alper Gezeravc, will head towards the International Space Station (ISS). The launch from Florida will take place on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 01.11 Turkiye time. Docking with the International Space Station (ISS) will take place on January 19 at 13.15. With this step, the first manned space mission of the National Space Program, which Turkiye announced in 2021, will reach its goal.

13 science experiments will be done

Candidates completed their training in the USA, Japan, Germany, and Turkiye. In addition, 13 science experiments to be carried out on the International Space Station (ISS) have been identified. These experiments will be carried out in microgravity and space environments in the fields of human genetics, human health, biology, material science, production technologies, and basic sciences. Integration and adaptation studies of the experiments will be carried out in coordination with TUBITAK Space, Axiom Space, and NASA.

Moreover, there is a crew of four people for the 'Ax-3' mission that Axiom Space will send to the International Space Station (ISS). The people with whom Gezeravc will take part in the Ax-3 flight will be mission leader Michael Lopez-Alegria representing the USA and Spain, pilot Walter Villadei from the Italian Air Force, and Swedish Marcus Wandt participating on behalf of the European Space Agency.

It will be watched live in the squares

Preparations were made in some cities, especially Istanbul and Ankara, to watch the launch ceremony. It can be watched from the planetariums in Kzlay and Taksim starting at 23.00 tonight. In addition, the moments when the launch will be held with bated breath will be broadcast live in science centres in Turkiye. Children, young people, and elders who are curious about space will share this excitement in the centres. The ceremony can also be watched from Konya Science Centre, Bursa Gokmen Space Aviation Training Centre, Bilim Uskudar, Antalya Science Centre, Gaziantep Muzeyyen Erkul Science Centre, Aksaray Science Centre, Trabzon Ozdemir Bayraktar Science Centre, and Kayseri Science Centre.

It is expected that Vice President Cevdet Ylmaz will also come to the planetarium, where collective excitement will be experienced. Space demonstrations will be held for 14 days in the planetarium, which will remain established during the Turkish astronaut's stay in space. In addition, on the day of the launch, experiment owners will come to the planetarium in Ankara and explain their experiments in space and their importance to space enthusiasts throughout the day.

Besides that, space travellers who will go on the Ax-3 space mission will also take with them some personal objects and objects that symbolise their country. In Gezeravc's suitcase, there will be photographs of his family members, especially his nephew, some objects belonging to Yoruk culture, and the Turkish flag given to them by President Erdogan. Space traveller Alper Gezeravc, who gave an interview to Yeni Safak after being selected as a space traveller, said that the first thing he wanted to do in space was to wave the Turkish flag. Gezeravc said, We do not take our flag into space. Our flag takes us to space. Therefore, the priority will be to show the presence of our flag there to the whole world. "We will raise our flag against Turkiye, take photos, and share our photo with the Turkish Space Agency," he said.

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17 January 2024 22:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The Government of the Kazakhstan Republic has approved the Astana Master Plan until 2035, which outlines steps for further development of the social, housing and communal, transport and energy infrastructure of the capital city, Azernews reports, citing international media outlets.

The main urban planning document of Astana, developed on behalf of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has been widely discussed. It provides for measures to advance the development of the city, taking into account the dynamic growth of the population. Today, the number of residents of the capital is about 1.2 million people, and it is expected that by 2035 this figure will reach 2.3 million people.

The general plan provides for the construction of 164 schools, 178 kindergartens and 93 health facilities. By 2029, 15 modern palaces of schoolchildren will also be built. All this is at the expense of the local budget and private investments.

It is planned to increase the housing stock of the capital to 68.2 million square meters, and the length of the street and road network per 1000 kilometers to 2.5 thousand kilometers. The development of alternative modes of public transport is envisaged, and the construction of five large bridges is planned to unload the main highways, especially in the Yesil area.

The amount of investments for the implementation of the Astana Master Plan by 2025 from all sources will amount to 6.3 trillion tenge ($13.9 billion). Of these, private investments in housing construction amount to about 4.3 trillion tenge ($9.5 billion), and 700 billion tenge ($1.5 billion) for infrastructure projects.

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Chinese public security organs to deepen fight against gang crimes, dismantle over 1,900 criminal organizations in 2023

Global Times) 16:02, January 17, 2024

China's public security organs have continued to deepen the fight against gang crime, dismantling over 1,900 criminal organizations and solving around 29,000 criminal cases, arresting 27,000 suspects in 2023, China's Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday.

Chinese police have conducted joint law enforcement cooperation with the Indonesian police, successfully dismantling a major cross-border criminal gang involved in "nude chat" extortion cases, which were hiding in places including Batam island, Indonesia, according to the ministry.

In response to the severe situation of the spread of crimes on the internet, the ministry has deployed local public security organs to carry out special actions to crack down on crimes related to online criminal activities. A total of 795 criminal organizations involved in internet crimes have been dismantled, with over 12,000 criminal suspects arrested and 18,000 criminal cases solved, the ministry said.

In 2023, the ministry has issued supervisory instructions for 37 major cases involving in criminal organizations. At the same time, efforts have been made to apprehend fugitives, resulting in the arrest of 1,222 individuals, including 1,105 at home and 117 abroad.

Public security authorities have also participated in special operations to combat illegal sand mining in the Yangtze River and crack down on the illegal mining of ocean bed sand. They have continued to crack down on key industries involved in criminal organizations such as "sand bullies."

In September 2023, authorities made further efforts to clean up key industries such as education, financial lending, and market circulation.

China witnessed a 4.8-percent decline in criminal cases in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to the ministry.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Japan gains attention as OECD advises country to abolish mandatory retirement to secure workers

By Jun Ji-hye

The ratio of middle-aged and elderly people who remain unemployed after retirement has increased by more than 10 percentage points over the past nine years due to the countrys low birthrate and aging society, according to a state-run agency, Wednesday.

The Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged, under the direct control of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said that the ratio of people aged between 55 and 64 who remained unemployed after retirement stood at 38.8 percent in 2022, up from 27.9 percent in 2014.

The ratio of those who found new jobs after their retirement decreased to 29.3 percent from 29.8 percent during the same period.

The institute noted that many people in this age group still need to be economically active in order to make a living.

About 30 percent of people in this age group left their workplaces involuntarily, as they were advised to resign or were laid off by their employers. The average age of these people was 52.

The highest proportion of new jobs after retirement were simple labor jobs such as cleaners and apartment guards, at 33.1 percent, but this figure has decreased by 10 percentage points over the past nine years.

Instead, office and service jobs have been on the rise to 8.1 percent from 6.3 percent, and to 17 percent from 12 percent, respectively.

The institute raised the need to create more jobs that guarantee steady income for retired middle-aged and elderly people, in preparation for increased demand.

The governments existing policy that was designed to offer jobs to retirees was concentrated largely in simple labor jobs, the institute said.

But our analysis showed that the ratio of those reemployed with simple labor jobs decreased, whereas cases of reemployment in more professional jobs increased. This leaves a task for the government to prepare a greater variety and more professional jobs for retirees.

As part of efforts to cope with an increasing number of unemployed seniors, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced a decision recently to expand its financial aid for small- and medium-sized firms that retain workers who pass their retirement age.

Since 2020, the ministry has been providing employers that retain retirement-age workers with 300,000 won ($223) per employee per month.

The ministry said on Jan. 11 that it will expand the period of support to three years from the current two.

Amid low birthrates and an aging population, seniors these days are highly educated and more skilled, compared to the past, a labor ministry official said. We will actively support them so they can be utilized as a core workforce and work longer.

Labor groups, for their part, urged the government to pay keen attention to the OECD's new economic report on Japan, in which the intergovernmental organization recommended abolishing mandatory retirement in order to secure enough workers amid their population decline.

Among the OECDs 38 member nations, Korea and Japan are the only two that let employers set a mandatory retirement age of 60.

Such practices are generally prohibited in the United States and some European countries which consider them a form of age-based discrimination.

Joining in the discussion, a new political party founded by former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Keum Tae-seop proposed, Jan. 10, abolishing mandatory retirement and instead modifying salary systems to lessen the burden on companies.
17 January 2024 20:15 (UTC+04:00)

Now, visiting the world-famous Istanbul Hagia Sophia Mosque (Hagia Sophia Cathedral) has become a fee for foreign tourists. A separate entrance will be allocated for them, and the current one will be used by persons who arrive at the mosque for worship, Azernews reports, citing Turkish Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

"We have developed a management plan for visits to Hagia Sophia, including taking into account UNESCO recommendations and global practice. Starting from January 15, visiting the mosque by foreign tourists will be paid. We will divide the flows: the current entrance will be used by those who arrive at the mosque for religious purposes, and tourists will enter it through another entrance," the minister said.

He added that a special audio guide has been developed for tourists, which can be downloaded to mobile devices. If desired, they can get headphones at the entrance and take a tour of the temple on their own.

St. Sophia Cathedral is a monument of Byzantine architecture, which was erected in 532-537 on the instructions of Emperor Justinian. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, it was turned into a mosque. In 1935, according to a decree of the Turkish government signed by the founder of the modern Turkish state, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the cathedral became a museum. In 1985, the architectural complex, along with other monuments located in the historical part of Istanbul, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In July 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree according to which Hagia Sophia became a mosque and Muslim services resumed there.

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By Lee Hae-rin

The possibility of the plan for Gimpo to be merged into Seoul is losing momentum as the municipalitys attempt to hold a referendum before the general elections in April seems unlikely.

According to Gimpo City and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Wednesday, the safety ministry has yet to decide whether to hold a referendum in Gimpo to collect public opinions on the reorganization of administrative divisions, as requested by the municipality.

The ruling People Power Party's (PPP) idea of including Gimpo and other adjacent cities in Seoul emerged last year, triggering a heated debate on the future direction of the megacity and expanding the idea to other southern cities amid the population decline.

Under the Residents Voting Act, local municipalities cannot hold a vote within 60 days of the election day.

In that respect, the city government would have to finalize all voting procedures by Feb. 10, 60 days ahead of the general elections, which are slated for April 10.

However, even if the safety ministry gives Gimpo the green light now, there is a remote chance for the vote to actually take place in time, as it would involve several pending procedures, including a review by the National Election Commission, budget compilation and passing at the Cabinet meeting.

The safety ministry said it is examining whether the vote is necessary, but believes it could be difficult to complete all voting procedures before Feb. 10, as requested by Gimpo.

With the low probability of holding a vote, the special bill on Gimpos incorporation into Seoul proposed by PPP lawmakers is also likely to be scrapped automatically at the end of the 21st Assembly.

The PPP announced last October that it would push for the citys incorporation into Seoul and proposed a special act a few weeks later. However, the party made no substantial follow-ups after.

Being unable to hold a local vote before the general elections will not stop us from pushing for incorporation, a Gimpo City official said, underscoring the local governments ongoing joint study with the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the megacity plans future.

Regardless of the general elections, the city government will continue preparing the plan to incorporate into Seoul. When a new Assembly kicks off after the elections, the city government will propose another special act on incorporation and prepare due procedures, the official added.
Archived Results for Wednesday, January 17th, 2024

Newer Older Entries  Page 1 Page 2
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?

98.25% No, I do not support Election Interference; I am a patriot unto our Constitution.1.75% 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?
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?
Providence, R.I.-based Lifespan Health System named Cindy Peterson as executive vice president of ambulatory care.

In the role, Ms. Peterson is responsible for overseeing the physician practices, healthcare clinics and urgent care centers and leading Lifespan's clinical ambulatory services across Rhode Island, according to a Jan. 16 news release from the health system.

Prior to joining Lifespan, Ms. Peterson served as vice president of regional ambulatory operations and business development for Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Ms. Peterson started in the position in December.

Lifespan supports more than 1,620 hospitals and clinics throughout Rhode Island, according to its website.
ASCs might just be the golden ticket hospitals have been searching for.

Over the past few years, hospitals and health systems have shown an increased interest in the ASC market.

Forty-seven percent of hospitals and health systems have an affiliation or ownership interest in multiple freestanding ASCs, according to the 2023 "Hospital Leadership ASC Survey," conducted by ASC expert group Avanza Healthcare Strategies.

A survey from VMG Health showed that 60% of health systems would consider a joint venture partnership with ASCs in 2024.

So where is the interest in ASCs coming from?

"ASCs often have lower operating costs than their hospital counterparts primarily due to the reduced expenses associated with fewer staff, less supplies and smaller facilities," Shannon Simmons, program manager of ambulatory infection prevention and control for Christus Health in Dallas, told Becker's. "This economic opportunity has enticed healthcare systems, who have been known to primarily operate hospitals, to procure partnerships in the ambulatory healthcare space to capitalize on this shift in healthcare services. Healthcare systems buying into the ambulatory healthcare space may contribute to the aggressive growth of ambulatory healthcare facilities in the coming years, as these systems strategize to combat the projected economic downturn."
New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System has opened a new outpatient clinic in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens.

Mount Sinai Queens-Crescent Street offers a variety of outpatient primary and specialty practices, according to a Jan. 17 news release. The facility includes centers for hematology/oncology, gastroenterology, endocrinology/diabetes care, rheumatology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and heart care.

A retail pharmacy and an urgent care clinic associated with the hospital's emergency room are expected to open on the center's first floor within the next year, the release said.
An arctic blast has brought frigid temperatures to most of the U.S., leading some hospitals to postpone elective procedures.

Nearly 80% of the U.S. saw subzero temperatures overnight on Jan. 15, with wind chills forecasted to reach as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the country Jan. 16, according to NBC News. Frigid temperatures are expected to warm up slightly Jan. 17 before another round of arctic air sweeps through much of the country in the second half of the week.

Tacoma (Wash.) General Hospital has closed its 30 operating rooms each day since Jan. 12 due to the extreme cold, a spokesperson for the system told ABC affiliate KOMO News. As of Jan. 15, 80 elective procedures had been rescheduled. The ORs were closed because frigid temperatures can cause humidity levels to decrease, which poses a risk of fire and electrostatic discharge to certain medical equipment. Dozens of patients were sent to other facilities in the region that weren't affected.

"The cold weather is making it harder to control the humidity in the hospital," Scott Thomas, a spokesperson, told the news outlet, adding that normal operations are expected to resume by Jan. 17. Operations are underway to add humidity control devices to Tacoma General's HVAC systems, which would prevent having to postpone elective surgeries due to frigid temperatures in the future, Mr. Thomas said.

Meanwhile, the majority of elective procedures at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center RiverBend in Springfield, Ore., scheduled for Jan. 15 were postponed and rescheduled, according to a report from NBC affiliate KMTR. The health system's clinics in the region were also closed.

The extreme cold is also causing water lines to break. Water poured into the emergency department at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita, Kan., on Jan. 14 after a sprinkler line broke. In a statement to FOX affiliate KAKE, the hospital said most of the damage has since been repaired.

"An overhead sprinkler line fractured, causing water damage in parts of the Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Emergency Department and surrounding areas," the hospital told the news outlet. "Facilities and hospital leadership responded immediately and quickly ensured that all processes and resources were in place to continue to safely care for patients."

Cincinnati Children's faced a similar problem at its behavioral health facility in Norwood, Ohio, on Jan. 12. A water fountain burst and flooded the facility. It remained closed as of Jan. 15, according to NBC affiliate WLWT.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he delivered a speech about Korea's capabilities and policy in the nuclear energy and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors, his office said Wednesday.

Han participated in the annual meeting of government and business leaders with the theme "Rebuilding Trust" on Tuesday (local time). The five-day event brought together some 2,800 leaders from government, business, civil society, and academia to discuss pressing global challenges.

During the session on nuclear energy, Han shared Korea's capability of successfully building over 30 nuclear power plants both at home and abroad since 1972, the office said.

He emphasized the importance of nuclear energy in dealing with climate change and contributing to energy security.

Han also encouraged the international community's participation in the use of carbon-free energy sources, as previously proposed by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

In the session under the theme "AI: The Great Equalizer," Han participated as a panelist and discussed issues related to ensuring equal access to AI technology.

The prime minister also held a bilateral meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines.

Han also held meetings with global company chiefs, including Henrik Andersen, CEO of Vestas Wind Systems, a Danish manufacturer of wind turbines.

Han is the first Korean prime minister to attend the event since 2009. Last year's session was attended by President Yoon. (Yonhap)
The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and National Counterterrorism Center announced Jan. 12 ongoing bomb threats to multiple public institutions, including hospitals and health systems.

The threats used similar wording and were sent using publicly available encryption tools. There have been over 100 messages reported since Dec. 8, targeting more than 1,000 institutions across 42 states and Washington, D.C.

Though the threats are unsubstantiated, the government agencies responsible for following the messages advise those affected to remain vigilant.

"Although there are no known specific credible bombing threats targeting hospitals and health systems, all should remain vigilant and engage in threat information exchange with local law enforcement authorities on a regular basis," said John Riggi, the American Hospital Association's national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, in a Jan. 16 statement.
Lewiston-based Central Maine Healthcare is laying off 45 employees as part of management reorganization.

The layoffs come after Central Maine ended urgent care services at its Maine Urgent Care on Sabattus Street in Lewiston on Jan. 12. No layoffs were initially reported as a result of the closure.

The integrated health system, which has 3,100 employees, hired 639 team members, including 52 medical staff, in 2023, according to a Jan. 16 press release shared with Becker's.

Central Maine plans to continue workforce expansion in clinical care areas like oncology, orthopedics, gynecologic services and obstetrics, and cardiovascular.

"All team members affected will be offered open positions within the health system or benefit and severance packages should they choose to separate," the release said.
Lewisville, Texas-based Med-Trans, a medical transport provider, closed its UF Health ShandsCair base serving Gainesville, Fla.-based UF Health Shands Hospital on Jan. 10 due to decreased transportation demands.

While a number was not given, the service closures also resulted in layoffs, a spokesperson for UF Health, the hospital's parent company, told Becker's in a statement.

A Milton, Fla.-based hybrid base previously staffed by ShandsCair and Med-Trans will now be solely operated by Med-Trans. Interfacility transports for hospitals and EMS agencies, along with 911 services, will continue to be supported by ShandsCair in both Perry, Fla., and Gainesville, the spokesperson said.

UF Health comprises more than 30,000 employees and three nonprofit hospital systems that include 10 hospitals. UF Health Shands Hospital has more than 1,200 physicians and over 9,000 nursing and support staff.
As healthcare staffing shortages persist, one specialty that continues to feel the scarcity is pediatrics.

Pediatric medicine saw 4,142 dropouts from 2021 to 2022, making it the fifth highest number of specialty dropouts, according to a report by Definitive Healthcare.

"I just took care of someone yesterday who needed an appointment with a subspecialist and it's a yearlong wait, and that all of 2024 was booked. I think that there are definitely shortages," Alison Tothy, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and chief experience and engagement officer of UChicago Medicine, told Becker's.

A nonprofit academic medical health system, UChicago Medicine consists of the Medical Center, Pritzker School of Medicine and the Biological Sciences Division. With over 40 institutes and centers, the health system has 805 beds, almost 850 attending physicians, around 2,500 nurses, and more than 1,000 residents and fellows, according to its LinkedIn page.

Dr. Tothy said fair pay, reimbursements, loan repayment and burnout are just some of the key factors causing a pediatric shortage.

"I really do believe examining reimbursement rates for child services is incredibly important. Realigning them to meet the escalating costs in general of healthcare, I don't think that pediatric reimbursement has met those rises," she said.

Dr. Tothy said children are requiring increased resources, be that from a developmental or mental health standpoint, which is placing stronger burdens on pediatricians.

"We aren't necessarily providing the support structure to help pediatricians navigate these complicated spaces," Dr. Tothy said.

Working as a pediatric emergency medicine physician, Dr. Tothy said people with acute problems often get redirected to the pediatric emergency department due to lack of availability with general pediatrics.

"I worry that the patients that I send out that I know need follow-up care can't get the follow-up care in the moment that they need it. Sometimes we keep them longer in the pediatric emergency department to be able to take care of them more thoroughly than we might if we can ensure that in the next couple of days they would have a follow-up," she said.

Dr. Tothy is hopeful that in getting medical students immersed in pediatric shadowing and early hands-on patient experience, more people will join the field.

"I really love taking care of children and I love taking care of healthy adults," she said. "When you take care of children, you're not just taking care of the child, you're taking care of the whole family. To me, that's really important."

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed halting a policy requiring state-owned hospitals to file lawsuits against patients over medical debt, according to Syracuse.com.

Ms. Hochul's proposal would prevent all hospitals from suing to collect medical debt from patients with income of under 400% of the poverty line. She has asked the New York legislature to pass a replacement policy during the state's budget process before using executive power to mandate her policy.

The proposal was part of the New York Democrats' $233 billion budget proposal presented Jan. 16, and legislators will negotiate through March for the final budget.

Medical debt has been a particular focus of Ms. Hochul's administration. She previously signed legislation that removes medical debt from consumer credit reports.

Hospitals would still be able to employ debt collectors and use other means outside of the courts to collect from patients, and Ms. Hochul's proposal extends the wait time before sending unpaid bills to collections to 180 days, according to the report.

The proposal also:

1. Bans hospitals from selling debt to third parties.

2. Allows people or organizations to purchase medical debt to forgive it.

3. Gives patients at 300% and 400% of the poverty line access to financial aid.

4. Gives uninsured patients with medical costs 10% of their gross annual income access to financial aid.

5. Requires hospitals to attest the patient's income is above 400% of the poverty line to sue them for medical debt.

6. Requires hospitals to provide anticipated medically necessary care to patients with unpaid medical bills.

7. Caps medical debt interest at 2% per year and drops monthly payment plan caps from 10% to 5% of the patient's gross monthly income.
Support and administrative workers at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia have voted in favor of removing District 1199C, an affiliate of the national AFSCME union, as their bargaining representative.

The vote follows hospital employee Shidiah Jackson's submission of a petition to the National Labor Relations Board, which had signatures from enough of her co-workers for a union decertification vote, according to a news release from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which assisted in the petition effort. The foundation is a nonprofit with a mission "to eliminate coercive union power and compulsory unionism abuses through strategic litigation, public information and education programs."

Nearly 60% of those participating in the election voted in favor of removing the union, according to the foundation. The vote occurred in late November, and the National Labor Relations Board certified the results of the election in December.

The foundation said approximately 277 medical assistants, office coordinators, medical secretaries and other support employees were represented by the union, with 224 members voting, according to the National Labor Relations Board. The workers unionized in 2016.

A spokesperson for the hospital's parent organization, West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health, shared the following statement with Becker's: "We respect the employees' decision in this election, and we look forward to working collaboratively with them to partner on initiatives that ensure St. Christopher's remains a great place to work and learn."

Ms. Jackson said in the foundation release: "AFSCME union officials were taking money from many employees' paychecks but didn't advocate effectively for me or my colleagues. I'm glad that we were able to exercise our right to remove the AFSCME, and I think we will be able to serve the hospital's medical staff and patients better with the union gone."

Union president John Hundzynski declined to comment to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Becker's also reached out to the union and will update the story if more information becomes available.






Oxford, N.C.-based Granville Health System has fired a woman who was hired using a fake name and has been accused of defrauding medical facilities, NBC affiliate WRAL reported Jan. 15.

The health system confirmed the situation in a statement shared with Becker's, saying Jenine Ellis was hired as a sonographer on Oct. 2 using an "assumed identity."

"Granville Health System followed its standard policies and procedures during the hiring process, including performing a background check," the health system said. "Ms. Ellis was separated from employment effective Oct. 17, 2023, and reported to law enforcement. Insofar as all other personnel information is, by law, confidential, all other questions regarding Ms. Ellis should be directed to law enforcement authorities."

Becker's has reached out to the Granville County Sheriff's Office for the status of Ms. Ellis' case and will update this story if more information becomes available.

On Jan. 15, WRAL attempted to reach Ms. Ellis but did not hear back.

Granville Health System did not provide further information, including how many patients interacted with Ms. Ellis. However, Becker's will update this story if more information becomes available.

"At Granville Health System, we are dedicated to patient care of the highest quality," the health system said. "All patient scans are reviewed by a licensed physician and neither Ms. Ellis, nor any sonographer, is responsible for medical diagnosis. To ensure the accuracy and excellence of our care, we performed an additional review of all images taken by Ms. Ellis in her brief time with Granville Health System. No issues were found."

Ms. Ellis also used a fake identity to get a job working at UNC Health Southeastern in Lumberton, N.C., part of Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health, WRAL reported.

UNC Health Southeastern shared a statement with Becker's about the issue, saying Ms. Ellis was a contracted employee hired through a staffing agency.

"We were reliant upon this agency to verify professional credentials per our contractual agreement," UNC Health Southeastern said. "When we contract with outside agencies for staffing, it is our expectation that the individual meets standards and requirements appropriate for the position for which they are contracted."

UNC Health Southeastern also said Ms. Ellis was a registered sonographer "before losing her credentials due to actions not related to her profession. For any patients with which she interacted, we reviewed their records carefully to ensure there were no issues related to quality and no irregularities were discovered. For all scans performed, a physician was responsible for final evaluation of medical information, therefore, she was not responsible for any medical diagnosis.

"As soon as the alleged misrepresentation was discovered, we contacted the agency through which the individual was contracted and immediately terminated her association with our health system."

According to CBS affiliate WNCN, Ms. Ellis has faced various charges, ranging from identity theft to fraud, dating to 2008, and also over the last decade was hired to work at ECU Health (formerly called Halifax Regional Medical Center), and Duke University Hospital, both in North Carolina.

As of Jan. 17, a certification for Jenine Ellis is not listed on the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography website.






Washington, D.C.-based Children's National is ensuring that innovation means addressing the unique needs of pediatric patients, so that breakthroughs in medical technology are accessible to all, regardless of age or background.

Kolaleh Eskandanian, PhD, chief innovation officer and vice president of Children's National Hospital, told Becker's the organization's innovation efforts have been heavily focused on regulated medical products and clinical trials.

Children's National has been actively engaged with regulatory authorities like the FDA and has received a $7.5 million grant from the organization to focus on bringing pediatric devices to market.

Dr. Eskandanian said the progress in developing medical devices for children significantly lags behind that for adults due to various challenges, such as the complexities of designing devices for growing children, a small market size and a lack of financial incentives. But, with the FDA grant, Children's National will be able to assist pediatric innovators in bringing to market medical devices tailored to address the unique needs of children.

"We partner with the FDA to always be on the lookout for new regulations that are hitting right now so we can be prepared and put children at the forefront," she said.

In addition to the FDA-funded pediatric device consortium, Children's National's innovation arm, Innovation Ventures, has also established the Pediatric Technology and Device Translation Center, which aims to streamline clinical trials, with a specific focus on decentralized trials.

"We're probably one of the first to establish a center like this," Dr. Eskandanian said. "This not only helps us do clinical trials, but to do alternatives to traditional clinical trials such as pragmatic trials, adaptive trials and decentralized trials."

The hospital also has a partnership with MedTech Color, a collaborative community supported by the FDA that focuses on sourcing talent from historically marginalized populations, ensuring inclusivity in medical device innovation.

"This initiative has a focus on African American and Hispanic populations," she said. "We want to make sure these groups are not only involved, but are also having their innovations in the medical device domain, as they know how to best engage their own populations. What we are hoping to get out of this partnership is inclusion so that we can make sure patients in all populations are included in the studies that we do. If we don't include minorities in our clinical trials, we just don't get solutions for them."

Looking ahead, Dr. Eskandanian said she is excited about new streams of revenue that came to Innovation Ventures, which will go toward building new programs. This includes new partnerships with venture capital firms and major medtech companies that will focus on creating a symposium around cardiovascular and electrophysiology medical devices, and a symposium on at-home devices.
Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for denying two of its Canadian radiologic technologist employees U.S. work visas, according to a lawsuit obtained by Becker's.

Tibor Hric, a Canadian citizen named in the lawsuit, has been with Henry Ford since 2009. Mr. Hric's TN North American Free Trade Agreement status was most recently deemed eligible in mid-April 2023 by USCIS until May 1, 2026, the lawsuit said.

After receiving status approval, Mr. Hric attempted U.S. entry last May and provided required documentation, but was refused entry after being detained at the border for several hours.

The TN NAFTA nonimmigrant status allows Canadian and Mexican professionals, like accountants, scientists, teachers, engineers, lawyers and pharmacists, to work in the U.S., according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

Alex Lau, a Canadian citizen hired by the health system in 2017, received TN status approval in March 2020, valid until June 24, 2023.

When Henry Ford Health attempted to extend Mr. Lau's TN work visa status under the TN scientific technician/technologist classification, USCIS issued a request for evidence, suggesting that Mr. Lau did not properly qualify for the classification, according to the lawsuit.

"Due to the actions of Defendants USCIS and CBP, Plaintiff has been unable to continue to employ Mr. Hric and Mr. Lau in the positions they had held since 2009 and 2017, respectively, and their absence has created critical staffing issues that have negatively impacted Plaintiff's ability to deliver patient care," the lawsuit said.

The nonprofit health system has approximately 33,000 employees, according to the lawsuit.

In a defense response, also obtained by Becker's, a USCIS attorney suggested Henry Ford failed to provide a claim where relief can be granted.

"Defendants may have additional defenses that are not known at this time. Defendants specifically reserve the right to assert any and all additional affirmative defenses which they have or through discovery learn may be applicable," the response said.
Medford, Ore.-based Asante and a cardiothoracic surgeon at the health system have agreed to pay $430,000 to settle allegations of Medicare fraud.

According to allegations listed in a Jan. 16 news release from the Justice Department, Asante and Charles Carmeci, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon, knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare for procedures that "did not meet the criteria for reimbursement or were otherwise improper."

The allegations surround a number of cardiothoracic surgeries performed between 2015 and early 2021. Dr. Carmeci practices at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center and was listed as a physician on Asante's website as of Jan. 16.

The settlement is not an admission of liability, the district attorney's office said, adding "both parties deny the government's allegations."

The Lund Report previously reported that the fraudulent billing probe was related to a whistleblower lawsuit filed by another physician at Asante Rogue Regional in 2021. The FBI reportedly investigated allegations in the lawsuit  which included that Dr. Carmecci billed government health programs for procedures he didn't perform  and that the federal government joined the suit to recoup funds after the investigation.

"With this matter resolved, we move forward and continue what we do best  providing best in class care for our patients," an Asante spokesperson said in a statement to Becker's.

News of the settlement comes as police investigate reports that several patient deaths may be tied to a nurse's drug diversion at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.






The state audit agency said Wednesday the government of Gyeonggi Province poorly supervised private companies receiving its subsidies, mostly during the time when opposition leader Lee Jae-myung served as governor.

Announcing the results of a regular audit, the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) said the provincial government failed to conduct proper oversight of subsidies given to companies for inter-Korean cooperation projects and local voucher businesses.

The result comes as Lee, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, has been standing trial over various corruption charges from his time as the Seongnam mayor and then as the governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2018 to 2021.

But the BAI said the audit, spanning from 2018 to 2022, is standard procedure, as the last audit on the provincial government was conducted in 2017.

According to the findings, the provincial government provided 1.29 billion won ($957,907) in subsidies to a private organization chosen as a partner for a project to provide assistance to North Korea in 2020.

But the audit revealed the organization illegally used 580 million won of the money for other purposes, including 430 million won for personal use.

The audit outcome also indicates the provincial government favored a private enterprise managing Gyeonggi Provincial local vouchers, which arbitrarily used an advance payment worth ten billion won provided by the provincial government.

The BAI said the provincial government was aware of the irregularities since 2020 but failed to take any legal action. (Yonhap)
Renton, Wash.-based Providence has been found liable by a Washington state judge for nearly $7.2 million in underpaid wages for thousands of hourly caregivers, Law360 reported Jan. 16.

King County Superior Court Judge Averil Rothrock also found the nonprofit health system liable for failing to ensure a second meal break was given to workers on shifts longer than 10 hours.

The hospital workers named in the class-action lawsuit against Providence were granted partial summary judgment by Ms. Rothrock, who agreed that timecard records reveal the health system's payroll policy negatively affected employee pay by rounding to the nearest 15 minutes. Many workers entitled to a second meal break also never received one, Law360 reported.

Ms. Rothrock ruled the payroll rounding policy leaned in favor of Providence and did not meet state labor regulations, which require rounding to result in full employee work compensation. Providence's actions resulted in a $7.18 million net loss of employee earnings, or $262.36 per person.

"The expert testimony taken together establishes, over time, a failure to even out that benefits Providence. Thus, Providence utilizes an unlawful rounding system because the rounding system does not average out over a period of time," Ms. Rothrock wrote in a decision obtained by Law360.

Ms. Rothrock also noted 99.4% of eligible shift workers weren't taking their second meal break, according to Providence timecard records and policies.

"Testimony in the record demonstrates that neither caregivers nor their managers are aware that caregivers are entitled to two meal periods," Ms. Rothrock said in the decision.

Ms. Rothrock said the remaining trial issues are damages for both employee classes, one class claiming unlawful time clock rounding and the other class alleging a skipped second meal break, along with an individual plaintiff meal break violation claim.

Both classes feature around 30,000 existing and previous hourly, nonexempt employees who have been with Providence since Sept. 30, 2018. Hospice and home care employees were excluded, the publication reported.

Plaintiffs moved for the summary judgment in September 2023, two years after first filing the lawsuit. Providence pushed back in an Oct. 20 cross motion for summary judgment, suggesting that its rounding practices were neutral, but Ms. Rothrock rejected its argument.

"Instead, the undisputed evidence shows wholesale failure of caregivers to punch out and take second meal breaks according to Providence's policy, and a culture of skipping the second meal break," Ms. Rothrock said in the decision.

Becker's has reached out to Providence for comment regarding the violations.
There are no reported injuries following a Jan. 14 active shooter situation at Dillingham, Alaska-based Kanakanak Hospital, managed by Dillingham-based Bristol Bay Area Health Corp., according to a Jan. 14 news release shared with Becker's.

The shooter attempted to enter the hospital's emergency department in the early morning, but the doors were locked per the hospital's protocol, Jennifer De Winne, COO of the Bristol Bay Area Health Corp., told Becker's on a phone call.

The shooter used a shotgun to fire multiple times and targeted parked cars by the hospital. Following the hospital's active shooter protocol, hospital employees called 911.

The shooter attempted to escape, but was arrested by Dillingham police, Ms. De Winne confirmed with Becker's.

Becker's has reached out to the Dillingham police department for comment and will update this story with new information as able.
Illness and disease are common with age, but new research suggests that U.S. adults are now spending more time in their life sick than well, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 17.

This is due in part to rapid medical advancements, treatments and technology that have made complicated and even deadly conditions livable and perpetually chronic.

"The period of life spent not healthy is getting larger and larger and the implications of that are enormous, John Rowe, MD, a professor of health policy and aging at Columbia University, told the Journal, adding that "70 is the new 80."

Data shows that although life expectancy is increasing, the length of the "healthspan" in which a person can do activities they enjoy pain and illness free has fallen. Now, U.S. adults can expect to spend 64.4 years in decent health instead of 64.8  while it may seem marginal, the gap continues to grow, experts say. The longer individuals live, the more opportunity they have to develop illnesses and chronic conditions as well.

"We are living longer and better, even if the length of life with diseases increased. Its better on average," Eileen Crimmins, PhD, a professor of gerontology at the University of Southern California, told the Journal.

Another contributing factor is rising rates of substance abuse and increasing rates of diabetes and cancer diagnoses in younger patients, too, experts say.

But overall, it is a call to action for bolstering preventative care services and continuing researching therapies and treatments to improve quality of life for those with chronic conditions, physicians told the Journal.

"We don't want to live to 100 if the last 20 years of that is in a nursing home or dealing with dementia or some other chronic disease," Zaldy Tan, MD director of the Memory and Aging Program at Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles, told the Journal.
Health officials in Clay County, Mo., issued an exposure warning Jan. 12, after confirming an active measles case in a resident of Liberty, a suburb 15 miles outside of Kansas City.

Risk of exposure occurred at multiple locations between Jan. 4 and Jan. 6, including at the Kansas City International Airport and on multiple floors at North Kansas City Hospital.

Clay County officials ask anyone who may have been at these locations in this time frame to monitor for symptoms until Jan. 27.

This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
Health systems and public schools are partnering in 10 urban and rural communities for a first-of-its-kind initiative funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies that will graduate students directly into high-demand healthcare jobs.

The partnerships, announced Jan. 17, mark a $250 million initiative from the philanthropic organization and a new type of solution to address workforce deficits in healthcare, where an estimated 2 million jobs are currently vacant. Whether newly established or redesigned, the schools will collectively serve nearly 6,000 students at full capacity. Students will have access to specialized healthcare curriculum, including work-based learning at the partner health system and the opportunity to earn industry-valued credentials and certifications.

Every health system partner has committed to providing job opportunities for students who successfully complete the graduation requirements of their respective programs. Upon graduation, students can enter healthcare jobs with the partner health system or opt for post-secondary education.

The following health systems are the inaugural high school partners:

Mass General Brigham (Boston)

Education partner: Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (Boston Public Schools)

Atrium Health (Charlotte, N.C.)

Education partner: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Baylor Scott & White Health (Dallas)

Education partner: Uplift Education

Duke Health (Durham, N.C.)

Education partner: Durham Public Schools

Memorial Hermann Health System (Houston)

Education partner: Aldine Independent School District

HCA Healthcare TriStar, Vanderbilt Health, Ascension and National HealthCare Corporation (Nashville, Tenn.)

Education partner: Nurses Middle College

Ballad Health (Johnson City, Tenn.)

Education partner: Northeast Tennessee Public Schools (six sites)

Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.)

Education partner: New York City Public Schools

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia)

Education partner: Mastery Schools

University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System and other state health systems and hospitals (Demopolis, Ala.)

Education partner: State of Alabama (contingent upon state funding)

Most health systems have active relationships with local high schools, but the new partnerships funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies mark significantly tighter and more structured pipelines for curriculum, training and employment.

Northwell Health's affiliated school will be newly established in Queens, N.Y.  a collaboration that CEO Michael Dowling considers visionary. "This is a new model for education that will create a better future for thousands of students and make a lasting impact on the future of healthcare for countless more," Mr. Dowling said.

In Boston, Mass General Brigham will build on its existing partnership with Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, a college preparatory and vocational high school within the Boston Public Schools system established in 1998.

"As healthcare providers continue to face persistent labor challenges, it is crucial that we develop innovative partnerships to respond to the challenges of today and invest in the healthcare leaders of tomorrow. Moreover, our work to dismantle generational health inequities depends on our ability to recruit, retain and support a diverse, culturally competent and highly skilled workforce," said Anne Klibanski, MD, Mass General Brigham president and CEO.

The initiative marks Bloomberg Philanthropies' largest investment yet toward career and technical education.

"For too long, our education system has failed to prepare students for good jobs in high-growth industries," said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P. and 108th mayor of New York City. "By combining classroom learning with hands-on experience, these specialized healthcare high schools will prepare students for careers with opportunities for growth and advancement. America needs more healthcare workers, and we need a stronger, larger middle-class  and this is a way to help accomplish both goals."
Mediahuis owns the Belfast Telegraph, Sunday Life and a number of Irish titles

Medienhaus Aachen publishes the Aachener Zeitung newspaper and also has other interests

Mediahuis, the owner of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, has agreed to acquire the remaining 30% of German publisher Medienhaus Aachen that it didnt already own.

Mediahuis, the Belgium-headquartered group which also owns titles in the Republic and other newspapers and radio stations across Europe, first completed the purchase of German regional newspaper company Aachener Veragsgesellschaft (AVG) in 2022.

AVG publishes Aachener Zeitung and other titles in the German city of Aachen, which is close to the borders of both Belgium and the Netherlands.

AVG was then 100% owned by Mediahuis, which also became the biggest shareholder in AVGs main operating subsidiary, Medienhaus Aachen, with a 70% stake. The remaining 30% of the company was owned by Rheinische Post Mediengruppe, which has now sold its shares to Mediahuis.

Rheinische Post Mediengruppe is a medium-sized media company based in Dusseldorf. It publishes Rheinische Post, the highest-circulation daily newspaper in the Rhineland, and General-Anzeiger Bonn, the highest-circulation daily newspaper in Bonn and the Rhein-Sieg district.

At the time of the original deal with Mediahuis in 2022, Medienhaus Aachen had an annual turnover of 80m.

As majority shareholder of AVG since 2022, Mediahuis assisted the German publisher in its digital transformation project.

Paul Verwilt, chief operating officer of Mediahuis group and chairman of Medienhaus Aachen, said Over the past two years, together with CEO Andreas Muller and the colleagues at Medienhaus Aachen, we have taken important steps in the digital development of both the organisation and its titles.

After two years of constructive cooperation with Rheinische Post Mediengruppe, it has become clear that a structure with one shareholder instead of two media groups will benefit the further development of Medienhaus Aachen and will further accelerate its digital transformation, he added.

The fact that the publisher of Aachener Zeitung will now be 100% part of Mediahuis group underlines our belief in the further successful and sustainable future of Medienhaus Aachen and at the same time strengthens Mediahuis' growth ambitions in the German market, said Mr Muller.

Besides publishing the newspaper Aachener Zeitung, the Medienhaus Aachen portfolio also includes other print and digital media, radio, logistics, fairs and postal services. The Medienhaus Aachen group employs 300 staff, excluding those in distribution.

Mediahuis was founded in 2013 and now publishes more than 30 national and regional news titles with more than 10 million readers every day, both online and in print. The group has about 4,600 employees and an annual turnover of more than 1bn.
Liam Neeson has been spotted in a small Australian town for his first day of filming his upcoming Hollywood movie, Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky.

The 71-year-old, originally from Ballymena, is currently in Walhalla, Victoria - approximately two-and-a-half hours east of Melbourne.

The actor was wearing a plaid shirt layered with a zipped padded vest and a pair of dark jeans, not exactly appropriate for the scorching hot weather in Australia.

A makeup artist was seen applying fake blood to his forehead for the scene, which involved a Mount Everest tour bus.

Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky follows ice road trucker Mike McCann, played by Neeson, who travels to Nepal to spread his brother's ashes on Mount Everest.

The first film in the series was set in Canada.

In the heritage town of Walhalla, the local scenery has been transformed to depict a Nepalese marketplace.

Local media outlet 7News said locals find it "odd".

Buildings have been painted in bright colours and Nepalese props have been added, but production said the town will return to its original state once filming wraps on January 24.

Letters were sent to residents and business owners last month with information about the production, informing that up to 90 cast and crew are expected to film in the town.

"You will notice increased activity in the lead up to and on filming days,' the letter from Servo Productions read.

"During preparations, you will notice changes to Walhalla's Star Hotel and other landmarks on Main Road. Most notably at the Walhalla Rotunda, the Fire Station Museum and carpark.

"During the filming period, there will be stunts involving large vehicles, special effects and prop gun use," it continued.

"Traffic Management will be in place to support crew and public vehicles, as well as onsite personnel to guide members of the public.

"We are requesting a temporary slower speed limit and use of traffic management on filming days to ensure safety for our crew and members of the public."

The letter added: "Main Rd will remain open, however short delays of up to 10 minutes are to be expected at various times during the filming period.

"We will endeavour to minimise disruption to locals and visitors as much as possible."

The 2021 film, the first in the series, is currently streaming on Netflix and sees Neeson's character working under pressure following a diamond mine collapse in northern Canada, putting a group of miners in grave danger.

The motion picture was finished in early 2020 and Netflix picked up its rights for $18 million in March 2021.
Local authority, which had applied the classification to Belfast screenings of The Batman, asked for the rating to be officially introduced

Robert Pattinson at The Batman premiere in New York City (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has poured cold water on a request from Belfast City Council to introduce a new 15A age rating in cinemas.

It follows a move by the council back in 2022 to allow cinemas in the Belfast area to show The Batman as a 15A.

Horror film Five Nights At Freddys was also given a 15A classification in Belfast in October of last year, following an intervention from local councillors.

A 15A rating allows children under the age of 15 to see the movie in question if they are accompanied by an adult.

The rating is not used by the BBFC  which is responsible for the classification and censorship of films across the UK  although it does have a 12A classification.

Under the Cinemas (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, councils here can classify films, taken on a case-by-case basis.

The move to rate The Batman and Five Nights At Freddys as 15A followed a request to the council by Michael McAdam, managing director of Movie House Cinemas in Northern Ireland.

In a letter to Belfast City Council back in October, Mr McAdam said: Over recent years there has been a significant shift in the way families consume film, and parents prefer to be the decision makers. Parents find it hard to understand why they have the power to choose a 12A film for their children but not a 15-rated film. This can cause frustration and embarrassment for those who arrive at the cinema and are then prevented from seeing the film.

Belfast City Councils Licensing Committee subsequently wrote to the BBFC requesting that it give consideration to developing a new classification of 15A for films across the UK.

In its response, BBFC policy manager Edward Lamberti said introducing a new age rating would require the support of licensing officers, film distributors, cinema exhibitors, the Government and the general public.

To date, we know of no widely expressed support for a 15A, he said.

When Belfast City Council agreed in 2022 to permit The Batman to be shown as a 15A in Belfast, we were interested to see if this would become more common across the UK.

Since then, the only request for a 15A that we are aware of is the request Belfast City Council received in October 2023 regarding Five Nights At Freddys.

Mr Lamberti added that, after the council decision on The Batman, the BBFC decided to carry out research to gauge the appetite for 15A across different groups.

We consulted the experts on our Advisory Panel on Childrens Viewing, who advise the BBFC on matters related to child development and welfare, he said.

The panel were [sic] unanimously of the view that the introduction of a 15A would represent a significant child protection risk.

We also discussed matters with the industry and have taken account of concerns they have raised with us regarding the prospect of a 15A.

Mr Lamerti added that the BBFC has been carrying out a large-scale public consultation on its classification guidelines, which it does every four to five years, and will be publishing the findings in early 2025.
A civic group announced a list of 34 sitting and former lawmakers that it claimed should be excluded from nominations for April's general elections for poor parliamentary performances and ethical reasons.

The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice said it compiled the list based on the number of legislative proposals, frequency of absences from parliamentary sessions and ethical issues, including involvement in scandals and excessive real estate or stock holdings.

The group conducted an analysis between May and November last year of related data of all those elected to the current 21st-term National Assembly in 2020, including those who later lost their seats due to various reasons.

"If the lawmakers, whom we determined to be unfit for nomination, end up being nominated, we will hold their parties responsible," said Kim Seong-dal, an official at the group.

Three of the 34 people  Reps. Kim Tae-ho, Kim Hee-kuk and Park Duk-hyum of the ruling People Power Party (PPP)  were deemed unfit for nominations for not only one but for two reasons, the group said.

Rep. Kim Tae-ho had the highest absence rate of 19.9 percent for general parliamentary sessions and 26.5 percent for parliamentary committee meetings, the group said.

The other two had issues ranging from high absence rates to involvement in scandals, it added.

The group also identified another group of 72 people that it claimed should be closely vetted for potential problems with their qualifications.

The group said it will deliver the lists to the PPP and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea in person. (Yonhap)
After a year of delays, strikes and a fair amount of drama, the worlds TV stars descended on the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles for the 2024 Emmy Awards. And, wow, did it deliver.

Monday nights ceremony saw unexpected reunions (such as the cast of Two And A Half Men, weirdly), memorable speeches and a fair amount of lip-locking, mostly by Kieran Culkin. Here are six things we learned.

Emmy voters only watch four shows

It was always going to be a bit of a closed race. The Bear, White Lotus, Beef and Succession were up for so many awards that it seemed inevitable they would clean up between them, and so it proved here: Succession scooped most of the drama awards, The Bear took home the comedy gongs and Beef won in limited series.

Thats all well and good (and the awards were well deserved) but it did mean that also-excellent shows such as Barry and Better Call Saul were unfairly overlooked.

Please watch more TV, Emmy voters: there are other great shows out there that also deserve some love.

Feuds run deep

Pedro Pascal speaks onstage during the Emmys. Pic: Getty

Sometimes old wounds dont heal, as Pedro Pascal proved when he took to the stage to accept his award for Best Actor. Pascal, who had been up for an award alongside Successions Kieran Culkin (who memorably told him to suck it at the Golden Globes) still had his arm in a sling.

Apparently, though, it was for good reason: Kieran Culkin beat the s**t out of me, he deadpanned. Cut to a stony-faced Culkin in the crowd  before he burst into laughter.

It wasnt just the award winners being shown the love

Christina Applegate and host Anthony Anderson onstage during the Emmys. Pic: Getty

Big love to Christina Applegate, who made a surprise appearance on the Emmys stage after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021.

She was there to present the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, but received a standing ovation of her own from the crowd, which brought her to tears.

Oh, my God. Youre totally shaming me [and my] disability by standing up, she joked, prompting crowd laughter.

The weirdest speeches are the best

Niecy Nash-Betts with her award

Why did John Oliver choose to start listing the Liverpool FC starting 11 in his acceptance speech? Who knows, but it certainly raised eyebrows. As did Blackbirds Paul Walter Hauser, who was mid-snack when his name was called and he had to rush to the stage to deliver his acceptance speech (in the form of a poem, naturally), still chewing.

And how could we not mention Niecy Nash-Betts, who took a moment to thank herself in her own acceptance speech?

I want to thank me for believing in me and doing what they said I could not do, she said.

And I want to say to myself, in front of all you beautiful people: Go on, girl, with your bad self. You did that.

A great hosting tip: bring your mum

Doris Hancox and telecast host Anthony Anderson

After the blazing bin fire that was Jo Koys time at the Golden Globes, the Emmys were, thankfully, better. Host Anthony Anderson had some good jokes, but his real trump card was bringing along his mother, Doris, to wrap up the acceptance speeches (rather than having the traditional orchestra playing long-winded speakers off).

How? By waving a sign with a clock on and calling out from the crowd, as she did with Jennifer Coolidge.

Baby. Baby. Time, Doris Hancox told her.

His mother popped up several more times, too: she proceeded to call Harrison Ford Henry, stopped him from talking about how his latex suit made him feel moist, and called time on John Oliver before he managed to get on to Liverpools midfield. Thats efficiency.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach is a passionate man

Matty Matheson and Ebon Moss-Bachrach share moment onstage

What better way to celebrate The Bear winning just about every award under the sun than (if youre Ebon Moss-Bachrach, anyway) planting a big sloppy kiss on your co-star?

His lip-locking moment with Matty Matheson as he went up to accept the award for Best Comedy Series was unexpected and went on for quite a while.

And the smooches didnt stop there: anybody spot Kieran Culkin sneaking a kiss from his Succession co-star Brian Cox on his way up to accept the award for Best Actor? And ambushing J Smith Cameron on the red carpet as she was giving an interview? The mans a menace.
Hannah Waddingham has said a drama teacher told her class at school that she would never work on screen because she looks like one side of her face has had a stroke.

The 49-year-old British actress, who plays Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso, has had an extensive career on stage and screen and is also a skilled presenter, having co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023.

Discussing her childhood on BBC Radio 2 podcast, Michelle Visages Rule Breakers, the theatre and TV actress said: I had one drama teacher that said to the whole class Oh Hannah will never work on screen because she looks like one side of her face has had a stroke.

Hannah Waddingham arrives for the annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards (Ian West/PA)

And I thought, I will do, I will do. Come hell or high water, I will work on screen and it gave me a complex for years.

And this is why, in my Emmys speech, I made a point.

The one thing I said to myself, If this weird moment comes and I get this award, and I get my foot in this door, Im going to rip it off its hinges for musical theatre people or theatre people to follow.

Waddingham won an Emmy in 2021 for her role in comedy series Ted Lasso, and her speech included a shout-out to professional musical theatre performers.

In it, she said: West End musical theatre performers need to be on screen more. Please give them a chance because we wont let you down.

Also in the podcast, Waddingham said the headmistress at her school had discouraged her from pursuing a career in the arts when she refused to give her a reference.

I remember saying to my headmistress She said, Oh, youre bright enough to read drama, and I said, I dont want to read drama I want to do drama, she said.

She refused to give me a reference.

So I managed, thank God, to get a scholarship for the drama school I went to and I walked back in, put it on her desk and left the room without shutting the door.

Hannah Waddingham walks with the Prince of Wales as he arrives for the 2023 Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Reflecting on her time at school, she added: She (headmistress) was always dismissive of me, because it wasnt that I wasnt academic, I knew what I wanted to do.

So it annoyed her that I turned my back on my academia.

So she would purposely put everyone else in the school plays and have me understudy just to punish me.

The Emmy award winner received the entertainer gong at the Glamour Women of the Year awards 2023 and over the festive period she fronted her own holiday special and musical event, called Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas, at the London Coliseum.

Waddingham also won the best supporting actress in a comedy series gong at the Critics Choice Awards in 2022 for Ted Lasso and has made appearances in HBO fantasy series Game Of Thrones, Netflix series Sex Education and ITV drama Tom Jones.

Michelle Visages Rule Breakers is available to listen to on BBC Sounds.
Antrim founder of education app: I left school with a single O-level now I help others learn maths

Founder Mary McIntaggart talks about her journey from teaching in Belfast to China, as well as the launch of her app and how it can benefit students

Mary pictured with a student in China

Catriona Doherty Wed 17 Jan 2024 at 08:06

The brainchild of Antrim educator Mary McIntaggart, Academic Fish is a free, inclusive maths support app for the understanding and translation of academic language in English, Irish and Chinese, from upper primary level through to university level education.
A man suffered a broken nose and jaw in an unprovoked attack after collecting charity boxes from a Belfast city centre pub, a court heard today.

Police said four assailants punched and kicked the alleged victim for several minutes before they walked off and got a taxi.

Details emerged as bail was refused to one of those accused of carrying out the assault on July 27 last year.

Joseph McClenaghan, 47, from Stanfield Row in Belfast, denies a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard the alleged victim was targeted after picking up money collected at a bar on Castle Street.

He was dragged onto the street outside the pub and assaulted by four men.

There were numerous punches and several violent kicks, it lasted several minutes before (the assailants) walked off through the city centre and left in a taxi, an investigating detective said.

The alleged victim sustained fractures to his cheekbones, eye sockets, jaw and nose.

McClenaghan was arrested based on clothing which allegedly matched that worn by one of the assailants in CCTV footage.

During police interviews, he denied any involvement.

Opposing his bid to be freed from custody, the detective contended: This was a sustained and violent attack which appears to have been completely unprovoked.

It was on a male collecting charity boxes and left him with multiple injuries.

Defence counsel Michael Boyd argued McClenaghan is not alleged to have started the attack, adding that the co-accused have secured release.

But denying bail, District Judge Anne Marshall held: Im concerned about the risk of re-offending and not keeping conditions.

She remanded McClenaghan in continuing custody until February 6.
A Dundonald man who entered into a sexual relationship with a teenage girl he groomed online was jailed for 19 months on Wednesday

A man who entered into a sexual relationship with a teenage girl he groomed online was jailed for a year and seven months today.

Owen Freel will spend an additional 19 months on licence when he is released from jail for what Judge Gordon Kerr KC described as a planned and prolonged campaign of offending.

The 26-year-old, of Beechwood Manor in Dundonald pleaded guilty to seven charges committed over a period spanning from December 1, 2017, to July 1, 2019.

He admitted sexual communication with a child, possessing an indecent image of a child and five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

The child, who was aged 13 when she first came into contact with Freel, was fooled and cheated in order to have a sexual relationship with him, the judge said.

Freel was aged 19 to 21 at the time of the offences.

Offences and police report

Belfast Crown Court heard that in November 2019, police received a referral regarding a teenage girl who had been in a relationship with a male she believed was 17 but who was actually 22.

No official complaint was made at that stage, but in August 2021 the girl and her mother contacted the PSNI about the relationship.

The following month, the teenager spoke to police at length and said that when she was 13 she started chatting online with a male called Jack who claimed he was 15.

She said an online relationship started in December 2017, that their conversations turned sexual and that they exchanged sexual images with each other.

The pair met for the first in July 2018 and from the following month, they met for sexual activity on a weekly basis which started when she was 14 and which continued for around a year.

Telling police she did this to keep him happy, the girl said she discovered, via Facebook, that Jack was actually a 21-year-old man called Owen Freel.

The relationship ended in July 2019 and the girl told police she had been left extremely upset when she realised she had been groomed and lied to.

Arrest and sentencing

After she spoke to police, Freel was arrested in December 2021.

Via a solicitor, he apologised for the hurt he caused and then gave a no comment response to further questions.

Judge Kerr said that after reading a statement that the victim made, it was clear that she has suffered greatly because of the behaviour of the defendant. She describes herself as being distraught.

His defence spoke of his third-level education, his clear criminal record and his expressions of both remorse and victim awareness.

Noting Freel's acknowledgement that he has brought shame to himself and his family and is now in a stable relationship, the judge said he had also taken into consideration Freel's age at the time of his offending.

Saying the offending was so serious that immediate custody was warranted, Judge Kerr imposed the 38-month sentence.

Freel was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and will be the subject of a seven-year sexual offences prevention order.
Bail refused for Richard Shanks

A Belfast man allegedly broke into his ex-partners home with a knife and threatened to chop her up over suspicions she had begun a new relationship, a court heard today.

Richard Shanks, 34, is accused of attacking the house with a beer keg before carrying out a search to discover if any other man was present.

Shanks, of Distillery Court, faces charges of aggravated burglary with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, attempted criminal damage, false imprisonment, threats to kill and common assault.

Police claimed he sent the woman menacing images and detained her during an initial incident in October last year.

Days later she received a telephone call in the middle of the night accusing her of being with another man.

She then heard a bang at the back door and saw Shanks throwing a beer keg at the window of the property in west Belfast, it was alleged.

The court heard that he got inside, brandished a knife and stated that he was going to chop her up.

According to the injured partys account, Shanks then declared: Wait til you see what happens when I get him.

The woman told police she locked herself into a bathroom, but he forced his way in and tried to get her to unlock her phone before searching the house.

Opposing Shanks application for bail, an investigating detective claimed the incident was fuelled by the accused believing she had a new partner.

The police position is that he is jealous and struggling to come to terms (with the end of their relationship), he added.

During cross-examination, the detective confirmed the woman had no physical injuries and did not require any medical treatment.

Defence solicitor Brendan Blaney stressed that Shanks denied the allegations during police interviews.

He argued that his client should be released due to the length of time spent in custody.

Bail was refused, however, based on the risk of re-offending or interfering with witnesses.

District Judge Anne Marshall said: Im not prepared to take that chance.
Two men linked to a cannabis cultivating operation in Belfast were sentenced in the city's Crown Court on Wednesday

Two men linked to a cannabis factory in north Belfast were sentenced in the city's Crown court today.

Klintom Hysa (28) and 29-year-old Besnik Kurti admitted cultivating cannabis plants and dishonestly using electricity in a house on Eia Street.

Fifty plants were seized when the property was searched by the PSNI in November 2021.

While the pair, who are Albanian nationals, were not present, they were linked to the operation via fingerprints.

Judge Mark Reel described it as a sophisticated commercial operation.

Hysa, of Manor Road in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was handed a 22-month sentence, which was divided equally between prison and licence. The painter and decorator has a previous conviction for a similar offence in Nottingham.

Co-accused Kurti, of Sussex Place in Belfast, has already served the equivalent of 10 months in custody for the offences. He had an 18-month sentence imposed, which was suspended for two years.

Read more Belfast charity box collector had his nose and jaw broken by gang

Belfast Crown Court heard that when officers entered the Eia Street property on November 5, 2021, a strong smell of cannabis was noted.

The first floor of the house was being used as a living area whilst around 50 cannabis plants were located on the second and third floors.

Quantities of cannabis were also located drying on mesh nets, and a heating and ventilation system had been installed.

In addition, the electricity meter had also been bypassed.

No one was present during the police search, but both men were forensically linked to the scene.

Hysa's fingerprints were located on a radiator, a set of scales and a vacuum bag while Kurtis were found on items including a bottle of plant food.

Hysa was arrested in England in August 2022 and returned to Belfast for a police interview.

During this, he accepted he had spent a period of time in Belfast but denied any involvement in the cultivation of cannabis.

Despite these denials, he subsequently told probation he became involved in the criminality to pay off a gambling debt.

Kurti attended a police station in Belfast in December 2022 and apart but denying cultivating cannabis, he gave a no comment interview.

He later told probation he had been acting under duress and was fearful of the people who set up the factory and brought him to Belfast.

Judge Mark Reel said he accepted there was a degree of coercion in relation to both men.

He also granted a destruction order for the cannabis plants seized.

It is not the first time that a cannabis farm has been found on Eia Street  over 300 cannabis plants believed to be worth 158,000 were seized by police from a property on the street in 2014.
A former government adviser turned pervert from Co Down has narrowly avoided jail after he groomed a teenager into groping his wife almost 40 years ago.

Judge Geoffrey Miller KC imposed a two-year jail sentence on Dr Leslie Bryans at Downpatrick Crown Court.

He told the 72-year-old electricity expert he was only suspending the sentence for two years because of his albeit late guilty plea, his clear record and that there were no other allegations of abuse.

Ordering Bryans to sign the police sex offenders' register for the next 10 years, the judge warned Bryans that if he commits any further offences the suspended sentence would be activated and made consecutive to any other sentence.

Five days before he was due to go on trial last November Bryans, from the Magheraknock Road in Ballynahinch, entered a guilty plea to a single charge of indecent assault of a male on a date unknown between June 24, 1985 and June 25, 1986.

Following that confession, the prosecution opted not to proceed with a charge of indecent assault against his 73-year-old wife Paula and a further charge of aiding and abetting indecent assault against Leslie Bryans.

Summarising the case during his sentencing remarks today, Judge Miller outlined how the victim was a 15-year-old boy who was interested in computers.

Bryans bought a new machine and invited the boy to come and see it and during this visit, he was given food and vodka before he left to go home.

That happened a couple more times but on one specific occasion, Bryans gave him enough alcohol that he became intoxicated and the defendant showed him an adult pornographic video.

Judge Miller said while the victim did not remember how he came to be lying on the defendants bed, he did remember Mrs Bryans coming into the room wearing a negligee and the defendant invited him to engage in penetrative sexual acts with his wife before directing the boy's hands to her private parts while he performed a sex act on the boy.

Feeling confused and embarrassed, the 15-year-old left the house but a few days later when he encountered Bryans by chance, the creep told him he and his wife had the best sex ever after he left.

Bryans also invited and encouraged the boy to come and video them but he refused and thereafter avoided the defendant.

Judge Miller told the court that exchange was indicative of Bryans entirely inappropriate, entirely selfish, sexualised attitude, adding that his claims to a probation officer of not remembering that conversation must be seen as disingenuous although possibly motivated by a sense of shame.

One certainly hopes thats the case rather than a cynical attempt to play down the seriousness of his crime, said the judge.

The incident came to light in February 2020 when the victim found the courage to report the matter to police.

Judge Miller said it was clear from the reports and victim impact statement the offence had had a profound effect on him over the years, decreasing his sense of self-worth, and negatively impacting his relationships and intimacy with his own wife.

As regards Bryans, the judge revealed he had had a long and distinguished career where he worked for NIE, was released to the British Government to act as an adviser to the minister of electricity and further afield in Yemen as well as other Middle Eastern and African countries.

He told the court while Bryans had entered a guilty plea and would receive credit for it, the victim reported he had been made to feel that the defendant was making him to be a liar and further added to his distress.

Judge Miller emphasised that by admitting his guilt Bryans has publicly acknowledged the victim was telling the truth, commenting that while the admission is a mitigating factor there were also aggravating features including the use of alcohol, elements of grooming and the significant psychological impact upon the victim.

He warned Bryans that had he been convicted after a trial, he would have jailed him for 30 months. Although he imposed the suspended jail sentence, the judge declined to also impose a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
The event is organised by Belfast secondary school teacher Charlotte Carson, who is an equality officer with the National Education Union

A campaign will be launched at Stormont tonight asking for secondary school pupils across Northern Ireland to become 21st century suffragettes and help get fellow sixth formers on the electoral register.

The event is organised by Belfast secondary school teacher Charlotte Carson, who is an equality officer with the National Education Union.

Fewer than 50% of 18-24 year-olds here voted in the last Westminster election, she said.

Given the low turnout among young voters, we thought it was important to take action.

Many dont know they can join the electoral register as soon as they receive their national insurance number when they turn 16.

Its a really easy process, and it costs nothing. They just go online, put in their national insurance number and their address, and thats it, theyre registered.

While they cant vote until theyre 18, research shows that if theyre on the electoral register and vote in their first election, its habit forming.

Theyre much more likely to become lifelong voters and participate in democracy.

Ms Carson said the campaign is inspired by the suffragettes: They fought for the right to vote with the slogan, Deeds not words.

Were looking for 21st century suffragettes of both sexes to go out there and tackle the democratic deficit of our time  low turnout among young people.

So far weve 39 students signed up in 17 schools, and were hoping for, many more. Wed like to see hundreds of students involved right across Northern Ireland.

They will get to work in their schools and colleges registering fellow students. Theyll address their school assemblies or form classes and explain how easy the process is and why its so important to vote.

Among those already signed up is Alice Greene of Our Lady and St Patricks College Knock. She said: If we didnt have the right to vote, wed be fighting for it, so why arent we using it?

Poppy Irvine of Abbey Community College added: If young people were educated properly about democracy, theyd be more inclined to vote.

The pupils will be trained in how to prepare their presentations to fellow students and in public speaking.

Ms Carson said: We want to give them the opportunity to develop their confidence as campaigners and as leaders in their community.

Wed also like schools to become involved. Theyre part of the vaccine rollout programme. If they help deliver on public health, theres no reason why they wouldnt become involved in improving our democratic health.

Getting pupils to join the electoral register should become a feature of the school calendar.

Participating in elections and civic activities provides valuable education experiences.

It helps young people understand how government works and the impact of policy decision on their lives.

Ms Carson added: The suffragettes showed such bravery and determination. If theyd been able to get into a time machine, theyd be disappointed in what they see today, and theyd fight to change it. Their example inspires our young people to do the same.
CGI of the Belfast Harbour building which will be one of the tallest on the island.

Councillors in Belfast have approved hundreds of new residential units between the city centre and docks area, including what will be one of the tallest apartment buildings on the island.

Belfast City Councils planning committee considered four separate proposals from Belfast Harbour, McAleer & Rushe, Vinder Capital and Endeavour Investments which relate to around 700 units.

Two of the schemes involve build-to-rent apartments, accounting for 495 of the units.

All four major residential schemes have been granted approval, subject to conditions.

A Belfast Harbour application regarding land at City Quays to the east of Donegall Quay, west side of the River Lagan and the north of the city centre was also given the green light.

It sought full planning permission for the erection of a 23 storey tower with lower 12 storey element, comprising 254 Build To Rent apartments.

The tower would be 76.4 metres at its highest point, which would mean only the nearby Obel Tower (85 metres) and Capital Dock in Dublin (79 metres) are currently taller.

Applications also included the demolition of existing multi-storey car park opposite the Royal Mail building on Tomb Street and the erection of 298 apartments.

It will be a 19 storey building including ground floor commercial unit, with car and bicycle parking provision along with associated development.

CGI of development at Corporation Street.

A separate application has been approved for the erection of an 11 storey building at May Street/Victoria Street and four storey building at Gloucester Street comprising 77 apartments with communal areas, ground floor retail services, cycle and car parking, and vehicular access via Gloucester Street.

Belfast Harbour had applied for the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of an affordable housing development comprising of 69 units with a mix of apartments and townhouses, including an ancillary community hub and offices, car parking, landscaping and associated site and access works.

Permission for those new homes, close to the American Bar and the Dockers Club, has now been approved.
Bumpy roads ahead for Lee to address party's internal fractures

By Nam Hyun-woo

Rep. Lee Jae-myung , chairman of the liberal main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), vowed the partys victory in the upcoming general elections, Wednesday, as he resumed working 15 days after suffering an injury to his neck in a knife attack.

His return came while the party is seeing a growing number of its members breaking away to join new parties created by former DPK heavyweights who were critical of the chairman. Though Lee pledged to do his utmost to unite the party and ensure the fairness of its candidate recommendation process, questions linger on how the troubled main opposition leader can find success in the race toward the general elections in April.

The upcoming general elections are a mid-term evaluation of the (Yoon Suk Yeol) administration and a chance to hand down judgment to power, Lee said during the partys Supreme Council meeting.

The DPK believes that this administration has failed to meet the public expectations during its two years in power, so we have to hold this administration accountable for its failures.

Lee returned to the party 15 days after surviving a knife attack during a visit to Busan on Jan. 2. During his absence from the party, the DPKs anti-Lee faction members, including former DPK Chairman Lee Nak-yon and Rep. Cho Eung-cheon, broke away and created their own parties.

A day earlier, former DPK lawmakers Choi Woon-youl and Sin Kyong-min left the party to join the former DPK chairmans party. Three former mayors from the DPK also joined them, crying foul over current Chairman Lees excessive control of party affairs.

Though there are lots of controversies, I will do my utmost to unite the party and will showcase new hope to the public through fair and innovative candidate recommendations (for the general elections), the chairman said during the Supreme Council meeting.

During a separate meeting, the chairman also said he felt regretful about former DPK Chairman Lees departure, despite his efforts to unite the party.

Though the chairman vowed to seek cohesion between the partys factions, pundits anticipate more DPK members will choose to leave the party because anti-Lee factions are voicing concerns over unfair appraisal in recommending candidates for the general elections.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Jun Byung-hun, former senior presidential secretary for political affairs under the previous Moon Jae-in administration, claimed foul and unfair practices are prevailing in the preliminary screening for the DPKs candidate recommendation.

Jun was convicted for receiving bribes but was reinstated after receiving a presidential pardon in December 2022 and returned to the DPK. He sought to run in the Dongjak A constituency in Seoul, which is currently represented by the screening committee head Rep. Kim Byung-kee, who disqualified Jun citing his past history.

The screening committee has qualified candidates who have records of driving under the influence, indictment or even conviction, but it now takes issue with the pardon and reinstatement, Jun said, referring to a number of DPK members who passed the screening committee. Jun told the Munhwa Ilbo newspaper that it wont take long for him to decide whether to leave the party.

Concerns are growing within the DPK that more departures will deal a hefty blow to the partys election campaign, because breakaway parties are adopting a big tent strategy which even embraces a new conservative party to sway the general elections.

Regarding the Lee's message on efforts for unity, Chos new party said in a statement that the chairman did not sincerely respond to our calls for innovation, while turning a blind eye to the suppression and humiliation that we have endured.

Pressure is also growing outside the DPK, as the conservative ruling People Power Partys (PPP) interim leader Han Dong-hoon had been grabbing public attention during the DPK chairman's absence.

During a New Year meeting at the PPPs Incheon headquarters, Han proposed reducing the number of National Assembly seats from 300 to 250 to bring reform to politics.

Though DPK spokesperson Rep. Choi Hye-young denounced the proposal as being irresponsible, some DPK lawmakers are voicing concerns that the PPP is staying ahead of the DPK in terms of reform agendas.

Against that backdrop, Won Hee-ryong, former land minister and former three-term lawmaker of the PPP, is signaling that he will run in Incheons Gyeyang B constituency, which is DPK Chairman Lees current electoral district, saying he will clear obstacles. If Won is recommended for the constituency, it will be one of the most critical showdowns in the general elections.
The DUP is due to put forward an amendment to Rishi Sunaks controversial Rwanda Bill today to ensure the law applies in Northern Ireland.

The Prime Ministers authority was dealt a fresh blow yesterday as two Tory deputy chairmen resigned to join a major Conservative rebellion over his Bill aimed at reviving the stalled Rwanda plan.

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith stepped down in order to vote for two amendments that right-wing MPs claim will protect the Government's flagship asylum policy from legal challenge.

Jane Stevenson also quit her role as a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Business and Trade to back changes put forward by Conservative backbenchers.

Mr Anderson and Mr Clarke-Smith backed amendments tabled by former immigration minister Robert Jenrick and veteran Tory Sir Bill Cash "not because we are against the legislation, but because like everybody else we want it to work", they said.

Some 68 MPs, including 60 Tories and eight DUP MPs, voted in favour of changes to the Safety of Rwanda Bill put forward by Conservative backbencher Sir Bill, which sought to ensure UK and international law cannot be used to block a person being removed to Rwanda.

The amendment was rejected by a majority of 461, but the DUP will table its own amendment to the Bill during its third and final reading today, in a bid to ensure the Westminster legislation has effect in Northern Ireland and will not be overridden by EU law.

It states simply: The provisions of this Act shall have effect in Northern Ireland.

The DUP MPs believe the Northern Ireland Protocol could offer a loophole to asylum seekers to gain entry in Northern Ireland.

Sammy Wilson has previously said Northern Ireland risks becoming a safe haven for mass immigration due to the post-Brexit trade deal.

He also previously said the EUs charter of fundamental rights, which still applies here, is going to make Northern Ireland a magnet for people who may find that the route to stay in the United Kingdom is blocked.

The DUPs entry into the Rwanda Bill debate comes as talks with the Government are still ongoing to restore the Executive.

The amendment is being tabled on the same day the Assembly is set to be recalled in a bid to elect a Speaker and appoint an Executive amidst a public sector crisis and looming mass strikes on Thursday.

The Assembly has been recalled several times since Stormont collapsed in February 2022, each time failing to elect a speaker.

MPs from Northern Ireland including the SDLPs two MPs, Claire Hanna and party leader Colum Eastwood, were among those who oppose the Bill.

Ms Hanna tweeted last night: "Spoke in debate on noxious Rwanda Bill, about the movement of people since the beginning of time, the extent to which our economy & services rely on people from other countries and how our immigration problem is young people leaving because of mean spirited and stultifying politics.

Under the Government's plan, migrants who cross the English Channel on small boats could be sent on a one-way trip to Rwanda rather than being allowed to try to seek asylum in the UK.

The legislation and the treaty are aimed at ensuring the scheme is legally watertight following a Supreme Court ruling against it last year.

The stalled policy comes with a 290 million bill but no asylum seekers arriving via unauthorised routes have been relocated as yet following a series of challenges in the courts.

Some senior figures have threatened to vote down the Bill if it is not changed before it faces its final Commons hurdle - the third reading - which is due today.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) has advised the public that services will be limited during strike action with life-threatening injuries or illnesses prioritised.

At midnight on Thursday January 18, as part of wider health and social care action, ambulance trade unions in NI will commence 24 hours of industrial action.

They will join more than 150,000 workers in what is billed as the biggest strike action in Northern Irelands history.

NIAS and Trade Union representatives have engaged to identify services and roles that will be exempt from strike action, to ensure that we can continue to respond to the most clinically urgent patients, thereby balancing the right to strike with patient safety.

NIAS anticipates that there will be challenges throughout the period of the strike and has planned to "maintain the safety of those patients whose need is greatest.

The impact of the action will be felt most on those patients calling NIAS whose need is less clinically urgent, an NIAS spokesperson said.

"We anticipate that there will be lengthy delays in responding to these categories of calls.

To ensure that we maintain the levels of cover required to respond to the most urgent calls, we would ask the public to call us only in life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding and others.

We would also ask that, having placed a 999 call, the public should refrain from calling back to check on the arrival time of the ambulance.

"The ambulance will arrive at the earliest opportunity and calling back repeatedly can block lines into the Control centre for other emergencies.

NIAS will keep you advised via a text messaging service and you should only call back if the patients condition has worsened, or you wish to cancel the ambulance.

A statement added: We stress that ambulances will still be available. However, they will be limited and we will prioritise patients with life-threatening injuries or illnesses.

Callers should not hesitate to call 999 in the case of serious illness or injury, but other callers should consider other options including self-care, seeking GP or Pharmacy advice or presenting themselves to Emergency Departments, if clinically safe to do so..

This period of industrial action will impact all services provided by NIAS including Non-Emergency Transport, Emergency and non-Emergency Control Centres as well as Administration and Support Services.

We will continue to work with Trade Union colleagues to ensure that life and limb cover is provided in the quickest possible time.

We appreciate the support that has always been provided, to our staff, by our local communities and are sure that this understanding will continue throughout the period of Industrial Action and the days that follow as we return to normal service level.

We would also take this opportunity to thank our staff for their ongoing commitment to providing the highest levels of clinical care to those who have need of our services and also our Trade Union colleagues who have engaged constructively with us to ensure the most vital services are retained during this period of Industrial Action.

If you need an emergency response, you should not hesitate in calling 999 and your call will be dealt with appropriately.

NIAS respects the right of our staff who are union members to participate in industrial action. This action is being taken in relation to the national issues and is a matter for the Government and Trade Unions.
A major strike by public sector workers on Thursday is expected to be the largest seen in Northern Ireland in recent history (Claudia Savage/PA)

The strike rate in Northern Ireland in November 2023 was three-and-a-half times higher than in most of England and Scotland, according to the latest data.

This is based on the number of days lost per employee due to industrial action, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In November the number of days lost due to strikes in most of England and Scotland (figures for Wales and the West and East Midlands are not available) was 2.24 per 1,000 people in employment. This compares with 8.13 days per 1,000 people in employment in NI.

The news comes ahead of one of the biggest days of strike action in Northern Irelands history on Thursday.

More than 150,000 workers, including teachers, civil servants and healthcare workers, are set to take to the streets.

Dr Esmond Birnie, senior economist at Ulster University Business School, said in the UK many employees have a legal right to strike, but that is not the same as a moral right.

He said it is very likely that a strike, especially in the public sector and the service sector, produces collateral damage on the wider public. Sometimes the collateral damage is terms of delivery of services: it is pretty obvious that industrial inaction in the NHS will stretch massive waiting lists still further, he said.

Dr Birnie said there are particular questions about the desired effectiveness efficacy and desirability of strikes in the public sector.

Individuals are quite entitled to argue that more government funding should be devoted to, say, the NHS or railways in GB, he said.

Such individuals need to recognise that this will probably imply higher taxes. Surely the political arena, the winning of elections, is the best way to engineer changes in amount and allocation of public spending.

Strikers may claim that the main purpose of their strike activity is to save the NHS or railways in England or public transport here in NI.

What they are really saying is that they dont like the outcome produced by the political system and think that the disruption created by strikes should be used to produce an alternative outcome.

Many of those planning on striking on Thursday in NI are seeking pay parity with workers in the same sector in GB.

Dr Birnie said the argument for strike action based on pay parity is not as strong as it looks, as in NI we have a proportionally larger public sector and lower regional taxation.

Of course, some will say strikes are a last resort: we need to use them here in NI because of our broken political system, he added.

Even if that system is in some senses broken does that really justify the further confusion that striking will introduce?

Dr Birnie added that the reason why the Stormont parties are universally pro-strike action is that they think they can continue to pass the buck regarding public sector pay policy to the Government.

This is one of a number of forms of collective political irresponsibility which does not bode well for the future, he said.
Police revisit the Rossnareen area of west Belfast on January 16th 2024 where Kevin Conway was murdered (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Police revisit the Rossnareen area of west Belfast on January 16th 2024 where Kevin Conway was murdered (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Police have urged anyone with information about the ruthless killing of Kevin Conway in Belfast to come forward.

The 26-year-old died after being shot multiple times at his home at the Greenan flats in the Rossnareen area of west Belfast last Tuesday.

The victim had been on bail awaiting trial for the murder of Shane Whitla in Co Armagh last year.

The independent charity Crimestoppers has offered a 20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Mr Conways murder.

A senior detective said it has left a loving family heartbroken and a community in shock.

A week on, detectives revisited the scene today.

Recap: Who was Kevin Conway ?

Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness said police are working tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.

Today, January 16, is one week on since this brutal attack took place. It was last Tuesday night, at approximately 9.30pm, when Kevin was murdered in his own home. He was shot multiple times and, sadly, pronounced dead at the scene, he said.

We will work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice, and tonight our officers have revisited the immediate area.

Weve been speaking with pedestrians, drivers and passengers, and have carried out extensive house-to-house inquiries.

Mr McGuinness went on: This ruthless killing has left a loving family heartbroken.

Theyre going through unimaginable sorrow and pain, while an entire community is left in shock.

Im appealing to you, if you have any information, to please come forward. I know its not easy, but Im keen to offer assurance that information can be passed to Crimestoppers with total anonymity.

Crimestoppers can be contacted on the charitys 24/7 Contact Centre on 0800 555 111.

Alternatively, detectives can be contacted on 101; while information, including photos, CCTV and dash cam footage, can be provided to police through the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk.
Detectives are appealing for information following the report of a burglary in the Castlereagh area of Belfast.

The alleged crime was said to have taken place on Monday, January 15.

Shortly after 7.15pm, it was reported that access had been gained to a property in the Breda Road area, via a smashed rear window sometime between 6pm and 7pm.

The house was ransacked and a quantity of jewellery taken, including two distinctive gold wedding bracelets.

Detective Inspector Bell said: I am appealing to anyone who may have seen four males all dressed in dark coloured clothing or any suspicious vehicles in the area at the time to contact detectives.

I am also appealing to anyone with CCTV, doorbell or other footage or information that could assist enquiries to get in touch on 101 quoting reference 1667 of 15/1/24.
Police in Derry responded to an ongoing incident during which a collision and some type of altercation took place on Strand Road area of the city.

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, January 16.

Local Policing Team and Neighbourhood Policing Team officers from the District responded to the report, which was made to police at 2:05pm.

Colleagues from Maydown Tactical Support Group also responded to the incident.

Two males were subsequently arrested and later released on bail to allow for further police enquiries.

Enquiries are ongoing, and police appeal to anyone with information about the incident, or who may have captured footage of what occurred to get in touch by calling 101, quoting reference 916 of 16/01/24, a spokesperson said.
Bullying and blackmail do not work in Northern Ireland, former first minister Arlene Foster has said as the UK Government was accused of withholding funding for public sector pay rises ahead of major strike action.

Branding it "insanity", the ex-DUP leader argued it was not the first time London had used such a tactic.

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee issued her warning at Westminster amid claims that public service workers were being used as "pawns in a game of political brinkmanship".

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has offered Northern Ireland parties a 3.3 billion deal to stabilise finances in the region, including 600 million to settle outstanding public sector pay claims.

But the offer is conditional on the return of powersharing at Stormont and the DUP is maintaining its refusal to participate in devolved government until its concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements are tackled by the UK Government.

In the absence of functioning institutions, Mr Heaton-Harris has been urged to release funding for the pay awards, but he insists it is a devolved matter and so cannot intervene.

The stand-off comes as an estimated 150,000 public sector workers from health and education to transport and the civil service are to stage walkouts in Northern Ireland.

There have been warnings of serious disruption due to services such as road gritting being withdrawn, while schools will be closed and hospitals will operate reduced services.

Speaking during an urgent question secured in the Lords on the industrial action, Lady Foster said: "It is said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

"This is not the first time his Majesty's Government has used this sort of tactic to try and push people who have a mandate in Northern Ireland to so something that would be going against their mandate to do.

"I am sure my former colleagues in the DUP will not be bullied into making a decision that they believe is the wrong decision."

The non-affiliated peer added: "Bullying, blackmail does not work in Northern Ireland. It is insanity to think it will work.

"Therefore, I say to the minister, who I know has Northern Ireland's place very much to his heart, to please press upon the Secretary of State that we do need a different way forward for our public sector workers."

But Northern Ireland Office minister Lord Caine insisted bullying and blackmail was "not the approach of his Majesty's Government".

He added: "The imperative in respect of public sector pay and resolving these issues is to get the institutions back."

DUP peer Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown said: "The issue is whether or not the Secretary of State will release the money to enable the payments to be made."

The veteran politician added: "He must stop using workers and their well-earned pay increases as pawns in this game of political brinkmanship and realise that bribery and bullying will not force unionists into accepting constitutional arrangements which will destroy the Union by aligning Northern Ireland with the European Union instead of the United Kingdom."

Responding, Lord Caine said: "He will be aware the Government does not have the powers directly to negotiate public sector pay in Northern Ireland. This is a devolved matter for a Northern Ireland executive."

Baroness Hoey, a Northern Irish Brexit supporter and former Labour MP, said: "The minister knows Northern Ireland very, very well and Northern Ireland people and he must know that Northern Ireland people are not going to be bullied and blackmailed."

She added: "He is allowing, and the Secretary of State is allowing the people of Northern Ireland to suffer for something that could be solved today."

Lord Caine said: "I do not share her characterisation of the Government's approach as one of bullying and blackmail.

"The funding package on the table is extremely generous and would allow an incoming executive to deal with all of these matters. The imperative in Northern Ireland is to get the Executive back up and running and functioning."

Tory former chancellor Lord Clarke of Nottingham backed calls for reform at Stormont to avoid giving the DUP "a permanent veto".

He said: "The present deadlock will not be resolved because the DUP will never agree to set up a local administration headed by a Sinn Fein leader.

"If this deadlock continues after the next Ulster election, will the Government see if we can tackle the appallingly difficult process of seeing how an executive can be set up with the other political parties that avoids the DUP's determination just to maintain a permanent veto?"

But Lord Caine said: "I see no evidence really to support the proposition that he has made."
DUP says Stormont recall a stunt doomed to failure like five previous times

Lyons accuses parties of grandstanding as paper by Paisley think-tank appears to be at odds with Donaldson

Gordon Lyons

Suzanne Breen Tue 16 Jan 2024 at 21:47

The DUP has branded todays recall of the Stormont Assembly as a stunt and accused the parties supporting it of grandstanding in an attempt to make the headlines.
The UUPs Robbie Butler laid the blame for the impact of Thursdays strikes at the door of the DUPAlliance leader Naomi Long called for the Stormont institutions to be reformed

Sinn Fein's Michele O'Neill MLA with party colleagues in the Grand Hall of Parliament Buildings at Stormont (PA)

Sinn Fein's Michele O'Neill MLA with party colleagues in the Grand Hall of Parliament Buildings at Stormont (PA)

The bid to elect a new Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly has failed.

It's after MLAs returned to Stormont on Wednesday ahead of the deadline to restore devolved government and Thursday's general strike.

Around 170,000 people are expected to join picket lines across Northern Ireland in a massive day of strike action.

On Wednesday, nominations to elect the UUP's Mike Nesbitt or the SDLP's Patsy McGlone of the SDLP to the role of Speaker failed to get the support of the DUP.

Therefore, Acting Speaker Alan Chambers said no further business could take place and the session was suspended.

The failure was condemned by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, who said: It is disappointing that the Assembly was unable to elect a speaker and restore the Northern Ireland Executive today.

The return of a locally elected, accountable and effective devolved government is the best way to govern Northern Ireland.

However, in the absence of an Executive, the Government will proceed with a pragmatic and reasonable approach to support Northern Ireland.

The DUP is opposed to the Windsor Framework and so refused to support the election of a Speaker - but Sinn Fein's deputy leader questioned their motives.

Sinn Fein's Michele O'Neill MLA with party colleagues in the Grand Hall of Parliament Buildings at Stormont (PA)

Michelle O'Neill also warned Wednesday's recall of Stormont could be the last sitting of the Assembly.

She said: Regrettably, the approach of the DUP leader is jeopardising vital public services, including health and education, with no clear explanation for stalling Executive formation.

If Jeffrey Donaldson does not change his approach, then this sitting may well be the final one of this Assembly.

I fear that the democratic institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are in freefall. While this is reprehensible, those are the hard facts before us."

Read more Out in the cold: Veteran NI journalists on struggles of covering political talks

But DUP MLA Gordon Lyons said the recall was a "cynically orchestrated" stunt to coincide with industrial action.

This has been done in an attempt to make the public believe that the restoration of the Assembly today will lead to the cancellation of the strikes tomorrow, he said.

Sinn Fein know full well that there is no prospect of a speaker being elected today. They know there will be no ministers nominated today.

They know that even if those do happen, the pay issue will not be settled today but will be subject to negotiation. It is disingenuous to suggest otherwise.

Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler said the blame for the strikes lies with one party.

"The blame for the impact of the strikes  and I will not mince my words today as I may not get a chance to speak in this chamber again  the blame lies squarely with the DUP, he said.

I dont think the blame lies squarely with every member, less so with the MLAs here.

If I was a betting man, I would wager that most of the people to my right havent even seen the deal that is on offer (from the Government).

In my opinion, the blockage lies with a small number of DUP MPs and Lords who are far removed from the impact on public services and lives here in Northern Ireland.

Alliance leader Naomi Long again called for the Stormont institutions to be reformed.

While the focus today is rightly on the boycott of the DUP, I say this to other party leaders  there is no point coming to this chamber bemoaning the bind in which we find ourselves time and time again, whilst simultaneously defending and refusing to address the structural weaknesses that enable it," she said.

The only conceivable reason any party would want to retain the power to collapse these institutions is if they intend to use it or the threat of it to subvert normal democratic process.

I want the institutions restored as soon as possible, but more, I want them reformed so that no single party can ever again hold these institutions, and with them the best interests and future of our people, to ransom.

It is those who live in this community who suffer as a result of repeated collapses. Our inability to sustain government has impeded public sector reform.

The Stormont Assembly collapsed in early 2022 due to the DUP's protest over post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

There is a legal deadline to restore the Executive by Thursday before fresh elections are required. But it's thought by political parties that Chris Heaton-Harris will bring in legislation to put off another election.
DUP had branded the move a stunt

There is "purpose" to the recall of the Stormont Assembly on Wednesday - even though it's expected the DUP will block proceedings, an SDLP MLA has said.

MLAS will meet at noon after a Sinn Fein recall petition was supported by the SDLP and the Alliance party.

Speaking to the BBC, Matthew O'Toole said: "It doesn't look at the minute like the DUP are going to allow a speaker to be elected and ministers to be nominated and devolution to be restored. But that doesn't mean that there wasn't a purpose to there being a democratic moment of some kind."

The DUP has branded the recall of the Assembly as a "stunt" and said the parties supporting it are "grandstanding".

The Assembly has been recalled to appoint a speaker six times since the May 2022 election. On the five previous occasions the DUP has blocked an appointment.

It's believed the party will vigorously defend its position in the chamber today.

Mr O'Toole said: "There is a huge degree of frustration at the stalemate at Stormont," he said. "I hope it doesn't descend into a shouting match.

"At some point the DUP do have to be challenged on what exactly they're waiting on."

The assembly sitting comes one day before thousands of public sector workers in Northern Ireland go on strike over pay.

Sinn Fein's motion endorses the "demand for fair pay settlements for public sector workers" and "emphasises the pressing need to urgently reinstate the executive to tackle the unprecedented challenges confronting citizens and public services".

Unions have condemned Chris Heaton Harris after a 3.3bn package was offered by the Treasury, including funds to settle pay claims, but is not being released until devolution is restored.

The head of the Northern Ireland civil service Jayne Brady has called for the funds to be released.

Matthew O'Toole said of the Secretary of State: "He could sort this out with people in the Treasury, he could sort this out this afternoon and pay people but he's chosen not to."

A NIO spokesperson said earlier this week it is an "absolute priority and full focus is to see a restored executive delivering for people and workers in Northern Ireland".

"We have offered a fair and generous package worth 3bn - which will help a restored executive address a range of pressing issues in the round - from public sector pay to support with ensuring sustainable public services," the spokesperson said.

"This offer is on the table for parties to take forward at pace."

Meanwhile, the recall on Wednesday comes ahead of Thursday's legal deadline to restore devolution.

If it does not return, then fresh elections are required but political parties have said the Northern Ireland Secretary has already indicated he will pass new legislation to extend that deadline.
President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Wednesday to improve the school environment for both teachers and students, saying the speed of educational innovation should be increased to match the speed of social development.

"I believe what's most important in education is respect for the freedom of choice, diversity in content, and the creativity to teach and nurture creative talents," Yoon said during a New Year's meeting with a group of educators.

Some 180 people attended the meeting at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, including the acting chief of the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations, local education superintendents, teachers, and ruling party and government officials.

Yoon recalled the controversy last year over persisting school violence and a series of suicides by teachers who suffered from malicious complaints from parents, saying his administration will continue to listen to people in the field to come up with fundamental solutions.

He also noted that during his visit to the Netherlands last month, he learned how the public education system there enabled people to live successfully as professionals even with only a high school diploma, and that the key was school was "fun."

"We must make our classrooms a fun and happy place," he said. "I promise you that my administration and I will do our best to change the educational environment so that teachers can teach at ease and students can learn happily." (Yonhap)
Chinese premier Li Qiang meets President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin during his two-day visit to Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

Chinas second-most powerful man has told Irelands president that Chinese-Irish relations are a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between two countries.

Li Qiang, the premier of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived in Dublin on Tuesday night where he was greeted by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Irelands ambassador in Beijing, Ann Derwin.

On Wednesday morning, he received a strong welcome by Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at his official residence at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Mr Li told them it was a great pleasure to make their acquaintance and passed on the greetings of Chinese president Xi Jinping.

Chinese premier Li Qiangs visit comes after a trip to the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland (Niall Carson/PA)

The two shook hands and Mr Li asked about Mr Higgins visit to his home province of Zhejiang.

Warmly welcoming Mr Li at the state reception room, Mr Higgins said that he remembered his state visit to China and Xi Jinpings visit to Ireland in 2012 while he was vice-president. Mr Xi became Chinas president the following year.

Mr Higgins said his 2014 visit to China gave him the opportunity to have discussions on many topics and also visiting parts of the Peoples Republic of China.

I very much welcome you, premier, and all of those travelling with you, he said.

Mr Li noted that Mr Higgins had previously visited China and said: You also had an in-depth exchange of views and a frank meeting with President Xi, and reached common understanding on a wide range of issues.

Over the years our results-oriented co-operation has made steady progress and produced rich fruit. Our relations have set a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between countries that are different in political systems, cultural divisions and geographic size.

Chinese premier Li Qiang speaks to President Michael D Higgins (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Li then travelled to nearby Farmleigh House where he met Irish premier Leo Varadkar.

He was greeted there by a Lieutenants Guard of Honour from the 12th Infantry Battalion out of Limerick.

A band from the Irish Defence Forces played as Mr Li inspected the soldiers.

Mr Li was scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Mr Varadkar there on Wednesday afternoon for discussion on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar welcomes Chinese premier Li Qiang to Farmleigh House (Niall Carson/PA)

Beef is expected to feature on the menu for a working lunch amid a ban on exports of the meat from Ireland to China.

China suspended beef imports from Ireland when a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) was discovered by Irish veterinary officials in November.

Mr Lis trip comes after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since President Xi in 2017.

The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite the strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some Western countries have also avoided using, or criticised, technologies linked to the Chinese state over security concerns including TikTok and Hikvision, the latter of which manufactures CCTV cameras used in the Irish parliament.

There was a heavy garda presence around Phoenix Park, which was closed to the public until 7pm on Wednesday.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks to the media at the end of a visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Dublin (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said local authorities cannot have an a la carte relationship with government, after Mayo County Council passed a non-binding motion to end co-operation with a government department.

Mr Varadkar said he believed Fine Gael members were among the councillors that endorsed the motion to immediately stop working with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

It comes as local opposition to housing asylum seekers and refugees becomes more frequent across the country, with some communities arguing that they are being asked to accommodate a disproportionate number.

The Taoiseach has pledged further supports for such areas but did not give exact details of what was on offer.

I disagree with the motion that has been passed, local authorities cant have an a la carte relationship with central government, he told reporters after the Chinese premiers visit to Dublin concluded.

A local authority  all of them  but Mayo County Council is one that would receive very significant grants from central government: from the Department of Transport for roads for example, from the Department of the Environment for other things, and you cant say that youre going to withdraw co-operation from one government department and then look for funding from five others.

Thats not a tenable position, Im afraid.

He said he would be relaying the message to the Fine Gael team in Mayo and everyone at Mayo County Council.

There have been more than 101,200 arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland, with 74,500 people currently living in state-provided accommodation and more than 16,000 in employment.

Ministers have warned that the number of arriving asylum seekers will not return to pre-pandemic levels due to global instability, with approximately 15,000 international protection applicants a year now expected.

Mr Varadkar said that while Ukrainians, refugees and asylum seekers are welcome in Ireland, the Government has to respond to genuine concerns from locals about a lack of services.

While they are welcome, its a simple fact that the number of people whove come to live in Ireland and come to live in certain parts of the country has changed the demographics of those areas and, in some cases, changed the economy of those areas, particularly when tourist accommodation has been taken out of use.

So we have to accept that and have to understand why that can cause concerns in local communities and respond to that.

The response isnt closing our borders. Thats not realistic. There are more people on the move in the world now than any time since the Second World War and migration is a challenge in every developed country.

But we have to respond to genuine concerns from people around the country who have just seen this change happen very quickly and are worried about it.Taoiseach Leo Varadkar welcomed Chinese premier Li Qiang to Farmleigh House in Dublin on Wednesday (Niall Carson/PA)

State accommodation for Ukrainians is to be limited from February amid a housing shortage that has seen hundreds of asylum seekers left homeless in freezing temperatures.

The government is now working to find a solution to several protests at asylum seekers being moved into disused and used buildings  including an expansion of the 50 million-euro Community Recognition Fund launched last year.

We have a Cabinet sub-committee on Ukrainian migration in the last week in January, and Ive asked ministers to put together the package between now and then so that it can be approved at the first Cabinet meeting in February, Mr Varadkar said.

We have the Community Recognition Fund already, so one option is opening that to new applications or finding ways to make it more flexible, because there has been some difficulty in drawing down some of the existing money and getting some of the existing projects off the ground.

But more so than that, I particularly asked Health, Education and Justice to see what they could do. So when it comes to justice, obviously its around policing resources, when it comes to education, its around schools, when it comes to health it is particularly around primary care.

A lot of this happening already but I really want to emphasise that we need to particularly focus on those parts of the country that have seen a very large number of people from Ukraine and people seeking international protection move into their areas.
Chinas second most powerful man has landed in Dublin as part of a brief diplomatic visit.

Li Qiang, the premier of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived on a Boeing 747 Max 8  the largest commercial aircraft to land at Dublin Airport.

He was presented with red roses by a Chinese official upon landing.

He was also greeted by Transport and Climate Minister Eamon Ryan and Irelands ambassador in Beijing Ann Derwin.

There was a heavy Garda presence at the airport for the visit.

Chinese statesman Li Qiang arrives at Dublin Airport for his two-day visit to Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Lis trip comes hours after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since President Xi Jinping in 2017.

The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite the strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some Western countries have also avoided using or criticised technologies linked to the Chinese state over security concerns: including TikTok and Hikvision, the latter of which manufactures CCTV cameras used in the Irish parliament.

Mr Li is to meet with Irish president Michael D Higgins on Wednesday morning before a joining Irish premier Leo Varadkar for a working lunch at Farmleigh House.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Varadkar said China is a very important political and economic power in the world.

So its important that we have good relations with China but also some questions we will need to talk about as well, the Taoiseach said.

Mr Varadkar did not elaborate on the questions or issues he will raise with Mr Li.

The Ireland-Asia think tank Asia Matters has said it is hoping the ban on beef exports to China will be on the table when the two leaders meet.

Beef exports from Ireland to China were suspended when a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) was discovered by Irish veterinary officials in November.
A police force has referred itself to the police watchdog after a toddler was found dead next to his fathers body.

Bronson Battersby, two, was found beside his dad Kenneth, 60, who had suffered a fatal heart attack at his flat in Skegness, The Sun newspaper reported.

Lincolnshire Police was contacted on two separate occasions by a Lincolnshire County Council social worker who got no answer when they tried knocking on the door of Mr Battersbys home.

A spokesman for the county council confirmed the social worker communicated with Mr Battersby on December 27 and arranged to visit on January 2.

There was no response during that January visit, so the social worker made inquiries at other addresses where the child could be and contacted the police.

A second unannounced visit on January 4 also went unanswered, and Lincolnshire Police were contacted again.

Days later on January 9, the social worker was let into the property by the landlord, where Mr Battersby and his son were found dead.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is assessing what action to take.

The boys mother Sarah Piesse, 43, told The Sun her son had starved to death after his father died and blamed social services for not doing more to help them.

She said: If social services had done their job Bronson would still be alive.

But they didnt do anything.

I cant believe it.

They cant let them get away with this.

They think Kenneth died no earlier than December 29.

It means if the social worker had pushed to get in when she got no reply on January 2 then Bronson would still have been alive.

Heather Sandy, executive director for childrens services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: This was a tragic incident, and we are supporting the family at this difficult time.

We are currently carrying out a review of the case alongside partner agencies to better understand the circumstances, and we await the results of the coroners investigations as well.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved.

In a statement, Lincolnshire Police confirmed they had made a referral to the IOPC.

They said: The exact actions of organisations involved will be analysed in a forthcoming review and at this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further.

As part of standard procedures we have referred this to the IOPC as a result of a death or serious injury following police involvement.

The IOPC confirmed it had received a referral and is assessing that to determine what further action is required from us.
Asked by the BBC if the UKs plan was working and if Rwanda was a safe country for refugees, Paul Kagame said it was the UKs problem (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Rwandas President said it was the UKs problem that asylum seekers had not been sent to the country and suggested British taxpayers money could be repaid if the deal failed.

Asked by the BBC if the UKs plan was working and if Rwanda was a safe country for refugees as he attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Paul Kagame said: Its the UKs problem, not Rwandas problem.

If they dont come, we can return the money, the president added.

Some 240 million has already been committed to the Rwanda plan, with a further 50 million earmarked for next year.

Senior Home Office officials have so far refused to say how much more money the UK has already agreed to pay Rwanda under the initial five-year deal, when questioned by MPs.

The comments come as Rishi Sunak tries to win over Tory rebels ahead of a crunch vote on his stalled flagship policy to curb migrant crossings in the Channel, after the Prime Minister faced the biggest Conservative revolt of his leadership.

Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo later said the country has no obligation to return any of the funds paid but if the UK requested a refund we will consider this.

However, she made clear this would only apply to a portion of funds which were specifically allocated to pay for support for migrants.

Only part of the funds the UK has agreed to pay Rwanda under the Migration and Economic Development Partnership will be used to help the country prepare to receive and care for migrants when they arrive, while the remaining cash is to be put towards boosting the east African nations economy.

Ms Makolo said in a statement: Under the terms of the agreement, Rwanda has no obligation to return any of the funds paid. However, if no migrants come to Rwanda under the scheme, and the UK Government wishes to request a refund of the portion of the funding allocated to support the migrants, we will consider this request.

To talk about figures at this point is premature, as we are still awaiting the conclusion of the UK legislative process and remain committed to making the partnership work.

A Tory rebel source warned at this rate it will be Labour having to pay back the money as they called on the Government to back our plan, adding: The Governments plan is going to need hundreds of judges to clear thousands of claims which will take months and months at a bare minimum.

Rwanda want a plan that works quickly, not one that satisfies the whims of our Attorney General.

Labours shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: If Rwanda says we can have the money back from this failing scheme, Rishi Sunak should seize the chance, instead of dragging out this Tory asylum chaos any longer. We need proper grip not more of this failing gimmick.

The Prime Minister has faced the biggest Conservative revolt of his leadership over his stalled flagship policy to curb migrant crossings in the Channel (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The taxpayer is being hit for more than 400 million for a scheme that is only likely to cover one per cent of those arriving.

That money could go instead into strengthening our border security, including Labours plan to crackdown on the criminal smuggler gangs with cross-border law enforcement and establish a major new returns unit.

Last month MPs heard Rwanda could walk away from its multi-million pound deal with the UK and keep the money without accepting a single asylum seeker.

The suggestion was made when the Home Offices top civil servant was brought before a Commons committee to answer questions over the bid to send migrants to the African country.

The departments permanent secretary, Sir Matthew Rycroft, told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) there was a break clause included in the memorandum of understanding the UK and Rwanda signed in April 2022 to seal the deal, which allows either government to walk away from it with three months notice.

He confirmed that if the UK instigates the break clause, Rwanda keeps the money already paid but added: There is a presumption that the UK Government will want to continue with the partnership, bearing in mind its importance in the overall efforts to stop the boats.

If Rwanda ends the agreement, Sir Matthew said the countrys government would have to repay the money proportionately.

The exchange prompted committee chairwomen Dame Meg Hillier to say: So they could still have the money with having perhaps not had to receive a single asylum seeker.

It would depend on the circumstances, Sir Matthew replied.

The committee of MPs which scrutinises Government spending had summoned Sir Matthew to explain why there was secrecy over the payments for the policy, which has so far been unsuccessful in removing a single migrant amid legal challenges.

A UK Government spokesman said ministers were confident of enacting the Rwanda policy, with no need for the money invested to be refunded.

The spokesman said: This wont be necessary as we are determined to get flights off the ground to Rwanda, control our borders and stop the boats.

Rwanda is currently host to over 135,000 people seeking safety and has repeatedly made clear they are as passionate as we are about ending the global illegal migration crisis.

Home Office officials said the funding given by the UK to Rwanda was not intended to be returned.

If the agreement between the two countries was terminated, Britain would not make any further economic-style payments but would continue to have an obligation to relocated asylum seekers, with funding continuing for up to five years, department aides said.
Former president Donald Trump scored a record win in the Iowa caucuses to cement his crushing domination of the 2024 Republican presidential race, as the field narrowed heading into next week's New Hampshire primaries.

Trump adopted an unusually conciliatory tone after his strong win amid a depressed turnout caused by temperatures plunging as low as -25C in the midwestern state, the first to see Republican voters choose their preferred candidate to run against Joe Biden in November.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis finished a distant second, just ahead of former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, who is battling with DeSantis to stay in the race and hope that Trump gets tripped up his many legal battles. Hard-right entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who flickered in early debates last year, dropped out and endorsed Trump.

Having vowed "vengeance" against his political opponents in recent months, and spoken of immigrants "poisoning the blood" of America, Trump offered a message of unity in his 20-minute victory speech in Iowas state capital Des Moines.

We want to come together, whether its Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative, he said. Were going to come together. Its going to happen soon.

But the conciliation only went so far. At one point Trump invited a man dressed in a wall-patterned jacket and tie onto the stage, a reminder of one of his controversial policies during his maverick first term - to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal migrants.

He vowed in his speech to step up the pace of deportations to record levels. As it was, Trump set records with the 30-point margin of his victory in Iowa, capturing 51.0% of caucus voters who braved the Arctic chill to vote in hundreds of community halls, schools and churches.

Mr DeSantis trailed with 21.1% while Ms Haley got 19.1%. Mr Ramaswamy was fourth on 7.7%. The result meant that the Florida governor lived to fight another day after a long descent in the polls heading into Iowa.

Because of your support, in spite of all of what they threw at us, we got our ticket punched out of Iowa, Mr DeSantis told supporters.

But Ms Haley is polling a much closer second to Trump in New Hampshire, where independent voters can take part in the primary on January 23, before the race moves onto South Carolina, where she was governor.

"When you look at how well we're doing in New Hampshire and in South Carolina and beyond, I can safely say tonight Iowa made this Republican primary a two-person race," she said, arguing she was the last best hope of stopping the Trump-Biden nightmare.

Trumps legal battles came back in focus with the candidate expected on Tuesday to attend a court hearing in New York, where a jury is considering whether he should pay more damages to a newspaper columnist who last year won a $5 million award against him for sex abuse and defamation.

He also faces potential trials for trying to thwart President Bidens 2020 win. In total, he faces 91 felony charges across four criminal cases, including for when his supporters carried out a deadly attack on the US Congress building in January 2021.

The Supreme Court is weighing whether states have the ability to block Trump from the ballot for his alleged role in sparking the insurrection on Capitol Hill. But his resounding success in Iowa further underlines that for most Republican foot-soldiers, none of that matters.

Who wins in November does matter hugely to Britain and the European Union, amid fears that Trump could pull the United States out of Nato and revert to isolationist trade policies.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove played down the Nato speculation, despite Trump again warning European countries to pay more for their own defence.

"However, whoever the American people choose as their president, and it is their choice, we have a responsibility to work with them because the relationship that we have with the United States in defence, intelligence, security and economically is so important," the Cabinet minister told Times Radio.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo of Belgium, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said that "if 2024 brings us 'America first' again, it is really more than ever 'Europe on its own'."
Donald Trump has been told to keep his voice down in court after writer E Jean Carrolls lawyer said the former president was grumbling loudly to his attorneys as she described how he shattered her reputation after she accused him of sexual abuse.

Carroll lawyer Shawn Crowley told Judge Lewis A Kaplan that Trump could be heard loudly saying things that are false as he sat at the defence table, frequently tilting back in his chair and leaning over to talk with lawyers Alina Habba and Michael Madaio.

Among his comments, Ms Crowley said, were that the long-time Elle magazine advice columnist was lying about the assault and that she seemed to have gotten her memory back.

E Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan federal court (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP)

The lawyer suggested that if Ms Carrolls lawyers could hear Trump from where they were sitting, about 12ft away, then jurors might have been able to hear him as well.

Im just going to ask Mr Trump to take special care to keep his voice down when conferring with counsel to make sure the jury does not hear it, Judge Kaplan said before jurors returned to the courtroom after a morning break.

Earlier, without the jury in the courtroom, Trump slammed his hand on the defence table when the judge again refused his lawyers request that the trial be suspended on Thursday so the ex-president could attend his mother-in-laws funeral in Florida.

Ms Carroll, 80, was the first witness in a Manhattan federal court trial to determine any damages owed by Trump for remarks he made while he was president in June 2019. He denied attacking her or even knowing her.

A jury last year found that Trump sexually abused her in 1996 and defamed her when he made a round of denials in October 2022.

The judge has put limitations on the trial in light of the previous verdict and prior rulings he made restricting the infusion of political talk into the proceedings.

Ms Habba raised multiple objections seeking to prevent the jury from hearing details of Ms Carrolls sexual assault allegations.

Ive paid just about as dearly as its possible to pay, the writer said, referencing the damage she said Trump had caused to her reputation.

She said Trumps vitriol toward her has not ceased, pointing to multiple social media posts he had made about her in recent days, and that his rhetoric continues to inspire venom against her from strangers because she claimed he sexually abused her decades ago.

He lied last month. He lied on Sunday. He lied yesterday. And I am here to get my reputation back, Ms Carroll said.

She said she opened a social media website on Tuesday and saw a post that said: Hey lady, youre a fraud.

She went into the witness box after a hostile encounter between Ms Habba and Judge Kaplan  culminating in Trumps desk slam  over the judges refusal to adjourn the trial on Thursday so Trump could attend the funeral for former first lady Melania Trumps mother, Amalija Knavs, who died last week.

Ms Habba called the judges ruling insanely prejudicial but he cut her off, saying he would hear no further argument on it. She told the judge: I will not be spoken to that way, your honour.

When she mentioned the funeral again, the judge responded: Its denied. Sit down. Bring in the jury.

Ms Carrolls evidence came less than a year after she was in the same chair aiming to convince a jury that Trump could be held accountable in a way that would stop him from frequent verbal attacks against her as he campaigns for the presidency. He is the front-runner on the Republican ticket.

Im here because Donald Trump assaulted me and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened. He lied and shattered my reputation, she said.

She said that once she was a respected advice columnist. Now, Im known as the liar, the fraud and the whack job.

Because the first jury found that Trump sexually abused Ms Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her in 2022, the new trial concerns only how much more  if anything  he will be ordered to pay her for other remarks he made in 2019 while he was president.

Trump, who is juggling court appearances with campaign stops, sat in on jury selection on Tuesday. Before opening statements began, he left for a rally in New Hampshire.

He wrote on social media on Tuesday that the case was nothing but fabricated lies and political shenanigans which had garnered his accuser money and fame.

Donald Trump in court with his lawyer Alina Habba (Elizabeth Williams/AP)

I am the only one injured by this attempted EXTORTION, read a post on his Truth Social platform.

Ms Carroll claims he forced himself on her in a dressing room after a chance meeting at a luxury department store in 1996. Then he publicly impugned her honesty, her motives and her sanity after she told the story publicly in a 2019 memoir.

She has maintained she lost millions of readers and her longtime post at Elle magazine, where her Ask E Jean advice column ran for over a quarter of a century, because of her allegations and Trumps reaction to them. Elle has said her contract was not renewed for unrelated reasons.

Trump claims nothing happened between him and Ms Carroll and that he had never met her. He says a 1987 party photo of them and their then-spouses doesnt count because it was a momentary greeting.
Another Republican presidential debate has been cancelled after Nikki Haley refused to participate in any forum that does not also include Donald Trump.

The move means that for the first time in years there will no on-the-ground face-off before New Hampshires primary next week.

CNN announced on Wednesday that it was calling off its debate, which had been scheduled for Sunday at New England College.

Donald Trump at a campaign event in Atkinson, New Hampshire (Matt Rourke/AP)

It comes a day after ABC and WMUR-TV said they were also cancelling Thursdays debate, planned at Saint Anselm College, following Ms Haleys assertion that the next debate in which she participates will either be with Donald Trump or Joe Biden.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis had committed to take part in both debates, but with front-runner Mr Trump having skipped all of the Republican debates so far, Ms Haleys participation had been the deciding factor in whether they would go on.

The move by the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador could be in part a result of the last debate, which featured only her and Mr DeSantis.

Ms Haley did not perform as well as expected, and Mr DeSantis ultimately ended up beating her for second place in Mondays lead-off Iowa caucuses.

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Her decision to skip the debate prompted a reaction from rivals, with Mr DeSantis saying she is afraid to debate because she doesnt want to answer the tough questions, and a Trump spokesman calling her a desperate globalist.

Ms Haley had argued that picking her gives Republicans a better chance to defeat Mr Biden, a Democrat, in Novembers presidential election, pointing to survey data showing her with the largest lead among the Republican field in a theoretical general election match-up.

Although she finished third in Iowa, she has been shown to be better-positioned in the next state to vote, New Hampshire, and has angled to frame the remainder of the primary as a two-person race between Mr Trump and herself.

CNN said on Wednesday that it would instead host a town hall event with Ms Haley on Thursday from New England College.

Mr DeSantis took part in his own CNN town hall on Tuesday.
Photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service showing rescuers help a wounded person after houses were destroyed by a Russian missile attack in Novomoskovsk, Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP)

More than 100 civilians were killed by Russias missile and drone attacks across Ukraine during December, according to a UN report which said nearly 500 were injured.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraines report, published on Tuesday, said there was a 26.5% increase in civilian casualties last month  from 468 in November to 592 in December.

With some reports pending verification, it said the increase was likely higher.

Danielle Bell, who heads the UNs monitoring mission, said: Civilian casualties had been steadily decreasing in 2023, but the wave of attacks in late December and early January violently interrupted that trend.

A firefighter works to extinguish a fire after a Russian missile attack in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP)

The UN mission said it is verifying reports the missile and drone attacks that began hitting populated areas across Ukraine on December 29 and continued into early January killed 86 civilians and injured 416 others.

These attacks sow death and destruction on Ukraines civilians who have endured profound losses from Russias full-scale invasion for almost two years now, Ms Bell said.

The UN said the highest number of casualties occurred during attacks on December 29 and January 2 amid plummeting winter temperatures.

On January 4, it said, Russian missiles struck the small town of Pokrovsk and nearby village of Rivne close to the front lines, burying two families  six adults and five children  in the rubble of their homes. Some bodies have still not been found, it said.

In another attack on January 6, the blast wave from a Russian missile strike in Novomoskovsk injured 31 civilians, including eight passengers on a minibus that was destroyed during the morning commute, the UN said.

The confirmed number of civilians killed since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 2022 is more than 10,200, including 575 children, and the number of injured is more than 19,300, the UN humanitarian offices operations director Edem Wosornu told the UN Security Council last week.
By John Merrill

In 1955, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a mutual aerial observation agreement with the Soviet Union that would allow the two Cold War rivals to spy on each others military movements to prevent misunderstandings that could lead to war. Moscow turned down the proposal.

It took nearly another four decades before a Treaty on Open Skies was signed by 34 countries, including the U.S. and Russia at the end of the Cold War. But the world is now a more dangerous place after U.S. President Donald Trump, in one of his final acts, withdrew from the treaty at the end of 2020 and Russia followed suit a year later.

That history should be kept in mind in assessing North Koreas launch of its first spy satellite, the Malligyong-1 or Telescope-1, in November, which provoked a storm of international outrage since it was seen as improving the Norths missile targeting capabilities.

An argument can be made, however, that allowing Pyongyang to operate a spy satellite has the potential of increasing stability on the Korean Peninsula by giving it a better understanding of U.S. and South Korean joint military training exercises, which the North views as a potential threat, and reducing the possibility of an accidental war.

The architecture of mutual North-South aerial surveillance was completed when South Korea, only a week after the Norths launch, saw its first spy satellite placed into orbit.

The dueling spy satellite launches are reminiscent of the U.S.-Soviet space race during the Cold War as both Koreas seek to score points in the race for competitive legitimacy. It also highlights their different strengths in their space ambitions.

North Korea has the edge when it comes to rocket technology since it was able to launch its spy satellite (after two failed earlier attempts) in contrast to South Korea, which had to rely on a Space X Falcon 9 rocket to lift its satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

South Korea has fallen behind the North in rocket development since it was subject for years to technical limits imposed by the U.S. on the range and payloads of its indigenous missiles in exchange for technology transfers. It was only in 2021 that the Biden administration agreed to abolish these restrictions.

On the other hand, South Korea enjoys a competitive advantage in terms of satellite and imaging technology, with a better capability to see through cloud cover or at night. Pyongyang may be hoping to close the gap in the future by obtaining access to Russian satellite or imaging technology as part of its Ukraine-related arms deal with Moscow.

Both Koreas appear determined to expand their space activities. Seoul reportedly has plans to place up to 130 spy satellites in a low earth orbit by the early 2030s as part of a space surveillance and military communications network. This satellite system would play a crucial role in South Koreas preemptive Kill-Chain strike system to target North Korean leaders if a nuclear attack by Pyongyang appeared to be imminent.

North Korea has less capability to deploy such an extensive surveillance network, although it has announced plans to put up three more spy satellites in 2024 as part of a long-term project to launch a large number of reconnaissance satellites. Meanwhile, South Korea is planning to launch five spy satellites this year.

With both Koreas pursuing a similar space strategy, Pyongyang has protested that it is being subject to a double standard in being condemned for its spy satellite launch. It argued that its satellite launch was being criticized as a threat to regional peace and stability, while the U.S. was making a shameless claim that South Koreas satellite launch was different under international law.

In response, the U.S. pointed out that South Korea is not subject to U.N. Security Council sanctions, while North Korea is unabashedly trying to advance its nuclear weapons delivery systems by testing ballistic missile technology in clear violation of this councils resolutions barring ballistic missile activity, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the U.N.

Regardless that the spy satellite was put into orbit by one of North Koreas rockets, perhaps consideration should be paid to the fact that the greater transparency it provides is not necessarily a bad thing if it reduces the risk of inadvertent conflict by giving Pyongyang clarity about U.S.-South Korea military movements.

In an interesting development, Kim Yo-jung, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, warned that Pyongyang would not return to talks with Washington until it dropped its condemnation of the spy satellite. Although only a straw in the wind, implicit in her remarks is the outside possibility that North Korea might resume talks if the U.S. reduces its confrontational stance.

John Merrill (jmerrill05@gmail.com) is a visiting scholar at the Institute of Korean Studies at George Washington University.
The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, left, sails with South Korean Navys Aegis destroyer King Sejong the Great and Japans Maritime Self-Defence Force Aegis destroyer Kongou took part in exercises in the international waters of the southern coast of Korean peninsular (South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff via AP)

The United States, South Korea and Japan have conducted combined naval exercises involving an American aircraft carrier in their latest show of strength against nuclear-armed North Korea.

The manoeuvres came as the three countries senior diplomats were to meet in Seoul to discuss the deepening stand-off with Pyongyang, the South Korean military said.

The training in waters off South Koreas Jeju island came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continued weapons testing and issued threats that have raised regional tensions to their highest point in years.

At Pyongyangs rubber-stamp parliament this week, Mr Kim declared that North Korea would abandon its long-standing commitment to a peaceful unification with South Korea and ordered a rewriting of Norths constitution to eliminate the idea of a shared statehood between the war-divided countries.

His speech on Monday came a day after the North conducted its first ballistic test of 2024, which state media described as a new solid-fuel intermediate range missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead, reflecting its push to advance its line-up of weapons targeting US military bases in Guam and Japan.

A launching drill takes place at the Sunan international airport in Pyongyang (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the trilateral naval drills, which completed its three-day programme on Wednesday, involved nine warships from the countries, including US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and Aegis destroyers from South Korea and Japan.

The exercise was aimed at sharpening the countries combined deterrence and response capabilities against North Korean nuclear, missile and underwater threats, and also training for preventing illicit maritime transports of weapons of mass destruction, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

It did not specify whether the training reflected concerns about North Koreas alleged arms transfers to Russia to help that countrys war in Ukraine.

In Seoul, South Korean nuclear envoy Kim Gunn was scheduled to meet with Japanese counterpart Namazu Hiroyuki on Wednesday, a day before their trilateral meeting with US President Joe Bidens deputy special representative for North Korea, Jung Pak, to coordinate their response toward the North.

In the face of growing North Korean nuclear threats, the conservative government of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been expanding military cooperation and training with the United States and Japan, which Mr Kim has decried as invasion rehearsals.

Mr Yoon has also sought stronger reassurances from Washington that it would swiftly and decisively use its nuclear capabilities to defend its ally in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack.

In his speech at the North Koreas Supreme Peoples Assembly, Mr Kim called described the South Koreans as top class stooges of America who were obsessed with confrontation, and repeated a threat that the North would annihilate the South with its nuclear weapons if provoked.
What are claimed to be Iranian-made missile components bound for Yemens Houthi seized from a vessel in the Arabian Sea (US Central Command via AP)

US President Joe Bidens administration is expected to announce plans to redesignate Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as a specially designated global terrorists, sources have said.

It comes after the Houthis launched dozens of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

The group says it has attacked the ships in response to Israels military operations in Gaza in the aftermath of Hamass October 7 attack on Israel.

Three people familiar with the decision  including a US official  were not authorised to comment and requested anonymity to discuss the matter before the expected formal announcement.

The administration is expected to make the announcement on Wednesday, the US official said.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken delisted the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) and specially designated global terrorists in February 2021 as the administration sought to make it easier to get humanitarian aid into Yemen.

The vessel, which allegedly carried Iranian-made missile components bound for Yemens Houthi, in the Arabian Sea (US Central Command via AP)

In its waning days, Donald Trumps administration designated the Houthis a foreign terrorist organisation over the strong objections of human rights and humanitarian aid groups.

The designation barred Americans and people and organisations subject to US jurisdiction from providing material support to the Houthis, which the groups said would result in an even greater humanitarian catastrophe than what was already happening in Yemen.

Shortly after Mr Bidens administration took office, Mr Blinken removed the designations in a step that was roundly criticised by conservative politicians and others but intended to keep much-needed food, medicine and other aid flowing to Yemen.

The specially designated global terrorists label to be reimposed on the Houthis does not include sanctions for providing material support and it does not come with travel bans that are also imposed with the FTO label.

Thus it may not pose a substantial impediment to providing aid to Yemeni civilians.

Meanwhile, a senior White House official said on Tuesday that addressing the ongoing threat by Yemens Houthi rebels on commercial vessels in the Red Sea is an all-hands-on-deck problem that the US and allies must address together to minimise impact on the global economy.

How long this goes on and how bad it gets comes down not just to the decisions of the countries in the coalition that took strikes last week, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

(PA Graphics)

The Iran-backed Houthi group has launched dozens of attacks since November on vessels in the Red Sea, a vital corridor for the worlds shipping traffic, in what they say is an effort to support Palestinians in the war with Israel.

US and British forces have responded by carrying out dozens of air and sea strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since Friday. The attacks by the Houthis have continued.

Linda Thomas Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said last week that 2,000 ships since November have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea. Houthi militants have threatened or taken hostage mariners from more than 20 countries.

The Red Sea attacks have already caused significant disruptions to global trade. Oil prices have edged higher in recent days, though Brent crude futures were down slightly in early trading on Tuesday.

The US launched a new strike against the Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third assault on the Iranian-backed group in recent days. The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. No one was injured.

Mr Sullivan said it is critical that countries with influence on Tehran and other Middle East capitals make it clear that the entire world rejects wholesale the idea that a group like the Houthis can basically hijack the world.

Mr Bidens senior adviser acknowledged that the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea as well as groups allied to Iran carrying out attacks in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen pose concerns that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate even as Israeli officials have indicated a shift in intensity in their military campaign.

We have to guard against and be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage, Mr Sullivan said.

The comments from Mr Sullivan came after Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said during an appearance at the Davos forum that the situation in the Middle East is a recipe for escalation everywhere. He said Qatar believes that ending the conflict in Gaza will stop the Houthis and militant groups from launching attacks elsewhere in the region.

Mr Sullivan on Tuesday met with Mr Al Thani as well as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, according to the White House.

Iran fired missiles late on Monday at what it said were Israeli spy headquarters in an upscale neighbourhood near the sprawling US consulate compound in Irbil, the seat of Iraqs northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and at targets linked to the so-called Islamic State terror group in northern Syria.

Iraq on Tuesday called the attacks, which killed several civilians, a blatant violation of Iraqs sovereignty and recalled its ambassador from Tehran.
A US woman who pleaded guilty to helping kill her own mother and stuffing the body in a suitcase during a luxury holiday in Bali has been sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Judge Matthew Kennelly gave Heather Mack credit for the approximately two years she spent in custody in Chicago awaiting trial since her return in 2021. Her lawyer Michael Leonard said her formal sentence will be around 23 years in total.

Federal prisoners also get credit for good behaviour, roughly 50 days for each year.

Prosecutors had recommended a 28-year sentence for Mack for conspiring with her boyfriend to kill Sheila von Wiese-Mack in 2014.

Before her sentence was read, Mack apologised to her mothers brother and sister through tears.

It breaks my heart hearing you cry, she told Debbi Curran, her aunt and Ms von Wiese-Macks sister, who had audibly sobbed as her daughter read a victim impact statement on Ms Currans behalf.

Theres no excuse for trying to harm her, Mack added. I miss and love my mother.

The government also wanted the 28-year-old to get five years of supervised release, a 250,000 dollar fine and restitution of 262,708 dollars.

In a filing last week, prosecutors said the recommended sentence is warranted and sufficient, but not greater than necessary to serve a just and appropriate punishment for Macks heinous crime.

The sentencing hearing began on Wednesday morning with evidence from Bill Wiese, Ms von Wiese-Macks brother and Macks uncle. He asked Judge Matthew Kennelly to impose the maximum sentence possible, saying Mack had never shown remorse.

If it were up to me, Heather would spend the rest of her life behind bars, he said.

Mack, who wore an orange jumpsuit, orange slip-on shoes and glasses, remained mostly impassive as her uncle spoke, occasionally looking at attendees and giving small smiles to some.

Mack pleaded guilty last June to one count of conspiring to kill Ms von Wiese-Mack with her then-boyfriend to gain access to a 1.5 million dollar trust fund.

Prosecutors have said Mack, then 18 and pregnant, covered her mothers mouth while Tommy Schaefer bludgeoned Ms von Wiese-Mack with a fruit bowl in a hotel room.

Prosecutors said Mack and Schaefer had planned the killing for months, and that video evidence showed them trying to get the small suitcase containing the body into a taxi.

Mack, who lived with her mother in Oak Park, Chicago, served seven years of her 10-year Indonesian sentence for her 2015 conviction of being an accessory to Ms von Wiese-Macks murder.

She was deported in 2021 and US agents arrested her on arrival at Chicagos OHare International Airport.

Macks then-six-year-old daughter was with her when she was arrested. The girl was placed with a relative after a custody fight.

Macks lawyers had sought a 15-year prison term, but with credit for her seven years in the Indonesian prison. She was automatically credited for the more than two years she spent in custody in Chicago.

For the taxpayers to incur the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to incarcerate Ms Mack for an extended period of time is particularly unnecessary, lawyer Michael Leonard said in a recent court filing.

The plea agreement called for a sentence of no more than 28 years and for two other charges against Mack to be dropped.

Schaefer was convicted of murder and is serving an 18-year sentence in Indonesia. He is charged in the same US indictment.

His mother, Kia Walker, was in the courtroom on Wednesday for Macks sentencing.
Will mass strike be watershed moment as Heaton-Harris faces perfect storm?

The Secretary of State, and our politicians, will get the message loud and clear on Thursday as 170,000 workers at the end of their tether embark on industrial action of unprecedented scale

Nipsa protest in Belfast city centre just before Christmas (PressEye)

Mark Bain Wed 17 Jan 2024 at 07:21

We will find out on Thursday what society could face going forward unless resolutions are urgently found to a series of pay disputes which have been rumbling on for years.
Mohd. Khairianwar Jailani (second from left), director of the Malaysian feature film Mentega Terbang, and the films producer, Tan Meng Khen (second from right), speak with their lawyers as they arrive at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court, Jan. 17, 2024.

A Malaysian court on Wednesday charged the director and producer of a now-banned feature film about a Muslim girl who explores other faiths with deliberately wounding religious feelings, making them the first filmmakers in the country to face criminal prosecution.

Human Rights Watch and other groups slammed the governments move to bring charges against the two filmmakers.

Crude political pandering that restricts free speech is how the global rights watchdog described it, while other critics said the government of Anwar Ibrahim appeared to be looking for votes from the burgeoning section of religious conservatives in the Muslim-majority country.

The director of the film Mentega Terbang, Mohd. Khairianwar Jailani, and its producer, Tan Meng Kheng, were charged separately under Section 298 of Malaysias penal code that deals with punishment for intentionally hurting anyones religious feelings with words, sounds or actions.

The two pleaded not guilty and were released on bail, although gag orders were imposed on them to prohibit them from making any public statements about the case.

The charges were under Section 298 for producing, directing, and writing the script.  We dont think its right, and we will take it up with the High Court, N. Surendran, the filmmakers lawyer, told reporters. He would seek an answer from the High Court and then use that as a reference in the case.

[Section 298] is an antiquated legislation, as it is pre-independence legislation and we cannot let it stand anymore. We have informed both the magistrates and filed to refer to the High Court in order to strike down Section 298 as being unconstitutional for this case. If we are successful, the charges will be gone, Surendran added.

The magistrates in the cases of both the films producer and director set March 14 for the next hearing.

Mentega Terbang was released in 2021 and had limited screenings. But it came to peoples attention last March when it debuted on a Hong Kong-based streaming service called Viu, before it was taken down.

The service removed the film as criticism against it became hateful and violent. The director and the actor received death threats and the formers car was vandalized.

The film was also screened at the Jogja-Netpac Indonesia Film Festival 2021 and became the closing film for the Aceh Film Festival 2022.

A screengrab from the trailer for the film Mentega Terbang shows the protagonist, 15-year-old Aisyah, entering a mosque. [YouTube/Anomalist Production]

The films protagonist is Aisyah, a 15-year-old grief-stricken Malay Muslim girl, confronting the imminent loss of her terminally ill mother. The situation makes her explore perspectives on life after death from the viewpoints of various religions.

During this process, Aisyah challenges some Islamic norms, asks her friend to let her taste pork and gets her fathers approval to explore other religions. Theres a scene of Aisyah reading the Bible as well.

It was these aspects of Mentega Terbang that had a vocal section of Muslims up in arms and asking how such a film was allowed for public viewing. Conservatives from the countrys Islamic majority said it encouraged Muslims to desert their faith.

So great was the furor that the Home Ministry eventually banned the film last September, saying that allowing screenings of it was contrary to public interest.

The ban came soon after the government outlawed LGBT-themed Swatch wristwatches, two childrens books and a novel, also for allegedly being harmful to the multi-faith nation where Islam is the official religion and Muslims make up 70% of the population.

These bans and other incidents of moral outrage and intolerance have raised concerns among many Malaysians about a rise in Islamic conservatism and made them question the intentions of Prime Minister Anwar, who has a reputation of being a progressive moderate.

A screengrab from the trailer for the film Mentega Terbang shows the character, Aisyah, reading the Bible. [YouTube/Anomalist Production]

Many critics attribute the Anwar administrations seeming about-face to an attempt at gaining votes from the Malay Muslim majority, which has traditionally been suspicious of his multireligious and multiethnic Pakatan Harapan coalition.

Sure, his Pakatan coalition won the most parliamentary seats in the November 2022 general election. But it was hardline Islamic party PAS that won the largest number of seats by any party, a first for the group accused of divisive religious rhetoric and pushing Islamic fundamentalism.

Nine months later, the conservative opposition Perikatan Nasional coalition, which includes PAS, made significant gains in six state assembly polls, at the cost of Anwars federal alliance.

Analysts say Anwar is desperately looking for a piece of that Malay Muslim electorate.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, lambasted Anwar for kowtowing to any section just for votes.

He said the filmmakers prosecution under a vague and arbitrary statute was outrageous and unacceptable.

It shows very clearly how Anwar Ibrahim and his government are fundamentally failing to protect freedom of expression, and pursuing criminal cases for political motivations, Robertson told BenarNews.

This sort of crude political pandering at the expense of human rights is precisely the sort of thing that Anwar accused previous governments of doing when he was in the opposition. But now hes hypocritically changed his tune after assuming power, and using the same censorship and persecution.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks at a news conference on his first day at the Prime Ministers Office in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Nov. 25, 2022. [Prime Minister office via AP]

Meanwhile, several human rights groups said in a joint statement that Section 298 of the penal code, under which the filmmakers were charged, was a blasphemy provision.

The section makes the insult of any religion a criminal offense, the groups statement said.

It added, though, that close monitoring of human rights violations showed that the sections provisions are largely used against those deemed to have allegedly insulted Islam.

The provisions enforcement has had a disproportionate and negative impact on minority communities, political dissidents, atheists, comedians, artists, religious scholars, and others who express opinions, the statement said.

But one scriptwriter, Zabidi Mohamed, applauded the decision to criminally prosecute the makers of Mentega Terbang. He considers the film to be blasphemous and peddling liberal ideas.

This is the first case in the history of the countrys film industry where a movie addressing liberal ideas that insult Islam [blasphemy] is charged in criminal court, he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday, when it was reported that charges would be filed.

As a Muslim, I adhere to the belief that the truth lies only in Islam, and I hold on to the religious principles approved by Allah, which are solely Islamic.
A policeman directs traffic next to the victory tower Patuxay in the Laos capital of Vientiane, July 23, 2016, as the country hosts the 49th annual ministerial meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Laos, a land-locked country, has taken over the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with one of the major tasks in 2024 being to moderate the complex situation in the South China Sea.

Analysts say Vientiane is likely to try its best to stay neutral and strike a compromise between disputing parties.

Laos is a reactive ASEAN chair and not a proactive one, said Carlyle Thayer, a Southeast Asia specialist, noting that Laos and Myanmar were the only two ASEAN members who did not submit draft Codes of Conduct to make up the Single Draft Negotiating Text released in August 2018.

ASEAN and China have been negotiating a legally-binding Code of Conduct after reaching an initial Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in 2002. In 2018, the regional bloc and Beijing managed to release the Single Draft Negotiating Text  or a draft agreement  but progress has been stalled.

China claims historical rights to almost 90% of the South China Sea, an area roughly demarcated by the so-called nine-dash line. Other claimants, including ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, have rejected those claims and a 2016 international arbitration tribunal ruled that they had no legal basis.

Meanwhile tension has been rising in recent months between Beijing and Manila over some atolls claimed by both countries.

A Philippine Coast Guard member holds onto a rubber fender as a Chinese coast guard vessel chases the Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Cabra while approaching Second Thomas Shoal, Nov. 10, 2023. [Joeal Calupitan/AP]

In 2023, under Indonesias chairmanship, there were efforts by ASEAN to once again accelerate the negotiating process, but it may stall again with Laos in the hot seat this year.

Laos indebtedness to China will impede any efforts to resume negotiations over competing maritime claims in the South China Sea, said an assessment by Stratfor, a geopolitical intelligence firm.

Laos is unlikely to make progress on restarting talks over the Code of Conduct due to its weak negotiating position, as it owes China billions of dollars related to infrastructure projects and is in the midst of an economic crisis, and its neutral stake in the matter as a landlocked country beholden to both China and ASEAN, said the Stratfor report.

Middle ground

The theme of Laos 2024 ASEAN year is ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience and the focus will be leading ASEAN to promote the community building and enhancing a connected and resilient ASEAN community, a report by the state-run Vietnam News Agency paraphrased Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith as saying on Nov. 17.

Laos external debt was about U.S. $14.5 billion in 2022. The World Bank said in a country report in November 2023 that China accounted for about half of the external public debt stock in 2022 and for about half of external debt repayments scheduled for 2024-2027.

Vientiane also does not want to upset other ASEAN members, especially Vietnam, its immediate neighbor and traditional ally. Hanoi, as a claimant in the South China Sea, has been at odds with China over a number of issues, from the building of artificial islands to the exploitation of natural resources.

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone visited Hanoi in early January.

During a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, the two prime ministers emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, including maintaining ASEANs solidarity, common stance and centrality in regional security and strategic issues, such as the East Sea [South China Sea] issue, according to the Vietnamese governments website.

Vietnam is keen to lobby Laos on the South China Sea, said Canberra-based Carlyle Thayer.

I was leaked the transcript of the ASEAN Ministerial retreat in 2012 when Cambodia was ASEAN Chair and quashed the joint statement because of its paragraphs on the South China Sea, Thayer told Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news service affiliated with BenarNews.

As ministers discussed the draft joint statement in alphabetical order, Laos said virtually nothing or on the South China Sea said it would accept whatever the other members decided.

Yet the previous time Laos was ASEAN chair in 2016, it orchestrated a generic joint communique on the South China Sea that said maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea region serves the fundamental interests of ASEAN member states and China, as well as the international community.

While this could be seen as passing the South China Sea dilemma to the next chair, it was a step up from the failure to issue a joint communique in 2012 by Cambodia and Vientiane is likely to maintain this approach this year.
Must seek innovative ways toward carbon-free production

By Jang Daul

The new Global Risks Report for this year was disclosed by the World Economic Forum this month. It contains leading insights on the evolving global risks landscape from 1,490 experts across academia, business, government, the international community and civil society.

Similar to the 2023 report, climate-related risks  extreme weather events, critical changes to Earth systems, and biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse  again were the top three risks in terms of severity over a 10-year period.

This implies that the competitiveness of global corporations is contingent on improved climate action.

Setting the world on a path to reaching climate targets to secure a habitable planet for ourselves and our children, requires that corporations enhance energy efficiency and make an expeditious shift from reliance on fossil fuels to embracing renewable energy sources in order to curb all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as fast and as ambitiously as possible.

Last Monday, the Korean government unveiled plans to build a colossal 622 trillion won ($471 billion) mega chip cluster in Gyeonggi Province. This ambitious endeavor aims to solidify Korea's position as a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing and innovation.

Within what will probably be the worlds largest semiconductor cluster if completed, Samsung Electronics is slated to build six new fabs in Yongin, with an investment totaling 360 trillion won. The No. 1 memory chipmaker also plans to build three more fabs in Pyeongtaek with an investment of 120 trillion won, and an additional three research fabrication plants at an R&D center in the Giheung District of Yongin, incurring a cost of 20 trillion won. SK Hynix, the No. 2 memory chipmaker, is already constructing four fabs situated in Yongin with an investment of 122 trillion won.

Although the scale of this initiative is noteworthy, it is crucial to scrutinize its implications concerning electricity use and consequently, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are the top 2 electricity users in Korea, consuming 32 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2022, with 22 TWh attributed to Samsung Electronics and 10 TWh to SK Hynix. Since the total electricity demand of Denmark in 2022 was 36 TWh, one can easily imagine how big the total power demand of the two chipmakers really is.

The total power consumption of the two semiconductor companies more than doubled from 2015 to 2022. Due to the fact that fossil fuels, particularly coal and gas, constitute over 60 percent of electricity production in Korea, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix saw a corresponding rise of 123 percent and 78 percent, respectively, during the same period.

Even though the Korean government introduced the Korean Emission Trading Scheme (K-ETS) as the main tool to reduce national GHG emissions, it largely failed to curb the emissions. In fact, the two Korean chipmakers were the top two climate villains under the Korea Emissions Trading Scheme (K-ETS) because they increased their emissions the most among the top 30 emitters under the scheme.

However, due to increasing pressure from their business clients, investors, consumers and civil society, both SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics announced their vision for climate action and joined the global RE100 (renewable electricity 100 percent) initiative to increase their renewable electricity procurement and set a goal of achieving 100 percent renewable electricity procurement by 2050.

Nevertheless, the 2050 RE100 goals set by the two Korean chipmakers remain critically insufficient in their contributions to global climate action. Furthermore, these goals are considerably less ambitious compared to the average target year of RE100 members, which is 2031. Despite this, the global community welcomed the small progress made by these companies, seen as a positive step forward in the context of climate efforts.

Yet, there is no serious and substantial consideration of the climate in the seemingly ambitious government plans for the worlds largest semiconductor cluster. President Yoon Suk Yeol said, "Nuclear power plants in the country will provide a stable power supply to the new chip cluster." However, regardless of whether it is possible to increase the additional nuclear power (by more than 10GW) in time  in a country, which already has the worlds highest density of nuclear power  the presidents nuclear dream is not helping the two Korean chipmakers strategy as they try to respond to the increasing pressure from their clients, investors and consumers for more renewable electricity procurement.

While the two Korean chipmakers are struggling to procure high-impact renewable power, their rival, TSMC of Taiwan, is staying ahead of the competition, producing the first carbon-free chip with better support and vision by its government and society.

The absence of a comprehensive plan to utilize carbon-free renewable electricity is a glaring oversight. The Korean government must rethink its strategy, incorporating a robust commitment to renewable energy. Also, the chipmakers themselves must find innovative ways and proactively invest in meeting their RE100 targets and therefore climate commitments.





Jang Daul (daul.jang@greenpeace.org) is a government relations and advocacy specialist at Greenpeace East Asia Seoul Office.








POWNAL  A familiar debate on the role of town government versus the private sector has resurfaced in Pownal, more than six years after erupting over a proposed new town plan.

Select Board member Bob Jarvis, who recently challenged plans to revive Pownals dormant conservation commission, and voted against the idea, last week called for public hearings and more debate on the proposed reuse of the old Town Office building.

I believe we are moving way too fast in an expansion of town government, he said at one point during a board meeting Thursday.

Jarvis, who has often championed limited government and more reliance on the private sector, also called for more transparency in pursuit of a proposed community center idea for the old Town Office building.

Authorization questions

And he questioned whether the board had actually authorized Administrative Assistant Tara Parks to seek grant funding or take other definitive actions toward that purpose.

Parks said during the meeting Thursday that that was her understanding from prior board discussions about the former site.

Among other steps, she sought about $5,000 in grant funding to create a kitchen facility in the building.

Jarvis, meanwhile, said he believes the board only authorized researching proposals for the former Town Offices on Center Street and then reporting back to the board.

Parks contended she had received encouragement from the board to pursue such a project, but Jarvis insisted that the boards instruction was to do research and come back to the board.

Each cited minutes from past meetings they said supported their contention.

Further discussion

Parks said Tuesday that she would withhold further comment until the board takes up the issue again at its Jan. 25 meeting.

She said board members discussed setting up a public meeting on the community center proposal but did not schedule one.

The former office building  the front section of which dates to 1928  was replaced by a larger office building on an adjacent lot. The new Town Office building opened in 2022.

Presentation

On Thursday, Jarvis gave a presentation to the board, during which he said he also was enthusiastic about new uses for the old Town Offices when the idea was floated at a meeting in July.

But he said more investigation should have been done, such as into the statement that the old office could not be sold, and into whether a survey on potential public uses fully represented town residents.

Jarvis said he would like to see more detail as to why the building could not be sold and advocated a discussion of the benefits of private versus public ownership.

He called Thursday for a public hearing on those issues, adding, So lets not move so quickly ... and miss hearing from our citizens.

Historic district

Parks said she was told by a Realtor that the fact a well on the parcel also provides water to the nearby Pownal Center Firehouse, and that the old Town Office buildings placement on a small, shared lot with the Pownal Community Church were two serious drawbacks for any potential sale.

The parcel might be too small to be subdivided, she said she was told.

In addition, Parks said, the building is within the towns designated historic district, and a historic marker stands directly in front of the former offices.

She added that the boards July meeting minutes show that the boards intent was to give permission to Tara to run with her ideas and start looking into grant opportunities, according to a quote she read from the meeting minutes.

Public input

Parks said she understands the need to discuss and investigate the proposal publicly but added that my concern is this is six months later, making it challenging to go back to find all the evidence [available] at one point.

Jarvis then quoted another statement from the July meeting, prior to a vote to pursue the proposal, that said Parks should research the idea and come back to the board.

Board Chairman Mike Gardner said he would agree to doing additional research and gathering public input but added, It seems like rehashing that after seven months.

Private business

Gardner also questioned Jarvis suggestion of having a private entity purchase the old Town Offices and possibly creating a business there, which Jarvis said could benefit the town and release Pownal from maintenance on the structure.

Gardner noted that a private business would be in the Pownal Center historic district, saying, Doesnt that defeat the purpose of a town center?

Parks said the building is within the small historic district created on Center Street, and the structure itself could have historic value.

Board member Harry Jamie Percey said he thought that town counsel Robert Fisher had already addressed questions about the parcel the building sits on, and he noted that Fisher was also recently asked to research the towns longstanding ownership/maintenance agreements with the Community Church.

Percey also said he remembers the board agreeing in October to a request to apply for a grant for the old Town Offices, and we said yes.

Demolition option

Resident Jim Kocsis called into the meeting Thursday to agree with Jarvis that there needs to be more transparency, adding that he believes the select board meeting minutes are sometimes too brief and dont accurately reflect what occurred.

He said the idea of demolishing the former Town Office building also should be considered and said he had mentioned that.

Whether or not the structure could be moved to another site  similar to the historic schoolhouse that was moved from North Pownal Road and attached as an addition to the new Town Office building  is another option, Kocsis said.

Public hearing?

Although board members discussed holding a public meeting about the community center proposal, no vote was taken to set that in motion.

Questions of what roles local government should undertake have also been hotly debated in Pownal at other times in recent years, especially following meetings on a proposed new town plan in 2017.

Shortly after that, a similar debate erupted over the towns selection for a grant-funded initiate under the statewide Climate Economy Model Communities Program, which sought to help selected towns prepare for and take advantage of opportunities that might emerge because of climate change.

The program was an initiative of the Vermont Council on Rural Development.
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.
The trial of two men charged in connection with a large-scale cannabis operation in Savoy has been rescheduled  again
Electrotechnology expert proud of state research agency's achievements on SiC chip, batteries, EMS

By Ko Dong-hwan

Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) President Kim Nam-kyun's plan this year is to launch dedicated teams of researchers to work on KERI's "big technologies," according to the head of the country's only state-run researching body on electrotechnology.

Electrotechnology is a technology with an impact on the global economy large enough to potentially generate revenue from 10 billion won ($7.7 million) to 100 billion won. It could take at least five years and as long as 30 years to develop such technology.

To build such technology requires deep-rooted, unwavering regulations and stable working environments, he says. The president said he will see to it that those conditions are met and cater to his new ambitious teams starting this year.

"Our R&D cost-to-technology revenue ratio is now almost on par with that of advanced countries. The rate of how much our technologies leave our labs and are implemented in actual fields in practice is also high enough to be globally competitive," Kim said during an interview with The Korea Times. "Nonetheless, we must keep challenging ourselves to make breakthroughs. I will reshuffle the institute's regulations so that our researchers can devote themselves to developing the big technologies for a period as long as almost an entire generation."

A potential big-technology field by KERI, according to Kim, is power semiconductors, a type of chip that controls electricity flow and is essential for all electronic appliances and devices. In a human body, it is like a muscle. The chip's key material has been silicon, but it is now being replaced with silicon carbide (SiC) because, compared to silicon, it can withstand voltage 10 times higher and remain invulnerable to heat two times hotter. Consuming less power than silicon, an SiC-based power chip can also be reduced in size 10 times smaller. Equipped in an electric vehicle, it can boost energy efficiency by 10 percent or more.

KERI now produces SiC chips completely domestically, a finesse only achieved by Germany and Japan so far, according to Kim. The agency has transferred the new chip technology to a private car firm and Kim expects the next-generation chips will be equipped in cars manufactured by the firm.

"In 2021 when automotive chips were in the worst shortage since the outbreak of COVID-19, we introduced a MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) technology to manufacture automotive semiconductors at a lower price in a greater volume. That was pretty innovative," Kim said.

"KERI has been researching power semiconductors since even before I entered the institute in 1990. Back then, the country's technological level was way behind advanced countries like Japan and Germany and had so little data. But KERI has been supporting me and my team and I think we have just begun to see outcomes of our past efforts in a series of breakthroughs."

This year, KERI saw two technologies it had developed, a technology to manufacture solid-state sulfide electrolytes for fire-proof solid-state rechargeable batteries at low cost and all-round 3D printing technology using robotic arms, selected by the Ministry of Science and ICT for the country's 100 greatest scientific breakthroughs of the year.

The former, selected for 12 best-of-the-best among the list, managed to reduce the manufacturing cost for solid-state electrolytes  100 times more expensive than liquid-state  while preserving quality. The technology has been transferred to multiple private firms in the country for more than 1.5 billion won altogether, according to Kim.

With a 3D printing technology that enables electricity induction inside its print-outs, KERI promoted its various applications, including smart sensors for augmented reality (AR)-based navigation and electric circuit designing on 3D planes using robotic arms.

Besides the high-profile achievements, KERI retains technologies that can change the world immensely. Among them, the development of a next-generation energy management system (EMS) is Kim's No. 1 pick. Magnetron technology for treating cancer using radioactive rays, electric mobility technologies for ships, drones and flying cars, technologies for protecting electrical appliances from thunder and remote in vitro diagnostic devices are also his personal favorites.

"Domestication of a new EMS that prevents blackouts came fifth in the world," Kim said. "We are now working on an upgraded version of the EMS that employs cutting-edge technologies like AI and renewable energy sources."

Having led KERI since January last year, Kim wants the institute to become the country's No. 1 troubleshooter for private companies. He likes to consider the institute as the country's top chief technology officer and a core base for key technologies.

"More than 1,000 private companies become KERI's partners each year as they want us to test and certify their new technologies," Kim said. KERI has been a member of Short-Circuit Testing Liaison (STL), a top-tier global certification group for electric devices, since 2011. "Because of our presence here, local companies don't need to ship their electric devices that weigh tons to other countries for testing. That adds another global competitive edge to made-in-Korea appliances for exports."

In 2016, KERI revamped an old testing facility and introduced the country's only testing facility for electric devices and equipment with a capacity of 4,000 megavolt amperes (MVA). Companies that were waiting in line indefinitely with their own technologies for KERI's certification finally saw the queue getting shorter thanks to the new testing facility.

"Our country's testing facilities boast the world's No. 2 in scale," Kim said. "We will be the breeding ground for the country's technologies and an optimal partner for companies that need technological support."
You are the owner of this article.
The Healey administration wants to tap new revenue sources and keep spending growth somewhat constrained in a $58.15 billion state budget that officials pitched as putting Massachusetts on a "glide path" toward potentially better financial conditions further down the road.
Dalian City holds reception during WEF Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos

Xinhua) 16:26, January 17, 2024

People attend a reception held by China's Dalian City during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. Dalian, the host city of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024, held a reception on Tuesday evening in Davos. The event featured a cultural performance and local gourmet cuisine to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in snowy Davos. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People attend a reception held by China's Dalian City during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. Dalian, the host city of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024, held a reception on Tuesday evening in Davos. The event featured a cultural performance and local gourmet cuisine to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in snowy Davos. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People attend a reception held by China's Dalian City during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. Dalian, the host city of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024, held a reception on Tuesday evening in Davos. The event featured a cultural performance and local gourmet cuisine to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in snowy Davos. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People attend a reception held by China's Dalian City during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. Dalian, the host city of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024, held a reception on Tuesday evening in Davos. The event featured a cultural performance and local gourmet cuisine to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in snowy Davos. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Participants wearing red scarfs pose for a photo at a reception held by China's Dalian City during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. Dalian, the host city of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024, held a reception on Tuesday evening in Davos. The event featured a cultural performance and local gourmet cuisine to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in snowy Davos. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Participants pose for a photo at a reception held by China's Dalian City during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. Dalian, the host city of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024, held a reception on Tuesday evening in Davos. The event featured a cultural performance and local gourmet cuisine to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in snowy Davos. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People attend a reception held by China's Dalian City during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. Dalian, the host city of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024, held a reception on Tuesday evening in Davos. The event featured a cultural performance and local gourmet cuisine to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in snowy Davos. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Rise of Chinese brands, lost loyalty after Note 7 battery incidents behind Korean tech giant's fall

By Ann Cao

Shen Ling, 48, a resident of eastern Jiangsu province in China, used to be the owner of a number of Samsung smartphones in the 2010s, attracted by their well-designed appearance and popularity among Chinese consumers.

It was once an age of glory for Samsung in China, when so many of my friends were using the brand for its high-end market standing. I also chose to buy a Samsung phone at that time for the same reason, Shen said.

The story took a drastic turn after 2016, as Samsungs handling of the Note 7 battery explosion incidents led to widespread criticism from Chinese consumers. The harm to Samsungs image was devastating. It made me unsure if I could trust the quality of its future handsets, she said. With that in mind, Shen finally decided to switch to Huawei in 2020.

Samsung Electronics was once the biggest smartphone vendor in China with about a 20 percent market share in 2013, but its share dropped to just 1 percent in 2018, and has since remained around that level. The company is now facing a dilemma in the Chinese market, as the worlds largest smartphone maker has found it difficult to return to its former glory.

Samsungs fall in the Chinese market was partly due to a combination of inappropriate operations leading to a damaged reputation, said Ivan Lam, a senior analyst for Counterpoint Research, adding that another reason was the strong competition from domestic brands in China  including Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo.

Samsungs fate in China reminds us of Huawei Technologies, which hit numerous roadblocks in Samsungs home market amid local loyalty toward Samsung as well as interest in Apple's devices. But unlike Huawei, which has largely retreated from the Korean market, Samsung is still pinning some hopes on the Chinese market.

Samsung shifted its focus to the high-end market in China, particularly with the introduction of foldable models, Lam said. The current strategy for Samsung in China appears to be characterized by conservatism, stability and continuity.

The company continued to launch new models in China over the past few years. It has also been working with some local Big Tech companies, such as Baidu and Tencent, to step up the localization of the smartphone's content ecosystem.

The reason why Samsung didnt make a full departure from China is obvious: It couldn't let go of the revenue stream from the worlds largest smartphone market, which had a total of 975 million users in 2022, especially when the companys revenue was taking a hit from sluggish consumer electronics demand.

Last week, Samsung Electronics estimated that its operating earnings for 2023 plunged 84.9 percent from a year earlier to 6.54 trillion won, while annual revenue is expected to drop 14.6 percent to 258.16 trillion won.

The shift in strategy proved to work for some Chinese consumers, like Cynthia Xia, a university student in Shanghai, who started to use the companys foldable handset Galaxy Z Flip4 in 2022. I was totally attracted by the design and its flexibility to adopt customized settings, Xia said. I think no other brands are doing as well as Samsung in foldable phones.

However, what further complicates Samsungs outlook is the ongoing U.S.-China tech war, which has cast a shadow over the Korean company's supply chain in China. Although Samsung, along with SK hynix, has secured indefinite waivers from Washington to ship advanced chip-making equipment to their China plants, it has been downsizing its production facilities and staff numbers in the country.

Over the past years, Samsung has shut down multiple production bases in China, including its last smartphone plant in the southern city of Huizhou and the last PC plant in the eastern city of Suzhou. The total number of its employees in China decreased to 17,891 in 2022, in stark contrast with its peak of 63,316 in 2013, according to Samsungs Sustainability Report.

The relocation of Samsung's factories out of China reflected that the company "strategically deprioritized the Chinese market, resulting in reduced investment in brand and channel building, Lam said.

As the company unveils its latest Galaxy 24 series in the U.S. on Wednesday (local time), with AI features powered by its self-developed generative AI model Samsung Gauss, all eyes are on how the top player can bring change to the global smartphone market.

But in China, the splash is likely to be small. None of my friends are using Samsungs phones nowadays, so why wouldnt I turn to the domestic brands when they offer similar functionalities with lower prices? Shen said.





Ann Cao is a tech reporter with the South China Morning Post. She is currently based in Seoul, reporting for both The Korea Times and the South China Morning Post under an exchange program.
The 'Pharma Conclave' aims to showcase the measures taken by UP government to rapidly boost infrastructure

In a strategic move aimed at fostering investments in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, the Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP) has announced the organisation of a 'Pharma Conclave' in collaboration with the Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association of India, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA)  TS and AP Chapter, and other industry associations. The event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 18, 2024, in Hyderabad.

The 'Pharma Conclave' will serve as a platform to sensitise industry stakeholders about the various incentives outlined in the Government of Uttar Pradesh's Industrial Policy and the recently unveiled Pharmaceutical Policy 2023.

Key focus areas include opportunities in pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, with a spotlight on the upcoming Pharma Park in Lalitpur district and other industrial parks across the state.

Distinguished leaders from the pharmaceutical industry in Hyderabad are expected to participate, expressing their expectations from the Uttar Pradesh government. The event will witness the presence of industry captains, organizational leaders, regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders, emphasizing the collaborative approach towards boosting the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

GoUP has enlisted industry experts as Brand Ambassadors for the Pharma Sector in Southern India, aiming to attract the right investments. The government's commitment to the pharmaceutical, generic medicines, and medical devices industries is evident through the establishment of an exclusive bulk drug park in Lalitpur district, with an investment outlay of Rs 8,000 crore, spread over 1,472 acres.

The state's policy framework provides a conducive environment for the pharmaceutical sector, offering single-window clearance for regulatory approvals and incentives such as interest and capital subsidies, stamp duty exemption, and 100% electricity duty exemption for 10 years. These measures enhance Uttar Pradesh's reputation as an investment-friendly destination.

Mayur Maheshwari, CEO-UPSIDA (Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority), GoUP, expressed the government's intent to seek investments from healthcare and pharmaceutical companies in Hyderabad. The 'Pharma Conclave' aims to showcase the measures taken by GoUP to rapidly boost infrastructure, along with irresistible incentives for setting up manufacturing and R&D facilities in the state.

Under the UP Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Industry Policy 2023, the government is offering a capital subsidy of 15%, 100% electricity duty exemption for 10 years, a 50% capital interest loan subsidy, waste management incentives, 100% stamp duty exemption, R&D incentives, and a special package for units in Bulk Drug Parks and Medical Devices Parks.
By Park Jae-hyuk

A Chinese battery firm and its car manufacturing parent are under investigation in Korea for allegedly stealing technologies from Samsung SDI and SK On, according to the police and industry officials, Wednesday.

The National Security Investigation Bureau, part of the National Police Agency, referred the case to prosecutors on Jan. 10. They are urging the indictment of Svolt Energy Technology Korea, Svolt's Chinese headquarters, and their parent company, Great Wall Motor, based on alleged violations of the Act on Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology.

Svolt has the fourth-largest share of the Chinese electric vehicle battery market, while Great Wall Motor is the largest seller of SUVs in China.

Five former and incumbent employees of the two Korean battery makers were referred to prosecutors for allegedly providing designs of the Korean companies battery cells to Svolt.

The Korean employees were reportedly enticed by Svolt with attractive offers, including high salaries and substantial bonuses, during meetings at events organized by battery industry associations. The Chinese firm allegedly attracted them through its Korean office, which enables them to remain in their country of origin.

Svolt set up an R&D center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, in February 2020 and relocated the facility in 2021 to Korea TechnoComplex within Korea University in Seoul. It has also recruited battery experts here who are fluent in Chinese.

When the company unveiled its cobalt-free battery a few months after entering Korea, some industry officials raised suspicions that the development might have been influenced by technologies obtained from Korean engineers who had previously worked for Korean battery firms.

The investigators are reportedly looking into whether Great Wall Motor ordered Svolt to steal technologies from Korean companies.

In 2022, Svolt paid 5 million yuan ($702,000) to its larger Chinese rival, CATL. This payment was made following a lawsuit by CATL, alleging that nine former employees who had transitioned to two Svolt subsidiaries had violated non-compete agreements.

Svolt's Korean office was unavailable for comment regarding the ongoing investigation, and the suspects are reported to be denying the allegations. Both Samsung SDI and SK On declined to comment on the issue, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Last August, a former executive at LG Energy Solution was indicted for allegedly taking money after leaking the companys trade secrets to an advisory broker.

In response to the rising cases of industrial espionage, the Supreme Courts Sentencing Commission held a plenary meeting last year to discuss the implementation of stricter penalties for leaking the nations core technologies. The commission plans to finalize the revision of its sentencing guidelines in March.


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Tech giant vows to usher in mobile AI era with Galaxy S24

By Baek Byung-yeul

Samsung Electronics unveiled the worlds first AI-powered smartphone, the Galaxy S24 series, aiming to revolutionize the way people interact with the world through the emerging technology, the Korean tech giant said, Wednesday (local time).

"The Galaxy S24 series will usher in a new era of mobile AI phones beyond the smartphone era," Roh Tae-moon, president and head of the mobile experience business at Samsung Electronics, said during the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

"Galaxy AI will support users in changing the way they experience the world and unleash their infinite potential," he said.

The Galaxy S24 series comes in three variations  the Galaxy S24 Ultra with a 6.8-inch screen and an S Pen stylus, the Galaxy S24 Plus with a 6.7-inch screen, and the Galaxy S24 with a 6.2-inch screen.

Based on Samsung's proprietary Galaxy AI technology, the Galaxy S24 series provides new user experiences in calling, messaging, camera and work efficiency, Samsung said.

It said Live Translate, the most anticipated feature which allows users speaking different languages to converse with real-time call interpretation via Galaxy AI, is available on the Galaxy S24 series.

As the feature uses on-device AI, there is no possibility of calls being exposed outside the phone, so users can use Live Translate without worrying about security breaches, Samsung said.

The company said a total of 13 languages will support the feature  Korean, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese.

The Galaxy S24 series has elevated the messaging experience with the introduction of Galaxy AI. It incorporates a real-time translation feature within major mobile messenger apps, enabling users to seamlessly access translation services directly through the built-in Samsung Keyboard app.

Regarding search functionality, Samsung partnered with Google to debut the Circle to Search feature on the S24 series, offering users a completely novel search experience.

"While surfing the web, engaging with social media, YouTube, and more, users can effortlessly and swiftly initiate a search and review the results by simply drawing a circle on any screen on the Galaxy S24. This eliminates the need to switch between multiple search apps," Samsung said.

Galaxy AI can also greatly increase productivity in work and study, the company said. Through the Note Assist feature installed in the S24 series, it summarizes and organizes the user's written content and converts it into formats like meeting minutes. If users record a meeting or lecture with a voice recording app, it separates the voice by presenter for up to 10 people and provides each with a script.

Galaxy AI has also significantly upgraded the camera function. The series features an AI-based ProVisual Engine that enhances camera features such as zoom and Nightography function, which is used to better shoot in low-light environment, the company said.

In addition, the AI technology provides a more efficient and easier photo editing environment as it automatically analyzes photos and suggests customized editing tools.

Samsung said its security solution, Samsung Knox, also provides stronger security and privacy suitable for the AI era.

The new Galaxy device will be released sequentially worldwide from Jan. 31. In the Korean market, Samsung will begin pre-sales on Friday.
SK On, the battery unit of chip-to-construction conglomerate SK Group, said Wednesday it has partnered with U.S. battery startup Solid Power to jointly develop solid-state batteries.

SK On signed an agreement with Solid Power for solid-state battery technology transfers from the U.S. company during this year's Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas, the company said in a statement.

The deal requires Solid Power to transfer technologies involving solid-state battery cell design and its manufacturing to SK On. Once developed, the two companies will cooperate in commercializing solid-state batteries, it said.

"This arrangement with SK On provides the framework for closer collaboration with one of the industry's leading battery manufacturers and increases our presence in one of the world's most strategically important battery markets," Solid Power President and CEO John Van Scoter said in the statement.

SK On said it will build a "battery pilot line" at its battery research and development center in Daejeon, 140 kilometers south of Seoul, by 2025 for test production ahead of mass commercial manufacturing.

SK On currently produces lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in electric vehicles but are prone to fires.

Solid-state batteries are widely believed to be essential for mass commercialization of battery-powered EVs as they are more stable and potentially more powerful. (Yonhap)
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Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood will be swapping the classroom for a luxury hotel when she checks into the third series of The White Lotus.

The British star, best known for her performance as Aimee Gibbs in the Netflix hit, will join the cast of the anthology series about the staff and guests at a luxury resort, broadcaster HBO has announced.

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She joins previously announced stars including The Gilded Ages Carrie Coon, Party Girls Parker Posey and Mission: Impossible actress Michelle Monaghan.

Season one cast member Natasha Rothwell will also return for the third outing.

Wood joins Gen V star Patrick Schwarzenegger, The Shield actor Walton Goggins in the latest additions to the cast, alongside Sarah Catherine Hook and Sam Nivola.

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Jennifer Coolidge, who starred in both the first and second series but who met an untimely end in the finale of the second instalment, will not be returning.

Her role as millionaire Tanya McQuoid sparked a career renaissance for the American Pie actress and she won an Emmy for her performance earlier this week.

Jennifer Coolidge with her Emmy on Monday (Ashley Landis/AP)

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The first season of The White Lotus, which was filmed during Covid and was a huge hit, was set in a hotel in Hawaii and starred Connie Britton, Sydney Sweeney, Murray Bartlett and Coolidge.

The second season was set in Sicily and starred Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, Will Sharpe, Tom Hollander and Meghann Fahy.

The third instalment is due to be filmed in Thailand but details of the plot are unknown.
The co-producer of the multi-Oscar nominated Banshees of Inisherin and Netflix hit, Valhalla has secured a victory in its ongoing workplace dispute battle with a group of film set workers.

This follows the Labour Court finding that Metropolitan Films Productions Ltd was not the employer of film worker, Stephen Preston who was represented by the Irish Film Workers Association (IFWA) in the case.

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As a result, deputy chairwoman at the Labour Court, Katie Connolly has found that the Labour Court has no jurisdiction to hear stagehand, Mr Prestons substantive workplace complaints against the Co Wicklow-based movie firm as the wrong company was pleaded in the proceedings.

The Labour Court ruling follows a large number of Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) decisions issued in December which awarded a cumulative total of 434,216 to a group of IFWA members against Metropolitan Films International Ltd.

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In one of the cases, Mr Preston was awarded 7,227 after the WRC found Metropolitan Films International Ltd to be in breach of the Terms of Employment Act. The case before the Labour Court concerned a separate and earlier case Mr Preston had brought against Metropolitan Film Productions Ltd to the WRC where he was unsuccessful in his claim.

Employer

In the tranche of IFWA cases at the WRC, the WRC Adjudicator in the cases rejected an argument by Metropolitan Films International Ltd that it was never the employer of the workers concerned and the WRC didnt have jurisdiction to hear the cases.

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The Labour Court ruling may now give the movie firm grounds for optimism that the WRC awards can be overturned on appeal to the Labour Court.

However, the production company remained tight-lipped today. A spokeswoman for Metropolitan Films would only say that it is not our practice to comment on matters that are currently the subject of legal proceedings.

Industrial Relations Office with the IFWA, Liz Murray said the IFWA was unable to cross-examine the other side in the Labour Court Preston case and, as a result, the principles of natural justice didnt apply in the case.

Ms Murray said that Mr Preston is considering appealing the Labour Court ruling to the High Court and she said that Mr Preston indicated that he would have to consider the matter carefully.

Ms Murray said that she wasnt disappointed by the Labour Court ruling.

She said: It was a foregone conclusion. When the Labour Court doesnt take into account the sworn evidence of a person appearing before it and that person cant cross-examine someone from the other side, I didnt expect anything else in terms of a decision.
A British teenager caught at Dublin Airport last September with a suitcase containing over 445,000 of horse tranquilliser has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Jemima Tambo Bebi was 19 when she picked up a locked suitcase in Amsterdam, containing about 7kg of ketamine bound for the west coast of the US.

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When her flight to Los Angeles stopped at Dublin Airport, the suitcase was x-rayed by US Customs pre-clearance officials and Bebi was handed over to Irish Customs and arrested.

Passing sentence at Dublin Circuit Court on Wednesday, Judge Martin Nolan described it as a particularly stupid escapade, but said Bebis young age allowed the court to depart from the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

Judge Nolan said Bebi had pleaded guilty and cooperated fully with the investigation. He also noted that she was a pro-social person with no previous convictions, and her family in London has not been able to visit her due to financial constraints.

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The court heard Bebi, of Woodstone Road, London, UK, has had no prison visits apart from her solicitor and has been struggling with social isolation since she was remanded in custody last year.

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Bebi (20) came forward from Dublin District court on signed pleas, including possessing ketamine valued at 445,452 for sale or supply at Terminal 2, Dublin Airport on September 2nd.

Further counts taken into consideration include importing the ketamine on the same occasion.

Gullible

Sergeant Alan Flaherty agreed with Fergal Foley BL, prosecuting, that Bebi was a gullible young woman who had been led astray by a boyfriend she had met two months earlier.

The court heard that Bebi flew from London to Amsterdam, where she picked up the locked suitcase, and flew to Dublin en route to LA.

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The suitcase was found to contain seven bags of white powder, analysed by Forensic Science Ireland as ketamine, a veterinary medicine used as horse tranquilliser.

Sgt Flaherty agreed with Ronan Munro SC, defending, that Bebi was under instructions from a man she had met two months earlier, whom she classified as her then boyfriend.

Counsel said Bebis role in the operation was low. Other than being given money to buy the flights, her financial reward was very little.

The court heard the drugs were in coffee granule bags and were not particularly well-disguised.

Mr Munro presented the court with a letter from a London youth group testifying to Bebis good character.

At the time of the offence, she had applied for third-level courses and was also due to start training to become a prison officer, the court heard.

Judge Nolan said that were he sentencing an Irish adult for the same offence, he would have considered a sentence of five to six years.

The three-year sentence was backdated to when Bebi first went into custody on September 2nd.
Hyundai Motor and Kia, Korea's leading automakers, have picked up nine awards at prestigious annual design awards in the United States for their innovative design competitiveness, the companies said Wednesday.

Hyundai snagged six top awards at the 2023 Good Design Awards in the transportation category from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies.

The company said its N Vision 74, Ioniq 6, Grandeur and Kona models were recognized for their significance in innovative vehicle design.

Kia's EV9 electric vehicle model and the company's car infotainment system, named Ki, were also honored in the same category.

Hyundai's independent premium brand Genesis also won an award for the concept of the company's Genesis X Convertible model.

A Hyundai representative said the recognitions "serve as a testament to the exceptional dedication exhibited by our team of visionary designers" and that it highlights "the remarkable competitiveness of Hyundai's design identity with the global market." (Yonhap)
An Irishman who set up a successful plant hire business in Australia did not intend to revoke an Irish will leaving some 320 acres of farmland in Ballycastle, Co Mayo, to his son, the High Court has ruled.

Ms Justice Siobhan Stack said it was clear James Browne (75), who died in 2015 in Australia, did not intend to revoke a will he made in Ireland in 2000 dealing with his Irish assets only.

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She therefore admitted the Irish will to probate, which means it is valid, and a later Australian will purporting to revoke the previous will did not apply.

The application to admit the Irish will to probate was made by its sole executrix, Mr Browne's sister, Margaret McHale, of Kincon, Ballina, Co Mayo.

Mr Browne, late of Marne Street, Vaucluse, New South Wales, and originally from Ballycastle emigrated to England at 18, and to Australia at 30.

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He originally worked as a machine driver, but subsequently developed a very successful plant and machinery hire business.

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Ms Justice Stack said he had a very strong connection to the lands in Ballycastle where he grew up and where the family connection went back many generations.

When travel became easier, he returned to Mayo, usually every year, staying in a cottage he had renovated and extended. He also set about buying what had been family lands from various owners over a number of years.

Home place

His family said he took a somewhat old-fashioned view of the home place, and always intended that it would go to Tony, as his eldest son, the judge said.

He involved Tony in farmwork from a very young age, including rounding up cattle for testing, making silage, and spending a day in the bog cutting turf with a cousin.

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Mr Browne had also built up substantial assets in Australia.

In 1985, he executed his first will, in which he left all of the lands, Irish and Australian, in the first instance to his wife, Diane Amante Browne, and to Tony and to any other child he might have. He subsequently had three other children, Michelle, Laura and Deirdre.

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In 2000, he made the Irish will, dealing only with his Irish assets, stating it was complementary to any wills made or to be made in the future in Australia.

In 2004, he made a further will in Australia stating he revoked all wills previously made.

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However, it was also stated that will was "intended to deal only with my estate in Australia and shall not effect (sic) any will made by me in respect of my Irish assets".

The judge said, short of those references, the Australian will was "in entirely generic terms which, on the face of it, could be easily applied to property in either Ireland or Australia".

'Traditional man'

The judge noted his widow, who was the sole beneficiary of the Australian will, supported the view that the Mayo land should go to Tony.

Ms Amante Browne stated that almost from the time of her son's birth, she knew and understood this.

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"James was a traditional man, and it was his objective to directly hand down his homeland property from father to son, as had been done for generations before him.

"James made a separate Irish will to his Australian will to that effect to ensure that this would be the case," she said.

The judge said the nub of the issue was whether the evidence showed that Mr Browne's long-standing intention had altered by the time he executed the Australian will or, put more simply, does it show he changed his mind.

She said she was satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that he did not give any instructions one way or another to his Australian solicitor at any time in connection with his Irish estate or his Irish will.

It was quite clear, in the judge's view, that the revocation clause was inserted by mistake, without thinking about the Irish estate.

If Mr Browne's intentions had changed, one would expect to see some outward expression of this change of heart, either by way of statements to his family, or at the very least in the instructions for his will, the judge said.

"There is no such evidence, and I am satisfied that it would be contrary to the testators (Mr Brownes) intentions to find that the Irish will had been revoked," she added.
The High Court has refused to overturn a tribunals decision that international protection should not be granted to a Nigerian man who expressed fears he would be killed over his failure to join a cult.

Mr Justice Anthony Barr said the decision maker at the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) found the man was subjectively credible but his fears of persecution were objectively unfounded.

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This finding was open to the tribunal, given the 53-year-old man had spent prolonged periods in Nigeria without being subjected to torture or harm, the judge said. The IPAT was entitled to reject the applicants assertion that his fear only crystalised in 2019 and that he could have sought protection in the UK, USA or Germany, as he travelled through those countries.

He held that the IPAT decision of January 2023 was validly made and should not be interfered with by the court.

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The man claimed he was born into a royal family and that his fathers death, when the man was aged seven, was said to have been due to his failure to join a cult and assume a cabinet position. He told the International Protection Office (IPO) he heard his father was killed by the invocation of spirits while he slept.

When the man received an invitation to join that cabinet in 2008, he was immediately concerned what would occur if he did not assume the post.

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His wife travelled to the UK that year on a student visa and he subsequently followed on a dependants visa. He later travelled to the US on a valid visa before returning to Nigeria in 2011 to get a visa for the UK, where he remained until 2014. He and his wife had children before separating in 2014.

The man returned to Nigeria but also appears to have moved around, visiting Germany twice between 2014 and 2019, the judge said.

He left Nigeria in December 2020, arriving in this State on a volunteer visa valid until May 2021.

He applied for international protection that April, with the IPO recommending in August 2022 that he should not be give refugee status or subsidiary protection.

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The IPAT upheld this decision.

Seeking to overturn the IPAT rejection, the mans lawyers told the court that the IPAT decision maker erroneously dealt with information about Nigeria and incorrectly concluded the information is at best neutral and does not enhance the mans claim.

The judge agreed with the tribunals submission that its decision was being picked apart on an isolated basis and that it should be considered as a whole.

Mr Justice Barr said the decision considered information related to Nigeria and demonstrated a balanced analysis of this evidence.
The details of a tribunal of inquiry into abuses in the Defence Forces has been welcomed by retired army captain Diane Byrne. However, she expressed concern about the inquiry's terms of reference.

Ms Bryne, who is a spokesperson for the Women of Honour advocacy group, told RTE Radio's Morning Ireland: It still comes across as a paper exercise.

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The complaints process was part of a bigger problem within the Defence Forces, she said, adding the tribunal would need to give a voice to those who had been afraid to speak out before now because of the impact a complaint could have on their career.

We've always felt that a full public tribunal was the only mechanism that was going to expose any of the truth here.

We welcome [Ms] Justice [Ann] Power and a full, comprehensive, transparent tribunal going forward, but we still have a way to go.

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We still have concerns in relation to the terms of reference, but we'll look at them in light of where we're at now and see what we can do, Ms Byrne said.

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She noted there appeared to be very few differences in the terms of reference in the new document that went before the Cabinet on Tuesday.

There are a couple of their concessions, but we still have a lot of concerns in relation to the fact that it still kind of comes across as a paper exercise. It's heavily concentrated on the complaints process, and that has always been a concern of ours.

There's been countless reviews into the complaints process that is in existence. We know it doesn't work, but more than that, the complaints process is a part of a much bigger problem.

This is about people, it's about abuse of power, and it's about the people who've been shut down in that. So we're hoping that this tribunal will give them a voice, a chance to be heard and get a sense of accountability out of this. So this is very much the starting point.

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Ms Byrne said there were substantial numbers of people who had suffered abuse but had not engaged with the complaints process because they didnt have faith in it, or they felt their career would be destroyed at a minimum if they did use it.

She added that she hoped the tribunal would provide an avenue for people to engage with the process, even if they had not filed an official complaint.

That's a key focus. This needs to be an inclusive process to make sure it's effective, or it's only going to look at a very, very small part of a problem.

A full public tribunal would be the only mechanism that would ensure that nobody had a chance to hide and not open their books, she said.

That was the only thing that we felt that would really be able to get into the depths of what needs to be done here.

In that sense, the tribunal is a fantastic opportunity to do what needs to be done here, and we're going to do everything that we can to make sure it's effective.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has denied that the Government was caving to protesters.

What the government is doing is listening carefully, he told Newstalk Breakfast.

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We have international obligations and we have women, children, men, families who are in some cases fleeing war, like in Ukraine and some other places. And we have people fleeing pretty horrific situations in their own countries.

And we have an obligation, just as the rest of the world did for us when we had to flee.

Mr Donnelly said that what had happened in Roscrea should not have happened and must have been very traumatic for the children and families being brought into what was essentially their refuge, their new home.

Some communities, such as Roscrea and others, had taken in a lot of people, he said.

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When asked if there should be a dividend for communities that take in large numbers of asylum seekers, Mr Donnelly said that was pretty reasonable.

I think if communities are taking people in, we have to look at the health services, the education services.

"And if you have a town like Roscrea where there are no hotels left because of the amount of people that they have taken, then I believe this proposal, I think might have come from Deputy Jackie Cahill, I think it's the Government listening and responding and saying, look, we have obligations, but we also have to support communities as they bring people in.

On RTE radios Morning Ireland, Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill outlined details of plans for the Government to purchase an empty hotel in the centre of Roscrea to be turned into a community hotel, work on which he hoped would commence as quickly as possible.

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We are listening to the people of Roscrea. We fully understand their concerns, and we're putting forward what is a practical plan, because it was a hotel in the middle of the town.

"And while it won't solve everything, I think it will be a major step in the people realising the Government is listening to them and we're trying to address the issues you have with the large number of asylum seekers and refugees that you have in the town.

Unfortunately it was a fact of life that there was a shortage of GPs in rural Ireland, he added. It was the same with dentists, both of which were raised with the Minister for Integration when he met with local representatives on Tuesday.

We want a focus to make sure the proper services are there for the significant increase in population that is happening there.

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Mr Cahill said he supported the right to protest, but he hoped that the protestors outside Racket Hall would see that the Government was making a genuine effort to address their concerns.

I would obviously hope that protests would always remain peaceful and calm.

"We had 17 people come into the community earlier in the week. We saw the children going into the hotel. You know, they were in a distressed state.

"So I would hope for these refugees to begin integrating into the town. I would love to see the protest end, but that's a decision for the people who are at Racket Hall.
Irish beef exports to China are to resume as part of measures agreed during a bilateral meeting of senior government figures in Dublin.

Li Qiang, Chinas second-most powerful man, met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar during a brief diplomatic visit to Ireland.

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Mr Varadkar said there was a clear desire to deepen relations, and it was also agreed that Irish citizens could visit and stay in China for up to 15 days without a visa.

Mr Li, the premier of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived in Dublin on Tuesday night where he was greeted by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Irelands ambassador in Beijing, Ann Derwin.

Chinese premier Li Qiangs visit comes after a trip to the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland (Niall Carson/PA)

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On Wednesday morning, he received a strong welcome from President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at his official residence at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

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Mr Li told them it was a great pleasure to make their acquaintance and passed on the greetings of Chinese president Xi Jinping.

The two shook hands and Mr Li asked about Mr Higgins visit to his home province of Zhejiang.

Warmly welcoming Mr Li at the state reception room, Mr Higgins said that he remembered his state visit to China and Mr Xis visit to Ireland in 2012 while he was vice-president.

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Mr Xi became Chinas president the following year.

Chinese premier Li Qiang speaks to President Michael D Higgins (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Li said that Chinese-Irish relations are a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between two countries.

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He added: Over the years our results-oriented co-operation has made steady progress and produced rich fruit.

Our relations have set a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between countries that are different in political systems, cultural divisions and geographic size.

Mr Li then travelled to nearby Farmleigh House where he met Mr Varadkar.

He was greeted there by a Lieutenants Guard of Honour from the 12th Infantry Battalion out of Limerick.

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A band from the Irish Defence Forces played as Mr Li inspected the soldiers.

Chinese premier Li Qiang receives a guard of honour at Farmleigh House, Dublin (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

Mr Li then held a bilateral meeting with Mr Varadkar for discussion on issues including climate change as well as conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East.

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The two leaders ate beef during a working lunch.

The meat was included on the menu amid a ban on beef exports from Ireland to China since November following the detection of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in an Irish cow.

During the trip, Chinese officials agreed to immediately restart Irish beef imports.

Mr Varadkar said Ireland is seeking a strong and constructive relationship with China built on trust and respect.

The Taoiseach said 2024 marked 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adding Ireland and China had growing economic relations as well as flourishing people-to-people ties and culture exchange.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar welcomes Chinese premier Li Qiang to Farmleigh House in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

He added: I believe Chinas role is indispensable in the world when it comes to finding ways to overcome the challenges we face, not least when it comes to climate, global security, global inequality and the conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Myanmar.

Mr Varadkar said the Irish Government also raised human rights concerns with the visiting Chinese delegation.

He said: We raised, in particular, our concerns about human rights in what are called the special autonomous regions: Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau.

We need to be frank about these things  that China is on the UN Human Rights Council and has international responsibilities.

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Any country, including our own country, should be judged by the way it treats minorities.

Mr Varadkar said Mr Li was happy to discuss the matters, but added: I dont want to speak for him, but I think its fair to say that they would have a very different view of the facts and dispute a lot of whats said in the media.

The Irish side also raised concerns about the trial of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, he said.

Chinese premier Li Qiang during his meeting with President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin during his two-day visit to Ireland (Maxwells/PA)

Mr Lis trip came after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since president Xi in 2017.

The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second-biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some Western countries have also avoided using, or criticised, technologies linked to the Chinese state over security concerns including TikTok and Hikvision, the latter of which manufactures CCTV cameras used in Dail Eireann.
Two men accused of murdering gunman Tristan Sherry after he fatally shot a man in a Dublin restaurant on Christmas Eve have been denied bail.

David Amah (18), of Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin, and Michael Andrecut (22), of Sheephill Avenue in Dublin 15, have been charged with murder.

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Mr Sherry died after sustaining "blunt force trauma to the head" in Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown after shooting Jason Hennessy Snr, who died in hospital 11 days later.

Mr Hennessy (48) had been having dinner with family and friends before the gun attack.

The pair appeared before Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the High Court via video-link on Wednesday to apply for bail. However, the judge denied their application following a lengthy hearing.

Detective Sergeant Mark Murphy agreed with Kitty Perle BL, for the State, that Mr Sherry died from blunt force trauma to the head.

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He alleged the pair were in the restaurant when two gunmen entered and started shooting.

Mr Sherry and Mr Hennessy fell to the ground, and the was firearm dropped, the court heard. It was ultimately picked up and removed by another person.

Several people attacked Mr Sherry with kicks and beat him with chairs and an iron bar, the judge was told, and he was also stabbed in a "sustained attack" which lasted five minutes.

The court heard the attack continued after the gun was removed.

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'Fight or flight'

It was claimed Mr Andrecut struck Mr Sherry 50 times during the incident, repeatedly kicking and hitting him over the head. The court also heard Mr Andrecut allegedly stabbed the deceased in the face with an iron bar.

It was further alleged that at one point, Mr Andrecut walked away but returned and kicked Mr Sherry's head while appearing to be recording on his mobile phone.

The bail hearing was told that Mr Andrecut was asked in his garda interview how he felt, and he answered "terrible," but added that it was "natural instinct" and "fight or flight", adding that he was in shock.

However, the officer claimed the video evidence dismissed the flight for flight rationale.

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The court heard Mr Andrecut's passport was found in a bag on top of a dog cage in the kitchen at his home, with gardai voicing concern that he would abscond.

The court heard that Andrecut was Irish, but his parents were Romanian. His mother had not been to Romania in several years, and the defence submitted that Mr Andrecut had limited ties to that country.

He lived with his family in Dublin and worked in construction.

His barrister, Aoife O'Leary, said he would be raising the issue of self-defence.

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The detective sergeant agreed that Mr Andrecut had told him he did not know the gun had been taken from Mr Sherry.

The court heard that Mr Amah repeatedly punched Mr Sherry and an object, believed to be a knife, could be seen in his hand.

It was also alleged he kicked and stamped on Mr Sherry, and appeared to take a video as he kicked him.

He told gardai he did not know the firearm was gone, adding that he was frightened of the gunman and felt Mr Sherry was a threat.

He claimed in his garda interview that he panicked and felt his life was in danger.

However, Sgt Murphy said the gun had been removed, of which he alleged Mr Amah was aware, but continued to attack the decreased.

The Garda told the court that Mr Amah had a transient lifestyle and was sitting with family and friends.

Questioned by defence counsel Oisin Clarke, Sgt Muprhy agreed the accused presented himself to a Garda station by appointment.

Mr Clarke highlighted that Mr Amah, who has an Irish and an expired Nigerian passport, was a minor at the time of the incident.

The court heard the paid wished to Mr Hennessy's funeral, each offering 5,000 bail.

However, Sgt Murphy said Gardai fear the pair would abscond if granted bail, or present a risk to the second gunman, who remains at large.

He also raised public safety concerns in the instance of case any "reprisals attacks".

Refusing bail, Mr Justice Hunt said he doubted many would have sympathy for Mr Sherry, but described the footage, which was not played in open court due to the ongoing Garda investigation, as "worrying", noting the gun had been removed in the melee.

The judge said Mr Andrecut had a significant incentive to avoid the consequences of the incident, adding that the plea based on his age was limited.
Chinas second most powerful man has been welcomed to Aras an Uachtarain by President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina.

Li Qiang, the premier of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived in Dublin on Tuesday night where he was greeted by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Irelands ambassador in Beijing, Ann Derwin.

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He travelled to Phoenix Park on Wednesday morning.

Mr Li will later hold a bilateral meeting with Mr Varadkar at Farmleigh House this afternoon, where the pair will discuss the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Chinese premier Li Qiangs visit comes off the back of a trip to the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland (Niall Carson/PA)

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Mr Lis trip comes after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since President Xi Jinping in 2017.

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The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite the strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second-biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

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China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some Western countries have also avoided using or criticised technologies linked to the Chinese state over security concerns: including TikTok and Hikvision, the latter of which manufactures CCTV cameras used in the Dail.

There is heavy garda presence around Phoenix Park, which has been closed to the public until 7pm on Wednesday.
Vulture funds are continuing to snap up family homes across Ireland, Mary Lou McDonald has told the Dail.

Accusing the Government of failing to tackle the issue, the Sinn Fein leader said that investment funds are continuing to bulk-buy family homes.

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It was reported last week that 46 of the 54 units at Belcamp Manor in Balgriffin were bought by an investment fund.

The Department of Finance revealed that up to March of last year, investment funds snapped up 630 homes in two years.

It is NOT ON that we have a Government that is in the corner of wealthy vulture funds instead of being on the side of ordinary workers and families.



We will be raising this first thing as the Dail returns today! @MaryLouMcDonald #Dail #HousingCrisis pic.twitter.com/JPPGiF1dpi Advertisement Advertisement  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) January 17, 2024

Ms McDonald said: Despite your promises to the contrary, vulture funds continue to snap up family homes.

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Of course you didnt touch the sweetheart financial arrangements afforded to these funds by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which sees them pay no capital gains tax and not a single red cent on their obscene rental incomes.

The truth is government policy enables and encourages these funds.

So we are well past the point of government looking at how this happened.

You already know how, and you know why, but we need now need is action to stop it.

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Ms McDonald said that homes for renters will pay more than 3,000 for properties in Belcamp Manor.

Its a real kick in the teeth for those who have scrimped and saved and sacrificed for years to buy a home, she added.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys defended the Governments efforts to clamp down on investment funds buying up properties.

Speaking during leaders questions, the Cavan and Monaghan TD said the issue represents around 1 per cent of new homes.

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Some 30,000 new homes built in the last year, the number of planning permissions is way up, the number of commencements is way up.

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Mortgage approvals are at a record high, 500 first time buyers are drawing down their mortgages every single week, Ms Humphreys added.

The policies of this Government are working, compared to your own policies.

Like what does Sinn Fein want to do, you want to abolish the Help to Buy scheme and that actually helped over 28,000 first time buyers to get their keys last year, and you want to get rid of that.

Speaking on the housing issue, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the Governments failure to resolve the housing crisis is affecting other policies.

She continued: We have a chronic shortage of teachers in our schools.

We have a chronic shortage of carers and educators in our childcare settings, a real difficulty in recruiting medical staff for our hospitals, and a reason in large part because so many people cannot afford to live anywhere near their workplace or anywhere within a reasonable distance.

Of course, the abject failure in housing is also affecting other things, too.

Its affecting our response to the humanitarian challenge that were facing, because of the brutal war in Ukraine and because of the many wars and conflicts around the world, which are forcing so many people to flee to our shores seeking refuge.

Ms Humphreys said that while the Governments target is to build 33,450 new homes this year, there is a gap between the existing target and what is needed.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken has reiterated the need for a pathway to a Palestinian state at the World Economic Forums annual meeting in the Swiss resort of Davos, saying that Israel would not achieve genuine security without it.

Mr Blinken said that if Israel can be brought into the fold of the Middle East, the region would be coming together to isolate Iran, which he called the biggest concern in terms of security, as well as its proxies including Yemens Houthi rebels who have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.

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He added: The problem is getting from here to there, and of course, it requires very difficult, challenging decisions. It requires a mindset that is open to that perspective.

A productive meeting today with @UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres.



The United Nations is a key partner to address numerous challenges. pic.twitter.com/gllPuQvP8R Advertisement  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 17, 2024 Advertisement

Mr Blinken said that what is different now is the mindset of leaders in the Arab and Muslim world on integrating Israel into the region and that he feels a fierce urgency of now because were in the midst of what is human tragedy in so many ways in the Middle East right now  for the Israelis and Palestinians alike.

His comments came as Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian prepared to sit down for a one-on-one chat with CNNs Fareed Zakaria later on Wednesday at Davos.

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A day earlier, Saudi Arabias foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said in a Davos panel that his country agreed regional peace includes peace for Israel and responded certainly when asked if Saudi Arabia would recognise Israel as part of a larger political agreement.

But that can only happen through peace for the Palestinians, through a Palestinian state, he said.

Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu leads a right-wing government that is opposed to Palestinian statehood, and Mr Netanyahu himself recently said that his actions over the years prevented the formation of such a state.

Mr Blinken said Israelis would need to decide on its leadership and its direction, saying it is up to them whether the country can seize the opportunity that we believe is there and calling this an inflection point for the Middle East that requires hard decisions.

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The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is taking place in Davos (AP)

The leaders of France, Argentina and Spain also will deliver speeches on a busy second day of the elite gathering, where heads of state mingle with corporate executives, activists and others.

It also takes a turn toward the environmental and climate concerns that have led to pleas from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the world to come together to take more united action against global warming.

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Let me be very clear  the phaseout of fossil fuels is essential and inevitable, Mr Guterres said in a speech at Davos.

He cited scientists recent findings that last year was the hottest on record, but forecasts show Earth could grow hotter still.

As climate breakdown begins, countries remain hellbent on raising emissions, Mr Guterres added.

Our planet is heading for a scorching three-degree increase in global temperatures. Droughts, storms, fires and floods are pummelling countries and communities.

Experts and policymakers at Davos will also take up weighty issues like ensuring a sustainable Middle East and North Africa, working to crack down on plastic waste and searching for ways to maintain life on Earth itself, amid growing threats to biodiversity.
Argentinas president Javier Milei has claimed the future of the Falkland Islands could be discussed in talks with the UK following a meeting with British foreign secretary David Cameron.

The Argentine leader has suggested a Hong Kong-style agreement which would see the UK hand sovereignty of the islands in the South Atlantic to Buenos Aires.

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He said the UK foreign secretary and his Argentine counterpart Diana Mondino would move forward in finding a solution to the dispute over the islands.

There is much that the UK and Argentina can achieve by working together.



I met President @JMilei to discuss building cooperation on trade and combatting global threats.



I wished him well in his attempts to bring Argentina back to economic growth. pic.twitter.com/oSmLb48sru  David Cameron (@David_Cameron) January 17, 2024 Advertisement

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Mr Milei met the foreign secretary at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Mr Cameron said the pair discussed building co-operation on trade and combating global threats and there was much that the UK and Argentina can achieve by working together.

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But he made no mention of the Falkland Islands and the UKs position is their sovereignty is not up for negotiation.

Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falklands and Mr Milei has previously suggested that the UK should approach the issue in a similar way to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

Following the meeting with Mr Cameron, he was asked by Latin American news website Infobae whether there was scope for a resolution to the Falklands issue based on that model.

We have not made in-depth progress, but we have made it an item on the agenda for our minister Diana Mondino and minister Cameron to move forward in finding a solution on the topic, he said, according to a translation.

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The UK Foreign Office has been asked for a response to his comments.

The Falklands, known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina, were the subject of a bloody conflict in 1982.

The war claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel.

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UK ministers have repeatedly cited the results of a 2013 referendum which saw close to 100 per cent of voters on the islands, which have a population of about 3,500, opt to remain a British Overseas Territory.

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The Falklands are about 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from mainland Argentina.
Less than half of South Korean students think unification is necessary
Customs officers seized 116 tonnes of cocaine in the port of Antwerp in 2023, setting a record for the second year in a row, Belgian authorities said.

Demand for cocaine is growing rapidly across the EU, and governments blame the drug trade for outbreaks of violence in major port cities like Antwerp, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and Marseille in France.

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The port of Antwerp has become the main gateway for Latin American cocaine cartels into the continent.

Finance minister Vincent Van Peteghem said another five tonnes of cocaine were seized last year at the port of Zeebrugge, which is part of the larger Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

He said: Thousands of employees, spread all over the country, gave their best in once again extraordinary circumstances last year.

The announcement was made a day after 22 people, including three police officers, were arrested in a major anti-drug operation targeting individuals suspected of smuggling cocaine through Antwerp.

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Some 116 tonnes of the drug was intercepted (Belgian finance ministry via AP)

The quantity of cocaine seized in Europes second largest seaport rose from 110 tons in 2022, Belgian authorities said, adding that Colombia, Ecuador and Panama remain the top origin countries.

Record amounts of cocaine are being seized in Europe, with 303 tonnes stopped by EU member countries in 2021, the most recent year for which figures are available.

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According a report from the EU agency monitoring drugs and addiction, 75% of that quantity was seized in Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain.

In Belgium, federal authorities say drug trafficking is penetrating society rapidly as foreign criminal organisations have built deep roots in the country, bringing along their violent and ruthless operations.

In the past four years, Antwerp has seen dozens of grenade attacks, fires and small bombs, many linked to gangs trying to carve up the thriving cocaine trade.

In Belgium, then-justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne spent time living in hiding after evidence emerged drugs gangs might be seeking to kidnap him, or worse.
David Cameron and Argentinian leader Javier Milei agree to disagree over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, the British Foreign Office has said.

The UK foreign secretary met the Argentine president for talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

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Mr Milei has suggested a Hong Kong-style agreement which would see the UK hand sovereignty of the islands in the South Atlantic to Buenos Aires.

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He said the foreign secretary and his Argentine counterpart Diana Mondino would move forward in finding a solution to the dispute over the islands.

But the UK Foreign Office made clear the issue of sovereignty was not up for discussion.

A spokesman said it was a warm and cordial meeting.

On the Falkland Islands, the Foreign Secretary and President Milei said they would agree to disagree, and do so politely, the spokesman said.

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The UK position and ongoing support for the Falkland Islanders right to self-determination remains unchanged.

In a social media post, Mr Cameron said the pair discussed building co-operation on trade and combating global threats and there was much that the UK and Argentina can achieve by working together.

President of Argentina Javier Milei (Markus Schreiber/AP)

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Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falklands and Mr Milei has previously suggested the UK should approach the issue in a similar way to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

After the meeting with Mr Cameron, Mr Milei was asked by Latin American news website Infobae whether there was scope for a resolution to the Falklands issue based on that model.

We have not made in-depth progress, but we have made it an item on the agenda for our minister Diana Mondino and minister Cameron to move forward in finding a solution on the topic, he said, according to a translation.

The Falklands, known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina, were the subject of a bloody conflict in 1982.

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The war claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel.

UK ministers have repeatedly cited the results of a 2013 referendum which saw close to 100 per cent of voters on the islands, which have a population of about 3,500, opt to remain a British Overseas Territory.

The Falklands are about 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from mainland Argentina.
British Princess Kate Middleton is being treated in hospital after undergoing successful abdominal surgery, Kensington Palace has announced.

Kate (42) was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday for the planned procedure.

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The future British queen is expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days before returning home to continue her recovery.

Britiain's Princess of Wales at the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace in December (Jonathan Brady/PA)

She is likely to spend between two and three months recuperating and is not expected to return to public duties until after Easter based on current medical advice, the palace said.

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She will not undertake official duties while her husband William has postponed a number of engagements during Kate's recovery.

William and Kate at the Christmas Carol concert (Aaron Chown/PA)

The palace refused to confirm what Kate was being treated for but confirmed the condition was non-cancerous.

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A spokesperson said: The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate.

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She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

A statement from Kensington Palace pic.twitter.com/6h3BCrqj5L Advertisement  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) January 17, 2024

Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness progress when there is significant new information to share.

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The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements.

She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.

There will now be no international travel for William and Kate in the coming months.
Doomsday cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 30 of his followers have appeared in a Kenyan court to face charges of murdering 191 children.

Mackenzie and the other suspects did not enter pleas in the coastal town of Malindi because High Court Judge Mugure Thande granted a request from prosecutors that they undergo mental health assessments and return to court on February 6th.

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The remains of 180 of the 191 dead children have not been identified, according to the prosecutions charge sheet.

Mackenzie and some of his followers have been blamed for the deaths of 429 members of his Good News International Church, many of whom are believed to have starved themselves in the belief that by doing so they would meet Jesus Christ before the world ends.

Mackenzie and his followers will undergo a mental health assessment (AP)

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The bodies were discovered in dozens of shallow graves on an 800-acre (320-hectare) ranch in a remote area known as Shakahola Forest in the coastal county of Kilifi.

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The graves were found after police rescued 15 emaciated church members who told investigators that Mackenzie had instructed them to starve themselves to death before the world ends. Four of the 15 died after they were taken to a hospital.

Post-mortem examinations on some of the bodies found in the graves showed they died from starvation, strangulation or suffocation.

Kenyas top prosecutor said on Monday that 95 people will be charged with murder, cruelty, child torture and other crimes.

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For months since the arrest of the defendants last April, prosecutors have asked a court in Kilifi for permission to keep holding them while the investigation continues.

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But last week, Principal Magistrate Yousuf Shikanda declined their latest request to hold the suspects for an additional 60 days, saying the prosecutors had been given enough time to complete the investigation.

Mackenzie is serving a separate one-year prison sentence after being found guilty of operating a film studio and producing movies for his preaching without a valid licence.

The leader allegedly encouraged church members to move to Shakahola Forest to prepare for the end of the world.

A senate committee report said Mackenzie chose the area due to its remoteness.

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Once inside the villages established by Mackenzie, followers were not allowed to leave the area, nor interact within themselves, the report said.

The followers were required to destroy vital documents, among them national identity cards, birth certificates, certificates of title to property, academic certificates and marriage certificates, creating problems in identifying the dead, the report said.
The majority of Conservative rebels are expected to back the UK prime ministers Rwanda Bill after holding an 11th hour meeting in Parliament.

A Conservative rebel source said they expected the Safety of Rwanda Bill to pass quite comfortably during its third reading in the Commons, with only a small number of MPs voting down the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its third reading.

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The announcement was made after more than 45 right-wing Tories, including former UK home secretary Suella Braverman and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, met in a Commons committee room to discuss their approach to a series of crunch votes for Rishi Sunak on Wednesday evening.

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Former UK business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg confirmed to reporters after the meeting that he would be voting with the government during the third reading of the Bill.

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Speaking on behalf of the rebels, a source said: The majority of those people who spoke in the room have decided to back the Bill at third reading.

A small number of colleagues will vote No on a point of principle.

But the overwhelming likelihood is that the Bill will pass probably quite comfortably this evening.

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The source, who rallied against Downing Streets handling of negotiations with the rebels over amendments to Mr Sunaks flagship immigration policy, said some MPs in the room considered the third reading a confidence matter and that they wanted to support the UK government.

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Others, such as Mr Jenrick, who tabled a number of amendments designed to tighten the legislation, have publicly stated that they are preparing to vote it down if changes are not made.

The decision by rebels to fold will be welcome news to the prime minister, who had already faced a revolt by 60 of his MPs, the resignation of two party deputy chairmen and a ministerial aide during Tuesdays consideration of the Bill in the Commons.

Senior red wall MPs Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned from their party positions to vote in favour of amendments on Tuesday, while ministerial aide Jane Stevenson left her government job to back changes to the Bill.

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Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg confirmed he would be supporting the Governments Rwanda Bill (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mr Sunak, the Conservative Party leader, has made the Rwanda policy  first proposed in 2022 while Boris Johnson was in No 10  central to his leadership, forming part of his pledge to stop small boats of migrants from coming to Britain via the English Channel.

He has been looking to tread a middle path with his Safety of Rwanda Bill, hoping to avoid a damaging rebellion on the right of the party while keeping liberal so-called One Nation Conservatives content that the legislation did not breach the UKs international commitments on human rights.

The prime ninisters press secretary sent a message to Tory MPs ahead of Wednesdays votes, urging them to get behind this Bill so we can get this deterrent up and running as quickly as possible.

Under the plan, migrants who cross the Channel on small boats could be sent to Rwanda rather than being allowed to try to seek asylum in the UK.

The legislation, along with a recently signed treaty with Kigali, is aimed at ensuring the scheme is legally watertight following a Supreme Court ruling against it last year.

The stalled policy comes with a 290 million bill but no asylum seekers arriving via unauthorised routes have been relocated as yet following a series of challenges in the courts.

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Robert Jenrick emerged as a rebel ringleader over the Rwanda Bill (Aaron Chown/PA)

Ms Braverman, during the debate on proposed amendments, said the British people would not forgive Mr Sunaks government unless the Rwanda legislation was toughened up to sideline Strasbourg judges.

A so-called Rule 39 injunction by the European Court of Human Rights grounded a deportation flight in 2022.

When defending his Bill, Mr Sunak has said there are circumstances under which he would be prepared to ignore such orders but hardline Tories wanted the pledge written into law.

Mr Jenrick, a rebel ringleader who resigned as a British Home Office minister in protest at the Rwanda Bill, had led the call for changes aimed at ensuring the European emergency injunctions could be ignored by ministers in order to allow migrants to be sent on the one-way trip to Rwanda.

After rebels announced they were minded to back the governments legislation on Wednesday, the Newark MP withdrew a second amendment he had tabled which aimed to disapply elements of the Human Rights Act in relation to removals to the east African country.

Despite Tory rebels standing down, Mr Sunaks Rwanda Bill is expected to face serious opposition in the House of Lords during its next stage.

Rebels have not ruled out proposing further amendments when the draft law is returned by peers to the Commons ahead of it entering the statute book.

Migrants continued to cross the English Channel on Wednesday, with groups of people pictured being brought ashore by Border Force in Dover, Kent.
An explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand has killed at least 23 people, officials said.

The cause of the blast in Suphan Buri province is under investigation.

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Officials are working to secure the site and help people who were affected.

Rescue workers at the scene said no survivors had been found. None were mentioned by provincial authorities, contradicting an earlier statement by the department of disaster prevention and mitigation that injured people had been recovered.

Suphan Buri is about 60 miles north-west of Bangkok, in the heart of Thailands central rice-growing region.



At least 23 people were killed (Samerkun Suphan Buri Foundation via AP)

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The office of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, distributed a video showing him being told over the phone by the regional police commander that there were 20 to 30 workers at the factory at the time of the explosion and that none of them could be found.

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Kritsada Manee-In, a rescue worker with the Samerkun Suphan Buri Rescue Foundation, had earlier estimated that around 15 to 17 people had been killed.

Photos posted on social media showed a thick plume of black smoke rising over the scene of the blast in an otherwise unoccupied rice field.

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Photos posted online by local rescue workers showed the factory site virtually levelled flat, with debris and body parts also visible.

National police chief Torsak Sukvimol confirmed local news reports that there had been another explosion at the factory in November 2022 that killed one worker and seriously injured three others.



The cause of the blast in Suphan Buri province is yet to be established (Samekan Suphan Buri Foundation via AP)

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He said police would pursue legal action for any wrongdoing involved.

The blast, the cause of which was not immediately clear, came less than a month before Chinese New Year in February, when demand for fireworks is strong.

In July last year, a large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 100, according to officials.

That explosion in Narathiwat province was in a residential area and damaged about 100 houses within a 1,640ft radius.

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The Narathiwat governor said that blast was likely ignited by construction work in the warehouse, with sparks from metal welding causing the fireworks stored inside to catch fire and explode.
A shipment of medicine for dozens of hostages held by Hamas is heading to Gaza after France and Qatar mediated the first agreement between Israel and the militant group since a week-long ceasefire in November.

The medicines arrived in Egypt, and are now being transported to the border.

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A senior Hamas official said that for every box provided for the hostages, 1,000 boxes would be sent in for Palestinians. The deal also includes the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave.





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Cogat, an Israeli defence body in charge of Palestinian civilian affairs, said the trucks carrying the shipment will be inspected by Israeli authorities before entering Gaza.

The agreement came more than 100 days into a conflict that shows no sign of ending and which has sparked tensions across the Middle East, with strikes and counter-strikes in recent days from northern Iraq to the Red Sea and from southern Lebanon to Pakistan.

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In Gaza, Palestinian militants are still putting up resistance across the narrow coastal strip in the face of one of the deadliest military campaigns in recent history.

Some 85% of the territorys population of 2.3 million people have fled their homes and the United Nations says a quarter of the population is starving.

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Israeli army vehicles move in the Gaza Strip near the Israeli-Gaza border as seen from southern Israel (AP)

Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas military and governing abilities to ensure that it can never repeat the October 7 attack that triggered the war.

Militants burst through Israels border defences and stormed through several communities, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing around 250.

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When the war began on 7 October, life changed dramatically overnight for Hala - a mother of four and a humanitarian worker from #Gaza.



In her diary, she documents her fear, trauma and resilience.



Here's her story   UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) January 16, 2024

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Israel has also vowed to return the more than 100 hostages still held inside Gaza after Hamas released most of the rest in November in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

The Israeli government has said only military pressure will bring about the release of more captives, but as the fighting grinds on they are at increased risk of being killed in Israeli strikes or during rescue operations.

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Hamas has said it will not release any more hostages until there is a permanent ceasefire, something Israel and the United States, its top ally, have ruled out.





100 days in 100 seconds.



This has been the largest displacement of the Palestinian people since 1948.



An entire generation of children is traumatized, thousands have been killed, maimed, and orphaned.



People live through the unliveable. pic.twitter.com/qmqvwPQKL6  UNRWA (@UNRWA) January 15, 2024

In just the past few days:

 A US-led coalition has carried out strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen;

 Iran has struck what it described as an Israeli spy headquarters in northern Iraq and anti-Iranian militants in Pakistan and Syria;

 Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah have escalated the intensity of their fighting across the border.

Irans militant allies across the region say they are striking US and Israeli targets to pressure them to halt the Gaza offensive.

Tehran itself has encouraged the attacks while avoiding direct involvement, but appears to be flexing its muscles with the strikes in Syria and Pakistan.

The Houthis have vowed to continue attacking international shipping in the Red Sea in what they say is a blockade of Israel, with repercussions for global trade.



Smoke rises after an explosion in the Gaza Strip (AP)

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Each party appears to be seeking some form of deterrence against its adversaries. But the longer the war in Gaza lasts, the more likely it is that one of them goes a step too far, potentially triggering another war.

The biggest risk is along the Israel-Lebanon border, where Israel has vowed to halt Hezbollah attacks so that tens of thousands of Israelis can return to their homes in communities evacuated in October.

Hezbollah hopes to take the pressure off Gaza by tying down Israeli troops in the north.

Tensions are also soaring in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have conducted near-daily arrest raids that often trigger shootouts with Palestinian militants.

Israeli forces killed at least 10 Palestinians on Wednesday in the West Bank, including five in the urban Balata refugee camp in the north, the military said. They included a senior militant who the military said was involved in recent attacks against Israelis.

Five Palestinians were also killed in an Israeli strike in Tulkarem, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The military said it targeted a group of militants who had opened fire and were throwing explosives at Israeli soldiers.





The unfolding tragedy cannot carry on.



We continue to work relentlessly to bring home the hostages

In those darkest hours, our 17y old commitment to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza is unwavering



No hierarchy in suffering, only one colossal humanitarian crisis pic.twitter.com/2iy6bLp3BE Advertisement  Fabrizio Carboni (@FCarboniICRC) January 15, 2024

They included a senior militant who was involved in recent attacks on Israelis, the army alleged. More than 350 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 7.

Israel said at the start of the year that it had largely dismantled Hamas in northern Gaza and would scale back operations there, focusing on dense urban areas in the centre and south of the territory.

Additional Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza on Monday, but there has been little apparent let-up in strikes, with scores of Palestinians killed every day.

Gazas health ministry said 24,285 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths but says around two-thirds of those killed were women and children.

More than 60,000 people have been wounded, and less than half of Gazas hospitals are even partially functioning.
Another Republican presidential debate has been cancelled after Nikki Haley refused to participate in any forum that does not also include Donald Trump.

The move means that for the first time in years there will no on-the-ground face-off before New Hampshires primary next week.

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CNN announced on Wednesday that it was calling off its debate, which had been scheduled for Sunday at New England College.

Donald Trump at a campaign event in Atkinson, New Hampshire (Matt Rourke/AP)

It comes a day after ABC and WMUR-TV said they were also cancelling Thursdays debate, planned at Saint Anselm College, following Ms Haleys assertion that the next debate in which she participates will either be with Donald Trump or Joe Biden.

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Florida governor Ron DeSantis had committed to take part in both debates, but with front-runner Mr Trump having skipped all of the Republican debates so far, Ms Haleys participation had been the deciding factor in whether they would go on.

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The move by the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador could be in part a result of the last debate, which featured only her and Mr DeSantis.

Ms Haley did not perform as well as expected, and Mr DeSantis ultimately ended up beating her for second place in Mondays lead-off Iowa caucuses.

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Ron DeSantis edges Nikki Haley to win second place behind Donald Trump in the Iowa Republican caucuses, CNN projects. Follow live updates: https://t.co/H04ClcpEwQ pic.twitter.com/RFRRXO1qNS  CNN (@CNN) January 16, 2024

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Her decision to skip the debate prompted a reaction from rivals, with Mr DeSantis saying she is afraid to debate because she doesnt want to answer the tough questions, and a Trump spokesman calling her a desperate globalist.

Ms Haley had argued that picking her gives Republicans a better chance to defeat Mr Biden, a Democrat, in Novembers presidential election, pointing to survey data showing her with the largest lead among the Republican field in a theoretical general election match-up.

Although she finished third in Iowa, she has been shown to be better-positioned in the next state to vote, New Hampshire, and has angled to frame the remainder of the primary as a two-person race between Mr Trump and herself.

CNN said on Wednesday that it would instead host a town hall event with Ms Haley on Thursday from New England College.

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Mr DeSantis took part in his own CNN town hall on Tuesday.
More than 100 civilians were killed by Russias missile and drone attacks across Ukraine during December, according to a UN report which said nearly 500 were injured.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraines report, published on Tuesday, said there was a 26.5% increase in civilian casualties last month  from 468 in November to 592 in December.

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With some reports pending verification, it said the increase was likely higher.

Danielle Bell, who heads the UNs monitoring mission, said: Civilian casualties had been steadily decreasing in 2023, but the wave of attacks in late December and early January violently interrupted that trend.

A firefighter works to extinguish a fire after a Russian missile attack in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP)

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The UN mission said it is verifying reports the missile and drone attacks that began hitting populated areas across Ukraine on December 29 and continued into early January killed 86 civilians and injured 416 others.

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These attacks sow death and destruction on Ukraines civilians who have endured profound losses from Russias full-scale invasion for almost two years now, Ms Bell said.

The UN said the highest number of casualties occurred during attacks on December 29th and January 2nd amid plummeting winter temperatures.

On January 4th, it said, Russian missiles struck the small town of Pokrovsk and nearby village of Rivne close to the front lines, burying two families  six adults and five children  in the rubble of their homes. Some bodies have still not been found, it said.

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In another attack on January 6th, the blast wave from a Russian missile strike in Novomoskovsk injured 31 civilians, including eight passengers on a minibus that was destroyed during the morning commute, the UN said.

The confirmed number of civilians killed since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, 2022, is more than 10,200, including 575 children, and the number of injured is more than 19,300, the UN humanitarian offices operations director Edem Wosornu told the UN Security Council last week.
Lawyers for former president Donald Trump have foreshadowed elements of their defence in the criminal case which charges him with illegally retaining classified documents.

The lawyers said in a motion filed on Tuesday that they will dispute prosecutors allegations that the estate where the records were stored was not secure.

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The defence team also said in a wide-ranging court filing that they are seeking communication between the justice department prosecution team and associates of President Joe Biden in hopes of advancing their claims that the classified documents case is politically motivated and designed to harm Mr Trumps 2024 campaign.

The brief, which asks a judge to compel special counsel Jack Smiths team to turn over a trove of information, offers the most expansive view yet of potential lines of defence in one of the four criminal cases Mr Trump faces as he seeks to capture the Republican nomination and reclaim the White House.

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It offers a blend of legal analysis and political bombast that has come to be expected in the Trump team motions.



Attorney general Merrick Garland (pictured) appointed Jack Smith as special counsel (Mariam Zuhaib/ AP File)

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For instance, it references Mr Trumps record victory this week in the Iowa caucuses and decries the charges as partisan election interference  familiar statements from the ex-presidents lawyers that seem intended to appeal as much to voters on the campaign trail as to the judge presiding over the case.

Mr Trumps lawyers wrote: The special counsels office has disregarded basic discovery obligations and DOJ policies in an effort to support the Biden Administrations egregious efforts to weaponize the criminal justice system in pursuit of an objective that President Biden cannot achieve on the campaign trail: slowing down president Mr Trumps leading campaign in the 2024 presidential election.

Despite Mr Trumps repeated claims, there is no evidence of any coordination between the justice department and the White House, which has said it had no advance knowledge of the FBIs August 2022 search of Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate that recovered dozens of classified documents he had taken with him when he left the White House.

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Attorney general Merrick Garland months later appointed Mr Smith as special counsel as a way to try to insulate the justice department from claims of political bias.

A spokesman for Mr Smith declined to comment on Tuesday night.

Prosecutors will have a chance to respond to the filing, and are likely to tell US district judge Aileen Cannon that much of the material defence lawyers are seeking is not relevant to the case.

A June 2023 indictment charging Mr Trump with dozens of felony counts alleges that investigators found boxes of sensitive documents recklessly stored at Mar-a-Lago in spaces including a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, his bedroom and a storage room.

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Prosecutors have said the documents he stowed, refused to return and in some cases showed to visitors risked jeopardising not only relations with foreign nations but also the safety of troops and confidential sources.

But defence lawyers said in their motion that they intend to dispute allegations that Mar-a-Lago was not secure and that there was a risk that materials stored at those premises could be compromised.

They argued that prosecutors should be forced to disclose all information related to what they have previously described as temporary secure locations at Mar-a-Lago and other Trump properties.

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They contended that such evidence would refute prosecutors allegations because the US Secret Service took steps to secure the residences and made arrangements for him to review and discuss classified information.

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Mr Trumps lawyers also referenced what they said was an energy department action in June, after the charges were filed, to retroactively terminate a security clearance for the former president.

They demanded more information about that, saying evidence of a post-presidential possession of a security clearance was relevant for potential arguments of good-faith and non-criminal states of mind relating to possession of classified materials.

The case is currently scheduled for trial on May 20, but that date may be pushed back.
Concerns grow over setback in shipment of goods from Busan

By Park Jae-hyuk

Unionized sailors of HMM are threatening to go on their first-ever strike in the companys history, thereby raising concerns over the possibility of setbacks in Harim Groups plan to acquire the shipping firm and the shipment of goods from the Port of Busan, according to industry officials, Wednesday.

The union asked for arbitration by the National Labor Relations Commission, a day after it informed management that their collective bargaining had fallen through. If labor and management fail to reach an agreement after arbitration, the union can win a legal right to strike after a vote by its members.

While urging the company to raise wages and improve welfare, the union has also protested the governments selection of Harim last December as the preferred bidder to buy HMM.

Harim offered 6.4 trillion won ($4.8 billion) for the acquisition, but it has yet to clarify its plan to raise the money, the union leader said. It is expected to borrow an excessive amount of money or increase its capital unreasonably by issuing new stocks of its shipping subsidiary, Pan Ocean. In that case, the cash-strapped Harim will not be able to manage HMM properly.

Given that the union seeks to prevent HMM from receiving a 13,000-TEU container ship from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries next month, the shipping firm may face a setback in its plan to deploy additional vessels bound for Europe, which is intended to help cope with the logistics crisis in the Red Sea. The union also plans to disrupt loading and unloading works, if the government signs the deal with Harim to privatize HMM.

Another HMM union consisting of employees working on land is considering a work-to-rule, a job action in which employees do no more than the minimum required by the rules of their contract and strictly follow time-consuming rules, which are normally not enforced.

The workers will take the action, depending on the result of the governments first attempt at negotiation with Harim. Earlier this month, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung told reporters that the result is expected to come out later this month.

Last Thursday, the two HMM unions held a forum in Busan with civic groups and minority shareholders to discuss the problems behind Harims plan to acquire the shipping company. They will hold another forum at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday, along with experts in various fields.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis is all but abandoning New Hampshire's Republican presidential primary next week and instead is relocating staff and focusing on South Carolina, where he hopes to pressure rival Nikki Haley in her home state.

The decision highlights the extent to which the DeSantis campaign is scrambling to reset after its big bet on winning Iowa failed to pay off. Mr DeSantis came in a distant second to former US president Donald Trump in Monday's Iowa caucuses, the first Republican presidential nominating contest.

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Although Mr DeSantis faces exceptionally tough odds in New Hampshire, there is no obvious road for a comeback anywhere else, including in South Carolina, where polls put him at a distant third.

Mr DeSantis and Ms Haley are battling to emerge as the top alternative to Mr Trump, the runaway frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

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The DeSantis campaign now appears to be vying to edge Ms Haley out of the race after South Carolina, a state where she was governor and where the primary will be held on February 24th.

"When Nikki Haley fails to win her home state, she'll be finished and this will be a two-person race," a senior DeSantis campaign official told Reuters on Wednesday, confirming the report.

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The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, would not say whether Mr DeSantis would return to New Hampshire, but the candidate has scheduled South Carolina events over the weekend.

Mr Trump is ahead of both Mr DeSantis and Ms Haley by a wide margin in South Carolina, with polling averages showing him with nearly 55 per cent support, compared with Ms Haley at almost 25 per cent and Mr DeSantis at 12 per cent.

After his disappointing finish in Iowa on Monday night, Mr DeSantis flew directly to South Carolina, rather than going straight to New Hampshire, as is tradition.

Only about 6 per cent of New Hampshire residents plan to vote for Mr DeSantis, according to polling averages, versus about 30 per cent for Ms Haley and 43 per cent for Mr Trump. Some recent polls have shown Ms Haley and Mr Trump in a much closer battle.

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In Greenville, South Carolina, on Tuesday, Mr DeSantis criticised Ms Haley at a campaign stop.

"She was governor here for six years. Can you name major achievements under her tenure?" he said. "I mean, tell me if there are, because she hasn't been able to do it."

Asked for a response, Ms Haley's campaign said: "South Carolina is a great state. We hope they enjoy their vacation time here."

Never Back Down, a pro-DeSantis fundraising super PAC that has played a major role in his campaign, has transferred several Iowa political staff to other early nominating states and has laid off other staffers.
The United States, South Korea and Japan have conducted combined naval exercises involving an American aircraft carrier in their latest show of strength against nuclear-armed North Korea.

The manoeuvres came as the three countries senior diplomats were to meet in Seoul to discuss the deepening stand-off with Pyongyang, the South Korean military said.

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The training in waters off South Koreas Jeju island came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continued weapons testing and issued threats that have raised regional tensions to their highest point in years.

At Pyongyangs rubber-stamp parliament this week, Mr Kim declared that North Korea would abandon its long-standing commitment to a peaceful unification with South Korea and ordered a rewriting of Norths constitution to eliminate the idea of a shared statehood between the war-divided countries.

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His speech on Monday came a day after the North conducted its first ballistic test of 2024, which state media described as a new solid-fuel intermediate range missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead, reflecting its push to advance its line-up of weapons targeting US military bases in Guam and Japan.



A launching drill takes place at the Sunan international airport in Pyongyang (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

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South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the trilateral naval drills, which completed its three-day programme on Wednesday, involved nine warships from the countries, including US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and Aegis destroyers from South Korea and Japan.

The exercise was aimed at sharpening the countries combined deterrence and response capabilities against North Korean nuclear, missile and underwater threats, and also training for preventing illicit maritime transports of weapons of mass destruction, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

It did not specify whether the training reflected concerns about North Koreas alleged arms transfers to Russia to help that countrys war in Ukraine.

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In Seoul, South Korean nuclear envoy Kim Gunn was scheduled to meet with Japanese counterpart Namazu Hiroyuki on Wednesday, a day before their trilateral meeting with US President Joe Bidens deputy special representative for North Korea, Jung Pak, to coordinate their response toward the North.

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In the face of growing North Korean nuclear threats, the conservative government of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been expanding military cooperation and training with the United States and Japan, which Mr Kim has decried as invasion rehearsals.

Mr Yoon has also sought stronger reassurances from Washington that it would swiftly and decisively use its nuclear capabilities to defend its ally in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack.

In his speech at the North Koreas Supreme Peoples Assembly, Mr Kim called described the South Koreans as top class stooges of America who were obsessed with confrontation, and repeated a threat that the North would annihilate the South with its nuclear weapons if provoked.
The US has put Yemens Houthis rebels back on its list of designated global terrorists, piling financial sanctions on top of military strikes in the Biden administrations latest attempt to stop the militants attacks on global shipping.

Officials said they would design the financial penalties to minimise harm to Yemens 32 million people, who are among the worlds poorest and hungriest after years of war between the Iran-backed Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition.

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But aid officials expressed concern, with Oxfam America associate director Scott Paul saying the decision will only add another level of uncertainty and threat for Yemenis still caught in one of the worlds largest humanitarian crises.

The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing.

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The bulk carrier Gibraltar Eagle was hit by a Houthi missile on Monday (AP)

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Donald Trumps administration designated the Houthis as global terrorists and a foreign terrorist organisation in one of his last acts in office. President Joe Biden reversed course early on, at the time citing the humanitarian threat the sanctions posed to ordinary Yemenis.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam said the US terrorist label would not deter the group, posting on social media:. Instead, we consider it a badge of honour for Yemen for its support of Palestinian resistance in Gaza.

Military strikes by the US and the UK against Houthi targets in Yemen have failed to stop weeks of drone, rocket and missile strikes by Houthi forces on commercial shipping passing through the Red Sea, which borders Yemen.

The Houthis are one in a network of Iran and Hamas-allied militant groups around the Middle East that have escalated attacks on Israel, the US and others since Israels military offensive in Gaza, in response to Hamass October 7 attacks in Israel.

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The Houthis were originally a clan-based rebel movement. They seized Yemens capital in 2014 and withstood a years-long invasion led by Saudi Arabia aimed at driving them from power.

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Two-thirds of Yemens people live in territory now controlled by the Houthis.

Critics say the additional broad US sanctions may have little effect on the Houthis, a defiant and relatively isolated group with few known assets in the US to be threatened.

There is also concern that designating the Houthis as terrorists may complicate international attempts to broker a peace deal in the now-subsided war with Saudi Arabia.

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War and chronic misgovernment have left 24 million Yemenis at risk of hunger and disease, and roughly 14 million are in acute need of humanitarian assistance, the United Nations says.



Houthis transport the coffins of fighters killed in US and UK air strikes (Osamah Abdulrahman/AP)

Aid groups during the height of Yemens war issued repeated warnings that millions of Yemenis were on the brink of famine.

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Aid organisations worry that just the fear of US regulations could be enough to scare away shippers, banks and others in the commercial supply chain that Yemenis depend on for survival. Yemen imports 90% of its food.

US officials told reporters before the State Departments announcement on Wednesday that the sanctions would exempt commercial shipments of food, medicine and fuel, and humanitarian assistance.

Washington will wait 30 days to put the sanctions into effect, officials said, giving shipping companies, banks, insurers and others time to prepare.

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The administration is not yet reimposing the more severe designation of foreign terrorist organisation on the Houthis. That would have barred Americans, along with people and organisations subject to US jurisdiction, from providing material support to the Houthis.

Aid groups said that step could have the effect of criminalising ordinary trade and assistance to Yemenis.

The US will re-evaluate the designation if the Houthis comply, officials said.
A US woman who pleaded guilty to helping kill her own mother and stuffing the body in a suitcase during a luxury holiday in Bali has been sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Judge Matthew Kennelly gave Heather Mack credit for the approximately two years she spent in custody in Chicago awaiting trial since her return in 2021. Her lawyer Michael Leonard said her formal sentence will be around 23 years in total.

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Federal prisoners also get credit for good behaviour, roughly 50 days for each year.





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Prosecutors had recommended a 28-year sentence for Mack for conspiring with her boyfriend to kill Sheila von Wiese-Mack in 2014.

Before her sentence was read, Mack apologised to her mothers brother and sister through tears.

It breaks my heart hearing you cry, she told Debbi Curran, her aunt and Ms von Wiese-Macks sister, who had audibly sobbed as her daughter read a victim impact statement on Ms Currans behalf.

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Theres no excuse for trying to harm her, Mack added. I miss and love my mother.

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The government also wanted the 28-year-old to get five years of supervised release, a 250,000 dollar fine and restitution of 262,708 dollars.

In a filing last week, prosecutors said the recommended sentence is warranted and sufficient, but not greater than necessary to serve a just and appropriate punishment for Macks heinous crime.



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The sentencing hearing began on Wednesday morning with evidence from Bill Wiese, Ms von Wiese-Macks brother and Macks uncle. He asked Judge Matthew Kennelly to impose the maximum sentence possible, saying Mack had never shown remorse.

If it were up to me, Heather would spend the rest of her life behind bars, he said.

Mack, who wore an orange jumpsuit, orange slip-on shoes and glasses, remained mostly impassive as her uncle spoke, occasionally looking at attendees and giving small smiles to some.

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Mack pleaded guilty last June to one count of conspiring to kill Ms von Wiese-Mack with her then-boyfriend to gain access to a 1.5 million dollar trust fund.

Prosecutors have said Mack, then 18 and pregnant, covered her mothers mouth while Tommy Schaefer bludgeoned Ms von Wiese-Mack with a fruit bowl in a hotel room.

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Prosecutors said Mack and Schaefer had planned the killing for months, and that video evidence showed them trying to get the small suitcase containing the body into a taxi.

Mack, who lived with her mother in Oak Park, Chicago, served seven years of her 10-year Indonesian sentence for her 2015 conviction of being an accessory to Ms von Wiese-Macks murder.

She was deported in 2021 and US agents arrested her on arrival at Chicagos OHare International Airport.

Macks then-six-year-old daughter was with her when she was arrested. The girl was placed with a relative after a custody fight.

Macks lawyers had sought a 15-year prison term, but with credit for her seven years in the Indonesian prison. She was automatically credited for the more than two years she spent in custody in Chicago.

For the taxpayers to incur the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to incarcerate Ms Mack for an extended period of time is particularly unnecessary, lawyer Michael Leonard said in a recent court filing.

The plea agreement called for a sentence of no more than 28 years and for two other charges against Mack to be dropped.

Schaefer was convicted of murder and is serving an 18-year sentence in Indonesia. He is charged in the same US indictment.

His mother, Kia Walker, was in the courtroom on Wednesday for Macks sentencing.
Sherwin Gardner | Bill Carpenter

(Nassau, Bahamas): One of the Caribbeans premier music men, Sherwin Gardner, has gone viral on a global scale. Hes trending throughout the Caribbean, the United States, Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, Western Europe, Canada, Indonesia, Venezuela and even the Philippines. A snippet of the Trinidad and Tobago natives new release, Blessings Find Me, has sparked an astounding 80+ Million streams in two weeks mainly on TikTok and igniting on Instagram as well.

To Pre-Save Music Click Here.

I created a short song of affirmation for a New Years Day post to set goals for what I desire in the new year, Gardner says. When I posted the video, I was thinking 100 people might like it. The next day, I woke up to over 100,000 views. Now, its in the tens of millions on TikTok and Instagram. Its totally unexpected and Im so grateful for the answered prayers.

The response is incredible. In the last week, executives from a dozen major recording entities (including Sony Music, and Island Records and Universal Music) reached out and wanted the song, but Gardner didnt even have a full song to offer.

Gardner rushed into his Bahamian studio to make a full track. Then, he emailed it to Julius Nana, a Kenyan musician, to arrange. After Nana emailed his parts, Gardner went to work at a feverish pace. He cut the lead vocals, sang his own background vocals, added other atmospherics, and mixed it down himself.

The viral smash will finally hit all major digital music platforms worldwide this Friday, January 19th via Gardners Flow Masters Records joint venture deal with Tyscot Records which is distributed by GoDigiPath /ADA Worldwide (ADA Worldwide, a Warner Music Group company). Further, the songs ASCAP publishers are administered by Tyscot Publishing c/o Warner Chappell Music. All forces are uniting to roll out a massive global marketing effort to support the release. It will include strategies to build the veteran artists brand with potential synchronization opportunities, alternate mixes of the song, and collaborations with other artists.

The inspiring, mid-tempo vibes nicely with similar tracks by Afrobeat artists such as Tyla, Victor Thompson, Omah Lay, and Limboblaze. Gardner has also gained famous new fans such as New Jack Swing legend, Teddy Riley. The co-founder of R&B/Hip-Hop bands, Guy and Blackstreet, posted the snippet on his Instagram page. "[Brother Sherwin,] you've created this amazing [song] that I have on repeat and play to remind me that there's nothing impossible when God's got your back, he wrote. I just want to thank you and share your song with my IG friends..." Fashion model, Tia Magno-Wallen, posted that, This song brought tears to my eyes.
When Raam Emami reflects on his life in exile it is with the strange sensation of being two people at once.

The acclaimed musician founded post-punk band Hypernova, among the first acts from Irans musical underground to find a Western audience. Then, in 2011, he embarked on a solo career as King Raam, singing in Persian, the language he grew up with. He released an album, Songs of the Wolves, that would be downloaded more than a million times.

For Raam Emami, exile brings the curious sensation of being two people at once.

In New York, I was this hipster nobody hanging out in dive bars, but I would go back home and [people] would ask for autographs, he said from Los Angeles. If I was still in my own country, Iran, instead of hundreds of people, I would be [playing] for thousands of people. He pauses. Theres this bittersweet feeling of being recognised by my community but not being able to perform in my homeland.

This week, Emami will perform in Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World, a critically acclaimed piece of theatre, written by the award-winning British-Iranian playwright Javaad Alipoor and co-commissioned by the National Theatre of Parramatta. It will premiere at the Sydney Opera House on Friday as part of Sydney Festival.
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What you need to know about the one-off collaboration between the Melbourne critics pick and Sydneys Martinez.

Hatted restaurant French Saloon is considered one of Melbournes best, and its coming to Sydney for a pop-up Parisienne dinner on the Martinez terrace on Saturday, February 24.

Good Food Events is hosting Riviera Rooftop presented by Quay Quarter: a one-off collaboration between French Saloon head chef Luke Fraser, Martinez chef Andrea Sonnate and Humble Bakery, serving up a multi-course meal overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with live Gallic music and bottomless French wine.

Big windows, a red vaulted ceiling and white floorboards give French Saloon a timeless quality. Wayn Taylor

It will be the first time Sydney diners will have the opportunity to try Frasers French-leaning cuisine, with the chef known for yielding stunning results through his application of classical techniques to Australian ingredients.

In a recent Good Food review, chief restaurant critic for The Age, Besha Rodell, awarded French Saloon a hat and revealed a long list of people including former chief reviewer Gemima Cody considered French Saloon their favourite Melbourne restaurant.
Police have thwarted an alleged conspiracy to murder a Sydney underworld figure that would have earned the would-be killer a $400,000 payday.

In December, police began investigating information that a 30-year-old man from Sydney was the target of a murder plot.

Sulaiman Ahmad, 18, was arrested on Wednesday at a home in Greenfield Park. Credit: NSW Police

Police will allege in court that Sulaiman Ahmad,18, and Azam El-Mohamad, 30, were contracted by a criminal cell with orders to kill the man who had links to high-profile organised crime figures.

El-Mohamad, who is behind bars, was arrested on Wednesday morning. He was transferred from prison to Maroubra police station and will be charged with conspiracy to murder and participating in a criminal group.
Wardrobe rentals, $15 op shops and vintage markets.

Brisbane has well and truly jumped on the sustainable fashion train, a consumer shift believed to have been driven by the citys resilient fashionistas.

Meanjins fashion has undergone significant evolution over the years, reflects Lil Js Vintage Market founder Jacqueline Cowan.

For the past eight years, Cowan has been organising vintage markets in and around the city.
A tropical storm has brought heavy rain to Victoria again after a short burst of summery weather, with towns on high alert for floods after thunderstorms lashed the states north.

Heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding is forecast for parts of Victorias north-east and parts of Gippsland from late Wednesday morning.

A woman braves the rain to walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens on Wednesday. Credit: Jason South

Up to 100 millimetres of rain is forecast to fall in six hours, with emergency services warning of isolated areas of intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash floods.

Rainfall of up to 20 millimetres is expected to be more widespread across the state, including for parts of Melbourne.
Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan unveiled a vision for the South Korean energy-to-defense conglomerate's decarbonization of maritime shipping and plans to build a zero-emission gas carrier, the group said Wednesday.

Kim made the remarks as he delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, saying, "The new vessel will be an industry first -- developed using Hanwha's proprietary green technology, powered entirely by alternative fuels."

"Hanwha is challenging existing industry frameworks, spearheading new innovations and paving the way for maritime decarbonization," Kim said.

"We're taking a holistic approach to the energy transition, driving disruptive change not only in the production and storage of clean energy but in transportation as well," he said.

"Advancing green ship technology and establishing a robust clean energy value chain will help us gain ground in our journey toward net zero," Kim said.

At a Davos session titled "The First Fossil-Free Ship on the Water," Kim told of Hanwha's plan for the development of a carbon-free vessel powered by alternative fuels, such as ammonia.

As existing internal combustion engines require 5 percent to 15 percent pilot fuel for the purpose of ignition, building a vessel free of carbon emissions requires a fundamentally different approach, Kim said.

Kim said Hanwha is developing an ammonia-powered gas turbine to replace conventional engines, thus eliminating the need for pilot fuel.

To achieve carbon-free electrification, Hanwha also plans to install hydrogen fuel cells with energy storage systems as the vessel's auxiliary power source, the group said.

An integrated ammonia cracker will produce the hydrogen required for the fuel cells on board.

Kim also announced plans to own and operate the newly developed green ships to bring the technology to maturity as deep-sea vessels are capital-intensive investments.

By demonstrating the benefits of green ship technology, Hanwha aims to lower the barriers for shipowner investment and drive demand, Kim said. (Yonhap)
A Perth woman who is under investigation by police after she was exposed as an alleged scam artist, bragged about her lavish lifestyle online while she owed thousands to unsuspecting customers.

Jessie Barbour allegedly owes about $130,000 to more than 80 people after she took horse saddles on consignment to sell through her business, Saddlery in Motion.

The single mum from Martin offered to sell second hand saddles for a 22 per cent cut of the profits but instead its alleged she has been pocketing the entire proceeds for the past five years.

Now her victims have grouped together to get justice  and their money back  while Barbour has been bragging about her lavish lifestyle online.
Two women have been accused of stealing a French Bulldog from a home in Karrinyup after police issued a public plea to help find the two-year-old designer dog.

The canine, named Sonic, went missing from his Karrinyup Road home on Monday at around 10.45am following a break-in at the property.

Cosmo has been returned to his owners. Credit: WA Police

WA Police appealed for information about the burglary and on Tuesday, two women were charged and the dog was located at a property in Mandurah.

Following extensive inquiries, a 46-year-old woman was arrested at an apartment in West Perth, a police spokesman said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has hit out at the building of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories as illegal under international law and a barrier to peace after meeting Palestinian civilians affected by settler violence.

During her trip to Ramallah, the de facto Palestinian capital in the West Bank, Wong also urged the Palestinian Authority to ensure that Australian taxpayer funding intended for humanitarian aid is not misused.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong leaving from Adelaide Airport on Monday for her trip to the Middle East. Credit: AAP

Wong stressed the federal government regards Hamas, the militant group that launched the shock October 7 attacks in Israel, as a terrorist group that has no place in the future governance of Gaza.

Earlier in the day Wong also visited Yad Vashem, Israels official memorial to the Holocaust, in Jerusalem and met Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi.
Samsung unveiled its latest Galaxy S smartphones at an Unpacked event overnight, featuring an array of new artificial intelligence features collectively known as Galaxy AI. But in terms of hardware, the S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra have barely changed from last year.

The standard and larger phones have new screens that are slightly bigger (thanks to reduced bezels), brighter, and feature LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) technology which lets them adjust refresh rates between 1Hz and 120Hz for improved power efficiency.

The Galaxy S24 and S24+ are slightly rounder but look very similar to last years phones.

The square-edged and stylus-compatible S24 Ultra has a new zoom lens which is 50MP and 5x zoom, versus last years 10MP and 10x zoom, with Samsung saying the extra sensor size and new software will still allow optical quality at 10x and improved digital zoom up to 100x. It also has a new internal cooling system that Samsung says improves gaming performance while reducing temperatures, as well as a new titanium frame.

But its the AI features that Samsung is positioning as the key updates, with new or expanded capabilities in practically all areas of the phones software.
The shock from Iowas Republican caucus for the partys presidential nomination is that there was no shock. The polls had it right, not only that Donald Trump would win but that he would win because his supporters were much more amped up than those for Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis.

This small rural state, suffused with farmers and Christian evangelists and completely unrepresentative of America as a whole, has unholy power in framing the pursuit of the holy grail of the Republican presidential nomination. The Republican candidates spent $US123 million ($186 million) to get those 100,000-or-so Iowa voters to caucus for them.

Donald Trump celebrates his Iowa success with supporters in Des Moines. Credit: AP

Trump romped in, with more than 50 per cent of the vote. Haley, former governor of South Carolina and Trumps ambassador to the United Nations, and DeSantis, the Trump-without-the-baggage Governor of Florida who was going to save the Republican Party, each came in 30 points behind the former president.

Haley is the bridge between the old Republican Party under Ronald Reagan and the new America First populist and nativist party that is Trump. Both Haley and DeSantis believe they got momentum out of Iowa, but its a chimera.
It does little to mitigate insurer risk when the scheme includes a 48-hour cessation date after the event, meaning damage which occurs afterward is not covered for insurers  this needs to be revised to ensure it actually achieves what it sets out to do, Mercorella said.
With an extensive career spanning more than 40 years in banking and finance, Ganis brings a wealth of experience to his new role. His remarkable journey includes 28 years at Macquarie Group, where he held executive responsibilities for 17 years, eventually retiring from full-time duties in 2017.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Tuesday expressed worries about North Korean threats and other challenges, but stressed U.S. allies and partners would only close ranks in the face of the challenges.

Sullivan made the remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, touching on a series of global challenges, including Russia's war in Ukraine, the war between Israel and the Hamas militant group and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

"My job is to worry about the things I talked about today ... but (I) also worry about other threats too, like North Korea," he said as he explained U.S. efforts to tackle the threats.

But, Sullivan said he remains "optimistic" as he pointed to the U.S.' close-knit network of allies that the Joe Biden administration has called "great strategic assets."

"The more others seek to undermine the international system through violence and coercion, the more it brings our allies and partners closer together," he said. "This is the paradox that leaders like Putin cannot seem to resolve."

He also voiced confidence that the America-led "model" that "delivers for people" will remain much more attractive globally than "that of aggression, coercion, intimidation or confrontation."

"When it comes to world politics, people around this planet are much more interested in whether or not their lives are improving than in anyone's imperial ambition or imperial project," he said.

Commenting on the heightened tensions in the Red Sea, Sullivan said that the United States is not looking for regional conflict.

"Through a combination of steady deterrence and steadfast diplomacy, we seek to stop the spread of conflict and to create the conditions for de-escalation," he said. "Our approach remains focused on moving towards greater integration and stability in the region." (Yonhap)
India's top electric car maker Tata Motors is urging the government not to cut taxes on hybrid cars as they are more polluting than pure electrics, countering calls from Toyota for lower levies, according to three sources and a company letter.

India is promoting electric vehicles (EV) as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's drive to reduce pollution, taxing them at just 5%, while the levy on hybrids is as high as 43%, just below the 48% imposed on petrol cars.

That has upset the likes of Japanese automaker Toyota, which popularised hybrids with the Prius, and has since last year been urging India to cut taxes on them, saying they reduce carbon emissions compared to gasoline cars. Backing its position, India's trade department last month in an internal note urged a rationalisation of taxes on hybrid cars.

Tata has met officials and written to India's trade department, saying the country faces an urban air quality crisis with health implications, and hybrids should not be incentivised as they are already taxed lower than gasoline cars, said the three sources, who are familiar with the discussions.

"Any further incentivisation of hybrids will be a detriment to the climate goals and nation's economy," Tata wrote in a confidential letter to the department, contents of which were seen by Reuters.

The lobbying is the latest by Tata aimed at protecting its dominant EV market share. Tata is also pushing back against Tesla's attempts to secure lower levies for imported EVs, Reuters has reported.

India's trade department did not respond to a request for comment.

Tata's rivals, India's Mahindra & Mahindra and South Korea's Hyundai Motor, have also asked New Delhi to keep the current policy, discouraging any reduction in taxes on hybrids, the sources added.

Tata said in a statement that communicating with government was part of its regular business conduct and it believes EVs "are the only practical solution to fight India's epidemic of urban air pollution, as well as reducing oil imports".

Mahindra and Hyundai did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mahindra Managing Director Anish Shah said this week it had told the government there must be a level playing field between domestic and foreign EV players, and local manufacturing must be promoted.
The commerce department and the finance ministry on Wednesday discussed maintaining credit flow to Indian exporters grappling with higher trade costs due to the crisis in the Red Sea, said a senior government official.

The discussion took place during an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by the Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal and aimed at finding measures to tackle the impact on trade due to the crisis.

There were discussions on how things can be improved in this area. We have told DFS (finance ministrys department of financial services) to monitor to ease bank credit and credit flow is maintained to the exporters, said the official.

That apart, the shipping ministry was asked to monitor the volume of trade at major ports. We are closely monitoring the situation. We are closely monitoring the inputs from relevant ministries, the official said.

While the defence ministry will focus on improving surveillance in the Red Sea region, the external affairs ministry is holding diplomatic negotiations with Iran on the crisis.

Indian officials believe that the situation isnt alarming as of now, although ships taking a longer route than the Red Sea has escalated freight costs.

The commerce department on Monday said that attacks by Houthi rebels, who have previously been linked to Iran, on commercial shipping vessels in the lower Red Sea has resulted in a combined impact of higher freight costs, insurance premiums, and longer transit times. The impact can make imported goods "significantly more expensive.

The Red Sea is vital for 30 per cent of global container traffic and 12 per cent of global trade. As much as 80 per cent of India's merchandise trade with Europe passes through the strait.

Almost 95 per cent of vessels have rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope in recent weeks, adding 4000 to 6000 nautical miles and 14 to 20 days to journeys.
The federal agency had taken over the case from the Manipur Police (Heingang police station in Imphal East) in June last year.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against five people on Wednesday in a case of looting of arms and ammunition from Manipur Police personnel in May 2023.

The chargesheet was filed before the court of chief judicial magistrate, Kamrup (Metro) in Assam's Guwahati, a CBI spokesperson said.

The federal agency had taken over the case from the Manipur Police (Heingang police station in Imphal East) in June last year.

The case pertain to a mob storming into the Manipur Police Training College's (MPTC) Pangei complex on May 4, 2023 and allegedly looting a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the armoury during an ethnic conflict in the northeastern state, the CBI spokesperson said.
JMM workers took to the streets in Jharkhand's Sahebganj district on Wednesday to enforce the nine-hour district bandh called to protest the ED summons to Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

Raising slogans against central probe agencies, the ruling party workers halted traffic and forced shops to down shutters in various parts of Sahebganj city and other parts of the district including Barhait, the assembly constituency of the chief minister.

The ED had on January 13 sent a letter to the chief minister, asking him to be available for questioning in the case between January 16 and January 20, sources said. In reply, Soren told the ED it can record his statement on January 20.

JMM's Sahebganj district president Shahjahan Ansari claimed that the bandh is being observed peacefully across the district with the cooperation of the people in the district. He said that the bandh has been called from 8 am to 5 pm.

Emergency services like ambulance, trains and milk vans have been exempted from the purview of the strike, he said.

"Our Barhait MLA and chief minister Hemant Soren formed a full majority government in Jharkhand. But, he is being harassed by the central agencies on the direction of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In protest against this, we are observing bandh today," he said.

The ED had sent the letter after Soren skipped seven summonses of the agency in connection with the case.

The investigation pertains to a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, according to the ED.

The agency has so far arrested 14 people in the case, including 2011-batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan who has served as the director of the state Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi.

Soren, 48, had been asked by the central agency to inform the investigating officer of the case about the date, venue and time of his choice so that his statement can be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Despite several summons issued to Soren, he has never deposed before the ED in connection with the case.

He had filed a petition before the Supreme Court and then the Jharkhand High Court, seeking protection from the ED action and terming the summons "unwarranted".

Both the courts had dismissed his petition.
The 18 apprehended fishermen were escorted to the Thalpadu Pier in Mannar and will be handed over to the Talaimannar Fisheries Inspector for further action, it said | File image

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 18 Indian fishermen and seized their trawlers for allegedly poaching in the island nation's waters, an official statement said on Wednesday, in the third such incident this month.

The fishermen were arrested, and their two trawlers seized on Tuesday off the coast of Mannar in the northeast, the Sri Lanka Navy said in a press release.

The 18 apprehended fishermen were escorted to the Thalpadu Pier in Mannar and will be handed over to the Talaimannar Fisheries Inspector for further action, it said.

On Sunday, as many as ten Indian fishermen were arrested, and their trawler seized for allegedly poaching in the island nation's waters, while 12 Indian fishermen were apprehended on Saturday.

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 allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
Shah stressed the need to open more banks in the co-operative sector and asked multi-state credit societies to convert themselves into banks

Union Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the aim is to ensure the cooperative sector has a big share in the Indian economy, which is projected to be $5 trillion by FY28, as the cooperative movement did not grow at the desired pace in the last 75 years.

Shah, the Union Cooperation Minister, was addressing after inaugurating the new office of Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) spread over 41,000 square feet at the World Trade Centre, Nauroji Nagar in South Delhi. The building has been developed by state-owned NBCC.

Shah said the new office has been acquired for Rs 175 crore.

The minister highlighted that the government has taken 60 major initiatives in the last 30 months for the growth of the cooperative movement. The Cooperation Ministry was set up in July 2021.

Shah said there are success stories of cooperatives since independence but the sector did not grow at a fast pace.

"Now we have decided that in Modiji's $5 trillion economy, cooperatives will have a big share and the cooperative sector will advance into the 21st century directly from the 19th century," Shah said.

To strengthen the cooperative movement, the minister highlighted that the government has amended The Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act and brought model bye-laws to strengthen PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies) and scheme to undertake computerisation of PACS.

He said the government has set a target to establish 2 lakh multipurpose PACS/ Dairy/ Fishery Cooperatives in the next five years and informed that 12,000 new PACS have been formed.

Shah stressed the need to open more banks in the co-operative sector and asked multi-state credit societies to convert themselves into banks.

He highlighted that the registration of multi-state co-operative societies stood at 102 in 2023, a 10-fold jump from 10 in 2020.

Shah also highlighted IFFCO's new innovative products nano liquid urea and nano liquid DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) and expected the demand for these products will pick up in the coming years. He said PACS are providing drones to farmers to spray nano urea and nano DAP.
Agreement encompasses delivery of uniquely durable 300Ah cell

Hithium to supply Powin projects globally over the next three years

Deal solidifies partnership between two companies



Stationary battery manufacturer Hithium has signed on to supply 5GWh of battery capacity to global energy storage platform provider Powin, LLC. The duration of the deal is three years, with the two companies having signed their first agreement earlier in 2023 for the delivery of at least 1.5GWh. Hithium will provide Powin with the agreed-upon energy storage capacity in the form of its 300Ah lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) cells.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116136277/en/

Powin VP Global Procurement Jason Eschenbrenner (left) and Hithium VP Monee Pang (right) after signing the new agreement. (Photo: Business Wire)

Hithiums 300Ah cells are the manufacturers most durable product on the cell level, featuring its unique technology for the active, sustained release of lithium-ions, which extends the lifespan of the cells to over 12,000 cycles. The cells also operate stably with up to a maximum 2% aging effect over the first thousand cycles, versus the ~6% degradation rate most typical in the industry. Due in part to the companys highly advanced, automated production lines, these cells deliver an especially reliable performance.

Were proud to have won Powins trust and to have reached this milestone within our first year on the global market, commented Monee Pang, Hithium Vice President. And with the 300Ah cell, the coming projects will showcase unique innovations weve achieved in cell chemistry to extend battery life and performance efficiency.

Based in Oregon and with projects spanning across the globe, Powin delivers comprehensive turnkey energy storage systems. The company's offerings encompass advanced hardware and software solutions, including a fully integrated battery and energy management system that optimizes performance.

Powin Vice President Global Procurement Jason Eschenbrenner said, of the new agreement, Its great to have Hithium on board as a supplier to support our rapid implementation of large-scale energy storage projects. Particularly when it comes to extending projects lifespan, their 300Ah cell provides us with an exceptionally reliable, long-lasting building block.

About HiTHIUM

Founded in 2019, HiTHIUM is a leading manufacturer of top-quality stationary energy storage products for utility-scale as well as commercial and industrial applications. With four distinct R&D centers and multiple intelligent production facilities, HiTHIUMs innovations include groundbreaking safety improvements to its lithium-ion batteries as well as increases in lifecycle. With decades of cumulative experience in the field among its founders and senior executives, HiTHIUM leverages its specialization in BESS to deliver partners and customers unique advances in energy storage. The company is based in Xiamen, China, with further locations in Shenzhen, Chongqing, Munich, Dubai, and California. HiTHIUM has shipped 17,000 MWh of battery capacity to date.

About Powin, LLC (Powin)

At Powin, we are advancing the next frontier of energy and changing the way we power our daily lives by ensuring access to clean, resilient, and affordable power. As a global energy platform provider, we offer fully integrated battery storage solutions, software, and services to optimize grid performance and enable the transition to cleaner energy sources. Powin has over 16,000 MWh of energy storage systems that have been deployed or are under construction.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116136277/en/
Qatar and France have brokered a deal with Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas to deliver urgent medication to some 45 Israeli hostages held by the group in Gaza in return for humanitarian and medical aid for the most vulnerable civilians.

The two countries said the aid would leave Qatar for Egypt on Wednesday before being taken across the Rafah border crossing.

Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said in a statement the deal would mean "medicine along with other humanitarian aid is to be delivered to civilians in the Gaza Strip, in the most affected and vulnerable areas, in exchange for delivering medication needed for Israeli captives in Gaza."

He did not give details on how much aid or what aid would be delivered to civilians.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said two Qatari Air Force planes were to land on Wednesday in Egypt with medicines purchased in France based on an Israeli list.

Earlier, Philippe Lalliot, head of France's foreign ministry crisis center which organizes aid efforts, said negotiations had been going on for weeks and the initial idea had come from the families of some of the Israeli hostages.

Specific medical packages for several months, which were put together in France, would be delivered to each of the 45 hostages. The International Committee of the Red Cross will coordinate on the ground.

France still has three nationals held in Gaza, but none of them are in urgent need of medication, Lalliot said. (Reuters)
Launch Price:

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Disclaimers:

Motorola, Indias best5G smartphone brand, recently added moto g34 5G, the segments fastest* 5G performance, to its affordable g series franchise. The moto g34 5G goes on sale today, 12 PM onwards, on Flipkart, Motorola.in and leading retail stores across India, at an incredible offer price of just Rs. 9,999This smartphone disrupts the market with thepowered by aocta-core processor coupled with theand up to 4 carrier aggregation. Additionally, the moto g34 5G boasts a premium,as well as a 3D Acrylic glass (PMMA) finish, while being one of the thinnest and the lightest devices in the segment. The smartphone also comes with various segment-leading features like the latest Android 14, 50MP camera system with Image Auto Enhance feature, Stereo speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos, a 120Hz 6.5 display, plus a host of differentiated software features such as moto secure, family spaces, moto unplugged, moto connect and Ready for PC^ that make it the best* 5G smartphone in its segment.The moto g34 5G provides users with enhanced performance through two RAM variants and ample storage, with in-builtexpandable up towith RAM boost. Its massiveis expandable up to 1TB with microSD card. The moto g34 5G also comes with advanced 5G technology such as support for 13 5G Bands, VoNR, and up to 4 carrier aggregation making it theIn terms of design, the smartphone stands out with itsin ocean green colour, as well as the 3D acrylic glass finish available in Ice blue and charcoal black colours. The smartphone measures justandFurthermore, the moto g34 5G also comes with a water repellant IP52 rating, ensuring it stays safe from spills and splashes.The moto g34 5G boasts anand also comes with the innovativefeature that provides consumers the option to capture pictures in natural or enhanced/boosted colours.on the moto g34 5G is one of the highest-resolution cameras in its segment.Thefurther adds to the high performance of the phone with personalized features, enhanced security, and health connectivity. The smartphone also comes with additional features like Moto Secure 3.0, Family Space for kids, Moto Connect, and Ready For PC (available in 8GB variant only).In addition, the moto g34 5G features awith a dynamicthat automatically adjusts the type of content displayed on the screen. With a low latency 240Hz touch rate, users can experience far more responsiveness than a standard display. This immersive viewing experience is further enhanced by two large delivering multidimensional sound and studio-quality audio. The moto g34 5Gs massivecharges swiftly with the, providing hours of power in minutes.moto g34 5G will be available in three beautiful colours: Ocean Green, Ice Blue, and Charcoal Black, featuring the limited-edition premium vegan leather design in ocean green colour and 3D Acrylic glass (PMMA) finish in Ice Blue and Charcoal black and will go on sale on, Motorola.in and leading retail stores starting today i.e, 12PM onwards.4GB RAM + 128GB Storage: Rs. 10,9998GB RAM + 128GB Storage: Rs. 11,9994GB + 128GB:8GB + 128GB:(Applicable on pre-paid plan of: Rs. 399)- Cashback worth Rs.- Partner coupons worth Rs.*Within the Motorola 5G smartphone portfolio in India# Including exchange offer~ Available in select channels^ Moto connect and Ready for is only available in the 8GB variant## As per Techarc Best 5G smartphone report 2023** With RAM Boost feature. Up to 8GB of Virtual RAM
Saudi EXIM Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with U.S. EXIM, focusing on fostering comprehensive collaboration, strengthening economic ties, and advancing trade relations between the two nations. This MoU was signed on the sidelines of the 2024 Future Minerals Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 9 to 11.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116728733/en/

Saudi EXIM and U.S. EXIM MoU exchange during the Future Minerals Forum (Photo: AETOSWire)

The MoU additionally seeks to foster bilateral trade and strengthen economic ties between the two countries. The MoU outlines a framework for cooperation, collaboration, and sharing of expertise and resources between both entities. Through this agreement, Saudi EXIM and U.S. EXIM seek to facilitate trade financing, support exports, and promote investment opportunities in key sectors. The MoU also promotes knowledge and information sharing, capacity building, and the exchange of best practices, ultimately enhancing the competitiveness and growth of businesses in both Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The signing of the MoU is part of the bank's initiative to establish guiding principles for enhancing cooperation and trade relations in the U.S. market. This initiative focuses on facilitating the export and import of products and services, exchanging information and expertise, and offering support related to credit lines and facilities. These efforts aim to bolster the presence of Saudi non-oil exports in global markets, aligning with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and increasing its contribution to the gross domestic product.

On the occasion, His Excellency Eng. Saad Al-Khalb, CEO of Saudi EXIM Bank, emphasized that the signing of this agreement is part of the bank's commitment to contribute to accelerating global economic growth. This involves strengthening trade relations and enhancing the efficiency of export and import activities with global markets. Al-Khalb highlighted the solid foundations of cooperation and shared interests in the bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America. He expressed the banks commitment to ongoing collaboration to achieve common economic objectives, broaden trade and investment cooperation, and capitalize on promising opportunities, particularly in strategic sectors outlined by the Kingdom's Vision 2030, such as mining, petrochemicals, manufacturing, renewable energy, tourism, financial services, healthcare, and more.

Chair & President of U.S. EXIM, Reta Jo Lewis Esq. commented: We are thrilled to have successfully inked a bilateral MoU with Saudi EXIM. This milestone paves the way for a mutually beneficial collaboration between our respective banks. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. has always been strategically important and we aim to further enhance and solidify this bond.

Saudi EXIM Bank is actively engaged in establishing strategic partnerships to improve the efficiency of the export and import system, facilitating trade exchanges with both regional and global markets. The bank is dedicated to encouraging trade and investment opportunities for Saudi exporters across diverse sectors. Its primary focus lies in fostering international partnerships to boost the development and diversification of Saudi non-oil exports, enhancing their global competitiveness.

Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116728733/en/
Uncia Technologies today announced the go-live of Uncia Chain, its state-of-the-art Supply Chain Finance platform, at Unity Small Finance Bank Limited (Unity Bank), a new-age, digital-first bank.



Unity Bank is a scheduled Commercial Bank, offering digital first banking solutions. Its core businesses include Branch Banking, Business Banking, Inclusive Banking and Digital Banking and services over 15 lakh customers PAN India. It commenced operations in November 2021 and in a short span has built a sizeable loan book of over Rs. 7,000 crores and a Deposit base of approx. Rs 5,000 crores.



Uncia Technologies is a pure-play SaaS product company in the Digital Lending space, and its digital Loan Origination, Loan Management, and Supply Chain Finance platforms enable efficient processing and accurate daily lending transactions for over 1 lakh crore across banks and NBFCs in India.



Uncia Chain, its flagship Supply Chain Finance (SCF) platform, is designed to provide a hassle-free implementation journey for its customers. It offers a feature-rich product suite that houses all business constructs the physical Supply Chain industry looks up to, for its financing needs. It effortlessly manages to handle all functions of a three-party financing construct by bringing buyer, seller and lender in one platform, by providing templatized variations of all onboarding and transaction journeys that occur between these parties. Uncias ability to be cloud-agnostic, database-agnostic, and efficient in ERP integration constructs, has enabled it to elevate Uncia Chain to a highly configurable, rapid deployment framework. Case in point being the implementation of Uncia Chain for Unity Bank, which was accomplished in less than 100 days.



In an industry dominated by one-time license fees and protracted implementation processes, Uncia stands out by offering a set of pre-defined productised services. This novel approach defines Uncia's Go-Live methodology, streamlining the post-Go-Live journey and eliminating the friction associated with exasperating change requests.



G.L Kumar, Chief Business Offer  Business Banking, Unity Bank, said, Unity Bank is committed to delivering a seamless digital banking experience, and this collaboration with Uncia Chain aligns perfectly with our mission. Uncia Chain's robust and agile platform provides us with a seamless and rapid deployment framework. We are particularly impressed with their cloud-agnostic and database-agnostic capabilities, which align perfectly with our vision of collaboration and open architecture.



Hari Padmanabhan, Chairman, Uncia Technologies, said, Reaching this milestone serves as a testament to our steadfast pursuit of excellence and customer satisfaction, achieved by leveraging our pre-configured, highly agile, rigorously tested, and supremely secure SCF platform. One of the most notable accomplishments of this enterprise Go-Live was its migration from the existing platform and completion in less than 100 days. We look forward to working with Unity Small Finance Bank as it leverages the robust capabilities of our platform to support its ambitious plans.
Minster of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Neale Richmond has announced that the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are now financially supporting more jobs in small businesses across the country than at any time since their inception in 2014.

There are now 38,726 jobs that are financially supported across the country by the Local Enterprise Offices.

That is higher than the 38,535 jobs they peaked at in 2019, pre-pandemic.

New Jobs

Those jobs are within 7,167 companies that have availed of grant aid from their LEO and are in addition to the thousands of other companies they support via training, mentoring and programmes and initiatives such as the Trading Online Voucher and Lean for Business.

Local Enterprise Office supported companies created 6,640 new jobs in 2023, which saw a 6% increase in employment from 2022. There was a net employment gain of 2,131 for the year. The figures also show that 82% of new jobs created by LEO client companies were outside of Dublin.

'Fantastic Small Businesses'

With 82% of new jobs created outside of Dublin, it is clear that our Local Enterprise Offices are supporting businesses right across Ireland," said Minister Neale Richmond.

"What is also evident is the resilience of Irelands fantastic small businesses that have continued to adapt to an ever-changing business environment."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Chinese premier says China always be staunch supporter of multilateralism

Xinhua) 08:01, January 17, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 and delivers a special address to the event in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- China neither walks away from agreements or pulls out of organizations, nor does it ask other countries to pick sides, and it has always been a staunch supporter of multilateralism, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Tuesday at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024.

The theme of this year's meeting, "Rebuilding Trust," echoes well with people's concerns, said Li as he delivered a special address to the event hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF.

Trust comes from our shared aspiration for a better future for mankind and from our common will to work together for it, Li said.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping noted, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, yet the overall direction of human development and progress will not change, the overall dynamics of world history moving forward amid twists and turns will not change, and the overall trend toward a shared future for the international community will not change, Li said.

All parties should discard prejudice, bridge divides, treat each other with sincerity, move in the same direction, and work together to address the trust deficit, said the Chinese premier.

Li made a five-point proposal on rebuilding trust, strengthening cooperation and promoting global economic recovery, the first of which is to strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, firmly safeguard the multilateral trading system, and build greater synergy for world economic growth.

The second, said Li, is to strengthen the international industrial division of labor and coordination, unswervingly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and effectively maintain the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains.

Li also called for strengthening global exchanges and cooperation on science and technology, working together to create an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological development, and breaking down barriers that restrict the flow of innovation factors.

Cooperation on green development should be strengthened, said Li, adding that countries worldwide should remove various barriers in this field, jointly work for green transformation, uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and actively address global climate change.

The fifth is to strengthen North-South cooperation and South-South cooperation, fully implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, bridge the development gaps, and strive to build a universally beneficial and inclusive world economy, said the Chinese premier.

Li stressed that China is a country that attaches great importance to commitments, honoring its words with concrete actions all along. With greatest sincerity, utmost efforts and concrete results, China has proven consistently to the world that it is a country worthy of trust.

Over recent years, China has been an important engine of global development, and is now advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development, Li said.

China has established sound and solid fundamentals in terms of the industrial base, production factors and innovation capacity, he said, adding its overall trend of long-term growth will not change and will provide continuous and strong impetus to the development of the world.

Li said China has a supersize market with rapidly unlocked demand, and it is also cultivating large-scale new growth drivers in areas such as a new type of urbanization and green transition. It will provide a broader space for boosting global trade and investment, he added.

No matter how the world changes, China will stay committed to the fundamental national policy of opening up and open its door still wider to the world, the premier said.

Choosing the Chinese market is not a risk, but an opportunity, Li said. China embraces investments from businesses of all countries with open arms, and will steadily expand institutional opening up, continue to shorten the negative list for foreign investment, provide national treatment for foreign businesses, and keep fostering a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment, he added.

After the address, Li answered questions from Schwab on topics including Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance and the multilateral system. He stressed that we must be people-centered, inclusive and bring benefit for all, work for good AI with good governance, and guide AI in a direction that is conducive to the progress of human civilization.

He said true multilateralism should be built on basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China neither walks away from agreements or pulls out of organizations, nor asks other countries to pick sides, and it has always been a staunch supporter of multilateralism, he added.

President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd, President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam, King of Belgium Philippe, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, President of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Daren Tang and about 1,500 political figures and representatives from the business community, academia and media organizations of various countries attended the event.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. Li also delivered a special address to the event. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
China's top legislator holds talks with Dominican chamber of deputies president

Xinhua) 16:40, January 17, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji held talks with the Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies President Alfredo Pacheco via video link in Beijing on Wednesday.

The establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Dominican Republic in May 2018 opened a new chapter in the development of bilateral relations, noted Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, adding that over the past more than five years, the two heads of state have maintained close communication, guiding the direction and drawing a blueprint for the development of China-Dominican relations.

The deepening political mutual trust, fruitful economic and trade cooperation, and increasing cultural and people-to-people exchanges fully prove that the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Dominican Republic is the common aspiration of the people and the trend of the times and serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, Zhao said.

China appreciates the Dominican Republic's adherence to the one-China principle, Zhao noted, adding that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China. The universal consensus among the international community and stable pattern of adhering to the one-China principle will not change, he said.

China and the Dominican Republic are good friends for common development and good partners for win-win cooperation, Zhao said, expressing the hope that the two sides will focus on the eight major steps proposed by China to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, speed up the alignment of development strategies and needs, and push for more cooperation outcomes.

Zhao said that the NPC of China is willing to work with the Dominican Parliament to consolidate the political foundation for the development of bilateral relations, facilitate practical cooperation between the two countries, further improve relevant legal systems, and create a sound legal environment for strengthening investment cooperation and expanding personnel exchanges.

He also called on the two sides to deepen friendly exchanges at all levels and in all areas, increase exchanges between senior legislators, special committees, friendship groups, NPC deputies and parliamentarians, enhance mutual trust and friendship, and consolidate popular support for friendly relations between the two countries.

Pacheco said the Dominican Republic abides by the one-China principle and it is the consensus of all political parties in the Dominican Republic to deepen relations with China.

The Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic is willing to strengthen friendly cooperation with the NPC of China, deepen exchanges in legislation and other fields, and play a positive role in promoting the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations and enhancing friendship between the two peoples, Pacheco said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came out swinging Tuesday against Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos and even had a harsh tone for his allies as war fatigue grows, pressing political and corporate leaders to enforce sanctions, help rebuild his country and advance the peace process.

Zelenskyy is trying to keep his countrys long and largely stalemated defense against Russia on the minds of political leaders, as Israels war with Hamas , which passed the 100-day mark this week, has siphoned off much of the worlds attention and sparked concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East .

Anyone thinks this is only about us, this is only about Ukraine, they are fundamentally mistaken, he said in a speech at the Swiss ski resort.

Putin embodies war, Zelenskyy said, lashing out at the Kremlin leader for leveling cities and imposing the terrifying feeling that the war may never end. He also offered criticism for a world that told him not to worsen tensions ahead of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

After Feb. 24th, nothing harmed our coalition more than this concept. Every Dont escalate to us, sounded like You will prevail to Putin," Zelenskyy said.

He thanked allies for sanctions on Moscow but urged them to ensure they work. He said he believed the European Union and U.S. would come through in a matter of weeks with more aid that has been held up by political infighting within his two biggest allies .

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who along with U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Zelenskyy in Davos, said Washington is determined to keep supporting Ukraine , and were working very closely with Congress in order to do that.

It was Zelenskyys first trip to Davos since the war began  following speeches by video in previous years  and he rushed between meetings with political and business elites. Surrounded by a large security contingent, hes drawn the attention of media and others angling to meet him.

There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin about Zelenskyys statement. Moscow casts the conflict as a necessary measure to counter threats to its security posed by Kyivs plans to join NATO.

Between a dizzying array of big-picture panels and talks about everything from artificial intelligence to climate change, leaders from Chinese Premier Li Qiang to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Sullivan and Qatar's prime minister are giving their thoughts on the world's biggest challenges and opportunities.

Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the concentration on the attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemens Houthi rebels  which have spurred retaliatory strikes by the U.S. and Britain  was focusing on the symptoms and not treating the real issue of Israels war with Hamas.

We should focus on the main conflict in Gaza. And as soon as its defused, I believe everything else will be defused, he said, adding that a two-state solution was required to end the conflict.

Sheikh Mohammed also warned that a military confrontation will not contain the Houthi attacks.

I think that what we have right now in the region is a recipe of escalation everywhere, he added.

Li, the Chinese premier, focused on pitching the country as a place to invest, noting that we are opening wide our embrace. He said Chinas economy is estimated to have grown about 5.2% last year, exceeding the target it had set of 5%.

Chinas economy, for decades a leading engine of global expansion, has struggled since draconian COVID-19 restrictions, with high youth unemployment and the implosion of its overbuilt property market.

Li gave veiled criticism of U.S. restrictions on Chinas ability to buy advanced computer chips used in everything from cellphones to washing machines.

Technologys achievements should be used to benefit all humankind and it should not be used as a method to limit, to suppress another country, Li said.

Von der Leyen, for her part, reiterated that the EU doesn't want to break from Beijing  one of its most important trade partners  but ease the risks of relying too heavily on it because "we have issues when it comes to access to the market, when it comes to a level playing field.

She noted China's export controls on metals used in computer chips, solar cells and more.

For the U.S., Sullivan told The Associated Press that he would not be meeting with Chinas delegation. But outgoing U.S. climate envoy John Kerry did, arriving late to a panel on the future of U.N. climate conferences because of an unexpected meeting with Li.

He praised cooperation between the two countries on climate change and the speed of Chinas rollout of renewable energy.

Zelenskyy, once reticent about leaving his country, has recently gone on a whirlwind tour to rally support for Ukraine amid donor fatigue in the West and concerns that former U.S. President Donald Trump  who touted having good relations with Putin  might return to the White House next year following his commanding win Monday in the Iowa caucuses .

Zelenskyy worked to parlay the high visibility of the Davos event into a bully pulpit to showcase Ukraines pressing needs for the future in sessions with corporate chiefs including JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and officials like von der Leyen.

Its time for us, for Ukrainian companies, for international companies to rebuild (the) Ukrainian economy," Maxim Timchenko, CEO of Ukrainian energy company DTEK said after the session. To rely on ourselves. To build a future for Ukraine.

A day earlier, Zelenskyy stopped in Switzerlands capital, Bern, where President Viola Amherd pledged her country would work to help organize a peace summit for Ukraine.

In his Davos speech, Zelenskyy invited the world to join and urged those watching: Please, strengthen our economy, and we will strengthen your security.

While the world's geopolitical situation has oozed gloom, businesses appear more hopeful  in part from prospects that artificial intelligence can help boost productivity .

AI is a major topic at Davos, with a talk Tuesday by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, whose company has invested billions in ChatGPT maker OpenAI .

At a Bloomberg News event before his talk, Nadella indicated that issues surrounding OpenAI's leadership have been resolved months after the startups board suddenly fired CEO Sam Altman , who was then swiftly reinstated.

Im comfortable, I have no issues with any structure of the operating model at OpenAI, Nadella said. What I would like is good governance and real stability. (AP)
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 10:44PM

Photo: Samsung

Samsung's brought the biggest camera upgrade to its flagship phone. The new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra gets a new 200-megapixel sensor, which is roughly double the resolution of its predecessor. That big leap with megapixels won't mean you get the best quality on its own. Sensor size, speed, and image processing algorithms all play a role. Samsung has emphasized the artificial intelligence capabilities of the S23 series when it comes to improving its night photography and videography.

As with other larger sensors, Samsung employs pixel binning on its main sensor, which means you get 12-megapixel photos by default. You do have the option to shoot the full 200-megapixel resolution, which Samsung sees as a use case for those who want large prints of their photos. There's also a 50-megapixel mode if you wanted something in between.

Samsung made the selfie cameras identical for the S23 lineup with an improved 12-megapixel sensor. So, in the case of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, it gets a downgrade from the 40-megapixel sensor on the S22 Ultra. The company wants you to focus on AI improvements when it comes to object identification. So, it should be better at distinguishing people from their backgrounds.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra has the same zoom capabilities as its predecessor, offering an optical zoom at 3x or 10x magnification and up to a 100x digital zoom. Like its predecessor, it uses two 10-megapixel telephoto cameras to make this happen. This flagship phone can now also record 8K video at 30 frames per second (a boost from the S22 Ultra's 8K at 24fps).

Photo: Samsung

Another change on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the new special version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. According to Samsung, this should offer faster performance, but that's something to be tested in real-life conditions.

The S Pen is back on this phone, with improved text extraction features and support for Google's suite of apps. So, if you want to write things down instead of typing them out, you can do that here. The S Pen is also still a useful remote shutter for the default Camera app.

Samsung hasn't increased the 5,000mAh battery on this phone. Instead, it focused on increasing the vapour chamber to improve heat management and battery efficiency. The S23 Ultra will be available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options. You can get it in black, cream, lavender, and green. There are Samsung-exclusive colours in lime, graphite, red, and sky blue.

Graphic: Samsung

This 6.8-inch phone is now protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Samsung boasts about the inclusion of recycled materials in the S23 Ultra's design. For the first time, it has ocean-bound plastics for some of the external components.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is now available for pre-order, with the phones coming to stores starting February 17. You can get it through Samsung directly or through carriers and other retailers. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is priced at $1,649.99 for the 256GB option, $1,889.99 for the 512GB one, and $2,209.99 for the 1TB Samsung exclusive option.

It's worth checking out Samsung's special trade-in and pre-order deals, which can get you discounts on other Samsung accessories and devices, a free Samsung Care+ plan, and an option to double your storage for free.

Via
The World Trade Organization's chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Wednesday said she was "less optimistic" about world trade in 2024, pointing to tensions in the Red Sea.

The head of the international trade body said weaker global economic growth, "worsening geopolitical tensions, the new disruptions we see in the Red Sea, on the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal" meant "we are less optimistic".

She was speaking to journalists at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos where political and economic elites are meeting to discuss global challenges.

Before the massive Hamas attack on Israel in October and the subsequent outbreak of war in Gaza, the WTO had predicted trade would grow by 0.8 percent in 2023 and projected growth of 3.3 percent this year.

But Okonjo-Iweala warned the figure for 2024 would now be lower in future forecasts.

"We think there are a lot of downside risks to the forecasts we had made last year of 3.3 percent of growth of merchandise volumes this year. So we expect weaker performance," she said.

"We will be revising estimates for this year, but they won't be ready for another month or so," Okonjo-Iweala added.

A spate of attacks by Yemeni rebels on Red Sea shipping has disrupted the vital trade route while the worst drought in decades to hit the Panama Canal has forced authorities to slow transits.

Yemen's Huthi rebels say their strikes are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The attacks have, however, also caused shipping companies to avoid the Suez Canal.

The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the death of around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

More than 24,400 Palestinians, around 70 percent of them women, young children and adolescents, have been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments and ground offensive since October 7, according to the Hamas government's Ministry of Health. (AFP)
The eyes of the animation world shifted to Colombia this week, but not for a reason that local artists will be bragging about. Thats a shame because Colombias animation scene has been experiencing an incredible artistic and commercial boom over the last few years and deserves to be lauded.

With that in mind, weve spotlighted some of our favorite recent studios, artwork, and artists from the past few years, and highlighted a few projects were keeping an eye on.

Santiago Caicedos black-and-white 2017 feature Virus Tropical had an incredible festival run, which included competition screenings at Annecy, Berlin, Cartagena, and SXSW. Based on the graphic novel of the same name and produced by Timbo Estudio, the feature also received an incredible six Colombian Academy Macondo nominations and two wins. The touching film turns on Paola, a young Latin American woman born into a traditional family who fights for her independence in a difficult situation.

Diego Felipe Guzmans dialogue-free futuristic feature The Other Shape had an impressive festival run of its own in 2022, including a screening in Annecys Contrechamp competition and a best animated feature award win at Sitges. The sci-fi feature unspools in an artificially-manufactured paradise on the moons surface, where only those who conform are allowed access. The films animation was produced by Hierro Animacion and Dinamita Animacion in Bogota.

Last year, we interviewed directors directors Angelica Restrepo and Carlos Velandia about their Oscar-shortlisted animated short All My Scars Vanish in the Wind. The film takes viewers on a journey through the imperfect world of memory as its protagonist revisits painful moments from her childhood in rural Colombia. The short screened in competition at numerous international festivals, including Annecy, Fantoche, and Encounters, winning best animated short at the latter.

Mexicos Pixelatl is one of Latin Americas premier animation get-togethers, and each year, the festival commissions a trailer from a local studio. Last year, however, Silvia Prietovs Bogota-based Lucy Animation Studio became the first non-Mexican company honored with that commission. The standout studio has done work for Marvel, Cartoon Network, Foxs Bento Box, Sony, and other global companies. Lucy is currently working on a trippy animated short titled Mitomorfosis.

Juan M. Urbinas Venturia Animation Studios, has been doing incredible work for several years. We were blown away by the studios contribution to the Disney-spoofing short Waldos Dream in 2018. A couple of years later, Venturia animated a music video for the Goo Goo Dolls holiday song You Aint Getting Nothing, and last year, the studio produced a Hanna-Barbera-inspired animated music video for Bebe Rexha and Snoop Doggs pot-themed single Satellite.

Bogota-based Caballo Loco Studios is an up-and-coming studio that has recently caught the eye of global players. In 2020, the studio won Cartoon Network and Pixelatls pitching program with the animated pilot Astropackers, which led to a full pilot being produced. The pilot was a hit at Spains Weird Market, where it won a pitching prize, which included participation at last Novembers Animation! sidebar at Ventana Sur.

Another standout at the most recent edition of Ventana Sur was the short film project Entreverao (The Uncles Song) from Colombian Miguel Otalora, who has worked on Rick and Morty and Solar Opposites. The project, produced by Colombias Dinamita Animacion, won the Weird Animation Award at Ventana Sur. Animated in 2d, the short is currently in development and unspools in an illegal mine where, after an explosion, a demon protects the underground workers. As is typically the case with fiends from hell, the protection doesnt come without a cost.
Hayao Miyazakis The Boy and the Heron will premiere in Colombia on January 25. Ahead of that debut, the film is getting an unplanned and likely unappreciated marketing push, as a local woman has gone viral for convincing major media outlets that she drew around 25,000 frames for the films production.

Geraldine Fernandez is a graphic designer at Tecnoglass, a Barranquilla, Colombia-based company that produces architectural glass and aluminum products. In a series of recent interviews, though, she convinced several major media that she was heavily involved in the production of Studio Ghiblis latest film. Most of the stories corresponding with her claims have been removed by their publishers  which included outlets such as El Heraldo and El Tiempo  but some interview clips are being reuploaded on Youtube, like the one linked below.

Many in Colombia were quick to embrace Fernandezs story, and she was even invited to give a speech at the Universidad Sergio Arboleda. When her story started spreading online, however, animation professionals immediately began questioning the highly suspect narrative. One dead giveaway that Fernandez was fabricating her story was that her name didnt appear in any of the films promotional materials or credits.

Cartoon Brew spoke with the films American distributor, GKIDS, which told us they have a full official credits list for the film from Studio Ghibli, and that Fernandezs name does not appear anywhere in the credits for The Boy and the Heron.

Adding to the improbability of her already tall tale, Fernandez claimed to have had direct contact with Miyazaki three times over the course of production and says that he affectionately referred to her as the Colombian when praising her work, but offered no evidence of those meetings.

In an interview shared across her now-deactivated social media accounts, Fernandez said:

Over 20 months, I had to deliver 25 thousand frames, and those 25 thousand frames corresponded to a 10-second scene, so to speak () It was a lot of work, but it was worth it, especially because Miyazaki was there, you know that he is a master not only of life, but also on a professional level and working hand-in-hand with him was quite incredible and it was a unique experience.

As skepticism mounted, Fernandez was also accused of stealing other artists work for her digital portfolio, available here. Many of the images appear to have been lifted directly from Deviantart or taken from publicity campaigns executed by Colombian ad agencies.

On Monday of this week, as speculation about the validity of her claims went viral on social media, Fernandez was interviewed on Twitch by Spanish streamer and video game journalist Pablo Gonzalez, online alias Caith_Sith. During the extensive conversation, they talked for nearly two hours, Fernandez doubled down on her assertions.

Fernandez reiterated, time and again, that everything she had said about working on the film was true, but that she couldnt offer any proof of those claims because she was bound by a confidentiality agreement. She told Gonzalez that she would ask the studio for proof of her involvement with the film, but the host seemed reluctant to believe that such evidence would be forthcoming.

During the interview, Fernandez also addressed accusations of plagiarism in her portfolio, maintaining that all the artwork in it was original. The illustrations are entirely mine, she asserted. The thing is that the portfolio is very old, but those illustrations are 100% mine, she said before backtracking and admitting that one of the images wasnt created by her.

Cartoon Brew reached out to Fernandez for a comment but has not received a response. This week, she has deactivated her X and Linkedin profiles, her Instagram was set to private, and her personal website is no longer active.

Since running its original story, El Heraldo has issued a retraction which explains:

The story of Barranquillas Geraldine Fernandez, who had supposedly participated as an illustrator in the most recent Golden Globe-winning film, The Boy and the Heron, turned out to be false El Heraldo, in its attempt to highlight the artists of the city and the Caribbean, trusted Fernandezs claims in the good faith, although they ended up being lies. This publishing house apologizes to its readers for all the information published regarding this graphic designer who deceived the media

El Tiempo ran a similar retraction which reads:

El Tiempo apologizes to its readers for the failures of its internal data verification process and confirms a desire that this type of story not be repeated in the future.

In a radio interview today with Colombias Blu Radio, Fernandez admitted to exaggerating her involvement in the film, but still maintains that she was part of The Boy and the Herons production, saying:

I worked on a couple of scenes, not the whole movie which were part of the composition of 25,000 frames, but I didnt make the 25,000 frames.

Update, January 22: After it became clear that Fernandez was not involved production of The Boy and the Heron, she distributed an apology letter to traditional media sources in Colombia and on social media. In the letter, Fernandez wrote:
Burbank, a theatrical play about Disney artists efforts to unionize in the early 1940s, will get an off-Broadway run from March 12-24 and be available to stream on the Thirdwing platform.

Written by Cameron Darwin Bossert, the play focuses on the faceoff between Walt Disney and animator/strike leader Art Babbitt, which led to an artists strike on May 28, 1941.

The stoppage saw 334 employees of the Disney animation studio walk out on strike (303 employees remained inside). Tensions had been building at the studio since the runaway success of the studios first film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in 1937. Employees of the studio had a litany of grievances, from low wages and salary cuts to arbitrary layoffs, arcane bonus distribution systems, and oppressively long hours.

Bossert stars in the production alongside Ryan Blackwell (The Onion News Network) and Kelley Lord (Life & Beth). The shows stage manager is Lauren Arneson. Burbank features costumes by Yolanda Balana and sound design by Deeba Montazeri.

In September of 2022, Laura Collins-Hughes penned a strong review of Burbank for The New York Times, in which she explained:

Whats remarkable about Burbank, which does not have a credited director, is that while its a labor drama, it sidesteps all of the traps that that phrase implies. Warm and alive, its layered with nuance as it captures the anxiety that can grip a workplace amid a labor struggle  and the ruthlessness that can ensue on all sides.

The upcoming production of Burbank is presented by Thirdwing, a hybrid theater company that uses live and streaming exhibition models to present its productions. Thirdwing subscribers, the service costs $4.99/month, will have access to both the new Burbank production and its prequel, The Fairest, about the underpaid and underappreciated women artists who painted cels on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Speaking with Playbill, Bossert explained his motivation in launching the platform, saying:
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that parties to the conflict in Gaza were "trampling" on international law and urged them to implement an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Guterres said the warring parties were "ignoring international law, trampling on the Geneva Conventions, and even violating the United Nations Charter".

"The world is standing by as civilians, mostly women and children, are killed, maimed, bombarded, forced from their homes and denied access to humanitarian aid," he said.

"I repeat my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, and a process that leads to sustained peace for Israelis and Palestinians, based on a two-state solution."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a ceasefire, saying Israel will continue its offensive in Gaza until it defeats Hamas and recovers the hostages taken there during a deadly rampage by Hamas gunmen on Oct. 7.

The Israeli bombardment and ground offensive in the Palestinian enclave in response to the Hamas attacks has driven most of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes.

It has also caused a grave humanitarian crisis as deliveries of food, fuel and medical supplies have been severely restricted.

The Israeli military recently focused its offensive on the southern end of the enclave, where nearly 2 million people are sheltering in tents and other temporary accommodation, after the initial phase of the war centred on the north. (Reuters)
Redecam wins ESP to baghouse conversion project

17 January 2024

Arabian Cement Co is converting its electrostatic precipitators to state-of-the-art bag filters for dust emissions control. The Egyptian cement producer has joined forces with Redecam Group SpA to achieve dust emission levels below 5mg/Nm3.

ACC is collaborating with the Egyptian Environmental Pollution Abatement Program (EPAP), furthering its commitment to sustainability. This initiative goes beyond mere compliance with dust emissions standards to actively reduce emissions.

Published under
Pakistan said Wednesday that Iran carried out an air strike on its territory that killed two children, after Tehran launched attacks in Iraq and Syria against what it called "anti-Iranian terrorist groups."

Pakistan denounced the strike, near the nations' shared border late on Tuesday, as "completely unacceptable," saying it was unprovoked.

Iranian news agency Mehrnews said the "missile and drone response" targeted the Jaish al-Adl group's headquarters in Pakistan, calling it "another decisive step taken by Iran in response to the aggression against the security of our country."

Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl is blacklisted by Iran as a terrorist group and has carried out several attacks on Iranian soil in recent years.

The strike came after Iran launched missile attacks on "spy headquarters" and "terrorist" targets in Syria, and Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.

The Iranian strikes add to multiple crises across the Middle East, with Israel waging a war against Hamas in Gaza and pro-Palestinian Huthi rebels in Yemen attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

On Wednesday Iran's Defense minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said Tehran would set "no limits" to its security.

Mohammad Hosseini, deputy president for parliamentary affairs, said Pakistan had been warned "that they must prevent the entry into Iran of people who kill large numbers of people, it was natural to have the reaction of the Islamic republic."

China, close partners of Iran and Pakistan, urged restraint, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning saying both should "avoid actions that would lead to an escalation of tension."

Pakistan's official statement did not specify where the strike took place, but Pakistani media said it was near Panjgur in southwest Balochistan province, where the two nuclear-armed countries share a sparsely populated border of nearly 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).

Hours before the strike, Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar had met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"This violation of Pakistan's sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences," Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement.

It said the strike caused the "death of two innocent children while injuring three girls."

Diplomat summoned

Pakistan said it summoned Tehran's top diplomat in Islamabad to protest at the "unprovoked violation of its airspace."

Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for an attack in December on a police station in Rask that killed at least 11 Iranian police officers.

The United States has also labelled Jaish al-Adl a terrorist organisation, saying the group "primarily targets Iranian security personnel" but also government officials and civilians with assassinations, kidnappings, and suicide bombings.

Tehran and Islamabad frequently accuse each other of allowing militants to operate from the other's territory to launch attacks, but it is rare that official forces on either side engage.

"It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran," Pakistan's foreign ministry said.

"Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action.

"Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighbourly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence."

Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center, warned of the seriousness of the strike.

"Iran has staged cross-border operations against Pakistan-based militants in the past, but I don't recall anything on this scale," he said on X.

"This plunges Pakistan-Iran ties -- a delicate relationship even in the best of times -- into serious crisis." (AFP)
Friday brought McCallies seventh Tornado Term to a close. Boys enjoyed a wide variety of T-term courses ranging from Candy Making to Average Joelympics to Ukulele Making. Some of the brand new courses that boys particularly enjoyed this year were candy making, CSI Forensics, Skateboarding as an Exploration of Persistence and Intellect, and Journey to Java

This year, many more T-term courses were able to incorporate travel or be 100 percent travel-based since COVID was not the consideration that it had been in previous years. Some of the T-term courses that included travel or were all-travel were Ozark Mountains, Italy, Columbia, Guatemala and Cuba.

T-term provides both teachers and students with a completely different learning experience than what is possible in the regular semester courses. Learning is more discovery-based, collaborative, and hands-on. In addition, one of the goals of T-term is to provide dedicated time for topics that are not a part of the traditional curriculum but are of interest or important, such as the Big Blue Arcade, Knives, Glass, and Clay, and Table Talk.
Welcome Home of Chattanooga is hosting a community game event at Rise Creative Community Hub as part of a nationwide initiative on Thursday, Jan. 25 from 1-4 p.m. The goal is to foster meaningful conversations about medical decision-making through the interactive Hello game, making preparations for future decisions regarding serious health issues enjoyable and insightful.Welcome Home of Chattanooga Executive Director Sherry Campbell, highlights the importance of the Hello game in preparing individuals for unforeseen situations."This game makes conversations about advance care planning more fun and meaningful, addressing topics that may not have been considered before," said Ms. Campbell. "While the subject may be challenging, it is a necessary one to discuss."Officials said, "The community game day event aims to bring people together for discussions on living well and quality end-of-life care. Participants will gain valuable information on medical decision-making and receive an advance directive that they may choose to complete. This event serves as the initial step towards advance care planning, ensuring that every participant leaves prepared to continue the conversation and take crucial steps to communicate their end-of-life care goals."The Hello events are part of a significant NIH-funded research study led by Dr. Lauren Jodi Van Scoy at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, under the Project Talk research program. Partners in the project include the Hospice Foundation of America and the University of Kentucky. Participants opting in can receive up to $90 in gift cards for their valuable time."Ms. Campbell believes in the importance of engaging communities in activities like these to enhance access to high-quality care in later stages of life. "Welcome Home of Chattanooga is committed to facilitating more frequent and easier conversations like these in the Chattanooga community," she said.To register for the event, contact Ms. Campbell at sherry@welcomehomeofchattanooga.org or 423-486-4001.
State Representative Greg Martin announced Tuesday he will be conducting a series of video calls with high school students, their parents and teachers to keep them informed on whats taking place in the General Assembly.The student-oriented calls will include 11th and 12th graders from public and private schools in Hamilton Countys 26th District. This includes parts of Sale Creek, the unincorporated area of Soddy-Daisy, Hixson, Riverview, Harrison, Lupton City, North Shore, Lakesite and downtown Chattanooga.Students are the future of this state, Rep.Martin said. They deserve to know whats happening in Nashville, and I hope to involve them in our political process. My goal is to engage students with their government in real time and get them excited about the Tennessees direction as they prepare to finish school and enter college or the workforce.The first call will take place on Jan. 30, and participants can register by emailing Rep. Martins office at rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov.The video call discussions will center around current events, civics, proposed legislation and civility in politics. Rep. Martin will also host various leaders from across the state to join these discussions.The links will be sent out to any 11th or 12th grade student, parent or teacher who registers.
From left, Michele Wollert, regent; James H. Ogden, III, historian and speaker; and Carolyn B. Caulkins, first vice regent From left, Nikki Bailey, Lookout Valley Elementary principal; Natalie Moore, representative for fifth grade; and Susan M. Dailey, treasurer and former regent Moccasin Bend Chapter NSDAR Former Chapter Regent, Pam Randolph on left, presented the state poem to John Atkinson of the Signal Mountain Library Previous Next

The Moccasin Bend Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution held their monthly meeting at the Mountain Creek Church of Christ. The speaker for this meeting was Jim Ogden, historian of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and Moccasin Bend National Archeological District.

Members enjoyed his informative presentation entitled Revolutionary Intersections: Virginia, North Carolina, and Cherokee in the Shadow of Lookout Mountain.

DAR members also presented framed copies of the Tennessee state poem to a local school and library. Former Chapter Regent, Pamela R. Randolph presented a copy of the state poem to the Signal Mountain Library, and Treasurer and Former Chapter Regent, Susan M. Dailey presented a copy of the state poem to Lookout Valley Elementary School.

The state poem was written by Naval Admiral William Porter Lawrence while imprisoned in Hoa Lo Prison during the Vietnam War. The poem Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee describes the love and longing Lawrence felt for his home state and was adopted as Tennessees official state poem in 1973. Both recipients were delighted to receive this wonderful poem, said officials.
County School Board members, in individual surveys, agree that the new Gateway School and a new Clifton Hills Elementary should be the top priorities in new school construction and renovation.

In third place was a new elementary school for students at Alpine Crest, Rivermont and Dupont Schools.

Next was moving Dalewood Middle School to the Brainerd High campus and then a new Soddy Daisy Middle School. A new school for Soddy Daisy Middle at its current site was preferred by board members over the option of combining the school with Soddy Daisy High School.

Lower on the priority list were an addition at Thrasher Elementary on Signal Mountain and renovating the former Cigna headquarters directly across from East Brainerd Elementary as an addition to that school.

The school board is to take action on the list on Thursday night, then will forward the preferences to the County Commission.

The county is expected to issue a large amount of bonds for the school construction.

A final location has not yet been determined for the merger of the three elementary schools. It was earlier recommended that the new school go on the Dupont campus on Hixson Pike. Red Bank officials have called for the school to be built there, saying otherwise there will not be an elementary within the Red Bank limits. Red Bank Elementary is just across the line in Chattanooga.
Officials said conditions were icy and worsening on Ochs Highway, one of the main routes up Lookout Mountain, on Tuesday night as temperatures plunged.

Officials said the road leading up to the Tennessee section of the mountain might be closed this evening (Tuesday).

Road officials said, "Please use extreme caution or utilize the Ochs Highway Extension into Georgia as a detour."

Suck Creek Road at the Hamilton County line is closed due to icing.

Westbound Interstate 24 within the city limits has multiple incidents reported. Motorists were advised to use Broad Street/Cummings Highway/Birmingham Highway as a detour.
The Tennessee Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division returned $68.7 million of cash property to the rightful owners or their heirs, local governments, and reciprocal states during fiscal year 2023. Its the most money the Division has ever returned in a single fiscal year.



The Division also returned a greater number of individual claims than ever before. Between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, the Division returned 65,150 claims, a 4.1% increase over the previous record high of 62,549 in FY19. Unclaimed property is money that has been turned over to the State by businesses and organizations unable to locate the rightful owners, such as utility refunds, uncashed paychecks, credit balances for overpayments, rental deposit refunds, gift certificates, securities, and abandoned bank accounts. The Unclaimed Property program is a consumer protection program of the Department of Treasury that works to reunite this missing money with its rightful owner. About 70% of claims are paid in as little as two weeks, on average. Anyone can see if they are owed any missing money by searching their name at ClaimItTN.gov, and may file a claim online if they find unclaimed property belonging to them. In November, Treasury launched a new Unclaimed Property online claims portal at ClaimItTN.gov with more robust search capabilities and a new dashboard interface. The online database contains all unclaimed property in Tennessee dating to the beginning of the program. Treasury recommends searching for common misspellings of your name and addresses as well, as that may be why the business was unable to return the money to you initially. Our website also includes a link to help you search for missing money in other states. The Division utilizes various methods to locate owners of unclaimed property, including mailing letters to the address provided when the property was turned over from the business (holder), and sending letters to employers of potential claimants whose Social Security Number has been matched with records from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. On average, the Unclaimed Property Division sends hundreds of thousands of letters each year to potential claimants. If you have received a letter, you can verify the information by searching the portal at ClaimItTN.gov. There is no time limit on claiming the property, and there is never a fee to claim it in Tennessee. Beware of any service asking you to pay them to help you get your money back. If you are ever contacted about unclaimed property in Tennessee and would like to check the validity, go to ClaimItTN.gov.
The German Chemical Society (GDCh) honors Dr. Juliane Simmchen, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK, and Technical University of Dresden, received the Mario Markus Prize for Ludic Sciences. She received the prize for a publication in which she investigated biomimetic behavior in artificially produced active matter. The prize, endowed with 10,000 euros, honors scientific work in the field of natural sciences that is characterized by its playful character. The award winner convinced the selection committee with her playful approach to approaching a complex topic in order to gain exciting insights. The award ceremony will take place on January 30th as part of a public event on the premises of the Physical Society in Frankfurt am Main.

Juliane Simmchen

A bit like playing computers in the laboratory, only cooler, is how Juliane Simmchen describes her work. She researches how microparticles can be specifically moved in liquids. While people can glide through the water with targeted movements when swimming, in order to move in liquids, microparticles have to be permanently supplied with energy and are equipped with a motor so to speak.

In the award-winning publication, Simmchen investigated a special phenomenon: the completely artificial, magnetic and photocatalytic microswimmers she produced crossed a line of light and then changed direction without any additional stimulus. To find out why the microswimmers swim back to the light, she looked at different influences. The researcher found that neither the magnetic field nor the hydrogen peroxide content had any significant effects. The size of the particles is crucial. These results show how simple physical effects can lead to complex but stable behavior, similar to natural mechanisms.

Juliane Simmchen, who was born in 1986, studied chemistry at the Technical University of Dresden. After graduating in Analytical Chemistry in 2010, she completed her PhD in Materials Science in 2014 at the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain. After stays at the MPI for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, and at the Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Fisicas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she returned to the Technical University of Dresden in 2016 as a research assistant. Since 2016 she has been a Freigeist Fellow on the topic of 'Light driven microswimmers'. Since 2022 she has also been teaching at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. In 2022, the GDCh awarded Simmchen the Carl-Duisberg Memorial Award for her research.
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At first glance, an ancient relic recovered in Italy appears to be nothing more than a simple stone disk. However, the mysterious artifact may actually be able to point to where a major celestial event occurred thousands of years ago.

The stone disk is comparable to the size of a car tire and features engravings that are thought to resemble a celestial map of the night sky.

It is believed to be one of the oldest celestial maps ever discovered in human history. The stone was found at an ancient hill fort located in northeastern Italy at a site called Rupinpiccolo.

Hill forts were types of settlements that were guarded by huge stone walls called castellieri. At Rupinpiccolo, the castellieri dated between 1800 B.C. and 400 B.C. Researchers are uncertain how old the stone disk is, but it likely belongs to some point during that span of time, which means it is at least 2,400 years old.

They identified 29 chisel marks on the stone that were etched by a human hand. One face of the stone contains 24 marks, while the other has five.

Special software was used to categorize the marks into specific groups of stars, including the constellations Scorpius, Orion, Cassiopeia, and Pleiades, based on how they were positioned in the sky during the period when civilization at Rupinpiccolo existed.

The scientists confirmed that the engravings were deliberately made because they aligned too well with the distribution of the stars to be random. But among the 29 marks, one of them defied identification, which has caused speculations to arise.

The unidentified mark sat slightly to the north of Orion, and it may represent a star that had undergone a failed supernova.

A failed supernova is an astronomical event in which a star brightens as in the early stages of a supernova but does not continue the process of transforming into one. Failed supernovas are thought to create black holes when they collapse in on themselves and seemingly disappear from the sky.

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December was the most challenging yet most hopeful month for Christians in China.

Before Christmas, the 11th National Chinese Christian Congress (NCCC) was held in Beijing. The quinquennial congress elected new leaders of the officially sanctioned National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the nominal China Christian Council. Top political advisor and politburo member Wang Huning charged these groups with strict oversight of churches and with maintaining an unwavering allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Under the partys instruction, the NCCC passed a new five-year plan to continue to promote the Chinanization of Christianity and run Chinese churches well in accordance with the socialist society. Meanwhile, the new and sweeping Patriotic Education Law, which took effect on January 1, requires religious leaders to conduct patriotic education and guide their religion by the socialist principles of the CCP.

Persecution continues to be real

Throughout December, the authorities once again tried hard to contain and curb Christmas celebrations inside and outside churches, prohibited students and others from participating in Christmas activities, and detained some house church leaders to prevent them from organizing congregational gatherings.

Yet most churches, both the officially sanctioned churches and unregistered house churches, held Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship services. The online evangelistic galas by Beijing Zion Church and other house churches on Zoom and other platforms are of high artistic quality. Christians shared discreetly on social media that church leaders baptized a number of new believers despite the current bitter winter for churches in China.

This winter started just over five years ago. In December 2018, party-state officials and police shut down Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, detained several church leaders, and, a year later, sentenced its pastor, Wang Yi , to nine years in prison for the crimes of inciting subversion of state power and illegal business activity. This crackdown was part of the campaign to eradicate jiating (, house) church congregations under a new policy on religion.

This policy, launched in 2017 and officially named Zhongguo hua (), is characteristic of Xi Jinpings reign and is distinct from his predecessors mutual adaptation and harmonious society philosophies. Western media and academia commonly translate this term as Sinicization, but this is interpretive, inaccurate, and misleading. Sinicization means assimilation into Chinese culture, especially the language, customs, norms, and national identity of the Han majority in China proper. However, the primary goal of Zhongguo hua is not cultural assimilation but political domesticationto ensure submission to the Chinese Communist party-state.

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When the terminology is incorrect, as Confucius says, communication will be hindered. For this reason, I suggest a more literal translationChinaficationfor the current Zhongguo hua policy of religion. Some writers have used Chinafication to describe Chinas influence in finance and markets or as a development mindset that entails heavy governmental intervention. In short, Chinafication is the religious policy under Xi Jinping that ensures the submission of religions to the party-state.

Church and state in todays China

Many people in the West may not know that in the Chinese Communist political system, the partys policy is superior to state laws and trumps the constitution. The Chinafication policy has led to the promulgation of a series of administrative regulations and measures, including the vastly expanded Regulations of Religious Affairs that took effect in 2018.

These regulations require all churches to dissolve unless they register with the religious affairs bureau and submit to the supervision of the Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee, the extended arm of the party-state control over Protestant Christianity.

Since 2018, Chinese authorities have shut down large congregations of jiating churches that refused to submit, including the well-known Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Zion Church in Beijing, Rongguili Church in Guangzhou, and Xunsiding Church in Xiamen. The leaders of openly defiant jiating churches have been punished with physical harassment, travel restrictions, heavy fines, eviction of their residences, criminal detentions, and prison terms. Some other jiating church pastors have received prison terms of up to fourteen years.

Instead of either submission or confrontation, most of the jiating churches have resorted to breaking into smaller groups for gathering discreetly. Since the 2000s, some jiating churches have attempted to go public by registering with the government without joining the Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee so that they can have an open religious life. Now, they have no choice but to return to the underground again.

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The Chinafication policy applies to all five major religions that the party-state has allowed to operate legally in the reform era since 1979, including Buddhism, Daoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestant Christianity. When Daoism, the only religion that originated in China and remains very much Chinese, must go through Zhongguo hua as well, it becomes even more evident that the policy is not so much about Sinicization but primarily about making the religious organizations submissive to the party-state.

Religious venues are required to raise the national flag and display patriotic posters such as Love the party, love the state, and love the religion. The Chinafication measures for Christianity and Islam are more extreme, demolishing many churches and mosques and converting some to traditional Chinese architectural styles.

Besides eradicating jiating churches, the Chinafication policy is mainly carried out through religious associations that are under the direct control of the CCPs United Front Work Department and the State Administration for Religious Affairs (the latter has been folded into the former since 2018). In 2018, each of the five religious associations (Buddhist, Daoist, Islam, Catholic, and Protestant) made a five-year plan to implement the Chinafication policy.

The Protestant committees five-year plan includes educating Christian leaders and seminary students about the so-called core socialist values, reinterpreting the Bible in Chinese cultural terms, and preparing to retranslate the Bible. The committee has organized a series of symposiums, preaching contests, and article awards to promote the Chinafication of Christianity.

The word Zhongguo hua has been in the Chinese lexicon since the 1980s, but its meaning has evolved. It was first applied to justify the departure of Chinese Marxism (i.e., Maoism) from the original formulation by Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin, and for Deng Xiaopings turning to capitalism under the name of a socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics.

However, the only characteristic that has persisted in the reform era is the undisputable position of the CCP as the ruling party. During the thought liberation period in the 1980s and 1990s, some scholars of religion also applied this word to describe the long process of Buddhism becoming absorbed into Chinese culture. Those scholars debated whether Buddhism lost its religious mandate when it became entirely submissive to the imperial authorities in the Song Dynasty (A.D. 9601279) and after.

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However, the rapid rise of Christianity in China alarmed some Communist officials and Marxist theoreticians. They feared that Christianity was becoming the single dominant religion and that it could be the biggest threat to Communist rule, just like the Taiping Rebellion to the imperial rule of the 1850s and 1860s. Militant atheists made fierce attacks on the religious affairs governance department for its lapse of control. Academic research on Christianity in China, which is also under the leadership of CCP, seemingly offered a tacit endorsement of tighter government control.

Around the time when Xi Jinping ascended to the top position of the party as general secretary in 2012, some Chinese scholars of religion, such as Zhang Zhigang, a professor of religious studies at Beijing University, and Zhuo Xinping, the director of the Institute of World Religions at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, made public calls for Christianity to change toward Zhongguo hua.

They argued that indigenization, localization, or contextualization of Christianity was inadequate and misguided in addressing the severe challenges in China. Instead, they said Christianity must Zhongguo huathat is, must be domesticatedjust like Buddhism in the past. They suggested sending Buddhist scholars and monks to Christian churches to teach about their successful history of Chinafication.

The religious affairs officials responded to their calls enthusiastically, and the Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee leaders consented. After a few years of experiments and concerted efforts by Marxist theoreticians, religious affairs officials, and Three-Self church leaders, Xi Jinping adopted this slogan for the first time in 2015. At the National Conference on Religious Work in 2016, Xi asserted that all religions must move toward Zhongguo hua. Ultimately, Xi sealed it as the characteristic of his religious policy at the 19th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in 2017.

After that, all factions of the party-state and academics, including militant atheists, fell in line. However, their interpretations of Zhongguo hua vary widely. While the interpretation of hardliners for domestication has prevailed in policy implementation in the last five years, others have been emphasizing cultural understanding. Some scholars have even turned the crisis into opportunities, such as expanding classical studies or comparative research on the holy scriptures of multiple religions.

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Richard Madsen, a sociologist of religion at the University of California San Diego, distinguishes two kinds of Sinicization, arguing that the Sinicization from below, as initiated by believers, has been happening all along. In contrast, the Sinicization from above, as campaigned by the state, has always had the particular political agenda of the ruling party. I believe it will reduce confusion if the latter kind is translated as Chinafication.

Chinese Christians, either in the officially approved Three-Self churches or underground jiating churches, do not oppose the real Sinicization of Christianity, including the cultural assimilation, social indigenization, and theological contextualization of Christianity in contemporary China.

They have made substantial achievements, including the effective use of the modern-day Chinese language, the selective adoption and transformation of traditional customs, and the reinterpretation of Chinese traditional spiritual terms and notions in light of Christianity.

My recent CT piece recommending five books on the Sinicization of Christianity in China are only a tiny sample of writings documenting the development. As a matter of fact, Christianity has been so well Sinicized that it has become appealing to ever more Chinese people. Within decades, China will likely have more Christians than any other country.

The future of Chinese house churches

More than a year has passed since Xi started his third term in October 2022. The initial five-year plans of the national religious associations expired. Not until mid- or late December 2023 did the religious associations release the second set of five-year Chinafication plans. The new Christian plan begins with a preamble about limited progress in implementing the previous five-year plan, including insufficient attention, superficial responses, and a lack of capable people equipped with enough knowledge of Chinese traditional culture to do scriptural expositions. The new plan includes a long list of measures for implementing Chinafication. What measures will be enforced in the coming years remains to be seen.

Five years ago, I asked this question in Christianity Today: Will Chinese house churches survive the latest government crackdown? My answer now, based on my observations, is a resounding yes.

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Indeed, it has become extremely difficult for jiating churches to hold in-person congregational worship services with attendance in the hundreds, but not impossible for attendance in the dozens. The desire to congregate is so strong that some jiating churches have resorted to a guerrilla strategy of changing the worship venue frequently. Their gatherings, if found out by the police and religious affairs officials, may be disrupted and dismissed. Their leaders may be detained or fined. However, they have held on to the teaching of not giving up meeting together (Heb. 10:25).

Meanwhile, many jiating churches have maintained and expanded online worship services and prayer meetings before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdowns. I have seen many Christian meetings on Zoom with hundreds of participants, sometimes in the thousands. More importantly, they have continued to baptize new believers and plant new churches.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Chinese Christians in rural areas held daily prayer meetings at 5 a.m. Those prayer meetings are believed to have fueled the revivals that swept the vast land. Now, Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, in addition to its Sunday worship services and evangelistic meetings, has organized an online daily prayer meeting at 5 p.m. Pastor Wang Yi and other prisoners usually get their yard time then, and are thus able to pray simultaneously with those outside the prisons.

More and more people in other parts of China and beyond have joined the 5 p.m. prayer meeting. They believe the concerted fervent prayers will change hearts, minds, churches, communities, nations, and the world.

Fenggang Yang is a professor of sociology and the founding director of the Center on Religion and the Global East at Purdue University. He is the author ofReligion in China: Survival and Revival under Communist Rule.

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Spiritual formation is simply the way the human spirit, or self, is formed into a definitive shapeand ultimately how each of us is formed to be like Jesus. In doing so, we become our deepest, truest selfthe self that God had in mind when he willed us into existence before time began.

Put another way, spiritual formation is the process of being formed into people of love in Christ. Lets parse this outstarting by defining what this process entails.

Formation into the image of Jesus is a long, slow process, not a one-time event. Theres no lightning bolt from heaven. Spiritual growth is much like bodily growthvery gradual. It takes place over a lifetime at an incremental, at times imperceptible rate. Yes, we experience periods of dramatic change like birth or a teenage growth spurt, but those key inflection points are the exceptions, not the rule.

As the Regent College professor James Houston often said, Spiritual formation is the slowest of all human movements. This is a provocative challenge to our instant-gratification culture; were used to fast and fasterthe entire world just a swipe of our thumb away. Click the button and get it delivered within hours. But the formation of the human soul doesnt work at digital speed.

If we lose sight of this, we will either grow discouraged and give up, or settle for mediocre: Christians arent perfect, just forgiven. (As if the best we can hope for is a little tune-up on the way to the afterlife.) But we cannot lower the horizon of possibility that was set by the extraordinary life of Jesus and the gift of his Spirit. Instead, we must stay with the process for as long as it takes to actualize our destinies.

And this may take a very long time.

Dont get me wrong; theres joy to be had all along the way. You could argue that joy is the defining feature of a life organized around God. But its rarely the explosive happiness of an emotional high, dramatic yet fickle and fleeting. Its more like a quiet undercurrent that slowly accumulates at the base of your soul, increasingly welling up like a soft melody that, over the years, becomes the soundtrack of your life.

Being formed

At the same time, formation into the image of Jesus isnt something we do as much as its something that is done to us, by God himself, as we yield to his work of transforming grace. Our job is mostly to make ourselves available. Pick your analogy from Scripture: Were the sheep, hes the shepherd; were the clay, hes the potter; were the child in utero, hes the mother, laboring in the pains of childbirth.

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This doesnt mean were off the hookLet go and let God. No, we have a responsibility to cooperate with Gods transforming grace. He wont force it on us. As Saint Augustine said in the fourth century, Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not.

The reason many Christians get disillusioned over their lack of transformation is because they never learned their part in spiritual formation. Many of us make our new years resolutions based on our estimate of what we can achieve by our own effort and strength.

But our job isnt to self-save; its to surrender.

When we unmask the human facade of self-delusion, we realize just how utterly unlike Christ we are in the deepest recesses of our hearts. We are forced to confront our true natureshow warped and wounded we really are. Physician, heal thyself is a strategy doomed to fail. In that tender place, we all realize, we need help, power, from beyond us. We need grace.

Formation isnt a Christianized version of project self. Its a process of sanctificationof being saved by Jesus. An apprentice of Jesus is one who has arranged their life around becoming like Jesus, as expressed through their personality, gender, life stage, culture, ethnicity, and so on.

People of love

But if you had to summarize Christlike character in one word, there would be no competition: love. Love is the acid test of spiritual formation . The single most important question is, Are we becoming more loving? Not, Are we becoming more biblically educated, or practicing more spiritual disciplines, or more involved in church? Those are all good things, but not the most important thing (Matt. 22:3740).

If you want to chart your progress on the spirituality journey, test the quality of your closest relationshipsnamely, by love and the fruit of the Spirit. Would the people who know you best say you are becoming more loving, joyful, and at peace? More patient and less frustrated? Kinder, gentler, softening with time, and pervaded by goodness? Faithful, especially in hard times, and self-controlled?

Are you growing in lovenot just for your friends and family but for your enemies? When you are hurt, wounded, and treated unjustly (as we all are at times), are you finding yourself increasingly able to emotionally release the bitterness, to absorb the pain and not give it back in kind? To pray for and even bless those who curse you (Luke 6:28)? And is all this feeling more and more natural and less forced? More and more like this is just who you are?

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If not, then no matter how well you know the Bible, how many books you read, how many resolutions you make, or how many practices you build into your rule of life, youre not on track. Because the telos of the spiritual journey is to become like God, and God is love (1 John 4:8). This is why God is Trinity: because God is love and love cannot exist outside relationship. To quote Saint Augustine yet again, God is (at once) Lover, Beloved, and Love itself. He is the one who loves, the one who is loved, and the ultimate source of all love.

Love as defined by Jesus is not just an attitude of compassion, warmth, and delight, its also an action. Its agapeto will the good of another ahead of your own, no matter the cost or sacrifice that may require. As Jesus said, Greater love has no one than this: to lay down ones life for ones friends (John 15:13). This is the cross. And it isnt just something Jesus did for us; its also something we do with him: This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:16).

This is where spiritual formation veers in a wildly different direction from the self-actualization movement or the Western obsession with project self: It has an end goal, a telosits designed to form you into a person of agape.

The late Bible professor Robert Mulholland defines spiritual formation as a process of being formed into the image of Christ for the sake of others, and he harps on the for the sake of others piece. Without this crucial element, our spiritual formation inevitably devolves into a private, therapeutic self-help spiritualitywhich is just a Christianized version of radical individualism, not a crucible to burn our souls clean and forge us into people of love like Jesus.

Yes, there is a journey inward and even a self-discovery that are key to Christian spirituality, but its followed by a journey outward into loveinto action in the world. Our goal is to be formed by Jesus at every level of our beings. But again, we cannot do this alone. There is only one way.

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Christlikeness is the result of Christ in us. Its all grace; its always been grace. Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). And us in Christ. In fact, in Christ is a phrase used all through the New Testament, more than 80 times in Pauls letters alone.

Theologians call this doctrine incorporationbeing incorporated, integrated into the inner life of God himself through Christ. Jesus has come to draw us into Gods inner life of Love loving. As the pastor Darrell Johnson put it in his book on the Trinity, to experience this is to be alive in the intimacy at the center of the universe.

As Jesus said in John 17, right before his death,

I pray also for those who will believe in me . . . that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us . . . I in them and you in meso that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (vv. 2023)

This is the gospel: In Jesus, God has drawn near to uswe who are sinful, broken, wounded, mortal, dying, and incapable of self-saving, with many of us completely uninterested in God or even his enemiesto draw us into his inner life, to heal us by immersing us within the fold of his Trinitarian love, and then to send us out into the world as agents of his love.

Jesus invitation to apprentice under him isnt just a chance to become people of love who are like God; its a chance to enter the inner life of God himself. The ancients called this union with God, and it is the very meaning of your human existence for me and for every human on the planet, whether they realize and receive it or not.

This, then, is spiritual formation: the process of being formed into a person of self-giving love through deepening surrender to and union with the Trinity. Youre becoming a person; that much is unavoidable. And youre going to end up somewhere in life. Why not become a person who is pervaded by the love of Jesus? Why not end up in union with God?

John Mark Comer is the founding pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, a teacher and writer with Practicing the Way, and the bestselling author of multiple books, including The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Live No Lies.

Excerpted from Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. Copyright  2024 by John Mark Comer. Published by WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, on January 17, 2024.

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Latest report on Christian persecution chronicles the rising danger of Islamic militants and autocratic regimes, from Nigeria to Nicaragua.

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Image: Illustration by Kume Pather

Almost 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith last year. Almost 4,000 were abducted.

Nearly 15,000 churches were attacked or closed.

And more than 295,000 Christians were forcibly displaced from their homes because of their faith.

Sub-Saharan Africathe epicenter of global Christianityremains the epicenter of violence against followers of Jesus, according to the 2024 World Watch List (WWL). The latest annual accounting from Open Doors ranks the top 50 countries where it is most dangerous and difficult to be a Christian.

The concerning tallies of martyrdoms and abductions are actually lower than in last years report. But Open Doors emphasizes they are absolute minimum figures. It attributed both declines to a period of calm in advance of Nigerias last presidential election. Yet Nigeria joined China, India, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia as the countries driving the significant increase in attacks on churches.

Overall, 365 million Christians live in nations with high levels of persecution or discrimination. Thats 1 in 7 Christians worldwide, including 1 in 5 believers in Africa, 2 in 5 in Asia, and 1 in 16 in Latin America.

And for only the fourth time in three decades of tracking, all 50 nations scored high enough to register very high persecution levels on Open Doors matrix of more than 80 questions. So did 7 more nations that fell just outside the cutoff. Syria and Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, entered the tier of extreme persecution, raising its count to 13 nations.

The purpose of the annual WWL rankings is to guide prayers and to aim for more effective anger while showing persecuted believers that they are not forgotten.

The 2024 version tracks the time period from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, and is compiled from grassroots reports by teams of Open Doors workers and partners across more than 60 countries. The methodology is audited by the International Institute for Religious Freedom.

When the list was first issued in 1993, only 40 countries scored sufficiently high to warrant tracking. This year, 78 countries qualified.

Where are Christians most persecuted today?

North Korea ranked No. 1, as it has every year except for 2022 when Afghanistan briefly displaced it. The rest of the top 10 reshuffled but remained the same: Somalia (No. 2), Libya (No. 3), Eritrea (No. 4), Yemen (No. 5), Nigeria (No. 6), Pakistan (No. 7), Sudan (No. 8), Iran (No. 9), and Afghanistan (No. 10).

The deadliest country for Christians was Nigeria, with more than 4,100 Christians killed for their faith82 percent of the global tally. Overall, 15 sub-Saharan countries scored extremely high on Open Doors' violence metric. In Mali (No. 14) and Burkina Faso, jihadists exploited breakdowns in government security, while attacks on churches grew sharply in Ethiopia (No. 32).

Open Doors scores each nation on a 100-point scale. Increases of more than 4 points were recorded in Oman (4.2), Burkina Faso (4.8), Nicaragua (5.3), Algeria (6.1), and Laos (6.6). Oman rose from No. 47 to No. 31, though the specifics of its violence statistics are kept hidden for security reasons. In its second year on the list, Nicaragua rose from No. 50 to No. 30, due to open government hostility against the church. Algeria rose from No. 19 to No. 15, as authorities stepped up a campaign against the Protestant church, of which only 4 of 46 churches remain open.

Where Its Hardest to Follow Jesus:



1. North Korea

2. Somalia

3. Libya

4. Eritrea

5. Yemen

6. Nigeria

7. Pakistan

8. Sudan

9. Iran

10. Afghanistan

11. India

Laos, however, which rose from No. 31 to No. 21, was cited as a good news story.

I never saw a clearer connection of a growing church with growing opposition, resulting in higher scores, said an Open Doors researcher I find it comforting that the biblical verses predicting this connection are still true.

Colombia was the only nation in the top 50 to record a decrease of at least 2 points (2.5), dropping from No. 22 to No. 34. Significant improvement was seen also in Vietnam (dropping from No. 25 to No. 35), Indonesia (from No. 33 to No. 42), and Turkey (from No. 41 to No. 50).

Other signs of hope were noted in Mali, where citizens approved a new constitution that clearly recognizes its Christian minority and could lead to a return to civilian rule. And in Indias Karnataka state, an opposition party dislodged the Hindu-nationalist BJP with a pledge to reverse local anti-conversion laws.

Where Christians Face the Most Violence:



1. Nigeria

2. Pakistan

3. India

4. Name withheld

5. Eritrea

6. Mali

7. Myanmar

8. Bangladesh

9. Central African Republic

10. Democratic Republic of Congo



Open Doors reporting period: Oct. 2022 to Sept. 2023

But overall, India maintained its No. 11 ranking, as attacks on Christian homes doubled to 180, Christian fatalities increased ninefold to 160, and attacks on churches and Christian schools rose from 67 to 2,228. Combined with the estimated 10,000 church closures in China (No. 19), these two nations accounted for nearly 83 percent of all violent church incidents in 2023.

Yet it was Nicaraguas overall 8.3 percent rise in overall score that represented the fastest increase of all WWL nations. Rather than setting a new trend, Open Doors stated the Central American nations tailor-made legislative restrictions on religious freedom, seizure of Christian properties, and arrest or exile of religious leaders is evidence that Nicaragua is more falling into step with communist Cuba (No. 22, up from No. 27).

Authoritarian impulses are imported elsewhere, as China and Russia (unranked, but monitored by Open Doors) spread their influence especially in Africa. The largest among many buyers of Beijings surveillance technology is Nigeria, while Moscows Wagner Group has made inroads with security assistance in Burkina Faso, Mali, Central African Republic (No. 28), and Mozambique (No. 39).

There are no new countries in this years top 50.

How are Christians persecuted in these countries?

Open Doors tracks persecution across six categoriesincluding both social and governmental pressure on individuals, families, and congregationsand has a special focus on women.

When violence is isolated as a category, the top 10 persecutors shift dramaticallyonly Nigeria remains [see sidebar].

Martyrdoms dropped by more than 600 from the prior year, as Open Doors tallied 4,998 Christians killed for their faith during the reporting period. Representing a decrease of 11 percent, the toll remains the third highest since the 2016 record of 7,106 deaths. Nigeria accounted for 82 percent of the total. The Democratic Republic of Congo is No. 2 with 261 Christians killed, with India at No. 3 with 160 Christians killed.

Where Christians Were Martyred Most:



1. Nigeria: 4,118

2. Democratic Republic of Congo: 261

3. India: 160

4. Name withheld: 100*

5. Uganda: 55

6. Myanmar: 34

7. Burkina Faso: 31

8. Cameroon: 24

9. Central African Republic: 23

10. Colombia: 16



*Estimate | Open Doors reporting period: Oct. 2022 to Sept. 2023

Open Doors is known for favoring a more conservative estimate than other advocacy groups, which often tally martyrdoms at 100,000 a year.

Where numbers cannot be verified, estimates are given in round numbers of 10, 100, 1,000, or 10,000, assumed to be higher in reality. And some national tabulations may not be provided due to security reasons, resulting in an NN designation for Afghanistan, Bhutan, Malaysia, Maldives, North Korea, Oman, Somalia, and Yemen.

Under this rubric, an unnamed nation ranks No. 4, followed by Uganda with 55 recorded killings, Myanmar with 34, Burkina Faso with 31, Cameroon with 24, the Central African Republic with 23, and Colombia with 16.

A second category tracks attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, whether destroyed, shut down, or confiscated. The seven-fold increase to 14,766 incidentssurpassing the 2020 reports high of 9,488was led by China and India, followed by Nigeria (750), Nicaragua (347), Ethiopia (284), and Rwanda (12), with Sudan, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Angola recording a symbolic 100 total.

The category of Christians detained without trial, arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned decreased to 4,125, down from a record high of 6,175 in the 2022 report but still the third-highest total since the category has been tracked.

Open Doors divides this into two subcategories, with 3,329 detained believers representing an increase of 6 percent. India led with 2,085 cases, followed by Eritrea with 322 cases and Iran with 122. An unnamed nation, Pakistan, and China recorded a symbolic 100 each, while Laos with 65, Cuba with 45, Nicaragua with 38, and Libya with 31 rounded out the top 10.

Where Churches Were Attacked or Closed Most:



1. China: 10,000*

2. India: 2,228

3. Nigeria: 750

4. Nicaragua: 347

5. Ethiopia: 284

6. Rwanda: 120

7. Sudan: 100*

8. Burkina Faso: 100*

9. Niger: 100*

10. Angola: 100*

11. Myanmar: 100*



*Estimate | Open Doors reporting period: Oct. 2022 to Sept. 2023

The tally of 796 believers imprisoned, however, represented a 43 percent decrease from the 1,388 reported in the prior period. India led with 247, while an unnamed nation, Eritrea, Pakistan, and China each recorded a symbolic total of 100.

The number of Christians abducted decreased to 3,906 from 5,259, but still represented the second-highest total since the category was tracked. Nigeria accounted for 83 percent of the total, or 3,300 cases, while Pakistan, the Central African Republic, and Congo recorded a symbolic total of 100.

By far the largest category total was displacement, with 278,716 Christians forced to leave their homes or go into hiding for faith-related reasons, more than doubling last years total of 124,310. An additional 16,404 Christians were forced to leave their countries, up from 14,997 last year. Myanmar and Nigeria led with a symbolic 100,000 internal displacements, followed by India with 62,119. Myanmar also led with a symbolic 10,000 refugees tallied, followed by Nigeria, Iran, an unnamed nation, Bangladesh, and Congo with a symbolic 1,000.

Open Doors has stated that several categories were particularly difficult to count accurately, highest of which were the 42,849 cases of physical and mental abuse, including beatings and death threats. (Last years tally was 29,411 incidents.) Of the 75 nations assessed, 48 were assigned symbolic numbers. Nigeria, Pakistan, and India each recorded a symbolic total of 10,000, with an unnamed nation, Eritrea, Mali, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Central African Republic, and Congo rounding out the top 10 with symbolic total of 1,000 each.

An estimated total of 21,431 Christian homes and properties were attacked in 2023, along with 5,740 shops and businesses. Of the latter, only 17 of 42 countries recorded specific numbers, with Indias 1,572 cases followed by a symbolic number of 1,000 for Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Central African Republic. Of Christian homes, Nigerias symbolic number of 10,000 was followed by Indias specific 5,878, and the symbolic number of 1,000 given to Pakistan, Myanmar, Central African Republic, and Congo.

Categories specific to women were also difficult for Open Doors researchers to count accurately. Cases of rape and sexual harassment increased from 2,126 to 2,622 tallied, led by Nigeria with a symbolic 1,000, followed by Syrias symbolic 500. Forced marriages to non-Christians decreased from 717 to 609 tallied, led by Pakistan, Iran, and an unnamed nation with symbolic numbers of 100 each.

Why are Christians persecuted in these countries?

The main motivation varies by country, and better understanding the differences can help Christians in other nations pray and advocate more effectively for their beleaguered brothers and sisters in Christ.

Open Doors categorizes the primary sources of Christian persecution into nine groups:

Islamic oppression (30 countries): This is the main source of persecution that Christians face in more than half of the watch list countries, including 7 of the top 10 overall. Most of the 30 are officially Muslim nations or have Muslim majorities; however, 6 actually have Christian majorities: Nigeria (No. 6), CAR (No. 28), Ethiopia (No. 32), Mozambique (No. 39), DRC (No. 41), and Cameroon (No. 43).

Dictatorial paranoia (11 countries): This is the main source of persecution that Christians face in 11 countries, mostly in nations with Muslim majoritiesSyria (No. 12), Uzbekistan (No. 25), Bangladesh (No. 26), Turkmenistan (No. 29), Tajikistan (No. 46), and Kazakhstan (No. 47)but also in North Korea (No. 1), Eritrea (No. 4), Myanmar (No. 17), Cuba (No. 22), and Nicaragua (No. 30).

Communist and post-communist oppression (3 countries): This is the main source of persecution that Christians face in three countries, all in Asia: China (No. 19), Laos (No. 21), and Vietnam (No. 35).

Religious nationalism (2 countries): This is the main source of persecution that Christians face in two nations, all in Asia. Christians are primarily targeted by Hindu nationalists in India (No. 11) and by Buddhist nationalists in Bhutan (No. 36).

Organized crime and corruption (2 countries): This is the main source of persecution that Christians face in Colombia (No. 34) and Mexico (No. 37).

Clan oppression (2 countries): This is the main source of persecution that Christians face in Yemen (No. 5) and Jordan (No. 48).

Secular intolerance (0 countries), Christian denominational protectionism (0 countries), and Ethno-religious hostility (0 countries): Open Doors tracks these sources of persecution, but none are the main source in any of the 50 countries on the 2024 list.

How does the World Watch List compare to other reports on religious persecution?

Open Doors believes it is reasonable to call Christianity the worlds most severely persecuted religion. At the same time, it has noted there is no comparable documentation for the worlds Muslim population.

Other assessments of religious freedom worldwide corroborate many of Open Doors findings. For example, the latest Pew Research Center analysis of governmental and societal hostilities toward religion found that Christians were harassed in 155 countries in 2020, more than any other religious group. Muslims were harassed in 145 countries, followed by Jews in 94 countries.

The breakdown corresponds to Open Doors data. China, Eritrea, and Iran ranked in Pews top 10 nations implementing government harassment, while India, Nigeria, and Pakistan rank in the top 10 experiencing social hostility. Afghanistan and Egypt ranked in both.

Most of the nations on Open Doors list also appear on the US State Departments annual list that names and shames governments that have engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

Its top-tier Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) list includes Myanmar (No. 17 on the 2024 WWL), China (No. 19), Cuba (No. 22), Eritrea (No. 4), Iran (No. 9), North Korea (No. 1), Nicaragua (No. 30), Pakistan (No. 7), Russia (which exited the WWL in 2022), Saudi Arabia (No. 13), Tajikistan (No. 46), and Turkmenistan (No. 29). Its second-tier Special Watch List includes Algeria (No. 15), Azerbaijan (unranked but monitored by Open Doors), the Central African Republic (No. 28), Comoros (No. 45), and Vietnam (No. 35).

The State Department also lists Entities of Particular Concern, or nongovernmental actors producing persecution, which are all active in countries on Open Doors list. These include Boko Haram and ISWAP in Nigeria (No. 6 on the WWL), the Taliban in Afghanistan (No. 10), Al-Shabaab in Somalia (No. 2), Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria (No. 12), the Houthis in Yemen (No. 5), the Wagner Group for its activities in the Central Africa Republic (No. 28), and ISIS-Greater Sahara and Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin in the Sahel.

Meanwhile, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its 2023 report recommended the same nations for the CPC list, with the addition of Nigeria (No. 6), India (No. 11), Syria (No. 12), and Vietnam (No. 35). For the State Departments watch list, USCIRF recommended the same nations except for Comoros, with the addition of Egypt (No. 38), Indonesia (No. 42), Iraq (No. 16), Kazakhstan (No. 47), Malaysia (No. 49), Sri Lanka (unranked but monitored by Open Doors), Turkey (No. 50), and Uzbekistan (No. 25).

All nations of the world are monitored by Open Doors researchers and field staff, but in-depth attention is given to 100 nations and special focus on the 78 which record high levels of persecution (scores of more than 40 on Open Doors 100-point scale).

CT previously reported the WWL rankings for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012, including a spotlight on where it's hardest to believe. CT also asked experts whether the United States belongs on persecution lists, and compiled the most-read stories of the persecuted church in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015.

Read Open Doors full report on the 2024 World Watch List here.
Rodrigo is a Christian fisherman who lives with his wife in the department of Choco, a jungle region near the border Colombia shares with Panama and one of the wettest regions on earth.

Due to its remoteness, the town does not have paved streets, and the presence of police and other Colombian authorities is scarce. Residents primarily travel the mighty Atrato, Baudo, and San Juan Rivers by motor boat, and Rodrigo supports his family by selling gas, as reported by Open Doors, which first told his story.

Despite the seeming necessity of his business, Rodrigo and his family are isolated. The majority indigenous community in the area where the family lives has rejected them because of their faith and have socially and economically excluded them due to their refusal to participate in the animistic rituals that are common among the natives. This isolation has also made Rodrigo vulnerable to the regionally dominant guerrilla and paramilitary groups, who periodically threaten to shut down his business if he doesnt pay extortion feesa crime present in the whole country but that affects Christian in a special way.

Rodrigos story encapsulates two of the biggest reasons Colombia has been the most dangerous country in South America in which to be a Christian over the last five years, according to Open Doors World Watch List (WWL). On this years list of the most difficult places to be a Christian, the country ranks No. 34 globally. So how did a nation with a long democratic tradition and a Catholic majority become one of the most precarious places for believers in the Western Hemisphere?

Much of Colombias notorious violence dates back to 1948, when the liberal presidential candidate Jorge Eliecer Gaitan was assassinated, triggering a national tragedy known as El Bogotazo and an upsurge in political violence. In the aftermath of Eliecer Gaitans death, liberal guerrilla groups emerged, fueled by the Communist ideology of the Cuban Revolution and spreading terror in rural areas.

In the 1980s, with the rise of drug trafficking, the guerrilla groups became allies of the drug traffickers. But after the fall of drug lords like Pablo Escobar in the 1990s, these groups and their opponents, paramilitary groups, both took over the drug trafficking business. As Christianity Today reported back in 1998, not infrequently, Christian leaders became victims of kidnapping, murder, and displacement.

Colombia is a country where there are two realities. On the one hand, there is a lot of freedom in the big cities, and the Christians there are not even aware of the persecution that occurs in the rural areas of the country, said Ted Blake, the director of Open Doors in Spain. [But] in those rural areas, there are armed groupsguerrillas or paramilitarieswho dont allow anything to be done without their approval, which you obtain by paying them [extortion money].

The second form of persecution in rural Colombia, says Open Doors, is carried out by indigenous groups that have autonomy to establish their own rules in the territories that have been given to them. Frequently, these norms prohibit conversion to the Christian faith, which is punishable by expulsion from the community, expropriation of land, or economic exclusion.

The persecution of Christians in indigenous communities is most evident in the department of Cauca, in the south of the country near Ecuador. The majority indigenous population in that region exceeds 200,000 people. Those who dare to embrace the Christian faith, an estimated 14,000, have suffered dismissal from their jobs, displacement, and other types of social exclusion. As we do not chew the coca leaf, nor do we participate in the road blockades organized to protest against the Colombian government, nor do we cast spells with herbs, they displace us, Rogelio Yonda Trochez, an evangelical pastor, explained to the BBC in 2012.

But the violence carried out by drug trafficking groups and the oppression of indigenous communities are not the only reasons for the toxic environment that Colombian Christians experience. According to Open Doors, secular intolerance has increased and has kept some Christians from sharing their convictions on abortion, marriage, and religious liberty.

In 2021, thousands of Colombians across the country took to the streets to protest tax hikes and a delay in COVID-19 vaccine distribution. When Christian leaders declined to protest or spoke out against them, some protesters vandalized churches, including Bogota megachurch El Lugar de Su Presencia.

Inconsistencies in the methodology?

Colombia has been one of the most advanced countries in the region since 1991, when the Constitution first recognized the freedoms of religion, conscience, and worship as fundamental rights in this historically Catholic country.

Consequently, Colombian authorities have viewed Open Doors more recent reports with skepticism.

The violence in Colombia has affected multiple churches and believers, Lorena Rios, the former director of the Office of religious Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior (and now senator for the Christian party Colombia Justa Libres), told CT. However, the cause of violence has not always been due to issues of faith but rather due to surrounding situations, whether political (participation or support for a candidate), social leadership (pastors who denounce corruption or threats from groups), or issues personal (business and debts). But it is not exclusively due to an issue of persecution for being Christians.

In fact, in 2021 under Rios, the Office of Religious Affairs published a formal rebuttal of Open Doors claims, expressing its concerns about what it described as inconsistencies in the methodology of Open Doors in evaluating the levels of religious persecution in Colombia. In that report, the Colombian government challenged why the country had jumped from No. 41 to No. 30 on the 2021 WWL.

This abrupt variation did not make sense, because 2020, due to the pandemic, was a year in which there were fewer attacks against Christians in the country, says Rios, adding that even [Open Doors] admitted that due to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, 2020 had not been a typical year in data collection.

Open Doors method has evolved since 1993, when the survey began. It is currently based on a series of questionnaires that are applied to both the Christian and non-Christian populations in each country, and then the information is scored on a 100-point scale based on levels of persecution and is independently audited by the International Institute for Religious Freedom (IIRF).

We measure the levels of oppression of Christians in five areas: private life, family sphere, social sphere, national sphere, and ecclesiastical sphere. We also take into account the bodily or material violence experienced by Christians, Blake said.

Colombia is not on the list because of its laws. Its on the list because Christians have been murdered for their faith and churches have been attacked, he says.

Persecution in Latin America

After entering the top 50 in 2019 (at No. 47), Colombia has been ranked as high as No. 22 on the 2023 WWL, a distinction which made it the most dangerous nation for Christians in all of Latin America last year. Though the countrys ranking was No. 34 this year, its score only shifted from 71 in 2023 to 68 in 2024.

The 2024 WWLs top Latin American country is Cuba (No. 22, score of 73) followed by Nicaragua (No. 30, score of 70) due to dictator Daniel Ortegas obsession with the Catholic church, whose leaders he describes as opponents of his regime. After Colombia sits Mexico (No. 37, score of 68).

The forms of persecution in Colombia and Mexico are very similar, said Blake. Drug trafficking groups extort, kidnap, and murder Christian leaders in both countries, while indigenous groups exert pressure by economically and socially excluding Christians.

Venezuela (No. 67, score of 53) is no longer in the top 50, despite the assumptions outsiders might have about its authoritarian and socialist government making it more difficult to freely profess the Christian faith.

As persecution flourishes, even in historically Christian countries, what can the global church do?

Speak up, says Blake.

Jesus taught us that whoever follows him will be persecuted. Its something we should expect to happen, he said. Rather, raise your voice in two senses: Ask God to strengthen Christians in such a way that they remain firm in the midst of adversity. Also, raise your voice before the rulers, so that they intervene to defend the rights of Christians who suffer so many injustices.

Hernan Restrepo is a Colombian journalist based in Bogota. Since 2021 he has managed Christianity Today's Spanish-language social media accounts.

[ This article is also available in espanol, Francais, and . ]
Home News Watchdog lists Christian charities deemed not 'worthy of support from pro-lifers'

A pro-life advocacy organization claims that more than two dozen charities, including Christian organizations, have ties to or supported pro-abortion and LGBT advocacy.

The American Life League recently updated its "Charity Watchlist," placing charitable organizations into three categories based on their level of support for what the pro-life advocacy group describes as "life issues."

Organizations that receive "green colors" are considered "worthy of donation from pro-lifers" by ALL and are "opposed to abortion, human embryonic stem cell and/or aborted fetal body parts research, all forms of cloning, and other attacks against the human person at any state of development." Organizations also receive the color green if they refrain from donating to "Planned Parenthood Federation and other pro-abortion organizations."

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Charities categorized in yellow "may have previously received a green positive or a red negative because of certain policy positions that are now questionable or cannot be verified."

Organizations classified in red are viewed by ALL as unworthy of support from pro-lifers due to supporting either through "theory, advocacy, lobbying, granting and/or research" any practices deemed by the pro-life group as "offenses to life." Charities highlighted in red may also have refused to answer ALL's inquiries and/or declined to "be clear about its position."

A majority (35) of organizations examined were colored in red, with multiple religious organizations singled out by ALL.

ALL contends that Catholic Relief Services, which "promotes human development by responding to major emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies," supports "abortion and contraception."

"Catholic Relief Services has a long history of funding or directly participating with groups who are pro-abortion and pro-contraception. They openly admit, 'While CRS strictly adheres to the teachings of the Catholic Church, and our main partners are local parishes and dioceses throughout the world, we work with other agencies who are not always aligned with Catholic teaching,'" the watchlist states.

"CRS says it promotes human development by responding to major emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies; it serves Catholics in the United States as they live their faith in solidarity with their brothers and sisters around the world."

The Christian Post reached out to CRS for comment on the watchlist. A response is pending.

The YMCA, which has Christian roots and was originally founded to "put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all," is also listed in red by ALL.

"Two YMCA's have recently (2023) have been underfire for their 'Trangender Policies' and the two seperate instances where minor girls were exposed to men in the Y's lockerrooms because of these policies," the ALL watchlist states.

The "transgender policies" in question allow trans-identified males to use locker rooms that correspond with their stated gender identity as opposed to their biological sex.

"The YMCA has done nothing to change this policy as part of their DEI initiatives. The Y has also had pro-abortion advocate, Connie Chung Joe, recently lead a virtual talk which included her 'fighting for reproductive rights' while working at the ACLU of Chicago."

ALL also accused the YMCA of supporting Planned Parenthood.

CP reached out to YMCA for comment. A response is pending.

The watchlist accused the Salvation Army, founded to "preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination," of promoting the LGBT lifestyle as well as supporting abortion and contraception.

"The Salvation Army does not fully condemn abortion, and makes note on their website that they do 'understand' the exception cases, such as rape, incest, and life of the mother and make excuses for these reasons," the watchlist states.

ALL also expressed concern that the Salvation Army has come out in favor of "birth control to prevent abortion" and promoted "Transgender Housing" in Las Vegas.

CP reached out to the Salvation Army for comment. A response is pending.

The maternal health charity March of Dimes and the Girl Scouts of the USA support the LGBT lifestyle, abortion and contraception, according to ALL. Meanwhile, ALL states that Boy Scouts of America promotes the LGBT lifestyle as does the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, which has individual clubs that have worked with Planned Parenthood and/or supported contraception.

The American Cancer Society has expressed support for the LGBT lifestyle as well as in-vitro fertilization, abortion, contraception and human embryonic stem cell research. The American Red Cross, an emergency response charity, has come out in favor of abortion, contraception and the LGBT lifestyle.

ALL reports that Save the Children "supports abortion and contraception," while the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, a breast cancer research charity, supports the LGBT lifestyle, contraception, human embryonic stem cell research and has financially supported Planned Parenthood.

A total of 15 charities were categorized as safe for pro-lifers to donate to. Charities that received green light ratings include Alex's Lemonade Stand, which works to "change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, and supporting families." According to ALL, the organization "states that research using embryonic stem cells is not permissible and that it will not fund this."

Another notable organization given the green light by the pro-life organization is the American Heart Association, which does not fund "fetal stem cell or embryonic research," use "human cells from IVF" or "cloning for human reproduction or harvesting tissue."

The Wounded Warrior Project, known for providing assistance to veterans injured in the line of duty, "upholds pro-life values/does not support anti-life organizations or agendas," the ALL report states.

A total of 10 charities were put in the yellow category.

Prominent organizations colored in yellow include Easter Seals, Habitat for Humanity, the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the St. Baldrick's Foundation. ALL put Easter Seals, which assists those with disabilities, in the yellow category because of its "support of LGBTQ+ lifestyle through blog/social media" and partnerships with "groups that have anti-life initiatives."

Similarly, the affordable housing charity Habitat for Humanity has "partnerships with groups" that "support abortion, contraception, and [the] LGBTQ+ lifestyle."

As for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses, its partnership with the Walt Disney Company earned it the color yellow. St. Baldrick's Foundation, committed to childhood cancer research, financially supports St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, which is colored red on the chart compiled by ALL.
Home News Catholic group demands MSNBC apologize for Joy Reid's 'white Christians' comment

A Catholic advocacy group is calling on MSNBC to apologize after the networks on-air talent made disparaging remarks about Christians while covering the results of the Iowa caucuses.

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, wrote a letter to MSNBC President Rashida Jones and Comcast President Michael Cavanagh Wednesday. Donohues letter comes two days after MSNBC opinion host Joy Reid complained on air that Iowa is overrepresented by white Christians as the Iowa caucuses that kicked off the presidential nominating season for the 2024 presidential election were slated to begin.

Additionally, Reid recalled a conversation she had with Robby Jones of the Public Religion Research Institute, a polling company, ahead of the Iowa caucus vote: He said the following to me: Iowa is about 61% white Christian. The country as a whole is approximately 41% white Christian. And in Iowa, were talking about Evangelical white Christians.

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Reid added that when she asked Jones what white Evangelical Christians get out of supporting former President Donald Trump, who ultimately won the caucuses with 51% of the overall vote and 53% of the white Evangelical vote, the researcher responded, They see themselves as the rightful inheritors of this country, and Trump has promised to give it back to them.

The MSNBC host opined that all the things that we think about, about electability, about  what are people gaming out  none of that matters when you believe that God has given you this country, that it is yours, and that everyone who is not a white, conservative Christian is a fraudulent American and a less real American.

Reacting to Reids analysis, Donohue wrote, If it were said that atheists believe anyone who is not a believer is a fraudulent American, there would be repercussions.

Donohue also mentioned comments made by Tara Setmayer of the anti-Trump advocacy group The Lincoln Project on MSNBC Tuesday, where she referred to Christians as a death cult and singled out Evangelical Christians in particular: Not only have they failed America, but theyve failed Christianity.

Once again, Donohue suggested that a double standard existed as he expressed concern that the political commentator did not receive any blowback because she directed her comments at Christians as opposed to another group: If a guest or host on MSNBC said that Muslims are a death cult, there would be repercussions. If it were said that Jews have failed both America and Judaism, there would be repercussions.

Why have there been no repercussions regarding the anti-Christian remarks made by MSNBC guests and hosts? he asked. Bigotry against any demographic group should never be given air time on television.

Donohue concluded the letter by calling on the head of the cable news channel as well as the leader of the networks parent company to provide a response to this serious issue. He had started the letter by requesting a vigorous network response to the comments.

Mondays primetime programming was not the first time Reid had used her platform on MSNBC to bash Christians. Following President Joe Biden's withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and the country's fall to the Taliban, Reid took to X to suggest that what we keep learning, forgetting and relearning, whether in Afghanistan or here in the U.S., is that religious extremism, backed by a willingness to use violence to impose a particular belief system as governing law, is incredibly dangerous.

In another post on X, Reid reacted to news that women were no longer allowed to attend college classes in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan by once again invoking a comparison between the Taliban and American Christians: This is the real-life Handmaids Tale. A true cautionary tale for the U.S., which has our own far religious right dreaming of a theocracy that would impose a particular brand of Christianity, drive women from the workforce and solely into childbirth, and control all politics.
Home News Queen's former chaplain says Cardinal Fernandez's sex writings smack of occultism

Queen Elizabeth II's former chaplain says the recently resurfaced writings of Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez about sexuality exhibit a skewed theology that echoes occult sex magic.

Gavin Ashenden, who served as the queen's chaplain from 2008 to 2017, said in a video posted last week that Fernandez's unearthed out-of-print books Mystical Passion: Spirituality and Sensuality and Heal Me with Your Mouth: The Art of Kissing have "caused a certain amount of scandal, not only because it's odd for a priest to write in graphic detail on such matters, but because it shows a preoccupation with sexuality that we wouldn't really expect from a man with an authentic vocation to the Catholic priesthood."

Ashenden penned an op-ed for The Catholic Herald that reiterated the views he expressed in his video.

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Of the two books Fernandez originally published in the 1990s, MysticalPassion: Spirituality and Sensuality especially raised eyebrows for its content, which included explicit reflections on "spirituality and sensuality," the difference between male and female orgasms, divine love as "mystical orgasm" and a supposed mystical erotic encounter with Jesus Christ that was reportedly recounted to Fernandez by a 16-year-old girl.

Fernandez said during a recent interview with Crux that he "certainly would not write" the book today, and noted how he had it pulled from publication.

Ashenden, who became a Roman Catholic after leaving the Church of England in 2017, suggested that even if they are decades old and out of print, Fernandez's books are critical to understand since he serves as prefect of the Vatican's doctrinal office behind its recent Amoris Laetitia and Fiducia Supplicans.

The two declarations led to confusion regarding the Vatican's views on divorced people and same-sex couples, respectively.

"But does it tell us anything about his theological presuppositions as the author of those two very important, recent documents?" Ashenden asked. "I think it does. And what it tells us is alarming and disturbing."

Ashenden claimed that Fernandez showed that he is steeped in the Freudian concept that mystical experiences and spiritual ecstasy are inextricable with sexuality, which he said is "a lamentable miscalculation."

"If you inhabit a world dominated by sexual dynamics as the main driver of human consciousness and unconscious appetite, it's inevitable," he said. "You'd misconstrue any ecstasy as being sexual, but Christians know this isn't true. The bliss that comes as an occasional gift of the Holy Spirit is experienced as a form of ecstasy, but only in a very shallow and restricted world is ecstasy exclusively sexual."

Ashenden alleged a darker element to Fernandez's views on sex and spirituality, which he claimed share much in common with occult beliefs on such topics.

"One of the most alarming aspects of the way in which Cardinal Fernandez has written is that he shares the same presuppositions about sex as esotericists and those who practice a different kind of magic: the occultists," he said.

"Sex, for them, is a means of instrumentation of the divine, as it is for Fernandez," he continued. "The Christian response to the esoteric tradition and the occultists is that they are wrong about God. Sex in esotericism is supposed to facilitate a direct experience of the Godhead, but only if you have a different definition of who God is."

Ashenden traced present-day occult views of sexuality to Renaissance figures such as Marsilio Ficino and Giordano Bruno, who he said: "posited that the erotic principles of attraction, the occult powers of magic, and the dynamic structure of the universe are all part of a single continuum."

Their beliefs, he claimed, have led to the concept "that sexual energy is a potent force that can be harnessed to transcend a common and unenlighted perception of reality that most other people suffer from." He noted such an idea ultimately emerges from Gnosticism, one of the first major heresies the Christian Church confronted.

The most notorious practitioner of such ideas, said Ashenden, was Aleister Crowley, an influential early-20th-century occultist. Branded "the wickedest man in the world," he became a prominent cultural figure in the United Kingdom, and his portrait was featured on the cover of The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."

"Cardinal Fernandez  admittedly writing as a younger man; he was a 36-year-old priest  makes the fatal and, one has to say, heretical error of attributing to sexual climax an automatic instrumentation of divinization," Ashenden wrote.

"He shares the alchemical and esoteric view of the uninterrupted continuum that allows humanity to access divinity through the gateway of some form of mysticism," he added. "The experience and teaching of the Church is that this is neither true, nor Christian."

Ashenden closed both his video and article by urging Fernandez to resign.
Home News Beloved twin sisters perish in fire at church where both served as pastors

Parishioners and family members are now mourning identical twin sisters and pastors, Kimberly and Stephanie Hjelt, who led the Word & Spirit Church in Portland, Oregon, after they both perished in a three-alarm fire that destroyed their parsonage on Sunday. The sisters were 76.

A Portland fire investigator told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the sisters lived in an apartment above the churchs gymnasium where a generator was being used to power the facility after they lost electricity in their neighborhood for 13 hours due to an artic storm. The fire that killed the sisters is believed to have started just before 4 a.m.

Our impression is that the generator was in operation inside the building, Portland fire investigator, Craig Gault told The Oregonian. Its one of the things were looking at.

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The charismatic Pentecostal church, which is located at 6140 NE Stanton Street in Portland, was reportedly up for sale at the time of the blaze, according to Tim Duclos, who told the publication that he was in charge of media and security at the church and had known the sisters for 23 years.

Local officials could not immediately confirm if the building had been approved for residential use and how long the sisters had lived in an apartment at the church. It was noted that a home previously listed as their address in Happy Valley was sold in February 2023.

Duclos said they had plans to retire in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Cached information from the churchs website show that Kimberly Hjelt served as senior pastor of the church, while Stephanie Hjelt served as executive and youth pastor.

Duclos revealed to The Oregonian that at the time of the fire, Kimberly Hjelt was using crutches or a walker to get around because she had recently broken her hip.

They were very joyful people, very friendly and wanting to help, said Duclos, who said the sisters congregation was small but active. They never backed down from a controversial subject and were very concerned about Portland and where it had come to. They were very active.

At least two other people were reportedly inside the building at the time of the fire.

Reacting to the tragedy Tuesday, Stephanie Hjelts daughter, Jessica Russell, mourned her mothers passing in a post on Facebook.

My precious mama and dearest auntie went home to Heaven this weekend. It was too soon, so very much too soon. I keep remembering, however, that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. They sure loved Jesus, and He is delighted with His beloved daughters, Russell wrote. I will share soon about details of the memorial service, but we are planning for February 16, location to be decided.

Former parishioners like Samantha Jacobs remember the two sisters for their honesty.

There is not a word to express what my heart felt the moment I found out that you both passed through the gates into His glorious presence. I would not be where I am in my walk if it had not been for these t[w]o amazing pastors being bold and fearless! Not many pastors are as honest as these two were, Jacobs noted.

Their dedication to fill the kingdom and not just a church is why they have left a legacy of people who walk in truth! I will forever be thankful for the love they gave me and the home they welcomed me into. I still cannot wrap my mind around that they are gone but I find peace in knowing that they are living in a mansion, probably still together lol, enjoying singing with the angels and learning from the great teacher himself! I Love you Pastor Stephanie Hjelt And Kimberly Hjelt.
Home News Church preschool won't be barred from gov't food program over LGBT stance after lawsuit

A California church and its preschool program will be included in a federal program that helps to feed the poor after initially being barred because of the church's theologically conservative stance on LGBT issues.

Church of Compassion and its Dayspring Christian Learning Center reached a settlement with government officials on Tuesday, which will allow the ministry to continue participating in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program.

According to the settlement, the El Cajon-based preschool "will be removed from the CACFP National Disqualified List," and the California Department of Social Services will "reimburse Dayspring for its program costs for administration of the CACFP for additional months in the event the Department has not received notification from USDA of Dayspring's removal from the National Disqualified List within fourteen (14) days after the Effective Date of this agreement."

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"Dayspring agrees that it will not seek further reimbursement from the CACFP or the Department for any expenses it incurred between January 1, 2023, and the date that Dayspring is reinstated into the CACFP," the settlement continued.

"Within fifteen (15) days of the Effective Date, the Department agrees to issue guidance to CACFP participants regarding the availability of a religious exemption from the requirements of Title IX  Within fifteen (15) days of Dayspring being reinstated into the CACFP, Dayspring shall voluntarily dismiss the Action."

Church of Compassion is represented by attorneys with the Alliance Defending Freedom, the National Center for Law and Policy and the Advocates for Faith and Freedom.

ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus said in a statement that the state "can't withhold food from families in need simply because their children attend a Christian preschool."

"In the name of combatting discrimination, government officials excluded the church and preschool from serving the El Cajon community based solely on their religious beliefs and exercise," stated Galus.

"While it shouldn't have taken a lawsuit to resolve this, at least now Church of Compassion can continue its vital outreach to needy children and families."

In May 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it would interpret the federal Title IX prohibition on sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This was in keeping with the Biden administration's overall interpretation of Title IX policy.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said at the time that "USDA is committed to administering all its programs with equity and fairness, and serving those in need with the highest dignity."

"A key step in advancing these principles is rooting out discrimination in any form  including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity," stated Vilsack.

"At the same time, we must recognize the vulnerability of the LGBTQI+ communities and provide them with an avenue to grieve any discrimination they face. We hope that by standing firm against these inequities, we will help bring about much-needed change."

In March 2023, the Church of Compassion sued after the state of California cut its food program funding over the ministry's stance on LGBT issues, which included having sex-segregated bathrooms and hiring individuals who share their beliefs.

An amended complaint from June named as defendants Kim Johnson, director of the California DSS; Jessie Rosales, chief of the CACFP at the DSS; Sean Hardin, acting chief of the CACFP at the DSS; Vilsack and the USDA.

According to the complaint, the defendants barred the church and its daycare center from the CACFP after the ministry had been involved in the federal food program for around 20 years.

"Dayspring serves all families and children, including several LGBTQ+ families who understand and appreciate the religious instruction their children receive at the Preschool and have no desire to force the Church to change its religious beliefs," read the amended complaint.

"But while the Church and Preschool serve all families, they will not teach or promote all messages."
Home News Covenant Eyes CEO warns of porn epidemic, urges churches to stem 'civilizational crisis' Nearly all pastors discern porn addiction as growing problem within past 20 years: Barna

The CEO of Covenant Eyes, a subscription-based porn accountability software, warned that pornography is demonic and urged churches to do more to address the scourge that he said has become a "civilizational crisis."

Ronald DeHaas, who founded Covenant Eyes in 2000 when he had two teenage sons and saw the gathering storm during the early days of the internet, told The Christian Post that churches "need to be talking about" the epidemic of porn addiction among young Christians especially.

His comments come as Covenant Eyes is rolling out a new ad campaign featuring its cartoon mascot "Colossal Man," a superhero who requires the aid of an accountability partner to overcome his pornography addiction despite his superhuman powers.

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DeHaas pointed to statistics that indicate pornography is a problem even among those who might not typically be expected to struggle with it.

Covenant Eyes claims to have helped more than 1.5 million users in their quests for "victory over porn" by implementing software on computers and mobile devices that renders it nearly impossible for users to exploit loopholes to watch pornography undetected.

'A civilizational crisis'

DeHaas, who also serves as clerk and an elder at Community Church (EPC) in Owosso, Michigan, pointed to "The Porn Phenomenon," a 2016 Barna study that found while porn addiction is rampant among church-going Christians, "most churches do not have programs specifically designed to assist those struggling with porn use."

The landmark study conducted in partnership with the Josh McDowell Ministry found that 93% of pastors and 94% of youth pastors discern that porn is a bigger problem in churches than it was 20 years ago, and that 57% of pastors and 64% of youth pastors have personally struggled with it, either currently or in the past.

Of the pastors who were still using porn, 87% said they felt great shame about it, and 55% said they live in constant fear of being discovered.

Seventy percent of the youth pastors who participated in the study claimed to have had at least one teenager come to them for help with porn addiction in the past year. The majority who sought help were high school or middle school boys, though many said the problem is also emerging among girls.

"They need to be talking about it, they need to recognize that most of the 12-year-old kids in their church have already viewed pornography," DeHaas said of church leaders. "Some of the 12-year-old kids are probably addicted to pornography."

He pointed to "The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong About Pornography and How to Fix It" by Sam Black, director of recovery education at Covenant Eyes, as a useful blueprint.

DeHaas noted that among the approximately 850 applicants for last year's Covenant Eyes' scholarship, which potentially offers $5,000 to full-time college students who use the software, the vast majority revealed in the first sentence of their essay that they were either addicted or profoundly struggling with pornography by the age of 12.

"Some of them were as young as 6 years old," he said.

"We're talking about, by and large, Christian families and 12-year-old kids in Christian families who are struggling with pornography," DeHaas said. "And so, this has become their sex training, their sex education. And the boys, of course, are learning, 'This is how I'm supposed to treat girls,' and the girls are learning, 'This is how I'm supposed to be treated.' And so, it's not good. It really isn't."

DeHaas perceives widespread porn addiction as "a civilizational crisis," citing studies that show porn-induced erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems have skyrocketed among young men to an unprecedented degree.

He noted a Time Magazine article from March 2016 titled "Porn and the Threat to Virility," which detailed how increasing numbers of young men whose brains have been marinating in pornography from an early age often find themselves incapable of maintaining a relationship with a real woman.

"If men can't have kids, it's a civilizational problem," he said.

'Demonic attacks'

DeHaas also said "there is no doubt in my mind" that there is a demonic element to the pornography addiction that his company aims to remedy, and he believes that spiritual attacks have afflicted them amid their efforts.

"Someday I should write down all the times that we have had attacks here at Covenant Eyes," said DeHaas. "They've been demonic attacks, they really have."

DeHaas said the spiritual battles against his company have manifested in "disruption" of the relationships among company executives, most of which he said have healed, though he also claimed they have experienced technological attacks.

"I don't know whether Satan has control over servers," he said. "I have trouble thinking that he does, but sometimes I think, 'Boy, there are just issues.'"

"There have been times that we've had severe hacking attempts, and really bad things that people have tried to do, but none of them have been successful," he added. "We've shut them off at the door, and God has really protected us."

'There is hope'

Covenant Eyes drew national headlines last November when a 2022 clip of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., emerged that showed him explaining to members of his Cypress Baptist Church in Benton, Louisiana, how he and his teenage son were using it keep each other accountable.

The resurfaced video drew scorn from many corporate media outlets, some of which accused Johnson of being "creepy" and having "unusual porn habits."

"He was being a good parent is what he was doing," DeHaas said of Johnson. "And, of course, people twist it, and that's just typical. But it doesn't bother me, because it's expected."

"The people who want to promote pornography  and who want to promote sex trafficking, even  of course they're going to make fun of it, they're going to twist it," said DeHaas, who added that in the wake of the mainstream media blitz against Johnson, Covenant Eyes experienced "record sales."

"So a lot of people said, 'Oh, there is help,'" DeHaas noted. "There really is."

DeHaas said the importance of accountability in the battle against porn addiction is crucial. He urged those who are struggling with despair regarding their habit to be transparent with another person, which is a key aspect of the Covenant Eyes app.

He said how many of the scholarship applicants he mentioned who claimed to have fallen into porn at an early age consistently cited being transparent about their problem with a parent as a major success.

"When you're transparent about it, you realize everybody around you is struggling," he said. "You're not alone, and there is an answer. And that ultimate answer is Jesus Christ."

"But if you go into the recovery process with an ally, and you focus on Christ, that really is the hope. There is hope, and there is success," he added. "Faith and transparency are the key."
Home News Police continue search for 6 missing people tied to online cult leader who bashed Jesus

Police in Berkeley, Missouri, who have been searching for four adults and two children who went missing after they were served eviction papers for a rental home in St. Louis last August said they had ties to Rashad Jamal, an imprisoned self-styled spiritual guru, prophet and rapper with thousands of followers online.

In a recent interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, however, Jamal said he has nothing to do with the missing people.

I am pretty sure I have never met these people, he said. I get on my phone, and I give a lecture. I go live, and then I get off the phone. I do not know the people that are in my live(stream). Its too many people.

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Since they were served with eviction papers last August, police say three St. Louis residents  Mikayla Thompson, 24, her cousin, 25-year-old MaKayla Wickerson, and Wickersons 3-year-old daughter, Malaiyah Wickerson, as well as three others, Naaman Williams, 29, of Washington, D.C., and Gerrielle German, 27, of Horn Lake, Mississippi, and her son, Ashton Mitchell, 2  have been missing.

And Ma'Kayla Wickersons mother, Cartisha Morgan, has been pleading for the publics help in finding her daughter. Morgan, who believes her daughter is suffering from severe mental illness, told KSDK that she stopped working and ceased all communication with her family, then abruptly moved to a home on Graham Lane in north St. Louis County.

"She was probably suffering from postpartum depression. Meeting these people online, and they just preyed on her weakness," Morgan said.

Shelita Gibson, Germans mother, told the news outlet that her daughter and grandson left their hometown in Mississippi suddenly, saying they were going to Missouri with not much explanation.

"I said to her, 'You don't know where you're going. I just got a bad feeling about this. Something just doesn't sit well with my spirit. You need to rethink this. This is like you're just walking away from your whole life, that you just created. You got children, you got a significant other, like, really? What's going on?' So then she was like, 'Well, I'm leaving,'" Gibson recalled.

Gibson said German, who abandoned her 4-year-old daughter along with the rest of her family, had started behaving strangely before making her decision to leave her home. She recalled her daughter meditating on a blanket outside and citing Jamals teachings.

"She was saying things about high frequency, low frequency and cosmic husbands. And she was kind of acting a little weird, but I really didn't pay any attention to it at the time," Gibson explained.

Berkeley Police Major Steve Runge, who has been investigating the groups disappearance for nearly five months, told Fox 2 that neighbors had observed the missing groups strange behavior at the Graham Lane home before they disappeared.

Neighbors reported seeing these people outside daily worshiping the sun, he said. When it was raining, they would come outside naked and run around the yard. They were digging up things in the yard.

Runge noted that Jamals followers believe in polygamy, are anti-government, and he encourages them to go off the grid.

On YouTube alone where he has some 200,000 followers, Jamal promotes his teachings and music through his channel called The University of Cosmic Intelligence.

He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he grew up in Chicago, and turned to poetry and rapping to escape a world in which he was surrounded by drugs, violence and poverty. In 2017, he moved to Atlanta to pursue his music career, but he became disillusioned by the record industry.

He said after the death of George Floyd, he was inspired to become a voice of all people who have been oppressed.

He further explains on his website for The University of Cosmic Intelligence that it is GEARED TOWARDS ENLIGHTENING AND ILLUMINATING THE MINDS OF THE CARBONATED BEINGS A.K.A YOUR SO CALLED BLACK & LATINO PEOPLE OF EARTH.

Jamal calls his followers gods and goddesses and refers to himself as a god as well.

I'm a child of almighty God and I am a god. I'm a divine messenger, black revolutionary, I came down on one mission to enlighten and inform and increase the frequency of the planet, Jamal said in a recent broadcast on YouTube where he challenges his conviction and maintains his innocence.

Jamal was convicted last August of child molestation and cruelty to children. According to court documents cited by Vice, a Georgia judge sentenced him to 18 years in prison and an additional 22 years of probation.

Some of his followers, like Yasmine Hider and Krystal Pinkins, have reportedly also been in trouble with the law.

Hider allegedly shot motorist Adam Simjee during an August 2022 confrontation in a state park in Alabama. Pinkins reportedly watched from the woods during the shooting and then fled, leading police to what they initially described as an off-grid community living in tents in the woods. Pinkins 5-year-old child was also found wielding a shotgun.

Jamal insists however that big government is trying to destroy him for trying to elevate the minds of the masses.

Multiple change.org petitions with signatures from thousands of his supporters are online calling for his release.

He is only convicted because he is black he is only in jail because he is black. On top of him being LIED ON. FREE RASHAD JAMAL. He is not no d**n CULT leader, wrote supporter Kayla Islands.

I have been divinely decreed to help raise the vibration of the collective consciousness and to help rid this planet of its parasitical invaders which are these white supremacist individuals who promote Zeus AKA [Jesus] and because of that I had to attack on many levels, Jamal said in his defense.

Although he states that he is a messenger of God, Jamal appears to embrace in one Instagram Live broadcast, from April 6, 2022, ancestral worship and said Christianity is no different than the other religious practices demonized as magic.

He claims Christians who go to church every Sunday donate all their energy to the altar of Jesus who is in reality the Greek god Zeus.

Remember I told you that magic was always being practiced around us? What do they have at a church yall? he asked his followers. Magic was in front of you the whole time. What do they have at a church? A[n] altar. You never thought about that [did you].
Home Opinion God made Trump appeals to a Christian Nationalism foreign to the Bible

After months of campaigning, debating, and politicking, the 2024 election is officially underway. While political pundits and prognosticators focus their analysis of the Iowa caucus on which of the Republican candidates  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump  can sustain their campaigns into the New Hampshire primary, a widely distributed viral video (and one campaigns embrace of its messaging) provides an opportunity for thoughtful Christian reflection about the interplay between politics and faith.

Over the past few years, academics and journalists have written ad nauseam about the alleged dangers of Christian Nationalism. From melodramatic warnings of the Far-Right Christian Quest for Power, to Bill Maher blaming fundamentalist Christians for January 6, to Tim Alberta decrying conservative Christians and their supposed right-wing nationalist fervor in his latest book, conservative Christians remain the Lefts favorite scapegoat for what ails Americas politics.

As Ive explained elsewhere, it is evident that the term Christian Nationalism is an epithet often wielded against politically engaged Christians in order to discredit or dismiss them. Although the overwhelming majority of believers do not wish to impose any sort of theocracy on their fellow citizens, advocacy for the unborn and opposition to radical gender ideology is routinely framed as extreme and hateful. So, while Christians should rightly stand up to those who would love nothing more than to drive Christian and conservative voices from the public square, there is a segment within the conservative movement that has proven susceptible to conflating their Christian and American identities.

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An example of this conflation is the video shared by Trump in the lead-up to the Iowa caucus. On January 5, the former president shared a video on Truth Social titled God Made Trump. Although not produced by the Trump campaign, the president promoted the video, which was amplified on X by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Pastor Paula White and viewed by millions. Additionally, Trumps campaign played the video before he took the stage at several rallies in Iowa.

In my view, the video is a legitimate example of an inappropriate synthesis of religion and politics. Using artificial intelligence to mimic the voice of the late Paul Harvey, the video intentionally riffs on Harveys 1978 So God Made a Farmer speech. God looked down on his planned paradise and said, I need a caretaker, so God gave us Trump, begins the clip.

Combining biblical themes, Scripture, and campaign promises, the advertisement presents the former president in a quasi-messianic light. At one point, the narrator describes Trumps arms as strong yet gentle, employing language similar to how God is described in Isaiah 40:11. At another point, the video borrows language from Matthew 12:34, saying, God had to have someone willing to go into the den of vipers. Additionally, referring to the media, the narrator quotes Psalm 140:3 (NIV) verbatim, asserting that God needed Trump to call out the fake news for their tongues as sharp as a serpents; the poison of vipers is on their lips.

Elsewhere, the video refers to Trump as strong and courageous, the very language used to exhort Joshua, Mosess successor, at the onset of his ministry. Finally, the video describes Trump as a man who cares for the flock and a shepherd to mankind who wont ever leave nor forsake them. The latter description is a direct quotation of Deuteronomy 31:6, which in context is Gods promise to Joshua and Israel as they enter the Promised Land. The author of Hebrews cites this promise to encourage Christians of Gods presence with them (see Hebrews 13:5).

The Bible unmistakably condemns idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6; 1 John 5:21), and the God of the Bible demands exclusive loyalty from His covenant people. Intentionally appropriating descriptions reserved for God and assigning them to a political candidate for the purpose of inspiring worship-like devotion is not only bad exegesis but blasphemous. In other words, God Made Trump is not problematic for highlighting the Trump administrations achievements; the video is inappropriate because it purposely co-opts biblical language for unbiblical ends.

In summary, although I generally dismiss allegations of Christian nationalism as thinly disguised efforts to silence Christians in the public square, the video played at Trumps recent campaign events is a legitimate example of conflating Christianity with a political agenda, i.e. Christian Nationalism. Christians can never ascribe ultimate devotion and loyalty to anyone or anything besides the God of the Bible. Although advocating and championing ones political candidate is a valid civic exercise, Christians must resist the temptation to infuse politics with transcendent meaning. A telltale sign that faithful engagement has devolved into idolatry is the misuse and misappropriation of Scripture to baptize ones preferred candidate or platform.

As the 2024 election gets into full swing, Christians have an opportunity to model a faithful politics that keeps everything in perspective. Elections and campaigns matter. But the people of God must engage the political process as Christians, understanding that whoever is elected in November is ultimately a fallible human, not a messiah (Psalm 146:3-5).

Originally published at The Washington Stand.
Home Opinion Revelation 20: The world that is not yet, but ought to be

A few years ago, I came across a tremendous sermon written by Theodore F. Adams, the late pastor of the First Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. Adams message was titled, The World That is not Yet  But Ought to Be. Adams said he based the messages theme on a prayer once prayed by his brother, who was also a minister, in which such phrasing was used. Adams wrote:

Do we really believe what Jesus said: All power is given unto me? Who is to dominate this world  what faith and what philosophy? Is the world to be turned over to those whose idea is rule or ruin; or do we really believe Jesus when he says, All power is given unto meGo ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing themteaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Have we surrendered the dream; or do we still cherish the vision of our Lord when he taught us to pray, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth? Surely that is the hope we cherish  the hope for a world that is not yet, but ought to be. 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 That is the dream we cherish  a world that is not yet but that certainly ought to be, the world to which Christ came and for which he lived, and suffered, and died, and lived again! If the kingdoms of this world are really to become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, ours is a task to challenge the best that is in us. We need in such a day as this a faith with a world vision and Gods vision for the world of our day. Ours is the task to win that world to Christ as Lord and to see that Christ really is Lord in all of life, as well as in all the world.

Certainly, every faithful student of the Bible believes this way. This is the calling of God for every follower of Christ. This is the work to which Christ commissioned his disciples, and it is the work that believers of every age must do until this world that was not what it ought to be, finally is. Christians should be unified in this endeavor. However, there is some disagreement among Gods people about the way this vision ultimately comes to pass.

The subject of The Millennium is taken up six times in chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation. The word millennium means a thousand years. Dr. Henry Morris in The Revelation Record says:

The twentieth chapter of Revelation has been the major battleground of the various competing systems of biblical eschatology. In general, the way in which this chapter is interpreted seems to determine how the entire Book of Revelation and, to a large extent, how biblical prophecy as a whole is interpreted. It is in this chapter that the record appears of a thousand-year period [The Millennium] when Satan is bound and the world is ruled in righteousness by Christ and the people of God. But the question is whether, and to what extent, this record should be taken literally. Is this thousand-year period exactly 1,000 years, or is the number merely a symbolic number? Is Satan literally imprisoned and powerless during this time, or is he bound only in a relative sense by the liberating power of the Gospel? Is Christ to reign in a direct sense over the earth, on a literal throne, or is this only a figure of speech referring to the eventual conversion of the world to righteousness through the work of the Church and the preaching of the Gospel?

Consider what the first three verses of the 20th chapter of Revelation say:

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon  that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan  and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward, he must be released for a little while (Revelation 20:1-3).

In The Millennial Kingdom by John Walvoord, Walvoord summarizes the three primary views on the coming thousand-year reign of Christ on the Earth.

The first view is premillennialism, which takes a more literal view than any other. It views the end of the present age as sudden and catastrophic, with great judgment upon the wicked and the rescue of the righteous  Premillennialism generally holds to a revival of the Jewish nation and the repossession of their ancient land when Christ returns. Satan will be bound (Rev. 20:2) and a theocratic kingdom of righteousness, peace, and tranquility will ensue.

The second view is amillennialism, which Walvoord notes is the most popular view of the coming millennium. Its most general character is that of denial of a literal reign of Christ upon the earth, says Walvoord. Satan is conceived as bound at the first coming of Christ. The present age between the first and second comings is the fulfillment of the millennium  It may be summed up in the idea that there will be no millennium than there is now, and that the eternal state immediately follows the second coming of Christ.

The third view is postmillennialism. Walvoord explains that postmillennialists hold that the present age will end with a period of great spiritual blessing corresponding to the millennial promises accomplished through the preaching of the gospel. The whole world will be Christianized and brought to submission to the gospel before the return of Christ. The name is derived from the fact that in this theory Christ returns after the millennium.

Some mighty theologians have held to the amillennial and postmillennial positions. There is no heresy in either of these two views. But in my estimation, they are almost completely dependent on an allegorical or symbolic interpretation of Scripture, which leaves entirely too much room for the interpreter to impose his own views on the text rather than simply taking it for what it says. It also excludes the ability of the average person who reads scripture to determine what the supposed symbolic language represents.

Moreover, despite the erroneous argument by amillennialists and postmillennialists that premillennialism is largely a new or very young approach to eschatology, the truth is, as Harold Wilmington states in his book, The King is Coming, it is the premillennial view that is the oldest of the three systems of interpretation. It was held by the early church fathers. He notes that theologians who held this view during the first century A.D. were Clement of Rome, Ignatius, and Polycarp. Theologians who held it during the second century were Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Tertullian. Great scholars who believed and taught it during the third century were Cyprian and Commodianus.

Wilmington concludes, arguing: Beginning in the fourth century, however, the Roman Catholic Church began to grow and premillennialism began to wither, for Rome viewed herself as Gods instrument to usher in the promised kingdom of glory. For centuries the precious doctrine of premillennialism was lost except to a few groups. But in the past few hundred years God has graciously revived premillennialism and restored it to its proper place, using men like Alford, Seiss, Darby, and C.I Schofield.

How marvelously timely the revival of premillennialism, especially as it seems quite apparent that we are in the last of the last days.

Admittedly, at one point, the postmillennial view became very attractive to me. I wanted to believe it because of the nature of my ministry, which involves being a lobbyist for conservative evangelical churches across North Carolina. It is a more optimistic interpretation of a world that is not yet, but ought to be. Although I still strongly believe in the importance of engaging the public arena with the Word of God and see it as a part of the Great Commission of Christ, I cannot reconcile the doctrine of postmillennialism with human sinfulness as a deeply ingrained aspect of human nature that cannot be eradicated or even subdued by societal progress alone. A supernatural intervention by Christ is necessary to establish the kind of kingdom described as the millennial one.

It is unquestionably true, as the late Dr. D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, in their book, What if Jesus Had Never Been Born? that the religion of Christ has made a positive impact on the world. The value it places on human life, helping the poor, and its contribution to education for the masses is undeniable. Its impact on the founding of America and in the development of civil liberties cannot be honestly dismissed. Neither can we dismiss its remarkable impact on science, economics, sex and the family, health and medicine, morality, the arts and music, and the countless lives marvelously transformed from helplessly iniquitous to characteristically godly.

U.S. President, George H.W. Bush once said, I want a kinder and gentler nation. Nothing has done more to make the world kinder and gentler than Christian influence  nothing! Still, history shows the failure of past attempts to create utopian societies, and these failures support the premillennial view of the necessity of a future reign of Christ to bring about lasting peace and justice, which is very much what the millennium is about.

The arguments for amillennialism seem just as weak. The idea that the interim period between Christs first coming and his second coming, which amillennialists symbolically interpret to represent the one thousand years that Satan is bound, hardly seems to be the case. As Morris says, it would seem that during this period Satan has been more active than in all previous history, attempting, often very successfully, to hinder and thwart the preaching of the Word of God and the strengthening and spiritual growth of Gods people.

Morris quotes I Peter 5:8, which reads, Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

This warning surely gives no suggestion that Satan is presently bound and powerless, says Morris. Neither are his wicked hosts, with whom we must wrestle constantly (Ephesians 6:11-13) in order to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The opening verses of Revelation chapter 20 state that after Armageddon and the onset of Christs Millenial Kingdom, an angel comes down from Heaven bearing the key to the most horrid of prison cells, the bottomless pit. This angels mission is to arrest, cuff, and fetter the great Adversary and Deceiver, then throw him into the Abyss. There, Satan is jailed, along with the thousands of other fallen angelic agitators of sin. This cellblock is not simply locked but sealed, and the Evil One, and every spirit entity under his authority, are prevented from any further influence over the nations for 1,000 years  a millennium.

Some contend this powerful angel must be Christ assuming the form of an angel. There would be no one better suited to execute the Devils sentence than Christ himself. Revelation Chapter 1 says Christ possesses the keys to Hades (Revelation 1:18). Others think the angel might be Michael, who led his holy angels to do battle with Satan and his malevolent minions, threw them out of heaven and down to earth (Revelation 12:7-9), and now come to clean up the mess by throwing them into the garbage bin located at the deep center of the earth. But the fact is, the apostle John doesnt make clear the identity of this heroic angel.

This angel has a heavy chain in his hand (vs. 1), which many say should not be taken literally but understood only as a symbol of his divine power to perform the task. No iron chain could ever bind Satan, they say. But if the literal sense makes sense why seek any other sense? Are we not to believe the Lord can forge chains sufficiently strong to bind the Dragon? Are we not to believe 2 Peter 2:4, which mentions the angels who sinned and were cast into hell, were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment? If the Lord makes the chain, then who can break it?

O may God hasten the day when the Serpent who tempted the human race into sin (Genesis 3), the Accuser and Persecutor of the righteous (Revelation 12:10), the primary source of false belief systems (2 Corinthians 11:14-15; I Timothy 4:1) and idolatries (I Corinthians 10:20), moral decay (Ephesians 6:12), conflict and division (James 3:14-16), spiritual blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4) and cultural shifts away from God (Romans 1:21-25) is isolated, contained, and no longer able to carry out his heretical, harmful, hedonistic, hostile, hypocritical, and hellish ways. No longer will he be able to rob this planet and its inhabitants of all things peaceful, perfect, pure, paradisiac, prosperous, and purposeful.

He is imprisoned for no less than a thousand years, but then he is let out for a short time, which is a subject for additional commentary. There is still so much more to learn about this fascinating time in the future.

Wilmington mentions something about the millennium that few people know about. At Christmas time the hymn Joy to the World is sung by millions. But most are completely unaware this magnificent hymn written by Isaac Watts is not about the first coming of Christ at his birth. Instead, its actually about the Millennial Kingdom Christ inaugurates at his second coming. Consider the words:

Joy to the world! The Lord is Come!

Let Earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing. No more let sins and sorrow grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make his blessings flow,

Far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of his righteousness

And wonders of his love.

This is the world that is not yet but ought to be. And, it shall wonderfully and joyfully be, when Christ comes back again.
Home Opinion The growing ignorance of the benefits of marriage  and why its dangerous

A large percentage of Americans dont know or outright disagree that marriage builds stronger families and is linked to better well-being for children, according to the annual American Family Survey. This is despite the fact that such benefits have been proven time and again. These attitudes may be due in part to nearly half of all U.S. children today spending at least part of their childhood in a non-intact family.

Overall, the majority of U.S. adults have a positive view of marriage, agreeing it has benefits for individuals and society. Still, a significant portion of respondents seem unclear about the value of marriage. For example, 54% of people didnt agree that society is better off when more people are married, with 19% disagreeing and 35% being unsure. As to the questions about family stability, 48% didnt agree that marriage is needed to create stronger families and 46% didnt agree that marriage makes families and children better off financially.

The ninth annual survey was conducted by Brigham Young University, the Wheatley Institute, YouGov, and Deseret News and released in December.

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In most cases, about half of participants agreed at least somewhat with each of the statements about the benefits of marriage. On most of the questions, though, nearly half of survey participants were unsure what they thought about the benefits of marriage.

Researchers have well established that marriage is associated with numerous positive outcomes for both adults and children. Marriage is the factor most strongly associated with human happiness, and it is also linked with greater financial well-being and better health.

Marriage provides the best environment for children to grow and develop into thriving adults. Children raised by their married parents are much less likely to be poor; have a far lower risk of being abused; and are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and to experience social mobility. The share of married parents in a community is one of the greatest factors predicting social mobility for children.

Marriage is also significantly more stable than cohabiting relationships. Children born to married parents are much less likely to experience parental breakup compared to children whose parents are only living together.

Despite the numerous proven benefits of marriage, it makes sense that quite a few Americans are agnostic regarding its value. Marriage rates in the U.S. have declined precipitously during the last several decades. Unwed childbearing is the norm in many communities, and nearly half of all children in the U.S. spend at least a part of their childhood in a non-intact family. Thus, fewer Americans have been raised in homes and communities where they see examples of strong marriages.

Family instability is particularly common among Americans with less than a college education. While, in general, Americans with more education and from stable families themselves tend to reinforce traditional norms around marriage for their own children (getting married and having children within marriage), norms surrounding marriage have dwindled in many other communities. Many Americans increasing sense of non-judgmentalism surrounding sexual relationships has led to widespread silence on the benefits of marriage.

Our culture needs more messages about the importance of marriage. Leaders in private organizations, like churches, schools, and the media, as well as policymakers, should help people understand why marriage matters and assist them in building the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve healthy marriage relationships.

Some private organizations and policymakers are working to build and strengthen marriages in their communities using a variety of creative tools. For example, Utah just celebrated the 25th anniversary of its statewide effort to promote healthier marriages, primarily through relationship education. A handful of states have a premarital education promotion policy that incentivizes premarital education for engaged couples by offering a discount or waiver of the marriage license fee. A program called Communio helps churches establish and operate marriage and relationship education courses for their congregants and surrounding communities.

More work like this is needed to help rebuild a culture of marriage in America.

Originally published at The Daily Signal.
Home Opinion We should be better at fighting sexual abuse

In February 2023, 16 plaintiffs made the LA Times, alleging that Kids Kingdom served as a demented playground for sexual abuse. That lawsuit claims that leadership covered up the incident because reporting would hurt Gods Modern-Day Movement. This failure to act allowed David Saracino, now a known child rapist featured on Americas Most Wanted, to operate in the church until 2012 after he was finally arrested for raping a 4-year-old child.

There is no way to mince words. The allegations are horrifying. And David Saracino attended the International Church of Christ for many years before being caught. This underscores the reality that there are those in our community who look like one of us, but are not. They give lip service to morality but do Satans unclean work. This should come as no surprise since even the 12 disciples had a Judas among them. And while Judas betrayal ultimately worked for the purpose of salvation, one cannot say the same thing about sexual abuse. Because Christ died to save the least of these, exposing them to abuse is a betrayal of the cross.

Leadership must ensure that they, and the people in their care, understand warning signs of misconduct so that the entire community can identify would-be offenders before they isolate and abuse potential victims. But, whether its child abuse or #MeToo style sexual misconduct, people cannot confront abuse if they dont know what to look for. Confronting abuse is not something they can just learn on the job.

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With such a clear responsibility to train and prepare their communities, one would think that churches and ministries would showcase a prime example of Training Done Right. Unfortunately, for many religious organizations, that is simply not the case. The repeated failure of spiritual leaders such as Andy Savage, Johnny Hunt, Ravi Zacharias and Ted Haggard proves the trend  churches and ministries are not prepared to confront internal threats. But why?

Theres the obvious excuse: a lack of money. There is a perception that training is expensive, exhausting and cumbersome. Churches relying on the goodwill of volunteers may feel they have neither the financial nor interpersonal capital to spare. But that is a misconception. While it is true that in-person training is expensive, online training is not. And while some online training is cumbersome, many others are dynamic. Particularly when compared to the spiritual and financial consequences of a worst-case scenario, training is not only necessary, its relatively painless.

The second reason is less an excuse and more naivety: people simply dont believe the worst could happen at their organization. Theyre counting on their organizations culture  the shared belief in God or human decency  to protect them. But as has been proven time and time again, this attitude doesnt protect the congregations from offenders, instead it veils the offenders from discovery. Christians, by vocation, serve the least of these. We gather them together in one spot to minister to them. Like lions to a watering hole, this draws predators and would-be offenders. If Christians are going to serve the least of these, we carry a heavenly mandate to protect them.

The third reason resembles dentistry. Initially, low motivation, poor insight, and difficulty changing behaviors create an un-flossed situation. From there, fear of being judged and misunderstood makes asking for outside help stressful and embarrassing. Instead of seeking help for problems, people minimize the issue and think of root canals/misconduct as something that happens to other people, all the while missing that the very conditions theyve failed to act on put them at terrible risk.

While crippling, this dentist-like fear is unfounded. Judgment and condemnation are not the way training and accreditation work  at least not when its done well.

There are things Christians need to be doing to protect our future. We are not doing them, because they take time and effort, and dont seem real. But some part of us knows the problem: We havent been as good stewards as we should have. But thats the trick, I use the term we because everyone has been there with something in their life: maybe its flossing; maybe its hoarding; maybe its not protecting the people youve been called to protect. Regardless of the problem, treatment, training and accrediting are not shame-based exercises. It's never too late to start, no matter what issues your ministry is facing.
IHOPKC says some reports of misconduct likely 'were not handled properly'

(CP) Though reports of misconduct at the International House of Prayer Kansas City have been relatively low, a preliminary review of the ministry's 25-year history shows that at least a few likely "were not handled properly," the ministry's new spokesperson Eric Volz said Sunday.

Volz, who serves as managing director of international crisis agency David House, made the announcement at Forerunner Church Sunday while providing an update on the ministry's investigation into allegations of misconduct against founder Mike Bickle and the ministry in general.

According to Volz, one of the first things the ministry's new executive director, General Kurt Fuller, did since he assumed his role three weeks ago was order a "historic review of reported misconduct." And while that review isn't yet complete, Volz said with confidence there were instances when reports of misconduct were likely "not handled properly."

"That review is far from over but so far, we can say that for an organization this size with 25 years of operating history, over 20,000 staff who've served here, statistically speaking, the number of known incidents is actually quite low. At the same time, we can confidently say that a few of those reported incidents likely they were not handled properly," Volz said.

"From what we can tell, most of those incidents happened under the watch of leaders who are no longer here, but that doesn't change IHOPKC's responsibility to thoroughly examine and address each case. Some of the cases are clear-cut, and others are not, so we need to be very careful not to blur the lines between the two, and it's going to take some time to make those determinations," he added.

"Regardless, on behalf of IHOPKC, I want to apologize in advance to anyone who has experienced harm here or whose reports were not handled properly. It will take time, but General Fuller will get to the bottom of all of this."

About three weeks ago, Volz announced that IHOPKC permanently parted ways with Bickle even as he remains under investigation for "serious allegations including sexual immorality."

Bickle confessed to sinful misconduct he committed over 20 years ago after a woman, identified as Jane Doe by The Roys Report, alleged that for approximately three years, from 1996 to 1999, Bickle paid for her apartment, gave her a key to his office and engaged in every sexual act with her except copulation. She said the IHOPKC founder wooed her with Scripture when she was just 19 and he was 42, then made her a kept woman for several years as he established his now popular ministry.

IHOPKC founding member Dwayne Roberts, former IHOPKC Executive Leadership Team member Brian Kim and former Forerunner Church Pastor Wes Martin revealed in a joint October statement that they were the ones who first confronted IHOPKC leaders about the allegations against Bickle spanning "several decades."

They alleged that before meeting with IHOPKC's leadership team, they attempted to discuss the allegations directly with Bickle "in the spirit of Matthew 18:15-17" but were rebuffed. They claimed that Bickle also attempted to intimidate, isolate, manipulate and discredit his alleged victims.

In its "Report on Initial Findings," IHOPKC's executive leadership team said they treated the allegations against Bickle as credible and asked him to step away from public ministry when they were first confronted with the allegations on Oct. 24.

The IHOPKC leaders said they identified five of some eight women who the complaint group alleges are Bickle's victims and found the evidence thin. Three of the alleged victims called the allegations "lies.'" One of the alleged victims refused to communicate with the attorneys for the ministry. Only Jane Doe was found credible.

Volz said IHOPKC still had not gotten buy-in from the advocate group into their current investigation, but the ministry is working on it.

"Though we don't know the details, we know that the investigator has conducted numerous interviews with individuals who claim to have information related to the allegations against Mike Bickle, but we also know that she has not been permitted to speak to any of the alleged victims or members of the advocate group and as a result, IHOPKC still has not been able to verify the allegations that were presented by the advocate group last October," Volz said.

"IHOPKC wants the truth. We're going to get the truth no matter what it is. But the reality is this: in order for this to work, there really are two requirements that we need to see met. The first, the investigation must have the ability to be truly independent and we have that. But No. 2, the investigation must legitimately appear to those as truly independent to those that are involved," he explained.

"Those are related but not identical concepts, so we have No. 1 covered. We have an independent investigator, but No. 2 is the crux; we need community buy-in," the David House director said.

"IHOP's conviction is that a complete investigation should be conducted into the allegations of misconduct, and we believe our investigator would be able to accomplish this, but the advocate group does not feel comfortable with our approach, and we want them to feel comfortable.

"We cannot verify the allegations against Mike Bickle without their cooperation, and this community cannot find rest until it has the truth about those allegations."

Volz said he and Fuller have been working with the advocate group to establish trust in their process, and the David House Agency "has been working privately with the consultant of the advocate group on a step-by-step approach toward a mutually agreed upon investigation moving forward."

"This would be one that the alleged victims would have the ability to agree on and accept. To be clear we have not yet reached an agreement, but we are hopeful that we will," Volz said.

The independent investigation into Bickle's behavior is being conducted by attorney Rosalee McNamara, who was hired by the ministry. She previously issued a statement saying she is "free from any influence by any individual or organization, including IHOPKC."

Volz said that as a testament to her independence when the investigation is done, it will be released to the public by the investigators.

"IHOPKC's independent investigator has been hard at work for six weeks. She has been retained to conduct a truly independent investigation, and she has the qualifications to find out the truth," Volz said.

"IHOPKC has also confirmed that a final report will be released directly from the investigator. That means that IHOPKC is not going to have the ability to see the report first and edit the content before it gets released. It will be independently and directly released from the investigator."

IHOPKC also pledges to "implement any and all policy changes procedures and cultural changes to ensure that IHOPKC does not travel down this difficult road again."

 The Christian Post
North Korea is once again world's worst persecutor of Christians

Open Doors has released its World Watch List 2024 detailing the 50 countries where Christians suffer the most for their faith, and North Korea ranks number one for the 22nd time in 23 years.

Open Doors was especially critical of China's new policy of returning escapees back to North Korea.

It said that while the world's attention was focused on Israel and Gaza, China repatriated around 600 North Koreans back to the hermit communist country on 9 October 2023.

Most of them are thought to be women and all are likely to face a "living hell" upon their return.

"On return they face torture, sexual abuse and hard labour in the nation's infamous prison camps," said Open Doors.

However, other parts of the world are also causing Open Doors serious concern, including sub-Saharan Africa where it warns that a "double blow of violent instability and authoritarian control" could wipe out the Christian presence altogether.

It reports that at least 4,606 Christians were killed in the region last year because of their faith but it expects that the real figure is much higher.

"Christian minorities across east and west Africa face twin existential threats: violent disorder exploited by radical jihadists and autocratic governments backed by larger powers outside the region," said Open Doors.

Countries from the region on this year's World Watch List are Burkina Faso at number 20, Mali at 14, Mozambique at 39, Nigeria at number 6 and Somalia at number 2.

Open Doors blames the violence on "fractures in governance and security" that have "opened the door" for jihadist activities.

"Islamist militants are exploiting unstable political conditions across Sub-Saharan Africa," it said.

"Their aim is to sow disorder and ultimately seize power, turning regions or even nations into Islamic caliphates run under Islamic Sharia laws.

"The fractures in governance and security have opened the door for the jihadist activities seen."

Open Doors said it was most concerned about Nigeria, which accounts for over 82 per cent of Christians killed for their faith worldwide.

Christians have fallen victim to countless attacks by Islamist militants belonging to terrorist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Other perpetrators are radicalised Fulani herdsmen.

Christian communities have suffered successive raids with widespread killing, raping, maiming, destruction of property, and kidnapping for ransom.

"Attacks by Islamic extremists against Christians in subSaharan Africa have intensified as chaos and collapse besets the region," said Henrietta Blyth, Chief Executive of Open Doors UK and Ireland.

"Even in the IDP camps Christians feel fearful and unsafe since the very people who attacked them may be grazing their herds or robbing their crops just outside the camp.

"Governments in the region need to take meaningful action. Without this, once thriving Christian communities will disappear."

Open Doors reports an overall increase in the amount and intensity of persecution taking place worldwide, with 365 million Christians facing "high levels" of persecution and discrimination for their faith - up from 360 million last year.

In India, which ranks 11th again, there has been a nine-fold increase in Christian fatalities in the last year, rising from 17 to 160, after months of violence in the north-eastern state of Manipur.

Open Doors also noted an "extreme rise" in attacks on churches and Christian schools from 67 in the previous report to 2,228.

The violence in Manipur left 160 Christians dead, and displaced 62,000 people, many of whom remain in camps "with no hope of returning home safely".

"We discovered that many of the houses destroyed in the rioting had been marked with a red circle and cross a few months earlier by Meitei Extremists. This had been planned months before," said Chung Mang, a Christian leader from Manipur.

In other parts of India, Christians have been harassed and attacked for their faith. Much of the hostility has been attributed to anti-conversion laws which are in place across 12 states in the country.
Pro-lifer's trial over silent prayer delayed again

The trial of a Christian who prayed silently near an abortion clinic has been delayed for a second time.

Adam Smith-Connor was originally due to appear in court last November but the hearing was postponed to 18 and 19 January.

The court hearing has now been delayed for the second time, said the Alliance Defending Freedom UK (ADF), which is supporting him.

The request to postpone the trial again was made by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council who claimed that a two-day hearing would be insufficient.

His trial will now take place over three days, with the new dates to be determined by Poole Magistrates' Court at a hearing on 18 January.

Smith-Connor, an army veteran, was charged after praying silently for women and unborn children affected by abortion within an abortion clinic 'buffer zone' in Bournemouth.

The buffer zone criminalises prayer vigils and offers of help to women visiting the clinics, as well as "engaging in an act of approval/disapproval or attempted act of approval/disapproval, with respect to issues related to abortion services, by any means".

"This includes but is not limited to graphic, verbal or written means, prayer or counselling," the Public Spaces Protection Order states.

Smith-Connor was moved to pray silently after he came to experience regret funding the abortion of his son to an ex-girlfriend prior to his conversion to Christianity.

He was fined for praying silently about his deceased son within an abortion facility buffer zone on 24 November 2022.

ADF said he was fined despite being assured by officers at the time that his actions were legal.

It said that the UK is "witnessing a modern-day 'thought crime' trial".

"According to the rules of the censorship zone in which he was praying, if Adam were thinking about any other issue  the economy, immigration, or healthcare, for example  he wouldn't have been fined. It was the nature of his thoughts, his silent prayer, that got him in legal trouble," said ADF.

"The UK is witnessing a modern-day 'thought crime' trial."

ADF is asking people to pray for Smith-Connor and his legal team.

"It's not fair that Adam has had to endure this ordeal for over a year, with still further delays, for nothing more than silently praying," said Jeremiah Igunnubole, his legal counsel at ADF.

"We stand ready to serve Adam as he prepares for his third trial date. In the meantime, it's worth noting two important facts about this case:

"Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council continues to spend thousands in legal fees from the public purse to prosecute Adam for praying  despite being on the brink of bankruptcy.

"The mere holding of opinions and convictions counter to the state or popular culture risks punishment  whether by process or court."
Anunt concurs pentru post vacant Institutia Publica Centrul de Consiliere Agricola si Rurala (CCAR) este in cautare de un profesionist dinamic si dedicat, pentru pozitia de Sef/a de Sectie la sectia Inovare si transfer de cunostinte in cadrul institutie
UN Women Moldova Country Office intends to hire a native speaker Romanian language Writer/Editor in order to improve the quality of the Romanian content of public and corporate communication materials.

The objective of this Consultancy is to provide high quality writing and editing in Romanian, in line with UN Women terminology and with a specific focus on gender equality and womens empowerment issues, drawing attention to UN Women Moldova work and achievements. The assignment will include writing and editing in Romanian language of communication materials, reports and knowledge management materials produced by UN Women Moldova and its implementing partners, making sure that gender terminology is correct and in line with UN Women standards.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their online applications by 28 January 2024 to the following link UN WOMEN Jobs - 115119- Native speaker Romanian language Writer/Editor (undp.org) ,with the following documents:

Cover letter to include a brief overview in Romanian (unedited text) about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position.

to include a brief overview in Romanian (unedited text) about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. P11 with past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form-en.doc , a signed copy should be submitted.

with past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form-en.doc , a signed copy should be submitted. Financial Proposal (see annex II) The financial proposal should be daily fee for writing/editing and other required work; and

(see annex II) The financial proposal should be daily fee for writing/editing and other required work; and Example of writing and/or editing/quality assurance work in Romanian provide two examples carried out in the past 6 months.

In order for an application to be considered valid, UN Women only accepts duly completed submission package.

Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

The United Nations in Moldova is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.
Concurs de selectare a psihologilor/psihologelor pentru a oferi suport psiho-emotional de grup pentru cadrele didactice care lucreaza cu copii refugiati ce isi fac studiile in institutiile de invatamant
The Inter Faith Network logo

An interfaith charity has warned that it is likely to close if the government withdraws funding for its work after more than 20 years.

The Inter Faith Network (IFN) said it has received statutory grant funding since 2001, with 62% of its 342,000 income coming from one government grant in 2022.

In March 2023, the charity received a letter from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) stating that further funding would not be given from April 2023 to the charity.

However, organisations, individuals, MPs and peers protested this decision and in July 2023, IFN received a letter stating that DLUHC would provide funding following a review by ministers.

But the funding, which was set to be used from July 2023 to March 2024, is still yet to be provided and accessed by the charity.

Last week, MPs discussed the charitys future in an adjournment debate in the House of Commons .

Holly Lynch said the charity is at risk of imminent closure if the government does not provide the funding it pledged to it last July.

She said that staff have been made redundant at the charity and are working their notices.

IFN told Civil Society that three members of permanent staff had been made redundant so far.

Criticisms of charity

During the debate, Lynch said: It will be such a devastating tragedy if the money comes too late and, because of government inaction, it is forced to close.

Bob Blackman, Conservative MP for East Harrow, said that there had been criticisms of the IFN about the way it has been run.

The Telegraph reported in December that DLUHC officials thought that IFN should have called out the 7 October attack in Israel by Hamas, in which 1,200 people were killed.

However, the Charity Commission told Civil Society it had not fielded any complaints about the organisation.

Survival of IFNs work is unlikely without some government support

Founded in 1987, IFN works with member bodies to promote good relationships between people of different faiths. Muslim Council of Britain, Buddhist Society and Hindu Council UK are among its members.

Government grant funding has been a vital component of funding alongside its other income streams, IFN said.

IFN said that the agreed funding is vital to the planned and budgeted for work.

In a statement, IFN said: When the present offer of funding was made last July, the letter said that funding would not be given beyond March 2024.

While IFN continues to fundraise, the survival of its work would be unlikely without some government support.

Its latest accounts ending December 2022 show a total income of 342,000, with one government grant contributing 213,000 to this, and a deficit of 47,100.

Government to make announcement

Speaking at the debate, Simon Hoare, faith minister in DLUHC, said he was not able to confirm when the government will supply the funding pledged for the current financial year.

The department hopes to be able to make an announcement in pretty short order, he said.

The government are fully persuaded of the importance of developing and maintaining strong relationships across faiths and beliefs. That is crucial to the fabric of our nation.

Labour MP Stephen Timms said: Is it not clear that the kind of dialogue across faith divides that the Inter Faith Network facilitates is more needed at this moment than ever?

Unless the government keep their promise to provide funding for this financial year, we are going to lose that capacity entirely. Would that not be a terrible tragedy?

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Nine months ago, Sudans military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group, unleashed attacks against each other in Khartoum, the capital. Ever since, a destructive civil war has played out in the country; over twelve thousand people have been killed, and more than seven million people have been displaced. The fighting, once contained to the capital and adjoining cities such as Omdurman and Bahri, has spread to different parts of the country, such as Kordofan and Darfur. Tens of thousands of people have fled into neighboring countries including South Sudan, Chad, and Egypt. In December, the RSF captured Wad Madani, a major city that had been a safe haven for thousands who fled Khartoum at the start of the war. While the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan still control much of the country, the capture of Wad Madani was a major victory for the RSF and its leader, General Mohamed Hamdan, also known as Hemedti.

Both sides in the conflict have reportedly harassed, beaten, and shot at journalists since the fighting broke out. Many outlets have stopped operating altogether due to the violence. In October, RSF members ran over Halima Idris Salim, a reporter for the independent news site Sudan Bukra, with their car, killing her. In December, the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate reported that the RSF is now using the countrys state television headquarterswhich the group has controlled since fighting beganas a detention facility.

In June, after the war began, I spoke with Hiba Morgan, Al Jazeeras Sudan correspondent. We discussed the context for the fighting, which followed a thwarted transition to democracy and a coup; the coverage of it; and what might happen next. Since then, international media focus on the conflict has waned despite the violence not letting up; indeed, various commentators have dubbed it a forgotten war. Last week, I reconnected with Morgan to discuss what has contributed to this loss of attention, how best to communicate the civilian toll, and the challenges that she and other journalists are facing nine months into the war. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.



FM: The last time we spoke, around eight hundred civilians were reported killed and about a million displaced. Now over twelve thousand deaths have been reported and over seven million have been displaced. What are your observations on how media coverage and international attention have kept up with all of this?

HM: When you look at whats been happening around the world, especially in Gaza and Israel, attention has naturally been diverted. But even before that, we saw less media coverage. Its partly because there are no international journalists in the capital, Khartoum [or] in areas of conflict like Darfur, like Kordofan. Its not been easy for us to move around Khartoum. On the side of the government or the army, you need an escort for your safety. Theres also tension and anger from civilians; when they see a camera they dont necessarily welcome you. You need to make sure that you have a security escort so that you are protected in public places. Even people in places like Darfur and Kordofan cannot film because of concerns for their own safety, because of a lack of network [connection] and electricity. All of that has led to the diversion of attention.

Even if there were journalists on the groundand there was network [connection], and people were allowed to film what was happening in front of themIm not sure that that would have changed anything. Sometimes, its an issue of how much certain parts of the world matter to you. And I think Sudan, generally speaking, even before the conflicts, has fallen under really low priority.

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In addition to the on-the-ground fighting, international actors have taken sides in this warthe RSF has reportedly received support from Russias mercenary Wagner Group and the United Arab Emirates, while the SAF has been backed by Egypt. Has enough coverage been devoted to the geopolitics contributing to this conflict?

I dont think so. I know for a fact, for example, that the RSF is being backed by the UAE, but you dont hear that a lot; there are only a couple of articles on [it]: one in the Wall Street Journal, one in the New York Times. I think its because peoplemedia houses and countries that have influencedont want to stir up regional tensions. And there is the belief, politically speaking, of some diplomats that if you act under the table as opposed to outright calling out the backers, youre likely to reach an easier solution.

At the start of the conflict, the RSF took control of the headquarters of the Sudan Broadcasting Corporation. Now its being reported that the RSF has been selling off its broadcasting equipment and using the buildings as a detention facility. Can you talk more about that?

Its funny that you bring up the state television, because a couple of days ago I was speaking to someonea civilianwho was detained there. He drew this little map; I wouldnt say he was the best artist, but he was able to give me a good impression of where the entrance was, and the offices that were turned into the detention centers, and the rooms used for the commanders office. Whenever he would draw another detention office or part of the building, it was just more and more shockingthe number of sections that have been turned into detention cells that, he said, hold about twenty-five to thirty people in a room. I also heard from many colleagues and friends [about equipment being sold]. One of them called me and said, I saw something that very much looks like its from the state televisions facilities that has been brought out and sold, and for super cheap as well.

The state television had its issues, but they were working to build it out during and after the revolution [in 2019, when Omar al-Bashir, the long-standing dictator, was overthrown]. Knowing that engineers, journalists, editors have put so much effort into trying to build it into a better television station, with better facilities and better broadcast capabilities, and now hearing that all these places have been turned into detention centers, its just surreal. It will take a lot of effort to rebuild it once the war ends. During the first days [of the war], many journalists who were working there were detained at their place of work. So it will be traumatizing for a lot of them to come back, I imagine. I dont know how many people would be willing to go back to the place where they used to work and then later were detained.

Is the RSF trying to use the facilities in any sort of media capacity?

I think the RSF understands that its not television as much as social media right now. They have these little videos on social media, whether its on Facebook, Telegram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter). With most of their videos, you can see that theyre tailoring them for social media. They probably have specific WhatsApp groups [where] things are picked up and then put on their pages by their official first units or comms teams. And thats how it goes [out] really fast.

Its typical RSF propaganda. You hear their songs, their achievements, as they would put it: Weve been able to deliver aid to this part of Khartoum; the former regime did [such and such]. Their wording and their messaging is very clear: We are here for you; weve been trying to protect civilians; were trying to protect your democracy and your protest movements. Never mind that the protesters clearly said they didnt want them [the RSF]. I listen sometimes to find out what theyre saying, but its unclear how many people listen to them.

The SAF during the first days of the war had an army spokesperson who released statements, but that has largely stopped. Theyre also on social media.

We previously discussed how vital social media platforms like WhatsApp are for civilians, who need up-to-date information for safety. As a journalist, do you find yourself taking on two distinct roles, getting out vital information while also communicating the larger acts of the war to the world?

We definitely do want to give updates on whats happening, whether its brief or whether its through a report that were airing or an article. But I think it does take time to absorb what youve seen or heard. Sometimes, going through the footage, you realize youve documented some kind of crimewhat could potentially be a war crime or a crime against humanity. Youre trying to figure out if your documentation is needed for accountability, for justice in the future. Weve reached a point where weve realizedbecause this war has gone on for so long, and because its even in the capital itself, and because of the many horror stories that you hearthat this will require a legal action bigger than the nation can provide when its done; we realize that we will need external help with the amount of crimes that have happened. There are journalists that have reached the point where they know that they have to report and tell the audience and viewers whats happening, but theyre also aware that theyre documenting what potentially are the very first accounts of war crimes and crimes against humanity that could fall under international jurisdiction.

In terms of documenting the atrocitiesattacks on civilians and rampant sexual and gender-based violencejournalism can sometimes fall short of capturing the gravity of the situation. Has this been a challenge while reporting?

I think its always there. Even before the war, when we spoke to displaced people and refugees who had been affected by the crisis in the country, they told you their story and you ended up picking specific clips to keep it interesting. You dont want to just make it about one person; youre trying to portray a bigger picture there; so, out of somebody speaking to you for about twenty minutes, you end up taking only two minutes of it. But then you feel like youre taking some originality out of the story, some of the pain from the story. It seems like youre trying to sanitize it, in a way; thats how I sometimes feel. The story is still the same, but theres this feelingfor me, at least, and for some colleagues when we speak about thisthat you know that youve not done that person justice because youve not portrayed the whole picture. Youve given them less than what they deserve.



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Feven Merid is CJRs staff writer and Senior Delacorte Fellow.
On the afternoon of October 7, Bilal Jadallah stood inside the offices of Press House, the media center he had founded in the Gaza Strip, as journalists came to pick up free flak jackets and helmets.

Earlier that day, Hamas militants had stormed into southern Israel in a surprise attack, brutally killing hundreds of civilians. The Israeli government was promising swift and decisive retribution.

For many years, Jadallah, who was forty-five years old, had been the face of independent journalism in Gaza. For local reporters, the whitewashed two-story structure that served as the Press House offices, situated on Al Shuhadaa Street in the center of Gaza City, was a kind of sanctuary, especially in times of war. It had reliable electricity and internet and, somehow, always seemed to be insulated from the conflict raging outside.

It was also the first stop for many foreign reporters visiting the Stripa place they could use as a base of operations, where they might hire a local fixer or translator. A steady stream of Western diplomats came too.

Bilals thinking was to bring together all journalists, regardless of their politics or their ideology, said Seba Jaafarawi, a journalist and social media activist from Gaza who met Jadallah when she was just starting her career.

As the Israeli bombardment began, journalists huddled around tables and plastic lawn chairs in the buildings leafy courtyard, their laptops and cameras and flak jackets covering every available surface of its conference rooms. The familiar sense of safety pervaded.

But on October 9, two days into the conflict, an air strike hit the Palestine Telecommunications Company building nearby. Shrapnel damaged the Press House offices. Jadallah closed the offices, for the first time, and told everyone to leave. He dispatched his wife and four children to the south, where he thought theyd be safer.

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Jadallah stayed in Gaza City, to help distribute aid to displaced families. Reporters were being killed at a heartbreaking ratenearly thirty by the end of October. On the streets outside, a somber ritual took shape, as journalists carried the bodies of their colleagues in funeral processions, while dressed in protective gear emblazoned with the Press House logo.

Then, on November 6, an air strike killed one of Press Houses employees, its fundraising adviser, Muhammad Al Jaja, along with his wife and two daughters. A week later, another strike killed Ahmed Fatima, a cameraman for the Egyptian network Al Qahera News TV, who also worked at Press House, as he covered the Israeli military push to take Al Shifa Hospital.

According to a friend, Jadallah called Fatimas widow and offered to help the family with their finances. But it was becoming clear that he could not remain in the area much longer.

A week later, Jadallah phoned his own family to say that he was leaving to join them in the south. He got into a car with his brother-in-law, and began driving down Salah Al Deen Street, the main north-south highway in the Strip. Before they could make it out of the city center, an Israeli tank shell hit the car, killing Jadallah.

We cannot believe that he is gone, Jaafarawi said.

Jadallah founded Press House in 2013 out of a desire to create a home for truly independent journalism in Gaza.

In the years after the Arab Spring, Hamas, which has ruled the Strip since 2006, cracked down on signs of discontent. Life became especially difficult for civil society groups and journalists. Political tensions between Hamas and Fatah, the Palestinian party that controls the West Bank, made things worse, as reporters were viewed through their perceived allegiance to one faction or the other. For a journalist with the wrong kind of association, it was hard to obtain media credentials or even to cover a press conference. Jadallah wanted to break through that impasse.

He came from a family steeped in journalismseveral relatives currently work at Reuters, and his brother Ali Jadallah is a prominent photographer for Anadolu Agencyand he studied it in school. But he wanted to do more than just become another reporter. Despite the dangers of working as a journalist in Gaza, there has always been tremendous interest in the trade. Universities in the Strip steadily churn out new journalism graduates every year. Finding steady work has proved much harder.

Jadallah believed that with an independent space to train and foster journalists, he could build up a proper, professional media landscape in Gaza. Eventually, he told a local television channel in 2014, these journalists would help improve Palestinian society overall. We hope for Press House to be a forum for all media figures, opinion makers, and writers, so that they are all in one place, listening to each other and exchanging ideas, he said. There will be no politics in thisPress House is open for all.

Soon, Press House was buzzing with activity. It hosted journalists and diplomats from near and far. It held a regular series of training courses, funded by European governments, that were open to all, including those without any background in media. In 2014, Jadallah helped launch an in-house news agency, Sawa, which offered an accessible way for those just starting out in journalism to get hands-on experience.

Jaafarawi was a fresh university graduate when she first arrived at Press House, in 2013. She went on to work for four years as an editor for Sawa. It was like my second home, she said. I started as a volunteer there but ended up working for pay, and got the opportunity to be successful.

She also introduced Jadallah to Ahmed Fatima, the cameraman killed in November, who was drawn to the atmosphere at Press House. He was making tea and coffee, and cleaning, greeting people in Bilals office, Jaafarawi recalled. Being around journalists made Fatima decide to take up the profession himself. After that Ahmed took free journalism courses in Press House, and he became a real journalist.

In the conservative Gaza Strip, where it wasnt common for men and women to work in the same establishments, Jadallah played matchmaker, too: when Fatima caught the eye of another journalist at Press House, Jadallah helped introduce them. The pair eventually got married, one of several unions between journalists that Jadallah fostered.

Ahmed is just one of hundreds of youngsters that Bilal helped, Jaafarawi said. He was giving space to anyonehe was saying if you want internet, if you want space to work, come to Press House, its free and its open to you, regardless of your position. Instead of just focusing on the big journalists, Bilal was focusing on new journalists, on freelancers, on university graduates.

There was really nothing else like it in Gaza, said Abeer Ayyoub, a Gaza-born journalist who now writes for the Wall Street Journal. After graduating from a local university, Ayyoub looked to Jadallah for guidance and networking. Jadallah helped local journalists access diplomats to ask questions, and in time became a conduit for international journalists looking for fixers. We would go and talk to Bilal, ask him [his] advice; he would make some calls to officials to get us some permits to go and film, Ayyoub said.

The Egyptian American journalist Sharif Abdel Kouddous met Jadallah in 2014, when Kouddous went to Gaza to cover the war there. Crossing into Gaza through Erez, Kouddous had to get clearance not only from Israeli authorities, but also from Palestinian authorities in Gaza. Jadallah met him on the Palestinian side of the crossing, took him to Press House, and set him to work with a local journalist.

The center itself was just thisenergetic place of activity, and Bilal was just incredibly helpful, Kouddous said. He struck me as this father figure to so many of them, who would ask him for advice, or if a foreign correspondent had asked to follow up on a story and they couldnt, they didnt know how to do it, they would go to him, and he would recommend who to talk to.

At least seventy-six journalists have been killed in Gaza as of publication, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, one of several groups attempting to tally the deaths. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate puts the number at more than one hundred twelvearound 10 percent of the working media professionals in the Strip, according to Shuruq Asad, a West Bankbased journalist and spokesperson for the Syndicate.

Journalistic infrastructure is also being destroyed. All twenty-six radio stations in Gaza have been knocked off the air, and at least sixty-six media officesincluding those used by Agence France-Presse and Reutershave been left unusable by Israeli attacks, according to Asad. Journalists whose own homes have been hit have been forced not only to look for food and shelter for themselves, but also to scavenge for electricity to charge phones and cameras and internet access to file reportsservices they previously might have found at Press House.

They are even now very afraid to go to any familys home or friends home, because they dont want to be a reason for shelling anybody, Asad said. They feel that Israel is targeting them, and they dont really understand what their category [as civilians or combatants in the war] is anymore.

A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told CJR in a statement that Israel has never, and will never, deliberately target journalists. But in late October, the IDF also told Reuters and AFP that it could not guarantee the safety of their journalists in Gaza during the war.

A few months before his death, Jadallah did some work on this very issue. He played an instrumental role in a report, released last May by the Committee to Protect Journalists, on Israels role in the deaths of journalists in Gaza and the Palestinian territories. The report documented the killings of twenty journalists over twenty-two years, including thirteen in the Strip, and concluded that no Israeli had been held accountable for any of them.

Sherif Mansour, CPJs Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, said that while theres no evidence that Jadallah was specifically targeted, the circumstances of his death merit further inquiry. We have seen credible culpability on the IDFs part, and thats why we called for an independent and international investigation into the case, Mansour said.

But either way, the journalism community in Gaza will have to carry on without him. He was unique when it came to serving journalists, Jaafarawi said. His dream was to open Press House, and he opened it. His dream was to make it successful for all journalists, and it was.

Umar Farooq is a journalist who has worked as a foreign correspondent for Reuters, Al Jazeera English, and the Los Angeles Times, reporting from the Middle East and South and Central Asia.
Repsol SA is being sued for $1 billion by an English law firm representing around 35,000 alleged victims for its involvement in Perus largest oil spill in 2022.

Tom Goodhead, chief executive officer of Pogust Goodhead, said the lawsuit was filed last week in The Hague, where a company owning Repsols Perus subsidiary is registered. The lawsuit is tied to the 2022 spill in which 10,000 barrels of oil were spilled into the Pacific Ocean as oil was being discharged onto the La Pampilla refinery, owned by Repsol.

The Peruvian government has labeled the incident as the worst ecological disaster in its history and has criticized Repsol for not paying most of the fines fines imposed as a result. Repsol said it has appealed the fines and will pay them if its claims are dismissed. The spill had significant impact on fishing communities near La Pampilla, who have yet to be allowed to resume their activities.

Repsol said in a statement it was aware of the Dutch lawsuit, but dismissed it as meritless. It said Repsol has spent over $270 million repairing damage caused by the spill, including in paying compensation to those affected. Thats much less than what Pogust Goodhead hopes to reap.

The suit is the first filed by Pogust Goodhead since it got a $552 million investment from Connecticut-based Gramercy Funds Management, but it has specialized in international class actions for years. It is scheduled to go to trial this year against BHP, claiming a 36 billion ($45.8 billion) over a dam collapse in Brazil that left hundreds dead.

London-based Goodhead said it had signed on some 35,000 people onto the class action, mostly during the last few months of 2023. He traveled to Lima as part of the effort and said people impacted by the spill feel absolute fury and anger about what happened.

Theres a feeling that unless they took the lawsuit in the Dutch courts that they really wouldnt see justice, he said.

Top photo: Workers clean Cavero beach following an oil spill in Callao, Peru, on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. Repsols 10,400 barrel oil spill in Peru affected 106 square kilometers, with the company stating they have already cleaned 98% of the spill.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
War risk insurance premiums for shipments through the Red Sea are rising after further attacks on merchant vessels by Yemens Houthi movement and the expectation that ships with a UK or U.S. connection will be targeted, insurance sources said on Tuesday.

The Iran-aligned Houthis, who are well equipped and trained, have launched multiple attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November. They will expand their targets to include U.S. ships, a Houthi official said on Monday.

Even before the recent Houthi attacks, the London insurance market listed the southern Red Sea among its high risk areas and ships need to notify their insurers when sailing through such areas and pay an additional premium, which until earlier this month was typically for a seven-day cover period.

Insurance industry sources said that war risk premiums had risen to around 1% of the value of a ship, from around 0.7% last week with various discounts applied by underwriters. They added that rates were expected to move higher.

This translates into hundreds of thousands of dollars of additional costs for a seven-day voyage.

The terms being offered for war risk quotes are now significantly shorter, with 24 hours being the norm, said Munro Anderson, head of operations at marine war risk and insurance specialist Vessel Protect, which is part of Pen Underwriting.

Rates are increasing which is reflective of the significant and opaque risk exposure within the Red Sea, he told Reuters.

Since the naval and air strikes in Yemen, it is now broadly considered that, in addition to Israeli-connected vessels, there is an elevated threat to vessels associated with the UK, U.S., including dependent flags, as well as those connected to Australia, the Netherlands, Bahrain and Canada, he added referring to a U.S-led navy coalition trying to safeguard commercial shipping.

U.S.-based operator Eagle Bulk Shipping said on Monday one of its vessels was hit by an unidentified projectile while sailing 100 miles (160 km) off the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthi attacks are encompassing all vessels with less and less clear criteria, an insurance source said. U.S. and UK flags are advised now that they should not go through the Red Sea.

The Houthi militant group, which controls the most populous areas of Yemen after nearly a decade of war against the Western-backed and Saudi-led coalition, has emerged as a strong supporter of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the latters war against Israel.

In recent days, commercial ships have halted voyages through the Red Sea, with more taking the longer voyage via the southern Africas Cape.

With tensions rising in the Red Sea, the cost of transporting goods globally will increase and inevitably trickle down to the end consumer, said Nicole Hudson, director at supply chain platform e2open.

A combination of higher insurance rates and also rising fees for using the Suez Canal, has meant that it is becoming cheaper to take the longer route, which could also mean less certainty over deliver times, shipping sources said.

Shipowners and charterers may find that rerouting around Africa is more cost-effective than incurring the combined costs of Suez Canal transit fees and insurance premiums, broker Clarksons Securities said in a note this week.

The U.S.-led coalition is weak because regional powerhouses Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt did not take part, Yemens vice president said on Tuesday.

If the U.S.-led coalition fails to thwart further attacks and ensure the freedom of navigation in the region, we anticipate that war insurance coverage will become unavailable, forcing most of the traffic to use the much longer route around the Cape of Good Hope, Ratings service Morningstar DBRS said in a note on Monday.

(Reporting by Saul; Editing by Susan Fenton)
UPDATE (26/01/24): In an order delivered today, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decided by a large majority that it is at least plausible that Israel is committing genocidal acts in Gaza. The decision is a blow to Israels indignant propaganda that it is fighting to defend democracy against Hamas. It also represents an embarrassment for Israels allies in the West, which have backed its invasion to the hilt. But it must be recognised that the measures ordered are little more than a slap on the wrist for Israel, and a reminder that it should keep its genocidal intentions out of the public eye.

Notably, the Court did not order Israel to suspend its military operations in Gaza, as requested by South Africa. Instead, the Court has ordered that Israel take all measures in its power to prevent genocidal acts, prevent and punish public incitement to genocide, allow the provision of humanitarian assistance, and prevent the destruction of evidence related to allegations of genocide. Israel has been ordered to submit a report on what measures it has taken in one month.

The prime concern of the judges was not the protection of the people of Gaza but their own reputations, and the need to smooth over the international contradictions that this case has exposed. To dismiss the application would have completely shattered the authority of the ICJ. But to order Israel to stop the destruction would have not only worsened the diplomatic crisis for Israels Western backers who constantly preach about a rules-based order; it would have highlighted the impotence of the court itself when the order was ignored. So they found a way to do neither.

We can expect Israel to meet this public dressing down with contempt, as indicated by the immediate response of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Twitter/X: Hague Schmague. As we wrote below at the time of submissions, justice for Palestine will not come from a judges pen, but from a revolutionary struggle across the Middle East, with the solidarity and support of the workers of the world.

Intifada until victory!

[Originally published 17/01/24]

South Africas landmark genocide case against Israel has attracted the support of millions of people worldwide, who are desperate to see an end to the horrors in Gaza. Israels international reputation has received a blow from which it may never recover. But a blow is also being prepared for the whole edifice of international law, which is impotent to stop these atrocities.

Israel on trial

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the most important court of the United Nations, which adjudicates disputes between its 193 member-states. It is, in effect, the closest thing there is to a world court. Unlike the International Criminal Court (ICC), which also sits in The Hague, the ICJ does not prosecute individuals. Rather, its decisions are binding on the parties, although the court has no means of enforcing its decisions.

In an application submitted on 28 December, South Africa alleges that the state of Israel has committed or allowed to be committed acts that breach the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, which was drafted in 1948 in response to the horrors of the Holocaust.

The purpose of last weeks hearing was not to decide on whether Israel is committing a genocide in Palestine. That question will likely be kicked into the long grass for years to come. Instead, the court has been asked to order provisional measures, intended to prevent further irreparable harm being suffered by Palestinians in Gaza.

The significance of this case, and of the parties involved, is immediately recognisable. The black majority of South Africa has experienced centuries of dispossession, enslavement and colonial oppression, and its present government came to power as a result of the defeat of the brutal Apartheid regime by a revolutionary movement of the black working class.

The state of Israel was established in 1948, in the wake of the genocidal extermination of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. Since then, it has expanded its territory through the violent dispossession of Palestinian land. The Palestinian people have been forced into smaller and smaller enclaves, which are constantly subjected to military occupation, blockade and bombardment by the Israeli Defence Force. This brutal oppression has even drawn direct comparisons with South African Apartheid, which Israel supported throughout its existence.

This case also represents an immense embarrassment for the self-appointed defenders of the liberal, rules-based world order, who have sought to rally the entire world against genocide and crimes against humanity allegedly perpetrated by Russia in Ukraine, only to back with arms and funding the slaughter of tens of thousands and the displacement of almost the entire population of 2 million people in Gaza.

No wonder then that the US, the UK, Canada, and Germany have indignantly dismissed South Africas case as completely without any basis. And as if to underline the point, mainstream western media outlets such as the BBC and CNN did not broadcast any of South Africas submissions at the hearing, although they made sure to broadcast Israels response the next day.

The German government has even announced that it intends to intervene in the final genocide hearing as a third party, claiming that, having carried out the most infamous genocide in history, it now has some special moral authority on the matter. This astonishing arrogance has been confronted by Namibia, a former colony of Germany, which condemned the shocking decision to intervene and reminded the world that Germany committed another genocide on its soil between 1904 and 1908.

Deepening divide

The ANC government in South Africa undoubtedly has its own reasons to project itself as the foremost defender of Palestinian rights / Image: GovernmentZA, Flickr

The case has therefore deepened the split between the former colonial powers of the West and the rest of the world. One need only glance at the list of countries who have publicly given support to South Africas application (the Arab League, Bolivia, Cuba, Colombia, Brazil, Pakistan the list goes on), and the handful who have come out in support of Israel, to see this case has effectively become a political battle over the crimes and hypocrisy of western imperialism itself. The only possible result, irrespective of the judgement of the court, will be to further the isolation of the USA and its allies.

The ANC government in South Africa undoubtedly has its own reasons to project itself as the foremost defender of Palestinian rights, both at home and abroad, and it must be said that taking Israel to a toothless international court falls far short of what is really required to support the Palestinian struggle for freedom.

Nevertheless, the case has provided a glimmer of hope for millions of people around the world, who have protested in huge numbers against their own governments involvement in the slaughter. The Peace Palace where the court sits was surrounded by thousands of protestors, who greeted South Africas submissions with cheers.

For months, those who support the fight for Palestinian freedom have been attacked as antisemites and terrorist sympathisers. Some have even been arrested. To see Israel effectively on trial will understandably have offered them a certain sense of vindication.

Genocidal acts

At the hearing on 10 January, South Africas legal team set out the three basic elements of their case. First, they argued that Israel is committing acts that fall under the terms of the Genocide Convention, such as killing members of a group, harming them, or creating conditions calculated to bring about their physical destruction.

In support of this argument, South Africas advocates provided a concise but horrifying picture of the living hell that Gaza has become. It has been subject to one of the heaviest conventional bombing campaigns in the history of modern warfare, with 6,000 bombs deployed a week, including dumb bombs dropped on residential areas. At the time of the hearing 23,210 people had been killed as a result, of whom 70 percent were women and children. Thousands more are missing, presumed dead under the rubble.

Israels onslaught has made the whole of Gaza uninhabitable. So many buildings have been destroyed that Gaza is now a different colour from space.

Israels onslaught has made the whole of Gaza uninhabitable / Image: wafa, Wikimedia Commons

Israel has made the distribution of medical aid, food, water and fuel within Gaza impossible, both by restricting entry and by destroying roads to the point they are impassable. Health infrastructure has been wrecked, leaving the 60,000 people maimed by Israeli bombs in a dire situation. The court heard nauseating reports of amputations and caesarean sections being conducted in barely functional hospitals, without anaesthetic, in scenes resembling something from a horror movie. This is not to mention the lack of sanitation, with a reported 2,000 percent increase in instances of diarrhoea among children under five combining with rampant malnutrition into a deadly cycle of pestilence and famine.

As much as 93 percent of the Gazan population face crisis levels of hunger, constituting 80 percent of all people worldwide in such a condition. The few aid trucks able to access Gaza are immediately set upon by desperate, starving people, as the court was shown in footage. Breastfeeding mothers cannot produce milk, and so mix formula with contaminated water, or increasingly commonly, give their babies nothing at all.

Indeed, experts warn that deaths from starvation and disease risks are significantly outnumbering deaths from bombings. Meaning, even if the war ends tomorrow, over 60,000 casualties might already be inevitable. And the war will not end tomorrow.

But for these heinous acts to constitute genocide South Africa would need to show that Israel is deliberately attempting to destroy a national or ethnic group in whole or in part. In support of this, the South African legal team set out a calculated pattern of conduct indicating a genocidal intent in relation to Palestinians in Gaza, who form a significant part of the Palestinian nation.

Far from an imposed silence, South Africa noted repetition of genocidal speech throughout every sphere of state in Israel. For instance, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops preparing to enter Gaza: remember what Amalek has done to you, referencing a story where the ancient Israelites are instructed by God to annihilate the neighbouring Amalekites, down to slaughtering their women, children and cattle.

Social media footage was cited of IDF soldiers calling for Gaza to be erased, celebrating the destruction of civilian homes, and taunting the Palestinian people. Israeli politicians and the press were referenced stating there are no innocents in Gaza; that pregnant women and babies are also enemies; and calling for nuclear strikes.

Beyond explicit statements of genocidal intent, South Africas application also referred to the bombing of areas that Israel itself had directed civilians to travel to as safe zones, and the herding of an immense number of people in areas plainly unfit for human habitation, as suggestive of the intention to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a group.

However, the purpose of this hearing was not to establish whether Israel had in fact committed genocidal acts, but rather whether there was at least a plausible risk that these acts could take place, necessitating urgent measures to prevent genocide.

The need for these measures formed the third basic element of South Africas application, that without the ordering of provisional measures to stop the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza and distribute food and aid, there was an urgent risk of irreparable harm being done to them.

In her submissions, South Africas advocate, Blinne Ni Ghralaigh, not only pointed to the fact that on the basis of current figures, on average 247 Palestinians are being killed and are at risk of being killed each day; she also drew on past decisions of the court to show that in other cases of lesser severity, such as Russias invasion of Georgia in 2008, the ICJ had ordered provisional measures. This posed the question quite clearly: would the court be prepared to take action when the state in question is a key US ally?

Israels response

The following day, Israels legal team presented its defence.

Beyond accusing South Africa of having close relations with Hamas, they predictably emphasised Israels right to self-defence in the wake of 7 October, and claimed that Israel, not the Palestinians, faced a genocidal act. In other words, they say the most heavily armed state in the region is under immediate threat of destruction from rag-tag militants hiding in a half-obliterated, open-air prison.

In fact, Israel wanted to begin its submissions with a screening of its well-known film of Hamas atrocities on 7 October. When this was denied by the court it became apparent that Israels defence team did not have much more to say.

Israel did not deny the scale of the death and destruction in Gaza / Image: United Nations Photo, Flickr

Israel did not deny the scale of the death and destruction in Gaza, but predictably laid the blame on Hamas alleged human shield tactics. In fact, by this argument the Israeli defence team were in effect admitting to the intentional destruction of civilian infrastructure and the killing of Palestinian civilians as legitimate military targets. They coined a telling phrase when they claimed that thousands of those killed by Israel were, civilians taking part in hostilities.

On the destruction of medical infrastructure, Israel cited the overwhelming evidence of Hamas use of hospitals as command centres: a claim repeatedly challenged, even by Israel's allies in Washington.

On the question of intent, Israel waved away genocidal statements by politicians, journalists and soldiers as simply war-time rhetoric, said in the heat of the moment. Presumably, this was just meant for internal consumption, and should be ignored by the outside world.

Israels real intentions, the court was told, were not to be found in public statements by both the President and the Prime Minister, nor in the explicit aims of military commanders, nor even in the words of the soldiers doing the killing. Instead, Israels policy was to be found in the minutes of a War Cabinet meeting, in which Netanyahu apparently said we must prevent a humanitarian disaster. Whether those present in the meeting laughed or not was not recorded.

In any event, Israels advocate argued, there was no need for provisional measures, because Israel has facilitated the entry of more aid into Gaza. The apocalyptic famine in Gaza is an inconvenient chink in this iron-clad defence, but Israel has an answer to everything it seems, and the answer is always the same: Hamas did it!

In fact, Israels main defence has nothing to do with the allegations raised by South Africa. Rather, Israel denied that the ICJ even had jurisdiction, because there was no dispute between the parties.

Apparently Israel offered to arrange a diplomatic meeting in order to have a friendly discussion on the matter, and South Africa rudely submitted its application before that meeting could take place. For this reason, Israel argued, South Africa had failed to follow the correct procedure and the ICJ could therefore take no decision at all on either the merits of the case of genocide, or on the question of provisional measures.

The Israeli defence can therefore be summed up as: If we do wipe out the Palestinian population in Gaza, this would be the opposite of what we intended to happen, although it would be entirely the fault of the Palestinians anyway, and completely justified by Israels right to defend itself against Hamas, and in any event, you have no right to stop us!

No illusions

The panel of 17 judges, including two added by the parties themselves, will now deliberate for several weeks before reaching their decision by a majority vote. Prime among their concerns will be how they can preserve the reputation of the court, when any decision they do make will be politically explosive.

In reality, this case represents a crisis for the ICJ, and the entire edifice of so-called international law. To reject South Africas application in its entirety would be to announce to the world that a state can massacre tens of thousands of innocent people from a single ethnic group, all without even a plausible risk of genocide taking place. Rather than making Israels war respectable, it would simply make the ICJ complicit in Israels unspeakable acts.

If the fate of the people of Gaza hangs on an order of the ICJ then they are doomed / Image: own work

Even if the court were to try to wriggle out of making a decision on the merits of the case by accepting Israels spurious argument that the court does not have jurisdiction, this will be seen (correctly) as a spineless attempt to avoid responsibility. In effect, it would be a silent endorsement of the forced displacement and murder of Palestinians in Gaza.

The granting of provisional measures, even short of what was requested by South Africa, would amount to official recognition that there is at least a plausible risk of genocide being committed against Palestinians in Gaza, which completely explodes Israels propaganda war, based on the constant repetition of its right to defend itself.

But such an order would ultimately only serve to show the complete impotence of the court. The enforcement of ICJ decisions is left to the UN itself and, specifically, the Security Council, of which both the US and the UK are permanent members with veto rights. Any measures ordered against Israel would therefore remain a dead letter, just like every UN resolution passed against Israels occupation.

Netanyahu made his position quite clear when he told journalists, We will continue the war in the Gaza Strip until we achieve all our objectives. The Hague and the axis of evil will not stop us.

This is why we must disagree with the statement of South African advocate, Adila Hassim, that nothing will stop this suffering, except an order from this court. We cannot have any illusions in the institutions of international law, which in the last analysis amount to nothing other than a fig-leaf for the major powers.

If the fate of the people of Gaza hangs on an order of the ICJ then they are doomed. Only the workers of the world can stop Israels onslaught, not by appealing to imperialism to restrain itself but by giving all the support we can to the revolutionary struggle of Palestinians for their homeland, and by fighting to overthrow imperialism everywhere.

(17/01/24)
Imported fruits enrich Chinese people's dining tables with affordable delights

People's Daily Online) 13:39, January 17, 2024

Prices of imported cherries have recently been dropping in supermarkets, fruit retail stores, and fruit wholesale markets. Several fruit stalls have even started advertising promotions on imported cherries, catching the eye of consumers.

On Jan. 11, 2024, the average price of cherries imported from Chile with a diameter of over 32 millimeters in Beijing's Xinfadi wholesale market ranged from 96 to 100 yuan ($ 13.93) per kilogram. Cherries with a diameter of between 26 and 27.9 mm were priced at around 56 to 60 yuan per kilogram.

When imported cherries were ready for sale in China in November 2023, they were priced at an average of 240 to 300 yuan per kilogram. However, by the New Year's Day in 2024, the price had dropped to around 160 to 180 yuan per kilogram. The increased supply of cherries in mid-December 2023 resulted in a significant decrease in prices and a subsequent boost in sales.

A cold-chain worker packs a box of Chilean cherries at the Nansha port area of the Guangzhou Port in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Hong Zehua)

An employee of a fruit and vegetable supermarket in Beijing mentioned that the prices of imported cherries in their store have dropped by approximately 35 percent compared to the previous month.

The major reason for the recent drop in cherry prices is the large influx of cherries transported by sea, resulting in an ample supply in the market, according to Xue Furong, manager of a Beijing-based international trading company.

Xue noted that the prices of imported fruits tend to fluctuate significantly. Before the 2024 Spring Festival, cherry prices may still be influenced by factors such as quality and sales, leading to further fluctuations.

Zhai Tianchang, an assistant researcher at the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that with the increasing cherry production in countries like Chile and the decline in transportation costs, prices are expected to frequently decline.

In recent years, cherries and other imported fruits and fresh produce have seen a gradual drop in prices.

Xue, an industry veteran, has observed a significant increase in fruit imports in recent years, leading to multiplied sales compared to previous years.

Zhai said China's ongoing efforts to expand its opening-up help increase the availability of high-quality imported fruits and fresh produce at lower prices.

China's participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has strengthened industrial and supply chain connections, reduced regional trade costs, bridged supply-demand gaps, promoted diversified agricultural product supply, and facilitated further price reductions for imported fruits and fresh produce, said Zhai.

China and Chile signed a free trade agreement in 2005, and initiated the process to reduce tariffs on the goods trade in the latter half of 2006. In 2017, the China-Chile Free Trade Agreement was further upgraded, with 98 percent of the products enjoying zero tariffs.

"The robust trade cooperation between China and Chile not only meets the rising domestic consumption demands but also promotes agricultural development and job opportunities for Chilean residents," Zhai said.

This deepening trade collaboration has made it easier for cherries to enter the Chinese consumer market at more competitive prices, allowing Chinese consumers to savor imported cherries.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
TOKYO, Jan 17 ( News On Japan ) - Mitsuko Tottori, a former cabin attendant, will be promoted to the next president of Japan Airlines, becoming the first woman to hold the position of highest-ranking executive in the company.

Mitsuko Tottori, who will start the role of president of Japan Airlines on April 1, declared 'Safety and service are the two pillars of my career.'

Tottori (59) joined the company in 1985 and served as a cabin attendant for over 30 years.

Tottori stated, 'The foundation of an airline company lies in safe operation,' and praised the cabin attendants who responded to an incident at Haneda, saying, 'There was a sense of mission in all nine of them to ensure everyone evacuated without exception,' and expressed her pride in them."

Source: ANNnewsCH
Facebook co-founder and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg sits in his seat inside a bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Insight Forum for all U.S. senators hosted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 13, 2023.



Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg must take part in a deposition as part of an ongoing lawsuit in Texas involving the company's facial recognition technology.

Justice Jeff Rambin of Texas's Sixth Court of Appeals said in a Tuesday ruling that the state court has denied Meta's recent petition "seeking relief from an order compelling the oral deposition" of Zuckerberg at an unspecified date.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the lawsuit in February 2022, saying at the time that Meta has been "capturing and using the biometric data of millions of Texans without properly obtaining their informed consent to do so." Attorneys representing Texas also said Meta violated the state's Deceptive Trade Practices Act by "failing to disclose information  including the fact that it collects biometric identifiers  with the intent to induce Facebook users in Texas into using Facebook, which such users would not have done had the information been disclosed."

In Tuesday's ruling, the state of Texas claimed that Zuckerberg has "had unique personal knowledge of discoverable information" that's relevant to its lawsuit, alleging that Meta violated state laws related to the collection of biometric data and deceptive trade practices.

Meta settled a facial recognition-related class action lawsuit in 2021 for $650 million. Attorneys said in a filing at the time that it was one of the "largest settlements ever for a privacy violation, and it will put at least $345 into the hands of every class member interested in being compensated."

Meta didn't respond for a request for comment.

WATCH: Three Buys and a Bail: Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple
Argentina's President Javier Milei delivers a speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos on January 17, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Argentina's president, Javier Milei, on Wednesday called on business and political leaders to reject socialism and instead embrace "free enterprise capitalism" to bring an end to world poverty.

"Today, I'm here to tell you that the Western world is in danger," Milei said in a special address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, according to a translation.

"And it is in danger because those who are supposed to have to defend the values of the West are co-opted by a vision of the world that inexorably leads to socialism, and thereby to poverty," he added.

Milei's trip to Davos marks his first overseas tour since taking office last month.

The right-wing leader, a self-described "anarcho capitalist" often compared with former U.S. President Donald Trump, reportedly said en route to Switzerland that he was attending the meeting to advocate for freedom.

Traveling via commercial jet to the Swiss resort town, Milei criticized Davos for what he perceived to be its "socialist agenda, which will only bring misery to the world," Reuters reported Tuesday.

"Rebuilding Trust" is the overarching theme of the annual WEF meeting. The forum says this year's program embodies a "back to basics" spirit of open and constructive dialogue between policymakers, business leaders and civil society.

WEF founder Klaus Schwab introduced Milei to the stage in Davos by saying his "more radical methods" had "introduced a new spirit to Argentina."

"The main leaders of the Western world have abandoned the model of freedom for different versions of what we call collectivism. We're here to tell you that collectivist experiments are never the solution to the problems that afflict the citizens of the world  rather they are the root cause," Milei said.

"Do believe me, no one [is] better placed than us Argentines to testify to these two points," he added.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., left, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., attend a Menorah lighting to celebrate the eight-day festival of Hanukkah, in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had a bipartisan glow about them Wednesday after they and other congressional leaders met with President Joe Biden, where they discussed Ukraine aid, border security, and elements of a deadlocked funding package.

"We had a productive meeting," Johnson, R-La., told reporters minutes after the White House sitdown ended.

"We understand that all these things are important, but we must insist, we must insist that the border be the top priority," the speaker said. "I think we have some consensus around that table."

Schumer, D-N.Y., said the meeting showed there was agreement between Democrats and Republicans that additional aid for Ukraine and improved U.S. border security are necessary.

"The only way we will do border and Ukraine, or even either of them, is bipartisan," Schumer said. "Any party that says do it my way or no way, we're not going to get anything done."

The meeting, which lasted over an hour, also was attended by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and various congressional committee chairmen and ranking members.
Ishikawa, Jan 17 ( News On Japan ) - A quake survivor who managed to call for help while trapped under his partially collapsed house, recorded his ordeal on his phone for 38 seconds, while he was buried alive.

The footage shows fallen timber and debris within the wreckage of his house in Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and you can hear 52-year-old Mr. Tatsumi breathing hard.

Mr. Tatsumi was trapped for about 15 hours.

On New Year's Day, Suzu City was struck by two strong tremors, one registering a lower 6 on the Japanese scale.

After the first tremor, Mr. Tatsumi tried to leave his house, but...

Mitsutoshi Tatsumi: 'During the second tremor (lower 6), a chest of drawers fell over, the ceiling came down, and before I knew it, I was buried alive. I couldnt move at all, and it was pitch dark.'

Mr. Tatsumi, trapped under a fallen pillar on the first floor, managed to move his hand and record with his phone.

Mitsutoshi Tatsumi: 'I probably did it subconsciously. As part of my job in local news, it's natural to record anything that happens. I dont even remember recording it.'

Right after the earthquake, a major tsunami warning was issued for Suzu City. Knowing this through the disaster prevention radio and with his house about 200 meters from the sea, Mr. Tatsumi thought...

Mitsutoshi Tatsumi: 'I thought I would drown if a tsunami came. That was all I could think of.'

Mr. Tatsumi had resigned himself to death, but thankfully, the tsunami did not hit.

Several hours after being buried, although his cell phone had been out of service, it suddenly...

Mitsutoshi Tatsumi:'I checked it occasionally and saw one bar of signal, so I called my brother.'

The call for help went to his brother Yoshihiro (59), who was at an evacuation center. It was around 1:30 AM.

Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Rescuer and Brother: 'He called me on his cell phone, asking for help. I asked, Where are you? and he said, At home. The signal was bad, and the call got cut off.'

Yoshihiro immediately went to their home, but it was too dark for a rescue, so it was not until morning, with the help of neighbors, that Mitsutoshi was rescued through a window.

Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Rescuer and Brother: 'His legs were trembling. When I said, Youve been saved, he just nodded.'

The photo taken after the rescue shows blood on his face. He also had fractured ribs.

Mitsutoshi Tatsumi, who was buried alive for about 15 hours: 'Im just grateful. It feels more like I was saved rather than I survived.'

Source: TBS
Europe's technology hardware sector's "roller coaster year" of 2023 ended on a strong note, and a cyclical recovery is now underway, according to Morgan Stanley. The Wall Street Bank is expecting investors to focus on a cyclical recovery and key themes such as artificial intelligence, advanced packaging, silicon carbide and gate-all-around transistors. Those themes can "drive earnings momentum throughout this year, especially in 2H24," Morgan Stanley's analysts led by Lee Simpson wrote in a Jan. 11 research note titled "2024 Outlook: buy on the dips." Against that backdrop, Morgan Stanley named its top overweight-rated stocks: semiconductor companies ASML , Besi , STMicroelectronics and Soitec ; industrial valve manufacturer VAT Group; and software company Synopsys . The stocks are listed in the order of Morgan Stanley's preference in the table above. Though the bank expects near-term weakness in the semiconductor names, it said it would "buy on the dips" as inventory corrections are finished. ASML The Dutch semiconductor equipment maker made Morgan Stanley's list, with a 12-month price target of 700 euros ($764.26), giving it around 7.8% upside. "We see ASML at the bottom of its order book cycle and expect a typical book to bill recovery in the coming quarters to provide growing confidence of growth across FY25 and into FY26," Morgan Stanley's analysts wrote. Besi The analysts said Besi is likely to be an "early beneficiary of a cyclical recovery." The investment bank also expects the company to benefit from a broadening adoption of hybrid bonding. The Dutch company, which the bank said "tends to beat consensus expectations in upcycles," was given a target price of 150 euros, or around 16.6% upside. STMicroelectronics Morgan Stanley said it likes the European chipmaker even though investors are bearish on it. "We remain surprised at how negative investor sentiment is on STMicro, which in the absence of major business transformations has shown it can better manage downturns; a tougher sales decline could even let the company show trough earnings power that will help the stock in the next cycle," the investment bank's analysts wrote. They expect the stock to "outperform on recovery" and thus gave it a target price 48 euros, or 20.8% upside potential. VAT Group This German company was among Morgan Stanley's top stocks, thanks to its exposure to the memory segment. "We see VAT as the EU name most exposed to memory and are Overweight on strong expected momentum," the bank's analysts said, giving the company a price target of 440 Swiss francs ($515.33), or around 10.6% upside. Other opportunities for VAT include its exposure to Chinese original equipment manufacturers, which are now taking share of the broader WFE (wafer fab equipment) market, they added.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
Anyone can ask ChatGPT to answer a question or perform a task. But the popular chatbot is particularly useful for workers in three specific industries, according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

"Coding is probably the single area from a productivity gain we're most excited about today. It's massively deployed and at scaled usage, at this point," Altman said during a recent episode of "Unconfuse Me," a podcast hosted by Bill Gates. "Healthcare and education are two things that are coming up that curve that we're very excited about, too."

Altman, whose company makes ChatGPT, made a point of noting that today's AI systems "certainly can't do [those] jobs" for you. But in those three fields, workers might benefit from using the chatbot as a productivity tool, he said.

Here's how.

Coding

ChatGPT can help programmers finish their work as much as three times faster than usual, Altman said. The system can assist in tasks like reviewing written code for mistakes, writing test cases, answering a programmer's questions and even generating new code completely on its own, he added.

The key word is "assist." GPT-4, which OpenAI released last year, provides the wrong answer to programming questions nearly half of the time, according to a 2023 study from researchers at Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley.

Coders who use ChatGPT to assist their work should proceed with caution and double-check everything the chatbot says  a process that may be faster than performing those tasks manually.

The goal isn't just to help coders complete more work in less time, Altman said: Such a productivity shift can, and should, give people more free time to think outside of the box.

"They can  at that higher level of abstraction, using more of their brainpower  they can now think of totally different things," he said. "It's like [how] going from punch cards to higher level languages didn't just let us program a little faster, it let us do these qualitatively new things."

Education

Currently, AI systems can help teachers design a curriculum, or personalized lesson plans for specific students. They can also save teachers time by performing various administrative tasks for them, like tracking attendance or sending automated assignment reminders.

It may also be useful for learning new languages: Educational tech companies like Duolingo have, somewhat controversially, reportedly started cutting workers while relying more on AI.

Gates has also touted ChatGPT's ability to power tutoring programs, in the hopes of expanding access to personalized tutors for students in remote and underserved communities. Last year, he predicted that people would be "stunned" by how much AI tutors could soon help improve students' reading and writing skills.

"The AIs will get to that ability, to be as good a tutor as any human ever could," Gates said in a keynote talk at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego last April.

Some educators have worried that tools like ChatGPT could make it easier for students to cheat on assignments. Research hasn't shown an uptick in cheating so far  but the mistakes it can make mean that parents and teachers should remind students to never rely solely on AI, Barnard College psychologist Dr. Tovah Klein told CNBC Make It last year.

Healthcare

OpenAI's chatbot has already passed the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam, though experts caution that the system's propensity for errors makes it unlikely to be trusted by most patients for the foreseeable future.

But AI tools can benefit doctors by serving as a digital assistant to help with time-consuming administrative tasks like insurance paperwork, American Medical Association president Jesse Ehrenfeld said last year.

Such tools can analyze research and summarize patients' medical histories, the AMA separately noted last year. And they can save time and educate medical patients by answering many of their most frequently-asked questions, research shows.

Beyond your doctor's office, some pharmaceutical companies are using ChatGPT to automate parts of the processes for discovering and researching new drugs, Gates wrote in a 2023 blog post.

"One of the Gates Foundation's priorities in AI is to make sure these tools are used for the health problems that affect the poorest people in the world, including AIDS, [tuberculosis], and malaria," he wrote.

Altman echoed that excitement on Gates' podcast, noting that the technology is only in its infancy.

"The stuff that we're seeing now is very exciting and wonderful, but I think it's worth always putting it in context of this technology that, at least for the next five or ten years, will be on a very steep improvement curve," Altman said. "These are the stupidest the models will ever be."

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In this article XRP.CM= Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

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DAVOS, Switzerland  Ripple explored markets outside the U.S. for its initial public offering, CEO Brad Garlinghouse told CNBC, blaming a "hostile" regulator. However, the firm has put any plans for an IPO on hold for now, Garlinghouse said. Garlinghouse told CNBC in 2022 that Ripple, the company behind the cryptocurrency XRP , will explore a public listing after its lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ends. The lawsuit, which began in 2020, is still ongoing.

However, speaking to CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Garlinghouse said Ripple has "looked at other jurisdictions that have clear rules of the road," to go public. The Ripple CEO said his company has not gone public in the U.S. yet because of the SEC's actions. "In the United States, trying to go public with a very hostile regulator that's approved your S-1, that doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me," Garlinghouse said. "Coinbase obviously had their S-1 approved. And now the SEC is suing them for doing things that was outlined in their S-1." An S-1 is a document that is filed with the SEC ahead of an IPO in the U.S. and lays out information such as a company's financial performance and the key risks of investing in the firm. Coinbase is listed in the U.S. The SEC sued Coinbase last year alleging that the company was acting as an unregistered broker and exchange.

Garlinghouse has been critical over the past few years to the SEC's approach to regulating the crypto industry. On Tuesday, he called the SEC Chair Gary Gensler a "political liability." He said he thinks there will be a new chair of the SEC and then his company could consider a U.S. listing. The SEC did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.

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President Donald Trump (C) arrives, flanked by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L), to address the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting on January 26, 2018 in Davos, Switzerland. Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images

DAVOS, Switzerland  Donald Trump is not among the attendees at this year's edition of the World Economic Forum in Davos, but his potential reelection as president of the United States is very much part of the conversation at the Swiss Alpine resort. "Every question I've gotten as I've walked up and down the [Davos] Promenade today is, 'is he coming back?'" Tim Adams, president of the Institute of International Finance, told CNBC on Tuesday. "So, I think there is a lot of interest in that question and what does that mean, and who would be in the key positions," he added. Trump won the Iowa caucuses earlier this week, setting a record for victory margins at the meetings. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came in a distant second, followed by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. The Iowa vote was seen as the first big test in the Republican primary campaign ahead of the 2024 presidential election. With Trump leading the Republican pack so far, the November election is likely to be another runoff between the former president and Democratic incumbent Joe Biden.

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Some Davos participants are already preparing their business for a potential Republican leader in the White House. "Considering what happened when President Trump was in office, his main interest is trade. So we have to expect trade issues will be very serious," Takeshi Niinami, CEO of Japanese drinks maker Suntory, told CNBC on Wednesday. He added his company is allocating more resources to its operations in the United States so it can protect itself against any trade disputes. "We have to produce locally, especially in the United States. ... We have scenarios to be able to respond to that leadership change," he added. The U.S. is one of the main markets for Suntory, which is looking to expand its sales beyond China. In the past 12 months, the U.S. Congress has been dominated by uncertainty, with changes in the House speakership, friction over spending plans and foreign policy priorities, to name just a few crises. For Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered, one of the main questions is how would a new U.S. leader interact with China, following years of tensions between Washington and Beijing. "The slight reengagement that we're seeing through the Biden administration are an indication to me that the U.S. is looking to stabilize [relations with China]," the top bank CEO said, giving a nod to recent trips by U.S. officials to China.

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"If Trump becomes president, we know that he's a transactional president, and there's probably a transaction in there someplace, that keeps the economy on an even keel, without fundamentally disrupting that relationship. But of course, we watch all the time, and we're well aware that there could be either unintended consequences or accidents," Winters said. When asked what a Trump return could mean for U.S. fiscal policy, the IIF's Adams replied: "We have a debt problem globally. We have the highest levels of debt in a nonwar period in modern history and it's at the corporate, household, sovereign, sub-sovereign." "We have a huge fiscal problem everywhere, including the U.S. We're running [a] deficit at 7% of GDP. We need sobriety and we need to focus on how we are going to get our fiscal house in order," he said. Even back at one of the hotels in Davos the chat was still centered on Trump. Two attendees were overheard discussing the latest from the U.S. political scene, with one expressing his discontent with a potential repetition of the last election, which saw incumbent Trump lose out to Biden. "Nothing gets done in U.S. politics anymore," the attendee said.

EU concerned about U.S. election

The chatter around the U.S. election goes beyond Davos, however. A top EU official told CNBC Wednesday that the bloc has concerns and is "preparing for any option." The European Union, the political and economic organization of 27 nations, was previously criticized by political experts for not taking the election of Trump seriously back in 2016. The EU and Trump clashed over many items, most notably on trade and the role of multilateral institutions. "Of course, it will have influence in the EU," Vera Jourova, European Commission vice president, told CNBC in Davos regarding the U.S. election. "If Mr. Trump will become the president ... we might see a strengthening of Russia and increasing of appetite of Putin to grab more territory, and this directly endangering the security of our member states," she said, adding that "we have concerns, we are preparing for any option."

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Elon Musk's apparent ultimatum to Tesla 's board of directors to acquire more control of the automaker could negatively weigh on its stock, analysts say. Musk posted on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday that he was uncomfortable turning Tesla into an artificial intelligence and robotics leader without having 25% control of the company. "Unless that is the case, I would prefer to build products outside of Tesla," Musk wrote . Musk previously controlled about 25% of Tesla before selling shares in 2022 to fund his purchase of Twitter, according to JPMorgan analyst Ryan Brinkman. He currently controls about 13% of Tesla. Regaining 25% control of the automaker would require "the effective dilution of other investors stakes, likely via the arrangement of a new compensation plan," Brinkman told clients in a Tuesday research note. Musk's demand will weigh on shares because it raises the odds that he will depart as CEO if he doesn't get his way, and raises the cost to shareholders of keeping him on board, Brinkman wrote. Musk's demand also "raises the risk of near-term de-rating and further volatility" because Tesla's valuation multiples are already factoring in significant upside from nonauto activities, Jefferies analyst Philippe Houchois told clients in a Tuesday research note. Investors will likely start to question Musk's recent track record at Tesla, Houchois wrote. They will question Musk's dilution of Tesla shareholders to fund the Twitter acquisition and his questionable strategic and product priorities over the past two years that have undermined growth, returns and management cohesion, according to Houchois. Investors may also question corporate governance at Tesla given that they are learning about the compensation issues from Musk on social media, Brinkman wrote. Nevertheless, Jeffries expects Tesla's board will approve another CEO supercompensation scheme to keep AI developments within the Tesla fold, Houchois wrote. Jeffries currently has a hold rating on Tesla's stock with a price target of $225, implying 2.3% upside from Tuesday's close of $219.91. JPMorgan has an underweight rating on Tesla with a price target of $135, implying significant downside of 38% from yesterday's close.
Paul Patterson, Europe co-CEO of Fujitsu Services, giving evidence to the Business and Trade Committee at the Houses of Parliament, London, on what more can be done to deliver compensation for victims of what has been labelled one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history.

The company, whose shares were the second-largest loser on the Nikkei index, signaled it would compensate hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted in the UK as a result of its defective software.

Shares of Fujitsu sank almost 4% on Wednesday after the Japanese IT firm's Europe co-CEO, Paul Patterson, said compensating those who suffered because of the company's faulty software was a "moral obligation."

Between 1999 and 2015, 736 sub-postmasters, who are self-employed branch managers under contract to the Post Office, were subjected to prosecutions and financial misconduct convictions based on inaccurate data generated by Horizon, a software program made by Fujitsu.

This case received new public attention this year when ITV broadcast a drama series, "Mr Bates vs The Post Office," about the sub-postmasters fight for justice.

Horizon was manufactured by Fujitsu in 1999 and rolled out across Post Office branches to manage financial transactions. Complaints soon emerged that it was falsely reporting cash shortfalls.

Appearing before British MPs on the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee, Patterson said that "Fujitsu would like to apologize for our part in this appalling miscarriage of justice."

"We did have bugs and errors in the system and we did help the Post Office in their prosecutions of the sub-postmasters," he told the committee.

When Patterson was asked how much Fujitsu should contribute towards compensation, he did not give an exact figure, but said he expected to "sit down with the Government to determine our contribution to the redress" once the inquiry was completed.

The government has set aside 1 billion pounds in compensation for victims of the Post Office scandal.

Speaking to CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia," Timothy Morse, founding partner of independent Japanese equity advisory said that it was "amazing" that Fujitsu did not come up in this case until recently.

"This scandal dates back years. And the role of the post office has been well known in these court prosecutions, but Fujitsu for some reason had been rarely mentioned in the press."
Former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday that the U.S. and other powerful nations must "persuade countries, not dictate to them" in an increasingly multipolar world.

Much of the conversation at this week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, has focused on a breakdown of trust between populations and world leaders, and how to restore it.

Allianz CEO Oliver Bate told CNBC Tuesday that an "increasing detachment of the political elite from the working class" was the "number one risk for our societies."

And Brown, who served as British prime minister from 2007 to 2010 after 10 years as chancellor of the exchequer under Tony Blair, said leaders needed to consider that they are operating in a "different world from where we were 10 or 20 years ago.

"It's no longer a unipolar world, it's multipolar, there are multiple centers of power. It's no longer neoliberal economics, it's more mercantilist economics, states doing their own thing, and protectionist trade policies have become 'in' and we've seen a retreat from globalization," Brown told CNBC on the sidelines of WEF.

"To get people to operate, you've got to recognize you're in a new world. America and all the big countries have got to persuade countries, they can't dictate to them, and we've got to think about how we can solve the individual problems  so famine in Africa, we've got war in Ukraine, we've got Gaza, we've got energy prices and the energy transition, climate change as a whole."

He added that leaders need to look at how individual nations can cooperate on each of these issues individually if any progress is to be made.

Netanyahu 'surrounded' by one-state extremists

Brown earlier this month penned an op-ed outlining how close a little-known process of negotiations during his premiership in 2007 and 2008 came to achieving a lasting peace accord in the Middle East.

Amid intensive discussions, he described how then-Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud worked through the "parameters of a 22-state pan-Arab agreement to recognise Israel" side-by-side with the creation of an "independent and economically viable Palestinian state."

According to Olmert's memoirs and Brown's recollections, these discussions got as far as maps being drawn up and negotiations over refugee repatriations, security and border enforcement, a security agreement and international economic support for establishing a Palestinian state.

Brown told CNBC Wednesday that he still believes this should be the template for establishing lasting peace in the region, but that it is "incredibly difficult because nobody is trusting each other at the moment."
Tessa Barton and Cole Herrmann lived in a 250-square-foot New York studio apartment, with a showerhead that spit brown water and a radiator capable of giving second-degree burns. You'd never have known it from Barton's Instagram account. At the time, in 2017, she was a freelance photographer  gaining followers by posting images of their living space that made their home life look aspirational. She and Herrmann, a software engineer, realized they could bottle up her aesthetic into pre-made photo filters and sell them. Her followers could make their lives look Instagram-worthy  no fancy cameras or editing programs required. That idea is now Tezza, a Los Angeles-based company that makes collage kits, apparel and its claim-to-fame photo editing app. The business, which the husband-and-wife duo run as co-CEOs, brought in $26.5 million in sales last year, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. Tezza has been profitable almost since its inception, the founders say, due to its lean business model. The editing features are time-consuming to make, but once they're done, they bring in relatively passive revenue, giving Herrmann and Barton time and funds to create more features and expand Tezza into a larger lifestyle brand. "There's a way to be making money while you sleep," Barton, 32, tells CNBC Make It.

A 'naive' trial-and-error process

Barton used the name Tezza for her side hustles while attending the University of Utah. She worked as a wedding photographer and content creator for brands like Urban Outfitters, helping her build a following before influencing was considered a full-time career. She and Herrmann got married, then moved to New York in 2016. Barton wanted to combine her side hustles into something that helped non-professional creatives explore new kinds of art, but didn't know where to start. Together, the couple tried selling books, and invested in a denim jacket line that never officially launched. As those early business ventures struggled, they noticed that lots of people were engaging with social media posts of Barton's life, including a collage wall of photographs and artwork above their bed.

Barton and her photo collage wall, in the couple's New York studio apartment. Tezza

In response, they started designing and selling photo collage kits  made up of printed quote cards, artwork and photography  so people could decorate their homes like Barton and Herrmann's studio. The collage kits went viral over the next year, but they were costly and time-consuming, and the physical packages took up a lot of space in their $2,800-per-month studio apartment. "We just naively thought, 'People are into this, [so] we'll make them and they'll keep flying off the shelves," Herrmann, 31, says. "But with a physical product, we had to buy inventory, we had to fulfill orders and ship them out. We knew if we kept growing, we'd eventually need a warehouse."

'Done is better than perfect'

One day, Barton realized something: Her followers didn't just like the content of her photos. They liked how the photos looked. With their pre-owned cameras and editing tools, the couple didn't have to spend any money to build a set of pre-made filters available for purchase on Adobe Lightroom. After selling the filters through Lightroom for 15 months, Barton and Herrmann launched the Tezza app  with bright red, chunky fonts to stand out from its clean-cut competitors  in June 2018. For four years, the couple and a single assistant were responsible for Tezza's product design, social media presence and marketing. Today, the company currently has 14 employees, including Barton and Herrmann. Tezza is best known as a photo editing app, currently ranking between competitors Lightroom and VSCO on Apple's app store. Barton and Herrmann want to expand the brand into physical spaces, they say: They design and sell apparel, for example, and launched a physical magazine during New York's fall fashion week last year.

Barton, pictured with a copy of Tezza's first physical magazine, which published in September 2023. Tezza
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Within 24 hours, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on targets in three countries  Iraq, Syria and Pakistan  and took the extraordinary step of announcing its responsibility for the attacks, triggering anger from its neighbors. The developments have heightened concerns over the possibility of a wider Middle East conflict, as the Israel-Hamas war and daily Israeli bombardment of the Gaza enclave passes the 100-day mark. Baghdad recalled its ambassador to Iran after the Monday night attack on its northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region killed four civilians and injured at least six. Tehran said the strike targeted an Israeli spy hub near the U.S. consulate in Erbil, the Kurdistan regional capital city. Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani rejected the Iranian claim, describing the attack as a "crime against the Kurdish people." Iraq's Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, called the attacks a "violation of international law" and said it would file a complaint with the U.N. Security Council. France's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Iran was "contributing to the escalation of regional tensions  and it must stop." Speaking to CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday night, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian defended his country's actions. The Iranian forces' strikes were "in line with combating terrorism and legitimate self-defense," the minister said, adding, "We have no reservations when it comes to securing our national interest with any other country."

A civil defence team carries out search and rescue operations in a damaged building following a missile strike launched by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the Kurdistan region's capital of Arbil, on January 17, 2024. Safin Hamid | AFP | Getty Images

Tehran also hit what it said were Islamic State targets in northern Syria in tandem with its strikes on Iraq. It then went on to target the headquarters of a Sunni armed group in Pakistan's western Balochistan province near the Iranian border. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that it "strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran" which it said killed two children and injured three more. It added that "it is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran." While the attacks on Syria and Pakistan were not related to Israel  Tehran said the strikes were targeting anti-Iran terror groups  they signify bolder direct action from Iran, which funds and supplies forces opposing Israel like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the Houthis in Yemen.

Iran presents its first hypersonic ballistic missile 'Fattah' (Conqueror) in an event attended by President Ebrahim Raisi and other government officials in Tehran, Iran on June 06, 2023. Sepah News | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

"This shows that Iran will not stop now from targeting such groups across its eastern border and will use missiles and drones," Umar Karim, an associate fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, told Middle East news outlet Al-Monitor, referring to the Pakistan strikes. The boldness of the attacks, he said, suggests that "Iran can be expected to go against these militant groups ... in the future."

'Isolated' Iran

Yemen's Houthi militia group in recent weeks has launched dozens of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea in protest against what it says is Israel's genocide of the people of the Gaza Strip.

According to Palestinian health authorities, more than 24,000 people in the besieged enclave have been killed under Israeli bombardment since Oct. 7, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in a terror attack in southern Israel. Mass starvation and disease in the Gaza Strip are now as much of a threat to life as the daily Israeli bombings, international aid groups warn. In response to the Red Sea attacks, the U.S. and U.K. governments last week began launching missile strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen. While the U.S. has hit Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq since the Gaza war began, the missile strikes marked the first U.S. attack on the Yemeni group. Iran's foreign minister told CNBC on Tuesday that the Houthis "are not receiving any orders or instructions from us."
DAVOS, Switzerland  Bitcoin does nothing, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

"I call it the pet rock," he added.

Dimon is a long-time bitcoin critic. The bank chief said in 2021 at peak crypto valuations that bitcoin was "worthless," and he doubled down on that sentiment last year in Davos, Switzerland, when he told CNBC that the digital currency was a "hyped-up fraud."

Bitcoin is trading just above $42,700, up more than 100% in the past year.

"This is the last time I'm talking about this with CNBC, so help me God," Dimon said. "Blockchain is real. It's a technology. We use it. It's going to move money, it's going to move data. It's efficient. We've been talking about that for 12 years, too, and it's very small."

"I think we waste too many words on that," Dimon added.

The bank chief went on to distinguish bitcoin from the other class of cryptocurrencies, the ones by which blockchain has enabled the use of smart contracts. Smart contracts are a programmable piece of code written on a public blockchain, such as ethereum , which executes when certain conditions are met, negating the need for a central intermediary.

"There's a cryptocurrency which might actually do something," Dimon said of smart chain-enriched blockchains. "You can use it to buy and sell real estate and move data  tokenizing things that you do something with."

"And then there's one which does nothing," Dimon said of bitcoin, though he added that there were real use cases for the virtual coin, which included upward of $100 billion a year caught up in fraud, tax avoidance and sex trafficking. "I defend your right to do bitcoin," Dimon added, saying, "I don't want to tell you what to do. So my personal advice would be don't get involved.  But it's a free country."

The world's largest cryptocurrency, with a market cap of more than $830 billion, was cemented as an asset class last week when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved the creation of bitcoin exchange-traded funds.

Some of the biggest names in asset management, including BlackRock , Franklin Templeton and WisdomTree, have launched their own spot bitcoin ETFs last week. For the $30 trillion advised wealth management industry, the floodgates could be about to open. Analysts at Standard Chartered anticipate fund inflows in the range of $50 billion to $100 billion in 2024.

When asked what he made of Larry Fink changing his view on bitcoin as BlackRock jumped into the spot ETF business, Dimon said, "I don't care. So just please stop talking about this s***."

"I don't know what he would say about blockchain versus currencies that do something versus bitcoin that does nothing," Dimon added. "But you know this is what makes a market. People have opinions, and this is the last time I'm ever going to state my opinion."
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, during an interview at Bloomberg House on the opening day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 16, 2024.

DAVOS, Switzerland  OpenAI founder and CEO Sam Altman said the night he was pushed out by the board was "wild," and he felt "super confused" and was "super caught off guard."

"But this is the structure, and I immediately just went to go thinking about what I was going to do next," Altman said at a private gathering convened at the Bloomberg House on the Davos Promenade on Tuesday.

"It was not until some board members called me the next morning that I even thought about really coming back," continued Altman, reflecting on the dramatic turn of events that led to his ouster  and subsequent reinstatement  in November. "But, like, the board did have all of the power there."

Indeed, the unusual corporate structure of OpenAI  the creator of the buzzy AI tool ChatGPT  is what led to Altman's surprise ouster.

Typically, it's rare to see a founder forced out of their company, but Altman's power differs with that of other major tech founders, in part because he has no actual ownership of the entity itself.

"I have no equity in OpenAI," Altman said in a May Senate hearing on artificial intelligence.

"You need a lawyer or an agent," Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., quipped, in a remark that proved prescient.

The organizational chart of the generative AI startup, valued by private investors at $86 billion, is decidedly confusing. It ultimately proved to be bad for its founder, both in terms of safeguarding control and holding a financial stake in the firm.

OpenAI's board of directors sits at the top of the power pyramid, and it is the consortium of voices responsible for controlling the 501(c)(3) charity, OpenAI Inc.

Between the board and the nonprofit sits a capped-profit company dubbed OpenAI Global, which Microsoft signed a $10 billion investment deal with in January last year. There are also a few other entities, including a holding company, that comprise the somewhat convoluted organization behind the biggest name in generative AI tech.
Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, speaks with CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin at the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 16th, 2024.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has "precipitated virtually everything he sought to prevent" by launching an invasion against Ukraine to separate Kyiv from the West, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a panel discussion in Davos, Switzerland.

"Ukraine has been a profound strategic failure for Vladimir Putin and for Russia, in so many ways," he said Wednesday.

"You now have a Russia that overall is weaker militarily, it's weaker economically, it's weaker diplomatically. Europe has severed its energy dependence on Russia. Ukrainians are more united than they've ever been. The NATO alliance is stronger, is larger and will get larger still in the weeks ahead."

Russia has repeatedly said that Ukraine's NATO aspirations  which the country still upholds, along with membership in the European Union  violated its national security interests, citing it as one of the reasons behind its military campaign. NATO has previously said that Kyiv cannot join the military group while it is in an active war, as that would risk immediately drawing alliance members into a broader world conflict.

The war has benefited NATO's expansion. Witnessing Moscow's ire in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden abandoned their long-held neutrality and applied to join the military group in May 2022. Finland was welcomed into the fold in April 2023, while Stockholm's bid pends ratification from holdouts Hungary and Turkey.
DHL Cargo planes are unloaded at Halle-Leipzig Airport on February 28, 2014 in Leipzig, Germany. The soon to-be-expanded hub handles 2,000 tons of cargo, or 100,000 parcels and documents every business day. Up to 60 cargo planes land every weeknight.

The Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are not only driving up sea freight  air freights are going to get higher too, as global trade flows get increasingly disrupted.

In the past weeks, ocean freight rates have risen as much as $10,000 per 40-foot container, as container ships seeking to avoid the attacks embarked on long detours around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, diverting more than $200 billion of cargo away from the critical trade artery.

The delays to maritime trade may prompt some retailers to switch to air freight, as companies that normally ship their goods by sea want to ensure faster delivery, analysts said.

This means that air cargo is about to play an expanded role in the supply chain ecosystem. Air freight can slash delivery times to just a few days compared to weeks taken by ocean carriers.

"Some shippers are already in survival mode with one goal on their mind: 'Make sure my freight moves by whatever means possible,'" Matthew Burgess, vice president of global ocean services at C.H. Robinson said.
Sometimes, striving for perfection can stunt your success  or, at least, keep you from landing a six-figure deal on ABC's "Shark Tank." That's what happened to Heather Kelly on last week's episode of the show. Kelly, 36, is the founder of Anchorage, Alaska-based Heather's Choice, which sells lightweight, packable meals  just add hot water  and ready-to-eat snacks for outdoor adventurers. An adventurer herself, Kelly started the company in 2014, and raised $1.3 million in fundraising by the time of the episode's taping, she said. Heather's Choice had its first million-dollar revenue year in 2022, indicating an upward trajectory, Kelly noted. But the company wasn't profitable, due primarily to the high costs of manufacturing in Alaska and shipping to the rest of the U.S.  and Heather's Choice was $1 million in debt, said Kelly. "I have been actively fundraising for about nine months now, and the consistent feedback has been [that] the market opportunity for the meals isn't big enough," she added.

'You've got to get out of your own head'

Kelly asked the show's investor judges for $250,000 in exchange for 10% of her company, to help scale her company's snacks  called "packaroons"  to a co-packaging model. The judges quickly offered Kelly some stark feedback: The snacks weren't worth strategizing over, when the meals were "what stands out," as Mark Cuban put it. "They taste fantastic," Lori Greiner added. Instead of building upon the smaller and cheaper packaroon, the investors advised Kelly to market her meals to a wider audience, like students and working professionals. "You are just very laser-focused on this target customer, which is you, and I get that. But there's a huge market out there of other consumers who would love this food," guest investor Candace Nelson said. Kelly expressed hesitancy. "I tried the co-packing route [for the meals] on three separate occasions, and I couldn't hold the product quality," she said. After some deliberating, all five judges declined to extend her an investment offer, saying Kelly was stunting her own growth by not expanding her consumer base. "I see somebody afraid to say 'yes.' There are so many opportunities around you where people would buy your product. But you have to make it yourself. You won't use a co-packer because it doesn't taste quite right to you," Cuban said. "It's on you, Heather. You've got to get out of your own head."

'I really heard what they said about being a perfectionist'
Spanish acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during the investiture debate at the Spanish Parliament on Nov. 15, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

The rise of far-right political groups is the "biggest concern" for Western democracies, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told CNBC.

"I think that not only the [political] fragmentation, but the advance of the far-right, it is something  I would say [it is] the biggest concern for Western democracies," Sanchez said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

His comments come in a year set to bring voters to the polls in several countries worldwide, which will include European Parliament elections in June.

Support for far-right groups has bolstered in some European nations. In France, Marine Le Pen's National Rally party has grown in popularity in the polls, while Geert Wilders' Freedom Party recorded a decisive victory in Dutch general elections in November.

Speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said "centrist parties, like my party, right of center, have to be more successful  me myself, my party, [need] to explain we are there for the economy, we are there for collective safety."
Treasury yields rose Wednesday, with the 10-year yield hovering near 4.1% as investors focused on stronger-than-expected December retail sales and the latest remarks from Federal Reserve members.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was last up nearly 4 basis points at 4.102%, after trading as high as 4.12%, the highest level since Dec. 13. The 2-year Treasury yield rose around 12 basis points to trade at 4.352%.

The 20-year Treasury inched up 2 basis points to 4.442%. This came after a weak auction of $13 billion 20-year bonds at a high yield of 4.423%. The bid-to-cover ratio, a measure of demand, on the 20-year Treasury was 2.53.

Yields and prices move in opposite directions. One basis point equals 0.01%.
UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti on Wednesday said people with concerns about the size of the bank's balance sheet are getting "indoctrinated" by academics and should "do their homework."

UBS completed its takeover of Credit Suisse in June 2023 after an emergency rescue deal was brokered by Swiss authorities to prevent the then 167-year-old institution's collapse and protect the Swiss economy.

Ermotti was brought back to the helm of UBS to oversee the complex integration of Credit Suisse's business  a mission thus far deemed a resounding success by the market. The bank's share price has recovered from below 17 Swiss francs ($19.69) per share in the aftermath of the deal to over 25 Swiss francs as of Wednesday morning.

However, the new entity's combined balance sheet is estimated to be around twice the size of the entire GDP of Switzerland, raising concerns about the concentration of risk in the Swiss economy.

Speaking to CNBC on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Ermotti said he understood why some portions of the Swiss population still have reservations, as they are being "indoctrinated almost daily by a lot of academics" and focusing solely on the size of the bank's balance sheet versus the national GDP.
Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co., left, shakes hands with Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's president, center, on the opening day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. The annual Davos gathering of political leaders, top executives and celebrities runs from January 15 to 19. Photographer: Sridhar Natarajan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with JPMorgan's management and other international investors in Davos Tuesday.

"It is important for us to attract private capital to the reconstruction of Ukraine. We hope that JPMorgan will help attract a large number of global investors and corporations to the Ukrainian economy," Zelenskyy said on Telegram.

Ukraine's presidential office released a statement saying that the president had "met with the largest financial funds in the world" Tuesday.

The meeting was also attended by the chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase, James Dimon, and other members of the management team, as well as U.S. Special Representative for Economic Recovery of Ukraine Penny Pritzker.

The Vice Chairman of BlackRock Philip Hildebrand also attended as well as the founder of Bridgewater Associates Ray Dalio, the co-founder and co-chairman of the private investment company The Carlyle Group, David Rubinstein, founder and owner of Dell, Michael Dell, head of the investment company Blackstone Group, Stephen Schwartzman, Australian entrepreneur Andrew Forrest and the founder of ArcelorMittal, Lakshmi Mittal.

Zelenskyy discussed "the importance of attracting private capital to projects for the reconstruction of Ukraine," the statement said.

He also emphasized the importance of developing and implementing "blended financing mechanisms that combine private and public capital."

"This is where we see your direct role right now. I know that you are actively cooperating with our team. I look forward to a concrete result," Zelenskyy told business leaders.

 Holly Ellyatt
King Charles III attends the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate on January 7, 2024 in Sandringham, England.

Britain's King Charles will attend hospital next week for treatment for an enlarged prostate although the condition is not serious, Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday.

"In common with thousands of men each year, the King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate," the palace said in a statement. "His Majesty's condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure."

The news came less than two hours after it was announced that his daughter-in-law Kate, the Princess of Wales, had undergone abdominal surgery and would remain in hospital for up to 14 days.

Charles, 75, had a number of planned engagements this week but these have been postponed on the advice of his doctor to allow for a short period of recuperation, prompting the palace to make Wednesday's announcement.

Usually the royals do not disclose details of illnesses, regarding all medical issues as a private matter. But the palace said Charles was keen to share details to encourage other men experiencing symptoms to have their conditions checked.

Britain's National Health Service (NHS) website described a benign enlarged prostate as a condition that can affect how people urinate, and is common among men over 50.

"It's not a cancer and it's not usually a serious threat to health," the NHS says on its website. "Many men worry that having an enlarged prostate means they have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. This is not the case."

Charles became king in September 2022 on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth.
A screen grab captured from a video shows that cargo ship 'Galaxy Leader', co-owned by an Israeli company, being hijacked by Iran-backed Houthis from Yemen in the Red Sea on November 20, 2023. (Photo by Houthis Media Center / Handout /Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

The ripple effects of the Red Sea diversions have expanded into the energy markets and despite repeated attacks on Houthi rebels by the U.S. and allies, shipping experts say the crisis may linger for months and lead to a cargo container supply crunch. "So far, it almost seems the Houthi attacks are just increasing," said Bendik Folden Nyttingnes, a shipping analyst at Clarksons Securities. In an email to clients, Honour Lane Shipping (HLS) said its carrier contacts are "informally" predicting the Red Sea situation will not be solved for at least six months, and could last up to a year. "If so, we expect the soaring freight rates and equipment shortage will continue till the third quarter," it advised clients. Earlier this week, Shell confirmed that its oil tankers are temporarily being rerouted around the Red Sea, with its CEO telling the Wall Street Journal that a 5-10% price impact is anticipated in the short-term. Kpler's ship tracking director Jean-Charles Gordon estimates that vessels managed or chartered by Shell that are being rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope can expect an approximate 10-day delay in their estimated time of arrival. "As several product tanker operators are avoiding the area following the airstrikes on Friday, the longer transit times around the Cape of Good Hope could create a supply shortage of tonnage if the situation continues, which in line could push product tanker rates and stocks higher," Nyttingnes said. Torm , Hafnia, Stena Bulk, Hafnia, BP , Frontline , Equinor, Euronav are reportedly among the tanker operators and energy companies choosing to avoid the area following recent warnings. Companies including Tom, Hafnia, Scorpio Tankers and Ardmore would benefit if product tanker rates rose, Nyttingnes said.

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These diversions are immediately eating into Egypt's economy, with its GDP reliant on the Suez Canal, which it owns and operates. The country's other significant source of revenue, travel, has been decimated because of the Israel-Hamas War. "If Total Suez Canal tanker transits are over 8 million barrels per day, the losses to the Canal Authority are probably in the range of $5 to $7 million depending on the mix of tankers going through," said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates. This would be on top of the revenue lost by diverted container vessels which are required to pay between $500,000-$600,000 per transit. According to Kuehne + Nagel, 90% of container ship traffic bound for the Suez Canal has been rerouted. 50% of all Suez traffic could be rerouted A drop of 40-50% in all vessel Suez crossings as a result of shipping diversions is possible, according to Ami Daniel, co-founder & CEO of Windward, which could create a situation similar to the Covid supply chain crunch for many retailers reliant on global supply chains. Logistics CEOs have been warning CNBC that the vessel re-routings would result in container crunches. When vessels are late, the containers on those vessels will be late to be processed and reused again for exports. Goetz Alebrand, head of ocean freight Americas for DHL Global Forwarding, has been warning about an upcoming container crunch for weeks. "More than 4 million containers (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) are bound for longer transit times and will not be ready in the Asia Pacific for the next loading," he warned. "Considering a two-week delay in either direction it could mean that four million times of containers will be needed to have availability." The Asia to Europe route is the most impacted by delays. The ripple effect of this bleeds into the ability of European exports to move out at a fluid rate. "Europe has felt the most impact from the situation in the Red Sea given it is the major trade route for goods coming from Asia," said Stephen Schwartz, executive vice president of Wells Fargo global receivables and trade finance. "However, with more ships being diverted and taking alternative, longer routes to Europe, it is starting to impact global capacity. The delay of containers, reduced capacity, and longer transit times all influence global shipping costs which will start to impact U.S. companies the longer the situation in the Red Sea continues." Paolo Montrone, global head of trade for Kuehne + Nagel, said the container crunch situation currently unfolding will have a knock-on effect on European exports. "We anticipate encountering challenges in European terminals as larger ships are expected to arrive outside of their scheduled times. This influx is likely to cause congestion and slowdowns at terminals and ports, subsequently affecting other services such as shipments from Europe to the USA." Companies with higher-value items and time-sensitive products are also shifting to the air. "Drawing from past experiences, we foresee an increase in the need for air freight services in the upcoming weeks," said Montrone. Alan Baer, CEO of OL USA, said he is expecting the container crunch to impact Asia as well. "Recently carriers reduced the amount of free time on import containers to help expedite the return of equipment back to Asia," said Baer. "However, given the longer transit times vessels are experiencing, the market may face a shortage of empties across Asia until sailings normalize." U.S. retailers say they are prepared The delays of vessels during the pandemic had some retailers like Home Depot , Costco , and Walmart hiring charters to speed up deliveries. Evelyn Fornes, Home Depot spokeswoman, said it is working with logistics carriers to find alternate routes to limit any impact from the Red Sea conflict. "As a regular course of business, we always have plans in place for potential disruptions to any of our partners," Fornes wrote in an email. "We have a large and diverse supply chain with a number of partners, so we're accustomed to being flexible and agile when there are disruptions. This type of flexibility is what allowed us to adapt and move the unprecedented volumes during the pandemic, despite significant disruptions."

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"Target remains confident in our ability to get guests the products they want and need," a Target spokesman said via email. "We leverage production and transportation partners across the globe, and the majority of our freight does not travel through the Suez Canal. For any freight that's being routed around the Suez Canal, we're working with shipping partners on alternative paths." While retailers are expressing confidence, Tesla , Volvo, and Michelin have recently said they have had to halt manufacturing. Ikea has warned of delays of product, as well as British retailer Next and Crocs . Costco and Walmart did not respond to requests for comment. East Coast freight rates soar While freight rates for U.S. West Coast ports have yet to spike, freight rates for the East Coast and Gulf are up. U.S. East Coast rates are between $5,900-$6,700 for a forty-foot container, and rates for the Gulf are between $6,300-$6,900 a 40-foot container, according to Honour Lane. To avoid delays and fees, some logistics companies are re-routing to the U.S. West Coast, which could result in higher rates eventually. "U.S. West Coast space is also getting tight as a substantial number of boxes destined for U.S. East Coast /Gulf destinations are being re-routed through U.S. West Coast hubs," wrote HLS. "Some big beneficial cargo owners like Walmart have proposed to increase their allocation to the U.S. West Coast and reduce allocation to U.S. East Coast."
Meeting as undergrads at Boston University a little over decade ago, 30-year-olds Jenna Bhaloo and Neil Desai have been a couple since 2013. Together, they lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Durham, North Carolina, before moving to their current home of Chicago.

The pair got married in 2023, and while they have been making some joint financial decisions since they started living together in 2019, they're still figuring out the best way to manage their assets as a couple.

One money move on their to-do list: getting a postnuptial agreement.

Similar to prenuptial agreements, a postnup outlines which partner maintains ownership over which assets in the event of a divorce. The main difference is that with a postnup, you're already married when you get it, which has a couple of important implications.

Any assets acquired since the wedding, and even some acquired as an individual, such as retirement accounts, become "marital property" once you're married. That means if you wind up getting divorced, assets you may have thought were totally yours could be split between you and your spouse.

Both prenups and postnups can be difficult to enforce, but postnups tend to be a little trickier, according to SmartAsset. Since couples are already legally bound to one another when they create a postnup, there's an increased chance that one partner may have been coerced, which can make a court skeptical about upholding the agreement.

While Bhaloo and Desai hope they never have to use a postnup or go through a divorce, they see the benefits of having one just in case.

The couple had a "misconception" that prenup and postnup agreements are for couples with vastly different net worths, Bhaloo says. But upon further research, she realized postnups can be practical tools that give any couple full discretion over who gets what if they ever end their marriage.

"For us, it's really important to make sure that we are set up well, if something like [divorce] were ever to occur," Bhaloo says. "We want to control how our assets get divided in that scenario. We don't want to leave that up to the government  we don't want some random judge making that decision for us."
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In an extension to its restructuring strategy planned last year to maintain investor sentiment and adjust to market conditions, Google is continuing to lay off staffers across its various divisions.

Googles advertainment sales (ad sales) team is the latest to be impacted with at least a few hundred staffers laid off on Tuesday.

The job reductions, which were first reported by Business Insider, are likely to impact employees in the large customer sales unit within the overall ad sales team. This will make the smaller customer sales unit, dubbed the Google Customer Solutions team, the core team.

Googles ad sales team, which had approximately 30,000 staffers before the layoffs, was expected to rely heavily on machine learning to automate advertising, thereby reducing the need for a large number of employees in the advertisement sales teams.

Reports also suggest that some staffers from the ad sales team were laid off in October last year.

"Every year we go through a rigorous process to structure our team to provide the best service to our Ads customers," a Google spokesperson said. "We map customers to the right specialist teams and sales channels to meet their service needs. As part of this, a few hundred roles globally are being eliminated and impacted employees will be able to apply for open roles on the team or elsewhere at Google."

The restructuring of the ad sales team should come as no surprise, as the company last week said that some of its teams are continuing to execute their reorientation strategy decided in the second half of last year to better align with market opportunities.

Last week, the company confirmed that it had laid off hundreds of employees from several teams, including engineering and the teams responsible for its digital voice assistant and hardware products, including Fitbit wearable devices and Pixel smartphones.

Other Alphabet divisions have also faced the axe over the last 12 months with layoffs beginning in January 2023.

The company, which faces stiff competition from Microsoft, AWS, IBM, and Oracle in the field of generative AI, had then said that it was looking to trade non-technical roles for engineering and technical talent.

Several large technology companies including Meta, Amazon, IBM, SAP, Cisco, and Salesforce have also had to bear the brunt of layoffs across 2022 and 2023, especially due to mounting pressure from an uncertain economy and slowing revenue growth.

According to data compiled by Layoffs.fyi, the online tracker keeping tabs on job losses in the technology sector, 1,186 tech companies have laid off about 262,682 staff in 2023, compared to 164,969 layoffs in 2022.

Another data compilation from the online tracker showed that at least 51 companies have laid off around 7,528 employees in the first two weeks of 2024. These companies include Amazon, Intel, Instagram, ARM Holdings, Citrix, and Trend Micro.
AI PCs were everywhere at CES 2024 last week, and companies like Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm are all touting how great their hardware is at running AI tasks. As Microsoft put it, this is the year of AI-powered Windows PCs.

But since these AI PCs are already on shelves and you can buy them right now, we need to cut through the hype and focus on what youre getting for your money.

Spoiler alert: These PCs arent all theyre cracked up to be, and if youre expecting something transformative when you buy one at the start of 2024, youre going to be disappointed. They might one day deliver a lot of cool features  just not yet.

Lets talk about whats actually going on  and why, even if youre passionate about generative AI (genAI), you should be skipping this wave of AI-accelerating chips and turning to different hardware entirely  hardware you may already own!

Want to stay up to date on Windows and the future of your PC? My free Windows Intelligence newsletter delivers all the best Windows tips and tricks straight to your inbox, along with the news that really matters. Plus, youll get free copies of Paul Thurrotts Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (a $10 value) just for subscribing!

Current AI isnt 'happening on your computer'

Before wrapping your head around the details here, its important to realize whats going on with most current genAI tools. When you use Copilot on Windows 11, pull up ChatGPT, turn to Adobe Firefly to generate images, or interact with similar popular genAI tools, the work isnt actually being done on your computer.

Instead, all that processing is happening in a data center somewhere  incredibly powerful computers are using a lot of resources and electricity to run the AI model and generate an image of a dog having a birthday party or a response to your question.

You can do a lot of this locally on your computer  witness open-source tools such as the Stable Diffusion text-to-image model or the LLAMA large language model. But, to get good results, youll generally need a PC with solid processing power. In particular, youll need a very fast GPU  the same kind of hardware that people were recently using to mine cryptocurrencies.

The dream is a mainstream PC that can run these genAI models locally, on your own hardware  with no data sent to a central processing center. But not everything is going to start happening on your PC overnight. Were moving toward a more hybrid future, where the most demanding tasks are sent to data centers and simpler tasks that deliver contextual suggestions and help you rewrite that email take place on your computer.

Microsoft Even on an AI PC with a fancy Copilot key, Copilot works exactly the same as on other PCs, with all the work happening in Microsofts data centers.

The promise of neural processing units (NPUs)

Were all talking about AI PCs thanks to recent hardware advances  specifically, the addition of a neural processing unit (NPU) in Intels newest Meteor Lake chips and recent AMD chips.

The promise is that these NPUs are dedicated, low-power hardware that can locally run genAI models and accelerate AI processing. The idea is that soon every PC you buy will have an NPU. They wont use much power, so the genAI tasks can run in the background even on battery power.

PC makers arent alone here. Do you have a Google Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro phone? Googles Tensor G3 chip does something similar  in fact, Google says it [paves] the way for on-device generative AI. In the real world, it enables AI features such as summarizing audio in the Recorder app and generating smart replies in the Gboard keyboard.

On a Pixel phone, that hardware does not provide a way to run Googles powerful Bard AI experience locally. It runs a smaller model named Gemini Nano. In the same way, low-power NPUs on a PC will offer more AI experiences on your PC  but they will not let you run Copilot or ChatGPT locally anytime soon.

Yes, as we saw at CES 2024, the hardware is here  you can buy AI PCs with NPUs! But just because the hardware is here doesnt mean anything transformative has happened yet.

Microsoft Microsoft says were now in the era of the AI PC. If so, its not in full swing yet.

Windows isnt ready for 'AI PCs' yet

Given Microsofts chatter about how this is the year of the Windows-powered AI PCs thanks to NPUs, you might assume theres a lot you can do right now. If so, youre going to be disappointed.

In fact, Microsofts AI PC marketing strategy is the perfect example of whats going on. Microsoft is pushing a new a Copilot key as part of the AI PC push. That key will launch the same old Copilot sidebar you can access on other Windows PCs, with no extra AI PC features that use that fancy hardware. (Maybe that will change in the future.)

Windows 11 can barely do anything with an NPU at the moment. Out of the box, all you get is Windows Studio Effects for video and voice meetings  things like blurring your background and making it seem as if your eyes are looking directly at your camera when theyre not.

Paul Thurrott, whos been covering Windows for decades, just reviewed a 2024 version of the HP Spectre x360, a laptop that comes with an NPU. After trying Studio Effects, he said that he [assumes] that pushing this work off the CPU and GPU improves general system performance and battery life. However, he says this software is not demonstrably superior, quality-wise, to the third-party webcam enhancements Ive used in review PCs over the past year, none of which require an NPU.

In other words, Windows Studio Effects, which is the only feature built into Windows 11 that uses an NPU, doesnt deliver anything you couldnt do with traditional webcam-tweaking software.

As far as Windows itself goes, were all waiting with bated breath for the promised AI release of Windows that should launch late this year, according to leaks reported by Windows Central. That release will supposedly deliver a lot of NPU-powered features that will improve how we work with our computers, although Microsoft hasnt commented yet.

Still, the promise of Windows itself using that NPU is nearly a year away. Dont buy an AI PC and expect some promised AI transformation of your operating system today.

HP HPs website says Windows Studio Effects is a must-have feature. Ive never heard any other human being say that.

You cant do much with an NPU

Since Windows itself cant do much with an NPU, youll have to turn to third-party software. When Intel shows off an NPU accelerating genAI workloads, it shows off plugins for open-source applications like Stable Diffusion in the unfortunately named GIMP image editor and AI tools in the Audacity audio program. You can hunt down and configure these plugins yourself to take advantage of an NPU on your PC.

But theres not a lot else. PCWorlds Brad Chacos was on the ground at CES, and he notes that NPU-driving AI isnt compelling yet. Manufacturers are showing off little built-in tools that use the NPU, like improved microphone noise reduction and an intelligent AI engine that detects whether to spin up (or down) your PCs fans.

As you might imagine, these are just slight variations on things computers already do, with or without an NPU. (In fact, I remember seeing a company advertising an AI laptop that used some unusual software to control how fast the fans spun at CES over five years ago.)

GPUs still beat NPUs for AI

So NPUs cant do much yet for the average person  theyre a way to enable powerful future software. Thats the promise of NPUs right now, anyway.

But things get a little muddier when you start looking at benchmarks. PCWorlds Mark Hachman was blunt: You probably already own an AI PC.

What the heck does that mean? In short, these NPUs arent all theyre cracked up to be. Current genAI workloads  like generating images with Stable Diffusion and running open-source LLMs directly on your PC  perform much better using a traditional GPU than one of these new NPUs.

Thats because NPUs really are about efficiency and low power usage  you can imagine a future version of Windows thats always performing some type of AI task in the background with that NPU, and your laptop still getting good battery life. But if you want to run current AI workloads, benchmarks show you should go with a powerful GPU. That means getting a power-hungry desktop or laptop with a powerful dedicated GPU.

NVIDIA For running serious AI workloads on your own PC, NVIDIAs new 40-series Super GPUs announced at CES are more powerful than those NPUs getting all the press.

'AI PC' buying advice for 2024

So now let's talk about what you should actually buy!

If youre looking forward to helpful AI features built into Windows, you should wait. Those features wont arrive until late 2024. There may be entirely newer, better AI laptops out by then  or you may just be able to get a great deal on one next Black Friday!

If you really want to run current AI workloads on your PC, you should avoid the NPU hype and get a computer with a powerful GPU from NVIDIA or perhaps AMD. (I like AMD hardware, but these models tend to be more optimized for NVIDIA hardware from what Ive seen.) The best performance is going to come from a desktop PC with a high-end GPU. You could also go for a laptop with a high-end GPU  just be prepared to plug it in, as you arent going to get long battery life while crunching these things.

If you just need a new laptop, I do recommend picking up one of those AI laptops. Its likely that a lot of future Windows features will require an NPU in some way  or perhaps theyll be able to use a powerful GPU, too. When I recommend an AI laptop, Im really just recommending buying current hardware  a PC with a modern Intel Meteor Lake CPU or an equivalent modern AMD chip, for example.

Whatever you choose, youre still going to have almost all the current AI features in Windows and other applications. Thats because things like Copilot and ChatGPT do the work on far-away data centers, not your PC. Thats true whether you have an AI PC or not.

All that said, the pieces seem to be coming together. In the future, that NPU should actually be useful for Windows and the applications you use. But for now, I wouldnt race to buy hardware that wont start delivering on its promises for nearly a year.

That advice goes beyond PCs: Dont buy hardware based on what it might do in the future  buy hardware because of what it can do today.

Lets keep in touch! Get the best Windows PC advice with my free Windows Intelligence newsletter  three things to try every Friday. Plus, get free copies of Paul Thurrotts Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (a $10 value) for signing up.
A new survey by the AI Impacts research project, the University of Bonn, and the University of Oxford reflects growing unease among AI professionals about the technologys swift advance in recent years.

The survey involved 2,778 contributors from industry publications and forums. One key finding: 10% fear machines could surpass human capability in all tasks within three years, and 50% see that as likely by 2047.

While the optimistic scenarios reflect AIs potential to revolutionize various aspects of work and life, the pessimistic predictions  particularly those involving extinction-level risks  serve as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved in AI development and deployment, the researchers wrote.

AI could soon handle more tasks

Participants were asked to estimate when 39 AI tasks would become "feasible," meaning when a top AI lab could implement the task within a year. The tasks ranged from translating newly discovered languages to building a payment processing site from scratch. There was at least a 50% chance of feasibility for all but four tasks within the next decade.

The survey also probed into the timeline for achieving High-Level Machine Intelligence (HLMI) and Full Automation of Labor (FAOL). HLMI was defined as the point when unaided machines could perform tasks better and more cheaply than humans. FAOL would be reached when machines can fully automate an occupation more efficiently and cost-effectively than human labor. The participants estimated a 50% chance of achieving HLMI by 2047  fully 13 years sooner than a 2022 survey estimate. For full labor automation, the likelihood was set at 50% by 2116, a significant 48 years sooner than earlier forecast.

Chris McComb, the director of the Human+AI Design Initiative at Carnegie Mellon University, who was not involved in the study, said in an interview its extremely unlikely all human occupations will become fully automatable by 2037.

There are two competing forces at work here  the adaptability of everyday people and the fact that AI often struggles in novel situations, McComb said. Fortunately, the world is filled with novel situations! While AI becomes a more proficient problem-solver, humans will become increasingly important problem framers, finding ways to translate novel situations into familiar building blocks.

In our research, we've started to see exactly that, he said. When we put together teams of humans and AIs, human members of the team take on a vital role by helping AI agents adapt to novel scenarios that they wouldn't be able to handle on their own. We refer to them as AI handlers."

Selmer Bringsjord, director of the AI & Reasoning Lab at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is also skeptical of the timeline. But he said in an interview that the vast majority of present jobs held by humans in technologized economies could be carried out entirely by AIs by 2050.

An efficient way to see why is just to look at jobs in and revolving around transport and treat this domain as representative, he added. If an item needs to get from Bangalore, India to a remote lake in the Adirondack Park, and the item is, say, in a home in India..., well, every inch of the process of carrying this out will be done by AIs. That entails no human boxer-uppers (robots), no drivers (self-driving vehicles), no pilots (self-flying planes, & drones), etc. The box will just be outside the front door of a cabin on that lake, safe and sound, accomplished without humans.

That this will be in place by 2050 is indubitable, Bringsjord said.

Experts: AI will surprise us

The survey asked participants to assess the likelihood of certain AI traits by 2043. A large majority believed that within the next 20 years, AI-based tools would find unexpected ways to achieve goals (82%), be able to talk like a human expert on most topics (81%), and frequently behave in ways that are surprising to humans (69%). Additionally, by as early as 2028, many anticipate AI will often leave humans puzzled, unable to discern the actual reasons behind a system's outputs.

Significant worries about the potential misuse of AI also arose in the survey. Those concerns include AI being used to create and spread false information through deep fakes, manipulate large-scale public opinion, enable dangerous groups to develop powerful tools such as viruses and assist authoritarian regimes in controlling their populations.

The experts polled reached a strong consensus on the importance of AI safety research, with mixed views on AI's impact: more than two-thirds of the respondents (68%) believed the benefits of AI outweighed its drawbacks. But roughly 58% at least see the possibility of significant detrimental outcomes. The risk perception varied with questions asked: about half saw a better than 10% chance of human extinction or severe disempowerment due to AI. And one in 10 participants estimated at least a 25% chance of catastrophic outcomes, including human extinction.

That said, McComb is among those who remain optimistic.

For a long time, humankind has harnessed powerful forces, from fire to atom-splitting, he said. The key lies in using principles of engineering and design to effectively and safely harness these forces, designing away from destructive potential and towards productive good. AI is not a threat to be feared, but a design material to be used.

Bringsjord, conversely, is among the pessimists. He described the PAID Problem, a theory of his own which he defined as measuring the danger or potential destruction of a given AI or group of AIs by ascertaining the level of Power, Autonomy, and Intelligence. He noted that chatbots have fairly high levels of autonomy; soon enough, that autonomy will grow as the data they factor in approaches all available data on Earth.

I don't think we're talking free will at the human level here, and there's no real creativity (which presumably requires max autonomy), but the level of autonomy coming will be extreme. Power is quite another matter, fortunately.

Unless certain science and engineering is pursued and applied by all high-tech open-market democracies, future AIs that are at once powerful, autonomous, and intelligent will eventually pose an acute danger and may well eventually destroy us.
Look, lets all just admit that, even if were doing okay, we may have missed the mark on where we thought wed be in life. Financially stable and loved by friends is pretty good, but its not the astronaut or millionaire we drew ourselves as back in the crayon days. Roosevelt once said comparison is the thief of joy, and thats a good thing to remember  with a grain of salt, obviously. Its definitely still very possible for your life to be crushingly sad all by itself.

Anyway! In case you are in the mood to send yourself spinning down a pit of self-evaluation and frenzied googling of savings account how? when too late, history offers plenty of devastating measuring sticks. Of course, plenty of people were dying at early ages from cuts on their feet that they rubbed rams blood and deer shit into, so there was a little more urgency. Still, the pure numbers will make you feel less than successful.

Here are four people from history who achieved greatness at distressingly young ages

4 Tutankhamun Public Domain Almost as cool as a race-car bed. First up, lets look at social studies textbook cover superstar, Tutankhamun. Known more commonly (and what feels like disrespectfully) as King Tut, were well familiar with his shiny golden face. If history wasnt your personally chosen high school naptime, you might remember his reputation as The Boy Pharaoh. This nickname turns out to be barely figurative language, and pretty much just a literal description. Tutankhamun became the Pharaoh of Egypt at roughly the age of nine. This wasnt the case of some babbling baby fouling the throne through their diapers as a figurehead either. Tutankhamun oversaw real, significant change in Egypt, like undoing his fathers hugely unpopular shift of the Egyptian religion to monotheism. Sure, he had some very involved advisors, but making the final call on an official religion that wont send an empire spiraling into war and unrest isnt something Id feel great about at any age. Advertisement

3 Joan of Arc Public Domain My new favorite illustration of Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc is a well-known figure summoned whenever the world is in need of a go-to badass woman from history for some condescending, pink-tinged infographic. Despite the fact that people seem dead set on turning her into corporatized, pop-feminist T-shirt fodder, she was indeed an important and highly impressive figure in world history. She also may have had some degree of light schizophrenia. Slay! Whether true communion with the divine or a combination of religious beliefs and a seizure disorder, Joan, at the age of 13, heard voices telling her it was her destiny to save France. At 16, she convinced the French Prince Charles to let her attempt to drive the English out of France and allow him to regain the throne. He didnt have much to lose outside of a dead, mentally ill teenager, so he shrugged his shoulders and said, Go for it. Advertisement Advertisement About a year of ludicrously successful fighting later, she saw him crowned as the new King of France. At which point, he started to get genuinely freaked out by Joans cult-hero status, and cut off his support of her, leading to her capture, at which point he fully pivoted to I dont care what you do with that weird witch. She was famously burned at the stake at 19. Which goes to show you  if some voices start yapping about your destiny, just ignore them. You might not make the history books, but you also probably wont get set on fire.

2 Alexander the Great Public Domain Imagine him dropping an invincible army lol in Fortnite match chat. Advertisement You dont get a name like Alexander the Great by being an all-time idiot. Actually, I guess it could be one of those ironic nicknames, like when a big henchman is called Tiny. Soldiers sarcastically quipping all kneel before Alexander the Great while he has his helmet on backwards and his dick out, getting clotheslined in a doorway by his own halberd. Now Im kind of disappointed that this wasnt the situation, and that Alexander the Great was, in fact, a highly accomplished ruler. I think most people, at least depending on the quality and funding of their particular school system, know that Alexander the Great existed, and that he was one hell of a conqueror. But a detail that, for whatever reason, doesnt seem as well-known is that he did it all at an astonishingly young age. His first taste of rulership came at 16, when he was put in charge of Macedonia during his fathers absence. Rather than twiddle his thumbs and wait for peepaws return, he decided to fight  and decisively win  a battle against the Sacred Band of Thebes, a military unit that was at the time, considered invincible. At which point, why not fight everybody else? Advertisement Advertisement At 20, he took control of Macedonia after his fathers assassination, and spent his twenties on perhaps the worlds most violent and successful study-abroad campaign of all time. In 331 B.C., at 25, he won the Battle of Gaugamela and with it, he took control of the Persian Empire. Most peoples greatest achievements at the age of 25 these days is being able to rent a car by themselves.
Despite leading one of the most groundbreaking and successful careers in Hollywood history, Charlie Chaplin didnt talk much  unlike his son.

Michael J. Chaplin, 77, is about as multifaceted as a first-time medieval romance novelist could be  an actor, pop musician, goat farmer and former hippie, Chaplins first foray into fiction, A Fallen God, will be a modern retelling of the classic English 12th century chivalric romance story Tristan and Isolde, which has been inspiring contemporary adaptations since the time of William Shakespeare. And if there was a single Shakespearean character to whom Id compare the young author, I would choose that of the Danish prince Hamlet, given both Hamlet and Chaplins noble birth as well as their weird, overdramatic and entirely compelling obsession with their respective fathers deaths.

On his book tour, Chaplin spoke to The Guardian about the enduring legacy of his father, who passed away in 1977 but continues to cast a shadow over his sons career. The younger Chaplin is the offspring of Charlie and his fourth/final wife Oona ONeill who, unlike some of Charlies previous brides, turned 18 just before she wed the silent film icon. Michael J. Chaplin didnt always have the most amicable relationship with his father  the elder Chaplin famously and unsuccessfully filed an injunction to stop the release of his sons first book, the autobiography I Couldn't Smoke the Grass on My Father's Lawn  and, today, 46 years after the black-and-white blockbuster actor/directors death, Michael is mouthing off at his old man in full color.

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The Guardian opens its piece on Chaplins writing career by paraphrasing a bizarre anecdote from the subject, in which he described an ancient religious sect wherein members count their age by the number of years since their fathers deaths. Since the older Chaplin famously passed away on Christmas Day, 1977, his son would be considered a hair past 46 years old, which is still too old to hang onto a grudge against your dad.

He likes to see the day his father died as a rebirth, The Guardian writes. Its not that Michael disliked his dad. He loved him and couldnt have admired him more. Michael said of his dad, He cast a huge shadow over me, explaining that, growing up, he was hyper-aware of how extraordinary his father was. It was rammed down my throat. My teachers would always say: Youll never be like your father.

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Once he died, I thought: Yes, now I should write the novel. I should go ahead and do something, Chaplin continued, though it would take almost half a century for this post-dad-death clarity to come to fruition.

Chaplin described his father as intimidating, recalling his almost anti-social demeanor, He always said: Im a loner, I have no friends. In the house, Michael was well-aware that he wasnt his fathers favorite, saying, When he wanted to, he could entertain us. He was great at mime. He had a lot of weapons to amuse us with. However, those weapons werent in Michaels inheritance. Instead, Chaplin taught his performing talents to Michaels sisters. He, Geraldine and Victoria would do duets on the piano. He related to them. I never felt that he didnt love us, but he could get very angry and frustrated.

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Of course, as Michael entered adulthood during the tumultuous 1960s, he turned to the drug-addled counterculture of the era, much to his fathers chagrin. I definitely wasnt a good son. I ran away from home. I embarrassed him, Michael recalled, admitting that he and his father never quite resolved their differences out of court before the latters passing. However, Michael did find postmortem closure.

There was a coming together with my father, but it happened after his death, Michael explained. Thats why they say you count the years of your life from the moment of your fathers death. I started having powerful dreams where I confronted him and we talked together. It was when I went back to Switzerland and the family house. Hed stopped at that point being an obstacle and was opening the doors for me to live.

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In one such dream, Michael and Charlie settled one of their final disagreements, wherein Charlie cut Michael out of the family Christmas card picture. Then I had a dream about meeting my father under this huge Lebanese pine tree in front of the house, Michael said. He walked me into the living room, opened up the cupboard and he gave me that photograph, but now me and the whole family were in the card. Then I woke up.

I think he was telling me, wherever he is, that hes not excluding me from his life, Michael concluded.

He should be grateful that his father never included him in some of his other pictures  theres not enough room between those giant cogs for two Chaplins.
Donna Pond and Daniel Bergman lived in this 1826 rowhouse for 47 years, watching celebrities come and go. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa

Details: Price: $4,995,000 ($24,000 annual tax) Specs: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 half bath Extras: backyard, chefs kitchen, office/art studio 10-minute walking radius: Trattoria Pesce Pasta, Oscars Place, Citarella Listed by: Gino Filippone, Corcoran

Donna Pond couldnt get the little house on Barrow Street out of her head. It was 1976, and Pond and her partner, Daniel Bergman, had been living on East 6th Street, where the bohemian allure was fading. They missed the comforts of their suburban, childhood homes in Syracuse and Cleveland  but joked that they were unwilling to live above 14th Street. They dreamed of the West Village.

Bergman and Pond werent rich. They met in the 1960s working in the back offices of Bambergers, the New Jersey department store. Bergman was artsy, always doodling, and he was friends with lots of poets. Pond was levelheaded, a reader who loved to learn and teach. They fell in love over food, spending their paychecks at fine restaurants uptown and making an annual pilgrimage to Louisiana for crawfish season. They didnt want kids. When they first saw the house on Barrow Street, just off Bleecker, they were put off by how much work it might entail: The 150-year-old home was in bad shape, with chunks of plaster falling from the ceiling. The owners had tried and failed a full renovation. But the couple could see its potential. We were both drawn to the older places that had a little more character, said Pond. We didnt want to be upscale. They took out a mortgage for $92,000  around $475,000 today  and never left; Bergman was in the house until his death last year from heart failure.

The entry hall gives visitors some idea of Bergman and Ponds ranging interests; as foragers and cooks, they had books on pharmacopeia and global cuisine. For a number of years we were running over with books. The 1956 map came from a trash bin at Bard College, where Bergman was working as a teacher when he saved it. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa

Ponds broker Gino Filippone describes the place as the sweetest little house on the most expensive, highly coveted street in the West Village. Its one of a small row of wood-framed houses that a group of builders built for themselves and other workers in 1826. While neighbors on the row were renovated to add a full third story, No. 51 kept its peaked roof with a dormer window. Part of the English basement still had a floor of packed dirt when Pond and Bergman arrived. They made renovations without adding frills, stripping plaster to expose beams and restoring wood floors. The primary bedroom was polished to reflect the homes original, Federal style, with historically accurate wallpaper and a wood-burning fireplace. Small extensions, unnoticeable from the street, added a powder room off the back of the house and raised the ceiling of the back of the top floor, to make a room for guests more comfortable. The couple landscaped the backyard with the plants of the northern Adirondacks, where they hiked and foraged.

When the couple arrived in 1976, a half-finished renovation had left this room in tatters. They restored floors and original details, like a wood-burning fireplace. The marble mantel was as close as they could find, dating back to the late 1800s. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa

But the most lovingly renovated room is hidden from a casual guest, who enters one floor up. In the English basement, Bergman and Pond turned a homely kitchen into one that would suit two chefs. There are six burners on the stove and a double oven; a marble counter for pastries; and a bar where guests can pull up a stool and watch the action. Friends came here for an annual event: a unique Thanksgiving, dedicated to the traditional cooking of a specific region. We were just sick of turkey, and we were interested in exploring different techniques and ingredients. The couple would plan for weeks to build a menu that reflected types of cooking in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Peru, and Mexico. We kept coming back to France, because everyone likes French cooking, Pond said. Guests had to show up early in the week to get shopping lists that would take them to stores across all five boroughs. Then, the day before, they arrived to prep. We taught them to cook while we were learning to cook. The dining room seems to lure potential buyers, says Filippone, Ponds broker. It screams, Lets sit around the fire and drink red wine and make a bouillabaisse.

The dining room takes up much of the English basement, where the fireplace and the beams are original. When youre down there, every single buyer goes, Oh my God! says broker Gino Filippone, who jokes that only a few things seem to be missing: a fire, a snowstorm, and a glass of Merlot. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa

Visitors were regularly lulled into Bergman and Ponds orbit; even the attorney who handled the sale of 51 Barrow became a friend, reaching out decades later to ask a favor. He had become the executor of Joan Mitchells estate, and was tasked with carrying out the painters wish to support young artists through the Joan Mitchell Foundation. Bergman had retired to pursue a career as a sculptor full-time. He had an innate understanding of artists and a background in management. The attorney tapped Bergman to help, and he served as president of the board, creating programs to help other artists. Some of them came to the home on Barrow Street. Dan became kind of a mentor for them, in terms of their own artistic careers, Pond said.

The living room was deployed to host their famous Thanksgiving parties. They would clear out the furniture and replace it with rented tables. The house was a natural place to host, Pond says. Its cozy, its warm, its comfortable. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa

Everyone wanted an invitation to dinner and showed up with a bottle to repay their hosts  which caused a problem in the small house. What Pond described as a world-class collection of after-dinner drinks eventually overflowed a storage area, filling a shelf by the toilet of the powder room. People thought that was quite bizarre, Pond said. I guess it is.

But she and Dan didnt think it was. We married the right people. It was a truly wonderful life.

The kitchen was the center of life for its serious chef owners. There are six burners atop two ovens, and a marble slab makes rolling pastry feasible. A bar top (right) means guests can watch the fun. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa

A sideboard in the dining room. The couple tried to stay true to the aesthetic of the 1826 Federal-style home, built for a working-class family. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa

Guests repaying Bergman and Pond for a meal would bring a bottle, eventually creating a collection that outgrew these cabinets off the dining room. We had a world-class collection of after-dinner drinks, Pond confessed. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa

Upstairs is the primary bedroom. The wide-plank floors are original and were restored when Pond and Bergman moved in. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa

The wood-burning fireplace in the primary bedroom is likely original, Pond says, though the couple added built-ins for their books and a walk-in closet. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa

The fixtures in the bathroom were there when Bergman and Pond bought the home in 1976, though they renovated almost everything else. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa

Friends thought it was very exotic to stay on the top floor in the 1970s. At that time, the garret had little headspace and no bathroom. A renovation in the 1980s raised the roof off the back, adding space for a full bathroom and a small art studio. Cedar-lined closets made better use of the angled space off the floor. Photo: Envision Studio Inc./Phil & Noa
MOHAWK VALLEY  Patty Schwartz has lived in Montgomery County for a lifetime. Until recently, the 90-year-old resident didnt know that her lawn was home to the largest silver maple in New York.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation recently added the town of Mohawk softwood to its "Big Tree" registry. The tree was discovered by arborists back in the fall.

I never thought about it, said Schwartz, whose family has lived on the property for generations. I thought, this is a tree here in our yard.

Big Tree points  a standard in place since the 1940s  factor in the circumference of the trunk, the height in feet and a quarter of the average crown spread. The silver maple has 401 points.

Fred Breglia, executive director of the Landis Arboretum, and Nick Fischer nominated the 97-foot whopper, which also stands as the largest-known tree in Montgomery County.

Is there a larger one out there? Breglia said. Probably, but this is definitely the mark to beat and we've been looking for quite a while.

Within the Tribes Hill area, a Northern Catalpa also made the state registry this year. The tree, nominated by Dawn Carter, stands 82 feet high with a 231-inch circumference.

They must have some good growing conditions over there because theres a number of big trees in that general area, Breglia said.

Further south, a Breglia-nominated devils walking stick in Schoharie and another in Wyoming County were declared co-champions, sitting just two points apart in the registry. The deciduous shrub grew at the 548-acre Landis Arboretum crossing over Charleston and Esperance.

Of course, the largest known tree in Schoharie County -- and third-largest tree in the state -- sits in rural Middleburgh. The weeping willow is 406 inches wide and 52 feet tall. However, because it isnt indigenous to the United States, its not recognized by the National Register of Big Trees.

Breglia explained that the 150-year-old willow likely benefited from the Schoharie Valley soil. On average, weeping willows usually grow to live 30 years.

It was planted a long, long, long time ago in really fertile soils right down near a creek, Breglia said. Because of that, it just reached enormous proportions.

This was also found during the Landis Arboretums Big Tree Search, sponsored by Bill and Roberta Winsman of Palatine Bridge in 2023. Two trees from the search, a Kansas hawthorn and mountain winterberry, were measured in Brooklyn and are now slated to go to the national rankings.

Breglia, who has 25 years of experience searching for mammoth trees, made his biggest find in 2022: New Yorks biggest tree. The estimated 3-century-old Eastern cottonwood was found along a floodplain in Schaghticoke.

I've been looking for 25 years for that plants, he said. And just when you thought you couldn't find anything bigger, another bigger one surfaces.

Heres a closer look at other local top-rankers on the DECs Big Tree Registry:
A billboard at the intersection of Erie Boulevard and Maxon Road Extension in Schenectady on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, reads "Who murdered me?" alongside a photo of a young Samantha Humphrey whose body was recovered from the Mohawk River on Feb. 22, 2023. The 14-year-old's unsolved death is being investigated by Schenectady police as a homicide.
Longtime Solano County and Rio Vista residents Kathleen Threlfall, left, and Bill Mortimore protest outside of a Wednesday press conference unveiling California Forevers plan for a new city in Solano County. They were shut out of the event held at the Rio Vista Veterans Building. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle California Forever says its proposed city in Solano County, seen in a rendering, would start with a population of about 50,000 people. California Forever A rendering of the proposed city in Solano County provides a glimpse of the walkable, dense city California Forever wants to build. California Forever A rendering of the proposed city in Solano County by California Forever shows a view of what the group believes will be a sustainable and walkable city. California Forever The proposed city in Solano County by California Forever will be presented to residents for a November ballot measure. California Forever A map detailing the proposed location of the new city in Solano County by California Forever, which was included in press materials shared by the organization. The city would be separated from Rio Vista by green space. California Forever

After months of rampant speculation, divisive lawsuits and contentious debate, the Silicon Valley tech titans proposing to build a new city in Solano County submitted a ballot initiative Wednesday laying out everything from where the new community will be to guarantees on jobs, transportation and open space.

Now, it will be up to the countys voters to decide if they want to allow a dense urban city to sprout up on wide-open grazing land between Fairfield and Rio Vista.

The new city, yet to be named, would be built on about 18,600 acres just north of Rio Vista, about one-third of the 60,000 acres the company, California Forever, quietly acquired over the last five years for nearly $1 billion. The city, which would sit about 60 miles north and east of San Francisco, would be separated from Rio Vista by a 700-acre park, about a half-mile wide. While the city could eventually grow to 400,000 residents, the first generation of development would likely allow 50,000 residents living in about 20,000 housing units, along with schools, retail, parks, public transit and at least 15,000 jobs.

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California Forever Head of Planning Gabriel Metcalf leads a press conference unveiling the groups plan for a new city in Solano County, held at the Rio Vista Veterans Building on Wednesday. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

The East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative, the name of the measure that requires 13,500 signatures to get on the ballot, asks the voters to allow an exemption from the countys Orderly Growth ordinance, which requires that all urban development take place within the countys seven cities: Vallejo, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Vacaville, Suisun City, Dixon and Benicia.

Under Orderly Growth, a majority of Solano residents must approve any development in unincorporated parts of the county.

In a statement, California Forever said the new city would be one of the most walkable and sustainable communities in the United States. The group said it had received feedback from more than 12,000 Solano County residents during a whirlwind of town halls, surveys, focus groups and one-on-one discussions over the last four months.

On Wednesday California Forever leaders presented the project to a packed auditorium of supporters and media at the Veterans Memorial Building in Rio Vista while project opponents, who were not allowed to attend the event, stood outside. In addition to California Forever CEO Jan Sramek, speakers included Planner Gabriel Metcalf and urban designer Laura Crescimano, co-founder of Sitelab Urban studio.

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Our proposal is for a walkable, medium density, mixed-use community, Metcalf said. This would be not just housing, but jobs of all different kinds, parks and playgrounds, schools and grocery stores, bars and restaurants, hotels and hospitals. Everything that goes into a complete community.

California Forever Founder and CEO Jan Sramek leads a press conference unveiling the groups plan for a new city in Solano County, held at the Rio Vista Veterans Building in Rio Vista on Wednesday. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Thus far, the project has been greeted with a mix of skepticism and staunch opposition by everyone from existing ranchers to environmentalists and elected officials.

Ranchers have taken issue with the proposed citys impact on the countys agricultural workers, who, for more than a century, have raised sheep and cattle, along with crops like wheat and barley, on the windswept farms and ranches. Outside the press conference third generation rancher Jeannie McCormack expressed disappointment that Rio Vista residents were not allowed inside.

I was so sorry we couldnt get in because I havent attended a protest since I was in college, McCormack said.

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Bill Guggemos, who has lived in Rio Vista for 31 years, called the plan pie in the sky stuff. He said the new city would drive up real estate prices in Rio Vista, where the median home costs $450,000, less than half the median price of a home in the nine-county Bay Area.

They are saying Oh my god, there will be affordable housing and it will be all safe and there will be parks and hospital, he said. Thats great but lets talk about the infrastructure, the highways. We are going to be a suburb of that thing  the identity we have now, goes bye-bye.

California Forever also sued a group of ranchers, accusing them of engaging in an illegal price-fixing conspiracy regarding the sale of their properties.

The proposed city in Solano County by California Forever could be as dense as some San Francisco neighborhoods. California Forever

In the ballot initiative, California Forever attempts to assuage some of the most common concerns about the project. It includes a roster of legally binding guarantees that the group says will ensure that its a true mixed-use city with a balance of jobs and housing. The initiative carries a guarantee that the city will create 15,000 jobs or it cannot grow beyond 50,000 residents. And the jobs must pay at least 125% of the county average weekly wage, which is about $1,750.

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California Forever will also fund $400 million for down payment assistance for county residents, as well as construction workers and families affiliated with Travis Air Force Base. About 20% of the city, some 4,000 acres, would be set aside for neighborhood parks, district parks, and large community parks, linear trails, urban ecological habitat, and other types of open space, according to the group.

The group also says it will also establish a for-profit arm of California Forever that will invest $200 million in developing mixed-use projects in the countys seven downtowns. It will allocate $70 million for scholarships or vocational training, and $30 million for parks and open space.

While California Forever is promising the city will have densities as high as San Francisco neighborhoods like the Mission District, environmentalists have cast doubts on the promises and accused the Silicon Valley billionaires of engaging in sprawl masquerading as new urbanism. Others have suggested that the development would lead to gridlock on Highways 12 and 113, two roads that are already congested.

On Wednesday, the opposition group Solano Together said there was nothing in the initiative that made the proposed development more palatable. In a statement, the Solano Farm Bureau said buying up farmland at low prices and rezoning for housing development has been a quick way to make a buck for decades in California. The plans weve seen fly in the face of decades of thoughtful planning and action that was first set into motion to protect Solanos cherished agricultural industries. Developing highly productive ranch lands into urban uses cannot be undone.

Greenbelt Alliance Policy Director Sadie Wilson recently took issue with the premise that creating a new city on Solano County farmland is the solution to a statewide housing shortage. Instead of abandoning our existing cities for something shiny and new, we believe the truly visionary approach would be to make transformative investments in them, improving the lives for both current and future residents, she said.

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A detailed look at the density and layout of the proposed new city in Solano County by California Forever, from press materials shared by the organization. California Forever

The proposed city in Solano County by California Forever would provide green space between it and the nearest neighboring city, Rio Vista. California Forever

On transportation, California Forever says it will contribute to the improvements of Highways 12 and 113, and will provide land for bypasses that would reroute those highways around Rio Vista and Dixon. The developer would not fund all the highway improvements but would pay more than our proportionate share of cost to do those upgrades.

In regards to the climate and energy consumption, the group said its solar farms would have the potential to generate capacity in excess of two gigawatts, enough to power the equivalent of 1.5 million homes.

The group also addressed concerns of how the development might impact Solano Countys biggest employer, Travis Air Force Base. California Forever is proposing to donate land so that the Travis Security Zone, a buffer around the Air Force base where development is not allowed, be increased from 7,971 acres to about 15,000 acres.

The presentation of the plan Wednesday included supporters from Vacaville, Fairfield and Vallejo. Vacaville resident Michael Fortney, who sits on the projects advisory committee, said its very refreshing to see that our input and the publics input made its way into the ballot measure. As a lifelong resident of Solano County Im excited to see this community develop into an employment center for our residents and provide much needed housing stock and housing stock that will benefit everybody. $400 million in down payment assistance will really change the lives of residents in Solano County.

But Rio Vista resident Roxanne Stiles-Donnelly said that Rio Vista residents should have been invited to participate, given that the new city would be adjacent to the town.

It would have been beneficial for them to give this presentation to us citizens instead of the select few who might have an investment in their project, she said. It bothers me that they invited people from outside of Rio Vista to come to this meeting inside of Rio Vista when the project affects Rio Vista. Vallejo? Vacaville? Its not going to effect them.

But California Forevers Metcalf said that the charm and layout of Rio Vistas downtown makes it a model for what one of the neighborhoods might look like in the new city.
Maggie Oliver is the former Greater Manchester Police detective who, along with councillor Sara Rowbotham and ex-Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal, exposed the failings of the police and local authorities in the Rochdale child sex-abuse ring. She deserves a gong. They all do.

First, they helped to unearth a great injustice: the abject failure of the police to investigate and prosecute groups of men of mainly Pakistani and Afghan origin who were systematically grooming and abusing young white girls, many of them underage.

Second, they had the courage to be honest about the motives that led to such a failure. Not just incompetence  but also an underlying culture of misogyny and misguided political correctness.

Maggie Oliver is the former Greater Manchester Police detective who exposed the failings of the police and local authorities in the Rochdale child sex-abuse ring

The scale of the abuse was highlighted again this week with the publication of a new report that found girls were left at the mercy of paedophile gangs for years.

It claims many of the perpetrators are still at liberty, identifying 96 men who continue to pose a risk to children and stressing that they represent only a proportion of abusers.

These girls werent just abused sexually and psychologically, they were treated as subhuman. One was kept in a cage and told to behave like a dog; another was injected with heroin and died. In a chilling example of how little anyone cared, a girl of 13 had her aborted foetus taken away for DNA testing by the police, who then left it forgotten in a freezer.

Underpinning all this was not only a basic lack of respect for these victims, but also a deep-seated misogyny, reinforced by cultural prejudice. Because these girls came from mainly poor, white, working-class backgrounds, because they were maybe prone to getting into trouble, there seems to have been a sense that they somehow deserved their fate.

Bad things happen to bad girls, isnt that what they say? Its every rapists excuse, misogyny 101.

But its not only misogyny that allowed this scandal to happen on such an industrial scale.

The other factor was cultural. The sad truth is that, even though the Home Office found that most British grooming gangs have historically been white, the men preying on girls in these cases were largely Muslims. And Im afraid there is no doubt that, in the eyes of some who belong to that faith, any female who does not adhere to a strict set of rules loses all right to be respected.

Of course, Islam is by no means alone in this. Most religions contain misogynistic elements: not least Christianity, which blames all human suffering on Eve and preaches a virgin birth as the standard by which all women must be judged.

The Rochdale child sex-abuse ring was systematically grooming and abusing young white girls

But while most religions these days seem to interpret such ideas in the abstract, Islam  especially in its politicised form  takes them ever more literally.

The most obvious example, of course, is the Islamic Republic of Iran, which exercises brutal control over its female citizens, ruthlessly punishing any disobedience. There are countless horrific stories of young women and girls being arrested, imprisoned, beaten, raped and even murdered by the morality police for what, by Western standards, would be perfectly normal behaviour.

Only two weeks ago, Roya Heshmati was given 74 lashes with a leather whip for encouraging permissiveness after walking in Tehran without a headscarf.

But Iran is not alone. Increasingly, all over the world, we see hardline Islam expanding its reach, leaving a trail of beaten, broken women in its wake.

Defilement and rape have always been a part of war. But in the hands of Islamist terrorists, they have become a systematic tactic of suppression. We have seen it in Syria with Islamic State; in Africa with Boko Haram  and we saw it on October 7 in Israel, particularly in what happened to female revellers at the Supernova Festival.

It seems incomprehensible that any human could do to another what Hamas did on that terrible day. Until, that is, you understand that, in the eyes of the terrorists, because those girls at the festival were free  to dress how they wanted, to get an education, listen to music, fall in love  raping them was not a sin.

In fact, it was something to brag about . . . to phone home and tell your mum about.

The terrifying truth is that the extremists in Iran, and their allies and proxies, represent a new axis of misogynist evil. The groups they finance  from Hezbollah to Hamas and beyond  hate Western women and their freedoms. And the fact so few feminists and so-called feminist organisations  especially on the Left  seem willing to acknowledge this is an utter disgrace.

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman faced a backlash when she tried to have a conversation about the ethnicity of the grooming gangs

Women and girls around the world are suffering appallingly, from being deprived of their right to education and exercise to genital mutilation, child-marriage and punishment beatings, and all the Left seem to care about is defending the rights of women with penises.

Im sorry, but its true. There is more vitriol on social media directed at J.K. Rowling for daring to speak up on behalf of vulnerable women than there is condemnation of young girls hammered to a pulp in the name of religion. And that is unforgivable.

This, of course, suits the fanatics down to the ground. They love nothing more than watching the useful idiots tying themselves up in culturally correct knots (see Gary Lineker) to avoid being seen as insufficiently woke. It makes their job so much easier.

That is why I get so angry when I see young women protesting in support of Hamas and, more recently, the Houthis in Yemen. Extremist Islamist groups believe girls can marry from the age of nine. They must not be corrupted by going out to work, and any studies they engage in must focus on domestic activities.

Emancipation is a sin; equality is unnatural. Indeed, everything that they believe is wrong with Western civilisation lies in the fact women neglect their proper place in the world  which is to exist in the service of men.

That is something these groups intend to rectify. If a woman resists or strays from this path, she becomes fair game. She may be punished with lashes, or even put to death, on the mere say-so of men, for dishonouring her family.

Which brings us back to Rochdale. In the minds of the perpetrators, those poor, white girls were also fair game.

And the reason Maggie Oliver and others struggled so hard to be heard was because no one wanted to admit the scale on which such crimes were taking place  and which ethnic groups were committing them.

And I get it: its not a nice truth. We would all far rather believe that those who come to Britain to make their lives here (or whose recent ancestors did) would do so with respect  and perhaps even enthusiasm  for our values. But sadly, that is not always the case.

Listen to the anti-Semitic chants on the street, see the intolerance on our university campuses. Its their way or the highway  as former Home Secretary Suella Braverman discovered when she tried to have this very conversation. Branded as racist and hounded out of government for refusing to pretend there wasnt a problem  when its clear to anyone with a brain that there is.

Burying our heads in the sands of political correctness  while fine if you want an easy ride in The Guardian  is not in the interests of true harmony. Or of the country as a whole.

One final thought. I know that for every Muslim who supports Irans mission there are a thousand who believe nothing of the sort. Who are as repelled as we are by the crimes committed in the name of their religion, by the excuses made for barbaric practices such as honour killings and female genital mutilation and the grotesque actions of Hamas.

But with a few notable exceptions, their voices are rarely heard. Please, speak up. Dont let these lunatics define you, or your religion. Be vocal in your condemnation. Not just for your own sakes. But for the sake of all women, and especially our girls.
On Monday, Rishi Sunak was refusing to discuss the doom-laden YouGov poll splashed in some of that morning's papers predicting a devastating 1997-style election wipeout for the Conservatives. But yesterday, as Tory MPs were debating the Prime Minister's flagship Rwanda Bill, he could talk about little else.

Throughout the day, Sunak and his army of whips, whose job is to enforce party discipline, demanded private conversations with the MPs who were planning to rebel against the Government's Bill.

During the discussions, they quickly steered the conversation towards that devastating poll - which predicted 200 Tory MPs would lose their seats and that Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party was heading for a crushing 120-seat majority.

Mr Sunak held court, oozing charm and expressing assurances that he would not let the Rwanda deal be scuppered by endless appeals by human-rights lawyers.

But as the Prime Minister played 'good cop', the whips, led by the astute former Welsh Secretary Simon Hart, dramatically raised the stakes.

Throughout the day, Sunak and his army of whips, whose job is to enforce party discipline, demanded private conversations with the MPs who were planning to rebel against the Government's Bill

But as the Prime Minister played 'good cop', the whips, led by the astute former Welsh Secretary Simon Hart (pictured), dramatically raised the stakes.

On Monday, Rishi Sunak was refusing to discuss the doom-laden YouGov poll splashed in some of that morning's papers predicting a devastating 1997-style election wipeout for the Conservatives

But yesterday, as Tory MPs were debating the Prime Minister's flagship Rwanda Bill, he could talk about little else

They warned wavering MPs that if the Prime Minister loses the entire Rwanda Bill tonight, he will have no choice but to call a General Election.

Suddenly, YouGov's dreadful predictions loomed large in backbenchers' minds.

'There has been a lot of arm-twisting,' said one source. 'If MPs already fear they will lose their seats, surely most would rather go down in the autumn  with nine more months on their CV: nine more salary cheques and more money in their pensions  as opposed to picking up their P45s in six weeks' time.

'They may think the threat is empty, but they can't be sure.

'The reality is that, if the Bill goes, the PM has lost his best chance to stop the boats, which is one of this five election priorities.'

This week Downing Street has had no choice but to respond to the growing clamour from Tory rebels.

When the revised Rwanda Bill first went to the Commons last month, there were apocalyptic warnings of a humiliating defeat, which would have been the first time legislation was lost at the first parliamentary hurdle since Thatcher's defeat over Sunday trading in 1986.

But while Sunak faced significant abstentions, there were no votes against  and the rebels were chastened.

Fast-forward to last night and it was a very different story. Some 60 Tory MPs backed the hardliners' amendment to ignore international law and the European Court of Human Rights.

Boris Johnson's 11th-hour intervention stiffened the sinews of the rebel alliance.

Boris Johnson's 11th-hour intervention stiffened the sinews of the rebel alliance

The reality is that, if the Bill goes, the PM has lost his best chance to stop the boats, which is one of this five election priorities

How did the Tory Right bolster their cause so fast? They have a new spiritual leader in the wily Danny Kruger  the son of TV chef Prue Leith and part of the 2019 intake of Tory MPs known as the 'New Conservatives'.

Kruger's group sidelined the European Research Group (ERG) led by Mark Francois  one of the 'Brexit Spartans' who led last month's revolt. Mr Francois was involved in a series of impromptu press conferences involving these rebel groupings  unflatteringly dubbed the 'five Tory families of the Rwanda Bill', a reference to the Italian-American Mafia made famous in the Godfather films.

'Kruger is a smarter operator,' said one Sunak loyalist last night. 'He comes across well on the media. Francois has been off the airwaves.'

As well as Kruger, Robert Jenrick, who quit last month as Immigration Minister over the Rwanda plan, proved himself another key rebel player in the past 24 hours.

Despite his seemingly constant presence on the airwaves, Jenrick also found the time to maintain a charm offensive in the Commons tea room drumming up support.

Even his detractors praised his speech in support of his amendment, which was backed by 58 MPs.

Even a coughing and spluttering Suella Braverman rose from her sick bed to vote for the amendments

Fellow MPs notice that he has also had a remarkable, George Osborne-style transformation  sporting a 'Caesar' hair cut and looking noticeably trimmer  triggering speculation that he's on manoeuvres to oust Mr Sunak. (With only a handful of supporters, he would struggle to gain any traction.)

One thing is sure: the rebels were serious about destabilising the Bill.

READ MORE - David Cameron says the government's Rwanda plan is 'essential' to stopping the boats as fears of Tory mutiny grow Advertisement

Even a coughing and spluttering Suella Braverman rose from her sick bed to vote for the amendments. One Tory MP said: 'I think she was channelling her inner Margaret Thatcher, who survived on four hours of sleep and never missed a vote.'

A further setback for the Government came with the resignation of Lee Anderson, known as the 'Red Wall Rottweiler', and his fellow Northern MP Brendan Clarke-Smith who also quit as Deputy Chairmen of the party. They both backed rebel amendments.

Mr Anderson, a former miner who defected from Labour to the Conservatives as a councillor, became the MP for Ashfield in 2019. As recently as this week he was seen in a Tory HQ video laughing along with Mr Sunak.

However, I doubt the losses will be felt too keenly by the Prime Minister  as the role of Deputy Chairman carries no executive power and is handed out as a bauble to long-serving MPs or to placate dissident voices.

Despite the rebels' best efforts, the Government survived the revolt. But the real test will come tonight - in the vote on the final stage of the Rwanda Bill.

Expect even more sharp arm-twisting from the whips  and more cosy fireside chats with the Prime Minister.
Hollywood scriptwriters wouldn't get James Arbuthnot.

Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom is the parliamentarian who for years campaigned for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal.

Time and again, he seized hold of their case and battled Whitehall and Westminster's 'nothing to do with me, guv' merchants. Time and again, the system refused to yield.

But hang on. This pukka Tory peer himself seems the very embodiment of the British Establishment. With a drawl as dry as dead twigs, he was head boy at Eton, became a London barrister and defence procurement minister in the Major government. He was a Conservative chief whip and, back when he still had a full(ish) head of hair, was tipped as a future PM.

Now he has helped bring about the political equivalent of Dunkirk, rescuing hundreds of so-called little people  if the brave sub-postmasters led by Alan Bates will forgive that expression  from the merciless maw of big bureaucracy. Lord Arbuthnot is counter-intuition made flesh. Perhaps it was always going to be that way. Only Nixon could go to China.

Maybe only a posh, phlegmatic, cigarillo-wisp insider with a High Court judge for a wife (Mrs Justice Arbuthnot, daughter of the wine expert Michael Broadbent) was going to conquer the inertia of unthinking officialdom and its apologists in the courts.

A hero to the people: Tory peer Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom

Arbuthnot was still in the Commons, MP for the safe Tory seat of North East Hampshire, when he first heard about 'this horrific saga' of sub-postmasters being falsely convicted of fraud.

In the 1990s the Post Office had spent millions on a whizz-bang Fujitsu computer system called Horizon. It was the era of modernisation at all costs. Computers were always right, even when they were wrong.

When thousands of pounds started 'disappearing' from Post Office accounts, no one blamed the computer. Instead, they blamed the decent, entrepreneurial souls who ran small post offices. Boot-boy corporate investigators got stuck in. Sub-postmasters were sent to prison. As we now know, it was all quite wrong.

David Bristow, postmaster at Odiham in Arbuthnot's constituency, contacted his MP and 'said he had a problem' after being accused of losing 40,000 of Post Office money. Mr Bristow suspected there were gremlins in the Horizon accounting system.

A postmistress in neighbouring South Warnborough, Jo Hamilton, thought the same but she had been convicted of false accounting. Instinct told Arbuthnot something was amiss. 'They were both transparently honest people,' he recalls, looking back on his first meeting with the duo.

Among other things, this scandal illustrates the virtues of our parliamentary model of government, in which elected representatives have constituencies small enough for them to engage personally with electors. Face-to-face meetings matter. If only Sir Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader who, as Post Office minister, tried to brush off Mr Bates, had taken that view.

Jo Hamilton had, under pressure from prosecutors, pleaded guilty. An appeal against her conviction was therefore not possible. But when Mr Bristow's replacement postmaster in Odiham was also removed for a similar reason, Arbuthnot smelled a rodent.

As he this week told the Hansard Society's Parliament Matters podcast: 'I thought: 'This is absurd, it can't be a coincidence. It must be something systemically wrong with the accounting system'.'

A succession of ministers  over the years he dealt with 17, from the Blair government onwards  tried to fob him off. Their civil servants were telling them it wasn't their problem and ministers opted for an easy life. Officials insisted that there was an 'arm's length' arrangement with the Post Office which prevented ministerial intervention in contractual details.

Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom is the parliamentarian who for years campaigned for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal

Jo Hamilton had, under pressure from prosecutors, pleaded guilty. An appeal against her conviction was therefore not possible

'Nothing to do with us,' murmurs Arbuthnot, 'is a model which I think is profoundly dangerous.'

In his Hansard Society interview he used the analogy of a dangerous dog. Its owner cannot declare an 'arm's length' principle after the dog bites someone.

'You've got to take responsibility of ownership. Ministers are constitutionally responsible. They own this damn thing.'

This damn thing: Lord Arbuthnot is ineffably patrician. His father was Scots gentry, the family tracing its links to James V of Scotland and prospering in tea plantations and the Army.

John Arbuthnot fought through the 1939-45 war with the Royal Artillery, became Conservative MP for Dover in 1950, and was made a baronet on account of his political service and his expertise in military explosives. The old boy was good at blowing things up, a skill his second son arguably inherited. James's mother was keen on music. And bulldogs.

The young Arbuthnot's contemporaries at Eton included the maverick mercenary Simon Mann and a future Daily Telegraph editor, Charles Moore, who recalls that Arbuthnot had a dignified bearing 'unusual in one so young'.

As captain of school he was 'firm but fair'. In 1975, he was called to the Bar as a tax barrister but soon immersed himself in borough politics. In 1987 he landed the plum parliamentary seat of Wanstead and Woodford.

After boundary changes he switched, in 1997, to North East Hampshire. His parliamentary career had a tricky start when his new secretary, a pugnacious spinster, complained that Arbuthnot had issued a list of 32 tasks she should consider part of her job, from doing tax returns for his nanny to organising his car repairs.

Newspapers wrote him up as a languid version of Rik Mayall's satirical MP, Alan B'Stard. In those days there was certainly no shortage of money in the Arbuthnot household.

He lost half a million pounds in the Lloyd's insurance scandal but was still wealthy enough to buy a pile in Hampshire. As an orator in the Commons chamber he was seldom anything more than solid. His skills, if he had any, seemed to lie more in backroom fixing.

After a long stint in charge of the Commons defence committee, he took a lobbying job with the arms firm Thales and accepted a seat in the Lords. To the casual eye, Arbuthnot probably looked just another politician who looked after numero uno and defended the Establishment.

This was not the full story. He had already shown some campaigning determination over the 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook helicopter crash, in which 29 died.

A verdict of gross negligence was passed on the dead crew but Arbuthnot and others forced a rethink. Technical problems had been concealed.

As in the Post Office scandal, humans had been slow, either from dimness or pig-headedness, to accept that machines might be at fault.

It takes determination, and perhaps a certain serene self-confidence, to overturn such attitudes. During his fight with the Establishment, Arbuthnot wrote to his fellow MPs, the Speakers of both parliamentary houses, countless officials and lawyers and accountants.

Because he was a seemingly paid-up member of the governing class, he managed to open doors. He organised meetings. He suggested to parliamentary committee chairmen, even when they were in a rival party, how to cover themselves with glory by helping his campaign.

He says he came to 'revere' the talismanic Mr Bates, and the wronged postmasters, in turn, came to hold Arbuthnot in the highest regard.

Finally, the oil-tanker of state started to turn. Finally, Arbuthnot's years of pestering and determined but deft 'word in your ear, dear boy' cajoling achieved the seemingly impossible acceptance of wrongs done.

Groupthink was abandoned. Some stinking judicial mistakes are now to be rectified. All thanks to a grandee with a feather-light gait and impeccable manners. He is a most unlikely liberator.

'MPs have a duty to do things on behalf of their constituents,' he murmurs. 'Even though I'm now 71, in essence I'm a small boy who cannot stand unfairness and I can't and won't stop with this until I've done my best to see it right.'
Lawyers, for hours. Jings, they waffled. Some pinched the air with finger and thumbtip, bouncing on the balls of their feet and rolling their tongues like plum stones.

Others listened with drollery, savouring fellow jurists' Latin phrases, the cited subclauses, the velvety smarm  'in the words of that eminent judge'  to chums at the Inns of Court.

Then Suella Braverman (Con, Fareham) triggered her pistols into the belly of the European Court of Human Rights. Suella, herself a lawyer, started quietly but by the end of her short speech was bellowing about the 'distant, outsourced, foreign' Strasbourg court.

Eek, the F-word.

A Labour MP shrieked. 'We have stretched the patience of the British people,' continued Mrs Braverman, eyeballs ablaze.

Why should any immigrant convicted of drug dealing be allowed to claim British benefits? We should be allowed to chuck 'em out!

Then Suella Braverman (Con, Fareham) triggered her pistols into the belly of the European Court of Human Rights

Stella Creasy (Lab, Walthamstow) looked as if she was going to faint. Smelling salts for Stella, quick

Stella Creasy (Lab, Walthamstow) looked as if she was going to faint. Smelling salts for Stella, quick.

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill was tacking its way across the gaping bay of Parliament. Once more our elected government, after being blocked in the Supreme Court, was trying to honour voters' desire to secure our borders. Once more, lawyers stuck out their little pinkies and threw legal flotsam in the way.

It was all wildly clever. No doubt it would all pass muster with Halsbury's Laws of England. But the average Joe, if present, might have ached to pelt them with turnips and shout 'just do what the voters want, you bewigged twazzocks'.

READ MORE: Rishi Sunak lives to fight another day as his Rwanda Bill comfortably CLEARS the Commons with just 11 Tory rebels trying to crash the plans amid fears the government would have collapsed Advertisement

Joanna Cherry KC (SNP, Edinburgh South West) orated for 20 minutes. Felt longer. Some was in Latin. 'Nobile officium,' she said, 'and I'll explain what that means.' Her explanation was in English but might as well have been in double Dutch.

She moved on to the declaration of Arbroath in 1320, Article XIX of the Treaty of Union, and 'the great Scottish judge Lord Cooper and the case of MacCormick v. Lord Advocate in 1953'. Near me there was a thud.

The chap from the Telegraph had slumped to his desktop, stunned into unconsciousness.

'Few are as familiar as I am with the vagaries and complexities of international law,' announced Sir Jeremy Wright KC (Con, Kenilworth).

Next to him perched two more barristers, Sir Bob Neill and Sir Bobby Buckland. The former, a plump cheese-puff of twitches, was appalled that certain MPs called the Strasbourg court 'foreign'.

This was 'somewhat offensive', opined the Pooter of Chislehurst.

Most of the action was on the Tory benches. The mood? Oddly courteous. There was growing agreement among them that the European Court was ridiculous, yet disagreement about when to move against it.

The best performances came from Robert Jenrick (Con, Newark), who spoke fluently without notes, Tom Hunt (Con Ipswich), who waited five hours to contribute, and Bob Seely (Con, Isle of Wight), who put the case for Tory pragmatism.

Alison Thewliss (SNP, Glasgow Central) kept quoting Rabbie Burns. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Hansard Stenographers will be opening an investigation.

Joanna Cherry KC (SNP, Edinburgh South West) orated for 20 minutes. Felt longer. Some was in Latin

Suella, herself a lawyer, started quietly but by the end of her short speech was bellowing about the 'distant, outsourced, foreign' Strasbourg court

Sir Bill Cash (Con, Stone) made a legal joke. No one understood it. Stephen Kinnock, on Labour's front bench, stretched out his skinny legs and admired his red socks and brown shoes. Tim Farron (Lib Dem, Westmorland & Lonsdale) came over all chapel and said rights flowed from God.

Talking of whom, little Sir Bob announced that some hereditary peer who once chaired the Bar Council was 'a personal friend of mine'.

The idea of the Commons used to be that MPs represented their electors, not legal mates in the Lords. Do we have dikigorocracy (rule by lawyers)? Or is it dicky democracy?

'It's been a very, very long day,' said Nick Fletcher (Con, Don Valley). 'Lawyers seem to be able to talk at this level.

'But the people who sent us here are still struggling to understand why, when we put illegal migrants on a plane, someone in Strasbourg can simply say no.'
The Third World War is coming, and Britain is likely to be fighting a many-sided conflict against Russia, Iran, China and North Korea within five years.

That is not scaremongering. It's the warning this week from Grant Shapps who, in his first major speech as Defence Minister, announced that we are 'moving from a post-war to a pre-war world'.

We are already embroiled in this New World Disorder. We face a 'multi-crisis' that includes the rise of China; Russian imperialism; the mullahs in Iran trying to kick the Americans and their influence out of the Middle East; mass slaughter in Israel and the Gaza Strip; and latent terrorist threats  as well as huge shifts in the global economy through mass migration.

It is a combination that creates the most dangerous situation for Britain since 1945. We have lived through the Cold War and the threat of nuclear obliteration, but in the East-West struggle we faced one main adversary.

The Third World War is coming, and Britain is likely to be fighting a many-sided conflict against Russia, Iran, China and North Korea within five years (File Image)

It's the warning this week from Grant Shapps who, in his first major speech as Defence Minister, announced that we are 'moving from a post-war to a pre-war world' (File Image)

At the same time, the doddery American President Biden can't even summon the strength to support Ukraine as Vladimir Putin tries to end its existence

Under Kremlin chief Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet Union wielded a colossal arsenal and interfered in politics across the globe, but its goals were fundamentally rational ... unlike the deranged threats of nuclear escalation now heard frequently from the Putin regime, or the nihilistic death cults of Islamist extremists.

The fact our defence secretary appears only now to be waking up to this international poly-chaos highlights how naive and arrogant successive UK governments have been in running down our armed forces for 30 years.

It is not just Britain. Europe's democratic leaders have not looked weaker since the 1930s.

France has a puffed-up popinjay for a president in Emmanuel Macron, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is indecision personified. It is a sign of how rudderless the continent is that Italy's Giorgia Meloni appears competent and charismatic by comparison.

At the same time, the doddery American President Biden can't even summon the strength to support Ukraine as Vladimir Putin tries to end its existence, both as an independent nation and as a bulwark against Russian invasion of Eastern Europe.

The need to protect Ukraine is the most imperative issue possible  yet U.S. support is dwindling and risks disappearing altogether if Donald Trump is returned to the White House later this year.

Trump has made it clear he thinks the rest of the West gets a free ride on U.S. shoulders. In 2020, he stunned the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen by telling her, 'NATO is dead', and he means it.

'You need to understand that if Europe is under attack we will never come to help you and to support you,' he said, in a private meeting that came to light only this month.

Trump has made it clear he thinks the rest of the West gets a free ride on U.S. shoulders

We face a 'multi-crisis' that includes the rise of China; Russian imperialism; the mullahs in Iran trying to kick the Americans and their influence out of the Middle East; mass slaughter in Israel and the Gaza Strip; and latent terrorist threats (File Image)

We have lived through the Cold War and the threat of nuclear obliteration, but in the East-West struggle we faced one main adversary (File Image)

Anyone who finds the consequences of that threat difficult to imagine need only look at the Red Sea, where the U.S. Navy is keeping sea lanes open in the teeth of attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The route to the Suez Canal is crucial, not for American trade, but for Europe. Yet Britain is a token presence there and our continental allies are nowhere to be seen.

British defences are pitiably weak. Our aircraft carriers are white elephants that  when they are working  require virtually the full force of the Royal Navy to guard them. Our new weapons systems are cripplingly expensive and many existing ones are long overdue for replacement.

We are short of personnel in all three forces and, equally alarming, of ammunition.

The waste, incompetence and greed in military procurement is appalling. Houthi militias, like the ingenious Ukrainians, can construct drones with off-the-shelf parts or by using 3D printers.

These lethal gadgets cost mere thousands. But our hapless Armed Forces are waiting for over-complicated kit that costs tens of millions  if it ever arrives.

The Mail revealed last year, for example, how Britain's 5.5 billion project for a new Ajax armoured vehicle has been riddled with problems and will not fully enter service until 2028 or 2029.

A huge portion of our defence budget is dedicated to replacing our nuclear deterrent, but in between these doomsday weapons and our renowned Special Forces lies a middle ground filled by ships without crews, planes without pilots, and Army regiments short of soldiers and lumbered with outdated equipment.

If Britain is to survive the New World Disorder, radical action is needed now. We need to accept we can no longer rely on the Americans.

With our special relationship with the U.S. waning we must jettison all pretensions to continuing influence as a global power. All our focus should be on defending Europe against Putin. If we spread our resources too widely, they will be ineffectual everywhere.

This means ruthless choices. There is, for instance, little point in Britain having heavy armour. The Poles have tank factories able to produce these behemoths more cheaply, efficiently and quickly than we could ever hope to.

More vital still, we must give up our hugely expensive aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. Better to hand them to the U.S. Navy, which at least has crew and planes to operate them, rather than continue to fritter our naval budget on squiring these floating vanity projects around the seas.

We have to be part of a co-ordinated European response to rapidly changing threats. Putin knows that without U.S. backing in Nato, British troops in Estonia could find themselves staring down Russian tank barrels with too little firepower to defend ourselves.

The fact our defence secretary appears only now to be waking up to this international poly-chaos highlights how naive and arrogant successive UK governments have been in running down our armed forces for 30 years (File Image)

The need to protect Ukraine is the most imperative issue possible  yet U.S. support is dwindling and risks disappearing altogether if Donald Trump is returned to the White House later this year (File Image)

War among our neighbours has been unthinkable for decades, but the era of strong leadership from Washington, London and Paris died with that generation of politicians led by Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

The sheer uselessness of our politicians, inflamed by external meddling via a weaponised social media, has undermined the certainties of international diplomacy.

Before long we could have Trump in the White House and the far-Right Marine Le Pen in the Elysee Palace. Meanwhile, China is preparing to invade Taiwan, Venezuela threatens to annex an oil-rich region in Guyana, and the Balkans are festering.

Islamist Iran is doing everything it can to obtain atomic weapons. Israel will certainly unleash a nuclear strike if it believes that its own destruction is imminent.

All these apocalyptic scenarios have been building since the Millennium. The arrogance and naivety of successive leaders who have ignored the threats will cost us dearly. For Grant Shapps to behave as if this is all a surprise is one more symptom of how inept our political class has been.

If the international trade network breaks down, Britain will slide into poverty and chaos, even if we avoid the nightmare of missile attacks on our cities. The alarming aftermath may be a world run by the bullies of Beijing.

And yet we continue to squander the defence budget, singing Rule Britannia and waving our sabres as we stumble towards the global abyss.

Edward Lucas is the author of The New Cold War: Putin's Threat To Russia And The West
Looks, brains and charm  having been granted a rare audience with the newly crowned Miss France, I can confirm that Eve Gilles has all the necessary attributes for beauty royalty.

The 20-year-old maths undergraduate is ravishingly pretty, with caramel skin, an exquisite bone structure and deep brown eyes.

Shes got a model figure and can switch into impressive English, too.

Yet unlikely as it may seem this vision in front of me caused a national furore  one that went on to spark debate as far afield as New York and Sydney  when she was anointed live on television last month.

Eve Gilles has all the necessary attributes for beauty royalty - ravishingly pretty, with caramel skin, an exquisite bone structure and deep brown eyes

What on earth did she do to cause so much outrage? Did she bring the contest into disrepute, as Miss GB Zara Holland was accused of doing in 2016 when she had sex in the Love Island villa, causing her to be stripped of her title?

Or did she derail proceedings by throwing flour bombs as feminist protesters did at the 1970 Miss World finals?

No, in the increasingly febrile gender wars it all came down to a haircut: Eve was the first woman in the contests 103-year history to have a crown placed not over the kind of tumbling locks sported by her predecessors, but instead a glossy gamine crop.

The fact her look is reminiscent of other famed beauties such as Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy and Linda Evangelista wasnt enough to stop an outpouring of bile from many of her fellow countrymen. She doesnt look anything like a Miss France, was typical of some of the milder responses to her win on social media.

Criticism also focused on her boyish figure, with some labelling her victory over her curvier, longer-haired competitors as nothing other than an attempt by the contest to display its woke credentials.

Eve was the first woman in the contests 103-year history to have a crown placed not over the kind of tumbling locks sported by her predecessors, but instead a glossy gamine crop

Miss France is no longer a beauty contest but a woke contest, as one angry viewer put it, while another wrote: We dont care about her haircut but the androgynous body is obviously there to serve as woke.

Other comments were more abusive, with some trolls suggesting she was transgender and others mocking her physical qualities  or lack thereof.

She looks like shes been run over by a steamroller, wrote one. Miss France? Surely Mr France, said another.

Detractors were matched by equally vehement supporters of Mademoiselle Gilles, hailing her look a victory for progress and inclusivity. Even politicians weighed in on her side.

Who would have thought a stint in the hairdressers chair could provoke such strength of feeling? Little wonder that Eve  in her first interview since the uproar  remains bewildered by the reaction.

Bewildered but also defiant. For its safe to say that Eve  whose tiny frame belies a steely mindset  is doubling down on her critics. It obviously shocked me because there are lots of women with short hair, so on one level I didnt really understand all this controversy. Id never really placed that much importance on my hair, so it was strange. It still is, she says.

But the fact that people do attach importance to this made me even more determined. This is 2024. Its not right that theyre still putting women into their little boxes, and they have to be clones, they have to be this way or that way.

You know, some people are bald because of illness, they dont have a choice. I think its a message of hope for people that there are different images of beauty.

Indeed there are, although it must be said that having sat two feet across from her in a Paris hotel, I can confirm that, while 5ft 7in Eve may not be possessed of tumbling hair or Jessica Rabbit curves, she is otherwise conventionally stunning, beautifully made-up and clad in a skin-tight dogtooth print mini dress.

That spur-of-the-moment decision transformed her previously long tresses  as a young girl at one point her hair reached below her bottom  into a pixie cut, short above the ears and with a bold, blunt fringe

Perhaps Eve should have taken heed of her parents reaction when she had her hair cut short in a show of teenage defiance, after her mother professed irritation at finding yet more of her 17-year-old daughters long raven hairs on the sofa.

Mum had told me to cut it off as a joke as she was so fed up with seeing my hair all over the place, she recalls. I said okay, and then she said No, I didnt mean it. I told her I wasnt joking; I was going to do it. The next morning I phoned the hairdresser and three days later it was gone.

That spur-of-the-moment decision transformed her previously long tresses  as a young girl at one point her hair reached below her bottom  into a pixie cut, short above the ears and with a bold, blunt fringe.

My father wasnt too happy, Eve admits. Nor was my mother, although they quickly accepted it.

The roots of the subsequent Gallic uproar seem to lie in part in the fact that across the Channel there is a deeper attachment to the Miss France pageant than exists for its UK equivalent, which today largely passes by unnoticed. In France, the beauty parade is a major cultural event. Televised live every December, almost eight million people tuned in last month to watch Eve lift the crown, making it one of the most viewed shows in the country.

Eve can remember watching it with her own family as a young girl, huddled round the TV with her two elder sisters, father Bruno and mother Edith  who hails originally from the French-speaking island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean  at their home in a small village outside Dunkirk.

It was almost like an institution for us, she says. Ive been watching it as long as I can remember.

And whatever it was  the dresses, the glamour, the sprinkling of celebrity dust that accompanies such tournaments  a flame was lit.

I saw something there that appealed to me, she says. I had a dream of taking part in one of these pageants.

That dream was encouraged by her grandfather, whom Eve confides had always told her she was beautiful. He actually wasnt a big fan of the Miss France competition, but he saw something in me that I didnt see myself yet.

When he saw the Miss France on TV, he saw me in that role. He saw a star, like a light inside me, she says.

Even so, the young Eve was sensible enough to pursue a more sober career first. At 18, she went to university in Lille, initially to study medicine before switching to a course in mathematics and statistics.

But in 2022, aged 19, with the ongoing encouragement of her grandfather, she finally took part in a beauty contest in her nearest town.

My grandfather really pushed me, she grins. He was telling my mother all the time, Get her to do it, get her to do it! 

Short locks and all, she won  and went on to victory in the regional contest for Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais too, allowing her to compete in Miss France, to the mounting anxiety of her mother.

She was a bit scared by the whole thing, Eve says. It is something that takes you from shadows into the light, and while there are good things that happen, there are negative things as well.

A younger Eve just before she got the bold chop, which her parents weren't happy with at first

As Eve quickly found out: even before she ventured on stage for the December 16 contest, some had grumbled on social media that she did not fit the profile of a national beauty queen and the Miss France committee warned her she might be targeted by trolls.

They told me some people are very conservative, so theyre going to attack me on what I represented, she says.

Im frank in my way of speaking and according to them this is not the image of their ideal woman. They dont like a woman who is determined, who is ready to fight for what she wants.

She admits that their warning gave her pause. It was the only time I was scared  but then I decided to do something with it. I told myself whether I win or not, I am going to work on the issues raised by this.

Win, she did  in part voted for by the public, although the judges have the final call  and was warmly congratulated by her predecessor Indira Ampiot.

The backlash was almost instant. While Eve said she was prepared for the fact that some people might take issue with her appearance, she was stunned by the magnitude of the outcry.

I didnt expect it to take on those proportions, she says. And the fact that it went beyond France made a big impression on me.

Many were in her corner too. Some called her sublime while Ms Gilles said that members of the public got in touch to support her, as did her fellow competitors.

All the other women backed me, because they couldnt understand the controversy either, she says. Such was the strength of feeling that even French politicians felt the need to comment, among them the Green MP Sandrine Rousseau.

So in France, in 2023, we measure the progress of respect for women by the length of her hair? the feminist politician wrote. I was very touched by that, says Eve.

All the same, those who might applaud that sentiment will also wonder whether a society that prizes the progress of respect for women should really be hosting public beauty contests at all.

Many French feminist organisations certainly think not, with some labelling the very notion sexist.

Who would have thought a stint in the hairdressers chair could provoke such strength of feeling? Little wonder that Eve  in her first interview since the uproar  remains bewildered by the reaction

Naturally Eve has her own take, pointing out that whether we like it or not, many girls dream of being in a beauty pageant and arguing that it gives a platform most could otherwise only dream of. Miss France has always evolved along with society, she says. And its talked about, whether people agree with that or not.

It gives you a platform to work on themes close to your heart. I come from the countryside; I would never have had a voice that counts as much as it does now.

But also the message is that a woman, no matter where she comes from or who she is, she can do what she wants; she can become what she wants to be.

While Eve has paused her studies to enjoy the luxury Paris apartment she gets to occupy free of charge as a result of her win, she declines to reveal whether she is sharing it with a romantic partner and says she has every intention of resuming her studies once her reign is up.

Whatever happens, its important for me to get my degree, she says.

For now though, as her proud grandfather told her, the adventure is only beginning.

That means all kinds of appointments up and down the land, working to highlight the issues of harassment that touched her during and after her journey to the title.

Her role will also give her the opportunity to carry the Olympic flame when the French capital hosts the sporting pageant later this year.

She also needs to find time to fit in the bi-monthly visits to the hairdresser required to keep that crop in mint condition.

I have to go every two to two-and-a-half weeks, she confides. It needs a lot of maintenance and attention.

Theres been no shortage of the latter of course, but Ms Gilles remains undeterred. Next year, she will take part in the Miss Universe contest, which may see this rather bizarre fuss reignited all over again. She gives a Gallic shrug.

Hopefully by then people will see that I am a lot more than my hair, she says.
State commissioners have refused to immediately renew accreditation for City College of San Francisco, saying its trustees are neglecting the schools long-term fiscal health. Here, protesters rally for better wages outside a Board of Trustees meeting in October. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

In a blow to City College of San Francisco, a state commission refused to immediately renew the schools all-important accreditation this week and gave it until 2027 to come into compliance or suffer adverse action.

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges said in a letter Tuesday to Chancellor David Martin that it has determined that the elected Board of Trustees is neglecting the long-term fiscal health of CCSF, failing to follow its own policies and ignoring the chancellors authority. To achieve compliance, the commission said the board must consider the long-range fiscal implications of its decisions and allow the chancellor to implement policies without board interference.

CCSF had hoped that the commission would renew its hard-won accreditation for another seven-year period. Instead, the commission placed the school on warning status and gave it until March 1, 2025, to produce a report showing how it will fix the problems before the final deadline of January 2027.

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If the institution cannot document that it has come into compliance within the designated period, the Commission will take adverse action, its president, Mac Powell, and its chair, Lori Gaskin, wrote in a sternly worded letter.

Without an accrediting stamp of approval, colleges cannot receive public funding and are expected to shut down.

Neither Martin nor board President Alan Wong responded to requests for comment.

At its meeting this month, the commission reaffirmed accreditation for nine community colleges, including San Jose City College. It deferred a decision until November for Santa Rosa Junior College and placed a Southern California school, California Preparatory College, on probation  the second most serious of its three sanctions.

The commissions most lenient sanction is warning, and CCSF was the only school to receive it.

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The action was not entirely a surprise for CCSF, which has been in a precarious fiscal state for years and where some trustees have tangled with accreditors and resisted state regulations in the past. CCSF nearly lost its accreditation entirely a decade ago, after receiving the most severe sanction, show cause, in 2012.

That accreditation crisis ended in 2017, when the commission reaffirmed accreditation to CCSF for seven years  a time period that is now up. The college trustees have appeared committed to following the letter of the law since then, even as the chancellors they hired came and went over the years. But a new majority on the board, elected in November 2022, has had different ideas.

Following the accrediting commissions visit to CCSF in October, the trustees vice president, Anita Martinez, sent the visiting team a five-page rebuttal of the findings that would form the basis of the commissions new sanction against the college.

The letter, obtained by the Chronicle, argues that the trustees do run the college and should not hand over complete authority to the chancellor. Also, Martinez said the board is quite conscious of the necessity to plan and budget and is not neglecting the colleges long-term fiscal health.

If you truly find that the rest of the college is functioning well, but still believe that the board is not working within its bounds  do not punish the entire college and our students, Martinez concluded.

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Yet the letter failed to sway the team. Martinez did not respond to a request for comment.

Shanell Williams, the boards longest-serving trustee, said Wednesday that she is committed to improving board processes to avoid further sanctions from the accrediting commission.

So many of us have contributed to saving City College, I refuse to let us go back now, said Williams, who supports the current chancellor.

Martin, the ninth chancellor in eight years, was the first to financially stabilize CCSF. He arrived in 2021, just after a state fiscal crisis team warned that without significant cuts at CCSF, insolvency is certain.

Martin made such cuts, including laying off instructors. But the board that hired him is largely gone, and San Francisco voters have since elected a majority of union-aligned trustees who disagree with the chancellors fiscally conservative approach.

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Now, after getting strong pushback from the new board, Martin has said he will leave at the end of this academic year. Some at the college have begun a petition to keep him.

The squabbling at CCSF appears to have contributed to the commissions finding that the board is neglecting the colleges long-term fiscal health.

In October, for example, the trustees voted to deposit only slightly more than the legal minimum into its retiree health fund in order to pay for faculty raises. Martin had recommended fully funding the account, while two of the trustees, Martinez and Susan Solomon, argued for paying only the minimum amount.

The accreditation sanction comes at a difficult time for CCSF, which has been losing students for years.

Although Martins actions allowed the school to balance its $314 million budget and escape negative audit findings for the first time in a quarter century, CCSF is about to lose millions of dollars in extra state stabilization money unless it can attract thousands of new students.

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Once among the nations largest community colleges, with more than 95,000 students just 15 years ago, CCSF is a gaunt version of its former self. Only 39,532 full- and part-time students signed up last year, even though classes have been free to San Francisco residents since 2017.

Aside from the pandemic and an improved labor market that reduced demand for community colleges, CCSF has been especially hard hit because San Franciscos youth population is shrinking. The schools accreditation crisis also frightened off untold numbers of students during its five-year run from 2012 to 2017.

The California Community Colleges Chancellors Office said Wednesday that it will provide CCSF with any technical support it needs as it works through this process.
The other day a friend came to visit, bundled up in a delicious faux fur coat from John Lewis. It was in a luscious deep black; lightweight but warm; enveloping but not bulky; and cost 129 when she bought it in October.

I immediately looked to see if it was still available but, unsurprisingly, it wasn't. That coat showed what John Lewis's own-brand fashion can do when it punches high. Excellent cut, neither too trendy nor remotely unfashionable  a stylish, timeless piece. You could wear it for years.

Sadly, although I love John Lewis as a department store, its upcoming spring/summer fashion collection, unveiled yesterday, contains nothing to match it.

At the preview at Peter Jones in Chelsea, I pored over the rails, aching for a piece that I was really tempted to buy. And though I found a number of perfectly nice items, none made me feel 'I want that, now'.

Sadly, although I love John Lewis as a department store, its upcoming spring/summer fashion collection, unveiled yesterday, contains nothing to match my friend's delicious faux fur coat

How many more man-style shirts does a girl need?

John Lewis' range is bland, says Alexandra. Picured: Dusty Blue Blazer, 125, Dusty Blue Trousers, 85, HERR Mono Snake Leather, 65

John Lewis & Partners Linen White Shirt, 59 Linen Blazer Natural, 79 Linen Trousers Natural, 49 Lisbon Black Sandals, 59

John Lewis has been through a difficult time recently, undergoing a number of management shakeups, most notably Dame Sharon White's announcement that she has decided to leave next year, making her the shortest-serving chair in the history of the John Lewis Partnership. For the first time a chief executive, Nish Kankiwala  formerly of Hovis and Burger King  was also appointed in 2023.

The recent announcement that Peter Ruis is returning to the store as executive director, after a decade working elsewhere  including stints at Jigsaw and Anthropologie  is probably good news.

Although he adds yet another name to the battalions of executives at the store, Ruis has an excellent track record and may well give a nudge to John Lewis's fashion offering, which is currently lagging behind M&S in desirability and style.

John Lewis's own brands  John Lewis, Anyday, And/Or (who came up with that name?) and Kin  are terrific value, but they seem to act as a kind of padding rather than the main event.

How many more blue-and-white striped, man-style shirts does a girl need? Haven't we all got a khaki parka or boho smocked top? I would hazard a guess that anyone who wants a denim jumpsuit has bought theirs by now. Do they really want another, even if the pocket detail has been updated?

Blue Stripe Shirt 32, Cropped Beige Trench Coat 65, Black Trousers 36, Burnt Olive Leather Buckle Bag 115

Mid Wash Denim Jumpsuit 50, Mid Wash Denim Overshirt 40

Check Trench Coat 139, Linen Trousers Natural 49, Large Buckle Bag 115

Dusty Blue Blazer, 125, Dusty Blue Trousers, 85, Contemporary Mid Blue trench Coat, 149, HERR Mono Snake Leather, 65

Linen Cork Shirt 49, Linen Bossa Nova Blazer 79

The design director, the stylish Queralt Ferrer, who founded womenswear at Spanish brand Massimo Dutti, was at pains to emphasise that her 45-strong team did not follow trends for this collection, but adapted them to suit the John Lewis customer.

The aim, she says, is to provide clothes that will be wardrobe staples for years, and the emphasis on great fabrics bears testament to that.

And the team has clearly learned something from last year's John Lewis & Partners fashion relaunch, which also focused on the basics, but in a difficult-to-wear array of bright colours, including cyclamen, lime green, cobalt and daffodil. The clothes clogged up the shop floor for months.

This time, Ferrer has focused her team on a far more forgiving palette  a dusty blue trench, oyster chiffon skirt and very wearable black pieces, including a beautiful, pleated evening kilt at a brilliant 55.

But she also seems to have put a lot of faith in a range of Icon pieces  'key pieces to build a capsule wardrobe on'  which are frankly a retread of favourites. Oh, pity the poor word 'icon'  how did such an impressive concept come to this?

In this difficult economic climate, it must be tempting to play it safe and concentrate on a core wardrobe that throws no curveballs. So should I blame John Lewis for wanting to focus on what it knows its customers will buy?

Possibly not, but because I love the store, I hate to think of it languishing in the style doldrums, particularly now we are seeing a return to in-store shopping  a shift which should play into its hands.

The intention  to provide sustainable fashion at a reasonable price for a customer that isn't in thrall to fickle trends  is fine, yet the promotional video launching the new season was confusing, owing more than a nod to the hit TV series The White Lotus.

Natural Linen Dress 79, Luxe Leather Black Tote 115, Lisbon Black Sandals 59

Briar Oversized Striped Shirt 59, Denim Dress 89, Leap Black Metallic Textile Sandals 89

Mustard Pleat Dress 75, Lisbon Black Sandals 59

Set in a fabulous, ornate villa with beautiful young people lolling around attractively in skimpy high-summer clothes, its camp luxury was strangely out of kilter with the humdrum reality of the collection.

Ultimately, I just longed for something on the rails with a bit of pizazz. I wanted pieces which I don't already own, rather than staples such as trench coats or clothes I tend to avoid, like those striped shirts.

Among the fashion brands that John Lewis stocks alongside its own, from Ralph Lauren and Whistles to Theory and Rag & Bone, the one that commercial director Kathleen Mitchell singled out for attention at the preview was Sister Jane.

Sister who? Exactly. But this whimsical British brand, with its chiffon tiers, exaggerated bows and pastel eveningwear vibe has been experiencing double-digit growth. And when I checked it out I could see why. It provides a bit of fun with clothes that do something the John Lewis collection doesn't: they make your heart sing.
A party-loving student had no idea she was pregnant, believing she had simply 'become a bit fat' at university by drinking 'almost every night' - until she suddenly gave birth.

Niamh Hearn's life turned upside down in August 2022 when the then 20-year-old was admitted to hospital with suspected appendicitis - and left hospital with a newborn baby.

The now 21-year-old, who lives in York, admitted to binge drinking and smoking throughout her pregnancy - attending a festival and a pub crawl all while unknowingly pregnant with her son.

The healthcare assistant said she took no fewer than 10 pregnancy tests due to recurrent nausea but said they all returned a negative result.

Months later, on the morning of August 9, 2022, the former drama student woke with crippling stomach pains and rushed to York Hospital's A&E with suspected appendicitis.

Student Niamh Hearn (pictured) showing off her flat stomach while she was unknowingly six months pregnant

The student at nine months pregnant. She had put on some weight, but put it down to drinking 'every night' at parties

Niamh Hearn (pictured) with her surprise baby Liam, who she had no idea at all she was carrying. He is totally healthy

Tests later revealed that Niamh was carrying a full-term baby and in active labour, which she believes occurred due to antibiotics affecting her contraceptive pill.

Hours later, Niamh gave birth to healthy baby Liam - born at 9.30pm and weighing six pounds.

Niamh, who was studying a foundation degree in drama at University Centre Leeds at the time, said she was 'in absolute shock' after delivering her baby - believing she had just gained a few extra pounds while at university.

Shocking photos show Niamh flaunting her flat stomach in a crop top - all while unknowingly six months pregnant.

Niamh said: 'I woke up in crippling agony one morning. I was in so much pain on my stomach, I couldn't move.

'I thought it was my periods and it was the most horrendous period pains of my life.

'I got myself up and dressed. I rang my nanna and she called 111 who told me to go to hospital straight away because they thought it was appendicitis.

Niamh took no fewer than 10 pregnancy tests, due to recurring nausea, but they all came back negative, leaving her to believe she was not pregnant

EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT: As she did not know she was expecting, the student drank, attended a pub crawl and a festival over the nine months

Niamh says that when she was in hospital, and the medics were doing the observations, her waters broke - but she thought she'd wet herself

The student pictured at five months pregnant. Despite taking around 10 tests, they all came back negative

'When they were doing the observations in hospital, I actually thought I'd wet myself on the bed.

'I got changed and when the nurse came back, she brought a wheelchair and said to me 'you're in labour'. I said 'no I can't be' and she said 'well you are, let's go'.'

Niamh 'wetting herself' on the hospital bed was actually her waters breaking, with the student giving birth to a baby boy just six hours later.

Niamh said: 'I was in absolute shock. From the second she said it I said 'no, this can't be happening to me, there must be another explanation'.

'My life was uni and uni work. Everything was running through my head. I don't remember a single thing from when they told me I was in labour to me giving birth to Liam. It all blurred into one.

'None of us had any idea whether he was going to be healthy or whether he was going to be alive or tiny.

'They reckon he was full-time but three weeks early. He was tiny when he was born.

'Amazingly, he was perfectly healthy.

'It took me a good two months to get my head around it. I couldn't believe it.'

The student was admitted to hospital with suspected appendicitis - and then unexpectedly gave birth to her surprise baby

SURPRISE BABY: Liam (pictured just after his birth) came as a shock to Niamh, who took many negative pregnancy tests

'TOO MUCH': Niamh had broken up with her baby's father four months before the arrival, but says her family helped her with everything

Niamh had broken up with her baby's father four months before the arrival of Liam and credited her 'amazing family' for rallying around her during those first few weeks.

Niamh said: 'When Liam came, I just froze and my mum took over - it was too much for me. She took the role and sorted everything out.

'We had nothing. My sister came and brought the tiniest baby grow she could find, nappies, milk, all the necessities we needed and rushed to hospital.

'My family have been absolutely amazing. After the baby came, I moved back in with my mum, which is something I didn't really want to do - I'd been living on my own for two year at uni - but it had to be done.'

After finding out she was pregnant, Niamh was terrified she had unknowingly put her baby in harm's way after drinking and smoking during the last nine months at university.

Niamh said: 'It was such a relief hearing he was healthy. I was drinking. I was drinking pretty much every night at uni. We were going out at like 6pm and not getting back until 2am drinking all night.

Niamh says she was panicking about the fact she had smoked throughout the pregnancy, but luckily, baby Liam (pictured) is healthy

RELIEF: According to Niamh, she was 'panicking because [she is] a smoker too and had smoked and drank the whole way through' the pregnancy

'I was going out maybe three times a week. I went to a three-day festival maybe two weeks before I had him, drinking a lot.

'I was panicking because I'm a smoker too and had smoked and drank the whole way through.

'Thankfully he was okay.'

Niamh said she had taken 10 pregnancy tests after complaining of nausea and weight gain in summer 2022, which all turned out a negative result.

Niamh believes a course of antibiotics in November 2021 to treat tonsillitis may have interfered with the efficacy of her daily contraceptive pill.

Niamh said: 'No one told me these antibiotics could interfere with the pill. I had no idea.

'I wasn't feeling well in the May time and decided to take a pregnancy test. I took about 10 pregnancy tests because I had a feeling I might be.

'I felt sick but there was no explanation as to why I felt sick. All the tests came back negative. I just thought it was a sickness bug.

HAPPY AND HEALTHY: Niamh says she looks at her son Liam (pictured) every day and ''can't believe this has happened'

Niamh, who was taking the pill every day when she fell pregnant with Liam says the youngsters is a 'happy and healthy toddler' and 'she wouldn't change what happened to her'

MOTHER AND BABY: Niamh pictured with Liam just after the surprise birth. Though her life has changed, she says she wouldn't change anything

'I didn't look visibly pregnant, I just looked a bit fat. I didn't put on that much weight. I'd gone up in dress sizes but not enough that I looked pregnant.

'I was religiously taking the pill up until the day I had him.'

Now 17 months, Niamh said Liam is a happy and healthy toddler and said she wouldn't change what happened to her.

Niamh said: 'Every day I look at him and can't believe this has happened.

'I wouldn't change it now.'
A McDonald's worker who started on the job before McNuggets were invented and a Big Mac cost 90 cents has finally left the Golden Arches behind after 45 years.

Dot Sharp, 84, from Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, has served customers in her local McDonald's for a staggering four and a half decades - but has finally decided to call it quits.

The senior citizen started working at the western Pennsylvania branch all the way back in 1978, and took her last order from her granddaughter, who still works ar the Gibsonia branch.

The octogenarian was so well-loved that queues formed around her store, and regular customers saw her off on her last shift.

Dot's colorful career saw the introduction of popular McDonald's releases - and she saw the price of large fries jump from just 50 cents in 1978 to around $3 today.

Dot Sharp, 84, worked at McDonald's of Gibsonia for over four and a half decades, and she credits them for their flexible working hours

Dot Sharp, 84, also worked alongside her granddaughter in the western Pennsylvania branch

Pictured here is Dot in her younger years, stood next to the iconic Ronald McDonald mascot

Dot praised the fast food giant for their flexibility, allowing her to tailor her hours to suit her childcare needs.

She said: 'The best part of my job has always been the people. I love my customers and my co-workers.

'The McDonald's owners have always been great to work for. I was a single mom. They gave me all the flexibility I needed to earn a living and take care of my kids.'

Amazingly, the recent retiree saw introductions of cult favourites like the McDouble and the McChicken.

When Dot started working in the mid 1970s, every single item at the chain cost less than a dollar, a far cry from the prices we see today.

A heartfelt goodbye: McDonald's of Gibsonia put up a lovely sign to commemorate Dot's long years of service

Dot was happy to serve the people of Pennsylvania at the drive-thru for over four decades

Pictured above is Dot with some co-workers at her McDonald's store

Here Dot is pictured working a drive-thru shift, where she was much-loved by customers

In fact, large fries would only set customers back around 50 cents when she first started serving, and Big Macs were priced at approximately only 90 cents.

She had already been working for the chain for a year when Chicken McNuggets arrived in 1979, although the breakfast McMuffins and Filet-O-Fishes were around when she started.

Owner of the McDonald's of Gibsonia store Meghan Sweeney lauded Dot as an 'amazing contributor' to the branch.

'She brought a sunny disposition to every shift and always made the customer her top priority,' she said.

'I'm hoping Dot enjoys a well-deserved break in her retirement. Our customers love her and so have generations of her fellow co-workers. We're so lucky to have had her on our team!'
She asked before Christmas to officially be considered a royal by her government - and now the love child of King Albert II of Belgium has shared a 'Never Give Up' shawl design on Instagram.

Artist Princess Delphine, 53, formerly known as Delphine Boel, took to her social media account on Tuesday to promote her wearable art.

She posted a snap of herself holding up her 495 graffiti-style scarf which features the phrases 'when the system is corrupt', 'when the future looks f*****' and 'when the going gets tough'.

Delphine, 55, is thought to be the result of an 18-year affair between the former monarch, 89, who abdicated in 2013 in favour of his son King Philippe, 63, and Belgian aristocrat Sybille de Selys Longchamps, 82, that began in the 1960s.

She was legally named as King Albert II of Belgium's daughter three years ago - but last year she reportedly penned a legal letter to the government asking to be invited to official events like her half-siblings Princess Astrid, 61, and Prince Laurent, 60.

Artist Princess Delphine, 53, formerly known as Delphine Boel, took to her social media account on Tuesday to promote her wearable art

Speaking after a court officially acknowledged her as the love child of Belgium's former king in October 2020, Delphine said her battle to be recognised as a royal was not about money or status.

Her lawyer, Marc Uyttendaele, has since penned a letter to Alexander De Croo, the Prime Minister of Belgium, insisting that she is invited to state occasions and treated with the same respect as Astrid and Laurent, reported The Times.

'My client has been worried for months about her role in official events,' wrote the lawyer, explaining that the princess is only invited to a few occasions.

He added: 'But even there, she is treated differently from her brother and sister. It is simply a question of respect.'

The lawyer went onto state that she has no interest in a financial endowment, in a reference to her siblings annual allowances of more than 260,000.

However the prime minister argued that Delphine is a private citizen and the royal family have official duties at these functions.

He said: 'The people who are invited to these events are people who have official functions in our country, part of the royal family has an official function. Princess Delphine does not have one.'

For decades, the former King distanced himself from Princess Delphine and her mother to preserve his marriage.

She met her brother, King Philippe of Belgium who is one of 20 Belgian royals she is related to - in 2020, where they posted a socially distanced picture to Facebook, describing it as a 'warm meeting.'

Delphine, right, meets her biological father King Albert II, center, and Queen Paola, left, during an informal meeting in Brussels in 2020

After Princess Delphine was born in 1968, the King initially remained in frequent contact with his child and her mother. But when Delphine reached her 16th birthday, the King began to distance himself.

In 2013, the same year King Albert abdicated the throne due to health reasons and was succeeded by his son King Philippe, Princess Delphine launched a legal bid to be officially recognised as Albert's daughter - which she won in October 2020.

Now Delphine has the right to bear the royal name de Saxe-Cobourg and is formally recognised as a member of the Belgian royal family as are her two children Princess Josephine of Belgium, 19, and Prince Oscar of Belgium, 14, who she shares with partner James O'Hare.

Speaking to Tatler last year, the princess, who is an artist, revealed her father's rejection when she was young still hurts, but added she doesn't blame him and holds no ill-will towards him.

She argued that royal life is 'isolating' and she believed her father had been badly advised at the time. However, she said: 'You don't just have a child and kick it.'

Reflecting on her seven-year legal battle, Delphine said the action she brought was not about money or status but 'principles'.

Now Delphine (pictured in 2022 in France) has the right to the royal name de Saxe-Cobourg and is formally recognised as a member of the Belgian royal family

Now Delphine has attended royal engagements and says her relationship with her father has healed after years of bitterness.

When she launched her legal action in 2013, she told Belgian radio show Matin Premiere: 'I feel like I have a right to exist. Not to exist in the royal family but as me.

'My decision to call for help through the law, I feel today that it was the right thing to do... The judicial system said that I was right and that I had the right to exist.'

Since the legal action has been settled, Princess Delphine has slowly become integrated in the Belgian royal family.

She met her brother, King Philippe of Belgium who is one of 20 Belgian royals she is related to - in 2020, where they posted a socially distanced picture to Facebook, describing it as a 'warm meeting.'

When she was granted her royal title Princess Delphine was also invited to Belvedere Castle in Brussels where she had an official meeting with her father and his wife Queen Paola.
Peep Show star Sophie Winkleman has left passers by stunned after hitting the freezing cold streets to sell popular magazine the Big Issue.

The actress, 43, who's married to King Charles's second cousin Lord Frederick Windsor, spent a day with Big Issue vendors in London to raise money for homelessness, a cause close to her heart.

Perhaps drawing inspiration from Prince William's surprise appearance at a Big Issue stall last month, the mother-of-two donned a branded red hat in an attempt to sell the mag and raise money.

However things didn't pan out exactly as planned for the actress, who instead wound up commiserating with the 'rejection' vendors faced and advised shoppers to politely decline instead of outright ignoring her.

To sell the issue, Sophie joined forces with vendor Kelvin Gregory, who himself had the privilege of selling a copy to the king, which was covered by his own portrait - as part of his 75th birthday celebrations last year.

Sophie Winkleman (pictured) braved the freezing cold streets in London to sell popular magazine the Big Issue

To sell the magazine, Sophie joined forces with vendor Kelvin Gregory (pictured), who himself had the privilege of selling a copy to King Charles on his birthday last year

Speaking in a video on Instagram, she said: 'I'm quite cold. I can't imagine standing out here very, very freezing and people not even talking to me saying "I don't have cash or sorry I can't do it today"'.

'It's just a sort of... I've realised in a very short space of time that communication is um very, very important.

'Just being rejected and people walking by all day that's not okay. It's fine if you can't buy one but just say "Happy new year sorry can't get one today".

'That's very, very important'.

For naysayers who may view her efforts as a mere PR stunt, she went on to reveal how much of a fan she was of the 'brilliant' street mag.

She praised the paper for being 'incredibly well written' and 'really interesting', and went as far as ranking it her 'favourite weekly'.

She also said it was 'daft' to purchase the magazine only to abandon it without giving it a proper read.

She continued: 'You've got to give it a chance. A lot of people buy it and then don't read it - which is really daft. 'It's a brilliant, brilliant read.

She also encouraged readers to take to the streets and find their local Big Issue vendor so they could build a friendly rapport.

Kelvin Gregory, who normally sells the Big Issue magazine from his pitch outside Somerset House, personally handed over the special edition Big Issue to the monarch on November 14 2023

Sophie wound up commiserating with the 'rejection' vendors faced and advised shoppers to politely decline instead of outright ignoring her

The star and half-sister to TV presenter Claudia Winkleman, joined the Big Issue as an ambassador in 2020 and has been a fan of the mag since her teens

'But it, buy a magazine every week. I promise you won't be disappointed it's really interesting' she said.

'Or you can subscribe online and just get one delivered to your house every week... um like I do'.

Sophie, also titled Lady Frederick Windsor by way of marriage to Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince Michael of Kent, first shot to fame as Big Suze in the cult British comedy, Peep Show.

The star and half-sister to TV presenter Claudia Winkleman, joined the Big Issue as an ambassador in 2020, and went onto write an article for the brand calling for an end to the next generation of homelessness.

She wrote: 'We see children in very difficult homes, whether it is because of poverty or abuse or addiction, and so often this can result in homelessness.

'I have always bought The Big Issue. I think I was 15 when I first started spending my money on it. I read about it and did a project on it for school'.

The special edition of the Big Issue features a black and white portrait of King Charles taken by Rankin

Beaming William, 41, appeared relaxed as he joined vendor Dave Martin, 61, who has been a friend of the royal since they hit the streets selling Big Issue copies together 18 months ago

Sophie joins a long list of royals who have shown their support for the Big Issue, most recently Prince William and his father, the monarch.

In November 2023, the king was spotted in Didcot, Oxfordshire alongside Queen Camilla picking up a special edition copy with his face on it.

The king and queen were in town to launch the Coronation Food Project at a food waste distribution centre, as part of Charles's 75th birthday celebrations.

Among the many people he met there was Kelvin Gregory, who normally sells the Big Issue magazine from his pitch outside Somerset House.

Photos show the King greeting Kelvin, who is holding a stack of the magazines. The edition features a black and white portrait of King Charles on the front cover.

And dispelling the myth that royals never carry cash, photographs show Charles handing Kelvin a 10 note, as he buys himself a copy of the magazine.

A month later Prince William left shoppers in London stunned when he was spotted helping the homeless by selling the Big Issue.

The Prince of Wales donned his red cap and jacket to sell the magazine to people outside Tesco in Hammersmith, West London.

Beaming William, 41, appeared relaxed as he joined vendor Dave Martin, 61, who has been a friend of the royal since they hit the streets selling Big Issue copies together 18 months ago, with the pair even swapping Christmas cards.
The health care expert said it acted as a 'protective coat'

He has recently revealed that you should take marshmallow root when sick

A doctor has revealed why taking marshmallow root can help get rid of a lingering cough.

Dr. Kunal Sood is a board-certified acute and chronic pain doctor who resides in Germantown, Maryland.

He frequently shares tips on his TikTok account, where he boasts more than 2.2 million followers.

Recently, the health care expert took to the video-sharing platform to advise users to look to marshmallow root when sick because it can act as a 'protective coat' for your throat.

Dr. Kunal Sood is a board-certified acute and chronic pain doctor who resides in Germantown, Maryland

He has revealed why taking marshmallow root can help get rid of a lingering cough

He captioned the viral clip, which has so far amassed more than 25,400 views: 'Medical information can sometimes be outdated; wish marshmallows still had marshmallow root.'

Dr. Sood began by cutting another user's clip, who claimed her doctor told her to 'eat marshmallows' to get rid of a pesky cough she had for 'six weeks,' into his own video.

'Store-bought marshmallows, which contain sugar, water, and gelatin, don't. But, marshmallow root, which has been since ancient times does have medicinal uses,' he said.

The doctor explained that taking marshmallow root can do wonders for both your throat and mouth.

'It can soothe your throat and suppress your cough. This was previously an ingredient in marshmallows, but has now been replaced with sugar,' he added.

'The reason it helps is it builds a protective coat in your mouth and throat and there is research to support.'

According to Healthline, marshmallow root is a useful remedy for treating coughs and colds because of its high mucilaginous content.

It helps to loosen mucus and inhibit bacteria. It can also help overall skin health and support heart health. You can take marshmallow root as a tea, liquid tincture, or a capsule.

The doctor explained that taking marshmallow root can do wonders for both your throat and mouth

People on the web flooded the doctor's video and praised him for his advice - with many of them sharing their own marshmallow root success stories

@doctorsood Medical information can sometimes be outdated; wish Marshmellows still had marshmellow root  original sound - DoctorSood, M.D.

People on the web flooded the doctor's video and praised him for his advice.

One person said: 'I used marshmallow root when I had COVID. It helped lessen the severity of my cough.'

Someone else added: 'Will have to try this.'

Another user wrote: 'Absolutely have used it! Helps gastric upset as well.'

'Throat Coat tea has marshmallow root and it's my go-to for a sore throat,' one person typed.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were set to be making a high-profile visit to Rome in the spring as part of a European charm offensive.

However, after it was announced by Kensington Palace today that Kate, 42, is being treated in hospital after undergoing successful abdominal surgery, could her first working trip abroad in over a year be cancelled?

The mother-of-three was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone yesterday for the planned procedure and is expected to remain in hospital for ten to 14 days.

She will then return home to Windsor in Berkshire to continue her recovery with the support of her family. The future Queen is likely to be advised to recuperate for two to three months, and is not expected to return to public events until after Easter.

Last month, The Mail revealed that talks were under way at the highest level about William and Kate's first trip to Italy and a date had been 'pencilled in'.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were set to be making a high-profile visit to Rome in the spring as part of a European charm offensive (Kate and William pictured in January 2023 at BAFTA in London)

It is not yet clear whether the short visit was set to include a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

While Kensington Palace has not officially announced the trip, the charm offensive was set to mark the couple's inaugural trip on behalf of the Government as the new Princess and Princess of Wales.

This is because, although they travelled to Boston in the US this time last year, the trip was for Prince William's Earthshot Prize, which is a personal initiative.

It was understood at the time that negotiations around the couple meeting with Pope Francis were still 'very much on the table' and 'nothing has been decided yet'.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have visited Rome twice in recent years and on both visits they made a point of going to meet the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 and Pope Francis in 2017.

But 87-year-old Pope Francis is in worse health, and cancelled a trip to the COP28 climate conference in Dubai at the last minute.

A source said a possible meeting had yet to be discussed at embassy level. Kensington Palace would not comment on the Rome trip directly but a spokesman said: 'We look forward to announcing the Prince and Princess' travel plans in due course.'

It was understood at the time that negotiations around the couple meeting with Pope Francis were still 'very much on the table' and 'nothing has been decided yet'

It comes after their last official government trip  to the Caribbean in March 2022  was beset by a host of PR problems.

Villagers in Belize used the visit to stage a protest over indigenous land issues, while there were republican demonstrations in Jamaica and uncomfortable questions as to whether the tour had too much of a 'colonial' tone. Italy would be altogether different.

There is still great interest in the British Royal Family in the country and the late Princess Diana's popularity endures.

As one of the fashion meccas of the world, it is also likely a visit by the stylish Princess of Wales would be much welcomed.

Members of the Royal Family undertake foreign tours at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and are designed to promote diplomatic, trade and cultural links between Britain and the host nation.

The princess is likely to speak a little Italian as she spent time in Florence during her gap year.

After leaving Marlborough College at the age of 18 in 2000 she lived and studied in the city with four friends.

Then simply Kate Middleton, she was a student at the British Institute of Florence in Palazzo dello Strozzino where she focused on Italian and history of art.

Ciao! The Princess of Wales spent some of her gap year in Florence, and is thought to have a reasonable command of the Italian language

Kensington Palace announced today that the Princess of Wales has had abdominal surgery

She subsequently enrolled at the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, to study art history.

The Princess of Wales is being treated in hospital after undergoing successful abdominal surgery, Kensington Palace announced today.

Kate, 42, was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday for the planned procedure. The future Queen is expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days before returning home to continue her recovery.

The princess is likely to spend between two and three months recuperating and is not expected to return to public duties until after Easter based on current medical advice, the Palace said.

The Prince of Wales will not undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital and during the immediate period following her return home.

Heir to the throne William will combine being at Kate's side with caring for their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Princes Louis, and he has postponed a number of engagements.

The Palace refused to confirm what Kate was being treated for but confirmed the condition was non-cancerous.

Kate is close to her family, and her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and sibling Pippa Matthews and James Middleton are set to rally round and help support her recovery at the Waleses' home in Windsor.

Kate, Charlotte, George, William and Louis at the Sandringham Christmas Day 2023 service

A spokesperson said: 'The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate.

'She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

'Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share.

'The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.'

There will now be no international travel for the prince and princess in the coming months.

The princess marked her birthday just over a week ago, with the monarchy's official social media accounts sharing a new behind-the-scenes photo of the princess at the King's coronation.

Kate usually enjoys good health but was previously admitted to hospital while pregnant after suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum - severe morning sickness.

Like the rest of the royal family, she has had a busy, turbulent past couple of years, with the Platinum Jubilee and the late Queen's death in 2022, and the coronation in 2023, as well as adjusting to her new role as the Princess of Wales.

The Waleses also faced the ongoing rift between William and his brother the Duke of Sussex, with Harry making controversial claims about Charles, Camilla, William and Kate in his Netflix documentary and memoir Spare.
Celebrities have sent their best wishes to the Princess of Wales 42, after it was revealed she had been admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery.

Giovanna Fletcher was among those to send a message to the royal via Instagram, wrote: 'Sending love.'

The pair know each other as Kate appeared on Giovanna's podcast Happy Mum, Happy Baby, in 2020, with the host describing the royal's 'passion for the Early Years [as] incredible'.

Another, Fearne Cotton, simply shared two red love hearts in her post. The two have also collaborated, presenting a symposium about childhood together last November. The event was co-hosted by the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

John Torode also wrote in support of the Princess, saying: 'Wishing her Royal Highness a speedy and comfortable recovery.

The Princess of Wales (pictured, left) with her friend Giovanna Fletcher (pictured, right). The royal has appeared on Giovanna's podcast Happy Mum, Happy Baby in the past

Kate Middleton (pictured, left) is greeted by Fearne Cotton (pictured, right), as the two host a symposium on childhood in November 2023

Celebrities sent messages of support to the royal after they found out she had undergone abdominal surgery

The well wishes follow a message shared by Kensington Palace on Instagram, which revealed the royal had undergone surgery. It said: 'Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery.

'The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

'The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

'Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share.

'The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.'

After spending 10-14 days in hospital, it is believed the future Queen will then return home to Windsor in Berkshire to continue her recovery with the support of her family.

Her condition is understood not to be cancerous.

The Princess is likely to be advised to recuperate for two to three months, and her return to official duties will depend on medical advice closer to the time.

The statement shared by Kensington Palace on Instagram, revealing information about the royal's condition

Kate is not expected to return to public events until after Easter, and her husband Prince William will combine being by his wife's and children's side throughout.

Royal expert Phil Dampier tweeted: 'Wishing the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery after abdominal surgery. We don't know the details but clearly this was serious as she will be in hospital for a fortnight and needs up to three months to recover.'

And the Queen's former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said on X: 'I am sure I speak for everyone in wishing HRH a speedy recovery.'

The London Clinic, based on the corner of Devonshire Place and Marylebone Road in central London, is the UK's largest independent private hospital.

The clinic first opened its doors in 1932 and its previous patients include Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, actress Elizabeth Taylor and US president John F Kennedy.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium has made a stylish appearance at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos today.

The queen, who will be celebrating her 51st birthday in three days, descended on the prestigious financial event in an elegant wine-coloured two piece set.

The forum, which is held annually from January 15 to 19 is expected to pull in the biggest names in world banking, as well as economic leaders and a a host of royals.

The Belgian royal was spotted arriving without her husband King Philippe, at the Belgium house in Davos, Switzerland.

She was pictured presiding over a roundtable meeting in a red high-neck long sleeved blouse with puff sleeves.

Queen Mathilde of Belgium has made a stylish appearance at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos today

She was pictured presiding over a roundtable meeting in a red high-neck long sleeved blouse with puff sleeves

To match, she wore a pair of red straight leg trousers along with a pair of black leather platform shoes.

She accessorised the classy look with a matching leather handbag, round pearl earrings and a gold and silver wristwatch.

She layered the look with a cosy black three-quarter length jacket, which featured a high waist belt.

For her hair, the royal styled her short tresses with a middle part, and allowed her locks to fall loosely behind her neck.

Meanwhile her make-up featured a natural base and a polished pink lip.

The queen was photographed in high spirits, bearing the cheeriest of smiles as she made her way into the building.

Davos 2024 is the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum and this year's theme is about Rebuilding Trust.

According to the WEF, the meeting aims to restore collective agency, and reinforce the fundamental principles of transparency, consistency and accountability among leaders.

The forum will assess progress on global security, trade, economic growth, jobs, and climate changes among others.

The Belgian royal was spotted arriving without her husband King Philippe, at the Belgium house in Davos, Switzerland

Mathilde accessorised the classy look with a matching leather handbag, round pearl earrings and a gold and silver wristwatch

For her hair, the royal styled her short tresses with a middle part, and allowed her locks to fall loosely behind her neck

Mathilde was also spotted in high spirits over the Christmas period.

Her and husband King Philippe visited the festive stalls at the Frauenkirche in Dresden, where they soaked up the vibrant Christmas atmosphere.

For the fun-filled trip, Philippe, 63, and Mathilde, 50, were joined by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer. The group were photographed enjoying a festive drink together.

Mathilde appeared to be in great spirits as she held up her tea cup with a broad smile across her face.

The mother-of-four cut an elegant figure for the occasion and donned a mid-length red dress.

The queen was photographed in high spirits, bearing the cheeriest of smiles as she made her way into the building

The forum, which is held annually from January 15 to 19 is expected to pull in the biggest names in world banking, as well as economic leaders and a a host of royals

Davos 2024 is the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum and this year's theme is about Rebuilding Trust

Mathilde coordinated the brightly coloured dress with a matching hat in a similarly bright shade.

Dressing for the cold weather, she added a caramel-coloured cape with a fur trim lining and a practical pair of leather gloves.

Meanwhile, King Philippe looked dapper in a warm black overcoat, which he matched with a gold patterned scarf.

The area is renowned for its spectacular Christmas markets, where merry-goers can expect to experience a range of stalls selling pottery, glass ornaments, and Vogtland lace, according to the market's website.
Key senior royals are thought to have been briefed on stepping in to cover for King Charles and the Princess of Wales after their respective health issues were revealed today.

This afternoon, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III will attend hospital next week to be treated for an enlarged prostate.

This morning, it was revealed that the Princess of Wales underwent surgery for an abdominal issue yesterday and will not return to public duty until Easter.

It's likely Queen Camilla, Princess Anne and the Duchess of Edinburgh could now take on any public engagements that both the King and the Princess of Wales are unable to honour.

Prince William is also expected to take on a lighter schedule as he concentrates on family life while the Princess of Wales recovers from two weeks in hospital.

William, 41, will care for the couple's three children, Prince George, ten, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince George, five, until Kate is back to full health.

King Charles III will undergo a corrective procedure next week on his prostate, Buckingham Palace revealed today - meaning some of the monarch's upcoming public engagements will be postponed

King Charles III and Queen Camilla, pictured at church in Sandringham on Christmas Day; it's thought the Queen will cover any key occasions for the King while he recovers from surgery

Princess Anne, stoic in her duty following the late Queen's death in 2022, will step in to cover more royal duties following today's announcements about the King and Princess of Wales' respective health issues

Reliable super sub: The Duchess of Edinburgh is a trusted member of the senior royals and is likely to take on duties to help out between now and Easter. Princess Anne could also take on additional engagements

Events King Charles could miss while being treated for an enlarged prostate 18-19th January: Meetings and events at Dumfries House with foreign dignitaries and Cabinet members 25th January: Burns Night 27th January: Holocaust Memorial Day Advertisement

This afternoon, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said at 3.30pm today: 'In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.

'His Majesty's condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure.

'The King's public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.'

While the level of detail on Charles's health is uncommon, royal sources said that he was keen to share the details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked, in line with public health advice.

Queen Camilla is also likely to continue with any engagements already in the diary, keeping to her busy schedule.

Princess Anne, who was widely praised following the death of the late Queen in 2022 for her hard work whilst grieving, is likely to be considered a good choice to cover for her sibling and the Princess of Wales.

And the Duchess of Edinburgh has become a trusted member of the senior royals in recent years, taking on more roles; it's likely the 58-year-old royal could be called upon to step in if needed.

Police officers stand outside The London Clinic today where Kate is staying after surgery

Kate, Charlotte, George, William and Louis at the Sandringham Christmas Day 2023 service

Kensington Palace announced today that the Princess of Wales has had abdominal surgery

The Duchess of Sussex, 58, pictured at The French Residence in London this week

Charles had a series of meetings and events planned at Dumfries House tomorrow and Friday, which are now being postponed on doctor's advice.

Guests, including foreign dignitaries and Cabinet members, had been due to travel to the events.

It comes as Kensington Palace separately revealed today that the Princess of Wales was being treated in hospital after undergoing successful abdominal surgery.

Kate Middleton will spend up to two weeks in hospital after having successful abdominal surgery, royal aides revealed today - as others also announced that King Charles III will attend hospital next week to be treated for an enlarged prostate.

The 42-year-old royal was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone yesterday for the planned procedure and is expected to remain in hospital for ten to 14 days.

The future Queen will then return home to Windsor to continue her recovery with the support of her family, Kensington Palace said. It is understood not to be cancerous.

Kate Middleton, 42 and her husband pictured attending the 2023 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey; Prince William will now take on much of the childcare for the couple's three children Prince George, ten, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince George, five

The Princess is likely to be advised to recuperate for two to three months, and her return to official duties will depend on medical advice closer to the time.

Kate is not expected to return to public events until after Easter, and her husband Prince William will combine being by his wife's and children's side throughout.

The two royal health updates on senior royals came within 90 minutes of each other, with Kensington Palace coming first at 2pm then Buckingham Palace followed at 3.30pm.

WHAT ENGAGEMENTS WILL KATE LIKELY MISS OUT ON? FEBRUARY February 2 (and onwards) - Six Nations Championship February 13 - Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) February 18 - BAFTA Film Awards MARCH March 1 - St David's Day March 11 - Commonwealth Day Service March 17 - St Patrick's Day Advertisement

This afternoon, a host of celebrities sent their best wishes to the Princess of Wales after it was revealed she had been admitted to hospital for the surgery.

Giovanna Fletcher was among those to send a message to the royal via Instagram, wrote: 'Sending love.'

The pair know each other as Kate appeared on Giovanna's podcast Happy Mum, Happy Baby, in 2020, with the host describing the royal's 'passion for the Early Years [as] incredible'.

Another, Fearne Cotton, simply shared two red love hearts in her post. The two have also collaborated, presenting a symposium about childhood together last November. The event was co-hosted by the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

John Torode also wrote in support of the Princess, saying: 'Wishing her Royal Highness a speedy and comfortable recovery.
Navier will soon roll out its first water taxi on San Francisco Bay to ferry commuters with the fintech company Stripe between Marin County and South San Francisco. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

One entrepreneurs vision to install a fleet of personalized electric water taxis in San Francisco Bay that ferry commuters between local marinas is a step closer to fruition.

Beginning in March, San Francisco startup Navier will embark on a pilot program shuttling Stripe employees from Marin County to the fintech companys headquarters in South San Francisco. Instead of relying on roads and ground transportation, those commuters will ride in Naviers signature six-passenger boats from Larkspur south, under the Bay Bridge and to Oyster Point Marina.

Navier says its battery-powered hydrofoil boats should cut a traffic-choked 1-hour highway commute down to a tight 45-minute cruise. The mass-transportation ferry from Larkspur takes 30 minutes to get to San Franciscos Ferry Building, but does not go farther south.

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When Naviers boat gets going to about 15 knots, hydrofoils on its hull raise the craft above the waters surface, creating a smooth sensation of hovering quietly.

If youve taken the ride, you know the joy of it. Its an energizing way to get to your work, said Navier founder and CEO Sampriti Bhattacharyya.

The Stripe partnership is the first proof-of-concept test for Navier, a company founded in 2019 with grand intentions to spur a revolution in personal transportation by establishing hubs of electric passenger vessels at major U.S. coastal cities. Waterways in those locales constitute a free piece of infrastructure, and theyre underutilized, Bhattacharyya told the Chronicle last year during the lead-up to the companys first public demonstrations of its watercraft.

The goal is to really understand, how do we make these end-to-end commutes seamless for day-to-day commuters? And what are the routes we should target, and in what priority to have the maximum impact? Bhattacharyya said.

Sampriti Bhattacharyya, founder and CEO of Navier, hopes to see more of her companys electric water taxis at coastal cities around the country. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Stripe, like many Bay Area tech companies, offers hybrid remote work opportunities to its employees. The company approached Navier in the fall about the partnership. The program will first run a single Navier cabin cruiser  outfitted with Wi-Fi and tables  then expand to five to seven boats later this year.

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Were thrilled to partner with Navier in their novel, zero-emission approach to water transportation, said Pam Van Stavern, Stripes head of global real estate and workplace. Our pilot program with Navier will fill a transportation void by offering a more efficient commute option for our employees in the Bay Area.

A Stripe spokesperson said the company doesnt publicly divulge how many employees it has in the Bay Area or how many workers it hoped to serve with the Larkspur ferries. The company didnt release financial terms of the deal.

The biotech hub of Oyster Point, a home base for more than 200 companies and 20,000 employees, appeals as a major focus for Navier going forward, Navier said in a news release.

If the pilot program goes well, Bhattacharyya hopes to expand similar programs to other key points along the bayshore in Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland and Sausalito  and then eventually establish taxi fleets in the waterways around New York, Boston, Seattle and Miami.

Navier has received $10 million in seed funding. The company values its signature six-passenger boat at $375,000.
King Charles III will likely miss out on celebrating Burns Night, performing Investitures and had 'meetings planned at Dumfries House tomorrow' - after it was announced he will attend hospital next week to be treated for an enlarged prostate.

While the level of detail on the monarch's health is uncommon, the King was keen to share his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked, in line with public health advice.

Charles had a series of meetings and events planned at Dumfries House tomorrow and Friday, which are now being postponed on doctor's advice. Guests, including foreign dignitaries and Cabinet members, had been due to travel to the events.

The King's public engagements will also be postponed for a short period of recuperation, Buckingham Palace said in its statement.

This could rule out the monarch holding any upcoming Investitures and also celebrating Burns Night on January 25, an annual holiday that toasts Scotland's most famous poet Robert Burns. In the past, Charles has publicly marked the festivity.

King Charles III during his visit to Flitcham Church of England Primary Academy on Friday January 5

Charles is also Patron of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and last year, the King and Queen welcomed survivors to an audience at Buckingham Palace to mark the day, which falls on Saturday 27th January.

If the procedure is carried out late next week, it seems likely that he will not be able to mark the day publicly.

So far, the King has been photographed out and about only three times this year - the first being a visit to Flitcham Church of England Primary Academy on January 5, where he opened its new library, named The Coronation Library in his honour.

Events King Charles could miss while being treated for an enlarged prostate 18-19th January: Meetings and events at Dumfries House with foreign dignitaries and Cabinet members 25th January: Burns Night 27th January: Holocaust Memorial Day Advertisement

After the trip to the school in Norfolk, he was seen attending a Sunday church service on January 7 at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. He was also pictured heading to Crathie Kirk near Balmoral for church on January 14.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at 3.30pm today: 'In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.

'His Majesty's condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure. The King's public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.'

It comes as Kensington Palace separately revealed today that the Princess of Wales was being treated in hospital after undergoing successful abdominal surgery.

Kate, 42, was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for the planned procedure and is expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days before returning home. She will then be recuperating and away from official duties for up to three months.

Kate is not expected to return to public events until after Easter, and her husband Prince William will combine being by his wife's and children's side throughout.

The two health updates on senior royals came within 90 minutes of each other, with Kensington Palace coming first at 2pm then Buckingham Palace followed at 3.30pm.

Kate was not rushed to hospital and her condition was not something that developed over the weekend, according to reports.

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral for church on January 14

After the trip to the school in Norfolk, he was seen attending a Sunday church service on January 7 at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham

King Charles III and Queen Camilla at church in Sandringham on Christmas Day last month

The Prince will also postpone a number of engagements as he supports his family, and will not undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital.

He will also do no official duties during the immediate period after Kate's return home. Royal aides will provide a revised schedule for William in due course.

Kate is close to her family, and her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and sibling Pippa Matthews and James Middleton are set to rally round and help support her recovery at the Waleses' home in Windsor.

Neither William nor Kate will travel internationally over the coming months.

William and Kate were said to have been planning a high-profile visit to Rome this spring as part of a European charm offensive, but this is now in doubt.

The Princess marked her birthday just over a week ago, with the monarchy's official social media accounts sharing a new behind-the-scenes photo of the princess at the King's coronation.

Kate usually enjoys good health but was previously admitted to hospital while pregnant after suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum - severe morning sickness.

A palace spokesman said at 2pm today: 'Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery.

King Charles III is pictured in a portrait taken at Windsor Castle last year

WHAT ENGAGEMENTS WILL KATE LIKELY MISS OUT ON? FEBRUARY February 2 (and onwards) - Six Nations Championship February 13 - Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) February 18 - BAFTA Film Awards MARCH March 1 - St David's Day March 11 - Commonwealth Day Service March 17 - St Patrick's Day Advertisement

'The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

'The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

'Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share.

'The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.'
Crown Prince Leka II and Princess Elia of Albania have announced the end of their marriage, citing that the union has 'lost its function'.

The former couple, who were married in 2016 and share three-year-old daughter Princess Geraldine together, declared their separation via an official statement shared on Instagram.

Despite being a claimant to a now defunct throne following the dissolution of the Albanian monarchy in 1943, the prince, 43, and his glamorous wife, 40 had won over the public's hearts from the moment they tied the knot eight years ago.

The lavish ceremony was attended by more than 20 royal families from across the world, including Prince Michael of Kent - who is the second cousin of King Charles.

In a translation statement, a spokesperson maintained that Princess Geraldine remained the centre of her parent's attention, while also pleading with 'well wishers' to respect the family's privacy.

Crown Prince Leka II and Princess Elia of Albania have announced the end of their eight-year marriage. Pictured after their wedding ceremony in 2016

The message read: 'Hello friends and well-wishers, by means of this post I officially inform you that Prince Leka and Elia Zaharia have agreed to end their marriage.

'Since the marriage has lost its function, they saw the way to resolve it by mutual consent by starting the necessary legal procedures.

'Despite the trust in the institution of the family, Prince Leka believes that the values of mutual respect and understanding will form the basis of the relationship in its continuity, which will have as its motive the growth and education of Princess Geraldine!!!

'[Her] spiritual and physical well-being of the girl will remain at the center of their attention, dedicated to ensuring a happy and safe life for Geraldine.'

The statement, posted yesterday, also said that the prince would not be offering any further comment at this time - and requested that his 'right to privacy be respected regarding this matter'.

The couple, who were married in 2016 in the European nation's second ever royal wedding and the first since the end of communism, welcomed their daughter in 2020 at the Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital in Tirana.

They named their daughter Geraldine - a meaningful tribute to the little one's paternal great-grandmother, Queen Geraldine, who died on October 22, 2002, 18 years to the day before her namesake's birth.

Queen Geraldine was married to King Zog I, who was the first monarch of Albania after it gained independence from the Ottoman Empire but fled his homeland in 1939 when Italy's fascists occupied the Balkan state.

The former couple were wedded in 2016 and share three-year-old daughter Princess Geraldine together. Pictured together in 2021

Despite the monarchy having been dissolved, Zog's son King Leka I remained head of the House of Zogu and claimant to the throne until his death in 2011 and was succeeded by his only son, Leka II.

The Crown Prince, who attended Royal Military College Sandhurst and has worked as an adviser to Albania's president, took over his father as head of the House of Zogu, and titular King of the Albanians.

As Leka II currently does not have any sons, his current heir presumptive is Skender Zogu, his first cousin once removed.

Leka II and Elia, who were engaged in Paris in 2010, also presided over the Queen Geraldine Foundation.

Albania's Crown Prince Leka II and Crown Princess Elia announced the birth of their first child, a baby girl named Geraldine in October 2020. The couple pictured in 2016

Princess Elia, Prince Leka and Crown Prince Nicolas of Montenegro pictured at the 80th Birthday of King Simeon of Bulgaria in 2017

The prince has also worked as an adviser within the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and the Albanian Presidents Office, while the princess works at the Albanian National Theater.

Albania's royal family was expelled from the country in 1939 after it was invaded by Italian fascists.

After World War II, when the Communists took over the country, King Zog and his family were considered traitors and stripped from power completely and removed from history books.

Following their exile, the Albanian royal family spent time in Greece and Turkey before settling in England, where they briefly resided at The Ritz in London.

King Zog and his family then moved to Egypt before the monarch spent the remainder of his life in France.
Do you know an incredible woman  a charity campaigner, entrepreneur, teacher or health worker who goes above and beyond  who deserves recognition? If so, you can nominate her for the Inspirational Women Awards 2024 in association with Marks & Spencer.

Find details at dailymail.co.uk/inspirational women2024. And we can today announce that the five winners will attend a WOW Foundation event at Buckingham Palace in March, to celebrate International Womens Day.

She may only be 25, but Muzoon Almellehan has overcome more obstacles in her life than many women face in a lifetime.

However, what makes Muzoon so impressive isnt simply that she has embraced every challenge with determination, but that she seeks to inspire others on a daily basis.

From the moment she arrived in a refugee camp aged 14, Muzoon has battled long and hard for the rights of children  particularly girls  to have an education.

Muzoon, now 25, has battled long and hard for the rights of children  particularly girls  to have an education

Her battle has been so successful that, aged just 19, UNICEF made her its Goodwill Ambassador in recognition of her struggles. Her fellow ambassadors include actors Orlando Bloom and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

Muzoons aim is to see every child given the chance of an education. It may be something we take for granted. But this Newcastle University graduate knows only too well that, in many parts of the world, things are very different.

Education isnt a privilege, its a right, says Muzoon, who lives in Newcastle with her teacher father and younger siblings.

Every child deserves to be kept safe and deserves to have an education. I will never stop speaking out for all those children round the world who dont have a voice.

Muzoon was just 11 when war broke out in Syria in March 2011 and her happy life disappeared in a heartbeat.

Until then life was completely normal, she says. Dad was a teacher. Mum kept house. I was like every other kid, going to school and hanging out with my friends. I wanted to be a journalist.

I had nothing to worry about. I didnt know how lucky I was.

But when the war started, our lives were turned upside down. Suddenly, it wasnt safe to leave the house to go to school because you could get killed. Even going to the shops was dangerous.

Muzoon is pictured with Pakistani activist for female education and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai

'And there were weeks when there was hardly any food. Basics like bread simply disappeared. Everything Id taken for granted was gone. The bombing was so bad you knew you could die at any moment.

The family endured these daily terrors for three years before fleeing. Although her parents were convinced it was their only hope for survival, abandoning their home was deeply distressing.

I couldnt bear the thought of leaving my lovely home and my school, says Muzoon. Life was horrible, but it was all I knew. This was going into the unknown.

Following her fathers instructions to only pack essentials and determined to hold fast to her dream of an education, Muzoon, then 14, loaded her backpack with her school books. There were more than ten of them, making the bag almost impossible to carry.

The family drove to the Jordanian border, joining 5.3million other refugees. Ten miles over the border, they found themselves in Zaatari, one of the worlds largest refugee camps. Their new home was a tent with no electricity or internet. Water came from a central tank.

Wed been used to space and privacy. Now we all had to sleep together and share a kitchen with others, says Muzoon.

We were in the middle of the desert. It was boiling hot in the summer and perishing cold in the winter. But my father kept reminding us of how lucky we were to be alive.

Within a month, the first school, supported by UNICEF, opened in the camp. Muzoon was ecstatic.

You have until midnight on Wednesday, February 14 to nominate your inspirational woman. The five winners will attend a WOW Foundation event at Buckingham Palace in March, to celebrate International Womens Day

The camp school, however, was nine static caravans, each housing a different class, it was chaotic. Refugees were coming and going all the time, says Muzoon. There would be 30 students in my class one day, only 20 the next.

But Muzoon buckled down, determined to keep alive her dream of going to university.

Having a goal really helped me cope. Instead of concentrating on the present, I dreamt of the future when I could return to Syria.

She was also eager to encourage other children in the camp to do the same. When I went to my first class, I saw so many of the children Id seen in the tents werent there. I quickly learned that some girls, even those as young as 13, were being married to men in the camp instead of coming to school.

'They were chatting about it as though it was normal. Their families thought marriage would protect them. I also discovered there was this general attitude around the camp: Weve lost our homes and are refugees. Its not our right to be educated.

Why would you let war take everything? Nothing should take away your knowledge. And as refugees, we needed education more than ever to face the challenges and suffering in our lives.

There was a friend of mine at the school, a very good student. One day she stopped coming. It was only when I asked other girls that I discovered she had got married. She was 14, like me. I felt so sad.

Undeterred, Muzoon carried on her campaign when, 18 months later, the family were moved to Azraq, a camp consisting of rows of tin shacks.

While living at Za'atari refugee camp, a 14-year-old Muzoon points to a sign highlighting the importance of school and learning

Every day, she toured the camp, talking to parents about sending their children to school, encouraging the girls to attend.

I told them there is no better protection than education, she says. I explained that one day we would need a generation of engineers, doctors and teachers to rebuild Syria.

There was one girl who was going to be married to a man old enough to be her father. It wasnt what she wanted. When I told her she had a choice, she was able to convince her parents to let her stay at school and not get married.

But, most of all, Muzoon dreamt of escaping the camp. The chance came in 2015, when the then prime minister David Cameron offered to resettle up to 20,000 Syrian refugees. Ten weeks later, her family was on a plane to Newcastle with eight other families.

Given refugee status with five-year visas, everything had been arranged so the family could settle in easily and, within a week of their arrival, Muzoon and her siblings were heading off to school.

The culture shock was enormous. However, thanks to her own resilience and the support of staff at Kenton School, she thrived.

In 2018, she took up her place at Newcastle University. Now, with a Masters degree in International Relations, Muzoon works full-time for her local council helping asylum seekers and migrants, as well as travelling the world in her UNICEF role, campaigning for the rights of children.

She visits refugee camps where she hopes to instil the same passion for education in others.

Muzoon is pictured talking to other girls at Za'atari refugee camp about opportunities for learning as part of a back-to-school campaign

I tell them that life will get better, she says. I was in their place; I know how they are feeling, but I tell them that there is life ahead.

I hope that one day I will hear how they have become engineers, doctors, lawyers and teachers and have returned to their homes to build a new life.

Muzoon recently returned to the camp she left as a teenager. Being reunited with her old teachers and discovering how they use her story to inspire students was testament to just how far she has come.

Id like a career in politics or the media, she says. I hope Im living proof that one small person can make a difference.

When I started, I just had my voice, but I was determined to be heard. From talking to my friends and classmates, a movement gradually grew that cant be silenced.

Nominate your inspirational woman

To make a nomination, fill in this form online, or use the form below and send it to us via email or by post, and tell us in no more than 400 words  on a separate sheet  why your candidate should win.

Visit dailymail.co.uk/inspirationalwomen2024 to enter your nomination online; email your entry to: inspirationalwomen@dailymail.co.uk, or send your nomination to: Inspirational Women Awards, c/o Femail, Daily Mail, 9 Derry St, London W8 5HY.

Closing date for entries is 23.59 on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. The editors decision is final.

PRIZES: Each winner will receive a crystal trophy and a 500 M&S gift voucher. There are no cash alternatives to the prizes. Full terms apply  please read before entering at dailymail.co.uk/ inspirationalwomen2024.

YOUR NAME .....................................................

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The Duke of Sussex, 39, appeared to bundle up during a morning run this week

Prince Harry wrapped up warm as he stepped out for a run in Santa Barbara, California on Tuesday morning - despite the temperature reaching highs of 15C (59F) in the region, from as early as 6am.

By noon, it had thawed to 17C (62.6F) in the west coast area neighbouring Los Angeles.

But the Duke of Sussex, 39, appeared to opt for layers in a beanie and puffer coat, despite the warm weather, as he was pictured enjoying a jog.

According to the Met Office, winters in LA are pleasantly mild, with average daily max temperatures of 20.1C (68.2F) in January.

Meanwhile, the city's hottest month - August - is not miles warmer, with an average max temperature of 29.1C (84.4F).

Prince Harry wrapped up warm as he stepped out for a run in Santa Barbara, California on Tuesday morning - despite the weather reaching highs of 15C (59F) in the region, from as early as 6am

Harry's jacket is believed to be from upmarket brand Loro Piana, where outerwear can cost as much as 10, 785 ($14,500).

A similar looking model on the brand's site, which sells for 2,615 ($3,350), is described as being water-repellent, windproof and having wool details on the sleeves.

Another Loro Piana jacket which is similar in appearance, being sold on the Yves Salomon site, is retailing for 2,300 ($2,690).

However, keeping his look more appropriate for the Californian climate, the father-of-two also seemed to sport a purple shirt and some light material shorts. It is not known why Harry chose to wrap up warm.

It's possible that the Duke could be following in the footsteps of his wife, Meghan Markle, who earlier this summer had fashionistas scratching their heads at her desire to pop on a warm coat, no matter what the weather.

In August, the Duchess of Sussex, 42, opted for a 1,300 ($1,650) Max Mara wool coat for the outing, even though it was warm in Montecito that day.

Temperatures climbed as high as 22.7C (73F) and didn't drop below 18C (65F). And it's not the first time the former actress has opted for unusually cosy attire.

During a trip to New York in 2021, Meghan donned a number of woollen coats despite temperatures being in the mid 20s with high humidity.

It's possible that the Duke could be following in the footsteps of his wife, Meghan Markle, who this summer had fashionistas scratching their heads at her desire to pop on a warm coat, no matter what the weather. Both pictured in Dusseldorf on September 16, when temperatures in the city reached highs of 27C (80.6F)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex began their whirlwind New York City weekend in 2021 in very warm clothes

Speaking to FEMAIL, celebrity stylist Miranda Holder said Meghan probably opted for the looks as coats 'make her look more together'.

She added that the Duchess may also use it as a 'comfort blanket' to 'shield herself'.

'Wearing a thick woollen coat over an outfit despite it being 22C is certainly a little odd - even if the coat is a gorgeous camel coloured Max Mara number like the one we saw Meghan Markle wearing,' the expert said.

'There is no doubt that a coat, especially an immaculately cut designer ones as Meghan is partial to, can help to finish off an outfit and make the whole ensemble feel more pulled together.'

She added that a coat can elevate a look but it's 'ill-judged' to do so in climates like LA.

'Hailed as the essential "third piece" by fashionistas and stylists in the know, adding a coat over say, just a plain T shirt and pair of jeans, helps to complete the outfit, adding much needed shape, texture and interest, but there are plenty of other ways to do that in the balmy California sunshine and not overheat - so it is indeed curious that the Duchess has a habit of stepping out looking overdressed - both literally and figuratively speaking,' she explained.

Meghan Markle, pictured, wore four thick coats despite temperatures of 70-80F in New York in 2021

Miranda continued: 'Other possible explanations are that Meghan was heading somewhere with over-effective air-conditioning and would be spending time in arctic temperatures, but she could have just carried extra layers with her for this.

'Another idea is that she was trying to disguise herself by hiding from prying eyes and camera lenses amongst layers of thick fabric, but if anything she was just drawing more attention to herself.'

'In my opinion it is either a case of Meghan taking some ill-judged fashion advice, or the Duchess is literally using her wardrobe as a comfort blanket, shielding herself from the world and literally giving herself a very expensive sartorial hug, as she goes about her business without Harry.'

Harry's morning jog marked his first sighting since the Daily Mail revealed Queen Elizabeth was distraught by his and Meghan's claim they had her blessing to name their baby daughter Lilibet - the late monarch's nickname.

In the brisk January weather, the 39 year-old royal was spotted jogging in a black jacket and matching shorts, seemingly wearing a frowning, serious expression.

Harry's post-workout sighting comes just days after Robert Hardman's bombshell new biography revealed the late Queen's anger over the claim in 2021 that she had given them her blessing.

A member of Queen Elizabeth's staff said she was 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' after Harry and Meghan publicly stated they would not have used her private family nickname if she had not been 'supportive'.

The Queen was so upset that she told aides: 'I don't own the palaces, I don't own the paintings, the only thing I own is my name. And now they've taken that.'

The revelation comes in the latest instalment of a new biography - Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story, by the Mail's writer Robert Hardman, currently being serialized exclusively in the Daily Mail.
Having man boobs can increase the risk of an early grave, a study suggests.

Men with gynaecomastia  swollen breasts  are a third more likely to die by the age of 75 compared to non-sufferers, Danish researchers found.

Having an underlying illness as well increased the risk of dying young by up to 14-fold.

Enlarged breast tissue in men is usually caused by a hormone imbalance. Obesity can also be to blame, according to the NHS, although the researchers involved in this study argued this led to another type of gynaecomastia.

It affects around a third to around two-thirds of men, depending on their age.

Men with gynaecomastia  a condition that causes the breasts to swell  are a third more likely to die by the age of 75 compared to non-sufferers, researchers found

In a first of its kind study, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet experts examined data from more than 23,000 male sufferers.

Each was matched with five randomly selected men without the condition, which acted as the control group.

All were monitored until they died or June 2021, whichever came first. Some were tracked for over two decades.

Results published in the journal BMJ Open showed that 9 per cent of men without gynaecomastia died over the course of the study.

All you need to know about gynaecomastia Gynaecomastia, or man boobs, is a condition that causes the breasts to swell. It is most common in teenage boys and older men. It can be triggered by obesity as well as an imbalance between testosterone and oestrogen levels, which can occur among teenage boys going through puberty or in older men as they produce less testosterone with age. Signs vary from a small amount of extra tissue around the nipples to more prominent breasts. It can affect one or both breasts. Sometimes, the breast tissue can be tender or painful, but this isn't always the case. Treatments include medication to rectify a hormone imbalance or surgery to remove the excess breast tissue. Advertisement

Meanwhile, the figure was 6.7 per cent among men who had gynaecomastia of an unknown cause.

The rate was 20.9 per cent in sufferers either taking medications heavily linked to developing man boobs or with an associated illness.

Overall, this equated to a 37 per cent higher risk of an early death among men with 'moobs', compared to those without.

The researchers noted that their findings were observational, so cannot prove that gynaecomastia was to blame for the higher risk of death.

The team said they were unable to account for factors, such as obesity, exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals and steroid use.

They suggested that gynaecomastia is 'strongly intertwined' with a swathe of health risks and possibly the drugs used to treat them.

Gynaecomastia is most common in teenage boys and older men.

It can be triggered by obesity as well as an imbalance between testosterone and oestrogen levels, which can occur among teenage boys going through puberty or in older men as they produce less testosterone with age.

Signs vary from a small amount of extra tissue around the nipples to more prominent breasts. It can affect one or both breasts.

Sometimes, the breast tissue can be tender or painful, but this isn't always the case.

Treatments include medication to rectify a hormone imbalance or surgery to remove the excess breast tissue.
Disgraced former congressman George Santos has claimed he lost more than 100lbs while on Ozempic  before piling the weight back on.

Santos, 35, said he took the drug in January 2022 after feeling he needed to 'change his life' and claimed he slimmed down from 358lbs to 248lbs in under a year.

The fantasist - who was expelled from Congress after spinning a web of lies about his career, upbringing and finances - shared his weight-loss journey in a post on Twitter (X) titled: 'Pulling back the curtain on my Ozempic experience.'

But a doctor told DailyMail.com raised doubts about the credibility of his claims, saying that it was 'definitely less than 100lbs', judging by photos.

AFTER: The ex-congressman claimed he lost 110lbs while on Ozempic over the course of one year. He is shown above in November 2022, left, and January 2023, right

REGAINED '30LBS': Santos admitted to regaining some weight after coming off the drug, saying he put on about 30lbs

Dr Stuart Fischer, an internal medicine physician in New York, told DailyMail.com that Santos's 'medical insights are not to be trusted'.

Dr Fischer said it was difficult to judge how tall Santos is - but if he is over 6ft this is 'is possible'. 'I'm just very wary of his claims in general, he's an unworthy source of information,' he added.

In his Twitter post, Santos said: 'January of 2022 I weighed in at 358lbs I decided I needed to change my life and engaged a Dr who put me on a Ozempic regiment.

'By Election Day November 2022 I weighed in at 248lbs marking a 110lbs weight loss.

'My journey included mild nausea in the beginning that I controlled by taking a daily pill of Zofran, eventually the effects of nausea no longer impacted me unless I was in an airplane or extended periods of time in a car.'

But Santos claimed he rebounded and put on '30lbs' in 2023, a year which he called a 'sh** show'.

He is now back on the drug for a second time in order to lose the weight he regained. He said the drug had previously helped him fend off type 2 diabetes by reversing his pre-diabetes diagnosis.

Santos, pictured above at Mar-a-Lago in 2021, said he decided to go on Ozempic after realizing he needed to 'change my life'

He is also pictured above in 2021 while at the New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago in 2021

The fantasist became the sixth person to be expelled from Congress in December 2023 after being outed for dozens of lies.

These included a claim that his grandparents fled the Holocaust, that his mother had died in 9/11 and that he worked for Goldman Sachs.

The fantasist had also previously claimed to be of Ukrainian-Jewish descent, to have recovered from a brain tumor and to have started a charity.

Other disgraces tied to Santos include that he used thousands of dollars in campaign funds to watch OnlyFans and to pay for meals and parking.

His post about Ozempic on X, formerly Twitter, led to a number of social media users slamming the ex-congressman.

One quipped: 'Some side effects might include: Corruption, using campaign donations on OnlyFans, lying to constituents and getting kicked out of congress.'

While a second said: 'Eat less and walk. It's free!'

Ozempic is the miracle weight-loss injection that has taken America by storm for its promise to help people lose weight with nothing more than a weekly injection.

It has transformed the lives of people living with obesity, helping them lose around five to 10 percent of their body weight in three months.

The drug, which has seen a 300 percent surge in demand since 2020, works by suppressing hormones involved in hunger, keeping you fuller for longer.

But doctors warn patients will need to alter habits or treat the underlying cause of their overeating once they come off the drug, in order to avoid regaining all the weight they have lost.

Santos was elected to Congress as a Republican to represent New York's third congressional district, on Long Island, in January last year.

The politician  who earned the nickname the Long Island Liar  was only removed after more than a hundred Republicans voted with Democrats to have him kicked out of office.

Santos is currently facing 23 federal charges such as wire fraud, identity theft, lying to federal election officials and stealing thousands of dollars from his campaign.

He denies all the charges.

On the night where he was voted to be expelled, he stormed out of the House moments before voting had concluded.

Outside, he warned reporters that fellow congress members had 'set a new, dangerous precedent'.

Santos is now reported to be locked in a negotiating a plea deal with Republicans that could see him returned to Congress.
Women's health issues like and endometriosis and the menopause to be targeted

Women need 'faster, simpler and fairer' access to health care, Victoria Atkins said today.

The Health Secretary vowed to close the gender gap, claiming that medical woes unique to females have been 'overlooked and under-researched'.

Ministers have pledged to prioritise tackling 'problem periods' as part of a 10-year plan aiming to break down the obstacles women face in healthcare.

The Office of National Statistics will be tasked with tracking the impact of painful periods and endometriosis in the workplace.

Up to one in three women can experience heavy periods, which can be extremely painful.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said women's health issued had been 'overlooked' for too long

Endometriosis sees tissue similar to the lining of the womb grow in places it should not, for example the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Charities say it affects 10 per cent of women.

It can cause pain, fatigue, depression, period problems, as painful sex and make it more difficult to get pregnant.

There is currently no cure for the condition, estimated to cost the UK 8.2billion a year in treatment and sufferers having to take time off work.

At a summit in London today, Ms Atkins will also pledge to prioritise giving women going through the menopause more support and bolstering maternity care, which has been rocked by a string of scandals over the past year.

She will set out plans to champion women's health to help support them throughout life, including a 50million fund to research better maternity outcomes.

What is endometriosis? Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, including the ovaries and fallopian tubes. The long-term condition affects women of any age, including teenagers. Common symptoms include: Pelvic pain

Period pain

Pain during or after sex

Pain peeing or pooing

Feeling sick

Difficulty getting pregnant Treatments include: Painkillers

Hormone medicines and contraceptives

Surgery to cut away the patches of endometriosis Source NHS Advertisement

Others areas the Government says it will improve this year include the menopause and supporting victims of sexual abuse and violence.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Ms Atkins said: Women are half as likely to receive painkillers after surgery and despite living for longer, we spend more of our lives than men in ill health.

'Our health issues are often overlooked and under-researched. I am determined to change this.'

She also hinted she was prepared to take action on the erasure of biological women in health, adding: 'A womans sex matters, especially when it comes to healthcare and research.'

The NHS, and the wider medical world, has been hit by a number scandals in recent years involving the scrubbing of the word 'woman' from female-specific health issues like the menopause and disease like ovarian cancer.

In her speech, to be held at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London today, Ms Atkins will say every area must open at least one 'womens health hub' by the end of this year.

She said these hubs will give women more local access to a range of services like contraception as well as support and care for problem periods and menopause symptoms.

The summit is marking the second year of the Government's Womens Health Strategy.

The 10-year blueprint, announced in 2022, is aiming to break down obstacles women face in healthcare.

The gender gap in health has been a problem for years, with women globally estimated to spend a quarter more of their lives in poor health than men.

Campaigners say this disparity is deepened by women specific health issues not attracting the same level of medical research as those affecting men.

In a separate release to Ms Atkins announcement, a World Economic Forum (WEF) report published today calculated the cost of the global gender gap in health at $1trillion (790billion)

The report, presented at the WEF's annual conference in Davos in Switzerland, found every $1 (79p) invested in women's health returned $3 (2.37) in economic growth through factors like women taking less time taken off work.

Finances weren't the only benefit, with the report estimating the gender health gap currently cost 75million years of life lost per year.

Woman, breast feeding and vagina all used to be standard terms used within the medical community. But they are just a selection of words that have been replaced by some woke NHS trusts, private hospitals and charities as part of an inclusivity push

Data published just last week show stark inequalities with black women three times as likely to die than white women. With data still preliminary, it is not yet known what proportion of women died in hospital or at home, or how each of the UK countries compare

This, the report calculates, equates to each woman losing a week of their life every year.

Britain isn't immune to gender health gap.

Research conducted by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) found women are 50 per cent more likely to be misdiagnosed when suffering a heart attack compared to men.

Differences in cardiovascular health outcomes alone are estimated to have resulted in the needless deaths of 8,200 women in a ten-year-period in Britain, according to the BHF.

Health gaps also exist within different groups of women.

Ms Atkin's 50million fund to research better maternity outcomes will seek to address disparities in maternity care.

Data published just last week show black women in Britain have almost triple the risk of dying in maternal care compared to white women.

Health minister Maria Caulfield said: 'Helping women and girls who suffer from bad periods can make a huge difference to their lives, education and careers.

'And any woman who has experienced trauma after giving birth  either mentally or physically  will know the impact it can have on all aspects of her life.'

'These are issues that impact women but they should not be seen as a "womens problems"  it is an everyone problem. We are doing more to put these issues on the agenda and keep them there, to close the gender health gap once and for all.'

Womens health ambassador Professor Dame Lesley Regan said the strategy is 'ambitious'.

She added: 'It was created to ensure our healthcare system places womens health on an equal footing to men.

'I want women everywhere to feel confident that when seek advice from their healthcare professional, whether its for heavy or painful periods or issues following birth, they know they are going to receive world-class treatment.

'This is the ultimate goal of the strategy, and I am delighted that we have made such positive progress in the first year and generated so much enthusiastic help to succeed.'
The British Medical Association has been slammed by its own doctors as 'shameful' after it published an open letter urging the Government to call for an 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza.

In a letter addressed to Foreign Secretary David Cameron, the hardline union accused Israel of disregarding 'international humanitarian law' and 'the principles of medical neutrality'.

They claimed that the 'Israeli blockade of Gaza has led to an inexcusable shortage of basic necessities' and added that there had been 'damages to hundreds of medical facilities' in Gaza.

In a letter addressed to Foreign Secretary David Cameron, the hardline union accused Israel of disregarding 'international humanitarian law' and 'the principles of medical neutrality'. Pictured: Damage to buildings in Rafah, Gaza

But members of the BMA have widely condemned the controversial letter and warned the group may be 'alienating its Jewish members'.

Critics of the union have argued it is hypocritical of the doctors trade union - which should be focusing on domestic issues and the rights of British doctors - to comment on geopolitical issues.

Responding to the open letter, Professor of Renal Medicine at Imperial College, Liz Lightsone said: 'Ashamed to be a member of the BMA after all these years.

'Clearly the BMA is hoping to alienate its Jewish members.'

She added: 'Have you checked how many Jewish members have left the BMA because of your biassed focus on one conflict? I know of many; all of whom you've failed to reply to.'

Consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Jon Goldin added: 'I resigned from the BMA today after over 30 years as a member. This letter is far from 'medical neutrality'.'

Marc Wittenberg, a consultant anaesthetist said: 'This is completely shameful from the BMA.

'Neutrality is a farce when the statement fails to mention the hostages still being held in Gaza and the brutal and inhuman butchery, rape and torture that started on October 7th.'

Consultant Respiratory Physician Paul Pfeffer commented: 'A truly neutral statement would acknowledge the horrors being felt by people on both sides of the conflict.

Early last year the BMA was criticised for pushing for extreme strike action and pay rises of up to 30 per cent

'So shame on you BMA for a statement that is far from neutral.'

Early last year the BMA was criticised for pushing for extreme strike action and pay rises of up to 30 per cent.

Last year, deputy chairman of the junior doctors' committee Dr Martin Whyte was suspended from his role at the BMA after he joked about gassing 'the Jews' in a shocking tweet.

He also promoted videos which claimed the Holocaust was a hoax.

A BMA spokesman said: 'There is no contradiction in raising grave concerns about a humanitarian and healthcare crisis overseas and protecting doctors in the UK from discrimination and harassment.

'The BMA stands unequivocally against antisemitism and discrimination of any kind, whether that's based on religion, race, nationality or political beliefs.

'It is wrong to take a specific letter in isolation, given all that we have said on the conflict so far, including in our comprehensive position statement that is referenced in the letter to Lord Cameron.

'It is not only incorrect, but irresponsible to suggest that we have not spoken out forcefully on the appalling attack by Hamas and the taking of Israeli hostages.

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'The BMA absolutely wants to see the release of all hostages unharmed, and has consistently called for this, including in our position statement and in our initial response to the October attack.

'The letter to Lord Cameron focuses specifically on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the unique and severe impact this is having on the health of civilians, healthcare services and healthcare staff working there.

'It also clearly calls for an immediate ceasefire and respect for international law, which applies to both parties in the conflict. The taking of hostages is in direct contravention of the Geneva Conventions, and therefore we continue to call for their release.

'More broadly, as a professional association, the BMA has a long history of campaigning on human rights issues both in the UK and around the world and has longstanding policy on preserving medical impartiality in conflicts and upholding international law.

'We remain in contact with various representative bodies and seriously consider all concerns raised with us.'
The UN faces fresh criticism over revelations that a second member of its transgender health panel has a controversial track record  including X-rated Grindr hookup posts and extreme views on trans children.

The UN's World Health Organization (WHO) has been dogged by criticism since it last month unveiled the members of its 20-expert panel tasked with setting global health guidelines for trans and non-binary people.

Critics say the group  which is made up of trans campaigners and advocates  is biased. One trans activist member has already left the panel amid revelations about their past support for a 'default' use of puberty blockers on kids.

Now DailyMail.com can reveal that another panelist  Cianan Russell, a bearded, female-born, non-binary human rights lawyer  has a colorful social media profile that many would see as too smutty for intergovernmental work.

Cianan Russell was born female, started to transition in early adulthood, and bears the scars of breast-removal surgery

Russell shares explicit exchanges from the LGBT+ hookup app Grindr. In one, they say they've 'f***d plenty of cis guys.'

In another Grindr exchange, Russell's suitor asks whether they have female genitals, and then asks to 'try to f**k it.'

Russell, a Brussels-based staffer with ILGA-Europe, a major LGBTQ+ organization, frequently posts about their bizarre and explicit interactions with suitors on the dating and hookup app Grindr.

The buff, tattooed activist also tweets angrily about the trans 'genocide', and reposts some of the community's most ardent influencers, including Katy Montgomerie, Erin Reed and Montana state representative Zooey Zephyr.

Critics also highlight Russell's work at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA), and the group's historic links to the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA), a pedophile group.

DailyMail.com approached the Geneva-based WHO and asked whether Russell was a suitable person to draft advice for its 194 members, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Spokesman Tarik Jasarevic declined to comment.

Russell, now in their thirties, was born female but began to transition in early adulthood. They studied at Purdue University and the University of Iowa before working for a series of human rights groups.

In their Instagram profile, Russell calls themselves a 'f****t trans-separatist' and posts portraits of themselves, cats, their travels, and a bizarre series of text exchanges with suitors on the LGBT+ hookup app Grindr.

As well as the Grindr texts, Russell posts lots of portraits of themselves, cats, and their travels

Russell at times appears irritated by the questions about their genitals that Grindr users ask

At other times, the racy messages lead to rows between Russell and their admirers

One of Russell's admirers brazenly offers a 'mouth job between your thighs'

Sometimes, the hookup conversations descend into ugly name-calling

In them, Grindr users send X-rated messages to Russell, asking whether they have male or female genitals, or revealing how they want to get between the sheets with a female-to-male transitioner.

'U wanna try my c**k' asks one of the admirers.

'Nah. I've f***ed plenty of cis guys,' Russell responds, using a term for non-trans people.

In another, an admirer asks Russell: 'U have p***y?'

Russell replies simply: 'Something like that.'

The admirer then asks: 'Can I try to f**k it?' which effectively ends the chat.

In some posts, the suitors get frustrated with Russell's unwillingness to talk dirty, and point out that Grindr users are 'here for sex.'

Some interactions end uncomfortably. One user calls Russell 'the ugliest tranny I've ever seen in my life.'

Russell uses their X/Twitter account for politics.

There, they regularly tackle the controversial topic of gender-affirming care, as it is known, for children, and what some activists call a 'genocide' against trans people.

In one, Russell says efforts to restrict minors from getting puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones is 'not about protecting children from making mistakes.'

Russell on social media describes themselves as a non-binary 'fa**ot trans-separatist'

Russell on X/Twitter posts their strident views about children and the trans 'genocide'

'They are about ensuring that many trans people don't survive long enough to transition,' Russell' posted in 2022.

'Anti-trans folks don't want to protect us; they want to eliminate us.'

In another post, they take aim at all 'Cis folks,' saying they're 'all complicit in this genocide against trans women. Every single one of you.'

Aside from Russell's social media accounts, critics point to their work at ILGA, which is nowadays a mainstream LGBT+ umbrella group but has a checkered history, thanks to its historic ties to pedophiles.

In the 1990s, ILGA came under fire from Republican lawmakers in the US and was suspended from the UN over its perceived links to NAMBLA, which promoted pedophilia.

Leor Sapir, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, said Russell's social media feeds showcased an 'unmistakable lack of professionalism' and 'flaunting of basic norms of civility, trustworthiness, and decorum.'

'That unprofessionalism undermines the credibility of public institutions (in this case, WHO) that rely on activists for ideas and policies. It compromises the trust of the public in those institutions,' Sapir posted.

The UN panel on which Russell now sits has been dogged by controversy from the outset.

Nearly two-thirds of panelists are human rights lawyers, activists, and policy advisors.

Nearly two-thirds of the panelists are human rights lawyers, activists, and policy advisors, while just slightly over a third of them are trained medical doctors

The controversial panel is set to meet in Geneva next month

Florence Ashley, a law professor in Canada, exited the panel amid revelations that they said puberty blockers 'ought to be treated as the default option' for trans kids

Only about a third of them are trained doctors.

The panel includes several members of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), a nonprofit that sets guidelines for trans care that critics say steers too many people toward risky drugs and operations.

Members are set to meet in Geneva for the first time in February to hash out their policies.

WHO says the panel will set global guidelines for how doctors and other professionals can raise the 'quality and respectful health services [for] trans and gender-diverse people.'

But critics say it is 'biased' for including only advocates of hormones and surgeries, and nobody who says such procedures are extreme, dangerous and not always in the best interest of patients.

Nearly 12,000 professionals, organizations, and members of the public have signed a petition calling for panelists to reflects the range of views on trans healthcare.

Reem Alsalem, a Jordanian human rights advocate at the UN, has slammed the WHO for including more activists than medical experts.

She said: 'Stakeholders whose views differ from those held by transgender activist organizations do not appear to have been invited.'

One of the original WHO panelists, the Canadian activist Florence Ashley, was withdrawn from the panel in recent weeks.

It had emerged that they had published several papers calling for trans children to be given puberty blockers without mental health evaluations.

They co-wrote a study that said puberty blockers and hormone therapies should be the 'default option' for children with gender dysphoria.

Whether to provide gender-affirming drugs and surgeries to trans people, especially children, and letting people choose their own sex on official papers, have divided opinions globally.

Trans campaigners say society should be more inclusive of trans and non-binary people, critics say sex is an immutable biological fact and that trans people often need mental health support, not drugs.
The Princess of Wales is 'doing well,' as she recovers from abdominal surgery, Kensington Palace has said.

Kate Middleton, 42, was admitted to a London hospital in January for planned surgery and returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery.

Kensington Palace issued an update on the royal yesterday so as not to cause alarm when Prince William pulled out of attending his godfather King Constantine's memorial at St George's Chapel Windsor at the 'last minute'.

The reason for Kate's procedure has not been shared but it is understood to be non-cancerous.

Here, MailOnline details her health history.

Kate Middleton, 42, was admitted to a London hospital yesterday for the planned operation and is expected to be in hospital for 10 to 14 days. Pictured: Kate arriving for the royal carol concert at Westminster Abbey on December 8 last year

Kensington Palace announced today that the Princess of Wales has had abdominal surgery

Three-inch scar on head

Kate has a three-inch scar on the left side of her head from when she was a child.

It was first spotted in 2011 when the princess was conducting her first solo royal engagement at a black-tie private dinner at Clarence House.

It was confirmed to be the result of surgery carried out when she was a young child.

An official statement explained that 'the scar related to a childhood operation,' but said that details of the operation were a private matter.

Royal sources confirmed that it had been 'a very serious operation' but declined to comment further.

However, surgeons at the time said the scar is unlikely to be the result of a tumour and may have been caused by a birth mark being removed.

Kate's scar was first spotted when she attended a dinner at Clarence House in 2011

A statement explained that the scar, normally concealed, was from a childhood operation

Morning sickness

The Princess was hospitalised for three days with severe morning sickness in 2012, while she was pregnant with Prince George.

She was admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital  a private hospital in Marylebone that has been used by the Royal Family for more than a century.

Kate went on to suffer again from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) while pregnant with Princess Charlotte in 2014 and Prince Louis in 2018.

The condition saw the Princess announce her later two pregnancies early, before reaching the crucial 12-week stage.

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However, while carrying Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, she was cared for at Kensington Palace rather than in hospital.

HG can lead to severe dehydration and puts both mother and baby at risk of being deprived of essential nutrients, as they are unable to keep food and drink down.

Sufferers can be left vomiting up to 30 times a day, with exhausting and hazardous consequences.

Kate revealed in 2020 that she used meditation and deep breathing to help her control her symptoms.

Abdominal surgery

The Princess had planned abdominal surgery in January, and spent two weeksn in hospital.

Kate was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone and returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery with the support of her family.

It is understood not to be cancerous but no other details of the surgery was given.

The Princess is likely to be advised to recuperate for two to three months, and she is not expected to return to public duties until after Easter.

She has not been seen in public since Christmas.

The NHS recommends deep breathing, circulation, core and chair and standing exercises to recover from abdominal surgery.

Kate's return to official duties will depend on medical advice closer to the time but she is not expected to return to public events until after Easter.
Oakland public schools have lost nearly 1,000 students this year, with many Jewish families citing anti-Israel sentiments among teachers and staff that have made them feel uncomfortable. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2021

Families are leaving Oakland classrooms in droves this school year, with nearly 1,000 students granted a transfer to another nearby district, a significant increase over years past. The numbers were probably boosted by Jewish families leaving the district, citing anti-Israel sentiments among teachers and staff that made them feel uncomfortable or unsafe, district officials said.

In the first semester alone, the 34,000-student district approved 950 requests for a transfer out, about 200 more than would be expected based on historic trends.

Yet at the same time, the district added 900 students who transferred in from other districts while also enrolling 200 additional students this month, said Kilian Betlach, executive director of enrollment.

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While the churn of students in and out of a district is the norm, this years requests for transfers out of Oakland reflect a bitter political battle related to the war in Gaza.

Many Jewish families have publicly said they do not feel supported or safe, citing a teachers union declaration associating Israel with genocide and apartheid while urging district educators to teach a pro-Palestinian curriculum as well as school walkouts and political messaging reflecting anti-Israel sentiment.



Schools have been a hotbed of conflict and activism in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, which was sparked after Hamas militants carried out a deadly attack in Israel in October. More than 1,200 people in Israel have been killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. Israels airstrikes and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip have displaced the vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza, caused widespread famine and killed more than 24,000 Palestinians.

District officials confirmed that at least 30 Jewish families have requested and received a transfer since the start of the school year despite official statements that any kind of hate speech as well as antisemitism and Islamophobia would not be tolerated.

One mother pulled her second-grader out of the district at winter break and enrolled her in Piedmont. The older daughter, a sixth-grader, will finish out the year at Oaklands Edna Brewer Middle School and then transfer in the fall.

The mother, who requested that her and her childs names be withheld because she fears being harassed, said she requested the transfers as soon as the teachers union statement was released. In the weeks that followed, she could get no assurance that the lessons promoted by the union would not be taught in her childrens classrooms in the future.

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I have no unreasonable expectations that there wont be antisemitism in Piedmont, she added. I think there will be. The difference is it wont be coming from teachers. To me thats a huge difference.

The mother added that she never wants her children to feel like they cant be who they are.

I dont want the kids to hide who they are, she said, and I felt like they had to hide at OUSD.

The war is not the only reason, however, that families are leaving the district, which is already facing a financial crisis in large part related to declining enrollment.

Nearby districts, including Piedmont, have actively recruited families to transfer into their schools to help fill their own empty seats, a declining enrollment trend many districts are seeing across the state.

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A lot of this is driven in part by other districts doing advertising and how-tos on the process, Betlach said.

To win approval, families must provide a valid reason to leave their district, with about 75% of requests approved in Oakland because of child care issues, educational programs offered elsewhere, location of parental employment, sibling enrollment and continuing enrollment after a family move, among other factors.

The rest fall under health and safety, which typically requires documentation related to mental or physical issues if a student remains in the district.

Betlach said that families can appeal to the Alameda County school board if a transfer is not granted by Oakland, and many of those appeals have been successful even if the district can offer services and support at a different school.

He added that he doesnt think a negative experience at one school necessarily means a family qualifies for a transfer given the number of other schools in the district, yet county officials are prone to granting the transfer despite other options.

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At the appeal hearings with the county, the (board members) use language to the effect that the district cannot accommodate the familys needs, and I often argue that, yes we can, and we can offer a seat at (other district) schools, he said, adding the county doesnt usually agree. Theyve indicated they want us to approve even more of these requests.

Nearly a third of the outgoing students head to Berkeley Unified, with the San Leandro, Piedmont and Emeryville districts the other top choices for families transferring out.

District officials noted that Oakland gets its share of incoming transfers as well, which in the past has mostly covered the number of outgoing students. Its unclear whether that will be the case this year with the increase in transfers out.

The reasons families come and go are complicated, Betlach said.

In the case of Jewish families requesting transfers, many are still keeping their options open, he added.

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The Health Secretary admitted she experienced 'the darker corners of the NHS' when expecting her son as she vowed to improve maternity services.

Victoria Atkins said was determined to stop women 'facing the fear' she endured when about to give birth in 2011.

Speaking at the Women's Health Summit in London Ms Atkins, a type 1 diabetic, spoke of how complications at the end of her pregnancy left her sharing a ward with new mothers who suffered 'hellish agony' and birth trauma.

This 'frightening' experience gave her a personal insight into the 'deeply worrying' situation facing gar too many women.

She said: 'For me, this is personal. The NHS diagnosed me with 12 on diabetes at the age of three. And so I have seen the very best of the NHS, but I've also seen some of its dark corners.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said was determined to stop women 'facing the fear' she endured when about to give birth in 2011

'But one of the darker corners was when I was pregnant, the clinicians in the room will understand that pregnancy of type one diabetes can be a very medicalized process. And then came a point in the pregnancy where it became clear that baby was going to have to be delivered early.

'And so I was rushed into hospital and the hospital which had done amazingly well simply did not at that point, have the facilities to look after someone who was very early in pregnancy but also with complications.

'So they put me on a ward with women who had just given birth literally rushed from the theatre and who had had very traumatic experiences.

'You will understand how deeply worrying and dare I say frightening it was to sit to be lying in that board with women who had a hellish experience, who were in agony.'

The event marked the second year of the Women's Health Strategy, a ten-year blueprint aiming to break down obstacles women face in healthcare, with Ms Atkins describing it as a 'feminist's Christmas'.

READ MORE: Impact of 'problem periods' at work will be probed under ambitious plan to overhaul women's health care, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins vows Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said women's health issued had been 'overlooked' for too long Advertisement

Setting out policies to boost maternity care, including a 50m fund to improve outcomes, she said she wanted maternity care that every mother can have faith in.

Other points include better care for menstrual problems, more women's health hubs offering more treatments, improving fairness and tackling inequalities and disparities and more research into the health needs of women.

Describing her experience, she told the meeting of clinicians, and women's health campaigners that she is determined to improve maternity services.

She added: 'Looking back. I know that everybody was doing their best, but I desperately want to ensure that women who are expecting and who find themselves needing a bit of extra help that they're not in that situation and they're not, they're not facing the fear that I faced.

'And so as I say, I absolutely get it, and it is very much personal for me.

It comes after a report last week revealed women are dying during pregnancy, childbirth and the weeks following at the same rates as two decades ago.

Experts said the upward trend is the most compelling evidence yet that failures now span 'across the entire maternity system' and is 'not just one or two hospitals.'

Highlighting the report, Ms Atkins highlighted said there had been 293 deaths of women in pregnancy or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy in the three years between 2020 and 2022.

She said: 'That number means that 293 families are grieving the profound loss of a mother who will also be someone's daughter, partner, wife, sister or friend and their babies who have lived while their loss is indescribable.

'They will never know more of their mothers cuddle or the tinkle of her laughter, or do the limitless love we have for our children.

'Now that all of these deaths are linked to poor maternity care, but many will be. And this must stop.'
Chinese scientists mapped out the genetic makeup of the pandemic-causing coronavirus nearly a month before it was made public, raising questions about what those scientists knew and when they knew it.

A congressional committee obtained federal government documents showing that Dr Lili Ren, a scientist at the Beijing-based Institute of Pathogen Biology, sequenced the novel virus on December 28, which at the time the government was calling viral pneumonia of unknown cause.

It confirms suspicions that the Chinese were studying the virus before announcing it to the world - a delay experts say cost countless of lives.

A Chinese researcher in Beijing uploaded a nearly complete sequence of the viruss structure to a US government-run database on December 28, 2019, weeks before it was made public to global scientists

Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a high-ranking member of the Republican-led Energy and Commerce Committee, said that China intentionally held back crucial information

The fully sequenced virus - which would have allowed scientists to begin developing drugs and vaccines, and given them a better understanding of how the virus behaves - was not made available to the World Health Organization until January 11.

Dr Ren uploaded the genetic mapping of the virus to a database run by the National Institutes of Health, but the first known publication came on January 11.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said the virus sequence was shared with Chinas equivalent of the CDC on January 5 but not made known globally to scientists.

The latest revelation from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over health-related issues, adds to a long list of clues that the Chinese government obscured valuable information about the virus, its origins, and how widely it had spread.

Jesse Bloom, a virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, told the Wall Street Journal: [It] underscores how cautious we have to be about the accuracy of the information that the Chinese government has released.

Its important to keep in mind how little we know.

Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a high-ranking member of the Republican-led Energy and Commerce Committee, said that China intentionally held back crucial information. Since then, over a million people have died, and even more have gotten very sick.

The Republican said the fact that Chinese scientists sequenced the virus well before it was made public shows the US cannot trust any of the so-called facts or data provided by the CCP and calls into serious question the legitimacy of any scientific theories based on such information.

Dr Ren is documented in contractual records as a participant in a project funded by the U.S. This project aims to investigate the transmission of coronaviruses from animals to humans.

After uploading the sequence to the NIH database, Dr Ren took it down on January 16 when the US agency prodded her for more questions about her finding. On January 12, NIH received and published a SARS-CoV-2 sequence from another source.

Her research, which involved the collection of bat samples in China, was supervised by the nonprofit organization EcoHealth Alliance, which came to global attention in the wake of the pandemic for its role in funding 'risky' research at the WIV prior to Covid emerging.

It has since emerged EcoHealth Alliance provided WIV $3.3million for experiments.

While the committees findings do not offer details about the potential that the coronavirus could have resulted from research that made the virus more virulent and/or transmissible, the seemingly purposeful move to obscure those details delayed much needed time to tamp down the spread across the US.
When you think of Alaska, you may think of glaciers, snowscapes and dog sleds.

But the state is becoming renowned for something very different - sexually transmitted diseases.

Since 2016, cases of syphilis - a bacterial infection that causes sores around the genitals and mouth - have surged more than 20-fold.

In 2016, the state had just 20 cases of syphilis. In 2022, this had shot up to 424, according to federal data published by the Alaska Department of Health.

The rise gives Alaska 'one of the highest rates of syphilis in the country', according to Dr Anne Zink, the state's chief medical officer, when population size is taken into account.

And it's not just syphilis. In 2021 national data, Alaska had the highest rate of chlamydia and the fourth highest for gonorrhea.

Rates of syphilis are increasing nationally, from less than 20 per 100,000 population in 2012 to 53 in 2021

In 2021, Alaska had one of the highest rates of syphilis in America of 26.5

Theories behind Alaska's rise include tourism and travel to the state, as well as the use of online sites and dating apps which allow people seeking sex to find more partners, which can exacerbate transmission and lead to more casual sex.

Other likely contributors include a relatively young population  which makes up over 50 percent of all STD cases in the US.

Much of Alaska is also remote, which limits the availability of healthcare, and the public health infrastructure is severely lacking.

Public health officials have also attributed rising STD rates to disrupted sexual health screening during pandemic lockdowns, which saw fewer in-person medical appointments, reduced detection and early interventions that usually help to stop infections spreading.

STDs have been on the rise across the US and showed 'no signs of slowing,' data from last year suggested.

There were 2.53million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up almost six percent from the figure in 2020 and a seven percent increase on 2017.

CDC figures showed there were 176,713 syphilis cases in 2021, the highest since the 217,558 cases reported in 1950 and up a third on 2020.

Cases of gonorrhea rose nearly five percent from 2020 to 2021, from 677,769 cases to more than 710,000, the highest yearly total in four years.

Chlamydia cases, which were more common to begin with at 1,579,885 in 2020, shot up to 1,644,416 in 2021.

Total cases of STDs  chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis  have been trending upwards for the previous seven years. Infections fell in 2020, but CDC officials said it was likely cases had in fact continued to rise, but were not detected due to a drop in testing during the Covid-19 pandemic

Alaska's health officials are also worried about the record number of babies born with congenital syphilis, which is when an infection is passed from an infected mother to a child

Despite this roughly four percent increase, total yearly cases of chlamydia have declined since 2019 when more than 1.8 million cases were reported.

Alaska's Dr Zink said: 'Everyone of reproductive age who is sexually active should be tested for syphilis if they are unsure of their syphilis status.

'Everyone should get retested each time they have a new sexual partner, and every three to six months if they have multiple partners.'

Alaska's health officials are also worried about the record number of babies born with congenital syphilis, which is when an infection is passed from an infected mother to a child.

The CDC is now recommending that adults aged 45 and under are tested for syphilis at least once a year.

Between 2017 and 2018, Alaska's syphilis cases shot from 28 to 113. in 2019, they more than doubled to 242.

Nationally, the rate of syphilis cases has also increased, from 31.2 per 100,000 population in 2017 to 53 in 2021.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by the Treponema pallidum bacteria.

Primary syphilis usually begins as a sore on the vagina and penis or around the mouth that, even if unmedicated, usually disappear after a few weeks.

It can develop into a rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet and can be cured in most cases with a single penicillin shot.

Early stage syphilis can be treated with antibiotics.

Secondary syphilis manifests as a rash, lesions and swollen lymph nodes.

In serious cases and if left untreated, syphilis can lead to organ failure, blindness and even death.

Years post-exposure, the infection can affect vital organs and the nervous system, according to the CDC, potentially causing blindness or dementia.

Once infected, anyone can pass on syphilis.

Congenital syphilis is a preventable but serious condition occurring when a pregnant woman passes the infection onto their baby. It can lead to death of the child, premature birth and cause lifelong medical issues.

In 2022, 12 cases of congenital syphilis were diagnosed, mainly in babies born in Southcentral Alaska.

Before 2020, Alaska had an average of less than one case of congenital syphilis per year.

Dr Joe McLaughlin, Alaskas State Epidemiologist and Chief of Epidemiology in the Division of Public Health, said: 'It is especially important for all expectant mothers to ask their doctor for syphilis screening testing as part of their prenatal care.

'Testing is recommended during the first prenatal visit, during the third trimester and again at the time of delivery.'

Some 75 percent of mothers who gave birth to a child with congenital syphilis in Alaska in 2022 had less than four prenatal care visits and 42 percent had no prenatal care at all.
The NHS is telling people to 'waddle like penguins' to avoid slips and falls amid plunging temperatures.

Walking with your legs apart, a soft knee bend and arms sticking out can reduce the risk of losing balance on the ice, according to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

While admitting it 'might seem silly to walk or waddle like a penguin', the board said 'penguins know best' when it comes to getting around on ice.

And the alternative, it said, might be a nasty injury and time in hospital from a fall  the most common accidents at this time of year.

The advice has been issued as parts of the UK are expected to reach -15C (5F) this evening, which would make it the coldest January night in 14 years. The last time the mercury dropped that low was in January 2010, when -22.3C (-8.1F) was recorded.

Walking with your legs apart, a soft knee bend and arms sticking out can reduce the risk of losing balance on the ice, according to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Pictured: NHSGGC staff demonstrating penguin walking pose

The Met Office has issued amber warnings for snow across North West Scotland and the Northern Isles, meaning road delays are likely, some vehicles could be stranded and rural communities might be cut off.

Giving full instructions, the NHS board said to slightly bend your knees and point your feet outwards, then extend your arms by your side and walk flat-footed, taking short steps, while keeping your centre of gravity over your feet.

NHSGGC said this is safer than normal walking, as it helps with stability and minimises the risk of losing balance and slipping on the ice.

It urged people who do fall on the ice to only show up at A&E if their condition is very urgent or life-threatening.

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In less severe cases, people should call 111 for advice, which may involve seeking help at a minor injuries unit.

Dr Emilia Crighton, director for public health at NHSGGC, said: 'At this time of year  and especially in icy spells like this one  slips, trips and falls are the most common accidents that result in injury.

'While it might seem silly to walk or waddle like a penguin, the alternative may be a nasty injury or even time in hospital. Remember, when it comes to getting around on ice, penguins know best, so when you're out and about in the next few days, adopting the penguin stance is a really effective way to move without falling.'

She also urged people to support their elderly family members and neighbours by making journeys on their behalf  such as doing their shopping and collecting prescriptions  so they can avoid going out in icy conditions.

The NHS often issues advice for avoiding slips, trips and falls in cold and icy weather.

It often includes recommendations to keep the hands free to help with balance, wearing shoes with good grip and avoiding going out early in the morning when frost is thick or late at night when it's dark.

Older people are especially vulnerable and are at higher risk of broken bones from a fall, which can see them lose confidence and become withdrawn, the NHS says.
The United States is teetering on the edge of a life-threatening precipice as the number of unvaccinated people has reached a dangerously high level, putting people at risk for preventable deaths, health officials warn.

A new commentary, written by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr Robert Califf and FDA vaccine regulator Dr Peter Marks, warned that vaccine rates are approaching the level at which there are not enough healthy vaccinated people to protect those who can't get their shots because they are vulnerable.

The commentary comes as four states are dealing with a measles outbreak and school vaccination rates plummet, with a record high number of families applying for vaccine exemptions.

The commentary said: 'The situation has now deteriorated to the point that population immunity against some vaccine-preventable infectious diseases is at risk, and thousands of excess deaths are likely to occur this season due to illnesses amenable to prevention or reduction in severity of illness with vaccines.'

The above map shows states with measles cases (red) or warnings over measles exposures (yellow) with no cases yet detected. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (top right) is where the first case in the outbreak was detected

The above map shows the state by state rates of vaccination exemptions for the 2022-2023 school year, highlighting the top five states with the highest percentages of exemptions

For the 2022-2023 school year three percent of kindergartners had a vaccine exemption from one or more required vaccines. This is an increase from 2.6 percent during the 2021-2022 school year and the highest the US has ever recorded

The team said vaccination was 'one of the most highly effective public health interventions,' adding vaccines have saved millions of lives, undergo rigorous testing to ensure safety and efficacy and are continuously monitored via safety surveillance systems.

Effective vaccine campaigns have eradicated deadly diseases in the US like smallpox and polio.

Measles was similarly eliminated but cases of the disease among unvaccinated people who contract it overseas and return to the US have been on the rise.

This month, four states have reported measles outbreaks. Officials in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey and Delaware reported nine infections, eight among people who have never received the measles vaccine.

An additional 30 people are being monitored for the disease. Measles is one of the most contagious viral illnesses - several more times contagious than Covid.

The FDA officials wrote: 'Regrettably, pediatric vaccine hesitancy now has been responsible for several measles outbreaks in the US.'

Experts attribute the decline in vaccinations to widespread misinformation, complacency, vaccine mandates and vaccine fatigue.

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a quarter million kindergartners are entering school without their recommended childhood vaccines - and the number of kids with vaccine exemptions has hit a high.

Additionally, for the 2022-2023 school year three percent of kindergartners had a vaccine exemption from one or more required vaccines - an increase from 2.6 percent during the 2021-2022 school year and the highest the US has ever recorded.

As the antivax movement has grown, so have the number of parents requesting vaccine exemptions for their children.

Each state has different guidelines for vaccine requirements and exemptions. While some require all vaccines for kindergarten admission, others may only require a handful at the time, postponing others to future grades.

When getting vaccine exemptions, there are two types: medical and non-medical and exemptions can be from one, multiple or all required childhood vaccines

Medical exemptions are allowed when a child has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving a vaccine. Non-medical exemptions include those based on religious or philosophical beliefs.

While rules differ state by state, in most cases, parents must receive documentation from a medical doctor stating a child should be exempt from vaccinations.

The exemptions are then reviewed and granted by the child's school.

Drs Califf and Marks highlight the flu, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines as crucial in protecting people - as the US struggles with one of the worst winter cold seasons health workers have ever seen.

The above shows the mortality rate of Covid-19 in April across different age groups among people are how vaccinated and unvaccinated against the disease

For Covid vaccines among senior care residents, Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Iowa, Alaska and Hawaii had highest rates, with between 45 and 60 percent of residents vaccinated

RSV vaccine coverage among senior care residents was the lowest and nearly three dozen states reported between one and 15 percent of residents vaccinated

The officials say that vaccination against these three viruses is 'inadequate' and 'distressing,' especially among the elderly who are high risk of severe infection and death.

In the US, just one-third of senior care home residents were up to date with their Covid vaccine and just 10 percent had received a vaccine for RSV.

A higher share - 72 percent - had received their flu vaccine, as of a December 10 CDC report.

Older residents in nursing homes are at heightened risk of severe illness and death from any one of the three viruses due to their weakened immune systems.

During the 2021-2022 flu season, the death rate for people 65 years and older was around 7.4 per 100,000 population, compared to 0.1 per 100,000 people among those aged 18 to 49 years.

Drs Califf and Marks wrote in their commentary that it is difficult for people to take action when their own risk of a bad outcome is relatively low, even when possible consequences are high and the population-wide risk is severe.

Making a comparison to the argument for seatbelts, they wrote: 'In situations such as with seat belts, however, the discussion ultimately has led to almost uniform use, and vaccination use had similarly been almost uniformly accepted.

'The current reversal of vaccine acceptance has already resulted in hundreds of thousands of excess deaths from COVID-19 and concern about the re-emergence of previously conquered infectious diseases.'

Experts have partly attributed the decline of vaccination rates in the US to Covid-19.

While the Covid vaccine is not mandated in the US, it is believed to be a contributing factor in the rise of vaccine hesitancy.

Americas top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci admitted Covid vaccine policies were 'counterproductive' and turned vaccine skeptics off of vaccinations rather than gain their favor.

Last year, he told The New York Times: Man, I think, almost paradoxically, you had people who were on the fence about getting vaccinated thinking, why are they forcing me to do this?

'And that sometimes-beautiful independent streak in our country becomes counterproductive. And you have that smoldering anti-science feeling, a divisiveness thats palpable politically in this country.'

And the FDA officials wrote in their commentary they found vaccine hesitancy for children has been found highest in clusters among middle- to high-income areas of parents with at least a college degree who preferred narratives seen on social media rather than evidence-based vaccine information provided by doctors.

Drs Califf and Marks said vaccine complacency has also driven unvaccinated numbers up: 'Unfortunately, with the success of pediatric vaccination campaigns to date, increasing numbers of people have become complacent and underestimate the actual risk of forgoing vaccination.'

To counter the rising antivax movement, the authors strongly urge healthcare professionals double their efforts to provide accurate and clear information regarding the benefits of vaccination.

They added: 'Such information is now needed because vaccines have been so successful in achieving their intended effects that many people no longer see the disturbing morbidity and mortality from infections amenable to vaccines.

'We believe that the best way to counter the current large volume of vaccine misinformation is to dilute it with large amounts of truthful, accessible scientific evidence.

'To reduce deaths, hospitalization, and the burden on families and the health care system, all those directly interacting with individuals in a health care setting, ranging from front office staff to retail pharmacists to primary care physicians, need to focus at every appropriate opportunity on helping to ensure that individuals have the necessary information to make informed choices regarding vaccination, considering the benefits and risks.
Former Barclays banker Rich Ricci is to head one of the UK's biggest investment advisers following the merger of Panmure Gordon and rival Liberum.

In yet another shake-up of the stockbroking industry as it struggles amid a dearth of takeover deals, stock market listings and fundraisings, the two firms will combine to create Panmure Liberum.

The combined group will be one of the largest independent advisers to UK quoted companies with more than 250 corporate clients and 300 employees, working on everything from acquisitions to equity research.

It will be led by Ricci, who was installed as chief executive of Panmure Gordon after it was bought by his former Barclays boss Bob Diamond in 2018.

'maddest f****r on the planet': Rich Ricci has been chief executive of Panmure Gordon since 2018

Over 19 years at Barclays, Ricci, 60, became one of Diamond's key lieutenants before both left the bank in the wake of the Libor-rigging scandal.

Announcing the Liberum deal, Ricci, a horse racing fanatic who once described himself as the 'maddest f****r on the planet', said: 'The transaction will create a new force in UK investment banking.'

Diamond, who bought Panmure Gordon through his private equity firm Atlas Merchant Capital, added: 'This merger will lift the level and quality of service to mid and small-cap businesses and investors in the UK and beyond.'

Liberum founder Shane Le Prevost will become chairman of the combined group, which plans to expand its offerings in mergers and acquisitions and private capital raisings as well as introduce a new debt advisory service.

City brokers have traditionally thrived on providing advice to UK Plc. But a 20-year low in London stock market listings last year, combined with an ongoing squeeze in research budgets since the implementation of new regulations in 2018, has meant the sector has struggled.

As a result, brokers have seen their revenues plunge since the beginning of 2022, prompting firms to diversify or merge.

Panmure Gordon, which failed in an effort to buy investment bank FinnCap last year, made a 16million loss in 2022 despite Ricci overhauling the business to focus on its core broking function.

Meanwhile, Liberum was 9million in the red in 2022 - its first ever loss. Last year investment bank Numis was snapped up by German lender Deutsche Bank, hoping to combine the broker's City boardroom relationships with the German lender's financial firepower. The combined group is gunning to be the top investment bank in the UK.

Meanwhile, the merger of brokers Cenkos and FinnCap in September created investment firm Cavendish, which has the most corporate clients at 184. Many in the City believe Ricci can make the merger a success.

A one-time star performer at Barclays, US-born Ricci ran its investment bank where he was a key lieutenant of Diamond, then the chief executive, until both men stepped down in 2012.

Despite his penchant for loud, windowpane checked suits and trilby hats when at the races - he called one of his racehorses Fatcatinthehat - Ricci is known to be a shrewd businessman.

Neil Wilson, an analyst at trading brand Markets.com, said: 'There's clearly some big egos involved in the deal against a difficult backdrop but Ricci and Diamond will have a plan in place to make this work.'

The creation of Panmure Liberum will bring one of the Square Mile's oldest firms together with a relative upstart.

Panmure Gordon was founded in 1876 while Liberum, which started in 2007, is owned by its staff. Panmure has traded hands numerous times in its existence, including an acquisition by Lazard 20 years ago.
Hornby shares rose on Wednesday after the group unveiled strong sales and a flurry of new customers in the run up to Christmas.

The British-based model railways manufacturer said sales were 5 per cent higher from 1 October to 31 December compared to the same spell the previous year.

Cumulative group sales for the financial year-to-date were 6 per cent higher than the previous year.

Sales growth: Hornby shares rose on Wednesday after the group unveiled strong sales for the Black Friday and Christmas periods

Hornby said solid Black Friday sales contributed to 10 per cent revenue growth when compared to November the year before.

Over 50 per cent of all Black Friday transactions came from first time purchasers.

Margins for the quarter were 46 per cent, up from 43.8 per cent at the half year point. Direct to consumer sales came in 30 per cent ahead of the same period the previous year.

On stock levels, the group said: 'Inventory is 22million, down from 24million at the end of September 2023 as a consequence of our ongoing focus on reducing aged stock in tandem with driving sales of newer product.'

Hornby shares were up 3.16 per cent or 0.49p to 15.99p on Wednesday, having slumped over 43 per cent in the last year.

While the group enjoyed a strong quarter, its performance has been turbulent for some time.

The group wants to cut excess stock levels, turn its financial fortunes around and continue attracting new customers.

On Wednesday, it said its net debt at the end of December was 13.5million, down from 14.6million at the end of September.

Olly Raeburn, Hornby's chief executive, said: 'As outlined in our Interim results to end of September, this is a year of significant strategic, structural and operational change, requiring investment in many areas.

'We continue to make good progress on our key strategic initiatives and look forward to a return to profitable growth in the next financial year'.

The group added: 'Our current forecast to year end March 2024 remains on track for year on year growth, and we continue to work on responsibly reducing the excessive, historical, inventory position through the remainder of the year.'

The maker of model trains posted a 5.9million loss for the 12 months ending 31 March 2023, as many consumers reined in discretionary spending.

In June, the group announced it had acquired a 25 per cent stake in Warlord Games, based in Nottingham, for 1.25million.

Hornby will announce its preliminary results for the year ending 31 March 2024 in June.

Founded in 1901 by Liverpudlian businessman Frank Hornby, the company's model train brands include Jouef, Lima and Electrotran, but it also sells Scalextric car racing sets, Corgi cars and Airfix model planes.
A young Edna Cowen on her wedding day

Edna Cowen did everything she could to protect her family from the stress of having to plan and pay for her funeral following her eventual death.

She planned meticulously, diligently paying into an insurance policy with firm Scottish Widows for 17 years that would pay out to her loved ones when she died.

But five weeks after the 96-year-olds death, her funeral has been plagued with delays and her family have been unable to carry out her wishes or lay her to rest.

Edna and her family have become the latest victims of customer service failings at Scottish Widows, and have been unable to get the payout of 5,545 earmarked for her funeral.

Her granddaughter, Laura Connor, 37, says the delays have been hugely distressing for the family and caused further upset during a difficult time.

The mother-of-two says: Its so painful knowing she is stuck in a fridge until someone at Scottish Widows decides otherwise. She did no wrong in this life and does not deserve what has followed after her passing.

Last year, Money Mail revealed that bereaved families are being made to wait months to get hold of money they are entitled to after a loved one has died. In the worst cases, it has taken almost a year for the cash to be paid out.

And these delays have yet to be resolved, we can today reveal.

Scottish Widows has made a catalogue of errors since Edna died of old age on December 14 last year, starting with a denial that her policy existed.

Edna took out a Senior Protection Plan with the firm at age 79 and the family estimate she paid in more than 9,000 over 17 years. The plan is an insurance policy that pays out a fixed lump sum upon death to cover funeral costs  5,545 in Ednas case.

When 74-year-old Keith Cowen  Ednas son and Lauras uncle  wrote to Scottish Widows shortly after her death, and named the funeral home, he was told the policy could not be found.

The insurer then wrote to the funeral home in Wakefield to request bank statements that would prove Edna had made payments for the policy.

But this is highly unusual according to an expert at the National Association of Funeral Directors.

A spokesman for the organisation says: The only time a funeral director would normally be contacted about an insurance policy is to confirm the redemption figure to be paid out after the funeral has taken place.

To hear that this situation has caused such uncertainty for the family and led to a postponement of the original funeral date is distressing and we hope the funeral is able to take place as soon as possible.

As basic funeral prices hit 4,000 - how to cut the bill of a send-off The price of a basic funeral - either cremation or burial - has breached the 4,000 mark this year, according to a report by over-50s financial services firm SunLife. But with careful planning, you can spare your family the agony of financing your send-off. Our guide explains how you can protect them from huge bills and find a trustworthy funeral plan provider. > Read more: The cost of dying crisis: How to cut funeral bills

After multiple phone calls from Keith and Ednas daughter Gwynneth Connor, Scottish Widows tracked down the policy and confirmed that a payment was due. Keith was asked to send a copy of the death certificate.

He handed this into his local Lloyds bank branch  owned by the same parent company as Scottish Widows.

Only once that was received was he asked to fill in a claims form. He was later told he had sent the wrong form and a new one was on its way. However, it never arrived, Laura says.

My uncle, who doesnt drive and is deemed as elderly himself, has had to go back and forth in taxis to the bank, jumping through the paperwork mountain and requests placed on him, she adds.

Its been devastating not being able to do the funeral. The plans are in place, she wanted us to move on and not be burdened so gave us an idea of what she wanted. We spoke to a vicar and started putting things in motion before we realised how hard it would be. We were offered a date in early January but had to abandon those plans.

Chaos at Scottish Widows has left customers facing hour-long call wait times on hold and being given incorrect information about their insurance policies or pensions, for example wrong balances and missing payments. Many customers complain of rude, dismissive staff and of information being lost by the company.

Laura, who works for the police, says her family has been no exception. Her mother Gwynneth has made eight calls in five weeks, all exceeding an hour, while Keith has made three calls.

Its been traumatic for my mum having to relive her grief every call she makes, she says. Mum is passed from operator to operator, having to retell the story over and over. Many of those she spoke to have been rude, unsympathetic and trying to get her off the phone.

Last week, the family was told the funeral home could no l onger wait for the payment and they would need to find the money elsewhere.

We had to have a serious talk about funding it ourselves, which was really tricky and exactly what my nan wanted to avoid. It does get people even more upset because we are fairly private about it usually, says Laura. As a family it was too much, too soon.

After Money Mail got involved last week, Scottish Widows has settled the claim, paying the full policy value and interest. The insurer has also paid 500 each to Keith and Gwynneth in recognition of the difficulties they have faced and extended an apology.

The funeral can now go ahead, Laura says. Money Mail has put dozens of cases to the firm for investigation over the past 12 months, and Scottish Widows has admitted to failings that have been going on for 18 months at least.

It will not say how many people have been caught up in delays or disclose the reason behind them.

A Scottish Widows spokesman said: We are very sorry that Mr Cowen and his family did not receive the level of service they should have at what was already an extremely difficult time.

The money has been received along with interest and we have made an additional payment to acknowledge the time taken to put things right.
Arrests of convicted criminals roaming the streets while released on licence are still going unmonitored 18 months after convicted sex attacker Jordan McSweeney was left free to hunt down and murder law graduate Zara Aleena.

MailOnline can exclusively reveal that the government is not recording any data on the numbers of convicted criminals who are arrested after being freed from prison due to involvement in further offences.

It follows the June 2022 sexual assault and murder of Zara Aleena by Jordan McSweeney, who had been released on licence and should have been recalled to prison days previously.

The latest data shows there were 238,264 offenders on probation at the end of June 2023, but neither the Ministry of Justice or the Home Office know how many of these individuals have been detained on suspicion of crimes by police.

It comes after MailOnline revealed McSweeney was last year caught having sex with a prison worker in a locked room inside Belmarsh prison, one of the UK's top security jails.

Zara Aleena was murdered by a prolific offender who had been released on licence - but the government does not track these kind of offences

McSweeney had 28 previous convictions for 69 separate offences at the time of the murder

Zara's aunt, Farah Naz, said that 'holes' continue to be found in the UK's justice system, and this could cause further crimes to be committed

MailOnline attempted to obtain data on the number of arrests made concerning those on licence, but was told: 'The requested data is not held'.

Zara's aunt Farah Naz said the missing data is 'disappointing' and could 'play a part [in] further crimes', as campaigners also slammed the lack of oversight.

Ms Naz said: 'It is disappointing that government bodies do not hold rudimentary data on arrests made upon individuals in the community on licence. Surely this information would serve as a vital guide to the justice system?'

She added she was shocked no-one in government is tracking arrests of criminals released into the community, saying it should 'be an important part of any monitoring and evaluation of the justice system'.

She continued: 'We keep on finding holes in the systems, these holes had a part to play in the murder of our Zara and will play a part for further crimes.

'We must not sit on our hands, we must continue to ask questions and demand change to make services better suited to do the job they appear to be doing.'

The Home Office told MailOnline: 'The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales [...] However, data is not collected on whether the individual committed this offence whilst on licence after being released from custody.'

The Ministry of Justice also said it does not hold such data, and referred MailOnline to the Home Office.

The black hole in the figures used by government arises as the Ministry of Justice records data on those on licence, while the Home Office records overall data on arrests. Neither department has information on arrest figures for those on licence, which is only held by individual police forces.

Campaigners say that 18 months after Ms Aleena's death, the missing data 'weakens' government's ability to respond to crimes against women and girls

Women's Aid told MailOnline the missing data 'weakens the government's response to incredibly serious crimes being committed against women and girls'.

A spokesperson said: 'We know that criminal justice data can be limited by several factors  from underreporting, as women face barriers when it comes to disclosing to police, through to different data collection practices across criminal justice agencies.

'This makes it more difficult to form an accurate picture of the crimes committed against women and girls - in terms of their prevalence, outcomes and the characteristics of perpetrators and victims.

'The murder of Zara Aleena was atrocious, and it is vital that statutory agencies in the criminal justice system learn important lessons from it, to ensure it doesn't happen again.

'Improving criminal justice data collection is an essential step to understanding how perpetrators escalate their violence and preventing serious and fatal crimes - before it is too late.'

Zara Aleena was fatally attacked and sexually assaulted by McSweeney a week after he was released from prison on licence.

McSweeney had 28 previous convictions for 69 separate offences at the time of the murder including burglary, theft of a vehicle, criminal damage, assaulting police officers and assaulting members of the public while on bail.

It comes as Justice Secretary Alex Chalk recently announced that hundreds of convicts would be released early to ease prison overcrowding

He was released on June 17, just eight days before he murdered Ms Aleena.

The Metropolitan Police said the Probation Service had commenced recall proceedings on June 22 after he missed two probation appointments.

On the night of Ms Aleena's murder, McSweeney pursued multiple women before happening across the 35-year-old.

Since being jailed for life, MailOnline revealed that McSweeney had sex with a female prison worker inside a locked room at Belmarsh prison last year.

The 32-year-old woman, who is not a prison officer, was suspended and arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. An internal investigation is said to be underway into how the incident occurred.

HMP Belmarsh, a category A prison with capacity for 792 male inmates, is where some of the UK's most dangerous inmates are sent, including those imprisoned for crimes involving national security.

The Ministry of Justice has previously warned it takes all allegations of staff wrongdoing 'extremely seriously', adding that staff found guilty of inappropriate relationships with prisoners can be sent to prison themselves.

The revelation also comes amid public concern following the announcement that hundreds of inmates can be released early in a desperate bid to tackle prison overcrowding.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk announced in October that hundreds of inmates serving up to four years would have 18 days cut from their sentences under an emergency plan.

Although sex offenders and serious violent offenders are exempt from the scheme, criminals who have committed lesser violent crimes will be up for early release.

Campaigners have raised fears this could result in people who have committed offences relating to domestic abuse being freed early.

Mr Chalk also confirmed that the measures, in place for a 'limited period', would see judges asked not to hand down short prison sentences, with lower-level offences given community sentences instead.

Both the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office declined to comment.
two powers seem on the cusp of agreeing a formal strategic partnership

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches its second anniversary, Vladimir Putin looks to be sitting pretty.

His forces have thwarted Ukraine's counter-offensive and are hunkered down in the country's east ahead of an expected springtime push to consolidate territory.

At home, the Kremlin's propaganda machine has successfully spun the brutal invasion of its neighbour into a tale of survival and resistance against the domineering, imperial West.

And the independent Levada Centre polls show his approval rating sky-high at 83 per cent, with his march to yet another term in office following the upcoming presidential elections in March practically guaranteed.

But in the face of severe economic sanctions and with his country diplomatically and technologically isolated from the Western world, Putin must continue to forge key partnerships elsewhere if he wants to keep the circus in motion.

And this has led him to the doorstep of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Iran represents a grave threat to the West, sitting behind a host of burgeoning militias that threaten to destabilise the security of the whole region.

But Tehran's disdain for the US and its allies, military might, and status as a highly influential force in the Middle East make it a perfect match for Moscow.

Now, with the two powers seemingly on the cusp of agreeing a formal strategic partnership, MailOnline breaks down how this diabolical pairing could plunge the world further into chaos.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi shake hands during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023

A Ukrainian residential building is seen ablaze following Russia's drone attacks on New Year's Eve

Local residents inspect damages outside an apartment building after the overnight Russian drones attack in Kharkiv, December 31, 2023

A drone approaches for an attack in Kyiv on October 17, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) greets Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (R) during their meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace, on December 7, 2023 in Moscow

It wasn't always like this.

For the past two centuries, the historical narrative between Iran and Russia was one of tension and rivalry until the relationship nosedived following Iran's revolution in 1979.

Former Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini harboured a vehement disdain not only for the United States but also for the Soviet Union.

He saw it as a dangerous, aggressive communist power that posed a threat to his new Islamist regime.

But the breakup of the Soviet Union heralded a thawing of the previously frosty relationship - and the ascension of Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin in 2000 expedited this process significantly.

Under Putin's leadership, Moscow adopted a more pragmatic and diplomatic approach towards Tehran that addressed historical grievances and paved the way for a more constructive and mutually beneficial relationship.

But now, both nations have been given the cold shoulder by the US, UK and EU.

Russia and Iran have been banished from international payment systems, subjected to a barrage of sanctions and derided on the world stage.

In response, Moscow and Tehran have doubled down and are collaborating more closely than ever before, fuelled by a mutual anger at the West and a desire to expand their influence throughout the East and South.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meet with a large number of elegists and eulogists in Tehran, Iran, on January 3, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (L) arrive for their working lunch meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia

Iran has for months played a key role in helping Russia's forces to sustain their bombardment of Ukrainian towns and cities.

A slew of images and clips out of Ukraine have shown the remains of Iranian-manufactured kamikaze drones littering the streets and nestled amid the rubble where civilian apartment blocks once stood.

The Islamic Republic is also believed to have provided thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition - a vital resource for Moscow's troops as they continue their WWI-style pounding of Ukrainian trenches in the countryside of Donetsk and Luhansk.

But US intelligence officials believe the pair are now holding talks over a potential deal that could see Tehran step up its military cooperation with the Kremlin to unprecedented levels after a sanction restricting the export of missiles lapsed in October.

White House spokesman John Kirby said in November: 'Iran may be preparing to go a step further in its support for Russia.

'We are concerned that Iran is considering providing Russia with ballistic missiles now for use in Ukraine.'

These fears appeared to be realised earlier this month when a US intelligence official told the Wall Street Journal the talks had advanced, concluding: 'We assess that Russia intends to purchase missile systems from Iran.'

Purchasing Iranian ballistic missiles to replenish exhausted domestic stocks alongside recent shipments of rockets purchased from North Korea would give Putin a major strategic advantage.

Not only could Russia strike deep into Ukrainian territory, but Kyiv's sorely under-resourced air defence network would be almost powerless to shoot these missiles down.

Only the US Patriot air defence system would be capable of doing so, but the increasing reluctance of US Congress to approve major aid packages to Ukraine suggests this is not a luxury Zelensky can rely on.

And this provision of devastating weaponry is by no means a one-way street.

Iran said in November it had finalised arrangements for Russia to provide it with fresh military hardware to beef up its outdated air force, including Su-35 fighter jets, Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yak-130 pilot training aircraft, not to mention a host of intelligence and communications equipment.

A graphic depicting the Shahed kamikaze drone deployed by Russia in Ukraine

A Russian drone is seen during a Russian drone strike, which local authorities consider to be Iranian made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) Shahed-136, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 17, 2022

Local residents inspect their ruined flat at the site of a drone attack on a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, 22 December 2023

Damage seen at the site of a drone attack on a residential building in Kyiv

Iran said in November it had finalised arrangements for Russia to provide it with a host of military hardware to beef up its outdated air force, including Su-35 fighter jets

Deputy Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations' MENA programme, Ellie Geranmayeh, underscored the weight of the burgeoning military relationship between Tehran and Moscow.

'Tehran's military contribution to Russia's war effort has made an enormous difference to Russia's ability to persevere in a difficult conflict.

'Iran, once a secondary player, is now one of Russia's most significant collaborators in the war in Ukraine.

'These developments... also have the potential to provide Iran with a stronger military hand in the Middle East.'

This disturbing convergence of Russian-Iranian military interests is echoed in the economic arena.

The Russian rouble and Iranian rial have plummeted in value amid the West's ongoing sanctions regime, and the economies of both countries are being kept afloat almost exclusively by oil and gas exports.

Moscow and Tehran are now scrambling to shore up deficits, and have found in one another a partner facing similar challenges and in need of support.

In 2022, Iran's government announced it would begin trading with Russia in their respective local currencies, rather than the US dollar, and recently announced an inter-banking system had been established to facilitate this new payment agreement.

This decision was in part forced due to their expulsion from international payment systems as part of the economic punishment meted out by the West.

But both parties are intent on reducing their reliance on Western-led systems, and are in the process of ramping up bilateral investment and establishing platforms designed to revitalise each other's economies and boost trade.

More evidence of this lies in the construction of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) - an initiative created by Russia, Iran and India back in 2002 that aimed to develop infrastructure to facilitate trade and development between the three nations, as well as other countries like Azerbaijan.

The project had lagged behind schedule for decades and is still far from fully operational. But Russia last year committed to huge investments in the programme, particularly the construction of hundreds of miles of railway from northern Iran into Azerbaijan and Russia's southern Dagestan province.

Senior Researcher at Russia's Academy of Sciences Lana Ravandi Fadai said of the project: 'The North-South ITC opens access to the seaports of Iran for Russia, as well as to the markets of Pakistan, India and Southeast Asia. These are the countries and regions that are rapidly growing economically, and interaction with those markets will help Russia find a pillar for further development of its economy in the situation of a de facto blockade by the West.'

All the while, Russia and Iran are all too happy to greenlight the attacks of Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Western cargo ships in the Red Sea, resolutely condemning the recent UK and US strikes on rebel positions in Yemen.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labelled the strikes 'illegitimate' and accused The White House and Downing Street of 'trying to adjust the international law system to its actions'.

A missile unveiled by Iran is launched in an unknown location in Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin (6-L), Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (6-R) and other offcials attend a working lunch meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 07 December 2023

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian

US National Security spokesman John Kirby said: 'We are concerned that Iran is considering providing Russia with ballistic missiles now for use in Ukraine'

At home, the Islamic Republic is already a significant regional power, leading a so-called 'Axis of Resistance' - groups spread across the Middle East that constitute a geopolitical and military alliance to counter threats from the West and regional rivals.

Iran commands considerable forces in Iraq and Syria and is the chief backer of Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian group Hamas, with which US-backed Israel is waging a bitter conflict - not to mention Yemen's Houthi rebels.

But a strategic partnership with an influential global power such as Russia could allow Iran to expand its influence beyond its the Middle East and enjoy a host of benefits as a result - much to the chagrin of the West.

The Kremlin occupies one of just five permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, with the power to veto any resolution to which it objects, and plays a leading role in several significant multilateral organisations, chief among which are BRICS - alongside Brazil, India, China and South Africa - and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Iran is now a full member of BRICS, having been invited to join the alliance last August, and has been granted observer status to the SCO, having voiced its interest in achieving full membership in the near future.

These moves reflect Iran's desire to rapidly accelerate its cultivation of influence and broaden its foreign policy options, key steps if it wants to pursue its current trajectory of antagonistic exchanges with the West.

Joining BRICS in particular represents a landmark moment for Iran.

It opens up new possibilities to attract more foreign direct investment, technology transfer and market access - deadening the impact of the West's sanctions regime - and increases its credibility as part of a massive multilateral institution with a greater share of the world's GDP than the G7.

In short, Tehran's ever-strengthening links with Moscow are vital to helping the Islamic Republic gain more prominence and sway in the international arena.

With this in mind, the brewing alliance between Putin's Russia and Iran heralds a potential storm on the global stage - one the West cannot afford to ignore lest it suffer the wrath of this new axis of power.
Annie is a reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. She previously was a digital producer for The Chronicles Datebook section. She graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2017 with a degree in journalism. During her time there, she spearheaded a culture column, produced radio pieces for NPR-affiliate station KCBX, and was a DJ and writer for KCPR, the campus radio station. Before joining the Chronicle, she was an associate producer at SFGATE and interned at VICE and Flood Magazine. Shes particularly interested in communities and scenes that are often misunderstood.

She can be reached at avainshtein@sfchronicle.com.
Owners of holiday lets in a popular seaside tourist destination are to be sent begging letters by the parish council asking for donations.

Around 200 people will be approached in Burnham Market, Norfolk, about gifting around 100-a-year to council coffers.

The request comes at a time when local authorities in the area and at other holiday hotspots around the UK are already adopting measures including council tax premiums to curb second home ownership as locals are being priced out of the market.

But furnished holiday lets have avoided the increases as they typically avoid paying for local services through council tax as they are registered for business rates.

Complaining that owners of the investment properties pay 'nothing' for parish council services, chairman Dennis Clark said: 'People who own second homes not only bring money to the area but they also pay council tax.

The affluent Norfolk village of Burnham Market has been dubbed 'Chelsea on Sea'

Wealthy Londoners flock to Burnham Market to stay in weekend homes or holiday rentals, eager to take advantage of the nearby unspoiled countryside - but its popularity has led to a backlash from locals

The influx out of outsiders has seen house prices soar, leaving locals unable to afford homes in the area and key workers having to commute from surrounding villages

The village has an enviable selection of upmarket restaurants, gastro pubs and charming independent shops

'People who own furnished holiday lets currently only have to pay business rates.

'Some of that council tax comes back to the parish council  business tax doesn't.'

The retired oil and gas industry worker, 77, added: 'The parish council is planning to write to the owners of furnished holiday lets in the area  I think there are about 200  and ask them for a contribution. Not a vast amount, probably around 100.

'If people want street lights and the greens cut and so on, it's only fair.'

An overwhelming majority of 80 per cent of villagers backed a crackdown on second and holiday homes in a referendum last September.

Measures include ensuring newbuild properties are only sold to people who would use them as their main residence and a ban on existing homes being turned into holiday retreats.

There is now a near-unbroken 30-mile stretch of the north Norfolk coast where similar schemes have been put in place.

Other areas to follow suit around the country include St Ives in Cornwall, Salcombe in Devon, Swanage in Dorset and Tenby in Pembrokeshire.

Communities have complained that locals are being priced out of the market, with businesses struggling to find staff.

Such is the level of interest in Burnham Market, it can be difficult for locals or key workers to find property in the area

Your browser does not support iframes.

They also become 'ghost towns' in the off-season, when second homes are left empty for months.

The growing problem saw Burnham Market's population fall from 948 in the 2001 census to 724 in 2021. It accelerated during the pandemic, as many invested in staycation properties.

The village is now the most expensive place to buy a home in the county, with sale prices averaging 990,000 last year.

The area has been nicknamed Chelsea-on-Sea because of the high proportion of Londoners who have invested in boltholes or letting properties in the area.

But Mr Clark told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'I don't like it and I find it irritating. It makes it sound as if we are somehow tied to London and that everyone here is a millionaire. That certainly isn't true.'

A Burnham Market business owner, who asked not to be named, said: 'Second homes and lets bring in most of our money, frankly. Without them, we'd be clinging on by our fingertips, so anything that scares the market is a concern.

'But I don't think a 100 surcharge  and a voluntary one at that  will deter investors and it's only fair, considering they are getting services that other people have to pay for.'

The council tax premium on second homes, which is being adopted by the most popular holiday destinations, came into force in October under the Government's Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

Half of the properties in areas such as Brancaster are believed to be either second homes or holiday lets

Burnham Market in Norfolk is nicknamed Chelsea-on-Sea because of its large number of well-heeled second home owners

It gives local authorities the 'discretion' to double council tax on such properties.

But as revealed by MailOnline yesterday, the extra money is not ring-fenced to provide affordable housing in the affected areas.

Instead, some are dividing it up between all precepting authorities including parish, town and county councils and local police and crime commissioners.

Dorset Council appears to have gone further, saying it is planning to allocate the 10 million it expects to generate every year to its 'overall budget'.
A prison officer who derailed a murder trial was given 'money, gifts and promises' by a defendant being held on remand at her jail, a court heard.

Ex-Belmarsh guard Wiktoria Bujko, 30, gave a false account to police of a confession by suspect Aaron Campbell, one of three defendants in the trial for the murder of Iron Miah, 40, who was shot dead on his doorstep in London in 2019.

She made the false report to police at the behest of Campbell's co-defendant, Mohammed Moshaer Ali, whom prosecutors said had 'repeatedly shown himself to be an outrageous liar'.

He rewarded the corrupted prison officer with 'money, gifts and promises', prosecutors said; 500 was paid into her bank account the day after she made the false representation to police about Ali's fellow defendant.

Her lie collapsed a second trial into Miah's killing but Ali, Campbell and third co-defendant Antonio Afflick-McLeod were convicted of Miah's murder earlier this month following a third trial and will be sentenced in February.

Wiktoria Bujko, 30, was convinced to give a false statement to police concerning the murder of Iron Miah, ultimately derailing the trial into his killing

Mr Miah was shot in the back of the head on November 19 2019 in Tower Hamlets, London. The murder weapon was never recovered

Bujko worked at high security HMP Belmarsh in London, where all three defendants charged with Mr Miah's murder were being held on remand

Bujko pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice on January 9 and can now be named after Judge Nigel Lickley KC lifted a ban on identifying her.

Mr Miah was attacked on November 19 2019 in Nelson Street, Tower Hamlets, dying two days later from a catastrophic brain injury.

On the night he was killed, he received a call from Ali, 31, of Dagenham, before going out and climbing into a nearby Honda Civic and speaking with its occupants.

After getting out of the car and sending Ali a text message, he was shot in the back of the head by a man who got out of a parked Volkswagen Polo.

The Polo, which was on false plates, and the Civic then sped off from the scene. Mr Miah died two days later in hospital.

Police told the court they believed Afflick-McLeod, 32, of Ilford, and Campbell, 32, of Fulham, had been in the Polo; when Afflick-McLeod was arrested, police found a sawn-off shotgun in his home, though the murder weapon was never recovered.

The killers had used burner phones in a bid to evade justice, but Afflick-McLeod was snared buying a SIM card linked to the investigation in a convenience store in Barking the day before the murder.

Detectives used cell site data after discovering the burner phones in order to place each of the trio at the scene of the crime.

Ali, however, sought to throw officers off the trail by making calls to police with false intelligence  a pattern of behaviour he continued with even after being charged and remanded at HMP Belmarsh alongside Afflick-McLeod and Campbell.

He convinced prison guard Bujko to make the false report to police on October 17 2022, just as a second trial into the killing was about to start.

Mohammed Ali (above) convinced Wiktoria Bujko to make a false representation to police, collapsing the trial in which he was facing a murder charge

Aaron Campbell (left) and Antonio Afflick-McLeod (right) were convicted of murdering Iron Miah earlier this month

She claimed to have overheard a conversation the previous weekend in the prison's healthcare unit between Campbell and another inmate, suggesting that he and Afflick-McLeod had planned to rob Ali of drugs on the day of the killing.

They encountered Mr Miah when Ali sent him to a meeting in his place, she claimed; but an examination of CCTV footage of the unit revealed that Campbell was not there when she claimed to have witnessed the exchange.

As a result, the case had to be ditched again; it was on the third trial that justice was finally done.

Someone paid 500 into Bukjo's bank account the day after she submitted her witness statement, the court was told.

A jury heard that she had known Ali since he was first remanded to HMP Thameside where she had been working.

Bujko, of Marlborough Road, Woolwich, was arrested in December 2022. While on bail, she applied to be a probation officer and worked one day as a trainee in February 2023 before her employment was terminated.

Bujko and Ali both pleaded guilty to conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Ali, Afflick-McLeod and Campbell were convicted of murdering Iron Miah at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 9 January.

All defendants will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on February 28.

Detective Chief Inspector David Whellams of the Metropolitan Police said: 'My team have worked tirelessly over a long period of time to ensure that Iron's family could receive the justice they deserve.

'This was a deliberate and callous act of violence in a residential area. Nobody deserves to be the victim of such brutality and the three people convicted today will undoubtedly spend a significant time in jail. Our streets are safer without these people at large.

'I would like to pay tribute to Iron's family, who have been extremely supportive of the investigation in the face of a long road to justice, while living with the trauma of losing their loved one.'
Donald Trump paraded his newest backer in front of an excited New Hampshire crowd on Tuesday evening, saying Vivek Ramaswamy had a 'big, beautiful, bright future' in front of him after dropping out of the race.

He introduced his former rival as he called for the Republican Party to get behind his candidacy ahead of November election.

'It's time for the Republican Party to unify come together and move forward as one team we have to beat crooked Joe Biden,' said Trump to ecstatic roars at the Atkinson Country Club.

He took the stage in New Hampshire after the sort of 24 hours that would represent an extraordinary day of highs and lows for any other candidate.

For Trump it was almost business as usual.

President Donald Trump introduced Vivek Ramaswamy to an ecstatic crowd in Atkinson, New Hampshire, on Tuesday evening at the end of whirlwind 24 hours

The adoring fans offered Trump a chance to blow off steam after an awkward morning in court

After crushing his rivals by 30 points in the Iowa caucuses  the first formal test of his popularity  on Monday night, he flew to New York for his $10 million defamation trial where a judge told prospective jurors that another jury had already found that the former president sexually abused columnist E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.

Then it was back to the campaign trail to round off another norm-busting day in the life of the former president.

And it ended with a chance to unveil Ramaswamy, who dropped out a day earlier after a disappointing fourth place finish in Iowa.

The 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur quickly heaped praise on Trump as the sort of leader who could bring stability to a country at war.

'It's between the permanent state and the everyday citizen, between those of us who love the United States of America and a fringe minority, who hates this country and what we stand for,' he said.

'And right now we need a commander in chief who will lead us to victory in this war.'

About five hundred people stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the basement ballroom.

They had to wait about four hours for Trump, whose arrival was delayed by blizzards and freezing weather across the north-east.

'This was a little bit rocky tonight I will tell you,' he told his audience, describing how his pilot suggested the trip might not be a good idea, 'but I'm glad we made it.'

Vivek dropped out of the race on Monday night after finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses

As of 7.30am, Trump had more than 51 percent of the votes with Haley and DeSantis scrapping in second place and third place

After dispatching his opponents in Iowa,

And he wrapped up his speech by describing his schedule for the next few days.

'I go to a Biden witch hunt. And then I come here in the afternoon and I stop and we make speeches and we get your votes and all that stuff,' he said.

'But nobody's ever had to do this before.'

The adoring fans offered a chance to blow off steam after attending to other business earlier.

He glowered and grimaced as the judge in his New York defamation trial addressed jurors. And then he was off, leaving before opening statements to race to New Hampshire.

The former president also faces four criminal cases and 91 charges as well as the defamation case.

He has used his court appearances as a campaign tool, addressing reporters outside the courtroom and using what he says are 'witch hunts' to rally his base and raise money.

He admitted as much last week after listening to closing arguments in the New York fraud lawsuit against him. 'I guess you'd consider it part of the campaign,' he told reporters.

None of the allegations made a dent in the enthusiasm of the crowd in the ballroom of the Atkinson Country Club.

Hundreds of people braved freezing temperatures and a blizzard to line up for Trump in Atkinson, New Hampshire, Tuesday evening

Trump supporters filled a basement ballroom, waiting four hours before Trump appeared

Michael Navaria, 57, a retired police officer attending his first Trump event with his wife, said supporters just tuned out details of the 'witch hunt.'

'Absolutely. It upsets me that they are going after him,' he said. 'It is so obviously political.'

He added that it was up to voters to choose the president, not courts or lawyers. And Trump had an enviable record in office.

'Everything he says happens,' said Navaria.

Trump's courtroom campaign is working so far. In Iowa, he won the state's caucuses by 30 percent, leaving Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley both trying to claim they were the only viable alternative to the former president.

He leads polls in New Hampshire, but will face a stiffer challenge there from Haley, who has made inroads with the state's more moderate electorate.

She launched a statewide ad Tuesday, slamming the possibility of a Trump-Biden rematch in November.

'The two most disliked politicians in America,' is how the ad describes them, saying they are both being 'consumed by chaos, negativity and grievances of the past.'
The states across the US with the worst roads have been ranked with Rhode Island has taken the dubious honor while Tennessee has the 'best' roads - and plenty of debate to follow.

Rhode Island secured the unfortunate title of having the worst roads in the United States in 2020, with over 48 percent of its road miles classified as 'poor,' according to Department of Transportation data.

Even more alarming is the state's road conditions appear to be deteriorating further, with a 33.3 percent increase in the percentage of 'poor' road miles between 2000 and 2020.

Following closely behind Rhode Island, come both New Jersey and Hawaii, each with more than 40 percent of their road miles falling under the 'poor' category.

In contrast, Tennessee emerged as the state with the highest-quality roads in 2020.

A mere 5.4 percent of the Volunteer State's roads were deemed 'poor,' showcasing a remarkable 94.6 percent of road miles in 'good' condition.

Rhode Island secured the unfortunate title of having the worst roads in the United States in 2020, with over 48 percent of its road miles classified as 'poor,' according to Department of Transportation data

Tennessee took the top spot as state with fewest 'poor' rated roads. A mere 5.4 percent of the Volunteer State's roads were deemed 'poor,' showcasing a remarkable 94.6 percent of road miles in 'good' condition.

Arkansas demonstrated a commendable improvement in road quality over the two decades from 2000 to 2020.

The state witnessed a significant drop from 34.8 percent to eight percent in the proportion of road miles categorized as 'poor,' marking the most substantial improvement among all states.

Earlier this month, the three worst highways in the United States were revealed.

Three highways in California ranked among the worst-regarded roads in the country, according to a new survey.

Drivers in Colorado, New York, Illinois and New Jersey are also just as frustrated with some of their main roads. Those states also found their major routes in those states among the ten worst roads in America.

Recently, Volvo Cars of Daytona Beach compiled a list of the 100 most hated roads in the US based on a poll of 3,000 drivers. The list is sure to cause debate among drivers who traverse US roads - as many believe their commute is the worst.

Drivers in New Jersey deal with frequent poor roads as their state ranked No. 2 on the list of states with the worst roads

Hawaii ranked third worst state for road condition in the US. Pictured: Solidified lava next to Chain Craters Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Conversely, Wyoming (pictured) ranked No. 2 for best roads in the country

Motorists ranked California's US-101 as the most frustrating road in the country, particularly in the densely populated regions of San Francisco and Los Angeles. The highway is notorious for frequent bottlenecks and significant congestion.

'The traffic pace can decelerate to speeds slower than an average person's walking pace, particularly noticeable during high-density travel times. Additionally, the highway traverses several major tourist attractions, adding to the traffic volume,' Volvo noted.

No. 2 most hated was I-5, which runs the length of California. The road is a vital artery spanning from San Diego to Oregon, but its segment through Los Angeles is characterized by bottlenecking and seemingly endless construction, causing further delays.

An October 2023 poll from auto manufacturer Volvo ranked the top 100 most hated highways in the United States. The top 10 appear above

In addition to the sluggish commute, this highway also has an unfortunate reputation as one punctuated by fatal crashes.

The route recorded 192 fatalities in 2019, making it the deadliest road in the state, followed by US-101 with 139 fatalities.

At No. 3 is I-405, or the San Diego freeway, which has earned a reputation as the busiest and most congested highway in the entire country.

The road is infamous for its gridlock, particularly around Los Angeles, and has earned a reputation as one of the most congested freeways in the United States. According to 2021 data, the interstate had a crash rate of 1.042 crashes per mile.

The freeway's Sepulveda Pass, adjacent to the Santa Monica mountains, presents additional geographical challenges that further compound the congestion.

Just yesterday, a speeding car careened off a San Francisco overpass and crashed into a building before free-falling to the street below and sending the driver to the hospital.

A Toyota Corolla barreled off an overpass in San Francisco Sunday night, crashing into a nearby building and falling to the ground

The accident caused extensive damage to the second and third floors of a nearby building, the California Highway Patrol said in a press release

Shortly after 11pm Sunday, a Toyota Corolla headed west on Interstate Highway 80 entered the Harrison Street off-ramp 'at an unsafe speed,' the California Highway Patrol said in a press release.

The woman driving hit a concrete barrier as it came around the curve of the elevated ramp, the CHP said.

The car continued driving along the barrier until the car launched over it and careened into a nearby building.

After smashing glass and snapping windowpanes on the second and third floors, the car tumbled and came to rest on the shoulder of the ramp.

Last month, one person was killed in a multi-vehicle crash that halted early morning traffic near Van Nuys, according to ABC 7. The collision was initially believed to be caused by a wrong-way driver, but authorities later concluded one of the cars spun out after hitting the center divider.
READ MORE: Aussie dad dies surrounded by family life support was turned off

The grieving wife of a young father who died after he fell from a moped in Bali has revealed their heartbreaking last conversation - and how he saving four lives after his death.

Kevin Malligan, 24, suffered critical head and neck injuries after falling from a moped his mate was driving while they were on holiday on December 29. His wife Leah is due to give birth in a matter of weeks.

The injuries were deemed irreversible and he was declared brain dead by doctors after he was medivac'd to Australia, forcing his family to turn off his life support last week.

Ms Malligan told Daily Mail Australia her loving husband was able to donate his heart, liver and both kidneys that could help 'save four different people's lives'.

She revealed her final conversation with Mr Malligan was just prior to the accident, wishing him a good night before going to bed, texting him 'I love you'.

'Goodnight Bub I love you more,' read his final reply.

Sydney man Kevin Malligan (pictured) will posthumously help save the lives of four people with his donated organs after tragically dying from injuries sustained in a moped crash in Bali

Ms Malligan said the family will be told if the procedures to remove his organs were successful on either Wednesday or Thursday.

Waiting on the procedures has further delayed the funeral for Mr Malligan as his family wait for his body to be released by the coroner.

'We are hoping to have a funeral within the next two weeks. We don't have a specific time or day yet,' Ms Malligan told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Malligan's final text to his wife Leah just prior to his fatal accident

Mr Malligan was robbed of his opportunity to meet his second child with his wife, who is expected to give birth sometime in February.

The devastated widow remembered him as a 'great dad, husband and friend' with a generous and loving nature who will be 'missed by all'.

'He was always up for a good laugh and would do anything to put a smile on someone's face.'

Above all else, she said, Mr Malligan was a devoted father who loved spending time with his daughter Ivy.

'There was nothing more valuable than seeing how excited he was when he got home to give his Ivy girl a great big cuddle,' Ms Malligan said.

'They then would play constantly until it was dinner and bed-time. He loved her so much and she doesn't love anyone else as much as she loved Kev.'

The 24-year-old's young daughter Ivy and wife Leah (all pictured) said their final goodbyes on Friday before turning off his life support. Kevin was declared brain dead two days prior

The happy family (pictured) was just weeks away from welcoming their second child, with Ms Malligan expecting to give birth sometime in February

Mr Malligan's grieving family started a GoFundMe page that on Friday had raised more than $123,000. They announced on Friday his life support had been turned off.

'Our last hours with our son-in-law Kevin were this morning as we all said our goodbyes,' Mr Malligan's mother-in-law Jodie French wrote.

'We had to go through a traumatic time that no wife, father, mother, dad and family should have to go through.

'We are forever grateful for so much support over these last two weeks from family, friends, work colleagues, community and complete strangers.'

The fundraising page helped pay for Mr Malligan's $150,000 medivac from Bali to Sydney and any other medical bills.

His family had been forced to pay out of pocket after Ms Malligan couldn't find a travel insurance policy that covered accidents on a scooter in Bali.

Mr Malligan was riding on the back of a moped his friend was driving when the pair 'hit a bump' and he was thrown off, Ms Malligan told Daily Mail Australia.

She said her husband wasn't doing anything silly, or drinking, when the crash happened.
A Danish newspaper has weighed in on the uproar caused by the Tasmanian parliament taking down its Aboriginal flag to fly a Danish one in its place.

The parliament was accused of having a 'lack of respect' for Indigenous Australians after removing the Aboriginal emblem and replacing it with Denmark's flag.

The red-and-white flag was flown in tribute to Hobart-born Queen Mary who was proclaimed the Queen of Denmark alongside King Frederik X on Sunday.

The move has sparked outrage among the Indigenous community who have called for an apology and proper consultation.

Denmark's tabloid publication BT joined the pile-on reporting that taking down the 'so-called Aboriginal' flag 'has triggered fierce criticism'.

BT quoted one Aussie who called the removal of the flag 'a shameful choice'.

Denmark's red-and-white flag was flown in tribute to Hobart-born Queen Mary who was proclaimed the Queen of Denmark alongside King Frederik X on Sunday. The royal couple is pictured

The Tasmanian Parliament has been accused of having a 'lack of respect' after the Aboriginal flag was replaced with the Danish flag (pictured)

READ MORE: Why Mary wore white during her first appearance as Queen of Denmark - and the subtle messages hidden in her outfit nobody noticed Advertisement

'At the same time, she calls it a "toxic nod to a European monarchy", the paper noted.

Critics of the move were quick to point out that while the Aboriginal flag had been removed, the Australian and Tasmanian flags had remained flying.

'Anyone want to take a wild guess which flag was taken down  certainly wasn't either of the Union Jacks,' a social media user posted to social media platform X on Monday.

Others were also quick to pass judgement on the flag debate.

'Incredibly disrespectful and totally unnecessary!' one said.

Many disagreed with the criticism of the Tasmanian parliament for flying the Danish flag.

'What's shameful about it? Only so many flagpoles,' one wrote.

Another quoted from the Australian National Flag protocols.

'After the Australian National Flag, the order of precedence of flags is: national flag of other nations, state and territory flags, other Australian flags prescribed by the Flags Act 1953, ensigns and pennants,' the person said.

'Educate yourselves.'

BT pointed out that 'although many are critical, there are also Tasmanians who think a special tribute is in order and point out how much publicity Queen Mary has given Tasmania over the years'.

The flag was temporarily flown in tribute to Queen Mary, who was born in Princess Alexandria Hospital in Hobart, being crowned over the weekend (pictured)

Speaker of the House of Assembly Mark Shelton and member of the Legislative Council Craig Farrell confirmed the parliament had been following protocol.

'There are three flag poles at Parliament House typically flying the Australian, Tasmanian and Aboriginal flags,' they said in a joint statement.

'The Danish flag was flown today and the order of flags flown was in accordance with the flag protocols and order of precedence provided by the Department of Premier and Cabinet.'

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaigner Nala Mansell said the removal of the flag showed a lack of respect for Aboriginal Australians.

'When an Aboriginal flag is flown, it's recognition the land that building stands on is Aboriginal land,' Ms Mansell told the Mercury.

'It's an acknowledgment of the true owners of this land.'

Ms Mansell questioned why a flag that symbolises 60,000 years of history would be intentionally replaced with one 'representing a modern day marriage'.

Tasmanian Greens Leader Rosalie Woodruff has written to Mr Shelton and Mr Farrell asking the flag be flown alongside the Tasmanian flag at all times.

Critics were quick to point out the Aboriginal flag had been removed while Australian and Tasmanian flags had remained

'The House recognised lutruwita/Tasmania is still, and will always be, Aboriginal land In light of this, the House expressed a will that the Aboriginal flag be flown over Parliament House whenever the Tasmanian state flag is raised,' she wrote.

'We understand the desire to mark the proclamation of Mary Donaldson as Queen of Denmark.

'This should not, however, take precedence over our duty to pay our ongoing formal respect to Tasmanian Aboriginal people and their pre-existing, and enduring relationship with this island.'

Queen Mary grew up as Mary Donaldson in Taroona, a beachside suburb south of Hobart, and is the youngest of four children to Scottish parents.
The ABC has hit back at sacked presenter Antoinette Lattouf's unlawful dismissal claim, describing it as 'fundamentally and entirely misconceived' - as dozens of staff at the national broadcaster threaten to walk out over her treatment.

Ms Lattouf was sacked three days into her stint as a week-long fill-in host on ABC Sydney's morning show on December 20 over an Instagram post she made. The post linked to a human rights report that accused the Israelis of 'using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza'.

She subsequently launched a Fair Work claim, alleging she was fired over her political opinions and her Lebanese heritage.

But the ABC said her claim was 'without merit' in legal documents filed by the broadcaster to the Fair Work Commission.

The broadcaster claimed 'any "political opinion" held by (Ms Lattouf) was entirely irrelevant to (and played no part in) the decision by the ABC'.

Antoinette Lattouf (pictured) was sacked three days into her stint as a week-long fill-in host on ABC Sydney's morning show on December 20 over an Instagram post she made which linked to a human rights report accusing the Israelis of 'using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza'

On Tuesday afternoon, around 80 ABC employees in the organisation's Ultimo headquarters in Sydney reportedly threatened to stage a walkout over concerns of 'outside interference' and how it handled complaints against staff (pictured). Above, staff down tools and pose for a photo

'The ABC decided not to require (Ms Lattouf) to perform the last two of her five shifts as a casual Presenter because (she) had failed or refused to comply with directions that she not post on social media about matters of controversy during the short period she was presenting a radio program on the "ABC Sydney" radio station,' the filed legal defence stated.

The broadcaster's response came shortly after it was revealed a coordinated campaign from Jewish lawyers had attempted to have Ms Lattouf her sacked.

Secret WhatsApp messages from a 156-strong Australian group called Lawyers for Israel revealed how they bombarded ABC chair Ita Buttrose with emails threatening legal action unless the presenter was fired.

On Tuesday afternoon, around 80 ABC employees in the organisation's Ultimo headquarters in Sydney reportedly threatened to stage a walkout over concerns of 'outside interference' and how it handled complaints against staff.

'MEAA media members at the ABC today called on managing director David Anderson to urgently meet with staff and address growing concerns about outside interference, culturally unsafe management practices and to stand up for journalism without fear or favour,' the union posted on X.

That same day, Ms Lattouf shared - and later deleted - a post on her Instagram account from comedian Dan Ilic who wrote: 'This saga will end up with Ita (Buttrose) and David Anderson resigning because they forgot what their job was.'

Ms Lattouf, who is described in her Fair Work claim as a 'multiawardwinning journalist, with many years experience in television, radio and podcast news and current affairs', has so far raised almost $54,000 for her legal fight.

The case will be heard by Gerard Boyce, the Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission.

Mr Boyce is no stranger to controversy, having previously been criticsed for displaying a life-size cut-out of former US President Donald Trump in his office.

Secret WhatsApp messages from a 156-strong Australian group called Lawyers for Israel revealed how they bombarded ABC chair Ita Buttrose (pictured) with emails threatening legal action unless Ms Lattouf was fired

He was also forced to remove scantily-clad erotic figurines that he painted from his office and investigated and later cleared of allegations he set off fireworks at a boozy work Christmas party.

In her Fair Work claim, Ms Lattouf alleges she was summoned to a meeting with ABC executives on 20 December where she was told of her termination after sharing the HRW report.

Her claim points out that this decision was taken 'despite ABC Online publishing an article the previous day with the headline IsraelGaza war: Human Rights Watch says starvation is being used as a weapon of war by the Israeli government'.

'Following the meeting, Ms Green (Elizabeth Green, content director for ABC Local Radio Sydney) said to Ms Lattouf: "It was above me, it was David Anderson. I know I shouldnt be telling you this",' according to Ms Lattouf's Fair Work claim.

But the ABC firmly rejects that Mr Anderson, its managing director, made the decision and claimed that Ms Green had 'no knowledge' about whether he was involved'.

Ms Lattouf's claim will be heard by by Gerard Boyce (pictured), the Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission, who once had a life-size cardboard cut-out of Donald Trump in his office

'Mr David Anderson (ABC Managing Director) did not make the decision that (Ms Lattouf) should not complete the last two of her casual shifts,' the ABC's filed legal defence states, with 'not' being udnerlined on both occasions.

'Indeed, Ms Green did not inform (Ms Lattouf) that Mr Anderson had made the decision that the Applicant should not perform the last two of her shifts.

'During a conversation with (Ms Lattouf) after the meeting on Wednesday, 20 December 2023, Ms Green (in an effort to comfort (Ms Lattouf) and confirm that the decision was not taken lightly) said words to (Ms Lattouf) to the following effect: "these types of matters are taken very seriously and decisions like this can be referred all the way up to the MDs office".'

It later adds: 'The suggestion that the ABC took action against (Ms LAttouf) on the basis of her race, national extraction or social origin is abhorrent.'

'In any event, it appears that (Ms Lattouf) is attempting to bring an unfair dismissal claim under the guise of an unlawful termination claim because she is not able to make an unfair dismissal claim,' it states.

Do you know more about this story? Max.Aitchison@mailonline.com
A married socialite had a boozy lunch with her former LA Dodgers star lover before getting into her Mercedes SUV and fatally hitting two boys, prosecutors will claim.

Rebecca Grossman, 60, was charged with second-degree murder over the September 29, 2020 crash that killed Jacob Iskander, eight, and brother Mark, 11.

Robert Apodaca, a former L.A. County sheriff's deputy, who specializes in traffic crashes, testified at a preliminary that he calculated Grossman was driving 71.7 mph when she struck the boys and that the car computer showed 73 mph. Witnesses believe the car was moving at 81 mph.

Apodaca said Mark was thrown 254 feet by the impact - the farthest he has known a human to be tossed in a crash.

Jury selection began on Tuesday for her trial in Van Nuys, LA county. She insisted her car did not hit the boys and denied driving at 81mph.

Her alleged lover Scott Erickson was said to be driving a separate SUV after their lunch at Julio's in Westlake Village.

Grossman - who is married to burn surgeon Dr Peter Grossman - and Erickson were heading in their two cars to a Westlake Village apartment when the tragedy struck, prosecutors have claimed.

Rebecca Grossman is seen with her husband, Dr Peter Grossman - a renowned plastic surgeon who runs a specialist burns unit. The pair are pictured together in October 2011

Mark Iskander, 11, and his younger brother Jacob, eight, were killed in the crash in 2020

Grossman's Mercedes after the incident. The black box showed she was traveling well over the 45mph limit

Scott Erickson, Rebecca Grossman's lover, is pictured in 2018. He was charged with a misdemeanor over the 2020 crash, and settled his case in 2022

Erickson played with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2005 for a year, then ended his career at the New York Yankees in 2006

Erickson, now 55, was charged with a misdemeanor, and his case was resolved in February 2022 with a judge ordering him to make a public service announcement geared toward high school students about the importance of safe driving.

He spent a year playing with the Los Angeles' Dodgers in 2005, then ended his career with the New York Yankees in 2006. Erickson is divorced.

Grossman's murder charges are unusual as there was no charge of driving under the influence.

Her on-site breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.076 percent - slightly below California's legal limit of 0.08 percent.

A blood sample taken three hours after the crash registered at the 0.08 percent mark.

Prosecutors will argue in court that Grossman was also on Valium and was impaired when she got behind the wheel.

Grossman - whose husband Dr Peter Grossman is a renowned plastic surgeon, leading the prestigious Grossman Burn Center - will argue in her defense that a vehicle was in front of her, and that vehicle hit the boys, exonerating her and Erickson.

Jaime Castro, prosecuting, will argue that Grossman and Erickson 'raced' their SUVs through Westlake Village before Grossman hit the boys.

Castro said they had not intended to reveal Grossman's affair with Erickson, but it became relevant because 'the defense intends to argue that the black car that is at issue in this particular scenario is not Erickson's.'

He told The Los Angeles Times: 'The people intend to put forth evidence that it was, in fact, Erickson.

'We're not looking to get into any salacious information.'

Mark and Jacob were out walking with their parents and siblings when they were killed. The parents were able to stop their younger siblings from being hit - but couldn't reach the two boys in time

Grossman claims the accident was caused by a poorly lit, poorly signaled crosswalk. Above, the crosswalk

Karim and Nancy Iskander, the boys' parents, are shown at a court hearing in April 2022

Rebecca Grossman is pictured in court in 2022. She claims to have received threats in the wake of the young siblings' killings

Rebecca Grossman leaves Los Angeles Superior Court in June 2022, over the two brother's deaths which happened two years earlier

Nancy Iskander, the mother of the boys, has said she could not see which of the two vehicles hit her sons.

She said that she and Jacob were on inline skates while crossing the road at the crosswalk, while Mark was on his skateboard and her youngest son, five-year-old Zachary, was on his scooter. Her husband and daughter were jogging nearby.

'The speed was insane,' she said of the two SUVs. 'They were zigzagging with each other as if they were playing or racing.

'They didn't stop before the intersection. They didn't stop at the intersection. They didn't stop when an 11-year-old was on the hood of the car. Nobody stopped.'

Jurors are expected to hear from a California Highway Patrol officer who pulled over Grossman in 2013 after she was clocked going 92 mph on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, and warned her she could kill someone.

The court will also likely hear from Apodaca, who specializes in traffic crashes.

Rebecca Grossman is shown with her husband, Dr. Peter Grossman, in 2017

The Grossmans' $8 million mansion in Hidden Hills, Los Angeles

During the preliminary hearing, The LA Times reported, he testified that he calculated Grossman was driving 71.7 mph when she struck the boys and that the car computer showed 73 mph.

He said 11-year-old Mark was thrown 254 feet while another deputy, Rafael Mejia, testified he had found Grossman a third of a mile away from the crash.

She had pulled over, and was saying she did not know why her airbag had been triggered.

Grossman has been out on $2 million bond.

Her trial is expected to last six weeks: If convicted of all charges, she could face up to 34 years in prison.
The New York Court of Appeals dismissed an effort by Donald Trump to try to lift a gag order that a judge imposed to limit his public comments during his fraud trial there.

The order came down Tuesday, on a day Trump was in a courthouse in lower Manhattan for his second defamation trial in the E. Jean Carroll case, where he is fighting to avoid another multi-million judgement after a finding of sexual abuse.

In the fraud case, the states high court upheld Judge Arthur Engorons partial gag order, finding that the former president's First Amendment-based defense had no substantial constitutional question.

The judge had structured the order to prohibit attacks on court personnel after Trump attacked his chief clerk on line, falsely calling her Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumers girlfriend and posting an image of the two of them together.

Former President Donald Trump has made political hay out of prosecutions and gag order's against him

That attack came despite Trump fuming about the E. Jean Carroll case, and blasting her claim that the two knew each other, saying a photograph of them together was just in a photo line.

The court had stayed the order, then reimposed it, after Engoron said Trump posted to a social media account a disparaging, untrue and personally identifying post about a member of my staff.

New York DA Letitia James wants a court to fine Trump $370 million in damages

Schumers girlfriend, Alison (sic) R. Greenfield, is running this case against me. How disgraceful! Trump posted. This case should be dismissed immediately!! Trump wrote.

The lower court case is a non-jury trial, leaving it to judge Engoron to decide whether to agree to DA Letitia James call for the court to fine Trump $370 million in damages.

Trump has made political hay out of prosecutions and gag order's against him, storming to victory in Monday's Iowa caucuses, where a majority of caucus-goers said they believed his claims of 2020 election fraud that were tossed out of court.
Jennifer Dulos had an idyllic family life until her husband Fotis cheated on her with Michelle Troconis, the woman now accused of helping him cover up her murder, their nanny has revealed.

Lauren Almeida, who took care of the couple's five children for eight years until Jennifer's disappearance on May 24, 2019, testified during Troconis' much-anticipated trial in Stamford Superior Court on Tuesday.

She painted a picture of a perfect family life filled with frequent ski and beach vacations to St Barts, Florida, Greece, Virgina and Colorado in the years before Jennifer vanished.

Almeida told the court that when she first began working for the Dulos' in September 2012, they 'seemed to get along just fine' - but their relationship 'totally changed' when Jennifer busted her Greek husband's affair in 2017.

The Dulos family's longtime nanny Lauren Almeida, pictured, testified in the trial over the murder of wife Jennifer at Stamford Superior Court on Tuesday

Jennifer Dulos had an idyllic family life until her husband Fotis cheated on her with Michelle Troconis, the woman now accused of helping him cover up her murder, Almeida revealed. (Pictured: Almeida being sworn in as a witness during the Stamford trial on Tuesday)

Jennifer and Fotis Dulos were going through acrimonious divorce and child custody proceedings when she vanished in May 2019. He was accused of her murder but killed himself in January 2020

Almeida said Jennifer was an 'incredibly nurturing mother' to her five kids, who were aged between eight and 13 when she died in May 2019

Michelle Troconis looked stony-faced as she arrived at Stamford Superior Court for the trial on Tuesday

'At the beginning they were nice to each other from what I saw,' she said.

'The big dynamic change was in March 2017 which is when Jennifer found out about the affair. A few months after that it would totally change.'

When probed about this by prosecutors, Almeida added: 'She (Jennifer) told me she believed that Fotis was having an affair.

'She said she had this feeling that he was acting weird. I didn't really believe her at first. I believed him to be an honest guy and I couldn't imagine him having an affair when there were five little kids involved.

'I told her I didn't think it was true... she was very anxious, kind of tight and she seemed upset.'

Almeida said she had a close relationship with both of the Dulos'. She described Jennifer as her confidante, and Fotis as a 'mentor' for her second career at his luxury real estate business, Fore Group.

But she said their approaches to parenting were worlds apart. While Jennifer was a playful and 'incredibly nurturing' mother, Fotis was an absent father who was 'gone a lot', according to Almeida.

'It was very silly, her relationship with the kids,' the longtime nanny said, speaking about Jennifer.

'They always wanted to be with her. She would never raise her voice. She was very softly spoken and never got angry. She was incredibly nurturing.'

But the kids 'didn't get a lot of time with their dad' according to Almeida. 'They saw him at the weekend, and they did whatever he asked them to do,' she said.

Almeida smiled briefly when she recalled Jennifer's relationship with her five children

Troconis' trial began in Stamford began on Thursday last week before pausing over the weekend and Martin Luther King Jr Day. (Pictured: Troconis arriving at the Stamford court with her mother and a member of her legal team)

Troconis arrived for the Jennifer Dulos trial flanked by her mother (right) and her legal team, including attorney Jon Schoenhorn (left)

Troconis started straight ahead as she approached the court for day three of her trial on Tuesday

Troconis and her attorney Jon Schoenhorn arriving at the Stamford courthouse ahead of day three of her trial. The American-Venezuelan defendant has denied all charges

Almeida still lives with the Dulos children - Petros, Theodore, Constantine, Christiane and Cleopatra Noelle - who are now aged between 13 and 17 - along with their maternal grandmother Gloria.

She began giving evidence at around 4.15pm on Tuesday, and will return to the witness box on Wednesday as Troconis' trial continues.

The 49-year-old Venezuelan socialite denies charges connected to the suspected homicide - including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.

When Jennifer disappeared, she had been embroiled in acrimonious divorce and child custody battle proceedings with Fotis. He was later charged with her murder, but he killed himself in January 2020, leaving Troconis to face the music alone.

Prosecutors accuse Fotis of killing Jennifer in her New Canaan home after she returned from dropping their children off at school, and they allege that Troconis helped him dispose of her bloodied clothing in several garbage bags.

Jennifer's body was never found, but Judge William P. Osterndorf declared her 'officially dead' last week.

Troconis' trial began in Stamford began on Thursday before pausing over the weekend and for Martin Luther King Jr Day.

Jurors heard evidence from several Connecticut police officers who were called to Jennifer's home after Almeida alerted them to her disappearance on May 24, 2019.

Michelle Troconis in court for day three of her trial

Troconis conferred with her attorneys at points during the trial in Stamford, CT

Troconis in court for the third day of her trial on Tuesday, January 16, 2024

On Tuesday, jurors heard more evidence about what detectives have been calling 'blood-like stains' on several surfaces in Jennifer's New Canaan CT home, where she lived with her five children

Evidence of 'blood-like stains' on the ground of Dulos' garage was shown to jurors

Police said they also found red stains in Dulos' kitchen, including on the inside tubing of a paper towel roll, on the faucet at her sink, and on the edge of a countertop

Suspected blood stain in Jennifer Dulos' Range Rover which was parked in her garage

Former state police detective Matthew Reilly said he spotted red stains on several surfaces in Jennifer's kitchen, including on a paper towel roll, sink faucet, and counter-top - and in her garage

On Tuesday, former state police detective Matthew Reilly said he spotted red stains on several surfaces in Jennifer's kitchen on May 25, 2019, including on a paper towel roll, sink faucet, and counter-top - and in her garage.

Jurors were also shown photographs of red stains in Jennifer's Chevy Suburban, which was found abandoned around three miles from her home the day after she vanished.

Former detective Reilly said he swabbed the stains and some of the garage samples tested positive for blood. The samples were sent to a lab for confirmation, but none of the witnesses have testified yet about these results.

Under cross-examination by Troconis' lawyer Jon Schoenhorn, he agreed that one of the tests used to detect human blood - called a luminol swab - would also have appeared positive for a 'laundry list' of other substances.

He said this is because the test flags the presence of iron, which can also be found in substances including horseradish, turmeric, and animal blood.

Jurors were also previously shown bodycam footage of officers searching Jennifer's home, and what appeared to be a bloody footprint on the ground.

Police say Fotis transported her body out of the garage and disposed of it later in a friend's SUV.

Jennifer Farber Dulos vanished in May 2019. Her remains have never been found, but police believe she was murdered by her husband Fotis Dulos, and that his new girlfriend Michelle Troconis conspired with him to help him cover up the crime

Troconis  who is accused of helping lover Fotis Dulos kill his wife in 2019  is currently free on a $2million bond and faces up to twenty years in prison if convicted

Troconis looked pensive as she listened to her trial unfold on the third day of hearings

Troconis speaking with her attorneys, including Jon Schoenhorn, during her trial on Tuesdy

A 'red stain' on the grill of Jennifer Dulos' Range Rover on May 24, 2019, the day she vanished. Police searching the house said it stood out to them and did not appear to have been from a deer strike. The state alleges Fotis Dulos killed his wife either in the home or the garage, injuring her so badly that she bled profusely, and then removed her body

Police also found a bloody footprint in the garage where they believe Jennifer's body was moved

Cops also pointed out what they thought were 'drops' of blood in the same garage

Troconis' lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, has accused police of lying to and misleading his client during interviews and questioning her in English with no interpreter present when her primary language is Spanish.

Schoenhorn has also challenged much of the evidence in the case. Judge Kevin Randolph recently ruled the police seizure of Troconis' cellphone was illegal and any evidence obtained from it cannot be used during the trial.

But Randolph allowed other evidence Schoenhorn sought to bar, including video of the police questioning of Troconis and DNA test results.

Dulos' family and friends hope the trial provides accountability for her death and answers to lingering questions.

'As this trial begins, it is crucial to remember who is at the center: Jennifer, whose five children have lost their mother and, as an eventuality, both parents,' said her friend Carrie Luft, in a statement on behalf of family and friends.

'Jennifers family and loved ones have lost a loving daughter, sister, cousin, and lifelong friend.'

The trial continues on Wednesday.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined two dozen other state AGs calling on the federal government to help combat robocalls and texts, including AI-generated scam calls. Associated Press

Robocalls and texts, a common nuisance of modern life, are becoming more advanced and pernicious as AI technology improves. And a coalition of more than two dozen attorneys general is asking the federal government to act.

In addition to being a daily annoyance, robocalls are often used by scammers to cause real financial damage, said Attorney General Rob Bonta in a statement Wednesday as he joined 25 other top state attorneys in response to a Federal Communications Commission inquiry into how AI technology might make it more difficult to protect consumers from illegal scam calls and texts.

Read more: The best way to defeat a phone scam, plus more tips to protect yourself against AI fraud

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AI technology presents opportunities for new levels of deception by bad actors, Bonta added.

Common phone scams, like one that nearly bilked more than $15,000 from one Bay Area family, have gotten better as AI technology has made it possible to create convincing copies of loved ones voices.

Bontas office said robocalls are typically the No. 1 consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission year after year.

Most consumers experience robocalls and spam texts as unwanted nuisances. But Bontas office said they are the most common way scammers make contact with potential victims.

The FCC estimated that fraudulent phone calls and texts led to more than $1.13 billion in losses across the country. The number of phone scam victims in the U.S. nearly tripled between 2017 and 2022, according to a Truecaller/Harris poll.

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Bonta and the coalition of attorneys told the FCC that AI mimicking human voices should be classified as a form of artificial voice under the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, arguing that consumers therefore cannot be sent AI-generated robocalls that mimic a live caller without the consumers prior express written consent.

Last year the FCC sought to crack down on what it called illegal telemarketing calls coming from overseas, pressuring internet telecommunications companies to stop the traffic or face fines and penalties.

In 2022 Bonta and other law enforcement officials demanded the FCC turn off the spigot of scam calls they said came from overseas but which appear to come from U.S. numbers to fool people into answering, potentially handing over valuable personal information or money.

That summer Bonta announced an anti-robocall task force to take legal action against telecommunications providers bringing most of the overseas automated scam calls to the U.S.

Earlier last year Bonta and nearly every other attorney general in the U.S. sued Avid Telecom, alleging the company played a role in billions of illegal robocalls, including Social Security and Medicare scams among others.

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MSNBC host Rachel Maddow was criticized for her announcement that the liberal network would refuse to cover Donald Trump's Iowa victory speech because she believed it would contain falsehoods.

This caused some to point out that Maddow, the MSNBC anchor and host of The Rachel Maddow Show, was one of the most vocal proponents of the claim Trump colluded with Russia.

Maddow, anchoring the network's coverage from New York, said the network was continuing its policy of not showing Trump's speeches live after his resounding victory in the Iowa caucus.

'It is not an easy decision, but there is a cost to us as a news organization of knowingly broadcasting untrue things. And that is a fundamental truth of our business and who we are,' she said.

She tried to clarify that the call 'is not out of spite. It is not a decision that we relish. It is a decision that we regularly revisit and honestly, earnestly.'

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow was criticized for her announcement that the liberal network would refuse to cover Donald Trump's Iowa victory speech because she believed he'd be lying

Maddow announced that the network would let viewers know if there was 'any news' made by Trump's remarks.

This led at least one user on social media to refer to MSNBC as 'state run TV' given its alliance with President Biden's liberal policies.

Commentator Glenn Greenwald sneered that Maddow is 'the reigning Queen of TV disinformation' and that 'NBC is Ground Zero for it.'

MSNBC wasn't the only network to give Trump's speech the short shrift on Monday night.

Early in the speech, as Trump began to dole out his plan for the border, Tapper began to speak over the former president.

'Donald Trump declaring victory with a historically strong showing in the Iowa caucuses,' he said.

'If these numbers hold, the biggest victory for a non-incumbent president in the modern era for this contest,' he continued.

'A relatively subdued speech as the things go so far. Although, here he is, right now, under my voice. You can hear him repeating his anti-immigrant rhetoric.'

Maddow, anchoring the network's coverage from New York, said the network was continuing its policy of not showing Trump's speeches live after his resounding victory in the Iowa caucus

This caused some to point out that Maddow, the MSNBC anchor and host of The Rachel Maddow Show, was one of the most vocal proponents of the claim Trump colluded with Russia

Trump told Fox News Digital that he was 'honored' and 'invigorated' after winning the Iowa caucuses.

During the Trump administration, Maddow was one of the loudest anti-Trump voices, regularly dedicating extended segments of her self-titled 9pm show to detail alleged Russian interference and manipulation of former president's administration.

Her broadcasts embraced the controversial Steele dossier, which included a string of lurid, unproven allegations about Trump's ties to Russia.

Indeed, the Durham report 'determined that the [FBI] investigators did not and could not corroborate any of the substantive allegations contained in the Steele reporting.'

But Maddow implied on several occasions that Steele dossier gave weight to the claims of collusion.

In March 2017, she said, 'The bottom line allegation of this unproven dossier is that Russia didn't just attack our election, they did so with the knowledge of and support of the Trump campaign that the Trump folks were in on it that they knew what Russia was doing while they were doing it and they continued meeting with Russians.'

Maddow said later in the show, 'What [Steele] says he found was evidence not just of Russia attacking the US presidential election, but one party in that election - the Trump campaign - helping, going along with it, colluding, being part of it, and that is way worse allegation than just the Russians attacking our election.'

She added, 'We have to continue describe them as uncorroborated but toward the basic thesis of this dossier that the Trump campaign was in on it little pieces of that little checkable pieces of that have been falling into place almost every day now.'

Rachel Maddow peddled unfounded claims in the controversial Steele dossier which claimed Russia meddled in the election and 'the Trump campaign [was] helping, going along with it, colluding, being part of it'

Maddow saw her ratings surge from an also-ran to a top contender thanks to her compelling and dogged reporting on Trump - regularly landing the No.1 spot in her time slot slugfest with Fox News' Sean Hannity. Hannity, however, airs five times per week and gets more viewers overall than Maddow.

Her show built to a crescendo in the days leading up to the release, as rumors swirled that Mueller was nearing the conclusion of the report which Maddow confidently predicted would prove decisive in the downfall of Trump.

Ratings for her show have been on the decline ever since, starting with a 19 percent drop the week after the Mueller report dropped.

Fox smashed MSNBC in the ratings on the night of the Iowa Caucus, according to The HIll. They drew 2.5 million viewers to MSNBC's 1.1 million.

Maddow's contract with the network currently runs through 2024, though she has become a less frequent presence during the Biden years.

In 2022, she took a weeks-long hiatus from her $30million-a-year hosting job at MSNBC to make movies and podcasts.
The New Hampshire Republican debate scheduled for Thursday night has officially been canceled after GOP hopeful Nikki Haley said she would only debate former President Donald Trump - or President Joe Biden.

A day after the Iowa caucuses, the presidential race has moved to New Hampshire, with the Granite State a do-or-die endeavor for Haley, who came in third place in Iowa but is within striking distance of Trump in some New Hampshire polls.

During her speech to supporters Monday night at the West Des Moines Marriott, Haley proclaimed that she would make the primary a 'two-person race.'

On Tuesday she started acting like it.

'We've had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it,' she posted to X Tuesday morning.

Thursday night's planned New Hampshire debate has been canceled after GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley (right) said Tuesday she would only debate former President Donald Trump or President Joe Biden - not participate in a rematch with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left)

Tuesday morning, Nikki Haley posted on X that 'the next debate I will do' will be against former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner of the GOP primary race, or President Joe Biden. The tweet indicated she wouldn't again face Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis onstage in New Hampshire

A day after the Iowa caucuses, the presidential race has moved to New Hampshire, with the Granite State a do-or-die endeavor for Nikki Haley (pictured), who came in third place in Iowa but is within striking distance of Trump in some New Hampshire polls.

The move infuriated her rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who came in a distant second place to Trump in Iowa but has been polling in the single digits in New Hampshire.

'Nikki Haley is afraid to debate because she doesn't want to answer the tough questions such as how she got rich off Boeing after giving them millions in taxpayer handouts as governor of South Carolina,' DeSantis posted to X Tuesday.

'The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, she's running to be Trump's VP,' the Florida governor claimed.

He said her refusal to debate amounted to a 'snub' of New Hampshire voters - and called out Trump for doing the same.

Trump didn't participate in a single Republican primary debate and beat DeSantis in Iowa by about 30 points.

DeSantis had staked much of his campaign on performing well against Trump in Iowa, while blocking Haley's ascent.

Neither goal was fully met.

'I look forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week,' DeSantis said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis responded an hour later saying that Haley was 'afraid' to debate. After a disappointing second place finish in Iowa, DeSantis has vowed to plug on, though he's trailing both Trump and Haley in New Hampshire

Former President Donald Trump gives a victory speech Monday night in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Trump easily won the Iowa caucuses over DeSantis and Haley, with DeSantis coming in a distant second place. DeSantis had agreed to debate again but Haley refused

The debate hosts, ABC News and WMUR-TV announced later Tuesday that the Thursday debate was off.

'Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race,' an ABC News spokesperson said in a statement.

Trump, Haley, Trump and DeSantis all qualified for the Granite State debate, as well as former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who dropped out of the presidential debate on Wednesday.

'As a result, while our robust election coverage will continue, ABC News and WMUR-TV will not be moving forward with Thursday's Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire,' the spokesperson said.

CNN was also planning to hold a Republican debate on Sunday, January 21, two days before the New Hampshire primary.
Bounaouar was fatally shot after he charged at officers while holding a knife

A relative called cops from in his car to say Bounaouar was cutting up his stuff

Mohamed Bounaouar, 42, was with family in New Jersey but acted erratically

Harrowing bodycam footage shows a frenzied man lunging at New Jersey police officers with a knife moments before he was gunned down.

Mohamed Bounaouar, 42, from Las Vegas was visiting relatives on February 4 when one of them phoned Fort Lee cops.

'I have a situation,' the man told the dispatcher. He said he was calling from his car in the garage as one of his relatives - described as having a 'mental illness' - was acting erratically.

'Right now, he has a knife and he's trying to cut everything he has,' the man said, adding that Bouanoaur was acting 'weird' and 'scary.'

The 42-year-old was inside the townhouse with four other people, the relative explained.

Mohamed Bounaouar, 42, was fatally shot by New Jersey police after he charged at them with a knife

On February 4, a relative called 911 to report that Bounaouar was acting erratically and cutting up his belongings. The 42-year-old threw objects down the stairs at police after they arrived

One officer deployed his taser, but Bounaouar charged at the police wielding a knife and was shot dead

Officers spoke to the people inside the home and asked them to isolate themselves in a room away from Bounaouar.

Upon arriving at the John Street condo, officers called out from the bottom of the staircase.

They attempted to negotiate with the 42-year-old as he smashed objects on the second floor and tossed items down the staircase.

All relatives managed to escape, with the exception of one who was trapped on the third floor.

Bodycam footage shows a group of officers entering the townhouse, immediately finding it in a state of disarray.

A skillet lies on the carpeted staircase and a hole appears to have been punched into the wall.

As they assess the situation, four gunshots ring out from upstairs. 'Oh s***, shots fired,' one cop says.

According to the relative, four other people were trapped inside the house with Bounaouar. Officers managed to free three of them

Bodycam footage shows the house in a state of disarray, with broken glass and plastic covering the floor

The officers head up the staircase, pointing their guns. Shards of glass and plastic litter the floor.

Passing a smashed window, they move onto the balcony to find Bounaouar lying on his back, completely naked. He clutches a large knife in his right hand, which appears to be soaked in blood.

One cop shouts at Bounaouar to drop the weapon but he stumbles to his feet, swinging wildly.

Officers open fire and the man drops to the ground.

Moments earlier the 42-year-old had been tased by another officer from a neighboring balcony.

According to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Officer Emmanuel Espinal deployed a taser while Detectives John Gallo and Stephen Domenick discharged their firearms, striking Bounaouar.

Officer Espinal then deployed his taser a second time.

After hearing the shots, the officers at the bottom of the stairs climbed to the second floor and found Bounaouar on the balcony.

After the man charged at them, Officers Matthew Lyle and Gabriel Avella opened fire.

The officers confront Bounaouar, who is completely naked, on a second-floor balcony

According to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, two officers opened fire, fatally striking the man. The shooting is being investigated as per policy

Emergency care was administered but he 42-year-old was pronounced dead at around 10.39am. Authorities recovered a knife near his body.

None of his relatives were harmed, though one officer sustained an injury to his hand.

The Attorney General's Office announced that they were looking into the shooting, as per policy.

Under Attorney General Directive 2019-4, the office must conduct an investigation of any death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office declined to provide additional information on the investigation.
Anthony Albanese's government has been called out after it was revealed it rejected a request to fast-track a review into the conduct of supermarket giants.

The Prime Minister has left the door open to expanding the powers of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to bring supermarkets into line amid concerns about price gouging in the cost-of-living crisis.

But Nationals leader David Littleproud said action could've been taken a year ago if the government had accepted his support to bring forward the food and grocery code of conduct's review by 12 months.

'The Prime Minister said (on Tuesday) that his government was concerned and they're ready to do whatever's needed,' Mr Littleproud said on Wednesday.

'Well, they had an opportunity and they turned their back on it. Now, what we're saying is, let's not have more reviews.'

Anthony Albanese's government has been called out after it was revealed it rejected a request to fast-track a review into the conduct of supermarket giants

Former trade and competition minister Craig Emerson was last week appointed to review the code - a voluntary scheme that governs how the supermarkets interact with suppliers.

Mr Albanese has signalled he is willing to make that code mandatory should the retailers fail to pass on lower prices.

However, Mr Littleproud said Australians doing it tough can't wait until Dr Emerson's review is completed.

He said he had written to Mr Leigh in December, 2022, giving his party's support to bring the review forward by a year but it didn't go ahead.

'Let's actually make the code mandatory,' Mr Littleproud said.

'Let's put in divestiture powers. Let's have big stick legislation that we can all walk into, and walk out and then give the ACCC the opportunity to investigate.

'They need to actually look at this price gouging that's taken place on fresh meat and fresh produce.'

With a by-election in the Melbourne electorate of Dunkley due either next month or early March, Mr Albanese is scrambling to convince voters he is acting on the cost-of-living.

The Prime Minister has left the door open to expanding the powers of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to bring supermarkets into line amid concerns about prices in the cost-of-living crisis (stock image)

Speaking on Wednesday morning, Mr Albanese said he was willing to give the consumer watchdog further powers to investigate grocery prices but only if chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb asks for them.

'I know they're examining it very closely because people are really concerned that when you've seen a drop in prices that are paid to farmers like our sheep farmers, that hasn't flowed through as quickly as it should have to a reduction in prices at the checkout,' he said.

'And that is what is being examined.'

Ms Cass-Gottlieb has also flagged she is 'carefully' considering whether to launch legal action over alleged deceptive pricing.

Mr Albanese said he was doing 'whatever is necessary' to bring prices down.

'We want to make sure that people are paying the lowest possible prices when they get to a checkout,' he said.
A distraught couple who lost their baby boy at just four days old have said far more needs to be done to raise the standard of regional healthcare in Queensland.

When Jenna McGregor went into labour with baby Hugo last March, she and her husband Andre went to their local hospital in the small town of Proserpine.

But due to a lack of staff, they were moved to Mackay Base Hospital, 125km south of Prosperpine.

Ms McGregor then had to wait another six hours before she was given an epidural.

'They were making comments like, "I don't know how this machine works, it's not the same as where I used to work",' she told 9News.

Distraught couple Andre and Jenna McGregor (pictured) who lost their baby boy at just four days old, have said far more needs to be done to raise the standard of regional healthcare in Queensland

Several hours after arriving at Mackay, her contractions were slowing.

A Queensland Health investigation into the McGregor's devastating experience said labour was 'not likely to progress effectively without intervention'.

'The report is saying there should have been an escalation around midday once she realised that I hadn't dilated any further in seven hours,' Ms McGregor said.

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It would be another four hours before she was given a syntocinon drip to try to increase labour again.

The report into the case said that at this point in labour 'there should be a transition to obstetric-led care' and 'there is strong potential that syntocinon has further contributed to foetal stress leading to decompensation (organ failure)'.

But Ms McGregor said the syntocinon dosage was increased and 'about 10 minutes later Hugo's heart rate just plummeted'.

She was given a general anaesthetic and taken to an operating theatre for a caesarean section, while her husband was not allowed in.

Hugo was born at 4.32pm, but was pale and floppy. He was resuscitated and taken to the paediatric ward where he had seizures.

'When I woke up I was straight away told that my surgery went well... and I asked what about my baby,' Ms McGregor said, through tears.

Four days later, Hugo died from catastrophic brain injuries caused by a lack of oxygen.

Hugo was born at 4.32pm, but was pale and floppy. He was resuscitated and taken to the paediatric ward where he had seizures. Hugo is pictured with his mum, Jenna McGregor

In 2022, a report into gynaecology and obstetrics at Mackay Base Hospital found catastrophic failings that led to the death of three infants.

The report vowed there would be systematic change, but the McGregors say this has not happened.

'(It's) no better at all,' Mr McGregor said. 'When you've got oxygen tanks empty, equipment failures, staff not following processes, no documentation.'

He said they had decided to go public about what happened to them because 'the public are being lied to and deceived about the safety of maternity services at Mackay'.

'We're told that there's no difference in care from regional to cities, but clearly that is the case,' Mr McGregor said.

'How many more babies need to die before they actually make a proper change and actually do what they say they are going to do?'

The report into what happened to baby Hugo said there were 'numerous communication issues' and 'ongoing poor culture for interdisciplinary respect'.

'There seems to be a sense of "there is enough people in the room" ... with limited consideration for "are they the right people?'' the report stated.

Queensland's Labor government said Mackay Base Hospital (pictured) is committed to change

'That report finds 34 failings in it on that day, this is not one or two issues, this is systemic, organisational issues at that hospital,' Mr McGregor said.

The McGregors' case has been referred to the coroner and health ombudsman.

Queensland's Labor government said Mackay Base Hospital is committed to change.

The hospital and health service said it has acted on all the recommendations made in the report, such as improvements to training, documentation and communication.
More than 22,000 British heroes died hereabouts.

That is why, five months from now, world leaders and an ever-dwindling band of veterans will be on this spot to honour the 80th anniversary of D-Day  June 6, 1944  and the hellish three-month Battle of Normandy which followed.

However, those veterans have one last wish as they prepare to honour the comrades who never came home.

They want to ensure that the true story of D-Day and the liberation of Europe continues to be taught to future generations long after the last old soldier has moved on.

And yesterday morning, their dream took a major step towards reality on the Normandy coast with the inauguration of what will now be called the Winston Churchill Education and Learning Centre.

It will stand alongside the magnificent Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, a village that overlooks Gold Beach  one of the two on which British forces landed. The foundations have been laid and work can now move at pace following completion of the final planning approvals.

However, it will cost around 3million all told, and the Normandy Memorial Trust is doing all it can to raise the funds and have the centre ready for the anniversary.

Yesterday's small ceremony  in front of trustees, British Embassy staff and French officials  signalled the starting gun of this important campaign, one which the Daily Mail is proud to support.

Laying the foundations: Robert Hardman with Lord Dannatt at the site yesterday

Memorial: Britain's Normandy statue. The British Normandy Memorial now lists all 22,422 men and women under UK command who gave their lives liberating Normandy (and, ultimately, Europe)

Our readers were instrumental in getting this great memorial unveiled in 2021, having been saddened and angry that Britain was the only one of the Allied nations without a national memorial in Normandy.

After rectifying that shameful omission in grand style, many, no doubt, may want to help once again. All who donate 10 or more will receive a special enamel '80th' commemorative badge.

The campaign got off to a flying start on day one yesterday with a donation from BAE Systems, the defence giant, which has not only given 500,000 to the construction costs but a further 100,000 to fund educational projects here over the next three years.

French regional and local councils have committed a further 900,000 euros (770,000) through tourism and education funds, a sum which will be matched by the British government, meaning that the final goal is already a realistic aspiration.

'The 80th anniversary is so important because it really is the last time the veterans will be here in any significant number,' said the chairman of the trustees, former chief of the general staff, Lord Dannatt.

'They are so pleased and proud that the memorial is finally here but they want to be assured that tomorrow's younger generations will know why it is there. This will absolutely not be a museum. It will be a place of learning next to a place of commemoration.'

The chairman of BAE Systems, Cressida Hogg, had travelled to the site to formalise the company's donation.

'We want to honour both our Armed Forces and the importance of education. We want young people to understand what happened here,' said Ms Hogg, whose own maternal grandfather, Captain George Cathie, died of his wounds in the Second World War.

The company, which employs 40,000 people worldwide (and hires around 360 veterans as well as a thousand young apprentices each year) is particularly proud of its own D-Day connections through the many companies that have since been incorporated into the BAE fold.

They include Supermarine, which built the Spitfire, Vosper Thornycroft, which designed and built many landing craft, and Airspeed, which built the Horsa gliders (from which the men of the Ox & Bucks regiment captured Pegasus Bridge) and many ships at yards like Yarrows.

'One of the most astonishing aspects of D-Day was the part played by all those workers at all those factories all over Britain,' added Lord Dannatt, a former infantry officer in the Green Howards, the Yorkshire regiment which won the only Victoria Cross awarded on D-Day itself.

The idea is that the education centre will be self-supporting through the cafe and the gift shop which will be attached. 'It is going to serve the best cup of British tea on the Normandy beaches,' Lord Dannatt added, 'and proper cake too.'

The 80th will be the first major anniversary since the memorial opened and will be the focal point of the British commemorations.

In the past, these would be held at the Commonwealth cemetery in Bayeux in the absence of a national monument.

The British Normandy Memorial now lists all 22,422 men and women under UK command who gave their lives liberating Normandy (and, ultimately, Europe).

There is, however, some concern among veterans and their families about the timings for the major ceremonies in June.

With this year's big international event, involving all heads of state and world leaders, being staged in the American sector many miles to the west, along with a grand lunch for the politicians, the UK ceremony may be pushed towards the end of the day for logistical reasons.

With even the most youthful D-Day servicemen and women now in their late nineties, anything other than a mid-morning ceremony, say veterans' groups, will be unworkable.
An employee at an Atlanta airport coffee shop has been fired after she was filmed brawling with her coworkers in front of stunned passengers.

Shacoria Elly, a former employee of Harvest & Grounds, a cafe near Terminal D at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport, Georgia, was captured screaming at her co-workers and attempting to throw a chair at them on Saturday morning.

The violent brawl was recorded and shared on social media, where it quickly went viral and elicited overwhelming reactions from users.

Elly, wearing a mask throughout the video, gets physical with two employees, shoving them and seemingly shouting, 'Gimme my stuff.'

Elly, who has not been charged or arrested after the altercation, was 'terminated from her position' and had her badge confiscated by airport security, according to a police report seen by FOX5.

Shacoria Elly has been fired after she was filmed brawling with her coworkers in front of stunned passengers at a cafe near Terminal D at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport, Georgia

She was 'terminated from her position' and had her badge confiscated by airport security, according to a police report

The video begins with spilled merchandise, including what appears to be a fruit cup, scattered across the cafe's floor.

Elly attempts to push her way past the service counter, likely in an effort to reclaim her 'stuff,' but is stopped by the two employees.

She picks up a high-top chair from the table behind her and lifts it over her head as though she is about to throw it.

Without batting an eye, the employee in the green turtleneck lifts the chair from the Elly's hands and calmly walks it out of frame.

The man in green effortlessly lifts the weaponized chair out of Elly's hands and carries it off screen

After walking away from the shop for a moment, she doubles back and leaps over the register

Elly slapped the employee in green, who did not react to the aggression, but continued blocking Elly from entering the restricted area

The now-former employee continues to attempt to charge behind the register but is again blocked by the employee in red who grabs her and throws her to the ground.

She springs back up and begins beating the man in red with her fists, before being temporarily restrained by the man in green.

When the man in green releases her from his grasp, she turns and slaps him hard the face. He barely responds but continues to try and block her entrance behind the counter.

Elly then executes a fake-out by stomping out of the shop only to double back, run toward the counter and jump right over it into the area behind the register.

The red-shirted employee then attempts to restrain her, but she grabs what appears to be a metal sheet pan and uses it to hit him.

Once she'd reclaimed her coat and bag, she makes her exit from the store

When police responded to the scene shortly before noon on Saturday, Elly was no longer in the area

The sound of the sheet's impact can be heard painfully loudly in the video.

She continues thrashing as both employees attempt to keep her from doing further damage to herself, the store, and others.

At that point, the man in red gestures toward the group of people watching the altercation occur and shouts to ensure that someone has rung up the authorities about what's going on.

'Somebody's on the phone with the police, right?' he asks.

The employees, moving now like they are tired, release Elly, who wiggles out of their reach and emerges from behind the counter with what look like a bag and coat.

As she moves to exit, she slips and falls, but pops right back up and marches speedily out of the cafe and down the hall of the airport.

As of Tuesday evening, there are no records of her being charged or arrested

Employees who called police said a fight had broken out between employees over espresso shots

When police responded to the scene shortly before noon on Saturday, Elly was no longer in the area.

Employees who called police said a fight had broken out between employees over espresso shots.

Elly did not immediately respond to the DailyMail.com's request for comment.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves will today launch a charm offensive with business leaders as she pledges to 'restore Britain's reputation' if elected.

Ms Reeves will address bosses at a private event sponsored by US banking giant JP Morgan at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

She will use her speech in Switzerland to accuse the Tories of presiding over 'fourteen years of stagnant economic growth and political uncertainty'. Last night Tory Party chairman Richard Holden told the Mail: 'Once again Labour are talking down Britain... unable to say what they would do differently because they don't have plan.'

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves will today launch a charm offensive with business leaders as she pledges to 'restore Britain's reputation' if elected

He added: 'Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party cannot say how they would fund their 28billion a year spending spree because they don't have a plan to pay for it.'

Ms Reeves is attending the conference with Labour business spokesman Jonathan Reynolds but not Sir Keir. The Government is being represented by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and investment minister Lord Johnson.

Ms Reeves is expected to say political turmoil 'has left Britain weaker' and, if elected, Labour 'will restore Britain's reputation as a place to do business  we will be a trusted partner with business in delivering the change our country and our economy needs'.

n Labour published its 'campaigning bible' yesterday, but it failed to mention the party's flagship 28billion green plan.

Sir Keir said at the weekend that the yearly commitment, expected to last until 2030, would be in the manifesto but it did not make the cut.
The grieving widow of an Australian Special Forces veteran has copped another crushing blow a year after he was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident.

Kristie Chilcott has been told she can't stay in Australia and will be deported on July 1, despite her late husband serving his country for more than two decades.

Able Seaman Drew Chilcott undertook 13 high risk overseas missions, including a deployment in the Middle East before he was medically discharged in May 2021 after he broke his back during a training operation.

The couple and their young son Jack moved to LA but had been planning to return to Australia when he was killed in a motorbike crash in October 2022.

Six months later, Ms Chilcott returned to Australia to honour the couple's dreams of raising five-year-old Jack in his hometown of Perth, where support from her in-laws is close by.

Widow Kristie Chilcott (left) has been told she can't stay in Australia, despite her late husband Drew serving more than 20 years in the ADF

When she returned, she was told by an immigration lawyer that she would be able to apply for a bridging visa until her parent visa was granted.

That advice turned out to be incorrect.

Currently on a visitors visa which expires on July 1, Ms Chilcott has been informed by authorities that she can't stay.

The parent visa that she has applied takes at least 12 year and up to 29 years to process.

She has issued an emotional plea for the federal government intervene.

'It's our last chance to carry on the parenting I had hoped to do with Drew,' Ms Chilcott told Sky News.

'I'm not asking for a handout.

'I have a son that's an Australian citizen, [I'm] fully committed to giving back to the country and there are people migrating here that are doing quite the opposite, in my opinion, and I don't see where the justice is or how that is remotely fair.'

Ms Chilcott is reluctant to uproot her son again for the third time in three years, especially when Jack is about to start school.

'The uncertainty of not knowing where we're going to get to stay and live, it's one of the hardest things I've had to deal with besides Drew passing,' she said.

'The stress of it has been unbearable.'

Able Seaman Drew Chilcott (pictured) was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident 17 months after he was medically discharged from the ADF

Mr Chilcott was just 17 when he made the brave decision to enlist in Royal Australian Navy the day after the September 11 attacks in 2001.

He married US-born Kristie not long after the couple first met 10 years ago.

'We just knew, we were each other's world,' Ms Chilcott recalled.

She sought assistance from her federal MP Ian Goodenough, who appealed for immigration minister Andrew Giles to 'urgently intervene' in the matter last September.

'Granting her the Parent (subclass 103) visa on compassionate grounds would not only alleviate her immediate concerns but would also allow her to provide the stable and loving environment Jack needs during this difficult time,' Mr Goodenough wrote.

'I firmly believe that is a case that would justify Ministerial intervention and your compassion and understanding in this matter would be greatly appreciated, not only by Ms Chilcott but also by the broader community who values and respects the sacrifices made by members of the Australian Defence Force and their families.'

Kristie Chilcott (pictured) has launched a desperate fight to raise her son in Australia

Four months on, Mr Giles is yet to respond to the Liberal MP's letter.

Shadow immigration spokesman Dan Tehan and independent senator Jacqui Lambie have renewed calls for the minister to intervene.

'The fact that Andrew Giles is letting in over half a million people in one year, a record in this nation, and yet this case sits on his desk waiting beggars belief,' Mr Tehan said.

It's understood that the minister is aware of Ms Chilcott's matter.

A spokesperson for Mr Giles told Daily Mail Australia that it was unable to comment or 'disclose any information on an individuals circumstances', citing privacy reasons.
Rape suspect Nicholas Rossi stirred up confusion during his first court appearance since being extradited to the US to face assault charges.

Rossi, whose real name is Nicholas Alahverdian, fled after being named as a suspect in a 2008 case. He allegedly faked his own death before he was arrested in Glasgow.

The 36-year-old appeared at a virtual hearing Tuesday, his first since being extradited from Scotland to the US earlier this month.

He continued to speak in a British accent throughout the hearing and sported an oxygen mask that made it difficult to understand what he was saying.

Nicholas Rossi, whose real name is Nicholas Alahverdian, made his first court appearance since his extradition to the United States earlier this month

The 36-year-old, pictured in a mugshot from a 2010 arrest, fled to Scotland after being identified as a suspect in a 2008 rape case

During Tuesday's hearing, Rossi wore an oxygen mask and spoke in a British accent, as he has done at previous court appearances overseas

When Judge Kimberly Hornak asked if he was Rossi, he gave a garbled response. 'I think I'm going to have to have the jail restate what he said,' Hornak said.

Rossi identified himself as Arthur Knight Brown, the name under which he lived after fleeing the country.

Hornak was then informed that Rossi had not given his real name or birthdate and had been extradited to Utah.

'Objection, m'lady!' Rossi said. 'That is complete hearsay and I would ask that your ladyship and prosecution show cause for why I am.'

As Rossi continued talking, Hornak arranged a detention hearing for January 26 and ordered the 36-year-old not to have any contact with the alleged victim.

'Mr. Knight, we're finished,' the judge said. Rossi is charged with sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman in Orem, Utah, nearly 16 years ago.

He was identified as a suspect about a decade later due to a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah State Crime Lab.

The 36-year-old identified himself as Arthur Knight Brown, the name under which he is accused of living after fleeing the U.S.

He faces charges related to the sexual assault of a woman in Orem, Utah, nearly 16 years ago. Rossi faces another felony rape charge in Salt Lake County and multiple other complaints

The fugitive has insisted for years that he is actually an Irish orphan and was framed by authorities who took his fingerprints while he lay in a coma

In 2019, Rossi claimed he had been diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and is accused of faking his death a year later (pictured in 2008 in Utah)

The 36-year-old was booked into the Davis County Jail on January 5.

Rossi, who has used at least 10 aliases, faces another felony rape charge in Salt Lake County, where prosecutors allege he assaulted an ex-girlfriend after an argument.

He faces multiple other complaints in Rhode Island and Ohio for alleged domestic violence, sexual abuse and fraud.

For years, the fugitive has insisted he is actually an Irish orphan and was framed by authorities who took his fingerprints while he lay in a coma.

He also claimed that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in late 2019.

An online obituary appeared the following year saying his ashes had been scattered at sea.

Under the moniker Arthur Brown, Rossi is believed to have met his wife Miranda Knight in Bristol in 2019 and married her in early 2020, assuming her surname.

The couple moved to Glasgow shortly afterwards but in 2021, Rossi became so ill with Covid that was admitted to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Rossi, pictured in July 2022, was admitted to a Glasgow hospital in 2021 after falling ill with Covid

After he was identified by medical staff and authorities, the 36-year-old was arrested that year. In September, Scottish ministers signed an order giving permission for him to be extradited

But this proved to be his undoing, as medical staff and authorities deduced his real identity after comparing his tattoos with pictures from an Interpol Red Notice.

He was arrested in December of that year, and in September 2023, Scottish ministers signed an order giving permission for Rossi to be extradited.

Speaking to Dailymail.com last year, Rossi's stepfather David described the 36-year-old as 'the devil's spawn.'

He said his estranged stepson was an 'evil' child who punched his mother and grandmother. Rossi 'just got worse with every day,' David said.

'He'll do anything to hide from the law,' he added. 'The wheelchair, the mask.There's nothing wrong with him.'
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that three people suspected of playing key roles in a prolific Bay Area organized retail theft ring were charged. Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Three suspected burglars accused of stealing more than $650,000 in merchandise and cash from stores across the Bay Area were charged Wednesday with organized retail theft and other alleged offenses, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced.

Bonta described the suspects as key players in a theft ring that he said targeted liquor stores, smoke shops and high-end retail stores during 25 burglaries and attempted burglaries from Sept. 8 to Nov. 14.

Aside from organized retail theft, the state Department of Justice charged the suspects in Contra Costa County Superior Court with grand theft, second-degree burglary and vandalism, among other charges, Bonta said. The names of the suspects were withheld.

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Californians deserve to know organized retail crime is a top priority, Bonta said during a news conference at his San Francisco office. Were here to do something about it.

Bonta added that the crimes were coordinated and deserve an equally coordinated response from law enforcement.

In many cases, the burglars allegedly donned dark clothing, masks, hoods and gloves, and broke in through security doors and gates in the middle of the night. They filled garbage bags with merchandise, including cigarette cartons and alcohol, as well as cash, Bonta said.

In two instances, the burglars allegedly stole ATM machines  one from a Chevron gas station, the other from a smoke shop, Bonta said.

The series included a case in Walnut Creek, where the burglars smashed a stolen Land Rover through the front window of a Louis Vuitton store about 4:20 a.m. on Oct. 3. About 10-15 burglars ran into the store and stole merchandise valued at $246,000, Bonta said.

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The crimes extended beyond the Bay Area. On Nov. 8, six to eight burglars entered a Nordstrom store in San Diego during business hours and stole several Chanel purses, valued at $120,000, Bonta said.

While police interrupted most burglaries, the thieves escaped in getaway vehicles, Bonta said. The vehicles hit police vehicles on two occasions, including one instance in which an officer was injured, Bonta said.

A Contra Costa-based FBI task force arrested the three suspects with help from police in Walnut Creek, Concord, Oakland, Brentwood and Tracy.

Organized retail theft is a problem in cities across California and across the country, Bonta said, adding that Wednesdays announcement was the latest example of an effort to crack down on the crime.

Bonta said the investigation was continuing.
The Home Office has quietly shelved efforts to set up new migrant barges after the Bibby Stockholm fiasco.

Taxpayers are paying 8million a day to house asylum seekers in hotels and barges like the Bibby Stockholm were originally hailed as cheaper alternatives.

However, with many ports unwilling to dock the vessels, plans for more barges have been put on hold.

It came as the fate of Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill is in the balance as a crunch vote looms after two Tory deputy chairmen resigned to join the biggest Conservative rebellion of his leadership.

Speaking of the barges, a government source told The Sun: 'It's not a priority anymore. That's not to say a port suddenly couldn't turn around tomorrow and stick their hand up, but it's not really front and centre.'

The Home Office has quietly shelved efforts to set up new migrant barges after the Bibby Stockholm (pictured) fiasco

It came as the fate of Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill is in the balance as a crunch vote looms after two Tory deputy chairmen resigned to join the biggest Conservative rebellion of his leadership

Less than a week after the Bibby Stockholm was first used, it was evacuated after a Legionnaires scare.

Reviews of the conditions inside have been mixed, with one Algerian calling conditions inside the barge 'good' but an Afghan comparing it to 'Alcatraz' - despite facilities including a gym, pool room and TVs in bedrooms - albeit without aerials.

Each time the asylum seekers wish to leave the boat they must scan everything they are taking with them in an airport-style security system.

Due to safety rules, they must then catch a bus to the port's exit, which runs hourly between 7am and 11pm.

There is no curfew to return but they are expected to spend the night on the barge and a 'welfare call' may be arranged if they do not return.

Senior red-wall MPs Lee Anderson (left) and Brendan Clarke-Smith (right) resigned from their party positions to back changes tabled by Mr Cash and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick

Kemi Badenoch's aide Jane Stevenson also resigned to join the revolt against the Government

Security is in place 24/7, including trained guards and CCTV, and there are around 60 staff on board.

The floating hulk's previous capacity of 222 has been doubled to 500 by putting bunk beds in its cabins and converting some communal rooms into dormitories for four to six men.

The idea of housing asylum seekers on a barge has been slammed by campaign groups and charities and 'shameful' and likely to be a 're-traumatising' experience for those who have had to flee from their home countries.

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In an open letter to Bibby Marine, the barge owner, over 40 organisations called the housing 'cruel and inhumane.'

It cost ministers 22million to procure the barge, which is still not at full capacity.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We continue to look at a range of alternative accommodation sites to house asylum seekers, including vessels which have been used safely and successfully by Scottish and Dutch Governments, and former military sites.'

Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock said: 'Bibby Stockholm has been a disaster from the get go and is now a stark symbol of the Conservatives' broken asylum system.

'It shouldn't be necessary for the government to use hotels, barges or bases, yet there are still 56,000 people staying in hotels at a cost of 8million day - despite Rishi Sunak's promises to end hotel use by the end of last year.'

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister will battle to see off another major revolt as MPs decide whether to back the legislation aimed at saving the Government's flagship asylum policy.

Some 60 Conservatives backed changes to the Safety of Rwanda Bill put forward by Tory veteran Bill Cash, in a sign of the scale of unease within the party during an election year.

MPs voted 529 to 68 to reject the amendment, which aimed to ensure UK and international law cannot be used to prevent or delay a person being removed to Rwanda.

The scope of the revolt would be more than enough to sink the legislation and overturn the Government's working majority if it were repeated at the Bill's final Commons hurdle expected on Wednesday.

However, no Conservatives voted against the Bill at second reading  despite similar warnings from the right of the party which had appeared to put its fate in jeopardy beforehand.

Mr Sunak faces a grilling during Prime Minister's Questions before the crucial third reading.

Why is the barge called the Bibby Stockholm? The vessel being used to house asylum seekers in Portland is owned by Bibby Line, a Liverpool-based company involved with shipping and marine operations. Its parent company, Bibby Line Group Limited, can be traced back to entrepreneur John Bibby, who founded the company in 1807. John Bibby began trading as a shipowner in Liverpool with his partner John Highfield in 1807. By 1840 Bibby had become very wealthy, owning a sizeable fleet and a thriving metals business. But on July 19, 1840, he was murdered. The case of the murder has never been closed. Many vessels previously operated by Bibby Line have been named after place names including Kiel, a city in Germany, the Devon town of Brixham and several English counties. The Bibby Stockholm was built in Amsterdam and is flagged in Barbados, so it's links to the Swedish capital are not entirely clear. In 2018, Bibby Stockholm went to work with World Marine Offshore to serve Markbygden wind farm workers in Pitea, Northern Sweden. The barge stayed in Sweden until late 2019. Advertisement

In a bid to unite his party ahead of the expected vote, he told the Daily Express: 'As a party we have to come together to get this legislation through and put the pressure on Labour who are nowhere near on the issue.'

Senior red-wall MPs Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned from their party positions to back changes tabled by Mr Cash and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick.

Jane Stevenson also quit her role as Kemi Badenoch's parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Business and Trade to support the amendments, which MPs on the Tory right say will help protect the Rwanda plan from further legal challenge.

Former prime minister Liz Truss, former ministers Suella Braverman and Sir Simon Clarke and former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith were also among those to back the amendments.

Under the Government's plan, migrants who cross the English Channel on small boats could be sent on a one-way trip to Rwanda rather than being allowed to try to seek asylum in the UK.

The legislation, along with a recently signed treaty with Kigali, are aimed at ensuring the scheme is legally watertight following a Supreme Court ruling against it last year.

The stalled policy comes with a 290million bill but no asylum seekers arriving via unauthorised routes have been relocated as yet following a series of challenges in the courts.

Several senior figures have threatened to vote down the Bill if it is not changed before its third reading.

A Downing Street source said the PM accepted Mr Anderson and Mr Clarke-Smith's resignations and reiterated that the Bill was 'the toughest legislation brought before Parliament to tackle illegal migration'.

Mr Sunak had sought to quell a revolt by promising to defy so-called Rule 39 injunctions from Strasbourg, which can block deportation flights from taking off, in order to get the scheme running.

He has stopped short of caving to the demands tabled in the amendments, and to do so would risk losing support among the centrist wing of his party which wants to ensure that international law is respected.
A journalist has shared alarming images of a once-prominent street that's been rocked by store closures in San Francisco.

One snap, taken in the heart of the city's famed shopping district, shows tourists wandering down a gutted Powell Street.

But instead of being graced with an array of shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants, the party is seen encountering countless shuttered storefronts.

More shots from Erica Sandberg show more of the same, and how the thoroughfare that runs adjacent to the city's Downtown, all the way from Market to Fisherman's Wharf, has become a shell of its former self.

The sights, while startling, should come as no great surprise to anyone keeping up with the now-years-long saga of the crime-ridden, homeless-overrun city, which recently had two nets installed around its seminal bridge to prevent suicides.

One snap, taken in the heart of the city's famed shopping district , shows a group of tourists wandering down a gutted Powell St - a way once bustling with businesses.

Instead of being graced with an array of shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants, the party is seen encountering countless shuttered storefronts

'This pic infuriates me,' wrote Sandberg, a self-employed San Francisco correspondent, in an impassioned post to X that laid bare the city's current state

'Tourists, who do a little thing called SPEND MONEY, walking down a gutted Powell St.', she continued.

'[It] should be buzzing with shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, theaters, venues.'

The photos, within six hours of being posted, have amassed more than 8,500 views, and are quickly circulating across the internet.

Sandberg, in turn, categorized the fruits of her effort as both 'depressing [and] embarrassing' - not to mention a blow to the city's still-struggling shopping scene.

She went on to call on candidates up for election in the district overseeing the area to take action - posing the pointed question: 'How will you fill these empty storefronts with revenue bearing businesses?'

She tagged District 3 supervisor candidates JConr B Ortega, Sharon Lai, Danny Sauter in the post, and promised to personally forward the images X-less candidate Moe Jamil.

All four - as is almost always case in the California stronghold - are progressives.

More shots from independent commentator Erica Sandberg show more of the same, and how the thoroughfare that runs adjacent to the city's Downtown has become a shell of its former self

The sights, while startling, should come as no great surprise to anyone keeping up with the now-years-long saga of the crime-ridden, homeless-overrun city, which recently had two nets installed on both sides of its seminal bridge to stop suicides.

The district is one of many that has been been left a husk amid the city's continued homeless and crime crises, which have persisted since the pandemic

A short walk through the area will reveal how there are more closed storefronts than open ones, as businesses continue to flee due to high rents and diminished foot traffic

As mentioned, the 1.4 mile thoroughfare connects Market Street (seen here in this map of store closures) - once one of the most photographed spots Downtown - to Union Square, North Beach, Nob Hill, and Russian Hill before ending at the bay

That said, the district is merely one of many left a husk by the city's continued homeless and crime crises, which took a turn during the pandemic and have since persisted.

As mentioned, the 1.4 mile thoroughfare connects Market Street - once one of the most photographed spots Downtown - to Union Square, North Beach, Nob Hill, and Russian Hill before ending at the bay, making it a prime destination.

Moreover, its southernmost point is only a stone's throw from another famed shopping area, the Bay Area's Mission District, which was recently rocked by a slew of restaurant closures on the equally iconic Valencia Street.

The roadway, located right on the cusp of the city's embattled Downtown, was once considered one of the most sought-after strips of real estate, but today, like Powell, is reeling from store closures brought on by high rents and diminished foot traffic.

In comments to the San Francisco Chronicle, restaurant owner Rafik Bouzidi explained how he had seen a seemingly endless stream of terminations since opening his eatery in April.

'If you took me back before I signed the lease, I would have opened somewhere else,' he told the paper in a recent interview.

'Before COVID there was no way in hell you could find an available space on Valencia Street. Now, it seems like another restaurant shuts down every week.'

A few blocks away, restaurants on one of San Francisco's Valencia Street, also one of the most storied in the country, are closing at an alarming rate - and owners say it's because of crime

In comments to the San Francisco Chronicle, business owners recently explained how high rents and high rates of homelessness have led to a seemingly endless stream of terminations

Homeless are seen returning to the streets in the Tenderloins district close to San Francisco's Moscone Center where the APEC conference was recently held

A homeless encampment is seen along Leavenworth Street in the Tenderloin district, only a few blocks from Powell

Headlines featuring the phrases 'garbage city, 'ruined city' and 'fallen city' capture how crippling drug issues and widespread homeless problems continue to remain an issue for residents.

The street then runs more than a mile north along some of the city's most problem areas, which, as the photos of the stripped storefronts show, are continuing to affect businesses

There, right outside the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building, drug dealers set up shop in full view of the public on a daily basis, with users injecting and smoking with no interference from law enforcement

The famous thoroughfare runs for more than mile along the city's embattled Downtown, where open-air drug use is rife

Meanwhile, the situation at Powell - set on one of the stops of the so-called 'Doom Loop' of Union Square, City Hall, and Tenderloin and Mid Market - is even worse, with Union currently serving a hive of unsavory, post-pandemic activity, particularly on the street's terminus on Market Street.

There, right outside the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building, drug dealers set up shop in full view of the public on a daily basis, with users injecting and smoking with no interference from law enforcement.

The street then runs more than a mile north along some of the city's most problem areas, which, as the photos of the stripped storefronts show, are continuing to affect businesses.

Crimes like robberies and homicides, meanwhile, are on the rise, statistics show - and the city stands to lose $200 million a year in revenue through its business exodus - which has seen major hotels and retailers flee the city center.

Retail stalwart Old Navy announced they would be shuttering their flagship store in the area In October, after Nordstrom also announced they would be closing all of their locations in the city.

In April, Whole Foods announced it was closing all their locations, with Anthropologie and Office Depot having also made the same decisions leading some analysts to predict that the city has entered a 'doom-loop' of permanent decline.

The situation at Powell - set on one of the stops of the so-called 'Doom Loop' of Union Square, City Hall, and Tenderloin and Mid Market - is indicative of the current state of the city, with Union serving a hive of unsavory post-pandemic activity on the street's terminus on Market

Late last year, the city was widely mocked by Chinese media as it prepared to host its President Xi Jinpingat the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit - spurring it to clear out its encampments in the notorious Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods.

US Chinese Radio used the headline 'Ghost town San Francisco to have major blood exchange as APEC will bring the safest week in history to the city.'

Other headlines featuring the phrases 'garbage city, 'ruined city' and 'fallen city' capture how crippling drug issues and widespread homeless problems continue to remain an issue for residents.
It can't be sugar-coated. Last night was seriously damaging for Rishi Sunak.

The Prime Minister suffered a major rebellion on his Rwanda Bill as around 60 Tory backbenchers  including big beasts  defied him by voting to toughen it up.

Two of the party's deputy chairmen resigned, rather than back the legislation. A ministerial aide also heaped humiliation on Mr Sunak by quitting the frontbench.

They are deeply concerned that unless cross-Channel migrants' individual grounds for legal appeal are limited and any role for the European courts is excluded, the plan carries a huge risk of failing.

So the billion-dollar question is: What will the rebels do now? They surely grasp that there is no alternative to Mr Sunak's Bill.

The Prime Minister suffered a major rebellion on his Rwanda Bill as around 60 Tory backbenchers  including big beasts  defied him by voting to toughen it up

Sir Keir Starmer is relishing this in-fighting over small boats. His opposition to any attempt to tackle the problem proves he would rather play political games than stop evil traffickers risking migrants' lives.

The rebels have had their moment in the sun. If they vote down the PM's plan when it goes to third reading tonight, it would not only scupper the legislation.

It would inflict enormous damage on a government already facing an uphill battle to win the next election  and confirm to the public that the Tories have a death wish.

Make amends, Fujitsu

Finally, after nearly two decades of shameful obfuscation, Fujitsu has admitted its culpability in the false prosecution of hundreds of postmasters and mistresses.

The Japanese conglomerate should not expect credit for issuing humble apologies and offering compensation over its involvement in the Post Office scandal.

It has had to be dragged kicking and screaming to this point, where it confessed having known for years that the Horizon IT system it supplied had faults, despite swearing the software was perfect.

Finally, after nearly two decades of shameful obfuscation, Fujitsu has admitted its culpability in the false prosecution of hundreds of postmasters and mistresses

When the tech firm's Europe boss Paul Patterson was hauled before MPs to face the music yesterday it was easy to see why.

Asked why it had failed to come clean on this miscarriage of justice, he could only mutter pathetically: 'I don't know.'

Until Fujitsu makes amends, shouldn't ministers blacklist it from receiving lucrative Government contracts.?

Its behaviour couldn't be in starker contrast to Lord Arbuthnot, the parliamentarian who pursued justice for the victims with tenacity and vigour. He truly is a hero among villains.

William's sacred duty

Ever since Henry VIII broke with the Pope in 1531 to create the Church of England, religion and monarchy have been inextricably intertwined.

The sovereign plays a unique role in the nation's religious life as supreme governor of the church and 'Defender of the Faith'.

The late Queen was a devout Christian who believed her life-long duty could only be carried out with divine strength. King Charles, too, is spiritual and a churchgoer.

So it's intriguing that Robert Hardman's new biography raises the prospect that on becoming king, Prince William could be the first monarch in five centuries to sever official ties with the Church of England.

It's intriguing that Robert Hardman's new biography raises the prospect that on becoming king, Prince William could be the first monarch in five centuries to sever official ties with the Church of England

While greatly respecting the institution, he is 'not instinctively comfortable in a faith environment', say sources.

That is hardly unusual. We live in an increasingly secular, multi-faith time. How many men of William's age attend church regularly  or even see its relevance?

But what does it say about the Church? For years, weak archbishops have seemed to care more about parading their virtue than stemming dwindling congregations.

Of course, we pray it will be many years before William must make a decision. But Christianity remains our official religion, and suffuses our values. Being head of the national church should be his sacred duty.
BBC Winterwatch star Chris Packham has been given increased security after a stranger reportedly threatened him and his family.

The presenter, 62, received two threats in the past month and has been allocated a bodyguard who travels around with him during filming for the programme and after.

Packham told The Mirror: 'We have had several threats recently that are not death threats but they're saying, "We're going to harm you". And they come, unbelievably, from emails.

'So we've had two in the last month, saying, "I'm going to harm you and harm your family".'

The climate change activist told the outlet that the threats have been specifically for him.

As the threats have come through via email, he has reported them to the authorities.

The host said he has not heard back from the police yet, but they have confirmed that they have received the report.

Packham also had the gates to his New Forest home firebombed in October 2021.

Whilst the force has hit a brick wall in solving the crime, he believes it is linked to his opposition of fox hunting.

The BBC Winterwatch star has been given increased security after receiving threats relating to him and his family

Chris Packham, 62, received two threats in the past month and has been allocated a bodyguard who travels around with him during filming for the programme and after

Packham also had the gates to his New Forest home firebombed in October 2021

Packham, who was alone in his house at the time, said that Land Rover turned into an inferno before it exploded shortly after in 2021

He told the outlet: 'The police described them as career criminals and on that account, they were probably paid to do the job.

'And they didn't come from anywhere around here. They came from somewhere quite far off.'

Balaclava-clad thugs drove his car to his remote country home and set fire to it, before fleeing in a getaway vehicle.

Packham, who was alone in his house at the time, said that Land Rover turned into an inferno before it exploded shortly after.

The presenter - who has received death threats in the past for his animal activism - raised the prospect of his opponents one day killing him at the time.

In 2021, he said: 'Are they going to kill me at some point? I think it's a fair question.'

He added: 'I will not be cowed, I will not buckle. I cannot and will not let your intimidation sway me from my course.'

The attack - which took place at the home in Hampshire's New Forest that Packham shares with partner Charlotte Corney and step-daughter Megan - destroyed two large wooden gates.

This comes as the controversial conservationist claimed Scotland's landscape has been 'trashed by the country set' and birds of prey are regularly being 'killed with impunity' in November last year.

Packham said he was amazed by the lack of prosecutions over the deaths of golden eagles and hen harriers. He also insisted large predators would also be shot dead if reintroduced.

He also accused landowners and gamekeepers of having 'a vested interest in this wickedness' and called for moorlands to be rewilded.
Former President Donald Trump went after Nikki Haley on Tuesday night as they both turned their focus on New Hampshire and what could be a battle to the death.

'Nikki Haley in particular is counting on the Democrats and liberals to infiltrate your Republican primary,' said Trump before an adoring crowd at the Atkinson Country Club.

'You know that the left ... that's what's happening ... have a group of people coming in that are not Republicans and it's artificially boosting her numbers here, although we're still leading her by a lot.'

After crushing his opponents in Iowa, Trump's campaign aides believe that he can as good as clinch the nomination by beating Haley in New Hampshire.

Former President Donald Trump went after Nikki Haley on Tuesday night as they both turned their focus on New Hampshire and what could be a battle to the death.

The rally allowed Trump to let off steam after attending New York court in the morning

'If he beats Nikki in New Hampshire it's over,' said one.

She is running a close second in the state, and arrived on Tuesday evening for her own campaign event.

Several political organizations are running a stop-Trump effort. They urged Democrats to reregister as 'undeclared' last year in order to be able to take part in the Republican primary and vote for a more moderate candidate.

But she suffered a setback a night earlier, when she only managed to finish third behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

'Not a particularly great candidate,' said Trump. 'Obviously, as you've seen, she lost to somebody that beat her by about two and a half points. Ron DiSanctimonioous.

DeSantis is trailing both in New Hampshire and has signaled he will not be fighting hard in the state.

That leaves Haley, who argues she has a better chance against Biden, in Trump's sights. She frequently quotes a Wall Street Journal poll from December that showed her beating the likely Democratic nominee by 17 points.

'That poll is about three months old and it's a fake poll,' he said using a dose of exaggeration. 'And from every other poll, she's just about down in every election.'

He took the stage in New Hampshire after the sort of 24 hours that would represent an extraordinary day of highs and lows for any other candidate.

For Trump it was almost business as usual.

Trump ridiculed this poll from December which showed Haley beating Biden by 17 points

President Donald Trump introduced Vivek Ramaswamy to an ecstatic crowd in Atkinson, New Hampshire, on Tuesday evening at the end of a whirlwind 24 hours

The adoring fans offered Trump a chance to blow off steam after an awkward morning in court

After crushing his rivals by 30 points in the Iowa caucuses  the first formal test of his popularity  on Monday night, he flew to New York for his $10 million defamation trial where a judge told prospective jurors that another jury had already found that the former president sexually abused columnist E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.Then it was back to the campaign trail to round off another norm-busting day in the life of the former president.

And it ended with a chance to unveil Ramaswamy, who dropped out a day earlier after a disappointing fourth place finish in Iowa.

The 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur quickly heaped praise on Trump as the sort of leader who could bring stability to a country at war.

'It's between the permanent state and the everyday citizen, between those of us who love the United States of America and a fringe minority, who hates this country and what we stand for,' he said.

'And right now we need a commander in chief who will lead us to victory in this war.'

About five hundred people stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the basement ballroom.

They had to wait about four hours for Trump, whose arrival was delayed by blizzards and freezing weather across the north-east.

'This was a little bit rocky tonight I will tell you,' he told his audience, describing how his pilot suggested the trip might not be a good idea, 'but I'm glad we made it.'

Vivek dropped out of the race on Monday night after finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses

As of 7.30am, Trump had more than 51 percent of the votes with Haley and DeSantis scrapping in second place and third place

After dispatching his opponents in Iowa,

The adoring fans offered a chance to blow off steam after attending to other business earlier.

He glowered and grimaced as the judge in his New York defamation trial addressed jurors. And then he was off, leaving before opening statements to race to New Hampshire.

The former president also faces four criminal cases and 91 charges as well as the defamation case.

He has used his court appearances as a campaign tool, addressing reporters outside the courtroom and using what he says are 'witch hunts' to rally his base and raise money.

He admitted as much last week after listening to closing arguments in the New York fraud lawsuit against him. 'I guess you'd consider it part of the campaign,' he told reporters.

None of the allegations made a dent in the enthusiasm of the crowd in the ballroom of the Atkinson Country Club.

Hundreds of people braved freezing temperatures and a blizzard to line up for Trump in Atkinson, New Hampshire, Tuesday evening

Trump supporters filled a basement ballroom, waiting four hours before Trump appeared

Michael Navaria, 57, a retired police officer attending his first Trump event with his wife, said supporters just tuned out details of the 'witch hunt.'

'Absolutely. It upsets me that they are going after him,' he said. 'It is so obviously political.'

He added that it was up to voters to choose the president, not courts or lawyers. And Trump had an enviable record in office.

'Everything he says happens,' said Navaria.

Trump's courtroom campaign is working so far. In Iowa, he won the state's caucuses by 30 percent, leaving Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley both trying to claim they were the only viable alternative to the former president.

He leads polls in New Hampshire, but will face a stiffer challenge there from Haley, who has made inroads with the state's more moderate electorate.

She launched a statewide ad Tuesday, slamming the possibility of a Trump-Biden rematch in November.

'The two most disliked politicians in America,' is how the ad describes them, saying they are both being 'consumed by chaos, negativity and grievances of the past.'
The Post Office was likely to have created 'fictitious accounts' and forged documents during the Horizon scandal, a lawyer has claimed.

MPs were told the company used the tactic to dismiss people and shut down thousands of branches.

Dr Neil Hudgell of Hudgell Solicitors, representing subpostmasters, said numerous reports about conduct at the Post Office mean nothing can be 'assumed' any longer.

It comes as Post Office boss Nick Read was given a dressing down by MPs for failing to answer basic questions or provide essential details about the scandal, leaving one MP 'absolutely appalled'.

Dr Neil Hudgell of Hudgell Solicitors, representing subpostmasters, said numerous reports about conduct at the Post Office mean nothing can be 'assumed' any longer

Dr Hudgell said: 'I've got some issues with specific cases when  it may have been three or four years ago  I thought this wasn't possible, but forgery of documentation and the creation of fictitious accounts to dismiss people are firmly in my sights as more likely to happen than not.

'You can't assume anything now when it comes to the behaviour that's gone on over the last 20 years.

'Every week there's a new revelation  and one good thing that's going to come from the dramatisation is the increasing number of whistleblowers that are prepared to come out and spill the beans where they didn't necessarily before have the ability to do that.'

Last week it emerged that the Post Office's fraud team received cash bonuses for each postmaster convicted.

Long-serving employee Gary Thomas told the inquiry that an incentive scheme including 'bonus objectives' influenced his behaviour as an investigator.
The country's most senior judge rebuked the Government yesterday over claims 150 judges would be drafted in to help tackle Rwanda deportation challenges.

Lady Chief Justice Carr insisted that allocation of judges' workloads was a matter for the judiciary.

She told the Justice Committee the courts risked being dragged 'into the political arena' by reports ministers were preparing to move judges to the upper tribunal.

Her intervention creates yet another headache for the Government, after it was reported the Prime Minister would free up courtrooms to fast-track migrant appeals against deportation.

Lady Chief Justice Carr insisted that allocation of judges' workloads was a matter for the judiciary

Her intervention creates yet another headache for the Government, after it was reported the Prime Minister would free up courtrooms to fast-track migrant appeals against deportation

Lady Chief Justice Carr told the committee: 'I am afraid that this draws matters of judicial responsibility into the political arena.

'Parliament has legislated. We the judiciary have acted in proportion for that legislation.

'But...matters of deployment of judges, the allocation of work for judges, and the use of courtrooms is exclusively a matter for the judiciary... It is really important that people understand that clear division.'

The remarks came hours after Justice Secretary Alex Chalk provided a written ministerial statement clarifying the Government's position and acknowledging the decision to deploy extra judges was ultimately for the courts.

No10 clarified last night it would provide the courts with the resources they needed, without seeking to influence the nature of judges' work.
The daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess is suing the police and the Home Office for failing to prevent his death.

Katie Amess has filed a court claim to get justice for her father, 69, who was stabbed to death while meeting constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on October 15 2021, according to The Mirror.

Ali Harbi Ali, 28, was found guilty of murdering the Conservative MP for Southend West at the Old Bailey in April 2022 and he was handed a whole-life prison term.

Ali had been plotting his murderous act of terrorism for years despite being referred to Prevent, the Home Office's scheme designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

He is one of a number of Islamist terrorists to have carried out attacks in recent years after being referred to the anti-terror programme.

Katie Amess (pictured), the daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess, is suing the police and the Home Office for failing to prevent his death

Sir David was stabbed to death while meeting constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on October 15 2021

Ali Harbi Ali, 28, was found guilty of murdering the MP for Southend West at the Old Bailey in April 2022 and he was handed a whole-life prison term

Daniel Machover, head of civil litigation at Hickman and Rose, told The Mirror: 'Like so many others, Katie Amess was horrified both by the fact of her father's murder, and the circumstances surrounding it.

Attacks by Islamist terrorists who had been referred to Prevent SOUTHEND - October 15, 2021: Tory MP Sir David Amess was fatally stabbed outside Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea near Southend while attending a constituency surgery. Ali Harbi Ali, 26, was referred to Prevent seven years ago. READING - June 20, 2020: Khairi Saadallah, 27, fatally stabbed friends James Furlong, 36, Dr David Wails, 49, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, in a knife attack at a town centre park. He later admitted the murders and was sentenced to a whole life order in prison. The Reading Refugee Support Group warned Prevent officials he could carry out a 'London Bridge-style attack'. However, he was found to not have a 'fixed ideology, the Independent reported. STREATHAM - February 2, 2020: Sudesh Amman was shot dead by police after stabbing two people on a busy street in the south London area of Streatham while wearing a fake suicide vest. He was referred to Prevent but the panel decided his case did not require intervention. LONDON BRIDGE - November 29, 2019: Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were stabbed to death by Usman Khan, 28, at a prisoner rehabilitation event. A man and two women were also injured before Khan, who was released from prison on licence in December 2018, was shot dead by armed officers on the bridge. An inquest heard his Prevent officers had 'no specific training' in handling terrorists. PARSONS GREEN - September 15, 2017: Ahmed Hassan's homemade bomb partially exploded on a London Underground rush hour train, injuring more than 50 people. He was sentenced to life with a minimum jail term of 34 years. He was referred to Prevent 20 months before he planted the bomb. Advertisement

'She has issued a claim at court as part of her desire to ensure proper accountability and learning from Sir David's murder.'

Essex Police told the Mirror: 'We are aware that what is in effect a protective claim form has been filed at court, however, as these papers have not been served on our force, we are unable to comment any further upon them.

'We remain committed to supporting our elected members across the county in the execution of their public duty and to this end we regularly review and advise around security arrangements for our Members of Parliament.

'Sir David and the Amess family remain in our thoughts.'

Father-of-five Sir David became MP for Basildon in 1983, and was knighted for services to political and public service in 2015.

Ali, a British citizen and son of a former media adviser to a prime minister of Somalia, repeatedly stabbed Amess in the 2021 attack for what he said was revenge for the lawmaker's support for airstrikes on Syria.

He had radicalised himself by consuming extremist material online. The Met said Ali 'spent some time' in Prevent before coming out of it 'by his own admission'.

The Prevent programme, which covers England and Wales, aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism by tackling the ideological causes, intervening early to support people considered 'susceptible to radicalisation', and enabling people 'who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate'.

A review of the Prevent programme by ex-Charity Commission chairman William Shawcross, published in February 2023, found it was 'out of kilter with the rest of the counter-terrorism system, and the UK terrorism threat picture' and 'must return to its overarching objective: to stop individuals from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism'.

Terrorism was wrongly treated as a mental illness and there was a 'failure' by those working on Prevent to properly understand the nature of ideology in Islamist radicalisation which risks 'several potentially serious consequences', he said.

The report, which was first ordered by former Home Secretary Priti Patel in 2019, suggested there was a need to tackle the ideology underpinning terrorism rather than violent acts themselves.

David with his wife Julia, his daughters Katie (left) Flo (centre) Sarah, (second from right) and Alex (right) at Flo's wedding in November 2019

David Amess, pictured with his family at his daughter Alex's wedding in 2021

Mr Shawcross raised 'particular concern' about civil society organisations (CSOs) funded by the programme which have 'promoted extremist narratives, including statements that appear sympathetic to the Taliban'

He added: 'As a core principle, the Government must cease to engage with or fund those aligned with extremism.'

In the 188-page report, he also told how he was 'disturbed by the prevalence of antisemitism' in the so-called 'Channel' cases he observed - referring to people in the programme who are considered most at risk of becoming radicalised and turning to terrorism - and called for Prevent to 'better understand and tackle antisemitism'.

The Home Office told The Mirror it would be inappropriate to comment on ongoing legal cases.

But it added: 'The Government takes the safety of Members of Parliament extremely seriously, and significant work has been taken forward in response to the tragic killing of Sir David.'
READ MORE: How two teenagers were killed as they came home from the gym

He and another teenager killed while driver is in

A grieving mother has shared a heartbreaking message after her son was killed alongside his friend in a horrific crash while on their way back from the gym.

Addison Bhimjiani, 17, and Matthew Simpson, 16, were killed when their Nissan 200SX smashed into a power pole on Windsor Road in McGraths Hill, northwest, at 9.40pm on Monday.

The 17-year-old P-plate driver Caleb Nolan was rushed to Westmead Hospital having sustained both chest and internal injuries and is now in a stable condition.

In a statement on behalf of the Bhimjiani family, Addison's mother Penny Randall described her late-teenage son as having a 'vibrant spirit'.

The mother of a teenager killed in a car crash on Monday, Addison Bhimjiani (pictured), has remembered her son as having a 'vibrant soul' in the family's first statement since the crash

Matthew Simpson (pictured) was the second teenager killed in the crash while a third was rushed to hospital

Ms Randall said her family will 'remember and celebrate the joy' that defined her son's character.

'Addison, known for his vibrant spirit, kindness, and contagious smile, touched the lives of all who knew him,' Ms Randall's statement reads, according to 9News.

'He was a beacon of light in our family and community, and his absence leaves a void that cannot be filled.'

Addison's younger sister Brielle broke her silence in a heartfelt Instagram story featuring images of the pair as young children on Tuesday morning.

'Fly high to my big brother I love you so much I wish I could hug you one last time or see your smile I will never forget you were such an amazing person,' she wrote.

'Thank you for the time I had with you no words describe how much my heart aches, knowing you're not here to laugh and talk to.

'I will miss you forever.'

A friend of Addison said he couldn't believe he had died when news broke on Monday night saying he 'didn't want to accept it'.

'It's heartbreaking, I saw him that day and now I'll never see him again,' another friend said.

A memorial service will be held sometime in the near future to pay tribute to Addison's life.

Addison was among two teen passengers killed on Monday night after a Nissan 200SX driven by a 17-year-old, who survived, smashed into a light pole in Mcgraths Hill (pictured)

Police were told the Nissan 200SX sedan had allegedly collided with a Ford Falcon before veering off the road and smashing into the power pole (pictured)

Police have been told the teenagers were driving home from the gym when they collided with a Ford Falcon sedan.

The collision sent the Nissan into the air and smashing into the telephone pole.

Police confirmed the driver of the Ford had stopped to provide assistance to the boys and had been taken for mandatory blood and urine testing.

The driver of the Nissan was also questioned by police while in hospital as investigators try to determine if speed was a factor in the deadly crash.

Despite the turbo-intercooled power of a Nissan200SX, which has a top speed of 235km and goes from zero to 100km in five seconds, NSW allows novice P-platers to drive them. The Nissan 200SX is considered a modern classic by car enthusiasts.

The last model sold in Australia was the 2002 turbocharged rear-wheel-drive S15 model, which produced 147kW/265Nm from a 2.0-litre engine and sold for $39,990.

The cars are frequently involved in high-speed accidents across Australia's suburbs.

Investigators are appealing for anyone with information about the incident or dashcam vision to contact the CIU via Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.

Witnesses said the Nissan was hit by the Ford while it was turning out of a side street, which caused it to lose control
Prince Harry looked pensive as he was seen for the first time since the Daily Mail revealed Queen Elizabeth was distraught by his and Meghan's claim they had her blessing to name their baby daughter Lilibet - the late monarch's nickname.

In the brisk January weather, the 39 year-old royal was spotted jogging in a black jacket and matching shorts, seemingly wearing a frowning, serious expression.

Harry's post-workout sighting in Santa Barbara, California, on Tuesday morning comes just days after Robert Hardman's bombshell new biography revealed the late Queen's anger over the claim in 2021 that she had given them her blessing.

A member of Queen Elizabeth's staff said she was 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' after Harry and Meghan publicly stated they would not have used her private family nickname if she had not been 'supportive.'

The Queen was so upset that she told aides: 'I don't own the palaces, I don't own the paintings, the only thing I own is my name. And now they've taken that.'

Glowering Prince Harry was seen for the first time since DailyMail.com revealed Queen Elizabeth was distraught by his and Meghan's claim they had the her blessing to name their baby daughter Lilibet - the late monarch's nickname

In the brisk January weather of California , Prince Harry was spotted jogging in a black jacket and matching shorts with a serious expression on his face while leaving a workout session in Santa Barbara on Tuesday morning

A member of Queen Elizabeth's staff said she was 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' after Harry and Meghan publicly stated they would not have used her private family nickname if she had not been 'supportive'

The revelation comes in the latest instalment of a new biography - Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story, by the Mail's writer Robert Hardman, currently being serialized exclusively in the Daily Mail.

Shortly after Lilibet was born two-and-a-half years ago, Meghan and Harry 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.'

Hardman wrote: '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.'

Leaving a workout session in Santa Barbara, California, on Tuesday morning, Harry was seen for the first time after the bombshell report revealed the late Queen's anger

The Queen was so upset that she told aides: 'I don't own the palaces, I don't own the paintings, the only thing I own is my name. And now they've taken that'

In 2021, the decision by Prince Harry and Meghan to name their new daughter Lilibet, born in California and having only briefly visited the UK, raised eyebrows.

Lilibet was the affectionate childhood nickname of the late Queen, believed to have originated because as a child, Princess Elizabeth struggled to pronounce her name correctly.

The special name was only used by her parents, King George VI and the Queen Mother, her sister Princess Margaret, her husband Prince Philip, and a few 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.

In 2021, the decision by Prince Harry and Meghan to name their new daughter Lilibet, born in California and having only briefly visited the UK, raised eyebrows

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

Lilibet was the affectionate childhood nickname of the late Queen, believed to have originated because as a child, Princess Elizabeth (pictured) struggled to pronounce her name correctly

The Sussexes' spokesman did not hesitate to denounce the report and insisted the Queen was the first family member Harry called with the joyous news of his long-awaited daughter's birth.

He said that during their conversation '[Harry] shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honour. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name'.

They then used their legal firm, Schillings, to issue a letter, suggesting the report that the Queen was not asked for permission was 'false and defamatory and should not be repeated'.

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.

'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.'
An iced pandan latte, left, and avocado latte drizzled with chocolate syrup from Kopiku in San Francisco. Elena Kadvany/The Chronicle

Despite the Bay Areas wildly diverse coffee scene  home to everything from Vietnamese and Ethiopian to Yemeni coffee specialists  one country with a thriving coffee culture remains underrepresented: Indonesia.

But that may soon shift, with the arrival of San Franciscos first-ever Indonesian coffee shop. Kopiku, at 1443 Lombard St. in the Marina district, serves pour-overs and specialty drinks made with coffee grown on small farms in Indonesia, sourced through the owners roastery, Beaneka Coffee.

Co-owner Adhi Jusuf, a native of Indonesia and longtime Bay Area IT worker, started Beaneka and now Kopiku with a goal to expose the U.S. to Indonesian coffee culture.

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When Beaneka debuted at the San Francisco Coffee Festival in 2021, I met many coffee enthusiasts, yet they had never heard of Indonesian coffee, Jusuf wrote in a blog post. People may recognize Sumatra coffee from Starbucks or Peets, but know little about the Indonesian island famed for its coffee production. (One barista at the 2021 festival mistakenly thought Sumatra coffee came from Africa, Jusuf said.) The Bay Areas only other Indonesian coffee shop is Kopi Bar, which opened last spring in Walnut Creek and once used Beanekas beans.

Inside Kopiku, San Francisco's first Indonesian coffee shop. Elena Kadvany/The Chronicle

At Kopiku, customers can drink single-origin beans from a co-op in Toraja, or a medium-roast grown by a man in West Java whose mountain farm is accessible only via an hour of off-road driving. What sets Indonesian coffee apart, Jusuf said, is its variety of flavor. The Dutch colonial government planted the first coffee trees in Indonesia in the 17th century, and the island of Java in particular later became synonymous with coffee. But farms on the countrys many islands, home to high-altitude mountains and rich microclimates, evolved into their own styles.

Bali will be more flowery. Toraja is fruity and flowery. Java is more robust, Jusuf said. But they all come from the same seed, literally.

Kopiku serves kopi tubrok, which translates to collision coffee and, akin to a pour-over, is the best way to experience the beans in their purest form, Jusuf said. A Yama tower, a dramatic tool that looks like it belongs in a science lab, makes smooth cold brew. Specialty drinks have also become popular, including creamy, blended avocado topped with an espresso shot and iced pandan coffee fragrant with the Southeast Asian plants delicate, vanilla-esque flavor. (A real pandan plant, small, leafy and bright green, sits in a woven basket at the front register.)

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Jusuf knows that some customers, especially tourists unfamiliar with Indonesian coffee, just want a latte and croissant. But hes trying to introduce Indonesian food through specials like arem-arem, tender coconut rice stuffed with meat, vegetables and spices and wrapped in a banana leaf, or fresh-baked sweets like buttery nastar (shortbread cookies filled with pineapple jam).

Arem-arem, an Indonesian coconut rice cake filled with meat and vegetables and wrapped in banana leaf, from Kopiku in San Francisco. Elena Kadvany/The Chronicle

Jusuf grew up in Jakarta and worked at a hotel before moving to the United States to work for Microsoft. He has managed IT at San Franciscos iconic Ghirardelli Chocolate Co. since the late 1990s.

He started Beaneka after a life-changing trip to Toraja in 2019. He wanted to create a more sustainable and socially responsible coffee supply chain by working directly with small coffee farmers and paying them more fairly than large import companies that dominate the market. He also donates a portion of Beanekas sales to organizations in Indonesia that support education and survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

Kopikus small, narrow space is decorated with a wooden map of Indonesia on one wall and glass jars of beans on shelves. On Saturdays and Sundays, Jusuf sets up a roasting machine outside and shows people how to roast beans. The business has received support from the Indonesian General Consolute in San Francisco, which helped Kopiku through the city permitting process. Consul General Prasetyo Hadi attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, where he said he hopes Kopiku means Indonesian coffee becomes more widely known and cherished.

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Princess Eugenie has appeared at a panel to discuss modern slavery, after her father Prince Andrew was axed from the royal fold over claims he slept with Jeffrey Epstein trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre.

The princess, who co-founded The Anti-Slavery Collective in 2017, spoke at the event in Davos, Switzerland, alongside former British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Their discussion had to been to highlight the importance of elevating modern slavery to the highest levels of corporate board.

According to The Guardian, Eugenie said: 'Guns and drugs can be only trafficked once but human beings are trafficked again and again and again. For them it happens every day and minute.'

Princess Beatrice had also been in an attendance at the event to support her sister on Tuesday.

Princess Beatrice, seen here far right alongside Eugenie, had also been in an attendance at the event to support her sister on Tuesday

Prince Andrew stepped down from public life after the furor over his friendship with Epstein, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre

According to Hello Magazine, Eugenie will be a discussion leader at a World Economic Forum event on Wednesday, also on trafficking and modern slavery.

It comes after her father's relationship with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein was back in the spotlight over claims he committed 'acts of sexual abuse' and took part in an 'underage orgy.'

The newly unsealed documents relate to a Manhattan defamation case brought in 2015 by the duke's accuser Virginia Giuffre, nee Roberts, against Ghislaine Maxwell, who acted as Epstein's 'madame.'

Andrew, who has spent years trying to rebuild his shattered public image, is mentioned in the files, along with dozens of high-profile associates of Epstein.

They include a deposition from Jane Doe 3  who was later identified as Giuffre  who claims she was forced to have sex with the duke on three occasions, including when she was 17.

She claims Epstein ordered she 'give the prince whatever he demanded', including 'an orgy with numerous other underaged girls' on the financier's Caribbean island Little Saint James.

The unsealed documents include the transcript of Virginia Giuffre being questioned over the whereabouts of the photograph showing her with the Duke of York.

Asked during her deposition in 2016 where the picture was, she said: 'I probably still have it. It's not in my possession right now.'

Undated handout file photo issued by the US Department of Justice (left-right) of the Duke of York, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell

Andrew, who has spent years trying to rebuild his shattered public image, is mentioned in the files, along with dozens of high-profile associates of Epstein, seen here in 2017

Prince Andrew leaves sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's home and goes for a stroll together through New York's Central Park in 2011

Giuffre added it may have been in storage boxes at her mother and father in-law's home in Sydney, Australia.

She also said documents related to the case may have also been in the storage boxes, which were 'full of Nerf guns, my kids' toys, photos.'

During the deposition, Giuffre said she had given the picture to the FBI in 2011 but had last seen it before she packed up her home to emigrate to Australia from Colorado.

Andrew was recently said to have been 'at a loss, totally tormented' by the prospect of the scandal being dragged up again.

Andrew stepped down from public life after the furor over his friendship with Epstein and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case to Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.

The duke was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. Andrew has always denied the claims.

The unsealing of the documents made uncomfortable reading for an array of famous faces, beyond Prince Andrew.

High-profile people such as Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Kevin Spacey and Stephen Hawking were all named at various points in the case's depositions.

Some of the people named overnight were associates, friends or victims of Epstein.

But the vast majority were named in evidence by witnesses who said they had no links to the pedophile at all - or had not seen them at his many homes.
A long-range road test of equivalent electric and petrol-fuelled vehicles has revealed the surprising result that the conventional car was cheaper to run.

Over a 900km drive from Sydney to Melbourne conducted by auto website CarExpert, the electric vehicle cost around $13 more to power than its petrol counterpart - as well as needing two hours extra stopping time to replenish.

This result echoes the findings of another auto journalist who recently calculated that driving petrol and electric cars on the almost 300km three-hour trip from Sydney to Canberra was also cheaper with the combustion model.

CarExpert founder Paul Maric drove, who drove the EV, said they just weren't practical for Australian road trips.

'If you are charging at home and driving in and around the city an electric car is always going to be the better option but certainly for road trips its probably not the type of vehicle I wouldnt have on the bucket list,' he said.

For the Sydney to Melbourne comparison CarExpert picked up a new electric BMW 740i and the similarly-sized petrol-fuelled BMW i7 M70, which cost $344,900 and $272,900 respectively.

For the Sydney to Melbourne comparison CarExpert picked up a new electric BMW 740i and the similarly-sized petrol-fuelled BMW i7 M70

Setting off and arriving together, the vehicles were driven in a near identical manner to make the comparison fair, with both starting fully fuelled.

Travelling at the same speed both had the air conditioning and cooled seats running.

The vehicles had two major refueling stops and a shorter one for a coffee break on the epic trip, which takes around nine hours non-stop.

At the stops the EV used the fastest charger available while the petrol car used premium fuel.

However, there was a snag because the trip occurred on November 8, the day the Optus network crashed around Australia.

This threatened to make the Evie network - which was the charging source at the first stop in the NSW southern town of Tarcutta - unworkable because Optus connection was needed for mobile authentication to make payment.

Thankfully after an anxious few minustes Mr Maric, who was driving the i7, got his payment accepted.

Mr Maric was also alarmed his car had only 2 per cent charge left when it reached Tarcutta, which was around 110km short of the estimated range the vehicle had predicted for a full charge.

'We chose to stop at Tarcutta because it was only around 450km from where we started so we thought we would comfortably make it there.' Mr Maric said.

The car had predicted he could travel 574km on the full charge but that had failed to account for the elevation from Melbourne to Tarcutta.

'You are driving predominantly uphill and the second you have that elevation change you have a reduction in range which in this case was 20 per cent,' Mr Maric said.

This uncertainty about range meant Mr Maric said he would not attempt a road trip longer than an hour in an EV.

'My advice to people who want to take a road trip is leave the electric vehicle at home and rent a car if you are going a long distance,' he said

'When it comes Christmas time my wife's Tesla stays parked at home and we take our other petrol vehicle.

'I dont want to get stuck at a charger, I dont want to have the anxieties of running out especially if my wife and two-year-old in the car because I will get divorced.

'I personally wouldnt want to have my family on a road trip where I had to rely on public charger infrastructure because it would be very expensive and the reliability is a big question mark.'

Over the three stops the BMW i7 spent two hours and eight minutes charging while the 740i only took around six minutes in total to refuel.

The major surprise came at the end when Mr Maric calculated the i7 consumed 203.03kWh of energy, costing $131.92, while the 740i gulped down 56.16 litres of fuel at a total cost of $117.88.

This mean the electric car had an economy rate of just over 20kWh/100km, while the internal combustion car consumed around 6 litres for every 100km.

For the 900km trip between Sydney and Melbourne, the BMW i7 M70 took over two hours of stopping time to recharge

Mr Maric also noted that since doing the trip Evie had increased its prices.

'Electricity prices have never come down so it is only going to become more and more expensive,' Mr Maric said.

'EVs are lovely to drive but there are a lot of these risks that people dont think about.

'If you just think of the average Australian at the moment who is just struggling to put food on the table you talking about a vehicle like the Tesla model Y that starts at $70,000, regardless of what the tax incentives are thats still a big chunk of money.

'They want everyone to be driving these things but ultimately they just arent affordable.'

Veteran automotive expert John Cadogan reached a similar conclusion in a YouTube posted on Tuesday titled 'Recharging an electric vehicle now costs more than petrol...'

'If you are dependent on public chargers the electrons for your EV just got more expensive than actual liquid fuel for an equivalent conventional car,' Cadogan said.

'This is madness.'

Veteran automotive journalist John Cadogan said he had 'crunched the numbers' on the price of driving similar petrol and electric vehicles between Sydney and Canberra

Cadogan said he had 'crunched the numbers on a simple road trip of 300km using a Mazda 3 versus a Tesla Model 3 and it's definitely cheaper to drive the Mazda from Canberra to Sydney'.

This was largely because Evie recently hiked its price by 43 per cent depending on the size and speed of the charger.

The result was that using the 150kw Evie charger cost 68 cents per kilowatt hour, when by comparison the average NSW household pays just over 30 cents per kilowatt hour for power from the grid.

According to Cadogan, charging a Tesla model 3 to make the 300km trip to Canberra takes 40 minutes and 60kw of power, which would be enough to run the average home for four days with a charger cost of $40.80.

Meanwhile a Mazda 3 GT with a two and a half litre engine uses about 7lt every 100km for highway travel, which means it would require $37.80 of premium E10 fuel to make the Sydney to Canberra run.

Charging company Evie recently announced a price hike, which has hit EV users hard

Cadogan admitted charging an electric car remains cheaper if it can be done at home but he said for many EV owners in the inner city, with no off-street parking, this was not possible.

'This kind of upward trajectory - some would say extortion - is a snapshot of what the electric utopia of the future is going to look like,' Cadogan said.

'Its almost impossible to break even financially with an EV considering the equivalent combustion car has such a preposterous start on acquisition cost.

'It is flat out impossible to break even if you are forced to park out on the street and therefore at the mercy of six-month price hikes.'

Cadogan believed this largely punctured the myth that EVs are cheaper, although he admitted this had always seemed to him a strange reason to buy one.

'It seems quite odd to me to pay $20,000 more upfront for an EV compared with the cost of an equivalent combustion car if your sole objective is to save money on fuel or anything else,' he said.

'If you have 40,000 or more to spend on a car, you can afford the fuel.'
A toddler has suffered critical injuries after being hit by a car in Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

The young boy was rushed to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital on Wednesday morning following a 'vehicle and pedestrian incident'.

A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia paramedics were called to a medical centre on Kensington Drive in Minyama just after 9am.

The little boy had been struck by a car at a private address and suffered critical head and arm injuries.

He has since been airlifted to the Queensland Children's Hospital where he continues to fight for life.

More to come
A Staten Island cop is suing the NYPD after he was allegedly demoted for ignoring 'get out of jail' cards issued to officers' friends and family.

Mathew Bianchi, 40, from the traffic patrol, said he usually respected the cards, but was growing frustrated at seeing the same people pulled over repeatedly.

'I was a little bit naive and I thought that, if I'm doing the right thing and I've done nothing wrong, it's very hard for somebody to articulate being able to punish me,' he told The New York Times. 'Doing the right thing  obviously, it's effectively killed my career.'

By the time he began ignoring the cards, in November 2018, he was seeing them flashed six or seven times a day.

Mathew Bianchi, a Staten Island police officer, is pictured holding up one of the 'get out of jail' cards issued to friends and family of NYPD officers

Union boss Albert Acierno (pictured) rang Bianchi, Bianchi said, and told him off for ignoring the 'get out of jail' cards

Bianchi ticketed his first card holder for speeding and running a red light that month, and then a month later received a call from union leader Albert Acierno, the second vice president of the Police Benevolent Association.

Acierno informed Bianchi that the cards were not to be questioned, Bianchi told The New York Times.

Bianchi said the union leader gave him the 'brother speech', telling him that officers are brothers who must help each other, and insisting the cards are a vital symbol of officers working to help each other.

But he said he felt strongly that there should not be impunity for lawbreakers, even if they are friends or family of NYPD officers.

He said his interest in law enforcement perhaps stemmed from being told as a child in Los Angeles that his mother had died in a car crash.

'When I was a kid, I used to joke around,' he said.

'I used to see people driving badly and it was like, I wish I could be a cop and give that guy a ticket. And that's what I ended up doing!'

He later learned she had been murdered. Bianchi, who was raised by his grandmother on Staten Island, said he had a strong sense of morality instilled in him.

And he kept issuing the tickets, when he came across repeat offenders or particularly dangerous driving. Bianchi said his colleagues turned against him.

Mathew Bianchi is seen receiving a 'cop of the month' award in June 2023

'I would get bashed on Facebook, I would get bashed in the cop groups,' he said, adding that retired officers were openly abusive.

'You'd rather HURT a legit family member than write one (1) less summons,' one wrote.

Bianchi's bosses would also reprimand him, after fellow NYPD officers complained to their supervisors.

In August 2022 he pulled over one woman, who did not have a card but complained to a friend, who was a senior NYPD officer.

Bianchi claims in his suit that after that ticket he was demoted to working on patrol, and doing unsociable hours, to the detriment of his family life. He was also overlooked for a promotion.

He said his transfer away from the traffic unit was 'solely because the motorist I summonsed knows a chief and that chief is now mad at me.'

Bianchi in June 2023 filed a civil complaint in Manhattan federal court, claiming his superiors retaliated against him for his stance against the 'corrupt' practice.

Bianchi's lawyer, John A. Scola, and a spokesman for the city's Law Department both told The New York Times that the parties were exploring a settlement, and they have scheduled a meeting for February 28.
Despite polls suggesting he'd lose to any of the three remaining Republican Primary candidates, advisers to President Joe Biden are hoping he draws a rematch against Donald Trump in the general election.

Biden said Tuesday that Trump is the 'clear front runner' for the Republican nomination with his win in the Iowa caucus, arguing the 2024 contest will be 'me vs. MAGA Republicans.'

'Looks like Donald Trump just won Iowa. He's the clear front runner on the other side at this point. But here's the thing: this election was always going to be you and me vs. extreme MAGA Republicans. It was true yesterday and it'll be true tomorrow,' Biden noted on his social media accounts.

It appears those close to Biden they feel a second battle between the two is the best chance for Biden to win, rather than against Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis.

'Some Democrats root for Trump,' admitted Jennifer Palmieri, Hillary Clinton's communications director in her failed 2016 race against Trump, told the New York Times.

Despite polls suggesting he'd lose to any of the three remaining Republican Primary candidates, advisers to President Joe Biden (pictured left) are hoping he draws a rematch against Donald Trump (pictured right) in the general election

She felt it was better for the country for Republicans to defeat him themselves and believed Biden stood a chance to be DeSantis or Haley.

The Times cited Democratic successes in 2022 midterm tossup races where the left often elevated MAGA-aligned candidates in primaries who went on to lose in November as why some close to Biden are rooting for Trump in the primary.

They even went as far as saying 'none of them would cry' if Trump got rid of Haley sooner rather than later.

But former Democratic strategist Mo Elleithee believes that Democrats rooting for Trump are playing a dangerous game.

'The polarization in our politics means it's going to be close no matter what,' he said. 'Stop trying to game out who you want to campaign against, and start focusing on the guy you're campaigning for. The stakes will be high no matter what.'

Faiz Shakir, a senior adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders, called anyone hoping Trump wins the primary 'nuts.'

'Careful what you wish for. He undoubtedly drives enthusiasm in the electorate, which makes concerns about turnout for Biden critical.'

Recent polling suggests that President Biden would struggle against any of the three remaining Republican candidates.

The New York Times even went as far as saying 'none of [Biden's advisers] would cry' if Trump got rid of Nikki Haley sooner rather than later

Recent polling suggests that President Biden would struggle against any of the three remaining Republican candidates, including Ron DeSantis (pictured)

A survey conducted by CBS News and YouGov shows Biden lagging behind former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley.

Haley does best against Biden, beating the 81-year-old president nationally by eight points.

The ex-ambassador and former South Carolina governor pulls more moderates and independents, and also voters with college degrees, into her column compared to Trump.

Still, Trump wins against Biden by two points, while DeSantis leads by three.

Haley has been rising in the polls in both Iowa and New Hampshire, but is still considered a long shot against Trump, who has a substantial lead in all of the early primary states and in national surveys.

But if she were to beat the former commander-in-chief, she would be able to erase Biden's advantage with women, the CBS/YouGov poll shows, and earns some of Biden's 2020 supporters.

Haley runs even with Biden on some key traits for voters - including those looking for a president who shows empathy and those who want to see a president open to compromise.

Biden leads both Trump and DeSantis on those qualities.

President Joe Biden loses to all three top Republican hopefuls in a new CBS News/YouGov poll that was released Sunday, a day before the Iowa caucuses. Former Amb. Nikki Haley performs best against Biden in a general election match-up

President Joe Biden waves as he arrives at the Hagerstown Regional Airport on Monday to volunteer in Philadelphia to mark Martin Luther King Jr. day. The president is trailing in national polls to former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and ex-Amb. Nikki Haley

In a general election between former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley and President Joe Biden, she beats the Democrat by eight points. Haley pulls away female voters from Biden, as well as some of those who supported the president in the 2020 election

Haley is also viewed as being just as tough as Trump and DeSantis by the survey's respondents.

And for voters who want toughness as a key attribute of a president, she leads Biden by 20 points in a general election race against the Democrat.

Trump's legal troubles don't seem to be motivating his supporters to look elsewhere in the Republican primary field.

The ex-president is currently facing 91 criminal charges.

Forty-two percent of Trump voters said they haven't even considered the criminal charges, while another 35 percent said they'd vote for the ex-president to show support against the criminal charges.

Just 23 percent said they'd vote for Trump despite having 'concerns' about the criminal cases.

On the campaign trail leading up to Monday's Iowa caucuses, both Haley and Trump have argued that the polls show they're the stronger Republican candidate to go up against Biden.

'You can look at the polls, head-to-head against Biden, there's been many of them. Ron doesn't beat Biden, Trump's head-to-head with Biden, on a good day he might be up by two, that's margin of error,' Haley told supporters Sunday in Ames. 'That's another nail-biter of an election and that's one more holding our breath.'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis bests President Joe Biden by three points in a general election match-up. DeSantis is seen campaigning in Ankeny, Iowa with wife Casey and their three young children Sunday night ahead of Monday's Iowa caucuses

Former President Donald Trump, seen campaigning in Indianola, Iowa on Sunday, also bests Biden but with the narrowest margin. Still he's been claiming on the campaign trail that he polls the best against the current president, also touting his lead in the GOP primaries

'I win every one of those general election polls,' she said.

The CBS/YouGov poll's margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 points.

'Every poll has us beating Biden,' Trump claimed at a rally last weekend in Clinton, Iowa. 'They're losing to Biden. They all say, 'Oh, we're going to win.' They're not going to win. First of all they can't beat me. They're 50, 60 points down,' he said of Haley and DeSantis.

'They're not going to win and they're going to get hit harder than me,' the ex-president added.

DeSantis has argued that Trump's legal troubles will turn the ex-president's 2024 run into a headache - trying to push Trump supporters to move in the Florida governor's direction instead.
Former President Donald Trump appears set to bring businessman and ex-rival Vivek Ramaswamy with him on the campaign trail after Ramaswamy endorsed Trump Tuesday night.

Ramaswamy joined Trump a day after dropping out of the race to publicly implore voters to support the former president in next week's New Hampshire primaries at a rally in Atkinson.

After Ramaswamy pledged to help him beat President Joe Biden in November, Trump seemed to suggest that there was much the tech entrepreneur could do for his campaign.

'He's going to be working with us and he'll be working with us for a long time,' Trump said, as many in the crowd chanted for Ramaswamy to become the vice presidential nominee.

Trump - who somewhat turned on Ramaswamy in the days leading up to the caucuses - talked about how impressive the first-time campaigner was.

Former President Donald Trump appears set to bring businessman and ex-rival Vivek Ramaswamy with him on the campaign trail after Ramaswamy endorsed Trump Tuesday night

'He's a fantastic guy,' Trump said. 'He's got something that's very special because he started off with a zippo and he ended up very strong.'

'He did a great job. I was actually surprised when he called because he was doing well. And it's an honor to have his endorsement,' Trump added.

Ramaswamy appeared on Fox News Tuesday night and after calling for Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley to drop out of the race, said he served at the pleasure of the former president.

'I want to serve this country any way I can,' he responded to Jesse Watters asking if he'd be vice president.

Ramaswamy, 38, a charismatic multi-millionaire, came a distant fourth in the Iowa caucuses, the first 2024 contest in the nation, behind Trump , Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley .

The fast-talking biotech businessman told his shocked followers in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday night: 'I think it is true that we did not achieve the surprise that we wanted to deliver tonight.

'As of this moment we are going to suspend this presidential campaign...there is no path for me to be the next president absent things we don't want to see in this country.'

Ramaswamy called Trump earlier in the night - and endorsed the former president, saying an 'America First' candidate needed to be the one to win the White House.

After Ramaswamy pledged to help him beat President Joe Biden in November, Trump seemed to suggest that there was much the tech entrepreneur could do for his campaign

Ramaswamy joined Trump a day after dropping out of the race to publicly implore voters to support the former president in next week's New Hampshire primaries at a rally in Atkinson

Ramaswamy appeared on Fox News Tuesday night and after calling for Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley to drop out of the race, said he served at the pleasure of the former president

Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy speaks to supporters as he stands with his wife Apoorva Tewari and son Karthik at his Iowa caucus night watch party after suspending his campaign and endorsing former U.S. President Donald Trump in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is dropping out of the 2024 race after disappointing results in the Iowa caucuses

Vivek Ramaswamy came in a disappointing fourth place with under 8 percent of the votes from Iowa's caucusgoers. The result prompted the entrepreneur to drop out and endorse former President Donald Trump, who led the pack with 51 percent support

'Earlier tonight, I called Donald Trump to tell him that I congratulate him on his victory. And now going forward, he will have my full endorsement for the presidency,' Ramaswamy said.

Ramaswamy spent the final hours of his campaign calling out the media for erasing him from the race.

In a post on X, Ramaswamy shared a Fox News/Associated Press survey that gave respondents only three Republican candidates to choose from - Trump, Haley and DeSantis.

'RIGGED,' Ramaswamy wrote late Monday afternoon. 'Fox & AP just sent a broad "voter attitudes" poll on the eve of the caucus, which they'll report on TV right before the Iowa caucus. It leaves one candidate off the list.'

Ramaswamy's spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin also called out The New York Times for only including Trump, Haley and DeSantis on the newspaper's Iowa caucus results landing page.

When web users clicked to see a full list of candidates, Ramaswamy's name appeared there.

'Stick it to the media & shock the world at the Iowa caucus tonight,' Ramaswamy encouraged his Hawkeye State supporters in his post on X.

Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy embraces a supporter at his Iowa caucus night watch party after suspending his campaign and endorsing former U.S. President Donald Trump in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024

Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy waves while speaking to supporters as he stands with his wife Apoorva Tewari and son Karthik at his Iowa caucus night watch party after suspending his campaign and endorsing former U.S. President Donald Trump in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024

But with 95 percent of votes in, Ramaswamy had only received 7.7 percent of the vote.

Ramaswamy brought conservative millennial energy to the Republican race - rapping to Eminem at the Iowa state fair and slapping around anything he deemed too 'woke.'

Throughout his run, he stayed complimentary of Trump, but told voters he represented a next generation choice for the MAGA movement.

He also had several memorable debate moments, generally focusing his ire on Haley and even writing 'Nikki = Corrupt' on a notepad and showing it off to the audience during the December Tuscaloosa showdown.

For his antics, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie - who dropped out of the race Wednesday - dubbed Ramaswamy 'the most obnoxious blowhard in America.'

In the days leading up to the Iowa caucuses, Ramaswamy took surprise fire from Trump.

The former president warned supporters not to 'waste' their vote on Ramaswamy even if they liked his message and even with Trump polling far out in front.

Signs in support of Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis are displayed at a caucus site at Horizon Event Center in Clive, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, his wife Apoorva Tewari Ramaswamy, an Assistant Professor and surgeon at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and their two children.

National coalition director for the campaign Esther Joy gestures while Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy kisses his wife Apoorva Ramaswamy during his campaign visit to the Lion Bridge Brewing Company, before the caucus vote, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024

A man clears snow from a sidewalk beside the campaign bus of Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy who was preparing to speak at a pre-caucus campaign event at Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Ankeny, Iowa, Sunday January 14, 2024

'A VOTE FOR VIVEK IS A WASTED VOTE. I LIKE VIVEK, BUT HE PLAYED IT TOO "CUTE" WITH US,' Trump wrote Monday morning.

'CAUCUS TONIGHT, VOTE FOR DONALD J. TRUMP, BUILD UP THE NUMBERS!!! IN NOVEMBER, WE MUST TAKE OUR VERY TROUBLED NATION  A NATION IN DECLINE  BACK FROM CROOKED JOE BIDEN AND THE RADICAL LEFT DEMOCRATS AND THUGS WHO ARE DESTROYING IT. MAGA!!!' the ex-president added.

On Monday night, Trump was complimentary of Ramaswamy during his victory celebration.

'I also want to congratulate Vivek because he did one hell of a job. He came from zero  that's an amazing job,' Trump said.

Later Trump commended Ramaswamy on Truth Social for endorsing him.

'Thank you Vivek, a Great Honor!' the ex-president and 2024 frontrunner said.
A teenager has brought in more than $410,000 in a year after using her savings to manufacture luxury lofts for her guinea pigs.

Bella Lin, 17, had the idea for better thought out guinea pig cages after one of her pets was snatched by an eagle while letting them roam in her parents' backyard.

At the age of 12, she was determined to keep the pets out of their traditional cages and decided to start drawing concepts for more open enclosures.

After going through several models and investing $2,000 of her savings to launch the product, named GuineaLoft, she sold just under 11,000 cages in 2022.

Last year this amounted to $410,000, or roughly $34,000 per month, according to documents seen by NBC.

Bella Lin, 17, had the idea for better thought out guinea pig cages after one of her pets was snatched by an eagle while letting them roam in her parents' backyard

Her design involves an open-floor enclosure for more visibility and mobility, featuring a two-tiered bottom

Lin was determined to keep the pets out of their traditional cages and decided to start drawing concepts for more open enclosures

Lin, who is a senior at Khan Lab School in California, works 20 hours per week on the business and has considered delaying college to focus on the company.

She first approached her father, a computer programmer, and told him that she wanted to create a better cage.

With her family having a connection to a family-owned factory in China through a former client, he made an introduction.

After spending a year mocking up prototypes, the teenager got distracted and instead started pursuing an athleisure brand for girls at a low price point.

That side hustle, called TLeggings, launched in July of 2019 and brought in $300,000 of retail in 2020.

The business saw her enter an entrepreneurship program, called Bizworld, for 16- to 22-year-olds, but failed to win the pitching contest and the prize money.

Last year, she decided to close the company and focused all of her attention on the guinea pig enclosures.

Speaking to NBC, Lin said: 'I had a weird epiphany [where] I kind of realized there are a lot of other companies trying to [make leggings].

'There was no innovation there, whereas with GuineaLoft, I could fill a really big gap in the market.'

Lin had the idea for better thought out guinea pig cages after one of her pets was snatched by an eagle while letting them roam in her parents' backyard

Lin had the idea for better thought out guinea pig cages after one of her pets was snatched by an eagle while letting them roam in her parents' backyard

Traditional guinea pig cages are made with bars, roofs, and either tarp or plastic bottom, and can be difficult to clean.

Her design involves an open-floor enclosure for more visibility and mobility, featuring a two-tiered bottom.

The final design opted for replaceable bottoms from biodegradable, wax-coated paper, which Lin says are 'similar to airplane barf bags.'

The bottom is easy to throw out and once customers urn out they have to come back to Lin's Amazon store to restock.

Lin tested the products virtually with her six-person team in China, who manufacture, package and photograph the products.

She then takes care of the design, pricing, marketing, and overall business strategy of the company.

Lin tested the products virtually with her six-person team in China, who manufacture, package and photograph the products.

The factory produced 100 cages in their first batch, and Lin said she was elated when three sold in the first few hours.

Within two weeks, the teenager managed to sell all 100 'with no marketing' and reapplied to BizWorld, where she won $10,000 in investment funds.

The company's 25 percent profit margin on cages is all being reinvested into marketing, audience research and product development.

Lin added: 'Witnessing the tangible effects of [GuineaLoft cages] through customer reviews and emails is empowering.

'As someone who once placed great emphasis on academic validation, the success of [my side hustle] has boosted my confidence in navigating life beyond high school.'
An apartment complex in freezing Colorado Springs has left residents furious and children crying in pain due to a lack of heat.

Temperatures in Colorado plunged below zero during an Arctic freeze sweeping across the nation, but the heat at the Marquette Heights Apartment complex has been off for more than three weeks, tenants have claimed.

Tenant Jessalynn Nostrum told FOX21: 'It started to get super cold in my apartment. I would notice every night me and my kid would be freezing.'

Nostrum said she had to ask for a space heater on Facebook after her four-year-old son woke up crying due to the cold.

She said she first noticed the heating issue in late December and has made numerous calls to report the problem, but as of Tuesday, no solution has been reached.

An apartment complex in freezing Colorado Springs has left residents, including Jessalynn Nostrum (pictured), furious and children crying in pain due to a lack of heat

Temperatures in Colorado plunged below zero during an Arctic freeze sweeping across the nation, but the heat at the Marquette Heights Apartment complex has been off for more than three weeks

The building has gone without heat due to a malfunction of its boiler system, the leasing office told tenants

The Marquette Heights Apartment complex is comprised of two buildings, and Nostrum lives in one of the 60 units housing families, children, and elderly tenants that have been affected.

The building has gone without heat due to a malfunction of its boiler system, the leasing office told tenants, but did not say when it will be fixed.

'It would get negative three degrees in my apartment,' Nostrum said, adding that her son had been waking up shivering at nights.

The average temperatures in the area were around 30 degrees in early January but plummeted below zero in the past week.

She desperately sought help on social media on January 4th, asking for a space heater.

By the time she had called four different companies to report the boiler issues, they each told her to call a different company to file the report.

'Nobody gave us a notice, nobody gave us an email, like nothing. We only began to notice when all of us were collectively freezing,' Nostrum told KKTV.

'I just got tired of really feeling like I was being ignored.'

Tenants have their children wrapped in multiple layers of blanket at night and makes sure they're away from fire hazards

Nostrum desperately sought help on social media on January 4th, asking for a space heater

Although she ended up getting two heaters from one of her neighbors, the mother is still worried about her and her son's safety.

'At night, I make sure to turn them off, but I can't say that every resident is doing that. So, it's like there's a high potential for a fire in this building right now.'

Another tenant Olivia De La Cruz has the same concern: 'My biggest concern was the kids having heat and being warm, especially at night, like I get up and check on them to make sure they are still warm.'

The mother-of-two has her four-year-old son and seven-month-old daughter wrapped in multiple layers of blanket at night and makes sure they're away from fire hazards.

Other residents declined to be interviewed in fear of retaliation or eviction, FOX reported.

One of the tenants shared their texts with the leasing office, which reads: 'My apartment is very cold. This isn't my first message to you concerning the heat I know last week.'

'A few months ago I've also let you know about the heat in my apartment. But it's freezing outside and it's very cool inside,' they continued.

The tenant asked for space heaters, but the leasing office did not respond immediately.

One of the tenants shared their texts with the leasing office, which reads: 'My apartment is very cold. This isn't my first message to you concerning the heat I know last week'

Other residents declined to be interviewed in fear of retaliation or eviction

An HVAC inspector was called to the building's the boiler room and found scale and erosion in the boiler,

They said the boiler should have been replaced 25 years ago, even though it passed an inspection in 2022, according to Nostrum.

'I mostly wanted to get him [the owner] to realize that people in his building were suffering and that he needs to take proper action not just about this one case but in the future,' she said.

Nostrum added that the leasing office recently started loaning out space heaters but has not specified when the heating issue could be resolved.

A two-bedroom apartment in the building costs between $1,330 and $1,500 monthly, according to Apartments.com.

Marquette Heights Apartments did not immediately respond to the DailyMail.com's request for comment.
The developers of a 900-home apartment development in Sydney have been ordered to immediately fix a number of serious defects, with concerns the building could be at 'threat of collapse'.

On Monday, a Building Work Rectification Order was issued for Greenland Australia, the developers behind 23 Halifax St, Macquarie Park.

Serious damage and the deterioration of the concrete slabs at joint locations between the basement and ground floor, and levels six, 11, 17, 22, and 31 were identified.

The order was issued by the NSW Building Commission and written by acting assistant building commissioner Matt Press.

The issues, which the order says were caused 'by defective workmanship' could cause the entire building, or parts of the building, to topple, the order states.

The developers of a 900-home apartment development in Sydney (pictured) have been ordered to immediately fix a number of serious defects, with concerns the building could be at 'threat of collapse'

'As a result, it is likely to cause inability of the concrete slab to withstand the carpark and ground floor loads,' Mr Press writes.

'This is a defect in a building product or building element that causes or is likely to cause the basement slab to fail, namely, to fracture and collapse.

READ MORE: Developer collapse leaves residents of defective unit block in limbo and facing repair bills of $250k each Advertisement

He added that this could lead to 'the destruction of the building or any part, or the threat of collapse of the building or any part'.

The developers have been called to undertake work to ensure 'the slabs and beams can adequately support the structure'.

The order specifies that failure to comply with the instructions counts as a criminal offence, with the developer Greenland Sydney ordered to undertake a list of works within specified time frames to rectify the building.

A draft copy of the order was first issued to Greenland, the local council, owners' corporation, the certifier and the Office of the Registrar General last October.

The company responded to the Building Commission on December 1 with scanning and structural reports of the building.

According to Mr Press, Greenland requested 'that the department exercise discretion to not issue the order.

But the acting assistant building commissioner disagreed, noting that the developer did not dispute the defect.

'I have considered all of the circumstances. I accept the order requires specified actions that are likely to be costly.

'However, the cost to the developer must be balanced against the benefit to the occupiers,' he said.

Greenland is a the Fortune 500-listed developer founded in Shanghai. It claims to be the fastest-growing company in China.

The swimming pool at the property at 23 Halifax St in the northern Sydney suburb of Macquarie Park is pictured

It set up an Australian branch in 2013 and has offices in Sydney.

The Macquarie Park apartments are listed as luxury living units which are 'designed without compromise'.

A spokesperson for Greenland Australia the company 'engaged multiple, suitably qualified engineering consultants to undertake investigations in accordance with the requests of the commission.

'Greenland ... has contacted all residential owners and tenants at the project today. It can confirm that no evacuations at the project are required,' the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
A man who allegedly sent millions of scam text messages within seven days has also been accused of using passport and driver's licence details to commit fraud as he faced court for the first time.

Xuan Su, 39, is allegedly responsible for sending 17.5 million text messages pretending to be from Australia Post and toll company Linkt over one week in early December through an SMS phishing scam run from his home in south-west Sydney.

These scams typically involve using devices called SMS boxes to send out bulk messages directing people to websites using fraudulent links.

Su was flanked by supporters, including his wife and their young child when he appeared in Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday for a brief hearing.

Su was hit with a fresh charge, accused of using driver's licences, passports and other personal documents to commit fraud between September 2022 and December 2023 in Hurstville, according to documents filed with the court.

Accused SMS phishing scammer Xuan Su wore a mask to hide his face from the cameras after he appeared in Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday

Read more: Single text message costs Sydney man $50,000 in a heartless scam just before Christmas Advertisement

The new charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars.

Su wore a face mask and carried young child in his arms used as a shield to hide his face while fleeing the media pack when he left court.

He offered no comment to reporters' questions while a woman understood to be Su's wife also ordered the media to 'stop filming my daughter'.

Su was arrested on December 12 when cybercrime officers executed a search warrant at a Moorebank home.

Police seized two SIM boxes, a number of SIM cards and electronics allegedly consistent with running a fraudulent text message scam.

SIM boxes can hold over 250 active SIM cards and can send out up to 150,000 messages daily.

Su is yet to enter pleas to one charge of using equipment connected to a network to commit a serious offence and another charge of using identity information to commit an indictable offence.

Millions of SMS messages were allegedly sent to Aussies within a seven day period posing to be from Australia Post and other companies (stock image)

Police seized two SIM boxes (pictured) when they raided the Moorebank property on December 12

Su's lawyer David Downey asked the court for a two week adjournment to enter pleas.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions then requested additional time to serve their brief of evidence,, which was granted.

It remains unclear as to whether Zu plans to fight the two charges when the matter returns to Campbelltown Local Court on April 10.

'I need to take further instruction from my client,' Mr Downey told reporters.

He added nor he or his client wished to make any further comment.

Su remains out on bail.

An image of one of the scam texts messages Su allegedly sent trying to trick people into handing over money

His recent arrest prompted a warning for Aussies to be vigilant about phising scams.

Legitimate businesses never call or SMS customers seeking confidential information.

'Under no circumstances should you ever click on a link you receive in an SMS message or email,' NSW Police Cyber Squad Commander Jason Smith said at the time.

'Always be suspicious when you receive such requests

'Scammers will often pretend to be from a reputable company or financial institution so even if it's a company you regularly deal with, the safer option is to independently log into that company's website to check your account.'

Australians lost $92million in scams in the year to September 30, according to Scam Watch.

The most commonly reported scams were road toll scams with more than 19,000 reports and government impersonation scams with more than 17,000 reports.

The most common delivery method for scams is via text message, followed by email.

Xuan Su (pictured during his arrest in December) has also been accused of using driver's licences, passports and other personal documents to commit fraud
Mayor London Breed listens to speakers Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at Yerba Buena Gardens on Monday. She criticized the Board of Supervisors on Sunday for approving a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

Regarding In rare move, S.F. Mayor Breed condemns Board of Supervisors Gaza cease-fire resolution (Politics, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 14): How ironic and, even sad, that a day before the holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., San Francisco Mayor London Breed chooses to criticize the Board of Supervisors for its vote calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Some 20,000 people have died in Gaza, a slaughter financed, in large, by our tax dollars. As Chronicle columnist Soleil Ho pointed out, it is only right that we, as U.S. taxpayers, voice our opinion on how that money is spent.

In 1983, San Francisco voters condemned U.S. funding of death squads in El Salvador, again our tax money. What makes Mayor Breed think San Franciscans wouldnt oppose the same in Palestine?

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Most of all, King opposed another horrible war that cost us thousands of dead (including my uncle) and the Vietnamese millions of dead. I do not doubt that, were he alive today, King would be one of the strongest voices against the genocide in Gaza.

Catherine Cusic, San Francisco

Collaborate in S.F.

Regarding This celebrated restaurant is barely making it. Heres why S.F. has made it so hard just to stay open (Opinion, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 13) and TikTok food influencer Keith Lee abruptly ends Bay Area tour, citing regions struggles (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com Jan. 11): More wake-up calls  as if what we see before our eyes is not enough. San Franciscos culinary prowess is integral to its core institutions and values. More than economic and tourism magnets, our restaurants are incubators of creativity, imagination, cultural diversity and melting hotpots of global tastes.

San Francisco needs to rekindle its pioneering spirit by economic simplification. Balancing regulatory controls, free enterprise and free expression means compromise. A culture of public/private partnerships can trigger confidence, incentives, predictability and risk-taking.

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Like in any temporary emergency, government can ease centralized coordination, cost controls, logistics, management, permitting, purchasing, space allocation, taxation and more. Essentially, government can go into a pure service mode.

San Francisco businesses, government, nonprofits and property owners can collaborate on how to help the most people, with the most services, at the lowest costs and in the shortest time frame  to reset and reinvigorate the city as a whole.

Howard Wong, San Francisco

Chronicle too negative

How does the San Francisco Bay Area salvage its reputation nationally when its largest local newspaper continues to publish articles highlighting the struggles we have with crime, homelessness and neighborhood deterioration?

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Most articles relate the truth of our situation but to pile onto this national, negative perception with not one but three articles about a doofus TikTok food critic Keith Lee who ate at six local restaurants, declared the Bay Area as devoid of decent eateries and then said, I dont believe the Bay is fit for tourists at this time makes me wonder what the Chronicle is trying to sell.

At the very least, print three articles from food critics who love the Bay Area and its food. I know theyre out there.

Tina Edwards, Moraga

Not ethical

Regarding Strategy for Dems (Letters to the Editor, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 16): So, you want Democrats to pretend to be Republican by registering as such. Then you want us to vote for Nikki Haley so we can undercut the support for Donald Trump by true Republicans?

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I dont think things turn out well when we start with a lack of integrity. Is it really correct to attempt to undermine our fellow Americans and their votes? I think not.

Cynthia Cerletti, Benicia

Vote for Schiff

Rep. Adam Schiff stands out for his leadership over the past several years in helping to protect the nations institutions, the rule of law and American democracy from Donald Trump.

Given the increasingly threatening, authoritarian statements from Trump, the possibility he could return to the White House and the Republican Partys lockstep loyalty to him, the Senate needs Schiff, a battle-tested and thoughtful leader who has demonstrated he has the experience to handle Trump and his moaning and groaning threats.

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The shooter who killed five people at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs is expected to plead guilty to new federal charges for hate crimes and firearm violations.

Anderson Aldrich, 23, made a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to 50 hate crime charges and 24 firearm violations to avoid death penalty, according to court documents made public Tuesday.

Aldrich will receive multiple life sentences in addition to a 190-year jail time under the proposed agreement, which still needs a judges approval.

The plea agreement was unsealed after Aldrich, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, had pleaded not guilty in court during an initial appearance on Tuesday afternoon.

Aldrich is already serving life in prison after pleading guilty last June to murder charges and 46 counts of attempted murder - one for each person at Club Q during the attack on November 19, 2022.

Anderson Aldrich (pictured in 2023), 23, who killed five people at an LGBTQ + nightclub in Colorado Springs is expected to plead guilty to new federal charges for hate crimes and firearm violations.

Aldrich made a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to 50 hate crime charges and 24 firearm violations to avoid death penalty, according to court documents made public Tuesday

Aldrich is already serving life in prison after pleading guilty last June to state charges of murder and 46 counts of attempted murder - one for each person at Club Q (pictured) during the attack on November 19, 2022

Those killed in the shooting were identified as Kelly Loving, 40; Daniel Aston, 28; Derrick Rump, 38; Ashley Paugh, 34; and Raymond Green Vance, 22

On November 19, 2022, Aldrich, wearing body armor, opened fire at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub. Apart from those killed, nearly two dozen others were wounded by gunfire or injured before being stopped by 'heroic' patrons.

Those killed in the shooting were identified as Kelly Loving, 40; Daniel Aston, 28; Derrick Rump, 38; Ashley Paugh, 34; and Raymond Green Vance, 22.

Ashtin Gamblin, who was shot nine times and seriously wounded at Club Q, called the shooting a hate crime on Tuesday's hearing and said that Aldrich should be labeled as someone who carried one out.

Gamblin also said she told federal prosecutors Aldrich should face the death penalty for what they did, even if the punishment is never carried out.

She said she wanted Aldrich to 'sit with the thought of not knowing when' they would die or that they could die at 'any day or any time.'

Aldrich also pleaded no contest to state charges for hate crimes under a plea agreement. The plea was an acknowledgment there was a good chance Aldrich would be convicted of those crimes without admitting guilt.

For Tuesday's hearing, Aldrich appeared by video from an unknown location and was represented by David Kraut with the federal public defenders office.

Jeff Aston, whose son Aston was shot and killed in the attack, listened remotely to the hearing.

'This was a hateful, stupid, heinous and cowardly act,' Aston said, adding that hed like to see Aldrich suffer as much as the victims and their family members.

After the shooting, Aston's parents said they found Club Q to be a safe place to be a trans man and a drag queen.

Transwoman Kelly Loving, 40, was among the five people killed in the shooting

Derrick Rump, 38, was 'active in the local LGBTQ community' and beloved by friends, family

Raymond Green Vance, 22, was tragically killed during the club massacre

Daniel Aston, 28, was one of the innocent victims killed by the lone gunman

Ashley Paugh, 35, a married mother was one of five victims

Michael Anderson, who was a bartender at Club Q when the shooting erupted, said the federal charges would serve as a deterrent by 'sending a message to people who want to commit violent acts against this community, and lets them know this is not something that is swept away or overlooked.'

'No matter how much justice is served statewide or federally, it cant undo bullets fired,' he said.

At the time of Aldrichs sentencing in state court, District Attorney Michael Allen said the possibility of receiving the death penalty in the federal system was a 'big part of what motivated the defendant' to plead guilty to the state charges.

Aldrich declined to speak at the sentencing hearing in state court, and haven't said why they hung out at the club, then went outside and returned dressed in body armor. Aldrich began firing an AR-15-style rifle as soon as they came back in.

Prosecutors say Aldrich had visited the club at least six times before that night and that Aldrichs mother had forced them to go.

Candles, flowers, cards sit outside Club Q in memory of the five victims that lost their lives

On November 19, 2022, Aldrich, wearing body armor, opened fire at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub. Apart from those killed, nearly two dozen others were wounded by gunfire or otherwise injured before being stopped by 'heroic' patrons

In a series of telephone calls from jail, Aldrich told The Associated Press they were on a 'very large plethora of drugs' and abusing steroids at the time of the attack.

When asked whether the attack was motivated by hate, Aldrich said that was 'completely off base.'

The district attorney called those statements self-serving and characterized the assertion as ringing hollow. He said Aldrichs claim of being nonbinary is part of an effort to avoid hate crime charges, saying there was no evidence of Aldrich identifying as nonbinary before the shooting.

During hearings in the state case in February, prosecutors said Aldrich administered a website that posted a 'neo-Nazi white supremacist' shooting training video.

A police detective also testified that online gaming friends said Aldrich expressed hatred for the police, LBGTQ+ people and minorities, and used racist and homophobic slurs.

One said that Aldrich sent an online message with a photo of a rifle trained on a gay pride parade.

Aldrich declined to speak at the sentencing hearing in state court, and haven't said why they hung out at the club, then went outside and returned dressed in body armor. Aldrich began firing an AR-15-style rifle as soon as they came back in

Aldrich, then 22, sat upright in a chair during the hearing and appeared alert, as he was read charges against him in the Colorado shootings, including murder and hate crimes

Aldrich is pictured in 2022, showing up at the house where their mother was renting a room, after threatening to blow up their grandparents' basement

The attack shattered the sense of safety at Club Q, which served as a refuge for the citys LGBTQ+ community.

The shooting was stopped by a Navy officer who grabbed the barrel of the suspects rifle, burning his hand, and an Army veteran helped subdue and beat Aldrich until police arrived, authorities said.

The 2022 attack came more than a year after Aldrich was arrested for threatening their grandparents and vowing to become 'the next mass killer' while stockpiling weapons, body armor and bomb-making materials.

Those charges were eventually dismissed after Aldrichs mother and grandparents refused to cooperate with prosecutors.

Last year Aldrich was moved to the Wyoming State Penitentiary due to safety concerns about the high-profile case, according to Alondra Gonzalez, spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Former President Donald Trump's legal team looks set to claim US intelligence agencies were out to get him, according to a new legal filing ahead of his classified documents case.

Trump has been charged by Special Counsel Jack Smith on crimes related to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election and for hoarding classified documents he moved from the White House to Mar-a-Lago.

Lawyers for Trump said in a motion filed Tuesday that they will dispute prosecutors' allegations that the estate where the records were stored was not secure, in a case Trump has demanded be pushed to after the election.

The defense team also said that they are seeking communication between Smith's team and associates of President Joe Biden in hopes of advancing their claims that the classified documents case is 'politically motivated and biased,' designed to harm Trump's 2024 campaign.

The brief, which asks a judge to compel special counsel Jack Smith's team to turn over a trove of information, offers the most expansive view yet of potential lines of defense in one of the four criminal cases Trump faces.

Former President Donald Trump's legal team looks set to claim US intelligence agencies were out to get him, according to a new legal filing ahead of his classified documents case

This is all happening as he seeks to capture the Republican nomination and reclaim the White House, with the filing entered just a day after he won a landslide victory in the Iowa Caucus.

The filing offers a blend of legal analysis and political bombast that has come to be expected in Trump team motions.

It even references Trump's record victory this week and decries the charges as 'partisan election interference.'

'The Special Counsel's Office has disregarded basic discovery obligations and DOJ policies in an effort to support the Biden Administration's egregious efforts to weaponize the criminal justice system in pursuit of an objective that President Biden cannot achieve on the campaign trail: slowing down President Trump's leading campaign in the 2024 presidential election,' Trump's lawyers wrote.

One of the filing's requests includes information on Thomas P. Windom, a chief deputy of Smith's who leads the prosecution in one of Trump's other cases.

Trump's lawyers said that the National Archives reached out to Windom in February 2022, suggesting a conflict of interest.

They also want details on a security clearance that Trump held on to from the Department of Energy after he left the White House, which lawyers say could help Trump defend himself.

Despite Trump's repeated claims, there is no evidence of any coordination between the Justice Department and the White House, which has said it had no advance knowledge of the FBI's August 2022 search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate that recovered dozens of classified documents he had taken with him when he left the White House.

Trump has been charged by Special Counsel Jack Smith (pictured) on crimes related to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election and for hoarding classified documents he moved from the White House to Mar-a-Lago

A photo published by the U.S. Justice Department in their charging document against former U.S. President Donald Trump shows boxes of documents stored in a bathroom at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida

Despite Trump's repeated claims, there is no evidence of any coordination between the Justice Department and the White House, which has said it had no advance knowledge of the FBI 's August 2022 search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate

The search recovered dozens of classified documents Trump had taken with him when he left the White House

Attorney General Merrick Garland months later appointed Smith as special counsel as a way to try to insulate the Justice Department from claims of political bias.

A spokesman for Smith declined to comment Tuesday night.

Prosecutors will have a chance to respond to the filing and are likely to tell U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that much of the material defense lawyers are seeking is not relevant to the case.

Trump was charged in June 2023 with felonies in connection to the classified document case. It was the first time a former president had been federally charged by prosecutors.

Investigators alleged Trump had thousands of pages of classified documents at his Florida Mar-a-Lago home. Photos released by the prosecution show piles of documents in boxes throughout Trump's home.

He was arraigned in a Florida federal court in a historic hearing as Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecutors have said the documents he stowed, refused to return and in some cases showed to visitors risked jeopardizing not only relations with foreign nations but also the safety of troops and confidential sources.

But defense lawyers said in their motion that they intend to dispute allegations that 'Mar-a-Lago was not secure and that there was a risk that materials stored at those premises could be compromised.'

Trump was charged in June 2023 with felonies in connection to the classified document case. It was the first time a former president had been federally charged by prosecutors

They argued that prosecutors should be forced to disclose all information related to what they have previously described as 'temporary secure locations' at Mar-a-Lago and other Trump properties.

Lawyers contended that such evidence would refute prosecutors' allegations because the Secret Service took steps to secure the residences and made arrangements for him to review and discuss classified information.

Trump's attorneys also referenced what they said was an Energy Department action in June, after the charges were filed, to 'retroactively terminate' a security clearance for the former president.

They demanded more information about that, saying evidence of a post-presidential possession of a security clearance was relevant for potential arguments of 'good-faith and non-criminal states of mind relating to possession of classified materials.'

The case is currently scheduled for trial on May 20, but that date may be pushed back.

Smith has previously said he hoped for a swift trial, but Trump's team said there was no reason for haste.

The lawyers argued the court needs to address 'the potential inability to select an impartial jury during a national Presidential election'.

His attorneys contended a speedy trial is not practical.

'The Government's apparent view that these unprecedented issues should be adjudicated on an expedited basis is simply untenable and ignores the magnitude of this case,' the motion states.

The lawyers point out that they are all involved in defending Trump in other cases.

Prosecutors have previously handed over 833,450 pages of documents, consisting of approximately 122,650 emails and 305,670 documents gathered from over 90 people.

They have also given Trump's team 57 terabytes of compressed raw CCTV footage, and said there could be more documents and video coming.

Trump's team said they were unable, as is standard procedure, to outsource the review of some of the material, given the required security clearances.
Actor Pierce Brosnan has pleaded not guilty to allegedly wandering into a 'delicate' and dangerous hot springs at Yellowstone National Park, despite being pictured standing on the protected area at the time of the alleged infraction.

The James Bond star entered a plea via a paper filing on January 4 over the November 2023 incident in the US District Court for Wyoming, according to Cowboy State Daily.

Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick granted the 70-year-old's request to cancel his initial appearance, setting up a virtual conference for February 20 instead.

Brosnan was cited twice over the alleged violations at the thermals in the Mammoth Terraces section of the park, and had been due to appear in court on January 23.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place on November 1. A personal photo uploaded to an account exposing 'tourons' (tourist morons) of Yellowstone showed him on the snow-encrusted springs.

The features are dangerous and fragile. If damaged, they can take years to correct. Numerous people have been killed from falling into Yellowstone's scalding pools.

The James Bond star, seen here standing on the springs, entered a plea through a paper filing on January 4 in the US District Court for Wyoming

The James Bond actor is accused of leaving the designated walkway and attempting to access thermals at Mammoth Terraces

Brosnan is just the latest tourist to try to bend the rules at the stunning national park.

At least 22 people have died from burns sustained in Yellowstone's springs and geysers.

They include Colin Nathaniel Scott, who is thought to have dissolved in the hot acidic water after leaving the boardwalk at the park's Norris Geyser Basin in search of a place to soak in 2015.

Similarly, the foot of Il Hun Ro, 70, was discovered by a National Parks employee after apparently falling in.

In 2021, a Connecticut woman jailed for seven days, fined $2,000 and banned from Yellowstone for two years for leaving the walkway and approaching the thermals.

Water temperatures at Mammoth Terraces' springs routinely soar to 161 degrees, while some springs at Yellowstone can register as low as 2 on the pH scale - just one mark above coercive stomach acid.

The Mammoth Terraces are a popular feature in Yellowstone, constantly changing in color and activity.

Federal rules stipulate visitors to national parks must stay on the designated walkways.

Venturing off the boardwalk is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.

The Irish star had been in the area filming 'The Unholy Trinity,' a Western starring Brosnan as a sheriff alongside Samuel L. Jackson.

The 1997 film revolves around volcanologist Harry Dalton, played by Brosnan, in the fictional town of Dante's Peak

The Irish star had been in the area filming 'The Unholy Trinity,' a Western starring Brosnan as a sheriff alongside Samuel L. Jackson. He is seen here in 'Dante's Peak'

Brosnan took his hike despite previously starring in a film highlighting the potential dangers of such springs - Dante's Peak.

The 1997 film revolves around volcanologist Harry Dalton, played by Brosnan, in the fictional town of Dante's Peak where the citizens fight to withstand an eruption.

One scene involves Brosnan's character stumbling across two people who have been boiled to death in a hot spring.

Brosnan was charged with Foot Travel in a Thermal Area and Closure Violation, according to court documents filed earlier this month.

In June, shocking video emerged of a couple ignoring warnings at they attempted to touch 175-degree geysers elsewhere in the park.

A woman was seen screaming in pain as she plunged her hand into the hot springs.

The clip was shared on the Instagram page TouronsofYellowstone, which regularly documents abuses and poor behavior in the park.

Most recently, a tourist was seen destroying delicate moose vegetation by driving off-road in a car.

In addition to his four James Bond films, Brosnan starred in the 1980s TV series 'Remington Steele' and is known for roles in the films 'Mrs. Doubtfire' and 'The Thomas Crown Affair.' He got his start in a non-speaking role in the 1980 gangster classic 'The Long Good Friday' starring Bob Hoskins.
An Italian travel influencer who was on a honeymoon is accused of causing the horror crash that killed an elderly couple and their daughter.

Gabriele Cairo, 28, faced Adelaide Magistrates Court for the first time on Wednesday, charged with two counts each of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury.

The court heard he crashed his hired campervan into a Honda Civic at the intersection of Templeton Road and Blyth Road in Adelaide's Everard Central, on October 31, last year.

Cynthia Clark, 84, and her daughter Jaqueline Clark, 54, were travelling in the Honda and both died at the scene, while John Clark, 86, was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he died almost a week later.

Gabriele Cairo (pictured right) is alleged to have been behind the wheel of a van that caused a fatal crash that lead to the deaths of an elderly couple and their daughter in Adelaide's north last year

Cairo and his wife Elena Perrone, 26, who are avid travellers were in South Australia for their dream honeymoon.

The newly wed couple run a YouTube Channel known as 'Hakuna Matata Viaggi' and have posted vlogs of their visits to several places including LA, Egypt, and Hawaii.

The pair are seen in several videos visiting tourist hotspots such as Hollywood and the Pyramids of Giza and having food at popular bars and restaurants.

Ms Perrone, who was inside the van driven by Cairo, also suffered critical injuries in the crash but survived.

Cairo's lawyer Hugh Woods asked Magistrate Justin Wickens to have his client's case adjourned and said Cairo doesn't speak English very well.

Cynthia Clark (pictured) died at the scene of the horror crash

Ms Clark's daughter Jaqueline (pictured) was also killed in the horror two vehicle smash

John Clark (pictured) suffered critical injuries and died almost a week later in hospital

'These charges are major indictable and will need to be referred to the District Court,' Mr Woods said.

'My client resides in Italy and is currently here on a tourist visa  we'll require an interpreter on the next occasion.'

The three victims were farewelled by hundreds of mourners at a funeral in November last year with Mr Clark and his wife and daughter remembered as much loved members of Adelaide's mid north community.

Cairo was remanded on bail and is set to face court again in March.
Best friend said Mr Gordon was planning to move house

The girlfriend of a young doctor who was fatally stabbed during a home invasion has hit back at speculation that her mysterious disappearance from the same home a year ago is linked to his death.

Dr Ash Gordon's partner Dakota Nagel, 25, made headlines last year after disappearing from the couple's Doncaster home, in Melbourne's north-east, after spending the night clubbing with friends on January 8.

After a week-long search, police located Ms Nagel safe on January 15, with the nature of her 'out-of-character' disappearance never explained.

On Saturday, Dr Gordon was tragically stabbed to death after the same Sargent St home was broken into by a gang of thugs during the early hours of the morning. His killers remain at large.

The 33-year-old GP of a nearby Box Hill medical clinic, bravely chased his attackers out of the home at 5am before he was fatally stabbed during a confrontation some 500metres away on Elidon Street.

'As far as we are concerned, the individuals involved in my disappearance were not involved in Ash's tragic death, and there is no link between the two,' Ms Nagel told the Herald Sun.

Dr Ash Gordon's partner Dakota Nagel, 25, made headlines last year after disappearing from the couple's Doncaster home, in Melbourne's north-east, on January 8

One year later, Dr Gordon (right) was tragically stabbed to death after the same Sargent St home was broken into by a gang of thugs during the early hours of Saturday

'Please during this time of grieving be mindful of speculating as it causes more harm and heartache than good.

'We would like people to respect our right to privacy.'

It comes as Tristen Standing, Dr Gordon's long-time friend and roommate, is struggling to comprehend what life will look like without his best friend by his side.

The pair, who met in primary school, were inseparable throughout their lives - from growing up in Gippsland, enjoying their early 20s dancing at festivals and travelling overseas, to spending the last decade as housemates at various addresses across Melbourne - including the Doncaster unit burgled on Saturday.

While unable to speak about the events of Saturday morning due to the active police investigation, Mr Standing told Daily Mail Australia detectives say they are close to catching his best friend's killers.

Part of the investigation will centre around two laptops from Dr Gordon's home - one was used for gaming while the other was a personal work computer which contained confidential information about patients.

Mr Standing said making the calls to Dr Gordon's family about his death was the hardest thing he's ever had to do.

In a sad coincidence, the family were travelling from Gippsland to Melbourne that day to see him and get work done at his clinic.

Tristen Standing (right) is struggling to comprehend what life will look like now his best friend, Dr Gordon, (left) is no longer by his side

While unable to speak about the events of Saturday due to the active police investigation, Mr Standing (left) said detectives say they are close to catching his best friend's killer

Mr Standing said Dr Gordon was so loved there is talk of getting a bus to bring people from Melbourne to Gippsland for his funeral as his family anticipate a massive turnout.

The electrician, who owns his own air conditioning company, said it was just last year his best mate was standing by his bedside, nursing him back to health, after he was electrocuted on a job.

He was knocked flat by a severe electric shock while working on a roof.

'I thought I was going to die. I was in bad shape. My hair smelt like burnt bacon,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'I eventually came to and the first person I called was Ash. He told me to get to hospital straight away.

'When I arrived, next thing I know, there are like 20 doctors surrounding me. Like I'm a specimen.

He had called the hospital ahead of my arrival to let them know his best mate was coming in and asked them to 'look after me.'

A short time later, to Mr Standing's surprise, his best friend walked into his hospital room, dressed in scrubs.

'He'd dropped everything to take time off to be there with me,' he recalled.

'He stayed there by my side, keeping me company and feeding me ice.

'He was such a great bloke. Completely selfless.'

'Everything was going great for him. He was in the prime of his life,' Mr Standing said of his best friend, Dr Gordon, who was fatally stabbed in a horror home invasion on Saturday

Growing up, Mr Standing and Dr Gordon spent their days going to school then playing together on their families properties.

In the classroom, Dr Gordon was a natural intellectual whose academic prowess shone as he helped his friends and other students solve math problems.

In Year 10, he was voted by the class as the student most likely to succeed in life, before later graduating high school with honours.

Mr Standing said Dr Gordon was drawn to medicine because of his interest in science and passion for helping people - and, of course, the appealing income.

His patience, down to earth nature, and candid approach quickly made him popular among clients, with many following him as he moved to different clinics.

Fiercely ambitious, organised, and fastidious, Dr Gordon worked and exercised six days a week, while also launching his own business.

Mr Standing and Dr Gordon grew up together in Gippsland and enjoyed their early 20s dancing at festivals and travelling overseas. They spent the last decade as housemates

Aside from his GP work, he also ran Richmond-based cosmetic clinic Redefine Aesthetics, which specialises in skin health, wellness and anti-ageing.

When his cosmetic clinic - which he mapped the interior design for by himself - opened around February last year, it was the 'best day of his life'.

'He was so happy when it finally opened. He said it was 'best day of his life,' Mr Standing recalled.

'Everything was going great for him. He was in the prime of his life.'

Mr Standing said Dr Gordon, and his girlfriend of six years, Ms Nagel, had been planning on moving to Kew, which is closer to the Richmond clinic, but had been yet to find the right property.

The trio were so close they had always joked that Mr Standing would forever be living with the couple.

Mr Standing (far left) said Dr Gordon (far right) was fiercely protective of the people he loved and didn't hesitate to spring into action when intruders entered their home

A team of detectives were seen scouring a property near Dr Gordon's two-storey unit on Tuesday morning, with an officer carrying evidence bags to a vehicle (pictured)

Mr Standing said Dr Gordon was fiercely protective of the people he loved and didn't hesitate to spring into action when intruders entered their home.

While Dr Gordon touched the lives of everyone he met, Mr Standing said he felt honoured to be his best friend.

'I'm just lucky he picked me, to spend all of those hours, days, weeks with,' he said.

'Nobody will ever be able to fill that hole in my life.

He is irreplaceable.'

A team of detectives were seen scouring a property near Dr Gordon's two-storey unit on Tuesday morning, with an officer carrying evidence bags to a vehicle.

Anyone with information or CCTV has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Sentencing is scheduled for an American heiress who pleaded guilty to helping kill her mother and stuffing the body in a suitcase during a luxury vacation in Bali nearly a decade ago.

Federal prosecutors are recommending a 28-year prison sentence for Heather Mack, considerably more time than defense lawyers are expected to ask when she is sentenced for conspiring to kill Sheila von Wiese-Mack Wednesday in Chicago.

The government is also seeking five years of supervised release for the 28-year-old - who has already pleaded guilty - as well as a $250,000 fine and restitution of $262,708.

Mack's wealthy mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack - married to composer late James L. Mack, who died during a family trip in 2006 - was killed, stuffed in a suitcase and left in a taxi in 2014.

Mack and her then-boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, were later convicted of the crime in Indonesia, but have yet to be sentenced in the US.

Their apparent motive was money, hoping Mack would inherit the millions her already well-off mother had come into after James's death.

Federal prosecutors are recommending a 28-year prison sentence for Heather Mack, considerably more time behind bars than defense lawyers are expected to ask at her sentencing Wednesday

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)

In a filing last week, prosecutors said the recommended sentence 'is warranted and sufficient, but not greater than necessary to serve a just and appropriate punishment for Macks heinous crime.'

Mack pleaded guilty last June to one count of conspiring to kill Wiese-Mack with her then-boyfriend to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund. Prosecutors have said that Mack, then 18 and pregnant, covered her mothers mouth in a hotel room while Tommy Schaefer bludgeoned Wiese-Mack with a fruit bowl.

The case gained international attention in part because of photographs of the suitcase Wiese-Mack was placed in, which seemed too small to hold an adult womans body.

Prosecutors have said Mack and Schaefer had planned the killing for months. They also said they had video evidence that showed both Mack and Schaefer trying to get the suitcase with Wiese-Macks body inside it into an Indonesian taxicab.

Mack, who lived with her mother in suburban Chicagos Oak Park, served seven years of her 10-year Indonesian sentence. She was deported in 2021 and U.S. agents arrested her immediately after her plane landed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Mack's then-6-year-old daughter was with her when she was arrested. The girl later was placed with a relative after a custody fight.

Macks lawyers are seeking a 15-year prison term - but with credit for seven years spent in the Indonesian prison for her 2015 conviction of being an accessory to Wiese-Macks murder. Separately, she would automatically get credit for more than two years spent in custody in Chicago since her return to the US.

'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,' attorney Michael Leonard said in a recent court filing, referring to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The plea agreement calls for a sentence of no more than 28 years. As part of the plea deal, two other charges against Mack would be dropped at the end of the sentencing process.

Schaefer was convicted of murder and remains in Indonesia, where he is serving an 18-year sentence. He is charged in the same US indictment.

Until this past June, she had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and obstruction of justice - a stance she walked back on on June 15.

Mack's wealthy mother, von Wiese-Mack - married to the late James L. Mack, a renowned composer - was killed and stuffed in a suitcase by the pair before being left in a taxi on the island of Bali in 2014. The couple were then discovered and arrested

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 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

Less than a week after she was freed from Bali on good behavior, Mack was arrested on a three-charge federal indictment after landing at Chicago O'Hare Airport on November 3. Mack was accompanied by the six-year-old prison-born daughter at the time

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

Her sentencing in Chicago, meanwhile is slated for Wednesday, nearly ten years after the case first grabbed headlines due to Mack's plotting to kill von Wiese-Mack - and her subsequent stuffing her body in a suitcase she and her beau left in a taxi.

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.

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 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.

'I'm going to be a felon in America, and that is fine. I understand from [the US government's] perspective that, if I don't plead guilty and they didn't indict me, I wouldn't 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.'

Mack's son Stella - whom she birthed serving her overseas sentence in Indonesian prison - 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

Mack is pictured shortly after her release from a Bali prison in October, after which moves were made to have her face justice in the US

Mack was pregnant at the time of the murder and delivered her daughter, Stella (pictured together, left), in prison. Mack's then-boyfriend Tommy Schaefer (pictured holding Stella, right), who is also the father of her child, is serving an 18-year sentence for murder

Mack faced two counts of conspiring to kill her mother, as well as a third count of corruptly destroying, mutilating, and concealing evidence - a charge incurred for 'forcing the body of Sheila A. von Wiese into a suitcase,' according to prosecutors.

Von Wiese-Mack's siblings have testified that they feared for their safety if Mack should be released, after attorneys claimed Mack was coerced into the murder plot to be free of her mother's control.

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. Her sentence will be handed down Wednesday in the Windy City.
Britain has shivered through the coldest January night in five years and the chilliest of this winter so far as temperatures plunged well below zero and more snow fell.

The mercury plummeted to -14C (6.8F) at Dalwhinnie in the Highlands today, while Glasgow dropped to -9C (16F), Edinburgh to -7C (19F) and Newcastle to -6C (21F).

The big freeze made it the coldest night this winter so far, beating the -12.5C (9.5F) minimum temperature recorded at Altnaharra in Sutherland on December 3.

Forecasters had predicted some snow-covered parts of Scotland could reach -15C (5F) overnight, which would make it the coldest January night for 14 years. The last time the mercury dropped that low was in January 2010, when -22.3C was recorded.

The highest snow depths are currently all in Scotland, including 9.1in (23cm) at Lerwick, 7.1in (18cm) in Altnaharra, 5.9in (15cm) at Wick and 4.3in (11cm) in Aberdeen.

The Met Office has issued amber warnings for snow between 3pm today and 6pm tomorrow in North West Scotland and the Northern Isles - meaning road delays are likely, some vehicles could be stranded and rural communities might be cut off.

A couple walk their dog in Fort William, Scotland, as temperatures remain at sub zero today

A horse is wrapped in a thermal covering in Fort William, Scotland, as cold climes continue into the afternoon

The UK is in the grip of a cold spell, with Arctic air sweeping in from the north, causing widespread frost, strong winds, and substantial snowfall in the northern regions (Pictured: Ahorse in Fort William, Scotland)

A walker at the frozen Lochan na Achlaise at Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands today

Icicles hang from a bridge at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

Lorries and vans are driven through the snowy and icy roads at Alston in Cumbria this morning

A snow-covered cottage surrounded by fields near Carrshields in Northumberland today

Walkers gather on the top of Mam Tor near Castleton in the High Peak of Derbyshire today

Picture postcard scenes at Alston in Cumbria this morning as snow covers fields and hills

A waterfall at Middleton-in-Teesdale in County Durham is pictured partially frozen today

A young couple snuggle up on a bench at the Hartside Cafe in Alston, Cumbria, this morning

A train crosses Ribblehead viaduct this morning near Gearstones in the snowy Yorkshire Dales

Motorists travelling through Alston in Cumbria today which has been hit by heavy snow

Dawn over the frozen landscape surrounding Minninglow in the Derbyshire Peak District today

Traffic on the snow covered A832 near Muir of Ord in the Scottish Highlands this morning

Ross Fountain in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens is still frozen today as the chill continues

Houses, roads and pavements are covered in snow at Edale in the Peak District this morning

Yellow weather warnings of snow and ice were also updated this morning, with much of Scotland, northern England, parts of Wales and Northern Ireland covered throughout today, and southern and central Scotland affected by an ice warning.

Hundreds of schools again shut in Scotland today due to the severe weather - including all council schools and nurseries in Shetland and Orkney, 144 in the Highlands and about 90 in Aberdeenshire, while others delayed opening times.

Forecasters said there could be snow in the far South of England today, as well as a chance it will push 'slightly further north to bring more snow to southern counties'.

Freezing temperatures and snow will continue for the rest of this week because of cold Arctic air before 'potentially disruptive' stormy weather lands this weekend.

Meteorologists said a 'cold plunge of Arctic air' had moved south across the UK over the past few days, making it 5C to 6C lower than usual for this time of year.

Met Office snow and ice weather warnings are in place for today (left) and tomorrow (right)

The Met Office has issued amber warnings for snow between 3pm today and 6pm tomorrow

A Met Office spokeswoman said the low temperatures are also due to how long the cold snap has lasted.

READ MORE HERE: Travel chaos grips UK in -9C deep freeze as police respond to 'influx' of road collisions with 4ins of snow hitting the north and 100 schools closed as temperatures plunge Advertisement

She said: 'It's due to the prolonged nature of this cold spell, it will have been lasting for quite a few days.

'A build up of snow, as well, just allows for the temperatures to get colder and colder and we don't often see a cold spell last three to five days.

'The air is coming directly from the Arctic, so it is exceptionally cold air.

'It's staying cold until Friday, and then looking further ahead into the weekend we've got some deep areas of low pressure pushing in, so a big change in weather type, and we could see some stormy conditions by the end of the week.

'The cold isn't lasting right to end of the week, but we have a very different type of potentially-disruptive weather arriving.'

The weather is forecast to turn stormy on Sunday, she added.

Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across Scotland, much of northern England and parts of North Wales until tomorrow, then more mild temperatures are forecast along with wind and rain.

The Met Office said there could be snow in the far South of England today, as well as a chance it will push 'slightly further north to bring more snow to southern counties'

More than 1ft 4in (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 added.

Meanwhile, lower ground in north-west Scotland could see between 2in (5cm) and 4in (10cm) of snow by the end of the working week.

The Met Office said: 'There is a system skirting the south of the UK. This could bring a few snow flurries to the far south with a small chance of pushing slightly further north to bring more snow to southern counties.'

It said it is reviewing the situation and any new warnings could be issued at short notice.

Walkers on the top of Mam Tor near Castleton in the High Peak of Derbyshire today

Icicles hang from a bridge at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

Highland cows stand on snow which is covering the hills and fields of Alston in Cumbria today

A snow-covered cottage surrounded by fields near Carrshields in Northumberland today

Walkers on the top of Mam Tor near Castleton in the High Peak of Derbyshire today

Edale train station in the snowy Peak District this morning after more sub-zero temperatures

Snow covers the ground at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

A view of the frozen Lochan na Achlaise at Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands today

Snow covers the ground at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

A view of the frozen Lochan na Achlaise at Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands today

Walkers on the top of Mam Tor near Castleton in the High Peak of Derbyshire today

Snow covers the ground at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

Icicles hang from a bridge at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

Snow covers the ground at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

A view of the frozen Lochan na Achlaise at Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands today

Snow covers the ground at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

A view of the frozen Lochan na Achlaise at Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands today

Icicles hang from a bridge at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

Walkers on the top of Mam Tor near Castleton in the High Peak of Derbyshire today

Snow covers the ground at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

Icicles hang from a bridge at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

The weekend will be milder, but westerly weather will bring wind and rain - and the potential for more weather warnings as the snow melts.

The Government has confirmed thousands of households in England and Wales are eligible for cold weather payments.

They are made to vulnerable people, including pensioners, to help them pay for heating when the temperature dips below freezing.

The payments go to those living in an area where the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days.

Payments will be made to homes across Cumbria, Oxfordshire, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Norfolk, Staffordshire and Powys in Wales.

A view of the frozen Lochan na Achlaise at Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands today

Icicles hang from a bridge at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

Walkers on the top of Mam Tor near Castleton in the High Peak of Derbyshire today

A view of the frozen Lochan na Achlaise at Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands today

Icicles hang from a bridge at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

A view of the frozen Lochan na Achlaise at Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands today

Icicles hang from a bridge at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

A view of the frozen Lochan na Achlaise at Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands today

Walkers on the top of Mam Tor near Castleton in the High Peak of Derbyshire today

Icicles hang from a bridge at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

A view of the frozen Lochan na Achlaise at Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands today

Icicles hang from a bridge at the Killhope slate mine in County Durham this morning

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold-health alert, which warns of possible impacts for the health and social care sector.

More than 100 schools were closed in Scotland yesterday, while drivers faced difficult conditions thanks to the wintry weather across North West England, including in Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria.

National Rail warned the wintry weather could affect train journeys all week, with services between Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness running to an altered schedule today.

ScotRail said an otherwise normal service is expected to run today, bar a handful of changes on the Highland Mainline.
A seven-month-old baby who recently returned to Sydney from the Middle East is the second case of measles reported in NSW in the last week.

The infant was too young to be vaccinated and was not considered to be infectious on the flight into Sydney.

NSW Health are renewing calls for people to stay alert for symptoms after two children returning from overseas have now been reported with the highly-infectious illness.

This includes fever, sore eyes and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body

Health Minister Ryan Park said it can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it's important for people to stay vigilant if they've been exposed.

'If you develop symptoms, please call ahead to your GP or emergency department to ensure you do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients,' he said.

A seven-month-old baby who recently returned to Sydney from the Middle East is the second case of measles reported in NSW in the last week

'This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is very infectious.'

Sydney Airport and an Emirates flight from Dubai to Sydney were added to an exposure site list on Tuesday, after the first case of measles was reported.

The nine-month-old infant had recently returned from Asia , where there has been an outbreak of measles in several countries including Pakistan and India.

An urgent health alert was issued on Tuesday for several locations in Sydney's inner west and southwest.

In an updated statement, NSW Health added the following locations where people may have been exposed to the case:

Emirates flight EK 416 from Dubai to Sydney, arriving in Sydney on January 10 at 6:36pm

Sydney Airport - Terminal 1 International Arrivals (including baggage claim and customs) between 6:36pm and 9pm on January 10

The new sites were in addition to the initial exposure location at the Five Star Coffee and Nuts grocery on Yerrick Rd in Lakemba, on January 12 between 3pm-5pm when the case visited the venue.

NSW Health are renewing calls for people to stay alert for symptoms after two children returning from overseas have now been reported with the highly-infectious illness

They have identified and contacted people who have been in close contact with the infant to arrange preventive treatment if required.

The measles vaccine can prevent disease after exposure if administered early enough and is free for anyone born during or after 1966 who hasn't had two doses already.

It is available for children at 12 months of age.

Anyone born after this dose needs to ensure they have received two doses of measles vaccine, particularly if they plan to travel overseas due to a number of outbreaks in the Middle East and Asia.

Children under the age of 12 months can receive their first dose of the vaccine up to three months earlier if they are travelling to areas considered high risk for measles following consultation with their GP.

People who are unsure of whether they have had two doses should get a vaccine, as additional doses are safe.
A former New Zealand Green Party MP has been charged with two counts of shoplifting after she was allegedly caught stealing a designer handbag.

Golriz Ghahraman was charged by New Zealand police on Wednesday, just hours after she announced her resignation from Parliament.

'Today, a 43-year-old woman has been summonsed to appear in the Auckland District Court on two charges of shoplifting,' police said in a statement.

'These charges relate to incidents at a Ponsonby retailer that allegedly occurred on 21 and 23 December 2023.'

Ms Ghahraman, who previously held the minor party's justice portfolio, was filmed on December 23 allegedly stealing a luxury handbag from Scotties Boutique, where she is alleged to have shoplifted from on two occasions.

The handbag she allegedly stole is a grey Issey Miyake, with the brand's range starting at around $274 and climbing to nearly $1,600.

One of Ms Ghahraman's neighbours told the NZ Herald that police visited her Grey Lynn home in Auckland on Wednesday and left holding a large paper bag.

She appeared downcast as she greeted five officers at her front gate but smiled as she introduced herself, another onlooker said.

Ms Ghahraman was the first refugee elected to New Zealand's parliament after arriving as a child with her family from Iran

READ MORE: New Zealand political party announces radical election policy to return stolen land to Indigenous owners - including private property Advertisement

Following a meeting with Green Party leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson on Tuesday, Ms Ghahraman resigned from the New Zealand Parliament.

She said her behaviour was 'out-of-character' and prompted by the stresses of office that had triggered 'previously unrecognised trauma'.

'It is clear to me that my mental health is being badly affected by the stresses relating to my work,' she said.

'This has led me to act in ways that are completely out of character. I am not trying to excuse my actions, but I do want to explain them.'

Ms Ghahraman went on to say she 'fell short' of the 'highest standards of behaviour' people expect of elected representatives.

'It's not a behaviour I can explain because it's not rational in any way, and after medical evaluation, I understand I'm not well,' she said.

'The mental health professional I see says my recent behaviour is consistent with recent events giving rise to extreme stress response, and relating to previously unrecognised trauma.

'With that in mind, I don't want to hide behind my mental health problems, and I take full responsibility for my actions which I deeply regret.

'I have let down a lot of people and I am very sorry. The best thing for my mental health is to resign as a Member of Parliament and to focus on my recovery and to find other ways to work for positive change in the world.'

Ms Ghahraman (pictured) has been charged with two counts of shoplifting

Video shows Ms Ghahraman allegedly stealing a designer handbag from the boutique

It comes as Melanie Smith, the owner of Wellington gift shop Cre8iveworx, wrote in an email that she had laid a police complaint against Ms Ghahraman.

Police have confirmed they are investigating three alleged shoplifting accusations.

Mr Shaw and Ms Davidson told New Zealand media on Tuesday that they supported Ms Ghahraman's decision to resign and that she had faced stresses beyond the norm for MPs.

'Obviously Parliament is a stressful place for anybody, but Ghahraman has been subject to continuous threats of sexual violence, physical violence, and death threats,' Mr Shaw said.

Ms Ghahraman, a former UN human rights lawyer, was the first refugee to be sworn in as a New Zealand MP, having arrived in the country as an asylum seeker from Iran.

She was selected as a Green Party list candidate in January 2017.

Ms Ghahraman is scheduled to appear in the Auckland District Court on February 1.
An Irishman living in Australia is feared to have drowned after he went missing more than a week ago.

Damien Lucey, 42, was last seen swim at Honeycombs Beach, about a three-hour drive south west of Perth, on January 8.

Mr Lucey, who is from Cork and had been living Down Under for about 10 years, was heard calling out to beachgoers that afternoon after getting into trouble in the rough waters.

Police believe he drowned however his body is yet to be found.

Just hours earlier, Mr Lucey uploaded a video to Instagram standing on rocks overlooking the picturesque beach with the clip showing a stunning view of the waves and the ocean.

Damien Lucey (pictured right) who went for a afternoon swim at Honeycombs Beach, southwest of Perth is believed to have drowned

Multiple emergency crews including paramedics and Surf Live Saving volunteers rushed to the scene following reports Mr Lucey was struggling in the water.

Water police and Volunteer Marine Rescue Crews began to search for the man but Western Australia Police said they could not find him following search and rescue efforts.

'Unfortunately the search did not yield any results on the day, and further fly-bys were conducted by the Surf Life Saving helicopter several times a day following,' a police spokesperson said.

'At this stage, police have deemed that tragically, the man drowned.'

'A report will be prepared for the coroner.'

Mr Lucey (pictured) who is from a city called Cork in southern Ireland got into trouble while he was in the water and was heard calling out for help by two bystanders before emergency crews arrived at the beach

The incident has left Mr Lucey's family devastated, with his sister Eleanor taking to Facebook to put up a heartbreaking post about her 'funny' and 'witty' brother.

'We are still waiting for the call to say that he has been found,' she wrote.

'We want to say that we will be eternally grateful for Damo's (Damien's) Aussie family for what they are doing for us. Please keep hope he will be returned to us.'

A family friend set up a GoFundMe page on Tuesday to help raise money for the family to make the trip to Perth to help in efforts to find Mr Lucey's body.

A family friend set up a GoFundMe page to help Mr Lucey's (pictured) family fly to Perth to help the with effort to locate his body

The 42-year-old (pictured left) had been living in Perth for more than 10 years and often swam at Honeycombs beach, known as a popular surfing spot

'This tragedy has obviously devastated the Lucey family and his close friends,' the post read.

'Everyone that knew Damien is heartbroken by this tragic loss and I know all those that knew him will join in the desire to want to assist his family at this difficult time.'

'My hope is that we can help them in returning to Perth to aid in the search for Damien, and to bring him home!'

More than $57,000 was raised in just one day with some $66,000 the target.
BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed staying committed to the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics and boosting the high-quality development of the financial sector. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing the opening of a study session at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance). While abiding by the objective laws of modern financial development, the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics enjoys features that better suit China's national conditions and is fundamentally different from the Western financial model, Xi said at the study session attended by principal officials at the provincial and ministerial levels. He called for firming up confidence and making sustained exploration and improvement to further broaden this path. Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, as well as Vice President Han Zheng attended the opening ceremony of the study session. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the event. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, efforts have been made to constantly deepen the understanding of the essence of socialist finance with Chinese characteristics, and promote financial innovations in terms of practice, theories and institution, Xi said. The country has accumulated valuable experience and gradually formed a path of financial development with Chinese characteristics, Xi said. The path adheres to the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee over the financial work and adopts a people-centered approach, according to Xi. It sticks to the fundamental purpose of serving the real economy, and takes preventing and controlling risks as the eternal theme of financial work, Xi said. The path also follows the principles of promoting financial innovation and development on the track of marketization and rule of law, deepening supply-side structural reform of the financial sector, coordinating financial opening-up and security, and seeking progress while maintaining stability. Xi noted that a financially robust country should be based on a strong economic foundation, possessing leading economic, scientific, technological and overall national strength in the world. At the same time, a country with great financial strength should also boast a series of key core financial elements, namely, a strong currency, a strong central bank, strong financial institutions, strong international financial centers, strong financial supervision and regulation, and a strong financial talent pool, he said. To strengthen China's financial capabilities, Xi urged efforts to accelerate the building of a modern financial system with Chinese characteristics, and establish and improve a scientific and prudent financial regulation system, a reasonably structured financial market system, a financial institution system with division of tasks and collaboration, a complete and effective financial oversight system, a diversified and professional financial product and service system, and an independent, controllable, safe and efficient financial infrastructure system. He emphasized efforts to prevent and defuse financial risks, especially systemic risks. Financial oversight needs to have "teeth and thorns" and be sharp-pointed, he said, adding that law enforcement should be strict in market access, prudential oversight and behavioral regulation. By boosting opening-up, China will work to enhance the efficiency and capability of financial resource allocation, improve global competitiveness and rule-making influence, and maintain a steady and prudent rhythm and intensity, he said. It is necessary to promote high-level financial opening-up by focusing on institutional opening-up, and implement the pre-establishment national treatment plus negative list management system, he noted. Xi stressed alignment with financial rules in global high-level economic and trade agreements, fewer restrictive measures, and better transparency, stability and predictability of opening-up policies. More should be done to regulate overseas investment and financing activities and improve financial support for the Belt and Road cooperation, he said. To boost the country's financial strength, it is important to adhere to the combination of the rule of law and the rule of virtue and cultivate a financial culture with Chinese characteristics, he said. Such a culture adheres to the following principles: being honest and trustworthy; seeking gains through righteous approaches and avoiding a single-minded focus on profit; maintaining prudence and caution in work without succumbing to the lure of quick success; preventing funds from being diverted out of the real economy; ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, and refraining from reckless actions. Cai Qi said that it is important to deeply understand and grasp the rich connotations of Xi's important words and align thoughts and actions with the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee.
Republican presidential candidates Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, and former President Donald Trump have each taken hard-line positions on China, sentiments that likely voters in 2024 may not embrace, according to a new poll. Associated Press

When a Texas man brutally stabbed a 6-year-old Asian child and attacked his family in March 2020, he admitted it was because he believed the family was responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The rhetoric mirrored that of then-President Donald Trump, who had by that point labeled the disease a foreign virus and endorsed calling it the China virus.

In the lead-up to this years election, political observers say they expect increasing use of anti-China rhetoric by presidential candidates to score political points.

A new poll conducted by the nonprofit National AAPI Power Fund and polling firm Impact Research, which works with Democratic candidates, shows that likely 2024 voters in California and eight battleground states fear such aggressive anti-China posturing will continue to drive violence against Asian and Pacific Islander people.

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Our research shows that voters across the board, including AAPI voters, see through the scapegoating, EunSook Lee, National AAPI Power Fund executive director, said in a news release announcing the poll results. AAPI voters are critical to winning a multiracial path to democracy; they are tired of being scapegoated and are weary of Republican political extremism.

Criticism of China and scrutiny on Chinese nationals are well underway among presidential candidates on both sides of the political aisle, but California-based political strategist and former political director of the the California Republican Party Mike Madrid said not to draw a false equivalency between the two parties.

Republicans in the past three decades have mastered the art of vilifying small niche minority groups in order to galvanize and mobilize the shrinking white voter base, Madrid said, adding that he thinks the Republican nominee wont need to win over Asian voters to win the election. The math clearly favors being anti-China for political purposes.

Trump, who remains his partys front-runner while being a defendant in four criminal prosecutions, has said this campaign cycle that he wants to decouple the U.S. and Chinese economies and escalate surveillance efforts to weed out Chinese spies.

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And former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who finished third in Iowa, has said that Communist China is the most dangerous foreign threat weve faced since the Second World War.

For his part, President Joe Biden last month authorized a short-term extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows federal electronic surveillance of civilians suspected of foreign espionage, while his administration accused China of spying on the U.S. from Cuba.

As the U.S. and China become more confrontational and tensions escalate in the South China Sea with Taiwan, Madrid said there is every indication that anti-China rhetoric may match or replace the anti-Mexico rhetoric used by Trump in 2016.

However, the poll of likely voters in the 2024 election showed that many might not support such rhetoric.

Of the 900 poll respondents, 61% believed U.S. politicians rhetoric about China is responsible for a rise in violence toward the AAPI community. Among AAPI voters, the number rises to 76%. The poll had a margin of error of 3.3 points.

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Conducted Sept. 18-24, the poll also showed that most voters wanted to see candidates stand up for American interests without singling out China, said Matt Hogan, a partner at Impact Research, who conducted the poll.

Overall, voters are not looking to point fingers and blame, said Josh Ulibarri, a partner at Lake Research Partners who conducted focus group discussions as part of the project. Theyre looking for solutions.

Manjusha Kulkarni, executive director of the Asian and Pacific Islander Equity Alliance and co-founder of the national anti-racism group Stop AAPI Hate, said she expects anti-Asian enmity to increase this year and is concerned that politicians anti-China stances may empower perpetrators of acts of hate.

AAPI communities are not a monolith, she said, but perpetrators dont often distinguish between whether someone is Chinese or looks Chinese.

Florida is one of 12 states that have passed land ownership bans preventing Chinese nationals, including immigrants, from buying land, according to Stop the Blame, a legislation-tracking project of Stop Asian Hate in collaboration with Chinese for Affirmative Action.

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Kulkarnis organization and other anti-hate groups have advocated for the repeal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which she said allows for the surveillance of innocent civilians for being people of color.

But despite the increasing power of Asian American voters, who are the fastest-growing bloc of eligible voters, Madrid said he expects such rhetoric to continue to be used to score political points this year.

In the short term, Madrid said, nativist, anti-minority language helps Republican candidates rally a broad base of white, particularly non-college-educated voters, for whom the idea of a common enemy resonates.

Furthermore, the 2020 election demonstrated a rightward shift among AAPI voters, and showed Trump actually picked up more support in some immigrant communities compared with 2016, indicating AAPI and other immigrant voters may not be so turned off by his divisive style.

It really begs the whole host of issues, which is: Do a lot of nonwhite voters just tune this stuff out, have accepted this as just part of living in America? he said.

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But in the long term, he said, as white voters become a smaller share of the electorate, and college-educated white voters, especially, are turned off by nativist threats, it remains to be seen whether Republicans are hurting themselves.
A woman is fighting for her life in hospital after she was stabbed in south east London yesterday.

Scotland Yard detectives have launched a manhunt for the knifeman following the attack in Penhill Road, Bexley, at around 4.07pm.

The woman, aged in her 30s, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. It is believed the suspect is known to her.

Officers arrived within minutes and administered first aid alongside London Ambulance Service paramedics.

In an update this morning, the Metropolitan Police told MailOnline she remains in a critical condition and no arrests have been made.

A Met Police officer stands guard outside a cordoned off home in Penhill Road, Bexley, after a woman was stabbed

Part of the street was closed off as Scotland Yard detectives launched a manhunt for the knifeman

Part of the street and a home were sealed off yesterday afternoon with an officer seen standing guard.

A large black people carrier car and a black BMW remain on the driveway of the address, which is also cordoned off from the street with blue tape, outside of which a lone police officer paces.

One local, who has lived a five or six doors down for two decades, says he believes the occupants have lived there for the same amount of time.

The man, who didn't want to give his name, added that the couple - who he says are of white British ethnicity - that lived at the address had teenage children together, but that he hadn't seen the husband at the home in some time.

'I knew them to see them but I don't know them well,' he said. 'I've never really spoken to them.

'I have seen various people in there lately But I haven't seen him - the husband - for a while.

'So I don't know who's living there at the moment, to be honest.'

Inspector Graham Rickard, from the local policing team in Bexley, said yesterday: 'Officers arrived at the scene within three minutes of the initial report and provided first aid to the victim along with paramedics.

'Sadly, she is seriously injured and has been taken to hospital in a critical condition.

'At this early stage we believe the suspect is known to her. Officers remain at the scene and are searching for the suspect.'

The woman, aged in her 30s, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. It is believed the suspect is known to her

Angela Waghorn, who lives just across the road, said she hadn't seen anything like this 'awful' stabbing in the three decades she's lived on the road.

'We didn't see nothing,' the 78-year-old said. 'We heard all the sirens and there's been gas people digging up the roads around here recently, so we thought it was something to do with that.

'It's awful. There's so much trouble nowadays. It's quiet around here, although it's quite a busy road.'

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called yesterday at 4.40pm to reports of an incident on Penhill Road, Bexley.

'We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an incident response officer, and a medic in a fast-response car. We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance.

'We treated a woman at the scene, before taking her to a major trauma centre.'
A well-travelled graphic designer raped his Airbnb host as she welcomed him as her first ever guest, a jury was told today.

Diego Dellarovere, 43, of Holland Road in West Kensington, London, is alleged to have sexually assaulted and raped the woman at her flat in Croydon in 2021.

Croydon Crown Court was shown a video-recorded police interview with his alleged victim.

She gave detectives an account of how she claimed to have barricaded herself in her own bedroom with her pets and hid her kitchen knives following the attack.

Dellarovere denies charges of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration.

Diego Dellarovere, 43, is on trial accused of raping a woman who welcomed him into her home as an Airbnb guest

Dellarovere is alleged to have asked to give his victim a massage before he attacked her

Dellarovere outside Croydon Crown Court, where he is standing trial on charges of rape and sexual assault

In the interview the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told detectives: 'I was just going to report this to Airbnb and leave it at that. My initial thoughts were it was pointless because it was not going to go anywhere.

'Then my thought was that he is likely going to do that to someone again so I want his name to be flagged.'

The woman said she became a host to make the most of the spare room in her flat, and thought it strange that Dellarovere needed a one-night Airbnb since he lived elsewhere in London.

However, she accepted the booking, and as she welcomed him into her home she poured them both a glass of wine. The accused then began rubbing her shoulders.

The woman continued in her statement: 'He mentioned massage at that point and was following me very close and came behind me and started rubbing my shoulders and I said: "No thanks."

'Then when I was sitting on the couch he was touching my legs and said: "Put on spa music and I can give you a massage." He was saying: "I have oil. I will give you a massage."

'I felt like he was just looking at me and not wanting just small talk and that's when things turned.'

Dellarovere is then alleged to have grabbed the woman, 'quite strongly pulling me in' even as she struggled to push him away.

He is then alleged to have put his hand into her leggings as she said: 'I don't want this,' before pulling down his trousers and his underwear.

After allegedly forcing her to perform a sex act, Dellarovere is then said to have followed his victim around her kitchen trying to grab her.

She continued: 'He started grabbing me again and I said: "You're really p***ing me off now," and he walked away, tidied himself up and went into the spare bedroom.

'I went to my bedroom and he was texting me, asking: "Are you sure?" and then texted me that he was sorry and asked if I was angry.

'I was scared because he did not get what he wanted and would go out and bring someone back.'

She gathered her pet dog and cat and took cover in her bedroom, pulling a piece of furniture across the door to barricade herself in.

She also hid her knife block, saying: 'I did not know what he was capable of doing.'

Dellarovere, who had her door keys, returned to the flat at 2.00am after 'going for a walk' and spent the night in the spare room.

Before leaving the next morning he told the host: 'I'll leave a good review.'

She left a neutral Airbnb review about Dellarovere as a guest, which seemed to annoy him, the court heard.

She added: 'He responded with an angry face emoji and there was some back and forth messaging in which he said it was consensual and using block capitals said I liked it.'

Dellarovere then sent further WhatsApp messages to the woman, including: 'You are repressed,' 'You're not a good person,' 'You need to be more in your soul not your mind,' 'Be an adult, not a baby,' and 'I didn't see any objections from you.'

Dellarovere then blocked the woman, but contacted her again when she reported to Airbnb her concerns about his stay, resulting in her ultimately blocking him.

The trial continues.
Vapes will soon only be available in pharmacies

An Aussie YouTuber has declared he will move overseas after the government introduced new rules banning the importation and sale of vape products.

Samuel Parsons, better known as Vape Bogan, says the tough new laws means he will have to relocate to the United Kingdom to save his YouTube career.

Mr Parsons makes a living reviewing vape products, which come March 1 will be only be available in pharmacies for Australians with a prescription from their GP.

'It's devastating that it's come to this, that I'm going to have to leave my mum, dad and sister,' he told his 185,000 subscribers in a video on Monday.

'I've been doing this a long time and don't have a lot to fall back in to.

'So I've made the pretty tough decision to move country and go somewhere that does believe vaping is a healthier alternative, that does encourage smokers to access those products and doesn't make it f***ing hard to access those products.'

Samuel Parsons, better known as Vape Bogan, says Australia's tough new laws on vaping have forced him to move to the United Kingdom to continue his YouTube career

Mr Parsons warned Australians who vaped to 'stock up now'.

'It's going to be really expensive to quit smoking legally here in Australia,' he said.

'After the shops run dry later on this year they'll be able to keep going on for a while but you won't be able to buy anything online from overseas.

'And they won't be able to replenish their stock. So it'll be Doomsday.'

New legislation introduced from January 1 bans the sale of nicotine vapes in specialised retailers and convenience stores. People will need to get a prescription from their GP in order to buy a vape from a chemist.

Selling nicotine vapes has been illegal since 2021 under laws introduced by the previous Morrison government, but many retailers have continued to sell them.

Mr Parsons said after spending two weeks speaking with industry experts he realised 'there's really not much we can do'.

'I really have no choice but to f***ing leave Australia if I want to continue doing what I love, which is making content and helping people quit smoking,' he said.

However, in the same video Mr Parsons claimed the new legislation would fail.

Mr Parsons (pictured) makes a living reviewing vape products, which come March 1 will be only be available in pharmacies for people with a prescription in Australia

'The Australian Government's prohibition approach isn't going to work, the black market is going to go absolutely f***ing bananas, there'll be all sorts of illegal sales,' he said his subscribers.

'All we can hope for is that the government has to review what they've done, look at the even bigger mess they've created, and hopefully rethink it.

'This is a healthier alternative - it is the best way to quit smoking. I'm never gonna f***ing stop telling people about it.'

Mr Parsons said as his wife has dual UK citizenship, his family would be able to relocate without too much hassle - but it would still be expensive.

Visas will set them back $10,000, with a visa expedited fee, a health care surcharge and flights for four people expected to cost thousands of dollars.

'It's an extremely costly exercise, so I'm asking for a little bit of help,' he said.

Mr Parsons has asked his subscribers to donate to a GoFundMe page so he can relocate his family to the UK and keep making videos.

On January 1, the government banned the importation and sale of single-use disposable vapes in Australia with all vape products to be banned in March

He said those who donated more than $100 would receive a video of him personally thanking them for their contribution.

As of Wednesday night, the campaign has raised $4,600 of its $10,000 goal.

The YouTuber said he was excited to attend vape expos across Europe and live in a country that was 'pro-vaping'.

Health Minister Mark Butler last week warned businesses still selling illegal vapes that they're going to have to find another way to make money - but refused to explain just how he was going to stop the booming illegal trade.

Daily Mail Australia proved the trade in the now illegal vapes continues across Australia despite the import ban on disposable vapes coming into force.

In the Sydney suburb of Newtown, at least 20 independent and chain stores are selling illegal nicotine vapes, illicit cigarettes and other devices that can be purchased without ID checks.
Plans by London North Eastern Railway (LNER) to scrap all Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets on trains between London and Edinburgh caused major fury today.

Rail passengers were left in tears, MPs slammed the idea as a 'disaster' and experts said it could see people lose hundreds of pounds if their plans unexpectedly change.

LNER insisted the fares on one of Britain's busiest rail lines were being simplified and based on demand in an attempt to encourage more people to travel by train.

But those examining the detail condemned the Uber-style surge pricing plans which include a new 'Semi Flexible' fare that will be more expensive when trains are busier.

And travellers now fear this two-year trial overhauling fares on the East Coast Main Line will reduce choice and flexibility, especially for those making last-minute trips.

It means passengers may now have to buy the priciest Anytime fare for immediate or flexible travel. That currently costs 193.90 from London to Edinburgh, rather than 87 for a Super-Off Peak ticket which is refundable and not tied to a specific train.

This is compared to flights on the route, with singles costing just 13 on Ryanair, 15 with easyJet or 38 on British Airways over the next month. Even if leaving today, the cheapest is 103 with easyJet - still about half the price of an Anytime rail fare.

This graphic from LNER shows how it has been simplifying fares to just three types of tickets

The new scheme - billed by LNER as 'Simpler Fares' - applies to journeys between King's Cross and each of Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh, with the number of available standard class fares for those routes cut from seven to three.

What is happening to LNER train tickets? LNER is simplifying its train tickets from February 5 to just three fares: Advance (Fixed) - This will be the cheapest fare, booked in advance for a fixed journey with a reserved seat for travel only on an LNER train.

- This will be the cheapest fare, booked in advance for a fixed journey with a reserved seat for travel only on an LNER train. '70min Flex' (Semi-Flexible) - This is a new ticket meaning customers can travel on other LNER services, which can be 70 minutes before or after their original booked journey.

This is a new ticket meaning customers can travel on other LNER services, which can be 70 minutes before or after their original booked journey. Anytime (Fully-Flexible) - This ticket can be used at any time of day on any service and is fully refundable. The following ticket types are being withdrawn from the same date: Off-Peak: Not valid for travel on northbound trains departing London between 6.45am and 7.59am or between 3.59pm and 5.45pm on Monday to Thursday only. Also not valid on t rains travelling south that arrive into London before 10.08am from Monday to Thursday. Can be used anytime at the weekend.

rains travelling south that arrive into London before 10.08am from Monday to Thursday. Can be used anytime at the weekend. Super Off-Peak : If travelling to, from or via King's Cross, not valid on northbound trains departing London or Stevenage before 9.06am and between 2.59pm and 6.59pm inclusive, on Monday to Thursday. On southbound journeys, not valid for travel on any train which arrives in London or Stevenage before 11.17am, Monday to Thursday. Can be used anytime at the weekend. Advertisement

A new fare named '70min Flex' has been introduced, enabling passengers to travel on other LNER services up to 70 minutes before or after their booked journey.

The only other two available fares are Advance - the cheapest tickets that can only be used on a specific train - and the most expensive fully flexible Anytime tickets.

Among the fares scrapped is the Super Off-Peak, which was generally the cheapest ticket that could be used on several trains at quieter times of day, was not fixed to a specific operator, did not need to be bought in advance and was refundable.

Mark Smith, founder of train travel website Seat61.com, warned that by comparison, 70min Flex tickets have 'a significant reduction in flexibility'.

He recommended that people travelling from King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley will get 'a better deal' if they buy an Off-Peak ticket to Haymarket - one stop beyond Edinburgh - rather than LNER's new fare.

Off-Peak tickets are a similar price but the refundability 'could save you hundreds of pounds on a round trip if your plans unexpectedly change', Mr Smith explained.

He also warned that even if the trial is successful, the system 'can't be rolled out network-wide' as there would need to be two different versions for long and short distances, which 'complicates things again'.

Travel enthusiast Stuart Boyd, who has visited every train station in the UK and runs the Every Last Station website, said the plans meant the 'cheapest flexible ticket getting binned'; 'the only turn up and go flex ticket will be nearly 200; and 'the new ticket will remove passenger flexibility'.

He also tweeted: 'We cannot allow this 'simpler fares pilot' to extend - we must resist these changes. We made them U-turn on the ticket office closures  let's make them U-turn with this.'

Mr Boyd also pointed out that a recent advertising campaign from LNER entitled 'Freedom all the way' was 'true, as long as you are happy to pay the anytime fares - the other two fares available removes all your freedom with the journey''.

A London North Eastern Railway (LNER) Azuma train at London King's Cross station (file image)

And he said the Semi-Flexible tickets were 'not guaranteed to be available on the day of travel - just like Advance tickets, when they are gone they are gone'.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the MP for Brighton Kemptown, was also among those hitting out at the plans.

He tweeted: 'Off Peak being abolished for advance fares is a disaster. Advance fares are wrong and should be scrapped - we need tap on/off trains, not towards more restrictions.'

And the changes were met with disdain by many passengers, including theatre director Joe Hufton who said: 'This is so depressing. We know the score. Tickets will cost more, pricing more folk out, making train travel a luxury.

'The cost of the East Coast Main Line is now a real source of anxiety, stress and anger.'

Author and historian Sally-Ann Fawcett added: 'I am stressed to tears about this. I already spend 3,500 travelling to see my mum.'

Dynamic pricing has been introduced in an attempt to smooth demand throughout each day by incentivising passengers to travel at quieter times.

Fares are being made more or less expensive based on the level of demand for each service.

The new fares structure was launched yesterday, for travel from February 5.

LNER managing director David Horne said: 'LNER remains at the forefront of rail reform.

'Simplifying fares is vital in making rail travel more attractive. Customers tell us they find fares confusing.

The new scheme applies to journeys between King's Cross and each of Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh. The full route operated by LNER is shown in the map above

'This exciting new pilot is the next step in our plans to overhaul complicated and outdated ticketing options and we look forward to hearing feedback from our customers.

'We believe that making fares simpler, smarter and fairer, while introducing value for money and modern flexibility, will encourage more people to choose to travel by rail, the most sustainable travel choice.'

Mr Horne initially found support from respected railway historian Christian Wolmar, who tweeted yesterday: 'More innovation from a state run railway.'

But Mr Wolmar changed his tune today, saying: 'My early endorsement of LNER ticket simplification was jumping the gun. The advance fares are not refundable which therefore has made the ticketing much less flexible.

'All fares should be exchangeable od refundable. This is another move away from the walk on railway.'

LNER confirmed that Season Tickets, Travelcards, Rovers and Family Tickets would all be unaffected by the changes.

The operator cited a survey by industry body the Rail Delivery Group which indicated that 35 per cent of people for whom train travel is an option are put off because they find it difficult to find the best fare.

LNER also confirmed that Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak fares, which it said will now only represent 11 per cent of journeys on its network, will be removed from February 5.

Rail minister Huw Merriman said: 'We are delivering on our commitment to reform the railways, working with operators to provide passengers with simpler and more flexible tickets that better suit their needs.'

LNER, which is owned by the Department for Transport, launched single-leg pricing in 2020.

An LNER train at Edinburgh Waverley, from which Off-Peak fares to London are being axed

This involved introducing single fares around half the price of a return, allowing passengers to mix and match different types of tickets to get better value.

Britain's outdated train ticketing system means many return fares are only 1 more than single fares.

Stewart Fox-Mills, programme director for fares, ticketing and retail at the Great British Railways Transition Team, said: 'It is great to see this next step in the simplification of rail fares.

'This pilot will move the dial towards simpler and better fares for customers.'

Simplifying fares is among the proposed tasks for Great British Railways (GBR), a planned new public sector body to oversee the railways.

GBR was initially due to be launched early this year but the required legislation has not been passed and no timeline has been set out by the Government.

Alex Robertson, chief executive at watchdog Transport Focus, said: 'The plan to trial demand-based pricing on some LNER routes is a radical change for passengers.

'Transport Focus strongly supports fares reform and it's right to trial new ideas to see if they work.

LNER will be among the operators hit by strikes when industrial action is taken on February 2

'We look forward to hearing how the trial progresses and will be monitoring that it does indeed deliver better value for money tickets for passengers.'

LNER's low-cost rival Lumo, which launched in October 2021 and also operates trains between King's Cross and Edinburgh, has three different ticket types available.

These are the 'LumoFixed' which is valid on a specific train only and non-refundable; the 'LumoFlex' which allows a fee-free change of journey or refund before departure; and the 'LumoAny' which can be used on any train and is refundable fee-free before or after the travel date.

The newest of these options is the 'LumoFlex', which was launched in August last year. Lumo also does not offer Off-Peak or Super-Off Peak fares.

A spokeswoman for Lumo told MailOnline: 'In addition to the LumoFixed and LumoFlex, Lumo also offer the LumoAny, which enables travel on any Lumo service for the chosen day. Lumo don't have any plans to remove any of these products.'

Lumo has never offered Peak or Off-Peak tickets since its launch, but the company said it offers 'flexibility through the whole day at an Off-Peak price', although it does not currently have any services at 'Peak' times.
Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill set for its final stages in the House of Commons today

More Channel migrants were brought ashore today as Rishi Sunak faces a moment of truth on his Rwanda plan.

A group of arrivals was seen with Border Force officials at Dover hours before the latest bout of Tory drama is set to begin at Westminster.

The PM will try to force the crucial legislation through its final Commons stages this afternoon, despite threats from right-wingers to kill it off - even if that means the government collapsing.

Some 60 Conservatives joined a revolt aiming to toughen the Bill last night, with two party deputy chairs and a ministerial aide resigning in a shattering blow to Mr Sunak's authority.

However, those amendments had no prospect of passing because they were not supported by Labour. The existential threat to the premier's flagship policy is set to crystalise this evening at third reading - the last hurdle in the Commons.

In a sign that Mr Sunak is determined to face down the right-wing challenge, Downing Street has indicated it will not make the vote a formal confidence issue.

Although some rebels have openly vowed to oppose the legislation altogether, even ringleaders expect the bulk of the mutineers to stop short of crashing the legislation and provoking an all-out crisis.

It would take around 28 MPs voting against, twice that many abstentions, or a combination of the two, to overturn the government's majority.

But the spat has poured petrol on raging splits in the party, with furious Tories branding the rebels 'not very bright'. Former No10 communications director Guto Harri described the right-wingers as 'narcissists' who were pushing for 'mass suicide' with just months to go until a general election.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tried to make light of the vicious infighting this morning, describing it as a 'lively debate'.

Underlining the wider problems, a poll overnight showed Labour 17 points ahead - with fears the Conservatives are 'leaking votes' to Reform UK.

More Channel migrants were brought ashore today as Rishi Sunak faces a moment of truth on his Rwanda plan

A group of arrivals were seen with Border Force officials at Dover hours before the latest bout of Tory drama is set to begin at Westminster

Mr Sunak faces a battle to save his premiership today after 60 Tory MPs rebelled over his Rwanda migrant plan

Some 60 Tories backed moves to beef up legislation in the votes last night

The Commons division list recorded 58 Tories backing the rebel amendment - plus two tellers means the rebellion was by 60 MPs

Jane Stevenson - a ministerial aide to Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch - offered her resignation after backing hostile amendments in crunch votes last night

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quit as Tory deputy chairs after joining the rebellion

The insurrection last night was the biggest in Mr Sunak's time as leader.

It was bolstered by an intervention from Boris Johnson, who urged the rebels to stand their ground to make the legislation 'as legally robust as possible'.

The former PM said: 'Governments around the world are now trying to imitate the UK Rwanda policy for tackling illegal people trafficking. This Bill must be as legally robust as possible  and the right course is to adopt the amendments.'

Revolt on two amendments Tory MPs rebelled on two amendments to the Rwanda Bill last night in the biggest revolt of Rishi Sunak's premiership to date. While neither of the alterations passed, the sizeable Conservative support will worry the Government ahead of the Bill's third reading, due to fears that some MPs could vote against it. The first amendment, tabled by Tory MP Sir Bill Cash, aimed to ensure UK and international law cannot be used to prevent or delay a person's removal to Rwanda. Size of rebellion: Voted for by 60 Tory MPs. The second amendment, which was tabled by former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, aimed to severely limit individual asylum seekers' ability to appeal against being put on a flight to Rwanda. Size of rebellion: Voted for by 59 Tory MPs. Advertisement

However, Downing Street insists the proposed legislation is already the 'toughest ever' and warned that tightening it further risked breaking international law.

Sixty MPs voted for an amendment to the Rwanda Bill that would have disapplied human rights laws in relation to deportations.

A similar number backed a separate push to ban Channel migrants from lodging individual legal appeals to frustrate their removal.

Rebels included ten former Cabinet ministers, including Liz Truss, Suella Braverman, Sir Iain Duncan Smith and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who led yesterday's revolt.

In a further blow, Tory deputy chairmen Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned to join the revolt, as did Kemi Badenoch's aide Jane Stevenson.

Sir Keir twisted the knife at PMQs this afternoon, saying that Mr Sunak himself did not believe in the policy.

'When he sees his party tearing itself apart, hundreds of bald men scrapping over a single broken comb, doesn't he wish that he had the courage to stick to his guns?' the Labour leader said.

Mr Sunak replied: 'I have absolute conviction that the plan we've put in place will work because I believe it is important that we grip this problem.'

Mr Sunak highlighted lawyers who are backing the Government's Rwanda plan, adding to Sir Keir: 'I know he's always been more interested in what lefty lawyers have to say. I've even got here the textbook that he authored for them  and it's called European Human Rights Law by Keir Starmer.'

Sir Lindsay intervened to say: 'Can I just say we don't use props in this House and I will certainly ensure that if you do need reminding, I certainly will.'

The proposed changes last night were heavily defeated as they were opposed by both the Government and Labour.

But some rebels warned they could vote down the entire Rwanda Bill tonight unless the Government caves in.

Former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke said: 'I will vote against if the legislation isn't amended. Simple as that.'

Mark Francois, chairman of the ERG group of Eurosceptic Tories, urged the PM to back down or risk losing his flagship policy tonight. 'Given the size of the vote tonight, if I were his advisers, I would be saying: 'I think you want to compromise tomorrow if you can'.'

Tory whips are trying to peel off some of the rebels and reduce their number to a 'hardcore' of around a dozen.

However, there are concerns the Government could still lose if a large number of Tory MPs abstain.

Mr Harri described the rebels as 'self-centred narcissists' whose revolt was 'utterly futile'.

He told Sky News: 'Tomorrow they are either going to bottle it or they really are going to commit mass political suicide.'

A right-leaning minister told the Financial Times: 'They are just not strategically very bright. They have told the country that our policy is sh**, but when it comes to the third reading vote they will abstain and look stupid.'

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson sought to play down the depth of Tory divisions in a round of interviews this morning, saying: 'We all want the same thing.'

'There are disagreements of emphasis. There's an inch between us, there's a determination to ensure that the policy works,' he told the BBC.

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick (left) has insisted he will vote against the bill at third readng. Jane Stevenson (right) - a ministerial aide to Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch - backed the hostile amendments last night

Tory Right-wingers ignored pleas for unity last night to carry out the biggest rebellion in Mr Sunak's time as leader in a bid to toughen up plans to deport Channel migrants

Boris Johnson also waded into the row urging the government to accept the rebel amendments

The rebellion came just 24 hours after Tory elections chief Isaac Levido issued a stark warning to Conservative MPs that they risk inevitable defeat if they allow infighting to continue.

'Let me be clear: divided parties fail. It's time to get serious,' he told the backbench 1922 Committee on Monday night.

The Rwanda scheme was blocked by the Supreme Court in November after judges accepted claims that the country was not safe.

The new legislation declares in law that the African nation is a safe country and prevents the courts examining the principle of the scheme.

But, to the dismay of Tory rebels, it will not stop individual appeals by migrants threatened with deportation.

Rebel MPs are also seeking to disapply all human rights laws and ban interventions from the European Court of Human Rights, which grounded the last attempted deportation flight to Rwanda in June 2022.

Mr Jenrick, who quit the government last month, said there would be a deluge of individual claims unless they were outlawed, telling MPs: 'Every legal representative and Leftie lawyer will try everything they can to support those claims. We see it every time.'

He added: 'How much are we actually willing to do to stop the boats? How willing are we to take on the vested interests, balance the trade-offs, take the robust steps that will actually work?

'The only countries in the world that have fixed this problem, latterly Australia and Greece, have been willing to take the most robust action. Are we?'

MPs will vote on further amendments today before holding a crunch vote tonight on whether to approve the Bill and send it to the House of Lords.

Mr Anderson has told friends he is ready to vote down the Bill. Mr Sunak made extensive efforts to persuade the straight-talking former miner to vote with the Government. But Mr Anderson told GB News: 'I don't think I could carry on in my role when I fundamentally disagree with the Bill.'

In a joint letter with Mr Clarke-Smith, he said: 'We have already had two pieces of legislation thwarted by a system that does not work in favour of the British people. It is for this reason that we have supported the amendments... This is not because we are against the legislation, but because like everybody else we want it to work.'

Business Secretary Ms Badenoch is known to have privately urged No 10 to strengthen the Bill. Last night, her parliamentary aide Ms Stevenson resigned.

The MP for Wolverhampton North East said the legislation had to be 'as robust as it possibly can be' to deal with the illegal immigration 'crisis'.

'It is a crisis and my constituents certainly want to see results,' she said.

In the debate, immigration minister Michael Tomlinson urged MPs to unite behind the policy, saying: 'Let there be no doubt that the Government is focused and determined to stop the boats. We have made progress, but we must be enabled to finish the job.'
An American passenger allegedly bit a flight attendant on a Seattle-bound jet, forcing it to return to Tokyo so he could be escorted off and arrested.

The ANA plane passenger, reported to be aged 55, sunk his teeth into a crew member's arm while 'heavily drunk' in the mid-flight incident on Tuesday night, leaving her mildly injured.

It prompted pilots of the aircraft with 159 passengers on board to turn back over the Pacific to Haneda airport, where the man was handed over to police, according to ANA.

The passenger told investigators that he 'doesn't recall at all' his outrageous behavior.

The bizarre incident left some social media users likening it in mock horror to the 'beginning of a zombie movie'.

The passenger on the ANA plane, reported to be aged 55, sunk his teeth into crew member's arm while 'heavily drunk' in the mid-flight incident, leaving her mildly injured (File Photo)

The incident prompted pilots of the plane with 159 passengers on board to turn back over the Pacific to Haneda airport, where the man was handed over to police, according to ANA (File Photo)

One wrote: 'It's too late. Zombie transformation has begun...'

Someone else added: 'This is the first person infected with the Resident Evil T virus.'

Another simply posted: 'Do not bite some one in the plane.'

ANA told MailOnline: 'On January 16, NH118 departing from Tokyo Haneda to Seattle returned during the flight due to an intoxicated passenger who was acting in an unsafe manner to the flight crew and passengers.

'Upon arrival at Haneda Airport, the passenger was turned over to the local police. There were no reported injuries among the passengers and the flight has been rescheduled to depart on January 17.'

The airline added: 'The safety and security of our passengers and employees are ANAs top priority and we will take all necessary actions to ensure it.'

It is just one of several aviation woes so far this year - with other incidents making headlines in just over two weeks.

The most serious was a near-catastrophic collision at Haneda between a Japan Airlines aircraft and a smaller coast guard plane on January 2.

All 379 people on board the JAL Airbus escaped just before the aircraft was engulfed in flames.

Five of the six people on the smaller aircraft, which was helping in a relief operation after a major earthquake in central Japan, died.

Then on Tuesday, the wing tip of a Korean Air airliner struck an empty Cathay Pacific plane while taxiing at an airport in the northern island of Hokkaido.

Korean Air said the accident, which caused no injuries, happened after 'the third-party ground handler vehicle slipped due to heavy snow'.

A similar mishap took place on Sunday when an ANA aircraft came into 'contact' with a Delta Air Lines plane at a Chicago airport, the Japanese airline said, also causing no injuries.

On Saturday, a Boeing 737-800 returned to its departure airport in Japan after the pilot discovered a crack in the cockpit window in mid-air.

The passenger told investigators that he 'doesn't recall at all' his outrageous behavior. Pictured: Haneda airport (File Photo)

Flight 1182 of Japan's ANA 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 for the airline said.

The plane made a safe landing and there were no injuries reported among the 59 passengers and six crew.

The aircraft landed back at Sapporo's New Chitose airport at around 12.10 local time (3.10 GMT).

'The crack was not something that affected the flight's control or pressurization,' the ANA spokesperson said.

'Wing strike' incidents 'do happen' because many airports are handling bigger planes than they were built for, Doug Drury, aviation expert at Central Queensland University, said.

'The cracked window incident may have been caused by a faulty window heat system as the temperatures are quite extreme at altitude,' he added.

'This is not uncommon and has happened to me during my career.'

The aircraft was not one of Boeing's 737 MAX 9 airplanes. These have been in the spotlight after a door plug broke off a new Alaska Airlines jet in mid-air earlier this month.

The Alaska Airlines aircraft, which had been in service for just eight weeks, took off from Portland, Oregon and was flying at 16,000 feet when the panel tore off the plane on January 5.

Pilots flew the jet back to Portland, with only minor injuries among passengers.

A terrified passenger on board the near-catastrophic flight revealed the moment she texted her family 'I don't want to die' after a door plug on the jet blew out.

Emma Vu took to TikTok after surviving the horror Alaska Airlines flight 1282.

'In the moment I was so scared,' Vu said, as she showed her panic-stricken texts to her family reading: 'The masks r down; I am so scared right now; Please pray for me; Please I don't want to die.'

Passenger Emma Vu said she 'felt the entire plane drop' around 20 minutes into the horror Alaska Airlines flight 1282, which was bound from Portland to California before a door plug blasted into the sky at 16,000 feet

Alaska flight 1282 left Portland just after 5pm local time last Friday when a door plug blew out at 16,000 feet

Vu revealed her final texts to her family pleading 'I don't want to die', and showed a selfie she took in the moment which she feared could be her last

The passenger included a picture another flyer took of the blown out door plug

A photo shows the blown out door plug. It is offered as a door on the aircraft. Alaska chose not to take this option - although the frame of the prospective door was entirely ripped out by the fuselage failure

The Boeing 737-9 MAX rolled off the assembly line just two months ago, receiving its certification in November 2023, according to FAA record posted online

In an interview with 7News Australia, she added: 'I was more concerned with the plane dropping... I looked outside and it was going pretty smoothly. I think everyone freaking out inside made me freak out.'

Shocking footage from inside the plane saw flyers sat in eerie silence shortly after the door plug exploded, as they looked out of a gaping hole in the fuselage with the twinkling lights of Portland below.

Vu said she was asleep when the devastating safety failure erupted out of the blue and she 'felt the entire plane drop'.

'The masks dropped, and people are screaming,' she continued, next to a tearful selfie she took in the moment that she feared could be her last.

She said: 'I am so grateful for the ladies sat next to me... They were so sweet at calming me down, and the flight attendants were giving oxygen tanks to those who needed it more.

'But I was freaking out because my bag wouldn't inflate - and that's literally what they tell you in the safety thing, like don't worry you're still getting air flow... When you're in fight or flight you're not thinking about that.

'It was just so scary, no one knew what was happening. The pilot came on to tell everyone to put your mask on before you help others - literally word for word what they tell you in the safety training.'

MailOnline has contacted Haneda Airport for a comment on the incident on Tuesday.
Metropolitan Police have launched an urgent appeal for information after a London teenager vanished over a week ago.

Julia Skala reportedly disappeared after she left her home in Mitcham at around 1pm on Monday, January 8.

She was wearing a black North Face jacket, black trousers and white Nike trainers. Julia was also said to be carrying a black Nike rucksack.

The 16-year-old was reported missing the following morning and an investigation was launched.

Over the past eight days officers have carried out extensive enquiries, including recovering CCTV from the area and house-to-house enquiries.

The New Scotland Yard sign outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters in London

Superintendent Josh Laughton, from the local policing team in south-west London, said: 'Julia's family have told us it is unusual for her to be away from home for this long. While there's no evidence to suggest she has come to harm, we are growing increasingly concerned about her welfare.

'We use a range of tactics to trace the movements of a missing person, however despite our enquiries, we still have no indication of where she is.

'Julia has links to Lambeth, Camden and Islington. It's likely she would have travelled by public transport. I would ask anyone who thinks they may have seen her over the past week to come forward immediately.'

Report immediate sightings by calling 999 quoting the reference 24MIS000879. Share non-urgent information by calling 101.

You can also contact the Missing Person's charity anonymously on 116 000.
An MP has slammed a local council after discovering that a pothole-lined road in his constituency is so neglected that he can fit his feet inside of the craters.

Nick Fletcher, the Conservative MP for Don Valley in Doncaster, made the realisation in Bubup Hill in the Loversall area of the South Yorkshire city.

He counted at least ten potholes in the middle of the road, and made a point in standing in the holes to demonstrate their size - his feet could fit inside the pothole.

Mr Fletcher wrote on X: 'Some pretty awful potholes on this road in Loversall. I have asked my office to report them to My Doncaster.'

Do YOU know a road plagued with potholes? Send your pictures and email to lettice.bromovsky@mailonline.co.uk

Nick Fletcher, the Conservative MP for Don Valley in Doncaster, made the realisation in Bubup Hill in the Loversall area of the South Yorkshire city

He made a point to put his feet inside the crater to demonstrate the size of the holes

One angry local Jan Deacey said: 'You should see this beauty on St Nicholas Road, in Thorne. Bursts at least two tyres a week.'

She added: 'Was told two weeks ago it has been inspected and was being treated as a matter of urgency.'

This comes after an FOI requested from the Mirror revealed that the City of Doncaster Council had paid out over 950,000 on potholes since 2010.

With many of the pay outs coming from injuries such as damaging or losing a tooth or multiple teeth, broken bones, fractures, cuts, eye or head damage, neck injuries, and more. Others were down to damage to a vehicle.

In October the government issued Doncaster with an additional 1.12m, on top of the 5m the council receives every year 'to carry out resurfacing and permanent patching of local roads on a worst first basis'.

Doncaster City Council has been approached for comment.

An FOI requested revealed that the City of Doncaster Council have paid out over 950,000 on potholes since 2010

Nick Fletcher posted on social media about the state of the roads in his constituency

Pothole damage to cars has hit a five-year high  and racked up a total repair bill of at least 474 million last year. But only one in four claims demanding councils foot the repair bill being successful.

RAC spokesman Simon Williams says: The chances of being successful in claiming compensation will significantly depend on whether the pothole has already been reported. Councils have a statutory defence in that they cannot be held liable for a defect they are not aware of.

The AA received 632,000 call-outs last year for vehicles damaged by road defects  which was up 16 per cent on the previous year.

Most suffered punctures or blowouts costing at least 100 to fix but other damage caused by hitting a road crater, such as breaking the car's suspension, cost 1,000 or more to repair.

Last month it was discovered that drivers in Devon had submitted claims amounting to more than 1million for vehicle damage caused by potholes in just eight months, but the council had only paid out less than five per cent of the claims.

This pothole (pictured in 2020), located in Buckfastleigh, Devon is estimated to be a foot deep and over five feet wide, and is so big it has been dubbed the 'local lido'

Fed-up locals protest over 5ft-wide crater dubbed 'The Buckfast Chasm' that has plagued a Devon road for four months in January 2020

A total of 966 vehicle damage claims were submitted to Devon County Council between April and December 2023 with the value totalling 1.1million.

Although that is an average of 1,138 per claim, so far the council has only paid up around 48,000.

Cllr Letch said the figures showed that 28,801 reports of potholes have been made by members of the public in this financial year alone, and that the council had identified 1,505 potholes for repair.
Joe Biden 'is struggling to keep his head above water' as the US 'ignores' threats from Iran and continues to be challenged by Russia - while North Korea and China are 'taking notes', experts have warned.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed yesterday that their forces launched ballistic missiles close to the US consulate in Erbil, northern Iraq - a move condemned as 'reckless' by the US State Department.

Former military intelligence officer Colonel (Ret) Jonathan Sweet and foreign policy expert Mark Toth labelled the US response 'as perfunctory as it was lacking', saying it is just the latest example of the Biden administration's inaction in the region.

Iran's so-called 'Axis of Resistance' - including Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels - has been increasing its attacks on Israel and commercial shipping routes, prompting the US and UK to launch devastating strikes by air and sea.

But, the experts told MailOnline: 'For all the US military might put on display throughout the Middle East, Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden right now, Iran and their proxies have not been deterred.'

Meanwhile, as the war in Ukraine approaches its third year, Vladimir Putin's rhetoric has become more aggressive, threatening Ukraine's statehood and warning that Russia would 'never' abandon the gains it has made.

With the prospect of being drawn further into the Ukraine war effort or any Middle East conflagration deeply unpopular among voters in an election year, Toth and Sweet say the White House is 'taking the path of least resistance' and avoiding the inevitable.

'Neither Russia nor Iran has any intention of standing down,' Toth and Sweet said. 'Kicking the can down the road only makes the problem worse. That is the Biden dilemma  pay the political cost of kinetic intervention now or in American lives later.'

A residential building burns after it was hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine January 17, 2024

Israeli battle tanks roll at a position along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on January 17, 2024

Houthi fighters and tribesmen stage a rally against the US and the UK strikes on Houthi-run military sites near Sanaa, Yemen

They said that the Biden administration is becoming increasingly overwhelmed by 'a trifecta of regional conflicts that his National Security Strategy was not designed to support.'

The Biden administration has emphasized de-escalation as its key aim in the Middle East, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken making four trips to Israel and the wider region since the war erupted following the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

Each time, Biden officials have been keen to highlight their focus on de-escalation, preventing the Israel-Hamas war from erupting into a wider conflict.

But as Hezbollah ramp up their attacks from across Israel's northern border, and the Houthi rebels mount attacks on ships in the Red Sea, many analysts are saying it is too late and a regional conflict has already begun.

The US President last week said the United States had delivered a private message to Iran about Iran-backed Houthis responsible for attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

'We delivered it privately and we're confident we're well-prepared,' Biden told reporters, in an apparent

With such strong words repeated regularly, Toth and Sweet say 'Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Al Khamenei continues to kinetically call President Joe Biden's bluff across the Mideast.'

'The Biden Administration does not want a direct confrontation with Iran, but that seems to be the calculated direction Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is taking them.

An Iranian strike on targets inside Pakistan have killed two children and wounded three other people, the Pakistani government has said. Pictured: A missile is launched in an unknown location in Iran in August 2020

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meet with a large number of elegists and eulogists in Tehran, Iran, on January 3, 2024

Netanyahu is 'prepared to g. o it alone without the US' and told Biden as much, Toth and Sweet claim. Pictured: The Israeli PM and US President meet in Tel Aviv on October 18

'Khamenei continues to up the ante  and the White House and Biden's national security team keep ignoring it.'

The US is also working to pour cold water over potential threats in the Far East, after the election of William Lai in Taiwan prompted fury from China, who the incumbent president has called for independence from.

In response, Biden bluntly reiterated the US position by saying 'we do not support independence', in an apparent effort to prevent escalation and keep dialogue going between Taipei and Beijing.

Toth and Sweet describe it as an attempt 'to appease' Chinese President Xi Jinping, and labelled his response 'self-defeating'.

Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, left, celebrates his victory with running mate Bi-khim Hsiao in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024

Meanwhile in Europe, the governments of Estonia, Sweden and the UK have warned that the prospect of large-scale war is on the horizon.

Alarm bells have sounded over leaked German intelligence documents, which reveal the path to a war with Putin using Belarus as a launching pad for invasion.

At last night's World Economic Forum, President Zelensky told Western leaders: 'Strengthen our economy and we will strengthen your security.'

Biden's efforts to deliver $106billion aid package to Kyiv have been stalled by Republicans in Congress, which his administration said it is working to solve as quickly as possible.

But as the war with Russia drags on with limited Ukrainian gains, donor fatigue appears to be setting in for many policymakers.

At last night's World Economic Forum, President Zelensky told Western leaders: 'Strengthen our economy and we will strengthen your security'

A return to the White House is looking increasingly likely for Donald Trump, whose previous comments have stoked fears that he could slash funding for Ukraine

After he secured a landslide in the first Republican primary this week, a return to the White House is looking increasingly likely for Donald Trump, whose previous comments have stoked fears that he could slash funding for Ukraine.

'Domestic politics are coming into play,' Toth and Sweet said, adding that 'the White House appears to be on the path of least resistance' amid the presidential election cycle.

'In doing so, Washington risks appearing as willing to throw its partners  and service members deployed in the Middle East and East Africa, under the bus to avoid any direct military intervention for the next 10 months,' they warned.

'Zelensky and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in the fight for their country's very survival  not some election cycle. Both are prepared to go it alone without the US  Netanyahu told Biden so much concerning the threat.

'Without US support, Ukraine and Israel can drag the US into the very wars Biden is trying to avoid.

'Biden is struggling to keep his head above water  and other foes including China and North Korea are taking notes.'


A mother who took her daughter out of school during Covid because she was kicking and screaming before class says she is now thriving while being homeschooled for four hours a day.

Seana-lee May, 30, from Merthyr Tydfil, took daughter Millie-Rae, 11, out of school during the pandemic and has been homeschooling her full-time since September.

The youngster was home-schooled for her final year of primary school and then, five days into high school, refused to go back in  prompting the concerned mother to take her out of the mainstream education system altogether.

Millie-Rae suffers from anxiety and has been referred for ADHD investigations because of her inability to concentrate in a busy classroom, but since beginning lessons at home she is flourishing, according to her mother.

The 11-year-old is now among 5,330 children in Wales not being taught at a mainstream school  but single mum Ms May says she has no regrets.

Are you a homeschooling parent? Email jon.brady@mailonline.co.uk

Seana-lee May, 30, from Merthyr Tydfil, took daughter Millie-Rae, 11, out of school full-time

Millie-Rae was reportedly disruptive in class  but is thriving at home, according to her mother

Seana-lee gives Millie-rae a lesson at home with a whiteboard laid against the wall. She says her daughter is happier learning at home

She said: 'Ever since she started school she had a period of kicking and screaming. She would refuse to go to school and she was falling behind.

'When it came to high school she was so excited to go back to school but it lasted five days. She started kicking and screaming and refusing to go.'

Millie-Rae left school during the pandemic as her mother was concerned about the virus. Attempts to work with the high school to find a solution for Millie-Rae came to naught, prompting her to make the move permanent.

Millie-Rae's homeschooling timetable Including her break, Millie-Rae's school day lasts four hours: 9am-12pm: Three one-hour lessons

12pm-1pm: Break for lunch

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She added: 'I tried working with the school but they weren't responding so I decided to take her out of the school system.

'I am a single parent so it can be hard to juggle everything but I know that Millie-Rae is happy and she is learning.

'She likes the fact learning is one-on-one. If she doesn't understand something I will try and explain it in a different way.

'She struggles in a classroom environment, she needs someone to sit with her and explain things.

'It was overwhelming for Millie-Rae, she does struggle. If someone said something she doesn't like she is not one to brush it off - she will take it to heart.

'She will often sit and swing back and forth on her chair but I am not bothered what she is doing as long as she is learning.'

She added: '(Before she started learning at home her behaviour was really bad, she was snappy and irritable.

'She would cry a lot and the last day she was sent home with a bad tummy.

'I tried to explain to the school that she was probably just trying to get out of school but they still sent her home 30 minutes before the end of the day.'

Millie-Rae has recently been referred by a GP for ADHD investigations  but her mother says she is 'thriving' in every aspect of her education at home.

She said: 'She is flourishing she is performing so much better than she would be in a mainstream system. I am really happy with how she is doing.

'In every aspect of her life she is performing better, she is very confident. The home educator from the council will come out every six months to check on Millie-Rae and she is very happy with how she is doing.'

She has mulled over pulling younger daughter Lottie, six, out of the mainstream education system too, as she struggles to socialise.

However, she is willing to give the system a chance to let Lottie bed in and try to make friends before she takes any action.

Seana-lee and Millie-Rae crack on with a maths lesson together. Excluding a one hour lunch break, the 11-year-old's school day is just five hours long

Seana-lee has been so pleased with her daughter's education at home that she has considered taking her younger daughter out of the system too

As for Millie-Rae, she socialises more than ever outside of school.

Seana-lee concluded: 'I just don't like the way the schools are at the minute.They are far too strict and teachers do not get enough time to spend with children.

'It is the social aspect with Lottie, if I were to pull her out, which I would like to, I don't think she would join a group or a social club.

'(Millie-Rae) still goes out to see her friends, she attends drama club and goes to the youth club.

'In fact, she goes out more now she is being homeschooled than she ever was in school.'

Figures from the Department for Education suggest that lockdown has led to a boom in homeschooling as parents opt to keep their children at home.

As many as 86,000 children were taught from home in a single day in the UK in 2023, up from an estimated 55,000 in 2018/19.

Among the reasons given by parents for pulling their children out of the system were an incompatibility with mainstream school environments, problems with bullying and alternative lifestyles  such as living on a boat.

The explosion in homeschooling led to the government requiring councils to keep a register of pupils being homeschooled in order to prevent children from 'falling through the cracks'.

Homeschooling does not require parents to follow the national curriculum, but they must ensure that their education is suitable for their age. Schooling can be delivered by the parents themselves, or through tutors.
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken boards an aircraft during his departure from Washington, D.C., to travel to the Middle East, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict on Jan. 4. A Bay Area lawsuit, filed Nov. 13, accuses Blinken, President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin of complicity in genocide by providing billions of dollars in military assistance to Israel along with political support. Evelyn Hockstein/Associated Press

In a final round of written arguments to a Bay Area federal judge, President Joe Biden and top aides have strikingly avoided saying whether they think Israel is committing genocide, with U.S. support, against Palestinians in Gaza.

Instead, they said the courts should not interfere in disputes over U.S. diplomatic and military policy. They also sought, unsuccessfully, to prevent testimony by Palestinians and their relatives at a hearing next week.

It is not the Courts role to sit in judgment of U.S. foreign policy decisions concerning the conflict in Gaza or to assess whether Israel has transgressed limits imposed by international law, Justice Department lawyers told U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, who is hearing the suit by Palestinians, U.S. relatives and human rights groups.

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They said the suit is not authorized by federal law and would stymie the Executive Branchs need for flexibility in calibrating diplomatic measures to accomplish foreign-policy objectives.

At the Jan. 26 hearing in Oakland, the plaintiffs want to present testimony by Palestinians and Americans whose family members have been killed by Israeli forces, and by a historian in genocide and Holocaust studies. But the Biden administrations lawyers said such testimony would serve no purpose because the suit should be dismissed on legal grounds.

In a one-sentence order late Tuesday, White said he would allow live testimony at the hearing.

The government filing followed arguments Thursday and Friday in the United Nations International Court of Justice in a separate suit by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and seeking court orders to halt its military strikes.

Israel responded that it has acted in self-defense and that the only war crimes were the attacks by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, which killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israels government. Israels counterattack has killed more than 24,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials, and has destroyed hospitals and cut off food and water supplies.

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A final ruling in that case may take a year or more, but if a court majority finds that South African has presented a credible case, it could issue provisional orders directing Israel to halt illegal conduct. If so, the court is likely to issue those orders before Feb. 5, when the terms of four of the 17 judges hearing the case are scheduled to expire. But the court has no enforcement mechanisms apart from the U.N. Security Council, where the United States has vetoed several resolutions calling for a cease-fire.

An international treaty signed by 153 nations, including the United States and Israel, defines genocide as actions committed with the intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.

The Bay Area suit, filed Nov. 13, accuses Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin of complicity in genocide by providing billions of dollars in military assistance to Israel along with political support.

The suit seeks court orders requiring administration officials to take all measures within their power to end Israels bombing and siege of Gaza and withdraw their opposition to a cease-fire. White, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002, will face dueling requests at the Jan. 26 hearing: The plaintiffs will seek injunctions requiring immediate government action, while the administration will ask for dismissal of the suit.

While the Biden administration has publicly disputed claims that Israel is violating international law  Blinken, on a recent trip to the Middle East, told reporters South Africas suit was meritless  it has steered clear of the issue in the federal case and is seeking to have the suit dismissed without any need for the courts to discuss genocide.

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Constitutional separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches prohibits a judge from ordering administration officials to undertake foreign policy or military measures to prevent or stop a foreign sovereign from engaging in military and other conduct abroad, Justice Department lawyers said in their court filing.
A British tourist collapsed and died in front of his wife while on holiday in Argentina, according to local reports.

The victim, identified as a 65-year-old man from Yorkshire, was staying at the Puesto Viejo Estancia ranch, a hotel and polo complex 30 miles from Buenos Aires.

InfoCanuelas reports that the man collapsed at around 7am on Sunday and died a few minutes later as a result of respiratory and heart failure.

Staff at the ranch alerted local authorities who verified that the man had died from natural causes, before his body was transferred to a nearby police station.

He had been staying at the ranch with his wife, the report said.

The victim, identified as a 65-year-old man from Yorkshire, was staying at the Puesto Viejo Estancia ranch (pictured), a hotel and polo complex 30 miles from Buenos Aires

'What we can say is that it was a natural death,' an official told InfoCanuelas.

'On Sunday morning he decompensated and died. He was with his wife, who is a nurse, and who took charge of assisting him in the first instance,' they added.

Local authorities are now arranging the transfer of the body back to Britain.

A spokesperson for the British Foreign Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Argentina and are in contact with the local authorities'

MailOnline has reached out to the Puesto Viejo Estancia ranch for comment.

The ranch is owned by wealthy British banker Jeremy Baker.

Baker quit his job at investment banking giant Goldman Sachs in the early 2000s to start a new life in South America, opening up the hotel and polo centre.

According to its website, Puesto Viejo 'is the perfect combination of nature, comfort and exclusivity, where the Polo Club, Country Club, Club House, Hotel and Glamping have been operating for more than 12 years.'
Rachel Reeves will address the global elite in Davos this afternoon as Labour faces questions over its commitment to its flagship environmental pledge.

The shadow chancellor will take part in a discussion at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this afternoon as the opposition tries to cement its position as a government in waiting.

Ms Reeves will address bosses at a private event sponsored by US banking giant JP Morgan, using her speech to accuse the Tories of presiding over 'fourteen years of stagnant economic growth and political uncertainty'.

But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure over the launch of a party 'campaign bible' that fails to mention one of its most expensive proposals for government.

The 24-page blueprint for power fails to mention Labour's commitment to invest 28billion annually into green projects for the rest of the decade.

The pledge has come under scrutiny in recent months, with the Tories regularly attacking the expenditure pledge, branding it unaffordable. Last year Ms Reeves said it would instead be a target to work towards in the second half of a first parliament, if Labour wins an election.

Writing the forward to the document, Sir Keir says that 'front and centre of everything we do will be economic stability' and that 'every one of our commitments are fully costed and fully funded'. Party sources said he remained committed to the green spending plan.

Last night Tory Party chairman Richard Holden told the Mail: 'Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party cannot say how they would fund their 28billion a year spending spree because they don't have a plan to pay for it.'

The 24-page blueprint for power fails to mention Labour's commitment to invest 28billion annually into green projects for the rest of the decade.

The shadow chancellor will take part in a discussion at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this afternoon as the opposition tries to cement its position as a government in waiting.

Ms Reeves is attending the conference with Labour business spokesman Jonathan Reynolds but not Sir Keir.

The duo have lined up a series of meetings, including with Google, Barclays and Ericsson, as well as with other chief executives, investors and financiers during their three-day visit.

The Government is being represented by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and investment minister Lord Johnson.

Ms Reeves is expected to say political turmoil has left Britain weaker and, if elected, Labour will restore Britains reputation as a place to do business  we will be a trusted partner with business in delivering the change our country and our economy needs.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden wrote to all Labour election candidates on Tuesday to 'gear them up for the next phase' of preparations for the contest, party officials said.

In the document's foreword, Sir Keir Starmer said it will be up to campaigners and MPs to convince traditional Conservative voters to back Labour.

'With people losing faith in the Tories, the responsibility will fall to the Labour Party to show people how we have changed and what we now offer,' said the party leader.

Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor for Greater Manchester, has urged Sir Keir to 'stick to your guns' on the green policy to invest in the future.

Sir Keir told the BBC on Sunday that he stands by the policy, but added numerous caveats, saying it is 'subject to what the Government has already assigned' for environmental projects and needs to be 'within our fiscal rules'.

Pressed if the policy will be in the manifesto, he said: 'In the way I've just described, then yes, of course.'

He has previously told the Tories to 'bring it on' if they want to 'weaponise' the pledge during an election that is expected in the second half of 2024.

But the lack of mention in the document for campaigners suggests Labour could look to limit the focus on the commitment ahead of polling day.

The briefing pack does mention the ambition to achieve clean power by 2030, saying that will be done through a number of measures, including getting the Hinckley and Sizewell nuclear projects 'over the line' and doubling the country's onshore wind capacity.

Publication of the campaign aid comes after a major opinion poll, reported by the Daily Telegraph on Monday, predicted doom for Rishi Sunak, with the Tories on course for a 1997-style wipeout.

The YouGov survey of 14,000 people indicated that the Prime Minister's party could hold on to as few as 169 seats, with Sir Keir entering Downing Street with 385 Labour seats.

Announcing the document's release, Mr McFadden said: 'While Tory MPs are jumping ship, many Tory voters are asking what the point of a Tory Party is if it can no longer run the economy or deliver on its promises.

'Time after time, the Prime Minister's pledges have failed and this isn't just a pattern for this Prime Minister - it goes back over the Tories' 14 years in power.'
Tony Blair today refused to answer any questions on the Horizon scandal and whether he regretted not 'killing' the software when his Labour government had the power to do so.

The former prime minister was warned in 1998 the software could be 'flawed' but allowed for it to be rolled out.

It would go on to play a central role in wrongfully convicting more than 700 subpostmasters when it imagined thousands of pounds worth of missing money, causing decades of anguish and anger in what has been described as one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in UK history.

Today Mr Blair remained tight-lipped and did not utter a single word as he was repeatedly asked about his decision not to put an end to the Fujitsu project.

ITV business and economics editor Joel Hills repeatedly attempted to talk with Mr Blair about the scandal as he walked along the street, asking him if he regretted not ditching the Horizon system.

Tony Blair refused to answer any questions about his role in the Post Office scandal having had the chance to 'kill' the Horizon software before it was rolled out

Mr Blair was flanked by a security guard as he continued to walk, at times with his head bowed, ignoring any questions.

He was then asked why he did not 'kill' the Fujitsu project and if he felt responsible at all for what unfolded.

Mr Blair remained stoic and silent until he bumps into his former chancellor Gordon Brown where he breaks into a smile and chuckles as he exchanges a few words before tapping him on the arm.

It came on the day when more revelations were made at the Post Office inquiry which are set to enrage the nation even further, while the government has also demanded sit-down talks with the tech giant over its contribution to compensation for postmasters.

The inquiry heard Audit Record Query (ARQ) data - which recorded transactions made by subpostmasters - was 'manipulated from its original source' and presented to the Post Office in a 'filtered' format before they used it in criminal proceedings.

The inquiry heard the filtered format was missing 'reference data' which contains information about what a Post Office counter can sell, how much it would sell it at and the steps taken during transactions.

Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC asked John Simpkins, a Fujitsu employee working in its software support centre, how audit data was extracted before it was handed to the Post Office.

The counsel to the inquiry said: 'Did you understand that audit data, ARQ data, was extracted by Fujitsu and presented to the Post Office, it was presented in a filtered format?'

It came on the day when more revelations were made at the Post Office inquiry which are set to enrage the nation even further

The dodgy software would go on to play a central role in wrongfully convicting more than 700 subpostmasters when it imagined thousands of pounds worth of missing money at Post Offices

John Simpkins (pictured), a Fujitsu employee working in its software support centre, accepted that the team he worked in 'downed tools' after learning the Post Office was using data that had 'relevant' material missing in its investigations

Mr Simpkins responded: 'Yes, I've seen some ARQ extracts that look like they are filtered, and then put in Excel.'

Mr Beer continued: 'So the data has been manipulated from its original source into a filtered format? Was that something you were aware of at the time?'

The Fujitsu witness replied: 'Not really, because if we requested data for audit, which I believe we did, we got it back in the basic raw form.'

The inquiry also heard Fujitsu staff feared being 'hauled over the coals' after realising the Post Office was using 'manipulated' audit data to criminally investigate subpostmasters.

Mr Simpkins accepted that the team he worked in 'downed tools' after learning the Post Office was using data that had 'relevant' material missing in its investigations.

Mr Simpkins previously answered questions at the inquiry in November 2022, where he said his colleague Anne Chambers was 'very unhappy' after being asked to be an expert witness in a prosecution against a subpostmaster.

Ms Chambers, a retired Fujitsu engineer, gave evidence against East Yorkshire subpostmaster Lee Castleton, who was found to have a 25,000 shortfall at his branch.

He was made bankrupt after he lost his legal battle with the Post Office and ordered to pay more than 300,000 in legal costs.

The inquiry previously heard Ms Chambers had told a colleague in August 2006, 'I don't really know what I'm doing', as she investigated a subpostmaster's branch accounts before a trial.

The inquiry was told that at some point after January 2011, Mr Simpkins and the rest of his team 'downed tools' when they realised the Post Office was using filtered data rather than all the available audit data.

He told the inquiry: 'The SSC decided we're not happy doing this filtration if it's going to be used in court cases and we stopped.'

Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC then asked: 'Why weren't you happy?'

Mr Simpkins replied: 'Because, again, leading on from Anne having to give evidence, we thought that if we were making the filter choices, they may want someone to come up and explain exactly why in a court case.'

Former postmaster Alan Bates (pictured) yesterday hit out at the 'madness' of the Post Office scandal compensation scheme, warning victims were 'dying' waiting for redress

More than 700 Post Office branch managers were given criminal convictions after faulty Fujitsu accounting software called Horizon made it appear as though money was missing from their shops

Questioned on why he would not want to give evidence in court, Mr Simpkins said: 'Because I would say it would be difficult to explain, technically, every single decision you've made out of 10,000 events why you decide to filter that.'

Mr Simpkins explained that he and other team leaders pushed their manager to agree with ceasing the filtering process.

Mr Beer continued: 'Does it follow that before the SSC downed tools on this aspect of its work, none of you had been asked to explain in any formal way to either the security team or to the Post Office what you were doing and what filtering had occurred?'

The witness replied: 'I imagine you're correct, yes.'

The Government has begun the process of requesting discussions with Fujitsu on its contribution to compensation for subpostmasters, Downing Street has said.

After one of the tech giant's executives told MPs it has a 'moral obligation' to contribute to any redress, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The Department for Business and Trade has formally started the process of requesting discussions about how we explore that.

'The inquiry does need to establish the facts, but we're keen to be as prepared as possible to act at the appropriate point.'

The official added: 'It's important that we don't do anything that would jeopardise our approach and we will set up these discussions so that we can move as quickly as possible, but it's right that we establish culpability fully.'

The spokesman declined to comment on the pace of the criminal probe after Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the national investigation into potential criminal offences linked to the Post Office scandal will take at least until 2026.

Last Sunday documents emerged that showed Mr Blair was warned that ditching the flawed Horizon system would have 'profound implications' for the UK's relations with Japan.

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.

A spokesman for Sir Tony said on Sunday: '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 FBI has opened a criminal investigation into allegations that former Abercrombie and Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries sexually exploited and abused young men at events he hosted.

Mr Jeffries, 79, and his partner, Matthew Smith, 60, are embroiled in a sex-exploitation probe, with the pair alleged to have trafficked and forced to have sex with them or a number of other men at their New York homes and at luxury hotels around the world.

These allegations emerged in October 2023, after a BBC investigation that saw eight men came forward to claim they had been exploited by Mr Jeffries and his partner in the past.

FBI agents specialising in sex crimes, who are working alongside prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York, are understood to be interviewing potential witnesses and have issued subpoenas.

Abercrombie & Fitch told the BBC it was 'appalled and disgusted' by Mr Jeffries' alleged behaviour, with the brand opting to suspend a significant amount of his retirement payments totalling $1m (792,242) a year.

So, who exactly Mike Jeffries' partner Matthew Smith? How was he involved in Abercrombie & Fitch and are the pair still together?

Read on below for everything you need to know about Matthew Smith.

Matthew Smith is pictured next to Mike Jeffries in a shot from the investigative BBC Panorama documentary, after the pair were alleged to have engaged in sexual activity with a number of men at their New York homes and at luxury hotels around the world

Mike Jeffries (right) is seen here with researcher, consultant and lecturer Paul Wilmot (left)

Who is Matthew Smith?

Matthew Smith, 60, was born in Hampshire, England and is the long-time partner of former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries.

Smith did not have a background in fashion, initially studying agriculture and food marketing.

He would then go on to study at the University of Pennsylvania, Smith graduated from the institution's Wharton business school with an MBA in entrepreneurial management.

It has also been reported that he ran an organic hair salon, The Matthew Smith Clinic, in the early 1990s.

Former employees of the salon also revealed on a BBC podcast episode - entitled 'World Of Secrets Season 1: The Abercrombie Guys' - that Smith only hired women to cut hair, while men held managerial positions and all staff were forced to wear Abercrombie & Fitch branded clothing.

Aside from working alongside Jeffries when he was CEO at Abercrombie & Fitch, Smith was also in charge of the Jeffries Family Office, which is said to have existed to take care of the personal lives of the family.

How was Matthew Smith involved in Abercrombie & Fitch?

While he was never officially employed by Abercrombie & Fitch, Smith was still reported to be an influential figure in the running of the fashion brand.

In 2013, six current and former Abercrombie & Smith bosses said that Smith wielded vast power and influence over the brand in a revelation made to BuzzFeed.

Smith was also said to have enforced office rules at Jeffries' request, such as demanding a limit of one cushion per chair at Abercrombie and Fitch's headquarters.

Despite Smith reportedly having access to important documents, his involvement was never formally reported to shareholders by Jeffries.

Jeffries stepped down as CEO in 2014, ending Smith's alleged involvement with the firm.

Smith also featured in BBC Panorama's The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool.

Jeffries, the former chairman and CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, speaks at the annual National Retail Federation on Tuesday January 13 2009 in New York

Speaking about Smith during the BBC's investigative documentary, Jeffries' former assistant, Katie Hertert, said: 'I can't think of a time where Mike went anywhere independently of Matthew.

'Matthew was a British gentleman, who was just polite and kind and easy going.

'Mike brought a lot of intensity into anything that he did. And Matthew was very chill in comparison.'

Are Matthew Smith and Mike Jeffries still together?

Jeffries and Smith have reportedly been together for nearly 20 years and are currently still in a relationship.

The couple recently sold their home in the exclusive Hamptons area in Long Island, New York for $29million (24million).

The couple's current residence after selling their property in the Hamptons is unknown.

Where are Matthew Smith and Mike Jeffries now?

Since Jeffries' decision to step down as Abercrombie & Fitch CEO in 2014, he and Smith have kept a low profile, with little known about the pair's whereabouts and activity.

Given that the pair previously lived together in Long Island, it is possible that they could still be based in the United States.

However, with Smith being British, it is also possible that the couple may have chosen to relocate across the Atlantic to ensure they can be away from the public eye.
Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar has slammed the 'strange modern phenomenon' of people on their phones at the theatre as he joins Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Craig in hitting out.

Known for his role as Superintendent Ted Hastings, Dunbar argued that people need to be told to turn their phones off in theatre and that it is distracting.

He said that even if just a couple of people are not concentrating, 'it breaks the magic'.

He is the latest actor to speak out about the subject after Andrew Scott revealed he was once forced to pause his performance of Hamlet after an audience member opened their laptop.

'Sometimes it's people who haven't been to the theatre before who just don't get it. They don't know about the fourth wall,' Dunbar, who will play Fred Graham in a new adaptation of 'Kiss me, Kate' at the Barbican in London this summer, told the Times.

Known for his role as Superintendent Ted Hastings, Adrian Dunbar argued that people need to be told to turn their phones off in theatre and that it is distracting

Adrian Dunbar is to make his musical debut in the return of Kiss Me, Kate to the London stage

Andrew Scott took on the titular role in the famous Shakespeare tragedy in 2017 at the Almeida Theatre in London (pictured November 2023)

Dunbar said the theatre should be an engaged and collective experience (stock image)

'They might think they're watching TV and that they can step away from what's happening.

'Whereas actually the theatre is very much an engaged and a collective experience.'

Speaking about the fourth wall, Northern Irish actor Dunbar was referring to the imaginary barrier between actors on stage and an audience.

His comments came after Irish actor Scott told the Happy Sad Confused podcast about the time an audience member memorably took out their laptop to answer emails mid-show.

The 47-year-old was playing Hamlet in 2017 at the Almeida Theatre in London when the incident happened.

He said: 'When I was playing Hamlet, a guy took out his laptop  not his phone, his laptop  while I was in the middle of 'to be or not to f***ing be'.

'I was pausing and [the stage team] were like, 'Get on with it' and I was like, 'There's no way. I stopped for ages.

Andrew added that the woman beside the rude onlooker alerted him and caused him to finally put his computer away.

He concluded: 'He had absolutely no doubts'.

Like Andrew, Benedict Cumberbatch was also taking on the role of Hamlet in 2015 when he complained about phones in the audience.

Addressing the spectators, he made an impassioned plea: 'I can see cameras in the auditorium. It may not be any of you here but it's blindingly obvious.

Like Andrew, Benedict Cumberbatch was also taking on the role of Hamlet in 2015 when he complained about phones in the audience (pictured in play)

Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar has slammed the 'strange modern phenomenon' of people on their phones at the theatre as he joins Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Craig in hitting out (stock image)

'It's mortifying and there's nothing that's less supportive or enjoyable as an actor on stage experiencing that.

'What I really want to do is try and enlist you. I don't use social media and I'd really appreciate it if you did tweet, blog, hashtag the s**t out of this one for me.

'This isn't me blaming you, this is just me asking you to ripple it out there in the brilliant beautiful way that you do with your funny electronic things. I'd really appreciate it.'

James McAvoy brought a 2013 theatre production of Macbeth to a standstill when he noticed a member of the audience was filming his performance.

The actor halted the show to berate the man, and refused to continue with the play until the camera was firmly put away.

In 2009, Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig confronted a theatre goer whose phone went off during their Broadway play, A Steady Rain.

Hugh stopped his performance to address the phone's owner: 'You want to get that? You want to get it? Grab it. I don't care.'

As the ringing continued, the actor fumed: 'Come on, just turn it off...Unless you've got a better story. You want to get up and tell your stories?'

James McAvoy halted the show to berate the man and refused to continue until the camera was put away (pictured in 2021)

His co-star Daniel then joined in, saying: 'Can you get that? We can wait, just get the phone'.

Richard Griffiths famously threatened to leave the stage during The History Boys in 2006, after a phone rang three separate times during his performance.

Addressing the audience, the late actor said: 'You should be ashamed of yourselves. I am not going to compete with these electronic devices. You were told to turn them off by the stage manager, you were told it was against the law.

'We're going to start this scene again. If we hear one more phone go off, we'll... quit this afternoon's performance. You have been warned.'
An air passenger was trapped in a plane's small toilet for his entire flight across India, leaving him 'traumatised' after the door lock malfunctioned.

The man had gone to the lavatory shortly after the SpiceJet plane took off from Mumbai at 10.55pm on Monday ahead of a 105-minute journey to Bengaluru city.

But as the passenger tried to unlock the door of the small toilet, he realised with horror that he couldn't get out after the lock malfunctioned.

The terrified passenger was left trapped inside the compact space for the entire flight - including the landing - and was left 'traumatised' by the claustrophobic conditions.

Desperate crewmembers had tried in vain to open the door after they heard the man's frantic calls for help, but their efforts proved unsuccessful.

It was only after the flight touched down in Bengaluru city at 3.42am on Tuesday that engineers were able to board and prise open the door to let the passenger, who was 'in a state of shock', out of the toilet. He was then given first aid by medics.

The man had gone to the lavatory shortly after the SpiceJet plane took off from Mumbai at 10.55pm on Monday ahead of a 105-minute journey to Bengaluru city (file image)

'It was known that the passenger on 14D seat had gone to the toilet soon after takeoff and the seatbelt signs went off. Sadly he got trapped inside as the toilet door malfunctioned,' an unnamed official at Bengaluru airport told The Times of India.

They added: 'The poor man flew from Mumbai to Bengaluru inside the toilet and, shockingly, landed trapped inside the tiny lavatory.

'The passenger was totally traumatised due to claustrophobia.'

The official said crewmembers had tried to open the jammed door after hearing the man's cries with no success. Just before the plane landed, an airhostess slipped a note under the door, urging the passenger to 'not panic' and to prepare for landing.

The note read: 'Sir, we tried our best to open the door... Do not panic. We are landing in a few minutes, so please close the commode lid and sit on it and secure yourself. As soon as the main door is open, engineer will come.'

SpiceJet has since issued an apology, saying it regretted the 'inconvenience caused to the passenger' and adding that the man has been given a full refund.

'Throughout the journey, our crew provided assistance and guidance to the passenger. Upon arrival, an engineer opened the lavatory door and the passenger received immediate medical support,'' a SpiceJet spokesperson told the BBC.

The incident came at the same time as frustrated passengers were dealing with a series of disrupted flights in India for the fourth day in a row today.

More than 100 flights were delayed and around 20 were cancelled across India due to dense fog covering northern India.

Weather authorities forecast five more days of fog, with minimum temperatures on Tuesday ranging from 2C to 5C in New Delhi, the capital, and the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh.

As many as 109 flights from Delhi's airport were delayed and 19 cancelled, aviation website Flightradar24 showed.

Low visibility resulting from the fog has caused widespread air traffic chaos this week, with hundreds of flights out of New Delhi delayed or cancelled.
A top NATO military official called on public and private actors in the West on Wednesday to prepare for an era in which anything could happen at any time, including fighting a war.

'We need a warfighting transformation of NATO,' the chief of the alliance's powerful Military Committee, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, said as he opened a two-day meeting of national defence chiefs in Brussels.

He noted that in the past, NATO governments and companies lived in an era in which everything was plentiful, foreseeable, controllable, and focused on efficiency.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, they should adjust their thinking to 'an era in which anything can happen at any time, an era in which we need to expect the unexpected, an era in which we need to focus on effectiveness in order to be fully effective', he said.

His remarks come at a time when military aid is either held up or limited by political wrangling in the United States and the European Union.

Britain's Challenger 2 tank moves during the Winter Camp 23 military drills near Tapa, Estonia

The commander of France's AWACS squadron, a lieutenant colonel named Richard, talks to crew members aboard one of the four French surveillance planes as it flies a 10-hour mission Tuesday, January 9 2024

Bauer pledged NATO's continued help for Ukraine.

'Ukraine will have our support for every day that is to come, because the outcome of this war will determine the fate of the world,' he said.

Experts yesterday told MailOnline that several global 'fault lines' may drag Europe into a third world war, and that the UK is severely underprepared for it.

General Sir Richard Barrons warned that Britain is sorely underprepared for a conflict with Russia, and urged the government to invest heavily in reconstituting the armed forces to meet the challenge.

'Russia is clearly angry and rearming so their capability will be restored and when the shooting stops in Ukraine, Russia will blame the outcome on us,' he told MailOnline

'We are already In confrontation with Russia. Right now, we have chosen to do very little about it.

Oil depot on fire in occupied Donetsk, Ukraine, following missile strike

Ukrainian soldiers huddle under cover during artillery fire as the soldiers of Ukrainian National Guard hold their positions in the snow-covered Serebryan Forest

Ukrainian soldiers of Ukrainian National Guard hold their positions in the snow-covered Serebryan Forest

Ukrainian wounded soldiers are evacuated towards a hospital in an ambulance as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, in Donetsk Oblast

'During the Cold War the Army, at all times, was ready to fight at four hours' notice. When the Cold War ended and there was no sense of existential risk to the UK, all of that was dismantled.

'Now we would need five to 10 years' notice of a Russian surprise attack to manage to deal with it. It's deeply disappointing.'

Retired US Army Brigadier General Kevin Ryan also told MailOnline that a failure to prepare on the part of NATO could incite Putin to strike.

'Until recently it didn't seem Russia could build an army good enough to enforce that demand. But if Russia continues to have success enlarging its force and ramping up military production then we need to get ready.

'Getting ready could be enough to avert a wider war. Not getting ready could invite one,' he concluded.

Ben Hodges, who commanded who commanded the US Army in Europe between 2014 and 2018, added: 'If the civilian leadership doesn't think there's a threat, they won't be able to move quickly enough.

'Our leaders should talk to us like adults. It doesn't mean you're a scaremongerer, it means you're taking precaution, which is exactly what we should be doing.'

Experts yesterday told MailOnline that several global 'fault lines' may drag Europe into a third world war , and that the UK is severely underprepared for it

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Western hesitation in the backing for Kyiv and fears of an escalation in the war with Russia could prolong the fighting by years

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Western hesitation in the backing for Kyiv and fears of an escalation in the war with Russia could prolong the fighting by years.

Last week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz berated European Union allies over what he called their insufficient support for Kyiv and urged them to ramp up their efforts.

At the same time, he said he was confident the bloc would agree its proposed 50 billion-euro aid package for Kyiv at an upcoming emergency summit on February, though the EU failed to agree on the deal at an EU summit in December due to opposition from Hungary.

Germany itself is preparing for a war with Russia, with leaked documents revealing a step-by-step doomsday guide on how Russia will escalate the conflict in Ukraine to an all-out war in just 18 months.

The secret 'Alliance Defence 2025' document detailed how Russia will mobilise another 200,000 soldiers in Russia before launching a spring offensive against Ukrainian forces in Spring this year.
With novels including War Horse and Private Peaceful to his name, Sir Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain's best loved children's writers.

The author, 80, has published dozens of books in a career spanning five decades.

But Sir Michael has admitted that he was put off reading for more than a decade after starting at school and finding that spelling and punctuation was important.

He was speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning to call on the Government to invest more in books and reading for children under the age of seven.

After paying tribute to his mother, who he said read to him and his brother every night, he said: 'I left home at the age of five and went to a primary school and thought I was walking into more stories and more fun.

'No no no. Then what happened, words became... you had to spell them and you had to punctuate and that put me off for approximately 12, 13 years.'

Michael Morpurgo, 80, has published dozens of books in a career spanning five decades. But he has admitted that he was put off reading for more than a decade after starting at school and finding that spelling and punctuation was important. Right: Sir Michael as a child

The author, whose mother Kippe Cammaerts was an actress, was born in St Alban's, Hertfordshire.

He largely grew up in London and Essex after being evacuated to Northumberland during the Second World War.

The author told the BBC how his mother would read to him and his brother Pieter every night.

'She would come and sit on one bed one night, the other bed the other night, and then read to us. And she was a busy mum,' he said.

He added: 'So the person you love most in all the world is your mum, is spending ten minutes with you.

War Horse, which told the story of a horse that was forced into service in the First World War, was released in 1982. It has since been adapted into a successful film and long running play. Above: The animatronic horse that features in the play

'And what's she doing? She's reading a book and she's reading it as if she loves it. Not as if, because she does love it.

'She is making magic with the words, she paints pictures with the words, she makes music with the words.'

Despite being put off reading at school, Sir Michael initially went into teaching before publishing his first book in 1974.

War Horse, which told the story of a horse that was forced into service in the First World War, was released in 1982.

It has since been adapted into a successful film and long running play.

Sir Michael is among former children's laureates who have signed an open letter urging the Government to invest more in early years reading.

Other signatories include Malorie Blackman, Dame Jacqueline Wilson and Sir Quentin Blake.

The letter says: 'It is not right that children from poorer backgrounds are deprived of a life that is rich in reading.'

The author said his mother would read to him and his brother Pieter every night. Above: Pieter (left) and Michael reading a book together in 1948

Sir Michael (left) and his brother outside their home in Earl's Court, London

The letter comes after a BookTrust survey suggested only half of children aged between one and two from low-income families are read to each day.

Sir Michael also told the BBC that the Government should provide books to every home in the UK.

Asked whether that is something the Government should do, he said: 'Absolutely... and the important thing is to encourage it in the education system as well.

'At the end of every school day in this country there should be story time.'

Asked whether providing books is a role for parents or government, he added: 'It is a role for both.

'The first thing is that books have to be available - you know, give them the tools and they'll do the job.

'If you haven't got the books, what can you do? And there are many, many households in this country where there are no books.

'We know that we still close libraries down. We know there are primary schools - one in five - (that have) no library in the land of Shakespeare... What are we talking about here?'
Writer E. Jean Carroll will take the stand on Wednesday to describe how using 'the world's biggest microphone' former President Donald Trump defamed her during his time in the White House.

Carroll is due to testify Wednesday in the second federal civil trial over her claims against Trump, who denies them all.

Because the first jury found that Trump sexually abused Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her in 2022, the new trial concerns only her for some other remarks. He made them while he was president.

Trump, who is juggling court appearances with campaign stops as he leads the Republican field in this year's presidential race, sat in on jury selection Tuesday. Before opening statements began, he left for a New Hampshire rally.

Subsequently, Trump's lawyer contended that Carroll has never been more famous and that she is blaming him for 'a few mean tweets from Twitter trolls.'

E. Jean Carroll watches as her lawyer Shawn Crowley opens in the second civil trial after Carroll accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of raping her decades ago

In this courtroom sketch, E. Jean Carroll, right, turns around towards former President Donald Trump

People hold signs outside the Manhattan federal court in New York in support of E. Jean Carroll's allegations

Meanwhile, Trump declared on social media Tuesday that the case was nothing but 'fabricated lies and political shenanigans' that had garnered his accuser money and fame.

'I am the only one injured by this attempted EXTORTION,' read a post on his Truth Social platform.

But Carroll, an advice columnist and magazine writer, has said that Trump harmed her deeply. First, she claims, he forced himself on her in a dressing room after a chance meeting at a luxury department store in 1996.

Then he publicly impugned her honesty, her motives and even her sanity after she told the story publicly in a 2019 memoir.

'He called me a liar repeatedly, and it really has decimated my reputation. I am a journalist. The one thing I have to have is the trust of the readers,' she testified in April at the first trial. 'I am no longer believed.'

Carroll has maintained she lost millions of readers and her longtime gig at Elle magazine, where her 'Ask E. Jean' advice column ran for over a quarter-century, because of her allegations and Trump's reaction to them.

Elle has said her contract wasn't renewed for unrelated reasons.

One of Carroll's lawyers, Shawn Crowley, said in her opening statement that the writer also received violent threats from Trump backers.

In this courtroom sketch, prospective jurors file into the courtroom as Donald Trump, third left, stands surrounded by his defense team. Alina Habba, fourth left, Trump's lead defense attorney, stands beside him. E. Jean Carroll, background second from right, stands with her attorney Roberta Kaplan, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in New York

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, E. Jean Carroll and their lawyers stand for the jury as they attend jury selection

E Jean Carroll arrives for her defamation trial against Former President Donald Trump at New York Federal Court on January 16, 2024 in New York City

Trump attorney Alina Habba countered that Carroll was seeking to hold the former president accountable for 'a few mean tweets from Twitter trolls.' He was 'merely defending himself' in his comments about his accuser, Habba said in her opening.

Trump asserts that nothing ever happened between him and Carroll, indeed that he has never even met her. There's a 1987 party photo of them and their then-spouses, but Trump says it was a momentary greeting that 'doesn't count.'

Trump did not attend the previous trial in the case last May, when a jury found he had sexually abused and defamed Carroll and $5 million damages. The jury said, however, that Carroll hadn't proven her claim that Trump raped her.

Carroll is now seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and millions more in punitive damages.
British fighter Aiden Aslin has returned to the Ukrainian frontline just 18 months after he was released by his Russian captors and flown back to the UK.

Aslin, 30, who was held as a prisoner of war for six months before being released in 2022, is now in the embattled Ukrainian city of Avdiivka - a key frontline hellhole in the war.

The Briton said he was delivering medical supplies to Ukrainian soldiers positioned there rather than fighting, with Aslin sharing a video of himself in the wartorn city.

Aslin was captured by Russian forces in April 2022 while fighting in Mariupol and was due to face a firing squad after being sentenced to death.

But the Saudi Crown Prince and ex-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich helped secure his release in September 2022 and he returned to the UK to be reunited with his family.

And now, 18 months later, Aslin has returned to the frontlines with the former British solider posting footage from Avdiivka as the sound of shellfire fills the air.

Aslin, 30, who was held as a prisoner of war for six months before being released in 2022, is now in the embattled Ukrainian city of Avdiivka - a key frontline hellhole in the war

Mr Aslin, 28, (pictured) was captured by Russian forces in April while fighting in Mariupol and was due to face a firing squad before his release

A Ukrainian soldier fires towards the Russian position as the Ukrainian soldiers from the artillery unit wait for ammunition assistance at the frontline in the direction of Avdiivka on December 28

He said: 'We are here in Avdiivka. Just leaving.'

Aslin later said: 'We visited Avdivvka today to deliver crucial medical supplies for the civilians that are surviving in the city or what's left of it.

'Like many other cities such as Bakhmut and Mariupol, Avdivvka is just another city destroyed by Russia.

'Russians say it's green screen.'

He added praise for the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and his war zone visits.

'Zelensky has some balls to stand here without body armour and helmet,' Aslin said.

There is Russian fury that he has returned to the war zone, even in the capacity of sending in supplies.

'While in captivity, Aslin asked for forgiveness from the people of Donbas and Russia for serving in the Ukrainian troops,' said pro-war channel Bloknot Russia. 'It turns out that he did not draw any conclusions for himself.'

Aiden was captured by the Russians in April 2022 while fighting as a Ukrainian Marine in Mariupol.

He was sentenced to death two months later by the so-called authorities in pro-Russian Donetsk People's Republic.

British citizens Aiden Aslin (L) and Shaun Pinner (R) and Moroccan Saaudun Brahim (C) attend a sentencing hearing at the Supreme Court of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, on June 9 2022

Mr Aslin (pictured), of Newark, Nottinghamshire, said his motivation to return was his love for his adopted country of Ukraine despite his brush with death

He was made the subject of propaganda footage by Russian-backed forces during his time in captivity.

But on 5 July 2022, Aslin's defence team filed an appeal, requesting the dismissal of the verdict due to lack evidence of a crime.

Three months later, the Saudi Crown Prince and ex-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich helped secure his release in September 2022 and he returned to the UK to be reunited with his family.

Yet in November that year, he revealed he was returning to Ukraine as a YouTube 'war correspondent'.

Mr Aslin, of Newark, Nottinghamshire, said at the time that his motivation to return was his love for his adopted country of Ukraine despite his brush with death just months earlier.

He said: 'It's my home. Obviously I don't want to be captured again, but I feel there is still work to be done. There are stories that need to be told.

'I promised my fiancee that I wouldn't go back to the military. I don't expect to ever pick up a weapon again.

'I know that I may a recognisable face in Ukraine, but I feel it's worth the risk.'

He said he also wants to bring eye-witness accounts to a wide audience in the West and to keep suffering in the public eye.
Shira Stein is The San Francisco Chronicle's Washington correspondent, covering national politics and policy with a particular eye to the impacts on California. She was previously a health care reporter and received several awards for her work covering the COVID-19 pandemic for Bloomberg. She also covered the fall of Roe v. Wade, including being the first to report President Joe Bidens consideration of a public health emergency for reproductive rights; the Trump administrations efforts to lower prescription drug prices; and the third legal fight to overturn the Affordable Care Act.

She previously interned at the Washington Post, Bloomberg Law, and the Colorado-based Durango Herald. She is a native of the Bay Area and a graduate of American University.

She can be reached at shira.stein@sfchronicle.com.
Labour frontbencher Wes Streeting is facing a challenge from a pro-Palestinian candidate at the general election amid anger at the party's stance on Gaza.

The shadow health secretary is set to battle with Leanne Mohamad to hold onto his Ilford North seat, in Greater London, when voters go to the polls later this year.

Ms Mohamad was this week chosen as an independent parliamentary candidate by the Redbridge Community Action Group.

The grassroots organisation was created last year following the outbreak of fresh conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Its website states it 'came together after we witnessed the grotesque genocide in Gaza' and vows to challenge Mr Streeting's seat and 'beat him at the next election'.

The group's aim is to 'prepare an independent candidate who is strong on Palestine, NHS, racism, islamophobia and the cost-of-living crisis'.

Labour frontbencher Wes Streeting is facing a challenge from a pro-Palestinian candidate at the general election amid anger at the party's stance on Gaza

The shadow health secretary is set to battle with Leanne Mohamad to hold onto his Ilford North seat, in Greater London, when voters go to the polls later this year

Ms Mohamad is an ally of ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, whom she has described as 'amazing' and a 'legend'

Ms Mohamad is a British Palestinian and a self-described 'human rights activist' who has spoken at recent protests in central London.

She is also an ally of ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, whom she has described as 'amazing' and a 'legend'.

Ms Mohamad won the backing of Redbridge Community Action Group following a hustings event on Sunday night.

Mr Streeting was first elected as Ilford North MP at the 2015 general election, when he took the seat off a Tory incumbent.

He held the constituency at the 2017 and 2019 general elections - most recently with a 5,198-vote majority.

But Mr Streeting might be concerned that local anger at Labour's stance on the Middle East crisis could see him lose support at this year's general election.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has faced intense pressure from left-wing Labour MPs, local councillors and supporters over his refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

He has instead repeatedly stated his support for Israel's right to self-defence in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks on October 7.

Sir Keir also prompted anger when he appeared to use a radio interview to back Israel's right to besiege Gaza in response to the atrocities, although he later clarified his remarks.

Last month, Sir Keir slightly shifted his stance to join Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in calling for a 'sustainable ceasefire'.

'It will have to be a political process, to a two-stage solution which, in the end, is the only way that this is going to be resolved,' he added.

Mr Streeting has previously acknowledged people were left 'upset and hurt' by Labour's initial reaction to the Israel-Hamas war.

Some polling has suggested Labour risks losing the support of Muslim voters over the party's response to the Middle East crisis.

Data from the 2021 census shows 23.6 per cent of the population of Ilford North identified as Muslim - the second-highest group behind 34.3 per cent who identified as Christian.
A police manhunt has been launched for a violent criminal who fled from prison where he was serving a near-eight-year sentence.

Frankie Michael O'Leary, 26, left HMP Sudbury at 5.30pm on Friday, January 12 where he was serving his sentence.

The convict had been sentenced to a seven-year, 10-month sentence for grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent in 2021.

After he absconded from the open prison, Derbyshire Police issued an urgent appeal for information about his whereabouts but warned the public 'do not approach'.

He has links to areas in London, including Tottenham, Haringey, Finsbury Park, North Finchley and Hornsey.

Frankie Michael O'Leary, 26, left HMP Sudbury at 5.30pm on Friday, January 12 where he was serving his sentence for GBH

HMP Sudbury is a Category D open prison in the village of Sudbury, Derbyshire

O'Leary also has links to Bedfordshire, Dorset, Hampshire, North Wales, Brighton and Hove, Northampton, Cambridgeshire and Wiltshire.

HMP Sudbury is a Category D open prison in the village of Sudbury, Derbyshire.

These prisons have minimal security and allow eligible prisoners to spend most of their day away from the prison on licence to carry out work, education or for other resettlement purposes.

Open prisons only house prisoners that have been risk-assessed and deemed suitable for open conditions.

O'Leary has been described as 5ft 10ins tall, with brown hair which is short on the sides and longer on top, and of slight build with blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing a pair of black Under Armour tracksuit bottoms, a black padded jacket, and a pair of white and grey Nike trainers.

Derbyshire Police has asked the public to contact them with the reference 1190-120124 if they have any information.
Russia has been hit by its biggest civil protest since Putin invaded Ukraine - with 10,000 taking to the streets and violent clashes breaking out over the jailing of an anti-war activist.

Riot police and demonstrators were involved in battles and a number of 'wounded' were reported at the protest in the small town of Baymak, Bashkortostan, a rural region of Russia near the Ural mountains.

The protest was sparked following the jailing of a prominent anti-war activist, who was sentenced to four years in prison for 'inciting hatred.'

Photos and videos taken at the protests showed protestors throwing snowballs and lumps of ice, and police responding in kind with tear gas canisters.

Around 300 special forces soldiers were brought in, after law enforcement couldn't contain the baying mob, and Russia's National Guard is said to be sending backup forces to assist.

One witness said: 'They beat the men mercilessly.

'They beat them on the head and back with batons. They say that someone's eye was knocked out.'

The trigger was the jailing of anti-war activist Fail Alsyonov, 37, who was sentenced to four years behind bars for 'inciting hatred'

Former Putin speechwriter Abbas Gallyamov stressed the significance of the unrest, claiming it was alarming for the Kremlin dictator

Paddy wagons were brought in to detain perpetrators of the riot. At one point, the furious crowd encircled and trapped Putins security forces.

They appeared to hold them hostage, threatening to harm the officers if protesters were wounded.

An imam was deployed by the security forces in the mainly Muslim region to seek to restore calm.

'His speech had no result,' said one account.

Reports said 'negotiations' were underway between the two sides.

The scenes showed Russia's worst incident of civil strife since the conflict with Ukraine began in February 2022.

The trigger was the jailing of anti-war activist Fail Alsyonov, 37, who was sentenced to four years behind bars for 'inciting hatred' following a ruling held behind closed doors.

Around 300 special forces soldiers were brought in, after law enforcement couldn't contain the baying mob

Civilians were assaulted with tear gas during the protest

The head of the republic Radiy Khabirov had accused him of insulting people from Central Asia and the Caucasus in a speech in the Bashkir language that Alsynov insists was mistranslated.

The activist has also been publicly critical of Moscow's large-scale offensive in Ukraine.

According to local media, Alsynov was fined last year for criticising Russia's mobilisation drive for the conflict in Ukraine, calling it a 'genocide of the Bashkir people' in a social media post and saying Moscow's offensive 'was not our war.'

Alsyonov has also been severely critical of gold-mining projects in the region, a major source of income for Russia at a time when its economy has suffered under sanctions imposed by the Western world in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

Former Putin speechwriter Abbas Gallyamov stressed the significance of the unrest, claiming it was alarming for the Kremlin dictator.

'This does not mean that the regime there has been overthrown right now, but it does mean that when suppressing discontent, the authorities will have to act very harshly, and this, in turn, means that many painful grievances will be stored in the treasury of the people's memory,' he said.

'This means that at the moment when things go very badly for the regime, the burden of claims that the people will get and present may turn out to be completely unbearable.

'This is how the Soviet Union collapsed

Riot police and demonstrators were involved in battles and a number of 'wounded' were reported at protests in the small town of Baymak, Bashkortostan

Photos and videos taken at the protests showed protestors throwing snowballs and lumps of ice, and police responding in kind with tear gas canisters

'The authorities themselves are now planting a bomb under the foundation of Russia.

'Not the CIA, but the current 'patriotic' authorities.'

Russia has clamped down on dissent as troops fight in Ukraine. Amnesty International reported last year that 21,000 anti-war activists were subjected to heavy reprisals for speaking out against Russia invasion of Ukraine.

Amnesty International's Russia researcher, Oleg Kozlovsky, said at the time: 'Repression in Russia runs deep where a complex and extensive range of tactics are increasingly being weaponized to silence anti-war dissent.

'Peaceful protesters against the war in Ukraine and those who share critical information about the Russian armed forces face severe criminal, administrative and other sanctions.

'New, absurd laws that criminalize those who freely express their views have been adopted and immediately put to use.

'The flawed criminal justice system, characterized by deeply unfair trials, has been deployed to dish out prison sentences and hefty fines to silence critics in response to slightest dissent.'
Shocking footage has captured the moment a disqualified driver in a white van led police on a 90mph car chase which lasted 10 minutes.

Niall Thompson, 25, whizzed through red traffic lights, bumped his van onto the pavement, and weaved into the wrong side of the road attempting to evade police in the 12-mile chase.

He raced through 30mph limit residential areas in the busy town centre of Loughborough before finally getting caught - but has avoided jail.

Police said it was 'extremely lucky' that no one was hurt due to his driving.

Officers had been tipped off by intelligence that disqualified driver Thompson was behind the wheel on the A6, heading to Birstall, north of Leicester at around 10.35am on December 14 last year.

Officers had been tipped off by intelligence that disqualified driver Thompson was behind the wheel on the A6, heading to Birstall, north of Leicester at around 10.35am on December 14 last year

Niall Thompson, 25, raced through a 30mph limit residential area in the busy town centre of Loughborough before finally getting caught after attempting to evade police in the 12-mile chase

Thompson was seen driving recklessly and well above the speed limit in a chase which lasted 10 minutes

They followed him to the village of Sileby, but on exiting the village Thompson increased his speed to 60mph in a 40mph zone.

Officers pursuing then turned on their blue lights but Thompson failed to stop and a pursuit began.

During the police chase Thompson, from Loughborough, increased his speed to 70mph in a 40mph zone.

The vehicle then entered the Barrow upon Soar area, reaching speeds of 60mph on residential streets.

It then returned to the A6, where the van was seen straddling between lanes and reaching speeds of more than 90mph.

The van then entered Loughborough town centre and began overtaking other vehicles - reaching speeds of 60mph.

It was also seen driving through red lights, mounting a pavement, and ignoring 'keep left' bollards before coming to a stop in Ashby Square.

The van was also seen driving through red lights, mounting a pavement, and ignoring 'keep left' bollards before coming to a stop

Constable James Yeoman, from Leicestershire Police's Roads Policing Unit, said: 'There is no doubt that Thompson put lives in danger, including his own, on that morning. It is extremely lucky that no one was hurt as a result of his actions'

Thomspon admitted dangerous driving, two counts of driving while disqualified, and two counts of driving without insurance at Leicester Crown Court. He was jailed for nine months but his sentence was suspended for two years

Thompson then left the vehicle and started to continue the chase on foot by running into a nearby business, but was quickly arrested by officers.

He admitted dangerous driving, two counts of driving while disqualified, and two counts of driving without insurance.

Police said there was also evidence that Thompson had driven in Loughborough the day before  while disqualified and without insurance.

He was jailed for nine months but his sentence was suspended for two years.

The judge at Leicester Crown Court also banned him from getting behind the wheel for two years.

He will have to take an extended retest.

Thompson was also slapped with a four-month curfew from 10pm until 6am at the hearing on Friday, January 12.

Police Constable James Yeoman, from Leicestershire Police's Roads Policing Unit, said: 'There is no doubt that Thompson put lives in danger, including his own, on that morning.

'It is extremely lucky that no one was hurt as a result of his actions.

'Officers calmly pursued him through the streets before he came to a stop where he was immediately arrested.

'Dangerous driving puts lives at risk and will not be tolerated.

'Leicestershire Police have highly trained police drivers to tackle these incidents and we will continue to take action against these offenders, bringing them before the courts.'

Locals have praised the police for bringing the chase to an end safely.

Freya Crofts said: 'I think he was playing too many video games.'

Ash Reynolds added: 'What a brilliant pursuit by an amazing officer. Great comms and tactics. The officer is a credit to the force.'

Sue Sprason said: 'Brilliant driving by the police. Totally selfish driving by the van driver, complete disregard for the safety of other road users.'
Ruby Franke's estranged husband is demanding that her business partner stump up and pay for their children's medical treatment in the wake of the pair pleading guilty to child abuse charges in Utah.

Ruby ran a YouTube channel named U Passengers alongside Hildebrandt, 54, for several years.

The whistle was blown on their abuse when one of Ruby's children escaped from a home owned by Hildebrandt and went to a neighbor's home to ask for food and water with duct tape around his ankle and wrists.

In new court documents, Kevin Franke is demanding that Hildebrandt pay for their children's recovery, in part from the proceeds of a $5.1 million home that she listed for sale earlier this month.

'The children remain in professional care for the aggravated psychological and emotional injuries suffered. It is clear and admitted that the children suffered immediate and continuing irreparable harm as a result of the crimes perpetrated upon them by this Defendant,' one section of the documents read.

Ruby Franke, (left) who ran the now-defunct 8 Passengers channel, was arrested along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt (right) on August 30

In new documents, Ruby Franke's estranged husband, Kevin, shown here, is seeking a court order demanding that Hildebrandt pay for his children's treatement

Earlier this month, Hildebrandt listed this five bedroom home in Utah for sale for a cool $5.1 million

Ruby and Hildebrandt will be sentenced in February.

'This would be a completely inequitable result; that the victims and victims family would have to pay for their own treatment for injuries caused by [Hildebrandt],' one section of the documents read.

Utah has a Child Victims Restitution Act entitling victims to be compensated for treatment in the wake of abuse.

At the full conclusion of the case, Kevin will be left to pay for his children's care.

On January 4, Hildebrandt's home in Ivins, Utah, was placed on the market for sale. This home is one of the places where the abuse occurred, Kevin's attorneys state in the documents.

According to Realtor.com, the home is a four-bedroom, 3.5 bathroom house located in the desert, 300 miles south of Salt Lake City, just north of Las Vegas.

The article describes it as 'brutalist in style and somewhat foreboding to the eye.' It's spread across 9,000 square feet and is a 'solid fortress.'

It features a pool, spa, outdoor kitchen as well as a home movie theater in the basement.

The documents request that the court order Hildebrandt to not sell the home until after her sentencing.

The popular YouTuber was arrested along with her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt last month and charged with six counts of felony child abuse after one of her sons was discovered with open wounds and duct tape on their limbs

Jodi Hildebrandt pictured in court in December 2023, she had formerly been a mental health counselor in Utah

Judge John J. Walton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 20 after accepting the plea agreement, which described new details of the abuse the children endured, including the claims that they were possessed.

Under the plea agreement, Ruby agreed to serve a prison term and the sentences will run consecutively. Sentencing would be up to the judge.

Ruby pleaded not guilty to two other counts, court records said, and was returned to custody after the hearing.

Under Utah law, second-degree aggravated child abuse can be charged if that person knowingly or intentionally inflicts serious physical injury to a child or causes or permits another to inflict serious physical injury to their child.

Each charge carries a sentence of one to 15 years in prison.

Winward Law said in a statement following the pleas saying that the abuse occurred while Franke was influenced by a relationship counselor who led her to 'a distorted sense of morality.'

'Ruby Franke is a devoted mother and is also a woman committed to constant improvement,' Winward Law said in a statement.

Ruby initially believed that her co-defendant Hildebrandt 'had the insight to offer a path to continual improvement,' but said that Hildebrandt 'took advantage of this quest and twisted it into something heinous.'

Judge John J. Walton scheduled sentencing for the pair for Feb. 20 after accepting the plea agreement

Ruby's family previously told DailyMail.com that she should be 'put away forever' if she's convicted of the abuse

In the plea agreement, Ruby admits that she tortured her son from May 22 through Aug. 30 by forcing him into hours of physical tasks, summer work outdoors without adequate water and 'repeated and serious sunburns' that blistered.

He was denied food or given very plain meals, and he was isolated from other people without access to books, notebooks or electronics.

After he tried to run away in July, his hands and feet were regularly bound, sometimes with handcuffs.

At times, ropes were used to tie together handcuffs that secured his hands and feet as he lay on his stomach, lifting his arms and legs off the ground and injuring his wrists and ankles, the plea agreement said.

Ruby also admitted to kicking her son while wearing boots, holding his head under water and smothering his mouth and nose with her hands, according to the plea agreement.

'He was also told that everything that was being done to him were acts of love,' the agreement states.

Ruby acknowledged similarly abusing her 9-year-old daughter by forcing her to work outside, run on dirt roads barefoot, and go without food and water.

'She was also repeatedly told she was evil and possessed, the punishments were necessary for her to be obedient and repent, and these things were being done to her in order to help her,' the plea agreement said.

The girl 'was convinced' what her mother said was true, the agreement said.

Ruby and Hildebrandt were arrested on Aug. 30 after Ruby's 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt's house in the southern Utah city of Ivins and asked a neighbor to call police, according to the 911 call released by the St. George Police Department.

The boy was emaciated and had duct tape around his ankles and wrists but wouldn't say why, the caller reported.

'I think he's been ... he's been detained,' the caller said, his voice breaking up. 'He's obviously covered in wounds.'

The boy and Ruby's daughter, who was also found at Hildebrandt's house, were taken to the hospital. Eventually, Franke's four youngest children were taken into state custody.

Ruby and Hildebrandt were each charged with six felony counts of aggravated child abuse. They have remained jailed since their arrests.

During Ruby's incarceration, 'she has actively engaged in an introspection that has allowed her to reset her moral compass and understand the full weight of her actions. Ms. Franke is committed to taking responsibility for the part she played in the events leading up to her incarceration,' the statement said.

The boy told investigators that 'Jodi' put the ropes on his ankles and wrists and that they used cayenne pepper and honey to dress the wounds caused by the ropes, according to a search warrant.

Hildebrandt has agreed not to see patients until the allegations are addressed by state licensing officials. Her next court hearing is set for Dec. 27, according to court records.

Her attorney, Douglas Terry, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment on the allegations made against Hildebrandt in the statement by Franke's attorney.

The Franke family was criticized online for its '8 Passengers' video blog showing parenting decisions including banning their oldest son from his bedroom for seven months for pranking his younger brother.

In other videos, Ruby Franke talked about refusing to take lunch to a kindergartener who forgot it at home and threatening to cut the head off a young girl's stuffed toy to punish her for cutting things in the house.

In one video, Ruby said she and her husband told their two youngest children that they would not be getting presents from Santa Claus one year because they had been selfish and weren't responding to punishment like being kept home from school and cleaning the floorboards.

The YouTube channel, which started in 2015, ended after seven years.

Franke's husband has filed for divorce.
Stephen Bear was released from prison today looking unrecognisable and wearing a rosary - after serving half of his 21-month sentence for sharing a sex tape of his Love Island ex Georgia Harrison.

Bear, who won Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, was jailed in March after filming and uploading footage of him having sex with Ms Harrison in his garden on OnlyFans. Ms Harrison is starring in the current series of Love Island: All Stars villa.

The shamed TV personality was seen leaving HMP Brixton this morning sporting a scruffy beard and shaggy hair. He was dressed in a grey and yellow T-shirt and shorts and trainers, despite the cold temperatures. Hanging from his neck was a rosary - which Catholics use to pray.

Bear, who made no comment to photographers, provoked outrage with his arrogant and disrespectful behaviour in court - regularly turning up in a Rolls Royce that he had rented for 475 a day.

He was dumped by his girlfriend Jessica Smith while in jail but appears to still have the support of relatives, one of whom posted a supportive message on Monday to mark his birthday. Bear is said to insist he is a 'changed man' and a post on his X page earlier this month said he 'can't wait to get my life back on track'.

MailOnline understands Ms Harrison has not been told about his release today but was aware it was imminent before she entered the villa. She previously said she 'didn't have much fear or any concerns' about him being let out and just wanted to 'move on' with her life.

Bear, who will be on licence and wearing an ankle tag for the second half of his sentence, is subject to a restraining order that bans him from contacting Ms Harrison for five years. He must keep police informed of his whereabouts for a decade.

Stephen Bear leaves HMP Brixton today after being released on licence half way through his term

The disgraced Big Brother contestant was seen sporting shaggy hair, a long beard, and a crucifix dangling from his neck

The convicted sex offender has been given a restraining order and told not to contact Georgia Harrison (who he's pictured with) for five years

Ms Harrison is appearing on the current series of Love Island. She's pictured on the show last night with her pairing, Luis Morrison

Bear pictured in December 2022 before he went to prison (left) and today (right)

A January 4 post on X that was apparently dictated by Bear from behind bars said: 'I will be leaving Brixton prison on the 17th January. Can't wait to get my life back on track. Who's excited to see me?'

A poll posted on Bear's page on X on January 4 read: 'I will be leaving Brixton prison on the 17th January. Can't wait to get my life back on track. Who's excited to see me?'

Some 82% of respondents voted that they would 'rather watch paint dry', while 18% said they 'can't wait' to see him.

Ms Harrison has become a campaigner against revenge porn and violence since Bear's trial and said her time in the Love Island villa would be a welcome break.

Before entering the show, she said: 'I really feel like I've missed out on that in the last couple of years because I've been fighting for myself and other women, which I will continue to do, but I'm just going to have a little six-week break. I'm having a sabbatical.'

A source had earlier told The Sun that Bear had 'served his time' behind bars and would be let out in 'the next few weeks'.

'However, he's been telling pals he's not the same man that went into prison,' they said.

READ MORE - Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear insists he wants to 'get life back on track' after sex tape scandal Advertisement

'There will be no hopping back on to social media or rolling straight back into the nearest nightclub when he gets out, he says he just wants to get back to east London and his family.'

The source said 'time will tell' if he has 'changed'.

Bear was jailed in March after being convicted of voyeurism, disclosing private, sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress, and harassment without violence.

His girlfriend Jessica Smith dumped him in September after vowing to stand by him while he was in jail.

Today she shared a video on TikTok showing a montage of videos filmed with her new boyfriend and wrote in a caption how she looked 'happier now'.

Bear, by contrast, was said to be heartbroken by the split.

Women's Aid, a charity that aims to end domestic violence against women and children, slammed his early release.

It said: 'Following today's news of the release of Stephen Bear, only 11 months into his sentence, our thoughts are with Georgia Harrison and other survivors affected by image-based sexual abuse crimes like so-called 'revenge porn'.

'From our work with survivors, we know that violence against women not being taken seriously is one of the main reasons preventing many from reporting the crimes to police.

'Seeing perpetrators being released from sentences early, in this instance serving under a year, also has an impact on women coming forward in the future.

'With trust in the criminal justice system already dangerously low, we need to ensure women feel both safe from abusers and that they can see the justice system understanding the severity of the crime committed.

'Short sentences leave too many women thinking, 'what is the point of going through a trial for that?'.

'So-called 'revenge porn' has a devastating effect on a survivor's sense of autonomy and privacy, as well as a long-lasting impact on their mental health, and the criminal justice system needs to reflect this.'

HMP Brixton, where the disgraced celebrity was held, opened in 1819 and is one of London's oldest prisons.

It holds a Category C ranking and famous former inmates include philosopher Bertrand Russell, the Kray twins, rapper Giggs and Mick Jagger - who was held there after being convicted of possessing illegal amphetamine pills.

Oswald Mosely, founder of the British Union of Fascists, was interned in Brixton in 1940 under regulations to protect the UK from Nazi sympathisers and in 1991 it was the scene of a famous escape by IRA men Pearse McAuley and Nessan Quinlivan.

More recently it was the setting of Gordon Ramsay's 2012 TV series Gordon Behind Bars, where he taught 12 inmates to cook. It is also home to The Clink, where inmates serve meals to paying members of the public.

In October, Bear's ex Ms Harrison appeared on stage at Labour's conference in Liverpool to demand abuse cases are given priority in courts.

The former star of reality shows The Only Way Is Essex - who has waived her right to anonymity - spoke of her long wait for justice.

She said it took two years from the day she reported the crime for Bear to be convicted and warned about the impact of long legal processes on victims of other crimes, such as rape and domestic abuse.

Bear made no comments to photographers as he left HMP Brixton late this morning

The disgraced social media personality is said to have told friends he wants to get his life 'back on track'

Bear sports a series of tattoos, including an etching of The Joker on his left arm

He was dressed in a grey and yellow T-shirt and shorts and trainers, despite the cold temperatures

Bear was seen wearing a tag. A restraining order prevents him from making contact with Ms Harrison

Bear provoked outrage with his arrogant and disrespectful behaviour in court - regularly turning up in a Rolls Royce rented for 475 a day

Bear with Jessica Smith - who had vowed to stand by him while he was in prison, but later dumped him

A supportive message that was apparently shared on social media to mark Bear's birthday

The 28-year-old said she now has an 'onslaught' of women reaching out to her for help on social media following her high-profile case.

She also called for 'massive online platforms' to be required to take down sexually explicit content which had been posted without consent.

Speaking on a panel on the main stage of Labour's conference, Ms Harrison said it was 'really important that victims feel they are going to be taken seriously when they're going to the police'.

'I speak to a lot of girls who just feel like they weren't taken seriously or no one really understood when they did go to the police,' she added.

'One thing I wanted to highlight from my personal experience is I feel there needs to be more support for victims when they do choose to call the police and go into the court system.

'For me, from the day I reported the crime, it took me two whole years to get a conviction.'

Ms Harrison spoke of how the two-year legal ordeal she endured was 'detrimental to my career and my mental health, which was really hard for me'.

She added: 'But I couldn't help but think, imagine if you were either a victim of domestic abuse or a sexual assault, if you had been raped.

'And you get a phone call to say 'actually you're going to have to wait a whole other year to even get inside a court room'.

'You've got to spend the next year of your life walking down the street not knowing if you're going to get attacked, killed, violated - how would you live with that?

'It would be so nice if the courts could make sure if it is a victim of sexual assault or domestic abuse - especially as in a domestic abusive relationship, that amount of time leaves the perpetrator so long to manipulate them to drop the charges - I think those sort of cases should be prioritised and 90 per cent of those victims are women.'

In June, the law cracked down on people who share intimate images without the consent of those depicted.

Ms Harrison has demanded abuse cases are given priority in courts

Bear arriving at court in December last year (left) and leaving Brixton prison today (right)

The former convict got into a waiting taxi after leaving the Victorian jail this morning
The Tories have been warned they are 'haemorrhaging' votes to Nigel Farage's Reform UK as a new poll gave Labour a 17-point lead.

A Savanta survey conducted at the weekend showed Labour were backed by 44 per cent of voters (down one point from the week before).

This compared to 27 per cent who supported the Conservatives (up one point) and 11 per cent who backed the Liberal Democrats (up one point).

Reform UK, the party founded by ex-UKIP leader Mr Farage, were on seven per cent (down one point) in Savanta's latest poll.

If the poll findings were replicated at the next general election it would likely give Sir Keir Starmer's Labour a 'large majority' in the House of Commons, Savanta said.

The pollster's analysis also suggested the Tories were retaining just six in 10 (60 per cent) of those voters who backed them at the last general election in 2019.

Around one in seven (14 per cent) intended to switch their support to Labour, while around one in 10 said they were undecided (nine per cent) or would vote for Reform UK (11 per cent).

A Savanta survey conducted at the weekend showed Labour were backed by 44 per cent of voters (down one point from the week before)

Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta, warned the 'bleak' outlook for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could yet get worse

There is currently widespread speculation at Westminster as to whether Nigel Farage will return to the political frontline to lead Reform UK ahead of the general election

Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta, warned the 'bleak' outlook for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could yet get worse.

Tory rebels are threatening to vote against Mr Sunak's Rwanda Bill tonight in a crunch vote on his flagship legislation to revive the migrant deportation scheme.

Mr Hopkins claimed a 'disastrous result' for the PM in the House of Commons this evening 'could be the first nail in this Government's coffin'.

'The polling picture for Rishi Sunak has looked bleak ever since he took office, and the first handful of polls in 2024 have been no different,' he said.

'As the PM faces an anxious wait to see the extent of his party's Rwanda rebellion, it feels like a huge moment in his premiership.

'On the one hand, if he passes the Bill and flights to Rwanda take off, Sunak can evidence to the electorate - including the significant proportion that are haemorrhaging to Reform UK - that he has delivered on an immigration pledge that matters to a large chunk of would-be Tory voters.

'However, if the Bill is defeated or the rebellion is extensive, Sunak continues to look weak and lacking control over his own party.

'The electorate, however unconvinced they may be of Labour, don't vote for divided parties and weak incumbent prime ministers, and a disastrous result in the Commons later today could be the first nail in this Government's coffin ahead of the next election.'

There is currently widespread speculation at Westminster as to whether Mr Farage will return to the political frontline to lead Reform UK - formerly known as The Brexit Party - ahead of the general election and turbocharge support for the right-wing party.

Many Tory MPs are nervous that, should Mr Farage make a comeback, it would split the vote on the Right and hand a huge boost to Labour's chances of seizing power.

A survey commissioned by Arron Banks, the former UKIP donor, has suggested Mr Farage - who is currently Reform UK's honorary president - would win 37 per cent of the vote in Clacton, Essex, should he stand to be the constituency's MP.

The poll of 509 people, conducted by Survation last week, showed Mr Farage would beat the incumbent Tory MP Giles Watling by 10 percentage points.

It put Labour third on 23 per cent and the Lib Dems fourth on six per cent, with eight per cent intending to vote for other candidates.

Responding to its findings, Mr Farage told the Sunday Times: 'I have to say to you that this poll does make the balance of probabilities towards getting back on the pitch stronger.

'This poll does make me consider getting back on the pitch far more seriously than ever before.'

Mr Farage has previously made seven unsuccessful attempts to be elected to the Commons.
A lonely cow stranded on an island for two years following devastating floods has now been joined by a bull - but nobody knows how he got there.

The brown cow was spotted on Chinderah Island, about 16km south of Tweed Heads in northern NSW, after major flooding wreaked havoc on the region in February 2022.

It is suspected the animal was swept away in the flood and became marooned on the island.

Fisherman Nathan Hall was the first to notice the animal stranded on the five hectare island two weeks after the floods hit.

Mr Hall, who has been keeping a watchful eye over the cow ever since, was stunned when he recently found a black bull on the island keeping Bessie company.

'I have stopped in and visited [the cow] over the time until now, but then seeing the black bull a few days ago was a bit of a shock to me,' he told the ABC.

A lonely cow stranded on an island for two years following devastating floods has now been joined by a bull - but nobody knows how he got there

He has been delivering water for the the cow over the past six months but was taken aback by the unusual sighting of the bull.

'I've got three 20-litre drums, and every time I go down that way in the boat, I stop and pour 60 litres of water into a half-drum tin we've got down there,' he said.

No one knows where the cattle came from and the animals have not been claimed by anyone so far.

Mr Hall said he saw the pair drinking water from the nearby Tweed River when he visited the island recently and said they both looked to be in good shape.

'They came within six feet of the boat like they wanted to hop in with me.'

Chinderah Island (pictured) is near the Tweed River with the cattle stranded on the island yet to be claimed by an owner

The cow (pictured) was left stranded on Chinderah Island near Tweed heads in northern NSW after major flooding struck the region in February 2022

Residents expressed their concerns over the two animals, prompting rangers from the local council and the RSPCA to visit the island to check in on the pair.

Council Rangers and an RSPCA officer attended the island this week and conducted visual welfare checks on the two cattle,' a Tweed Shire Council ranger said.

'The availability of suitable water, feed and shade has been confirmed.'

Local farmers have expressed interest in getting the animals off the island and out into the mainland.

Mr Hall said he could cattle could be moved out of the spot in about a week when there is less water.
Brittany Higgins shares first photos of her new life in France

Brittany Higgins has shared a glimpse of her new life in France after moving there with fiance David Sharaz.

The former political staffer wrapped up her final court appearance in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case against Channel 10 in early December, and was on a flight to Europe before Christmas.

She purchased a home in the south of France and has started a new life with Mr Sharaz and their cavoodle Kingston.

Ms Higgins received about $2.4million from the taxpayer in 2022 based on claims her political career was left in ruins after she alleged she was raped by former Liberal party colleague Mr Lehrmann in Parliament House in 2019.

Mr Lehrmann has denied the allegations.

In new photos shared to Instagram on Wednesday, Ms Higgins paints a picture of a peaceful and luxurious life in the small town of Lunas, west of Montpellier.

Ms Higgins gave her Instagram followers the first glimpse into her new life in France walking her dog Kingston

Higgins and Sharaz (pictured) said they were excited to settle into their new home with their pets over Christmas

The couple shared a Christmas feast inside their chateau in the French village of Lunas

Pictured is the couple's five-bedroom chateau in the country's historic Dordogne region

The first photo in the series shows Ms Higgins rugged up in a black wool coat, heeled black leather boots and a bright red ribbon tied in a bow in her hair.

She is walking Kingston through a cobblestone street covered in petals from a tree stripped bare by the European winter.

The caption is a quote from French philosopher Sartre which reads: 'Nous sommes nos choix,' and is roughly translated in English to 'We are our choices'.

'Here are a few of mine as of late,' Ms Higgins captioned the photos.

Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz are seen arriving in France on December 21

A series of photos showcasing her first month of adventures across France include a snap of the Arc de Triomphe at night and what appears to be a Parisian streetscape.

The collage suggests the couple have travelled by train across France, visiting art galleries and museums along the way.

The pair cooked up a roast dinner paired with bubbles for their first Christmas overseas with Mr Sharaz proudly posing at the head of a long table.

Ms Higgins' followers left messages of support in the comments.

'Love seeing you living your best life in Paris,' one wrote.

'You deserve the very best of everything from now on,' a second agreed.

A third shared: 'You deserve peace and joy always.'

The couple have fled Australia to 'start fresh' in the town of less than 600 people

Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz are seen at Airport quarantine in France on December 21

A series of photos showcasing her first month of adventures across France include a snap of the Arc de Triomphe at night (pictured)

Kingston, the couple's cavoodle, featured in several of the photos in the Instagram post

The couple appear to have travelled by train across France and visited several art galleries

The couple's first month in their new home seems a welcome change of pace from Australia

The couple's property is reportedly worth about $600,000 and was purchased last year

The village has its own automatic baguette machine located in the centre of the town

Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz landed in France just days before Christmas and were pictured arriving at their rustic five-bedroom chateau for the first time.

The couple had travelled from the 4.5 star Sheraton Bordeaux Airport Hotel and were later spotted walking hand-in-hand as they picked up their beloved cavoodle Kingston and cat Clover from quarantine at Bordeaux-Merigniac Airport.

They purchased the property in 2022 and made frequent visits since then.

Lunas is a community of fewer than 600 people in the country's historic Dordogne region, named after its main river and famous for more than 1,500 castles dotted throughout its picturesque farmlands.

It is home to a city hall, bakery, one pizza place, a horse centre and a church, along with an automatic baguette machine.

The couple's first month in their new home seems a welcome change of pace after the stressful end to 2023 when Ms Higgins was was called to give witness testimony during Mr Lehrmann's defamation case.

Mr Lehrmann is suing Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson over an interview Ms Higgins' did with The Project in which she alleged she was raped in Parliament House.

The trial continues.
Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill set for its final stages in the House of Commons today

Shocking footage showed more migrants risking their lives in the Channel today as as Tories descend into civil war over whether Rishi Sunak's Rwanda plan can stop them.

Dozens of people could be seen packed on to a tiny dinghy as it struggled off the coast of Kent, dwarfed by ferries and cargo vessels in the busy shipping lane.

A separate incident saw another small boat crowded with passengers, including one man balanced precariously on the bow without a lifejacket.

After plucking them from the waves, Border Force officials were pictured bringing people ashore at Dover.

The drama - which underlines the resumption of crossings after an apparent lull over Christmas - unfolded just hours before the latest bout of Tory drama is set to begin at Westminster.

The PM will try to force his Rwanda legislation through its final Commons stages this afternoon, despite threats from right-wingers to kill it off - even if that means the government collapsing.

Some 60 Conservatives joined a revolt aiming to toughen the Bill last night, with two party deputy chairs and a ministerial aide resigning in a shattering blow to Mr Sunak's authority.

However, those amendments had no prospect of passing because they were not supported by Labour. The existential threat to the premier's flagship policy is set to crystalise this evening at third reading - the last hurdle in the Commons.

In a sign that Mr Sunak is determined to face down the right-wing challenge, Downing Street has indicated it will not make the vote a formal confidence issue.

Mr Sunak shrugged off the wrangling as he took PMQs this afternoon, insisting: 'We want to stop the boats. We have a plan and it is working.'

As Keir Starmer jibed likened Tory squabbling on Rwanda to 'hundreds of bald men fighting over a comb', Mr Sunak shot back that Labour had no interest in tackling the problem and would take the country 'back to square one'.

Shocking footage showed more migrants risking their lives in the Channel today as as Tories descend into civil war over whether Rishi Sunak 's Rwanda plan can stop them

Dozens of people could be seen packed on to a tiny dinghy as it struggled off the coast of Kent, dwarfed by ferries and cargo vessels in the busy shipping lane

A separate incident saw another small boat crowded with passengers, including one man balanced precariously on the bow without a lifejacket

The blue dinghy looked to be struggling to stay above the waves as it made the perilous trip

A Border Force vessel met the migrant dinghies as the crossed into British waters

After plucking them from the waves, Border Force officials were pictured bringing the group ashore brought at Dover

Mr Sunak shrugged off the wrangling as he took PMQs this afternoon, insisting: 'We want to stop the boats. We have a plan and it is working.'

Although some rebels have openly vowed to oppose the legislation altogether, even ringleaders expect the bulk of the mutineers to stop short of crashing the legislation and provoking an all-out crisis.

It would take around 28 MPs voting against, twice that many abstentions, or a combination of the two, to overturn the government's majority.

But the spat has poured petrol on raging splits in the party, with furious Tories branding the rebels 'not very bright'. Former No10 communications director Guto Harri described the right-wingers as 'narcissists' who were pushing for 'mass suicide' with just months to go until a general election.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tried to make light of the vicious infighting this morning, describing it as a 'lively debate'.

Underlining the wider problems, a poll overnight showed Labour 17 points ahead - with fears the Conservatives are 'leaking votes' to Reform UK.

The Commons division list recorded 58 Tories backing the rebel amendment - plus two tellers means the rebellion was by 60 MPs

Jane Stevenson - a ministerial aide to Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch - offered her resignation after backing hostile amendments in crunch votes last night

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quit as Tory deputy chairs after joining the rebellion

The insurrection last night was the biggest in Mr Sunak's time as leader.

It was bolstered by an intervention from Boris Johnson, who urged the rebels to stand their ground to make the legislation 'as legally robust as possible'.

The former PM said: 'Governments around the world are now trying to imitate the UK Rwanda policy for tackling illegal people trafficking. This Bill must be as legally robust as possible  and the right course is to adopt the amendments.'

Revolt on two amendments Tory MPs rebelled on two amendments to the Rwanda Bill last night in the biggest revolt of Rishi Sunak's premiership to date. While neither of the alterations passed, the sizeable Conservative support will worry the Government ahead of the Bill's third reading, due to fears that some MPs could vote against it. The first amendment, tabled by Tory MP Sir Bill Cash, aimed to ensure UK and international law cannot be used to prevent or delay a person's removal to Rwanda. Size of rebellion: Voted for by 60 Tory MPs. The second amendment, which was tabled by former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, aimed to severely limit individual asylum seekers' ability to appeal against being put on a flight to Rwanda. Size of rebellion: Voted for by 59 Tory MPs. Advertisement

However, Downing Street said the proposed legislation was already the 'toughest ever' and warned that tightening it further risked breaking international law.

The PM's official spokesman said the plans were 'legally robust and the fastest way to get flights off the ground'.

But 60 MPs voted for an amendment to the Rwanda Bill that would have disapplied human rights laws in relation to deportations.

A similar number backed a separate push to ban Channel migrants from lodging individual legal appeals to frustrate their removal.

Rebels included ten former Cabinet ministers, including Liz Truss, Suella Braverman, Sir Iain Duncan Smith and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who led yesterday's revolt.

In a further blow, Tory deputy chairmen Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned to join the revolt, as did Kemi Badenoch's aide Jane Stevenson.

The proposed changes were heavily defeated last night as they were opposed by both the Government and Labour.

But some rebels warned they could vote down the entire Rwanda Bill tonight unless the Government caves in.

Former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke said: 'I will vote against if the legislation isn't amended. Simple as that.'

Mark Francois, chairman of the ERG group of Eurosceptic Tories, urged the PM to back down or risk losing his flagship policy tonight. 'Given the size of the vote tonight, if I were his advisers, I would be saying: 'I think you want to compromise tomorrow if you can'.'

Tory whips are trying to peel off some of the rebels and reduce their number to a 'hardcore' of around a dozen.

However, there are concerns the Government could still lose if a large number of Tory MPs abstain.

Mr Harri described the rebels as 'self-centred narcissists' whose revolt was 'utterly futile'.

He told Sky News: 'Tomorrow they are either going to bottle it or they really are going to commit mass political suicide.'

A right-leaning minister told the Financial Times: 'They are just not strategically very bright. They have told the country that our policy is sh**, but when it comes to the third reading vote they will abstain and look stupid.'

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson sought to play down the depth of Tory divisions in a round of interviews this morning, saying: 'We all want the same thing.'

'There are disagreements of emphasis. There's an inch between us, there's a determination to ensure that the policy works,' he told the BBC.

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick (left) has insisted he will vote against the bill at third readng. Jane Stevenson (right) - a ministerial aide to Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch - backed the hostile amendments last night

Tory Right-wingers ignored pleas for unity last night to carry out the biggest rebellion in Mr Sunak's time as leader in a bid to toughen up plans to deport Channel migrants

Boris Johnson also waded into the row urging the government to accept the rebel amendments

The rebellion came just 24 hours after Tory elections chief Isaac Levido issued a stark warning to Conservative MPs that they risk inevitable defeat if they allow infighting to continue.

'Let me be clear: divided parties fail. It's time to get serious,' he told the backbench 1922 Committee on Monday night.

The Rwanda scheme was blocked by the Supreme Court in November after judges accepted claims that the country was not safe.

The new legislation declares in law that the African nation is a safe country and prevents the courts examining the principle of the scheme.

But, to the dismay of Tory rebels, it will not stop individual appeals by migrants threatened with deportation.

Rebel MPs are also seeking to disapply all human rights laws and ban interventions from the European Court of Human Rights, which grounded the last attempted deportation flight to Rwanda in June 2022.

Mr Jenrick, who quit the government last month, said there would be a deluge of individual claims unless they were outlawed, telling MPs: 'Every legal representative and Leftie lawyer will try everything they can to support those claims. We see it every time.'

He added: 'How much are we actually willing to do to stop the boats? How willing are we to take on the vested interests, balance the trade-offs, take the robust steps that will actually work?

'The only countries in the world that have fixed this problem, latterly Australia and Greece, have been willing to take the most robust action. Are we?'

MPs will vote on further amendments today before holding a crunch vote tonight on whether to approve the Bill and send it to the House of Lords.

Mr Anderson has told friends he is ready to vote down the Bill. Mr Sunak made extensive efforts to persuade the straight-talking former miner to vote with the Government. But Mr Anderson told GB News: 'I don't think I could carry on in my role when I fundamentally disagree with the Bill.'

In a joint letter with Mr Clarke-Smith, he said: 'We have already had two pieces of legislation thwarted by a system that does not work in favour of the British people. It is for this reason that we have supported the amendments... This is not because we are against the legislation, but because like everybody else we want it to work.'

Business Secretary Ms Badenoch is known to have privately urged No 10 to strengthen the Bill. Last night, her parliamentary aide Ms Stevenson resigned.

The MP for Wolverhampton North East said the legislation had to be 'as robust as it possibly can be' to deal with the illegal immigration 'crisis'.

'It is a crisis and my constituents certainly want to see results,' she said.

In the debate, immigration minister Michael Tomlinson urged MPs to unite behind the policy, saying: 'Let there be no doubt that the Government is focused and determined to stop the boats. We have made progress, but we must be enabled to finish the job.'
KPMG, the major accounting firm, could be leaving its namesake tower at 55 Second St. in San Francisco. Google Street View KPMG, the major accounting firm, could be leaving its namesake tower at 55 Second St. in San Francisco. Google Street View

When KPMG first leased space inside a 25-story office tower in downtown San Francisco, a year after the building opened for business in 2002, the company obtained naming rights, leading to the tower becoming widely known as the KPMG building.

One of the worlds four largest accounting firms, KPMG initially took 90,000 square feet at 55 Second St. in a 10-year contract, marking the second-largest office deal of 2003. It has since grown its footprint to span nearly one-third of the 380,000-square-foot building.

S.F. Bay Area property map: Here's who owns every building in the region

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But it now appears that the firm is considering ending its two-decade-long tenancy inside its namesake tower. The consideration comes amid continued turmoil in San Franciscos office market, which is causing the citys office rents  not long ago among the highest in the nation  to dip in the wake of the pandemic as more office space has become available than tenants currently need or desire.

KPMGs lease for its office inside the Second Street tower, which spans roughly 125,000 square feet across eight floors, according to real estate information firm Costar, is set to expire at the end of this year, and already its space is being marketed as available for leasing on a direct basis, per a new listing obtained by the Chronicle last week.

KPMG declined to comment on its future real estate plans in San Francisco when contacted on Tuesday. Paramount Group, which is a partial stakeholder in 55 Second St. and manages the building, also declined to comment on the listing and the status of its lease with KPMG.

However, individuals with knowledge of the listing have confirmed that KPMG was on the hunt last year for a new, smaller office in San Francisco. Those individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to protect business relations, say that the company was scouring the market for about 75,000 square feet of space, 40% smaller than its current digs. It is unclear whether that search resulted in the firm selecting a new location.

It is also not known whether the company remains in active negotiations to keep all or some of its space at 55 Second St.

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KPMG cut nearly 2,700 U.S.-based jobs in two rounds of layoffs last year, and it switched to a hybrid work model in the wake of the pandemic, allowing for flexibility around remote work.

KPMGs potential exit from 55 Second St.  whether partial or in full  would come as another blow to San Franciscos office market, which entered the New Year with a historically high office vacancy rate of close to 36%.

It could also potentially complicate the financial realities of KPMGs landlords at 55 Second St., a joint venture that includes Paramount and Israeli insurer Harel Insurance.

When the joint venture acquired the KPMG building in August 2019, it was valued at $401.7 million, or roughly $1,057 per square foot. Paramount said in a 2019 annual report to its investors that the joint venture assumed an existing $137 million mortgage in connection with the acquisition, and upsized it by an additional $50 million.

That $187 million mortgage is slated to mature in 2026.

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The building, which also counts software companies Intercom and Rippling among its tenants, is currently 86.7% occupied. Back in 2019, occupancy was at 95.7%.

With a majority of in-place leases scheduled to roll through 2023, we see significant opportunities to increase revenue through our leasing efforts, Paramount said about the building in its 2019 investor report.

But the situation in San Francisco changed dramatically just a few months after the KPMG building traded hands, when the coronavirus pandemic swept over the city in March 2020, leaving millions of square feet of office space available. Paramount will now have to compete for tenants who, in 2024, face a menu of space options at discounted rates.

Their mortgage in their pro forma was based on a market that was healthy and that was projected to get even tighter and where they would be able to command rents north of $100 a square foot, said San Francisco real estate veteran Tony Zucker, tenant advisor at Dunhill Partners West. Now its a down market, and it will be impossible for them to get the rents that they projected when they bought the building back in 2019.

The landlord recently was in danger of defaulting on a $273 million loan for another one of its San Francisco office properties at 300 Mission St. that was scheduled to mature in October.

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In 2019, tech firm Autodesk leased 117,000 square feet at 300 Mission for a brand new office that it opened in 2021, but then shut down just eight months later, citing a workforce survey that showed that Autodesks employees preferred remote work.

Other tenants in the building also moved to offload portions of their offices in the wake of the pandemic. Glassdoor had planned to open its new headquarters at 300 Mission in the fall of 2020, but the move was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions. The recruiting website subsequently listed half of its new space in the building as available for subleasing.

In a third-quarter 2023 earnings report to investors, Paramount  which also owns 300 Mission as part of a joint venture  reported that it successfully completed a $232 million refinancing of its loan for the 655,000-square-foot property, which is now set to mature in 2026.

Similarly, Paramount and equity partners Blackstone managed to secure a loan extension on a $975 million loan for a 1.6 million-square-foot office property known as One Market Plaza in San Francisco, which was slated to mature in February, the Business Times reported last week.

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Britain's strictest headteacher has said she was forced to implement a 'prayer ban' after teachers were racially harassed.

It comes amid a a High Court challenge from a Muslim pupil who alleges the policy is discriminatory.

Katharine Birbalsingh - a former government social mobility Tsar - introduced the ban at Michaela Community School, in Brent, in March last year.

She defended her school's 'prayer ban' amid Today she released a lengthy statement on X, formerly Twitter, to defend her stance on stopping prayer rituals on the premises after teachers were attacked and targeted with 'appalling' racial harassment.

She said the outright ban had 'restored calm and order' and its 'strict ethos' to not allow children to wander around unsupervised meant 'we cannot have a prayer room'.

'At Michaela, those from all religions make sacrifices so that we can maintain a safe secular community,' she said.

Katharine Birbalsingh, the founder and headteacher at Michaela Community School, released a lengthy statement on X in a passionate defence of the 'prayer ban' she imposed

The student, who cannot be named, alleges that the policy introduced by the Michaela Community School is discriminatory and had 'fundamentally changed' how she feels 'about being a Muslim in this country', a judge heard

Ms Birbalsingh - whose grandmother was Muslim - went on to passionately explain how she felt it was wrong to separate children according to their religion and race and said they all eat vegetarian food 'so that we can break bread together at lunch'.

In what appeared to be a thinly veiled swipe, she said: 'We all make sacrifices so that we can live in harmony.'

She added: 'Multiculturalism can only succeed when we understand that every group must make sacrifices for the sake of the whole.

'We allow our children freedoms of all sorts, as long as those freedoms do not threaten the happiness and success of the whole school community.'

The pupil, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the school's stance on prayer is 'the kind of discrimination makes religious minorities feel alienated from society', a judge was told.

Her lawyers claim the ban 'uniquely' affects the Muslim faith over other religions due to its ritualised nature and rules around prayer.

Today the High Court hearing was told governors at the north London school backed the policy 'on the basis of misinformation and errors'.

The school is opposing the legal action over the decision to introduce the ban amid the school being targeted with abuse and harassment over its approach to religion.

In May, governors reconsidered the decision and voted 11-1 to ban prayer on the school premises, the pupil's lawyer, Sarah Hannett KC, said in written arguments.

She said the process of decision-making was 'remarkably poor, littered with factual errors and paid no weight to the serious risk of alienating Muslim students'.

The barrister said the 'sole source' of information given to the governing body appeared to be from Ms Birbalsingh - a former government social mobility tsar who founded the high-achieving free school.

Ms Birbalsingh explained the reasons behind the ban and said 'we all make our sacrifices so that we can live in harmony'

Ms Birbalsingh let a documentary film crew inside the school to show how her systems work

While he was Mayor of London, Boris Johnson took part in a history lesson with pupils at the school during a visit in 2015

Gavin Williamson photographed with head teacher Katharine Birbalsingh at the school

Ms Hannett said there was 'no consultation of any Muslim pupils, parents or religious organisations prior to taking the decision', leading the governing body to continue on the basis of 'factual errors'.

She said this included the 'not correct' argument that allowing students to carry prayer mats would be 'a complete change in the way the school works', with the lawyer adding that pocket mats were 'widely used'.

Governors were also given an 'incorrect' summary of 'Qada', which is not a 'saving up' of prayer or an equivalent to praying at the correct time but a 'process of seeking forgiveness for not praying when one should', the court was told.

Ms Hannett said there appeared to have been no investigation of the claim that Muslim children who did not want to pray had faced 'intimidation'.

She said 'there was no consideration of a less intrusive ban', such as using a classroom, adding that 'countless schools in the UK permit prayer without an issue'.

The school does not have 'an entirely secular environment', with beards permitted for religious reasons, girls allowed to wear a hijab, and sixth formers previously able to pray in a classroom, Ms Hannett added.

She said the ban had created a 'strong sense of Muslim group identity that was not previously there', with the pupil, referred to only as TTT, saying: 'Muslim students now know that a requirement of their religion is not respected by the school or seen as important enough to even engage in a discussion about how it might be facilitated.

'I find this extremely sad and difficult, and I am not alone. It is the kind of discrimination which makes religious minorities feel alienated from society.'

In her written case outline, Ms Hannett challenged what she said were arguments from the school - which has 'a system of clear and relentlessly enforced rules' - over the policy's 'legitimate aims'.

While chair of the social mobility commission, Ms Birbalsingh was criticised for saying girls don't enjoy physics and claimed children from low-income families should set their sights lower - after which she stepped down

These included that it helped preserve the ethos of the school which seeks to remove distinctions between pupils, that it promoted its behavioural policy, and prevented threats and intimidation.

Yesterday, the court heard that the ban emerged in the wake of a group of pupils being seen to pray outside in the playground and amid harassment targeting the school.

Jason Coppel KC, representing the school trust, said students praying outside contributed to a 'concerted campaign' on social media over the school's approach to religion, including a since removed online petition attracting thousands of signatures.

The court heard the school was targeted with 'threats of violence', abuse, 'false' allegations of Islamophobia, and a 'bomb hoax', but that the situation has since 'calmed'.

The school's legal team had argued that the hearing should be held in private due to the alleged 'real and immediate risk of harm' to staff and pupils, but the judge hearing the case, Mr Justice Linden, rejected their arguments while also ruling that the headmistress and school could be identified.

Mr Coppel is due to set out the school's full defence to the legal challenge later on Wednesday.

A ruling is expected at a later date.

The hearing continues.
This is the terrifying moment armed cops raid the wrong home, leaving a baby with special needs already on a ventilator injured from flash-bang devices.

The mayor of Elyria, Ohio, Kevin A. Brubaker, has ordered an investigation after Courtney Price, 25, alleged that the officers who raided her aunt's property last Wednesday had the wrong address and deployed flash-bang devices that left her child hospitalized.

The incident took place around 2.15pm when a swarm of officers from the Police Special Response Team busted into the home on Parmely Avenue in Elyria. The raid was captured on a Ring security camera.

The police body cam footage shows an officer ask the homeowner to open the door. Officers then start hammering, before battering it. Other video shows them smashing a window and firing flash-bang devices.

After they have broken down the door, a woman comes down the stairs and leaves the garden with her arms raised. Officers then enter the house with shields, with a cot visible in the living room and a children's show playing on the TV.

In a separate audio clip shared by Price on Tuesday someone can be heard saying, 'It's the wrong house.' It is unclear who made the remark. The camera is not working at this point because of the flash-bang devices, according to NBC News, with whom the clip was shared.

In video footage taken prior to this on the Ring doorbell, armed police with shields can be seen on the front garden at the start of the raid.

An officer asks them to open the door while banging on it. Another view shows officers then deploying a flash-bang before the video goes dark.

Police said Friday that they had conducted a search warrant at the right address and added that the child did not 'sustain any apparent, visible injuries'.

The incident took place around 2.15pm last Wednesday when a swarm of officers from the Police Special Response Team busted into the home on Parmely Avenue in Elyria. The raid was captured on a ring camera

Officers outside the property on Parmely Avenue in Elyria. The mayor of Elyria, Ohio , Kevin A. Brubaker has ordered an investigation after Courtney Price, 25, alleged that the officers who raided her property last Wednesday had the wrong address and deployed flash-bang devices that left her child hospitalized

Waylon May, 17 months, was injured in the raid when Elyira Police Special Response Team raided the home

Reida Jennings' niece, Courtney Price, and her 17-month-old son, Waylon May, were visiting from Kentucky and staying at her home. The toddler was awaiting open heart surgery that is scheduled for next month.

During the bust, Price said the officers threw two flash-bangs through the window. She claims the grenades hit near her son, who was sitting in a swing near the window, and covered him in glass and smoke.

The terrified mother told Fox8 News that guns were pointed at her and she feared she'd be shot if she ran to her child. 'One second everything was normal, 15 seconds later our world was flipped upside down,' she recalled.

Authorities in the town about 20 miles from Cleveland said the raid was part of an investigation - one reportedly looking for a teen on weapon charges. The police claimed that the 'diversionary devices' used do not produce burns and do not contain pepper gas or chemical agents.

The suspect was not found at the home.

Price was handcuffed and then dragged out of the home as she pleaded with police to help her son.

'I kept screaming, "My baby, my baby! He's on a ventilator, my baby's in here!"' she said.

Price said the officers told her not 'to worry about my baby,' as she told the news outlet she was held outside for nearly 45 minutes as her sick and wounded baby was inside the house. The body cam footage does not confirm if this was the case.

She described his condition as 'blood red, choking, gasping for air.'

'I froze at the top of the steps. I kept saying, "I'm scared. My baby's in here, he's on a ventilator." Then I came down the steps and they put me in handcuffs,' Price said Tuesday.

The bodycam footage shows Price telling police and paramedics that the child seemed mostly fine, but she was worried about his breathing.

'I mean, just the breathing isn't normal, but like he's OK,' she says to one officer.

As of Tuesday, she said Waylon is improving but noted that it has been a heartbreaking ordeal.

'We moved up here for a fresh start. A lot of my family's here, I just had a baby, and I'm a single mom,' Price said.

'My son has just worked so hard for his whole life to get where he's at and extra trauma and these extra setbacks, there's just no reason this should have happened.'

A horrifying ordeal took place in Ohio when a swarm of officers from the Elyira Police Special Response Team busted down the door of Reida Jennings home on Parmely Avenue looking for a suspect

Mother, Courtney Price, 25, giving an emotional update on her child, saying that heart surgery has been delayed

The baby had been sitting in a swing when dozens of officers busted down the door of the home on Parley Avenue last Wednesday, allegedly throwing two grenades and seriously injuring the baby

The damage to the door frame of the house after the police battered it down, as seen in footage

Video shows the baby in hospital. Lifecare Paramedics arrived on the scene, and the medics assessed the child. They then took the child to a nearby hospital

Several bodycam videos released Tuesday night showed that officers waited for around six seconds between the time they hammered on the door and shouted for the occupants to 'come to the door' and when they forced their way into the property using a battering ram while simultaneously deploying the flash-bangs.

Officers provided a 'reasonable amount of time to answer the door,' according to a police incident report about the raid.

Only 'after or near' 10 seconds the sergeant gave out orders to breach the door, the incident report said.

The Elyira police said in a statement that the warrant and subsequent raid by the Police Special Response Team is part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Authorities claimed they announced themselves before busting into the home.

'During the tactical operation, two diversionary devices, commonly known as "flash-bangs" were deployed outside of the residence,' the police said in a statement.

'These devices produce sound and light that is noticeable in day or night conditions and are intended to distract the suspects attention,' the police said.

'Diversionary devices do not produce a continuous burn and they do not deploy or contain any pepper gas or chemical agents.'

Police said the child's mother informed the officers the child had a pre-existing medical condition.

They said the Elyria Police Detectives, Elyria Fire Paramedics and the mother assessed the condition of the child, confirming that the child did not sustain any apparent, visible injuries.

Police alleged the child's mother informed detectives that she intended to take the child to the hospital due to the child's pre-existing illness unrelated to the tactical operation, but did not have an available car seat for transportation.

To help assist, officials said Elyria Police detectives called Lifecare Ambulance to the scene to provide any medical attention that EMS deemed necessary.

Lifecare Paramedics arrived on the scene, and the medics assessed the child. They then took the child to a nearby hospital.

The child was released later that day, but Price said her son had to be rushed back to the hospital the next day because of low blood oxygen levels.

She said her son was born at one pound and two ounces, and has been dealing with a series of ailments since birth including, a lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and an atrial septal defect, known as a hole in his heart.

A scene of the officers outside the house on the ring camera

The baby in ICU. Price said before the incident, her child was starting to make some health strides, but now is fighting to survive the new trauma he endured

'He has chemical pneumonitis which is inflammation of the lungs and irritation of the lungs and the soft tissue around the lungs,' she told the news outlet.

In February, he was scheduled to have open heart surgery at Rainbow Babies, but the family said his surgery has now been postponed.

Price's aunt, who was at work at the time of the ambush, said when she saw the special response team break down her door she was frightened for her niece and the baby who she said were alone.

'As they are banging on the door, they throw the flash bang through the window and it goes over top of here and hits the baby,' she said. 'The baby is covered in glass.'

She said Waylon, who is now in the ICU, has burns all over him and the inside of his lungs are burned.

'He's already a special-needs baby. He's a trach baby. He was on his ventilator, they let the baby lay there for about 35 to 45 minutes in the smoke,' Jennings said.

She said the police had been at the home at least five other times looking for the same suspect.

'They were looking for I think a teenager, to my knowledge When they told me the name of the boy, it sounded familiar because they had been here five times the past year looking for that family and that boy,' Jennings told the news outlet.

The home's owner believes the person the police are searching for may be a previous tenant of a previous owner of the property.

Both Price and Jennings want accountability and an explanation on why the house was raided.

Jennings said they are worried about the baby and his upcoming surgery.

'Yesterday he quit breathing,' she said in part.

'He was awaiting open heart surgery, that's why he's here. That's why he's at my house. She's from Pikeville, Kentucky. She's been here one week.

'They have taken 17 months of what this baby has fought to be where he's at and now he's back at square one.'
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Donald Trump winning the 2024 U.S. presidential election would make life tough for Canada and be a 'step back' in relations between the North American neighbors.

Liberal Trudeau had a rocky relationship with Trump during his first term, and believes re-election will be a 'step back' and 'won't be easy' for his country.

His nervy remarks come just days after a new poll showed 70 percent of Canadians disapprove of Trudeau and is fighting for his own political future.

In 2018, Trump accused Trudeau of being 'weak and 'dishonest', and he has been a divisive leader since coming into office.

Trump's 30-point landslide victory in the Iowa caucuses has now cemented his place as the favorite to be the Republican nominee to line up for a rematch with Joe Biden in November.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Donald Trump winning the 2024 U.S. presidential election would make life tough for Canada and be a 'step back' in relations between the North American neighbors

And it has sparked nerves from Trudueau.

'It wasn't easy the first time and if there is a second time, it won't be easy either,' Trudeau said in French during a discussion hosted by the Montreal chamber of commerce.

He added: 'But we can't imagine a day when it will ever be easy with the Americans. The main responsibility for any prime minister is to represent and defend Canada's interests ... we've been able to do this very well these past few years.

'Do they want to be a nation that is optimistic and committed to the future? Or will they choose a step backwards, nostalgia for a time that never existed, a populism that reflects a lot the anxiety and fury that people are going through without necessarily offering solutions.

'Its always a big challenge to work with any American president, even those like Barack and Joe, with whom I have a lot in common.'

Canada sends 75 per cent of its goods and services exports to the United States and is particularly vulnerable to any U.S. shift toward protectionism.

When Trump came to power he vowed to renegotiate the free trade treaty that bound the United States. Canada and Mexico. Ottawa spent almost two years locked in talks to produce a trilateral pact that largely protected Canadian interests.

About two-thirds of Canadians surveyed this month said U.S. democracy cannot survive another four years of Trump in power, and about half said the United States is on the way to becoming an authoritarian state, a poll released on Monday said.

First Lady Melania Trump kisses Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau next to Trump during the G7 summit in August 2019

Liberal Trudeau had a rocky relationship with Trump during his first term, and believes re-election will be a 'step back' and 'won't be easy' for his country. They met at Winfield House in London in 2019

Trudeau admitted he has a slot more in common with Democratic presidents Biden and Obama

The Liberals have made fighting climate change a priority and Trudeau said Trump showed little interest in the environment during 'the lost four years' of his first term.

'There are clearly issues where I do not agree at all with Mr. Trump,' Trudeau said, citing the climate question.

The next Canadian election has to be held by September 2025 and the Liberals are trailing their right-of-center Conservative rivals.

Trudeau repeated criticism that the party had taken its inspiration from the Trump movement.
Ex-Marine Daniel Penny is due back in court today to learn whether or not the involuntary manslaughter charges against him will be dismissed.

Penny, 25, is charged over the death of Jordan Neely, a mentally ill homeless man who he put in a chokehold on a New York City train last May.

Neely had been threatening passengers on the train, according to Penny and others.

Twenty-four at the time and with a military background, Penny sprang into action to subdue him, holding him on the floor, until he was unconscious.

The incident sparked a national debate.

Marine veteran Jordan Neely, shown in June, is due back in court today to learn whether or not a judge will grant his request for the charges against him to be dismissed

Penny held Neely in a chokehold for six minutes on the train while other men helped him restrain him. He says Neely had been so threatening towards other passengers that they feared for their lives

Many likened it to the death of George Floyd, lamenting the fact that Penny is white and Neely was black. Neely's family enlisted the help of civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump.

Others say Penny did the right thing, taking a potentially dangerous scenario into his own hands in the absence of any police or law enforcement.

They say it crystalized New York City's crime crisis and spoke to the fear of many residents about the mentally ill who roam the subway system.

Last year, Penny's attorneys filed a request with the judge in October asking for the charges to be dismissed.

They quoted a witness on the train who described the Neely's threats as 'absolutely traumatizing' and beyond anything he had experienced in six years of riding the subway.

Neely in 2009 before his mental health deteriorated. His family say the crime was a racist attack and similar to the death of George Floyd

Penny's lawyers called Neely 'insanely threatening'.

In the years before his death, Neely's mental health had deteriorated while his aggression seemed to spike; the NYPD had a warrant for his arrest for punching an elderly woman on the subway, and he was also accused of pushing a woman onto the train tracks.

Witnesses at the time said Neely was screaming that he was going to kill someone and didn't care about going to prison.
Seaside traders in a popular town have been left angered as their esplanade and surrounding roads will shut for filming of a 'global BBC drama'.

Penarth on the Welsh coast is regularly voted one of Britain's best places to live - but its seafront with Victorian-style pier and art deco pavillion will be closed to vehicles on Monday and Tuesday next week.

Struggling shops and cafes were concerned about the impact on business but council chiefs say the two-day closure is necessary to allow filming and showcase the town to a 'global' BBC audience.

One trader said they would apply for compensation over the loss of earnings and others say they were not consulted by the council before the closures were approved.

Conservative councillor Anthony Ernest wrote on his social media page: 'A little inconvenience could bring major benefits to the town as a whole in PR terms.'

Penarth resident, Brian Brayford, told Wales Online he received a letter from Doctor Who production company Bad Wolf Studios notifying him a number of roads were closing for shooting of a 'new drama'. It is understood the letter did not specify which production the filming is for.

Traders in Penarth are concerned about the possible impact on business

The popular town is regularly voted one of Britain's best places to live

Penarth resident Brian Brayford has spoken about his frustration over the 'lack of communication'

The letter said: 'To facilitate the filming we will have a full road closure in place on Beach Road, The Esplanade, and Bridgeman Road. This will enable us to film the exterior of Penarth Pier.

'In addition to the road closure, we would like to suspend bays and clear all cars along the seafront on The Esplanade. These parking bays will be used to park our technical vehicles to help facilitate the filming.'

The letter, which reportedly asks residents to keep the news to themselves, informs residents that they can still access the road if given car passes but traffic managers will 'ensure it's safe to enter the filming area'.

Mr Brayford said: 'To me that suggests they'll decide when I can get in and out of my own home.

'Don't get me wrong - I don't mind filming in Penarth, we have filming in Penarth all the time.

'I am frustrated that they've closed the whole seafront to visitors by car - and the vast majority of people who visit Penarth have to do so by car - without consulting anyone who lives or works here.

'I am annoyed at a lack of communication. And to say we can't tell anyone is a cheek. I couldn't believe that line.'

Another trader said they would close while filming went on.

They said: 'We've had a lot of disruption down here with various things which the Vale council has allowed to go ahead without consulting the businesses down here, and on this occasion whoever has approved this has not got in touch with us as a business here.

Council chiefs say the two-day closure is necessary to allow filming and showcase the town to a 'global' BBC audience - pictured is Penarth pier

Conservative councillor Anthony Ernest wrote on his social media page: 'A little inconvenience could bring major benefits to the town as a whole in PR terms.'

'I'm annoyed by that. I don't think the filming will make a material difference to bringing more people to Penarth.'

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesperson told MailOnline: 'The Vale of Glamorgan Council is working with the BBC on a high-profile production that will see Penarth showcased to a global audience.

'We will look to capitalise on a range of positive opportunities this brings, including attracting overseas tourism. It is hoped this activity will increase visitor numbers and boost local businesses.

'All businesses on the Pier and Esplanade were contacted by the production company in early December to give advanced notice of potential filming and those affected will be financially compensated. The BBC also held positive in-person meetings with those that had specific concerns.

'Whilst the pier and pavilion will be closed during filming, along with certain roads, there will still be pedestrian access to the Esplanade and the production company is working hard to keep disruption to a minimum.

'The income generated by the production will be used to market of the Vale of Glamorgan as a destination and maintain important services at a time when budgets are being squeezed like never before.'

MailOnline has contacted the BBC and Bad Wolf Studios for comment.
A 20-foot-long snow sculpture of a fearsome shark has become a local tourist attraction.

Carlos Maldonado said he created the Jaws-like snow carving with his two sons, which took them nearly five hours to sculpt it.

The following day, he spent another hour-and-a-half to color it with watered-down acrylic paint.

The sculptor, who is the owner of Carlos Maldonado Artwork in Iowa City, Iowa, US, said: 'I didn't really want to do anything plain'.

He added: 'I looked up snow sculptures. When I saw a shark online, I figured I could do that.

Maldonado pictured with his son Oscar with the completed shark

Carlos Maldonado said he created the Jaws-like snow carving with his two sons, which took them nearly five hours to sculpt it

The sculptor, who is the owner of Carlos Maldonado Artwork in Iowa City, Iowa, US, said: 'I didn't really want to do anything plain'

He shared images of the finished artwork on his 'Carlos Maldonado Art' Facebook page

'So, I gave it a shot and this is what we ended up with.'

He shared images of the finished artwork on his 'Carlos Maldonado Art' Facebook page.

Carlos also included his home address and asked visitors 'Just please don't climb on it.'

Speaking to CBS Iowa, Maldonado's sons explained their role in building the icy apex predator.

'I was packing the snow. Then next, my dad spray painted it. My brother worked on the tiny fin over there,' Gale Maldonado said.

'It was really hard. I had to go inside many times, it got really cold,' his brother Oscar added.

'I like people stopping by and taking pictures with it,' the artist told the station.

His post went viral with over 1,200 reactions, nearly 500 shares, and hundreds of comments.

This was followed by hordes of locals descending on his street to view the icy masterpiece.

One visitor, Anastasia Morton, said: 'My fiance had seen this online on Facebook.

'And we just thought it was a really good idea to bring our kids out to be able to see what creativity and what they can really do with snow.

'It will be a very good memory for my kids.'

One local commented: 'What a talent you have.

'You've been blessed. I've seen some really cool sand sculptures on Ft. Myers Beach but not a snow sculpture.

'Super Cool/'

Lindsey said: 'This is amazing. I'm obsessed with sharks, great choice.'

Gabriela wrote: 'Thank you for making Iowa City a fun place to enjoy art.'

Mandy remarked: 'We came by to see this last night. Amazing work.

'Thanks for sharing it with the community.'

Keven commented: 'You're about to get a good amount of visitors today.

'Co-workers asked to go see it! I'll be there as well at some point today.'
A former Army captain who went on a deranged rant about the need to 'cleanse the country' has been arrested for shooting dead two neighbors who came out to calm him down.

Police were called in the quiet North Carolina town of Apex after residents heard Harry Hardman, 37, screaming in the street about killing students from MIT and Harvard, and demanding violence as the 'final solution'.

They arrived to find HOA official Nancy Taylor, 69, and her friend Gabrielle Raymond, 37, lying fatally shot in a front yard next to the body of Taylor's elderly dog.

They saw Hardman retreating into his home and arrested him when he emerged from the back door carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

'This is Apex, I mean, it's the peak of good living,' said neighbor Pete Connerton,

'And this happens in your own backyard?'

Former Army Captain Harry Hardman, 37, was arrested for the murder of two neighbors who tried to calm him down after he ranted in the street about killing Harvard students and the need to 'cleanse the country'

HOA official Nancy Taylor, 69, was fatally shot alongside Gabrielle Raymond, 37, and Taylor's elderly beagle, Denny, 17

Neighbor Tom McKay a deputy Sheriff at Lee County Sheriff's Office filmed the moment Hardman was led off to a waiting patrol vehicle by police

Hardman served with the Army from 2005 to 2019 and graduated from West Point military academy in 2009.

After service he worked as a real estate agent but his last known job was as a server in the Peak on Salem restaurant in Apex from August 2023 until December 2023.

Neighbors told ABC that Hardman had occasionally been seen speeding in the neighborhood and may have had some run-ins with Taylor in the past.

'Nancy told me when I moved here to stay away,' next-door neighbor Aubrey Land said.

'She's like, 'you're a single woman, don't talk to him. He's weird. Like stay away from him, keep the kids away'.'

Tom McKay, a deputy Sheriff at Lee County Sheriff's Office said Taylor was a grandmother who had recently moved to North Carolina from Georgia and would often be seen walking her 17-year-old beagle, Denny.

'I was upstairs watching everything happen, and I saw a lot of the Apex officers show up; they came down the hill, they were going around the back of the townhomes with ARs,' McKay told ABC11.

Raymond's parents said their daughter was friends with Taylor and was a chemical engineer who worked at RTI.

Hardman appeared in court on Tuesday charged with two counts of murder and one of animal cruelty ahead of his next court appearance on February 5

Apex Police said the town had not experienced a murder since 2020 and that both Hardman and the two women had been residents of South Walk Townhomes

Apex Police said Taylor approached Hardman and began speaking with him as he ranted in the street.

'While Mr Hardman was outside causing the disturbance, Ms Taylor came up to him and began speaking with him,' Police chief Jason Armstrong wrote on Facebook.

'It is not known, at this time, the specifics of their conversation. While Ms Taylor was speaking with Mr Hardman, at some point, Ms Raymond joined the two of them.

'The three of them were standing in a yard in the 1400 block of Chipping Dr when Mr Hardman produced a gun and shot both victims.'

Both women were pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.

Neighbors said they heard up to eight shots and police set up a perimeter around Hardman's home on Brussels Drive after arriving shortly after 3pm.

Within minutes he emerged from the home and was arrested after obeying an order to drop his AR-15.

A search of his home revealed 'multiple handguns', and police believe he used one of them to murder the two women.

He appeared at he Wake County Justice Center on Tuesday charged with two counts of murder and one of animal cruelty, and was remanded in custody ahead of his next court appearance on February 5.

Hardman could spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of the two murders.

He could also be executed but prosecutors have not said whether they plan to seek the death penalty.

A friend of Taylor's paid tribute to her on Facebook, describing her murder as a 'horrifying tragedy I never could have imagined'.

'When her face lit up it was a contagious joy that filled you up with warmth,' she added.

Taylor's daughter, Lauren Taylor Rose, described her mother as 'the most wonderful woman in the whole world'.

Neighbors said they heard up to eight shots and police set up a perimeter around Hardman's home on Brussels Drive after arriving shortly after 3pm

Neighbors said they heard up to eight gunshots before Hardman was arrested

Apex Police said the town had not experienced a murder since 2020 and that both Hardman and the two women had been residents of South Walk Townhomes.

McKay who filmed Hardman being taken into custody said the alleged gunman was notorious in the neighborhood.

'We definitely know who that guy is, he's just a little bit off,' he added.

'He lives alone, just kind of weird, I guess, he was often, in my opinion, kind of just, strong emotions, you know laughing but could also get angry.'
A Texas high school teacher was caught driving to Virginia trying to allegedly meet up with a 14-year-old girl after he was tracked by agents posing as a minor.

David Ortiz, 32, was arrested by undercover detectives with Fairfax County's Child Exploitation Unit on Friday, after traveling over 1,500 miles across the country.

The band teacher was snared as part of a sweeping crackdown on child predators by the unit that has led to 10 other arrests since December 18.

The unit said the Lyndon B Johnson High School teacher began talking online with who he thought was a teenage girl in December 2023, and arrived in Virginia to find detectives waiting for him.

Ortiz now faces charges including solicitation of a minor, attempted indecency with a minor, and production of child abuse material.

David Ortiz, 32, was arrested on January 12 after driving from Texas to Virginia to allegedly meet up with a 14-year-old girl, who was actually a detective

The band teacher (pictured teaching students) is employed by the United Independent School District, which says it has been in contact with authorities in Texas over the possibility of other victims

Ortiz is employed by the United Independent School District, in Laredo, which says it has been in contact with authorities in Texas over the possibility of other victims.

The teacher's educator profile with his high school was still active at the time of writing, showing he was a 9th-grade teacher. The school could not immediately be reached for comment.

Believing he was conversing with a child online, cops say he began having 'sexually-related chats' with a detective from the Child Exploitation Unit last month.

'He thought he was talking to a 14-year-old girl', said the undercover unit's Second Lt. Chris Arenas.

On January 10, Ortiz said he was planning to drive across the country to meet up with the teen, and officers waited for him for two days before he showed up.

He is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.

After the successful sting operation, a spokesperson for the unit said the teacher's alleged illicit activities should serve as a warning.

'Parents are urged to closely monitor their childrens online activities and use available security settings to prevent the use of inappropriate sites or platforms,' they said.

'Children should be encouraged to report any person engaging in inappropriate conversations or trying to coerce them into providing sexually explicit images of themselves.'

Ortiz' arrest became the 11th in a sweeping crackdown of online child predators carried out by the unit since December 18, reports FFXNow.

Believing he was conversing with a child online, cops say Ortiz began having 'sexually-related chats' with a detective from the Child Exploitation Unit last month, and was caught when he told the detective of his plans to drive across the country

The schoolteacher's educator profile with his high school was still active at the time of writing, showing that he was a 9th grade teacher

The arrest was part of a sweeping crackdown on alleged child predators in Fairfax County, Virginia, which saw 10 others also arrested last month

The dozen men arrested before Ortiz were collectively charged with 25 felonies, after all were duped by the agents posing as young girls and boys online.

When the operation's results were announced December 28, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said it was a bittersweet moment.

'I'm sad to report the success of operation, but I'm satisfied that 10 predators are in jail this holiday season,' he said following the arrests.

'One of the most important thing society can do, schools can do, and public safety can do is protect our innocent children against predatory adults who prey on vulnerabilities.'

He continued: 'We hoped we wouldn't find any predators intentionally interacting with our undercovers posing as children.

'We hoped no one would take it and interact with our undercovers, which they did.

'The thing with these crimes where you charge them and we never know the true impact until you take predators off the street, because ultimately they offend again. That's my experience.'
Tacoma, Washington paid three police officer who were accused of killing Manuel Ellis $500,000 to voluntarily resign

Three Washington police officers who were found not guilty of killing a black man during his arrest have been paid $500,000 in exchange for their resignation from the department.

Tacoma Police Officers Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins and Timothy Rankine were accused of killing black man Manuel Ellis who yelled 'I can't breathe' while being arrested in March 2020.

A jury acquitted all three officers in December following a trial that lasted more than two months. Rankine, 34, was charged with manslaughter, while Collins, 40, and Burbank, 38, were charged with manslaughter and second-degree murder.

On Tuesday, the city announced the cops would be leaving the department and would each be paid $500,000, according to their voluntary separation agreements.

'The City of Tacoma and former Tacoma Police Officers Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins, and Timothy Rankine have entered into voluntary resignation agreements, separating all three from City service,' said City Manager Elizabeth Pauli.

Three Tacoma police officers, Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins and Timothy Rankine were paid $500,000 to resign after they were acquitted of killing black man Manuel Ellis

A violent confrontation ensued between officers and Ellis. Officers pinned him down on the ground, with one cop kneeling on his back as he pleaded that he could not breathe

Tacoma Chief of Police Avery L. Moore said the officers were cleared of violating the use-of-force policy that was in effect at the time of Ellis' death

The family of Manuel Ellis, 33, who was killed by Tacoma cops in 2020, have already reached a $4million proposed settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit

'These agreements support a responsible, constructive path forward for our community and the Tacoma Police Department.'

Tacoma Chief of Police Avery L. Moore said the officers were cleared of violating the use-of-force policy that was in effect at the time of Ellis' death.

'Meanwhile, except for a sustained finding regarding Officer Collins violation of the Tacoma Police Departments policy on Courtesy, the Officers were cleared based on 2020 policies,' said Moore.

'The Use of Force policy in place in March of 2020 failed to serve the best interests of the police department or the community. However, because it was policy at the time, it guided my decisions announced today. That policy has since been superseded by a new policy.'

Ellis, a father-of-two known to his loved ones as 'Manny,' was killed on March 3, 2020, just weeks before George Floyd's death under the knee of white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin triggered a nationwide reckoning on race and policing.

Police stopped Ellis while he was walking home from a convenience store with a box of doughnuts and a bottle of water, allegedly for trying to get into someone's car.

Tacoma police officers Christopher Burbank (left) and Matthew Collins (center), were charged with second-degree murder. Officer Timothy Rankine (right) was charged with first-degree manslaughter

Ellis, a father of two, was returning from a store on March 3, 2020, when he was stopped by police, allegedly for trying to get into cars. Police said they had to restrain him because he attacked them

A violent confrontation ensued, during which officers pinned him down on the ground, with one cop kneeling on his back as he pleaded that he could not breathe.

The Pierce County medical examiner called his death a homicide and attributed it to lack of oxygen from being restrained.

Burbank and Collins reported that the encounter happened after they saw Ellis trying to get into occupied cars at a stoplight; they said Ellis punched the window of their cruiser and attacked them as they got out, according to statements from other officers cited in the charging documents.

But witnesses who recorded parts of the fatal interaction reported seeing officers Burbank and Collins attack Ellis without provocation, according to a probable cause statement filed in Pierce County Superior Court.

The Pierce County Council reached a $4 million settlement with Ellis' family in 2022.
A senior manager at healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson has won a discrimination case after she was 'racially profiled' by her white boss.

Tolulope Fayokun's relationship with Alessandra Toro was 'fatally poisoned' after her manager presented her with a document outlining the 'Nigerian traits' she exhibited.

Mrs Toro had carried out research into Nigerian workplaces and inferred she was lazy by saying she operated under 'African time', an employment tribunal heard.

She told her employee 'I'm different from Nigeria' and said whereas she sees deadlines as 'fixed' and set in stone, a Nigerian workplace is 'fluid'.

After Mrs Fayokun was later dismissed, she sued bosses for race discrimination and is now in line for compensation after an employment judge concluded she had been unfairly 'racially profiled'.

Johnson & Johnson manager Tolulope Fayokun's relationship with boss Alessandra Toro was 'fatally poisoned' after the latter presented her with a document outlining the 'Nigerian traits' she exhibited, a tribunal heard (Pictured: Johnson & Johnson's Pinewood campus)

The Reading tribunal heard Mrs Fayokun began working as a senior manager at the US multinational company in April 2017 specialising in global strategic insights.

The hearing was told she got off to a 'terrific start' and bosses said she demonstrated a 'strong leadership'.

Mrs Fayokun - who is a dual British and Nigerian national - reported to Director for Strategic Insights and Analytics Mrs Toro, who considered the pair had 'a good relationship' in which they'd exchange gifts and snacks, discuss personal matters and share birthday lunches.

As her time at the company progressed, Mrs Fayokun started to feel 'snowed under' by her workload, the tribunal heard.

She said she felt as if she were 'working round the clock, barely getting four hours sleep a day, and she was not seeing her children'.

The senior manager told Mrs Toro this and claimed that her boss 'scolded' her for turning down requests to carry out projects.

The tribunal heard that in April 2018 the pair went on a work trip to Jacksonville, Florida, USA, during which Mrs Fayokun claimed Mrs Toro ignored her for their first day there.

The Reading tribunal heard Mrs Fayokun began working as a senior manager at the US multinational company in April 2017 specialising in global strategic insights

Upon returning from the problematic trip, the pair joined for a one to one meeting in which the senior manager was presented with what she described as a 'racially profiling document'.

According to Mrs Fayokun, she told her boss at the start of the meeting that she wanted to discuss the breakdown in their communication and relationship.

In response, Mrs Toro allegedly said 'I know I've been poking you' and proceeded to explain that she had 'researched Nigeria and realised that she was very different to Nigerians in many ways'.

It was said she then went through a document she was holding and made a number of comments about differences between her and Nigerians including, Nigerians not keeping to time and saying 'I'm different from Nigeria'.

According to the tribunal, in this conversation there were references to 'African time'.

Mrs Toro then put the 'Berlitz report' to one side 'having made her point' and moved on to other topics.

The senior manager said she was 'very upset and pained' by what was said to her and said this was the point that she gave up on trying to repair her relationship with her boss.

However, Mrs Toro viewed the encounter differently, and insisted she showed Mrs Fayokun a report on 'cultural fluency'.

Mrs Toro said: 'I found the reports obtained through this process to be helpful to me.

'For example, the fact that the Nigerian working profile was "fluid" was in contrast to my personal "fixed" preferences meaning that whereas I see deadlines as fixed and set in stone, this indicated to me that I should not adopt or assume the same approach with someone who identified with a Nigerian workstyle.

'In addition, the report assisted me in understanding that in contrast to my direct approach, [Mrs Fayokun's] preference was an indirect approach and so I identified that I could try and scale back my approach to bridge the gap between myself and my direct reports.'

Mrs Fayokun said she had suspected her boss of racism and during the interaction was 'furious but had to put on a brave face'.

After raising a grievance against her bosses, she was subsequently dismissed in early 2020 due to continual absences.

Employment Judge Andrew Gumbiti-Zimuto concluded she had been discriminated against by the 'profiling exercise' used by Mrs Toro.

He said: 'It aligned Mrs Fayokun with a Nigerian workstyle in a manner which contained some lazy stereotypes such as references to "African time", and which Mrs Fayokun found to be insensitive and upsetting.

'The manner in which this profiling exercise was communicated to Mrs Fayokun involved Alessandra Toro stating to Mrs Fayokun that the differences between their working styles 'this is why I have been poking you'.

'In communicating the findings of this document, it was stated to Mrs Fayokun that she possessed 'Nigerian traits'.

'We are satisfied that Mrs Fayokun could reasonably consider that she was disadvantaged in the workplace by reason of being told that this exercise had been carried out and was being actively used to manage her.

'The Tribunal is also satisfied that Alessandra Toro told Mrs Fayokun that she was different to Nigerians, i.e. fixed versus fluid etc.'

Her compensation will be decided at a later hearing.

Additional claims she made of unfair dismissal, victimisation, harassment, religious and race discrimination were dismissed.
The medical examiner moves the body of a man who was believed to have overdosed through the lobby of a building in San Francisco on Dec. 19. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2023

San Francisco recorded 806 accidental drug overdose deaths last year, the highest level the city has ever seen and a sign that officials are still struggling to confront the fentanyl crisis despite huge public pressure to rein in the epidemic.

The proliferation of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin, remains at the center of the crisis. The powerful opioid was found in 4 out of 5 overdose victims last year, most cases in combination with other dangerous drugs.

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The city surpassed its deadliest year last month, with fatalities counted in the first 11 months of 2023 eclipsing the previous peak of 726 deaths in all of 2020. This new preliminary data through the end of December, released Wednesday by the medical examiners office, provides a more complete picture of how the overdose epidemic continues to grip the lives of San Franciscans despite efforts by top city and state leaders to curb the crisis.

Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the citys health department, said Wednesday the tragic year for overdoses was driven by multiple factors.

Colfax called on lawmakers to eliminate barriers to supervised drug consumption sites, increase access to methadone and boost investments in the behavioral health workforce.

San Francisco alone cannot solve this problem of record overdoses deaths, he said during a news briefing at the citys main Department of Public Health building. We rely on our city and community partners and our legislators at the local, state and federal level to join us in this moment to continue to tackle this crisis.

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In December, the most recent month for which data is available, 52 people died of drug overdoses, down from 75 in December 2022. August was San Franciscos deadliest month on record, when 87 fatalities were recorded, according to the data. Overdose rates fell in the final four months of the year. The monthly numbers remain preliminary and sometimes increase or decrease slightly with further investigation by the citys medical examiner.

These reductions in deaths in December is not something to tout in a year with a record number of tragic deaths overall, Colfax said. Every person who died was someones loved one  a child, a sibling, a life partner, a mother, a father, a best friend.

Fatal overdoses disproportionately spiked among Latino and Black people, the data indicates. Last year, 148 Latino people died in San Francisco from accidental drug overdoses, a 45% increase from 2022, and 250 Black people fatally overdosed, a 38% jump from 2022. The number of white people who died from overdoses rose by 4%, from 299 to 311.

Over the past year, Mayor London Breed and Gov. Gavin Newsom launched new initiatives designed to disrupt the illegal drug market and crack down on both dealers and users.

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Newsom dispatched the California National Guard and state police to help San Francisco police curb fentanyl trafficking. He also proposed a new statewide ban on xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer turned street drug known as tranq. Xylazine contributed to 37 accidental overdose deaths in San Francisco this year, according to the data.

Breed, who is up for reelection this year, has called on law enforcement to arrest people using drugs in public and placed a measure on the March ballot to mandate drug screenings and treatment for San Francisco welfare recipients dealing with addiction. Breed and Newsom late last year launched a new task force to begin investigating opioid-linked deaths in a similar way that homicides are investigated.

Breed said she hoped arresting users would compel more of them into treatment, but few of the hundreds of people detained have accepted it.



Critics have slammed the mayor for stalling in opening a supervised drug-use site in San Francisco to prevent overdose deaths. Breed has been reticent, arguing the risks are too great since the sites are illegal under state and federal law. The citys controversial Tenderloin Linkage Center was a de facto overdose prevention site, reversing several hundred overdoses, but closed after less than a year.

A recent report by the Chronicle found that the increased presence of law enforcement has not squashed the citys open-air drug market but rather shifted it to the nighttime.

The citys current approach to addressing the overdose crisis has become a mix of law enforcement and harm reduction, which seeks to minimize negative health effects of drug use without requiring people to stop using. The approach includes how to use the opioid-reversal drug Narcan, funding buprenorphine and methadone clinics and distributing fentanyl test strips, for example.

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Breed has argued that public health officials can offer harm reduction while law enforcement continues its crackdown. Breed and some supporters have also argued that the city goes too far at times in its harm reduction approach, enabling addiction in the process. Shes called for more ways to compel people into treatment.

But the citys Department of Public Health has spent decades deploying harm reduction initiatives and many public health officials dont believe people should be forced into drug treatment, rather that users should be met where theyre at. Dr. Hillary Kunins, director of San Franciscos Behavioral Health Services, told the Chronicle in August that forced treatment is not always the best strategy, adding that it has very mixed results.

We know there are particular moments where it could be appropriate, but what we also know is when we compel people into care without fully engaging them, their risk of overdose sometimes paradoxically goes up, Kunins said. Hope and recovery are real and possible, though the risks are high but there are steps we all can take to reduce risk.

During a recent interview with the Chronicle, Kunins deflected questions about whether she thought the crackdown by law enforcement was effective.

Instead, Kunins said, the department was working with many city agencies, including the sheriffs office, to maximize every public health tool available.

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Former President Donald Trump took to ridiculing rival Nikki Haley in an online post that morphed her into Hillary Clinton, as a new poll gives him a commanding lead in a state critical to Haley's plans.

The poll had Trump hitting 50 per cent in the Granite state, just days after romping to victory in the Iowa Caucuses.

Haley, his chief rival in the state, was at 34 per cent in the new Suffolk University/Boston Globe/NBC-10 poll, 16 points behind the frontrunner, after having come in third in Iowa.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who edged out Haley for second place in Iowa, was down at 5 per cent. The poll of likely voters will come out daily throughout the tense runup to the primary Tuesday, January 23.

Former President Donald Trump leads rival Nikki Haley by 16 points in a new poll of likely New Hampshire voters

Trump shared an image of Nikki Haley photoshopped with Hillary Clinton

Another recent poll, by WHDH-TV/Emerson, also had Trump holding a 16-point lead, but that was with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie still in the race. Christie's exit has created the expectation that much of the anti-Trump candidate's support would flow to Haley.

New Hampshire is critical to Haley's own battle plans to try to unseat Trump. It allows unaffiliated voters to cast votes in the GOP primary.

The news comes after Trump attended a raucous rally in Atkinson, New Hampshire, just hours after attending his E. Jean Carroll defamation trial in New York.

He appeared onstage with former rival Vivek Ramaswamy, who endorsed him immediately after his own fourth place showing in Iowa.

He holds a commanding lead in a new poll

Trump flew to New Hampshire after attending a defamation trial in New York

Former President Donald Trump went after Nikki Haley on Tuesday night as they both turned their focus on New Hampshire and what could be a battle to the death.

President Donald Trump introduced Vivek Ramaswamy to an ecstatic crowd in Atkinson, New Hampshire, on Tuesday evening at the end of a whirlwind 24 hours

Trump's campaign went after Haley on China for comments she made as Trump's UN ambassador

Trump's campaign also began unloading on Haley on issues ranging from taxes to Social Security  even going after her by saying she 'loves China.'

That critique comes from when she was serving as UN Ambassador  during the Trump administration.

While representing America as ambassador to the United Nations, Haley described Communist China as being 'a really great friend of ours,' according to the release, which featured a clip amid Trump's own meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in an effort to secure more pressure on North Korea.

Trump also blasted Haley on Tuesday night, accusing her of exploiting the party's election rules.

'Nikki Haley in particular is counting on the Democrats and liberals to infiltrate your Republican primary,' said Trump before an adoring crowd at the Atkinson Country Club.

'You know that the left ... that's what's happening ... have a group of people coming in that are not Republicans and it's artificially boosting her numbers here, although we're still leading her by a lot.'

Haley does better among independents in the survey, getting 44 percent support to his 38 per cent. But he ran up the numbers among Republicans and conservatives.

Trump also highlighted  and botched  Haley's Indian first name, in an attack with echoes of his repeatedly blasts at 'Barack Hussein Obama' that highlighted his Democratic rival's name and heritage amid his false claims that Obama wasn't born in the U.S.

'Anyone listening to Nikki Nimrada [sic] Haleys wacked-out speech last night, would think that she won the Iowa Primary. She didnt,' Trump posted on his Truth Social site. 'Nikki came in a distant THIRD!'

It was a misspelled version of her given name, Nimarata.

'She said she would never run against me, "he was a great President," and she should have followed her own advice. Now shes stuck with WEAK POLICIES, and a VERY STRONG MAGA BASE, and theres just nothing she can do!' Trump added.
A senior member of Patriotic Alternative accused of using racist stickers to stir up racial hatred had a Adolf Hitler poster pinned to his wall, a court heard.

Sam Melia, a leading figure within the extreme right-wing group, allegedly distributed the racist material to more than 3,500 subscribers through the social network Hundred Handers from 2019 to 2021.

The stickers allegedly shared through the group were found in a number of public places across Britain - bearing slogans such as 'It's okay to be white', 'Diversity did not build Britain', 'Nationalism is nature' and 'Labour loves Muslim rape gangs'.

The 34-year-old is also charged with intentionally encouraging or assisting racially aggravated criminal damage by sending out this information.

The defendant admitted at Leeds Crown Court to to being involved with far-right group, but denies the charges.

Sam Melia, a senior member in the extreme right-wing group, appeared at Leeds Crown Court today charged with distributing racist stickers through the social network Hundred Handers which were intended to stir up racial hatred from 2019 to 2021

The 34-year-old is also charged with intentionally encouraging or assisting racially aggravated criminal damage by sending out this information

Tom Storey, prosecuting, told the jury that when police raided Melia's home in Leeds in April 2021, they found downloadable versions of the stickers associated with Nazism in his car boot and study, alongside a poster of Hitler on his garage wall.

Other messages on the stickers referred to social distancing during lockdown - suggesting people should keep a two-metre distance between themselves and immigrants, he said.

The court also heard there were other signs of Melia's extreme 'ideology' in the property, including a book on his table and a poster on his wall about the notorious British fascist Oswald Mosley.

Mr Storey told the jury: 'We are fortunate that we live in a democracy that brings with it freedoms.

'We pride ourselves on being tolerant and multi-cultural. However, there are people who do not share such views.

'He makes no bones that he is involved with Patriotic Alternative. It's an extreme right-wing group advocating the removal of all immigrants from this country.'

Jurors previously heard how Melia allegedly set up the Hundred Handers group on Telegram, a messaging platform similar to WhatsApp.

Tom Storey, prosecuting, said the group chat's name referred to a mythological Greek creature that had 100 hands - with Melia being the head of the animal and his followers being the anonymous limbs.

He added that Melia's views were not illegal in themselves, but the fact he was allegedly sending out the downloadable messages to be printed showed 'that their only purpose was to stir up racial hatred'.

The trial continues.
The company behind the development is asking voters to allow an exemption to an ordinance that requires all development take place in existing cities

The tech billionaires behind a planned 'utopian' California city have released new details including park space, new jobs and resident life as backers plan to ask local voters for permission to move forward with the development.

The planned Solano County city is being backed by a host of billionaire investors including Jan Sramek, Laurene Powell Jobs and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman who submitted a ballot initiative on Wednesday laying out their plans.

The plans for a new 'old-fashioned,' walkable city which could accommodate 40,000 people by 2040 have been met with local resistance in recent months.

In its latest appeal California Forever, the group of investors funding the project, have described the initiative as a 'middle class' development that will create 15,000 jobs - all paying 125 percent of the county average weekly wage.

The developers also list the planned development of 4,000 acres of parks for residents and a 15,000 acre buffer zone with the nearby Air Force Base.

The plans for a new 'old-fashioned', walkable city that could accommodate 40,000 people by 2040 have been met with local resistance

While the city could eventually grow to 400,000 residents, the first generation of development would likely allow 50,000 residents. New renderings by backers show resident life and the hopes for the city.

California Forever's rapid land acquisition sparked federal investigation until the Group's identity and aims became known

Sramek, a Goldman Sachs trader is the leader of California Forever who have snapped up 50,000 acres worth almost $1 billion to bring their dream to life.

The city could eventually grow to 400,000 residents, according to the filed plans.

The East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative requires 13,500 signatures to get on the ballot.

California Forever are asking voters to allow an exemption from the county's Orderly Growth ordinance, which requires that all urban development take place within the county's seven cities: Vallejo, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Vacaville, Suisun City, Dixon and Benicia.

'We're excited to share the details of our plan to build a better Solano with all of you,' Sramek, said in a statement.

'This can be a new economic engine for Solano County and proof that when we work together, California can still do big things.'

The scale of the project is more than three times the size of Manhattan, which comes in at a measly 14,500 acres compared to the city's 50,000

California Forever's rapid land acquisition sparked federal investigation until the Group's identity and aims became known

'This proposal would create a new economic engine for Solano County. That means more good paying jobs, so people can live and work here, and more county revenue to improve schools, promote public safety, reduce homelessness, and upgrade infrastructure,' officials stated in detailing why voters should back their efforts.

The development also plans to commit $400 million in funding for down payment assistance for Solano County residents to buy homes in the new community, according to its published proposals.

'Funding can also be used to help build affordable homes for low, very low, extremely low, and special needs households, including veterans, seniors, and agricultural workers,' the agency stated.

Other sweeteners include a proposed $70 million in funding for scholarships for college and vocational training, or to start or grow small businesses in the new city. The group is also pledging $200million in developments in renovating or building new homes and commercial property in other cities in the county.

California Forever has also proposed solar farms on the development that could generate enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 1.5 million homes.

In order not to burst the environmental utopia. a buffer zone will be placed in a buffer zone from nearby Travis Air Force Base.

The Travis Security Zone will separate the city from the base with nearly 15,000 acres. The base would also have approval right on social farm technology used int he area.

A new city is located on 'non-prime' farmland and avoid habitats in other areas, city leaders say.

Artists renderings hint at some of the proposals for the 50,000 acres of land the group has purchased, including space for outdoor living and commercial buildings

If the community is successful the number of residents could soar as high as 400,000 over the next few decades

The new details are to quell some of the concerns raised by locals. At a town hall meeting in November residents of Vallejo - a city in Solano County - erupted in fury to the planned proposals.

One attendee said she felt the secretive nature of the land buying undermines any trust that could be had in the project.

'Its the secrecy,' said Paula Conley, according to the San Francisco Standard. 'This is whole city, not a shopping center. I think it nullifies the whole point here of them trying to be open about it.'

California Forever's rapid land acquisition sparked federal investigation until the Group's identity and aims became known.

It also set alarm bells ringing due to the city's proposed proximity to Travis Air Force Base.

However, the group has said it is 'committed to respecting its [the base's] boundaries both on the ground and in the air' and envisages that the city could become a place for base personnel to live.

Artistic renderings of the city feature lush green landscapes with Mediterranean-style homes clustered on hillsides and shorelines.

Clean energy also features heavily through the artists' impressions, with proposals for solar farms to help power the city.

Despite the emphasis on green technology, Sramek insists the city will be 'old-fashioned' and take inspiration from other successful neighborhoods such as those in Boston and Philadelphia, as well as San Franciscos Noe Valley or North Beach.

Jan Sramek, the leader of California Forever, is a 36-year-old financial prodigy

At a recent forum at a retirement community he told residents: 'We dont want to build a city of tomorrow, we want to build a city of yesterday,' the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The renderings also portray the city as noticeable car free, instead dominated by pedestrians and cyclists.

Sramek said he hopes to build a 'walkable' city where 'people can live close to shops'.

The scale of the project is more than three times the size of Manhattan, which comes in at a measly 14,500 acres compared to the city's 50,000.

Other proposed features include commercial buildings and parks, with one image showing people kayaking through a nature reserve. A survey previously circulated by the group indicated support for 10,000 acres of green open spaces.

The plans also contain proposals to plant 1million olive trees, as well as orchards.

It is also much larger than beleaguered San Francisco's 30,000 acres.

Sramek has previously been critical of the Democrat-led city, mocking it as the city that 'banned plastic straws but permits plastic needles' in an essay for the Financial Times.

While the group has indicated green technology for clean energy are part of the vision leader Smarek hopes to create 'old-fashioned' towns

A huge emphasis has been placed on ensuring the city is walkable, with artist's renderings showing streetscapes dominated by pedestrians and cyclists

Cars are noticeably absent from the artist's renderings, with a focus instead on green transport methods

Nature features heavily throughout the city's designs. California Forever hopes to develop parks and plant 1million olive trees in the new city

'Fentanyl, the synthetic drug that is 50 times more powerful than and a fraction of the cost of heroin, has turned many blocks of the city into zombie zones,' he wrote.

By contrast, Sramek previously stated he hopes his city will feature reduced homelessness, better schools 'as well as resources to invest in infrastructure for transportation, water, and wildfire protection'.

The 36-year-old financial prodigy said he grew up in a blue collar, walkable town in his native Czech Republic and he hopes to recreate this in the new city.

The father-of-one made his name and his wealth and by his early 20s as an emerging markets trader in Goldman Sachs' London office.

He quit his job days after his 24th birthday and eventually relocated to the Bay area.
Boeing shares, down by more than a fifth since a mid-air blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight, are under further pressure after Wells Fargo analysts downgraded the stock on Tuesday.

The airplane maker has seen its market capitalization decline by nearly $30 billion, to $123.74 billion, since the January 5 incident.

The Wells Fargo report, entitled 'FAA audit opens up a whole new can of worms,' citing the FAA's plan to review Boeing's inspections of the 737 MAX 9 planes before allowing them to fly again.

'Given Boeing's recent track record, and greater incentive for the FAA to find problems, we think the odds of a clean audit are low,' the analysts said.

'The FAA's audit is limited to Max 9 for now, but it's feasible that findings could expand the scope to other Max models sharing common parts.'

The FAA said on Wednesday that inspections of an initial group of 40 Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes have been completed, a key hurdle to eventually ungrounding the planes.

Shares of Boing closed at $200.52 on Tuesday, down nearly 20 percent from their January 5 closing price prior to the Alaska Airlines incident

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced it will audit Boeing and its suppliers' production line after the door of an Alaska Airlines aircraft blew off mid-air

Boeing's production processes have been under scrutiny since a panel tore off the Alaska Airlines jet while in flight near Portland, Oregon on January 5, leaving a hole on the side of the plane.

The incident rekindled worries about Boeing's MAX jets a few years after a pair of crashes killed nearly 350 people. Investors are also worried about potential delays to aircraft deliveries.

Shares of Boing closed at $200.52 on Tuesday, down nearly 20 percent from their January 5 closing price prior to the Alaska Airlines incident.

The FAA grounded 171 MAX 9 planes on January 6 pending approval of inspections and maintenance requirements.

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the two US airlines that use the aircraft involved, have had to cancel hundreds of flights since last week.

On Wednesday, the FAA said all 737-9 MAX aircraft with door plugs will remain grounded pending the agencys review and final approval of an inspection and maintenance process.

'The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning these aircraft to service,' the agency said.

The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA safety chief will brief senators on the investigation on Wednesday, sources told Reuters.

Boeing on Tuesday named a retired US Navy admiral to advise the planemaker's CEO on improving quality control.

Kirkland H. Donald will serve as a special adviser to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, Boeing said.

Donald will lead a team of outside experts in evaluating quality practices at Boeing Commercial Airplanes and its supply chain and provide recommendations to Calhoun and Boeing's board of directors.

An emergency exit used as a cabin window blew out of the Alaskan Airlines flight from Portland to California at 16,000 feet

Naming an outside adviser to the quality review is 'tremendously important' in order for the findings to have credibility with the public, said Adam Pilarski, senior vice president at consultancy AVITAS, who was previously the chief economist at Douglas Aircraft.

'Boeing lost a lot of credibility on the MAX, and the FAA lost a lot of credibility on the MAX,' he said.

Ongoing MAX 9 investigations could ratchet up the pressure for management changes among Boeing's top executives, analysts said.

'We would not be surprised to see regulators, investors and customers push for a turnover in the ranks of senior management and the Board of Directors,' Bank of America's Ron Epstein said in a Tuesday morning note to investors.
A German woman who is accused of murdering a beauty blogger lookalike to fake her own death has gone on trial.

Shahraban K. and boyfriend Sheqir K., both 24 - are accused of targeting blogger Khadidja O. because of her striking resemblance to Shahraban - sharing the same dark hair and complexion.

Shahraban K. is said to have tracked down her lookalike on social media and, along with her boyfriend, stabbed her 50 times in a bid fake her own death.

Prosecutors said the couple aimed many of the slashes and stab wounds at Khadidja O's face, apparently to make it easier to fool a investigation.

A court in Ingolstadt, in the state of Bavaria, previously heard how they believed they could pass off their victim's body as Shahraban K. so she could escape her strict Iraqi family.

ALLEGED KILLER: Shahraban K (pictured). and boyfriend Sheqir K., both 24 - are accused of specially selecting blogger Khadidja O. because of her striking resemblance to Shahraban

VICTIM: Algerian beauty blogger Khadidja O (pictured) was stabbed 50 times in the German city of Ingolstadt, her face completely disfigured from the number of stab wounds

Prosecutors say the killer couple had been contacting random girls on social media who looked enough like Shahraban K. to convince a coroner.

'We have determined that the female suspect had decided to go into hiding due to family-internal arguments,' state prosecutor Veronika Grieser told local media last year, adding: 'She wanted to fake her own death and start a new life.'

On August 9 2022, the alleged killers sent their victim a message via social media offering her the opportunity to be in a video for German rapper Lune.

The pair - who named their fake account 'lunee.officiel' - told her: 'You don't have to do much. Would be great to hear from you. Would take place in Offenburg.'

And they added: 'Must be kept a secret though until the song is released.'

But Khadidja grew suspicious and sent a message to the star's official account. Lune replied saying: 'It's fake, sis. Don't reply!'

Just two days later, the defendants used another Instagram account to get in touch.

Prosecutor Grieser said: 'This time, they offered a beauty treatment which would come free of charge if their victim advertised it on social media.'

They agreed to meet in Eppingen, the victim's hometown, according to Grieser, where the killers picked Khadidja up in a Mercedes.

'They drove towards Ingolstadt but asked the 23-year-old to get out of the car in a forest' she said. 'She was hit on the head at least once and then stabbed 56 times.'

Shahraban K allegedly made a point to disfigure Khadidja's face with the knife in a rouse to make it difficult for investigators and her family to identify the victim.

Police spokesman Andreas Aichele explained: 'Her face was seriously injured with the more than 50 knife stabs.'

The killers put their victim's body back into the car and abandoned the vehicle just a few blocks from where Shahraban K. lived in Ingolstadt.

Her horrified parents discovered the victim's body in the Mercedes later that day and assumed it was their daughter.

Shahraban K had told her parents she was going to Ingolstadt to meet her ex-husband but when she didn't return to their Munich home, they went out searching and they found what they believed to be their daughter's body in the back of her Mercedes.

German police officers had initially identified the body, located in the parked Mercedes, as Shahraban K - as the alleged killers had planned.

But suspicions about the body's identity arose following an autopsy, and the victim has since been identified Khadidja.

Sheqir K, 24, has been charged with murder

Prosecutors said the couple aimed many of the slashes and stab wounds at Khadidja O's face (pictured), apparently to make it easier to fool any investigation into her death

Shahraban and Sheqir were tracked down and arrested after forensic examinations and a check of the victim's tattoos revealed her true identity.

Prosecutors - who plan to question 190 witnesses in court - charged the duo with murder following extensive DNA checks and the investigation of social media and mobile phone records.

The pair are being held in custody and their full trial is expected to start shortly.

Neither of them have ever made a statement or commented on the accusations.

Proceedings on the trial's first day on Tuesday were delayed, after defence laywers said a fair trial wouldn't be possible as prosecutors had submitted additional documents that needed to be examined.

While prosecutors argued that it was not unusual for additional documents to be submitted after an indictment, the court is yet to rule on whether to suspend proceedings

The court is set to make a decision on this next week.

The pair face life behind bars if convicted of murder.
No10 has scrapped plans to beef up rules for civil servants to prevent them from blocking Rwanda deportation flights.

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson this morning said the Government was considering tweaking the Civil Service code in the wake of concerns raised by the Tory Right.

Hardliners have suggested mandarins could hinder efforts to get aircraft off the ground if ministerial orders clash with rulings from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

However, after his remarks sparked a back lash from trade unions, the Prime Minister's spokesman said that new 'guidance' would be sent to the Home Office providing 'clarity' for staff.

'It is for ministers to make a decision and civil servants to act within that', he added.

'This is about making sure we've taken every conceivable step to get flights off the ground asap'.

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson this morning said the Government was considering tweaking the Civil Service code in the wake of concerns raised by rightwing Tories.

However, after his remarks sparked a back lash from trade unions, the Prime Minister's spokesman said that new 'guidance' would be sent to the Home Office providing 'clarity' for staff.

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union which represents senior civil servants, said it would amount to ministers obliging officials to breach the law.

Some right-wing MPs have long hit out at Whitehall and civil servants, accusing them of helping to block the progress of the Rwanda plan and other measures to tackle illegal migration.

Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel urged the Prime Minister on Tuesday to ensure 'all potential roadblocks are removed, including the Civil Service blob'.

The senior Tory said Mr Sunak should make clear that the 'Civil Service code cannot be used by officials to obstruct decisions'.

Mr Tomlinson this morning told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the code could be tweaked in the face of concerns by backbench MPs that the proposed Rwanda legislation does not do enough to block last-minute Rule 39 injunctions from the ECHR.

'My expectation is that there will be further confirmation that it will be for ministers to decide and then, once those decisions are made, they will be carried out ... by our excellent and efficient civil servants,' he said.

But the proposal to change the code was sharply criticised.

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union which represents senior civil servants, said it would amount to ministers obliging officials to breach the law.

He tweeted: 'Code is clear - comply with the law and uphold the administration of justice. Any caveat is a Gov telling its civil servants to break the law - otherwise it wouldn't be needed.'

Garry Graham, deputy general secretary of the Prospect union, added: 'The Civil Service code requires that civil servants provide objective advice to ministers based on a rigorous analysis of the evidence.

'They have a duty under the code to comply with the law and uphold the administration of justice.

'It is not for ministers to dictate the terms of the advice they receive.

'This is a desperate attempt by the party of government to placate their own backbenchers. It is vitally important for our democracy that Civil Service impartiality is not compromised.'
Four of Jennifer Dulos' children and their nanny ate lunch in her 'bloodstained' kitchen hours after she was allegedly murdered by her husband in the home, court has heard.

Nanny Lauren Almeida, 32, was oblivious to the horrors that had purportedly unfolded in the room when she served lunch to four of Jennifer's five kids on the day of her disappearance.

Prosecutors claim that Jennifer was killed by her husband Fotis Dulos in the New Canaan home on May 24, 2019, and her murder trial has heard from detectives who said they found 'blood-like stains' in her kitchen and garage later that day.

Fotis killed himself in January 2020, but his initially secret partner Michelle Troconis, 49, is now on trial at Stamford Superior Court for allegedly helping him to conceal the crime by disposing of evidence. She denies all charges.

Almeida said she entered Jennifer's home twice on the day of her disappearance, once in the morning, and again to have lunch with four of the kids, who were aged between eight and 13 at the time. The fifth was at a friend's house.

Jennifer Dulos was 'terrified' of her husband Fotis in the months before she died, according to their nanny Lauren Almeida (pictured), who continued her testimony in court on Wednesday

Almeida said she ate lunch with Jennifer Dulos' children in the kitchen - oblivious to tiny alleged bloodstains in the room, which would later become the crime scene in Jennifer's murder

Michelle Troconis, who denies all charges, entering court for the fourth day of her trial

Michelle Troconis (left) and Fotis Dulos (right) were living together in his Farmington CT home at the time of his ex-wife Jennifer's disappearance on May 24, 2019

Almeida previously said Jennifer was an 'incredibly nurturing mother' to her five kids, who were aged between eight and 13 when she disappeared on May 24, 2019

There were several chilling clues that Jennifer had not gone about her day as normal, according to the nanny, including her usual morning cup of tea and granola bar left untouched in the kitchen.

When asked by the state whether she noticed anything strange in the home the first time she went in, Almeida said: 'First, her purse was on the floor between the mudroom and the kitchen doorway.

'I thought that was a little odd because it was a really nice handbag and it was on the floor.

'When I entered the kitchen - she always had tea in a cup and a granola bar - the tea was still full and the granola bar was still there.

'I thought it was strange but figured she was in a rush, so I cleaned the tea and put the granola bar away.'

Almeida added that she also noticed several rolls of paper towels were missing, but she figured that one of the children had spilled something earlier that morning.

The court was earlier shown images of what appeared to be blood inside one of the remaining paper towel rolls, which detectives seized as evidence.

Almeida said she picked Jennifer's children up from New Canaan Country Day School at around 12.30pm, and they returned to the home for a quick 20-minute lunch in the kitchen - which would be identified as a crime scene later that day.

Almeida recalled how she drove the kids to New York to meet Jennifer at the orthodontist's office where they were due to meet - but medics said the Connecticut mom had not turned up for her appointments.

The court was shown several text messages from Almeida to Jennifer, who was her close friend, letting her know how the day was unfolding, receiving no replies.

When asked how she felt when she realized Jennifer had not attended her appointments, Almeida said: 'Really bad.

'The second I called Jennifer and she didn't pick up my stomach just sank because she never didn't answer the phone.

'When she wasn't there I was shocked but also had the found kids so put them into their appointments.

'I went outside and started to call people who could have heard from Jennifer. I called my mum who tried to calm me down. Then I called her friends.'

After exhausting all their mutual friends, Almeida contacted New Canaan Police, who launched a missing person investigation and visited Jennifer's home later that day.

She said she spoke with Fotis on the phone later that day, who wanted to arrange meeting the children the next weekend but did not mention Jennifer's disappearance.

Four of Jennifer Dulos' children and their nanny ate lunch in her 'bloodstained' kitchen hours after she was allegedly murdered by her husband in the home, court has heard. (Pictured: nanny Lauren Almeida in court on day four of the trial)

There were several chilling clues that Jennifer had not gone about her day as normal, according to Almeida (pictured) including her usual morning cup of tea and granola bar left untouched in the kitchen

Troconis in court on day four of the trial over the alleged murder of Jennifer Dulos

Troconis denies charges connected to her allegedly helping Fotis conceal the crime - including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution

Earlier on Wednesday, Almeida spoke about the collapse of Jennifer and Fotis' marriage in March 2017 after he admitted to his affair with Troconis, a glamorous Venezuelan-American socialite they had met before on family ski trips.

She said their 'odd' but previously amicable marriage rapidly became 'tense and uncomfortable' and that Jennifer moved out of their shared Farmington home with their children to a rented house in New Canaan.

Almeida recalled one occasion when Jennifer returned to the Farmington property to collect some belongings, when Fotis 'yelled' at Jennifer and she hid from him behind a door with her youngest child and the nanny.

'Fotis was yelling and she closed the door behind her and she pushed her body up against the door and he was trying to get in,' Almeida said. 'She was terrified.

'He pushed the door more and he saw that his daughter and myself were in the room and his demeanor totally changed.

'Eventually he walked away and she told me she needed to get out of the house.'

Almeida described the how Jennifer's mental and physical health deteriorated after March 2017.

'She was increasingly getting more afraid, her anxiety was getting really bad,' Almeida told the court.

'She noticeably lost a lot of weight. She was just afraid, and she expressed that a lot.'

Lauren Almeida, who took care of the couple's five children for eight years until Jennifer's disappearance on May 24, 2019, also gave more details about Fotis' affair with defendant Michelle Troconis(Pictured: Almeida going through court security on Wednesday)

Jennifer Dulos (left) vanished on May 24, 2019, amid a divorce from her husband Fotis (right), who was later charged with her murder. Fotis killed himself in January 2020, leaving his new lover Michelle Troconis to face trial alone for allegedly helping him conceal the killing

Almeida still lives with the Dulos children - Petros, Theodore, Constantine, Christiane and Cleopatra Noelle - who are now aged between 13 and 17 - along with their maternal grandmother Gloria.

She began giving evidence at around 4.15pm on Tuesday, and returned to the witness box on Wednesday as Troconis' trial continued.

Almeida previously said she met the Dulos' while working at a daycare where they used to drop their kids, and described Jennifer as 'an incredibly nurturing' and playful mother, and Fotis as a largely absent family.

She painted a picture of their family life as one filled with idyllic holidays to an array of locations including Miami and Aspen until Fotis met Troconis.

Troconis denies charges connected to her allegedly helping him conceal the crime - including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.

Prosecutors accuse Fotis of killing Jennifer in her New Canaan, CT home after she returned from dropping their children off at school, and they allege that Troconis helped him dispose of her bloodied clothing in several garbage bags.

Jennifer's body was never found, but Judge William P. Osterndorf declared her 'officially dead' last week.

Troconis' trial began in Stamford began on Thursday before pausing over the weekend and for Martin Luther King Jr Day.

On the first day, the state presented bodycam footage of officers searching Jennifer's home in New Canaan, Connecticut, including the garage where police say Jennifer was so badly injured that she bled profusely.

Jurors were shown what appeared to be a bloody footprint in her garage, and various red marks on the Range Rover parked in the central bay.

Almeida began testifying in the murder trial at Stamford Superior Court on Tuesday (pictured)

Former state police detective Matthew Reilly said he spotted red stains on several surfaces in Jennifer's kitchen, including on a paper towel roll, sink faucet, and counter-top - and in her garage

Suspected blood stain in Jennifer Dulos' Range Rover which was parked in her garage

Evidence of 'blood-like stains' on the ground of Dulos' garage was shown to jurors

Troconis' sister Claudia, flanked by their parents Marisela and Carlos, made an emotional statement outside the Stamford courthouse following the first hearing, insisting that Michelle is innocent.

The next day, Troconis' lawyer Jon Schoenhorn attempted to block detectives from testifying about their use of a luminol swab to identify some of the stains as blood, claiming the test is based on 'junk science'.

He made an impassioned statement to press outside, saying that luminol, which glows blue when blood is present, also presents the same color for substances including bleach, rust, paint and turpentine.

But Judge Kevin Randolph ruled that evidence regarding luminol was admissible, adding that Schoenhorn would get an opportunity to cross-examine officials about it.

Former Connecticut State Police detective Kevin Reilly spoke about the luminol tests when the trial resumed on Tuesday after the three-day holiday weekend, and jurors were shown new images of alleged bloodstains in Jennifer's kitchen.

Reilly said some of the garage samples tested positive for blood. The swabs were sent to a lab for confirmation, but none of the witnesses have testified yet about these results.

Under cross-examination by Schoenhorn, he agreed that the luminol tests, which was one of the two tests deployed, would also have appeared positive for a 'laundry list' of other substances.

Jon Schoenhorn (pictured outside the Stamford courthouse with his client Michelle Troconis) attempted to block detectives from testifying about their use of a luminol swab to identify some of the stains as blood, claiming the test is based on 'junk science'

Before the trial began, Troconis' attorney Jon Schoenhorn (pictured in court on day three of her trial) accused police of lying to and misleading his client during interviews and questioning her in English with no interpreter present when her primary language is Spanish

Before the trial began, Schoenhorn accused police of lying to and misleading his client during interviews and questioning her in English with no interpreter present when her primary language is Spanish.

He has also challenged much of the evidence in the case. Judge Randolph recently ruled the police seizure of Troconis' cellphone was illegal and any evidence obtained from it cannot be used during the trial.

But Randolph allowed other evidence Schoenhorn sought to bar, including video of the police questioning of Troconis and DNA test results.

Dulos' family and friends hope the trial provides accountability for her death and answers to lingering questions.

'As this trial begins, it is crucial to remember who is at the center: Jennifer, whose five children have lost their mother and, as an eventuality, both parents,' said her friend Carrie Luft, in a statement on behalf of family and friends.

'Jennifers family and loved ones have lost a loving daughter, sister, cousin, and lifelong friend.'

The trial began January 11 and it is expected to continue for six weeks before jurors are sent out for deliberations.
Donald Trump sported mysterious red marks on his hand as he made his way to court to watch his rape accuser E. Jean Carroll testify in New York City on Wednesday morning.

The former president, 77, flew back to New York late on Tuesday night after a campaign rally in New Hampshire to cap off a whirlwind 24 hours since winning the Iowa caucuses.

DailyMail.com captured him leaving Trump Tower early on Wednesday morning with mysterious red cuts on his hand, hours after braving a snowstorm to speak to supporters alongside former 2024 GOP hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy.

Carroll testified Wednesday in the second federal civil trial over her claims against Trump, who denies them all.

She told the New York jury that Trump 'shattered her reputation' by 'lying' about sexually assaulting her and calling her a 'wack job'.

Trump's lawyer Alina Habba was also told to 'sit down' by Judge Lewis Kaplan after he rejected her bid to delay the trial so the former president could attend his mother-in-law's funeral.

Donald Trump will watch rape accuser E. Jean Carroll testify against him as he heads back to a Manhattan court for the $10million defamation trial.

DailyMail.com captured him leaving Trump Tower early on Wednesday morning with what appeared to be cuts on his hand

Because the first jury found that Trump sexually abused Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her in 2022, the new trial concerns other remarks Trump made while he was president.

Trump, who is juggling court appearances with campaign stops as he leads the Republican field in this year's presidential race, sat in on jury selection Tuesday.

Subsequently, Trump's lawyer contended that Carroll has never been more famous and that she is blaming him for 'a few mean tweets from Twitter trolls.'

Meanwhile, Trump declared on social media Tuesday that the case was nothing but 'fabricated lies and political shenanigans' that had garnered his accuser money and fame.

'I am the only one injured by this attempted EXTORTION,' read a post on his Truth Social platform.

But Carroll, an advice columnist and magazine writer, has said that Trump harmed her deeply. First, she claims, he forced himself on her in a dressing room after a chance meeting at a luxury department store in 1996.

Then he publicly impugned her honesty, her motives and even her sanity after she told the story publicly in a 2019 memoir.

'He called me a liar repeatedly, and it really has decimated my reputation. I am a journalist. The one thing I have to have is the trust of the readers,' she testified in April at the first trial. 'I am no longer believed.'

Carroll has maintained she lost millions of readers and her longtime gig at Elle Magazine, where her 'Ask E. Jean' advice column ran for over a quarter-century, because of her allegations and Trump's reaction to them.

Elle has said her contract wasn't renewed for unrelated reasons.

One of Carroll's lawyers, Shawn Crowley, said in her opening statement that the writer also received violent threats from Trump backers.

Carroll is due to testify Wednesday in the second federal civil trial over her claims against Trump, who denies them all

Trump's lawyer Alina Habba walked with the former president to his motorcade to make the way to court

The former president, 77, flew back to New York late on Tuesday night after a campaign rally in New Hampshire to cap off a whirlwind 24 hours since winning the Iowa caucus

Trump, who is juggling court appearances with campaign stops as he leads the Republican field in this year's presidential race, sat in on jury selection Tuesday

In this courtroom sketch, E. Jean Carroll, right, turns around towards former President Donald Trump

People hold signs outside the Manhattan federal court in New York in support of E. Jean Carroll's allegations

E. Jean Carroll watches as her lawyer Shawn Crowley opens in the second civil trial after Carroll accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of raping her decades ago

In this courtroom sketch, prospective jurors file into the courtroom as Donald Trump, third left, stands surrounded by his defense team. Alina Habba, fourth left, Trump's lead defense attorney, stands beside him. E. Jean Carroll, background second from right, stands with her attorney Roberta Kaplan, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in New York

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, E. Jean Carroll and their lawyers stand for the jury as they attend jury selection

E Jean Carroll arrives for her defamation trial against Former President Donald Trump at New York Federal Court on January 16, 2024 in New York City

Trump attorney Alina Habba countered that Carroll was seeking to hold the former president accountable for 'a few mean tweets from Twitter trolls.'

He was 'merely defending himself' in his comments about his accuser, Habba said in her opening.

Trump asserts that nothing ever happened between him and Carroll, indeed that he has never even met her. There's a 1987 party photo of them and their then-spouses, but Trump says it was a momentary greeting that 'doesn't count.'

Trump did not attend the previous trial in the case last May, when a jury found he had sexually abused and defamed Carroll and $5 million damages. The jury said, however, that Carroll hadn't proven her claim that Trump raped her.

Carroll is now seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and millions more in punitive damages.
The Tories today claimed terrorists seeking legal advice 'better call Keir' as they took aim at the Labour leader's past work for a now-banned group.

The party sharpened its attack on Sir Keir Starmer over his involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir in 2008 during his legal career as a prominent barrister.

Home Secretary James Cleverly this week moved to proscribe the Islamist group in action that would make it illegal to join the organisation in the UK under terror laws.

It has previously emerged how Sir Keir once advised Hizb ut-Tahrir as they sought to overturn a ban imposed on their activities in Germany.

In a post on the Conservatives' official Twitter account this afternoon, the party wrote: 'When Rishi Sunak sees a group chanting jihad on our streets, he bans them. Keir Starmer invoices them.'

The tweet also included a mock poster with the words: 'Are you a terrorist in need of legal advice? Better call Keir.'

It was posted after fiery exchanges between Mr Sunak and the Labour leader during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.

The PM claimed Sir Keir was 'always been more interested in what lefty lawyers have to say' as they clashed over the Rwanda migrant scheme.

The jibe came shortly after Mr Sunak had referred to Sir Keir giving legal advice on Hizb ut-Tahrir's dispute with the German government.

It is widely expected the Tories will continue to focus on the Labour leader's past record as a leading barrister and head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as they ramp up attacks ahead of the general election.

The Tories claimed terrorists seeking legal advice 'better call Keir' as they took aim at the Labour leader's past work for a now-banned group

In a post on the Conservatives' official Twitter account, the party wrote: 'When Rishi Sunak sees a group chanting jihad on our streets, he bans them. Keir Starmer invoices them'

It has previously emerged how Sir Keir once advised Hizb ut-Tahrir as they sought to overturn a ban imposed on their activities in Germany

During fiery exchanges during PMQs, Rishi Sunak claimed Sir Keir was 'always been more interested in what lefty lawyers have to say' as they clashed over the Rwanda migrant scheme

Founded in 1953, Hizb ut-Tahrir is a pan-Islamic fundamentalist group which has been banned in several Arab and Asian countries, including China, as well as in Germany. Austria banned symbols of the group in 2021.

With headquarters in Lebanon, the group also operates in at least 32 countries including the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

It has organised rallies which took place on the streets of London alongside pro-Palestine marches in recent months, following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

A proposal to proscribe Hizb ut-Tahrir will be debated in Parliament this week and, if approved, the ban would come into force on Friday making Hizb ut-Tahrir the 80th organisation to be proscribed in the UK.

It would mean 'belonging to, inviting support for and displaying articles in a public place in a way that arouses suspicion of membership or support for the group' will be a criminal offence.

The Home Office has cited the group's 'long-term goal of establishing a Caliphate ruled under Islamic law'.

During PMQ's this afternoon, Mr Sunak took aim at Sir Keir for advising Hizb ut-Tahrir.

He told MPs: 'Just this week we had another example of him doing one thing, saying another, because this week he backed the Home Secretary in banning the terrorist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, despite him personally using the European Court of Human Rights to try and stop them being banned.

'Don't take my word for it, the extremists' own press release said "the Hizb ut-Tahrir legal team led by Keir Starmer".

'I know he doesn't like talking about them because they have been a client, but when I see a group chanting jihad on our streets I ban them, he invoices them.'

Sir Keir hit back at Mr Sunak to claim the PM had to be 'talked out of scrapping' the Rwanda migration scheme, following recent reports he had wanted to junk the project when he began his 2022 Tory leadership bid.

'When he sees his party tearing itself apart, hundreds of bald men scrapping over a single broken comb, doesn't he wish that he had the courage to stick to his guns?,' he added.

Mr Sunak replied: 'I have absolute conviction that the plan we've put in place will work because I believe it is important that we grip this problem.'

The PM highlighted lawyers who are backing the Government's Rwanda plan, and lifted a document as he said to Sir Keir: 'I know he's always been more interested in what lefty lawyers have to say. I've even got here the textbook that he authored for them  and it's called European Human Rights Law by Keir Starmer.'

Mr Sunak was reprimanded by Commons' Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle for using a prop at the despatch box.

Following PMQs, Mr Sunak's press secretary claimed Sir Keir would still be advising groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir today if he were still a lawyer.

Challenged over whether the PM believes Sir Keir's legal career is a reasonable line of attack, she told reporters he 'opted to go and represent these people'.

'If Keir Starmer wasn't leader of the Opposition, he'd be representing a lot of these people still today,' she said.

'Keir Starmer's not shy in raising his own record as DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions), but it seems when anyone else points to any bits of his record that are less favourable, he says "it wasn't me" or "it wasn't my fault".

'So from time to time we've all had one of those bosses who takes credit for the success and is more than happy to dump on everyone else on the bad stuff.'

The PM's press secretary was also challenged over the Conservative Party's tweet about Sir Keir.

It was put to her that when the Labour leader provided legal advice to Hizb ut-Tahrir, the group was not designated a terror organisation in the UK.

She replied: 'No, but they clearly are now. And if you look back at the comments they were making at the time, they were pretty unsavoury.'

She also sought to put distance between No10 and the Tories' tweet, adding: 'I don't run the Conservative Twitter account.'

Labour defended Sir Keir's legal background and said the nature of being a lawyer is to sometimes advise clients you disagree with.

A party spokesman said the Labour leader had never represented Hizb ut-Tahrir but was asked to give advice to it in a dispute it had with the German government.

'He was asked to give advice on that case. He never represented them and moved on to being Director of Public Prosecutions at that time,' the spokesman said.

'The nature of being a lawyer is that you represent and give advice to a whole range of clients including people that you don't agree with.'

Asked whether Sir Keir opposed the group's views at the time, the spokesman said: 'I think Keir Starmer's views on this are pretty clear'.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz declared the Republican primary race for president 'over' and threw his support behind former President Donald Trump.

His endorsement Tuesday comes on the heels of Trump's historic victory in the Iowa caucuses - beating GOP rivals Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley by over 30 points.

'[Iowa] was a dominating victory for Donald Trump,' Cruz told Fox News' Sean Hannity. 'Congratulations to president Trump on that dominating victory. And at this point I believe this race is over.'

'I am proud to endorse Donald Trump for President of the United States,' added Cruz, who beat out Trump to win the 2016 Iowa caucuses. 'I look forward to supporting him enthusiastically.'

But the Texan has not always supported Trump with such fervor.

When the two Republicans faced each other in the 2016 GOP presidential race, they often traded barbs.

Trump, for example, nicknamed the senator 'Lyin' Ted' and insulted Cruz' wife's appearance.

In 2016 during the Republican presidential primary Trump posted a meme with a side-by-side of Ted Cruz' wife, Heidi, and his wife, Melania

Sen. Cruz announced on Fox News' 'Hannity' that he would endorse Trump for president

Cruz, who won the 2016 Republican Iowa caucuses, often traded insults with Trump while on the campaign trail

Trump also suggested in the 2016 race that Cruz' father was involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy and that the senator committed fraud in that year's Iowa caucuses.

Cruz, in response, called Trump a 'sniveling coward' and 'pathological liar.'

But on Tuesday, those past remarks seemed to be water under the bridge.

'I don't see any path to victory for anyone other than Donald Trump,' Cruz said.

He noted how Trump won a historic 51 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses and won 98 out of 99 counties.

Trump decisively won the Iowa caucuses with a 30-point margin over his opponents

Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses and began campaigning for Donald Trump in New Hampshire a day later

Trump's win in Iowa was the largest winning margin ever recorded in the caucus

'I've got to say, there's no place like the Iowa caucuses. I know it intimately. The men and women of Iowa, they take their responsibility incredibly seriously. They scrutinize the candidates,' Cruz said.

'And I got to say, Trump's victory was across the board,' he continued.

Another former primary competitor of Trump's in 2016, Sen. Marco Rubio, also endorsed the former president this week.

So far, nearly half of the of 49 republican senators have thrown their support behind Trump.

'We've got to beat Joe Biden, we've got to beat this disastrous cultural Marxist agenda in the White House,' Cruz said.
January 16, 2024: Soon after Russia invaded in early 2022, Ukraine formed small mobile units of troops using All-Terrain Vehicles/ATVs from a variety of manufacturers and usually armed with locally manufactured Anti-Tank Guided Missiles/ATGMs. Some were armed with heavy machine-guns or automatic grenade launchers. Some of the ATVs were carrying captured Russian ATGMs. The ATGM systems mounted on the ATVs were the ones that were heavier and more cumbersome to carry on foot into combat. For that the Ukrainians preferred the more portable Western ATGMs. The ATVs were ideal for using heavier and less portable locally produced ATGMs.

These 21s-Century Cossacks are doing what the first Cossacks did 500 years ago, traveling light and using whatever weapons they could carry and use on foot or on horseback. The original Cossacks were most effective at raiding and restricting the movements and capabilities of a larger force. Cossacks would raid supply columns and force the enemy to use more troops for guard duty and larger reconnaissance patrols. Cossacks could weaken a larger force and reduce its offensive capabilities.

Its not surprising that these modern Cossacks would emerge in Ukraine now, because this sort of speedy improvisation by a largely recent volunteer force of civilians is one reason the Russians have been losing. The Ukrainians know what they are fighting for while most of the Russian troops who initially invaded were unaware, they were in another country until hastily organized and armed Ukrainians began ambushing them with effective anti-tank weapons and superior tactics and communications. Russian troops are still unsure why they are invading Ukraine while the Ukrainians are defending themselves any way they can.

These neo-Cossacks, in the form of small, mobile motorized forces, were first developed by the British during World War II in North Africa. German and Italian forces established airfields and supply storage sites out in the desert that were lightly guarded because any ground force would be spotted from the air before it got near. To get around that Britain developed the Long Range Desert Group/LRDG consisting of small units with a dozen or so men in wheeled vehicles modified for off-road use in desert terrain. The troops were volunteers trained to use these vehicles and navigate in the desert. While raids on remote airfields and supply depots were the most dramatic operations, the most valuable role of the LRDG was collecting information on enemy strength, dispositions, and movements. This often involved monitoring enemy traffic on the coastal roads, which were the primary traffic route in North Africa. Out of this came the British Special Air Service/SAS commandos and the maritime version, the Special Boat Service/SBS. After World War II other nations based their special operations forces on the British model.

British special operations troops were the first to develop unique vehicles for commando missions in rough terrain and U.S. Special Operations Command/SOCOM adopted the same practice. SAS and SOCOM would use whatever new mobility tech that was available for missions and thats how ATVs of all sorts were adapted when needed for operations in remote desert or mountain areas as were found in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.

One SAS innovation was to send out sniper teams mounted on quad bikes (four wheeled motorcycles) to seek out and kill al Qaeda or ISIL terrorists in Iraq. The Quads were an early form of ATV that are still in use. SOCOM preferred ATMs based on dune buggies. Militarized versions of these dune buggies were developed by British firm Supacat and American firm Polaris in the 1980s, followed by the Israeli TomCar in the 1990s.

What the Americans and British special operations forces validated in combat led other NATO special operations troops to quickly adopt the new equipment and tactics. Moslem nations that worked with NATO special operations forces after 2001 did the same. Some of these troops were from Middle Eastern nations and had already been using civilian ATVs or the early British vehicles adapted for long range desert missions.

In the 2020s military ATVs completed the evolution from civilian sport vehicles to military vehicles. For example, in the 1990s there were the Polaris MRZR ATVs equipped with high performance diesel engines using military JP8 fuel. The U.S. military began using JP8, a form of aviation fuel, as a standard fuel for vehicles, aircraft, boats, and generators in the 1980s. By 1990 the U.S. military adopted JP8 as its standard fuel and all new engines had to be built or adapted to use it. This was cheaper than building multi-fuel engines which could adapt to a wide variety of fuels.

Some exceptions were allowed, such as ATVs which SOCOM was able to acquire over a decade ago because SOCOM was allowed to try new equipment of all sorts to accomplish their missions. The MRZR vehicles were military versions of civilian ATVs Polaris began introducing in the 1980s. Those were often called dune buggies, because they were able to operate effectively on beaches and sand dunes. When these vehicles were first adopted by special operations troops in the 1980s and 90s, they were heavier than later ATVs and less mobile than the later Polaris ATVs but became enormously popular with civilian and military users because they were designed for use in the most remote and undeveloped areas with no roads no roads. While this had obvious appeal for SOCOM, there were many civilians that worked in areas where there were few roads, including construction sites in remote areas and staff in large rural parks. Active duty and reserve military are often called on to assist during natural disasters, as well as operate in combat zones that lack roads or even trails. Noting SOCOMs success with ATVs, these regular troops and their commanders began requesting ATVs when surveyed about equipment that would increase mobility in combat zones. Hummer vehicles, adopted in the 1980s to replace the military jeep and light truck, were more mobile but could not match ATVs in the worst terrain. Once SOCOM got their JP8 ATVs, the rest of the military could easily get them as well.

In Britain, vehicle manufacturer Supacat supplied high mobility vehicles for industry and the military. This included a Special Forces patrol vehicle created by militarizing the civilian Wildcat off-road vehicle. The result is a vehicle similar to Supacat's own Jackal off-road patrol vehicle, but at half the price. However, the Wildcat does not have the anti-mine armor and general bullet-proofing.

Britain had already ordered several hundred Jackal armored patrol vehicles. These weighed 6.6 tons, which was less than half as much as the widely used armored Mine Resistant Armor Protected/MRAP trucks. The 4x4 Jackals do most of their traveling off road, thus avoiding most roadside bombs and mines. Jackal is basically a patrol vehicle, carrying up to five people. This vehicle is armored on the bottom to give protection from mines but is largely open up top. The vehicle mounts 12.7mm and 7.62mm machine-guns, as well as a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The Supacat chassis has been around for a while and comes in 6x6 versions as well. It has excellent cross country capabilities. Top speed of the Jackal is 80 kilometers an hour, and the vehicle normally carries 3-4 troops. These were initially bought for the SAS commandos, who were quite pleased with the vehicle. The British Army began ordering Jackals for Afghanistan service in 2008.

Jackals are fairly compact vehicles, only 5.4 meters long with one meter ground clearance. Top speed is 130 kilometers an hour on roads. Jackals are usually armed with 12.7mm and 7.62mm machine-guns. About half the Jackals are Jackal 2, which seats four, has better overhead protection and better resistance to roadside bombs. The 2.5 ton Wildcat is a much lighter vehicle but has the same cross-country mobility.

The Americans developed the MRZR ATVs equipped with a more powerful turbo-diesel engine that uses JP8. These vehicles are updates of MRZR4 that weigh 1.5 tons when loaded with nearly 700 kg of fuel, passengers, and cargo. MRZR4 has no doors, four seats, and a steel framework on top which is usually left open for maximum visibility, and acts as a rollbar to protect passengers if there is an accident. The vehicle is optimized for cross country operations with four-wheel drive, a suspension built for safe travel over broken terrain and an 88-horsepower engine providing a top speed of 96 kilometers an hour on flat terrain. Fuel capacity is 27.4 liters and range depends on what sort of terrain the vehicle is operating on. Using simple tools, the seating and cargo carrying configuration of the MRZR4 can be quickly changed to seat up to six or just two with two litters in the back for badly injured passengers. The cargo configuration can carry over 400 kg of anything in the flatbed behind the driver. MRZR4 tires are optimized for off-road use and later models tires were even more resistant to damage. MRZR4 is 3.59 meters long, 1.52 meters wide and 1.87 meters high. Collapsing the roll-bar cage reduces height to 1.52 meters. Empty weight is 853 kg, and it can carry a maximum payload of 680 kg.

The latest update of MRZR4 is called MRZR Alpha and includes a turbo-diesel engine plus several changes to the chassis that made it easier to reconfigure and provide a more stable ride. The new engine increased maximum payload by 33 percent, and has more torque for getting through deep sand or other terrain other vehicles would get stuck in. Another user request included the ability to produce more electric power for recharging or powering the growing number of portable electronic devices used by the military.

Military forces in over twenty nations have been buying more than a dozen different models of MRZR vehicles for military, paramilitary and police force operations. The MRZR4 and slightly smaller MRZR2 have been around since 2008 and receive periodic upgrades based on user feedback. The smaller MRZR2 is a 1.1-ton 4x4 vehicle that can carry nearly 450 kg of fuel, passengers, and cargo. It is 3 meters long. These ATVs have proved ideal for operations in remote areas, especially because ATVs could be brought in via helicopter, dangling from the cargo sling most military helicopters are equipped with or carried inside larger helicopters as well as the new tilt-wing aircraft.

The MRZR manufacturer always paid attention to user civilian feedback and reacted quickly to the needs of military users. This was especially useful for special operations troops and often a matter of life and death. ATVs have proved useful and popular in Afghanistan, especially for special operations forces. There are many models in use, all of them militarized civilian ATVs. These vehicles are innovative both in original concept and how they are constantly modified and upgraded. For example, an important innovation was the use of non-pneumatic tires. The non-pneumatic tires are not solid like traditional tires but are built with a web of plastic honeycomb and surrounded by a thick band of rubber that is very similar to the tread found on pneumatic tires. These tires can survive a hit by a 12.7mm/.50 caliber bullet and keep going. They feel about the same as pneumatic tires, although some users report they are not as effective in mud or watery surfaces.

These ATVs have been so popular that many troops bought them when they got back home and used them for cross-country trips, camping, hunting, or just sightseeing. The U.S. Army bought some for use by troops just returned from Iraq or Afghanistan because it was found that high-excitement recreation, initially video games, helped the troops decompress after returning from a combat tour.
Ibrahim had been reportedly terrorizing local farm animals - threatening horses, killing two ducks and injuring a rooster

12-year-old Lucy had to be euthanized after Reyan Hassan Ibrahim, 25, brutally attacked her

A family dog was stabbed while on a walk with her owner

A beloved family dog was stabbed while on a walk with its owner by the same attacker who told a local mom her horses were possessed and killed her ducks.

Lucy was a 12-year-old canine living in Falls Church, Virginia, with her family - who loved her very much.

The pup was on a walk with her owner on Sunday, just after 9 pm, when tragedy struck.

A man pulled up in his car, hopped out and stabbed Lucy before taking off. Lucy tragically had to be euthanized after the heinous stabbing.

The animal-terrorizer was identified as 25-year-old Reyan Hassan Ibrahim - and this was not his first time attacking an innocent animal.

Lucy was a 12-year-old canine living in Falls Church, Virginia, who died after being stabbed by a random attacker

The animal-terrorizer was identified as 25-year-old Reyan Hassan Ibrahim - and this was not his first time attacking an innocent animal

Muriel Forrest, the executive director of a nearby farm, said she believed Ibrahim is the same man that had recently climbed into their horse pasture - where he was confronted by staff.

Ibrahim reportedly told staff at Wheatland Farm on Friday afternoon that the horses were 'possessed'.

'He told her in an agitated type of way that the horses were possessed. She asked why he thought that and he said, "Well, he's doing everything I tell him to do. He bows, he's lifting his head when I tell him to." He just wasn't making any sense,' Forrest said.

Forrest said that the farm employees asked the man to leave, and he did.

However, later in the day Forrest's son made a grisly discovery at the farm.

'He said, "Mom, two of my ducks are lying dead,"' Forrest recalled.

The man, suspected to be Ibrahim, had been spotted at the farm by others before staff members confronted him.

Forrest said that three other ducks were missing from the farm and that another rooster was injured.

The next day - he showed up again.

'His face was covered and had what looked to us like either a baton or long dark machete type hanging from his pants,' she said.

A man pulled up in his car, hopped out and stabbed Lucy before taking off. Lucy tragically had to be euthanized after the heinous stabbing

Forrest said they managed to take a video of the man getting back into his vehicle and driving off, but the license platers were covered.

'This is a guy who intended to come back and harm the horse. Hes carrying a weapon, concealing his identity. We need to get it out,' she said.

Forrest learned about what happened to Lucy on Sunday night.

'My heart dropped. That had been my biggest fear,' Forrest said.

Ibrahim was arrested on Monday and he is expected to be extradited to face charges in Falls Church.
She pleaded guilty to attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual conduct

A teaching aide has admitted to having sex with multiple teenage boys while she was working at a Kentucky elementary school.

Ellen Phillips, previously Ellen Shell, 38, from Danville, pleaded guilty on Friday to attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual conduct.

She confessed she had sexual relationships with 'numerous teenage boys' mostly aged between 14 and 16 at the same time in Boyle and Garrard Countries in 2022.

Phillips was working as a teaching aide at Woodlawn Elementary School in Boyle County but was suspended when the allegations emerged.

She will be sentenced in April and faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.

Ellen Phillips was arrested in April and charged with third-degree rape, she has now admitted to having sexual relationships with multiple teenage boys in 2022

Phillips communicated with the victims on Snapchat, Facebook and over text and would then often meet up with them to have sex.

She confessed to one instance that on December 20, 2022, she repeatedly tried to persuade a 15-year-old boy to sneak out of his home to meet her to have sex.

When the boy told her he couldn't get out because his mother was awake, Phillips offered him alcohol and oral sex and suggested excuses he could give his mother.

The boy told her he couldn't leave to meet her.

The mother of one of the victims, who wishes to remain anonymous, told FOX 56 that she went to high school with Phillips and their kids grew up together.

She said: 'These boys are not aware of the laws that protect them and would not come forward because they thought they would be in trouble.'

She said Phillips had bought her son alcohol at the time of the incident: 'He said she brought them alcohol 3 to 4 times. I cant wrap my mind around the extent of what shes done.'

Phillips was arrested in April 2023, when two minors came forward alleging she had raped them on three separate occasions between July 6 and August 15, 2022, when they were 16.

She was suspended from her role as a teaching assistant at Woodlawn Elementary School (pictured) when the allegations emerged

She was charged with three counts of third-degree rape.

When the allegations emerged she was suspended from her role at the Woodlawn Elementary School.

Boyle County Superintendent Mike LaFavers wrote to parents at the time to say that law enforcement had informed the district of a legal matter alleging unlawful behavior of a Woodlawn Elementary classified employee.

The county did not name the employee, but said that they had been placed on administrative leave.

Before Woodlawn, Phillips worked at Lancaster Elementary School in Garrard County.
Donald Trump is thousands of miles away from the snowy gathering of global elites in Davos, Switzerland, but he's the talk of the World Economic Forum taking place there.

On the same night he won the Iowa caucus, the world's top business and economic leaders gathered for the summit's opening event, where they expressed their concern that a second Trump term would lead to the return of American isolationism and a threat to trade and climate policies around the world.

'You know, we've been there before, we survived it, so we'll see what it means,' Vice Chairman Philipp Hildebrand said in a Bloomberg Television interview. 'Certainly from a European perspective, from a kind of globalist, Atlanticist perspective, it's of course a great concern.'

Donald Trump is not at the World Economic Forum in Davos but is the talk of the town

Trump last attended Davos in 2020, when he made a dramatic entrance by landing with a squadron of helicopters.

But he was a popular topic of conversation for this year's attendees.

Many at the gathering of leaders from business, governments, civil society, faith groups, academia and the arts wondered if the 2024 presidential contest in the United States would end up a repeat of the 2020 election and what the outcome would mean for the rest of the world.

'Every question I've gotten as I've walked up and down the [Davos] Promenade today is, 'is he coming back?',' Tim Adams, president of the Institute of International Finance, told CNBC.

'So, I think there is a lot of interest in that question and what does that mean, and who would be in the key positions,' he added.

As president, Trump championed a series of tax cuts seen as a benefit to the wealthy and enacted international trade policies that hurt U.S. industry while simultaneously alienating allies.

And several attendees at Davos echoed comments made Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, last week where, in an unusually candid interview, she said Trump's re-election would be a 'threat.'

'If we are to draw lessons from history, looking at the way he ran the first four years of his mandate, it's clearly a threat,' she told French television.

'Just look at the trade tariffs, the commitment to NATO, the fight against climate change. In these three areas alone in the past, American interests have not been aligned with those of Europe,' she added.

The World Economic Forum in Switzerland kicked off as Donald Trump won the Iowa caucuses

The World Economic Forum takes place in Davos, at a popular ski resort high in the Swiss Alps

Trump attended the World Economic Forum in Davos twice as president, where he pushed his 'America first policy.'

Republican Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, a Trump ally, told Politico that the global elite 'should be afraid' of the former president.

'If Trump stands for anything, I think it's the rejection of their ideology, of the material benefits that come from it,' he said.

Other business leaders expressed concern about how Trump would handle relations with China. The economic showdown between Washington and Beijing has become a red flag to the business world.

Trump started a trade war with China with a series of tariffs on imports. China retaliated with tariffs of their own.

One of the reasons President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco last year was to show the business community the two sides could work together for the greater econonic good.

'The slight reengagement that we're seeing through the Biden administration are an indication to me that the U.S. is looking to stabilize [relations with China],' Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered, told CNBC.

'If Trump becomes president, we know that he's a transactional president, and there's probably a transaction in there someplace, that keeps the economy on an even keel, without fundamentally disrupting that relationship. But of course, we watch all the time, and we're well aware that there could be either unintended consequences or accidents,' Winters said.

Donald Trump last attended Davos in 2020 when he was president

Then President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in 2020, followed by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, who served as advisers in his White House

And some at the gathering, which takes place at a popular ski resort high in the Swiss Alps, said Trump's re-election could be a sign that Europe needs to distance itself from America.

European Commissioner Thierry Breton revealed last week that, when Trump was in Davos in 2020, the then-president privately warned the U.S. would not come to the European Union's aid if it was attacked militarily.

'You need to understand that if Europe is under attack we will never come to help you and to support you,' he said of what Trump told them.

He also said Trump threated to quit NATO, an important global alliance.

'By the way, NATO is dead, and we will leave, we will quit NATO,' Trump also said, according to Breton, adding: 'And by the way, you owe me $400 billion, because you didn't pay, you Germans, what you had to pay for defense.'

Trump often took an aggressive attitude with other world leaders and complained publicly many times that the US paid to much to NATO compared to the rest of the members of the alliance.

Philipp Hildebrand, vice chairman at Blackrock, told the Telegraph that Trump's re-election 'would challenge Europe fundamentally.'

He said Europe should use the opportunity to transform itself into a technological superpower that was less dependent on America.

'I see it as an opportunity for the construction of Europe,' he said, adding: 'Clearly, if [Trump's election] were to lead to a rupture, which I think is what President Lagarde has in mind as a risk, then that would challenge Europe fundamentally.'
Germany has been blasted by France for pledging 6 billion worth of aid to Ukraine in 2024, suggesting that cracks are appearing in the European Union.

Thierry Breton, France's representative to the European Commission, attacked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for unilaterally sending the funds to Kyiv, rather than through the EU's European Peace Facility weapons fund.

'We see that Germany is trying to go solo, it hasn't fooled anyone, and in particular it is trying to stop supporting the European Peace Facility,' Mr Breton said on Monday.

His comments came after Scholz took to X (formerly Twitter) following a phone call with US president Joe Biden, in which he pledged to continue supporting Kyiv.

'President Biden and I agree: we want to continue to provide Ukraine with financial, humanitarian, and military support,' wrote Scholz.

Germany has been blasted by France for pledging 6 billion worth of aid to Ukraine in 2024, suggesting that cracks are appearing in the European Union

'Today, I spoke to @POTUS [Biden] on the phone. Germany is providing more than seven billion euros (6billion) in military goods in 2024.'

It also followed Scholz saying EU member states weren't doing enough to support Ukraine with military aid in its fight against Russia, comments seen as a swipe at French President Emmanuel Macron and France, a country whose support is dwarfed that sent by Germany.

Diplomats told The Telegraph that Berlin's decision to send funds directly to Ukraine rather than through the European Peace Facility (which the EU describes as an 'off-budget instrument that enhances the EU's ability to act as a global security provider') is a symptom of strained relations between France and Germany.

And the EU as a whole is split by governments who support Scholz's call to send more to Ukraine, and those who are concerned he will derail the Facility, which allows states to claim back for hardware sent to Kyiv, the publication explains.

One EU diplomat told The Telegraph: 'A broader group of member states don't mind Scholz urging them to do more. That urging stings for France, which hasn't done as much. Hence Breton's rebuke.'

After the US, Germany has been Ukraine's second largest backer when calculated by the total amount sent by a single nation.

However, in the US, Joe Biden's attempts to send more funding to Ukraine are being blocked by Republican Party legislators in Congress.

With the US funding currently going nowhere, supporters of Ukraine are hoping that the EU can step up and back Kyiv with the funds it needs to continue its fight against Vladimir Putin's invading forces, with the war currently at a stalemate.

Berlin, meanwhile, is seeking to reduce the amount it sends to the European Peace Facility, a fund that currently stands at 20 billion.

It argues its own contributions sent direct to Kyiv should count against what it is expected to pay into the fund, The Telegraph reports.

Germany provides about a quarter of the fund, which so far has provided Kyiv with 4.5 billion-worth of weaponry and trained 30,000 soldiers.

But Berlin has also donated 17.1 billion to Kyiv, second after the US (which has donated 43 billion), according to a Kiel Institute tracker.

The UK has sent the third-most to Ukraine, 6.6 billion.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took to X (formerly Twitter ) following a phone call with US president Joe Biden, in which he pledged to continue supporting Kyiv

Scholz also accused EU member states of not doing enough to support Ukraine with military aid, comments seen as a swipe at French president Emmanuel Macron (pictured on Monday) and France, a country whose support is dwarfed that sent by Germany

But Germany's budget is facing a 17 billion black hole after a constitutional court ruled that moving 60 billion of unused Covid-19 recovery funds into the country's Net Zero plans was illegal, a massive blow to the government.

France, meanwhile, has donated just 544 million in military aid directly to Ukraine - far lower than the amount sent by Germany.

Macron announced more support for Ukraine on Tuesday night, saying France would send 40 Storm Shadow long-range missiles and 'several hundred' bombs.

He also said he would sign a bilateral agreement with Zelensky to 'continue to help Ukraine to hold the front line and protect its skies' during a visit to Ukraine.

Macron's comments came as Breton said he is targeting 3 billion in a new scheme to ramp up production of defence equipment.

The scheme is inspired by last year's landmark procurement programme to help deliver artillery shells to Ukraine and amid geopolitical uncertainties.

The European Commission has already allocated 1.5 billion euros but wants to double the amount, Breton told reporters on Thursday, according to his communications adviser.

'We will propose for the next phase, doing what we did just for ammunition but for all kinds of equipment that we need to produce, to enhance production in Europe,' the European commissioner told reporters in another briefing.

'We will make this public at the end of February,' he said.

The EU executive is scheduled to announce a European defence industrial strategy and a new European defence investment programme (EDIP) on Feb. 27, according to its agenda.

The previous EDIP set up in 2022 allows EU countries to team up to jointly procure defence capabilities developed in the bloc.

Breton, who earlier this week broached the idea of a 100 billion-euro European Defence Fund, said this would be up to the next Commission due to be appointed at the end of this year.

Thierry Breton (pictured in July), France's representative to the European Commission attacked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for unilaterally sending the funds to Kyiv , rather than through the EU's European Peace Facility weapons fund

'The European Defence Fund is for the next mandate. I dont intend to propose 100 billion euros for the next months. This is in the context of the next mandate,' he said.

Last week, Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to back Ukraine for 'as long as it takes' as he visited Kyiv and committed 2.5 billion of military support in 2024.

The pact lays out plans for cooperation on intelligence, cyber security, medical and military training, and military equipment.

It also commits the UK to consult with Ukraine in the event it is ever attacked by Russia again, and to provide 'swift and sustained' support.
A top American sex addiction therapist accused of biting a flight attendant's arm in a drunken rage has been pictured being perp-walked out of Japan's Haneda Airport.

The spectacled suspect, named by Japanese outlet TBS News as 55-year-old Michael Travis Halyard, allegedly forced the flight to return to Tokyo on its route to Seattle on Tuesday night, and was promptly arrested after the ANA Airlines jet landed on the runway.

He reportedly told investigators that he took sleeping pills and 'doesn't recall at all' his alleged antics on the flight, which left the hostess mildly injured.

According to his website, Halyard was named as one of America's top mental health professionals in 2006, and specializes in sex addiction, mental health disorders, relationships and compulsive gambling.

The alleged biting incident is only the latest in a terrifying string of aviation disasters, which included two passenger jets colliding at a Japanese airport just a day before the biting incident.

The spectacled suspect, reportedly identified as 55-year-old Michael Travis Haliyad, forced the flight to return to Tokyo on its route to Seattle on Tuesday night after allegedly biting a stewardess

The passenger on the ANA plane said he had taken sleeping pills before allegedly sinking his teeth into the crew member's arm while 'heavily drunk', leaving her mildly injured (File Photo)

The incident prompted pilots of the plane with 159 passengers on board to turn back over the Pacific to Haneda airport, where the man was handed over to police, according to ANA (File Photo)

The passenger's alleged behavior came while he was 'heavily drunk', prompting the aircraft with 159-passengers to turn around over the Pacific Ocean.

ANA told MailOnline: 'On January 16, NH118 departing from Tokyo Haneda to Seattle returned during the flight due to an intoxicated passenger who was acting in an unsafe manner to the flight crew and passengers.

'Upon arrival at Haneda Airport, the passenger was turned over to the local police. There were no reported injuries among the passengers and the flight has been rescheduled to depart on January 17.'

The airline added: 'The safety and security of our passengers and employees are ANAs top priority and we will take all necessary actions to ensure it.'

The bizarre incident left some social media users likening it in mock horror to the 'beginning of a zombie movie'.

It comes after several other aviation failures and near-disasters have rocked the industry in recent times, with two passenger jets colliding at New Chitose Airport on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido just hours before.

A Korean Airlines jet clipped a parked Cathawy Pacific Airways aircraft just as the Korean plane was preparing to take off.

There were 289 passengers on board the Korean Air plane during the incident, although thankfully no injuries were reported.

A more serious incident occurred at Haneda Airport two weeks prior, when a near-catastrophic collision occurred between a Japan Airlines aircraft and a smaller coast guard plane on January 2.

All 379 people on board the JAL Airbus escaped just before the aircraft was engulfed in flames.

Five of the six people on the smaller aircraft, which was helping in a relief operation after a major earthquake in central Japan, died.

Just two weeks ago, a more serious incident unfolded at Haneda Airport when a Japan Airlines jet collided with a smaller coast guard plane. All 379 passengers and crew aboard the commercial flight were successfully evacuated moments before the jet was ravaged by flames

Chilling pictures of the A350 jet in the daylight show nothing but the wings and piles of ash remaining

It also comes as Boeing's 737 MAX 9 aircraft, a workhorse for the aviation industry, has come under scrutiny in recent months.

Most notably, the plug door of new Alaska Airlines jet blew out at 16,000 feet on January 5 after being in service for only eight weeks.

Pilots flew the jet back to Portland, with only minor injuries among passengers.

A terrified passenger on board the near-catastrophic flight revealed the moment she texted her family 'I don't want to die' after a door plug on the jet blew out.

Emma Vu took to TikTok after surviving the horror Alaska Airlines flight 1282.

'In the moment I was so scared,' Vu said, as she showed her panic-stricken texts to her family reading: 'The masks r down; I am so scared right now; Please pray for me; Please I don't want to die.'

In an interview with 7News Australia, she added: 'I was more concerned with the plane dropping... I looked outside and it was going pretty smoothly. I think everyone freaking out inside made me freak out.'

Shocking footage from inside the plane saw flyers sat in eerie silence shortly after the door plug exploded, as they looked out of a gaping hole in the fuselage with the twinkling lights of Portland below.

Vu said she was asleep when the devastating safety failure erupted out of the blue and she 'felt the entire plane drop'.

A photo shows the blown out door plug. It is offered as a door on the aircraft. Alaska chose not to take this option - although the frame of the prospective door was entirely ripped out by the fuselage failure

Passenger Emma Vu said she 'felt the entire plane drop' around 20 minutes into the horror Alaska Airlines flight 1282, which was bound from Portland to California before a door plug blasted into the sky at 16,000 feet

Alaska flight 1282 left Portland just after 5pm local time last Friday when a door plug blew out at 16,000 feet

'The masks dropped, and people are screaming,' she continued, next to a tearful selfie she took in the moment that she feared could be her last.

She said: 'I am so grateful for the ladies sat next to me... They were so sweet at calming me down, and the flight attendants were giving oxygen tanks to those who needed it more.

'But I was freaking out because my bag wouldn't inflate - and that's literally what they tell you in the safety thing, like don't worry you're still getting air flow... When you're in fight or flight you're not thinking about that.

'It was just so scary, no one knew what was happening. The pilot came on to tell everyone to put your mask on before you help others - literally word for word what they tell you in the safety training.'
Wynne Transportation filed a federal lawsuit against Chicago that alleges the legislation is 'unconstitutional' and 'punishes' bus companies

The Windy City passed an ordinance to deter buses from dropping off migrants unannounced and companies that do not comply face fines

Chicago has seen more than 34,000 asylum seekers arrive on at least 600 buses in the last 18 months, mostly from Texas

A bus company in Texas is suing Chicago after the city banned the unannounced drop-off of migrants in a bid to get control of the crisis.

The Windy City has seen more than 34,000 asylum seekers arrive on at least 600 buses in the last 18 months, mostly from Texas.

The Illinois city passed an ordinance in December to deter buses from dropping off migrants unannounced and companies that do not comply face fines or risk having their buses impounded.

But Wynne Transportation, which saw one of its vehicles seized, filed a federal lawsuit against Chicago on January 5 that alleges the legislation is 'unconstitutional' and 'punishes' bus companies who do business with Texas.

It is the latest tit-for-tat in the city over the handling of the migrant crisis and comes after Chicago filed at least 95 lawsuits against 'rogue bus' companies.

A bus company in Texas is suing Chicago after the city banned the unannounced drop-off of migrants in a bid to get control of the crisis

The Windy City has seen more than 34,000 asylum seekers arrive on at least 600 buses in the last 18 months, mostly from Texas

Chicago passed an ordinance in December to deter buses from dropping off migrants unannounced and companies that do not comply face fines or risk having their buses impounded

The ordinance Chicago passed in December requires bus companies to provide notice and apply and receive approval before dropping off migrants at designated landing zones.

It has so far filed at least 95 lawsuits against the transportation companies it claims have failed to comply.

The new legislation has resulted in two buses being impounded and it costs $3,400 to get the vehicle out of the impound lot.

'Rather than welcoming migrants and giving them sanctuary, Chicago is turning its back on those wishing to travel here by enacting an ordinance that targets the transportation companies that transport migrants from our southern border to their desired destinationChicagoin violation of Plaintiffs constitutional rights,' the lawsuit states.

'Similarly, the Ordinance is specifically designed to prevent entry of migrants into Chicago by placing stringent requirements and harsh punishments.

'Therefore, the City of Chicago is creating its own policy and regulations concerning immigration, and hence, violating the Supremacy Clause.'

It states: 'The Ordinance unlawfully discriminates based on alienage, national origin, and/or race on its face and/or as applied and therefore violates the Equal Protection Clause

Wynne Transportation filed a federal lawsuit against Chicago on January 5 that alleges the legislation is 'unconstitutional' and 'punishes' bus companies who do business with Texas

Attorney Mike Kozlowski, who is representing Wynne Transportation, told NBC 5: 'Its unconstitutional for a number of reasons'

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has blamed both the Biden Administration and Texas for his city struggling to care with thousands of migrants

The city has received 34,562 migrants since Texas Governor Greg Abbott began sending asylum seekers who cross the US-Mexico border to northern sanctuary cities

'The Ordinance punishes the transportation companies working with the State of Texas.'

Attorney Mike Kozlowski, who is representing Wynne Transportation, told NBC 5: 'Its unconstitutional for a number of reasons  its really trying to address an immigration issue.

'And when were talking about immigration, thats a federal issue.'

He said the ordinance is in violation of the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th amendment because it is intended for a specific group of people, migrants heading to Chicago.

Kozlowski added if a judge rules in Wynne Transportation's favor then they would try to use it to dismiss the pending lawsuits against the other bus companies.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Chicago's mayor's office for comment on the lawsuit.

Chicago suburbs have also been left unimpressed by the city's handling of the crisis as protocols for drop-offs have led to migrants being left on the outskirts of the city.

Several suburban areas have moved to pass similar policies that would restrict buses from dropping off migrants in their communities unannounced.

Chicago has spent $138 million on the crisis that is only expected to get worse as temperatures drop as winter goes on

Chicago suburbs have also been left unimpressed by the city's handling of the crisis as protocols for drop-offs have led to migrants being left on the outskirts of the city

Migrants are seen at landing zone in the Chicago West Loop on January 5

Woodstock City Council approved a ordinance that will ban transporting large groups without coordination with the city and an approved application.

The applicant must also 'state individuals who will be responsible for the care of the people being dropped off, along with giving the City time to verify an applicants ability to care for them'.

Those who violate the ordinance face a fine of $10,000 as well as an additional $750 per passenger.

New York City has also struggled with an influx of migrants and it filed a lawsuit on January 4 accusing 17 bus companies of illegally transporting more than 33,000 migrants to the city from Texas.

It is seeking $708 million, which it says is the cost is has incurred to provide shelter and services to the migrants over the last two years.

'New York City has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis, but we cannot bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone,' Mayor Eric Adams said.

'Today's lawsuit should serve as a warning to all those who break the law in this way.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott's administration has transported 37,100 migrants to New York and another 30,800 to Chicago, so far.

'This lawsuit is baseless and deserves to be sanctioned. It's clear that Mayor Adams knows nothing about the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, or about the constitutional right to travel that has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court. Every migrant bused or flown to New York City did so voluntarily, after having been authorized by the Biden Administration to remain in the United States,' Abbott said in a statement in response to the lawsuit.

'As such, they have constitutional authority to travel across the country that Mayor Adams is interfering with. If the Mayor persists in this lawsuit, he may be held legally accountable for his violations.'
A court clerk has described how there was 'blood everywhere' and that he had a rush of adrenalin when a felon flung himself over a courtroom desk and attacked a judge.

Michael Lasso, the law clerk who fought off Deobra Redden, explained how he was in a state of shock as he punched the defendant during the proceedings in Nevada.

Redden, 30, launched himself at Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus and said 'nah f*** that b**ch' as she rejected his pleas for more probation. He also attacked the court marshal - who needed 25 stitches as a result.

Redden later appeared in court to resume his sentencing, wearing shackles, a spit mask on his face and orange mitts on his hands, where he was sentenced to 19 to 48 months for a battery felony charge.

He was then charged with attempted murder for launching himself at Holthus. The charge was enhanced due to the victim's age, as Holthus is over 60-years-old.

Michael Lasso, the law clerk who fought of Redden explained how he was running on adrenalin as he punched the defendant and went to save the judge

Lasso described how the ordeal happened: 'I'm sitting directly to the left of judge. I wasn't meant to be working that day. But I'm glad I was there because if I wasn't it would have just been the judge'

The moment of the attack was caught on camera and quickly went viral. Lasso (seen far right) jumped to help the judge when the defendant pounced on her

Recalling the situation, Lasso told Law and Crime: 'It was pretty crazy, not your typical day in court. It could have been much worse.

'I sustained minimal injuries to my hand. Our marshall took the brunt of it. And the judge is doing just fine.'

He explained how the marshall, who had to get 25 stitches to his head and had a dislocated shoulder, was constantly checking if everyone else was okay after the ordeal, despite his own head being covered in gashes.

Lasso, who is currently studying for the Bar Exam, said: 'There was blood everywhere. It was a crazy scene.'

He described how the ordeal happened: 'I'm sitting directly to the left of judge. I wasn't meant to be working that day. But I'm glad I was there because if I wasn't it would have just been the judge.

'He just did that leap. It's a little bit of a blur because it happened so unbelieably fast. I remember him holding on to the judge, saying things to the judge, he kind of had a grip on her.

Lasso is seen helping the judge following the ordeal in the Nevada courtroom

'I think she [the judge] was just in shock, trying to protect herself as best she could. I was trying to get him off her. '

The clerk is seen in the video immediately jumping on to the criminal to get him off the judge. He started punching him. Afterwards he is seen holding her, as she makes her way on to her feet.

Lasso added: 'I wanted to help the best I could. He's a big defendant, I was working on a lot of adrenalin and a lot of shock.'

'Hopefully this is the first and last time something like this happens.

'It was just a crazy, crazy scene.'

In addition to his newest charge, Redden is also facing a dozen other charges including battery by a prisoner and battery on a protected person which resulted in substantial bodily harm.

After he attacked the judge, Redden was placed in solitary confinement as was classified as a '2C' inmate which is the most restrictive category in the Clark County Jail.

Holthus is a career prosecutor with more than 27 years of courthouse experience when she was elected to the state court bench in 2018

He told officers that he attacked the judge because he was having a 'bad day', according to court documents viewed by KLAS.

Redden will not have any interactions with other inmates and will eat alone inside his cell with limited outside time while in solitary confinement.

He told correction officers that 'Judge has it out for me,' after he was detained following the outburst, court documents state.

The felon allegedly added: 'Judge is evil,' before he apologized to the officers.

'Im sorry you guys had to see that,' he said before reportedly asking another officer if what he did was wrong.

He allegedly spat in a corrections officers face while still inside the courthouse following the incident.

Redden's criminal record is marked by mostly violent offenses and includes prior convictions for three felonies and nine misdemeanors, District Attorney Steve Wolfson said.

'Hes been violent his entire adult life,' Wolfson said.

Redden had tried to convince the judge otherwise on Wednesday.

'Im not a rebellious person,' he told her, adding that he didn't think he should be sent to prison. 'But if its appropriate for you, then you have to do what you have to do.'

A judge had previously demanded that Redden undergo a competency determination. Records show he was evaluated and found competent to stand trial in the battery case before pleading guilty to the reduced charge.

Redden, who lives in Las Vegas, previously served prison time in Nevada on a domestic battery conviction, records show.

Holthus is a career prosecutor with more than 27 years of courthouse experience when she was elected to the state court bench in 2018.
The second Republican presidential debate scheduled before Tuesday's New Hampshire primary was cancelled Wednesday, after GOP candidate Nikki Haley said she wouldn't participate in another face-off with just Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

CNN pulled the plug on its debate, which was scheduled for Sunday, January 21 - 48 hours before voters head to the New Hampshire polls in the nation's first primary.

Haley said in a tweet Tuesday that she would only debate former President Donald Trump - the far-and-away GOP frontrunner - or President Joe Biden.

The Granite State is a do-or-die endeavor for Haley, who came in third place in Iowa but is within striking distance of Trump in some New Hampshire polls.

During her speech to supporters Monday night at the West Des Moines Marriott, Haley proclaimed that she would make the primary a 'two-person race.'

Thursday night's planned New Hampshire debate has been canceled after GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley (right) said Tuesday she would only debate former President Donald Trump or President Joe Biden - not participate in a rematch with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left)

Tuesday morning, Nikki Haley posted on X that 'the next debate I will do' will be against former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner of the GOP primary race, or President Joe Biden. The tweet indicated she wouldn't again face Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis onstage in New Hampshire

A day after the Iowa caucuses, the presidential race has moved to New Hampshire, with the Granite State a do-or-die endeavor for Nikki Haley (pictured), who came in third place in Iowa but is within striking distance of Trump in some New Hampshire polls.

On Tuesday she started acting like it.

'We've had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it,' she posted to X Tuesday morning.

The move infuriated DeSantis, who came in a distant second place to Trump in Iowa but has been polling in the single digits in New Hampshire.

'Nikki Haley is afraid to debate because she doesn't want to answer the tough questions such as how she got rich off Boeing after giving them millions in taxpayer handouts as governor of South Carolina,' DeSantis posted to X Tuesday.

'The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, she's running to be Trump's VP,' the Florida governor claimed.

He said her refusal to debate amounted to a 'snub' of New Hampshire voters - and called out Trump for doing the same.

Trump didn't participate in a single Republican primary debate and beat DeSantis in Iowa by about 30 points.

DeSantis had staked much of his campaign on performing well against Trump in Iowa, while blocking Haley's ascent.

Neither goal was fully met.

'I look forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week,' DeSantis said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis responded an hour later saying that Haley was 'afraid' to debate. After a disappointing second place finish in Iowa, DeSantis has vowed to plug on, though he's trailing both Trump and Haley in New Hampshire

Former President Donald Trump gives a victory speech Monday night in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Trump easily won the Iowa caucuses over DeSantis and Haley, with DeSantis coming in a distant second place. DeSantis had agreed to debate again but Haley refused

Debate hosts, ABC News and WMUR-TV announced later Tuesday that the Thursday debate was off.

'Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race,' an ABC News spokesperson said in a statement.

Trump, Haley, Trump and DeSantis all qualified for the Thursday night Granite State debate, as well as former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who dropped out of the presidential debate on Wednesday.

'As a result, while our robust election coverage will continue, ABC News and WMUR-TV will not be moving forward with Thursday's Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire,' the spokesperson said.

Haley will appear at a CNN town hall Thursday night in Henniker, New Hamsphire instead.
The Rwandan president today insisted struggles to get deportation flights up and running are 'the UK's problem'.

But Paul Kagame suggested that the country could return money to Britain if no asylum seekers end up being sent there.

The comments, made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, came as MPs engage in frantic wrangling at Westminster over a law designed to get the scheme operational.

Rishi Sunak is struggling to push the Rwanda Bill through its final stages in the House of Commons, despite dozens of rebels backing moves to toughen the legislation.

They want tougher measures to loosen human rights rules and prevent European judges from blocking deportations.

Paul Kagame suggested that the country could return money to Britain if no asylum seekers end up being sent there

Rishi Sunak is struggling to push the Rwanda Bill through its final stages in the House of Commons, despite dozens of rebels backing moves to toughen the legislation

A group of migrants were found crossing the Channel on a dinghy today

Asked by the BBC what he thought of the rowing at Parliament, Mr Kagame said: 'It's the UK's problem, not Rwanda's problem.'

The president added that the money was 'going to be used on those who come'. 'If they don't come, we can return the money,' he said, without giving any more details.

Some 240million has already been committed to the Rwanda plan, with a further 50million earmarked for next year.

Some 60 Conservatives joined a revolt aiming to toughen the Bill last night, with two party deputy chairs and a ministerial aide resigning in a shattering blow to Mr Sunak's authority.

However, those amendments had no prospect of passing because they were not supported by Labour. The existential threat to the premier's flagship policy is set to crystalise this evening at third reading - the last hurdle in the Commons.

In a sign that Mr Sunak is determined to face down the right-wing challenge, Downing Street has indicated it will not make the vote a formal confidence issue.

Mr Sunak shrugged off the wrangling as he took PMQs this afternoon, insisting: 'We want to stop the boats. We have a plan and it is working.'

As Keir Starmer jibed likened Tory squabbling on Rwanda to 'hundreds of bald men fighting over a comb', Mr Sunak shot back that Labour had no interest in tackling the problem and would take the country 'back to square one'.

Mr Sunak taking PMQs in the House of Commons at lunchtime today

Rwandan Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said the country has 'no obligation' to return any of the funds paid but if the UK requests a refund 'we will consider this' after president Paul Kagame suggested British taxpayers' money could be repaid if the migrant deal failed.

She said in a statement: 'The funds paid to Rwanda under the Migration and Economic Development Partnership are intended to both support Rwanda's economic development, and to allow us to prepare to receive and care for the migrants when they arrive.

'Under the terms of the agreement, Rwanda has no obligation to return any of the funds paid. However, if no migrants come to Rwanda under the scheme, and the UK government wishes to request a refund of the portion of the funding allocated to support the migrants, we will consider this request.

'To talk about figures at this point is premature, as we are still awaiting the conclusion of the UK legislative process and remain committed to making the partnership work.'
Donald Trump's attorney Alina Habba was told to 'sit down' in another feisty back-and-forth with the judge in the E. Jean Carroll trial after arguing for a delay so he can go to his mother-in-law's funeral.

The ex-president's attorney's plea was denied again by Judge Lewis Kaplan in the tense exchange before the columnist took the stand in the $10million defamation trial.

Abba fired back by initially refusing to sit down and saying: 'I dont like to be spoken to in that way, your honour.' Kaplan said: Its denied, sit down.

Trump's legal team want a pause in the court proceedings so he can be by Melania's side at the funeral for her late mother Amalija Knavs in Florida on Thursday.

But Kaplan has repeatedly rejected the bids, and made it clear that Trump doesn't have to be in court.

On Wednesday, Carroll testified that Trump 'shattered' her reputation by 'lying' about how he sexually assaulted her.

Donald Trump's attorney Alina Habba got into another feisty back-and-forth with the judge in the E. Jean Carroll trial after arguing there should be a delay so he can go to his mother-in-law's funeral

A New York jury last year found Trump sexually assaulted Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. The new trial is based on comments he made about her while he was president.

Habba made yet another application to adjourn the trial on Thursday so Trump could attend the funeral of his mother in law.

She told the court that Trump had an unexpected death in our family which only the lord can control.

Habba said it was insanely prejudicial for Trump to have to choose between the funeral and attending court.

She said: Im asking your honour to have the kindness my client deserves to be with his family tomorrow

Judge Kaplan shot back: Indeed, the right that he has according to the Supreme Court of the United States is the right to be present either in person or by counsel and nobody is stopping him from doing either. The application is denied. I will hear no further augment on it.

The ex-president's attorney (pictured) was told to 'sit down' in the tense exchange before the columnist took to the stand to testify that Trump had 'shattered' her reputation by 'lying' about his sexual assault in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room

Carroll's dramatic testimony began after Trump was pictured leaving Trump Tower early Wednesday morning with mysterious red cuts on his hands

Habba protested: Your honour but Judge Kaplan said: I said sit down.

When Habba did not sit down, Judge Kaplan asked her what else she wanted to ask.

Habba siad: I dont like to be spoken to in that way, your honour.

I am asking your honour to please refrain from speaking to me in that way. Kaplan said: Its denied, sit down.

When Habba sat down, Carroll was invited to take the stand.

Asked by her lawyer Roberta Kaplan why she was in court, Carroll said: Donald Trump assaulted me and when I wrote about it he said it never happened.

He lied and shattered my reputation.

Trump could be seen shaking his head dismissively.

Carroll told the court that in the same courtroom at a separate trial last year another jury found that she had been sexually assaulted by Donald Trump.

Habba, pictured leaving court yesterday, told the judge she 'doesn't like being spoken to in that way' after the tense exchange

After calling her a liar when she first went public in 2019, Trump has continued to lie about her, Carroll said.

He lied last month, he lied on Sunday, he lied yesterday, she said: Im here to get my reputation back and to stop him from telling lies.

Carroll said that she spent 50 years building up her reputation as an advice columnist because she stuck to the truth.

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

Trump posted an image of him posing with his mother-in-law as he paid tribute following her death last week

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

Asked how her reputation had been shattered, she said that the day before testifying she looked at Twitter, formerly X, and saw a comment that she was a fraud.

She said: Previously I was noticed simply as a journalist. Now Im known as a liar, a fraud and a wack job.

People are not dying to write to an advice columnist who the President says is a disgrace.

Carroll talked about growing up in rural Indiana to a Republican family and won a beauty contest in her youth.

At the age of 13 she sent off her first article to be written but had to wait two decades to have her first success, which came at the age of 36.

But the mood remained testy and after an objection, Judge Kaplan said: Lets get this clear for both sides.

The first lawyer who says anything when a witness is (testifying). This is not tag team lawyering.
January 16, 2024: To deal with the October 2023 Hamas attack, Israel called up 900,000 reservists (10 percent of Israels population) in the months after the initial Hamas violence. Not all of these were called up at once, but in stages, often to replace reservists who were allowed to go back to their civilian occupations. Israeli economists estimate that this massive mobilization caused the Israeli economy to shrink by two percent during the last three months of 2023. The reserve call ups will continue for months, until the remaining Hamas forces in Gaza have been eliminated. This comes at the cost of economic losses because of the workers absent from their jobs. The losses are evenly distributed throughout the economy.

The current war with Hamas has disrupted the economy in other ways because some parts of the Israeli economy depend on Palestinian workers entering Israel for specific tasks, like harvesting crops, especially fruits, which are a valuable export item. Without the Palestinians, Israel relied on Israelis who volunteered to harvest these crops before they spoiled. Longer term, Israel can arrange for temporary workers to be brought in from other, non-Moslem, parts of the world. This has been done during previous emergencies. The Palestinians resent losing these employment opportunities temporarily, but many realize that the cause is the small minority of Palestinians who are carrying out attacks against Israelis and will resort to blending in with non-violent Palestinians to do so.

Israel uses conscription, mainly to provide trained reservists. Israel has the most powerful armed forces in the Middle East and manages to achieve this with a population of only nine million. One reason for this is the Israeli use of reserve troops. While only two percent of the population are in the active army, ten percent are in the reserves. There are former full-time soldiers who train regularly and can be called back to active service quickly. This is called the reserve system, and it is a relatively recent development.

It all began some two hundred years ago, when several major European nations began conscripting civilians for the military on a regular basis. These soldiers served for only two or three years before being released. Shortly thereafter, clever staff officers in several nations came up with the notion of bringing some of these former soldiers back to the army in times of national danger. This was done by enrolling discharged soldiers in reserve units and having them show up in uniform and with weapons for some training a few times a year. Thus began the reserve system, which enabled enormous armies to be created quickly and relatively inexpensively. World Wars I and II would not have been possible without the reserve system.

Some nations, like Israel, Sweden, and Switzerland, continued this reserve system after the Cold War ended. These three nations enrolled a large portion of the adult males into the reserves. As a result, full mobilization calls up so much of the population that it severely disrupts the economy. Sweden and Switzerland are neutral and depend more on the threat of mobilization. Israel has had to mobilize many times in the past and will probably have to do it again. Israel has to win quickly, and her enemies know that. However, Israel has adapted its economy to full mobilization. Forty years ago, such a mobilization put 15 percent of the population in uniform but now it's ten percent that, and configurable for lesser proportions. Thats enough so Israel can keep fighting long enough to deal with not merely sudden emergencies, but several at the same time.

Israel, Sweden, and Switzerland all depend on reserve units formed around reservists from the same area. While some reservists are used to reinforce active duty units, most mobilize and go to war with their local reserve units. In effect, reservists serve in units that will, quite literally, defend the homes and families of the reservists. That is a tremendous motivator to learn military skills and perform your duties effectively. It also enables much faster mobilization, which was critical for Israel in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Israel is unique in that its reservists, especially those in combat units, are frequently mobilized in peacetime. About 30 percent of Israeli reservists are mobilized each year for more than a few days, most often for only a week or two but sometimes for several months though the latter is spread out among many units to reduce the burden on the reservists involved. About two-thirds of those mobilized are combat troops. Not surprisingly, half of reserve troops are married. Some 14 percent of the reservists are women, up from 11 percent four years earlier. About 16 percent of Israeli reservists were born overseas. Reservists serve until their early 40s, if physically able, and can continue until 51.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has been detained at Munich Airport and quizzed 'under tax law' over an unregistered luxury watch he is planning to auction, according to German media.

The Terminator actor, 76, has been pictured with customs officers after flying from Los Angeles this afternoon and has been waiting for several hours, BILD reports.

Arnie, who has dual Austrian and US citizenship, is said to have been on his way to attend a climate charity auction being held tomorrow in Kitzbuhel, Austria.

The ex-California Governor, who is a passionate climate campaigner, reportedly brought a valuable timepiece made by Swiss luxury brand Audemars Piguet to auction off.

Spokesman for the Munich Main Customs Office, Thomas Meister, told BILD: 'We have initiated criminal proceedings under tax law. The watch should have been registered because it is an import.'

Arnie, who has dual Austrian and US citizenship, had reportedly been on his way to attend a climate charity auction in Kitzbuhel, Austria

'If the goods remain in the EU, you have to declare them through customs. This applies to everyone, whether their name is Schwarzenegger or Muller, Meier, Huber,' a customs spokesman told German outlet SZ.

They went on to say that the movie star remains with customs officials while his luggage was checked.

'This takes a bit of time,' said the spokesman, who added that he assumes that the Austrian-born actor will be allowed to continue with his journey.

The A-lister is known for his love of flashy watches, and famously brought out his own limited edition model with Audemars Piguet in 1999.

Only 1,500 of the Royal Oak Offshore 'Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy' pieces were ever produced and they retail for more than 30,000.

File image shows Arnold Schwarzenegger holds a Audemars Piguet watch included in a 2003 auction

US-Austrian actor, businessman, retired bodybuilder and former Governor of California, speaks during the opening of the Austrian World Summit in 2023

The former bodybuilder has an extensive collection of watches, including from Rolex and other luxury brands.

It is not known which timepiece from his collection he was allegedly held up over.

The Austrian born actor was also on his way to watch the Hahnenkamm Race, a major contest in the Alpine ski calendar.

He runs Vienna-based charity The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, an eco group which is raising funds at a party during the prestigious race week.
Ahead of a meeting at the White House, Speaker Mike Johnson threw cold water on the Senate's sprawling immigration and national security deal and said he would only accept strict border security measures.

House Republicans have expressed skepticism at the negotiations led by their Senate counterparts - insisting they will only accept the hardline border bill, H.R. 2, passed in the House last year.

'I dont think now is the time for comprehensive immigration reform because we know how complicated that is,' Johnson told reporters on Wednesday.

'You can't do that quickly. I think it's past time to secure the border. And that's what H.R. 2 reflects.'

'We're anxious to see the text of what [the Senate] has done,' Johnson added.

Ahead of a meeting at the White House , Speaker Mike Johnson threw cold water on the Senate 's sprawling immigration and national security deal and said he would only accept strict border security measures

On Wednesday at 3:15 pm Johnson will meet with President Biden and Senate leaders Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss the $110 billion sprawling package that would include immigration reform and border security and aid for Israel and Ukraine.

'We have needed, we have requested, what is the endgame,' Johnson said he would tell the president of Ukraine aid. 'We need to know Ukraine will not be another Afghanistan.'

Johnson went on: 'Before we even talk about Ukraine, I'm going to tell the President...border, border, border. We have to take care of our own house. We have to secure our own border before we talk about anything else.'

House Republican leadership privately told their GOP conference on a call that he would not accept the deal currently being negotiated in the Senate, one that ties together border provisions and national security aid.

But McConnell insisted senators are still making progress on the deal.

'Negotiators are making headway with the most significant border enhancements in almost 30 years,' the GOP leader told reporters.

On Wednesday at 3:15 pm Johnson will meet with President Biden and Senate leaders Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

Senate negotiators have been meeting with White House officials, including Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas since before the holiday break but have offered little in the way of details.

'Our target is to get text out as quickly as we can,' Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told reporters. 'And we're hoping to be able to do that this week. But we continue to go through little technical things that are just constantly going to come up over and over again.'

Biden has faced significant resistance from hardline conservatives over his $106 billion supplemental funding request. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., suggested last week she could file a motion to vacate Johnson from the speakership if he puts more Ukraine funding on the House floor.

But Republicans remain insistent about the need to stem the flow of migrants at the southern border.

Republican Iowa caucus goers said in exit polls that immigration was their number one issue, suggesting the matter will remain top of mind in the 2024 election.
Donald Trump was warned to control himself or be kicked out of court for loudly muttering that the E. Jean Carroll trial was a 'witch hunt' and a 'con job'.

Judge Lewis Kaplan warned he would have the 77-year-old president removed if he continued to disrupt the columnist's testimony with comments from behind the defense table.

Trump threw his arms in the air in frustration, shook his head, then said: 'I would love it. I would love it'.

Before the tense exchange, Carroll told the jury in the $10million defamation trial that Trump's 'lies' had sparked so many death threats she bought bullets for a gun she kept by her head.

A New York jury found last year that Trump sexually assaulted Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. The new trial is to decide how much he'll pay in damages for comments he made while he was president - including: 'This woman is not my type!'

The jury were shown some of the torrent of vile messages she received including some emails threatening her life.

Choking up, Carroll said that many, many commented on her appearance, with the overall message that she was too ugly to go on living.

Donald Trump shook his head as rape accuser E. Jean Carroll told a New York court he 'shattered' her reputation by lying about sexually assaulting her and calling her a 'wack job'

Judge Lewis Kaplan warned he would have the 77-year-old president (left) removed if he continued to disrupt the columnist's testimony with comments from behind the defense table

'DAMMMN YOU ARE SO UGLY A KOMODO DRAGON WOULDNT TOUCH YOU WITH A TEN FOOT POLEGO BACK TO YOUR CAVE, one read.

Another photo showed Carrolls face next to an alien and the words: Both tell fictitious made up stories.

Carroll's dramatic testimony began after Trump was pictured leaving Trump Tower early Wednesday morning with mysterious red cuts on his hands.

She told the jury that Trump 'shattered' her reputation by repeatedly 'lying' about the attack and suggesting she was 'too ugly to assault' by claiming she wasn't his type.

The judge then admonished Trump for loudly muttering that Carroll had 'suddenly gotten her memory back' from behind the defense table throughout her testimony.

Judge Kaplan told Trump's lawyers he should take special care to keep his voice down when conferring with counsel so the jury does not hear.

It followed a complaint from Carroll's lawyer Shawn Crowley that the jury could hear what he was saying.

Before the tense exchange, Carroll told the jury in the $10million defamation trial that Trump's 'lies' had sparked so many death threats she bought bullets for a gun she kept by her head

'Mr Trump has been sitting at the back table and has been loudly saying things through Miss Carrols testimony,' her lawyer Shawn Crowley told the judge.

Mr Trump has been sitting at the back table and has been loudly saying things through Miss Carrols testimony, he added.

(He said) things shes saying are false, noting she now seems to have her memory back.

Its loud enough for us to hear, I imagine its loud enough for the jury to hear it.

Asked by her lawyer Roberta Kaplan why she was in court, Carroll said: Donald Trump assaulted me and when I wrote about it he said it never happened.

He lied and shattered my reputation.

Trump could be seen shaking his head dismissively.

Carroll told the court that in the same courtroom at a separate trial last year another jury found that she had been sexually assaulted by Donald Trump.

After calling her a liar when she first went public in 2019, Trump has continued to lie about her, Carroll said.

He lied last month, he lied on Sunday, he lied yesterday, she said: Im here to get my reputation back and to stop him from telling lies.

Carroll said that she spent 50 years building up her reputation as an advice columnist because she stuck to the truth.

Asked how her reputation had been shattered, she said that the day before testifying she looked at Twitter, formerly X, and saw a comment that she was a fraud.

She said: Previously I was noticed simply as a journalist. Now Im known as a liar, a fraud and a wack job.

Trump (far left) and Carroll (second left) are pictured with their respective spouses John Johnson and Marla Maples in 1987

Carroll's dramatic testimony began after Trump was pictured leaving Trump Tower early Wednesday morning with mysterious red cuts on his hands

Trump lawyer Alina Habba is seen leaving Trump Tower to join the motorcade on the way to the Manhattan courtroom

People are not dying to write to an advice columnist who the President says is a disgrace.

Carroll talked about growing up in rural Indiana to a Republican family and won a beauty contest in her youth.

At the age of 13, she sent off her first article to be written but had to wait two decades to have her first success, which came at the age of 36.

But the mood remained testy and after an objection, Judge Kaplan said: Lets get this clear for both sides.

The first lawyer who says anything when a witness is (testifying). This is not tag team lawyering.

'Carroll talked the jury through her career and described how she wrote articles for magazines like Vanity Fair and an advice column titled Ask E. Jean for decades with Elle magazine.

She once hosted an advice TV show and was for a time a writer on Saturday Night Live, as well as writing five books including essays, a memoir and a biography of journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

In 2019 she wrote a book called What Do We Need Men For? and decided to go public with her claims about Trump for the first time.

Carroll, pictured arriving in cout on Wednesday, said that she spent 50 years building up her reputation as an advice columnist because she stuck to the truth

As Habba objected again, Kaplan told her: When you speak in this courtroom youll stand up.

The judge overruled the objection and moved on.

Carroll said she felt like a hypocrite because women she interviewed for her book trusted her with their stories yet she wasnt going public with hers.

She said: Im 95 years old if I dont do it now, i will never do it, So I included him.

Carroll began to describe Trump sexually assaulting her, telling the court he asked her advice to choose some lingerie at Bergdorfs, but Jude Kaplan stopped her.

The allegations against Trump appeared in an extract of the book in New York magazine on June 21st 2019.

Carroll said that given Trump was president at the time, she expected him to respond.

I expected him to deny it but to say it was consensual which was not, thats what I expected him to say, she said.

Instead Trump posted on Twitter, formerly X, calling her a liar, hours later.

Carroll looked through the comments made by Trump and told the jury which were lies.

She said: Ive never met this woman in my life - that is a lie. I made up the accusation to sell a book - that is a lie

I made the accusation for publicity - that is a lie, he said my false accusation damages real victims of sexual assault - that is a lie.

Habba objected on the grounds that Carool is not a lawyer but Judge Kaplan overruled it, earning a shake of the head in frustration from Trump

Carroll said: The thing that really got me about this is from the White House he asked if anyone had any information about me and to please come forward because he wanted to know whats really going on and that people like me should pay dearly.

Trump's motorcade goes into the underground car park at the Manhattan Federal Court on Wednesday for the second day of the defamation trial

Carolls lawyer Roberta Kaplan asked: Have you paid dearly?

I paid just about as dearly as possible to pay, Carroll said.

Trump followed up his Tweet with comments on the White House lawn the next day, June 22nd, saying it was a false allegation.

Carroll said that was a lie too.

She told the court: The thing about this piece statement is he said numerous women had been paid to make false accusations about him.and he includes me in that group. That is not true.

He said people like me who make false accusations are very dangerous territory. (He said) I shouldnt have done it for the sake of publicity. That is also a lie.

The following Monday Trump, said in an interview that he couldnt have assaulted Carroll as she was not his type.

Carroll told the court that in the same courtroom at a separate trial last year another jury found that she had been sexually assaulted by Donald Trump 

Carroll said: It means Im too ugly to assault.

Asked how it felt to have the President say these three things about her, Carroll took a breath.

She said: Well to have the President of the United States, one of the most powerful persons on Earth, calling me a liar for three days and saying Im a liar 26 times it ended the world that I had been living in.

Carroll said that after that she entered a new world.

She said: I was attacked. On Twitter, Facebook, news blogs, brutally attacked in messages.

It was a new world. I had left the world of facts and I was living in a new universe.

Carrol said the attacks were instantaneous and that many repeated the same language Trump used.

A Facebook message an hour after Trumps first denial read: Your nothing but a liar! Trump did nothing do you! Your only saying this to promote your book! You have to answer to the LORD for your lies. I hope it is worth it?!

A n email to her Ask E. Jean advice column email account on June 22nd 2019 from a sender called Sports Justice read: E. Jean Carroll (claims raped by Trump) = demented, lying old hag

Another message read: I want to tell you that you are a lying bitch! I believe Trump! Why would he want to rape you when you are so frickin ugly!

Habba earned yet another rebuke from the judge when she tried to claim she could ask Carroll about who is funding her case because of a question by her lawyers.

Judge Kaplan said: I do not need announcements from counsel about what they intend to do

I make the rulings here not the lawyers. Get that very clear in your mind. He added: Sit down
A petition launched by Ann Arbor constituents asks the board to return to prioritizing education rather than involve itself in global issues

Parents of young children at a Michigan school are objecting against its decision to vote on a resolution calling for Israel-Gaza ceasefire.

The school board at Ann Arbor Public Schools is set to vote on the resolution today despite parents, taxpayers and community members demanding an immediate withdrawal.

The resolution states that it is 'important for educational institutions to acknowledge global events and their impact on students, staff, and families, especially those from affected regions.'

It also asks that teachers in the school's district begin to conduct 'informed and respectful dialogue about the conflict, aiming to foster a deeper understanding among students and staff'.

Apart from demanding a 'bilateral ceasefire', the resolution also condemns Islamophobia and antisemitism.

The school board at Ann Arbor Public Schools is set to vote on the resolution today despite parents, taxpayers and community members demanding an immediate withdrawal

One of the supportive members is the board president, Rima Mohammad who said that the cease-fire resolution was 'symbolic'

Jeff Gaynor, a retired social studies teacher who wrote his own curriculum on Israeli-Palestinian issues said 'he trusted educators to not venture beyond their expertise'

Three members of the board said they support the cease-fire resolution, two remain skeptical and the remaining two said they need more time to hear from constituents at the previous meeting.

One of the supportive members is the board president, Rima Mohammad who said that the cease-fire resolution was 'symbolic.'

She said: 'The Israel-Gaza war is definitely something we have to address, especially because I do believe the ongoing conflict abroad is leading to an increase in racism and discrimination locally. The Arabs, Muslims, Jews, Palestinians, Israelis are all hurting.'

One of the board's Jewish members also supports the resolution.

Jeff Gaynor, a retired social studies teacher who wrote his own curriculum on Israeli-Palestinian issues said 'he trusted educators to not venture beyond their expertise'.

Parents such as Sharon Sorkin disagree with the board and say that the school has no role in this. Sorkin said: 'And what I've seen is that what this board has done this far and it certainly has not created peace in our community. It has actually created a lot of unrest in our community'

But parents such as Sharon Sorkin disagree with the board and say that the school has no role in this.

She said: 'We all want to heal and we all want peace. But I don't believe that a resolution that a local school board passes is going to create peace in the Middle East.

'And what I've seen is that what this board has done this far and it certainly has not created peace in our community. It has actually created a lot of unrest in our community.

'My hope is that we can convince the board no to move forward with it and maybe our community can find its own peace.'

The petition which was launched by Ann Arbor constituents states that the 'board is not the appropriate forum for addressing these international and humanitarian crises'.

This comes a month after the University of Michigan prevented student government from voting on several cease-fire statements. The students launched an elaborate pro-Palestine protest in response

It also demand that they return to prioritizing education rather than involve itself in global issues.

The petition clarifies that the proposed resolution is out of the board's scope, creates a dangerous precedent, divisive and is unnecessarily creating a burden on students and teachers.

This comes a month after the University of Michigan prevented student government from voting on several cease-fire statements. The students launched an elaborate pro-Palestine protest in response.

The petition currently has 1,843 signatures out of its goal of 2,500
Altman, who recently married his partner Oliver Mulherin, was briefly ousted from his role in November

He said the answers might make people uncomfortable and could include homophobic comments depending on culture

OpenAI boss Sam Altman said his company's next big model will make people 'uncomfortable' by giving people answers based on their preferences, which could include homophobic or other hateful comments.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday, Altman said his top priority since returning from his ouster in November is to launch a new model of ChatGPT.

He told Axios that artificial intelligence is advancing at a much higher speed than other previous technologies and the development of OpenAI's tech will require 'uncomfortable' decisions.

The OpenAI CEO said new products will require 'quite a lot of individual customization' and 'that's going to make a lot of people uncomfortable.'

'If the country said, you know, all gay people should be killed on site, then no, that is well out of bounds. But there are probably other things that I don't personally agree with, but a different culture might,' said Altman.

OpenAI boss Sam Altman said his company's next big model will make people 'uncomfortable' by giving people answers based on their preferences

Altman said his top priority since returning from his ouster in November is to launch a new model of ChatGPT

Altman said newly developed AI will give people answers based on their preferences and that could include homophobic comments

'We have to be somewhat uncomfortable as a tool builder with some of the uses of our tools. It'll be different for users with different values.'

Altman recently married his partner Oliver Mulherin in an intimate ceremony on his $43 million Hawaii estate.

The couple have made high-profile public appearances together, including at a White House state dinner last year.

During his interview, Altman admitted he is 'nervous' about AI's impact on elections, but said he wanted to avoid 'fighting the last war' on election misinformation.

OpenAI has outlined a plan that includes a mix of preexisting policies and newer initiatives to prevent the misuse of its technology is the over 50 elections around the world this year.

Altman briefly addressed the lawsuit from The New York Times over copyright infringement.

'We can respect an opt-out, but NYT content has been copied and not attributed all over the web,' said Altman.

Sam Altman, (left) CEO of OpenAI, has recently married his partner Oliver Mulherin (right) in an intimate ceremony in Hawaii

The couple have made high-profile public appearances together, including at a White House state dinner last year

In December, the newspaper filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft claiming they used their articles to train chatbots that now threaten the jobs of journalists.

OpenAI has claimed the lawsuit is 'without merit' and that the Gray Lady 'intentionally manipulated prompts' to in examples included in the court filing.

In November, Altman was fired from his role as OpenAI CEO, allegedly over his company's super powerful, secret new AI system he helped build.

His firing led to a near mutiny from OpenAI employees who en masse threatened to follow their former leader to Microsoft.

Days later Altman was back as CEO alongside a new-look board that saw all but one of those who voted for his removal gone from the company.
Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd has died at the age of 73, his family said in a statement today.

It comes just a week after the Rochdale MP revealed he was suffering from an 'untreatable' form of leukaemia and had left hospital to 'spend the time I have left with my family'.

The veteran politician spent two spells in the House of Commons, which came either side of a stint as Greater Manchester's inaugural Police and Crime Commissioner and a period as the region's mayor.

His family's statement, published on the MP's Twitter account, announced Sir Tony died this morning and had been working until just a few days before his death.

It read: 'We are absolutely devastated to announce the death of Sir Tony Lloyd MP, our beloved "Joe", "Dad" and "Grandad".

'He died peacefully this morning surrounded by his family, as was his wish.

'He was working until a few days before his death as his passion was helping others.

'He devoted his life to serving and making a difference to the lives of those he met including his constituents, colleagues, friends and family.

'We would like to thank all the dedicated doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and other hospital staff who have provided him with care, as well as the blood and platelet donors who gave him an extra four years of life.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described Sir Tony's death as a 'terrible loss' and said the party would 'remember his deep commitment to Labour values and his decency'.

The party's deputy leader Angela Rayner said she was 'heartbroken' at the loss of a 'dedicated friend and rock of support'.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Sir Tony's death was 'very sad news', adding: 'My thoughts are with Sir Tonys family, friends and the people of Manchester to whom he was devoted throughout his life. May he rest in peace.'

Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd has died at the age of 73, his family said in a statement today

Sir Tony spent 25 days in hospital, including a spell in an induced coma on a ventilator, in 2020 after being admitted with coronavirus. Pictured: The politician in June 2017

Sir Tony's family paid tribute to a 'beloved' father and grandfather in a statement posted to the MP's Twitter account

The Lancashire-born politician was first elected to Parliament in 1983 when he succeeded Winston Churchill, the grandson of the former prime minister, as MP for Stretford.

He then switched to the Manchester Central seat at the 1997 general election when constituency boundaries were reformed.

Sir Tony served as a Foreign Office minister for two years in Sir Tony Blair's first New Labour government.

He was elected as Greater Manchester's inaugural Police and Crime Commissioner in 2012 and then became the region's interim mayor in 2015.

Sir Tony stood to be Labour's candidate for the 2017 election for Greater Manchester mayor.

But he was beaten by Andy Burnham who went on to win the mayoral contest for the party and has served ever since as the region's elected representative.

Sir Tony returned to the House of Commons as MP for Rochdale at the 2017 general election and went on to become shadow Northern Ireland secretary under Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

In April 2020, he was replaced in the role by Louise Haigh shortly after being admitted to hospital with coronavirus.

After 25 days in hospital, including a spell in an induced coma on a ventilator, Sir Tony was discharged nearly two stone lighter and too weak to walk 50 metres to a waiting car without the arm of a nurse.

Sir Tony, pictured in 1997, served as a Foreign Office minister for two years in Sir Tony Blair's first New Labour government

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described Sir Tony's death as a 'terrible loss' and said the party would 'remember his deep commitment to Labour values and his decency'

PM Rishi Sunak said Sir Tony's death was 'very sad news', adding: 'My thoughts are with Sir Tonys family, friends and people of Manchester to whom he was devoted throughout his life'

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said she was 'heartbroken' at the loss of a 'dedicated friend and rock of support'

Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, said he had been 'proud' to appoint Sir Tony to his shadow cabinet

As he continued his recovery, Sir Tony told the Guardian in January 2021: 'There's this recognition that you only have a certain time left.

'I'm 70 and as such you think, well, I'm probably not going to be around in x years' time, so use these years wisely. Use these days wisely. That's probably good advice for us all.'

In January last year, Sir Tony revealed he was being treated with chemotherapy.

He said his doctors had told him to 'socially isolate and avoid meetings'.

Sir Tony informed his constituents he would not be attending Parliament during his treatment or meeting people in his Rochdale constituency or elsewhere.

But he said he would continue to hold advice surgeries via Zoom or telephone.

Sir Tony most recently voted in the House of Commons when he opposed the Government's Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill on 10 January.

Sir Keir said in a statement: 'The death of Sir Tony is a terrible loss.

'I know the entire Labour Party, and many beyond the party, join me in sending our deepest condolences to Tony's wife, Judith, his children Siobhan, Angharad, Kieron and Ali, and his granddaughters, Carmen and Carys.

'Like them, we will remember his deep commitment to Labour values and his decency.

'We will always be grateful for his dedication to public life, his devotion to his country and his desire to make the world a better, fairer place.

'In the Labour Party, we will honour his legacy of service to others and his commitment to justice. May he rest in peace.'

Ms Rayner posted on Twitter: 'I'm heartbroken. Tony was not just a kind colleague, but a dedicated friend and rock of support to so many of us, thinking of his constituents right to the end. His loss is deeply felt by the whole Labour family.

'My love goes out to his family and to all those who knew him.'

Mr Corbyn wrote: 'I am so sad to learn of the death of Tony Lloyd. He was a good man & a dear friend. It was a pleasure to work with him.

'We were elected on the same day in 1983 and I was proud to appoint him to the shadow cabinet. A decent, kind & fair-minded comrade. I will miss him greatly.'
The secret gallantry medals of a British commando who took part in one of the most audacious raids of World War Two have today been sold by his son for 120,000.

Sergeant Ronald 'Taffy' Morris was one of 14 men who dressed in sarongs and covered themselves in brown dye to look like Malay fishermen during the raid on Japanese-occupied Singapore Harbour.

They used a stolen Japanese fishing vessel to enter the harbour undetected and were able to attach limpet mines on time-delayed charges on enemy navy ships.

The following day the explosives went off resulting in seven ships being sunk.

The clandestine 1943 operation was one of the greatest Special Operations Executive (SOE) Commando raids of the Second World War.

Major Ronald George 'Taffy' Morris (pictured)

Nine medals belonging to Major Ronald George "Taffy" Morris of the Royal Army Medical Corps -including one he received for Operation Jaywick, which will be sold at an auction at Noonans Mayfair

Operation Jaywick involved 12 Australian commandos and two British men, including Welshman Morris, an ex-miner.

Major Morris received the Military Medal for the raid but this had to be given in secret due to the nature of the clandestine raid.

He died in 1999 and his son, Evan, has recently written a book about his father's exploits, called The Tiger's Revenge.

He decided to put his father's medals up for auction with London-based Noonans.

They had a pre-sale estimate of between 60,000 to 80,000, but sparked a bidding war to hammer down at 120,000 as Evan Morris watched on. The medals were acquired by an undisclosed phone bidder.

Evan said: 'I am blown away by the result of today's sale.

'The price achieved reflects not only the special nature of Operation Jaywick but also the special characters involved.

The MV Krait ship used by a raid on Japanese-occupied Singapore Harbour in the Second World War

Major Ronald George 'Taffy' Morris with his comrades

Major Ronald George "Taffy" Morris of the Royal Army Medical Corps (pictured)

Evan added: 'My father's life was shaped by his war experiences as he had achieved the almost impossible by joining the army prior to the war as a private soldier and rising up through the ranks to become a major.

'Something quite incredible for an ex-miner from the Rhondda.

'However, in the following years and throughout his career he never forgot the loss of his wartime colleagues, especially Ivan Lyon. From Miner to Major - a fitting epitaph.'

Christopher Mellor-Hill, from Noonans, said: 'Very few people are aware of Operation Jaywick which was one of the greatest SOE 'Clandestine' Commando raids of WW2 in the Far East.

'It was a great success but always kept secret along with Morris' gallantry award but hopefully his full story and that of Operation Jaywick as told by his son in his new book The Tiger's Revenge will ensure that their amazingly dangerous and brave but successful commando raid is now more widely appreciated.

We are so glad to see Morris's 'secret' MM for Operation Jaywick make this fantastic and well justified price,' Mr Mellor-Hill added.

'It is such an incredible and audacious story of bravery and daring that was till now, unappreciated as one of Special Operations Executive's most successful WW2 secret missions that resulted in the biggest loss of Japanese shipping tonnage of the entire war. It was bought by a UK private collector of gallantry medals.'

One of the medals belonging to Major Ronald George "Taffy" Morris of the Royal Army Medical Corps he received for his gallantry and distinguished service following 'Operation Jaywick', sold at an auction at Noonans Mayfair

Operation Jaywick was planned by a task force called Z Special Unit, a joint Allied unit that conducted reconnaissance and sabotage missions behind enemy lines.

It was led by Captain Ivan Lyon, who recruited and trained the men involved.

The motorised wooden-hulled Japanese boat was renamed the MV Krait, a small but deadly Asian snake.

The men left Exmouth, Western Australia, on September 2, 1943 for Singapore.

They arrived on deep behind enemy lines on September 24.

They had no uniform, identity tags and were flying the Japanese flag and would have been killed if they had been caught.

Under the cover of darkness got into collapsible canoes and paddled towards the Japanese ships.

The raid resulted in the sinking and destruction of seven enemy ships totalling 37,000 tons.

All 14 crew made it safely back to Australia, but not before a close encounter with a Japanese warship that sailed alongside their boat for 20 minutes in Indonesian waters.

Although most of the ships were repaired and put back into service, the psychological effect on the Japanese was far greater.

The harbour was considered a secure stronghold, well out of Allied reach, and the Japanese never discovered how the raid was undertaken.

Morris was an acting sergeant for the operation, and afterwards he was honoured with a 'secret' military medal for his gallantry and distinguished service as Medical Orderly.

It was approved by the King in May 1944 but kept on the Secret List, with the instruction not to be published in the London Gazette until it had been taken off the Secret List.

Morris joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in May 1938, when he was 19.

After Japan entered the war he was recruited as a medical orderly to join the SOE's Orient mission.

He arrived in Singapore in April 1941 and met fellow SOE operative Captain Ivan Lyon.

They became part of an unorthodox group undertaking clandestine missions and training local groups in the art of sabotage.
The deadline to prevent a shutdown is Friday at midnight

Senior Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley has been hospitalized due to an infection and is currently receiving antibiotic infusions, meaning he will miss crucial votes as a government shutdown looms in just three days.

Grassley, the oldest member of the Senate at 90 years old, will return to work 'as soon as possible following doctors' orders,' his office said in a statement Tuesday. No further details were provided on his condition.

After undergoing a hip surgery last year, Grassley used a scooter to navigate the halls of the Capitol. But the eight-term senator, who used to frequently go on runs as early as 4 or 5 a.m., has seemed otherwise healthy while on the job.

His absence from the upper chamber comes just days before a critical deadline to prevent a partial government shutdown.

If funding legislation does not pass before midnight Friday, some government agencies will run out of money, and employees will be asked to stay home without pay.

Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, meanwhile, will also miss votes this week as he is recovering from abdominal surgery in his home state, meaning Senate Republicans will be down two votes while attempting to keep the government from shutting down.

Grassley has been hospitalized in the Washington area with an infection and is receiving antibiotic infusions

The 90-year-old used to go on daily runs early in the morning to preserve his health

Grassley famously loves Diary Queen and frequently posts about it on his social media

Grassley celebrated his 90th birthday in September with ice cream from Dairy Queen

Though a funding deal has been made between House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, members still need to vote and pass the legislation to keep the government open.

The two congressional leaders unveiled a two-step stopgap bill Sunday that, if passed, would kick the funding deadline to early March, giving members time to hash out the details on 12 appropriations bills.

On Tuesday, the senate voted to advance the temporary funding, called a continuing resolution or CR.

The vote to advance the bill garnered bipartisan support and passed 68-13.

The senate will now open debate on the CR and will work to get the legislation approved before sending it to the lower chamber.

Sen. Grassley joined Trump on the former president's 'Save America' tour in 2021

Sen. Barrasso underwent abdominal surgery in Wyoming and will miss votes until he is cleared by his doctors to return to Washington

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (second from right) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (right) struck a deal on Sunday to keep the government funded through early March

Grassley became the oldest senator in September, after his colleague, Sen. Diane Feinstein of California, died. She was three months his senior.

He is currently the only nonagenarian in Congress.

Grassleys political career began in 1956, when he was elected to the state Legislature at age 23. He served 18 years at the Statehouse before being elected to the U.S. House in 1974.

He was first elected to the senate in 1980.
America's largest reservoir is set to hit a near-century low in the next two years, jeopardizing water supplies to 25 million people in California, Arizona and Nevada.

Lake Mead on the iconic Colorado River has not been full since 1983 and currently holds just 35 percent of its capacity after decades of drought.

A grim projection from the US Bureau of Reclamation predicts water levels are likely to drop another 29 feet over the next two years and could fall lower still.

'The one wet year that we had is only getting a part of the way there,' said Bart Miller of Western Resource Advocates.

'We still have a lot of work to do to put our demands for water back into balance with what the river provides.'

 Slide me  The water level in Lake Mead has dropped 150 feet since it was last near capacity

And another 29 feet are likely to go by the end of 2025, the US Bureau of Reclamation predicts

Vast areas along its 112-mile length have been left dry and exposed as the waters have receded

In summer 2022 the water level in the reservoir dropped to 1,041 feet above sea level, its lowest since it was built in the 1930s.

Long dead murder victims stuffed into barrels and even the wreckage of a World War II landing craft were revealed as the waters dropped 180 feet below the original capacity.

A wet winter has helped push the level up another 29 feet since its historic low but that recovery looks set to be wiped out by the end of 2025.

Bart Miller of Western Resource Advocates

And the 'probable minimum' forecast by the bureau could knock another five feet off the figure.

'Lake Powell and Lake Mead are both higher today than they were a year ago, thanks to a very wet winter last year, but they are still more than half empty,' Jennifer Pitt, Colorado River program director for the National Audubon Society told Newsweek.

'We can't forecast water levels in 2024 until we know how much snow falls in the Rocky Mountains over the coming winter.

'But we do know the situation will get worse over time as climate change continues to diminish the Colorado River.'

The river's flow has declined by a fifth since 2000 due in part, scientists say to rising temperatures and climate change.

Average temperatures across the upper watershed  where most of the river's flow originates  have risen about 3 degrees since 1970, with researchers attributing the increase to global warming.

Calcified rocks on the banks of the reservoir bare witness to the decline over the years

And NASA satellite imagery shows the fall in one section of the reservoir since 2000

Long submerged relics have made a ghostly reappearance as the waters have retreated

And some studies have suggested that the flow could fall by 40 percent by the middle of the century.

Talks are underway between the seven states that share the river's output on how to reduce water consumption by the time the existing agreement expires in 2026.

Meanwhile federal government has been spending hundreds of millions of dollars to promote conservation initiatives which have already left the water level 40 feet higher than was predicted at the end of 2022.

Districts representing farmers and other large users in California agreed to significant cuts in use last month in exchange for a $295million federal grant.

'Less than a year ago, the Colorado River was in a very different place than we are today,' said JB Hamby, the Colorado River Commissioner for California.

The rocks that form the hard edges of the reservoir offer a stark illustration of just how far water levels have fallen.

A white band of mineral deposits stains the mountainsides like the ring on a bathtub, showing where the water was at its high point after a flood in 1983.

Brad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University, has calculated that the reservoir would need six consecutive torrential winters to replenish.

The falling water levels have threatened to halt power production at the Hoover Dam

The nearby Lake Powell and other water sources in the Colorado basin have been effected

'To think that these things would ever refill requires some kind of leap of faith that I, for one, don't have,' he said last year.

'The last 23 years are the best lessons we have right now, and they should scare the pants off people.'

But there was some good news at least as heavy winter storms have helped replenish the Colorado snow that feeds the river during the rest of the year.

The snowpack level was at just 67 per cent of normal at the start of the year but has since jumped to 89 percent according to the National Water and Climate Center in Portland, Oregon, with more heavy snow predicted between between January 22 and 24.
As it was revealed today that Princess Kate had been admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery, I couldn't help but reflect on my own stay there as I assured myself she is in safe hands.

Kensington Palace announced today that the Princess of Wales underwent the successful 'planned' surgery on Tuesday, and will remain in hospital for up to 14 days.

It is unlikely she will return to royal duties until after Easter, with Prince William expected to spend his time juggling caring for her and their three children in the meantime.

Announced on the same day that King Charles III revealed he would next week undergo surgery for an enlarged prostate, Princess Kate will be out of action for significantly longer than her father-in-law after the procedure at the clinic previously used by Prince Philip and Princess Margaret.

In May 2021 I, too, was admitted to the private hospital in the capital where I stayed for five nights after a gruelling five-hour surgery - and far from feeling like a hospital, it was like staying at a 5-star hotel.

Dimple Mistry was also admitted to The London Clinic in May 2021 for five nights after surgery

The Princess of Wales is expected to stay in hospital for up to 14 days, before spending two to three months recovering

Kate will be well looked after, with food so good I would happily go back to the hospital for that alone.

It was plentiful and fresh and arrived hot on a silver trolley for every meal - with plenty of choice too.

At each meal Kate will be able to pick from soups, salads, small plates and main meals - with a selection of side dishes, light bites and desserts too.

Breakfast saw a choice of the usual cereal and toast, but unlike the NHS I could also have chosen from a range of pastries, hot breakfast items - which included omelettes and pancakes - and even avocado on toast.

Although the impact of coronavirus meant I was not able to explore much of the hospital outside of my room, it was definitely a world away from any private room stay I've had at an NHS hospital.

The bathroom was stocked with Molton Brown toiletries, the blinds and room temperature was were controlled by a remote control and the ceiling was full of stars which I could switch on in a heartbeat.

The care itself was also significantly better, with staff having the luxury of time to introduce themselves every time they entered the room.

They would explain everything they were going to do and why they would be doing it  keeping me informed of every step in my treatment process. They even offered to help wash my hair!

But most importantly, they made me feel like I mattered and that they wanted to aid my recovery.

Throughout the time I spent at the London Clinic, from the successful surgery to the recover, the staff were amazing.

Police officers stand guard outside The London Clinic where Kate, Princess of Wales is recovering from surgery

Dimple Mistry: 'Whatever Kate might be in hospital for, I know that she'll definitely be looked after'

One morning showed their dedication to my care and comfort especially well: a member of staff arrived came to take bloods but just couldn't find a vein.

Instead of poking and prodding me until they found one, they immediately went and found a more senior member of the team to take the test instead. I felt completely safe.

The best part of all of this were the afternoons, when I could call down to the kitchen and order myself cake every day. I'd happily go back just to experience this type of service - and the exhaustive food selection - again.

Overall the delightful menu paired with efficient nursing and attentive consultants made for a great week.

It is unsurprising that the hospital, which first opened its doors in 1932, has hosted past patients including former US President JKF and even esteemed actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Since the 1980s, a number of facilities at the site have been officially launched by members of the royal family.

The King, as the then-Prince of Wales, opened the physiotherapy department in 1989, while Princess Margaret launched the MRI unit in 1991 and the late Queen unveiled a new cancer unit in 2010.

Kate will be well looked after, with food so good I would happily go back to the hospital for that alone

Breakfast saw a choice of the usual cereal and toast, but unlike the NHS I could also have chosen from a range of pastries, hot breakfast items - which included omelettes and pancakes - and even avocado on toast

At each meal Kate will be able to pick from soups, salads, small plates and main meals

The Princess of Wales is expected to spend between 10 and 14 days in the hospital and two to three months recovering. She is not expected to return to public duties until after Easter, at the end of March.

But whatever Kate might be in hospital for, I know that she'll definitely be looked after.

Among its facilities The London Clinic has a leading cancer centre which hosts patients for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments.

In 2019, it even unveiled a specialist centre for robotic surgery.

The latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), carried out in June 2021, rated The London Clinic as 'good' overall.

According to the health watchdog, the hospital has about 23,000 inpatients a year, with a further 110,000 outpatients.

It is registered to provide surgery as well as diagnostics and screening, treatment of disease, disorder or injury, management of supply of blood and blood-derived products.

The building at 20 Devonshire Place has seven main operating theatres and three additional theatres, as well as six specialty wards for surgeries in urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, orthopaedics and spinal procedures.
January 17, 2024: The US military spends about $10 billion on small-arms ammunition annually. The most common caliber ammunition used by the US military is the 5.56x45mm NATO Standard round. On average, an American soldier carries around 210 rounds of ammunition for their primary weapon, which is usually an M-16 or M-4 automatic rifle. U.S. military depots store an estimated 15 billion rounds of small-arms ammunition. The Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky is the largest US military ammunition storage facility.

Small arms ammunition typically remains in storage for up to 20 years. The US military uses a variety of small-arms ammunition in combat, including 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50 caliber rounds. The US military replenishes its ammunition stockpiles on a regular basis, based on usage and demand. New military ammunition undergoes extensive testing and evaluation to ensure reliability, accuracy, and performance.

The US military transports ammunition by air, sea, and ground with the same degree of security large shipments of civilian rifle, shotgun and pistol ammunition receives. Ammunition storage facilities are heavily guarded and protected to prevent theft, sabotage, or accidents. The United States has its own ammunition manufacturing facilities but also contracts with private companies to increase production.

Obsolete or surplus US military ammunition is usually disposed of through a demilitarization process that includes controlled detonations or other specialized methods to ensure safety.

Twenty years ago, the United States purchased over a billion rounds of 5.56mm ammo from Taiwan at the onset of the invasion of Iraq while American production facilities were upgraded to handle increased wartime production. Before September 11, 2001, the U.S. Department of Defense bought 350 million rounds of 5.56mm, 7.62mm and 12.7mm of ammo a year. Most of this was 5.56mm, for M-16s, M-4s and light machine-guns. By 2004, that was up to 1.2 billion rounds. This increased to 1.5 billion rounds in 2005 and later to over two billion rounds a year.

The U.S. Army has one very large ammo factory at the Alliant Lake City plant in Independence, Missouri. For a long time, this plant produced about 1.2 billion rounds a year. After, although that has since been expanded to 1.5 billion pounds a year.

Additional ammo has been obtained by, first, drawing down war reserve stocks. Taking over half a billion rounds from those stocks, plus buying even more from civilian manufacturers in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, and Israel, working round the clock, and putting mothballed production facilities to work, kept the troops supplied. The current high production levels will remain until the war reserve stocks are rebuilt. In the meantime, training will continue to use more ammo than in the past. In the 1990s, use of live ammo in training had been allowed to decline. That stopped after 2001. Ammo usage in training will remain at high levels, though American troops have left Afghanistan and Iraq, at least until the lessons learned this time around are forgotten.
A Knightsbridge restaurant boss has been charged with attempting to spike a female guest's drink with GBL in a Mayfair private members' club.

Vikas Nath appeared in court today accused of trying to spike a woman's drink with GBL, which has similar effects to GHB, also known as the 'date rape' drug,

The 61-year-old was arrested at the club in the early hours of Tuesday after staff alerted police when the woman told them of an alleged attempted drugging.

The man, from Knightsbridge, central London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

It is claimed that he put the drug GBL, gamma-butyrolactone, into the woman's drink with the intent of overpowering her to allow sexual activity.

The man, from Knightsbridge, central London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court

GBL is a precursor chemical to GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate). It is colourless and often used as a recreational drug (stock image)

Seized bottles containing gammabutyrolactone (GBL)

The charge alleges Nath administered GBL to another person 'knowing she did not consent and with the intention of stupefying or overpowering her so as to enable any person to engage in a sexual activity involving her'.

GBL is a precursor chemical to GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate). It is colourless and often used as a recreational drug.

This means it is converted into GHB in the body and the effects are identical. But it is two to three times as powerful and the effects are felt faster.

Both drugs are often used in club settings to achieve a 'euphoric, disinhibiting' effect.

Nath was remanded in custody ahead of a preliminary hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 14 February.

His address was given in court as Wellington Court, Knightsbridge - where apartments fetch millions of pounds.

Detective Inspector Kieron Vaughan, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Anyone who suspects they might have been spiked is urged to report it to police as soon as possible so that we can obtain any time sensitive evidence needed to assist in the investigation.

'If you are in a bar or club you can report it to a member of staff who will assist you. If you see anything suspicious, report it to bar staff or police. If you witness a crime in progress please call 999.

'It is not a crime to have illegal drugs in your system (unless you are driving) so do not let this be a barrier to reporting to police. This information however, is vital in terms of obtaining the correct medical support and treatment.

'If you have any information regarding those involved in Violence Against Women and Girls please contact you local police on 101. Alternatively, you can provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'
The crisis at a 34million newbuild Welsh school where striking teachers claim they are treated 'like punching bags' has deepened after the executive headteacher suddenly stepped down.

A staggering 136 exclusions have taken place at the 1,100 pupil Pencoedtre High School in Barry, South Wales since September last year when the new term began.

And now Executive Headteacher Debra Thomas has stepped after she received 'little support' from the council, a local councillor said.

Cllr Rhys Thomas, who is the Chair of the Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee, said: 'These developments are hugely concerning and show that the Vale Council have failed to take responsibility.

'Debra Thomas faced a huge challenge sorting out problems at Pencoedtre School and got little support from the Council who have sought to avoid blame at every turn.

Pencoedtre High School in Barry, South Wales has an open layout which is being blamed for behaviour issues at the school

A staggering 136 exclusions have taken place at the 1,100 pupil school since the start of the new year in September

Staff at the school were striking because 'they feel at the end of their tether' over the behavioural issues

'It's time for the Council to finally step up to the plate, otherwise it's teachers and children who will continue to suffer.'

London-based architects designed the school, with the violence being blamed on its new layout - featuring large open balconies around a central 'heart space' dining hall, main hall and courtyard.

According to The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), the open-plan design has been feeding into the bad behaviour.

Teachers said the central location of the school's 'Successful Futures Centre' enables big groups of children to interact, causing fights.

National executive member of NASUWT, Mark Harris, said: 'The design of the new school buildings is remarkably poor.'

Sharron Daly, a union official, claimed staff at the school were striking because 'they feel at the end of their tether' over issues with behaviour from the children.

'The building is not fit for purpose. The physical make-up of the building is not going to help this situation and the situation needs to change,' she said.

The school was unveiled by the Labour-run Welsh Government about a year ago, according to The Telegraph.

Debra Thomas, interim head teacher at the school, said the building's layout is 'very open' which 'facilitates large groups to form'.

Architects HLM designed the school paid for by the Welsh Government. The company previously said: 'The new school will improve the social and cultural well-being of its users and facilitate a larger range of different learning requirements, intertwining both social and educational environments  a school for boys and girls to thrive.'

NASUWT claimed teachers 'dread' working at the school - with 50 serious health and safety incidents reported to have taken place since the start of the academic year.

In a joint statement, the Vale of Glamorgan council and the headteacher said: 'Both the council and school are disappointed by this strike action, which comes at a time when Year 11 pupils are sitting important examinations and Year 13 students are preparing for upcoming A-Level exams.

The open-plan design has been contributing to poor behaviour, according to NASUWT

Teachers said the central location of the school's 'Successful Futures Centre' enables big groups of children to interact, causing fights

'We are fully aware of the issues affecting staff and are working with the NASUWT to resolve them.

'The work taking place has been discussed with the trade union in regular meetings and includes steps to improve the working environment and update the school's behaviour policy.'

Staff at the Welsh school went on strike last Wednesday, with five more days of walkouts set to happen on January 18, 24, 25, 31 and February 1 if matters are not resolved.

MailOnline has contacted HLM, Vale of Glamorgan council and the school for comment.

It comes after striking teachers who walked out of a Kent academy in a row with authorities over pupil behaviour were slammed by some locals who said they're 'bowing down' to the anti-social children they're supposed to be teaching.

National Education Union (NEU) members at Oasis Academy on the Isle of Sheppey joined the picket line last year as they claimed not enough was being done to protect staff from pupil attacks.

The troubled school was rated inadequate by Ofsted in August 2022 due to concerns over 'bullying, racism, homophobia, vandalism and pupils' understanding of sexual consent'.

The school, which is one of only two on the Isle, denied repeated calls for 10-day suspensions to be handed out to students if they abuse teachers.
Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill set for its final stages in the House of Commons today

Suella Braverman warned the Tories are on a 'last chance' to stop Channel boats today as rebels geared up for showdown votes on the Rwanda plan.

The former home secretary joined the attack on Rishi Sunak's legislation, saying the government has 'stretched the patience of the British people'.

The PM is trying to force his Rwanda Bill through its final Commons stages this evening, despite threats from right-wingers to kill it off - even if that means the government collapsing.

Some 60 Conservatives joined a revolt aiming to toughen the Bill last night, with two party deputy chairs and a ministerial aide resigning in a shattering blow to Mr Sunak's authority.

However, those amendments had no prospect of passing because they were not supported by Labour. The existential threat to the premier's flagship policy is set to crystalise this evening at third reading - the last hurdle in the Commons.

In a sign that Mr Sunak is determined to face down the right-wing challenge, Downing Street has indicated it will not make the vote a formal confidence issue.

Suella Braverman warned the Tories are on a 'last chance' to stop Channel boats today as rebels geared up for showdown votes on the Rwanda plan

Rishi Sunak shrugged off the wrangling as he took PMQs this afternoon, insisting: 'We want to stop the boats. We have a plan and it is working.'

As Keir Starmer jibed likened Tory squabbling on Rwanda to 'hundreds of bald men fighting over a comb', Mr Sunak shot back that Labour had no interest in tackling the problem and would take the country 'back to square one'

A slew of amendments will be decided by the Commons in the coming hours - before they are asked to pass the legislation to the House of Lords.

Speaking in the Commons, Mrs Braverman said: 'This is our last chance to fix this problem. We have stretched the patience of the British people. But this comes down to a very simple but profound question ultimately of who governs Britain?

'Is it us, the democratically-elected representatives who have been directly sent here on behalf of the British people on a clear mandate and a clear instruction on what to do and whose laws are passed by a clear and transparent majority to which we can all be held to account at the ballot box, or is it an opaque fora, many miles away in a different country, distant, outsourced, foreign, which does not share our values, which has made decisions time and time again which are at odds with what the British people have indicated that they want and which has operated to undermine our public safety, our national security and our good governance?'

Mrs Braverman said the European Court of Human Rights is 'currently controlling this country's ability to stop the boats', adding: 'We are being governed by a foreign court and judges who do not have our interests at heart. The decisions coming from that court are stopping us from controlling our borders.'

Earlier, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick - moving his proposals designed to block last-minute injunctions from European judges - told the Commons: 'I don't believe that our membership of the European Convention on Human Rights is sustainable.

'I think that will become clearer and clearer to the British public in the months and the years ahead, but that's not the purpose of my amendment today.'

However, former justice secretary Robert Jenrick warned MPs not to go too far in undermining international law.

'We need to tread carefully, if we don't then what we do is in trying to deal with an external problem we create internal constitutional and legal problems of our own, that I don't think any self-respecting Conservative government would want to do, and any self-respective Parliament would want to follow,' he said.

'For those reasons I would urged Members to reject many of the amendments that I think complicate this Bill and to follow the maxim that less is more.'

Mr Sunak shrugged off the wrangling as he took PMQs this afternoon, insisting: 'We want to stop the boats. We have a plan and it is working.'

As Keir Starmer jibed likened Tory squabbling on Rwanda to 'hundreds of bald men fighting over a comb', Mr Sunak shot back that Labour had no interest in tackling the problem and would take the country 'back to square one'.

Shocking footage showed more migrants risking their lives in the Channel today as as Tories descend into civil war over whether Rishi Sunak's Rwanda plan can stop them.

Dozens of people could be seen packed on to a tiny dinghy as it struggled off the coast of Kent, dwarfed by ferries and cargo vessels in the busy shipping lane.

A separate incident saw another small boat crowded with passengers, including one man balanced precariously on the bow without a lifejacket.

After plucking them from the waves, Border Force officials were pictured bringing people ashore at Dover.

The drama - which underlines the resumption of crossings after an apparent lull over Christmas - unfolded just hours before the latest bout of Tory drama is set to begin at Westminster.

Shocking footage showed more migrants risking their lives in the Channel today as as Tories descend into civil war over whether Rishi Sunak 's Rwanda plan can stop them

Dozens of people could be seen packed on to a tiny dinghy as it struggled off the coast of Kent, dwarfed by ferries and cargo vessels in the busy shipping lane

A separate incident saw another small boat crowded with passengers, including one man balanced precariously on the bow without a lifejacket

The blue dinghy looked to be struggling to stay above the waves as it made the perilous trip

A Border Force vessel met the migrant dinghies as the crossed into British waters

After plucking them from the waves, Border Force officials were pictured bringing the group ashore brought at Dover

Mr Sunak shrugged off the wrangling as he took PMQs this afternoon, insisting: 'We want to stop the boats. We have a plan and it is working.'

Although some rebels have openly vowed to oppose the legislation altogether, even ringleaders expect the bulk of the mutineers to stop short of crashing the legislation and provoking an all-out crisis.

It would take around 28 MPs voting against, twice that many abstentions, or a combination of the two, to overturn the government's majority.

But the spat has poured petrol on raging splits in the party, with furious Tories branding the rebels 'not very bright'. Former No10 communications director Guto Harri described the right-wingers as 'narcissists' who were pushing for 'mass suicide' with just months to go until a general election.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tried to make light of the vicious infighting this morning, describing it as a 'lively debate'.

Underlining the wider problems, a poll overnight showed Labour 17 points ahead - with fears the Conservatives are 'leaking votes' to Reform UK.

The Commons division list recorded 58 Tories backing the rebel amendment - plus two tellers means the rebellion was by 60 MPs

The insurrection last night was the biggest in Mr Sunak's time as leader.

It was bolstered by an intervention from Boris Johnson, who urged the rebels to stand their ground to make the legislation 'as legally robust as possible'.

The former PM said: 'Governments around the world are now trying to imitate the UK Rwanda policy for tackling illegal people trafficking. This Bill must be as legally robust as possible  and the right course is to adopt the amendments.'

However, Downing Street said the proposed legislation was already the 'toughest ever' and warned that tightening it further risked breaking international law.

The PM's official spokesman said the plans were 'legally robust and the fastest way to get flights off the ground'.

But 60 MPs voted for an amendment to the Rwanda Bill that would have disapplied human rights laws in relation to deportations.

A similar number backed a separate push to ban Channel migrants from lodging individual legal appeals to frustrate their removal.

Rebels included ten former Cabinet ministers, including Liz Truss, Suella Braverman, Sir Iain Duncan Smith and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who led yesterday's revolt.

In a further blow, Tory deputy chairmen Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned to join the revolt, as did Kemi Badenoch's aide Jane Stevenson.

The proposed changes were heavily defeated last night as they were opposed by both the Government and Labour.

But some rebels warned they could vote down the entire Rwanda Bill tonight unless the Government caves in.

Former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke said: 'I will vote against if the legislation isn't amended. Simple as that.'

Mark Francois, chairman of the ERG group of Eurosceptic Tories, urged the PM to back down or risk losing his flagship policy tonight. 'Given the size of the vote tonight, if I were his advisers, I would be saying: 'I think you want to compromise tomorrow if you can'.'

Tory whips are trying to peel off some of the rebels and reduce their number to a 'hardcore' of around a dozen.

However, there are concerns the Government could still lose if a large number of Tory MPs abstain.

Mr Harri described the rebels as 'self-centred narcissists' whose revolt was 'utterly futile'.

He told Sky News: 'Tomorrow they are either going to bottle it or they really are going to commit mass political suicide.'

A right-leaning minister told the Financial Times: 'They are just not strategically very bright. They have told the country that our policy is sh**, but when it comes to the third reading vote they will abstain and look stupid.'

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson sought to play down the depth of Tory divisions in a round of interviews this morning, saying: 'We all want the same thing.'

'There are disagreements of emphasis. There's an inch between us, there's a determination to ensure that the policy works,' he told the BBC.

Boris Johnson also waded into the row urging the government to accept the rebel amendments

The rebellion came just 24 hours after Tory elections chief Isaac Levido issued a stark warning to Conservative MPs that they risk inevitable defeat if they allow infighting to continue.

'Let me be clear: divided parties fail. It's time to get serious,' he told the backbench 1922 Committee on Monday night.

The Rwanda scheme was blocked by the Supreme Court in November after judges accepted claims that the country was not safe.

The new legislation declares in law that the African nation is a safe country and prevents the courts examining the principle of the scheme.

But, to the dismay of Tory rebels, it will not stop individual appeals by migrants threatened with deportation.

Rebel MPs are also seeking to disapply all human rights laws and ban interventions from the European Court of Human Rights, which grounded the last attempted deportation flight to Rwanda in June 2022.

Mr Jenrick, who quit the government last month, said there would be a deluge of individual claims unless they were outlawed, telling MPs: 'Every legal representative and Leftie lawyer will try everything they can to support those claims. We see it every time.'

He added: 'How much are we actually willing to do to stop the boats? How willing are we to take on the vested interests, balance the trade-offs, take the robust steps that will actually work?

'The only countries in the world that have fixed this problem, latterly Australia and Greece, have been willing to take the most robust action. Are we?'

MPs will vote on further amendments today before holding a crunch vote tonight on whether to approve the Bill and send it to the House of Lords.

Mr Anderson has told friends he is ready to vote down the Bill. Mr Sunak made extensive efforts to persuade the straight-talking former miner to vote with the Government. But Mr Anderson told GB News: 'I don't think I could carry on in my role when I fundamentally disagree with the Bill.'

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quit as Tory deputy chairs after joining the rebellion

Jane Stevenson - a ministerial aide to Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch - offered her resignation after backing hostile amendments in crunch votes last night

In a joint letter with Mr Clarke-Smith, he said: 'We have already had two pieces of legislation thwarted by a system that does not work in favour of the British people. It is for this reason that we have supported the amendments... This is not because we are against the legislation, but because like everybody else we want it to work.'

Business Secretary Ms Badenoch is known to have privately urged No 10 to strengthen the Bill. Last night, her parliamentary aide Ms Stevenson resigned.

The MP for Wolverhampton North East said the legislation had to be 'as robust as it possibly can be' to deal with the illegal immigration 'crisis'.

'It is a crisis and my constituents certainly want to see results,' she said.

In the debate, immigration minister Michael Tomlinson urged MPs to unite behind the policy, saying: 'Let there be no doubt that the Government is focused and determined to stop the boats. We have made progress, but we must be enabled to finish the job.'
Accounting firm KPMG is set to move out of its $400 million namesake building, another high-profile exit from San Francisco's beleaguered downtown.

The consulting and accounting giant first leased space in the 25-story office tower when the building opened in 2002. Its name hangs above the entry to the skyscraper where the company currently occupies more than 100,000 square feet.

It comes as shoe store Alto prepares to exit San Francisco Centre, the city's biggest mall, next week.

Businesses and residents have fled downtown San Francisco since the pandemic with groups blaming crime, homelessness and work-from-home keeping people from downtown.

Nearly 100 retailers in downtown San Francisco have closed since the start of the pandemic, a decline of more than 50 percent, according to a recent report.

KPMG is set to move out of its $400 million namesake building after two decades in downtown San Francisco

Nordstrom have recently moved out of the city's downtown contributing to a loss of footfall

KPMG, a large accounting and financial firm, originally took 90,000 square feet at 55 Second St. in a 10-year contract, marking the second-largest office deal of 2003.

It has since grown its footprint to span nearly one-third of the 380,000-square-foot building, leading to it being widely known as 'The KPMG Building'.

The company is now considering ending its two-decade-long relationship with the building, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. It's the latest tenant looking to exit the downtown area.

Now, another business is set to leave the area's largest shopping center as Aldo moves its store from the San Francisco Centre. The mall lost Adidas last Saturday, as well as other recent losses including Hollister, Lego and J. Crew.

The mall lost $910 million between 2016 and 2023, with half the rental space now empty, according to an appraisal published last month.

Its owners lost control of the 5-million-square-foot retail and office complex to lenders last year.

The high-profile closures and exits suggest San Francisco's 'doom loop' is far from over. A doom loop is where a city loses its tax base and can't afford improvements needed to fix the situation to bring new businesses and residents back to an area.

The city's downtown has suffered from the proliferation of homeless encampments, open-air drugs markets and rampant theft.

Hordes of brand names, including the likes of Whole Food and Nordstrom, that have recently moved out contributing to a loss of footfall that then drives out other businesses.

The city has also struggled for years with rampant fentanyl use and fatal overdoses.

Nearly 100 retailers in downtown San Francisco have closed since the start of the COVID pandemic, a decline of more than 50 percent, according to a recent report

The city's downtown has suffered from the proliferation of homeless encampments, open-air drugs markets and rampant theft

The city has also struggled for years with rampant fentanyl use and fatal overdoses

In the first five months of 2023, preliminary reports show there were 346 overdose deaths in the city - an increase of more than 40 percent from the same period in 2022.

Economists have warned the city is spiraling into an 'urban doom loop' - a vicious circle of interconnected trends and forces that send cities into economic and social ruin.

High theft has proved a problem in the area recently, with a Walgreens in the city center resolving to chaining their freezers to stop shoplifters.

Retail stalwart Old Navy announced they would be shuttering their flagship store in the area last month.

Anthropologie and Office Depot have also made the same decisions.

These stores joined the growing list of stores that have abandoned the coastal city, including H&M, Marshall's, Gap and Banana Republic.

A disturbing recent report showed 95 retailers in downtown San Francisco have closed since the start of the COVID pandemic, a decline of more than 50 percent.

Out of 203 retailers open in 2019 in the city's Union Square area, just 107 are still operating, a drop of 47 percent in just a few pandemic-ravaged years.
The row over Harry and Meghan calling their daughter Lilibet shows you 'don't put words in the mouth of the Queen', Robert Hardman has said.

Speaking to Mail columnists Sarah Vine and Andrew Pierce on their new talkshow, the esteemed royal author spoke about the furore over the naming of the Duke and Duchess's daughter Lilibet.

Earlier, this week, the Mail's exclusive serialisation of Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story revealed the Queen had been left furious by the war of words following the decision of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to give their daughter her childhood nickname.

In it, he quotes a former member of the late monarch's staff saying Her Late Majesty was 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' after the Sussexes claimed she was 'supportive' of their decision to use the name.

Speaking on the latest show - available on YouTube now - Hardman said: 'The Queen adored Harry, Harry adored the Queen. She was lucky enough to meet Lillibet and clearly adored her - that's not the issue.

Watch the whole show on the Daily Mail's YouTube channel by clicking here

In the second episode, Vine and Pierce discuss the revelations in Royal author Robert Hardman's new book, Donald Trump 's barnstorming win in Iowa and ask whether the Tories have a death wish

Sarah Vine concludes that the Sussexes could have been more respectful to the late Queen by using her childhood nickname, Lilibet, as a middle name instead

'The nub of this is how the release of the name was handled - the fact that the couple said that the Queen had been very supportive of their decision.'

Hardman notes that after the BBC reported that the Queen had not been asked, the couple resorted to lawyers and fired off legal warnings - only to suddenly stop.

He adds: 'The Palace was not prepared to endorse their version of events and in that situation, they had no situation but to back off.

'What I've discovered in the course of my research, effectively you don't put words in the mouth of the Queen.

'As I say in the book, it's a case of 'recollections may vary'.'

Vine concludes that the Sussexes could have been more respectful to the late Queen by using her childhood nickname, Lilibet, as a middle name instead.

She added: 'I don't think on its own it's a problem, but when you add it to everything else.

'All the other problems they've had, all the things they've said about the Royal Family, the documentary, the accusations of racism.'

Vine also questions why the couple chose the name given their decision to leave the Royal family.

She observes: 'They did expressly leave because they didn't want to be part of the Royal family, they didn't want to do what royals have to do.

'And then to name their daughter in that way seems so contradictory to many people.'

Hardman agrees: 'It does seem that, by taking that decision, by taking that name, it was inviting a whole load of issues that simply wouldn't have applied with any other name.

'They regard this as an intensely private matter, the naming of an adored baby daughter - I get all that.

'But if you're going to appropriate a unique Royal name - there's only one Lillibet - then I think that comes with a risk of a reaction.'

The trio also conclude that King Charles has been 'sure-footed' throughout every challenge presented to him during his reign so far.

'He's absolutely rock solid, he's not been questioned. He's seen as a sure-footed King and has had a very good start, there have been no Royal crises, not of his own making at least,' Hardman said.

The Mail's exclusive serialisation of Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story revealed the Queen had been left furious by the war of words following the decision of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to give their daughter her childhood nickname

he Reaction, which launched last week, is a new YouTube talk show which sees the Mail's star writers share their insight and views on the biggest topics of the day - no matter how contentious.

In the second episode, Vine and Pierce also discuss what is going wrong for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he faced down a Tory rebellion over the Rwanda asylum bill.

Pierce asks: 'It's been another tough week for Rishi Sunak who looks like he's fighting for his premiership again. Have the Tories got a death wish?'

Vine interjects: 'The problem with the Tory party, and it's not recent it's historical and has been going on for years and years, is that they always end up fighting like rats in a sack.

'Rishi Sunak needs to get his party under control.'

They also discuss the 'nuclear' reaction to Donald Trump's victory in the first Republican primary in Iowa this week, which takes the former president another step closer to a White House return.

Pierce said: 'I was never the greatest fan of Donald Trump but look at the alternative: doddery old Joe Biden who clearly has got cognitive issues... he's a disaster, I don't want him anywhere near the nuclear button.'

But Vine suggests that Trump does not come without his problems, adding: 'I just think he has to stop behaving like such a massive baby, he needs to take this seriously. America needs a serious, competent president and I think Trump can be that if he stops being such an appalling populist.'

Recorded in the Daily Mail's new state-of-the-art studios in its West London offices, The Reaction is broadcast at 5pm on Wednesday every week on the Daily Mail's YouTube channel.

The second episode can be watched at YouTube.com/DailyMail
Philadelphia homeless shelters say they haven't been paid by the city for months as they continue to struggle with a rampant homeless epidemic.

Half a dozen non-profits around the City of Brotherly Love say they have been left unexpectedly empty-handed for months at a time, and sometimes even years, since the pandemic, severely hampering their ability to help the homeless.

The crisis has brought scrutiny onto the city's officials shortly after new Mayor Cherelle Parker took office, who has pledged to crack down on the open-air drug markets plaguing the city.

But Parker may find her efforts hampered, after officials in her predecessor's office found last month that the Office of Homeless Services spent almost $15 million more than its budget over the last four years.

Officials say there is no evidence of corruption causing the chasm, and instead highlights the incompetent approach Philadelphia had taken as homelessness soared in recent years.

As Philadelphia continues to struggle with rampant homelessness, the city's shelters say they are being left unpaid and under-resourced

The Lutheran Settlement House (left) and Gloria's Place (right) are among a half-a-dozen shelters who say they are still waiting to be paid, with the latter claiming to be owed $400,000

Huddled on the edge of the sidewalk, a woman helps inject drugs into a man's arm, aided by a band to find his veins in Philadelphia's Kensington

One of the affected shelters, Gloria's Place in West Philadelphia, told the Philadelphia Inquirer it learned the city had decided not to renew their contract due to a lack of funding on the Monday after Thanksgiving.

While they were told the seven families in their care would have to find shelter elsewhere, it came after they had already gone without payment for months - claiming the city racked up a $400,000 debt to them.

They said the shortcomings in payment have devastated their attempts to help the city's growing homeless population.

'Those contracts keep real families, youth, and young children housed and safe,' said Trish Downey, spokesperson for Hope PHL, which runs Gloria's Place.

'Our families at Glorias Place are feeling the unfair and life-altering repercussions of these decisions.'

The shelter is among a reported half-dozen that say they have been unpaid by the city, in periodic instances since 2020 that have sometimes stretched over a year.

While it has not been put down to corruption, the Office of Homeless Services' $15 million overspend over the last four years raised eyebrows.

The office's budget skyrocketed from around $80 million in the 2020 fiscal year to almost $130 million, alongside an increase in federal funding intended to help the homeless crisis.

The office reportedly acknowledged it had fallen behind numerous payments during the same stretch, but blamed the issue on a need to pay further debts that grew during the pandemic.

Spokesperson Sherylle Linton Jones told the Inquirer because the office had hired unexpectedly expensive services during the pandemic that exceeded its budget then, it 'paid prior year costs with funding in the then-current fiscal year.'

'All these issues involving OHS developed during the Kenney administration,' she clarified.

'However, the Parker administration... is committed to seeing them resolved in a transparent manner, so that vital services to people experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia are delivered efficiently, fairly and equitably.'

She added the office expects the debts to be cleared by the end of February 2024.

Democrat Cherelle Parker (pictured) was elected in a landslide vote to become Philadelphia's 100th mayor, pledging to crack down on the open-air drug markets and crime plaguing the city

Parker is embraced during her election night celebration, after vowing to clean up the city's streets. She has posed herself as a moderate who supports issues including growing the city's police budget

It is little surprise that Philadelphia's charities say they have been left without enough resources to stem the homeless crisis in the city, with open-air drug taking, masses of tents and low-level crime becoming far more regular sights in recent years.

But Parker has led the charge in recent times to take a new direction, winning the mayor's race last year on a platform of pledging to bring down homelessness and increase funding to the city's police.

She took office on January 1, declaring she would make Philadelphia the 'safest, cleanest, greenest big city' in America.

During her first public appearance after winning the Democratic nomination for Philadelphia's next mayor, Parker backed the controversial policing practice of stop and frisk - or 'Terry stops.'

According to WHYY, she said at the time: 'There is no place for unconstitutional stop and frisk.

'Terry stops are what I wholeheartedly embrace as a tool that law enforcement needs, to make the public safety of our city their number one priority. It is a legal tool.'

Her campaign resonated with voters sick of the city's relentless crime and homelessness issues, with the Kensington neighborhood known as becoming ground zero of the crisis.

Shocking images from the city's worst neighborhoods show zombie-like scenes of drug addled people roaming the streets, particularly due to the rise of the drug Xylazine - known as 'tranq'.

Kensington, which up until the 1950s was a bustling industrial district, is now described by The Philadelphia Inquirer as 'the poorest neighborhood in America's poorest big city'

A man with a gaping wound on his arm sits slumped on the street. Xylazine frequently causes wounds that require amputation

Xylazine leaves users in a blackout stupor, making them vulnerable to violent attacks and rape

Philadelphia has become overwhelmed by drug-fueled crime under Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner (pictured), a self-described 'progressive prosecutor'

The most recent figures from the city show that in 2022 there was 1,413 unintentional overdose deaths, up 11 percent from 1,276 in 2021.

Nearly 80 percent of the fatal overdoses were caused by opioids, primarily fentanyl, which has largely replaced heroin in Philadelphia.

Shocking footage from May 2023 showed droves of homeless addicts aimlessly staggering through the streets, surrounded by tents and scattered trash.

The rise in homelessness has come following a nightmarish surge in drug taking, particularly highly addictive opioids, in America over the past decade.

Deaths caused by fentanyl in the US surged in the 2010s. At the start of the decade, 2,666 Americans died of a fentanyl overdose. This figure shot up to 19,413 by 2016. COVID made the situation worse, with a record 72,484 deaths recorded in 2021

The graph shows the cumulative annual figure for the number of drug overdose deaths reported in the US by month. It also shows that they are continuing to trend upwards

Many disgruntled residents blame the rise of such scenes on woke District Attorney Larry Krasner, a self-professed 'progressive prosecutor' who some see as failing to investigate and prosecute blatant crime.

His failure to crack down on crime led to his impeachment in 2022 for 'dereliction of duty', however he remains in office after his trial was indefinitely postponed.

At the time of his impeachment, PA House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff said the move to impeach Krasner was to stand with the people of the city 'who have been living in fear for their lives.'

Krasner also received around $1.5 million from groups backed by billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was unable to fly home from Davos as scheduled on Wednesday, after an issue with his government-owned Boeing plane forced a change of plans.

After boarding the modified military Boeing 737, Blinken and his entourage were informed that a previously detected oxygen leak could not be remedied, rendering the jet unsafe to fly, Bloomberg reported.

Blinken awaited a smaller government jet being sent to Zurich from Brussels, while most of his aides and the traveling press booked commercial flights to Washington DC.

Boeing's safety record and production processes have been under scrutiny since a panel tore off an Alaska Airlines jet while in flight near Portland, Oregon on January 5, leaving a hole on the side of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane.

Shares of Boeing closed at $200.52 on Tuesday, down nearly 20 percent from their January 5 closing price prior to the Alaska Airlines incident, wiping $30 billion off the company's market capitalization.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (seen on January 11) was unable to fly home from Davos as scheduled on Wednesday, after an issue with his Boeing plane forced a change of plans

The State Department did not immediately respond to request for comment from DailyMail.com.

Blinken was in Davos to speak at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort, where he called a pathway to a Palestinian state a necessity for Israeli security.

Boeing shares are under further pressure this week after Wells Fargo analysts downgraded the stock on Tuesday.

The Wells Fargo report, entitled 'FAA audit opens up a whole new can of worms,' citing the FAA's plan to review Boeing's inspections of the 737 MAX 9 planes before allowing them to fly again.

'Given Boeing's recent track record, and greater incentive for the FAA to find problems, we think the odds of a clean audit are low,' the analysts said.

'The FAA's audit is limited to Max 9 for now, but it's feasible that findings could expand the scope to other Max models sharing common parts.'

The FAA said on Wednesday that inspections of an initial group of 40 Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes have been completed, a key hurdle to eventually ungrounding the planes.

The FAA grounded 171 MAX 9 planes on January 6 pending approval of inspections and maintenance requirements.

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the two US airlines that use the aircraft involved, have had to cancel hundreds of flights since last week.

Blinken was in Davos to speak at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort, where he called a pathway to a Palestinian state a necessity for Israeli security

Shares of Boing closed at $200.52 on Tuesday, down nearly 20 percent from their January 5 closing price prior to the Alaska Airlines incident

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced it will audit Boeing and its suppliers' production line after the door of an Alaska Airlines aircraft blew off mid-air

On Wednesday, the FAA said all 737-9 MAX aircraft with door plugs will remain grounded pending the agencys review and final approval of an inspection and maintenance process.

'The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning these aircraft to service,' the agency said.

The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA safety chief will brief senators on the investigation on Wednesday, sources told Reuters.

Boeing on Tuesday named a retired US Navy admiral to advise the planemaker's CEO on improving quality control.

Kirkland H. Donald will serve as a special adviser to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, Boeing said.

Donald will lead a team of outside experts in evaluating quality practices at Boeing Commercial Airplanes and its supply chain and provide recommendations to Calhoun and Boeing's board of directors.
Executives who run Harvard University's $51billion endowment took a tour around Silicon Valley last week to ease top venture capitalists' concerns about the pro-Palestine bias on campus.

The unusual move comes after Harvard's embattled president Claudine Gay resigned over a slew of accusations about her plagarism and handling of antisemitism.

Narv Narvekar, Harvard Management Company's CEO, made his way to California along with the Chairman and Chief Investment Officer to speak to firms such as Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins and Andreessen Horowitz, WSJ reports.

They also organized meetings with with Elad Gil, an influencial Silicon Valley exec and Israeli-born investor who previously spoke out about Gay's plagarism scandal.

Narvekar and the other Harvard representatives also met with Patrick Collison, the CEO of payments company Stripe - which counts on Harvard as a direct investor.

Narv Narvekar, Harvard Management Company's CEO, made his way to California along with the Chairman and Chief Investment Officer to speak to firms such as Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins and Andreessen Horowitz

Harvard's embattled president Claudine Gay resigned earlier this month over a slew of accusations about her plagarism and handling of antisemitism

Some of the VC executives, who raise money for Harvard, previously tried to get the university to address concerns about the handling of the antisemitism situation.

Paul Finnegan, who is the treasurer of Harvard University and Chair of the Harvard Management Company, also attended the meetings with Silicon Valley chiefs - which is a rare and unsusal step from him.

Finnegan is also a member of the prestigeous 12-person Harvard Corporation, that governs the university.

While speaking to the investors last week, Finnegan allegedly said that Claudine Gay's initial lackluster statement about the Israel-Hamas conflict was weak, because she had sought the input from various deans.

He also said in some of the meetings in Silicon Valley that he was aware many believe Harvard's DEI - diversity, equity, and inclusion - programs have 'gone too far,' in recent years.

Narvekar, the endowment's CEO, was present in many of the meetings, WSJ reports.

Elad Gil, a top VC investor, and Patrick Collison, the CEO of payments company Stripe, were met by members of Harvard's endowment to smooth over relations following the tumultous few months on campus

Gil had spoken out about Claudine Gay's plagarism accusations

Paul Finnegan, who is the treasurer of Harvard University and Chair of the Harvard Management Company, attended the meetings with Silicon Valley chiefs - which is a rare and unsusal step from him

The pressure from investors, who are hired by the school to manage their money, is a new facet in the percussive accusations Harvard and its disgraced ex-president have faced in recent months.

Harvard is partially funded by the endowment - which includes thousands of philanthropic, donated gifts. Their move to bring venture captial into the endowment is a relatively new - and Harvard has been slow on the come-up.

Despite this, HMC, which was formed in 1974, is the largest academic endowment in the world.

The VC industry is bolstered by several prominent Israeli investors - and the Jewish country has produced lucrative startups that amass billions of dollars each year.

While there was internal discussion about how the pro-Palestinian sway on campus may affect Harvard's spot in future venture funds, WSJ reports that the endowment execs were more focused in having open conversations with the CEOs.

As well as California, members of the endowment have been easing the minds of top investors on the East Coast too. One of Harvard's investiment chiefs allegedly spoke with Josh Kushner, of Thrive Capital, in New York.

Kushner, who is the brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared, is a venture manager to Harvard's endowment and has been outspoken about antisemitism.

When Harvard released a secondary statement after Gay's shameful congressional testimony in December, Kushner wrote: 'Congressional testimonies speak louder than tweets. harvard is better than this.'

Harvard endowment spokesman Patrick McKiernan said in a statement to WSJ: 'HMC is fortunate to have strong, longstanding relationships with many investment managers who care deeply about higher education.

'It is important to engage with our partners and share with them all of the ways that Harvard is actively working to ensure student safety and protect freedom of speech.'
A non-binary American has lost a High Court challenge against the Government over the UK's gender recognition laws.

Ryan Castellucci, a cybersecurity expert, brought a challenge over the way their change of legal gender has been recognised by British authorities.

The US national, who is now resident in the UK, changed their legal gender and birth certificate to non-binary in the state of California in 2021.

While Gender Recognition Certificates (GRC) confirm one's switch from male to female or vice versa, there is no option to be recognised as 'non-binary' in the UK.

Last November, the High Court in London heard the UK recognises changes of legal gender that have taken place in several foreign countries and states - including California.

Ryan Castellucci, a cybersecurity expert, brought a challenge over the way their change of legal gender has been recognised by British authorities

Last November, the High Court in London heard the UK recognises changes of legal gender that have taken place in several foreign countries and states - including California

Judges were told that, when the American tried to update their UK residence permit to reflect their gender, they were told they could not be recorded as non-binary.

But, in a ruling today, Lady Justice Elisabeth Laing and Mrs Justice Heather Williams dismissed Mx Castellucci's legal bid.

They said: 'We have decided that whenever the Gender Recognition Act refers to 'gender' it refers to a binary concept - that is, to male, or to female gender.

'The gender recognition panel, accordingly, had and has no power to issue a gender recognition certificate to the claimant which says that they are 'non-binary'.'

Last April the American said in a witness statement to the Family Court: 'In the current state of affairs, I don't even know as a matter of law what my legal gender is in the UK.

'It is striking and profoundly upsetting that I do not know how my gender would be recorded on my death certificate.'
A former Donald Trump advisor is back in the fold after breaking with the former president and shifting to Ron DeSantis  and now declares that it's time to 'coalesce and unite' behind the former president.

Steve Cortes, formerly a spokesman for the pro-DeSantis superpac Never Back Down, called on fellow Republicans to 'read the room' in a new op-ed after Trump trounced his opponents in the Iowa caucuses.

'Those of us who backed Ron DeSantis  or the other Republican candidates  should read the room. Former President Trump winnowed the field effortlessly and then crushed the remaining three candidates in Iowa. He leads in the polls everywhere else. It is time to coalesce and unite behind the clear preference of the GOP grassroots, Donald John Trump,' he wrote.

He said it was time to 'coalesce' around Trump  the same pitch Trump himself is making to voters while his team calls on his rivals to drop out. 'With the America First movement acting fully in concert, we will win a historic electoral victory that leads to a full restoration of American greatness,' Cortes predicted.

Cortes, a former Trump advisor and cable news commentator, had denounced Trump's actions following his attacks on former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.

Steve Cortes, who served as a senior advisor to Donald Trump but bolted to the pro-DeSantis superpac Never Back Down, said Republicans need to 'read the room' and get behind Trump

'If he wins, what people of gravity and substance would volunteer to work for his administration, knowing how viscously he's attacked nearly all his former senior staffers?' he asked.

But before that, back in 2019, at a time when he was still in the Trump fold, he was sanguine when asked by CNN's Anderson Cooper if it was 'far fetched to think the president might challenge 2020 results if in fact he lost.'

'It's incredibly far fetched,' he responded. I almost honestly can't believe we're talking about this ... It to me is absurd. We're talking about he would, he might, he shall. I mean, it's all a supposition.'

His public statement came even as Never Back Down was carrying out layoffs, after experiencing turmoil during the last weeks before the Iowa caucuses, where DeSantis came in second but ran far behind Trump.

He had earlier issued warnings about how the DeSantis campaign was performing

Cortes was an advisor to Trump

His call to unite behind Trump follows the former president's win in the Iowa caucuses

The PAC had been footing the bill for DeSantis events all around Iowa and early primary states.

Even officials in Nevada, which comes third in the nominating process, were let go, the New York Times reported.

That comes as DeSantis is refocusing his efforts on South Carolina, while trailing far behind Trump and Nikki Haley in New Hampshire.

Back in July, while serving as a spokesman for Never Back Down, Cortes acknowledged that DeSantis was 'far behind.'

'Right now, in national polling, we are way behind. I'll be the first to admit that,' he said. 'I believe in being really blunt and really honest. It's an uphill battle.'

He reportedly left his broadcasting role at Newsmax in 2021 in a clash with the company over its COVID vaccine mandate.

He left Never Back Down back in October, but according to the group still backed DeSantis in his 'personal capacity' at the time.
January 17, 2024: Russian armed forces invaded Ukraine in early 2022 and by 2023 that effort, justified by the purported Russian need to halt eastward expansion of nations joining NATO, had Russia on the defensive. Ukraine has a population of 33 million after nearly ten percent of Ukrainians fled the country to nearby countries because of the fighting plus lost homes and jobs. Most of those who left will return when the war ends. The sooner the war ends the larger the number of exiled Ukrainians will return. Russia has a population of 143 million and wants to add all Ukrainians to that and make Russia stronger. The Ukrainians are not interested in becoming Russians. Russia is not discouraged by that and announced that efforts to absorb Ukraine will continue indefinitely.

As early as 2021 Russian leader Vladimir Putin was threatening war with Ukraine to prevent them from joining NATO and the European Union. Putin declared that Ukraine was part of Russia and ignored the fact that the Ukrainians disagreed and were willing and able to fight any Russian interference. The 2022 invasion was not a complete surprise. Since 2014 Russia has been making a lot of threats against Ukraine that were not, until 2022, acted on. The 2014 Russian seizure of Crimea and parts of two eastern Ukraine provinces led to economic sanctions by the West. Soon the Russian economy was a mess, as in stagnant and shrinking. Russia has fewer friends or allies, and the future looks dim. Sending troops into Ukraine (2014), Syria (2015), Libya (2016) and Ukraine in 2022 has not helped solve any of the fundamental problems Russia has but made for great propaganda about how active Russia was in foreign affairs. In 2022 Russia discovered that the cost of fighting in Ukraine was wrecking the Russian economy and driving more Russians into poverty.

What went wrong? Russia entered the 21st century with a new elected government dominated by former KGB secret police officers who promised to restore economic and civil order. They did so but in the process turned Russia into a police state with less political and economic freedom. Many Russians opposed this, and the government responded by appealing to nationalism. Russia has turned into what Germany had become in the 1930s. This included police state ways and the traditional threatening attitude towards neighbors. Rather than being run by corrupt communist bureaucrats, the country is now dominated by corrupt businessmen, gangsters and self-serving government officials that characterized the last czarist government that the communists replaced a century ago.

The communists made a lot of promises they couldnt keep, killed anyone who opposed them and, after 1964, ran the Soviet Unions economy into ground. Astute American leadership in the 1980s helped too. Things then improved somewhat in post-Soviet Russia until the Putin administration invaded the Ukraine in 2014, whereupon Western sanctions stagnated the economy. Further sanctions for Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the sheer costs of the current Ukraine war, have hammered the Russian economy still more. Reliance solely on deficit spending to finance the war effort, and decline in necessary infrastructure maintenance and investment, have created clear limits on Russian ability to continue the war much longer.

Rebellion against the Putin regime has been derailed by astute propaganda depicting Russia as under siege by the West and NATO. Opinion polls show wide popular support for this paranoid fantasy, but some Russians continue to struggle for better government and beneficial reforms. For now, most Russians want economic and personal security and are willing to tolerate a police state to get it. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions did more damage than Russian politicians expected. That, plus the anxiety generated by having troops fighting in Syria, Ukraine and Libya has scared away a lot of foreign investors and many Russian ones as well. Russia can downplay this in the state-controlled media but without all that foreign and Russian capital the economy cannot avoid steady decline, let alone grow. Since 2014 most Russians can see daily that they are worse off than before. Meanwhile China, the only real threat to Russia, quietly makes progress in the east. There China has claims on much of the Russian Far East and is openly replacing Russia as the primary economic, military, and political force in Central Asia.

Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022 and that was the first major medium-intensity war since the early 1950s Korean war. The Ukraine War is local, but it involves a major power, Russia, that was a more powerful major power before the Cold War ended in 1991 and the Soviet Union dissolved, Russia, the core of that empire, lost half its population of non-Russians before 1991. The Ukraine War is the first step in rebuilding the Russian empire that was run by monarchies for centuries until the early 1920s when the communist Soviets took over. The former components of the Soviet Union do not want to rejoin any Russian empire and that is why Ukraine fights so hard against the Russian invaders.

At the end of 2023 Vladimir Putin ordered the military to increase active duty troops to 1.32 million. This involves finding another 170,000-670,000 recruits (depending on whose statistics are used). If you include civilian military employees, the Russian military purportedly now has 2.2 million personnel. Thats1.5 percent of the Russian population. At the beginning of 2023 there were purportedly 1.15 million Russian military personnel. By the end of 2023, Russian personnel losses in Ukraine had grown to over a million, of which at least half were permanent losses, mostly dead but also prisoners, missing and those discharged because of disabling wounds. About 40 percent of Russian casualties are dead compared to only 20 percent of Ukrainian casualties because the Russians in this war get no battlefield medical treatment whatever. During World War Two, wounded Russian troops received at least minimal medical treatment, largely by dragging wounded off the battlefield. Female soldiers were often used to do this and bring the wounded to medics. Wounded soldiers in freezing conditions die of exposure or shock within about an hour unless they are carried to shelter, but that was not happening for Russians in the Ukraine. Prospective recruits knew this.

Putin wants to replace those losses and increase the size of the military. To that he has to depend mostly on volunteers and former soldiers, or reservists. Then there are the conscripts, young men who are obliged to spend one year in the military. Once that year is over, these men are eligible to become reservists or, now that the military service law has changed, subject to mobilization to supply the military with more troops.

Mandatory conscript service brings in nearly 300,000 new troops a year. Half these men are called up between April and July while the other have are called up during the last few months of the year. This has been the way it has been done for over a century. Conscription gives Russia some badly needed military manpower but there is a catch. Conscripts only serve for one year and nominally cannot be sent into a foreign combat zone. The Russian public will not tolerate tinkering with the 12-month limit and the post-communist Russian government lacks the coercive power to overcome that. Conscripts have been sent to the Ukraine war, but an uneasy de facto compromise has arisen that involves conscripts only used in non-combat roles.

Since Putin ordered Ukraine invaded in February 2022, he has clashed with Russian attitudes towards conscription and lost. After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the communist rule was replaced by democracy and frequent opinion polls. There were no professional politicians to make the new democracy work. There were former Soviet officials trying to get elected to powerful positions. More than ever before, these new political candidates had to pay close attention to public opinion. Former KGB officer Putin got elected once and managed to change the rules to keep him in office for as long as he wanted and survive efforts to remove him. Two years of futile combat in Ukraine has led to discussions in Russia about getting rid of Putin. This happened despite Putin putting most Russian media under state control. The catch was that successful dictators, and Putin is one of them, pay attention to public opinion because if too many of your subjects get too angry, its the end for the unpopular dictator. Russians experienced this in 1991 and even zealots like Putin must pay heed. Push the Russian people too far and they will push back. There are numerous and frequent examples of this in Russian history.

Putins solution is to make the most of a bad situation. Conscripts currently get a few weeks of training followed by service doing any work they can handle. This allows many of the volunteer, or contract, soldiers to go to Ukraine, where the Russian personnel situation is desperate. Training for the conscripts tied up the few remaining military training facilities all the time, as almost all the pre-war training staff were sent to the Ukraine after the war started and became casualties themselves. Russian non-commissioned officers are basically useless because 70 years of the Red Army predecessor of the current Russian army destroyed their role as trainers and leaders of more junior enlisted men, and all attempts to revive an effective non-com system since 1991 have failed.

This makes it impossible to provide training for the contract soldiers or former conscripts, now older men, mobilized into the military for as long as the government can get away with it. Few Russian men serve in Ukraine voluntarily and most are coerced or tricked into volunteering, with a few persuaded by offers of high pay, which they rarely get, or are convicts spending six months in Ukraine to get a full pardon. Putins alleged plan is to obey the law about not sending conscripts into battle, and hope to later persuade them, after their discharge, to volunteer for some form of mobilization. That hasnt worked so far. Putin lacks sufficient internal security forces to overcome a lot of public opposition to his seriously unpopular or illegal schemes, so he has to be resourceful.

The fighting in Ukraine crippled the Russian ground forces and destroyed most of the modern equipment Putin had managed to manufacture during the previous twenty years. Economic sanctions reduced the amount of money he has available for military operations. Sanctions have also increased the percentage of Russians living below the poverty line. Putin embarrassed himself in Ukrainian because he initially boasted that the victory in Ukraine would be quick and relatively painless because the Ukrainians were not willing or able to fight and most accepted the Putin view that Ukraine was actually part of Russia but that people in Ukraine got confused and lost their way. The reality was that Ukrainians were better prepared, armed, and motivated to defeat the invading Russians. Putins response was to claim that it was NATO forces that inflicted all those casualties on Russian troops. That fiction worked for a short while because state-controlled media had been pushing the idea that NATO was conspiring to destroy Russia. That fable faded as the months of defeats went by and Russians were told by returning wounded soldiers that Ukrainians were fighting back and simply doing so more effectively than anyone expected. Many Russians have family, friends, or contacts in Ukraine and that, added to what Russian soldiers who had returned Ukraine said put an end to the efforts to blame NATO for the Russian defeats. Putin propagandists had to come up with a new explanation for the mess in Ukraine and he came up with a reheated version of the accusation that NATO is trying to destroy Russia. NATO nations were supplying Ukrainian forces with weapons and munitions. The military aid from NATO was superior to what Russian troops were using. That was, for Putin, an unacceptable but painfully accurate description of the Russian problem in Ukraine.

Putin also has a problem with the fact that for over a year Russian soldiers have been fighting in another country and getting killed or wounded in large numbers. Russia had not been invaded and Putin sought to portray it as a successful Russian defense of the homeland. Once more, Russians eventually saw through that disinformation by paying attention to Ukrainian media which makes no mention of plans to invade Russia, only efforts to get Russian soldiers out of Ukraine. Putin also tried, with some success, to persuade people in nations supporting Ukraine with weapons and money that Ukraine is not worth the expense because of a growing list of Russian disinformation efforts, which grew less and less effective as more of them were found largely propaganda supported by dwindling amounts of reality.

Russia has few allies or foreign supporters and most of these, like Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Cuba have little to give. China could provide lots of tangible support but prefers not to because China believes the Ukraine invasion was a stupid idea and does not want to get hit with sanctions for providing military support for Russia. China and India both advise Putin to just get out of Ukraine and out from under all those sanctions before long-term damage is done to Russia.

Putin has, for more than two decades, been working on what he agrees are needed military and economic reforms so that the next time Russian troops are in combat they will perform better and perhaps even win. There have been several rounds of unsuccessful military reforms since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. One of the major causes of that collapse was their unaffordable and largely ineffective armed forces. In post-Soviet Russia there were far fewer restrictions on criticizing the military. Most Russians had a very negative attitude towards conscription and the reforms underway because of the Ukraine War disaster were seen as typical of several previous efforts to remedy problems that continue to resist any fundamental change.

The new Russian plan calls for a massive training program to replace all the officers lost in the first few months of 2022s fighting. The immediate problem with that is all the officer instructors were sent to the front in March and April 2022 where they too became casualties. Next is that Putin insists on constant suicidal attacks which maximize Russian casualties and interfere with reform attempts. Finally, there is another serious problem that few Russian officials want to discuss, corruption. Even in wartime, especially during the recent fighting, corruption was still a problem. Too many officers and other government officials continued to put their own financial gain above the need to equip the troops with what they needed to survive and win. There have been several corruption scandals in Russia since the Ukraine War began. The militarys corruption is rooted in political corruption at the highest levels including Putin and his cronies, and inevitably drifted downward until even supply sergeants routinely steal back and sell gear issued to new troops before the poorly equipped soldiers leave for the front. Russia is descending into a Third World state known as a resource kleptocracy but run by a very real gangster confederacy. The only difference with Russia is that they have nuclear and biological weapons inherited from the Soviet Union.

By late 2022 over half of Russian military personnel were volunteers serving on contracts or career officers. The ability of the military to hold onto those contract/contrakti soldiers was always weakened if there were a lot of casualties or too much chance of being sent to a combat zone. Volunteering to be a contract soldier used to be considered a smart move because the Russian economy had been increasingly weak over the last decade and well paid work was hard to find. After the fighting began in Ukraine, the contract soldiers suffered as much as the conscripts and junior officers did.

The result of this was contract troops refusing to renew contracts. Most of the combat units sent into Ukraine were composed of contract troops who were killed in large numbers. When the survivors got back to Russia, either because of wounds or because many combat battalions returned because of heavy losses, there was a sudden shortage of contract soldiers. That was because most contract troops were near the end of their two-to-three-year contracts and refused to renew. The army had signed up many soldiers for the new, since 2016, six to twelve month contracts for former soldiers, or conscripts willing to try it, and found that there were far fewer vets willing to sign these short contracts because, so few recent short-term contract soldiers had survived service in Ukraine.

The government then tried to solve this reluctant contract soldier problem by changing the contracts so that contract soldiers had to remain in the army for as long as the fighting continued. Realizing that it was a death sentence if they were sent back to Ukraine, many contract soldiers simply refused to go. There were so many men refusing to go that the government backed off from threats to prosecute the reluctant contrakti.

At that point the Russian armed forces had dire and apparently unsolvable manpower problems. They were taking ghastly casualties making suicidal attacks during winter with their front-line troops knowing very well what is happening. The survivors make certain other Russian troops knew it too. They have no junior officers to lead and make sacrifices with them because most officer training staff were killed in 2022 and the rest cannot produce replacements fast enough. That meant almost all prospective contrakti recruits know how little training, support, medical treatment, and effective equipment they will get, and how few of them will survive.

The shortages of combat troops had some interesting side effects. Both sides were forced into relying more on drone or UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) wars. The Russians had to do so because of the lack of manpower and the Ukrainians for lack of artillery shells and rockets, and lack of American support due to Congressional disputes and deadlocks over funding the Ukrainian war effort.

At first supplying Ukraine with munitions was not a problem for the United States because the Americans agreed with their NATO allies, especially Poland and Germany, that defeating the Russian invasion of Ukraine would discourage the Russians from trying that against NATO countries, like Poland and the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Germany agrees with Poland and the Germans have decided to expand their armed forces to deal with the potential Russian aggression. Poland and the Baltic States have taken similar measures. Poland spent nearly $15 billion to buy a thousand modern tanks and other combat systems. South Korea provided this equipment because South Korea has become a major manufacturer and exporter of modern weapons.

Recent sales to Poland and other NATO countries surprised the Americans, who had not paid attention to the growth of South Korea as an exporter of weapons. The European NATO nations still want American support in the form of munitions and weapons. The Americans produce many essential systems for the Ukrainians to use, like the HIMARS vehicles and the guided rockets they are armed with. Patriot anti-aircraft and anti-missile missiles are also American. Japan is the only foreign country to obtain a license to produce Patriot missiles and has agreed to increase production for NATO countries. The United States and other NATO nations have sent most of the Patriot missiles to Ukraine and those missiles have defeated most of the Russian missile attacks. Meanwhile, many American politicians decided that the United States had other obligations closer to home and cut U.S. support for Ukraine. For Russia, this is an opportunity, but Russia is too weak and disorganized to take full advantage of the situation. The reduced American support means Ukrainian forces suffer heavier losses and Russia sees an opportunity to keep the war going until NATO support fades because of the expense and Russian resolve to continue fighting no matter what.
Vice President Kamala Harris told the hosts of ABC's The View that she's 'scared as heck' of Donald Trump being elected to a second term.

In a friendly, 45-minute interview, where Harris was given multiple opportunities to tout the work of President Joe Biden's administration and slam Republicans for having 'nothing to run on.' She also defended Biden's age and talked about being scared of the 'crazies.'

Joy Behar asked the vice president about comments Michelle Obama made, stating she was terrified of the outcome of the 2024 election. Behar asked her what she and Biden are 'going to do to stop the crazies.'

'I am scared as heck,' Harris replied.

Vice President Kamala Harris told the hosts of ABC's The View that she's 'scared as heck' of Donald Trump being elected to a second term

'There is an old saying that there are only two ways to run for office, either without an opponent or scared,' the vice president continued.

'So on all of those points, yes, we should all be scared, but as we know and, certainly, this is a table of very powerful women, we don't run away from something when we're scared. We fight back against it.'

Harris was given a warm welcome when she walked out on the ABC soundstage in New York for the interview. Each of the five co-hosts gave her a hug.

Whoopi Goldberg introduced her: 'Vice president Kamala Harris is incredibly busy helping to run the country as well as run a re-election campaign with so much at stake, and I have to say, we at this table, are thrilled that she found a moment to come and see us.'

In addition to touting the administration's accomplishments, Harris defended Biden's age. At 81, he is the oldest president even elected in American history. If he wins a second term, he would be 86 at its completion.

Harris described the president as 'forward thinking.'

'Let me just address the issue directly. I spend a lot of time with our president, be it in the Oval Office, the Situation Room. We have a president in Joe Biden who is forward thinking in a way that we've not seen in a long time,' she said.

Harris also used the air time to bash Republicans. She specifically pointed to Biden's infrastructure plan and noted many GOP lawmakers are taking credit for projects coming to their districts.

She claimed they are doing it because they have nothing to run on and that Republicans are using issues like immigration and Biden's age to divide the country and distract 'from the real issues.'

'Why are they doing it,' she said. 'Because they have nothing to run on. They have nothing to run on. Where is the plan? Right, and so that's what's happening and I think that it is sadly there is a push from so many people in that lane to try to divide our country and distract from the real issues.'

Donald Trump won the Iowa caucuses by 30 points

Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden at a White House event in October

Polls show Harris' approval rating hovers around 37% - a low number that is even lower than Biden's.

Trump leads Biden by one point in the RealClearPolitics polling average of the 2024 presidential election.

And a CBS News/YouGov poll on Monday found that Trump, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis each beat Biden in a head-to-head match-up on the 2024 general election.

While Trump leads in the GOP primary poll, Haley fared the best against Biden. Haley had an 8-point lead over Biden  53 percent support to 45 percent, showing strong support from moderates and independents.

Trump won the Iowa caucuses on Monday night with a record-breaking 30-point victory. He finished with 51 per cent of the vote, far ahead of DeSantis with 21 per cent, Haley's 19 per cent and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy's 8 per cent, who dropped out of the race on Monday night.

Some experts are already predicting Trump could have the Republican presidential nomination effectively sewn up by March, which would be one of the earliest starts of a general election campaign.

Harris also repeated the Biden team's argument that the 2024 election is about the struggle for democracy. Biden's focus on the campaign trail has been on Trump. He has made defending democracy a centerpiece of his reelection bid and has repeatedly said Trump threatens the principles on which the country was founded.

The vice president echoed that when The View co-host Alyssa Farah asked her about their ticket trailing in the polls when matched up against Trump.

'What does it say that the party is struggling to compete with an unfit man who is likely going to jail?,' Farah asked her.

'There's a lot to unpack there,' Harris replied.

She then talked about how the election is a 'split screen you can throw up and see and it's going to be the choice between what is about respecting our democracy, what is about competence versus chaos versus someone who has called those who would attack our capitol and try and undo the votes of millions of Americans in a presidential race and would dare to call those people who committed acts of violence patriots.

Biden is meeting with congressional leaders at the White House Wednesday afternoon to talk about funding for the Ukraine, which Republicans have paired with security on the border.

But Harris told The View that Republicans won't support a solution for the border because it's an election year. The GOP have seized on border security as a campaign issue for the 2024 presidential election.

'We want solutions. The solutions are at hand, but, frankly, we're in an election year, and the folks who want to return Donald Trump to the White House would prefer to talk about a broken immigration system instead of focusing on the solutions that are at hand and engaging in bipartisan work,' she said.
This is the shocking moment a masked mob targets a Jewish youth group for inviting a British IDF soldier to host a talk.

A Jewish charity event to help young boys fell into chaos after the address was leaked on social media.

A number of masked men were filmed shouting at Jewish people gathered on the street in Hendon, north west London, while being separated by police officers.

The Boys Clubhouse is a Jewish charity that provides a safe environment for disadvantaged teenage boys in crisis.

In the video, the police are seen separating the two groups of people as they shout at each other.

One man wearing a black balaclava points at the group while being held back by an officer and shouts 'dirty scum'.

A Jewish charity event to help young boys fell into chaos after the address was leaked

A number of masked men were filmed shouting at Jewish people gathered on the street in Hendon, north west London, while being separated by police officers

Due to clashes between pro-Palestinian and Israel supporters, the event was called off

Pro Palestine protestors demonstrate outside the clubhouse over it hosting a presentation by British IDF soldier Levi Simon

A dog wearing Israel flags arrives with counter protestors today

Police are seen intervening with the two groups as the event turned chaotic

The British-Israeli speaker at the event was IDF soldier Levi Simon, The Jewish Chronicle reported.

The charitys Chief Executive Ari Leaman told the news outlet that the soldier was invited to the talk to 'inspire the boys to do well in life' and it had 'nothing to do with the army'.

He said Mr Simon was due to speak with several youngsters who had been excluded from school and it was about 'overcoming adversity and not doing drugs'.

The soldier posted about the event on his social media and this was then widely shared to a number of anti-Israeli groups.

Mr Leaman said the post was shared to an extent that 'almost every Palestinian group' was aware of the event. He added that the young boys at the charity know 'this is part of being Jewish in England today'.

Passersbys told The Jewish Chronicle that it was 'terrifying', 'awful', and added that 'no one can work because of their loudspeakers'.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: 'We are fully aware of the heightened tensions which remain among both Jewish and Muslim communities in London as a result of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.

'No-one should be subjected to hate or intimidation because of their faith or race, and we are doing all we can to support those who legitimately want their voice be heard while bringing those who engage in criminal behaviour to justice.

'Police were made aware of an event in support of Israel taking place at a venue in Hendon Way, NW4 during the afternoon of Wednesday, 17 January.

'We were also made aware of a number of pro-Palestine protesters who also attended the venue.

'Officers were already on scene to prevent the escalation of any tensions.

'All those in attendance left the scene at around 15:30hrs; there were no arrests.'

'We are aware of video footage circulating and are reviewing this to establish if any offences have been committed.'
Arnold Schwarzenegger has been fined 35,000 after being detained at Munich Airport and quizzed 'under tax law' over an unregistered luxury watch he was planning to auction, according to German media.

The Terminator actor, 76, was told he had to pay half of the customs fees in cash, and was escorted by an officer to withdraw the huge sum from a bank, BILD reports.

His 49-year-old girlfriend Heather Milligan and a friend - both of whom had accompanied him on a flight from Los Angeles this afternoon - were not allowed to go to the bank with him, the German tabloid also reports.

The film star, who has dual Austrian and US citizenship, was pictured with customs officers this afternoon and is said to have waited three hours with authorities before being let go.

Speaking before his release, a customs officer said 'the watch will probably have to stay'. Arnie is said to have been on his way to attend a climate charity auction being held tomorrow in Kitzbuhel, Austria.

The Terminator actor, 76, was seen holding a box in a customs office at Munich airport, in a picture obtained by BILD

As the news emerged, the former bodybuilder shared a bizarre Instagram snap of him seemingly sharing a biscuit with his pet pig

US-Austrian actor, businessman, retired bodybuilder and former Governor of California, speaks during the opening of the Austrian World Summit in 2023

The passionate climate campaigner was planning to auction it off at a dinner on Thursday, BILD reports

The watch is reported to be a valuable timepiece which was made for him by Swiss luxury brand Audemars Piguet.

The passionate climate campaigner was planning to auction it off at a dinner on Thursday, BILD reports.

Shortly after news of his customs run-in emerged, the former bodybuilder shared a bizarre Instagram snap of him seemingly sharing a biscuit with his pet pig.

Spokesman for the Munich Main Customs Office, Thomas Meister, said tax should have been paid on the watch because Schwarzenegger was intending to sell it in the European Union.

'If the goods remain in the EU, you have to declare them through customs. This applies to everyone, whether their name is Schwarzenegger or Muller, Meier, Huber,' a customs spokesman told German outlet SZ.

The former California Governor is said to have told BILD that the watch was meant to be auctioned off for charity.

'This is the problem that Germany is suffering from. You can no longer see the forest for the trees,' he reportedly told the paper.

The ex politician is known for his love of flashy watches, and famously brought out his own limited edition model with Audemars Piguet in 1999.

Only 1,500 of the Royal Oak Offshore 'Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy' pieces were ever produced and they retail for more than 30,000.

File image shows Arnold Schwarzenegger holds a Audemars Piguet watch included in a 2003 auction

Schwarzenegger brought out his own limited edition model with Audemars Piguet in 1999

The auction listing of the exclusive watch

His extensive collection of watches is also said to include pieces by Rolex and other luxury brands.

It is not known which exact timepiece from his collection he was allegedly held up over.

The Austrian born actor was also on his way to watch the Hahnenkamm Race, a major contest in the Alpine ski calendar.

He runs Vienna-based charity The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, an eco group which is raising funds at a party during the prestigious race week.
An American heiress dubbed the 'suitcase killer' after helping kill her mother and stuffing her body in luggage on a luxury Bali vacation almost a decade ago has been sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Heather Mack, 29, heard heartbreaking victim impact statements before hearing her sentence in an Illinois court Wednesday, where she was branded a 'monster.'

Prosecutors had sought a full 28-year prison sentence, after Mack's crimes shocked the nation in 2014 when she conspired to kill her wealthy mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack, with her boyfriend, Tommy Shaefer.

Mack previously pleaded guilty to the murder in Indonesia in 2015 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison before her early release in 2021. Immediately after returning to the US, she was arrested again and charged with conspiracy to kill a US national and obstruction of justice.

Alongside her 26-year sentence, Wednesday's hearing also ruled over the restitution of $262,708.

Heather Mack, 29, was sentenced on Wednesday to 26 years prison for conspiring to kill her mother in Bali in 2014

Mack and her former boyfriend 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)

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's wealthy mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack - married to composer late James L. Mack, who died during a family trip in 2006 - was killed, stuffed in a suitcase and left in a taxi in 2014.

The heiress was in line to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund upon her mother's death, and prosecutors said Mack and Shaefer plotted her murder for months so they could start a life together.

She pleaded guilty last June to one count of conspiring to kill Wiese-Mack with Shaefer, with prosecutors arguing that Mack, then 18 and pregnant, covered her mother's mouth in a hotel room while Schaefer bludgeoned her with a fruit bowl.

When Mack and Shaefer tried to put the suitcase into the taxi, they fled when the driver suspected something was wrong, and were both arrested shortly afterward at a nearby budget hotel.

Schaefer was convicted of murder and remains in Indonesia, where he is serving an 18-year sentence.

At her sentencing on Wednesday, Weise-Mack's brother Bill Weise said in his victim impact statement that Mack's 'brutal actions' were 'morally reprehensible', and her decisions after the crime were 'sickening.'

Feeling that she is a 'monster and a selfish person,' Weise said Mack is 'so accustomed to lying that she doesn't even know what is true.'

'Heather is a master manipulator. She always knows exactly what she is doing,' she added, reports Chicago Sun-Times court reporter Jon Seidel.

Pregnant at the time of her mother's murder, Mack gave birth to a daughter, Stella, while serving her prison sentence in Indonesia. Weiss pleaded in court for her to 'never be allowed to parent Stella', who is now eight years old.

A statement was read on behalf of Stella's legal guardian, Lisa Hellmann, during the sentencing, where she claimed Mack 'knowingly and willingly put her daughter into exploitative situations time and time again for monetary gain, without regard to the detrimental consequences such actions could have on Stella.'

She added 'Stella does not want to speak with her mother', and 'does not want to be raised by Heather. She has vocalized this to her therapist multiple times.'

Mack's son Stella - whom she birthed serving her overseas sentence in Indonesian prison - is pictured here with her father, Tommy Schaefer. At Mack's sentencing on Wednesday, it was heard that Stella, now 8, 'does not want to speak with her mother', and 'does not want to be raised by Heather. She has vocalized this to her therapist multiple times'

Mack's wealthy mother, von Wiese-Mack - married to the late James L. Mack, a renowned composer - was killed and stuffed in a suitcase by the pair before being left in a taxi on the island of Bali in 2014. The couple were then discovered and arrested

Much of Wednesday's hearing centered over whether Mack deserves credit on her sentence for the six years she served in Indonesia.

Mack's attorneys argued against the prosecutors' wishes of a 28-year stretch and pleaded for a reduced sentence, and sought a 15-year prison term.

Her lawyer, Jeffrey Steinback, insisted that Mack was the victim of abuse at the hands of her mother, and was coerced into killing her mother by Shaefer.

However, Mack seemed to dismiss these arguments as she spoke at the end of her sentencing hearing, saying her turbulent relationship with her mother was 'no excuse.;

'I'm responsible for my decisions,' she said. 'I made my decision. I can't sit here and blame them for those decisions.'

'There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of her. I miss her smile. Her 'I love yous' and mostly her holding me.'

Before her speech, several people raised allegations of a racist and unhappy home in Mack's household prior to her killing her mother.

Onita Mack, the sister of Heather's renowned composer father James, said Wiese-Mack didn't want black people inside their home.

She added that the 'abuse of isolation and cutting people off from the family is a real one. And Shiela did that.'

A counselor detailed a therapy session between the mother and daughter where she asked Wiese-Mack to write down positive thing she could think of about her daughter.

She claimed her response was to brand Mack a 'dirty wh***' and used a racial slur.

Attorneys for both sides doubled down on allegations over Mack's turbulent relationship with her mother, with a prosecutor noting that Mack told investigators her mother was trying to arrange for her to marry a much older man.

Mack's lawyer Michael Leonard said Mack, 18 at the time, was introduced to a 36-year-old man her mother wanted her to accept marriage too, adding: 'She was groomed.'

Despite the troubled relationship, prosecutors argued there was no excuse for the brutal nature of her mother's death.

Prosecutor Frank Rangoussis said: 'Ms. von Wiese died a painful death. She suffocated after repeated blows to her face fractured her nasal bone and her jaw bone, resulting in an obstructed airway.'

He added that she died 'inhaling her own blood.'

Mack was pregnant at the time of the murder and delivered her daughter, Stella (pictured together, left), in prison. Mack's then-boyfriend Tommy Schaefer (pictured holding Stella, right), who is also the father of her child, is serving an 18-year sentence for murder

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

The defense asked for a sentence that would have included credit for the seven years she spent in an Indonesian prison, alongside two years credit for the time she spent in custody in Chicago since her return to the US.

But Weise argued Mack shouldn't receive credit or leniency for admitting guilt now, after previously offering varying explanations and excuses for her mother's death.

The case gained international attention in part because of photographs of the suitcase Wiese-Mack was placed in, which seemed too small to hold an adult woman's body.

The government is also seeking five years of supervised release for the 28-year-old - who has already pleaded guilty - as well as a $250,000 fine and restitution of $262,708.

Weiss claimed that Mack was able to access part of her mother's trust fund in prison and was able to pay for protection in, part of the reason he felt she shouldn't receive credit for her time served there.

He also asked for restitution to make up for 'a portion of the $150,000 that Heather used to bribe prison officials.'

Next to speak was Lindsay Lococo, reading a statement on behalf of Weise-Mack's sister Debbi Curran, who said Mack should 'never ever see the light of day again.'

She said that Curran sees flashes of 'horrific images' in her mind 'whenever I travel or simply see a suitcase', which are 'impossible to erase during the day or night.'
A Maine judiciary committee is moving to create a 'safe haven' for teens seeking sex changes and protection from their parents but critics have slammed the bill as 'state-sanctioned kidnapping.'

The 'Act to Safeguard Gender Affirming Health Care' would enable certain out-of-state teens to access hormone blockers or surgery without their parents' consent regardless of their own state's laws.

A work session on the bill, LD 1735, was scheduled for Wednesday, but as public outrage grew and with severe weather, it was postponed until January 25.

If passed, LD 1735 would enable certain teens from states that have banned child gender-affirming care- such as Kentucky or Mississippi - to come to Maine, with or without their family, and access treatment.

Opponents have labeled the bill 'state-sanctioned kidnapping' and say it would allow unrelated adults to bring a child to Maine for surgery without a parent's knowledge or permission.

A Maine judiciary committee is moving to create a 'safe haven' for teens seeking sex changes and protection from their parents but critics have slammed the bill as 'state-sanctioned kidnapping.' Pictured: A pro-trans rally in Maine

Maine is working to create a 'safe haven' for young people seeing gender-affirming healthcare with a raft of bills

The scheduled 'work session' on the bill was postponed until Jan 25 with a campaign group claiming it was because they had 'rained down' criticism on the committee. Rep. David Haggan (R-Hampden), a school teacher, told The Maine Wire: 'This bill authorizes the kidnapping and massacring of children from other states without parental consent.'

The bill, brought by Rep. Laurie Osher (D-Orono) in April, would prevent Maine law enforcement from helping out-of-state authorities arrest or extradite patients, parents or healthcare professionals.

Maine would also be able to take 'temporary emergency jurisdiction' over minors from other states if they had been brought to Maine to receive sex change treatments.

Osher is one of the leaders of the women's, LGBTQ and Jewish caucuses in Maine. She was reportedly asked to introduce the bill by advocacy group LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, and instructed staffers to model the bill on similar legislation in California.

Currently in Maine - under LD 535 that was passed in July - minors can access gender-affirming health care without their parents' consent if they are over 16 and meet certain conditions.

They must be diagnosed with gender dysphoria by a health care professional, be at risk of harm if they don't receive care and declare their parent is aware but has refused to support their treatment.

The new bill has been met with vehement opposition.

Rep. David Haggan (R-Hampden), a school teacher, told The Maine Wire: 'This bill authorizes the kidnapping and massacring of children from other states without parental consent.'

Instead, he said Maine needed to take a 'compassionate stand in favor of our childrens physical and mental health.'

Likewise, Rep. Katrina Smith (R-Palermo) said: 'The state should never place itself above a loving parent and irreparably destroy the reproductive health of a minor child.'

The bill was brought by Laurie Osher in April and was scheduled for a work session on Wednesday until it was postponed

Megyn Kelly shared the bill, labeling it 'sick' and calling on people to protest to the committee

Campaign group, Courage is A Habit, called on people to email the committee to protest what they branded the 'transgender trafficking' bill.

In an example email they wrote: 'There is a lack of long-term studies on the benefits of 'gender-affirming care, which could result in the life-long sterilization and surgical mutilation of children.

'Protecting parental rights and the well-being of children should be our top priority. I urge you to vote "ought not to pass" on LD 1735.'

After Wednesday's meeting was postponed they claimed they had 'rained down... 'absolute volcanic heat' on the committee.

Rightwing media personality Megyn Kelly shared the Bill on X, and said: 'This is SICK! Bombard them with emails. This cannot pass'.

In May, protestors rallied against the bill at the State House.

A young woman who de-transitioned, Prisha Mosley, told the Maine Wire at the protest 'We need to affirm the feelings but not affirm the delusions.'

The recently-finished three-story clapboard block on the edge of the leafy coastal town of Brunswick which will be home to migrants

Mosley began a social gender transition at age 15, started hormones at 17, and underwent an elective double mastectomy surgery to remove both breasts at 18 but now, aged 25, she has de-transitioned and lives as a woman.

Campaign group, Gays Against Groomers, posted on X: 'We need as many people as possible to email the committee members and say NO to this tyranny.'

But EqualityMaine wrote: 'LD1735 would make Maine a more welcoming place for gender affirming care when a family is fleeing a hostile state.'

Maine has provoked criticism recently for housing migrants in a 'luxury' apartment block and paying their rent under a new scheme.

One critic on X called it a 'slap in the face of the homeless' in the state where residents also pay some of the highest taxes in America.
Four killers who disguised themselves in women's burkhas as they plotted the revenge murder of two rappers are facing life in jail.

Saydi Abu Sheikh, 23, and Zakariya Mohamed, 31, were gunned down in a house in Ilford, east London, in a 'scene of bloody carnage' in the early hours of 25 October 2022.

A third man, Khalid Khalid, who was shot six times including through the head, survived along with another man who escaped with a wound to the shoulder and a fifth man who hid between a bed and a wall.

The alleged attackers were caught on CCTV cameras outside the property, jurors at the Old Bailey heard.

Zain Mirza, 21, ordered the hit in revenge after his brother had been stabbed to death three years earlier.

They had donned burkas to hide their identities when they set off for the attack from a 'mission control' flat a couple of miles away.

Saydi Abu Sheikh, 23, (pictured) and Zakariya Mohamed, 31, were gunned down in a house in Ilford, east London , in a 'scene of bloody carnage' in the early hours of 25 October 2022

Police guard a cordon in Henley Road, Ilford after the fatal shooting where two were killed

Mirza along with Chibiuke Ohanweh, 21, Ayaani Ali Adan, 20, and Mahad Gouled, 22, denied but were convicted of two counts of murder and two of attempted murder after 40 hours and 41 minutes of deliberation.

Zakarie Mohamed, 19, denied and was cleared of the two murders and attempted murders.

He admitted assisting the killers by helping to set fire to a white Mitsubishi Outlander SUV where pieces of burned burkhas were found.

They had intended their tracksuits to be destroyed but they survived the flames and were later found to contain the killer's DNA.

The Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, will sentence them on 23 February.

Mirza's brother Mohammed Usman Mirza, 19, was ambushed and violently stabbed to death in a 'carefully planned' attack in November 2019 - itself in revenge for a different stabbing.

Seven men have been jailed for a total of 128 years for murder and manslaughter.

Mohammed was lured into a car by someone he knew before being driven into a garage to be attacked.

Prosecutor John Price, KC, earlier told the jury: 'Starting at 00.04 residents in Henley Road were disturbed in their homes.

'It began with the sound of what some thought might be fireworks going off. But it was not the sound of fireworks. It was the sound of guns being discharged.

'A few minutes later, police officers and paramedics arrived in Henley Road and within the house at Number 44 was found a scene of bloody carnage.

'In an upstairs room were two young men, both dead or dying. They had each been shot and stabbed many times.

'A third young man, gravely wounded, had been left for dead. Though he sustained a gunshot wound which had passed through his head, he was to survive.'

Mr Sheikh ran outside but the bullets grazed the top of his shoulder by his neck, the court heard.

'A fifth man was even more fortunate. Zachary Abdi had been in the upstairs room but before the gunmen were able to force their way into the room, he had concealed himself between a bed and the wall and almost miraculously, his presence there went undetected by the gunmen.'

Four men were seen on CCTV arriving at the scene at three minutes past midnight before leaving at six minutes past and driving away in the SUV.

The sound of seven gunshots were recorded on a camera at a nearby house.

Minutes later residents of Ronnie Lane heard a loud explosion and looked out to see a car on fire in the middle of the road.

The fire brigade attended and extinguished the fire and found a small pile of clothes in the rear seats which survived the flames.

Mr Sheikh (pictured) ran outside but the bullets grazed the top of his shoulder by his neck, the court heard

Mr Price said: 'It was obvious what had happened in Ronnie Lane and why it was done.

'The four killers had each discarded the outer layers of upper and lower clothing they had been wearing when in Henley Road.

'It was all placed in the back of the SUV. Using an accelerant, which was probably petrol- given the fire began with an explosion and the nature of the aroma detected, they then torched the vehicle.

'Clearly their intention had been to destroy, not only the vehicle, but also the outer layers of clothing they were each wearing when committing murder.

'The ultimate aim was to destroy any evidence which might connect them to their dreadful deeds.

'In that, they failed. Preserved and later meticulously examined in the laboratory, items of the clothing and other fabric items found in the SUV were to yield scientific evidence which, it is submitted, helps to prove the identities of the four men who carried out that murderous attack.'

Saydi Sheikh was stabbed 28 times and shot four times, while Zakariya Mohamed was stabbed five times and shot seven times.

Mr Khalid was shot six times but survived.

'A bullet entered the upper left side of his face just above and in front of the ear.

'It then passed through his head on a downward trajectory and exited just to the right of his mouth. As it passed through his head, it caused damage to parts of the skull, his brain, and his teeth.

'He was shot twice in the right buttock and twice in the front of the upper right leg causing a comminuted fracture of the femur.

'A further bullet had passed through his right foot, causing a comminuted fracture of one of its many small bones, called the talus.'

Found in the rear of the burned SUV were four hoodies and four pairs of tracksuit bottoms and a piece of thin black cloth from a burqa.

Tall individuals wearing burqas were seen on CCTV entering and leaving an address suspected to have been used by the defendants in the days leading up to the murder.

Ohanweh has previous convictions for possession of crack, heroine and weapons.

On 20 June 2022 he received a six month training order for possession of a bladed article and was on license for that offence at the time of this incident.

On 4 October 2022 he cut off his tag and was on the run until his arrest.

Ohanweh, of Heath Park Road, Romford, Mirza, of Third Avenue, Newham and Gouled, of Charles Street, Enfield, and Adan, of East Street, Barking, denied but were convicted of two counts of murder and two of attempted murder.

Mohamed, of Kensal Rise, Kensington, denied and was cleared of two counts of murder and two of attempted murder.

Ohanweh, Mirza, Adan and Gouled denied but were convicted of perverting the course of justice while Mohamed admitted it.

They will be sentenced on 23 February.
After the final hearing, the committee's next step would be marking up articles of impeachment as soon as by the end of the month

The second and final impeachment hearing into Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas' handling of the southern border catastrophe is occurring Thursday - without the secretary.

It comes amid a clash between the GOP and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over making the secretary available for questioning.

Top Republican Mark Green says his committee's multiple requests for Mayorkas to publicly testify have been rebuffed by DHS over the last six months, and he is reportedly 'considering' a contempt of Congress charge.

Notably, the committee has previously subpoenaed Mayorkas for documents related to Afghan vetting and other information, but not for testimony. It is unclear if a fresh subpoena would be issued first before Republicans move forward with a contempt citation.

DHS spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg accused the GOP of engaging in a 'sham' impeachment process and said Mayorkas would 'make himself available' to testify before the committee - but the January 18 date did not work because he is hosting a Mexican delegation.

A GOP aide brushed off the agency's response, telling DailyMail.com that this is just the latest in a pattern of delaying and not engaging in good faith by DHS.

And now that the final hearing is rapidly approaching, Republicans reversed course and demanded in a Wednesday letter to Mayorkas that he at least provide written testimony, calling it his 'last chance.'

Migrants line up as they get ready to be picked up by Border Patrol agents in Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 14

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas listens to deputy patrol agent in charge of the U.S. Border Patrol Anthony Crane last week

The DHS spokesperson fired back, saying since Mayorkas' offer to testify publicly last week, the committee 'failed to respond to DHS to find a mutually agreeable date.'

'Instead, they provided this offer of written testimony to the media before any outreach to the Department,' Ehrenberg continued.

'Its abundantly clear that they are not interested in hearing from Secretary Mayorkas since it doesnt fit into their bad-faith, predetermined and unconstitutional rush to impeach him.'

She also noted Mayorkas has testified on Capitol Hill more than any other Cabinet official - 27 times since taking the job.

After the final hearing, the committee's next step would be marking up articles of impeachment as soon as by the end of the month

If Republicans succeed in impeaching Mayorkas, he would be the first Cabinet official to be impeached in nearly 150 years. Doing so would require near-total Republican unanimity given their narrow, three-seat majority.

Thursday's hearing will feature Cochise County, Arizona, Sheriff Mark Dannels and Tammy Nobels, whose son was allegedly killed by MS-13 gang members.

The final impeachment hearing comes as border crossings have reached a record high, surpassing 2.4 million in fiscal year 2023, according to government figures released in October. Just last month alone crossings at the southern border were more than 300,000.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released more than 2.3 million migrants into the United States at the southern border under the Biden administration, according to DHS.

Meanwhile, the White House and Senate negotiators are trying to salvage a sprawling immigration and foreign aid deal.

House Republicans have expressed skepticism at the negotiations led by their Senate counterparts - insisting they will only accept the hardliner border bill passed in the House last year.

And ahead of a meeting at the White House Wednesday afternoon, Speaker Mike Johnson threw cold water on any deal brokered by the Senate.

The first impeachment hearing occurred last week and brought President Biden's border policy to the center stage.

Top law enforcement witnesses from across the country blamed Mayorkas for the negative effects of fentanyl and increase in crime due to illegal crossings at the border into their communities.

The first impeachment hearing came after nearly a year of investigations and reports put out by the House Homeland Security Committee.

Migrants cross the Rio Bravo river, known as Rio Grande in the United States

If Republicans succeed in impeaching Mayorkas, he would be the first Cabinet official to be impeached in nearly 150 years

The House Homeland Security Committee led by Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., has been investigating Mayorkas and compiling a comprehensive report of his 'dereliction of duty' over several months.

In November, the Hose voted to refer articles of impeachment drafted by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to his committee in a 209-201 vote.

Green said that the referral highlighted the 'importance of our taking up the impeachment process,' which is continuing.
A teenage girl who sparked a missing person's appeal has been found safe and well.

Julia Skala was said to have disappeared after she left her home in Mitcham at around 1pm on Monday, January 8.

Police have since confirmed she has been found safe and well.
Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill set for its final stages in House of Commons tonight

The Tory revolt over Rishi Sunak's new Rwanda Bill appeared to have melted away tonight with the 'majority' of Conservative rebels set to back the Prime Minister.

Ahead of a crunch vote in the House of Commons this evening, MPs on the Tory Right gathered in Parliament to discuss their latest plans.

Many of them had threatened a rebellion over the law to send Channel migrants to Rwanda due to their unhappiness with legislation they view as not tough enough.

A Commons defeat on the Bill's Third Reading tonight would have delivered a seismic blow to Mr Sunak's premiership and possibly brought down his Government.

But a source at the meeting conceded the 'majority' of MPs in the room had now decided to vote with the PM and predicted the Rwanda Bill would pass 'comfortably'.

But they warned that they could come back if the Lords try to make changes to the legislation that weaken its powers.

'Tonight is not the end of matters... the PM is by no means out of the woods,' a source said.

The Tory revolt over Rishi Sunak's new Rwanda Bill appeared to have melted away with the 'majority' of Conservative rebels set to back the Prime Minister

Former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg was among those on the Tory Right who said they would support the Government at the Bill's Third Reading

'All colleagues are sad at where we have ended up,' the source added.

'The majority felt it was necessary to vote it through in part because of the parliamentary party and partly because of the consequences for the Government.'

The source accused Tory moderates - who have warned the PM they won't stomach any amendments to toughen the Bill - as being 'out of touch with where the country is'.

They also hit out at the Government over its handling of the latest Tory row, adding: 'Everybody in the room was deeply upset at the way the Government has handled matters in recent days, particularly the way discussions have been strung along.'

More than 60 Tory MPs continued to rebel to back amendments to the law that were easily defeated in the Commons tonight.

The news of a likely capitulation by Tory rebels will come as a huge relief to Downing Street, as the PM continues his efforts to finally get migrant deportation flights off the ground.

His new legislation, formally titled the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, is aimed at manoeuvring around last year's Supreme Court ruling against the asylum scheme.

Former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg was among those on the Tory Right who said they would support the Government at the Bill's Third Reading.

Shocking footage showed more migrants risking their lives in the Channel today as Tories descended into civil war over whether Rishi Sunak 's Rwanda plan can stop them

Dozens of people could be seen packed on to a tiny dinghy as it struggled off the coast of Kent, dwarfed by ferries and cargo vessels in the busy shipping lane

A separate incident saw another small boat crowded with passengers, including one man balanced precariously on the bow without a lifejacket

The blue dinghy looked to be struggling to stay above the waves as it made the perilous trip

A Border Force vessel met the migrant dinghies as the crossed into British waters

After plucking them from the waves, Border Force officials were pictured bringing the group ashore brought at Dover

Mr Sunak shrugged off the wrangling as he took PMQs this afternoon, insisting: 'We want to stop the boats. We have a plan and it is working.'

Mr Sunak yesterday suffered a double rebellion as Tory backbenchers made their first attempts to toughen the Bill.

This saw the resignations of two Tory deputy chairs and a ministerial aide in a shattering blow to the PM's authority.

But the rebel amendments voted on last night had no prospect of passing because they were not supported by Labour.

In a sign that Mr Sunak was determined to face down the right-wing challenge over his Rwanda Bill, Downing Street earlier indicated it will not make tonight's vote on the Bill's Third Reading a formal confidence issue.

Mr Sunak shrugged off the wrangling as he took PMQs this afternoon, insisting: 'We want to stop the boats. We have a plan and it is working.'

As Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer likened Tory squabbling on Rwanda to 'hundreds of bald men fighting over a comb', Mr Sunak shot back that Labour had no interest in tackling the problem and would take the country 'back to square one'.

Although some rebels had openly vowed to oppose the legislation altogether, even ringleaders expected the bulk of the mutineers to stop short of crashing the legislation and provoking an all-out crisis.

It would take around 28 MPs voting against, twice that many abstentions, or a combination of the two, to overturn the Government's majority.

But the spat has poured petrol on raging splits in the party, with furious Tories branding the rebels 'not very bright'.

Former No10 communications director Guto Harri described the right-wingers as 'narcissists' who were pushing for 'mass suicide' with just months to go until a general election.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tried to make light of the vicious infighting this morning, describing it as a 'lively debate'.

Underlining the wider problems, a poll overnight showed Labour 17 points ahead - with fears the Conservatives are 'leaking votes' to Reform UK.

The Commons division list recorded 58 Tories backing the rebel amendment - plus two tellers means the rebellion was by 60 MPs

Jane Stevenson - a ministerial aide to Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch - offered her resignation after backing hostile amendments in crunch votes last night

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quit as Tory deputy chairs after joining the rebellion

The insurrection last night was the biggest in Mr Sunak's time as leader.

It was bolstered by an intervention from Boris Johnson, who urged the rebels to stand their ground to make the legislation 'as legally robust as possible'.

The former PM said: 'Governments around the world are now trying to imitate the UK Rwanda policy for tackling illegal people trafficking. This Bill must be as legally robust as possible  and the right course is to adopt the amendments.'

Revolt on two amendments Tory MPs rebelled on two amendments to the Rwanda Bill last night in the biggest revolt of Rishi Sunak's premiership to date. While neither of the alterations passed, the sizeable Conservative support will worry the Government ahead of the Bill's third reading, due to fears that some MPs could vote against it. The first amendment, tabled by Tory MP Sir Bill Cash, aimed to ensure UK and international law cannot be used to prevent or delay a person's removal to Rwanda. Size of rebellion: Voted for by 60 Tory MPs. The second amendment, which was tabled by former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, aimed to severely limit individual asylum seekers' ability to appeal against being put on a flight to Rwanda. Size of rebellion: Voted for by 59 Tory MPs. Advertisement

However, Downing Street said the proposed legislation was already the 'toughest ever' and warned that tightening it further risked breaking international law.

The PM's official spokesman said the plans were 'legally robust and the fastest way to get flights off the ground'.

But 60 MPs voted for an amendment to the Rwanda Bill that would have disapplied human rights laws in relation to deportations.

A similar number backed a separate push to ban Channel migrants from lodging individual legal appeals to frustrate their removal.

Rebels included ten former Cabinet ministers, including Liz Truss, Suella Braverman, Sir Iain Duncan Smith and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who led yesterday's revolt.

In a further blow, Tory deputy chairmen Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned to join the revolt, as did Kemi Badenoch's aide Jane Stevenson.

The proposed changes were heavily defeated last night as they were opposed by both the Government and Labour.

But some rebels warned they could vote down the entire Rwanda Bill tonight unless the Government caves in.

Former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke said: 'I will vote against if the legislation isn't amended. Simple as that.'

Mark Francois, chairman of the ERG group of Eurosceptic Tories, urged the PM to back down or risk losing his flagship policy tonight. 'Given the size of the vote tonight, if I were his advisers, I would be saying: 'I think you want to compromise tomorrow if you can'.'

Tory whips are trying to peel off some of the rebels and reduce their number to a 'hardcore' of around a dozen.

However, there are concerns the Government could still lose if a large number of Tory MPs abstain.

Mr Harri described the rebels as 'self-centred narcissists' whose revolt was 'utterly futile'.

He told Sky News: 'Tomorrow they are either going to bottle it or they really are going to commit mass political suicide.'

A right-leaning minister told the Financial Times: 'They are just not strategically very bright. They have told the country that our policy is sh**, but when it comes to the third reading vote they will abstain and look stupid.'

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson sought to play down the depth of Tory divisions in a round of interviews this morning, saying: 'We all want the same thing.'

'There are disagreements of emphasis. There's an inch between us, there's a determination to ensure that the policy works,' he told the BBC.

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick (left) has insisted he will vote against the bill at third readng. Jane Stevenson (right) - a ministerial aide to Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch - backed the hostile amendments last night

Tory Right-wingers ignored pleas for unity last night to carry out the biggest rebellion in Mr Sunak's time as leader in a bid to toughen up plans to deport Channel migrants

Boris Johnson also waded into the row urging the government to accept the rebel amendments

The rebellion came just 24 hours after Tory elections chief Isaac Levido issued a stark warning to Conservative MPs that they risk inevitable defeat if they allow infighting to continue.

'Let me be clear: divided parties fail. It's time to get serious,' he told the backbench 1922 Committee on Monday night.

The Rwanda scheme was blocked by the Supreme Court in November after judges accepted claims that the country was not safe.

The new legislation declares in law that the African nation is a safe country and prevents the courts examining the principle of the scheme.

But, to the dismay of Tory rebels, it will not stop individual appeals by migrants threatened with deportation.

Rebel MPs are also seeking to disapply all human rights laws and ban interventions from the European Court of Human Rights, which grounded the last attempted deportation flight to Rwanda in June 2022.

Mr Jenrick, who quit the government last month, said there would be a deluge of individual claims unless they were outlawed, telling MPs: 'Every legal representative and Leftie lawyer will try everything they can to support those claims. We see it every time.'

He added: 'How much are we actually willing to do to stop the boats? How willing are we to take on the vested interests, balance the trade-offs, take the robust steps that will actually work?

'The only countries in the world that have fixed this problem, latterly Australia and Greece, have been willing to take the most robust action. Are we?'

MPs will vote on further amendments today before holding a crunch vote tonight on whether to approve the Bill and send it to the House of Lords.

Mr Anderson has told friends he is ready to vote down the Bill. Mr Sunak made extensive efforts to persuade the straight-talking former miner to vote with the Government. But Mr Anderson told GB News: 'I don't think I could carry on in my role when I fundamentally disagree with the Bill.'

In a joint letter with Mr Clarke-Smith, he said: 'We have already had two pieces of legislation thwarted by a system that does not work in favour of the British people. It is for this reason that we have supported the amendments... This is not because we are against the legislation, but because like everybody else we want it to work.'

Business Secretary Ms Badenoch is known to have privately urged No 10 to strengthen the Bill. Last night, her parliamentary aide Ms Stevenson resigned.

The MP for Wolverhampton North East said the legislation had to be 'as robust as it possibly can be' to deal with the illegal immigration 'crisis'.

'It is a crisis and my constituents certainly want to see results,' she said.

In the debate, immigration minister Michael Tomlinson urged MPs to unite behind the policy, saying: 'Let there be no doubt that the Government is focused and determined to stop the boats. We have made progress, but we must be enabled to finish the job.'
The Princess of Wales is said to be 'doing well' after having a successful abdominal surgery, according to Palace sources.

Kate Middleton, 42, was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone yesterday for the planned procedure this afternoon. It is said to have been a success and the Princess is now 'doing well' in her recovery.

The future Queen is expected to remain in hospital for ten to 14 days after which she will return home to Windsor to continue her recovery with the support of her family, Kensington Palace said. It is understood not to be cancerous.

The Princess is likely to be advised to recuperate for two to three months, and her return to official duties will depend on medical advice closer to the time.

Kate is not expected to return to public events until after Easter, and her husband Prince William will combine being by his wife's and children's side throughout.

Separately today, Buckingham Palace said King Charles III will attend hospital next week to be treated with a 'corrective procedure' for an enlarged prostate.

The two health updates on senior royals came within 90 minutes of each other, with Kensington Palace coming first at 2pm then Buckingham Palace followed at 3.30pm.

Kate, Charlotte, George, William and Louis at the Sandringham Christmas Day 2023 service

Kensington Palace announced today that the Princess of Wales has had abdominal surgery

Charles attends a Sunday church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on January 7

The statement about Charles' health released today by Buckingham Palace

She was not rushed for hospital and her condition was not something that developed over the weekend, according to reports.

READ MORE King Charles will go to hospital next week to be treated for an enlarged prostate, Buckingham Palace announces - forcing his public engagements to be postponed Advertisement

The Prince will also postpone a number of engagements as he supports his family, and will not undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital.

He will also do no official duties during the immediate period after Kate's return home. Royal aides will provide a revised schedule for William in due course.

It is unclear what the exact nature of the surgery, with The Palace unwilling to reveal any details in respect of Kates 'medical privacy'. However it did not rule out the prospect that she may choose to speak publicly about it herself in the future.

Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams told The Sun: 'This might be something that has been bothering her for her whole life which she has not got round to resolving, or an issue that has come to light more recently.

'Two weeks in hospital is longer than we would normally expect, but she doesnt have a normal life. Shes the future queen so the doctors will be erring on the side of caution.

'We all hope it is something minor and the surgery is straightforward, but precaution is wise. With anything medical you can never be completely certain how things will go.

'The most important thing is that she gets enough recovery time and its not too stressful for her and her family.'

Kate arrives for the royal carol concert at Westminster Abbey on December 8 last year

Kate with her family at the Westminster Abbey carol concert on December 8 last year

Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, told The Express: 'For abdominal surgery, most people stay in the hospital for four to seven days. After laparoscopic surgery [a type of keyhole surgery], this is reduced to two to four days.

'It very much depends on what exactly has been done. If a patient needs to go to ITU, it's likely their hospital stay would be considerably longer.

'It can take two months or more for the patient to feel comfortable and be able to move around normally afterwards.'

Kate is close to her family, and her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and sibling Pippa Matthews and James Middleton are set to rally round and help support her recovery at the Waleses' home in Windsor.

Neither William nor Kate will travel internationally over the coming months.

William and Kate were said to have been planning a high-profile visit to Rome this spring as part of a European charm offensive, but this is now in doubt. Another scheduled foreign military engagement could be affected.

Kate will almost certainly be forced to miss a number of high-profile events she might otherwise been expected to attend.

She and William have regularly turned up for the Baftas, the biggest night in British cinema, held in central London this month, but this would be too soon for the recovering princess.

She is also likely to miss out on a long-standing royal tradition in March  handing out shamrocks to the Irish Guards on St Patricks Day in her role as the regiments honorary colonel.

The annual Commonwealth Day Service, also held in March, is likely to have to go ahead without her. The princess, patron of English rugby, is also unlikely to be well enough to attend the Guinness Six Nations, which kicks off next month.

Kate attends the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London last November

Police officers stand outside The London Clinic today where Kate is staying after surgery

Police officers at the London Clinic today after Kate underwent surgery there yesterday

The Princess marked her birthday just over a week ago, with the monarchy's official social media accounts sharing a new behind-the-scenes photo of the princess at the King's coronation.

Kate usually enjoys good health but was previously admitted to hospital while pregnant after suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum - severe morning sickness.

A palace spokesman said at 2pm today: 'Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery.

'The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

'The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

'Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share.

'The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements.

'She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.'

Royal expert Phil Dampier said: 'Wishing the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery after abdominal surgery. We don't know the details but clearly this was serious as she will be in hospital for a fortnight and needs up to three months to recover.'

And the Queen's former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said on X: 'I am sure I speak for everyone in wishing HRH a speedy recovery.'

Like the rest of the royal family, Kate has had a busy, turbulent past couple of years, with the Platinum Jubilee and the late Queen's death in 2022, and the coronation in 2023, as well as adjusting to her new role as the Princess of Wales.

Kate was admitted to The London Clinic (pictured) yesterday for planned abdominal surgery

The Waleses also faced the ongoing rift between William and his brother the Duke of Sussex, with Harry making controversial claims about Charles, Camilla, William and Kate in his Netflix documentary and memoir Spare.

William's former university flatmate has carefully carved out her charity work since marrying the prince in 2011 and becoming an HRH, focusing on mental health and early childhood.

Seen as the monarchy's safe pair of hands and as having a 'keep calm and carry on' approach, Kate has been heralded as channelling the same characteristics of charm, politeness and toughness as the late Queen Mother, who was once described as 'a marshmallow made on a welding machine'.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, who was private secretary to the Cambridges and the Duke of Sussex, and used to work for the Queen Mother, told The Times: 'She takes time to talk to people. She is tough.

'She has got that Queen Mother feel in her, so that when things need doing, she is there to do them.'

The London Clinic, based on the corner of Devonshire Place and Marylebone Road in central London, is the UK's largest independent private hospital.

The clinic first opened its doors in 1932 and its previous patients include Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, actress Elizabeth Taylor and US president John F Kennedy.
David Cameron has met with Argentina's chainsaw-wielding President to discuss how the new premier can help 'combat global threats'.

President Javier Milei also claimed the future of the Falkland Islands could be discussed in talks with the UK following the meeting with Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron.

The Argentine leader suggested a Hong Kong-style agreement which would see the UK hand sovereignty of the islands in the South Atlantic to Buenos Aires.

The new premier, a self-styled 'anarcho-capitalist', is a memorable figure who made headlines for a political stunt where he held up a chainsaw to illustrate what he would to do 'woke' ideology, shouting 'Viva la libertad, carajo!' (Long live freedom, goddammit!).

Lord Cameron said the pair discussed 'building co-operation on trade and combating global threats' and there was 'much that the UK and Argentina can achieve by working together'.

But he made no mention of the Falkland Islands and the UK's position is their sovereignty is not up for negotiation.

David Cameron has met with Argentina's chainsaw-wielding President to discuss how the new premier can help 'combat global threats'

President Javier Milei claimed the future of the Falkland Islands could be discussed in talks with the UK following the meeting with Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron

The new premier, a self-styled 'anarcho-capitalist', is a memorable figure who made headlines for a political stunt where he held up a chainsaw to illustrate what he would to do 'woke' ideology, shouting 'Viva la libertad, carajo!' (Long live freedom, goddammit!)

Lord Cameron made no mention of the Falkland Islands and the UK's position is their sovereignty is not up for negotiation

Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falklands and Mr Milei has previously suggested that the UK should approach the issue in a similar way to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

Following the meeting with Lord Cameron at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he was asked by Latin American news website Infobae whether there was scope for a resolution to the Falklands issue based on that model.

'We have not made in-depth progress, but we have made it an item on the agenda for our minister Diana Mondino and minister Cameron to move forward in finding a solution on the topic,' he said, according to a translation.

Posting on X, Lord Cameron said: 'There is much that the UK and Argentina can achieve by working together.

'I met President Milei to discuss building cooperation on trade and combatting global threats. I wished him well in his attempts to bring Argentina back to economic growth.'

The Falklands, known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina, were the subject of a bloody conflict in 1982.

The war claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel.

UK ministers have repeatedly cited the results of a 2013 referendum which saw close to 100 per cent of voters on the islands, which have a population of about 3,500, opt to remain a British Overseas Territory.

The Falklands are about 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from mainland Argentina.

Lord Cameron said the pair discussed 'building co-operation on trade and combating global threats' and there was 'much that the UK and Argentina can achieve by working together'

Mr Milei has previously suggested that the UK should approach the issue in a similar way to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997

Mr Milei is pictured waving a chainsaw between his sister Karina Milei (right) and Buenos Aires Province governor candidate Carolina Piparo during a political rally in Buenos Aires, 2023

Milei has also used the chainsaw throughout his campaign to symbolize how he will slash government spending and waste

The Foreign Office said Lord Cameron and Argentina's Javier Milei 'agreed to disagree' over the Falkland Islands.

A Foreign Office statement said: 'The Foreign Secretary met the President of Argentina Javier Milei at the World Economic Forum in Davos today.

'It was a warm and cordial meeting, setting out mutual support for a more constructive relationship between the UK and Argentina.

'The Foreign Secretary and President Milei discussed how to enhance UK-Argentina relations through greater cooperation on areas of mutual interest including trade, education, culture and enhancing people to people links.

'On the Falkland Islands, the Foreign Secretary and President Milei said they would agree to disagree, and do so politely.

'The UK position and ongoing support for the Falkland Islanders' right to self-determination remains unchanged.'
This is the incredible moment an adorable calf is saved from the icy depths of a frozen Tennessee pond.

The video shows Oliver Reyes, who works at the Smokin' F BBQ & Feedlot in Philadelphia, Tennessee, jump into the water on January 16 after noticing a longhorn calf named Wynonna had fallen through the ice.

He is seen wading towards the animal while weighed down by heavy wet clothes, after the original plan for a colleague Lincoln to rescue her with a rope failed. Eventually he is able to pick up the animal and carry her out of the freezing water.

Footage of brave rescue has since gone viral online, with one TikTok post earning more than 20,000 views in less than a day.

The restaurant confirmed on Wednesday that Reyes and Wynonna are both now 'warm and healthy.'

Oliver Reyes rushed to save a longhorn calf named Wynonna after she fell through an ice pond near Smokin' F BBQ & Feedlot

The original plan was for an employee, Lincoln, to get her out using a rope

Wynonna continued to slip on breaking ice after she was carried out of the water and another employee took over and brought her to the snow

The rescue occurred one day after Smokin' F BBQ & Feedlot closed the restaurant due to bad weather.

Philadelphia and other surrounding towns in East Tennessee were among many hit by winter storms and heavy snow this week.

Wynonna is one of the three calves who live on the Smokin' F BBQ & Feedlot property. Alongside Wynonna, Willy and Hank, there is also a cow named Reba.

Once Reyes got the calf to shore she could be seen slipping on ice that began breaking underneath her.

Another employee came to Wynonna's rescue and pulled her away from the ice and into the snow.

Social media users have flocked online to praise Reyes and the other restaurant employees for rescuing the calf.

Besides Wynonna, a cow named Reba and two calves, Willy and Hank, also live on the property. The rescue occurred shortly after the restaurant announced on social media it would be closed due to bad weather

Reyes has been praised by the restaurant and social media users for being 'a hero' and 'a wonderful human being'

TikTokers called Reyes 'a hero', with one user writing that he deserved 'a good warm dinner from his mom.'

'Way to go Oliver. He needs a big warm blanket and a great big hug,' another said.

Daily Mail has reached out to Smokin' F BBQ & Feedlot for comment.
Two teenage boys have been charged over the stabbing death of a much-loved doctor in Melbourne.

Dr Ash Gordon, 33, was fatally stabbed after chasing down several intruders who allegedly broke into his Doncaster home early on Saturday morning.

Two boys, both aged 16, were arrested and interviewed by homicide detectives on Wednesday.

The pair from Dandenong and Travancore were both charged with murder, aggravated burglary and theft and will appear at a children's court at a later date.

Dr Gordon's family thanked detectives for their tireless work in the wake of the arrests.

'We feel happy and grateful for the detectives working so hard to get them so quickly,' his sister Natalie told Daily Mail Australia.

'We are very thankful to the detectives for all the efforts they put in to this and continue to so that we see justice served.'

The breakthrough comes after Daily Mail Australia exclusively pictured detectives raiding a home - close to Dr Gordon's house in Melbourne's east - that was the site of a raucous party on the night of his death.

Dr Ash Gordon (right) was stabbed to death outside his home on Saturday night. He's pictured with his partner Dakota Nagel (left) who issued a tribute last night

The arrest of two teens over Dr Gordon's death came a day after police raided a neighbour's home in Doncaster on Tuesday. Pictured is a detective at the scene

During the raids, a young man was seen seated in the front passenger seat of an unmarked car, alongside two female officers.

The officers escorted the boy, dressed in a long singlet top, shorts and boots, into the two-storey property.

Detectives could be seen scouring the upstairs floor and carrying out cardboard evidence bags and boxes filled with documents.

Officers were later seen paying special attention to a garage adjoining the house.

Police vowed to provide additional support to Dr Gordon's loved ones in the wake of Wednesday's arrests.

'We know that Ash's family and loved ones are grieving. This arrest will not take away the tragedy of this dreadful situation, but we hope that it will alleviate some of their distress,' Serious Crime Division Superintendent Janet Stevenson said on Thursday.

'Ash was a much-loved, valued member of our community, and we are all trying to make sense of what has occurred.'

Two teens have been charged with murder, aggravated burglary and theft four days after Dr Ash Gordon (pictured) was allegedly stabbed to death

Police acknowledged Dr Gordon's death had sparked fear in the community.

'Since this incident occurred on Saturday, the Homicide Squad investigators have worked tirelessly with our colleagues in the region and specialist units to identify, locate and apprehend those responsible for this tragedy,' Supt Stevenson added.

'This type of incident can create fear and uncertainty.

'We want our community to feel safe in their homes and to that end, Victoria Police will do continue to do everything in our power to make this a reality.'

Dr Gordon was fatally stabbed after giving chase to a group of intruders who broke into his Sargent Street home.

He followed the group in his car and got out to confront them in a nearby street before he was allegedly stabbed to death less than a kilometre from his home.

Neighbours told Daily Mail Australia they have reported a spate of crimes throughout the street in recent weeks, including a November break-in and theft of a car last week.

Dr Gordon's death comes a year after his girlfriend Dakota Nagel, 25, made headlines when she mysteriously disappeared from the couple's Doncaster home after spending the night clubbing with friends.

Police finally located Ms Nagel safe and well a week later with the nature of her 'out-of-character' disappearance never explained.

Police raided Dr Gordon's home on Tuesday, which was the scene of a wild party before he was allegedly stabbed to death

Ms Nagel hit back at speculation that her mysterious disappearance from the same home a year ago is linked to her partner's death.

'As far as we are concerned, the individuals involved in my disappearance were not involved in Ash's tragic death, and there is no link between the two,' Ms Nagel told the Herald Sun on Wednesday.

'Please during this time of grieving be mindful of speculating as it causes more harm and heartache than good.

'We would like people to respect our right to privacy.'
The Biden administration re-listed the Houthi rebels in Yemen as a terrorist group Wednesday, drawing harsh criticism from Republicans who slammed the move for not going far enough.

Former President Donald Trump had previously listed Houthis as foreign terrorist organizations (FTO) and specially designated global terrorists (SDGT).

But Biden's Secretary of State Antony Blinken de-listed them in 2021 to make it easier to get humanitarian aid into Yemen.

Three years later, Biden bowed to increasing pressure to re-list the group - as SDGT - only after Houthi rebels attacked U.S. ships in the Red Sea.

Now, members of Congress are ripping Biden for not taking 'real action' and waiting years to hold the terrorist group accountable.

In addition, the SDTG label to be reimposed on the Houthis does not include harsher sanctions that come with being appointed to the FTO list, such as travel restrictions.

House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner told DailyMail.com that Biden should 'have never removed' the Houthis' FTO designation.

'Designating the Houthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist only applies sanctions and avoids taking any real action,' he added.

Houthi fighters and tribal supporters raise their firearms to protest U.S.-led airstrikes

A Houthi fighter hold his rifle at a ceremony celebrating the end of his training

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul told DailyMail.com in a statement that the de-listing of the Houthis was a 'huge mistake.'

'It is past time for this administration to take a clear-eyed view of the situation and re-designate the Iran-backed Houthis as a FTO,' he continued.

'President Trump designated Houthi rebels as terrorists. Joe Biden removed the designation in 2021. Now, Biden admits that the Houthis are 'terrorists' after their repeated attacks in the Red Sea,' Texas Rep. Lance Gooden posted on X.

'Joe Biden is continuing his 50+ year streak of being WRONG on foreign policy!'

New York Rep. Claudia Tenney posted on X, 'President Biden's decision to designate these as an FTO is long overdue and may be too little, too late.'

Some lawmakers said Biden had originally taken the Houthis off of the terrorist lists to ease tensions with Iran.

'Biden gets no credit for reversing one of his first  and worst  appeasements of Iran,' California Rep. Darrell Issa said.

The Houthi soldiers conduct mock drills against fake Israeli forces

A Houthi fighter is pictured standing aboard a cargo ship in the Red Sea

Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin posted on X, 'Three years ago, Joe Biden made the weak decision to remove the Houthi's terrorist designation -- another failed attempt at appeasing Iran-backed forces who chant 'Death to America.'

'With hostile adversaries testing American resolve, U.S. strength is essential for our national security and global stability,' the post continued.

Earlier this week, the Houthi forces hit a U.S.-owned shipping vessel with a missile as it was traveling through the Red Sea.

The group also shot an anti-ship cruise missile at a U.S. naval destroyer, according to U.S. Central Command.

In retaliation, the U.S. carried out four fresh strikes on Yemen on Tuesday targeting anti-ship ballistic missiles used by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

In addition, two U.S. Navy SEALs are missing after conducting regular interdiction missions, where they have intercepted weapons on ships that were bound for Houthi-controlled Yemen.
Wilson showed screenshots to the town manager and Clark was terminated from his role

A North Carolina police chief was fired after snapchatting the captain's wife multiple times asking her to send nude pictures.

Jonathan 'Jon' Clark, 42, was terminated from his role as chief for the Mars Hill Police Department in October.

The termination came after he messaged the wife of police captain Chad Wilson asking her to send topless pictures.

The captain's wife took screenshots of the explicit requests, which were then shown to Nathan Bennet - the Mars Hill town manager.

After receiving evidence from Wilson - Bennet launched an independent investigation into the chief.

A North Carolina police chief was fired after snapchatting the captain's wife multiple times asking her to send nude pictures

Jonathan 'Jon' Clark, 42, was terminated from his role as chief for the Mars Hill Police Department in October

Mars Hill town manager Nathan Bennett stated that Clark's dishonesty with him and the investigator left him with 'no choice' but to fire the former police chief

Clark admitted to sending the messages to Wilson's wife when Bennett confronted him.

'Your conduct in attempting to pursue a romantic relationship with the wife of one of your subordinate officers is reprehensible,' Bennet wrote in an October 17 letter addressed to Clark.

'To actively solicit that relationship is unforgivable and put your entire Department and the town of Mars Hill at risk.'

Bennett stated that Clark's dishonesty with him and the investigator left him with 'no choice' but to fire the former police chief.

'Your insubordination to me by immediately leaving my office and attempting to communicate with the members of your Department and with the victims of your misconduct is blatant,' Bennett said in the letter.

Clark, who married his 'high school sweetheart' Lindsey, who is a second grade teacher.

The pair have three young daughters together aged nine, 14 and 17.

The 42-year-old had served with MPPD since 2016 and started his executive position in March 2021.

'I'm a really big fan of community policing,' Clark said upon taking the Chief position in 2021.

'That's why I loved Mars Hill. It's a small town. I'd like to get to know everybody, which I'm on a very quick pace of doing that, from being the captain,' he said.

Clark, who married his 'high school sweetheart' Lindsey, who is a second grade teacher. The pair have three young daughters together aged nine, 14 and 17

The captain's wife took screenshots of Clark's explicit requests, which were then shown to Nathan Bennet (pictured) - the Mars Hill town manager

When newly-appointed, Clark said 'I'm just excited to be here and start this new journey and hopefully make some new friends.'

Outside of his sexual misconduct - Bennett also criticized Clark for his 'handling of firearms,' which were not 'locked and in a safe place contrary to all concepts of gun safety.'

Bennett further denounced the former chiefs personal use of the car provided by the police department which was intended to be used for official duties.
New York Democrat Rep. Dan Goldman is bringing forth a resolution to censure House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik for likening January 6th prisoners to 'hostages.'

The resolution will be for 'providing aid, comfort and support to the convicted insurrectionists from January 6.'

The resolution must be brought forward, but could be tabled. Goldman said he will not raise it as a 'privileged' resolution at first, which would force a vote within two days, in hopes that 'Republicans will bring it up on their own.'

'If they don't, we are prepared to consider moving forward with a privileged resolution,' Goldman told reporters.

New York Democrat Rep. Dan Goldman is bringing forth a resolution to censure House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik for likening January 6th prisoners to 'hostages'

'I have concerns about the treatment of January 6 hostages,' Stefanik said weeks ago on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' 'I have concerns, we have a role in Congress of oversight over our treatment of prisoners, and I believe we're seeing the weaponization of the federal government against not just President Trump, but we're seeing it against conservatives.'

Goldman, a former prosecutor from New York and wealthy heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, accused Stefanik of 'equating [January 6 prisoners] to illegally abducted Israeli hostages suffering from horrific conditions in Gaza right now.'

'It also demeans and belittles the seriousness of what the Israeli hostages are facing in Gaza right now,' he went on. ' I believe that it is unbecoming of a member of Congress.'

Stefanik immediately went on the offensive and fundraised off the censure resolution.

Goldman, a former prosecutor from New York and wealthy heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, accused Stefanik of 'equating [January 6 prisoners] to illegally abducted Israeli hostages suffering from horrific conditions in Gaza right now

'Desperate corrupt Far Left House Democrats are attempting to force a vote to censure me for my unwavering support for the Constitution, the rule of law, and election integrity. Democrats are in desperate free fall because they know President Trump will defeat Joe Biden this November. I will ALWAYS stand up for #NY21 & the American people, the Constitution, and President Trump,' she wrote on X, along with a link to her website to donate.

Last week House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Stefanik 'should be ashamed of herself.'

'No decent. rational, credible individual should say that.'

Last year Republicans censured three Democrats - Rep. Adam Schiff, Calif., for his role in the Trump-Russia investigation, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, N.Y., for pulling a fire alarm and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Mich., for anti-Israel statements.

Goldman was one of 22 Democrats who voted with Republicans to censure Tlaib.

Stefanik's 'hostage' remark echoed that of former President Donald Trump.

'You have the hostages, the J6 hostages I call them,' Trump said in an Iowa rally earlier this month. 'Nobody's been treated ever in history so badly as those people.'
The Dulos couple's nanny has recalled the moment her 'stomach sank' when she realized that Jennifer was missing after she failed to pick up her phone on the day of her alleged murder.

Jurors were shown text messages from nanny Lauren Almeida, 32, to her close friend and boss Jennifer Dulos on May 24, 2019, the day the Connecticut mother-of-five vanished.

While taking care of her children, the nanny messaged Jennifer several times to give her updates on their tasks, but the then-50-year-old stay-at-home-mom and blog writer did not respond.

There were also several chilling clues in Jennifer's home indicating that she had not gone about her day as normal, according to Almeida, including her routine morning cup of tea and granola bar left untouched in the kitchen.

Prosecutors claim that Jennifer was killed by her husband Fotis Dulos in her New Canaan home. They were entangled in acrimonious divorce and child custody proceedings at the time.

Fotis killed himself in January 2020, but his initially secret partner Michelle Troconis, 49, is now on trial at Stamford Superior Court for allegedly helping him to conceal the crime by disposing of evidence. She denies all charges.

Jennifer Dulos was 'terrified' of her husband Fotis in the months before she died, according to their nanny Lauren Almeida (pictured), who continued her testimony in court on Wednesday

Troconis denies charges connected to her allegedly helping Fotis conceal the crime - including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution

Jurors were shown text messages from nanny Lauren Almeida, 32, to her close friend and boss Jennifer Dulos on May 24, 2019, the day the Connecticut mother-of-five vanished

Almeida told the court she entered Jennifer's home twice on the day of her disappearance - once in the morning, and again to have lunch with four of the kids, who were aged between eight and 13 at the time. The fifth was at a friend's house.

She said they ate in the kitchen around 12.30pm, oblivious to what detectives have been calling tiny 'blood-like stains' in the room, before setting off to meet Jennifer in New York.

When asked by the state whether she noticed anything strange in the home the first time she went in, Almeida said: 'First, her purse was on the floor between the mudroom and the kitchen doorway.

'I thought that was a little odd because it was a really nice handbag and it was on the floor.

'When I entered the kitchen - she always had tea in a cup and a granola bar - the tea was still full and the granola bar was still there.

'I thought it was strange but figured she was in a rush, so I cleaned the tea and put the granola bar away.'

Almeida added that she also noticed several rolls of paper towels were missing, but she figured that one of the children had spilled something earlier that morning.

The court was earlier shown images of what appeared to be blood inside one of the remaining paper towel rolls, which detectives seized as evidence.

Almeida previously said Jennifer was an 'incredibly nurturing mother' to her five kids, who were aged between eight and 13 when she disappeared on May 24, 2019

Almeida said she ate lunch with Jennifer Dulos' children in the kitchen - oblivious to tiny alleged bloodstains in the room, which would later become the crime scene in Jennifer's murder

Jurors were shown text messages from nanny Lauren Almeida (pictured) to her close friend and boss Jennifer Dulos on May 24, 2019 - the day the Connecticut mother-of-five vanished

Almeida (pictured walking towards the witness stand) began giving testimony in the courtroom on Tuesday, and she gave more evidence on Wednesday

Michelle Troconis (left) and Fotis Dulos (right) were living together in his Farmington CT home at the time of his ex-wife Jennifer's disappearance on May 24, 2019

Almeida said she picked Jennifer's children up from New Canaan Country Day School at around 12.30pm, and they returned to the home for a quick 20-minute lunch in the kitchen - which would be identified as a crime scene later that day.

Almeida recalled how she drove the kids to New York to meet Jennifer at the orthodontist's office where they were due to meet - but medics said the Connecticut mom had not turned up for her appointments.

The court was shown several text messages from Almeida to Jennifer, who was her close friend, letting her know how the day was unfolding, receiving no replies.

When asked how she felt when she realized Jennifer had not attended her appointments, Almeida said: 'Really bad.

'The second I called Jennifer and she didn't pick up my stomach just sank because she never didn't answer the phone.

'When she wasn't there I was shocked but also had the found kids so put them into their appointments.

'I went outside and started to call people who could have heard from Jennifer. I called my mum who tried to calm me down. Then I called her friends.'

After exhausting all their mutual friends, Almeida contacted New Canaan Police, who launched a missing person investigation and visited Jennifer's home later that day.

Almeida said she spoke with Fotis on the phone later that day, who wanted to arrange meeting the children the next weekend but did not mention Jennifer's disappearance.

Four of Jennifer Dulos' children and their nanny ate lunch in her 'bloodstained' kitchen hours after she was allegedly murdered by her husband in the home, court has heard. (Pictured: nanny Lauren Almeida in court on day four of the trial)

There were several chilling clues that Jennifer had not gone about her day as normal, according to Almeida (pictured) including her usual morning cup of tea and granola bar left untouched in the kitchen

Troconis in court on day four of the trial over the alleged murder of Jennifer Dulos

Earlier on Wednesday, Almeida spoke about the collapse of Jennifer and Fotis' marriage in March 2017 after he admitted to his affair with Troconis, a glamorous Venezuelan-American socialite they had met before on family ski trips.

She said their 'odd' but previously amicable marriage rapidly became 'tense and uncomfortable' and that Jennifer moved out of their shared Farmington home with their children to a rented house in New Canaan.

Almeida recalled one occasion when Jennifer returned to the Farmington property to collect some belongings, when Fotis 'yelled' at Jennifer and she hid from him behind a door with her youngest child and the nanny.

'Fotis was yelling and she closed the door behind her and she pushed her body up against the door and he was trying to get in,' Almeida said. 'She was terrified.

'He pushed the door more and he saw that his daughter and myself were in the room and his demeanor totally changed.

'Eventually he walked away and she told me she needed to get out of the house.'

Almeida described the how Jennifer's mental and physical health deteriorated after March 2017.

'She was increasingly getting more afraid, her anxiety was getting really bad,' Almeida told the court.

'She noticeably lost a lot of weight. She was just afraid, and she expressed that a lot.'

Lauren Almeida, who took care of the couple's five children for eight years until Jennifer's disappearance on May 24, 2019, also gave more details about Fotis' affair with defendant Michelle Troconis(Pictured: Almeida going through court security on Wednesday)

The Dulos couple's nanny Lauren Almeida (pictured left approaching Stamford Superior Court) has recalled the moment her 'stomach sank' when she realized that Jennifer was missing after she failed to pick up her phone on the day of her alleged murder

Jennifer Dulos (left) vanished on May 24, 2019, amid a divorce from her husband Fotis (right), who was later charged with her murder. Fotis killed himself in January 2020, leaving his new lover Michelle Troconis to face trial alone for allegedly helping him conceal the killing

Michelle Troconis, who denies all charges, entering court for the fourth day of her trial

Almeida still lives with the Dulos children - Petros, Theodore, Constantine, Christiane and Cleopatra Noelle - who are now aged between 13 and 17 - along with their maternal grandmother Gloria.

She began giving evidence at around 4.15pm on Tuesday, and returned to the witness box on Wednesday as Troconis' trial continued.

Almeida previously said she met the Dulos' while working at a daycare where they used to drop their kids, and described Jennifer as 'an incredibly nurturing' and playful mother, and Fotis as a largely absent family.

She painted a picture of their family life as one filled with idyllic holidays to an array of locations including Miami and Aspen until Fotis met Troconis.

Troconis denies charges connected to her allegedly helping him conceal the crime - including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.

Prosecutors accuse Fotis of killing Jennifer in her New Canaan, CT home after she returned from dropping their children off at school, and they allege that Troconis helped him dispose of her bloodied clothing in several garbage bags.

Jennifer's body was never found, but Judge William P. Osterndorf declared her 'officially dead' last week.

Troconis' trial began in Stamford began on Thursday before pausing over the weekend and for Martin Luther King Jr Day.

On the first day, the state presented bodycam footage of officers searching Jennifer's home in New Canaan, Connecticut, including the garage where police say Jennifer was so badly injured that she bled profusely.

Jurors were shown what appeared to be a bloody footprint in her garage, and various red marks on the Range Rover parked in the central bay.

Almeida began testifying in the murder trial at Stamford Superior Court on Tuesday (pictured)

Former state police detective Matthew Reilly said he spotted red stains on several surfaces in Jennifer's kitchen, including on a paper towel roll, sink faucet, and counter-top - and in her garage

Suspected blood stain in Jennifer Dulos' Range Rover which was parked in her garage

Evidence of 'blood-like stains' on the ground of Dulos' garage was shown to jurors

Troconis' sister Claudia, flanked by their parents Marisela and Carlos, made an emotional statement outside the Stamford courthouse following the first hearing, insisting that Michelle is innocent.

The next day, Troconis' lawyer Jon Schoenhorn attempted to block detectives from testifying about their use of a luminol swab to identify some of the stains as blood, claiming the test is based on 'junk science'.

He made an impassioned statement to press outside, saying that luminol, which glows blue when blood is present, also presents the same color for substances including bleach, rust, paint and turpentine.

But Judge Kevin Randolph ruled that evidence regarding luminol was admissible, adding that Schoenhorn would get an opportunity to cross-examine officials about it.

Former Connecticut State Police detective Kevin Reilly spoke about the luminol tests when the trial resumed on Tuesday after the three-day holiday weekend, and jurors were shown new images of alleged bloodstains in Jennifer's kitchen.

Reilly said some of the garage samples tested positive for blood. The swabs were sent to a lab for confirmation, but none of the witnesses have testified yet about these results.

Under cross-examination by Schoenhorn, he agreed that the luminol tests, which was one of the two tests deployed, would also have appeared positive for a 'laundry list' of other substances.

Jon Schoenhorn (pictured outside the Stamford courthouse with his client Michelle Troconis) attempted to block detectives from testifying about their use of a luminol swab to identify some of the stains as blood, claiming the test is based on 'junk science'

Before the trial began, Troconis' attorney Jon Schoenhorn (pictured in court on day three of her trial) accused police of lying to and misleading his client during interviews and questioning her in English with no interpreter present when her primary language is Spanish

Before the trial began, Schoenhorn accused police of lying to and misleading his client during interviews and questioning her in English with no interpreter present when her primary language is Spanish.

He has also challenged much of the evidence in the case. Judge Randolph recently ruled the police seizure of Troconis' cellphone was illegal and any evidence obtained from it cannot be used during the trial.

But Randolph allowed other evidence Schoenhorn sought to bar, including video of the police questioning of Troconis and DNA test results.

Dulos' family and friends hope the trial provides accountability for her death and answers to lingering questions.

'As this trial begins, it is crucial to remember who is at the center: Jennifer, whose five children have lost their mother and, as an eventuality, both parents,' said her friend Carrie Luft, in a statement on behalf of family and friends.

'Jennifers family and loved ones have lost a loving daughter, sister, cousin, and lifelong friend.'

The trial began January 11 and it is expected to continue for six weeks before jurors are sent out for deliberations.
The Met Police has apologised for a crackdown which saw homeless tents thrown into bin trucks, with Sir Mark Rowley admitting the force had acted 'unlawfully'.

A letter from the force's lawyers admitted it was wrong for unlawfully ordering homeless people to move from outside of a hospital in an incident which saw several of their tents destroyed.

The shocking footage of homeless tents being thrown into the back of a rubbish truck came just days after former Home Secretary Suella Braverman spoke of wanting to stop the 'nuisance and distress' caused by rough sleepers pitching temporary shelters.

Footage filmed in north London in November showed binmen wearing hi-vis jackets with Camden council branding appearing to destroy the tents on an evening where temperatures plummeted as low as four degrees.

Anthony Sinclair was arrested for refusing to leave the area and had his belongings and tent thrown away while he was in custody.

Backed by homelessness charity Streets Kitchen and human rights campaign group Liberty, he threatened legal action against the Met Chief on the grounds that dispersal orders shouldn't stop people from accessing their homes.

He claimed their 'inhumane' actions breached his human rights and put both him and the others living in tents on the street at risk of harm.

Chief superintendent Andy Carter, who is responsible for policing in Camden, said they will be meeting Mr Sinclair to apologise in person, and his officers will receive 'legal training' to ensure it 'does not happen again'.

A letter from the force's lawyers admitted it was wrong for unlawfully ordering homeless people to move from outside of a hospital in an incident which saw several of their tents destroyed. Pictured is Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley

DISGUSTING @CamdenCouncil DESTROYS THE TENTS OF THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. pic.twitter.com/Mtx5cB2jir  Streets Kitchen (@streetskitchen) November 10, 2023

Videos of binmen dragging tents off the street and throwing them into the back of a rubbish truck in Camden in November sparked outrage

Footage also appeared to show police placing items from the tents into bags and asking those inside the tents to come out

Now, lawyers representing Met Police commissioner Mark Rowley have stated in a letter: 'The commissioner accepts that the decisions were unlawful in the circumstances, in particular as regards the direction for your client to leave a place where he had been living for some time.'

The landmark case by Mr Sinclair could stop Section 35 dispersal orders being used against homeless people who have been living in the same area for a long time.



Police had responded to 'concerns' of 10 tents pitched near the entrance to University College London Hospital.

It came just days after Suella Braverman said Britain 'cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents' occupied by people who she said were mainly from abroad and claimed that 'living on the streets as a lifestyle choice'.

Footage also appeared to show police placing items from the tents into bags and asking those inside the tents to come out.

Mr Sinclair said that the treatment he and others received 'at the hands of police officers was inhumane'.

Ch Sup Andy Carter said: 'We don't underestimate the impact of this incident on the man and will be meeting him to apologise in person, and listen to any views he might have.

Now, lawyers representing Met Police commissioner Mark Rowley have apologized in a letter

The landmark case by Mr Sinclair could stop Section 35 dispersal orders being used against homeless people who have been living in the same area for a long time (file photo)

Police had responded to 'concerns' of 10 tents pitched near the entrance to University College London Hospital (file photo)

'My officers will be taking part in further legal training around use of their dispersal powers so that we can ensure this does not happen again and that we use this tactic responsibly.'

The Met Police will also be discussing compensation with Mr Sinclair.

Mr Sinclair added: 'The treatment that I and others received at the hands of police officers was inhumane.

'I was arrested for refusing to leave the place where I had been living for eight months, and while I was held for six hours in custody, my tent and other belongings were taken away and destroyed.

'I am glad to see this admission from the police that this was wrong, and I hope that no one in the future receives the treatment that I did.'

Legal representatives for Liberty argued that officers had breached Mr Sinclair's human rights and put the group at risk of harm.

Lawyer Lana Adamou said: 'We all have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, whatever our circumstances. But increasingly, people living on the streets are being subject to unfair and degrading treatment by police, putting them at risk of harm.

'This government is criminalising poverty and homelessness, and police are misusing powers they have been given such as dispersal orders as a short-term fix to remove people from an area, instead of providing support or dealing with the root causes of these issues.'

Councillor Pat Callaghan, Acting Leader of Camden Council, said at the time: 'We are deeply concerned to see these videos and I am ordering an urgent investigation into what happened.

READ MORE - Shocking footage shows homeless tents being confiscated by binmen and police before being thrown into rubbish trucks - as Labour-run council insists it is not behind the evictions Advertisement

'Nothing is more important to us than the welfare, safety, and rights of every person who is experiencing homelessness.

'Our outreach team, Routes off the Streets, have been working hard to offer support to every person sleeping rough in Camden, including access to accommodation and a range of other services.

'I'm also concerned that our contracted waste operator has been engaged in this operation and I will be personally looking into why this has happened.'

A spokesperson from the Met Police said at the time: 'Met officers worked with University College London Hospital and other partners in response to concerns about approximately ten tents near the entrance to the hospital in Huntley Street, NW1.

'One person was arrested for breach of a S35 dispersal order having refused to comply with the police direction to relocate from the area. He has been taken into police custody.

'Appropriate support is being provided by partner organisations to those affected.'

A University College London Hospital spokesperson said in November: 'Following public health concerns, the police have helped to relocate some people sleeping outside the Grafton Way Building, a hospital treating immunocompromised patients.

'UCLH is deeply committed to improving the health and wellbeing of homeless people and we provide a number of services for this vulnerable group.

'This includes our homeless healthcare team and our mobile Find and Treat clinic that tests and treats thousands of homeless patients a year for serious illness, helping prevent onward infection, improving public health and providing routes to referral for accommodation.'

Suella Braverman rejected criticism of her plans to stop homeless people from pitching tents

The Former Home Secretary was met with fierce resistance from homeless charities

The video was posted on X by homelessness charity Streets Kitchen, who said on the post: 'Police have issued a section 35 dispersal order and are forcing people experiencing homelessness to move or face arrest.

'This is outrageous from Camden Council. [Camden Police] must immediately halt this operation. We call on all to get down and help resist.'

The homelessness charity pledged on social media to 'distribute as many tents as we can get our hands on'.

One social media user commented 'What the hell is happening here?' while another asked 'Where are they supposed to go?'

Another said: 'This is terrible! Camden Town has a lot of homeless people. I work there every Friday. I was wondering why I didn't see them today.'

After the video was posted, Camden Council posted on X: 'Our outreach teams are out in our borough this evening to offer support to anyone rough sleeping.

'If you are worried about someone sleeping rough in Camden, please let us know by using the Camden Streetsafe app, emailing Streetsafe@cgl.org.uk, or calling 0808 800 0005.'

This incident followed Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman's comments of wanting to stop homeless people pitching tents.

She said Britain 'cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents' occupied by people who she said were mainly from abroad and 'living on the streets as a lifestyle choice'.

READ MORE - Suella Braverman defends plan to ban homeless people from sleeping in tents on the streets Advertisement

Mrs Braverman made the comments on X as she shared an article from the Financial Times reporting about how she is pushing for restrictions on the use of tents in urban environments.

According to the report, the senior Conservative's proposals include establishing a civil offence to deter charities from giving tents to homeless people.

The number of people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in England in autumn 2022 was 3,069, according to government figures  an increase of more than a quarter since 2021.

Mrs Braverman tweeted: 'The British people are compassionate. We will always support those who are genuinely homeless.

'But we cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice.

'Unless we step in now to stop this, British cities will go the way of places in the US like San Francisco and Los Angeles, where weak policies have led to an explosion of crime, drug taking, and squalor.

'Nobody in Britain should be living in a tent on our streets.

'There are options for people who don't want to be sleeping rough, and the Government is working with local authorities to strengthen wraparound support including treatment for those with drug and alcohol addiction.

'What I want to stop, and what the law-abiding majority wants us to stop, is those who cause nuisance and distress to other people by pitching tents in public spaces, aggressively begging, stealing, taking drugs, littering, and blighting our communities.'
A trans pressure group allegedly urged activist teachers to ignore the Government's advice on gender questioning children during a webinar that 'felt like a cult meeting'.

The Government's long-awaited guidance on trans issues in schools was published last month.

During a webinar hosted by the Trans & Non-Binary Education Network and LGBT+ charity Schools Out, teachers were told to ignore the Government's guidance.

Co-founder of Thoughtful Therapists James Esses went 'undercover' to the session and was shocked by what he heard.

When one teacher asked how they should treat concerned parents, they were told: 'Parents can and often will complain about basically anything.'

A trans pressure group allegedly urged activist teachers to ignore the Government's advice on gender questioning children during a webinar that 'felt like a cult meeting'. Pictured: Trans rights activists on a march in London

James Esses (pictured) told MailOnline: 'It's an absolute abdication of safeguarding. The whole thing is crazy. This is just one of many of these groups out there'

Former primary school headteacher Grey, who used they/them pronouns, said the guidance was 'transphobic', encouraged 'abuse' and 'puts children at risk of harm'.

Grey, who now teaches at a specialist school, took issue with the use of the phrase 'biological sex' in the guidance.

The teacher said: 'Schools should not be doing anything as a result of this guidance.'

Ex-maths teacher Katie, who was studying for her PhD in education, told the group that the term 'trans' included 'gender non-conforming children.'

Katie, who went by they/them pronouns, claimed the Government created the draft guidance to 'erase the identities' of trans children.

Secondary school teacher Matthew, who also used they/them pronouns, said that even when the Government publishes the final guidance, there would be 'a lot of reasons not to follow it'.

They added: 'It is unclear whether it is binding.'

Teachers attending the session who were looking for further resources were directed to Stonewall and Mermaids, two charities mired in controversy.

One of the teachers in the webinar said: 'Schools should not be doing anything as a result of this guidance'

Teachers attending the session who were looking for further resources were directed to Stonewall and Mermaids, two charities mired in controversy

Mermaids faced backlash after promoting potentially dangerous 'chest-binding' (pictured), which can flatten and constrict the breasts, for children

Stonewall has weathered years of controversy. Just last year, a special Mail investigation discovered how much of the UK is still in the charity's woke stranglehold

Mermaids faced backlash after promoting potentially dangerous 'chest-binding' for children, saw itself investigated by the Charity Commission and suffered a humiliating court defeat after trying to have the LGB Alliance struck off as a charity.

Stonewall, meanwhile, has weathered years of controversy. Just last year, a special Mail investigation discovered how much of the UK is still in the charity's woke stranglehold.

Mr Esses told MailOnline: 'People are colluding to ignore government guidance. Those people are anti-reality.

'I think parents have to take a proactive role in this. They should be asking the school whether they will be following the Government guidance.

'They should be asking what material they will be using.

'That's the only way parents can police what their children are being exposed to.,

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Tavistock scandal campaigners raise fears over 60k Department for Health and Social Care job to advise the NHS on puberty blockers for children policy - months after it pledged it would ban them Advertisement

'These teachers are going to collude with vulnerable children behind their parents' backs.

'It's an absolute abdication of safeguarding. The whole thing is crazy. This is just one of many of these groups out there.'

He added: 'What was meant to be a network of educational professionals began to sound more like a cult meeting.

'I dread to think how many teachers were present at this webinar.

'How many of these events are being run up and down the country every single day? Lord only knows.

'Increasingly, it feels as if the education profession has been taken over by radicals hell bent on pushing their dangerous and divisive ideology.

'Perhaps government guidance is not sufficient in this space, if activist teachers will simply ignore it.

'Maybe legislation, with serious ramifications for breaches, is what is required.

'Either way, the government must crack down on this ideology and its infiltration into our schools. Before it's too late.'

Lucy Marsh, from the Family Education Trust, told MailOnline: 'It is extremely concerning that teaching professionals are using education networks to advise other teachers to ignore the Government's draft guidance on gender questioning children.

'Also it is particularly alarming to hear that activist teachers are labelling children who don't conform with stereotypical behaviour for boys or girls as ''trans''.

'This is incredibly regressive and harmful to children who are experimenting with clothing or hairstyles.

'This is normal behaviour for children as they grow up and develop their personality.

'It's clear that unless the Government makes the guidance legally binding and bans the teaching of gender ideology in schools, no child will be safe from activist teachers and groups who want to indoctrinate children.'

A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'We expect schools and colleges to follow our final published guidance to make sure that they are acting in the best interests of their pupils.'

'Our draft guidance reflects the law, which schools have a duty to follow. It takes a parent-first approach and prioritises children's safety and wellbeing, whilst recognising that treating children as though they are of the opposite sex can have significant psychological effects on a child.'

MailOnline contacted The Trans and Non-Binary Education Network and Schools Out for comment.
An apparently smitten juror has been dismissed from the Jennifer Dulos murder trial after telling a glamorous female prosecutor 'we love you' in front of a court marshal.

A man known only as 'juror 420' made the fawning remark to assistant state attorney Elizabeth Moran as they crossed paths coming out of an elevator in Stamford Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon.

In dramatic courtroom scenes, the court marshal who overheard the interaction reported it to Judge Kevin Randolph, prompting him to dismiss the juror, who was one of five alternates on the subs bench in the case.

The jury chaos temporarily derailed the long-anticipated trial of Michelle Troconis, 49, who is accused of helping her late boyfriend and Jennifer's ex-husband Fotis Dulos cover up her alleged murder.

Fotis was charged with killing Jennifer in her New Canaan home on May 24, 2019, but he killed himself in January 2020, leaving Troconis to face the music alone. She denies all charges.

The juror's comment came during a Wednesday afternoon break from testimony by the Dulos family's nanny Lauren Almeida (pictured)

The comment was directed toward assistant state attorney Elizabeth Moran as she crossed paths with 'juror 420'

Kevin Randolph (pictured), the judge in Jennifer Dulos' murder trial, dismissed a juror for saying 'we love you' to a prosecuting attorney in front of a court marshal

Michelle Troconis, who denies all charges, entering court for the fourth day of her trial

On Wednesday, Randolph called the marshal and juror involved in the elevator interaction into the witness box.

They both confirmed that the 'we love you' statement was made, and that a second juror was present.

'Juror 420' said he meant the remark to be directed at state assistant attorney Elizabeth Moran, as well as at another lawyer who was present - supervisory state attorney Michelle Manning.

Randolph dismissed the alternate juror as a result, saying the comment indicated that he was 'favoring the state's case', throwing his 'impartiality and fairness' into question.

He allowed the second juror who was merely present for the interaction to remain part of the trial.

Judge Kevin Randolph (pictured) dismissed the juror on day four of the six-week trial

The jury drama came while the court was taking a break during the testimony of Lauren Almeida, 32, who served as the Dulos family nanny for eight years up to the time of Jennifer's disappearance.

Almeida said she entered Jennifer's home twice on the day of her disappearance, once in the morning, and again to have lunch with four of the kids, who were aged between eight and 13 at the time. The fifth was at a friend's house.

She said they ate in the kitchen around 12.30pm, oblivious to what detectives have been calling tiny 'blood-like stains' in the room, before setting off to meet Jennifer in New York.

There were several chilling clues that Jennifer had not gone about her day as normal, according to the nanny, including her usual morning cup of tea and granola bar left untouched in the kitchen.

When asked by the state whether she noticed anything strange in the home the first time she went in, Almeida said: 'First, her purse was on the floor between the mudroom and the kitchen doorway.

'I thought that was a little odd because it was a really nice handbag and it was on the floor.

'When I entered the kitchen - she always had tea in a cup and a granola bar - the tea was still full and the granola bar was still there.

'I thought it was strange but figured she was in a rush, so I cleaned the tea and put the granola bar away.'

Almeida previously said Jennifer was an 'incredibly nurturing mother' to her five kids, who were aged between eight and 13 when she disappeared on May 24, 2019

Almeida said she ate lunch with Jennifer Dulos' children in the kitchen - oblivious to alleged bloodstains in the room, which would later become the crime scene in Jennifer's murder

Four of Jennifer Dulos' children and their nanny ate lunch in her 'bloodstained' kitchen hours after she was allegedly murdered by her husband in the home, court has heard. (Pictured: nanny Lauren Almeida in court on day four of the trial)

There were several chilling clues that Jennifer had not gone about her day as normal, according to Almeida (pictured) including her usual morning cup of tea and granola bar left untouched in the kitchen

Almeida added that she also noticed several rolls of paper towels were missing, but she figured that one of the children had spilled something earlier that morning.

The court was earlier shown images of what appeared to be blood inside one of the remaining paper towel rolls, which detectives seized as evidence.

The nanny said she picked Jennifer's children up from New Canaan Country Day School at around 12.30pm, and they returned to the home for a quick 20-minute lunch in the kitchen - which would be identified as a crime scene later that day.

Almeida recalled how she drove the kids to New York to meet Jennifer at the orthodontist's office where they were due to meet - but medics said the Connecticut mom had not turned up for her appointments.

The court was shown several text messages from Almeida to Jennifer, who was her close friend, letting her know how the day was unfolding, receiving no replies.

When asked how she felt when she realized Jennifer had not attended her appointments, Almeida said: 'Really bad.

'The second I called Jennifer and she didn't pick up my stomach just sank because she never didn't answer the phone.

'When she wasn't there I was shocked but also had the found kids so put them into their appointments.

'I went outside and started to call people who could have heard from Jennifer. I called my mum who tried to calm me down. Then I called her friends.'

After exhausting all their mutual friends, Almeida contacted New Canaan Police, who launched a missing person investigation and visited Jennifer's home later that day.

She said she spoke with Fotis on the phone later that day, who wanted to arrange meeting the children the next weekend but did not mention Jennifer's disappearance.

Michelle Troconis (left) and Fotis Dulos (right) were living together in his Farmington CT home at the time of his ex-wife Jennifer's disappearance on May 24, 2019

Troconis in court on day four of the trial over the alleged murder of Jennifer Dulos

Troconis denies charges connected to her allegedly helping Fotis conceal the crime - including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution

Earlier on Wednesday, Almeida spoke about the collapse of Jennifer and Fotis' marriage in March 2017 after he admitted to his affair with Troconis, a glamorous Venezuelan-American socialite they had met before on family ski trips.

She said their 'odd' but previously amicable marriage rapidly became 'tense and uncomfortable' and that Jennifer moved out of their shared Farmington home with their children to a rented house in New Canaan.

Almeida recalled one occasion when Jennifer returned to the Farmington property to collect some belongings, when Fotis 'yelled' at Jennifer and she hid from him behind a door with her youngest child and the nanny.

'Fotis was yelling and she closed the door behind her and she pushed her body up against the door and he was trying to get in,' Almeida said. 'She was terrified.

'He pushed the door more and he saw that his daughter and myself were in the room and his demeanor totally changed.

'Eventually he walked away and she told me she needed to get out of the house.'

Almeida described the how Jennifer's mental and physical health deteriorated after March 2017.

'She was increasingly getting more afraid, her anxiety was getting really bad,' Almeida told the court.

'She noticeably lost a lot of weight. She was just afraid, and she expressed that a lot.'

Lauren Almeida, who took care of the couple's five children for eight years until Jennifer's disappearance on May 24, 2019, also gave more details about Fotis' affair with defendant Michelle Troconis(Pictured: Almeida going through court security on Wednesday)

Jennifer Dulos (left) vanished on May 24, 2019, amid a divorce from her husband Fotis (right), who was later charged with her murder. Fotis killed himself in January 2020, leaving his new lover Michelle Troconis to face trial alone for allegedly helping him conceal the killing

Almeida still lives with the Dulos children - Petros, Theodore, Constantine, Christiane and Cleopatra Noelle - who are now aged between 13 and 17 - along with their maternal grandmother Gloria.

She began giving evidence at around 4.15pm on Tuesday, and returned to the witness box on Wednesday as Troconis' trial continued.

Almeida previously said she met the Dulos' while working at a daycare where they used to drop their kids, and described Jennifer as 'an incredibly nurturing' and playful mother, and Fotis as a largely absent family.

She painted a picture of their family life as one filled with idyllic holidays to an array of locations including Miami and Aspen until Fotis met Troconis.

Troconis denies charges connected to her allegedly helping him conceal the crime - including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.

Prosecutors accuse Fotis of killing Jennifer in her New Canaan, CT home after she returned from dropping their children off at school, and they allege that Troconis helped him dispose of her bloodied clothing in several garbage bags.

Jennifer's body was never found, but Judge William P. Osterndorf declared her 'officially dead' last week.

Troconis' trial began in Stamford began on Thursday before pausing over the weekend and for Martin Luther King Jr Day.

On the first day, the state presented bodycam footage of officers searching Jennifer's home in New Canaan, Connecticut, including the garage where police say Jennifer was so badly injured that she bled profusely.

Jurors were shown what appeared to be a bloody footprint in her garage, and various red marks on the Range Rover parked in the central bay.

Almeida began testifying in the murder trial at Stamford Superior Court on Tuesday (pictured)

Former state police detective Matthew Reilly said he spotted red stains on several surfaces in Jennifer's kitchen, including on a paper towel roll, sink faucet, and counter-top - and in her garage

Suspected blood stain in Jennifer Dulos' Range Rover which was parked in her garage

Evidence of 'blood-like stains' on the ground of Dulos' garage was shown to jurors

Troconis' sister Claudia, flanked by their parents Marisela and Carlos, made an emotional statement outside the Stamford courthouse following the first hearing, insisting that Michelle is innocent.

The next day, Troconis' lawyer Jon Schoenhorn attempted to block detectives from testifying about their use of a luminol swab to identify some of the stains as blood, claiming the test is based on 'junk science'.

He made an impassioned statement to press outside, saying that luminol, which glows blue when blood is present, also presents the same color for substances including bleach, rust, paint and turpentine.

But Judge Kevin Randolph ruled that evidence regarding luminol was admissible, adding that Schoenhorn would get an opportunity to cross-examine officials about it.

Former Connecticut State Police detective Kevin Reilly spoke about the luminol tests when the trial resumed on Tuesday after the three-day holiday weekend, and jurors were shown new images of alleged bloodstains in Jennifer's kitchen.

Reilly said some of the garage samples tested positive for blood. The swabs were sent to a lab for confirmation, but none of the witnesses have testified yet about these results.

Under cross-examination by Schoenhorn, he agreed that the luminol tests, which was one of the two tests deployed, would also have appeared positive for a 'laundry list' of other substances.

Jon Schoenhorn (pictured outside the Stamford courthouse with his client Michelle Troconis) attempted to block detectives from testifying about their use of a luminol swab to identify some of the stains as blood, claiming the test is based on 'junk science'

Before the trial began, Troconis' attorney Jon Schoenhorn (pictured in court on day three of her trial) accused police of lying to and misleading his client during interviews and questioning her in English with no interpreter present when her primary language is Spanish

Before the trial began, Schoenhorn accused police of lying to and misleading his client during interviews and questioning her in English with no interpreter present when her primary language is Spanish.

He has also challenged much of the evidence in the case. Judge Randolph recently ruled the police seizure of Troconis' cellphone was illegal and any evidence obtained from it cannot be used during the trial.

But Randolph allowed other evidence Schoenhorn sought to bar, including video of the police questioning of Troconis and DNA test results.

Dulos' family and friends hope the trial provides accountability for her death and answers to lingering questions.

'As this trial begins, it is crucial to remember who is at the center: Jennifer, whose five children have lost their mother and, as an eventuality, both parents,' said her friend Carrie Luft, in a statement on behalf of family and friends.

'Jennifers family and loved ones have lost a loving daughter, sister, cousin, and lifelong friend.'

The trial began January 11 and it is expected to continue for six weeks before jurors are sent out for deliberations.
GLOBALink | WEF Annual Meeting urges cooperation amid global economic uncertainty Pub Date:24-01-17 09:38 Source:Xinhua The World Economic Forum (WEF) on Monday called for a boost to global cooperation, in order to meet the demands of economic uncertainty. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Editor:Zheng Chen

Related News #AmazingChina | Xinhua int'l reporter visi... China's work-for-relief programs create ov... Chinese-brand passenger car sales soar 24.... BRI Stories | Chinese digital TV services ...
Four Kentucky college students have been rescued by helicopter after becoming stranded on Courthouse Rock in Kentucky's Red River Gorge on Tuesday.

The Asbury University students were camping overnight despite Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear's caution about the inclement weather on Monday.

The students awoke to find the amount of snow that had fallen would make it unsafe to climb down from the rock.

Dramatic video shows the moment helicopters arrived to rescue the students in the wintery conditions. They were eventually flown to safety, looking a little worse for wear from the ordeal.

Four Asbury University students were camping in on Courthouse Rock in Kentucky's Red River Gorge despite severe weather warnings

Authorities said the rescue mission was 'one of the most dangerous rescues ever attempted in the Gorge'

Other than being cold, all four students seemed to be in good spirits,' police said

The students called for help around 9:30am Tuesday and the Powell County Fire and Rescue were dispatched to assess the trail conditions for the rescue. Rescuers soon realized icy conditions meant the only viable solution was to take the group down via helicopter.

'Helicopters are inherently dangerous,' Powell County Search and Rescue officials stated.

'When that is deemed the safest option, you know you've found yourself in a potentially life or death situation.'

The Kentucky State Police flew the helicopter and evacuated the students at 2:05 pm Tuesday.

REDSTAR Wilderness EMS assisted with the rescue mission but there were no reported injuries.

Kentucky State Police rescued them by helicopter, which was caught on camera

REDSTAR Wilderness EMS assisted with the rescue mission but there were no reported injuries

Rescuers quickly realized icy conditions meant the only viable solution was to take the group down via helicopter

'Helicopters are inherently dangerous,' Powell County Search and Rescue said

The Asbury University students were camping overnight despite Kentucky Governor's Andy Beshear's caution about the inclement weather

Police said the students appeared 'in good spirits' despite 'being cold'

'Other than being cold, all four students seemed to be in good spirits,' police said.

'This call was one of the most dangerous rescues ever attempted in the Gorge,' Powell County Fire and Rescue said.

Adding: 'Climbing Courthouse Rock is extremely treacherous even when conditions are favorable.'

The Gorge has been the site of several major accidents in recent years. In 2021, 24-year-old Gabriella Smith died in the Gorge following a hiking accident.

The second-year medical student from Alexandria was found at the bottom of a 150ft cliff.

A 25-year-old male camper was also found dead at a campsite near Hansons Point that year.
Stuart Seldowitz, the former Obama administration security adviser who harassed an Upper East Side street vendor in November, has agreed to complete anti-bias training in exchange for prosecutors dropping the hate crime charges he faced.

Seldowitz appeared in New York County Criminal Court on Wednesday with his attorney but said nothing throughout the brief hearing.

Judge Beverly Tatham agreed to prosecutors' request that he should be forced to complete a six-month 'anti-bias program' at Queens Counseling for Change.

Once he has finished, they intend to dismiss the case.

Seldowitz apologized in November, saying he made the comments 'in the heat of the moment'

Stuart Seldowitz (left) arrives at New York County Criminal Court on Wednesday January 17th with his attorney

Stuart Seldowitz, 64, apologized last night after the videos went viral. He threatened to report the young vendor to immigration and labeled him a 'terrorist'

Seldowitz was filmed three times berating Mohammad who works at a truck one block from where Seldowitz lives

Seldowitz went viral in November after he was filmed harassing Mohammad Hussein, a 24-year-old street cart vendor on the Upper East Side.

In the unprovoked rants, Hussein was labeled a 'terrorist' and asked if he 'raped children'.

'I'll send your picture to my friends in immigration. The Mukhabarat in Egypt will get your parents. Does your father like his fingernails? He'll take them out one by one,' Seldowitz threatened.

In one of his most abhorrent remarks, he said: 'If we killed 4,000 Palestinian kids, it wasn't enough.'

Seldowitz said nothing throughout the brief hearing or on his way out of court. He is due back in front of the judge in April

Hussein told DailyMail.com at the time that it left him frightened to go to work.

Seldowitz seemed to hinge his argument on the October 7 Hamas attack against Israel.

Hussein and his employers insist they have never displayed any kind of support for Hamas or any other political group.

After being publicly admonished, Seldowitz issued an apology, saying he acted in 'the heat of the moment'.

He is due back in court on April 17, and must agree not to contact or approach Hussein in the future.

The street cart vendor harassed by former Obama administration delegate Stuart Seldowitz is pictured today relaying the abuse to DailyMail.com

It's unclear exactly the scope in which Seldowitz served during the Obama administration.

He also assisted former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright during negotiations for the Dayton Accord in 1995, othjerwise known as the Bosnian Peace Agreement.

Seldowitz's professional biographies have now been scrubbed from the internet, as have his children's.

One that was online on the website for Gotham Government Relations described him as a former delegate and Middle Eastern adviser to President Obama.

Gotham has now cut all ties with Seldowitz and is offering the vendor free help to launch a lawsuit against him.

'Gotham Government Relations has ended all affiliation with Stuart Seldowitz.
The flickering light of America's waning national culture burns lower this morning.

On Tuesday, New Hampshire primary debate organizers canceled their event after Nikki Haley refused to participate if Donald Trump didn't join her and Ron DeSantis on the stage.

I can hardly blame Haley but understand what this means.

Debates may be done for - and not just in the Republican race, not just in 2024.

The writing has been on the wall.

At 77 years old and with a big lead in the polls, Trump has blown off debating his Republican primary opponents.

He gambled that voters wouldn't punish him for it. And they haven't.

Shuffling Joe Biden eagerly followed suit. The 81-year-old president, plagued by verbal stumbles, has refused to face his Democratic challengers.

Now, the president's allies suggest he ditch the general election debates in the event of a Trump rematch.

Senator Chris Coons says Biden shouldn't be 'dignifying [Trump] as a candidate.'

But what of 'dignifying' the electorate?

Without question, Americans deserve to see the men and women who want to lead them tested under fire  and put on the record.

On Tuesday, New Hampshire primary debate organizers canceled their event after Nikki Haley refused to participate if Donald Trump didn't join her and Ron DeSantis on the stage. (Above) Republican Presidential Primary Debate at the University of Alabama on December 6, 2023

At 77 years old and with a big lead in the polls, Trump has blown off debating his Republican primary opponents.

Shuffling Joe Biden, plagued by verbal stumbles, has refused to face his Democratic challengers.

If debates die, what will they be replaced by? Boot-licking media interviews? Misleading political ads? Mealy-mouthed lawyerly statements?

After spending the 2020 presidential campaign in his basement, President Biden rarely stands before the American media and takes questions. What passes for transparency and accountability today is the incoherent ramblings of Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre.

Pathetically, the most vigorous dialogues of our times are played out on Twitter  where insults carry more weight than insights.

Clearly, the debate format needs reform. Ten candidate cattle calls that descend into shouting matches have no real worth and Trump's refusal to engage his opponents has made a mockery out of the primary season.

But this American institution doesn't deserve a death sentence.

The pioneering debates were held between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, arguing about slavery before raucous crowds, in the 1858 Illinois Senate race. Newspapers transcribed and transmitted their duel  a first, using the newfangled telegraph.

Douglas won the election. Lincoln became a national figure, destined to become president two years later.

Presidential debates began with John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960. Nixon felt that he'd been beaten by JFK's glamor and wouldn't debate in 1968 or 1972. But the tradition returned.

When Mitt Romney identified Russia as America's top geopolitical foe, Barack Obama sneered that 'the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back.'

A blathering Joe Biden in 2020 claimed: 'My son has not made money in terms of this thing what are you talking about, China.'

In 1980, Ronald Reagan took control of a New Hampshire primary debate he'd helped finance, demanding that other candidates be allowed on stage. When the moderator cut off his microphone Reagan boomed, 'I am paying for this microphone.'

The people knew they'd found their leader.

In 1984, Reagan, 74, stumbled in his first showdown against Democrat Walter Mondale. The nation tuned in for the next debate to see if he'd lost it completely.

Instead, The Gipper destroyed Mondale with a one-liner: 'I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience.' Even Mondale laughed. He was cooked.

Dan Quayle had to stand there and take it when Lloyd Bentsen told him he was 'no Jack Kennedy.' George H.W. Bush got caught looking at his watch. Al Gore sighed too much. Rick Perry forgot his to-do list.

Sometimes, our brightest lights say things they regret.

When Mitt Romney identified Russia as America's top geopolitical foe, Barack Obama sneered that 'the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back.'

Democrats have been eating crow for that line ever since.

A blathering Joe Biden in 2020 claimed: 'My son has not made money in terms of this thing what are you talking about, China.'

Even the White House doesn't defend that one.

These are important moments in our civic culture; fodder for late-night comedians and conversation starters for family dinner table talks.

Should it all be thrown away so easily? Surely that would leave the public less informed, more divided and culturally impoverished.

Should America let our traditions fade because two old men haven't got the heart for it?

Let's debate that.
A Colorado security guard has been charged with murder in connection to a decapitated body after police found him with a severed hand in his pocket.

Solomon Martinez, 26, was arrested and charged with first degree murder on January 10 by cops from the Pueblo Police Department after they discovered a decapitated female body.

Police said they responded to a call of a reported homicide at the Fountain Creek, just south of Highway 47, when they discovered the body and quickly connected it to Martinez.

He was arrested while working as a security at the Sangre De Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo on the same day, reported KRDO.

Court documents said at the time of his arrest, police found a human hand wrapped in a plastic bag in Martinez's pocket.

Solomon Martinez, 26, was arrested and charged with first degree murder. When he was arrested police found a severed hand in his pocket

Police in Pueblo, Colorado found a decapitated female body at the Fountain Creek (pictured) on January 10

The 26-year-old reportedly said, 'I had a hand in my jacket for two days.'

When they arrested Martinez, police noted there was a red-colored smear on his car and his hands were cut up.

He allegedly told police the cuts were from his dog and later said they were from picking up dog poop in rocks.

According to court documents, Martinez initially told police someone had borrowed his car and they must have killed the woman.

Eventually police showed Martinez a picture of the woman and he claimed to have hired her as prostitute on the night of January 8, but dropped her off around two or three in the morning.

Martinez allegedly asked his roommate, Joshua Mazzurco, for help disposing of her body.

Martinez allegedly asked his roommate, Joshua Mazzurco, for help disposing of her body

'He had walked up to me and he had asked me, you know, "You want to absolve $1,000 off your debt? I need a ten-foot hole." And he looks at me, goes, "Im not playing around'," Mazzurco said to KRDO.

Court documents said later in the day Martinez told Mazzurco his remarks were a joke and ask if he thought it was funny.

'I was terrified. I was beyond terrified. Like, I cant even put into words how physically scared I was,' said Mazzurco.

The roommate said he did not help Martinez, but records said he watched him wash blood of his hands at a car wash.
Republicans are demanding Hunter Biden be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law after it was revealed that his 'illegal' Colt Cobra gun had cocaine residue on its pouch.

Yesterday, prosecutors for Special Counsel David Weiss disclosed shocking details about Hunter's 'illegally' obtained $900 gun he allegedly bought while under the influence of drugs.

Hunter is under a three-count indictment for lying about his crack cocaine addiction when buying a gun, charges that carry up to 25 years in prison.

House GOP Whip Tom Emmer told DailyMail.com that the scathing new details make an even greater case for Hunter to 'face the same justice that any other American would face for such charges.'

He continued, saying a 'lesson' that Hunter is 'finally learning' at age 53 is that 'his last name won't shield him from accountability.'

Another lawmaker, Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., said the new filing should raise questions about how the Biden secret service couldn't determine who left cocaine in the White House last year.

The Colt Cobra gun Hunter Biden allegedly bought illegally while addicted to drugs has been pictured for the first time in a scathing court filing from prosecutors

'The FBI found cocaine on Hunter Bidens firearm pouch. Yet were supposed to believe the Secret Service has no idea who left cocaine in the White House last year?'

'Give me a break,' he added.

The Secret Service found a bag of white powder in a cubby hole used to store personal belongings near the White House's West Executive entrance over the summer.

Cocaine was found in locker No. 50 on Sunday, July 2 while the Biden family - including son Hunter - was spending the weekend away at Camp David ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

The discovery prompted an evacuation of the West Wing and street closures surrounding the White House and then triggered an 11-day investigation once the substance was identified as the illicit drug.

The Secret Service closed the investigation in less than two weeks due to a 'lack of evidence.'

The list of suspects had been narrowed down to 500, but security footage wasn't able to determine the owner as cameras do not face the locker area.

Emmer went on to slam the 'sweetheart plea deal' that the president's son was set to take over last summer, that would have shielded him from trial for the firearms charges if he abided by parole conditions over 24 months.

However, it spectacularly fell apart in court in July, opening Hunter up to new gun and tax charges.

Emmer is part of the GOP leadership team that is ramping up their impeachment investigation into President Biden.

As part of their inquiry, Republicans are in a heated back-and-forth with Hunter Biden's attorneys regarding having him sit for a closed-door deposition.

After Hunter defied congressional subpoenas requiring his testimony, the GOP has moved to hold him in contempt of Congress.

And Emmer says there is 'zero tolerance' for any additional Hunter 'antics' and if he tries to delay any longer, they will hold him in contempt.

Federal prosecutors made the new revelations about the cocaine found on the gun as Weiss hit back at the president's son trying to have three felony gun charges carrying up to 25 years in prison dropped.

A picture from Hunter Biden's laptop showed the now 53-year-old first son posing nude with a firearm

Hunter, 53, is trying to get three felony gun charges that carry up to 25 years in prison dropped

Hunter, 53, claims the Department of Justice only indicted him after caving to Republican pressure and is demanding the charges are dropped.

In December, Hunter Biden's lawyer filed a motion to dismiss felony gun charges against him.

His attorneys argued that the charges were 'politically motivated' and accused Weiss of having 'buckled under political pressure to bring more severe charges.'

However, top prosecutor Weiss slammed the 'conspiracy theory' as a 'fiction designed for a Hollywood script.'

'Stripped of its bluster, the defendant's theory of vindictiveness is simply not credible,' prosecutors wrote.

'Left with the inconvenient truth of trying to explain how this could happen during the Biden Administration, the defendant suggests that evil motives are lurking deep within the Department of Justice.

'This theory is a fiction designed for a Hollywood script,' they added.

The court filing also delves into into the fact that he chose to write a memoir where he 'made countless incriminating statements about his years-long drug usage' at the time when he bought the gun.

'He recounted his interaction with a drug dealer who pointed a gun at him during a drug deal before he decided to buy his own gun,' it continues.

'Investigators also obtained messages from his Apple iCloud account in which he discussed buying thousands of dollars' worth of crack while also taking videos of himself weighing crack and smoking it.

'Furthermore, a chemist was able to confirm the presence of cocaine residue on the brown leather pouch in which defendant stored his firearm. The evidence against him does not end there.

'The charges in this case are not trumped up or because of former President Trumpthey are instead a result of the defendant's own choices and were brought in spite of, not because of, any outside noise made by politicians.

'The defendant cannot prevail on his selective prosecution claim because he does not identify any individual who chose to make similar choices as him who was not prosecuted, and he cannot establish any link between statements of politicians and a discriminatory purpose by current DOJ officials.'

Prosecutors say Hunter went into a Wilmington, Delaware, gun store on October 12, 2018, and bought a Colt Cobra 38SPL, an HKS Speedloader used to rapidly reload bullets, and ammunition.

'When asked whether he was an unlawful user of, or addicted to, any depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance, the defendant answered, 'no,'' the filing reads.

If he had answered 'yes,' he would not have been able to buy the gun.

The Colt Cobra cost $886.81, so Hunter handed over $900 in cash, prosecutors allege.

Eleven days later, his then-girlfriend Hallie Biden - the widow of his late brother Beau - found the weapon in his car with the windows down.

Alongside it were the speedloader and the ammunition. She threw the gun in a trash can behind a grocery store.

'The police later obtained the gun case from the defendant and obtained the defendant's gun, the ammunition contained in the ammo box, speed loader, and brown leather pouch from the older man,' the filing states.

The president's son is also separately facing a nine-count indictment for alleged tax crimes.

Eleven days after guying the gun his then-girlfriend Hallie Biden - the widow of his late brother Beau - found the weapon in his car with the windows down.
Rishi Sunak fended off a potentially fatal Tory revolt today as his Rwanda Bill comfortably cleared the House of Commons.

MPs gave the PM's flagship legislation its third reading by 320 to 276 after the bulk of the rebels stopped short of inflicting a defeat that could potentially have collapsed the government.

Just 11 Tories voted against the measures, including Suella Braverman and former migration minister Robert Jenrick. The government's majority was 44, compared to its theoretical margin of 54.

But the victory came at a huge political cost to Mr Sunak as during earlier votes around 60 of his own troops repeatedly defied him to back amendments designed to toughen the plans. Two Tory deputy chairs and a ministerial aide quit in protest during two days of carnage.

None of the amendments succeeded because they were opposed by Labour, but there was a serious threat at the final stage where the Opposition also voted against.

It only became clear that the mutiny was melting away this afternoon, as ringleaders signalled they would stick to the whip rather than risking a complete disaster.

However, Mr Sunak cannot relax for long as the legislation now moves to the House of Lords, where peers are gearing up for guerrilla warfare to slow or even thwart its progress.

In a final plea for MPs to back the Bill this evening, Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted the legislation is in 'complete compliance with international law'.

He lashed out at Labour for refusing to support the Rwanda policy, saying Keir Starmer does not have any plan of its own.

And Mr Cleverly argued that the Tories are 'united in the agreement that stopping the boats and getting (the) Rwanda partnership up and running is of the utmost importance'.

'To stop the boats completely, to stop them for good, we need to deter people from making these dangerous journeys,' he said.

Rishi Sunak's Rwanda legislation was given its third reading by MPs after rebels stopped short of inflicting a defeat that could potentially have collapsed the government

In a final plea for MPs to back the Bill this evening, Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted the legislation is in 'complete compliance with international law'

Mr Sunak was in the House of Commons as MPs prepared to give their verdict on his flagship legislation

Just 11 Tories voted against the measures at third reading, including Suella Braverman and former migration minister Robert Jenrick

Shocking footage showed more migrants risking their lives in the Channel today as Tories descended into civil war over whether Rishi Sunak 's Rwanda plan can stop them

The result tonight was the culmination of two days of drama in the House of Commons

It would have taken around 28 MPs voting against, twice that many abstentions, or a combination of the two, to overturn the Government's majority.

Several Conservative MPs who took part in other votes this evening had no vote recorded on the division list for third reading.

They included Lee Anderson, Jonathan Gullis, Sir John Hayes - who have been highly critical of the Rwanda plan.

Rebel ringleader Danny Kruger joked as the debate wound up that the government whips had done a 'brilliant job today', and enjoyed more success winning over MPs than him. He acknowledged that many Tories were now backing the Bill to avoid 'disruption'.

Cleverly's risque joke in clashes with Labour's Yvette Cooper James Cleverly made a risque joke as he clashed with Labour's Yvette Cooper in the Commons tonight. In her third reading speech in the Commons, the shadow home secretary accused Mr Cleverly of 'wandering naked around this chamber' and using a 'little treaty as a fig leaf to hide his modesty behind'. But the Cabinet minister saw the funny side in the comment, immediately gesturing with his hands. Those in the chamber suggested he said 'big treaty'. Ms Cooper said: 'They're trying to con voters, trying to con their own party, but the fact is everybody can see through it now. 'Here's a 400 million Rwanda scheme for a few hundred people is like the Emperor's new clothes and the Prime Minister and his immigration ministers have been desperately spinning the invisible thread, but we can all see through it. 'The Home Secretary is just wandering naked around this chamber waving a little treaty as a fig leaf to hide his modesty behind. 'I admit, he doesn't have much modesty to hide.' Advertisement

MPs on the Tory Right gathered in Parliament earlier to discuss their latest plans.

A source at the meeting conceded the 'majority' of MPs in the room had now decided to vote with the PM and predicted the Rwanda Bill would pass 'comfortably'.

But they warned that they could come back if the Lords try to make changes to the legislation that weaken its powers.

'The PM is by no means out of the woods,' a source said. 'All colleagues are sad at where we have ended up...

'The majority felt it was necessary to vote it through in part because of the parliamentary party and partly because of the consequences for the Government.'

The source accused Tory moderates - who have warned the PM they won't stomach any amendments to toughen the Bill - as being 'out of touch with where the country is'.

They also hit out at the Government over its handling of the latest Tory row, adding: 'Everybody in the room was deeply upset at the way the Government has handled matters in recent days, particularly the way discussions have been strung along.'

More than 60 Tory MPs continued to rebel to back amendments to the law that were easily defeated in the Commons tonight.

The climbdown by Tory rebels came as a huge relief to Downing Street, as the PM continues his efforts to get migrant deportation flights off the ground.

His new legislation, formally titled the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, is aimed at manoeuvring around last year's Supreme Court ruling against the asylum scheme.

Former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg was among those on the Tory Right who said they would support the Government at the Bill's Third Reading.

Meanwhile, a No 10 spokesman said: 'The passing of the Bill tonight marks a major step in our plan to stop the boats. This is the toughest legislation ever introduced in Parliament to tackle illegal migration and will make clear that if you come here illegally you will not be able to stay.

'It is this government and the Conservative party who have got boat crossings down by more than a third. We have a plan, we have made progress and this landmark legislation will ensure we get flights off to Rwanda, deter people from making perilous journeys across the channel and stop the boats.'

Veteran Tory Sir Bill Cash was among the MPs who said they would oppose the Bill at third reading stage

Dozens of people could be seen packed on to a tiny dinghy as it struggled off the coast of Kent, dwarfed by ferries and cargo vessels in the busy shipping lane

A separate incident saw another small boat crowded with passengers, including one man balanced precariously on the bow without a lifejacket

The blue dinghy looked to be struggling to stay above the waves as it made the perilous trip

A Border Force vessel met the migrant dinghies as the crossed into British waters

After plucking them from the waves, Border Force officials were pictured bringing the group ashore brought at Dover

Mr Sunak shrugged off the wrangling as he took PMQs this afternoon, insisting: 'We want to stop the boats. We have a plan and it is working.'

As Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer likened Tory squabbling on Rwanda to 'hundreds of bald men fighting over a comb', Mr Sunak shot back that Labour had no interest in tackling the problem and would take the country 'back to square one'.

But the spat has poured petrol on raging splits in the party, with furious Tories branding the rebels 'not very bright'.

Former No10 communications director Guto Harri described the right-wingers as 'narcissists' who were pushing for 'mass suicide' with just months to go until a general election.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tried to make light of the vicious infighting this morning, describing it as a 'lively debate'.

Underlining the wider problems, a poll overnight showed Labour 17 points ahead - with fears the Conservatives are 'leaking votes' to Reform UK.

Suella Braverman was among the Tories who lined up behind rebel amendments during the committee stage of the Bill

Nearly 60 Tories backed a series of rebel amendments to the Rwanda Bill - plus two tellers

Jane Stevenson - a ministerial aide to Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch - offered her resignation after backing hostile amendments in crunch votes last night

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quit as Tory deputy chairs after joining the rebellion

The insurrection last night was the biggest in Mr Sunak's time as leader.

It was bolstered by an intervention from Boris Johnson, who urged the rebels to stand their ground to make the legislation 'as legally robust as possible'.

The former PM said: 'Governments around the world are now trying to imitate the UK Rwanda policy for tackling illegal people trafficking. This Bill must be as legally robust as possible  and the right course is to adopt the amendments.'

However, Downing Street said the proposed legislation was already the 'toughest ever' and warned that tightening it further risked breaking international law.

The PM's official spokesman said the plans were 'legally robust and the fastest way to get flights off the ground'.

But 60 MPs voted for an amendment to the Rwanda Bill that would have disapplied human rights laws in relation to deportations.

A similar number backed a separate push to ban Channel migrants from lodging individual legal appeals to frustrate their removal.

Rebels included ten former Cabinet ministers, including Liz Truss, Suella Braverman, Sir Iain Duncan Smith and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who led yesterday's revolt.

In a further blow, Tory deputy chairmen Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned to join the revolt, as did Kemi Badenoch's aide Jane Stevenson.

The proposed changes were heavily defeated last night as they were opposed by both the Government and Labour.

But some rebels warned they could vote down the entire Rwanda Bill tonight unless the Government caves in.

Former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke said: 'I will vote against if the legislation isn't amended. Simple as that.'

Mark Francois, chairman of the ERG group of Eurosceptic Tories, urged the PM to back down or risk losing his flagship policy tonight. 'Given the size of the vote tonight, if I were his advisers, I would be saying: 'I think you want to compromise tomorrow if you can'.'

Tory whips are trying to peel off some of the rebels and reduce their number to a 'hardcore' of around a dozen.

However, there are concerns the Government could still lose if a large number of Tory MPs abstain.

Mr Harri described the rebels as 'self-centred narcissists' whose revolt was 'utterly futile'.

He told Sky News: 'Tomorrow they are either going to bottle it or they really are going to commit mass political suicide.'

A right-leaning minister told the Financial Times: 'They are just not strategically very bright. They have told the country that our policy is sh**, but when it comes to the third reading vote they will abstain and look stupid.'

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson sought to play down the depth of Tory divisions in a round of interviews this morning, saying: 'We all want the same thing.'

'There are disagreements of emphasis. There's an inch between us, there's a determination to ensure that the policy works,' he told the BBC.

Boris Johnson also waded into the row urging the government to accept the rebel amendments

The rebellion came just 24 hours after Tory elections chief Isaac Levido issued a stark warning to Conservative MPs that they risk inevitable defeat if they allow infighting to continue.

'Let me be clear: divided parties fail. It's time to get serious,' he told the backbench 1922 Committee on Monday night.

The Rwanda scheme was blocked by the Supreme Court in November after judges accepted claims that the country was not safe.

The new legislation declares in law that the African nation is a safe country and prevents the courts examining the principle of the scheme.

But, to the dismay of Tory rebels, it will not stop individual appeals by migrants threatened with deportation.

Rebel MPs are also seeking to disapply all human rights laws and ban interventions from the European Court of Human Rights, which grounded the last attempted deportation flight to Rwanda in June 2022.

Mr Jenrick, who quit the government last month, said there would be a deluge of individual claims unless they were outlawed, telling MPs: 'Every legal representative and Leftie lawyer will try everything they can to support those claims. We see it every time.'

He added: 'How much are we actually willing to do to stop the boats? How willing are we to take on the vested interests, balance the trade-offs, take the robust steps that will actually work?

'The only countries in the world that have fixed this problem, latterly Australia and Greece, have been willing to take the most robust action. Are we?'

MPs will vote on further amendments today before holding a crunch vote tonight on whether to approve the Bill and send it to the House of Lords.

Mr Anderson has told friends he is ready to vote down the Bill. Mr Sunak made extensive efforts to persuade the straight-talking former miner to vote with the Government. But Mr Anderson told GB News: 'I don't think I could carry on in my role when I fundamentally disagree with the Bill.'

In a joint letter with Mr Clarke-Smith, he said: 'We have already had two pieces of legislation thwarted by a system that does not work in favour of the British people. It is for this reason that we have supported the amendments... This is not because we are against the legislation, but because like everybody else we want it to work.'

Business Secretary Ms Badenoch is known to have privately urged No 10 to strengthen the Bill. Last night, her parliamentary aide Ms Stevenson resigned.

The MP for Wolverhampton North East said the legislation had to be 'as robust as it possibly can be' to deal with the illegal immigration 'crisis'.

'It is a crisis and my constituents certainly want to see results,' she said.

In the debate, immigration minister Michael Tomlinson urged MPs to unite behind the policy, saying: 'Let there be no doubt that the Government is focused and determined to stop the boats. We have made progress, but we must be enabled to finish the job.'
A teenage boy was out on bail after being accused of assaulting a woman when he allegedly pushed an elderly man off a pier.

Jamie Tilbrook, 35, was allegedly bashed by a group of teens in Hastings, on Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula last November, after confronting them for vandalising a bus.

Shocking footage showed two boys throw a series of punches towards Ms Tilbrook's head on the street in the middle of the day.

Ms Tilbrook had to go to hospital later that day after losing consciousness and needed her wounds to be glued up.

The 35-year-old said she'd seen the boys vandalising a bus parked outside her elderly neighbour's home and pushing over bins.

Jamie Tilbrook, 35, was allegedly bashed by a group of teens in Hastings, on Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula last November, after confronting them for vandalising a bus

'I said ''what the f**k are you doing?'' They turn around and jump me,' she told Nine News.

'Two boys just come and started smashing me in the head. I was telling my girlfriend to get away, like, I didn't want her to get attacked.'

Ms Tilbrook said she no longer goes out at night following the alleged attack.

She was 'disgusted' to learn the same 14-year-old boy who was charged after allegedly attacking her has also now been accused of pushing a fisherman off a pier.

He allegedly pushed the fisherman, 79, off the edge of the Mornington Pier at about 11.30pm on Sunday.

A 14-year-old boy has been charged after he allegedly pushed the fisherman, 79, off the edge of Victoria's Mornington Pier at about 11.30pm on Sunday. He is the same boy who allegedly attacked Ms Tilbrook

His friends filmed the encounter and were heard laughing in the background as horrified onlookers watched on.

The boys ran off, still laughing, while three onlookers had to rescue the man who was unable to swim.

He was not seriously injured in the fall and was not known to the three teenagers.

Victoria Police said a 14-year-old boy from Crib Point had been charged with reckless endangerment and unlawful assault.

He has also been charged for allegedly breaching his bail conditions.

He will face a children's court at a later date.
A Maine judge on Wednesday delayed deciding whether to kick Donald Trump off the ballot to allow time for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on a similar case in Colorado.

Trump's lawyers appealed when Secretary of State Shenna Bellows removed the Republican front-runner from the presidential primary ballot over the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

But she then asked the judge to pause proceedings to allow the Supreme Court to rule on the Colorado case, which could render the lawsuit moot.

The nine justices will consider next month whether the former president should be banned from running for office for his conduct during the January 6 Capitol Riot.

Superior Court Judge Michaela Murphy concluded she lacked authority to stay the judicial proceedings but she wrote that she did have authority to send the case back to the secretary of state with instructions to await the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court case before withdrawing, modifying or upholding her original decision.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows removed Trump, the Republican front-runner, from the presidential primary over the 'insurrection clause' of the Constitution's 14th Amendment

In her decision, the judge said that the issues raised in the Maine case mirror the issues raised in the Colorado case before the U.S. Supreme Court. She wrote that her decision "minimizes any potentially destabilizing effect of inconsistent decisions and will promote greater predictability in the weeks ahead of the primary election."

"Put simply, the United State Supreme Courts acceptance of the Colorado case changes everything," she wrote.

Bellows concluded last month that Trump didnt meet ballot qualifications under the insurrection clause in the U.S. Constitution, citing his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. She became the first election official to ban Trump from the ballot under the 14th Amendment. Trump contended Bellows was biased and overstepped her authority.

The Supreme Court will consider next month whether the former president should be banned from running for office for his conduct during the January 6 Capitol Riot

The nations highest court has never ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits those who "engaged in insurrection" from holding office. Some legal scholars say the post-Civil War clause applies to Trump for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and encouraging his backers to storm the U.S. Capitol after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Activists conducted a campaign urging election officials to bar Trump under the clause.

Bellows, a Democrat, was reviewing the judge's decision Wednesday and had no immediate comment, her spokesperson said. Bellows already had delayed implementation of her decision pending the outcome of the court cases. She had said she would follow the rule of law and abide by any legal decision.

She made her ruling a week after Colorado became the first state to bar Trump from the ballot, although the decision in that state, too, has been paused pending the outcome of its appeal in the nations highest court. The U.S. Supreme Court scheduled arguments for Feb. 8.

Trump, who won the Iowa caucuses on Monday, remains on the Maine ballot for the March 5 primary for now, given a Saturday deadline for sending overseas ballots

Trump, who won the Iowa caucuses on Monday, remains on the Maine ballot for the March 5 primary for now, given a Saturday deadline for sending overseas ballots.

If the U.S. Supreme Court allows Trump to be kept off the ballot, then Bellows would have to notify local election officials that votes cast for him would not be counted.

Maine has just four electoral votes, but its one of two states to split them. Trump earned one of Maines electors when he was elected in 2016 and again in 2020 when he lost reelection.
The landlord of the apartment building has filed an eviction notice to the mother who has refused to leave

His mother, Corrinne O'Connor has since been identified as a person of interest as the boy was found with bruises on his body prior to his death

Five-year-old Grayson O'Connor was found dead outside his high-rise apartment building in Kansas City on November 27

An eviction filing was submitted on Friday in Jackson County to a mother whose son plummeted to his death after she 'carelessly' removed the window stops.

Police discovered five-year-old Grayson O'Connor near 10th Street and Grand Boulevard on November 27.

The little boy reportedly fell from the 17th floor window in his home at the Grand Boulevard Loft Apartments in Kansas City, Missouri, and his death has been labeled as 'suspicious,' according to investigators.

His mother, Corrinne O'Connor, 27, has been identified as a person of interest as a neighbor has claimed that she found Grayson covered in bruises at a bus stop months earlier.

The landlord of the high-rise apartment building filed an eviction notice against the boy's mother as they claimed that the woman removed window stops the same day that Grayson was found dead.

Police discovered five-year-old Grayson O'Connor near 10th Street and Grand Boulevard on November 27 after he reportedly fell from the 17th floor window at the Grand Boulevard Loft Apartments

The landlord of the high-rise apartment building filed an eviction notice against the boy's mother as they claimed that the woman removed window stops the same day that Grayson was found dead

Corrinne has also been accused of endangering the welfare of her child. KCTV5 reported that police officers responded to their apartment 'at least eight times in the past six years.'

Records revealed that six of those calls were because of disturbances while the other two were welfare checks.

Grayson was found dead by a passerby around 12pm in the alleyway of the apartment building.

Officers soon noticed an open window high up on the 17th floor when they found the boy.

Detectives and cops then made their way upstairs along with the property manager and knocked on the door.

They then heard the voice of a woman who was said to be calling for help, a detective wrote in a previous affidavit.

Court documents said that when Corrinne was asked where her son was, she responded: 'Out the window.'

Police said that she was then taken to the hospital and was identified as the only person of interest in the suspicious death investigation.

Grayson's mother Corrinne O'Connor, 27, has been identified as a person of interest as a neighbor has claimed that the boy was found with bruises on him at a bus stop by himself

The 17th floor window where Grayson is suspected of falling from is seen. A passerby found the boy's dead body around 12pm in the alleyway

Past pictures of the window in the apartment are seen with the window stops attached. Apartment staff also told investigators that the the apartment was unlivable due to 'very poor sanitary conditions'

Alayna Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for KCPD told The Kansas City Star that a medical examiner has not yet determined Grayson's cause of death.

A neighbor, Kelsey Grizib revealed that she found the young boy by himself at a nearby bus stop with bruises on his both his head and his feet.

Grizib then went on to take care of Grayson for several days before he was returned back to his mother by a social worker, she said.

The eviction filing stated that Corrinne 'carelessly' removed window stops from the apartment's windows.

Apartment building staff stated that during the investigation, the state found that the apartment was unlivable due to 'very poor sanitary conditions.'

Multiple attempts to have the mother removed from the building by law enforcement and mental health services, but she has refused to vacate.

Bruises are circles on Grayson's cheek. Alayna Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for KCPD told The Kansas City Star that a medical examiner has not yet determined his cause of death

The eviction case is set to head to court on January 25 and the current status of the suspicious death investigation is unknown at this time.

Since Grayson's tragic death, court documents have been sealed and handed over to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office.

Some of the documents were mistakenly posted online in December and shared that the boy's mother was charged, but were later taken down, FOX4 reported.

A small memorial has been setup near where Grayson's body was found. It is filled with stuffed animals, pictures, toys and candles in honor of the young boy.

A protest was also organized last month as demonstrators called for transparency in the ongoing investigation. Grayson would have celebrated his sixth birthday in December.

'Yeah, yeah and I'm mad. Everybody's mad, the building's mad, everyone's mad,' Grzib told KMBC.

The eviction case is set to head to court on January 25 and the current status of the suspicious death investigation is unknown at this time.
The White House took the extraordinary move of apologizing for a Democratic Party statement that mocked defeated Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson after he suspended his campaign following Donald Trump's Iowa landslide.

Biden's reelection campaign is premised on countering the threat he says Trump poses to American democracy. But on Monday night, a Democratic National Committee spokeswoman ridiculed Hutchinson, who was the last remaining Republican candidate who had not said he would pardon Trump.

'This news comes as a shock to those of us who could have sworn he already dropped out,' said DNC national press secretary Sarafina Chitika in a biting official party statement on his withdrawal.

The White House rejected the statement Wednesday, after commentators noted it could alienate potential supporters.

Biden has 'deep respect for gov Hutchinson and admires the race that he ran,' White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said from the White House podium Wednesday.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients called former Arkansa Gov. Asa Hutchinson to apologize after the DNC mocked his witddrawal from the race for the White House

She said Biden considers him 'a man of principle who cares about our country.'

White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients 'called the governor to convey apologize on behalf of the president' for the statements 'that did not represent the president's views,' she said.

She dodged a question about whether any further action would be taken at the DNC.

The apology for the crass comment comes as Biden is facing internal pressure to improve the effectiveness of his campaign, as a series of polls show him trailing Trump.

The DNC ripped Hutchinson when he suspended his campaign

Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson suspended his presidential campaign after a poor finish in Iowa

Biden has called Trump a threat to democracy

Gutter ball: The DNC mocked Hutchinson after he suspended his campaign

The apology came amid Democratic calls for Biden to send heavyweights to his campaign

Biden is under pressure to appeal to anti-Trump Republicans, amid polls that have him trailing Donald Trump

Campaigns are won on the margins, and Democratic and Republican observers were shocked that the Biden camp wouldn't try to seize an opportunity to cultivate, rather than alienate, a sliver of anti-Trump Republicans who might consider crossing over in November.

Posted conservative pundit Bill Kristol: 'Hey @DNC: I assume you guys want the support in November of that slice of Republicans who admire Asa for being a decent and principled person, and for not bending the knee to Trump? Or is Biden so far ahead that you don't need every potential crossover vote? Your friend, Bill.'

Hutchinson made an unusual target. His Iowa campaign secured only 191 votes. Although he had criticized Trump, his 'return to normal' campaign had many of the hallmarks of civility that Biden regularly says needs to be brought back into modern politics.

But the former governor, House members, Bush Administration official, and accomplished bowler had no ability to stop Trump's well of support in Iowa. In his own statement on bowing out of the race, he congratulated Trump and his other opponents.

Although Jean-Pierre didn't mention it, Biden has firsthand experience of getting blown out in Iowa. He scored just 1 per cent of the vote there in 2008, before caucus winner Barack Obama eventually put him on the ticket.
The crash killed four passengers and left another with serious injuries

Firefighters arrived to hose down the blaze, which left the ground blackened

Flames ignited at the crash site moments after the balloon went down

In his last moments before he died in a hot air balloon crash in Arizona, Chayton Wiescholek had the chance to send one final text to his girlfriend.

In the heartbreaking message, the 28-year-old wrote: 'Goodbye, this isn't going to be good, I love you.'

Wiescholek, from Michigan, died along with three others when the balloon he was in crashed in a rural area of Arizona around five miles north of the city of Eloy last week.

His girlfriend, Kinsey Taylor, had jumped out of the balloon for a planned skydive minutes earlier before any signs of trouble.

She didn't see his text until she landed safely. She immediately called him but someone else answered the phone and told her: 'This is not good, you need to be here now.'

Chayton Wiescholek and Kinsey Taylor were on the doomed hot air balloon in Arizona. Kinsey Taylor, had jumped out of the balloon for a planned skydive minutes earlier before any signs of trouble. Wiescholek wasn't as lucky and sent a text message to her before he died

In the heartbreaking message, the 28-year-old wrote: 'Goodbye, this isn't going to be good, I love you.'

Kinsey had safely jumped from the balloon as part of skydive just moments before the balloon crashed and killed Chayton. Wiescholek had reportedly told his parents he planned to propose

She removed her harness and ran two miles to reach him, but when she reached the crash site, 'officials wouldn't let her near him'.

The pair were on vacation from their Michigan home, where they lived with their cats.

Wiescholek's mother, Rhonda, told Fox 17: 'She looked at her phone and had a message from my son. It said, I love you. He knew he was going to die.'

She told Arizona's Family: 'He was just up in the balloon to be with her and all the skydivers had jumped out of the balloon and then something went wrong and we still dont know what.'

On a GoFundMe page, the family said they 'want to continue to remember Chayton, as the life of the party, the adventure seeker, and solid voice of reason.'

Valerie Stutterheim, a 23-year-old Scottsdale native, is the only surviving passenger of the crash. She remains in critical condition at a local hospital.

Footage shows the immediate aftermath as a huge blaze ignited at the crash site, leaving a plume of dark smoke trailing into the sky.

Aerial footage showed firefighters arriving to snuff out the blaze, hosing down the blackened earth beneath their boots.

Thirteen people - eight skydivers, four passengers and a pilot - were on board, according to Mayor Micah Powell.

Footage shows a wall of flames at the site of the Arizona hot air balloon crash that killed four and left another person in critical condition at a local hospital

Aerial video shows firefighters arriving to battle the blaze, which left the ground completely charred

The balloon fell out of the air around 8am Sunday following an 'unspecified problem' with its envelope, the National Transportation Safety Board said

The eight skydivers leaped from the aircraft before the incident, leaving five people in the gondola.

Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney said they were able to 'exit the balloon without incident' to complete a 'planned skydiving event' shortly before the balloon went down.

He said the skydivers intended to land at the Eloy Municipal Airport, just down the road from the scene of the accident.

'The incident appeared to occur very quickly,' Gwaltney said. 'It's just an absolute tragedy for our community and for the people that we're working with today.'

Preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board shows the balloon crashed following an 'unspecified problem' with its envelope.

The first victim was named as Kaitlynn 'Katie' Bartrom, 28, a registered nurse from Indiana.

Bartrom worked at the Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital on the Advanced Cardiac Therapy floor and had recently graduated from nursing school.

Atahan Kiliccote, 24, and Cornelius Van Der Walt, 37, were also killed in the crash.

The first victim was identified as 28-year-old Kaitlynn 'Katie' Bartrom, a registered nurse from Indiana

Cornelius van der Walt, 37, was piloting the balloon before the tragic crash. He hailed from South Africa and resided in the city of Eloy, roughly five miles from the scene of the incident

Atahan Kiliccote, 24, graduated from Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering in 2022

Chayton Wiescholek, 28, was on the aircraft with his girlfriend, Kinsey. She was one of the eight skydivers who jumped shortly before the crash

Van der Walt was identified as the pilot. The 37-year-old hailed from South Africa but resided in Eloy.

'I'm so sorry that this one flight will likely be what the public will remember you for,' friend Phil Brandt wrote on Facebook.

'Just know that so many others, including myself, know that you were one hell of a good man and a superb pilot.'

Kiliccote, of Cupertino, California, attended Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering and graduated in 2022.
Multiple people have been injured following a two-car crash at Belconnen in the ACT - while another driver was killed after a horror crash on Victorian country road overnight.

Emergency services responded to calls for help after two cars collided at the intersection of Barton Highway and Kuringa Drive, Belconnen, after midnight on Thursday morning.

One of the cars involved, a Toyota Avalan sedan, was allegedly stolen and being driven by a 14-year-old boy, according to ACT Policing.

The 19-year-old passenger died at the scene and another two 14-year-old boys who were also in the car sustained serious injuries along with the driver.

A 14-year-old allegedly driving a stolen car crashed into another car just after midnight at the intersection of Barton Highway and Kuringa Drive in ACT

Early investigations show that the teens had travelled through a red light at the intersection before colliding with a Toyota Hilux utility.

'The occupants of the Hilux received some treatment for their injuries but they are otherwise unscathed,' Detective Acting Inspector Jonathan Turkich said.

The 14-year-old police believe was behind the wheel of the sedan at the time is now in police custody at the Canberra Hospital.

Police said they expect to lay charges.

In Victoria, a driver was killed after it's believed they lost control of their car while driving on Daylesford-Malmsbury Road at Denver, also shortly after midnight on Thursday morning.

The sole occupant of the car - who is yet to be identiifed - died at the scene.

Police crash investigators are currently working to determine what caused the accident.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is snubbing New Hampshire by spending the weekend before the state's Tuesday primary election in South Carolina - Nikki Haley's home state.

DeSantis' campaign confirmed to DailyMail.com that the candidate will be holding events Saturday and Sunday in South Carolina, which holds the fourth Republican primary contest late next month. He will be in New Hampshire on Friday, according to sources, with three separate stops that day in Manchester, Dover and Nashua.

It's unclear what DeSantis is doing Monday and Tuesday, but the campaign said the moves will be announcement in coming days.

'When Nikki Haley fails to win her home state, she'll be finished and this will be a two-person race - and her donors are starting to come to the same conclusion,' a top DeSantis campaign official told CBS, which first reported DeSantis' weekend schedule.

The governor has one more scheduled event in New Hampshire Wednesday evening before he'll fly back to Florida for two days before getting back on the campaign trail this weekend.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is snubbing New Hampshire days ahead of its primary election by spending the weekend in fourth primary contest state of South Carolina. Pictured: DeSantis speaks to supporters in Hampton, New Hampshire on Wednesday, January 17

DeSantis' decision not to barnstorm the Granite State follows a disappointing finish in the Iowa caucuses.

The Republican governor came in second place just 2 percent ahead of Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and once-South Carolina governor, and a resounding 30 points behind former President Donald Trump, after investing millions in Iowa and campaigning in all of the state's 99 counties.

Additionally, DeSantis is moving a large swath of his campaign staff to the Palmetto State, the CBS report said.

Meanwhile, New Hampshire is a state Haley is looking to pick up, with polling showing her in a solid second place, single digits behind Trump.

The Granite State has a vastly different GOP electorate than Iowa.

Republican voters are much more moderate, especially on social issues, and have expressed to pollsters that DeSantis' 'anti-woke' messaging doesn't resonate with them.

Two debates were scheduled in New Hampshire for the week of the state's primary election, but both were canceled after Haley said she would not participate in a debate with DeSantis after their one-on-one showdown in Des Moines, Iowa last Wednesday.

DeSantis roasted both Trump and Haley on the campaign trail Wednesday for not participating.

'Every single time we've had a New Hampshire primary - you do a debate with WMUR - of you at least do some debate in New Hampshire,' DeSantis said. 'Donald Trump won't debate, he's not willing to defend his record and Nikki Haley won't debate because she's not willing to defend her record.'

He also blasted President Joe Biden for the Democrats' decision to reorder the primary, no longer having New Hampshire go first.

'He's totally ignoring New Hampshire and even changing the calendar because he may not do as well here. That's not leadership if you're not willing to show up and engage in that basic political tradition,' DeSantis said in Hampton.

Following his morning event in South Carolina Tuesday, DeSantis headed north for an event in Claremont, New Hampshire.

On Wednesday he had two stops in the state in Hampton and Jackson.

As the news was breaking that DeSantis would leave New Hampshire after finishing his Wednesday events, an audience member at his Hampton stop tried to question him on allegations he's not putting enough into the northeastern state.

'Nikki Haley says you're ignoring New Hampshire. This is my fifth event with you. Can you square that circle?' the gentleman asked.

DeSantis answered, 'I can' - but then didn't bring up the Granite State at all in his response.

Instead, he used the attack lines he'd often deployed against Haley.

'But Nikki Haley is also somebody that wrote in her book that her inspiration for running for office was not Ronald Reagan, not Margaret Thatcher but Hillary Clinton,' DeSantis said.

DeSantis' focus on South Carolina include moving a large chunk of his staff to the state in a sign he thinks he could perform well in competitor Nikki Haley's home state. Pictured: Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley poses with a supporter at an event in Manchester, New Hampshire on Tuesday, January 16

Trump and Haley are also spending Wednesday in New Hampshire, both with rallies in the evening in Portsmouth and Rochester, respectively.

The night of the Iowa caucuses, biotech entrepreneur and self-made millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.

Before his weekend South Carolina swing, DeSantis will spend Friday in Florida attending a ceremony for Florida Supreme Court Justice Meredith Sasso, who he appointed to the bench in May.

South Carolina's primary is more than two weeks after Nevada's caucuses in early February.

But DeSantis isn't putting much energy into Nevada.

He told reporters outside his Urbandale, Iowa headquarters Friday that he planned to participate in the Nevada caucuses 'though they basically rigged that for Trump.'
Socialite Rebecca Grossman was seen gripping her LA plastic surgeon husband's arm as they left court after the second day of her murder trial on Wednesday.

Grossman, 60, was charged with second-degree murder over the September 29, 2020 crash that killed Jacob Iskander, eight, and brother Mark, 11. She insisted her car did not hit the boys and denied driving at 81mph in a 45mph zone.

Jury selection continued Wednesday for her trial in Van Nuys, California. Grossman was dressed modestly in a gray cardigan, white collard shirt and black pants.

Her husband Dr. Peter Grossman - dressed in a smart blue suit - is standing by her side, despite accusations that his wife was leaving a boozy lunch with her alleged lover, ex Dodgers star Scott Erickson, when tragedy struck.

Socialite Rebecca Grossman was seen gripping her LA plastic surgeon husband's arm as they left court today for the start of her murder trial

Grossman, 60, was charged with second-degree murder over the September 29, 2020 crash that killed Jacob Iskander, eight, and brother Mark, 11

Rebecca Grossman is seen with her husband, Dr Peter Grossman - a renowned plastic surgeon who runs a specialist burns unit

Jury selection continued Wednesday for her trial in Van Nuys, California. Grossman was dressed modestly in a gray cardigan, white collard shirt and black pants

Robert Apodaca, a former L.A. County sheriff's deputy, who specializes in traffic crashes, testified at a preliminary that he calculated Grossman was driving 71.7 mph when she struck the boys and that the car computer showed 73 mph. Witnesses believe the car was moving at 81 mph.

Grossman and Erickson were heading in their two cars to a Westlake Village apartment when the accident took place , prosecutors have claimed.

Scott Erickson, Rebecca Grossman's alleged lover, is pictured in 2018. He was charged with a misdemeanor over the 2020 crash, and settled his case in 2022

Apodaca said Mark was thrown 254 feet by the impact - the farthest he has known a human to be tossed in a crash.

Erickson, now 55, was charged with a misdemeanor, and his case was resolved in February 2022 with a judge ordering him to make a public service announcement geared toward high school students about the importance of safe driving.

He spent a year playing with the Los Angeles' Dodgers in 2005, then ended his career with the New York Yankees in 2006. Erickson is divorced.

Grossman's murder charges are unusual as there was no charge of driving under the influence.

Her on-site breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.076 percent - slightly below California's legal limit of 0.08 percent.

A blood sample taken three hours after the crash registered at the 0.08 percent mark.

Prosecutors will argue in court that Grossman was also on Valium and was impaired when she got behind the wheel.

Grossman - whose husband leads the prestigious Grossman Burn Center - will argue in her defense that a vehicle was in front of her, and that vehicle hit the boys, exonerating her and Erickson.

Mark Iskander, 11, and his younger brother Jacob, eight, were killed in the crash in 2020

Grossman's Mercedes after the incident. The black box showed she was traveling well over the 45mph limit

Erickson played with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2005 for a year, then ended his career with the New York Yankees in 2006

Jaime Castro, prosecuting, will argue that Grossman and Erickson 'raced' their SUVs through Westlake Village before Grossman hit the boys.

Castro said they had not intended to reveal Grossman's affair with Erickson, but it became relevant because 'the defense intends to argue that the black car that is at issue in this particular scenario is not Erickson's.'

He told The Los Angeles Times: 'The people intend to put forth evidence that it was, in fact, Erickson.

'We're not looking to get into any salacious information.'

Nancy Iskander, the mother of the boys, has said she could not see which of the two vehicles hit her sons.

She said that she and Jacob were on inline skates while crossing the road at the crosswalk, while Mark was on his skateboard and her youngest son, five-year-old Zachary, was on his scooter. Her husband and daughter were jogging nearby.

Mark and Jacob were out walking with their parents and siblings when they were killed. The parents were able to stop their younger siblings from being hit - but couldn't reach the two boys in time

Karim and Nancy Iskander, the boys' parents, are shown at a court hearing in April 2022

Grossman claims the accident was caused by a poorly lit, poorly signaled crosswalk. Above, the crosswalk

The Grossmans' $8 million mansion in Hidden Hills, Los Angeles

'The speed was insane,' she said of the two SUVs. 'They were zigzagging with each other as if they were playing or racing.

'They didn't stop before the intersection. They didn't stop at the intersection. They didn't stop when an 11-year-old was on the hood of the car. Nobody stopped.'

Jurors are expected to hear from a California Highway Patrol officer who pulled over Grossman in 2013 after she was clocked going 92 mph on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, and warned her she could kill someone.

The court will also likely hear from Apodaca, who specializes in traffic crashes.

The 11-year-old Mark was thrown 254 feet while deputy Rafael Mejia testified he had found Grossman a third of a mile away from the crash.

She had pulled over, and was saying she did not know why her airbag had been triggered.

Grossman has been out on $2 million bond.

Her trial is expected to last six weeks: If convicted of all charges, she could face up to 34 years in prison.
A Royal expert has revealed who will stand in for King Charles' when he is admitted to hospital next week after being diagnosed with an enlarged prostate.

The King will attend hospital for a corrective procedure to treat his condition, which is benign according to his aides, and his engagements will be postponed for a short period while he recuperates.

It comes as Kensington Palace separately said at 2pm that the Princess of Wales was being treated in hospital after undergoing successful abdominal surgery

The Princess is not expected to return to public events until after Easter, while her husband Prince William will also postpone a number of engagements as he supports his family, and will not undertake official duties while his wife recovers.

As the two senior royals take time to focus on their health it has left people wondering who will stand in and take over the King's royal duties now that he, the Prince and the Princess are stepping back.

Well, now Royal biographer Angela Levin has revealed just that as she told GB News that the King's stand in is not who you may think but will be a 'relief' to the public.

Royal biographer Angela Levin has revealed who will stand in for King Charles' when he is admitted to hospital next week after being diagnosed with an enlarged prostate

King Charles III is pictured in a portrait taken at Windsor Castle last year

Charles attends a Sunday church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on January 7

Ms Levin told GB News: 'What's interesting is whether they will need any councilor of state to stand in for anybody during this time.

'If King Charles has an operation he won't be able to do any duties for a while and Prince William has said that almost everything is going to be wiped out, bar very serious things.

'And he wants to be with Katherine and also make sure that the children feel very relaxed.'

'Next in line are the people who are these counsellors which is Harry, which makes you shiver.

'I think that the Queen is as well, but I doubt that she would necessarily want to take that burden so soon after the Coronation.'

Ms Levin continued: 'I know who it is, it will be Princess Anne. That's the person who will stand in.

'She's absolutely at the top as she wasn't before the Queen died. But now she is.

'So she's the one we can all rely on. She's jolly, hard working and efficient and always there when she's needed. So that's a relief.'

Ms Levin revealed the King's stand in is not who you may think but will be a 'relief' to the public

The Princess Royal during an interview on day three of a visit to Sri Lanka on January 12

Princess Anne, Princess Royal, and King Charles III attend The Braemar Gathering in Fife on September 2, 2023

Britain's King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, watch as the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Wellington Arch on September 19, 2022

King Charles III was at his private residence in Balmoral when he was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate. He will attend hospital next week to be treated for his condition.

Aides said the King's condition was benign and he would be having a corrective procedure. His engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.

It is believed he is staying at his private home, Birkhall, on the Balmoral estatem where he received the diagnosis today.

While the level of detail on Charles's health is uncommon, royal sources said that he was keen to share the details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked, in line with public health advice.

Charles had a series of meetings and events planned at Dumfries House in Ayrshire tomorrow and on Friday, which have now been postponed on doctor's advice.

Guests, including foreign dignitaries and members of the Cabinet, were due to travel to Scotland.

Royal officials are understood to have made the announcement this afternoon to allow for them to be made aware of the situation.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at 3.30pm today: 'In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.

'His Majesty's condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure. The King's public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.'

The 75-year-old monarch acceded to the throne just 16 months ago after spending 70 years as the heir to the throne, and was crowned last May in Westminster Abbey.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla at church in Sandringham on Christmas Day last month

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral for church on January 14

The statement about Charles' health released today by Buckingham Palace

Kate, Charlotte, George, William and Louis at the Sandringham Christmas Day 2023 service

The Palace also announced today that the Princess of Wales has had abdominal surgery

As for Kate, 42, she was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone yesterday for the planned procedure and is expected to remain in hospital for ten to 14 days.

The future Queen will then return home to Windsor to continue her recovery with the support of her family, Kensington Palace said. It is understood not to be cancerous.

The Princess is likely to be advised to recuperate for two to three months, and her return to official duties will depend on medical advice closer to the time.

Kate is not expected to return to public events until after Easter, and her husband Prince William will combine being by his wife's and children's side throughout.

She was not rushed for hospital and her condition was not something that developed over the weekend, according to reports.

The Prince will also postpone a number of engagements as he supports his family, and will not undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital.

He will also do no official duties during the immediate period after Kate's return home. Royal aides will provide a revised schedule for William in due course.

Kate is close to her family, and her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and sibling Pippa Matthews and James Middleton are set to rally round and help support her recovery at the Wales' home in Windsor.

Neither William nor Kate will travel internationally over the coming months.

William and Kate were said to have been planning a high-profile visit to Rome this spring as part of a European charm offensive, but this is now in doubt.
Donald Trump's lawyer Alina Habba demanded a mistrial in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case as her cross examination descended into chaos on Wednesday.

Judge Lewis Kaplan, who has frequently slapped down the attorney in the courtroom, quickly denied her request after columnist Carroll admitted she deleted emails after accusing Trump of rape.

The former president, 77, shook his head in disagreement and stared at the floor as Habba continued questioning Carroll on the tense second day of the $10 million defamation trial.

Trump dared Judge Kaplan to throw him out of court for complaining too loudly that the case was a 'con job' and a 'witch' hunt' in one of the many tense exchanges in the Manhattan courtroom.

During her emotional testimony, Carroll choked up as she told the jury she received so many death threats she bought bullets for a rifle she kept by her bed.

After leaving court, Trump said on Truth Social that it was an 'amazing' day of trial because Carroll admitted 'deleting massive amounts of evidence, under subpoena, which is a crime'.

'Based on that alone, both this trial and the first trial should be immediately dismissed!.' he added.

He also blasted Judge Kaplan again for refusing to delay the trial so he could attend his mother-in-law Amalija Knav's funeral in Florida on Thursday.

Donald Trump's lawyer Alina Habba demanded a mistrial in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case as her cross examination descended into chaos

Judge Lewis Kaplan, who has frequently slapped down the attorney (center on the stand) in the courtroom, quickly denied her request after columnist Carroll admitted she deleted emails after suing Trump

In a press conference at his Wall Street building he again denied knowing Carroll and called her accusations a 'made-up fabricated story'.

'Its a totally rigged deal. This whole thing is rigged. I had no idea who she was,' he told reporters before flying to a campaign even in New Hampshire.

A New York jury found last year that Trump sexually assaulted Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s.

The new trial is to decide how much he'll pay in damages for comments he made while he was president - including: 'This woman is not my type!'

Habba asked Carroll why she said she was in a cocoon of love and support shortly after the release of the New York Magazine interview in 2019 where she accused Trump of rape.

Earlier Carroll told the jury she received a torrent of vile messages and death threats after Trump said she was lying.

You werent suffering too much emotional harm? Habba asked.

Carroll replied: No thats not fair to say. I experienced great support which I found very encouraging and horrible, menacing, terrible flood of slime. Both things occurred at the same time.

Carroll was asked about a text she sent to her friend Lisa Birnbach the day after the article came out and Trump denied it.

Trump blasted Judge Kaplan again for refusing to delay the trial so he could attend his mother-in-law Amalija Knav's funeral in Florida on Thursday

Judge Lewis Kaplan, who has frequently slapped down the attorney in the courtroom, quickly denied her request and told the jury to 'ignore everything she said

Before the tense exchange, Carroll told the jury in the $10million defamation trial that Trump's 'lies' had sparked so many death threats she bought bullets for a gun she kept by her head

Trump (far left) and Carroll (second left) are pictured with their respective spouses John Johnson and Marla Maples in 1987

Carroll said: I am fine as wine! I slept till noon! Carroll confirmed that she sent the text.

Asked why she didnt call the police about any of the threats, Carroll said that it wouldn't do any good.'

Carroll told the jury that Trump's 'lies' had sparked so many death threats she bought bullets for a gun she kept by her head.

The jury were shown some of the torrent of vile messages she received including some emails threatening her life.

Choking up, Carroll said that many, many commented on her appearance, with the overall message that she was too ugly to go on living.

'DAMMMN YOU ARE SO UGLY A KOMODO DRAGON WOULDNT TOUCH YOU WITH A TEN FOOT POLEGO BACK TO YOUR CAVE, one read.

Another photo showed Carrolls face next to an alien and the words: Both tell fictitious made up stories.

Carroll's dramatic testimony began after Trump was pictured leaving Trump Tower early Wednesday morning with mysterious red cuts on his hands.

She told the jury that Trump 'shattered' her reputation by repeatedly 'lying' about the attack and suggesting she was 'too ugly to assault' by claiming she wasn't his type.

The judge then admonished Trump for loudly muttering that Carroll had 'suddenly gotten her memory back' from behind the defense table throughout her testimony.

Carroll, pictured arriving in cout on Wednesday, said that she spent 50 years building up her reputation as an advice columnist because she stuck to the truth

Judge Kaplan told Trump's lawyers he should take special care to keep his voice down when conferring with counsel so the jury does not hear.

It followed a complaint from Carroll's lawyer Shawn Crowley that the jury could hear what he was saying.

Mr Trump has been sitting at the back table and has been loudly saying things through Miss Carrols testimony,' her lawyer Shawn Crowley told the judge.

Mr Trump has been sitting at the back table and has been loudly saying things through Miss Carrols testimony, he added.

(He said) things shes saying are false, noting she now seems to have her memory back.

Its loud enough for us to hear, I imagine its loud enough for the jury to hear it.

Asked by her lawyer Roberta Kaplan why she was in court, Carroll said: Donald Trump assaulted me and when I wrote about it he said it never happened.

He lied and shattered my reputation.

Trump could be seen shaking his head dismissively.

Carroll told the court that in the same courtroom at a separate trial last year another jury found that she had been sexually assaulted by Donald Trump.

After calling her a liar when she first went public in 2019, Trump has continued to lie about her, Carroll said.

He lied last month, he lied on Sunday, he lied yesterday, she said: Im here to get my reputation back and to stop him from telling lies.

Carroll said that she spent 50 years building up her reputation as an advice columnist because she stuck to the truth.

Asked how her reputation had been shattered, she said that the day before testifying she looked at Twitter, formerly X, and saw a comment that she was a fraud.

She said: Previously I was noticed simply as a journalist. Now Im known as a liar, a fraud and a wack job.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called for wholesale changes in border policy as he huddled with President Joe Biden and congressional leaders in talks at the White House over billions the president wants for Ukraine and Israel.

Meeting at the White House for his second time as Speaker, Johnson described a 'national security and humanitarian catastrophe' at the border, something he said he articulated to the president.

'There's concern about safety, security and sovereignty of Ukraine, but the American people have those same concerns about our own domestic sovereignty and our safety, and our security,' he said following the conclusion of a meeting between the president and the 'big four' congressional leaders.

He called for a return to the Trump Administration's 'remain in Mexico' policy and the 'end of catch and release.'

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stressed border issues when he spoke to reporters at the White House

'We're not insistent on a particular name of a piece of legislation, but we are insistent that the elements have to be real. The House is ready to act. But the legislation has to solve the problem,' he said.

His comments came on a day the House voted to condemn Biden on the border crisis.

Biden met with the leaders about his stalled $106 billion supplemental funding request. It includes funds for Ukraine, which have been stalled since the near year amid its fierce war against dug-in Russian invaders, as well as funds to Israel, humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, and border funding.

There are deep divides on how to address the border crisis, and a number of Republicans have raised concerns about further U.S. Ukraine aide, calling for more oversight and urging against any 'blank check.'

Johnson, who holds a razor-thin margin in the House, spoke in generalities about Ukraine

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., right, put the chance of reaching an agreement at 50 per cent. He spoke alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of N.Y.,

The U.S. has run out of drawdown authority to keep providing Ukraine air defenses and arms it says it needs

Johnson said there was a 'national security and humanitarian catastrophe' at the border

Ukraine is contending with repeated Russian missile attacks

'We understand the necessity about Ukraine funding and we want to say that the status quo is unacceptable. We need to Commander in Chief of this country, the President of the United States, to show strength on the world stage, not weakness.

'We cannot continue with the current status quo. We understand the importance of what's been needed,' said Johnson.

Then he appeared to call for greater accountability for U.S. aid.

'There are certain things that are that are needed to ensure that we need the questions answered about the strategy, about the endgame, and about the accountability of the precious treasure in America,' he said. 'We understand that all these things are important, but we must insist must that the border be the top priority.'

With Johnson stopping short of bashing the proposal, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, who spoke separately along with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, sounded an optimistic tone.

'There's a large amount of agreement around the table, that we must doUkraine and we must do border,' Schumer said.

'I am more optimistic than ever before that we can come to an agreement.

He said the chances were 'greater than half  and that's the first time I can say that.'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was at the White House but didn't address the media.

The White House said the meeting was to 'discuss the critical importance of his national security supplemental request.'
Fourteen Democrats joined Republicans in voting for a GOP-led resolution disapproving of President Biden's border policy.

The resolution, which is mostly messaging and does not change policy, comes after 300,000 migrants attempted to cross the southern border in December - an all-time record.

The legislation places specific blame on President Bidens 'open-border policies' for conditions at the U.S.-Mexico border, stark language to attract more than a dozen votes from the president's own party.

Dems who voted to condemn Biden border policy Collin Allred, Texas Yadira Caraveo, Colo. Angie Craig, Minn. Henry Cuellar, Texas Don Davis, N.C. Jared Golden, Maine Vicente Gonzalez, Texas Greg Landsman, Ohio Susie Lee, Nevada Jared Moskowitz, Fla. Wiley Nickel, N.C. Mary Peltola, Alaska Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Wash. Greg Sorensen, Ill. Advertisement

The Democrats who voted for it were mostly moderates and those who represent border districts.

Customs and Border Patrol encountered nearly 2.5 million migrants in fiscal year 2023, and was on track to break that record in 2024.

Border crossings even hit 12,000 a day toward the end of the year. Border agents say their resources are 'at capacity' at around 5,000 crossings per day.

The border has been front and center of political discourse as Congress and the White House attempt to work out a deal that would include border security provisions and Ukraine and Israel funding.

Republican Iowa caucus goers said in exit polls that immigration was their number one issue, suggesting the matter will remain top of mind in the 2024 election.

Speaker Mike Johnson met with President Biden and Senate leaders Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., to discuss the package.

Biden has publicly expressed more openness to border security reform than ever before.

But House Republicans have expressed skepticism at the negotiations led by their Senate counterparts - insisting they will only accept the hardliner border bill passed in the House last year.

'I dont think now is the time for comprehensive immigration reform because we know how complicated that is,' Johnson told reporters on Wednesday. 'You can't do that quickly. I think it's past time to secure the border. And that's what HR 2 reflects.'

A group of migrants receives food outside the migrant landing zone during a winter storm on January 12, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois

Migrants line up as they get ready to be picked up by Border Patrol agents in Eagle Pass, Texas, USA, 14 January 2024

For weeks Johnson has urged Biden to end 'catch-and-release,' turning away any migrants encountered between ports of entry and use parole only on a 'case-by-case basis.'

Johnson even urged Biden to suspend all immigration - using his authority under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The provision allows the president to suspend the entry of any foreign citizens for an unspecified amount of time if allowing them in is deemed 'detrimental' to US interests.

'President Bidens open border policies have caused a national public safety crisis, undermined the rule of law, and brought into question the very sovereignty of the United States,' Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, who introduced the resolution, said in a statement.

'By removing effective Trump-era policies like Remain in Mexico and replacing them with new Catch and Release policies that allow migrants free roam within the United States once here; by broadening the pathway to grant asylum to almost anyone who applies; and by redirecting the efforts of Border Patrol away from law enforcement in favor of processing immigration paperwork, the Biden Administration has sent a loud and clear message to the rest of the world that the southern border is open.'
Penny Wong has told Palestinian officials Australian aid must be used for delivering vital services to civilians, in a warning against allowing terror groups to access the funding.

The Foreign Minister met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, where she raised her expectation a $21.5 million humanitarian package would be used to pay for healthcare and childhood education.

'I expressed to them that it was extremely important, given the focus on this, that any funds Australia provides are used appropriately for the provision of the services that we are seeking to fund,' Senator Wong told reporters in Jerusalem.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong meets Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said there were well documented concerns with funding given to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees being siphoned off by Hamas.

He said it was 'totally inadequate' the government was relying on assurances from the Palestinian Authority - which doesn't govern Gaza - that Australian taxpayer money would not be misspent.

Ms Wong also held talks with Palestinian communities affected by Israeli settler violence, as she reaffirmed the government's position that West Bank settlements weren't consistent with the 'pathway to a two-state solution'.

The visit included meetings on Wednesday with officials from Israel and Palestine as calls for a ceasefire grow, more than 100 days since the deadly October 7 attacks by Hamas.

After talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Ms Wong met with the country's national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and visited a Holocaust remembrance centre.

The foreign minister had shared the 'strong concerns the Australian people have about the death toll in Gaza' with the Israeli president.

Those views were backed in at home by cabinet minister Ed Husic, who said a more enduring and sustainable peace would come from Palestinians being able to have their own state.

'Too many innocent Palestinians have lost their lives ... and people should be able to speak up on behalf of humanity on either side, with respect to Israeli lives that were lost, but also the disproportionate number of Palestinians that have lost their lives,' he told ABC's 7.30.

Smoke rises in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, after Israeli bombardments this week

Chief executive of aid organisation World Vision Daniel Wordsworth said while the funding was welcome, the desired outcome was a ceasefire.

'A sustainable ceasefire is critical but so is a long-term, peaceful solution for children in the region,' he said.

'Not only are we seeing children killed in Gaza, but we're also seeing children face a lack of access to the humanitarian aid they need to survive.'

The federal government has also come under fire for not supporting a case in the International Court of Justice, where South Africa has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia respected the role of the ICJ but 'that doesn't mean we agree with some of the assumptions they have in the South African case at all'.

Senator Wong will also travel to the United Arab Emirates as part of her week-long visit to the Middle East.
A major cosmetic chain has abruptly shut more than 20 clinics as it teeters on the brink of collapse.

Body Catalyst will permanently close 26 clinics a month after the company was plunged into voluntary administration.

The beauty chain owes $5.3million to unsecured creditors and a further $3.2million owed to secured creditors, according to its administrators from WLP Restructuring.

Creditors voted at a meeting on Tuesday to place the closed clinics into liquidation, months after another eight locations shut their doors.

The fate of the company's 16 remaining clinics hang in the balance and could be decided at a second creditor's meeting next week.

Up to 85 staff have an anxious week ahead of them waiting to find out if they still have a job.

Body Catalyst has shut down 26 clinics after the company recently went into voluntary administration

Founder Samantha Barakat Light (left) hopes the 16 remaining clinic will remain open

Founder Samantha Barakat Light remains hopeful that the struggling cosmetic chain still has a future.

'We are confident in the new structure for Body Catalyst that's being put to creditors next week,' she said in a statement.

The administrators are now focused on saving the 16 clinics that remain open.

It has a proposed a Deed of Company Arrangement, an alternative form of administration which enables a company to restructure itself and facilitate its ongoing corporate existence and trading ability, and deal with the company's creditors' existing claims under a formal arrangement.

It's understood Body Catalyst may have been trading insolvent since at least June last year due to growing tax debts and lower sales as a result of decreased discretionary consumer spending as the cost of living crisis continues.

Up tom 85 Body Catalyst staff will find out next week if they still have a job

Ms Barakat Light, who stepped down as the struggling company's chief executive last May recently cited the challenging economic landscape for the company struggles but remained committed to its long-term sustainability.

'Despite these challenges, we are determined to emerge stronger and more resilient,' she said in December.

'As part of our commitment to a brighter future, we are reorganising our operations to create a leaner and more efficient business model.

'This restructuring will enable us to refocus on delivering high-quality services to our clients in key locations, whilst navigating the changing economic climate.

'We appreciate the support of our loyal clients and partners during this transitional period, and we look forward to serving you with renewed vigor and commitment in our refined and revitalised business model.'

Founded in 2015, the cosmetic chain operates across NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as New Zealand.

The company describes itself on social media as leaders in non-surgical body and skin treatment with more than 20,600 Instagram followers.

Treatments include fat freezing, cellulite reduction, non surgical facelifts, Botox, skin rejuvenation, skin tightening, body contouring, pelvic floor strengthening, muscle definer and fat cavitation.

The struggling company remains active on social media with regular posts spruiking its services and testimonies from clients.
A leading Ecuadorian prosecutor who was investigating an armed attack on a TV station earlier this month has been shot dead.

Cesar Suarez was gunned down in a professional hit as he drove through the port city of Guayaquil this afternoon.

He was shot in the head after leaving his office to attend a court hearing.

Suarez worked in a specialist investigative unit set up to combat transnational organised crime.

He had been involved in several high-profile criminal probes and had recently been tasked with investigating the terrifying live TV hijack police brought to an end on January 9.

Cesar Suarez (pictured) was gunned down in a professional hit as he drove through the port city of Guayaquil this afternoon

He was shot in the head after leaving his office to attend a court hearing. The bullet holes can be seen here in the window of his car

Members of the National Police remain in the place where Prosecutor Cesar Suarez was shot dead in Guayaquil, Ecuador on January 17

Hooded gunmen burst into TC Television in Guayaquil and fired off shots while employees were broadcasting.

READ MORE: Gangsters who stormed Ecuadorian TV station with guns and grenades before taking journalists hostage are humbled after being detained by police Advertisement

Ecuadorian journalist Jose Luis Calderon, who was live on air when the drama occurred, revealed after it was over that the intruders stuffed his jacket with an improvised explosive and threatened to kill him if police arrived.

The South American nation's attorney general's office later confirmed 13 people were arrested after heavily-armed police stormed the building and were set to be charged with terror offences.

Suarez had told an Ecuadorian newspaper in an interview a day before he was killed that he didn't have police protection despite quizzing the 13 suspects to try to find out who had ordered the attack.

The country's Attorney General Diana Salazar said after learning of the state prosecutor's murder: 'I am going to be emphatic.

'The groups of organised crime, the criminals, the terrorists, will not stop our compromise with Ecuadorian society.'

The attack on TC Television was one of the first major criminal acts Ecuador suffered after the January 7 prison escape of gang boss Adolfo Macias, alias Fito and president Daniel Noboa's subsequent decision to impose a state of emergency.

Relatives of Prosecutor Cesar Suarez cry at the place where Suarez's was shot dead

Members of the National Police move the body of Prosecutor Cesar Suarez in Guayaquil

Members of the National Police inspect the car in which Prosecutor Cesar Suarez was at the moment he was shot dead

Men with their faces covered entered the set of the TC Television network in the port city of Guayaquil on January 9 and shouted that they had bombs

Armed men broke into the set of a public television channel in Ecuador as it broadcast live and threatened people

Men were seen brandishing what appeared to be bombs and grenades (pictured)

The fugitive, leader of a gang called Los Choneros, remains at large.

The TV studio raid has been blamed on another gang called Los Tiguerones which has been linked to the kidnap of British millionaire businessman Colin Armstrong last month.

The 78-year-old former honorary consul for Guayaquil was released on December 20 after several days in custody and nine suspects subsequently arrested.

Suarez was killed as he drove along an avenue called Avenida del Bomberos.

Pictures published in local media showed the window on the driver's side of his car had been left riddled with bullets.

The huge upsurge in violence in Ecuador in recent years has been blamed on its increasing importance as the outlet route for cocaine produced mainly in Peru and Colombia.

Domestic drug gangs in Ecuador have allied with bloodthirsty Mexican cartels.
The Princess of Wales has not been seen in public since she attended the royal family's Christmas Day church service in Sandringham with her children.

Kate's absence of 23 days is notable after Kensington Palace announced today she had successfully undergone planned abdominal surgery.

She was admitted to the London Clinic in Marylebone yesterday for the planned procedure and is expected to remain in hospital for ten to 14 days.

The palace stated the princess, 42, is unlikely to resume royal duties before Easter.

On Christmas Day, Kate beamed as she walked past well-wishers while holding hands with Princess Charlotte.

Adding a touch of glam to the festive look, she paid a sweet tribute to her mother-in-law by wearing a pair of Princess Diana's earrings.

She has worn the dazzling earrings on a number of high profile occasions.

The Princess of Wales looked effortlessly chic as she joined Prince William , the King and the rest of the royal family at Christmas Day Church service in Sandringham on Christmas Day

Kate, 41, has not been seen in public since the service. Today it was announced she had successfully undergone planned abdominal surgery

A wedding present from Crown Prince Fahd, Princess Diana's 'The Saudi Suite' set includes a sapphire watch, earrings, bracelet, ring and necklace.

When William gave them to Kate after their engagement in 2010 she too put her own stamp on them, refashioning them into modest drop earrings.

Kate, who is known to wear the same clothes in several colours, also owns a green version of the Alexander McQueen coat, which she wore on a trip to Boston.

She paired the look with a festive fascinator, navy polo neck and midi crimped skirt.

Hundreds of well-wishers have been queued in the early hours of Christmas Day to catch a glimpse of the royals, and waved excitedly as Charles and Camilla made their way to the church.

After she is discharged from hospital, the future Queen will return home to Windsor in Berkshire to continue her recovery with the support of her family. It is understood her condition is not cancerous.

The Princess is likely to be advised to recuperate for two to three months, and her return to official duties will depend on medical advice closer to the time.

Kate is not expected to return to public events until after Easter, and her husband Prince William will combine being by his wife's and children's side throughout.

Beautiful in blue! Kate looked effortlessly chic in the blue number on Christmas Day

Kate, Charlotte, George, William and Louis at the Sandringham Christmas Day 2023 service

Kate arrives for the royal carol concert at Westminster Abbey on December 8 last year

Kensington Palace announced today that the Princess of Wales has had abdominal surgery

The Prince will therefore also postpone a number of engagements as he supports his family, and will not undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital.

He will also do no official duties during the immediate period following Kate's return home. Royal officials will provide a revised schedule for William in due course.

Neither William nor Kate will travel internationally over the coming months, and royal officials said they would provide updates on her recovery when appropriate.

William and Kate were believed to have been planning a high-profile visit to Rome this spring as part of a European charm offensive, but this is now in doubt.

A palace spokesman said at 2pm today: 'Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery.

'The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

'The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

'Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share.

Kate was admitted to The London Clinic (pictured) yesterday for planned abdominal surgery

'The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.'

Royal expert Phil Dampier tweeted: 'Wishing the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery after abdominal surgery. We don't know the details but clearly this was serious as she will be in hospital for a fortnight and needs up to three months to recover.'

And the Queen's former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said on X: 'I am sure I speak for everyone in wishing HRH a speedy recovery.'

The London Clinic, based on the corner of Devonshire Place and Marylebone Road in central London, is the UK's largest independent private hospital.
Quemado and Normandy, two tiny Texas towns that are hard to find even on a map, have become the new entry points into the US in recent days as the Texas governor and the Biden Administration face off over who has control of an area of Eagle Pass, Texas where migrants had been crossing.

Since the State of Texas has all but sealed off Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, the spot where migrants seeking asylum have been using for years to enter through Eagle Pass, migrants have simply moved north to the towns of Quemado and Normandy.

Shocking video tweeted by journalist Ali Bradley shows a group of migrants in the hundreds walking through a ranch totally unchecked near Normandy.

The two towns, that both have more cows than people, are largely made up of vast private ranches that border Mexico.

Groups of migrants, as small as a dozen or numbering in the hundreds, are now crossing into the US and trespassing on private property.

'They just move from one place to another, it's like whac-a-mole,' Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber told DailyMail.com Wednesday.

TX: While Governor Abbott has Eagle Pass virtually sealed off Large migrant groups of 100+ are crossing roughly 15 miles away in Normandy.



 via source pic.twitter.com/fvhgAH22cw  Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) January 12, 2024

The migrant traffic from Eagle Pass has just simply moved north to Quemado and Normandy, Texas during a political stand off between the state of Texas and the federal government

Normandy and Quemado have seen illegal crossings for years now, but they have never been considered hot spots. Almost 200 migrants were encountered in Normandy in November 2021 (pictured above) in one single group

Under the order of the Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas soldiers fenced off Shelby Park Jan, 10 with razor wire and other fencing, even though the land is owned by the City of Eagle Pass.

Abbott claimed the move was meant to stop the historic number of illegal immigrant entries at Shelby Park in recent weeks.

In the week before Christmas, more than 22,000 asylum-seeking migrants used Shelby Park to get inside Eagle Pass, that only has a population of 28,000.

The influx strained resources and cost local taxpayers thousands of dollars a day.

Texas began denying US Border Patrol agents, who federal officers and the only ones authorized to enforce US immigration laws, access to the park.

A view of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass during a historic surge of migrants in late December

A view shows concertina wire in front of entrances to the Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, USA, 14 January 2024. The Texas Military Department confirmed that the Texas National Guard seized control of the Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, and is restricting Border Patrol from accessing the area

ational Guard soldiers stand guard on the banks of the Rio Grande river at Shelby Park on January 12, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas

The situation became even more tense after Border Patrol agents claimed Texas National Guard troops prevented them from entering the state-controlled area to help save a migrant woman and two children from drowning.

The state claimed the migrants had already drowned by the time Border Patrol was made aware.

The Biden's Department of Justice filed a request late Monday with the Supreme Court to force the state to give Border Patrol agents access.

Wednesday afternoon, the feds issued a strongly-worded letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who survived impeachment last year and is the subject of several criminal investigations, demanding Texas open the park to Border Patrol.

'If you have not confirmed by the end of the day on January 17, 2024 that Texas will cease and desist its efforts block Border Patrol's access in and around the Shelby park area and remove all barriers to access the US-Mexico border, we will refer the matter to the Department of Justice for appropriate action and consider all other options available to restore Border Patrol's access to the border,' the letter states.

Paxton responded with his own letter within minutes saying, 'Texas will not surrender to Bidens destructive open-border policies.

Attorney General Paxton will continue to defend Texas as it uses its constitutional authority to defend state territory, sovereignty, and citizens.'

The political showdown at Shelby Park hasn't deterred anyone from crossing.

US Border Patrol agents have been shut out of a 2.5 mile stretch of land in Eagle Pass that the federal government says only federal agents, not Texas authorities, have legal access to

For years, federal and state law enforcement have been working together on the border, but the relationship has become complicated by politics surrounding immigration issues

Dozens of migrants spotted on a private ranch near Normandy, Texas are not deterred by politics in the US

All it's done is move border crossers north and made it the problem of ranchers.

Quemado and Normandy, have seen illegal immigrant crossings there in the past, as they are sandwiched between the popular crossing spots of Del Rio and Eagle Pass.

However, now many people who would have crossed at Eagle Pass, have moved north to avoid dealing with the the blockade by the Texas National Guard.

Quemado is where the bulk of the illegal crossings are happening, Schmerber said.

'My deputies are seeing groups of 10, 12,' he said. 'Every day, they're catching people.'

While many ranch owners allow Border Patrol agents or Texas troopers onto their land to patrol and watch for migrants, resources in this part of the Lone Star State are limited.

Some of the ranches are gigantic, and only have rough dirt roads that prevent quick travel.

By the time law enforcement responds to any sighting of illegal immigrants on the property, the migrants could be miles away.

'Ranchers are very alert, they all have weapons and know how to defend themselves,' Sheiff Schmerber explained.

The sheriff added local authorities have created a program called "Cattlemen" to help get the property owners speed up law enforcement response when illegal immigrants are spotted.

His department of 32 officers relies heavily on help from the Border Patrol, Texas troopers and sheriff deputies from neighboring counties.
Dunking a biscuit into a cup of tea has to be one of life's great pleasures.

But the sweet snack can turn into an unpalatable slurry at the bottom of your mug if you don't time your dunk properly.

To help us out, scientists have revealed out the 'optimal dunking time' for 10 popular biscuits, including the Digestive, Rich Tea and even the controversial Jaffa Cake.

They've also estimated the 'dunking danger zone'  the point when the biscuit becomes 'over-dunked' and begins to break or fall apart.

Most biscuits need only be dunked for a fraction of a second  known as 'the micro-dunk'  and most of us have been immersing our biscuits for too long, they say.

Scientists have revealed out the 'optimal dunking time' for 10 popular biscuits, including the Digestive, Rich Tea, the Hobnob and the Jaffa Cake

McVitie's has appointed British scientist Dr Helen Pilcher as their chief dunking officer (CDO) as part of a promotional campaign to save British biscuits from becoming an unpalatable slurry at the bottom of your mug

What's the 'optimal dunking time' of your favourite biscuit? Ginger Nut - 0.3 seconds

- 0.3 seconds Fruit Shortcake - 0.38 seconds

- 0.38 seconds Digestive - 0.46 seconds

- 0.46 seconds Hobnobs - 0.50 seconds

- 0.50 seconds Rich Tea - 0.67 seconds

- 0.67 seconds Jaffa Cakes - 0.67 seconds

- 0.67 seconds Milk Chocolate Digestive - 3.64 seconds

- 3.64 seconds Milk Chocolate Hobnobs - 3.7 seconds

- 3.7 seconds Chocolate Caramel Digestive - 5.0 seconds

- 5.0 seconds Penguin - 6.53 seconds Advertisement

The research was commissioned by biscuit maker McVitie's, which has appointed British scientist Dr Helen Pilcher as their 'chief dunking officer' (CDO) as part of a promo campaign.

According to the experts, 77 per cent of 2,000 UK adults have lost a biscuit in a beverage due to 'over-dunking', which it estimates leads to 6.1 million biscuits lost every week.

'The natural porosity of a biscuit makes it an ideal snack to be dipped into a drink and soak up all the deliciousness,' said Dr Pilcher.

'However, Brits are still susceptible to over-dunking their biscuits  which is why we have identified the optimal dunking time and the dunking danger zone for a range of McVitie's classics.

'Each biscuit is unique in texture, structure, flavour and size, and all these factors affect its dunkability.'

Along with McVitie's staff, Dr Pilcher undertook weeks of dunking experiments in the lab to see how long the biscuits lasted before breaking up, plus their weights before and after dunking.

Each biscuit was dunked vertically, to its mid-point, in a mug of freshly prepared tea (with milk but no sugar), maintained at a temperature of 140F to 149F (60C to 65C).

The experiments showed the 'optimal dunking time' occurs when the biscuit absorbs an extra 20 per cent in weight and is at its best in terms of both flavour and structure.

So this is the point at which it takes on the flavour of the tea but still maintains a 'bit of bite'.

According to the results, the optimal dunking time occurs when the biscuit absorbs an extra 20 per cent in weight - but this varies depending on biscuit type

If you like to dunk a Fruit Shortcake or Ginger Nut, you need to do it quickly before it breaks apart, the results show

McVitie's Fruit Shortcake is a sweet, crumbly biscuit with embedded raisins and a sprinkle of sugar

Beware of the 'dunking danger zone' Dunking danger zone is the point when the biscuit is over-dunked and begins to break or fall apart Fruit Shortcake - 5.3 seconds

- 5.3 seconds Ginger Nut - 7.3 seconds

- 7.3 seconds Rich Tea - 8.8 seconds

- 8.8 seconds Jaffa Cake - 9.2 seconds

- 9.2 seconds Digestive - 11.2 seconds

- 11.2 seconds Milk Chocolate Digestive - 12.0 seconds

- 12.0 seconds Hobnob - 12.5 seconds

- 12.5 seconds Milk Chocolate Hobnob - 19.5 seconds

- 19.5 seconds Chocolate Caramel Digestive - 40.1 seconds

- 40.1 seconds Penguin - 540 seconds (9 minutes) Advertisement

For six of the 10 biscuits, the optimal dunking time happened after less than a second.

The experts found that the Ginger Nut and the Fruit Shortcake have the shortest optimal dunking time  just 0.3 seconds.

This was followed by the Digestive (0.4 seconds), Hobnob (0.5 seconds) and then the Rich Tea and Jaffa Cake (both 0.6 seconds).

In essence, this is such a fractional difference that the act of dunking shouldn't vary too much depending on which of the above biscuits you have.

Just make sure you do a 'micro-dunk'  a quick in and out.

However, the optimal dunking time gets substantially longer if you opt for a chocolate-coated variety, the experts found.

This is because the chocolate offers a 'protective coating' and makes it more difficult for the porous biscuit to absorb liquid.

Essentially, dunking a chocolate-coated biscuit means you don't have to rush your dunk quite as much.

Optimal dunking time was 3.6 seconds for Milk Chocolate Digestive, 3.7 seconds for Milk Chocolate Hobnob and 5 seconds for Chocolate Caramel Digestive.

Last up was the Penguin (6.5 seconds), which benefits from having a protective chocolate coating around its entire surface, rather than just on one side like the others.

Although the Jaffa Cake has a chocolate layer on one side, its optimal dunking time is lower than other chocolate-coated biscuits because of its fragile sponge base.

In reporting its findings, McVitie's admitted that 'Jaffa Cakes are not biscuits' as they have a very porous sponge base, which soaks up liquid quickly.

Dr Pilcher and colleagues stress that the optimal dunking time is different from the dunking danger zone  when the biscuit actually starts to fall apart.

The Penguin is surrounded on all sides by milk chocolate, which helps it survive the dunk for longer

McVitie's admitted that 'Jaffa Cakes are not biscuits' as they have a very porous sponge base, which soaks up liquid quickly

Fruit Shortcake and Ginger Nut break apart at 5.3 and 7.3 seconds, respectively, followed by Rich Tea (8.8 seconds), Jaffa Cake (9.2 seconds) and Digestive (11.2 seconds).

Amazingly, at the bottom of this list was the Penguin, which can endure an impressive 540 seconds (nine minutes) submerged before breaking up.

Passing the dunking danger zone is what turns your snack into a brown sludge at the bottom of the mug  so perhaps have your stopwatches ready to make sure you don't reach it.

'It is crucial not to dunk beyond the dunking danger zone,' Dr Pilcher warns.

'Its utter dunking madness to enter this structurally dangerous territory.'
More than four million sensitive school records with information pertaining to students, parents, teachers and shooting emergency plans were leaked online.

A cybersecurity researcher discovered the breached documents belonged to Raptor Technologies, a Texas-based school security company, which is used by more than 5,300 US school districts and 60,000 schools worldwide.

School districts across the country were affected by the leak including Chicago, Illinois, Forth Worth, Texas, and schools in mid-Missouri.

About 75 percent of the documents showed school safety plans and procedures which included school maps and response plans that could give dangerous actors critical information about the school's layout.

Raptor Technologies experienced a data breach of more than four million documents

Jeremiah Fowler noticed exposed documents included school safety measures like lockdown

Leaked documents included health and court records including information showing divorced parents

The documents also included health records containing names, addresses, and insurance details as well as court records listing the details of abuse or criminal sexual offenses and social security numbers.

Jeremiah Fowler, an ethical cybersecurity researcher, uncovered the leaked records, and said he immediately notified vpnMentor  a cybersecurity organization  about the data breach.

Raptor said it took steps to secure its database and restricted access the following day.

It's still unknown if Raptor's actions were too little too late or how long the cybercriminal had access to the information.

Raptor's chief marketing officer, David Rogers, told Dailymail.com that the company's 'investigation into the full nature and scope of the issue remains ongoing.'

He added that the company is not aware that the documents were used for malicious purposes, and Fowler said the extent of the breach remains a mystery but it is unlikely that someone actively exploited the documents.

'I imply no wrongdoing or neglect by Raptor Technologies. I also do not imply that there are any threats or risks to the schools, students, or staff,' Fowler said.

However, he noted that it's important to 'raise awareness about potential vulnerabilities for the benefit of better data protection goal measures and security practices.'

Documents also included what to do in case of a school shooter emergency that could be dangerous in the wrong hands

Raptor said it provides tracking technology claims its technology 'enables schools to screen visitors, track volunteers, report on drills, respond to emergencies, and reunite families.'

Fowler also uncovered a more than 25-page 'emergency response plan' for a single school, which showed preparations for fire drills, severe storms, shelter in place and lockdowns, Wired reports.

The document also included more than 20 scenarios, such as bomb threats, hostage situations and shooters in the school.

A map highlighted the layout of the school and location for where children of different ages should meet in the event of an emergency.

Fowler also found a document from one school titled 'active shooter/lockdown drill,' which is an 11 point checklist for teachers to review how a school performs during such practices.

Rogers said: 'We care deeply about the safety and wellbeing of children and all those community members our customers serve, which is exactly why we took prompt action when made aware by a cybersecurity researcher of an issue involving certain cloud-hosted data repositories.'

The company claimed all data repositories were secured and it has notified all customers who were potentially affected by the breach.

Rogers added: 'We are committed to safeguarding our customers' information and their trust in line with our mission to protect every child, every school, every day.'

Along with emergency plans, the leaked data included information about specific students and their behavior in class.

Wired reported about one document that highlighted a child's name and threats they had made to teachers and other students.

Another read: '[Student name] is aggressive, kicking, scratching, and fights while transitioning from the bus each morning,' one file says of a student. It adds that the student 'locked himself in principal's office and grabbed a pair of scissors.'

The leak also exposed students' medical records, including names of doctors and illnesses.

Yet Raptor's protection extended only so far as to upload thousands of documents without any security measures in place, even as there is an ongoing epidemic of violence in schools, including school shootings.

'Given the numerous risks for educational institutions, it is crucial for schools to prioritize the security of potentially sensitive records related to emergency protocols, drills, or sensitive maps,' Fowler said.

He advised schools and companies who take charge of school data to take proactive measures that restrict records by encrypting sensitive information and conducting regular security assessments.

'In Raptor's case, it's a wake-up call. Hopefully, this data doesn't fall into the wrong hands,' Fowler told CBS News.

'I haven't seen a range or span of documents like that, I don't think, ever,' he added.
In the distant past, rising sea levels have hidden vast portions of our planet's land that humans once called home.

Now, scientists have found evidence of a lost continent off Australia's northern coast that was home to half a million people around 70,000 years ago.

This landmass, known as the North West Shelf, was around 1.6 times as large as the UK and contained archipelagos, lakes, rivers and a large inland sea.

The archipelagos were so large they could have acted as 'stepping stones' for migration from Indonesia into Australia, the experts say.

Sadly, the North West Shelf was lost around 10,000 years ago when sea levels rose, and is now around 300 feet underwater in the Timor Sea.

This landmass, known as the North West Shelf, was around 1.6 times as large as the UK and contained archipelagos, lakes, rivers and a large inland sea. The archipelagos were so large they could have acted as 'stepping stones' for migration from Indonesia into Australia

The submerged landscape now stretches between the Kimberley region (pictured) and Arnhem region of northern Australia

READ MORE: Long lost continent of Argoland is FOUND Evidence of a lost continent has been found 18,000ft below the Indian Ocean Advertisement

The new study was led by Kasih Norman, an archaeologist at Griffith University in Queensland.

'We reveal details of the complex landscape that existed on the North West Shelf of Australia,' Norman and colleagues say.

'It was unlike any landscape found on our continent today.'

Around 18,000 years ago, the last ice age came to an end.

Subsequent warming caused sea levels to rise and drown huge areas of the world's continents, including a huge landmass that went around Australia.

This landmass connected the Australian mainland with New Guinea and Tasmania  collectively now known as Sahul  but when the rise in sea levels occurred, parts flooded.

This process split the supercontinent of Sahul into New Guinea and Australia, and cut Tasmania off from the mainland.

Sahul's North West Shelf in particular was a 'vast, habitable realm' and a 'single cultural zone' with similarities in ground stone-axe technology, styles of rock art and languages, the experts say.

Sahul was a supercontinent made up of the present-day landmasses of Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea

Pictured, a modern-day example of an archipelago on a submerged continental shelf is the Aland Islands near Finland

What was Sahul? Sahul is the name given to the single Pleistocene-era continent which connected Australia with New Guinea and Tasmania. After the last ice age, temperatures increased and sea levels gradually rose, flooding coastal parts of Sahul. Experts have studied North West Shelf, which is part of Sahul and submerged around 300 feet underwater. Advertisement

For the study, they analysed bathymetric data  information about the depths and shapes of underwater terrain  in the North West Shelf region.

They also looked at historic sea level data to help estimate when the region was populated and when it was lost.

Rapid global sea level rises between 14,500 to 14,100 years ago and 12,000 to 9,000 years ago resulted in the rapid inundation of about half of the North West Shelf with seawater, they reveal.

Human populations would have witnessed an 'encroaching coastline' and retreated further into the Australian mainland.

This resulted in an increase in populations at the Kimberley and Arnhem regions of northern Australia, evident in distinctive new rock art styles in both regions.

The team also pointed to stone tools recently found on the sea floor off the coast of the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The now-drowned continental shelves of Australia were thought to be little-used by Indigenous people, but the new study suggests this is not the case.

Pictured, similar styles of rock art in the Kimberley (left) and Arnhem (right) regions of northern Australia. It's possible they were produced by humans driven from North West Shelf as it became submerged

North West Shelf (indicated here by a dashed black box) was likely a 'single cultural zone' with similarities in ground stone-axe technology and styles of rock art. Pictured, early axe technology found in Australia within and outside of the North West Shelf region

If they were anything like North West Shelf, they were 'rich ecosystems' with impressive populations similar to today's towns and cities.

'Our ecological modelling reveals the now-drowned North West Shelf could have supported between 50,000 and 500,000 people at various times over the last 65,000 years,' the team say.

'The population would have peaked at the height of the last ice age about 20,000 years ago, when the entire shelf was dry land.

'Many large islands off Australia's coast  islands that once formed part of the continental shelves  show signs of occupation before sea levels rose.'

The study has been published study in Quaternary Science Reviews.
It's one of the most well-known companies in the world, and now Apple has officially been crowned the world's biggest phonemaker.

While Samsung has taken the top spot every year since 2010, it was finally knocked off its pedestal by Apple in 2023.

Figures released by the International Data Corporation (IDC) reveal how Apple took 20.1 per cent of the market share last year  a 3.7 per cent increase on 2022.

'The biggest winner is clearly Apple,' said Nabila Popal, research director with IDC's Worldwide Tracker team.

'Not only is Apple the only player in the Top 3 to show positive growth annually, but also bags the number 1 spot annually for the first time ever.'

Figures released by the International Data Corporation (IDC) reveal how Apple took 20.1 per cent of the market share last year  a 3.7 per cent increase on 2022

It's one of the most well-known companies in the world, and now Apple has officially been crowned the world's biggest phonemaker

Preliminary data from the IDC shows that 234.6 million iPhones were shipped in 2023, followed by 226.6 million Samsung smartphones.

Xiaomi came in third, shipping 145.9 million smartphones last year, followed by OPPO (103.1 million) and Transsion (94.9 million).

'The overall shift in ranking at the top of the market further highlights the intensity of competition within the smartphone market,' said Ryan Reith, group vice president with IDC's Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers.

'Apple certainly played a part in Samsung's drop in rank, but the overall Android space is diversifying within itself.

'Huawei is back and making inroads quickly within China, Brands like OnePlus, Honor, Google, and others are launching very competitive devices in the lower price range of the high end.

'And foldables and increased discussions around AI capabilities on the smartphone are gaining traction.'

Overall, total global smartphone shipments in 2023 were 3.2 per cent lower than in 2022, which the IDC claims is 'driven largely by macroeconomic challenges'.

However, things are looking up, with growth in the second half of the year 'cementing the expected recovery for 2024'.

'The smartphone space is headed towards a very interesting time,' Mr Reith added.

While Samsung has taken the top spot every year since 2010, it was finally knocked off its pedestal by Apple in 2023

The new figures come shortly after Apple shares slumped four per cent, following 'lacklustre' iPhone 15 sales.

Paolo Pescatore, an analyst at PP Foresight, thinks Apple's lacklustre iPhone sales globally may be due to users keeping their older devices for longer.

Some Apple fans likely see the iPhone 15 as having minor changes compared with the iPhone 14 and therefore not worth spending money on.

The biggest change on the iPhone 15 compared with its predecessor was the new charging cable  USB-C instead of Lightning  but this was hardly that exciting for consumers.

'Convincing users to fork out for new devices every year is not easy for any provider in light of ongoing economic uncertainty,' Pescatore told MailOnline.

'People are now more wary of their disposable income and are keeping devices for longer as well as giving them to other members of the family.'
READ MORE: Can you tell these AI-generated faces from real people?

New AI model can generate realistic 'handwriting' by imitating the real thing

AI tools like ChatGPT can draft letters, tell jokes and even give legal advice  but only in the form of computerized text.

Now, scientists have created an AI that can imitate human handwriting, which could herald fresh issues regarding fraud and fake documents.

Amazingly, the results are almost indistinguishable from the real thing drafted by human hands.

Below is one column of writing by the team's AI model and another by humans, but can you tell which is which?

Scroll down to reveal the answer!

In this image, one column of writing was done by an AI model while the other was by actual human hands - but can you tell the difference?

The artificial intelligence programme can learn the handwriting style of a person and generate text scrawled in what looks like their hand (file photo)

READ MORE: Can you tell these AI-generated faces from real people? One of these faces is real while the other is not Advertisement

If you guessed that the left column was written by AI and the right column by a human ... you are correct!

The right column is a sample of handwriting by six different human writers that the team's AI was trained with.

Meanwhile the left column is the imitations of each person's handwriting by the new AI, called HWT.

HWT was developed by scientists at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi.

According to the experts, the 'handwriting' generated by HWT looks much more realistic than other existing AIs and would be preferable to use.

In their study, they showed the fake text from HWT and two other handwriting generation technologies to 100 people and asked which one they preferred.

The results revealed that participants in preferred HWT to the other text generators 81 per cent of the time.

What's more, the participants could not distinguish the mimicked handwriting from the actual handwriting.

Two more columns of writing, both generated by other AIs - GANwriting on the left and Davis et al (2020) on the right. In the study, the majority of people preferred the writing by HWT over these two

What is a generative adversarial network? A generative adversarial network (GAN) is a deep learning architecture. It trains two neural networks to compete against each other to generate more authentic new data from a given training dataset. For instance, you can generate new images from an existing image database or original music from a database of songs. Source: Amazon Advertisement

Previous approaches to mimic a persons handwriting had been developed using a machine learning model called a generative adversarial network (GAN).

This technique has become famous in recent years for creating fake faces and making new music by being trained on existing samples.

Handwriting generated by GANs capture the overall, general style of a writer  for example, the slant or width of the letters.

But GANs struggle to recreate how people create individual characters, as well as the little lines, known as ligatures, that tie characters together.

Instead of GANs, the researchers used 'vision transformers', a type of neural network designed for computer vision tasks.

Vision transformers are able to understand that parts of an image that are physically distant from each other are uniformly linked.

'To mimic someones handwriting style, we want to look at the whole text, and only then will we start to understand how the writer ligated characters, how the writer connected letters, or spaced words,' said study author Fahad Khan at MBZUAI.

AI-created handwritten text could be beneficial for people with disabilities or injuries that prevent them from holding a pen, the team think.

It could also be used to generate a large amount of data to improve the ability of machine learning models to process handwritten script.

Pictured from the team's paper is the overall architecture of HWT to generate 'handwritten' text images. The tool could help people who have injuries that prevent them from taking up a pen

Study author Hisham Cholakkal, assistant professor of computer vision at MBZUAI and one of the inventors, acknowledged the potential fraud concerns.

'Its important to be aware that it's possible to use AI to generate handwriting that matches the style of an individual,' he said.

'We wanted to know if you gave a model a few samples of someone's handwriting if the model could learn about the style of that person and then write anything in the handwriting style of that person.'

While the study focused on generating handwriting in English, the researchers are now interested to apply their technology to other languages, like Arabic.

The study has been published as a pre-print paper, meaning it's yet to be peer-reviewed, on the open-access repository arXiv.
Archaeologists have 'rewritten history' after analysing a mosaic at one of the UK's most famous Roman villas.

The mosaic was created in the 5th century - proving sophisticated life continued long into the 'Dark Ages', according to the National Trust.

Historians previously believed that following the withdrawal of the Roman Empire from Britain around 410 AD, towns and villas were largely abandoned and fell into decay within a few years.

But the excavation of the mosaic at the world-famous Chedworth Roman Villa in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, led by National Trust archaeologist Martin Papworth, has proved otherwise.

'Our whole vision of this society is wrong,' he said.

Archaeologists have 'rewritten history' after analysing a mosaic at one of the UK's most famous Roman villas

The excavation of the mosaic at the world-famous Chedworth Roman Villa in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, led by the National Trust

READ MORE: 2,000-year-old Roman home with an 'unparalleled' mosaic featuring shells, marble and precious glass is uncovered near Rome's Colosseum Archaeologists have uncovered a luxurious Roman home near Rome's Colosseum, boasting an 'unparalleled' mosaic Advertisement

A charcoal sample from the foundation trench of a wall, which the mosaic was built into, was sent for radiocarbon dating in 2017.

The test, which uses the decay of a radioactive isotope of carbon to estimate age, revealed the earliest date it could have been built as 424 AD.

This suggested the mosaic wasn't actually Roman, but was created in the early Medieval period.

The result baffled archaeologists because it went against the established narrative that sophisticated life in Britain ceased to exist after the end of Roman rule.

Last year, the team uncovered the mosaic at the luxury 35-room mansion once again, to carry out further tests.

More samples of charcoal were selected from the trench foundation and sent for testing.

One gave a date range of 414 AD to 549 AD, and the other 420 AD to 560 AD - backing up the original result.

The median date suggested the wall, and therefore the mosaic, were most likely constructed in the 480s AD.

This was decades after Britain entered the so-called 'Dark Ages', which is typically characterised by the advent of economic, intellectual, and cultural decline.

A charcoal sample from the foundation trench of a wall, which the mosaic was built into, was sent for radiocarbon dating in 2017

The stunning mosaic can be found at Chedworth Roman Villa in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire

READ MORE: Remains of a 'possible temple' from 1,400 years ago are discovered in Suffolk farmland close to the famous Sutton Hoo dig site Archaeologists uncovered the foundations of a large building believed to be probably be a temple or cult house dedicated to the pre-Christian gods Advertisement

Martin said: 'Archive material suggests the Roman Empire collapsed in Britain in about 410 AD and after that the evidence seems to indicate that everything fell apart, but that doesn't necessarily mean it did.

'There are scant bits of history that indicate there was still a Romanised way of life - particularly in the West Country.

'The East of Britain, which is closer to Germany and Holland, became less Romanised more quickly. But the West Country, around Gloucestershire, Dorset and Somerset, seems to resist Saxon advance.

'It seems most likely that those places carried on as normal and that things gradually wound down, rather than falling off a cliff.

'The radiocarbon dating results suggest there was someone wealthy enough to commission a new mosaic for their home two or three generations after people said the whole country collapsed and everyone was living in shacks.

'This also indicates there was a trade economy and not just hand-to-mouth bartering.'

The revelation was captured in episode six of the latest series of BBC Two's Digging for Britain, which aired on January 11.

Presenter, Professor Alice Roberts, described the discovery as 'mind-blowing'.

Dating back to the 2nd century AD, Chedworth has a number of historically significant features - including a water-shrine, two well-defined bath-houses, a latrine, a kitchen, hypocaust systems, and a wide collection of artefacts

The median date suggested the wall, and therefore the mosaic, were most likely constructed in the 480s AD

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She said: 'This is so exciting and it's unlikely to be unique. It's unlikely this is the only villa that carries on into the fifth, maybe sixth centuries.

'We have to go back and look at all the rest.

'It's one of those times when we can genuinely say, this is re-writing history.'

The team also took a sample of soil from directly under the mosaic and sent it off to a lab for Optically-Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating.

OSL examines the electrons emitted by fine quartz crystals within the surface soil to determine when they were last exposed to sunlight.

The sample, which was analysed by a scientist at the University of Gloucestershire, revealed the mosaic cannot be older than 400 AD.

Martin added: 'We've used OSL to date several significant archaeological sites in the National Trust, and the additional confirmation provided by both this and our new radiocarbon dates adds weight to our conclusion that this is indeed a 5th century mosaic.'

Dating back to the 2nd century AD, Chedworth has a number of historically significant features - including a water-shrine, two well-defined bath-houses, a latrine, a kitchen, hypocaust systems, and a wide collection of artefacts.

The team took a sample of soil from under the mosaic and sent it off to a lab for Optically-Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating. The sample, which was analysed by a scientist at the University of Gloucestershire, revealed the mosaic cannot be older than 400 AD

Martin added: 'We've used OSL to date several significant archaeological sites in the National Trust, and the additional confirmation provided by both this and our new radiocarbon dates adds weight to our conclusion that this is indeed a 5th century mosaic'

The mosaic was re-buried at the Romano-British villa following the excavation, to protect it from the weather.

Archaeologists are now studying evidence from other Roman mansions to determine whether luxurious lifestyles continued elsewhere in the UK during the Dark Ages.

Martin said: 'Was Chedworth the only villa occupied in style into the 5th century? With the help of Professor Ken and Dr Petra Dark, evidence is now being gathered from other West Country villa archives to track down additional dating evidence.

'This will put our 5th century Chedworth dates in context so we can further understand what life would've been like during this period, not only at Chedworth but within the community of villas and towns that surround it.'

He added: 'It's a fascinating time for archaeology - we're essentially re-writing history.'
Men are said to be better with directions than women, and a new study claims to have uncovered the source of their skills.

While theories have suggested the ability stems from evolution, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign determined it comes down to how different genders are raised.

The team suggested that boys' experiences likely results in their enhanced navigational abilities versus females.

While theories have suggested the ability stems from evolution, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign determined it comes down to how different genders are raised

Researchers previously thought that evolution played a major role because historically men would travel farther from the home than women to provide for their families.

However, the researchers noted that if that were the case, the genetic trait would have been passed down to female children.

'... It is pretty obvious to me that the human sex difference is a result of culture, and not evolution,' Justin Rhodes, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and co-author of the study, told Dailymail.com

He continued: 'The trend for males to display slightly better performance than females in animals, independent of sex differences in home range size, is most likely a side effect of sex hormones (e.g., like male-patterned baldness, and acne during adolescence).

'These are caused by testosterone,' he said, 'but serve no function, they are side effects.'

The study, published in The Royal Society Journal, looked at 21 species including humans, to identify the source of the wayfinding abilities.

The sample also featured crayfish, chimpanzees, the dyeing poison frog, pandas and horses.

Rhodes and his team first looked at the species home range measurements to see how far each gender traveled from their base primarily through observation, radio-tracking, or trapping

Rhodes and his team first looked at data from previous studies dating back to 1960 to determine if there is a gender divide in the relationship between the species home range and spatial ability.

They looked at how far each gender traveled from their base primarily through observation, radio-tracking, or trapping.

The researchers followed the species habits for varying amounts of time, with some looked at for less than a year while others were measured for more than a year, to compare how species navigated with and without a pronounced breeding season.

They gathered data from humans using virtual or real-world mazes, by measuring how long it took to navigate through new environments to a specific location, or by measuring how well participants' could point to an out of sight location.

READ MORE: Women ARE as good at reading maps as men ... but only in countries with greater gender equality In countries where women have made greater strides in the workplace and society - such as the United Kingdom, Australia and United States - women are better at navigating than in countries where women's role in society is less advanced - such as Egypt. Advertisement

Rhodes conducted a similar study over a decade ago, but the results were limited by the number of species  which amounted to only 11  and the lack of non-Western human data.

The species studied in the newly published study nearly doubled that of the 2012 study, enabling researchers to gain a more thorough understanding of how and why men are better navigators.

Over the past half-century, significant resources have gone into testing the sex-specific adaptation  as an explanation for sex differences in navigation abilities, the authors wrote in the study.

In a previous meta-analysis, we found the evidence was weak, and in this paper with an expanded dataset, we again find little evidence supporting the  hypothesis, they added.

Researchers found that females in only two species involved in the study had a larger home range, whereas the rusty crayfish was the only species to show no sex difference in spatial ability and the diablito poison frog showed a slight male advantage.

Meanwhile, several species didn't show a difference in home range, but still had a male advantage in navigation.

Sex differences in behavior or performance can arise from biological or cultural processes that have little to do with evolution, the study said.

Future research should focus on how socialization and culture influence navigational roles, rather than looking at it from the focal point of evolution, according to the study.

It added that while spatial navigation didn't disappear in cultures where females and males have similar ranging behavior, the sex difference does.

More research needs to be conducted to focus on how brain function is molded to make men superior in the navigating realm.

'The fact that the trait in humans comes down to how you are raised, answers the question of how women can overcome this gap,' Rhodes said.

He added: 'It is just a matter of experience.'
MBABANE - The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla has embarked on an exercise to visit all the orphaned children created during the unrest.

These visits are limited to orphaned children whose parents or guardians were members of the security forces and were killed during the political unrest by people purporting to be members of the solidarity forces. These visits aim to ensure that the children, who were left behind by the soldiers, police officers as well as officers from His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS) who were killed between 2021 and 2022 during the unrest had access to basic needs.

Visited

The DPM said to date, she had visited two families of officers from HMCS. Last Friday, Dladla visited Mbongeni Mthayi Dlaminis family who was killed on November 4, 2022. Dlamini is one of HMCSs officers who was kidnapped, tortured, forced to record a video and killed by the solidarity forces. Dlamini left behind six children, the oldest being six years old.

I am fully embarking on that exercise because as an office, we need to ensure that the officers children have all the national documents and are in school. During the visits, I am also examining their socio-economic status and who is looking after them, said the DPM. Another family that was visited was that of Bheki Mtsefwa of Kabhudla who was kidnapped, assaulted and shot. He was stationed at Sidwashini Correctional Services Facility.

The DPM said she would be visiting more families. She said they would start by visiting the families of HMCS officers and the rest would follow.

She said by next week, she would be done with the exercise and would ensure that all the children were receiving necessities. Last year, government invited the families of the 10 officers from Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), HMCS and Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), and engaged them on how they could be assisted after the death of their loved ones. The families were asked to choose a family member who would replace the deceased loved one in each of the security forces in the country.
Scientists have uncovered why little dogs live longer and it is not due to being more prone to diseases.

Researchers at the University of Washington found both groups suffer from the same amount of illnesses, but those that plague smaller canines are not nearly as severe.

The looked at 238 different breeds and discovered larger dogs were more prone to suffering from cancer, gastrointestinal problems and infections.

While those of smaller stature were prone to eye condition, liver problems and respiratory issues.

Researchers at the University of Washington found both groups suffer from the same amount of illnesses, but those that plague smaller canines are not nearly as severe

Researchers looked at 238 different breeds and found that larger dogs were more prone to suffering from cancer, gastrointestinal problems, and infections.

The researchers surveyed 27,541 dog owners who had to complete a web-based Health and Life Experience Survey through the Dog Aging Project.

Owners were asked to provide their dog's age, exact weight, any health issues or conditions, and their location including whether they lived in an urban, suburban, or rural area.

They were also questioned about any previous medical diagnosis's across 13 disease categories.

The team stressed that more research is needed to clarify links between dog age, size, and disease prevalence.

Researchers at the University of Washington looked at 238 different breeds and discovered larger dogs, like the Japanese warrior dog tosa inu, were more prone to suffering from cancer , gastrointestinal problems and infections

The results showed that dogs weighing more than 44 pounds suffered from the more extreme illnesses while smaller dogs had respiratory issues, liver or pancreas diseases, and ocular and cardiac issues.

Researchers separated the dogs into subcategories based on health conditions and the dog's sex, location, and whether they were a pure or mixed breed.

The study determined the difference in the dog's gender and purity versus mixed breed didn't make a difference in the results, but said the 'results align with the reduced lifespan in larger dogs for most of the disease categories.'

Lead author Yunbi Nam said: 'This study does not confirm any causal relationship between dog size, age, and disease.

'However, the findings could help lead to deeper understanding of the types of conditions that may underlie the lower lifespan of larger dogs.

'For instance, within the disease categories explored in this study, future research could home in on age and size patterns associated with specific conditions.

'These results provide insights into the disease categories that may contribute to reduced lifespan in larger dogs and suggest multiple further avenues for further exploration.'

According to the Dog Aging Project (DAP), the study's results could help veterinarians treat dogs in the future by calling attention to some of the most common medical conditions large breeds suffer from.

'This information is also useful to help dog owners think about some of the health concerns that their dogs may experience throughout their lifetime,' the DAP said.
Apple will be forced to stop selling its Apple Watch in the US tomorrow over claims the devices are running on stolen technology  after a federal court lifted a pause on the ban.

All Apple stores and third party retailers will be prohibited from selling the latest Series 9 and Ultra 2 models with the blood oxygen feature starting at 5pm EST.

The announcement means the only available Apple watch in the US will be the company's budget SE model.

Industry experts have previously told DailyMail.com it could result in up to a $200 million revenue loss for Apple during one of its most lucrative times of year.

The order comes after Apple was found to have copied patented medical technology from the California-based biotech company Massimo.

A ban on Apple sales was originally slated for December 26 but was lifted temporarily a day later after Apple requested a hold for the duration of the appeals process, but that is likely to take months.

The order is due to Massimo accusing the tech giant of stealing its technology, which has resulted in a previous ban that was lifted temporarily

The legal proceedings only affect Apple Watch sales in the US, which accounted for 42 percent of its overall revenue from North America last year. One in three apple watches sold worldwide are sold in the US.

Apple argued it was likely to win its appeal and that keeping the ban in effect would harm the company, its suppliers and the public.

The commission countered that Apple's arguments 'amount to little more' than a patent infringer 'requesting permission to continue infringing.'

US Customs and Border Protection has said that Apple can continue selling the devices in the meantime if it redesigns and replaces the hardware - a process that could take months.

The order is due to Massimo accusing the tech giant of stealing its technology and committing patent infringement. The lawsuit resulted in a previous ban that was lifted temporarily last month

Apple has not yet described the redesign publicly, which could involve an update to the watches' software.

According to court documents, the tech giant is planning to remove the technology from the smartwatches in question in a solution that Masimo has welcomed.

Ben Bajarin, chief executive of analyst firm Creative Strategies, said Apple likely will disable the blood oxygen features on the two models rather than stop selling them.

Reports have suggested that with Apple replacing the hardware, it will take the company at least three months to produce and ship corrected smartwatches.

Masimo accused Apple of entering discussions with it for a potential partnership in 2013, only to steal the biotech startup's idea and poach some of its engineers to implement it.

Retailers will be prohibited from selling the latest Series 9 and Ultra 2 models with the blood oxygen feature, leaving the low-end SE on the shelves

The Irvine-based company pioneered a sensor technology that consistently emits light through the skin to monitor blood oxygen saturation.

Apple's technology shines red and near-infrared (IR) light into blood-perfused tissue.

According to the company website, Masimo, founded by Joe Kiani in 1989, holds thousands of healthcare and consumer-focused patents.

Data shows that Masimo is valued at $6.69 billion, and Kiani's net worth is $1.3 billion.

Massimo CEO Joe Kiani is leading the lawsuit against Apple

According to Forbes, Kiani has spent at least $60 million fighting Apple in court.

In October, the ITC announced its ruling, finding that the devices infringed on two patents owned by biotech company Masimo, based in California.

Apple decided to halt sales on December 18 in an effort to 'preemptively take steps to comply should the ruling stand.'

'Apple strongly disagrees with the order and is pursuing a range of legal and technical options to ensure that Apple Watch is available to customers,' the company said in a December statement.

The ban went into effect on December 24, which then left the decision to the Biden Administration that opted not to veto a ruling on patent infringements.

It is rare for a president to veto a decision from the ITC, but Apple has benefitted from such an intervention in the past and likely had high hopes it could happen again. But the Biden Administration stayed quiet.

Apple then filed an emergency motion with the US Appeals Court in an attempt to pause the ban, which went in effect on December 28 - letting retailers restart sales.

However, the move was temporary and sales have again been halted.

A Masimo spokesperson told DailyMail.com last month: 'Masimo is willing to settle.

'As Joe Kiani indicated, we believe the path forward is to have honest, good-faith discussions with Apple to explore the various ways the parties could resolve their dispute.'
Taking a flight in a pilotless self-flying plane might be a wild proposition for some - but robot passenger aircraft could be the future of air travel. As a fascinating new video reveals.

For his series 'Airplane Mode', Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large at The Points Guy, goes behind the scenes at Wisk Aero headquarters in Mountain View, California, to find out more about its revolutionary all-electric pilotless air taxi.

What makes the plane extra futuristic is that it has electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) capabilities.

In the video, Nicky meets Brian Yutko, Wisk CEO, who shows Nicky inside a Wisk Air Taxi Gen 6, the model Wisk anticipates it will seek Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clearance for, then take to market to transport passengers.

Nicky asks what the benefits of the plane's eVTOL system are. Brian explained: 'These aircraft are designed to operate close to where people live. You have to be able to take off and land vertically, but then fly like an airplane.

For his series 'Airplane Mode', Nicky Kelvin , Editor at Large at The Points Guy, goes behind the scenes at Wisk Aero headquarters in Mountain View, California, to find out more about its revolutionary all-electric pilotless air taxi

Wisk Aero has been developing air taxi prototypes since 2010

What makes Wisk's plane extra futuristic is that it has electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) capabilities

Brian projects it will first seek to market its planes to provide airport transfers.

Long-term, the company aims to provide air taxi services to densely populated urban centres.

Brian said: 'Eventually well see vertiport to vertiport, so places that arent airports right now start to be connected [a vertiport is a hub for eVTOLs aircraft to take off and land].'

When asked how safe the Wisk planes are, Brian explained that the engineers have to adhere to strict safety protocols: We design around a target safety level thats actually pretty similar to what you would experience in large commercial airplanes. And that turns into incredible amounts of redundancy [safety redundancies are duplications and backups to keep a plane operating in case of system failure].'

Brian Yutko, Wisk CEO, shows Nicky inside Wisk's latest model, the Gen 6, which it hopes to take to market

The Gen 6 Wisk Air Taxi can carry four passengers and carry-on luggage

By pressing a 'help' button passengers can attract the attention of a hospitality manager to provide information via video

While several companies are developing electric air taxis that take off and land vertically, Wisk is the only company currently aiming to launch an air taxi service with both eVTOL and pilotless flight.

Since 2010 it has developed multiple generations of air taxi prototypes and conducted over 1,750 test flights.

Brian takes Nicky to the 'autonomy lab', explaining it is essentially the operations studio for the ground staff assisting the planes.

Brian said: 'Obviously this aircraft is designed to not have a pilot on board. But the system is designed to have a person on the ground supervising the aircraft.

'In this lab we have people that will talk to air traffic control. That is the role of the multi-vehicle supervisor. There's no ability to fly the airplane with a joystick.

A look inside the 'autonomy lab', essentially an operations studio for the ground staff assisting the planes. Called 'multi-vehicle supervisors', they oversee the plane's flight plans but do not fly the planes remotely

Uplifting concept: An earlier prototype for the Wisk Air Taxi at Wisk HQ

Wisk's director of product design, Uri Tzarnotzky, demonstrates how he uses 3D printers to build and investigate prototypes, including fixtures inside the plane

'They're incredibly automated systems and generally what a supervisor does is approve a flight plan that is suggested to them by the aircraft and by the automation itself.'

When asked by Nicky why they've chosen to pursue the development of self-flying planes, Brian said: 'We think it will be the end state of this system [eVTOL planes], so we're going directly to it.'

The benefit of autonomous flight, he explained, is that it enables them to 'move the aircraft assets around in a way that is very flexible'.

Nicky meets with Wisks director of product design, Uri Tzarnotzky, to learn about how the company uses 3D printers to build and investigate prototypes, including fixtures inside the plane.

The Wisk Air Taxi Gen 5 takes off (vertically, naturally) on a test flight

The onboard computer is designed to offer reassurance to passengers by showing them the flight path and projected journey time

On watching the Gen 5 Wisk Air Taxi fly, Nicky noted it was quite unlike any other aircraft he'd seen, especially on take-off. He says: 'What's really noticeable is that it's so quiet, so graceful  the way it just floats up and goes on its merry little way'

WISK'S GEN 6 AIR TAXI: KEY SPECIFICATIONS Mission: Passenger air taxi Power: All-electric Aircraft classification: eVTOL (electric, vertical take-off and landing) Operation: Autonomous (self-flying) with human oversight Cruising altitude: 2,500  4,000 feet above ground level Dimensions: <50 foot wingspan Range: 90 miles (with reserves) / 144 kilometers Cruising Speed: 110-120 knots Charge Time: 15 minutes Seats: 4 + room for carry-on luggage Source: wisk.aero/aircraft. Advertisement

According to Uri, the interior of plane is designed to create an environment that is reassuring for the passenger, in the absence of on-craft cabin crew or a pilot.

Internal fixtures, for example, are crafted with textures designed to help passengers intuit what is safe or dangerous. Uri said: 'This is done with form, and were also reinforcing it with the colours, materials and finishes.

There is a video interface inside the craft. By pressing a 'help' button passengers alert the attention of a hospitality manager to provide information about where they currently are, what is happening and where they are going.

According to both Uri and CEO Brian this helps passengers anticipate their journey and feel safe.

In the video, Nicky then heads to Hollister Municipal Airport, California, to see an earlier prototype, the Gen 5 Wisk Air Taxi, in flight.

He speaks to test-pilot Mike Luvan, who explained: 'We'll be showing you the full capabilities of the aircraft - vertical take-off, transition outbound to a wing-born flight, stop midair, turn around come back.'

Watching the Gen 5 Air Taxi take off, Nicky noted: 'Seeing this for the first time is really incredible... It's not quite like anything you've ever seen before. It doesn't move like a helicopter, it certainly doesn't move like a normal fixed-wing plane when it's going up and down and turning.

'What's really noticeable is that it's so quiet, so graceful  the way it just floats up and goes on its merry little way.'

Once the aircraft lands without a hitch, Nicky is convinced: 'Actually, I can't wait for technology to take it to a place where I'm able to jump onboard one of these.'

To see the full video click here. For more from The Points Guy visit thepointsguy.com/uk-travel.
With the help of a local designer, Trummer has transformed his salubrious liar into a winter wonderland

It has attracted a run of celebrities with celebrities, Alicia being the most recent A lister spotted there

Albert Trummer opened his underground club DOM in Gramercy Park, New York, just over a year ago

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An Arctic blast is steadily hitting large swathes of the US and getting into snowmageddon spirit of things, one New York nightclub has had a wintery transformation in the hope of luring adventurous party-goers out of their apartments.

'I used to throw parties in Austria for the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger - he loves to ski and party - so I wanted to bring some of that apres ski atmosphere to New York,' nightlife guru Albert Trummer tells me from his Manhattan nightclub, which has quickly become one of the hottest spots in town.

The Austrian native opened his underground club DOM just over a year ago, and thanks to his far-reaching connections, he has hosted a slew of parties for big-name brands and celebrities alike, with Alicia Keys being the most recent A-lister spotted there boogying the night away.

Trummer is known for his wild imagination - he designed his former bar in Chinatown after an apothecary with drinks marketed for their medicinal qualities - and now he has sprinkled some magic on DOM in the form of an apres ski makeover.

With the help of a local designer, Trummer has transformed his salubrious Gramercy Park lair into a winter wonderland, which he says was inspired from his days hosting parties on the slopes of Lech, Austria, where everyone from Schwarzenegger to British royals would be in tow.

With the help of a local designer, nightlife maestro Albert Trummer has transformed his salubrious Gramercy Park club DOM into a winter wonderland

Tummer says he was inspired from his days hosting parties on the slopes of Lech, Austria, where everyone from Schwarzenegger to British royals would be in tow

DOM's makeover comes just in time, as temperatures in New York are set to plummet in the coming week, with readings well below freezing

Along with Alicia Keys (left), Christina Aguilera (right) is a fan of DOM and booked it out for a private party, while luxury powerhouse LVMH has also taken over the venue in the past

'They were great times in the 90s, such fun and now my club definitely takes me back to those days. It's all about great DJs, a great atmosphere and a crowd who want to party,' Albert muses.

DOM's makeover comes just in time, as temperatures in New York are set to plummet in the coming week, with readings well below freezing.

Trummer says people should dig out their finest winter gear for a ski-themed session at DOM.

The club will be open from 8pm daily to the early hours and there is no charge - but Albert says there is a strict door policy.

He likes to think of his customer base as sophisticated party goers, who dress to impress but don't take themselves too seriously.

Along with Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera is a fan of DOM and booked it out for a private party, while luxury powerhouse LVMH has also taken over the venue in the past.

Stepping inside the club following its alpine facelift, you are suddenly transported to a European-esque chalet retreat complete with frosted fir trees, twinkling fairy lights and blizzards courtesy of a snow machine.

One thing that remains in place is Trummer's extensive art collection, with one side room from the main club area filled with contemporary wall hangings and quirky sculptures.

To get people in the spirit of the things, Trummer's team of mixologists (which includes his equally charismatic son, Jakob) have also launched a special drinks menu, with some of the libations including gluhwein, hot toddies, and hot cider.

To get people in the spirit of the things, Trummer's team of mixologists (which includes his equally charismatic son, Jakob) have also launched a special drinks menu, with some of the libations including gluhwein, hot toddies, and hot cider

Trummer says a soft launch of his apres ski spot saw people arrive in everything from ski goggles to fur hats and he imagines some even wackier ensembles will crop up in the coming weeks

One thing that remains in place is Trummer's extensive art collection, with one side room from the main club area filled with contemporary wall hangings and quirky sculptures

DOM's apres ski theme is set to last for the next couple of weeks until New York Fashion Week arrives in February and the glitterati move in. Trummer (pictured center) says 'people really go to town' when it comes to partying at DOM

There will also be alpine shots, with some of Trummer's punchy 80-proof walnut elderberry liqueur thrown into the mix.

Trummer says a soft launch of his apres ski spot saw people arrive in everything from ski goggles to fur hats and he imagines some even wackier ensembles will crop up in the coming weeks.

He says: 'I love it, people really go to town. This is what I love about this place, it can really be transformed and people get into character. We have had jungle parties, Studio 54 parties, Miami art parties... the list goes on.'

DOM's apres ski theme is set to last for the next couple of weeks until New York Fashion Week arrives in February and the glitterati move in.

I bid Trummer a fond farewell, warmed not only by one of his libations, but his infectiously upbeat and dreamer spirit.
Bijou Phillips has quietly cut ties with Scientology after the controversial church's decision to expel estranged husband Danny Masterson in the wake of his prison sentence, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Masterson, 47, was revealed to have been banished from Scientology  or declared what the church deems a 'Suppressive Person'  days after he was ordered to serve 30 years behind bars for rape in September.

The radical decision, which requires fellow Scientologists, including his wife and family, to cut all contact with him, came even after the church publicly supported the actor and maintained his innocence throughout his criminal trials.

Phillips, 43, had also faithfully stood by her husband of 12 years throughout two trials  turning up on his arm each day for the court hearings, but filed for divorce just days after his September 7 sentencing.

Sources tell DailyMail.com Bijou Phillips is still standing by her estranged husband Danny Masterson by deciding to leave the Scientology instead of severing contact with him for good

Masterson was sentenced to 30 years behind bars in September, months after he was found guilty of rape at his trial last year  where his wife was seen by his side every day

Yet, despite their separation and Masterson's incarceration, it appears the actress remains loyal to her husband and decided to leave the religion instead of severing contact with him for good.

An insider with close ties to former Scientology members said Phillips did not want to cut ties with Masterson, especially due to their young daughter, and left the religion with the support of her sisters.

'Bijou left a few weeks after she found out that Danny had been declared an SP for not living up to the standards of the church,' the source told DailyMail.com.

'It's never an easy decision to leave Scientology because you face being ripped apart from your family and friends who are still members.

'In Bijou's case, she had nothing to lose and wasn't about to cut ties with Danny, per Scientology's disconnection rules. Bijou would never do that to her daughter, plus her sisters, her close friends none of them are Scientologists.

'Chynna has been a rock for Bijou and even though she's passionate about her own religion, she would never force anything on to Bijou. She doesn't have to because she walks the talk.'

Masterson grew up in a family of practicing Scientologists. His stepfather Joe Reaiche and mother Carole Masterson had been members of the Sea Org, the 'clergy' of the controversial faith.

Masterson, 47, was revealed to have been banished from Scientology  or declared what the church deems a 'Suppressive Person'  days after he was ordered to serve 30 years behind bars for rape in September

According to insiders, Bijou has the support of her older sister Chyna Phillips, 55, who has been 'her rock' during this difficult time. They are pictured together on vacation in the Bahamas earlier this month

While Chynna and her husband Billy Baldwin are Christians, sources say 'she would never force anything on to Bijou'

Reaiche himself was eventually deemed suppressive for questioning certain teachings and has not had any contact with his children since.

According to the insider: 'The Masterson family has been tight lipped on whether or not they have left the church. But I can't imagine them cutting ties with Danny. It's a toxic mess. The whole thing.'

'Scientology's biggest threat now is Danny and whether or not he will blow the lid on the church and its secrets, meaning what they told him to do, how to handle the rape allegations. It's far from over, especially with the civil suits coming up.'

Masterson was revealed to have been kicked out of Scientology and declared suppressive in an interview with former Scientologist and longtime private investigator Jeffrey Augustine in October.

But Augustine explained that the reason behind the move was for failing to 'maintain the high ethical standards for the Church of Scientology, and other reasons  not because Masterson was convicted of rape'.

He claimed the church is now facing legal battles and 'doesn't want to be held accountable' for Masterson's crimes.

Masterson's wife Bijou Phillips, who stood by the actor throughout his trial, filed for divorce shortly after he began his sentence

The former That 70s Show star agreed to give Phillips both legal and physical custody of the couple's daughter as he serves time in jail

The disgraced actor (pictured in court in 2020) is currently serving a 30-year sentence behind bars after being found guilty last month of raping two women

The That '70s Show star was moved to North Kern State Prison last month and was pictured sporting long hair and a scruffy beard in his latest mug shot for the first time since he began his sentence.

Following his sentencing, it was reported that he was under round-the-clock surveillance in case he showed signs of 'mental distress' and deputies would come by his cell every half hour to check on him 'with the goal of keeping tabs on his mental state and making sure he's safe'.

Masterson's three-decade sentence last September came three months after he was found guilty on two counts of rape following a dramatic, eight-day trial  that took place after an initial hearing that resulted in a mistrial.

At the hearing, Phillips looked completely shattered as she left the courtroom  after having written an emotional letter to the judge calling Masterson an 'amazing father' who worked to 'shield younger actors from temptation' while begging for leniency.

DailyMail.com previously revealed that Phillips couldn't 'accept' that allegation that her husband sexually assaulted two women and was concerned for his safety in prison as a notorious convicted rapist.

But her letter apparently did not move Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo, who handed down the harshest possible sentence of 30 years  15 for each felony rape conviction.
Sophie Habboo has revealed she and husband Jamie Laing are 'desperately' looking to move into their first family home.

The former Made In Chelsea couple currently live in a central London apartment but are on the hunt for a property in a more residential area.

After marrying in May last year, Sophie, 30, says her plan is to find a new place to live with Jamie, 35, but they're currently struggling with the housing market.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Sophie revealed her hopes for the future and how she and Jamie are looking to escape the party lifestyle in the city.

She said: 'We are desperately looking to move into our family home.

Sophie Habboo has revealed she and husband Jamie Laing are 'desperately' looking to move into their first family home

The former Made In Chelsea couple currently live in a central London apartment but are on the hunt for a property in a more residential area

'We are on the hunt we are looking high and looking low. We can't find anything right now but we are actively looking, which is really exciting.

'Jamie and I are looking everywhere, we have no set place it's a tough market out there.

'I want a bit of greenery, I want it to be a bit more residential, we're in a bit of a busy, party area right now and I want to move to where there's greenery around me and it's quiet and people are walking their dogs around me.

'You do have to think about the future I am getting very excited about it, but nothing has been found yet.'

Sophie and Jamie met filming E4 series Made In Chelsea but have both left the show to focus on other projects.

Jamie, who starred on Strictly in 2020, runs his confectionary company Candy Kittens and him and Sophie host their podcast Newlyweds together.

And Sophie says it's unlikely she will ever return to Made In Chelsea because many of her close friends, including Melissa Tattam, who she presents her second podcast Wednesdays We Drink Wine with, have also moved on from the programme.

She said: 'No I wouldn't go back. I don't think so.

After marrying in May last year, Sophie says her plan is to find a new place to live with husband Jamie but they're currently struggling with the housing market

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Sophie revealed her hopes for the future and how she and Jamie are looking to escape the party lifestyle in the city

'It's amazing and I loved my time on there but most of my friends have actually left. I wouldn't have any friends on there.'

Sophie discussed her change of lifestyle with MailOnline revealing that as well as laying down new roots she has taken on a different workout regime to help combat her anxiety.

The reality star took a break from social media last year following her wedding to Jamie after saying her stress levels had reached an all-time high and she needed to focus on grounding herself.

She explained the intensity of planning a large wedding on a public scale alongside managing her hectic schedule became too much and she sought professional help, with fantastic results.

Sophie said: 'The build-up to the wedding, as much as it was the most special day of my life, it was incredibly public and while I loved sharing that journey, I lost myself and I felt pulled in every direction... I felt really anxious.

'I felt incredibly overwhelmed and once we got married, I felt that it was an amazing day, we've done it and we're married now but I needed to get back to feeling like myself.

'The best decision was to take some time to myself, ground myself, reevaluate things, and then be able to carry on and root myself.

'It was so good for me taking time off social media and being by myself.

Sophie took a break from social media last year following her wedding to Jamie after saying her stress levels had reached an all-time high and she needed to focus on grounding herself

She explained the intensity of planning a large wedding on a public scale alongside managing her hectic schedule became too much and she sought professional help, with fantastic results

'I love being open and I love Newlyweds and the community and everyone being on the journey with us but I needed that time and to have some privacy.

'I was spreading myself a little bit too thin but now I have boundaries I am lucky enough that I felt great and ready and so excited to come back.'

Sophie models her new collection with fitness brand USA Pro in MailOnline's exclusive pictures, with the star saying the active wear is both stylish and affordable.

She said: 'I am really excited about this.

'I have always loved exercising but recently it has become much more of my essential routine.

'But gym wear is either so expensive or just not that flattering or good quality and this is a really reasonable price, great quality, I love the way it looks, and you don't have to wear it just in the gym I wear it all day long and I'm really happy with it.

'It has all been tested, people have squatted in the leggings over and over again to make sure they're durable.'
An Australian influencer has declared that the 'selfie era' is dead, but not everyone agrees.

Lauren Curtis, a beauty blogger based in Western Australia, posted an Instagram reel on Tuesday asking her 1.1million followers: 'Are selfies dead?'

In her video, the blonde Youtuber explained how she felt embarrassed for uploading a selfie to her social media account as video reels are more on trend.

'I was in my early 20s when when Instagram was popping off and so I have lived through the Instagram era of selfies, of duck-face pouting and there is nothing more embarrassing now, in 2024, than posting a selfie on Instagram and I don't know why,' the 31-year-old said.

'The only thing I can think of is that we're so used to seeing videos and reels now that posting a selfie just of your face just feels so cringe and self-indulgent like you're asking people to give you compliments.'

Lauren Curtis, a beauty blogger based in Western Australia , posted an Instagram reel on Tuesday asking her 1.1million followers: 'Are selfies dead?'

'I posted a selfie last night, first one in a while, and I'm still wondering if I should delete it,' she added. 'I find it embarrassing! It's a selfie, who cares?'

Lauren concluded her post by saying it's 'embarrassing' because 'no one else is doing it'.

'Defs overthinking it but I miss the selfie era,' she captioned her post.

In her video, the blonde Youtuber explained how she felt embarrassed for uploading a selfie to her social media account as selfies are being phased out while reels are more on trend

However, not all of the lifestyle guru's followers agreed with her, weighing in by commenting their own opinions of the selfie.

'My insta profile pic is literally a selfie what do u mean?' one follower wrote.

'Not every trend we had back in the day needs to be cancelled. I love a nice selfie and everyone takes them cause we dont have photographers following us around. Your selfies are beautiful dont delete them !!And I think selfies are fun, we just tend to overthink everything.'

'Oh.. I wasnt aware that selfies werent gramable anymore,' added another.

Not all of the lifestyle guru's followers agreed with her, weighing in by commenting their own opinions of the selfie

'Yep. Youre definitely overthinking it girl. Lol. Embarrassing? Who cares,' one fan said, while another agreed, 'There is nothing embarrassing about it... It's you! Just you!'

Meanwhile, others agreed with Lauren. 'No fr selfies are so cringe. Not when I see them but when I do them lmao,' someone commented.

'Just do what you wanna do,' one unbiased fan added.

Lauren posted her first makeup tutorial to Youtube in 2011 and since gone on to become one of the biggest names in beauty blogging.

Meanwhile, others agreed with Lauren. 'No fr selfies are so cringe. Not when I see them but when I do them lmao,' someone commented

Lauren posted her first makeup tutorial to Youtube in 2011 and since gone on to become one of the biggest names in beauty blogging

Speaking with Vogue Australia back in 2017, dished out advice on how to achieve the best eyebrows.

The beauty expert revealed she uses an unexpected product.

'This is kind of weird but I actually put a bit of moisturiser on my brows before I fill them in, especially if I've done a full face of makeup,' she told the magazine.

'I use an eyebrow powder and it doesn't stick properly to the skin when it's been set with powder, so by adding a bit of moisturiser to them I'm getting that tackiness back that allows me to draw clean lines around my brows and then easily fill them in.'
Kayla Itsines recently moved from South Australia to the sunny Gold Coast to start a new life with her new husband Jae Woodroffe.

But the fitness influencer, 32, hasn't cut off all ties to Adelaide, as she seems to be embarking on another home renovation project.

Instagram account Keeping Up With Aussie Influencers spotted Istines working on a property with the same builders she used for her last renovation in Malvern, SA.

Adelaide-based builders Morgan Build added one of Kayla's stories to their business page, showing a gutted brick hallway.

The fitness influencer wrote over the video 'brick houses, built different.'

Fitness influencer Kayla Itsines hasn't cut off all ties to Adelaide after her move to the Gold Coast as she seems to be embarking on another home renovation project

Instagram account Keeping Up With Aussie Influencers spotted Istines working on another property with the same builders she used for her last renovation in Malvern, SA

The highlighted story on the builder's page also showed other images of tradesman pulling up the floorboards.

These posts from the custom builder suggest that while Kayla has moved her life up to Queensland, she is keeping one foot in the south.

It comes just two weeks after the fitness entrepreneur officially announced her move to the Sunshine State.

'Weve officially MOVED TO QUEENSLAND!!!' she informed her 16 million Instagram followers.

Adelaide-based builders Morgan Build added one of Kayla's stories to their business page, showing a gutted brick hallway

The highlighted story on the builder's page also showed other images of tradesman pulling up the floorboards

Itsines was thrilled to reveal she was joined by her family as they settled in and that she'll be flying back to her hometown for regular visits.

'To be fair, it doesnt feel real because we really did bring the whole Adelaide crew and both our families with us. So happyyyyy. P.s dw we still have a house in Adelaide and I HAVE TO fly back every couple of weeks to see my family,' she added.

'Especially my grandparents who dont want me to move not because they love me too much  but because "too many mosquitoes."'

Kayla officially relocated to the Gold Coast after months of speculation. Pictured with husband Jae Woodroffe

Itsines was thrilled to reveal that she was joined by her family as they settled in and that she'll be flying back to her hometown for regular visits

The fitness guru concluded her post: 'HELLO QUEENSLAND FAM. We're so excited !!!'

There were months of rumours she was making an interstate move with her new husband Woodroffe and their newborn son Jax.

It started when Itsines was sighted at an home inspection with her mum, daughter Arna and her sister Leah Itsines' husband Mitch Caon.

The two-storey, $7million Mermaid Waters mansion boasts prestigious waterfront living on a 1407 square metre block.

The four-bedroom, five-bathroom property features three-metre-high ceilings, a massive alfresco entertaining terrace that fronts an infinity pool with wet bar seating, as well as a private beach.

Several clues indicated Itsines was preparing to move to the Gold Coast with her family. Pictured with husband Jae Woodroffe

The Sweat founder has been reportedly searching for a home on the Gold Coast and was sighted at an home inspection for this Mermaid Waters property
She's often seen flaunting her lavish outfits and lifestyle on her popular social media accounts.

But Sopha Dopha revealed in a fan Q&A on Instagram that only a few years ago she struggled financially, and also disclosed the bizarre ways she used to save money.

One follower asked if she was 'good at saving money', to which the blonde beauty, real name Sophia Begg, revealed she is.

She then admitted that she was once so frugal she 'wouldn't let anyone put the windows down in my car'.

The influencer believed doing so would 'make the car go slower' and add to her fuel costs.

Sopha Dopha, 19, (pictured) may have made headlines for her social faux pas the last few months, but the influencer proved on Tuesday she's not just a pretty face

'I was making like $100 a week working at a pizza shop [in 2020],' Sophia began her lengthy response to the fan's question.

'I remember I'd save like $80 and put $20 toward petrol and spending and stuff and I was such a good saver.'

She continued: 'Like I wouldn't buy myself anything cause I wanted an investment property before 20 years old.'

Sopha went on to say she became so frugal, she 'wouldn't let anyone put the windows down in my car'.

'I thought it would make the car go slower because of the wind and then that meant wasting money on more petrol,' she explained.

Some studies have shown that if a car is driven at around 80 kilometres per hour with the windows down, fuel efficiency can be decreased by over 20 percent.

The influencer revealed in a series of Instagram Stories that she's actually very financially savvy, as she explained the bizarre ways she used to save money

Sopha went on to say she became so frugal, she 'wouldn't let anyone put the windows down in my car'

The popular influencer said she rarely bought clothes for herself before she shot to well over 1million followers online and began earning thousands for fashion posts.

Instead she would 'try on like 20 things' at the clothing store Glassons and wait two weeks before buying something she liked.

Sopha now boasts 537,000 followers on Instagram and 1.2million followers on TikTok, where she is known for sharing fashion and lifestyle content.

Sopha now boasts 537,000 followers on Instagram and 1.2million followers on TikTok, where she is known for sharing fashion and lifestyle content

After penny-pinching as a teenager to work towards her dream life, the influencer has now fallen into all the trappings of fame and fortune.

Last month, she made headlines for all the wrong reasons thanks to her antics at the 2023 TikTok Awards.

And just a few weeks later, she raised eyebrows again when she suffered an unfortunate fake tan fail on the red carpet of a film premiere in Sydney.

Stepping out with a fresh fake tan in a gorgeous white halter dress, it was blaringly obvious she had chosen not to apply fake tan around two tattoos on her arm.
Love Island All Stars fans were convinced they spotted the moment Jake Cornish decided to leave the villa during Tuesday's episode of the show.

The former contestant, 26, who starred on series seven of the show, faced an awkward reunion with ex Liberty Poole, 24, when he entered the South African villa.

Jake reportedly decided he 'couldn't stay' after the public voted for the exes to be coupled up together on last night's launch show.

Reality star Jake was left red-faced on Tuesday when one of his preferences in the bedroom was exposed by Liberty.

As part of a game, Liberty was asked: 'Which Islander of the opposite ex gives you the ick and why,' to which Jake scoffed and looked away.

Love Island All Stars fans were convinced they spotted the moment Jake Cornish decided to leave the villa during Tuesday's episode of the show - after ex Liberty exposed his foot fetish (Liberty pictured)

The former contestant, 26, who starred on series seven of the show, faced an awkward reunion with ex Liberty Poole, 24, when he entered the South African villa

She answered: 'I've got to say Jake. I think the foot fetish.'

Shaking his head, Jake smiled and said: 'It got blown well out of proportion,' to which the rest of the Islanders burst out into laughter.

Jake decided he 'couldn't stay' after the public voted for the exes to be coupled-up together on last night's launch show.

Viewers were quick to take to social media after the scenes aired, insisting Jake was too humiliated to remain on the show.

One person wrote on Twitter: 'Ohhh so he quit because Liberty exposed his foot fetish! makes sense.'

While someone else shared: 'I think Jake left because lib exposed his foot fetish.'

Someone else posted: 'Ohh so the foot fetish comment is what got Jake packing looooool I see.'

And another person wrote: 'The foot fetish comment definitely tipped Jake over the edge I already thought he left because he didnt wanna get pied twice'

Viewers were quick to take to social media after the scenes aired, insisting Jake was too humiliated to remain on the show

'SO JAKE LEFT OVER LIB CALLING HIS FOOT FETISH OUT,' exclaimed another viewer.

While another show fan remarked: 'LOOLLL JUSTICE FOR LIBERTY!!!! She called out Jakes foot fetish and how he is a walking ick!!'

'Liberty bringing up the foot fetish LMFAOOOO,' wrote someone else, while another viewer shared: 'LIBERTY BAITING OUT JAKES FOOT FETISH LMFAOOO.'

Meanwhile, Liberty was seen sharing a moment with Messy Mitch despite him being coupled-up with her good friend Kaz.

In scenes which aired just minutes after her revelation about Jake's foot fetish, she was seen spraying oil onto former gas engineer Mitch's back before giving him a massage.

Michel exclaimed: 'That's amazing.'

It emerged Jake had quit Love Island All Stars on Tuesday, the day after the launch episode of the new series aired.

'Jake was really shocked to see Liberty in the villa  they had no idea the other person would be there,' a source told The Sun.

Liberty was seen sharing a moment with Messy Mitch despite him being coupled-up with her good friend Kaz

'It was clear from the start they wouldn't get back together, then none of the girls wanted to step forward for him.

'Jake had a nice three days in the villa and had a very emotional chat to Maya Jama, he couldn't stay in the villa so he quit the show. It's not his time and it's not the right time to find love.'

MailOnline has contacted ITV and Jake's representatives for comment.

Jake and Liberty were among 12 former Islanders who appeared on the new spin-off show. The series sees past contestants head into the villa to try to find love once more.

Ahead of her re-entry, Liberty admitted it might be 'awkward' coming across her ex and seemingly shut down the possibility of any rekindled romances.

She got a nasty surprise when  not only was she faced with her ex-boyfriend Jake  but the public voted for them to form a couple.

Liberty revealed they hadn't spoken for three years and could only say 'oh my God' as she saw him walk through the villa.

They were quick to shoot down any possibility of rekindling the romance when asked by host Maya Jama.

Jake Cornish has dramatically quit Love Island: All Stars after just three days , according to reports

When Maya asked: 'Is there any room for a rekindle do we think?' both Liberty and Jake immediately shook their heads and in unison replied: 'No.'

The pair shared a turbulent relationship on the show in 2021, with Liberty falling hard and fast for Jake, but her feelings seemingly not being reciprocated.

The couple became the first to become official in series seven.

However, during the Casa Amor loyalty test, Jake was seen encouraging his male co-stars to play away from their partners.

Clips of this moment were played during the iconic Movie Night, as well as earlier conversations of him talking to the boys about his feelings for Liberty.

In one video he told the guys: 'Her personality is mint, I cant fault her. Its like talking to Jake with a wig on. It's just not that 100 per cent where I look at her and go... I haven't got the girl there where I'm like f*** me I want to rip your clothes off.

Jake and Liberty were among 12 former Islanders who appeared on the new spin-off show. They split after a brief romance when they starred in the show back in 2021 (pictured)

'I don't want to fake any s*** you know what I mean? I don't want to say I really do like her when I don't, I'd be lying to myself.'

Jake was also accused of 'gaslighting' and demonstrating 'toxic' traits after he failed to compliment Liberty, and made comments on her appearance and 'messy habits'.

The exes hadn't spoken for three years before the All Stars show.

Liberty previously said she would encourage her ex to focus on pursuing a new romance in the villa if he was to enter before the launch.

She said: 'I haven't spoken to him since. If he's in there and wants a conversation then I'm happy to do that at the time I didn't have any regrets about my experience in the villa. I did what was right for me.

'I wish him the best and if we were both in there together I want him to focus on finding love because that's what I'm going to be doing.

'I don't want us being in the same room to take away from each other's experiences. I will be civil maybe we could even be mates who knows?'

Meanwhile, Jake brushed off any potential drama between the pair before entering the villa as he insisted there was no 'bad blood' between them, despite their shock on-screen break-up.

'Well there is only one and that's Liberty. We never ended with any bad blood between us and everything happens for a reason. We just become two different people in the end,' he said.

Love Island All Stars continues at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX on Wednesday 17 January.
MBABANE  The Republic of China (Taiwan) has responded strongly to PUDEMOs sharp criticism of the Asian States recent elections.

Taiwans Ambassador in Eswatini, Jeremy Liang, said they were not surprised that the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) was in support of Mainland China and was acting as Chinas mouthpiece. He said whatever view the proscribed entity might hold, it would not change the fact that Taiwan was a sovereign and independent country.

The ambassador was responding to a statement issued by PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya yesterday, stating that the elections were not in the best interests of the Chinese people. The ambassador stated that the people of Taiwan had spoken through the election. He said the results of the of the Taiwan presidential election showed that the Taiwanese people reject the One Country, Two Systems, model and, despite facing threats from China, still choose to follow their own path.

It is not surprising that PUDEMOs statements align closely with those of China, as if acting as a mouthpiece for China. However, this does not change the fact that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country, he said. Makhanya, in his statement, said PUDEMO contends that the best interests of the 23.5 million Chinese citizens who live in Taiwan are well served by the full-scale re-unification of the Chinese people.

The Peoples United Democratic Movement notes the outcomes of the recent electoral process held in Taiwan, the province of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) over the past weekend (January 13, 2024). PUDEMO is of the considered view that the holding of these elections outside the framework of the One China Principle and its attendant One China, Two Systems concept is not in the best interests of the Chinese citizens who reside in the Province of Taiwan.

Makhanya stated that the victorious emergence of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), a separatist and secessionist party, was not only unfortunate, but also complicating an already untenable geo-political state of affairs, in relation to global stability and the future of Taiwan.

Urged

He urged the newly elected leader of the DPP, William Lai Ching-te, to do the most sensible thing, which was to substantively engage in a sincere dialogue with the Peoples Republic of China, aimed at the re-unification and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We further condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the posture of the Eswatini Government of cheerleading Taiwan away from the re-unification agenda and for maintaining diplomatic relations with the Province of Mainland China. In equal measure, we denounce the double standards by Taiwan, of exercising multi-party democracy in the province, while supporting the Tinkhundla system, he said.

Makhanya applauded the government of the people of Nauru for becoming the latest country to officially abandon its diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favour of recognising the One China Principle. He said it was indeed commendable and was what all nations of the world should emulate for broader global peace and justice. Noteworthy, recently, some PUDEMO members visited the Peoples Republic of China to learn about their system.

This comes after William Lai Ching-te from the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won Taiwans presidential election, despite warnings from China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, not to vote for him. With votes from all polling stations counted on Saturday, the Central Election Commission said Lai won by 40.1 per cent, ahead of Hous 33.5 per cent.
Meghan King opened up about her concerns with Alexis Bellino's new romance with John Janssen.

The reality TV personality, 39, revealed that she recently warned her former co-star on the Real Housewives of Orange County about his 'narcissistic' tendencies and 'red flags.'

She told Page Six that she was 'just in contact' with Bellino and Shannon Beador about the same topic  the former's new beau and the latter's ex-boyfriend.

King  who made a surprising career pivot recently  said her last text message to Bellino was a warning to 'be careful' and 'it seems like he's love-bombing.'

In response to her concern, she revealed Bellino said: 'Thank you for your love and support.'

Meghan King opened up about her concerns with Alexis Bellino's new romance with John Janssen; seen in 2020

King  who made a surprising career pivot recently  said her last text message to Bellino was a warning to 'be careful' and 'it seems like he's love-bombing'

King also noted that even though she has never met Janssen personally, she is aware of his possible 'red flags.'

'I'm sure he has a lot of lovely traits,' she explained.

'But after being in a narcissistic relationship myself and done a lot of healing from that, I just see things that have been put out willingly by both of them, all of them, that kind of lead me to believe that there might be some red flags in the way that John approaches a relationship,' she continued.

King also revealed she was recently in contact with Beador and opened up about their last text exchange.

She explained that they had been talking about psychics and reflecting about their time starring on the hit Bravo series.

She claimed Beador said that 'it was so much more fun' back then.

King also disclosed that Beador told her she was the only housewife who reached out after her ex moved on with another Bravolebrity.

Prior to Bellino, Janssen was in a four-year relationship with Beador before they called it quits in late 2022.

King also revealed she was recently in contact with Beador and opened up about their last text exchange. King also disclosed that Beador told her she was the only housewife who reached out after her ex moved on with another Bravolebrity

Prior to Bellino, Janssen was in a four-year relationship with Beador before they called it quits in late 2022

Bellino and her new beau have been dating for less than two months before he gave her a $16,000 promise ring for Christmas.

The drama between Janssen's current and former partners may play out on the upcoming season of the Real Housewives of Orange County.

According to a report by Page Six, it was revealed that Bellino received a 'formal contract' to rejoin the franchise series and Beador reportedly started filming earlier this month.

Since production has reportedly just began, season 18 of the Real Housewives of Orange County will likely have a late 2024 release date.
He's the Hollywood 'it boy' whose films Saltburn and Priscilla are tipped for Oscars gold.

And while Jacob Elordi's career may be in the spotlight, the Australian actor, 26, prefers to keep his on-off romance with Olivia Jade Giannulli out of the public eye.

Olivia, 24, is an American YouTuber and the daughter of fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli and actress Lori Loughlin.

She began dating Euphoria heartthrob Jacob in late 2021, and the pair were together for months before calling it quits the following August.

At the time an insider told Us Weekly that Jacob was 'completely focused' on his acting career and a Life & Style source dished that he was in 'full force work mode.'

He's the Hollywood 'it boy' whose films Saltburn and Priscilla are tipped for Oscars gold. And while Jacob Elordi 's career may be in the spotlight, the Australian actor, 26, (left) prefers to keep his on-off romance with Olivia Jade Giannulli, 24, (right) out of the public eye

But just one month later, the couple were spotted in public again, and an insider told Daily Mail: 'They're into each other but it's still quite casual.'

In February 2023, J-14 magazine reported that the couple had broken up yet again, however just three months later Just Jared published photos of the couple cuddling up together in Los Angeles.

The couple continued to flaunt their romance in June 2023 when they went on a holiday to Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho with Olivia's parents, with an insider from People magazine claiming things were 'getting serious'.

Olivia was most recently spotted soaking up the sun during a Mexican getaway with friends this week

Curiously, the pair attended GQs 2023 Men of the Year party in November 2023, but did not walk the red carpet as a couple.

Despite these multiple sightings, Olivia and Jacob have never confirmed nor discussed their relationship.

Olivia began her social media career while in high school and has amassed millions of online followers.

Olivia is an American YouTuber and the daughter of fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli and actress Lori Loughlin

The brunette sparked controversy in 2017 after she filmed herself driving just moments before getting into a car crash.

In the footage, Olivia is seen driving to a hair salon while singing songs including Stevie Wonder's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered'.

READ MORE: Jacob Elordi's girlfriend Olivia Jade Giannulli shows off her chest and impressive abs as she sizzles in a bikini while vacationing in Mexico Advertisement

Olivia later explained in a vlog that she was at a red light when a truck smashed into her vehicle from behind, sending her into the car in front of her.

While the YouTuber received support from her fans, others pointed out that vlogging at the wheel is reckless.

Olivia courted scandal yet again in March 2019, after her parents were busted by the Department of Justice for fraud related to her college admissions.

Olivia's parents were among 50 people accused of paying bribes to get their children into the country's most elite colleges.

Prosecutors alleged Olivia's parents paid USD$500,000 to provide olivia and their other daughter Isabella Giannulli entry into University Of Southern California as recruits for the crew team, despite the fact that they hadn't previously participated in the sport.

Olivia's mother Loughlin took a plea to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and was ordered to pay a USD$150,000 fine and complete 100 hours of community service on top of serving two months in prison.

She was also hit with two years of supervised release that expired at the end of December 2023.

Olivia began her social media career while in high school and has amassed millions of online followers

Olivia courted scandal in March 2019, after her parents were busted by the Department of Justice for fraud related to her college admissions. (Pictured with mother Lori Loughlin)

Olivia's father Giannulli also opted for a plea deal and was sentenced to five months in prison, fined $250,000 and ordered to complete 250 hours of community service.

Meanwhile, Olivia bounced back by leaning into her social media content which included creating makeup tutorials for her online audience.

She also enjoyed a stint on Dancing with the Stars in 2021 and told People that year: 'I want to keep evolving as a person, and I think sometimes it takes kind of difficult situations and mistakes and stuff that we're really not proud of to do that.'
Rebel Wilson made one her loyal fan's day last week, when she obliged their request to dance to Pitch Perfect's famous final performance.

The Australian actress, 43, who starred in all three movies of the a cappella franchise, starred with two admirers in a video they shared to TikTok on Saturday.

Wearing a basic blue button-down shirt and black trousers, the Hollywood star looked thrilled to get back to the movie's roots.

The clip began with Rebel and the two women throwing their hands up in the air to a song her character Fat Amy sang in the final performance of the first Pitch Perfect film.

Then the trio broke into some of the the famous dance moves from the number.

Rebel Wilson made one her loyal fan's day last week, when she obliged their request to dance to Pitch Perfect's famous final performance

'With my idol,' the fan wrote in her caption.

It comes after Rebel revealed she has been feeling low after gaining weight due to stress.

The Australian actress shed a whopping 35kg (5.5 stone, or 77 pounds ) during her 'Year of Health' in 2020.

The Australian actress, 43, who starred in all three movies of the a cappella franchise, starred with two admirers in a video they shared to TikTok on Saturday

The clip began with Rebel and the two women throwing their hands up in the air to a song her character Fat Amy sang in the final performance of the first Pitch Perfect film

But she revealed in an Instagram post on Monday she has since regained 14kg (2.2 stone, or 30 pounds).

'Working really hard has meant that, coz of all the stress, I've gained 14kgs (30 pounds)! It makes me feel bad about myself it shouldn't but it does,' she wrote.

'I'm really proud of the work I've been doing on new movies and my memoir, it's just been a LOT and I've lost focus on my healthy lifestyle.'

It comes after Rebel revealed she has been feeling low after gaining weight due to stress

'Anyone else going through the same thing?' the Pitch Perfect star added.

Rebel has openly spoken about her weight loss journey over the course of the past couple of years, as well as documenting her shrinking figure on her social media pages, much to the delight of her legions of fans.

In 2020, Rebel decided she would spend a year concentrating on her health and setting fitness goals as well as a weight loss target for the end of the year, vowing to tip the scales at 75kg (11 stone, or 165 pounds) before the year was out.

At the start of her strict regime, her trainer Jono Castano of Acero gym spoke about the gruelling sessions Rebel was undertaking, but admitted she was very much taking the new lifestyle day by day.
Christina Applegate was seen with her daughter at the 2024 Emmys on Monday.

Sadie, 12 wore a tailored black suit and crisp white shirt as she joined her mom at the biggest night in TV.

The actress shares the tween with her husband, Martyn LeNoble.

Sadie has often escorted her mother to star-studded events like last week's SAGs as she helps guide her mother through the night, and Monday was no different.

At the show the acclaimed actress making light of her battle with multiple sclerosis.

Tearful Applegate, 52, who was diagnosed with the degenerative condition in 2021, arrived onstage to present the Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series award - and was met with a standing ovation.

Christina Applegate was seen with her daughter at the 2024 Emmys on Monday. Sadie, 12 wore a tailored black suit and crisp white shirt as she joined her mom at the biggest night in TV

The actress shares the tween with her husband, Martyn LeNoble. Seen in 2016

Christina and Sadie at Disneyland in California in 2015

Christina, who leaned on a walking stick as she was escorted onstage by host Anthony Anderson, said: 'Thank you so much. Oh my god, you're totally shaming me with disability by standing up. It's fine.

'Body not by Ozempic. Okay, let's go. Some of you may know me as Kelly Bundy from Married, With Children or Samantha from Samantha Who? or Jen Harding from Dead To Me.

'Very few of you probably know me from that debut - I'm going to cry, more than I've been crying. Baby Burt Grizzell on Days of Our Lives. It was my breakout role.

'And for all these years, it's look at that. Been an honor to play funny, flawed, complex characters like the women nominated for supporting actress in a comedy series.'

She then presented the award to The Bear's Ayo Edebiri. Applegate is nominated in The Best Actress In A Comedy Series for Dead To Me.

For Applegate's performance as Jen Harding in the critically-acclaimed, plot-twisting drama - she has garnered nominations for four Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, four SAG Awards, and three Critics' Choice TV Awards.

Applegate's ex husband has described her as the 'toughest human being' he's ever met.

Responding to a story about the standing ovation she received at the Emmys, Jonathan Schaech - who was married to her from 2001 to 2007 - heaped praise on his ex.

The actress is pictured with daughter Sadie, 12, at the 2023 SAG Awards in February

Applegate made a surprise appearance at the 2024 Emmys on Monday - with the acclaimed actress making light of her battle with multiple sclerosis (pictured with host Anthony Anderson)

Tearful Applegate, 52, who was diagnosed with the degenerative condition in 2021 , arrived onstage to present the Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series award

He wrote on X (formerly Twitter): 'She danced opening night on Broadway on a broken foot! Beat cancer!

'She's the toughest human being I've ever met... So proud of her! Go, Christina!'

Taking to his Instagram Story, he also shared a video of her at the ceremony and added: 'We are so proud of you, Christina.'

Last year Applegate said she may never act in front of a camera again amid her battle with multiple sclerosis.

The actress has been thinking about what her future might look like - two years after her diagnosis.

'I can't even imagine going to set right now,' the Emmy winner told Vanity Fair.

'This is a progressive disease. I don't know if I'm going to get worse,' she explained.

Adjusting to her new life as a person with multiple sclerosis has been difficult for the star who has been acting since she was five months old.

'With the disease of MS, it's never a good day. You just have little sh**ty days.'

She said: 'Body not by Ozempic. Okay, let's go. Some of you may know me as Kelly Bundy from Married, With Children or Samantha from Samantha Who? or Jen Harding from Dead To Me'

The star looked sensational in a red velvet dress as she arrived

Christina is nominated for her role in Dead To Me

The star is seen in Dead To Me as Jen Harding alongside Linda Cardellini

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the nerve sheaths in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can include numbness, speech impairment, difficulties with muscular coordination, blurred vision, and severe fatigue.

'There are just certain things that people take for granted in their lives that I took for granted. Going down the stairs, carrying thingsyou can't do that anymore. It f**king sucks.'

'I can still drive my car short distances. I can bring up food to my kid. Up, never down.'

The Bad Moms actress has turned to a friend to help her care for her daughter, Sadie, 12, whom she shares with husband Martyn LeNoble, 54.

A caretaker comes on the weekend to do what is needed.

'I actually don't want to be around a lot of people because I'm immunocompromised,' she explained.

'I also don't want a lot of stimulation of the nervous system because it can be a little bit too much for me. I like to keep it as quiet and as mellow as possible.'

The actress has previously shared that she gained 40lbs after her multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

'I gained 40 pounds because of inactivity and medications, and I didn't look like myself, and I didn't feel like myself,' said the Married... With Children actress.

Applegate had to film her Netflix dark comedy Dead To Me even though her body was changing. She was so upset with how she looked, she refused to watch the show, she shared.

The star said: 'At some point I was able to distance myself from my own ego, and realize what a beautiful piece of television it was.

'All the scenes I wasn't in were so much fun to see and experience for the very first time,' the LA native continued.

The actress received her diagnosis in August 2021, just before production on the third and final season of Dead to Me began.

The actress has previously shared that she gained 40lbs after her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Seen left in mid January 2023 and right at the Dead To Me Season one premiere in 2019 in Santa Monica, California

'None of us knew I was going to be sick and gain 40 pounds from medication and have immobility. '

Christina said she got good advice from her friends Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Selma Blair who were both diagnosed with MS several years before.

The veteran actress said she wish she had received that same advice when she was recovering from breast cancer after her 2008 diagnosis while shooting Samantha Who.

'I didn't speak up for my boundaries back then. I should have asked for some more time after one of my surgeries. I went back to work two weeks after my reconstruction. And that was really difficult for me to do.'
Liam Neeson has been spotted in a small town in Victoria for his first day of filming his upcoming Hollywood movie, Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky.

The 71-year-old actor is currently in Walhalla, a town located approximately two-and-a-half hours (185km) east of Melbourne.

On Wednesday, the Northern Irish star stepped out for a scene after being sheltered from the sweltering heat.

He was not dressed for the scorching hot day, wearing a plaid shirt layered with a zip-through padded vest and a pair of dark jeans.

A makeup artist was seen applying fake blood to his forehead for the scene, which involved a Mount Everest tour bus.

Liam Neeson has been spotted in a small town in Victoria for his first day of filming his upcoming Hollywood movie, Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky

Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky follows Mike McCann (Neeson), an ice road trucker who travels to Nepal to spread his brother's ashes on Mount Everest.

The sequel relocates from Canada, where the first film was set.

Joining Neeson in the cast are Australian stars Bernard Curry, Geoff Morrell and Grace OSullivan.

He was not dressed for the scorching hot day, wearing a plaid shirt layered with a zip-through padded vest and a pair of dark jeans

The heritage town of Walhalla has been completely transformed to depict a Nepalese marketplace, with some locals and residents finding it 'odd', according to 7News.

Buildings have been painted in bright colours as well as Nepalese props, but production has stated the town will return to its original state once filming wraps on January 24.

Letters were sent to residents and business owners last month with information about the production, informing that up to 90 cast and crew are expected to film in the town.

'You will notice increased activity in the lead up to and on filming days,' the letter from Servo Productions read.

The 71-year-old actor is currently in Walhalla, a town located approximately two-and-a-half hours (185km) east of Melbourne

'During preparations, you will notice changes to Walhalla's Star Hotel and other landmarks on Main Road. Most notably at the Walhalla Rotunda, the Fire Station Museum and carpark.'

Filming will take place from January 16 to 24, with preparation work from January 8 to 15 before ceasing from January 25 to 31.

'During the filming period, there will be stunts involving large vehicles, special effects and prop gun use,' the letter continued.

'Traffic Management will be in place to support crew and public vehicles, as well as onsite personnel to guide members of the public.

'We are requesting a temporary slower speed limit and use of traffic management on filming days to ensure safety for our crew and members of the public.'

Filming is scheduled for January 16 to 24, with preparation work from January 8 to 15 before ceasing from January 25 to 31

The film is a sequel to the 2021 flick starring Neeson which is currently streaming on Netflix

The letter added: 'Main Rd will remain open, however short delays of up to 10 minutes are to be expected at various times during the filming period.

'We will endeavour to minimise disruption to locals and visitors as much as possible.'

The film is a sequel to the 2021 flick starring Liam which is currently streaming on Netflix.

In the movie, the veteran star plays the role of Mike, an ice road trucker working under pressure following a diamond mine collapse in northern Canada, putting a group of miners in grave danger.

The motion picture was finished in early 2020 and Netflix picked up its rights for $18 million in March 2021.
Lila Moss showcased her effortlessly chic sense of style as she stepped out to Paris's Laurent restaurant for her mother's 50th birthday on Tuesday.

The daughter of fashion icon Kate Moss, 21, who was accompanied to the glitzy affair with her fashion marketer boyfriend Yoni Helbitz, kept it classic with a sleek lace black slip-on dress that flowed across the top of her sun-kissed legs.

She paired her sultry look with an oversized double-breasted black trench coat which trailed along the top of her ankles.

Lila kept the ensemble simple to accessorise with a plain black clutch bag and a pair of pointed black mid-heels.

Yoni, 22, also kept his look simple as he donned a simple black suit with a crispy white shirt.

Lila Moss showcased her effortlessly chic sense of style as she stepped out to Paris's Laurent restaurant for her mother's 50th birthday on Tuesday

The daughter of fashion icon Kate Moss, 21, kept it classic with a sleek lace black slip-on dress that flowed across the top of her sun-kissed legs

Channelling her inner mother, the blonde beauty kept her glam simple with an elegant no-makeup look.

The model was in good spirits as she beamed from cheek to cheek as her blond tresses flowed freely in the breeze.

She and her supermodel mother flew to the French capital from Oxford on a private jet that carried up to seven VIP guests ahead of her bash.

And it's believed that they were joined by celebrity pals, including Noel Gallagher, at the Ritz later on in the day.

Lila was pictured carrying heavy bags from her London home before flying to Paris, joining her famous mother for the festivities.

Earlier in the day, Kate shared an image of the Eiffel Tower on her Instagram story and Lila appeared excited as the big night build-up was underway.

A source told MailOnline: 'Kate has been planning a big party at the Ritz in Paris for a long time now.

'And finally the day has arrived and all of her close friends and family are jetting into the capital to celebrate her special day.

'As a world famous supermodel, nobody expected anything less from Kate than to host her party at the Ritz in Paris, which is almost as fabulous as she is.

Lila, pictured with Yoni, kept the ensemble simple to accessorise with a plain black clutch bag and a pair of pointed black mid-heels

She paired her sultry look with an oversized double-breasted black trench coat which trailed along the top of her ankles

She and her supermodel mother flew to the French capital from Oxford on a private jet that carried up to seven VIP guests ahead of her bash

'It will be a night to remember, she can't wait to dress up, and dance the night away.'

MailOnline understands the private jet Kate and Lila used to fly to Paris would have cost 10,000, with the former party girl ensuring she arrived in the City of Light in style.

Kate's flight took off on Monday after 4pm and she landed in France shortly afterwards.

A source added: 'Kate loves the Ritz and always stays at the hotel when she's in Paris.

'She is hoping to keep her soiree as private as possible and she knows she can trust the staff there.'

Kate had a rather different pre-birthday celebration with her best friends in Mustique, which involved a beachside spiritual celebratory circle.

Yoni, 22, also kept his look simple as he donned a simple black suit with a crispy white shirt
The cast of Friends is still grieving their late costar Matthew Perry, who was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home after he drowned in his pool on October 28.

Despite hopes his castmates Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer would reunite to honor his legacy at the Emmy Awards, the show's executive producers, Jesse Collins and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay, revealed the stars were too raw with grief to come together.

'We had talked about it early on,' Collins told The Hollywood Reporter. 'But I can imagine, from their side, they're mourning someone who was still very close to them. I can't speak for them, but we all have to respect that they were their own family. It was probably just a little too soon.'

Rouzan-Clay added that his death is 'still very fresh for them.'

The cast of Friends is still grieving their late costar Matthew Perry, who was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home after he drowned in his pool on October 28

Perry was remembered during the ceremony's annual 'In Memoriam' tribute on Monday, alongside other late stars, including Len Goodman, Andre Braugher, Lance Reddick, Paul Reubens, Barbara Walters, Angela Lansbury and Kirstie Alley.

When they showed Perry's picture, pop star Charlie Puth transitioned from singing See You Again to the Friends theme song, I'll Be There for You by The Rembrandts.

One night earlier, Aniston urged fans to continue to 'celebrate' Perry's his life and legacy at the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards.

In November, Jennifer attended the funeral for Matthew - who had struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs for a number of years but was thought to have been sober at the time of his death - alongside Cox, LeBlanc, Schwimmer, and Kudrow at Forest Lawn cemetery, but is said to have 'kept to herself' on the day.

An onlooker told DailyMail.com: 'She was one of the first to arrive. She kept herself to herself. This is a high-profile gathering.'

The cemetery where Perry has been buried is opposite Warner Bros Studios, where Friends was filmed for 10 seasons.

It is also the final resting place of a galaxy of Hollywood stars - among them Carrie Fisher, Bette Davis, Stan Laurel, Buster Keaton, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence and Anne Heche.

The service ended with a rendition of Peter Gabriel song 'Don't Give Up' which includes the lyrics: 'No fight left or so it seems, I am a man whose dreams have all deserted, I've changed my face, I've changed my name, But no one wants you when you lose.'

Despite hopes his castmates Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer would reunite to honor his legacy at the Emmy Awards, the show's executive producers, Jesse Collins and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay, revealed the stars were too raw with grief to come together

'We had talked about it early on,' Collins told The Hollywood Reporter. 'But I can imagine, from their side, they're mourning someone who was still very close to them. I can't speak for them, but we all have to respect that they were their own family. It was probably just a little too soon'

An onlooker told DailyMail.com: 'There was not a dry eye in there. There were a lot of tears and laughter. Only close friends and family spoke.'

Aniston and Perry  born just six months apart  were the youngest of the six Friends and as such stuck up an immediate camaraderie when the show first started shooting in 1994.

He wrote in his 2022 memoir 'Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing' that they had first met three years before Friends started and he tried to date her but she turned him down.

But this early rejection didn't stop Aniston and Perry from forming a close friendship during the 10 years they spent together on the set of Friends - with Aniston supporting him through his battle with drug addiction.

'Nobody shed more tears for Matthew during the darkest points of his struggles with addiction than Jennifer,' one close friend of the actress told DailyMail.com.

'There was speculation at the time of the 2021 Friends reunion that Matthew wouldn't be a part of it because his demons had gotten the better of him. But Jennifer absolutely wouldn't have done it without him.

'He put in the work and made it a success even though he seemed frail.

'But Jennifer genuinely thought his worst days were behind him. So his death just two years later has come as a bitter body blow to her.

'It doesn't matter whether he died as a result of a freak accident or whether it was directly connected to his drug issues, this was a day that Jennifer has dreaded coming for 20 years,' added the friend.

'She always wanted to help Matthew any way she could  that was a constant for her.'

One night earlier, Aniston urged fans to continue to 'celebrate' Perry's his life and legacy at the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards (seen in 1995)

Perry is best known for playing Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends from 1994 to 2004

Throughout his life, Perry had been open about his struggles with drugs and alcohol.

The common narcotics were not found in Perry's system during initial tests, according to a TMZ report. But more in-depth testing is underway and would show if the beloved actor had any prescription medication in his system.

When investigators responded to Perry's home, they did not find any illegal drugs, but found prescription medication that was properly labeled and kept in storage bottles.

In his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry wrote that after his colon exploded in 2018, he was prescribed opiates that he deemed insufficient to deal with his pain, prompting him to turn to street dealers to supply him with potentially fentanyl-laced OxyContin.

'The street pills were something like $75 per pill, so I was giving the guy $3,000 at a time, many times a week,' he wrote.

After an initial investigation, the Los Angeles County coroner has deferred giving a cause of death, which may take weeks to determine. Those who knew him maintain that Perry was clean and sober at the time of his death.
Robert Irwin is set to bring some genuine Hollywood star power to the South African jungle as he makes his debut as the new host of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of here!

According to reports, A-listers are 'desperate' to appear on the show thanks to their friendship with the handsome Wildlife Warrior, 20.

'The Irwins have more than a fair share of A-list celebrities in their circle including the Hemsworths and Melissa Joan Hart, who is the most rumoured contestant this year,' a production insider told Yahoo! Lifestyle on Wednesday.

'There are some celebs we ask every year and maybe this year stars like Melissa or Jean-Claude Van Damme will finally say yes. It's our year to catch a few of those white whales.'

Robert is no stranger to Hollywood's elite inner circle.

Robert Irwin is set to bring some genuine Hollywood star power to the South African jungle as he makes his debut as the new host of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of here!

He has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on several occasions, usually giving live animal handling demonstrations.

Robert has also interviewed a number of famous actors.

In 2020, he sat down with Robert Downey Jr on the Today show to discuss the star's film Dolittle.

He also interviewed Shawn Mendes and Javier Bardem about their 2022 comedy film Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.

'The Irwins have more than a fair share of A-list celebrities in their circle including the Hemsworths and Melissa Joan Hart, who is the most rumoured contestant this year,' a production insider told Yahoo! Lifestyle on Wednesday. Robert pictured with Chris Hemsworth (centre) and mother Terri (right)

Robert is no stranger to Hollywood's elite inner circle. He has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (pictured) on several occasions, usually giving live animal handling demonstrations

The zookeeper is also longtime friends with Australian actor Chris Hemsworth.

Back in October, Daily Mail Australia revealed that Robert is set to pocket almost half a million dollars for his month-and-a-half-long foray into the wilds of South Africa.

According to a well placed source at Channel 10, Irwin 'will earn over $430,000' from his six-week stint in the jungle, and they think he will be 'worth every cent'.

Robert has also interviewed a number of famous actors - in 2020 he sat down with Robert Downey Jr (left) on the Today show to discuss the star's film Dolittle

Given Robert's magnetic appeal and the adoration he commands from fans around the globe, the investment is poised to pay off handsomely for the network.

'His pairing with the witty and ever-entertaining Julia [Morris] has all the makings of a dynamic duo, promising viewers an unforgettable experience,' said the source.

I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! returns to TV on March 27 on Channel 10.
Stella McCartney channelled her inner-mob wife as she jumped on the bandwagon of ditching the clean girl aesthetic as she stepped out for Kate Moss's 50th birthday bash.

Keeping up with the latest look, the fashion designer, 53, showcased her jaw-dropping figure in an animal print party dress at Paris's Laurent restaurant.

She looked sensational as she put on a leggy display and added a few extra inches to her toned legs with a pair of towering, barely there stilettos with snake-print accents.

Risen from TikTok's black hole of micro-trends, the mob wife aesthetic is replacing last year's clean aesthetic for a more flashy, garish vibe that is typically littered with designer logos, or in this case, dupes.

Stella has rocked the latest social media fashion trend with an effortless grunge inspired hairdo and bold smokey eyes.

Stella McCartney channelled her inner-mob wife as she jumped on the bandwagon of ditching the clean girl aesthetic as she stepped out for Kate Moss's 50th birthday bash

Keeping up with the latest look, the fashion designer, 53, showcased her jaw-dropping figure in an animal print party dress at Paris's Laurent restaurant

The TV personality accessorised her trendy look with a black chained clutch bag.

She pulled out all the stops for the night as she joined Kate and her daughter Lila for the star-studded birthday celebrations.

The outing comes after a fashion worker who says she was left unable to wear high-heels after breaking her foot falling through the floor at Stella McCartney's Italian showroom is suing the star's label for up to 100,000.

Chloe Mickelborough, 31, was working on an advertising shoot at the designer's base in Milan in 2018 when she crashed through a 'walkway' and fell to a lower floor.

Social media content creator Ms Mickelborough broke her heel in the fall, leaving her with ongoing pain and swelling in her foot, which she says prevents her from wearing fashionable shoes.

She is now suing for up to 100,000 compensation over the accident, which she says has left her stuck wearing 'supportive' trainers, unable to dance or go running and restricted to office-based employment.

Ms McCartney's company is contesting the claim, blaming Ms Mickelborough as the 'sole author of her misfortune' and saying the area into which she climbed was not part of the 'walkway' at all.

The designer's lawyer said: 'It is denied that it would have been reasonable for anybody to perceive the surface covered with opaque corrugated plastic within the area behind the railing as "the flooring".'

She looked sensational as she put on a leggy display and added a few extra inches to her toned legs with a pair of towering, barely there stilettos with snake-print accents

A trial of the case is due to be heard at the Central London County Court at a later date.

Stella McCartney Ltd is the company through which Ms McCartney, 52 - daughter of Beatle Paul and his late wife Linda - conducts her business as a fashion designer, running stores in Manhattan, Mayfair, Paris and Rome, among others.

The label is popular with celebrities, including Melania Trump, Beyonce and the wife of actor George Clooney, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, turning over 32.5million in recent annual accounts.
Sofia Vergara stepped out in style on Tuesday while promoting her upcoming Netflix miniseries Griselda in New York City.

The 51-year-old actress, who recently shut down a Spanish interviewer, wore a long-sleeved brown blouse that featured a loose tie along with black trousers while heading to a taping of The Kelly Clarkson Show.

The Colombia native completed her outfit with pointy black shoes and had a large black coat draped over her shoulders.

Sofia had her light brown hair parted down the middle and down in soft curls below her shoulders.

The Modern Family star accessorized with large sunglasses, small hoop earrings and a pendant necklace.

Sofia Vergara stepped out in style on Tuesday while promoting her upcoming Netflix miniseries Griselda in New York City

Sofia accentuated her natural beauty with full smoky eye makeup and pink lipstick.

The America's Got Talent judge also shared images of herself on Tuesday on Instagram in which she credited her glam team, tagged XIV Carats jewelry and wrote that she was doing New York press for Griselda. Sofia also shared a photo to promote her appearance on Tuesday on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Griselda is an upcoming crime drama based on the life of notorious cocaine trafficker Griselda Blanco, known as the 'Godmother of Cocaine.'

Sofia portrays Griselda, who died in September 2012 in Colombia at age 69, and also is a co-producer of the Netflix miniseries that is scheduled to premiere on January 25 on the streaming service.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, 54, previously portrayed drug lord Griselda in the 2018 Lifetime television film Cocaine Godmother.

Sofia has been busy promoting the series and visited the Good Morning America studios in New York City on Monday to discuss the six-episode series directed by Andres Baiz, 49, who previously directed Narcos.

She also recently opened up about what her life has been like for the past six months since legally separating from her second husband Joe Manganiello, 47, after seven years of marriage.

'I've been moving on,' she told CBS Sunday Morning of her divorce. 'You're out there [in the public eye] and people know that's part of being a celebrity. I knew [the press attention] was gonna happen. You can't hide those things.'

The 51-year-old actress wore a long-sleeved brown blouse that featured a loose tie along with black trousers while heading to a taping of The Kelly Clarkson Show

The America's Got Talent judge also shared images of herself on Tuesday on Instagram

Sofia in her social media posts tagged XIV Carats jewelry and wrote that she was doing New York press for Griselda

Sofia also shared a photo to promote her appearance on Tuesday on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Colombia native is shown in a still of the Netflix series Griselda as the late drug lord Griselda Blanco

Sofia continued: 'It wasn't bad. I think, you know, I have to say the press was very respectful and very nice.

'And I thought that they were gonna invent more things, and you know how it usually is. I was surprised and, you know, they, they kind of just said what it was and, and that was it.'

Sofia in a November interview with Glamour talked about her experience filming Griselda.

'That was a really crazy, challenging job, because I had to be three hours in hair and makeup before starting shooting, and then one hour removing the whole f***ing thing before going to bed,' Sofia told Glamour.

'That was really crazy. I'm very excited because we're going to do a huge press tour now in January, and there's a lot of Latin actors in it. I think they're the best actors in Latin America. We were able to have them for the series because it's half in English and half in Spanish,' said Sofia, who also is a co-producer of the series.

Sofia, shown earlier this month at the Griselda premiere in Spain, portrays the drug lord, who died in September 2012 in Colombia at age 69, and also is a co-producer of the Netflix miniseries that is scheduled to premiere on January 25

Sofia was pictured in a long black coat over her dress Tuesday evening in NYC

The TV star beamed as she posed for photographers while out in the Big Apple

The popular actress has more than 32.7 million followers on her Instagram account

Sofia looked amazing as she donned an all-black ensemble on the busy evening

Sofia has been busy on the promotional trail for her high-profile new project

Sofia and Joe announced in July that they had separated and were divorcing after seven years of marriage.

Only two days after announcing their split, the True Blood actor filed for divorce and noted their date of separation as July 2, while citing the reason for the end of their marriage as 'irreconcilable differences'.

The former couple did not have children together, but Sofia has a 32-year-old son Manolo from her previous marriage.

Sofia has been a judge on America's Got Talent since 2020.
MBABANE - The distribution of some estates has been dragging for 10 to 15 years and relief is on the way.

This is because the Chief Justice (CJ), Bheki Maphalala, yesterday heeded the calls made during Sibaya to investigate the operations of the Master of the High Court. He has put in place a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into alleged irregularities and corrupt practices within the Masters Office, which has seen some beneficiaries suffering for years while they failed to access millions of Emalangeni left by their loved ones.Some of the funds that form part of the estates of deceased individuals were reportedly stolen by officers of the Master of the High Court to the prejudice of the beneficiaries.

Issues

The alleged moot operations of the Masters Office were also one of the thorny issues submitted during Sibaya, such that a call for the overhaul of that office was made by various speakers. The speakers described the Office of the Master of the High Court as incompetent and operating like a fiefdom. Others alleged that instead of getting help, each time they went there, they were met with hostility and resistance from the officers.

However, all this is about to change as beneficiaries and members of the public are likely to get the much sought after relief through the commission.

The commission consists of five judges and it will be headed by Supreme Court Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini, who will be deputised by High Court Judge Mzwandile Fakudze.

Notably, Judge Dlamini is a former Attorney General (AG), while Judge Fakudze was the deputy AG. Other members of the commission are Industrial Court Judge President Sifiso Nsibande, High Court Judge Maxine Langwenya, Industrial Court Judge Lorraine Hlophe and its secretary is Deputy Supreme Court Registrar Siphiwo Masuku, who is also a lawyer by profession.

On the lap of the commission are a number of issues, which include the persistent and continued negative reports about the alleged improprieties, maladministration and abuse of power at the Office of the Master of the High Court. It will investigate matters pertaining to the Office of the Master of the High Court concerning allegations of impropriety, maladministration, abuse of power and incidental matters. The CJ, who is also the head of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), announced that the commission would start working as of yesterday and invited members of the public to come and make their presentations and/or submissions.

He highlighted that during Sibaya, a number of issues, which included corruption and alleged irregularities at the Office of the Master were raised. He said as per the Constitution, it was at Sibaya where decisions were taken. He mentioned that the Office of the Master of the High Court was established in terms of the Administration of Estates Act No.28 of 1902 and was responsible for the administration of deceased estates and the winding up of companies. He also highlighted that in terms of Section 160 (2) of the Constitution, the JSC was responsible for the appointment of the Master of the High Court and the supervision of the activities of the Office of the Master of the High Court.

Efficiency

The Office of the Master of the High Court must be managed and operated in accordance with the highest standards of ethics, integrity and efficiency, so that the governance and operational decisions are beyond reproach and the administration of estates of deceased persons and the winding up of companies are conducted in accordance with the law, said the CJ. The CJ said there were persistent and continued negative reports about alleged improprieties and abuse of power at the Office of the Master of the High Court.

He stated that the veracity of the alleged improprieties must be investigated properly and corrective measures adopted to stabilise and restore public confidence in the Office of the Master of the High Court.Therefore, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry is hereby appointed by the chief justice of the Kingdom of Eswatini in terms of Section 139 of the Constitution. The commission is appointed to investigate matters pertaining to the Master of the High Court concerning allegations of impropriety, maladministration, abuse of power and incidental matters, said the head of the Judiciary.

The commission will conduct its duties at the Industrial Court of Appeal premises, 4th Floor Intfutfuko Building in Mbabane. As per its terms of reference, the commission will sit in any other location within the Kingdom of Eswatini as shall be designated by its chairperson.
And Just Like That star Sara Ramirez has hinted they've been axed from the Sex and the City spin-off over their pro-Palestine stance - then insulted their 'performative' character.

Ramirez, 48, a non-binary actor who plays Che Diaz, and who uses they/them pronouns, on Tuesday shared a series of posts on Instagram implying they will not return for the third season.

'Our industry is so duplicitous,' the former Grey's Anatomy star wrote, the night after the Emmy Awards.

'While they give awards away, casting directors and agents are making blacklists of actors and workers who post anything in support of Palestinians in Gaza to ensure they will not work again.

Sara Ramirez is seen as Che Diaz, alongside Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie Bradshaw

'While they lift up some of their own clients who have spoken up against this genocide, they are firing and letting others who have smaller platforms go.

'While they award 'lgbtq orgs', they are silent on those orgs ties to weapons manufacturers who are currently supporting the Israel military as it commits genocide on Palestinian lives that include LGBTQIA2S+ lives.'

Ramirez mocked people who need awards - ridiculing them as something 'shiny' that makes people 'feel special and powerful.'

But the performer said it was a dark time to celebrate, while thousands were dying in Gaza. Ramirez previously took to the streets of Brooklyn waving a transgender flag at a Palestinian protest.

'It's wild how performative so many in Hollywood are,' she said. 'Even more performative than the last character I played.' IMDb listed Che as Ramirez's most recent role.

Ramirez's use of the past tense suggested their time in the role was over. DailyMail.com has contacted Ramirez for comment. A spokeswoman for And Just Like That executive producer Michael Patrick King refused to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com.

Ramirez plays Che Diaz a comedian whose introduction and love affair with Sex and the City icon Miranda Hobbes divided fans.

Some fans were angered Che had split up the marriage of Miranda and Steve Brady, while others moaned that Che's jokes fell flat.

Ramirez on Tuesday posted a photo of themselves at a protest on January 13 in DC

Ramirez's character begins a relationship with Cynthia Nixon's character, Miranda

Ramirez and Nixon are pictured on set in New York City

Their derision of their character echoes a line she said in the show.

In the second season, Che Diaz is given a pilot for a Netflix comedy show, which flopped.

But Diaz struggles with how the Netflix producers want them to appear, and says they are reduced to 'just some phoney, sanitized, performative, cheesy, dad joke bulls**t version of what the non-binary experience is.'

Ramirez also, in a separate post on Tuesday, thanked people who have stood by them, implying that she has been going through a difficult time.

'I am so grateful for the people in my life who have helped me, and are still supporting me, in healing and getting free,' she wrote.

'Thank you for helping me peel back the layers of conditioning, socialization and trauma.

'Thank you for helping me take responsibility for my own humanity as I continue to lean into the discomfort of growth and change.

'Thank you for not exploiting me and discarding me.

'Thank you for calling me in and holding me close while I forge a path of empowerment and authenticity.

'Thank you for reminding me my softness is one of my many superpowers.

'This is about being human and showing up with courage and curiosity no matter how bumpy the road there gets.'

The 48-year-old Mexican-American is pictured at a Queers for Palestine rally in Brooklyn

The series was officially renewed for a third season in August.

'We are thrilled to spend more time in the Sex and the City universe telling new stories about the lives of these relatable and aspirational characters played by these amazing actors,' said executive producer and showrunner Michael Patrick King at the time.

'And Just Like That... here comes season 3.'

But production was delayed by the Hollywood writers' strike, which began in May.

In November, the strike ended and writers resumed work.

Filming has not yet begun, and Max, which airs the show, has confirmed it will not be on our screens until 2025.
Josh Duhamel and his much-younger wife Audra Mari revealed the happy news that they had welcomed their first child together on Tuesday.

The 51-year-old Shotgun Wedding star and the model  who at 30 is two decades his junior  shared a sweet black-and-white photo of their new son's feet to Instagram to break the news.

The kept the details minimal, revealing in the caption that the baby boy was named Shepherd Lawrence Duhamel and had been born on January 11 of this year.

This is the first child for Audra and the second for Josh, who already shares his 10-year-old son Axl with his ex-wife Fergie, 48, of the Black Eyed Peas.

The actor revealed back in September of 2023 that he and his second wife were expecting their first child.

Josh Duhamel, 51, and his much-younger wife Audra Mari, 30, revealed the happy news that they had welcomed their first child together on Tuesday; seen in September 2023 in Las Vegas

The Shotgun Wedding star and the model  who is two decades his junior  shared a sweet black-and-white photo of their new son's feet to Instagram to break the news

Audra shared another lovely photo of the baby boy to her Instagram Stories.

The black-and-white image appeared to show him wearing a checker-print cardigan while his little hand rested on his stomach.

Shortly after announcing that they were expecting their first child, Josh shared what his son Axl's reaction was to the news that he was going to have a new brother.

'He's excited about it but he's just got a lot of questions. He's like, "Wait, now, am I going to be  You're still going to love me, though, too, right?"' Duhamel revealed to Parade.

'I was like, "Of course I'm going to still going to love you." And he's like, "I'm still going to be your firstborn son, though, right?" I'm like, 'Yeah, you're still the firstborn son!"' he continued with a laugh.

'He's like, "Am I gonna be able to teach him all the stuff that I know?" Yes, please do, I want you to teach him all... well almost everything you know,' Duhamel joked.

He said that Axl 'love babies,' and he noted that he 'was the same way at his age.'

'I just have always loved babies,' he admitted. 'There's something about them. And he's really good with younger kids. So I think he's going to be a great older brother.'

Josh and Audra began their relationship in late 2018, and he announced his engagement to her in January of 2022.

They were married on September 10 of that year, and just one year and one day later they revealed that they were expecting their first child together.

Audra shared another lovely photo of the baby boy's tiny hand to her Instagram Stories

Duhamel already shares his 10-year-old son Axl with his first wife Fergie, 48, of the Black Eyed Peas. He told Parade in September that the boy was excited to be a big brother

Josh and Audra began their relationship in late 2018, and he announced his engagement to her in January of 2022 before marrying on September 10 of that year

In a joint Instagram post, they wrote, 'Baby Duhamel coming soon,' along with a sonogram of the fetus.

Josh's ex Fergie made it clear she was on good terms with them by commenting, 'I am truly happy for you guys' while adding a smiling emoji with hearts.

'Axl can't wait to be a big brother,' she added to her comment, which received thousands of likes.

Shortly after the announcement, Josh discussed his ex's sweet comment on The Jess Cagle Show.

After Cagle said it was refreshing to see, 'exes who have kids being supportive of each other, acting like adults, which, oddly, I noticed it because you don't see that a lot.'

Josh replied: 'Fergie is an amazing woman. She really is. And shes taken Audra in, you know, and it could be much worse.

'Thats the thing, you never know how these things are gonna go, but because shes such a kind-hearted person, she really, truly is,' he added.

'She only has love for Audra and is excited as well, I cant believe how excited she is for us. You know, its a, like I said, it could be a lot worse, and Ive seen it. Ive lived it. And, uh, thankfully we have a really civil situation,' he said.

Josh and Fergie had been together for years. They began dating in 2004 and got engaged in 2007 before marrying two years later.

The entertainer couple welcomed Axl in 2013. They subsequently split in 2017 but didn't file for divorce until 2019, and it was completed later in the year.

After he began dating Audra, Josh made a December 2018 appearance on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast in which he signaled that he didn't want to stop at just one child.

'I'm not 30 years old anymore. I'm 45. I want to have more kids in the next few years,' he declared.

One year and one day later, they announced Audra's pregnancy with a sonogram of the fetus, captioning it: 'Baby Duhamel coming soon.' Josh's ex Fergie even congratulated them

Fergie commented, 'I am truly happy for you guys. Axl cant wait to be a big brother,' with Duhamel reacting to her reaction on The Jess Cagle Show

'Fergie is an amazing woman. She really is. And shes taken Audra in, you know, and it could be much worse,' Josh said. He was married to Fergie from 2009 to 2019

'It's more about finding someone young enough to have kids. It's not as if I'm out there trying to just f*** anything. That's not who I am,' he said. 'I'm trying to find a girl that I can be with and have a family with.'

In settling on Shepherd Lawrence as a name for their son, Josh and Audra unfortunately had to turn down Axl's very helpful suggestion of a baby name.

'Him and Audra have this thing where they like to say the word "Gary." Its weird,' Josh told ET, admitting that he wasn't crazy about the name

'Well get a dog, well name the dog Gary,' he joked.
An Australian Ninja Warrior contestant has shocked his online fans by exposing his genitals online during a 'nude yoga' livestream.

Jack 'Deadly Ninja' Wilson, who shot to fame on the Channel Nine reality series in 2017, stripped completely naked for his thousands of online followers during an Instagram Live video over the weekend.

In the clip, the Mount Isa tradie, 30, was seen removing a sarong and lying it on the grass before sitting cross-legged in front of the camera.

It is unclear whether Wilson meant to flash himself to the camera, or whether it was an accident.

Wilson then welcomed his viewers to the live video, telling them that he would be demonstrating a 'breath of fire', which is a breathing technique involving quick inhalations and exhalations over a short period of time.

Australian Ninja Warrior contestant Jack 'Deadly Ninja' Wilson, 30, (pictured) shocked his online fans by exposing his genitals online during a 'nude yoga' livestream over the weekend

'Take a seat. You are breathing with Jacky Wilson today and we are doing a guided breathwork session,' he continued.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out for comment.

Born in Mount Isa, Queensland, the proud Indigenous man was known for his signature Budgy Smugglers.

Wilson first appeared on Australian Ninja Warrior in 2017, and was touted as the show's 'first Indigenous Ninja'.

In the clip, the Mount Isa tradie was seen removing a sarong and lying it on the grass before sitting cross-legged in front of the camera

Wilson first appeared on Australian Ninja Warrior in 2017, and was touted as the show's 'first Indigenous Ninja'

In October 2022, he made headlines after revealing he drinks, snorts and bathes in his own urine for its supposed health benefits.

Known for spruiking bizarre alternative health theories, Wilson believes urine has 'ancient healing qualities'.

Wilson, who does not have any medical qualifications, even claimed he'd seen an improvement in the look of his skin and eyes after adopting the bizarre practice.

At the time, he also shared footage on Instagram of himself urinating in a hollowed-out pawpaw and drinking the liquid.

There is no scientific evidence that drinking urine offers any health benefits.

In October 2022, he made headlines after revealing he drinks, snorts and bathes in his own urine for its supposed health benefits
Brisbane Broncos NRLW star Julia Robinson has announced her engagement to boyfriend Steve Close.

The 26-year-old shared the exciting news to Instagram on Tuesday alongside a series of photos of the moment Steve proposed to her on the Gold Coast.

In one photo, the three-time NRLW premiership player was all smiles as she held her hand towards the camera to reveal her diamond engagement ring.

Julia also shared a selfie alongside her beau just moments after he got down on one knee.

'Forever with you... Heart is full,' she captioned the images.

Broncos NRLW star Julia Robinson has announced her engagement to her long-time boyfriend Steve Close

The post was quickly flooded with congratulatory messages from Julia's followers and friends.

Sydney Roosters player Millie Boyle wrote: 'OMMGGGGG CONGRATS!!!!! So happy for you guys!!! Big love.'

Gold Coast Titans player Lauren Brown sent her wishes adding: 'CONGRATULATIONS YOU GUYS.'

The 26-year-old shared the exciting news to Instagram on Tuesday alongside a series of photos of the moment Steve proposed to her on the Gold Coast

'Oh my gosh!!! Congrats you two!! So happy for you guys,' another person wrote.

'Such awesome news!!! Congratulations,' one added while another said: 'Congratulations!!! Best wishes to u both.'

The couple are believed to have started dating in 2020 and regularly attend sporting events together.

'Forever with you... Heart is full,' she captioned the images
Ashley Darby, who stars on The Real Housewives of Potomac, stripped down for a racy set of snaps in the snow.

The reality star, 35, wore a lacy black pair of underwear, opting to go braless and shirtless for the snaps.

Ashley only wore a furry houndstooth coat, revealing her ample cleavage and her midsection.

Ashley wore black ear muffs and and thigh-high socks to round out her snow look.

Ashley Darby , who stars on The Real Housewives of Potomac , stripped down for a racy set of snaps in the snow

The reality star, 35, wore a lacy black pair of underwear, opting to go braless and shirtless for the snaps

Ashley captioned her three images: 'This love for snow is inexplicable. I used to cry real tears when we pulled out the winter coats, but now I'm so excited to welcome winter!'

Adding: 'How wonderful it is to reflect on change. I'm thankful for this growth, and I look forward to everything life continues to offer.'

She hashtagged her name and RHOP, tagging the location as Winter Wonderland.

In November 2023, Ashley introduced her new breasts and showed off her new home during an episode of RHOP.

She revealed she got them done two months prior.

In April 2022, Ashley announced she and her husband Michael Darby were separating.

She released a statement at the time to The Daily Dish confirming that she and her spouse, 64, had parted ways after more than seven years of marriage.

'Almost eight years ago, when Michael and I said "I do," we anticipated sharing every single day together from that moment forward,' Ashley said. 'Unfortunately, that is not our current reality. We have decided to separate.

Ashley only wore a furry houndstooth coat, revealing her ample cleavage and her midsection

'We are aware that there will be many speculative views as to why we have made this decision. People will be quick to assume that the causes were too much intrusion by reality TV into the most personal parts of our lives, age gap issues, cultural problems, or child-rearing differences.'

Ashley said those factors may have impacted their 'pure love for each other, but no reason is the root cause of our mutual decision to go our separated ways.'

'We are now both at very different stages in our lives and have different goals for our futures. We both want the other to achieve true happiness and fulfillment and feel that we cannot do this together.'

The separated couple, who wed in May of 2014, are parents to sons Dean Michael Darby, four, and Dylan Matthew Darby, two.

'While our romantic bond is broken, we will always love and respect each other,' Ashley said. 'We also know that true happiness can only be achieved by continuing to work together and putting our hearts and souls into raising our two beautiful boys, Dean and Dylan.

The Real Housewives of Potomac star Ashley, 35, announced she and husband Michael Darby, 64, are separating in a statement in April 2022. The couple snapped in 2018

'They will always feel loved and supported, for they were truly created out of love. As this is a personal matter for us, we appreciate everyone who has been a part of our journey and ask for your continued support by respecting us as we go through this emotional situation.'

In an Instagram post featuring her statement, Ashley wrote that 'its been almost 8 magical years' of marriage.

The pair initially met 11 years ago when she was working at the L2 Lounge in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and she asked him about exploring an internship at his company, she told Bravo in 2016. She eventually asked him out when she got a position with his company and they were engaged less than a year later.

Michael, who is in the restaurant and real estate business, in September of 2018 was suspended from the Bravo show after he was accused by a cameraman of groping him. He was charged in connection with felony assault and misdemeanor improper sexual conduct, but the charges were later dropped as result of a lack of evidence.

In an Instagram post featuring her statement, Ashley wrote that 'its been almost 8 magical years' of marriage

The separated couple, who wed in May of 2014, are parents to sons Dean Michael Darby, four, and Dylan Matthew Darby, two

Michael denied the allegations, telling FOX 5 D.C. that he was 'completely exonerated' and 'completely cleared' following an investigation by authorities.

'I didn't do it,' he said, adding that a pair of witnesses his accuser named in the incident later said that they hadn't seen anything. 'Obviously his side of the story wasn't true.'

The chain of events made for a storyline on RHOP's fourth season, as he was alleged to have made a sexually-driven remark about cast member Robyn Dixon's husband Juan Dixon, which was witnessed by Robyn, co-star Candiace Dillard-Bassett and husband Chris Bassett.

Ashley addressed other marital issues the pair faced - such as cheating allegations brought up on the show - while speaking with E! News in February 2022.

Michael, who is originally from Melbourne, Australia, was previously in a marriage for 20 years before a 2010 split, and father to two children from that union.

In November 2023, Ashely revealed they still haven't filed for divorce yet during an interview with People.
Padma Lakshmi gave fans a look at her and her teen daughter Krishna's 'girls night' at the 2024 Emmys this week.

The runway maven, 53, brought the 13-year-old to the annual ceremony in Los Angeles on Monday, where they mingled with the biggest stars in TV and streaming.

'A casual girls night with #littlehands,' Padma wrote to Instagram Tuesday. 'It was so great to spend this Primetime Emmys with old friends and new.'

During the event, the duo took selfies together inside the Peacock Theater before introducing themselves to some of the night's winners.

Krishna could hardly contain her joy as she happened to snag a photo with her idol Jenna Ortega after telling Etalk that she'd been 'looking for her all night.'

She also got to meet The Bear stars Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri, both of whom took home major acting awards for their work on the FX series.

Padma Lakshmi gave fans a look at her and her teen daughter Krishna's 'girls night' at the 2024 Emmys this week

The runway maven, 53, brought the 13-year-old to the annual ceremony in Los Angeles on Monday, where they mingled with the biggest stars in TV and streaming

Krishna could hardly contain her joy as she happened to snag a photo with her idol Jenna Ortega after telling Etalk that she'd been 'looking for her all night'

While on the red carpet, Padma chatted up Beef actress Ali Wong, who would take home the Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie trophy during the show.

The mother-daughter duo also spent time with Swarm's Dominique Fishback and her mother.

Once the red carpet wrapped, Padma and Krishna found their seats next to The Bear's Ebon Moss-Bachrach and his stunning partner Yelena Yemchuk.

Also in close proximity was Padma's close friend, Insecure actress Issa Rae.

Padma's Instagram slideshow also included a cute shot of herself and Krishna sitting in the back of their chauffeured vehicle en route to the Emmys.

Padma was nominated for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program for her work on Top Chef, but the Emmy went to RuPaul of RuPaul's Drag Race.

For the starry night, the beauty turned heads in a chartreuse-colored gown with a plunging neckline and a flowing, floor-sweeping skirt.

At her side, 13-year-old Krishna donned a strapless, black velvet gown.

She also got to meet The Bear star Jeremy Allen White

During the event, the duo took selfies together inside the Peacock Theater before introducing themselves to some of the night's winners

Padma's Instagram slideshow also included a cute shot of herself and Krishna sitting in the back of their chauffeured vehicle en route to the Emmys

While on the red carpet, Padma chatted up Beef actress Ali Wong, who would take home the Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie trophy during the show

The mother-daughter duo also spent time with Swarm's Dominique Fishback and her mother

Krishna looked starstruck while chatting with The Bear's Ayo Edebiri

Also in close proximity was Padma's close friend, Insecure actress Issa Rae

The former Top Chef host also posed for solo shots to showcase her stunning look featuring shiny, metallic silver platform heels and luscious locks.

She looked striking in a sultry smoky eye paired with peach blush and a vibrant magenta lip combo.

To go with her eye-catching and head-turning custom Marchesa dress, she opted for minimal and dainty jewelry.

She opted out of a necklace to let the chain details on the bodice of her dress as well as the straps stand out.

The New York Times bestselling author sported one statement diamond ring and layers of gold bangles on one arm.

Similarly, her daughter Krishna donned a statement Tiffany & Co. necklace and left her hair down in soft beach waves for an effortlessly chic look.

The 75th Emmy Awards took place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Monday night.

Padma Lakshmi and her daughter, Krishna, were a glamorous duo at the 2024 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Monday

While posing on the red carpet, the 53-year-old model turned heads in a chartreuse-colored gown with a plunging neckline and a flowing, floor-sweeping skirt

At her side, 13-year-old Krishna donned a strapless, black velvet gown with a high leg slit lined with feathers

The strike-delayed ceremony gathered Hollywood's biggest stars as they celebrate the best of primetime television over the year of 2023.

Comedian and Black-ish star Anthony Anderson made his debut as the host alongside an all-Black executive producer team for the first time in Emmy history.

Due to the industry strikes, the Emmys were postponed to 2024 on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in the United States and arrives in the heels of the Golden Globes.

The first Emmy Award was held back in 1949 to celebrate the artistic and technical merit for the television industry.
Heidi Klum on Tuesday took to Instagram Stories with a clip in which she appeared to be ill while bedridden, as she added multiple emojis to illustrate her point.

The German supermodel, 50, in her social media post was under a bed cover, as she added five emojis depicting the act of vomiting, which indicates potential food poisoning.

Klum has had a frenetic start to 2024 amid the onslaught of events with Hollywood's award season upon us.

Klum was seen on Monday's America's Got Talent, as well as at an Emmys afterparty tossed by Disney Monday, and last week's Golden Globes.

Klum was a fashion plate as she was pictured Monday at The Walt Disney Company Emmy Awards Party for the 75th annual Emmy Awards.

Heidi Klum, 50, on Tuesday took to Instagram Stories with a clip in which appeared to be ill while bedridden, as she added multiple emojis to illustrate her point

Klum was a fashion plate as she was pictured Monday at The Walt Disney Company Emmy Awards Party at the downtown Los Angeles restaurant Otium

She dazzled in a turquoise ensemble centered around a mermaid tail gown at the downtown Los Angeles restaurant Otium, where the bash was held.

'Emmys Night!!!' the one-time Project Runway host captioned an Instagram post to 11.8 million followers, showcasing her fashion presentation.

Among the other stars pictured at the party following the award show included The Bear Emmys winner Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White, late night host Jimmy Kimmel and Grey's Anatomy star Camilla Luddington.

Klum was also seen on Monday's edition of America's Got Talent: Fantasy League on NBC, putting her support behind contortionist Sofie Dossi, 22, activating the show's Golden Buzzer to help advance Dossi to the spinoff's finals.

She posed alongside Dossi in an image on her Instagram page, writing, 'Soooo proud of u  See you in the FINALS.'

She elaborated on her support for Dossi on the social media platform Monday, lauding the performer along with a clip of her accomplishments on the NBC variety show.

'You amaze me every single time I see you perform,' she said. 'Your passion, dedication and talent make you a true super star and Im so honored to be your mama this season!'

Klum on January 7 was seen at the 81st Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California with her spouse, Tom Kaulitz, 34.

The TV personality appeared under the weather after a whirlwind few weeks of events

She dazzled in a turquoise ensemble centered around a mermaid tail gown at the Disney bash

The one-time Project Runway host posted a number of images of her big night on social media

Klum was also seen on Monday's edition of America's Got Talent: Fantasy League on NBC

Klum on January 7 was seen at the 81st Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California with her spouse, Tom Kaulitz, 34

Klum - who next month celebrates her five-year wedding anniversary with the Tokio Hotel guitarist - looked amazing in a long red gown at the industry event.

Klum is mother to four children: Daughter Leni, 19, with ex Flavio Briatore; and sons Henry, 18, and Johan, 17, and daughter Lou, 14, with ex-husband Seal.

In addition to the multiple hats she wears professionally, Klum has gained notoriety for her passion for Halloween, and the lavish ensembles she wears each year to celebrate the occasion.

Among the costumes she has worn throughout the years include a giant worm; Jessica Rabbit; the werewolf from Michael Jackson's Thriller video; an enormous robot; and a display in which she was accompanied by five lookalikes all dressed in the same ensemble she was in.
Brad Pitt experienced an 'awkward run-in' with his former in-laws while attending a small gallery exhibition in Beverly Hills amid his bitter divorce from Angelina Jolie.

While on a date night with his new girlfriend Ines de Ramon, the two-time Oscar winner, 60, bumped into his ex-wife's father, Jon Voight, and older brother James Haven.

The chance encounter occurred as they browsed through the Gagosian Gallery for an exhibition by his Moneyball director, Bennett Miller.

Showbiz411 was first to break the news as the outlet shared: 'Pitt and Voight actually hugged and spoke to each other.'

An eyewitness told The Sun: 'Plenty of people noticed how awkward it was that Brad was in the same room as Ange's family, and it's not a big space.'

Brad Pitt experienced an 'awkward run-in' with his former in-laws while attending a small gallery exhibition in Beverly Hills amid his bitter divorce from Angelina Jolie

While on a date night with his new girlfriend Ines de Ramon, the two-time Oscar winner, 60, bumped into his ex-wife's father, Jon Voight, and older brother James Haven

The source added: 'James was amicable and acknowledged Brad, but I didn't see them talking, they were mostly stood apart for the duration of the event speaking with friends.'

Both Pitt and de Ramon, 31, who the movie star began dating last February, were said to have been 'polite and acknowledged them' back.

Despite standing just feet away from Jolie's sibling and dad, the Babylon actor did not seem particularly fazed as he exchanged a laugh with an unidentified pal.

The Sun also alleged that 'Brad was unaware they'd be in attendance at the popular opening.'

Britney Spears' ex-husband Sam Asghari, who also paid a visit to the gallery, 'went up and asked' Pitt for a 'selfie.'

After speaking with the father-of-six, and mentioning 'how much' Spears 'loved him' during their brief chat, Asghari 'switched sides and went over' to chat with 'James and Jon for a while.'

The Iranian-American model, 29, shared the snap on social media, with the caption: 'At the #bennettmiller @gagosian with some cool people last night. Also got a lot of skin care tips from Brad Pitt #notwaxfigure.'

Pitt and Haven's run-in comes just weeks after made extremely rare remarks about his relationship with Jolie on an episode of the 90who10 podcast.

The chance encounter occurred as they browsed through the Gagosian Gallery for an exhibition by his Moneyball director, Bennett Miller

An eyewitness told The Sun: 'Plenty of people noticed how awkward it was that Brad was in the same room as Ange's family, and it's not a big space'

During the interview, he delved into how he had focused on caring for Angelina's children in the wake of her split and years-long divorce from Brad Pitt.

James  who was most recently pictured in public with his father in October 2022  admitted that he saw it as his duty to 'protect' his sister's six children amid the tumultuous divorce and the resulting negative publicity for the sparring exes.

The conversation turned to James' connection to Angelina in recent years and questions about how he had responded to the very public split.

'That's where it all started, it started with the protection of her and then of her children, my nieces and nephews,' James said via Too Fab, indicating that he and his sister began a new phase of their relationship after her split.

The source added: 'James was amicable and acknowledged Brad, but I didn't see them talking, they were mostly stood apart for the duration of the event speaking with friends'

Both Pitt and de Ramon, 31, who the movie star began dating last February, were said to have been 'polite and acknowledged them' back

'There are those are massively formative years, they're becoming young adults in their early 20s,' he continued, referencing her children.

The Changeling actress shares Maddox, 22; Pax, 20; Zahara, 18; Shiloh, 17; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 15, with her ex Brad.

'That's so crazy thinking that, but yeah, I think it's just very natural [to feel protective] and I just want to be there,' James continued. 'Very much like my mom. Anytime I'm blessed to be in their presence, I want to be in their presence.'

He attributed that feeling to a lesson he learned from his late mother Marcheline Bertrand.

'[It's] a quality I got from my mom, even though cell phones were not as prevalent as they are now, but back to that idea of her always being like, "You are the focus,"' he shared. 'I set my life up so I can be present with whatever the situation. The formative years, the young adults they're going to become, I want to be there for them  or for her  whatever she's going through.'

Although James has had small parts on film and television throughout the years, it was his connecting to his younger sister that first increased his public profile.

He often accompanied her on the awards season trail leading up to her Oscar win for Beset Supporting Actress for 1999's Girl, Interrupted.

But the two were beset by rumors inspired by their overly close bond and their public affections, including their habit of kissing on the mouth on the red carpet.

Angelina and James stirred up controversy back in 2000, when they shared a kiss on the lips just after she won her Oscar.

While accepting her award, Jolie confessed, 'I'm in shock, and I'm so in love with my brother right now.

'He just held me and said he loved me, and I know he's so happy for me. And, um, thank you for that.'

Despite standing just feet away from Jolie's sibling and dad, the Babylon actor did not seem particularly fazed as he exchanged a laugh with an unidentified pal

James later said the event was 'misconstrued' amid the breathless coverage of it.

Angelina also tried to brush off criticism of their public displays, calling the kisses just an example of 'brotherly love.'

They two later attributed the stress of having their mother in the hospital around the time of the awards season campaign on the provocative displays.

Bertrand had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1999, and despite her initial hospitalization, she live several more years with the disease.

The actress died in 2007 at the age of 56.

James seemed happy to speak about his connection to his sister, although he mostly spoke in vague terms.

However, he indicated that they two hoped to collaborate on some kind of projects in the future, though it wasn't clear if they were film projects or something else.

'We have very mutual interests, especially if it's focuses on how to help kids or stuff like that,' James explained. 'And I know there's going to be many things in the future that we'll probably be working on, which we've never done publicly, like together, but I think there's many things in the future that I think we'll do together.'

Pitt and Haven's run-in comes just weeks after made extremely rare remarks about his relationship with Jolie on an episode of the 90who10 podcast (Pitt and Jolie pictured in 2015)

The former couple share Maddox, 22; Pax, 20; Zahara, 18; Shiloh, 17; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 15, with her ex Brad (seen in 2007)

James had a steady string of small film and television roles beginning in the late 1990s, though many of them were in films starring his sister or second husband Billy Bob Thornton, whom she was married to from 2000 to 2003.

He has mostly stayed out of the public eye in recent years, and his last on-screen role was in Easy Silence, a short film from 2013.

His sister Angelina has continued to have a varied career as an actor and occasional director, while also working as a human rights activist and a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

However, she recently expressed dissatisfaction with the film industry and shared her desire to move away from Los Angeles in an interview with WSJ. Magazine.

'Of all the places in the world, Hollywood is not a healthy place,' she said at the time.

Both James and Angelina have had a tempestuous relationship with their father, Jon Voight, including several years in which they were estranged from him.

Speaking to Daily Mail in 2007, James claimed that his father had been stingy with money for his family when he and Angelina were being raised by their mother Marcheline Bertrand, who died of cancer in 2007

'One of the saddest things in my life happened when I was 16, which is when you can get your permit to drive in LA,' James said. 'I did not have a car in high school and neither did Angelina.

'Try to imagine. You go to Beverly Hills High, one of the wealthiest high schools in the nation. Even the cheapest car that anyone has is brand new. All my friends are well off. I have a movie-star father and no car,' he shared.

During his recent interview, he delved into how he had focused on caring for Angelina's children in the wake of her split and years-long divorce from Brad Pitt.

'It was debilitating. I did not to go to the prom because I felt uncomfortable that Dad would have to drive me. It's an embarrassing thing.'

James and Angelina appeared to remain close to each other through the years, even as they remained estranged from their father until their mother's 2007 death and James' subsequent conversion to born-again Christianity led to a reconciliation.

James went on to reportedly serve as a full-time nanny to Angelina's children, but their relationship seems to have soured sometime after her divorce from Pitt, when he was dismissed.

No explanation for the growing apart has been shared.
Following six grueling weeks of radiation treatment, Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella is finally 'ringing the bell.'

The 19-year-old shared her third vlog on Tuesday that delves into her radiation treatment following her brain tumor diagnosis.

She revealed it's been 'six long weeks' of treatment but that has finally come to a close with the ringing of the bell.

Isabella admitted she, 'never thought I'd be ringing the bell,' a tradition that started in 1996 when U.S. Navy rear admiral Irve Le Moyne decided to bring a brass bell to his last treatment, following the Navy tradition of ringing a bell, 'when the job is done.'

She had to undergo an emergency surgery in October to remove a large 'medulloblastoma' - a malignant tumor from her cerebellum.

Following six grueling weeks of radiation treatment, Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella is finally 'ringing the bell'

The 19-year-old shared her third vlog on Tuesday that delves into her radiation treatment following her brain tumor diagnosis

'Its been a long six weeks and Im very happy to finally heal my head after all of this because the side effects and everything get to you,' she added.

The vlog showed her entering the New York Proton Center in Harlem, where she was cheered on by staffers for her final day of treatment.

She was pleased to hear that one of her favorite artists - Bryson Tiller - was playing when she entered the room for her final round of treatment.

After the treatment was done, she walked out to applause, with her father Michael Strahan filming before giving her a hug and getting a hug from her twin sister Sophia.

'So excited to ring that bell. Never thought Id be ringing the bell,' Isabella said in a confessional as the vlog shows footage of her ringing the bell and showing off her radiation mask.

The family celebrated by going out for some Thai food before ending the video with some bedtime thoughts.

'My head has hurt a lot the past few days, but the thing is, you can really tell how it affects you because Sunday I felt pretty good,' she said, adding she wasn't too dizzy and she could, 'walk fine.'

'Today I feel pretty bad. I'm feeling very nauseous and it's just waves, 'cause you can feel great one day and horrible the next,' she said, adding it is 'frustrating.'

The vlog showed her entering the New York Proton Center in Harlem, where she was cheered on by staffers for her final day of treatment

She was pleased to hear that one of her favorite artists - Bryson Tiller - was playing when she entered the room for her final round of treatment

After the treatment was done, she walked out to applause, with her father Michael Strahan filming before giving her a hug and getting a hug from her twin sister Sophia

The family celebrated by going out for some Thai food before ending the video with some bedtime thoughts.

'My head has hurt a lot the past few days, but the thing is, you can really tell how it affects you because Sunday I felt pretty good,' she said, adding she wasn't too dizzy and she could, 'walk fine'

'It is what it is and you can't really control how you feel,' she said, adding she is hoping tomorrow she wakes up, 'not feeling bad,' since she has a big interview.

'I just want to feel more normal for that day or tomorrow,' she said, before ending the video to get some sleep.

Now that radiation treatment is done, the USC freshman is planning on undergoing chemotherapy in February.

She also recently revealed that she had to undergo the 'difficult' and 'painful' process of harvesting her eggs so she has the best opportunity to have children in the future as she prepares to undergo chemotherapy for her rare brain cancer.
Real Housewives of Sydney cast member Krissy Marsh has taken on Hollywood.

The 52-year-old reality star mixed with the best of Tinsel Town during Monday's Emmy awards in Los Angeles.

Posting a gallery of selfies to her social media on Wednesday, Krissy can be seen posing with big names like White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge and Priscilla Presley.

'Thrilled to attend the 75th Annual Emmy awards last night in Los Angeles,' a gushing Krissy said in the caption.

'Loved checking out the red carpet looks and rubbing shoulders with the biggest stars in the world. LA Ohh what a night !!!.'

Real Housewives of Sydney cast member Krissy Marsh mixed with the best of Tinsel Town during the Emmy awards in Los Angeles on Monday. Pictured

In one intimate snap, the Krissy shared a pose with Priscilla Presley, ex-wife of the King of rock and roll, Elvis Presley.

Krissy also included a picture posing with veteran actor Kelsey Grammar, 68, who rose to fame as the wickedly funny psychiatrist in the '90s TV hit Frasier.

She also posted a picture of herself posing with Adelaide-born actress Sarah Snook who took home the prize for Best Actress on the night for HBO 's Succession.

Posting a gallery of selfies to her social media on Wednesday, Krissy can be seen posing with big names like White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge. Both pictured

In one intimate snap, the Krissy shared a pose with Priscilla Presley, ex-wife of the King of rock and roll, Elvis Presley

Meanwhile, the RHOS star looked glamorous for the high-profile event in a low-cut black frilled gown that showed off her ample cleavage.

Taking to Instagram, Krissy also shared video of her time at the Emmy's in which she can be seen mingling with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race and Yellowjackets star Juliette Lewis.

The strike-delayed ceremony gathers Hollywood's biggest stars as they celebrate the best of primetime television over the year of 2023.
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) said it has reached an agreement with India-based FLY91 for the lease of 2 ATR 72-600 aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in 2024 and are expected to be the first aircraft to enter FLY91s fleet.

FLY91 is a regional carrier that strives to enhance air connectivity from tier 2 and tier 3 towns across India. Founded by industry veterans and backed by professional funding, FLY91 aspires to make air travel accessible to every Indian.

This vision is reflected in their selection of ATR 72-600 fleet, which is a smart choice for efficient and sustainable operations from most regional airports in the country, said a statement.

Firoz Tarapore, Chief Executive Officer of DAE, said: We are delighted to have reached an agreement with FLY91 as their first operating lessor, supporting their vision to enhance regional connectivity in India.

We thank FLY91 for their trust in DAE as a partner and look forward to deepening this relationship over time.

Manoj Chacko, Chief Executive Officer of FLY91, said: India's aviation sector is expanding at an unprecedented rate, and FLY91 is proud to be part of this growth story. We are firmly committed to the country's development through last mile air connectivity, that aim to serve the unserved and under-served cities in India.

As we prepare for take-off, our focus is to provide safe, reliable, and comfortable flights to our customers. We are thrilled to partner with DAE on this exciting journey and are thankful for their reaffirmation on FLY91s vision for strengthening regional aviation in India.

DAE currently owns and manages a total of 66 ATR 72-600 aircraft.  TradeArabia News Service
Olivia Jade gave her more than 1.7 million subscribers a rare glimpse of her stunning home while documenting 'a week in' her life in a new YouTube video.

In footage, uploaded to her account on Tuesday, the 24-year-old influencer, who is the daughter of Full House star Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, showcased her deluxe space, featuring plenty of natural light, a lavish kitchen and fireplace.

As she documented moments from her busy schedule, from waking up and pulling back her curtains to hitting a local farmer's market, the social media star, who is dating Jacob Elordi, couldn't help but make one joke about the infamous college admissions scandal that cost her brands deals with Sephora, Tresemme and Estee Lauder, at the time.

While telling viewers that she 'finally ordered wallpaper' to make her kitchen look less sterile' and less like a prison, before quickly stopping herself.

Olivia Jade gave her more than 1.7 million subscribers a rare glimpse of her stunning home while documenting 'a week in' her life in a new YouTube video

In footage, uploaded to her account on Tuesday, the 24-year-old influencer, who is the daughter of Full House star Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, showcased her deluxe space, featuring plenty of natural light, a lavish kitchen and fireplace

While telling viewers that she 'finally ordered wallpaper' to make her kitchen look less sterile' and less like a prison, before quickly stopping herself

'Save the jokes,' she pleaded with fans, who know that her parents both served time for paying $500,000 in bribes to ensure their daughters acceptance into the University of Southern California.

Her father was sentenced to serve five months, whereas Loughlin did two months, was fined $150,000 and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service upon her release.

After putting her cooking skills on display while preparing a lemon thyme chicken with garlic and fresh lemons in the oven, Jade filmed herself out shopping with Loughlin.

The video showed Loughlin talking about her impressive parallel parking skills.

Upon discovering the space was only good for 20 minutes, Loughlin exclaimed: 'So much for my good parallel parking!'

'You did a really good,' her youngest daughter assured her, before deciding they could make their excursion a quick one.

When Jade suggested that they just 'risk it,' Loughlin quickly shut down the idea as she explained she would be happy to just come back and add money to the meter to avoid a parking ticket.

They tried on clothing at Gwyneth Paltrow's store, Goop, in Brentwood and picked up some of their favorite things, including a bag of pasta and Joshua Tree Coffee.

'Save the jokes,' she pleaded with fans, who know that her parents both served time for paying $500,000 in bribes to ensure their daughters acceptance into the University of Southern California

After putting her cooking skills on display while preparing a lemon thyme chicken with garlic and fresh lemons in the oven, Jade filmed herself out shopping with Loughlin

They tried on clothing at Gwyneth Paltrow's store, Goop, in Brentwood and picked up some of their favorite things, including a bag of pasta and Joshua Tree Coffee

While she not make any mention of her boyfriend Jacob Elordi in the video, eagle-eyed fans noticed that she appeared to be wearing his grey scarf while running errands.

The duo became an item in late 2021 and dated for months before they called it quits the following August.

At the time an Us Weekly insider said Jacob was 'completely focused' on his acting career and a Life & Style source dished that he was in 'full force work mode.'

By the following month, however, they were spotted in public again, and an insider told DailyMail.com: 'They're into each other but it's still quite casual.'

While she not make any mention of her boyfriend Jacob Elordi in the video, eagle-eyed fans noticed that she appeared to be wearing his grey scarf while running errands

The duo became an item in late 2021 and dated for months before they called it quits the following August

In February 2023, J-14 magazine reported that the couple had broken up yet again, however just three months later Just Jared published photos of the couple cuddling up together in Los Angeles.

The couple continued to flaunt their romance in June 2023 when they went on a holiday to Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho with Olivia's parents, with an insider from People magazine claiming things were 'getting serious.'

In November 2023, they both attended GQs 2023 Men of the Year party, but did not walk the red carpet as a couple.

Despite these multiple sightings, Olivia and Jacob have never confirmed nor discussed their relationship.

Olivia began her social media career while in high school and has amassed millions of online followers.
Francesca Allen flaunted her washboard abs as she posted a slew of sizzling snaps on Instagram from a previous trip to Dubai on Tuesday.

The former Love Island star, 28, showcased her incredibly toned body in a skimpy silver bikini, teamed with a stylish body chain.

Adding some accessorises to her stunning beach attire, the brunette beauty wore statement starfish earrings and gold designer jewellery.

Captioning her post, Francesca wrote: 'Missing the sun on my skin'.

Francesca posed up a storm while sitting in the shade on a wooden sun lounger to get the best shots.

Francesca Allen, 28, flaunted her washboard abs as she posted a slew of sizzling snaps on Instagram from her trip to Dubai on Tuesday

The former Love Island star showcased her incredibly toned body in a skimpy silver bikini, teamed with a stylish body chain

Francesca is engaged to her family friend Ed Crossan, who previously dated TOWIE's Amber Turner, in December 2021.

Ed, the vice chairman of London-based waste management company Powerday, popped the question in an idyllic festive proposal with the reality star gushing that it was the 'best Christmas present a girl could ask for'.

Francesca has finally found her happy ever after after she failed to find love during her time on season five of Love Island in 2019.

The islander didn't quite click with either of the boys she was coupled up with including Curtis Pritchard and Michael Griffiths.

Still part of the Love Island family, former islanders were quick to comment their love for the star after she shared the post.

Georgia Steel wrote 'Beautiful my girl ' and Eve Gale commented 'Unreal'.

Joseph Garrett sent special compliments to Francesca's hair accessory as he wrote 'head scarf is [fire emojis]'.

The post comes after Francesca shared the heartbreaking news in May 2023 that her beloved father has sadly passed away.

Francesca posed up a storm while sitting in the shade on a wooden sun lounger to get the best shots

Adding some accessorises to her stunning beach attire, the brunette beauty wore statement starfish earrings and gold designer jewellery

Captioning her post, Francesca wrote: 'Missing the sun on my skin'

Francesca and he fiance Ed Crossan got engaged in December 2021 just two months after revealing her romance

Sharing the news on Instagram, the star uploaded a photograph of a bouquet of roses as she wrote: 'Taking some time off socials as I lost my dad last week.

'Just having the time to process thanks to those who noticed I've been inactive.

'I will be back doing my thing and connecting with you all soon. Thank you for the patience.'

She also shared an array of photographs of her father, gushing how he was the 'life and soul of every party'.
Brits are discovering a gripping series lurking on BBC iPlayer nearly seven years after it was released.

Fans of the drama have called it 'better than Narcos' and are amazed that it did not receive more critical acclaim across six seasons.

Although Snowfall, starring Damson Idris as Franklin Saint, was first released in America in July 2017 on FX, the BBC had broadcast rights this side of the Atlantic and premiered the show on BBC Two three months later.

One viewer only discovered it this year and said: 'Couldn't find Snowfall on Netflix and Prime was asking me to buy/rent.

'Mans moved to the most unlikely place and found it for free. Thank you BBC iPlayer!'

Brits have been shocked to find crime drama Snowfall available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Pictured: Damson Idris as Franklin Saint

The US series follows its characters at the dawn of the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles

Fans have declared Snowfall 'better than Narcos' and in the bracket of many of the finest crime dramas of all time

Snowfall is set in Los Angeles in the 1980s at the beginning of America's crack cocaine epidemic.

It follows the stories of different characters caught up in that emerging world, principally Franklin, a young drug dealer.

Fans of the show hold it in extremely high regard, commenting on X: 'Watched 3 episodes of snowfall and its already better than Narcos...

'Binged all of Snowfall and its elite. Better than Ozark and joins the likes of The Wire, BB [Breaking Bad], BCS [Better Call Saul], and all of Narcos.'

And critics agree with this evaluation, with the show given a 92 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, its presence at major awards has been minimal, with many amazed that the show itself, or its lead, was not nominated at the last round of TV gongs after its 2023 finale.

Fans on X said: 'Wait Damson Idris didnt get any nominations for Snowfall?...

'Snowfall not getting any nominations is CRIMINAL...

'Not up for discussion, Damson Idris is the best actor out right now. He deserves an Oscar, Emmy, or what ever other awards they give out lol. The range he showed in snowfall was crazy. Hats off...

Set in the 1980s, Snowfall lasted six 10-episode seasons, with the finale coming last year

Idris received praise for his performance in the final season in particular

Many commenters on X were amazed that Snowfall and its lead were not recognised more by the round of TV gongs following its finale

'That Snowfall finale was a Damson Idris Masterclass...

'Wow. That Snowfall series finale had me CRYINGGG. To see Franklins journey thru this series is mindblowing. Damson Idris needs all the awards for this performance.'

However, his work in the series has seen the Londoner rise up in the odds for the next James Bond.

Any Brits who are yet to discover the series, but do not have a TV licence, can also stream Snowfall's six ten-episode series on Disney+.
Barbie took the world by storm after its highly anticipated release in July 2023 with Ryan Gosling's iconic performance as Ken to surely go down in history.

Yet while the rest of the world sang along to the actor's sensational performance of I'm Just Ken, Ryan's two children have yet to see the film.

Speaking to E! News at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Ryan, 43, admitted that although his daughters Esmerelda, 9, and Amada, 7, helped him prepare for his role as Ken, he hasn't let them see the film.

He explained: 'I don't know if you should watch your father as Ken. I don't know what age is a good age to see your father do that. It gets pretty crazy.'

Ryan and his wife Eva Mendes are incredible private about their relationship and never share snaps together on social media.

Ryan Gosling, 43, has revealed why he hasn't shown his daughters Barbie yet in an interview with E! News at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Saturday

Yet while the rest of the world sang along to the actor's sensational performance of I'm Just Ken, Ryan's two children have yet to see the film

But Ryan did admit that his children's love for Barbie was a factor in him taking the role.

'I knew that they loved it because they kept saying at first, "Hey, can we go to Target?'' he recalled. 'And we go to Target, and then they'd slowly go by the Barbie aisle. And my wife and I sort of realized, "OK, I think it's time to let them have Barbies." And no interest in Ken, which was pretty interesting, too.'

And while they haven't seen the full film, Ryan did allow them to visit Barbie land to involve them in the process.

'They've seen little parts of it and they came to set one day when I did a big musical number,' he explained.

Meanwhile Ryan found himself becoming a viral meme earlier this week after his hilarious confused reaction to his Barbie track I'm Just Ken winning Best Song at the Critics Choice Awards.

The star furrowed his eyebrows and looked slightly horrified after the track was named Best Original Song at the event, with his deadpan expression sending social media abuzz.

Ryan didn't take to the stage to accept the award and instead writers Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt received the honor.

One user said Ryan 'created a new meme with this face' at the show, while another user said, 'I'm sill laughing at Ryan Gosling's face hahahaha.'

The actor admitted: ''I don't know if you should watch your father as Ken. I don't know what age is a good age to see your father do that. It gets pretty crazy'

Ryan and his wife Eva Mendes (pictured in 2013) are incredible private about their relationship and never share snaps on social media. The couple share two daughters Esmerelda, 9, and Amada, 7

Earlier this week Ryan found himself becoming a viral meme after his hilarious confused reaction to his Barbie track I'm Just Ken winning Best Song at the Critics Choice Awards

Another user said, 'I'm sill laughing at Ryan Gosling's face hahahaha'

Said one user, 'Yoooo Ryan Gosling's face on the "I'm just Ken" song SENT ME!'

Eva took to Instagram to share her support for the Kenergy as she expressed her abundant pride for her husband.

Posing a screenshot of Ryan's confused reaction she wrote: 'I LOVE HIM!!!!'

Ryan also gave the sweetest shoutout to his wife and their two daughters at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Saturday.

As he accepted the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film, the La La Land star, reflected on meeting the actress, 49, on set of The Place Beyond the Pines while costarring as love interests Romina and Luke.

While alluding to the gritty drama that brought them together in 2011, the Barbie actor gushed about how landing the role ultimately led him to meet his soul mate.

'Most importantly, I got to meet the girl of my dreams, Eva Mendes, and have two dream children,' Golden Globe winner said.

He continued: 'I dreamed of one day making movies, and now, movies have made my life a dream.'

'It's hard to imagine being at a point in my career where I'm standing up here tonight,' Ryan said. '... It's just that it's Kirk Douglas. He's one of the first true icons of cinema ... he is completely and utterly in the class of his own, and I'm  just Ken?'

The star added: 'Up until this point, I've only ever thought about just how much cinema had done for me. I had never really thought about what I've done for cinema, as far back as I can remember.'

The day after the ceremony, the actress, 49, reposted a clip of the 43-year-old Barbie star's stunned reaction to his name being called and wrote in her caption: 'I LOVE HIM!!!!'
The Traitors fans think they have uncovered a huge twist which could see Diane survive.

Viewers are on tenterhooks to see if the retired school teacher, 63, has taken the bait and drunk from the poisoned chalice, sealing her fate as the Traitor's next murder victim.

Ahead of Wednesday's episode, a new theory has surfaced on X, formerly Twitter, with fans believing the book of Shakespeare plays, where the Traitors found the vessel, holds a key clue.

Viewers have theorised instead of being murdered, Diane could become a Traitor after delving deeper into the plot of Othello.

One fan wrote: 'Maybe this coping with Diane loss, but I've a theory the poison will convert Faithful to Traitor.

The Traitors fans think they have uncovered a huge twist which could see Diane survive

Viewers are on tenterhooks to see if the retired school teacher, 63, has taken the bait and drunk from the poisoned chalice, sealing her fate as the Traitor's next murder victim

'In Othello (the book they opened to get the chalice) there was no literal poison used but instead symbolically described Lago poisoning Othello's mind to change him.'

Another fan wrote: 'I just seen a TikTok explaining how in the book Othello, Iago "symbolically poisoned Othello's mind to change him" and that this is why the poisoned chalice found in that book by the traitors will not poison Diane but will actually CHANGE her, into a TRAITOR?'

In the preview clip, it flashed to the three Traitors - Harry, Miles and Paul - standing with their hoods up in the castle turret after they had been tasked to 'murder in plain sight' with the poisoned challice.

Some think they are concealing their identities ahead of a potential reveal to a new Traitor.

One said: 'another piece of evidence suggesting that is in the next time trailer the traitors there is a split second scene with the traitors having their hoods up, signifying someone coming into the room.'

Viewers are clinging to the hope the fan favourite isn't murdered.

They wrote: 'This had BETTER be true and if not Ive got my hopes up for no reason because I just cant comprehend Diane being murdered.'

Viewers have theorised instead of being murdered, Diane could become a Traitor after delving deeper into the plot of Othello

The Traitors ' villain Paul Gorton issued a forbidding warning ahead of this week's episodes

After Friday's episode ended on a cliffhanger, viewers complained they had to wait until next Wednesday as Jaz draws the net in closer to catching Paul

Paul teased what was in store after one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'How is it still two days till The Traitors'

'can you imagine all the traitors gathering to discuss who to murder next and Diane just turns up'.

'But the task is to murder in plain sight. They cant just switch it to recruitment, no?'

'Mind blown! If that happens then they may as well just give Diane the money now!'

'But in Hamlet the poison kills the WRONG PERSON'.

The Traitors' villain Paul Gorton issued a forbidding warning ahead of this week's episodes.

The business manager, 36, has been hailed the new Nasty Nick, after he has successfully managed to manipulate Faithfuls to vote out their own in the ultimate game of treachery.

After Friday's episode ended on a cliffhanger, viewers complained they had to wait until next Wednesday to see if Diane has been murdered by the poisoned chalice, while Jaz draws the net in closer to catching Paul.

Paul teased what was in store after one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'How is it still two days till The Traitors'.

The TV villain replied: 'You'll be thankful for the days off after you witness what's coming'.

The Traitors continues on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One.
Marnie Simpson took another swipe at her Geordie Shore co-stars in a furious rant on Instagram on Tuesday.

The reality star, 32, stars in the 24th series of the show reboot filmed in Cyprus alongside original cast members.

Marnie hit back at mum-shamers who criticised her parenting skills and said she was 'shocked' by some of the cast.

The television personality fell out with fellow mum Charlotte Crosby, 33, who left the show after getting into an argument over a high chair.

Marnie said the trip 'massively upset' her and she has been in tears over the 'cruel' comments made about her son Rox, four, who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Marnie Simpson took another swipe at her Geordie Shore co-stars in a furious rant on Instagram on Tuesday

The television personality fell out with fellow mum Charlotte Crosby, who left the show after getting into an argument over a high chair

Marnie, who is also mum to son Oax, one, said: 'Just want to say a huge thank you for all the support I'm receiving. It's so upsetting to see comments being made about my four-year-old son, Rox is a hyper 4-year-old but aren't most kids his age he was just excited to be away.

'Rox's ADHD doesn't change how amazing, loving, funny and caring he is, he's an innocent child and doesn't deserve this, he was just having fun.'

ADHD is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

Marnie continued: 'For close friends basically saying hurtful things about children, filming with my two boys was extremely scary and daunting putting myself out there for 100s of people to judge me as a parent especially because I know how full on they are and I'm always aware of other people's feelings and I constantly felt like I was loosing control, the amount of pressure in Cyprus was so horrible.'

Marnie said she felt the pressure build up until she 'exploded' and 'raised my voice' during filming.

She said: 'It was so tense and I didn't know how to process all of that judgement. It's not right.

'One thing everyone knows about me is that I don't often cry especially on camera and if I do it really does mean I'm upset and can't hide it

'But Cyprus did massively upset me, it was my honeymoon and all I did was try and make it a happy environment for my kids.'

Marnie said the 'last thing she wanted was a clash' and is 'so upset' her children were being spoken about.

Marnie hit back at mum-shamers who criticised her parenting skills and said she was 'shocked' by some of the cast

Marnie said she just wanted to focus on her family ahead of her birthday on Thursday

Marnie said: Rox was so affectionate towards the babies. The whole way through that trip he would constantly stroke them and cuddle them and ask where they were'

'To see close people around me judge me and be mean about my children is so upsetting, say anything you want about me but talking about my kids is below the belt and unforgivable and I'm still so shocked.'

She continued: 'Rox was so affectionate towards the babies. The whole way through that trip he would constantly stroke them and cuddle them and ask where they were.

"Everyone there said "aww Rox is so sweet towards the babies", so for people to be mean to him knowing this is sick, messed up and evil FACT."

Marnie and Charlotte, who has 15-month-old daughter Alba with fiance Jake Ankers - unfollowed each other on Instagram after the row in Cyprus.

Charlotte flew home after filming the show for just two days last year, and she was left 'sad, paranoid and anxious' about the after-effects of her exit.

Speaking on her Always On podcast, Charlotte said: 'It just ended up going so terribly wrong. I don't know why but the whole series, I later discovered, was a bit weird. I didn't expect it to go the way that it did, and for that reason I am sad.

'I'm sad for loads of reasons. I'm sad that I took Alba and Jake, my family, into a show that I loved so much and it went so badly wrong.

'I feel like I could cry talking about it. I felt an immense amount of guilt for not knowing better. I just thought we were going to have such a good time.

'We didn't not. We did have some good times. Listen, it was fun. I was only in there for two days, but we had some lovely times in quarantine.

'There was a silly argument, over a high chair of all things, that escalated. And I just left. I just needed to get out of that environment.'
He's known for his straight talking attitude and offering up sensible business advice on The Apprentice.

And Claude Littner stuck with the same approach as he caught up on Love Island All Stars on Tuesday, sharing his views on X - formerly Twitter.

The 74-year-old businessman is an unlikely superfan of the ITV2 dating show and left his followers in hysterics as he offered live reactions to the scenes.

He took a while to settle into the show, scoffing: 'Meaningful conversation. I have missed that! No idea what they are blabbering about', and was quick to pull them up for their wording, tweeting: 'Like, like, love, like. Like like. Like like.'

Yet he was quickly hooked by the opening scenes and was frustrated at having to take a break, sharing: 'Bloody adverts... spoiling my enjoyment, like'.

He's known for his straight talking attitude on The Apprentice and Claude Littner stuck with the same approach as he caught up on Love Island All Stars on Tuesday

The 74-year-old businessman is an unlikely fan of the ITV2 dating show and left his followers in hysterics as he offered live reactions (pictured: Hannah Elizabeth and Anton Danyluk)

He went on to offer some advice to the Islanders, penning: 'Liberty can now crack on' after the blonde bombshell cleared the air with her ex Jake Cornish.

Claude was also pleased to know that Georgia Steel was settled with Toby Aromolaran after her flirtations with Anton Danyluk, tweeting: 'Georgia is happy with Toby. Good to know.'

As daytime came on the show and the Islanders headed out in their swimwear, Claude had one observation: 'A lot of breasts are exposed, mostly from the women'.

He then criticised the show for featuring 'more meaningless chat' and after a follower told him they'd already given up watching, he responded: 'Stick with it..lots more irrelevant. Vacuous chat ahead.'

The challenge brought about some excitement as he shared: 'Good game...good game! Sexy kiss game'.

Yet talk soon turned to the safety of the Islanders as he admitted 'I worry about germs', adding 'Have they learnt nothing since Covid ?'

All the smooching failed to keep him gripped, as Claude lamented: 'Getting bored with this kissing game... can we move on to casa amor!'

He added: 'This is looking like another hour of my life, never to be recovered.'

Sadly, the all star spin-off failed to keep Claude's interest piqued as he told a fan that he'd 'started, but I won't finish' the series.

He took a while to settle into the show and went on to reveal he wouldn't be sticking with it

The American-British businessman has previously gone viral for tweeting about Love Island and even owns a Love Island branded water bottle

The American-British businessman has previously gone viral for tweeting about Love Island and even owns a Love Island branded water bottle.

During an appearance on Good Morning Britain last year, Ben Shephard joked to him: 'I heard you wouldn't shirk the idea of being a contestant, is that true?'

Claude quipped in response: 'I think they're after me. I think it's just a matter of negotiating the final terms and I'll be there. Casa Amor is something I'm really looking forward to getting into.'

Yet despite his humorous remarks, Claude won't be entering the villa anytime soon because he's been happily married to wife Thelma since 1976.

The couple share two sons Anthony and Alex and five grandchildren.

Despite his humorous remarks, Claude won't be entering the villa anytime soon because he's been happily married to wife Thelma since 1976
Simon Cowell has shared a rare insight into his family life as he posted a selection of sweet snaps with his fiance Lauren Silverman and their children.

The music mogul, 64, who recently welcomed a German Shepherd puppy named Pebbles into the family, shared the snaps to his Instagram.

Before heading out on a dog walk with his brood, Simon posed beside Lauren and their son Eric, nine, and Lauren's son Adam, 18.

The Britain's Got Talent boss was wrapped up in a black padded jacket and opted for a casual pair of tracksuit bottoms and trainers.

Simon, who was cradling Pebbles in his arms, completed his outdoor attire with a pair of his signature black aviator sunglasses.

Simon Cowell has shared a rare insight into his family life as he posted a selection of sweet snaps with his fiance Lauren Silverman and their children

Simon later shared an adorable snap of Eric and Pebbles and the two have clearly already struck up a close bond, as he captioned it: 'LOVE'

Lauren, 46, also opted for an all black ensemble as she wore a black padded jacket with form-fitting leggings that showcased her long legs.

She added some chic sunglasses and a scarf to her look, while wearing her raven locks slicked back into a stylish up do.

In the snap, Eric was holding another pup in his arms.

The family were stood in the manicured grounds of a plush modern pad. It is unclear whether the home belongs to Simon and his family.

They recently moved out of their 45million Holland Park mansion over safety fears, as he decided to leave London for the countryside.

A second snap showed the family out on another ramble with their new dog, as well as two of their three Yorkshire Terriers, who are named Freddie, Squiddly and Diddly.

Simon later shared an adorable snap of Eric and Pebbles and the two have clearly already struck up a close bond, as he captioned it: 'LOVE'

Last week, Simon took to Instagram to share a series of adorable snaps with his latest addition to his ever growing four-legged family.

A second snap showed the family out on another ramble with their new dog, as well as two of their three Yorkshire Terriers, who are named Freddie, Squiddly and Diddly

Simon Cowell, 64, shared adorable snaps with pooch Pebbles over on Instagram on Thursday as the dog lover announced the new addition to his family

Simon cuddled the German Shepherd as he captured Pebbles' adorable puppy dog eyes for the camera

Simon looked lovingly at the new family member, pouting at the pooch as Pebbles stuck his tongue out for the snap.

He captioned the snap: 'Our family has had a new arrival ...her name is Pebbles'.

Pebbles is Simon's fifth dog, after already being a proud dog owner to his Yorkshire terriers and Daisy, who he adopted in Barbados.

Racing to the comments fans went wild for the new pooch as they fawned over Pebbles.

One wrote: 'Awww look at those eyes  Nothing better than a four legged addition to the family'.

A second wrote: 'Gosh your Mom would have adored her. Shes beautiful' and a third added: 'Congratulations- Pebbles hit the jackpot!'

Commenting on the change from Yorkshire terriers to a German Shepherd, another added: 'That's it now Simon, you will forever be a Shep person now as they are so addictive...I mean we have at least 80. Super Cute'.

In April 2022 Simon revealed he will leave a 'substantial amount' to various dogs shelters in his last will and testament, which is believed to be around 20million.

The star decided to draw up his last wishes after suffering a traumatic bike accident which left him with an injured arm.

The music mogul described the process as 'one of the most depressing things I've ever done, and one of the hardest', as he revealed that 'everything he cares about' will be covered in the will.

Talking of the morbid experience with The Sun, Simon shared: 'Unfortunately, you have to  and that day, when it comes, is like, 'Christ, I've now got to sit and talk about my death for the next few hours' It was dreadful. But the fact that I've done it now has given me peace of mind.'

Pebbles is Simon's fifth dog, after already being a proud dog owner to his Yorkshire terriers and Daisy, who he adopted in Barbados (not pictured)

In April 2022 Simon revealed he will leave a 'substantial amount' to various dogs shelters in his last will and testament , which is believed to be around 20million

During the chat, he also revealed that he will leave a 'substantial amount', to dog charities - including Dogs Trust, K9 in Barbados, and London's Battersea Dogs Home.

Simon rescued Daisy when he came across the abandoned dog on one of his trips to Barbados back in 2018.

Simon hosts annual auctions from homeless dogs on the Caribbean island and fell in love with Daisy.

She was found abandoned along with her two puppies, but thanks to charity K9 Puppies, of which Simon is a patron, they were all nursed back to health.

Simon also revealed in the past that he hopes to clone his pet pooches, so strong is his love for them.

He revealed he plans to spend 180,000 to have them cloned by harvesting their genes through a South Korean company.

The star told The Sun on Sunday: 'I am 100 per cent cloning the dogs, all of them.Weve thoroughly looked into it, got all the details and I can prove to you Im going to clone them. There is documentation.

'I am doing it because I cannot bear the thought of them not being around.'

The dogs travel with Simon regularly as he works in both Los Angeles and London, as well as an annual trip to the Caribbean, and on the flight the dogs get their own squeaky toys to play with, and bespoke jum-bones.
Line Of Duty star Adrian Dunbar will make his musical debut in the new West End production of Kiss Me, Kate.

The actor, 65, who portrayed Ted Hastings in the BBC police drama, will show off his vocal talents alongside Tony award winner Stephanie J Block, 51.

The musical will return to the London stage on June 4 at the Barbican Theatre.

Adrian will play Fred Graham, the show's director, producer and star, while Stephanie will take on the role of his leading lady, his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi.

It is not the first time Adrian has shown off his vocal talents. The star sang in ITV drama Ridley and started out his career singing on stage in bands.

Of making his musical debut, Adrian said: 'I'm so delighted to be returning to the stage this summer to my spiritual home at the Barbican - where I started my career at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama - especially in this Cole Porter classic with the wonderful creative team including Bart Sher and Stephanie J. Block. Summer 2024 just got a lot brighter.'

Line Of Duty star Adrian Dunbar will make his musical debut in the new West End production of Kiss Me, Kate from June 4 at the Barbican Theatre in London

The actor, 65, who portrayed Ted Hastings in Line Of Duty , will show off his vocal talents alongside Tony award winner Stephanie J Block, 51

Stephanie, who is an American actress, won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her lead performance in The Cher Show.

The play is a show within a show. It follows a theatre company as they rehearse Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.

Drama off stage threatens to derail the production with gangsters and romance.

The musical was inspired by the on-stage/off-stage battling of husband-and-wife actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne during their 1935 production of The Taming of the Shrew, witnessed by future Broadway producer Arnold Saint-Subber.

It comes as Adrian slammed the 'strange modern phenomenon' of people on their phones at the theatre.

The actor joins Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Craig in hitting out.

He said even if just a couple of people are not concentrating, 'it breaks the magic'.

He is the latest actor to speak out about the subject after Andrew Scott revealed he was once forced to pause his performance of Hamlet after an audience member opened their laptop.

'Sometimes it's people who haven't been to the theatre before who just don't get it. They don't know about the fourth wall,' Adrian told the Times.

'They might think they're watching TV and that they can step away from what's happening.

'Whereas actually the theatre is very much an engaged and a collective experience.'

Adrian will play Fred Graham, the show's director, producer and star, while Stephanie will take on the role of his leading lady, his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi

Known for his role as Superintendent Ted Hastings, Adrian said: 'I'm so delighted to be returning to the stage this summer to my spiritual home at the Barbican'

Speaking about the fourth wall, Northern Irish actor Dunbar was referring to the imaginary barrier between actors on stage and an audience.

His comments came after Fleabag star Andrew told the Happy Sad Confused podcast about the time an audience member memorably took out their laptop to answer emails mid-show.

The actor, 47, was playing Hamlet in 2017 at the Almeida Theatre in London when the incident happened.

He said: 'When I was playing Hamlet, a guy took out his laptop  not his phone, his laptop  while I was in the middle of 'to be or not to f***ing be'.

'I was pausing and [the stage team] were like, 'Get on with it' and I was like, 'There's no way. I stopped for ages.

Andrew added that the woman beside the rude onlooker alerted him and caused him to finally put his computer away.

He concluded: 'He had absolutely no doubts'.
Billie Shepherd showed off her toned figure on Tuesday in a daring underwear snap, as she rang in her birthday.

The reality star celebrated turning 34 alongside her sister Sam Faiers, mother Suzie Wells and best friend Jerri Black at Soho Farmhouse.

The group shared a slew of snaps of the fun-filled party to their Instagram accounts, with Sam, 33, posting one of Billie posing in her bra.

Billie looked incredible as she beamed and raised her glass in the air, also wearing a pair of Fendi tights and ankle boots, as Sam captioned the photo: 'Come on birthday girl get ready'.

The siblings also posed for a mirror selfie in their pyjamas and Billie lounged on the bed in their room in a grey dressing gown.

Billie Shepherd showed off her toned figure on Tuesday in a daring underwear snap, as she rang in her birthday

The reality star celebrated turning 34 alongside her sister Sam Faiers , mother Suzie Wells and best friend Jerri Black at Soho Farmhouse

Sam, 33, and Billie also posed for a mirror selfie in their pyjamas and Billie lounged on the bed in their room in a grey dressing gown

The foursome then got glammed up for some evening drinks, with Billie donning a white knitted jumper dress and gold earrings.

Sam opted for a white top and figure-hugging black leather trousers matching with her mum Suzie, 54.

The girls also went for a dip in the hot tub together, posing for smiling selfies while sporting clay face masks.

Billie looked radiant as she slipped into a fluorescent orange swimsuit, while Suzie donned a plunging brown one-piece.

Sam and Billie have had plenty to celebrate recently, after they signed a multi-million pound deal for their podcast with Amazon at the end of last year.

They will be bringing their podcast The Sam and Billie Show to Amazon's podcast platform Wonderly in a multi year deal.

The former TOWIE stars, who launched their podcast back in 2021, are now setting their sights on conquering the US.

An insider exclusively told MailOnline: 'The deal with Amazon marks a significant milestone for Sam and Billie.

The foursome then got glammed up for some evening drinks, with Billie donning a white knitted jumper dress and gold earrings

Sam opted for a white top and figure-hugging black leather trousers matching with her mum Suzie, 54

The girls also went for a dip in the hot tub together, posing for smiling selfies while sporting clay face masks

Billie looked radiant as she slipped into a fluorescent orange swimsuit, while Suzie donned a plunging brown one-piece.

'The girls are hoping the deal will open doors for them in the US.'

The source close to Sam and Billie said the huge signing marks a new era for the sisters, after Sam stepped down from Mummy Diaries filming in 2021.

The podcast covers the sisters' lives as they negotiate family life with being in the public eye.

The siblings shot to fame at the same time when they appeared in the inaugural series of The Only Way Is Essex in 2010.

After leaving the E4 reality show in 2016, Billie and Sam began Sam & Billie: The Mummy Diaries which followed their journey through motherhood, until 2021.

Sam is also mum to Paul, eight, Rosie, six, and Edward, 20 months, who she shares with her boyfriend Paul Knightley.

Billie, meanwhile, has continued with ITVBe with reality show Family Diaries alongside her husband Greg Shepherd and their three children; Nelly, nine, Arthur, six, and Margot, one.

It comes after Suzie vowed to give online dating 'another chance' after her daughters signed her up to celebrity dating app Raya.

Sam and Billie have had plenty to celebrate recently, after they signed a multi-million pound deal for their podcast with Amazon at the end of last year

The siblings shot to fame when they appeared in the inaugural series of The Only Way Is Essex in 2010 (L-R Kirk Norcross, Billie, Joey Essex, Lucy Mecklenburgh, James Argent, Lydia Bright, Harry Derbidge, Sam, Mark Wright, Lauren Goodger and Jessica Wright in 2011)

Sam is also mum to Paul, eight, Rosie, six, and Edward, 20 months, who she shares with her boyfriend Paul Knightley

Billie, meanwhile, has continued with ITVBe with reality show Family Diaries alongside her husband Greg Shepherd and their three children; Nelly, nine, Arthur, six, and Margot, one

She revealed she was 'on the lookout for someone' and would have another crack at online dating after experiencing technical hitches last year.

Speaking to New Magazine last week, Suzie said her first experience with Raya hadn't quite gone as planned - as everyone messaging her was either from America, Italy or France.

'It was so funny,' she said. 'Billie and Sam were telling me to just go for it, move abroad and meet someone. Can you imagine? I'd need to uproot my entire life - I'd miss my grandkids far too much.'

But when asked her plans for 2024, she said: 'I might give online dating another chance. Who knows what might happen? But I'm definitely on the lookout for someone.'

'My girls signed me up to Raya last year but I didn't really know how to work it. There must have been something wrong with the location settings because anyone who was contacting me was either from America, Italy or France.'

Suzie went on to say that she is keen to start dating again, despite the fact her daughters joke that she says that 'every year'.

'But in 2024 my resolution is to get myself out there and start dating again,' sahe added.

It comes after Suzie vowed to give online dating 'another chance' after her daughters signed her up to celebrity dating app Raya (pictured together in May)
Tehran, Jan 17 (UNI) Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Wednesday held a phone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani, and said that Tehran respects Islamabad's sovereignty, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

On Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles and drones at a base of terrorist group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan region in retaliation for terrorist attacks on its own territory. This was the first missile strike by the Iranian armed forces on Pakistani territory. Islamabad said that the attack left two children killed and three people injured, condemned Iran's actions and voiced concerns over Tehran not forewarning Islamabad about the strikes via existing communication channels.

"The foreign ministry of our country expressed satisfaction with the friendly relations between the two countries during the conversation and emphasized the importance of continuing cooperation and close ties between officials of the two countries in various fields. Amirabdollahian emphasized the respect of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the friendly, brotherly and neighboring country of Pakistan," the ministry said in a statement, published on its official Telegram channel.

During the conversation, Jilani requested Tehran to provide Islamabad with intelligence about the movement of terrorist groups in Pakistan, the statement read.

UNI/SPUTNIK AKS
Netflix's 'real-life Gone Girl' documentary series was released for subscribers to stream today.

The highly-anticipated three-part show, American Nightmare, includes the Rosamund Pike figure in the story giving her account of events.

Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn became known as the Gone Girl hoaxer couple in 2015 after the former was abducted from their home in Vallejo, California.

For two days, the then-29-year-old was drugged and raped by her abductor in a far-away house before being set free on an alley next to her parents' home.

However, investigators did not buy the remarkable story until the real perpetrator confessed. Huskins went on to successfully sue the police department for defamation.

Netflix's 'real-life Gone Girl' documentary series has dropped on Netflix including an interview from kidnapping victim Denise Huskins

Huskins and Aaron Quinn - 29 and 30 years old at the time - became known as the Gone Girl hoaxer couple in 2015 after she was abducted from their home in Vallejo, California

The trailer shows footage of the doting boyfriend in police interrogation rooms as he was questioned about an argument with his girlfriend over messages she had found on his phone

The real story behind Huskins' disappearance has even more unbelievable elements than just her being dropped off home by her kidnappers.

The couple, who were both physiotherapists, had been asleep in bed at the time of the intrusion.

Quinn, 30 at the time, first called 911 the day after the kidnapping, telling the operator that he could not phone sooner because he was 'tied up' - literally.

Later recalling the night to police, he said: 'I wake up. There's a bright light blinding us, a taser goes off and I see they're wearing wetsuits... They asked Denise to tie my hands behind my back,' he said.

The perpetrator brandished a fake gun before playing a pre-recorded message that made it seem as if there were multiple kidnappers.

The terrified pair were then drugged and blindfolded with blacked-out goggles before Huskins was bundled into a trunk and driven nearly 500 miles away.

Police were met at the scene by blood splatters throughout the house, zip ties, toy guns and even a blow-up doll.

But suspicions about who could have been behind Huskins' disappearance immediately fell on her partner.

American Nightmare includes footage of the boyfriend in police interrogation rooms being questioned about an argument with his girlfriend over messages she had found on his phone shortly before her disappearance.

The real culprit had been demanding $15,000 in ransom for Huskins' safe return during the two-day ordeal.

But days later her captor inexplicably dropped her off in an alley outside her parents' home to everyone's astonishment.

Recalling the moment the couple reunited, Huskins told ABC's 20/20: 'Every moment in captivity I kept picturing him, I kept just visualizing what that feeling must be like to finally feel safe in his arms again.

'When he knocked on that door and I opened it, we just embraced... We were crying and holding each other.'

Quinn added: 'I knew our lives had changed forever and we'd go through more struggles but at least we had each other.'

And Quinn was proved right, as Huskins' release only made observers more suspicious at first.

Investigators even found a blow-up doll upon arrival at the scene

Blood was splattered throughout the house as well as zip ties being found

Huskins was inexplicably dropped off down an alley near her parents' home days after the abduction

Many said it was proof that the couple had lied and they were inundated with comments on social media from trolls who believed that had made the story up.

Even Vallejo Police Lt. Kenny Park said as much at a press conference after Huskins resurfaced.

'We were not able to substantiate any of the things that he was saying. If anything, it is Mr. Quinn and Ms. Huskins that owe this community an apology,' he said.

Similarly, commentators in the new series stated Huskins 'looked more like a suspect,' adding: 'I've never heard of a case where the kidnappers drop their victim off at the front door of their house.'

But the case took yet another shocking turn when 41-year-old struck-off lawyer and former Marine, Matthew Muller, turned himself in to police months later.

He pleaded guilty to the crime and revealed that he had been using drones to watch the couple when they were at home.

Huskins testified in court that Muller had treated her like 'an animal' as he raped her, explaining: 'You flopped me around the bed like a rag doll.

'The only way I got through it was to picture that it was Aaron that I was with, and that will haunt me for the rest of my life.'

She said of the harrowing assault: 'I told myself, no matter what they do, I'm not going to beg and scream.

'If it is the last moments that I am going to be living, I am just going to stay calm and be grateful for the life I had.'

Muller told prosecutors that he suffered bipolar disorder and was medicated when he abducted Huskins.

In 2017 he pleaded guilty to federal kidnapping charges and was sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2017.

The vindicated couple the knot in 2016 - a year after the kidnapping - before welcoming a daughter in 2020

Matthew Muller, a 41-year-old disbarred lawyer, turned himself in to police several months later

Muller was later sentenced to a further 31 years to serve concurrently after pleading no contest to two counts of forcible rape of Huskins as well as robbery of an inhabited dwelling, residential burglary and false imprisonment.

Huskins and Quinn have since shared their story in a book titled Victim F: From Crime Victims To Suspects To Survivors.

The vindicated couple the knot in 2016 - a year after the kidnapping - before welcoming a daughter in 2020.

They sued the police department for defamation and won a $2.5 million settlement.
Jess Wright shared a positive health update on her ongoing battle with her skin condition psoriasis on Wednesday.

The former TOWIE star, 38, has previously detailed her frustration with the condition as she regularly suffers from 'painful' flare-ups on her skin.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that affects the skin and sometimes the joints, which occurs when a person's skin replacement process takes place within days rather than the usual 21-to-28 days.

The mother-of-one took to Instagram to explain that her symptoms have been a lot more manageable since she has started taking a gut health supplement.

She wrote: 'As many of you may know, I have psoriasis, which causes redness & itchiness of the skin.

Jess Wright, 38, shared a positive health update on her ongoing battle with her skin condition psoriasis on Wednesday

The former TOWIE star has previously detailed her frustration with the condition as she regularly suffers from 'painful' flare-ups on her skin

'I have been taking @AxisBiotix for a few months now and its really helped manage my symptoms. AxisBiotix-Ps is a supplement which helps support the skin from within.

'Its made up of a specific blend of live bacteria specifically selected to support gut health, which in turn, supports skin health.

'If you have psoriasis or other skin conditions and you are interested in trying it out, please use the code JESS10 for 10 off your first box.'

Following her positive revelation that she deems is currently working for her condition, Jess previous detailed what a recent flare-up was like.

In August 2023, Jess shared a photo of her arm with a flare-up and wrote alongside the snap: 'In so much pain with this.'

She added: 'And sooo over it. F**k you psoriasis. Not even sorry for my language.'

Jess was praised by fans last year for showing 'her real skin' as she gave an update on the battle with the skin condition.

Taking to Instagram, the TV star shared a close-up shot of her face, which showed a frame of marks around her face as a result of psoriasis.

The mother-of-one took to Instagram to explain that her symptoms have been a lot more manageable since she has started taking a gut health supplement (pictured in 2023)

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that affects the skin and sometimes the joints, which occurs when a person's skin replacement process takes place within days rather than the usual 21-to-28 days (pictured in 2023)

She wrote: 'As many of you may know, I have psoriasis, which causes redness & itchiness of the skin. 'I have been taking @AxisBiotix for a few months now and its really helped manage my symptoms. AxisBiotix-Ps is a supplement which helps support the skin from within' (pictured in 2023)

Following her positive revelation that she deems is currently working for her condition, Jess previous detailed what a recent flare-up was like, penning she was 'so over it' (pictured in 2023)

She penned an accompanying caption revealing that she had a spell of calm with the condition after she was put on medication, yet soon struggled with side effects leading her to lower her dose - and thus suffer a flare-up.

The star, who shot to fame on TOWIE's inaugural series in 2010, wrote: 'Here goes. Psoriasis update. Apologies for my absence on discussing my ongoing battle with psoriasis, however here it is.

'In November I went to a specialist & I was put on a form of medication in the hope that it would stop it in its tracks, calm it down & then when I come off of the meds after around a year, it wouldnt be as aggressive.

'This medication cleared nearly all of my psoriasis which was wonderful for a little while however side effects of the meds started to creep in & become more evident which didnt make me feel great...

'Then when I tried lowering the dose, the psoriasis started to come back with a vengeance. Its actually Id say on par with how it was before, if not worse...

'And its actually really sore. So frustrating. Im posting this because so many of you have messaged me asking how its going & Ive not been updating you so here it is...

'Sorry I dont have any better news & a miracle cure for you all, I feel your frustration guys. Repeat after me F*** you psoriasis'.

A post from Psoriasis Association, the UK national charity for sufferers, lauded the star for her candour, writing: 'Thank you for being so open and honest Jess'.

Other followers meanwhile penned: 'I have psoriasis too and I'm in full flare all over at the moment. Nothing I do or use on them is helping  It's so hard and frustrating, I feel for you Jessica  Sending love...

'Im mid flare up after years of a partial respite. Keep sharing & raising awareness when you feel like it. Its the most torturous condition ever... Ive had it now for 5 years. Thanks for being honest about it! So many struggle with psoriasis.'
This Morning's showbiz reporter Sian Welby will host the show next week as they continue to search for a replacement for Holly Willoughby.

ITV bosses are said to be impressed with Ms Welby after a number of appearances on the programme and have paired her with Dermot O'Leary to anchor Monday to Thursday.

Sources at the network say that Ms Welby, 37, is a 'rising star' and want to give her a chance to show if she can present the daytime show.

One told MailOnline: 'Sian has many years of presenting experience under her belt, she is very much ear marked as being a star of the future.

'She has done really well already on This Morning so the bosses thought it was time to give her the reins to the whole show rather than just segments.'

This Morning's showbiz reporter Sian Welby will host the show next week as they continue to search for a replacement for Holly Willoughby

Ms Welby hosts Capital Breakfast alongside Roman Kemp and is also a regular reporter for This Morning, with show bosses dubbing her a 'rising star'

During an appearance on Wednesday's This Morning, it was announced that Sian would be hosting the show, as she donned a chic shirt dress from Dancing Leopard

They continued: 'Viewers love a new, fresh face on the show so everyone involved in it is really excited.'

Ms Welby hosts Capital Breakfast alongside Roman Kemp and is also a regular reporter for This Morning.

She and O'Leary will be joined in the studio by Hollywood stars Kevin Hart and Gugu Mbatha Raw to chat about the new action packed heist film LIFT, as well as catching up with comedian and former Strictly winner, Bill Bailey.

During an appearance on Wednesday's This Morning, it was announced that Sian would be hosting the show, as she donned a chic shirt dress from Dancing Leopard.

Alison Hammond and O'Leary will continue to host their as usual Friday slot.

Ms Welby is the former anchor of Channel 5 News after being spotted by chiefs at the broadcaster in 2010.

She also hosted a show on Heart Radio between 2017 and 2020.

Ms Welby's role on This Morning comes three months after Ms Willoughby quit after 14 years at the helm of This Morning after an alleged kidnap plot was revealed.

Sian has been paired with Dermot O'Leary to anchor Monday to Thursday next week while they continue to search for a replacement for Holly Willoughby (pictured in September)

Former security guard Gavin Plumb has also been accused of incitement to murder her. Since then, ITV bosses have been searching for a replacement for her.

They were left 'gutted' last month when Cat Deeley ruled herself out of the role after signing for US talent show, So Yoi Think You Can Dance.

Chiefs also had their eye on The Voice presenter Emma Willis but she is understood to have turned down the job as she can't commit to three days.

Christine Lampard was also said to not be keen on working four days a week.

I'm A Celeb star Josie Gibson has been hosting the show for the last two weeks.

Since leaving This Morning, it's been claimed Ms Willoughby is 'overhauling her demure Queen of daytime TV image'.

She currently fronts Dancing On Ice, which suffered its lowest ever viewing figures as host Holly made her TV comeback.

The Sunday night show, which saw stars including Amber Davies and Ricky Hatton take to the ice, had a launch viewing figure of just 3.6 million.

In comparison the launch was watched by 4.1 million in 2023 and 4.3 million in 2022. 2021's opening show saw 5.4 million tuning in while 2020's figure was 5.1 million.

The programme also reunited the TV star with Stephen Mulhern, who has replaced Phillip Schofield as host of the skating show.
A Love Island star has been rushed to hospital with a mystery illness on Tuesday.

Mehdi Edno, 26, sparked concern after he posted a snap on Instagram wearing medical gown in a hospital ward.

The French model was dressed in a green and blue hospital wear and a hair net while sat in front of drips.

Mehdi hasn't given fans a reason why he is in hospital as of yet.

He appeared on Love Island's 2023 summer series and found a connection with Whitney Adebayo before he was dumped from the villa.

A Love Island star has been rushed to hospital with a mystery illness on Tuesday

Mehdi Edno, 26, sparked concern after he posted a snap on Instagram wearing medical gown in a hospital ward

Whitney is currently in a relationship with former Love Islander Lochan Nowacki after they struck up a relationship shortly after Mehdi departed.

In June, Mehdi revealed he missed Whitney since being out the villa and said he looked forward to seeing her when she got out.

Chatting to Access All Areas host Bobby Norris and Ellen Coughlan on FUBAR Radio, Mehdi said: 'I am [missing Whitney]. I've been in contact with previous islanders and Whitney's sister and mum. I think she'll win the show. I'm not surprised she's favourite to win.'

The former Islander also admitted he had plans to meet Whitney's mother and sister for dinner at the time.

'I was supposed to meet her family but I've been on holiday for three weeks. But I've been in touch with Whit's sister and I'm seeing them next week.'

Mehdi was dramatically dumped from the show alongside Mal Nichol after the pair received the fewest number of votes from the public.

The reality star claimed at the time that he was supportive of Whitney's decision to couple up with her current partner.

He said: 'Being with Lochan, I feel like she has made the right decision for herself. She knows herself and she knows what's best for her, so I think she made the right choice coupling up with him.'

The French model was dressed in a green and blue hospital wear and a hair net while sat in front of drips

He appeared on Love Island's 2023 summer series and found a connection with Whitney Adebayo before he was dumped from the villa

In June, Mehdi revealed he missed Whitney since being out the villa and said he looked forward to seeing her when she got out

When Mehdi was voted out of the show, speaking in the Beach Hut following his exit, Whitney broke down, saying: 'I don't want to do this.'

The couple admitted to each other that they felt 'very sad' after the results of the public vote were announced with Whitney asking Mehdi, 'am I invited to France?'

Mehdi replied: 'You are invited to France with me of course but think about you first here.'
Stan have announced the premiere date for new series The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

The six-part series is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by New Zealand author Heather Morris and is inspired by the real-life love story between two people who met at a concentration camp during the Holocaust.

The Stan Original series stars Harvey Keitel, Melanie Lynskey, Jonah Hauer-King, Anna Prochniak and Jonas Nay and will premiere on May 2.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz follows Lali (Jonah Hauer-King), a Slovakian Jew deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942 where over a million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust.

Shortly after arriving, he's made one of the tattooists charged with inking identification numbers onto prisoners arms.

Stan have announced the premiere date for new series The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Pictured: Harvey Keitel as Lali Sokolov

The six-part series is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by New Zealand author Heather Morris and is inspired by the real-life love story between two people who met at a concentration camp during the Holocaust. Pictured: Jonah Hauer-King as Lali Sokolov and Anna Prochniak as Gita Furman

One day, he meets Gita (Anna Prochniak) and they experience love at first sight, and so begins their courageous, unforgettable story.

Under constant guard from a volatile Nazi SS officer Baretzki (Jonas Nay), Lali and Gita became determined to keep each other alive.

Around 60 years later, Lali (Harvey Keitel) meets novice writer Heather Morris (Melanie Lynskey).

Recently widowed, he finds the courage to tell the world his story.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz follows Lali, a Slovakian Jew deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942 where over a million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust

'We began developing this story five years ago and I was struck by how the book became a bestseller during a time when awareness of the Holocaust was in decline.' says executive producer, Claire Mundell

It's been a long road bringing this remarkable story to life.

'We began developing this story five years ago and I was struck by how the book became a bestseller during a time when awareness of the Holocaust was in decline.' says executive producer, Claire Mundell.

'Our series tells one mans story and experience of Auschwitz and how he found love in the darkest of places. It is a story that is as important today as it ever was.'

The Tattooist of Auschwitz premieres Thursday, May 2 only on Stan

For UK viewers, The Tattooist of Auschwitz will be available on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW from 2 May.
Luis Morrison has been slammed by ex Love Island star Shaughna Phillips for appearing on the All Stars series.

Shaughna, 29, who starred on series six of the ITV2 show, weighed in on the drama surrounding Luis, also 29, entering the South African villa.

Luis' model ex Chloe Elizabeth, 25, claimed he owes her thousands of pounds in child maintenance after abandoning them, after he described himself as a 'proud dad' in his introductory video.

Luis shares daughter Vienna, seven, with ex-girlfriend Cally-Jane Beech, 32, who he appeared on the first season of Love Island with in 2015.

He also has a second child, two-year-old Romeo, with model Chloe, who he met in 2020.

Luis Morrison has been slammed by ex Love Island star Shaughna Phillips for appearing on the All Stars series while he has two children at home

Luis shares daughter Vienna, seven, with ex-girlfriend Cally-Jane Beech, 32, who he appeared on the first season of Love Island with in 2015

He also has a second child, two-year-old Romeo, with model Chloe Elizabeth who he met in 2020

Shaughna, who is a mother to nine-month-old daughter Lucia, hasn't shied away from sharing her opinion.

She wrote in her OK! column, 'On Luis' entrance to the show he said he's a "proud dad", but his exes have both shared negative reactions on social media. I don't know the ins and outs, but to be fair, I wouldn't want my ex in there while I'm holding his baby either.

'I actually don't think I could leave Lucia, I'd miss her too much. And if I did go in, everyone would think I'm so bloody boring as I'd be talking about her every day.'

It comes after Chloe claimed Luis owes her thousands in child support payments.

Influencer Chloe said Luis has only met their son Romeo 'a few times' and will have seen him more times on television if Luis stays in the Love Island villa for 10 episodes this series.

Chloe claims Luis has been in arrears for his child support payment since July last year.

After Luis was seen entering the villa during Monday's episode, he said: 'I've changed a lot since Love Island. I'm honestly the most proud dad.'

Chloe told The Sun: 'Luis has two kids who he rarely supports, but you can see his lifestyle online.

Shaughna, 29, who starred on series six of the ITV2 show and is mother to nine-month-old daughter Lucia, hasn't shied away from sharing her opinion

She wrote, 'On Luis' entrance to the show he said he's a "proud dad", but his exes have both shared negative reactions. I wouldn't want my ex in there while I'm holding his baby either!'

'He's on lovely holidays, drives a nice car, lives in a nice house in a nice area, wearing his designer clothes yet he hasn't given Romeo any money or support for most of his life.

'It blows my mind to think if Luis appears in just ten episodes of this series, then Romeo's seen his dad more on TV than he has in person.'

Luis reached the final of series one of Love Island with his ex Cally in 2015.

The pair went on to have the show's first baby but they split when Cally accused him of cheating.

Luis then met Chloe when she was 20 and she accidentally fell pregnant a year later.

The couple welcomed Romeo to the world in October 2021.

He was born prematurely weighing 2lb 4oz and doctors were concerned her son wouldn't survive, with Romeo being on life support for two months after his birth.

Chloe said Romeo 'died' six times in one night when he stopped breathing.

While they are no longer together, Chloe insists she has encouraged Luis to spend time with his son but claims he does not see him often.

She said he has not seen him since before Christmas and did not give him a present over the festive period.

It comes after Chloe, 24, claimed Luis owes her thousands in child support payments and has met son Romeo only 'a few times'

Meanwhile ex Love Islander Cally took to her Instagram Stories after she saw her former partner on the show, on which he described himself as a 'proud dad'

He and the former Miss Great Britain, 32, were together for nearly four years and had daughter Vienna but called it quits twice after she accused him of being unfaithful (Cally and Luis pictured together in 2017)

Chloe said it's 'a shame' Luis has been given an opportunity to appear on Love Island again and 'be a role model to other young people'.

An ITV source told MailOnline: 'All Islanders undergo extensive checks before being considered for the show and prior to entering the villa all participants complete video training and guidance across a range of topics which include mutually respectful behaviour in relationships.'

Luis said in a statement before entering the villa: 'Out of respect for my children and their mothers, I do not wish to discuss personal matters publicly.'

It comes after Cally Jane left her social media followers guessing as she reacted to her ex Luis appearing on Love Island All Stars during the opening episode of the series.

Cally took to her Instagram Stories after she saw her former partner on the show, on which he described himself as a 'proud dad'.

During Monday's episode, the viewing public chose Georgia Harrison (left) to couple-up with Luis in the villa

The reality star did not give much away but simply posted the 'thinking face' and 'lying face' emoji.

Before entering the villa in South Africa, Luis revealed he had not told his ex Cally or their daughter that he was jetting abroad to take part in the new series of the show.

He told MailOnline: 'I didn't actually speak to my daughter about obviously with me going on it because I wasn't actually allowed to. So I've not spoken to anyone about it, including both the mothers of my children.'

Love Island All Stars continues at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX on Wednesday 17 January.
Dame Esther Rantzen's daughter Rebecca broke down in tears during an emotional appearance on Wednesday's Loose Women while discussing her mother's cancer diagnosis.

The Childline founder, 83, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer last year, and has since revealed she has joined the assisted-dying clinic Dignitas in Switzerland.

Rebecca broke down as she watched an emotional video montage of Esther, admitting her diagnosis is the news 'no one wants to hear.'

She added that she was 'a little surprised' by Esther's decision to join Dignitas, but she has 'chosen how she wants to live.'

Rebecca said: 'It's the news that no one ever wants to hear. Mum doesn't usually break her promises and she promised to live forever so she's quite embarrassed that she's had to go back on that.'

Dame Esther Rantzen's daughter Rebecca broke down in tears during an emotional appearance on Wednesday's Loose Women while discussing her mother's cancer diagnosis

The Childline founder (pictured with Rebecca in 2017) was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer last year, and has since revealed she has joined the assisted-dying clinic Dignitas

'But how does anyone ever feel when a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness? It's confusing, it's bamboozling.

'They use all these words, you just want them to tell you what's going to happen and when, really directly and really succinctly and nobody does, because they pad around it carefully and you just want them to say, ''This is what you have and this is how long it'll take''.'

'You just want someone to say this is what you have and this is how long it will take but they can't.'

Discussing Esther's decision to join Dignitas, Rebecca told the panel: 'Probably the same time as you! It was a little surprising.

'She likes surprising us and keeping us on our toes. I mean I've always known about how she feels about death and dying, she's done a lot of work around it.

'She's done documentaries, she's done newspaper articles and books so we've always known that the last thing she wants is for our memories of her to be replaced with a traumatic death.

'A traumatic death involves a patient in pain, so if she's in pain, why would she want to live any longer? If she's not getting anything from life and obviously you can live with a certain amount of pain and some people are brilliantly stoical.'

'But she's always said, ''I love my life the way I am''. ''I love who I am''... she doesn't say that, she's very modest but she is who she is. She is this super-dooper brain.

Rebecca broke down as she watched an emotional video montage of Esther, admitting her diagnosis is the news 'no one wants to hear'

She added that she was 'a little surprised' by Esther's decision to join Dignitas, but she has 'chosen how she wants to live'

'I know I'm biassed but she's so bright and so brilliant that the last thing she'd want is to become something else in her last moments.'

Sharing an update on how Dame Esther Rantzen is doing, Rebecca explained: 'Fortunately, she is doing ok. We don't know what is going to happen next, we only know what happened in the last scan and the last scan is always a bit out of date and then you go and meet the oncologist and he asks mum, ''How are you doing?'' and she says, ''I don't know, that's why I'm here''.'

Describing her mum, Rebecca said: 'My brother said, living with mum is like living next to a volcano.

'You just never know when it's going to explode so you know, just put on your hat for lava.'

Dame Esther Rantzen also recorded a exclusive for Loose Women, which was played during Rebecca's interview, in which she said: 'I don't know if I'll live long enough to see this debated in parliament but if you do agree with me, please, please make your views known to your MP and for those that disagree - maybe on religious principles or maybe because they're professionally absorbed in palliative care and believe that this goes against what they practise in medicine - can I just say, all we ask for is the choice.

'That's all we're asking for, we don't want to impose our views on you but we do want the choice ourselves.'

Agreeing that her mother 'wants to spark a debate' on the topic, Rebecca said: 'Yes, the fact that she isn't allowed to choose how she dies, doesn't make any sense to any of us.

'She's chosen how she wants to live and she's been a bit of a force of nature in that sense so it makes sense in a way that this is the debate that's coming to the forefront of our family.

'She's watching now, which is making me really nervous because I feel like I'm putting words in her mouth and you should never do that with Mum!'

Is Assisted Suicide illegal in Britain? Under the Suicide Act 1961, anyone helping or encouraging someone to take their own life in England or Wales can be prosecuted and jailed for up to 14 years if found guilty of an offence. Section two of the act states that a person commits an offence if they carry out an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another person, and the act was intended to encourage or assist suicide or an attempt at suicide. In 2015 MPs including former prime minister David Cameron rejected a Bill to legalise assisted dying. Opposition to changing the law has come from faith groups, campaigners who say disabled people may feel pressured to end their lives and campaigners who fear assisted dying would become a business. Advertisement

Discussing the laws around assisted dying in the United Kingdom, Rebecca commented: 'This is the awful thing about outsourcing death to Switzerland, you have to go before you're ready because you have to be signed off by two doctors so you're not quite at the stage that you would choose and you have to go alone, because anyone that goes with you, comes back to prosecution.

'The worst time in your life, I'm experiencing the worst thing ever, which is the loss of my mum. I'm very lucky to have her, but then I'd have to go through a court case and prove that I didn't murder her.'

Kaye also asked Rebecca if she can 'understand the objections and concerns of those that do not agree' to which Rebecca replied: 'I absolutely understand that there are a few evil people who would take advantage of it, to do whatever it was they wanted to, to get hold of someone else's assets and to end somebody's life before they have chosen to.

'It's not reinventing the wheel, it works and exists in other countries. It works in Canada, so we could take those rulings and adapt them for this country.'

Rebecca added: 'Yes, absolutely protect the vulnerable but someone like mum, who has made her opinions very clear - what's to debate?'

In a final message from mother to daughter, Dame Esther Rantzen was heard telling Rebecca: 'I am incredibly proud of Rebecca for all kinds of reasons, she is a terrific mother, a terrific daughter, she's a terrific journalist and I am absolutely thrilled that she is taking on the presidential role at Childline.

'I felt very [inaudible] because I am not able to do what I used to do, which is go in and be a volunteer counsellor on the phone and visit the various Childline bases and meet our staff and volunteers and she's going to do all of that and it's such an important role. I know she'll do it brilliantly and I know she'll love doing it. Becca, I am extremely proud of you.'

Rebecca responded to the message saying: 'I don't feel I could do anything at all in relation to how brilliant she's been but I just want to do my best.'

In December, Esther revealed she has joined assisted-dying clinic Dignitas in Switzerland and will consider going there to end her life should her next scan show she is getting worse.

Dame Esther has also reignited the debate over assisted-dying after calling for national debate on the subject, saying people deserve 'the choice' over how they pass away.

She previously revealed she had not expected to spend this Christmas with her family after being diagnosed with cancer, but a 'miracle' drug had given her additional time with her loved ones.

Writing in her column for The Mirror, her daughter Rebecca, 43, explained: 'It's not often that you know beforehand it will be the last time you will dish out turkey and pull crackers at the table with your mother, but that's what this year has been for us.

'She thought she would be dead in spring, but a miraculous drug has meant that we have another Christmas with her, a wonder we couldn't have imagined possible when she was diagnosed in January. I was determined to make the most of it.'

Rebecca continued: 'I couldn't relax. I was too aware every moment was a precious treasure. I felt I needed to hold on to each minute so tightly I was probably exhausting to be around.'

She explained how despite initially stressing about the 'trickling away time' she managed to finally 'relax' and find contentment in making memories.

She revealed how Dame Esther made wonderful memories with her grandchildren - teaching two how to play solitaire and being taught in return how to do a sudoku puzzle - before singing karaoke late into the day.

READ MORE HERE: Dame Esther Rantzen pleads 'This cruelty must stop' as she urges a free vote to be held on legalising assisted dying Advertisement

Rebecca added that the was 'filled with so much love that our memories will last' and said she was holding out hope for 'another Christmas miracle' by having her mother with them next year.

She previously said she fears she could be accused of murder if she helps her seriously ill mother travel to Dignitas.

However, Dame Esther admitted such a decision would put her family and friends in a difficult position as they could be prosecuted should they decide to join her.

Rebecca told TalkTV: 'It's impossible, isn't it, because I can't even say to you, I would support my mum on her journey to Dignitas because if I said that, that's legally murky.

'Obviously, in my head, I would have thought that I would never let her go alone to somewhere like that, but I'm a busy working mum. I can't leave my children to pop off to jail while she's buzzing off to Switzerland.

'The fact is only three people a year get prosecuted. But the actual process of going through a court case at what is the worst time of my life so far.

'You know, mum is my person. I do not want to live without her. I will have to live without her and please, please don't make it worse for me by accusing me of murdering her and making me go through what would be a terrifying legal process.'

Dame Esther has called for a free vote on assisted dying as it's 'important that the law catches up with what the country wants'.

Speaking on the current illegal status of assisted dying in the UK she pleaded: 'This cruelty must stop.'

She continued:'The current law was intended to protect the vulnerable, to stop them being pressured into suicide.

'And of course precautions are vital. But bad cases make bad laws, and in trying to prevent crime the law at the moment denies us the most valuable freedom of all, the freedom to choose when to end our own suffering.'

In December, Esther revealed she has joined assisted-dying clinic Dignitas in Switzerland and will consider going there to end her life should her next scan show she is getting worse

She said she will find out in a few weeks if a new medication she has been taking is 'performing its miracle' or if it has 'given up'.

Asked about the current rules on assisted dying, Ms Wilcox said: 'Why would it be a problem to set up regulation around this?

'We have regulation around everything. I've been trying to adopt a dog and the forms and licences and things that go through that is ridiculous.

'So death and birth are possibly the most important moments in your life.

'My death, I want it to be exactly how I want it to be and I think coming together, making a law, making structures, making regulation that respects my opinion on my body and my death for everybody is the only sane way.

'It would stop the money-makers who want to make money from people's death and frankly if you're going to give someone a good death, make some money out of it as long as you're helping them.

'I have to say, Dignitas does not look like a very lovely place. I would much rather have diamonds and champagnes and a hot bathtub, and it doesn't look like they supply that, and I think mum would too. We both model ourselves on Dame Joan Collins who is fabulous.'

Ms Wilcox had earlier told ITV's Good Morning Britain how her mother, who has also worked as a broadcaster for several years, 'doesn't care what anyone else says' as she prepares to join her family for what tragically could be her last Christmas.

'It's horrific and she always promised us she would live forever. She's not usually one to break her promises so we're a little upset about that.

'I would personally want to ground her plane if she was going to fly to Zurich but I know it's her decision. I just don't ever want her to go.'

Ms Wilcox also spoke of the heartbreak of watching her father, Desmond, endure a slow and painful death as he battled heart disease, adding: 'That's what mum wants to avoid.'

Dame Esther said that if 'nothing's working' she might 'buzz off to Zurich' in Switzerland but realises this would put her family and friends in a difficult position as they could be prosecuted should they decide to join her.
Jamie Oliver has revealed a series of disc injuries have sometimes left him unable to stand for more than 40 seconds at a time.

The celebrity chef, 48, opened up about his health difficulties as he discussed his workout routine.

Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, he said: 'I'm just getting back into normal gyming as I've had four years of three slipped discs. It's about managing it  my job doesn't allow me not to work.

'If I stop, this whole thing falls apart. I've had weeks where I've been able to stand for only 40 seconds at a time.'

Jamie added he has learned to manage the problem with some medical help.

Jamie Oliver has revealed a series of disc injuries have sometimes left him unable to stand for more than 40 seconds at a time

The celebrity chef, 48, opened up about his health difficulties as he discussed his workout routine

He said: 'Now if I get a sniff of it I'm straight to see my doctor and he sticks a bloody great needle in my back.'

A slipped disc is when a soft cushion of tissue between the bones in your spine pushes out.

It's painful if it presses on nerves but usually gets better with rest, gentle exercise and painkillers.

Jamie also discussed his daily routine, saying he wakes up at 4:30am and works out with a personal trainer before he begins work.

He usually gets home at around 8:30pm and tries to whip up a dinner in 15 minutes for the family as he feels the 'art of cooking' is dying out.

It comes after Jamie revealed his vow renewal ceremony meant more to him than his actual wedding day.

The chef married model Jools in 2000 and the couple share five children: Poppy, 21, Daisy, 20, Petal, 14, Buddy, 12, and River, seven.

In April, three months before their 23rd wedding anniversary, the couple jetted to the Maldives with their brood and renewed their vows on the beach.

Jamie said: I've had four years of three slipped discs. It's about managing it  my job doesn't allow me not to work'

Speaking about the ceremony on The Graham Norton Show, Jamie revealed: 'It was my wife's idea and I thought I'd go along with it.

'Saying the vows a second time around actually meant something more  you've earned it rather than just saying it, and I loved it. It was actually a very nice thing to do, very romantic, and I ended up enjoying it more than anyone else.'

For the special occasion, Jamie looked dapper in a blue blazer and matching trousers, teamed with a crisp white shirt and a lapel flower.

Jools, 48, looked elegant in an off-the-shoulder wedding dress, complete with a ruffled design and a thigh-high slit.

Jamie later shared snaps of the ceremony on Instagram, writing: 'Morning all, Me & @joolsoliver got married again!

It comes after Jamie revealed his vow renewal ceremony with wife Jools in the Maldives in May meant more to him than his actual wedding day.

'Yep After 23 years together, we thought it would be a special moment to celebrate renewing our wedding vows before the kids all start leaving the nest.

'It was really special, funny and romantic with the words in the ceremony making more sense having come this far together.

'It seems like a blink since the first wedding which we kept very privet apart from the paparazzi at the village church we thought it would be a happy and joyful moment to share with you all this Easter.

'Weve always dreamed of going to the Maldives and it was just as you would have dreamed, simply amazing ! a massive thank you to all the team at @discoversoneva for blowing our minds and making this moment so special and memorable big love guys Jamie x'
Antoni Porowski showed off his chiseled abs as he strutted out of the ocean shirtless during a sultry video he posted in Costa Rica on Wednesday.

The Queer Eye star, 39, took to Instagram to flaunt his washboard abs and sun-kissed skin after enjoying a dip in the sea.

The Canadian model, who is enjoying a luxurious holiday in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, slipped into a trendy pair of navy swimshorts.

Captioning his post, he joked: 'Of COURSE I didn't ask @ramziandstepharie to take this w my phone that would be CRAZY omg'.

He flicked his wet stricken tresses away from his face and attempted to keep a serious face for the flamboyant video.

Antoni Porowski, 39, showed off his chiseled abs as he strutted out of the ocean shirtless during a sultry video he posted in Costa Rica on Wednesday

The Queer Eye star took to Instagram to flaunt his washboard abs and sun-kissed skin after enjoying a dip in the sea

Antoni recently ended his engagement with his longtime partner Kevin Harrington in November 2023.

A representative for Porowski confirmed the news with a statement.

'After many conversations and reflection during the wedding planning process, Antoni and Kevin have amicably decided to part ways,' the rep told People.

'While they still have a lot of respect for each other, as they talked more about the future, they realized they were on different paths.'

It was added that they both remain focused on work 'and are surrounding themselves with friends during this time.'

Antoni has not been seen on his Instagram account with Kevin since they were photographed together with a monkey in Bali in August last year.

They started seeing each other in late 2019, just months before the COVID-19 lockdowns began, then the two became engaged in November 2022.

The couple shared the engagement news to their Instagram accounts.

The Canadian model, who is enjoying a luxurious holiday in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, slipped into a trendy pair of navy swimshorts

He flicked his wet stricken tresses away from his face and attempted to keep a serious face for the flamboyant video

Antoni recently ended his engagement with his longtime partner Kevin Harrington in November 2023 (pictured together)

'I really hope the wedding photos are less blurry,' the Netflix star captioned an out-of-focus image.

The strategic planner from New York humorously joked that that they would be 'officially together until' they looked like zombies.

Under Porowski's post, his Queer Eye costars were quick to leave congratulatory messages in the comment section.

'So damn happy for you two! You both got a good one!!!' Bobby Berk gushed while Jonathan Van Ness wrote the lovebirds looked 'so cute' before joking he was 'already sourcing' his 'flower girl looks.'

'I volunteer as wedding selfie-photographer,' Tan France offered.

Porowski's pal, Gigi Hadid, joyfully expressed that she was already 'so excited' for their wedding.

In May 2022, the Let's Do Dinner cookbook author reflected on how the pandemic fortified his relationship.

'It came to a shutdown in New York  there was no toilet paper  and we decided to stay in Austin and fostered a dog,' Porowski told People.

A representative for Porowski confirmed the news with a statement. 'After many conversations and reflection during the wedding planning process, Antoni and Kevin have amicably decided to part ways,' the rep told People

'While they still have a lot of respect for each other, as they talked more about the future, they realized they were on different paths,' it was added

It was added that they both remain focused on work, 'and are surrounding themselves with friends during this time.' Antoni has not been seen on his Instagram account with Kevin since they were photographed together with a monkey in Bali in August

'We went from being in a relationship and each having our own apartments and not having a dog, to living in the same place with a dog.'

He continued: 'It escalated quickly. But I don't have any complaints, which is kind of nice. When something is stable and really good  and you communicate a lot, and you check in with each other and with your own therapist about it  I feel like that's kind of the key.'

Porowski has been open about being sexually 'fluid' and identifying as 'queer' and not gay.

Queer Eye premieres its eighth season on January 24, 2024 on Netflix.
Infamous 'Cash Me Ousside' girl Danielle Bregoli's future baby daddy was seen looking worse for wear as he stopped by a smoke shop in Southern California.

DailyMail.com spotted rapper Le Vaughn, 25, the boyfriend of Bregoli - also known as Bad Bhabie - leaving his 20-year-old girlfriend's $3million home in Woodland Hills in a Jeep SUV.

He pulled into a strip mall and immediately parked in a handicapped spot, even though there were several other spaces available in the lot.

Florida-born Le Vaughn, aka XGameLV, emerged from the car in a green hoodie, white sweat pants that fell down below his rear, revealing his black underwear, and $300 UGG Tasman slippers.

He came out of Select Smoke, which sells cannabis and tobacco paraphernalia, about ten minutes later and spit on the ground in front of his car before getting in and driving home.

DailyMail.com spotted Danielle Bregoli's soon-to-be baby daddy Le Vaughn, 25, walking into a smoke shop in the San Fernando Valley

Bregoli - also known as Bhad Bhabie - is expecting her first child - a girl - with rapper Le Vaughn, aka XGameLV

Le Vaughn came out of the smoke shop and spit on the ground in front of his car before getting in and driving home

Florida born rapper Le Vaughn, 25, (aka 'XGameLV') wore a green hoodie, white sweat pants that fell down below his rear, revealing his black underwear, and $300 UGG Tasman slippers

The rapper is seen coming out of Select Smoke that sells paraphernalia used for the consumption of cannabis and tobacco items

He pulled into the smoke shop strip mall and immediately parked in a handicapped spot, even though there were many spaces available in the lot

La Vaughn's SUV was registered with a Florida license plates and seemed to be missing a muffler as it was heard revving loudly.

The car was seen swerving in traffic and playing 'chicken' with other drivers on busy Ventura Boulevard.

Bregoli, the former foul-mouthed teen terror, gained fame on the Dr. Phil show in 2016 by famously taunting his laughing audience to 'Cash me ousside, how 'bout dat?'

But she's had the last laugh by turning their taunts into a successful rap music career, makeup line with Coty, ad campaign for Marc Jacobs, and an Only Fans account which has made her an estimated $50million fortune.

It was also revealed this week that she would be appearing in the upcoming film Drugstore June as a smoke shop employee.

Back in 2019, DailyMail.com revealed exclusively that a then 15-year-old Bregoli was loading up on 24k gold rolling papers at the Kitson store on Robertson Boulevard in LA.

The social media star, 20, - who rose to fame via a Dr. Phil segment in which she uttered the instantly memed phrase, 'Cash [sic] me outside, how 'bout that?' - announced her pregnancy by debuting her bump on Instagram

She purchased her 3,600 square foot, five-bedroom, five-bath home with pool and jacuzzi back on December 21, 2022 in a quiet LA suburb

Bregoli revealed she is expecting a girl in a gender reveal photo posted to her Instagram account

This image was just one of a series of striking photos from a photoshoot she did for the Heaven by Marc Jacobs x Barragan campaign

Now 20, and expecting her first baby - a girl - this year, Bregoli seems to share her love of smoking with her live-in rapper beau.

The couple have been together for over two years and have been laying low in a quiet suburban neighborhood of Los Angeles.

She purchased her 3,600 square foot, five-bedroom, five-bath home with pool and jacuzzi back in December 2022.

It was obvious from the beginning that Bregoli loved her privacy and had no intention of being caught outside, as she began immediately erecting a wall around the home that same month.

By January 2023, the wall was almost completed, and in weeks the final touches were installed.

In early December of last year the couple revealed they were having a baby girl.

Le Vaughn also has a young son that lives in Atlanta, Georgia..

On December 31, 2023, La Vaughn posted a photo of his famous girlfriend signing the papers for a brand new white Mercedes G-Wagon. The following day he posted photos of himself next to it

'You Mrs Bregoli,' someone posted under one of Le Vaughn's boasting selfies. 'Short as hell' wrote another

Not all of Bregoli's 16 million Instagram followers think Le Vaughn is the right match and believe he is using her for her money and fame.

In Julyin a post that has since been deletedshe blasted people who criticized her dating the lesser-known rapper.

'That's so small-minded to think bc someone doesn't got fame or followers they ain't sh*t, or don't got sh*t. I could literally b with anyone, I don't need a mf for sh*t. Did y'all ever think there's strong reasons I chose to b w him?' She wrote. 'I'm smart asf.'

Le Vaughn's Instagram account shows he's been living large since getting with Bregoli.

On December 31, 2023, he posted a photo of his famous girlfriend signing the papers for a brand new white Mercedes G-Wagon. The following day he posted photos of himself next to it.

She has gifted him expensive watches, trips and cars. While Le Vaughn has disabled comments on most of his posts, some remain.

'You Mrs Bregoli,' someone posted under one of Le Vaughn's boasting selfies. 'Short as hell' wrote another.

As for the self-proclaimed 'Bhad Bhabie' her wealth continues to grow.

Last month she listed her seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom mansion in Florida for $7.89 million, after purchasing the home two years ago for $6.1 million.

How 'bout dat?
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Sir David Jason has revealed an awkward encounter he had with the late Queen which left him feeling 'such a wally'.

The actor, 83, reflected on the moment he received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace in 2005.

Sir David revealed that he casually told Her Majesty that he was in the middle of making a festive special of Only Fools and Horses, before realising there was 'no way' The Queen would watch the show.

Speaking to The Telegraph Magazine, he said: 'I felt such a wally because she said: "What are you doing at the moment?" and I said, "I'm making a Christmas special of Only Fools and 'Orses , Your Majesty.

'It was so East End working class and as it fell out of my mouth I was just thinking, there's no way on planet Earth that he would watch that sort of show.'

Sir David Jason has revealed an awkward encounter he had with the late Queen which left him feeling 'such a wally' after joining forces with Jay Blades for a new series

David has joined forces with The Repair Shop's Jay Blades for a new BBC series which sees them meet talented crafters, hobbyists and enthusiasts across the country.

Jay himself has also crossed paths with royalty, after King Charles starred in a special episode of The Repair Shop to mark BBC's 100th Anniversary in 2022.

Speaking about his co-star, David added: 'Jay has got this wonderful ability to accept whatever I say to him and to come back with something. That is the basis of a good comedy duo.'

David has had a spring back in his step in recent weeks after undergoing hip surgery.

The veteran star proved he was back to his best when he attended an Only Fools And Horses convention dressed as his iconic character Delboy.

The convention had been scheduled to take place in October last year but was postponed in order for David to have his 'bionic body part fitted'.

Then in November, the beloved actor revealed he had received a 'successful surgery' and filmed a clip of himself dramatically discarding his crutches, later shared with Only Fools and Horses News on X, formerly Twitter.

He showed he was back on his feet and stronger than ever as he started to walk towards the camera.

The actor reflected on the moment he received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace in 2005, and casually told the monarch he was filming an Only Fools and Horses Christmas Special

Three months before that, Sir David gave fans the update on his health in a statement explaining why he couldn't appear at the convention.

He joked he didn't want to specify exactly what surgery he was heading for as it might make his fans 'all want one'.

He wrote: 'I am so very sorry for the disappointment and all the inconvenience it may cause but we are having to change the date of the forthcoming Only Fools and Horses Convention.

'Unfortunately I have just been advised I need a new bionic body part fitted. I won't tell you which part it is, or you will all want one!

'And don't worry it's not being supplied by Monkey Harris, it'll be the pukka gear.'

He added about rescheduling the event: 'I really hope everyone will be able to make the new date January 13th and 14th.

'We can all have something cushty to look forward to! These events are such an enjoyable celebration for myself and the rest of the 'Only Fools' cast, and it is such a privilege to meet so many of you, but I want to do it with the smile on my face I always have had.'

Sir David signed off his statement: 'Once again, please accept my sincere apologies as it was not a decision I took at all lightly and I hope that you understand my situation. All cushty wishes until then.'

Sir David has struggled with his health after a 'seriously bad' battle with Covid in July 2022.

David has been back on his feet in recent weeks following last year's hip surgery as he dressed as Del Boy to attend an Only Fools And Horses convention

The viral infection left him so frail he suffered a fall at his home in Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire, and told BBC Breakfast about his tumble 'All the muscles weren't working. I collapsed and I fell against the radiator. I was so weak, I couldn't get up.

'I tried for about a quarter of an hour, trying all sorts of things to stand up so I could walk about.

'But in order to do that, I had to use my head. So now I'm lying face down on the ground, and in order to get to the door  and the arms really weren't working and the legs weren't working  I was using my head to drag me to the door.'

It is thought Covid triggered a condition called myalgia, which causes muscle aches and pain and can strike at ligaments, tendons and fascia  the soft tissues that connect muscles, bones and organs.

David and Jay's Touring Toolshed starts on 22nd January at 6.30pm on BBC Two.
Gisele Bundchen is the cover girl for Harper's Bazaar February 2024 Joy Issue.

The 43-year-old supermodel looked incredible in a netted dress with white bikini beneath on the cover, posing in a grassy meadow.

In another snap, the Brazilian-born beauty also showcased her figure in olive hued bikini bottoms, add a sheer caped top.

The star talked about her love for jiu-jitsu - bringing up her rumored boyfriend Joaquim Valente and his Valente Brothers gym.

Gisele Bundchen covered the Harper's Bazaar February 2024 Joy Issue

The 43-year-old supermodel looked incredible in a netted dress with white bikini beneath on the cover, posing in a grassy meadow

Gisele's daily routine starts at 5 am, kicking off her day by walking her pups.

She enjoys daily meditation and says she studies crystals and astrology.

The star stays fit with weight training and Pilates, as well as jiu-jitsu.

The star is rumored to be dating Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente, who owns a jiujitsu studio with his brothers Pedro and Gui Valente.

She is often seen spending time Joaquim outside the studio, but neither has confirmed their relationship.

Gisele signed her kids up for jiujitsu, and then eventually signed up too.

'Here I think, "Oh, I'm going to just learn self-defense because I want to make sure my kids can protect themselves when they're out in the world," but then I learned with the brothers the philosophy and the lifestyle, the whole value system, which was amazing,' she said.

'It was almost everything I lived in my life, the way I believe in courage and honesty and all the things I found to be important in my value system and have been guiding me in my life,' Gisele said.

'They were never organized and now they have a container.'

The star talked about her love for Jiujitsu- brining up her rumored boyfriend Joaquim Valente and his Valente Brothers gym

The star is rumored to be dating Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente, who owns a jiujitsu studio with his brothers Pedro and Gui Valente.

She is often seen spending time Joaquim outside the studio, but neither has confirmed their relationship

Gisele is set to release her second book, a cookbook called Nourish: Simple Recipes to Empower Your Body & Feed Your Soul.

Her first book, Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life, was released in 2018.

Gisele has two children with her ex-husband Tom Brady: son Benjamin, 14. and daughter Vivian, 11.

They were married from 2009 until 2022.

Tom also has son John Moynahan, 16, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan.

Gisele talked about her decision to have a home in Costa Rica, post-divorce.

The stunner called her home in the tropical location as a 'vortex of healing.'

'People get transformed when they're there. They're like, "I don't need all this stuff." They start having an epiphany of how they want to live a more simple way.'

Gisele is set to release her second book, a cookbook called Nourish: Simple Recipes to Empower Your Body & Feed Your Soul

Gisele has two children with her ex-husband Tom Brady: son Benjamin, 14. and daughter Vivian, 11

Gisele talked about her decision to have a home in Costa Rica, post-divorce

'People get transformed when they're there. They're like, "I don't need all this stuff." They start having an epiphany of how they want to live a more simple way'

Harper's Bazaar February 2024 Joy Issue hits newsstands on Tuesday, January 30th in the US

The runway star spoke out the differences in how she was raised and how her children are being raised

Gisele was 14 when she was scouted by a modeling agent for Elite Model Management

'The way you make your room, the way you organize and make your bed is the way you're going to do your life,' she said

The runway star spoke out the differences in how she was raised and how her children are being raised.

Gisele was 14 when she was scouted by a modeling agent for Elite Model Management.

It led to her entering a modeling contest at age 15, where she place fourth globally and second nationally.

Gisele moved to New York City at age 16 to officially launch her modeling career.

She made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week in 1996 at age 18 in 1998.

The star says now that her kids are around the age she was when she left her hometown of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, she wants to make sure they have the same tools she did.

'The way you make your room, the way you organize and make your bed is the way you're going to do your life,' she said.

'"If you're not learning here and now, then when and with who?" Sometimes I get pushback, especially because now they're in two different homes and there are two different ways.

'But I feel like I owe it to my kids, because of what my mom taught me.'

On public scrutiny, Gisele told the magazine: 'I can't really worry about what other people say about me because what they say about me is none of my business. It's really their business that they're trying to project onto me.'

'If I'm going to be affected by that, I'm never going to live my truth.'

Harper's Bazaar February 2024 Joy Issue hits newsstands on Tuesday, January 30th in the US.
The writer of Channel 4's Big Boys has teased there might be a role for Diane from The Traitors as an exam invigilator if the sitcom is green-lit for a third season.

Comedian Jack Rooke shared that he had spoken with Diane's family and suggested he was waiting to hear if she would accept his 'offer'.

It is not the first time Jack has shown his love for The Traitors, as series one star Maddy Smedley nabbed a small role as a university fresher in the newly-released second series of Big Boys.

Meanwhile, fans of The Traitors have been eagerly awaiting Wednesday's return of the show to find out if retired school teacher Diane, 63, was murdered after drinking the poisoned chalice.

In response to a fan stressing about the fate of Diane on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, Jack said: 'Di must be protected at all costs & there's a part in big boys as an exam invigilator if she ever wants it.'

The writer of Channel 4 's Big Boys teased on Wednesday that there might be a role for Diane from The Traitors as an exam invigilator if the sitcom is green-lit for a third season

Comedian Jack Rooke (seen in December) shared that he had spoken with Diane's family and suggested he was waiting to hear if she would accept his 'offer'

The next day, he seemed to confirm the 'offer', adding: 'Have now heard from two members of Diane from The Traitors family + the offer is in with her to play said exam invigilator in Big Boys if we do any more [fingers crossed emojis].'

The writer's job offer for 'Queen' Diane sparked joy from fans of both series.

'Cannot overstate enough how I simply need this to happen,' one person wrote, while another said they were 'living for the Traitors to Big Boys pipeline'.

One fan said Channel 4 would be 'foolish' to turn the cameo down and another added: 'Surely this HAS to be a when and not an if?'

Big Boys - a semi-autobiographical series about Jack's coming-of-age following the death of his father - returned for its second series on Monday.

And fans were left doing a double-take as they recognised a university fresher Danny (Jon Pointing) was trapped in a conversation with at his birthday party in one scene.

The actress playing the small role was none other than The Traitors' star Maddy, and her character briefly talked Danny's ear off as he tried to escape the conversation.

Maddy famously tried to conceal her acting career from her co-stars during her appearance on The Traitors, believing it would lead them not to trust her.

In response to a fan stressing about the fate of Diane on Tuesday, Jack said: 'Di must be protected at all costs & there's a part in big boys as an exam invigilator if she ever wants it'

BBC viewers were left devastated on Friday as fan favourite Diane appeared to be murdered at the end of the episode after Tracey was killed off at the start

Big Boys - a semi-autobiographical series about Jack's coming-of-age following the death of his father - returned for its second series on Monday (seen are characters Peggy, Jack, Jules and Danny)

It is not the first time Jack has shown his love for The Traitors, as series one star Maddy Smedley nabbed a role as a university fresher in the newly-released second series of Big Boys

She later came under suspicion when she confessed that she was an actress who had appeared in one episode of EastEnders - where she played a homeless woman named Rita - and in one episode of Casualty, where she played a woman without a womb.

After the show, Maddy landed landed a role in the Chanel 4 soap Hollyoaks, portraying Faye Fuller alongside Owen Warner and Jemma Donovan.

It comes after The Traitors viewers were left devastated on Friday as fan favourite Diane appeared to be murdered at the end of the episode after Tracey was killed off at the start.

The three remaining Traitors - Paul, Miles and Harry - were tasked with deciding who to hand a poisoned chalice to drink from as they made their latest killing.

Diane was seen taking the cup in an explosive cliffhanger, leading many fans to think she has been murdered, though her lips hadn't yet touched the chalice.

As the show only airs on Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays, fans were then forced to endure an agonising five-day wait to find out if she would survive.

The Traitors fans have been losing their minds over a threat to one of the favourites of the show

However, fans think they may have uncovered a huge twist which could see her survive.

Ahead of Wednesday's episode, a new theory surfaced on X, formerly Twitter, with fans believing the book of Shakespeare plays, where the Traitors found the vessel, holds a key clue.

Viewers have theorised instead of being murdered, Diane could become a Traitor after delving deeper into the plot of Othello.

One fan wrote: 'Maybe this coping with Diane loss, but I've a theory the poison will convert Faithful to Traitor.

'In Othello (the book they opened to get the chalice) there was no literal poison used but instead symbolically described Lago poisoning Othello's mind to change him.'

Another fan wrote: 'I just seen a TikTok explaining how in the book Othello, Iago "symbolically poisoned Othello's mind to change him" and that this is why the poisoned chalice found in that book by the traitors will not poison Diane but will actually CHANGE her, into a TRAITOR?'

The preview clip for Wednesday's episode flashed to the three Traitors - Harry, Miles and Paul - standing with their hoods up in the castle turret after they had been tasked to 'murder in plain sight' with the poisoned chalice.

Viewers are on tenterhooks to see if the retired school teacher, 63, has taken the bait and drunk from the poisoned chalice, sealing her fate as the Traitor's next murder victim

Some think they are concealing their identities ahead of a potential reveal to a new Traitor.

One said: 'another piece of evidence suggesting that is in the next time trailer the traitors there is a split second scene with the traitors having their hoods up, signifying someone coming into the room.'

Viewers are clinging to the hope fan favourite hasn't been murdered - and has instead been recruited.

They wrote: 'This had BETTER be true and if not I've got my hopes up for no reason because I just can't comprehend Diane being murdered.

'Can you imagine all the traitors gathering to discuss who to murder next and Diane just turns up.'
Dana Carvey revealed that he is still processing the shock death of his son Dex during the newest episode of the Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade podcast, which was released on Wednesday.

The 68-year-old actor's eldest child passed away at the age of 32 after suffering an accidental overdose this past November.

The comedian - who received an outpouring of support following his son's passing - told his longtime friend that he, as well as the rest of his family, were still greatly affected by their loss.

Carvey stated: 'I'm kind of on the pain train with about millions of other people on this planet. And you don't know how long you're going to be on it or when it will stop or when it will get better.'

The performer added that, while he felt that it was 'very sweet' that many of his fans had contacted him to express their condolences, he was primarily focused on the well-being of his family.

Dana Carvey revealed that he was still processing the untimely death of his son Dex during the newest episode of the Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade podcast, which was released on Wednesday; seen in March 2023

The 68-year-old actor's eldest child passed away at the age of 32 after suffering an accidental overdose this past November; Dex is seen in 2018

The Wayne's World actor remarked: 'It's me and my wife and our son's private journey.'

Carvey went on to state that he had been spending a considerable amount of time with his wife, Paula, and their youngest son Thomas, 30, in the months since Dex's passing.

'We're all together. And we do a lot of fun things. We hike, we go to church. You just want to make sure you keep moving,' he said.

The family lives the San Francisco suburb of Mill Valley.

He also stated that making a return to podcasting 'is going to be very healthy for me as I recover.'

Carvey appeared on social media this past November to share a solemn message with his 262,000 followers in the wake of his son's sudden death.

The actor explained he would be taking a break from work and being active online.

In italicized black font set against a white background, he said, 'I will be taking a break from social media - trying to figure out what life looks like now that we are a family of three.'

The note began, 'My wife and I have been overwhelmed by your love, your personal stories, your compassion.'

He added, 'We received so many beautiful messages from people who knew Dex. These touched us more than we could ever express in words.'

Carvey appeared on social media in November to share a solemn message in the wake of his son Dex's sudden death; seen in 2023

'I will be taking a break from social media  trying to figure out what life looks like now that we are a family of 3,' he wrote in the somber note

The rest of the communication read, 'We will heal the best we can and carry on. Our darling Dex would have wanted it that way.'

He signed off: 'Much Love, Dana.'

The vulnerable post has so far collected over 19,000 likes and many supportive comments.

The SNL alum and his wife Paula released a heartbreaking statement on Instagram last November to share the news of their loss.

It read: 'Last night we suffered a terrible tragedy. Our beloved son, Dex, died of an accidental drug overdose. He was 32 years old.'

'Dex packed a lot into those 32 years. He was extremely talented at so many things - music, art, film making, comedy - and pursued all of them passionately.'

The couple continued add that Dex 'most of all, he loved his family, his friends and his girlfriend, Kaylee. Dex was a beautiful person. His handmade birthday cards are a treasure. We will miss him forever.'

The statement concluded: 'To anyone struggling with addiction or who loves someone struggling with addiction, you are in our hearts and prayers.'

Dex posed after his performance at The Ice House Comedy Club in 2014 in Pasadena, California

Their message read: 'Last night we suffered a terrible tragedy. Our beloved son, Dex, died of an accidental drug overdose. He was 32 years old'; Dex in 2022

'Dex packed a lot into those 32 years. He was extremely talented at so many things  music, art, film making, comedy  and pursued all of them passionately'

Amid news of his passing, Carvey took to Twitter with a pair of images of Dex. He captioned one of the shots: 'Dex and me working together. What a joy.'

Dex died Wednesday evening at his home in Los Angeles. His girlfriend called emergency services around 10 p.m., police told TMZ.

Dex 'was locked in a bathroom,' law enforcement told the outlet, and 'was unresponsive upon discovery.' It was reported that paramedics had attempted to revive Dex, who was subsequently 'pronounced dead on the scene.'

An autopsy has been performed, but the results of toxicology tests have not been revealed.
Neil Jones has hit back at cruel mum shamers who accused his fiancee Chyna Mills of leaving their newborn daughter to cry in a recent Instagram and Tik Tok video.

Taking to social media the mother-of-one, who welcomed her daughter Havana with Neil in October, was calling out trolls who had made comments on her baby's skin colour.

As the Love Island star, 25, addressed the comment, Havana could be heard crying in the background of the video.

Yet while one viewer declared: 'Girl your baby is crying!!', Neil, 41, immediately hit back with a furious response.

'Actually she's singing and making sounds,' he wrote.

Strictly star Neil Jones, 41, has hit back at cruel mum shamers who accused his fiancee Chyna Mills, 25, of leaving their newborn daughter Havana, four months, to cry after she posted an Instagram video earlier this week

Taking to social media the mother-of-one was calling out trolls who had made comments on her baby's skin colour, when viewers heard Havana crying in the background

Others also chose to defend the star, as another wrote: 'Can tell by your comment that you don't have kids. Can't even tell the difference between crying and cooing/fussing.

'Furthermore, is crying not what babies do? It's their only source of communication.'

Another added: 'The people commenting that her baby is 'crying' have never been around babies or looked after a baby and it's so obvious. That is not a crying baby.

'Not every sound from a baby is crying and you don't always have to fawn over a baby when it makes a peep - that's how you create clingy babies. Stop trying to deflect from what she saying.'

Chyna had taken to social media to address a comment she'd received which read: 'That baby don't even got little melanin, it's just sad.'

Addressing the comments on her baby skin, Chyna said: 'I find this highly disrespectful for anyone to comment on anyone's skin colour, let alone my baby's.

'Keep your comments to yourself and stay away from my page,' as she laughed in disbelief.

'I've had a few comments like this and it's just really weird that people in this day and age want to comment on someone's skin colour. Sort your life out, respectfully. Actually no disrespectfully.'

While one viewer declared: 'Girl your baby is crying!!', Neil, 41, immediately hit back with a furious response. 'Actually she's singing and making sounds,' he wrote

The Strictly star and Love Island star welcomed daughter Havana, in October seven months after announcing their engagement and just over a year since they went public with their romance

It comes after Neil admitted he and his ex-wife Katya never chatted about babies being in their future, but him and Chyna discussed children just three months into their romance

It comes after Neil admitted he and his ex-wife Katya never chatted about babies being in their future, but him and Chyna discussed children just three months into their romance.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with MailOnline he explained that he and Strictly co-star Katya were always too focused on their careers and dancing to consider starting a family.

Neil was married to Katya for six years before he called it quits in August 2019, following her kiss with her 2018 Strictly partner Seann Walsh.

He and Love Island star Chyna welcomed their first child, daughter Havana, in October seven months after announcing their engagement and just over a year since they went public with their romance in August 2022.

When asked about any family plans with Katya, Neil told MailOnline in an interview for his collaboration with Burns Pet Nutrition: 'No we never really discussed children.

'We were busy with the dancing and our careers and things like that.'

The twinkle-toed star explained that while he and Chyna had baby fever just three months in, they did not expect the pregnancy to happen so quickly.

He explained that when he and Chyna met, they 'clicked so well' and now find it funny how soon they got into the serious conversation.

'I have got so many nieces and nephews, and then when I met Chyna we clicked so well', he added. 'And it's so funny that three months down the line that we both got into that conversation about having a child and we said, "Yeah, let's try for it".

'We never thought it would happen so quick. We were both over the moon.'
It has been claimed that Monica Garcia's ex-husband Mike Fowler was arrested for slapping her in March 2021.

According to police documents obtained by the US Sun, Fowler, 45, was taken into custody for domestic violence assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child and interruption of a communication device.

At the time of the incident, the 40-year-old Real Housewives of Salt Lake City newcomer called police to their home and said her then-husband 'hit her' and that she was 'hiding in a bedroom.'

The police report also stated that as she spoke to law enforcement via her Apple watch, a female could be heard 'yelling for him to get away from her.'

Then, in person, she told officers she was 'afraid of Michael and what he would do if she disobeyed him.'

It has been revealed the Monica Garcia's ex-husband Mike Fowler was arrested for slapping her in March 2021

According to police documents obtained by the US Sun, Fowler, 45, was taken into custody for domestic violence assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child and interruption of a communication device

The physical attack reportedly followed an argument over 'some of the people that she had been associating with.'

The argument later intensified 'and thats when he slapped her across the face,' the official document started.

It was also explained that the conflict took place in front of one of Monica's teenage kids.

Garcia and Fowler share three daughters  Jaidyn, 13, West, 7, and Kendall, 6, as well as Monica's daughter Bri from a past relationship.

Fowler was locked up in a county jail for multiple days before pleading guilty to his assault charges.

It was reported that he was sentenced to on year of probation and fined $1,070.

The details come after the reality television personality appeared on Instagram one week ago with a solem post about domestic violence.

In a caption to her 407,000 followers, she wrote, 'I havent wanted to post about this because I already know what the comment section is going to say and how nasty people can be and have been on my page.'

The details of the abuse come after the reality television personality appeared on Instagram one week ago with a solem post about domestic violence

She added, 'However, if this helps one person out there to feel seen and give them any kind of comfort, hope, or support then it is worth it to me.

'National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 I am sending love to all of those affected by domestic violence.'

'The reason for our divorce was because of domestic violence,' she wrote in a screenshot of a long note written against a white background.

She explained, 'My ex was arrested a couple of times for domestic violence on me in front of our girls and violations of protective orders.'

It was added: 'I had hoped to talk about it on the show to help better explain why things are the way they are in my life currently. To bring awareness to women dealing with this issue and to help them see that they are not alone.'

The former spouses share Bri, 18, Jaidyn, 13, West, 7, and Kendall, 6

Last September the star shared a short video clip showing her holding her two youngest daughters

Monica and Mike's divorce was finalized last October.

The star was awarded sole legal and physical custody of the former couple's four daughters and ordered to pay $2,636 a month in child support.

He must additionally pay $4,000 a month in alimony. Monica was granted 'exclusive use and possession of' the former pair's Utah home, but she must pay her ex $130,000 for his share in the property's equity.

The exes walked down the aisle in 2009 and Monica first filed for divorce in 2013. They reconciled, but the Bravo TV fixture filed for divorce a second time last June.
Sara Ramirez has been dropped from And Just Like That because their character Che Diaz was a waste of airtime, according to insiders, who shut down the actors claim that being pro-Palestine cost them the role.

Ramirez, 48, a non-binary actor who uses they/them pronouns, implied they will not return for the third season of the Sex and the City spin-off in a series of posts shared to Instagram on Tuesday.

They heavily suggested their time on the show was over as they claimed casting directors and agents are making black lists of actors and workers who post anything in support of Palestinians and Gaza to ensure they will not work again.

But a source close to the show ridiculed the suggestion, claiming Ramirezs head had been on the chopping block since last season because their character held no value anymore and was annoying.

Sara Ramirez has been dropped from And Just Like That because their character Che Diaz was a waste of airtime

The 48-year-old heavily suggested in a series of Instagram posts that their time on the show was over owing to their political views. Pictured as Che with Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes

Ramirez had claimed casting directors and agents are making black lists' of people who post in support of Palestinians and Gaza. Pictured at a Queers for Palestine rally in Brooklyn

Poll Will you be glad to see the back of Che Diaz? Yes - they're annoying No - I enjoyed the character Will you be glad to see the back of Che Diaz? Yes - they're annoying 1364 votes

No - I enjoyed the character 94 votes Now share your opinion





Sara was not fired because they support Palestine and the cease fire, they told DailyMail.com exclusively. Sara was fired because Che brought nothing to the show anymore. They were on the chopping block since last season.

After Che split with Miranda, the character really held no value anymore and fans found them annoying. The storyline as a struggling comedian was a waste of airtime and Sara knew it.

Addressing how there are no talks to axe Cynthia Nixons Miranda Hobbes over the actress stance on Palestine, the source continued: Cynthia has been incredibly vocal about her support for Palestine and for her being an open lesbian.

Sara needs to accept that this is not Greys Anatomy, and her character was not a pivotal part of the storyline.

DailyMail.com has contacted a representative for Ramirez for comment. Max, which airs the show, declined to comment.

Che, a newcomer to the spin-off series who introduced themselves as a 'queer nonbinary Mexican Irish diva,' struck up a relationship with Miranda after she abandoned her marriage to husband Steve Brady.

The character was accused of being the 'worst' on the series, which saw Miranda reunited on screen with Carrie Bradshaw and Charlotte York, played by Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis, respectively.

Viewers found the character 'cringe' and accused them of '[setting] back non-binary representation 70 years.'

Ramirez accused the industry of being 'performative' in a lengthy post on Instagram

Che famously had an affair with Miranda (pictured) in the Sex and the City spin-off series

Ramirez appeared to accuse the show of dropping them over their political views, in an Instagram rant the night after the Emmy Awards.

'Our industry is so duplicitous,' they said. 'While they give awards away, casting directors and agents are making blacklists of actors and workers who post anything in support of Palestinians in Gaza to ensure they will not work again.

'While they lift up some of their own clients who have spoken up against this genocide, they are firing and letting others who have smaller platforms go.

'While they award lgbtq orgs, they are silent on those orgs ties to weapons manufacturers who are currently supporting the Israel military as it commits genocide on Palestinian lives that include LGBTQIA2S+ lives.'

Ramirez mocked people who need awards - ridiculing them as something 'shiny' that makes people 'feel special and powerful.'

But the performer said it was a dark time to celebrate, while thousands were dying in Gaza.

Ramirez previously took to the streets of Brooklyn waving a transgender flag at a Palestinian protest.

'It's wild how performative so many in Hollywood are,' she said. 'Even more performative than the last character I played.'

Their derision of their character echoes a line they said in the second season of the show when Diaz is given a pilot for a Netflix comedy, which flopped.

Diaz struggles with how producers want them to appear, and says they are reduced to 'some phoney, sanitized, performative, cheesy, dad joke bulls**t version of what the non-binary experience is.'

And Just Like That has been renewed for a third season - pictured L-R Nixon as Miranda, Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw and Kristin Davis as Charlotte York-Goldenblatt

In June, journalist Brock Colyar mocked Ramirez for appearing to hold many of the same opinions as the character they play without any sense of irony, in an article for The Cut.

The former Grey's Anatomy star clapped back at the 'hack job,' and insisted: 'I am not the fictional characters I have played, nor am I responsible for the things that are written for them to say. I am a human being, an artist, an actor.

'And we are living in a world that has become increasingly hostile toward anyone who dares to free themselves from the gender binary, or disrupt the mainstream.'

The character won the approval of Sex and the City creator Candace Bushnell who applauded the non-binary, queer stand-up comedian for not wanting to be a mom.

'I like Che Diaz because Che Diaz is freeing,' she said back in November.

'Here's a character who doesn't get the motherhood thing  I love that, that's a breath of fresh air.'

And Just Like that premiered in 2021 with a second season dropping last year. Production on season three was delayed by the Hollywood writers' strike.

Filming has not yet begun, and Max has confirmed it will not return to screens until 2025.
Jessie Buckley was left heartbroken after splitting up with Happy Valley star James Norton, admitting their break-up had been 'acrimonious'.

Rubbing salt in her wounds, Norton, whom she had met on the set of acclaimed BBC drama War and Peace, later became engaged to her fellow actress Imogen Poots.

I can reveal that Buckley, 34, has, however, beaten Norton, 38, down the aisle. The actress, who was nominated for a Oscar for her performance in The Lost Daughter, has secretly got married to a man she met on a blind date.

She declines to disclose her husband's surname, revealing only that he's called 'Freddie' and is an English mental health worker from Islington, north London.

She says they were set up by their mutual friend Marc Robinson, a music boss with whom she worked with on the 2018 film Wild Rose. 'He's gone back to university to work in mental health,' she says of her husband.

Jessie Buckley was heartbroken after splitting with Happy Valley star James Norton , admitting that their break-up had been 'acrimonious'

I can reveal that Buckley, 34, has, however, beaten Norton, 38, down the aisle (pictured together in 2017)

The actress, who was nominated for a Oscar for her performance in The Lost Daughter, has secretly got married to a man she met on a blind date

Buckley declines to disclose her husband's surname, revealing only that he's called 'Freddie' and is an English mental health worker from Islington, north London

Rubbing salt in her wounds, Norton, whom she had met on the set of acclaimed BBC drama War and Peace, later became engaged to her fellow actress Imogen Poots (pictured)

The couple have homes in east London and Norfolk, where their wedding was held last summer. Their pals Lori and Laura, who run the Towpath cafe in Dalston, provided catering.

'One of my favourite memories of the day was: I wanted a keg of Guinness, and I definitely wanted their cheese toasties at a certain hour,' Buckley says. 'And then they came and did breakfast the next day.'

Not content with one honeymoon, the couple have had several post-nuptial holidays. 'We had many moons,' says the Olivier award-winning star.

'We actually just kind of bottled into friends' holidays. Loads of friends were going away and they rented a place and were, like, 'come with us'.

'It was really nice. Usually I'm away shooting or something, and because of the [Hollywood] strike everything got moved, so I've had a whole year just to, like, hang out.'

She adds: 'We were originally going to move to Suffolk because we'd fallen in love in Suffolk. And, then, friends of ours had moved to Norfolk and bought this old place for, like, nothing at an auction, like pulled weeds out of it and just did the whole thing up.

'And then they showed us this house that we live in, which is, like, 1500s and falling down and orange. It's a really amazing old house that's been there forever.'

A new honour for former defence minister Nicholas Soames, who was asked to represent King Charles at the thanksgiving service for Baroness (Betty) Boothroyd at St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey, on Tuesday.

Lord Soames, 75, is an old friend of the Monarch and was one of his supporters during the so-called 'War of the Waleses'.

Sir Winston Churchill's grandson claimed that Princess Diana had accused Charles of adultery because of 'her mental illness and advance stages of paranoia'.

He apologised in 2020, saying: 'I regret it.' He added: 'I should never have said it because I am not a doctor a lot of what was said and passed in those days was very unpleasant. It was a very unhappy time for everyone.'

Gladrags and a bandage for Rod

Did Sir Rod Stewart, the sprightliest of septuagenarians, overdo his 79th birthday celebrations last week?

I ask only because on Tuesday night he sported a bandaged right hand as he emerged from London's Kit Kat Club.

Might Penny, 52, and Sir Rod be overdoing cops-and-robbers role-playing at their Essex mansion?

The drab dressing, unadorned by so much as a speck of colour, was in stark contrast to the rest of the pop star's attire, which included a vibrant red waistcoat enhanced by an orange starburst and floral embroidery, a jacket in ochre velvet, and bronze brogues with leopard print panels.

The First Cut Is The Deepest warbler Sir Rod has fathered eight children by five different women  three of whom he married, including his current wife, model-turned-special constable Penny Lancaster, who only three months ago was pictured on crutches.

Might Penny, 52, and Sir Rod be overdoing cops-and-robbers role-playing at their Essex mansion?

Comic Frank Skinner loves Antiques Roadshow but is perturbed by the outfits worn by some of the specialists. 'When I see the experts in their canary yellow blazers and cravats and monocles and all that, I always think, 'If there was any sort of dark crimes happening locally, I'd just round them up as a matter of course'. Why can't you just have a suit and tie and be an antiques expert? Why do you have to dress like a fool?'

Did Blair keep fraudster's fee?

Friendship with four-times divorced American billionaire Larry Ellison, 79, has paid lavish dividends for Sir Tony Blair, whose Institute for Global Change is set to trouser $272 million (213 million) from Ellison's foundation.

But while all at Blair's Institute are 'very grateful', according to a spokesman, they remain resolutely silent about Blair's relationship with another American billionaire  Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of crypto currency exchange FTX.

In 2022, Blair took to the stage alongside Bankman-Fried at a conference in the Bahamas. 'FTX and its partner spent a lot of money on the guest list,' reflected an observer. The next year, Bankman-Fried, 31, was convicted of fraud and money laundering.

Blair's Institute declines to reply when I ask if it has returned any fee received for Sir Tony's duties in the Bahamas.

Bridgerton's Rege-Jean earns cool a 1million

He became a heart-throb thanks to his role as the Duke of Hastings in Netflix bodice-ripper Bridgerton, and is tipped to succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond. Now, Rege-Jean Page has the bank balance to match.

Rege-Jean is due to be seen next as Simon Templar in a new version of The Saint

I hear the 35-year-old Londoner has earned 1.3 million through the performing arts company into which he channels his earnings, Bowl Laminate.

According to newly filed accounts, its assets, which comprise monies due in at 666,000 as well as cash at 606,000, offset by bills of 266,000, leave Rege-Jean with 1 million in accumulated earnings.

His profits are 300,000 up on the 721,000 held in 2022.

Rege-Jean is due to be seen next as Simon Templar in a new version of The Saint.
Love Island All Stars viewers have slated Luis Morrison's 'Turkey teeth' as they begged fellow contestant Demi Jones to stay away.

The father-of-two, 29, has returned to the ITV competition with a fresh new look as he boosted a new set of veneers.

The former defender hopes to be struck by Cupid's bow once again after falling in love with Cally Jane Beech on the dating series in 2015.

He and the former Miss Great Britain, 32, were together for nearly four years and had a daughter Vienna, now seven, together but called it quits twice after she accused him of being unfaithful.

He also has son, Romeo, who is just a toddler at two years old. He was born in October 2021.

Love Island All Stars viewers have slated Luis Morrison's 'Turkey teeth' as they begged fellow contestant Demi Jones to stay away

The father-of-two, 29, has returned to the ITV competition with a fresh new look as he boosted a new set of veneers

The former defender hopes to be struck by Cupid's bow once again after falling in love with Cally Jane Beech on the dating series in 2015 , who he later had a child with, Vienna

Despite winning the hearts of a few girls already in the South African villa, fans of the show have not been stuck by the same love spell as they have taken to X, formerly as Twitter, to criticise his latest cosmetic decision.

One viewer wrote: 'Luis top set of teeth looks like a gum shield,' while a second added: 'I've turkey teeth but Luis teeth are next level.'

'Luis teeth are so ugly the more I look at them,' wrote a third.

A fourth added: 'The way Luis teeth sit under his gums doesnt look right idk.'

Fans of the dating show also have took to social media to beg for Demi, 25, to stay away from the contestant.

Viewers are so concerned that they have told the beauty to 'run away' as she is 'worth more'.

One fan penned: Demi back away from Luis, youre worth more than having him as your mans.'

Despite wining the hearts of a few girls already in the South African villa, fans of the show have not been stuck by the same love spell as they have taken to X, formerly as Twitter, to criticise his latest cosmetic decision

'Can Kaz and Demi stand uppp what are they seeing in Luis mehnn???'

'DEMI STAY AWAY FROM LUIS.'

' pls someone protect Demi from Luis.'

Demi made her show debut on the sixth series when she came third place with Luke Mabbott.

Luis recently revealed that while he was in the villa, he doesn't think he will consider if his new match would be a good fit as a stepmother to his two children.

Before heading into the villa, he told MailOnline: 'I don't think that would come into my mind because obviously I don't really know the person as such, but in the back of my mind, it could creep in. At the same time, I don't think I would think about it as such, no.'

Fans of the dating show also have took to social media to beg for Demi, 25, to stay away from the contestant

Viewers are so concerned that they have told the beauty to 'run away' as she is 'worth more'

Luis also revealed that he is looking to change things this year as he claimed that his type has changed and while he once liked 'the blue-eyed girl' in the past, he is now looking for something different.

'Yeah, I feel like my type has changed a lot. It's changed in every relationship though, that I've been with. Every single girl I've been with has been different, so I wouldn't say such has been a type', he explained.

'I did like the blue-eyed girl back in the day, but again, I'm going to be an open book. I want to see what the vibe is first and then we will go from there.
Ryan Gosling wore casual clothing when picking up takeout food at Feast Cafe in Santa Barbara, California on Wednesday morning.

The 43-year-old actor was bundled up in warm clothing.

The Drive star - who recently referred to his longtime partner Eva Mendes as the 'girl of my dreams' - donned a plaid button-up jacket on top of a white t-shirt, and he also wore blue jeans and brown boots.

Gosling completed his look for the day with a light yellow cap and a pair of sunglasses.

He was seen getting into a mud-splattered pickup truck.

The performer's outing took place just three days after his reaction to I'm Just Ken winning Best Song at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards went viral on social media.

Ryan Gosling stayed comfortable and cut a very casual figure during a shopping trip in Santa Barbara on Wednesday morning

The Blade Runner 2049 star performed the track in the 2023 fantasy-comedy movie Barbie, in which he starred as Ken.

The track was co-written by Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt, who accepted the award during the annual ceremony.

After presenters Bella Ramsey and Anthony Ramos named the song as the winner, Gosling made a deadpan expression, which was captured by cameras and widely disseminated on social media.

The performer was subsequently thanked by the songwriters in their acceptance speech.

Dua Lipa's Dance The Night and Billie Eilish's What Was I Made For?, both of which were also written for Barbie, had been put up for the award.

The star of Only God Forgives was also nominated for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor, although the distinction ultimately went to Robert Downey Jr.

I'm Just Ken has also been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

Gosling spoke about his role in Barbie during a new interview with E! News and revealed that his daughters Esmeralda, nine, and Amada, seven, have still not seen the smash-hit feature.

The Drive star - who recently referred to his longtime partner Eva Mendes as the 'girl of my dreams' - donned a plaid button-up jacket on top of a white t-shirt, and he also wore blue jeans and brown boots

The performer's outing took place just three days after his reaction to I'm Just Ken winning Best Song at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards went viral on social media

Gosling spoke about his role in Barbie during a new interview with E! News and revealed that his daughters Esmeralda, nine, and Amada, seven, have still not seen the smash-hit feature

The actor stated that he did not 'know if you should watch your father as Ken. I don't know what age is a good age to see your father do that. It gets pretty crazy'

'I don't know if you should watch your father as Ken. I don't know what age is a good age to see your father do that. It gets pretty crazy,' he said.

The actor, who shares his children with his longtime partner Eva Mendes, did reveal, however, that his daughters were aware that he had portrayed Ken in the movie.

'They've seen little parts of it and they came to set one day when I did a big musical number,' he said.

Gosling stated that working on the movie 'was a way to sort of make something both for and with them.'
Charmaine Chua in the Boston Review:

Beginning in the late 1860s, the decade that it took to construct the Suez Canal, photographs depicting its feats of engineering circulated across the world. Sold to travelers as souvenirs, featured in Le Monde, and later exhibited at the 1889 Paris world fair, they enshrined on paper the industrial monumentality of the dredgers that excavated earth into sea.

As publicized images of the machinic wonders of modernity, they also served as promissory notes, enticing investors to purchase shares in the joint-stock Suez Canal Company. The photographs telegraphed seductive promises of financial gain, pictorializing the genius of European engineering that could dig a manmade channel across the African continent. Running through the pictures, historian Mohamed Gamal-Eldin discovered, was a striking pattern. For the technological sublime to work its wonder on the awed spectator, the photos had to be evacuated of the laboring subjects who made the feat possible: the many tens of thousands of dispossessed fellahinpeasantswho dug the monumental canal by hand.

More here.
Married At First Sight's Evelyn Ellis and her boyfriend Duncan James recently took the next step in their relationship by going on their first overseas trip.

And on Wednesday, Evelyn, 28, showed off her incredible figure in a skimpy swimsuit while on a beach in Vietnam.

In the photos, taken at night on the beach at the Phu Qoc Emerald Bay resort, Evelyn's flaunted her cleavage and toned legs in a brown string bikini as she posed by a palm tree and on a swing.

A curious fan asked in the comments how 'you get these random, perfectly curated shots. Or are you actually posing?' to which boyfriend Duncan proudly replied.

'I'm getting good at snapping the moment,' he wrote, followed by a blushing smile emoji.

Married At First Sight star Evelyn Ellis , 28, showed off her incredible figure in a skimpy swimsuit while on a beach in Vietnam this week

In the photos, taken at night on the beach at the Phu Qoc Emerald Bay resort, Evelyn's flaunted her cleavage and toned legs in a brown string bikini as she posed by a palm tree and on a swing

'The girl is beautiful, how could you go wrong?' another commenter chimed in.

Evelyn herself cheekily answered the query about Duncan's picture-taking: 'vigorous training.'

Commenters then praised Duncan's photographic efforts and support of his girlfriend's Instagram content.

The beauty also posed on a swing

A curious fan asked in the comments how 'you get these random, perfectly curated shots. Or are you actually posing?' to which boyfriend Duncan proudly replied. 'I'm getting good at snapping the moment,' he wrote, followed by a blushing smile emoji

'Boyfriends of Instagram,' wrote one, while another remarked 'such a talent for capturing both the view and the view,' followed by a hot faced emoji.

Evelyn is currently on holidays with her boyfriend Duncan, who she met while appearing on the Channel Nine show.

The couple have been documenting their trip to their social media pages.

On Saturday, the couple shared a gallery of their trip to Hong Kong, which included several photos of them sightseeing and enjoying a romantic dinner together.

Evelyn is currently on holidays with her boyfriend Duncan James (pictured left)

Duncan and Evelyn have been going strong since announcing they were dating in May.

Evelyn confirmed her relationship with fellow MAFS groom Duncan, who was paired with Alyssa Barmonde on the show.

The pair said in May it was 'exhilarating' and 'freeing' to finally go public after months of rumours.

'We are in a relationship. This is our hard launch,' Evelyn told Nine.com.au.

'It feels good to finally just say it and it feels kind of exhilarating in a weird, freeing way,' the Maxim cover girl added with a laugh.
Mila Kunis flashed a bright smile while running errands by herself in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old actress  who came under fire months ago for asking a judge for leniency in Danny Masterson's sentencing  wore a soft-textured baby blue jacket.

The mother-of-two, who is married to Ashton Kutcher, layered it over a cream-colored T-shirt with a forest green graphic print.

She added a pair of loose-fitting blue jeans, which she cuffed before finishing the look with brown moccasin boots.

The Family Guy star looked smart in a pair of square-shaped, black-rimmed eyeglasses.

Mila Kunis flashed a bright smile while running errands by herself in Los Angeles on Wednesday

The 40-year-old actress  who came under fire months ago for asking a judge for leniency in Danny Masterson's sentencing  wore a soft-textured baby blue jacket

Kunis, who was born in Ukraine, was barefaced for the outing, going makeup-free under her spectacles.

Her long and glossy brunette locks were pulled back into a ponytail and she wore dark polish on her short nails.

Missing from the scene were her husband and their two children  daughter Wyatt, nine, and son Dimitri, seven.

Last September Kunis and Kutcher came under fire after sharing letters of support for their friend Danny Masterson.

It came to light that they had 'begged the judge for leniency' after the trial, in which Masterson was convicted of raping two women and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Following the backlash, insiders claimed Mila and Ashton were worried that the 'damage of it all' could be detrimental to their careers.

They subsequently shared an apology video, and Kutcher opted to step down as chair of his anti-child sex abuse organization.

'We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson,' Ashton, 45, began in a short video shared on Instagram.

The mother-of-two, who is married to Ashton Kutcher, layered her outerwear over a cream-colored T-shirt with a forest green graphic print

The Family Guy star looked smart in a pair of square-shaped, black-rimmed eyeglasses

She added a pair of loose-fitting blue jeans to her outfit, which she cuffed before finishing the look with brown moccasin boots

Kunis and Kutcher came under fierce scrutiny after it was revealed that they supported their That '70s Show co-star and convicted rapist Danny Masterson; pictured in 2000

'We support victims,' Mila, added. 'We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future.' The comments on the post were disabled.

Critics were quick to take to X to unleash their dismay over the 'lawyered' apology.

The couple reportedly chose to stay out of the spotlight in the following months, hoping people would 'forget' about the ordeal.

The situation also saw their own relationship called into question, with many highlighting that Mila was only 14-years-old when she was cast in That 70's Show, alongside a then-19-year-old Ashton.
She is one of Australia's most well-known and successful actresses.

But Nicole Kidman looks unrecognisable in a throwback photo as a 16-year-old in the 1983 Aussie action film BMX Bandits.

In the movie, the Australian actress, 56, sported wild red curly hair alongside her co-stars Angelo D'Angelo and James Lugton.

These days, the Hollywood star looks very different as she has replaced her curly locks with straight long strawberry blonde tresses.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Nicole recalled what it was like to work on the movie as she celebrates 40 years since it's release.

Nicole Kidman looked unrecognisable in a throwback photo as a 16-year-old in the 1983 Aussie action film BMX Bandits alongside her co-stars Angelo D'Angelo and James Lugton

'I do remember having fun, an enormous amount of fun,' she said.

'And when I was starting out I was like, I'm meant to be serious [as an actress], but the thing with BMX was, oh, you can kind of have fun too. There has to be element of play to all of it.'

Last year, Nicole went back to the iconic look of her early years when she replaced her long golden lock with curly red hair.

Posting images of the drastic make over to Instagram, the Nine Perfect Strangers star flaunted her fresh tresses.

She looks very different nowadays as she has replaced her curly locks with straight long strawberry blonde tresses

Last year, Nicole went back to the iconic look of her early years as an actress when she replaced her long golden lock with curly red hair

She captioned the reel of photos with three sparkling star emojis as she matched her new hair colour with a lacy, light blue dress.

Nicole once again switched up her look when she wore a short blonde wig in Amazon Prime's new six-part series Expats.

The six-part limited drama series - based on the internationally best-selling novel The Expatriates, by Janice Y. K. Lee. and set in Hong Kong - will premiere in on January 26 on the streaming site.

Nicole also serves as an executive producer for the series.
Love Island All Stars exes Jake Cornish and Liberty Poole shared an emotional chat moments before he left the villa during Wednesday's episode.

Jake, 26, who starred on series seven of the show, faced an awkward reunion with ex Liberty, 24, when he entered the South African villa during Monday's launch show.

He reportedly decided he 'couldn't stay' after the public voted for the exes to be coupled-up.

And on Wednesday, Jake announced his departure from the show to his fellow Islanders, leaving Liberty stunned.

He said: 'I don't want to waste time. I don't want to give my energy to someone if it's forced, if it's fake.

Love Island All Stars exes Jake Cornish and Liberty Poole shared an emotional chat moments before he left the villa during Wednesday's episode

As the pair sat together by the fire pit, Liberty burst into tears, prompting Jake to say: 'Don't get upset! What are you getting upset for?'

'So just to let you know, I'm going to leave tonight.'

He added: 'I love you all, that means you've all got to have fun and find love. Just because I haven't doesn't mean you lot can't.'

Liberty exclaimed: 'Oh, Jake!', as she and the rest of the group jumped up and rushed to give him a hug.

As Liberty and Jake were seen walking off for a chat, Demi said: 'I think Libs feels a little bit responsible but I told her it's not her responsibility.'

As the pair sat together by the fire pit, Liberty burst into tears, prompting Jake to say: 'Don't get upset! What are you getting upset for?'

Referring to their past relationship, she said: 'I know what happened, happened three years ago but you've honestly matured so much and I just feel like I just wanted you to have a good chance at finding love as well.'

Jake said: 'You've definitely matured as well. I just can't fake things for the sake of it. I just can't do it.

'So I thought the best thing for me to do is take myself out of the situation. I've had a wicked time.'

Jake announced his departure from the show to his fellow Islanders during Wednesday's episode, leaving Liberty stunned

Jake said of his reason for leaving: 'I don't want to waste time. I don't want to give my energy to someone if it's forced, if it's fake'

Jake was seen wheeling his suitcase alongside him as he left the Love Island All Stars villa in South Africa

Jake continued: 'I hope you find someone in here because there's going to be plenty of people that walk through that door.'

Referring to her decision to leave the Love Island villa just days before the final when she was first on the show and coupled-up with Jake in 2021, Liberty told him: 'It's weird to think that three years ago I was leaving being true to myself and now you're doing the same thing.'

The pair hugged before Jake made his way to the front door of the villa where he was surrounded by his fellow Islanders as he made his way out.

Jake reportedly decided he 'couldn't stay' after the public voted for the exes to be coupled up together.

'Jake was really shocked to see Liberty in the villa  they had no idea the other person would be there,' a source told The Sun.

'It was clear from the start they wouldn't get back together, then none of the girls wanted to step forward for him.

'Jake had a nice three days in the villa and had a very emotional chat to Maya Jama, he couldn't stay in the villa so he quit the show. It's not his time and it's not the right time to find love.'

Jake and Liberty were among 12 former Islanders who appeared on the new spin-off show. The series sees past contestants head into the villa to try to find love once more.

Jake faced an awkward reunion with ex Liberty Poole as he entered the South African villa

Ahead of her re-entry, Liberty admitted it might be 'awkward' coming across her ex and seemingly shut down the possibility of any rekindled romances.

She got a nasty surprise when  not only was she was faced with her ex-boyfriend Jake  but the public voted for them to form a couple.

Liberty revealed they hadn't spoken for three years and could only say 'oh my God' as she saw him walk through the villa.

They were quick to shoot down any possibility of rekindling the romance when asked by show host Maya Jama.

When Maya asked: 'Is there any room for a rekindle do we think?' both Liberty and Jake immediately shook their heads and in unison replied: 'No.'

The pair shared a turbulent relationship on the show in 2021, with Liberty falling hard and fast for Jake, but her feelings seemingly not being reciprocated.

The couple became the first to become official in series seven.

However, during the Casa Amor loyalty test, Jake was seen encouraging his male co-stars to play away from their partners.

Jake and Liberty were among 12 former Islanders who appeared on the new spin-off show. They split after a brief romance when they starred in the show back in 2021 (pictured)

Clips of this moment were played during the iconic Movie Night, as well as earlier conversations of him talking to the boys about his feelings for Liberty.

In one video he told the guys: 'Her personality is mint, I cant fault her. Its like talking to Jake with a wig on. It's just not that 100 per cent where I look at her and go... I haven't got the girl there where I'm like f*** me I want to rip your clothes off.

'I don't want to fake any s*** you know what I mean? I don't want to say I really do like her when I don't, I'd be lying to myself.'

Jake was also accused of 'gaslighting' and demonstrating 'toxic' traits after he failed to compliment Liberty, and made comments on her appearance and 'messy habits'.

The exes hadn't spoken for two years before the All Stars show.

Liberty previously said she would encourage her ex to focus on pursuing a new romance in the villa if he was to enter before the launch.

She said: 'I haven't spoken to him since. If he's in there and wants a conversation then I'm happy to do that at the time I didn't have any regrets about my experience in the villa. I did what was right for me.

'I wish him the best and if we were both in there together I want him to focus on finding love because that's what I'm going to be doing.

'I don't want us being in the same room to take away from each other's experiences. I will be civil maybe we could even be mates who knows?'

Ahead of her re-entry into the villa, Liberty, 24, admitted it might be 'awkward' coming across an ex-boyfriend

She got a nasty surprise on the launch episode, when she was faced with her ex-boyfriend Jake, 26, walked through the door

Meanwhile, Jake brushed off any potential drama between the pair before entering the villa as he insisted there was no 'bad blood' between them, despite their shock on-screen break-up.

'Well there is only one and that's Liberty. We never ended with any bad blood between us and everything happens for a reason. We just become two different people in the end,' he said.

The public have picked Anton Danyluk to pair up with Hannah Elizabeth, Chris Taylor with Demi Jones, Luis Morrison with Georgia Harrison, Mitchel Taylor with Kaz Kamwi, and Toby Aromolaran with his former flame Georgia Steel, who he coupled up with on last year's Love Island Games series.

Love Island All Stars continues at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX on Thursday 18 January.
The restaurant where Alan Ruck crashed his car last year was recently graffitied with a Ferris Bueller's Day Off tribute.

The side of Raffalo's Pizza, the Hollywood eatery Ruck struck on October 31, 2023 with his vehicle, was seen spray painted with the message 'Save Ferris'.

The message was a reference to the cult classic film Ruck starred in with Matthew Broderick, the 1986 comedy Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

The 'Save Ferris' tribute, however, has since been removed.

Last Halloween, the Succession star, 67, allegedly damaged three vehicles before plowing his own into the restaurant. He had emerged miraculously uninjured from the scary car crash but was spotted with a knee sleeve in the following days.

The restaurant where Alan Ruck crashed his car last year was graffitied with a Ferris Bueller's Day Off tribute

The message was a reference to the cult classic film Ruck starred in with Matthew Broderick, the 1986 comedy Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Last Halloween, the actor allegedly damaged three vehicles before plowing his own into a Los Angeles pizza restaurant.

He had been driving his electric Rivian R1T truck when he crashed into Raffallo's Pizza restaurant in the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.

In December, it emerged that Alan was being sued by one of the drivers involved in the crash.

TMZ reported a man involved in the four-car collision that night claimed Alan hit his car before subsequently crashing into the restaurant.

The individual - whose name is Horacio Vela - claimed he was at a red light when the actor allegedly hit the back of his 2020 Hyundai Elantra, causing him to crash into another vehicle.

The incident has since been ruled an accident by police. Officers investigating the case have theorized Ruck crashed his truck due to being unfamiliar with the vehicle's high-tech design.

In the documents, Vela claimed that he had been taken to a hospital by an ambulance and suffered 'severe injuries and damages.'

Ruck crashed his car into the side of the Hollywood restaurant last year; pictured earlier this month

The 'Save Ferris' tribute has since been removed

He also stated in the lawsuit that the crash resulted in him receiving 'property damage, costs of past and future medical care, pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, and other consequential damages.'

Surveillance footage of the crash had shown Alan's truck hit the back of another vehicle which was pushed into the cross-section of the busy street.

After the crash happened at around 9p.m., the front portion of the star's electric vehicle could be seen lodged into the front of the building, causing damage to the structure.

At the time, sources informed TMZ that a few individuals had suffered injuries, but that they were 'conscious and breathing.'

Last Halloween, the actor allegedly damaged three vehicles before plowing his own into the restaurant

The incident has since been ruled an accident by police. Officers investigating the case have theorized Ruck crashed his truck due to being unfamiliar with the vehicle's high-tech design

The following day, LAPD Sgt. Hector Guzman told the Los Angeles Times that 'there were injuries reported, but they appear to be minor' while adding that it was 'nothing life-threatening in nature.'

Police later said that there were no drugs or alcohol found in Alan's system, per TMZ.

A few days after the crash, the Ferris Bueller's Day Off actor was seen out in Studio City and briefly commented on the incident.

As he ran a few errands, he was asked about the crash and expressed, 'I'm fine and thank God no one was killed.'

He wore a knee brace on his left leg, but Alan explained, 'This isn't because of the accident, this is because I'm getting old.'

Ruck had told police authorities at the scene that he didn't know what had happened to cause his truck to crash.
Kate Moss shared a cheeky smooch with handsome stylist pal George Cortina on her 50th birthday on Tuesday.

The model enjoyed brunch with boyfriend Nikolai von Bismarck and daughter Lila at Brasserie Lipp in Paris.

Following the meal, she stepped outside with George, who pulled her in for a kiss on the lips while smoking a cigarette.

He shared the sweet image to Instagram and wrote: 'Happy Birthday my darling Kate'

Kate looked fantastic on her milestone birthday as she modelled a belted black mini dress that showed off her lithe figure.

Kate Moss shared a cheeky smooch with handsome stylist pal George Cortina on her 50th birthday on Tuesday

He shared the sweet image to Instagram and wrote: 'Happy Birthday my darling Kate'

She looked effortlessly chic at brunch as she teamed her little black dress with a fur coat and boosted her frame with a pair of heeled suede ankle boots.

Kate completed the look with a pair of cat eye sunglasses with gold hooped earrings.

By her side was boyfriend Nikolai, who kept things casual in a grey jumper teamed with a printed shirt and grey trousers.

He finished off the look with brown boots that appeared to be well-worn favourites judging by the hole in the sole.

Lila also kept things low-key in a cropped cream jumper and wide legged jeans that she paired with a shaggy jacket and boots.

The supermodel flew to the French capital from Oxford on a private jet that carries up to seven VIP guests ahead ahead of throwing a star-studded party at the Ritz.

And it's believed that Kate will be joined by celebrity pals including Noel Gallagher at the Ritz later on in the day.

Lila was pictured carrying heavy bags out of her London home before flying to Paris, joining her famous mother for the festivities.

The model enjoyed brunch with boyfriend Nikolai von Bismarck and daughter Lila at Brasserie Lipp in Paris

The supermodel tucked into lunch at Brasserie Lipp (pictured) where they offer a range of reasonably priced meals. The menu has remained unchanged since the 1930s

Earlier in the day she shared an image of the Eiffel Tower on her Instagram story and Lila appeared excited as the build-up to the big night got officially underway.

A source told MailOnline: 'Kate has been planning a big party at the Ritz in Paris for a long time now.

What did Kate Moss have for her birthday meal? The supermodel tucked into lunch at Brasserie Lipp where they offer a range of reasonably priced meals. Among the famous specialities of the Brasserie Lipp are Bismark herring, brandade de morue, choucroute garnie, roast chicken, blanquette de veau and tete de veau. The menu has remained unchanged since the 1930s, with the 'true Parisian institution' first opening in 1880. Brasserie Lipp is filled with original Art Nouveau-Art Deco decorations and each year it sponsors an annual literary prize, the Prix Cazes, for an author who has won no other literary prize. Advertisement

'And finally the day has arrived and all of her close friends and family are jetting into the capital to celebrate her special day.

'As a world famous supermodel, nobody expected anything less from Kate than to host her party at the Ritz in Paris, which is almost as fabulous as she is.

'It will be a night to remember, she can't wait to dress up, and dance the night away.'

MailOnline understands the private jet Kate used to fly to Paris would have cost 10,000, with the former party girl ensuring she arrived in the City of Light in style.

Kate's flight took off on Monday after 4pm and she landed in France shortly afterwards.

A source added: 'Kate loves the Ritz and always stays at the hotel when she's in Paris.

'She is hoping to keep her soiree as private as possible and she knows she can trust the staff there.'

Kate had a rather different pre-birthday celebration with her best friends in Mustique, which involved a beachside spiritual celebratory circle.

Lila and Sadie joined her on the getaway as well as former model Rosemary Ferguson, stylist Katy England, fashion casting director Jess Shallet, florist Flora Starkey and designer Jess Morris.

She posed in a bohemian black dress, floral crown and necklace and with no make-up on as she sat crossed-legged on the white sand underneath palm trees.

The supermodel flew to the French capital from Oxford via a private jet (pictured) that sits up to seven VIP guests ahead of her bash on Tuesday

MailOnline understands the private jet Kate used to fly to Paris would have cost 10,000, with the former party girl ensuring she arrived in the City of Light in style (pictured in 1993)

Mustique has been beloved by the jet-set since Lord Glenconner bought it in the 1960s and gave Princess Margaret a ten-acre plot as a wedding present.

READ MORE: 50 things you never knew about Kate Moss on the day she turns 50 Advertisement

The tiny private island is a favourite of the Prince and Princess of Wales and home to rock stars Sir Mick Jagger and Bryan Adams, as well as U.S. fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger.

The supermodel has a history of throwing epic birthday parties.

When she turned 30, she threw a bash with the theme 'Beautiful and the Damned', which was rumoured to have ended in an orgy at Claridge's hotel in London's Mayfair.

Her 40th birthday consisted of a four-day Glastonbury-themed extravaganza at her country home in the Cotswolds.

And her 50th is shaping to be no different as Kate and her A-list guests descend onto the Ritz, one of the most decadent hotels in Paris.

Arriving on the modelling scene after being discovered at the tender age of 14, Kate rose to fame in the mid 1990s.

Her collaborations with Calvin Klein launched her as a household name and in 2013, she was honoured at the British Fashion Awards to acknowledge her contribution to the fashion industry over the course of 25 years.

Previously describing her happy place as on the dancefloor, Kate has since left London for the west Oxfordshire countryside where she practices transcendental meditation and goes wild swimming in a 'secret place' only the local villagers use.

The fashion icon also believes in the power of positive affirmations to improve one's outlook with 'embrace the unknown' and 'trust the universe and it will lead the way' being among her favourites.

Kate had a rather different pre-birthday celebration with her best friends in Mustique, which involved a beachside spiritual circle

Kate appeared to have ditched her 'party girl' image once and for all with her relaxing retreat

Kate is now said to embrace being tee-total 80 per cent of the time, going to the gym and starting yoga sessions.

Despite her new Gwyneth Paltrow-like lifestyle, Kate still allows herself one vice.

'I still smoke occasionally,' she told The Sunday Times . 'I've heard that when you stop, you can really tell [by your skin]. But I haven't stopped... yet.'

The model admitted she is in 'denial' about her upcoming 50th birthday because she does not feel her age.

'I'm not turning 50,' she said. 'No. I'm not thinking about it. I do not feel 50.'

Briefly discussing her party days, Kate told how she now never stays out at a party past midnight, describing it as her 'cut off point'.
Anyone who has been in a committed, long-term relationship will know how easy it is to get stuck.

Experts say once the mystery and newness vanishes, and our partner becomes familiar, it is common for the attraction to dip.

But how do you know if it's just a case of rekindling the romance, or if the relationship is truly dead and buried?

Now, a top relationships expert and professor of counselling has revealed the three signs that your partnership may not be salvagable.

Experts say one the mystery of a romantic interest fades, it is natural to feel less excited about them - but there are ways to tell if the relationship is work fixing

The first red flag is if you live with your partner, but find yourself subsconsciously delaying going home to them.

'It's a dread sometimes about being around that person or anxiety about how they're going to react,' Suzanne Degges-White, a licensed counselor and professor at Northern Illinois University, told Business Insider.

She added that it is common, in this situation, to find excuses to avoid going home, like working late or going out with friends.

The second bad sign is if you don't feel the need or want to text the person back.

This isn't a case of getting distracted, Professor Degges-White says, but a 'can't be bothered' attitude to replying.

Doing this is an example of what she calls 'self-protection, avoidance behaviors' - often used frequently by people in unhappy relationships.

One way to tell if your relationship is for keeps is if you have frequent thoughts of your future together - and feel excited about it

One of Hollywood's prime examples of a unhappy relationship comes courtesy of Brick Pollitt (Paul Newman) and his tempestuous wife, Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor) in the 1958 movie, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Finally, consider how you feel about your future - and whether you're focusing on positive prospects, or regrets.

Degges-White said that a telltale sign of a fulfilling relationship is a feeling of ' hopefulness' about the future.

'...your focus is on what's coming next versus mistakes you've made.'

It means you often find yourself fantasizing about what's next for your relationship, or how you might share the next chapter of life.

But if you are not truly happy, Degges-White says you develop a tendency to hone in on what you could have done, or how things could have been better.

In other words, you avoid thinking about your future life together because you're genuinely not looking forward to it.

Ultimately, a truly happy relationship is characterized by 'feelings of gratitude for the person you're with'.

If you're struggling to muster this up, it could be time to call it quits.
From dry skin to red hands and lots of layers, there's plenty of discomfort that comes with winter.

And if you've noticed your eyes start to water as soon as you step outside, you're not alone.

Eye experts told DailyMail.com that eye watering during the winter is completely normal, and a number of simple remedies can alleviate it.

It's well known that cold air dries out the skin due to the lack of humidity or moisture in the atmosphere.

This leads to dehydration in the tissues, causing skin to crack and become flaky.

The winter chill has a similar effect on your eyes.

The eyes water in cold weather due to an overreaction from the body's tear reflex, which happens when the eyes become too dry

Dr Michael Brusco, an ophthalmologist at Brusco Vision in Virginia, told DailyMail.com: 'It sounds counterintuitive, but the reason our eyes water so much when it gets cold outside is because our eyes are drying out.'

This is what doctors call 'dry eye syndrome', which is thought to affect 16 million Americans every year, according to the National Eye Institute.

When you step outside, the cold air strips the eyes of moisture, which means the tear ducts struggle to produce enough tears.

Tears are necessary not just for a good cry, but keeping the eyes wet and smooth and helping promote clear vision.

Additionally, tears form a protective sheath over the outermost layer of the eye, the cornea, to guard against harmful contaminents like dirt and dust.

'The cold air is so dry that it can cause the moisturizing tear film of the eye to evaporate.'

This triggers an overreaction in the eye known as the tear reflex. Signals sent between nerves in the back of the eye and the brain trigger the production of excess tears to compensate for the dryness.

'When it's very cold and windy, this reflex is working overtime and there can be excessive tearing,' Dr Brusco said.

Creams and moisturizers applied to the eye area - as many do to soothe dry skin in the winter -could also cause eye watering.

Creams that irritate the delicate skin around the eye can trigger an inflammatory response, causing them to water.

Some are more prone to dry eye syndrome than others.

For example, Dr Brusco said that people who work in front of a computer screen all day have a thinner or lower quality tear film over their eyes because their eyes are so strained.

'This will thin out then the tear film so that when they do go outside it wont take as long for the dry cold air to cause tearing,' he said.

Additionally, makeup and other irritants can clog glands on the eyelids called meibomian glands, which can wear away at the tear film.

Though annoying, Dr Brusco said that winter eye watering is generally harmless.

However, Dr Ronald L Benner, president of the American Optometric Association, told DailyMail.com that if symptoms last for long periods of time, it's best to visit your eye doctor.

'Advanced dry eyes may damage the front surface of the eye and impair vision, so it's important to get it checked out,' he said.

Dr Yunna Rapoport, an ophthalmologist at Manhattan Eye, suggests using preservative-free artificial tears to remoisturize your eyes.

She also recommended putting a warm compress over your eyes for a few minutes at a time. This provides moisture and heat, which alleviates dry eye and can prevent excessive watering.

'Wearing sunglasses outside as a barrier to protect the eyes against the harsh environment can be an effective solution,' Dr Brusco said.

And staying hydrated keeps the eyes moist and reduces the risk of them becoming inflamed.
Doomsday cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 30 of his followers have appeared in a Kenyan court to face charges of murdering 191 children.

Mackenzie and the other suspects did not enter pleas in the coastal town of Malindi because High Court Judge Mugure Thande granted a request from prosecutors that they undergo mental health assessments and return to court on February 6.

The remains of 180 of the 191 dead children have not been identified, according to the prosecutions charge sheet.

Mackenzie and some of his followers have been blamed for the deaths of 429 members of his Good News International Church, many of whom are believed to have starved themselves in the belief that by doing so they would meet Jesus Christ before the world ends.

Mackenzie and his followers will undergo a mental health assessment (AP)

The bodies were discovered in dozens of shallow graves on an 800-acre (320-hectare) ranch in a remote area known as Shakahola Forest in the coastal county of Kilifi.

The graves were found after police rescued 15 emaciated church members who told investigators that Mackenzie had instructed them to starve themselves to death before the world ends. Four of the 15 died after they were taken to a hospital.

Post-mortem examinations on some of the bodies found in the graves showed they died from starvation, strangulation or suffocation.

Kenyas top prosecutor said on Monday that 95 people will be charged with murder, cruelty, child torture and other crimes.

For months since the arrest of the defendants last April, prosecutors have asked a court in Kilifi for permission to keep holding them while the investigation continues.

Once inside the villages established by Mackenzie, followers were not allowed to leave the area, nor interact within themselves Senate committee report

But last week, Principal Magistrate Yousuf Shikanda declined their latest request to hold the suspects for an additional 60 days, saying the prosecutors had been given enough time to complete the investigation.

Mackenzie is serving a separate one-year prison sentence after being found guilty of operating a film studio and producing movies for his preaching without a valid licence.

The leader allegedly encouraged church members to move to Shakahola Forest to prepare for the end of the world.

A senate committee report said Mackenzie chose the area due to its remoteness.

Once inside the villages established by Mackenzie, followers were not allowed to leave the area, nor interact within themselves, the report said.

The followers were required to destroy vital documents, among them national identity cards, birth certificates, certificates of title to property, academic certificates and marriage certificates, creating problems in identifying the dead, the report said.
Chief Executive of Wealth and Assets said the fraudsters are getting 'savvier'

JPMorgan Chase has reported seeing double the amount of hacking attempts this year compared to 2022.

The U.S. finance firm saw an alarming 45 billion hackers trying to infiltrate its system every single day.

JPMorgan is the largest bank in the United States and the fifth largest bank in the world - with $3.9 trillion in total assets.

Mary Callahan Erdoes, Chief Executive of JPMorgan's Asset & Wealth Management line discussed the increasing numbers of hacking attempts during a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

'The fraudsters get smarter, savvier, quicker, more devious, more mischievous,' Erdoes said.

JPMorgan Chase has reported seeing double the amount of hacking attempts this year compared to 2022

Mary Callahan Erdoes, Chief Executive of JPMorgan's Asset & Wealth Management line discussed the increasing numbers of hacking attempts during a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos

The U.S. finance firm saw an alarming 45 billion hackers trying to infiltrate its system every single day

'Its so hard and its going to become increasingly harder and thats why staying one step ahead of it is really the job of each and everyone of us.'

JPMorgan isn't the only bank dealing with a surge in cyberattacks.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago - rising global geopolitical tensions have caused cyber crime to skyrocket.

Over 70 per cent of bank leaders in a 2023 KPMG survey reported being concerned about cyber crime and cyber insecurity.

JPMorgan spends $15 billion each year just on technology to prevent cyber attacks as part of an effort to bolster its cyber defenses.

This budget is up substantially from the $14.3 billion that the company spent on technology in 2022.

Edroes also reported that JPMorgan Chase had employed 62,000 technologists to help secure systems and prevent hacking.

JPMorgan Chase spends $15 billion each year just on technology to prevent cyber attacks as part of an effort to bolster its cyber defenses

JPMorgan Chase is the largest bank in the United States and the fifth largest bank in the world - with $3.9 trillion in total assets

In 2022 it was reported that Russian hackers were targeting JPMorgan Chase in an attempt to knock its websites offline.

The bank said it shrugged off the assault with no 'operational impact'.

The Killnet gang threated to hit JPMorgan with a denial-of-service attack - in which hackers flood targets with junk data - following a strikes against several US airport websites.
ABIDJAN, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people living in remote areas in Cote d'Ivoire and other African countries were able to watch the matches at home when the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicked off on Saturday, thanks to broadcast services provided by StarTimes, a Chinese digital TV operator.

A project aiming to connect 10,000 African villages to satellite television services was proposed during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2015. By December 2023, the project, undertaken by StarTimes, has helped 9,512 villages in 20 African countries receive digital TV signals. More than 190,000 households benefit directly from the project.
James B. Meigs in City Journal:

As 2024 dawns, the prospects for a nuclear revival in the U.S. look mixed. On one hand, many once-skeptical environmentalists now support the technology. Bipartisan majorities in Congress back funding for nuclear research and deployment. And more than two dozen startups are developing a new generation of small, innovative reactor designs. But momentum slowed in November, when NuScale Power, the Portland, Oregon-based company pioneering small modular reactors (SMRs), announced the cancellation of its showcase project to build a power facility in Idaho. If completed, the project would have been the nations first SMR power plant. Backers hoped that the endeavor would prove that this new approach to nuclear technology can deliver affordable, zero-carbon power to our electric grid. Instead, delays and escalating costs forced NuScale to shelve the project before it even broke ground.

More here.
The cost to overdraw a bank account could drop to as little as $3 under the latest proposal announced by the White House.

It comes as part of an effort by the Biden administration to combat fees it says pose an unnecessary burden on American consumers, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck.

Officials said could save consumers - who can pay as much as $37 each time they go overdrawn - at total of $3.5 billion a year.

Under the proposed rule, banks could only charge customers what it would cost them to break even on providing overdraft services. This would require banks to show the CFPB the costs.

Alternatively, banks could use a benchmark fee that would apply across all affected financial institutions. Regulators proposed several fees - $3, $6, $7 and $14 - and will gather industry and public input on the most appropriate amount.

The cost to overdraw a bank account could drop to as little as $3 under the latest proposal announced by the White House

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is expected to propose rules this week that further rein in banks' ability to charge customers a fee when they overdraw their bank account

lIt is the atest effort in President Joe Biden's 2022 crackdown on the so-called junk fees consumers face across various industries such as housing, tourism, medicine and finance.

In a statement, Biden called overdraft fees 'exorbitant' charges allowing banks to boost earnings to the detriment of vulnerable wage earners.

'Banks call it a service -- I call it exploitation,' he said.

The CFPB says it arrived at these figures by looking at how much it cost banks to recoup losses from accounts that went negative and were never paid back.

The change could potentially eliminate billions of dollars in fee revenue for the nation's biggest banks, which were gearing up for a battle even before Wednesday's announcement.

Exactly how much revenue depends on which version of the new regulation is adopted.

Banks charge a customer an overdraft fee if their bank account balance falls below zero. Overdraft started as a courtesy offered to some customers when paper checks used to take days to clear, but proliferated thanks to the growing popularity of debit cards.

'For too long, some banks have charged exorbitant overdraft fees - sometimes $30 or more - that often hit the most vulnerable Americans the hardest, all while banks pad their bottom lines,' President Joe Biden said in a statement.

According to research conducted by Bankrate last August, the average overdraft fee was $26.61. Some banks charge as much as $39. The nation's biggest banks still take in roughly $8 billion in overdraft fees every year, according to data from the CFPB and banks' public records.

Biden has made the elimination of 'junk fees' one of the cornerstones of his administration's economic agenda heading into the 2024 election. Overdraft fees have been at the center of that campaign, and the White House directed government regulators last year to do whatever is in their power to further curtail the practice.

'We are proposing rules to close a longstanding loophole that allowed many large banks to transform overdraft into a massive junk fee harvesting machine,' said Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in a prepared statement to reporters.

Banks could also provide small lines of credit to allow customers to overdraft, a service that would operate like a credit card. Some banks like Truist Bank currently offer that type of service.

The CFPB has signaled for months that it planned to curtail the collection of overdraft fees, with regulators making statements and the bureau putting out research that shows overdraft fees overwhelmingly impact the poor and households of color, who often overdraft multiple times a year.

In response, banks have prepared a massive lobbying campaign to rebuff the Biden Administration's proposal. Whichever proposal is adopted is almost certain to be challenged in court.

The rules would apply only to banks with more than $10 billion in assets, which is roughly 175 banks that make up most of the financial institutions Americans do business with.

The rules spare small banks and credit unions, some of which rely disproportionately on overdraft fees. CFPB officials told reporters that it chose to focus on the largest banks since most Americans bank at these large institutions and that is where the widespread abuses have historically happened.

Decades ago, banks created a service that allowed certain customers with checking accounts to go negative in their accounts to avoid bouncing paper checks. What started as a niche service became a massive profit center for the banks after the proliferation of debit cards that caused customers to debit their bank accounts for small and large amounts of money multiple times a day.

Overdraft fees have been a financial bonanza for the banking industry, with the CFPB estimating that banks collected $280 billion in overdraft fees in the last 20 years. These fees became so popular that one bank CEO named his boat the 'Overdraft.'

Caving to popular and political pressure, most of the biggest banks have added safeguards to customers' accounts to allow them to bring the balance back into positive territory before they incur a fee.

Bank of America, once considered by industry critics to be the biggest abuser of overdraft fees, cut its fee from $35 to $10 two years ago and says revenue from overdraft fees is now less than 10 percent of what it had been.

While overdraft fees have fallen in recent years, a Bankrate survey found that 91 percent of bank accounts still can charge overdraft fees.

If the rule is adopted and survives political and legal challenges, the new regulations would go into effect in the autumn of 2025.
Such fees are common in Colorado and are imposed property landlords

Charge covers the cost of improvements in the building where store is located

A Target store in Denver has raised eyebrows for charging a 1 percent 'public improvement fee' - which goes towards maintaining the costs of the shopping center where it is located.

Experts explained that the charge is used to pay for improvements to roads, water and sewer lines near the store which sits in Denver's Lowry neighborhood.

The fee does not come from Target - but rather the developer or landlord of the property.

The revelation comes amidst a widespread backlash at excessive sales charges and prompts for gratuity added to receipts at a host of businesses.

A sign at the Denver Target store reads: 'Of the total amount you are paying in retail sales taxes and fees, 1 percent is a Public Improvement Fee payable to Boulevard at Lowry to help pay for the costs of public improvements... within Boulevard at Lowry.'

It continues: 'This Public Improvement Fee is not a tax and is charged in addition to the 8.81 percent sales tax that normally applies in Denver.'

A Target store in Denver, pictured, has raised eyebrows for charging a 1 percent 'public improvement fee' to maintain the shopping center in which the shop is located

An employee at the 30,000-square-foot store said he did not understand the surcharge himself.

He told CBS News: 'I wish I knew more. You get questions here and there. People want to know if they're getting charged extra money.'

It is not the first Target to be found to apply the surcharge. Last March, flight attendant Holly Teska went viral on TikTok after claiming she was slapped with a extra 2.5 percent charge on every item she bought from a Target.

She said at the time: 'So I was purchasing my items, checking out in the self-checkout and I noticed that there was a new public improvement fee which was 2.5 percent per item. '

She added: 'I'm just wondering like 'public improvement' isn't that what sales tax is? Like what do we pay sales tax for? Target I need answers.'

Teska did not specify which store she visited but her account suggests she is also located in Denver.

Experts explained that the charge is used to pay for improvements to roads, water and sewer lines near the store which sits in Denver's Lowry neighborhood

The charge is apparently extremely common in Colorado

But experts insist that the charge is extremely common in Colorado - it just often isn't advertised meaning shoppers rarely know they are paying it.

Denver-based attorney Carolynne White told CBS: 'They're really common. They've been used in Colorado the last 25 to 30 years in almost every new shopping center I've worked on and every major one you've probably thought of.

'One way or another, the consumer is paying it. This way there's a separate line item and disclosure so you know what you're paying for.'

The charge generally stops being applied once all the necessary improvements to the area are made.

Shoppers are increasingly hitting back at mysterious charges appearing on restaurant and store receipts.

Last week an Atlanta restaurant became the target of physical threats after charging diners a 4 percent 'health insurance fee' to cover its employees' premiums.

Last March, flight attendant Holly Teska went viral on TikTok after claiming she was slapped with a extra 2.5 percent charge on every item she bought from a Target. Teska did not specify which store she visited but her account suggests she is also located in Denver

Owners of JenChan's, a family-run fusion restaurant in southeast Atlanta, Georgia, said they had been implementing the fee for a year and a half.

But one angry customer wrote on the restaurant's Facebook page: 'I've never seen a family that needs to be beaten up more: make that healthcare come in handy.'

The trend is being exacerbated widespread frustration at so-called 'tipflation' which has seen tipping culture spill out from bars and restaurants and into stores, takeout chains and even self-service machines.

DailyMail.com reached out to Target for clarification on which stores impose the charge.
It is sold online and in stores for $19.90 but similar bags are sold by Shein for less

It has been dubbed the Mary Poppins bag

Uniqlo's 'round mini' bag went viral on social media for its surprising capacity

Uniqlo is suing controversial Chinese fast fashion retailer Shein over claims it is selling fake imitations of its best-selling shoulder bag.

Since its release in April 2022, Uniqlo's popular 'round mini shoulder bag' has been featured in viral social media videos for its surprisingly large capacity.

As such it has been compared to the infinitely large magical carpet bag carried by Mary Poppins in the eponymous 1964 film.

While the Uniqlo bag is sold for $19.90, very similar-looking bags are listed on Shein for between $5 and $6.

The original bag is generally made of nylon but also available in other materials and comes in more than ten colors and prints.

Uniqlo is suing Shein over claims it's selling fake imitations of its best-selling shoulder bag, pictured on shelves

Left is the Uniqlo 'round mini' bag, sold online and in stores for $19.90. Right is a similar looking bag listed for sale on Shein for $5.60

Uniqlo's parent Fast Retail said on Tuesday that a petition had been filed in a Tokyo court against Shein Japan and two of its subsidiaries on December 28.

Justifying its complaint, Fast Retailing said the 'imitation products sold by Shein closely resembles that of its own product'.

It also suggested 'the sale of the imitation products by Shein significantly undermines the high level of customer confidence in the quality of the Uniqlo brand and its products'.

A spokesperson for Shein said the company 'respects the intellectual property rights of others and takes all claims of infringement seriously. We are currently investigating this matter'.

Shein, founded in 2008, has been embroiled in various controversial copyright litigation, including those brought by US brand Chrome Hearts and H&M.

It began by selling wedding dresses and only expanded into the US market in 2020 with the boom of online shopping thanks in part to the Covid pandemic.

Very little is known about its CEO and founder Xu Yangtian, also known as Sky Xu, even though he is one of the wealthiest people in China, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Last year the company hired several more public-facing Western executives to assist with its international ambitions and to aid it in navigating geopolitical tensions.

This month American model Chantel Jeffries collaborated with Shein on a collection, which she promoted on her Instagram page.

CEO of Fast Retail, Tadashi Yanai (pictured), is the richest person in Japan with a net worth of about $40 billion

Shein has hired a number of more public-facing Western executives to aid it in navigating geopolitical tensions. Pictured is American former investment banker Donald Tang, who now serves as Executive Chairman and advisor to its secretive CEO Sky Xu

This month American model Chantel Jeffries, pictured, collaborated with Shein on a collection, which she promoted on her Instagram page

Shein also drew further controversy in 2022 when an investigation published by Bloomberg News found clothes it sold in the US contained cotton from the Xinjiang region of China.

The US State Department in 2021 banned the import of cotton from that region over concerns the Chinese government was forcing Uyghur people to work in labor camps.

It has also drawn criticism for having poor employment and environmental practices.

Uniqlo was founded in 1984 by Japanese entrepreneur Tadashi Yanai, currently CEO of Fast Retail and the richest person in Japan with a net worth of about $40 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The India International Science Festival serves as a vital bridge between the scientific community and society

Scientific discoveries and innovations hold value only when their benefits are appreciated by the general public. Unfortunately, in our society, the average person often fails to comprehend the effort our scientific community invests in bringing forth innovations. They seldom acknowledge the scientific community for the benefits of science they enjoy, whether it be the food they consume, the healthcare they receive, or the communication systems facilitating speedy information transfer. It is in this context that science festivals serve as a bridge between the scientific community and society. Science festivals can bring about significant transformations in society by fostering a deeper appreciation for science, advancing scientific literacy, and motivating individuals to actively participate and contribute to the scientific community. The India International Science Festival (IISF) is a distinctive science festival conceived by Vijnana Bharati in 2015 and supported by various central government ministries. Over the years, it has become a model system for popularising and propagating science in the community. What sets IISF apart is its format for designing various sessions. The events are crafted in a way that allows every citizen, regardless of their profession, education, or age, to appreciate the advancements made in science, particularly in Indian science. IISF provides a platform for scientists, researchers, and educators to directly interact with the public, bridging the gap between the scientific community and the general public and fostering a better understanding of scientific concepts and discoveries. The ninth edition of IISF will be held at the campus of the Department of Biotechnology's institute THSTI-RCB in Faridabad, Haryana, from January 17 to 20, 2024, featuring 17 major events. The festival is coordinated and implemented by the autonomous organization of the Department of Science and Technology, the National Innovation Foundation-India. Key events of this year's IISF include the Student Science Village, Face-to-Face with New Frontiers of Science and Technology, Science through Games and Toys, Students Innovations Festival-Space Hackathon, Vigyanika  Science Literature Festival, State S&T Ministers, Centre, States S&T Secretaries and Officials Conclave, IISF Challenge, Education for Aspiring India  National Science Teachers Workshop, Young Scientists' Conference, New Age Technology Show, National Social Organisations and Institute Meet, Science, Technology and Innovations Exhibition, S&T Media and Communicators Conclave, Start-up, Technology and Innovation B2B Meet, Women Scientists and Entrepreneurs Conclave, and IISF Outreach Events. IISF provides a platform for hundreds of common people from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to share the stage with reputable scientific institutions in the country. This fosters a sense of community around the appreciation of science, encouraging dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas.

Organized annually since 2015, IISF has played a crucial role in developing a culture that values and celebrates science. This cultural shift can have a lasting impact on educational priorities, public policies, and overall support for scientific endeavors.

Making science accessible and enjoyable for children, primarily through events like the Student Science Village, Science through Games and Toys, can inspire young individuals to pursue careers in science.

IISF brings together people from diverse backgrounds and different parts of the country, creating a sense of community around the appreciation of science. This collaborative environment can lead to increased community engagement in scientific initiatives and projects, promoting a culture knowledge-sharing.

(The writer is an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore; views are personal)
The Congress announced on Wednesday its intention to involve citizens and incorporate their suggestions for preparing the partys manifesto for this years Lok Sabha polls. In this regard, the grand old party launched a website and an email ID to enable itself to prepare a peoples manifesto.

Addressing a press conference at Congress headquarters, former Union Minister P Chidambaram, who heads the Manifesto Committee of the Congress, said that the party is holding consultations and seeking suggestions from the public for the manifesto. He emphasised that the manifesto for the Lok Sabha election will be a peoples manifesto.

The present exercise is to receive suggestions from the members of the public. This will be a peoples manifesto. So, it is important to gather as many suggestions as possible in the few weeks available to us, Chidambaram said.

We want to involve the people of India in making the manifesto. We hope people from every walk of life will give their suggestions. We appeal and invite you to provide suggestions you would like to be incorporated into the manifesto to make it a peoples manifesto, he added.

The former Union minister said that at least one consultation would be held in each State. The idea is to hold at least one consultation in each State. In some States, more than one public consultation may be held, he said.

When asked if their INDIA bloc allies will also be consulted, the Congress leader mentioned that anyone who wishes to attend the consultation is welcome, but a decision on holding discussions with allies on the manifesto will be taken by the party chief.

If the ally parties of the INDIA group wish to attend the consultation, they are most welcome.... Whether there will be a higher-level consultation will be for the Congress president to decide, Chidambaram said.

Convener of the partys manifesto committee TS Singh Deo said the exercise is being carried out to ensure that the voice of the people is reflected in the document. It is important to seek the suggestions of the stakeholders so that it does not remain merely an academic exercise, he said.

In response to a question about whether repealing three recent criminal laws passed by the government will be part of the manifesto, Chidambaram mentioned that there were a few dissent notes against these laws from him, party leaders Digvijaya Singh, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, already in the public domain.

Regarding the likely date by which the manifesto would be finalised, the Congress stated that it expected to complete it by February 15 for the CWC approval, as the manifesto has to be approved by the CWC.
With the commencement of the rituals for the consecration of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, inclement weather has made commuting difficult throughout northern India, leading to chaos at airports and railway stations, with the numbers growing. On Wednesday, around 120 flights (both domestic and international) at Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport experienced delays in arrivals and departures due to heavy fog and reduced visibility in the national capital and surrounding areas.

The crisis is escalating as Indian Railways has decided to cancel and short-terminate all trains, including the semi high-speed Vande Bharats bound for the holy city, until January 22, citing developmental works. A spokesperson for Indian Railways mentioned that 20 trains arriving in Delhi were delayed by up to five hours due to foggy weather. Commuting by roads to Ayodhya is also unsafe in the current foggy conditions.

Many travelers who had booked their flights and train tickets in advance are concerned about whether they will manage to reach Ayodhya on that day. Railway ticket bookings have surged by 80 per cent, and intercity cab operators are anticipating a 60 per cent spike in bookings, according to travel portals.

While routine commuting across the cities of northern India, including Delhi and NCR, is affected, a significant outcry is reported daily at airports and railway stations, even as the national air and rail transporters claim to have set up war rooms to facilitate passengers..

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that dense fog conditions are very likely to prevail over Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and parts of Uttar Pradesh during January 17 to 22.

Flight movements are set to grow tenfold, with an unprecedented number of chartered flights ferrying Indias wealthiest devotees and others to the temple town. According to reports, more than 800 flights, including chartered flights, are expected to land at Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya. On the inauguration day, more than 100 flights are expected to land here. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia flagged off the inaugural flights connecting Ayodhya to Kolkata and Bengaluru on Wednesday. Presently, Ayodhya is connected from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata.

According to travel portals, amid the grand Ram Mandir Praan Pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhya on January 22, airfares on the Delhi-Ayodhya and Mumbai-Ayodhya routes for January 20 and 21 were reported to be around Rs 18,000-20,000 on Wednesday, compared to the average fare on the route ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,000. In fact, the fares on the Mumbai-Ayodhya route were even higher, ranging from over Rs 20,000 to Rs. 24,000.

The Flight Information Display System (FIDS) at Delhi Airport reported a total of 53 flights, including 21 domestic arrivals, 16 domestic departures, 13 international departures, and 3 international arrivals, have been cancelled and are not operating. These cancellations are attributed to fog and other operational reasons affecting flights to and from Delhi Airport. The visibility recorded at Delhis main weather station, Safdarjung observatory, and Palam was 200 metres at 5:30 am. Approximately 20 Delhi-bound trains were running late by up to six hours due to the weather conditions.

Meanwhile, Delhi Airport has informed the Ministry of Civil Aviation about the delayed operationalisation of the main airstrip, Runway 28/10. The airport attributed the delay to the initiation of the rehabilitation project post the G20 Summit and disruptions caused by GRAP IV measures imposed in Delhi. Runway 28/10 has been undergoing scheduled re-carpeting since mid-September, with the original completion date set for December 15, 2023. The airport emphasised in its report the necessity of this rehabilitation, crucial for ensuring the runways continued safety and functionality. Delhi Airport boasts two CAT III-compliant runways: the primary Runway 28/10 and the 29L/11R, situated closest to the Gurugram side. These runways adhere to international standards, facilitating precision instrument approach and landing during adverse weather conditions.

On Sunday, data from the flight tracking service Flightradar24 revealed that 508 outbound flights from the IGI airport were delayed, and 87 were cancelled. Inbound flights experienced 414 delays and 42 cancellations. Dense fog also affected operations on Monday, and on Tuesday, 50 flights were cancelled.

To address issues promptly, Scindia announced the establishment of War Rooms at the six metropolitan airports, where airport and airline operators will collaborate to resolve any problems related to passenger inconvenience in real-time. These War Rooms will be dedicated to addressing issues promptly. Furthermore, Scindia assured round-the-clock availability of sufficient CISF manpower to ensure the security and smooth functioning of operations at the airports.

Satellite imagery showed a reduction in fog over Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, northern Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi. However, dense fog continues to prevail over parts of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. An official from the IMD said, The distinction between low clouds and fog in satellite imagery is often a challenge.

The layer of early-morning fog over the Indo-Gangetic plains in north India thinned in some parts on Wednesday, according to officials. The IMD mentioned that dense to very dense fog conditions are likely to prevail over north India for the next five days. It also said that cold-day to severe-cold-day conditions would persist over the northern plains for two more days. The IMD concluded by saying, Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are likely to continue over northwest India for five days.
The two-day-long whirlwind tour to Kochi and Thrissur by Prime Minister Narendra Modi culminated on Wednesday afternoon with Kerala receiving the countrys biggest Dry Dock facility, valued at Rs 1,799 crore, a Ship Repair and Overhauling unit (at an investment of Rs 970 crore), and an import centre for liquefied petroleum gas built at a cost of Rs 1,236 crore. Dedicating these three facilities to the nation, Prime Minister Modi disclosed that these projects would generate 4,000 direct jobs and almost twice that number of indirect jobs.

We are on our way to reclaim our position as the country with the highest global Gross Domestic Product. Bharat will soon emerge as the centre of global trade. We will be rated as the global Maritime Power thanks to the projects dedicated to the nation, as well as the fast progress underway under the Sagar Mala Schemes, said Modi.

The Prime Minister announced that these three projects would set the tone for the development of the countrys southern region. The capacity of Cochin Shipyard Ltd will increase manifold in the next few years. Major reforms initiated by our government since 2014 have led to an increase in the volume of shipping as well as ease of doing business. More investments are on the anvil, and this would, in turn, generate more employment opportunities, said the Prime Minister.

Quoting data and statistics from various sources, the Prime Minister said there has been a 140 per cent increase in the number of seafarers from the country. Our ports have emerged as the ones with the fastest loading and unloading facilities, and this has attracted many shipping companies that used to make use of ports in other countries, he said.

Elaborating on the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (a scheme to bring about the Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in the country), Modi said the project has revolutionised the coastal economy. It has helped not only the small-scale fishermen but also those engaged in deep-sea fishing, said Modi. The Prime Minister mentioned that the shipbuilding and repairing facilities in India and the new dry dock facility have started paying rich dividends, Even foreign vessels are on their way to Kochi because of our efficiency, skill, and quality work. Our own dependence on other countries for shipbuilding and repairing is coming down, said the Prime Minister. Modi further disclosed that 25 crore persons have been liberated from the shackles of poverty during the last nine years of the BJP rule.

The fishing community can make use of the Kisan Credit Card for availing loans. The Prime Minister said that fish production and the export of seafood have shown a steep hike during the last five years.

Dr TT Ajith Kumar, a senior scientist at National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, told The Pioneer the last six years have seen a tremendous turnaround in the livelihood of the fishing community, thanks to the PM MSY.

The scheme has started yielding results much earlier than expected because of the enthusiasm shown by the fishers as well as the officials. It is a commendable achievement, said Dr Ajith.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister worshipped at the Lord Krishna Temple at Guruvayur and the Lord Rama Temple at Thrippayar. He attended the marriage of Bhagya, the daughter of actor Suresh Gopi, and four other couples and blessed them. Before departing from Kochi, Modi addressed the BJPs Shakti Kendra in-charges numbering 7,000 and complimented them for the good work they were doing as Karyakarthas.
Pakistan on Wednesday recalled its ambassador to Iran and suspended all high-level planned bilateral visits in the coming days, hours after Tehran launched an unprecedented missile and drone strikes on what it said were terrorist bases of a Sunni militant group in the restive Balochistan province.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Baloch in a statement read out to the media also said that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return to Islamabad for the time being. Pakistan also reserves the right to retaliate to the provocation by Iran, she said.

Two bases of Balochi militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan were targeted by missiles and drones on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported, a day after Irans elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.

We have also informed them (Iran) that Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, now on a visit to Iran, may not return for the time being. We have also decided to suspend all high-level visits which were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in coming days, Baloch said.

She said that last nights unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistans sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever.

Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act. The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran, Baloch said, adding that Pakistan has conveyed this message to the Iranian Government.

Separately, Balochistan information minister Jan Achakzai in his reaction to the attack by Iran said that he was disappointed.

We are extremely disappointed, as the Foreign Office has already said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such acts of air space violations by #Iran undermine neighbourly relation, trust and renewed trade linkages established with #Balochistan, he said in a statement of X.

According to the Foreign office, the Iranian charge daffaires here was summoned to the foreign ministry and issued a strongly-worded condemnation of Irans violation of its airspace.

Pakistan condemned the overnight attack which killed two children and injured three girls.

Irans attack could potentially raise tensions in the Middle East, already roiled by Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan were specifically targeted and successfully demolished, Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency said.

Earlier, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was shocked by the Iranian attack on his country.

Shehbaz in his reaction said that the attack was against the spirit of friendship between the two countries.

I am shocked at the Iranian breach of Pakistani sovereignty. This missile attack is against the spirit of our friendship and principles of good neighbourliness, especially as it undermines the historic relationship between our two countries, he said.

Sincere dialogue and meaningful cooperation between our two countries is the need of the hour. My condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the attack, he added.

His response came when Pakistan was apparently struggling to come up with a plausible response to the unexpected Iranian attack against militants hideouts in its remote south-western region of Balochistan, bordering Iran.

Tehran has repeatedly warned that the Jaish al-Adl militant group is using Pakistani soil in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan to launch terror attacks on Iranian security forces.
Yet another cheetah died on Tuesday afternoon in the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh - the 10th such death since their reintroduction in India in 2022. The Namibian cheetah was named Shaurya and the cause of death will be known after the post-mortem, said an official statement.

So far, seven adults and three cubs have died at the national park - deaths that have been attributed to various infections.

"Today, on January 16, 2024 around 3:17 PM, Namibian Cheetah Shaurya passed away. Around 11 AM in the morning, incoordination and staggering gait was observed by the tracking team following which the animal was tranquilized and weakness was found," said the statement by the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Director, Lion Project.

"Following this, the animal was revived but complications arose post revival and the animal failed to respond to CPR. Cause of death can be ascertained after post mortem," it added.

The last and the ninth cheetah death in Kuno was reported August 2 last year. The government had in the parliament cited infections caused by insects during monsoon season as the cause for the last two deaths.

Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952. As many as 20 of adult big cats were brought from abroad to the Kuno park again in 2022. The cheetahs were imported in two batches - from Namibia (2022) and South Africa (2023).

The initiative began on September 17 last year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a group of cheetahs brought from Namibia into an enclosure in Kuno. Four cubs were born in the park since, but three of them and six other adults died in a span of five months ending last August.

The 10th death was reported today.

The multiple deaths issue had even reached the Supreme Court last year, which said there was no reason to question the central government on the moves being made to reintroduce cheetahs in India.

Project Cheetah head SP Yadav had told another batch of cheetahs will be imported from South Africa for their introduction in the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS Bhopal on 16-01-2024 hosted a comprehensive workshop aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals in the critical area of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) for doctors, resident doctors and paramedical staff of the institute.

Training is a part of a pilot project by the Ministry of health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) to improve the AEFI surveillance from medical colleges. Initially, the program is launched in 40 medical colleges across 8 states of India.

AIIMS Bhopal is the first INI among different AIIMS where this type of training has been conducted and is also the core institute for the medical colleges of Madhya Pradesh. Prof Dr Ajai Singh, Executive Director AIIMS Bhopal praised the initiative and stressed the importance of conduction of more such training program for other medical colleges of the state.

The event commenced with an insightful introduction and objective overview by Prof Dr. Mahesh Maheshwari, AIIMS Bhopal, who emphasized the importance of AEFI reporting in ensuring the safety and efficacy of immunization programs and highlighted the significance of accurate and timely reporting in maintaining public confidence in vaccination efforts.

Dr. Santosh Shukla, State Expanded Program Immunization Officer, NHM provided a firsthand account of his experiences in dealing with AEFI cases. His practical insights shed light on the challenges faced by healthcare professionals.

Prof. (Dr). Shikha Malik,Head of Department, Pediatric Medicine , AIIMS Bhopal and State AEFI chairperson and Facility nodal officer delivered a comprehensive session on the basics of AEFI and its notification process and reporting of AEFI cases.

Dr Bindu Singhal National program manager in AEFI from ITSU also addressed the participants on importance of sensitizing the medical college faculty and staff on AEFI reporting. The training program was attended by more than 80 participants including faculty from medicine, cardiology, Microbiology, CFM, obstetrics and gynaecology and Paediatrics, Senior residents nursing staff and other paramedical staff.

Dr Ravindra Babele, consultant AEFI , NHM and Miss Shivani Choubey, Project consultant and Miss Nancy also contributed in the success of the training about the Vax software.
Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Dewra has reiterated the state government's committment to providing transparent financial administration. He said that Artificial Intelligence based systems have been implemented to control financial irregularities. This has effectively curbed the possible financial irregularities.

Dewra gave instructions to improve entire financial intelligence system based on the findings of investigation in cases of payments against norms. He has also instructed all the Drawing and Disbursing Officers to observe financial discipline, remain alert and perform payment related work with sensitivity. He said that an FIR will be lodged against the officers responsible for negligence in payment and they will be given strict punishment.
Dr Raghvendra Kumar Vidua, Professor in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at AIIMS Bhopal, is set to conduct a National Level PG Quiz at AIIMS Nagpur on January 19th, 2024. The event is a highlight of the 45th Annual Conference of the Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine, known as Forensic Medicon 2024.

This year, AIIMS Nagpur will host the largest national conference in the field of forensics, providing a platform for postgraduate students in forensics from across the country.

The prestigious quiz will take place at the Bernard Knight Hall at AIIMS Nagpur, challenging the academic mettle of PG students and fostering healthy competition. It is noteworthy that AIIMS Bhopal, already recognized for its annual UG-level National Quiz for MBBS students, expands its footprint by conducting the PG Quiz at AIIMS Nagpur, further contributing to the academic and research excellence in the field of forensic medicine. Prof. (Dr) Ajai Singh, Executive Director AIIMS Bhopal has extended his wishes for the success of the PG Quiz.

In addition to his role as the quiz master, Dr. Raghvendra Kumar Vidua will also present research data derived from a two-year study conducted at AIIMS Bhopal. The research project, funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), focuses on Postmortem Sperm Retrieval. Initial findings from the study suggest the possible recovery of live spermatozoa from deceased bodies for up to 20 hours after death under Indian conditions.

This pioneering research marks the first of its kind in India, and in terms of the number of retrievals, it stands as the largest study worldwide. The comprehensive annual report detailing the outcomes of this groundbreaking study has been submitted to the ICMR.

Dr. Arneet Arora and Dr. Ashwani Tandon serve as co-investigators in this significant research project.
BJP leader and former minister Louis Marandi on Wednesday dug holes in the functioning of the social welfare department claiming that the department officials in the last four years have failed to perform. Marandi said that in the Hemant government, the Social Welfare Department could not provide any kind of uniform to the maids and assistants of Anganwadi centres. Dr. Marandi said that the increased malnutrition was controlled to a great extent in the Raghubar government, but today malnutrition is increasing day by day. Nutrition Sakhi were appointed in the Raghubar Das government and all of them were also providing their services. But as soon as the Hemant Soren government came to power, they cancelled the appointments of Poshan Sakhi. Also, those who were working were dismissed from their job.

Dr. Marandi said that the Hemant government is working exactly opposite the way it came to power by making big promises for women.

Dr. Marandi said that the Chief Minister Sukanya Yojana was started in the Raghubar government, but this government has been garnering applause by just changing its name and starting the Savitri Bai Phule Yojana.

Dr. Marandi said that in Raghubar government, there was a provision to give money till class tenth and above but Hemant government is working to give money only till class 8th above. This is injustice to the children of those poor families. How will his parents get him to study till 8th class?

Dr. Marandi said that under the Chief Minister Sukanya Yojana in the Raghubar government, a daughter was given Rs 30 thousand from birth till she passed 12th and Rs 10 thousand when she turned 18 years of age. Also, under the Chief Minister Kanyadan Yojana, a separate amount of Rs 30 thousand was given for the daughter's marriage.

Dr. Marandi said that in the previous BJP government, there was a registry of land and houses worth up to Rs 50 lakh for women for Re 1, which was closed by the Hemant government.

The BJP leader said that in the last four years, the Hemant government failed to constitute the Women's Commission, an institution that would provide constitutional support for women.

Echoing the views of Dr Marandi, Nirsa MLA Aparna Sen Gupta said that in 2019, Thugbandhan's government had shown big promises to the people of this state in its manifesto, if it comes to the government; it will provide security to women. The situation of women's safety in the state is not hidden from anyone.

The incident of rape of more than 6000 women in the state in the last 4 years is enough to show how much security of women is guaranteed in the state government.

The daughters and daughters of the state are not safe anywhere. Parents remain worried until school and college students return home. Rape, murder and harassment of women aged between 6 and 60 are increasing day by day in this government.
A board will be formed for the uplift of transgender population in Jharkhand. Besides, a committee will be formed in each district under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner. At present transgenders have been given OBC-II status and the department is preparing an integrated plan for their uplift. The information was given by Kripanand Jha, Secretary, Women, Child Development and Social Security Department, in a press conference in the conference hall of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations here on Tuesday.

Jha said that on the instructions of the Chief Minister, work is being done under social security at various levels in the direction of social uplift at the departmental level. Giving detailed information about the schemes of the department, he said that a total of nine schemes are being run in the state under the Sarvajan Pension Scheme, out of which three schemes are centrally sponsored and 6 schemes are being run by the state government. He said that the government has made a separate arrangement for a revolving fund of Rs 100 crore so that the pensioners can get timely benefits. An increase of 82 per cent has been recorded in the pensioners of the state in four years. In 2023, a total of more than 6 lakh 56 thousand pension applications have been received under the Aapki Adhikar, Aapki Sarkar, Aapki Dwar program.

The departmental secretary said that under the Savitribai Phule Kishori Samriddhi Yojana in the state, to encourage the girls who are dropping out due to some reason and to make them educated, so far 6 lakh 21 thousand beneficiaries have been covered under the scheme in 2023-24, whereas in the last 2022-23, more than 7 lakh 28 thousand girls and adolescent girls were benefited.

Jha said that out of the total 378 thousand 432 Anganwadi centers in the state, 6850 centers will be developed as capable Anganwadi centres. Besides, smart mobiles will be provided to more than 29 thousand maids. He informed that the department plans to construct buildings of more than 10 thousand Anganwadi centers under DMFT/CSR fund. Besides, facilities like LPG cylinder, water purifier and smart TV etc. will be provided in the centres. Regarding honorarium, he said that it has been fixed at Rs 9500 per month for Anganwadi maids and Rs 4750 per month for assistants. Apart from this, provision has also been made to increase honorarium by Rs 500 and Rs 250 respectively every year. The retirement age of maids and assistants has been increased to 62 years.

Along with providing facilities to the maids and assistants, efforts are also being made by the department to make the services provided in the centers more effective. The government has started the scheme for distribution of maternal kits. Besides this, sanitary napkins will also be distributed. The department is also performing better for women's welfare. A financial amount of Rs 2 lakh will be provided by the government for widow remarriage in the state. Also, in the current financial year, financial assistance has been provided to 11 thousand 880 girls on marriage. Action is being taken to start the scheme soon to benefit 6 lakh pregnant women in the state.

Under child welfare, sponsorship of Rs 4,000 per child is being provided for the protection and care of children living in adverse conditions. Till now this benefit has been given to 4 thousand 497 children. The Juvenile Justice Board, created to deal with the cases of children involved in violation of law, has been increased to 26, so that proper and speedy disposal of such cases can be done. For children in conflict with law, there is a plan to construct a place of septic with 50 beds in Ranchi district for Rs. 1107.23 lakh. Under this, there is a plan to build three such homes in three districts of the state, Dumka, Palamu and Latehar, which will have old age homes and children's homes in the same campus.

Under the department, action is being taken to fill 64 vacant posts of Child Development Project and 444 vacant posts of women supervisors. Help from JPSC and JSSC will be taken to fill these vacant posts.
Dr SC Dubey, Assistant Director General (Plant Protection and Biosafety), ICAR on Tuesday took over as the Vice Chancellor of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU). His term will be for three years.

After his joining in university headquarters, Dr Dubey offered floral tributes to the statues of Birsa Bhagwan and Kartik Oraon on the campus and addressed the senior officers in BAU Board Room.

He directed all the Deans, Directors to submit details of vacant positions of officers, teachers, scientists and all categories of non-teaching staff to Director Administration within a week so that all the posts could be advertised by Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand State Staff Selection Commission within a month.

The VC directed the concerned officials to convene a meeting of BAU Academic Council and Board of Management within 20 days. Registrar was advised to write letters to concerned departments for nomination of members against vacant positions of BAU Board of Management.

Dr Dubey stressed that all officers including Deans, Directors should understand their responsibilities, exercise their powers and give clear specific notings so that concerned files could be disposed off as early as possible. File movement process will also be reviewed to ensure early action, he added.

It was resolved to organise Agrotech Kisan Mela from February 24 to 26 and Director Extension Education was directed to complete necessary formalities soon.

He said all expenses should be made strictly following the rules with due economy. File notings should be given in accordance with the provisions of University Act, Statutes, service code and government provisions.

Dr Dubey had earlier served BAU as Asst Prof and Associate Prof from 1989 to 2001. Later joined ICAR and worked as Senior Scientist, Principal Scientist, HoD, Director and ADG.

He is specialised in fungal plant pathology in areas of diversity analysis, race profiling, diagnostics, epidemiology and management of plant diseases using host resistance and bio-agents with special reference to diseases of pulse crops. Diversity, diagnostics, host-pathogen interaction and management of fungal plant pathogens have been his major areas of research. He has to his credit over 200 research papers published in national and international journals.

Currently he is Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi, National Academy of Biological Sciences (NABS), Tamil Nadu; Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Udaipur and Indian Phytopathological Society, New Delhi.
The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara has alleged that the BJP government is consistently ignoring the dependents of the freedom fighters due to which they are forced to move from pillar to post. He was addressing the meeting of the State Congress freedom fighters dependents cell at the State headquarters of the party here on Tuesday.

Remembering the freedom fighters, the PCC president said that we are breathing in a free country due to the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters. He said that the entire country is indebted towards the freedom fighters. He said that the country made rapid strides in development after independence under the leadership of the Congress party and the country became an economic power. Mahara said that the Congress party always maintained an atmosphere of communal harmony and brotherhood. He said that though the Congress party is not in power now, it has always put pressure on the centre and the State governments to work in the right direction.

The PCC president said that the situation on the boundaries of the country is a cause of concern but the brave soldiers of the country are always ready to defend the nation.

The president of the freedom fighters dependents cell Murli Manohar demanded that the cell should be reconstituted at national level and the concerns of the dependents of freedom fighters should be included in the election manifesto of Congress party. He said that the Congress should raise the demand of granting 10 per percent horizontal reservation to the dependents in government jobs in the State assembly.

The State vice president (Organisation) of Congress Mathura Dutt Joshi, general secretary Mahendra Singh Negi, chief spokesperson Garima Dasauni and others attended the meeting.
Telco Gurudwara is all set to host a magnificent Nagar Kirtan in celebration of the 357th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji on Wednesday. Under the aegis of the Central Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (CGPC), nagar kirtan will start from Telco gurudwara and will end at Sakchi Gurudwara.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji, born in Patna on December 22, 1666, is revered for establishing the 'Khalsa Panth' in 1699, aiming to protect people from oppression and uphold religious freedom. Devotees gathered at Telco Gurudwara to participate in special prayer ceremonies, with free langars (holy kitchen) providing nourishment to mark this auspicious occasion.

Under the auspices of CGPC, a religious procession would commence from Telco Gurudwara and wound its way through various areas, culminating at Sakchi Gurudwara in the evening. The procession will be a vibrant display of Sikh traditions, featuring recitations of sacred Gurubani Keertans by renowned Sikh preachers from the city.

Parmeet Kaur, a Sikh devotee, expressed, "We are celebrating 'Prakash Utsav,' the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, with fervor. Devotees come here with happiness and devotion to celebrate this significant day."

Bhagwan Singh, president, CGPC highlighted, "Like every year, we are taking out a religious procession and chanting prayers to celebrate the birth anniversary of our revered Guru."

During the procession, devotees will chant prayers while walking alongside the chariot. Trained professionals showcase Sikh martial art forms, including the daring 'Gatka,' symbolizing victory over evil.

All 33 Gurudwaras in the district are adorned for the occasion, organizing religious congregations and hosting langars as an integral part of the celebrations.

Guru Gobind Singh, the transformative tenth Guru of Sikhs, created the Khalsa in 1699, marking a significant milestone in the Sikh faith. The Khalsa, a community of practicing Sikhs, continues to carry forward the values instilled by Guru Gobind Singh.

As part of the festivities, a two-day congregation at Sakchi Gurudwara has been organized, where participants of the religious procession will be felicitated based on their performances.

The celebration of Guru Gobind Singh's Prakash Parv stands as a testament to the rich Sikh heritage and the devotion of the community in Jamshedpur.
The Haryana Government is soon going to establish a state-level board dedicated to the social and economic security of gig workers involved in delivering goods, services, and food to the doorstep.



The government will present a bill for consideration in the upcoming cabinet meeting titled 'The Haryana Gig Workers Welfare Board Bill-2024'.



Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Tuesday engaged in discussions regarding this proposal with representatives from various service-providing companies, officials from industrial and commercial organizations, and senior administrative officials from departments such as labour, transport, taxation, etc in Gurugram.



During the meeting, Chautala highlighted that the unorganized service sector in Haryana comprises approximately 52.70 lakh workers, engaged with e-commerce giants such as Zomato, Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Flipkart, Amazon, etc.



These workers, operating on bikes, scooters, and small vehicles, may work part-time or full-time, yet lack provisions for insurance, provident fund (PF), medical services, or other allowances. The government's proposal involves establishing a dedicated welfare board for these mobility workers, akin to those for building construction workers," he said.



Such a board could offer financial assistance to these workers or their families in unforeseen circumstances. The Deputy Chief Minister mentioned the Government of India's initiative, the e-Shram portal, for worker registration.



He said that numerous schemes are currently in place for the welfare of unorganized sector workers, encompassing financial aid for their children's education, support for daughters' marriages, grants, and allowances for purchasing bicycles, among others.



The Deputy Chief Minister informed that the primary objective of this board will be to safeguard the rights of mobility workers. To fund the welfare initiatives for these workers, a nominal fee known as the Mobility Worker Welfare Cess may be imposed on the services provided to consumers, with the collected amount dedicated to the welfare of mobility workers.
Jabalpur High Court is scheduled to hear the case of Bhopal gas victims on January 17. A case has been ordered against nine officials of the Central and State Governments for not providing proper treatment and research to the gas victims, and for disobeying the 2012 order of the Supreme Court of India, regarding the health of the Bhopal gas victims.

These officers have received notice:- Aarti Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family, Government of India, Dr. RR Tiwari, Director of National Institute for Research on Environmental Health, Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre. ICMR Director Dr Prabha Desikan, Additional Chief Secretary Mohammad Suleman, then Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, State Information Officer Amarkumar Sinha, NICSI Vinodkumar Vishwakarma and ICMR Senior Deputy Director, Government of India R. Rama Krishnan has received the notice.

Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information & Action welcomed this order of the judiciary. She said the order should set an example. So that all the officials who have caused this condition of the health system of the gas victims, should also get exemplary punishment.

The charge levelled on all these officers by the division bench reads, 'It is clear from the July 2023 report of the monitoring committee constituted by the Supreme Court, that despite the lapse of more than 10.5 years, all of you respondents have failed to comply with the Supreme Court's instructions. At the same time, no promptness or honesty has been shown in following the instructions of this court. Gas victims are being left in the lurches. All of you respondents have made the process of complying with these orders so difficult that you all have made the concept of PIL a joke. This Court does not find any good reason behind the laxity on the part of your respondents except your insensitivity towards the gas victims'.

The decision was given in December.

Rachna Dhingra said that the court had given the decision on December 20. After this notices were sent to the officials. But, I came to know about such an important and strict decision of the court on January 15. This case will be heard in the High Court on January 17. Dhingra said that a copy of the charge has been given to all the officers.
The rejection of the review petition filed by the State government in the Supreme Court in the horticulture scam has given a chance to the opposition Congress to attack the BJP government. The party has demanded that the horticulture minister should take the moral responsibility for the debacle of the government and resign from his post.

The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara said that the State government went to the SC against the order of the Uttarakhand High Court regarding the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in horticulture scam but it got a severe reprimand there. He said that it is hard to understand as to why the state government is so keen to protect the corrupt in the case. Mahara said that SC has expressed annoyance at the fact that the government wants the protection of SC for saving the corrupt.

The PCC president said that the State government should answer as to why it didnt order an inquiry when the complainant submitted his complaint in the case. He said that the minister ordered an inquiry when a PIL was filed in HC but the findings of the inquiry were not made public. The PCC president said that the government should reply as to why it appointed a tainted officer from Himachal Pradesh on the post of director in the horticulture department and gave him a service extension.

The leader of opposition (LoP) in State assembly Yashpal Arya said that the rejection of a review petition filed by SC in the horticulture scam has proved that the State BJP government is trying to protect the corrupt.

He said, while rejecting the review petition of the government, the Supreme Court has raised questions on the intentions of the state government and asked why the Uttarakhand government wants to stop the CBI investigation against the corrupt? After the CBI inquiry order by the HC, the Cabinet minister Ganesh Joshi had said that the corrupt will be prosecuted but the government went to the SC to protect the officers and the BJP MLA and his brother involved in the scam.
The Indian Institute of Management Ranchi hosted a thought-provoking discussion on aligning Energy Transformation with Viksit Bharat @2047, India's vision for a developed and prosperous nation by 2047. The event, held on January 16, 2024 featured Pramod Agrawal, IAS (Retd.), Former Chairman cum Managing Director-Coal India Limited and Distinguished Visiting Professor - IIM Ranchi.

The session commenced with Prof. Deepak Kumar Srivastava, Director, IIM Ranchi, welcoming Shri Agrawal and highlighting the significance of exploring the transformation of Coal India in the context of Viksit Bharat@2047. Prof. Srivastava emphasized the importance of such discussions in fostering new ideas and driving growth.

Agrawal shared his vast experience in the energy sector, delving into the current transition, challenges, and prospects. He emphasized the need for decarbonization and a shift towards renewable energy sources to address increasing global emissions. He pointed out that while India's per capita energy consumption is significantly lower than some developed nations, all countries must reduce their consumption for a sustainable future.

Agrawal also shed light on Coal India Ltd., underscoring its position as the world's largest coal mining company and its vital role in meeting India's energy needs. He discussed the company's future trajectory, highlighting the projected growth in electricity generation and the continued dominance of coal as a primary fuel source in the near future. He acknowledged the challenges of future power shortages and emphasized the need for a longer-term perspective to achieve 24x7 electricity access. He outlined the expectations of various stakeholders from Coal India Ltd., including the Government of India, employees, customers, shareholders, and management. He then elaborated on the critical changes required across various domains, including process optimization, human resource management, and change management strategies.

The event concluded with an exciting Q&A with students and with the felicitation of our esteemed guest.
The Ministry of Coal organized a roadshow in Ranchi today, where Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Amrit Lal Meena was the chief guest and Additional Secretary & Nominated Authority, M Nagaraju, Aboobacker Siddique P, Secretary (Mines), Government of Jharkhand were the Guests of Honour and P M Prasad, Chairman, Coal India Limited was the Special Guest for the event.

Coal Ministry has so far completed successful auction of 91 coal mines in the first seven tranches and has launched the process for auction of 35 coal mines under 8th round of commercial auctions and 4 coal mines under 2nd attempt of 7th round of commercial auctions which had received single bids in the first attempt on November 15, 2023. The Bid Due Date is January 29, 2024. Additionally, the 9th round offering 27 coal mines and 5 coal mines under the second attempt of the 7th round has also been launched on December 20, 2023. The bid due date for the 9th round is February 19, 2024.

Additional Secretary & Nominated Authority, M. Nagaraju welcomed all the investors and informed the forum about the coal reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Coal to improve the attractiveness of the coal auction process and make it more investor friendly.

Virtually, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Amrit Lal Meena reiterated the commitment of the Ministry in supporting the coal industry and informed that Ministry of Coal will extending any help required by the prospective bidders. He also emphasised that the investors should participate in the coal mine auctions as coal mining business is highly profitable which can be seen from the coal mines which have already started coal production under commercial mining.

P M Prasad, Chairman, Coal India Limited, applauded the efforts of the Ministry of Coal in making Commercial Coal Mine Auctions a success by auctioning 91 coal mines in such a short span of time. He also welcomed the steps being taken by the Ministry in providing support by launching Single Window Clearance system and setting up a Project Monitoring Unit to help the Successful Allocatees of the coal mine in early operationalisation.

Aboobacker Siddique, Secretary , Mines, Government of Jharkhand welcomed the investors and Chiranjib Patra, GM, CMPDIL gave a presentation on the technical details of the coal blocks being offered in the commercial auction process, and Shubham Goel, Vice President, SBI Capital Markets delivered a presentation on the terms and conditions of the auction process.

Key features of the auction process include reduction in upfront amount and bid security amount, submission of bid security in form of NEFT/RTGS, permission to relinquish part of the coal mine in case of partially explored coal mines, introduction of National Coal Index and National Lignite Index, ease of participation with no entry barriers, full flexibility in coal utilisation, optimized payment structures, efficiency promotion through incentives for early production, use of clean coal technology and Rebate for Performance Security for underground mines.

The sale of tender documents commenced on November 15, 2023, for the 8th round and from December 20, 2023 for the 9th round of commercial coal mine auction. Details of the mines, auction terms, timelines etc. can be accessed on MSTC auction platform. The auction shall be held online through a transparent two stage process, on the basis of Percentage Revenue Share.

SBI Capital Markets Limited, the sole Transaction Advisor to the Ministry of Coal for the commercial coal mine auctions, is assisting the Ministry of Coal in conducting the auction.
Fifteen days after the murder of Divya Pahuja, a former Gurugram-based model and girlfriend of slain gangster Sandeep Gadoli who was shot dead at a hotel here, the police in search operation along with the Municipal Corporation Gurugram (MCG) workers recovered the murder weapon on Wednesday.

During the search operation in brushes located near Palam Vihar Mod on Old Delhi Road, the police recovered a pistol along with a live cartridge."The weapon was recovered following the direction of the prime accused Abhijeet Singh. He was accompanying police following which during a search operation along with MCG workers weapon was recovered," Varun Dahiya, ACP (crime) said.

Meanwhile, Abhijeet Singh was sent to judicial custody after competition eight days police remand period on Wednesday, police said.Divya's body was recovered on January 13 -- eleven days after she was shot dead at a hotel, and was cremated on January 14 by her family members.

Divya, 27, was allegedly killed by Abhijeet Singh, the owner of Hotel City Point where she was staying.Divya's body was recovered from a canal in Tohana in Haryana's Fatehabad district on January 13.According to the police, Divya and Abhijeet were in a relationship.
Miscreants targetted the deserted house of retired Assistant General Manager of Bank of India in Kohefiza police station area of Bhopal and stole goods worth Rs 20 lakh including gold and silver jewelery from their place.

The accused had entered the house by breaking the central lock of the main door. The thieves even stole the DVR of the CCTV installed in the house, so that they could not be captured on camera.

According to the police, Shailendra Srivastava (60) of Vijay Nagar Lalghati, is retired from Bank of India. On January 12 around 6:15 am, he along with his family had gone to Ahmedabad. All the family members returned home on the evening of Sunday 14 January. After coming back he saw that the central lock of the main door of the house was damaged and the latch was broken.

On entering the house gold and silver jewelery and cash were found stolen. The miscreants escaped with Rs 4 lakh kept in the box. The total loss in the burglary was around Rs 20 lakh.

Shailendra Srivastava told the police that his father who was a government teacher died recently father's cash was kept in an old box. The miscreants broke the lock of that box and also stole the money.

Meanwhile a case of theft of three bikes from Jain Nagar in Lalghati of the state capital was reported with the Koh-e-fiza police.

The miscreants committed the crime on the night of January 8. After investigation, the police have registered a case of bike theft against unknown thieves. The businessman has also given CCTV footage of the incident to the police.

Ankit Soni, resident of Lalghati Jain Nagar told the police that on the night of January 8, unknown bike thieves broke the lock of the porch of the house and stole the bike kept there.

This bike was registered in the name of elder brother Akhilesh. According to Ankit, the thieves entered the porch by breaking the lock of the main gate and stole two other bikes from the house by breaking their handle locks.
In a compassionate and considerate initiative, all Rotary Clubs of Jamshedpur and Chaibasa Zone 18, under the guidance of assistant governor Anjani Nidhi, launched the impactful campaign, Every Feet Must Have a Slipper. A need-based survey was meticulously carried out in places such as railway stations, areas inhabited by homeless footpath dwellers, and vicinity around temples. The survey identified individuals without proper footwear, highlighting the necessity for a basic yet essential item for daily life.

On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, the Rotary Club of Jamshedpur West extended its helping hand to the small population of Chimti Village in Bodam. A total of 150 pairs of slippers were distributed to each household, accompanied by a thoughtful assortment of bananas, cupcakes, bhujia, and laddus.

This initiative reflects the Rotary Club's commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the underprivileged by addressing not only the essential need for footwear but also providing additional items to bring smiles to their faces.

In an exemplary display of solidarity, more than 1000 pairs of slippers were distributed across the town by all Rotary Clubs on this occasion. The collaborative effort ensured that the underprivileged in various parts of Jamshedpur received the much-needed footwear, contributing to their well-being.

The event witnessed the presence of esteemed individuals, including Past District Governor Pratim Banerjee, Assistant Governor Anjani Nidhi (Zone 18), Rotary Club Jamshedpur West president Neeta Agarwal, secretary Ashok Kr Jha, and other notable personalities such as Sanjeev and Anupama Sehgal, J.B. Singh, Rishi, Dipti Singh, and Binod Agarwal.
The leader of banned pro-Khalistan outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on Tuesday issued dire threats against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the state director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. Pannun, in a video posted on the banned outfit's social media handle, urged the gangsters to unite and contact him to launch an attack on Mann during the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. He has already been declared a terrorist by the Indian Government.

The threat reportedly comes in the wake of strict actions against gangsters in Punjab, following the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy by the Punjab Police. Pannuns history of incendiary calls for violence against India escalated after the US Government alleged Indian involvement in a failed attempt on the Khalistan leader's life on American soil.

In the video, Pannun not only targeted Mann but also challenged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the Republic Day parade without any security cover, while referring to the assassination of Khalistani separatist leader Shaheed Nijjar.

I dare Modi, you come to Delhi without your security. If you are a popular leader, come to Delhi on R-Day without security and SFJ is going to avenge the assassination of Shaheed Nijjar by raising the Khalistan flag, he said in the video.

Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist leader, was killed by unidentified gunmen in Canadas Surry, with the Justin Trudeau government alleging possible role of Indian agents behind the incident.

Pannu also compared Chief Minister Mann to former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was assassinated in 1995. He also compared DGP Gaurav Yadav to former state police chief ..

In another video, Pannun appealed to the gangsters in Punjab to join SFJ, encouraging them to be recognized as shaheeds or martyrs.

He not only targeted the Punjab Police's efforts to reform law and order through legal and judicial means but also criticized recent encounters and encouraged gangsters, both incarcerated locally and those residing abroad, to establish communication with him.

The threat doesn't stop at challenging law enforcement. Pannun directed his ire towards Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann warning that wherever he would unfurl the national tricolour, Pannun and his associates are prepared to mar the atmosphere. Pannun explicitly expressed his intent to disrupt Republic Day celebrations, hinting at potential repercussions if his demands were not met.

An NIA Special Court had issued non-bailable warrants against Pannun in February 2021, declaring him a 'Proclaimed Offender' in November 2022. In September, the National Investigation Agency confiscated his properties in Amritsar and Chandigarh.
Special camps were conducted on Monday in all tehsils and sub-tehsils across Punjab to address pending mutation cases. The initiative, aimed at streamlining administrative processes and providing hassle-free services, witnessed a massive response, with a total of 50,796 mutation cases resolved in these two camps.

The state Revenue Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa on Tuesday shared that the first camp, organized on Saturday, January 6, successfully resolved 31,538 cases, while the second camp on Monday addressed an additional 19,258 cases. Minister Jimpa personally visited camp sites at Balachaur, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, and Patiala on January 15 to assess progress, interacting with people to ensure the effective functioning of the camps.

Highlighting the success of the special camps, the Minister informed that people were able to get their pending mutations addressed on the spot. He underscored the State Governments commitment to minimize public inconvenience by providing essential services efficiently.

Encouraging the citizens to report any issues faced in revenue offices, the Minister assured swift resolution through a dedicated helpline (8184900002) for local complaints and a separate number (9464100168) for the NRIs.

As part of the governments transparency initiative, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been conducting surprise visits to Tehsil Offices to assess the functionality of revenue offices. Minister urged the citizens not to hesitate in reporting any instances of bribery demands from officials, ensuring prompt action for maintaining transparent administration across the state.

Late-night reports on Monday highlighted that Ludhiana district witnessed the highest number of mutations with 3,528 cases in the second camp. Additionally, Amritsar recorded 508 cases, Barnala 353, Bathinda 623, Fatehgarh Sahib 646, Fazilka 733, and other districts reported varying numbers of resolved mutation cases.
Senior BJP leader, founder member of undivided Janata Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mohammad Salim Qureshi passed away early on Tuesday morning.

He was former chairman Madhya Pradesh Haj Committee and former chairman of Urdu Academy.

His last rites were performed at

the Bada Bagh graveyard in the afternoon in the presence of several eminent personalities of the city including former Mayor Alok Sharma.

Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla expressed grief over the demise of veteran BJP leader Salim Qureshi. In his message he said, May the bereaved family be given the strength to bear this grief.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said he will go with his family to Ayodhya and pay obeisance to Ram Lalla at the Ram temple there after the January 22 consecration ceremony.

Talking to reporters after meeting the elderly who were departing for Dwarkadheesh under the Delhi government's pilgrimage scheme, Kejriwal said, "I got a letter that said only one person was allowed (for the ceremony) due to security reasons. They said a team will come to give a personal invitation but no one came."

Several opposition parties, including the CPM, the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and Samajwadi Party, announced that they would skip the inauguration ceremony. Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena said he was not invited despite the contribution of Balasaheb Thackeray behind the Ram Mandir dream. Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar will also skip the event.

"I want to visit for a darshan of Ram Lalla along with my wife and children. My parents are also longing for a darshan of Ram Lalla. I will go after the January 22 ceremony along with my wife, children and parents," he said.

However, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said the Ram temple's trust has sent a formal invitation to the Delhi chief minister by post. "We hope he will definitely grace the historic moment of 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration) in Ayodhya," he said.

The "Pran Prathishta" of the idol of Ram Lalla will be held at the upcoming Ram temple in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on January 22 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it. Thousands of people, including seers and noted personalities, have been invited for the ceremony. Kejriwal, who is the national convener of the AAP, also said after the "Pran Prathishta", his government will try to arrange more trains to Ayodhya under the Mukhya Mantri Teertha Yatra Yojna (pilgrimage scheme).Visit to a temple is a matter of faith and there can be no politics over it, he said when asked about Prime Minister Modi's visit to temples in different parts of the country.

"Temple (visit) is a matter of faith. Everyone has their faith and belief according to their religion. It's a matter of devotion and faith, and there cannot be be any politics in it," he said.

Earlier Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said he had "no knowledge" about it."I believe it is important to go to (Ayodhya) but going when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going there is not necessary," he said.

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi defending the decision of his party's top leaders to decline the invite to the ceremony and alleging that the January 22 function has been made into a political event, Bharadwaj said most opposition leaders have said they will go to Ayodhya.

"Arvind Kejriwal has already been there. There should not be too much tug of war over the fact that why are you not going there when Prime Minister Modi is going or why will you not sit with him," the AAP leader said.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar and the 14 MLAs of the Uddhav Thackeray group on petitions filed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena challenging Narwekar's order to not disqualify the lawmakers.

A division bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Firdosh Pooniwalla also issued notice to the Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat and directed all the respondents to file their affidavits to the petition.

The bench posted the matter for hearing on February 8.

The petitions filed by Bharat Gogavale, the chief whip of Shinde-led Shiv Sena, against the 14 MLAs said it was challenging the legality, propriety and correctness of the January 10 order passed by Speaker Narwekar dismissing the disqualification petitions filed by him against the lawmakers from the rival camp.

Gogavale has sought HC to declare the speaker's order as bad in law, quash it and disqualify all the 14 MLAs from the Thackeray group  Sena (UBT).

Issue notice to all respondents. Reply affidavits if any to be filed in advance and copies to be served on the petitioner. Matter to be listed on February 8, the court said.

The petitions  against each of the 14 MLAs  were filed on January 12.

The court clarified that, as per a new practice, all matters filed are taken up for hearing within a day or two.

Because of auto-listing the petitions have been listed today. There is a standing notice that all matters once it is filed will be listed. This reduces the burden of mentioning and all. At least this way, the matter will move forward, Justice Kulkarni said.

In the petitions, Gogavale said that on July 3, 2022, he had issued a whip to all Shiv Sena members to vote in favour of the Shinde government during the confidence motion to be held in the assembly on July 4, 2022.

However, the 14 Uddhav Thackeray MLAs not only violated the whip but also voluntarily gave up the membership of the Shiv Sena Political Party by their acts and omissions, he said.

In his petitions, Gogavale said the Speaker had failed to consider that apart from giving up the membership, the Thackeray group MLAs also voted against the Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra in cahoots with Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to destabilise the ruling dispensation.

While Gogavale moved HC on January 12, the Uddhav Thackeray faction on Monday filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Speaker's order declaring the Sena bloc led by CM Shinde as the real political party after its split in June 2022.

The Speaker had also rejected the Thackeray faction's plea to disqualify 16 MLAs of the ruling camp, including Shinde.

In the petitions, Gogavale said since the Speaker in his order has held that Eknath Shinde represents the real Shiv Sena and that Gogavale was the legally appointed chief whip of the Shiv Sena party, he (Speaker) ought to have disqualified the 14 Sena (UBT) MLAs for their actions against the party.

The final order passed by Speaker erroneously concludes that the grounds as raised by petitioner (Gogavale) are mere allegations and assertions on the part of the Petitioner," the petitions said.

This conclusion is ex facie illegal and cannot be sustained, it added.

The pleas said that the members of the Thackeray faction voted contrary to the whip issued by Gogavale and this was part of the record of the assembly and hence in no manner can be said to be a mere allegation.

In a big political win for Shinde, Narwekar on January 10 held that the Shiv Sena faction led by him was the "real political party" when rival groups emerged in June 2022 and did not disqualify any MLA from the two camps.
One state police personnel was killed when suspected Kuki militants attacked a security forces vehicle in the border town of Moreh in Manipur's Tengnoupal district on Wednesday, police said.

The deceased was identified as Wangkhem Somorjit an IRB personnel attached to state police commando in Moreh. Somorjit hails from Malom in Imphal West district, they said.

The security forces also exchanged fire with suspected Kuki militants in three different locations in Moreh town on Wednesday morning, police said.

The militants hurled bombs and fired at a post of security forces near SBI Moreh, police said, adding that the security forces retaliated the fire.

The militants had also fired RPG shells at the temporary commando post damaging several vehicles parked in the vicinity.

The suspected Kuki militants fired at the security forces post, 48 hours after two suspects in the killing of a police officer were arrested by state forces in the border town, police said.

Earlier, following inputs of "likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and property within the revenue jurisdiction of Tengnoupal" the Manipur government imposed a total curfew from 12 am on January 16.

The order by District Magistrate Tengnoupal stated that the curfew shall, however, not apply to "agencies of the government employed in the enforcement of law and order and maintenance of essential services".

Police had arrested Phillip Khongsai and Hemokholal Mate, the two main suspects in the killing of SDPO Ch Anand in October last year. The two had fired at the vehicles of the security personnel following which police chased and overpowered them.

The two were later produced before the Judicial Magistrate Moreh and have been remanded to nine days police custody, police said.

Moreh-based civil bodies including Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal had vehemently condemned the arrest and demanded unconditional release of the two within 24 hours. KIT had also warned of serious repercussions if the two are not released.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated projects worth Rs 4,000 crore to the nation on Wednesday, including key strategic initiatives at Cochin Shipyard Limited, and said these would help speed up development of the southern region of the country.

The projects comprise a 310-metre-long dry dock, constructed to international standards, and the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF), India's first fully developed pure ship repair ecosystem. Additionally, the dedication includes the IOCL's LPG import terminal.

After inaugurating the projects, the PM addressed the programme which was attended by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan.

In his speech, Modi said,"Today, when India is becoming a major centre of global trade, we are focusing on increasing the country's maritime strength."

He also said that many reforms have been carried out in the last 10 years to enhance 'Ease of Doing Business' in the sectors of ports, shipping and inland waterways.

Modi said that his government was working to make India a major maritime power.

To achieve that goal, the Central government was working to improve infrastructure, capacity, efficiency and connectivity at port cities like Kochi through initiatives like Sagarmala Pariyojana, the PM said.

"The projects inaugurated today will speed up progress and development of the southern region of the country," he added.

The PM further said that the interventions and reforms by his government has brought in huge investments in the ports and also generated more employment.

In the past, India thrived with significant global GDP contributions, powered by strong ports and port cities, he said.

The Prime Minister also said that today, as India reclaims its position in global trade, "we're actively fortifying our maritime capabilities".

He also highlighted that earlier ships used to queue up in ports for days on end to offload cargo, but now India has surpassed many developed nations in the ship turnaround time.

Modi further said that In the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal', each state plays a vital role in India's journey toward development.

"When everyone works together, the results are much better," he said.

The PM also congratulated Keralites for being the recipients of projects worth Rs 4,000 crore.

Prior to the inauguration, Sonowal shared details of the project in his welcome address.

Vijayan, who also spoke at the event, conveyed the thanks of the state to the PM.

"We are delighted to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi in our midst. At the outset let me extend a warm welcome to him and reaffirm Kerala's commitment to the overall development of our country by playing a supportive role as the host state in mega projects such as this," he said.

The CM, in his brief speech, also highlighted the role of state-run Keltron and various other Kerala-based companies in the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1 projects.

The Central government anticipates that with the dedication of these projects, Cochin Shipyard Limited is poised to double its turnover within the next four years to Rs 7,000 crore.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday offered prayers at Kerala's famous Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur and attended the family wedding of actor-politician Suresh Gopi, which saw top stars of Malayalam cinema in attendance.

The Prime Minister offered prayers at the temple dressed in the traditional attire of 'mundu' (dhoti) and a white shawl.

He shared photographs of the same on a post on social media platform X where he said, "Prayed at the sacred Guruvayur Temple. The divine energy of this temple is immense. I prayed that every Indian be happy and prosperous."

Thereafter, he changed his attire and attended the wedding of actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi's daughter.

A police officer deployed at the temple as part of the security arrangements, told a TV channel that Modi handed over the garlands to the couple which they exchanged.

Visuals aired by TV channels also showed the Prime Minister blessing the couple by joining their hands together.

The visuals also showed the couple touching the feet of Modi.

Malayalam film superstars, including Mammootty, Mohanlal, Jayaram, Dileep and Khushboo, were present there and the PM spoke to each of them, the officer added.

He also blessed and offered sweets to a few couples who got married at the temple prior to the wedding of actor and BJP leader Gopi's daughter, the officer said.

Visuals on TV channels also showed the PM handing over akshatam to the actors as well as many of the newly-wedded couples at Guruvayur.

The famous Lord Krishna shrine was under tight police security since early morning ahead of the PM's visit.

Modi arrived in Guruvayur at around 7.35 am by helicopter which landed at the Sree Krishna College ground where hundreds of BJP supporters and workers were gathered for hours to welcome him.

People of all ages welcomed the PM at the helipad waving the BJP flags and wearing hats and caps in party colours.

Pleased by the welcome he received, Modi put up a post on X about it and also attached photographs of the crowd present at the helipad.

"It was early in the morning but people in Guruvayur came in large numbers to bless me. I cherish this warmth and it motivates me to work even harder for the people," he said on X.

From the helipad, Modi went to the Sreevalsam guest house where he changed into the traditional Kerala attire before going to the temple to offer prayers.

He later offered prayers at Triprayar Sree Rama Swami Temple in Thrissur district before returning to Kochi where he will be taking part in Central government and party programmes.

The PM had arrived in Kerala on Tuesday evening on a two-day visit to the state.

On Tuesday, Modi had taken out a massive roadshow in Kochi, in an indication of BJP's focus to make inroads in the southern state in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls sailing on the PM's popularity.
Pakistan on Wednesday warned Iran of "serious consequences" after Tehran launched unprecedented missile and drone attacks on terrorist bases of a Sunni militant group in the restive Balochistan province, which killed two children and injured three others.

Two bases of Balochi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan were targeted by missiles on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported, a day after Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.

Islamabad also summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires here to the foreign ministry and issued a strongly-worded condemnation of Iran's "violation of its airspace", the Foreign Office said.

Iran's attack could potentially raise tensions in the Middle East, already roiled by Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan were specifically targeted and successfully demolished, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said.

Claiming that the area targeted is called "Green Mountain", the agency said that the bases were targeted by a combination of missile and drone attacks.

Tehran has repeatedly warned that the Jaish al-Adl militant group is using Pakistani soil in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan to launch terror attacks on Iranian security forces.

The Foreign Office of Pakistan described the incident as an "unprovoked violation of its airspace" by Iran. It said the attack killed two children and injured three others.

"Pakistan vehemently protests the violation of its sovereignty," the Foreign Office said, adding that it was "completely unacceptable" and may have "serious consequences".

"A strong protest has already been lodged with the senior official concerned in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran.

Additionally, the Iranian charge d'affaires has been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran," the statement said.

It also expressed concern that the "illegal act took place despite the existence of several established channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran".

The strikes were launched the day Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar met with the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

It added that the Iranian president's point man for Afghanistan was also in Islamabad recently.

The Foreign Office of Pakistan did not mention the location where the casualties took place. However, it is suspected that the bases were in Panjgur in Balochistan province.

Local authorities in Panjgur preferred to remain silent on the attacks, but some confided that the missile attacks also hit a mosque, partially damaging it and injuring civilians.

"Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighbourly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence," the Foreign Office said.

Jaish al-Adl, or the "Army of Justice", is a Sunni militant group founded in 2012 that largely operates in Pakistan. Iran has fought in border areas against the militants, but a missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan would be unprecedented for Iran.

Jaish al-Adl is the "most active and influential" Sunni militant group operating in Sistan-Baluchestan, according to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence.

Last month, at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an attack overnight on a police station in the southeastern province of Sistan-Balochistan, according to Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, who blamed the Jaish al-Adl for the incident.

He claimed the Jaish militants had entered Sistan from the Pakistan side near Panjgur.

On July 23 last year, four Iranian policemen were killed while on patrol near the border in an attack claimed by the Jaish Al Adl.

In May, five Iranian border guards died in clashes with an armed group in Saravan, southeast of Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Balochistan.

Over the years, the troubled Balochistan province has become a hotbed for terror attacks, and many banned religious terror, and separatist outfits have also used its soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan's security personnel and installations.
Unelected Tory PM Rishi Sunak who tried to send illegal boat migrants to African country Rwanda but failed after the EUs ECHR stopped him, is now planning to send each migrant to the moon. Every time the limp government tries to do something about the illegal boat crossings across the Channel from France, they are stopped by courts outside the UK. Brexit means nothing, so the moon is the governments last gasp.

The failed Rwanda scheme cost taxpayers over 450 million, and not one single migrant was sent there. The new moon scheme will cost the UK taxpayer over 30 trillion and will still not deter migrants crossing the Channel in rubber dinghies.

Speaking about his new plan today in parliament, Sunak revealed that each rocket to the moon will only be able to house three illegal migrants. With a migrant backlog of 850,000 it may take some time to send each migrant to the moon.

Before any migrants are sent to the lunar landscape, a migrant holding centre will have to be built and there are talks that Elon Musk will be asked to help.

The illegal migrants will be held on the moon base indefinitely.

Did I mention there is an election coming in November? a jubilant Sunak quipped in the House of Commons to jeers from MPs on both sides.
Despite being told by his senior that one of the cases was no longer with him, Mahendran went to a woman's home to get her signatures on an amended police statement that had new paragraphs inserted to highlight factors in her favour.
Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company specializing in developing, manufacturing and marketing a wide range of healthcare products. The company has its headquarters in Abbott Park, Illinois and operates in more than 160 countries worldwide.

The company was founded in 1888 by Dr. Wallace C. Abbott, and it has since grown to become one of the world's largest and most respected healthcare companies. Abbott Laboratories has a diverse portfolio of products, including medical devices, diagnostic tests, nutritional products, and branded generic pharmaceuticals. The company is committed to developing innovative products that improve the quality of life for people worldwide.

Robert B. Ford is the current President and CEO of the company. He was appointed to this position in 2020 after serving as the company's Chief Operating Officer. He has been with Abbott Laboratories since 1996 and has held various leadership positions.

Abbott Laboratories has delivered strong financial performance, declining as investors seek growth. The company's net earnings have been increasing steadily. Abbott Laboratories has a solid balance sheet with a low debt-to-equity ratio. The company has consistently delivered strong cash flow, allowing it to invest in research and development and return value to shareholders. Abbott Laboratories has a higher price-to-earnings ratio than the industry average, and the company's price-to-book ratio is also higher than the industry average. These metrics suggest that the market has a positive outlook on Abbott Laboratories and is willing to pay a premium for the company's shares. Over the past year, Abbott Laboratories' stock has declined as consumers seek to see what the company will do post-pandemic. The company's shares have experienced some volatility, but overall, they have outperformed the broader market.

Abbott Laboratories operates in the healthcare industry, which is highly regulated and complex. The industry is characterized by rapidly evolving technology, changing regulatory requirements, and shifting consumer preferences. Abbott Laboratories competes with other large healthcare companies such as Johnson & Johnson.

Abbott Laboratories' robust product pipeline is expected to drive growth in the coming years. The company is focused on developing innovative products that address unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes. In addition to its core businesses, Abbott Laboratories is expanding into new markets and investing in digital health technologies.

Like any company, Abbott Laboratories faces a range of risks and challenges. One of the most significant risks facing the company is regulatory uncertainty. Changes in regulatory requirements could impact the company's ability to bring products to market and could also increase the cost of doing business. Another risk facing the company is the threat of competitive pressures. The healthcare industry is highly competitive, and Abbott Laboratories faces competition from established companies and new entrants. Changes in consumer preferences could also impact the company's performance, particularly in the nutritional products segment.

Additionally, Abbott Laboratories is exposed to geopolitical risks, such as changes in trade policies or political instability in key markets. The company's international operations also expose it to currency fluctuations, which could impact its financial performance.
NIPSA members across the health service, education authority and the civil service will engage in strike action tomorrow (Thursday 18th January).

Almost 40,000 members will be affected by the action which is in relation to fair pay, safe staffing and proper funding for public services.

Members will be on picket lines across the country and will be joined in the action by workers from trade unions across the whole of the public sector in what is likely to be the biggest strike in the history of Northern Ireland.

NIPSA will be holding protest events at the following locations/times:

Orchard House, 40 Foyle Street, Derry at 10:00am

Secretary of States office in Erskine House, Donegal Square North, Belfast at 10:00am

Stormont Estate, Prince of Wales Avenue, Newtownards Road at 9:00am

This action will then culminate with a rally of all the Trade Unions at 12:00pm at Belfast City Hall and 11:45am in Guildhall Square, Derry, with speakers from NIPSA at both locations.

NIPSA Deputy General Secretary Maria Morgan will be speaking at the Guildhall rally and NIPSA General Secretary Carmel Gates will be speaking at the Belfast rally.

NIPSA speakers will also be attending rallies across the country and speakers/locations are listed below:

Brendan Mulholland, Magherafelt, The Diamond, 11:00am

Tanya Killen, Enniskillen, Townhall, 1:00pm

Ryan Wilson, Ballymena, Harmony Hub (the Bandstand), 10:00am

Jane Scott, Omagh, Courthouse, 1:00pm

Lucia Collins, Cookstown, Old Post Office, 1:00pm


The Bloody Sunday Trust is hosting a workshop titled: 'Palestine: What Can Derry Do?' as part of its 2024 programme of commemorative events.

The workshop will take place in Derry's Culturlann Ui Chanain on Saturday 27th January, 1.00pm to 4.00pm.

It will be chaired by Tony Doherty, chairperson of the Trust.

Mr Doherty said: "As thousands march through the streets of Derry and millions march worldwide in solidarity with the Palestinian people, The Bloody Sunday Trust is hosting 'Palestine: What Can Derry Do?'

"This discussion has been organised in response to the sense of frustration, hopelessness and despair many of us feel as we watch the Israeli genocide on Gaza.

"As we march in solidarity with Gaza, and follow the lead of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement I, and I am sure many other Derry people, are asking, What else can we do? What can Derry do to help Palestine and the Palestinian people?

This event will help us answer that question and encourage us to develop practical and impactful actions that we can all do to show our support for Palestine," said Tony Doherty.

The event will consist of a panel discussion, workshops and question and answer sessions.

Guest speakers include: Omar Barghouti, Palestinian human rights activist, winner of the 2017 Ghandi Peace Award and co-founder of the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions ( BDS) Campaign.

Sue Pentel, a founder member of Jews for Palestine  Ireland and a longterm member of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Group, Belfast.

Ms Pental described Jews for Palestine  Ireland as "a diverse groups of Jewish people in Ireland who support the Palestinian struggle for human rights and justice, a struggle that resonates with the Irish journey towards peace."

She added: "We share a commitment to human rights and justice for all. Jews for Palestine oppose the cynical deployment of the anti-Semitic label, and the history of the oppression of the Jewish people, to silence those who legitimately criticise Israel.

"Part of the long historical Jewish tradition of fighting oppression and standing up for peace and justice for all, advocating for an end to Israeli impunity and support for the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Movement as called for by Palestinian civil society.

"The State of Israel does not represent the Jewish people. We have an obligation to speak out when Israel claims its actions against the Palestinian people are taken on behalf of the Jewish people. Not in our name!

Catherine Hutton, a member of the Derry Branch of Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which was formed in 2016.

Ms Hutton said: "Since then we have campaigned for the civil and human rights of Palestinians, an end to Israeli apartheid and the right of return of refugees to Palestine.

"The group has been the driving force behind the impressive displays of solidarity with Palestine that Derry has witnessed since the beginning of the Gaza Genocide.

Eamonn Meehan, Chair of Sadaka  the Ireland Palestine Alliance and a former CEO of Trocaire.

mr Meehan said: "Sadaka was established in 2009 and works to promote policies and actions, particularly by the Irish government, to achieve justice and human rights for the Palestinian people.

"Sadaka drafted and, with others, promoted the Occupied Territories Bill within Seanad Eireann and Dail Eireann. Sadaka is a founding member of the Irish Anti-apartheid Campaign for Palestine."
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A man has been fined at Derry Magistrate's Court for attempted possession of a Taser.

George Armstrong (59) of Copperthorne in Derry admitted the charge which occurred on November 10 last year.

He also admitted possessing one Magic Mushroom on the same date.

The court heard that police investigating the attempted possession of a Taser attended at Armstrong's address.

He told them 'I did try and order a Taser'.

A subsequent search of his home located one Magic Mushroom.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that his client had not been in any trouble for almost 15 years.

He said Armstrong suffered mental health issues and this led him to try the mushroom to' improve his mood'.

The solicitor described the incident as 'a stupid course of action' and said there was a low risk of re-offending.

Deputy District Judge Trevor Brown said he was concerned about the Taser.

He imposed a fine of 100 and a conditional discharge for a period of 12 months.
CAPTION: Pictured at the launch of the exhibition on Ulster Universitys Derry campus are (left to right) Prof Malachy O Neill, Director of Regional Engagement at Ulster University, Sculptor Liz OKane, Mark Durkan, board member of the John and Pat Hume Foundation, Susanne Oberhauser, Director of EU Liaison Office and India Kennedy, second year Ulster University Politics and International studies student.

To mark the twenty-fifth anniversary year of the Belfast Good Friday agreement, Ulster University welcome an exhibition for the first time to Northern Ireland, to celebrate one of the occasions principal architects, John Hume.

In partnership with the European Parliament Liaison Office in the UK and The John and Pat Hume Foundation, the exhibit which launched yesterday evening in Derry, will embark on a year-long tour across the university campuses including Coleraine and Belfast.

The display also honours twenty-five years since Hume was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with David Trimble for their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland. The exhibition, He made hope and history rhyme takes inspiration from the words of fellow Nobel prize winner and friend, Seamus Heaney.

Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Provost Ulster University expresses: As our year long programme of events reflecting on the Belfast Good Friday agreement draws to a close, its only right that we return again to the architects of change that were instrumental in bringing about the peaceful times that we live in  with all the opportunities and potential they created.

We are delighted to partner with the European Parliament Liaison Office UK and The John and Pat Hume Foundation to host this prestigious exhibition at Ulster University.

As a son of the city, it is fitting that the exhibition launches its 2024 tour of all our campuses across the region in his home of Derry

An MEP for quarter of a century and European of the Year, Hume worked tirelessly to broker peace and reconciliation in his native land.

The everyday injustices of life in the north and especially in his divided hometown led Hume to join the civil rights movement in the 1960s and to forge a philosophy encapsulated in this quote: "Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity."

Susanne Oberhauser, Director of the European Parliament Liaison Office in the UK, commented: John Hume never tired of reminding us how the peace process in Northern Ireland has been so heavily inspired by the example of the European Parliament and the European project.

As he liked to recall: "The union of Europe was the inspiration for our [Good Friday] agreement. The first time I went to Strasbourg in 1979 as a Member of the European Parliament, and I went to neighbouring Germany, I thought that if, in 1945, someone had said that these two countries would be reunited in Europe and that Strasbourg would be the symbol city of this hope, they would have been sent to the psychiatrist.

The European Union is the best example of conflict resolution in the history of the world. All the regions at war must study the way in which Europe was built." Thus, this project is particularly dear to our hearts and we are honoured to contribute to the remembrance of his legacy.

Tim Attwood, Foundation Secretary, John and Pat Hume Foundation stated: The John and Pat Hume Foundation welcome this excellent opportunity to partner with the European Parliament Liaison Office UK and Ulster University to showcase John Humes work as a Member of the European Parliament and the fact that the mission of the European Union inspired his courageous journey to build peace and reconciliation in Ireland through dialogue, partnership and bridge-building.

Two days short of John Humes eighty seventh birthday and fifty years after Ireland officially became a member of the European Economic Community (EEC), it is our duty to keep faith with the Hume principles, keep his dream of peace and non-violence alive and inspire current and emerging courageous leaders for peaceful change, at home and in conflicts internationally, who will chart a better way forward and build a more just and prosperous future for all our children.

The exhibition features panels with highlights of Humes role in the peace process alongside a bronze bust, one of only five specially commissioned pieces created by Ballymena born sculptor, Liz OKane.

The remaining busts are installed at the Irish embassies in Washington DC, London, the European Parliament in Strasbourg and Leinster House in Dublin.

After the tour of Ulster Universitys campuses this piece will take up residence in the Guildhall in December 2024.

Alongside the exhibition is a creation by Dublin tapestry artist, Catherine OConnor whose grandparents hail from Derry. The tapestry, commissioned by friends of John and Pat Hume, shines a light on Pat and the strength of her relationship with John and her integral role in the peace process.

The exhibition is free and open to the public until Friday, 29 March and is located on the ground floor lobby of the MU building, Derry campus.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has been urged to do the right thing and release funds for public sector workers in Northern Ireland ahead of major industrial action on Thursday.

DUP peers have written to Mr Hunt and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris stating it is wrong that the Government is withholding the money until the unionist party returns to the Stormont powersharing institutions.

Last year, Mr Heaton-Harris offered Northern Ireland parties a 3.3 billion deal to stabilise finances in the region, including 600 million to settle outstanding public sector pay claims.

However, the offer is conditional on Stormont returning and the DUP is maintaining its refusal to participate in devolved government until its concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements are tackled by the UK Government.

The letter, signed by six DUP peers including Lord Dodds said: It would be wrong to withhold money that is owed public sector workers in Northern Ireland, who are shamefully underpaid when compared with the rest of the United Kingdom, when you have acknowledged that the money is available.

It would be even worse to withhold the money in those circumstances while promising to release it if the DUP agrees to accept the border in the Irish Sea and the partial disenfranchisement of the people of Northern Ireland, losing the right to make the laws to which they are subject in some 300 different areas.

The letter said Northern Ireland had been underfunded.

It added: The decision not to release the monies to pay public sector wages, is not only wrong because the money is there but because the money has in any event already been wrongly withheld from Northern Ireland for approaching two years.

Your decision not to release the monies unless and until the DUP submits to the Windsor border, and goes back to the Assembly, does not create a new funding injustice but compounds and prolongs an existing funding injustice to which the people of Northern Ireland have been uniquely subjected.

Rather than prolonging this injustice, we would ask you to end it immediately by releasing the money.

The Northern Ireland Office and the Treasury have been approached for comment.

Mr Heaton-Harris has said on a number of occasions that the setting of public sector pay rates in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter in which he does not have the power to intervene.

The Treasury and Northern Ireland Office (NIO) were approached for a response.

An NIO spokesperson said: Public sector pay in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter and it is for the relevant NI departments to negotiate pay policies.

The UK Government has no authority to negotiate pay in Northern Ireland.

The Secretary of State has expressed his disappointment that a new executive was not up and running to take the offer on the table and deliver it for the people of Northern Ireland before Christmas.

The fair and generous package offered by the UK Government is worth over 3bn, including money to address public sector pay, and more than 1bn to stabilise Northern Irelands public services.

However, this package is on the table and will remain there, available on day one of an incoming Northern Ireland Executive to take up.

It is now for the NI Parties to come together, restore the Executive and begin to address the challenges facing the people of Northern Ireland, including public sector pay.
Stormont must be reformed so no single party can collapse the powersharing institutions in the future, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long has said.

Mrs Long said the continued suspension of the Assembly was hindering public sector reform as she spoke during a failed attempt by MLAs to elect a Stormont speaker on Wednesday.

She said: While the focus today is rightly on the boycott of the DUP, I say this to other party leaders  there is no point coming to this chamber bemoaning the bind in which we find ourselves time and time again, whilst simultaneously defending and refusing to address the structural weaknesses that enable it.

The only conceivable reason any party would want to retain the power to collapse these institutions is if they intend to use it or the threat of it to subvert normal democratic process.

I want the institutions restored as soon as possible, but more, I want them reformed so that no single party can ever again hold these institutions and, with them the best interests and future of our people, to ransom.

Because it is those who live in this community who suffer as a result of repeated collapses. Our inability to sustain government has impeded public sector reform.

The Alliance leader said the restoration of the institutions would give MLAs additional resources to resolve pay issues.

For once, as an executive, we could be arguing on the same side of the table for the people who elected us, but instead we are locked out of those opportunities, Ms Long added.

The recalled Assembly session took place a day before public sector workers across Northern Ireland were due to go on strike.

Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler said the DUP would be to blame for the impact of the strikes.

He said: The blame for the impact of the strikes  and I will not mince my words today as I may not get a chance to speak in this chamber again  the blame lies squarely with the DUP.

I dont think the blame lies squarely with every member, less so with the MLAs here.

If I was a betting man, I would wager that most of the people to my right havent even seen the deal that is on offer (from the UK Government).

In my opinion, the blockage lies with a small number of DUP MPs and Lords who are far removed from the impact on public services and lives here in Northern Ireland.

The SDLPs Matthew OToole told the Assembly public sector workers were entitled to a pay rise.

He said: These are real public servants, unlike some in this chamber and elsewhere who stand for election, they take seriously the trust that is placed in them and the service they perform.

These are the nurses and health professionals who save lives and provide the care we need at some point in our lives and all of us will need in the future.

He added: This chamber and these institutions only matter to the extent that they serve the public. They arent serving anyone at the minute other than the narrow self-interest and self-obsession of a few hardline, usually online voices.

TUV leader Jim Allister said the recall of the Assembly, which was instigated by Sinn Fein reeks of insincerity.

He said: The pretence is that the motivation is to get this place, these institutions, up and running again.

Yet there is a studious avoidance of asking the question why these institutions have failed.

He added: They have failed fundamentally and unavoidably because of the (Northern Ireland) Protocol.

Upsetting and dismantling the constitutional equilibrium of the Belfast Agreement that some claim to support.
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Imec celebrates its 40th anniversary in an era of chip nationalism

Belgium-based semiconductor R&D institute, Interuniversity Micro-Electronics Center (Imec), celebrated its 40th anniversary on January 16th. A linchpin in the global semiconductor industry, Imec was founded in 1984 by a team led by Roger van Overstraeten, who studied engineering at the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) and later chaired the Department of Electrical Engineering there.

Celebrating the anniversary, Imec pointed out that one of the main obstacles facing the global semiconductor industry has been the demand for ever more advanced equipment and infrastructure to pursue the continuous miniaturization of microchips. In pursuit of the goal, Imec requires a large ecosystem of partners, from material and device suppliers to chip and end-product manufacturers, to support its R&D endeavors, and its need for a large number of laboratories, cleanrooms, and prototype equipment. To facilitate collaboration of such scale and complexity, Imec developed a unique pre-competitive collaboration model to share resources including equipment, intellectual property, and research personnel, spreading risks and costs in the process.

Notably, Imec pointed to two decisions that particularly shaped its trajectory: its investment in a 300mm cleanroom and the launch of its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography program. The 300mm cleanroom, operational 24/7, enables R&D efforts based on a sub-7nm CMOS process. Additionally, Imec also operates a 200mm cleanroom in support of Imec's heterogeneous integration research. The facility also allows processing on non-silicon substrates, including III-V materials and organic semiconductors.

Apart from advanced logic scaling beyond 1nm and 3D integration, Imec's semiconductor research also explores new memory solutions. silicon photonics, neuromorphic circuits, quantum computing, and sustainable semiconductor technologies. Being on the spearhead of cutting-edge semiconductor research, however, also pushes Imec to the fore of a geopolitical competition rapidly rippling across the global technology industry.

Back in December 2022, Imec entered a cooperation with Rapidus, Japan's government-backed flagship project to bring the 2nm process into volume production by 2027. Imec has also become foundational to the European Union's own semiconductor industrial revival strategy. However, in an interview with Taiwan-based Media Central News Agency (CNA) back in June 2023, Imec CEO Luc Van den hove stressed that international cooperation and partnership had played a big part in the success of the semiconductor industry, calling attempts to control the entire semiconductor value chain "unrealistic."
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SEATTLE (AP)  Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday sued to block the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons, two of the nation's largest grocery chains.

In the suit filed in King County Superior Court, Ferguson argued that the $25 billion deal would harm consumers and raise prices, The Seattle Times reported. Kroger and Albertsons have more than 300 locations in the state and account for more than half of its grocery sales, according to the suit.





. . .
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SEATTLE  The Cedars restaurant corner, at 4759 Brooklyn Ave. N.E., recently sold for a little over $3.9 million, according to King County records.

The seller was an LLC associated with the Khan family, which acquired its longtime location in 2015 for about $1.5 million. The eatery has been there since 1975.





. . .
The China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone is expected to play an important role in expanding economic ties between China and the rest of the world, experts agreed at a recent symposium. The FTZ in Xinjiang's southern area was established on Nov 1 and is hoped to become a new frontier for opening-up. It has subzones in Kashgar prefecture, Urumqi and Horgos. Tong Jiadong, a professor at Tianjin-based Nankai University, said the FTZ will allow for the strengthening of cooperation and exchanges with the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and Eurasia. He made the remarks at a symposium about the development of the FTZ in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, last week attended by government officials, academics and experts. According to Tong, the Urumqi subzone of the FTZ should strengthen links between land ports and airports, with a focus on developing advanced manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals, exhibitions and modern service industries, to create favorable conditions for economic development and cultural exchanges in Central Asia. The Kashgar subzone should focus on international trade and logistics, and on developing labor-intensive industries, establishing relevant training and cultural exchange centers. The Horgos subzone is an important environment for developing border service trade, cross-border tourism and renminbi internationalization, he said. Ma Xingrui, Party secretary of Xinjiang, has urged relevant departments to ensure that the FTZ is market-oriented, law-based and favorable to the international business environment. By leveraging the advantages of overlapping policies and the role of a comprehensive experimental platform for reform and opening-up, the construction of an open industrial system around advantageous industries should be accelerated in the coming months, Ma said at a work conference on the development of the FTZ. Fu Zhengping, dean of the Institute of Free Trade Zone, Sun Yat-sen University, said even though Xinjiang has obvious geographical advantages, its shortcomings are evident. He said the FTZ should utilize existing cooperation mechanisms, such as the Shenzhen and Kashgar cooperation mechanism, to strengthen links with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and draw on the practices of the GBA to promote modern service trade in the following years. Li Shenglan, a professor at Sun Yat-sen University, said the FTZ is the first one established in China's northwestern border region and so can capitalize on plenty of opportunities. "This is not only a major measure for the country to coordinate and solve the imbalance in regional development, but also a major strategy and important opportunity to accelerate the formation of a new hub for reform and opening-up in Xinjiang," said Li.
A man who repeatedly phoned in hoax bomb alerts, including 100 calls in one night, claiming there was a bomb at Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park, has been given a suspended sentence.

John Murphy, aged 47, pleaded guilty, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, to three counts of making a false report on dates in August and October 2022. One other count was taken into consideration.

Murphy, with an address at Reuben Square, Reuben Street, Dublin 8, used a mobile phone that was registered in his own name and in one instance gave his name while claiming there was a bomb.

The court heard Murphy was homeless for a period of 10 years and his current accommodation is his first home in a long time. Defence counsel urged Judge Martin Nolan not to jail him, as he will lose the home he now takes great pride in.

Imposing sentence this Wednesday, Judge Nolan said Murphy had caused the emergency services to react and had created inconvenience and stress for a large number of people.

At the time he was leading a very confused life, said Judge Nolan, noting that Murphys voice was well-known to gardai and that eventually the law caught up with him.

The judge said Murphy seems to be doing quite well now and he imposed a three-year prison sentence which he fully suspended.

Murphy was ordered to be of good behaviour throughout the three years.

His fate is in his own hands. I suspect he should keep away from phones, said Judge Nolan.

Garda Carl Howard told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that shortly after 10pm on October 3, 2020, Murphy phoned 999 to say there was a bomb in Kenny's Pub in James' Street. A number of garda units were deployed to the area, which was busy at the time, the court heard, before it was discovered to be a hoax.

The following night, Murphy again called emergency services to say there was a bomb in Reuben Square. Gardai traced the call to Murphy and located him at his home in Reuben Square, where they found a Nokia phone with the same number.

Murphy told gardai he did not remember making any such phone call in relation to a bomb.

A year later - on October 3 2021 - Murphy phoned emergency services to say there was a bomb at Garda Headquarters in Phoenix Park. He made about 100 calls alleging the same during the course of the night, the court heard. Emergency service workers recognised his voice as being the previous hoaxer.

For the final offence, on August 9, 2022, Murphy phoned a homeless service provider and claimed there was a bomb at its headquarters on Leeson Street. He was a client of the provider and gave his client ID number and his name to the person who took the call, the court heard.

A total of 48 people were evacuated from the building before it was established it was a hoax.

Murphy was charged in September 2022. He has 30 previous convictions, including three for making false reports. There were no victim impact statements before the court.

John Berry BL, defending, said Murphy was homeless for about a decade and got his first home in 2020. He said that for some time, Murphy was only sleeping in the bedroom and not using the rest of his home.

He has since settled into his home and is using all of the space, with a visiting psychologist noting he is keeping it meticulously clean, defence counsel said. He is going to the gym and taking pride in his body and in his property, Mr Berry said.

He handed in a number of testimonials stating Murphy is attending addiction counselling and has not come to recent garda attention.

Defence counsel urged Judge Nolan not to jail Murphy, saying that if he is placed in custody, he will lose the stability he has recently found.
Polygamous relationships and throuples will not be recognised under the proposed changes to the Constitution, Roderic OGorman has confirmed.

The Minister for Children told the Dail that polygamous relationships do not represent a moral institution in Irish law.

The Green Party TD made the comments during a debate on the proposed changes in the upcoming referenda.

The Government has confirmed that two referendums will be held on March 8  International Womens Day.

The referenda will be on proposals to amend Article 41 of the constitution to provide for a wider concept of family, beyond one defined by marriage; and to delete Article 41.2 and its reference to the role and duties of women in the home and replace it with a new article  42B  that recognises care provided within a family.

During the debate, Clare TD Michael McNamara queried what impact the changes would have on the recognition of polygamous marriages.

Under Irish law, polygamous marriages are not recognised.

Mr McNamara said: My understanding is that, I could be wrong in this, is that European Union law, as it stands at the moment, requires that for family reunification purposes, that the spouse and children of the first marriage only are entitled family reunification.

Now, Irish law, the 2014 Act is quite clear that all children of a person granted international protection are entitled to all minor children are entitled to family reunification.

Responding, Mr OGorman said polygamous relationships would not be protected under the proposed changes.

First of all, polygamous relationships have never been recognised under Irish law, and secondly because a polygamous relationship is not one that represents a fundamental group of society and it is not one that represents a moral institution in Irish law, he added.

And it is not one that represents as durable. The very clear policy intention of the government is a polygamous relationship  and Ive heard the word throuples thrown around  that issue has come up in some of the debates.

I want to be very clear, such relationships (throuples) are not covered within the concept that we are seeking.

The General Scheme of the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution Bill proposes to insert the words whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships.

However, there are concerns that durable has not been defined.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik has called for the word to be removed from the proposed changes.

We propose to take out the change youre proposing to 41.1., to therefore delete and not to use the phrase durable relationships, she added.

We want to see Article 41 amended, both in reference to family and in reference to care, and of course crucially to see the sexist language around women and mothers deleted and replaced.

So were all working to that same aim. Were simply putting questions that are going to be important questions in the course of the referendum campaign

I think itd be really useful for all of us campaigning on the referendum to have clarification, based upon what is said today.

Mr OGorman said the rationale behind using the term durable relationships was to expand the concept of the family in Article 41 to cohabitees with or without children, and to one-parent families.

Its intended to encompass relationships of strength, relationships of stability, relationships that consistent with the existing definition of family contained in Article 41 and that is the fundamental unit group of society, he added.

Cork TD Michael Collins criticised the term durable, saying it will be defined by case law.

The referendums wording raises questions about the types of relationships included, the impact on various laws, he added.

The proposed amendments seem to serve no positive purpose, and it might be sensible to vote no.

The governments decision to not hold a referendum with European local elections could save up to 15 million, but it seems to be a cynical exercise to let the electorate blow off some steam before the June elections.
Dundalk Chamber of Commerce are taking bookings for their tourism conference titled "Growing your visitors - Learning from the best" sponsored by ZOMA, Louth County Council, Local Enterprise Office Louth, and The Marshes Shopping Centre.

This event will bring experts together from various tourism projects around Ireland so that you can replicate it in your own business.

There will be practical tips and workshops on how to improve your tourism business so you can increase your sales and boost attendance figures at your attraction.

There will be four key speakers at the event including:

Siobhan O'Connor - Corcreggan Mill who will discuss "Corcreggan Mill- Embracing agility to drive sustainable growth."

David Kieran ZOMA will cover "Beyond Borders: How Digital Marketing is redefining the Future of Travel & Tourism."

Mike Ahern General Manager Wildlands will discuss "It takes a village ... and more. Thriving in difficult economic times".

Pol O Conghaile - Travel Editor with the Irish Independent will cover the "10 Travel Trends in 2024!"

This half day event takes place on Wednesday the 17th of April in the Four Seasons Hotel Carlingford from 8.30am to 2pm.

There will also be a Tourism Advisory Clinic with exhibits from various tourism providers and local organisations. The event is free to attend but stands cost 100 plus VAT.

You can book your place or stand by calling Brenda on Tel: 353 (42) 9336343 or email Brenda@dundalk.ie
Chinas second-most powerful man has told Irelands president that Chinese-Irish relations are a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between two countries.

Li Qiang, the premier of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived in Dublin on Tuesday night where he was greeted by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Irelands ambassador in Beijing, Ann Derwin.

On Wednesday morning, he received a strong welcome by Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at his official residence at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Mr Li told them it was a great pleasure to make their acquaintance and passed on the greetings of Chinese president Xi Jinping.

The two shook hands and Mr Li asked about Mr Higgins visit to his home province of Zhejiang.

Warmly welcoming Mr Li at the state reception room, Mr Higgins said that he remembered his state visit to China and Xi Jinpings visit to Ireland in 2012 while he was vice-president. Mr Xi became Chinas president the following year.

Mr Higgins said his 2014 visit to China gave him the opportunity to have discussions on many topics and also visiting parts of the Peoples Republic of China.

I very much welcome you, premier, and all of those travelling with you, he said.

Mr Li noted that Mr Higgins had previously visited China and said: You also had an in-depth exchange of views and a frank meeting with President Xi, and reached common understanding on a wide range of issues.

Over the years our results-oriented co-operation has made steady progress and produced rich fruit. Our relations have set a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between countries that are different in political systems, cultural divisions and geographic size.

Mr Li then travelled to nearby Farmleigh House where he met Irish premier Leo Varadkar.

He was greeted there by a Lieutenants Guard of Honour from the 12th Infantry Battalion out of Limerick.

A band from the Irish Defence Forces played as Mr Li inspected the soldiers.

Mr Li was scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Mr Varadkar there on Wednesday afternoon for discussion on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Beef is expected to feature on the menu for a working lunch amid a ban on exports of the meat from Ireland to China.

China suspended beef imports from Ireland when a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) was discovered by Irish veterinary officials in November.

Mr Lis trip comes after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since President Xi in 2017.

The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite the strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some Western countries have also avoided using, or criticised, technologies linked to the Chinese state over security concerns including TikTok and Hikvision, the latter of which manufactures CCTV cameras used in the Irish parliament.

There was a heavy garda presence around Phoenix Park, which was closed to the public until 7pm on Wednesday.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang touched down in Ireland this Tuesday evening on the largest passenger plane to ever land in Dublin Airport in history.

The Chinese politician was greeted by Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, which has caused quite the stir online, as hundreds of people flocked to the comments to label the Minister 'hypocritical'.

The moment Chinese Premier Li Qiang stepped off the plane at Dublin Airport to be welcomed by Minister @EamonRyan. pic.twitter.com/oZszg5OItf  Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) January 16, 2024

The Chinese Premier is in the country for a two-day State visit, which he is meeting the President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar over the course of his stay.

The decision to send Minister Ryan to meet Premier Li as he disembarked the giant Boeing 747-8 on Tuesday evening raised eyebrows across the country, with people sharing their thoughts online: The irony of Ryan greeting him, with another simply saying The irony!.

Another social media user took to X (formerly Twitter), saying: Did the Minister cycle to meet him [Premier Li] to offset the carbon footprint?, with another asking: "Are you going to pull him on Chinas massive carbon output?".

The so-called 'irony' relates to the fact that Minister Ryan is the leader of the Green Party, which advocates for renewable energy use and improving climate change. The largest commercial aircraft making a historic landing in one of Ireland's busiest airports, holding very little passengers, would therefore generally go against Green Party beliefs.

The fuel usage of the aircraft used by Premier Li is approximately 14,400 liters per hour. The amount of fuel that a Boeing 747-8 burns depends on a number of factors, including the weight of the aircraft, the speed of the aircraft, and the altitude of the aircraft.

"A very special moment as Air China flight CCA001 arrives at Dublin Airport - the largest passenger aircraft to land here in our 84 year history," Dublin Airport shared on X.

President Higgins is meeting the Premier alongside his wife Sabina in Aras an Uachtarain, in Phoenix Park this Wednesday morning. Taoiseach Varadkar is expected to host Premier Li during a working lunch at Farmleigh House later in the afternoon.
Irish beef exports to China are to resume as part of measures agreed during a bilateral meeting of senior government figures in Dublin.

Li Qiang, Chinas second-most powerful man, met Irish premier Leo Varadkar during a brief diplomatic visit to Ireland.

Mr Varadkar said there was a clear desire to deepen relations and it was also agreed that Irish citizens could visit and stay in China for up to 15 days without a visa.

Mr Li, the premier of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived in Dublin on Tuesday night where he was greeted by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Irelands ambassador in Beijing, Ann Derwin.

On Wednesday morning, he received a strong welcome from Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at his official residence at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Mr Li told them it was a great pleasure to make their acquaintance and passed on the greetings of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The two shook hands and Mr Li asked about Mr Higgins visit to his home province of Zhejiang.

Warmly welcoming Mr Li at the state reception room, Mr Higgins said that he remembered his state visit to China and Mr Xis visit to Ireland in 2012 while he was vice-president.

Mr Xi became Chinas president the following year.

Mr Li said that Chinese-Irish relations are a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between two countries.

He added: Over the years our results-oriented co-operation has made steady progress and produced rich fruit.

Our relations have set a good example of mutually beneficial co-operation between countries that are different in political systems, cultural divisions and geographic size.

Mr Li then travelled to nearby Farmleigh House where he met Mr Varadkar.

He was greeted there by a Lieutenants Guard of Honour from the 12th Infantry Battalion out of Limerick.

A band from the Irish Defence Forces played as Mr Li inspected the soldiers.

Mr Li then held a bilateral meeting with Mr Varadkar for discussion on issues including climate change as well as conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The two leaders ate beef during a working lunch.

The meat was included on the menu amid a ban on beef exports from Ireland to China since November following the detection of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in an Irish cow.

During the trip, Chinese officials agreed to immediately restart Irish beef imports.

Mr Varadkar said Ireland is seeking a strong and constructive relationship with China built on trust and respect.

The Taoiseach said 2024 marked 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adding Ireland and China had growing economic relations as well as flourishing people-to-people ties and culture exchange.

He added: I believe Chinas role is indispensable in the world when it comes to finding ways to overcome the challenges we face, not least when it comes to climate, global security, global inequality and the conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Myanmar.

Mr Varadkar said the Irish Government also raised human rights concerns with the visiting Chinese delegation.

He said: We raised, in particular, our concerns about human rights in what are called the special autonomous regions: Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau.

We need to be frank about these things  that China is on the UN Human Rights Council and has international responsibilities.

Any country, including our own country, should be judged by the way it treats minorities.

Mr Varadkar said Mr Li was happy to discuss the matters, but added: I dont want to speak for him, but I think its fair to say that they would have a very different view of the facts and dispute a lot of whats said in the media.

The Irish side also raised concerns about the trial of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, he said.

Mr Lis trip came after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since President Xi in 2017.

The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some Western countries have also avoided using, or criticised, technologies linked to the Chinese state over security concerns including TikTok and Hikvision, the latter of which manufactures CCTV cameras used in the Irish parliament.
Vulture funds are continuing to snap up family homes across Ireland, Mary Lou McDonald has told the Dail.

Accusing the government of failing to tackle the issue, the Sinn Fein leader said that investment funds are continuing to bulk-buy family homes.

It was reported last week that 46 of the 54 units at Belcamp Manor in Balgriffin were bought by an investment fund.

The Department of Finance revealed that up to March of last year investment funds snapped up 630 homes in two years.

It is NOT ON that we have a Government that is in the corner of wealthy vulture funds instead of being on the side of ordinary workers and families. We will be raising this first thing as the Dail returns today! @MaryLouMcDonald #Dail #HousingCrisis pic.twitter.com/JPPGiF1dpi  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) January 17, 2024

Ms McDonald said: Despite your promises to the contrary, vulture funds continue to snap up family homes.

Of course you didnt touch the sweetheart financial arrangements afforded to these funds by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which sees them pay no capital gains tax and not a single red cent on their obscene rental incomes.

The truth is government policy enables and encourages these funds.

So we are well past the point of government looking at how this happened.

You already know how and you know why but we need now need is action to stop it.

Ms McDonald said that homes for renters will pay more than 3,000 euro for properties in Belcamp Manor.

Its a real kick in the teeth for those who have scrimped and saved and sacrificed for years to buy a home, she added.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys defended the governments efforts to clamp down on investment funds buying up properties.

Speaking during leaders questions, the Cavan and Monaghan TD said the issue represents around 1% of new homes.

Some 30,000 new homes built in the last year, the number of planning permissions is way up, the number of commencements is way up.

Mortgage approvals are at a record high, 500 first time buyers are drawing down their mortgages every single week, Ms Humphreys added.

The policies of this government are working, compared to your own policies.

Like what does Sinn Fein want to do, you want to abolish the Help to Buy scheme and that actually helped over 28,000 first time buyers to get their keys last year, and you want to get rid of that.

Speaking on the housing issue, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the governments failure to resolve the housing crisis is affecting other policies.

She continued: We have a chronic shortage of teachers in our schools.

We have a chronic shortage of carers and educators in our childcare settings, a real difficulty in recruiting medical staff for our hospitals, and a reason in large part because so many people cannot afford to live anywhere near their workplace or anywhere within a reasonable distance.

Of course, the abject failure in housing is also affecting other things, too.

Its affecting our response to the humanitarian challenge that were facing, because of the brutal war in Ukraine and because of the many wars and conflicts around the world, which are forcing so many people to flee to our shores seeking refuge.

Ms Humphreys said that, while the governments target is to build 33,450 new homes this year, she said there is a gap between the existing target and what is needed.
A special workshop designed to recruit, represent, and retain women in local government was held in Cork County Hall recently.

The governments Oireachtas Caucus was established in 2017 and is a cross-party forum for Irish women parliamentarians to discuss and campaign on issues predominantly affecting women.

The vision of the Womens Caucus is an Ireland where there is equal representation of women and men in the Oireachtas and on city and county councils.

The first Womens Caucus in Cork County Council was established in 2022 to address the ongoing underrepresentation of women in local government.

Chair of Cork County Councils Womens caucus, Cllr Eileen Lynch, said: Our caucus has been especially established to welcome more women into politics. I want women to know that they will be treated equally and supported through cross-party collaboration and cooperation.

Interestingly, at 32% female representation, Cork County Council is at the higher end of local authorities in Ireland as regards moving towards gender equality.

While encouraging increased participation of women and people of diversity is essential, if equality is to be truly achieved, the retention of existing female councillors is of vital importance.

The workshop, which centered around the values of Cork County Councils Women Caucus, namely gender equality, solidarity, diversity, and democracy, featured a range of speakers including president of Network Cork Susana Marambio, UCCs School of Management and Marketing Dr Cliodhna McKenzie, andthe RCSI Institute of Leaderships Dr Mary Collins.

Cork County Councils first female chief executive Valerie OSullivan said: Local government, much like any other sector, thrives when it reflects the rich tapestry of our communities. We must champion diversity and inclusivity, not merely as buzzwords, but as an integral part of our commitment to effective governance.

Our Womens Caucus plays a pivotal role in fostering this diversity, Ms OSullivan said. It provides a platform for women to connect, share experiences and support one another.

Its not just about breaking the glass ceiling, its about creating a network of support that helps us all rise together.
Emergency services are working to extinguish a fire at a commercial premises on the Tramore Road in Cork city this evening.

Five units of Cork City Fire Service were responding to the incident at one point and firefighters, using breathing apparatus, were deployed.

A spokesperson for Cork City Fire Brigade told The Echo that the fire has now been brought under control.

The spokesperson thanked an individual from a neighbouring property who's speedy response had alerted emergency services and potentially prevented a more serious incident.

Members of the fire service remain at the scene.

No one is reported to have been injured in the incident.

Gardai have advised that road closures are in place in the area.
CORK GAA has said discussions are continuing around the naming rights deal for Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

In a statement issued tonight, it said that both Cork GAA and SuperValu remain committed to continuing their engagement, as both parties share a common interest in supporting Gaelic games across the county.

The Cork GAA statement came as county board delegates met this evening where it had been expected they would vote on proposals for a naming rights deal for the stadium.

While no matter had been finalised prior to the meeting of delegates to the county board on Tuesday evening, both sides have been conscious of the public debate that followed recent speculation in the media, the statement read.

SuperValu and Cork GAA remain committed to continuing their engagement, as both parties share a common interest in supporting Gaelic games across the county, and discussions are continuing.

Naming rights

Details of the naming rights decision first came to light on Monday, when it was reported that Corks headquarters was to be rebranded SuperValu Pairc or Park under the deal.

Three other companies, Boston Scientific, Statkraft and PepsiCo, are also reported to have stadium branding privileges as part of the package for an initial three years.

The total package is reported to be worth between 250,000 and 300,000 a year to Cork GAA.

The proposals have been met with strong reactions.

Donal O Caoimh, the grandson of Padraig O Caoimh, today called for a U-turn on the proposals.

My grandfather embodied the empathy, hospitality, and community spirit that is the essence of the GAA, he said.

His dream was inclusivity: to have a GAA-owned pitch in every parish. Under his stewardship, the GAA became the biggest amateur association of its kind in the world.

The gateway is open for the sale of our heritage and narrative for profit. My grandfathers story inspires young players to dream. You take away the absence of focus on money and corporations from games and you have lost what makes the GAA unique.

He voiced hope that his grandfathers name will live on in the hearts and minds of the people.

I have faith that Pairc Ui Chaoimh will forever retain its original name in the hearts and minds of the people of Cork. I understand the importance for raising funds for the sustainability of the GAA but there needs to be sensitivity to history.

'Anger and betrayal'

County board delegate and Echo columnist John Arnold said the proposed decision was like spitting on the memory of long-time GAA administrator Padraig O Caoimh who the stadium was named after.

Its difficult to describe the feelings of anger and betrayal, the GAA historian said.

When I heard the news I was a mixture of feelings. I was crying and angry. I told myself that it had to be the first of April. It had to be a joke.

He questioned where the line would be drawn.

Are we going to get to a stage where Pairc Ui Rinn is renamed 7Up Pairc?

Its great to have the money but this is for a deal that is only going to last a few years.

Mr Arnold fears that a name change is retrograde to values normally prioritised by the organisation.

They should be in a position to dictate the terms. The bottom line should have been not selling the naming rights of Pairc Ui Chaoimh. It wouldnt smack so much if we were an organisation that didnt value its history and the Irish language but this couldnt be further from the truth. Padraig O Caoimh is as much of a legend now as he was when Pairc Ui Chaoimh first opened in the 1970s and thats not going to change.

Hopes for compromise on name

Speaking to The Echo, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Kieran McCarthy, said he hoped a compromise could be made around any naming of the stadium, recognising SuperValu and its contribution to the community in Cork but also highlighting the importance of recognising Padraig O Caoimhs legacy.

What we have in the city today is a debate between future-proofing Pairc Ui Chaoimhs sponsorship versus civic pride and civic history, he said.

Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy said that as a historian, he believes we need to be careful with what we do.

Full kudos to SuperValu....Theyve always looked after communities, but this is a major thing on their behalf to come forward even more so, full gratitude.

Then on the other hand, youve got a name like Pairc Ui Chaoimh which is synonymous with Cork. If you mention Pairc Ui Chaoimh or Shandon anywhere up the country people go yeah, Cork. So, youre dealing with a piece on civic pride as well in Cork, and civic history, civic heritage, and civic memory.

The Lord Mayor said that as a historian, he believes we need to be careful with what we do.

It would be like me trying to change the name of the Marina or the Shakey Bridge, theyre just engrained in Corks historical DNA and we just need to mind it.

But I fully appreciate that the GAA needs money to get out of the 30 million debt, theres no mistake in that.

My call would be that I hope a compromise could be found...that the SuperValu sponsorship can be honoured and the legacy of Padraig O Caoimh can be honoured as well, he told The Echo.

Tanaiste expresses disappointment

Prior to last nights meeting, Tanaiste Micheal Martin had expressed his disappointment at the proposed change.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Mr Martin said: Deeply disappointed & annoyed at the proposal to change the name of Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Padraig Ui Chaoimh was a key figure in the formation of the GAA at club and national level.

Govt allocated 30m towards the development of the stadium and never sought naming rights.

Fine Gael councillor for Cork City South-East Des Cahill said that while the additional funding is welcome I think people will for many years still refer to the stadium as Pairc Ui Chaoimh. But overall, a great partnership between two great Cork institutions.

Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould, whose family is steeped in the GAA, was critical of the proposals.

I think it goes against the ethos and the amateur community status of the association.

Its commercialising the GAA. Its about the whole history behind the association and what we stand for. Theres a drive towards commercialism and professionalism and thats not what the association is about. What makes the GAA so unique and special is our amateurism and our community.

Sinn Fein councillor Mick Nugent said that a lot of GAA members were stunned to learn of the decision on Monday night.

He said Padraig O Caoimh did huge work in growing the GAA in Cork and that he encapsulated everything about the GAA in terms of being a republican and promoting our Gaelic games.

Labour Party candidate for Cork City South East Ward Peter Horgan added: The name of our most famous stadium in Cork will always be Pairc Ui Chaoimh to me as will the Blackrock end of the stadium, no matter what deals are done on sponsorship, he said.
UISCE EIREANN officials have acknowledged that water services in the city are not meeting the standards that customers expect following a private meeting last night with Cork city councillors about discoloured water on the northside.

Solidarity councillor Brian McCarthy described the meeting between Cork City Council elected members and seven representatives of the utility as a PR exercise.

The meeting was called to discuss mounting complaints regarding discoloured water which has been impacting the drinking water as well as water used for showers, washing machines, and dishwashers.

Uisce Eireann kept saying the water was compliant in terms of pH standards as long as you didnt drink it until it ran clear, said Cllr McCarthy. However, he expressed concern about the state of the water.

In a statement issued to The Echo following yesterdays meeting, Uisce Eireann officials acknowledged that the water services in Cork city are not meeting the standards that customers rightly expect, especially in light of the significant Uisce Eireann investment in the water infrastructure in Cork city over the last number of years.

In the short term, Uisce Eireann continues with works to proactively flush the network in targeted areas across Cork City where reports of discolouration have been received, said an Uisce Eireann spokesperson.

Areas are prioritised based on customer feedback and reports received by our customer care team.

This involves isolating small sections of the network and flushing them of any dislodged sediment.

It is understood other councillors at last nights meeting said that improved communication from the utility was necessary.

The Uisce Eireann spokesperson also said that the current freezing weather limited the flushing that could take place.

Cork North Central TD Mick Barry has called a public meeting to discuss the ongoing issue which will be held in the Maldron Hotel on Shandon Street on Thursday, January 25, and Uisce Eireann officials have been invited to this meeting also.
AN Bord Pleanala has upheld Cork County Councils decision to grant permission for a proposed residential development in Watergrasshill following a third-party appeal which was raised in a recent RTE Investigates programme.

In August 2022, Vincentia Investments Ltd lodged a planning application with the local authority seeking permission for the development of 74 units comprising of 66 houses and eight apartments at Bishops Island, Watergrasshill.

The application also sought permission for the construction of a creche, 150 car-parking spaces, and other site development works.

Cork County Council requested some further information before making a decision on the planning application.

Changes to the overall site layout following the request include the omission of Public Open Space 4 and an indicative future proposal for two houses on that space.

The local authority then granted conditional planning permission, but a third-party appeal was later lodged with An Bord Pleanala by a body named An Lucht Inbhuanaithe.

The details of the planning application process for the development featured in the RTE Investigates programme, The Planning Trap, which aired in early December.

The programme revealed how two individuals are systematically objecting to planning applications and have lodged multiple objections to residential and commercial developments across the country.

However, the development at Watergrasshill can now proceed following An Bord Pleanalas decision to grant permission with conditions.

The board ruled that the development would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

It said that the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 envisioned growth at Watergrasshill by up to 149 units during the plan period and therefore the proposed development, subject to compliance with the planning conditions, would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities of the area and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety.

There are 22 conditions attached to An Bord Pleanalas approval of the development.
Concerns have been raised about a delay in the delivery of homes as part of a phased housing regeneration project on Cork citys northside.

Twenty-four homes are to be delivered at Kilmore Rd in Knocknaheeny under Phase 2C of the Cork City Northwest Quarter Regeneration (CNWQR) Masterplan, the regeneration project which began in the Knocknaheeny and Hollyhill area almost a decade ago.

These 24 houses were to be located along Kilmore Road Lower at the northern boundary of the regeneration area. Construction began in Q4 2019, but according to Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould, construction was later halted and some units remain unfinished, while the interiors of others remain incomplete.

Sinn Fein representatives in Cork city announced yesterday that they will be holding a protest at the site on January 20, at 12pm.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Gould described the delays as a kick in the teeth to the people of Knocknaheeny.

We have waited over 23 years for regeneration, and we are now forced to stare at half-built homes with no construction taking place, he said.

This is a disgrace, and Cork City Council now must progress this site. I am concerned at both the cost and the delays this has caused. The reality is that the council has had to use other new-build social housing to continue the regeneration. The length of our social housing waiting list here in Cork city does not allow for these kinds of delays.

"People need homes, and there is no excuse for leaving a site half-built for months if not years.

People in Knocknaheeny are positive about the regeneration, they know it needs to happen, but they do not accept these neverending delays.

Cork City Council has been contacted for comment, while a city council spokesperson said last year: Cork City Council continues to work with the appointed contractor with a view to the earliest possible delivery of more quality homes at this location.
A 37-year-old man accused of having a stash of cocaine at Carrigrohane on Tuesday, January 9 was arrested and brought before Cork District Court last week.

Detective Garda Darren Twomey arrested John Heaphy, formerly of Barrack Street, Cork. He testified at Cork District Court that the accused man made no reply when arrested, charged and cautioned.

He was charged that on January 9 at Inchigaggin House, Carrigrohane, Cork, he had cocaine and that in respect of the same time and place he had cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply to others.

Sergeant Pat Lyons said there was no objection to the accused being remanded on bail. However, conditions were required.

Those conditions included that he would sign on at Togher garda station on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, provide a mobile number within 24 hours and be contactable at all times, and stay out of Cork city centre except for pre-arranged legal or medical appointments.

Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case against John Heaphy, who was represented on free legal aid by solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher, to February 29.

No details were given in court about the alleged seizure of cocaine that gave rise to the dealing and possession charges.
Cork City Council has said that rumours that refugees will be hosted in a retreat centre in Mayfield are completely false.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council told The Echo, the Asset Management Company responsible for the operation of the Ennismore Retreat Centre has confirmed to the City Council that rumours surrounding [sic] are completely false.

Councillors John Maher, Ken OFlynn and Joe Kavanagh had all addressed the matter in recent days as speculation surrounding housing migrants in the former Dominican Retreat Centre at Ennismore circulated on social media.

Fine Gael Cork City Councillor for the North East Ward Joe Kavanagh said I've had a number of calls today in relation to Ennismore in Montenotte.

I wish to clarify, with 100% certainty, that there are currently no plans in place to accommodate anyone at all in the old Dominicans Building in Ennismore - rumours currently circulating are 100% FALSE.

This has been confirmed to me today by the current management of this building."

Labour councillor in the constituency, John Maher, also addressed the speculation on social media saying: "lots of false news and rumours about the site in Ennismore, Mayfield.

Stop the false news, stop the hate & stop causing divide - Ive spoken with Cork City Council officials whove made contact with the owners and the false news is incorrect and unhelpful.

Independent Cllr Kenneth O'Flynn wrote to Minister for Integration Roderic OGorman, to express the concerns that have surfaced in my constituency regarding the rumoured establishment of a new refugee centre in Dominicans, Ennismore Mayfield, Cork.

He asked for confirmation from his department on the accuracy of these rumours.

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AS we reflect on 2023, it has without doubt been a year of great progress for the business community in Cork, undeniably marked by significant advancements.

However, amidst this progress, the region did not emerge unscathed from the reverberations of conflict, a reality that manifested itself prominently in 2023.

In the past year, Cork continued to grow in every sense and the city itself is showing real signs of transformation, with ambitious and exciting new projects on the horizon such as the Docklands, which is set to regenerate and rejuvenate the city and will see major population growth up to 2040.

From an FDI and indigenous business perspective, Cork is performing exceptionally well. 2023 saw a stream of investments as well as expansion announcements from some of the biggest employers in the region.

All the elements needed to cater for this type of growth have been high on the agenda for Cork Chamber and our 1,200 members, including, housing, infrastructure, sustainability, education, policing, and public transport. We are indeed seeing real signs of progress in many of these areas with positive engagement from the highest level of Government.

Over the course of the year, we have met with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Housing Minister Darragh OBrien on the challenges being faced by some of our members in relation to the undersupply of housing in the region.

We also met with Transport Minister Eamon Ryan on the need to progress all elements of public transport, including the accelerated delivery of Corks highly anticipated light rail option.

We raised the issue of the need for increased policing resources with Justice Minister Helen McEntee when she visited Cork Chambers Fitzgerald House in recent months, and presented our Budget 2024 submission to Finance Minister Michael McGrath. A broad range of issues including the progression of the renewable energy sector here in Cork were also discussed at a meeting with Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Simon Coveney.

The progression of these priorities, coupled with ongoing developments in the region, are without doubt a cause for great optimism as we enter 2024.

But what is the true value of all this without peace? If the last 12 months have taught us anything, it is that without peace there is no real progress.

Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber

In the final months of 2023, we all witnessed the devastating scenes of unrest both at home and abroad - on our television screens, in our newspapers and on social media - and some bore personal witness to these shocking events. It has renewed the need for a proactive approach to diversity, equality and inclusion.

Each individual has the capacity to contribute, and our business community can set the precedent. By embodying these principles within our businesses, we can extend their influence into our communities.

Leaders in both business and politics bear a responsibility to champion diversity, equality, and inclusion, particularly in light of recent national and international events.

We find ourselves in the midst of societal unrest and geopolitical tensions, and it is essential that we foster an environment that prioritises diversity and inclusion. Social cohesion and strong vibrant communities are the foundations upon which all aspects of our society thrive.

In Cork, one of our proudest achievements is maintaining a workforce that is both diverse and inclusive. It is what sets us apart and makes our city region an attractive place to live, work and invest in.

We have seen first-hand the positive contribution our deep and diverse talent pool has made to innovation, creativity, and overall organisational success across our membership.

The instability we have seen on an international scale has had repercussions on supply chains, market dynamics, and overall economic conditions. Without doubt, the business community here in Cork has demonstrated its resilience and adapted to the unfavourable conditions created by this volatility.

But reacting to these conditions cannot be the default response, we must be proactive, and as business leaders a commitment to peace must be demonstrated. We must do what is in our control to shift the dial and foster a culture of diversity, equality, and inclusion. It is not enough to leave this in the hands of our political leaders, we must also lead by example. Simply being pro-diversity is no longer enough. We must be actively anti-racist, or we irrevocably damage Irelands global leadership role.

As we stand at the outset of 2024, the progress and promise that characterise Corks business landscape are undeniable. However, as we continue to navigate the uncertainties created by unrest here at home and abroad, it is clear the value of progress is inextricably linked to the presence of peace.

We must enter 2024 resolute in our approach to conflict and lead by example, actively contributing to the creation of a society and business environment that values peace, tolerance, understanding, and collaboration.

In doing so, we secure the prosperity of our businesses and contribute to the wellbeing and resilience of our communities.

Let our commitment to peace be the guiding force that shapes our collective future.
Fiona Magennis

It is hard to conceive the scale and enormity of the effects of losing three family members in the Stardust fire, an inquest jury has heard.

Siblings Marcella (16), George (18) and William (22) McDermott all lost their lives in the blaze which claimed the lives of 48 young people when it broke out in the early hours of February 14th, 1981 at the Artane nightclub.

As a review of their identification and postmortem evidence took place on Tuesday, Michael OHiggins SC, representing the McDermott family including their 87-year-old mother Bridget McDermott, said it was hard to conceive the scale and enormity of such an event and the effect it must have had on the family.

Undoubtedly that cannot be appreciated or adequately measured, he said.

I certainly cant appreciate the effects of this, forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd agreed.

Dr Shepherd and colleagues Doctor Nat Carey and Doctor Benjamin Swift are providing reviews of the evidence into the causes of death of the 48 victims.

Mr OHiggins said Mrs McDermott had, over the years, been very vigilant in attempting to ensure that there was a fresh inquiry on the events of the fire.

He said her father was a fireman based in Tara Street, one of the stations which received the call on the night of the fire, but was not on shift on the night. Its hard to know whether that was a blessing or a matter of regret in his case, he said.

Favourite band

He also told how Marcellas coffin was carried by friends dressed in two-tone Ska clothing in honour of her favourite band The Specials, whose concert at the venue she had attended a fortnight previously.

Counsel said the family had thought it fitting that her friends dress in the traditional two tone mode associated with Ska, as a tribute to Marcella.

The inquest heard Marcella was identified through dental records. Her cause of death was confirmed as rapid incapacitation due to inhalation of fire fumes and heat, and the same cause of death was recorded for her brother George.

The jury heard George was identified by the clothes he was wearing on the night, which he had bought new especially for the occasion. He was last seen at the time the fire became visible dancing on the floor at the front of the stage with his friends.

William McDermott was last seen at around 12am seated with friends in the north alcove, Dr Shepherd said. He was taken from the Stardust but was pronounced dead at the Mater hospital some time later, the jury heard.

William had carboxyhemoglobin level of 61 per cent, the highest level recorded amongst the victims of the fire, Dr Shepherd confirmed.

Evidence

He said there was little evidence of heat or burn damage and confirmed Williams cause of death was inhalation of fire fumes.

The jury heard Michael Griffiths (18) was identified by his parents Michael and Margaret Griffiths through items of jewellery he was wearing at the time, including a necklace with the inscription Mick on it, two signet rings and a watch.

Dr Shepherd said Mr Griffiths was last seen alive by a friend close to exit five dancing on the dance floor in front of the stage.

He said the original pathology report noted dense soot in the airways which indicated the inhalation of toxic and noxious substances.

Dr Shepherd said Michael had a carboxyhemoglobin level of 45% and confirmed his cause of death was rapid incapacitation due to inhalation of fire fumes and heat.

The inquest heard Robert Bobby Hillick (20) was identified by the watch he was wearing on the night and through dental records.

Dr Shepherd said Mr Hillick attended the Stardust with his friend James Millar (20), who also died in the fire. Their exact location at the time of the fire was first seen is unrecorded.

Bernard Condon SC, representing Mr Hillicks family, said Robert had moved to Dublin from his native Belfast after getting a job on a building site.

The jury heard Robert was identified by his brother William through his watch which had a number of dents on the side of the case.

Mr Hillick had a carboxyhemoglobin level of 20 per cent. The pathologist agreed with Simon Mills SC, a member of the Coroners legal team, that on its own this level would not be expected to cause death but must be viewed in the context of other factors including the presence of noxious and toxic gases in the air and a significant reduction in the amount of available oxygen in the atmosphere as a result of the fire.

Mr Millar was identified by a friend through jewellery and a tattoo of an eagle.

They both died as a result of rapid incapacitation due to inhalation of fire fumes and heat, Dr Shepherd confirmed.

The court heard Paula Lewis (19) was identified by her uncle through jewellery, including a dress ring with a purple stone, a cross and part of blouse she was wearing on the night.

Ms Lewis had attended the Stardust with three friends, including Sandra Lawless who also lost her life in the blaze. Dr Shepherd said Paula was last seen by her friend Mary Heeney as they made their way to exit five after the fire became visible. Another friend said that she was holding Paulas hand when the fire broke out but they lost one another.

The pathologist said Paula had a carboxyhemoglobin level of 30 per cent. Dr Shepherd and Dr Swift confirmed her cause of death was rapid incapacitation due to inhalation of fire fumes and heat.

Dr Shepherd confirmed to Des Fahy KC, representing the family, that any delay in exiting the building would be very very likely to have a deleterious effect that there would be more inhalation [of toxic fumes] and more exposure to heat.

All of these things will continue longer if the exit is blocked, he said.

Ms Lewiss cause of death was given as rapid incapacitation due to inhalation of fire fumes and heat.

Eamonn Loughman (18) was one of five victims who was not formally identified until 2007 after advances in DNA testing.

Dr Shepherd said Mr Loughman was last seen by his friend whilst they were running across tables towards exit five.

Eamonns carboxyhemoglobin was the second highest recorded amongst the victims at 59% and this was likely to have caused death without any other factors taken into consideration.

Dr Shepherd and Dr Carey both agreed that in this case the cause of death was simply due to inhalation of fire fumes.

Brenda Campbell KC, for the family, said Eamonn was the eldest of seven children. She said his parents had suffered significant tragedy having already lost one child to cot death and another child who died suddenly from natural causes seven years before Eamonns death in the Stardust.

She said evidence had been heard previously that Mr Loughman got very close to exit five and that it was a reasonable inference that he must have succumbed to the fire fumes.

Donna Mahon (17) was identified through a silver bracelet with a Celtic design by her sister Theresa Fitzpatrick, who had given it to her as a present.

She was last seen on the dancefloor with dance partner Emmet Mulvey who accompanied her as far as the cloakroom near the front entrance before the lights went out.

Cause of death

Her cause of death was rapid incapacitation due to fire fumes and heat, Dr Shepherd and Dr Carey confirmed.

Barrister Joseph OKeefe, on behalf of the family, said it appeared Donna had made it to within a number of paces of the main door but did not get out alive.

Teresa McDonnell (16) made it close to the front door before turning back to look for her sister, the court heard.

She was identified by her parents, George and Teresa through a white shoe with a burned heel, white slacks she was wearing on the night, her mothers eternity ring and a religious necklace.

The inquest jury heard Teresa attended the Stardust with friends including her sister Lorraine and alerted them to the flames when the fire was first seen. She was last seen by a friend near exit two heading back into the ballroom for her sister.

Dr Shepherd confirmed to Mr Mills that there was soot presence in Susans airways and an elevated level of carbon monoxide in her system. He said her cause of death was rapid incapacitation due to inhalation of fire fumes and heat.

Gerard McGrath (21) attended the Stardust with Kathleen Muldoon who also died in the fire. He was last seen by a friend sometime between 12am and 12.30am and was identified through dental records. Gerards cause of death was as a result of rapid incapacitation due to fire fumes and heat.

The jury heard Susan Morgan (19) was originally from Derry but had moved to the Nazareth House Care Home on the Malahide Road with friends to take up work there. She was identified by two nuns from the centre through her signet ring and by her friend Yvonne Blackwell who identified the clothes she was wearing on the night.

She had attended the Stardust with friends and met her boyfriend Paul Wade, who also died in the fire, at the club. Her cause of death was rapid incapacitation due to the inhalation of fire fumes and heat.

The inquest continues on Wednesday.
James Cox

The Bear star Ayo Edebiri won best actress in a comedy series at the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday and confused many people by thanking Ireland in her acceptance speech.

The 28-year-old, from Boston, has no Irish family roots but thanked the country as she picked up the gong, adding to an earlier Golden Globes win.

"To everybody in Boston, Barbados, Nigeria  Ireland, in many ways  thank you so much, I love you, she said.

The mention of Ireland comes from a viral joke after Edebiri put on an Irish accent at a red carpet event and pretended she played Jenny the Donkey in The Banshees of Inisherin.

"Preparing for that? I lived in Ireland  Ireland  for about four months, she said.

"And I got really into character and I was on all fours for four months and it was really painful but beautiful as well and it was probably the most fulfilling part of my career.

Ayo Edebiri, winner of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for "The Bear," poses in the press room during the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on January 15th, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

"And Im so happy for everybody going to the Oscars even though I deserved the nomination more than anybody else because I was obviously a donkey for four months."

"Oh my god, sorry, she said, before returning to her normal accent. I literally  I was there, you know what I mean? I slipped back into it. Yeah. But it was very fulfilling.

"It was very fulfilling and I want little girls out there everywhere to know that they, too, can be a donkey one day.

The interview has since gone viral, and become a running joke, which Edebiri referenced as she picked up her Critics Choice award for her role in The Bear.

In the hit series, she plays Sydney Adamu, a sous-chef.

Edebiri has since added an Emmy win to her collection, for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.
James Cox

As part of Operation Tara, gardai in the Divisional Drugs Unit attached to Finglas conducted a planned search operation of wasteland in Tolka Valley Park and Corduff Park on Tuesday.

At approximately 12pm, gardai conducted two search operations of wasteland in Tolka Valley Park and Corduff Park and seized a variety of drugs with an estimated street value in excess of 80,000.

Cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis, ketamine and alprazolam (xanax) tablets were seized.

The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.

Investigations are ongoing, gardai said.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Chinas second most powerful man has landed in Dublin as part of a brief diplomatic visit.

Li Qiang, the premier of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived on a Boeing 747 Max 8  the largest commercial aircraft to land at Dublin Airport.

He was presented with red roses by a Chinese official upon landing.

He was also greeted by Transport and Climate Minister Eamon Ryan and Irelands ambassador in Beijing Ann Derwin.

There was a heavy Garda presence at the airport for the visit.

Chinese statesman Li Qiang arrives at Dublin Airport for his two-day visit to Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Lis trip comes hours after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since president Xi Jinping in 2017.

The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite the strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second-biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some Western countries have also avoided using or criticised technologies linked to the Chinese state over security concerns: including TikTok and Hikvision, the latter of which manufactures CCTV cameras used in the Dail.

Mr Li is to meet with President Michael D Higgins on Wednesday morning before a joining Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for a working lunch at Farmleigh House.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Varadkar said China is a very important political and economic power in the world.

So its important that we have good relations with China but also some questions we will need to talk about as well, the Taoiseach said.

Mr Varadkar did not elaborate on the questions or issues he will raise with Mr Li.

The Ireland-Asia think tank Asia Matters has said it is hoping the ban on beef exports to China will be on the table when the two leaders meet.

Beef exports from Ireland to China were suspended when a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) was discovered by Irish veterinary officials in November.
Kenneth Fox

A proposal to rename Pairc Ui Chaoimh has been paused for further talks after a public backlash over plans to rebrand it as SuperValu Pairc.

At a behind-closed-doors meeting of the county board on Tuesday night, delegates told the Cork GAA executive that a compromise must be reached to retain the Pairc Ui Chaoimh name in any deal with the supermarket giant.

SuperValu was not agreeable to Pairc Ui Chaoimh being retained in the new stadium title during initial negotiations with Cork GAA, the Irish Examiner understands.

However, a fresh statement released by Cork GAA, following 24 hours of criticism over the proposal to rename the venue SuperValu Pairc, said no new stadium name had been finalised.

The statement confirmed that talks with SuperValu are ongoing and said both sides have been "conscious of the public debate" over the last 24 hours.

A number of delegates have said SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh would be an acceptable alternative in the renaming process.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin and the grandson of Padraig O Caoimh, the legendary GAA administrator after whom the stadium is named, were among the many who expressed outrage over the SuperValu Pairc renaming, which was raised at a Cabinet meeting yesterday.

Mr Martin said he was "deeply disappointed and annoyed" at the proposed rebranding which is part of a proposed multi-layered naming rights deal for the stadium, worth between 250,000 and 300,000 a year to Cork GAA over an initial three-year period.

He told Cabinet ministers that the government now needs to look at how it manages State funding for stadiums in the future, given that 30 million of taxpayers' money was allocated to the Pairc Ui Chaoimh redevelopment project in 2014 without conditions attached on future naming rights.

Deeply disappointed & annoyed at the proposal to change the name of Pairc Ui Chaoimh.



Padraig Ui Chaoimh was a key figure in the formation of the GAA at club and national level.



Govt allocated 30m towards the development of the stadium and never sought naming rights.  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 16, 2024

Three other companies  Boston Scientific, Statkraft, and PepsiCo  will also have subsidiary stadium branding privileges as part of the total package, which is understood to be worth in the region of 1 million up to 2026.

Mr O Caoimhs grandson, Donal, said he was deeply shocked and saddened by the proposal to drop his name grandfathers name from the stadium, and learned about it through the media.

He said nobody from the GAA reached out to him to tell him it was being considered. Donal said:

My grandfather embodied the empathy, hospitality, and community spirit that is the essence of the GAA.
On Wednesday, Google introduced Circle to Search, a gesture-based way to quickly find info without leaving your app. The feature will be exclusive (at least at first) to the new Galaxy S24 and the Pixel 8 / Pixel 8 Pro starting at the end of January.

Google pitches Circle to Search as a new way to search anything on your Android phone without switching apps. You can activate the feature by long-pressing the home button or navigation bar. Then, circle something on your screen with your finger and see the results pop up at the bottom. To return to what you were doing, simply swipe away and youre right back where you started, Google Search VP Cathy Edwards wrote in a company blog post.

Google

Despite its name, Circle to Search isnt limited to circling. With a simple gesture, you can select images, text or videos in whatever way comes naturally to you  like circling, highlighting, scribbling or tapping, Google Search VP Elizabeth Reid wrote.

Circle to Search also works alongside multisearch, Googles text / image search feature launched in the Google app in 2022. The company suggests circling to select a corn dog in a viral social post and asking, Why are these so popular? (Youll quickly learn that these sweet and savory treats are Korean corn dogs, Google explains.) The feature works with anything on your screen, including products, other items or text in videos.

Google

In more hardware-agnostic news, the company is injecting generative AI into Lens multisearch in the Google app. The company says this allows you to ask more complex or nuanced questions. It provided an example of seeing a mysterious and unlabeled board game at a yard sale, snapping a pic and asking Google Lens, How do you play this?

Google says the feature will provide a generative AI-fueled overview using the webs most relevant info. The results will include supporting links to let you scour the web for more details.

AI-powered multisearch overviews roll out this week in the Google app on Android and iOS in the US (English only). The feature is open to everyone who fits that criteria  no beta opt-in necessary. Meanwhile, Circle to Search will be available on January 31 for select premium Android smartphones, starting with the Galaxy S24 series, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products.

With the launch of the Galaxy S24 family, Samsung is boldly declaring an end to the smartphone camera wars as it moves into the AI era. And the $1,300 S24 Ultra is its torchbearer for this new age of mobile design.

While it may not look like a ton has changed on the S24 Ultra, theres one major design update along with a handful of smaller tweaks. The move to a titanium frame (available in four colors: titanium yellow, violet, gray and black) apes what Apple did for the iPhone 15 Pro last fall. The big difference is that, because Samsungs previous flagship featured an aluminum chassis unlike the heavier stainless steel build on the iPhone 14 Pro, the S24 Ultras weight (8.22 ounces) is largely unchanged from last years device (8.25 ounces). That means aside from some very slight changes to the texture, there arent a ton of outward signs hinting at the S24s increased durability which includes the same IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

More subtle upgrades include a new Corning Gorilla Armor panel in back (instead of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 like on the standard S24/S24+), even thinner bezels (42 percent slimmer than before) and a slightly boxier feel. The latter might not be something most people notice, but its part of an ongoing trend for Samsung as its moved towards phones with flatter screens. On the S24 Ultra, aside from some faint rounding at the perimeter of its display, its almost completely rectangular. So for all the people who hate screens with curvy edges, congratulations, youve won.

Inside, the S24 Ultra features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip along with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. Samsung says its installed a larger vapor chamber thats almost twice the size of whats in the previous model to help keep the phones thermals in check. The Ultras screen is also slightly brighter with a peak of 2,600 nits for its 120Hz 6.8-inch OLED screen. Theres still a storage slot for the Ultras S Pen with a springy magnetic attachment system and its core functionality hasnt changed, so you can expect the same super responsive stylus input.

Hands-on photos of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra These are the four main color options for the S24 Ultra.

Its important to note that the S24 Ultras camera setup is largely unchanged. You still get a 200-MP main sensor and a 12-MP ultra-wide, but instead of a 10x lens, the S24s telephoto camera is now based on a 50-MP sensor (up from 10-MP) with a 5x optical zoom. Samsung says this change was made based on customer feedback and usage patterns, which saw 5x being the most frequently used focal length. While its overall reach has seemingly decreased, the phone uses pixel-binning and AI to achieve what the company is calling a 10x optical quality zoom while still delivering up to a total 100x Space Zoom. In our limited hands-on time, the Ultras telephoto camera still looked sharp even with the shorter focal length, though as before image quality begins to deteriorate quickly past 20x.

Of course, the Ultras zoom is just one small application of AI. The entire S24 family has a full suite of machine learning-based features. Similar to whats available on the Pixel 8, Samsung is using AI to help you edit photos and create new slow-mo footage. You can use the S24 Ultras stylus (or your finger on the other models) to draw a lasso around a subject before touching and holding to move it whenever you want. Then, all you have to do is hit the generate button, and the phone uses AI to fill in any missing elements. And this isnt limited just to moving things around either, as you can delete objects, resize, recompose and more.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Samsungs photo app can also detect things like shadows and reflections and will ask if you would like to remove them from your shot. This might be my favorite application of AI, as this helps streamline editing while also making more complicated fixes incredibly easy. And while I only got to test this out using sample photos provided by Samsung, it worked astonishingly well. After finding a photo in the gallery app, all I had to do was hit the info button to see a list of suggested edits, which almost instantly transformed a mediocre image into something I would be proud to share on social media.

Samsungs slow-mo feature was also quite impressive. It works on practically any local clip, not just footage shot by an S24. When playing back a video, you can simply touch and hold. Then the phone looks at the framerate of the footage, multiplies it by four (e.g. from 30fps to 120fps) and uses AI to create additional frames  all on the fly and on-device, so nothing is being sent to the cloud.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Its not all photo tricks, though. The S24 uses its AI powers to help you communicate both on the phone, via the new live-translation feature, and in text, with improved proofreading, summarization and tone-correction abilities. During calls, activating translation is as simple as tapping a button. From there, it will recognize your speech and automatically convert it into whatever the other person is speaking (or you can save a tiny bit of time and select the language yourself). Granted, this does mean that conversations will take a touch longer since youll need to pause to give the phone a chance to process and translate what you say. But if youre in a pinch while traveling, I wouldnt hesitate to try this out.

As for the S24s summarizing capabilities, its similar to what you get on the Pixel or in services like ChapGPT, Bard and others. You can direct the phone to a website or a file (including those in Samsung Notes) and the phone will condense things into a handful of major bullet points. But the potentially more useful tool is the tone-correcting feature, which in addition to basic stuff like highlighting typos, also gives you some options to rephrase things to make them seem more positive or encouraging.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Notably, because you get a handful of options and the choice to ignore or implement things as you see fit, it feels like less policing yourself and more like adjusting language to get your message across in a more effective manner. Honestly, this is something everyone could probably use from time to time, even if its just to prevent sending out an angry text or email.

The one aspect of the S24s AI powers that isnt handled locally is a new circle-to-search tool. Developed in partnership with Google, the feature allows you to highlight both text and images before sending a query off to the cloud and returning results. In practice, it feels like combining traditional search and visual lookup aids like the Google Lens app into a single thing. Its a nice upgrade in terms of general usability standpoint even if it doesnt revolutionize the way the phone works.

Photo by Sam Rutheford/Engadget

Finally, following a similar move Google made last year with the Pixel 8, Samsung will now provide a full seven years of regular OS and security updates. This is something Im hoping to see from every Android handset maker, so Im glad Samsung is stepping up now.

The two gripes I have are that, for a device that starts at $1,300, I think the S24 Ultras design is rather plain. Its just 6.8-inches of phone with a bunch of sensors and camera lenses on the back. Not to mention I dont think Samsungs special titanium-hued paint jobs stand out as much as the company hopes they do.

The other issue is the lack of Qi 2 support. The S24 falls in the second half of Samsungs two-year product cycle, which means we probably werent going to get any big facelifts or design changes until next year. But as the largest Android phone maker, its pretty disappointing to see a new flagship not adopt what could be an incredibly important multi-platform wireless charging standard.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Honestly I was kind of taken aback by how good its AI features are. I actually had to stop myself multiple times from writing how one of the phones latest tools was a pleasant surprise. Unlike Google who has been beating the drum about machine learning for more than a decade, Samsungs mobile expertise always felt like it lay more in hardware than software. But with the S24, Samsung is showing that its taking the transition to the AI era incredibly seriously.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will start at $1,300. Pre-orders go live today and on Samsung.com will include a free upgrade that doubles the phones storage, while official sales are slated for January 31.
Lindsay Lohan's dad, Michael Lohan, believes a "Mean Girls" sequel with the original cast would do better than any other version of the teen comedy movie.

Michael recently spoke with the Daily Mail and shared his thoughts on the new "Mean Girls" movie starring Angourie Rice as Cady Heron, the character Lindsay portrayed in the original film released in 2004.

According to Lohan's dad, nothing could beat the original version and cast. He also wondered why Tina Fey, the creator of the film, didn't make a sequel to the hit comedy.

"The original and Lindsay are iconic. While I am happy that Lindsay and Tina got together, I'm at a loss as to why she didn't do a sequel with the original cast first," Michael told the outlet.



"That would have been a huge success and outdone any version since the original as so many others agree. I'd bet that if you did a survey on what people think would've been better with the original cast or these musical versions. A sequel of the original would win with the original cast and would be better and more successful."

Michael noted that he made the remarks not because he was Lindsay's dad but because of his daughter's talent. In the same interview, he commented on a controversial scene featured in the new "Mean Girls" film.

At one point in the musical remake, rapper Megan Thee Stallion pops up to praise Cady, saying, "Y2k Fire crotch is back."

Many found the scene offensive because it referenced Brandon Davis' explicit 2006 tirade about Lohan when he and Paris Hilton mocked the actress.

Michael confirmed he saw the scene and seemingly disapproved of it, calling it "condescending."

"While I'd love to make a few comments about Megan The Stallion and even Tina allowing that condescending piece to be in the movie, I'll take the high road and reserve them," he said.

Lohan made a cameo in the film and wasn't aware that the joke was part of it until she watched it for the first time at the New York premiere. Her representative said she was "very hurt" and "disappointed."

Meanwhile, an unnamed tipster who spoke with the outlet blamed Fey, who wrote the screenplay.



"The real mean girl here is Tina Fey," the anonymous insider claimed. "She wrote it. She also knows that Lindsay is hurt by it."



The tipster added, "The studio is also aware of how Lindsay feels about it. The right thing for them to do would be for them to edit this out of the film. It is completely unnecessary and very disrespectful."



"Mean Girls" is now showing in theaters.
The human foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, ligaments, and tendons made of strong fibrous tissues to keep all the moving parts together  not to mention more sweat glands than any other part of the body.

Indeed, the foot is an evolutionary marvel, capable of handling hundreds of tons of force  your weight in motion  every day. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), every mile a person walks puts as much as 60 tons of pressure on each foot. The foots myriad parts, including the toes, heel, and ball, work together to get you from one place to another.

But the stress of carrying you around puts your feet at high risk of injury, higher than any other body part. And many foot problems, including hammertoes, blisters, bunions, corns and calluses, claw and mallet toes, ingrown toenails, toenail fungus, and athletes foot, can develop due to neglect, ill-fitting shoes, and simple wear and tear, says Saylee Tulpule, a podiatrist who practices in Maryland and Washington D.C.

Since our body weight is on our feet, its really important to wear good-quality shoes, says Tulpule. That means choosing shoes that are durable and offer good support and cushion to protect the soft tissue and joints of the feet, she notes.

Its also important not to disregard foot pain, and keep in mind that this can sometimes be the first sign of a systemic problem, says Tulpule. Gout, for example, often affects the foot joints first. And, she notes, With diabetes, patients will often report symptoms of numbness or a burning sensation in their feet. Patients may also report that their feet feel colder to the touch, and the skin of the feet may appear thinner, says Tulpule. These are all indications that perhaps there could be a larger issue at hand, whether its diabetes or another condition thats causing vascular issues [circulation problems], she adds.

To keep your hardworking tootsies in top form, learn how to identify some common foot-health issues and what you can do to manage them.
Riot police fired tear gas and hit protesters with batons in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan after a leading local rights activist was sentenced to four years in a penal colony.


Quick note from Shel: Ive been writing at least one monthly newsletter all the way back to 1997but Ive never tried to integrate it with my blog before. It occurred to me that people who read the blog would probably also want to read the newsletter. Each issue contains either a how-to tip or a think piece and a review of a resource (usually a book). Click here to see past issues all the way back to at least 2008.

Photo Credit: RDNE Stock project via Pexels

In the video I review below, Bill McKibben of 350.org and Third Act cites Erica Chenoweths finding that when just 3-1/2 percent of a population engages in disciplined nonviolent resistance, it can be enough to topple a government.

He doesnt mention that Chenoweths research also showed that nonviolent resistance was 10 times more effective than violent insurrection. Those who used it were more likely to achieve even impossible goals, even when facing the most repressive governments in history, such as Nazi Germany and apartheid South Africa. AND they were more likely to achieve lasting change that didnt just swing back with the next change in government. Other researchers including the late Gene Sharp have identified literally hundreds of nonviolent tactics. Sharps list of 198 nonviolent tactics predates the Internet and the Covid pandemic. Those two phenomena alone probably doubled the list.

Chenoweth was not originally an advocate of nonviolence. In fact, she was quite skeptical at firstuntil her own statistical analyses proved that nonviolence works better. This validates what lifetime pacifists like Stephen Zunes, George Lakey, Barbara Deming, Harvey Wasserman, Anna Gyorgy, Gene Sharp, my late friends Dave Dellinger, Frances Crowe, and Wally and Juanita Nelson, and many others have said for decades. It also validates the strategic commitment to nonviolence by people like MLK, Gandhi, and Mandela (none of whom was originally pacifist in principle).



The Three Reasons

I think I can shed some light on why this is true:

1) You cant outgun the state. They have tanks, WMDs, and lots of person-power. Engaging in violence is letting them choose the battlefield and the tools. You probably cant outgun the Oath Keepers either, unless you ARE the state. But vigilante groups (sorry this article is so difficult to parse), predatory employers, and even governments (see citations above) dont tend to be successful against disciplined massive resistance, even if they inflict damage against the nonviolent resisters.

2) When the state attacks unarmed civilians, it has a jiu-jitsu effect of creating sympathy for those who are attacked, not just locally but across the world (as is happening in Ukraine and Gaza right now). But when armed radicals attack the state or civilians or even destroy the property of the middle and upper classes, that rebound effect creates support for the government, who can then marginalize and isolate the opposition as terroristsand have an excuse to clamp down further on civil liberties. We see this in the wildly disproportionate Israeli response to the (brutal and completely unacceptable) Hamas murder of 1200 and taking 240 as hostages.

Because of the Hamas brutality, Israel felt justified in killing tens of thousands (mostly civilians and including thousands of kids) and making millions homeless. But Israels government does not seem to realize that they have just sewn the seeds for another generation of embittered radicals to rise up against them. And just as the US, which had the moral high ground and support of the global community in the immediate aftermath of 9/11/2001 but lost it in the twin wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, found itself a pariah, so does Israel. (Im writing this on December 23, 2023. The situation I describe is current as of that date.)

3) When a government falls by force of arms, the conquerors want to make sure they arent taken out next. Thus, the pressure to become more dictatorial, which erodes popular support. I am old enough to remember when thugs like Zimbabwes Mugabe, the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, and even the Iranian mullahs were welcomed as heroes by the local population, until they turned out to be just as vile as their predecessors, if not more. So the violence ends up blocking the transition to a better society, causing resentment and apathy.

Bonus Article: 12 New Years Resolutions for a More Ethical, Ecological, Profitable, and Successful Business



Normally, I only have one main article and a review of one resource. Im doing this extra one as a gift to you to help you start your year off while youre still thinking about this new beginning.

Shel

Remember: businesses based on ethics and quality actually work better. With that in mind, here are twelve easy resolutions to inspire your business to achieve a very profitable 2024. This is not coming from God, just me, your newsletter writer. Accept and honor whats useful to you. Modify or discard whats not.

1) I will base every aspect of my business on honesty, integrity, and quality.

2) I will make sure every employee, from janitor to CEO, is trained to view every interaction with a customer as a key step in the marketing process and to always give the customer respect and attention.

3) I will train and empower every employee to let the customer go away feeling good about the entire interaction.

4) I will stand behind my products and services. It is better to refund the money and create a positive buzz.

5) Understanding that it costs an average of five times more to bring in a new customer as to keep an existing one, I will see that the entire organization exceeds customer expectations.

6) Recognizing that my competitors can be my strongest allies, I will initiate at least one joint venture (after all, if FedEx and the Postal Service, Apple and IBM, and General Motors and Toyota can cooperate, surely I can too).

7) If my company is not the best answer to prospects needs, I will refer that prospect to the company that can best serve, if I know of one.

8) I will devote business resources to make the world a better place.

9) I will volunteer on a community project and set up incentives for my employees to volunteer on the projects of their choice.

10) I will base decisions on the Abundance Principle that there is enough to go around, and not on market share.

11) I will reduce my firms use of water and energy, and reduce my familys use at home, and inform others of the easy changes Ive made. (See my ebook, Painless Green, for 111 suggestions)

12) I will grow by marketing the advantages of doing business with a socially and environmentally conscious, ethical company.

Four of marketing and profitability consultant/copywriter Shel Horowitzs 10 books cover marketing for green and social equity businesses. Three of those have won awards, including his most recent book, Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World (co-authored with Jay Conrad Levinson).

Discover why Chicken Soups Jack Canfield, futurist Seth Godin, and many others recommend Shels 10th book, Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World (and download a free sampler). Autographed and inscribed copies available.

View highlights from (and listen to) more than 30 podcasts ranging from 5 minutes to a full hour. Click here to see descriptions and replay links.

Another Recommended Resource: History of Nonviolence: From Thoreau and Tolstoy and Gandhi towards the present

History of Nonviolent Action: From Thoreau and Tolstoy and Gandhi towards the present

Narrated by Bill McKibben

If youve been on my list for a while, you probably know that I consider my two careers of activism and marketing to be inextricably braided together. Ive brought lessons from the business world into my activism, and lessons from activism into business. The synergy makes both far more effective than either on their own. And on the activist side, Ive been a proponent, practitioner, and publicizer of nonviolent social change. Ive read a lot of the research, and it all proves that nonviolent struggles are more likely to win, less likely to result in mass civilian death (though it does happen sometimes, at the hands of particularly brutal opponents), and more likely to create lasting positive change. Think about the US civil rights, feminist, safe energy and LGBTQ movements, the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and Arab Spring.

Bill McKibben, founder of both 350.org and Third Act, narrates an hour-long history of nonviolent civil disobedience going all the way back to Thoreau, who influenced Tolstoy, who in turn corresponded with a very young Gandhi, whose work both in South Africa and pre-partition India in turn influenced MLK. The video doesnt explicitly say so, but MLK clearly influenced Mandela, and so the circle came back around to South Africa. And MLK and Mandela have certainly impacted every nonviolent campaign Im familiar with in our own time. Because Ive been studying this movement since the 1970s, I knew much of the history he narrates, but I hadnt seen most of the wonderful archival footage it includes, such as Gandhi standing with his Muslim counterpart Abdul Ghaffar Khan and a movie clip of the Salt March.

Of course, activism is not only, or even mostly, about charismatic leaders. These are peoples movements and some of them involved tens or even hundreds of thousands of people. This video is the first of a four-part series. If you change the number at the end of https://thirdact.org/events/direct-action-series-webinar-1/ (to 2, then 3, then 4), you ought to be able to watch them as they become available. The second one is available now and the third one will air at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18. You can register on the ThirdAct.org site.

And if youre not yet an activist, I hope watching this series may help you find a passion for changing the world through nonviolent action. If you think you cant make a difference, consider these blog posts: the second and fourth parts of a five-part series I wrote reflecting back on the 40th anniversary of the 1977 Seabrook Occupation (which was a life-changing event for me):

https://greenandprofitable.com/40-years-ago-today-we-changed-the-world-part-2-outside-the-armories/



https://greenandprofitable.com/40-years-ago-today-we-changed-the-world-part-4-shifts-in-the-culture/

(If you want to read the whole series all the way through, start at https://greenandprofitable.com/40-years-ago-today-we-changed-the-world-part-1/ and click the link to the next part at the bottom of each segment.)

Turn Your Sustainability/CSR Report Into Powerful Marketing! http://goingbeyondsustainability.com/turn-that-nobody-reads-it-csr-report-into-a-marketing-win/

About Shel

Speaker, author, and consultant Shel Horowitz of GoingBeyondSustainabiity.com helps businesses find the sweet spot at the intersections of profitability with environmental and social good  creating and marketing profitable products and services that make a direct difference on problems like hunger, poverty, war, and catastrophic climate change. His 10th book is Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World.
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Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, prepares to speak to supporters of Senate Bill 442 on Monday, May 1, 2023, just ahead of its final Senate passage. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

The Montana governor has the power to veto legislation, and the Montana Legislature has the power to override those vetoes, things that a Lewis and Clark County district court judge said are not ambiguous.

And even though a small gap could be created by the timing of the veto or when the Legislature adjourns, Judge Mike Menahan said the Constitutions framers were clear that both branches should be able to equally exercise their powers.

In a ruling handed down on Tuesday, Menahan said that Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte must transmit his veto of Senate Bill 442 to Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, and that she must poll lawmakers to see if they wish to override Gianfortes veto of a bill that would redistribute revenues from recreational marijuana toward conservation efforts and county road improvement.

The final version of SB 442 would distribute 20% of the money toward county road construction and maintenance and 20% to a Habitat Legacy Fund, two of the key components of the bill for the plaintiffs.

On final passage, a total of 131 of 150 lawmakers supported the bill, but some top Republican senators had noted in the days leading up to its passage that the governor was unhappy with the bill and would likely veto it. Gianfortes administration had supported different bills that sought to distribute more of the money to law enforcement and the general fund.

It would take two-thirds of the Legislature, or 100 votes, to override a veto.

Representatives from the governors office were not immediately available for comment when the decision was released late on Tuesday afternoon.

We will review the decision and determine the next steps as our commitment is to serve Montana and faithfully execute the laws, said Secretary of State spokesman Richie Melby.

Wild Montana, Montana Wildlife Federation and the Montana Association of Counties banded together to file the lawsuits which centered on the exact timing of Gianfortes veto as well as the time the Senate adjourned for the 2023 session.

The process to override a veto changes based upon whether the Legislature is in session or is adjourned. In this case, Gianforte issued a veto of SB 442 at approximately the same time the Senate was adjourning. However, the Montana House continued on, raising a question of whether the Legislature was truly in session.

Gianforte said that he transmitted the veto to the Senate, but it had adjourned. Jacobsen said that she lacked the authority to poll via mail because the Legislature because it was still in session when the veto was signed.

Attorneys for the groups challenging the veto pointed out that executives could orchestrate down-to-the-minute timing to frustrate the override process in the future if a governor were time a veto just as either chamber was adjourning, leaving lawmakers with little chance to exercise their constitutional checks-and-balances.

The plain language of these two provisions appears to leave a procedural gap whereby the legislature does not have the opportunity to conduct a vote to override a governors veto if it does not receive timely notice of a veto prior to adjournment, Menahan described in his nine-page ruling. This creates a situation in which the legislature is deprived of a constitutionally delegated authority on the basis of a procedural anomaly.

Although subject to different procedures, the framers (of the Montana Constitution) clearly intended the legislatures veto power to exist regardless of the timing of the veto.

Menahan ruled that the only question the constitution left vague was which procedure should be used.

The determinative factor must be when the legislature receives the veto message rather than when the governor signs the veto, Menahan said. This interpretation clarifies the constitutionally established procedures while ensuring each coequal branch of government retains the ability to exercise its proper authority.

Menahan issued a writ of mandamus, or an order commanding Gianforte to send the veto to Jacobsen who then will poll lawmakers. That poll could take place, or the decision could be appealed to the Montana Supreme Court, in which case the order would likely be stayed pending a final decision there.

Lawmakers and outdoor advocates were quick to cheer the news.

Im glad SB 442 has been restored to its proper legal status. Its a bipartisan bill that supports Montana values and benefits Montanans all across our great state, and I encourage the Secretary of State to issue the veto override poll ASAP, said Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, the sponsor of the bipartisan measure. This is the same bill 130 legislators supported during the session, and Im looking forward to working with my colleagues to secure historic investments in rural infrastructure, agricultural communities, veterans services, and our drug abuse epidemic.

Ross Butcher, Fergus County Commissioner and Montana Association of Counties President, said that if lawmakers override Gianfortes veto, it will help with much-needed infrastructure improvement.

A lot of Fergus Countys 1,700+ miles of roads are falling apart due to the extraordinary traffic impact caused by out-of-area recreationists outpacing the local ability to keep them up within our regular maintenance schedules, Butcher said. This makes it tough for recreationists, citizens, and ag producers. The storys the same across the state  most counties dont have wiggle room in their budgets, and this SB 442 investment will go a long way.

For wildlife and conservation advocates, the possibility of Senate Bill 442 becoming law means a huge investment in the states outdoors.

SB 442 will be transformative for Montanans by improving wildlife and landscapes while supporting veterans and rural communities. Its poised to be the largest investment in Montanas wildlife habitat in over four decades, and were eager to work with our partners in the legislature to make it law, said Frank Szollosi, Executive Director of the Montana Wildlife Federation.

Reporter Blair Miller contributed to this report.

The post Judge says Legislature must be given an opportunity to override governors veto of SB 442 appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Inspectors will visit over 800 farms this year to oversee the industry's efforts in cutting pollution, the Welsh government has announced.

The NRW team will inspect farms throughout Wales to assess compliance with the Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations (CoAPR) introduced by the Welsh government.

The Welsh government-funded team has been split into north and south Wales divisions to ensure an even spread across the country.

Each officer has 'undergone extensive training', according to the Welsh government, and they are now inspecting 'high risk agricultural activities' as agreed.

These could include farms producing, storing, or using high levels of organic manures which includes digestate, biosolids and other wastes recovered to land.

Farmers falling short of compliance will receive a letter detailing actions they need to take, the Welsh government said.

Nicola Mills, CoAPR team leader for south Wales, said the introduction of the new team was a significant step forward in NRW's ability to effectively regulate CoAPR.

Our CoAPR inspection team is looking forward to meeting as many farmers as possible in 2024 and working with them to ensure they are compliant with these regulations.

"They have come from varied backgrounds including other inspecting bodies, all are knowledgeable, passionate, and hard-working individuals."

Inspections will cover construction standards and capacity of silage, solid manure, and slurry structures, required calculations, risk maps, nitrogen plans and application records.

Simon Griffiths, CoAPR team leader for north Wales, said the compliance inspections were 'nothing to be feared', adding: "We do not wish to add to farmers pressures unnecessarily."

We will always provide reasonable notice, normally in writing, to farmers ahead of any planned compliance inspections stating what officers will want to inspect.

"Where the farm poses a significant risk of polluting, we will have no choice but to take enforcement action.
Legislation putting an end to the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain will now move to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.

The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill delivers on a Conservative Party commitment to ban the export of live animals including cattle, sheep and pigs.

The government said animals should only be transported when necessary and, if possible, should not travel long distances to be slaughtered.

However, live exports in other specific circumstances, for example, for breeding and competitions, will still be allowed.

This is provided animals are transported in line with legal requirements aimed at protecting their welfare.

The bill, which passed through the House of Commons this week after clearing the committee stages, now moves to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.

Defra Secretary Steve Barclay said: This Bill makes use of post-Brexit freedoms to strengthen these standards by preventing the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening, which we know causes animals unnecessary stress and injury.

The legislation follows a 2020 consultation on ending live animal exports, in which 87% of respondents agreed that livestock should not be exported for slaughter and fattening.

But some farming groups have frequently warned that any significant regulatory changes to live exports could potentially have a major impact on the UK food supply chain.

The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) has said that a live export ban could 'cut off an essential lifeline' for sheep producers.

And the Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) group  whose members represent the breadth of the supply chain  said Defra must take responsibility for the impact of the ban on businesses.

The move has, however, been welcomed by animal rights organisations, with the RSPCA calling for the bill to now make 'swift progress' in the Lords.

David Bowles, head of public affairs at the charity, said: "The RSPCA, other organisations and the public, have campaigned to see live exports banned for more than 50 years so to see this becoming a reality now is an incredible step forward for animal welfare.

We agree with the UK government that this bill should be fast-tracked through parliament as finally bringing in a ban on this cruel and barbaric practice is a huge step forward for animal welfare.

"As much as we would love to see more species of animals added to future-proof the law, right now it is critical nothing slows progress, in case parliament runs out of time ahead of a general election."

Elsewhere in the world, New Zealand banned live exports last year and Australia has committed to phasing out exports.

The last live export to leave the UK was on 31 December 2020.
Author Rita Herron

1. Why set this series along the Appalachian Trail in the mountains of North Georgia? Because I know and love the area. My childhood vacations consisted of camping and hiking in the mountains. While the area provides beautiful, majestic scenery, spectacular waterfalls, quaint small towns, southern charm, delicacies, crafts and folklore it also has a certain mystique. The Appalachian Trail encompasses over two-thousand endless miles of untamed land, isolated areas, wild animals, dangerous drop offs, steep ridges, treacherous terrain, harsh weather conditions and deadly insects. Recluses, hillbillies and criminals live and hide in the isolated areas. The setting becomes a character in the story by providing atmospheric and sensory details that enhance the moody, gothic tone for each book in the series.

2. Why all the folklore? Ive always been intrigued with southern storytelling and folklore of specific areas and places because they bring the culture and history alive and make the story unique. Legends, rumors, southern sayings, and ghost stories are passed down from one generation to another and bring the small town, quirky characters and setting to life. In Widow Lake, the folklore is based on Lake Lanier, Georgia, a manmade lake in Georgia, which when being built, flooded entire towns and killed many people. Legends claim that swimmers and divers have actually encountered ghosts beneath the water, seen buried cities and that some have felt body parts float up next to them. Small towns can be charming but the fact that everyone knows everyone and their business can cause tension. Rumors and small town gossip also create more conflict for Ellie and interest as the town characters clash.

3. Why write a female lead as a detective? I have two daughters and understand how difficult is for women to thrive and reach their goals and be respected in a mans world. I hope to be a role model to them, for them to know that females can do anything they want to do. When I first submitted the series idea, Ellie had a different name, but my editor wanted an everyday girl that people could relate to so we brainstormed and decided to name her Ellie Reeves. Keeping with her suggestion, I thought long and hard on the everyday woman. As with many women in all walks of life, Ellie is a strong female fighting to overcome stereotypes about women in law enforcement. Although she has a tender side, especially regarding children, shes tough, tenacious, strong willed and will do anything to a solve case, get justice for victims, protect her family and those she loves and save lives.

4. Why a series? The setting/world of Crooked Creek and the mountain towns incite so many mystery ideas that I wanted to explore more than one book. If a reader likes a setting or lead character, they also want to return to that place and the characters. While there is an overarching storyline with the series showing characters growth and changes from book to book, each story contains a mystery that is solved by the end of the book so books can be read as stand alones. I want readers to wonder  what is going to happen to Ellie next?

5. People often ask about titles: Do I choose the title? What comes first  the idea or the title? The answer is mixed but the title choice is usually a collaborative effort between me and my editor. In creating titles, the editor and publishing team understand marketing and key words that help sell books. When I first started the series, I pitched titles but my editor steered me in a different direction. One time she suggested the beginning of a story line and I jokingly suggested she send me a title. The next day she did. After that, she suggested different titles and I picked the ones that sparked a story idea that I was excited to write! I already have titles for the next three books in the series and a fourth is percolating!

Author Bio: Rita Herron

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didnt think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesnt have to get a real job.

With over ninety books to her credit, shes penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy, and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.

For more on. Rita and her titles, visit her at www.ritaherron.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Rita Herrons latest book The Sleeping Girls is out on the 22nd January 2024

Sleeping Girls by Rita Herron

The young girl looked so innocent, like a sleeping angel. Kelsey lay on a bed of white sheets, golden hair fanned across the pillow, eyes closed, pale lips pressed together. A white teddy bear was tucked under her slender arm My baby, shes dead her distraught mother choked out.

When the call comes in that fifteen-year-old Kelsey Tiller has gone missing from her bedroom in the middle of the night, Detective Ellie Reeves rushes to talk to her distraught parents. They tell her that Kelsey, a slender blond with green eyes and a timid smile, had plans to go shopping for her homecoming dress the next day, insisting she would have no reason to run away. But when neighbors report seeing Kelsey with a secret boyfriend, Ellie wonders how much Kelsey really told her parents.

Ellie is determined to find Kelseys boyfriend and interviews her friends and teachers at school. But just as she is making headway with the case, she receives some devastating news. Kelseys parents have received a photo of their daughter lying on a bed with white sheets over her body, skin ghostly pale under the freckles dotting her nose, her precious life snuffed out.Desperate to find answers for those who loved Kelsey, Ellie studies the picture and realizes that her body has been posed in the same way as a teenage girl murdered ten years earlier. And when she learns Darnell, the killer in that case, has just been released from prison, fear crawls through her. Could Darnell have stolen another innocent life?

But just as Ellie thinks she has cracked the case, Kelseys best friend Ruby is snatched from her home, and Darnell has an unbreakable alibi. Haunted by Kelseys ashen face, Ellie knows she must race against time to find Ruby alive. And when she discovers one of her team is hiding critical information, she realizes she needs to act alone. But is she dealing with a twisted copycat killer or is the danger far closer to home?

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Arnold Schwarzenegger was detained at an airport in Germany after failing to declare a luxury watch.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was detained at an airport in Germany after failing to declare a luxury watch

The Terminator actor, 76, was held by customs officers in Munich on Wednesday (17.01.24) under tax laws for several hours after flying in from Los Angeles after he was taken pulled aside to have his luggage inspected and officials found a custom-made watch from Swiss brand Audemars Piguet in his bag worth more than $21,000.

Munichs customs spokesman Thomas Meister told German newspaper Bild the timepiece should have been registered because it is an import and they have now initiated criminal tax proceedings over the incident.

According to Bild, Arnold called in his lawyers after being questioned for nearly four hours and was allegedly slapped with a 35,000 fine for failing to declare the watch.

He was reportedly flying with his physiotherapist partner Heather Milligan, 49, was released and allowed to continue on his journey to Austria shortly before 5pm local time.

In a photo obtained by Bild, the actor did not appear fussed by the situation as he was seen smiling to the camera as he held up a box with the watch presumably inside.

A source told Page Six the actor was never asked to fill out a declaration form and he answered every question from customs officers honestly.

They added: He cooperated at every step even though it was an incompetent shakedown, a total comedy of errors that would make a very funny cop movie. Page Six said a source told them Arnold agreed to pre-pay potential taxes on the watch but officers allegedly had issues using a credit card machine for up to an hour.

The insider added Arnold was then brought to a bank to withdraw from a cash machine, but the amount needed exceeded the funds and the bank was already closed.

They said: When he returned, a new officer brought a new credit card machine that worked.

Bild said Arnold initially took the interrogation fairly calmly, but then the time and the procedure got on his nerves.

Arnold, who has dual Austrian and US citizenship, was on his way to attend a charity auction being held on Thursday (18.01.24) in Kitzbuhel, Austria, and he is thought to be going to auction his watch at the event.

An insider told Page Six: The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative will properly report it, as all of Arnolds non-profits do, an insider says.

His charity auctions raise millions of dollars every year for after-school programs for kids all over the United States and environmental work around the world.

We hope Germany spends as much energy turning around their economy as they do asking for tax payments for peoples property they bring into the country, and we hope next time they dont make him pay taxes on his suits.
Kieran Culkin's mother Patricia Brentrup is in poor health, his stepfather has revealed.

Kieran Culkin's mother is in poor health

The 'Succession' actor - who brother is 'Home Alone' star Macaulay Culkin - teared up as he paid tribute to Patricia, 69, during an emotional acceptance speech for the actor in a drama series prize at the Emmy Awards earlier this week.

He said at the time: "I've got to switch to the personal really fast. I have to thank my mom for giving me life, my childhood which was great, so thank you for that."

Speaking to Page Six, stepfather Mart Cox told Page Six that Patricia couldn't attend Macaulay's Hollywood Star of Fame ceremony due to health struggles.

He said: "Patty was invited, and they wanted to fly her out, but shes been having some hard times with her health."

Mart explained that she spent a "few months before the holidays" with Kieran at this home in Brooklyn, New York.

He added: "Kieran was looking after her and she was going to doctors in the city. All the kids have been very helpful, oh for sure. Just from Patty, they have a lot of love in them  she is an incredible woman.

He noted that while he and the mum-of-seven are incredibly proud of Kieran, they love all their children - including two Mart has of his own - equally.

He said: "We certainly are proud of Kieran and were really happy life is just beginning for him. But we have nine kids and we love them all.

"None ever gets more love than the other. Thats how their mom raised them  although Kieran always thought he was the favorite!

And despite being delighted to see Kieran's career soaring, they have only managed to catch a handful of episodes of 'Succession'.

He admitted: Im not big on TV. We never really watch TV  its not everything in our lives.

Speaking to reporters backstage at the Emmys, Kieran paid tribute to his mother while referencing his estranged father Kit Culkin.

He said: "Shes just an absolutely wonderful woman who took on raising seven kids in a studio apartment, by herself.

"There was a guy there  he didnt do anything."
King Charles is to undergo surgery to treat an enlarged prostate.

King Charles is to be admitted to hospital next week for surgery

The 75-year-old monarch will check into hospital next week for a "corrective procedure" to address the condition - which is described as "benign" - and he will then pause all his upcoming royal engagements to give himself time to recover.

A statement from Buckingham Palace explained: "In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.

"His Majesty's condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure. The King's public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation."

News of the King's planned operation was confirmed just hours after it was revealed his daughter-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales is in hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery.

The 42-year-old royal was admitted to The London Clinic in the UK capital on Tuesday (16.01.24) for a planned operation which was deemed "successful" by doctors and she is expected to remain under the care of medics for up to two weeks before returning home.

She has cancelled all of her upcoming engagements and is not expected to return to her public duties until after Easter.

A statement from Kensington Palace explained: "Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery.

"The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter."

No more details about Catherine's medical condition have been disclosed.

The statement added: "The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness progress when there is significant new information to share."

The statement concluded by passing on the Princess' apologies to all those affected by the cancellation of her royal engagements.
Lottie Moss wept as she opened up about her years of mental health and addiction battles.

Lottie Moss wept as she opened up about her years of mental health and addiction battles

The half-sister of supermodel Kate Moss, who turned 50 on Tuesday (16.01.24), shared a video with fans on Tik Tok in which she wiped away tears as she talked about she has faced the issues since her youth.

She said: I have struggled so much since, like, I was young with depression and anxiety and, you know, problems with addiction.

Ive gotten to a point where I dont even like or know who I am.

Lottie added the modelling industry contributed to her struggles as she would succumb to drugs and alcohol whenever she felt sad.

She went on: I think I rebelled so hard away from an industry that made me sad.

I just rebelled so hard away from being that person because I was just, like, so miserable being that person.

Lottie, who went into rehab in 2022, ditched modelling for big brands to launch her OnlyFans page, and said that and a decision to get a face tattoo were part of a big change she went through on her journey to self-discovery.

She said: Navigating your 20s sucks (because you) dont even know what youre meant to be doing, who youre meant to be friends with at times you become someone that you dont like or know or recognize, and I think Ive gotten to that place today where Im just like, I dont know who I am.

Lottie, who is the daughter of modelling agent Inger Moss and travel agent Peter Moss, who is Kates dad, stressed she recognised she is privileged, but said: You can be grateful and still struggle. Mental illness sucks.

Lotties half-sister Kate has been marking her 50th with a trip to the Caribbean with friends including Sadie Frost and on Tuesday was spotted heading for brunch with boyfriend Nikolai von Bismarck, 37, and daughter Lila, 21, in Paris ahead of throwing a star-studded party at the Ritz in the city on Tuesday (16.01.24) night.
The 'Friends' cast didn't honour Matthew Perry at the Emmy Awards because his death is "still very fresh".

Matthew Perry's Friends castmates didn't reunite for Emmys tribute

The late actor - who was found dead in his hot tub towards the end of October at the age of 54 - was remembered during the In Memorium during Monday's (15.01.24) ceremony, but his castmates Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer didn't reunite as part of the event.

Asked if there were any plans to try to get them involved in the tribute, the ceremony's executive producer Jeannae Rouzan-Clay told The Hollywood Reporter: "Its still very fresh for them."

Jesse Collins, who also served as an executive producer, admitted while the idea was discussed "early on", they wanted to "respect that they were their own family".

He added: "We had talked about it early on  but I can imagine, from their side, theyre mourning someone who was still very close to them.

"I cant speak for them, but we all have to respect that they were their own family. It was probably just a little too soon."

The segment was introduced by 'All in the Family' stars Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers, who stood in a replica of their TV living room as they paid tribute to pioneering producer Norman Lear, who created their show and others including 'All in the Family', 'Sanford and Son', 'One Day at a Time', 'The Jeffersons', 'Good Times'.

The pair then introduced Charlie Puth and duo The War and Treaty, who performed 'See You Again' during a montage of clips of those who had died.

A particularly moving moment came when the musicians transitioned into singing 'I'll Be There for You', the theme tune from 'Friends' when Matthew - who died in October aged 54 - appeared on the screen.

Other stars honoured during the segment included 'Euphoria' actor Angus Cloud, 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' star Andre Braugher, 'Three's Company' actress Suzanne Summers, Paul Reubens aka Pee Wee Herman, Cindy Williams and comedian Tom Smothers.

The ceremony acknowledged they were unable to feature everyone who had died over the last year due to time constraints, but they maintain an extensive In Memoriam segment on their website.
Pierce Brosnan has pleaded not guilty to two charges over allegations he hiked into prohibited areas of Yellowstone National Park.

Pierce Brosnan has denied two charges stemming from a day out in Yellowstone

The 70-year-old former James Bond star is accused of wandering into two areas of the park which are closed to the public during a day out there on November 1 with the actor facing citations for walking in a thermal area and for hiking into the Mammoth Terraces - a pocket of hot springs which are described as both delicate and dangerous.

According to Cowboystatedaily.com, Brosnan entered his plea at the U.S. District Court for Wyoming on January 4 via paper filing. He also asked for an upcoming court appearance on January 23 to be cancelled.

The outlet reports U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick granted the actor's request to cancel the initial appearance hearing and set a virtual status conference for February 20 instead.

Park rules state visitors to Yellowstone - which is mostly in Wyoming but also branches out into Montana and Idaho - must stay on the designated pathways and trails - and they face serious consequences if they wander into restricted areas.

If found guilty of breaching the rules, visitors can be jailed for up to six months and face fines of up to $5,000.

Park bosses insist the designated boardwalks and trails have been laid out to protect you and delicate thermal formations..

Since the 1800s, at least 20 people have died in thermal areas in Yellowstone National Park and in November 2022 the foot of a dead man from Los Angeles was found floating in one of the parks hot springs.

Brosnan is believed to have been visiting the park while he was in the area filming a new Western movie called 'The Unholy Trinity' alongside Samuel L. Jackson.

Pierce Brosnan is an Irish actor, film producer, and activist.
Sofia Vergara is going to be looking for love in New York following her split from Joe Manganiello.

Sofia Vergara think she's more likely to find love in New York City

The 'Modern Family' actress, 51, has been single since her eight-year marriage to Joe broke down last summer and she's now ready to start the search for a new man - and Sofia thinks the Big Apple will be a good place to find Mr Right because there are "more men" and they don't all work in show business.

During an appearance on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' - which is filmed in Manhattan - Sofia explained: "I think that you have more options with men ... I'm single now ...

"So in New York there's more people, there's not only like actors, [writers] or directors. I think there's like a bigger  I'm going to spend more time in New York."

It comes after Sofia - who was married to Joe between 2015 and 2023 - recently declared she doesn't need a man in her life in order to feel happy.

She told HELLO! magazine: "I don't feel as though I need a man. I want one, but I don't need one."

The former couple announced their split last July via a joint statement in which they confirmed they were moving forward with plans to divorce.

They said: "We have made the difficult decision to divorce. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect for our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives."

A source subsequently revealed that Sofia and Joe had been "growing apart for some time".

The insider told PEOPLE in July: "They have been growing apart for some time now and tried to resolve things, but they are focused on different areas of their lives."
Twinkle Khanna Akshay Kumar throwback: Actor Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna have been married for over two decades. The couple got married in 2001 and are celebrating their 23rd marriage anniversary today.

They are the most loved couple in Bollywood. From trolling each other to passing witty comments, the couple causes a laugh riot whenever they come together.

Taking down the memory lane, did you know that the actor-turned-columnist had once disclosed that she wasn't playing to date Akshay and wanted just a fling?

When Twinkle Khanna revealed wanting a fling with Akshay Kumar

Akshay and Twinkle appeared on Koffee With Karan season 5, and that episode is among the funniest so far. Talking on the show, Mrs Funnybones revealed that she and Kumar started their relationship with a casual fling, as she didn't want a committed relationship at that time of her life.

Welcome Actor Mushtaq Khan Alleges Being Paid Less Than Akshay Kumar's Staff: Films Spend Money Only On Stars

In a candid revelation, Twinkle said that the two were shooting for a film on an outdoor schedule for around 15 days, when she thought a fling would last only for those given days. However, they fell for each other, and the rest is history.

During the conversation, she disclosed, "I had come out of a long-term relationship and I wanted to just, for the first time in my life, have a fling. So I decided I was going to have one. There he was, '6-feet of chocolate ice-cream', I'm going to have a fling with him and it's going to last fifteen days."

Akshay and Twinkle worked in two films, Zulmi and International Khiladi, in 1999. They have two kids: son Aarav and daughter Nitara.

Before switching careers to being a fiction writer, Twinkle co-produced some of Akshay's films, including Tees Maar Khan, Holiday: A Soldier is Never Off Duty, and Pad Man.

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan Teaser: Release Date, Runtime & More Details About Akshay Kumar & Tiger Shroff Starrer
Pakistani celebs lash out at Fighter trailer: Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone starrer, aerial action entertainer Fighter trailer, was unveiled yesterday. While many applauded the visuals and action-packed scenes, some have critiqued the film for having too much jingoism.

Fighter revolves around the 2019 Pulwama attack, and several A-listers from Pakistan showbiz have taken to social media to bash the film for unjustly portraying Pakistan as a villain. Many prominent figures from the neighbouring country have slammed the makers for making bold and explicit anti-Pakistan narratives in the film.

Pakistani celebs lash out at Fighter trailer

Acclaimed actor Adnan Siddiqui, who worked with Sridevi in Mom, took to his X page and shared, "Once celebrated for love, Bollywood now crafts hate-filled narratives, portraying us as villains. Despite our love for your films, it's disheartening. Art transcends boundaries; let's use it to promote love and peace. Two nations, victims of politics, deserve better."

Once celebrated for love, Bollywood now crafts hate-filled narratives, portraying us as villains. Despite our love for your films, it's disheartening. Art transcends boundaries; let's use it to promote love and peace. Two nations, victims of politics, deserve better.  Adnan Siddiqui (@adnanactor) January 16, 2024

Fighter: Here's All You Need To Know About Rishabh Sawhney, The Villain Of Hrithik-Deepika Starrer

Actress Zara Noor Abbas mentioned on her IG Story that she was waiting for the trailer, but her enthusiasm died after seeing it. She penned, "I was waiting for the film but I guess now this narrative can f**k off! Auu zara Pakistan occupy karnay, hum bhi chai pila pila keh hisaab lengay."

She also shared a video where she can be seen saying, "It's so funny to see Hrithik Roshan say, 'We are owners, Pakistan has occupied Kashmir'. Why don't Kashmiris are asked whose servants they are? Because they aren't anyone's servants. They deserve an independent state."

Meanwhile, starlet Hania Aamir, who is loved immensely in India, said, "So sad and unfortunate to know that there are artists out there in this day and age who are aware of the power that the cinema holds and still go ahead and feed the riff between the two countries. I feel sorry for the artists who try to bridge the gap by trusting their art as a medium. Distasteful. Let art breathe."

Make-up artist and granddaughter of legendary Madam Noor Jehan, Natasha Ali Lakhani, shared a photo with Hrithik Roshan and shared her discontent in a long note.

Hira Khan stated, "The tea was fantastic tou dalna bhul gaye? (You forgot to add, 'The tea was fantastic?) IOP - in your dreams." She added, "Sad that such big superstars need to bash Pakistan to make [their] movies."

Another actor, Asad Siddiqui, shared on his IG Story his thoughts on the negativity surrounding the film and wrote, "Same old chronicle!" he said. "Aren't you guys tired of selling the same false crap?! Grow up, guys! The world is moving on and getting mature but why do you want to sell this cheap story of hatred? Could have also promoted peace. Don't we have enough hatred in the world that you had to boost more hate [through] this global medium of movies?"

Fans Hail Siddharth Anand's Fighter Trailer, Starring Hrithik-Deepika Padukone, Say 'Pure Goosebumps

About Fighter

Fighter marks Roshan and Padukone's maiden collaboration. The actioner also stars Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Akshay Oberoi in key roles.

Co-written and directed by filmmaker Siddharth Anand, Fighter will release on January 25, ahead of the 75th Republic Day.
The Indian short video app, Josh, has solidified its dominance in the market, owing to its extensive and devoted user community. Both content creators and viewers find great satisfaction in the platform's diverse content. Josh recently joined forces with T-Series for the popular Fighter song Sher Khul Gaye, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone.

Speaking of the song Sher Khul Gaye from the much-awaited movie Fighter has been trending since its release. Benny Dayal, Shilpa Rao, and the composer duo Vishal and Shekhar lend their voices to the song, with the entire cast making appearances in its video. Crafted by lyricist Kumaar, this track has been destined to become a popular choice at various parties and events. The catchy hook steps of the song add to its appeal.

Josh launched an exclusive campaign named #SherKhulGaye between December 28, 2023 and January 10, 2023, and users of the platform not only loved the music but also made videos for the incredible tune. With over 128.8 million video views, 9.7 million hearts, the campaign was a big success. Isn't that amazing? The users vibed and grooved for the music, watch below:

https://share.myjosh.in/challenge/1b2db790-18d0-46cb-a980-7920be8c8c1d

To enhance the celebration, the challenge saw involvement from nearly 25 top influencers. Here's wishing the entire team continued success. Here are a few glimpses of the trending challenge:

https://share.myjosh.in/video/b0138141-1ad8-444c-9b85-d5be8199e707

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https://share.myjosh.in/content/81816c14-53d6-49b9-94fa-5a9c4647f7dd

https://share.myjosh.in/video/2fa342f9-594f-4f0c-b8d7-3c77969d6adf

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https://share.myjosh.in/video/9c499d3b-4244-4326-b907-d8248b35faa1

https://share.myjosh.in/video/819c6831-0182-4f6b-9a63-1b84a8ad617f

https://share.myjosh.in/video/3660ecd7-423a-4061-8065-9cabe5198bf2

https://share.myjosh.in/content/1c5c3a20-7cc5-4774-86ae-25e44cf02571

https://share.myjosh.in/video/e6e488b3-c9bb-4a96-9682-7c1aca4fa4c1

https://share.myjosh.in/video/3ac87d4a-4907-46fb-b068-aa6b26673322

https://share.myjosh.in/content/dabf0fb8-1012-47df-879b-026c8e08fc9f

https://share.myjosh.in/video/18bbb24a-65fa-4f88-bc26-1f9bf2b5058c

A lot more exciting challenges are up on Josh, download Josh app now, and don't miss out on all the fun! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eterno.shortvideos
Teenage actor Tirth Joisher who will be seen essaying the younger version of Sidharth Malhotra's character in upcoming Bollywood movie Yodha, recalling stepping into showbiz, working with bollywood mega star, Shahrukh Khan.

He shared, "I remember my first project was along side my favourite Shahrukh Khan. It was a print shoot in Delhi for a real estate company based in the capital. I remember my pictures with him were all over and I was quite young during that time. People loved my face so much that I was offered many print shoots. Being so much infront of camera motivated me to become an actor."

The actor credits his parents who helps him managing shoots and studies. "I'm happy that my parents helped me to understand my passion for acting and entertaining others. They helped me to groom myself and learn a lot to become a better actor. I'm happy to pursue acting. But studies are equally important to me. And my parents are helping me to manage both at the same time."

He also said that he is waiting to share screen space with Shahrukh Khan in his films. "I was very young that time and couldn't enjoy much time with the bollywood star. I hope to share screen space with him soon. I'll be fortunate if I get to shoot along with him. There is so much to learn from him to not only become a successful actor but also a human being. I remember him for his extra ordinary personality. He was so humble and kind."

Tirth is known for previously featuring in movies like Dishoom, Golmaal Again, Satyameva Jayate. He was also seen in web series The Verdict - State vs Nanavati, Clutch, Scam 1992 among others.
Content has the power to drive behavioral change, surpassing traditional instructional methods. In the past two seasons, the tank has seen pitches spanning various industries, from apps and stationery to beauty and beyond. An innovative pitch poised to enter the tank is Rodbez-a revolutionary platform offering One-Way Taxi, Taxipool, and Carpool services. Notably, our latest shark, Ritesh Agarwal, the Founder & CEO of OYO Rooms, was captivated by this pitch. He expressed enthusiasm for the emergence of localized solutions that enhance life in tier 2 cities, stating, "Pehle badhe badhe sheheron mein chhoti chhoti baatein hoti thi. Ab chhote chhote sheheron mein badhe badhe business ban rahe hain!"

Co-founded by Dilkhush Kumar and Siddharth Shankar Jha hailing from Bihar aims to address the challenges posed by unorganized taxi services in the state, setting the stage for a transformative commuting experience with their business Rodbez. The core mission of the business is to enhance the commuting experience for countless passengers in Bihar by offering a cost-effective solution that reduces expenses by up to 40% and eliminates the need for both-side fares. What sets RodBez apart is not just its innovative approach but also the personal journey of Dilkhush Kumar, who shares his inspiring story of overcoming job rejections to drive positive change in Bihar.

Ritesh Agarwal, "India's entrepreneurship scene has come of age and startups like RodBez are a sterling example of that shift. No idea is too ambitious, and no dream is too big. It doesn't matter where you come from as long as you're focused on where you're headed. There are hundreds of hinterland businesses like RodBez that have pioneered frugal innovation and have the potential to build not only for India but the world."

The big question still lingers - with an ask of Rs 50 lakhs for 5% equity, will the Sharks join this mission to usher in a new era of taxi services in Bihar? Don't forget to watch this extraordinary pitch on Shark Tank India 3 on Sony LIV.
Prime Minister Modi Attends Suresh Gopi's Daughter Bhagya's Wedding: Prime Minister Narendra Modi graced the wedding ceremony of Bhagya Suresh, the daughter of actor and BJP leader Suresh Gopi.

Neru OTT Release Date And Platform: Find Out When And Where To Watch Mohanlal's Courtroom Drama

The ceremony took place at the Kalyana Mandapam of the Guruvayur Temple. Following his darshan at the Guruvayur temple, Prime Minister Modi attended the wedding, offering his congratulations to the bride and groom.

Notable dignitaries, including Mammootty, Mohanlal, Jayaram, Khushbu, Dileep, and others, attended the joyous occasion with their families. The Prime Minister also extended his best wishes to other couples tying the knot in Guruvayur on the same day.

Following his visit to Guruvayur and marriage ceremony, the Prime Minister is set to visit the Thriprayar Sri Ramaswamy Temple. Upon returning to Kochi, significant inaugurations await, including the Kochi International Ship Repair Centre, Dry Dock, and IOC's LPG Import Terminal at Willingdon Island, scheduled for noon.

Subsequently, the Prime Minister will attend a meeting of the BJP's 'Shaktikendra Pramukh' at Marine Drive before concluding his two-day visit. The Prime Minister, who arrived in Kochi yesterday, was warmly welcomed by Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Kochi International Airport at 6.50 p.m. Utilising a helicopter to reach Kochi Naval Airport, he continued his journey via MG Road, Hospital Road, and Park Avenue Road, conducting a road show in an open vehicle until reaching the guesthouse.

Philip's OTT Release Date And Platform: Here's When And Where To Watch Mukesh's Movie

Bhagya Suresh Weds Shreyas Mohan

Bhagya Suresh tied the knot with Shreyas Mohan. The wedding reception is scheduled at Thiruvananthapuram Greenfield Stadium on January 20. The groom, Shreyas Mohan, is the son of Mohan and Sreedevi, hailing from Mavelikkara and working as a businessman. Their engagement took place in July. Bhagya's academic journey led her to graduate from the University of British Columbia, specifically the UBC Sauder School of Business.
Kushal Tandon and Shivangi Joshi's recent romance drama Barsatein - Mausam Pyaar Ka has been the talk of the town ever since it was announced. The show marked the duo's first collaboration and they managed to win millions of hearts. To note, Barsatein - Mausam Pyaar Ka went on air in July 2023 on Sony TV and in its journey so far, it has managed to keep the audience intrigued with its plot.

However, it's been a while since Barsatein - Mausam Pyaar Ka has been making headlines for the reports it going off air. Yes! It's been a month since rumours about Barsatein - Mausam Pyaar Ka coming to an end surfaced. While it was reported that the show might get an extension, turns out the makers have changed the plans and will be pulling down the curtains soon.

According to a recent update by Gossips TV, Barsatein - Mausam Pyaar Ka will be going off air next month. The tweet revealed that the last episode of Shivangi and Kushal's Barsatein - Mausam Pyaar Ka will be aired after Valentine's Day 2024 on February 16. The news might come out as a disappointment for the fans. After all, fans were in awe of Shivangi and Kushal's sizzling chemistry.

Will Barsatein Go Off Air? Shivangi Joshi-Kushal Tandon's Show Get Extension? Confirmed Details

Meanwhile, there have been speculations about the reason about Barsatein - Mausam Pyaar Ka going off air after seven months and there were reports about Kushal's unprofessionalism being the reason for the show's end. However, a source told Filmibeat, "Contrary to the rumours about Barsatein ending due to Kushal Tandon's unprofessionalism, the show is under the scanner due to low TRPs. After a good start, somehow the romantic drama lost the plot and witnessed a drop in numbers. This is the reason why Barsatein is expected to go off air".
Bigg Boss 17 Finale Week: After entertaining fans for three months, the seventeenth season of India's biggest reality show Bigg Boss is finally coming to an end later this month, in just two weeks. After Samarth Jurel's elimination, Bigg Boss 17 got its top eight contestants in Ankita Lokhande, Vicky Jain, Mannara Chopra, Munawar Faruqui, Isha Malviya, Abhishek Kumar, Ayesha Khan, and Arun Srikanth Mashettey.

To make the final two weeks of Bigg Boss 17 more interesting and entertaining for viewers, the makers are introducing several twist and turns in every episode. This week, so far, the nominations task turned out to be a major highlight as it witnessed changes in dynamics once again.

BIGG BOSS 17 NOMINATIONS: TORTURE TASK & NASTY FIGHTS

As shown in the last two episodes, Bigg Boss housemates indulged in many nasty fights as the makers divided contestants in two teams and introduced the torture task for this week's nominations. While the task went well on the first day, Vicky Jain and his team hid buckets and other things required by Munawar's team to torture them.

Bigg Boss 17 Media Round Date Revealed: Here's When Press Will ENTER BB 17 House To Bash Contestants

Bigg Boss 17: Before Ankita Lokhande, Vicky Jain Was Dating THIS Actress? Here's Why They Broke Up

This resulted in a physical fight between both of them leaving their Bigg Boss 17 housemates shocked. Not just that, Ankita Lokhande and Isha Malviya also targetted Mannara Chopra and commented on her equation with Munawar when she was saving him from Vicky Jain. On the second day, Bigg Boss asked Munawar, Mannara, Abhishek, and Arun in the Archive room and gave them two options for Vicky and the team's 'unethical' activities.

BIGG BOSS 17: FOUR CONTESNTANTS ENTER FINALE WEEK

For those who are unaware, the options given by Bigg Boss to them was to either battle it out with Vicky's group in the task or directly nominated them for elimination this week by disqualifying them from the task. As expected, Vicky, Isha, Ayesha, and Ankita got nominated for eviction. With this move, Mannara, Munawar, Arun, and Abhishek became the four contestants to enter the Bigg Boss 17 finale week.

Among them, who do you think have the highest chances to win Bigg Boss 17? Share your views in the comments section below.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 16, 2024) - Interra Copper Corp. (CSE: IMCX) (FSE: 3MX) ("Interra" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into a securities for debt settlement agreement dated January 15, 2024 (the "Agreement") with a professional advisor of the Company.

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company has agreed to settle debt in the amount of $34,723.05 through the issuance of 138,892 units (each, a "Unit") at a deemed price of $0.25 per Unit, whereby each Unit shall be comprised of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Share") and one half (1/2) of one (1) Share purchase warrant (each whole, being a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be convertible into an additional Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.35 per Warrant Share and will expire on the date that is three (3) years following the date of issuance (the "Expiry Date"). The Expiry Date shall be subject to acceleration where the volume-weighted average trading price of the Company's common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange is equal to or greater than $0.45 for a continuous 30-day period at any time after that date which is 4 months following their date of issue in which case the Expiry Date of the Warrants shall automatically accelerate and the Warrants will expire on that date which is 30 days after the date on which notice of such acceleration event is provided to the holder.

The Agreement and the issuance of the securities thereunder are subject to the approval of the CSE. The securities will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day pursuant to CSE policies and applicable securities laws.

On behalf of the Board of Interra Copper Corp.

Rick Gittleman

Interim CEO & Chairman

For further information contact:

Katherine Pryde

Investor Relations

+1 (778) 949-1829

investors@interracoppercorp.com

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or" should" occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the debt settlement transaction and the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Interra, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary approvals in connection with the Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, the ability to complete exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Interra does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194531

SOURCE: Interra Copper Corp.
Apple achieves remarkable 74% growth in brand value

AI booms with NVIDIA the world's fastest growing brand

Deutsche Telekom enters the global top 10

Tesla drops out of the top 10, falling to 18th

LONDON, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Apple has achieved exceptional brand value growth this year, increasing by USD219billion (74%) to USD517 billion, reclaiming its title as the world's most valuable brand.

Every year, leading brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance puts 5,000 of the biggest brands to the test. The world's top 500 most valuable and strongest global brands are included in the annual Brand Finance Global 500 2024 ranking.

Apple has achieved a remarkable brand value increase, even as iPhone sales have largely plateaued, as its strategy of finding new markets, expanding its ecosystem, and encouraging upgrades to higher-value iPhones has been highly effective. Apple has maintained its position as the dominant player in the premium smartphone market, with a share of 71%.

David Haigh, Chairman and CEO of Brand Finance commented:

"Apple has grown its brand value through strategic diversification and premiumisation. According to our research, more than 50% of respondents recognised Apple as expensive, but worth the price, reinforcing the brand's ability to demand a price premium".

NVIDIA (brand value up 163% to USD44.5 billion) become the world's fastest-growing brand.

A key supplier of chips in the AI space, NVIDIA is perceived as highly innovative while familiarity, consideration, and recommendation levels all increased year-on-year, according to Brand Finance research.

Deutsche Telekom (brand value up 17% to USD73.3 billion) has claimed the title as the world's most valuable telecoms brand, surpassing Verizon (brand value up 6% to USD71.8 billion). Ranked 9th globally, it also leads as the most valuable European brand.

Tesla (brand value down 12% to USD58.3 billion) has dropped out of the top 10, falling to 18th and BYD (brand value up 20% to USD12.1 billion) has now overtaken Tesla to become the world's largest EV maker.

That said, despite BYD's greater production volume, Tesla's brand value is five times that of BYD. This highlights the enduring significance of brands as corporate assets, allowing Tesla to command a price premium, support its company value, and potentially fuel renewed growth.

View the full Brand Finance Global 500 2024 report here

You can find full details of Brand Finance's methodology here along with frequently asked questions.

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HIROSHIMA, Japan, Jan 17, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation ("Mazda") today announced an agreement was reached with Tesla, Inc. ("Tesla") to adopt the North American Charging Standard ("NACS") for charging ports on the company's Battery Electric Vehicles ("BEVs") launched in North America from 2025 onward.Mazda will drive adoption of NACS to provide customers with a broader range of charging options. This addition will provide Mazda BEV customers with greater charging convenience through access to more than 15,000 Tesla Superchargers across North America.Mazda will continue to pursue the 'Joy of Driving' under its core value, "Human Centric", and aim to deliver 'Joy of Living' by creating moving experiences in customers' daily lives.Source: mazdaCopyright 2024 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Full-cycle verification platform partners with the prominent fintech group in the Middle East and Africa, reinforcing its presence in the region

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sumsub , a global full-cycle verification platform, has joined the MENA FinTech Association (MFTA) to drive business growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), raise identity fraud awareness, and foster innovation in the fintech sector. This partnership highlights Sumsub's commitment to establishing and strengthening key industry connections and contributing to the ever-evolving fintech landscape in the Middle East and African markets.

Founded in 2018, the MENA Fintech Association is globally recognized as one of the top-4 fintech groups in the world, bringing together fintech companies, startups, investors, regulators, influencers and academia. It is the premier not-for-profit organisation dedicated to serving fintech startups and established players across the Middle East and Africa. The MFTA provides numerous opportunities as a fintech hub that connects different stakeholders from the industry and creates space for growth, innovation and inclusivity. This presents Sumsub experts a generous choice of engaging with top fintech professionals, exploring potential partnerships in the fintech network and sharing verification expertise within the community.

In December, Sumsub was announced winner in the RegTech of the Year category of the 2023 MENA FinTech Awards. As an MFTA member, Sumsub aims to contribute to the regional fintech ecosystem by providing insights into anti-fraud measures, compliance with the shifting regulatory requirements, and expertise in KYC, KYB and transaction monitoring for fintechs. This partnership will enhance the development of the entire fintech community, driving more innovative solutions and projects in the MENA region. Furthermore, Sumsub will lead conversations within the policy and regulations working group, collaborating with industry peers to host panel discussions, workshops, and reports with the aim of advancing the industry.

Nameer Khan, Chairman of the MENA Fintech Association and Founder of FILS, commented: "We are pleased to welcome Sumsub to the MENA Fintech Association. Their expertise in KYC, KYB, and transaction monitoring will be invaluable in our efforts to strengthen the fintech ecosystem in the MENA region. Sumsub's commitment to sharing insights and actively participating in policy discussions aligns with our mission to foster collaboration and innovation. We look forward to their contributions to the MFTA family and the Policy and Regulations Working Group and believe that together, we can create a more secure and compliant environment for fintech to thrive in the Middle East and Africa."

Andrew Sever, co-founder and CEO of Sumsub, added, "For Sumsub, partnering with the MENA Fintech Association marks a new level of presence in the region. We believe that our expertise and years of experience in the verification, anti-fraud, and compliance sector will be valued by other MFTA members. Together with this extraordinary community, we aim to build a safer digital environment based on top-notch technologies tailored for the fintech industry."

About Sumsub

Sumsub is a full-cycle verification platform securing the whole user journey. With Sumsub's customizable KYC, KYB, transaction monitoring and fraud prevention solutions, you can orchestrate your verification process, welcome more customers worldwide, meet compliance requirements, reduce costs, and protect your business.

Sumsub has over 2,000 clients across the fintech, crypto, transportation, trading, e-commerce and gaming industries including Binance, Wirex, Mercuryo, Bybit, Huobi, Unlimit, DiDi, Poppy, and TransferGo.

About the MENA Fintech Association

The MENA FINTECH ASSOCIATION (MFTA) is an inclusive, not for profit association that fosters an open dialogue for the MENA Fintech community; shaping the future of financial services in the region. We have a growing community of Fintech startups and SMEs, financial institutions, technology companies, academia, investors, accelerators as well as regulators and policy makers. Plus cross border knowledge exchange platforms and collaborations creating a conducive Fintech ecosystem.

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Multi-year partnership will source global start-ups working to shape the future of longevity innovation and build an enabling ecosystem to accelerate their growth

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Manulife today announced a new multi-year partnership with UpLink, the World Economic Forum's (WEF) open innovation platform, designed to help shape the future of, and investment in, longevity innovation. The three-year partnership will include annual Manulife powered Global Longevity Innovation challenges, run by UpLink. Manulife will also support WEF's broader efforts to address the demographic and financial challenges of global ageing to help more people live longer, healthier, and better lives.

"Around the world, people are living longer, but not necessarily healthier," said Roy Gori, President and CEO of Manulife. "One-fifth of an individual's life, on average, is now expected to be lived with morbidity or in a state of illness. Solving this longevity crisis will require a comprehensive approach to promoting healthier lifestyles, addressing socio-economic inequalities, and investing in new research and technologies. By working across sectors and with partners like the World Economic Forum, we can focus on driving the longevity economy for the future of society's health and well-being."

The Manulife powered UpLink challenges will support an ecosystem of innovators who can help accelerate solutions in longevity focused on finance, health, and well-being. Importantly, the program will be activated across Manulife's global headquarters in Canada, the U.S., and Asia, as the company works to drive global change through place-based solutions.

"This collaboration will drive innovation in the retirement ecosystem, offering financial solutions and policy recommendations for a resilient, equitable, and sustainable extended life," said Olivier Schwab, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. "By combining Manulife's expertise, UpLink's commitment to elevating early-stage impact entrepreneurs, and the work of the Forum's Centre for Financial and Monetary Systems, this initiative will play a pivotal role in promoting healthy aging and enhanced living standards throughout the world."

This multi-year investment builds upon Manulife's 2023 partnership with WEF's UpLink to run innovation challenges to spur nature-based solutions to climate change across two key areas. The first focused on sourcing innovative solutions across the entire sustainable forestry value chain, while the second surfaced innovations aimed at improving the connection between planetary and human health. In total, 21 ecopreneurial start-ups providing innovative and scalable models for sustainable forest management and more were selected as challenge winners. More information about the program can be found here.

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 34 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong.

Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

UpLink is the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum, designed to unlock an 'entrepreneur revolution' for people and planet by supporting start-ups with innovative solutions for the world's most pressing issues, as outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Launched at the World Economic Forum's 2020 Annual Meeting in Davos in partnership with Deloitte and Salesforce, UpLink builds bridges between entrepreneurs and the investors, experts and partners who can help scale their ventures. UpLink crowdsources new innovations through a competition framework known as innovation challenges. UpLink has now run more than 43 challenges and identified over 350 entrepreneurs with innovative solutions across critical SDG areas including health, food, freshwater, ocean, plastics, education, climate and more. For more information, visit https://uplink.weforum.org.

Media Contact: Luke Shane, lshane@manulife.com, +1-857-206-2351

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- This year's WEF annual meeting is set to gather leaders from diverse sectors worldwide to facilitate dialogue, strengthen cooperation, and deepen partnerships to address global challenges effectively.

- Zhong Baoshen, Chairman of LONGi, and Dennis She, Vice President of LONGi, will represent the Chinese photovoltaic industry at the event and deliver speeches.

- LONGi is thrilled to be sharing their rich experiences in leading smart and sustainable manufacturing, and emitting the "Voice of LONGi" on critical global issues.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, commonly known as the Winter Davos Forum, is scheduled to take place in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from January 15th to 19th, 2024. The conference will bring together over 2,800 leaders from 120 countries to discuss the theme of "Rebuilding Trust" across various perspectives, including economic growth, climate and environmental action, energy security, technology governance, and human development. Zhong Baoshen, Chairman of LONGi, and Dennis She, Vice President of LONGi, will represent the Chinese photovoltaic industry at the event and deliver speeches.

Recent statistics from World Bank highlight the glaring contrast in energy utilization, with the top 20% of economies accounting for a staggering 80% of the world's energy consumption. As a global leader in solar PV technology, LONGi aspires to be a proponent of global energy equity values. The company aims to encourage more individuals and businesses to actively participate in the energy revolution, fostering the creation of clean energy accessible to all.

This year's WEF annual meeting is set to gather leaders from diverse sectors worldwide to facilitate dialogue, strengthen cooperation, and deepen partnerships to address global challenges effectively. Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, remarked, "We are facing a divided world and escalating social fragmentation, leading to widespread uncertainty and pessimism. What we need is not just crisis management but an exploration of the root causes of current issues, collectively constructing a more hopeful future to rebuild trust in the future."

Throughout the week-long WEF annual meeting, various sessions will present the latest proposals and solutions, aiming to make progress in global security, trade, economic growth, employment, climate and environmental action, energy transition, technological innovation, health, and well-being. Zhong Baoshen, Chairman of LONGi, said, "As an ardent members of the World Economic Forum members and its Global Lighthouse Network (GLN), LONGi will continue to strengthen its technical innovation, integrate 'Solar for Solar' green manufacturing concepts and stainability goals within its global operation and production value chain. These actions position LONGi as a responsible and top player in the world's solar industry. We are thrilled to be sharing our experiences in leading smart and sustainable manufacturing in the renewable sector."

According to the arrangement, LONGi will actively participate in several high-level meetings and national strategic dialogues during the WEF annual meeting, including sessions such as "IGWEL: Building Trust in Energy Transition" and "Accelerating to Net Zero: Innovative Strategies for Manufacturing." The company will contribute its perspective on global energy equity and sustainable development, emitting the "Voice of LONGi" on these critical global issues.

About LONGi

Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world's leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation.

Under its mission of 'making the best of solar energy to build a green world', LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has more recently, also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero carbon development. www.longi.com

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Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP

ChargePoint (CHPT) Investor Update: Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP Reminds ChargePoint Investors of a Class Action Lawsuit and Upcoming Deadline



17-Jan-2024 / 06:20 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





NEW YORK, NY - ( NewMediaWire ) - January 16, 2024 - Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP reminds investors that a complaint has been filed on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. ("ChargePoint" or the "Company") (NYSE: CHPT) securities between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Click Here to Join Investigation.

If you acquired ChargePoint securities during the Class Period and would like to discuss this case, please click here . You may also contact us by emailing pmayer@kaplanfox.com or calling (646) 315-9003.

If you are a member of the proposed Class, you may move the court no later than January 29, 2024 to serve as a lead plaintiff for the purported class. If you have losses, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about the lead plaintiff process.

On September 6, 2023, after the market closed, ChargePoint reported its second quarter fiscal year 2024 financial results, including a "$28.0 million, or 19 percentage point, inventory impairment charge." The Company stated the "inventory impairment charge was taken to address legacy supply chain-related costs and supply overruns on a particular DC product." As alleged in the complaint, the Company reported a second quarter GAAP gross margin of 1%, down from 17% in the prior year's same quarter.

Following this news, the Company's share price fell $0.77, or 11%, to close at $6.29 per share on September 7, 2023, on heavy trading volume.

Then, on November 16, 2023, after the market closed, the Company disclosed that ChargePoint's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer were both replaced, effective immediately. ChargePoint also released preliminary financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, including 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 resulting in GAAP gross margin of negative 23% to negative 21%." The Company also reported revenue had fallen to "$108 million to $113 million, as compared to $150 to $165 million as previously expected."

Following this news, the Company's share price fell $1.11, or more than 35%, to close at $2.02

per share on November 17, 2023, on heavy trading volume.

WHY CONTACT KAPLAN FOX - Kaplan Fox is a leading national law firm focusing on complex litigation with offices in New York, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago and New Jersey. With over 50 years of experience in complex litigation, Kaplan Fox offers the professional experience and track record that clients demand. Through prosecuting cases on the federal and state levels, Kaplan Fox has successfully shaped the law through winning many important decisions on behalf of our clients. For more information about Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP, you may visit our website at www.kaplanfox.com .

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

If you have any questions about this Notice, your rights, or your interests, please contact:

Pamela Mayer

KAPLAN FOX & KILSHEIMER LLP

800 Third Avenue, 38th Floor

New York, New York 10022

(646) 315-9003

E-mail: pmayer@kaplanfox.com

Laurence D. King

KAPLAN FOX & KILSHEIMER LLP

1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1560

Oakland, California 94612

(415) 772-4704

Fax: (415) 772-4707

E-mail: lking@kaplanfox.com

Dissemination of a CORPORATE NEWS, transmitted by EQS Group.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.




Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC) (TRADEGATE: 9SC) (OTCQB: MNXXF) (the "Company" or "Manganese X") celebrates significant milestones in 2023, marking notable progress for the Battery Hill manganese project near Woodstock, New Brunswick.

The Company progresses towards becoming the first publicly traded mining company in Canada and the US to commercialize high-purity EV-compliant manganese.

Martin Kepman, CEO of Manganese X, shares his future outlook: "As we navigate the dynamic landscape of EV investments, the Canadian government's ambitious transition plan sets a compelling stage. The infusion of $35 billion into significant EV battery production facilities further underscores the industry's momentum. Research firm BloombergNEF's recognition of manganese's pivotal role in EV battery cathode chemistries affirms our strategic focus.

"Looking ahead, the anticipated shortage of high-purity manganese by 2030 places Manganese X at the forefront. We stand poised to address this challenge, positioning ourselves as a major supplier to the burgeoning North American EV and energy storage supply chain. This aligns seamlessly with our commitment to drive innovation and contribute significantly to the sustainable evolution of the electric vehicle sector."

2024 Strategies and Goals

Pilot Plant Project

Complete pilot plant project in Q1, validating and optimizing patent-pending technology to ensure the most cost-efficient and effective methods are utilized in the Battery Hill pre-feasibility study

End User Verification

Test EV-compliant, high-purity manganese samples for North American supply chain pre-approval

Partnerships and Offtake Agreements

Continue with Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") (see news release dated January 10, 2024), confirm with C4V, a US battery technology leader, that the Company's HPMSM meets specifications, and secure a binding offtake agreement

Continue ongoing negotiations with potential customers for future HPMSM production

Environmental and Pre-Feasibility Related Studies

Continue environmental, social/community, and geotechnical studies to support the upcoming pre-feasibility study for the Battery Hill deposit

Complete life cycle assessment studies for environmental impact assessment to assist with project development decisions, highlight potential areas for improvements, and form an essential component in negotiations with potential partners

Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS")

Commence PFS in Q3 for the advancement and permitting of the Battery Hill deposit, maintaining current strategy of fast-tracking the development of the deposit

Demonstration Plant

Work towards financing of a larger capacity demonstration/processing plant in 2025

Highlights of 2023 Activities:

MOU with C4V

Non-binding MOU with US battery technology leader C4V signed at the end of 2023 regarding a potential offtake deal. A sample is currently being prequalified by C4V for its Gigafactory joint ventures.

Non-Provisional Patent Filing

Filed for non-provisional patent protection on high-purity EV manganese technology - provides full patent protection after acceptance, as well as allows the Company to license its technology

Pilot Plant Progress

Distributed HPMSM samples for EV-compliant testing

Advancements at Battery Hill

Completed sucessful drill program and initiated environmental studies towards the pre-feasibility stage

Membership in IMnI

Joined the International Manganese Institute, contributing to the promotion of high-purity manganese in EV battery chemistries

About Manganese X Energy Corp.

Manganese X's mission is to advance its Battery Hill project into production, thereby becoming the first public actively traded manganese mining company in Canada and US to commercialize EV compliant high purity manganese, potentially supplying the North American supply chain. The Company intends on supplying value-added materials to the lithium-ion battery and other alternative energy industries, as well as striving to achieve new carbon-friendly more efficient methodologies, while processing manganese at a lower competitive cost.

For more information visit the website at www.manganesexenergycorp.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

MANGANESE X ENERGY CORP.

Martin Kepman

CEO and Director

Email: martin@kepman.com

Tel: 1-514-802-1814

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operations and activities of Manganese X, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to the Company's goals and plans for 2024, including, among other items, its pilot plant project and PFS. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Manganese X, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filings on SEDAR+, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Manganese X does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194530

SOURCE: Manganese X Energy Corp.
OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday. The yen fell to more than a 1-1/2-month low of 160.38 against the euro and a 6-day low of 171.09 against the Swiss franc, from yesterday's closing quotes of 160.04 and 170.82, respectively. Against the pound and the U.S. dollar, the yen dropped to near 1-1/2-month lows of 186.36 and 147.49 from yesterday's closing quotes of 185.98 and 147.18, respectively. The yen slipped to a 2-day low of 90.55 against the NZ dollar and more than a 1-1/2-month low of 109.30 against the Canadian dollar, from Tuesday's closing quotes of 90.34 and 109.03, respectively. If the yen extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 164.00 against the euro, 173.00 against the franc, 188.00 against the pound, 150.00 against the greenback, 91.00 against the kiwi and 110.00 against the loonie. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian dollar weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday. The Australian dollar fell to more than a 1-1/2-month low of 1.6559 against the euro, from yesterday's closing value of 1.6511. Against the U.S. and the Canadian dollars, the aussie dropped to a 5-week low of 0.6561 and a 2-month low of 0.8861 from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.6583 and 0.8882, respectively. The aussie slipped to 96.74 against the yen, from a recent high of 97.14. Against the NZ dollar, the aussie edged down to 1.0709 from Tuesday's closing value of 1.0721. If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.68 against the euro, 0.63 against the greenback, 0.86 against the loonie, 94.00 against the yen and 1.06 against the kiwi. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Phase III READY-3 study met its co-primary endpoints, with RelabotulinumtoxinA significantly improving both frown lines and crow's feet when treated alone or simultaneously 1

Results demonstrate high patient satisfaction at one month and long duration of effect for six months 1

Data further reinforce RelabotulinumtoxinA's long duration of effect first observed in the phase III READY-1 and READY-2 trials, validating it as a well-tolerated and highly effective treatment for frown lines and crow's feet 1-3

READY-3 study results will be presented at the upcoming TOXINS 2024 conference, alongside data from Galderma's broad portfolio of innovative neuromodulators, including Alluzienceand Dysport

Galderma announced today positive topline results from the phase III READY-3 clinical trial investigating the use of RelabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of glabellar lines (frown lines) and lateral canthal lines (crow's feet), either alone (single-area) or simultaneously. The study met its co-primary endpoints, demonstrating that a single dose of RelabotulinumtoxinA significantly improves both frown lines and crow's feet, when treated alone or simultaneously, with long duration of effect for six months.1 These and other results from the READY phase III clinical trial program, as well as from Galderma's broad and innovative aesthetics portfolio, will be presented at the TOXINS 2024 International Conference in Berlin, held from January 17-20, 2024.

"We're looking forward to sharing the latest updates from our world-leading injectable aesthetics portfolio at TOXINS 2024, particularly first data from our phase III READY-3 trial. These results build on those previously seen in the READY-1 and READY-2 trials, further reinforcing RelabotulinumtoxinA's ability to provide long-lasting improvement for frown lines and crow's feet when treated simultaneously."

BALDO SCASSELLATI SFORZOLINI, M.D., Ph.D.

GLOBAL HEAD OF R&D

GALDERMA

The READY clinical trial program is composed of four phase III trials which enrolled more than 1,900 participants. READY-3 is a phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to assess the safety and efficacy, as measured by aesthetic improvement, of RelabotulinumtoxinA in patients with moderate to severe frown lines or crow's feet, either administered as a single-area treatment or simultaneously on both frown lines and crow's feet, when compared to placebo. The trial met its co-primary endpoints, with patients and investigators reporting at least a two-grade improvement in line severity after single-area treatment of frown lines (71%) or crow's feet (45%) and simultaneous treatment (72% frown lines and 55% crow's feet), compared to placebo at one month (p<0.001).1

Investigator-reported response rates at one month were high, with 94-96% reporting none or mild frown lines when treated alone or simultaneously with crow's feet, compared to placebo (2%, p<0.001), and 79-84% reporting none or mild crow's feet when treated alone or simultaneously with frown lines, compared to placebo (20%, p<0.001). The median time of return to baseline line severity on both investigator- and patient-assessed scales was approximately six months after single-area (24-25 weeks) or simultaneous treatment (25-27 weeks), reinforcing previous results demonstrating the long duration of effect of RelabotulinumtoxinA. Patient satisfaction was high, with up to 91% reporting satisfaction with simultaneous treatment at one month. RelabotulinumtoxinA was well tolerated with low rates of treatment-related adverse events reported (4-9% compared to 5% for placebo); there were no serious treatment-related adverse events.1

"Patients often want their aesthetic look to last longer or to receive treatment on multiple facial areas simultaneously, and practitioners want to deliver consistent results for their patients. These new data highlight the ability of RelabotulinumtoxinA to address all these key needs for frown lines and crow's feet, while also being a ready-to-use formulation that's easy to administer."

DR. VINCE BERTUCCI, M.D.

CO-DIRECTOR, DERMATOLOGIC LASER SURGERY AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY FELLOWSHIP, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, CANADA

These results further reinforce the positive safety, efficacy and long duration of effect data observed in the READY-1 and READY-2 trials, which together with recent phase IIIB results also demonstrated RelabotulinumtoxinA's rapid onset of action on frown lines and crow's feet as early as day 1.2-5 Data from the READY-1 and READY-2 studies will be presented at the TOXINS 2024 conference, highlighting that:2,3

Both studies met their primary endpoints, with significantly higher responses than placebo after one month for both frown lines and crow's feet.

Results showed rapid onset of action, with over a third of patients seeing results on day 1 for frown lines (39%) and crow's feet (34%), and demonstrated long duration of effect for six months.

RelabotulinumtoxinA is currently under investigation by Galderma and is not approved for any indication in any jurisdiction.

At the conference, Galderma will also present data from its broad and innovative neuromodulator portfolio, including:

Results from the phase IV STAR study demonstrating the innovative science of Alluzience (abobotulinumtoxinA solution) for the treatment of frown lines. In 81% of the treatment sessions, the investigators preferred Alluzience over onabotulinumtoxinA. The majority of patients maintained aesthetic improvement in frown lines and reported high satisfaction, including a natural and refreshed look, throughout six months. 6

(abobotulinumtoxinA solution) for the treatment of frown lines. In 81% of the treatment sessions, the investigators preferred Alluzience over onabotulinumtoxinA. The majority of patients maintained aesthetic improvement in frown lines and reported high satisfaction, including a natural and refreshed look, throughout six months. Results from a phase IV non-interventional study investigating the real-world use of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of frown lines in 250 patients in China, reinforcing the long-term duration results and providing further evidence of Dysport use in clinical practice.7

Additionally, a Galderma-sponsored educational symposium on Alluzience will be chaired by Dr. Magdalena Korwin and Dr. Christoph Martschin, on Friday, January 19, from 3:35 4:05PM CET.

More details on Galderma's scientific presentations at TOXINS 2024 can be found here.

About RelabotulinumtoxinA (QM1114)

Developed by Galderma, RelabotulinumtoxinA is a highly-active, innovative, complex-free, and ready-to-use liquid botulinum toxin A with a proprietary strain and manufactured using a unique state-of-the-art process. It is designed as a ready-to-use liquid solution, avoiding the traditional requirement to reconstitute from powder and eliminating variability, errors and risks associated with reconstitution, which would be expected to improve the consistency of results. RelabotulinumtoxinA is currently being investigated globally by Galderma, to expand its neuromodulator portfolio as part of the broadest Injectable Aesthetics portfolio on the market.

About Alluzience

Alluzience (abobotulinumtoxinA solution) is the first ready-to-use BoNT-A liquid neuromodulator formulation to be introduced in Europe. Alluzience is indicated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines seen at maximum frown in adult patients under 65 years, when the severity of these lines has an important psychological impact on the patient. It should only be administered by a physician with appropriate qualifications and expertise in this treatment using the required equipment. Dosing and treatment intervals depend on assessment of the individual patient's response. The treatment interval should be no more frequent than every three months. For more information, please see the Summary of Product Characteristics.8

Alluzience is a product under license from Ipsen. Alluzience is a registered trademark of Ipsen. Galderma has an exclusive license from Ipsen to develop, promote and distribute Alluzience in the approved indication in Europe.

About Dysport

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) is a prescription injection indicated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines associated with procerus and corrugator muscle activity in adult patients less than 65 years of age, the treatment of adults with cervical dystonia, the treatment of upper limb spasticity in adults, and the treatment of lower limb spasticity in pediatric patients two years of age and older.9 Dysport is also marketed as Azzalure in the European Union for the treatment of glabellar lines and lateral canthal lines. Dysport has more than 30 years of clinical experience globally for therapeutic indications and 13 years for aesthetics indications, with extensive clinical evidence of safety and efficacy. It is licensed for aesthetic indications in more than 85 markets worldwide, Dysport is one of the world's leading brands of aesthetic neuromodulators with over 100 million treatments delivered in the aesthetics indications to date.

Dysport is a product under license from Ipsen and is manufactured by them. Since 2009, Galderma and Ipsen have had a strategic partnership under which Galderma has promoted and distributed Ipsen's botulinum toxin type A products in aesthetic indications. The Ipsen-Galderma strategic partnership now covers China, the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Australia, South Korea, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and certain other countries. Ipsen continues to promote Dysport within certain therapeutic indications in countries around the world. For more information on Ipsen, visit www.ipsen.com.

About Galderma

Galderma is the emerging pure-play dermatology category leader, present in approximately 90 countries. We deliver an innovative, science-based portfolio of premium flagship brands and services that span the full spectrum of the fast-growing dermatology market though Injectable Aesthetics, Dermatological Skincare and Therapeutic Dermatology. Since our foundation in 1981, we have dedicated our focus and passion to the human body's largest organ the skin meeting individual consumer and patient needs with superior outcomes in partnership with healthcare professionals. Because we understand that the skin we are in shapes our lives, we are advancing dermatology for every skin story. For more information: www.galderma.com.

References:

Bertucci V, et al. Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Formulation Liquid Botulinum Toxin, RelabotulinumtoxinA, when used for Combination Treatment of Glabellar and Lateral Canthal Lines. Abstract presented at TOXINS 2024. Solish N, et al. Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Glabellar Lines with RelabotulinumtoxinA, an Investigational Liquid Botulinum Toxin: Clinical Efficacy and Safety Results from the READY-1 Phase III trial. Abstract presented at TOXINS 2024. Ablon G, et al. Treatment of Lateral Canthal Lines with RelabotulinumtoxinA, an Investigational Liquid Botulinum Toxin: Clinical Efficacy and Safety Results from the READY-2 Phase III Trial. Abstract presented at TOXINS 2024. Galderma data on file: initial results of the phase IIIb 43QM2106 trial Galderma data on file: initial results of the phase IIIb 43QM2107 trial Persson C, et al. Patient and Investigator Treatment Experience with Ready-to-Use AbobotulinumtoxinA Solution Versus Powder BotulinumtoxinA for Treatment of Glabellar Lines. Abstract presented at TOXINS 2024. Persson C, et al. A Real-World Study of Patient and Physician Satisfaction with AbobotulinumtoxinA Treatment of Glabellar Lines in Chinese Patients. Abstract presented at TOXINS 2024. Alluzience Summary of Product Characteristics, 2023. Dysport Summary of Product Characteristics, 2022.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116024729/en/

Contacts:

Christian Marcoux, M.Sc.

Chief Communications Officer

christian.marcoux@galderma.com

+41 76 315 26 50

Sebastien Cros

Corporate Communications Director

sebastien.cros@galderma.com

+41 79 529 59 85

Celine Buguet

Franchise and R&D Communications Director

celine.buguet@galderma.com

+41 76 249 90 87

Emil Ivanov

Head of Strategy, Investor Relations, and ESG

emil.ivanov@galderma.com

+41 21 642 78 12

Jessica Cohen

Investor Relations and Strategy Director

jessica.cohen@galderma.com

+41 21 642 76 43
Press Release

Nokia plans 360 million investment in microelectronics and communications technology in Germany

Funding will see development of cutting-edge energy-efficient software, hardware and microelectronics for future communications technologies

Important contribution supports the competitiveness of the ICT industry in Germany and Europe

17 January 2024

Espoo, Finland - Nokia plans to invest 360 million in software, hardware and chip design at its Ulm and Nuremberg sites, the company announced today. Nokia is conducting a four-year European IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest) project, which is being funded by Nokia and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) and the German states of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria.

The project will focus on the integrated development of software, hardware and high-performance systems-on-chips based on a digital twin. These will be used in radio and optical products in future mobile communications systems based on the 5G-Advanced and 6G standards. Nokia is further expanding its extensive experience in chip design and strengthening the European value chain. Another focus area is on the energy efficiency of the systems to support European climate targets under the Green Deal. Nokia is closely cooperating with research institutes and universities to achieve this. This cooperation will be strengthened by the long-term IPCEI investment and funding.

An important milestone not only for Nokia but also for the future of the telecommunications industry in Germany and Europe, the project is expected to strengthen Europe's competitiveness and innovative power, especially in the field of microelectronics for future technologies such as 6G and artificial intelligence (AI), enable complex applications for the metaverse, for example, and advance digitalization. The microelectronics systems developed as part of the project will help to make networks more energy-efficient and more powerful at the same time.

Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: "This important funding will support our efforts to advance the telecommunications industry in Germany and in Europe, helping to drive innovation and strengthen competitiveness. In particular, it will help our research into microelectronics that will power future technologies such as 6G, artificial intelligence and the metaverse as well as develop networks that are more energy-efficient and powerful. Germany is an important market for Nokia, and we look forward to working with the government to produce cutting-edge technology that is 'Made in Germany'."

About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today - and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

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Envision Energy signed a three-year renewable energy supply agreement with AstraZeneca, Lonza, Novartis, Novo Nordisk and Roche, to offer around 200 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of green power annually from 2024, resulting in annual carbon dioxide equivalent savings of approximately 120,000 tons.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Envision Energy, a global leader in green technology, announced a collaboration with five global leading healthcare companies to accelerate the transition to net zero health systems, delivering around 200 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of green power annually from 2024. This multi-party agreement across healthcare and renewable energy companies brings together for the first time five healthcare leaders - AstraZeneca, Lonza, Novartis, Novo Nordisk and Rocheto advance the industry's sustainable development.

The three-year renewable energy supply agreement was announced during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Envision Energy's 200 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of green power supply is expected to reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 120,000 tons annually, comparable to taking 25,000 cars off the road. This collaboration unlocks a new way for more companies in the healthcare supply chain to decarbonize their operations and demonstrates Envision Energy's commitment to creating sustainable energy solutions to help more partners' transition to a net zero future.

Envision Energy is a pioneer in green power and has assisted more than 2000 partners in achieving net zero goals through its innovative consultation, digital solutions, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), integrating existing regulatory and technology frameworks for a tailored, sustainable solution. Its market leadership is proven by an annual trading volume exceeding 10 TWh, by offering comprehensive green power solutions, from distributed power, net zero industrial park and green tariffs to PPA. Envision Energy's abundant upstream power generation can offer significant amounts of renewable energy annually, enabling its customers to have access to reliable and stable power supply over the long term, thus avoiding the impact of fluctuating and unstable electricity market prices on their production and operations.

Four of the companies- AstraZeneca, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Roche are members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative Health Systems Task Force, which was launched by His Majesty King Charles III, when he was Prince of Wales, in 2020 and has been the 'go-to' global private sector organization on sustainable transition. In November 2023, the Sustainable Markets Initiative's China Council Health Working Group was established, comprising 16 Chinese companies from the healthcare, energy and digital sectors, alongside members of the Health Systems Task Force, with aims to accelerate the delivery of sustainable healthcare in China, with broader global impact. As a member of the China Council Health Working Group, Envision Energy aims to work with industry leaders to promote the adoption of renewable energy sources and contribute to the green transformation.

For more, please visit envision-group.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/envision-energy-announces-collaboration-with-five-global-healthcare-leaders-to-unlock-renewable-energy-in-davos-302036687.html
SHANGHAI, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the economy recovers and consumption momentum goes hand in hand, the 27th China (Shanghai) International Boat Show 2024 (CIBS2024), organized by Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd., will be held on March 26-29, 2024 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC). Visitor pre-registration is now officially online.

CIBS2024 will continue to promote the "Energy Conversion + Intelligent Manufacturing", and under the leadership of many domestic and foreign exhibitors of new energy technology and real boats with accessories, it will add a new impetus for the common development of China's new energy industry for boats. After years of absence, pavilions from many countries and regions, such as Italy, South Korea, Taiwan China, etc., have returned to the Chinese market. Overseas enterprises will also gather in Shanghai and bring the industry's new modes, new demands, new scenarios, new products, new technologies.

The classic CIBS event is back to help companies climb to new heights! 2024 China International Boat Industry Development Forum will bring together many industry experts for in-depth discussions around the world's major yacht markets.

CIBS2024 will accurately invite high-quality buyers from the global boat industry chain to contact CIBS boat and accessory exhibitors through online and offline viewing of the exhibition, which will build a bridge for exhibitors to expand their overseas business in an efficient manner, and greatly help the new situation of high-quality Chinese-made products going overseas.

Additionally, the oversized pool of the annual popular "Water Carnival" will also return! The Lifestyle Show, which was held concurrently with CIBS2024, featured exhibits covering Lure Fishing, Water Sports, Outdoor Sports, and Best of Best Defining Show, etc. The show began with the innovation of traditional concepts and provided a new opportunity for businesses across the region to observe new trends in industrial development and seize new opportunities in the global market.

Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co. Ltd (IM Sinoexpo) is a leading event company in China, the joint venture founded in 1998 by Informa PLC and Shanghai Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co., Ltd. Headquartered in London, the total exhibition rented area annually by IM Sinoexpo is over 1,500,000 sqm, creating multiple trade opportunities for nearly 1 million buyers worldwide. Developed since 2016, our online business now includes 8 major B2B platforms, 5 B2P sourcing mini-programs and 1 application.

Register now and join us at CIBS2024: https://reg.boatshowchina.com/en/user/register?utm_source=PRnews&utm_medium=CIBe&utm_campaign=20240117

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cibs2024-now-available-for-pre-registration-inviting-everyone-to-cutting-edge-shipbuilding-technologies-302036636.html
New protein production strain delivers unprecedented yield with greater efficiency and lower costs

NEURIED, Germany and COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AMSilk, a global leader in advanced materials made from spider silk-based proteins, and 21st.BIO, a leader in bioproduction, today announced that they have joined forces to accelerate the upscaling of AMSilk's silk protein production to unprecedented levels. As part of the partnership, 21st.BIO has developed a new protein production strain created from highly specialized precision fermented microorganisms, ensuring that AMSilk can meet demand as it increases production from the laboratory to industrial scale.

The new strain ensures extracellular expression of silk proteins, enabling manufacturing at unprecedented productivity levels due to higher yield and greater efficiency, thereby reducing production costs.

Due to its unique combination of strength and flexibility, spider silk is the gold standard of bio industrial materials. AMSilk's spider silk-based proteins are wholly biodegradable and biocompatible. Based on a renewable plant based feedstock, AMSilk fibers do not contain any substances of animal origin and come with a CO2 greenhouse gas emission reduction of up to 90% and more than 90% less land and water use compared to other protein fibers. Their high-performance qualities enable a wide range of applications in the textile, homecare, biomedical, and automobile industries.

The AMSilk x 21st.BIO genesis

As one of the world's first industrial scale suppliers of advanced materials made from spider silk-based proteins, AMSilk has been redefining the performance fiber category since 2015, with applications in footwear and garments, and even interior components for automobiles. With a strong patent portfolio, AMSilk is leading the discovery of performance materials based on spider silk proteins.

21st.BIO benefits from the most advanced precision fermentation technology platform in the industry, with production strains that have been perfected for over 40 years and used in dozens of products on the market today. Working in close collaboration with AMSilk, 21st.BIO's scientists have developed and optimized new production strains, fermentation and downstream processes to support upscaled production and significantly reduce unit costs. This will enable AMSilk to further broaden its portfolio into different types of fibers and proteins, with applications in the broader mid-market.

Gudrun Vogtentanz, Chief Scientific Officer, AMSilk said: "AMSilk's protein-based products unlock the secrets of spider silk to create engineerable structures and solutions. Through 21st.BIO, we now have access to more efficient production strains, which are a game changer in terms of the efficiency and sustainability of our feedstock. Moving production quantities from kilos to tons brings AMSilk's technology to the next level. This collaboration with 21st.BIO is key to accelerating time-to-market for AMSilk in the current scale-up phase."

Ulrich Scherbel, Chief Executive Officer, AMSilk commented:"By partnering with 21st.BIO, we are succeeding where so many have struggled, delivering high performance precision fermentation at the right quality and cost parameters, and at a true industrial scale."

Thomas Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer, 21st.BIO added: "We founded 21st.BIO to help companies cross over from interesting innovations at lab scale to reliable industrial biotech production in a timely and risk mitigated way. With spider silk proteins this has been challenging, but AMSilk is the first to be able to achieve that goal and bring spider silk proteins into large scale production. The world needs innovators and category shapers like AMSilk and our job is to help them succeed."

Per Falholt, Chief Scientific Officer, 21st.BIO continued: "We are incredibly proud to support companies like AMSilk. Our partnership has already led to some key milestone achievements, such as the world's first extracellular expression of spider silk protein, which facilitates processes and enables manufacturing at unprecedented productivity levels. We are confident that within a short time frame, we can achieve a significant reduction in production costs, enabling AMSilk to enter higher value markets."

The potential for spider silk proteins produced using precision fermentation

Global bioplastics production will more than triple until 2026, from around 2.4 million tons in 2021 to 7.5 million tons in 2026[1]. There is a rapidly growing need to adopt more environmental-friendly materials. AMSilk is helping to meet this need by using its outstanding proprietary technology platform for large volume proteins, designing and customizing material properties at a molecular level depending on the final application or properties required.

AMSilk has developed a wide range of use cases for its silk proteins, from developing the leading spinning process for silk protein fibers, to transforming proteins into silk beads, gels and solutions to unlock the power of their coating effects. AMSilk's silk protein-based fibers set completely new standards within the apparel industry, offering unbelievably broad performance characteristics, ranging from ultra fineness to extreme strength, making them ideal as premium, low carbon material alternatives. AMSilk has also entered the performance yarn segment with technical yarns for the automotive industry - reflected in its collaboration with Mercedes Benz. AMSilk's silk protein formulations bring exceptional filming properties to dishwashing and laundry care, providing outstanding performance benefits as a bioshield.

About AMSilk

AMSilk is a global leader in advanced materials made from spider silk-based proteins. AMSilk's spider silk-based proteins are wholly biodegradable and biocompatible. Based on renewable plant based feedstock, they do not contain any substances of animal origin and come with a CO2 greenhouse gas emission reduction of up to 90% and more than 90% less land and water usecompared to other protein fibers. Their high-performance qualities enable a wide range of applications in the textile, homecare, biomedical, and automobile industries.

AMSilk's truly sustainable materials outperform existing, fossil-based products not only through their optimal relationship between performance and positive environmental impact, but also through the adaptability of multiple benefits to a broad range of meaningful applications. AMSilk aims to expand the use of its biobased, biodegradable, recyclable, and biocompatible products, reducing dependence on the natural resources of the planet. The Company has already collaborated with industry-leading global companies and plans to continue partnering with influential worldwide enterprises in its vision to make high performance materials for a sustainable future.

About 21st.BIO

Founded in 2020, 21st.BIO is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a strong scientific and commercial presence in Davis, California. On a mission to support bioindustrial companies globally in upscaling from molecule innovation to large-scale production, 21st.BIO enables its customers to meet market demands, and thereby advance the green transition globally. 21st.BIO focuses on developing industrial production technology for proteins and other molecules of interest for food, materials, and agricultural industries. Established as a fully integrated end-to-end partner, 21st.BIO supports its customers from technical assessment, strain development and optimization, production processes and upscaling, tech transfer to large scale manufacturing and regulatory services.

[1] Source: World Biopolymers and Bioplastics Innovation Forum | 1st - 2nd March 2023 | Leadvent Group (leadventgrp.com)

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/amsilk-and-21stbio-announce-partnership-to-accelerate-the-production-of-advanced-materials-made-from-spider-silk-based-proteins-302035965.html
CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Automotive Brake System Market is projected to grow from an estimated USD 23.5 billion in 2023 to USD 30.1 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 5.1%, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The automotive brake system market growth is mainly driven by the regulations on stopping distance and safety standards in countries such as China, India, Brazil, the European Union, the US, and Canada, among others. Further, growing demand for luxury cars worldwide and country-wise car assessment programs would boost the demand for electronic and disc brake systems. The growing adoption of disc brakes in heavy commercial vehicles, especially trucks, is another driving factor for the automotive brakes market.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1070

Browse in-depth TOC on "Automotive Brake System Market".

337 - Tables

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Automotive Brake System Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Size USD 30.1 billion by 2028 Growth Rate CAGR of 5.1% Largest Market Asia Pacific Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities & Challenges Forecast Period 2023-2028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By brake type, By Technology, By actuation, By components, By vehicle type, Off-highway by brake type, Off-highway by application, Regenerative Brake System by electric vehicle type, All-Terrain Vehicle brake system by region, and by region. Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Rest of the World Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Government regulations to make advanced emergency braking systems mandatory Key Market Drivers Inclusion of advanced brake systems such as ABS and EBD to enhance vehicle safety

Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS) is the largest technology segment during the forecast period.

ABS will hold the largest share of the automotive electronic brake system market during the forecast period. Most governments have mandated ABS for light-duty or heavy-duty vehicles or both, considering the benefits offered by ABS. Also, according to the NHTSA, ABS is quite effective in non-fatal crashes, reducing the overall crash involvement rate by 6% in passenger cars and 8% in LCVs. For light-duty vehicles, ABS is already mandated in the US, Europe, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, and other countries. ABS penetration in Asia and other developing countries is comparatively lower; however, factors such as - OEMs' focus on NCAP rating to showcase their product build quality and upcoming mandates emphasizing enhanced safety features - will direct the growth of ABS in light-duty vehicles.

Additionally, integrating anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in pneumatic brake systems for heavy commercial vehicles substantially enhances vehicle safety by preventing wheel lock-up and maintaining stability during braking and cornering. Some countries have set regulations compelling the installation of ABS in heavy commercial vehicles. For instance, in April 2019, the European Union (EU) mandated the inclusion of ABS and ESC systems in all new heavy-duty vehicles. Similar regulations are expected to be implemented in other countries. NHTSA's updated regulation on mandating newly manufactured heavy truck tractors to achieve a 30% reduction in stopping distance is also expected to create a demand for ABS. All these factors are expected to drive the demand for Anti-lock Brake Systems in the coming years.

Disc Brakes will account for the largest and fastest-growing market by 2028."

Disc brakes have gained popularity mainly in light-duty vehicles as they are more efficient, provide better stopping power, dissipate heat efficiently, self-adjust as the friction material wears, and work effectively in wet conditions. Today, most passenger cars and LCVs have disc brakes on the front wheels. The developing countries of Asia Pacific are dominated by economic cars equipped with disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes at the rear. This is mainly due to the lower speed limits and leniency in stopping distance in Asia Pacific countries. However, Class C & above are usually offered with all four-disc brakes. Further, most of today's passenger cars in Europe and North America are equipped with disc brakes on all four wheels as the demand for luxury vehicles is higher with higher power delivering higher speeds. Only some basic models have a disc brake on the front and drum brakes on the rear.

Alternatively, in heavy trucks and buses, disc brakes are growing steadily in Asia Pacific and North America as most vehicles are fitted with drum brakes. North American countries are gradually adapting the installation of disc brakes owing to increasing focus on safety and the stopping distance reduction mandate, along with disc brake installation government is making mandatory installation of Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) System in heavy trucks. For instance, In June 2023, The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a notice regarding the installation of automatic emergency braking systems for heavy trucks. On the other hand, Europe has a different trend as all the heavy commercial vehicles are equipped with disc brakes. This is mainly due to the stringent standards related to reduced stopping distance. Similar strict safety standards are expected to be implemented in countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea for medium and heavy commercial vehicles, which constitute major production of HCVs; disc brakes are likely to have increased usage in the Asia-Pacific and North America in the coming years.

The Asia Pacific will be the leading automotive brake system market over the forecast period.

The growth of the Asia Pacific automotive brake system market can be primarily attributed to upcoming advancements in automotive brake systems and expansions made by brake system manufacturers to cope with the increasing demand for disc brakes in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. China, Japan, South Korea, and India dominate the Asia-Pacific automotive brake system industry. Most of the cars sold in the Asia Pacific region are economy or mid-economy cars which are equipped with a disc and drum brake combination. Similarly, the majority of the heavy trucks in this region are equipped with drum brake systems. Hence, the drum brakes still have a good potential market in the Asia Pacific region. However, growing consumer preference from countries like China, Japan, India, and South Korea towards SUV cars with disc brakes will drive the demand for disc brakes.

Major countries such as China and India have a higher demand for economy & mid-range cars (including Class A, B, and C) contributing to nearly 50% and 90% in 2022. These cars are usually offered with 2 front disc brakes and 2 rear drum brakes. Further, to attract more consumers and showcase focus on enhanced safety, major regional automotive OEMs such as Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, and Suzuki have started offering all disc brakes with ABS in most of their newer Class C model cars. However, these markets are witnessing a growing demand for luxury and high-end cars that are installed with all 4-disc brakes for better stopping distance. These luxury cars are employed with advanced disc brake systems, thereby driving the disc brake market. For instance, the production of luxury cars in China has increased by 30% from 2020 to 2022. With the growing demand for luxury cars and high-end cars, the demand for premium disc brakes is anticipated to grow in the coming years.

In addition to this, Asia Pacific is the largest market for electric vehicles, especially in China. The growing sales of electric vehicles in countries such as Japan, China, and India will drive the demand for regenerative braking systems and disc brakes.

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Key Market Players:

The major players in Automotive Brake System Companies include Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), Brembo S.p.A. (Italy), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany), and Knorr-Bremse AG (Germany).

Recent Developments

In October 2023, Brembo S.p.A. launched a future-oriented brake kit called Greenance for light commercial vehicles. This kit will reduce particulate emissions by more than 80% with a life of more than three times compared to existing aftermarket products. The Greenance Kit offers an ideal blend of efficiency and robustness, delivering a notably reduced environmental footprint during braking, resulting in a substantial decrease in particulate emissions: a remarkable 83% reduction in PM10 and an impressive 80% reduction in PM2.5.

In May 2023, Continental AG introduced its new conventional electronic brake system, MK 120 Electronic Stability Control. The company started supplying its MK 120 ESC brake system to Chinese car manufacturer Changan.

In March 2023, ZF Industrial Technology division introduced its new brake-by-wire system. With safe and efficient brake technology, ZF supports customers in the heavy-duty, off-highway, construction, mining, and agriculture sectors. The latest brake-by-wire system from the company represents a significant advancement, offering vehicle manufacturers the capability to manage deceleration through an electronic signal that adapts brake pressure as required. This eliminates the necessity for hydraulic lines within the vehicle cabin and facilitates a transition towards remote and autonomous operation.

In October 2023, Continental AG and DeepDrive formed a technical, strategic partnership to develop core technologies for electric vehicles. Under the partnership, the two companies will collaborate to create an integrated module that includes drive and brake components designed for direct installation on a vehicle's wheel.

In February 2023, Knorr-Bremse AG and Team Hahn Racing extended their 20 years of successful partnership. The new contract will enable Knorr-Bremse to continue to support team Hahn Racing through the 2023 racing season. Knorr-Bremse will be responsible for equipping the Iveco S-Way race truck with a range of series products, including a pneumatic braking system, air supply system, brake calipers, and steering system.

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Browse Adjacent Market: Automotive and Transportation Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Brake Friction Products Market - Global Forecast to 2026

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Market - Global Forecast to 2030

Air Brake System Market - Global Forecast to 2028

Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) System Market - Global Forecast to 2025

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LEAP enables banks to seamlessly and quickly move to the latest cloud-native Temenos technology complete with the latest banking capabilities using AI and a standardized methodology

GENEVA, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Temenos (SIX: TEMN) today announced the launch of Temenos LEAP, a new holistic modernization program, which enables Temenos clients to move to the latest Temenos platform, accelerating their journey to the cloud and Software-as-a-Service. Combining Temenos' banking platform with proven transformation tooling and processes, as well as Temenos' experienced services teams and a select group of specialized partners, LEAP offers banks a fast, low-risk route to a modern cloud-native architecture to future-proof their business.



Temenos is revolutionizing platform modernization leveraging 30 years of implementation experience and best practice combined with the power of AI to accelerate traditionally manual and complex areas of migration and testing.

LEAP gives Temenos core banking clients using older solutions the opportunity to modernize by moving seamlessly and quickly to a new, advanced, API-driven, cloud-native architecture. Opening the door to using the latest technology platform from Temenos with cutting-edge banking capabilities, LEAP allows clients to launch quickly and iteratively more personalized products to their customers and improve customer engagement. Temenos' modern platform makes it easier to expand into new sectors and markets, stay ahead of competitors and ultimately take advantage of the benefits of Temenos Banking Cloud and SaaS. The Temenos Value Benchmark shows that Temenos core banking clients using its modern banking platform benefit from 24% higher growth and innovation share of their IT spend1.

The new banking capabilities support the creation of new products, with focus on product design, launch, servicing, and retirement, in addition to Temenos Payments Hub which gives the opportunity to add new payment rails and to adopt a 24 x 7 x 365 STP approach. Temenos' cloud-native platform offers enhanced connectivity and extensibility, elastic scalability, inbuilt security at all layers, embedded testing and Development Security and Operations capabilities. In addition, it gives banks access to the large Temenos Exchange ecosystem of partners, and an easier and customizable user experience.

Compared to traditional upgrade projects, Temenos LEAP enables banks to modernize in just months, using the power of AI, and ready-to-use service packages, supported by extensive training enabled by the Temenos Learning Community (TLC). With LEAP, clients will be able to enjoy the commercial benefits of faster time to value, increased product agility, and reduced operational costs by removing old solutions and having a more efficient platform which operates with less resources. Banks will be able to easily keep their technology up-to-date in the future, gaining immediate benefit from Temenos' ongoing investment in the platform. Furthermore, the single Temenos platform allows for faster and lower cost updating and maintenance, which means a lower total cost of ownership and higher agility.

Once on the new architecture, banks are ready to move to the cloud or to Software-as-a-Service deployment models, when required. In this way, banks can benefit from business agility and quicker time to value, whether they choose to run on a public cloud or private cloud or opt for a hybrid approach.

Temenos LEAP offering has already been successfully proven in modernization projects for clients such as Qatar's Lesha Bank, a long standing Temenos customer that moved to the latest banking platform to streamline its processes and offer innovative products. Furthermore, a leading tier one bank recently reconfirmed its commitment to Temenos with an agreement to move to the latest Temenos Banking Platform to modernize its corporate banking business in the private cloud.

Bola Rotibi, Chief Analyst, CCS Insight, said: "As banks look to keep up with new market trends and increasing competition, many are held back by the need to modernize legacy systems making it difficult and costly to innovate or launch new products quickly. Organizations need the support of solutions and strategies that can ease the transformation process effectively and efficiently. Programs such as Temenos LEAP, with its AI-enabled, standardized approach accelerate the move for Temenos clients to a modern, cloud-native platform and allow them to gain the business agility to operate more efficiently and stay at the forefront of technological changes. By leveraging the elastic scalability of the cloud and the sophisticated, automated support that AI-based operations afford, can they embrace innovation more successfully."

Andreas Andreades, Chief Executive Officer, Temenos, said: "With LEAP, banks can benefit from a proven, low-risk, quick time to value, AI-based modernization approach to move to the advanced, cloud-native technology of the latest Temenos Banking Platform. Temenos' platform enables clients to future-proof their business and leverage a modern architecture to be ready to take advantage of cloud or SaaS opportunities. Powered by AI, banks can optimize for operational efficiency all through extreme automation of manual tasks making new software deployment faster and easier, less-resource intensive and drive down costs.

"LEAP dramatically changes the traditional modernization model in keeping with our engineering tradition to find solutions that enable banks to be future-ready in an affordable and risk-managed manner with a short time to value."

Temenos is the global market leader in banking software, ranked #1 in eight categories in the most recent IBSi Sales League Table 2023.

About Temenos

Temenos (SIX: TEMN) is the world's leading open platform for composable banking, creating opportunities for over 1.2 billion people around the world every day. We serve 3000 banks from the largest to challengers and community banks in 150+ countries by helping them build new banking services and state-of-the-art customer experiences. The Temenos open platform helps our top-performing clients achieve return on equity three times the industry average and cost-to-income ratios half the industry average.

For more information, please visit www.temenos.com.

___________________________

1 The Temenos Value Benchmark, an industry leading benchmark, consists of 70,000 data points from 146 banks globally across segments and interviews with 1300+ C-level execs
MESQUITE, NV / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Cannabis Sativa, Inc. (OTCQB:CBDS) announces that PrestoDoctor - the #1 patient-rated medical cannabis telemedicine service - now offers its online medical cannabis card service to patients in the state of West Virginia. "Our trusted telemedicine portal is ready to provide West Virginia medical cannabis patients with easy and confidential access and education via an online appointment with a knowledgeable licensed medical doctor" said PrestoDoctor COO Rob Tankson.

Founded in 2015, PrestoDoctor has provided experienced and compassionate telemedicine care to more than 100,000 patients in thirteen states and is pleased to begin offering the same quality of service to patients in West Virginia.

"West Virginia should produce substantial appointments and increasing revenues for PrestoDoctor, and as medical cannabis continues to be available in more states, PrestoDoctor will be seeking to help those patients by safely connecting them to doctors from the comfort of their own home through PrestoDoctor's proprietary portal" stated Cannabis Sativa CEO David Tobias.

About PrestoDoctor

PrestoDoctor is rated the #1 online medical marijuana doctor by tens of thousands of medical cannabis patients who have received fully qualified medical marijuana recommendations. PrestoDoctor is the only service to offer patients a custom treatment plan after they have a confidential evaluation with a licensed, highly knowledgeable physician who is an expert in treatment methods, dosing levels, and cannabis products. Founded in 2015, PrestoDoctor services are available in legal medical marijuana states: California, Missouri, New York, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, Arkansas, and now West Virginia. A HIPAA and HITECH compliant telemedicine company, PrestoDoctor maintains the highest customer satisfaction rating for any telemedicine service online with over 21,000 5-star reviews.

About Cannabis Sativa, Inc.

Cannabis Sativa, Inc. ("CBDS") is engaged in telehealth, and the licensing of cannabis-related intellectual property, marketing and branding for cannabis-based products and services, operation of cannabis-related technology services, and ancillary business activities. CBDS holds a U.S. patent on the Ecuadorian Sativa strain of Cannabis, a U.S. Patent for a marijuana lozenge; a Cannabis-based pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of hypertensive disorders by submucosal delivery and trade secret formulas and processes and operates subsidiary PrestoDoctor.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Although the forward-looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected. Underlying assumptions include without limitation, the ongoing enactment of legislation favorable to the production of and the commercialization of cannabis products and the Company's success in capitalizing on that legislation. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. No assurances are, or can be given, that the parties will enter into a definitive merger agreement for any potential strategic acquisition, or that if such agreement is entered into, that the transaction would close, if at all, on the terms set forth in this release, or that the merged acquired business would be successful. Certain conditions to any closing of a potential merger acquisition would likely be outside of our control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release.

Contact Information:

(702) 762-3123

cbds.com

SOURCE: Cannabis Sativa, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Balanced Commercial Property Trust Ltd - Board Composition - Appointment of and resignation of a director

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 17

Date: 17 January 2024

LEI Number: 213800A2B1H4ULF3K397

From: Balanced Commercial Property Trust Limited



Board Composition - Appointment of and resignation of a director

The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Karima Fahmy as an independent non-executive Director of the Company with effect from 19 January 2024.

Karima is a corporate lawyer with extensive experience of the UK property market. During her executive career, she worked at Grosvenor Group ("Grosvenor"), the international property group, latterly as General Counsel until 2020. Prior to Grosvenor, Karima worked at Hogan Lovells, the global law firm, advising both listed and unlisted companies.

Karima is also a non-executive Director of The PRS REIT plcwhichfocuses on highquality, new-build family homes for the private rental market.

The Board of the Company also announces the resignation of Hugh Scott-Barrett as a non-executive Director with effect from 23 February 2024. As announced by the Company on 11 January 2024, Hugh has been appointed as Chair Designate of Irish Residential Properties REIT plc ("I-RES"), becoming Chair with effect from the publication of I-RES's 2023 results scheduled for 23 February 2024. Given the significant increase in time commitment that appointment will involve, he has decided that now is an appropriate time to step down as a non-executive Director of the Company.

Paul Marcuse, the Chair of the Board, commented:

"The Board would like to thank Hugh for his considerable contribution to the Company and wise counsel over recent years. We wish him the best in his new role. The Board is delighted to welcome Karima as a non-executive Director, who has considerable experience in the property sector, and we look forward to working with her."

Other than as set out in this announcement, there is no information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to LR 9.6.13R.

All enquiries to:

The Company Secretary

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Trafalgar Court

Les Banques

St. Peter Port Guernsey

GY1 3QL

Tel: 01481 745324

Fax: 01481 745051
PARIS, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vaultinum, a leading European provider of data-based Technology Due Diligence, announces its participation in IPEM 2024. This significant event for investors and private equity will take place in Cannes, France, from January 23 to January 25.



Building on the success of its previous participations, Vaultinum will once again bring its advanced Technology Due Diligence solutions to the forefront and show how it can help businesses mitigate risks, protect their investments, and drive sustainable growth, using a combination of automated source code, in-depth data analysis, and human expertise.

Vaultinum's Tech Due Diligence solution analyses the IP, scalability, and cybersecurity risks of the tech investment, and provides an operational report that explains issues and assesses technical debt and timings. Vaultinum's Tech Due Diligence assists investors in understanding their tech risks, and ultimately maximising the value of their tech investments.

Philippe Thomas, CEO of Vaultinum, expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming event. "We are thrilled to showcase our innovative approach to Tech Due Diligence and show investors how we can help them make the right investment decision. IPEM will also be a good opportunity to talk about tech trends, with a focus on AI and sustainability."

Visit Vaultinum at Booth 03 and meet Philippe Thomas, Virginie Stasiaczyk, Josh Nunn, and Enrique O'Connor.

About Vaultinum

Vaultinum is a trusted independent third party specialising in the protection and audit of digital assets. Since 1976, Vaultinum has enabled thousands of digital businesses and investors to secure their innovations by providing solutions to protect their IP and mitigate cyber and software risks.

CONTACT Marine Yborra, CMO

COMPANY Vaultinum

EMAIL: my@vaultinum.com

WEB: www.vaultinum.com

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EQS-News: Multitude SE / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

The Board of Directors of Multitude SE proposes a transfer of the company's registered office from Finland to Malta (news with additional features)



17.01.2024 / 10:45 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





The Board of Directors of Multitude SE proposes a transfer of the company's registered office from Finland to Malta Helsinki, 17 January 2024 - Multitude SE, a fully regulated international growth platform for financial technology (ISIN: FI4000106299, WKN: A1W9NS) ("Multitude" or "company") announced on 5 January 2024 that it contemplates a relocation from Finland to Switzerland while maintaining its legal personality and without dissolution ("Relocation"). Multitude now announces that, as a first phase of the plan to relocate to Switzerland, the board of directors of Multitude proposes a transfer of the registered office of Multitude from Finland to Malta in accordance with Article 8 of the Council Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 of 8 October 2001 on the Statute for a European company (SE) ("SE Regulation") ("Transfer"). For the purposes of the Transfer, the board of directors have today resolved to approve a Transfer Proposal ("Transfer Proposal") in accordance with Article 8 (2) of the SE Regulation. The Transfer Proposal contains also the company's new Memorandum and Articles of Association which are intended to enter into force upon the registration of the Transfer in the Malta Business Registry. In addition to the Transfer Proposal, the board of directors have approved a Report of the Board of Directors ("Report") in accordance with Article 8 (3) of the SE Regulation explaining and justifying the legal and economic aspects of the transfer and explaining the implications of the transfer for the company's shareholders, creditors and employees. The Transfer Proposal and the Report are appended to this announcement as an attachment. The Transfer will be carried out in accordance with the SE Regulation and the Finnish Act on European Company (742/2004). Pursuant to the Transfer Proposal, the company's new registered office would be seated in ST Business Centre, 120, the Strand, Gzira, GZR 1027, Malta, and the Transfer would take effect on or around 30 June 2024. The completion of the Transfer is subject to the approval of the shareholders' general meeting, the notice of which will be published separately at a later stage. The completion of the Transfer is also subject to certain other preconditions as set out in the Transfer Proposal. As announced by the company on 5 January 2024, the company's intention is that the transfer of the registered office from Finland to Malta would be followed by a conversion of the company into a public limited liability company governed by the laws of Malta and then an application to have the company registered in Switzerland pursuant to applicable Maltese and Swiss laws by the end of the year 2024.

This release includes an attachment as follows: Transfer proposal in accordance with Article 8 (2) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 of 8 October 2001 on the Statute for a European company (SE) for the transfer of the registered office of Multitude SE from Finland to Malta, dated 17 January 2024

Report of the board of directors in accordance with Article 8 (3) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 of 8 October 2001 on the Statute for a European company (SE) concerning the transfer of the registered office of Multitude SE from Finland to Malta, dated 17 January 2024

Contact: Lasse Makela Chief Strategy and IR Officer Phone: +41 79 371 34 17 E-Mail: Lasse.makela@multitude.com

About Multitude SE: Multitude is a fully regulated growth platform for financial technology. Its ambition is to become the most valued financial ecosystem. This vision is backed by 18+ years of solid track record in building and scaling financial technology. Through its full European banking license, profound know-how in technology, regulation, cross-selling, and funding, Multitude enables a range of sustainable banking and financial services to grow and scale. Currently, it has three independent business units on this growth platform: Ferratum as consumer lender, CapitalBox as business lender, and SweepBank as a shopping and financial app. Multitude and its independent units employ over 700 people in 25 countries and offer services in 16 countries, and they together generated EUR 212 million turnover in 2022. Multitude was founded in 2005 in Finland and is listed in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 'FRU.'www.multitude.com Additional features:



File: Multitude SE - Transfer Proposal and Report of the BoD WEB(14381071.1)





17.01.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


STOCKHOLM, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Taggr AB, a leading provider in asset intelligence services, is enhancing its position through the acquisition of Swedish companies Trackntrace Svenska AB and Trakk Telematics Solutions AB. With this acquisition, Taggr increases its presence and footprint in the asset intelligence space.



The deal accelerates Taggr's ambition to deliver asset intelligence services across the entire European market. With Tagger's ambitions of also becoming number one in asset intelligence in Europe, this is a key milestone that has been reached. Trakk is one of the leaders in the Nordic region and has assisted thousands of customers over the 15 years they have been active.

Comment from Andreas Eriksson, Taggr CEO.

Taggr's expertise in asset intelligence services, combined with TRAKK's highly esteemed service platform and their longstanding presence in the market, clearly accelerates Taggr's journey. We are also expanding and enhancing our industry knowledge through access to highly competent individuals who have worked with a global or European perspective for over 20 years in the markets and verticals that we are initially focusing on.

Comment from Mattias Sundstrom, Trakk CEO.

We have been working for several years together with Taggr and achieved success in deploying our joint offer to multiple key customers. Company culture, way of working and ambitions are a perfect match. Our customers will benefit greatly as they get more capabilities both from a technical and operational perspective. To address the European market the way we want, we needed to size up and Taggr offered the most exciting path for that.



About Taggr

Taggr is a pioneer in the realm of asset intelligence services. Its cutting-edge solutions enable businesses to harness the power of asset information, ensuring enhanced efficiency, sustainability, and profitability. Committed to a net-zero future, Taggr is changing the face of asset intelligence.

About TRAKK

Trakk is a development company specializing in providing intelligent IoT monitoring and tracking systems for vehicles and industrial machinery. The company has extensive experience in managing data and utilizing it to optimize the performance of vehicles, machinery, and inventory.

For more information about Taggr, visit www.taggr.se



Andreas Eriksson

andreas.eriksson@taggr.se

0705556165

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/22535/3910858/2545098.pdf Press release (PDF)

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Saudi Arabia reinforced its call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and an end to the spiraling volatility in the Red Sea, today at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116473725/en/

Saudi Arabia reiterates call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 (Photo: AETOSWire)

Speaking at a session on 'Securing an Insecure World', Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, said: "We need to focus on the immediate crisis which is the suffering that is happening in Gaza.

"The international community has been moving more in the direction that we have called for since the beginning, which is a ceasefire and more humanitarian aid. But we need to do more. We agree that regional peace includes peace for Israel, but that can only happen through peace for the Palestinians, through a Palestinian state."

On the escalating volatility in the Red Sea, His Highness added: "Freedom of navigation in the Red Sea is something that impacts all of us, and the priority needs to be de-escalation."

During a panel session on "Frictionless Services", His Excellency Dr. Majid A. Alkassabi, Minister of Commerce, described the speed and scale of Saudi Arabia's economic diversification, saying The Kingdom "has revamped over 200 laws and bylaws to make the business environment attractive."

His Excellency Adel A. Aljubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Council of Ministers, and Envoy for Climate, Member of the Council of Ministers and Envoy for Climate Affairs reiterated the need for substantive global collaboration to tackle the climate crisis, saying, "unless we work together, we are going to achieve nothing," in a session as part of the new Saudi House: Bold Visions Series the Kingdom's pavilion connecting policymakers and innovators.

In 'Gulf Economies: All In,' His Excellency Khalid A. Al Falih, Minister of Investment, shared his optimistic outlook for the Gulf, noting how "the GCC is attracting FDI at more than twice the average rate than around the world when you compare it and normalize it for GDP. We believe we are at inflection point of increase of FDI, as we have seen in Saudi Arabia."

In a session on 'Regulating Non-Banks', His Excellency Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance, warned governments not to "kill innovation" and deprive the private sector from investment opportunities by applying blanket regulatory frameworks to banks and non-regulated financial institutions, alike.

In a session on 'AI: The Great Equaliser', His Excellency Abdullah A. Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said the Kingdom's consistency on being "pro-innovation, pro-partnership" has harnessed emerging technologies like Generative AI to build a human-centric future.

His Excellency Bandar I. Alkhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, highlighted Saudi Arabia's "three dimensional" policy approach to building industrial capabilities and creating an investor-friendly environment to unlock the untapped potential of Saudi Arabia's vast mineral assets.

Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116473725/en/

Contacts:

Wooud Alquaied

walquaied@mep.gov.sa
PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ETS announced today that it has named Ratnesh Kumar Jha as its new GM, Institutional Language Products. Jha will work alongside Rohit Sharma, ETS Senior Vice President, Global Higher Education & Workskills on the global expansion of ETS's institutional language product portfolio, primarily the TOEIC tests, TOEFL ITP test and the TOEFL Young Student Series. This includes oversight of all business areas, including product and operations, sales, distribution and marketing. In addition, he will work closely with Edusoft Ltd., an ETS subsidiary, to advance the growth of its language learning solutions business.

"This role will be hugely beneficial to our customers and partners around the world as it will ensure our institutional partners are getting the right and timely solutions from ETS as we combine our learning and assessment capabilities operationally," said Sharma. "Ratnesh's experience will be a tremendous asset to ETS and position these products for growth in a space where we see great potential."

ETS's institutional products are a crucial component of the business and underscore the organization's mission. The TOEIC tests are used by more than 14,000 organizations across 160+ countries to make decisions about employees' English-language proficiency in the workplace, while TOEFL ITP is used by more than 2,500 institutions in 50+ countries for placement, monitoring, evaluation and exit testing needs. The TOEFL Young Student Series, comprised of the TOEFL Primary and TOEFL Junior tests, serves learners ages 8+ and 11+ respectively, and are relied upon by teachers for monitoring, placement, progression and feedback.

"I'm really looking forward to diving in and elevating our impact for institutions and learners worldwide," said Jha. "Combining my passion for and experience in education with ETS's vital mission is an exciting next step and I look forward to what's on the horizon."

For more than a decade prior to joining ETS, Jha served as the CEO of prominent education companies in the Asia Pacific region, including Burlington Group of Companies and Cambridge University Press. He has also held key leadership roles at institutions such as GE Capital and Citibank. He is an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (India) and holds an M.A. from the University of Cambridge (U.K.) and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg Business School (United States).

About ETS

We believe in the life-changing power of learning. For the last 75 years, we've been driven by a vision of what's possible when all people can improve their lives through education. It's why our uncompromising commitment to equity and fairness is behind everything we do. ETS serves learners, educators and government agencies by providing measurement solutions, and conducting research, analysis and policy studies. ETS develops, administers and scores tens of millions of tests annually - including the TOEFL and TOEIC tests, the GRE tests and The Praxis Series assessments - in more than 200 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

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JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - In the wake of Israel's move to scale down military operations in Gaza, the United States said it is preparing to increase the humanitarian assistance to those people who need it, as well as to help set the conditions for the population to return to North Gaza, where the U.N. hopes to be able to conduct assessment missions over the coming week.



Israeli's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had announced Monday that its forces have now shifted to a low-intensity phase of operations in North Gaza, and it will soon do so in southern Gaza as well.



They announced the withdrawal of an army division from Gaza as part of the shift.



'We're making these preparations because we believe that these lower-intensity operations inside Gaza should be able to not only allow for a reduction in civilian casualties but a more reliable distribution of aid over the coming period,' NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said at a news conference Tuesday.



U.S. special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues in Gaza, David Satterfield, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, met with Israeli senior leadership and senior military commanders at their Southern Command to discuss all these issues.



'We are having very serious and intensive discussions in Qatar about the possibility for another deal. [and] we're hopeful that it can bear fruit soon,' Kirby told reporters about efforts taken by Washington and allies to reach a deal on hostage release.



He expressed hope that the removal of Israeli troops and the announced transition that they've made will allow for people to flow back into North Gaza, and alleviate some of that pressure in the south, particularly around Khan Younis.



Kirby said the Biden administration is focused on increasing the flow of humanitarian trucks into Gaza. 'Just today, we were able to get 228 trucks into Gaza over those two crossings. Again, not enough. But we're trying to keep the level at above 200, if we can'.



Earlier, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari announced that Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, and medicines to Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas in the Palestinian enclave.



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Video-Workshop: Das kleine Einmaleins der Charttechnik In diesem kostenlosen Video-Workshop von Stefan Klotter lernen Sie alles uber Charttechnik. Lassen Sie sich diesen kostenfreien Workshop nicht entgehen! Hier klicken
LONDON and STOCKHOLM, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Acuminor, a regulatory technology platform that helps banks manage financial crime intelligence and automate risk assessments, today announced Stephen Ball as its new CEO. Martin Nordh, the company's founder and CEO since 2018, will remain part of the executive team and focus on market engagement.

Ball's appointment is part of a strategy that includes growing the company's commercial teams, expanding geographically, and developing its products to address additional anti-financial crime use cases.

He has a wealth of market experience and a track record of scaling high-growth companies, such as fellow RegTech, ComplyAdvantage. He also managed client relationships at Bain & Company Inc., where he saw the financial crime and regulatory challenges firms faced from the inside.

"Acuminor has shown tremendous growth over the last five years, and I'm excited to head up the team in this next stage. The industry is at a turning point in how it approaches financial crime risk, due to the increasing sophistication of illicit activities. At the same time, risk management teams are being asked to increase productivity and justify every penny. Acuminor's platform can help them tackle both these problems", said Ball.

Nordh, who has a background in law enforcement, law making, and banking, will work with regulators, law enforcement, and the industry to strengthen society's defences against financial crime.

He has driven the company's strong growth to date with over 500 businesses now relying on its technology and insight, including some of the world's largest financial service organisations.

"This is an exciting step forward for Acuminor and brings in a fresh perspective while staying true to our mission. With Stephen's experience in scaling businesses and my deep market understanding, we're in a strong position to improve the way the world tackles financial crime", said Nordh.

About Acuminor

Acuminor is a regulatory technology firm creating a brighter world by reducing harm from financial crime. Founded by law enforcement and banking experts in 2018, it is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and has offices in London.

Acuminor helps financial crime teams get a true view of their risks to improve productivity, react nimbly as risks evolve, and justify every decision.

Over 500 firms rely on Acuminor's industry-leading intelligence content and its platform to process their internal financial crime knowledge and assess and manage risks and controls in order to improve anti-financial crime outcomes.

Learn more at acuminor.com

Contact: Janelle van Deventer, press@acuminor.com, +44 (0) 7907 942 913

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/acuminor-announces-stephen-ball-as-new-ceo-302036899.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Hybrid Power Solutions Inc. (CSE: HPSS) (OTC Pink: HPSIF) (FSE: E092) ("Hybrid" or the "Company"), a manufacturer of industrial portable power solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its latest product, the Batt Pack Spark. As the newest product in their fuel-free, portable power line-up, the Batt Pack Spark is designed to meet growing demand for clean, safe and cost-effective power solutions on construction, military, mining and job sites.

The Batt Pack Spark serves as a compelling fuel-free alternative to diesel generators. In terms of performance, it can be most easily compared to a 25kW towable diesel generator, which is one of the most commonly used models on the market. This innovative product is available in both a hybrid and all-electric model.

Key features include:

Powerful Performance: With 24,000W of continuous power and the capability to handle up to 48,000W of surge power, the Batt Pack Spark ensures reliable and robust performance across diverse applications.

Energy Storage Capacity: Equipped with a 28kWh capacity, the Batt Pack Spark offers an efficient energy storage solution, catering to the demands of extended usage.

Weatherproof: Rated to operate in extreme conditions, from -30C to 50C, the Batt Pack Spark is a resilient and adaptable power solution for various environments and can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Solar Input Power: Harnessing the power of the sun, the Batt Pack Spark features an impressive 18,000W of solar input power, enhancing its capability for off-grid operations.

Versatile Charging Options: The Batt Pack Spark can be charged via multiple sources, including solar panels, the grid, or a generator, providing flexibility.

Comprehensive Accessories: To enhance its functionality, the Batt Pack Spark comes with accessories such as a 90,000 lumen light tower, a towable trailer for easy transport, and folding solar panels for added convenience.

The all-electric model of the Batt Pack Spark provides companies with a net-zero power solution, completely offsetting fuel consumption. On the other hand, the hybrid model is perfect for round the clock and off grid usage and can reduce fuel costs by up to 75% when solar isn't available.





Figure 1: Batt Pack Spark



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Figure 2: Batt Pack Spark unit mounted on a standard pickup truck bed



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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"By focusing on performance first, we can offer our customers a highly effective alternative that also happens to be better for the environment, " said Francois Byrne, CEO of the Company. "We believe the Batt Pack Spark will redefine how industries approach power generation, providing efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions for various applications."

As with the rest of Hybrid's portable products, the Batt Pack Spark is proudly engineered & built in Canada. The launch of the Batt Pack Spark highlights Hybrid's dedication to manufacturing cost-effective and environmentally friendly choices for industries seeking sustainable power solutions.

For further information, inquiries, or media opportunities, please contact:

On behalf of the company:

Francois Byrne

CEO and Director

invest@hybridps.ca

1 (866) 549-2743

www.investhps.com

About Hybrid Power Solutions Inc.

Hybrid Power Solutions Inc. is a Canadian clean energy company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "HPSS". Hybrid specializes in producing industrial grade clean technology products such as portable power packs and stationary storage.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "will be", "intends", "expected" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management of the Company, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194557

SOURCE: Hybrid Power Solutions Inc.
Zendesk annual CX Trends Report shows 70 percent of leaders completely reimagining their customer journey

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zendesk, Inc. today released its annual Customer Experience (CX) Trends Report , the findings of which signal a rapid transition towards intelligent CX. In this era, the shift to AI-driven service will create a big divide between companies who use AI to create the best customer experiences and those that miss the mark on implementing, or worse, don't embrace AI at all. Those with the ability to bridge this divide will completely transform CX, delivering personalization at scale and elevating service quality while reducing costs.

"We're on the verge of the most significant inflection point we've ever seen in CX with the latest advances in AI," said Adrian McDermott, chief technology officer, Zendesk. "Businesses will need to rethink the structure of everything, from their tech stacks to their teams to how they deliver support. Companies that thrive will shift to a much more intelligent CX strategy, using AI to manage volume, lower costs, increase quality and ultimately improve customer satisfaction."

The report reveals 70 percent of CX leaders are reimagining their customer journeys using tools like generative AI. This adoption has real benefits - 83 percent of CX leaders who are using generative AI in CX report positive ROI , proving these changes set a new standard for successful CX. The report also places a spotlight on some defining elements of the era of intelligent CX:

Chatbots are evolving into advanced digital agents : generative AI and evolved chatbots are revolutionizing consumer interactions by facilitating personalized, instant and interactive experiences.

: generative AI and evolved chatbots are revolutionizing consumer interactions by facilitating personalized, instant and interactive experiences. Live and immersive interactions will redefine experiences : as consumers expect more engaging and interactive experiences, CX leaders will need to transition to tools like conversational commerce, live streaming and voice.

: as consumers expect more engaging and interactive experiences, CX leaders will need to transition to tools like conversational commerce, live streaming and voice. CX leaders are the new drivers of data privacy: CX leaders, not IT, are the new drivers of data privacy, integrating security seamlessly into CX for protection and ease.

Chatbots evolve into advanced digital agents

Two-thirds of CX leaders believe chatbots can build a stronger emotional connection with their customers. This is largely due to AI chatbots evolving into skilled digital agents, playing key roles in customer service and the overall customer experience. Their ability to mirror brand styles and evaluate their customers' feelings and desires enables them to deliver tailored, accurate responses.

The transformation of chatbots into digital agents aligns with escalating expectations - 68 percent of consumers believe chatbots should have the same level of expertise and quality as highly skilled human agents. Furthermore, over half expect to soon interact with advanced bots for quick and immediate responses. Businesses are grasping the importance of upgrading chatbots into digital agents and plan to boost their AI investments to speed up this process.

Live and immersive interactions redefine experiences

Consumers have now come to expect more than just traditional support to truly enhance their experiences. More than half of those surveyed believe the way they interact with a company will completely change within two years.

People are embracing conversational commerce - buying products within chat interactions - and turning to live-streamed sessions for immediate help with shopping. To keep pace with this change, 72 percent of CX leaders are partnering with external vendors and experts to implement conversational commerce. Brands are also turning to social media and in-store influencers for sales - an approach that attracts new consumers and caters to those who prefer shopping at home. Sixty-five percent of CX leaders believe failure to leverage tools like live streaming that provide real time support will lead to lost opportunities.

CX leaders are the new drivers of data privacy

Amidst escalating privacy concerns and rising demands for AI-enhanced personalized experiences, data privacy is becoming a central responsibility for CX leaders. In fact, 77 percent of CX leaders see themselves as responsible for making sure their customers' data is safe. Another 83 percent say data protection and cybersecurity are top priorities in their customer service strategy.

With CX leaders now active drivers of data privacy decision-making processes, they're focused on delivering solutions that protect data while facilitating personalized experiences and deploying AI. More than half of consumers feel they're constantly under the threat of being scammed. When they see that a company is proactive about data security, they're more likely to feel comfortable providing personal information, leading to stronger trust and loyalty.

The future outlook for CX

Leaders are confidently preparing for the future of CX, not just waiting to see what happens. They're betting big on smart customer experiences for 2024, signaling a landmark year for CX due to new technology. To learn more, download the Zendesk CX Trends Report and access all 10 key trends shaping the era of intelligent CX.

Methodology

Data from CX Trends comes from two survey sources. Zendesk surveyed 2,818 consumers and 4,441 customer service and experience leaders, agents, and technology buyers from 20 countries and organizations ranging from small business to enterprise during July and August 2023. Results from each survey were weighted to remove bias from the survey samples.

About Zendesk

Zendesk is on a mission to simplify the complexity of business and make it easy for companies and customers to create connections. Our customer experience software unlocks the power of billions of interactions, enabling businesses to build rich, meaningful relationships with their customers. The company was conceived in Copenhagen, Denmark and today operates in more than 20 countries around the world.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ai-ushers-in-era-of-intelligent-cx-fuels-massive-industry-transformation-302036507.html
IVECO BUS wins its largest zero-emission vehicle contract in Italy with more than 400 electric buses for Rome

Turin, 17th January 2024. IVECO BUS, the urban, intercity and tourist bus brand of Iveco Group (EXM: IVG) has won its largest electric bus contract in Italy to date for the supply of 411 battery electric vehicles to ATAC S.p.A.- Azienda per la mobilita, the public transport company of Italy's capital city.

The contract, signed today, is worth more than 300 million euros and is part of ATAC's strategic plan to offer increasingly sustainable, efficient and accessible mobility. The tender comprises not only the new electric buses, measuring either 12 or 18 metres in length, but also a 10-year full-service maintenance plan for each.

The first deliveries are expected by the end of 2024 and all the remaining buses are to be delivered by mid-2026. This important investment demonstrates Rome's reliance on IVECO BUS to provide viable solutions as one of ATAC's trusted suppliers.

Domenico Nucera, President, Bus Business Unit, Iveco Group, stated: "We are extremely proud to be a key contributor to Rome's transition towards greener and more efficient mobility. Our increasingly strong offering in the field of electric passenger transport is being recognised across the entire Italian market, and internationally as well, confirming our position as a leading partner. Extending this to the capital of Italy, the 'Eternal City', is a fitting way to begin 2024, after closing a very satisfying year in terms of orders for IVECO BUS."

Iveco Group N.V.

Media Contacts:

Francesco Polsinelli, Tel: +39 335 1776091

Fabio Lepore, Tel: +39 335 7469007

E-mail: mediarelations@ivecogroup.com

Investor Relations:

Federico Donati, Tel: +39 011 0073539

E-mail: investor.relations@ivecogroup.com

Attachment
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), through its Growth Markets Fund II, and Ignitis Renewables have won the auction-based competitive tender for the development of an offshore wind farm in the Liivi 1 seabed area in Estonia, having placed the highest bid of EUR 1.16 million

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Having previously won the Liivi 2 site in Estonia's first offshore wind tender held in December 2023, CIP, the world's largest fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments, and international green energy company Ignitis Renewables see the adjacent site of Liivi 1 as a natural extension of the seabed area. This will allow for greater synergy and optimisation in developing the sites as a single offshore wind project.



The maritime area of both sites is in the Gulf of Riga, northwest of Ruhnu Island and near Estonia's Baltic Sea coast, covering approximately 193 square kilometres. The project, to be developed on the two sites combined, is expected to become operational post 2030, subject to obtaining the relevant permits, contracting suppliers, and securing financing.

CIP and Ignitis Renewables have signed an agreement to collaborate exclusively on offshore wind opportunities in Estonia and Latvia. The partnership leverages CIP's global offshore wind expertise and Ignitis Renewables' leading market position in the Baltic region.

Having now secured both the Liivi 1 and Liivi 2 sea areas, CIP and Ignitis Renewables have a strategic position to optimise the scale and potential of the sites, representing a key investment in Estonia's transformation into a sustainable, long-term green energy hub in Europe.

About Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners

Founded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S (CIP) today is the world's largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind. The funds managed by CIP focus on investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage, advanced bioenergy, and Power-to-X.

CIP manages 12 funds and has to date raised approximately EUR 26 billion for investments in energy and associated infrastructure from more than 150 international institutional investors. CIP has approximately 500 employees and 12 offices around the world. For more information, visit www.cip.com

About Ignitis Renewables

Ignitis Renewables is an international green energy company operating in the three Baltic states and Poland. Its objective is to develop a low-carbon electricity generation portfolio with a focus on offshore wind, onshore hybrid, Power-to-X and storage technologies. By developing new projects, the company is implementing the strategic goal of Ignitis Group to enable green and flexible capacity build-out and to deliver 4-5 GW of installed green generation capacities by 2030.

For further information, please contact:

Oliver Routhe Skov, Head of Media Relations, CIP

Phone: +45 30541227

Email: orsk@cip.com

Thomas Knig, Partner - Investor Relations, CIP

Phone: +45 7070 5151

Email: tkon@cip.com

Paulius Kalmantas, Ignitis Renewables

Communications Partner

Mobile: +370 617 51616

Email: paulius.kalmantas@ignitis.lt
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - IMPACT Silver Corp. (TSXV: IPT) (OTCQB: ISVLF) (FSE: IKL) ("IMPACT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce initial results of an ongoing exploration program being undertaken at the recently acquired Plomosas zinc (-lead-silver) mine in northern Mexico. Highlights include drill hole TAS-23-18 which cut three mineralized intervals: 2.7 meters with 11.07% zinc and 9.24% lead, 6.9 meters with 10.22% zinc and 5.43% lead, and 3.6 meters with 10.91% zinc and 2.07% lead.

The Company has undertaken a surface drill program to test mineralization near the "Tres Amigos" section of the mine and has conducted a sampling program in stopes of the Plomosas mine that were partially exploited by the previous operator.

HIGHLIGHTS

Initial drill results from the Tres Amigos drill program have confirmed the presence of high-grade mineralization in the Juarez horizon, near accessible mine workings on levels 2, 5 and 7. Reported down-hole intervals are believed to represent true widths for the mineralization. Drill hole TAS-23-9 intersected three intervals, 5.70 meters (m) with 7.9% zinc, 5.3% lead and 23.2 g/t silver, 3.46m with 9.37% zinc, 5.24% lead and 25.9 g/t silver, and 1.5m with 11.89% zinc, 3.09% lead and 64.3 g/t silver. Hole TAS-23-16 cut two high grade intervals, 10.8 m with 6.30% zinc, 0.80% lead and 14.7 g/t silver, and 6.43 m with 8.99% Zinc, 1.16% Lead and 16.6 g/t Silver. Hole TAS-23-18 cut three intervals, 2.7 m with 11.07% zinc, 9.24% lead and 34.7 g/t silver, 6.9 m with 10.22% zinc, 5.43% lead and 27.7 g/t silver, and 3.6 m with 10.91% zinc, 2.07% lead and 50.0 g/t silver.



Fifty-eight samples taken over a strike length of approximately 50 meters in the 880 stope on Level 8 of the Plomosas mine (Mina Vieja horizon) have yielded an average of 12.1% zinc, 5.8% lead and 44 g/t silver over an average sample width of 1.8 meters.

Table 1.

HOLE FROM (m) TO (m) Interval (m) Zn % Pb % Ag g/t TAS-23-006 151.16 155.09 3.93 4.09 0.66 7.5













TAS-23-007 173.62 176.58 2.96 4.89 0.06 11.7

201.35 202.64 1.29 18.19 0.06 4.5













TAS-23-009 189.76 195.46 5.70 7.94 5.28 23.2 includes 192.00 195.46 3.46 9.37 5.24 25.9

201.08 202.58 1.50 11.89 3.09 64.3













TAS-23-010 287.20 288.64 1.44 5.89 0.89 12.9

323.17 324.00 1.41 4.30 0.67 23.9

329.10 332.87 3.77 5.02 0.81 18.9













TAS-23-012 317.75 320.15 2.40 6.02 0.44 17.3













TAS-23-014 251.75 253.25 1.50 3.30 12.45 37.2













TAS-23-015 283.27 284.77 1.50 4.50 2.80 33.3













TAS-23-016 258.56 267.80 9.24 4.05 0.45 6.1 includes 261.28 263.26 1.98 9.15 1.37 12.7 and 265.95 267.80 1.85 8.67 0.72 12.6













TAS-23-018 271.62 274.32 2.70 11.07 9.24 34.7

281.00 287.90 6.90 10.22 5.43 27.7

308.25 311.85 3.60 10.91 2.07 50.0

Highlights of drill hole assays from the Plomosas mine, Tres Amigo program

Downhole intervals are approximate true widths.

Table 2. Drill hole data for holes in this release.

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth Inclination Total depth (m) TAS_23_001 476,176 3,216,563 1,143 245 -54 201.25 TAS_23_002 476,177 3,216,563 1,143 240 -75 231.00 TAS_23_003 476,180 3,216,565 1,143 55 -90 183.00 TAS_23_004 476,180 3,216,521 1,154 232 -80 202.50 TAS_23_005 476,182 3,216,523 1,154 55 -76 195.00 TAS_23_006 476,278 3,216,543 1,129 234 -44 253.50 TAS_23_007 476,278 3,216,544 1,129 235 -60 252.00 TAS_23_008 476,280 3,216,548 1,156 237 -75 321.00 TAS_23_009 476,278 3,216,543 1,129 235 -90 313.50 TAS_23_010 476,280 3,216,548 1,155 235 -79 351.00 TAS_23_011 476,423 3,216,645 1,149 235 -63 246.00 TAS_23_012 476,423 3,216,645 1,149 235 -77 321.00 TAS_23_013 476,435 3,216,628 1,148 235 -45 315.00 TAS_23_014 476,435 3,216,628 1,148 235 -60 376.50 TAS_23_015 476,435 3,216,628 1,148 235 -75 351.00 TAS_23_016 476,435 3,216,628 1,148 235 -68 321.75 TAS_23_017 476,435 3,216,628 1,148 235 -83 378.00 TAS_23_018 476,472 3,216,605 1,146 235 -59 312.00

Coordinates in UTM WGS84.

CEO STATEMENT

Chairman and CEO Fred Davidson commented, "We are pleased that our initial drilling and underground sampling program has returned high grades over mining widths in line with expectations at Plomosas. Our field crews have also begun exploration activity beyond the immediate mine area and have already identified some high priority drill targets. On the production side, the restart of mining and processing operations has gone well after an extended period of rehabilitation and upgrading of facilities and equipment, and we look forward to a full year of revenue generating production from Plomosas in 2024."

TRES AMIGOS DRILL RESULTS

The Plomosas mine, a historic high grade zinc producer in northern Mexico (Fig. 1), was recently acquired by the Company which has undertaken a surface drill program in the Tres Amigos area of the mine and has conducted an underground sampling program in stopes of the Plomosas mine which were partially exploited by the previous operator. Mineralization at the Plomosas mine occurs as zinc-rich Carbonate Replacement Deposits along certain horizons of the local sedimentary rock sequence. Two main mineralized horizons have provided the bulk of historic production, the Mina Vieja marble and the Juarez limestone, where structural ground preparation along these two units resulted in concentrations of zinc, lead and silver (Figure 2).

The Company initiated an exploration drill program of the Juarez limestone in the Tres Amigos area to test mineralization near workings with known mineralization from historic work (Figure 3). Mineralization in the Juarez limestone generally forms pods of high-grade zinc and lead at and near the contact with an overlying shale, and drill results such as reported here indicate potential for a large body of mineralization in this area (Figure 4), providing impetus for further exploration.

The Company also conducted an underground sampling program in mine workings between levels 8 and 9 that the former operator partially exploited along the Mina Vieja horizon (Fig. 5). These high-grade results are being evaluated in relation to the mill upgrades the Company has recently completed.

ABOUT IMPACT SILVER

IMPACT Silver Corp. (TSXV: IPT) is a successful producer-explorer with two mining projects in Mexico.

Royal Mines of Zacualpan Silver-Gold District: IMPACT owns 100% of the 211 km2 Zacualpan project in central Mexico where three underground silver mines and one open pit mine feed the central 500 tpd Guadalupe processing plant. To the south, the Capire Project includes a 200 tpd processing pilot plant adjacent to an open pit silver mine with an NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource of over 4.5 million oz silver, 48 million lbs zinc and 21 million lbs lead (see IMPACT news release dated January 18, 2016 for details and QP statement). Company engineers are reviewing Capire for a potential restart of operations. Over the past 17 years, IMPACT has placed multiple zones into commercial production and produced over 12 million ounces of silver, generating revenues over $256 million, with no long-term debt.

Plomosas Zinc-Lead-Silver District: Plomosas is a high-grade zinc producer in northern Mexico with exceptional exploration upside potential where only 600m of the 6 km-long structure have seen modern exploration to date. This is in addition to other exploration targets on the 3,019-hectare property including untested copper-gold targets with indications of high-grade material from surface. Regionally, Plomosas lies in the same mineral belt as some of the largest carbonate replacement deposits in the world.

Quality Control/Quality Assurance

Samples take by the Company were analyzed by ALS Group, an internationally recognized analytical services provider, and by the laboratory at the Plomosas mine. Samples analyzed by ALS used fire assay with an AA finish for gold and a multielement ICP package for other metals. Assays for metals >1% used an overlimit ICP method. For samples with >30%Zn a wet chemical method is used. For analyses at the mine, all metals are analyzed by AA. For some samples with >30% Zn, the analysis from the mine lab was used if an overlimit from ALS was not available. Certified Reference Materials and internal control samples are added to the sample stream at regular intervals to track accuracy of assays.

Qualified Person and NI 43-101 Disclosure

Craig Gibson, PhD, CPG, is a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has approved the technical information contained in this news release.

Additional information about IMPACT and its operations can be found on the Company website at www.IMPACTSilver.com. Follow us on Twitter @IMPACT_Silver and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactsilver.

On behalf of IMPACT Silver Corp.

"Frederick W. Davidson"

President & CEO

For more information, please contact:

Jerry Huang

CFO | Investor Relations

O: (604) 681 0172 or inquiries@impactsilver.com

C: (778) 887 6489 Direct

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This IMPACT News Release may contain certain "forward-looking" statements and information relating to IMPACT that is based on the beliefs of IMPACT management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to IMPACT management. Forward-Looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "planned", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding activity at the Plomosas mine,and estimated timing thereof, the potential for defining and extending the known mineralization, and plans for drilling and future operations at the Company's projects.

Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks and assumptions, including with respect to, without limitation, exploration and development risks, expenditure and financing requirements, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, pandemics and one-time events. Should any one or more risks or uncertainties materialize or change, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and forward-looking statements may vary materially from those described herein. IMPACT does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement or beliefs, opinions, projections or other factors, except as required by law.

The Company's decision to place a mine into production, expand a mine, make other production related decisions or otherwise carry out mining and processing operations, is largely based on internal non-public Company data and reports based on exploration, development and mining work by the Company's geologists and engineers. The results of this work are evident in the discovery and building of multiple mines for the Company and in the track record of mineral production and financial returns of the Company since 2006. Under NI 43-101, the Company is required to disclose that it has not based its production decisions on NI 43-101 mineral resources or reserve estimates, preliminary economic assessments or feasibility studies, and historically such projects have increased uncertainty and risk of failure.

303-543 Granville Street Telephone 604 664-7707

Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1X8

www.impactsilver.com

Twitter

LinkedIn



Figure 1: Location map of Plomosas Mine and nearby mines and infrastructure. References to nearby projects are for information purposes only and there are no assurances that Plomosas will achieve similar results.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4729/194576_013fce3714e72bf8_001full.jpg

Figure 2: Schematic cross section of Plomosas Mine mineralization.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4729/194576_impactsilverimage2.jpg





Figure 3. Drill hole locations for Tres Amigos drill program with line of section for Figure 4.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4729/194576_013fce3714e72bf8_005full.jpg





Figure 4. Cross section through hole TAS_23_016, Tres Amigos drill program.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4729/194576_impactsilverimage4.jpg





Figure 5. Plan and schematic view of the sampling on level 880 of Plomosas Mine (green on the inset map). The red color in the lower figure represents the shallowly dipping mineralized horizon defined on Levels 8 and 9 by historic workings and drill holes.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4729/194576_013fce3714e72bf8_009full.jpg

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194576

SOURCE: IMPACT Silver Corp.
PDC*neo+ project aims to develop personalized therapeutic vaccine based on neoantigens for colorectal cancer

Collaborative effort between biotechnology companies, PDC*line Pharma and OncoDNA, technology company salamanderU and universities UCLouvain-IREC/MIRO and ULB-BCTL

Consortium awarded 8.1 M for three-year project, including 4.7M for PDC*Line; total budget 12.5M

PDC*line Pharma, a clinical stage biotech company developing a new class of potent and scalable active immunotherapies for cancer, announces today the selection of the PDC*neo+ project for funding by the Walloon region and BioWin, the health cluster for Wallonia. This is the result of a call for proposals on R&D projects in the field of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP). Members of the project consortium will receive 8.1M ($8.9M) in funding, including 4.7M ($5.1M) for PDC*line Pharma. The total budget is 12.5M ($13.7M).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117630349/en/

PDC*Line

The project aims to develop PDC*neo+, a personalized therapeutic vaccine for colorectal cancer using PDC*line Pharma's innovative PDC*line technology. Targeting unique neoantigens in each colorectal cancer patient, PDC*neo+ represents a groundbreaking approach in cancer immunotherapy.

Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most prevalent and deadly cancers, with a high recurrence rate post-surgery and chemotherapy. PDC*neo+ is designed as an adjuvant treatment to prevent relapses in high-risk patients with stages II, III and certain stage IV CRCs. Its action post-chemotherapy potentially makes it a pioneering treatment in CRC.

This project is a collaborative effort involving several key partners. OncoDNA contributes its expertise in personalized medicine and liquid biopsies, focusing on neoantigen identification and circulating tumor DNA analysis. salamanderU is developing a compact isolator for decentralized vaccine production to bring manufacturing closer to the clinical centers. Academic centers UCLouvain IREC (Institut de Recherche Experimentale et Clinique)/MIRO (Molecular Imaging, Radiotherapy and Oncology) and ULB-BCTL (Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory) offer essential support in translational research and clinical trial execution.

The main goal of the project is to confirm the clinical feasibility and safety of PDC*neo+ in a phase I trial. This initiative is expected to have a significant impact on CRC patient care, alongside broader economic and societal benefits. Over its three-year duration, across all partners, it is estimated to create or maintain around 34 full-time jobs.

"We are very happy that our project has been selected by the Walloon region. The subsidies and collaborative effort of the partners in the consortium will speed-up the launch of a first phase I clinical trial with PDC*neo+, the personalized vaccine based on PDC*line cells loaded with neoantigens to treat CRC patients, positioning our technology in the very promising field of neoantigen-based cancer vaccines," said Eric Halioua, CEO of PDC*line Pharma.

"We are very thrilled to be part of this innovative project and clinical trial. It acknowledges our recent proficiency in the discovery of neoantigens and our robust experience in liquid biopsy monitoring by detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)," said Jean-Pol Detiffe, founder and chief strategy and innovation officer at OncoDNA.

"We are very enthusiastic about participating in this collaborative project and bringing the production of PDC*Neo+ closer to the patient. Through this project, salamanderU strengthens its position as a designer and manufacturer of innovative isolators for the manufacture of ATMP," said Claude Dedry, CEO of salamanderU.

"We are very pleased and motivated to take part in this exciting and collaborative project. With our expertise, we will contribute to characterizing the immunogenicity of colorectal cancers and to the development and recruitment of patients for this clinical trial," said Marc Van den Eynde and Jean-Pascal Machiels, oncologists at UCLouvain (Cliniques universitaires St-Luc).

"We are delighted to be involved in this interesting collaborative project. Leveraging our expertise in various 'omics' technologies, such as single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, we will delve into the tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancers. Our objective is to develop predictive biomarkers for vaccine response and actively contribute to patient recruitment for the clinical trial," said Christos Sotiriou, head of the BCTL at ULB and Francesco Sclafani, gastrointestinal oncologist and clinical researcher at Institut Jules Bordet, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB) and Bordet Cancer Research Laboratory.

About PDC*line Pharma

Founded in 2014 as a spin-off of the French Blood Bank (EFS), PDC*line Pharma is a Belgian-French clinical-stage biotech company that develops an innovative class of active immunotherapies for cancers, based on a GMP-grade allogeneic therapeutic cell line of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells (PDC*line). PDC*line is much more potent than conventional dendritic cell-based vaccines in priming and boosting antitumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T-cells, including the T-cells specific for neoantigens, and is synergistic with checkpoint inhibitors. The technology can potentially be applied to any type of cancer. Following a first-in-human phase I feasibility study in melanoma, PDC*line Pharma is now focused on the development of PDC*lung01, its candidate for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), currently in phase I/II trials, and PDC*neo with neoantigens, in preclinical development. The company has a staff of 42, with an experienced management team. It has raised more than 61M in equity and non-dilutive funding. In March 2019, PDC*line Pharma granted the LG Chem Life Sciences company an exclusive license in South Korea and an exclusive option in other Asian countries for the development and commercialization of the PDC*lung01 cancer vaccine for lung cancer. The total deal is worth 108M, plus tiered royalties on net sales in Asia.

www.pdc-line-pharma.com

About OncoDNA

OncoDNA is a leading genomic and theranostic company specializing in precision medicine for the treatment of cancer and genetic diseases. The company helps clinicians, academic researchers, and biopharma companies to outsmart molecular complexity with the mission of delivering the promise of precision medicine. The company not only provides clinical guidance for the treatment and real-time monitoring of late-stage cancer patients, but also supports research and drug development in cancer and genetic diseases. Since its early days in 2012, OncoDNA grew into a corporate group of companies with world-renowned expertise. The Group offers a unique portfolio that combines NGS services, biomarker testing, data analysis software and clinical decision support tools. OncoDNA is headquartered in Belgium, and its entities BioSequence and IntegraGen are based in Spain and France. OncoDNA employs over 115 employees across 9 countries, works with an international network of 35 distributors and collaborates with European-based accredited laboratories.

OncoDNA is keen to meet laboratory partners and oncologists who would like to benefit from our expertise and work in partnership with us for the benefit of oncologists and their patients.

Visit www.oncodna.com

About salamanderU

salamanderU is a technology company made up of a multidisciplinary team of business experts in the life sciences, pharmaceutical engineering and IT industries. We enhance our clients' competitive advantage by increasing the robustness and the efficiency of their operational pharmaceutical processes. salamanderU develops and commercializes both technical and digital solutions: technical with acrylic resin isolators, and digital with voice-controlled electronic batch record and manufacturing execution system software.

www.salamanderu.com

About UCLouvainIREC/MIRO and Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc

UCLouvain is one of the most important universities in Belgium. The IREC-MIRO-Oncology laboratory (UCLouvain) and the Cancer and Hematology Roi Albert II Institute at Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc have expertise in clinical, translational and fundamental research in oncology. Through the conduct of several academic studies, we have characterized the tumor microenvironment of several cancers and investigated the effectiveness of different combinations of targeted and immune therapies. Our phase 1 research unit is internationally recognized in the investigation of innovative therapies such as novel immune and genetic treatments.

www.uclouvain.be

About IJB

The Institut Jules Bordet (IJB) is the only Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Belgium and is part of the Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB) and of the Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). The strength of IJB is built upon its integration of three missions: excellence of care, innovative research and a high level of education. The Institute has participated in the creation of several international networks, including the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the Breast International Group (BIG), Accelerating Oncology Drug Development and Innovative Strategies in Clinical Trials (Oncodistinct) and the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI). The Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory (BCTL), headed by Prof. Sotiriou, is an academic laboratory at the ULB faculty of medicine located within the Institut Jules Bordet. The main research focus of BCTL consists of improving the molecular understanding of breast cancer biology, disease dissemination and progression using state-of-the art 'omics' technologies as well as identifying novel prognostic and predictive biomarkers. The ultimate goal of this laboratory is to accelerate the translation into the clinic of basic science discoveries dedicated to breast cancer.

www.bordet.be

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117630349/en/

Contacts:

Media and analysts contact

Andrew Lloyd Associates

Saffiyah Khalique Juliette Schmitt

saffiyah@ala.associates juliette@ala.associates

UK: +44 1273 952 481

@ALA_Group


"Ren AI Pan" product image



The development of "Ren AI Pan"



Emotion mapping for various types of "Ren AI Pan"

TOKYO, Jan 17, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701), together with Kimuraya Sohonten Co., a long-established bread maker, and Abema TV, a video streaming service, have teamed up to produce bread with flavors inspired by the romantic Japanese television program, "I Fell in Love with you Today." NEC's artificial intelligence (AI) has analyzed conversations from the cast of the show and the lyrics of songs that feature fruits and sweets (*1) to produce five varieties of bread, "Ren AI Pan," that aim to link flavors with romantic feelings. Kimuraya plans to begin providing Ren AI Pan at supermarkets and online stores in areas surrounding Tokyo from February 1, 2024.Kimuraya, was established more than 150 years ago and has traditionally marketed its products through sales channels such as department stores and supermarkets. As a result, acquiring new customers and recognition among younger consumers has been a challenge. Therefore, the company decided to team up with NEC, which has a track record of developing specialized food products using AI, including pudding and craft beer.A recent market survey of young people in Japan, the target audience for this project, indicated that they are becoming further removed from romantic relationships. With this in mind, the partners developed a product that utilizes the content of a much-talked-about TV program, "I Fell in Love with you Today," which features high school students and the dating issues they face.1. "NEC Enhanced Speech Analysis," which utilizes speech recognition technology and belongs to NEC's AI technology group "NEC the WISE" (*2), was used to extract and analyze portions of conversation data from three seasons of "I Fell in Love with you Today," including the Cebu, Phuket, and Okinawa editions of the program.2. "NEC Data Enrichment," which utilizes technology for understanding the meaning of data and belongs to "NEC the WISE," was used to assign emotional scores to conversations from romantic scenes, such first dates, to visualize the emotion trends.3. Approximately 35,000 songs that include 183 types of fruits and sweets and other foods were extracted from a database of approximately 1 million Japanese songs. "NEC Data Enrichment" was then used to assign emotional scores to lyrics containing food and to visualize the emotional trends associated with food images.4. The romantic scenes and foods from (2) and (3) that have similar emotional tendencies were linked, and a list of the top 50 foods that express the emotion of love was created.5. Kimuraya reproduced "love as a taste" by selecting a combination of foods that go well together.6. Utilizing an NEC-developed Large Language Model (LLM), product names and descriptions for use in packaging and special websites were created, such as "Fate," "First Date," "Unforgettable," "Tears of Heartbreak" and "Mutual Love."1)Database of lyrics provided by SyncPower Inc. https://syncpower.jp/en2)"NEC the WISE" is a portfolio of AI technologies developed by NECPress release: NEC announces new AI technology brand, "NEC the WISE" https://www.nec.com/en/press/201607/global_20160719_01.htmlNEC's AI Solutions https://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/ai/Source: NEC CorporationCopyright 2024 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / ARway.ai ("ARway" or the "Company") (CSE:ARWY)(OTCQB:ARWYF)(FSE:E65) is an AI powered Augmented Reality Experience platform with a disruptive no-code, no beacon spatial computing solution enabled by visual marker tracking with centimeter precision is seeing a uptick in demand in 2024 ahead of Apple's Vision pro release slated for February 2nd 2024. The Company is pleased to announce a new developer deal with F3 Geomatic Solutions, a distinguished geospatial modeling and mapping agency based in Cuervo, Texas. With ARway, F3 Geomatic envisions providing seamless, accurate, and immersive tailored geospatial solutions for museums, trade shows, and local governments, creating unparalleled user experiences.

F3 Geomatic has selected ARway as its partner due to its unmatched accuracy and seamless integration with the floor plans provided by their partner, Matterport. Unlike other solutions that proved inaccurate for wayfinding, ARway's technology demonstrated a significant reduction in dissonance between intended locations and mobile devices, especially in complex indoor environments.

Moreover, F3 Geomatic appreciated ARway's user-friendly setup process, eliminating the need for expensive hardware and specialized technical skills. The decision to choose ARway was reinforced by the CEO's background in classified geopositioning systems projects for the US military, where ARway's tech stack emerged as the superior choice among competitors.

Anticipating widespread consumer adoption, the introduction of "Apple Vision Pro" is expected to catalyze a substantial transformation within the augmented reality and spatial computing industry. This monumental development opens up an exciting market opportunity for ARway, as the ARway app is proudly available in the new spatial computing Vision Pro app store.

ARway.ai, with its focus on indoor navigation and recent strides in AR glasses integration, is strategically aligned with the industry's overarching shift towards 3D/AR.

This deal follows a recent press release announcing 3 new deals and increasing global demand ahead of the Apple Vision Pro release. Demand for ARway is accelerating from around the world for various use-cases and industries looking to leverage the Company's groundbreaking augmented reality and spatial computing technology.

CEO Evan Gappelberg recently joined Proactive Investors to discuss the upcoming launch of the Apple Vision Pro and what that means for ARway - watch here

ARway's commitment to delivering top-notch performance on iOS devices positions it as an integral part of the Apple ecosystem, promising a seamless integration experience for users. With the official announcement from Apple declaring the availability of Apple Vision Pro from Friday, February 2nd, at all U.S. Apple Store locations and online, ARway is poised to redefine the landscape of AR indoor navigation.

Sign up for Investor News - HERE

To learn more about ARway, please follow on Social Media: Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and visit our website: www.arway.ai

About ARway.ai

ARway.ai (CSE: ARWY) (OTCQB: ARWYF) (FSE: E65) is a spatial computing platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) providing an array of augmented reality (AR) experiences for indoor spaces. ARway's breakthrough no-code no-beacon IPNN allows for the easy creation of navigation, tours, information sharing, notifications, advertising and gamification. ARway works seamlessly as a cross platform solution on iOS/ Android. ARway's technology is optimized for both mobile devices and AR glasses: Apple's Vision Pro, Magic Leap and Microsoft's HoloLens. ARway has unlimited use cases for augmenting physical spaces, making it a valuable tool for creators, brands and companies in various industries. The complete ARway platform includes: the Web Creator Studio, the ARwayKit Software Development Kit (SDK) and a mobile app for iOs and Android.

Nextech 3D.ai

On October 26, 2022, ARway.ai. was spun-out from its parent Company, Nextech3D.ai (OTCQX: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: 1SS). Nextech retained a control ownership in ARway.ai. with 13 million shares, or a 50% stake. Nextech3D.ai is a Generative AI powered 3D modeling Company and leading provider of augmented reality ("AR") experience technologies and 3D model services. Nextech's AI-powered 3D modeling platform.

To learn more about Nextech3D.ai, visit www.nextechar.com

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations Contact

Julia Viola

investor.relations@arway.ai

ARway.ai

Evan Gappelberg

CEO and Director

866-ARITIZE (274-8493)

Forward-looking Statements

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. ARway.ai will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: ARway Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Seabridge Gold (TSX: SEA) (NYSE: SA)announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, KSM Mining ULC ("KSM Co"), has applied to the British Columbia Environment Assessment Office ("BC EAO") for Substantially Started Status for its 100% owned KSM Project.

Under the B.C. Environmental Assessment Act, a project's environmental assessment certificate ("EAC") expires if the project has not been substantially started by the deadline specified in its EAC. However, the B.C. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy or Associate Deputy Minster (the "Minister") may determine that a project has been 'substantially started' before the deadline, in which case the EAC remains in effect for the life of the project. KSM's current EAC deadline is July 29, 2026. In determining whether a project has been substantially started, the Minister assesses on a project-specific basis whether sufficient permanent on-site physical improvements have been completed to warrant the designation. Examples of B.C. mining projects designated as 'substantially started' include Galore Creek, Kemess and Kitsault.

KSM Co. has spent over $997 million since acquiring the KSM Project in 2001, of which $805 Million has been spent after the issuance of the EAC in July 2014. Since 2021, when Seabridge made the decision to commence early construction activities, $444 Million has been spent on KSM Project construction, focusing on the development of permanent infrastructure on site which will be required to operate the multi-generational mine. The KSM Project has the third largest undeveloped copper resource in the world as well as the largest gold resource. Copper has been designated as a critical mineral required by BC and Canada to assist in the transition to a greener future and KSM is poised to make a significant contribution to this need.

Seabridge Chairman and CEO Rudi Fronk stated: "We look forward to working with the BC EAO and First Nations on the review of our application. The permanent physical improvements we have made to the KSM site are truly impressive. Since launching our Early construction program three years ago, a proposed mine development that only existed on paper is now taking physical shape on the ground with roads and bridges, permanent living facilities for our personnel, hydroelectric power infrastructure and new fish habitat compensation projects. This rapid transformation could not have been accomplished without our local work force, contractors and indigenous partners which has met and exceeded our expectations. Additionally, this work would not have been possible without the financial support of Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan who collectively provided US$375 million in funding for these activities."

Mr. Fronk added: "Finally, I want to personally thank the Nis g a'a Nation, the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs office, BC Hydro and the municipal leaders of Terrace, Smithers, Stewart, Hazelton, and the Regional District of Kitimat Stikine for their letters of support that have been filed with our application."

About Seabridge Gold

Seabridge holds a 100% interest in several North American gold projects. Seabridge's principal asset, the KSM project, and its Iskut projects are located in Northwest British Columbia, Canada's "Golden Triangle", the Courageous Lake project is in Canada's Northwest Territories, the Snowstorm project in the Getchell Gold Belt of Northern Nevada and the 3 Aces project is in the Yukon Territory. For a full breakdown of Seabridge's Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources by category please visit the Seabridge's website at http://www.seabridgegold.com.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange, nor their Regulation Services Providers accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Rudi Fronk"

Chairman & C.E.O.

For further information please contact:

Rudi P. Fronk, Chairman and C.E.O.

Tel: (416) 367-9292  Fax: (416) 367-2711

Email: info@seabridgegold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194505

SOURCE: Seabridge Gold Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - New World Solutions Inc. (CSE: NEWS) (OTC Pink: REGRF) (FSE: RT5) ("NEWS" or "New World" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement financing of up to 50 million units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.02 per Unit (the "Private Placement"), for aggregate gross proceeds up to $1,000,000.

Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share of the Company ("Share") and one (1) common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional Share of the Company at a price of $0.05 per Share for a period of 3 years from the date of issuance, subject to accelerated expiry if the Company's shares trade at $0.10 for 15 consecutive days.

The gross proceeds of the Private Placement will be used for general working capital.

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company may pay finders' fees equal to up to 8% cash and 8% broker warrants of the aggregate proceeds raised in the private placement.

The Private Placement is expected to close on or about January 31, 2024 and such other dates as the Company may determine.

The closing of the Private Placement is subject to certain standard conditions including, but not limited to, the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

All securities that are issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

About New World

New World Solutions is a technology company focused on providing solutions to new world problems. Through our blockchain and technology experience we are leveraging solutions in the decentralized finance space as well as the electric vehicle area. We look to acquire and launch a balanced spectrum of solutions to become a leader in this dynamic tech landscape.

For additional information on New World and other corporate information, please visit the Company website at https://www.newworldinc.io/.

For further information, please contact:

Paul Haber, C.P.A., C.A., C.Dir

Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman

New World Solutions Inc.

Phone: (416) 318 - 6501

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements.

Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the risks associated with the blockchain in general. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results, or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

###

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194509

SOURCE: New World Solutions Inc.
Cardston, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - American Creek Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AMK) (OTCQB: ACKRF) ("the Corporation" or "American Creek") is pleased to announce that project operator and JV partner Tudor Gold ("Tudor") has produced the seventh and final set of drill results for the 2023 exploration program (the "Program") at the flagship property, Treaty Creek, located in the heart of the Golden Triangle of Northwestern British Columbia.

Tudor has safely and successfully completed the 2023 drilling program with a total of 31,904 meters (m) drilled within areas encompassing the Goldstorm Deposit (the Deposit) and the Perfectstorm Zone. The assay results reported in this release are from two drill holes that targeted the northeastern area of the Deposit. Click to view plan map and cross sections.

Ken Konkin, Tudor Gold President and CEO, commented: "We are very pleased to release the results from the last two drill holes of the 2024 drill program. We completed 33 holes this year of which eight were completed at the Perfectstorm system and 25 drill holes at the Goldstorm Deposit. The objective of the Goldstorm drilling was to convert as much of the Inferred Mineral Resources to the Indicated Mineral Resource category as well as expand the Deposit into the north where we have encountered the strongest Au-Cu-Ag mineralization to-date. I congratulate our field crews and service contractors for completing yet another safe and successful season. Clearly the highlight of these last two holes is the impressive continuation of encountering higher Au-Cu-Ag grades than contained within our latest NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Goldstorm Deposit which hosts an Indicated Mineral Resource of 23.37 million ounces of AuEQ grading 1.13 g/t AuEQ and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 7.35 million ounces of AuEQ grading 0.98 g/t AuEQ.

"An enriched core of mineralization occurs within the 300H and CS-600 domains. Drill hole GS-23-178-W1 demonstrates this well; the gold-dominant 300H domain cut an impressive intercept of 138 m grading 1.67 g/t AuEQ which contains a center core of mineralization that averages much higher; 3.08 g/t AuEQ over 57 m. Down hole within the CS-600 domain, we intersected a much more impressive 258 m averaging 2.00 g/t AuEQ with an enriched center portion averaging 3.19 g/t AuEQ over 66 m. It's important to note that we are still encountering incredibly long drill hole intercepts such as 570 m that averaged 1.21 g/t AuEQ within the CS-600 domain in hole GS-23-178-W1. However, we are focussed on developing areas with the highest gold and copper grades of the Deposit and expanding the Au-Cu CS-600 domain as a priority. We are confident that the copper content will be an important factor as we advance this project. Within the DS5 domain, our last hole GS-23-180 was unfortunately lost due to ground conditions and was abandoned in strong mineralization at depth. The final 4.75 m averaged 2.31 g/t AuEQ. A significant intercept was encountered higher in the upper part of the domain averaging 1.01 g/t AuEQ over 201 m and similarly had an enriched central portion that averaged much higher: 1.82 g/t AuEQ over 81.5 m. Hole GS-23-178-W1 increases the drilling density in a significant area of the CS-600 domain that is characterized as Inferred Mineral Resources and will support potentially converting that to Indicated Mineral Resources whereas GS-23-180 was a step-out exploration drill hole, outside the current resource model to the northeast and will add overall ounces to the next mineral resource estimate.

"Our technical team and consultants are currently updating the geological and resource model. Once our final interpretation is complete, we will plan the 2024 drill hole program. The goal is to close-off and completely constrain the entire Goldstorm Deposit so we can determine the location, shape, size and grade of all mineralized domains. When the Deposit is completely drilled-off and we have competed the final resource estimate, we plan to proceed with a Preliminary Economic Study (PEA). The Goldstorm Deposit remains open in all directions and at depth."

Darren Blaney, American Creek President and CEO, states: "We wish to congratulate Ken Konkin and Tudor's geological team for another tremendously successful year of exploration at Treaty Creek. The Goldstorm deposit continues to grow in both scale and grade and the discovery of a high-grade stockwork overprinting the deposit adds a whole new dimension to the deposit. Logistics are improving with a mining road and power getting closer to property and we're excited about the work Tudor is doing to advance the Goldstorm deposit towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment. We always envisioned Treaty Creek becoming a world-class property and it's well on its way to becoming just that."

Section A

GS-23-178-W1: Was drilled to target the CS-600 domain where the current Mineral Resource Estimate is categorized as Inferred mineral resources. The hole first intersected the 300H domain with 138.0 m grading 1.67 g/t AuEQ (1.60 g/t Au, 5.81 g/t Ag, 0.01 % Cu) and then successfully intersected the CS-600 domain with an overall interval of 570.0 m grading 1.21 g/t AuEQ (0.75 g/t Au, 8.09 g/t Ag, 0.31 % Cu) including 258.0 m grading 2.00 g/t AuEQ (1.30 g/t Au, 14.28 g/t Ag, 0.47 % Cu) and 66.0 m grading 3.19 g/t AuEQ (1.99 g/t Au, 24.46 g/t Ag, 0.80 % Cu).

Section B

GS-23-180: This hole was drilled as a 175 m northern step-out on the DS5 domain. The hole successfully intercepted characteristic Au-Ag mineralization with a 201.0 m intercept of DS5 grading 1.01 g/t AuEQ (0.92 g/t Au, 4.93 g/t Ag, 0.04 % Cu) including an 81.5 m intercept grading 1.82 g/t AuEQ (1.64 g/t Au, 9.36 g/t Ag, 0.07 % Cu). This hole was lost within well mineralized fractured ground over the final 4.75 m that averaged 2.31 g/t AuEQ (2.17 g/t Au, 11.85 g/t Ag, 0.02 % Cu).

Table 1: Drilling Results for Goldstorm Deposit in Press Release January 16, 2023

Section Hole Zone From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Cu

(%) AuEQ

(g/t) A GS-23-178-W1 300H 328.50 466.50 138.00 1.60 5.81 0.01 1.67 including 385.50 442.50 57.00 2.98 8.72 0.01 3.08 including 409.50 421.50 12.00 5.90 12.32 0.01 6.04 including 409.50 412.50 3.00 11.66 2.15 0 11.68 CS-600 1002.00 1572.00 570.00 0.75 8.09 0.31 1.21 including 1263.00 1521.00 258.00 1.30 14.28 0.47 2.00 including 1294.50 1360.50 66.00 1.99 24.46 0.80 3.19 including 1294.50 1318.50 24.00 3.01 44.37 1.07 4.71 B GS-23-180 DS5 836.00 1037.00 201.00 0.92 4.93 0.04 1.01 including 870.50 952.00 81.50 1.64 9.36 0.07 1.82 including 870.50 893.00 22.50 3.30 28.63 0.22 3.84 DS5 1080.50 1181.00 100.50 0.68 2.03 0.01 0.71 DS5 1410.45 1464.75 54.30 0.56 6.54 0.02 0.65 including 1460.00 1464.75 4.75 2.17 11.85 0.02 2.31

All assay values are uncut and intervals reflect drilled intercept lengths.

HQ and NQ2 diameter core samples were sawn in half and typically sampled at standard 1.5 m intervals.

The following metal prices were used to calculate the Au Eq metal content: Gold $1800/oz, Ag: $20/oz, Cu: $3.5/lb. Calculations used the formula AuEQ = Au g/t + (Ag g/t*0.0098765) + (Cu ppm*0.0001185). All metals are reported in USD and calculations consider recoveries of 90 % for gold, 80 % for copper, and 80 % for silver.

True widths have not been determined as the mineralized body remains open in all directions. Further drilling is required to determine the mineralized body orientation and true widths.

Table 2: Drill data for holes in Press Release January 16, 2023

Section Hole ID UTM E NAD 83 UTM N NAD 83 Elevation (m) Azi (o) Dip (o) Depth (m) A GS-23-178-W1 428867 6273470 1279 297 -61 1554 B GS-23-180 429357 6273557 1225 270 -70 1466

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person for this news release for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") is Tudor Gold's President and CEO, Ken Konkin, P.Geo. He has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release.

QA/QC

Diamond drill core samples were prepared at MSA Labs' Preparation Laboratory in Terrace, BC and assayed at MSA Labs' Geochemical Laboratory in Langley, BC. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the submission of blanks, certified standards and duplicate samples inserted at regular intervals into the sample stream by Tudor Gold personnel. MSA Laboratories quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 17025 and ISO 9001. MSA Labs is independent of Tudor Gold.

About Treaty Creek

The Treaty Creek Project hosts the Goldstorm Deposit, comprising a large gold-copper porphyry system, as well as several other mineralized zones. As disclosed in the "NI-43-101 Technical Report for the Treaty Creek Project", dated April 28, 2023 prepared by Garth Kirkham Geosystems and JDS Energy & Mining Inc., the Goldstorm Deposit has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 23.37 Moz of AuEq grading 1.13 g/t AuEq (18.75 Moz gold grading 0.91 g/t, 2.18 Blbs copper grading 0.15 %, 112.4 Moz silver grading 5.45 g/t) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 7.35 Moz of AuEq grading 0.98 g/t AuEq (5.54 Moz gold grading 0.74 g/t, 0.85 Blb copper grading 0.16 %, 45.08 Moz silver grading 5.99 g/t), with a pit constrained cut-off of 0.5 g/t AuEq and an underground cut-off of 0.7 g/t AuEq. The Goldstorm Deposit has been categorized into three dominant mineral Domains and several smaller mineral Domains. The CS-600 Domain largely consists of an intermediate intrusive stock and hosts the majority of the copper mineralization within the Goldstorm Deposit. CS-600 has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 9.86 Moz AuEq grading 1.10 g/t AuEq (6.22 Moz gold grading 0.70 g/t, 1.98 Blbs copper grading 0.32 %, 51.1 Moz silver grading 5.71 g/t) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 3.71 Moz AuEq grading 1.19 g/t AuEq (2.32 Moz gold grading 0.75 g/t, 0.76 Blb copper grading 0.36 %, 18.71 Moz silver grading 6.01 g/t). The Goldstorm Deposit remains open in all directions and requires further exploration drilling to determine the size and extent of the deposit.

1 AuEq = Au g/t + (Ag g/t*0.0098765) + (Cu ppm*0.0001185)

Treaty Creek JV Partnership

American Creek is a proud partner in the Treaty Creek Project.

The project is a Joint Venture with Tudor Gold owning 3/5th and acting as operator. American Creek and Teuton Resources each have a 1/5th interest in the project creating a 3:1 ownership relationship between Tudor Gold and American Creek.

American Creek and Teuton hold fully carried 20% interests, which means no development costs are incurred by these companies until a production notice is issued. This gives shareholders a unique opportunity, to avoid the dilutive effects of exploration while maintaining their full 20% exposure to one of the world's most exciting mega deposits.

About American Creek

American Creek is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company with gold and silver properties in British Columbia, Canada.

The Corporation has an interest in the Treaty Creek property, a joint venture project with Tudor Gold located in BC's prolific "Golden Triangle".

The Corporation also holds the Austruck-Bonanza gold property located near Kamloops.

For further information please contact Kelvin Burton at:

Phone: 403 752-4040 or Email: info@americancreek.com.

Information relating to the Corporation is available on its website at www.americancreek.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Corporation expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including the completion and anticipated results of planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Corporation's planned exploration activities will be completed in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Corporation in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Corporation's plans or expectations include risks relating to the actual results of current exploration activities, fluctuating gold prices, possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Corporation with securities regulators.

Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194528

SOURCE: American Creek Resources Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Cosa Resources Corp. (TSXV: COSA) (OTCQB: COSAF) (FSE: SSKU) ("Cosa" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into a property purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (the "Vendor") dated January 12, 2024, for the acquisition (the "Acquisition") of the Titan Uranium Project in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan ("Titan" or the "Property").

Highlights

Eight mineral dispositions totalling 9,333 hectares to be acquired, doubling the Orion Project to 18,332 hectares

The expanded Orion Project will capture over 22 km of the Larocque Trend, which hosts the Hurricane Deposit and several other significant uranium showings

Keith Bodnarchuk, President and CEO of Cosa, commented: "The acquisition of Titan and expansion of our 100% owned Orion Project demonstrates our commitment to acquiring underexplored hectares through staking and cost-effective transactions. Recent MobileMT survey results at Ursa and Orion significantly upgraded the prospectivity of the area, making the addition of Titan a focus for the Cosa team. Our uranium portfolio is nearing 200,000 hectares in the Athabasca Basin region, and we will continue to seek opportunities to advance and diversify our portfolio of highly prospective uranium projects. We would like to thank the team at CanAlaska for their cooperation in completing the Titan agreement expeditiously and in the best interest of both companies."

Andy Carmichael, VP of Exploration of Cosa, commented: "Incorporating Titan into Orion increases Cosa's footprint in an area that has seen little historical exploration despite containing the intersection of two mineralized trends. Significantly expanding the amount of the fertile Larocque Lake trend captured by the Project, Titan will also double the contained extension of the east-west magnetic trend that hosts the Cigar Lake uranium mine and Tucker Lake Uranium Zone. We're encouraged by the presence of uranium occurrences east and west of Orion along this trend, and with the strong conductive anomaly identified by our 2023 MobileMT survey, we believe Orion contains several compelling target areas warranting substantial exploration."

The Combined Titan and Orion Projects

Following consolidation of Titan and Orion, the combined project (the "Project") will comprise 11 claims totaling 18,332 hectares and lie within 31 kilometres of the Cigar Lake Uranium Mine. The Project will cover 22 kilometres of the Larocque Lake trend which hosts the Hurricane uranium deposit, the Larocque Lake uranium zone, and the Alligator Lake uranium zone (Figure 2). Included within the contained section of the Larocque Lake trend is its intersection with the east-west oriented Cigar Lake trend, which hosts the Cigar Lake Mine and the Tucker Lake uranium zone. Results at Tucker Lake include 5.7% U3O8 over 4.5 metres in drill hole CLC5-11 (639.0 - 643.5 metres).

In western Orion, three-dimensional inversion results from Cosa's 2023 MobileMT survey indicate a prominent, kilometre-scale zone of conductivity in the sandstone above basement-hosted electromagnetic conductors, a geophysical signature consistent with the unconformity-related uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin.

Only two drill holes are known to have been completed within the expanded Project. The depth to the unconformity is estimated to be between 700 and 900 metres.

Acquisition Details

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Cosa has agreed to acquire a 100% unencumbered ownership of all eight mineral claims comprising Titan from the Vendor in exchange for $10,000 in cash and the issuance of 300,000 common shares of the Company (the "Consideration Shares"). The Consideration Shares will be subject to a four-month hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws, after which 25% of the Consideration Shares will become free trading. In addition, the Vendor has agreed to voluntary resale restrictions whereby an additional 25% of the Consideration Shares will become free trading every three months thereafter. The Acquisition is subject to standard closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").





Figure 1 - Cosa's Portfolio of Athabasca Basin Region Uranium Exploration Projects

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9865/194562_34c3d7e2449398ae_003full.jpg





Figure 2 - Orion and Titan Projects Map



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9865/194562_34c3d7e2449398ae_004full.jpg

About Cosa Resources Corp.

Cosa Resources Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company based in Vancouver, BC and is focused on the exploration of its uranium properties in northern Saskatchewan. The portfolio includes eleven uranium exploration properties totaling over 190,000 ha across the Athabasca Basin region.

The team behind Cosa has a track record of success in Saskatchewan, with several decades of combined experience in uranium exploration, discovery, and development in the province.

Qualified Person

The Company's disclosure of technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Andy Carmichael, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration for Cosa. Mr. Carmichael is a Qualified Person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. This news release refers to neighboring properties in which the Company has no interest. Mineralization on those neighboring properties does not necessarily indicate mineralization on the Company's properties.

Contact

Keith Bodnarchuk, President and CEO

info@cosaresources.ca

+1 888-899-2672 (COSA)

Cautionary Statements

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to: the exploration, development, and production at the Company's mineral projects; obtaining the required TSXV approval(s); and completion of the Acquisition and the timing thereof.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of the Company, future growth potential for the Company and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of uranium and other commodities; no escalation in the severity of public health crises; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; the ongoing military conflict around the world; general economic factors; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's management discussion and analysis and other public disclosure documents.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194562

SOURCE: Cosa Resources Corp.
ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / BitMine Immersion Technologies, Inc. ("BitMine" or "the Company") (OTCQX:BMNR) is pleased to announce that it has added John Kelly to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Kelly has started numerous successful businesses in Heavy Construction, Site Development, Real Estate Development, Car Dealership construction, and Bitcoin Mining Site development. He has helped develop over 100 Car Dealerships, has owned and constructed over 3 million square feet of industrial buildings, and has overseen the construction of over 10,000 individual housing units. His clients include Amazon, Siemens, RK Centers, Group1 Automotive, and Eversource. He is currently President or Principal of three separate companies, including Rykor Energy Solutions. Rykor Energy Solutions produces a proprietary immersion datacenter primarily used for Bitcoin Mining. Mr. Kelly is a principal of ROC Digital Mining Manager, LLC, which manages ROC Digital Mining I, LLC, hosting and mining enterprise in which the Company is a major investor. Mr. Kelly is very qualified to serve on the board given his deep understanding of the construction and engineering which goes into the development and maintenance of a Bitcoin Mining site. Furthermore, he designed and developed his own immersion datacenter product, which will provide valuable insight to the company. Mr. Kelly holds numerous Contractor licenses related to Industrial, Commercial, and Residential Construction. Mr. Kelly graduated from Boston College in 1991 with a degree in Political Science.

Jonathan Bates, BitMine CEO, was quoted as saying, "I have known John for almost two years, and he is a very bright businessman and entrepreneur, and his career accomplishments speak for themselves. We look forward to his guidance in many areas, but especially Bitcoin site development and immersion datacenter development and deployment."

About BitMine Immersion Technologies, Inc.

BitMine is a technology company focused on Bitcoin mining using immersion technology, an advanced cooling technique where computers are submerged in specialized oil circulated to keep units operating at optimal ambient temperature. Immersion technology is more environmentally friendly than conventional mining methodologies, while lowering operating expenses and increasing yield. BitMine's operations are located in low-cost energy regions in Trinidad, Pecos, Texas, and Murray, Kentucky.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." The statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual future performance outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond BitMine's control, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of BitMine's filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on December 14, 2023 and any other SEC filings, as amended or updated from time to time. Copies of BitMine's filings with the SEC are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. BitMine undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

BitMine Immersion Technologies Contact:

Jonathan Bates, Chairman and CEO

info@bitminetech.io

SOURCE: BitMine Immersion Technologies Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (TSX-V:NOAL)(FSE:N7N) ("NOA" or the "Company") is pleased to report positive lithium results from brine samples from RG23-004, the fourth hole of the Phase 1 diamond drill program at its Rio Grande project ("Rio Grande" or the "Project"). The hole, located at the El Camino claim on the northeast edge of the salar, completed to a depth of 551 meters ("m"), intersected a high-grade lithium ("Li") brine aquifer of significant thickness starting from a down-hole depth of only 2.5 meters ("m").

Highlights from the fourth drill hole include:

400 meters (2.5 m - 511 m) grading an average of 619 milligrams per litre ("mg/l") lithium;

Average concentration of 360 mg/l Li in the upper 100 m, while the remainder of the hole averaged a high-grade concentration of 675 mg/l Li; and

Encountered highest-grade concentration of 794 mg/l Li at 333 m.

NOA's Chief Executive Officer Gabriel Rubacha states: "Our drilling at Rio Grande continues to yield very positive results, confirming the high-grade potential of the Project. In particular, this fourth hole demonstrates the significant potential in the northern and northeastern areas of the salar, where NOA's claims cover a large, prospective area of the Rio Grande project. We are currently completing our fifth hole, which is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, and are eagerly looking forward to announcing our maiden resource estimate, which remains on track to be completed later this quarter."

Diamond drill hole RG23-004 was completed at a depth of 551 m. From a depth of 2.5 m, the formations saturated with brine began. The lithology of the well is composed mainly of gravel and sand with intercalations of halite and sulfates, whose thickness varied along the depth. Packer test sampling was carried out, revealing brine-saturated units throughout nearly the entire depth of the +500 m (covering approximately 400 m of the 551 m drilled), with the exception of four horizons ranging from 14 m to 29 m in thickness.

Hole RG23-005, the fifth hole of the Phase 1 diamond drill program at the Rio Grande project, is well advanced and is anticipated to be completed in the coming weeks. The location of RG23-004 and RG23-005 are shown in Figure 1. The ongoing Phase 1 drilling campaign will constitute the basis for the maiden resource at the Rio Grande Project and is scheduled for release in Q1/2024.

Hole RG23-004 was executed with diamond drilling (HQ-size), permitting the extraction of core samples of the salar basin formations and collection of brine samples where possible. Drilling was carried out by Salta-based Hidrotec S.A., under the supervision of NOA's geologists.

Results for Hole RG23-004

The results of the brine analyses and the respective intervals are shown in Table 1 below and drill collar information is presented in Table 2 below. Hole RG23-004, drilled at the El Camino claim (shown in Figure 1 below) reached a depth of 551 m.

Figure 1: Plan Map Showing Well RG23-004 And Previous Completed Wells

Table 2: RG23-004 - Drill collar information

Hole #: RG23-004 Azimuth: 0 deg. Claim name: El Camino Inclination: -90 deg. Coordinates (UTM 19J South): E: 588494 m

N: 7233176 m,

Z: 3669 m Contractor: Hidrotec S.A. Machine type: HT07 LF-90 Drill type: Diamond Hole diameter: HQ

About NOA Lithium Brines Inc.

NOA is a lithium exploration and development company formed to acquire assets with significant resource potential. All NOA's projects are in the heart of the prolific Lithium Triangle, in the mining-friendly province of Salta, Argentina, near a multitude of projects and operations owned by some of the largest players in the lithium industry. NOA has rapidly consolidated one of the largest lithium brine claim portfolios in this region that is not owned by a producing company, with key positions on three prospective salars (Rio Grande, Arizaro, Salinas Grandes) and totalling over 140,000 hectares.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Gabriel Rubacha

Chief Executive Officer and Director

For Further Information On The Company

Website: www.noalithium.com

Email: info@noalithium.com

Telephone: +54-9-11-5060-4709

Alternative Telephone: +1-403-571-8013

Sample Analysis & QA/QC Program

The Company has a robust QA/QC and sample management program. Brine samples were collected by a single / double packer system (in-hole inflatable) to isolate specific intervals down the drillhole. The packer sampling method allows the collection of brine samples at specific depths while sealing the hole at the top and bottom of the interval. The packer system was run several times to flush the hole after drilling to clear / clean the hole prior to sampling and four samples for each interval were collected (main sample, duplicate sample, check sample, reserve sample). The drillhole of the current release was inclined vertically (90 degrees) and the salar strata are believed to be flat-lying resulting in reported intervals approximating true thickness.

Samples of brine were submitted by courier for analysis to Alex Stewart NOA, subsidiary of Alex Stewart International Argentina, member of the Alex Stewart International group, an accredited laboratory for the analysis of lithium and other elements. Alex Stewart employed Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry as the analytical technique for the primary constituents of interest, including: boron, calcium, potassium, lithium, and magnesium. Measurements in the field included pH, conductivity, temperature and density. The quality of sample analytical results was controlled and assessed with a protocol of blank, duplicate and standard samples included within the sample sequence. Differences between original and duplicate samples and results for standards and blanks are considered within the acceptable range for lithium.

Qualified Person

David O'Connor P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and he has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements including, but not limited to NOA's future plans and objectives regarding its projects, which constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although NOA believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. NOA does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: NOA Lithium Brines Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Granite Creek Copper Ltd. (TSXV:GCX)(OTCQB:GCXXF) ("Granite Creek" or the "Company") is pleased to announce significantly increased recovery of copper from oxide material at its Carmacks Copper-Gold-Silver project ("Carmacks Project" or the "Project") was achieved through metallurgical studies conducted by Kemetco Research Inc. from ("Kemetco").

The Company's 2023 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("2023 PEA") for the Project identified the opportunity to significantly increase net present value ("NPV") by improving oxide recovery. Metallurgical testing completed on the project in support of the 2023 PEA showed that while a copper recovery of over 93% could be achieved via a well-established froth flotation technique for sulphide ore, only 39.8% copper recovery from oxide ore was achieved using the same process (see Table 1 for summary of flotation results). The current test results show a total recovery of 88% for oxide material is possible, an increase of 48% over the PEA base case (Tables 1 and 2). These results will have a significant impact on the economics for the project as the PEA identified an additional $180 M of NPV5% value by increasing life of mine average recovery for copper from 64% to 77%. With sulfide recoveries of 93.7% identified in the PEA and combined oxide recoveries (initial flotation + leaching and precipitate) of 88% the potential recoveries for copper are well above the 77% target level highlighted in the 2023 PEA.

The current mine plan as outlined in the 2023 PEA contemplates processing material with a high oxide content of up to 80% oxide ore in the first five years of the mine life. During this time over 8.4 million tonnes of oxide material would be processed versus 2.88 million tonnes of sulphide material. An increase in recovery of oxide material for the first five years of mine life, as demonstrated in these test results, would have a potentially very significant impact on project economics.

Kemetco Research Inc. was retained to complete testing on tailings produced in previous metallurgical work to develop a process for treating material that will have passed through the mill and still have significant oxide copper minerals present (See Figure 1 for simplified flow sheet). This laboratory test program showcased the efficacy of copper recovery from Carmacks copper oxide flotation tailings through a low-concentration acid leach at ambient temperature and pressure followed by chemical precipitation of copper minerals. The precipitation of copper sulphide ("CuS") from the resulting leachate was shown to be an effective method of fully recovering the leached copper from solution, yielding a very high-grade CuS precipitate that would be added to the copper concentrate further increasing the copper grade of the high-quality concentrates from the project. For reference the PEA estimated an average concentrate grade of 40% copper with significant gold and silver credits.

Figure 1: Simplified Flow Sheet

Results of this testing are outlined below:

Acid leaching was able to extract as much as 80% of the remnant copper present in a composite prepared from Carmacks copper oxide flotation tailings.

Copper in precipitates varied, but in most tests approached the theoretical grade of pure CuS which grades 66.5% Cu. High grades were obtained without pH adjustment.

This testing shows a total copper recovery from oxide material of 88% with Initial Flotation recovery of 39.8% + Leach and Precipitate recovery of 48% (80% of the remnant copper).

Adding Sodium hydrosulphide ("NaHS") solution resulted in up to 100% precipitation of copper from leach solutions, offering a promising avenue for further refinement. Hydrogen sulphide gas was equally effective as a sulphide source for copper precipitation.

In all tests, the precipitation of CuS resulted in a drop in pH as free acid was regenerated as a by-product of the precipitation reaction, creating the potential to reuse/recycle the regenerated acid.

Table 1 Summary of flotation testing results and average values used in PEA.

Recovery % Sample Cu Au Ag Sulphide Sample Flotation1 93.7 69.0 78.4 Oxide Sample Flotation2 39.8 57.5 37.4 Total Oxide Recovery (Initial Flotation + Leach and Precipitate) 88.0 N/A N/A PEA LOM Base Case3 64.0 58 60 PEA Target Case4 > 77 58 60

Sulphide flotation testing completed by SGS prior to PEA study see news release dated January 10, 2023. Oxide flotation testing completed by SGS prior to PEA study see news release dated January 10, 2023. Calculated LOM average recovery based on a regression curve dependant on oxide content. Projected PEA target based on achieving a 20% increase in oxide recovery LOM.

Table 2 2023 - PEA Copper Recovery Sensitivity Table

Copper Recovery Sensitivity PEA BASE Target1 Pre-Tax NPV (5-10% Discount) Overall recovery 51% 58% 64% 70% 77% Sensitivity Range 80% 90% 100% 110% 120% 5% $136.6M $231.3M $324.1M $416.6M $509.6M 6% $122.2M $209.4M $269.6M $383.8M $471.0M 7% $107.3M $189.4M $271.5M $353.6M $453.6M 8% $93.8M $171.1M $248.4M $325.8M $403.1M 9% $81.4M $154.3M $227.3M $300.2M $373.2M 10% $70.1M $139.0M $207.8M $276.7M $345.6M

Based on a recovery of 93.7% for sulphide and 88% for oxide this would exceed the PEA LOM 77% target

About the Carmacks Deposit:

The road accessible Carmacks deposits hosts a NI 43-101 resource consisting of 36.2 Mt M&I, grading 1.07% CuEq 0.81% Cu, 0.31 g/t Au, 3.41 g/t Ag (see news release January 19, 2023). The deposit was the subject of a positive PEA released in January 2023 that envision a 9-year mine life based on a mill capable of processing 7,000 t/d of combined oxide and sulfide ore. The resources are contained within three conceptual open pits and are open for expansion.

Contained Copper in Measured and Indicated Resources

147 Pit 280 Mlbs copper in oxide

126 Mlbs copper in sulfide

2000 Pit 10.5 Mlbs copper in oxide

51.3 Mlbs copper in sulfide

1213 Pit 35.4 Mlbs copper in oxide

122.3 Mlbs copper in sulfide

Tim Johnson, President & CEO stated, "The 2023 PEA, a major milestone for the Company, identified several opportunities for the Project including increased recovery, resource expansion and additional mine and process optimisation. The unlocking of additional value through the improved oxide recovery that this testing represents, especially in the early years of mine life, has the potential to add significantly to the NPV of the project. These results could allow for re-evaluation of resources that didn't make it into the mine plan due to lower grades or assumed recoveries. The process being developed by the company also has the possibility of being used in other parts of the Minto Copper belt where oxidized or partially oxidized (POX) copper ores have not been processed by other operators."

Corporate Update

Granite Creek announces the appointment of Susan Henderson as Corporate Secretary. In this role, Ms. Henderson will play a crucial role in overseeing and managing corporate governance matters, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and serving as a key liaison between the company and its stakeholders. She brings her extensive experience in the mining industry, making her well-suited to contribute to Granite Creek's continued success. The board and executive team are confident in her ability to navigate the complex landscape of corporate governance and provide valuable insights.

Qualified Persons

Mr. Douglas Warkentin, P.Eng., a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure related to metallurgical testing contained in this news release. Mr. Warkentin is a Senior Metallurgist with Kemetco Research and an advisor to the Company.

The NI 43-101 technical report entitled CARMACKS PROJECT PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESMENT (PEA) YUKON, CANADA, referenced in this news release is available on the company's website as well as on SEDAR under the company's profile.

2023 PEA: The Company cautions that the results of the PEA are preliminary in nature and do not include the calculation of mineral reserves as defined by NI 43-101. There is no certainty that the results of the PEA will be realized.

About Granite Creek Copper

Granite Creek Copper, a member of the Metallic Group of Companies, is a focused on the exploration and development of critical minerals projects in North America. The Company's projects consist of its flagship 176 square kilometer Carmacks project in the Minto copper district of Canada's Yukon Territory on trend with the high-grade Minto copper-gold mine and the advanced stage LS molybdenum project and the Star copper-nickel-PGM project, both located in central British Columbia. More information about Granite Creek Copper can be viewed on the Company's website at www.gcxcopper.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Timothy Johnson, President & CEO

Telephone: 1 (604) 235-1982

Toll Free: 1 (888) 361-3494

E-mail: info@gcxcopper.com

Website: www.gcxcopper.com

Metallic Group: www.metallicgroup.ca

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Granite Creek Copper believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Granite Creek Copper and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Granite Creek Copper Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - The Breathing App has launched the first app that allows people to manage and alleviate their chronic stress associated with diabetes. By providing scientifically proven slow breathing practices, The Breathing App for Diabetes allows users to reduce their stress levels by as much as 44 percent in 28 days. The app targets 1 in 10 Americans who are living with diabetes and 537 million adults who grapple with diabetes globally. An adjunctive support tech solution tailored by experienced entrepreneurs and scientists, it addresses diabetes-related stress and its silent, unseen symptoms.

The app was created by an international team of tech specialists led by Eddie Stern, MSc, a yoga expert with 35 years of experience, and Research Scientist Dr. Nick Heath, Ph.D., whose lived experience with type-1 diabetes provides invaluable first-hand visibility into the user's journey. Together, they offer a monthly plan to foster a holistic approach to diabetes care, blending decades of expertise for those seeking comprehensive solutions.

The Breathing App for Diabetes offers tools that have a measurable impact on the user's mental, emotional, and physical well-being and translate into improved habits that resonate with users and extend to their families and communities. A financially accessible resource, this app is a user-friendly complement to diabetes management strategies.

"The Breathing App for Diabetes is a simple adjunctive treatment for diabetes management that can complement any standardized medical care. Unfortunately, the issue of stress that people with diabetes encounter daily is not addressed as part of standardized care in a thorough way. The breathing techniques suggested in our program have been scientifically proven to reduce stress levels, and have positive downstream effects on other health outcomes as well," says the founder of The Breathing App, Eddie Stern.

This is the second time Eddie has created an app to help people learn how to deal with stress. In 2017, he developed the original Breathing App with musical sounds provided by recording artist Moby and input from Deepak Chopra, whom he regularly collaborates with. Since then, this app has accumulated over half a million downloads and currently boasts 60,000 monthly users, establishing a strong presence in the realm of well-being apps by specifically emphasizing stress reduction through breathing techniques. With this new iteration, Stern and Dr. Nick Heath expand the proven benefits of slow breathing techniques to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with diabetes as a central focus.

The core mission of The Breathing App for Diabetes is to have a positive impact by reducing the burden that diabetes creates for hundreds of millions of people globally. By empowering individuals to cultivate healthy habits rooted in deliberate slow breathing practices, downstream physiological and emotional changes can occur, and people can improve their quality of life.

Its daily bite-sized lessons unravel the science behind mindful breathing, seamlessly integrating guided audio sessions with insightful diabetes-related information in just fifteen minutes a day. This fusion of science and mindfulness transcends mere stress management, as affirmed by a participant who described the app as an "incredible learning experience," citing immediate calmness and tangible results such as a significant improvement in overall well-being.





The Breathing App for Diabetes

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The Breathing App for Diabetes

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##END###

About The Breathing App

The Breathing App for Diabetes is a pioneering tool designed to alleviate the chronic stress of living with diabetes, offering tailored breathing practices for solace and relief. Developed by a New York-based team of experts, this app has been shown to reduce stress levels by up to 44 percent in 28 days. This simple adjunctive treatment for diabetes management addresses the challenges faced by 537 million global adults with the disease.

Rooted in the overwhelming success of Stern's pioneering 2017 "The Breathing App," this new iteration expands proven techniques to non-communicable diseases, focusing on diabetes. Created by yoga expert and entrepreneur Eddie Stern and research scientist Dr. Nick Heath, this 28-day journey integrates science and mindfulness in daily, 15-minute sessions, producing tangible improvements in well-being, including, in some cases, reduced HbA1c levels within three months of simple practices. With a core mission of positively impacting the global disease burden of diabetes, this user-friendly, financially accessible app offers a holistic approach to diabetes wellness while empowering individuals to embrace healthier, happier lives.

Media Contact Information:

Angelina Dudnik

angelina@mindsetcomms.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194390

SOURCE: The Breathing App for Diabetes
CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Total Energy Services Inc. ("Total Energy" or "the Company") (TSX:TOT) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary Savanna Energy Services Australia Pty Ltd. ("Savanna Australia") has entered into an agreement with SLB to acquire all of the shares of Saxon Energy Services Australia Pty Ltd. ("Saxon") for US $37.0 million cash (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions including the receipt of regulatory approvals.

Headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, Saxon owns and operates a fleet of 11 land drilling rigs, 10 of which are currently marketed. Saxon's marketed fleet includes four 600 horsepower rigs with hook load capacities ranging from 150,000 to 200,000 pounds, and six 1,200 horsepower rigs with hook load capacities ranging from 320,000 pounds to 400,000 pounds.

Savanna Australia currently owns and operates five hybrid coil tubing drilling rigs in Australia. These rigs have hook load capacities ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 pounds. A sixth rig, an AC electric rig with a hook load capacity of 150,000 pounds, is currently under construction and is scheduled to commence operations in Australia in mid-2024 under a long term contract.

When completed, the Acquisition will increase the depth capacity of Savanna Australia's drilling rig fleet, add experienced local personnel and expand Savanna Australia's customer base.

Total Energy intends to fund the Acquisition utilizing cash on hand and existing credit facilities.

Canaccord Genuity is acting as financial advisor to SLB on the Acquisition.

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Total Energy provides contract drilling services, rentals and transportation services, well servicing and compression and process equipment and service to the energy and other resource industries from operation centers in North America and Australia. The common shares of Total Energy are listed and trade on the TSX under the symbol TOT.

For further information, please contact Daniel Halyk, President & Chief Executive Officer at (403) 216-3921 or by e-mail at: investorrelations@totalenergy.ca or visit our website at www.totalenergy.ca.

The TSX has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.

Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement

This news release contains certain forward-looking information (referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "scheduled", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "scheduled" or similar words suggesting future events, circumstances or outcomes. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information concerning the timing of the completion of the Acquisition including the approvals and conditions required with respect thereto, the potential impact of the Acquisition on Total Energy including with respect to the Company's drilling rig fleet, personnel and customer base and the timing of the Company's sixth drilling rig entering the Australian market.

Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of the management of Total Energy as at the effective date of such statements. Although Total Energy believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such things as the required regulatory and other approvals may not be obtained in the timelines or on the terms currently anticipated or at all, the Acquisition will be subject to a number of closing conditions and no assurance can be given that all such conditions will be met or will be met on the timelines required. The benefits anticipated with respect to the Acquisition are based on the current business, operational and financial position of each of Total Energy and Saxon, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.

The forgoing risk factors are not exhaustive. Having regard to the various risk factors, readers should not place undue reliance upon the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and such forward-looking statements should not be interpreted or regarded as guarantees of future outcomes.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Total Energy does not undertake any obligation to update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws in force in Canada. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Under the visionary leadership of Cheah Chyuan Yong, the International Strategy Institute (ISI) proudly declares the successful conclusion of two groundbreaking global conferences: the 12th World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF) and the World Anti-Corruption Conference 2023 (WACC). These events, held in China and Indonesia respectively, marked pivotal milestones in fostering international collaboration, creating opportunities, and building relationships with a focus on empowerment and a business growth mindset. For more details: www.istrategyglobal.org.

The 12th World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF), hosted in Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province, China this year has successfully concluded with nearly 300 participants from around the globe, marking another milestone in promoting global economic collaboration and dialogue. Cheah Chyuan Yong mentioned during his speech that WCEF not only commemorated the significance of 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia next year, but also served as prelude to a year-long celebration for these partnerships. The panel discussions delved into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and investment opportunities in Qingtian County.

WCEF will continue to strive for its mission and legacy next year, encouraging collaborative spirit for economic advancement and innovative alliances for shared growth.

The World Anti-Corruption Conference 2023 (WACC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, convened global leaders, experts, and practitioners at the Royal Kuningan Hotel. The theme, "Towards a Corrupt-Free Future: Strengthening Global Governance Together," spurred insightful discussions. Keynote speaker Chief Commissioner of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Azam Baki graced the opening ceremony. During the conference, multiple discussions highlighted the importance of ethical conduct and interagency cooperation from speakers coming from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Australia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. Cheah Chyuan Yong concluded the conference during the closing ceremony address with 200 participants, declaring WACC as an annual global initiative, dedicated to combating corruption and emphasizing role of empowerment in strengthening anti-corruption efforts.

Upcoming Events: Inter-Regional Business Forum (IRBF) and World Islamic Trade Forum (WITF)

The ISI, under Cheah Chyuan Yong's leadership, is gearing up to host the Inter-Regional Business Forum (IRBF) on March 7th and 8th, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In collaboration with GRULAC countries, the event aims to strengthen economic ties between Latin America-The Caribbean and Southeast Asian countries, creating a global corridor for enhanced business collaboration.

Additionally, the World Islamic Trade Forum (WITF) will converge on the theme "United by Innovation: Building Resilient Islamic Economies", will be happening on 23rd April next year in Dubai. This event recognizes the vast potential and various aspects of the Islamic economy, focusing on innovation, Halal industry, sustainable development, and youth empowerment. These forums exemplify ISI's commitment to fostering global partnerships, addressing critical issues, and advancing economic development on a global scale.

For further enquires please contact: info@istrategyglobal.org

About ISI:

The International Strategy Institute (ISI) is a non-profit organization led by Cheah Chyuan Yong, dedicated to fostering international collaboration and addressing global challenges through strategic forums and initiatives.

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Indicated Mineral Resources total approximately 3.29 Mt at an average grade of 6.4% Cg, containing approximately 213,000 tonnes of Cg

Inferred Mineral Resources total approximately 1.43 Mt at an average grade of 7.4% Cg, containing approximately 106,000 tonnes of Cg

Resource increase creates potential to extend mine life by at least eight years

Further expansion potential seen with Phase II drill program

Company plans to increase production rate in Q2 by up to 25,000 tpy to meet rising demand

Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU: 0NG) (the "Company" or "Northern") is pleased to announce an updated mineral resource estimate for its Lac-des-Iles mine ("LDI") in Quebec. The mineral resource update was prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. ("SLR"), which Northern engaged to update the mineral resource estimate that was previously prepared for the Company by SLR as disclosed in the technical report dated February 2, 2022, entitled "Technical Report on the Lac-des-Iles Quarry, Quebec".

The Company also announces that it intends to meet rising demand by moving to a seven-days-per-week operation in the second quarter, targeting annual nameplate capacity of 25,000 tpy.

The new resource creates potential to extend the life of the Company's cornerstone asset and North America's only graphite producing mine by at least eight years, which will be confirmed and quantified through an updated mineral reserve estimate and life-of-mine plan that will be available later this quarter.

"We are very excited to announce a material increase in our resource base at LDI, just as graphite demand gains momentum from industrial users and from battery makers building for North America's electric vehicle revolution," said Northern Chief Executive Officer Hugues Jacquemin. "The Company acquired LDI with its fully permitted and operational processing plant and tailings facility with a vision of extending the mine life, increasing production, and developing it into a cornerstone asset. The resource and production increases represent the first step in that process, and we look forward to further exploration success and additional expansions in the future."

The updated mineral resource estimate for LDI is based on drill hole data available as of November 2, 2023, assuming an open pit mining scenario and a long-term average flake graphite concentrate price of US$1,550 per tonne. Mineral resources are constrained within an optimized pit shell at a cut-off grade of 2.3% graphitic carbon ("Cg"). Indicated Mineral Resources total approximately 3.29 million tonnes ("Mt") at an average grade of 6.4% Cg, containing approximately 213,000 tonnes of Cg. Inferred Mineral Resources total approximately 1.43 Mt at an average grade of 7.4% Cg, containing approximately 106,000 tonnes of Cg. Existing stockpiles at the mine site are not included in the updated mineral resource estimate.

"We believe that when our updated mineral reserve estimate is released later this quarter we'll be able to show that the mine life at Lac des Iles can be extended by at least eight years," said Chief Operating Officer Kirsty Liddicoat. "Our grades are very strong at 6.4% Cg and that translates into about 65 kilograms of graphite per tonne of mined material."

Mineral Resource Estimate for the Lac-des-Iles Mine as of December 31, 2023

Category Tonnage

(Mt) Grade

(% Cg) Contained Graphitic Carbon

(kt Cg) Indicated 3.29 6.4 212 Inferred 1.43 7.4 106

Notes:

Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (2014) were used for mineral resource classification. Cg - Graphitic Carbon. Mineral resources were estimated assuming: A long-term average flake graphite concentrate price of US$1,550 per tonne Cg. An exchange rate of C$1.29 = US$1.00. An overall metallurgical recovery of 90%. Transportation charges of C$47.92 per tonne of graphite concentrate. A unit process operating cost of C$28.81 per tonne processed. A unit general and administrative operating cost of C$11.60 per tonne processed. Mineral resources are constrained by a pit shell above a cut-off grade of 2.3% Cg, yielding an overall strip ratio of approximately 4.5 to 1. Bulk density is 2.8 t/m3 for mineralized domains. Mineral resources include in-situ material only. Stockpiles have not been considered. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The mineral resource estimate may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred mineral resources are uncertain in nature and it is uncertain if further exploration work will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. Table values may not sum due to rounding.

Northern completed a Phase I drilling program within the existing LDI lease in October 2023. The program consisted of 88 holes and 7,890 m of drilling and demonstrated significant near-surface graphite mineralization which is still open at depth. There are also 11 additional target zones that were identified by an airborne geophysical survey that are yet to be drilled.

"We believe that the Phase I drilling has only scratched the surface and that there is significant potential to expand the resources with more drilling." said Ms. Liddicoat. "As we commence 2024, our focus turns now to the next drilling campaign to test resource potential both inside and outside the existing Pit 2, and toward expanding overall output at the mine. Planning is well advanced for the 2024 exploration program."

Northern will file an updated technical report for the updated mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca within 45 days of the date of this news release.

Pressing Northern's First Mover Advantage

Amid rising market demand for its graphite products, the Company plans to boost production at LDI starting at the end of the first quarter by moving to a seven-days-a-week operating schedule from the current four days. This will increase the mine's annual output to as much as 25,000 tpy from the current annualized rate of approximately 10,000 tpy.

"We don't currently produce enough graphite to service demand, and we are getting more and more requests for our product," said Mr. Jacquemin. "As a result, we are ramping up production at Lac des Iles to seven days a week and accelerating exploration with the goal of further expansions in the future."

Markets for graphite, the largest component in the lithium-ion batteries used to power electric vehicles, began tightening in the second half of last year after China, the world's largest producer, reinstated incentives for EV sales. Supply concerns rose further when China announced it would start imposing controls on certain graphite exports used in battery making and again when the U.S. government announced plans to limit tax credits on electric vehicles built using components or raw materials sourced from Foreign Entities of Concern ("FEOC"), including China.

Figure 1: Drilling and 2023 Resource Update (Left), Northern resource update extends the existing pit 2. Cross sections 12,525N and 12,650N from Northern portion of resource update

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"China's actions and the FEOC proposal have really put graphite in the spotlight, propelling it to the top of the list of difficult-to-source battery minerals," said Mr. Jacquemin. "As the only producer of natural graphite in North America today and the foreseeable future, Northern has a first mover advantage in becoming the region's lead supplier as the EV revolution gains momentum."

Qualified Persons, Technical Information and Quality Control Notes

The LDI mineral resources disclosed in this news release have been estimated by Katharine Masun, M.Sc., MSA, P.Geo., and Dorota El-Rassi, M.Sc., P.Eng., both employees of SLR and independent of Northern. By virtue of their education and relevant experience, Ms. Masun and Ms. El-Rassi are "Qualified Persons" ("QPs") for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. The mineral resources have been classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (2014). The QPs have read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed mineral resource estimate.

Gregory Bowes, B.Sc. MBA P.Geo, the Chairman of Northern, is a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.

The QPs have verified the information disclosed herein and are not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the mineral resource estimate.

Northern Graphite in the News

US and Canada confront the next big EV minerals challenge - E&E News by POLITICO (eenews.net)

Western lithium, graphite miners boost prices for ESG-friendly supply | Reuters

Miners race to realise graphite projects as China controls exports | Reuters

China requiring export permits for graphite, and what this means for Canada's industry - Video - BNN (bnnbloomberg.ca)

Northern Graphite, North America's Only Producer of Graphite, Comments on China Graphite Export Controls

Canada is sitting on a critical minerals mother lode. But is it ready for the new gold rush? | CBC News

About Northern Graphite

Northern, the only graphite producing company in North America, is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite and upgrading it into high-value products critical to the green economy, including anode material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial technologies.

Northern expects to become the third-largest natural graphite producer outside of China when its Namibian operations come back online. The Company also has the large-scale, advanced stage Bissett Creek project in Ontario, and substantial additional measured and indicated resources in Namibia and on the Mousseau property in Quebec, which are expected to be sources of continued production growth in the future. All projects have "battery quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions.

For media inquiries contact

Pav Jordan, VP of Communications

Email: pjordan@northerngraphite.com

For additional information

Please visit the Company's website at https://www.northerngraphite.com/home/, the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca our Social Channels listed below or contact the Company at (613) 271-2124.

LinkedIn

YouTube

Twitter

Facebook

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, the Company's plans to increase output at LDI, the Company's intentions to restart the Okanjande mine in Namibia and development plans for its other projects including Bissett Creek. All such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations and the inability to raise required financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194582

SOURCE: Northern Graphite Corporation
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - UN human rights agency has appealed to the U.S. Government to halt the imminent execution of an American prisoner by a new and untested method - suffocation by nitrogen gas. Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was convicted of murder in 1988, is scheduled to be executed on January 25-26 in the southern state of Alabama. If carried out, it would mark the first execution by nitrogen asphyxiation in the United States. OHCHR Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said it could amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under international human rights law. 'The UN human rights office calls on Alabama state authorities to halt Smith's execution, scheduled for 25-26 January, and to refrain from taking steps towards any other executions in this manner,' she said, speaking in Geneva. 'Alabama already sought to execute Smith unsuccessfully by lethal injection in 2022. Smith also has ongoing proceedings in federal court against his upcoming execution which have not been finally resolved,' she added. Shamdasani noted that Alabama makes no provision for sedation prior to execution by nitrogen asphyxiation. 'The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends giving even large animals a sedative when being euthanized in this manner,' she said. The Alabama state protocol on execution also refers to the gas being administered for up to 15 minutes. 'Smith has also advanced, with expert evidence, that such an execution by gas asphyxiation, in his case, risks particular pain and suffering,' she said. Expressing OHCHR's serious concern, Shamdasani urged all States to put in place a moratorium on the death penalty, as a step towards universal abolition. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Judith Miller to Transition to Chief Business Officer

CHAPEL HILL, NC / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Genvor Incorporated (OTCQB:GNVR) ("Genvor" or the "Company"), a developer of sustainable plant health solutions leveraging patented peptides, today announced Chad Pawlak, Sr., global Agribusiness executive, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Genvor, effective immediately. Judith Miller has been asked to remain and transition from her successful Interim Chief Executive Officer position to serve as Chief Business Officer.

Chad Pawlak, Sr. brings over 30 years of experience with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and fostering strategic partnerships across agribusiness, regenerative agriculture, carbon marketing, food, and sustainability - particularly in soil and water conservation. He has a deep understanding of regenerative agriculture, biotechnology, crop cultivation, livestock management, dairy production, and consumer packaged goods (CPG). Most recently he was Chief Executive Officer of Locus Agricultural Solutions, an agricultural biological company, where he led the strategic growth plan through cross-functional collaboration, resulting in over 350,000 acres of enrollment in a nature-based carbon credit project utilizing a biological product as the practice change. Chad has previous experience as the U.S.-Canada Crop & Plant Protection Business Director Lead - Botanicals for MGK (a part of Valent USA & Sumitomo Chemical). In this role, he was responsible for the overall design of the strategic business plan of the $30 million Botanical & Organic Crop Protection segments in the U.S. & Canada. He holds an MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute and BS & AOS in Marketing and Advertising/Public Relations from Johnson & Wales University.

Judith Miller, Chief Business Officer of Genvor, said: "We are privileged to welcome an industry executive such as Chad as our new CEO. We are excited and confident to leverage his proven track record, and deep understanding of the agribusiness industry to drive our business goals. We searched for the right person, and Chad is perfect for Genvor's future. His visionary leadership will be instrumental as we move toward commercialization of our portfolio of sustainable plant health solutions.

"It has been an honor to serve as Interim CEO of Genvor for the past seven months, moving us to our OTC listing and perched for many opportunities. My deep appreciation to our founders, board, and professional team whose dedication to the success of our Company has allowed us to achieve so much. It's a privilege that the board asked me to remain in management beyond my initial tenure to serve as our new Chief Business Officer. As our core science opens new opportunities, my focus is on aligning business strategies with market opportunities, overseeing business development, managing partnerships, and ensuring the integration of various business functions to drive growth. As we found in our extensive search for the 'right' leader, we all have tremendous confidence that Chad is the executive best suited to guide our company into the future. Our team is working closely together to ensure a smooth transition and ensure our strategic direction," concluded Miller.

Pawlak added: "Judy's tenure and achievements as Interim CEO positioned the company with a strong peptide pipeline, with several active trait development programs in development and trait validation greenhouse/field trials already underway in corn and citrus. She has also overseen and will continue to lead partnerships with the USDA as well as the initial licensing deal for citrus with a major citrus grower in Florida. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Genvor into its exciting next phase. I believe the Company's capital-light, licensing-first business model will enable us to rapidly move forward with additional licensing partnerships for our peptide pipeline as we seek to create sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders."

About Genvor

Genvor Incorporated (OTCQB:GNVR) is a developer of sustainable plant health solutions, with a portfolio of patented peptides to provide crops with anti-pathogen and enhanced nutritional properties through next-generation biological foliar application as well as transgenic seed traits. Supported by globally renowned scientists and a USDA partnership, Genvor leverages its licensing-first business model with active trait developments underway for a variety of crops including corn, citrus, rice, cotton, soybean, flax, and potato. To learn more, please visit www.genvor.com or follow us on LinkedIn , Facebook or Instagram .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include information about management's view of the Company's future expectations, plans and prospects, including future business opportunities or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "believe," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Certain of these risk factors and others are included in documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Relations Contact:

Lucas A. Zimmerman

Managing Director

MZ Group - MZ North America

(949) 259-4987

GNVR@mzgroup.us

www.mzgroup.us

SOURCE: Genvor Incorporated

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Highlights:

Cornerstone Physiotherapy to provide patients with Canada's first remote Program for Long Covid Rehabilitation

Impacting Remote Healthcare with Health Gauge's Scalable Biometrics Platform for Life Sciences

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / AI/ML Innovations Inc. (CSE:AIML)(OTCQB:AIMLF)(FWB:42FB), a leading company committed to acquiring and advancing Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning technologies that address urgent societal needs, is pleased to report that it has received the following press release from its majority-owned subsidiary, Health Gauge Inc.

Health Gauge Inc. announces the launch of a pilot program. This initiative, in collaboration with Cornerstone Physiotherapy, leverages smart sensor wearables and the Health Gauge Biometrics Platform for Life Sciences.

According to Statistics Canada1, about one in nine (11.7%) of all Canadian adults have experienced long-term symptoms from a COVID-19 infection. This represents 3.5 million Canadians. In the United States, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that more than 40% of adults in the United States reported having COVID-19 in the past, and nearly one in five of those (19%) are currently still having symptoms of "Long COVID."

Long Covid has posed unique challenges, requiring innovative solutions to support affected individuals in their recovery journey. The pilot program aims to address these challenges through remote rehabilitation, combining the expertise of Cornerstone Physiotherapy with the capabilities of Health Gauge's biometrics platform.

Paul Duffy, CEO of AI/ML Innovations Inc., expresses his enthusiasm, stating, "At Health Gauge, we are committed to leveraging technology for the betterment of human health. This pilot program represents a progressive step in providing remote rehabilitation for Long Covid patients. By integrating our smart sensor wearables with Cornerstone Physiotherapy's expertise, we aim to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by Long Covid."

1 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231208/dq231208a-eng.htm

Adam Brown, Co-founder and Physiotherapist at Cornerstone Physiotherapy, shares his insights, saying, "We are excited to partner with Health Gauge in this innovative pilot program. Remote rehabilitation is a critical need, especially in the context of Long Covid. Our combined efforts aim to deliver personalized and effective rehabilitation programs to individuals in the comfort of their homes."

The program will utilize smart sensor wearables to monitor and analyze key biometric indicators, providing real-time data to healthcare professionals at Cornerstone Physiotherapy. This data-driven approach enables personalized and adaptive rehabilitation plans, catering to the unique needs of each Long Covid patient.



About Cornerstone Physiotherapy https://cornerstonephysio.com/

Cornerstone Physiotherapy is a leading healthcare provider committed to delivering exceptional physiotherapy services. With a focus on multidisciplinary care, Cornerstone Physiotherapy brings together expertise and innovation to support patients on their journey to recovery.



About Health Gauge https://www.healthgauge.com/

Health Gauge, a majority-owned subsidiary of AI/ML Innovations Inc., is at the forefront of revolutionizing healthcare through the power of Health Intelligence. With a commitment to leveraging technology for human well-being, Health Gauge provides cutting-edge solutions for personalized health insights.

About AI/ML Innovations Inc. https://aiml-innovations.com/

AI/ML Innovations Inc. has realigned its business operations to capitalize on the burgeoning fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), with an initial investment focus on emerging digital health and wellbeing companies that leverage AI, ML, cloud computing and digital platforms to drive transformative healthcare management solutions and precision support delivery across the health continuum. Through strategic partnerships with Health Gauge (95.2% owned by AIML), Tech2Heal (up to 22% ownership rights, with 12.44% currently owned by AIML), AI Rx Inc. (70% owned by AIML) and other planned accretive investments, the Company continues to capitalize on expanding growth areas, to the benefit of all the Company's stakeholders. AI/ML's shares are traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "AIML", the OTCQB Venture Market under "AIMLF", and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under "42FB".

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Tim Daniels, Executive Chairman

For more information about AI/ML Innovations :

For detailed information please see AI/ML's website or the Company's filed documents at www.sedarplus.ca

For further information, contact: Blake Fallis at (778) 405-0882 or info@aiml-innovations.com

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For AI/ML Innovations Investors

Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, AI/ML Innovations' expectations concerning management's plans, objectives, and strategies, including strategies for defending the Company's intellectual property. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. AI/ML Innovations Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or circumstances or otherwise except as expressly required by applicable securities law. Further information regarding the uncertainties and risks can be found in the disclosure documents filed by AI/ML with the securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE: AI/ML Innovations Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Stratabound Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SB) (OTCQB: SBMIF) ("Stratabound" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it will be hosting an investor presentation and reception on Friday, January 19, 2024, ahead of several key mining conferences coming through Vancouver.

Stratabound's management will be available to meet in Vancouver during the Metals Investor Forum (Jan 19-20), Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC, Jan 21-22), and AME Roundup (Jan 22-25). Please reach out to the Company at info@stratabound.com.

Stratabound Investor Presentation & Reception

Date: Friday, January 19, 2024

Time: 4:00 - 6:00 pm PST

Place: Terminal City Club (dress code applies - no jeans)

RSVP by Jan 17: info@stratabound.com / kevin@jeminicapital.com

+1 (647) 725-3888 ext. 702

Agenda

4:00 - 4:30 pm: Welcome & Networking

4:30 - 5:15 pm: Investor Presentation: Stratabound New Spin Co: Another Snowline? Another New Found Gold?

5:15 - 6:00 pm: Reception drinks and appetizers

Zoom link for remote attendees:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9593297450?pwd=UnRRNDhqOUF4OWp1VGJkZ243dGV3dz09

Presentation starts at 4:30 pm.

ABOUT STRATABOUND MINERALS

Stratabound Minerals Corp. is a Canadian exploration and development company with grassroots and advanced exploration properties in highly prospective and safe mining jurisdictions.

Its Golden Culvert and Win Projects, Yukon, covering 99.5 km2 across a 27-km strike length, are situated in a district-scale, high-grade-gold-mineralized trend within the southern portion of the Tombstone Gold Belt. Gold deposits and occurrences within the Belt include Fort Knox, Pogo, Brewery Creek and Dublin Gulch, and Snowline Gold's Valley target on its Rogue property in the Selwyn Basin.

Its McIntyre Brook Project, New Brunswick, covering 120 km2 and a 17-km strike length in the emerging Triple Fault Gold Belt, is surrounded by Puma Exploration's Williams Brook Project (5.55 g/t Au over 50m) and is hosted by orogenic rocks of similar age and structure as New Found Gold's Queensway Project.

The Company is also advancing its Fremont Gold development project in the historic Mother Lode Gold Belt of California where 50,000,000 oz of gold has been produced. Fremont, located 500km north of Equinox Gold's Castle Mountain and Mesquite mines, has a PEA with an after-tax NPV of USD $217MM, a 21% IRR, 11-year LOM, averaging 118k ounces per annum at USD $1,750 gold. The project hosts an NI 43-101 resource of 1.16 MMoz at 1.90 g/t Au within 19.0 MMt Indicated, and 2.02 MMoz at 2.22 g/t Au within 28.3 MMt Inferred. The MRE evaluates only 1.4 km of the 4 km strike length of the Fremont property that features 4 gold-mineralized zones. Significantly, three step-out holes at depth hit structure, typical of orogenic deposits that often occur at depth. Fremont is located on private land in Mariposa, the original gold rush county and is 1.5 hours from Fresno, California. The property has year-round road access and is close to airports and rail. Please refer to the Fremont Gold project PEA dated Apr. 4, 2023 under NI 43-101 guidelines. The technical report has been reviewed and approved by independent "Qualified Persons" Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, and Andrew Bradfield, P.Eng. both of P&E, and Travis Manning, P.E. of KCA.

The Company also holds a pipeline of early-stage exploration projects including the critical mineral Captain Cobalt-Copper-Gold Deposit in New Brunswick and the Dingman Gold Project, Ontario.

QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, Director, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAusIMM, and who is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.stratabound.com or contact:

Gary Nassif

Senior Vice President, Director

info@stratabound.com

+1 (416) 915-4157

Kevin Shum

Investor Relations

kevin@jeminicapital.com

+1 (647) 725-3888 ext. 702

Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

WARNING: The Company relies upon litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements. The information in this release may contain forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking information. Factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, inaccurate assumptions concerning the exploration for and development of mineral deposits, currency fluctuations, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties, changes in laws or regulations, failure to obtain regulatory, exchange or shareholder approval, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets and the inability to raise additional financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update this forward-looking information after the date of this release or to revise such information to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194590

SOURCE: Stratabound Minerals Corp.
Seasoned global procurement executive and AI technology pioneer becomes newest member of the leading provider's Advisory Board

Scoutbee, the leading AI-powered supplier intelligence and discovery platform, today announced the appointment of Michael DeWitt, Vice President of Indirect Spend Management and Center of Excellence at Walmart International, to its Strategic Advisory Board (SAB).

DeWitt has nearly 25 years of experience in the procurement space and is a proven digital transformation leader and pioneer in adopting AI technology to optimize his team's workflow and value delivered. He has led four ground-up procurement transformations and created world class strategic sourcing groups.

DeWitt is nationally recognized for creating global sourcing best practices that contributed to MEDRAD receiving the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award presented by the President of the United States. His work in deploying AI tech to maximize procurement performance has been featured in Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review.

"Michael's experience, deep knowledge, and passion for AI-led procurement transformation makes him a natural fit for our Strategic Advisory Board. His insights will be invaluable as we continue to innovate, grow globally, and rapidly expand in the U.S. market," said Gregor Stuhler, Scoutbee's CEO. "Michael is a visionary who understands the lasting business value that comes with equipping procurement teams with cutting-edge tools. We're thrilled to welcome him aboard."

DeWitt leads indirect spend management and digital transformation for Walmart International across 18 countries. Before joining Walmart, DeWitt held senior procurement roles at HP, Bayer, and Highmark Health. He has also served on the board of the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council where he supported minority-owned business and supplier diversity initiatives.

"With the emergence of AI technology, the future of procurement is more exciting than ever before.Scoutbee is revolutionizing how companies build strategic partnerships with their suppliers to improve performance, build a more sustainable supply chain, and create value, together, through AI. I'm thrilled to join the Advisory Board and help the team at Scoutbee continue to advance the industrysaid Michael DeWitt.

Learn more about Scoutbee and the Scoutbee Intelligence Platform.

About Scoutbee Better Data. Better Decisions. Better World.

Scoutbee drives better business outcomes by giving companies the actionable insights they need to perfect the supply base and advance strategic initiatives, such as risk management, ESG and innovation. The Scoutbee Intelligence Platform (SIP) uses graph technology and predictive and prescriptive analytics to deliver holistic supplier visibility that helps procurement make confident supplier decisions, drive cross-functional efficiency, and optimize their existing technology investments. Scoutbee's AI-powered data foundation connects teams to any data point internal, external, third-party, and more and any data combination necessary to orchestrate a resilient, competitive, and sustainable supply base.

Scoutbee is a global company with employees from 20+ countries. Learn more at scoutbee.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117039436/en/

Contacts:

Elle Lynott (U.S.)

Corporate Ink for Scoutbee

scoutbee@corporateink.com

+1 617.969.9192

Val De Oliveira (Europe)

Scoutbee

val.deoliveira@scoutbee.com

+49 160 1406520
Unlock your employee's full potential with the AI-powered learning management solution built into Microsoft 365 and Teams, available on Microsoft's commercial marketplace

AARHUS, Denmark, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LMS365 , the only AI-powered learning platform built into Microsoft 365 and Teams, is now available on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace , marking an exciting milestone in the company's journey towards enhanced productivity, efficiency and growth for organizations worldwide. This availability underscores LMS365's commitment to simplifying learning and training processes, driving mass adoption across the Microsoft ecosystem, and ensuring a secure, centralized workspace for all learning and development needs.

Microsoft's commercial marketplace is the go-to destination for today's leading IT and developer solutions that are built on Azure. Furthering the company's vision to help new and existing Microsoft customers reach their business' full potential, users can easily access LMS365's AI-powered learning platform that is seamlessly integrated into the familiar Microsoft 365 workplace tools many already know and trust. As a global Microsoft partner, LMS365 is available in the marketplace across 141 regions worldwide.

"We are happy to welcome LMS365 to the Microsoft Azure Marketplace ecosystem, as we continue to introduce industry leading solutions and transactable offers that lead our customers to multiple paths of success," said Julie Nadelmann, ISV Lead, Microsoft, Global Partner Solutions. "By harnessing Microsoft's global reach, customers around the world can easily purchase customized business solutions that securely integrate into the productivity tools they already use."

LMS365 is revolutionizing learning and productivity for the modern digital workplace with a suite of tools that provides AI-powered learning, workflow automation and organizational training optimization. This inclusion in the commercial marketplace allows Microsoft customers to easily discover, purchase and deploy LMS365 directly through the trusted and productive Azure cloud platform.

"Our inclusion on the Azure Marketplace is a defining moment that strengthens our global reach and streamlines the way Microsoft customers access the unmatched benefits that we have to offer," said Rasmus Holst, CEO of LMS365. "By simplifying all aspects of procurement, while ensuring the highest levels of security and compliance, we are accelerating the future of learning to unlock the potential of every organization's greatest asset-its people."

Through customized learning experiences, users can self-create and facilitate training on the Microsoft 365 platform through SharePoint, Teams, Viva Learning, and the LMS365 mobile app. With easy access to tools that simplify and accelerate cloud compliance, customers will experience streamlined installation and roll-out, consolidated invoicing of LMS365 from Microsoft, purchase LMS365 from Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC), receive a certified Microsoft application and more.

Discover the future of learning and training on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace today. Join us in the journey towards enhanced productivity, efficiency, and growth for organizations worldwide.

About LMS365

At LMS365, we aim to empower organizations in the modern digital workplace through learning so that everyone can LearnLikeYou. With millions of users in 60+ countries globally, LMS365 is the only cloud-based, AI-powered learning platform built into Microsoft 365. As a Microsoft Preferred Solution, our seamless integration with a host of modern workplace tools and partners, makes LMS365 more than just a platform for employee learning and training management; it becomes an all-in-one integrated learning solution for the digital age. LMS365 is proud to be Globally Certified by Great Place To Work, the leading authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership. For more information, visit www.lms365.com

Media Contact:

Lynsey Rose, Head of US Communications

lrose@lms365.com

408-391-3323

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2318834/LMS365____CEO_and_ISV_Lead.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lms365-now-available-on-microsoft-azure-marketplace-302037039.html
Company digitizes paper-based commercial and military manufacturing operations with next-gen MES and MRO solutions

LAKE FOREST, Calif., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- iBase-t, a leading provider of manufacturing, quality and MRO solutions, today announced that Ratier-Figeac, a propeller systems division of Collins Aerospace, has selected iBase-t's Solumina iSeries Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) solutions at Ratier-Figeac's Figeac, France and Casablanca, Morocco sites. The deployment across the company's A&D and commercial operations will allow Ratier-Figeac to digitalize its paper-based manufacturing processes and improve efficiency and quality control. The adoption will first roll-out across a smaller part of the company's existing facilities before being fully incorporated into a section of the company's production consisting of 1400 employees.

The France-based A&D manufacturer is a world leader in high-power propellers and equipment, producing parts for leading private and public manufactures and operators including Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, AirFrance, the U.S. Airforce, and French Airforce. Ratier-Figeac's iBase-t Solumina deployment will deliver digital continuity across the company's manufacturing engineering, process planning, shop floor execution, and quality management operations.

"Since our outset constructing early wood propellers more than 100 years ago, our company has been committed to delivering high-performance results for our customers. This requires continued investment in leading-edge technology. The adoption of iBase-t's iSeries solution signifies the next chapter in our operations as we move to embrace digital transformation," said Frederic Deveza, Business Lead of Industry 4.0 Solutions, Ratier-Figeac.

"We are looking forward to helping Ratier-Figeac move beyond a paper-based system to unlock the efficiency that Solumina can deliver within their plants," said Naveen Poonian, CEO, iBase-t. "Our work with Ratier-Figeac will be a significant deployment for iBase-t in EMEA. We are proud to work with another pioneering aerospace and defense manufacturer and look forward to empowering industry leaders across markets."

Solumina iSeries offers compelling benefits beyond easing how new features and updates are deployed. The iSeries can accelerate adoption of new transformative technologies, including augmented reality and artificial intelligence, as an operations platform to continuously drive performance and efficiency on an ongoing basis. This functionality, coupled with superior UX validated by frontline workers, illustrates the impact of iBase-t's latest MES solution on manufacturers.

About Ratier-Figeac

With a history of more than 100 years, Ratier-Figeac is directly established in the French and global aeronautical landscape. Since its creation in 1904, Ratier-Figeac has been part of the history of the pioneers of French and European aviation. The company has built its reputation and growth on more than a century of aeronautical development to today be a world leader in the field of high-power propellers and a leading equipment supplier for all major clients and aircraft manufacturers. Ratier-Figeac is the decision-making center of Propeller Systems, which is made up of 3 industrial sites. The 57,000 m2 Figeac site hosts the Technical, Operations and all support functions. Ratier-Figeac represents nearly 1,400 employees and is part of Collins Aerospace (RTX).

About iBase-t

iBase-t is a software company that simplifies how complex products are built and maintained. Founded in Southern California in 1986, iBase-t delivers solutions that ensure digital continuity across manufacturing, quality, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations on a global scale. iBase-t's Solumina Manufacturing Operations Platform is a cloud-native solution that establishes a digital ecosystem to drive innovation and improve operational performance. With offices in the U.S., UK, France, and India, iBase-t customers include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rolls-Royce, ArianeGroup, Pratt & Whitney, and Textron. Learn more at ibaset.com

Media Contact

Tom Hennessey

(949) 958-5200

thennessey@ibaset.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2068753/iBase_t_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ratier-figeac-selects-ibase-t-to-digitally-transform-manufacturing-operations-302036708.html
CNH: 150 million investment in Harvesting Center of Excellence

The company is expanding its R&D and production capabilities at the New Holland Harvesting Center of Excellence in Zedelgem, Belgium, with its five-year investment plan.

Zedelgem, January 17, 2024

CNH announces the latest phase in its five-year investment plan concerning its R&D and production facility in Zedelgem, Belgium. The 150 million sum is focused on further development and production of the new CR11, the next generation flagship combine harvester from our New Holland brand. This next phase will result in a completely redesigned assembly line and logistics area.

CNH is the global leader in combine harvesters. The new CR11 was awarded the only gold innovation medal at the agricultural industry's largest global trade show, Agritechnica, in late 2023.



The strategic improvements foreseen include modifications to the assembly line to enhance agility and speed, the renovation and extension of the logistics area; and the introduction of the all-new CR11 range with 7,000 new parts being added to the manufacturing logistics area.

The production lines for the New Holland CX, CR and brand new CR11 combine harvesters will be merged for greater manufacturing flexibility. A new U-shape setup will integrate four testing stations within the production line to streamline the process. In addition, the introduction of a wireless automated system to guide vehicles enables different models to be assembled on the same line, at the same time.

These improvements will further enhance the flexibility of our operations and increase the level of high-tech manufacturing, supporting CNH's ability to adapt to dynamic market trends and demand.

"For almost 120 years, our Zedelgem Center of Excellence has been renowned for manufacturing machines at the forefront of innovation. The highly specialized harvesting equipment sector is strategic for CNH and our New Holland brand has a leading position in this segment," said Tom Verbaeten, Chief Supply Chain Officer at CNH. "As a former Zedelgem plant manager, I'm delighted to see the site continuing to innovate to deliver high quality products that generate tremendous value for our customers."

In addition to CNH's investment, the company has received support from the Flemish Government's Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship Agency (VLAIO), which strongly advocates for innovation projects in the Flemish region.

"The CR11 combine harvester is the culmination of years of component and process optimization. The CNH R&D team, together with various research partners from the Flemish innovation ecosystem, sought various forms of support. As a result, the leap in knowledge and technological challenges underwent several evaluations based on the VLAIO criteria for innovation. Thanks to the successful results, the R&D team in Zedelgem maintains its global leadership for CNH combine harvesters, and the flagship model will be manufactured in Flanders. This will have a significant impact on employment, investment and further knowledge development in our region" said Marc Andries from VLAIO during the inauguration event to present the new production line to Belgian institutional representatives and the press.

Hilde Crevits, Vice-Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, who participated in the opening ceremony said: "Innovation is a driving force for employment and competitiveness. With this expansion and investment, CNH in Zedelgem, one of the largest employers in West Flanders, is resolutely opting for the future. It proves once again that CNH is an important partner to get more innovation to farmers".

New Holland also held a live demonstration of its new CR11, a new benchmark in twin-rotor combines. Entirely redesigned and thanks to the most advanced automation features and advanced technologies, the CR11 offers increased levels of productivity, profitability and sustainability for large scale arable farmers.

CNH's commitment to excellence in the specialized equipment sector demonstrates its ability to constantly innovate for the benefit of farmers worldwide. CNH is recognized as a leader in high-tech manufacturing, thanks to a diverse and skilled workforce, cutting-edge technology and high standards of quality and safety.

CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI) is a world-class equipment and services company. Driven by its purpose of Breaking New Ground, which centers on Innovation, Sustainability and Productivity, the Company provides the strategic direction, R&D capabilities, and investments that enable the success of its global and regional Brands. Globally, Case IH and New Holland supply 360 agriculture applications from machines to implements and the digital technologies that enhance them; and CASE and New Holland Construction Equipment deliver a full lineup of construction products that make the industry more productive. The Company's regionally focused Brands include: STEYR, for agricultural tractors; Raven, a leader in digital agriculture, precision technology and the development of autonomous systems; Hemisphere, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-precision satellite-based positioning, and heading technologies; Flexi-Coil, specializing in tillage and seeding systems; Miller, manufacturing application equipment; Kongskilde, providing tillage, seeding and hay & forage implements; and Eurocomach, producing a wide range ofmini and midi excavators for the construction sector, including electric solutions.

Across a history spanning over two centuries, CNH has always been a pioneer in its sectors and continues to passionately innovate and drive customer efficiency and success. As a truly global company, CNH's 40,000+ employees form part of a diverse and inclusive workplace, focused on empowering customers to grow, and build, a better world.

For more information and the latest financial and sustainability reports visit: cnh.com

For news from CNH and its Brands visit: media.cnhindustrial.com

Media contacts:

Marilu Brancato Mariangela Vicenti Italy Italy Tel. +39 345 397 2860 Tel. +39 334 3929738

mediarelations@cnhind.com

Attachments
From 15 to 19 January, the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) convened in Davos, Switzerland. Caixin Media, a leading Chinese financial and economic media outlet, hosted the "Davos-Caixin CEO Luncheon" on 17 January. It was there that Zhuyeqing Tea, Gift of China, was once again served as the "Official Tea for 2024 Davos-Caixin CEO Roundtable".

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Zhuyeqing Tea Becomes Official Tea for 2024 Davos-Caixin CEO Roundtable Again as Gift of China (Graphic: Business Wire)

While the past year has brought unparalleled challenges and upheaval to the world, the World Economic Forum in Davos this year set its sights on the global economy with a crucial theme: "Rebuilding Trust". It resonated deeply with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who declared "2024 must be a year for rebuilding trust and restoring hope" in his New Year's message, and called for unity and collaboration to come together across divides for shared solutions. The Caixin Roundtable, aptly titled "Positively Addressing Global Economic Uncertainties," brought together over 30 luminaries from across government, business, and academia, for a tea-infused discussion on the global economic recovery.

Zhuyeqing Tea, the Gift of China, brought a touch of harmony and peace to the event through the timeless values it embodies. Originating from China, tea has been a precious gift to great nations since ancient times as a symbol of harmony. Zhuyeqing Tea, made from tea buds plucked in the high mountains before the Qingming Festival, has been the top-selling green tea in China for 16 consecutive years. It has been featured at international events such as the Dubai World Expo, the UNESCO International Tea Day and the "Chasing Dreams Along the Belt and Road" programme, and has been presented as a gift to guests of honor from 60 countries. While the world seeks both harmony and progress, Zhuyeqing Tea invites you to savor the delicate dance of respect and harmony, and embrace a brighter future.

This year's WEF took place just days before the Spring Festival, China's most important and grand traditional celebration. At this time when the world is coming together in what has just been recognized as a United Nations holiday, a cup of Zhuyeqing Tea presents a vision of a peaceful and harmonious China. It's a toast to peace, a wish for prosperity, and a gentle nudge forward into a beautiful new chapter for all.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240109096236/en/

Contacts:

QI CONG

+86 028-85293333

qicong@zhuyeqing-tea.com

http://zhuyeqing-tea.com
Globally operating CDMO committed to strengthening Germany as a research and production location

Association grants Vetter extraordinary membership

vfa recognizes the importance of pharmaceutical service providers in drug development and production

Vetter serves on key vfa committees

Vetter, a leading globally operating contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has joined the German Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa) as an associate member. With this membership, the vfa recognizes the significant role that the pharmaceutical service provider plays in the field of complex injectable drugs. Vetter supports research-based pharmaceutical companies worldwide in successfully developing, launching, and establishing their products on the market through the joint development of patient-friendly drug-delivery systems, innovative and flexible filling processes, and packaging solutions. Currently at 48 member companies, the vfa represents more than two thirds of the entire German pharmaceutical market. The companies employ around 94,000 people in Germany. More than 20,000 of them work in the research and development of medicinal products.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117678559/en/

Vetter is a strong partner for research-based pharma and biotech companies in the field of the development, manufacturing and packaging of complex injectable drugs. (Photo: Business Wire)

Managing Director Peter Soelkner stated, "It is a great recognition for us that the vfa has invited us to participate. The association is the most important platform for pharmaceutical companies active in Germany to promote and support the strategic development of the industry and further establish Germany as an important business location. We can now also contribute our perspective here. As a globally operating CDMO, we play an important role as a partner for small and large companies in the industry."

Aside from its headquarters and several sites for development, aseptic production and packaging in Germany, Vetter also operates dedicated clinical production sites in Austria and the US, along with sales offices in Japan, Singapore, South Korea and China. Through its international presence, Vetter provides state-of-the-art support from clinical development through large-scale production as well as assembly and packaging for complex injectable drug products in the global market supply.

Han Steutel, President of the vfa said, "The production of injectable drugs is an indispensable part of the innovative pharmaceutical and biotech industries. We are delighted that Vetter, a global leader in this field, is a member of the vfa."

Active involvement in committee work

The association's work is carried out by committees and working groups focusing on specific topics. Managing Director Peter Soelkner will represent Vetter in the Committee for Economic and Business Location Policy. Dr. Claus Feussner, Senior Vice President Development Service, has been appointed to the Research and Development Committee. Vetter experts will also collaborate in the expert groups regulatory affairs, manufacturing, innovation and communication.

By joining the vfa, Vetter becomes a member of organizations such as the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). The EFPIA plays a key role in fostering cooperation and synergy among member countries to strengthen and develop research and production capabilities at EU level.

Find the Vetter press kit and more background information here.

About Vetter

Vetter is a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with headquarters in Ravensburg, Germany, and production facilities in Germany, Austria, and the US. As a global player, the pharmaceutical service provider is also present with its own sales locations in the Asia-Pacific markets of Japan, China, South Korea and Singapore. Around the world, small and large renowned pharma and biotech companies rely on the decades of experience, high quality, modern technologies, reliability, and commitment of more than 6,300 employees. In close partnership with its customers, the Vetter team supplies patients all over the world with medicines, many of which are vital. The CDMO provides support from drug product development through clinical and commercial filling to a wide range of assembly and packaging services for vials, syringes, and cartridges. With innovative solutions, Vetter develops prefilled drug-delivery systems together with its customers to continuously improve patient safety, comfort, and compliance. The company is an industry pioneer in sustainability and a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. The CDMO is a member of the UN Global Compact and Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) and received platinum status in the renowned EcoVadis ranking. Multiple awards such as the CDMO Leadership Awards, Frost Sullivan Technology Innovation award or the recognition as Best Managed Company emphasize Vetter's commitment to sustainable business. Founded in Ravensburg in 1950, the company remains family-owned to this day. Learn more at www.vetter-pharma.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117678559/en/

Contacts:

Vetter Pharma International GmbH

Markus Kirchner

Corporate Spokesperson Media Relations

Phone: +49 (0)751-3700-3729

E-mail: PRnews@vetter-pharma.com
IBM India

IBM's skilling initiatives will pave the way for a dynamic tech landscape in Gujarat.

IBM SkillsBuild will equip Gujarat's workforce with essential skills in AI including generative AI, hybrid cloud and other emerging technologies.

BENGALURU, INDIA / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / IBM (NYSE:IBM) and the Commissionerate of Technical Education (CTE Gujarat) of the Government of Gujarat, today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster technical and professional education in Gujarat. Under this collaboration, the focus will be on leveraging IBM SkillsBuild, to empower learners in Gujarat with essential skills in emerging technologies like AI (including generative AI), cybersecurity, hybrid cloud and workplace skills for professional development.

Speaking about the collaboration with IBM, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said, "Driven by the Government of Gujarat's commitment to fostering opportunities and nurturing a dynamic workforce, Gujarat has emerged as a leader not only in business and entrepreneurship but also in the educational landscape. Collaborations, such as the one with IBM, will further enhance the state's technical education excellence, crucial in shaping a skilled future-ready workforce in emerging technologies like AI and hybrid cloud. Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's visionary leadership, the synergy between education and skilling is set to position India as a Vishwa Guru, evolving into a hub of knowledge and a leading skilling destination."

"In 2024, the emergence of technologies like GenAI and quantum computing signals transformative changes. Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, our collaboration with CTE Gujarat aims to further strengthen Gujarat's education and skilling ecosystem. Through training programs under IBM SkillsBuild, we will bridge knowledge gaps for graduates and professionals, enhancing their expertise in emerging technology and soft skills. This collaboration bolsters our (India's) demographic dividend, positioning it for global excellence", said Gaurav Sharma, Vice President, IBM India Software Labs.

Recently, IBM unveiled the new IBM Consulting Client Innovation Center (CIC) in Gandhinagar, emphasizing key technology areas such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), hybrid cloud, and cybersecurity.

IBM SkillsBuild is a pro-bono education program by IBM, specifically tailored for underrepresented communities in tech. The program serves as a valuable resource for adult learners, high school and university students and faculty, facilitating the development of essential skills in emerging technologies like AI, hybrid cloud, etc. and providing access to career opportunities. It includes an online platform complemented by practical experiences through strategic collaborations with an expansive global network of partners.

Aligned with IBM's commitment to skill 30 million people by 2023 and train 2 million learners in AI by the end of 2026, the collaboration with CTE Gujarat contributes to addressing the prevailing skills gap in the global workforce. By offering technological resources and expertise, IBM aims to empower youth and job seekers, enabling them to acquire the technical and professional skills essential for entering or re-entering the workforce. This collaboration aspires to cultivate a robust education and skilling ecosystem in India, nurturing critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and next-generation innovators.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain the competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education, Skills Development and Entrepreneurship looks on as Gaurav Sharma, Vice President, IBM India Software Labs and Shri Banchha Nidhi Pani, Commissioner, CTE, Gujarat exchange MoU.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from IBM on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: IBM

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/ibm

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: IBM

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Marina continues to be recognized as the best in its class

BRUNSWICK, GA / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / In the heart of coastal Georgia, Brunswick Landing Marina has established itself as a premier destination for boaters seeking not only a picturesque harbor but also unparalleled customer service. For the second year in a row, the marina was awarded Best Large Marina in the United States by MarinaLife Magazine. To further cement their position in the industry, the marina also recently received the prestigious Marina of the Year Award for Customer Service at The Docks Expo in Nashville, TN. These three recognitions not only underscore the marina's commitment to excellence but also highlight the dedication of its staff in creating a memorable experience for every visitor.

Brunswick Landing Marina receives awards at Docks Expo in Nashville, TN

(Left to right, Michael Torras, Marina Manager, Daren Pietsch, President, and Matt Delaney, Yard Supervisor)

The Docks Expo, one of the premier events in the marine industry, attracts marina operators, suppliers, industry experts, and boaters from all over the U.S. and beyond. Brunswick Landing Marina stood out among its peers, impressing judges with its unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction. The award for Marina of the Year for Customer Service is a testament to the marina's commitment to providing boaters with a superior and enjoyable experience, setting a benchmark for excellence in the industry.

At the heart of this achievement is the exceptional team at Brunswick Landing Marina, which includes their Boat Yard Supervisor, Matt Delaney. Delaney's commitment to the customers, passion for the marine service industry, and team approach have not only elevated the marina's reputation but also earned him a 2023 Young Leader Award at the Expo. This award recognizes individuals under the age of 40 who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and a commitment to excellence in the marine industry.

Boaters and visitors to the marina not only enjoy top-notch facilities and amenities but also experience a level of service that sets Brunswick Landing Marina apart from the rest. One of the key factors that contributed to the marina's success in customer service is its proactive communication and personalized attention. The staff takes the time to understand the unique preferences and requirements of each visitor, providing tailored solutions and recommendations. Whether it's assisting with docking procedures, arranging boat maintenance, or offering local insights for an enjoyable stay, the team at Brunswick Landing Marina exemplifies a dedication to making every boater feel valued and appreciated.

About Brunswick Landing Marina, Inc.

Brunswick Landing Marina is a family-owned and operated full-service marina located in the heart of historic downtown Brunswick, GA. The marina is located in a former US Navy hurricane hole which provides vessels with protection from wind and waves on three sides by land. Brunswick Landing Marina prides itself on being much more than a marina, it is a safe harbor and social destination.

Contact Information

Michael Torras

Marina Manager, Brunswick Landing Marina

michael@torrasproperties.com

(912) 324-7415

SOURCE: Brunswick Landing Marina, Inc.

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Fairfax County, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - At the doorsteps of our Nation's Capital, thousands of employers are hiring. Currently there are more than 100,000 jobs open in Northern Virginia and nearly 30 percent of those jobs are in tech. On Jan. 30-31, 2024, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) is hosting a free, two-day tech and cyber networking and hiring event, to connect job seekers and employers to help fill thousands of high-priority positions.

"In Northern Virginia, there is a job for everyone looking to get hired. As of today, there are more than 100,000 jobs open in our region, and more than half of those jobs are in Fairfax County," said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of FCEDA. "If you are looking for new opportunities or want to switch careers, our companies across sectors from government contracting to healthcare and professional services are looking to hire you."

During the two-day event, candidates will have the opportunity to network with dozens of hiring organizations from Fortune 500s to government agencies and rising start-ups. Top national employers including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Microsoft, Capital One and Inova Health System are actively hiring for positions across a variety of sectors including IT, aerospace, cybersecurity, and healthcare. To view the full list of companies participating and to register, visit workinnorthernvirginia.com/career-fairs/.

In-person networking and hiring - Tuesday, Jan. 30, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. EST, at Capital One Hall, 750 Capital One Tower Rd., Tysons, VA, 22102. For transit and parking information, visit this link.

- Tuesday, Jan. 30, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. EST, at Capital One Hall, 750 Capital One Tower Rd., Tysons, VA, 22102. For transit and parking information, visit this link. Virtual networking and hiring - Wednesday, Jan. 31, 1:00-4:00 p.m. EST, via online meeting portal Brazen. To register, visit this link.

All backgrounds and experience levels are welcome, and attendees do not need to live in Northern Virginia to meet with participating companies. As a bonus, you will get to have a professional headshot taken at the event for free!

As the tech sector continues its rapid growth in Northern Virginia, thousands of technology companies continue to thrive here, and more than 10,000 of these tech companies call Fairfax County home. With its proximity to major federal agencies, major educational institutions, and Fortune 500 headquarters, Fairfax County tech and cyber firms have access to industries and resources that are unique to the area. To support this growth, FCEDA and its partners have been organizing networking and hiring events since 2020 to attract, retain and nurture talent by connecting job seekers to companies in the region. To-date, more than 250,000 job seekers have been directly connected to opportunities online and at events, and the talent pipelines of 17,000 employers have been impacted. To find out more, visit www.workinnorthernvirginia.com.





Figure 1

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About Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA)

FCEDA promotes Fairfax County as one of the world's top locations for business and talent, and offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with county and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. FCEDA is headquartered in Tysons, Fairfax County's largest business district, and maintains offices in key global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul, and Tel Aviv. For more information about FCEDA, visit www.fairfaxcountyeda.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and YouTube.

Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

Contact: Anna Nissinen, Vice President, Marketing and Communications

Email: anissinen@fceda.org

Phone: 571-446-9940

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194526

SOURCE: Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
Saudi Arabia and OECD sign MoU at World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 to expand cooperation on economic and governance policies

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on a wide range of public policy initiatives in areas including the economy, tax, corporate governance and sustainability.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117710990/en/

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Economy and Planning, HE Faisal F. Alibrahim, signs agreement with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann to expand cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the OECD, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland. (Photo: AETOSWire)

The strategic partnership, signed during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, reflects the Kingdom's solutions-oriented approach to multilateralism and its willingness to build balanced and collaborative institutional frameworks for sustained prosperity.

His Excellency Faisal F. Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning, said the Saudi-OECD partnership would further boost the Kingdom's thriving investment landscape through collaborative policies and regulations that promote competitive private sector participation in Saudi Arabia's rapidly diversifying economy.

"International partnerships with organizations such as the OECD are key to continuously enhancing our institutional capabilities and facilitating knowledge and technology transfers. Under this partnership with the OECD, we will further develop robust public policies that align with international best practices and can further drive the momentum of Saudi Vision 2030."

The collaboration will take various forms, including joint research, information exchange, the sharing of statistical data, the organization of meetings and events, and support for Saudi Arabia's alignment with OECD standards, which includes evaluation and comparative analyses of policy practices.

Saudi Arabia already participates in nine OECD committees and adheres to seven OECD legal instruments. The collaboration will deepen the Kingdom's cooperation with the organization in policy areas including public governance and regulatory policy, skills and education, corporate governance and finance, investment policy, anti-corruption, and trade facilitation.

The partnership emphasizes a commitment to good governance, integrity, transparency, and evidence-based policy. As Saudi Arabia progresses with Saudi Vision 2030, global collaborations will play a pivotal role in shaping policies that foster economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social development.

Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117710990/en/

Contacts:

Wooud Alquaied

walquaied@mep.gov.sa
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Henkel, a leading manufacturer of well-known consumer and industrial brands, such as Dial soap, Schwarzkopf hair care, all laundry detergent, and Loctite, Technomelt and Bonderite adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings, has expanded its parental leave policy for all U.S. employees, regardless of gender or family structure.

Expansion in the United States

To reaffirm our purpose as pioneers at heart for the good of generations, paid parental leave for Henkel U.S. employees has been increased from a maximum of 6 weeks to 12 weeks of fully paid time off for all new parents, regardless of gender, who welcome a child into their home through birth, adoption, surrogacy, guardianship or fostering -- demonstrating our firm commitment to equity in parenting and childcare for all parents.

"Henkel values the uniqueness of our employees and offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package with benefits and programs that allow members of our organization to choose what's most important for them and their families," said Valeria Gladsztein, Regional Human Resources Head, North America. "Time for parent and child bonding can promote the health and wellbeing of all family members and increase equity and career growth in the workplace. I am incredibly proud to be a part of shaping a bright future for the good of generations to come."

Paid Parental Leave is only one of the programs within Henkel's U.S. Total Rewards package that offers choice and flexibility in family care. Henkel recently implemented program additions that include virtual behavioral health care for children and teens, access to reliable and affordable childcare and elder care, and confidential personalized mental health care for employees and their families. In 2024, Henkel will also be introducing benefit enhancements for fertility treatments, adoption, and surrogacy assistance.

Parents on leave also receive a 'future pioneer' welcome kit to show support for their growing family. With items meant for both parents and children, including a Henkel onesie, hat, bib, blanket, water bottle, diaper bag, and more, these care packages are a way of celebrating new additions and letting employees know that their team looks forward to welcoming them back upon their return to work.

Setting a new global standard

Beyond this expansion in the United States, in 2024, Henkel will implement a new gender-neutral parental leave standard for its close to 50,000 employees worldwide, intended to complement existing local practices and regulations. Each market will offer its employees a minimum global standard of up to eight weeks of fully paid parental leave, based on the caregiver role, rather than their gender or biological parent status. In many markets, including the United States, Henkel will continue to exceed this standard.

"Henkel will become the first German DAX40 company to offer its employees worldwide eight weeks of fully paid parental leave", says Carsten Knobel, CEO of Henkel. "This initiative sends a strong signal to all our employees and underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering a more inclusive culture and more gender equity."

Sylvie Nicol, Executive Vice President Human Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainability, adds: "Through this initiative, we want to support parents and challenge traditional gender roles, enabling everyone to participate equally in childcare. However, addressing this inequality is not the sole objective of our new global standard. It also positions us to meet the expectations of the future workforce."

This global expansion serves as a crucial foundation for promoting family-friendliness and greater gender equity, particularly in countries where parental leave opportunities are currently lacking. Moreover, in some countries, local practices exclude specific family types, such as single fathers, adoptive parents, and surrogacy parents. Recognizing this, Henkel has identified the need to establish a universal standard that applies to all caregivers.

After implementation in 2024, Henkel employees in approximately 80 countries will have the opportunity to take paid time off to care for and bond with a new child. With this approach, the company demonstrates a firm commitment to its diversity, equity, and inclusion ambitions by taking tangible actions to promote equal access to opportunities consistently around the world.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Henkel on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Henkel

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/henkel

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Henkel

View the original press release on accesswire.com
James Jefferson Named Master Blender as Brother Justus Continues Aggressive Growth of Whiskey Production, Whiskey Distribution, and the Company's Aitkin County Process to Produce Cold-Peated Spirits

Minneapolis, Minnesota--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Brother Justus Whiskey Company, a Minneapolis-based craft distillery, earned the fourth spot in the prestigious annual release of 50 most innovative spirits in the world from The Spirits Business (London), the only international spirits magazine and website. Brother Justus is the highest-ranking American spirit of any kind on the list, including whiskey, and included beside some of the biggest and most revered players in the spirits industry. This most recent honor caps an extraordinary year of recognition and achievement for Brother Justus, resulting in more than 30 national and international awards, including "Best Minnesota Whiskey" and "3rd Best American Single Malt Whiskey" at the 2023 International Whisky Competition, and "Minnesota Whiskey Distillery of the Year" at the New York International Spirits Competition.

"It is a huge honor to be recognized by the global spirits industry as one of the most innovative spirits in the world-and the most innovative American whiskey or spirit of any kind-a recognition underscoring what we believe is the beginning of another evolution in American and peated whiskies," said Phil Steger, Founder and CEO of Brother Justus. "From the very beginning of the research and development process, when we were a tiny distillery operating out of a basement industrial space, we set out to free the true nature of 8,000-year-old peat from smoke and ash for the first time in history, so whiskey lovers could discover flavors never tasted. And our very talented team is accomplishing that-both in production and flavor."

The company also announced the naming of James Jefferson to Master Blender. Jefferson, a Brother Justus employee since 2016, has worked perfecting recipes for Brother Justus American Single Malt products and played a key role in the ongoing development of the company's patent-pending Aitkin County Process to create Cold-Peated spirits. Jefferson has more than a decade of experience in brewing, distilling, and microbiology, with bachelor's degrees in biology and anthropology.

"Producing tens of thousands of gallons of award-winning single malt whiskey while working with the invention of our new process requires a special talent-a deep understanding of science and nuances of flavor profiles. We're excited James will be leading the charge with a laser focus on flavor details and future iterations of Brother Justus American Single Malt Whiskey and the Aitkin County Process," added Steger.

In October the company announced expansion into the Chicago market and has since made its American Single Malt and Cold-Peated American Single Malt Whiskeys available to purchase online.

Brother Justus focuses solely on American Single Malt Whiskey, the fastest-growing whiskey category in the industry. Its core products are American, Silver (the first clear American Single Malt Whiskey in the industry made to showcase the flavor of the barley, first and foremost), and industry-applauded Cold-Peated American Single Malt Whiskey. The company's peat provider is American Peat Technology (APT) of Aitkin County, Minn. (a county composed of 30 percent peatlands in a state with six million acres of peat), with whom they worked together to develop a first-of-its-kind granular peat product for filtering and finishing spirits, capable of helping craft distillers all over the world make better whiskey more efficiently, with a whole new world of flavor profiles.





Brother Justus Cold-Peated American Single Malt

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Whiskey and the Peat Used to Create It

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About Brother Justus Whiskey Company

Brother Justus Whiskey Company, a distiller of luxury American Single Malt Whiskey, was founded in Minneapolis in 2014. The distillery sources Minnesota ingredients-barley, water, oak, and peat-to craft perfect sips of whiskey. The company opened its cocktail room and industrial production facility in March 2021 in Minneapolis, now capable of producing more than 66,000 proof gallons (gallons at 100 proof) of whiskey annually. The distillery is one of few in Minnesota creating all of its spirits 100 percent of whole ingredients sourced from Minnesota, and only one of a handful of distilleries in the world using American peat. The company's three main products include the world's only clear American Single Malt Silver Whiskey, an aged American Single Malt Whiskey, and the patent pending Cold-Peated Single Malt Whiskey. The company's products are currently available for purchase online, and at restaurants and liquor stores in Minnesota and Chicago, including the cocktail room at its Minneapolis distillery.



Contact: Dawn Bryant for Brother Justus Whiskey Company

Voice/Text: (612) 859-6941

Email: dawn.m.bryant@gmail.com

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SOURCE: Brother Justus Whiskey Company
The "Italian Industrial Automation Market: Analysis By Control System, By Component, By Distribution Channel, By Application Size and Trends with Impact of COVID-19 and Forecast up to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Italian industrial automation market was valued at US$7.37 billion in 2022. The market value is expected to reach US$13.46 billion by 2028. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approx. 11% during the forecasted period of 2023-2028.

Industries are expected to prioritize the implementation of smart manufacturing solutions, including the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence, to gain a competitive edge in the market. The need for supply chain resilience, heightened by the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, will further drive automation adoption to ensure business continuity and mitigate disruptions.

Italy has a diverse industrial landscape with a multitude of companies providing various automation solutions and services across different sectors. These companies offer a wide range of automation solutions, from control systems to robotics, catering to various industries. The market is characterized by technological innovation, strategic partnerships, and a focus on delivering efficient and advanced automation solutions to meet evolving industrial needs.

As Italy seeks to strengthen its position in the global industrial landscape, the continuous evolution and integration of automation technologies are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future growth of the Italian industrial automation market.

Market Segmentation Highlights

By Control System: DCS segment held the highest share of the market. The adoption of Distributed Control Systems (DCS) is growing in the Italian industrial automation market due to their ability to efficiently control and monitor complex processes in real-time. DCS provides a distributed architecture, allowing for the integration of various control elements across a manufacturing plant.

By Component: Sensors held the highest share in the market, whereas Industrial Robots is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the forecasted period. The demand for industrial robots in the Italian industrial automation market is escalating as industries seek to automate repetitive and labor-intensive tasks. As industries prioritize efficiency, quality, and flexibility in production, the adoption of industrial robots is expected to grow significantly.

By Distribution Channel: OEMs channel held the highest share in the market, whereas system specialists is expected to be the fastest-growing channel in the forecasted period. The growth of OEMs in the Italian industrial automation market is driven by their integral role in providing end-to-end automation solutions. OEMs design and manufacture the original equipment, including automation components and systems. As industries in Italy seek comprehensive solutions tailored to their specific needs, OEMs offer customized and integrated automation packages.

By Application: Mechanics held the highest share in the market and is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the forecasted period. Automation technologies optimize machining processes, assembly lines, and quality control, resulting in improved productivity and reduced production costs. Robotics and CNC systems are extensively used to automate tasks like welding, milling, and assembly, ensuring high precision and speed in mechanical production.

Market Dynamics

Growth Drivers

Rising Installation of Industrial Robots

Increasing Labor Cost Index

Growing Gross Domestic Product

Increasing Adoption of Industry 4.0

Advent of 5G Subscription

Favorable Government Incentives

Increasing Demand for Efficiency and Productivity

Challenges

High Initial Capital Investment

Lack of Skilled Labor Force

Data Security Concern

Market Trends

Growing Impact of AI-driven Industrial Robotics

Growing Use of Blockchain for Supply Chain Management

Growing Industrial Internet of Things

Robotics and Collaborative Automation

Integration of Digital Twin Technology

Integration of Edge and Cloud Computing

Increasing Emphasis on Cybersecurity

Human Machine Interface Evolution

Increasing Demand for Sustainable and Clean Energy Solutions

Competitive Landscape: The Italian industrial automation market is moderately consolidated.

Company Profiles

ABB Group

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Omron Corporation

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

Schneider Electric SE

Siemens AG

Honeywell International Inc.

General Electric Company

Stellantis N.V. (Comau S.p.A.)

Robert Bosch GmbH (Bosch Rexroth AG)

Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Festo

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ams OSRAM to showcase its high-performance LEDs, lasers, sensors and integrated circuits at SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco, Calif., January 30 February 1.

Visitors will see demonstrations of real-life solutions co-created with customers in AR/VR, medical, wearables, logistics, robotics and automotive industries.

We will unveil new technology including a new, extremely compact near-infrared image sensor that is ideal for Augmented Reality (AR) headsets and other battery-driven devices and an updated photodiode for vital sign monitoring.

Technology experts will headline eight conference presentations at the show.

ams OSRAM (SIX: AMS), a global leader in intelligent sensors and emitters, will show live demonstrations of its diverse lighting and sensing products at the SPIE Photonics West Exhibition, Hall F booth 5607, in San Francisco's Moscone Center. The show, which takes place January 30 February 1, 2024, is heralded as the world's largest photonics technology event and includes a conference with nearly 5,000 speakers and 60 technical courses. ams OSRAM's experts will headline eight conference presentations about quantum dots, Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs), UV-C LEDs and more.

ams OSRAM offers a wide variety of photonics products, including LEDs, VCSELs, edge-emitting lasers, CMOS image sensors and mixed-signal analog integrated circuits. The company will debut two new groundbreaking products at the show. A new image sensor will offer power savings at high-quantum efficiency for battery-powered AR/VR devices and other camera-based eye tracking applications. The other new product is a compact photodiode that expands the company's vital sign monitoring portfolio. It allows customers to optimize the power budget and extend battery life by reducing LED driving current.

"ams OSRAM has extensive experience in designing best-in-class photonic solutions, which is why we fully committed to this year's Photonics West," said Conrad Rodriguez, Sr. Vice President of Sales, Americas Region. "Our ten application demos and numerous conference presentations will illustrate how we work with customers to develop products that improve the way we live, work, drive and play."

ams OSRAM's team of experts will outline the benefits of the company's products and describe the booth's exciting demonstrations, including:

Power of Laser LiDAR, Laser Illumination Material Treatment

LiDAR demonstration features a wavelength-stabilized infrared pulsed edge-emitting laser diode. The laser diode offers strongly reduced wavelength shift over temperature, increasing signal to noise ratio, to enable higher detection range.

Barcode scanning application features a green laser diode with 20mW? output power. The laser diode is an efficient and highly visible light source that enables scanning even for long distances and in bright daylight.

Material treatment product portfolio features infrared laser bars, blue laser bars and chip on sub-mount for laser cutting, laser welding, 3D printing and other applications.

World of AR/VR Small Devices with Image Sensor Illumination

Optical module shows Near-to-Eye projection in AR glasses and features OSRAM OSTAR projection LED. The high-power LED enables lightweight AR glasses. Company also continues to refine its Vegalas laser emitter module, which reduces the size of the projection light engine by up to half.

2D and 3D sensing for AR/VR and camera-based eye-tracking features our new image sensor with Wafer Level Optics (WLO). The new, low-power sensor is very compact.

Medical Vital Sign Monitoring and Medical Imaging

NanEyeM is one of the smallest digital miniature camera modules for medical endoscopes and features a CMOS image sensor. NanEyeM offers unique solutions for size-critical medical applications.

Smart watch wearable device can measure vital signs and features AS7058, SFH 2705 and SFH 7018. The products offer highly flexible LED and photodiode arrangements with fast signal acquisition.

Robotics Path Sensing and Environment Imaging

One of the world's first 1130nm VCSELs will be on display. With our partner Jabil Inc., we will demonstrate the unprecedented sunlight tolerance (>100Klux) of an 1130nm-based 3D camera, making it ideal for autonomous vehicles, robots, and agricultural platforms requiring object detection and collision avoidance sensing in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Robotic arm for various industrial applications features Mira220 CMOS image sensor. Mira220 is compact and offers on-chip noise reduction.

For more information, please visit the ams OSRAM SPIE Photonics West page. If you would like to schedule a media interview with one of our experts, contact sarah.carlson@ams-osram.com.

Join ams OSRAM social media channels: >Twitter >LinkedIn >Facebook >YouTube

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Tel: +1 248-755-7680

Sarah.Carlson@ams-osram.com

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Getac F110 and A140 total solutions support ArcelorMittal France in their digitalization processes as well as their commitment to improve working conditions.

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ArcelorMittal France, the world's leading steel and mining company, has been working with Getac since 2020 and continues to place its trust in Getac's total rugged computing solutions. To carry out its maintenance and production operations, the Dunkirk site in France uses not only rugged tablets but also docking stations and vehicle power adapters as well as remote antennas attached directly to the machines. Getac's fully rugged F110 and A140 tablets are reliable and perfectly suited for use in materials handling equipment that is subject to strong vibrations, heat or dust, as well as intensive use of the screen.

As the world leader steelmaking and mining company, ArcelorMittal aims to produce ever smarter steels that have a positive effect on people and the planet. Steels made using innovative processes that consume less energy, emit much less carbon and reduce costs, resulting in cleaner, stronger and reusable steels. Steels for electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructures that will support societies in their transformation over the coming decades.

By equipping itself with Getac F110 and A140 total solutions for the past three years, ArcelorMittal France benefits from IT solutions and accessories such as docking stations, chargers and remote antennas, as well as a Total Warranty Cover, including accidental damage. The total solution also includes technical service project monitoring to adapt the solutions to changing needs.

Indeed, the fully rugged Getac F110 tablet enables ArcelorMittal users to work effectively in a difficult operating environment, thanks in particular to its data storage capacity, autonomy and fast connectivity for transferring data quickly and efficiently.

In addition, the fully rugged A140 tablet gives ArcelorMittal France worker the ability to access a maximum of information thanks to its 14-inch screen, and contributes to boosting their productivity for efficient, uninterrupted operations thanks to its dual removable and hot-swappable battery design.

"The Getac tablets have considerably improved the availability of our slab handling application and equipment. In fact, they have eliminated equipment-related network loss problems, as they can connect to the 4G/5G network," explains Sebastien Denisselle, Decarbo Digital Project Manager, ArcelorMittal France Dunkerque.

This robust connectivity ensures that the operations are not disrupted by communication problems, which is essential in this operating environment. Furthermore, the tablets offer a user-friendly, intuitive interface that makes it easy to view and use the various applications, considerably improving the efficiency of teams in the field. This ease of use also enables operators to adopt the technology quickly.

"We're very proud to support a major group like ArcelorMittal in its digital transformation and its drive to improve working conditions by equipping its teams with high-performance, mobile Getac rugged solutions," says Jimmy Lin, Getac Technology France Director.

The Getac rugged solutions selected by ArcelorMittal offer a number of advantages:

Improved connectivity and continuous availability thanks to 4G/5G, two essential elements for carrying out industrial operations without interruption.

The 14-inch A140 rugged tablets, offering an interface that makes viewing documents easier.

The F110 and A140 tablets also offer flexibility of use and deployment for optimised operations.

The Total Warranty cover "Bumper to Bumper" covers accidental damage.

"The flexibility of Getac tablets is a major advantage in busy operational environments. The ability to interchange tablets between different machines while remaining operational is a precious asset. This enables us to react quickly to changing needs in the field and optimise the use of our resources. Getac tablets play a key role in improving our productivity, efficiency, and ability to maintain high-performance operations, even in the most demanding situations," adds Sebastien Denisselle from ArcelorMittal France.

About Getac

Getac Technology Corporation is a global leader in rugged mobile technology and intelligent video solutions, including laptops, tablets, software, body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, digital evidence management and enterprise video analytics solutions. Getac's solutions and services are designed to enable extraordinary experiences for frontline workers in challenging environments. Today, Getac serves customers in over 100 countries spanning defense, public safety, ambulance, fire & rescue, utilities, automotive, natural resources, manufacturing, transport, and logistics. For more information, visit: http://www.getac.com. Participate in the Getac Industry blog or follow the company on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Getac and Getac logo are trademarks of Getac Holdings Corporation or its affiliates. Other brands or trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2024 Getac Technology Corporation.

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BURLINGAME, Calif., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Canned Alcoholic Beverages Market is projected to grow from US$ 6.11 billion in 2023 and is estimated to reach US$ 17.19 billion by 2031; it is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.8% from 2024 to 2031 according to a new report by Coherent Market Insights. Canned alcoholic beverages provide convenience of consumption of beers, ciders, wines, and cocktails in a portable aluminum can format. They are gaining popularity among young adults and millennials for outdoor activities and social gatherings.

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Market Dynamics:

The market for canned alcoholic beverages is expected to experience high growth due to the convenience they offer. Canned alcoholic beverages are easy to carry and store, making them a popular choice among consumers. Moreover, the trend of convenience-oriented products is on the rise, especially among millennials who prefer on-the-go options. Canned alcoholic beverages provide a convenient option for consumers to enjoy their favorite drinks without the need for additional mixers or glassware. This convenience factor is expected to drive the demand for canned alcoholic beverages in the market.

Canned Alcoholic Beverages Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $6.11 billion Estimated Value by 2031 $17.19 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 13.8% Historical Data 2017-2021 Forecast Period 2024-2031 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Product Type, By Distribution Channel Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Restraints & Challenges Increasing demand for non-alcoholic RTD beverages

Increasing tariffs on alcoholic beverage Growth Drivers Growing demand for ready-to-drink products

Premiumization of the beverages

Another driver for the growth of the canned alcoholic beverages market is the increasing number of outdoor events and activities. Canned alcoholic beverages are suitable for outdoor activities such as picnics, camping, and beach parties as they are lightweight, easy to transport, and do not require additional equipment for consumption. The growing popularity of outdoor events and the desire for hassle-free consumption are expected to boost the demand for canned alcoholic beverages.

Market Trends:

One of the key trends observed in the canned alcoholic beverages market is the increasing demand for low-alcohol or no-alcohol variants. With changing consumer preferences and the growing trend of health-consciousness, consumers are seeking alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages. Low-alcohol or no-alcohol canned options provide consumers with the opportunity to enjoy the taste and experience of alcoholic beverages without the high alcoholic content. This trend is driven by the increasing number of individuals adopting a moderate or no-alcohol lifestyle.

Another trend in the market is the rising popularity of cocktail-inspired ready-to-drink canned alcoholic beverages. These canned beverages offer the convenience of enjoying mixed drinks without the need for bartending skills or elaborate ingredients. Ready-to-drink canned cocktails provide consumers with a quick and hassle-free option to enjoy their favorite cocktails at home or on-the-go. The combination of convenience and variety offered by these cocktail

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Recent development:

In March 2020, Blossom Hil Gin Fizz, an RTD can of bubbly gin, is now available, as per the Treasury Wine estate.

In April 2020, TWE signed a multi-year business agreement with rap musician Snoop Dogg through its wine brand 19 Crimes.

Market Takeaways:

Canned Alcoholic Beverages Market is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 13.8% during the forecast period 2023-2030, owing to the increasing popularity of these beverages among consumers. On the basis of product, the wine segment is expected to hold a dominant position, owing to its established consumer base and wide availability. The RTD cocktails and hard seltzers segments are also projected to grow significantly due to their growing popularity and consumer demand for more variety.

On the basis of distribution channel, the on-trade segment is expected to hold a dominant position. This can be attributed to the preference of consumers for enjoying alcoholic beverages in bars, clubs, and restaurants. However, the online segment is also expected to witness substantial growth, driven by the convenience and accessibility of online platforms.

In terms of region, North America is expected to hold a dominant position over the forecast period, due to the established market for canned alcoholic beverages and the presence of key players in the region. North America has a strong culture of consuming alcoholic beverages and a high level of consumer acceptance for canned products.

Key players operating in the canned alcoholic beverages market include Diageo plc, Brown-Forman, Pernod Ricard, Bacardi Limited, Suntory Holdings Limited, Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., Anheuser-Busch InBev, E. & J. Gallo Winery, Constellation Brands, Inc., Treasury Wine Estates, Barefoot Cellars, and Kona Brewing Co. These players are focusing on product innovation, expanding their distribution networks, and strategic partnerships to gain a competitive edge in the market. With the increasing demand for canned alcoholic beverages, these key players are expected to witness significant growth in the coming years.

Read complete market research report, "Canned Alcoholic Beverages Market, By Product, By Distribution Channel, By Geography, Market Size And Share Analysis - Growth Trends And Forecasts 2024-2031", Published by Coherent Market Insights.

Market Opportunities:

Increasing popularity of canned alcoholic beverages

The canned alcoholic beverages market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing popularity of these products among consumers. Canned alcoholic beverages offer convenience and portability, making them an attractive choice for consumers who are looking for ready-to-drink options. The busy lifestyles of consumers and the rise in outdoor activities, such as picnics, camping, and beach outings, have led to an increased demand for canned alcoholic beverages.

Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has also played a role in boosting the demand for these products. With the closure of bars and restaurants during lockdowns, consumers have turned to canned alcoholic beverages as an alternative for enjoying their favorite drinks at home. This trend is expected to continue even after the pandemic, as consumers have developed a preference for home consumption.

Growing popularity of hard seltzers

Hard seltzers have gained immense popularity in recent years and are expected to drive the growth of the canned alcoholic beverages market. Hard seltzers are low-calorie, low-sugar alcoholic beverages made with carbonated water and flavored with fruit or botanical essences. They appeal to health-conscious consumers who are looking for lighter and refreshing options.

The demand for hard seltzers can be attributed to the shift towards healthier lifestyles and the increasing awareness about the negative health impacts of sugary beverages. Additionally, the rising popularity of the "better-for-you" trend, which focuses on clean ingredients and natural flavors, has further contributed to the growth of the hard seltzers segment.

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Detailed Segmentation:

Global Canned Alcoholic Beverages Market, By Product Wine Still Fortified Low-alcohol Sparkling RTD Cocktails Malt based Spirit based Wine based Hard Seltzers Malt based Spirit based Wine based Sugar based

Global Canned Alcoholic Beverages Market, By Distribution Channel On-trade Liquor Stores Online Others

Global Canned Alcoholic Beverages Market, By Region North America U.S. Canada Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Europe Germany U.K. Spain France Italy Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China India Japan Australia South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South Africa GCC Countries Rest of Middle East & Africa



Find more related trending reports below:

Alcoholic Beverages Market - Global Size, Shares, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031

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Global Spirulina Market, by Form (Powder, Tablet / Capsules, Liquid, Granules), by Composition (Protein, Carbohydrates, Minerals, Lipids, and Others), by End-use Industry (Food & Beverages, Nutraceuticals, Cosmetics and Personal Care, Feed, Pharmaceuticals, and Others), and by Region - Insights, Size, Share, Opportunity Analysis, and Industry Forecast till 2031

Cocoa Market, By Nature (Organic, COnventional), By Process (Natural, Dutch), By Product Type (Cocoa Powder, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Liquor), By Application (Confectionery, Functional Food, Bakery Items, Beverages, Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa) - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024 - 2031

About Us:

Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. We are known for our actionable insights and authentic reports in various domains including aerospace and defense, agriculture, food and beverages, automotive, chemicals and materials, and virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients.

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Future Market Insights, Inc. (FMI) predicts robust growth for the activated carbon fiber market, fueled by their versatility and exceptional properties. These high-surface-area, highly-porous fibers find invaluable applications in water purification, air filtration, energy storage, and beyond.

NEWARK, Del., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Activated Carbon Fiber Market is on the brink of reaching a substantial valuation, projected to reach US$ 3.9 billion by 2024. The trend is anticipated to open doors to new opportunities within the market, with a projected CAGR of 2.9% from 2024 to 2034. By 2034, the market is poised to soar to an estimated total valuation of around US$ 5.3 billion.

Request Exclusive Sample Report: Activated Carbon Fiber Industry Strategic Insights, https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-18803

The market is experiencing significant growth, driven by various industries versatile applications of activated carbon fibers. Exceptional properties, including a high surface area, porosity, and impressive adsorption capabilities, characterize these fibers. Such attributes make them invaluable in crucial sectors such as water purification, air filtration, and energy storage.

The escalating global awareness of environmental issues and the growing demand for sustainable solutions contribute substantially to the increasing adoption of activated carbon fibers. As the need for effective pollution control and resource optimization solutions intensifies, industries are turning to these fibers, positioning the market for continuous expansion.

Noteworthy trends and highlights in the market include a surge in demand fueled by a global shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly solutions, particularly in water and air purification applications. The healthcare sector is witnessing an uptick in adopting activated carbon fibers, leveraging their antimicrobial properties for applications such as medical masks, wound care, and drug delivery systems.

Ongoing advancements in manufacturing technologies are enhancing the efficiency of activated carbon fiber production, leading to cost-effective processes and expanding market opportunities. The rising interest in energy storage technologies is propelling the utilization of activated carbon fibers in supercapacitors and batteries, presenting substantial opportunities in the expanding energy storage market.

Activated Carbon Fiber Market Report Scope

Attributes Details Estimated Market Size in 2024 US$ 3.9 billion Projected Market Valuation in 2034 US$ 5.3 billion CAGR Share from 2024 to 2034 2.9 % Forecast Period 2024 to 2034 Historical Data Available for 2019 to 2023 Market Analysis Value in US$ billion Key Market Segments Covered Key Segments of Activated Carbon Fiber Industry Survey By Type: o Powdered o Granular o Others By Application: o Liquid Phase o Gas Phase By End User: o Water Treatment o Food and Beverage Processing o Pharmaceutical and Medical o Automotive o Air Purification o Others By Region: o North America o Latin America o Europe o East Asia o South Asia o Oceania o The Middle East and Africa Key Countries Profiled The United States

Canada

Brazil

Mexico

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

Germany

Italy

France The United Kingdom

Spain

Russia

BENELUX

Rest of Europe

China

Japan

South Korea

India Thailand

Malaysia

Indonesia

Rest of South Asia

Australia

New Zealand

GCC

Rest of Middle East and Africa

Key Takeaways from the Market Study

The market valuation in 2023 was US$ 3.8 billion.

Based on application, liquid-phase is expected to expand at a CAGR of 2.5% by 2034.

China is estimated to register at a CAGR of 3.7% by 2034.

The United Kingdom experiences significant growth, projected at a CAGR of 4% by 2034.

"The surge in demand spurred by a global shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly solutions, notably in water and air purification applications,is considered a prevailing trend in the activated carbon fiber market," says Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.).

Competitive LandscapeTop of Form

The competitive landscape of the activated carbon fiber industry is marked by intense rivalry among key players striving for market dominance. Companies are driven by innovation, aiming to capitalize on the increasing demand for sustainable solutions in water purification, air filtration, and energy storage.

Following are the Prominent Players Profiled in the Activated Carbon Fiber Market Research Report:

CarbPure Technologies

Boyce Carbon

Cabot Corporation

Kuraray Co.

CarboTech AC GmbH

Donau Chemie AG

Haycarb (Pvt) Ltd.

Jacobi Carbons Group

Kureha Corporation

Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd.

Purchase this report now to get key companies with their Revenue Forecast, Volume Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends, and Pricing Analysis.

Advancements in manufacturing technologies and strategic applications in sectors like healthcare and automotive further intensify competition, creating a dynamic marketplace focused on delivering effective and environmentally conscious solutions. Some of the recent developments are:

In March 2023, Haier Group acquired Mealthy, a leading brand mainly consisting of kitchen appliances.

In March 2023, ITEHIL introduced the RO Water Purifier, a groundbreaking innovation merging the purifying capabilities of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and activated carbon.

More Valuable Insights Available

Future Market Insights offers an unbiased global activated carbon fiber market analysis, providing historical data from 2019 to 2023 and forecast statistics from 2024 to 2034.

To understand activated carbon fiber market opportunities are segmented based on By Type (Powdered, Granular, Others), By Application (Liquid Phase, Gas Phase), By End-user (Water Treatment, Food and Beverage Processing, Pharmaceutical and Medical, Automotive, Air Purification, Others), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, Oceania, and The Middle East and Africa).

Request to Access the Detail Research Methodology from here!

About the Chemicals and Materials Division at Future Market Insights

The chemicals and materials team at Future Market Insights offers expert analysis, time-efficient research, and strategic recommendations to provide authentic insights and accurate results to help clients worldwide. With over 100+ reports and one million+ data points, the team has analyzed the industry lucidly in 50+ countries for over a decade. The team briefly analyzes key trends, including competitive landscape, profit margin, and research development efforts.

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting service provider, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai and has delivery centers in the UK, the U.S., and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

About the Author:

Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) has over a decade of experience in market research and business consulting. He has successfully delivered 1500+ client assignments, predominantly in Automotive, Chemicals, Industrial Equipment, Oil & Gas, and Service industries.

His core competency circles around developing research methodology, creating a unique analysis framework, statistical data models for pricing analysis, competition mapping, and market feasibility analysis. His expertise also extends wide and beyond analysis, advising clients on identifying growth potential in established and niche market segments, investment/divestment decisions, and market entry decision-making.

Nikhil holds an MBA degree in Marketing and IT and a Graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Nikhil has authored several publications and quoted in journals like EMS Now, EPR Magazine, and EE Times.

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Carbon Steel Market by Low and High Carbon Steel, 2023 to 2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF.

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Future Market Insights Inc.

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In an important milestone towards market introduction, Median Technologies announces that its CADe/CADx Software as Medical Device (SaMD), eyonis LCS, has demonstrated excellent performance in an independent verification study-a critical step in the regulatory process for obtaining 510(k) clearance and CE marking.

The independent verification's purpose is to validate SaMD eyonis LCS' performance on a novel patient cohort which is a critical phase prior to the pivotal studies for any SaMD device.

A new, proprietary algorithm, developed in the latter half of 2023, has shown significantly enhanced results compared to its predecessor, tested during the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023.

The updated SaMD eyonis LCS achieved an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.93, significantly surpassing the primary endpoint of AUC 0.80 for the pivotal standalone study for regulatory clearance.

With its strong medico-economic potential, the new algorithm will be used in the two remaining pivotal studies, targeting 510(k) clearance and marketing authorization in the United States by Q1 2025, and CE marking for the European market by mid-2025, in line with EU regulations.

Regulatory News:

Median Technologies (FR0011049824, ALMDT, PEA/SME eligible) today announces that it has achieved very positive results from the independent verification study for its CADe/CADx1 SaMD eyonis2 LCS (Lung Cancer Screening).

This evaluation utilizes retrospective patient data from diverse sources, setting the stage for the two forthcoming pivotal studies-analytical validation with the Standalone study (REALITY, MT-LCS-002) and clinical validation with the Multi-Reader Multi-Case study (RELIVE, MT-LCS-004)-in line with discussions during FDA Q-Submissions.

Innovations Leading to Enhanced Performance

The study compared two versions of SaMD eyonis LCS, spotlighting a new algorithm developed in H2 2023 that significantly improved the detection and characterization of malignant lung nodules, achieving an AUC3 of 0.93 with 92% of sensitivity and 85% of specificity at patient level (Youden Index) in a cohort of 300 patients. This marks a major step forward from the 2022 algorithm's AUC of 0.91 with 84% of sensitivity and 87% of specificity at patient level (Youden Index), demonstrating Median's commitment to continuous innovation and excellence in medical technology.

The primary endpoint for the SaMD eyonis LCS used in the independent verification study is the same as the primary endpoint set in the pivotal Standalone study, i.e. measurement of AUC at patient level. The value to be achieved in the eyonis LCS Standalone study for 510(k) clearance and CE marking is an AUC greater than 0.80.

Implications for Global Health

The results obtained in the independent verification study conducted with the new version of the SaMD eyonis LCS add significant momentum to Median Technologies regarding the remaining validation steps leading towards regulatory approvals in the United States and Europe. They also maximize the medico-economic impact the SaMD eyonis LCS could have for the early diagnosis of lung cancer and for the development of screening programs, while strengthening the Company for future negotiations with payers in the United States and Europe.

In order to integrate the new algorithm, Median is now aiming for FDA 510(k) clearance for its CADe/CADx SaMD eyonis LCS in the first quarter of 2025 and CE marking by the end of the first half of 2025.

Strategic Focus and Global Impact

"The integration of the new version of our algorithm, will give us a decisive competitive advantage and significantly impact the early diagnosis of lung cancer-the leading cause of cancer death globally emphasizes Fredrik Brag, CEO and founder of Median Technologies. "Early diagnosis of lung cancer is already effective and has been reimbursed since 2015 in the United States as part of a screening program that currently covers a target population of 14.5 million Americans. Since July 2022, the use of tissue characterization software has been covered by a temporary reimbursement code of $650 per patient representing a very significant total addressable market for our SaMD eyonis LCS. In Europe, the organization of national lung screening programs for targeted populations is one of the recommendations made by the European Union in the "Europe's Beating Cancer" plan. It has been considerably reinforced by the publication in November 2023 of the 2024-2029 Manifesto Time to accelerate: Together Against Cancer4adds Fredrik Brag.

About Median Technologies: Pioneering in innovative imaging solutions and services, Median Technologies harnesses cutting-edge AI to elevate the accuracy of early cancer and metabolic disease diagnoses and treatments. Since its inception, the French-based company, with a presence in the U.S. and China, has been recognized as an "Innovative company" by BPI France and trades on the Euronext Growth market (ISIN: FR0011049824, ticker: ALMDT). Median's offerings, including iCRO and the eyonis suite, empower biopharmaceutical entities and clinicians to advance patient care and expedite novel therapies. Median is eligible for the French SME equity savings plan scheme (PEA-PME).

For more information: www.mediantechnologies.com

1 A radiological CADe device is "intended to identify, mark, highlight or otherwise direct attention to portions of an image that may reveal abnormalities during interpretation of images by the clinician." A CADx device is "intended to provide information beyond identifying abnormalities, such as an assessment of disease." Source: FDA

2 Formerly known as iBiopsy

3 AUC ROC or AUROC (Area Under the ROC Curve) is a global performance metric used in machine learning to evaluate classification models. It's derived from the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. The AUC measures the entire two-dimensional area underneath the ROC curve. AUC values range from 0 to 1, where an AUC of 1 indicates perfect classification power and an AUC of 0.5 suggests the model has no discrimination capacity, equivalent to random guessing. An AUC below 0.5 implies the model performs worse than random.

4 https://www.europeancancer.org/manifesto

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117827943/en/

Contacts:

Median Technologies

Emmanuelle Leygues

Head of Corporate Marketing Financial Communications

+33 6 10 93 58 88

emmanuelle.leygues@mediantechnologies.com

Press ALIZE RP

Caroline Carmagnol

+33 6 64 18 99 59

median@alizerp.com

Investors ACTIFIN

Ghislaine Gasparetto

+33 6 21 10 49 24

ggasparetto@actifin.fr
Regulatory News:

ACTICOR BIOTECH (FR0014005OJ5 ALACT) (Paris:ALACT), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing glenzocimab, an innovative drug for the treatment of cardiovascular emergencies, today discloses the total number of voting rights and shares as of December 31, 2023 (pursuant to Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the General Regulation of the French Financial Markets Authority).

Listing Place: Euronext Growth Paris

ISIN Code: FR0014005OJ5

Web site: acticor-biotech.com

Date Number of shares making

up the share capital Theoretical number of

voting rights (1) Number of voting

rights excluding

shares stripped of

voting rights (2) December 31, 2023 13.189.141 13.189.141 13.124.019

(1) In accordance with Article 223-111 of the AMF's General Regulation, this number of shares is calculated based on all shares carrying the right to vote, including those stripped of voting rights.

(2) The actual voting rights correspond to the total number of voting rights that can be exercised in a general meeting. They are calculated on the basis of the total number of voting rights attached to the total number of shares minus the shares without voting rights.

About ACTICOR BIOTECH

Acticor Biotech is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, a spin-off from INSERM (the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), which is aiming to develop an innovative treatment for cardiovascular emergencies, including ischemic stroke.

The positive results of the phase 1b/2a study, ACTIMIS, confirmed the safety profile of glenzocimab and showed a reduction in mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage in the glenzocimab-treated group of stroke patients. These results were confirmed by a post-hoc analysis of brain imaging at 0 and 24 hours using artificial intelligence (Brainomix, UK). This independent analysis confirmed the reduction in the number and volume of intracerebral lesions in patients treated with glenzocimab. The efficacy of glenzocimab is now being analyzed in an international Phase 2/3 study, ACTISAVE, with clinical results expected in Q2 2024.

In July 2022, Acticor Biotech was granted "PRIME" status by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for glenzocimab in the treatment of stroke. This designation will allow the company to strengthen its interactions and obtain early dialogues with regulatory authorities.

Acticor Biotech is supported by a panel of European and international investors (Mediolanum farmaceutici, Karista, Go Capital, Newton Biocapital, CMS Medical Venture Investment (HK) Limited, A&B (HK) Limited, Anaxago, and the Armesa foundation). Acticor Biotech is listed on Euronext Growth Paris since November 2021 (ISIN: FR0014005OJ5 ALACT).

For more information, visit: www.acticor-biotech.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117858900/en/

Contacts:

ACTICOR BIOTECH

Gilles AVENARD, MD

CEO and Founder

gilles.avenard@acticor-biotech.com

T.: +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

Sophie BINAY, PhD

General Manager and CSO

Sophie.binay@acticor-biotech.com

T.: +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

NewCap

Mathilde BOHIN Quentin MASSE

Investor Relations

acticor@newcap.eu

T.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95

NewCap

Arthur ROUILLE

Media Relations

acticor@newcap.eu

T.: +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15
LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Quadcode Markets, a Cyprus-based CFD broker, has introduced the Trailing Stop feature that equips traders with superior risk management capabilities compared to conventional Stop-Loss orders.

What's Trailing Stop?

Distinguishing itself from traditional Stop-Loss orders, the Trailing Stop dynamically adjusts its position relative to the current market price.

For example, in a long position, the Trailing Stop follows the upward movement of the CFD asset's price, maintaining a preset distance. Conversely, in a short position, it adapts to the downward movement of the CFD asset. This adaptive behavior ensures that if the market trend reverses, the position is automatically closed, securing favorable outcomes for the trader.

Setting Up Trailing Stop At QCM

Traders on Quadcode Markets can tailor the Trailing Stop based on either absolute distance values or as a percentage. Furthermore, they have the flexibility to modify these values at any time and switch between Trailing Stop and regular Stop-Loss orders, adapting to the dynamic market conditions.

Quadcode Markets' Highlights

Quadcode Markets operates globally, standing out due to a number of features:

Tailored User Interface: Quadcode Markets boasts its own trading platform for CFD trading. It offers built-in analysis tools, a multi-charting feature, educational resources, and round-the-clock support.

Quadcode Markets boasts its own trading platform for CFD trading. It offers built-in analysis tools, a multi-charting feature, educational resources, and round-the-clock support. On-Platform Analysis Tools: Traders can access over 100 technical indicators, real-time market news updates, economic calendars, and interactive widgets for informed decision-making.

Traders can access over 100 technical indicators, real-time market news updates, economic calendars, and interactive widgets for informed decision-making. Notifications: Traders can set personalized price change alerts to avoid missing crucial market movements.

Traders can set personalized price change alerts to avoid missing crucial market movements. Wide Range of Assets Traded via CFD: stocks, commodities, currency pairs, indices, crypto, and ETFs.

In a recent development, Quadcode Markets has been granted the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB) license, elevating its status as a multi-license holder and aligning with the most authoritative financial regulators.

About Quadcode Markets

Quadcode Markets operates under the trade name of IQOption Europe Limited, a regulated broker registered in Cyprus. Offering CFD services to clients within the EEA, it attained the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB) license, further solidifying its position as a multi-license holder. The platform facilitates access to 300 assets traded through CFDs, allowing users to refine their trading skills on a demo account loaded with $10,000 in refillable virtual currency. The QCM traderoom is accessible on web, desktop, Android, and iOS.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2320697/TS_QCM.jpg

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Avolta AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Avolta and Corporacion America Airports unite for Strategic Airport Enhancement in Uruguay



17.01.2024 / 18:05 CET/CEST





Avolta, the leading global travel experience player, and Corporacion America Airports (NYSE:CAAP), the leading private airport operator managing 53 airports in 6 countries, proudly announce their collaborative initiative to elevate the airport retail experience. In a pioneering move, Avolta and Corporacion America Airports have forged a partnership to revolutionize travel retail in Uruguay, seeking to establish a novel business model by leveraging the combined expertise of duty-free retail and airport management as master concessionaire for travel retail.

This collective effort aims to design, implement, and operate duty-free stores that significantly enhance the overall airport experience. Embracing a data-driven approach, the partnership strives to provide passengers with a more seamless and personalized journey.



Martin Eurnekian, CEO of Corporacion America Airports, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "We aim to explore every aspect of the customer journey and airport operations, identifying opportunities for improvement through integration and collaboration."



This joint venture has an important purpose beyond financial considerations, as both companies not only align on a customer-centric approach and a relentless pursuit of improved services and experiences but also share a profound commitment to sustainability. Both entities are devoted to fostering a positive impact in the communities they serve while responsibly managing their environmental footprint. Moreover, they believe that by collaborating, they can amplify their influence and make a more substantial contribution to sustainable practices.



Avolta CEO, Xavier Rossinyol expressed his excitement about moving forward partnering with CAAP: "We share a mutual understanding that in order to foster sustained growth, it is imperative to revolutionize the conventional approach to conducting business within our industry. Both the retailer and the airport operator must actively engage in the innovation process and embrace calculated risks. The outdated model, anchored in high MAGs that restricted operators from making substantial investments and assuming risks, is destined to become obsolete."



Uruguay has been strategically selected as the testing ground to experiment with new ideas and processes in a controlled environment, with the intention to export successful outcomes to other operations.



Emphasizing their visionary perspective, both companies firmly believe in forging a genuine "trinity" encompassing airports, retailers, and brands, pivotal in fundamentally reshaping the landscape of travel retail. They recognize that true innovation and an unparalleled traveler experience emerge when these key players collaborate seamlessly. This commitment to collaborative transformation signifies a pioneering step toward a future where airports, retailers, and brands unite to deliver an immersive and innovative travel retail environment. A travel experience revolution.

For further information:



CONTACT



REBECCA McCLELLAN CATHY JONGENS Global Head

Investor Relations Director Corporate

Communications Phone: +44 7543 800405 Phone: +41 79 288093 rebecca.mcclellan@dufry.com cathy.jongens@dufry.com

End of Media Release




CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - Tech giant Apple Inc. (AAPL) has dethroned its South Korean counterpart Samsung Electronics Co. to become the world's top smartphone seller.



Apple's iPhones became the best-selling smartphone series in 2023, helping the Cupertino, California-based company beat Samsung to the top spot for the first time. This ends Samsung's 12-year reign as the world's top smartphone seller. The last time Samsung was at the No. 2 position was in 2010 when Finnish company Nokia topped the list.



The iPhones took the top spot in 2023 with 234.6 million units sold, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) figures, overtaking Samsung's 226.6 million units.



Meanwhile, Samsung came ahead of Chinese device makers like Xiaomi Corp., Oppo, and Transsion.



Apple's market share increased to 20.1% in 2023 from 18.8% in 2022, while Samsung's dropped to 19.4% from 21.7%.



According to IDC, the global smartphone market overall remains challenged, but momentum is moving quickly toward recovery.



According to preliminary data from IDC, global smartphone shipments declined 3.2% year over year to 1.17 billion units in 2023. This marks the lowest full-year volume in a decade, driven largely by macroeconomic challenges and elevated inventory early in the year.



'While we saw some strong growth from low-end Android players like Transsion and Xiaomi in the second half of 2023, stemming from rapid growth in emerging markets, the biggest winner is clearly Apple,' said Nabila Popal, research director with IDC's Worldwide Tracker team.



'Not only is Apple the only player in the Top 3 to show positive growth annually, but also bags the number 1 spot annually for the first time ever. All this despite facing increased regulatory challenges and renewed competition from Huawei in China, its largest market. Apple's ongoing success and resilience is in large part due to the increasing trend of premium devices, which now represent over 20% of the market, fueled by aggressive trade-in offers and interest-free financing plans,' Popal added.



Meanwhile, according to IDC's Ryan Reith, Samsung's drop in rank was also affected by the Android market being diversified, with players like Huawei, OnePlus, Honor and Google offering competitive devices at much lower price ranges.



Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 17

For immediate release

17 January 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 97,261 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 832.75 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 17 January 2023.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 27,450,585; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 197,540,718.

The figure of 197,540,718 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
BH Macro Limited - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 17

BH Macro Limited (the "Company")

(a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 46235)

Transaction in Own Shares

17 January 2024

BH Macro Limited (the Company) announces today it has purchased the following number of its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange from J.P. Morgan Securities plc:

Ordinary Shares: - Share Class Sterling Sterling Date of purchase: 17 January 2024 17 January 2024 Number of ordinary shares purchased: 115,903 125,000 Lowest price per share 359.00 361.50 Highest price per share 362.50 361.50 Trading venue London JPSI Aggregate volume per date per trading venue: 115,903 125,000 Weighted average price per day per trading venue: 362.0483 361.5000

The Company intends to hold the purchased shares in treasury.

Following the above share transactions of the relevant US Dollar and Sterling Shares, the total number of shares in issue in each share class of the Company will be as follows:

Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding Treasury) Ordinary Shares held in Treasury 369,344,239 Sterling Shares 4,185,668 Sterling Shares 29,854,672 Dollar Shares Nil Dollar Shares

From 17 January 2024, the total number of voting rights in the Company (rounded up to the whole number) is 566,012,839.

Enquiries:

Company website: www.bhmacro.com

William Simmonds

JPMorgan Cazenove

Tel: 020 7588 2828

The Company Secretary

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Tel: 01481 745001
Regulatory News:

Aelis Farma (ISIN: FR0014007ZB4 Ticker: AELIS) (Paris: AELIS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of treatments for brain disorders, today announces the reinforcement of its leadership team with the appointment of Arsene Guekam as Chief Corporate Development Officer (CDO).

With over 15 years of experience in the Healthcare (biotech/medtech) and financial sectors, Arsene Guekam brings an unvaluable expertise to Aelis Farma in these fields. Graduate in Pharmacy and from the EM Lyon's Programme Grandes Ecoles (finance option), Arsene held key positions as a financial analyst in several renowned brokers such as Oddo BHF, CM-CIC Securities, or Credit Lyonnais Small Caps. Before joining Aelis Farma, Arsene served as Senior Analyst, Head of Biotech Research at Kepler Cheuvreux, and later as Co-Head of Healthcare Research.

His extensive experience in financial markets and trend analysis, combined with a profound understanding of the challenges in the biotechnology industry, makes him an exceptional asset for Aelis Farma.

As Chief Corporate Development Officer, Arsene will be responsible for steering and overseeing the Company's development strategy, including identifying and evaluating new growth opportunities, fostering strategic partnerships, and strengthening relationships with investors.

Pier Vincenzo Piazza, CEO of Aelis Farma, states: "We are delighted to welcome Arsene Guekam as Chief Corporate Development Officer. This appointment aligns with our commitment to further structure our leadership team to support our operational and strategic development. His significant expertise and strategic vision will be key assets in continuing and amplifying our development in line with our roadmap and beyond, while increasing Aelis' visibility within the entire financial community specialized in this field."

About AELIS FARMA

Founded in Bordeaux in 2013, Aelis Farma is a biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of drugs, the Signaling-Specific inhibitors of the CB1 receptor of the endocannabinoid system (CB1-SSi). CB1-SSi have been developed by Aelis Farma based on the discovery of a natural regulatory mechanism of CB1 hyperactivity made by the team led by Dr. Pier Vincenzo Piazza, the Company's CEO, when he was the director of the Neurocentre Magendie of the INSERM in Bordeaux. By mimicking this natural mechanism, CB1-SSi appear to selectively inhibit the disease-related activity of the CB1 receptor without disrupting its normal physiological activity. CB1-SSi have consequently the potential to provide new safe treatments for several brain diseases.

Aelis Farma is currently developing two first-in-class clinical-stage drug candidates: AEF0117 for the treatment of cannabis use disorder (CUD), currently being tested in a phase 2b study in the United States; and AEF0217 for cognitive disorders, including those of Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21), currently in a phase 1/2 study in Spain in people with Down syndrome. The Company also has a portfolio of new innovative CB1-SSi for the treatment of other disorders associated with a dysregulation of the activity of the CB1 receptor.

Aelis Farma draws on the talents of more than 20 highly qualified employees.

For more information, visit www.aelisfarma.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

ISIN: FR0014007ZB4

Ticker: AELIS

B Compartment of Euronext Paris

Disclaimer

Forward-looking statements

Some information contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, not historical data. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions about Aelis Farma's current and future strategy and the environment in which Aelis Farma operates. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements, or industry results or other events, to differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those set out and described in detail in Chapter 3 "Risk Factors" of Aelis Farma's Universal Registration Document approved by the Autorite des Marches Financiers on April 26, 2023, under number R.23-018.

These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Aelis Farma expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or corrections to the forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any change in expectations or events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such forward-looking statement is based. Forward-looking information and statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond Aelis Farma's control. Actual results could differ materially from those described in, or implied or projected by, forward-looking information and statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117608527/en/

Contacts:

AELIS FARMA

Pier Vincenzo Piazza

CEO

contact@aelisfarma.com

NewCap

Dusan Oresansky Aurelie Manavarere

Investor Relations

aelis@newcap.eu

+33 1 44 71 94 92

NewCap

Arthur Rouille

Media Relations

aelis@newcap.fr

+33 1 44 71 00 15
Redde Northgate Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 17

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

17 January 2024

REDDE NORTHGATE PLC

("Redde Northgate" or the "Group" or the "Company")

Transaction in Own Shares

Redde Northgate plc (LSE:REDD) announces that on 17 January 2024 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury:

Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 50,000 Weighted average purchase price paid : 341.25 pence per share Highest purchase price paid : 343 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid : 339.5 pence per share

Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 17,915,071 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore the total number of voting rights in the Company is 228,176,352 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme.

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions (as at 17 January 2024)

Number of shares

purchased Transaction price

(GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 25,000 25,000 343.00 339.50 08:51:07 14:55:48 00068482490TRLO0 00068494972TRLO0 LSE LSE

Notes

This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6.

For further information contact:

Buchanan

David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000

Notes to Editors:

Redde Northgate is the leading integrated mobility solutions platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle. The Company offers integrated mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across seven key areas: vehicle rental, vehicle data, accident management, vehicle repairs, fleet management, service and maintenance, vehicle ancillary services and vehicle sales.

The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, whether through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With its considerable scale and reach, Redde Northgate's mission is to offer a market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group aims to achieve this through the delivery of its strategic framework of Focus, Drive and Broaden.

Redde Northgate services its customers through a network and diversified fleet of over 120,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 600,000 managed vehicles, with more than 170 workshop, body shop and rental locations across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 6,000 automotive services professionals.

Further information please visit the Company's website:
Move represents expansion of parent company KARE Rx Partners' mission to serve the pharmacy industry, connecting independent pharmacy owners with the comprehensive solutions they need to compete in 2024 and beyond

TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Widely regarded as one of the boldest entrepreneurs and brightest minds in the healthcare space, Dr. Kiran "Dr. K" Patel is focusing groundbreaking efforts on the pharmacy industry. He is proudly announcing plans to advance the cause of community pharmacies through his latest enterprise KARE. This initiative promises to empower and change the marketplace and landscape for community pharmacies.

For Dr. K, the strategy is underscored by the desire to start a new era in PharmTech innovation-largely by investing in the relationship part of the equation at the front end; in turn, redefining the role of community pharmacies as accessible hubs for healthcare services at the point-of-care.

"From my background in building healthcare businesses, particularly in regards to leading household name HMOs like WellCare (5th largest Medicaid Plan under his tenure, throughout the U.S.), Freedom Health, and Optimum Healthcare (2nd largest in Florida), I've learned what it takes to be successful in this industry. However, there is more to success than creating wealth. I have learned how to use that success to advance professional, educational and philanthropic goals that create real changes in the world," explained Dr. K. "Driving change through new platforms like this venture makes it possible to preserve the patient/pharmacist relationship."

As chairman and one of the founders of KARE PharmTech, as well as being a prolific entrepreneur with a portfolio of 8+ companies valued at or expected to be near 1 billion dollars, Dr. K is highly regarded for his astute intellect and aggressive business-building style. In recent years, he has founded or devoted significant financial resources to companies dedicated to developing immunotherapies for cancer (Morphogenesis, Inc.), solar-powered EV-charging infrastructure and solar panels (Magentapower), and innovative medical devices for cardiovascular procedures (Concept Medical).

Perhaps even more impressively, over the years, Dr. K has made it his life's work, distinguishing himself by his dedication and determination to make a worldwide impact on millions of lives. He has leveraged his ascendant profile in the public square and financial success to power his global philanthropy, giving more than 500 million dollars to largely health and educational causes. Through his namesake foundation, he has founded or supported dozens of entities, ranging from Nova Southeastern University (NSU), University of South Florida (USF), medical colleges, and hospitals to medical clinics, research institutes, K-12 schools, and community centers, in the U.S., India, Zambia, and the Caribbean. Just a few examples out of many, but deeds like these do provide some meaningful insight into his vision for the future-one linked by the many lessons he's learned in business leadership over the last several decades. Those contributions have earned him praise from around the globe and several prestigious awards, including the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (2019) and Floridian of the Year honors (2018).

"One thing you learn from giving back to the community is how to become a catalyst for positive change," Dr. K explained. "Seeing how so many local pharmacies are closing and turning rural areas into deserts without essential healthcare resources is simply untenable. So, together with Mital Panara and the team, we are envisioning a new way forward."

Mital Panara, also a founder at KARE and its CEO, went further by adding, "KARE 'PharmTech', as it stands here at the start of 2024, is intended to accomplish four main goals: the first is empowering community pharmacies to better serve patients through state-of-the-art technology; the second is to help pharmacy owners enhance operational efficiency in areas such as inventory management and prescription fulfillment; third, we're looking at implementing a radically new vision for promoting patient-centric care at every touchpoint; and fourth, it's about facilitating connectivity and collaboration among pharmacists, providers, and patients in a living, thriving digital ecosystem."

At KARE, we are uniting and organizing the most under-utilized segment of the healthcare industry our "Community Pharmacies" and empowering them with AI and ML technologies with additional revenue-generating programs to compete with the large chains and giving their contribution the recognition, they deserve. The relief to independent pharmacies promised by this new organization, run under the banner of KARE, can't come soon enough as more than 20,000 of them continue to battle against a handful of large chain stores. In Dr. K's and Mr. Panara's estimation, it's actually long overdue. "These days, there are a lot more questions than there are resources for answers. KARE is on it," Mital Panara mentioned.

Contact Information

Swati Patel

Director of Account Management

snpatel@karehp.com

8135512393

SOURCE: KARE Rx Partners

View the original press release on newswire.com.
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / ASPINA Incorporated proudly announces the strategic relocation of its corporate headquarters to Irvine, California, effective December 2023. This move represents a significant milestone for ASPINA as it positions the company for continued growth and innovation.





ASPINA Inc. Headquarters

As of December 2023, ASPINA Inc. relocated its headquarters to 18952 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 230, Irvine, California 92612 U.S.A.





The decision to move the corporate headquarters to Irvine aligns with ASPINA's commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and expanding innovation in the southern California area. The new location offers a dynamic business environment, access to top-tier talent, and proximity to key partners, all of which will contribute to the company's vision and ongoing success.

"We are happy to announce the relocation of our corporate headquarters to Irvine, a city known for its outstanding business community. Irvine is home to some of the top tech companies, start-ups, and UC Irvine, one of the top technical universities in the country," said Nick Lauro, Senior Vice President of ASPINA Incorporated. "This move indicates our dedication to operational excellence, strong commitment to the wellness of our team members, and that of our business partners and the community."

As part of its overall vision and strategy, ASPINA will transform its current Culver City location into a specialized Engineering and Technical Center. This decision aims to leverage and expand ASPINA's technical resources, and improve research and development of new technologies and business models. The Engineering and Technical Center will play a crucial role in advancing ASPINA's core technologies and the invention of new ones. The Center will serve as a small eco-hub for start-up companies looking for help to ideate, develop, and build concept proofs and prototypes - even leveraging ASPINA know-how for manufacturing.

"Our Culver City Engineering and Technical center will enable us to harness the expertise of our talented team and further solidify ASPINA's position as a leader in multiple industries, including automotive, medical, space and robotics," said Hiro Nakajima, Chief Technical Officer of ASPINA.

ASPINA remains dedicated to delivering groundbreaking solutions and maintaining its commitment to excellence in every aspect of its operations.

Contact Information

Nicholas Lauro

Senior Vice President Business Operations

nick.lauro@aspina-group.com

310-693-7600

SOURCE: ASPINA Inc.

View the original press release on newswire.com.


MOUNTAIN VIEW (dpa-AFX) - Google is updating the notification within Chrome's Incognito mode to warn that both Google and websites operated by other companies can still gather users' data even when they are using the web browser's Incognito mode.



Earlier, when a user opened an Incognito browser on Chrome, they'd see a notification warning them that other people using their device wouldn't be able to see their activity but that their downloads, bookmarks and reading items would still be saved.



Now, Google has updated that disclaimer in Chrome's experimental Canary channel. The update was first noticed by MSPowerUser.



'You've gone Incognito. Others who use this device won't see your activity, so you can browse more privately. This won't change how data is collected by websites you visit and the services they use, including Google. Downloads, bookmarks and reading list items will be saved,' the new disclaimer reads.



The warning was updated in Canary on Android and Windows, and also in the version of Chrome for Mac. The new warning was not yet included in the developer, beta, and stable branches of Chrome.



Incognito mode in the stable version of Chrome still says: 'You've gone Incognito. Now you can browse privately, and other people who use this device won't see your activity.'



The new update comes just weeks after Google agreed to settle a $5 billion consumer privacy lawsuit from 2020, accusing it of secretly tracking users' browsing activity in incognito mode.



The lawsuit claimed that Google breached users' privacy by gathering their personal data, including 'potentially embarrassing things' they might have browsed through in Incognito mode. Furthermore, they accused Google of using tools like Google Analytics and browser plug-ins to monitor users.



The tech giant defended itself by stating that even in incognito mode, it was transparent about data collection norms, and the collected data was later passed to website owners to improve their sites. However, the judge dismissed Google's claim, citing that the message in privacy statements was not as clear as it could be, and rejected the company's request to put an end to the lawsuit.



The settlement terms have not been divulged, but the lawyers said they have reached an agreement through mediation and would present a formal settlement agreement before the court by February 24, 2024.



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LONDON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading global mining and metals companies have today committed to take urgent action to support a nature positive future by 2030[1] that promotes the health, diversity and resilience of species, ecosystems and natural processes. With responsibly produced minerals and metals playing a critical role in advancing global sustainable development goals, ICMM members, representing a third of the global industry, have pledged that meeting this demand for critical materials must not be at the expense of nature.

Shaped by experts and leaders from a range of disciplines from across ICMM company and association members, as well as from civil society, academia, Indigenous representatives, and investor and disclosure bodies, ICMM's new commitments set out a 5-point plan for nature:

1.Protect and conserve pristine areas of our natural environment: No mining or exploration in World Heritage Sites and respect all legally designated protected areas.[2]

2.Halt biodiversity loss at our operations: Achieve at least no net loss of biodiversity at all mine sites by closure against a 2020 baseline.

3.Collaborate across value chains: Develop initiatives and partnerships that halt and reverse nature loss throughout supply and distribution chains.

4.Restore and enhance landscapes: Around operations through local partnerships, including with Indigenous Peoples, land-connected peoples and local communities.

5.Catalyse wider change: Acting to change the fundamental systems that contribute to nature loss and fostering opportunities for nature's recovery.

These commitments apply to activities across all four realms of nature - land, freshwater, oceans and atmosphere - leveraging companies' areas of influence - from their direct operations, value chains and wider landscapes, through to creating the conditions required to achieve systems transformation. They are supported by transparent disclosures on performance outcomes, including publishing the results of nature-related impact and dependency assessments, and setting targets to address these.

Rohitesh Dhawan, President and CEO, ICMM announced the nature commitments at a Nature Positive Initiative event in Davos today, commenting: "The mining industry owes its very existence to nature. At a time when the health of our natural world is in peril yet the demand for critical minerals is set to soar, we have committed to significant collective action to help create a nature positive future. These commitments build on the significant individual goals and actions of ICMM members over several decades, including habitat conservation, species protection, and landscape restoration.

There is no escaping that the act of mining directly affects nature, which is why the cornerstone of our commitments is to ensure at least no net loss of biodiversity at all mine sites by closure against a 2020 baseline. In addition, we have committed to take steps in our value chains, landscapes, and the wider systems in which we operate so that the total impact of our actions contribute to a nature positive future. These will be taken with the critical participation of Indigenous and land-connected peoples, and local communities, whose rights, values, and knowledge will be central to our actions."

ICMM members have already implemented a number of initiatives focused on conservation and restoration, for example, strengthening protection for areas of high biodiversity value, developing innovative technologies for improved seed performance during landscape revegetation, and defending important habitats from invasive species. ICMM's new commitments will enhance these to drive performance across the industry.

Jonathan Price, President and CEO, Teck Resources Limited, and Chair of ICMM's Council Nature Advisory Group, said: "Collaboration across all sectors is essential to help stop and reverse nature loss and ICMM's nature commitments will help companies to scale up their existing efforts and drive local and regional partnerships to better protect and restore our landscapes and ecosystems for the benefit of all.



"At Teck, we're taking action to conserve and restore nature while we also provide the critical minerals the world needs to decarbonize. For us, that means implementing initiatives including conserving and reclaiming at least three hectares for every one hectare we affect through mining."

Marco Lambertini, Convenor of the Nature Positive Initiative, said: "Today's commitment from the mining sector to contribute to a nature-positive future is welcome. Sector-wide coordination is key to halting and reversing today's accelerating loss of biodiversity. To help secure a nature-positive world, it will now be critical that ICMM's members translate this commitment into truly nature-positive outcomes. This means both safeguarding areas with high biodiversity value and contributing in their operations to measurable gains in the health, abundance, diversity and resilience of species, ecosystems and natural processes."

The commitments on direct operations, value chain and governance and transparency apply to all members, and individual members will select at least one of three commitment options relating to wider landscapes and systems transformation, in order to maximise their positive contribution.

These commitments were published as part of a Position Statement setting out ICMM members' approach to contributing to a nature positive future guided by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and ICMM's existing commitments in relation to protected areas, Indigenous Peoples, water and respecting human rights as per the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Action on nature is an integral part of ICMM's Mining Principles, representing our member companies' comprehensive commitment to a responsible mining and metals industry.

- END -

Notes to editors

ICMM's Nature Position Statement is available here

Media pack including quotes from ICMM member CEOs and high-res images from company members that are available for publication with the piece (please credit the source company) is available on the ICMM website: https://www.icmm.com/en-gb/news/2024/nature-media-kit

As of 17 January 19.00 GMT, learn more about ICMM's nature commitments and action already happening on the ground on our new Nature Hub https://nature.icmm.com , including:

Member examples of nature conservation and restoration (film, photos, interviews and articles)

Content that helps to explain elements of the commitments

The story behind the sculpture created from recycled metal to mark the commitment

English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and French versions of the commitments (https://nature.icmm.com/position-statement)



About ICMM

ICMM stands for mining with principles. We bring together approximately a third of the world's mining industry, along with key partners to drive leadership, action, and innovation for sustainable development. Through collaboration, ICMM member companies set the standard for responsibly produced minerals and metals to help build a safe, just and sustainable world.

[1] From a 2020 baseline

[2] ICMM members made these commitments in 2003 and 2018

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mining-leaders-make-landmark-commitments-to-support-a-nature-positive-future-302037383.html
Future Market Insights, Inc. (FMI) predicts a transformative future for healthcare powered by 5G, the next-generation communication technology. This lightning-fast network is revolutionizing communication between patients, doctors, researchers, and all players in the healthcare ecosystem. Explore full report for insights & stakeholder opportunities.

NEWARK, Del., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 5G in Healthcare Market is slated to have a valuation of US$ 85 billion in 2024. In contrast, the value was marked at US$ 62.2 billion in 2023. The progress of the market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 35.7% through 2034. The valuation of the market is forecasted to reach US$ 1,800 billion by 2034.

Request Exclusive Sample Report: 5G Technology in Healthcare Industry Strategic Insights, https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-12783

Healthcare is integrating technology into its workings at an increasing rate. One such technology making its way into healthcare is 5G. With a need for better communication in the medical field, 5G is enabling greater contact between patients, medical professionals, researchers, and other healthcare sector players.

In recent years, doctors are increasingly relying on remote monitoring equipment. With problems related to the number of hospital beds, understaffing, and funding, many doctors are turning to remote devices to monitor patient's health. 5G remote devices ensure the smooth running of information to doctors and efficiency in the reading of vitals.

The importance of research in the healthcare sector is rising as people are getting afflicted with newer diseases. With the need to get medicines on the shelf as quickly as possible, researchers are leveraging 5G to speed up their processes. Enabling better communication, effective management of data, efficient running of hypotheses, and more, researchers are inclined towards 5G usage in their lab work.

"Robotic surgery is turning out to be a revolutionary technique in the healthcare sector. With 5G assisting robots in surgical tasks, robotic surgery is earning a positive reputation. Thus, robotic surgery is one avenue market players can look towards for rapid growth," says Sudip Saha is the managing director and co-founder at Future Market Insights.

Key Takeaways from the 5G in Healthcare Market Report

The 5G in healthcare market is expected to be worth US$ 85 billion in 2024.

Hardware is leading the market by component. From 2024 to 2034, hardware is expected to progress at a CAGR of 35.6%.

5G is most commonly used in healthcare for remote monitoring applications. Over the forecast period, remote monitoring devices are expected to register a CAGR of 35.5%.

South Korea is expected to be one of the leading countries in terms of market progress and is expected to rise at a CAGR of 38.3% through 2034.

Japan and China are other Asian countries with potential for market growth, registering CAGRs of 37.1% and 36.1%, respectively, over the forecast period.

The United Kingdom market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 36.3% until 2034.

Competition Analysis of the 5G in Healthcare Market

Collaborations with both healthcare institutions and medical technology producers are being utilized by key players for market growth. Through the means of acquisitions and mergers, 5G companies are stepping into or increasing their foothold in the market. The prominent companies in the market are:

AT&T

Verizon

China Mobile International Limited

Quectel

Telit

Telus

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Cisco System Inc.

Orange

NEC Corporation

Purchase this report now to get key companies with their Revenue Forecast, Volume Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends, and Pricing Analysis.

Recent Developments in the 5G in Healthcare Market

In November 2023, HelathNet Global made available a 5G-connected ambulance in Kolkata at the Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals.

In February 2022, Cisco acquired Accedian, a 5G healthcare solution provider.

5G in Healthcare Market Segmentation:

By Component: Hardware Service

By Application: Remote Patient Monitoring Connected Medical Devices AR/VR Connected Ambulance Asset Tracking

By End Use: Healthcare Providers Healthcare Payers

By Region: North America Latin America Europe South Asia East Asia Oceania Middle East and Africa (MEA)



Request to Access the Detail Research Methodology from here!

About the Author:

Sudip Saha is the managing director and co-founder at Future Market Insights, an award-winning market research and consulting firm. Sudip is committed to shaping the market research industry with credible solutions and constantly makes a buzz in the media with his thought leadership. His vast experience in market research and project management across verticals in APAC, EMEA, and the Americas reflects his growth-oriented approach to clients.

He is a strong believer and proponent of innovation-based solutions, emphasizing customized solutions to meet one client's requirements at a time. His foresightedness and visionary approach recently got him recognized as the 'Global Icon in Business Consulting' at the ET Inspiring Leaders Awards 2022.

Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage in the Technology Domain:

5G in Defense Market Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF.

Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - 5G IoT Market Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF.

Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - 5G Technology Market Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF.

Covering Sales Outlook, Up-to-date Key Trends, Market Size and Forecast, 2023-2033. - LTE and 5G Market by Long-term Evolution Frequency Division Duplex and Long-term Evolution Time Division Multiplex, 2023-2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF.

by Long-term Evolution Frequency Division Duplex and Long-term Evolution Time Division Multiplex, 2023-2033. - LTE and 5G Broadcast Market by Technology, End-Use & Region - Forecast 2022 - 2032. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF.

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai and has delivery centers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis helps businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition.

Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

Contact Us

Nandini Singh Sawlani

Future Market Insights Inc.

Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive,

Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/5g-in-healthcare-market-to-zoom-to-us1-8-trillion-by-2034--driven-by-robotics-and-telehealth-302036917.html


SAN RAMON (dpa-AFX) - Chevron (CVX) CEO Michael Wirth has warned that if tensions were to further escalate in the Middle East, the Red Sea crisis would pose a serious threat to the oil flows and prices.



On Tuesday, in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wirth told CNBC that the situation is 'very serious and seems to be getting worse.'



He added, 'So much of the world's oil flows through that region, that were it to be cut off, I think you could see things change very rapidly.'



While talking about the U.S. oil prices, Wirth told CNBC that he was surprised to see the crude oil trading below $73 per barrel.



The shipping giant, Chevron's vessels pass through the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea regularly. In order to ensure the safety of its employees, the company has been keeping an eye on the Houthi attacks.



'We coordinate every vessel movement with U.S. and other military authorities that are in the region,' Wirth commented. 'We really have to watch very carefully.'



Wirth said that Chevron's two vessels were attacked last year by the Iranian Navy, one was hijacked by the commandos and taken to an Iranian port, while the other was under attack for four hours until the U.S. Navy intervened.



Houthi attacks have become a regular occurrence in the Red Sea route since November. They are claiming to avenge Israel's operation against Hamas in Gaza, by attacking commercial vessels passing through that route.



In a bid to avoid the attacks, many shipping companies chose to divert their ships towards the Cape of Good Hope route, while other shipping companies such as BP, Shell, and Qatar Energy decided to suspend their shipments for an indefinite period.



Wirth said Chevron has been 'able to maintain' movements throughout the region while keeping in mind that it is an 'evolving situation'.



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MINATO (dpa-AFX) - An All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight was forced to return to Tokyo, after an American passenger allegedly bit a female cabin crew member mid-flight on Tuesday. The incident happened on the Seattle bound Flight ANA 118. The plane departed from Tokyo's Haneda airport at 9:47 local time and made a U-turn after a little over an hour into its journey. A spokesperson for the airlines reported that the 55-year old passenger was 'heavily drunk' when he bit the attendant's arm, slightly injuring her. The man, whose name is yet to be disclosed, was arrested by police after the plane landed in the capital. When asked about the incident, the man claimed that he could not recollect the incident as he had taken a sleeping pill during the flight. The flight which carried 159 passengers on board was later rescheduled to Wednesday. In a similar incident, two passengers were heavily fined in 2022 for biting and hitting the cabin crew members as well as the other passengers on separate flights with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. The Federal Aviation Administration fined $81,950 and $77,272 on the two passengers respectively. It was the two largest penalties levied by the agency against individual passengers. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Leading M&A Advisory Firm Adds to Successful Track Record in the Franchising Sector

JUPITER, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Boxwood Partners - a leading boutique middle-market M&A advisory firm - is pleased to announce iFranchise Group received a significant investment from L2 Capital, a lower middle market private equity firm in Devon, PA and Miami, FL. Boxwood Partners, which has established a solid reputation as a premier advisor for middle market clients in the franchising sector, acted as the exclusive sell-side advisor in the transaction.

Leading the deal for Boxwood Partners was Patrick Galleher, Managing Partner, Brian Alas, Managing Director, Clayton Patton, Vice President, John Atkinson, Associate, and Gio Lagnerini, Analyst. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

iFranchise Group, which includes Top Fire Media ("iFranchise") is the market-leading franchising consultant and digital marketing provider for emerging and established brands.

"The highly strategic partnership between iFranchise Group and L2 Capital will lead to accelerated growth and success," Galleher said. "L2 Capital laser focuses on each company in their portfolio, and their ability to spot growth potential is what sets them apart."

L2 Capital has delivered market leading returns since 2010 by investing in niche lower middle market leading consumer and business services companies. L2 executes a differentiated operations-focused strategy, by targeting founder and entrepreneur-led businesses that are at an inflection point where L2's breakthrough growth framework and direct operating expertise can quickly accelerate market share gain.

"We have been extremely impressed by the iFranchise and TopFire teams and are thrilled to partner with them. We believe that L2 can leverage iFranchise and TopFire Media's market leading position as we look to achieve breakthrough growth in the Company's current offerings as well as adjacencies that we have identified," said Peter Batushansky, Partner at L2 Capital.

Mark Siebert of iFranchise Group noted, "Boxwood's specialized expertise in franchising definitely contributed to a smooth transaction. We are excited for the next chapter of our growth and greatly appreciate the guidance of the Boxwood team throughout the process."

About Boxwood Partners

Boxwood Partners, LLC is a boutique investment bank based in Jupiter, Florida with offices in Richmond, Virginia. Boxwood Partners combines a unique blend of senior-level transaction advisory, business operating experience, and proven process execution skills to give its clients a distinct advantage in the market. The firm's extensive relationships within the global capital and buyer communities (including U.S. and international private equity groups, corporations, and lenders) and other important transaction-related service providers such as consultants, attorneys, and accountants, ensure that the firm's clients receive the attention, service, and results they deserve. Boxwood Partners was recently included in The Axial Advisor 100 List, which identifies, verifies and acknowledges the most highly regarded lower middle market sell-side M&A advisors. For more information about Boxwood Partners, please visit www.boxwoodpartners.com.

About iFranchise Group

The iFranchise Group is a leading franchise consulting firm that offers strategic planning, operations training and documentation, franchise marketing and sales tools and training, and other important guidance for emerging and established franchisors. Their consultants have helped thousands of businesses assess their franchise potential. They also help existing franchisors improve franchise sales effectiveness, generate more leads, decrease costs and improve franchisee relationships. Specialties include: Franchise feasibility, helping new franchisors, market research, business planning, financial analysis, operations manuals, training programs, online learning, franchise marketing plans, franchise e-brochure development, website content and development, franchise sales training, franchise sales improvement, franchise marketing improvement, franchisee relations, expert witness services, acquisition due diligence, and conversion of dealers to franchises.

About L2 Capital

L2 Capital Partners L2 Capital is a boutique lower middle market private equity firm that specializes in making controlling investments in a diverse range of family and founder-built companies with demonstrated market leadership and unlocked potential for growth. L2's impressive track record over the last decade includes top quartile returns for its portfolio of business services and consumer products companies with enterprise values up to $100 million. L2 Capital adds value by partnering closely with company leadership to meet their strategic and financial goals by providing intimate operational support including a breakthrough growth framework in addition to access to resources and technology gained over 40 years of principal investing experience.

CONTACT:

Taylor Nortman

tnortman@fishmanpr.com

847-945-1300

SOURCE: Boxwood Partners LLC

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. (TSXV: PEMC) ("Pacific Empire", "PEMC" or the "Company"), a British Columbia copper-gold explorer, is pleased to announce that it has closed the second tranche of the non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") announced on December 19, 2023. Under the second tranche of the Offering, the Company issued 11,000,000 common shares (the "Shares") at a price of $0.01 per Share, and 4,000,000 "Flow-through" shares (the "FT Shares") at a price of $0.015 per FT Share, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $170,000.

The proceeds of the FT Shares portion of the second tranche of the Offering will be used for the exploration of the Company's Trident project, and the proceeds of the Shares portion of the second tranche of the Offering will be used for general corporate purposes and exploration of the Company's properties.

In connection with the Offering, the Corporation has agreed to pay to Haywood Securities Inc. (the "Finder") a commission equal to 7% of the gross proceeds raised from the Shares and the FT Shares sold to the purchasers by the Finder (the "Finder's Fee") payable in cash and also issued the Finder the number of Common Share purchase warrants (the "Broker Warrants") equal to 7% of the aggregate number of Shares and FT Shares placed by the Finder. Each Broker Warrant will entitle the Finder to purchase one Common Share Common Share at an exercise price of $0.05 for a period of 12 months from closing and at a price of $0.10 for the period from January 16, 2025 to January 16, 2027.

All securities issued in connection with the second tranche of the Offering (being the Shares, the FT Shares, and the Finder's Warrants), are subject to a statutory hold period expiring May 17, 2024.

About Pacific Empire

Pacific Empire is a copper exploration company based in Vancouver, British Columbia and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEMC. The Company has a district scale land position in north-central British Columbia totaling 22,541 hectares.

British Columbia is a "Green" copper jurisdiction with abundant hydroelectric power, access and infrastructure in close proximity to the end market.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

"Brad Peters"

President and Chief Executive Officer

Pacific Empire Minerals Corp.

Tel: +1-604-356-6246

brad@pemcorp.ca

www.pemcorp.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation: The proceeds of the FT Shares portion of the second tranche of the Offering will be used for the exploration of the Company's Trident project, and the proceeds of the Shares portion of the second tranche of the Offering will be used for general corporate purposes and exploration of the Company's properties, are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume and the additional risks identified the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES

NOR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194634

SOURCE: Pacific Empire Minerals Corp.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Pulsar Helium Inc. (TSXVPLSR) & (FRA:Y3K) ("Pulsar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the private placement previously announced on January 8, 2024 (the "Offering") consisting of the issuance of 18,500,000 units ("Units") at a purchase price of CAD$0.23 for gross proceeds of CAD$4,255,000 million.

Each Unit consists of one common share (each, a "Share") and one transferable common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase, for a period of 24 months from the date of issue (the "Expiry Date"), one additional common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of CAD$0.36 per Warrant Share.

The Company paid aggregate cash finder's fees of CAD$27,090 to arm's length finders of the Company in connection with a portion of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to fund the cost of the ongoing exploration programs on the Company's helium projects and for general working capital purposes.

Pursuant to Canadian Securities Laws, all securities issued in the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance.

ABCrescent B.V. ("ABCapital") is the General Partner for the investment funds and direct investments within ABCapital. ABCapital is an investment management and advisory firm based in Amsterdam managing multiple investment funds and structuring direct investments in private and listed companies.

ABCapital acquired, on behalf of accounts fully managed by ABCapital over which it has sole discretion, 15,500,000 Shares in the Offering representing approximately 16.7% of the Company's outstanding Shares (or 31,000,000 Shares representing approximately 28.7% of the Company's outstanding Shares on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of ABCapital's Warrants). Subject to approval by the Company's shareholders, ABCapital is only entitled to exercise from time to time, such number of Warrants that, after the applicable exercise, the number of Shares of then owned by ABCapital shall not exceed 19.9% of the then issued and outstanding Shares. No finder's fees were paid in connection with the investment by ABCapital. ABCapital and the Company have agreed that as long as ABCapital maintains its investment in the Company at or above 10%, ABCapital shall be entitled to nominate a person as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. Brice Laurent, managing partner of ABCapital, has joined the Board of Pulsar Helium.

The Company has been advised that the securities were purchased by ABCapital for investment purposes and that ABCapital has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities either on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, that ABCapital has knowledge of any material information concerning the Company or its securities which has not been generally disclosed. Prior to the completion of the Offering, ABCapital did not own, and did not exercise control or direction over, any Shares, and accordingly, the acquisition represents an increase in the number of Shares over which ABCcapital exercises control or direction over from nil to 16.7% of the outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis and 28.7% on a partially-diluted basis.

An aggregate of 7,000,000 Units issued to ABCapital as part of the Offering, and the proceeds corresponding thereto, have been placed into escrow pending receipt of approval from TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") with respect to personal information filed by such subscriber in connection with it becoming insiders of the Company (the "Escrow"). The Units and proceeds held in Escrow will be released on the Exchange's approval and clearance following the completion of the review of the applicable personal information. A copy of the early warning report filed by ABCapital in connection with the Offering will be available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile. ABCapital's head office is located at Prinsengracht 769A, 1017 JZ Amersterdam, The Netherlands.

About Pulsar Helium Inc.

Pulsar Helium Inc. is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange with the ticker PLSR. Pulsar's portfolio consists of the Topaz helium project in Minnesota, USA and the Tunu helium project in Greenland. Pulsar is the first mover in both locations with primary helium occurrences not associated with the production of hydrocarbons identified at each. For further information visit https://pulsarhelium.com, follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) https://twitter.com/pulsarhelium?lang=en and LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/company/pulsar-helium-inc.

On behalf Pulsar Helium Inc.

"Thomas Abraham-James"

President, CEO and Director

Further Information:

Thomas Abraham-James President,

CEO and Director Pulsar Helium Inc.

connect@pulsarhelium.com

+ 1 (604) 599-0310

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be forward-looking statements or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation (together, the "forward-looking statements") that may not be based on historical fact, including without limitation, statements containing the words "believe", "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "potential" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the Company in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as the factors we believe are appropriate. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements relating to the Exchange's final approval of the Offering. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedarplus.com for further information.

SOURCE: Pulsar Helium Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - In an exciting development for Dubai's tech education scene, TeachMeCode Institute is set to open its doors with a grand launch event on January 15th. This event marks a significant milestone for the institute, which has already garnered attention for its unique approach to coding and tech education.

TeachMeCode Institute

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8798/194027_acd4a178044039fb_001full.jpg

Based in the heart of Dubai, TeachMeCode Institute boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including the latest iMac devices, Desk screens that recognize and greet students, and an innovative, conversation-capable AI tree. This blend of technology and interactive learning tools sets the institute apart, creating a stimulating environment for students.

The institute's curriculum is designed to cater to a wide range of tech interests and skill levels. It offers comprehensive courses in Front-End Development, Back-End Development, UI/UX Design, Blockchain Fundamentals, and a newly introduced Python course covering AI, Machine Learning, and Data Analytics. Each course is meticulously crafted to provide students with hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the subject matter.

What truly distinguishes TeachMeCode Institute is its commitment to practical learning. Students have the opportunity to work on real-life projects, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. This approach not only enhances learning but also prepares students for the challenges of the tech industry.

In addition to technical skills, the institute places a strong emphasis on career development. Through its partnerships with leading tech companies, TeachMeCode offers its students potential internship and job opportunities, paving the way for successful careers in the technology sector.

The January 15th launch event promises an engaging experience with a school tour, interactive games, special gifts, and a chance to meet future classmates - all part of showcasing the vibrant and immersive learning environment at TeachMeCode.

As Dubai continues to evolve as a hub for technology and innovation, TeachMeCode Institute is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of tech education in the region. With its unique educational model and state-of-the-art facilities, the institute is on track to become a key player in nurturing the next generation of tech professionals.

For more information and to register for the launch event, visit teachmecode.ae

Media Contact:

Hosam Bardawil

Hosam@teachmecode.ae

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194027

SOURCE: Ascend Agency
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Australia will on Thursday release December data for unemployment, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. The Australian economy is expected to have added 17,600 jobs last month following the addition of 61,500 in November. The participation rate is pegged at 67.1 percent, easing from 67.2 percent a month earlier, while the unemployment rate is seen steady at 3.9 percent. Japan will provide November numbers for core machine orders and revised industrial production. Machine orders are expected to slip 0.8 percent on month and add 0.2 percent on year after rising 0.7 percent on month and falling 2.2 percent on year in October. Industrial production is tipped to slide 0.9 percent on month after climbing 1.3 percent in October. Hong Kong will see December data for unemployment, with forecasts suggesting the jobless rate will hold steady at 2.9 percent. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Lightship, a San Francisco, CA-based all-electric RV company, closed a $34m Series B financing.

The round was co-led by Obvious Ventures and Prelude Ventures and joined by Allegis Capital and global RV manufacturer THOR Industries and its investment partner TechNexus Venture Collaborative. Returning investors Congruent Ventures, HyperGuap, and Alumni Ventures also joined the fundraise.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate production of the Lightship L1.

Founded in 2020 by CEO Toby Kraus, Lightship is an all-electric RV company designing and producing aerodynamic, battery-powered trailers for the electric age. The all-electric RV features a massive battery energy storage system, electric propulsion and enough solar to power the vehicle for a week off-grid. The company, which has new production facility in Broomfield, Colorado, anticipates the creation of numerous high-tech engineering and manufacturing jobs as it scales up production to meet high demand following its launch.

Lightship sells its products direct to U.S. consumers on its website at lightshiprv.com.

FinSMEs

17/01/2024
Ortec, a Zoetermeer, the Netherlands-based provider of decision support software and data science capabilities, received an investment from Battery Ventures.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed. Zak Ewen, a Battery partner based in London, joined Ortecs board.

The company intends to use the funds to further strengthen its leadership position in the US and Europe in the field of supply chain, workforce-management and data science & consulting.

Co-founded by Aart van Beuzekom and Gerrit Timmer, and led by CEO Michael van Duijn, Ortec provides a software platform and data science capabilities that enable its customers to improve their business results. With 1,000 employees across 13 countries, the company serves over 1,200 customers including ASML, Heineken, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Procter & Gamble, Shell, Waitrose, Albert Heijn, G4S, Sodexo and Tesco.

In partnership with Battery, going forward, Ortec will offer products and services through three new divisions that focus on logistics and routing solutions, workforce-management solutions, and data science and consulting.

Moving forward, founders Aart van Beuzekom and Gerrit Timmer remain part of the board and will continue to take care of Ortec and its future.

FinSMEs

17/01/2024
Trojan Energy, an Aberdeen, Scotland, UK-based on-street electric vehicle charging specialist, received 26M in funding.

The round comprised:

8M from growth capital investor BGF, and

18M follow-on investment by the Scottish National Investment Bank.

The company intends to use the funds for the continued rollout of Trojan Energy chargers across the UK.

Led by CEO Ian Mackenzie, Trojan Energy has developed patented charging technology that offers convenient on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging. The chargers sit flat and flush with the pavement offering charging speeds of up to 22kW. The business has also developed the DEICER system to alert drivers when a charger and charging bay becomes available to ensure a seamless user experience.

The chargers are manufactured at Trojan Energys headquarters in Aberdeen with a headcount now standing at 68. To date, the company has 600 charge points in operation across 4 councils (Camden, Brent, Barnet, and Oxfordshire).

Trojan recently partnered with Barnet Council to install around 1,300 on-street charge points, and there is a pipeline of new opportunities across the UK, including in England as part of the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund.

Commenting on the news, Ian Mackenzie said: We welcome this new investment from BGF and follow on funding from the Bank. This funding will allow Trojan Energy to continue its journey and deploy several thousand more charging points across the UK, serving tens of thousands of customers. Trojan will be firmly on track to become one of the biggest providers of on-street EV charging in the UK, continuing our work as the worlds largest clutter free on-street charging solution.

FinSMEs

17/01/2024
Vicarius, a NYC-based developer of vRx, an autonomous end-to-end vulnerability remediation platform, raised $30M in Series B funding.

The round was led by Bright Pixel (formerly Sonae IM). AllegisCyber Capital, AlleyCorp, and Strait also participated.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate international expansion and development for new AI capabilities.

Led by CEO Michael Assraf, Vicarius helps security teams protect their apps and assets against software exploitation through vRx (formerly TOPIA), its autonomous end-to-end vulnerability remediation platform. Leveraging in-house AI technology, Vicarius automates much of the discovery, prioritization, and remediation workload plaguing security and IT teams. Since the companys last round of funding in 2022, Vicarius has grown its customer base to over 400 customers, adding global organizations like PepsiCo, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Bupa, and Equinix, along with more than two dozen Fortune 500 companies.

Commenting on the news, Michael Assraf said: Vicarius is best positioned to take on the much-needed task of transforming the vulnerability management market from assessment to remediation. We are committed to growth and have been hard at work creating solutions that will be flexible to the changing AI landscape, all while staying core to our mission of protecting our customers from vulnerabilities.

FinSMEs

17/01/2024
The toxic combination of pollution and the harsh winter season is leading to a rise in the cases of the flu, especially H1N1 infections, among the elderly and those with co-morbidities. Respiratory and heart-related problems are also seeing a surge

Delhi is experiencing both a harsh winter season and high levels of pollution.

Due to this toxic combination, cases of the flu, especially H1N1 infections, are on the rise among the elderly and those with co-morbidities.

Other complications like respiratory and heart-related problems are also seeing a surge in Delhi-NCR.

Doctors attending to the patients explain that common infections in winter can take a long time to heal, especially in children and the elderly, and cause complications.

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Heres all we know about it.

Rising cases of chest infections and flu in Delhi-NCR

The H1N1 flu, sometimes called swine flu, is a type of Influenza A virus.

It is highly contagious and spreads from one person to another through coughs, sneezes, and droplets in the air. Doctors say you can get the infection when you breathe in the virus or touch a contaminated surface, according to Times Now.

Adults recover from severe cases in three to four days, while elderly patients may need a week or longer in the hospital.

Doctors pin the blame for longer hospital stays on the complex interaction between flu and bacterial infections.

The majority of patient reports have included symptoms including runny nose, sneezing, coughing, breathlessness, throat pain, fever with rash, sore throat, and diarrhoea, as per Indian Express.

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According to News18, hospitalisation was necessary for some individuals in the National Capital who complained of breathing problems and discomfort.

In most hospitals in Delhi-NCR, COVID-19 tests are also performed for inpatients, even though flu symptoms are similar.

Patients have also reported other complications like influenza, colds, norovirus infections, hypothermia, frostbite, seasonal affective disorder (a form of depression), asthma, respiratory problems, heart-related problems, and joint pains, as per Times Now.

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Experts opinion

Dr Manisha Arora, the unit director of internal medicine, at Delhis Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, told News18 that the outpatient department handles 12 to 15 flu cases every day, with one-third of those cases necessitating admission owing to a confirmed H1N1 infection.

The focus is on treating confirmed positive cases, with seniors  often with comorbidities  experiencing super-added infections requiring oxygen support, she added.

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According to her, while adults heal relatively quickly, underlying medical conditions take longer to heal in the elderly. These conditions are made worse by such infections during the winter, as it increases the risk of chest infections and hypertension.

Similarly, there has been a rebound in H1N1, H3N2, and common influenza among viral diseases, according to Dr Sakshi Singh, consultant in the department of internal medicine at Amrita Hospital Faridabad in Faridabad.

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In cold weather, similar health issues arise. But viral illnesses affecting different health systems have risen in incidences. Along with the rise in pollution and bad air quality, they have been contributing to health risks, she told the news channel_._

Singh from Amrita Hospitals blamed the weather and dipping mercury. As the weather gets colder and there is an increase in chilly winds, there are certain health issues that have risen.

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She said issues such as colds, coughs, upper respiratory infections, exacerbation in respiratory patients, and new virus illnesses in children, the elderly, and immuno-compromised patients have increased in number.

Flaring up of joints issues, certain viral disorders, and gastric infections are also on the rise. Also, an increase is noted in hypertensive and cardiac conditions and stroke cases.

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While speaking to Indian Express, Dr Nikhil Modi, Senior Consultant in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, explained that adequate rest is as important as medication.

He said, We are so used to taking drugs that many people do not realise that adequate rest is as much therapy as a medication is. If you push yourself too soon after any viral infection, there could be a worsening of symptoms with those with still weakened or compromised lungs lapsing into pneumonia."

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Ways to prevent H1N1

The best defence against H1N1, according to experts, is to receive the annual flu vaccination, which is safe for children older than six months.

Additional measures to stop the swine flu from spreading are as follows:

When you cough or sneeze, use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose.

Use your elbow to sneeze or cough if you dont have a tissue.

Frequently, wash your hands with soap and water.

Avoid touching your lips, nose, or eyes.

Dont approach sick people closely.

When youre sick, stay at home.

Dont exchange personal goods like hairbrushes, shirts, or spoons.

With inputs from agencies
Wednesday will be an action-packed day. The Puri Jagannath Parikrama project will be inaugurated today in Odisha. The RBI governor will also address delegates at Davos. Heres how the day will unfold

Its a busy Wednesday today.

As we are inching closer to the historic inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on 22 January, the consecration rituals are already underway. With the Ram Lalla procession reaching the temple town today, there is also a grand inauguration of the Puri Jagannath Parikrama project in Odisha.

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On the other hand, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das will address the annual World Economic Forum in Dazos today and the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture will also commence in Germany.

Heres a short glimpse of how the day will unfold.

Inauguration of Puri Jagannath Parikrama project in Odisha

The Odisha government, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, will embark on a month-long initiative to mobilise around 10,000 people daily for the Puri Jagannath Parikrama Project inauguration.

The temple heritage corridor, encircling the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri, is scheduled for inauguration today.

The government has also declared a public holiday today.

RBI governor to address WEF Annual Meet

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das will be addressing the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, today.

He will address a Luncheon with the CII session with the theme High Growth, Low Risk: The India Story, according to media reports.

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Notably, this is the first time ever an RBI governor will attend and give an address at a WEF Annual Meeting in Davos.

Ram Lalla procession reaches Ayodhya

A procession carrying the idol of Ram Lalla will reach Ayodhya today.

Devotees carrying Saryu water in Mangal Kalash will also be reaching the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

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The rituals for the consecration ceremony began yesterday.

Thackeray faction launches Stree Shakti Saamvad Yatra

The Thackeray faction too has extended an olive branch to half of the electoral chunk by launching Stree Shakti Saamvad Yatra today in Vidarbha.

The three-day campaign will be implemented in every Lok Sabha constituency, like Nagpur, Ramtek, Amaravati, Yavatmal-Washim, Buldhana, etc., and will finish by the end of February making it a one-and-a-half-month campaign.

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Republic Day parade rehearsals begin in Delhi

Ahead of Republic Day, the parade rehearsals are being held in the National Capital. The rehearsals shall be held on four days from 17 to 21 January.

Due to the ongoing parade rehearsals, an advisory on traffic restrictions has been issued by the Delhi Police for commuters in the national capital.

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Global Forum for Food and Agriculture in Germany

Berlin is hosting the 16th GFFA 2024, starting today until 20 January.

The theme for the conference is Food Systems for Our Future: Joining Forces for a Zero Hunger World.

Hailstorms are likely in Assam

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a thunder, lightning, and hailstorm alert for several districts of Assam today.

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The ten districts where hailstorms are likely are Morigaon, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Dhemaji, Charaideo, Dibrugarh, and Tinusukia.

China publishes population figures for 2023

The Xi Jinping-led country will be releasing data on its official population figures for 2023.

According to Reuters, demographers estimate the data will show the number of new births last year falling below the 9.56 million in 2022 as long-standing issues such as gender inequality and high childcare costs remained largely unaddressed.

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For those unversed, Beijings birth rate has been declining since 2016.

Court hearings

Delhi court to hear Jacqueline Fernandezs plea over alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar from issuing statements about her.

Bombay HC to hear BJP leader Kirit Somaiyas PIL regarding a property owned by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackerays wife merely because it claims to highlight alleged irregularities.

Famous anniversaries today

Birth anniversary of poet and composer Javed Akhtar

Birth anniversary of actor, politician and former CM of Tamil Nadu, MG Ramachandran

Birth anniversary of boxer Muhammad Ali

Robert Falcon Scott reached the South Pole in 1912, one month after Roald Amundsen

Captain James Cook and his crew became the first Europeans to sail below the Antarctic Circle in 1773

The United States paid Denmark $25 million for the Virgin Islands in 1917

Popeye the Sailor Man, a cartoon character created by Elzie Segar, first appeared as a comic strip in 1929

Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky affair came to light in 1998 when it was first published on the website, The Drudge Report

With inputs from agencies
France reported its lowest birth rate last year since World World II. Chinas birth rate is down to 6.39 per 1,000 people. These countries are not alone as Europe and East Asia host the worlds fastest-shrinking populations

Frances birth rates dipped again in 2023, the countrys National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) said on Tuesday (16 January). Around 678,000 babies were born in the European country last year, the lowest since 1946, reported Radio France Internationale (RFI).

However, France is not alone. Chinas birth rate is also down to 6.39 per 1,000 people. The Asian giants population plunged for a second consecutive year in 2023. Besides China, South Korea and Japan are also facing their own population crisis.

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Lets take a closer look.

France

France has been witnessing a decline in births since 2010. The fall in birth rate has accelerated, with the annual drop of 1.6 per cent on average reported in 2014-2019 reaching 6.6 per cent last year, RFI reported citing INSEE.

Despite this, Frances population grew at a rate of 0.3 per cent  the same as in 2022, primarily due to fewer deaths. The country had a population of 68.4 million at the beginning of 2024.

Frances population has increased for the last 20 years, owing to several factors such as migratory movements and the rise in life expectancy, as per the countrys statistics office.

Whats exceptional this time is the extremely low number of births, the lowest since the post-war period, when France had nearly 30 million fewer people than now, INSEE noted.

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According to Le Monde, the total fertility rate (TFR), reported at 1.68 children per woman in 2023, has also fallen. France is still positioned better within the European Union, where the average fertility rate stood at 1.53 live births per woman in 2021, as per the latest available data.

Other European countries

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Some of the worlds rapidly falling populations are located in Europe and East Asia. As per an Insider Monkey report, Ukraine, Romania, Belarus and Moldova are among the top 10 countries in the world with the biggest population decline.

The European Union is predicted to see a significant population decline by 2100. As per Eurostat estimates, the population could drop by 6 per cent in the bloc by the end of the century.

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The EUs statistics office predicts the population will shrink to 420 million in 2100, after reaching its peak at 453 million people in 2026, reported Euronews.

Some member states of the bloc are expected to report a surge in population by 2100, partly due to migration. These include Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, France, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Iceland, reported Euronews.

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China and other Asian nations

Chinas population stood at 1.409 billion by the end of last year, a 2.08 million decrease from 2022, as per BBC. The Asian country has been witnessing falling birth rates for decades.

Chinas demographic woes are in line with other East Asian nations like Japan and South Korea . Experts attribute the spike in the decline in new births in China to the COVID-19 pandemic and the countrys economic issues and rising costs.

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Its not a surprise. Theyve got one of the lowest fertility rates in the world so this is just what happens - the population stops growing and starts to decline, Professor Stuart Gietl-Basten, a population policy expert at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, told BBC.

Its kind of locked in now this is just the next year in this new era of population stagnation or decline for China.

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India overtook China as the worlds most populous nation last year, according to estimates by the United Nations.

South Korea has the worlds lowest birth rate. It is expected to reduce further in the coming years, with Statistics Korea predicting a drop from 0.78 in 2022 to 0.65 in 2025, reports CNN.

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The countrys total population is likely to plunge from 51.75 million in 2024 to 36.22 million, a level not seen since 1977, according to Statistics Korea.

Japan is also staring at a population crisis. Its birth rate declined for the seventh consecutive year in 2022, standing at 6.3 per 1,000 people, reported Reuters.

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The fertility rate in Japan was 1.2565 in 2022, far below the rate of 2.07 considered necessary to maintain a stable population.

While European and other industrialised nations are also facing ageing populations, the impact is softened by migration, as per CNN. However, these Asian nations have stayed away from adopting mass immigration to resolve their demographic crisis, worsening the situation further.

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South Korea, Japan and China have taken various measures, including offering financial incentives, to encourage people to have children but have not been successful so far.

Is global population declining?

No.

As per UN estimates, the world population is likely to surge by around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.9 billion in 2100. While the population continues to rise, the rate of its annual growth has decreased to below 1 percent.

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By 2050, Nigeria could become the worlds third most populous nation, followed by the United States, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia and Bangladesh.

The global population will peak at about 10.4 billion people in the 2080s and this level will continue until 2100, as per Al Jazeera.

With inputs from agencies
The Ram Mandir opening is days away and people across the country are waiting in anticipation. Meanwhile, fraudsters are tricking devotees into believing they can get a VIP darshan on 22 January or receive free prasad by just paying a shipping charge

The much-awaited Ram Temple in Ayodhya inauguration is just days away.

While the nation prepares for the opening, fraudsters are tricking devotees into believing they can get a VIP darshan on this particular date.

According to several news reports, cybercriminals have come up with a new way to trick people via WhatsApp messages.

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They claim to give free VIP access to the temple on 22 January, seek contributions for the temples construction, or even offer free Prasad on or after the consecration.

Lets take a closer look.

The VIP entry scam

People initially received an APK (Android Application Package) file called Ram Janmabhoomi Grihsampak Abhiyan.APK, according to News18.

Then, a pop-up window appears on the screen, requesting that users install Ram Janmabhoomi Grihsampark Abhiyan in order to gain VIP access and share it with Hindus.

According to the report, the latest scam preys on those who are eager to see or visit the temple on the day of the inauguration.

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!!

                                                      pic.twitter.com/Lswz5eWtUh    Vinod Bansal (@vinod_bansal) January 11, 2024

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The report suggests the temple trust established to address Ayodhya temple management, the state or central governments, or the organisers of the Ram Temple event are not associated with the scam.

These files may include a specific malware that is hidden and could be harmful.

This is a significant problem for Android smartphones; however, since Apple forbids sideloading software on iPhones, iPhone customers are unaffected by this fraud, as per Indian Express.

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Malicious APKs can track the whereabouts of devices, obtain financial information, and access personal data about the users.

Seeking funds via QR code fraud

According to Vishwa Hindu Parishad national spokesperson Vinod Bansal, there is a fake social media page that asks users to contribute funds via QR code in the name of the Ram temple construction.

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The page goes by the name Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Chhetra Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

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Some netizens also alleged that they received messages purportedly from ISKCON for donations in the name of Shri Ram Janam Bhoomi.

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Bansal warned against making such donations, claiming that some are attempting to deceive others by creating fake IDs in the name of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. He added that the police chiefs in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, as well as the Union Home Ministry, had been informed of the situation.

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Free Ram Mandir Prasad scam

E-commerce giant Amazon has grown into a marketplace for unauthorised sellers pretending to give Ram Mandir Prasad that is authorised.

Product descriptions claim to be endorsed by the Ram Mandir Janmabhoomi Trust, however, a closer look reveals a lack of authenticity. In an attempt to validate the deal, vendors assert that they can deliver the Prasad on or after January 22.

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 VIP               ,        @amazon             !       @ShriRamTeerth            pic.twitter.com/tyXHg7vDxs    Vinod Bansal (@vinod_bansal) January 16, 2024

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A number of websites, such as Free Ram Mandir Prasad and Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Ayodhya Prasad, claim that Ram Mandir Prasad can be sent for free, with the only cost to the customer being the shipping costs.

One of the websites, Khadi Organic, says it has come up with a unique initiative, through which devotees can receive the Prasad of Ram Mandir at home, according to Mint.

A video on social media explains that this might be a scam or just a marketing strategy. It stated that the Prasad, delivered with a cost of Rs 50, is not truly from Ram Mandir. A user alleged, As soon as the users tagged them they stopped taking orders.

It is pertinent to mention here, that the trust or any government institution is not associated with Khadi Organic. Social media users claim these websites to be scam, but, there is no confirmation if such sites are legitimate or how they offer these services for free.

Thus, devotees and shoppers are urged to exercise caution and rely only on verified sources.

The facts about Ram Temple entry and prasad

On 22 January, only those with valid invitations or those on government duty would be permitted entry into Ayodhya.

The Times of India reports that Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath gave the go-ahead for authorities to ask that local hotels cancel reservations in advance and give the trusts invitees priority.

The temple will be open for devotees to perform Lord Rams Aarti after the consecration. One can get complimentary passes for the Aarti both physically and online.

Dhruvesh Mishra, Aarti pass section manager, told ANI, Aarti is held three times a day. Only pass-holders can attend it. The pass for the AARTI can be obtained by producing government-issued ID cards. Right now, only 30 people are allowed to attend Aarti with a pass. This number could be increased as per the number of devotees. This service is free of cost.

As a token gift, each invitee to the Ram temple consecration event next week will get a Ramraj and some Prasad. The soil that was removed for the temples foundation-laying is known as Ramraj.

More than 11,000 guests from across the country have been invited for the consecration ceremony on 22 January and they will be given memorable gifts such as Ramraj, a Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust member told ANI.

With inputs from agencies
Ayodhya is buzzing with excitement ahead of the Ram Mandir inauguration, and security is top-notch. Authorities are using a mix of manpower and technology to keep a close eye on the grand ceremony scheduled for 22 January

Anticipation and spiritual fervour are reaching unprecedented heights as the grand Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir is set to unfold on 22 January in the sacred city of Ayodhya. The town is buzzing with excitement, but its not just about celebration  security is top-notch.

Authorities are using a mix of manpower and tech, including drones with anti-drone features and AI in cameras. The aim? To keep a close eye on everything during the ceremony. Transportation wont be a hassle either, with plans to inform the public in advance about any diversions.

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Local authorities are getting everything in order for the crowd. With enhanced security measures and logistical planning, theyre ensuring a smooth experience for everyone attending this historic Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple. Heres a closer look.

Over 10,000 CCTV cameras installed in Ayodhya

In a bid to ensure robust security arrangements for the pran pratishtha ceremony, 10,000 CCTV cameras have been installed in the entire district and multilingual policemen in plain clothes will be deployed at the venue, officials said on Tuesday.

In some of these CCTV cameras, we are using AI-based technology so that we can maintain a strict vigil on the commuters, Director General (DG), Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, told PTI, adding multilingual police personnel will be deployed in plain clothes at the programme venue and they have been given training in proper soft skills.

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With a 90-day recording capacity, these high-tech cameras will provide continuous surveillance, capturing footage from key locations across the city.

We have made all the arrangements. We are alert and we are not just relying on our manpower but also taking the help of technology, which we keep on continuously upgrading, Praveen Kumar, IG Ayodhya Zone, told ANI.

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Multiple drones will be active throughout the event and with the help of anti-drone solutions, we will keep an eye on drones being flown without permission. We have also used AI in our cameras, he further added.

Red and yellow zones

Despite the challenges, Kumar is confident that the Pran Pratishtha will be organised in the great manner. Echoing his sentiments, DG Prashant Kumar, told PTI, The pran pratishtha ceremony, which will be held on 22 January , is going to be a historic event. For this, the UP Police has made elaborate security arrangements and along with it, security has been ensured for every road along the entire red zone, yellow zone and Ayodhya district.

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To manage the influx of visitors and facilitate seamless traffic flow, the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) project will be implemented at 20 crucial locations in Ayodhya . Areas under vigilant traffic monitoring include popular spots like Riqabganj, Civil Line, Hanuman Cave, and many more. Emergency call boxes strategically placed at these locations will enable immediate communication with the central control room in case of emergencies, providing crucial assistance.

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We have converted all the major roads coming towards Ayodhya into green corridors so that traffic is not disrupted. Heavy traffic has been diverted around Ayodhya since 18 January and a traffic advisory has also been issued in this regard, Kumar added.

The senior police official said the security of Saryu river, which flows in Ayodhya, has also been increased and added the security arrangements will be ensured through use of power boats, the NDRF and SDRF teams, and with local boatmen.

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We are coordinating with other agencies. Checking is going on at the international and inter-state border. Police will use drones for crowd control and for diversion of excess crowd. We will use anti-drone technology at the programme venue so that security arrangements remain in place, he said.

Our aim is to make such transport arrangements that people face no problem. We will inform the public about the diversion plans in advance to ensure no one faces any inconvenience, said IG Kumar, reports ANI.

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Additional trains, GRP and RPF at stations

The UP Police have also made extensive security arrangements for the Ayodhya railway station and the satellite railway stations surrounding it.

As per a Times of India report, around 200 Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel, 400 Railway Protection Force (RPF) men and two companies of PAC will be deployed at the railway station.

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A control room will also be established at the DGP headquarters to provide round-the-clock monitoring. The first plan for 100 days has been implemented, and deployment tweaks will most likely be made based on footfall. Also, 20 additional trains are planned to arrive in Ayodhya from the south and west of India following the consecration event, increasing passenger capacity at Salarpur, Darshannagar, and Narendradev railway stations, the report added.

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The technology used

The grand ceremony is set to witness a unique blend of technology and tradition.

To control unauthorised access, boom barriers, also known as tyre killers, have been strategically placed at various locations, including hotels and offices. These barriers serve as a formidable deterrent, effectively blocking roadways and securing access points throughout the city.

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In an effort to combat potential security threats from the sky, the Uttar Pradesh Police will employ state-of-the-art anti-drone technology. It involves the use of systems that can detect and intercept unwanted drones. Additionally, electro-optical and infrared sensors will play a crucial role in detecting drones through their visual and heat signatures, ensuring a comprehensive defence against aerial threats.

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In another noteworthy move, the government has acquired 25 advanced telescopes designed by Raghunath Manohar from the Manipal Institute of Technology. These telescopes, equipped with a sophisticated optical system, are designed to enhance distant object visibility, adding an extra layer of surveillance capability.

Social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and others will also be actively scrutinised for indicators of potentially harmful activities.

With inputs from PTI and ANI
Its the year to vote. More than 60 countries, home to an estimated four billion people, will pick their governments in elections in 2024, something that experts have said has never happened in a single year before

If the year 2024 had to be described in short, it could be called the year of elections. More than 60 countries, with a population of more than four billion people, will go to the polls this year, making this years democracys biggest test till date.

Elections will be held in the United States, India, Indonesia, Russia, Pakistan, and South Africa to name just a few. The European Union will also go to the polls. Notably just half way through the first month of the year and we have already seen two elections  one in Bangladesh and the other in Taiwan .

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As we prepare for the year to vote, heres a look at 15 of the biggest elections across the globe.
Global Firepower, an authority on military might, has released its rankings of the worlds most powerful armed forces. According to it, the US is at the top with a near-perfect score of 0.0699, followed by Russia, China and India. Pakistan has fallen in the rankings, now acquiring the ninth position

Its 2024 and the world is in the midst of two wars  the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war. Theres also a looming threat of West Asia plunging into a big conflict with Iran launching missiles at Iraq and Pakistan.

Amid this turmoil and times of uncertainty, many countries are boosting their militaries and their firepower. And based on this, Global Firepower, a website that keeps track of global defence information, has released its annual rankings of militaries around the world.

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What do these rankings reveal? Which country has the worlds most powerful military? Where does India stand?

Worlds strongest and weakest militaries

Global Firepower rankings assess 145 countries on the basis of their military strength. More than 60 factors such as number of troops, military equipment, financial stability, geographic location and resources are tallied to determine a PowerIndex score, where a lower score denotes a stronger military. According to their rankings, a score of 0.0000 is considered perfect.

Global Firepower said in a release that our unique, in-house formula allows for smaller, more technologically advanced nations to compete with larger, lesser-developed powers, and special modifiers, in the form of bonuses and penalties, are applied to further refine the list, which is compiled annually.

Based on these factors, Global Firepower has found the United States to have the worlds strongest military having a score of 0.0699, whereas Bhutan has been found to have the weakest military, with a rank of 6.3704.

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According to the rankings, Russia, China, India and South Korea round up the top five militaries. On the other hand, Moldova, Suriname, Somalia and Benin join Bhutan with the least powerful militaries.

Some experts have questioned Russias second position on the list of most powerful militaries. This questioning comes as Moscow continues to fight a war against Ukrainian forces, 693 days after it launched its special operation to invade its neighbour.

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According to the ranking, the US has the strongest military owing to a combination of factors. One is the active personnel in the military  1,328,000. Moreover, it has a whopping 13,209 aircraft, 11 aircraft carriers as well as 4,657 tanks.

China, which ranks third, in comparison has 2,035,000 active personnel, 3,304 aircraft and two aircraft carrier. According to the rankings, China performs poorly on these parameters: oil consumption, natural gas consumption and shared borders.

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Notably, the list also had some changes from the previous year. South Korea has risen to the fifth spot while the United Kingdom has fallen down a notch. Moreover, Japan at the seventh spot and Turkey at eighth have climbed the rankings whereas Pakistan has fallen to the ninth position.

Indias position in the rankings

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With a score of 0.1023, India has maintained its fourth position on the list of strongest militaries in the world.

A breakdown of the ranking shows that India is lagging behind on a few criteria, namely its self-propelled artillery strength, its oil consumption as well as the tension at its borders with neighbouring countries such as China and Pakistan.

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According to Global Firepower, Indias military has 14,55,550 active personnel, while its paramilitary comprises of 25,27,000 men. Moreover, when it comes to air assets, India has a total of 2,296 aircraft, of which 606 are fighter jets and 869 are helicopters.

When it comes to our naval strength, India is believed to have a total of 294 assets. Of this, two are aircraft carriers, 12 are destroyers and 18 are submarines.

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In recent times, India has been pushing to boost its arsenal through its Atmanirbhar programme, encouraging indigenously-made weapons.

The year of conflict

The rankings provided by Global Firepower assume even more significance as conflicts and war continue to rear its ugly head in 2024 .

The Russia-Ukraine war continues to rage with Kyiv seeking to reclaim lost territory, pushing Russia on the defence. Theres also the Israel-Hamas war that has surpassed 100 days. This war already is the longest and deadliest between Israel and the Palestinians since Israels establishment in 1948, and the fighting shows no signs of ending.

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The war has also rippled across the West Asia region, 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.

Moreover, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have carried out a series of attacks on civilian cargo ships in the Red Sea. This has led to the US and UK bombing more than a dozen targets in Yemen, with the Houthis vowing a retaliation. Iran has also been attacking other countries in the region. It has struck Syria, Iraq as well as Pakistan .

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Theres also the looming threat of China. Beijing has vowed a reunification with Taiwan, raising the spectre of a cross-strait war with stakes for regional peace and stability. Additionally, North Korea is also boosting its military strength and recently declared South Korea as enemy number one.

With inputs from agencies
Pakistan is the third country targeted by Iranian strikes after Iraq and Syria in the last few days. Two strongholds of the Balochi militant group Jaish al Adl were hit by missiles and drones from the neighbouring nation. But what is Irans big plan?

The Israel-Hamas war surpassed the grim milestone of 100 days earlier in the week. The possibility of the conflict widening seems imminent with each passing day as tensions escalate in West Asia. And at the centre of it is Iran.

Iran-backed proxy groups are creating trouble in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, taking on the US military, and attacking shipping lanes in the Red Sea. In the latest provocation, it has struck targets in Pakistan.

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We take a look at what happened in Pakistan, the possibility of the war spreading and Irans interest in the region.

Why did Iran hit targets in Pakistan?

Two bases of the Baluchi militant group Jaish al Adl (Army of Justice) in Pakistan were targeted by missiles on Tuesday.

Iran said that it used precision missile and drone strikes to destroy two strongholds of the militant group in the Kouh-Sabz area of Pakistans southwest Balochistan province, according to Irans state-aligned Tasnim news agency, reports CNN.

The militant group said that Irans Revolutionary Guards had used six attack drones and several rockets to destroy two houses where the children and wives of its fighters lived. In a statement on Telegram, it said that two children were killed in the attack, while two women and a teenage girl were seriously injured.

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Jaish al Adl had previously mounted attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan, reports Reuters.

Last month, Iran accused militants of the group of storming a police station, resulting in the deaths of 11 Iranian police officers in the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan, the Iranian state media claims.

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Jaish al-Adl is known as Jaish al-Dhulm in Iran. It is a separatist militant group that operates on both sides of the border and has previously claimed responsibility for attacks against Iranian targets. Its stated goal is the independence of Irans Sistan and Baluchistan province, reports CNN.

What has Pakistan said?

Pakistans foreign ministry said that the attack on its territory killed two innocent children injuring three girls. Warning Iran of serious consequences, it described the strike as an unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran  inside Pakistani territory.

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The foreign office expressed concern that the illegal act took place despite the existence of several established channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran, adding that a strong protest has already been lodged with the concerned senior official in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran, according to a report in Dawn.

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Additionally, the Iranian Charge daffaires has been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistans sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran, it added.

But Iran is not going after targets in Pakistan alone. It is the third country after Iran and Syria that has been hit within the last few days.

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What do we know about Irans strikes in Iraq, Syria?

A day before the attack in Pakistan, Irans Revolutionary Guards carried out strikes in northern Iraq and Syria.

Late on Monday, Iran launched ballistic missiles on what it claimed was a spy base for Israels intelligence agency Mossad in northern Iraq and anti-Iran terror groups in Syria.

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According to Iranian forces, the missile attack destroyed one of the main espionage headquarters of Israel in Erbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. They claimed that this was in response to Israeli attacks that killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders and members of the Iranian resistance front.

This headquarters has been the centre for developing espionage operations and planning terrorist acts in the region and Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement Monday.

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At least four civilians were killed and six others were injured in the attack.

Iraqs Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told CNN that no Mossad-affiliated centres operating in Erbil. The Iranians dont want to or cannot attack Israel. They search for victims around them, and so they attack Erbil, Hussein said, adding that Iraqis are paying the price for Irans tensions with Israel.

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Iraq recalled its ambassador from Tehran, condemning the strikes as a blatant violation of sovereignty. The US also said that the attack was reckless and imprecise.

In another separate development, Kurdish counter-terrorism forces said that they shot three armed drones flying over Ebril airport, where US and other international forces are station, reports Reuters.

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Irans Revolutionary Guards also said that it fired ballistic missiles at bases of anti-Iran terror groups in occupied territories in Syria. It claimed that the targets were involved in the 3 January twin bombings in Kerman that left more than 90 dead during a memorial for top commander Qassem Soleimani .

The Islamic State (ISIS) had claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in Iran since the 1979 revolution.

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The IRGC said in a statement that it identified and destroyed key terror commanders and elements, especially Daesh (ISIS), in the occupied territories of Syria by firing several ballistic missiles.

How Iran is at the centre of escalating tensions in West Asia

While Iran has claimed that it does not want to get involved in a wider conflict in West Asia, its actions prove otherwise. Its Axis of Resistance, a network of militant outfits, has been attacking Israel and its allies to show support for Palestine.

Hezbollah , which operates in Lebanon, has been firing missiles into Israel since the Jewish nation launched an offensive in Gaza, killing 15 Israelis, mostly soldiers. At least 150 Hezbollah militants have died in retaliatory airstrikes by Israel.

Yemens Houthi rebels have been carrying out attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since November. The militant group declared their support for Hamas, saying that they would target any ship travelling to Israel. While the missile and drone attacks were intercepted by US and Israeli countermeasures, the relentless strikes forced America and its allies to retaliate. They launched a irstrikes against sites in Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed group.

Since the start of Israels offensive in Gaza, Iran-backed militias have targeted US forces on the bases in Iraq and Syria, causing injuries to US troops. While Joe Biden has been avoiding being drawn into a regional conflict in West Asia, the provocation continues.

Reports suggest that Tehran has accelerated its production of weapons-grade uranium with the US expressing concern over its nuclear escalation.

Experts say that Iran is encouraging the Houthis and other proxy groups, but it does not want a wider conflict. The whole purpose of the Iranian proxies, American intelligence officials say, is to find a way to punch at Israel and the United States without setting off the kind of war Tehran wants to avoid, according to a report in The New York Times (NYT).

An escalation in the conflict would increase costs for the West without risking a wider war, the report quotes US officials as saying.

Iran wants to keep the conflict away from its borders. It wants stability at home, as its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is ageing and ailing and unprecedented protests have erupted in recent years.

For the Iranians, its been very good for them so far, but its getting to a point where its becoming very risky One misstep from one of these proxies, if it hits in the wrong place at the wrong time, we really risk a regional war, Raiman al-Hamdani, a Yemen analyst who has studied the Iran-Houthi relationship, told NYT.

With inputs from agencies
Tehran carried out missile and drone strikes on two bases of the militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan. Founded in 2012, the Sunni outfit is known for mostly targeting Iranian security personnel, raising tensions between the two countries

Pakistan has slammed neighbouring Iran for unprovoked violation of its airspace which killed two children and injured three others. Islamabads strong remarks on Wednesday (17 January) came hours after Irans state media reported that Tehran had targeted two bases of the armed group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan.

Irans state-run IRNA news agency and state television said missiles and drones were used for carrying out attacks in the South Asian country. However, confusion soon emerged after these media reports disappeared.

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What is the Jaish al-Adl group that was reportedly targeted by Iran? Has Pakistan been shielding it? Lets take a closer look.

Whats Jaish al-Adl?

Jaish al-Adl, or the Army of Justice, is a Sunni militant group based in Pakistan. Founded in 2012, the militant group claims it is fighting discrimination against Sunni Muslims and ethnic Baluch in the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, as per a Deutsche Welle (DW) report.

It is one of the many Sunni militant separatist groups claiming to fight for the independence of the Sistan and Baluchestan.

The insurgent groups founder Salahuddin Farooqui is known for his objection to Irans support for President Bashar al-Assad in Syrias civil war, reported AFP.

According to the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Jaish al-Adl is one of the many splinter organisations formed after the Iranian militant group Jundallahs founder Abdolmalek Rigi was executed by Tehran in 2010.

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Jundallah, or Soldiers of God, which was responsible for several attacks in Iran, reportedly claimed its goal was to highlight the plight of the Baloch people, who are largely Sunni Muslims.

The Shiite-dominated Iran considers Jaish al-Adl as the successor of Jundallah and accuses the US, Israel, and its regional rivals Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supporting it. However, tensions between Iran and its regional rivals have eased since last year.

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Jaish al-Adl has been classified as a terrorist organisation by Iran, the United States, Japan, and New Zealand. As per the US, the militant group primarily targets Iranian security personnel but also government officials and civilians.

Jaish al-Adl had abducted 12 Iranian security personnel in October 2019 Pakistans border, five of whom were later let go and handed to Iran by Islamabad.

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The outfit targeted a police station in Sistan-Baluchestans Rask in December 2023, killing at least 11 Iranian police officers, as per AFP.

Is Pakistan shielding Jaish al-Adl?

Iran suspects Sunni-majority Pakistan of sheltering insurgents, possibly at Saudi Arabias bidding, as per the Associated Press (AP). Tehran and Islamabad have been at loggerheads for years over Jaish al-Adl.

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Iran accused Pakistan of harbouring Jaish al-Adl in 2019 after the militant group killed 27 members of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Sistan-Baluchestan.

Speaking at a gathering to mourn the loss of lives, Mohammad Ali Jafari, the then commander of the IRGC, had said at Isfahan citys Bozorgmehr Square, The government of Pakistan must pay the price of harbouring these terrorist groups and this price will undoubtedly be very high. The Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer observe the previous reservations and will directly act to counter such acts," News18 reported citing AFP.

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He blamed Pakistans army and Inter-Services Intelligence agency for shielding the perpetrators.

Another senior IRGC commander had claimed at the time that at least three Pakistanis, including one suicide bomber, and three Iranians were behind the attack.

However, Pakistan had denied the allegations by senior Iranian officials, saying it does not allow its territory to be used by terrorist organisations to target our neighbours, as per Al Jazeera.

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Sharmine Narwani, a West Asia analyst, had pointed out the role of Saudi Arabia in the tension at the border between Pakistan and Iran, which share nearly a 1,000-km-long boundary.

Speaking to Al Jazeera in 2019, the expert alleged that many of the leaders and members of Jaish al-Adl studied at schools funded by Saudi Arabia in Pakistan. She said Islamabad can reign in Jaish al-Adl and other militant groups but the question is whether it wants to do so.

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Iran has always prioritised diplomacy over confrontation with Pakistan, Behrooz Riazi, a Tehran-based political analyst, wrote in 2019. However, ties between the two neighbours have become tense over Islamabads alleged backing of anti-Shiite militant groups operating from its territory, noted DW.

What we know about Irans strike

Irans reported attack in Pakistan comes a day after it launched strikes on Iraq and Syria. As per Tehran-headquartered Mehr news agency, Jaish al-Adl said six suicide drones and several missiles hit its positions in the border mountains of Pakistans Balochistan.

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Two Pakistani security officials told AP that the Iranian strikes damaged a mosque in Balochistans Panjgur district near Iran border.

According to Press TV, the English-language arm of Iranian state television, the attack was carried out by Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

Pakistans foreign ministry rebuked the strikes and warned Iran of serious consequences.

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Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran which resulted in death of two innocent children while injuring three girls, the statement read. This violation of Pakistans sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences.

Pakistan said it had summoned Irans top diplomat in Islamabad over the incident. China has urged both its close partners, Pakistan and Iran, to show restraint. We call on both sides to exercise restraint, avoid actions that would lead to an escalation of tension and work together to maintain peace and stability, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning was quoted as saying by AFP.

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Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center, shed light on the seriousness of the unprecedented strikes by Iran.

Iran has staged cross-border operations against Pakistan-based militants in the past, but I dont recall anything on this scale, he wrote on X.

This plunges Pakistan-Iran ties  a delicate relationship even in the best of times  into serious crisis.

With inputs from agencies
Canciller @J_GonzalezOFr se reunio con el secretario general de la @OECD, @MathiasCormann, quien indico que el Gobierno ???? viene avanzando en la ejecucion de la hoja de ruta presentada en 2023, a pesar de la dificil coyuntura internacional. Alento a que se mantenga este impulso. pic.twitter.com/gANUyWD3W8
The rhesus monkey named Retro was cloned by tweaking the somatic cell nuclear transfer method used to create Dolly the sheep. Experts say such clones can become test subjects for treatments to cure Alzheimers and cancer

Scientists in China have announced that they have cloned the first healthy rhesus monkey (macaca mulatta).

The animal named Retro, who is over three years old, was brought into the world on 16 July, 2020.

The study on how Retro was cloned was published in the journal Nature Communications on Tuesday.

But what happened? How did scientists manage this feat? And why is this significant?

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Lets take a closer look:

What happened?

Remember Dolly the sheep?

The animal, the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell, was cloned in 1996 using a method known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).

As per CNN, SCNT is basically when scientists create an unfertilised egg by melding the nuclear of a somatic cell  not from a sperm or egg  with an egg whose nucleus has been removed.

Since Dolly, over 20 different animals have been created using the process, including dogs, cats, pigs and cattle.

But primates proved particularly difficult to clone.

In a way we have made much progress in that, after Dolly, many mammalian species were cloned, but the truth is that inefficiency remains a major roadblock, Miguel Esteban, principal investigator with the Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health at the Chinese Academy of Sciences told CNN.

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Just one to three per cent of such clones are born, as per CBS.

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It was only two decades later that scientists managed to clone the first primates using SCNT.

A pair of identical crab-eating macaques named Hua Hua and Zhong Zhong were created using SCNT in 2018 by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Neuroscience in Shanghai.

But that breakthrough, led by the institutes Qiang Sun, only resulted in live births in fewer than two percent of attempts.

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Qiang was also a senior author of the new research published in the journal Nature Communications.

He told AFP that the team had extensively researched why previous efforts to clone the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) had failed.

In an earlier attempt, one monkey  out of 35 implanted foetuses  was born alive, but it died in less than a day.

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Qiang said that one of the major problems was that the placentas of cloned embryos were showing abnormalities compared to those from in vitro fertilisation.

Cracking the code

Researchers ultimately cloned Retro by tweaking the SCNT method.

They replaced the cells that later become the placenta, which are called the trophoblast, with those from a healthy, non-cloned embryo.

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The trophoblast cells provide nutrients to a growing embryo, and turn into the placenta that supplies oxygen and other life-supporting assistance to the foetus.

The monkeys name Retro was derived from trophoblast replacement, as per BBC.

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The technique greatly improved the success rate of cloning by SCNT and led to the birth of Retro, Qiang said.

We have achieved the first live and healthy cloned rhesus monkey, which is a big step forward that has turned impossible to possible, although the efficiency is very low compared to normal fertilised embryos, Falong Lu, one of the authors of the study told CNN. Currently, we havent had the second live birth yet.

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They created a combination embryo  one part cloned and another part not cloned, Rudiger Behr, a stem cell and embryo researcher at the German Primate Center told DW.

A rhesus monkey named Tetra was cloned in 1999 using a different technique called embryo splitting.

But this simpler technique can only produce four clones at once.

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Scientists have focused on SCNT in part because it can create far more clones, with the goal of creating identical monkeys to study a range of diseases as well as test drugs.

The cloned rhesus monkey has reached the age of 3, Lu told New Scientist. So far, we havent observed any health issues in it by our routine physical check-ups.

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Why it is significant

Researchers hope their new technique will lead to the creation of identical rhesus monkeys that can be experimented on for medical research including developing treatments for Alzheimers and cancer.

We can produce a large number of genetically uniform monkeys that can be used for drug efficacy tests, Mu-ming Poo, director of the Institute of Neuroscience in the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai told Nature.

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It is also yet another scientific barrier that has been breached.

Esteban told CNN, This research is proof of principle that cloning can be done in different non-human primate species and opens the door to new ways of enhancing the efficiency. Cloned monkeys can be genetically engineered in complex ways that wild-type monkeys cannot; this has many implications for disease modelling. There is also a species conservation perspective.

As per CBS, examining how embryos develop in animals could lend insights into solving issues humans face.

Some people undergoing IVF fail to have embryos implanted in their uterine wall.

In Australia, one solution at the moment is to essentially transfer more embryos because we often dont know how to fix this recurrent implantation failure, or the current treatments we have fail, Jarrod McKenna, a reproductive biologist and science communicator told CBS.

So having an understanding of what might be going on with those [placenta-forming> cells might have implications on that human side of things too.

However, outside researchers warned that the success rate for the new method was still very low, as well as raising the usual ethical questions around cloning.

Lu acknowledged this telling CNN, We think that there might be additional. abnormalities to be fixed. Strategies to further enhance the success rate of SCNT in primates remains our main focus in the future.

Still, Lu told BBC News that everyone was beaming with happiness'

Regardless, sceptics abound.

Lluis Montoliu, a scientist at the Spanish National Centre for Biotechnology who was not involved in the research, pointed out that just one out of 113 initial embryos survived, meaning a success rate of less than one per cent.

If human beings were to ever be cloned  the great ethical fear of this field of research  then other primate species would have to be cloned first, he added.

But so far, the poor efficiency of these efforts has confirmed the obvious: not only was human cloning unnecessary and debatable, but if attempted, it would be extraordinarily difficult  and ethically unjustifiable, Montoliu said.

It is extremely difficult to succeed with these experiments, with such low efficiencies, Montoliu added.

Qiang emphasised that cloning a human being was unacceptable in any circumstance.

A spokesperson for the UKs Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) told BBC it was concerned.

There is no immediate application for this study. We are expected to assume that human patients will benefit from these experiments, but any real-life applications would be years away and it is likely that more animal models will be necessary in developing these technologies, a spokesperson said.

The RSPCA is deeply concerned about the very high numbers of animals who experience suffering and distress in these experiments and the very low success rate. Primates are intelligent and sentient animals, not just research tools.

With inputs from agencies
Odishas Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate the Rs 800-crore Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor Project, known as the Shreemandira Parikrama Project, today. The 75-metre-corridor will provide devotees with modern amenities and better access, transforming the temple area into a modern pilgrimage centre

We are five days away from the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. However, today (17 January) away from the Ayodhya buzz, the Odisha government led by Naveen Patnaik is all geared up to inaugurate its own ambitious temple project  the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project.

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Today, the Shreemandira Parikrama Project, aimed at transforming the temple town of Puri, will be inaugurated amid much fanfare and vigour. Prior to the big day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had said, Let us dedicate this day to the Lord and participate in this celebration with joy, devotion and devotion. Everything is the will of that great Lord. Jai Jagannath.

But what is the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project, officially known as the Shreemandira Parikrama Project? More importantly, what is the significance of this initiative?

Heres what we know.

The Shreemandira Parikrama Project, explained

The Shreemandira Parikrama Project is a 75-metre-long corridor surrounding the Jagannath temple complex in Puri with the aim of providing security to the temple and numerous facilities to the visitors and enhancing the place visually, creating a connect with the devotees.

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Work on this ambitious project began in 2019 and has cost a whopping Rs 800 crore. Under this project, a 75-metre passage has been built around the outer walls (Meghanada Pacheri) of the shrine, providing breathing space.

In the past, the temple periphery was highly cluttered, clogged by illegal construction and mutts. There was a constant security threat, and risk of stampedes was ever-present.

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Speaking of the initiative, Dr Krishan Kumar, secretary of the Public Works Department in Odisha as well as the chief administrator of the Puri temple administration told The Print that the most challenging part to the project was land acquisition.

Many people with shops and homes around the perimeter would have been unwilling to part with them, considering the significance of Lord Jagannath. Because they have been staying there for so long we have given everyone a very handsome rehabilitation package. Its like a golden handshake, he was quoted telling The Print.

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Now, according to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, the corridor will have a seven-metre Green Buffer Zone adjacent to the outer walls. Theres also a 10-metre inner path around the temple complex for ceremonial procession of deities.

Moreover, a 10-metre-long public convenience zone has been built with facilities such as restrooms, drinking water fountains and a shaded pathway for pilgrims and visitors. Keeping emergencies and natural disaster in mind, a 4.5-metre-wide lane has also been created.

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As Puri collector Samarth Verma said, It will provide the pilgrims with a good experience and enhance Puris tourism potential across the world.

The many challenges

However, the Shreemandira Parikrama Project, undertaken by the Tata Projects wasnt without obstacles.

People had protested the relocation, and the digging around the temple to lay sewer lines. They said it would endanger the structure, built in 1161.

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There was also opposition from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), who had claimed that the project was in violation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act as the excavations and construction was happening around the prohibited zone.

Even the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had alleged that the project violated the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.

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However, later the Supreme Court dismissed the pleas and the rest, as they say, is history.

Sub-collector Bhabataran Sahu speaking to The Week said, The biggest concern of the people was that their families had lived around the temple for generations, and had woken up to the sight of fluttering temple flags from their windows. It required a lot of counselling and cajoling to convince them to take the rehabilitation and resettlement. For shops to be relocated, we even paid salaries to those they employed.

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The big inauguration

And on 17 January, the authorities will inaugurate the Shreemandira Parikrama Project. Representatives from 90 religious shrines and institutions across the country have been invited to attend the inauguration.

Notably, leaders from the Congress and BJP are unlikely to attend the grand event calling it a political event.

Congress legislative party leader Narasingha Mishra said that he would boycott the inauguration event. As the BJP is using the Ram temple in Ayodhya for political gains, the BJD here is using the heritage corridor project for electoral gains. The government is using the public exchequer to further the ruling BJDs electoral prospects, he alleged. State BJP president Manmohan Samal also said Lord Jagannath does not belong to any particular political party. The BJD has been using the lord for its political benefits, Samal alleged.

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However, the state government has refuted these claims and are going ahead with the inauguration ceremony today. Elaborate security arrangements have also been made for the inauguration, with the deployment of ultra-modern technology to monitor safety and security.

The state has also declared 17 January as a public holiday, with government offices, schools and colleges remaining shut today in honour of the projects inauguration.

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Significance of the project

Many view the inauguration of the project by the BJD as a counter to the BJPs Hindutva push. The Naveen Patnaik-led BJP is eyeing a sixth term in the state, but the BJP is close on its heels. In the previous general election, the BJD lost eight of its 21 seats to the BJP.

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Also, while the BJD had won 112 of the 147 Assembly seats in 2019, the BJP improved on its previous election tally by 13 to wrest 23 seats.

Some have even remarked that the BJDs move mirrors that of the BJP  Patnaik has requested people to light diyas (lamps) and recite devotional hymns today, similar to Modis appeal ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

With inputs from agencies
If the flight delay wasnt enough, the nightmare continued for a traveller even after he boarded. A man was stuck inside the toilet of a SpiceJet plane after the door lock malfunctioned. He was rescued more than an hour later, once the aircraft landed in Bengaluru

For Indian passengers, travelling on domestic airlines has been a series of unfortunate events. There have been unprecedented delays and brawls , flyers have been stranded for hours at airports and on aerobridges, and whatnot. Now the latest drama has unfolded on a SpiceJet flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru, where a traveller spent the complete journey in the plane toilet.

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What went wrong?

From Mumbai to Bengaluru on a toilet seat

A man boarded the flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru, hoping for it to be a regular journey. He left his seat to use the washroom as soon as the aeroplane took off. And it is where he spent the rest of his time until he reached his destination.

The lock to the washroom reportedly malfunctioned and the passenger was stranded in the cramped toilet for more than an hour. When he tried to unlock the door, he found that the lock was stuck.

The crew was aware that the passenger had gone to the washroom. He panicked and called for help. The airline staff tried to open the door and rescue him but failed.

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Also read: Man hits IndiGo pilot: What happened on the plane? Will he be put on no-fly list?

A note from the airline crew

The flyer was shocked because of the confinement. To ensure that he did not panic, one of the air hostesses wrote a note on a piece of paper and slipped it under the toilet door.

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Sir, we tried our best to open the door. However, we could not open. Do not panic, we are landing in a few minutes. So please close the commode lid and sit on it and secure yourself, read the now viral note, which has been circulating on social media, reports NDTV.

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As soon as the main door is open, engineer will come. Do not panic, it added.

Guy who got stuck in a Toilet in a SpiceJet flight was given this note.



Should also provide a seat belt on the commode. pic.twitter.com/MPGikZfQRP  Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) January 17, 2024

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The rescue

For more than an hour, the man was stuck inside the washroom, sitting on the toilet seat. He was rescued only after the plane landed in Bengaluru.

As soon as the flight landed at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), engineers broke open the lavatory door and got him out, according to a report in The Times of India.

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The flight landed in Bengaluru at 3.42 am after which engineers came on board and broke open the door. The man was rescued after the ordeal and rushed to first aid.

Also read: Why IndiGo is in trouble over viral video of flyers eating on Mumbai airport tarmac

An official at the Bengaluru airport empathised with the poor man. The passenger was left traumatised due to claustrophobia, said the official, according to News18.

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It must have been a nightmare for the traveller. The flight was already delayed by three hours. Scheduled to take off at 10:55 pm from Mumbai on Monday, it departed at 2 am on Tuesday.

SpiceJets apology

SpiceJet has apologised for the inconvenience caused to the passenger and has promised to refund the complete airfare.

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On 16 January, a passenger, unfortunately, got stuck inside the lavatory for about an hour on SpiceJet flight operating from Mumbai to Bengaluru, while the aircraft was airborne due to a malfunction in the door lock, a statement from the airlines said.

Throughout the journey, our crew provided assistance and guidance to the passenger. Upon arrival, an engineer opened the lavatory door, and the passenger received immediate medical support, it added.

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Air travel chaos in India

Hundreds of flights have been delayed in the country since Sunday. Thick fog in Delhi has hit operations at one of Indias busiest airports and the effect has been cascading.

Around 53 flights were cancelled and 120 were delayed at Delhis Indira Gandhi Airport because of fog, affecting domestic and international travel on Wednesday.

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A total of 53 flights including 21 domestic arrivals, 16 domestic departures, 13 international departures and three international arrivals scheduled are cancelled and not operating because of fog and other operational reasons from and to Delhi, news agency ANI reported quoting Delhi Airport Flight Information Display System.

The dense fog is expected to continue for two to four more days with no respite from the cold wave, said the India Meteorological Department.

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While the weather-related chaos cannot be controlled, passengers complain that airlines and airports have been inadequate in communicating delays.

The aviation ministry has stepped in, announcing an action plan amid growing anger over the flight mess.

With inputs from agencies
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for fog in Delhi for Wednesday and Thursday morning

Arrival and departure of 120 flights, both domestic and international, to Delhi airport were affected due to dense fog and cold wave conditions on Wednesday, according to Delhi Airport FIDS (Flight Information Display System).

As per the Delhi Airport FIDS, a total of 53 flights, including 21 domestic arrivals, 16 domestic departures, 13 international departures and three international arrivals scheduled are cancelled and not operating due to fog and other operational reasons from and to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in the national capital on 17 January.

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#WATCH | Delhi: Several flight operations delayed at IGI airport due to low visibility amid fog. pic.twitter.com/hG1DUKllEt  ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

Visuals from the Delhi airport showed passengers waiting outside, checking update of their scheduled flights. There were also some people waiting for flight of their families, friends and loved ones to arrive, which got delayed due to fog.

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#WATCH | Delhi | Passengers await the movement of their scheduled flights as several flights get delayed and a few get cancelled due to fog in several parts of the country.



Visuals from Indira Gandhi International Airport. pic.twitter.com/srYSDAfqkh  ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

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I have come from Dubai. My flight was delayed by 2:00 hoursMy flight had been rescheduled for today, said a passenger Mritunjay Kumar at IGI airport.

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#WATCH | Delhi: "I have come from Dubai. My flight was delayed by 2:00 hours...My flight had been rescheduled for today...," says a passenger Mritunjay Kumar at IGI airport. pic.twitter.com/7RssOvDTzZ  ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

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Trains to Delhi 24-25 hours late

At least 30 trains arriving at New Delhi Railway station (NDLS) are running late. Trains coming from long distances are reporting delay of 24-25 hours.

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Premium trains like Vande Bharat, Shatabdi and Rajdhani are delayed too due to fog conditions in Delhi and national capital region (NCR).

Visuals from the railway station in New Delhi showed passengers waiting at the platform for their trains to arrive as several trains are getting delayed and a few of them being cancelled because of poor visibility due to fog.

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#WATCH | Delhi: Passengers await the movement of their scheduled trains as several trains get delayed and a few get cancelled due to fog.



(Visuals from New Delhi Railway station) pic.twitter.com/ZM0I0Yjbvz  ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

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I have to travel to Kerala. My train- Kerala Express is five hours late from the scheduled time, said a passenger at New Delhi Railway station.

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#WATCH | Delhi: "I have to travel to Kerala. My train- Kerala Express is five hours late from the scheduled time...," says a passenger Ajay at New Delhi Railway station https://t.co/vaqyNhQPiA pic.twitter.com/L9dOt1K1b9  ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

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Delhi weather forecast

Delhi has witnessed temperatures falling below the 4 degree mark in the morning for five days in a row.

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Because there is no cloud cover in the city at present, the nights are very cold. This is expected to continue for at least one more week. The cold wave conditions, meanwhile, are expected to last till Thursday, a report by Indian Express citied an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official as saying.

Meanwhile, cold wave conditions and dense fog are expected on Wednesday as well, with the IMD issuing an orange alert for fog in the national capital for 17 and 18 January morning.

We are expecting very dense to dense fog on Wednesday and Thursday morning. The weather is supposed to be clear thereafter, but cold winds are expected for at least two more days. The minimum temperature, however, is expected to remain below the normal mark of 7 to 7.5 degrees Celsius for the whole week, the report citied the official as saying.

With inputs from agencies
Jaishankar, who was on an official visit to Iran, met President Ebrahim Raisi on January 16 regarding speeding up the implementation of bilateral agreements, including the Chabahar Port Development Plan.

In the ongoing conflict, the Houthi rebels in Yemen have targeted ships, including those with connections to Israel in the Red Sea. This has led to a confrontation with the US as one of its cargo ships was destroyed by the Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden on Monday.

The Red Sea connects the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean by the Suez Canal.

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When News18 spoke with external affairs minister S Jaishankar about the issue at large and why were the vessels being targeted by the Houthis, he said, We have multiple phenomena out there we had piracy, resurfacing of piracy. Thats a different problem. The drone strikes and missile strikes are different problems so both factors are important but the second one is more. It (the issue) has started to divert shipping and that has its cost.

He further said such attacks would impact Indias energy and economic interests. He stressed that the issue should be speedily addressed.

On Tuesday, the U.S. military carried out new strikes in Yemen against anti-ship ballistic missiles in a Houthi-controlled part of the country as a missile struck a Greek-owned vessel in the Red Sea.

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Attacks by the Iran-allied Houthi militia on ships in the region since November have affected companies and alarmed major powers - an escalation of Israels more than three-month-old war with Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza. The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians and have threatened to expand attacks to include U.S. ships in response to American and British strikes on their sites in Yemen.

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Several shipping lines have announced that they are diverting around the Cape of Good Hope to reach Europe after Houthis are hitting vessels in the Red Sea. The latest one was the Greek-owned bulk carrier Zograflia from Vietnam to Israel, which was struck by Houthis on January 17.

Jaishankar, who was on an official visit to Iran, met President Ebrahim Raisi on January 16 regarding speeding up the implementation of bilateral agreements, including the Chabahar Port Development Plan.

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Raisi highlighted importance of Iran-India ties, but raised concerns regarding Israels counter offensive in Gaza, and urged India to help in ending the bombings.

The President described the crimes committed by Zionist regime in Gaza as clear examples of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and clarified stopping the attacks on Gaza, punishing the Zionist regime and fulfilling the rights of Palestinian people is the only way to return stability and security to the region. It is important for India to play a role in ending the bombings, lifting the blockade of this region and realising the rights of the Palestinian people, Raisis statement said.

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According to The Wall Street Journal, British oil giant Shell on Tuesday announced suspending all of its shipment through the Red Sea infinitely.

US and British warplanes, ships and submarines last week launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen in retaliation to Houthi attack on Red Sea shipping, which the Iran-backed movement considers as a response to Israels offensive in Gaza.

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With inputs from agencies.
This technology enables fishermen at sea to send emergency messages from their fishing boats. Importantly, the system provides real-time acknowledgements, enhancing safety measures for those at sea.

ISRO has successfully developed a second-generation Distress Alert Transmitter (DAT), which integrates advanced satellite communication and capabilities.

This technology enables fishermen at sea to send emergency messages from their fishing boats. Importantly, the system provides real-time acknowledgements, enhancing safety measures for those at sea.

The space agency said that the DAT has been operational since 2010 and more than 20,000 of them are currently in use. The messages are sent through a communication satellite and received at a central control station (INMCC: Indian Mission Control Centre) where the alert signals are decoded for the identity and location of the fishing boat, according to an ISRO statement.

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The extracted information is forwarded to Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres (MRCCs) under the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). Using this information the MRCC undertakes Search and Rescue operations to save the fishermen in distress, it said.

Taking advantage of technological developments in satellite communication and satellite navigation, ISRO has improvised DAT with advanced capabilities and features, evolving to Second Generation DAT (DAT-SG).

The DAT-SG has the facility to send back an acknowledgement to the fishermen who activate the distress alert from the sea. This assures him that rescue (team) is coming to him.

Apart from transmitting distress signals from the sea, DAT-SG can receive messages from the control centre, ISRO said.

Using this, advance alert messages can be sent to the fishermen at sea whenever there are events of bad weather, cyclones, tsunamis or any other emergencies.

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Thus, the fishermen will be able to sail back home or go to safe places. Further, the information about Potential Fishing Zones (PFZs) is also transmitted to fishermen using DAT-SG at regular intervals. This helps fishermen get good catches and savings in terms of time and fuel. DAT-SG can be connected to mobile phones using Bluetooth interface and the messages can be read in native language using an app on the mobile.

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The INMCC has a web-based network management system called SAGARMITRA which maintains a database of registered DAT-SGs and helps MRCCs access the information about the boat and the coordinates of the boat in distress in real-time. This helps the Indian Coast Guard undertake Search & Rescue operations at the time of distress, without any time delay, it said.

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Secretary in the Department of Space and ISRO Chairman S Somanath inaugurated the DAT-SG in the presence of ICG Director General Rakesh Pal on January 15 at INMCC, ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network, Bengaluru. The services of DAT-SG have been declared operational on a 24x7 basis, it was stated.

With inputs from PTI.
Iran launched drone and missile attacks on two bases of the Baluchi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan on Tuesday, a day after its elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.

Responding to Irans missile strike in terrorist bases in Pakistan, The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India has zero tolerance on terrorism. He said that India understands the actions taken by countries in self-defence.

This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan. Insofar as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self-defence, it said.

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Iran launched drone and missile attacks on two bases of the Baluchi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan on Tuesday, a day after its elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.

Following the attack, Islamabad warned that the incident could have serious consequences and was completely unacceptable in a statement released by Pakistans foreign office spokesperson in the early hours of Wednesday.

However, Tehrans top ambassador stated on Wednesday that his nations military forces had targeted an Iranian terrorist group in Pakistan the day before.

None of the nationals of the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan were targeted by Iranian missiles and drones, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

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The so-called Jaish al-Adl group, which is an Iranian terrorist group, was targeted, he added.

In protest, Pakistan barred Tehrans envoy from returning to Islamabad, recalled its ambassador from Iran, and protested the strike near the countries shared border.

According to Amir-Abdollahian, Irans assault on Pakistans soil was a reaction to the recent, lethal strikes carried out by the Jaish al-Adl group against the Islamic Republic, namely on the city of Rask in the province of Sistan-Baluchistans southeast.

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A policeman was killed in an attack on a local police station on January 10, which occurred about a month after 11 police officers were slain in a similar attack in the area.

The Sunni Muslim extremist organization Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), which was founded in 2012 and is prohibited from entering Iran as a terrorist group, claimed responsibility for both attacks.

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With inputs from agencies.
Indias boycott of the Maldives might have a big impact on both nations economies and relations. Tense relations might develop diplomatically and harm stability and cooperation in the region

India-Maldives relations are straining as a result of events that happened recently. Concerns were raised by the swift deterioration of India-Maldives ties, which occurred only one month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Mohamed Muizzu, the recently elected president of the Maldives. The catalyst was a series of tweets from three Maldivian ministers denouncing Prime Minister Modis visit to Lakshadweep and his close ties with Israel.

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India and the Maldives have long-standing historical ties in terms of ethnicity, language, culture, religion, and trade. The partnerships have been multifaceted, amicable, and sincere. Following Maldives independence in 1965, India was one of the first countries to recognise the country and open diplomatic ties with it. Indias quick intervention in the 1988 coup attempt resulted in the growth of mutual trust and peaceful, long-lasting bilateral ties with the Maldives. Our forces prompt evacuation when they were deemed unnecessary allayed concerns about potential Indian territorial aspirations and supremacy.

Since 1988, India and Maldives have worked closely together in the fields of security and defence. In order to accommodate the Maldivians needs for defence equipment and training, India took a highly cooperative and versatile approach. In April 2016, a comprehensive Action Plan for Defence was also signed in order to strengthen the defence collaboration.

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When the Tsunami struck in 2004 and Male faced a water crisis in December 2014, India was the first country to step up by aiding the Maldives. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) was built in 1995 with Indian grant assistance. At a cost of Rs 52 crore, major renovations to the IGMH sponsored by the Government of India culminated in June 2017. During her visit to Male on 1718 March, 2019, the late EAM Sushma Swaraj entrusted the renovations of IGMH to the people of Maldives. Indias credentials as the first responder have been further cemented by the countrys prompt delivery of 30,000 doses of the measles vaccine in January 2020 to stop an outbreak in the Maldives, as well as by its prompt and all-encompassing aid to the Maldives since the start of the Covid epidemic.

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Tourism, which is the main source of government revenue and foreign exchange gains, is a major contributor to the Maldivian economy. About 25 per cent of the Maldives GDP is derived directly from tourism, with a far larger percentage coming from indirect sources. For Maldivians, the hospitality sector provides over one-third of direct employment prospects. India remained the leading market in 2021 and 2022, with approximately 2.91 lakh and 2.41 lakh arrivals of Indian tourists, and a 23 per cent and 14.4 per cent market share respectively. An open skies agreement between Maldives and India was reached in March 2022, substantially enhancing connectivity between the two nations. With 100,915 visitor arrivals (up to June 13, 2023), India ranks as the top source market for the Maldives, accounting for 11.8 per cent of the market.

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India and China, the two main geopolitical powers, have been jostling and strategising for the Maldives for over ten years, and as a result, its domestic politics have suffered greatly. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the former president of the Maldives, adopted an explicitly Indian First approach, recognising the countrys neighbour as its most important international ally. Maldives has received billions from India, which has been generous to them in helping to pay off the vast amounts of debt left by the previous government. However, following Muizzus victory last year, ties between these two countries began to deteriorate.

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In an apparent political tactic to promote his election campaign, Muizzu used the India Out card early in the campaign, which Yameen supporters intensified. This played on widespread fears about Indias dominance. Concerns about dominance are shown in the strong opposition to a small Indian military presence in this country. Small contingents of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard operate two helicopters, a marine patrol aircraft, and search and rescue capabilities for medical evacuations and exclusive economic zone monitoring. A large number of locals falsely think they are spies and intruders.

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However, as anticipated after President Muizzu took office, the government chose to dissolve the agreement for cooperative hydrographic surveys with India. Signed amid the 2019 Maldives visit by Prime Minister Modi, the agreement was regarded as a representation of India-Maldives defence relations. A few weeks after the island country officially asked that New Delhi relocate its Indian military forces from its territory , Male also chose not to attend the most recent Colombo Security Conclave summit in December 2023, perhaps further highlighting its misgivings regarding defence collaboration with India.

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The situation worsened when Muizzu chose to visit Ankara rather than New Delhi, defying a long-standing custom among Maldivian presidents. Muizzus main focus is making new friends during a period when he has made it obvious that he wants to distance himself from India. However, the tweeting controversy brought the ties between India and the Maldives to an all-time low. Following PM Modis tweet thread on his visit to Lakshadweep Island, three Maldivian ministers, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, made racist statements. The damage was done even though the tweets were taken down, the ministers were suspended, and the Maldivian government disassociated itself from them. The corresponding envoys were called.

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Indian visitors make up the majority of arrivals in the Maldives following Covid; thus, hurt Indians have taken to social media to call for an economic boycott of the island. With the large number of tourists opting to cancel their Maldives trips, some travel companies have decided to delete the Maldives category from their online listings. Trade associations like the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) urged exporters and local traders not to do business with the island nation. Additionally, in solidarity with India, EaseMyTrip halted all airline reservations to the island nation on its website.

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Indias boycott of the Maldives might have a big impact on both nations economies and relations. The Maldives economy is highly dependent on tourism, so if Indian travellers stop going there, it might cause the countrys GDP to shrink. Tense relations might develop diplomatically and harm stability and cooperation in the region. On the positive end of the spectrum, it is underlined that Lakshadweep will greatly benefit from the shift.

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The recent surge in travel will encourage more individuals to discover unexplored beach hideaways, in addition to boosting the economy and advancing tourist development. However, this also has an undesirable effect. Maldives is Indias most significant maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and is given a prominent position in the Neighbourhood First Policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiatives of the government of PM Modi. If things become worse, everything will ultimately come to a tragic conclusion.

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It is imperative that both governments use diplomatic channels to resolve issues in order to reduce any adverse consequences. India should use its soft power diplomacy since the strain between the two nations will allow China to expand and threaten the stability of the region. Despite their disagreements, both India and Maldives have decades of history together; therefore, they should be able to work through this to create an immensely collaborative and cooperative cooperation.

The author is a former ICWA research intern. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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In recent years, the ties between India and Taiwan have gained unprecedented momentum, owing primarily to increased support for Taiwan among Indian civil society organisations

More than half of the worlds population is expected to exercise their voting rights in 2024, making it a crucial year for the whole world. With the elections in Taiwan, the results of which are expected to resonate well beyond its boundaries, winding up on 13 January, there is little doubt that the Asian geopolitical theatre is set to witness radical developments and changes.

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Taiwans elections saw the coming of the Democratic Progressive Partys (DPP) third successive term, with Lai Ching-te, often referred to as a dangerous separatist and a troublemaker by Beijing, succeeding Tsai Ing-wen as president of the Republic of China (ROC). For India, this comes as good news! The continuance of the DPP and Tsai legacy for another four years provides more diplomatic opportunities for improved bilateral relations and more trade and commercial collaboration.

India-Taiwan relations over the years

In recent years, the ties between India and Taiwan have gained unprecedented momentum, owing primarily to increased support for Taiwan among Indian civil society organisations. Taiwan, in turn, has actively reached out to India, leveraging its carefully crafted New Southbound Policy. President Tsai Ing-wen launched this strategy in 2016, and it serves as a road map for greater engagement with prospective allies and partners, including India.

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Indias Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific outreach efforts have further encouraged Taiwan to broaden and deepen its connection with India. This development, however, is a relatively recent phenomenon influenced by strategic, geopolitical shifts in the region. As the Indo-Pacific construct solidifies, the ties between New Delhi and Taipei are poised to take on a more tangible, institutionalised form and can play a meaningful role in strengthening their bilateral relations, which were established in 1995.

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For a significant period, the shadow of China had loomed over India-Taiwan relations. While Taiwan maintained a conciliatory stance toward China before President Tsais tenure, Indias multifaceted relationship with China also impeded the strengthening of ties with Taipei. However, Chinas reluctance to address Indias territorial concerns and territorial incursions, whether in Doklam or Galwan, prompted India to reassess its China policy, thereby benefitting India-Taiwan relations.

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During the initial phase of Narendra Modis government (201417), signs emerged of India gradually shedding its hesitancy toward Taiwan, albeit prudential behaviour remained. Tsai Ing-wens victory in 2016 represented a watershed moment in Taiwans politics, marking a transition away from its economic dependence on mainland China. Taiwans New Southbound Policy seeks to diversify its economic and investment relationships, posing issues for governments adhering to a One China Policy, notably India.

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Taiwan has identified India as a top priority under its New Southbound Policy, focussing on trade, commerce, economic cooperation, talent exchange, resource sharing and regional connectivity. Keeping up with this, the India-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Forum was established in 2016 as a formal platform for fostering friendship.

In terms of commercial and industrial engagement, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TECC) and the India-Taipei Association (ITA) formalised a memorandum of understanding in 2017 for the promotion of industry collaboration. This was preceded by multiple MoUs signed between Taiwans Chinese National Federation of Industries and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the same year. The inaugural India-Taiwan Trade Forum in Taipei in 2018 and the opening of the Taipei World Trade Centres New Delhi office further underscored the growing economic ties.

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Indias interest in expanding economic and sociocultural ties with Taiwan is evident. Nevertheless, given the prominent roles both nations play in the world economy, the existing bilateral economic relationship falls short of expectations.

In this regard, both nations should continue to expand their partnership as the relationship between India and Taiwan is set to play a significant role in the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region.

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Bolstering relations under Lai Ching-te

With the DPP winning a third straight term, led by current Vice-President Lai Ching-te, there is expected to be a policy consistency that India could capitalise on to further its ties with the island nation. Lai has pledged to support Tsais cross-strait policies, asserting Taiwans right to self-determination in the face of Chinas territorial claims on the island.

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Numerous opportunities for cooperation between Taiwan and India, including commerce, business, tourism, and education, remain inadequately utilised. In light of this, analysts advise that India designate Taiwan as a consultative partner in its Make in India initiative. Simultaneously, Taiwan should also proactively contribute to its South Asian Silicon Valley development project under the Digital India initiative.

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Ample opportunities exist for people-to-people engagement between India and Taiwan, ranging from cultural to non-economic links, fostering soft power through academic exchanges, tourism promotion and developmental assistance programs in the foreseeable future. The success of these efforts, however, is dependent on significant financial investment and political commitments that are consistent with India and Taiwans national interests.

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Deepening the relationship between India and Taiwan aligns with Indias strategic objective of building resilient supply chains in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan, too, has encouraged its businesses to contemplate relocating production from China to India, marking a strategic shift in economic strategies and a recognition of Indias expanding market. Thus, the potential for mutual benefit through strengthened economic ties underscores the importance of concerted efforts and sustained political commitments from both India and Taiwan.

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The road ahead

As India steers through its geopolitical strategy, a rethinking of its Taiwan policy arises as an essential step. India and Taiwan must embark on a consistent and pragmatic approach, untethered from Chinas shadow. The relationship between the two democracies holds the potential to open up new avenues for collaboration, particularly in the realms of trade, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

The third consecutive succession of the DPP presidency, transitioning from President Tsai Ing-wen to President-elect Lai Ching-te, presents a golden opportunity for fostering this continued cooperation. Moreover, given the fluctuations in Indias relationship with mainland China, often marked by border disputes and other geopolitical complexities, a strategic shift towards a more normal and pragmatic relationship with Taiwan becomes prudent.

Analysts believe that Indias existing Act East policy serves as a foundation for increased engagement between the states of north-eastern India and Southeast Asia, providing an established platform for Taiwan to position itself as integral to Indias future economic growth. In this regard, this partnership holds mutual benefits across various dimensions, making it a missed opportunity for both Taiwan and India if they fail to purposefully engage with each other.

The author is presently associated with a premier think-tank in India, specialising in defence, security, and strategic studies. Her research interest and focuses of analysis are defence strategy, geo-economics, foreign affairs, and the implications of Chinese security developments on the region, especially India. Views expressed are personal.

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On the New Year bells in Japan tolled somberly. On 1 January there was a huge earthquake in the Noto Peninsula, followed by tsunami warnings and ultimately 206 people perished in this disaster. The next day a plane collision at Haneda Airport, caused five deaths while 379 passengers on a JAL aircraft miraculously escaped. That was ascribed to Japanese discipline and playing by the rules.

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Is 2024 now going to see political upheavals in Japan or will it play by normal rules and discipline?

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will soon complete the average life of a Japanese prime minister of two and a half years. Could he be replaced soon after that? The election of a president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is due in September and the president automatically becomes the prime minister.

There are three factors which are at play, which may shorten the tenure of the Japanese prime minister.

First are the abysmal ratings of the Kishida cabinet. According to an Asahi Shimbun survey in mid-December, approval of his cabinet decreased to 23 per cent from 25 per cent in November. A total of 60 per cent of those surveyed wanted Kishida to quit as prime minister.

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This is the lowest support for any Japanese prime minister since 2012.

Secondly, this was despite Kishida shuffling his cabinet and sacking four ministers, all of whom belonged to the faction of the late prime minister Abe. The Abe faction, formally called the Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyukai has 100 members and is the dominant faction in the LDP. They were instrumental in supporting Kishida but now feel singled out. The Kochikai, Kishidas faction only has 44 members. The Abe faction members were held responsible for the illegal distribution of funds without due reporting. Consequently, the largest Abe faction now has no cabinet members.

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Around 74 per cent of people surveyed did not give credit to Kishida for handling this scandal well. Such political funding scandals are cyclical and are embedded in the way the LDP works and acquires political influence.

Kishidas effort was double-edged. First to try and clean the political system, particularly his cabinet and show that he was taking resolute action; secondly to deplete the influence of the Abe faction and make friends with other factions like the Shikokai of former prime minister Taro Aso and Heisei Kenkyukai of former foreign minister and current LDP secretary-general Toshimitsu Motegi, which between them have about 100 seats.

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Thirdly, with the political scandal and the low approval ratings Kishida lost the edge which he had in 2023 of calling an early election, when his approval ratings were better. Since then, his ability to manage the LDP has been called into question. Kishida had called a ceasefire to keep the government stable till he held the G7 Summit in May 2023 in his hometown, Hiroshima. That time has now passed and it seems that Kishida while churning the cabinet and trying to curtail the Abe faction has bitten off more than he could chew.

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The discussion in Japan now seems to be when and not if Kishida will quit. Two aspects of this emerge. The first is that Japan could do with a leadership change now which is better for the party and the country. The second is that factional leadership should not be allowed greater sway and perhaps it is time for a nonfaction leader. If such ideas persist, then Kishida is likely to go sooner, making way for a nonfaction politician who would then have time till September to see whether he can fight a full-fledged challenge for the LDP presidency.

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Analysts look at four possible candidates to succeed Kishida though a surprise cannot be ruled out.

Former defence minister Ishiba Shigeru, former environment minister Koizumi Shinjiro, the son of a former charismatic prime minister, digital minister, and prime minister in waiting Kono Taro and economic security minister and the only lady in the pack Takaichi Sanae are mentioned.

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The party may be looking for a candidate who could raise the public profile of the LDP and improve its ratings before the party formally elects a full-time President in September. It may also seek an independent non-factional leader.

Independents within the LDP are less than a fifth of the partys MPs. Therefore, there has to be a consensus among all factions on seeing the change, because independents by themselves cannot succeed. Yoshihide Suga had become prime minister after Abe quit, but that was because the Abe faction backed him. Suga belonged to the Ganesha group of a few independents.

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The administrative capability of an independent candidate with a clean public image would therefore be the most important factor when the LDP seeks change. Analysts mentioned Ishiba as a popular choice with good public acceptance, but he is perhaps the most disliked among the independents within the LDP as he is a consistent opponent of factionalism and is perhaps too reform-minded for the party.

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Ishiba is a strong personality who has unsuccessfully contested the LDP presidency earlier. He rankles how the LDPs shadow shoguns run the party.

A riskier candidate is Koizumi who is extremely popular in the media but his role as environment minister has not been adequately leveraged. Neither has he shown great administrative acumen. He has over gained the support of former prime minister Suga, who has the administrative capability and can bring political heft now to Koizumis side. Other LDP factions are wary of Suga since they were the ones who nudged him out of leadership, rather quickly.

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Kono Taro is not a non-factional candidate but is popular and known overseas. He lost to Kishida last time. If the party is to take a leap of faith and appoint a Lady President, Takaichi Sanae could be an option. She is ambitious, is building a support base, and is a conservative independent but needs political support, which could come from the large Abe faction which may want indirect control over the leadership. Her nominations could be seen as a part of LDP reform!

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Public opinion seeks reform of politics. The LDP may endeavour to present a face which shows that they are sensitive to this demand. Even if a non-faction person is the leader, the larger factions will like to control the process so that their political machine is not decimated as that is required for future elections.

Faction-backed contests among non-faction candidates may soon emerge.

The writer is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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???? Fortaleciendo relaciones con Canada???? El premier Otarola recibio al ministro de Desarrollo Internacional de Canada, @HonAhmedHussen. Peru es el 3. socio comercial de este pais en la region, el 4.destino de sus inversiones y el 3. beneficiario de la cooperacion canadiense. pic.twitter.com/G9sahgM4pE
While South Asian countries have the right to shape their foreign policies independently, India cannot ignore the strategic implications of these shifts

In recent times, there has been a notable shift in the geopolitical landscape of South Asia with growing tensions between India and some of its traditionally close allies in the region. The latest concern revolves around the Maldives, where President Mohamed Muizzu is expressing a desire to reshape the nations foreign policy, potentially excluding India. However, this trend is not isolated to the Maldives, as other South Asian capitals like Nepal and Sri Lanka are also reconsidering their alliances.

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South Asia comprises eight countries with India being a dominant force in terms of population and economy. Indias population and GDP significantly surpass the combined total of the other South Asian nations. This dominance has positioned India as a strategic influence in the region. The other countries in the region are: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Geopolitical realities

Several incidents have raised eyebrows in Indias diplomatic circles. Nepals territorial dispute with India, Sri Lankas increasing ties with China and Bhutans border talks with China excluding India from the dialogue have added complexity to the regions geopolitics. Maldives recent decisions including welcoming China have also raised questions about the shifting alliances in the South Asian neighbourhood.

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Chinas growing influence in South Asia poses a significant challenge to India. With strategic investments in various countries such as the Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka and developments in Gwadar, Pakistan, Chinas expanding footprint has become a cause for concern. The potential stationing of Chinese warships in these ports raises security concerns for India making it imperative for New Delhi to reassess its approach.

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While South Asian countries have the right to shape their foreign policies independently, India cannot ignore the strategic implications of these shifts. The challenge lies in balancing strategic concerns with maintaining good relations. Chinas economic leverage and willingness to engage with any regime regardless of its nature, create a challenging environment for India to navigate.

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Strategies for India

Strengthening historic ties: India should continue to build on its historical relationships with South Asian countries. Being a reliable partner in times of need, as seen in Sri Lanka and Nepal during crises, helps foster goodwill and stability in the region.

Damage control: Acknowledging that India may not always be the first choice for its neighbours, a pragmatic approach involves minimising the fallout. If not first, India should strive not to be last in the considerations of its neighbouring countries.

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Diplomacy over social media: The governments diplomatic handling of situations contrasts with the amplified emotions on social media. Decoupling social media sentiments from foreign policy decisions is essential to avoid misinterpretations and exacerbation of tensions.

Indias evolving dynamics in South Asia demand a nuanced approach. While Chinas increasing presence poses challenges, Indias historic ties and strategic importance in the region remain significant assets. By focusing on diplomacy, damage control and maintaining historical alliances, India can navigate these shifting dynamics and secure its interests in the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape of South Asia.

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Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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With China adamantly opposing Taiwans independence, the next four years are likely to test the resilience of the self-governed island

In recent days, Taiwan has emerged as a focal point of global attention due to its recent elections, where the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) successfully retained the presidency. Lai Ching-Te, the president-elect, faces a challenging road ahead, marked by both domestic and international complexities.

Taiwan held elections on Saturday, resulting in a victory for the ruling DPP. Lai Ching-Te, the current vice-president of Taiwan, emerged as the president-elect, securing a promotion in the political landscape.

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International reactions

While the US has expressed satisfaction with the election outcome, China has reacted furiously. A high-level US delegation, led by a former national security advisor, extended congratulations to Lai Ching-Te, emphasizing the enduring support between the two nations.

We are thankful for the United States long-term support of Taiwan. I believe our relationship will advance in a stable direction through our continuous hard work, and become an important force to safeguard the peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific, said President-elect Lai Ching-Te.

Lai Ching-Te, the son of a coal miner and a Harvard-educated doctor has navigated Taiwanese politics for years. From serving as a member of parliament to becoming the mayor of Tainan and eventually Taiwans premier and vice president, his political journey is noteworthy.

Chinas concerns

The election outcome poses a significant challenge for Beijing, as the DPP is considered pro-independence. Taiwan, a self-ruled island, strongly opposes reunification with China, leading to heightened tensions between the two nations.

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Chinas response to Lai Ching-Tes victory has been marked by military drills and strong statements. A live-fire naval drill featuring an upgraded vessel served as a clear message and threat to Taipei. Chinese officials have been vocal in condemning Taiwans pursuit of independence.

Regardless of changes in the situation on the island of Taiwan, it does not change the fundamental fact that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Taiwan has never been a country, nor will it be in the future, said Mao Ning, spokesperson for Chinas Ministry Of Foreign Affairs.

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Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi also responded to the election results in the Taiwan presidential election.

Anyone who violates the One China principle in the international community is interfering in Chinas internal affairs and infringing on Chinas sovereignty and will surely be opposed by the entire Chinese people and even the international community. The forces of Taiwan independence seriously threaten the benefit of Taiwan people, severely damage the fundamental interest of Chinese nation, heavily undermine the peace and stability of Taiwan Strait. This is a road that will lead to a disaster and a dead end, said Foreign Minister Wang.

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Despite Chinas warnings, several countries including the US, UK, France, Singapore and Japan, congratulated Taiwan on its election results. However, Beijing managed to secure a diplomatic victory as Nauru, one of Taiwans last allies switched allegiance to mainland China.

Taiwan also firmly responded to the high-handedness displayed by China throughout.

China has been deliberately trying to lure our diplomatic allies over the years, and activated the plan during a critical moment after our election was over, with the aim to attack the freedom of democracy that Taiwanese are proud of. This is how it blatantly shows the totalitarian nature of communism to the world. Taiwans government hereby strongly condemns totalitarian China for its powerful bullying of Taiwan and suppressing of democracy with an arrogant attitude, said Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minster Tien Chung-Kwang.

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As Lai Ching-Te prepares to assume office on 20 May, he faces formidable challenges. With China adamantly opposing Taiwans independence, the next four years are likely to test the resilience of the self-governed island.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The global toy industry has long been dominated by China producing over 70 per cent of the worlds toys with a staggering 56 per cent share in exports. However, recent developments indicate a potential shift as major toy manufacturers, including giants like Hasbro and Mattel, seek alternatives to China. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with concerns about quality and dependency, has prompted the exploration of new manufacturing hubs with India emerging as a promising contender.

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For years, China has held a virtual monopoly on toy manufacturing primarily due to its cost-effective production capabilities and vast manufacturing capacity. However, the pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in this model, causing disruptions and raising concerns about the quality of Chinese-made toys. Notably, a 2007 scandal involving Mattels recall of 19 million toys tainted with lead further highlighted the risks associated with relying solely on Chinese production.

Rise of India

Major players like Hasbro and Mattel are actively seeking to diversify their manufacturing bases with India emerging as a viable option. India boasts a large working population, stable government policies and connectivity to key markets. One of the most significant advantages is the cost of labour, substantially lower than China. Global companies have expressed interest in shifting toy production to India, but progress has been slow.

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While Indias potential is undeniable, challenges hinder a swift transition. One major roadblock is capacity. India lacks sufficient toy manufacturing facilities. Companies looking to move production face lengthy timelines with finding a contractor taking up to 18 months and building a new factory potentially stretching to three years. Infrastructure limitations, including warehouses and last-mile connectivity, pose additional challenges.

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India has taken steps to address these challenges and attract toy manufacturers. In 2020, import duties on toys were raised from 20 per cent to 70 per cent, making importing toys into India less economically viable. The government is also setting up multiple production clusters across states, offering subsidies in the form of rent concessions, power tariffs and freight subsidies to incentivise toy makers.

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Despite these challenges, the market is witnessing a turnaround. From 2016 to 2020, China accounted for 86 per cent of Indias toy imports. However, by 2023, toy imports from China fell by 53 per cent, while toy exports from India surged by 239 per cent. The next step for India is to expand its market share globally, currently standing at just 1 percent.

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As the dynamics of the global toy industry undergo a transformation, India is positioned to challenge Chinas monopoly. With the right policies, incentives and infrastructure development, India could become a significant player in the toy manufacturing sector offering a viable alternative to the traditional Chinese dominance. The journey may be challenging, but the potential benefits for both manufacturers and consumers make it a shift worth exploring.

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Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Nations, which intervened in countries distant, always have the option of withdrawing from the conflict, with no serious impact. Nations engaging in war in their neighbourhood do not possess such options

When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his special military operation into Ukraine, his stated end goals were to forestall Kievs punitive action against Ukraines Russian-speaking Donbass region as also ensuring that it remains neutral, does not join NATO, thereby providing a base for the US. Once Russia had pushed through enough, created the requisite buffer zone, it was willing for talks to end the conflict. It was here that the West, with an anti-Russia intent, determined that the war would continue, and Ukraine would become its frontline state.

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The West jumped in to support Ukraine, with a strategy to draw Russia into a second Afghanistan. It had hoped that with western funding and military equipment, alongside sanctions imposed, the Russian economy would collapse and the threat to Europe could be history. Thus, they discouraged Zelensky from negotiating with Moscow under Turkeys mediation. At the end of the day, the Ukrainian economy has contracted almost 40 per cent, despite western aid, while the Russians only 2.5-3 per cent, against all global forecasts. The war continues with neither side achieving its envisaged goals.

The US invaded Afghanistan post 9/11 attacks on its soil. It invoked Article 5 of NATO, thereby drawing in other members of the organization into the war. It had stated that its intent was to destroy Al Qaeda, post the Taliban refusing to hand over Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the terrorist strike. At the height of the conflict there were over 125,000 NATO troops in the country. It even attempted to impose its version of democracy in Afghanistan but failed. Twenty years later the US withdrew in haste and the same Taliban they had overthrown are now back in power.

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In March 2003, the US invaded Iraq with the stated intent of destroying WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction) suspected to be in possession of Iraq dictator, Saddam Hussein, as also his ouster. Saddam was captured, tried and hanged. However, no WMDs were discovered. Evidently, WMDs were not the goal but to gain control of Iraqs oil reserves.

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The US enforced elections in Iraq, attempting to bring about democracy which largely failed. The rise of ISIS and pro-Iran terrorist groups has ensured Iraq remains fragile and unstable. Over a million people have died due to the war and terrorist strikes since the US invaded the country, exact figures would remain a mystery. Instability has made the region ripe for expansion by terrorist groups.

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The NATO invasion into Libya, an oil rich country, in 2011, was intended to protect civilians, after Gaddafi displayed determination in crushing the Arab Spring revolt which could overthrow him. Gaddafi was ousted, captured and killed. Libya descended into chaos.

Libya has been in a state of civil war since 2014, with rival factions supported by powerful states. There are millions of refugees and acute shortages of basic necessities in a country which had once boasted of the highest standards of living in Africa. Libya has become the entry point for illegal migration to Europe. The US has admitted that its actions in Libya were an error, but the damage has been done.

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Israel entered into a war with Hamas in Gaza out of sentimentality, post the attacks of 7 October, with an unattainable aim of wiping out Hamas. The region has been devastated and the population faces unending hardships. The region was largely ignored by the world and also closely monitored by Tel Aviv.

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There is no doubt that Gazans were aware of Hamas preparing for an Israeli strike as the tunnels, where its fighters lived and stored weapons, were built with public knowledge and resources. They maintained silence either due to fear or complicity. Destruction due to the war has been severe and loss of lives unprecedented. At the end of the day, Israel will win the battle, eliminate key Hamas functionaries, arrest thousands more but will end up giving the ideology of Hamas a boost. The next generation of Hamas leaders would emerge.

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As the US was compelled to do in Afghanistan and Iraq, Israel will have to continue to maintain its forces to administer Gaza. It will remain responsible for catering to the needs of the population as also reconstruction of the region. How much global aid would flow for reconstruction is currently unknown. As an occupier Israel will face the wrath of Gazans. When and under which conditions will Israel finally feel secure remains a million-dollar question. Israels intent, actions, logic for commencing the conflict and planned end state would be debated with time.

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Over the years, powerful nations with strong militaries have entered into conflict with weaker nations, without having logical and attainable end states. This is because they have believed in the dominance of military power as the solution to problems. In Afghanistan, the US felt it had achieved its aim and diverted attention to Iraq, reducing its strength to around 15,000 troops. This opened doors for the resurgence of the Taliban, post which it never looked back.

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The damage caused to stable nations, Iraq and Libya, by ill-planned western intervention, has been immense. The region remains amongst the worlds most volatile. The US, which led operations into these countries, attempted to enforce its concept of democracy in regions unprepared for it. When it failed, it either pulled out, as in most cases, or continued to maintain a military presence, as in Iraq, leaving the region largely unstable.

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In Ukraine, all involved in the conflict, Russia, Ukraine and the west led by the US had different end states in mind, none of which were attainable. The war is shortly entering its third year with no end in sight. Strategic planners in involved nations never considered all options and likely long-term scenarios prior to launching operations. At the end of the day innocents would suffer while those behind the war would be safe and immune.

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Nations, which intervened in countries distant, always have the option of withdrawing from the conflict, with no serious impact. Nations engaging in war in their neighbourhood do not possess such options. Thus, while the US could pull back from Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq, Russia and Israel will be compelled to remain in situ, despite their objectives being partially met. These wars would be more difficult to conclude.

The author is a former Indian Army officer, strategic analyst and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

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NVIDIA and AMD stocks saw a major rise in its value over the course of the week. NVIDIAs stock saw a 3% surge to $563.65, reaching a new record high. At the same time AMD witnessed a robust 7.5% increase, reaching a stock price of $157.57, their highest in two years

Shares of NVIDIA and Advanced Micro Devices experienced significant gains over the course of the week.

Investor optimism surrounding the increasing demand for artificial intelligence AI-powered chips prompted Wall Street analysts to revise upward their price targets for these industry giants.

NVIDIA currently holds a dominant position in the advanced AI chip market, but AMD is poised to make strides in the coming year. Analysts at Barclays, led by Tom OMalley, noted in an investor note that AMD is expected to gain ground as it ramps up deliveries of its own chips to enterprise customers, as per a Reuters report.

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The Barclays analysts highlighted the impact of supply constraints, stating that customers are resorting to utilizing the entire NVDA platform to secure priority shipments of accelerators. They predict that 2024 will mark the opening up of the AI market, with other chipmakers like AMD gaining significant market share.

Following this positive outlook, NVIDIAs stock experienced a 3 per cent surge to $563.65, reaching a new record high. Simultaneously, shares of AMD witnessed a robust 7.5 per cent increase, reaching $157.57 and achieving their highest level in over two years.

In the previous year, NVIDIAs shares more than tripled, establishing the company as the worlds most valuable chipmaker, while AMDs shares more than doubled.

Barclays responded to this bullish trend by raising its price target for AMD shares from $120 to $200, while KeyBanc analysts increased theirs to $195 from $170.

NVIDIA also received a price target hike from KeyBanc, moving from $650 to $740. Both stocks are currently leading gainers in the industry-wide PHLX semiconductor index, which is up 1.15 per cent in the session.

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According to data from LSEG, the median price target for Nvidias stock among the 53 analysts covering it is $625, slightly down from $627.50 a month ago, with a unanimous buy recommendation, as per Reuters.

On the other hand, the 47 analysts covering AMDs shares have set a median price target of $145, up from $130 a month ago, and also unanimously recommend buying the stock.

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In response to tightened US export rules, NVIDIA is set to commence mass production later this year of an AI chip specifically designed for its Chinese customers, as reported by Reuters earlier this month.

In December, AMD made its move to challenge NVIDIAs flagship microprocessors by announcing two new AI data centre chips. The battle for supremacy in the AI chip market continues to intensify as these semiconductor giants position themselves for growth and innovation.

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(With input from agencies)
As Tesla prepares to start its business in India, Indian EV makers like Tata and Mahindra is worried about potential risks to future fundraising for local EV companies if Teslas entry leads to an unstable or unfavourable import tax regime

Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra has called for a level playing field between domestic and foreign players in the electric vehicle (EV) market, emphasizing the promotion of local manufacturing.

As the Indian government reviews Teslas plans to enter the market, Mahindra Managing Director Anish Shah stated that it is crucial for global EV manufacturers to be encouraged to invest in India, as per a report by Reuters.

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While not directly mentioning Tesla, Shah highlighted the importance of creating a stronger industry within India and avoiding a scenario where manufacturing is primarily conducted outside the country.

Mahindra and Tata Motors have reportedly urged Indian officials to maintain the current 100 per cent import taxes on electric vehicles to protect domestic firms and their foreign investors. The government is considering a policy to reduce import taxes, a move that has raised concerns among local automakers.

Last year, India sold four million cars, with only 82,000 being electric vehicles. Despite the nascent stage of the EV segment, it experienced significant growth, recording a 115 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

Mahindra has secured approximately $400 million from Singapores Temasek and British International Investment, while Tata Motors attracted investments totalling $1 billion in 2021 from private equity firm TPG and Abu Dhabi state holding company ADQ.

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Anish Shah revealed that Mahindra plans to list its EV unit, but not before 2029, emphasizing the need to demonstrate significant success in the business before going public. He affirmed that electric vehicles represent the future for Mahindra.

Tesla has proposed establishing a factory in India and has called for reduced import taxes on electric cars. The Indian government is working on a new policy that could cut import taxes on EVs to as low as 15 per cent for companies committing to local manufacturing.

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However, concerns have been raised within the Indian industry about potential risks to future fundraising for local EV companies if Teslas entry leads to an unstable or unfavourable import tax regime.

(With inputs from agencies)
Insurance companies like HDFC Ergo General Insurance and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance are negotiating with cybercriminals as cyber attacks increase. HDFC Ergo has observed a 25 to 30 per cent increase in new corporate cyber policy enrolments

In response to escalating cyber attacks in India, private insurers such as HDFC Ergo General Insurance and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance are taking proactive measures, including engaging in negotiations with cyber attackers, to address claims arising from ransomware incidents, as per a report by The Economic Times

India has recently become one of the most targeted countries globally for cyberattacks.

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In addition to refining their cyber insurance products, insurers are modifying covenants and strengthening contracts with clients to enhance their capabilities in the rapidly growing cyber insurance sector.

Insurers are collaborating with intermediary agencies that specialize in negotiating with hackers, often referred to as threat actors.

These agencies play a crucial role in facilitating negotiations when hackers demand a ransom in exchange for not releasing stolen data. Experts estimate that at least 5-10 cases involving substantial sums of money have been settled through such negotiations in just over a year.

The primary objective of insurers engaging in negotiations is to confirm the responsibility of threat actors for the cyberattack and then work towards minimizing the ransom payment.

The Economic Times report quotes Hiten Kothari, Chief Underwriting Officer and Chief Actuary at HDFC Ergo General Insurance, who explains, that ransomware negotiation service providers offer a range of services, including ransomware remediation, public relations assistance, post-attack monitoring, detection and response services, and products designed to prevent future attacks.

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While obtaining official numbers on such negotiations is challenging, industry experts suggest that approximately 5-10 deals may have transpired over the past year.

The reduction in reinsurer capacity over the last 1-2 years, due to substantial overseas claims, is prompting a reevaluation of exposure to cyber insurance.

Assessing the impact of cyberattacks, experts note that cybercriminals strategically publicize data breach details on the dark web to exert pressure during negotiations and increase the potential ransom amount.

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Companies often assess the business impact of a data breach to determine whether paying the ransom is the most viable option, claims The Economic Times report.

This evolving cyber threat landscape has led to the implementation of more stringent terms and agreements in cyber insurance policies. Companies are now discussing cybersecurity concerns in boardrooms, and insurance policies are adapting to cover emerging risks. Collaborations between insurers and cybersecurity firms are on the rise to provide proactive risk management solutions.

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As of the latest data, HDFC Ergo has observed a 25 to 30 per cent tincrease in new corporate cyber policy enrolments.

In response to the rising instances of payouts, insurers are incorporating limits on claims percentages for ransomware cases into new covenants, resulting in increased premiums and higher deductibles.

The corporate cyber insurance market in India has witnessed significant growth, with premiums surging by 50-60 per cent in the past year. The market is currently valued at around Rs 600 crore, up from Rs 400 crore just six months ago.

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The increased demand for cyber insurance is not limited to large companies in the IT, ITes, and BFSI sectors, as other industries, including manufacturing and pharma, along with mid-sized companies, are now seeking coverage.

However, policies for smaller companies may vary based on their system strength and tech infrastructure.

Cyber insurance policies continue to evolve, offering more customized coverage that takes into account specific risks and compliance requirements.

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Insurers are adopting comprehensive risk assessment approaches, utilizing detailed questionnaires to evaluate companies cybersecurity measures, including the strength of their firewalls and security infrastructure.

Premiums are then priced accordingly, with an emphasis on reinforcing technology infrastructure and appointing Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs).
The plea agreements between Farik and Nazir are said to have been made possible by a visit to the US-run facility in Cuba last year by a group from Malaysia, which also comprised the Police Inspector General Razarudin Husain and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail

In a plea agreement that is anticipated to result in their return to Malaysia, two Malaysian citizens detained at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba have admitted guilt to their roles in the 2002 Bali bombing in Indonesia.

In connection with the bombing in Bali that killed 202 people, including seven Americans, in October 2002, Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep entered guilty pleas on Tuesday at the military court in Guantanamo Bay to charges of murder, conspiracy, accessory after the fact, and purposeful causing serious bodily injury and destruction of property.

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In response to accusations pertaining to the 2003 bombing of the Jakarta JW Marriott Hotel, the two entered a not guilty plea.

Along with the suspected mastermind, Encep Nurjaman, an Indonesian national also known as Hambali, the two men were detained in Thailand in 2003. In 2006, they were sent to Guantanamo Bay.

All three individuals were detained and subjected to torture at CIA black sites or covert prisons between 2003 and 2006 in order to coerce confessions regarding their involvement in the Bali bombing, according to a 2014 US Senate Intelligence Committee investigation.

The attack was attributed to the Indonesian hardline Islamist organization Jemaah Islamiah, and three individuals, Imam Samudra, Amrozi, and Ali Ghufron, were put to death in 2008 for planning the terrorist act.

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For his part in the bombing, a fourth man, Ali Imron, was given a life sentence and is still incarcerated in Jakarta.

Arnold, a victim of the Bali bombing who wished to remain anonymous, told This Week in Asia that he was not particularly upset with the plea agreements.

When a bomber exploded a suicide vest at the Paddys Club next door, the Indonesian national was working as a bartender at the Sari Club in Balis Kuta neighborhood. He claimed that because of the loud music playing in his club, at first he mistook the sounds for a stalling car.

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Arnold continued by saying he couldnt recall the time of the second explosion. He was rendered unconscious by the terrorists one-ton of explosives, which they had concealed in filing cabinets inside a van that was parked outside the Sari Club. He awoke with burns all over him.

No one was hurt when a third device went off in the vicinity of the US consulate in Balis Renon neighborhood.

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The plea agreements between Farik and Nazir are said to have been made possible by a visit to the US-run facility in Cuba last year by a group from Malaysia, which also comprised the Police Inspector General Razarudin Husain and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

As part of a tour arranged by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Saifuddin claimed to have met US Special Representative for Guantanamo Affairs Tina Kaidanow in September while in New York.

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Approximately 780 detainees were originally housed at Guantanamo Bay; today, only 30 are there, including Hambali, Farik, and Nazir. Of the men detained there, just eleven have ever faced criminal charges.

The sentencing of Farik and Nazir is scheduled for next week.
Antony Blinken also said US President Joe Biden and PM Modi enjoy excellent relations and their conversations cover all aspects, including US-India relations

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described India as an extraordinary success story, saying the policies and programmes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been very beneficial to the people of India.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024, on Wednesday, Blinken further said US President Joe Biden and PM Modi enjoy excellent relations and their conversations cover all aspects, including US-India relations.

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Praising the expansion of bilateral ties between India and the US, Blinken said both the countries are always in constant conversations and those cover all aspects, including on democracy and fundamental rights.

Its part of very sustained and very real conversation we have always had, he said.

Blinken was responding to a question on whether the rise of Hindu nationalism concerns India despite the countrys robust economic growth and infrastructure building under the PM Modi regime.

Israel-Hamas war

Speaking about the US efforts to reduce Palestinian causalities and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, Blinken said, But that in no way, shape, or form takes away from the tragedy we have seen and continue to see. All I can tell you on a purely human level, it is devastating, but it reinforces the conviction to do everything we can in this moment to try and make a difference in the day and day out as well as to arrive at a larger resolution for Israels conflict with the Palestinians the Middle East."

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Blinken called on Israel to help rather than hinder the Palestinian Authority, saying Israels long-term security was at stake. He renewed his call for a pathway to a Palestinian state even as Washington backs Israels Gaza campaign launched in response to the 7 October Hamas attack.

Youre not going to get the genuine security you need absent that. And, of course, to that end as well, a stronger, reformed Palestinian Authority that can more effectively deliver for its own people has to be part of the equation, Blinken said. An effective Palestinian Authority can only operate with the support, with the help, of Israel, not with its active opposition, Blinken said.

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Even the most effective Authority is going to have a lot of trouble if its got the active opposition of any Israeli government, he said. The Biden administration has backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus call to eradicate Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, but has called for the Palestinian Authority gradually to take over control in the Gaza Strip.

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With inputs from agencies
Following their journey from Davos on helicopters and boarding the modified Boeing 737, Blinken and his party received information that the aircraft had been deemed unsafe for flight, according to reports.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was briefly stranded in Davos on Wednesday after his plane experienced a critical failure related to an oxygen leak and another plane is being flown to Switzerland to pick him up, according to a member of his travelling press pool.

The top U.S. diplomat had travelled to Davos on Monday and was scheduled to fly back to Washington on Wednesday.

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Following their journey from Davos on helicopters and boarding the modified Boeing 737, Blinken and his party received information that the aircraft had been deemed unsafe for flight, according to reports.

A Bloomberg report said the aircraft was a Boeing plane. Reuters could not immediately confirm what aircraft Blinken was using.

With inputs from Reuters.
14:36 | Davos (Switzerland), Jan. 17.





During his participation at the panel "Leading in the Pacific," along with senior authorities from the Republic of Korea, the United States, Papua New Guinea, and the Netherlands, the Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that Peru envisions APEC as the most commercially dynamic region in the word.





According to the Cabinet member, the APEC forum is the best opportunity among the 21 economies that make it up to cooperate on the increase of investment and trade.





"Because we understand that there is no chance of development if investment does not flow, if private companies are not assessed to their fullest extent, if conditions offered by each country are not respected," he added.





In this regard, Minister Gonzalez-Olaechea underscored that Peru's conditions for investment and trade are stable, on equal macroeconomic terms for national and foreign investors.





At the panel, the government official explained that APEC Peru 2024, whose priority agenda was approved by the 21 economies at a meeting held in Lima last December, has three goals: trade and investment for inclusive growth; innovation to promote transition of informal economic actors to formal and global economy; and sustainable growth for development.









He also indicated that the second goal "is a major challenge, because almost two thirds of the world's population lives in an informal and precarious situation."





Furthermore, the Foreign Affairs sector's head stressed the impact that the coming disruptive era will have on jobs. The following factors come together in said era: artificial intelligence, new ways of communication, and bio-engineering.





"We hope that APEC 2024 will go further to promote cooperation not only in the Asia-Pacific region, and can provide an opportunity to tell the world that we prioritize trade and investment, but we want to be part of global solutions," he added.





(END) NDP/MRCA/JCC/RMB/MVB
The Islamic Republic backs Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in its war with Israel, which has devastated Gaza in an aerial and ground offensive, and Tehran accuses the United States of backing what it calls Israeli crimes in Gaza.

Attacks against Israel and its interests by the Axis of Resistance will stop if the Gaza war ends, Irans foreign minister said on Wednesday, adding that the conflict could heighten tensions across the Middle East.

An end to the genocide in Gaza will lead to an end of military actions and crises in the region, Amirabdollahian said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

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The security of the Red Sea is tied to the developments in Gaza, and everyone will suffer if Israels crimes in Gaza do not stop  All the (resistance) fronts will remain active.U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday called Yemens Iran-backed Houthi forces a terrorist group, after American and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen overnight.

The Islamic Republic backs Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in its war with Israel, which has devastated Gaza in an aerial and ground offensive, and Tehran accuses the United States of backing what it calls Israeli crimes in Gaza.

The Houthi militia, which has been targeting Red Seas shipping in what it calls solidarity with Palestinians against Israel, has threatened a strong and effective response to the U.S. and British strikes.

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Amirabdollahian also said that Tehran shared intelligence with Iraq about what it said were activities of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad in Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

Iran has said its Revolutionary Guards attacked Israels spy HQ in Iraq in the city of Erbil on Monday. Iraq later denied that there was any such spy centre in the country.

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With inputs from agencies.
Pakistan, which recalled its ambassador to Iran and suspended all high-level planned bilateral visits in the coming days over the aerial strikes, said two children were killed and three others injured in the attack.

China has called on both Pakistan and Iran and urged them to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could escalate tensions. This statement comes after Tehran launched unprecedented missile and drone attacks on terrorist bases in the restive Balochistan province.

Two bases of Pakistans Baloch militant group Jaish al-Adl (JAI) were targeted by missiles on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported, a day after Irans elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.

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Asked for her reaction to the Iranian airstrikes, which are perhaps for the first time by Tehran against Pakistan, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here that Iran and Pakistan are close neighbours and major Islamic countries. We call on the two sides to exercise restraint, avoid actions that escalate the tension and jointly keep the region peaceful and stable, she said.

The attack also threatened to further ignite violence in a Middle East unsettled by Israels ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iran launched strikes late Monday in Iraq and Syria over an Islamic State-claimed suicide bombing that killed over 90 people earlier this month.

Earlier today, Pakistan expelled the Iranian ambassador and suspended all high-level planned bilateral visits in the coming days over the aerial strikes, saying two children were killed and three others injured in the attack.

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Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said while addressing a press briefing in Islamabad.

Pakistan has also announced the suspension of all ongoing and planned high-level visits.

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For China, it is a piquant situation as Pakistan is an all-weather ally, while Tehran is warming up to Beijing in recent years enabling China to expand its influence in the volatile Middle Eastern region.

China also imports a considerable amount of oil from Iran.

Last year China claimed diplomatic success bringing arch-rivals Iran and South Arabia together following which the two countries restored diplomatic ties after nearly a decade.

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China believes that the relations between countries should be handled based on the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and all countries sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be earnestly respected and protected, Mao said.

It is a tightrope walking for China as Pakistan, a Sunni majority country, and Iran with predominantly a Shia majority have a tenuous relationship.

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Chinas USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) connecting Pakistans volatile Balochistan, neighbouring Iran, with its Xinjiang province is increasingly coming under pressure from Baloch nationalists and Sunni extremist groups with repeated attacks on thousands of Chinese workers employed in scores of projects in Pakistan.

Added to the complex environment for China, relations between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban deteriorated leading to the border tensions between Kabul and Islamabad despite their past close relationship.

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Much to the chagrin of Pakistan, China has accorded diplomatic recognition to the Talibans interim administration permitting its official to work as Ambassador in Beijing.

Jaish al-Adl, or the Army of Justice, is a Sunni militant group founded in 2012 that largely operates in Pakistan. Iran has fought in border areas against the militants, but a missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan would be unprecedented for Iran.

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Jaish al-Adl is the most active and influential Sunni militant group operating in Sistan-Baluchestan, according to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence.

With inputs from agencies.
High childcare and education costs put many Chinese couples off having children, while uncertainty in the job market discourages women from pausing their careers. Gender discrimination and traditional expectations that women assume the caretaker role in the family exacerbate the issue

Chinas population fell for a second consecutive year in 2023, as a record low birth rate and a wave of COVID-19 deaths when strict lockdowns ended accelerated a downturn that will have profound long-term effects on the economys growth potential.

The National Bureau of Statistics said the total number of people in China dropped by 2.08 million, or 0.15%, to 1.409 billion in 2023.

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That was well above the population decline of 850,000 in 2022, which had been the first since 1961 during the Great Famine of the Mao Zedong era.

China experienced a dramatic nationwide COVID-19 surge early last year after three years of tight screening and quarantine measures kept the virus largely contained until authorities abruptly lifted curbs in December 2022.

Total deaths last year rose 6.6% to 11.1 million, with the death rate reaching the highest level since 1974 during the Cultural Revolution.

New births fell 5.7% to 9.02 million and the birth rate was a record low 6.39 births per 1,000 people, down from a rate of 6.77 births in 2022.

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Births in the country have been plummeting for decades as a result of the one-child policy implemented from 1980 to 2015 and its rapid urbanisation during that period. As with earlier economic booms in Japan and South Korea, large populations moved from Chinas rural farms into cities, where having children is more expensive.

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Japans birth rate was 6.3 per 1,000 people in 2022, while South Koreas rate was 4.9.

As we have observed again and again from other low fertility countries, fertility decline is often very difficult to reverse, University of Michigan demographer Zhou Yun said.

Further denting appetite for baby-making in China in 2023, youth unemployment hit record highs, wages for many white-collar workers fell, and a crisis in the property sector, where more than two-thirds of household wealth is stored, intensified.

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The fresh data adds to concerns that the worlds No.2 economys growth prospects are diminishing due to fewer workers and consumers, while the rising costs of elderly care and retirement benefits put more strain on indebted local governments.

India surpassed China as the worlds most populous nation last year, according to estimates by the United Nations, fuelling more debate over the merits of relocating some China-based supply chains to other markets, especially as geopolitical tensions rise between Beijing and Washington.

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Long-term, UN experts see Chinas population shrinking by 109 million by 2050, more than triple the decline of their previous forecast in 2019.

Chinas population aged 60 and over reached 296.97 million in 2023, about 21.1% of its total population, up from 280.04 million in 2022.

PENSION ISSUES

Chinas 2023 rate of 7.87 deaths per 1,000 people was higher than a rate of 7.37 deaths in 2022.

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The countrys retirement-age population, aged 60 and over, is expected to increase to more than 400 million by 2035 - more than the entire population of the United States - from about 280 million people currently.

The state-run Chinese Academy of Sciences sees the pension system running out of money by 2035.

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Zhu Guoping, a 57-year-old farmer in northwestern Gansu province, said his annual income of about 20,000 yuan ($2,779.59) leaves his family with meagre savings.

He will receive a 160-yuan monthly pension once he turns 60, the equivalent of $22.

The money is definitely not enough, Zhu said. Maybe our children can provide us with some support in the future.

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HIGH CHILDCARE COSTS

High childcare and education costs put many Chinese couples off having children, while uncertainty in the job market discourages women from pausing their careers.

Gender discrimination and traditional expectations that women assume the caretaker role in the family exacerbate the issue, demographers say.

President Xi Jinping said last year that women should tell good family tradition stories, adding it was necessary to actively cultivate a new culture of marriage and childbearing, which he linked to national development.

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Local governments have announced various measures to encourage childbirth including tax deductions, longer maternity leave and housing subsidies.

But many of the policies have not been implemented due to insufficient funding and a lack of motivation by local governments, said a Beijing policy institute, urging a unified nationwide family subsidy scheme instead.

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Beijing resident Wang Weidong, 36, who works at an internet company, said he and his wife were reluctant to have a second child.

People will not have a child because of these incentives. The incentives are auxiliary, not the root cause. So I think it is harder to reverse this trend, Wang said.
The elite gathering in the Swiss ski resort of Davos shifts its focus to environmental and climate concerns, which have prompted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call on the world to take more united action against global warming following a record-breaking year in 2023

As the World Economic Forums annual conference enters its second day on Wednesday, Irans and the United States top diplomats will hold public  and separate  one-on-one meetings, while the United Nations Secretary-General and the leaders of France, Argentina, and Spain will give addresses.

The elite gathering in the Swiss ski resort of Davos shifts its focus to environmental and climate concerns, which have prompted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call on the world to take more united action against global warming following a record-breaking year in 2023.

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Experts and politicians will discuss challenges such as securing a sustainable Middle East and North Africa, reducing plastic waste, and even finding strategies to preserve life on Earth in the face of mounting threats to biodiversity.

After a day of meetings on Monday, including one with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to speak with New York Times writer Tom Friedman on air. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian will talk with CNNs Fareed Zakaria.

On Tuesday, US forces led a new strike against Iran-backed rebels in Yemen, known as Houthis, who have been troubling Red Sea shipping lanes in recent weeks by firing missiles against vessels off the coast of the impoverished and divided Arabic Peninsula country. It came hours after one missile strike earlier Tuesday hit a US vessel.

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The Yemeni rebels have carried out the campaign in response to Israels war against Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 7, when the Palestinian militant group carried out a murderous rampage in Israel and seized hostages.

French President Emmanuel Macron, recently reappointed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Argentinas new president  self-described anarcho-capitalist Javier Milei  will take the podium Wednesday afternoon, after a morning address by Guterres.

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On Tuesday, Zelenskyy shuttled from room to room to meet with CEOs, financiers and political leaders and made a speech blasting his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, over Moscows long-running military campaign in Ukraine and seeking more Western support when Ukraines allies are showing signs of war fatigue.

Please, strengthen our economy, and we will strengthen your security, the Ukrainian leader said.
In an attempt to reach an agreement with Budapest on the aid and a more comprehensive revision to the blocs budget, the 27 leaders of the European Union decided to gather together again on February 1 in Brussels

At a crucial conference in two weeks, EU leader Ursula von der Leyen stated on Wednesday that she was confident that Hungary will relinquish its veto over a $50 billion assistance package for Ukraine.

Russias closest EU friend, Viktor Orban, the right-wing prime minister of Hungary, declined in December to approve the funding to support Kyivs governmental expenditure for the following four years.

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In an attempt to reach an agreement with Budapest on the aid and a more comprehensive revision to the blocs budget, the 27 leaders of the European Union decided to gather together again on February 1 in Brussels.

I am confident that a solution at 27 is possible, von der Leyen, the head of the EUs executive arm, told the European Parliament.

Budapest has stated that it could be open to compromising and taking the help if it is given the yearly option to reject further contributions.

Other EU countries have so far refused to accede to that demand, despite authorities in Brussels making a valiant effort to provide an accommodation.

EU representatives said that should they be unable to convince Hungary, the other twenty-six countries would attempt to provide direct funding outside of the EU budget, although this is likely to occur sooner rather than later.

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The EU claims that Ukraine should have many more months to use the billions of euros in budgetary assistance it has already given.

But Kyiv urgently needs a green light on the new funds as it seeks to keep government services running and pay salaries as Russias all-out war nears the two-year mark.

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The European Commission headed by von der Leyen has faced criticism for last month unlocking 10 billion euros in frozen EU funds for Hungary as it sought to win over Orban.

EU lawmakers at Wednesdays debate urged von der Leyen not to cave into blackmail from Orban and are threatening a possible lawsuit against the commission over the release of the funds.

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Von der Leyen defended the decision to release the 10 billion euros to Hungary, arguing that Budapest had passed a new law on judicial reform, something requested by Brussels, to get the funds.

At the same time, around 20 billion euros remain frozen. They are suspended for reasons that include concerns on LGTBIQ rights, academic freedom and asylum rights, she said.

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She said that billions held up by Brussels will remain blocked until Hungary fulfils all the necessary conditions.
The event was Macrons latest effort to reinvigorate his presidency after bruising domestic battles, notably about Frances retirement age and how to better control immigration, and riots last year that swept hundreds of cities, towns and villages after the fatal police shooting of a teenager

In addition to announcing preparations to send more long-range cruise missiles and bombs to Ukraine on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron hinted that he might want to collaborate with Donald Trump should he win reelection.

The French leader declared, I take the leaders that the people give me, and that when Frances interests are at stake, he is ready to speak with anyone.

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I had to do this with President Trump throughout his term, Macron stated. He pointed out that although they agreed on several things, they disagreed on other things, most notably opposing taxation and climate change.

Macron shared his thoughts on Trump during a comprehensive press conference that lasted over two hours and covered a wide range of national and international topics.

He advised Europe to prepare for the likelihood that US objectives may shift, irrespective of the outcome of the presidential election.

They share our values, but it is a democracy that is also going through crisis, Macron said. He said its first priority is itself and that its second is China.

So we Europeans must all be clear about this. This is also why I want a stronger Europe, that knows how to protect itself and isnt dependent on others, he said. This is how I am preparing for the American election, regardless of its outcome.

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Turning to Ukraine, Macron said he will travel there next month and finalize a security agreement with the government in Kyiv. He said a Russian victory would undermine the international rules-based order and make life impossible for Russias neighbors.

We cannot let Russia win and we must not do that, he said.

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He said France plans to deliver about 40 long-range missiles and several hundred bombs that our Ukrainian friends are waiting for. They will come on top of previous French deliveries of artillery, light tanks and other military hardware, training for Ukrainian troops, and French efforts to boost Ukrainian production and purchases of weaponry.

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Much of Macrons prime-time news conference focused on domestic issues. He laid out broad plans to strengthen and better prepare France for global crises, saying the country has all the aces to succeed.

The event was Macrons latest effort to reinvigorate his presidency after bruising domestic battles, notably about Frances retirement age and how to better control immigration, and riots last year that swept hundreds of cities, towns and villages after the fatal police shooting of a teenager.

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In a year when France will be in the global spotlight as host of the Summer Olympics in Paris, Macron seeks a fresh start in 2024. Last week, Macron installed a new prime minister, Frances youngest ever, and new ministers. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, 34, and Cabinet members looked on, seated together to one side, as Macron held court in the presidential Elysee Palace on Tuesday night.

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Of his new government, Macron said he expects it to show daring, efficiency, action. Against a blue-white-and-red background, he took deep dives into daily life issues, from health care costs and the time children spend on screens to schooling and how to boost Frances birth rate.

Macrons second term as president is beset by his lack of a majority in parliament. He faces a struggle to remain relevant and not become a lame duck. The news conference was a bid to show that he still has ambition and plans, timed in the evening to reach a broad audience. He spoke often without notes.

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Macron is also eyeing his legacy. Constitutionally barred from running for a third consecutive term in 2027, Macon faces the risk of being succeeded by one of his most tenacious political opponents: far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Beaten by Macron in the presidential run-offs of both 2017 and 2022, Le Pen and her National Rally party have grown in strength during Macrons reign.

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Macron was particularly animated Tuesday night when talking about Le Pens camp, calling it the party of lies.

He argued that a far-right victory in 2027 isnt written.

A lot of things happen in three and half years, he said.
According to Majed al-Ansari the spokesman for Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supplies and medicine are scheduled to depart Doha on Wednesday for El Arish, Egypt, in order to be transported to the Gaza Strip

Israel and Hamas have achieved an agreement that will permit the delivery of medical supplies to Israeli prisoners detained in the Gaza Strip and the transportation of humanitarian items to citizens of the beleaguered Palestinian region.

In exchange for the provision of medicine to Israeli captives detained by Hamas, the organization in charge of governing Gaza, the agreement calls for the distribution of humanitarian aid to residents of the most affected and vulnerable areas in Gaza, according to a statement released by Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.

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According to Majed al-Ansari the spokesman for Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supplies and medicine are scheduled to depart Doha on Wednesday for El Arish, Egypt, in order to be transported to the Gaza Strip.

He said that Qatar worked with France to mediate the accord.

The relatives of some of the Israeli prisoners had originally proposed the proposal, according to Philippe Lalliot, head of Frances Ministry of Foreign Affairs Crisis Centre, which coordinates relief efforts. Negotiations had been ongoing for weeks, he said.

Each of the 45 prisoners would receive customized medical packages produced in France that would last for several months. Ground coordination will be handled by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

According to an Al Jazeera count based on official numbers, during Hamas raid on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in at least 1,139 deaths, the organization took roughly 240 individuals hostage.

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Israel unleashed a catastrophic bombardment, siege, and ground invasion of Gaza in retaliation. Palestinian officials claim that the Israeli attack has claimed the lives of over 24,000 individuals.

A week-long truce in late November saw the release of over 100 prisoners after protracted talks brokered by the US and Qatar. Israel freed hundreds of Palestinian detainees from their confines in return.

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The US Middle East Envoy, Brett McGurk, was in Doha recently, the White House confirmed earlier on Tuesday, to discuss potential negotiations for the release of hostages.
Sharaban K, of German-Iraqi descent, scoured Instagram for women resembling her and enticed them with various promises. The chosen victim, a 23-year-old woman named Khadidja O of Algerian origin, was offered free treatment at a beauty salon

A German woman, Sharaban K, and a 25-year-old man are facing trial for the alleged doppelganger murder, accused of orchestrating a gruesome plot to murder a woman resembling Sharaban K in order to fake her own death.

The 24-year-old and her alleged accomplice deny the charges, but prosecutors claim they selected a victim, promised her free beauty salon treatment, and then brutally killed her, intending to assume a new identity.

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Court documents reveal that Sharaban K, of German-Iraqi descent, scoured Instagram for women resembling her and enticed them with various promises. The chosen victim, a 23-year-old woman named Khadidja O of Algerian origin, was offered free treatment at a beauty salon.

The prosecution alleges that she was then brutally attacked, stabbed 56 times, and struck on the head during a car journey from Eppingen to Ingolstadt in Bavaria. The victims dead body was abandoned in a forest.

As per the reports, the murder was initially believed as Sharaban Ks own death. Authorities, however, apprehended both suspects the following day when spotted in a local pizzeria.

Reports suggest that Sharaban Ks family, hailing from a Yazidi community in northern Iraq, and her failed marriage may have motivated the attempt to fake her own death.

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Additional charges were filed against the duo, including an alleged plot to hire a contract killer for the murder of Sharaban Ks former partners brother.

Despite a 5,000 deposit, the hitman did not carry out the killing. Furthermore, while in custody, the male suspect is accused of attempting to solicit another inmate to murder witnesses in the case.

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The trials first day faced significant delays as defense lawyers argued that recent document submissions by prosecutors required additional examination time, seeking a suspension of proceedings.

Prosecutors countered that such submissions were not unusual after an indictment. The court is expected to rule on the suspension request next week, shedding light on a bizarre case involving identity deception, murder, and alleged criminal conspiracies.
Bilal Nofal played a role in advancing Hamas research and development processes, and his removal significantly impacted the organizations capacity to develop and enhance its capabilities.

Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip have killed six Palestinian fighters, including a Hamas member believed to be responsible for interrogating individuals suspected of espionage in the southern Gaza Strip. According to Israels military update on Telegram, Bilal Nofal was eliminated by an IAF aircraft.

Nofal played a role in advancing Hamas research and development processes, and his removal significantly impacted the organizations capacity to develop and enhance its capabilities.

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More than 2,000 rockets have been fired toward Israel from Lebanon, the home of Hezbollah, since the start of the war in Gaza, killing 12 Israeli soldiers.

Meanwhile, medicine for hostages was en route to Gaza on Wednesday after Qatar and France mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas  the first agreement between the two since a weeklong cease-fire broke down in November.

The deal came more than 100 days into a conflict that shows no sign of ending and has sparked tensions across the Middle East, with a dizzying array of strikes and counterstrikes in recent days from northern Iraq to the Red Sea and from southern Lebanon to Pakistan.

The United States launched the third strike in recent days against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, according to a U.S. official. The Houthis have attacked shipping in the crucial Red Sea corridor, saying they seek to halt Israels war in Gaza against Hamas.

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In northern Gaza, Palestinian militants battled Israeli forces and launched a barrage of rockets from farther south. The Palestinian death toll rose to 24,285 people, Gazas Health Ministry said Tuesday. In Israel, around 1,200 people were killed during Hamas Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war and saw some 250 people taken hostage by the militants.

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With inputs from agencies.
Officials in Tigray issue a dire warning, indicating that the region teeters on the brink of a famine reminiscent of the crisis in 1984, which prompted the iconic global fundraising event Live Aid

Edaga Arbi town in Ethiopias Tigray region has witnessed the tragic death of over 200 people due to starvation since July, while nearby Adwa town mourns the loss of another 16 lives, as confirmed by local authorities.

Officials in Tigray issue a dire warning, indicating that the region teeters on the brink of a famine reminiscent of the crisis in 1984, which prompted the iconic global fundraising event Live Aid.

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Despite the alarming situation, the central government in Addis Ababa denies the looming famine, asserting ongoing efforts to provide aid. However, on the ground, medics and humanitarians express their frustration, citing the insufficient and delayed arrival of aid, leaving them powerless to prevent further loss of lives.

Desta Kahsay, a doctor in the city of Shire, laments the grim reality of witnessing preventable deaths without the means to intervene, describing it as a doomsday scenario. The victims predominantly include children and young people, with Tigray residents pleading for support amid dire circumstances.

Ethiopia, grappling with conflicts, drought, and flooding, currently sees an estimated 20 million people in need of food assistance, according to the UN. By mid-2024, the Early Famine Warning Systems Network anticip a near-nationwide emergency.

Analyst Alex de Waal emphasizes the severe conditions in Tigray, citing the aftermath of war, mass displacement, economic collapse, and a devastating drought. He warns that without prompt action, Ethiopias food crisis could surpass the dire situation of 40 years ago, potentially resulting in the deaths of half a million people or more in the coming year.

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Dr. Kahsay expresses concern that many have already lost hope, accepting a daily reality of mourning and funerals, resigning themselves to a destiny of inevitable demise.
El cambio climatico es una amenaza para el bienestar de la poblacion y la economia de Peru. Los EE.UU. y Canada reafirman su compromiso de trabajar con el Peru????. Invertiremos mas de U$50 millones en 10 anos para disenar proyectos en infraestructura natural y fortalecer la pic.twitter.com/JZvwSzdq2H
The govts relaxation of the one-child policy to allow three children, along with subsidies and calls for women to focus on homemaking hasnt yet reversed the trend. Demographers warn of an impending economic crisis as the working-age population diminishes & retirees strain social security funds.

Despite the Chinese governments efforts to boost the birth rate and efforts to address a looming demographic crisis, an increasing number of young Chinese people are hesitant to start families, citing economic concerns compounded by societal norms surrounding child-rearing.

Chinas population declined for the second consecutive year in 2023. Factors such as a record-low birth rate and COVID-19-related deaths contributed to a population decrease of 2.08 million, or 0.15%, bringing the total to 1.409 billion. This decline follows the 2022 decrease of 850,000, marking the first decline since 1961.

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The governments relaxation of the one-child policy to allow three children, along with subsidies and calls for women to focus on homemaking, has not yet reversed the trend. Demographers warn of an impending economic crisis as the working-age population diminishes, and retirees strain social security funds.

China experienced a dramatic nationwide COVID surge early last year after three years of tight screening and quarantine measures kept the virus largely contained until authorities abruptly lifted curbs in December 2022.

Total deaths last year rose 6.6% to 11.1 million, with the death rate reaching the highest level since 1974 during the Cultural Revolution.

New births fell 5.7% to 9.02 million and the birth rate was a record low 6.39 births per 1,000 people, down from a rate of 6.77 births in 2022.

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Births in the country have been plummeting for decades as a result of the one-child policy implemented from 1980 to 2015 and its rapid urbanisation during that period. As with earlier economic booms in Japan and South Korea, large populations moved from Chinas rural farms into cities, where having children is more expensive.

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Japans birth rate was 6.3 per 1,000 people in 2022, while South Koreas rate was 4.9.

As we have observed again and again from other low fertility countries, fertility decline is often very difficult to reverse, University of Michigan demographer Zhou Yun said.

Further denting appetite for baby-making in China in 2023, youth unemployment hit record highs, wages for many white-collar workers fell, and a crisis in the property sector, where more than two-thirds of household wealth is stored, intensified.

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The fresh data adds to concerns that the worlds No.2 economys growth prospects are diminishing due to fewer workers and consumers, while the rising costs of elderly care and retirement benefits put more strain on indebted local governments.

India surpassed China as the worlds most populous nation last year, according to estimates by the United Nations, fuelling more debate over the merits of relocating some China-based supply chains to other markets, especially as geopolitical tensions rise between Beijing and Washington.

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Long-term, U.N. experts see Chinas population shrinking by 109 million by 2050, more than triple the decline of their previous forecast in 2019.

Chinas population aged 60 and overreached 296.97 million in 2023, about 21.1% of its total population, up from 280.04 million in 2022.

With inputs from agencies.
The Houthis are one in a network of Iran- and Hamas-allied militant groups around the Middle East that have escalated attacks on Israel, the U.S. and others since Israels military offensive in Gaza, in response to Hamas Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.

India is engaged in diplomatic discussions with Iran and implementing measures to safeguard its exporters from disruptions caused by attacks on ships in the Red Sea by the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen.

These attacks have led to a slowdown in trade between Asia and Europe, causing disruptions to supply chains. The Houthi group has stated that their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and has threatened to expand the attacks to include U.S. ships amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

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Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held talks in Iran on Monday which he said had touched on the Red Sea situation.

The defence ministry has improved surveillance (in the region) and the ministry of external affairs is diplomatically negotiating this very well, said the government source, who requested anonymity.

Military strikes by the U.S. and Britain against Houthi targets in Yemen have failed to stop weeks of drone, rocket and missile strikes by Houthi forces on commercial shipping transiting the Red Sea route, which borders Yemen.

The Houthis are one in a network of Iran- and Hamas-allied militant groups around the Middle East that have escalated attacks on Israel, the U.S. and others since Israels military offensive in Gaza, in response to Hamas Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.

The Houthis were originally a clan-based rebel movement. They seized Yemens capital in 2014 and withstood a subsequent yearslong invasion led by Saudi Arabia aimed at driving the Houthis from power. Two-thirds of Yemens people live in territory now controlled by the Houthis.

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The finance ministrys banking division will also make it easier for exporters affected by the disruption to get credit, he added.

The idea is to ensure credit flow to exporters is maintained as cargoes are getting delayed and transit is costing more, the source said. The foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

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The Red Sea, which leads to the Suez Canal, lies on the key east-west trade route from Asias manufacturing hubs to Europe and onto the east coast of the Americas. About 12% of the worlds shipping traffic accesses the Suez Canal via its waters.

Indias defence ministry is providing protective escorts to Indian container ships in the region and the Indian Navy has responded to at least two attacks and hijacking attempts on merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea.

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The government source said trade volumes from major ports had not been affected so far, but ships were having to take longer routes to avoid the attacks.

With inputs from agencies.
The ordinance was issued by Premier Giorgia Melonis hard-right administration in an attempt to stop the influx of migrants and potential asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe

For a rescue ship that usually plies the Mediterranean Sea searching for migrants and refugees in danger, the year has gotten off to a quiet start. Italy targets charitable groups that run these kinds of vessels, and the crew of the Ocean Viking has been detained on the grounds that they strayed from a prescribed path.

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The 69-meter (225-foot) ship, run by the European organisation SOS Mediterranee, was held by Italian officials for the second time in as many months as they enforced a decree issued a year ago by the Italian government that governs marine rescue organisations.

The ordinance was issued by Premier Giorgia Melonis hard-right administration in an attempt to stop the influx of migrants and potential asylum seekers attempting to enter Europe. Privately run rescue ships are now frequently dispatched by Italian maritime authorities to ports in central and northern Italy, hundreds of miles and several days sail distant from the locations where they locate distressed boats.

Additionally, the authorities prohibit the humanitarian groups vessels from doing numerous rescue missions without permission.

According to the government, the actions are meant to lessen the burden of migration on southern Italy and control maritime missions, which it claims only serve to incite more people to make perilous crossings from North Africa.

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To date, 13 or 14 charity-run rescue ships have been impounded for various violations. The aid groups deny their activities provide an incentive and argue that Italys procedures take their ships out of operation for days while leaving vulnerable migrants to the whims of the Mediterranean.

The SOS Mediterranee is accused of having deviated from its assigned route to a port in Bari, a city on Italys Adriatic coast, where the crew was directed after having rescued 244 people at sea. The Ocean Viking went off course on Dec. 27 to respond to a civilian aircrafts report of a boat in distress some 15 nautical miles away.

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It resumed its original course to Bari after corrected coordinates showed the boat was too far away and Italian authorities had dismissed Ocean Viking from the mission.

We are accused of not having followed the orders of the Italian coast guard, and the only fault we have is that of having followed the law of the sea, Alessandro Porro, a senior rescuer and president of SOS Mediterranees Italy operation.

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After arriving as originally scheduled in Bari on Dec. 30, the crew received a 20-day detention order for the ship and a 3,300-euro ($3,600) fine. The detention order expires Friday, and SOS Mediterranee hopes to set out again as soon as possible, weather permitting.

We know this is a tactic to try and stop our operation rather than something that is valid in some way, Mary Finn, another Ocean Viking rescuer, said. And I find it painful to feel that humanitys not on our side or that the authorities arent on our side, because its so obvious when you do this work that what were doing is the right thing to be doing.

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Sara Kelany, the migration policy coordinator for Melonis Brothers of Italy party, agreed that saving lives is a priority. But she said the presence of charity-run ships in the Mediterranean must be limited and strictly regulated.

Kelany alleged that many of the groups that organize humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean also have a stated political objective of changing the European Unions migration policies.

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In essence, they want to be political actors within the dynamics of immigration, she said in an interview. Immigration is a states national competence, and we cannot allow private organizations to influence our migration policies with their policies.

More than 60% of the 260,000 people who reached Europe last year by crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa first arrived in Italy, according to U.N. and Italian statistics.

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Meanwhile, more than 3,000 people drowned at sea while attempting the journey in 2023, according to the International Organization for Migration, which estimates that more than 28,800 people overall have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014.

It is unclear what, if any, effect the Italian governments regulation of maritime rescue groups has had on the number of migrants who made it to Europe or were lost at sea. Charity ships rescue only around 8% of the asylum-seekers who reach Italy, down from a peak of 41% in 2017. Most either landed in their own boats or were brought ashore by the Italian coast guard.

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After taking office in late 2022, Melonis government pledged to curb migrant arrivals. Instead, Italy saw them sharply increase, with more than 157,000 in 2023 compared to 105,000 the year before. On one day in September, more than 7,000 migrants arrived on the island of Lampedusa.

Meloni has promoted deals designed to keep people from charting out for Europe and also formulated a development plan for Africa aimed at giving citizens greater economic opportunities so they wont be desperate to leave.

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Details of the plan, named for Enrico Mattei, the former president of Italian oil company ENI, which has strategic interests in several North African countries, havent been released.

Beyond that, Meloni was on hand in Tunisia in June when the president of the EUs executive commission president signed an accord with the Tunisian government pledging economic aid in exchange for help preventing departures.

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More recently, Meloni reached a bilateral deal with Albania that calls for establishing two centers in the Balkan nation to process the fast-tracked asylum applications of migrants who were rescued by Italian navy, coast guard and border police vessels.

The Constitutional Court of Albania suspended the deal pending a review, but Prime Minister Edi Rama has said he expects it to go forward.
Initially responding positively to her inquiry, Chias attitude changed drastically when Kalvin disclosed her Indian and Punjabi background. He explicitly expressed a refusal to deal with individuals from these communities

A recent incident involving a Malaysian woman and a real estate agent has ignited public outrage and condemnation online.

Last week, Kalvin took to social media to share her unsettling experience while house hunting, revealing that the agent, identified as Alan Chia, made a racial remark upon learning about her ethnicity.

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Initially responding positively to her inquiry, Chias attitude changed drastically when Kalvin disclosed her Indian and Punjabi background. He explicitly expressed a refusal to deal with individuals from these communities, prompting Kalvin to share her disapproval on social media.

The post quickly gained widespread attention, leading IQI Global, the real estate agents company, to conduct an investigation.

I dont normally do this but this is completely UNACCEPTABLE. Contacted a property agent, his response was fine initially, but immediately after obtaining my name and race, he was rude. When I questioned him, see what he says.



He blocked me right after. pic.twitter.com/UAhNUdFnih  Kalvin (@kalvinderks_) January 10, 2024

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In their official response, the company stated that Chia had been terminated based on the investigations findings and his admission to the discriminatory remarks.

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We are strongly opposed to any form of discrimination and will continue to respond to it strongly, the company asserted in their statement.

Following his termination, Chia issued a public apology on social media, expressing regret and acknowledging the gravity of his actions. In the message, he extended apologies to the Malaysian community, specifically to Indians, Punjabis, and Kalvin.

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For all the malaysian especially indian friend, punjabi friend and Ms Kalvin. Please accept my apologise and i will be responsible on what i have did today. Im very regret and feeling stress now. Sincerely apologise from me Alan Chia pic.twitter.com/2D9jMJZyP1  Alanchia (@alanchia1993) January 10, 2024

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Kalvin, in response to the apology, expressed her satisfaction, emphasising that her intention was not to defame Chia but to convey a strict message against racial remarks.

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Glad he did apologise. I didnt intend to defame him as I understand he has his whole life ahead to earn a living. But I wanted to convey a strict message that racial remarks are not acceptable and never will be acceptable.

She highlighted the importance of property agents conducting business without personal biases and encouraged others facing discrimination to lodge complaints with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents, and Property Managers (BOVAEP).
Metropolitan police officers strategically positioned themselves around exclusive nightclubs and restaurants in central London, posing with valuable timepieces in an effort to entice potential thieves

A covert police initiative in London, featuring undercover officers showcasing high-end brands like Rolex to attract criminals, has significantly reduced luxury watch robberies, according to Scotland Yard.

Metropolitan police officers strategically positioned themselves around exclusive nightclubs and restaurants in central London, posing with valuable timepieces in an effort to entice potential thieves.

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Videos from covert operations in Soho revealed the modus operandi, where hidden officers swiftly intervened, arresting would-be robbers attempting to steal the displayed watches. This successful operation, spanning several months in 2022 and 2023, led to 27 arrests, with 21 individuals later convicted.

Police figures demonstrate a notable decrease in annual watch robberies from 113 to 55 in the year up to July 2023, specifically in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham boroughs.

Ben Russell, the Mets commander for intelligence, commended the undercover officers courage, emphasising their willingness to stand alone in dark streets during late-night hours.

Russell highlighted the prevalence of watch robberies in fashionable neighborhoods between 11 pm and 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays, targeting luxury Swiss brands favored by affluent individuals.

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The criminals strategically lurk outside bars and clubs, focusing on areas like Soho, Kensington, and Chelsea, where people gather for leisure and are likely to wear expensive watches.

While there isnt a specific brand preference, thieves often target luxury watches, including Rolex and Patek Philippe, valued between 10,000 and upwards of 100,000.

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The operation was prompted by high-profile incidents involving celebrities like boxer Amir Khan and broadcaster Aled Jones, who fell victim to luxury watch thefts. Russell urged the public to remain vigilant, advising the use of long sleeves to conceal watches while walking on the street.

Characterizing the crimes as opportunistic organized crime, Russell emphasized the perpetrators focus on genuine, expensive watches, engaging victims directly before executing the thefts.
Pakistan has also announced the suspension of all ongoing and planned high-level visits after Irans missile attack in Balochistan

Pakistan has expelled Iranian ambassador and recalled its top diplomats from Iran, amid mounting tension over Iranian air strikes on the Pakistani province of Balochistan on Tuesday.

Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said while addressing a press briefing in Islamabad.

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Pakistan has also announced the suspension of all ongoing and planned high-level visits.

According to Iranian state media, Tehran said it had targeted two camps of the Jaish al-Adl terror group, inside Pakistani territory of Green Mountain with drones and missiles. Islamabad condemned the attack, calling it a completely unacceptable violation of its airspace and warned of serious consequences.

Pakistan said that Iran carried out an air strike on its territory that killed two children.

Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for an attack in December on a police station in Rask that killed at least 11 Iranian police officers.

Islamabad called the airstrike an unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistans sovereignty by Iran and termed the move as a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

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This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever. Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act. The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran, Baloch said.

China, a close ally of Iran and Pakistan, urged restraint, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning saying both the countries should avoid actions that would lead to an escalation of tension.

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Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl is blacklisted by Iran as a terrorist group and has carried out several attacks on Iranian soil in recent years.

With inputs from agencies
Jailed former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) said this irresponsible and reprehensible act by Iran will sabotage the possibilities of much-needed unity among the Muslim Ummah in this hour of need

Major Pakistani political parties on Wednesday vehemently denounced Irans unprovoked invasion of Pakistans airspace, stating that the countrys failed foreign and defense policies are evident in the countrys severe decline in relations with Iran, which comes after that of India and Afghanistan.

Iranian drones and missiles hit two camps of the Pakistani militant group Jaish al Adl in the Balochistan provinces border town of Panjgur on Tuesday.

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Jailed former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) said this irresponsible and reprehensible act by Iran will sabotage the possibilities of much-needed unity among the Muslim Ummah in this hour of need.

It said that Iran attempted to ruin the prospects of an inevitable harmony and unity among the ummah with an unprovoked violation of Pakistans airspace.

After India and Afghanistan, the serious deterioration of relations with Iran is very concerning and worrisome which speaks volumes about our failed foreign and defense policies. The claims of Irans close allies including Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah pertaining to the strike inside Pakistan were very concerning and gave rise to serious doubts. In February 2019, when India tried to violate Pakistans land and airspace, the then elected Prime Minister, Imran Khan, provided strong political leadership and gave a prompt and befitting reply," the PTI said in a statement.

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Indias fighter aircraft entered Pakistani airspace on February 26, 2019, and launched attacks on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp located in Balakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which is located outside the Line of Control.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto, urged the government to react to this Iranian move immediately.

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The unprovoked strike by Iran inside Pakistans border, which resulted in the deaths of two children, is unacceptable and condemnable, according to PPP Senator Sherry Rehman.

Pakistan has no stakes in fanning the flames of such conflict but will obviously have to respond if better sense does not prevail, the PPP leader said.

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PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said: I am shocked at the Iranian breach of Pakistani sovereignty. This missile attack is against the spirit of our friendship and principles of good neighbourliness, especially as it undermines the historic relationship between our two countries.

Shehbaz further said that sincere dialogue and meaningful cooperation between Pakistan and Iran is the need of the hour.

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(With agency inputs)
The Foreign Office statement issued after midnight stated that three girls were injured and two innocent youngsters died as a result of the tragedy. The location of the casualties was not mentioned in the announcement

Two children have died as a result of airspace violations by neighbouring Iran, according to Pakistan, hours after Iranian state media said that missiles on Tuesday attacked two facilities of the terrorist organisation Jaish al Adl.

Islamabad warned that the incident could have serious consequences and was completely unacceptable in a statement released by Pakistans foreign office spokesperson in the early hours of Wednesday.

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: PR NO. 15/2024



Pakistans Strong Condemnation of the Unprovoked Violation of its Air Space



https://t.co/TAWRqC7qMy pic.twitter.com/oqi3tvAOso  Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) January 16, 2024

The Foreign Office statement issued after midnight stated that three girls were injured and two innocent youngsters died as a result of the tragedy. The location of the casualties was not mentioned in the announcement.

Strongly objecting to the violation of Pakistans sovereignty, the Foreign Office described it as completely unacceptable and issued a warning that it may have serious consequences.

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It is pertinent that the illegal act occurred in spite of the fact that Pakistan and Iran have many established communication channels, it further stated that a strong protest has already been lodged with the concerned senior official in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran.

It also stated: Additionally, the Iranian Charge daffaires has been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistans sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran.

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Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighbourly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence, the statement concluded.

A statement from Irans foreign ministry was not immediately available.

The Revolutionary Guards, an elite unit of Iran, launched missiles at targets in Syria and Iraq on Monday.

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Attacks on Iranian security forces in the Pakistani border region have previously been carried out by Jaish al Adl.

These bases were hit and destroyed by missiles and drones, Iranian state media reported earlier, without elaborating.

According to Nournews, a publication connected to Irans top security agency, the sites that were hit were located in Pakistans Balochistan area.

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The incidents location and the specifics of the airspace violation were not included in Pakistans statement, but it did note that the country had protested to Tehran and that the chief of the Iranian embassy in Islamabad had been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran, Pakistans statement said, adding that the incident had occurred despite the existence of several channels of communication with Iran.

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The Pakistani militarys public relations wing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The European Unions Political and Security Committee had given initial approval for the mission and the aim was to establish by February 19 to make it operational soon after

After hesitating for weeks, the European Union seems to have reached some sort of agreement on establishing an operation in the Red Sea to safeguard one of the most important shipping lines from Houthi attacks emanating from Yemen.

The Houthi terror group has been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestine and Hamas, and in protest against Israels war in Gaza.

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According to a Reuters report that quoted EU diplomats who spoke on anonymity, EUs Political and Security Committeebody responsible for foreign and security issues and policyhad given initial approval for the mission and the aim was to establish by February 19 to make it operational soon after. The timeline could be advanced given the rising tensions in the area.

Earlier, Politico has reported that EU wanted to send some three warships the Red Sea region to tackle Houthis. The publication claimed to have seen a document issued by the European External ServiceEUs diplomatic armwhich said EU was mulling to create a new EU operation which intended to act in a broader area of operation, from Red Sea to the Gulf.

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The EU seems to be taking a cue from the US Operation Prosperity Guardian under which, allied with the UK, America did hit Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation to missile and drone launches aimed at commercial ships in the Red Sea.

But, there is more than meets the eye to this decision of the EU to join the anti-Houthi campaign in Red Sea region. The member countries, reported Politico after speaking to a host of diplomats, were deeply divided on the issue.

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Joining a potential escalation that could eventually suck in Iran openly into the conflict is one of the thorniest questions that the bloc is grappling with.

In days leading to this sort of agreement on sending ships to the Red Sea, EU gave mixed signals to the US-led effort, exposing several faultlines within the bloc.

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The White House has maintained: Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.

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Americas efforts have so far been supported by the UK, Netherlandsa large portion of the countrys economy passes through the Red Sea since it is the link to the Suez CanalDenmark and Germany.

Spain, however, had openly declared that it would not participate in the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian. Italy and France, both have naval presence in the area, but did not join the US in its campaign against the Houthis.

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Meanwhile, even as EU diplomats will meet to delve into this matter, Politico quoted diplomats, speaking under anonymity, as underlining that there was not yet any clarity on how this plan will be thrashed out. Contentious question is which countries will provide the warships: Germanys Sachsen class frigates are great vessels for such naval air defence ops, but the country has just three. Question is, can Germany, or others, spare some hardware for anti-Houthi ops.

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Moreover, the jury is still out on whether Spain will relent and join the effort.

A similar quandary has been erected by France. The country has maintained that it would not participate in targeting Houthis, or be part of any initiative, that could lead to a wider conflagration. The French have stuck to their line that their vessels were there in Red Sea to maintain the freedom of navigation only, and that too for French or associated ships.

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Whether the French position has changed or no, it is yet not clear. Moreover, several publications have so far tried to take the EU on record in these matters, but the former has had nothing to say on classified discussions.
Minister of Moscow Sergey Cheremin, who is in India, also said Moscow and New Delhi have had a great partnership for 75 years

The trade ties between India and Russia have strengthened over the past few years. To intensify the bond and widen the opportunities, Moscow has invited Indian companies to invest in the country as it has great market and is also an entrance to the European market.

We have great potential for bilateral trade in such fields as smart and safe cities and high-technology machinery. It is a great moment for Indian companies to come and invest in Russia. It is not because most Western companies have existed but we have a lot in common, Minister of Moscow Sergey Cheremin was cited as saying by ANI on Wednesday.

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Cheremin, who is in India, also said Moscow and New Delhi have had a great partnership for 75 years.

How Indian companies investment in Russia will be beneficial?

The bilateral trade between India and Moscow has grown in recent times, Cheremin said, adding that more investment can be initiated into the high technology sector of both countries.

We have great synergy because India is very advanced in software technology, ITs and cyber security, and that can bring synergy to both Moscow and New Delhi, or big metropolises, but all our citizens, Cheremin elaborated.

He further said Russia is a great market and an entrance to the European market.

Cheremin, who is the Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, launched Moscows pavilion at the 31st Convergence India and 9th Smart Cities India Expo.

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This is the first time we are participating in this event. We (Moscow) are one of the most dynamic cities. Recently, we were awarded by the United States Habitat as the number one city in the world for modernisation. This is because Moscow implemented digitalisation in all the municipal spheres. We use digital solutions in education and healthcare, he said.

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The Smart Cities India expo is a showcase of Indias emerging modernisation and developing landscape. The expo showcases the integration of transformative technologies with the key pillars of urban development.

With inputs from ANI
Recovered goods

The list of 202 repatriated cultural goods includes 198 archaeological, one historical-artistic, and three archival-documentary goods.

Among the main pre-Hispanic objects are two quipus and lithic elements such as cabezas de porra and sculptures from the Inca Culture, instruments and textile fragments from the Chancay Culture and metal pieces with Chimu cultural affiliation, as well as ceramic pieces in Moche, Nazca, Lambayeque, and Inca styles, among others.

On the other hand, a historical-artistic good was returned by the F.C. Gundlach Foundation in Germany. It is a wooden glass from the colonial era with polychrome decoration that dates back to the 16th century.

Additionally, three other archival-documentary goods were returned by Belgian auction house Booneshares.

These goods include two printed and handwritten bills from the National Credit Board, from 1829 and 1836, and a voucher issued by the Lima Mint, from 1838.

En el Palacio de Torre Tagle, el vicecanciller Ignacio Higueras presidio la primera ceremonia oficial de 2024 de entrega al @MinCulturaPe de 202 bienes culturales repatriados desde????????????????????, gracias a las gestiones de los Consulados y Embajadas peruanos y autoridades locales. pic.twitter.com/XFdrh1wTq9

El vicecanciller Higueras indico que gracias al fortalecimiento de la cooperacion internacional y de una estrecha y dinamica coordinacion multisectorial, el Peru se ha convertido en un referente mundial en la lucha internacional contra el trafico ilicito de bienes culturales. pic.twitter.com/4NfGpzqF4o
Social media footage captured the confrontations near the court in Baymak, with supporters engaging in clashes with police, including throwing snowballs. Alsynovs conviction for inciting ethnic hatred sparked rare large-scale protests in Russia

Russian riot police clashed with protesters in Bashkortostan following the sentencing of rights activist Fail Alsynov to four years in a penal colony.

Social media footage captured the confrontations near the court in Baymak, with supporters engaging in clashes with police, including throwing snowballs.

Violent clashes in Baymak



Law enforcers used stun grenades in Baymak, Bashkortostan, Russia. The demonstrators responded by throwing snow and ice at them and forced them to retreat.



It is reported that negotiations are underway between the protesters and special forces: the law pic.twitter.com/AVHf2gBi7w  NEXTA (@nexta_tv) January 17, 2024

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Alsynovs conviction for inciting ethnic hatred sparked rare large-scale protests in Russia, where the risk of arrest typically stifles such demonstrations.

Reports suggest thousands participated in the multi-day protest in -20C temperatures, resulting in several injuries.

The activist denies the charges related to insulting migrants during a demonstration against gold mining plans. Supporters claim the case is retaliation for Alsynovs activism against soda mining in a culturally significant area.

He allegedly referred to Central Asians and Caucasians, comprising a significant portion of Russias migrant population, as black people in the Bashkir language. Alsynov contends the Bashkir words meant poor people and were mistranslated into Russian. He plans to appeal the verdict.

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Alsynov has previously criticized military mobilization in the region as genocide against the Bashkir people. Ongoing concerns exist about the disproportionate deployment of ethnic minorities, including Bashkirs, in conflicts such as Ukraine.

Alsynov was a leader of Bashkort, a grassroots movement focused on preserving Bashkir ethnic identity, which was banned as extremist in 2020.

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The clashes signify a rare instance of public dissent in Russia, underscoring the intensity of emotions surrounding Alsynovs case and broader issues of ethnic identity and activism in the country.
On January 7, Saudi Arabia reduced the February official selling price (OSP) of its flagship Arab Light crude to Asia to the lowest level in 27 months. Asia is the kingdoms largest market, buying the bulk of Saudi crude.

Saudi Arabias decision to cut official crude oil selling prices to Asia is seen as a response to the weaker fundamentals of supply and demand, rather than signalling an imminent shift in OPEC+ policy or a market share battle, according to analysts and industry sources.

The move, particularly the reduction in the February official selling price of Arab Light crude to Asia to the lowest level in 27 months on Jan. 7, is considered a reflection of market conditions. Asia represents Saudi Arabias largest market, being the primary buyer of its crude oil.

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The cut raised concerns in the market about regional and global demand and led international benchmark Brent crude futures to drop by 3% on Jan. 8. For some observers, the price adjustment revived memories of Saudi policy shifts in March 2020 and November 2014 when the kingdom cut prices and raised output in an attempt to boost its market share.

Analysts and industry sources said the cut this time brought the price of Saudi crude into line with that of other producers. Saudi Arabia had increased the price for five straight months to November 2023.

We do not see the recent cut as indicative of such a looming shift, but instead largely keeping prices in line with other global grades that have reflected a softer oil market, Helima Croft of RBC Capital Markets said.

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The supply of crude has risen as increased output from non-OPEC countries such as Brazil and the United States has undermined the impact of production cuts by Saudi Arabia and allies in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Within OPEC, the United Arab Emirates is ramping up exports of Abu Dhabis flagship Murban crude early in 2024, adding to increased output of other light sweet crude grades, including from fellow OPEC member Nigeria, as well as from the U.S. and Brazil and from Angola, which left OPEC at the start of the year.

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Crude shipments from Iran, exempt from making OPEC output cuts, averaged 1 million barrels per day to Asia in December, treble the rate of the same month a year earlier, Kpler data show.

Gary Ross, CEO of Black Gold Investors and a veteran OPEC watcher, said the Saudi price cuts were in response to market changes, such as a drop in the premium of prompt supply to crude for delivery later, and weaker refining margins.

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They needed to improve competitiveness and are still higher priced, he said. Another OPEC watcher, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said it was a mistake to see the price cut as indicative of a looming market share fight. The prices are back to normal levels from being overpriced, he said.

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NO POLICY SHIFT

OPEC+, which groups OPEC and allies, is making a further output cut in the first quarter of 2024, bringing the total curbs in place to almost 6 million bpd, and a panel of ministers meets on Feb. 1 to review the market. An OPEC+ source said that the meeting was not expected to change policy.

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In March 2020, the OPEC+ pact briefly ended after Moscow refused to support deeper oil output cuts to cope with the impact on demand of COVID-19. Saudi Arabia in response to Moscows refusal raised its output and cut its official selling prices.

Saudi price cuts then were more drastic than those on Jan. 7. For April 2020, Saudi Arabia lowered its OSP by $6.00 a barrel to Asia, sending global prices sliding, and a month later followed up with a further cut of $4.20.

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The November 2014 Saudi policy shift in response to a shale oil boom in the United States led to a plunge in prices to below $50 a barrel and a two-year global supply glut that only ended after OPEC+ was formed in late 2016 and began to restrain output.

In the current context, OPEC delegates downplayed the issue of market share, citing the groups view that non-OPEC supply growth will slow and members market share will recover as they maintain investment in production capacity.

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As much of the world focuses on a transition to low-carbon energy, Western oil executives have said a failure to invest in exploration would lead to medium-term shortages.

Croft at RBC said it was hard to see how a return to a market share war would improve Saudi finances for 2024, as it would take months for lower prices to slow U.S. shale production. She also noted Saudi Arabias relations with Russia appeared to be on a sound footing.

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Saudi Arabia may opt to stay in a holding pattern, judging that it has done enough to support the market, and continue to seek more burden-sharing by other members, she said. However, that does not mean Riyadh is going to open the floodgates and endure another sub-$50 stay.

With inputs from Reuters.
The White House has rejected the approach from Sanders as unworkable as President Joe Bidens administration seeks a transition from Israel and works to ensure support at home and abroad against a stirring backlash to the scenes of destruction from Gaza

Sen. Bernie Sanders put his colleagues to the test Tuesday, forcing them to decide whether to probe human rights violations in the Israel-Hamas conflict, a measure that might limit US military aid to Israel as its deadly attacks on Gaza enter their 100th day.

Senators unanimously rejected the move, a first of its kind tapping into a decades-old statute that would oblige the US State Department to, within 30 days, issue a report on whether the Israeli military campaign in Gaza is breaching human rights and international conventions. If the government fails to do so, US military funding to Israel, which has hitherto been guaranteed without question, may be abruptly withdrawn.

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However, the roll call vote reveals the level of concern among US senators about Israels handling of the conflict against Hamas. With no clear end to the bombing, some regard Israels strikes against Palestinians, which are intended to root out Hamas leaders, as out of proportion to the initial terrorist attack on Israel.

In all, 11 senators supported Sanders in the procedural vote, the majority of them were Democrats from across the party spectrum, with 72 voting against.

To my mind, Israel has the absolute right to defend itself from Hamas barbaric terrorist attack on October 7, no question about that, Sanders told AP during an interview Monday ahead of the vote.

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But what Israel does not have a right to do  using military assistance from the United States  does not have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people, said Sanders, the independent from Vermont. And in my view, thats what has been happening.

The White House has rejected the approach from Sanders as unworkable as President Joe Bidens administration seeks a transition from Israel and works to ensure support at home and abroad against a stirring backlash to the scenes of destruction from Gaza.

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Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, moved to table the measure, arguing it is counterproductive and would make it more difficult for the US to prevent escalation of the expanding conflict.

We do not believe that this resolution is the right vehicle to address these issues. And we dont think now is the right time. Its unworkable, quite frankly, said a statement from the White House National Security Councils John Kirby.

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The Israelis have indicated they are preparing to transition their operations to a much lower intensity. And we believe that transition will be helpful both in terms of reducing civilian casualties, as well as increasing humanitarian assistance, Kirby said.

With repeated overtures to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government, including shuttle diplomacy last week by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Biden administration is pushing Israel to shift the intensity of the battle. Some 24,000 people in Gaza, the majority of them women and children, have been killed and the bombings have destroyed most of the housing units, displacing most of its 2.3 million people in a humanitarian catastrophe.

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The Senate action comes as Bidens request for $106 billion supplemental national security aid for Israel as well as Ukraine and other military needs is at a standstill. Republicans in Congress are insisting on attaching vast policy changes to stop the flow of immigration at the US-Mexico border.

Of that supplemental aid package, more than $14 billion would go to Israel, including $10 billion in US military assistance, as it retaliates against Hamas for the Oct. 7 surprise attack, among the most deadly assaults ever. Some 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage, many still being held.

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Several key Democratic senators have announced their unease with Israels war in Gaza, insisting the Biden administration must do more to push the Netanyahu government to reduce civilian casualties and improve living conditions for Palestinians in Gaza.

Going further, Sanders had already announced his refusal to support more military aid to Israel in the package because of the war.

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The time is now for the US Senate to act, Sanders said ahead of the vote, which he vowed was just the beginning of his efforts to limit the wars devastation.

Heading toward the vote, Sanders said, what hes trying to do is unprecedented in procedure, and essentially in practice.

The Congress has always been supportive of Israel in general, and this begins to question the nature of the military campaign. Sanders said.

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The resolution is drawn from the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which was amended after the Nixon era, enabling Congress to provide oversight of US military assistance abroad. It requires that any arms or military aid must be used in accordance with international human rights accords.

While senators have voted to try to halt foreign arms sales to other countries in the past, this is an untested mechanism.

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The question before the Senate will be whether to ask the State Department for a report on whether human rights violations using US equipment may have occurred during Israels current campaign against Gaza, according to Sanders office.

If the resolution were to be approved, it would force the State Department to produce a report of its findings within 30 days or risk the aid being cut off.

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While its not at all certain that US aid to Israel would actually be halted, since Congress could take steps to ensure no interruption, it is enough of a threat that many senators, even the Democrats who have raised concerns about the bombardment of Gaza and the humanitarian crisis, will be unwilling to support the measure.

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Republican senators are likely to fully reject Sanders proposal. Senate Republicans have been almost unanimous in their support for Israel, even as they are blocking Bidens broader national security package because of divisions within the GOP over helping Ukraine as it battles Russias invasion.

Talks on attaching the US-Mexico border security provisions to the national security aid package are lumbering along, but no quick breakthrough is expected as Republicans push for tougher restrictions on migrants than Democrats are willing to give, particularly for immigrants seeking asylum in the US.
The British energy giant pioneered Nigerias oil and gas business beginning in the 1930s. It has struggled for years with hundreds of onshore oil spills as a result of theft, sabotage and operational issues that led to costly repairs and high-profile lawsuits

Oil major Shell is set to wind up nearly a century of operations in Nigerian onshore oil and gas after agreeing to sell its subsidiary there to a consortium of five mostly local companies for up to $2.4 billion.

The British energy giant pioneered Nigerias oil and gas business beginning in the 1930s. It has struggled for years with hundreds of onshore oil spills as a result of theft, sabotage and operational issues that led to costly repairs and high-profile lawsuits.

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Since 2021, Shell has sought to sell its Nigerian oil and gas business, but will remain active in Nigerias more lucrative and less problematic offshore sector.

Shells exit is part of a broader retreat by western energy companies from Nigeria as they focus on newer, more profitable operations. Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), opens new tab, Italys Eni and Norways Equinor (EQNR.OL), opens new tab have struck deals to sell assets in the country in recent years.

The British major will sell The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) for a consideration of $1.3 billion, it said in a statement, while the buyers will make an additional payment of up to $1.1 billion relating to prior receivables at completion.

This agreement marks an important milestone for Shell in Nigeria, aligning with our previously announced intent to exit onshore oil production in the Niger Delta, simplifying our portfolio and focusing future disciplined investment in Nigeria on our Deepwater and Integrated Gas positions, Shell head of upstream Zoe Yujnovich said.

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The buyer, the Renaissance consortium comprises ND Western, Aradel Energy, First E&P, Waltersmith, all local oil exploration and production companies, and Petrolin, a Swiss-based trading and investment company.

The sale, which Renaissance confirmed, requires the approval of the Nigerian government.

SPILLS AND LAWSUITS

Renaissance will take over the responsibility for dealing with spills, theft and sabotage, said Shell, which has faced in recent years multiple lawsuits for compensation over damage caused as a result of spills in the Niger delta.

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Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of Nigerian advocacy group Health of Mother Earth Foundation said: Shell must own up to its responsibility.

This means full payment for the remediation and restoration of the polluted areas as well as reparations to the host communities. They cannot walk away from the virtually irreparable harm they have caused, Bassey said in a statement.

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Shells SPDC Limited operates and has a 30% stake in the SPDC joint venture that holds 18 onshore and shallow water mining leases. Shells resources in SPDC reached around 458 million barrels of oil equivalent by the end of 2022.

Other partners in the joint venture are the states Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which holds 55%, TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), opens new tab, with 10% and Italys Eni (ENI.MI), opens new tab with 5%.

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Apart from its operations and stakes in several fields deep offshore, Shell still has a liquefied natural gas plant and other assets in Nigeria.

SPDC, which remains the operator, was formed in 1979, incorporating assets of the older Shell-BP consortium, with its current partners entering at later stages.
The defense ministry of Taiwan reported that, beginning at approximately 11:50 p.m. (1150 GMT) on Wednesday, it had seen 18 aircraft, including Su-30 fighters, flying over the northern, central, and southwest regions of the island

The first significant military action following the election took place on Wednesday night, according to Taiwans defense ministry, when it discovered 18 Chinese air force aircraft flying above the country and conducting joint combat readiness patrols alongside Chinese warships.

China, which considers Taiwan to be its own territory, has been routinely deploying warships and warplanes into the skies and seas surrounding the island during the past four years. in an effort to bolster claims to sovereignty that the Taipei government denies.

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Taiwan chose Lai Ching-te, the nominee of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), to be its next president on Saturday. Beijing has frequently denounced Lai as a dangerous separatist and war monger.

The defense ministry of Taiwan reported that, beginning at approximately 11:50 p.m. (1150 GMT) on Wednesday, it had seen 18 aircraft, including Su-30 fighters, flying over the northern, central, and southwest regions of the island.

In order to conduct joint combat readiness patrols with Chinese warships, eleven of the aircraft flew across the middle line of the Taiwan Strait or nearby locations, the ministry continued.

Once an unofficial border between the two sides, the median line across the strait is now often crossed by Chinese aircraft. China claims that it is unaware of the existence of the line.

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The ministry stated that Taiwan dispatched its own military to observe.

The security and prosperity of the Taiwan Strait region are closely related to global development and stability, and are obligations and responsibilities that all parties in the region must share, it said in a statement.

The military will continue to strengthen its self-defence capabilities in accordance with enemy threats and self-defence needs, and respond to regional threats.

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(With agency inputs)
Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, the acting prime minister of Pakistan, had a meeting with Amir-Abdollahian at the Davos Forum a few hours prior to the strike

Following reports from Islamabad that the strike had claimed the lives of two youngsters, Tehrans top ambassador stated on Wednesday that his nations military forces had targeted a Iranian terrorist group in Pakistan the day before.

None of the nationals of the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan were targeted by Iranian missiles and drones, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

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The so-called Jaish al-Adl group, which is an Iranian terrorist group, was targeted, he added.

According to media reports, the operation was conducted late on Tuesday, after attacks against anti-Iranian terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq by Tehran.

Pakistan barred Tehrans envoy from returning to Islamabad, recalled its ambassador from Iran, and protested the strike near the countries shared border.

Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, the acting prime minister of Pakistan, had a meeting with Amir-Abdollahian at the Davos Forum a few hours prior to the strike.

According to Amir-Abdollahian, Irans assault on Pakistans soil was a reaction to the recent, lethal strikes carried out by the Jaish al-Adl group against the Islamic republic, namely on the city of Rask in the province of Sistan-Baluchistans southeast.

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A policeman was killed in an attack on a local police station on January 10, which occurred about a month after 11 police officers were slain in a similar attack in the area.

The Sunni Muslim extremist organization Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), which was founded in 2012 and is prohibited from entering Iran as a terrorist group, claimed responsibility for both attacks.
Following his electoral victory on Monday in the Iowa caucuses, Trump made his way to a Manhattan courthouse to begin the first round of Carrolls civil complaint, which claims he assaulted her inside a department store in 1996. Following the selection of the nine-member jury on Tuesday, Trump left

As the judge in Donald Trumps defamation trial in New York informed prospective jurors that a previous panel had previously found the former president had sexually assaulted writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s, Trump shook his head in disdain on Tuesday.

Before the opening remarks, Trump departed the courtroom and rushed to a campaign event in New Hampshire. Carrolls attorney accused the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination of using the worlds biggest microphone to ruin her name and turn his fans against her. Carroll has never been more well-known, according to Trumps attorney, and she is holding him responsible for a few mean tweets from Twitter trolls.

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Following his electoral victory on Monday in the Iowa caucuses, Trump made his way to a Manhattan courthouse to begin the first round of Carrolls civil complaint, which claims he assaulted her inside a department store in 1996. Following the selection of the nine-member jury on Tuesday, Trump left.

During the jury selection process, he grimaced and frowned sometimes. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan once asked if anybody thought Trump had been treated unfairly by the legal system, to which he deftly raised his hand. Some in the courtroom laughed at the gesture, and the judge responded by saying, We know where you stand.

Trump, the former president, and Carroll, the former longtime Elle Magazine columnist, sat at separate tables about a dozen feet (3.7 meters) apart, flanked by their respective legal teams. They didnt appear to speak or make eye contact.

After Trump left, Carrolls lawyer Shawn Crowley implored jurors to make him pay  potentially millions of dollars  for comments he made while president in response to her claims in a 2019 memoir that he sexually abused her years earlier at Manhattans Bergdorf Goodman store.

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Trump used the worlds biggest microphone to attack Ms. Carroll, Crowley said in her opening statement. His comments, including claims that Carroll was lying to sell books, humiliated the writer and tore her reputation to shreds, the lawyer said.

He said this from the White House, a place where presidents have signed laws, declared wars and decided the fate of the nation, Crowley told jurors.

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While the trial concerns what Trump must pay for his comments in the immediate aftermath of Carrolls revelations, Crowley noted that his rhetoric about the writer hasnt stopped. Trump maintains he never abused Carroll and says her allegations are a partisan smear.

From court Tuesday, Trump fired off a series of social media posts about the case. He wrote on his Truth Social platform that Carrolls rape allegation was an attempted EXTORTION involving fabricated lies and political shenanigans, and he accused the judge of having absolute hatred for him.

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Crowley told jurors their job was to answer the question about Trump: How much money will it take to make him to stop?

However, Trump attorney Alina Habba said he was merely defending himself and said evidence will show that Carrolls career has prospered since accusing him. Carroll has been thrust back into the limelight like she always has wanted, Habba said in her opening argument.

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Responding to Crowleys assertion that Trump backers have sent Carroll violent threats, Habba said she sympathized with victims of sexual abuse but any backlash Carroll suffered was simply a byproduct of the digital age.

Regardless of a few mean tweets, Ms. Carroll is now more famous than she has ever been in her life, and loved and respected by many, which was her goal, Habba told jurors.

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Testimony will begin Wednesday, when Carroll is expected to take the witness stand.

Trump did not attend the previous trial in the case last May, when a jury found he had sexually abused and defamed Carroll and awarded her $5 million in damages. The jury said Carroll hadnt proven that Trump raped her. In light of that verdict, Kaplan said the trial beginning Tuesday would focus only on how much money, if any, Trump must pay Carroll for comments he made about her while president in 2019.

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As the day began, Kaplan rejected the defenses request to suspend the trial on Thursday so Trump could attend his mother-in-laws funeral  part of a combative exchange in which Trumps lawyers accused the judge of thwarting their defense with pretrial evidence rulings favorable to Carroll.

I am not stopping him from being there, the judge said, referring to the funeral.

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Habba responded, No, youre stopping him from being here.

Habba told the judge that Trump plans to testify. Kaplan said the only accommodation he would make is that Trump can testify on Monday, even if the trial is otherwise finished by Thursday. The judge previously rejected Trumps request to delay the trial a week.

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Trump watched attentively as several dozen prospective jurors filed into the courtroom and spent more than an hour responding to questions posed by the judge covering everything from their prior involvement with the judicial system to their political beliefs.

He twisted around in his chair and nodded at two prospective jurors  a man and woman  who stood when asked if they agreed with his false belief that the 2020 election was rigged, and again when three people in the pool indicated they felt the former president was being treated unfairly by the court system.

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The process offered a window into the political beliefs of a microcosm of New Yorkers, drawn from a pool that includes Manhattan and northern suburban counties. One woman said she had done publicity for his daughters company. Another said her father provided moving services for some of Trumps buildings. Neither made the cut.

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Jurors selected for the trial will remain anonymous, even to the parties, lawyers and judicial staff, and will be driven to and from the courthouse from an undisclosed location for their safety, Kaplan said.

Trump has increasingly made his courtroom travails  including four criminal cases  part of his run to retake the White House, positioning himself as a victim of partisan lawyers, judges and prosecutors and capitalizing on news coverage that accompanies his court visits. Last week, he attended closing arguments in the New York attorney generals fraud lawsuit against him  and ended up giving a six-minute diatribe after his lawyers spoke.

I guess youd consider it part of the campaign, Trump told reporters last week.

Carroll plans to testify about damage to her career and reputation she says resulted from Trumps public statements. She seeks $10 million in compensatory damages and millions more in punitive damages.

If Trump testifies, he will be under strict limits on what he can say. Because of the prior verdict, Kaplan has said, Trump cannot get on the witness stand and argue that he didnt sexually abuse or defame Carroll.

Trump is appealing and hasnt paid any of that previous award, though he placed $5.55 million in escrow to cover the verdict and other costs in the event he loses his appeal. One issue that wasnt decided in the first trial was how much Trump owed for comments he made about Carroll while president. That will be the new jurys only job.
The US Special Representative for Ukraines Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, who attended a meeting with Zelenskyy on Tuesday, said there were still many questions about whats possible today versus whats definitely possible in the future when youre postwar

A senior Ukrainian official stated on Wednesday that a bank aimed at reconstructing Ukraine, which Kyiv is establishing with assistance from BlackRock and JPMorgan Chase, had committed at least $500 million in capital and might be operational with around $1 billion in 56 months.

We have at least 500 million in commitments - I think it will be close to 1 billion commitments in catalytic capital, Rostyslav Shurma, deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office said. Catalytic capital refers to capital-like investments, debt and guarantees in which the investor accepts higher risk for greater social impact.

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Last year, in an effort to assist establish a fund to generate public money that may draw private investment for Ukraines expected hundreds of billions of dollars of post-war rebuilding, Kyiv recruited BlackRock (BLK.N), opens new tab, and JPMorgan (JPM.N), opens new tab.

BlackRock and JPMorgan saw 25 to 30 of the approximately 280 projects that have submitted to the fund thus far as ones that might be given serious consideration, according to Shurma.

In Davos earlier this week, Blackrock Vice-Chairman Philipp Hildebrand told Reuters that the fund may be operational by the end of the year.

The asset manager was assisting Kyiv in discussions to seek sovereign money from development banks or principal donor countries to mitigate risk for private investments, Hildebrand, a member of the companys Global Executive Committee, said.

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We want to be ready to deploy with at least soft commitments from donor countries, Hildebrand said.

Risk would need to be reduced down to OECD levels for BlackRock assets - consisting of pension funds - to be mobilised, he said.

That money cannot be invested in very high risk enterprises.

The US Special Representative for Ukraines Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, who attended a meeting with Zelenskyy on Tuesday, said there were still many questions about whats possible today versus whats definitely possible in the future when youre postwar.

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Pritzker highlighted efforts by JPMorgan and BlackRock, saying they had indicated early interest from forward-leaning investors willing to take higher risk investments and some individual investors.

Also on Tuesday, Zelenskyys office said he had met JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and other senior JPMorgan executives, BlackRocks top management, executives from Bridgewater Associates, Carlyle Group, Blackstone, Dell and ArcelorMittal in Davos.
According to the Ukrainian military, the Russian strike lasted at least three hours and targeted Odesa and other southern districts

Ukraine shot down 19 of Russias 20 Shahed drones in a nighttime strike that injured three people and damaged residential structures in the Black Sea town of Odesa, officials said Wednesday.

According to the Ukrainian military, the Russian strike lasted at least three hours and targeted Odesa and other southern districts.

According to the Interior Ministry, drone debris impacted residential structures in one of the ports areas, causing damage to a gas pipe and a dozen automobiles. According to the report, three persons were injured, and around 130 were evacuated.

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Main efforts of the enemy were concentrated on attacks on Odesa. The kamikaze drones entered at a critically low altitude from the Black Sea, the South military command said in a statement, adding that 11 drones were downed in Odesa.

Moscow has repeatedly tried to hit infrastructure in Ukraines southern Black Sea ports since it pulled out of a UN-brokered deal that allowed safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments via the sea.
Putin dismissed so-called peace formulas being discussed in the West and Ukraine and what he called the prohibitive demands they entailed. He made his televised comments a day after Switzerland agreed to host a global summit at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Ukraines statehood could suffer an irreparable blow if the pattern of the war continued, and Russia would never be forced to abandon the gains it had made.

Putin made his televised comments a day after Switzerland agreed to host a global summit at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

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Putin dismissed so-called peace formulas being discussed in the West and Ukraine and what he called the prohibitive demands they entailed.

Well, if they dont want (to negotiate), then dont! he said.

Now it is quite obvious, not only (Ukraines) counter-offensive failed, but the initiative is completely in the hands of the Russian armed forces. If this continues, Ukrainian statehood may suffer an irreparable, very serious blow.

Putins statements about the course of the war have become increasingly confident and aggressive in recent months, with the failure of Ukraines counter-offensive to deliver any substantial gains against well entrenched Russian forces.

Russia currently controls 17.5% of the territory of Ukraine.

Putin said talk of negotiation was an attempt to motivate us to abandon the gains that we have realized over the past year and a half. But this is impossible. Everyone understands that this is impossible.

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A peace formula put forward by Zelenskiy calls for the restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity, cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of Russian troops, among other points.

Russia says any negotiation would have to take account of the new realities created by its forces on the ground.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan has held a meeting with Finlands Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Khachaturyan and Valtonen discussed the enhancement of bilateral agenda between Armenia and Finland, as well as issues pertaining to the Armenia-EU partnership. The general situation in the South Caucasus region and the existing security challenges were also discussed, the Armenian Presidents Office said in a readout.

Both sides attached importance to the ongoing democratic reforms in Armenia, and the concepts and programs aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, Khachaturyans Office added.
The incident forced the planes pilots, carrying 159 passengers, to turn back over the Pacific to Haneda airport, where the man was turned over to police

A 55-year-old passenger thought to be American, bit a cabin attendant mid-flight while heavily drunk, leaving her with minor injuries, an All Nippon Airways spokesman told the media.

The incident forced the planes pilots, carrying 159 passengers, to turn back over the Pacific to Haneda airport, where the man was turned over to police, according to ANA. The passenger told investigators that he doesnt recall at all his behavior.

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Some social media users mockingly compared the occurrence to the beginning of a zombie movie when it happened.

Others bemoaned the endless list of problems facing Japanese aviation thus far this year, as in less than two weeks, four more mishaps have made news.

The most significant occurred on January 2, when a Japan Airlines plane and a smaller Coast Guard plane collided almost catastrophically at Haneda.

Just before the JAL Airbus caught fire, all 379 passengers managed to escape.

On the smaller aircraft, which was participating in a relief effort following a significant earthquake in central Japan, five out of the six occupants perished.

Then, on Tuesday, as the Korean Air aircraft was taxiing at an airfield on the northern island of Hokkaido, its wingtip collided with an empty Cathay Pacific aircraft.

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According to Korean Air, the mishap occurred because the third-party ground handler vehicle slipped due to heavy snow. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Similar incident occurred on Sunday at a Chicago airport when an ANA aircraft made contact with a Delta Air Lines flight, the Japanese carrier said AFP. This incident did not result in any injuries.

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After a crack was found on the Boeing 737-800s cockpit window on Saturday, another ANA flight was reportedly forced to make an emergency landing.

(With agency inputs)
The action is being taken in response to the Houthis many attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. The organisation claims that it targeted the ships in retaliation for Israels military actions in Gaza following Hamas attack on Israel on October 7

A US official and two individuals acquainted with the White House decision said that the Biden administration is set to make an announcement shortly on its intention to reclassify the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are backed by Iran, as specifically designated global terrorists.

The action is being taken in response to the Houthis many attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. The organisation claims that it targeted the ships in retaliation for Israels military actions in Gaza following Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.

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Before the anticipated official announcement, the three individuals who were aware of the decision asked to speak anonymously since they were not authorised to remark.

In an effort to facilitate the entry of food supplies and humanitarian help into Yemen, Secretary of State Antony Blinken delisted the Houthis in February 2021 from both the list of foreign terrorist organisations and the Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

Human rights and humanitarian relief organisations strongly objected to the Trump administrations designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organisation in its final days in office.

The identification of the Houthis as foreign terrorists prevented Americans and those under US authority from giving material support to them, which the groups claimed would worsen the humanitarian crisis already present in Yemen.

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Shortly after the Biden administration took office, Blinken removed the designations in a step that was roundly criticized by conservative lawmakers and others but was intended to keep much-needed food, medicine and other aid flowing to Yemen.

Yemen, on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula bordering the Red Sea, is the poorest country in the Arab world. War and chronic misgovernment have left 24 million Yemenis at risk of hunger and disease as of 2023, and roughly 14 million in acute need of assistance, the United Nations says. About two-thirds of Yemenis live in territory controlled by the Houthis.

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While supporters of broad sanctions argue its possible to shape any enforcement mechanisms so to exempt food and humanitarian aid, aid organizations worry that fears of running afoul of US regulation could scare away shippers, banks and other players vital to Yemens commercial food supply. Arid Yemen imports 90% of its food.

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This designation would add another level of uncertainty and threat for Yemenis still caught in one of the worlds largest humanitarian crises, said Scott Paul, an associate director of Oxfam America. The Biden administration is playing with fire and we call on them to avoid this designation immediately and prioritize the lives of Yemenis now.

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The specially designated global terrorists label to be reimposed on the Houthis does not include sanctions for providing material support and it does not come with travel bans that are also imposed with the foreign terrorist organization label, steps intended to help prevent the US move from harming ordinary Yemenis.

Meanwhile, a senior White House official said Tuesday that addressing the ongoing threat by Yemens Houthi rebels on commercial vessels in the Red Sea is an all hands on deck problem that the US and allies must address together to minimize impact on the global economy.

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How long this goes on and how bad it gets comes down not just to the decisions of the countries in the coalition that took strikes last week, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Iran-backed Houthi group has launched dozens of attacks since November on vessels in the Red Sea, a vital corridor for the worlds shipping traffic, in what they say is an effort to support Palestinians in the war with Israel. US and British forces have responded by carrying out dozens of air and sea strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since Friday. The attacks by the Houthis have continued.

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Linda Thomas Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said last week that 2,000 ships since November have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea. Houthi militants have threatened or taken hostage mariners from more than 20 countries.

The Red Sea attacks have already caused significant disruptions to global trade. Oil prices have edged higher in recent days, though Brent crude futures were down slightly in early trading Tuesday.

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The US launched a new strike against the Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third assault on the Iranian-backed group in recent days. The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. No one was injured.

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Sullivan said it was critical that countries with influence on Tehran and other Middle East capitals make it clear that the entire world rejects wholesale the idea that a group like the Houthis can basically hijack the world.

President Joe Bidens senior adviser acknowledged that the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea as well as groups allied to Iran carrying out attacks in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen pose concerns that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate even as Israeli officials have indicated a shift in intensity in their military campaign.

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We have to guard against and be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage, Sullivan said.

The comments from Sullivan came after Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said during an appearance at the Davos forum that the situation in the Middle East is a recipe for escalation everywhere. He said Qatar believes that ending the conflict in Gaza will stop the Houthis and militant groups from launching attacks elsewhere in the region.

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Sullivan on Tuesday met with Al Thani as well as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, according to the White House.

Iran fired missiles late Monday at what it said were Israeli spy headquarters in an upscale neighborhood near the sprawling US Consulate compound in Irbil, the seat of Iraqs northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and at targets linked to the extremist Islamic State group in northern Syria.

Iraq on Tuesday called the attacks, which killed several civilians, a blatant violation of Iraqs sovereignty and recalled its ambassador from Tehran.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. In 2023, Armenia and the United Kingdom launched a Strategic Dialogue during Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyans visit to London, the Foreign Ministry said in a 2023 review about the development of Armenias relations with European partners.

The Foreign Ministers visit was marked by the official opening ceremony of the Armenian embassys new building in London. During the year, the UK Minister of State for Europe Leo Docherty visited the region, and contacts took place between the Armenian FM and the newly appointed UK foreign secretary David Cameron. The active discussions with the executive and legislative bodies, academic-research and media circles of the UK were aimed at developing bilateral political dialogue, partnership in multilateral platforms, as well as mutual understanding around regional issues. An Armenian-British Business Forum was organized in London with the purpose of developing economic cooperation, the foreign ministry said in the review.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. The French Senate will debate a motion for a resolution to condemn Azerbaijan's military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh and prevent any further attempts at aggression and violation of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, calling for sanctions against Azerbaijan and demanding the guarantee of the right of return of the Armenian population to Nagorno-Karabakh.

The motion for resolution, published on the Senate website, reaffirms the inviolability of the territorial integrity of Armenia, and calls for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal, to their initial positions, of Azerbaijani forces and their allies from the sovereign territory of Armenia.

It warns the French Government, the European Union and the international community about the hegemonic ambitions of Azerbaijan and Turkey as well as the danger they represent for the Republic of Armenia, its territorial integrity and peace in the Caucasus.

The motion seeks to call on the French government to demand from the Republic of Azerbaijan, under penalty of sanctions, the immediate release of the civilian and military prisoners it holds and the immediate return of the bodies of Armenian soldiers killed in combat.

The draft resolution strongly condemns the military offensive of September 19 and 20, 2023 led by Azerbaijan, with the support of its allies, in Nagorno-Karabakh, which forced almost the entire Armenian population to flee. The senators also condemn the arbitrary arrest of political leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The senators wrote that the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, when placed under Azerbaijani administration, was repeatedly subjected to organized massacres; considering that the reports of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance of the Council of Europe (ECRI) and the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) attest to the impossibility of the Armenian populations to live freely in Azerbaijan and that, consequently, the security and freedom of the Armenian populations of Nagorno-Karabakh are not guaranteed
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan has met with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Raphael Grossi during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

During the meeting President Khachaturyan emphasized the importance of the long and productive cooperation between the Armenian government and the IAEA, which is of significant importance for ensuring Armenias energy security, Khachaturyans office said in a readout.

Ideas were exchanged about further development of the atomic energy, as a green energy sector, in Armenia. Grossi said that Armenia can always expect support from the IAEA.

An agreement was reached to continue close cooperation especially as part of expert consultations and comprehensive assistance provision.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. President Vahagn Khachaturyan has met with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The President highly appreciated the productive cooperation between the IMF and Armenia and expressed certainty that the partnership will continue.

Georgieva highlighted the impressive financial figures in Armenia of the recent period and emphasized that establishment of sustainable, final peace in the region will open broader possibilities and directions for economic growth.

The President of Armenia and the IMF Managing Director also discussed the present-day challenges and their impact on global economic development and progress.
Gabriel Christus/Special to The Daily Sentinel

Lead defense attorney Tina Fang, left, and defendant Michael Blagg listen while family members of murder victim Jennifer Blagg address the court at the Jefferson County court house in this April 4, 2018, file photo. Blagg was denied an appeal of his second first-degree murder conviction by the Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday.
SOFIA, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS/BTA. During an inspection of the Barshen Airport in Sliven (Southeastern Bulgaria) on Wednesday, Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov told journalists that this country's air rescue bases will be built within a year and a half.

Sliven will house the third Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) temporary operating base, where the third helicopter, which will arrive in Bulgaria at the end of 2024, is expected to be positioned.

A tender procedure for the selection of a contractor is expected to be launched next week.

The Municipality of Sliven has provided a site and a building for temporary use, which will be used until a permanent operating base is built on the airport.
Garrett McAdams, 10, from Florida, lifts his face out of the snow after a fall while chasing after his sled on the Old Mesa Ski Hill on Sunday. A winter storm battered much of the state over the weekend but conditions were just right for sledding atop the mesa with little to no wind and at least six inches of fresh powder.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is forming an advisory council to help begin the process of developing a new statewide mule deer plan.

The Mule Deer Citizens Advisory Council (MDCAC) will consist of 10 to 12 people and will identify expectations fo...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host two meetings in January to discuss proposed 2024 upland game bird hunting regulations.

FWP staff will present proposed 2024 upland game bird seasons and regulations, along with recent trends in upland game bird populations, harvest, and hunting pressure. The meetings are being held in Glendive and Scobey, as eastern Montana attracts many resident and nonresident upland gamebird hunters. Both meetings will have options for people to attend virtually.

The purpose of the meetings is to share information and answer questions about the proposed regulations. Public comment will not be taken at the meetings but can be made online.

There was a meeting at the Dawson Community College on Jan. 16, and the next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, Jan. 17, 6 to 8 p.m., at Scobey Public Schools, 205 2nd Ave. E.. Go through the main doors in the commons area.

The public comment period on the proposals began Dec. 26. Comments will be accepted through Tuesday, Jan. 23. To see the proposed regulations and links to the virtual meeting options visit, https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/2024-ugb-regulations

The final decision on the 2024 upland game bird regulations will be made by the Fish and Wildlife Commission at their meeting Friday, Feb. 16. Prior to that meeting, members of the commission may introduce amendments to the proposed regulations. Those amendments will be considered at the Feb. 16 meeting as well.

FWP ensures that its meetings are fully accessible to persons with disabilities. To request special accommodations for this meeting, or for any questions, please contact the FWP Region 6 Glasgow office at 406-228-3700, or FWP Region 7 office at 406-234-0900.
Great Northern Development Corporation (GNDC) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are excited to announce the commencement of the Third Minnow Tank Business Plan Competition. This transformative initiative is set to unfold across the seven-county region of northeastern Montana, including Valley, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, and Daniels.

Fostering Economic Development : The Minnow Tank Competition aims to unite communities with a common goal of economic development by attracting new entrepreneurs and supporting existing businesses. Through the generous sponsorships of local businesses and chambers of commerce, GNDC will award two prize packages of $5,000 eachone to a startup and one to an existing business. Showcasing Entrepreneurial Potential: This competition provides a unique platform for startups and expanding businesses to showcase their potential, with the opportunity to win one of two $5,000 cash awards. The vision is to strengthen and support the existing businesses that form the backbone of local communities.

Educational Initiatives : To empower entrepreneurs, SBDC Director Quincy Walter has organized free business plan development classes in each of the seven counties. These classes cover crucial topics such as Business Plan Basics, Marketing, and Small Business Financials. Entrepreneurs planning to compete in the Minnow Tank Business Plan competition are strongly encouraged to attend these classes.

Key Dates and Events:

Business Plan Submission Deadline: Wednesday, March 13, 5 p.m.,

Minnow Tank Finale: Friday, May 3

Business Plan Development Class Schedule:

Glasgow, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. to Noon, Location TBD

Wolf Point, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2 to 4 p.m., GNDC 233 Cascade Street

Sidney, Thursday, Feb 8, 10 a.m. to Noon, Sidney Chamber of Commerce

Jordan, Friday, Feb. 9, 10 a.m. to noon, Garfield County Bank Conference Room

Circle, Friday, Feb. 9, 2 to 4 p.m., Fairgrounds

Plentywood, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m. to Noon, Jubilee Room 224 S Main Street

Scobey, Tuesday Feb. 13, 2 to 4 p.m. Nemont Friendship Room 2 Railroad Ave

Application Guidelines and Procedures: Business plan submissions for Minnow Tank are due to GNDC by 5 p.m., on Wednesday, March 13. Visit http://www.gndc.org for official application guidelines and procedures.

Minnow Tank Finale: The culminating event will be held on Friday, May 3, where 14 finalists will present their business plans live to a panel of judges, and the audience, who will also be able to vote as well. Support your favorite entrepreneur by attending the Minnow Tank Finale; tickets will be available by calling GNDC.

Join the Minnow Tank Competition: New or existing businesses interested in applying for Minnow Tank or those with questions about the events are encouraged to contact Quincy Walter at 406-653-2590 ext 203 or visit https://gndc.org/minnow-tank/

About Great Northern Development Corporation (GNDC): GNDC is the economic development leader in Northeastern Montana, committed to fostering entrepreneurship and supporting businesses in Northeastern Montana.
Sixth Annual Chili Cookoff Brought People Out

Though the temperatures outside were freezing, it was warm and toasty inside of the Glasgow Elks Lodge on Jan. 13 for the sixth annual Elks Chili Cookoff. A total of nine teams braved the cold weather to bring their cooking supplies, ingredients...
More than $1 million in scholarships are available for Montana students via the Montana Community Foundation. Students can apply for funding between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2024.

A variety of scholarships are available for four-year or two-year coll...
China resolutely objects to Canada's clampdown on researchers with ties to China citing unfounded national security risks as pretext

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jan 17, 2024 11:55 AM

China expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute objection against Canada and has lodged a solemn representation with the Canadian side who has politicized regular scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, undermining the openness, trust and collaboration in the scientific and technological sectors between the two countries under the pretext of baseless national security risks, Chinese Embassy in Canada said on Tuesday in response to Canada's clampdown on researchers with ties to China.

The federal government of Canada on Tuesday unveiled a list of mainly China-based universities, which it said represent the "highest risk to Canada's national security," to stop the related researchers working on subjects deemed sensitive or critical to Canadian national security.

The federal government also released what it called a list of "sensitive" research areas a including advanced weapons, quantum technologies, robotics, aerospace, space and satellite technology and medical and health-care technology.

The universities are mostly based in China with a few from Iran and Russia also included on the list.

In measures Canada said were aimed at shielding advanced and emerging technologies, government grants will not be provided to researchers with links to universities connected to defense and security entities of China, Iran and Russia that could harm security, according to a report from Reuters.

In response to Canada's latest move, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Canada said on Tuesday that China expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute objection against Canada and has lodged a solemn representation with the Canadian side who has politicized regular scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, undermining the openness, trust and collaboration in the scientific and technological sectors between the two countries under the pretext of unfounded national security risks.

According to the spokesperson, China's efforts and achievements in technological innovation have been widely recognized. In 2022, China's total investment in research and development (R&D) exceeded 3 trillion yuan ($418.2 billion), making it the world's second-largest economy in terms of R&D spending.

According to the Global Innovation Index 2023 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), China ranks 12th globally. Recently, China proposed the "International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative," advocating for and practicing an open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory international science and technology cooperation. China has called for exploring solutions to global issues through technological innovation cooperation to jointly promote peaceful development, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson stressed that the scientific and technological exchange and cooperation between China and Canada are two-way and mutually beneficial. The Canadian side's politicization and weaponization of issues related to scientific and technological cooperation represent a narrow-minded "small yard, high fence" approach.

We urge the Canadian side to immediately correct its erroneous actions, discard ideological biases and Cold War mentality, cease the abuse of tools like "lists" to constrain and suppress Chinese academic institutions, building a favorable environment for open and free international scientific and technological cooperation, the spokesperson added, noting that will only harm both parties involved otherwise.

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Houthis strike commercial vessel in Southern Red Sea

U.S. Central Command

USCENTCOM

Jan. 15, 2024

Release Number 20240115-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. -- On Jan. 15 at approximately 4 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship. The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey.

Earlier in the day, at approximately 2 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Forces detected an anti-ship ballistic missile fired toward the Southern Red Sea commercial shipping lanes. The missile failed in flight and impacted on land in Yemen. There were no injuries or damage reported.





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EP Plenary: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea

European External Action Service (EEAS)

15.01.2024

Strasbourg

EEAS Press Team

Speech delivered by Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, on behalf of High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell

Check against delivery!

Madam President, Honourable Members [of the European Parliament],

We are now here to discuss the repeated and unacceptable Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, which violate international law, threaten maritime security and peace in the region, and disrupt global trade. Until today, 28 attacks were carried out by the Houthis since mid-November. The Houthis are presenting their repeated attacks as a support to the Palestinian people, and they have launched some missiles toward Israel. The Houthis, together with Hezbollah and some Iraqi and Syrian militias, are aligned with Hamas.

The EU has continuously condemned those acts and underlined that they must stop, notably through the EU Spokesperson' Statements of 5 and 13 December and through our latest EU27 Statement of 12 January. The EU also called for the immediate release of the "Galaxy Leader" vessel and its 25-member crew, illegally seized on 19 November.

EU services are also following closely the joint military response of the United Kingdom and the United States, members of the 'Prosperity Guardian' Operation, to repeated Houthi attacks against maritime vessels. The United States and the United Kingdom have carried out joint strikes on 11 and 12 January on over 60 targets at 16 sites in Yemen, with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, as a response to repeated and escalating Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, notably the complex attack of 9 January following repeated messages from the international community.

The EU continues actively engaging and coordinating with partners in all diplomatic fora, to counter the Houthi threats to commercial vessels and find effective solutions. The High Representative, on behalf of the EU and its Member States, issued a joint statement, published last Friday welcoming the 10 January UN Security Council resolution 2722. The UN Security [Council] resolution recognises that States are entitled to defend themselves against the attacks against their vessels - [that are] in perfect contradiction, by the way, of international law.

The EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta shares maritime awareness with the multi-nation Operation 'Prosperity Guardian' from its operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Further options will be discussed at the level of the European Council concerning the EU maritime response.

However, it is unlikely that the Houthis will be deterred immediately given the international visibility they have enjoyed with these actions. Houthi leaders have already indicated they will continue their attacks as long as the situation in Gaza remains. They have already resumed attacks with a missile fired towards US forces on 14 January.

The last point of concern is the impact these developments in the Red Sea can have on peace efforts in Yemen which had reached a new positive phase on 23 December with the UN's takeover of the peace process following a year of Saudi-Houthi backchannel talks.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251493

Closing remarks

Dear Madame President, dear Members,

The debate today illustrates the importance and the complexity of the situation in the Red Sea and the Gulf region, as a whole, and the challenges that the European Union faces indeed in relation to this conflict but also to other conflicts.

The European Union is actively working on solutions to restore maritime security in the Red Sea.

This is an international problem that requires an international solution and coordination.

As you asked me about what the European Union is preparing in relation to the EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta, further options concerning the European Union's maritime response will be discussed at Council level based on proposals presented by the High Representative.

The European Union is engaging with partners in different diplomatic fora. To protect navigational freedoms and maritime security, the European Union considers ways to enhance its presence, assets, and capacity of actions in the Red Sea and beyond.

It is too early to evaluate the impact of the Houthis attacks and United States/United Kingdom retaliation on the discussions concerning an internal cease-fire in Yemen. The European Union will continue to support UN Special Envoy [for Yemen, Hans] Grundberg's work and the UN-steered peace process leading to a final comprehensive and inclusive peace deal, including a permanent nation-wide ceasefire.

And just one personal remark: I am a bit surprised that those who are bombing every night civilians, killing civilians, destroying infrastructures, houses, apartments, that they are in the full front to condemn what finally is a military operation against terrorist attacks against the peaceful vessels.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251495



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YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. The History Museum of Armenia and the Czech National Museum will sign a memorandum of cooperation. The signing ceremony will take place in early February, when the Castles and Chateaux of Czechia exhibition will be opened in Yerevan, the Director of the History Museum of Armenia Davit Poghosyan said.

The exhibition will be organized jointly with the Embassy of Czechia in Armenia and the National Museum of Czechia.

The exhibition will feature pictures of UNESCO-listed castles and chateaux in two historical regions of Czechia  Bohemia and Moravia.
Further humanitarian assistance to Occupied Palestinian Territories and the region

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Joint media release with:

The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific

16 January 2024

Australia will provide an additional $21.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the Middle East, including in response to the urgent and ongoing humanitarian needs resulting from the Hamas-Israel conflict.

This funding will be directed to conflict affected populations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to address the ongoing regional refugee crisis, with a focus on women and children.

As part of this package, Australia will provide -

$4 million to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to continue delivering urgent and emergency services and supplies.

$6 million through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), to provide urgent lifesaving assistance including food, shelter and emergency health care.

$11.5 million to refugee programs in Lebanon and Jordan, at this time of increasing regional instability.

This package reinforces Australia's longstanding commitment to the region and builds on Australia's total humanitarian commitment since the Hamas terror attacks on 7 October to more than $46 million.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

"Australia is gravely concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza." "Australia continues to call for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to affected populations, and further humanitarian pauses to enable the scaled-up delivery of aid, safe passage for civilians and the release of hostages." "We are working with our international partners to ensure desperately needed food and other humanitarian assistance reaches those who need it most."

Quotes attributable to Minister for International Development and The Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

"International humanitarian law must be adhered to and there must be safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to affected populations." "Australia's additional support prioritises the immediate needs of women and children, as well as distributing essential supplies and services."

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January 16, 2024

By Joseph Clark , DOD News

Collaboration Is Key to Implementing DOD Industrial Base Strategy

The Defense Department will continue to work closely across agencies and with industry partners as it implements its strategy for strengthening the defense industrial base to meet the future needs of the warfighter, the Pentagon's top industrial base policy official said.

Laura D. Taylor-Kale, assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy, said DOD's National Defense Industrial Strategy represents a bold vision that will require close and sustained collaboration across the full defense industrial ecosystem.

"While we say that it will guide use for the next three to five years, we're also very much talking about having a generational change," Taylor-Kale said of the newly released strategy during a discussion hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., July 11, 2024.

"We understand that there's a lot that is part of the current state of the industrial base," she said. "You can't make those changes over one or two years. It's going to take concerted effort over time, not just within the Department of Defense."

Taylor-Kale offered her vision just hours after releasing the NDIS, the first comprehensive strategy document produced by DOD to plot the course for creating a modern, resilient defense industrial ecosystem to deter U.S. adversaries and meet the production demands posed by evolving threats.

In unveiling the strategy, she underscored the urgent need to shore up the defense industrial base as U.S. adversaries build up their military power to levels not seen since World War II. She noted China's increasing threat to upend the existing international order. She also highlighted the United States' continued support for Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression and for Israel in its fight against Hamas.

Despite the task at hand, Taylor-Kale said there is broad enthusiasm across government and industry partners and among key global allies.

The defense industrial base must continue to meet present demands, while remaining capable of adapting to future conflicts.

The strategy focuses on four key areas critical to building a modernized defense industrial ecosystem over the next three to five years. Those areas include resilient supply chains, workforce readiness, flexible acquisition and economic deterrence.

The NDIS is the product of months of engagement from stakeholders from across industry and government, which began at the direction of Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks in March 2023.

The document also reflects President Joe Biden's broader efforts to shore up domestic manufacturing and critical supply chains in the U.S.

Officials said the final strategy incorporates more than a thousand comments received from stakeholders.

Taylor-Kale said the strategy was far more than an "aspirational document," noting that the department is finalizing an implementation plan that will detail measurable actions and metrics to gauge progress on the goals.

"I want to emphasize that the DOD can't do it alone," she said. "It will need the interagency. It will need our industry partners. It will need our global allies and partners, as well as our people on [Capitol Hill]."

She added that the strategy was worked extensively with elected leaders, and there is a broad, bipartisan consensus around improving the industrial base and meeting the needs of the warfighter.

"In my view, we can't afford to wait," Taylor-Kale said. "We have seen over the past few years the importance of why we need resilient supply chains - the importance [is] not just to us domestically, but also for our close allies and partners.

"We think that the time for action is now," she said. "We're starting with this strategy and setting this vision. We're wanting everyone to join with us so we can move forward, implement and meet the needs of warfighters today as well as for the future."

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Gaza: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell in the EP Plenary on the situation on the ground and the risk of regional escalation

European External Action Service (EEAS)

16.01.2024

Strasbourg

EEAS Press Team

Subtitle: Speech delivered by Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, on behalf of High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell

Check against delivery!

Mr President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament, Minister [for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belgium, Hadja] Lahbib,

More than three months after the beginning of the Israeli military operation against Hamas, triggered by the horrific terrorist attacks of 7 October, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is tragic.

The number of civilian casualties in Gaza, including a very high proportion of children, is unacceptable. The protection of civilians is of utmost importance and Israel must do more to exercise maximum restraint. Respect for International Humanitarian Law is imperative and non-negotiable. This is a message that we consistently pass to Israel. And Hamas must release all hostages without preconditions.

While Israel maintains its military objectives to destroy Hamas, with 60% of housing stock and infrastructure destroyed, humanitarian actors already describe Gaza as an unliveable place.

A new humanitarian pause is needed now. The situation is worsening by the day, with 85% of the population now being displaced, often living in the open and facing the risk of famine and disease.

The European Union is doing its part to contribute to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, with more than 100 million in humanitarian aid in 2023. There have been some positive steps, like the opening of [the] Kerem Shalom crossing, but clearly more is needed. Humanitarian aid and access need to be considerably scaled up. Humanitarian actors, including the United Nations whose role is central to the relief effort, need to be given unfettered access across Gaza - including the North.

The war has regional consequences, at the border between Israel and Lebanon, but also in the Red Sea, and in Iraq and Syria. Efforts must continue to prevent further escalation, and the European Union and its partners will continue to be actively engaged to this end.

The fragile situation in the West Bank only adds to the risk of spillover. In 2023 and since the beginning of this year, we have seen unprecedented levels of extremist settler attacks, forced displacement of Palestinian communities and extensive movement restrictions. The Palestinian economy is also hampered by Israel withholding Palestinian tax revenues.

In any future scenario for the day after, the Palestinian Authority must be reinvigorated, and ultimately return to Gaza. They are ready for this, but a lot of help is needed. The European Union will continue to play its part.

In December 2023, the Commission adopted a 118.4 million assistance package to support the Palestinian Authority. A larger mid-term package will be put forward in 2024. This will aim to convey support to the Palestinian Authority and lay the ground for longer-term economic and political stability in Gaza and in the West Bank.

Amid the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza, UNRWA and other UN agencies are playing a crucial role in facing enormous challenges. I wish to pay tribute to their staff, who do irreplaceable lifesaving work at great risk to their own lives. We frontloaded the 2023 EU contribution to UNRWA in February last year. We hope to do the same in 2024, and we have encouraged Arab and Gulf partners to increase their contributions. Altogether, we provided almost 110 million in funding to UNRWA in 2023, including a top-up of 10 million last November to help UNRWA face the enormous challenges in Gaza, and a substantial increase in our humanitarian support - quadrupled to over 100 million in total last year, as already mentioned. Even higher levels of humanitarian aid are being mobilised for this year.

To conclude, the European Union is firmly committed to work on multiple parallel tracks. Stepping up humanitarian assistance, preventing regional spillover of the conflict, and working towards a peaceful two-state solution.

I am looking forward to our discussion.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251465

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Meeting of G7+ countries

Republic of Poland

16.01.2024

On 15 January, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a meeting of directors of eastern departments and coordinators for sanctions of the G7+ countries.

The meeting was attended by representatives of France, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, the US, Great Britain, Italy, and the EU and was launched by Undersecretary of State for European and Eastern Policy Marek Prawda. The key items on the agenda were the assessment of the effects to date of the restrictive measures against the Russian Federation and the possibility to expand them. During the discussion, the participants elaborated on the details of possible tightening of individual and sectoral sanctions (including in arms industry, energy, and financial sectors), and the possibility of mitigating the effects of Russia's circumventing the sanctions.

On 16 January, the representatives of the G7+ countries continued the debate at the College of Europe in Natolin and were joined by the representatives of research and expert centres, and the academia.

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Supreme Leader admires Yemen's attacks on "lifelines of the Zionist regime"

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 16, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has admired Yemen's attacks on the lifelines of the Zionist regime.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks during a meeting with a large number of Friday Prayer leaders from across the country in Imam Khomeini Hussainiya in Tehran on Tuesday.

He also said that taking part in the elections is not just a duty, it is people's right, adding that it is not possible to achieve Islamic goals without people's presence.

"Encouraging people to do good social works such as participating in the construction of schools and hospitals and helping to release needy prisoners or encouraging them to participate in the political field such as elections is a necessary task," he stressed.

'Yemenis have truly done a great job'

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the Yemeni nation for their support for the people of the Gaza Strip amid the Zionist regime's months-long war on the besieged territory.

"The nation of Yemen and the government of Ansarullah have truly done a great job. Their work is an example of jihad for the sake of Allah. We hope that these efforts will continue until victory," he stated.

"The Yemenis hit the lifeline of the Zionist regime and did not fear the US threat because a God-fearing person does not fear anything but God," he added, referring to Yemeni attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea.

The Supreme Leader noted that the whole world agrees that the people of Gaza are innocent and victorious.

"In the eyes of the people of the world, both Muslim and non-Muslim, the usurping regime is an oppressor and a bloodthirsty wolf, and it is dejected, defeated and disintegrated," he added.

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Zionists continue bombing southern Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 16, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Zionists have targeted the residential areas and medical centers of Khan Yunis in the south of Gaza, killing 11 Palestinian civilians early on Tuesday.

According to Shehab News Agency, the Palestinian sources reported heavy attacks by Israeli fighters on western Gaza as well as Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip.

The World Health Organization has also called for acceleration of sending aid to Gaza.

Meanwhile, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said in a statement on Monday, "The catastrophic lack of clean drinking water sources in Gaza City and the northern areas of the Gaza Strip has left Palestinians there facing a horrifying tragedy akin to a death sentence."

Following the onset of the Israeli regime's aggression against the Gaza Strip and the relentless bombardment of residential, educational, and medical centers in the besieged area by the Tel Aviv regime's fighter jets, which has so far left around 24,000 martyrs, mostly children and women, several Islamic resistance groups in the region such as Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Ansarullah, and Iraq's resistance movements got involved in direct combat against the Israeli regime, which can be seen as one of the best achievements of the Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, which has inflicted irreparable damage upon the occupying regime.

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Envoy: Linking Yemeni retaliatory strikes to Iran meant to conceal Israeli crimes in Gaza

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 16 January 2024 / 10:56

Iran's Envoy to the United Nations dismissed Western allegations about the Islamic Republic's involvement in attacks by Yemeni forces in the Red Sea, stating that such claims are meant to deviate the world public opinion from Israeli atrocities in the Gaza Strip.

Tehran-ISNA- In two identical letters addressed to UN Security Council Antonio Guterres and rotating President of the UN Security Council Nicolas de Riviere on Monday, Amir Saeid Iravani underlined that the ongoing Israeli genocide and barbaric massacres, which the Israeli regime is committing with the full support of the United States, is the root cause of the current situation in the Red Sea.

"The United States cannot deny or cover up the incontestable reality that recent incidents in the Red Sea are directly related to Israel's continued atrocities against the Palestinian people in Gaza," he said.

The Iranian diplomat noted that any attempt to attribute Yemeni retaliatory strikes to his country is a mere diversion from the reality on the ground in Yemen, as well as a distraction from the brutalities being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza.

"I wish to emphasize that the caretaker government in Sana'a maintains independent sovereignty, making decisions and taking actions in its own interest," Iravani emphasized.

He also unequivocally condemned and categorically rejected the unfounded allegations made by the representative of the United States to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, against Tehran in the recent Security Council sessions, stressing that she has misappropriated the platform to disseminate falsehoods and exercise deliberate disinformation.

"Iran has never taken any activities in violation of Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015), including any engagement in the sale or transfer of arms or weaponry systems that would contravene this resolution. Furthermore, Iran has always advocated for resolving the Yemen crisis through political means," Iravani said.

The Iranian UN ambassador also sharply criticized the United States, the United Kingdom, and their allies for their recent acts of aggression against Yemen, saying these countries bear full responsibility for the violation of international law.

Iravani finally urged the international community to unequivocally condemn the US and UK military aggression against Yemen, stating that the attacks amount to a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter.

End Item



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Yemen: US, UK ships legitimate targets of Yemeni Armed Forces

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 16 January 2024 / 10:46

Yemeni Armed Forces say all American and British ships and military units participating in the aggression against Yemen, are considered legitimate targets for the Yemeni Armed Forces.

Tehran (ISNA) - Spokesperson of the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced that an American ship was targeted in the Gulf of Aden.

"In support of the oppressed Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, who remain to be subjected to the worst kinds of massacres by the Zionist entity, and in retaliation to the American-British aggression against our country," He opened up.

"The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a military operation targeting an American ship in the Gulf of Aden, with several appropriate naval missiles, resulting in precise and direct hits," he added.

He affirmed that all American and British ships and military units participating in the aggression against Yemen, are considered "legitimate targets" for the Yemeni Armed Forces: falling within their targets' list.

Yahya Saree went on to say, "The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that retaliation against American and British attacks is inevitable, and any new aggression will not go unpunished."

Saree added that the Yemeni Armed Forces persisted with their military operations: enforcing a blockade on Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian seas until a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza, and the siege on Gaza is lifted.

Saree also categorically emphasized that Yemen would continue to exercise its natural right to national self-defense by taking any tactical measures deemed necessary to confront the American and British aggressors.

Finally, he reaffirmed Yemen's commitment to international trade in the Arabian and Red Seas to any destination in the world except for the Israeli-run ports of occupied Palestine.

End Item





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Prime Minister's Office announcement

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

16.01.2024

:Prime Minister's Office announcement

Among the absurdities levelled against Israel at the Hague was the charge that after the October 7th massacre Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu incited genocide by quoting the biblical phrase "remember what Amalek did to you."

This false and preposterous charge reflects a deep historical ignorance.

The Amalekites mercilessly attacked the Children of Israel after the Exodus from Egypt. The comparison to Amalek has been used throughout the ages to designate those who seek to eradicate the Jewish people, most recently the Nazis.

That is why the words on a banner in a permanent exhibit at Yad Vashem, Israel's famed Holocaust Museum, urge visitors to "remember what Amalek did to you." This same phrase appears in the Hague at the memorial for Dutch Jews murdered during the Holocaust. Obviously neither reference is an incitement to genocide of the German people.

So too Prime Minister Netanyahu's reference to Amalek was not an incitement to genocide of Palestinians, but a description of the utterly evil actions perpetrated by the genocidal terrorists of Hamas on October 7th and the need to confront them.

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Prime Minister's Office Statement

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

16.01.2024

On instruction from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and pursuant to the Director of the Mossad's agreement with Qatar on providing medicines to the Israeli hostages, two Qatari Air Force planes are expected to fly tomorrow to Egypt with medicines that have been purchased in France, according to a list that was compiled in Israel, according to the medical needs of the hostages.

Upon the planes' arrival in Egypt, the medicines will be transferred by Qatari representatives to their final destination inside the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Netanyahu conveys his appreciation to all those who have assisted in the endeavor.

Israel insists that all the medicines reach their destination.

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YEREVAN, 17 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 17 January, USD exchange rate down by 0.12 drams to 405.49 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.54 drams to 440.89 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.04 drams to 4.58 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.79 drams to 514.12 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 161.10 drams to 26570.96 drams. Silver price down by 2.17 drams to 300.50 drams.
3 armed drones downed near U.S. military base in northern Iraq

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:53, January 16, 2024

BAGHDAD, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Defense systems downed three armed drones on Tuesday near the military bases hosting U.S. and other international troops at the Erbil International Airport in northern Iraq, Iraqi regional counter-terrorism service reported.

The statement from the service of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region did not say if there were any casualties or damage to infrastructure due to the attack.

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British oil giant Shell halts Red Sea shipments after US-UK strikes on Yemen

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 6:57 PM

UK-based energy giant Shell suspended all shipments through the Red Sea indefinitely, amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea over Washington's unrelenting support for the Israeli genocidal war against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the decision, reported on Tuesday that Shell decided to suspend transit over fears of renewed escalating tensions involving Yemen's armed forces and US-led Western countries, Israel's main backers.

An Israeli-bound tanker chartered by Shell was reportedly targeted by a drone in the Red Sea.

Britain's BP recently said that it would suspend the transit of oil through the Red Sea.

Shipping giant Maersk earlier this month also noted it would divert vessels around Africa instead of using the Red Sea and Suez Canal for the foreseeable future.

Israeli shipping companies have already decided to reroute their vessels in fear of attacks by Yemeni forces.

The Yemeni forces have been targeting Israeli-linked vessels for several weeks. But the oil major's decision comes after Yemen 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.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Monday that the US-owned and -operated dry bulk ship Gibraltar Eagle had been struck with an anti-ship ballistic missile. US forces also claimed to shoot down a Yemeni cruise missile targeting an American destroyer a day earlier.

Meanwhile, Qatar's prime minister said that liquefied natural gas shipments would be affected by tensions in the area, warning that strikes on Yemen risk worsening the crisis.

About 12 percent of global trade normally passes through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea's entrance between southwest Yemen and Djibouti. But anti-Israeli attacks by Yemeni forces have caused much shipping to be diverted thousands of kilometers around Africa.

Since the start of the Israeli military aggression on Gaza in early October 2023, the United States and its Western allies have been providing financial and logistical support to the occupying regime in its ceaseless bombardment campaign against Palestinians in the besieged territory.

As part of their support for Palestinians, Yemen's armed forces and popular Ansarullah resistance movement have over the past month targeted several ships owned by Israel or bound for ports in the occupied territories in the strategic Red Sea after multiple warnings.

Iran, Russia, Turkey and several other countries have sharply criticized the United States, the United Kingdom, and their allies for their recent acts of aggression against Yemen, saying these countries bear full responsibility for the violation of international law.

They have urged the international community to unequivocally condemn the US and UK military aggression against Yemen, stating that the attacks amount to a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter.

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.

The relentless Israeli military campaign against Gaza has killed at least 24,280 people, most of them women and children. Another 60,800 individuals have been wounded.

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Israeli forces preparing for ground offensive into southern Lebanon: Report

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 5:10 PM

The Israeli regime has been training its ground forces for a potential operation into southern Lebanon, shows a report, as trading of fire between the regime and the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement keeps intensifying.

The Tuesday report by Al Jazeera said that Israeli forces had been holding exercises near the border between the Israeli occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon with the stated aim of preparing for a ground offensive into areas in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah holds a sway.

That came hours after a report by Reuters news agency said that Israeli military's special forces had carried out a cross-border operation into Lebanon, a rare acknowledgment of such operations by the regime.

However, sources told the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV that reports about infiltration of the Israeli regime's ground forces into Lebanon were untrue.

Al Jazeera's Tuesday report quoted Ori Gordin, the chief of the Israeli army's northern command, as saying that tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers have been deployed toward the border with Lebanon.

Gordin was also seen in a video published by the Israeli military while he was speaking to soldiers and overseeing the training in areas near the Lebanese border.

The developments come as clashes that began in early October between Hezbollah and Israel over the regime's aggression on Palestine's Gaza have intensified in recent weeks, especially after senior Hezbollah and Gaza-based Hamas commanders were killed in declared or suspected Israeli operations in Lebanon.

Attacks by Hezbollah on Israeli military targets have forced the regime to evacuate settlers living in areas near the Lebanese border, with no immediate plan existing for their return.

Hezbollah has warned that it would massively scale up its attacks on Israel if the regime decides to expand the war.

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Israeli war minister admits Hamas 'far from being defeated' in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 4:05 PM

In an unexpected turn of events, the Israeli war minister has admitted that Israel has been unable to defeat the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas during its months-long war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's war cabinet minister told Israeli media on Tuesday that there was no alternative to Hamas rule despite continued Israeli attacks on Gaza.

"Hamas is far from being defeated, and if anyone thinks that there will be an alternative to its rule in the Gaza Strip, it simply won't happen," Gideon Sa'ar was quoted by Israel's Army Radio as saying.

The remarks come as Hamas resistance to the Israeli assault continues in all parts of Gaza, despite a three-month military campaign.

Dan Halutz, former Israeli military chief late last month hinted that Israel had lost the war against the Palestinian resistance groups in the besieged territory. Halutz also expressed concern over the future of Israel. He expressed reservation of the time passing and the waning possibilities of the captives' return.

Halutz back then said that Israel lost the war against Hamas, stressing that the only victory to be achieved was the overthrow of the prime minister. "For me, the picture of victory will be when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu steps down."

Palestinian groups keep up resistance

Palestinian resistance fighters in northern Gaza on Tuesday confronted invading Israeli forces and launched a barrage of rockets toward settlements in the occupied territories.

The Palestinian resistance has launched a barrage of rockets toward Israeli settlements in the Negev Desert in retaliation for the regime's ongoing bloodshed in the Gaza Strip.

Rocket sirens sounded in the Netivot settlement and surrounding towns. Israeli media said, resistance forces targeted the settlements with some 50 rockets. The reprisal operation was conducted from the central Gaza Strip.

That's amid battles between resistance fighters and invading Israeli forces in northern Gaza. Intense fighting has been reported there despite the Israeli military's claims of ending its operation in the northern part of the blockaded sliver.

Meanwhile, Israeli has confirmed the death of a soldier, who was injured in Gaza in December.

More than 100 days into the US-managed Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, the regime keeps pounding the besieged Palestinian territory with airstrikes and shelling.

The regime's latest attacks have claimed the lives of nearly 160 Palestinians across Gaza. The strikes hit different areas including the southern city of Khan Younis and the central city of Deir al-Balah.

Israel has shifted its focus from Gaza's devastated north to the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Yunis lately.

Israeli officials have announced that the operations in southern Gaza will soon enter a less intensive phase.

The Israeli regime is facing growing international outcry over a soaring civilian death toll that has topped 24,280.

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Jan. 15: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 1:11 PM

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 almost 24,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women.

The operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Monday, January 15, are as follows:

Qassam Brigades' operations on Jan. 15:

Targeted concentrations of Israeli regime vehicles and soldiers in the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, with heavy-caliber mortar shells, causing damages and casualties.

Targeted an Israeli bulldozer with an 'Al-Yassin 105' shell in the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, resulting in damages and casualties.

Targeted Israeli military concentrations east of the Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip with heavy-caliber mortar shells, causing damages and casualties.

Attacked an Israeli infantry force from one of the Qassam tunnels with machine guns from zero distance and targeted five soldiers east of the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.

Detonated an anti-personnel device, 'Ra'adiya', among an Israeli infantry force that was advancing towards a tunnel entrance east of Khan Yunis city in southern Gaza.

Targeted an Israeli infantry force with an anti-personnel missile, killing and wounding many regime soldiers east of Khan Yunis.

Quds Brigades's operations on Jan. 15:

Carried out a sniping operation in the center of Khan Yunis, killing one regime soldier.

Bombed Israeli military concentrations around the Abu Maarouf area in the center of Khan Yunis with a barrage of 60-caliber regular mortar shells.

Launched rockets at Sderot and other illegal Israeli settlements near the northern Gaza Strip.

Hezbollah's operations on Jan. 15:

Eastern sector:

At around 13:40 local time, a sniper force targeted surveillance equipment in the vicinity of the Metulla site with appropriate weapons.

At around 14:00 local time, Israeli soldiers were targeted at the Ramim barracks with missiles.

At around 15:30 local time, the Al-Sammaqa site in Shebaa was targeted with appropriate weapons.

Western sector:

At around 11:00 local time, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Mitat Barracks were targeted with missiles.

At around 12:55 local time, the Birkat Risha site was targeted with appropriate weapons.

At around 13:50 local time, the Barkat Risha site was targeted with Burkan missiles.

At around 15:25 local time, the Al-Malikiyah site was targeted with appropriate weapons.

At around 16:10 local time, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Hanita site were targeted with missiles.

Iraqi resistance's operation on Jan. 15:

Attacked the occupied Conoco base deep inside Syria with a rocket salvo, inflicting damages and casualties.

Yemeni military's operations on Jan. 15:

Carried out a military operation targeting an American ship in the Gulf of Aden with several naval missiles, inflicting heavy damage.

The Yemeni military considers all American and British ships and warships participating in the aggression against the country as hostile targets, the statement noted.

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Palestinian Foreign Ministry calls for placing Israeli settler organizations on 'terror' lists

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 11:07 AM

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has condemned the escalation of violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied territories, calling for putting the settler organizations on international terrorism lists.

The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that placing Israeli settler organizations on international terror lists could prevent them from expanding the occupation of Palestine.

"The aim is to link the international and American stance rejecting the terrorism of settler militias with sanctions to compel Israel to dismantle and disarm them," it said.

The ministry had previously blamed "terrorist elements" of Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as the main reason behind the escalation of violence.

Israeli settler violence against Palestinians has been on the rise since the cabinet of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office in December 2022.

Israeli settlers, backed by regime forces, have ramped up their attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the regime's bombardment of Gaza began in early October.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and thousands of others injured by Israeli settlers or troops across the occupied territory since the onset of the war.

Israeli aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip has also killed more than 24,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

More than 700,000 Israelis live in over 279 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.

While all Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, the occupying regime has stepped up settlement expansion in blatant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

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Iran's Leader hails Yemenis' great achievement in supporting Palestinians in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 9:42 AM

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has hailed the Yemenis' anti-Israel naval operations in the Red Sea, saying they did a "great job" in defiance of US threats.

Speaking during a meeting with Friday Prayer leaders on Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Yemeni maritime campaign in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip "deserves admiration and appreciation."

"The Yemeni nation and the Ansarullah government did a great job... They damaged the vital channels of the Zionist regime. The United States threatened [them], but they were not afraid of the US," he stated.

"Their job is rightly and fairly an example of jihad (endeavor for the sake of God). We hope that these efforts, acts of resistance and activities will continue until victory."

The Leader also said the people of the world acknowledge that the Gazans are "oppressed and victorious" while the usurping regime is "cruel and bloodthirsty" as well as "defeated and disintegrated."

"The innocent and powerful people of Gaza were able to influence the world with their struggles, and today the world views these people, fighters and their resistance group as hero," he noted.

Through their resilience, the Gazans promoted the holy faith of Islam and popularized the Qur'an, the Leader said, wishing pride for resistance fighters, especially the Gaza people and fighters.

Referring to Iran's parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections scheduled for March 1, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "Participation in elections is not just a duty, but it is the right of the people."



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US, UK forces can no longer pass through Bab el-Mandeb Strait: Yemeni official

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 6:57 AM

A Yemeni official has warned that American and British forces can no longer pass through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait as tensions grow in the region following illegal US-led military strikes on the Arab country.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the political bureau of the Ansarullah resistance movement, issued the warning on Monday after the United States and its allies bombed Yemen amid frustration with anti-Israel naval operations in the Red Sea.

He said that the Yemeni armed forces are developing their missile capabilities to bring new surprises soon.

"The US and UK forces can no longer pass through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait," a sea route chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and by extension the Indian Ocean, he added.

"The Axis of Resistance has regained control over the region. The Americans will regret their acts of aggression against Yemen and they will be a loser."

The US and Britain, backed by Bahrain, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands, struck more than 60 targets at almost 30 locations in Yemen on Friday, killing five people and injuring six others.

On Saturday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that a "follow-on action" was conducted against a Yemeni radar facility by the Navy destroyer USS Carney using Tomahawk land attack missiles.

Bukhaiti said that the Yemeni forces are capable of confronting the Americans and that they will block the passage of US and Israeli ships through the Red Sea.

Earlier on Monday, the Yemeni forces hit a US-owned container ship with a ballistic missile off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden.

CENTCOM said that the attack on the Gibraltar Eagle caused "no injuries or significant damage" and that the vessel "is continuing its journey."

The operation occurred two hours after another ballistic missile was fired toward the southern Red Sea.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said all American and British ships and warships participating in the aggression are "hostile targets."

Israel waged its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7 following a historic operation by the Palestinian Hamas resistance group against the occupying entity.

The US has offered untrammeled support for Israel during the onslaught that has so far killed more than 24,100 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 60,834 others.

In solidarity with the Palestinians in besieged Gaza, the Yemeni armed forces have targeted ships in the Red Sea with owners linked to Israel or those going to and from ports in the occupied territories.

In response, the US has formed a military coalition against Yemeni forces in the Red Sea and endangered maritime navigation in the strategic waterway.

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US, UK attacks on Yemen illegal, strategic mistake: Iran foreign minister

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 1:09 AM

Iran's foreign minister has strongly condemned the recent attacks on Yemen's territory by the United States and the UK as illegal and a strategic mistake.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in an early Tuesday phone call with Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, during which the two sides discussed the latest developments related to the Gaza Strip and the Red Sea.

During the conversation, Iran's top diplomat stressed the Islamic Republic's principled stance on protecting and maintaining security of shipping and navigation.

"By stopping ships that are bound for the occupied [Palestinian] territories, Yemen seeks to put a halt to the Zionist regime's crimes and genocide against civilians in Gaza," Amir-Abdollahian said.

He added that "illegal measures taken by the United States and the UK in attacking Yemen" amounted to a strategic mistake that would lead to further escalation of tensions in the region.

Since the start of the Israeli military aggression on Gaza in early October 2023, the United States and its Western allies have been providing financial and logistical support to the occupying regime in its ceaseless bombardment campaign against Palestinians in the besieged territory.

As part of their support for Palestinians, Yemen's Armed Forces and popular Ansarullah resistance movement have over the past month targeted several ships owned by Israel or bound for ports in the occupied territories in the strategic Red Sea after multiple warnings.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Iran's foreign minister expressed concern about the complicated humanitarian situation in the besieged Gaza Strip, reiterating Iran's readiness to send humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people in the territory.

The Israeli genocide in Gaza has so far claimed the lives of more than 24,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, leaving thousands of others wounded and millions homeless. According to the UN, about 85 percent of the territory's population has been displaced and forced into crowded shelters.

The regime has been also enforcing an all-out siege against Gaza that has prevented the flow of food, water, fuel, and medicine into the territory.

The UN chief, for his part, expressed concern about further spread of conflicts across the region, saying the world body is trying to stop the war and alleviate the suffering of the regional people.

He once again condemned the ongoing military aggression against Gaza, stressing the need for stopping it and sending humanitarian aid to Palestinians there.

Guterres also lauded the role played by the Islamic Republic in bolstering peace and stability in the region.

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Afghan Women Accuse Taliban Of Torture And Extortion Amid Dress Code Crackdown

By Khujasta Kabiri January 16, 2024

The Taliban's notorious religious police have detained scores of Afghan women and girls in recent weeks for allegedly violating the extremist group's Islamic dress code.

Among them was Zahra's younger sister, who was detained in the capital, Kabul, in early January for allegedly failing to cover herself from head to toe in public.

"My sister was humiliated and tortured while in Taliban custody," Zahra, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "They told her that she was an infidel because she wore tight clothes."

Zahra said her family was forced to pay Taliban officials nearly $12,000 in bribes to secure her release.

The Taliban's crackdown on women who allegedly violate the hard-line Islamist group's dress code is the latest blow to Afghan women. Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban has severely curtailed women's right to work and study, and imposed restrictions on their appearances and freedom of movement.

In May 2022, the Taliban ordered all women to wear the all-encompassing burqa or an Islamic abaya robe and niqab that covers the hair, body, and most of the face in public. The latter is common in the Arab Gulf states.

Afghan women, especially those in urban areas, consider the burqa and niqab to be alien to Afghan culture. Before the Taliban's return to power, many women wore loose head scarves that only concealed their hair.

The Taliban's enforcement of the dress code was sporadic and uneven across the country. But activists say that since the turn of the year, the group has intensified the enforcement of the law.

'Going Through Agony'

Masuda Kohistani, a women's rights activist in Kabul, said the Taliban has even targeted women and girls wearing the hijab, a headscarf that covers the hair and neck, but leaves the face visible.

Kohistani said she witnessed members of the Taliban's religious police detaining a 20-year-old woman in the suburb of Khairkhana in northern Kabul who was wearing a hijab.

"The shopkeepers attempted to argue with the Taliban by pointing out that she was observing the hijab, but the militants beat them up," Kohistani told Radio Azadi. "Her family is going through agony. They don't know what to do as they struggle to find her."

The Taliban's religious police is overseen by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which is responsible for enforcing the Taliban's morality laws, including its strict dress code and gender segregation in society.

A young woman, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, told Radio Azadi that the Taliban on January 3 detained several women in Dasht-e Barchi, a neighborhood in Kabul where many are members of the Shi'ite Hazara minority. She said she escaped arrest after an older man told her to hide.

"He told me to run towards my house because the Taliban had just arrested several women in the neighborhood," she said.

Mina Rafiq, a women's rights activist in Kabul, said the Taliban's crackdown began in Kabul but has expanded to other parts of the country, including the central province of Daikundi, the western province of Herat, and the northern provinces of Balkh, Kunduz, and Takhar.

"Now, we are not even allowed to choose the clothes we wear," she told Radio Azadi. "How will they ever allow us to get an education or speak freely?"

It is unclear exactly how many women have been detained in recent weeks.

'Demeaning And Dangerous'

The United Nations and global rights watchdogs have condemned the Taliban's latest clampdown on women.

"The Taliban's dress-code crackdown and arbitrary arrests is a further violation of women's freedom of movement and expression in Afghanistan," Amnesty International said on January 14. "The crackdown must immediately be ceased, and those detained released."

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on January 11 that it was looking into claims of mistreatment of women and extortion in exchange for their release.

"Enforcement measures involving physical violence are especially demeaning and dangerous for Afghan women and girls," said Roza Otunbayeva, UN special envoy and head of the mission.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief Taliban spokesman, dismissed UNAMA's concerns.

"Afghan women wear the hijab on their own," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Neither have they been forced to do so, nor has the ministry of vice and virtue mistreated them."

Afghan activists said the crackdown is another major blow to women, who have been effectively erased from public life.

"The situation for women in Afghanistan is becoming worse every day," said Ruqiya Saee, a women's rights activist in Kabul.

Written by Abubakar Siddique based on reporting by Khujasta Kabiri of RFE/RL's Radio Azadi.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-women-torture- extortion-dress-code-crackdown/32777072.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.

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YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. The Green for Growth Fund (GGF), an impact investment fund advised by Finance in Motion, is re-engaging with the leading Armenian SME bank ARARATBANK through the provision of a USD 5 million loan facility. In a significant move to drive sustainable development in Armenia, this strategic partnership with ARARATBANK aims to broaden the network of GGF partners on the ground and provide critical support for green lending initiatives directed at SMEs and retail clients.

The funding will help the Bank in meeting the growing demand for green capital expenditures in key sectors, such as agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, and construction. Additionally, it will support individual households in adopting energy efficient systems and eco-friendly practices, including the implementation of small renewable energy measures.

The Funds support extends beyond financing, incorporating a dedicated Technical Assistance (TA) package that is designed to augment ARARATBANKs capacity for green lending by utilizing GGFs vast experience and expertise in the field. This aligns with GGF's broader mission to promote sustainable finance practices and underscores a holistic approach to support ARARATBANKs commitment to green initiatives.

Christopher Knowles, Chairperson of the GGF, expressed enthusiasm about the Funds re-engagement with ARARATBANK, stating: We are very pleased to deepen our collaboration with ARARATBANK, a partner that shares our commitment to driving sustainable development. This loan investment showcases the potential for positive change through collective efforts and highlights our joint commitment to improving energy and resource efficiency to accelerate the countrys green transition.

Mher Ananyan, Chairman of the Executive Board of ARARATBANK, commented: "We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with the Green for Growth Fund in providing 5 million USD to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their journey towards energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. This partnership reflects our unwavering commitment to UN Global Principle 8, which urges businesses to undertake initiatives that promote greater environmental responsibility. By empowering SMEs to adopt sustainable practices, we are not only fostering a greener future but also driving economic growth and resilience. Together, we can make a tangible impact on the environment and contribute to a more sustainable world for generations to come.
Israel Allows Entrance of Aid to Most Affected Areas of Gaza - Qatari Foreign Ministry

Sputnik News

20240116

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israel has decided to allow entrance of medicines and humanitarian aid to the most war-torn areas of the Gaza Strip in exchange for delivery of medicines to the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the success of a Qatari mediation in cooperation with the friendly Republic of France, in reaching an agreement, between Israel and (Hamas), where medicine along with other humanitarian aide is to be delivered to civilians in Gaza Strip, in the most affected and vulnerable areas, in exchange for delivering medication needed for Israeli captives in Gaza," the ministry wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip while its fighters breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. 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 24,200 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. Over 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

 Sputnik

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US, UK Launch Strikes on Al Bayda Province in Central Yemen - Source

Sputnik News

20240116

CAIRO (Sputnik) - The United States and the United Kingdom have launched strikes on the Al Bayda province in central Yemen against the rebel Ansar Allah movement, a source in the local authorities of the province told Sputnik on Tuesday.

On Monday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that a US-owned and operated container ship has been hit by a missile fired from the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Later, the Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria confirmed that its missile hit a US-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden.

"The United States and the United Kingdom launched strikes on Tuesday on barracks in the province of Al Bayda, southeast of the Yemeni capital Sanaa. US and UK planes bombed the facilities of the Ansar Allah group in the military camp of the Mukayris district, on the territory of the At Taffah fortress and facilities in the Sawmaah district," the source said.

In November 2023, Yemen's rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, announced their intention to attack any ships associated with Israel until it stops its military actions in the Gaza Strip.

In December, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the Red Sea. Last week, the US and UK military carried out airstrikes on Houthi targets in different parts of Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa.

 Sputnik

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Maritime Safety in Red Sea Cannot Be Ensured Without Ending Fighting in Gaza - Qatar

Sputnik News

20240116

DOHA (Sputnik) - The safety of ships in the Red Sea cannot be ensured without ending the war in the Gaza Strip, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said on Tuesday.

"The aggravation of the situation in Yemen and in the Red Sea region cannot be considered in isolation from what is happening in the Gaza Strip. It is impossible to ensure the safety of ships in the Red Sea by military means if the war in the Gaza Strip continues. If the war in the Gaza Strip ends, the situation in the region will also calm down," Al Ansari told a press conference.

The official could not comment on the information about the suspension of transportation of liquefied natural gas from Qatar to Europe via the Red Sea to assess security risks after the US strikes on Yemen.

In November 2023, Yemen's rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, announced their intention to attack any ships associated with Israel until it stops its military actions in the Gaza Strip.

In December, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the Red Sea. Last week, the US and UK military carried out airstrikes on Houthi targets in different parts of Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa.

Last week, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on the Houthis to show restraint and stressed that countries have the right to protect their ships from attacks. He said the Red Sea was a vital maritime route for the whole world and Europe, in particular, the reason why he would propose that the EU establish its own mission in the Red Sea to ensure the safety of navigation.

 Sputnik

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China Slams US, Issues Statement With Arab League Calling for Gaza Ceasefire

Sputnik News

20240116

"The US, which is pouring fuel on the fire in the Israel-Palestine conflict, also wants to play the role of fireman," read an article in Chinese media criticizing America's "unconditional support for Israel."

China released a joint statement with Arab League nations Sunday urging a ceasefire in Gaza and advocating a two-state solution to resolve the long running Palestine-Israel conflict.

The resolution emerged after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit in Cairo, Egypt.

The statement called for dialogue with Palestinian groups and a global peace conference to move towards implementing a two-state solution, advocating a "government of Palestine for the Palestinians." The leaders urged the full implementation of resolutions passed by the United Nations which have long criticized the Israeli occupation of internationally-recognized Palestinian territory. The United States typically uses its influence and position on the UN Security Council to block and undermine resolutions criticizing Israel's conduct.

The leaders also promoted the resumption of direct peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian sides.

The statement then touched on recent US and UK-backed airstrikes against the Houthi movement in Yemen, which Chinese media criticized as an "escalation" of the situation and an attempt to distract from the broader conflict. Chinese media called for the respect of the "sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen," a critique of the airstrikes that it noted lacked authorization by the UN.

Finally, China called for the sending of humanitarian aid to Palestinians, which it labeled an "imperative moral responsibility." China insisted that the only way to ultimately safeguard commercial interests in the Red Sea is to achieve "a just settlement of the Palestinian issue."

"We have a common responsibility to ensure the security of the Red Sea, and we will not be deceived by the US to fuel such tensions," said Li Weijian, a researcher at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies.

China and Arab League countries also vowed to move forward on economic cooperation via China's Belt and Road initiative during the meeting.

 Sputnik

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with European Commission President von der Leyen

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

Davos, Switzerland

January 16, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today in Davos, Switzerland. Secretary Blinken and President von der Leyen discussed the importance of continued international assistance for Ukraine as it fights to defend its freedom and independence. They also addressed the urgent need to increase humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, prevent further spread of the conflict, secure the release of all hostages, ensure the Hamas attacks of October 7 can never happen again, and advance a pathway for a Palestinian state. The Secretary and President von der Leyen underlined that freedom of navigation in the Red Sea is vital for global commerce and regional security and called on the Houthis to cease attacks on vessels.

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Rwandan President Kagame

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

Davos, Switzerland

January 16, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Today, Secretary Antony J. Blinken met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. They discussed how to advance efforts to ease tensions in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Secretary reiterated the need for all actors to take concrete steps to resolve the situation.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

16 January 2024

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Secretary-General's Travel

The Secretary-General arrived in Davos in Switzerland today, and he's begun his programme at the World Economic Forum just starting now with a number of bilaterals. As we speak, he is meeting with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken; he will meet with other Government officials, as well as leaders from the private sector.

Tonight, he is attending a dinner organized by the Global Investors for Sustainable Development.

Tomorrow morning, he will deliver a special address on the "State of the World", where he will highlight existential threats posed by the climate crisis and developments of artificial intelligence without guard rails. He will warn leaders that these two issues are exhaustively discussed by Governments, by the media, by leaders, and yet we have no effective global strategy on how to deal with either of those.

The Secretary-General will renew his call to prevent further damage by pushing for reform of our institutions and rebuilding trust to get our world back on track to safety, prosperity, and peace.

His remarks tomorrow at the "State of the World" will be webcast live on the World Economic Forum's platform and as on our own UN Web TV. His remarks were shared with you under embargo.

And on Thursday, the Secretary-General, as I've told you yesterday, will head to Thun, which is also in Switzerland, where he will attend his annual retreat with all his Special Representatives and Special Envoys.

** Gaza

Turning to Gaza, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that, since the escalation of hostilities, aid missions have reported two instances where convoy members were briefly detained by Israeli forces, as well as of two instances of attacks on convoys. Additionally, reluctance by the Israeli authorities to open up main supply routes and facilitate timely crossing through the Israeli military-controlled checkpoint has exposed humanitarian actors to increased risks.

Furthermore, the capacity of humanitarian agencies to operate safely and effectively remains heavily compromised by restrictions applied by the Israeli authorities on the import of critical humanitarian equipment.

As of yesterday, only one of the three water pipelines from Israel was functioning. The Middle Area water pipeline, with a production capacity of nearly 17,000 cubic metres of water per day, urgently needs repairs. Our partners are working in water, hygiene, and sanitation have estimated that this could take up to four weeks with sustained access and the necessary supplies.

Also yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the Nasser Medical Complex is caring for 700 patients, which is double its normal capacity. This requires some patients to receive treatment on the floor of the hospital. The hospital continues to receive a high volume of trauma and burn cases, while the intensive care unit and burn unit are severely understaffed, which is obviously having a very negative impact on treatment, which is often urgently needed.

Regarding your expected questions about Sigrid Kaag, she continues to be in Egypt, she's continuing her meetings, and we will keep you posted on any onward travel she may have.

** Central African Republic

As you're aware, last night, we issued a statement in which the Secretary-General condemned the killing that had taken place earlier yesterday of one of our Cameroonian peacekeepers from our peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the wounding of five others; two of those five are seriously injured. The death and the injuries came as a result of an explosive device in Mbindali, in Ouham-Pende Prefecture, in the Central African Republic of course.

We can report that the one fatality, the peacekeeper from Cameroon, was Emmanuel Steve Atebele. He was 30 years old, he was deployed in Lim Pende prefecture with his unit, where he supported the peacekeeping mission's efforts to protect civilians and extend the authority of the State. He lost his life while his contingent was providing an escort for a team from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

And the five other peacekeepers who were injured were transported by air to Bouar, where they received medical care and are currently listed as in stable condition.

We, of course, extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Atebele and his colleagues and the people and the Government of Cameroon.

The Secretary-General recalls that attacks targeting UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. He calls on the Central African Republic authorities to spare no efforts in identifying the perpetrators of the attack and bringing them to justice swiftly.

** Yemen

Back here in New York, the Security Council held closed consultations on Yemen this morning.

Members heard from our Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, who is continuing his consultations with all sides. This comes in light of the developments in the Red Sea and in the region, where progress has already been made on the UN road map.

Earlier in the day, in a call with the Iranian Foreign Minister's senior adviser, Ali Asghar Khaji, Mr. Grundberg discussed the need to maintain an environment conducive to constructive dialogue and sustained concerted regional efforts to peace in Yemen.

** Cholera

And UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) colleagues are telling us that countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, particularly Zimbabwe and Zambia, continue to be impacted by cholera outbreaks.

Since 2023, 13 countries in the region have battled one of the worst cholera outbreaks in the region in years, and as of 15 January of this year, 2024, more than 200,000 cases, including some 3,000 fatalities, have been reported.

The outbreak has placed an immense strain on health-care systems and exposed vulnerabilities in hygiene and sanitation infrastructure. UNICEF is providing lifesaving supplies for prevention and treatment across the region. The agency is also working closely with Government agencies and community members to promote hygiene practices, improve water and sanitation infrastructure, and ensure that families have access to the information and resources they need to protect their children.

Good news and bad news? What do you want first?

Bad news is that we have not gotten any money for the Honour Roll today; the good news is that you are spared some bad jokes and a quiz. Maybe not.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Edie?

Question : Thank you, Steph. A couple of follow-up questions. First on Yemen and the attacks by the Houthis and the strikes by the United States. Currently, it was announced in the region that Hans Grundberg talked to, I believe, it's the Senior Adviser to the Foreign Minister of Iran; can you please give us some details?

Spokesman : I just did, Edie, in the note I just read on Yemen. I just said that he spoke to him.

Question : Yes. That's... I heard that. But I would like to know the details.

Spokesman : Okay. But the details that I gave you are the ones I gave you, which basically said that they discussed the need to maintain an environment that is conducive to securing the gains that Mr. Grundberg has efforted, along with Yemeni parties, and, of course, the issues regarding regional peace.

Question : But it didn't mention anything about the impact of strikes on both sides?

Spokesman : Well, we're very concerned about the continuing strikes. It is clear for us that the resolution which calls for halt  the resolution 27/22  we call on the Houthis to respect the resolution and stop with the strikes that have occurred.

Question : And North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, announced today that the North will no longer pursue reconciliation with South Korea because of hostilities. Does the Secretary-General have any comment on that?

Spokesman : I mean, his comment is that for us, it's very clear that diplomatic engagement remains the only possible path for sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula, for a complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula; and we, of course, remain concerned about what we're hearing, what we're seeing, and we reiterate the Secretary-General's call for full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions.

Question : And just a quick follow-up on Sigrid Kaag. You said I believe last week that she was going to go to El Arish. Has she gone there?

Spokesman : I believe she has, but we'll double check. Margaret, then Dezhi.

Question : Thank you. Couple of housekeeping. Will you do readout for us on the Blinken-SG meeting when it's over?

Spokesman : We will share the information. We have... The Secretary-General spoke at the start of the meeting, I think on a photo spray; we'll be transcribing that shortly.

Question : Okay, and then another housekeeping. Is the Afghan conference going to be this Thursday in Doha? I don't think you've mentioned it yet. There are some reports from the region.

Spokesman : I can tell you that if there is a conference, the Secretary-General is not participating in it this Thursday in Doha. If there's something later, I will get back to you.

Question : Okay. And then on Tigray, reports of people dying from hunger. Do you have any updates for us from Tigray?

Spokesman : No. But it's a good reason for us to get a humanitarian update from Ethiopia.

Question : Okay, and one last one, on that helicopter that went down in Al-Shabaab territory last week in Somalia. Do we have any news on the fate of the passengers?

Spokesman : No, I have nothing to share with you publicly, unfortunately. Dezhi?

Question : Yesterday, Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards, they launched strikes in what they call Israeli espionage centres in Erbil in Iraq, as well as targets they claim to link to ISIS in Northern Syria, which obviously draws condemnation not only from Kurdistan authorities, but also Iraqi Government. What does the Secretary-General has to say on this episode?

Spokesman : We're very concerned about these reported ballistic strikes that have been claimed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard that hit, as you mentioned, targets in Syria  in Iraq, as well. We once again urge maximum restraint and avoid any further escalation in a region that, as we say, every day, is already volatile and increasingly so. This kind of situation also can lead to miscalculation by parties with even worse consequences. The Secretary-General further underlines that all security concerns between Iraq and Iran must be addressed through peaceful means and dialogue, in accordance with the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and good neighbourly relations.

Question : I was wondering yesterday, I believe the Secretary-General had a phone call with the Foreign Minister of Iran.

Spokesman : Yep.

Question : Did they discuss any issues related to this kind of actions?

Spokesman : You know, it's a very valid question, and I was trying to get a readout, but haven't been able to. But when I get some information, we'll share it to you by email. Okay. Yes, Dulcie?

Question : Yeah, I'm just wondering does the UN have any presence in northern Gaza at this point?

Spokesman : We have no permanent presence in northern Gaza that I'm aware of. We have been trying to get humanitarian convoys in. We've been able to get a handful in, but very few.

Question : So there's no UN presence?

Spokesman : There's no permanent UN presence that I'm aware of in northern Gaza. Dennis?

Question : You told that you will tell about oncoming meetings of Secretary-General in the Davos forum. Do you have any updates on that?

Spokesman : No. I, as I think as I said yesterday, the meetings are often being arranged at the last minute, given the frenetic schedule of everybody involved in Davos. As they happen, we will mention them to you. As I said, just now he's meeting with the US Secretary of State, and as there are more meetings, we'll let them, we'll inform you throughout the afternoon. Okay. Monica, all yours.

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Task Force 59 Launches New Unmanned Task Group 59.1

US Navy

16 January 2024

From NAVCENT Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain -- U.S. Naval Forces Central Command's Task Force 59 commissioned a new task group focused on unmanned operations during a ceremony here, Jan. 3.

The task group, known as Task Group 59.1, focuses on the operational deployment of unmanned systems teamed with manned operators to bolster maritime security across the Middle East region.

"We are bringing budding, relevant technology to warfighters and doing it fast," said Capt. Colin Corridan, Task Force 59 commodore. "Breaking the molds of the legacy acquisition model requires a level of connective tissue between industry partners and the end user operators, and 59.1 answers that bell. Our Sailors will be there to ensure seamless integration of new tech introduced to operators while in theater."

Lt. Luis Echeverria, a surface warfare officer with over 60,000 unmanned operating hours at sea across 34 operations and exercises with Task Force 59, assumed command of the task group, dubbed "The Pioneers". This opportunity for a junior officer such as Echeverria to assume command is a first for the unmanned task force and highlights the growing need for a cadre of experts at more junior levels to be in positions of leadership.

"Task Group 59.1 is ready to take the capabilities of TF 59's unmanned systems and charter new ground with manned and unmanned teaming concepts," said Echeverria. "We are 'the pioneers' for the future of our Navy, and I couldn't be more honored to lead this team."

In recent months, Task Force 59 has conducted a series of unmanned exercises to advance lethality at sea. The exercises used live munitions fired from a T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessel to strike a training target. The munitions hit every time.

Corridan said these achievements require the next tactical step to be handled effectively.

"The innovative talent pool that is attracted to working with unmanned systems is unmatched, and the operator trust and experience with robots is ultimately developing the next generation of Sailors that will operate the hybrid fleet," Corridan said. "The handpicked team that is 59.1, identified to pioneer this endeavor will be leading the way for the Navy in the hybrid fleet ecosystem. I'm very excited for what lies ahead for the pioneers."

Established in September 2021, Task Force 59 is the Navy's first Unmanned and Artificial Intelligence Task Force. It has tested, upgraded, evolved and operated with more than 23 different unmanned systems. TF 59 integrates unmanned systems and artificial intelligence with maritime operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region.

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet's area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprising 21 nations, includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb.

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Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 Returns from Deployment

US Navy

16 January 2024

From Carrier Strike Group 12

WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. -- After an extended 2023 deployment, the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron 142 (VAQ 142) return to Whidbey Island. The "Gray Wolves" deployed with Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW 8) aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) as part of Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG-12) on May 2, 2023, bound for the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

On 24 May 2023, the Gerald R. Ford made an historic port visit to Oslo, Norway. It was the first time a United States aircraft carrier had visited the founding North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member since the USS INTREPID (CV 11) in 1958. The port visit was indicative of the deepening ties between the two countries and the beginning of joint operational exercises with the Norwegian Air Force in the Artic Sea.

After the Oslo, Norway port visit, VAQ 142 was at the forefront of the U.S. Navy's involvement in NATO's 2023 Baltic Operations and Air Defender exercises. This marked the largest air exercise in NATO history, and involved 26 allied countries. As part of these exercises, a CVW-8 detachment to Hohn, Germany strengthened relationships with our NATO partners and refined combined mission planning, tactics, techniques, and procedures. Under VAQ 142 leadership CVW 8 maintained a 100 percent sortie completion rate across 81 sorties and 181.8 flight hours. The "Gray Wolves" personally contributed 20 aircrew and Sailors, and completed 28 sorties for a total of 74.8 hours during the exercises.

Following the NATO exercises and joint operations in the Arctic Sea, the Gerald R. Ford entered the Mediterranean Sea. For the next few months, CVW 8 conducted operations in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. During this time, CVW 8 participated in Exercise Sage Wolverine, a seven-day evolution working with both Italian and Greek forces. During the exercise, VAQ 142 flew 43 sorties, totaling 69.9 flight hours with a 100% sortie completion rate.

After the Hamas attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the Gerald R. Ford moved further east into the Mediterranean to demonstrate U.S. support for Israel and deter regional escalation. CVW 8 spent the next two months in the eastern Mediterranean, maintaining readiness in the event the air wing was called upon to execute combat operations.

"I am incredibly proud of the 'Gray Wolf' team for their day-in, day-out dedication and professionalism while overcoming all of the challenges of this deployment," said Cmdr. Alexander Horn, Commanding Officer, when asked about his squadron's performance during the maiden deployment of the Gerald R. Ford. "We're all excited to return home and reunite with our family and friends while taking some much deserved time off!"

While deployed, the squadron logged 890 carrier arrested landings and flew over 1080 flight hours. The Sailors of VAQ-142 earned 50 advancements across the ranks of E4-E6, three advancements to E7, two advancements to O3, and one advancement to O4.

CSG-12 is completing a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests. In the region, the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW 8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON 2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

The squadrons of CVW 8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford include the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, the "Spartans" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, the "Bear Aces" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 124, the "Ragin' Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, the "Blacklions" of VFA-213, the "Golden Warriors" of VFA-87, the "Tomcatters" of VFA-31, the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37 Returns from Deployment

US Navy

16 January 2024

From Carrier Strike Group 12

NORFOLK, Va. -- The "Ragin Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37 returned to their home base Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia, January 15, 2024, following a nearly nine-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

Following completion of a four-week composite training unit exercise, VFA 37 deployed on May 2, 2023, with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, embarked aboard the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

VFA-37 participated extensively in NATO-led enhanced vigilance activity Neptune Strike and exercises Baltic Operations, Air Defender, and Sage Wolverine. During these multi-national training exercises, VFA-37 flew alongside a multitude of different combat aircraft operated by our partner nations. The squadron also participated in deterrence activities in the eastern Mediterranean Sea during the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

While deployed, the squadron accomplished over 2,206 carrier traps, 2,709 flight hours, and expended 3,250 rounds of 20MM over the course of 1,750 individual sorties. Additionally the "Ragin Bulls" qualified one combat division lead, five combat section leads, and four combat wingmen, demonstrating the continued efforts of the squadron to produce the highest quality cadre of aircrew.

The Sailors of VFA 37 worked consistently through deployment to hone their professional expertise, earning 56 advancements and four selections for Chief Petty Officer. Following the deployment, the "Ragin Bulls" will soon begin their next workup cycle, so they can continue to fly, fight, and win with the professionalism they displayed during their recent deployment.

"Our sailors have fought every day of this deployment to ensure our aircraft and the pilots in them were ready to strike immediately," said Cmdr. Michael Tremel, commanding officer of VFA- 7. "They are amazing professionals, with unwavering commitment to our country and our Navy."

CSG-12, Gerald R. Ford CSG, was on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW 8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON 2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford are the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, the "Spartans" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, the "Bear Aces" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 124, the "Ragin' Bulls" of VFA 37, the "Blacklions" of VFA 213, the "Golden Warriors" of VFA 87, the "Tomcatters" of VFA 31, the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. 6th Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.



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YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Since 1991, Azerbaijan has never been ready to concede, not even for a second. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this during the Wednesdays question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, addressing the accusations from the opposition lawmaker Anna Grigoryan regarding concessions.



"Since 1991, Azerbaijan has never been ready to concede, not even for a second," Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.



"He said, 'Do you want me to give the highest autonomy (to the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh)?' Within the framework of the Madrid principles, an agreement was reached that this autonomy will be Armenian-Azerbaijani autonomy," Pashinyan explained.
Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87 Returns from Deployment

US Navy

16 January 2024

From Carrier Strike Group 12

NORFOLK, Va. -- The "Golden Warriors" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87 returned to their home base Naval Air Station Oceana on January 15, 2024, following an eight and a half-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operation.

Following completion of a four-week composite training unit exercise, VFA 87 deployed on May 2, 2023, with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, embarked aboard the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

Dedicated to providing civilian leaders with credible combat capability in a dynamic region, VFA 87 participated extensively in NATO-led exercises Viking Trident, Air Defender, and Neptune Strike - enhancing security in the Eastern Mediterranean and deterring horizontal escalation during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

While deployed, the squadron accomplished 1,473 carrier traps, 2,418 flight hours, and expended thousands of pounds of ordnance as well as 3,656 rounds of 20MM. Additionally the "Golden Warriors" earned CVW 8's nomination for the Chief of Naval Operations "Safety S" award, commending the squadron's embarked execution and performance during launch, recovery, and maintenance evolutions. This performance was enabled by the hard work and dedication of the squadron's maintenance department, achieving the highest full mission capable aircraft rate and highest mid-cruise Material Condition Inspection scores of all CVW 8 squadrons.

The Sailors of VFA 87 also earned 55 advancements to E4-E6, 2 advancements to E7-E9, 2 meritorious advancements, and 19 reenlistments.

Following deployment, VFA 87 will begin the operational fleet response plan for its 2025 deployment and will continue to train, fight, and operate with the most capable aircraft the U.S. Navy has to offer. "I'm incredibly proud of the toughness and professionalism of the War Party team though multiple deployment extensions during the Israel-Hamas conflict and as a counter to destabilizing forces in the region." said Cmdr. Clifton Lennon, Commanding Officer of VFA 87. "This is a resilient bunch who have done a hard job well and now return to a long-awaited homecoming with families and friends who have supported us throughout deployment."

CSG-12 was on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations where the strike group was employed by U.S. 6th Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW 8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON-2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford were the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, the "Spartans" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, the "Bear Aces" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 124, the "Ragin' Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, the "Blacklions" of VFA 213, the "Golden Warriors" of VFA 87, the "Tomcatters" of VFA 31, the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.







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Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70 Returns from Deployment

US Navy

16 January 2024

From Carrier Strike Group 12

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- The "Spartans" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70 returned to their home base at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida, on January 14th, 2024, following a nearly nine month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operation.

Following completion of a four week composite training unit exercise, HSM 70 deployed on May 2, 2023, with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, embarked aboard the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Additionally, two Combat Elements consisting of 30 Sailors, six pilots, and two helicopters deployed on both the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

During this deployment, HSM 70 participated in multiple bi-lateral and NATO exercises including exercise Sage Wolverine, Operation Orthanc, and Neptune Strike. Notably, the "Spartans" operated closely with NATO submarines while underway in the Mediterranean improving interoperability and cooperation. Over the course of this deployment, the squadron flew over 6400 flight hours, expended 72,492 rounds of ammunition, dropped 645 sonobuoys, and deployed and tracked nine MK-39 expendable mobile anti-submarine warfare training targets (EMATTs). Following the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, the squadron, along with CSG 12, provided critical support through contingency operations in the Eastern Mediterranean to prevent any escalation of hostilities in the region. HSM 70's unwavering efforts earned them the coveted "Battle E" award from CNAL for sustained proficiency and readiness in an operational environment.

The Sailors of HSM 70 earned 43 advancements to E4-E6, three advancements to E7, three meritorious advancements, and 11 reenlistments. The aircrew earned nine HAC qualifications, six H2P designations, and 16 ACTC upgrades between the Pilots and Sensor Operators.

"I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of the men and women of Sparta", said Cmdr. Brian "Lost" Crosby, HSM-70 Commanding Officer. "Their dedication to the mission and each other is absolutely awe inspiring. They were challenged each day and rose to the challenge at every opportunity during a very long and trying optimized fleet response plan. We are excited to finally take some hard earned time to relax and recharge with our families."

CSG-12 is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW 8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON 2), the USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford are the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, the "Spartans" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, the "Bear Aces" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 124, the "Ragin' Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, the "Blacklions" of VFA 213, the "Golden Warriors" of VFA 87, the "Tomcatters" of VFA 31, the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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The "Bear Aces" Return Home

US Navy

16 January 2024

From Carrier Strike Group 12

NORFOLK, Va. -- The "Bear Aces" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron One Two Four returned to their home base Naval Base Norfolk, January 14, 2024, following an eight-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG-12) to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operation.

Following completion of a four-week composite training unit exercise, VAW-124 deployed on May 2, 2023, with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, embarked aboard the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

VAW-124 participated extensively in NATO-led vigilance activity Neptune Strike and led CSG-12 elements in the Airborne Command & Control role through seven international training exercises with 12 different nations, strengthening key NATO partnerships and demonstrating interoperability in the dynamic U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

The Bear Aces divided its aircraft, aircrew and maintenance personnel between CVN 78 and two forward-deployed sites for 19 weeks of continuous dual-sited operation. The forward-deployed detachment was a $1.6M operation in direct support of critical U.S. European Command (EUCOM) tasking where the Bear Aces met 21 of 21 alert activations with 100% mission success.

The Bear Aces who remained on board CVN 78 executed Airborne Command & Control in support of CSG-12 by flying 1,640 flight hours over 610 sorties. Of the 21 alert activations in support of EUCOM tasking, two were launched from CVN 78 while the squadron exchanged aircrew and aircraft between ship and shore locations, showcasing the extended range and capability gained by the E-2D's new aerial refueling capability.

Despite the significant logistical and operational challenges of dual-sited operations, the Bear Ace maintenance team maintained five E-2D aircraft to fully mission-capable rates. In addition, they performed extensive propeller and fuselage repairs on one C-2A aircraft, returning it to the service of the strike group. The impressive pace of preventative and unscheduled maintenance served as the foundation for the squadron's 98% sortie completion rate.

"I am extremely proud of the Bear Ace team and what they have accomplished on this deployment," said Cmdr. Matthew Lukevics, commanding officer of VAW-124. "Despite multiple extensions and dual site operations, the Bear Aces performed as professional warfighters every day. As we return home, our team is looking forward to much desired and earned time off to spend with our family and friends, celebrating a successful deployment and mission success."

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON-2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford are the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, the "Spartans" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, the "Bear Aces" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 124, the "Ragin' Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, the "Blacklions" of VFA-213, the "Golden Warriors" of VFA-87, the "Tomcatters" of VFA-31, the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213 Returns from Deployment

US Navy

16 January 2024

From Carrier Strike Group 12

NORFOLK, Va. -- The "Fighting Blacklions" of Strike Fighter Squadron 213 (VFA-213) returned to their home base of Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach on January 15, 2024 following an eight-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG-12) to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. Following completion of a four-week Composite Unit Training exercise, VFA-213 deployed on May 2, 2023 with Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), embarked aboard the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

VFA-213 participated extensively in the NATO exercises BALTOPS, Air Defender, Neptune Strike, and Sage Wolverine. BALTOPS and Air Defender established and refined joint tactics, techniques, and procedures while building trust and confidence with our NATO allies. Specifically, Air Defender was the largest air exercise in NATO's history with over 250 aircraft from 25 different countries participating. Neptune Strike was a NATO-led exercise and demonstrated responsive maritime employment against a near-peer adversary. The "Blacklions" operated alongside the French and Italian Navy and multiple NATO air forces conducting Enhanced Vigilance Activities in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. During Sage Wolverine the "Blacklions" participated in multiple exercises with three NATO countries focusing on Electronic Warfare, Air Defense, and Maritime Strike tactics.

During the successful deployment, the Sailors of VFA-213 earned 64 advancements to E4-E6, 4 advancements to E7-E9, 4 meritorious advancements, and 24 reenlistments. The squadron's maintenance department showcased their hard work and dedication throughout the deployment leading the air wing with 1,943 sorties covering 3,137 flight hours with a 97% sortie completion rate. Additionally, the "Blacklions" took home "Top Hook" honors as the highest performing squadron in CVW-8.

"I could not be more proud of what the men and women of the Fighting Blacklions have accomplished during this deployment," said CDR Justin Nixon, commanding officer of VFA-213. "They have a warrior's spirit and proved every single day why we have the greatest fighting force in the world. Every member of our team has earned their well-deserved time off to spend with family and friends."

CSG-12 was on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet and also operated in support of U.S. Fifth fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON-2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116). The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford are the "Fighting Blacklions" of VFA-213, the "Ragin' Bulls" of VFA-37, the "Golden Warriors" of VFA-87, the "Tomcatters" of VFA-31, the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron 142, the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 9, the "Spartans" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70, the "Bear Aces" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron 124, and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31 Returns from Deployment

US Navy

16 January 2024

NORFOLK, Va. -- The "Tomcatters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31 returned to Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia, January 15, 2024, following a nine-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operation. After completion of a four-week composite training unit exercise in March, VFA-31, part of Carrier Air Wing 8, deployed on May 2, 2023 aboard the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78

VFA-31 participated extensively in NATO exercises to include Neptune Strike, BALTOPS, Air Defender, and BTF Viking Trident while also executing interoperability exercises with both Turkish and Italian Armed Forces. While deployed, the squadron accomplished over 2,669 sorties totaling more than 4,153 flight hours and 1,991 carrier arrested landings. Additionally, "Tomcatter" pilots consistently led the Air Wing in qualifications earned and frequently ranked in the "Top Ten" during all line periods, solidifying our professionalism around the ship in all recovery operations. VFA-31 also displayed excellence in the maintenance of 11 F/A-18E Super Hornets during this deployment, producing the highest rate of mission capable aircraft including mission critical organic tanking.

During the Navy wide advancement exam, VFA-31 is proud to announce 44 advancements across the board - an unbelievable feat! Following the deployment, the "Tomcatters" will enjoy very well deserved time off to spend with our family and friends. "I am extremely proud of the VFA-31 team and what they have accomplished, their performance on this deployment was nothing short of outstanding," said CDR Jordan Mayo, commanding officer of VFA-31.

CSG-12 is completing a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests. In the region, the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON-2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford include the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, the "Spartans" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, the "Bear Aces" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 124, the "Ragin' Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, the "Blacklions" of VFA-213, the "Golden Warriors" of VFA-87, the "Tomcatters" of VFA-31, the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.



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VCNO Delivers Remarks at the Surface Navy Association 36th National Symposium Banquet

US Navy

Speech by Adm. James Kilby

Presented on 11 January 2024

Date Published 16 January 2024



Arlington, Va.

Thank you for that kind introduction, Rick -- it's a little weird for me calling you "Rick" as you have been the "boss of me" at least three times -- I'll have to try to get used to that!!

Fellow Flag and General Officers, Sailors and civilians, leaders of industry, ladies and gentlemen ... as your VCNO of six days, it's a pleasure to be here with you tonight and to engage you in a discussion about our Navy.

To our sponsors and SNA team ... and in particular Rick Hunt, Dave Hart, Bill Erickson and Julie Howard ... thank you for your hard work and dedication. You've put together yet another fantastic program this week. And as our banquet closes out this year's SNA, I also want to acknowledge Bill Erickson's 22-year tenure as Executive Director. Ladies and gentlemen, you know him, you love him ... the man who's enabled so much support of our Surface Navy. Please everyone, raise your glasses with me to toast the fantastic career of Bill Erickson! To Bill Erickson!

Now... I think before I begin, I need to address the elephant in the room ... why your phones are buzzing this evening. I can't go into specifics, but as we sit here, our forces are out there in action. Today, I was in a meeting with the Chairman getting briefed on strikes conducted by the United States and United Kingdom against the Houthis in Yemen with support from Australia, Bahrain and the Netherlands.

A true testament to the strength of our Allies and partners, our military and most importantly the training and professionalism of our Sailors. This is a testament of the readiness and capability the world's most powerful military.

I believe the theme of this year's symposium.... "The Fight, The Force and the Future" is most appropriate given the state of the world today. We heard from our new SWO BOSS, Vice Admiral Brendan McLane, about the future of our Surface Navy. After working with him for over the last two years, I can tell you he is absolutely the right person for this critical assignment. We heard Admiral Fagan address how the Coast Guard will play an increasingly vital role in our national security. We heard Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard talk about our enlisted Sailors. Tuesday, CNO introduced her priorities for our Navy to get ready for the next fight. And finally, yesterday we heard SECNAV talk about Maritime Statecraft and the significance of incorporating innovation into our shipbuilding industry. What a great line-up!

CNO referred to this symposium as a "Navy Family Reunion." And regardless of whether you're here in suit or uniform ... regardless of your designator or the rank on your collarfor 36 years this family reunion has provided a recurring and important opportunity to come together, learn about new technologies and initiatives, and to have passionate discussions about how this 'family business' should approach the future.

And what a time it is to be in this 'family business!' We have Sailors on, under, and above the ocean, in every corner of the world ... from the East Med to the South China Sea, and everywhere in between. Our ships and Sailors are ready because of the work you do, day-in and day-out. Thank you all for your continued support, and for enabling us to be world's premier Navy.

As I reflected on this evening, I noted that the banquet keynote is always reserved for the most important speech ... the discussion where we lay out groundbreaking ideas about where the Navy is heading.

So imagine my surprise when Dave Hart called several weeks ago and said, "Jim, I'm in a bind and I've got no one else to speak!"

Bottom line .... as your new Vice Chief, my charge is to execute CNO's priorities ... All Ahead Flank!

On a more solemn note, I expect rough seas in the months ahead. We're in a Continuing Resolution and again looking at the possibility of sequestration and tightening budgets -- and sadly, we've become quite adept at this as a service. But it all comes at a cost.... delay or worse, cancellation of maintenance availability contracts, procurement delays for new systems and weapons, and in general..... sub-optimization of our business.

It remains a challenging recruiting environment, for both military and civilians. And our competitors aren't slowing down.

Today, the collective security we've enjoyed is under threat. We see the bedrock principle of sovereignty violated in Russia's unjustified invasion of Ukraine; the recent Hamas attack in Israel demonstrates an international problem that requires an international solution; and the Peoples Republic of China is increasingly challenging the rules-based system that has been the centerpiece of worldwide prosperity for decades.

The CNO is focused on getting us ready for the next fight. I was fortunate to be part of her transition team in November where she first laid out her priorities for our Navy; and two days ago, you heard about those priorities ... and a commitment to and focus on Warfighting, Warfighters, and the Foundation that supports them.

Warfighting is about winning! As CNO described on Tuesday, it's about getting more ready players on the field.

Warfighters is about us ... Sailors, civilians, our families ... and making sure that we are ready.

Foundation is about building trust and aligning resources to the warfighting needs of our Fleet. My recent tour in Fleet Forces made it crystal clear to me that we have work to do her ... together.

CNO has given us the direction ... but it's up to all of us to make it real. And while it's easy to lead when the seas are calm, it's in high sea states that leadership really counts.

We need you ... the people in this room ... to carry out the charge to effect the change we need.

I do want to talk about a couple of important things that impact us all ... Get Real Get Better and Quality of Service ... two areas that I worked on while at Fleet Forces, and will continue to work on as VCNO. Both require focus and energy to make sure we're ready.

First, on Get Real Get Better. I've enjoyed the great opportunity over the past year and a half to lead our 21 communities in their individual roadmaps to build a Navy of better and more consistent "problem solvers." Our competitive edge is shrinking and pinnacle events ... I actually think of them more as "valley" events ... have weakened our Navy - USS Fitzgerald, McCain, Bonhomme Richard, Connecticut and Red Hill are just a few examples. Simply put, these unforced errors are unacceptable.

As a result of Bonhomme Richard, we stood up the Navy Safety Command with Chris Engdahl as the first commander and adopted a Safety Management System in order to change our approach to safety. The way I see it, successful organizations are safe organizations. Safety isn't additive ... it's a constant. Our new approach needs to think about safety not as something that slows us down, but as risk we need to manage.

We must adopt a mindset that values transparency, problem-solving, and continuous learning. On a ship visit about a year ago, a CO asked me "DCOM, come on, level with me - what's with GRGB?" I answered, "At its core, GRGB is about you having faith in me as the DCOM that I will take your issues seriously and get after them. The same applies to every Sailor in your command that he or she has the same faith and confidence in you as their CO."

Open conversations up-and-down the Chain of Command are essential to our success. And honest discussions with industry when we run into obstacles ... like new work or growth work in maintenance avails. GRGB is not a declaration to fix everything now, now, now, but it is a commitment to talk about it with ALL the right people in the room in order to identify and get after our most consequential issues.

Building a learning team comes by establishing a culture of trust and respect. Whether you're a Sailor, Petty Officer, member of the Chief's Mess or Wardroom, a CO, a Commodore, a Strike Group Commander ... or a leader of industry ... we need to reward those who are transparent, who "embrace the red" and ask for help. In general, I have found this not to be our nature as a service ... it is most definitely not in MY nature ... it is taking considerable effort on my part to try not to solve all problems by myself.

We must also continue to improve the Quality of Work and Qualify of Life for our Sailors and civilians ... together these make up Quality of Service, and are at the crux of the Foundation that CNO is talking about.

Tragically, the suicides onboard USS George Washington and Mid Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center pushed this critical issue to the top of our priority list. I met the CO of George Washington in the shipyard shortly after he and his crew experienced the loss of these Sailors. I recall approaching his ship and seeing him walking down the brow to meet me. He had a "Great, here's a 3-star coming to tell me what is wrong," look on his face. I greeted him and on the spur of the moment, elected to tell him of my own family's personal loss, and I could see his "deflector shields" immediately "power down."

It was a telling moment for me, as I believe the CO viewed this solely as "his" problem to solve. However, the Navy did not view it this way and took the opportunity to look at the conditions we require our Sailors to live in during maintenance availabilities and committed to addressing them -- the old adage, "if it was good enough for me, it should be good enough for you" is unacceptable and certainly not "world class." This does not mean our Commanding Officers are not responsible to take care of their commands -- they are. However, it does mean that a learning, self-correcting and root cause seeking Navy takes the opportunity to reset and reframe conditions to take care of all of our Sailors.

Two years ago, at this conference, CNO Gilday announced that we were commencing a culture change to "Get Real and Get Better" -- this transition is not in the "done" column -- far from it. The expression on the face of the CO of GW I referred to ... is a testament to this.

Our Sailors must be our "center of the universe." We need to be seen as the "employer of choice" by future Sailors. We're in a manning crisis, where reaching our recruitment goals isn't just an issue ... it's the issue! You're all here because you care about our Navy. We need to strike a chord with young people and stimulate their propensity to serve. As the SWO Boss said on Tuesday, we need you to "Get out there and propense!"

We need to actively put the well-being of current Sailors, civilians, and their families as our top priority! Taking care of Sailors and their families is commander's business -- it is not "outsourceable."

So, we have some work to do. But despite our challenges, I am extremely optimistic -- let me tell you why.

I started this week speaking at the Re-Blueing event for our Warfare Tactics Instructors, or WTIs -- it's an event where our Surface and Mine Warfare Development Center gathers WTIs together from across the Fleet to align on the latest tactics and training practices. Think of it, the sharpest SWOs in our community gather yearly to rebaseline for consistency and clarity. If you haven't already, I encourage you to seek them out and to engage them -- I guarantee, you will be impressed.

While speaking with these capable SWOs, I reflected back to when John Wade relieved me as the Commander of SMWDC. He took a hard look at some of the operations we were conducting in the Red Sea and made a concerted effort to improve our way of doing business.

Fast forward to today, and look at the great work our Sailors are doing in that same body of water. You're all well aware of what's going on with the USS Carney, Thomas Hudner, Mason, Laboon and Gravely. These crews have thus far collectively shot down 84 UAVs, Land Attack Cruise Missiles, and Anti-ship Ballistic Missiles ... 21 of which happened two days ago, 1:15 in the afternoon our time, right as Admiral Caudle was kicking-off this SNA symposium! Or at least the number was 84 before tonight ... my speechwriter and I are struggling to keep-up with the tally. These are actions of a learning organization!

I spoke with Vice Admiral Brad Cooper ... he said that the COs ARE aggressive and the crews ARE ready. Remember Admiral McLane's video on Tuesday ... the most striking part to me was hearing the Carney Combat Systems Officer talk about how confident she was during the missile engagements ... she said "I didn't hesitate to take those shots, and I didn't second guess, because I knew" ... because she had done it all before during her Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training, or SWATT, and during her deployment certification exercise. That's what this "Big Navy Team" is doing ... from industry providing the capability, to WTIs giving the training... we're raising the aptitude and confidence of all our warfighters to make us better and ready for anything. Our ships are at the right place, at the right time ... doing what they're trained to do, and what no other Navy in the world could do.

My staff engaged the Naval History and Heritage Command to help contextualize these recent engagements.

In October, USS Carney downed 19 cruise missiles and UAVs. These are numbers we haven't seen since World War II ... when USS Hugh Hadley set a record for most aircraft destroyed in an engagement during the Battle of Okinawa --- 23. Carney stacks pretty well against those world records.

And then, on December 26th, while most of us were recovering from Christmas dinner, Laboon successfully engaged three Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles ... never.... done ... before.

The takeaway for us is that our ships and crews were on-scene, and they sensed and acted when the opportunity arose. They were well-trained and ready, and they knew what to do.

The performance of these ships and crews should motivate all of us. It tells us that we're making the right investments and the right gains ... and that we're holding ourselves to the right standards.

So while there's much work to be done, what this "Big Team" of uniformed members, supporting civilians, and industry do every day to provide the fighting force that our Nation needs ... is "spot on."

Thank you all for your service to our great country and for everything you do. I look forward to getting after our challenges, supporting our CNO, and working with you as we continue to deliver the most powerful Navy in the history of the world.

Thank you.

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US 'Hopeful' of New Release of Hostages Held by Hamas in Gaza

By VOA News January 16, 2024

The U.S. said Tuesday it is "hopeful" that talks brokered through Qatar could lead to a new deal to release hostages held by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip in exchange for a cease-fire in the fighting between Hamas and Israel.

"I don't want to say too much publicly here as we have these talks, but we're hopeful that it can bear fruit, and bear fruit soon," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a White House briefing.

More than 100 hostages were released during a temporary truce in November, but 132 are believed to still be held by Hamas in Gaza, including the remains of about two dozen who have died or were killed.

Meanwhile, the more than 100-day war rages on, with Israeli tanks storming back into parts of northern Gaza on Tuesday that they had left a week ago. Massive explosions could be seen over northern areas of Gaza from across the border with Israel.

Gunfire echoed across the Israeli-Gaza border through the night. Israel's Iron Dome defenses shot down rockets fired by militants across the border, proof the militants retained the capability to launch them even as Israel has flattened much of the narrow territory along the Mediterranean Sea.

Israel said its forces had killed dozens of Hamas fighters overnight in clashes in Beit Lahiya on Gaza's northern edge. Gaza health authorities said in the last day Israeli bombing had killed 158 people in the Palestinian enclave, raising their toll for the war to 24,285, a figure that includes both Hamas fighters and civilians.

Israel launched the war to eradicate Hamas after militants stormed across the border fence on October 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel reported airstrikes Tuesday in northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip, a day after the country's defense minister said the intensive phase of Israel's war with Hamas would end soon.

The Israel Defense Forces said airstrikes targeted militants in the Northern Shati area as well as Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Israeli troops killed dozens of militants and uncovered about 100 rocket installations, the military said.

An overnight airstrike also struck a Hezbollah anti-tank launcher in southern Lebanon, the latest in the cross-border fighting that has raised fears of an expanding conflict in the region.

In Switzerland, Qatar's prime minister noted the need for a two-state solution to provide a lasting resolution, while citing the threat of the conflict expanding.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said during the World Economic Forum in Davos that military strikes will not contain attacks on Red Sea shipping by Yemen-based Houthi rebels, and that instead the need is to focus on resolving the central issue of the war in Gaza.

"What we have right now in the region is a recipe of escalation everywhere," Sheikh Mohammed said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewed his appeal Monday for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire, saying it is urgently needed to get aid to Palestinians, facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas, and halt the spread of the war throughout the Mideast.

"I am profoundly worried by what is unfolding," Guterres told reporters at the United Nations.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Houthis Attack Maltese-Flagged Vessel in the Gulf of Aden

By Edward Yeranian January 16, 2024

Yemen's Houthi militia group, which controls the capital, Sana'a and parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast, has attacked another ship in the Gulf of Aden, following a rash of attacks over the past several weeks. Iran's supreme leader is encouraging the Houthis, which serve as an Iranian proxy in the region, to continue attacking U.S. and western ships. Such attacks threaten to further exacerbate tensions in the region and the fragile economies of many regional states.

Yemen's Houthis attacked a Maltese-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Aden Tuesday, following a rash of attacks on international shipping in recent days. Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who supports the Houthis, urged them to "continue their attacks."

Yahya Saria, spokesman for the Houthis' military forces, said they would continue attacking U.S. and British ships and seek revenge for U.S. and British attacks on their forces in recent days.

He says that [the Houthis'] naval forces carried out an attack targeting a U.S. ship in the Gulf of Aden using sea missiles and resulting in a direct and precise hit. He says that the Houthis consider all U.S. and British ships legitimate enemy targets after they attacked Yemen and that no new attack will go without a response.

Yemeni analyst Salah al-Aghbar told Sky News Arabia that Iran is "trying to assert that the Red Sea is a vital waterway to it and that it can close both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz during a conflict, if the need should arise."

Mehrdad Khonsari, a London-based Iranian analyst and former diplomat, tells VOA that Tehran is "not capable of closing either the Red Sea or the Strait of Hormuz and that it is just using rhetoric for propaganda purposes."

He argues that the Houthis are a useful proxy, but mostly a diversion from more important Iranian assets like Hezbollah.

"Iranians, whilst they are cautious not to escalate the combat in a way that would involve them, or their primary proxy group, Hezbollah, they see the Houthis as a vehicle for increasing pressures on the world community without actually getting them involved in some kind of direct conflict with the west," he said. "Now, if the Israelis were to attack Hezbollah, then obviously Iranians would become involved, but that is the kind of scenario that they would like to avoid."

Khonsari adds that Houthi attacks "dissuade Israel from going after Hezbollah and act as a very convenient diversion for the Iranians to direct attention away from more important areas to it, like the Lebanese border with Israel and Hezbollah bases, which are critical for the survival of Iranian regional policy.

If Hezbollah were attacked and degraded by Israel, he says, this would mean the collapse of Iranian regional policy and proxies, whereas degrading the Houthis or Hamas does not affect overall Iranian policy to a great extent.

Washington-based Gulf analyst Theodore Karasik tells VOA that U.S. and British attacks on the Houthis are clearly intended to degrade their military capabilities.

"These strikes are important and meant to degrade the capacity of the Houthis, who are being backed by Iran, and that evidence is undeniable," he said. "They are clearly linked, and consequently, such activity is going to continue to have an impact because of the back-and-forth and escalation process."

Karasik also insists that there is diplomatic wrangling taking place behind the scenes through various negotiating channels between key Gulf states, with lots of what he calls wheeling and dealing.

Yemeni analyst Fawaz Nasr, however, disagrees, telling Arab media that the Saudi-supported Yemeni government based in Aden, which opposes the Houthis, stresses that the U.S. and British attacks on the Houthis "will have no effect whatsoever unless the Houthis are dislodged from territories that they control," including key parts of Yemen's Red Sea coastline.

Meanwhile, as many western ships and cargo vessels change course away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal for the longer Horn of Africa route, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with officials with the French government's shipping authority to try to reassure Western shippers that the Suez Canal is safe.

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US Seizes Iranian-Made Missile Parts in Raid Near Somali Coast

By Carla Babb January 16, 2024

U.S. Navy SEALs seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weapons bound for Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi militants in a raid last week where two service members went missing, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

The SEALs boarded a traditional dhow sailing vessel near the coast of Somalia in international waters of the Arabian Sea, seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missile components, including propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command or CENTCOM, which oversees military operations in the Middle East.

The raid last Thursday marked the "first seizure of advanced Iranian-manufactured ballistic missile and cruise missile components by the U.S. Navy since November 2019," the U.S. military said. As the SEALs were boarding the dhow in rough seas, one SEAL got knocked off by high waves. A fellow SEAL went in after him, and both remain missing.

The U.S. military detained the dhow's 14 crew members and sank the ship after deeming it unsafe, according to CENTCOM. A United Nations resolution bans arms transfers to the Houthis. Iran has denied arming the Houthis despite evidence of the contrary.

The announcement came as Houthi militants attacked another ship traveling through international waters in the region on Tuesday. The Maltese-flagged vessel was struck by a missile and sustained some damage, though no one was wounded, according to officials.

Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. forces destroyed four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles that were prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. A U.S. defense official said the ballistic missiles "presented an imminent threat to both merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the region."

The Houthis have launched a series of attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The militants say the attacks are due to Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, but many of the ships targeted have no links to Israel.

The military said missile components seized during last week's raid included parts like those used in recent Houthi attacks. Images released by the U.S. military showed components resembling motors for rockets and what looked like an anti-ship cruise missile's turbojet engine.

The United States, Britain and a handful of other allies answered dozens of Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with a series of powerful airstrikes on Friday and Saturday designed to severely degrade the Iranian-backed group's capabilities.

U.S. and U.K. military leaders said the strikes hit dozens of targets ranging from command-and-control nodes, munitions depots, launching sites for drones and missiles, and production facilities.

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Israel Strikes Gaza After Defense Minister Says Intensive Phase of War with Hamas Will Soon End

By VOA News January 16, 2024

Israel reported airstrikes Tuesday in northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip, a day after the country's defense ministers said the intensive phase of Israel's war with Hamas would soon end.

The Israel Defense Forces said airstrikes targeted militants in the Northern Shati area as well as Khan Younis.

Israeli troops killed dozens of militants and uncovered about 100 rocket installations, the military said.

An overnight airstrike also struck a Hezbollah anti-tank launcher in southern Lebanon, the latest in the cross-border fighting that has raised fears of an expanding conflict in the region.

In Switzerland, Qatar's prime minister noted the need for a two-state solution to provide a lasting resolution, while citing the threat of the conflict expanding.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said during the World Economic Forum in Davos that military strikes will not contain attacks on Red Sea shipping by Yemen-based Houthi rebels, and that instead the need is to focus on resolving the central issue of the war in Gaza.

"What we have right now in the region is a recipe of escalation everywhere," Sheikh Mohammed said.

No cease-fire

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ruled out a cease-fire as he spoke to reporters Monday, saying Israel could not fully stop its military operations in Gaza because Hamas would not agree to release any more hostages without military pressure

Gallant said the "intense maneuvering stage" that the Israeli military has been carrying out in southern Gaza "will end soon." He said the military had recently ended its intensive ground operation in northern Gaza.

"In both places, we will reach the moment for the next stage," he said.

Gallant's comments came as Hamas announced the death of two of the Israeli hostages it abducted during its October attack.

In a video released by Hamas on Monday, the group showed the dead bodies of two people it said were Israeli hostages. In a statement accompanying the video, Hamas said the hostages were killed by the Israeli military.

Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari denied that Israeli forces caused the deaths.

"That is a Hamas lie," he said.

The Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between fighters and civilians in its casualty totals, said Tuesday that the number of dead from Israel's military campaign had risen to 24,285, with more than 60,000 others injured.

Israel began its military campaign to wipe out Hamas after Hamas fighters crossed into southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 people hostage in a terror attack.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewed his appeal Monday for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire, saying it is urgently needed to get aid to Palestinians, facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas, and halt the spread of the war throughout the Mideast.

"I am profoundly worried by what is unfolding," Guterres told reporters at the United Nations.

During a temporary cease-fire in late November, militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, while Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. The French Senate has adopted a resolution demanding sanctions against Azerbaijan with 336 votes in favor and one against, the Armenian Embassy in France said in a statement.



"Today, the French Senate discussed the inter-party resolution proposed on December 1, 2023, aimed at "condemning Azerbaijan's military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh and preventing further attempts at aggression and violations of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia."



The resolution also calls for sanctions against Azerbaijan and demands the guarantee of the right of return for the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Australia Confirms Support For US, UK Strikes on Houthi Rebels

By Phil Mercer January 16, 2024

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that Canberra is supporting United States and British airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

The rebel group has been attacking international shipping in the Red Sea, and U.S.-led strikes have been launched in retaliation for drone and missile attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, a key shipping channel.

Australian officials have insisted that defending global trade routes is "utterly central to Australia's national interest."

Canada and the Netherlands have also been part of the military action.

Australia's support for the raids against Houthi targets included defense personnel in what authorities have said were "non-operational roles." Their precise duties were not disclosed.

Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the Canberra government is part of a multinational effort to prevent Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping.

"We have sent the help that is required. We have operational support there at headquarters in Bahrain," he said. "We always give proper and considered analysis and act in Australia's national interests and that has been the basis of our support up to this point."

Australian Greens defense spokesperson David Shoebridge told local media that it was hypocritical of the U.S. and Australian governments to launch airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen while claiming they wanted to avoid the conflict in Gaza spreading.

The Iran-backed Houthis say they are supporting Hamas in the war against Israel in Gaza.

The conflict began after Hamas militants launched a brutal attack on Israel on Oct 7. Gunmen killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took hostages into Gaza.

In response, the Israeli government has vowed to eliminate Hamas. It has launched an aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the coastal enclave.

Thousands of people have been killed and vast numbers displaced.

This week Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong is making an official visit to the region. She will meet with the families of Israeli hostages as well as the victims of Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

Australia has said Israel has the right to defend itself after the attack by Hamas militants.

Politically, Canberra is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist within internationally recognized borders.

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White House 'Troubled' by Deal Between Ethiopia and Breakaway Somaliland Region

By Anita Powell January 16, 2024

The White House sees national security concerns in a recent agreement giving Ethiopia leasing rights to the Red Sea coastline in Somalia's breakaway Somaliland region, administration officials said Tuesday. But experts questioned Washington's commitment and ability to quell tensions in the volatile region.

The two parties inked the deal on January 1. At the time, Ethiopian government spokesman Redwan Hussien said the deal also "paves the way for accessing a leased military base on [the] Red Sea."

John Kirby, director of strategic communications for the National Security Council, told VOA that Washington was working with partners in the region  including the African Union and the eight-member Intergovernmental Authority on Development trade bloc  to push against the nonbinding memorandum of understanding, which Somalia's government, headquartered in Mogadishu, sees as illegitimate.

"We're certainly troubled," Kirby said, adding: "As we've said many, many times, we support Somalia's sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and it's got to be respected."

Situation could embolden militants, says official

Somaliland, the fragile nation's breakaway province, has long claimed autonomy and governs from the city of Hargeisa. It has sought recognition since 1991, but the African Union's official policy opposes changes to colonially drawn borders.

The situation poses a national security concern, Kirby said, in that it could embolden Islamist al-Shabab militants that have long been the main antagonist in Somalia's brutal civil war.

"What we're particularly concerned about is this [Memorandum of Understanding] inked recently between Ethiopia and Somaliland threatens to disrupt the fight that Somalis, Africans and regional international partners, including us, are waging against Al-Shabab," he said. "Al-Shabab remains a viable terrorist threat in the region, without question. We don't believe that the region can afford any more conflict."

"It's a dangerous path," Somalia's former foreign minister and former ambassador to the U.S., Ahmed Isse Awad, told VOA. "The sister nations have gone to war twice in the last 50 years.

"We thought we recovered from that conflict and bad history," he added, speaking to VOA from the northeastern city of Garowe. "And as of late, we were working towards a great Horn of Africa cooperation and openness to each other. But now, this misguided step by Ethiopia endangers all of that and takes us back to the days of conflict and violent confrontation. It risks the whole region and the security of the region."

And, he said, while the U.S., "had a respected voice in the international arena," its staunch support of Israel has changed that.

"They don't have the same leverage, I feel, because of the way America is conducting its foreign policy," he said. "It's losing some of its moral voice."

Ethiopia seeks to be naval power

Analysts say it's logical that landlocked Ethiopia would seek sea access to serve the needs of its rapidly growing population.

"The Bab al-Mandab Strait is becoming an increasingly contested chokepoint," said Michael Walsh, a senior fellow in the Africa program at the U.S.-based Foreign Policy Research Institute. Addis Ababa, he said, clearly wants to safeguard Ethiopia's supply chains by avoiding reliance on ports in the tiny coastal nation of Djibouti, which is affected by conflict in Yemen.

And, he said, "the Abiy Ahmed administration has a desire to reestablish Ethiopia as a naval power. It recognizes that there is a regional naval power vacuum. This would provide a way to not only quickly project near-shore military power and influence across the region. It would provide a long-term pathway to becoming a regional naval hegemon."

Cameron Hudson, who researches Africa at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that may be more than Ethiopia can handle.

"[Ethiopia] doesn't have, I think, a full understanding of the degree that it will also be responsible for its own security and the general security, contributing to the general security, of the Red Sea," he said. "So, it comes with a great responsibility that I'm not quite sure Ethiopia has fully thought through or appreciates."

He also questioned whether Washington's actions show it "isn't something that Washington has taken particularly seriously."

"Washington has done virtually nothing to try to put the pieces back together in the Horn of Africa," said Hudson.

"In my mind, Washington views the stakes in the Horn of Africa probably as too low and as not rising to the level of national security interest, where we would take meaningful high-level external action to avoid a worst-case scenario," he said. "I think the quintessential example of this is we actually have a special envoy for the Horn of Africa, who has not been to the region in over a month."

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Mogadishu Suicide Bomber Kills Four People, Self

By Jamal Ahmed Osman January 16, 2024

Police in Somalia say a suicide bomber killed four people and himself and injured seven others Tuesday when he detonated an explosives-laden vest in a crowded area near Mogadishu's regional administration headquarters.

Major Sadiq Aden Ali, a police spokesman, confirmed the attack and casualties in an interview with VOA Somali.

"At about 11:40 a.m., a suicide bomber detonated himself in Hamarweyne district, in particular at Al-Hindi restaurant," Ali said. "He inflicted casualties on innocent, civilian, Somali Muslims."

Ali said people sitting outside the restaurant saw a suspicious-looking man and alerted police. Ali said the security forces tried to apprehend the bomber, but he ran away and detonated his explosives.

A video clip of the incident from a closed-circuit TV feed shows a security officer chasing the would-be bomber before the explosion.

The soldier chasing the bomber was among the injured, Ali said.

"The police did not fire because it is a crowded market," he said. "They tried to keep people away and apprehend him alive but he detonated [the vest]."

The explosion was near the Mogadishu regional headquarters, which was targeted by al-Shabab in July 2019 when the city's former mayor, Abdirahman Omar Osman, was fatally injured, and again in January 2023.

Ali said the target of the most recent bomber is not yet clear.

"Security forces believe the suicide bomber [did not reach] his intended target, because when the people suspected they informed the security forces, and that is how they engaged," he said.

Militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement posted on the Telegram channel, the group said it was targeting intelligence operatives and other government employees.

The explosion comes amid a general improvement in the capital's security situation over the last year, aided by the deployment of troops and security checkpoints on the outskirts of the capital to prevent would-be truck bombs.

Harun Maruf contributed to this report.

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Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby

January 16, 2024

Via Teleconference

1:42 P.M. EST

OPERATOR: Please note at this time all audience members are in "listen only" mode to minimize background noise. There will be Q&A during this call. If you would like to ask a question, please press "#2" on your telephone keypad to be placed in the question queue.

I would now like to formally begin today's call and introduce Karine Johnson [Jean-Pierre], the White House Press Secretary. Please go ahead.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: My name is Karine Jean-Pierre, but thank you so much for the intro.

I just want to say one thing at the top really quickly is just to thank the team here for putting this  my team here for putting this together. As you all know, it gets  technology can be a little glitchy, so I appreciate the team for turning this around.

And with that, I just also want to say please be patient with us. We are going to try to make this  the White House press briefing as  as smooth as possible. So, really appreciate all of your patience.

I have a couple of updates on the President's week ahead. So, tomorrow, the President  President Biden will host congressional leaders from the Senate and the House, along with key committee leaders and ranking members at the White House to discuss the critical importance of his national security supplemental request. So, we'll  we will certainly have more to say about that meeting tomorrow. So, please stay tuned.

And this Thursday, the President will travel to Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina, known as the "Research Triangle," to discuss how his Bidenomics and Investing in America agenda are repairing and rebuilding infrastructure, lowering costs for families, supporting a small-business boom, and creating good-paying jobs.

Under the Biden administration, companies have announced $31 billion in private-sector clean energy and manufacturing investments in North Carolina alone.

And in North Carolina, President Biden's Investing in America agenda has so far helped more than 4,300 childcare programs continue operating during the pandemic to provide critical childcare for over 380,000 children, helped more than 2,500 restaurants weather the pandemic and keep employees on the payroll, helped 880,000 households across the state save money on Internet bills, and provided 2.1 million Medicare beneficiaries with access to prescription drug cost savings.

On Thursday, the President will talk about how we continue to build on this and delivering for families, workers, and businesses across North Carolina.

And with that, I will turn it over to my NSC colleague, Admiral John Kirby, who will discuss the latest in the Middle East.

Admiral, the floor is yours.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Karine. Lots to go over here since the last time we all talked.

I just wanted  a couple of things  first, on the schedule  to talk to you: The President spoke today with Chancellor Scholz of Germany as part of our close coordination, of course, with Germany on a range of important issues. And that includes, of course, supporting Ukraine and the importance of that support ongoing.

Now, you may know that Jake Sullivan, our National Security Advisor, is in Davos today. He delivered a public address, and he's had the chance to meet with some foreign leaders.

Both he and Secretary Blinken met together with President Zelenskyy again to keep talking about the importance of continued global assistance for Ukraine.

But individually, Jake had a chance to meet with the Prime Minister of Qatar about our urgent efforts to release the remaining hostages that Hamas is holding, as well as meeting separately with the Prime Minister of Iraq and the Prime Minister of Iraq's Kurdistan region. We'll, of course, have more readouts available on those meetings shortly.

On the Middle East specifically, as you know, we're now over 100 days since those terrorist attacks on the 7th of October. And over the weekend, the President wrote  spoke to this, including a heartfelt statement on the grief and suffering that the families of those hostages have now felt every single day since the 7th of October.

And we have not stopped our efforts to try to bring them home. In fact, Brett McGurk was in Doha this [last] week, focused specifically on the hostage situation and on trying to move forward new proposals to bring them home. This will remain a top priority for us.

Meanwhile, this weekend, Hamas released videos of three hostages, including one young woman who was supposed to be released in the original deal, but, at the last minute, Hamas refused to do so, saying that it would hold young women hostage in direct violation of the deal that they had negotiated. And then, they later released a video showing the remains of two other hostages as a reminder of their cruelty and barbarism.

Now, on the military front, I would just like to point  point you, if you haven't seen it, to important statements from Israeli's Defense Minister yesterday that Israel will now shift to a low  or, I'm sorry, has now shifted to a low-intensity phase in North Gaza, and it will soon do so in southern Gaza as well.

They announced the withdrawal of a division  an army division from Gaza as part of the shift to lower-intensity ops. And as they undergo this transition, we are preparing to increase the humanitarian assistance in to those people who need it, as well as to help set the conditions for the population to return to North Gaza, where the U.N. hopes to be able to conduct assessment missions over the coming week.

So, we're making these preparations because we believe that these lower-intensity operations inside Gaza should be able to not only allow for a reduction in civilian casualties but a more reliable distribution of aid over the coming period.

As a matter of fact, our envoy, David Satterfield, and our ambassador, Jack Lew, are meeting today with Israeli senior leadership and senior military commanders at their Southern Command to discuss all these issues.

And then, just lastly, again, on the humanitarian crisis. The images coming out of Gaza continue to be heartbreaking and painful. As the President has said, every innocent life lost is one too many. We don't want to see any more civilian casualties.

Now, Israel, of course, has a right to defend itself. But Hamas also continues to be an active threat to Israel, and its leaders have vowed to repeat the attacks of the 7th of October again and again and again. Just yesterday, Hamas took credit for the brutal murder of an Israeli grandmother who was stabbed to death in her car.

But again, we've encouraged Israel, particularly now as it shifts to this new phase, to do so, in terms of their operations, as surgically and as precisely as possible to minimize those casualties.

And we're also, at the same time, focused on increasing the flow of trucks into Gaza.

I'll end with this. And that's that, just today, we were able to get 228 trucks into Gaza over those two crossings. Again, not enough. But we're trying to keep the level at above 200, if we can.

Now, a big hindrance to that, of course, is the  is the fighting itself, which is why the Israel Defense Minister's comments about switching to lower-intensity operations could  could have a dramatic effect on our ability to do that.

And, with that, I'll turn it back over.

AIDE: Host, I think we're ready to go to questions.

OPERATOR: All right. As a reminder, if you would like to ask a question, please press "#2" on your phone to be placed in the question queue. You will share your notification when your line is unmuted. Please then state your name and question. If your question is answered before your turn, pressing the "#2" a second time will take you out of the queue.

Moving on to our first question.

Caller, please go ahead.

Q Hey, guys. It's  it's Justin from Bloomberg. I had one for Karine and  and one for Kirby.

Karine, on the meeting tomorrow, is that a signal that  that the President has and negotiators have gotten close on a deal for Ukraine aid and immigration changes? Or is this, kind of, a chance to them  for them to work out final details? Or are we just not there yet at all?

And then, Kirby, I was wondering if you could talk about, kind of, the state of the situation with the Houthis. Obviously, we saw more attacks in the last couple of days and a response today by the U.S. Is this a signal that the first round of  of strikes by the U.S. and the UK didn't achieve their desired effects? Are you looking at all at, kind of, expanding our effort to a new target set using special forces at all  any sort of expansion? Or do you still, kind of, see this as headed in the direction that you'd hoped for?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey, Kirby, you want to take that question  your question?

MR. KIRBY: Yes, sure. I just wanted to defer to you since the first one was to you, but I'm happy to do that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I appreciate it. And, Justin, I'll  we're just going to let Kirby go. And then I'll  certainly will  I'll answer that question once Kirby is done with the Middle East pieces. Thanks.

Q Sure.

MR. KIRBY: Okay. So, look, Justin, you're right. We  we have seen some additional lower-  lower-scale retaliatory strikes by the Houthis in the last few days  much smaller than

 than what we had seen before and none of them effective.

And I will tell you, you know, we fully anticipated, when we launched the  that salvo on Friday night, that  that the Houthis would probably conduct some retaliatory strikes.

So, I  I think it's  it's too soon to call this some sort of a trend that would lead us to believe that we didn't have the  a good effect with those strikes. We believe that we did have a good effect with those strikes in terms of disrupting and degrading their capability to conduct military offensive operations.

As for what the next turn is here, I simp-  I won't get ahead of potential military operations one way or the other.

As you saw today, we took additional strikes knocking out four ballistic missiles that we believe were prepped and ready to be launched from Yemen, took them out before they could do that. So, we have said before, we'll say it again: We stand ready to defend our interests, our sailors, our ships, and that of merchant shipping as required.

We're not looking for a war. We're not looking to expand this. The Houthis have a choice to make, and they still have time to make the right choice, which is to stop these reckless attacks.

AIDE: Host, we're going to go to the next question. We'll come back around to questions for Karine after Kirby's portion.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next caller in queue. Steve Holland with Reuters, please go ahead.

Q Hey, John. You mentioned the  Brett McGurk in Doha on hostages. What  could you give us any details on that? Is he seeking a pause in the fighting in exchange for hostages? How close are they to a deal? What  what's going to happen?

And you mentioned that the Israelis have shifted to a low phase in Northern Gaza. What are the prospects for that taking place across all of Gaza?

MR. KIRBY: Thanks, Steve. So, on the  a new hostage deal, what I can tell you is that we're working on this very, very diligently. That is why Brett was in Doha this past week.

I don't want to get ahead of where we are. But we are having, I would say, very seri-  serious and intensive discussions in Qatar about the possibility for another deal.

Obviously, I want to be careful I don't say too much publicly here as we have these  these talks. But we're hopeful that it can bear fruit and bear fruit soon, because there's still, you know, over 100  about 140 hostages still being held.

As for the  the  yo-  your question about whether their shift to lower-intensity operations can  you know, how fast that will spread across Gaza, that's really not a question I'm qualified to answer. The Israeli Defense Forces are  are much better to speak to that.

They just announced yesterday, as I said in my opening statement, the removal of a division  a full  a full division of army troops from  from Gaza. We think that's a positive step forward, in terms of getting to lower-intensity ops. We hope that it will allow for the movement back into North Gaza, because, really, the bulk of the  of the operations are being conducted in the  in the south right now.

So, we hope that this removal of these troops and this announced transition that they've made, that it will allow for people to flow back into North Gaza, alleviate some of that pressure in the south, particularly around Khan Younis. And we'll see where it goes from there. But again, I  I wouldn't want to get ahead of Israeli military planning.

Q Thanks, John.

MR. KIRBY: Yes, sir.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in queue. Weijia Jiang with CBS, please go ahead.

Q Hi, there. Thank you, guys, for doing this. And thank you, Kirby. I have a question about the continued attacks in the Red Sea. So, you said today that you've seen that they are smaller in scale. Today, obviously, the strike on the Maltese carrier did not result in any injuries.

Can you verify how many injuries have been reported in these now 30-some attacks on commercial vessels? And if it's none, can you help me understand, if these are missiles, why, how there haven't been more injuries? I imagine the crew sizes are small. But when I hear "missile strikes," I expect there to be more injuries. So, if you could just help me process that.

MR. KIRBY: Weijia, what I'll do is I'll take your question and see if we can get a better answer, maybe from Central Command. I don't have a list of casualties from these merchant ships. That's not the kind of thing  I don't think we're centrally tracking that. But don't take that to the bank.

Let me talk to CENTCOM and see if they've got some sort of figures for you.

You're right. I mean, I  I would  a couple of things here. Number one, most of these missile attacks and drone attacks have been ineffective. You're right. There was a hit today, but no injuries caused. No real significant damage to the ship, by the way.

Most of the attacks are  are knocked out of the sky before they can get to  to the targets. And a good many of these missile and drone attacks have simply missed. Particularly, the ballistic missiles have just fallen harmlessly into the water without hitting a ship. So, that's one reason why I think that the numbers haven't been dramatic.

Number two, you named it. I think you're  you know, it's a  it's a fair point. I mean, a lot of merchant ships today don't have large crews. It's not like a Navy ship where you  you know, you'd have hundreds of sailors aboard a destroyer or thousands aboard an aircraft carrier. These large merchant ships, there's a lot of automation, and they simply don't have big crews. That's probably one reason as well.

And then they're also  they're very big ships. And so, even if one were to take a hit, like the one today, depending on where it is struck may have little to no impact or certainly a  not a significant impact on that ship's ability to continue to  to transit safely.

So, again, they're  they're very big ships. A lot of their freeboard  what we call the  the space between the water level and the top of the side of the ship, that's called freeboard  can be very, very high, depending on what  how much freight they're holding.

So, there's probably a lot of reasons for that. But let me  let me take it back and see if we can give you a better figure on the  on the data.

Q Okay. So, given what you just said, Kirby, and given the fears of escalation that the conflict will expand, can you explain why the retaliatory strikes are still worth it?

MR. KIRBY: Our retaliatory strikes or theirs?

Q The U.S.'s and our allies'. Essentially, if it's 

MR. KIRBY: Because 

Q  if their strikes aren't really having that much of an impact and they're not causing injuries and there is a concern that, you know, retaliatory strikes will widen the war, just, you know, why is it still 

MR. KIRBY: Because 

Q  worth it?

MR. KIRBY: Because we believe by taking away some of their capability, degrading that capability, which we think we did on Friday, can have an impact on  on the effectiveness of future strikes. By taking away  degrading some of their capability, certainly makes it harder for them to conduct these strikes.

And just because there hasn't been a catastrophically successful one yet, thanks to a lot of great work by the U.S. Navy and  and allied and partner navies, doesn't mean that  that we can just turn a blind eye and sit back and  and do nothing. We want these attacks to stop.

We warned the Houthis not to conduct them. They continued to conduct them. So, we took action on Friday night to  to  to more significantly degrade their capability to do that.

And as we've said before, Weijia, we  we  while we won't telegra-  telegraph future punches, we're  we're not going to  we're not going to hesitate to take further action if  if needed.

Q Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: Yes, ma'am.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in queue. Zeke Miller with AP, please go ahead.

Q Thanks for doing this. On Friday, the President said that he believed the Houthis were a terrorist organization. And I was wondering, John, can you give us an update on the  if there will be an FTO redesignation.

And then, separately, do you have anything on these reported Iranian strikes inside Pakistan? Does the U.S. believe that  that those increases the risk for a broader regional escalation? Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: Zeke, nothing to update you on the FTO designation. As I said earlier, we're still reviewing that process  or we're still in the process of reviewing it, no decisions made. So, no updates for you.

Are you  I'm not aware of Iranian strikes into Pakistan. Are you  are you talking about their strikes in the  in and near Erbil in Iraq?

Q Sorry. Yeah. It's  there's a report that Iran says that it launched attacks today into mili-  what it calls militant bases in Pakistan. I'm going to skip the pronunciation on it. It's Jaish al-Adl that  it follows the attacks, obviously, in  in Iraq and Syria.

MR. KIRBY: Okay. Gotcha. Let me get back to you on that one, Zeke. I was not tracking strikes into Pakistan today. But we'll  we owe you an answer. We'll get back to you.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in queue. Anita Powell with Voice of America, please go ahead.

Q Thank you so much, John. I hope you're keeping warm today. I have two Red Sea questions.

First of all, on this deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway Somali province of Somaliland. Does the White House see this as a threat to U.S. national security, especially in light of recent troubles in the Red Sea? And what can or will Washington do to calm the situation?

And then just going back to something you said about the Houthis, how we're not looking to expand this conflict. How do you square that with the mission of degrading their capabilities? I mean, how is that not expanding this conflict?

MR. KIRBY: Well, on  on the second question, I mean, by  by  it's  it's a very simple equation: By  by removing military capability from the Houthis, we are making it harder for them to conduct these attacks. These attacks have been escalatory. These attacks have been dangerous. These attacks have affected merchant shipping in the Red Sea, one of the most important international waterways around the world.

So, the very act of taking these strikes, knocking out their capability  in some cases before they could use it  that is, by definition, taking the tensions down. You're taking  you're taking the ability for them to conduct these attacks off the table.

And, again, we reserve the right to continue to do that as appropriate to prevent them from causing more mayhem and  and more danger to  to merchant ships and merchant sailors.

On Ethiopia and Somaliland, we're certainly troubled now by what reportedly included in a memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland. As we've said many, many times we support Somali's  Somalia's sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and it's got to be respected.

So, we're engaging with partners in the region. We certainly welcome efforts by the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, otherwise known as IGAD, to help lessen tens-  lessen the tensions.

What we're particularly concerned about is that this MOU recently now inked between Ethiopia and Somaliland threatens to disrupt the fight that Somalis, Africans, and regional international partners, including us, are waging against al-Shabaab. And al-Shabaab remains a viable terrorist threat in the region, without question.

So, look, the  we don't believe that the region can afford any more conflict. We don't think this MOU is moving this in the right direction. And we'll keep raising that, not only with partners there in the Horn of Africa but  but also elsewhere.

Q So, just to press you on. Is that a threat to U.S. national security, then, this  this possibility that Shabaab may  may rise?

MR. KIRBY: It certainly  it certainly could directly impact national security interests in the region, without question, because we  we hold al-Shabaab as a continued foreign terrorist organization, continued dangerous threat to our interests and the interests of our partners.

So, there  there could be a U.S. national security threat posed by the language in this MOU, which is why we're deeply concerned about it.

Q Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: Yep.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in the queue. Aurelia End with AFP, please go ahead.

Q Hi. Thanks so much for taking my question. I have two questions about Ukraine. The first one is a pretty simple one. Can you say that, as of now, there is no U.S. assistance anymore going to Ukraine, that it's de facto over? And second question: Can you give us a sense of the conversation Jake Sullivan had with President Zelenskyy in Davos? What were the concerns he raised, what was the message, et cetera? Thank you so much.

MR. KIRBY: On your first question, our last security assistance package was authorized on the 27th of December. Now, I would have to refer you to the Pentagon to talk to you about each of the items in that package and  and where they are in the shipment process. I don't know if every single thing in that package has actually arrived in Ukraine.

As you know, sometimes it takes as little as a few days. Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks or more for  for material to get to Ukraine.

But that was the last one. There isn't another one in the works right now or being scheduled for announcement or delivery. We meant it when we said it at the time, that that was the last one for which we had replenishment authority. And there's  there's not another one in the  in the  in the works right now.

And that is why it's so, so important for us to get this national security supplemental funding for Ukraine so that we can keep that aid going, as it's clear that the Russians continue to want to strike civilian infrastructure and continue to carry on the war inside Ukraine.

I  I don't have anything more on the specific discussion with President Zelenskyy. I think the State Department put out a readout of that discussion since it was Secretary Blinken who  who had that meeting with President Zelenskyy. Jake was  was certainly in attendance.

But they did talk about the importance of, you know, continuing the global assistance to support Ukraine and, of course, the  the  they also talked about what's going on on the battlefield, how Zelenskyy sees the  the effort.

And, as you know, he was also in Davos  Zelenskyy  talking about this peace formula of his. So, that  that too came up, the idea of  of trying to help operationalize and internationalize the  the peace formula that President Zelenskyy put forward.

But, again, I'd point you to the State Department readout for more.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in queue. Selina Wang with ABC News, please go ahead.

Q Thank you, Admiral. Just going back to the question on the strikes. Has the battle damage assessment of the first airstrikes been completed when it comes to the strikes last week against the Houthis? Just how much has the U.S. degraded the military capabilities, and what does it say about the degradation given that the retaliatory attacks from the Houthis have continued? Does it show that it only made a small dent in capacity?

MR. KIRBY: I'd refer you to the Pentagon to speak to the battle damage assessment, Selina. They're really the right ones to go to for that. And I don't know the final status of that.

As I said earlier, even before we conducted these strikes, we had every expectation that the Houthis would still maintain some capability and would probably retaliate in some form or fashion. The  the strikes were designed to degrade and disrupt their military activity: their ability to store, launch, and to guide these missiles to their targets, as well as the drones that they have launched against these targets.

We believe that we had good effects. But the specifics of the BDA  battle damage assessment  is really something for the  the Pentagon to speak to. But at no time, even that night, did we say that all of the Houthis' offensive capability were going to be eliminated by those strikes.

Again, the Houthis have a choice to make. We know they still have some capability. They have a choice to make about what they do with that capability. If they choose to keep conducting these attacks, we will continue to defend against them and counter them as appropriate, even as we did today, hitting four ballistic missiles on launchers before they could be sent  sent on  sent on their way.

Q Just to follow up on that. As the retaliation continues from the Houthis, just how far is the U.S. willing to go? And on a secondary topic, is there any update on the search for the U.S. Navy SEALs?

MR. KIRBY: Well, again, with the caveat that I'm not going to telegraph punches or speak about potential military operations, I would point you to that last sentence in the President's statement Friday night. We will not hesitate to take further actions to defend ourselves, our interests, those of our allies and partners, certainly not our ships and our sailors. So, as we've proven again today, we will not hesitate to take action as appropriate.

Again, the Houthis have a choice here to make, and the right choice is to stop these attacks.

I don't have an update for you on the  the search efforts for those  those two Navy sailors that are in the water. As I understand it this morning  and I did check in with the Pentagon on this  that search is ongoing. But what that looks like, how much longer, I  I  really, that's a question better put to the  to the Defense Department.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those two sailors and their families, who are waiting anxiously for word. And obviously, we'll  we'll monitor as closely as we can.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our last question.

M.J. Lee with CNN, please go ahead.

Q Hey, Admiral. Thank you. Just given that Hamas has released these new hostage videos, which you referenced before, and the IDF is continuing to attempt hostage rescue operations, I wondered whether the U.S. has received any new intelligence on the six American hostages in recent days and, at this point, whether the U.S. believes that they are alive.

MR. KIRBY: Thanks, M.J. I  I don't know of any additional tactile information that we have received about those six Americans that we still believe are being held hostage. We're obviously working and continue to work very hard to get them released. But I'm not aware of any additional information that we have. And  and I think you can understand that  that even if I  I did have additional context to provide, we'd o-  we'd obviously be very careful about what we shared publicly as we're trying to get those folks home to their families.

I  I just  your  your question does give me a good punctuation point before I sign off today, and that's that, just as I mentioned at the top, with Brett being in the region just last week in Doha, we continue to work this very, very hard.

I  I know it doesn't always rise to the  to the level of the headlines of the day. And  and we don't talk about it a lot, nor should we. But I don't want to leave anybody with the impression that we aren't working this very, very hard to try to get those folks home with their family  all of them  all the hostages, but with a particular key focus for us on those  on those half a dozen Americans that we believe are still being held.

Thanks.

Q Sorry, before you go, can I just ask one more follow-up? I know you've gotten a couple of questions about the situation in the Red Sea, but I wondered whether the administration, at this point, would still, sort of, characterize the phase that we are in now as the administration wanting to contain the conflict in the region. Or rather, would you say that the conflict in the region has now officially widened? I mean, given that there  there have now been additional U.S. strikes, additional Houthi attacks, so this does seem like now a prolonged conflict.

MR. KIRBY: Well, the  let's  let's  I mean, I think it's important to  to categorize what's happening here.

First of all, the strike that we took Friday, no matter what the Houthis might say, has nothing to do with the fight in Gaza. It has to do with defending shipping in the Red Sea, no matter what the Houthis say. They're not going after ships that are tied to Israel. You know, they hit  just the other day, they hit a ship carrying Russian oil. It was Panamanian flag, nothing to do with Israel.

So, I  I don't  I think we need to not buy into the Houthi propaganda. That's one.

We still have an interest in not seeing this conflict widen or escalate. In fact, that's why we took those strikes on Friday to degrade Houthi capability so that it  so that it can't widen and escalate. We still have that interest. We're still working to that end, even as we work to continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself.

OPERATOR: All right. I would like to hand this back over to Karine. But before I do, if you would like to ask a question, please press "#2" to be placed in the question queue. If your question is answered before your turn, pressing "#2" a second time will take you out of the queue.

Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Fantastic. Thank you so much. And, Admiral, thank you for your time. Appreciate you being on the call with us today.

And also, guys, I  I know this is not the best, but we wanted to make sure folks didn't have to come in today with this weather. And hopefully, folks are  are safe at home  or, wherever you are, being safe today with this weather.

I do want to start off by going to Justin's question that he asked of me  and I just wanted to make sure I did that  as it relates to the meeting that the President is having tomorrow here at the White House with congressional ranking members and leaders to talk about the very important supplemental request that this president made, as you know, a couple  couple months ago, at this point.

Look, that supplemental request is obviously  continues to be a top priority, including  right?  to secure our border, including to  to help Ukraine defend itself against Putin's ty-  tyranny, as we all know, as we  you all have covered for almost two years now.

And I will say that while the President is having this really important meeting tomorrow, negotiations on a bipartisan agreement on the border  as it includes funding and policy  are still ongoing. So, that is  we believe is headed in the right direction, the right track. And so  and we're going to continue to say  right?  Congress should act. They should act quickly. You know, this is about securing our border. This is about our national security. And the consequences of congressional inaction would be severe.

So, the President, yes, is going to have this all-important conversation, he believes, on the supplemental requests.

Obviously, as it relates to our national security, the negotiations continue. And so, that is also really important. A bipartisan agreement is needed, and  and so, we're doing those negotiation on the Senate level, as you  as you all know.

I think I'm just going to go to AP.

I don't know if that's Zeke or somebody else.

Q Thanks, Karine. It's Zeke. I was hoping  you just called the meeting tomorrow an "all-important meeting." (Inaudible) to why tomorrow? You know, obv-  you know, it's January 16th. Why hasn't the President asked the congressional leaders and the community leaders over to the White House sooner?

Secondly, is the meeting focused on negotiations  to piggyback off of Justin's question  or is it about the stakes should this funding not be approved? You know, will it be a classified meeting or will it be, you know, in the Sit Room or will it be in the Oval? Any color you can offer.

And then on a different topic 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q  entirely, I was hoping you could address the situation in Texas over the weekend. And that  right now, do you do you believe  or does the federal government control the southern border or does the state of Texas?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Both very, very good questions. Look, to  as it relates to what the meeting is going to look like, where it's going to be, we're going to have more information about the meeting tomorrow later today. So, just stay tuned. Don't have the specifics on that.

And, look, as I said at the top, this is going to be about discussing criti-  critical importance of  of the President's national security supplemental request, and so it is going to be about the supplemental request.

And I'll just say this. Look, I've said a couple of times at the briefing room and to all of you how the President's team, obviously the Office of Leg Affairs, and other members of his White House team have been in direct contact and communi-  regular communications with members of Congress and their staff.

And the President has had conversations with congressional members. As you know, we don't read out every  every call or every meeting that he has. He's had a very longstanding relationship with many members on the Hill as VP, as senator, obviously.

So, yeah, there's  he's had conversations with them. I think he wanted to bring folks together because  yeah, we talk about the supplemental. They're urgency requests  the national security requests are urgent. And so, the President wanted to bring everybody together to have that conversation.

But negotiations are still happening. The border security negotiations are still happening. And the President certainly has entrusted his team to have those conversations, as he's done many, many times before. So, we'll certainly have more to share about tomorrow, about what that's going to look like.

Look, as it relates to  to Texas, let me just say a couple of things at the top, because I think it's important. And you all have heard me say this about what Governor Abbott continues to do. All of his  you know, what he's doing at the border, his policies, how he's getting involved, it's extreme  right?  it's extreme political stunts.

And I've said this over and over again, we have said this: It demonizes and dehumanizes people, and  but it also makes the job of the Border Patrol harder. And it also is  it's more dangerous. That's what we're seeing.

And there's been multiple actions that this governor has taken, right? Blocking Border Patrol from accessing the border, that's a problem. When he's  when he's ac-  when he's blocking them and putting Texas officials, then he's taking away the duties of what the Border Patrol are supposed to do.

And so, it is a problem. Leaving migrants on the side of the road during winter  you've heard me say that; installing razor wire to make Border Patrol's job more dangerous; promoting extreme and unconstitutional laws, like SB4.

So, he could  he continues to prove that he's not interested  he's not really interested in solutions, only seeking to politicize the border.

So, you know, to answer your question, Zeke, look, right now, Texas  the Texas officials are preventing Border Patrol agents from doing their job in that particular area by the border. So, that is a problem. That is a problem.

Just waiting for the next question then.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in queue. Steve Holland with Reuters, please go ahead.

Q Hey there, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey, Steve. Hey, hey.

Q The President  the  hey, hey. The President told us on the South Lawn on Friday that he was in favor of significant alterations on the border. Could you fill out that out? What is he talking about there? And  and are they going to get into this level of detail in their talks tomorrow?

And then I just had a second thing. Did the President watch any of the Iowa coverage last night? Did he make any observations about it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. So, a couple of things. I'll start with your first question first. Look, you know, the President has  had said and we've been saying that we need a bipartisan agreement. Right? We need a bipartisan agreement to deal with what's happening at the border.

There's been detailed, specific conversation happening in the Senate with both Republicans and Democrats for the past several weeks through the holiday, obviously, and that continues. We think they're going in the right direction.

And those  those conversations are focused on funding and also on policy.

Yes, the President believes that we're going to have  to really  in order to have a bipartisan agreement, you have to make, you know, changes. I'm not going to get into what those changes are, how severe or specific or however  however we what to  we want to describe it are at this time.

But those conversations are happening. We believe it's going well. And we want to see a bipartisan agreement.

Look, we understand, the President understands that this  this  what we see at the border, the immigration system more broadly, has been broken for decades  for decades. That's why he took it very seriously on day one with the legislation that he put forward.

Now we have to have serious conversations, which we have been, with both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate to see what we can do to  to address this  the issue at the border.

And so, tomorrow, I'm  I'm not going to get ahead of  of the meeting. I don't really know how specific it's going to get. I can tell you the  on the agenda is to talk about the President's supplemental  the national security portion, obviously, of the supplemental, and how important it is to get moving on that.

But, no, I'm not going to get into details or specifics of  of what  how  how granular they're going to get at all in that meeting. But it is going to be important. And we'll have more for all of you to share on that.

As it relates to the caucuses  the Iowa caucus, I want to be really careful, as all you know, is that I'm a federal employee  employee, obviously. So, I'm not going to comment on the upcoming election  2024 election.

What I can say  I know folks had this question. You know, the President was here last night at the White House. As it relates to if he's seen it or not, of course, I'm sure he's  he's seen the coverage of the Iowa caucus. I don't have anything specific to share on that.

And I  I also want to lift this up too. Yesterday, you saw the President  some of you traveled with us. We were in Philly. We went to Philabundance.

And I think it's important to  to lay out what's  what's important to this President. Right? He went to a not-for-profit food bank that serves the Philly  the Philadelphia and also the Delaware Valley regions of Pennsylvania  and the work that they do to drive hunger  to drive hunger from our community  right?  to get  to get that out. We're talking about food insecurity today and to end  end hunger for  for good.

So, look, he distributed food. You all saw that. That was really important. That was his main focus for tomorrow  for today  pardon me  for yesterday.

And he's going to continue to focus on the American people. That's what he's going to do. He's going to continue to focus on others  to helping hardworking, middle-class families build an economy from the bottom up and  from the bottom up, middle out. That's what he's going to do: protecting Americans' freedom; bringing the country together around, you know, optimism, vision for  for the future.

So, that's going to be the President's focus.

And I will go to the next questioner.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in queue. M.J. Lee with CNN, please go ahead.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey, M.J.

Q Hey, Karine. Just on the Iowa caucuses last night. What, if anything  I know that you're not going to get into details, but just, generally speaking, what, if anything, did the President make of the results that showed that the majority of caucus-goers said they don't believe that his win in 2020 was legitimate? And if you can't speak to the President's reaction to that, can you speak to the reaction to that from, I mean, yourself or other White House officials?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, again  so, here's  here's what I'll say, because we've talked about this before from the briefing room, so it's not  this is something that deals with 2020, so I can  I can actually speak to this.

Look, you know, the President is going to continue to stand against conspiracy theories, right? And we know what  what you just laid out to me about how people feel has been debunked  right?  it has been debunked by federal judges, who are  who are Republican judges. Other  other officials have debunked that.

You know, we had a very fa-  free and fair election. That's what we know. That is a fact. And, you know  and it's important to state that. It's important to  to be clear  very, very clear about that.

Look, I can say this. You know, I can say that the President, you know, is going to  as  as it relates to how he's moving forward, not focused on the 2024 election, he's going to continue to stand against dangerous personal revenge schemes and conspiracy theories that have cost  let's not forget, these dangerous conspiracy theories have cost law enforcement officers their lives. You know, and it is  that is what we saw on January 6th in 2021.

It was an attack on our democracy. And it was because people believed  the insurrectionists, the mob  more than 2,000 people who showed up at  at the  at the Capitol believed  believed the conspiracy theories that they were told about this election, and it cost officers their lives. And that is incredibly dangerous.

Our democracy was under attack. Again, a very scary moment in our history, a dark time in our history. You heard the President talk about this very recently when he was in Valley Forge.

And so, look, we have to speak out about that. We have to be very clear  clear  clear  clear-spoken about those types of conspiracy theories. We have to speak against them. And so, I'll just leave it there.

OPERATOR: Moving on to our next question in queue. Annie Linskey with Wall Street Journal, please go ahead.

Q Hi there.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hi, Annie.

Q Oh, hi. Hi there, Karine. I wanted to ask about the news over the weekend that John Kerry is departing his post. Can you tell me whether or not the President plans on  on replacing him and, you know, what you believe he accomplished in that role and then anything about  anything more about why the President agreed for him to leave now at this particular moment?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, a couple of things, because I've gotten to know the Special Envoy Kerry and Secre-  obviously, former Secretary of State Kerry. And I know that  I know the President appreciated everything that he was able to do in the past three years.

So, just  I can just put it on the record. I can confirm that, in the upcoming months  month that Special Envoy Kerry will leave the administration, as I just stated, after three years of service.

And let's just  just to talk about his tenure for a second. You know, he was able to deliver  with the leadership, obviously, of this President  the most ambitious climate agenda in history  when you think about restoring America's leadership on climate around the world, implementing the largest investment in climate ever, putting us on track to cut emissions in half by 2030.

I can't speak to  I know folks have  have been wondering what the  what Secretary Kerry is going to do next. I certainly can't speak to that. But certainly we'll  we'll be sure to keep you posted.

Look, you know, as far who's going to  to be next, I certainly don't have any personnel announcement to make at this time. But our work, the work that he started, the work is going to continue. The work to address the climate crisis will continue.

Let's not forget what we're able to do just last month. We announced a rule that  that's going to cut methane emissions from oil and gas operations by nearly 80 percent, I believe. And that's a huge announcement. That's incredibly important.

But the President is incredibly thankful to  to Secretary Kerry. It is his personal decision to leave. So, certainly going  not going to speak to that. But, look, we got a lot done. He got a lot done in the three years. The President  when it comes to climate change, the President has had the most aggressive agenda than any other president before  before him on getting things done and getting to a place where we're dealing with the climate.

Thanks  thanks for your question, Annie.

Q Thanks.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in the queue. Selina Wang with ABC News, please go ahead.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey, Selina.

Q Hey, Karine. Thanks for doing this. I know you can't speak too much about it, but is there anything else you can say about the President's view about Trump's resounding win in Iowa? He was asked yesterday about why he felt compelled to seek a second term, and he said, quote, the things that Trump is saying, "he means them," "he's running to get revenge." Just wondering if you can elaborate on what the President's thoughts are.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look  and you  I think you're speaking to the interview that the President did on  on  yesterday, obviously, on Dr. Martin Luther King Day with Reverend Al Sharpton. He called in to his radio show. And I know it's been previewed on one of the cable networks, what the President said.

And so, the President, you know, appreciated that conversation. Had a really, I think, thoughtful conversation about what he's thinking moving forward. Obviously, I can't get into specifics on  on that. But I would certainly  I would, you know, refer folks to what the President laid out as it relates to why he's running and why he's de-  you know, he's decided to run and how he  he views this next several months.

So, I'm not going to get into that. His  he  you could  you could hear it for yourself in his own words.

But, look, I'll say this. And I kind of said this before  right?  which is what the President is going to stand against. He's going to stand against dangerous personal revenge schemes. Right? The President is going to stand against conspiracy theories. Right? The President is going to continue to fight for the freedoms of Americans across this country.

We see what they're trying to do  what Republican-elected officials are trying to do as it relates to abortion bans and how dangerous that is to women and  and their health.

And the President  in the meantime, the President is going to continue to  to lead with the  with the  obviously, with leadership and putting American people first and bringing people together in a way that benefits everyone. That is what the President is going to continue to do.

And not putting  putting yourself first or putting yourself above every  every  everyone else or fomenting hate or selling out working people to rich special interests or taking away freedoms, as I just laid out, that's not what the President is going to do.

He's going to be completely the opposite of that, as he's been doing for the last almost three years. And that's the President's goal.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in queue. Joey Garrison with USA Today, please go ahead.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey, Joey. Go ahead, Joey.

Q Hey, Karine. Doing well. How about yourself?

Has President Biden spoken to Secretary Austin since his release from the hospital yesterday? And are there any plans for the two to meet in person now that he is out of the hospital? Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, good question. Thank you for the question. Look, we're happy to hear of his discharge, obviously. Look, the President is looking forward  and I said this last week; we said this last week  to the Secretary getting back to the Pentagon, obviously.

And  and so, don't have anything to share on  on when  when they're going to either see each other or speak. Obviously, they spoke last week. The  the Secretary was very much  has very much been engaged and involved in what we're seeing in the Middle East right now.

And more broadly, on his schedule  on the Secretary's schedule, that's something that the Pentagon can speak to. Can't speak  can't speak to that from here.

But obviously, we are  we are very happy to see that  to hear of his discharge and  and looking back  and looking forward to him to get  getting back to the Pentagon.

Q Thanks.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in queue. Tommy Christopher with Meditate [Mediaite], please go ahead.

Q Yeah. Hey, Karine. It's Tommy. How you doing?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey, Tommy. Good to hear your voice. How are you?

Q Good, good. By the way, I know you know this, but it's "Mediaite." We get that a lot, though  "Meditate." So 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Inaudible.)

Q  good to talk to you, and good to be staying warm too. So, I  I was wondering if you could tell me what you make of  of how much former President Trump leaned into this lie that January 6th was justified while he was campaigning in Iowa and, like, demanding the release of the, quote, unquote, "hostages." And what would you say to right-wing media that  that sort of helped him in that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. Look, I want to be  always want to be very, very careful on speaking about candidate Trump, especially in the  the upcoming 2024 election.

What I'll say more broadly about the January 6th comments  look, you know, it  you know, it's  it's basically what the President said in Valley Forge. Right? The President said this over and over again about January 6th and how dangerous it was  right?  and how  how we had to  we had to watch, you know, an insurrec-  an insurrection, essentially  2,000 angry mob  because they believed what the former President said and thought that they can turn over an election. This is what they were doing. That's what they were doing at the Capitol on that day.

And so, I've been  I said this a couple of times. You know, I've said that the President has been very clear: He's going to stand against these types of conspiracy theories.

Let's not forget, officers died. Right? Police officers died on that  because of the injuries that they sustained on that day. They were attacked on that day by these  by these  by these folks who  who were trying to take over the Capitol.

And so, we have to be very clear about what happened on that day. We cannot forget about what happened on that day. And the President said this: Our democracy  we have to continue our democracy.

And I'll just repeat a little bit of what he said in his remarks  right?  there is a choice to be made. There is a choice that we have to make  right?  in  in our country. We have to make a choice, and that choice should be standing  standing up for our democracy, which is what the President is going to continue  continue to do.

As far as this comment on hostages, you know, want to  want to be really careful there as well  as well. Don't want to comment on  on any DOJ investigation or legal process.

But as you've  you've seen American veterans note, it's  it's grotesque and offensive. It is offensive to c-  to compare those convicted of assaulting cops and attempting to overthrow the American government that veterans have died  have died defending to  for  innocent Americans  for  to  you know, innocent Americans that  in Israel  Israelis and people of other nationalities who were abducted. Right? They were abducted by Hamas on October 7th.

And so, it is  you know, I'll just keep it there. It is  it is something that  again, I want to be mindful to speaking to, but that is  it is incredibly grotesque and offensive.

Q And anything for right-wing media 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, say that 

Q  who shall remain nameless.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Laughs.) Look, it is our responsibility  and I know you all know this  as it relates to reporting and, you know, to  to  I don't know, like 

Okay. Separate from  from the election  right?  if you think about what we saw on January 7th, 2021, on the front page  right?  the front-page coverage that so many brave reporters  right?  if you think about it  risked their lives to give  to give the country the information that they needed. And that hard-won coverage exposed the brutal, unprecedented assault on our Constitution, on the law enforcement, on American democracy itself.

And so, I think it's really important that, you know, we  we  we lift up what these brave journalists and reporters are doing. And it is  I would say this: It is an insult to those who lost their lives and to, you know, the selfless reporters who put everything on the line to show us the true stakes of that moment and who are  tirelessly investigated afterward to help anyone  anyone who were putting out grotesque lies about the attack on the Capitol.

And so, I'll say that and  and just kind of lift up the work of reporters who literally risked their lives on that day to make sure the American people had the truth.

Q Thank you, Karine. We should do this again sometime. (Laughs.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Definitely. Thanks, Tommy.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in queue. Lynn Sweet with Chicago Sun-Times, please go ahead.

Q Right. Hi, Karine. Thank you for doing this. Bear with me, as my question is narrow in scope because you've talked about some of the broader issues with the situation on the Texas border. Governor Pritzker of Illinois and Chicago Mayor Johnson are pleading with the federal government for more interior coordination at the border. Governor Abbott  dealing with the migrants, who Governor Abbott wants out of Texas.

So, (inaudible)in this question that he is going to continue to send migrants out of Texas. So, my question is: Why can't the federal  or why isn't there more federal action regarding interior coordination among where the migrants go at the border? Because right now, it's not left to the federal government; it's left up to Governor Abbott to send migrants to the cities, and they're to the cities of his choosing. Why does Abbott 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q  and not the federal government get to decide?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, let me just say a couple of things. What Governor Abbott is doing  and I said this earlier when I was asked this question, I believe, by Zeke from the AP  that what he's doing are  is a political stunt. And it's  all it's doing is not  it's not making communities safer, for certain. And it's also dem-  it's demonizing and certainly dehumanizing people. And we've called that out. We've been calling that out what his actions are doing.

And  and, as you know, we  I talked  I was asked earlier about the  unfortunately, the three migrants that died  that drowned recently. And so, it is unfortunate that we're seeing that.

And that's also  I mean, there's so many  there's so many parts of this question. That's also why you're seeing a bipartisan conversation happening in the Senate. It's been happening for some time with Republicans and Democrats. We think it's heading in a di-  right direction. We believe we need a bipartisan agreement to deal with the policy components, and also the funding components, obviously, of  of immigration. That's been broken for some time  for decades now.

So, that  those are actions that the President has taken, obviously, with his team to get something done, to get border security, you know, changes or  or deal, I should say, done. And so, that's really important.

As it relates to the cities, look, a couple of things that I can say that  that I can say there is last year, in 2023, this administration, in collaboration with the states and cities just across the country  what they were able to do is launch a one-stop  one-stop shop clinics so that they can help eligible noncitizens get work permits and decompress the respective shelter systems, which is incredibly important. And that's what, you know, you all have been reporting  some of you have reporting about  around. And to date, these clinics have served more than 10,000 people.

And in addition to that, our administration  the President's administration was able to provide more than $1 billion in grant funding for jurisdictions who are hosting these  these migrants that are  that are arriving.

So, obviously  obviously, we want to do more. We do want to do more. But it requires Congress to give us the additional funding, which is why we're having this conversation, which is why we're doing the  this bipartisan conversation, as it relates, certainly, to the supplemental. That's why the President is going to certainly meet with congressional members tomorrow to continue those conversations.

So, we want to  we want to continue to collaborate with these cities and states, obviously, across the country. But, you know, we have to have  we have to have Congress act as well.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in queue. Weijia Jiang with CBS News, please go ahead.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey, Weijia.

Q Thank you. Hi, Karine. Hi.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hi, hi.

Q Thank you for doing this. I just had a quick question on Eagle Pass, because what we've heard so far as possible recourse from the administration has all been legal in nature. And I just wonder, is there anything else you can do to gain access to the border? Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No  no, it's a good question. And I appreciate all these questions, but there's  about the border in particular, because they're very important. Look, the Border Patrol, they have to have access to the border. They have to in order to enforce our laws. And  and DHS has sent Texas a cease and des-  and desist letter regarding their clearly, clearly unconstitutional actions.

And here's the thing. If  if Texas does not stop blocking what Border Patrol agents should be doing  right?  which is enforcing the laws  but if they don't stop blocking their access, we're going to refer the matter to Department of Justice for appropriate action.

But obviously, DHS has taken action. They asked for a cease and desist in their letter. And we  Border Patrol agents need to have access in order to enforce the law. That's what they need. They need the governor of Texas to stop playing political games and to stop doing these political stunts. It is putting people's lives at risk. And that is  and that is what we're seeing.

Q So, I hear you. But given the fact that people's lives are at risk, you know, to go to DOJ, the Supreme Court  these things take time to play out. So, I'm wondering if there's anything immediate that the counterpart to the Texas National Guard, which is blocking the border, is there anything you can do at the border physically to gain access? Or is the only thing you can do is let's  let it play out in the justice system?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. I mean 

Q (Inaudible.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I wouldn't say we're just  yeah, look, here's  and that's the problem, Weijia, right? It's like  it is unfortunate that you have a governor, Governor Abbott, that's watching this happen  right?  that's watching people be put in harm's way  law enforcement also be put into harm's way, because it is  it does make a situation dangerous for the Border Patrol agents and dangerous for the migrants, obviously.

And allowing this to happen  like, that is actually a question for Governor Abbott. He is  he is  he is doing these political stunts, and it is causing harm. It is not fixing the problem. The Border Patrol agents are not allowed  are not able to  to really, you know, move forward with enforcing our laws.

I mean, this is what a elected official is doing. And so, you know, I get the question to us. We are going to take legal  you know, we're ta-  we have taken legal action. That is the process. That's the way that we have to move forward.

And we also have to call it out. That's  when you all ask me questions about it or you ask any  any members of the administration about this, we say very loud and clear: These are political stunts. They are dangerous. They dehumanize people. They  they demonize people. They put people's lives in danger  in danger  not  not just the migrants but also the Border Patrol agents. It's a problem.

And so, we have to continue to call it out. I mean, you guys help  you know, help  are helpful in that way in calling this out. And so, we're going to continue to do that.

OPERATOR: All right. Moving on to our next question in queue, and this will be our last question. Kelly O'Donnell with NBC, please go ahead.

Q Oh, to be last. I have been waiting patiently, so I'm so glad to get 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Laughs.)

Q Love this in-queue process.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Last but not the least.

Q Yes, yes. So, many questions have been asked. So, I'm just going to tick off two couple of quick things.

Can you give us a sense of your reaction and any White House changes in position or posture related to the swatting incident that happened on Monday, recognizing that there are a lot of ways in which you have response built into the campus here, but in the larger sense of how the White House could now be drawn into this new technique?

And, secondly, when Joey asked about Secretary Austin and you referenced them speaking, you know, a week or so ago, what's the typical cadence for the President and the SecDef to  to speak on the phone, given all the areas of their obvious, you know, priorities on national security matters of late? Thanks so much.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, thank you so much, Kelly O. Two  two important questions.

Look, as it relates to the swatting, I would have to refer you to Secret Service and D.C. Fire, which responded, ob-  as you know, to  to the incident. Can't say more from here.

Look, the President and the  and the Secretary speak often, speak regularly. I don't have a regular cadence to speak to. Obviously, he's the Secretary of Defense, so that is the  they do  they do speak regularly. I just don't have a particular, as I said, cadence to speak to on how  how regularly that happens.

And I  I would also say that, you know, from  from senior levels of the  of the Department of Defense and also at the NSC and, obviously, at the State Department, there's  they are in constant communication with their counterparts or the folks that they deal with on a regular basis.

And so, as  as it relates to the President, they do speak regularly. I just don't have the specifics on  on the  on how often.

Q And briefly on the swatting. Not the specifics of what happened yesterday, but could you speak to the larger issue that this technique of  whether it's harassment or a prank or whatever it might be that has popped up and has affected now the White House but, in addition, members of the judicial branch, other types of officials? Do you have a broader sense of how this is now creating a risk or a danger in our society?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, look, I think what you just stated is  is correct, right? It is creating a danger and a risk to our society. There are things that we're going to monitor. This is something, obviously, the Secret Service is going to monitor very closely as it relates to us specifically at the White House or this administration.

And so, I'm just going to be really mindful and leave it there. But how you stated the question is  is tr-  is obviously a concern to us.

All right, everybody. I think that's it 

(Cross-talk.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, go ahead. Oh 

I don't know what just happened. I think  if you guys can still hear me, thank you so much for your time. And we will see you all tomorrow in the briefing room.

All right. Be safe. Bye.

2:51 P.M. EST

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Russo-Ukraine War - 16 January 2024 - Day 691

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A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that over the last week, neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces have taken any significant ground. Despite progress in late December 2023 in capturing Marinka, Russia has been unable to capitalise and advance either westwards towards Kurakhove or south towards Novomykhalivka.

The encirclement of Avdiivka likely remains Russia's key line of effort; however, to date Russia has made very limited territorial gains at a significant cost in both materiel and personnel. The northern town Stepove remains under Ukrainian control which secures access to the Avdiivka supply route. Russian attempts to isolate the town are unlikely for at least the next week.

Ukrainian marines continue to maintain their bridgehead at Krynky on the eastern bank of the Dnipro, despite Russian attempts to dislodge them. They will highly likely continue to contest this territory for the next week.



The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 16, there were 85x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 2x missile and 13x air strikes, carried out 32x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian injuries. Private residential and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Around 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Hrem'yachka, Mykhal'chyna Sloboda (Chernihiv oblast), Sosnivka, Atyns'ke, Volfyne, Stepok (Sumy oblast), Udy, Vovchans'k, Okhrimivka, Zemlyanky (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: the adversary conducted no offensives. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x assaults near Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast), and 15x more attacks near Makiivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), and north of Hryhorivka, Vesele (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Hryhorivka, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 6x attacks in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Andriivka and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x Russian attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 15x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian occupiers, with air support, made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Keramik, Berdychi, Stepove, Lastochkyne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian adversary, with air support, made 16x failed attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike near the settlement of Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka, Katerynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Vodyane (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Prechystivka, Blahodatne, Staromaiors'ke, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast).

Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x assault west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In that area Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain lost ground. Around 25x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Chervone, Bilohir'ya, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson, the vicinities of Antonivka, Dniprovs'ke, Tyahynka (Kherson oblast).

The Russian occupiers do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Thus, during the day, Russian forces made 6x unsuccessful assaults.

During the day of January 16, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 1x concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment. Also, Ukrainian air defense troops shot down 1x Kh-59 air-launched guided missile.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x command post, 1x ammunition depot of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled six attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 95th Air Assault Brigade close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region). The enemy losses amounted to up to 160 troops, three tanks (two of them - Leopards), and two pickup trucks.

In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces, supported by artillery fire, repelled four attacks launched by assault groups of the 63rd mechanised and 25th air assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses amounted to up to 250 troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, and six motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces, supported by artillery, repelled five attacks launched by assault groups of the 10th mountain assault and 24th mechanised brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces close to Veseloye and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, artillery and heavy flamethrowers hit the enemy's manpower and military hardware near Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 280 troops, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles. During the counter-battery warfare, the following were hit: one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, as well as one D-20 gun.

In South-Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces in cooperation with artillery and heavy flamethrowers, inflicted fire damage on the 72nd mechanised and 79th air assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Vladimirovka and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy's losses amounted to 120 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and one MT-12 anti-tank gun.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery defeated clusters of manpower and military hardware of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade and the 116th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Verbovoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). The AFU lost up to 115 troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and two D-30 guns.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the Russian Group of Forces actions and artillery, the AFU losses amounted to up to 65 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles. Moreover, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one M-109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and three Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems were neutralised in counter-battery warfare.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 112 areas during the day.

Air defence systems have shot down 69 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles during the day, including close to Novaya Mayachka, Golaya Pristann (Kherson region), Pologi (Zaporozhye region), Staromikhailovka, Peski, Spornoye, Maryinka, Lipovoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Belogorovka, Nyrkovo, Topolevka, Verkhnekamenka, and Krivosheyevka (Lugansk People's Republic), as well as 13 HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,758 unmanned aerial vehicles, 450 air defence missile systems, 14,645 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,202 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,750 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,507 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Taiwan makes public Medigen COVID-19 vaccine contract

ROC Central News Agency

01/16/2024 07:47 PM

Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday published the contract it used to purchase the COVID-19 vaccine made by Taiwan-based Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp. in 2021, in an effort to put an end to ongoing accusations that the deal lacked transparency.

The 58-page document was made public after Medigen's board of directors passed a resolution authorizing the government to do so, CDC Director General Chuang Jen-hsiang (eZSac) said at an afternoon press conference.

Chuang said the contract showed that the purchase was carried out according to the law and international norms, and that its stipulated confidentiality period was 5 years -- not the 30 years that some critics claimed in the run-up to Taiwan's Jan. 13 presidential and legislative elections.

Even before its publication, the contract had already been reviewed by the Control Yuan, the National Audit Office, and the Legislature, none of which found evidence of any illegal behavior, Chuang said.

Under the May 2021 contract, Taiwan purchased 5 million doses of the Medigen vaccine, of which 200,000 were donations for the government's help in funding the vaccine's development.

The vaccine was purchased at a price of NT$881 (US$27.9) per dose in single-dose vials, and NT$810 per dose in multi-dose vials, the CDC said.

The vaccine was ultimately rolled out in August 2021, but never really caught on. Of the 5 million doses supplied, 68 percent were used, while the remaining 1.6 million expired and were destroyed, with the government saying Medigen's role had concluded.

In testimony at the Legislature last week, Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (ecza) said Taiwan's COVID-19 vaccine contracts with Medigen and Astra-Zeneca both have a five-year confidentiality period, while its contracts with Novavax and BioNTech have confidentiality periods of seven and 10 years, respectively.

Moderna, however, required that its vaccine contract with Taiwan remain confidential indefinitely, according to Hsueh.

(By Chen Chieh-ling, Shen Pei-yao and Matthew Mazzetta)

Enditem/AW



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Bangladesh to administer 250 mln COVID-19 vaccine shots in 2 years

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:04, January 17, 2024

DHAKA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government has planned to administer 250 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by next year, a senior official said here Tuesday.

Jahangir Alam, secretary of Bangladesh's Health Services Division, told journalists that half of these vaccine shots will be administered as a fourth dose this year, and the rest will be administered in 2025.

According to the official, the fresh vaccination drive will prioritize frontline workers and individuals with health vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, he said the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation has assured the Bangladeshi government of providing the required number of vaccine doses starting from April this year.

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Making missiles and increasing capability

16 January 2024

Defence has signed a $37.4 million contract with Lockheed Martin Australia to start manufacturing guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS) missiles from 2025.

Under the contract, an initial batch of GMLRS missiles will be manufactured in Australia, an important first step towards establishing domestic missile manufacturing on a larger scale.

It will also facilitate the transfer of technical data from the United States, establish processes for engineering certification and begin to build the technical skills of an Australian workforce.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said this contract was an example of the Government delivering key outcomes of the Defence Strategic Review.

"These are important milestones that will see Australia gain the technology we need to establish a sovereign industry, providing opportunities for a highly skilled workforce," he said.

The Government will also acquire precision strike missiles (PrSM), which can engage targets out to 500km. PrSM and GMLRS missiles can be fired from HIMARS (high mobility artillery rocket system) launchers.

Acting Defence Minister and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said this step would strengthen the ADF's ability to protect Australia and its interests.

"This announcement delivers on the Albanese Government's commitment to reprioritise Defence capabilities in line with the Defence Strategic Review, including developing the ADF's ability to precisely strike targets at longer range," he said.

These activities are part of the $4.1 billion investment that will enable Defence to acquire more long-range strike systems and manufacture longer-range munitions in Australia.

"This work is a clear demonstration of the ongoing collaboration between Australia and the United States on Australia's Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise, a key outcome of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations in July 2023," Mr Conroy said.

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Switzerland and China renew high-level contacts and deepen relations in the run-up to 75th anniversary

Swiss Government

Bern, 15.01.2024 -- On Monday, 15 January, a Federal Council delegation led by President Viola Amherd received a Chinese delegation led by Premier Li Qiang at the Lohn Estate for an official visit to Switzerland. This was the first such high-level meeting since the pandemic. The delegations discussed the deep and wide-ranging bilateral relations characterised by dialogue on around 30 issues, as well as a range of current international affairs.

Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), also attended the talks on behalf of the Swiss government. The Chinese delegation included MofCom Vice Minister Wang Shouwen, the governor of the People's Bank of China Pan Gongsheng and high-ranking representatives from several other ministries, including Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu. Both sides welcomed the fact that contacts are once again taking place at the highest level in the year leading up to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and China. They agreed that a common goal for 2024 is to continue bilateral dialogue and further deepen the 'innovative strategic partnership' agreed in 2016.

One of the topics discussed on Monday was the dialogue between the foreign ministries, which is to be resumed this year. Among other things the dialogue will cover development cooperation, mediation and human rights. Bilateral dialogues are expected to take place on a range of further topics such as science, migration, labour and employment, intellectual property, health and the environment. Dialogue will also be resumed in the area of economic and financial matters following the pandemic-related interruption. A further topic of discussion was whether Switzerland would be included on the list of countries whose residents benefit from visa-free entry to China for stays of up to 15 days.

Following the discussions at the Lohn Estate, a joint declaration was signed with reference in particular to the finalisation of a joint study launched in 2017 on the further development of the free trade agreement between Switzerland and China. This marks an important step towards the start of possible negotiations.

Broad range of topics

The Sino-European Cyber Dialogue, in which Switzerland is involved, was also a topic of discussion. The Swiss delegation emphasised the importance of multilateral cooperation with China and other international partners in order to promote stability and security in cyberspace. Switzerland also attaches great importance to respect for fundamental freedoms in the digital age.

Among the global issues on the agenda were the fight against climate change and the results of the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the war in the Middle East and the situation in East Asia and, more generally, the development of global security architecture and multilateralism. The Swiss delegation emphasised the need for an international order based on the rule of law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Close contacts over several decades

Switzerland and China have maintained close contacts for many decades. Switzerland was one of the first Western countries to recognise the People's Republic of China, doing so on 17 January 1950. Since 2010, China has been Switzerland's most important trading partner in Asia and its third most important trading partner overall behind the USA and the EU. Switzerland is also one of around 60 countries that maintain a 'strategic partnership' with China. In 2017, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Switzerland. In 2019, President Ueli Maurer was received in China on a state visit.

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Li urges global cooperation, vows continued opening-up at WEF

Global Times

By Wang Cong and Li Xuanmin Published: Jan 16, 2024 10:41 PM

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday called for global cooperation in various areas to rebuild global trust, including strengthening macroeconomic policy coordination and international industrial specialization and cooperation, warning that lack of trust and fragmentation will risk global economic growth and peaceful development.

In a special address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Li said that China's economy is forecast to grow 5.2 percent in 2023, and that China's economy is making a steady recovery, vowing to continue to open up China's markets for global businesses, no matter how the global situation changes.

The Chinese premier's emphasis on rebuilding global trust and strengthening global cooperation and remarks about the stability and openness of China's economy help inject a sense of certainty and positivity for a world that has been plagued by a severe economic downturn and rising geopolitical conflicts, experts said on Tuesday.

China's support for an open world economy is in sharp contrast to the anti-globalization and rising protectionism spearheaded by countries such as the US. The steady recovery of the Chinese economy is offering great impetus for global growth, while the US' chaotic domestic policymaking poses risks for the global economy, experts noted.

Defending globalization

In the closely watched speech in Davos, Switzerland, where more than 2,800 global political, business and society leaders have gathered to discuss how to rebuild trust, the Chinese premier offered a five-point plan, including macroeconomic policy coordination, international industrial specialization and cooperation, cooperation in innovation, cooperation in green development, and north-south and south-south cooperation.

Li warned of a deepening trust deficit, saying the lack of trust is exacerbating the risks to global economic growth and peaceful development, noting many cases in bilateral and multilateral relations where mutual trust is undermined by the willfulness of one side. He warned that under the impact of global crises, if countries are fragmented in fighting their own battles, the world economy will become more fragile.

"I think Premier Li made China's unwavering support for globalization and an open world economy very clear again at this very important international forum, in stark contrast to the de-globalization trend promoted by certain countries," Bai Ming, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Bai noted that China's position on globalization carries great significance for a global audience that is increasingly worried about the state of the global economy and economic globalization, given China's economic size and its influence on the world economy. "It's clear that China has become a leading force in promoting economic globalization," he said.

In his speech, Li vowed that China itself will not break commitments, nor would it force others to pick sides, and China has always been a staunch force in safeguarding multilateralism.

As tensions between China and the US have been rising, their different approaches for the global economy have drawn great attention among global experts and businesses. The US' impulsiveness in turning everything into a competition with China was reportedly on vivid display in Davos.

US news outlet Politico reported on Monday that US diplomats were so worried about the big Chinese delegation that they were trying to arrange a meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken with a Swiss official. In addition to Blinken, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan was also in Davos. However, no economic officials from the US were listed as speakers at highlight sessions.

Mei Xinyu, a Beijing-based trade expert, said that whatever US officials say at the WEF will not hide the fact that the US has become a serious risk for the global economy, as it seeks to "build fences and walls" and fan military conflicts. "These are all very dangerous to the world economy," Mei told the Global Times on Tuesday, noting that the US delegation, consisting of mostly national security officials, shows that the US' focus is not on economic development.

Mei added that the US economy faces serious risks because of relentless partisan fights that affect everything from government budgets to global cooperation policies.

Injecting impetus

Meanwhile, China's economy continues on a steady recovery trend and is contributing greatly to the world economy, experts noted.

In his speech on Tuesday, Premier Li offered a comprehensive assessment of the Chinese economy, and notably offered a forecast of a 5.2 percent growth rate for China's economy in 2023, noting that the rate is higher than the official growth target of around 5 percent. He said that Chinese economy is making steady progress, and will continue to provide a strong impetus for the world economy.

China is scheduled to release economic data, including GDP growth, for 2023 on Wednesday.

"A 5.2 percent growth rate would be very impressive, considering all the challenges in 2023, including an uncertain global economy and so-called economic decoupling. It not only shows that China has maintained steady growth, but more importantly, it highlights the rise of China's endogenous driving force," Bai said, adding that it would have a great positive spillover effect on other economies.

Steven Alan Barnett, senior IMF resident representative in China, said in a recent interview with the Global Times that China would contribute one-third of global growth in 2023, and it would have positive spillovers for the rest of the world. A 1 percentage point increase in growth in China would, on average, increase the level of output in other economies by 0.3 percent over the medium term, Barnett said.

Apart from its contribution to global growth, China's vast market offers great opportunities for global businesses.

In his speech at the WEF, Li said that no matter how the world situation changes, China will always adhere to the fundamental national policy of opening-up, and will only open its door wider and wider to the outside world.

Such pledges from the Chinese premier offer great encouragement for global businesses.

Rani Jarkas, chairman of Swiss financial firm Cedrus Group, said there is a lot of enthusiasm in Davos about China's economic prospects. "As a Swiss company that is heavily invested in China, we have two meetings with very important asset managers, and they are all asking me about the slowdown in China. And I said that the economy is being really balanced for better and stronger economic growth," Jarkas, who was in Davos, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"2024 will be a very good year for Chinese economy. The outlook is very positive, I think we will see around 5 percent economic growth for 2024 in China, because many of the great policies that the government implemented in 2023, they will start paying off in 2024," Jarkas said.

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YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. The resolution demanding sanctions against Azerbaijan, adopted by the French Senate, supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia. It condemns the military attack carried out by Azerbaijan, with the support of its allies, on September 19 and 20, 2023, in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian Embassy in France said.

The resolution further calls on Azerbaijan to guarantee the right of the Armenian population to return to Nagorno-Karabakh, ensuring conditions that will ensure their safety and well-being.



The resolution calls for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the troops of Azerbaijan and its allies from the sovereign territory of Armenia.

It states that Armenia has the right to protect its territorial integrity and possesses the means to ensure its security, including through military measures.

The resolution also condemns the arbitrary arrests of political leaders in Nagorno-Karabakh, calls for the exclusion of Azerbaijan from the intergovernmental committee for the protection of cultural property in armed conflict.

It highlights the establishment of an international group of experts at UNESCO and its mission to Nagorno-Karabakh to prepare an informative report on the state of cultural and religious heritage.



The resolution also calls for the strictest measures, including the seizure of the assets of Azerbaijani leaders and an embargo on the import of gas and oil from Azerbaijan as a sanction against military aggression by Azerbaijan.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on January 16, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-01-16 19:26

CCTV: In the past few days, countries have been openly stating that they support the one-China principle, respect China's territorial integrity and oppose interference in China's internal affairs. Can you give us more details?

Mao Ning: Since January 13, countries and international organizations have been openly reaffirming their commitment to the one-China principle, firm support for China's effort of upholding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposition to any form of "Taiwan independence" and support for China's reunification. Apart from what has been mentioned yesterday, a large number of countries, including Pakistan, the Maldives, Myanmar, Iran, Syria, Tunisia, Palestine, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Central Africa, Niger, Equatorial Guinea, Comoros, Lesotho, Somalia, Djibouti, Mali, Burundi, Gambia, Vanuatu, Tonga, Kiribati, Dominica, Nicaragua, and Bolivia as well as the African Union also clearly stated their support for the one-China principle and opposition to "Taiwan independence". We applaud and appreciate the just position of these countries and organizations.

We are convinced that the international community will continue to, in accordance with the one-China principle, support the Chinese people's just cause of opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and striving to achieve national reunification.

AFP: The US State Department issued a statement, saying that while the Government of Nauru's action to sever its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan is a sovereign decision, it is nonetheless a disappointing one. What is your response to the US State Department's statement?

Mao Ning: The US has pointed fingers at the decision independently made by a sovereign country, tried every means to smear China's diplomacy and encouraged the Taiwan region to expand "international space". This gravely violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiquAs, seriously interferes in China's internal affairs and severely contravenes the basic norms governing international relations. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this.

I would like to stress that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and the one-China principle is a universally recognized basic norm governing international relations and a prevailing international consensus. The government of Nauru's decision to restore diplomatic relations with China once again shows that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends. China urges the US to act seriously in accordance with the commitments that have been reaffirmed multiple times by the US leaders to not supporting "Taiwan independence", "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan", handle Taiwan-related issues with utmost prudence, and stop sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

CRI: It's reported that the Taiwan authorities yesterday accused the mainland of long-term suppression of the island's "diplomatic space" and luring Taiwan's so-called "diplomatic allies." What's your comment?

Mao Ning: 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. Standing up for the one-China principle is the right thing to do and is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends. We are convinced that more countries will choose to stand on the right side of history and the side of international justice and make the right decision that serves the fundamental and long-term interests of their countries and peoples.

I want to stress that the one-China principle is a basic norm governing international relations and a prevailing consensus of the international community. The Chinese government never barters away principles. The DPP authorities in Taiwan disregard the prevailing trend of history, refuse the one-China principle, make every effort to expand the so-called "international space", and conduct separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence". This is doomed to failure and will lead nowhere.

Rudaw Media Network: Iran is attacking Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan region with missiles and civilians have been targeted. What is Chinese position on that? My second question, China has good relations with Syria and TArkiye. TArkiye continues to attack Kurdish areas of Syria. Is China trying to calm the situation in the region? My last question, what's China's position on South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice?a

Mao Ning: On your first question, China believes that Iraq's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be respected and protected. We call on relevant parties to exercise restraint, avoid actions that escalate the tension and jointly keep the region peaceful and stable.

On your second question, China believes that the relations between countries should be handled in accordance with the the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be earnestly respected and protected, and terrorism should be countered under the framework of international law.

On your third question, we noted the relevant case. China is deeply saddened by the heavy civilian casualties caused by the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict and opposes any actions in violation of international law. We hope parties to the conflict will earnestly implement the relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and General Assembly, reach an immediate and full ceasefire, and stop the collective punishment against people in Gaza.

Shenzhen TV: After the government of Nauru announced the decision to break the so-called "diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan authorities on January 15, Taiwan's foreign affairs office said that Nauru cutting "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan at this time is not only China's revenge on Taiwan's "democratic elections", but also a direct challenge to international order. What is your response?

Mao Ning: By making these remarks, the Taiwan authorities are calling white black. The Taiwan question has nothing to do with democracy, but bears on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The "Taiwan independence" forces are using "democracy" to cover up their hidden agenda of dividing the country. Their attempt is domed to failure.

Talking about international order, the return of Taiwan to China is an important part of the international order established after the second World War. This is clearly stipulated in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. Resolution 2758 adopted at the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly in 1971 makes it clear that there is no "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" in the world. Upholding the one-China principle is safeguarding international order. Challenging the one-China principle is challenging international order, and will meet the joint opposition of the international community.a

Across the world, 182 countries have already established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. Nauru decided to stand with the overwhelming majority of the international community and restore diplomatic ties with China. This is the right choice in line with its long-term interests and will open up a brighter future for its development.

Reuters: The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 is being held in Davos, Switzerland. Is China invited to a peace summit for Ukraine held by Switzerland? Will China send a delegation to the summit? Will Premier Li Qiang meet Ukrainian President Zelenskyy?

Mao Ning: China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear, which is centered on promotingatalks for peace. Since the full escalation of the crisis, China has kept in close contact with relevant parties, including Ukraine. We are willing to continue to work with the international community and play a constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis. We also welcome and support any efforts for peace.

Bloomberg: Philippines' President Marcos said the following on the Taiwan election results: We look forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead. Marcos wrote this on X on Monday night. He also referred to the new leader in Taiwan as President-elect. What is the Chinese Foreign Ministry's response?

Mao Ning: The remarks of Philippines' President gravely violate the one-China principle and the communiquA on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines, seriously go against the Philippines' political commitments to China, and blatantly interfere in China's internal affairs. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this and has immediately lodged strong representations to the Philippine side. This morning, Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong summoned the Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime Florcruz to lodge serious dAmarche and urge the Philippines to present a responsible response to China.

The election result of the Taiwan region cannot change the dynamics and direction of cross-Strait relations and cannot hold back the prevailing trend that China will and must achieve reunification. We would like to make it clear to the Philippines that it should refrain from playing with fire on the Taiwan question, earnestly abide by the-one China principle and the joint communiquA of establishing diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines, immediately stop the wrong words and deeds on Taiwan-related issues and stop sending any wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

We suggest President Marcos read more to develop a proper understanding of the ins and outs of the Taiwan question and come to a right conclusion.

Xinhua News Agency: It's reported that the US House of Representatives recently passed the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2023, requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to use America's influence in International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support Taiwan's membership in this organization. What's your comment?

Mao Ning: The US passed the so-called act to grossly interfere in China's internal affairs and attempt to manipulate the Taiwan question for political purposes to create "two Chinas" and "one China, one Taiwan." We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this, and have made serious representations to the US side.

Taiwan does not have any ground, reason, or right to join the UN, or any other international organization whose membership is confined to sovereign states. On October 25, 1971, the 26th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted, with an overwhelming majority, Resolution 2758, which "decides to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations," and to expel forthwith the representatives of the Taiwan authorities "from the place which they unlawfully occupy." Once and for all, UNGA Resolution 2758 resolved, politically, legally and procedurally, the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, at the UN. It also made it clear that there can only be one seat representing China at the UN, and that is the People's Republic of China.

Over the past half century and more, Resolution 2758 has been observed by the UN, special agencies such as IMF, and other international and regional organizations. Any issues regarding the Taiwan region's participation in the activities of international organizations must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle.

The US should fully understand the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan question and immediately stop using the Taiwan question to interfere in China's internal affairs, sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" forces and undermining China-US relations, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Reuters: The Philippines' military chief said that the Filipino government will develop islands in the South China Sea to make them more habitable for troops. What's your comment?

Mao Ning: China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and the adjacent waters. We firmly oppose relevant countries' illegal construction on the islands and reefs they have illegally occupied in Nansha Qundao.

Bloomberg: In the past two days, Hamas has released videos featuring one hostage Noa Argamani, whose mother was born in China, in what is referred to as a "sign of life video." In December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his parliament he summoned the Chinese Ambassador to request China's intervention on behalf of Noa. Did China take any action in the Noa case? And is China working behind the scenes to secure her release?

Mao Ning: Since the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out, China has repeatedly called for the release of all those held captive as soon as possible and has been making active efforts for this. We will work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role for realizing a ceasefire and the release of all those held captive.

RIA Novosti: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Monday that Kiev wants to establish more dynamic relations with China and believes that Beijing can play a role in resolving the Ukrainian conflict. What's China's comment on this?

Mao Ning: China's position on the Ukraine crisis is centered on promoting talks for peace. China is in touch with relevant parties, including Ukraine. We will continue to play a constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis. We also stand ready to work with Ukraine to act on the important common understandings reached betweena the heads of state of China and Ukraine to advance our bilateral relations.

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Chinese warships leave Cambodia's Ream naval base

The two People's Liberation Army corvettes were the first foreign vessels to dock at the newly developed base.

By RFA Staff 2024.01.16 -- Two Chinese warships leading a training program for the Cambodian Navy since early December have left the Ream naval base, satellite imagery shows.

Images captured on Jan. 15 and provided by the U.S. earth imaging company Planet Labs show an empty berth at the new pier, where the two People's Liberation Army (PLA) corvettes were docked for several weeks.

The ships were still seen as of Jan. 13, 2024.

Radio Free Asia reported on Dec. 5, 2023 about the arrival of the PLA vessels - the first foreign warships to gain access to the new China-funded facility with a deep-draft pier that can accommodate aircraft carriers.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said at that time that Washington had "serious concerns" about China's plans for exclusive control over portions of Ream Naval Base, and was watching closely.

The Chinese ships provided on-ship and in-port training to Cambodian navy staff, according to the Ream naval base's social media.

They may have also taken part in confidence-building activities with the local navy and population, according to Carl Schuster, a retired U.S. Navy captain and former director of operations at the U.S. Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center.

"All port visits have a political element," Schuster told RFA, "Allowing ship tours to visitors from the town, working with local naval forces and meeting with local officials often are more important than the training activities."

People-to People Exchange Year

The ships' departure took place as Cambodia and China officially launched a new campaign to boost bilateral ties and tourism called "The 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year."

Chinese and Cambodian media reported that a launching ceremony was held last Saturday in Siem Reap. Former Defense Minister Tea Banh, now a member of the Supreme Privy Council to King Sihamoni, and Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee, presided over the event.

Tea Banh said that the campaign "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," according to Xinhua news agency.

Cambodia received 2.36 million Chinese tourists in 2019, accounting for 35.7% of total international tourist arrivals.

China and Cambodia have seen a rapid development of their relationship, with Beijing providing Phnom Penh with much needed financial assistance.

Siem Reap is where a new Chinese-financed airport began operations in October.

The airport has a capacity of 7 million passengers a year and serves as a gateway to Cambodia's most important tourist destination - the Angkor Temple complex.

The Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport was funded by a Chinese company under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative development plan.

Another big airport near the capital Phnom Penh is also being financed and developed by China.

More than 40% of Cambodia's US$10 billion in foreign debt is owed to China, according to the Cambodian Ministry of Economy and Finance.

For its part, Phnom Penh has become one of Beijing's vocal supporters. After the weekend's elections in Taiwan, Cambodia immediately "reaffirmed its strong support for the One-China policy."

"In light of the recent developments in Taiwan, the Ministry reiterates Cambodia's resolute adherence to the One China policy, recognising the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate authority representing the entirety of China," Foreign ministry's spokesman An Sokhoeun was quoted as saying by local media.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

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.

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Premier Li Qiang calls on EU to address bilateral economic and trade issues fairly

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jan 17, 2024 09:59 AM

China hopes that the EU could uphold fair and justice in addressing the China-EU economic and trade issues to further promote business relations, said Chinese Premier Li Qiang when meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

"It is hoped that the EU will uphold justice, compliance and transparency in economic and trade matters, treat Chinese enterprises fairly, and prudently introduce restrictive economic and trade policies and deploy trade remedies," Li said.

China stands ready to import more products from the EU that align with market demand, and hopes the EU will relax export restrictions on high-tech products to China, Li noted, adding that it is hoped that the two sides will work together in the same direction to push for more balanced development in bilateral trade.

China pledged to continue fostering a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business climate, and willing to work with the EU to jointly abide by the basic norms governing market economy, he said.

Li called on the two sides to take the next meeting of the China-EU High-Level People-to-People Dialogue mechanism as an opportunity to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in education, science and technology, culture and tourism, and accelerate the resumption of personnel exchanges to inject new vitality into China-EU relations.

China is willing to work with the EU to implement important areas of consensus reached in the China-EU Summit, and make bilateral ties more stable, constructive, and reciprocal, so as to better promote the prosperity and development of China, the EU and the broader world, he added.

Von der Leyen said that the EU appreciates China's continuous opening-up and does not intend to "decouple" from China. She said that EU is ready to work with China in tackling climate change and promoting the reform of the World Trade Organization and further develop bilateral relationship.

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Kim Jong Un to revise constitution, label S Korea as 'primary enemy'

The move shows Pyongyang's dissatisfaction with South Korea's hardline stance against North Korea, says expert.

By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA 2024.01.15 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to amend the country's constitution to declare South Korea as Pyongyang's "primary and immutable enemy," a decision that could further escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula and beyond.

During a speech at the Supreme People's Assembly Monday, Kim articulated the need to revise the North Korean constitution, proposing the idea to include provisions for the "occupation, subjugation, and annexation" of South Korea into North Korea in the event of a conflict on the Korean peninsula.

"I believe it is right to revise the relevant articles that we will intensify our education and enlightenment efforts to firmly regard the Republic of Korea as the primary and immutable enemy," Kim said, referring to South Korea's formal name, as cited by the North's state-run daily Rodong Sinmun Tuesday.

"Since we have defined the Republic of Korea as a completely separate and hostile nation, abandoning the established notion of it being a partner in reconciliation and reunification, it's necessary to establish legal measures to precisely define the sovereign territory of our Republic," Kim said, referring to the North, adding that he no longer sees South Koreans as the same ethnic people.

Hours later, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol dismissed Kim's speech, saying that Seoul would "punish" the North if it continues provocations. In a cabinet meeting convened Tuesday, Yoon said that North Korea's threats are no longer effective, indicating his hardline stance against Pyongyang's "intimidation."

The trade of barbs came as North Korea ramped up tensions on the Korean peninsula over the weekend, firing a hypersonic intermediate-range, solid fuelled, ballistic missile off its eastern coast Sunday.

Pyongyang had already announced that it had developed a new high-output solid fuel engine for its new IRBM in November. The North's IRBM, including its Musudan missiles, can reach Guam, where United States strategic assets, including B-52 strategic bombers, are located.

North Korea has also been raising tensions in the Yellow Sea, with it firing some 200 artillery shells into waters off its western coast earlier this month at the inter-Korean de facto maritime border of the Northern Limit Line, or NLL. The area is near South Korea's Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands.

In the latest speech, Kim continued issuing threats in the Yellow Sea and thereby over the South Korea-controlled islands.

"Since our nation's southern border is clearly defined, we cannot accept any other boundaries, including the Northern Limit Line, as lawful," Kim said. "If the Republic of Korea encroaches on our territory, airspace, or territorial waters by even 0.001 mm, it will be regarded as an act of war provocation."

The NLL was established by United Nations Command in 1953 following the Korean Armistice Agreement. North Korea initially did not dispute the decision, but nor did it officially recognize the border.

Since September 1999, North Korea has claimed a more southerly "West Sea Military Demarcation Line," which Pyongyang claims is based on international law delimitation decisionsa, and thus the area has been a frequent flashpoint for naval skirmishes between the two Koreas.

On Nov. 23, 2010, for instance, the North shelled Yeonpyeong island, killing four South Korean nationals and injuring 19, while causing severe damage to the entire island.

Wang Son-taek, director of the Global Policy Center at Seoul-based Han Pyeong Peace Institute, saw Kim's speech as an expression of dissatisfaction with Seoul's North Korea policy.

"It appears to be a violent and aggressive complaint about North Korea's South Korea policy not progressing as desired," Wang said. "Specifically, North Korea wants South Korea to accept a reunification under the federal system where both governments exist under the banner of 'one nation but two systems,' to not label North Korea as the main enemy, and to refrain from attempts of reunification by absorption."

Failing this, the speech seems to imply an intention to forcefully bring South Korea in line with North Korea's wishes, Wang added.

"Paradoxically, the speech implies that if South Korea complies with these demands, dialogue and the possibility of restoring the fraternity in inter-Korean relations could still take place. This potential reconciliation, however, is being communicated in a notably harsh manner."

Last week, North Korea removed the concept of "one people" shared with South Korea from its media outlets, redefining South Korea as a separate entity instead of "the same Koreans." This change in stance was followed by a complete shutdown of these media outlets shortly thereafter.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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.

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Germany Federal Foreign Office

16.01.2024 - Press release

A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement today (16 January) on the latest reported test of a medium-range ballistic missile by North Korea:

We condemn North Korea's illegal launch of a medium-range ballistic missile on 14 January in the strongest possible terms. It is worrying that North Korea is this year continuing its series of missile tests, which are contrary to international law, and is thereby threatening regional and international peace.

This launch constitutes a grave violation of North Korea's obligations under the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. It poses a blatant threat both to the security of our partners in the region and to global security.

We urge North Korea to refrain from further tests, to fulfil its obligations under international law, to accept the offers of dialogue put forward by the United States and South Korea and to enter into serious negotiations on the dismantling of its nuclear and missile programmes. North Korea is under an obligation to completely, verifiably and irreversibly end its programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.
North Korean Gov't Abolishes Departments Dealing With Inter-Korean Cooperation

Sputnik News

20240116

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The North Korean Supreme People's Assembly has decided to abolish government bodies dealing with inter-Korean affairs, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported on Tuesday.

"The reunification of Korea can never be achieved with the Republic of Korea ... Recognizing the stark historical reality and branding the ROK as the state most hostile to the DPRK, the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK decided as follows ... The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, the National Economic Cooperation Bureau and the Kumgangsan International Tourism Administration, tools which existed for north-south dialogue, negotiations and cooperation, are abolished," the Supreme People's Assembly said in a statement, as quoted by the news agency.

On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that North Korea does not want to unleash a war but will not avoid it either. He also noted that if South Korea "violates even 0.001 mm of our territorial land, air and waters, it will be considered a war provocation," the KCNA news agency reported.

A Sputnik

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North Korea Ends Policy of Reunification with South Korea

By VOA News January 16, 2024

North Korea is abandoning its policy of seeking reunification with South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the constitution to be revised to say that the South is the country's "primary foe and invariable principle enemy" during a speech Monday before the Supreme People's Assembly, the North's rubber-stamp parliament, according to state-run Korean Central News Agency.

Kim said the constitution should also include plans for "occupying, subjugating and reclaiming" the South if another war breaks out between the two bitter rivals.

He said North Korea has no intentions of starting a war, but has no intentions of avoiding one either.

The parliament announced Tuesday that it was abolishing two government agencies responsible for reunification and economic cooperation initiatives, as well as the agency that promoted South Korean visits to the North's Mount Kumgang resort.

Kim ordered the destruction of all symbols of North-South reunification, including the "Monument to the Three Charters for National Reunification" in the capital Pyongyang built by his late father, Kim Jong Il, which the younger Kim described as "an eyesore."

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol blasted Kim's comments Tuesday during a meeting with his cabinet as "anti-national and anti-historical" and vowed that North Korea will be punished "multiple times as hard" if it attacks the South.

The Korean Peninsula was split between the communist-ruled North and the U.S.-backed South after Japan's decades-long colonial occupation ended in 1945 with its surrender in World War II.

War broke out between the North and South in 1950, ending in 1953 with an armistice that has left the two sides in a technical state of war.

Tensions between North and South Korea have worsened in recent years as the North intensified its ballistic missile testing program and vowed to expand its nuclear weapons arsenal.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters.

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with German Foreign Minister Baerbock

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

Davos, Switzerland

January 16, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Davos, Switzerland. The Secretary thanked Germany for continued support for Ukraine as it fights to defend its freedom and independence. They also discussed urgent efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza as well as to prevent the conflict from spreading. The Secretary and Foreign Minister reaffirmed a joint commitment to safeguard commercial shipping and civilians in the Red Sea.



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Secretary Antony J. Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock Before Their Meeting

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock

World Economic Forum

Davos, Switzerland

January 16, 2024

SECRETARY BLINKEN: (Inaudible) be with my colleague, my friend, Foreign Minister Baerbock. And as always, Germany is, for the United States, the indispensable ally, the indispensable partner. We are working together on virtually every major challenge, not just in the transatlantic community, but quite literally around the world, including, of course, the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

But we also discussed Ukraine and the ongoing Russian aggression and all the support our countries have given and need to continue to provide. We talked about the Pacific and other critical areas. In fact, there probably isn't a part of the world we haven't touched on, either in this conversation or in past conversations. So as always, Annalena, it's not only good to be with you, it's just important, because the United States and Germany together are facing challenges, and we're stronger when we face them together.

FOREIGN MINISTER BAERBOCK: Of course, thank you from my side for the close exchange today, but within the last two years in office. We all thought that after the Russian war there won't be any further crisis. Now, we see how important our close cooperation is, not only with regard to the Russian war in Ukraine but also now in the Middle East and looking not only at politics from the governmental side, but always from the human side.

We are addressing both the dimension of the suffering of the people, of innocent civilians in Israel, being held still as hostages, and innocent people in Gaza. So our cooperation with regard to humanitarian efforts but also for ending this war is, for us, of high importance. So thank you very much.







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Readout of President Joe Biden's Call with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany

January 16, 2024

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany. The leaders coordinated on their countries' ongoing steadfast support to Ukraine in the face of Russia's war of aggression. They also reaffirmed their support for Israel's right to self-defense and discussed the imperative of protecting civilians in Gaza against harm, and ensuring the free flow of life-saving humanitarian aid to people in need.

###

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By Deanna Cheng

New Canadian Media

Ten members of a local Japanese archery club shot 108 arrows to welcome the new year.

The number 108 represents the 108 earthly temptations in Buddhism. In Japan, people line up and ring the bells at Buddhist temples 108 times (joya no kane) to dispel the worldly desires of every Japanese citizen.

Kyudo clubs in North America adapted the concept to their practice and the Kyudo Association of Canada Vancouver has followed this modern tradition for the past 11 years, shooting 108 arrows usually on the first Saturday of the year.

Kyudo means the way of the bow in Japanese.

Fourth-degree black belt Linda Kong said people usually start to feel the strain on their bodies around the 70th arrow or so. Its all over but youll feel more in the back, arms, and shoulder.

Soreness wont come until the next day, she added.

After shooting her 76th arrow, Grace Ho said she still felt invigorated, pacing herself with breaks, food, and water.

The kyudo practitioner of seven years found satisfaction in shooting all 108 arrows for the first time last year and sought the feeling again. Id rather be here than elsewhere, she says of the 2024 gathering.

Michael Mike James Mitsuo Nakatsu, the chief instructor who is a fifth-degree black belt, explained that one of the 108 vices is sloth or laziness. You can do everything from your chair today. To shoot 108 arrows is to push past [that complacency]. You have to physically challenge yourself because no one else will do it for you. Its not easy.

Seven people completed their goal of 108 arrows.

Nakatsu founded both the Kyudo Association of Canada and its Vancouver branch after living in Japan from 2000 to 2003, where he practiced the martial art.

When the fourth-generation Japanese Canadians returned to Canada, there were no kyudo clubs.

I had two choices: either start a club or quit kyudo forever.

When asked what drew him to kyudo, Nakatsu admitted he didnt enjoy it initially because martial arts has a steep learning curve and takes a lot of time and work just to get to the point where you can shoot safely.

In Japan, at a community centre with a traditional outdoor kyudo dojo on the roof, he paid the 180-yen fee and shot continuously. It was the time alone, just shooting arrows, that I felt peace for the first time.

Sometimes, he shot arrows by himself. Sometimes, he was with his senseis.

Growing up in an East Van neighbourhood, Nakatsu said fighting and violence were an everyday thing. My life has always been filled with rage, and rage is what kept me driven.

That day in Japan was my first day of feeling peace and kyudo is what keeps me peaceful.

With support from his Sensei in Fukuoka and the Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall, Nakatsu set up a dojo with makiwara (close range) targets, gomuyumi (practice rubber bows) and bows and arrows for members to practice at the full 28-metre distance.

With about 20 members, the club continues to grow.

One of its newer members, Benjamin Li discovered the martial art after YouTube recommended a kyudo video to him. He searched for local clubs after watching that video.

Li only had one month of experience with the bow after completing the mandatory 10-week introduction course.

In the practice area with the close-range targets, Li learned a little more about whats wrong with his technique since he was unable to reach the goal. While not disclosing the exact number, he said it was under 40 arrows.

As a beginner, it feels scary.

The twang of the bow, the sound of the arrow hitting the target. He was told he flinched a lot.

But Li is growing confident and said hes flinching less.

If Im going to try something, I dont want to do it once and give up easily.

He found Kyudo at the right time. I just graduated high school and told myself I need to try new things.

When asked about misconceptions about kyudo, Nakatsu replied, Its not practical. The bow is seven feet long and delicate. This bow is not good for hunting or self-defence.

He has also encountered people who think kyudo is battlefield archery, the type of shooting you would see in a samurai movie.

While there are groups that practice that in Japan and many of those practitioners have to do kyudo before they do that style of archery, Nakatsu said, but that is not what kyudo is.

In the early 17th Century, the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu unified the warring samurai factions and there was a long period of peace, describes Kyudo: the Essence and Practice of Japanese Archery. With the absence of war and the introduction of firearms, samurai archers didnt want to abandon kyujutsu (the technique of fighting with a bow) so they set up a regular competition at a temple in Kyoto.

In the latter half of the 17th Century, ceremonial shooting became popular after the general populace took up archery. Morikawa Kozan first coined the word kyudo but it would take nearly two hundred years before the term became accepted and commonplace. The emphasis on archery training shifted to mental and spiritual development.

Nakatsu said very few people do it outside of Japan. About 200 in America and under 100 in Canada.
EP Plenary: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on EU-India relations

European External Action Service (EEAS)

16.01.2024

Strasbourg

EEAS Press Team

Speech delivered by Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, on behalf of High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell

Check against delivery!

Madam President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament,

On behalf of High Representative [Josep] Borrell, I would like to start by thanking the rapporteur [Alviina] Alametsa and all those Members of the European Parliament who have actively contributed to the report on EU-India relations.

The European Union wants to continue deepening its strategic partnership with India.

India is now the most populated country in the world and has significant economic potential. India's geo-political positioning and domestic policy choices, particularly on climate and environmental issues, have implications for the Indo-Pacific region and, indeed, for the rest of the world.

It is in the context of India's steady rise, and regional and global power dynamics, that we should assess the strategic partnership between the European Union and India. Broadly speaking, European Union relations with India are expanding and enjoying a positive momentum.

As your report - by Rapporteur [Alametsa] - points out, our strategic partnership with India is guided by a bilateral political framework, the 'Roadmap to 2025', which guides joint action in many policy areas to further strengthen our relationship. The implementation of the Roadmap is continuously monitored and well advanced. The European Union and India have a common interest in each other's security, prosperity and sustainable development and together, can contribute to a safer, cleaner and more stable world. Last year we witnessed the magnitude and success of India's G20 Presidency, and we recognise India's efforts to put the priorities and concerns of developing countries high on the agenda.

Let me continue by highlighting some recent achievements of our deepening partnership. The relaunch of negotiations for an EU free trade agreement with India was a momentous development in 2022. There have now been six rounds of talks, with both sides prioritising a comprehensive and ambitious trade agreement as the outcome.

The European Union and India also established a ministerial-level Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in May 2023, in order to give high-level political steering to our cooperation in strategic issues at the nexus of trade, trusted technology and security. We expect to hold the next meeting soon.

In 2021, the European Union and India adopted a Connectivity Partnership and, together with the European Union's Global Gateway strategy and the European Investment Bank (EIB), we are making progress in key sectors such as energy, urbanisation, digitalisation and transport.

In addition, the European Union is strengthening its cooperation with India on security and defence, with regular thematic dialogues, joint naval exercises, and closer cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Honourable Members,

While our relations with India are experiencing an overall positive trajectory, we are conscious of the reports about the deteriorating human rights situation and shrinking civil society space, which are addressed at length in your report.

I would like to reassure you that human rights are indispensable elements in EU foreign policy towards all our partners; India being no exception. In this context let me highlight that the European Union is the only external partner with whom India has a dedicated human rights dialogue. We attach great importance to this dialogue, and the ability to have genuine discussions with India, as strategic partners, even on sensitive issues.

In conclusion, with the world facing major geopolitical challenges, India remains a crucial partner, strategic partner for the European Union. Our ability to strategically navigate the 21st century and work together on key priorities will bring great benefits to both Europe and India, and the rest of the world.

Thank you.

Link to the video (starting at 3:40): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251370

Closing remarks

Madam President, Honourable Members,

Thank you for this debate today which I believe shows the importance but also complexity of the EU-India relationship.

There is no doubt that a stronger EU-India partnership has a lot of potential on multiple levels - prosperity and security for our citizens and societies, a contribution to responding to global threats and challenges such as regional peace and stability, the digital and green transitions, and also on reducing inequality and on improving global governance. Some of these areas already see notable progress, while in some others there is still scope to do more. Your report - and also this debate today - gives us a very useful guidance in this respect, including on the sensitive issues like the situation of human rights, the status of religious minorities and so on.

But I wish to conclude on the following note: this year is an electoral year both in the European Union and in India, and our joint strategy, the 'Roadmap to 2025', is coming to a close next year. With these circumstances in mind, together with the unfolding geopolitical and economic developments, I agree with your recommendation that there is a need to start reflecting without delay on the updated or future priorities for our strategic partnership with India. The [European] Commission is ready to do so, and is looking forward to continuing our discussions with you on this topic.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251372

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IRGC discloses details about anti-terror missile strikes

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 16, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has disclosed more information about its latest missile strikes targeting an Israeli espionage center in Iraq and terrorist positions in Syria.

In a statement on Tuesday, the IRGC said all the intended targets were precisely hit and destroyed using 24 ballistic missiles.

The elite force said that four Kheibar ballistic missiles were launched from Khuzestan Province in southwest Iran towards Daesh terrorist positions in the Idlib region of Syria.

Daesh claimed responsibility for two bomb blasts that killed nearly 100 people at a memorial for Iran's top anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani in southeastern Iran early this month.

Four more missiles were launched from western Iran, along with seven others from the northwest of the country, targeting a Mossad center in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Nine missiles of various types also struck the positions of other terrorist groups in different areas of the occupied territories in Syria.

The IRGC reassured the Iranian nation that the retaliatory operations by will continue until "the last drop of blood of our beloved nation's martyrs is avenged."

In an earlier statement, the IRGC had said that the missile strike against the Mossad center in the Iraqi Kurdistan region was in retaliation for the recent assassinations of IRGC and other regional resistance commanders by the Israeli regime.

4353**2050

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IRGC attacks showed era of hit-and-run is over: Iran parliament speaker

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 16, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The speaker of Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has said that IRGC's attacks to target controlled by terrorists in the region showed that the time for hit-and-run attacks by terrorists have come to an end.

Qalibaf on Tuesday praised the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) for attacks on terrorist targets in Syria and in Iraq's Kurdistan's region.

He said the IRGC had reminded the United States, the Zionist regime and the terrorists that the era when they used to carry out hit-and-run attacks is long over.

Back in 2007, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said that "We will persist so that the enemy will not think of transgressing, so that if he even behaves in a transgressing manner, he will receive a harsh blow and response. Long ago, I said that the time of hit and run against the Islamic Republic is over."

Early on Tuesday, the IRGC issued statements saying its attacks on terrorists in the region were in response to recent terrorist attacks in Iran's southeastern city of Kerman as well as a terrorist attack on the Rask police station in Sistan and Baluchistan province.

7129**4261

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IRGC commander reveals details of Iran's missile attacks on regional terrorists

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 16, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Cops (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh has revealed some details about missile attacks by the Force on targets controlled by terrorists in the region.

In a phone call with the IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami, Hajizadeh said four Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles had been fired from an area in the southwestern Iranian province of Khuzestan to targets controlled by Takfiri terrorist groups in Idlib, Syria in the early hours of Tuesday.

He said that the IRGC had also fired four missiles from Kermanshah (western Iran) and seven from East Azarbaijan (northwestern Iran) at targets controlled by terrorists.

The general said that nine more missiles had targeted a second group of Takfiris and Daesh terrorists in the region.

1483**4261

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Iran court holds sixth trial session in MKO terrorism case

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 16, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The sixth session of the trial of the members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) terrorist group has been held in Tehran.

At the beginning of the open session chaired by Judge Dehqani in the 11th branch of the criminal court of Tehran province on Tuesday, the prosecutor's representative named Masoumeh Bolourchi, Yaser Jahannezhadi, Faezeh Khayat Hesari Mohammadi, among others as the main suspects of today's session.

The prosecutor's representative had in the fourth session highlighted the connection between the group and the French government.

He pointed out that documents have revealed the MKO's ringleader Masoud Rajavi's connection with France and the role of the French intelligence service in the explosion at the headquarters of the Islamic Republican Party (IRP) in Tehran in June 1981.

After the armed action of the terrorist group in June 1981, Rajavi and several members of the MKO discussed whether they should declare that the group had entered the military phase and finally decided to make that announcement, he said.

Afterward, he continued, Rajavi proposed to blow up the office of the IRP and the group decided to make preparations for the move.

Then Rajavi traveled to France, and the bombing happened after his trip, he further explained, adding that Mehdi Abrishamchi, Abolhassan Banisadr, Rajavi, and several others then hijacked a plane to depart Iran for France, the prosecutor's representative added.

According to the criminal court, the MKO and 104 members of the terrorist group are being sued in the trial for committing inhumane crimes.

The MKO has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in Iran against ordinary people and officials since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, killing thousands of people over the past four decades.

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Iran, Saudi Arabia talk on increasing economic ties

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 16, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alireza Enayati and Chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry Hassan Al-Huwaizi have held talks over expanding the bilateral relations between the two countries, especially trade ties.

In this meeting held on Monday, the two officials discussed expansion of ties and cooperation between the two Muslim countries.

Referring to the initial agreement for the development of bilateral ties in economy and trade between the two countries, Enayati said that Tehran welcomes expanding ties with Saudi Arabia in economic fields.

He said that Iran and Saudi Arabia have much potential in industry, agriculture, and technical and engineering services, energy, and tourism, and can take steps towards the development and prosperity of the region by cooperating.

Al-Huwaizi for his part in the meeting, referred to "Saudi Vision 2030" and said that the private sector of Iran and Saudi Arabia can cooperate through exchange of delegations and common communications, and that Saudi Arabia welcomes this cooperation.

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Iran's IRGC reveals details of missile attacks on Mossad, Daesh targets

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 4:13 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has revealed further details on its recent missile attacks on anti-Iran terrorist bases and espionage centers in Syria and the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

In a new statement issued on Tuesday, the IRGC said the force "successfully" managed to launch missile attacks on an espionage center of the Israeli regime's Mossad spy agency in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and a gathering place of commanders and main elements linked to anti-Iran terrorist activities, especially the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.

The statement said a total of 24 ballistic missiles were fired during the operation, all of which precisely hit and destroyed the designated targets.

The IRGC said the force fired four Kheibar Shekan (fortress buster) missiles from Iran's southwestern province of Khuzestan to Idlib, adding that four missiles were launched from the west, and seven more from the northwest of the country to the Mossad spy headquarters in Erbil in Iraq's Kurdistan Region.

Kheibar Shekan, a third-generation long-range missile developed by the IRGC, enjoys high maneuverability and is propelled by solid fuel with the capability of penetrating anti-missile shields.

The statement also said nine missiles were fired at locations of other terrorist groups in various areas of Syria.

"We once again assure the mighty and proud nation of the Islamic Iran that the IRGC's offensive operations will continue until revenge is taken for the last drop of the blood of our ... martyrs," the statement noted.

The missile operations by the IRGC were carried out on the early hours of Tuesday, targeting a base in Idlib that was used as a training center for foreign members of Daesh and the terrorist group's affiliated outfit, Daesh-Khorasan.

Daesh claimed responsibility for two explosions that killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores of others at a memorial for Iran's top anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman on January 3.

Last month, another terrorist attack hit a police station in the southeastern Iranian city of Rask, killing 11 police officers and injuring at least six others.

The missiles on Tuesday also rained on key target Azhi Amin, a high-ranking Kurdish official linked to Mossad, who was involved in planning terrorist acts by the Israeli regime's spy agency across Iran, including the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

Fakhrizadeh, the head of the Iranian Defense Ministry's Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, was targeted in a multi-pronged terrorist attack in Absard city of Tehran Province's Damavand County on November 27, 2020.

Iran has, on countless occasions, warned Iraqi Kurdistan's local authorities that it will not tolerate the presence and activity of terrorist groups along its northwestern borders, saying the country will give a decisive response should those areas become a haven for anti-Tehran terrorists.

Since September 2022, the IRGC has launched several rounds of strikes against terrorist positions in Iraq's Kurdistan, vowing to continue the attacks until the groups are disarmed.

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IRGC anti-terror strikes in line with defending Iran's sovereignty, citizens: Foreign Ministry

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 8:55 AM

The Iranian Foreign Ministry says the strikes conducted by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) against terrorists' positions in Syria and an Israeli espionage center in Iraq were part of the "just punishment" against violators of Iran's security after a deadly terrorist attack hit the city of Kerman.

"The action was in defense of the country's sovereignty and security, and countering terrorism, and was a part of the Islamic Republic's just punishment against violators of the country's security," ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said on Tuesday.

"The Islamic Republic has always supported peace, stability, and security in the region and respected other countries' sovereignty, nonetheless, Tehran will not hesitate to exercise its legitimate and legal right to deter all sources of threats against its national security, defend its citizens and punish the criminals," Kan'ani said

Kan'ani said the terrorist attacks that took place in Iran resulted from a "miscalculation by the enemy", adding the Islamic Republic launched "a targeted operation" against positions of terrorists using "precise projectiles" after it identified them drawing on its high intelligence capabilities.

"Terrorism is a global threat, and Iran is determined to counter-terrorism within the framework of joint regional and international cooperation," Kan'ani added.

Early Tuesday, the IRGC said it fired barrages of ballistic missiles at Syrian bases of terrorists who were involved in recent terrorist attacks in Iran, as well as an Israeli espionage center in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

The IRGC said the first missile strike targeted gathering places of commanders and main elements of recent terrorist attacks in the Iranian cities of Kerman and Rask.

It added that the strike came after gathering points of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group were identified in the occupied territories of Syria and destroyed with a number of ballistic missiles.

The IRGC said in a later statement that another missile strike had been launched at a main espionage center of the Israeli regime's Mossad spy agency in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

The IRGC added that its missile strike on the Iraqi Kurdistan Region has totally destroyed the Mossad center there.

Among the key targets was Azhi Amin, a former member of an al-Qaeda affiliate, who was reportedly killed in the IRGC anti-terror attack last night.

The IRGC also noted that the Mossad center was used "to develop espionage operations and plan acts of terrorism" across the region, especially in Iran.

The missile strike against the Mossad center, the statement said, was in retaliation for the recent assassinations of the resistance front's commanders, especially those of the IRGC, by the Zionist regime.

'Missiles launched from three provinces'

Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Division, said two dozen missiles were launched from three Iranian provinces during the operation.

According to his remarks, four Kheibar-Shekan missiles were launched from southern Khuzestan to a terrorist position in Syria's Idlib province.

During a phone call with the chief commander of the IRGC Major General Hossein Salami, Hajizadeh said "At 12 o'clock, everything was done successfully."

Hajizadeh also said that four ballistic missiles were fired from Kermanshah and seven others from East Azarbaijan to the Mossad spy center.

Meanwhile, he said about nine more missiles targeted other terrorist groups in Syria.

Daesh claimed responsibility for two explosions that killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores of others at a memorial for Iran's top anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman on January 3.

Last month, another terrorist attack hit a police station in the southeastern Iranian city of Rask, killing 11 police officers and injuring at least six others.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has said the cause of the terrorist bombings in Kerman can be traced back to the grudge that Zionists hold against Qassem Soleimani as he jeopardized the plans to establish another Israel in the region by creating and backing Daesh terrorist group.

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IRGC Strikes at Militants in Syria in Response to Recent Terrorist Attacks - Reports

Sputnik News

20240116

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) mounted a retaliatory rocket strike on Syrian territory and killed multiple terrorists linked to recent deadly attacks against two Iranian cities, Iranian news agency IRNA reported on Tuesday.

The IRGC was cited as saying that in response to the attacks in the southeastern cities of Rask and Kerman, it found and destroyed several key terrorist leaders and militants, in particular from the Daesh* terrorist group, in Syria's "occupied territories."

In December 2023, terrorists attacked the police headquarters in Iran's Rask, killing at least 12 officers and leaving seven others injured.

On January 3, two explosions occurred during a ceremony on the fourth anniversary of the assassination of top Iranian general Qasem Solemani in the city of Kerman, leaving 89 people killed and hundreds injured.

*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia

A Sputnik

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US 'Strongly' Condemns Iran's Missile Strikes on Targets in Erbil

Sputnik News

20240116

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States has condemned in the strongest terms the missile strikes carried out on Iraq's Erbil by the Iranian military, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

"The United States strongly condemns Iran's attacks in Erbil today and offers condolences to the families of those who were killed. We oppose Iran's reckless missile strikes, which undermine Iraq's stability," Miller said on Monday. "We support the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government's efforts to meet the aspirations of the Iraqi people".

Earlier in the day, a security source in Iraq told Sputnik that several explosions were reported in Erbil near the US Consulate General and the Erbil International Airport caused by missile attacks.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps took responsibility for the attacks, saying they targeted the bases of anti-Iranian terrorist groups and specifically one of the main headquarters of Israel's intelligence service Mossad in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Following the attacks, a US National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement to Sputnik that the US was in contact with Kurdish and Iraqi authorities following the latest missile attacks in northern Iraq and northern Syria.

Although no US casualties were reported at the consulate, the spokesperson characterized the attack as a "reckless and imprecise set of strikes" and the situation was being assessed.

A Sputnik

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By NCM News Desk

A new campaign by New Canadian Media is focused on bolstering the voices of immigrant journalists in Canada.

Called The Missing, the fundraising campaign is designed to help New Canadian Media continue to develop its core mission: Hiring immigrant and refugee journalists to write about Canada from an immigrants perspective. New Canadian Media has partnered with Toronto ad agency Barrett and Welsh to create the campaign.

Newsrooms in mainstream Canadian media are overwhelmingly white, with about 75.5 percent of journalists identifying as white, according to statistics published in late November by the Canadian Association of Journalists.

Eighty-four percent of newsroom supervisors identify as white, and about seven out of 10 newsrooms have no Indigenous or visible minority people in the top three leadership positions in newsrooms.

New Canadian Media publisher George Abraham acknowledges theres an issue with Canadas mainstream media.

As the news industry grapples with declining revenues, many newsrooms are being forced to downsize, preventing them from hiring new arrivals to this country.

Important perspectives and voices are being ignored and silenced, even as Canada is transforming right before our eyes. New Canadian Media exists solely to correct this gap, Abraham says.

DONATE

With more than 200 newcomer journalists as part of a vast national freelance collective, New Canadian Media is a vital source of immigrant news, written from an immigrants perspective.

The Missing campaign focuses on these journalists, as they represent the typical experience of a newcomer journalist to Canada: No jobs, no opportunities to earn a living in journalism, and apart from newcanadianmedia.ca, no platform to share the important work that they do.

Dino Rozenberg

One of the missing is Dino Rozenberg, who wrote for Argentinas largest newspaper starting at age 19 and was jailed for his work at age 25, then nearly arrested again.

The military juntas campaign against left-wing political opponents soon expanded to include journalists in its sights, the campaign notes.

Some were fired. Some were exiled or imprisoned. The unluckiest were simply disappeared. They were never heard from again.

After fleeing Argentina, Rozenberg worked in Mexico, rising to some of the highest ranks in that countrys journalism, exposing corrupt politicians and confronting violent drug cartels.

He moved to Canada in 2020, expecting to continue in journalism. However, Canadas media industry froze him out.

Isabel Inclan

Isabel Inclan worked as a reporter and a broadcaster for radio and television in Mexico for more than a decade before moving to Canada in 1998 to work as a foreign correspondent for a Mexican newspaper. After 20 years, that job dried up, and Inclan looked for work in Canadian media. Despite awards and accolades, Inclan, like Rozenberg, was largely frozen out in Canada.

Diary Marif:

An Iraqi Kurdish journalist with more than 15 years of experience as a reporter, editor, and TV documentary researcher, Diary Marif is also featured in the campaign.

Marif dedicated himself to covering stories about Iraqs authoritarian politics and tyrannical systems. Then in 2016, he was targeted by the Kurdish ruling class for the work he was doing on the Kurdish independence referendum.

He was branded a traitor, stripped of his job, prevented from teaching, and threatened with violence and arrest.

Like Rozenberg and Inclan, Marif was frozen out in Canada.

In Kurdistan, the politicians did not allow me to work where I wanted because I was not part of them, Marif says in The Missing campaign.

In Canada, I am not allowed to work where I want because I am not part of the system.

Over the coming weeks, NCM will be featuring more sidelined voices as part of its Missing campaign. These new voices are helping build a better country.
US forces resorting to airstrikes due to failure in ground offensives: Iraqi resistance official

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 10:09 AM

The spokesman for the Iraqi Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada anti-terror group says American occupation forces are resorting to airstrikes in their military acts of aggression against resistance forces as they cannot manage ground offensives on them and have miserably failed in such battles.

"The failure of American occupation forces to engage Iraqi resistance fighters on the ground has pushed them to resort to airstrikes against the latter. US forces have been defeated in ground offensives, so they carry out air raids," Kadhim al-Fartousi said on Monday.

He underscored that Iraqi resistance groups will not cease operations against US-run military bases and installations unless American occupation troops fully withdraw from Iraqi soil.

"American forces are not our allies. Moreover, there are no documents acknowledging that they have been deployed to Iraq at the request of the Baghdad government. The government asserts no control over US bases, and Iraqi [resistance] groups are fully aware of such a fact as well as Iraqi statesmen's limitations in the face of the US-led coalition," Fartousi noted.

He emphasized that Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani should seize the opportunity and involve Iraqi groups in the course of negotiations with the United States.

A Sunday statement from the Iraqi parliament said Deputy Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi had stated the previous day that the bill adopted in January 2020, which requires the government to end the presence of all US-led foreign military forces in the Arab country, is "a fundamental and irreversible piece of legislation" and will not change because it enjoys popular support.

Mandalawi called on the Iraqi government to implement the legislation and to expand the capabilities of Iraqi security forces instead of relying on foreign troops to fight terror groups.

Last week, Sudani said Iraq seeks a quick exit of US forces from Iraq amid growing discontent about their presence in the country.

He noted that his government will soon start a process to negotiate the pullout of coalition forces from Iraq.

Iraq adopted the law to expel foreign forces after Washington's assassination of top Iraqi and Iranian anti-terror commanders four years ago.

General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), were martyred along with their comrades in a US drone strike that was authorized by then-president Donald Trump near the Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020.

The two iconic anti-terror commanders are greatly admired for their instrumental role in fighting and decimating the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria.

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Baghdad Recalls Ambassador After Iran Strikes Northern Iraq, Stoking Fears Of Regional Instability

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda January 16, 2024

Iraq has recalled its ambassador in Tehran after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) struck what they said was the spy headquarters of Israel in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, a deadly attack that deepened fears over the eroding stability in the Middle East.

Baghdad on January 16 also summoned Iran's charge d'affaires to protest the IRGC attack, which involved ballistic missiles being fired at what they called Israel-linked targets in Iraq's Erbil while also striking locations in Syria's Idlib used by Islamic State (IS).

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry denounced the attack as an act of "aggression against Iraq's sovereignty" and said the government had formed a committee to investigate the incident and "prove" the Iranian claims wrong.

The attack in Erbil killed at least four civilians, including prominent Kurdish businessman Peshraw Dizayee, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of the KRG, condemned the "cowardly attack" and urged the Iraqi government to "take a principled position against the flagrant violation of Iraq's and the Kurdistan region's sovereignty," according to the Iraqi Kurdish website Rudaw.

The strikes come amid growing concerns that the war between Israel and Hamas, which has been designated by the United States and European Union as a terrorist organization, may escalate and engulf the entire region.

The United States also criticized "Iran's reckless missile strikes" in Erbil, with State Department spokesman Matthew Miller offering Washington's support to both the Iraqi government and the KRG.

Iran's Foreign Ministry defended the missile strikes in Iraq and Syria, with spokesman Nasser Kanani saying in a statement that while Iran "respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries," it "will never hesitate" to use its "legitimate and legal right to take deterrent" measures against "sources of threat against its national security."

The Revolutionary Guards said the strikes in Iraq were in response to the killing of several "Resistance Axis" commanders, including IRGC generals, by Israel. The so-called Resistance Axis refers to Iran's network of allies in the region.

Three IRGC generals were killed in suspected Israeli strikes in Syria in December, including Iran's top commander in the country, Seyyed Razi Mousavi.

The Revolutionary Guards also suggested that the strikes in Syria were in retaliation for the deadly twin suicide bombings in Kerman on January 3 that killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores at a memorial for top commander Qassem Soleimani. IS claimed responsibility for the bombings.

Iranian media described the attacks as the largest and longest-range missile strikes yet by the IRGC.

IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Amirali Hajizadeh on January 16 said a total of 24 missiles were fired in the operations, most of which targeted Erbil.

To strike alleged IS targets in Syria, the IRGC used four Khaibarshekan missiles, which traveled more than 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) from Khuzestan Province in southwest Iran to Idlib in northwestern Syria.

Iran's Fars news agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, claimed on January 16 that the strike in Syria showed that Israel is within reach of Iran, while also serving as a warning to the United States that Iran's regional allies, including Hezbollah and the Huthi rebels in Yemen, "can be equipped with the same missiles."

The U.S. Central Command on January 16 said it had seized a small boat on January 11 carrying advanced Iranian-made weapons to the Huthis, as the group continues to target commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-strikes- iraq-kurds-syria/32776135.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.

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Iraq Recalls Ambassador to Tehran After Strikes on Kurdistan Region

Sputnik News

20240116

TUNIS (Sputnik) - The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that it had recalled its ambassador to Tehran for consultations following Iran's attacks on targets in the country.

"Today, on Tuesday, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled the ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Tehran ... for consultations amid the recent Iranian attacks on Erbil, which led to several deaths and injuries," the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, a security source in Iraq told Sputnik that several explosions had occurred in Erbil near the US Consulate General and Erbil International Airport, killing four and injuring six people. Later, the IRGC took responsibility for missile attacks, claiming that it targeted the bases of anti-Iranian terrorist groups, as well as one of the main headquarters of the Israeli Secret Intelligence Service (Mossad) in Iraqi Kurdistan. The targets were reportedly destroyed.

A Sputnik

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Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with the Prime Minister of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani

January 16, 2024

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of Iraq's Kurdistan region today in Davos, Switzerland. Sullivan strongly condemned Iran's reckless ballistic missile attacks the previous day in the capital city of the Kurdistan region, Erbil, and offered condolences for the tragic deaths of four civilians in these attacks, including an infant less than one year old. Sullivan and Barzani also discussed the importance of resuming oil exports and maintaining financial flows from federal Iraq to the Kurdistan region in support of the region's stability and livelihoods. Sullivan expressed appreciation for the Kurdistan region's strong partnership with the United States and reaffirmed U.S. support.

###

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Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani

January 16, 2024

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani of Iraq today in Davos, Switzerland. They discussed a range of issues, including Iran's reckless ballistic missile attacks against Erbil, Iraq the day prior and the importance of sustaining a strong bilateral partnership as outlined in the Strategic Framework Agreement. Sullivan and Sudani discussed the importance of stopping attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria and committed to enhancing security cooperation as part of a long-term, sustainable defense partnership. Sullivan reaffirmed U.S. support for Iraqi sovereignty and commitment to working towards greater stability and prosperity, including through continued cooperation on economic, commercial, and energy matters. Finally, Sullivan reaffirmed President Biden's invitation for Prime Minister Sudani to visit the White House soon.

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PM Netanyahu meeting with Local and Regional Council Heads from the Area adjacent to the Gaza Strip

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

16.01.2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, at IDF Southern Command HQ, met with local and regional council heads from the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, together with the members of the War Cabinet: Defense Minister Gallant, Minister Gantz, Minister Eisenkot, Strategic Affairs Minister Dermer and MK Deri. Also participating in the meeting were Interior Minister Arbel, Transportation Minister Regev, Education Minister Kisch, Housing and Construction Minister Goldknopf, Tourism Minister Katz and Agriculture Minister Dichter.

Prime Minister Netanyahu to the council heads at the start of the meeting:

"We are determined to rebuild the communities and the kibbutzim, in what is called 'the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip', to return the residents to their homes and bring about a much greater prosperity than there was before the war. To this end, we need - first of all - to achieve victory over Hamas, but also to carry out the necessary actions in the civilian sector; therefore, we have convened the War Cabinet today, together with the team of ministers.

We rely on our heroic soldiers and excellent commanders to achieve the military goal. At the same time, we also rely on your leadership, in your capacity as the heads of the communities, working together with the Government ministries, to achieve this rebuilding and this prosperity."

Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi, Sdot Negev Regional Council Chairman Tamir Idean, Hof Ashkelon Regional Council Chairman Itamar Revivo, Eshkol Regional Council Chairman Gadi Yarkoni, Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council Acting Chairman Yossi Keren and Merhavim Regional Council Chairman Shai Hajaj attended the meeting.

The Prime Minister's Chief-of-Staff, the Director of the National Security Council, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Director General, the Education Ministry Director General, the Defense Ministry Director General, the Government Secretary, the Head of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, the Director of the Tekuma Authority, the Head of IDF Home Front Command, the Head of IDF Southern Command, the Head of the PMO Planning Division and the PMO Deputy Director General for Home Affairs, Planning and Development also attended the meeting.

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What role did China play in a rebel group's victory in northern Myanmar?

Ethnic-minority armies couched their campaign as an effort to rid the region of criminal organizations that had frustrated China.

By Song Danyang for RFA Mandarin 2024.01.16 -- When the Three Brotherhood Alliance of rebel groups in Myanmar started a campaign against junta forces in the northern part of the country they chose a slogan designed to win support from a fourth potential ally: China.

"Wipe out the scammers, rescue our compatriots," the group declared in the message.

China, which shares a border with Kokang, a region in Shan state in northern Myanmar, had expressed increasing frustration with organized crime rings that had been allowed to operate in the area by junta-aligned forces. An estimated 120,000 people are being held in Myanmar against their will. Chinese nationals have both been trafficked by these groups and fleeced by them.

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army - which along with the Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army make up the Alliance - had tried and failed twice before to retake the region. This time, however, Kokang's capital of Laukkai fell into rebel hands on Jan. 4.

Since then, China has played a clear role in mediating a truce between the two sides. But the initial success of the rebel campaign has led analysts to speculate that it had, in fact, received Chinese backing.

China's leaders may have sought to kill "two birds with one stone," according to Deng Yuwen, a political commentator and former journalist - strengthening China's position in the region while removing the destabilizing threat presented by the scam compounds.

"The Chinese government can use the scamming operations as a way to secretly support local forces ... and control the area that way," Deng said.

"They solve the scamming problem and cultivate bold agents of the Chinese state at the same time," he said, meaning China believes the new leaders of Kokang will better reflect its interests.

A 'king' and a coup

Kokang has long been in China's orbit, and many of its residents are ethnically Chinese. In the mid-20th century, Kokang served as a base for Myanmar communists.

With the collapse of the Communist Party of Burma in 1989, local warlord Peng Jiasheng - whose nickname was "the king of Kokang" - switched his allegiance to the junta. The military granted the region autonomy and allowed Peng to keep his military presence in the area, though China remained an important patron.

In 2009, Peng was ousted in a coup led by his second-in-command, Bai Suocheng, who consolidated his family's control over the state. Bai allowed government troops to be stationed in Kokang for the first time while residents were granted Myanmar nationality.

Bai offered sanctuary to criminal groups in return for huge payouts that also benefited the junta. Eventually, massive, organized scam operations began to thrive in Kokang.

China pushes back

Last year, the Chinese government appeared fed up. In August, it took part in a joint operation with Myanmar and Thailand targeting the scam centers.

Over the intervening months, more than 40,000 Chinese nationals were arrested in Shan state for involvement with online scams, according to data collected by RFA.

A number of powerful Kokang business people were arrested at a trade fair in China in October, and in November, Beijing issued arrest warrants for a well-connected Kokang politician and three family members on allegations of masterminding an online scam ring.

On Dec. 10, China's Ministry of Public Security put out another wanted list, naming 10 individuals in connection with the scams, including Bai Suocheng, his grown children and a few junta officials.

The move not only showed Beijing's growing impatience with Myanmar's handling of the scam rings, but signaled that China favored leaders in Kokang more closely aligned with its national interests.

The prince's plans

After he had been dethroned as the king of Kokang, Peng Jiasheng resurfaced as the leader of the MNDAA, fighting Myanmar forces on occasion without significant success.

When he died in 2022, his son, Peng Denren, took over and immediately made plans to reclaim control of his father's lost territory. The Alliance launched "Operation 1027" - so-called for the on Oct. 27, 2023, date - offensive against Myanmar military strongholds in northern Myanmar.

Even though the Alliance remained outnumbered by government troops, the rebel forces scored several significant victories early on. Its soldiers have since seized more than 300 military bases, around a dozen towns, and won control of several key trade routes with the neighboring Chinese province of Yunnan.

Suspicion over 'foreign' experts

Myanmar's junta chief in November claimed that the ethnic-minority armed groups were getting outside assistance, according to a report by Agence France-Presse.

He said the rebels had been using "drones with advanced technology" to attack junta positions and were aided by "foreign drone experts," although he didn't specify which country they came from.

Li Jiawen, a spokesman for the MNDAA, denied the offensive was aided by the Chinese. "The situation we have today is the result of nearly 70 years of tyranny by the junta," Li said.

Even China's tacit approval of the operation is important, Yun Sun, the director of the China Program at the Stimson Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, said in an interview with RFA.

"The biggest support that China has lended to this organization is to not stop them," she said.

Rebel forces were able to retreat over the border to avoid junta artillery barrages. China allowed the flow of money and goods in Shan state that helped to sustain the rebels to continue, Sun said.

And there was likely a psychological effect: The morale of junta forces would have suffered when they realized the difficulty of sustaining control of the area without China's approval.

"The fact that China did not stop them carries a lot of currency," she said. "It sends a message ... that China is not completely happy with the junta at this time."

China mediates

Beijing has indicated that its chief priority in Myanmar is stability, which has meant supporting the junta in the broader struggle for control of the country.

"China's position is very clear," ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a late December press conference. "China will not support any party in provoking trouble. A ceasefire and negotiation are in the interests of all relevant parties in Myanmar and will also help maintain peace on the China-Myanmar border."

After a stray missile landed in a Chinese border town in Yunnan - injuring three Chinese citizens and prompting a strong rebuke from Beijing - China's vice foreign minister, Sun Weidong, flew to Myanmar on Jan. 4. He met with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and held talks with his Myanmar counterpart, Lun Wu, about the situation in northern Myanmar.

On the day of Sun's arrival, the junta announced it would transfer control of the Kokang Autonomous Region headquarters to the MNDAA.

The months-long struggle for Laukkai had come to an end.

"The formal cessation of hostilities began two days ago," MNDAA's Li Jiawen told RFA on Jan. 6. "You could still hear some artillery sounds on Jan. 5, but as of today, the artillery has stopped."

Videos provided by sources close to the MNDAA show Myanmar military personnel, with the Myanmar flag on their chests, handing over weapons and ammunition to the MNDAA before lining up for withdrawal. Kokang chairman and junta Brig. Gen. Tun Tun Myint engaged in what appeared to be friendly conversations with his recent enemies.

The analyst Deng Yuwen said the scene might be an example of junta realpolitik: concede a hard-to-defend territory and appease a powerful neighbor in the process.

"This place still needs to develop its economy before it can finally be safe," Deng said. "If the economy doesn't grow, other issues will arise over time ... which China doesn't want to see."

Scam crackdown

The MNDAA emphasizes the restoration of law and order in laying out its plans for Laukkai. Li Jiawen said that efforts to crack down on scam operations are ongoing, while most members of the Bai family and their associates have fled to Myanmar's capital.

"Telecommunications fraud in Laukkai has been largely eliminated, with only a small number of remnants," Li said. "We will continue to investigate and completely root out telecommunications fraud."

He also expressed gratitude to China: "This has definitely been fruitful, and China's mediation and involvement will continue in our negotiations with the Myanmar military. I believe that, under the vigorous mediation of the Chinese government, we will have a favorable outcome to those, too."

The junta military meanwhile seems intent on getting back on China's good side.

After Taiwanese voters backed a political party that supports an independent Taiwan in the recent presidential race, the junta issued a statement declaring its commitment to a "one China policy."

Myanmar's military rulers oppose "any separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' and foreign interference in the internal affairs of other states," the junta said in the statement.

Additional reporting by RFA Burmese. Translated by Luisetta Mudie and edited by Jim Snyder and Abby Seiff.

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.

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Kachin army launches attack on junta infantry base in Myanmar's north

The junta accused the Brotherhood Alliance of taking part in the attack days after a ceasefire agreement.

By RFA Burmese 2024.01.16 -- An ethnic armed group attempted to capture a city in northeastern Myanmar, residents in the area told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday.

After the Kachin Independence Army attacked Kutkai's junta infantry battalion on Monday, about 100 regime soldiers fled the area with their families, sources close to the junta said. Infantry Battalion 123 is located in Kutkai township's Nam Hpat Kar village, roughly 55 kilometers [34 miles] from China's border.

A ceasefire was called in northern Shan state on Thursday between junta troops and the Three Brotherhood Alliance, composed of three ethnic armed groups. The alliance is made up of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Ta'ang National Liberation Army, and the Arakan Army.

Despite the ceasefire brokered by China during talks in Kunming, other groups opposed to junta control are continuing to seize territory in the northeast.

The junta claimed the Ta'ang National Liberation Army was involved in the attack on Kutkai.

The Kachin Independence Army launched their attack on Infantry Battalion 123 on Sunday night and captured it the following morning, a Kutkai resident said, asking to remain nameless for fear of reprisals.

"The camp has been captured by the KIA since Monday morning. Since the camp was captured, locals in Nam Hpat Kar village fled because the military junta retaliated with heavy artillery and airstrikes," he told RFA. "This camp was mainly attacked by the 4th and 10th KIA battalions."

The Kachin Independence Army seized weapons and ammunition from this camp, locals said, adding that bodies of junta soldiers were also found. However, RFA could not independently verify these claims.

A group of more than 50 soldiers in Nam Hpat Kar village's Infantry Battalion 123 often fired at nearby villages with heavy weapons, locals said.

Despite locals claiming the ethnic armed force has succeeded, junta media and the Kachin Independence Army both stated the outcome is still unclear.

The Kachin Independence Army's information officer Col. Naw Bu told RFA that the group shot down a junta fighter jet around 12 pm on Tuesday. Despite this, he added the capture of the base is not official yet.

"I have seen posts [about the capture] on social media. The frontline hasn't reported yet that the camp has been captured," he said. "But I would like to say that there is nothing impossible under the military situation."

Some of the nearly 100 soldiers fleeing the infantry battalion's base had been injured in the attack, independent media outlets reported, citing military officials.

The Kachin Independence Army has not yet captured the base, according to an update on Tuesday from the junta's Defense Service, adding that reports from local outlets were fake news.

The Kachin Independence Army and Ta'ang National Liberation Army attacked the junta base using "superior force and drones," the statement said. It added regime soldiers and their family members managed to resist the attacks, and retaliated by shooting only at Kachin Independence Army soldiers responsible for the attack.

RFA called military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun on Tuesday afternoon to learn more about the attack, but he did not respond by the time of publication.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.

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.

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Deputy Defence Minister Colonel General Aleksandr Fomin meets with Niger's Minister of National Defence

16.01.2024

Deputy Defence Minister of the Russian Federation Colonel General Aleksandr Fomin and Colonel General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov met in a working session with Niger's Minister of National Defence General Salifou Modi.

Positive trends in the growth of bilateral military and military-technical cooperation were observed during the discussions, and potential areas of cooperation were underlined.

The sides decided to step up their combined action to stabilise the situation in the region and acknowledged the significance of growing Russia-Niger relations in the defence sector.

In addition, emphasis was placed on the Russian Ministry of Defence's willingness to maintain positive communication with its allies in Niger in order to improve combat readiness of the Republic of Niger's Armed Forces.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Nauru Officially Breaks Ties with Taiwan

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

January 15, 2024

While the Government of Nauru's action on January 15 to sever its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan is a sovereign decision, it is nonetheless a disappointing one.

Taiwan is a reliable, likeminded, and democratic partner. The PRC often makes promises in exchange for diplomatic relations that ultimately remain unfulfilled. We encourage all countries to expand engagement with Taiwan and to continue to support democracy, good governance, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law.

The United States will continue to deepen and expand our engagement with Taiwan on our many shared interests and values, support Taiwan's meaningful participation in the international community, and deepen our economic ties, consistent with our longstanding one China policy.

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Full text: Speech by Chinese premier Li Qiang at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024

Xinhua) 08:03, January 17, 2024

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday delivered a special address here at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024.

The following is the full text of the speech:

Special Address by H.E. Li Qiang

Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China

At the Opening Ceremony

Of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024

Davos, Jan. 16, 2024

Your Excellency President Viola Amherd,

Professor Klaus Schwab,

Your Excellencies State Leaders and Heads of International Organizations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Greetings to you all. It gives me great pleasure to come to the beautiful Davos for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024.

The theme of this meeting, "Rebuilding Trust," echoes well with people's concerns and will surely strike a chord with many. As I see it, the word "rebuild" implies at least three things. First, trust was once prevalent. To a large extent, it was trust between countries that enabled the huge progress in economic globalization over the past decades. Second, the foundation of trust has now been eroded. The lack of trust is aggravating risks to global growth and peaceful development. Third, rebuilding trust is essential. Whether it is to overcome current difficulties, or to create a better future, it is essential that we discard prejudice, bridge differences and work as one to tackle the trust deficit.

Where does trust come from? In my view, it comes, first and foremost, from our shared aspiration for a better future for humanity and from our common will to work together for that vision. As President Xi Jinping points out, changes of the world, of our times, and of historical significance are unfolding like never before, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. Yet the overall direction of human development and progress will not change, the overall dynamics of world history moving forward amid twists and turns will not change, and the overall trend toward a shared future for the international community will not change. After all the shifts and changes over the years, we should all the more cherish communication and exchange, all the more cherish solidarity and cooperation, all the more cherish openness and sharing, and all the more cherish peace and stability. These are not only ways to respond to changes, but in some sense, also ways to rebuild trust. In this connection, I wish to share with you five proposals on rebuilding trust and enhancing cooperation in the economic field.

First, strengthening macroeconomic policy coordination to build greater synergy for global growth. In today's world, countries have very close economic linkages, which means their macroeconomic policies have more notable spillover effects. In the face of global crises, fragmented and separate responses will only leave the world economy more fragile. As such, it is crucial that, in making and executing macro policies, countries around the world, especially major economies, step up dialogue and communication, take more coordinated and effective measures, firmly uphold the multilateral trading system, jointly improve global economic governance, and foster new drivers of global growth.

Second, strengthening international industrial specialization and collaboration to keep global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth. Figures show that from 2020 to 2022, each year saw on average over 5,400 new discriminatory trade and investment measures worldwide, nearly doubling the number before the pandemic. As we all know, industrial and supply chains in the economy are like the circulatory system of the human body. Any obstacles or disruptions can slow down or block the flow of lifeblood of the world economy, which not only compromises development efficiency but also triggers various economic risks and social problems. What truly serves the common interests of all is to fully respect the laws of international industrial specialization, firmly advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, tighten the bond of cooperation, make the pie of mutual benefit bigger, and steadily enhance the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

Third, strengthening international exchanges and cooperation on science and technology to better benefit humanity with technological advances. The new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation has created a new "coopetition" relationship between countries. To keep the competition healthy and bring out the greatest vitality, the only way is to enhance cooperation in innovation. Scientific and technological fruits should benefit humanity as a whole, instead of becoming a means to restrict or contain the development of other countries. We should advance international exchanges and cooperation on science and technology with a more open mindset and more open measures, work together for an open, just and nondiscriminatory environment for the development of science and technology, and break the barriers impeding the flow of factors of innovation, so as to let innovation thrive in an open environment.

Fourth, strengthening cooperation on green development to actively tackle climate change. Humanity still faces many challenges in addressing climate change and promoting green and low-carbon transition. Talks about the need for stronger cooperation on climate governance are often accompanied by actions of erecting barriers to green trade. Some high-quality and efficient green and low-carbon technologies and products cannot flow freely. It is important that we uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, better synergize our green development strategies, remove various barriers in this field, and jointly work for a complete transition to a greener economy and society.

Fifth, strengthening North-South and South-South cooperation to build a universally beneficial and inclusive world economy. In recent years, problems like the North-South gap, divergences in recovery, and the technological divide have become more acute. Many developing countries are in distress. According to World Bank estimates for this year, the average income in more than one third of the low-income countries will stay below the 2019 level. We Chinese people believe that benefits should be mutual. True and good development is development for all. We need to fully implement the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, strengthen global development cooperation, bridge development gaps, and create new cooperation highlights in areas such as poverty alleviation, food security and industrialization, so as to benefit the people of all countries with more fruits of cooperation.

The traditional Chinese culture very much values credibility. China is a country that attaches great importance to commitments, honoring its words with concrete actions all along. With the greatest sincerity, utmost efforts and concrete results, China has proven consistently to the world that it is a country most worthy of trust. We are also well aware that apart from objective reasons, there are also subjective factors that aggravate the trust deficit. In bilateral and multilateral relations, there are many examples where one side's capriciousness undermines mutual trust with others. In our view, the best way to earn trust is to be a better version of oneself. Only when all sides treat each other with sincerity and work in the same direction can there be a stronger foundation of trust and more fruits of cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Under the current circumstances, the world economic recovery requires strong underpinnings. Greater contribution is expected from all countries, especially major economies. I know that you all follow the Chinese economy closely and may have your own observations. So how should one look at the Chinese economy? I believe it is similar to looking at the Alps, the undulating mountain range with magnificent peaks, from the small town of Davos. My European friends told me that to fully appreciate the majestic beauty of the Alps, one has to zoom out and look from afar. It is the same with the Chinese economy. One has to broaden the vision and take a panoramic view to see the whole picture in an objective and comprehensive manner and truly grasp where it is now and where it is going. Here I would like to share with you some perspectives on the Chinese economy.

First, the Chinese economy is making steady progress and will continue to provide strong impetus for the world economy. China is an important engine of global development. Over the years, its contribution to world economic growth has stayed at around 30 percent. In 2023, the Chinese economy rebounded and moved upward, with an estimated GDP growth of around 5.2 percent, higher than the around 5 percent target set at the beginning of the year. In promoting economic development, we did not resort to massive stimulus. We did not seek short-term growth while accumulating long-term risks. Rather, we focused on strengthening the internal drivers. As the second largest economy in the world, China has established, after years of development, sound and solid fundamentals. Just as a healthy person often has a strong immune system, the Chinese economy can handle ups and downs in its performance. The overall trend of long-term growth will not change. In terms of the industrial base, China is the only country with industries across all categories in the U.N. industrial classification. The added value of China's manufacturing industry accounts for around 30 percent of the global total, ranking first in the world for 14 consecutive years. China is also home to over 200 mature industry clusters. With its large scale, complete categories and strong supporting capacity, China's industrial system can meet the demand of the rapid development of social productivity and will contribute to better global allocation of production factors and the rise in global productivity. In terms of production factors, China's demographic dividend is turning into talent dividend. We now rank first in the world in terms of the size of talent pool, human resources in science and technology and the total number of researchers. Capital shortage is replaced by abundance. Our global share of annual capital formation has risen to about 30 percent. In addition, with its huge data output and rich data resources, China has the second largest data mine in the world. In terms of innovation capacity, China's total input in research and development and investment in the high-tech sector has been growing at double-digit rates for several years running. New technologies, including cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence and blockchain, are being applied at a faster pace. New products and new business forms such as intelligent terminals, robots and telehealth keep emerging. China now has some 400,000 high-tech enterprises and ranks second globally in the number of unicorn companies. All this will boost the formation and cultivation of new growth drivers in China. Looking at the broader picture, we are now advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development. Delivering modernization to more than 1.4 billion people will be a remarkable achievement in human history, one that will provide continuous impetus to the development of China and the wider world.

Second, China has a supersize market with rapidly unlocked demand. It will continue to provide a big stage for various businesses and talents. In the face of weak global demand, market becomes the most scarce resource. The Chinese market, with its vast space and growing depth, will play an important role in boosting aggregate global demand. In China, there are now over 400 million people in the middle-income bracket, and the number is expected to reach 800 million in the next decade or so. For a growing range of products and services, the focus of consumer demand is shifting from quantity to quality, which will generate strong driving force for upgrading consumption. China's urbanization rate is now more than 10 percentage points lower than the average level of the developed countries. There is much room for infrastructural upgrading in urban renewal, transportation and telecommunications, among others. There are also some 300 million rural migrants who are acquiring permanent urban residency at a faster pace. These will create massive demand in areas such as housing, education, medical services and elderly care. China is deepening its transition toward green and low-carbon growth. Close to half of the world's installed photovoltaic capacity is in China. Over half of the world's new energy vehicles (NEVs) run on roads in China, and its NEV ownership has reached over 20 million units. China contributes one-fourth of the increased area of afforestation in the world. China is also cultivating large-scale new growth drivers in sectors such as green infrastructure, green energy, green transportation and green lifestyle. This will generate investment and consumption markets with an estimated size of RMB10 trillion yuan annually, and promises huge potential. We will keep exploring and unleashing such market demand, increase import of high-quality goods and services from all over the world, attract more foreign investment in areas including medium- and high-end manufacturing and biopharmaceuticals, and provide broader space for boosting global trade and investment.

Third, China remains firmly committed to opening up. We will continue to create favorable conditions for the world to share in China's opportunities. In the past four decades and more, China has achieved development and shared benefits with the world through opening up. Right now, China is a major trading partner of over 140 countries and regions. Our overall tariff level has been cut to 7.3 percent, relatively on par with the developed members in the World Trade Organization. By opening up wider, we aim to share China's opportunities and develop together with all in the world. To business leaders here today, I want to say that over the years, multinational corporations have cultivated the Chinese market and, based on China's manufacturing prowess, expanded their global production, grown fast and had good rewards. In the past five years, the return on foreign direct investment in China stands at around nine percent, which is quite competitive globally. Choosing the Chinese market is not a risk, but an opportunity. We embrace investments from businesses of all countries with open arms, and will work tirelessly to foster a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment. We will steadily expand institutional opening up, continue to shorten the negative list for foreign investment, follow through on removing all restrictions on access for foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, and guarantee national treatment for foreign businesses. With regard to concerns of some multinationals on issues such as cross-border data flow and equal participation in government procurement, we are working on the formulation of relevant policies. We will also hear the views of foreign businesses regularly and take active steps to address reasonable concerns. All in all, no matter how the world changes, China will stay committed to the fundamental national policy of opening up and open its door still wider to the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

In some 20 days, we will celebrate the Spring Festival to usher in the Chinese Year of the Dragon. In traditional Chinese culture, the dragon is a symbol of auspiciousness, wisdom and strength. In the face of common challenges, we hope that all the members of the international community, with a shared aspiration for a better future and with the vigor of a flying dragon, will forge ahead toward building a community with a shared future for mankind.

To conclude, I wish this annual meeting a complete success.

Thank you.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Diary Marif

New Canadian Media

Greater Victoria is experiencing a demographic shift as more visible minorities choose to settle on Vancouver Island, according to the latest federal statistics.

Data recently extrapolated from the 2021 Census population profile shows that 64,775 people identified as members of a visible minority group in Greater Victoria, and now comprise 16.7 percent of the total population of 388,470.

This is a sharp increase from the 50,310 recorded in the 2016 census when visible minorities made up 14.1 percent of Victorias population. That means that in the five years between 2016 and 2021, 14,465 people who identified as visible minorities moved to Greater Victoria.

Still, Victoria has less ethnic diversity than the rest of B.C. Across the province, 34.4 percent of people identified as members of a visible minority group in 2021; in Greater Victoria, the number is less than half of that, at 16.7 percent.

The visible minorities are primarily new immigrants. They most likely came to Canada via a work or study permit, said Quinton Gordon, manager of strategic engagement at Greater Victorias Inter-Cultural Association.

He said about three-quarters of the recent immigrants to the region are visible minorities, and almost half had some experience in Canada before moving to the island.

In terms of their countries of origin, the reports demographic breakdown shows the largest number are of Chinese descent (17,390), followed by people of South Asian heritage (13,715), and those of Filipino origin (8,525).

Gordon said some people moved there by choice, while others were obligated to move. The Syrian Refugee Crisis and the Ukrainian response are examples of federal government programs aimed at resettling refugees in the area.

If they are resettling through the government-assisted refugee program then Victoria may not have been about choice, he said. Those with a choice often select Victoria based on climate, but face the challenges of a smaller job market and the high cost of living.

Greater Victoria is also a destination for international students. Nora Salvatierra, moved to Victoria, from the Philippines last year to pursue her studies.

Coming from the Philippines, safety was a priority for me, and Victoria offers a reassuring environment, Salvatierra said. Whats great is the excellent public transit system here, which not only makes commuting easy but also feels comfortable and secure.

Ienelle Delos Reyes is a fifth-year student at the University of Victoria. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. She immigrated to B.C. the Philippines in 2017 and said she likes Victorias size and the cost of living is cheaper than in larger cities. The growth in the Filipino community also encouraged Delos Reyes to move to Victoria.

The Filipino community in Victoria is getting larger by the day and itd be nice to meet more Filipinos, she said.

The housing and cost of living in Greater Victoria are also attractive to new Canadians because its more affordable compared to Vancouver and other cities in B.C.

The increasing visible minority population in Greater Victoria adds diversity, yet there are lingering challenges and barriers that may impact growth, Gordon said.

He highlighted the housing shortage as a pervasive issue affecting students, families and seniors, and there are no immediate solutions. Affordable housing is currently the foremost obstacle for individuals seeking to establish themselves in Victoria.

Families coming in on government-assisted refugee sponsorship often face the most difficulty finding suitable housing and are having to spend longer than ideal periods in short-term accommodations, like hotels, before our Resettlement Assistance Program team can find them housing, Gordon said.

The Inter-cultural Association primarily prioritizes housing and English language classes, with family-related concerns such as employment and schooling next.

Our team of settlement workers including our settlement workers in schools, and our LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) and employment services team do an amazing job of helping clients to access the services they are looking for and most urgently need, he said.

Despite their preference for living in Victoria, Delos Reyes faces some difficulties as the costs of basic necessities, such as groceries, are also increasing.

Im a full-time student and I have a part-time job as a store clerk at a liquor store, Delos Reyes said.

I earn a dollar over minimum wage and mostly rely on student loans so Im basically getting by on my own, so you can imagine how much strain Im in financially.

Canadas ethnic diversity by the numbers

More than 450 ethnic or cultural origins were reported in the 2021 Census. The top origins reported by Canada's population, alone or with other origins, were "Canadian" (5.7 million people), "English" (5.3 million), "Irish" (4.4 million), "Scottish" (4.4 million) and "French" (4.0 million).

In 2021, over 19.3 million people reported a Christian religion, representing just over half of the Canadian population (53.3%). However, this proportion is down from 67.3% in 2011 and 77.1% in 2001.

Approximately 12.6 million people, or more than one-third of Canada's population, reported having no religious affiliation. The proportion of this population has more than doubled in 20 years, going from 16.5% in 2001 to 34.6% in 2021.

While small, the proportion of Canada's population who reported being Muslim, Hindu or Sikh has more than doubled in 20 years. From 2001 to 2021, these shares rose from 2.0% to 4.9% for Muslims, from 1.0% to 2.3% for Hindus and from 0.9% to 2.1% for Sikhs.

Racialized groups in Canada are all experiencing growth. In 2021, South Asian (7.1%), Chinese (4.7%) and Black (4.3%) people together represented 16.1% of Canada's total population.

The portrait of racialized groups varies across regions. For example, the South Asian, Chinese and Black populations are the largest groups in Ontario, while the largest groups are Black and Arab people in Quebec, Chinese and South Asians in British Columbia, and South Asians and Filipinos in the Prairies.
U.S. post-election group affirms bipartisan support for Taiwan: AIT

ROC Central News Agency

01/16/2024 01:38 PM

Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) A just-concluded trip to Taiwan by former American officials was meant to congratulate Taiwan on its latest democratic elections and to show bipartisan support for bilateral ties, the visiting chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said Tuesday.

Serving as special envoys from Washington, former U.S. national security adviser Steve Hadley and ex-Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg arrived in Taiwan on Sunday evening, one day after Vice President Lai Ching-te () was elected Taiwan's new leader.

At a press conference Tuesday, AIT Chairwoman Laura Rosenberger said she and the two former officials were in Taiwan to convey "the congratulations of the American people" and to "underscore the bipartisan support for the U.S.-Taiwan partnership and our support for a smooth transition."

The AIT represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties.

The three of them met with outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen () and President-elect Lai on Monday.

During those meetings, both sides discussed the importance of "continuity in key policy areas, including our maintaining the cross-strait status quo on defense issues and on economic relations and people-to-people ties," according to Rosenberger.

Lai of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won Taiwan's presidential election on Jan. 13, giving the DPP an unprecedented third consecutive presidential term.

Tsai could not run for reelection because Taiwan's presidents are limited to two four-year terms.

Later Monday, the group also met separately with opposition Kuomintang presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih () and opposition Taiwan People's Party candidate Ko Wen-je ().

In those encounters, the U.S. delegates highlighted that the U.S. partnership with Taiwan "transcends party lines" and that Washington will continue to "work across the political spectrum in Taiwan," Rosenberger said.

"We know campaigns are hard fought but also know that all in Taiwan share a deep interest in what's best for Taiwan, regardless of their political affiliations," she said.

Referencing the Jan. 13 elections, the AIT chair reiterated and reaffirmed that Washington's policy toward Taiwan "will remain the same regardless of the elections outcome."

"That's because U.S. interests in Taiwan, and our deep and abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait will not change when a new Taiwan administration takes office."

According to the AIT, it has been a practice for the U.S. government to ask former senior officials to travel to Taiwan in a private capacity, as did Hadley and Steinberg, following a presidential election.

Shortly after President Tsai was first elected in 2016, Washington sent former Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns to Taipei to meet Tsai and then-President Ma Ying-jeou (), with then-Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting Beijing at the same time.

(By Wu Sheng-hung and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ls

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AIT chair disappointed by U.N.-resolution distortion in Nauru move

ROC Central News Agency

01/16/2024 01:07 PM

Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) The United States was disappointed by Nauru's decision to cut ties with Taipei on Monday and that a 1971 United Nations resolution was "distorted" to justify the move, the visiting chairwoman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said Tuesday.

"While the government of Nauru's action on January 15 to sever its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan is a sovereign decision, it is nonetheless a disappointing one," AIT Chairwoman Laura Rosenberger said at a press briefing Tuesday when asked about Nauru's move.

Rosenberger also expressed disappointment over Nauru's statement that the decision was consistent with the "one-China principle ... in line with U.N. Resolution 2758, which recognizes the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legal government representing the whole of China."

According to Rosenberger, U.N. resolution 2758 "did not make a determination on the status of Taiwan; does not preclude countries from having diplomatic relationships with Taiwan; and does not preclude Taiwan's meaningful participation in the U.N. system."

"It is disappointing to see distorted narratives about U.N. resolution 2758 being used as a tool to pressure Taiwan, limit its voice on the international stage, and influence its diplomatic relationships," she said.

Nauru's citing of the 1971 resolution was the first time in recent years that a former ally has used it as a justification for switching diplomatic recognition, a diplomatic source told CNA on Monday.

Resolution 2758 was adopted by the 26th U.N. General Assembly in 1971 to solve the issue of China's representation in the U.N. system and ultimately led to the U.N.'s decision to expel Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China (ROC), and have the PRC take its place in the international organization.

The resolution passed on Oct. 25, 1971 recognizes the PRC as the "only lawful representative of China."

Taiwan and U.S. governments have repeatedly argued, however, that it does not mention Taiwan, does not state that "Taiwan is part of the PRC," and does not explicitly authorize Beijing to represent Taiwan in the U.N. system.

Commenting on the severance of ties, Rosenberger praised Taiwan as a "reliable like-minded and democratic partner" and said the U.S. will continue to support its meaningful participation in the international community consistent with its longstanding one-China policy.

On Monday, Nauru President David Adeang announced his government's decision to switch ties in the best interests of its government and its people.

"This means that the Republic of Nauru will no longer recognize the Republic of China (Taiwan) as a separate country but rather as an inalienable part of China's territory, and will sever 'diplomatic relations' with Taiwan as of this day," he said.

The severing of ties came two days after Vice President Lai Ching-te (ea) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was elected president, and left the ROC with only 12 diplomatic allies.

It was also the 10th diplomatic ally Taipei has lost to Beijing since President Tsai Ing-wen (ee) took office in May 2016 due to deteriorating cross-Taiwan Strait relations.

The decision marks the second time Nauru has cut ties with the ROC.

The ROC first established diplomatic relations with Nauru in 1980 before the Pacific island cut ties with Taipei and recognized Beijing in July 2002.

In May 2005, the ROC and Nauru reestablished diplomatic relations and opened embassies in each other's capitals. Beijing consequently severed its relations with Nauru.

China's foreign ministry, meanwhile, said on Monday it appreciated and welcomed Nauru's decision.

"China has established diplomatic relations with 182 countries on the basis of the one-China principle," it said in a statement.

"The Nauru government's decision to reestablish diplomatic ties with China once again shows that the 'one-China' principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends," it said.

(By Wu Sheng-hung and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ls

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Xi calls for strengthening patriotic united forces as security authority warns secessionists

Global Times

By Wang Qi and Liu Xuanzun Published: Jan 16, 2024 09:52 PM

The united front work should strengthen the patriotic united forces in Taiwan, and oppose the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" forces, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said in an article published in the flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, the Ministry of State Security (MSS) warned in a WeChat article that the Anti-Secession Law is "a sharp sword hanging over the heads of Taiwan secessionists," stating that the sword is only targeting secessionists instead of Taiwan compatriots, in order to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Chinese mainland experts believe that the two articles highlighted the mainland's differentiated treatment of the Taiwan compatriots and the Taiwan secessionists: to encourage the patriotic united forces and to contain "Taiwan independence" forces. In the future, the mainland will be more precise and targeted in combating secessionists and will not give up any prospect of reunification in a peaceful way.

The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was published in this year's second issue of the Qiushi Journal. The article stressed the importance of improving the Party's united front work in the new era, and provided a set of new concepts, ideas and strategies to enhance and improve the united front work from 12 aspects.

United front work in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan region and among overseas Chinese should be improved to rally support, Xi said in the article.

United front work should implement the Party's overall strategy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, develop and strengthen the patriotic united forces in Taiwan, oppose the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" forces, and promote the complete reunification of the motherland, Xi noted.

According to Zheng Jian, a professor of Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, "consolidating and developing the broadest patriotic united front" was clearly put forward in the report of the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, with multiple supporting policies and measures launched afterwards.

Rallying support from Taiwan people, which the mainland has been consistent on in its policies, will not be halted despite that the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Lai Ching-te won the regional leadership election, Zheng said, noting that the mainland will still promote the construction of the demonstration zone for cross-Straits integration and development in Fujian Province.

Remarks from Xi show that the mainland seeks to differentiate DPP authorities and secessionist groups from Taiwan compatriots, Wang Yingjin, director of the Center for Cross-Straits Relations Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The mainland will resolutely suppress and contain the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, but for the Taiwan people and groups from different sectors who support the 1992 Consensus, the mainland still welcomes cross-Straits interaction and integrated development, Wang said.

The mainland has not given up on continuing to push for peaceful reunification, Wang said, adding that the mainland will think more about how to strike at "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces in a targeted manner without hurting the Taiwan people and win over their hearts and minds.

Stern warning

On the other hand, the article released by MSS involves more warnings, as Lai, the diehard secessionist, did not show any kindness to the mainland even in his post-election speech.

The article introduced the Anti-Secession Law adopted in March 2005, after DPP's Chen Shui-bian was re-elected to a second term as Taiwan regional leader in 2004. The article compared the law to "a sword hanging over the heads of the Taiwan secessionists," to deter their acts of splitting the country, and to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, rather than against the ordinary people in Taiwan.

The article stressed three circumstances stipulated in the law that allow the state to employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the event that the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China, or that major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession from China should occur, or that possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted.

The article concludes by saying that the DPP has only the self-interest and completely disregards the interests and well-being of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and there is only one end, which is to be shattered to pieces and fall from grace.

By stressing the Anti-Secession Law at this moment, the MSS is warning Lai, who is regarded as a more stubborn and diehard secessionist than Tsai Ing-wen, that "do not think that you can do whatever you want after being elected," Zheng said.

Even if Lai pursues progressive secession, it will not go far as well, as when the mainland decides that the possibility of peaceful reunification is completely exhausted, then naturally it will hit the red line of Anti-Secession Law, Zheng noted.

According to Wang, after Lai takes office, the cross-Straits relations are expected to get worse, with increased uncertainties and risks.

"The Chinese mainland will definitely contain Taiwan secessionists from all aspects, including military, diplomatic, economic, political... And we're not going to be soft on this," Wang remarked.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday welcomed Nauru's decision of severing "diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan region, which was announced on Monday.

On Tuesday, the defense authority on the island of Taiwan said in a press release that it had detected 15 aircraft and three vessels of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) around the island over the past day.

Among the 15 PLA aircraft, a Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft and an unmanned aerial vehicle entered the island of Taiwan's self-proclaimed air defense identification zone, while the other 13, consisting of main combat and supportive aircraft including J-10C fighter jets, operated in the western side of the Taiwan Straits, according to a map attached to the press release.

The PLA holds patrols and exercises around the island of Taiwan on a regular basis, so the recent PLA activities are not related with the regional election on the island, but aim to enhance combat readiness and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity from any "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities, a Chinese mainland military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Should Lai make further "Taiwan independence" moves after his election, it cannot be ruled out that the PLA will make further countermeasures that send warnings to secessionists and external interferences forces, enhance its capabilities in resolving the Taiwan question, and push forward the progress of national reunification, analysts said.

From PLA's military operation to the Ministry of National Security's law enforcement, the mainland is waving a dragnet of full coverage against secessionists, said Zheng. "Secessionists will have to pay a price, and patriotic promotion of reunification will be supported."

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Philippine President should read more to develop a proper understanding of the Taiwan question: Chinese FM

Global Times

By Zhang Yuying Published: Jan 16, 2024 09:00 PM

China suggests Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr read more to develop a proper understanding of the ins and outs of the Taiwan question, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated on Tuesday, in response to Marcos' comments on the Taiwan regional election results, with Chinese experts noting that there is disagreement within the Philippines on how to handle relations with China, and Marcos might be considering how to use the situation across the Taiwan Straits as a bargaining chip toward China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks during a regular press conference on Tuesday, after President Marcos on Monday congratulated Lai Ching-te, and expressed the desire for close collaboration in the years ahead, Reuters reported.

Mao said Marcos' remarks gravely violate the one-China principle and the communiquA on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines, seriously go against the Philippines' political commitments to China, and blatantly interfere in China's internal affairs. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this and has immediately lodged strong representations to the Philippine side.

Mao said that Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong summoned the Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime Florcruz to lodge serious dAmarche and urge the Philippines to present a responsible response to China. "The election result of the Taiwan region cannot change the dynamics and direction of cross-Strait relations and cannot hold back the prevailing trend that China will and must achieve reunification," Mao said.

The spokesperson warned the Philippines that it should refrain from playing with fire on the Taiwan question, earnestly abide by the-one China principle and the joint communiquA of establishing diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines, immediately stop the wrong words and deeds on Taiwan-related issues and stop sending any wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Also on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines opposed Marcos' statement, stating that the one-China principle is the political basis for the establishment and development of diplomatic relations between China and 182 countries, including the Philippines. It is also a universally recognized norm for international relations and the consensus of the international community.

The Philippine side made a solemn commitment in the Joint Communique, and successive Philippine governments have followed the one-China principle since then. "The Philippine leader's remarks run counter to the one-China principle and contradict the statements of the Philippine government, sending wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces," the spokesperson noted.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said that it reaffirms the principles contained in the Joint Communique made by the two countries in 1975, and that the Philippines is committed to one-China Policy.

"The contradiction between the Philippine president's remarks and that of the foreign ministry shows that there is disagreement within the Philippines on how to handle relations with China," Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute of Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Marcos' remarks violate the one-China principle, which China firmly opposes, Gu said, noting that the statement made by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs means that it still hopes to develop friendly and good-neighborly relations with China, and clearly knows that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's interests and a red line that cannot be touched.

"Some Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, have relatively close relations with Taiwan region because of long-standing economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges," Ge Hongliang, deputy director of the College of ASEAN Studies at Guangxi University for Nationalities, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Ge noted that specifically in the case of the Philippines, it cannot be ruled out that Marcos has his own perception related to the Taiwan question, as the Philippines follows the US' strategy and cooperates with its actions on this question. Therefore, it is possible that the Philippines wants to use the situation across the Taiwan Straits as a bargaining chip toward China.

Chinese experts urged the Philippines to not go too far on the wrong path related to the Taiwan question, and hope that China and the Philippines can develop friendly relations and jointly manage the situation in the South China Sea to maintain regional peace and stability.

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China strongly rebukes US' remarks on Nauru severing 'diplomatic ties' with Taiwan region

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Published: Jan 16, 2024 06:59 PM

China expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition on Tuesday toward the US State Department's latest remarks on Nauru severing "diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan authorities.

The US blatantly issued irresponsible remarks on decisions made independently by a sovereign country, smears China's diplomacy, makes excuses for Taiwan region to expand international space, seriously violates the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques, and seriously interferes in China's internal affairs, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

The US said it was disappointed that Nauru had switched "diplomatic recognition" from Taiwan to the Chinese mainland, the AFP reported.

The US State Department also said "PRC often makes promises in exchange for diplomatic relations that ultimately remain unfulfilled," according to the media report.

"There is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The government of the People's Republic of China is the only legal government representing the whole of China," Mao said.

The one-China principle is a recognized basic norm of international relations and a general consensus of the international community, she noted.

The Nauru government's decision to resume diplomatic relations with China once again fully demonstrates that the one-China principle is the aspiration of the people and the general trend, she said. China urged the US to implement the commitment repeatedly reiterated by US leader not to support Taiwan independence, "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan", to be prudent in handling affairs related to Taiwan question, and to stop sending erroneous messages to Taiwan secessionists, Mao said.

Shortly after the Nauru government said it will cut "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan region, noting that it's "in the best interests" of the Pacific island nation and its people to seek resumption of diplomatic relations with China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday that China stands ready to work with Nauru to open a new chapter of bilateral relations on the basis of one-China principle.

In response to the Taiwan authorities' latest claims about Nauru severing "diplomatic relations" with the island, which it claimed to be the mainland's retaliation to so-called democratic elections in Taiwan and a direct challenge to the international order, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said those remarks are simply confusing right and wrong while also confusing the public.

The Taiwan question is definitely not a democratic question, but a question related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Mao said.

The Taiwan secessionists use the guise of democracy to cover up their sinister intentions of splitting the country. Their plot is doomed to fail, the spokesperson said.

When it comes to international order, Taiwan's return to China is an important part of the international order after WWII. This is clearly stipulated in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration, the spokesperson said.

Resolution 2758 passed by the 26th session of the UN General Assembly in 1971 made it clear that there are no "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" in the world. Adhering to the one-China principle means safeguarding the international order, and challenging the one-China principle means challenging the international order, which will inevitably be opposed by the international community, Mao said.

A total of 182 countries around the world have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. Nauru's decision to stand with the overwhelming majority of the international community and resume diplomatic relations with China is a correct choice that is in line with its own long-term interests and will also open up brighter prospects for Nauru's development, the spokesperson said.

"The one-China principle is the basic norm of international relations and the general consensus of the international community. The Chinese government never trades principles," Mao said.

The DPP authorities ignore this historical trend, refuse to accept the one-China principle, and do everything possible to expand the so-called international space. There is no way out for engaging in secessionist activities and it is destined to end in failure, the spokesperson emphasized.

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FM opposes US House bill promoting Taiwan membership in IMF

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jan 16, 2024 05:14 PM

China firmly opposes US' so-called bill supporting the Taiwan island as an IMF member and has lodged a solemn representation with the US, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The US House of Representatives advanced several bills concerning the island on Friday. One of them, the "Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2023," sponsored by California Republican Young Kim, requires the US to advocate for Taiwan's membership in the IMF.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press conference in Beijing on Tuesday that the so-called bill constitutes a gross interference in China's internal affairs, attempting to manipulate political issues under the guise of the Taiwan question and creating incidents that promoted "one China, one Taiwan" or "two Chinas" that violate the one-China principle.

China has expressed its strong dissatisfaction, firmly opposes the latest move by the US and has lodged a solemn representation with the US, Mao said, emphasizing that Taiwan island has no legitimate reasons or rights to participate in international organizations such as the UN, which are reserved for sovereign states.

On October 25, 1971, the 26th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted, with an overwhelming majority, Resolution 2758, which "decides to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations," and to expel forthwith the representatives of the Taiwan authorities "from the place which they unlawfully occupy." Once and for all, UNGA Resolution 2758 resolved, politically, legally and procedurally, the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, at the UN. It also made it clear that there can only be one seat representing China at the UN, and that is the People's Republic of China, Mao said.

For more than half a century, the UN and other specialized agencies, including the IMF, have adhered to the provisions of this resolution, the spokesperson said.

"Any issue related to Taiwan's participation in international organizations must be resolved under the One-China principle. The US should recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question, immediately cease interfering in China's internal affairs, stop sending wrong signals to pro-independence forces in the island, and refrain from harming China-US relations and the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits," Mao said.

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China issues warning to Philippines over Manila's Taiwan remarks

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 3:02 PM

China has issued a warning to the Philippines over Manila's recent remarks after Chinese Taipei elected a new president.

Beijing summoned its ambassador in Manila on Tuesday and warned the Philippines "not to play with fire" after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr congratulated Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te on his election victory.

China was "strongly dissatisfied with and resolutely opposes these remarks," Beijing's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, referring to Marcos congratulating Lai on Monday for winning the election and referring to him as its next president.

"The relevant remarks of President Marcos constitute a serious violation of the One China principle and ... a serious breach of the political commitments made by the Philippines to the Chinese side, and a gross interference in China's internal affairs," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced at a briefing in Beijing.

"China has lodged a strong protest with the Philippines at the earliest opportunity," and summoned its ambassador "to give China a responsible explanation," Mao added.

In an earlier statement last week, China's Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the "One China" policy, saying the Taiwan issue is China's internal affair and regardless of changes in the island, Taiwan is part of China.

The statement came on Saturday after Lai Ching-te, a candidate from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, won the island's presidential election. By tradition, the DPP advocates independence for the island.

"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 statement pointed out, adding that the international community's prevailing consensus on upholding the one-China principle and long-standing and overwhelming adherence to this principle remains unchanged.

"The one-China principle is the solid anchor for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," the Ministry reiterated.

Taipei's 64-year-old president-elect addressed people in his victory speech on Saturday, reiterating that he is "determined to safeguard Taiwan from China" vowing to remain on incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen's pro-Western path.

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China Warns Philippines 'Not to Play With Fire' Over Taiwan

By VOA News January 16, 2024

China summoned the ambassador of the Philippines Tuesday to officially protest President Ferdinand Marcos' message of congratulations to Taiwan's newly elected president.

In a post on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, President Marcos congratulated Lai Ching-te, the candidate of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, on his election last Saturday, and said he looked forward to "close collaboration" with him. The DPP has long been a proponent of Taiwan's self-rule status, pushing back against Beijing's claims of sovereignty over the island.

Speaking to reporters in Beijing, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said President Marcos's statement was a "serious violation" of the Philippines' commitment to the "One China principle" and "a gross interference in China's internal affairs."

Mao Ning warned the Philippines "not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue" and to stop sending "wrong signals" to independence and separatist forces on the island. She also urged Marcos to do further reading so he can properly understand the issue and come to "the right conclusions."

Taiwan has been self-governing since the end of China's civil war in 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist forces were driven off the mainland by Mao Zedong's Communists and settled on the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its control by any means necessary, including a military takeover.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse.

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US: Nauru's Decision to Break with Taiwan 'Disappointing'

By Nike Ching January 16, 2024

The United States said Monday that the government of Nauru's severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan is "disappointing," despite it being a sovereign decision.

The Pacific Island nation announced its decision to switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China shortly after Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections.

"Taiwan is a reliable, like-minded, and democratic partner. The PRC often makes promises in exchange for diplomatic relations that ultimately remain unfulfilled," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement late Monday. He was referring to People's Republic of China.

Miller added: "We encourage all countries to expand engagement with Taiwan and to continue to support democracy, good governance, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law."

The Republic of Nauru "will no longer recognize the Republic of China (Taiwan) as a separate country but rather as an inalienable part of China's territory," said the Nauru government in an official statement on Monday.

In Beijing, Chinese officials praised the move.

"China appreciates and welcomes the decision of the government of the Republic of Nauru," said Mao Ning who is a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The Nauru government's decision of reestablishing diplomatic ties with China once again shows that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends" are, said Mao.

She repeated China's assertion that "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory" during a briefing Monday.

Implications to the U.S. policy towards the Pacific Islands

Nauru is one of the members of the Pacific Islands Forum, or PIF, the premier political and economic policy-making body for the region. It comprises 18 member states, with Australia and New Zealand being the largest economies in the bloc. Neither the United States nor China is a full member.

Last September, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted leaders from this Pacific Islands bloc at a two-day summit in Washington, amid rising U.S. concerns about China's growing military and economic influence in the region.

The shift in Nauru's position means the next Pacific Islands Forum secretary general will be from a country that recognizes the government in Beijing, rather than the government in Taipei.

Some analysts believe Nauru's move could make it more challenging for the PIF to resist overtures from China.

Last November, former Nauru President Baron Waqa was selected as the next PIF Secretary General, at a time when Nauru still maintained diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Waqa has reportedly resisted China's pressure in the past. It remains to be seen whether he will continue as the PIF Secretary General.

According to Cleo Paskal, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, or FDD, Chinese offers to Nauru have been present for years, and the specifics of this deal were likely finalized before the Taiwan elections.

She suggested that Beijing might have delayed the announcement until after the Taiwan elections to "reinforce" the PRC's narrative.

"U.S. policy in the Pacific Islands is not shining at the moment," Paskal told VOA.

"Nauru has been asking for help with things like developing its port and protecting its waters for years - things that would help regional security as well. The longer they wait, the more room for PRC operatives to say 'they aren't coming, you should cut the deal in front of you now, with us'. The window for U.S. relevance is closing."

UN resolution 2758

Monday, the State Department said the United States will continue to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in the international community and deepen economic ties, consistent with Washington's longstanding One China policy.

The U.S. does not take a position on Taiwan's sovereignty. Under Washington's One China policy, the U.S. acknowledges Beijing's claims of sovereignty over Taiwan but does not endorse them.

Washington and Taipei have held regular consultations to explore Taiwan's participation in the United Nations system and other international forums, to address a range of global challenges, including public health, aviation safety and climate change.

In Beijing, Chinese spokesperson Mao Ning said, "There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory," citing United Nations resolution 2758.

On October 25, 1971, the U.N. General Assembly passed U.N. Resolution 2758, which replaced the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's formal name) with the People's Republic of China (PRC) as a permanent member of the Security Council in the United Nations.

While the resolution stated the representatives of the PRC government were the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, it neither determined Taiwan's status nor said Taiwan was part of China.

The PRC's efforts to rewrite Taiwan's status at the United Nations intensified during the 1990s and early 2000s, coinciding with the island's democratization, according to an analysis by the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

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January 16, 2024

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov

Attributed to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone today with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov to discuss the latest on the situation on the ground and the upcoming virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting on January 23. Secretary Austin reiterated that the United States and our coalition of some 50 Allies and partners remain committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

The two leaders pledged to remain in close contact.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3645920/

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An Aussie man has copped a $2,000 fine after he was captured on CCTV hurling a familys pet cat seven metres along the footpath.

The 38-year-old grabbed the cat, Blossom, from the front yard of the home where she lives in Piara Waters, Perth, while walking down the street with three friends last January.

CCTV footage shows the man approach Blossom and reach down like hes going to pat her. Suddenly, he grabs her by the tail and throws the cat into the air, watching on as the cat slams onto the ground in front of the house next door.

A Perth man has been fined $2,000 for picking up Blossom the cat by the tail and tossing her seven metres onto a concrete path in front of her home. Source: RSCPA WA

The man walks towards the pet again as she furiously darts to the front door.

Blossom was tossed approximately five to seven metres in the direction of people walking behind the man, RSPCA WA said on Tuesday. The group can be seen laughing as the cat hits the concrete path, the organisation added.

Following the attack, Blossom was provided with pain relief over two vet visits, but her owners say her demeanour changed in the months following, with the cat becoming quite clingy.

Judge slams man's 'downright cruel' cat act

The 38-year-old Perth man pleaded guilty to the act of animal cruelty late last year, 7 News reports, and was sentenced in the Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday. During the hearing, the court heard the man was ashamed and remorseful for his actions, which Magistrate Kelly Thompson called severe, RSPCA WA said.

He was handed a $2,000 fine and a spent conviction. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.

Thankfully most people can see that acts such as this are downright cruel and theres nothing clever or funny about them, Magistrate Thompson said. This would have been a terrifying ordeal for Blossom and distressing for her owners to see. Im glad they have all received some justice with this decision today.

Story continues

The 38-year-old has offered to pay for Blossoms vet bills and has made a $1,000 donation to the RSPCA, 7News reports.

Report animal cruelty by calling 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at rspcawa.org.au

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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EP Plenary: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on military assistance to Ukraine

European External Action Service (EEAS)

16.01.2024

Strasbourg

EEAS Press Team

Speech delivered by Executive Vice-President in charge of the European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, Maros Sefcovic, on behalf of High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell.

Check against delivery!

Thank you very much Mr President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament,

The European Council decision to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine created a powerful reform dynamic, despite the ongoing devastating war, with a strong support from the people of Ukraine. The Ukrainian government and Parliament demonstrated impressive resolve and resilience over the last year. In a short period of time, the country has confirmed its capacity to make progress in reforms aligning with the EU acquis, even during the wartime. In addition, the decision in December by the European Council to open negotiations provided the Ukrainian people with a morale boost, and the hope for a brighter, European, future.

In turn, it is our role and duty to - not only continue but - increase our support to Ukraine, on all fronts but especially on military assistance as we witness the relentless attacks Ukraine faces by the Russian aggressor. The work the European Union and its Member States are currently undertaking on Europe's defence competitiveness and capacity will eventually provide Ukraine with the necessary support, along other security commitments.

In March 2023, EU Member States agreed on a three-track approach to deliver ammunition to Ukraine. Since then, the European Union has progressed on this strategy to deliver 1 million rounds to Ukraine. The [European] Commission has been contributing to this effort, focusing in particular on the ramping up of the industrial production capacity. Soon, the European industry will have the capacity to produce 1 million artillery shells a year. And for other types of ground-to-ground ammunition, such as mortar shells, it has already production capacities well in excess of 1 million.

In support of ramping up ammunition and missile production, EU Member States agreed on a Work Programme to implement the Regulation on supporting ammunition production - which we know under the abbreviation 'ASAP' - which will allocate 500 million to the support of investment projects worth up to 1.4 billion, thereby incentivising the ramp-up of ammunition and missiles production in the European Union. It will also help address bottlenecks throughout the supply chains of ammunition and missiles in the European Union and Norway, by supporting industry to rapidly adjust to new market trends and reduce dependencies.

In addition, the European Union is also intensifying its efforts to incentivise Member States to commonly procure the most critical and urgent defence products from the European defence industry. The instrument for the reinforcement of the European defence industry through common procurement (EDIRPA) which was adopted last October will play an important role in this context.

Ukraine needs us now more than ever. Ukraine is our top priority, and it will remain so as long as it takes.

Thank you very much, Mr President.

Link to the video (starting as of 6:20): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251499

Closing remarks

Thank you very much Mr President, Madam Minister [for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belgium, Hadja Lahbib], Honourable Members,

Our discussion today only proves the importance of our commitment to Ukraine. While Ukraine endures the hard consequences of Russia's illegal war of aggression, know that the European Union can and will provide Ukraine with long-term commitments and clear sustained support.

Ukraine needs us now and we are answering with our military support, through our security commitments, our sanctions regime, our humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, just as much as the opening of the accession negotiations.

I am grateful to the honourable members for your unwavering support to Ukraine. Ukraine is part of Europe, and we will stand by our fellow Ukrainians now, while the war is raging, and once the peace has been achieved. This is our goal, and we will do it as long as it takes.

Thank you very much.

Link to the video (starting as of 3:49): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251501



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The President in Davos: We have helped Ukraine a lot, however, it is only a work half done

President of the Republic of Lithuania

Januray 16, 2024

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Gitanas NausAda underlined that helping Ukraine to defend its right to exist is the duty of the free world, which the Western countries must fulfil. The President stressed that security guarantees from the world's major powers, continued military assistance, cooperation with NATO and negotiations on membership in the European Union are the most important steps Western countries need to take this year.

Taking part in the "Ukraine's Horizons" public debate on Ukraine's future prospects, the President highlighted Ukraine's resolve and concrete aspirations. "Horizon is not the right term when we talk about Ukraine. We usually perceive a horizon as something that is constantly moving away, without any hope of reaching it, while Ukraine has very clear goals, which it pursues through reforms, while at the same time defending its people, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We have done a lot to help Ukraine, however, it is only a work half done," the Lithuanian leader spoke.

The President stressed that Western support for Ukraine remains critical. "With many geopolitical hotspots flaring up around the worldamost of them with Russia's involvementaand 2024 being election year in the US and the EU, we must not lose focus on Russia's military aggression as it directly affects the security of the whole Alliance. Ukraine must remain on top of NATO's agenda," the Head of State said in his address to world political and business leaders.

According to Gitanas NausAda, in addition to the security guarantees and military support provided to Ukraine by the allies and members of the Ramstein coalition, Ukraine's steps towards Euro-Atlantic integration are of great importance.

"At the Vilnius NATO Summit, Ukraine's accession to NATO has become a question of "when", not "if". Just as inviting Ukraine to join the EU has, in principle, already answered the question of the country's presence in the EU," the President pointed out.

According to the Head of State, Lithuania hopes that negotiations on Ukraine's EU membership will start without delay, as early as in March. "Lithuania will provide Ukraine with all possible support in the negotiations," President Gitanas NausAda underlined.

Another important area of assistance to Ukraine is its reconstruction without waiting for the end of the war. "We must show Russia won't succeed in demolishing the country. Active EU, G7 and other donor coordination as well as the involvement of private sector is key to the solution," the Lithuanian leader said in his address to the Davos World Economic Forum.

President Gitanas NausAda stressed that one of the sources for Ukraine's reconstruction should be the frozen Russian assets, as well as the assets of legal entities that violate or circumvent sanctions. Legislation allowing for such solutions has been in force in Lithuania since January 2024.



The President's Communication Group

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NATO Secretary General at World Economic Forum: "support for Ukraine is not charity; it's an investment in our own security"

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

15 Jan. 2024 - 17 Jan. 2024

Last updated: 16 Jan. 2024

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg participated in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday (16 January 2024), underlining the importance of continued support to Ukraine.

While acknowledging that the battlefield situation is "extremely difficult", with the Russians "now pushing on many frontlines", Mr Stoltenberg underlined that "there is also cause for optimism". He pointed to Ukraine's impressive achievements in liberating territory; opening a corridor for grain export in the Black Sea; and overall its survival as a sovereign, independent nation. Conversely, he said that "Russia has lost what they wanted to achieve with the war, and that was to control Ukraine"; Ukrainians are now firmly oriented to the West, aspiring for membership in NATO and the European Union. The Secretary General also stressed that "support for Ukraine is not charity; it's an investment in our own security". Pointing to the increasingly global nature of security, Mr Stoltenberg noted that close NATO partners Japan and South Korea are also concerned about Russia's war against Ukraine, as a victory for President Putin would increase the likelihood of Beijing using force elsewhere.

The Secretary General spoke at a panel on "Securing an Insecure World" alongside Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and US Senator Chris Coons. The discussion was moderated by the President of the World Economic Forum, BArge Brende.

Earlier in the day, the Secretary General participated in a dialogue between political leaders, CEOs and other officials to discuss the role of the global private and public sectors in Ukraine's long-term reconstruction, alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

While in Davos, the Secretary General will also address a closed-door session of the International Business Council. He is also holding meetings with a number of world leaders, including President Zelenskyy, Polish President Andrzei Duda, Swiss President Viola Amherd, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.

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US promises Ukraine enduring support despite row in Congress

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 6:55 PM

The United States says Washington will continue supplying Ukraine with weapons, despite a row in Congress on approving Joe Biden's new funding package.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

"We are determined to sustain our support for Ukraine and we're working very closely with Congress in order to work to do that," Blinken said.

"I know our European colleagues will do the same thing," Blinken told Zelenskyy as they met at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

And Sullivan told Zelensky that the Biden administration and its allies were determined "to ensure that Russia fails and Ukraine wins."

In his address, Zelensky said that Ukraine counts on Washington's support. "We really count on your support - continuing your huge support."

The US has sent some $44 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelensky and Biden requested $61 billion from Congress for arming Ukraine by the end of the year, but the administration has struggled to get Congress to approve the funding in the face of opposition from Republican lawmakers.

Zelensky, however, said that questions on support were "only a matter of weeks." "I believe we can also manage the question of aid in Congress."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also said that the West must not let up supplying Kiev with weapons and money if it wants Kiev to succeed.

"Ukraine can prevail in this war but we must continue to empower their resistance."

European leaders, however, failed to reach a deal on a long-term financial package in mid-December after Hungary vetoed $55 billion in the bloc's aid for Kiev.

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Biden Invites Lawmakers To White House To Discuss Ukraine Aid After Zelenskiy Stresses Unity At Davos

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service January 16, 2024

U.S. President Joe Biden has invited congressional leaders to the White House for talks on January 17 on continuing aid for Ukraine, the White House said after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the West to be unified in its backing of Ukraine in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Biden will host House of Representatives and Senate leaders "to discuss the critical importance of his national security supplemental request," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on January 16. Jean-Pierre said Biden would underscore "how important it is to get moving on that."

Biden's request for $60 billion in aid for Ukraine has stalled in Congress as lawmakers negotiate a deal that would tie the release of the funds to U.S. border security. The United States has been unable to agree on fresh aid since September, and White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last week that Washington's military assistance for Ukraine has now dried up.

Zelenskiy spoke on January 16 at the World Economic Forum, outlining Ukraine's needs to beef up its air defense capabilities in talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national-security adviser Jake Sullivan.

"We must gain air superiority for Ukraine," Zelenskiy said. "Just as we gained superiority in the Black Sea, we can do it. This will allow progress on the ground.... Partners know what is needed and in what quantity," Zelenskiy said.

Zelenskiy said earlier that his meeting with Blinken had been "meaningful," adding that further defense cooperation with the United States was discussed.

"Air defense and long-range capabilities are particularly important for our country, Zelenskiy said on Telegram.

In talks with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg at Davos, Zelenskiy said on X, formerly Twitter, that he also emphasized the need to further strengthen Ukraine's air defense in his talks with the NATO chief.

Zelenskiy added that he and Stoltenberg discussed the preparations for a crucial NATO summit in July in Washington.

"I emphasized that Ukraine anticipates decisions that will bring its membership in the Alliance closer," Zelenskiy said.

After a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Zelenskiy wrote on X that as Ukraine moves closer to the practical start of EU accession negotiations, he and von der Leyen "agreed to take another step forward and start the screening of Ukraine's legislation."

Before his speech, von der Leyen warned Davos attendees that while Ukraine can "prevail" in the war, "we must continue to empower their resistance."

"Ukrainians need predictable financing throughout 2024 and beyond. They need a sufficient and sustained supply of weapons to defend Ukraine and regain its rightful territory," she added.

The White House said late on January 16 that Biden spoke by phone with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and they "coordinated on their countries' ongoing steadfast support to Ukraine in the face of Russia's war of aggression."

Ukraine has been subjected to a series of unusually intense Russian air strikes since the start of the year that has put its air defense under massive pressure amid dwindling stocks of ammunition and equipment.

At least 16 people were injured by Russian strikes on the city of Kharkiv late on January 16, the Governor Oleh Synyehubov said Russian strikes hit residential buildings in the city center. Two of the injured people were in serious condition.

He added that according to preliminary information, the city was hit by two S-300 missiles. Kharkiv lies just 30 kilometers from the border with Russia and has come under frequent bombardment since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that the strikes were aimed at the city center and hit "exactly where there is no military infrastructure and precisely where there is residential construction."

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskiy-switzerland- davos-support/32776187.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.

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Statement by Russian Defence Ministry

16.01.2024

At around 1.40 p.m., the Russian Armed Forces have foiled another attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack by a fixed-wing UAV against facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation.

One Ukrainian unmanned aerial was shot down over Bryansk region by alerted air defence systems.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Ukraine Meeting in Davos Is Failure for Kiev, West - Russian Foreign Ministry

Sputnik News

20240116

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The recent meeting on Ukraine held in Davos can be described as a failure for Kiev and its Western sponsors, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday.

"On January 14, the fourth meeting on Ukraine in the 'Copenhagen format' was held in Davos, Switzerland... Its results, apart from a 'family' photograph of the participants and an agreement on possible new meetings, turned out to be a failure for Kiev and its Western partners again," Zakharova said in a statement, published by the ministry.

Many countries participated in the meeting as "observes," so their participation cannot be considered "full," the spokeswoman added.

"In addition, differences between the countries represented have deepened... Ukraine and the West failed to achieve either the expansion of the anti-Russian camp or the adoption of the final document," Zakharova said, adding that such meetings are counterproductive for settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.

More countries are starting to understand that it is impossible to end the conflict if focus is made on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's so-called peace formula, the spokeswoman said.

"A truly comprehensive, fair and sustainable peace settlement is possible only by returning Ukraine to the origins of its statehood a a neutral, non-aligned and nuclear-free status with full respect for the rights and freedoms of citizens of all nationalities living on its territory," the statement read.

A Sputnik

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Germany to Provide Over 7Bln Euros in Military Assistance to Ukraine Amid Economic Recession

Sputnik News

20240116

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Germany will provide military assistance to Ukraine worth more than seven billion euros ($7.6 billion) in 2024, the German government said on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a phone conversation with US President Joe Biden, and the leaders agreed to continue financial, military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, the government said.

"In 2024, Germany will support Ukraine with military goods worth more than 7 billion euros," the statement read.

Germany, the economic powerhouse of the EU, has fallen on hard times following Berlin's 2022 decision to join in on the US-led economic warfare campaign against Russia.

Western sanctions intended to cripple the Russian economy have backfired against the very countries that introduced them, with Germany especially suffering from the loss of access to cheap Russian energy that long has been vital for its industry.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted that Russia's economy has become the number one in Europe and the fifth in the world based on purchasing power parity.

A Sputnik

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US Does Not Have Another Military Package for Ukraine in Works Right Now

Sputnik News

20240116

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States does not have another military aid package for Ukraine in the works as funding for previous packages has run out, White House Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said on Wednesday.

"There isn't another one in the works right now or being scheduled for announcement or delivery. We meant it when we said it at the time that that was the last one for which we had replenishment authority," said Kirby during a press briefing.

In addition, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that if the West fails to support Ukraine now, it could end up in a conflict between NATO and Russia.

During an interview with CNBC on the sidelines of the Davos summit on Tuesday, Blinken stated that if Washington and its allies stop providing support to Ukraine, it will open up a Pandora's box.

Asked what Russian President Vladimir Putin would do next, Blinken stated: "I think he would go full-tilt on Ukraine and then NATO countries."

"And of course, if he attacked a NATO country, we have Article 5 obligations under NATO to work to assist them," he said. "That would bring us in directly."

In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that US President Joe Biden's remarks about a possible Russian attack on NATO countries were "nonsense." Biden himself probably understands this, Putin added.

Russia has no geopolitical, economic, political or military interest in waging a war against NATO countries, Putin stressed. Russia and these countries do not have any territorial claims against each other, he said.

Moscow has no problems with NATO countries, but they are the ones who create problems artificially because they do not want such a competitor as Russia, Putin stated.

A Sputnik

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Hungary Offers Ukraine Funding Plan That Avoids Straining EU Budget or Joint Loans

Sputnik News

20240116

BUDAPEST (Sputnik) - Hungary proposes to finance Ukraine without doing harm to the EU budget and without a common loan, and is ready to pay its share from the national budget, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday.

Providing 50 billion euros ($54.3 billion) at once for four years would seriously harm the European economy, especially since "it is unknown what will happen in four years," the official said, adding that Hungary does not support the idea of taking a joint loan.

Hungary is ready to ensure that "with the help of the Hungarian parliament, provide this amount from the Hungarian budget," which will be calculated for each country based on national economic indicators, Orban said.

Hungary will be forced to stop the European Union's funding of Ukraine if Budapest's plan on financing Kiev from outside the EU budget is rejected, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday.

Orban said that Hungary proposes to finance Ukraine without harming the EU's budget and without a common loan during a joint press conference with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Hungary is read to pay its share from its national budget, the prime minister added.

"This is a proposal from Hungary. If Brussels accepts it, Ukrainians will receive assistance from outside the EU budget. And if it does not [accept it], then, unfortunately, we will be forced to stop this process," Orban said.

In mid-December, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed an increase in the EU budget for 2024-2027, including 50 billion euros ($55 billion) in macro-financial aid to Kiev. At the same time, Orban did not vote against launching EU accession talks with Ukraine, but warned that Budapest would have "75 more opportunities" to block this process.

The European Commission acknowledged that Hungary was no longer in breach of the rule of law and agreed to release 10 billion euros ($11 billion) in frozen funds a day before EU leaders voted at a summit to launch accession negotiations with Ukraine.

In mid-September 2022, the Commission proposed to launch a special budget conditionality mechanism for Hungary, citing violations of the rule of law in the country. The mechanism blocked the provision of some 7.5 billion euros to Hungary.

A Sputnik

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Aussies are in hysterics over a hilarious road blunder that has left a car forever illegally parked.

A photo of the Hyundai shows it parked on the side of a street in New Farm, Brisbane, with its front wheels partially blocking a storm drain. A recently-painted yellow line can be seen leading up to the cars front bumper, which has also been splashed with the bright paint.

The black Hyundai was left with a bright yellow reminder of recent road works in Brisbane's New Farm. Source: Facebook

Driver's car 'is the yellow line'

Reddit users couldnt help but laugh at the drivers unfortunate new decal after the image was posted on Wednesday morning. Technically theyre not on the yellow line. They are the yellow line, one person joked. Taking the yellow line with him, another person said, as another simply wrote what a tragedy hahaha.

Despite some theories, a local who said they often park in the suburb explained they had seen signs before saying not to park in the area due to repainting markings.

Locals share similar parking errors

Another neighbourhood resident said they had experienced a similar incident. They painted around my wheel and returned several weeks later when I wasnt there to complete it. Then I got a ticket for parking on it, they said.

In 2018, a woman said the Brisbane City Council fined her for parking illegally next to a freshly-painted yellow line, but claimed it had been painted after she parked her car.

Yahoo News Australia has contacted Brisbane City Council about their practice of painting road markings.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Spain Sent Ukraine More Than $144 Million Worth of Arms Over 18 Months - Reports

Sputnik News

20240116

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Spain transferred weapons worth 133 million euros ($144.7 million) to Ukraine in 2022 and the first half of 2023, Spanish newspaper ABC reported on Monday citing a document seen by its staff.

During the same period, Spanish authorities approved the sale of weapons worth 515 million euros, however, it takes time to actually export arms after the sale has been authorized, the newspaper reported.

Spain's defense exports in 2022 reached 4.091 billion euros, marking a 24.3% increase compared to 2021, according to the government's report released on Monday. The country's supplies to NATO and EU member states accounted for over 60% of total exports, the report read.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Financial Times newspaper reported, citing three EU diplomats familiar with the matter, that Brussels was conducting an audit of weapons supplied to Kiev by EU member states since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in light of claims that a number of states have sent less than they could.

Last week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on the EU countries to increase spending on military aid for Ukraine in 2024.

Western countries, including member states of the European Union, have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict. In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russian strikes.

A Sputnik

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Russia Unleashes Carpet Bombing of Ukrainian Positions Using New Drones

Sputnik News

20240116

The Russian army has been actively employing drones, also referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), within the special military operation zone. These drones are progressively becoming a crucial component of contemporary warfare because of their versatility and cost-effectiveness.

The Russian Armed Forces in several areas of the special military operation zone have started a carpet bombing campaign of Ukrainian positions with the help of special Inferno drone bombers, the 'Rustehnodron' developer told Sputnik.

"The Inferno drone is equipped with nine slots for dropping grenades. In the course of the combat mission, it passes over the Ukrainian trenches, opens "bomb hatches" and in a series of three drops grenades. It turns out to be analogous to carpet bombing in aviation. As a result, the enemy personnel gets casualties killed and wounded. Also, the drone can effectively bomb lightly armored vehicles," the company representative said.

The company "has already delivered hundreds of Inferno unmanned bombers to units in the special military operation zone," he added.

The company representative went on to say that the drone does not need to hover over trenches due to the presence of an additional downward bombing camera: the device throws bombs on the move. This dramatically increases the drone's survivability, while a hovering drone can be shot down by fire from small arms.

The Inferno drone carries a four-kilogram combat load, which can include VOG-17 grenades, GP-25 grenades and specially manufactured factory ammunition designed to be dropped from drones. This ammunition includes both fragmentation and shaped charge types. Additionally, the UAV has a range of five kilometers.

A Sputnik

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Secretary Blinken and National Security Advisor Sullivan's Meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

Davos, Switzerland

January 16, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today in Davos, Switzerland. They discussed the importance of continued global assistance to support Ukraine as it fights for its freedom and sovereignty. They also spoke about efforts to support Ukraine's economic resilience and recovery, including through private sector investment. The three additionally discussed ongoing anti-corruption reform efforts to bolster Ukraine's economic recovery and continue its trajectory towards Euro-Atlantic integration. Secretary Blinken and National Security Advisor Sullivan strongly reiterated the United States' enduring support for Ukraine and its territorial integrity in the face of Russia's illegal war of aggression.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the President of Ghana in Davos

President of Ukraine

16 January 2024 - 21:17

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo.

The Head of State thanked Ghana for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, particularly at the level of decisions of international organizations.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Ghana to join the implementation of the points of the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

The two leaders emphasized the potential for creating logistics hubs for transshipment of Ukrainian agricultural products to African countries.

The Heads of State also discussed the issue of education of students from Ghana in Ukrainian higher education institutions.

The leaders discussed ways to deepen relations between Ukraine and Ghana, as well as with other African countries.





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Morale of Ukrainians is driven by the pursuit of justice, which should be reflected in the prosecution of those responsible for aggression - Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a special meeting of the WEF in Davos

President of Ukraine

16 January 2024 - 18:55

The key motivation for the Ukrainian people to continue the fight against full-scale Russian aggression is the pursuit of justice and freedom, common to all civilized people. That is why the world should help Ukraine, in particular by shoring up its economy, as our country is currently strengthening global security. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his participation in a special meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Answering the questions of the participants of the meeting, the Head of State noted that the Ukrainian people would never forgive Vladimir Putin, his entourage and all those who supported this war and terrorism against our citizens, the death and suffering of children.

"We are not terrorists, so these will be criminal trials. And there will definitely be accountability. There must be. Otherwise, after this terror, others will come, there will be recurrences, autocracy, aggression. As this will imply that it's allowed, if there are no consequences. That is why no one will forgive any of the murderers," he said.

At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the morale of Ukrainians is driven not by a desire for revenge, but by a pursuit of justice, which should be reflected in the sentences for specific people who committed crimes.

"Morale is driven by the desire of Ukrainians to be free. The Ukrainian people are fighting for freedom, people's rights, their choice - of the way to live, of whom to elect, of whom to love, of where to rest. They are fighting absolutely bravely and strongly. And they are fighting for our common values," he emphasized.

According to the President, the price of freedom and justice is harder to understand when they are not threatened, when there is no war. But people all over the civilized world should understand their price even before a disaster occurs and support Ukraine.

"And if we all realize this, we will unite in helping Ukraine and in the political isolation of Putin. And these will be the right political preventive steps to ensure the war doesn't spread to other countries through Ukraine. And this is exactly what Putin wants," Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced.

Answering the question on how the foreign states can help Ukraine, the President called on them to invest in our country. According to him, this will strengthen the Ukrainian economy and facilitate the return of Ukrainian citizens home, while a strong Ukraine will enhance the security of other states.

"Ukraine's strength and treasure is, first and foremost, its people. They have proved to the world that they are smart, talented, modern and resourceful. They are brave and absolutely open-minded. And I told you that only our population, our people and your investments and jobs can build a strong economy for us today. To do this, we need investments from absolutely transparent, predictable, clean companies," the Head of State summarized.





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President of Ukraine held a meeting with the King and the Prime Minister of Belgium

President of Ukraine

16 January 2024 - 18:30

In Davos, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with His Majesty King Philippe I of Belgium and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

The parties discussed the priorities of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU in the light of Ukraine's progress toward the practical start of EU accession talks.

The President thanked His Majesty King Philippe I and Alexander De Croo for Belgium's significant defense assistance to Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted Belgium's decision on providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, training of Ukrainian pilots by Belgian specialists, as well as the recent 15th defense assistance package.

The Head of State praised the leadership of Belgium in establishing a a1.7 billion Fund to support Ukraine through taxation on profits from frozen Russian assets. The President emphasized the importance of creating an efficient mechanism of confiscation of frozen assets of the aggressor.

The parties discussed Belgium's participation in the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

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Every investment in the confidence of the defender shortens the war - speech by the President of Ukraine to the participants of the special meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos

President of Ukraine

16 January 2024 - 16:52

Professor Schwab, thank you for your very kind introduction.

President Brende,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I appreciate your willingness to hear answers to truly important questions. When will the war end? Is the Third world war possible? Is it time to negotiate with Putin?

The full-scale war in Europe has been ongoing for nearly two years. Counting the time since Russia's illegal annexation of our Crimea, it's been almost 10 years.

And for almost 10 years, Russia has been interfering in African countries, from Sudan to Mali.

The Syrian war, still bleeding because of Putin's decision to prove something to the world, has been ongoing for almost 13 years.

In fact, one man has stolen at least 13 years of peace replacing them with pain, pain, pain and crises that impact the entire world.

Putin is trying to normalize what should have ended in the 20th century - mass deportations, cities and villages razed to the ground, and the terrifying feeling that the war may never end.

In fact, Putin embodies war. We all know that he is the sole reason why various wars and conflicts persist, and why all attempts to restore peace have failed. And he will not change. He will not change.

We must change. We all must change to the extent that the madness that resides in this man's head or any other aggressor's head will not prevail.

Putin is frank about what he wants, what he does, and who his targets are.

His answer to the duration of the war is always war, without an end. He wants it this way.

His answer to the limits of chaos in the world is the boundless support of terrorist forces. He enjoys conflicts that cause suffering to others.

His answer to calls for peace is supplying more and more weapons from North Korea and Iran.

Regimes like his exist as long as they wage wars.

And we - we all in the free world - exist as long as we can defend ourselves.

If anyone thinks this is only about Ukraine, they're fundamentally mistaken. Possible directions and even timeline of a new Russian aggression beyond Ukraine become more and more obvious.

Let me ask very honestly: which European nation today can provide a combat ready army on par with ours, holding back Russia? And how many men and women are your nations ready to send to defend another state, another nation?

If one must fight against Putin together in the years ahead, isn't it better to put an end to him and his war-strategy now, while our brave men and women are already doing it? They are the world's chance. They are.

In any dire confrontation, there's always a point where a catastrophe can be stopped. Ukraine is that opportunity.

And we all in the free world must be unwavering in our pursuit of our desires, actions, and goals, just as Putin is frank about his doom-laden ambitions.

We, all Ukrainians, began our defense at a time when almost no one in the world believed in Ukraine. But we turned tables so that now the world has stopped believing in Russia.

Even Putin's current buddies in Pyongyang and Tehran are simply using his madness while he still has technologies and resources to pay them. No one believes in his future or invests in it.

And we, all of us, today, even more than yesterday, must invest in bringing peace closer - a peace that is both just and stable.

Before the full-scale invasion, we constantly heard - don't escalate! We called for proactive action, sanctions to prevent war expansion. We were told: don't escalate. And after February 24th, nothing harmed our coalitions more than this concept.

Every "don't escalate" to us, sounded like "you will prevail" to Putin. We asked for new types of weapons, and the response was "don't escalate". But then weapons arrived, and there was no escalation. A Russian missile fell on NATO territory - the response again was "don't escalate." But retaliation at that moment could have taught Russia a lot and would have added necessary confidence to the West. We talked about blocking the transit of sanctioned goods to Kaliningrad, but the response was "don't escalate". Full force of the sanctions could have forced Putin to concessions.

Because of "don't escalate," time was lost. The lives of many of our most experienced warriors, who fought since 2014, were lost. Some opportunities were lost.

The lesson is clear.

Everyone thought Russia had missiles that couldn't be shot down. Patriots shoot down everything.

Many feared the consequences if Ukraine gets long-range weapons. As a result - Russia just loses more.

We heard Russia would never allow a grain corridor without its involvement. Nearly 16 million tons of cargo have been transported from our ports.

And we can prove that Russia will reconcile with the complete loss of its Black Sea Fleet, which terrorized commercial ships.

We must gain air superiority for Ukraine, just as we have gained superiority at the Black Sea. We can do it. Partners know what's needed and in what quantities. This will allow progress on the ground.

Just two days ago, we proved Ukraine can even hit very valuable Russian military aircraft which no one had shot down before.

Many sanction steps were delayed for months, even years, because they faced storms of threats from Moscow. But none of those threats came true. Each storm turned out to be their bluff.

And how can one be satisfied with the sanctions against Russia or export controls if they don't even block its missile production? In every Russian missile there are critical components from Western countries. Dozens of components in every missile. And it's true. It's a fact.

Of course, I am grateful for each package of sanctions. Thanks, partners. Thank you. But bringing peace closer will be a reward for all those who care to ensure that sanctions work one hundred percent.

And by the way, it's a clear weakness of the West that Russia's nuclear industry is still not under global sanctions, even though Putin is the only terrorist in the world who took a nuclear power plant hostage.

It must be a strong decision, this year, when frozen Russian assets, sovereign and oligarchic, will be directed towards defense against the Russian war and for reconstruction of Ukraine.

Putin loves money above all. The more billions he and his oligarchs, friends, and accomplices lose, the more likely he will regret starting this war.

Putin must regret. We need him to lose. We need to finally dispel the notion that global unity is weaker than one man's hatred.

And we can do it.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

This year must be decisive. Can freezing the war in Ukraine be its end?

I don't want to settle for the truism that any frozen conflict will eventually reignite.

I remind you that after 2014, there were attempts to freeze the war in Donbas. There were very influential guarantors of that process - then Chancellor of Germany and then Presidents of France.

But Putin is a predator who is not satisfied with frozen products. And we have to defend ourselves, our children, our houses, our lives. We have to do it. We can beat him on the ground. We have proved it. And at sea and in the skies. We ramp up production of weapons. We achieved economic growth in Ukraine, our GDP is moving-up - despite the war, plus more than 5 percent last year. We got the decision on EU-accession negotiations. We are normalizing the idea that the aggressions can be defeated - even Putin's aggressions, which have been ongoing for ten years and more.

Now we can say: don't escalate. To all who doubt. To all who want to reduce support.

And in this warning, we will be absolutely correct.

Because every reduction in pressure on the aggressor adds years to the war. But every investment in the confidence of the defender shortens the war.

We must make it possible to answer the most important question: the war will end - with a just and stable peace.

And I want you to be the part of this peace - starting from right now - to bring the peace closer. And we need you in Ukraine - to build, to reconstruct, to restore our lives. Each of you can be even more successful with Ukraine.

And these days, right here in such a beautiful country, in Switzerland, we have made a key political contribution to the possibility of ending the war.

There was the most representative meeting of national security advisors regarding the implementation of the Peace Formula. More than 80 countries and international institutions were represented. Yesterday, I had very productive negotiations with the President of Switzerland, discussing the possibility of holding a summit at the leaders' level in Switzerland - the first summit, the Global Peace Summit. Today, our teams have already begun work on organizing such a summit. Not the World War Three, but the Global Peace Summit.

And I invite every leader and country that respects peace and international law to join us.

Together we can answer any crucial questions. And it will be the best answers.

Peace must be the answer.

Thank you for your invitation. Thank you for your attention!

 NNN!

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In Davos, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ursula von der Leyen agreed to start screening Ukrainian legislation in the framework of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU

President of Ukraine

16 January 2024 - 15:31

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

The interlocutors discussed the key priorities of the EU-Ukraine agenda for the near future, as our country approaches the actual opening of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.

The President of Ukraine and the President of the European Commission agreed to start screening Ukrainian legislation, which is another step towards the opening of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union.

Particular attention was paid to the importance of unblocking the decision to provide a50 billion of EU assistance to our country at an extraordinary session of the European Council to be held on February 1, 2024. Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope for a consensus on this issue.

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President of Ukraine met with U.S. Secretary of State in Davos

President of Ukraine

16 January 2024 - 15:26

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The event was also attended by National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker.

The Head of State thanked the United States for its comprehensive assistance and leadership in supporting Ukraine.

"Ukraine is grateful to the President of the United States, the Congress and the entire American people for their unflagging and powerful support for our country. We count on your continued significant support, which is essential for our state," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The parties summarized the results of the fourth meeting of national security advisors and political advisors to the heads of state on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula held in Davos and discussed the start of preparations for the Global Peace Summit. The interlocutors emphasized the need for the widest possible range of countries to be represented at the Summit.

They also discussed preparations for the NATO anniversary summit to be held in the United States. The participants of the meeting emphasized the importance of working on a bilateral document within the framework of the G7 Joint Declaration adopted at the previous NATO summit in Vilnius.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy briefed Antony Blinken on the situation on the battlefield, as well as on the priorities of the Ukrainian Defense Forces for the current year and the means to fulfill them.

The participants of the meeting coordinated steps in the context of further defense cooperation between Ukraine and the United States, emphasizing the importance of bolstering Ukraine's air defense and long-range capabilities.

The parties discussed the issue of attracting international investment to Ukraine, particularly in defense production. The interlocutors noted that the goal of cooperation is to increase Ukraine's self-reliance and reduce its reliance on foreign military and financial aid.

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President met with the largest financial funds in Davos

President of Ukraine

16 January 2024 - 13:56

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the world's largest financial funds in Davos.

The meeting was also attended by: JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Asset & Wealth Management CEO Mary Erdoes, JP Morgan Head of Debt Capital Markets Stefan Weiler, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, BlackRock Vice Chairman Philipp Hildebrand, Founder of Bridgewater Associates Ray Dalio, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group David Rubenstein, Founder and Owner of Dell, Michael Dell, CEO of Blackstone Group Stephen Schwarzman, Australian entrepreneur Andrew Forrest, Founder of ArcelorMittal Lakshmi Mittal.

The Head of State emphasized the importance of attracting private capital to projects aimed at rebuilding Ukraine.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it is important to develop and implement mechanisms of blended finance that combine private and public capital during the war.

"This is where we see your direct role right now. I know that you are actively cooperating with our team. I am looking forward to a tangible result," the President said.

The Head of State expressed hope that global financial funds would help attract a large number of global investors and corporations to the Ukrainian economy.

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An Australian community has been warned to stay alert and be aware of falling trees that could come down without warning after a huge, established Kaffir Plum snapped and fell "out of nowhere".

A local Councillor for Sydney's Inner West was shocked to have discovered "one of the biggest trees" she's ever seen lying on its side at Lambert Park in Leichhardt last week. The discovery prompted a warning to residents to keep their distance from others like it in the area.

Councillor Philippa Scott first noticed the tree last Wednesday morning when returning home at about 6am. Residents living adjacent to the park said they heard a "loud crash" at about 11pm the night earlier, she said.

"I've never seen anything like this before," Scott told Yahoo News Australia days after warning her community on Facebook. "That is certainly the biggest tree that I've ever seen come down. It was truly spectacular.

The large Kaffir Plum tree came crashing down unexpectedly in a park in Sydney's Inner West. Source: Facebook

"I have never seen a completely intact tree topple over from the root down," she added. "It was really something".

Root rot blamed for 'sick trees'

The discovery of the tree has shocked the residents in the area who "really value our mature trees and our shade coverage," the councillor said. It's feared the trees have been neglected and root rot could be to blame, however, an investigation is underway.

Root rot is a disease that attacks the roots of trees growing in saturated soil and often heavy rain is to blame. The New Year has brought downpours across parts of eastern Australia, including Sydney, despite a drier-than-normal summer expected due to the El Nino weather pattern.

"I think it was raining the night before, but we have had a lot of heavy rain recently, so it could have been accumulated water," Scott said.

The tree had fallen in Lambert Park in Leichhardt, Sydney where there are three or four others just like it. Source: Google Images

Despite claims by some residents who say the council had "neglected the trees" Scott says "our tree team is attentive to tree health". "They are trimmed and checked regularly and residents do also report unhealthy trees to us as well," she said.

Story continues

She says this one was "completely unexpected" and was thankfully away from homes and vehicles. But there are about three or four just like it around the park. "No one is hurt, but I suggest get you dont get too close while I get council staff onto it," Scott warned residents on Facebook.

Council confirms 'tree audit' after several trees fall down

A spokesperson from Inner West council confirmed to Yahoo an investigation found the fallen Kaffir Plum "had problems with its root system".

"All the other trees in Lambert Park were then inspected by qualified staff and several trees have been identified for pruning. This is scheduled within the next six weeks," they said.

But it's feared other trees in the area have the same issue and one resident claimed another fell outside their house over Christmas "and crushed a car". "If it had fallen the other way it wouldve hit my daughter's room. The tree was rotten when SES chopped it up," they said.

One resident expressed fears after noticing another tree had fallen onto her property. Source: Facebook

After seeing the councillor's warning another resident said they feared this might happen. "Theres a massive tree like this in National Street which is clearly sick," they said.

"Its big branches fall off all the time and no one parks their car near it," the concerned resident explained. "Its uprooted the houses pavement & brick fence. After numerous letters of concern to council, they will still not remove it."

The council spokesperson confirmed they are undertaking a tree audit on all trees across the LGA. "This audit undertakes a risk assessment on the trees and recommends any works that may be required to address the risk. This audit will now prioritise Lambert Park for assessment in early February," they said.

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President met with representatives of large global companies in Davos

President of Ukraine

16 January 2024 - 12:40

On the sidelines of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the 'CEOs for Ukraine' meeting.

The Head of State informed the interlocutors of the economic growth of our country, which exceeded 5% in 2023, and optimistic forecasts for GDP growth for the current year.

The President emphasized that Ukraine restored its export capabilities thanks to the functioning of a grain corridor independent of Russia.

"We have created a parallel corridor and demonstrated that we can drive the Russian fleet out of the Black Sea. We have started transporting not only grain, but also other goods," the Head of State noted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the Ukrainian authorities are making significant efforts to ensure protection against Russia's aerial terror.

The President invited business representatives to invest in Ukraine and participate in its recovery.

"It is important that you stand with us, I thank you for your support. It is very important to be here, to boost investment in Ukraine and support our economy," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The Head of State emphasized the special potential and prospects of military production. In particular, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of cooperation with leading Western defense companies.

The meeting was joined by: President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the World Economic Forum BArge Brende, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Odile Renaud-Basso, Vice Chancellor, Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection of the Federal Republic of Germany Robert Habeck.

U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker called on global businesses to actively explore investment opportunities in Ukraine. She emphasized the advantages of the economy, including the global digitalization of public administration in Ukraine.

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President met with NATO Secretary General in Davos

President of Ukraine

16 January 2024 - 10:21

In Davos, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The Head of State thanked the NATO Secretary General for the steadfast support of the Alliance in the defense against Russian invasion.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Jens Stoltenberg discussed the situation on the battlefield. The President informed of the massive Russian shelling of Ukrainian cities and communities that had taken place recently. The Head of State emphasized the importance of further bolstering the Ukrainian air defense system.

The parties also discussed other defense needs of Ukraine.

The importance of signing a bilateral agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom within the framework of the G7 Joint Declaration adopted at the previous NATO summit in Vilnius was emphasized.

The President spoke about the ongoing work on similar documents with other partners and emphasized the importance of signing such agreements without delay, as they will be in force until Ukraine joins NATO.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Jens Stoltenberg discussed preparations for the next NATO Summit in Washington. The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine expects decisions to be made that will bring its membership in NATO closer.

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Russian Missile Attack Wounds 17 in Kharkiv

By VOA News January 16, 2024

Ukrainian officials said a Russian missile attack Tuesday wounded at least 17 people in the northeastern city of Kharkiv.

Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Synehubov said on Telegram that two Russian S-300 missiles struck the city center, including residential buildings.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov posted on Telegram that the missiles damaged at least 10 buildings and hit "precisely where there is no military infrastructure and precisely where there are in fact residences."

In the southern city of Odesa, a Russian drone attack injured at least three people and damaged several residential buildings, according to the Odesa regional governor.

The United Nations said in a new report Tuesday that Russian attacks brought an increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine in December.

The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said the number of civilian casualties rose 26.5%, from 468 to 592 between November and December.

"Civilian casualties had been steadily decreasing in 2023 but the wave of attacks in late December and early January violently interrupted that trend," said Danielle Bell, who heads the U.N. monitoring mission.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of "strong, enduring support for Ukraine" and a determination on the part of the Biden administration to continue military aid for Ukrainian forces.

Blinken's comments came at the start of talks Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The top U.S. diplomat said the expression of support comes at a time when Ukraine is facing repeated Russian attacks on infrastructure and civilians.

"And we see that every day, but we also see the incredible courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, the courage and resilience of your security forces," Blinken said.

Zelenskyy thanked the United States for its support, including air defense systems that have been critical in helping Ukrainian forces defend the country from Russian drone and missile attacks.

Those attacks have included strikes on multiple Ukrainian cities, with even downed drones and missiles causing damage and injuries on the ground.

Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials have implored the U.S. and European allies to further bolster Ukraine's air defenses, a request that has coincided with the drying up of U.S. funding for new rounds of aid.

The Biden administration has asked Congress for tens of billions of dollars in new aid for Ukraine as part of a larger security package that includes aid for Israel and U.S. border security funding. That measure has met resistance from some Republicans in Congress who want even more action on border security.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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At Davos Summit, Zelenskyy Tries to Keep Ukraine at Top of Global Agenda

By Henry Ridgwell January 16, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged political and business leaders gathering at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday to give more military aid to his country or risk Russia attacking other nations amid fears in Kyiv that the war is slipping off the top of the global agenda.

With much attention focused on conflict in the Middle East and Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Zelenskyy used the Davos stage to remind the world what is at stake in his country's war against Russian invaders.

"If anyone thinks that this is only about us, this is only about Ukraine, they are fundamentally mistaken, Zelenskyy said. "Possible directions and even a timeline of a new Russian aggression beyond Ukraine becomes more and more obvious. ... And if one must fight against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin together in the years ahead, isn't it better to put an end to him and his war strategy now, while our brave men and women are already doing it?"

Air superiority

Zelenskyy's speech was greeted with applause from delegates. But Ukraine is seeking more than allies' approval.

"We must gain air superiority for Ukraine, just as we have gained superiority at the Black Sea. We can do it," Zelenskyy said. "Partners know what is needed and in what quantities. This will allow progress on the ground."

The Ukrainian president also urged the West to tighten sanctions on Moscow.

"It must be a strong decision this year when frozen Russian assets ... will be directed towards defense against the Russian war and for reconstruction of Ukraine. Putin loves money above all. The more billions he and his oligarchs, friends and accomplices lose, the more likely he will regret starting this war," Zelenskyy told delegates in Davos.

Moscow did not immediately respond to Zelenskyy's comments. As Russia invests heavily in re-arming its forces following huge losses in Ukraine, Kyiv says it urgently needs new weapons and ammunition.

U.S. military assistance

Republican lawmakers in the U.S. Congress are blocking an emergency spending bill that includes around $50 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, insisting that it is tied to concessions on U.S. border security.

At a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy in Davos Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his country's support was "enduring."

"We're determined to sustain our support in Ukraine, and we're working very closely with Congress in order to, to do that. I know our European colleagues are doing the same thing. So even as you succeed militarily against this Russian onslaught, that you also build Ukraine for the future, one that can stand strongly on its own two feet militarily, economic, democratically," Blinken said.

Hungary veto

A $54 billion European Union aid package for Ukraine is also being blocked by Hungary. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc may seek to exclude Hungary's vote at a summit next month.

"My personal priority is to have an agreement by 27 [EU member states]. If this is not possible, we are prepared for an agreement by 26. But I strongly support and prefer an agreement by 27," von der Leyen said Tuesday.

Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, said he wanted any aid package for Ukraine to be separated from regular bloc spending.

"We want financial assistance to Ukraine to be provided outside the EU budget. That's why we want to discuss the budget amendment separately and the assistance to Ukraine separately ... it could end up that the financial resources that are due to individual nations end up in Ukraine," Orban said at a press conference in Budapest Tuesday.

Amid wavering Western unity, Latvia a a close ally of Ukraine a said it's time for a change of rhetoric.

"We always hear that we are going to support Ukraine as long as it is necessary, as long as it takes. I think we must change that rhetoric that we are going to support, and we will support Ukraine 'til the victory a and victory of Ukraine," Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics told reporters in Davos.

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Blinken Assures Zelenskyy of 'Strong Enduring Support for Ukraine'

By VOA News January 16, 2024

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of "strong enduring support for Ukraine" and a determination on the part of the Biden administration to continue military aid for Ukrainian forces.

Blinken's comments came at the start of talks Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The top U.S. diplomat said the expression of support comes at a time when Ukraine is facing repeated Russian attacks on infrastructure and civilians.

"And we see that every day, but we also see the incredible courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, the courage and resilience of your security forces," Blinken said.

Zelenskyy thanked the United States for its support, including air defense systems that have been critical in helping Ukrainian forces defend the country from Russian drone and missile attacks.

Those attacks have included strikes on multiple Ukrainian cities, with even downed drones and missiles causing damage and injuries on the ground.

Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials have implored the U.S. and European allies to further bolster Ukraine's air defenses, a request that has coincided with the drying up of U.S. funding for new rounds of aid.

The Biden administration has asked Congress for tens of billions of dollars in new aid for Ukraine as part of a larger security package that includes aid for Israel and U.S. border security funding. That measure has met resistance from some Republicans in Congress who want even more action on border security.

Ukrainian attacks

Russia's defense ministry said Tuesday it thwarted attacks by Ukrainian drones in multiple regions, including destroying five drones and intercepting three others over the Voronezh area.

Alexander Gusev, the regional governor, said debris from a drone injured a child. The mayor of Voronezh, a city about 250 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, declared a temporary state of emergency.

Russia's defense ministry also said it intercepted four drones over the Belgorod region, and another in the Bryansk region.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Guterres

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

January 16, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Davos, Switzerland. Secretary Blinken discussed the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the lifesaving humanitarian work by UNRWA, the multilateral response to repeated Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, and rising gang violence in Haiti. The Secretary expressed his appreciation to Secretary-General Guterres on his efforts to address the numerous world challenges and acknowledged the partnership between the United States and the United Nations.

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Chicago, Jan. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Market is on a trajectory of remarkable growth, projected to reach USD 20.8 billion by 2028 from USD 3.2 billion in 2023, boasting a stellar CAGR of 45.6% during 20232028. The dynamic interplay of factors propels this evolution, including the rising need to handle increasingly large and complex datasets and the emergence of industrial IoT and automation technology.

Artificial Intelligence In Manufacturing Market Dynamics: AI in the manufacturing market size is experiencing substantial growth, driven by the widespread utilization of big data, industrial robots, and the evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT). Macro drivers, including a focus on value creation and experiential customers, are further shaping this transformative journey.

Artificial Intelligence In Manufacturing tIn-Depth Market Insights: Explore the comprehensive market data, presented through 208 tables and 67 figures spread across 289 pages, providing an in-depth analysis of Artificial Intelligence in the Manufacturing Market share.

Ask for PDF Brochure -https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=72679105

Artificial Intelligence In Manufacturing Market Segment Insights:

Hardware Segment: Projected to exhibit a higher CAGR during the forecast period. Processors, including MPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, and ASICs, are witnessing increased demand, especially GPUs with high parallel computing capabilities. Computer Vision Technology: Anticipated to grow with a higher CAGR. Applied in predictive maintenance and machinery inspection, this technology plays a pivotal role in industries such as automotive, energy & power, and heavy metals & machine manufacturing. Application Focus  Predictive Maintenance & Machinery Inspection: Holding the largest market share throughout the forecast period. AI adoption in this segment ensures proper equipment functioning, reduces deterioration rates, and minimizes operational costs due to untimely machine failures. Automotive Industry: Leading the market share in 2023. Automakers leveraging AI, computer vision, and machine learning technologies to enhance vehicle production quality, reduce downtime, and minimize financial losses. Regional Spotlight  Asia Pacific: Expected to grow at the highest CAGR. Factors driving growth include rapid industrialization, substantial e-commerce growth, rising labor costs, technological advancements, and a focus on Industry 4.0.

Artificial Intelligence In Manufacturing Market Key Players: Profiles of key players such as Siemens (Germany), IBM (US), Intel Corporation (US), NVIDIA Corporation (US), and General Electric Company (US), among others, shape the competitive landscape.

Artificial Intelligence In Manufacturing Market Strategic Insights for Informed Decision-Making:

Market Intelligence Beyond Numbers: Beyond numerical statistics, the strategic insights delve into the nuances of market dynamics. Business leaders gain a comprehensive understanding of the forces shaping the AI in manufacturing landscape, from the impact of emerging technologies to the influence of global economic shifts.

Identifying Growth Opportunities: Informed decision-making hinges on the ability to identify and capitalize on growth opportunities. The insights extracted from Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Market statistics of potential expansion, allowing executives to align their business strategies with the trajectory of Artificial Intelligence In Manufacturing market trends. Whether its exploring new geographic regions or diversifying product offerings, these insights serve as a strategic compass.
Selbyville, Delaware,, Jan. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



The smart ring main unit market is expected to cross USD 4.3 billion by 2032, as reported in a research study by Global Market Insights Inc.

The technological advancements, particularly the integration of IoT, will accelerate the business growth of smart ring main units over 20232032. Rising investments in smart grid infrastructure further enhance the market's growth, addressing the evolving demands of modern power distribution networks. As the industry embraces these innovations, smart ring main units play a pivotal role in providing efficient, reliable, and technologically advanced solutions, contributing to the overall expansion of the smart ring main unit market.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/6540

The smart ring main unit market revenue from the air insulation segment could contribute decently to the smart ring main unit industry size between 2023 and 2032, driven by its eco-friendly and efficient design. As the industry prioritizes sustainable solutions, air-insulated RMUs gain traction for their reliability and minimal environmental impact. The growing demand for greener technologies will position the air insulation segment as a major driver in shaping the future of smart ring main units.





The non-motorized ring main unit (RMU) segment could capture a substantial share of smart ring main unit market by 2032, attributed to its energy-efficient and environmentally friendly characteristics. As the industry shifts towards sustainable solutions, non-motorized RMUs gain prominence for their reliability and reduced carbon footprint. With a growing emphasis on eco-friendly technologies, the non-motorized RMU segment will emerge as a significant contributor to market expansion.

Europe smart ring main unit industry will register remarkable expansion from 2023 to 2032, driven by increased infrastructure development and the region's focus on smart grid initiatives. The adoption of advanced technologies, coupled with stringent regulations promoting grid reliability, will position Europe as a significant contributor to the smart ring main unit industry. With a strong emphasis on modernizing electrical distribution networks, the region's initiatives contribute to its dominance in shaping the market outlook.

Key players in the smart ring main unit industry include Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation, ABB, Eaton, Siemens, Lucy Group Limited, TIEPCO, CHINT Group, Orecco, Bonomi Eugenio SpA, LS Electric Co., Ltd., Alfanar Group, and Schneider Electric SE, among others.

Industry players are expanding their smart ring main unit market presence by putting a dual focus on technological advancements and strategic collaborations. Investments in research and development drive innovations, while partnerships with key stakeholders facilitate a wider market reach. The deployment of cutting-edge solutions, in line with effective marketing strategies, will position these players to gain a competitive edge, significantly contributing to the smart ring main unit industry expansion.

Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/6540

Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC):

Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Smart ring main unit industry 360 synopsis, 2019 - 2032

2.2 Business trends

2.3 Insulation trends

2.4 Position trends

2.5 Technology trends

2.6 Installation trends

2.7 Component trends

2.8 Application trends

2.9 Regional trends

Chapter 3 Smart Ring Main Unit Industry Insights

3.1 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.2 Regulatory landscape

3.3 COVID- 19 impact on the industry outlook

3.4 Industry impact forces

3.4.1 Growth drivers

3.4.1.1 North America

3.4.1.1.1 Rising demand for the refurbishment of existing grid infrastructure

3.4.1.1.2 Increasing infrastructural spending

3.4.1.2 Europe

3.4.1.2.1 Rapid deployment of renewable energy sources

3.4.1.2.2 Expansion and development of prevailing energy grid networks

3.4.1.3 Asia Pacific

3.4.1.3.1 Ongoing integration of renewables on a large-scale

3.4.1.3.2 Elevating demand for electricity

3.4.1.4 Middle East, Africa & Latin America

3.4.1.4.1 Rising energy demand

3.4.1.4.2 Rising investment and expenditure toward the development of new energy distribution networks

3.4.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.4.2.1 Substantial initial deployment cost

3.5 Growth potential analysis

3.6 Porter's Analysis

3.7 PESTEL Analysis

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About Global Market Insights Inc.

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until January 29, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CHPT), if they purchased the Companys securities between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Get Help

ChargePoint investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-chpt/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

ChargePoint and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On November 16, 2023, post-market, the Company announced its preliminary financial results for 3Q 2024, disclosing that revenue had fallen to $108 million to $113 million, as compared to $150 to $165 million as previously expected, and an additional non-cash inventory impairment charge in the amount of $42 million related to product transitions and to better align inventory with current demand, which was expected to result in GAAP gross margin of negative 23% to negative 21%, as well as the replacement of both its CEO and CFO, effective immediately.

On this news, shares of ChargePoint fell $1.11, or 35%, to close at $2.02 per share on November 17, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The case is Khan v. ChargePoint Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-06172.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until February 20, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: INSP), if they purchased the Companys shares between May 3, 2023 and November 7, 2023, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.



Get Help

Inspire investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-insp/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Inspire Medical and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On November 7, 2023, post-market, the Company disclosed disappointing financial results for 3Q 2023, including a decline in prior authorization submissions for patients seeking Inspire therapy, as well as problems with its highly touted Acceleration Program requiring some corrective action.

On this news, shares of Inspire Medical plummeted approximately 20%, from a closing price of $161.74 per share on November 7, 2023, to a closing price of $129.95 per share on November 8, 2023.

The case is City of Hollywood Firefighters Pension Fund v. Inspire Medical Systems, Inc., No. 23-cv-03884

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.
A murder mystery involving a notorious super-pest in a tiny Aussie town has been solved.

The dismembered bodies of invasive cane toads had been found scattered around a Queensland seed farm for over a decade.

Pictures supplied to Yahoo News Australia show toad corpses lying at the edge of an aquaculture pond and on the branches of trees. The property's owner has frequently found dried out toads with their guts picked out and they are sometimes missing legs.

Leigh, who runs Fair Dinkum Seeds west of Bundaberg, had been pondering since 2013 what had been killing them. He would discover around 30 eviscerated bodies a year, but this summer's relentless rain has escalated the presence of toads and so he's now seeing a dissected toad every day.

Dozens of cane toads have been discovered around a Queensland pond, sparking an internet "murder mystery". Source: FairDinkumSeeds

The first time Leigh shared an image of an attacked toad in a tree was in 2013, when little was known about native Australian cane toad predators. Some with knowledge of the subject responded to his Facebook post by pointing out crows had adapted to kill them.

Since the 1930s cane toads had spread across Queensland, and into the Northern Territory, NSW and Western Australia. For most of last century they had no known natural predators, because their venom-secreting glands above each shoulder swell and produce poison when they are attacked by native species.

Surge in cane toad 'murders' around pond

A decade after his original Facebook post, Leigh has shared a fresh account after a surge in bodies began appearing around a newly created water plant platform on his pond. Cane toad murder mystery. Who has moved in and started using my fancy new water plant platform as an abattoir? he wrote.

Since his first post, research had revealed several species including ibis and rakali water rats have been observed dissecting the troublesome glands and eating the surrounding bodies.

His post attracted dozens of responses and many respondents marvelled how clever ibises are after someone pointed to the research. The response was pleasing to some, because ibis seldom get much love  because of their habit of searching out food discarded by humans, city-folk often use the pejorative term bin chickens to describe them.

Story continues

Perhaps we have been judging the bin chickens too harshly, one person quipped. They are an elegant looking creature, someone else said of the ibis.

Toads were discovered lying dead on tree branches, and photographed in 2013. Source: FairDinkumSeeds

What's been killing the cane toads on Leigh's pond?

Leigh has now set up cameras to monitor the pond. And while he hasn't seen toads being attacked he's seen them being eaten. His observations have led him to believe the main killer is rakali, but ibis are also taking out a few. Then turtles living in the water chew the bodies.

He guesses butcherbirds as well as crows could also be hunting them, as the former are known to spike their prey on tree branches.

Leigh also kills toads himself, so he can feed their bodies to the soldier flies which he then feeds to his ducks and chooks. But despite the destruction they cause around his farm, he doesn't hate them.

I'm sympathetic to the toad as it isn't their fault they suck. The fact remains they do, he said, adding to me they are an incredibly destructive, invasive, but also a useful, sustainable and free resource, that gives me high protein poultry feed and in turn more eggs.

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NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until January 26, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Roblox Corporation (NYSE: RBLX), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Companys shares between March 10, 2021 and February 15, 2022, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.



Get Help

Roblox investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-rblx/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Roblox and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Roblox platform had insufficient content controls and lacked user spending restrictions; (ii) these inadequate controls enabled younger users to play games with inappropriate content and make excessive, unauthorized purchases; (iii) a material portion of the Companys bookings and revenue growth was due to these excessive, unauthorized purchases; (iv) the Companys planned rollout of enhanced parental controls would negatively impact Q4 2021 and 2022 bookings; and (v) based on the foregoing, the Companys bookings and revenue growth were unsustainable throughout the Class Period.

The case is DeKalb County Pension Fund v. Roblox Corporation, et al., 23-cv-06618.

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ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

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Dublin, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Healthcare Staffing Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global healthcare staffing market size reached US$ 39.2 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the market is expected to reach US$ 56.9 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% during 2022-2028

The increasing aging population, ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals, the rapid outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, evolving nature of healthcare, specialized healthcare requirements and technological advancements are some of the major factors propelling the market.







The aging population and increased healthcare demands have resulted in a greater need for healthcare services. This has created a demand for healthcare professionals, leading to a rise in healthcare staffing. Additionally, the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals, such as nurses and physicians, has contributed to the growth of the healthcare staffing market. Factors like retirement, career transitions, and geographic imbalances further results in shortage, prompting healthcare organizations to rely on staffing agencies to fill critical positions.

Other than this, the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has also played a significant role in driving the healthcare staffing market. The unprecedented demand for healthcare workers during the crisis has highlighted the importance of having a flexible and agile staffing model to address sudden surges in patient numbers and to maintain continuity of care.

Moreover, the evolving nature of healthcare, technological advancements, and specialized care requirements have created a demand for professionals with niche skills and expertise. Healthcare staffing agencies play a crucial role in sourcing these specialized professionals to meet specific needs.



Healthcare Staffing Market Trends/Drivers:

Aging population and increased healthcare demand

With the growing aging population, there is a greater need for healthcare services due to age-related conditions and chronic illnesses. This leads to escalated demand for healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and caregivers, to provide essential care and support. Consequently, healthcare organizations must expand their workforce to meet these demands, resulting in a higher demand for healthcare staffing services.

The aging population also contributes to a higher turnover rate among healthcare professionals as they approach retirement, further necessitating the recruitment of new staff. These factors collectively drive the healthcare staffing market by creating a constant need for qualified healthcare professionals to meet the growing healthcare demands of the aging population.



The ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals



As the demand for healthcare services continues to rise, there is a simultaneous shortage of qualified healthcare professionals, such as nurses, physicians, and allied health workers. This shortage is fueled by factors such as retirements, career transitions, and geographic imbalances in the distribution of healthcare professionals.

To bridge this gap and ensure adequate staffing levels, healthcare organizations increasingly turn to healthcare staffing agencies. These agencies specialize in recruiting and placing qualified professionals to fill temporary or permanent positions, helping to address the shortage and maintain quality patient care.



The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic



The unprecedented demand for healthcare workers during the crisis has created an urgent need for additional staffing resources. Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities faced surges in patient numbers, requiring more healthcare professionals to provide care and support. This increased demand for healthcare staffing services to fill critical positions and alleviate the strain on healthcare organizations.

Additionally, the pandemic has resulted in healthcare workers facing burnout, illness, or the need to quarantine, further exacerbating staffing shortages. The dynamic and evolving nature of the pandemic has emphasized the importance of having a flexible staffing model to respond quickly to fluctuating demands, ensuring optimal patient care and operational continuity.



Healthcare Staffing Industry Segmentation:



The publisher provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global healthcare staffing market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional, and country levels from 2023-2028. Our report has categorized the market based on the service type.

Travel nurse staffing accounts for the majority of the market share



The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the healthcare staffing market based on the service type. This includes travel nurse staffing, per diem nurse staffing, locum tenens staffing, and allied healthcare staffing. According to the report, travel nurse staffing represented the largest segment.



Travel nurse staffing is driving the healthcare staffing market by providing a solution for healthcare facilities facing staff shortages. Travel nurses are temporary healthcare professionals who are willing to relocate and work in different locations for short-term assignments. They offer flexibility and fill critical gaps in staffing, especially in regions with high demand or during peak seasons. Travel nurse staffing agencies connect healthcare facilities with qualified professionals, ensuring adequate staffing levels and uninterrupted patient care.



Per diem nurse staffing plays a vital role in the healthcare staffing market by providing on-demand and flexible staffing solutions. Per diem nurses are available to work on a day-by-day basis, allowing healthcare facilities to supplement their existing staff during peak periods, vacations, or unexpected absences. This staffing model provides agility in managing fluctuating patient volumes, minimizing overtime costs, and maintaining optimal staffing levels while delivering quality care.



North America exhibits a clear dominance in the market, accounting for the largest market share

North America drives the healthcare staffing market through its high demand for healthcare professionals, driven by factors such as an aging population, increased healthcare needs, and advancements in medical technology. The region's robust healthcare infrastructure, large healthcare organizations, and high healthcare expenditure contribute to the growth of the staffing market.



In Europe, the healthcare staffing market is driven by aging population, growing healthcare demands, and cross-border mobility of healthcare professionals. The region's emphasis on quality healthcare, universal healthcare systems, and government initiatives to address healthcare workforce shortages further fuel the demand for staffing solutions.



The Asia Pacific region drives the healthcare staffing market due to its population size, rapid urbanization, and economic growth. The region faces challenges such as a shortage of healthcare professionals, increasing healthcare demands, and a need to enhance healthcare infrastructure. This drives the demand for healthcare staffing services to meet the growing needs and provide quality healthcare services in the region.



Competitive Landscape:



The key players in the healthcare staffing market are actively investing in expanding their networks of healthcare professionals, leveraging technology for efficient recruitment and placement processes, and adopting innovative solutions to address staffing challenges. These players are establishing strategic partnerships with healthcare facilities, offering specialized staffing services, and providing comprehensive workforce management solutions.

They are also focusing on improving employee engagement, offering competitive compensation packages, and providing professional development opportunities. Moreover, key players are actively monitoring market trends, regulatory changes, and healthcare workforce dynamics to adapt their strategies and stay ahead in the competitive healthcare staffing market.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 147 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $39.2 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $56.9 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.4% Regions Covered Global

Key Questions Answered in This Report

What was the size of the global healthcare staffing market in 2022?

What is the expected growth rate of the global healthcare staffing market during 2023-2028?

What are the key factors driving the global healthcare staffing market?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global healthcare staffing market?

What is the breakup of the global healthcare staffing market based on the service type?

What are the key regions in the global healthcare staffing market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global healthcare staffing market?

Detailed profiles of all major companies have also been provided. Some of the key players in the market include:

Adecco Group

Amn Healthcare Services Inc.

CHG Management Inc.

Cross Country Healthcare Inc.

Envisions Healthcare Corporation (KKR & Co. Inc.)

LHC Group Inc.

LocumTenens.com (Jackson Healthcare LLC)

Maxim Healthcare Group

Syneos Health Inc.

TeamHealth

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/p1jcvy

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
New York, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global public key infrastructure (PKI) market size is expected to expand at ~24% CAGR from 2023 to 2035. The market is anticipated to garner a revenue of USD 230 billion by the end of 2035, up from a revenue of ~USD 5 billion in the year 2022.Companies nowadays are highly using technologically developed solutions such as cloud storage, visualization, and organization mobility. These developments have aided companies to work better in real-time as their offer accessibility to company data via virtual and cloud storage in mobile devices. However, this accessibility of data on mobile devices has also promoted the prevalence of data loss and risk concerns as a result driving the adoption of public key infrastructure. In a survey, 70% of respondents said that their organization's cloud security, IT operations, and developers do not align with security policies.

Request Free Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.researchnester.com/sample-request-5182

The rapid use of public-key infrastructure solutions is being fueled by the rising market need to lower the cost of verification and boost consumer & seller confidence in numerous sectors like healthcare, banking, and e-commerce. Nowadays, a lot of cyber-crimes are taking place that has reduced the trust of consumers over sellers especially those who are dealing online, thus increasing the demand for public key infrastructure. With the growing sophistication of cyber threats and the increasing frequency of data breaches, organizations are prioritizing robust cybersecurity measures.

Increasing Adoption of IoT Trend in Various Sectors across the Globe to Boost Market Growth

Many businesses are primarily concentrating on how the latest technologies, like IoT, will affect PKI. Every industrial vertical has benefited from the advent of IoT in different ways. Regardless of the effective implementation of the security procedures, businesses are growing more worried about the immediate release of new goods on the public key infrastructure (PKI) market. As a result, there are more and more security issues and cyber dangers affecting the safety of IoT devices. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation increased the number of distant workers accessing various resources as a result of work-from-home or remote work trends, and the growing requirement to safeguard corporate assets from unauthorized access during the pandemic is having a favorable influence on the growth of the public key infrastructure (PKI) industry. Approximately 48% of workers in organizations across the globe who were employed full-time throughout the pandemic did so remotely. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation increased the number of distant workers accessing various resources as a result of work-from-home or remote work trends, and the growing requirement to safeguard corporate assets from unauthorized access during the pandemic is having a favorable influence on the growth of the public key infrastructure (PKI) industry. Approximately 48% of workers in organizations across the globe who were employed full-time throughout the pandemic did so remotely.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Market: Regional Overview

The market is segmented into five major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa region.

Internet of Things (IoT) Expansion to Drive the Market Growth in North America Region

The public key infrastructure (PKI) market in North America region is estimated to garner the largest revenue by the end of 2036. As a result of the growing requirement to maintain ongoing data security compliance throughout the company and the widespread usage of the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certification that employs public-key security solutions for encryption and authentication. PKI is used by numerous sectors in the region such as healthcare, government, and online shopping sectors to protect data, provide secure communication, and validate digital identities. The focus on data protection in the area, the existence of significant companies, and the rising frequency of cyber threats all support the growth of the PKI industry throughout North America. In the United States, more than 2,100 cyberattacks occur every day. The proliferation of IoT devices introduces new security challenges, and PKI is instrumental in securing communication between connected devices. Whether in smart homes, industrial settings, or healthcare, PKI solutions provide the necessary infrastructure to authenticate devices, ensure data integrity, and protect against unauthorized access. The growth of the IoT ecosystem is thus a significant driver for PKI adoption.

Make an Inquiry Before Buying this Report @ https://www.researchnester.com/inquiries-before-buying-5182

Digital Transformation and Cloud Adoption to Propel the Growth in the Asia Pacific Region

The Asia Pacific public key infrastructure (PKI) market is estimated to garner the highest CAGR by the end of 2036. The Asia Pacific region is at the forefront of digital transformation, with organizations investing heavily in modernizing their infrastructure and embracing cloud technologies. As businesses migrate to the cloud for data storage and applications, the demand for PKI solutions rises. PKI provides a secure foundation for digital transformation initiatives, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of data in cloud environments. A report noted that spending on digital transformation in the Asia Pacific reached USD 434 billion by 2021. The rapid growth of the FinTech sector in the Asia Pacific region is driving the need for secure and reliable digital transactions. PKI plays a crucial role in providing the necessary infrastructure for secure online financial transactions. As FinTech continues to reshape the financial landscape, PKI solutions become integral to ensuring the security and trustworthiness of digital financial services. Governments in the Asia Pacific are investing in smart city initiatives, leading to the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. PKI is fundamental in securing communication between these connected devices, ensuring data integrity, and preventing unauthorized access. As smart city projects gain momentum, the demand for PKI solutions to secure IoT ecosystems is on the rise.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Segmentation by Deployment Mode

On-premises

Cloud

Amongst these segments, the cloud segment in public key infrastructure (PKI) market is anticipated to hold the largest share over the forecast period. Enterprises globally are undergoing digital transformation to stay competitive in an increasingly interconnected world. Cloud computing is at the core of these initiatives, providing the agility and scalability needed to modernize IT infrastructure, enhance business processes, and enable innovative digital services. The shift to remote work has accelerated the adoption of cloud-based collaboration tools and infrastructure. Cloud computing enables seamless access to applications and data from any location, fostering collaboration, and supporting the flexibility demanded by the modern workforce. It is estimated that 88% of organizations worldwide have encouraged or required employees to work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The proliferation of IoT devices is generating vast amounts of data that need to be processed, analyzed, and stored efficiently. Cloud computing provides the scalable and elastic infrastructure required to handle the massive volumes of data generated by IoT devices, making it a key enabler for IoT-driven applications and services.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Segmentation by End User

BFSI

Healthcare

IT & Telecom

Amongst these segments, the BFSI segment in public key infrastructure (PKI) market is anticipated to hold a significant share over the forecast period. The BFSI segment is a sector based on strict standards and the sector demands secured communication and data protection. Public key infrastructure is widely used in the BFSI sector for various purposes such as authentication of users, secured online transactions, and security of sensitive data such as consumer data, transaction, and financial data. Moreover, the increasing number of cyberattacks in the banking and finance sector is further predicted to accelerate the public key infrastructure (PKI) market growth of public key infrastructure in this segment. Public key infrastructure offers a secure way of transmitting data via the internet in order to protect the data from getting exposed to cyber fraud such as hacking, identity theft, and phishing. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being harnessed to deliver personalized and tailored financial services. From chatbots providing customer support to predictive analytics for investment recommendations, AI enhances customer experiences, streamlines processes, and aids in making data-driven decisions in the BFSI sector. A survey found that 72% of global CEOs believe that AI will have a significant impact on the financial services industry.

Few of the well-known industry leaders in public key infrastructure (PKI) market that are profiled by Research Nester are Microsoft Corporation, Amazon Web Services, Inc., Verisign Inc., Comodo Group, DigiCert One, Entrust Datacard Corporation, IBM Corporation, HID Global, and other key market players.

Recent Development in the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Market

DNS Made Easy was purchased by DigiCert, Inc. in June 2022. This tactical step improves DigiCert's capacity to provide its clients with complete and trustworthy DNS solutions.

Verisign Inc., launched a new PKI platform called Verisign Managed PKI for SSL in May 2021 with the goal of giving organizations a simple and cost-effective way to secure online transactions and communications. This platform provides improved security measures while reducing operational complexity and organizational expenses.

Read our insightful Blogs and Data-driven Case Studies:

Cloud Migration - Future of the Future

The write-up explores the advancements in cloud migration and how it is going to transform the data migration procedures. The blog also consists of details related to the cloud migration market and its future growth aspects.

https://www.researchnester.com/blog/technology/network-security/future-of-cloud-migration

Telecom Company identifiediIts Supply and Demand Triggers and integrated them for Profitable and Sustainable Growth

This case study uncovers how with the help of our expertise a telecom company was able to grow mitigating supply & demand challenges it faced. Our experts offered them a strategy that allowed company to manage market dynamics.

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About Research Nester

Research Nester is a one-stop service provider with a client base in more than 50 countries, leading in strategic market research and consulting with an unbiased and unparalleled approach towards helping global industrial players, conglomerates and executives for their future investment while avoiding forthcoming uncertainties. With an out-of-the-box mindset to produce statistical and analytical market research reports, we provide strategic consulting so that our clients can make wise business decisions with clarity while strategizing and planning for their forthcoming needs and succeed in achieving their future endeavors. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:



Hole MTC-23-060 intercepted multiple near-surface lenses in the bulk tonnage MC Main Zone including 24.9 metres (m) of 1.05 grams of gold per tonne (g/t Au) and 41.8 m of 0.92 g/t Au at the Montclerg Gold Project (Montclerg or the Project).

Hole MTC-23-062 returned one of the highest-grade intercepts drilled to-date within the bulk-tonnage style Main Zone of 3.09 g/t Au over 12.8 m and 1.16 g/t Au over 12.8 m near surface.

Assay results (8 holes) from the Aljo Mine Target (Aljo) remain pending.

Drilling is planned to resume in the first quarter with a primary focus at Montclerg and testing high-priority targets across the Goldarm Property.

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GFG Resources Inc. (TSXV: GFG) (OTCQB: GFGSF) (GFG or the Company) reports further gold assay results from the recently completed 2023 Phase 2 drill program at its Montclerg Gold Project, located 40 kilometres (km) east of Timmins, Ontario (see Tables 1-2 and Figures 1-6). The results released today are from two infill holes and two step-out holes completed along the Montclerg gold system where GFG has continuously proven and grown a robust gold system since the Company acquired the asset in October 2021.

In the Phase 2 drill program the Company completed a total of 3,613 m from 15 holes (7 at Montclerg and 8 at Aljo). The program focused on step-out and in-fill drilling at Montclerg and tested a spectrum of targets at Aljo located within the Goldarm Property east of Timmins, Ontario. The Company eagerly anticipates releasing the remaining 8 holes from Aljo in the coming weeks as several zones of gold mineralization were observed in core logging.

"To date, our Phase 2 drill program at Montclerg has been a resounding success, proving a robust gold system with multiple high-grade and bulk tonnage gold zones across the Main zones, as well as the Footwall zones, stated Brian Skanderbeg, President and CEO of GFG. The consistency of the results from both step-out and infill drilling demonstrate not only the strong continuity of the system but also the significant expansion potential at depth and along strike. In addition to strong results, the infill drilling has been critical in confirming the geometry and coherence of these mineral systems at shallow depths.

Moreover, we await the assay results from Aljo with great anticipation, as the core logging has indicated several promising zones of gold mineralization. Our team is highly motivated by these findings, and we are looking forward to continuing to unlock the value of our strategically located assets for our shareholders."

Table 1: Most Recent Montclerg Gold Project Assay Results from the 2023 Phase 2 Drill Program

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Zone MTC-23-058 100.9 102.9 2.0 1.60 Undefined and 385.0 394.2 9.2 0.79 Lower Footwall and 397.4 398.3 0.9 2.99 Lower Footwall and 405.6 409.9 4.3 0.65 Lower Footwall MTC-23-060 63.1 88.0 24.9 1.05 Upper Main and 95.7 137.5 41.8 0.92 Lower Main and 141.6 145.1 3.5 1.05 Lower Main and 249.5 250.0 0.5 1.95 Lower Footwall and 252.6 255.8 3.2 0.97 Lower Footwall MTC-23-062 27.0 39.8 12.8 1.16 Upper Main and 46.5 53.9 7.4 0.79 Upper Main and 72.4 85.2 12.8 3.09 Upper Main incl. 74.0 76.9 2.9 9.76 and 109.5 113.6 4.1 2.41 Upper Footwall incl. 111.1 111.9 0.9 8.20 MTC-23-064 121.8 123.6 1.8 1.84 Undefined and 371.3 376.6 5.3 0.66 Lower Footwall

*Drill intercepts are presented using a 0.20 g/t Au cut-off and as drilled length with a minimum 0.5 gram-metre product. Composites include internal dilution of up to 3 m at grades less than 0.2 g/t Au. Included intervals are calculated using a 3 g/t cut-off at a minimum 5 gram-metre product unless otherwise stated. True width is estimated to be 50 to 90% of drilled length.

Commentary on Assay Results

Anders Carlson, Vice President, Exploration of GFG commented, These results demonstrate both the grade upside within the Upper Main Zone as well as our commitment to drilling significant step-out holes at depth along the Lower Footwall Zone where we believe we can further expand this gold system. Along with the results today, the high-grade zone intersected earlier in the program in MTC-23-059 yielding 4.79 g/t Au over 12.8 m remains the deepest hole drilled to-date at Montclerg and were very pleased with the structural and grade continuity observed thus far.

MTC-23-058 was drilled to test the dip extension of the Lower Footwall Zone (see Figures 3-5). The hole intersects approximately 13 m of weak to moderate sericite-ankerite-silica alteration in mafic volcanic rocks with up to 15% disseminated arsenopyrite and pyrite. Quartz-carbonate veins and veinlets are present throughout the zone yielding 0.79 g/t Au over 9.2 m and 2.99 g/t Au over 0.9 m. This zone is observed between two high-grade intercepts in MTC-23-057 and MTC-23-059 that graded 10.21 g/t Au over 2.7 m including 16.20 g/t Au over 1.5 m and 4.79 g/t Au over 12.8 m including 10.05 g/t Au over 4.3 m, respectively. This hole, while lower grade than those around it, confirms the increased thickness of the Lower Footwall Zone below 350 vertical metres, supporting our belief that the local change in geology has had a positive impact on overall gold endowment at depth.

MTC-23-060 was drilled to infill an area of the Main Zone and to test the upper extent of the Lower Footwall (see Figures 3-5). The hole intersected approximately 80 m of moderate to strong sericite-ankerite-silica alteration in the felsic volcanic-hosted Upper and Lower Main zones yielding intercepts of 1.05 g/t Au over 24.9 m and 0.92 g/t Au over 41.8 m, respectively, with up to 5% disseminated arsenopyrite and pyrite. Further downhole, the Lower Footwall Zone was intersected yielding intercepts of 1.95 g/t Au over 0.5 m and 0.97 g/t Au over 3.2 m within 7 m of weak to moderate ankerite and silica-altered mafic volcanic rocks. This hole fills a gap in drilling within the Main Zone and was successful in defining the upper extent of the Lower Footwall Zone, increasing our confidence in the overall geological model.

MTC-23-062 targeted an area in the Upper Main Zone which hosted high-grade gold in historical holes drilled at oblique angles and infill the Upper Footwall (see Figures 3-6). The hole intersects 1.16 g/t over 12.8 m and 3.09 g/t Au over 12.8 m in the Upper Main Zone including a high-grade core of 9.76 g/t Au over 2.9 m. This represents one of the highest-grade intercepts drilled to-date within the bulk-tonnage style Main Zone and lies 60 m below surface. Further downhole, an intercept yielding 2.41 g/t Au over 4.1 m including 8.20 g/t Au over 0.9 m is interested in the Upper Footwall Zone. These higher-grade infill holes are important as they show upside to the overall resource grade while allowing us to define the upper margins of the Lower Footwall Zone.

MTC-23-064 is a 150 m step-out to the east of MTC-23-058 along the Lower Footwall Zone as noted above (see Figures 3-5). The hole intersected approximately 7 m of weak to moderate sericite-ankerite-silica alteration in mafic volcanic rocks with up to 7% disseminated arsenopyrite and pyrite. Quartz-carbonate veins and veinlets are present throughout the zone yielding 0.66 g/t Au over 5.3 m. The hole also intersects a hanging wall zone of mineralization 250 m up-hole from the Lower Footwall Zone that grades 1.84 g/t Au over 1.8 m in similarly altered mafic volcanic rocks. The presence of the Lower Footwall Zone, albeit low-grade in this hole, is important for understanding the geological model and testing it beyond the current limits of the known deposit area. The intercepts observed over the course of the 2023 Phase 2 drill program including the deep, high-grade intercept of MTC-23-059 yielding 4.79 g/t Au over 12.8 m show that this system can be extended significantly at depth.

Outlook

Brian Skanderbeg, CEO of GFG commented, As we look ahead to 2024, our Company is buoyed by the success and the growth opportunities that have emerged within the Goldarm Property. With this optimism, we are gearing up to resume drilling activities later in Q1 at Goldarm with a particular focus on Montclerg, Aljo and initial first pass drilling on several targets across Goldarm.

In tandem, at the Pen and Dore Gold Projects, our team is actively exploring avenues to progress these projects. Our strategic approach is not only aimed at unlocking the inherent value of these district-scale land positions but also at capitalizing on the diverse mineral potential they hold, encompassing gold, volcanogenic massive sulfide, and nickel-copper prospects. We remain steadfast in our commitment to responsibly advance our portfolio and deliver value to our stakeholders."



Figure 1: Regional Map of GFG Gold Projects in the Timmins Gold District





Figure 2: Goldarm Property Plan View Map





Figure 3: Montclerg Gold Project Plan View Map





Figure 4: Montclerg Gold Project MC Central Plan View Map





Figure 5: Montclerg Gold Project Cross Section Map





Figure 6: MTC-23-062 High Grade Gold Zone of 9.76 g/t Au over 2.09 m (74.0m to 76.9 m)





Table 2: GFG Drill Hole Assay Highlights from the Montclerg Gold Project

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Zone MTC-21-001 62.5 90.0 27.5 1.56 Upper Main and 126.0 166.5 40.5 0.78 Lower Main incl. 130.8 138.0 7.3 2.20 MTC-21-004 39.8 64.0 24.2 0.73 Upper Main and 75.7 86.1 10.4 1.24 Lower Main incl. 81.0 85.1 4.1 2.37 and 230.5 246.0 15.5 1.23 Lower Footwall incl. 241.7 245.0 3.3 3.09 MTC-21-005 86.0 112.0 26.0 4.82 Upper Footwall incl. 94.3 96.1 1.8 15.96 and 103.8 109.3 5.5 12.32 and 118.9 120.6 1.7 11.29 MTC-21-006 98.3 105.8 7.5 8.34 Upper Footwall incl. 98.3 101.0 2.7 15.04 MTC-21-007 65.4 95.6 31.1 1.40 Upper Main and 108.0 131.0 23.0 1.11 Lower Main MTC-21-009 45.0 60.0 15.0 1.23 Upper Main MTC-21-010 79.5 106.5 27.0 1.05 Upper Main incl. 89.6 100.5 10.9 1.84 MTC-22-015 24.0 57.5 33.5 1.32 MC West incl. 24.0 28.7 4.7 5.15 MTC-22-018 52.0 57.9 5.9 3.51 MC West incl. 53.9 56.0 2.1 7.93 MTC-22-019 112.6 118.1 5.5 4.38 Upper Footwall incl. 112.6 116.0 3.4 6.37 MTC-22-020 22.4 34.1 11.7 1.07 Upper Main and 97.0 105.3 8.3 4.95 Upper Footwall incl. 102.8 105.3 2.5 12.83 MTC-22-021 50.3 72.0 21.7 1.51 Upper Main incl. 62.2 64.0 1.8 8.17 MTC-22-023 17.6 88.0 70.4 1.60 Upper Main incl. 35.2 42.0 6.8 2.43 incl. 76.2 81.0 4.8 4.97 and 124.5 133.2 8.7 2.46 Upper Footwall incl. 131.4 133.2 1.8 7.75 MTC-22-029 104.4 111.5 7.1 4.98 Upper Footwall incl. 104.4 107.6 3.2 7.02 incl. 110.4 111.5 1.1 7.79 MTC-22-030 71.0 86.0 15.0 3.40 Upper Footwall incl. 71.0 74.0 3.0 6.21 also incl. 81.9 82.9 1.0 17.50 MTC-22-031 285.2 292.6 7.4 2.78 Lower Footwall incl. 290.3 292.6 2.3 7.83 and 300.4 302.0 1.6 4.59 Lower Footwall MTC-22-034 79.5 94.6 14.5 1.37 Lower Main incl. 85.2 86.8 1.6 3.97 and 161.7 171.0 9.3 5.26 Upper Footwall incl. 163.9 168.3 4.4 10.77 MTC-22-035 72.0 85.2 13.2 2.31 Lower Main incl. 77.0 82.1 5.1 4.07 and 125.3 141.3 16.0 9.85 Upper Footwall incl. 130.3 137.8 7.5 14.99 MTC-22-036 79.0 85.0 6.0 9.63 Upper Footwall incl. 80.5 84.0 3.5 15.40 MTC-22-039 79.8 83.3 3.3 4.32 Upper Footwall incl. 80.7 83.3 2.6 5.74 and 88.0 98.3 10.3 3.95 MTC-22-041 76.2 81.0 4.8 4.89 Upper Footwall incl. 81.0 80.1 1.1 14.40 MTC-22-042 96.4 119.0 22.6 1.48 Lower Main and 307.3 312.3 5.0 8.46 Lower Footwall incl. 309.3 312.3 2.0 16.40 ALJ-22-002 62.1 75.0 12.9 3.03 incl. 67.5 68.1 0.6 59.80 and 79.0 93.9 14.9 1.32 incl. 85.3 86.2 0.9 10.90 and 101.0 105.3 4.3 6.58 incl. 103.2 104.2 1.0 27.40 MTC-23-048 88.0 92.1 4.1 4.10 Upper Footwall incl. 89.8 92.1 2.3 6.30 MTC-23-054 73.1 81.2 8.1 9.97 Upper Footwall incl. 75.9 78.9 3.0 16.95 MTC-23-057 254.5 256.8 2.3 2.25 and 346.0 348.7 2.7 10.21 Lower Footwall incl. 346.0 347.5 1.5 16.20 and 375.5 376.7 1.2 2.42 Lower Footwall incl. 375.5 376.2 0.7 3.84 MTC-23-060 63.1 88.0 24.9 1.05 Upper Main and 95.7 137.5 41.8 0.92 Lower Main MTC-23-062 72.4 85.2 12.8 3.09 Upper Main incl. 74.0 76.9 2.9 9.76

*Drill intercepts are presented using a 0.20 g/t Au cut-off and as drilled length with a minimum 0.5 gram-metre product. Composites include internal dilution of up to 3 m at grades less than 0.2 g/t Au. Included intervals are calculated using a 3 g/t cut-off at a minimum 5 gram-metre product unless otherwise stated. True width is estimated to be 50 to 90% of drilled length.

**Calculated at a 5 g/t cut-off.

About the Goldarm Property

The Goldarm Property is a large and highly prospective land package east of the Timmins Gold Camp (see Figures 1-2). The consolidated Goldarm Property covers approximately 30 km of the Pipestone Deformation Zone and the North Pipestone Deformation Zone. Within the Goldarm Property, there are several highly prospective gold targets such as the Aljo Gold Mine region, the Carr target, and the Montclerg Gold Project;which is the most advanced target. The Montclerg Gold Project covers 10 km of the highly prospective Pipestone Deformation Zone and is located 48 km east of the prolific Timmins Gold Camp and is adjacent to multiple current and historic gold mines (see Figure 1).

About GFG Resources Inc.

GFG is a North American precious metals exploration company focused on district scale gold projects in tier one mining jurisdictions, Ontario and Wyoming. In Ontario, the Company operates three gold projects, each large and highly prospective gold properties within the prolific gold district of Timmins, Ontario, Canada. The projects have similar geological settings that host most of the gold deposits found in the Timmins Gold Camp which have produced over 70 million ounces of gold. The Company also owns 100% of the Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project, a district scale gold exploration project located approximately 100 km southwest of Casper, Wyoming, U.S.

For further information, please contact:

Brian Skanderbeg, President & CEO

or

Marc Lepage, Vice President, Business Development

Phone: (306) 931-0930

Email: info@gfgresources.com

Website: www.gfgresources.com

Stay Connected with Us

Twitter: @GFGResources

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Footnote:

(1) Drill intercepts are historical and GFGs QP has not verified the laboratory accreditation, analytical method, sample size or QA/QC procedures utilized for the historic drill results. True widths have not been estimated.

Potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource on the Coulson Claims to date and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the Coulson Claims being defined as a Mineral Resource.

Sampling and Quality Control

All scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been prepared under the supervision of Brian Skanderbeg, P.Geo. President and CEO of GFG, a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

Drill core samples are being analyzed for gold by Activation Laboratories Ltd. in Timmins, Ontario. Gold analysis consists of the preparation of a 500-gram pulp and an assay of a 50-gram aliquot by Pb collection fire assay with an Atomic Absorption Spectrometry finish (Package 1A2-50. Samples assaying above 5 ppm Au are routinely re-run using a gravimetric finish (Package 1A3-50). Mineralized zones containing visible gold are analyzed by a screen metallic fire assay method. Selected samples are also undergoing multi-element analysis for 59 other elements using a four-acid digestion and an ICP-MS finish (Package MA250) by Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd. in Vancouver, British Columbia. Quality control and assurance measures include the monitoring of results for inserted certified reference materials, coarse blanks and preparation duplicates of drill core.

Drill intercepts are presented using a 0.20 g/t Au cut-off and as drilled length. Composites include internal dilution of up to 3 m at grades less than 0.2 g/t Au. True width is estimated to be 50 to 90% of drilled length. Sampling protocols, quality control and assurance measures and geochemical results related to historic drill core samples quoted in this news release have not been verified by the Qualified Person and therefore must be regarded as estimates.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Companys future exploration plans with respect to its property interests and the timing thereof, the prospective nature of the projects, future price of gold, success of exploration activities and metallurgical test work, permitting time lines, currency exchange rate fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of exploration work, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate or believes, or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results, may, could, would, will, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation thereof.

All forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions, including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, the assumed long-term price of gold, that the Company will receive required permits and access to surface rights, that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour, and that the political environment within Canada and the United States will continue to support the development of mining projects in Canada and the United States. In addition, the similarity or proximity of other gold deposits to the Companys projects is not necessary indicative of the geological setting, alteration and mineralization of the Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project, the Goldarm Property, the Pen Gold Project and the Dore Gold Project.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of GFG to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; future prices of gold; operating risks; accidents, labour issues and other risks of the mining industry; availability of capital, delays in obtaining government approvals or financing; and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties and the additional risks described in the Companys most recently filed annual and interim MD&A are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive.

Although GFG has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. In addition, forward-looking statements are provided solely for the purpose of providing information about managements current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof and GFG assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9280333-398e-45f9-8f36-bd8f018d4979

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Westford,USA, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest report, the global In vitro fertilization market encompasses assisted reproductive technology (ART), encompassing a range of procedures that facilitate the fertilization of an egg with sperm outside the human body. IVF has emerged as a widely embraced and advanced medical technique designed to address infertility issues, offering hope to couples seeking to conceive when natural conception proves challenging.

Browse in-depth TOC on the "In Vitro Fertilization Market"

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Tables - 65

Figures  75

There has been a notable shift in societal attitudes towards in-vitro fertilization (IVF), with growing awareness about infertility issues playing a pivotal role in reshaping public perception. The availability of advanced IVF treatments has contributed significantly to the increased acceptance and demand for these procedures in the In vitro fertilization market.

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Report Scope & Segmentation:

Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 23.75 Billion 2030 Value Projection USD 37 Billion CAGR 5.7% Forecast Period 2023-2030 Segments Covered Product Type

End-use Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa

Prominent Players inGlobal In Vitro Fertilization Market

CooperSurgical, Inc.

Vitrolife AB

Cook Medical

Irvine Scientific

Merck KGaA

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Esco Micro Pte Ltd

Genea Limited

Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Hamilton Thorne, Inc.

Nidacon International AB

Rocket Medical plc

EMD Serono

OvaScience

Kitazato Corporation

IVFtech Aps

Zeiss Group

Igenomix

Labotect GmbH

Esco Medical

Fresh Non-Donor Segment is Expected to Grow in the Market Due to the Increasing Adoption of Fresh Non-Donor Cycles

Fresh non-donor segment has established itself as the dominant player, claiming a substantial 49% share of the revenue in the In vitro fertilization market. Several factors contribute to the evident supremacy of this segment. Firstly, it boasts a remarkably high success rate, making it an attractive choice for individuals and couples seeking fertility treatment [RS1] .

In the markets inNorth America, a notable decline in fertility rates among both men and women has marked a prominent shift in recent years. Several interconnected factors have contributed to the growth of the In-vitro fertilization market in the region. The increasing prevalence of conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has led to a rising number of individuals seeking fertility treatments.

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Frozen Non-Donor Segment is Expected to Dominate Market Due to Increasingly Appealing Option

Frozen non-donor segment is expected to witness the most rapid growth in the In vitro fertilization market. This surge can be attributed to several key factors that make frozen embryo transfers an increasingly appealing option. Frozen transfers yield higher pregnancy rates, enhancing their efficacy as a fertility treatment choice.

Regional markets in the Asia Pacific are poised to rise at a significant CAGR in the In-vitro fertilization market during the forecast period. This growth trajectory can be attributed to a multifaceted set of factors shaping the landscape of fertility treatment in the region.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the In vitro fertilizationmarket has been recently conducted. The report encompasses various aspects of the market and its dynamics. This include collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavors to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand.

Key Developments in the In Vitro Fertilization Market

In 2022, Vitro Life AB introduced a groundbreaking innovation in the field of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with the launch of their latest product, the Vitro Life G-Series. This new generation of culture media has been meticulously designed to enhance the crucial process of embryo development, thereby significantly improving the success rates of IVF treatments. The Vitro Life G-Series represents a cutting-edge solution that promises to elevate the effectiveness of IVF procedures, providing hope and improved outcomes for individuals and couples seeking fertility treatments.

Cooper Surgical, Inc. recently made a strategic move by announcing its acquisition of Origio, a prominent player in IVF laboratory products and services. This acquisition was a pivotal step in Cooper Surgical's expansion strategy, aimed at diversifying and bolstering its portfolio of IVF solutions.

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Key Questions Answered in the In Vitro Fertilization Market Report

What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period?

List the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence.

In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how these differences shape the market's future growth?

Related Reports in SkyQuests Library:

Global Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Market

Global Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Production Market

Global Protein Therapeutics Market

Global Chemiluminescence Immunoassay Analyzers Market

Global Biobanking Market

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[RS1] Secondly???



Since the paragraph talks about multiple factors contributing to the growth of this segment, you have to mention at least 3 factors. If not, you can rephrase the paragraph.






Chicago, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patient Engagement Solutions market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $41.8 Billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $41.8 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 13.2% from 2023 to 2028 according to a latest report published by MarketsandMarkets. The market's growth is fueled by an escalating demand for patient engagement solutions and a growing prevalence of collaborations and partnerships among stakeholders. Nevertheless, challenges such as insufficient interoperability among healthcare providers and concerns regarding the protection of patient information are anticipated to impede the market's growth throughout the specified forecast period.

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Patient Engagement Solutions Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $22.5 Billion Estimated Value by 2028 $41.8 Billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% Market Size Available for 2021-2028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Component, Delivery Mode, Therapeutic Area, Application, Functionality, End User, And Region Geographies Covered North America (US, and Canada), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, and the RoE), Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, and RoAPAC), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico and Rest of Latin America) and Middle East & Africa (GCC Countries and Rest of MEA). Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunity Growth opportunities in emerging markets Key Market Driver Implementation of government regulations and initiatives to promote patient-centric care

Based on components, the patient engagement solutions market is bifurcated into software, hardware, and services. The software segment accounted for the largest share of the global patient engagement solutions market in 2022. The hardware is further divided into in-room televisions, integrated bedside terminals/assisted devices, and tablets. The software market is segmented into standalone software and integrated software. The integrated software segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2022, and this segment is also anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

However, the services segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The high growth of the services segment can be due to the services component being necessary for the application of deployed solutions. In addition, increasing investments in developing innovative service models that offer value-based patient-centered care also drive the market growth for services.

Based on delivery mode, the patient engagement solutions market is bifurcated into on-premise and cloud-based/web-based modes. The on-premise mode segment accounted for the largest share of the global patient engagement solutions market in 2022. However, the cloud-based/web-based mode segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The flexibility, scalability, and affordability provided by cloud-based solutions are supporting its increase in the patient engagement solutions market. The growing embrace of these solutions is driven by factors such as remote access to real-time data tracking, integrated features, seamless accessibility, minimal handling costs, and straightforward data backup. This has spurred companies to invest significantly in patient engagement solutions that are web-based and leverage the cloud for enhanced efficiency.

Categorized by application, the patient engagement solutions market is divided into health management, home health management, social and behavioral management, and financial health management. In 2022, the health management applications segment held the largest share of the global patient engagement solutions market. Factors such as increasing awareness among patients about the obstacles of their disease conditions and their willingness to participate in maintaining their health actively are a few factors driving market growth.

Based on therapeutic areas, the patient engagement solutions market is bifurcated into chronic diseases, womens health, fitness, and other therapeutic areas. Chronic diseases are further divided into cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases. The chronic diseases segment holds the largest share of the global patient engagement solutions market in 2022. Factors such as the high burden of chronic diseases, an increasing problem in the treatments, and the requirement to successfully manage these conditions while reducing overall healthcare costs are some of the key factors driving market growth.

Based on functionality, the patient engagement solutions market is bifurcated into E-prescribing, telehealth, patient/client scheduling, document management, patient education, billing & payments, and other functionality. The patient/client scheduling segment hold the largest share of the global patient engagement solutions market in 2022. Factors such as risen productivity through proper scheduling of appointments and digitization in the healthcare process are driving market growth.

Based on end users, the patient engagement solutions market is bifurcated into payers, providers, patients, and other end users. The providers are further divided into hospitals and healthcare systems, ambulatory care centers, home healthcare, and other providers. The payers are further divided into private and public. The providers' segment accounted for the largest share of the global patient engagement solutions market in 2022. Providers progressively adopt patient engagement solutions to curtail expanding healthcare costs, offer value-based care, and improve financial outcomes. Patient engagement solutions also help providers enhance the patient experience, meet the expanding demand for appropriate access to health information, and better serve patients to self-manage their care.

Based on region, the patient engagement solutions market is bifurcated into five major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. North America accounted for the largest share of the global patient engagement solutions market in 2022. The growth of the patient engagement solutions market in North America is propelled by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, supportive government initiatives, reduced healthcare costs, and the presence of key market players in the region. In the Asia Pacific, the market is anticipated to achieve the highest Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) during the forecast period, driven by the rising adoption of Healthcare Information Technology (HCIT) solutions and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region.

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Patient Engagement Solutions market major players covered in the report, such as:

McKesson Corporation (US)

Veradigm (US)

Oracle Corporation (US)

Merative (US)

AdvancedMD (US)

CureMD Healthcare (US)

eClinicalWorks (US)

Epic Systems Corporation (US)

Oneview Healthcare (Ireland)

Orion Health (New Zealand)

GetWellNetwork (US)

athenahealth (US)

MEDITECH (US)

IQVIA (US)

Get Real Health (US)

Cognizant (US)

Harris Healthcare (US)

Kareo (US)

and Lincor Solutions (US)

Luma Health Inc. (US)

WellStack(US)

Vivify Health (US)

Medhost (US)

MEDISYSINC (US)

Patient point LLC (US)

and Among Others

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This report categorizes the Patient Engagement Solutions market into the following segments:

Patient engagement solutions market, By component

Hardware In-room televisions Integrated bedside terminals/Assisted devices Tablets

Software Standalone Software Integrated Software

Services

Patient engagement solutions market, By Delivery Mode

On-Premise Mode

Cloud-Based Mode

Patient Engagement solutions market, by Application

Health management

Home health management

Social & behavioral management

Financial health management

Patient engagement solutions market, By Therapeutic area

Chronic diseases Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) Diabetes Obesity Other chronic diseases

Womens health

Fitness

Other Therapeutic Areas

Patient engagement solutions market, By Functionality

Introduction

E-Prescribing

Telehealth

Patient/Client Scheduling

Document Management

Patient Education

Billing & Payments

Others Functionality

Patient engagement solutions market, By End user

Providers Hospitals and healthcare system Ambulatory care centers Home healthcare Other Providers

Payers Private Public

Patients

Other End users

Patient engagement Solution Market, By Region,

North America US Canada

Europe Germany France UK Spain Italy Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific Japan China India Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa GCC Countries Rest of Middle East & Africa



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Patient Engagement Solutions Industry Recent Developments:

In June 2022, Francisco Partners (US), a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology businesses, completed the acquisition of healthcare data and analytics assets that were chunk of IBM Watson Health. Under the ownership of Francisco Partners, the new standalone company has been called Merative. The company combines market-leading products that deliver value across the global healthcare ecosystem, serving clients in life sciences, imaging, health plans, and government health & human service sectors.

In 2021, McKesson (US) announced a strategic agreement with Merck (US) that provided the two healthcare leaders to connect the power of real-world evidence (RWE) regarding the common goal of enhancing patient outcomes and the quality of cancer care.

In 2021, Humana (US) collaborated with Merative (US) to install Merative Watson Assistant for Health Benefits; it is an AI-enabled virtual agent built in the Cloud. This agent helps offer a beneficial member experience while supporting greater clarity and transparency on benefits and other related matters for Humana Employer Group members.

In 2021, Allied Digestive Health (ADH) selected Athenahealths (US) cloud-based healthcare payments and patient engagement solutions to direct patient relations and revenue cycle excellence, thus maintaining the organizations growth in the coming years.

Key Market Stakeholders:

Healthcare institutes/providers (hospitals, medical groups, physician practices, diagnostic centers, pharmacies, ambulatory centers, and outpatient clinics)

Healthcare insurance companies/payers

Healthcare IT service providers

Venture capitalists

Government bodies

Corporate healthcare entities

Accountable care organizations

Report Objectives:

To define, describe, and forecast the global patient engagement solutions market based on component, delivery mode, application, therapeutic area, functionality, end user, and region

To provide detailed information regarding the major factors (such as drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the market growth

To strategically analyze micromarkets1 with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall patient engagement solutions market

To analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide details of the competitive landscape for market leaders

To strategically analyze the market structure and profile the key players of the patient engagement solutions market and comprehensively analyze their core competencies

To forecast the size of the market segments with respect to five regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa.

To track and analyze competitive developments such as product launches, acquisitions, partnerships, agreements, and collaborations in the patient engagement solutions market during the forecast period

Related Reports:

Population Health Management Market

Interactive Patient Care (IPC) Market

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Care Management Solutions Market

Healthcare BPO Market

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STONE RIDGE, N.Y., Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HowGood , a sustainability intelligence platform with the world's largest ingredient and product sustainability database, today announced an expanded carbon accounting solution designed to streamline ESG reporting and carbon reduction for the food industry. Their Latis platform, utilized by six of the ten largest global food corporations, will now provide enterprise food companies with an accurate reflection of their corporate footprint across Scopes 1, 2, and 3, powered by HowGoods best-in-class, granular product carbon footprinting data. To remove barriers to efficient and holistic impact reduction, Scopes 1 and 2 will be available for free to all platform users. HowGoods single solution will bridge the industry gap between product-level carbon footprinting, corporate GHG accounting, and carbon reduction.



As ESG reporting mandates continue to increase for food companies, including Californias Climate Disclosure Rule, the EUs Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the upcoming climate disclosures guidance from the SEC, the need for granularity and accuracy in a companys reported footprint is increasingly necessary. Gaining further visibility into emissions across the value chain allows food companies to accurately measure emissions, develop reduction strategies, and demonstrate the impact of their strategies in a way that is made possible only with granular, product-level accounting.

HowGoods carbon accounting solution draws on their database of 90,000 agricultural emission factors to provide the following features:

Full Emissions Reporting Across Scopes 1, 2, and 3: HowGoods carbon accounting solution allows food companies to set an accurate and auditable emissions baseline with nothing more than back-of-pack ingredient lists and standard scope 1 & 2 inputs. Integrated supplier engagement features and an API are available for any customers choosing to further enhance their reporting.



HowGoods carbon accounting solution allows food companies to set an accurate and auditable emissions baseline with nothing more than back-of-pack ingredient lists and standard scope 1 & 2 inputs. Integrated supplier engagement features and an API are available for any customers choosing to further enhance their reporting. SBTi FLAG Reporting for Land-Based Emissions : Food companies that have set science-based targets are required to set a FLAG emissions target (Forest, Land, and Agriculture) by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). HowGoods solution measures a companys land-based emissions to provide actionable brand- and product-level goals and abatement opportunities.



: Food companies that have set science-based targets are required to set a FLAG emissions target (Forest, Land, and Agriculture) by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). HowGoods solution measures a companys land-based emissions to provide actionable brand- and product-level goals and abatement opportunities. Forecast and Model Abatement Strategies: Food enterprises can identify where emissions hot spots are occurring within their operations in order to prioritize, model, and track progress on carbon reduction initiatives. With these data-driven insights, cross-functional teams can make faster strategic decisions to maintain progress towards corporate reduction targets.



Food enterprises can identify where emissions hot spots are occurring within their operations in order to prioritize, model, and track progress on carbon reduction initiatives. With these data-driven insights, cross-functional teams can make faster strategic decisions to maintain progress towards corporate reduction targets. Audit-Ready Data with Granular Accounting: Users can export GHG Protocol-compliant reports directly from the platform with the accompanying methodology and data source transparency. Backed by HowGoods 17 years of scientific research, Latis brings an unprecedented blend of accuracy and automation to the ESG reporting process.



Companies across the food industry are under intense pressure to not only report on their total footprint, but to be able to demonstrate immediate progress toward reduction for both direct and indirect emissions, said Nina DePalma, Head of Product at HowGood. Historically, corporate carbon accounting has not benefited from the immense granularity and accuracy that product-level carbon footprinting brings to the table, creating silos of data that make it difficult for companies to demonstrate the impacts of the sustainability initiatives they're undertaking. We are so pleased to now offer our customers a solution that bridges this gap, bringing HowGoods product-level granularity and deep agricultural expertise to full-scope carbon accounting at the enterprise scale. It is truly what is needed to move the needle on impact reduction.

HowGoods carbon accounting solution is built within their sustainability intelligence platform, Latis , which draws on over 600 accredited data sources to assess the social and environmental impact of more than 33,000 ingredients. The Latis platform allows food companies to calculate their footprint across key environmental and social impact metrics, discover and model impact reduction initiatives for greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, biodiversity, and more, and discover eligible sustainability marketing claims.

To learn more about HowGoods carbon accounting solution and how it can streamline your ESG reporting, please visit: howgood.com/carbon-accounting.

About HowGood

HowGood is an independent research company and SaaS Sustainability Intelligence platform with the worlds largest database on food product sustainability. With more than 90,000 agricultural emissions factors, HowGood helps leading brands, suppliers, retailers and restaurants to measure, reduce, and communicate their environmental and social impact. Through in-depth, ingredient-level insights into factors like greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, labor risk, animal welfare, and other key impacts, HowGoods data power strategic decision-making for the sourcing, manufacturing, merchandising, and marketing of sustainable products.

HowGood Media Contact

FischTank PR

howgood@fischtankpr.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3c2bda0d-aff8-48f0-b690-3f6cd3df25ad
LONDON, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NordLayer is proud to announce an initiative in support of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It is offering an exclusive 60% discount on its cutting-edge security solutions to strengthen cybersecurity defenses for NGOs.



With the discount, NordLayer aims to empower NGOs to achieve more by securing their online presence and sensitive data. Since NGOs are also addressing challenges such as unsecured internet access, vulnerable cloud resources, bring your own device (BYOD), and travel risks, it is crucial to ensure cybersecurity in the sector.

By providing not only affordable but also quality cybersecurity solutions, we partner with NGOs to help them focus on their mission without compromising security or budget. Various types of NGOs, such as charities or fundraisers, often circulate high volumes of financial resources, and when this factor is combined with low cybersecurity barriers, they seem like low-hanging fruit for cybercriminals, says Povilas Zukauskas, chief marketing officer (CMO) at NordLayer .

Data breach prevention

According to research , in 2023, 27% of nonprofits worldwide encountered a cyberattack. This sector appeals to cybercriminals for several reasons, with the key one being the high volumes of money generated from such attacks.

For example, charities alone raised 12.7 billion in funds in the UK last year. Criminals seek out high-income charities with 500,000 or more in annual income in particular, and more than 56% of such charities have experienced a cyberattack.

NordLayers features like IP allowlisting, network segmentation, and virtual private gateway are the key solutions that help stop data breaches.

Together we secure, together we impact

One of the non-profit organizations that discovered NordLayer is Change.org. This organization enjoys NordLayer since it works well in cloud environments, as the company website and software development are cloud-based.

Here at NordLayer, we believe in a collaborative approach towards cybersecurity. Hence, Together we secure, together we impact is not just a saying, it is also something we work towards to achieve higher cybersecurity standards and stronger social impact, says Zukauskas.

NordLayer understands the crucial role NGOs play in creating positive social impact, as well as sometimes complicated budget constraints. Thus, making cybersecurity available for every non-profit is an initiative that is a testament to the company's commitment to creating a better social environment.

For more information, please visit https://nordlayer.com/ngo/

For terms and conditions, https://nordlayer.com/terms-and-conditions-ngo/

ABOUT NORDLAYER

NordLayer provides flexible and easy-to-implement cybersecurity tools for businesses of any size or work model developed by the standard of NordVPN. We help organizations secure networks in a stress-free way. NordLayer enhances internet security and modernizes network and resource access with technical improvements aligning with the best regulatory compliance standards. Helping organizations to adopt FWaaS, ZTNA, and SWG principles, NordLayer is focused on the Security Service Edge of cybersecurity services.

Contact

Evita Anilionyte

evita.anilionyte@nordsec.com


TORONTO, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa Canada, a leading provider of condominium and strata management services throughout Canada, is proud to announce that Regional Vice President Brad Wells, MBA, RCM, RPA, CMCA has been elected to the national board of the Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI). In this capacity, he will work with other board members to provide local and national CCI chapters throughout Canada with legislative support, educational and networking opportunities, and technical resources. In addition, Wells will serve as an industry advocate for higher standards in all services provided to condominium clients.

Formed in 1982, the Canadian Condominium Institute is the Voice of Condominiums in Canada. It is a national, independent, non-profit organization that deals exclusively with condominium-related issues. CCI represents all participants in the condominium community. Interested groups are encouraged to work together toward one common goal  creating a successful and viable condominium community. CCI leads the condominium industry by providing education, information, awareness, and access to expertise by and for its members across 17 chapters in Canada.

Brad is a key member of our senior leadership team, and I am incredibly proud at his joining the Canadian Condominium Institutes national board, said Associa Canada President Todd Cooper. It is a milestone achievement, and I cannot think of a more dedicated or qualified individual to help lead our industrys most respected professional organization. Our employees, customers, and the industry in general, will benefit from Brads knowledge and expertise.

About Associa

With more than 275 branch offices across North America, Associa is building the future of community for more than 6.5 million residents worldwide. Our 14,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise, and trailblazing innovation. For more than 44 years, Associa has brought positive impact and meaningful value to communities. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com.

Stay Connected

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa

Subscribe to the Blog: https://hub.associaonline.com/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa

Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa

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BOSTON, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duck Creek Technologies, the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, has been honored for a second year in a row with the prestigious 2024 5-Star Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award by Insurance Business America. This accolade reflects Duck Creek's unwavering dedication to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) through robust programs and core values.



At the heart of Duck Creek's success is its inherent focus on people, with a workforce comprising diverse individuals and global teams. The company's commitment to DE&I is integral to its overarching global vision. Eight dedicated Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), three councils, and one ambassador program create a unique employee experience focused on community, belonging, and engagement. Duck Creeks global talent and development initiatives are also rooted in recruiting and developing diverse individuals who bring different backgrounds and experiences to the insurance and technology industry. Together, all these principles and programs contribute to a workplace culture that cherishes individuality, promotes collaboration, and actively champions DE&I principles.

It is an honor for Duck Creek to be acknowledged as a leader within the insurance industry for our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, said Michael Jackowski, Chief Executive Officer, Duck Creek Technologies. Our diverse and global employees are central to our customers success and propelling innovation and the transformation of the future of insurance along with our partners through purpose, technology, and data.

Duck Creeks core values: we prioritize respect, we listen, we care, we add value, and we lead, serve as the guiding force behind all our endeavors, said Amy Bayer, Global Director, DE&I, Engagement, Culture, Duck Creek Technologies. Through our abundant and comprehensive employee programs, we remain committed to ensuring a diverse array of people, voices, and perspectives are represented, respected, empowered, and thriving within our company. We are dedicated to fortifying our winning culture and expanding our DE&I programs to foster a community where employees truly experience a sense of belonging and discover continuous opportunities for personal and professional development.

About Duck Creek Technologies

Duck Creek Technologies is the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information  LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contacts:

Carley Bunch

carley.bunch@duckcreek.com
A fruit juice has been pulled from shelves at Woolworths and Coles after alcohol was detected in the product labelled as a non-alcoholic drink. Sunraysia Prune Juice has been urgently recalled as it has been flagged potentially harmful and "may cause illness or injury if consumed", according to Food Standards Australia.

It is believed all one litre bottles with the best before date of December 4, 2025 were unintentionally fermented during the manufacturing process, resulting in alcohol being present.

Woolworths and Coles have recalled one litre bottles of Sunraysia Prune Juice after alcohol was detected. Source: Food Standards Australia

The drink was available at both major supermarkets across NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. This means shoppers under the age of 18 as well as drivers could have purchased the drink in store and consumed it.

Shoppers have been advised to check any Sunraysia Prune Juice products and not consume any which fit the above description  instead they are being asked to visit their place of purchase and return the drink for a full refund.

The fruit juice has been sold across Woolworths and Coles in five states. Source: Getty

Juice was available to minors and drivers

As the drink is sold as a non-alcoholic fruit juice it had no age restrictions, meaning minors had access to the product and may have unknowingly consumed it. In all states, the legal drinking age is 18 and any presence of alcohol must be clearly quantified on labels.

The fact that the manufacturer didn't realise the drink had fermented also means drivers could have consumed the fruit juice and unwittingly raised their blood alcohol concentration, which is required by law to be less than 0.05 in Australia.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
TORONTO and HAIFA, Israel, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NurExone Biologic Inc. (TSXV: NRX) (FSE: J90) (NRX.V) (the Company or NurExone), a biopharmaceutical company developing biologically-guided exosome therapy for patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries, is pleased to share several updates.

The collaborative agreement between NurExone and Inteligex Inc. (Inteligex), announced in October 2023, to expand the Companys portfolio, is now officially underway. This collaboration, aimed at combining Inteligexs more than twenty years of experience in cell-based therapies and NurExones innovative exosome platform to develop therapies for patients with chronic spinal cord injuries, was approved for grant funding, to be disbursed over the course of the next two years, by the Israel-Canada bilateral Eureka program.

Dr. Lior Shaltiel, CEO of NurExone, expressed his excitement about the kick-off of this project stating, This collaboration reiterates the importance and utility of the ExoTherapy platform in developing drug delivery systems of the future. As part of this collaboration, we will use our platform to produce and load exosomes from Inteligexs cell line to deliver combination regenerative therapy for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients. This win-win collaboration will expand our potential markets and is in line with our belief of patient, first.

Dr. Paul Bradshaw, CEO of Inteligex, stated that Spinal cord injury is the single most expensive healthcare condition in the world. I believe that a combinatorial multi-faceted approach to treatment of chronic SCI like the one in this project can both make a difference in patients lives and save the healthcare system billions of dollars. Moreover, if the therapy has an easy delivery method, we can expand to countries where there is a massive barrier to any therapy or treatment and do a bit of good for humanity.

NurExone Announces Engagement Agreement with bullVestor

The Company has entered into an agreement (the Agreement) with bullVestor Medien GmbH (BullVestor) to assist with and enhance awareness of the Companys products and services using advertising and communications, some of which may constitute investor relations activities pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The advertising and communications will occur in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland).

The Agreement is effective for four months from the effective date and the total consideration payable to BullVestor is CAD$300,000 on the effective date. The consideration does not include any securities of the Company. BullVestor does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest. Aside from this engagement, the Company does not have any relationship with BullVestor.

BullVestor is located in Austria.

About NurExone Biologic Inc.

NurExone Biologic Inc. is a TSXV listed pharmaceutical company that is developing a platform for biologically-guided ExoTherapy to be delivered, non-invasively, to patients who suffered traumatic spinal cord injuries. ExoTherapy was conceptually demonstrated in animal studies at the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology. NurExone is translating the treatment to humans, and the company holds an exclusive worldwide license from the Technion and Tel Aviv University for the development and commercialization of the technology.

For additional information, please visit www.nurexone.com or follow NurExone on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , or YouTube .

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Lior Shaltiel

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Phone: +972-52-4803034

Email: info@nurexone.com

Thesis Capital Inc.

Investment Relation - Canada

Phone: +1 905-347-5569

Email: IR@nurexone.com

Dr. Eva Reuter

Investment Relation - Germany

Phone: +49-69-1532-5857

Email: e.reuter@dr-reuter.eu

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, that reflect the Companys current expectations and projections about its future results. Wherever possible, words such as may, will, should, could, expect, plan, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict or potential or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the collaboration project with Inteligex and the grant funding pursuant thereto; the Agreement, the term of the Agreement and the fees payable thereunder. These statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

In developing the forward-looking statements in this press release, we have applied several material assumptions, including the general business and economic conditions of the industries and countries in which we operate, the general market conditions, the ability to secure additional funding for the collaboration with Inteligex and our ability to work collaboratively with Inteligex.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to the Companys early stage of development, lack of revenues to date, government regulation, market acceptance for its products, rapid technological change, dependence on key personnel, protection of the Companys intellectual property, dependence on the Companys strategic partners and the risks discussed under the heading Risk Factors on pages 29 to 36 of the Companys Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2023, a copy of which is available under the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
RADNOR, Pa., Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (ChargePoint) (NYSE: CHPT). The action charges ChargePoint with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the companys business, operations, and prospects. As a result of ChargePoints materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, ChargePoints investors have suffered significant losses.



CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CHARGEPOINT LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/chargepoint-holdings-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=chptf&mktm=r

TO VIEW OUR VIDEO, PLEASE CLICK HERE

LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: JANUARY 29, 2024

CLASS PERIOD: JUNE 1, 2023 THROUGH NOVEMBER 16, 2023

CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:

Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ktmc.com

Kessler Topaz is one of the worlds foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field as well as the firm itself which is continuously recognized with awards for the successful results weve achieved. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.

DEFENDANTS ALLEGED MISCONDUCT

Throughout the Class Period (June 1, 2023 through November 18, 2023), Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) ChargePoint was experiencing higher component costs and supply overruns for first generation DC charging products; (2) as a result, ChargePoint was likely to incur impairment charges; (3) as a result of the foregoing, ChargePoints profitability would be adversely impacted; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about ChargePoints business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

The truth began to emerge after the market closed on September 6, 2023, when ChargePoint announced its second quarter 2023 financial results and revealed a $28.0 million, or 19 percentage point, inventory impairment charge. As a result, ChargePoint reported a second quarter GAAP gross margin of 1%, down from 17% in the prior years same quarter. On this news, the price of ChargePoint common stock declined $0.77 per share, or nearly 11%, from a close of $7.06 per share on September 6, 2023, to close at $6.29 per share on September 7, 2023

Then, on November 16, 2023, after the market closed, ChargePoint announced its preliminary third quarter 2023 financial results and revealed a $42 million non-cash inventory impairment charge. ChargePoint attributed the impairment charge to product transitions to better align inventory with current demand, resulting in an expected third quarter GAAP gross margin of negative 23% to negative 21%. Furthermore, ChargePoint reported preliminary revenue results had fallen to levels below expected. Finally, ChargePoints CEO and CFO were both replaced, effective immediately. On this news, the price of ChargePoint common stock declined $1.11 per share, or more than 35%, from a close of $7.06 per share on November 16, 2023, to close at $3.13 per share on November 17, 2023.

WHAT CAN I DO?

ChargePoint investors may, no later than January 29, 2024, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages ChargePoint investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against ChargePoint, Khan v. ChargePoint Holdings, Inc., et al., Case No. 23-cv-06172, is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE

WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

Jonathan Naji, Esq.

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

(484) 270-1453

info@ktmc.com
Washington, D.C., Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- - Hyundai Hope on Wheels to Donate $100,000 Total to Georgetown Lombardi and Childrens National to Fund Pediatric Cancer Research

- Six Contestants Total from Georgetown Lombardi and Childrens National Competing for a new 2024 Hyundai IONIQ6

- Contest runs from 6 p.m. Friday, January 19th to 2 p.m. Sunday, January 21st (L Street Bridge)

- Georgetown Lombardi and Childrens National Celebrating over $7 Million Total in Pediatric Cancer Research Grants from Hyundai Hope on Wheels and The Washington Area Hyundai Dealers

- Hyundai Hope on Wheels Celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2023

The Washington Area Hyundai Dealers, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, The Washington, D.C. Auto Show, Georgetown Universitys Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Childrens National Hospital come together annually to fight pediatric cancer through the Hyundai Hands On Hope Contest at The Washington, D.C. Auto Show. In 2019, the longstanding Hands On contest at The Washington, D.C. Auto Show took a turn decidedly for the better  the contest would still award a winner a brand new Hyundai, but more importantly, as part of the contest, The Washington Area Hyundai Dealers would provide pediatric cancer research grants to Georgetown Lombardi and Childrens National. Drawing inspiration from Hyundai Hope on Wheels, the new contest was named Hyundai Hands On Hope.

Six contestants will compete for a brand-new 2024 Hyundai IONIQ6 over the 44-hour contest period. What makes this contest unique is that the contestants will also be competing for $100,000 in pediatric research grants for their medical centers.

This years six contestants will be selected from a pool of employees from Georgetown Lombardi and Childrens National  three contestants will form Team Georgetown Lombardi and three will form Team Childrens National. As part of this contest, the medical center where the winning contestant works will receive a $60,000 pediatric cancer research grant to move us ever closer to a cure for pediatric cancer. The runner-up medical center will receive a $40,000 pediatric cancer research grant.

Every 36 minutes a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer shared Kevin Reilly, President of The Washington Area Hyundai Dealers, and Vice Chair of Hyundai Hope on Wheels. As such, we need to do all we can to put funds in the hands of researchers finding cures, and saving childrens lives, Reilly added.

For Georgetown Lombardi, the grant will fund critical pediatric cancer research. Pediatric oncologist and researcher Jeffery Toretsky, M.D., a professor at Georgetown Lombardi and previous recipient of grant funding from Hyundai Hope on Wheels says such awards allow him and his lab to be more imaginative, even if approaches fail.

Being a pediatric oncologist at a comprehensive cancer center allows me the tools to aggressively go after novel approaches to creating drugs that are most important for targeting childhood cancer. Our work at Georgetown has led to a current clinical trial in Ewing sarcoma funded by Hyundai and others. Hyundai Hope on Wheels has provided resources for my team to search outside the box in order to achieve new ways to treat cancer in both children and young adults, said Toretsky, who also serves as chief of MedStar Georgetown University Hospitals Division of Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Hematology/Oncology. MedStar Health is Georgetowns academic health system partner.

Childrens National is also a leader in the fight against pediatric cancer. Hyundai Hope On Wheels has fueled some of the most promising cancer research projects underway at Childrens National, said Jeffrey Dome, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Childrens National. We are grateful to Hyundai Hope on Wheels  and all of the dealerships here and around the country  for their partnership and generous support for research in pediatric oncology.

The announcement of the $100,000 in financial support was made today by The Washington, D.C. Auto Show President and CEO John ODonnell and Kevin Reilly, owner of Alexandria Hyundai, President of The Washington Area Hyundai Dealers, and Vice Chair of Hyundai Hope on Wheels.

The Hyundai Hands On Contest has long been a hallmark event at our show, ODonnell said. We are thankful for the continued generosity of The Washington Area Hyundai Dealers and Hyundai Hope on Wheels in supporting our local medical centers to help the most vulnerable among us in their greatest time of need.

Hyundai has a long history of supporting the fight against pediatric cancer and the Hyundai Hands On Hope Contest contributes to that fight, benefiting two innovators in this field, Georgetown Lombardi and Childrens National, Reilly said. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is proud to support their great work with $100,000 total in pediatric cancer research grants.

Hyundai dealers in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as throughout the United States, support Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to finding cures for pediatric cancer. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is one of the largest non-profit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope on Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 835 U.S. dealers, including the 19 Hyundai dealers that comprise The Washington Area Hyundai Dealers. In 2023, Hyundai Hope on Wheels celebrated its 25th Anniversary since inception, donating over $225 million in pediatric cancer research grants.

Hyundai Hope on Wheels has long supported the ground breaking pediatric cancer research undertaken at Georgetown Lombardi and Childrens National, and is proud to have supported over $7 million in pediatric cancer research at these incredible institutions said Reilly, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Hyundai Hope on Wheels.

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show takes place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW, Washington, D.C.

###

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show

The 2024 Washington, D.C. Auto Show opens to the public on Friday, January 19 and runs through Sunday, January 28. It is one of the five top auto shows in the United States and is the largest indoor consumer event in the District of Columbia. The show is being held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. For more information on The Washington Auto Show please visit: www.washingtonautoshow.com.

Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center is designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a comprehensive cancer center. A part of Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown Lombardi is the only comprehensive cancer center in the Washington, D.C., area. It serves as the research engine for MedStar Health, Georgetown Universitys clinical partner. Georgetown Lombardi is also an NCI recognized consortium with John Theurer Cancer Center/Hackensack Meridian Health in Bergen County, N.J. The consortium reflects an integrated cancer research enterprise with scientists and clinicians from both locations. Georgetown Lombardi seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic, translational and clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach to service communities throughout the Washington region, while its consortium member John Theurer Cancer Center/Hackensack Meridian Health serves communities in northern New Jersey. Georgetown Lombardi is a member of the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (UG1CA239758). Georgetown Lombardi is supported in part by a National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant (P30CA051008).

Childrens National Hospital

Childrens National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., was established in 1870 to help every child grow up stronger. Today, it is the No. 5 childrens hospital in the nation and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report . Childrens National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. The Childrens National Research & Innovation Campus opened in 2021, a first-of-its-kind pediatric hub dedicated to developing new and better ways to care for kids. Childrens National has been designated three times in a row as a Magnet hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. Childrens National is home to the Childrens National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation . It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. As a non-profit, Children's National relies on generous donors to help ensure that every child receives the care they need. For more information, follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and LinkedIn .

Also:

Twitter: @WashAutoShow; Facebook: @WashAutoShow

Twitter: @MobilityTalks; Facebook: @MobilityTalks

Twitter: @LombardiCancer; Facebook:@GeorgetownLombi

Twitter: @ChildrensNatl; Facebook: @Childrens.national

Twitter: @hopeonwheels; Facebook:@hyundaihopeonwheels

#HANDSONHOPE #EndChildhoodCancer

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If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 investing in Cummins stock or options between April 30, 2019 and December 21, 2023 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/CMI.



There is no cost or obligation to you.





NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Cummins Inc. (Cummins or the Company) (NYSE: CMI) and reminds investors of the March 15, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading minority and Woman-owned national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Contrary to its post-April 2019 Announcement assurances about its commitment to compliance, Cummins continued to produce engines with unlawful emission defeating devices from 2019 to 2023; (2) accordingly, Cummins understated its legal and regulatory risk, and overstated its commitment to environmental protection; and (3) as a result, Defendants statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

On December 22, 2023, the United States Department of Justice issued a press release entitled Attorney General Merrick Garland Statement on the Agreement in Principle with Cummins to Settle Alleged Installation of Illegal Defeat Devices in Engines. It stated, in pertinent part, [e]ngine manufacturer Cummins Inc. today disclosed that it has reached an agreement in principle with the United States and State of California to pay a $1.675 billion penalty to settle claims that it violated the Clean Air Act by installing emissions defeat devices on hundreds of thousands of engines.

On this news, the price of Cummins stock fell $7.01, or 2.87%, to close at $236.99 on December 22, 2023.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Cummins conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dcc46e52-9635-4336-986f-c80e06a12b32
CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Landmarks Illinois will host its 2024 Preservation Forward spring fundraiser on February 29, 2024, at The Old Post Office in Chicago. Tickets and sponsorships are on sale for the inspiring evening event that will celebrate Landmarks Illinois transformational historic preservation work statewide and honor our 2024 Landmarks Illinois Influencers:

Lisa Yun Lee , Executive Director of the National Public Housing Museum

, Executive Director of the National Public Housing Museum Juan Moreno , Project Design Principal, President & Founder of JGMA

, Project Design Principal, President & Founder of JGMA Shermann Dilla Thomas , Chicago Historian & Co-Founder of Chicago Mahogany Foundation

, Chicago Historian & Co-Founder of Chicago Mahogany Foundation HIRE360 (Nonprofit Influencer), represented by Jay Rowell, Executive Director

(Nonprofit Influencer), represented by Jay Rowell, Executive Director Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation (Corporate Influencer), represented by Jackie Holsten, SVP & General Counsel, and Peter Holsten, President.

"Our 2024 Influencers are joining Landmarks Illinois in its effort to push the boundaries of preservation, including broadening access to the resources people need to save special places in their community, Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois. We are proud to amplify the voices of these community leaders, creative thinkers and activists who, through their innovative and important work, are building a more inclusive, connected and powerful preservation movement."

Visit our website here to learn more about our 2024 Landmarks Illinois Influencers.

2024 Preservation Forward event details & registration

Preservation Forward is Landmarks Illinois biggest event of the year and its main fundraiser, responsible for raising nearly half of the annual budget for the organizations mission-driven work. The event attracts like-minded professionals, including architects, developers, activists, artists, tradespeople and those engaged in community development, who gather for a shared mission: to support and uplift Landmarks Illinois efforts to help people save places across the state.

The 2024 Preservation Forward event will take place at The Old Post Office , 433 W. Van Buren St., in Chicago from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event features a cocktail reception, an entertaining main program that honors the 2024 Landmarks Illinois Influencers and includes an engaging paddle raise and raffle, followed by dinner and an after-party. For dinner, guests will be treated to a unique culinary experience featuring an array of specially curated food stations. Thoughtfully selected desserts from local bakers and pastry chefs will accompany continued networking opportunities and games at the after-party.

Tickets for 2024 Preservation Forward can be purchased at Landmarks Illinois website at Landmarks.org/events/preservation-forward . Reservations for the full event are $500 (for-profit price) and $250 (nonprofit price). Tickets for the after-party only can be purchased for $35-$95. A free, virtual attendance option is also available for the main program. Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities can be purchased at our website .

History & significance of The Old Post Office

A major draw of Preservation Forward is the events venue The Old Post Office  which provides an impressive and stunning backdrop for the already exciting evening. Built in 1921 and expanded in 1934, the former post office is one of the largest and most visible buildings in Chicagos Loop. After the United States Postal Service moved out in 1996, the post office long sat empty, unused and deteriorating. Landmarks Illinois included the building on its 1997 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois list and continued to advocate for its reuse for the next two decades. A massive rehabilitation of the structure beginning in 2018 has transformed the 13-story, 2.5-million-square-foot Art Deco building into an extraordinary event venue that also provides retail and office space.

The Old Post Office remains one of the citys most spectacular buildings. Today it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Chicago Landmark. Guests of Preservation Forward will have the opportunity to experience multiple spaces inside the historic site: from the fully restored lobby and grand hall featuring century-old original fixtures, white marble and gold glass mosaics, to the new food hall and second-floor Telegram Lounge. Click here to learn more about The Old Post Office and Landmarks Illinois sustained advocacy for the building.

About Landmarks Illinois

We are People Saving Places for People. Landmarks Illinois is a membership-based, historic preservation nonprofit organization serving the people of Illinois. We inspire and empower stakeholders to save places that matter to them by providing free guidance, practical and financial resources and access to strategic partnerships. For more information, visit www.Landmarks.org .

Attachment
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QuisLex, a leading alternative legal services provider long recognized as a pioneer in the industry, announces its schedule of first quarter events. As part of its ongoing commitment to legal advancements and to supporting premier education and networking opportunities for clients and partners, the company is investing in several prominent organizations and forums.



Events in which QuisLex will participate in the coming months include:

Consero Life Sciences General Counsel Forum  January 22-24, Westlake Village, California

QuisLex is a sponsor, and Kevin Podd, QuisLex Client Services Advisor, will moderate the panel Counseling Compliance: The Art of Navigating Regulatory Challenges.



Legalweek New York 2024  January 29-February 1, New York City

QuisLex representatives will host client meetings in a private suite.



NAMWOLF 2024 Driving Diversity & Leadership Conference (DDLC)  March 2-5, New Orleans

QuisLex is sponsoring the event as an MBE/WBE Business Partner.



SIFMA C&L Annual Seminar  March 17-20, Orlando

In addition to its sponsorship, Joseph Polizzotto, VP, from QuisLex will be moderator of the session Managing In-House Legal Operations & Compliance Departments.



For more information about QuisLex participation in these or other events, visit www.quislex.com.

About QuisLex

QuisLex is an award-winning legal services provider that specializes in managed document review, contract management, compliance services, legal spend management and legal operations consulting. Our full-time highly trained attorneys, process experts, legal technologists, statisticians and linguists work closely with our clients to reduce cost, mitigate risk and maximize efficiency. QuisLex is regularly acknowledged as a leader in the legal services industry and proud to be recognized by the Association of Corporate Counsel as an ACC Value Champion, Chambers and Partners as a Band 1 Alternative Legal Service Provider, the New York Law Journal as a Top Managed Document Review Services Provider and the IACCM as its Outstanding Service Provider for contract management solutions. QuisLex is nationally certified by the New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council as a minority business enterprise (MBE). To learn more, visit www.quislex.com.

Media Contacts

Vicki LaBrosse

Edge Legal Marketing for QuisLex

vlabrosse@edgemarketinginc.com
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

TORONTO, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PIMCO Canada Corp. (PIMCO Canada) today announced the 2024 January cash distributions for the ETF series (ETF Series) of the PIMCO Canada mutual funds that distribute monthly (Funds). Unitholders of record of the ETF Series, at the close of business on January 24, 2024, will receive per-unit cash distribution payable on or about January 31, 2024.

Details of the per-unit cash distribution amount are as follow:

Fund Name Ticker Cash Distribution per Unit PIMCO Monthly Income Fund (Canada) PMIF $0.04491 PIMCO Monthly Income Fund (Canada) US$ PMIF.U US $0.04822 PIMCO Investment Grade Credit Fund (Canada) IGCF $0.03815 PIMCO Global Short Maturity Fund (Canada) PMNT $0.04392 PIMCO Low Duration Monthly Income Fund (Canada) PLDI $0.04599

The Manager, PIMCO Canada administers and manages the PIMCO Canada ETFs, and retains Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (PIMCO), to provide sub-advisory services to the Funds.

About PIMCO

PIMCO was founded in 1971 in Newport Beach, California and is one of the worlds premier fixed income investment managers. Today we have offices across the globe and 3,000+ professionals united by a single purpose: creating opportunities for investors in every environment. PIMCO is owned by Allianz S.E., a leading global diversified financial services provider.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expect, intend, will and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Funds. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Funds, PIMCO Canadas and/or PIMCOs current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including, but not limited to, market factors. Although the Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

No offering is being made by this material. Interested investors should obtain a copy of the prospectus, which is available from your Financial Advisor.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

All investments contain risk and can lose value. For a summary of the risks of an investment in a specific fund, please see the risks of mutual funds section of the prospectus.

Investments made by a Fund and the results achieved by a Fund are not expected to be the same as those made by any other PIMCO-advised Fund, including those with a similar name, investment objective or policies. A new or smaller Funds performance may not represent how the Fund is expected to or may perform in the long-term. New Funds have limited operating histories for investors to evaluate and new and smaller Funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. A Fund may be forced to sell a comparatively large portion of its portfolio to meet significant shareholder redemptions for cash, or hold a comparatively large portion of its portfolio in cash due to significant share purchases for cash, in each case when the Fund otherwise would not seek to do so, which may adversely affect performance.

Funds can offer different series, which are subject to different fees and expenses (which may affect performance), having different minimum investment requirements and are entitled to different services.

The products and services provided by PIMCO Canada may only be available in certain provinces or territories of Canada and only through dealers authorized for that purpose.

PIMCO Canada has retained PIMCO LLC as sub-adviser. PIMCO Canada will remain responsible for any loss that arises out of the failure of its sub-adviser.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. This material contains the current opinions of the manager and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This material has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. in the United States and throughout the world. 2023, PIMCO

PIMCO Canada Corp. 199 Bay Street, Suite 2050, Commerce Court Station, P.O. Box 363, Toronto, ON, M5L 1G2, 416-368-3350

Contact:

Agnes Crane

PIMCO  Media Relations Phone:

+212 597.1054
A huge new residential complex that's home to 900 apartments is at risk of collapse after serious damage to concrete structures in its basement were detected.

According to documents from the Building Commission NSW, seen by Yahoo News Australia, an urgent work order has been issued to address a number of serious issues at 23 Halifax Street at Lachlans Line at Macquarie Park, on Sydney's North Shore.

'Serious defect' detected in Sydney complex

The official work rectification order, written by Matt Press, acting assistant building commissioner, states that "an internal load-bearing component" described as "essential to the stability of the building" has suffered from a "serious defect", in a report to developer Greenland.

A Sydney complex housing 900 apartments is at the risk of collapse after serious damage to concrete structures in its basement were detected. Source: Facebook.

"Serious damage and spalling of the concrete slab at the joint locations in basements and the ground floor caused by defective workmanship," Press said in the order when describing the defect.

Defect likely to cause full or partial 'collapse'

"This is a defect... that causes or is likely to cause the basement slab to fail, namely, to fracture and collapse, leading to the destruction of the building... or the threat of collapse.

"This issue compromises structural performance and structural adequacy of the concrete slab."

Spalling  a term used to describe areas of concrete which have cracked and separated from the substrate  would likely mean the concrete slab would be unable to withstand the car park and ground floor loads.

According to documents from the Building Commission NSW, an urgent work order has been issued to address a number of serious issues at the Macquarie Park complex in Sydney. Source: Facebook.

Developer's pleas rejected

Greenland was first given a draft copy of Building Commission's report in October of last year. It responded asking the department to use its discretionary powers to not issue the order, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Press ultimately disagreed, pointing to the seriousness of the defects.

Story continues

I have considered all of the circumstances. I accept the order requires specified actions that are likely to be costly," he said. However, the cost to the developer must be balanced against the benefit to the occupiers, he said.

On the website, The Macquarie Park apartments are described as luxury living spaces, with one, two and three-bedroom units on offer, with prices starting at around the $1 million mark.

They've been designed without compromise, the site says.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ir@fissionuranium.com

www.fissionuranium.com

TSX SYMBOL: FCU

OTCQX SYMBOL: FCUUF

FRANKFURT SYMBOL: 2FU

Drilling preparations underway with two rigs now on site

KELOWNA, Jan. 17, 2024 - Fission Uranium Corp. ("Fission" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that preparations are underway to commence its ~6,000m winter regional exploration program (see News Release December 06th, 2023) at the PLS high-grade uranium project in Canada's Athabasca Basin. Bryson Drilling Ltd. of Archerwill SK, has been contracted to conduct the drilling program. Two diamond drill rigs are now on site and being positioned with the first holes testing the Saloon and Holster target areas: DDH-A and DDH-B respectively (see Figure A).

Target Area Details: Patterson Lake Corridor

Holster Target: Located on the northern side of the Patterson Lake Corridor and ~600m north of the R840W, this target will test an area where historical drilling intersected anomalous uranium and boron geochemistry within a strongly graphitic shear zone. Similar to the Pistol target, outlined below, drilling will test for deeper uranium mineralization along the east-west electromagnetic (EM) conductor where a sharp conductivity thickness gradient occurs coincident with an interpreted north-northeast cross cutting fault. One drillhole totaling 645m is currently planned to test the Holster target.





Saloon Target: This target area is located ~5km to the southwest of the Triple R deposit, where historic drilling by Fission in 2017 had encountered the most anomalous uranium concentrations on the PLS property outside of the Triple R deposit. In 2008, a single radon in water sample, collected from a small stream within the Saloon trend returned a highly anomalous radon in water value of 162 pCi/L. For comparison, the highest radon in water value recorded over the Triple R deposit was 14.4 pCi/L. Up to four holes in 1,915m are currently planned to test the Saloon target area.





Pistol Target: Located on the northern side of the Patterson Lake Corridor and ~450m northwest of the Triple R's R780E zone, the target area was selected based on a coincident 400m long radon in water anomaly and a zone where the interpretation from an airborne geophysical survey suggests a similar signature and spatial relationship of NexGen's Arrow and Arrow South to the Pistol target and the Triple R deposit, respectively. Historic drilling in 2012 near the Pistol target intersected broad zones of anomalous uranium and pathfinder elements, including boron, up-dip of the target zone, which may be reflect mineralization at depth. Two holes in 1,600m will test this encouraging target.





East Extension: Located on the southern side of the Patterson Lake Corridor, the target area is ~1,100m east of the easternmost R1620E zone along the same EM conductor that hosts the Triple R deposit. The nearest historical drillhole to this target is PLS14-152, a vertical hole located approximately 430m to the west. This drillhole intersected intense silicification overlying a thick sequence of unaltered graphitic shear zone. The conductivity gradient now being targeted is interpreted to be representative of hydrothermal alteration within that graphitic shear zone. One drillhole is planned at this target, with an estimated total of 330m.





Bridle & Saddle Targets: These target areas are located ~1.7km west and 2.5km west, respectively, of the R1515W zone, along trend of the Triple R deposit. Prospective features present at both target areas include a northeast trending EM conductor that is crosscut by an interpreted north-northeast trending cross fault. Sharp conductivity gradients occur near the cross faults, and, as with drill targets outlined above, this conductivity thickness decrease is interpreted to reflect hydrothermal destruction of graphite, which may be associated with uranium mineralization. Three drillholes are planned at these targets, totaling 960m.





Far West Targets: These target areas are located ~3.8km and 4.4km west of the R1515W, along trend of the Triple R deposit. Prospective features present at both of target areas include a northeast trending EM conductor that is crosscut by an interpreted north-northeast trending fault. No historic drilling has been conducted in this area and thus the target area is completely untested. Two drillholes are planned at these targets, totaling 630m.

PLS Mineralized Trend & Triple R Deposit Summary

Uranium mineralization of the Triple R deposit at PLS occurs within the Patterson Lake Conductive Corridor and has been traced by core drilling over ~3.18km of east-west strike length in five separated mineralized "zones", which collectively make up the Triple R deposit. From west to east, these zones are R1515W, R840W, R00E, R780E and R1620E. Through successful exploration programs completed to date, Triple R has evolved into a large, near-surface, basement-hosted, structurally controlled high-grade uranium deposit. The discovery hole was announced on November 05, 2012, with drill hole PLS12-022 from what is now referred to as the R00E zone.

The R1515W, R840W and R00E zones make up the western region of the Triple R deposit and are located on land, where overburden thickness is generally between 55m to 100m. R1515W is the westernmost of the zones and is drill defined to ~90m in strike length, ~68m across strike and ~220m vertical and where mineralization remains open in several directions. R840W is located ~515m to the east along the strike of R1515W and has a drill-defined strike length of ~430m. R00E is located ~485m to the east along strike of R840W and is drill defined to ~115m in strike length. The R780E and R1620E zones make up the eastern region of the Triple R deposit. Both zones are located beneath Patterson Lake, where water depth is generally less than six metres, and overburden thickness is generally about 50m. R780E is located ~225m to the east of R00E and has a drill-defined strike length of ~945m. R1620E is located ~210m along strike to the east of R780E and is drill defined to ~185m in strike length.

Mineralization along the Patterson Lake Corridor trend remains prospective along strike in both the western and eastern directions. Basement rocks within the mineralized trend are identified primarily as mafic rocks with varying degrees of alteration. Mineralization is both located within and associated with mafic intrusives with varying degrees of silicification, metasomatic mineral assemblages and hydrothermal graphite. The graphitic sequences are associated with the PL-3B basement EM conductor.

Patterson Lake South Property

The 31,039-hectare PLS project is 100% owned and operated by Fission Uranium Corp. PLS is accessible by road with primary access from all-weather Highway 955, which runs north to the former Cluff Lake mine.

Qualified Persons

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by Ross McElroy, P.Geol., President and CEO for Fission Uranium Corp., a qualified person.

About Fission Uranium Corp.

Fission Uranium Corp. is an award-winning Canadian-based resource company specializing in uranium exploration and development. The company is the owner and developer of the PLS uranium project - a proposed high-grade mine and mill located in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada. The company is headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia. Fission's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "FCU" and trade on the OTCQX marketplace in the U.S. under the symbol "FCUUF."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Ross McElroy"

_____________________________

Ross McElroy, President and CEO

Cautionary Statement:

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". Forward looking statements contained in this press release may include statements regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering, and the future operating or financial performance of Fission and Fission Uranium which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market conditions and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company and Fission Uranium disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation.

SOURCE Fission Uranium Corp.
NYSE: VZLA TSX-V: VZLA

VANCOUVER, Jan. 17, 2024 - Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("Vizsla Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its intention to spin out the shares of Vizsla Royalties Corp. ("Vizsla Royalties"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vizsla Silver, to the Company's shareholders (the "Spinout"). Vizsla Royalties currently holds, indirectly, a net smelter royalty (the "Royalty") on any potential future mineral production at Vizsla Silver's flagship, 100% owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico (the "Project" or "Panuco").

The Royalty consists of: (i) a 2.0% net smelter return royalty on certain unencumbered concessions comprising the Project; and (ii) a 0.5% net smelter return royalty on certain encumbered concessions comprising the Project which have a pre-existing 3.0% net smelter return royalty (the "Underlying Royalty").

Vizsla Silver is also expected to: (i) transfer to Vizsla Royalties the right to purchase one-half of the 3% Underlying Royalty; (ii) grant Vizsla Royalties the right to acquire a royalty on any future projects acquired by Vizsla Silver in the 24-month period after completion of the Spinout, which right would automatically terminate upon a change of control of Vizsla Royalties or Vizsla Silver and (iii) make a cash injection into Vizsla Royalties.

It is expected that the Spinout will be completed pursuant to a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The Spinout would be subject to shareholder, court, stock exchange and regulatory approvals, as well as, at management's continued discretion. Pursuant to the Spinout, common shares of Vizsla Royalties would be distributed to shareholders of Vizsla Silver. Vizsla Silver is expected to hold approximately a 49% ownership interest in Vizsla Royalties, with the remaining shares of Vizsla Royalties being distributed to shareholders of Vizsla Silver on a pro-rata basis at a time to be determined by the board of directors of Vizsla Silver. There will be no change in shareholders' holdings in Vizsla Silver as a result of the Spinout.

Subsequent to completion of the Spinout, the board of directors of Vizsla Royalties (the "Vizsla Royalties Board") may decide to pursue a listing on the TSX Venture Exchange if and when the Vizsla Royalties Board determines it is in the best interests of the Vizsla Royalties shareholders. It is expected that, at the time Vizsla Royalties pursues a listing on the TSX Venture Exchange, a majority of the members of its management team and the Vizsla Royalties Board will be independent of Vizsla Silver.

Additional details regarding the Spinout, including the proposed record date, will be provided as they become available. There is no certainty Vizsla Silver will proceed with the Spinout.

Shareholders are invited to contact Vizsla Silver via email at info@vizslasilver.ca for additional information regarding the Spinout.

About the Panuco Project

The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 7,189.5 hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits.

The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation.

On January 8, 2024, the Company announced an updated mineral resource estimate for Panuco (the "Updated Mineral Resource"). The Updated Mineral Resource includes an estimated in-situ indicated mineral resource of 155.8 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 169.6 Moz AgEq. An updated technical report is being prepared on the updated Mineral Resource Estimate in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and will be available on the Company's website and SEDAR within 45 days of the date of announcement of the Updated Mineral Resource.

About Vizsla Silver

Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. To date, Vizsla Silver has completed over 350,000 metres of drilling at Panuco leading to the discovery of several new high-grade veins. For 2024, Vizsla Silver is focused on de-risking the resource base located in the western portion of the district ahead of a development decision. Additionally, Vizsla Silver has budgeted +65,000 metres of resource/discovery-based drilling designed to upgrade and expand the Project's mineral resource, as well as test other high priority targets across the district.

In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Martin Dupuis, P.Geo., Chief Operating Officer, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to: timing, structure and completion of the Spinout; the transfer of assets from Vizsla Silver to Vizsla Royalties; the timing and receipt of required shareholder, court, stock exchange and regulatory approvals for the Spinout; the retained ownership interest of Vizsla Silver in Vizsla Royalties; the terms of the Spinout; the listing of Vizsla Royalties on the TSX Venture Exchange; and exploration, development, and production at Panuco.

Forward?looking statements and forward?looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of the Company, future growth potential for the Company and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward?looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; ongoing military conflicts around the world; general economic factors; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's management discussion and analysis and other public disclosure documents.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Vizsla Silver Corp.
A trivial coloured marking on the gutter outside a Queensland home has prompted a sinister theory among fearful residents as police, together with the government, ramp up their efforts to eradicate youth crime across the state.

A mysterious "green bit of paint" just "popped up overnight" outside a home in Cairns this week, a seemingly worried homeowner shared with their community on Facebook. And while it was of little concern to some, many speculated that it could be the work of criminals targeting their homes.

Its not the first time peculiar markings have shown up on suburban streets across the state. In 2019, a series of kerb markings outside homes left Cairns residents concerned. Meanwhile, in 2021 another warned locals to beware after noticing an X and arrow drawn with chalk on the footpath.

A mysterious marking on the gutter outside a Cairns property sparked concern among residents. Source: Facebook

The suspicious markings on residential streets have long been associated with criminal activity with many believing theyre left by would-be thieves targeting the homes of potential victims.

"Just a guess but if you have dogs it could be to mark for dogs for fighting or could be the new mark for the little shits breaking in houses," one hypothesised online. "House is marked as easy target," expressed another.

Police shut down theory among residents

When contacted by Yahoo News, Queensland Police indicated they have no reason to believe the green mark is anything of concern, yet the mysterious marking remained unexplained. Police previously told Yahoo "we have no information or intelligence to suggest this is a tactic used by criminals to target addresses".

While police were quick to dispel any fears about the unusual markings being related to criminal activity, authorities continue reminding Queenslanders to be vigilant about home and vehicle security as state-wide crime rates soar.

Story continues

Much of Queensland, including Cairns, has seen a spike in crime in recent years. Source: Getty

Rise in crime across the state

Recent statistics paint a dire picture of the states crime outlook with a monthly average of 50,000 offences committed in 2023. Assaults, sexual offences, robbery, arson, unlawful entry and stolen vehicles all climbed in the Queensland crime data released by police last week. The state recorded a total of 603,321 offences in 2023, an increase of 7.3 per cent on the previous year, AAP reported.

Last year, police cited an increase in stealing from vehicle offences in North Brisbane with offenders taking items from cars parked around the area. In one case, a garage remote was stolen and later used to allegedly enter the home of the victim where more property was stolen.

The Queensland government announced it would invest $4 million in a sport and recreation fund in an attempt to curb youth crime, with recent research from the state finding nearly 40 per cent of young offenders, between ages 10 and 19, are exposed to traumatic experiences, increasing their likelihood of engaging in crime.

Residents are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers if they have any information relating to crime or criminal activity in their area.

Police tips to help deter potential or opportunistic offenders:

Make it as difficult as possible for an offender to gain entry to your home. Key locking your doors at all times is a great example. Make it as difficult as possible for an offender to exit with your property, by storing your keys in a secure and out of view spot. Mark your property or give it identifying features to make it difficult for an offender to resell. Borrow an engraving from your local Neighbourhood Watch Group or your local Police Station.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
A Little History First

Democracy  Too Much Then, Too Little Now

The Committee of Unfinished Parts

A Fossil That Has Become a Real National Problem

Legitimacy Matters

Attempts to Avoid Another Constitution Amendment

Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the arc of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment. I knew that age well; I belonged to it and labored with it. It deserved well of its country. It was very like the present, but without the experience of the present; and forty years of experience in government is worth a century of book-reading.  I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions. I think moderate imperfections had better be borne with; because, when once known, we accommodate ourselves to them, and find practical means of correcting their ill effects. But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.

The Electoral College is back at the center of our national political conversation. The fact that Hillary Clinton received 2.7 million more popular votes in 2016 than Donald Trump and still lost the presidential election, and that it was possible that Donald Trump might win the 2020 election while losing by more than five million popular votes, has led to an intense and sometimes rancorous discussion in American political circles. Why in an era of mass popular democracy should the United States continue to elect its presidents by way of a strange formula crafted a quarter of a millennium ago by a small number of white males who distrusted the people and thought they might need to void their electoral will from time to time? A solid majority of the American people believe the Electoral College should be abolished in favor of direct presidential elections. But as with so many other significant issues in American life today, it is much easier to diagnose the problem than to agree on a solution.The Electoral College emerged from the 1787 Constitutional Convention as a late-in-the-game political compromise that nobody embraced with wholehearted joy, but which seemed at the time to be the only mechanism for selecting the president that was not deeply objectionable to some faction or other of the Founding Fathers.The Father of the Constitution James Madison had spent most of his time before the Founders gathered in Philadelphia in May 1787 trying to imagine a truly national government that would replace the loose confederacy of the Articles of Confederation. His principal goals at the Convention were to replace not repair the Articles, with a new national government consisting of three separate branches  legislative, executive, and judicial  and to make it much harder for individual states to impede the work of the nation at large.He knew there would have to be an executive in the new system, but in the months before the convention he hadnt given that officer much thought. The Virginia Plan (really the Madison plan) called for the executive to be chosen by the national legislature to serve a term of six or seven years and not to be eligible for re-election. Thats as far as Madison got before the convention debates began.Madisons only true rival at the Convention for a deep understanding of the history of republics, James Wilson of Pennsylvania, believed that the executive should be chosen by direct election of the people (i.e., white males of a certain property base). But he was essentially alone in that commitment to a popularly chosen president. In other words, the idea of direct popular election of the President of the United States, now supported and expected by most Americans, had few takers among the Founding Fathers. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts argued strenuously against direct election of the president because the people were, he insisted, radically vicious and ignorant. Virginias George Mason , the celebrated author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, said you may as well ask a blind man to select colors as permit the people to choose their own first magistrate. Wilsons proposal was soundly defeated nine to one (each state had one vote, several not attending or not voting).Most of the delegates in Philadelphia believed the executive should be chosen either by the national legislature itself or by the several state legislatures. Both of those proposals had seemingly insuperable problems. If Congress chose the president, he (or now she) would be too dependent on the legislative branch. This would violate Montesquieus principle of separation of powers, checks and balances. On the other hand, if the states selected the president, the national government would not have sufficient authority or stature to overcome the fatal weakness of the Articles of Confederation, which was essentially a very limited compact of sovereign states. Madison and the other nationalists wanted to reduce the power of the states severely. William Patterson of New Jersey and the small state advocates wanted to make a few changes in the Articles of Confederation to fix problems involving revenue, trade, and enforcement of national laws, but to maintain as much state sovereignty as possible.The debate over the precise nature of a national executive, how he should be chosen, the number of years he should serve, what his powers should be, whether he should be eligible or ineligible for re-election, to whom he should be accountable, and how he could be removed if necessary, occupied a great deal of time over the course of the summer of 1787, without any real consensus emerging. The Founders (except for the outlier Alexander Hamilton ) were sure they did not want a king, but they found it difficult to envision an executive who had sufficient authority and autonomy to be effective but without so much power that he might become a despot and re-create the oppressions that led to the American Revolution in the first place.Eventually, the Founders decided that the chief executive should be elected by the people, not the states or the national legislature, but not by direct popular vote. This would make the president independent of the legislative branch. Because they had a hand in the presidential election, the people would feel greater confidence in their government and begin to direct their focus to the national government rather than to their state capitals. The founders decided the president should be eligible for re-election, but his term should be relatively short so that bad presidents would not be in office long enough to do any lasting mischief. Earlier in the summer, Luther Martin of Maryland and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts had called for presidential terms of eleven years and even 25, and the high-toned Hamilton had called for the president to serve for life. But that was Hamilton.Eventually, the idea of an Electoral College emerged from this protracted and unsystematic debate. As originally designed  if the Convention debates are a guide  the Electoral College was designed to do three things. First, it would prevent the direct election of the president by a people who may not be enlightened enough to make a responsible choice. Second, it would put the election in the hands of individuals who had sufficient information to see public affairs through a national and not a merely provincial lens. The thought was that the country was so vast (already) that most citizens would simply not be able to keep up with national affairs. National affairs should be left to those who were tied to the continental information network, such as it was at a time when communications were slow and highly inefficient, and most people lived out their lives without significant access to good newspapers. Third, it would give the states at least some role in the selection of the president.The Founders were, on the whole, frightened of too much democracy, which they often called mobocracy, because they didnt really believe that the people were responsible or well-informed enough to elect their own executive without some supervision by more enlightened individuals. Two hundred thirty years later, we are more concerned with too little democracy, not too much. The American people have been directly electing their House representatives from the beginning, along with local and state officials, including governors (i.e., the state executive) and since 1913 they have been directly electing their U.S. senators, too. The concern of the Founders about the problem of the vast geography of America  that it would be impossible at the far edges of the republic for the people to be sufficiently familiar with national political candidates  has been long since overcome by our communications infrastructure. Today, even moderately attentive citizens know an enormous amount about their presidential candidates thanks to television, social media and the Internet.The method of electing the president was a source of such mutual confusion and dispute that the final protocols were not crafted until very late in the process, and then by something humbly called the Committee of Unfinished Parts. The committee formulated a compromise between the small state suggestion that each state have equal representation among the electors and the large state insistence that bigger, more populous states that contributed more to the GDP have greater weight in choosing the president. The committee decided that a states electors would consist of the number of its House members (proportional) plus the number of its senators (equal representation). Thus today North Dakota with the mandatory minimum of one U.S. Congressman gets three electoral votes, and California with 53 Congressmen and women gets 55 electoral votes. This compromise gives small states like Wyoming and Vermont a little more weight in presidential elections. Without that extra weight among the least populated (usually Red) states, Hillary Clinton would have won the 2016 election.Before the Civil War, the electoral formula (number of representatives plus two) gave the slave states a considerable added advantage in presidential elections, because they were able to count every five slaves as three for the purposes of Congressional apportionment. The infamous Three Fifths Clause rewarded slave states with more power in Congress and in presidential elections. That is why a distinguished American historian, Garry Woods, was able to entitle his book on Jeffersons election. Even today the Electoral College has the effect of under-representing African Americans and other minorities, by giving predominantly white states like Montana and Utah more power than they would have under a more democratic arrangement.According to the Founders formula, the electors would cast their votes in their home states, not in the nations capital. This was partly a reflection of how expensive and inconvenient it would be for these temporary electors to travel all the way to the national capital for the sole purpose of casting presidential votes, but it was also intended to prevent what the Founders called a cabal of electors scheming and horse trading in a closed room far from home (think of the College of Cardinals in Roman Catholicism).So, if we are now much more comfortable with democracy than the 55 white, privileged, mostly conservative men we call the Founding Fathers, and the spread of meaningful information about candidates is no longer an issue, why do we cling to the Electoral College? The main answer is simple enough: because its there, enshrined in the Constitution, and getting rid of it would require a constitutional amendment, and that is nearly impossible. The Constitution has been amended only 27 times in its 230-year history. If you subtract the first ten amendments (the Bill of Rights), which were essentially an immediate addendum to the Constitution (ratified Dec. 15, 1791), that means that Americas fundamental charter has only been amended 17 times in well more than 200 years. Thats one amendment approximately every 12 years. The last successful amendment, ratified 28 years ago in 1992, was of no great significance. It merely prohibited members of Congress from raising their own salaries. At the time, that seemed very important Procedurally, the most important of the post Bill of Rights amendments was the Seventeenth Amendment, which provided for direct election of U.S. senators. It was ratified in 1913. Previously, senators had been selected by state legislatures. Thus, the Seventeenth Amendment represents a potentially useful precedent for moving from strict state-based control of the national government to a more direct involvement by the citizens of the United States.To amend the Constitution, you must engineer a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress, and then get three quarters of the states (38 states) to ratify it. The Founders set the bar high so that the Constitution would not be changed for what Jefferson called light and transient causes, but they may have set it too high, given how few substantive amendments have been promulgated and ratified. The citizens of the United States can also call for a constitutional convention to make reforms and amendments, but it has never been successfully triggered by the resolutions of two-thirds of the state legislatures.Even though in recent polls somewhere between 60 and 70 percent of the American people favor the elimination of the Electoral College, its hard to imagine how such an amendment would survive Congressional scrutiny or the ratification process. Given the fact that the Democrats have won the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections, it is exceedingly unlikely that Republicans would be willing to eliminate the Electoral College and support the direct election of the president. In fact, unless the Republican Party expands the size of its cultural and demographic embrace, its hard to imagine it winning future presidential elections without the boost that the Electoral College gives to low-population conservative states.Although Mr. Trump made some inroads with African Americans and Hispanics in the recent election, the changing demographics of America would seem to favor the Democrats by increasing popular majorities in the decades ahead. In other words, the Republican Party (as it now configures itself) needs the Electoral College to thwart or diminish the popular will, if the tally of the national popular vote accurately reflects that will.Nor are the less populous states likely to welcome the elimination of the Electoral College. They would lose what little electoral advantage they have in a direct presidential election. North Dakota is already almost statistically negligible in presidential elections. It would become a nullity in the absence of the Electoral College. The continuing importance of small states under the current system was seen in President Trumps late-campaign visit to Omaha, Nebraska. Nebraska (and Maine) award electoral votes by Congressional district rather than in the winner-take-all system used in all other states. Mr. Trump knew that if the election were extremely tight, he might need that single electoral vote of Nebraskas second Congressional district. Without an Electoral College he would not have wasted precious late-campaign time in lowly Nebraska, with its population of just under two million.Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by almost three million in 2016 , yet she lost decisively in the Electoral College. The discrepancy struck many as problematic and anti-democratic, but most people nevertheless understood that our national bylaws operate in this eccentric way. But what if she had won by 8 million or 13 million popular votes and still lost the election? At some point the difference becomes unacceptable (as it was then for some).The biggest issue with this differential is that it creates a legitimacy problem for the winner. Naturally, every presidential candidate wants to win the popular vote. To lose that vote in a society as committed to participatory democracy as the United States, even if the Electoral College brings victory, is to suggest that the winner is not really the peoples choice for president. That is surely one reason why Donald Trump insisted after the 2016 election that he had actually won the popular vote, too, and that the seeming preference for Mrs. Clinton was the result of election fraud and chicanery.When the winner gets a plurality both in the popular vote and in the Electoral College, the Electoral College provides an additional stamp of credibility and finality to the election. If Mr. Trump had won the 2020 election, but Joe Biden received five million more votes, the Democrats would have howled in protest, and from the point of view of popular democracy they would have been right. Legitimacy matters. We have a problem, what appears to be a growing problem, and we will have to fix it. In an era when a president-elects legitimacy is now routinely challenged for other reasons (think birtherism or Bush v. Gore), the Electoral College is a potentially dangerous drag on Americas capacity to govern itself.The main original purpose of the Electoral College was abandoned decades ago. The Founders' idea was that wise and sober electors would have considerable discretion in determining the next president. They would not be bound by the results of the election. If the people appeared to be electing a scoundrel or a demagogue (think of Aaron Burr then or David Duke now), the electors could select a more respectable individual instead.The purpose of the Electoral College, said Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers, was to ensure that the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications. The Constitution itself provides no instructions about how each states presidential electors should be chosen or how they should vote once empaneled. As they were originally constituted, they had complete freedom to name a president of their choice, though it was expected that in almost every case the electors would vote for the winner of the election in their state. In the course of the 20th century, most states passed laws requiring the electors to cast their votes for the winner in that state. These are known as faithless elector laws. After questionable faithless elector activity in Colorado and Washington State in 2016, the U.S. Supreme court ruled unanimously in Chiafalo v. Washington and Colorado Department of State v. Baca that states may enforce laws to punish faithless electors.Some opponents of the Electoral College have proposed a range of legislative workarounds that would not require a constitution amendment. One proposal is to increase the size of the House of Representatives by 100, to 535, allocating the new seats to the most populous states. This would lessen the influence of sparsely populated states and make the Electoral College results resonate better with the national popular vote. Another proposal is called the National Interstate Popular Vote Compact. This would require the electors in every state to vote for the winner of the national popular vote. This is essentially a way of certifying the national popular vote (intended result, no amendment necessary), but it would be fiercely resisted by many states and it might not survive a Supreme Court challenge. Why should Kansas have to cast its six electoral votes for a presidential candidate who lost by a 60:40 popular vote in the state? That would seem to defeat the purpose of the Electoral College altogether. So far 16 states with electoral votes totaling 196 have approved the compact. To take effect it would have to be approved by states with electoral votes totaling 270. Not likely, I think.Thomas Jefferson understood more than anyone else in the founding generation the problem of the fossilization of constitutional provisions that have outlived their usefulness or fairness. In a letter to Virginia lawyer and writer Samuel Kercheval dated July 12, 1816, Jefferson famously wrote:Jefferson advocated tearing up the Constitution once every generation, say every 19 or 20 years, and the rising generation writing a new national social compact equal to its needs and challenges. What he was trying to avoid was precisely the paralysis we find ourselves in with a method of selecting our presidents that could not possibly be devised today in our more democratic, multicultural era, when women, indigenous American Indians, African Americans, and people of every religion, ethnicity, and socioeconomic group are now recognized as full citizen of the United States.We are, in Jeffersons formulation, trying to wear still the coat which fitted us when we were a child among nations. But finding a way to let our constitution keep pace with the times is proving to be a very difficult problem. Repairing Jefferson's America: A Guide to Civility and Enlightened Citizenship is available on Amazon.com
F1 will miss Steiner says Wolff

Gunther Steiner's sacking is a "loss" for Formula 1, according to rival team boss Toto Wolff.

Guenther Steiner, United States GP 2023

 Haas F1 Team / LAT

Steiner has headed the small American team for its entire decade-long history, but he rose to particular popularity as his unique personality shone in the Netflix series Drive to Survive.

Team owner Gene Haas, however, ousted Steiner between Christmas and New Year, arguing that it had become embarrassing to have a team with a solid technical alliance with Ferrari that finishes dead last overall.

Some also think Steiner's Netflix popularity irritated Haas.

For Formula 1 this is a loss, Mercedes boss Wolff told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Gunther is a personality who has become very popular and has brought a lot of benefit to the team and the brand, despite the results being disappointing.

He is a great personality and we will miss him.

Wolff, however, admits he disliked the way Steiner handled the demise of Mick Schumacher's F1 race career. Schumacher is now Mercedes' reserve driver.
McLaren hits out at Red Bull-Alpha Tauri alliance

Zak Brown admits he is among those who are "concerned" about the ever-closer relationship between Red Bull's two Formula 1 teams.

Yuki Tsunoda, Abu Dhabi GP 2023

 Red Bull

We reported just before Christmas that rival teams may even begin to push for the energy drink brand to sell Alpha Tauri, as Red Bull seeks greater synergies between its two outfits.

Brown, CEO of McLaren, declared this week: I am concerned about the Alpha Tauri-Red Bull alliance.

The American said he has heard that Alpha Tauri will be moving much of its operations from Italy to be closer to Red Bull Racing in Milton Keynes, UK.

So this A-B team and co-ownership, which is a whole other level of A-B team, is a big concern to us and the health and fairness of the sport, Brown insisted.

It's pretty much not allowed in any other form of major sport, and I'd like to see us as an industry focus on that before it gets to a level of being where F1 once was, which was very out of balance.

Even top figures at the FIA have admitted they are keeping a close eye on Red Bull-Alpha Tauri style team alliances.

The regulations regarding what is allowed and what is not must be adjusted, Brown says. "They were written in a time without budget caps.

They wanted to help small teams because the difference between a Mercedes and a minor team was unbridgeable. With a cost cap, this is no longer necessary. On the contrary, he added.
A wily snake has turned the tables on its feathered attacker, pivoting from prey to predator. Although green tree snakes are not venomous and are not known for constriction, a newly released photograph clearly shows the reptile wrapped around a startled brown falcon.

Blood can be seen spattered on nearby rocks after the fierce battle. Beth McGrath described the scene as bizarre, adding she felt very special to have been there to witness the battle between the two native species.

The falcon obviously attacked the snake, because it would have been looking for food, but the snake was getting the better of him which is pretty rare, she said.

A green tree snake was photographed turning the tables on a falcon. Source: Beth McGrath/Australian Wildlife Conservancy

Did the falcon survive the snake attack?

McGrath is a land management officer with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and she had been inspecting the fences around the non-profits 190,000-acre Wongalara Sanctuary in the Northern Territory.

It wasnt far from the homestead, and we were heading down through a little creek crossing when I thought: Whats that down there? she said.

They were on the ground and the bird wasnt looking too flash. When we pulled up they got a bit of a start. The snake took off and the bird flew up in the tree very disheveled.

McGrath watched the bird sit on the branch. He then shook himself and flew away, seemingly without a major injury. He might be a bit more cautious next time, she said.

How do green tree snakes hunt?

While green tree snakes dont constrict prey during an attack, the encounter reveals they will use the method in defence.

The species hunts small aquatic species like tadpoles and fish, as well as tiny skinks and geckoes. They use sharp eyesight and speed to grab food.

Although its not recommended that you get too close, green tree snakes pose no significant danger to humans.

Story continues

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Photo: Hugo Yu

One of the better New York movie tropes is the busy professional, standing in front of an open fridge or sitting on a fire escape, grabbing pieces of kung pao chicken or shrimp lo mein from a pagoda-stamped paper pail, ostensibly because great Chinese-American delivery is everywhere. The city is home to a remarkable variety of excellent Chinese food  in the last couple of months alone, Ive found vegan mapo tofu served in a pumpkin in Williamsburg and tanghulu from a stand in Flushing  and some people will look back wistfully on their local favorites (a friend raised in the West Village swooned over his memory of Song Chu Mei, which closed in 2008), but the reality of living here usually means wishing that the places closest to your apartment were at least a little bit better. This, it seems, is a timeless lament: With an Empire Szechuan or a Hunan Cottage or a Charlie Mom on every block, and the stoop littered with carryout menus, we were drowning in a sticky hoisin swamp of mediocre mu-shu pork, Gael Greene wrote more than 30 years ago.

Is it fair to assume that, in a city where Michelin-starred Shanghainese lives side by side with dry-pot potato chips and Anhui ban mian, we should also all have immediate and unlimited access to top-tier food that can be delivered right to our front door within an hour? Not really, but two relatively new spots seem to have perfected the model for excellent food that is also expertly engineered for travel. On Christmas Eve, I took a chance on Noodle Lane. The Park Slope restaurant opened about a year ago, after founder Lane Li had developed at Smorgasburg by serving dan dan and peanut noodles on the weekend for the past 12 years, which means shes had more than a decade to build recipes that are essentially transitproof. The brick-and-mortar adds to her Smorgasburg fare with dishes like shrimp-paste fried rice and salt-and-pepper shrimp, as well as beef with broccoli and a General Tsos chicken that my friend and I particularly enjoyed in its delivered version  large pieces of still-crisp chicken in a sauce that was pleasantly, but not overly, sweet.

Li grew up in Flatbush after moving from China with her family at 6. Her mother worked as a seamstress and her father was a cook in a Chinese restaurant, so naturally her family discouraged her from pursuing food at all. To balance their expectations, she attended the French Culinary Institute in the evenings while maintaining a day job in finance, which she kept up until the pandemic when a space in her neighborhood became available. Disappointed with the surrounding options, Li wanted to make the Chinese restaurant that she and her family would be happy to dine at, as well as one to serve the neighborhood, hence the inclusion of General Tsos. Dumplings were another addition, and  despite its name  they should be the restaurants calling card. Every time I order Noodle Lanes soup dumplings, they arrive intact within their thin pouches and filled with gelatin-enriched stock. They even deliver frozen dumplings, 20 for $20, which will be shipped separately from your hot food. A couple days after the beef in black-bean stir fry and string beans with pork were long gone, I grabbed the Ziploc of hand-formed dumplings and browned and steamed them according to the pot-sticker method.

Drooling chicken from Fer. Photo: Hugo Yu

Ive been similarly obsessed with Fer, which opened at the end of November in Long Island City. The restaurant itself is bright, branded, and maybe one shade too Sweetgreen-y, but is doesnt take away from the cooking: On my first visit, bitter melon salad was an immediate hit, and the drooling chicken  a cold Szechuan dish of salty poached chicken in a large bowl of chile oil  stole my heart.

Nigel Huang, who immigrated to the U.S. from Sichuan province to study architecture, opened Fer after being similarly underwhelmed by the areas restaurants. His food comes from a mentor  a retired chef who offered his recipes to Huang. Of course, Fer is only a local option for people who live nearby. I dont. Even though I ate in the restaurant, I know Fer delivers well because my leftovers survived an hour-long ride home  with a pit stop at Dutch Kills in between  that is far more than would be asked of any reasonable DoorDash. An order of sesame noodles, which I added on before leaving, was still in perfect condition, topped with a snappy ring of shredded cucumber, while the leftover drooling chicken from dinner was somehow better after sitting longer in the bright, spicy chile oil.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, unveiled in May 2021 with Android 11-based One UI 3.1, is receiving the One UI 6 stable update based on Android 14.

The One UI 6 update comes with firmware version T225NKOU6DWL9 and requires a download of over 1.5GB. It's seeding for the LTE version (SM-T225) in South Korea, but the rollout should expand to other countries and the Wi-Fi model (SM-T220) soon.

If you live in South Korea and are yet to receive the update on your Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, you can manually check for it by heading to the tablet's Settings > Software update menu.

Via
Samsung is hosting it's first Unpacked event for 2024 today in San Jose, California. The company will announce its new flagships Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, Galaxy S24 Ultra, and we also expect to see introductions of Galaxy AI generative model, One UI 6.1, and likely a detailed look towards the Exynos 2400 chipset, powering the non-Ultra phones in certain markets.

The event begins at 6 PM UTC, which is 1 PM EST/7 PM CET/11:30 PM IST. There is a live stream, which we added below.

The Galaxy S24 and S24+ should have the same design as their predecessors, but the new chipsets are opening a new era of Generative AI capabilities. The phones are also expected to be slightly cheaper at launch compared with their predecessors in certain markets.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to move to a flatter screen and come with a titanium frame. The chipset is expected to be Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and there is also a new telephoto camera on its way. Here's what to expect from the S24 Ultra.

Once the event is over, we will be ready with detailed coverage, so keep an eye on our homepage.
Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino is planning his next steps after Gov. Kathy Hochul released her 2024-25 state budget proposal, which does not increase aid to cities and other municipalities.

Local governments outside of New York City receive unrestricted funding through the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities program. For the city of Auburn, Hochul's executive budget would provide $4,982,093 in state aid.

The 2011-12 state budget approved during former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's first term cut aid to Auburn by more than $100,000, from $5,083,768 to $4,982,093. The city's share of state aid has remained at that level for more than a decade.

There have been letters and other advocacy efforts to encourage state leaders to increase aid for municipalities, but they have been unsuccessful.

Giannettino, who was sworn in Jan. 1, has made increasing state AIM funding a top priority. In an interview with The Citizen, he explained why getting more state aid is important for a city like Auburn.

"It's the only pot of discretionary funding that we receive that we can spend on day-to-day operations," he said.

As an example, he highlighted the city's response to the windstorm last week that damaged two city-owned facilities, downed trees and knocked out power. The city can't provide those essential services, he said, without proper funding from the state.

"We can talk about this vision of a New York that's affordable for families," Giannettino continued. "You can't make living in New York affordable when you're constantly forcing municipalities to raise property taxes because we're not getting ample funding from the state."

While there will be continued lobbying through the New York Conference of Mayors, Giannettino wants to take his message directly to Hochul and Auburn's state representatives, Assemblyman John Lemondes and state Sen. Rachel May. He has raised the issue during a past meeting with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

For local government leaders like Giannettino, the lack of an aid increase is difficult to understand when the state budget has grown over the years. In the 2011-12 fiscal year, when aid for Auburn and other municipalities was slashed to existing levels, the overall budget totaled $132.5 billion.

Hochul on Tuesday proposed a $233 billion state budget for 2024-25. Despite a spending increase of $100 billion, state leaders have not found the funding to boost aid for local governments.

"We're at a quarter of a trillion dollars for a state budget and there's been no increase in AIM funding," Giannettino said. "It makes no sense."
The Little Prince, one of the most beloved books in the world, has now been translated in the CHamoru language by Pale Eric Forbes, with the title, I Dikkiki na Prinsipi, the Guam Department of Education announced on Wednesday.

Pale Eric Forbes, OFM Cap., is the former Capuchin superior for Guam and Hawaii, and a prolific author in CHamoru and English.

I am delighted to have been able to not only translate The Little Prince, but to bring I Dikkiki na Prinsipi to the children of Guam, Forbes said in a statement.

The CHamoru language edition was made possible through a grant from the Jean-Marc Probst Foundation, which supported the preparation for printing and publication by Glimpses Media.

The Little Prince was written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, a French writer and aviator, who published the book in English and French in the U.S. in 1943.

The book has sold more than 140 million copies worldwide and has been translated into over 569 languages and dialects, making it the second most translated book ever.

The book narrates the adventures of a young prince who explores the cosmos and discovers valuable insights about life, love and friendship.

Education Superintendent Erik Swanson saluted Pale Forbes for his work in keeping the CHamoru language alive by translating The Little Prince book.

This book is a precious resource for our schools to motivate, assist and enrich the CHamoru language learning for the young generation and the adults who want to learn the language, he said.

Jimmy Teria, administrator of the CHamoru Studies and Special Projects Division of GDOE, extended his Sen Dangkolo na Si Yuos Maase (Thank you very much) to Pale Forbes for translating and donating the books to our public schools.

This book is a valuable addition to our CHamoru language literacy materials; not only because of the story and lessons imparted through the Little Princes journey, but through reading and comprehension we build up our vocabulary and enrich our language capacity, he said.

Copies of the CHamoru language edition will be presented to GDOE at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the GDOE Gallery Room.
Many employers on Guam continue to violate the law either by still asking for police and court clearance or arrest and conviction records before making any conditional job offer, or have not been posting a poster about the Fair Chances Hiring Practice Act at their workplace.

This is according to the Guam Department of Labor, which has collected data from the last five years.

Labor is reminding employers to uphold the requirements of the Fair Chances Hiring Practice Act, a law that requires employers with 15 or more employees to follow strict rules regarding the use of arrest and conviction records in their hiring and employment decisions.

The law also requires employers to post signage about the FCHPA in a conspicuous area at the workplace.

Of the 142 employers who were inspected, approximately 47% were found to be non-compliant, based on Labors five-year data.

A majority of the employers, or 55%, were cited for failing to display the FCHPA signage at their workplace.

Labor said 19% did not comply with advertising requirements, and 18% continued to seek police and court clearances during the application process.

A small number of citations were issued related to documentation, procedures, and withdrawal of conditional job offers, the department added.

Labor Director David DellIsola said the Fair Chances Hiring Practice law was designed to give everyone a fair chance at getting a job right from the start, regardless of your criminal record.

It is against the law to ask a job applicant for their court or police clearance before a job offer is made; doing so may hurt their chances of getting hired, DellIsola said. This law went into effect nearly six years ago and despite our efforts to educate the business community and community at large, its clear based on the data that many are still unaware of their employment rights.

Penalties

Labor is determined to work with employers found to be in violation of the FCHPA and will consider penalties that include training, retraining, and written warnings before issuing monetary fines, according to a press release from the department.

Under the FCHPA, fines may include:

Employers with 16 to 30 employees: up to $1,000 per violation.

Employers with 31 to 99 employees: up to $2,000 per violation.

Employers with 100 or more employees, or any Government of Guam agency: up to $4,000 per violation.

Information about employer and employee rights and responsibilities, as well as how to file a complaint, can be found online at https://dol.guam.gov/compliance/fepd/.

The FCHPA poster required to be displayed at every place of business with 15 or more employees can also be found at the above website.

For more information or inquiries, please contact GDOLs Fair Employment Practice Division at (671) 300-4544.
A gun reported stolen 30 years ago has been linked to the Jan. 4 fatal shooting of a tourist in Tumon, according to the Guam Police Department.

In a Wednesday night news release, GPD said a bullet from the weapon used in the shooting was found in the Gun Beach area.

The weapon was recovered after the suspected shooter, Keoki Junior Santos, shot and killed himself as police approached on Jan. 9.

Santos, 28, and Stefan Keanu Camacho, 26, set out to rob a tourist after losing $100 gambling, according to court documents charging Camacho in the case.

The two saw Hea Jun Hwang, 60, and his wife walking back from Tao Tao Tasi show at the Beach Bar. They were visiting the island to celebrate their retirement.

Camacho told police Santos pointed a gun at the woman and demanded her purse.

After a struggle between Hwang and Santos, the gun went off, killing Hwang.

Camacho and Santos each took $75 from the robbery, and they discarded the purse and other items, according to court documents.

Police later arrested Camacho. Santos, who was in a parked vehicle in Yona, shot himself as police approached.

Camacho was charged with complicity to commit murder and complicity to commit robbery, both as first-degree felonies with a special allegation of vulnerable victim enhancement, and theft of property and destroying evidence as misdemeanors.

If convicted, he could face life in prison plus 77 years, according to court documents.
The Guam Ancestral Lands Commission wants to give telecom giant AT&T a 50-year extension on its lease for a Dededo property being used as a cable landing station.

Commissioners on Wednesday voted without opposition to urge lawmakers to give AT&T a 50-year deal for the property, which is near Tanguisson Point.

The commission has already drafted a bill which would authorize the deal, and it will be forwarded to the Legislature.

By law, the land commission can only grant a lease for five years without intervention from senators.

The current lease will expire in September 2024 if no action is taken.

AT&T has leased the property since 1962, back when the land was owned by the federal government.

A new 50-year term would start on Oct. 1, 2024, should the bill pass.

AT&T pays $22,939.42 in monthly rent to GALC for the Tanguisson property, according to discussions during the Wednesday meeting.

GALC Executive Director John Burch told commissioners that the company does want to increase that sum, to at least fair market value.

The cable landing property in Dededo has been a source of disputes in the past. GovGuam was handed back over 300 acres of land in 2002, which happened to include the land AT&T was leasing.

But surveys and court proceedings on the property werent completed until 2013, according to draft legislation from the land commission.

AT&T did not pay rent on the property between 2006 and 2019, and the company and GALC ultimately reached a $4.9 million settlement over the back rent.

A new five-year lease with the company was ironed out as part of the negotiations at the time, but the 2019 deal included nine opportunities for AT&T to extend its lease period for another five-year term.

GALC has no power to actually grant those extensions, because the law caps the lease of government land at five years.

Burch said AT&T has since been a good tenant, paying rent on time.

It did not owe the land commission any rent as of Wednesday, according to a report provided during the meeting.
Ron McNinch is a longstanding member of the Guam community and frequently gives his opinion on a wide range of topics.
Robert Underwood is the former president of the University of Guam and Guams former delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Louisiana-grown comedian Theo Von is returning to his home state this spring with two shows in New Orleans. Von will perform at the Saenger Theatre at 8 p.m. Friday, March 29, and 9 p.m. Saturday, March 30, as part of his Return of the Rat tour.

Von is known for his chart-topping podcasts King and the Sting and His Past Weekend, featuring a wide variety of guests. The comedian has shared mics with celebrities like pro-skater Tony Hawk, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and former Fox host Tucker Carlson.

In one popular segment, Von takes calls from listeners who ask advice on serious issues like alcoholism and bullying  or their uncles aggressive pet bobcat.

Vons Netflix standup special Regular People makes several references to his outlandish childhood, growing up in what Von refers to as the stray animal belt of southern Louisiana. (For those of us more familiar with the area, that translates to Covington and Mandeville.)

Tickets for Vons New Orleans shows can be purchased at the Saenger Theatre website starting at 10 a.m. CT Friday, Jan. 19. Prices are not yet available, though tickets at other venues have started as low as $35.
Its a big year for bugs. For the first time since 1803, two broods of periodical cicadas will emerge from underground at once. The groups appear every 13 and 17 years.

The last time the two broods shared the air, life looked a little different: Thomas Jefferson had just made the Louisiana Purchase, while Lewis and Clark were preparing to venture out West. Simultaneously, these same broods of red-eyed, screeching bugs were rising to the surface.

Beginning in mid-May 2024 and continuing through late June, Brood XIX will emerge across the following states:

Alabama

Arkansas

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Kentucky

Louisiana

Missouri

Mississippi

North Carolina

Oklahoma

South Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

During the same time period, the second group, Brood XIII, will emerge in these states:

Iowa

Illinois

Wisconsin

Indiana

The only states to experience an overlap of the two broods are Illinois and Indiana. (That means if youve got a bug phobia, maybe reschedule your mid-May trip to Springfield.)

To see the full extent of this springs resurfacing, check out the maps for Brood XIII and Brood XIX, courtesy of the University of Connecticut.

While a once-in-a-lifetime bug explosion may sound apocalyptic, cicadas are generally harmless to both animals and plants, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The bugs dont bite or sting, nor do they consume leaves, flowers or fruits.

You can actually eat cicadas themselves  and apparently they taste like seafood. One dessert shop in Missouri even made use of the 2011 invasion and created a quickly sold-out batch of cicada ice cream. (The bugs exoskeleton is similar to that of shellfish, and is not recommended for those with allergies.)

Yep! We have to say it!



Don't eat #cicadas if you're allergic to seafood as these insects share a family relation to shrimp and lobsters. https://t.co/UBg7CwrObN pic.twitter.com/3qn7czNg53  U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) June 2, 2021

Pretty much the only goal of a cicada is to reproduce like crazy. The bugs signature, mind-numbing mating call has been recorded at sound levels as high as 100 decibels  similar to a blender, hair dryer or subway train.

So, while experiencing the same cicada mania as our Founding Fathers might seem like a stroke of bad luck, look on the bright side: At least we have noise-canceling headphones now.
Fanny Villarreal decided not to challenge state Sen. Rachel May in 2022.

Two years later, she is seeking the Republican and Conservative lines in a bid to unseat May, a Democrat, in the 48th Senate District. The district includes all of Cayuga County and most of Onondaga County. The cities of Auburn and Syracuse are in the district.

Villarreal was born in Lima, Peru, and moved to central New York in 1991. Her first job was with Nojaim Brothers Supermarket in Syracuse. She went on to work at nonprofits in the region, including a stint as executive director of the Spanish Action League.

She has been in her current job, executive director of the Syracuse YWCA, since 2013.

In 2022, Villarreal considered challenging May for state Senate. But when the Senate map was redrawn, another Republican  Onondaga County Legislator Julie Abbott  entered the race. Villarreal bowed out and supported Abbott's campaign.

May, who was first elected in 2018, won reelection over Abbott and Conservative candidate Justin Coretti.

Villarreal said she was approached by Republican leaders to run against May. With her family's support, she decided to launch her campaign.

"I'm not the type of person that complains. I'd rather do something about it," Villarreal told The Citizen. "I cannot complain about what's happening to all of us, especially in central New York ... I'm going to do something about it. Doing something means I'm going to run (for state Senate)."

Her priorities include crime, education and poverty. She criticized Democratic control of state government  Democrats hold every statewide office and have majorities in the state Assembly and Senate  and the party's stance on addressing crime. She also panned environmental policies supported by May and other Democrats.

Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 22,000 active voters in the 48th Senate District, according to the state Board of Elections. That gives May an advantage as she seeks another term.

Whether Republicans and Conservatives can avoid a repeat of the 2022 election will be determined over the next month. There is a second GOP candidate in the race  Caleb Slater, who announced his candidacy nearly a year ago. Slater is also seeking the Conservative nomination.

Slater says he's approaching 50 endorsements in his state Senate bid, although he hasn't released a full list of who is supporting his candidacy. However, he released one endorsement letter from Bernie Ment, who chairs the Onondaga County Conservative Party.

In 2022, Republicans and Conservatives were split, with the GOP endorsing Abbott and local Conservatives backing Coretti. Abbott forced a Conservative primary, but Coretti won to make it a three-way race in the general election.

May won the election by eight points, 50 to 42%, over Abbott. Coretti received 7% of the vote.
By David Koenig | AP Airlines Writer

DALLAS  A federal judge on Tuesday sided with the Biden administration and blocked JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit Airlines, saying the $3.8 billion deal would reduce competition.

The Justice Department had sued to block the merger, saying it would drive up fares by eliminating Spirit, the nations biggest low-cost airline.

U.S. District Judge William Young, who presided over a non-jury trial last year, said Tuesday that the government had proven that the merger would substantially lessen competition and violated a century-old antitrust law.

In his ruling, which ran more than 100 pages, the judge gave a nod to the Justice Departments argument that Spirit is particularly important to travelers looking for an alternative to pricier airlines.

Spirit is a small airline. But there are those who love it, he wrote. To those dedicated customers of Spirit, this ones for you.

Young said that a JetBlue-Spirit combination would likely place stronger competitive pressure on the larger airlines in the country. At the same time, however, the consumers that rely on Spirits unique, low-price model would likely be harmed.

A line of Spirit Airlines jets sit on the tarmac at the Orlando International Airport on May 20, 2020, in Orlando, Fla.AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File

Shares of Spirit Airlines Inc. plunged 47% after the ruling, while JetBlue shares gained 5%.

JetBlue and Spirit said they disagreed with the ruling and were considering whether to appeal.

New York-based JetBlue had argued that it needs the deal to grow in one move and better compete against bigger rivals that dominate the U.S. air-travel market.

We continue to believe that our combination is the best opportunity to increase much needed competition and choice by bringing low fares and great service to more customers in more markets, the airlines said in a statement.

The ruling was a victory for the Biden administration, which has moved aggressively to block consolidation in several industries.

Capitalism without competition isnt capitalism  its exploitation, President Joe Biden said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Todays ruling is a victory for consumers everywhere who want lower prices and more choices. My Administration will continue to fight to protect consumers and enforce our antitrust laws.

For JetBlue, the ruling was its second major setback in federal court in less than a year. Another judge in the same Boston courthouse killed a partnership in the Northeast between JetBlue and American Airlines.

JetBlue, the nations sixth-largest airline by revenue, now must come up with another growth plan. That will be an assignment for incoming CEO Joanna Geraghty. Next month she will replace Robin Hayes, who had engineered both of the deals that have now been blocked in court.

Tuesdays ruling could open the door for Frontier Airlines to make another attempt to buy Spirit. The two budget airlines announced a cash-and-stock deal in 2022, only to have JetBlue make an all-cash offer and win a bidding war for Florida-based Spirit.

Spirits CEO and board initially opposed a sale to JetBlue, arguing presciently that regulators would try to block a deal that would eliminate a low-cost carrier from the U.S. landscape  JetBlue planned to repaint Spirits planes and remove some seats to match JetBlues roomier interior.

To overcome that resistance, JetBlue agreed to pay Spirit a reverse breakup fee of $70 million and pay Spirit shareholders $400 million if the deal failed because of government opposition.

Helane Becker, an airline analyst for the financial-services firm Cowen, said Spirit will likely now search for a new buyer, but its more likely to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring.

Both JetBlue and Spirit have struggled to recover from the pandemic while their bigger rivals have returned to healthy profitability. JetBlue has lost more than $2 billion since the start of 2020, and Spirit  weighed down by higher costs and weaker demand  has lost more than $1.6 billion in that time.

That generated some sympathy for a merger between them  and criticism of the judges ruling.

Blocking a merger of smaller competitors trying to combine resources and scale up to compete with the top four airlines makes little sense, said Jessica Melugin, an antitrust expert at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, which opposes government intervention in the market. It risks making both Spirit and JetBlue less able to compete with the big guys and ultimately leaving the airline industry less competitive, harming consumers.

But the decision was praised by critics of mergers over the past 15 years that have eliminated Continental, Northwest, US Airways, AirTran and Virgin America.

This is an enormous victory for travelers, workers, and local communities, and another huge win for antitrust enforcers at the Justice Department, said William McGee, an air-travel expert at the American Economic Liberties Project.

The governments victory could make it more likely that it will challenge Alaska Airlines proposal to buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1 billion and pick up about $900 million in Hawaiians debt.

The days of relentless consolidation are over. We hope to see judges presiding over future airline mergers, like Alaska-Hawaiian, follow Judge Youngs lead, McGee said.

The government hasnt said whether it will sue to stop Alaska from buying Hawaiian. The administration might have tipped its hand, however. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce the nations antitrust laws to protect American consumers, Attorney General Merrick Garland said.




Haiti - FLASH : Guy Philippe asks the FAdH and the PNH to support the revolution





After calling for civil disobedience, former senator-elect Guy Philippe asked the police and army to support the people in what he described as a revolution aimed at changing the Government and not a coup.



Philippe assures that he is not coming to carry out a coup, but to tell the people that they must be the promoter of their own change "We have spoken with the population on several occasions and everywhere we go, the population says that she agrees on the need for a radical change in the functioning of the country, the population has accepted it and wants it."



In his appeal, he also urged the National Police to have the obligation to accompany people, since they are there to protect and serve, asking them at the same time not to accept intimidation...



"I ask the Haitian Army, the Protected Area Surveillance Brigade and the Police to support the people who need you. We are not enemies, you were born of the people and it is your duty to help the population get out of the situation they find themselves in, to get rid of this government [...] and give Haiti a new opportunity [...]"



Philippe asked the population to take to the streets, to close government offices except essential ones such as hospitals, the police station and others. He also asked not to destroy or burn anything as he understands that State facilities or vehicles belong to the people.



"All those who are in State vehicles, without doing anything, we will take away the keys from them, we will not destroy anything, because it was acquired with our money, because these vehicles are there to serve the country, we "We will not burn anything, we will not destroy anything, but we will take them and neutralize any agent that Ariel Henry has to intimidate," he declared.



He gave the example of Sri Lanka, where people came into the Prime Minister's house and said this is what they should do in Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - EU Sanctions : Izo Leader of the 5 Segond Gang and reasons for the sanctions (1-4)





Friday January 12, 2014, the European Union added to its sanctions list 4 Haitian gang leaders, included on the UN list by the Sanctions Committee on December 8, 2023:



Johnson Andre alias alias Izo Leader of the 5 Segond Gang

Renel Destina aka Ti Lapli Leader of the Grand Ravine Gang

Vitelhomme Innocent aka Vitelom Leader of the Kraze Barye gang

Wilson Joseph alias Lanmo San Jou Leader of 400 Mawozo



For each of these individuals, the UN Sanctions Committee provided a summary of the reasons for listing. We invite you every day to discover each of these gang leaders and the reasons for their registration.



Johnson Andre alias "Izo" :



Function : leader of the 5 Segond organized gang

Date of birth : 1997

Place of birth : Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Nationality :Haitian

Date of designation by the United Nations : December 8, 2023

Gender : male

Date of UN designation : 8 December 2023



Additional information from the narrative summary of reasons for listing provided by the Sanctions Committee :



Johnson Andre (aka "Izo") is the main leader of the 5 Segond gang and has played an increasingly influential role within G-Pep alliance (see UN document S/2023/674, para 54). Under Andres leadership, 5 Segond has been involved in various criminal activities that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti, including, rape, burglary, despoliation, kidnapping, drug trafficking, trafficking of weapons, and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance (see UN document S/2023/674, Annex 4). Andre is also wanted by the Haitian National Police (HNP) for crimes including murder, kidnapping for ransom, illegal possession of firearms, vehicle theft, and hijacking of goods (see UN document S/2023/674, Annex 11).



With expansionist ambitions and substantial resources acquired through illicit activities, Andre has extended 5 Segonds influence over the past three years, spreading violence in other areas of Port-au-Prince (see UN document S/2023/674, para 54). Moreover, the gang has carried out attacks against public institutions, including the Court of First Instance, which was ransacked in 2022 and currently remains under the control of the 5 Segond (see UN document S/2023/674, para 29).



Andre has used the maritime route to provide support to his gangs northern cells, as well as to the Canaan gang, and strategically operates from there, conducting kidnappings in the Delmas, Bon Repos and Lilavois areas, hijacking trucks and stealing goods. Between April 18 and June 23, 2023, four attacks resulting in the kidnapping of over 30 individuals were attributed to the 5 Segond gang (see UN document S/2023/674, para 64).



The gangs activities have also severely disrupted the free movement of persons and vehicles along National Roads (NR) 1 and 2, as well as at sea, through acts of piracy. In October 2022, members of 5 Segond intensified the hijacking of freight trucks transporting containers of high value merchandise along NR1. Along NR2 in Martissant, 5 Segond carried out extortion operations (see UN document S/2023/674, para 79). This has restricted access to strategic points, stifled the local economy, and disrupted access to food and other critical goods, including humanitarian aid.



In November 2022, the 5 Segond gang took 38 hostages including 36 passengers and 2 drivers, who were in 2 minibuses at the station preparing to go to Miragoane. In a video, Andre asserted that this kidnapping was in response to the death of one of his men.



The "5 Segond" gang has exploited the fragile security environment to generate additional revenue through drug trafficking. Some sources indicated that drugs were shipped directly from South America to the Village de Dieu area, sometimes along with firearms. From Village-de-Dieu, Izo has the support of other gangs, such as Canaan, Gran Grif and Kokorat San Ras, to move drugs up to Port-de-Paix and out of the country (see UN document S/2023/674, para 121).



The Panel of Experts also identified rapes committed by the 5 Segond gang (see UN document S/2023/674, para 136).



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





The Solino neighborhood once again attacked

Tuesday January 16, 2024 in the morning, heavily armed individuals once again attacked the Solino neighborhood. Sustained fire from automatic weapons was reported in several areas of the neighborhood. Families residing in Delmas 24 had to flee their homes for shelter. According to information reported by residents, several houses were burned and there were several victims, at least 2 dead and several injured...



Jean Charles Moise wants to dismiss the PM

Jean Charles Moise, Secretary General of the radical opposition party "Pitit Desalin" announces the launch of a movement aimed at the dismissal of Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry from January 25, 2024.



Guy Philippe : New day of demonstrations

Tuesday January 16, 2024, several hundred demonstrators, including political figures, activists, supporters and sympathizers of the former elected Senator of GrandAnse, Guy Philippe, participated in a new day of demonstration. Protesters continue to demand the departure of Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry and a change in the system from a "predatory State to a servant State".



Haiti - Panama - Mexico

Tuesday January 16, 2024, a partnership was established between the Haitian-Panamanian Chamber of Commerce and the Mexican-Haitian Chamber of Commerce, to facilitate better collaboration.



Revolution : Pastor Zephyr warns

Pastor Lemete Zephyr calls on the population to exercise caution in the face of the movement started by Guy Philippe. According to Pastor Zephyr, the former leader of the armed insurrection of 2004 which led to the fall of President Jean Bertrand Aristide is not the best person to lead a revolution in Haiti.



The PM looking for a solution

Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry, is having informal discussions with actors from the international community and civil society, all of whom are multiplying initiatives separately with the aim of reaching an agreement by February 7. But for the moment nothing officially concrete has yet been considered.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On January 17, SAIC Motor marked a significant milestone as it officially commissioned the ocean-going car carrier, constructed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the world's largest shipbuilding conglomerate. The vessel, named "SAIC Anji Shencheng," commenced its inaugural voyage.

This colossal ocean liner, measuring 200 meters in length, 38 meters in width, and towering 13 stories high, boasts a capacity for 7,600 vehicles and a displacement exceeding 40,000 tonnes. Notably, it incorporates innovative LNG dual-fuel clean propulsion, capable of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 30%. Positioned as the world's largest clean energy vehicle roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ship, invested and built by a Chinese ship-owner, the SAIC Anji Shencheng will transport the initial batch of new vehicles under some Chinas self-owned brands from SAIC Motor, Dongfeng Motor, and Yutong Group to Europe.

SAIC Motor's logistics arm, Anji Logistics, has already established China's largest self-operated fleet of 31 automotive vessels and opened seven international self-operated routes covering Southeast Asia, Mexico, South America West, and Europe. Over the next three years, 14 ocean transport vessels ranging from 7,000 to 9,000 cars in capacity will progressively join SAIC Anji Logistics' ocean fleet, actively supporting the acceleration of Chinese brands' overseas expansion.

The robust expansion of SAIC's ocean fleet is underpinned by the rapid growth of the company's overseas business. In 2023, SAIC achieved an overseas sales volume of 1.208 million vehicles, marking an 18.8% year-on-year increase, playing an important role in propelling China to surpass Japan and become the world's largest exporter of complete vehicles.

As a trailblazer for Chinese automotive exports, SAIC's MG brand achieved a global sales volume exceeding 840,000 vehicles in 2023. With the centenary celebration of the MG brand in 2024, the brand aims to vigorously pursue the global annual sales target of one million vehicles.

Anji Logistics, having evolved into the world's largest automotive logistics company, pioneered the development of a multimodal transportation system encompassing road, rail, and water. It operations span nearly 600 domestic cities and over 100 countries worldwide. In addition to serving SAIC Motor's brand portfolio, Anji Logistics also provides ocean transportation services for various Chinese automakers, including Dongfeng, Yutong, and Great Wall Motor.
Press release

HELENA  The Montana Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for over $3 million in federal funding available through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program.

The purpose of the SCBG program is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Montana. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, peas, lentils, dried fruits, as well as horticulture, nursery crops, and floriculture. State and/or local organizations, government entities, producer associations, academia, community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and other specialty crop stake...
Threats made across state, Montana law enforcement considering threats not credible

Schools across Montana, including in Big Sandy, Chester, Chinook, Harlem and Havre received bomb threats overnight, causing many, including those in Havre, to delay classes while law enforcement investigates.

"HPS will be working with the Havre Police Department to ensure adequate safety measures are in place," Havre Public Schools Superintendent Brian Gum said in a press release. "... If our situation changes we will immediately send a followup message."

Just before 10 a.m. this morning, Gum put out another release confirming that inspection of the schools was complete and they were open...
FRIDAY, Sept. 2, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Up to 9% of American teens say they've engaged in what's known as "digital self-harm" -- anonymously posting negative comments about themselves on social media.

As is the case with acts of physical self-harm such as cutting, this "virtual" self-harm is associated with a higher risk for thinking about or attempting suicide, according to a startling new study.

It found that teens who engaged in digital self-harm were up to seven times more likely to have considered suicide and as much as 15 times more likely to have made an attempt.

"We can't say that one causes the other, but we do know they are connected in some way," said lead author Justin Patchin. He's co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

But why would anyone want to virtually trash themselves to begin with?

Patchin said that his own research has identified multiple motivations.

Self-hatred is one, he noted, as is attention-seeking. In other cases, it can be depression, an attempt to be funny, or simply boredom.

Some teens admit that it's just their way to suss out how others might react to examples of bullying, in order to "know if they were talking about me behind my back."

To gain more insight, Patchin's team took a deep dive into survey responses offered up by nearly 5,000 middle and high schoolers in 2019.

The 12- to 17-year-old participants were asked if they had contemplated or attempted suicide in the past year.

Roughly 8% said they had seriously thought about it, and about 5% said they had actually attempted suicide.

Participants were also asked if they had ever anonymously posted something "mean" about themselves online and/or anonymously bullied themselves online.

In all, 9% said they had done the former, while about 5% had done the latter.

The findings, which are similar to other recent studies, held up equally across gender and race, though a much bigger proportion of LGBTQ+ teens said they had considered and/or attempted suicide in the past year (24% and 10%, respectively).

The research team then stacked digital self-harm behavior up against suicide thoughts and attempts.

The result: Teens who said they had anonymously shared mean posts about themselves were about five times more likely to have contemplated suicide and those who had self-bullied were about seven times more likely to have done so.

Similarly, mean self-posting was associated with up to nine times the likelihood of attempting suicide, and digital self-bullying with 15 times the risk.

Robin Kowalski is a psychology professor at Clemson University in South Carolina. She reviewed the findings and suspects what she called "the concept of mattering" is at the heart of it all.

"[That is] the degree to which people feel they are important or significant," Kowalski said. "The extent to which other people make them feel that they matter."

When people feel they don't matter and struggle with low self-esteem, Kowalski said, they may view negative self-posting in online forums as a way to either get advice or validation for their feelings.

That such behavior would be linked to higher suicide risk is "not at all" surprising, she said.

"People who commit suicide feel that the world would be better off without them, [and] that they are a burden to others," Kowalski noted. "Putting negative information about oneself online and potentially receiving validation for that is a way to confirm that one doesn't belong in this world."

So what can be done to help?

"This is difficult, because digital self-harm is difficult to detect," researcher Patchin said.

But parents and friends should help those who are bullied by others, regardless of who the aggressor is, he said.

"If you see someone being mistreated online, reach out and offer help," Patchin suggested. "Report it to the site, app or game. Telling an adult you trust can help to make things better. Don't just stand by and let it happen."

Being kind is a key to making people feel that they matter, according to Kowalski.

"We can make them feel that they have value and are important," she said. "We need to make it clear to people that they belong and that they are not a burden."

Their findings were recently published in the journal Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

More information

Stopbullying.gov has tips for preventing various forms of cyberbullying.

SOURCES: Justin Patchin, PhD, co-director, Cyberbullying Research Center, and professor, criminal justice, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Robin Kowalski, PhD, professor, psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.; Child and Adolescent Mental Health, July 10, 2022


The OECD on Monday published a working paper predicting that the adoption will halve the amount of corporate profits shifted to jurisdictions with lower corporate tax rates as differences between the rates will shrink by roughly 30 per cent.

IN FINLAND , revenues from the corporate tax are expected to increase by roughly 10 per cent following the adoption of a minimum tax rate of 15 per cent for large corporations, reports Helsingin Sanomat.

Revenues from corporate tax will consequently rise by 68 per cent globally, translating to 142175 billion euros in additional corporate tax revenue.

The minimum tax rate applies principally to conglomerates that report more than 750 million euros in annual revenue. Most jurisdictions will implement the minimum rate by introducing a supplementary national tax.

In Finland, the reform will apply to around 5060 companies, including up to 20 that operate exclusively in the country, and boost annual revenue from the corporate tax by roughly 700 million euros to 7.7 billion euros.

Anita Isomaa, the director of tax affairs at the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), reminded Helsingin Sanomat on Monday that the OECD initially set out to levy the minimum tax only on conglomerates that engage in global trade, but the scope of application was broadened by the introduction of minimum corporate taxation rules by the EU on 1 January.

The minimum tax rate is a success story for international taxation. It was evident already last summer. The OECD last July estimated that by 2025 almost 90 per cent of large corporations would be within the scope of the tax, she commented to the newspaper.

While no Finnish company is known to have opposed the minimum tax rate, the administrative burden and costs imposed by the reform have stirred up concerns within companies, according to Isomaa.

Companies arent worried about paying the tax or about matters related to the tax but about the system being unprecedentedly broad and complicated, she stated.

Companies in Finland will have to file their first reports under the minimum corporate tax rules in 2026. Some remain concerned about whether the complex system can be enforced in a way that they can safely assume they are operating within the rules.

We hope that dispute resolution, prevention and legal certainty are addressed, she said.

With the Finnish Tax Administration yet unable to provide advance rulings concerning practices related to the minimum tax rate, companies hope that the administration has sufficient resources to provide advice and counselling.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese leading new energy vehicle maker BYD held the 2024 BYD Dream Day at its global headquarters in Shenzhen. This occasion signifies the introduction of BYD's Integrated Vehicle Intelligence strategy and the debut of XUANJI Architecture, initiating a transformative trajectory in the evolution of intelligent new energy vehicles.

Furthermore, BYD disclosed its plan to establish specialized all-terrain test drive facilities, aiming to ushering in a new era for Chinese automotive culture within the dynamic landscape of new energy technologies.

BYD said its strategy of Integrated Vehicle Intelligence revolutionizes the concept of vehicle intelligence by holistically addressing the entire vehicle, effectively transforming intelligent vehicles through the utilization of the in-house developed XUANJI Architecture.

XUANJI Architecture; photo credit: BYD

According to BYD's introduction, the XUANJI Architecture functions as a comprehensive vehicular intelligent framework, acting as both the brain and neural network of the vehicle. This enables a seamless integration of electrification and intelligence, facilitating efficient operation. The system adeptly detects real-time changes in both the internal and external environment of the vehicle, processing information at a millisecond level and promptly relaying it to the central "brain" for swift decision-making. This system dynamically adjusts the vehicle's state, significantly elevating driving safety and comfort.

Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD, commented that "Integrated Vehicle Intelligence is set to steer the future direction of vehicular intelligence, and to accelerate the transformation of the automotive industry."

Moreover, BYD unveiled the XUANJI AI Large Model, a groundbreaking multimodal artificial intelligence system for vehicles, representing the inaugural implementation of AI technology across all automotive domains. Boasting the industry's most extensive data foundation, unparalleled sample sizes, and formidable computational capabilities, it spans more than 300 vehicular scenarios, said BYD. This empowers the Integrated Vehicle Intelligence system with the ability for ongoing adaptation.

BYD's innovative e4 Parking seamlessly integrates the e4 technology with advanced smart parking capabilities, building upon the foundation of Integrated Vehicle Intelligence. With the agile and smooth control capabilities of the four electric motors, it autonomously achieves precise rotational parking. Regardless of how challenging the parking space may be, it effortlessly maneuvers for a perfect entry.

Regarding intelligent driving, BYD has housed over 4,000 dedicated engineers working on Level 2 intelligent driving deployment. The company added it also holds the distinction of being the first automotive brand to obtain the Level 3 test license.

Photo credit: BYD

At the BYD Dream Day 2024, a significant focus was placed on an extensive intelligence experience, highlighting BYD's state-of-the-art intelligent features. The exhibition offered a thorough exploration of diverse intelligence innovations. Attendees had the chance to experience driving the DENZA N7 featuring NOA (Navigate on Autopilot), maneuvering the YANGWANG U8 with Vehicle-mounted UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System), test-riding the e4 concept car, exploring e4 parking, and interacting with intelligent entry systems, among other functionalities.

Significantly, in collaboration with DJI, BYD developed the globe's inaugural vehicle-integrated UAS, introducing a seamlessly integrated drone bay designed for automotive use. This breakthrough incorporates intelligent storage, automated battery swapping, and charging management, facilitating one-click takeoff and landing. Moreover, it supports high-definition, high frame rate, and low-latency image transmission.

Photo credit: BYD

During the event, BYD unveiled its plan to invest 5 billion yuan in establishing the world's inaugural all-terrain professional test drive sites in various cities throughout China. This initiative aims to foster the growth of Chinese automotive culture in the era of new energy vehicles.
Halla-aho stated during Ilta-Sanomats election debate last week that he is in favour of slashing funding for the public broadcasting company by up to a quarter, or 144 million euros, in accordance with the demands of the Finns Party.

MATTI APUNEN , the board chairperson at YLE, has rejected the allegations made against the public broadcasting company by the presidential candidate of the Finns Party, Jussi Halla-aho.

The generous funding and open-tab mentality result in turpitude, corruption and old boy and old girl networks. Especially as were cutting from all other important services, itd be justified to cut rather significantly from YLEs very plentiful funding, he commented on 9 January.

YLE, he also alleged, has failed in its mission to produce unbiased information due to its marked ideological slant to the left.

Apunen said Halla-ahos status as a presidential candidate and desire to engage in critical debate do not justify the serious but vague allegations. The allegations, he added, also do not contribute constructively to media policy discussion but instead offend the integrity and professionalism of staff at YLE.

The Finns Party has never explained what kind of operational analysis its demand for a budget cut of about 140 million euros is based on. Without such an analysis, the sum seems arbitrarily formed and a politically motivated punishment, he said in a press release.

Apunen underlined that the guiding principle of journalism and content production at the public broadcasting company is to promote a diversity of voices, with the company seeking to ensure both that minority views are taken into account and the majority views are heard. This diversity is evident in, for example, whom are invited to discussion programmes, how people are portrayed and how they are addressed, according to him.

It is very hard to see justification for Halla-ahos accusations about a lack of equality if you examine how representatives of different parties and world views participate in YLE programming, he said.

Also Tytti Tuppurainen, the chairperson of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group, voiced her disapproval with the allegations made by Halla-aho, the current speaker of parliament. The Finnish parliament is tasked with overseeing the operations and appointing the administrative council of YLE.

This is yet another statement that doesnt fit the speaker, who represents the entire parliament, she said.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
A recent study by the Finnish Centre for Pensions (ETK) has revealed that a majority of Finns opting for partial early retirement continue to work as usual, without significant changes in their salary levels. Contrary to the expectation that partial retirement would lead to reduced working hours, only about one-fifth of those who took up this option actually decreased their work commitments.

The study, led by ETK researchers including Mia Hakovirta, Milla Salin, Eija Lindroos, and Mari Haapanen, monitored the income of retirees over a year following the start of their partial retirement. It was found that approximately 60% of salaried employees maintained, fluctuated, or even increased their earnings, indicating that they did not reduce their working hours post-retirement.

A smaller portion, about 20%, opted to continue working at a lower salary level, suggesting a reduction in their work engagement. This group potentially represents those who are using partial retirement as a transition phase towards full retirement.

The concept of partial early retirement was introduced with the hope of extending working careers, allowing employees to balance work and retirement flexibly. However, Ilari Ilmakunnas, a specialist researcher at ETK, noted that while a large segment does not reduce their work, overall, the scheme does not seem to significantly prolong careers. Prior research indicated that those who took partial retirement at 61 tended to move to full retirement earlier than others.

The study also found a notable difference in the usage of partial retirement between the public and private sectors. Public sector employees were more likely to continue working at the same or lower salary level, while private sector employees experienced more cessation or fluctuation in their earnings. This suggests that transitioning to part-time work might be more feasible in the public sector.

Moreover, the research highlighted different approaches to the partial retirement scheme. Three-quarters of the retirees opted to draw half of their accrued pension. Those who chose a 50% pension were particularly likely to stop earning during the observation period, possibly compensating for a significant drop in income. In contrast, those who chose a 25% pension often continued working at a lower salary level, indicating a more significant reduction in work.

This comprehensive study sheds light on the actual impact of partial early retirement on work patterns in Finland, challenging some of the initial assumptions about the scheme's ability to extend working careers. It underscores the complexity of retirement decisions and the varied ways individuals approach the transition from work to retirement.

HT
In a significant move towards digitalization, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency has announced that 1.1 million Finnish citizens have received their polling cards for the upcoming presidential elections exclusively in electronic format. This shift aligns with Finland's progressive approach to integrating digital solutions into everyday governance and public services.

The electronic polling cards were distributed through the Suomi.fi Messages service to all eligible voters enrolled in the system. This digital transformation marks a departure from the traditional method of postal delivery, signaling a new era in Finnish election processes.

The advance voting for the first round of the presidential election commenced on 17 January 2024, allowing voters to cast their ballots at any public polling station during this period. However, on the actual election day, voters are required to visit the specific polling station mentioned in their polling card.

Maria Juka-Lahdenpera, Service Owner of Suomi.fi Messages, emphasized the importance of checking the Suomi.fi Messages for those who haven't received their polling card by post. "It's crucial to verify your polling station information, whether your notification is digital or in paper form. While the polling card isn't mandatory for voting  an ID suffices  it is useful, especially for those voting in special conditions like abroad or in institutions," she stated.

Otto Palmu, Election Manager at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, further highlighted the necessity for voters to be aware of their designated polling station, especially on the actual election day, as they can only vote at the mentioned location.

Apart from the convenience offered to voters, the move to electronic notifications serves as a significant eco-friendly initiative. By opting for digital over paper, Finland is reducing paper usage and the associated environmental impact of its production and transportation. This approach aligns with the country's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Suomi.fi Messages is a secure electronic mailbox service provided by the Finnish government, facilitating communication between various authorities and citizens. It significantly reduces paper consumption and allows for easy and organized access to important documents and notifications.

As Finland continues to innovate and lead in digital governance, this initiative in the electoral process showcases the country's dedication to efficiency, environmental consciousness, and the embrace of technology in enhancing civic engagement.

HT
The Matka Travel Fair , Northern Europe's largest travel trade event, is set to bring a gust of international flair to Helsinki this week. The fair, taking place at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre from January 19-21, 2024 (with January 18 reserved for trade professionals), is expected to draw nearly 900 exhibitors from around 70 countries, including a comprehensive representation of Finland's diverse travel offerings.

This year's fair will introduce visitors to a wide array of holiday destinations ranging from local Finnish attractions in Inari-Saariselka to exotic cruises on the Congo River. Notably, new destinations such as Albania, Gambia, and Mongolia will make their debut, alongside returning participants like Bulgaria and Discover America. Finnish regions, including North Karelia and Koli National Park, will feature prominently, showcasing their unique travel services.

Global cultures will be vividly represented, with stands from Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Inspiration Africa bringing the African continent's warmth to Helsinki. Asian countries like Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand will display their distinct aesthetics, while popular European destinations for Finns, including Spain, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, and Poland, will also be prominently featured.

Noora Haatainen, Business Manager of the Matka Travel Fair, anticipates a large turnout, as people seek inspiration for their travel plans. "Our programme stages offer a magnificent array of routes, tips, information, and culture. Sunday will be specially tailored for families, making it a perfect outing for all ages," Haatainen adds.

One of the highlights is the expansive stand of North Karelia, showcasing the region's natural beauty and cultural attractions like the Lintula Monasteries and the Nightwish Exhibition Centre. Major Finnish cities and smaller localities, such as those in the Go Saimaa region, will also be on display, revealing hidden gems across the country.

The fair will not only focus on destinations but also on different aspects of travel experiences. The Adventure Stage will discuss transformative travel and responsible choices, while the Second Home area will cater to those interested in acquiring a holiday home abroad. The Meet the World Stage will feature cultural performances and travel tips, and the Sunny Village and We Love Cruises areas will offer insights into long-haul destinations and international cruise trips.

A special emphasis this year is on culinary experiences, with the Tasty Travel and Mediterranea Stage allowing visitors to indulge in global flavors, highlighting food as a significant travel motivator.

The Matka Travel Fair, in its 36th iteration, not only offers an expansive view of the travel industry but also serves as a testament to Finland's growing role as a hub for global tourism and cultural exchange.

HT
According to UN Women, the casualties in Gaza have now surpassed 24,000, with women and children making up 70% of the victims.

The Finnish Leftist Women's group has voiced a strong condemnation of Israel's ongoing bombing of Gaza, labeling it as an attack against women and children. The crisis in Gaza, which has escalated following Israel's latest airstrikes starting in October 2023, has drawn international concern over the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories.

The conflict has forced approximately a million women and children to flee their homes in an area where no safe havens remain. The situation is further exacerbated by the estimated 9,000 children who have lost both parents and 50,000 pregnant women suffering daily due to the bombings.

Veronika Honkasalo, spokesperson for the Leftist Women and a member of the Finnish parliament, expressed dismay at the West's reluctance to denounce Israel's actions. She stated, "It's shocking and tragic how difficult it has been for Western countries to condemn the brutal violence Israel inflicts on Palestinians. Nothing justifies the systematic violation of international law, not even Hamas's appalling and utterly condemnable attack on Israel in October 2023."

The situation in Gaza worsens daily as Israel's blockade impedes necessary humanitarian aid. The region is already experiencing famine, with residents receiving only a fraction of the required food supply. The social and healthcare systems have collapsed due to the bombings, and international aid organizations face restricted access to the area.

Gashaw Bibani, vice spokesperson for the Leftist Women, highlighted the catastrophic situation for women and children, particularly those in vulnerable positions. She urged the international community to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches women and children without obstacles. She referenced UNICEF's characterization of the situation in Gaza as a war against children.

The Leftist Women are calling on the Finnish government to unequivocally condemn Israel's actions against Palestinians, including what they describe as ethnic cleansing and the destruction of Gaza. They urge Finland to strive for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages. Additionally, they support South Africa's initiative to investigate allegations of genocide by Israel at the International Criminal Court in The Hague and advocate for the EU to impose economic sanctions on Israel to secure a ceasefire.

HT
Hanken School of Economics , renowned for its business education, has witnessed a remarkable surge in applications for its newly launched Bachelor in Business programme, attracting 1,376 applicants in its first joint application. The enthusiasm for the programme is complemented by an all-time high of 1,833 applicants for its master's programme in English.

receiving a combined total of 3,914 applications for its bachelor's and master's programmes in English. Rector Ingmar Bjorkman expressed satisfaction with the global appeal of Hanken's programmes. "We aim to nurture responsible business graduates who contribute to a sustainable future. The overwhelming response, especially to our new Bachelor in Business programme, underscores our commitment to integrating international students into both the Hanken community and Finnish society," he said.

Ranked among the world's top business schools, Hanken has tailored its English-taught Bachelor in Business programme to accommodate 80 students, with a focus on sustainable and responsible business practices. This programme has resonated globally, attracting candidates from 80 different countries, including significant numbers from outside Europe such as Vietnam, Nepal, South Africa, and the USA. European applicants predominantly hail from Germany, Estonia, and Italy.

Hanken's efforts to foster a diverse and global student body do not end at the bachelor's level. The school also received 175 applications for its PhD programme, which closed on January 3, 2024, further underscoring its international appeal.

Ida Borgar, Head of Student Admissions at Hanken, remarked on the diversity of the applicant pool. "It's heartening to see that our efforts to reach young people across the globe have been successful. The variety of countries represented in the applications highlights Hanken's growing reputation as a hub for international business education."

While these application figures are preliminary, they indicate a growing interest in Hanken's business programmes, reflecting the institution's global reach and the appeal of its curriculum. As the school prepares to welcome its new cohort, it stands as a testament to the increasing desire for high-quality, globally-oriented business education.

HT
MS, an inflammatory autoimmune disease that degenerates the central nervous system, is the most common such condition among young adults.

Dr. Marcus Sucksdorff 's doctoral research at the field of neurology has revealed the potential of PET imaging in predicting the progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and assessing treatment response. This innovation could also serve as a biomarker in the development of drugs targeted at progressive MS in the future.

It involves the destruction of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells and the axons themselves, leading to severe neurological symptoms. Finland, with around 13,000 MS patients, often sees the disease progress over the years, accumulating symptoms regardless of relapse phases.

"To date, there is no effective medication for the progressive form of MS, which is particularly concerning given the average onset age of 20-40 years. MS remains one of the leading causes of disability and reduced functionality among the working-age population in Finland," explains Dr. Sucksdorff.

PET imaging, according to Sucksdorff's research, can provide critical insights into the disease's progression and the effectiveness of MS treatments. While MRI is a cornerstone in MS diagnosis and activity assessment, it often misses diffuse and widespread inflammation outside local lesions. This inflammation is marked by the activation of microglial cells, known to contribute to chronic neurodegeneration in several central nervous system diseases, including MS.

"Through PET imaging, which uses a small amount of radioactive tracer to measure metabolism and activity in targeted tissue, we can assess the activity of microglial cells. Until now, there has been limited research on how MS treatments affect brain microglia activity and how this correlates with potential disease progression," Sucksdorff adds.

His research found that MS therapies reduced microglial activity in critical brain areas over 6-12 months, suggesting that modulating microglia activity could slow nerve cell damage and disease progression. Furthermore, he discovered that higher microglial activity around brain lesions predicted future disease progression, regardless of relapse phases, over a four-year follow-up. These findings were based on a study of 69 MS patients and 18 healthy controls.

"This is the first study to demonstrate that activated microglial cells in the brain can predict the later progression of MS, highlighting the detrimental nature of this process. PET imaging of activated microglial cells is expected to significantly advance our understanding of MS's origins and development. In the future, it could also be used as a biomarker in developing treatments for progressive MS," concludes Sucksdorff.

Dr. Sucksdorff's research marks a significant advancement in MS diagnosis and treatment, offering hope for more effective management of this debilitating disease.

HT
County's budget crafter honored as 'gold standard' of public service

Commissioner David Hill, County Manager John Mitchell and commissioners Bill Lapsley and Daniel Andreotta congratulate Amy Brantley on winning the Jack Vogt Award.

Amy Brantley, the assistant Henderson County manager renowned for her budget-crafting wizardry and instant command of both the big picture and the most arcane detail of government spending and revenue, was honored Wednesday with a lifetime achievement award from the N.C. Local Government Budget Association.



Megan Powell, who was mentored by Brantley when she served on the countys budget office, presented the Jack Vogt Award before the county commissioners annual budget retreate.

This year's recipient has been referred to by members of this board as the secret weapon in crafting a budget that meets citizen needs while preserving the public purse and being fair to hardworking county employees, said Powell, who is first vice president of the Local Government Budget Association. As was stated in one of her nomination letters, her hard work, her determination and her treatment of every employee as a valued part of the whole is the definition of good government.

Brantley, upon accepting the award, delivered a surprise announcement of her own.

When I was told I was getting a lifetime achievement award I started out with, Well, I'm not old enough to have a Lifetime Achievement Award, she said. But then you realize that you've done 32 budgets, it is with a little more emotion than I thought I would have today that I would like to announce that this is my final budget.

Lifetime achievement award recipients, Powell said, are nominated by their peers and must have at least 10 years of local government experience in North Carolina, a commitment to the field of local government budgeting and evaluation, a commitment to professional development and ongoing learning, innovation in budget and evaluation and a commitment to nurturing, mentoring and educating others in the field.

In his nomination letter, County Manager John Mitchell called Brantley the gold standard of what we should strive to in local government both as an employee and as a leader.

This board knows her for her leadership in Henderson County, Powell said. But you may not know that she's looked to as a resource for professionals across the state. Before most of the budgeting software that local governments use today was available, Amy created a budget process and Excel resources that were shared and replicated by countless jurisdictions across the state. Her process was simple enough for the smallest organizations to adapt to while being robust enough to meet the needs of larger organizations and Henderson County.

Known as a mentor and an encourager to budget drafters in Henderson County and beyond, she also is a frequent volunteer with the North Carolina Local Government Budget Association and a moderator and speaker at budget conferences.

Commissioner Bill Lapsley also praised Brantleys contributions.

I've had the privilege of working with you for the last nine years and I certainly have come to appreciate more and more each year the effort that you go to help this board make the budget a successful tool for us to operate the county, he said. There's no better way to reach the pinnacle of your career than to have your peers recognize your contribution and that's what we've seen today.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinas AR-HUD solution developer Shenzhen Qianhai Zinger Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zinger") has recently concluded Series A+ funding round, exclusively backed by Qingsong Fund, which raised for the company tens of millions of yuan.

Photo credit: Zinger

The funds will be allocated towards intensifying the R&D efforts in new technologies, expanding Zingers intelligent factory capabilities, and accelerating product deliveries. This strategic investment aims to significantly enhance Zinger's competitiveness and market share in the AR-HUD market.

This marks Zinger's second funding round in the past six months. In September 2023, the company secured tens of millions of yuan in a Series A funding.

Pioneering AR-HUD solutions in China, Zinger has successfully provided AR-HUD technology to several automakers. In December 2022, Zinger exclusively equipped VOYAHs Zhuiguang sedan with AR-HUD sets, contributing to standardizing the technology across the entire vehicle lineup.

In 2023, Zinger's AR-HUD products gained further recognition, with project partnerships announced in June and September. The company secured an AR-HUD project with a prominent auto startup, with anticipated mass production scheduled for the latter half of 2024. Additionally, Zinger received a procurement order from a domestic new energy vehicle company, targeting overseas export models with production slated for the second half of 2024.

In tandem with the expanding AR-HUD projects, Zinger is actively advancing its production capacity. The company is undergoing the second-phase expansion of its intelligent factory, planning to construct two fully automated AR-HUD production lines with an annual capacity of 200,000 units. The expansion project commenced production by the end of 2023.

Beyond AR-HUD, Zinger is making strides in promoting the application of aerial imaging technology in the automotive industry. In late November 2023, the company successfully achieved the mass production integration of aerial imaging technology into a luxury new energy vehicle brand.
ARPA-H program aims to provide effective hospital-level care to more Americans in communities across the United States

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) launched the Platform Accelerating Rural Access to Distributed & InteGrated Medical care (PARADIGM) program today. To tackle President Bidens Unity Agenda priorities by driving breakthroughs to improve health outcomes for all Americans, including for diseases like cancer, PARADIGM will enhance early detection and management in rural communities across the nation.

Americans in rural areas deserve access to the highest quality health care. ARPA-H is finding innovative ways to meet that challenge, said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. The Biden-Harris Administration has lowered health care costs for Americans by negotiating prescription drug prices, capping the price of insulin, and bringing insurance premiums down by more than $800. Well continue to lower costs for all Americans at every opportunity."

Rural America grapples with a stark reality: higher mortality rates from leading causes of death than their urban counterparts. Yet, over the past decade, more than 100 rural hospitals shuttered, and 600 more teeter on the brink, deepening the chasm of healthcare access1. PARADIGM will create a new platform that delivers hospital-quality clinical, diagnostic and essential medical services to rural America, bringing care directly to people across zip codes.

PARADIGM is designed to combat the dire health disparities prevalent in rural regions. The grim statisticstwice the incidence of lung cancer, higher mortality rates from heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer, and stroke, and higher infant and maternal mortality, to name a few underscore the urgent need for such interventions. By enhancing early detection and management, key priorities for the Biden Cancer Moonshots mission to end cancer as we know it, PARADIGM aims to stem the tide of morbidity and mortality in these underserved populations.

Telehealth revolutionized access to primary care and mental health services. PARADIGM will do the same for advanced hospital-level care, said ARPA-H PARADIGM Program Manager Bon Ku, M.D., MPP. We need to fundamentally shift how care is provided to rural Americans, and PARADIGM intends to do this by creating a scalable health delivery system outside the walls of a hospital.

PARADIGM aims to create a multi-functional, rugged electric vehicle platform that integrates many different medical devices to treat a large variety of health conditions. The program will do this by building software that will connect on-board and remote medical devices with any electronic health record (EHR) system. The program also is exploring the creation of mini CT-scanners and digitally-enhanced real-time training tools to upskill healthcare workers to perform tasks beyond their usual training. By using multiple parallel innovations, an integrated platform that can be tested throughout rural areas in the country, working in partnership with local communities to ensure that their problems are being solved, should increase likelihood of adoption.

Imagine being able to offer advanced imaging tests, multi-cancer screenings, perinatal care, and essential medical services in a mobile medical platform that meets patients where they are at. This would allow so many Americans who cant get to a hospital to be treated for many different illnesses and conditions. The programs impact has the potential to resonate far beyond the boundaries of a map, reaching into the lives and well-being of countless individuals across the nation, said ARPA-H Director Renee Wegrzyn, Ph.D.

PARADIGM will be using a Program Solicitation focused on five technical areas: Decentralized Approach to Hospital-Level Care, Care Delivery Platform Integration, Medical IoT Platform, Ruggedized CT Scanner, and Intelligent Task Guidance.

Multiple awards, in the form of Other Transactions, are anticipated as a result of the Program Solicitation. Resources available will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds. Learn more about PARADIGM on its program page, including information about the Special Notice, Proposers Day registration, and how to state interest to form an applicant team.
Final rule modernizes the health care system and reduces patient and provider burden by streamlining the prior authorization process

As part of the Biden-Harris Administrations ongoing commitment to increasing health data exchange and strengthening access to care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule (CMS-0057-F) today. The rule sets requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) fee-for-service (FFS) programs, Medicaid managed care plans, CHIP managed care entities, and issuers of Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) offered on the Federally-Facilitated Exchanges (FFEs), (collectively impacted payers), to improve the electronic exchange of health information and prior authorization processes for medical items and services. Together, these policies will improve prior authorization processes and reduce burden on patients, providers, and payers, resulting in approximately $15 billion of estimated savings over ten years.

When a doctor says a patient needs a procedure, it is essential that it happens in a timely manner, said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. Too many Americans are left in limbo, waiting for approval from their insurance company. Today the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing strong action that will shorten these wait times by streamlining and better digitizing the approval process.

CMS is committed to breaking down barriers in the health care system to make it easier for doctors and nurses to provide the care that people need to stay healthy, said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. Increasing efficiency and enabling health care data to flow freely and securely between patients, providers, and payers and streamlining prior authorization processes supports better health outcomes and a better health care experience for all.

While prior authorization can help ensure medical care is necessary and appropriate, it can sometimes be an obstacle to necessary patient care when providers must navigate complex and widely varying payer requirements or face long waits for prior authorization decisions. This final rule establishes requirements for certain payers to streamline the prior authorization process and complements the Medicare Advantage requirements finalized in the Contract Year (CY) 2024 MA and Part D final rule, which add continuity of care requirements and reduce disruptions for beneficiaries. Beginning primarily in 2026, impacted payers (not including QHP issuers on the FFEs) will be required to send prior authorization decisions within 72 hours for expedited (i.e., urgent) requests and seven calendar days for standard (i.e., non-urgent) requests for medical items and services. For some payers, this new timeframe for standard requests cuts current decision timeframes in half. The rule also requires all impacted payers to include a specific reason for denying a prior authorization request, which will help facilitate resubmission of the request or an appeal when needed. Finally, impacted payers will be required to publicly report prior authorization metrics, similar to the metrics Medicare FFS already makes available.

The rule also requires impacted payers to implement a Health Level 7 (HL7) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Prior Authorization application programming interface (API), which can be used to facilitate a more efficient electronic prior authorization process between providers and payers by automating the end-to-end prior authorization process. Medicare FFS has already implemented an electronic prior authorization API, demonstrating the efficiencies other payers could realize by implementing such an API. Together, these new requirements for the prior authorization process will reduce administrative burden on the healthcare workforce, empower clinicians to spend more time providing direct care to their patients, and prevent avoidable delays in care for patients.

In response to feedback received on multiple rules and extensive stakeholder outreach HHS will be announcing the use of enforcement discretion for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) X12 278 prior authorization transaction standard to further promote efficiency in the prior authorization process. Covered entities that implement an all-FHIR-based Prior Authorization API pursuant to the CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule (CMS-0057-F) who do not use the X12 278 standard as part of their API implementation will not be enforced against under HIPAA Administrative Simplification, thus allowing limited flexibility for covered entities to use a FHIR-only or FHIR and X12 combination API to meet the requirements of the CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization final rule. Covered entities may also choose to make available an X12-only prior authorization transaction. HHS will continue to evaluate the HIPAA prior authorization transaction standards for future rulemaking.

CMS is also finalizing API requirements to increase health data exchange and foster a more efficient health care system for all. CMS values public input and considered the comments submitted by the public, including patients, providers, and payers, in finalizing the rule. Informed by these public comments, CMS is delaying the dates for compliance with the API policies from generally January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027. In addition to the Prior Authorization API, beginning January 2027, impacted payers will be required to expand their current Patient Access API to include information about prior authorizations and to implement a Provider Access API that providers can use to retrieve their patients claims, encounter, clinical, and prior authorization data. Also informed by public comments on previous payer-to-payer data exchange policies, we are requiring impacted payers to exchange, with a patients permission, most of those same data using a Payer-to-Payer FHIR API when a patient moves between payers or has multiple concurrent payers.

Finally, the rule also adds a new Electronic Prior Authorization measure for eligible clinicians under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability performance category and eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program to report their use of payers Prior Authorization APIs to submit an electronic prior authorization request. Together, these policies will help to create a more efficient prior authorization process and support better access to health information and timely, high-quality care.

The final rule is available to review here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/cms-0057-f.pdf.

The fact sheet for this final rule is available here: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cms-interoperability-and-prior-authorization-final-rule-cms-0057-f.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On January 16, ZO Motors Holdings Limited ("ZO Motors"), an innovative new energy commercial vehicle maker, announced a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement with Weichai New Energy Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd. ("Weichai New Energy"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Weichai Holding Group Co., Ltd., encompassing areas such as the production and manufacturing of new energy vehicles, joint product development, and global sales.

Photo credit: ZO Motors

The collaboration focuses on new energy products, utilizing Weichai New Energy's third-generation pure electric platform. This forms the basis for jointly developing left-hand and right-hand drive products tailored to meet regional market demands, with the intention of marketing them globally outside of China.

ZO Motors, originating from Japan, is an intelligent new energy commercial vehicle brand and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hong Kong-listed company, ZO Future Group. The company is primarily engaged in the R&D, manufacturing, and sales of intelligent new energy commercial vehicles.

According to available information, ZO Motors' focus in the commercial vehicle sector is primarily directed towards international markets. The company anticipates the gradual entry of its commercial vehicles into various markets, including Japan, the USA, South America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East in the near future.

"ZO Motors has initiated a global presence, strategically positioning itself in markets such as the United States, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, and has established corresponding regional headquarters," stated Joost de Vries, Global CEO of ZO Motors.

Regarding the collaboration with Weichai New Energy, Joost de Vries expressed, "We hope that through deep strategic cooperation with Weichai New Energy, we can make a greater contribution to zero-emission and profitability enhancement in the global commercial vehicle sector, continuously creating value for commercial vehicle owners and users."
Dhamrai Ratha Yatra held at Dhamrai is a popular Jagannath Rath Yatra festival in Bangladesh and is slightly different from the world famous Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra festival held in India. Dhamrai Ratha Yatra 2024 date is July 7. The Rath Yatra at Dhamrai began before 1670s. A single chariot is pulled during the annual Dhamrai Rath Yatra not three as in Puri.

As per historical records, the first recorded Rath was constructed using bamboo in the 1670s. This Ratha was replaced with one made of wood. In the subsequent centuries, four different chariots were made. In 1933 CE, a three-storied chariot was made. It was 60 feet in height and 45 feet in width and represented a Nabaratna temple. But this magnificent chariot was burned down in 1971 by the Pakistani Army as part of the ethnic cleansing which the Pakistan Army unleashed on Bangladesh Hindus. Bamboo chariots were used after this brutal incident for the next several decades.

The present 3-storied Rath was built in 2010 with the help of Indian High Commission. The present ratha or the chariot is a wooden Nabaratna temple having nine shikharas.

It has a height of 27 feet and width of 27 feet. It has 15 wheels and is adorned with murtis of different Hindu gods and goddesses.

The chariot is pulled from the Madhabbari Temple to the Gope Nagar Temple, regarded to be the aunts house, a distance of about half a kilometer away. After eight days the chariot is pulled back as part of the Ulto Rath ritual.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the interim budget for 2024-25 on February 1. The full Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 will be introduced after the formation of the new government following the general elections. In December of last year, Sitharaman ruled out any "spectacular announcement" for her sixth budget on February 1 this year. (File)(HT Photo)

Last December, Sitharaman ruled out any spectacular announcement for her sixth budget on February 1 this year, saying it would simply be a vote on account before the general elections.

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No spectacular announcements come in that time (in a vote on account). So you will have to wait till after the new government comes in and presents the next full Budget in July 2024, the minister said in response to a question about a supercharged budget during her address at the CII Global Economic Policy Forum.

In 2019, Piyush Goyal, holding additional charge of the ministry of finance after Arun Jaitley fell ill, had presented the last interim budget. After the Narendra Modi-led government secured a second consecutive term, Sitharaman was appointed as the finance minister, and she presented the full budget on July 5, 2019.

How is an Interim budget different from a full-fledged Budget?

The Interim Budget will outline the government's anticipated receipts and expenditures until the new government is formed. In contrast, a comprehensive Budget encompasses all facets of government finances, including earnings, spending, allocations, and policy declarations.

A full-year Budget is a strategic guide, charting the nation's economic trajectory for an entire fiscal year. The interim budget provides financial details for the transitional period.

With the Lok Sabha elections expected around April-May 2024, the new government will present a complete Budget in July 2024. On February 1, Sitharaman will present an interim budget for 2024-25 in Parliament, effective from April 1, 2024.

Traditionally, major policy announcements have been avoided during a vote on account, although there is no constitutional prohibition against making substantial announcements.

Also called a vote on account

Conventionally, an Interim Budget also known as vote-on-account serves as an authorisation for incurring specific expenditures necessary until a new government assumes office.

Interim budgets have certain limitations imposed by the Election Commission of India to ensure no undue influence on the voters. The government cannot propose major taxes or policy reforms in the budget as it can influence voters in favour of the ruling dispensation.

"I am not going to play a spoilsport, but it is a matter of truth that the February 1, 2024, budget that will be announced will just be a vote on account because we will be in an election mode. So the budget that the government presents will just be to meet the government's expenditure till a new government comes to play," Sitharaman said in December.

Preceding the vote-on-account, governments also abstain from presenting the customary pre-budget Economic Survey, a tradition usually observed a day before the full budget presentation. This survey, which outlines the economic state and key events, is typically presented alongside the full budget in Parliament in July.

Typically, a vote-on-account remains effective for a duration of two months, with the possibility of extension if necessary.

According to Article 116 of the Constitution, a vote-on-account signifies an upfront allocation to the government from the Consolidated Fund of India, specifically designated for addressing immediate expenditure needs. The Consolidated Fund of India contains all revenue generated by the central government, including taxes, interest on loans, and other such collections.

(With PTI inputs)
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) benchmark Sensex's 1,628 point crash on Wednesday wiped out 4.59 lakh crore from investors' wealth, PTI reported.



It was the biggest single-day plunge for both the Sensex and NSE index Nifty in 19 months. While the Sensex tanked by 1,628 points to end the day at 71,500.76, Nifty nosedived 460.35 points or 2.09 per cent to settle at 21,571.95.

The shares at NSE witnessed the biggest single-day loss since June 13, 2022.



ALSO READ: After 1,628 point plunge at Dalal Street, what next for stock markets? People look at a screen displaying the Sensex results on the facade of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building in Mumbai.(REUTERS)

The market caps of BSE-listed firms eroded by 4,59,327.64 crore to

3,70,35,933.18 crore. In two days of market fall, investors' wealth fell by 5,73,576.83 crore.

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Hawkish comments by the US Fed triggered a spike in yields on the US 10-year bonds and the US dollar index, which spooked European and Asian markets, including India. India's stock market valuations are also expensively valued compared to other global stock indices and investors would wait for more positive cues now to extend their equity exposure, Prashanth Tapse, senior vice-president (research), Mehta Equities Ltd., told PTI.

"There are challenges in the near-term such as persisting conflict in the Middle East and worries over delay in the US Fed rate cut, which could dampen investors' sentiment going ahead," Tapse added.

Sensex-listed HDFC Bank saw its shares tank by over eight per cent, day after the company reported a net profit of 16,372 crore in its Q3 results.



"Domestic equities plunged amid a weak environment globally and a selloff in HDFC Bank. Banking sector took the biggest hit as Q3 results of HDFC Bank showed stagnant growth for the company. Hawkish Fed commentary, escalating tension in the Middle East, and a spike in bond yield dented investor sentiment," Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Retail Research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd told PTI.
After a five day rally and a marginal decline, the Indian stock market saw a steep fall on Wednesday after the benchmark Sensex tanked by over 1300 points, while Nifty 50 fell below the 22,000 points mark. This comes just days after the stock market hit its all-time high this week. Sensex and Nifty saw a steep decline on Wednesday (ANI Photo)

Stock market saw a major dip when the 30-share BSE Sensex fell 1,371.23 points to 71,757.54 during the early trade hours on January 17, while Nifty fell below its record-shattering 22,000 mark, declining by 395.35 points to 21,636.95.

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With stock market declining steeply on Wednesday, the top gainers on NSE Nifty were SBI Life Insurance and HCL Technologies. However, HDFC Bank was the top laggard of today, as its shares fell by over 7 per cent.

This comes just a day after the HDFC Bank quarterly results for December 2023 were released, showing stagnant margins for the company. Axis Bank, Tata Steel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank, Tata Motors, and Bajaj Finance were among the other laggards on the stock market.

Here are some reasons as the why the stock market witnessed a steep decline today.

HDFC Bank Q3 results

The biggest culprit of the market fall on Wednesday is the December quarter result for HDFC Bank, contributing to a decline of 700 points on Sensex. The HDFC Bank results were disappointing for shareholders, with a rising concern regarding valuation multiples in the future. Other banks like SBI, ICICI, Kotak Mahindra and Axis Bank also contributed to the Sensex fall.

Rupee falls against US dollar

The Indian rupee witnessed a 3 paise fall against the US dollar on Wednesday, recorded at 83.15, causing little impact on the stock market of India. This is due to the strength of the US dollar in the current market scenario, and the volatility of the domestic equity markets.

China GDP impact

China saw a stunted GDP growth for the December quarter when compared with the predictions made by Reuters. Further, the recent unemployment data released by the Chinese government made a deep impact on markets across Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan, all seeing a major drop. This also had an impact on the Indian markets.

"Market is likely to turn slightly weak in the near-term, getting impacted by some negative global and domestic cues. The global negativity will come from the rising bond yields in the US (the 10-year yield is at 4.04 per cent) responding to concerns that the sharp rate cuts expected from the Fed this year may not materialise," V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Financial Services, told PTI.
Sunday's fiasco at the Delhi airport, and its cascading effects across the country, reminded me of a similar event nearly two decades ago. On February 14, 2007, the American JetBlue airline suffered a similar meltdown at its JFK New York hub due to an ice-storm. Passengers await at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on a cold winter morning, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI)

Just like Delhi, scores of passengers were left stranded onboard aircraft, on the tarmac and at airports across the country, and the airline managed to depart a little over 10% of its flights scheduled that day.

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Rightfully so, passengers are asking "Who is to blame?" Simply put, it's the entire system. However, this whole mess rests on a few root causes.

First is the lack of transparency. Everyone in the aviation ecosystemfrom the travel agent to the airline to the airport to Digiyatrawants to "own" passenger data. This silo approach ensures that the system does not work in the cohesive manner an aviation ecosystem must.

This lack of transparent data sharing aggravates the next root causeinane procedures, rules, and regulations that belong in the last century.

Capping this off, is the absence of a clear and cohesive policy formulation and execution by aviation authorities who should oversee that ground and air infrastructure is shipshape. Also sorely lacking are effective passenger protection laws along the lines of EU261 of the European Union.

Let me explain.

Passenger data

Less than 10% of passengers book their tickets directly with the airline. The rest use travel sites and agents. By an overwhelming majority the site or agent will not share the passenger contact data with the airline. Delay information is communicated via SMS on the number in the reservation. I urge the affected flyers to check their contact information as printed on their tickets.

Similarly, airlines don't want to share passenger information with the airport. A senior airline official shocked me when he told me that there is no one responsible or liable for our data protection at the DigiYatra foundation. This, at an organisation promoted by the government.

Also read: 300 cancelled flights, 40,000 fewer passengers: The true extent of the airport havoc in numbers

The government should mandate that all bookings must provide the passenger's Aadhaar number. Automatically, all the information will flow through the channels in a transparent and secure manner.

Infrastructure woes

Delhi is one of the largest airports in the world, and hub to almost all Indian carriers. Any disruption at this mega-hub, results in nation-wide disruptions. Despite years of experience with fog the airport had only one runway operational. Knowing the perils of winter fog, why have the regulatory and airport authorities not acted in advance, to ensure that the airport is prepared? After all, we passengers are being billed in the form of UDF for all that infrastructure.

Strange airport procedures

Many of our security and other procedures simply defy logic. A few examples.

Reverse boarding

Just as a passenger is not permitted to leave the airport terminal once they enter, if airlines deboard passengers from the plane, they cannot be just taken back to the departure lounge and re-boarded. New boarding passes must be printed, and passengers must go through security checks all over again.

Transit security

Any passenger who transits through a hub must undergo security checks all over again. For example, Amritsar to Bangalore, connecting via Delhi.

These outdated procedures must go.

Indiscipline

All these outdated procedures force the airlines and airports to resort to bypass tactics just to keep the wheels rolling.

On virtually every ticket, we see a CUTE charge on our tickets. A charge levied by airports to provide airlines Common User Terminals (shared terminals) instead of the old dedicated system. Unfortunately, at most Indian airports, the common terminal is limited to the check-in area.

Global security procedures call for baggage reconciliation so that no baggage will fly without its passenger on board. This is to prevent another Kanishka or Pan Am type bombing. Unlike foreign airports, most Indian airports don't have gate-side printers which makes airlines resort to manual check-in of oversized or excess carry-on bags, many of our entitled fellow passengers like to carry. This just collapses the computerised baggage reconciliation systems airlines and airports use, necessitating the illogical security rules in place.

Similarly, ATC, requires an aircraft to be fully ready before asking for departure clearance. So, airlines board passengers and coop them up, so that they are ready as soon as there is a break in the weather.

On Sunday, where the runway capacity is about 70 arrivals AND departures, over 150 pilots requested for departure clearance all at the same time when they were allowed. Should they not practice the same patience they advocate to us?

Naturally, the system got overwhelmed. Can the ATC not follow a system of allotting a time slot to each flight with a specific time which will allow airlines to plan the boarding and preparation smoothly? If a particular flight misses their slot, they go right back to the end of the queue.

Also read: What led to assault on IndiGo pilot in Delhi-Goa flight? Co-passenger shares first-hand account

Passenger (lack of) rights

Lest you think I am letting the airlines off easy; I am not. The reason they act the way they do, is because they are allowed to. On the website of the Ministry of Civil Aviation you will find a document titled "Passenger Charter of Rights".

Unfortunately, this Charter is a facade even worse than the famed "Hawa Mahal". A cursory reading of this document reveals that airlines are granted every possible exemption, including delays due to ATC "congestion" i.e. a traffic jam. Try telling an airline you reached the airport late due to a traffic jam.

This flimsy Charter gets even worse. In the few cases where there are requirements of airlines like timely intimation, or payment of compensation, there is no specified method of action, or time frame within which it must be done, nor is there any penalty if the required action isn't taken.

Is it little wonder the airlines behave the way they do. They know the government is not with the passenger, whose memory, in any case, is too short. Who remembers the major fog we had just about two weeks ago? What promises were made at the time? Both to us, and by us.

Passengers too to blame

Lastly, we must get off our entitled high horse, and display both understanding and patience. Unlike a storm which is quite predictable, fog cannot be accurately forecasted both in commencement and duration. A Bollywood celebrity asked on TV Why are" Bangalore to Mumbai flights delayed if the weather here is clear?

Great observation sir: but the aircraft has to come from Delhi which is fogged in, and needs to be flown by alert pilots who are not tired by being on duty beyond their flight duty time limit.

A few days after their 2007 meltdown, the then-CEO of JetBlue, David Neeleman announced a "Customer Bill of Rights" which including specific metrics in terms of delays, time a passenger is kept on board an aircraft, on the ground, amounts of compensation etc.

Can we expect a similar response from the airlines in India? While you finish laughing, I put to you, the voice of the people is the media.

I desperately urge them to use this incident and lead a rally for change. Keep questioning the powers that are, remind them of their duty to the passengers, the economy, and to the citizenry.

The government must lead a determined focus to correct the entire system. No more half-hearted measures, no more knee-jerk weak statements. Create a fool proof, exemption-proof passenger charter along the lines of EU261, the European Union passenger rights regulation, which truly protects the rights of passengers.

Draw a "Lakshman Dhara" in the sand, and require, by law, airlines, airports, and all other stakeholders to be responsible. Any stakeholder who violates it, gets hit by such high levels of financial penalties, that they will dare not cross it.

And please remember to book directly with airlines and share your correct contact information. Vote with your wallet. Show non-caring airlines, you too don't care for them. Take your business elsewhere. You might spend a few rupees more, but surely your self-respect is worth it.

Devesh Agarwal, a Lockheed Martin Innovation Medal winner, is Chief Analyst at BangaloreAviation.com and is a Past President of The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce. He is a frequent flier having clocked over 4 million miles. He can be reached on X @BLRAviation.
The state-owned National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on Monday announced that it will deactivate or blacklist FASTags with incomplete Know Your Customer (KYC) after January 31, even if they have a valid balance. According to the NHAI, the step is being taken to further streamline and authenticate the new and improved toll collection system across India. The prepaid recharge card scans the FASTag and deducts the toll fee from the car owner's account linked to the sticker (File)

To enhance the efficiency of the electronic toll collection system and provide seamless movement at toll plazas, NHAI has taken the 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' initiative that aims to discourage the use of single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to a particular vehicle, an official statement said.

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How can you check your FASTag status online?

Visit the website - fastag.ihmcl.com

Click on Login and provide mobile number and password details

An OTP will be generated and sent as a text message. Add the OTP and login

Click on the My Profile tab and select the KYC status option

How to update your FASTag KYC online?

Visit the website - fastag.ihmcl.com

Click on the My Profile section and open the KYC tab

Add in the required details, including your identity and address proof documents

Upload a passport-size photo

Click on confirm the declaration then click submit

The KYC process will take a maximum of seven working days to be updated

Apart from this, FASTag users have the provision of reaching out to the nearest toll plazas or toll-free customer care numbers of their respective issuer banks in case they have any confusion regarding the KYC updates.

Which documents are needed for the FASTag KYC update?

According to the RBI guidelines, the FASTag KYC update requires - Registration certificate of the vehicle, Identity proof and address proof (Passport/Voter's ID/Aadhar Card/Driving license/PAN card/NREGA Job card), and a passport-size.
Chandigarh Congress president Harmohinder Singh Lucky on Wednesday dismissed the allegations against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of abducting its mayoral candidate, saying the BJP is making such claims because of its impending defeat in the upcoming elections. BJP, Congress and AAP workers clashing at the MC office in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. (Keshav Singh/HT)(HT_PRINT)

Tensions reached a boiling point on Tuesday at the municipal corporation office in Chandigarh as scuffles broke out between workers of the BJP and the Congress-AAP alliance.

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The commotion erupted when Congress municipal councillor Jasbir Singh Bunty arrived to withdraw his nomination papers for the mayoral post. Bunty's father, who was present at the Municipal Corporation (MC) office, claimed that his son had been kidnapped and demanded his immediate release.

A clash ensued between workers of the Congress-AAP alliance and the BJP, with both sides trading accusations.

Chandigarh police intervened and escorted Bunty to his residence, dispelling the allegations of kidnapping. In a subsequent video message, Bunty affirmed his allegiance to the Congress.

When asked about the kidnapping allegations, HS Lucky said, "BJP is killing democracy. They think they will lose because they have 15 votes and we, the APP-Congress alliance, have 20 votes. They know the alliance will win all three posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor, and Deputy Mayor."

The current composition of the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation sees the BJP holding 14 councillors, along with an ex-officio member MP with voting rights. The AAP has 13 councillors, while the Congress holds seven. The Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor in the House.

Bunty was initially the Congress candidate for the post of mayor.

But after the Congress and the AAP sealed an alliance for the mayoral posts, a decision was taken that the AAP would fight for the post of mayor and the Congress nominees would fight for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.

The polls for the posts of mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor will be held on Thursday.
In a midnight hearing, the Punjab and Haryana high court sought a report from Chandigarh Police on allegations of the Congress of the illegal detention of its councillor, Jasbir Singh Bunty, in the run-up to the high-stakes mayoral elections to be held on Thursday. Police taking Congress councillor Jasbir Singh Bunty (centre) from the Chandigarh municipal corporation office in Sector 17 to his house after the scuffle with BJP workers on Tuesday night. (Keshav Singh/HT)

The order was passed by the high court bench of justice Alok Jain at a special hearing at his residence in Sector 8, Chandigarh, at 12.15am on Wednesday.

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Also read: Chandigarh mayoral poll drama: Congress-AAP, BJP workers scuffle amid abduction claims

In the petition, Harmohinder Singh Lucky, the Chandigarh Congress president, cited the scuffle outside the municipal corporation office on Tuesday between BJP workers and activists of his party and the Aam Aadmi Party. Lucky claimed the BJP workers tried to take away Bunty and he was not being allowed to move freely thereafter.

The incident occurred when Bunty, who with other councillors is putting up at a resort in Punjab, had come to withdraw his nomination as the mayoral candidate of the Congress on Tuesday afternoon after an alliance with the AAP.

At 10.15pm, legal teams of the Congress and the AAP started working on the issue and a mentioning was made before the registrar general of Punjab and Haryana high court, seeking a special hearing. The petition was filed around 11pm and taken up at the house of Justice Alok Jain at 11.30pm with lawyers Ferry Sofat, Kartik Sharma and Karambir Singh appearing with Chandigarh Congress chief.

The plea sought the release of Bunty. The police authorities are not letting the detenue move freely, which is violation of his fundamental rights, it was stated also showing a video clip from Bunty in which he claimed that he wanted to go out of his hotel but was not being allowed by the police.

Fixing the hearing for 5pm on Wednesday, the court ordered that the UTs additional public prosecutor would look into it and file a report.

Earlier, Manish Bansal, the public prosecutor and Deepinder Brar, the additional public prosecutor, had claimed before the judge that there is no illegal detention of Bunty. However, he sought time for complete instructions so that facts could be verified.

The BJP has been winning the mayoral election for the past two years. This time, following the INDIA tie-up between the AAP and the Congress at the national level, the two parties have 20 votes against 15 of the BJP in the 35-member House. All eyes are on the mayoral contest as it takes place months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
A day after two FIRs were lodged against an Amritsar-based travel agent in the Nicaragua human trafficking case, police launched raids for his arrest. Amritsar (rural) senior superintendent of police Satinder Singh said the accused, Tarsem Singh who is a resident of Chowk Mehta area, is on the run. (AP)

Amritsar (rural) senior superintendent of police Satinder Singh said the accused, Tarsem Singh who is a resident of Chowk Mehta area, is on the run.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The FIRs had been lodged on Monday on the complaint of Kanwarman Singh of Talwandi Nahar village and Damanpreet Singh of Butter Siwian village, who were allegedly duped on the pretext of securing visas of United States and Australia respectively. Both said that they were stopped at the France airport and later deported after their visas were found to be fake.

Cops said they are trying to persuade other victims to get their statements recorded with the police so that more FIRs are registered in this case. So far, no one else has come forward.
Greg Pajo

Over Road & Tracks 76-year history, the one constant has been change. The latest being the elevation of Daniel Pund to the position of editor in chief effective immediately.

Pund, cleverly nicknamed Dan by his friends, has been serving as R&Ts executive editor since 2020 with responsibility for the day-to-day running of the editorial operations. He has collaborated on setting the direction and tone of both the magazine and website as it has evolved as a premium product for the 21st century.

Hearst Owned

A veteran of automotive publishing, Pund comes to his new position with experience that includes a decade as deputy editor of Car and Driver and stints at Edmunds.com and Autoweek. While he has big plans for R&T, what wont change is its commitment to authoritative information, genuine passion for the world of cars and motorsport, and dedication to editorial and photographic excellence.

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Im honored to take the wheel of this beloved brand, Pund enthused. This is a pivotal and exciting moment in the automotive industry, and Im looking forward to building on the strong foundation of Road & Track and working with the talented team to usher it into its next phase.

Road & Track continues to be an incredibly influential and multi-generational brand for auto enthusiasts, asserts Nick Matarazzo, Hearst Autos president and chief revenue officer. With Dan at the helm, well continue to build on more than 75 years of success with best-in-class automotive lifestyle and motorsports coverage that expands and deepens our connection with our audience.

Amid all the changes in the automotive and racing worlds, R&T will continue to bring the perspective of experience, a deep understanding of history, and the excitement of adventure. We will neither shy away from innovation nor betray our high, long-established standards. Also, its going to be a lot of fun.

Pund, based in Michigan, leads an editorial team spread out all over the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia. And when something happens on those other two continents well be headed there too.

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In a shocking incident, a seven-year-old girl was critically injured after being attacked by an American Bulldog in Delhi's Rohini's Sector-25 area on Tuesday, the police said. The victim's father said that the girl received as many as 15 injuries on her hand, back, behind her ear, leg, and under her eyes.(Rep image)

The incident took place on January 9 when the girl was playing with her friends outside her house in the evening when the neighbour's pitbull dog attacked the child, news agency PTI reported quoting the girl's father.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The victim's father said that she received as many as 15 injuries on her hand, back, behind her ear, leg, and under her eyes.

"On January 9, my seven-year-old daughter was playing with her friends around 5 pm. An American Bully pet dog of my neighbour suddenly attacked her," Shrikant Bhagat told PTI.

"I thank god that she fought back and started screaming, due to which we reached the spot on time and were able to save her life," he added.

He further said that his daughter is in trauma and has not been able to sleep for over three days.

Several members of the society held a protest and a torch march against dog menace in their area. They raised slogans like "dog feeding band karo" (stop feeding stray dogs), "dog lovers saavdhaan, khatron me hai bachchon ki jaan" (dog lovers be aware, the lives of children are in danger).

"We are not against dog feeding, or having pets. Pet lovers must understand that such pets can be dangerous for kids," a protester said to PTI.

Based on the victim's father's complaint, a case was registered under sections 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animal), and 337 (whoever causes hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life or the personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the neighbour.

The incident has again highlighted the dog menace in the national capital and its adjoining areas. In another incident, a domestic help working in a group housing society near Noida was bitten by a dog, prompting a police case against the pet-owner earlier this month.

In December 2023, the Delhi high court asked the Centre to decide on whether licences should be provided to keep dangerous dog breeds. MCD officials said that in absence of a dog licence, a fine of 500 is imposed on the dog owner along with a fine of 1,000.

(With inputs from agencies)
Road crash deaths on state and national highways across Maharashtra decreased last year compared to the previous year, although the number of accidents went up during the year. In 2023, 15,009 people lost their lives in 34,114 road crashes on state and national highways across the state  15,224 people died in 33,383 accidents in 2022. What accounts for this dip in fatalities?

Dr Ravinder Singal, additional Director General of Police (Highway Traffic) said that the behaviour of drivers that led to crashes  speeding, drunk driving, incorrect or no helmet use, no seatbelt use and child restraint  remained the primary cause of accidents on state and national highways. However, efforts taken by the Maharashtra traffic police to enforce traffic rules have helped in bringing down the fatalities, he said.

A considerable addition of infrastructure projects on the existing road network of 342,202 kilometres in the state should be accounted for while analysing accidents, Singhal said. In this backdrop, we need to analyse the accident patterns and come up with solutions to minimise the loss of lives.

Coordination with other agencies

After studying crash patterns over the years, the traffic police realised that a joint effort by agencies was key to curbing accidents and fatalities. After every accident, the highway traffic police prepares a report detailing the main cause of the accident, the health of the vehicles involved and engineering or design problems in the infrastructure, if any. Wherever necessary, the police also suggest rectifications required. Singhal said that the traffic police would keep pursuing the matter with various authorities till a solution is worked out.

In 2023, 141 deaths were recorded in 1,239 accidents on the newly inaugurated stretch of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg. After a brain-storming session, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) installed colour flags on the median to prevent road hypnosis, rumblers were placed every 25 kilometres, and median crash barriers were put up. The MSRDC also incorporated precautionary signages, reflective tapes, solar blinkers, and public announcement systems at toll plazas to enhance safety awareness. Nets were put up at places from where wild animals ventured onto the highway.

Enforcement and awareness

The Maharashtra state highway police has 3,129 personnel who patrol the state and national highways and impose nakabandis (roadblocks). In 2023, the highway police issued over 240,000 challans to motorists violating traffic rules.

Singal said that at checkpoints, especially entry, exit and interchange points on highways, all heavy vehicles were checked for permits and tyre pressure to ensure that the vehicles were fit to ply on the highway. We conduct regular nakabandis to catch traffic violators and issue challans to them, he said.

Apart from enforcing the law, the traffic police also conduct regular awareness programmes for heavy vehicle drivers through seminars and visual presentations.

With the help of NGOs like SaveLIFE Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropy, and Western India Automobile Foundation, the police take necessary help to improve roads, create awareness and even provide helmets to riders.

Mrityunjay doots

The Mrityunjay doots  volunteers associated with the highway police  have so far saved the lives of 1,926 people injured in 3,597 road accidents across the state ever since the volunteers were engaged by the highway police in March 2021. The highway police started the programme in which local villagers, employees of dhabas and petrol pumps, doctors and hospital staff around state and national highways were trained in handling injured persons to provide primary medical care and give CPR. The doots are expected to arrange ambulances and transfer the injured to nearby hospitals at the earliest. In 2023, the doots helped rush 2,202 people injured in 1,003 accidents to nearby hospitals in golden hour and save their lives.

Black spots

After analysing accidents for five years, if the traffic police find that a particular stretch of 500 metres has seen 10 fatalities or five accidents in three consecutive years, they mark the area as blackspot. In 2022, the police earmarked 742 black spots; in 2021, the number was 1,004. The police and road transport department claimed that 262 black spots were removed from the list in 2023 by providing permanent or temporary solutions to rectify the engineering or infrastructural issues causing the accidents.
Guwahati: The Manipur government has written to the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) seeking helicopters to airlift security personnel after fresh violence erupted on Wednesday morning in the border town of Moreh in which one police commando was killed, officials aware of the matter said. Fresh violence erupted in Moreh on Wednesday morning (Representative Photo)

In the Tengnoupal districts Moreh town morning around 3:30am, a police commando was killed and two others were injured after a security forces camp was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack followed by a gunfight, said officials.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The law-and-order situation at the border town of Moreh has become a matter of serious concern as there has been continuous exchange of fire taking place and this has resulted in the death of one IRB personnel this morning, the letter written on Wednesday by Manipur government to the MHA read.

Also Read: Police commando killed in gunfight in ethnic violence-hit Manipur

The Manipur government has requested helicopters for at least seven days to meet emergency requirements.

According to officials, the deceased soldier, W Somorjit, and the two injured personnel have been airlifted to Imphal.

The situation may deteriorate further in Moreh (and) medical emergency may arise anytime. The police department has informed that there is a need for airlifting of security personnel, ammunition etc to Moreh, T Ranjit Singh, commissioner (home) to the additional secretary, police-II division of MHA, wrote.

Meanwhile, the Kuki groups active in Moreh claimed that a woman was killed, and two others sustained injuries when they were hit by an Assam Rifles vehicle on Wednesday. Police officials are yet to confirm the incident.

The fresh spate of violence follows the arrest of two persons from the Kuki community on Monday for their alleged involvement in the killing of a Manipur Police officer in October last year. This led the district administration to impose a total curfew from Tuesday.

Two prominent Kuki groups, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) and Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), condemned the arrests and stated that attempts to link them to the death of a police officer were a blatant lie.

Manipur has been roiled by ethnic clashes between the Meitei and the tribal Kuki-Zo communities since May last year. The violence has claimed at least 200 lives and displaced around 50,000 people.
Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday dedicated the Srimandir Parikrama Project to the public under which a 75-metre heritage corridor has been built around the perimeter of the 12th century Jagannath temple with facilities like circumamblulation by the devotees, smoother pedestrian flow, building of cloak rooms, toilets and 1.5-km-long bridge that would bring people close to the temple, bypassing the crowd in the holy town. Naveen Patnaik said Lord Jagannath is the nerve centre of Odia identity and deeply associated with the states history, tradition and culture.

Soon after the inauguration, Puri king Dibyasingha Deb offered the Purna Ahuti to the three-day Maha Yajna, which began on Monday as a precursor to the grand event. After concluding the yagna, Patnaik accompanied by his trusted aide VK Pandian, Puri king, dignitaries, and members of different cultural troupes walked around the heritage corridor for almost 1 km. The chief minister is scheduled to release a few documentary videos on the project and felicitate everyone involved in the execution of the Parikrama Project before leaving for Bhubaneswar.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Ahead of the inauguration, Patnaik in an open letter and video message on Tuesday described Lord Jagannath as the supreme identity of every Odia. Lord Jagannath is the nerve centre of Odia identity and deeply associated with our history, tradition and culture. The deity is the symbol of religious harmony. This is a glorious moment in the history of Odisha that we have been blessed to witness the divine transformation, Patnaik said.

It is a day of celebration and devotion for the entire Odia community. So, I request, let us all celebrate this day, this festival, by surrendering to the Lord for his blessings. Lets express our devotion by lighting a lamp, blowing conches, beating gongs, worshipping, singing sacred hymns and chanting Jai Jagannath. Lets celebrate this day with devotion, joy and enthusiasm in every house of Odisha. I request all Jagannath devotees in the country and abroad to celebrate the opening of the heritage corridor project with devotion, Patnaik said.

Adhiraj Panigrahi, Congress MLA from Nuapara district, who attended the ceremony, said he was feeling blessed.

The event was attended by hundreds of dignitaries including judges of the Supreme Court, ministers of the Odisha government as well as those from neighbouring states such as Andhra Pradesh. After the inauguration, devotees were allowed to enter the corridor and temple. Tight security arrangements were in place with deployment of 80 platoons of the police force to provide security to the VIPs and devotees, maintain law and order, and manage traffic during the event.

Launched in the year 2021, the 300-crore Shreemandir Parikrama project is a confluence of 22 concurrently run development projects. Chief among these is a 7-metre-long buffer zone adjacent to the Meghnad Pacheri (the 24-ft-high wall forming the boundary wall of the shrine), a 10-metre-long antar parikrama(circumambulation) that will allow for the ceremonial procession of deities, an 8-metre-long parikrama path for devotees, and a 10-metre public convenience zone that has modern restrooms, a drinking water fountain, cloakrooms for 4,000 families at a time, and shelter pavilions. There is also a 5-metre service lane for the maintenance of the corridor, a 4.5-metre dedicated shuttle-cum-emergency lane, a 7.5-metre mixed traffic lane to aid the movement of vehicles around the corridor and a 7-metre-wide shaded footpath with trees.

A 1.5-km-long and 60-metre-wide trumpet bridge that will allow vehicles arriving from Odishas capital Bhubaneswar, 60 kilometres away, leading straight into a multi level parking area 600 metres from the temple, bypassing the bustling towns traffic has also been created.

In the next phase of development, scheduled to begin a few months after the inauguration, a reception centre with a capacity of 6,000 devotees, and the rebuild of the Raghunandan library that houses rare books on scriptures of Jagannath temple, has also been planned.

Odisha chief secretary Pradeep Jena said people can see the temple in its full glory. The development of the perimetre around the temple was a long overdue step as it had become difficult for pilgrims to see the temple properly due to the massive encroachments all around. Now, people will have two accesses to come to Jagannath Temple. The way the project has maintained the rich culture and heritage of the state is quite evident from the architecture. It has come out very beautifully, he said.

Thousands of devotees today thronged Puri to witness the event. As many as 80 platoons of police force have been deployed here to provide security to the VIPs and devotees, maintain law and order, and manage traffic during the mega event. The administration installed around 500 CCTV cameras across the town as part of foolproof security arrangements for the inaugural ceremony.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Wednesday hinted that the seat sharing exercise within the ruling Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar for the upcoming parliamentary polls would take some time. RJD chief Lalu Prasad (HT file)

Do these things take place so quickly? Progress is underway, was the curt reply of Prasad, when asked by reporters about the delay in seat sharing.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The RJD chief, when asked if he would attend the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya on January 22, replied in the negative. No, I will not go, he said.

Prasad evaded a reply on a question about the rift between him and chief minister and JD-U chief Nitish Kumar.

On January 15, his son and deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav had said that the seat-sharing talks had gained momentum and things would take a final shape soon.

Nitish Kumar too had stressed the need to speed up the process to arrive at a seat sharing deal among allies in the INDIA bloc, especially in Bihar, at the virtual meeting of the bloc held on January 13, which was attended by Congress and 13 other parties.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had skipped the event.

On January 15, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, CM Kumar had visited Lalu Prasads residence to attend a feast of customary dahi chura(beaten rice and curd) but did not speak to the waiting reporters.

Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha seats. The Mahagatbandhan comprises six parties  RJD, JD-U, Congress, CPI, CPM and CPI-ML (Liberation).

The JD-U is firm on 17 seats, citing the same number of seats it had fought in the 2019 LS polls, a claim dismissed by the CPI-ML (Liberation), which is eying five seats.

The formula of 2019 parliamentary polls cannot be applied for the upcoming polls with regard to JD-U) as the party was then in alliance with the BJP. There are issues, but these would be sorted out, said a senior CPI-ML (Liberation) leader, wishing not to be named.

State spokesperson of JD-U, Abhishek Jha, said reports of a rift between RJD and JD-U were baseless.

RJD, with 79 MLAs, is the biggest constituent of the Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar, though the party had drawn a blank in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

JD-U, which fought 17 seats in the 2019 LS polls in alliance with BJP, had won 16 of them.

The BJP-led NDA had swept the polls, winning 39 seats. BJP won on all 17 seats it had contested.
A week after additional chief secretary (ACS) of the education department in Bihar, KK Pathak, proceeded on earned leave, relinquishing his charge, uncertainty prevails in the department as the officer has now extended his leave till January 31. K K Pathak. (HT file)

Chief secretary Amir Subhani confirmed extension of leave by Pathak, but feigned ignorance about any move to find his replacement in the biggest department with the highest budgetary provision.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

A few days before the distribution of provisional appointment letters to an estimated one lakh teachers appointed by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), Pathak had voluntarily relinquished charge after proceeding on earned leave.

His letter, dated January 9, had been sent by director, administration (education department) to the chief secretary and others, including general administration department (GAD) and others.

Pathak had taken over as ACS of the education department in June 2023, but his style of functioning ruffled many, including the Governor, education minister and legislators his own party.

In Pathaks absence, posting of teachers in schools through randomisation process may get delayed. It was to begin from April 15, but the newly appointed teachers may have to wait a bit longer. Pathak used to oversee the process, said a senior official.

Though the GAD had issued notification handing over charge of the department to special secretary (education) Baidyanath Yadav on January 9 itself, the government is said to be on the lookout for his replacement. It is apparent that Pathak is in no mood to return and that means the government will have to think beyond him sooner or later, said a senior official.

This is not the first time that Pathak, a 1990 batch IAS officer, has left the department like this. He had done so in April 2016 also as the principal secretary of the department of prohibition, excise and registration and eventually he was replaced.

In education department, Pathak has had two stints and on both occasions things ended abruptly. He tried to usher in reforms by getting tough on regular attendance of teachers and students, but during his second stint, he was constantly at loggerheads with governor office, his own department minister, BPSC, legislators and teachers bodies.
The three-week Queen's University 2024 Summer School is now open for those who are interested in exploring the historical, cultural, political, environmental, and socio-economic aspects of Northern Ireland. Participants can choose from a range of programs like storytelling, Irish studies, identity & intergroup relations in divided societies and leadership programs during the second and third week of Summer school (HT PHOTO)

According to a press release by Queens University Belfast, the three-week program is now open for registrations for international students who wish to explore more of the region.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

During the first week of Summer school, all the participants will explore the socio-political and historical aspects of the region and will also have the opportunity to visit sites of importance. Participants can choose from a range of programs like storytelling, Irish studies, identity & intergroup relations in divided societies and leadership programs during the second and third week of Summer school, informed the press release.

Also Read: 10 international summer programs that every Indian student should know

Participants will reside in the University's accommodation which is located just a 15-minute walk from Queen's main campus, mentioned the university.

Applications for the Queen's 2024 Summer School are open until March 22, 2024.

For more information, visit the official website.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT) Madras has joined hands with Altair to launch an eMobility Simulation Lab. IIT Madras collaborates with Altair to launch eMobility Simulation Lab. (File Image)

According to a press release, the new lab will be set up in the Department of Engineering Design of IIT Madras with the financial support of Altair, a global that solutions in simulation, high-performance computing (HPC), and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The release further stated that the lab will have state-of-the-art products and tools, which will be followed by other labs and facilities to deliver research and training in the eMobility Domain.

Also read: ICSI CSEET January 2024 result date announced, check notice here

Additionally, the lab will host Altairs modeling and simulation tools, thereby supporting the academic activities that IIT Madras will carry out in the other eMobility labs for Batteries, Charging, Power Electronics, Motors and Controllers, and Vehicle Engineering, among other related areas.

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras welcomed the launch and said there was a need for IIT Madras to play its role in the academic space considering the Governments focus on eMobility space.

He added that eMobility-related initiatives in Academic Programs, Research, and Policy are all managed and offered with the contribution of multiple departments, and the Department of Engineering Design acts as the nodal department.

Also read: Five handy tips every candidate should know to avoid anxiety during exam preparation

Mr. Vishwanath Rao, Managing Director of Altair exuded confidence that the eMobility Simulation Lab at IIT Madras will play a pivotal stride in advancing research within the electric vehicle domain and pave the way for sustainable transportation solutions.

Prof. CS. Shankar Ram, Head of the Department of Engineering Design at IIT Madras, spoke on the series of initiatives that the department has been doing for the last three years and said that the vision is to have these initiatives make the Department a hub for all eMobility-related matters.

The key results as envisaged from the eMobility Simulation Lab are as follows:

Enhance student learning in related courses

Support academic projects and research.

Complement skilling initiatives in the eMobility domain.

(For more information, visit the official website)
Actor Akshay Kumar and author Twinkle Khanna clocked their 23rd wedding anniversary on Wednesday. In the past and recently too, the couple praised each other and shared how they have stood by each other during their marriage. Akshay and Twinkle Khanna tied the knot on January 17, 2001. We take you back to the times when the duo praised and spoke about each other. (Also Read | Akshay Kumar bursts into laughter as Twinkle Khanna bangs her bike in Maldives; watch video of their holiday with kids) Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna have been married for over two decades.

1) Akshay called Twinkle his 'best friend'

In an old interview with Hindustan Times, Akshay talked about Twinkle and said, Tina (Twinkle) is my best friend. My wife is the best person any man could wish to wake up next to. She holds me up when Im falling, and puts me down when Im flying. She makes me laugh when Im sad and moans when I am sitting idle. Tina is everything to me. She is my reality check.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

2) Twinkle calls Akshay a 'great father'

On Father's Day last year, Twinkle shared a shirtless photo of Akshay and penned a note for him. In her post, Twinkle wrote, Some of the reasons for marrying Mr. K revolved around knowing he would be a great father after watching him deal with his family, the other was the hope that my future children inherit some of his fine genes. And looking at him in his fifties, I would say that his children are lucky if they have inherited half of their genetic material from him. Happy Father's Day to a man who always puts his family ahead of himself.

3) Akshay said he is proud of Twinkle

Last year, when Twinkle launched her new book, Akshay shared a post on X. Sharing the picture, he wrote, "Proud, prouder, proudest. Thats how you always make me feel, whether its to take up writing, going back to the university in your 40s or just defying age and norms every chance you get. And today as you launch your new book, #WelcomeToParadise I just know it will add inches to my already big chest. Congratulations Tina @mrsfunnybones."

4) Twinkle said Akshay has 'patience of a saint'

Twinkle, on her 22nd wedding anniversary with Akshay had penned a note while sharing his card for him. Taking to Instagram, she wrote, "Only he could have found the perfect card! On our fifth date, I told him, 'I would never marry someone like you.' He instantly replied,' I don't remember asking you.' I was so impressed with that line. It's been over two decades and we have built a life that encompasses two children, our extended families, work, friends, dogs, independence and stability.' As for what he has written in the card: I don't know if I have the wisdom of a queen but the man does have the patience of a saint and most importantly, a heart of gold. You don't have to be alike to make it work, you just have to like each other enough."

5) Twinkle lauded Akshay's gesture of donating  25 crore

In 2020, Akshay contributed 25 crore from his savings to the Prime Ministers relief fund set up to fight against Covid-19. Twinkle then posted a tweet sharing their conversation. It read, The man makes me proud. When I asked him if he was sure as it was such a massive amount and we needed to liquidate funds, he just said -- I had nothing when I started and now that I am in this position, how can I hold back from doing whatever I can for those who have nothing'."

About Akshay and Twinkle

Akshay and Twinkle worked in two films together, Zulmi and International Khiladi in 1999, before she switched to being a writer. She has also co-produced some of Akshay's films including Tees Maar Khan, Holiday: A Soldier is Never Off Duty and Pad Man. The couple have two kids: son Aarav and daughter Nitara.

Twinkle has authored best-selling books--Mrs Funnybones, Pyjamas are Forgiving, and The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad. Recently, she unveiled her fourth book--Welcome To Paradise. She has graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London, with a master's degree in Fiction Writing.

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Arun, whose film is winning plaudits for its loving portrayal of childhood and connections, says the story about a woman slowly descending into dementia, her husband and her school sweetheart is deeply personal for him and he lived with it for more than five years. HT Image

"All these years, I had this idea about building a film around a person whose memory is fading. My childhood was very close to me and I still visit those lanes, the village and the town. I keep wondering about the lives my friends are leading because these are important memories of your life," Arun told PTI.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The cinematographer-director, an FTII graduate, is counted amongst the most interesting voices to have emerged in cinema in recent times.

Childhood is a recurring theme in the filmmaker's work. His streaming show "School of Lies" is set in a boarding school while his 2015 Marathi debut "Killa" is a story told through the eyes of a young boy.

"Three of Us" is centred around Shailaja who returns to her childhood home in Maharashtras picturesque Vengurla town. She is accompanied by her husband on the journey that also leads her to her old school, classmates and dance teacher.

Arun, who directed the first season of the massively popular series "Paatal Lok" as well as its upcoming second season, said there is a reason why he keeps returning to this theme.

"There is an emotional high you feel in childhood because your mind and senses are like a sponge. That's why the experience is so intensified. We don't understand it at that time but these moments shape us. Throughout our life, we try to reach out to that level of excitement, experience and feeling. That's why we get so nostalgic about the past because the intensity of memory is directly proportional to the intensity of an experience," he said.

Three of Us released in theatres in November before making its way to streaming service Netflix. Arun, who was convinced about the movie he had made and how it was going to be received, went through a period of struggle when it came to its release.

"All major OTT platforms rejected the film. I was quite heartbroken. I knew that it would do well on OTT... It was dubbed as an arthouse film and in my opinion it wasn't because I knew that the audience is evolved and they will appreciate a film like this," he said.

The director said he is not new to such a struggle.

" 'Killa' was also in the same space. I had to wait for the film (release) for a long time. 'Paatal Lok' helped me mount this film. You have to repeat yourself with success, then the probability of your next work happening increases," he said, praising producers Matchbox Shots for trusting his vision with Three of Us.

Actor Shefali Shah was the first to board the movie. He had worked with Jaideep Ahlawat, his senior in FTII, in Paatal Lok but his name didn't immediately click.

The filmmaker said he approached many actors for the role, some were busy, others thought they had nothing to do in the film. Luckily, Ahlawat, who plays Pradeep, the childhood friend to Shefali's character Shailaja, and Swanand Kirkire, who plays Shailaja's husband Dipankar, loved the script.

"All three actors are brilliant, emotionally charged and sensitive human beings. Jaideep is a friend, I have known him for a long time, so is Swanand. I worked with Shefali for the first time but I have to say, this film happened because of her. I can't imagine anyone else," he said.

Arun believes every film has a journey and characters help one find the right actors to portray them.

"If your intentions are right and you are honest. Things fall into place."

"Killa" and "Three of Us" are slice-of-life, meditative stories, whereas his streaming shows -- "Paatal Lok" and "School of Lies" -- deal with darker themes.

The filmmaker said this demarcation is completely unintentional.

"The formats are different and you can choose different themes. As a maker, I don't want to define myself because I like every kind of cinema and genre... It has to be a good film or show which caters to my sensibilities and gives some kind of experience to me.

"For me, the ability to feel anything is love. Even despair, jealousy, competition or extremely dark emotions. 'Natya shastra' has these 'nav rasas' (nine emotions). When you are watching something, you can find that emotion within you and you connect with that emotion," he said.

While "Killa" captured the "fish out of water" feeling of a child who is lifted from his comfort zone and thrown into an unfamiliar territory, "Three of Us" is about looking back, he said.

"When we reach a certain point in life and we look back, we have these emotions like 'Where am I?', 'What had I thought about my life and how it's turned out?' And when you are also dealing with your health, you think, 'Let me go back to the place and memory that gave me so much joy'. Which is why this character goes to Vengurla."

Konkan region's beauty is not fully tapped in movies and Arun, who spent most of his childhood in these places, said he wants to keep exploring the place as it is similar to "going on a holiday and making a film".

What's with his films and old forts, which form an important backdrop in both "Killa" (Fort) and "Three of Us".

The origin, he said, goes back to school trips that were often spent exploring old forts and temples.

"Small places have such trips. I had those memories and visually also, I felt that they represent the long forgotten past, like the walls with roots. When I saw that, I had this feeling that the past is hidden somewhere inside us and it is in a bad shape... It is so old that it will eventually disintegrate. So I ended up including it in the film."

The filmmaker said he next wants to explore something completely unexpected from him but for now is excited and looking forward to the second part of "Paatal Lok".

"I am very happy with the way it's turned out. I am very excited and can't wait for people to watch it. I don't think there is anything like this," he said about the project that will also mark a return for Ahlawat as Inspector Hathiram.
FS1 has spent millions and millions of dollars on personalities over the last several years to try to somehow compete with ESPN on a daily basis. Theyve done so by giving the majority of that airtime and financial backing to two Bristol retreads  Colin Cowherd and Skip Bayless. But amazingly, neither one of them has the strongest show on FS1 in spite of their longevity, salaries, and name recognition. No, that honor belongs to First Things First starring Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes.

First Things First has consistently become the most popular show on FS1s daily rundown, which also consists of Undisputed, The Herd, and Speak. And perhaps most significantly, First Things First both outdraws its lead-in (Herd) and program that follows (Speak) showing that there is an audience that is showing up for just that program.

While you can credit all three cast members with that distinction, its clear to anyone that Wright is the star of the show as the most vibrant personality on set. Wright began at FS1 all the way back in 2016 and launched First Things First as the networks early AM show in 2017. Originally paired with Cris Carter, Wright is now joined by Broussard, and the program was moved to the mid-afternoon in 2022 after Craig Carton came to FS1 to fill the early AM slot.

Now airing in mid-afternoon, the show has blossomed largely thanks to Wright. In a world of knock-off Bayless clones, everything about him is unique. Still on the younger side of 40, he brings an unabashed modern-day viewpoint. And whether you agree with him or not, he clearly believes in everything he says because he can bring facts to back it up. Sure he can go overboard with his Kansas City Chiefs homerism, but at least its not pantomime performance art that solely revolves around the Dallas Cowboys like every other show. Take his recent takedown of Aaron Rodgers. Yes, everyone in the world has a Rodgers take but none was as definitive or as comprehensive as Wrights was.

To his credit, Wright admitted he evolved from focusing on creating clicks to improving the entire show and bettering ratings. With First Things First regularly hitting over 200,000 viewers, its a strategy that is working. It also doubles Undisputed viewership on many days. Thats right. Doubles. While one may still get more clicks because the host will say anything to stay relevant, the other is actually establishing a following.

The contracts of Bayless and Cowherd should be up in 2025. Now is the best possible time for FS1 to realize that its future isnt in ESPN stars of the past, but ones of their own like Nick Wright.

The Awful Announcing Wednesday Newsletter is a deep dive into all things sports media with original commentary, highlights from the week, social media buzz, and much more. You can read this and more by subscribing here. We send a recap of whats been on AA on Monday and Friday mornings as well as the extended original version on Wednesdays.
NEW YORK (AP)  Sit down and talk to Justin Tranter for just a while and likely a hit song will emerge. HT Image

The Grammy-nominated songwriter credited with some of the biggest bangers of the past decade  Sorry by Justin Bieber and Believer by Imagine Dragons, among them  usually begins a writing session with a friendly chat.

I just start having a conversation with the artist, Tranter says. When they say something that I think is either already the song title or is at least the song topic, then it becomes a secret or not-so-secret interview. And I just keep going in on that topic.

It is a process that has yielded smashes for such artists as Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Halsey, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, DNCE, Gwen Stefani and Fall Out Boy, triggering 50 million single sales and 50 billion streams.

I want the artist to leave feeling like this is exactly what I needed  maybe not always wanted to say  what I needed to say today. And that can be really fun, Tranter says.

Tranter is up for a songwriting Grammy this year for an astonishing range of songs, testament to an ability to talk to everyone: There's Italian heavy metal, a rap banger, crystalline pop, introspective rock and a soaring Broadway number.

The songs are: Miley Cyrus' River, Baby Tate's Jersey, Maneskin's Honey (Are U Coming?), Talk's A Little Bit Happy, I Want More from the TV series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies and Renee Rapp's Gemini Moon and Pretty Girls.

None seem to have any connection to the others except Tranter, who fronted the glam-punk band Semi Precious Weapons and vowed to make the songwriting business humane after experiencing homophobia and bad record deals.

The through-line is my passion for helping other people tell their stories. This has nothing to do with me. Im not singing these songs. These are not about me.

Tranter, who uses the pronoun they, wanted 2023 to be more than a list of hit songs. They chased different projects to push themselves as a writer and lyricist.

I am very grateful for my hits. My hits have changed my life. Ive been able to have my parents retire early. I am so grateful for the hits. But I really wanted to take this year to find projects where I could not be proud of the money the songs are generating, I could be proud of my skill and my craft.

Tranter, 43, spent just one session with Rapp, Gen Zs new high priestess, as she charted a course away from TV and musical theater and into confessional pop, making her debut album, Snow Angel."

She just came in and was talking about her relationship. And I started writing what she was saying and just put exact quotes into the song and then surround those quotes with poetry, Tranter says.

Out of that came Gemini Moon and Pretty Girls, which captured both artists' frustration about straight people flirting with bi-curious flings: You say that Im your favorite/With your hand between my thighs/Tell me if you were gonna/That I would be the one you tried.

If you just listen to Pretty Girls passively, you think, Oh, fun song. But actually theres layers on top of layers, says Tranter. It was just a really great year for me as a songwriter to help artists tell stories that I havent helped anyone tell before.

The song from Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, a spinoff from the original John Travolta and Olivia Newton John movie musical  speaks deeply about Tranter, a self-described theater kid whose love of musicals triggered their music career.

Tranter wrote 30 new songs for the TV series and I Want More  sung by Marisa Davila  was the last one written for season one, a power ballad sung by a young woman who has learned that high school waters are treacherous.

I do not know what its like to be a woman in 1950, but I do know what its like to be a queer person when I was a teenager in 1994 and '95 and how dare I want more than what people decided I should want, Tranter says.

Tranter's personable and empathetic approach to making music proved crucial in 2023 for helping Broadway and TV star Billy Porter pivot to dance with the album, Black Mona Lisa.

Its not easy to find a voice that resonates with huge portions of the public and is authentic at the same time to who you are, says Porter. Justin is a master of that.

Porter even showed his appreciation by putting Tranter in his lyrics: Rubbing elbows with the superstars like Big Bird, he sings on Funk Is On the One, adding: Making records out in Hollywood with Tranter.

To win the songwriter of the year Grammy in the non-classical category, Tranter on Feb. 4, must beat Edgar Barrera, Jessie Jo Dillon, Shane McAnally and Theron Thomas  rivals Tranter calls literal geniuses."

Whatever happens, Tranter will keep going  one good meeting at a time.

Young writers, artists and producers will ask me, How do you avoid writers block?' And Im like, Well, theres no such thing if you can have a good conversation,' Tranter says. As long as everyone is willing to have an honest conversation, there is a song there.

___

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

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For more Grammy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards
Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are one of the most revered actor-director pairs working in Hollywood right now. They have worked in six movies together, their latest being Killers of the Flower Moon. In an interview with Letterboxd, the actor has now revealed that he introduced Studio Ghibli movies like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke to the director. Both these iconic animated feature films are helmed by the influential Japanese anime director Hayao Miyazaki. Let's us do a quick dive into his oeuvre to find out why he is considered a modern master. (Also read: Leonardo DiCaprio to star in new big-budget Paul Thomas Anderson movie with Sean Penn. Check out details) Hayao Miyazaki's works have caught the attention of Martin Scorsese, all thanks to Leonardo DiCaprio.

About Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese manga artist, film director and animator of several anime feature films like My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Howl's Moving Castle to name a few. He co-founded Studio Ghibli, an animation studio and production company along with Isao Takahata. Often considered the greatest living animation director, Hayao's works combine the fantastical with the ordinary, and often involve action-adventures with monster-populated worlds that are headlined by child protagonists. It encompasses a stirring reminders of the gift of kindness and warmth, evoking a sense of revelation about the balance between nature and life around us.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

About Hayao Miyazaki's works

Princess Mononoke

Do you know that Princess Mononoke was Ghiblis most expensive movie? The 1997 release also went on to emerge as Japans highest grossing picture at that time. Set during the 14th Century, the Muromachi period of Japan, it revolved around a young warrior named Ashitaka who is cursed by an animal attack, and follows his journey as he seeks a cure from the deer-like god Shishigami. It evolves into a striking difference between the gods (kami) of a forest and the humans who consume its resources.

In comparison with his other works, Princess Mononoke is surprisingly violent in nature, and more darker in tone and thematic structure. In an interview with Empire, the director said that he wanted to capture a particular aspect of mortality through this film. I think I really exhausted the animation staff with this film. I knew that was gonna happen, but felt that we had to do this. But when I finished, I didnt understand it: What did I make?! At first I decided, This is something children shouldnt see, but in the end I realised, No, this is something that children must see, because adults, they didnt get it  children understood it," he said.

Spirited Away

Regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, Spirited Away is one of the director's most acclaimed works till date. It also became the only, hand-drawn, Japanese anime and non-English-language animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in the category's history. It also won the Golden Bear at the 52nd Berlin International Film Festival.

Spirited Away revolves around a 10 year-old girl named Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) who finds herself trapped in a world of spirits and demons after her parents are polymorphed into pigs. There, she meets the mysterious Haku (Miyu Irino), who explains that the park is a ground for supernatural beings. So, she must work in their realm to free herself as well her parents. Spirited away is at once a coming-of-age tale as it is about the many paradigms of generational conflicts and environmental issues that exist in Japanese culture.

The Boy and the Heron

Upon its surprising announcement last year, many international fans of the master director were shocked that a new Studio Ghibli work was already made in secrecy and was awaiting release. The 82-year-old director premiered his latest project, which also has his hand-drawn animation, at the Toronto International Film Festival in September to rave reviews.

Loosely inspired by Japanese author Genzaburo Yoshinos 1937 novel How Do You Live?, the film revolves around a coming-of-age story of a young boy after the death of his father. The Boy and the Heron won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature last week. An Oscar next? We will have to wait till March.

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A patriotic number called Vande Mataram was released at the Wagah Border by the team of Operation Valentine on Wednesday. The first single was launched ahead of Republic Day in the presence of the films team, including director Shakti Pratap Singh and lead actors Varun Tej and Manushi Chhillar. (Also Read: Operation Valentine teaser: Varun Tej, Manushi Chhillar play IAF officers in this action-packed film) Varun and Manushi play IAF officers in Operation Valentine

The song

Vande Mataram is a patriotic anthem that shows the Air Force gearing up for battle. The songs lyrics pay tribute to the brave souls who leave no stone unturned in protecting the country. A song that is sure to bring pride to your heart, wrote Varun, sharing the song in both Telugu and Hindi on X. The lyrical video shows Varun and Manushi playing IAF officers - with the former playing a pilot and the latter playing a radar officer. The video also gives a glimpse of what the film will be like. Vande Mataram has been composed by Mickey J Meyer, with lyrics by Ramajogayya Sastry and vocals by Anurag Kulkarni in Telugu and Sukhwinder Singh in Hindi.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Varun visits Golden Temple

Ahead of the songs launch, Varun visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar early on Wednesday. In pictures shared by the films team, he can be seen dressed in a kurta and seeking blessings there. He also interacted with the press, talking to them about the songs launch. Manushi also recently unveiled her first-look from the film at a college fest in Mumbai. The huge cut-out was as big as six storeys tall.

About Operation Valentine

Shot simultaneously in Telugu and Hindi, Operation Valentine will mark Varuns debut in Hindi and Manushis in Telugu. The film is slated for release on February 16 in both the languages. Incidentally, another Hindi film based on IAF called Fighter by Siddharth Anand, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone is slated for release on January 25.

Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!  Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel  Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place.
Noah Schnapp recently broke his silence on the controversial video, where he was seen distributing stickers with slogans like Zionism is sexy and Hamas is ISIS. On Tuesday, the 19-year-old actor took to TikTok in an attempt to clear the air amid cancel calls. Although Schnapp said that his views were misconstrued, his Stranger Things co-star Brett Gelman disagrees. Brett Gelman defends Stranger Things co-star Noah Schnapp's views on Israel-Hamas war

Following Schnapp's TikTok video, the 47-year-old actor and comedian came to his defence. In a conversation with TMZ at the Los Angeles Airport, Gelman told the outlet that he doesn't think Schnapp's views on the Israel-Hamas war warrants an apology.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Bret Gelman defends Stranger Things co-star Noah Schnapp

Gelman admitted to the outlet that he liked the viral videos and pictures of Schnapp distributing the controversial stickers last year. I saw nothing wrong with the original thing that he said, I will say that, Gelman said. The Fleabag star continued, Zionism is the belief that Israel should exist, and that's sexy to me too.

He further agreed with Schnapp drawing parallels between Hamas and the terrorist organisation ISIS. Gelman further went on to say, I think that if you are not for Israel, you are either consciously or subconsciously engaging in antisemitism. I'm not talking about being for every detail of its government- I'm not for Netanyahu, but I'm for Israel. I'm for the Israeli people, he added.

Israel did not start this war, Gelman says

Gelman explained that he believes Israel has the right to defend itself. Do I know the ins and outs of that military operation? No, I don't know. I'm not in the military, and I'm not in those rooms. So I hope that there is nothing that is being done that is not necessary, he added.

I'm not for the death of innocent Palestinians at all, and my heart goes out to them and for their families as well. But, at the same time, I don't know why no one is placing their deaths at all on the responsibility of Hamas, the Lemon star confessed. Everybody wants peace, nobody wants war. Israel did not start this war, Gelman asserted.
Kieran Culkin bagged the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series Emmy for playing Roman Roy on HBO's hit show Succession this Sunday. While accepting the award, he brought something his wife, Jazz Charton, had mentioned might happen if he won the Emmy award in the category in which he was nominated. Kieran Culkin won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Succession at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on January 15, 2024.(REUTERS)

"Thank you for sharing your life with me and for giving me two amazing kids," the actor said, addressing Charton, who was present in the audience. "And, Jazz, I want more. You said, maybe, if I win," he reminded her during his award-acceptance speech.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

(Also Read: Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp breaks silence after Zionism is Sexy controversy amid Israel-Hamas war)

Culkin Explains His Acceptance Speech Comment

After exiting the stage, Culkin expatiated on his remarks in the press room, providing more context to the couple's situation.

He shared that they were talking about the possibility of having another baby a couple of months ago. "Ive been asking for a while. My wife, Jazz, said 'maybe if you win the Emmy, haha."

Culkin went on add that he refrained from bringing it up for months, and then, when he won the Golden Globe, he asked her if she remembers what she'd said earlier. She responded with, No! What did I say? So, he recounted it to her, and it all came flooding back.

Kieran Culkin poses with the Lead Actor in a Drama Series award for "Succession", at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 15, 2024. REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci(REUTERS)

Kieran Culkin's equation with his mother Patricia Bentrup

The actor proceeded to commend his mother, Patricia Bentrup, while offering criticism to his father, Kit Culkin, without naming him. Notably, the Succession actor shares a difficult equation with his father.

Kieran was all praises about his mother Bentrup. He shared that she's an absolutely wonderful woman, and added that she took on raising seven kids, in basically a studio apartment by herself. He further said, "There was a guy there, but he didnt do anything. Shes just an amazing woman. I didnt know I wanted to be a parent, but the moment I found out I was going to be a dad, I just wanted to be like her."

(Also Read: Jamie Lee Curtis shares best thing she learned after 25 years of sobriety)

Matthew Macfadyen, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin pose together at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on January 15, 2024. (REUTERS)

Succession bid farewell in style at the Emmys, with the tumultuous Roy family saga clinching its third Best Drama win and securing five more awards, including three prestigious acting accolades.
If things go as planned, actor Tiger Shroff might work with filmmaker Kabir Khan. We have heard that the director is in active conversations with the actor for his next project. Kabir Khan wants to work with Tiger Shroff in his next

According to industry insiders, the filmmaker is in talks with the actor for an action-based project.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Kabir wants to cast Tiger Shroff in his next project, and is in active discussions with him. He thinks it is an apt project for them to get together. While not much is known about the storyline, it is an action project set in Northeast, says a source.

The insider adds, The role that he has in mind for Tiger fits perfectly with his present image, while adding a distinctive touch to it all. At the moment, discussions are on, and Tiger is yet to sign the dotted line.

For the project which he has offered to Shroff, Khan is reuniting with V. Vijayendra Prasad, with whom he has previously collaborated on Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

Kabir is really excited and happy to work with Prasad on this project, and believes they have something special planned. Their pairing turned out to be successful last time with Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and are sure that they will create the same magic this time too, says the source.

We reached out to Khan as well as Shroff to confirm the news, but didnt get any response till time of going to press.

Meanwhile, there is also buzz that Kabir might collaborate with actor Salman Khan once again. Previously, he has worked with him in Ek Tha Tiger and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. As per reports, he will work with him on the script titled Babbar Sher. On the work front, Kabir Khan is currently filming for Chandu Champion, starring Kartik Aaryan. The film is scheduled for a release in June this year.
Here's all that's hot and happening on this Thursday of a cold January in Delhi-NCR:

Catch it live on January 18
Butter has proved itself to be a star in 2023 and underwent a major transformation. With food influencers on social media hoping to discover the next big trend, butter became their muse. Whether it was the viral butter boards, with this velvety spread thickly smeared on wooden boards, topped with edible flowers, spices, herbs or seeds; the crazy butter candles that were placed in loaves of sourdough bread, or the easy-to-achieve flavoured butter that chefs and content creator Thomas Straker (series, All Things Butter) and Carolina Gelen (food trend, vodka butter) made popular, butter was everywhere. Strawberry butter with waffles (Instagram)

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Butter Board with two kinds of butters and topped with berries, edibles flowers, nuts and seeds (Instagram)

This last trend spurred a micro-trend that pushed creators to get creative and look beyond the usual pairing of garlic or herbs, and combine truly unique ingredients in the hopes of getting views and likes. A sub-trend that we believe should have received more traction was the dessert butter, that Glen recently posted about in her Honey Butter jar - whipped butter pipped into a jar and then filled with honey. We speak to chefs about different flavours that work together and what to pair with these sweet spreads.

A butter candle with a wick that gently melts the butter (Instagram)

What is compound butter?

Chef Rahul Shrivastava, Executive Chef at Sesame, Hyatt Centric Juhu, Mumbai, explains, Compound butter is a mixture of butter with other ingredients, that can be both sweet or savoury. It is a delicious way to take your cooking up a notch. It can be stored in any shape, be it a log, cube or a disc, for months, and added to your food in a jiffy to elevate any dish.

Waffles topped with strawberry butter(Instagram)

Fruity Fun

Most people, says Dr Avin Thaliath, Director of Academics, Lavonne Academy of Baking Science and Pastry Arts, Bengaluru, are familiar with this butter in its savoury version. Eg. a chilli cheese spread on toast, mint and rosemary butter used to baste steaks or lamb chops, or herbed butter smeared to make the fan-favourite garlic bread. Zeenia K. Patel, Brand Director, Parsi Dairy Farm, says, Compounding butter will change the consistency, alter its texture and melting point. For example, honey-infused butter will spread softer and caramelise beautifully, while herb-infused butter might have a slightly grainy texture.

Blueberry pancakes can be paired with blueberry butter(Instagram)

However, it is not just garlic, Aditi Handa, co-founder and head chef ofThe Baker's Dozen, shares that this flavoured butter can be made by adding fresh herbs, fruit compotes, honey or maple syrup and even alcohol to regular table butter that results in a delightful infusion of flavours. Whether it's the aromatic essence of herbs or the sweet tang of fruit compotes, these additions elevate the butter and transform it into a versatile condiment that can be spread on even toast.

Sweetened butter is a fantastic way to elevate your dessert experience, as it adds a burst of flavour and richness. At Ditas, Lower Parel, Mumbai, chef Sujeet says this butter brings an extra layer of sophistication to an already impressive dessert. Their versatility is boundless but the true magic happens when the butter melts, releasing its infused flavour and adding a new dimension to the dessert.

A dense cake like a bundt cake would make for a perfect vehicle for a fruit-infused butter(Instagram)

Perfect for breakfast or brunch spreads, butter that is infused with berries and fruits make a great addition to your grazing tables, charcuterie boards, Hi-Tea tables, breakfast spreads, etc. Eesha Sukhi, founder, The Blue Bop Cafe, Khar (W), Mumbai, says, To use a dessert compound butter, soften it at room temperature and spread it on items like toast, pancakes, waffles or muffins. You can also melt it and drizzle over desserts like ice cream or baked goods. Some flavours that pair well together is a butter with chocolate and orange which, is great with crepes, croissants, or as a finishing touch on chocolate desserts. Agnibh Mudi, corporate chef, one8 Commune, suggests trying a berry butter made with seasonal fruits as it will give a vibrant and fresh flavour and spreading it on warm scones, muffins, or as a topping for French toast, lemon bars and shortbread cookies.

Spiced magic

Chef Adwait, head chef and partner, INJA, Delhi, suggests whipping up some cinnamon honey butter, by beating softened unsalted butter, ground cinnamon, honey and powdered sugar together. He says it will perfectly pair with freshly baked goods like cinnamon rolls, toasted English muffins or bagels and even a dense chocolate loaf cake.

Spread cinnamon butter on cinnamon rolls after they come out fresh from the oven(Instagram)

At Le Cafe, Chembur, Mumbai, Chef Ajay Samtani serves Bailey's Coffee Cheesecake, which has a caramel-infused butter that lends a sweet and buttery caramel flavour to the cheesecake. It is made by combining butter, caramel sauce, and a touch of Bailey's Irish Cream. Some other flavours that pair well together include toffee or caramel sauce, honey and ricotta, maple and cranberry, lemon and lavender, thyme and rosemary; spices like nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, saffron strands, or pumpkin spice, and alcohol such as Irish whiskey, Bourbon, rum or brandy.
All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defend the Places of Worship Act. His remark came shortly after the Supreme Court stayed Allahabad High Court's order in the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute. All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi (Mohammed Aleemuddin)

The Places of Worship Act prohibits the conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The day that the Prime Minister states that he is standing with the Places of Worship Act 1991, there will be no more issues. When the Prime Minister states that all places of worship will belong to those under whose authority they were as of August 15, 1947, and there will be no changes, then no further issues will arise. Why is he not saying it? Owaisi questioned.

Lauding the Supreme Court's order, he said, The Supreme Court has done the right thing. In the Babri Masjid dispute, the Supreme Court stated that the Places of Worship Act comes from the basic structure of the Constitution. When the Supreme Court says this, why does the government not agree with it?

On Tuesday, the top court stayed the order appointing an advocate commissioner to survey the Shahi Eidgah mosque adjoining the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura. A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta called the application seeking the appointment of a local commissioner vague.

You cant file a vague application for appointment of court commissioner. It should be very specific on the purpose. You cant leave everything to the court to look into it, the bench told senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Hindu bodies, reported news agency PTI.

The court was hearing a plea of the Committee of Management Trust of the Shahi Masjid Idgah challenging the Allahabad high court's order from December 14 last year. The court passed the order on an application filed by a plaintiff seeking restoration of the 13.37-acre land of the mosque. However, the mosque committee has argued that the lawsuit filed by the Hindu devotees is barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

The apex court further listed the matter for January 23 for hearing.

(With inputs from ANI)
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday remembered his late wife Sunanda Pushkar and paid tributes on her 10th death anniversary. Pushkar was found dead in a hotel room in Delhi on January 17, 2014. Shashi Tharoor and late wife Sunanda Pushkar

Tharoor shared pictures of him paying tributes to his late wife on X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote: Ten years. A beautiful soul lives forever. Om Shanti. He also shared an old candid picture with Pushkar.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Shashi Tharoor and Sunanda Pushkar reportedly met in October 2009 at a party organised by billionaire Sunny Varkey. The two tied the knot in 2010 in Tharoor's ancestral home in Kerala's Elavanchery. This was the third marriage for both of them.

The Sunanda Pushkar death case

Sunanda Pushkar, 51, was found dead in a five-star hotel room in Delhi in 2014, where she was staying with Tharoor as his official bungalow was being renovated. Following her death, the Delhi police charged Tharoor with abetment to suicide, among other charges.

In May 2018, the Delhi police filed the first chargesheet against Shashi Tharoor under sections 498-A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, Tharoor denied the charges saying they were preposterous and motivated.

Later in August 2021, a trial court discharged Tharoor of all charges saying there was no material against him. There is nothing, even prima facie, to suggest that there was any wilful conduct on the part of the accused (Tharoor) of such a nature as was likely to drive Pushkar to commit suicide or to cause injury or danger to life, limb or health, the court had said.
New Delhi: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said his party AAP will win all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The remark comes at a time when senior leaders of the two parties are holding dialogues to finalise seat sharing in Punjab and Delhi. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann(HT_PRINT)

"It will be 13-0 (in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections). The AAP will win all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab," Mann said today.

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Last year, the Delhi and Punjab units of the Congress and AAP showed reluctance in stitching an alliance against the BJP. Leaders of both the parties had said they would contest the elections separately. However, in 2024, the INDIA bloc partners renewed their efforts to arrive at an agreement. Last week, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal called on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Also read: BJP links ED summons to Arvind Kejriwal to AAP's Sundarkand Path event

In a major breakthrough, the AAP and the Congress on Monday agreed to contest the January 18 mayoral post in Chandigarh as allies. AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar Tita will contest the polls for the mayor's post, whereas Congress's Gurpreet Singh Gabi and Nirmala Devi will fight for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor respectively.

However, Mann's remark suggests the Aam Aadmi Party's discussions with the Congress for seat distribution hasn't reached advanced levels yet.

The Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress are bitter rivals in the two states. It was the AAP that dislodged the Congress from power in both states.

The Chandigarh agreement is being seen as the first concrete steps taken by the two parties towards a larger partnership in Punjab.

Also read: Amid AAP-Congress seats talk on LS polls, INDIA bloc breakthrough in Chandigarh

In the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the BJP has 14 councillors. It also has an ex-officio member MP who has voting rights.

The AAP has 13 councillors and the Congress seven. The Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor in the House.

If cross-voting doesn't happen in concealed voting, the AAP-Congress alliance is expected to score a major win.

In the 2019 elections, the Congress won eight seats. The AAP only one seat.

However, the political situation in Punjab has drastically changed over the last five years. AAP, a minor player in Punjab in 2019, now rules the state. Also, Congress is entering the elections without the leadership of Amarinder Singh, who has since joined the BJP.

With inputs from PTI
Patna: The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to provide financial assistance of 2 lakh each to over 9.4 million families who were assessed as poor in the recently held caste and economic survey in the state to create self-employment opportunities, a senior government official said. Patna, Bihar, India - Aug . 02, 2023: Enumerator staff collect information from residents for a caste-based census in Bihar after Patna High Court rejected a petition against the survey, at Phulwari Sharif in Patna , Bihar,India, Wednesday, July, 02, 2023. (Photo by Santosh Kumar / Hindustan Times)

The approval to the Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana (Bihar small entrepreneur scheme) was among the 18 proposals of different departments approved during the cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Nitish Kumar, additional chief secretary (cabinet) S Siddharth said.

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The scheme, which will continue for five years, aims to provide job opportunities to over 9.4 million poor families, whose monthly income is less than 6,000 a month, Siddharth said. At least one member of the poor families will be provided grant up to 2 lakh in three instalments to set up and run small industrial or processing units, such as handicraft, textile, saloon, eateries, among 63 types of units.

On November 7 last year, the Bihar government released the socio-economic data in the state assembly, weeks after releasing the caste survey report on October 2. The data showed 9,433,312 families (or 34.13%) of the total 27,628,995 families in the state are economically poor. Of the poor families, 3.31 million families belong to the extremely backward classes (EBCs), 2.47 million from other backward classes (OBCs), 2.34 million from the schedules castes (SCs), 1.08 million from the general category and 201,000 families from scheduled tribes (STs).

All poor families can avail the benefit of the scheme, which will be implemented by the state industries department, the senior official said. Members of such families will have to apply online and produce the proof of family income to claim benefits of the scheme, Siddharth said.

Selection of beneficiaries will be done through computerised randomisation process and on the basis of budgetary allocations, he said, adding a state-level project monitoring and implementation committee, led by the executive head of the industries department, will be set up to execute the scheme.

The district magistrates (DMs) will lead the implementation panel at the district level, the official added.

Financial grant for EBC aspirants of recruitment exams

The cabinet also approved a proposal to expand the ambit of financial aid being provided to students from EBC families preparing for civil services (mains) exams. Now, EBC students preparing for other tests such as recruitment exams for Indian Engineering Service, Indian Economic Service, Combined Geo-Scientists, Combined Defence Service, National Defence Academy, Bihar Judicial Service, Grade-B officers of Reserve Bank of India and State Bank of India, among others, will also get one-time financial grant ranging from 75,000 to 30,000. The cabinet approved estimated annual expenditure of 9.79 crore for this.
New Delhi Keen on inducting leaders who have been lawmakers or senior functionaries in other parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to ensure those joining have substantial political heft to be able to garner votes and their coming on board is perceived as a blow to the party they left, said functionaries aware of the details. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers raise their party flag (PTI)

Read here: UP MLC bypoll: BJP names Dara Singh Chauhan as its candidate

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The partys candidate screening will be more stringent as it prepares to welcome new members on board, particularly leaders from some Opposition parties ahead of the upcoming general elections, they added.

The screening committee will be assessing inductees, particularly ticket-seekers, on a host of parameters, but their hold over a constituency or caste group will be a significant factor, a leader said, asking not to be named. In states where the BJP does not have a strong cadre or a formidable ally, such as Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the party is eyeing inductions from other political outfits for its expansion.

It is now commonplace for leaders to switch parties ahead of polls, particularly if they want tickets to contest. Since the BJP has emerged as a party which has popular support and an unmatched leader in Narendra Modi, there are many leaders who are queuing up to join, the leader said. The party will assess whether these leaders, including current or former MPs or MLAs, can win on their own steam.

The need to gauge a leaders heft has been reinforced in the wake of some from ally groups having indicated that in some constituencies they would prefer to be given tickets on the BJPs symbol. In Maharashtra, for instance, some leaders who are from the Shinde faction of the Shiva Sena have indicated that they would prefer to contest on a BJP ticket for a favourable outcome, a second leader said.

The other reason for this stringent assessment is the performance of turncoats who have been unable to deliver in a bunch of polls, for instance, in Karnataka, where eight Congress turncoats who joined the BJP in 2019 and helped the party form a government, lost in the May 10 assembly elections. In Uttar Pradesh, too, BJP candidate Dara Singh Chauhan, who was earlier with the Samajwadi Party, lost the Ghosi by-election, prompting the party to revisit giving tickets to big names from other parties and how that sits with the local leadership and the electorate.

While it is par for the course to set up screening committees ahead of polls to vet candidates and even scout for potential contestants from non-political background, since the BJP has set a target of winning more seats than the 303 it won in the 2019 general election, it wants to ensure it picks candidates who are the right fit.

Earlier this month, the party put together a committee of senior leaders, including union ministers Bhupender Yadav and Anurag Thakur, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJPs organisational general secretary BL Santhosh to oversee entrants at the central level.

While the party has an open-door policy for people who want to formally associate with the BJP, it expects them to follow the partys ideology, ethics and code of discipline, said a third leader, who is also a state level office bearer.

The party leadership is keen to ensure it does not face embarrassment by leaders wanting to join only to contest polls and deserting it in the event of being denied a ticket, he said, seeking anonymity.

Read here: Yogi gives momentum to BJPs wall-writing campaign

A spate of exits took place in West Bengal, including Mukul Roy and Babul Supriyo, and in Madhya Pradesh more recently, when leaders who had joined the BJP ahead of the assembly polls returned to the TMC and the Congress, respectively.

The party also wants to avoid gaffes when senior members oppose new inductions. Party leaders, however, said that in recent years the BJP has attracted more leaders than it has lost. At least three former Congress chief ministers joined the party, SM Krishna, Krishna Kumar Reddy and Amarinder Singh. Over a dozen Congress leaders who were also ministers have joined too, said the first leader cited earlier.
New Delhi: Union minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday took a sharp jibe at the Aam Aadmi Party over its Sundarkand Path push in the national capital, saying the party turned to religion because of the Enforcement Directorate's summons to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. He also accused the AAP government of ignoring Hindu temples, priests and seers during its rule in Delhi. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal with his wife Sunita Kejriwal at Sundarkand Path programme, at Rohini. (AAP X account)

Arvind Kejriwal has skipped successive summons by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.

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"Those who indulged in corruption, whose several leaders are in jail, those who used to say they would fight corruption, today, the same Arvind Kejriwal and his people are stuck in the quagmire of corruption. These people have been asked to appear before the ED four times. They skip the summons but to garner the media's gaze, they are doing Sundarkand Paths," he told PTI.

"I want to ask what Arvind Kejriwal has done for the temples, seers and priests of Delhi. At a time when maulvis would get monthly doles, the Kejriwal government kept its distance from temples. What is the urgency now that you are doing Sundarkand Paths amid ED summons?" he added.

On Tuesday, Kejriwal and his wife Sunita Kejriwal attended the Sundarkand recital programme at a temple in Rohini. They also sought the blessings of Lord Ram and Hanuman for India's progress.

Also read: Kejriwal attends Sundar Kand recitation ahead of Ram temple consecration. BJP slams Delhi CM

The event came days before the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Many Opposition leaders have turned down the invitation for the January 22 ceremony alleging it is a political event by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On Tuesday, Sundarkand recitals took place in all 70 constituencies of the national capital.

"I pray to Lord Ram and Hanuman that all your wishes are fulfilled and they bless you with happiness and prosperity as well as happiness and progress in Delhi and the country," Kejriwal said.

On Tuesday, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the AAP for the religious event, saying there was no difference between Kejriwal's party and the RSS, BJP's ideological mentor.

Also read: Owaisi hurls hypocrisy jibe at AAP on Sundar Kand move; Delhi minister replies

"What's the difference between you (AAP) and BJP then? You are now following the agenda of the BJP and RSS. They are saying that they would organise 'Sundar Kand Paths' and recite 'Hanuman Chalisa' in Delhi. There is no difference between them and the BJP, and they are now following their ideology," the Hyderabad MP told reporters.

Reacting to the remark, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said he would seek blessings from Lord Hanuman for Owaisi.

"I feel that we need not reply to Owaisi. We will seek blessings for him from Lord Hanuman and God should bless him too," he said.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
Guwahati, Jan 16 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said he has cancelled all his prefixed programmes in the states upper districts on January 18-19, in order to avoid a clash with events of Congress Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in those areas. HT Image

He also claimed that people are now ashamed of attending gatherings and meetings of the Congress.

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"Rahul Gandhi (yatra schedule) is coinciding with our welfare dates (dates on which forms are to be distributed for a new scheme). These dates were declared even before we knew he was coming," Sarma told a press conference.

The CM dismissed Congress allegations the form-distribution schedule of the newly-announced scheme for rural women has been fixed in a such a manner that it clashes with the yatra itinerary in those districts and adjoining areas.

Rather, as a gesture, I have cancelled my Majuli programme on January 18 so that it does not clash with Rahul Gandhi's event. Majuli is a small district and I don't want to put the district administration in difficulty," Sarma said.

Sarma said he has also called off ration card distribution programmes in Jorhat and Dergaon on January 18 and January 19, the period during which the yatra is scheduled to pass through those areas.

"Beyond this, I cannot accommodate. I have cancelled all my programmes in upper Assam on January 18 and January 19, which were declared a month ago. You cannot get a more large-hearted government," he asserted.

On Union Home Minister Amit Shah's proposed visit to the state on January 20, Sarma said the programme has not been fixed yet.

"We will make sure the programme does not coincide with the yatra," the CM said.

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will travel across 833 km in 17 districts of Assam, beginning from Sivasagar on January 18.

"We are not preventing anyone from attending the yatra, but people, barring from one community, don't even want to go. People are ashamed of going to Congress meetings," he claimed.

Asked which community he was referring to, Sarma said he meant the Miya Muslims (colloquial term for Bengali-speaking Muslims).

"I don't have any hesitation in naming the community. Even they don't want to go (to Congress meetings) nowadays. They have seen people getting benefits of government schemes; we are working for everyone," he asserted.

The chief minister also alleged that the Congress yatra is espousing cause of anti-Hinduism.

"You (Congress) are anti-Hindu and we are pro-Hindu However, we are also not anti-Muslim or anti-Christian or against any community," Sarma added.
HYDERABAD: Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, on Wednesday said that cranes (near the airport) will be used on the Dwarka Expressway only when there are no visibility issues for flight operations. Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. (File Photo)

In a response to the various allegations levelled by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on X, Scindia said, ...crane was being used for the construction of another critical infrastructure project - the Dwarka Expressway. However, in view of its impact on the runway, it has now been decided that the crane operation shall be allowed only on non-fog days. Thus, runway 11R/29L is operational as CAT III as of Tuesday (Jan 16).

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Tharoor, in a series of tweets on Tuesday criticised the government and the aviation ministry over multiple issues. Delhi Airport has been in chaos recently.... Its a ModiGovt-made disaster, a result of the Ministry of Civil Aviations neglect and incompetence, he alleged.

Cranes on the Expressway are being used for critical projects like Urban Extension Road II that aims to connect Alipur to Mahipalpur. These cranes or any structure that comes in the flight path, interfere with localiser signals on the instrument landing system (ILS) on Delhi airports runway 29L causing issues in the flight operations.

Currently, Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA)s backbone runway 28/10, which is also CAT III compliant is closed for operations because of the ongoing re-carpeting work. It is, however, likely to become operational in a few days.

Responding about the same to Tharoor, Scindia said, Runway maintenance work is a critical safety element for aviation operations, and any compromise with runway conditions directly jeopardises passenger safety. As a result, maintenance was taken on top priority to be completed by December 15, 2023, before the onset of the fog season. However, due to pollution incidents and enforcement of GRAP-IV in Delhi (that bans all construction works), the recarpeting got delayed, resulting in a delay of one month in its commissioning. The revamped runway (28/10) is getting operational this week.

Scindia said the country has adequately trained pilots.

As compared to only 2,416 CAT II/CAT III trained pilots in 2014, today we have 6,191 CAT II/CAT III trained pilots which is a jump of 2.5 times in the last nine years. Further, in preparation for the fog season of 2023-24, due to our efforts, the number of CAT II/CAT III trained pilots have grown by 16% in the last three months alone from 5,332 to 6,191, he said.

As per the aviation regulators rules, only CAT IIIB compliant aircraft with qualified crew are allowed to land into the cities that witness fog during winter season.

Speaking about a show cause notice issued to Air India and SpiceJet for not rostering qualified pilots (as per mandate), to land in Delhi in December last year, Scindia said, Any violations are strictly dealt with by the regulator, DGCA. For instance, show cause notices were issued to Air India and SpiceJet.

Talking about the CAT III operations, he said, It would be prudent to know about the three dependent factors for CAT III Landings: runway capability, aircraft capability and pilot accreditation. And thus, CAT III operations are decided by the highest common factor among the three variables.

He said that the two CAT III runways at Delhi Airport are equipped for aircraft to land with minimum visibility of up to 50 metres.

However, the majority of the aircraft fleet in India -- Airbus 320 (75 metres) and Boeing 737 Max (175 metres) have visibility minima greater than the runway threshold, Scindia said.

Thus, even if the runway is capable and sufficiently trained CAT III pilots are made available, these aircraft are not designed for zero visibility operations, he added.

Giving an example of New Yorks JFK airport, he said that even JFK airport has four runways of which only one is capable of CAT III landings with a restricted minima up to 182 metres (600 feet)  3.5 times of Indias 50 metres.

Scindia also spoke about the Goa- Delhi flight that was diverted to Mumbai after which passengers were made to sit near the aircraft.

Responding to Tharoor, he said, the treatment meted out to passengers in the instant case was unacceptable, and we have acted immediately in the form of a show cause notice to the operators concerned. Further, SOPs for better communication to passengers were also issued. Implementation is being monitored thrice daily. Corrective action is underway as we speak. Rest assured that any laxity in this regard will be meted with zero tolerance.

The minister said that the DGCA keeps a strict watch on the passenger complaints regarding mistreatment and penalises operators if found guilty. For instance, since 2022, airlines have been imposed with fines for not providing passenger amenities as per the DGCA guidelines.

Having said this, Scindia attacked Tharoor and said, CARs (civil aviation requirements) implemented during the UPA rule in 2010 were, as expected, inadequate for enforcing passenger rights and had to be amended multiple times by the DGCA to incorporate provisions for safeguarding passenger rights!

He also spoke about new airlines including Akasa that have formed the governments supportive policies.

Under the NDA govt, along with Akasa, five new regional airlines have taken birth under the Prime Ministers UDAN vision. Fleet size has increased from 400 in 2014 to 730 today, and will reach 1,500 - 2,000 by 2030. Airports have doubled from 74 in the last 65 years to 149 today. This will reach 220 in the next 3-4 years, Scindia said.
Despite a ban by the high court and stringent restrictions by the police, cockfights continued to be held in several parts of the states coastal region during the three-day Sankranti festival that concluded on Tuesday, people familiar with the matter said. On January 9, the state high court directed the police department and district administrations to strictly adhere to its directions issued in 2018 to curb cockfights during Sankranti and take stern action against culprit.

Lacks of rupees exchanged hands as cockfights were conducted in rural areas of Kakinada, East Godavari, Eluru, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts.

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On January 9, the state high court directed the police department and district administrations to strictly adhere to its directions issued in 2018 to curb cockfights during Sankranti and take stern action against culprits. The high court gave the directions, acting on separate public interest litigation (PIL) petitions filed by G Venkataratnam and Y Umashankar Raju stating that the state government had failed to prevent rooster fights, gambling and sale of liquor in different parts of the state.

Government pleader V Maheswar Reddy told the court that no permissions would be given for organising cockfights and the orders issued by the high court would be strictly complied.

A day before the festival, Kakinada district collector Krithika Shukla held a meeting with top police officials and asked them to file cases against the organisers of cockfights and gambling.

District superintendent of police S Satish Kumar said several organisers were taken into custody and even those who were supplying knives for rooster fights were being taken into custody.

Yet, the cockfights went on as usual in several parts of the state, especially in East and West Godavari districts and partly in Krishna district. Several businessmen, politicians and even youngsters took part in the cockfights. Galleries were erected with flood lights at all arenas where the cockfights were held all through the night.

However, the turnout is relatively low, compared to the previous years. Except in the interior areas, there were not many people evincing interest cockfight arenas in the towns and semi-urban centres, said V Srinivas, a local journalist from Kakinada.

Agreeing with him, A Swamy from Bhimavaram said unlike in the past when the turnout of cockfights was running into crores, there was not much money flow this time. Maybe, the politicians were not interested in betting due to upcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the state.

At some places, the police forcibly dismantled the cockfight arenas. They have arrested about 140 organisers in Bhimavaram alone, Swamy said. Another 100 persons were arrested in Krishna district.
The Calcutta high court on Wednesday ordered the formation of a special investigation team (SIT), comprising an equal number of officers from both the West Bengal Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to trace Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who allegedly masterminded an attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team that left three officials of the federal agency injured earlier this month. A vehicle belonging to ED officials was damaged by a mob in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district on January 5. (PTI)

According to lawyers who represented the two federal agencies, a single bench of justice Jay Sengupta ordered the formation of the SIT, but said that no officer from police stations in North 24 Parganas, where the attack took place, should be deployed in the investigation. The court also said that the SIT can seek assistance from central paramilitary forces to carry out its operations.

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Also Read: Bengal cops arrest two more for attacking ED officials; no trace of TMC leader

The bench said that a report of the SITs investigation cannot be submitted before any other court without its permission. The bench will hear the case again on February 12. The CBI and state police teams will be headed by officers of the rank of superintendent of police, an advocate involved in the proceedings, who did not want to be named, said.

The court also said that the SIT will probe complaints filed by ED after the attack as well as those filed by the local police against the federal agency, on the basis of complaints by Sheikhs family.

The ED team was attacked in Sandeshkhali area on January 5 when it tried to search Sheikhs house in connection with an alleged ration distribution scam. At least three ED officials were injured and their vehicles damaged in the attack by a mob, despite the presence of paramilitary personnel.

Shahjahan is considered to be a close aide of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, who was arrested in the multi-crore scam in October last year. While seven people have been arrested so far, Sheikh continues to remain at large.

Also Read: Police make first arrests in links with attack on ED officials in West Bengal

The lawyer quoted above said that in the court, CBI expressed its reservations about conducting a joint investigation, arguing that the state police have not been cooperating with the central agency, but this was not accepted. During the hearing, the judge criticised the local police and ED for failing to trace Shahjahan Sheikh in 12 days, the lawyer said.

A CBI officer, who also did not wish to be identified, said: We are waiting for a copy of the court order. We have to seek legal opinion because as a federal agency, we have to follow central government rules to begin investigations.

The order to form an SIT a day after justice Sengupta ordered installation of security cameras at the residence and business establishments of Sheikh, a direction which was carried out by the state police on Wednesday.

The police came and installed the cameras. I havent had any contact with my brother since the incident. I have no idea where he is, Sheikh Alamgir, the TMC leaders younger brother, told reporters.

The case has seen a bitter battle both within and outside court, with the ED alleging that Sheikh is a suspect in the alleged multi-crore public distribution scam.

The federal agency has accused West Bengal Police of diluting the charges pressed against accused persons in case.

The state police, meanwhile, registered a first information report (FIR) against the ED team based on a complaint lodged by Didar Baksh Mollah, the caretaker of the TMC leaders house, who accused the ED officials of theft and misbehaving with women when they went to raid the premises. Mollah alleged that a sum of 1.35 lakh and some documents were stolen during the raid.

ED, however, rejected the allegations and said they did not even enter the house because it was locked from the inside. The agency also said that Sheikh was in the building at that time.

The Calcutta high court ordered an interim stay on Bengal polices FIR till March 31 on Thursday.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) also alleged that one of the officers in the ED team, which went to conduct the raid, is named as an accused in a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

On the high courts directive on Wednesday, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said: We welcome it but can anyone trust the state police? We have heard from local people that Sheikh was seen at Sarberia, Dhamakhali and other locations. The police could have easily nabbed him but it cannot take any action unless the green signal comes from top TMC leaders.

TMC Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen, however, said: We wont comment on todays order but it is public knowledge that the high court pulled up CBI several times in the past for its failure to complete investigations.
Moreh: Fresh violence erupted in Manipur on Wednesday morning as security forces exchanged fire with suspected Kuki militants in the border town of Moreh in Tengnoupal district. A police commando has died in the gunfight. Manipur violence file photo(PTI)

According to reports, the suspected Kuki militants threw bombs and fired at a security post near SBI Moreh. The security forces responded with retaliatory fire.

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The deceased official has been identified as W Somorjit. Another commando has sustained injuries.

The militants fired at the police near Ward 7. The gunfight lasted for over an hour.

The violence comes two days after two people suspected of killing a police officer were arrested in Moreh.

The Manipur government has imposed a total curfew in the district fearing "breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and property within the revenue jurisdiction of Tengnoupal".

The law enforcement agencies and essential services are exempt from the curfew.

Also read: Amid the violence, a search for Manipurs missing

On Tuesday night, village volunteers exchanged fire with suspected Kuki militants at Koutruk village in Imphal West district. The central government forces halted the firing.

According to PTI, the local police arrested Phillip Khongsai and Hemokholal Mate on Monday for allegedly murdering SDPO Ch Anand in October last year. The two had fired at the vehicles of the security personnel following which police chased and overpowered them.

They were remanded to nine-days police custody.

One pistol with two live rounds, one Chinese hand grenade, ten live rounds of AK ammunition and ten detonators were seized from their possession, police said.

Scores of women had turned up to protest outside the Moreh police station demanding their "unconditional release".

Since May last year, over 200 people have died in violence between the dominant Meitei and Kuki communities.

With inputs from PTI
On March 19, 2023, a man named KP Jayanandan, who was serving a sentence for two murders was granted parole to attend his daughter's wedding, after his wife, Indira moved the court with a parole application. The to-be-married daughter, a new law graduate, argued the case for her father. Such was her power of persuasion that the single judge bench of the Kerala high court (HC) observed that conviction did not reduce a person to a non-human; basic human rights must never be crippled. The wedding of a daughter is an auspicious occasion, and the presence of the bride's father at that solemn function is most appropriate. This court believes that the petitioner's husband should be given parole for partaking in his daughter's wedding," justice Bechu Kurian Thomas said.

"The legal fight of a daughter to get her father released is admirable, even though her father is suspected in multiple criminal incidents, including five murders," the court added.

The mainstream media in Kerala celebrated the decision.

Once called Ripper Jayanandan by the press, the 57-year-old inmate of the high-security prison at Viyyur in Thrissur was convicted for two murders that took place in 2005 and 2006  the first, of an 82-year-old woman who was killed in an attempted burglary, and the second, of a 50-year-old woman. Jayanandan was also found guilty of injuring the latters husband.

He was suspected to have committed five other murders between 2004 and 2005 but was found not guilty by the court in all of them.

He is also suspected of having committed a double murder of a husband and wife (61 and 58 years, respectively) in Thrissur, however, the police are yet to file a charge sheet in that case.

In late March, Jayanandan attended his daughter's temple wedding under strict police monitoring. His parole lasted a fortnight.

In December 2023, Jayanandan was granted parole again  this time to launch his new novel. Once again, it was his wife who moved the court seeking his presence at the launch of his fictional title Pulari Viriyum Munpe (which roughly translates to Before the Dawn), published by Logos Books.

Indira told the court that her husband was reformed, and his writing was a clear indicator of the progress he was making. Jayanandan, who only studied till Class 9 before he became a fisherman, began writing novels in 2016 after he was granted permission by the director general of prisons.

His daughter, Keerthi, who argued for him this time around too, said that the book had sold widely in the state and its proceeds would go to differently-abled children. The Kerala HC granted Jayanandan a two-day escort parole to attend the function.

KP Jayanandan (left) at the launch of his fiction title, with K. Narayanakurup, former acting chief justice of Madras high court (centre) and K P Rajagopal, a retired police officer (Leonald Daisy Mathew)

The crimes in question

Keerthi was in Class 6 when her father went to jail. With the income from his fishing now gone, the family had to rely on the meagre money that Indira, who worked as a coolie, brought home.

Despite all odds, Keerthi studied law.

Keerthi recalled being 11 when the police took her father away one November morning in 2006, just as he was leaving to fish. The police accused him of murdering a woman in an attempted robbery some distance from his village. Within days, he was charged with five murders that occurred between 2004 and 2006 in the Thrissur and Ernakulam districts.

Now his legal representative, Keerthi said that in most cases, the primary evidence submitted by the police in court was stolen gold ornaments allegedly recovered from him. She says the DNA samples were not tested in any of them.

"Police have not filed charge sheets in two other murder cases slapped on him in recent years. We will petition for a review of all his convictions. We expect him to be acquitted of those charges very soon," Keerthi said.

In the early days, my mother wouldn't take me to my father's prison or court hearings because I was too young. A relative suggested I study and become an advocate to help with the case, but by the time I enrolled in law college, verdicts in two cases had been pronounced, Keerthi said.

In 2021, the police informed the court that the investigation into a double murder case in which Jayanandan is the prime accused was still on. This hurt his chances of getting a pardon on India's 75th anniversary, when several prisoners who had served three-quarters of their sentences, were released.

Kashmeera, the younger daughter, now a medical student, recalls how much she and her sister idolised their father and accompanied him on fishing trips. Together, they watched TV and also played games together before bed. Occasionally, the family took pilgrimages to Pazhani and Tirupati.

"I remember a day when the police arrived at home We didn't know what was going on. My father's name appeared on TV. They reported the arrest of the prime suspect in the Perinjanam twin murder case. In an instant, our world changed. The next day, the newspapers screamed about the arrest," Kashmeera said.

Many students crowded outside to view me as I sat in class. For years, inquisitive passersby stared and gasped on buses and in the streets," Keerthi said.

A prison mate from Ooty who completed his jail term offered to help Jayanandan fund his children's education.

Keerthi had to complete the school final under the National Institute of Open Schooling, while Kashmeera studied at a school in Chalakudy by staying with her uncle.

Keerthi passed the LLB entrance exam with first rank and attended Ernakulam's Government Law College.

"My mother struggled to fund our studies as costs rose. She started masonry. She lost her job after being exposed as 'Ripper' Jayanandan's wife. My father advised my mother to divorce him to avoid the shame of being a murderer's wife. But she refused, Keerthi added.

Crime and punishment

Journalist MK Nidheesh, whose research on Jayanandans crimes was part of a project at the National Law University in Delhi, agreed with Indiras argument before the HC and said that there were two reasons for Jayanandans reformation: Strong family support and gentle jail officials in Viyyur who did not let him rot him in prison and helped him explore his creativity. Unlike other cases, incarceration did not turn Jayanandan into a notorious criminal.

His transformation is indicative of yet another Kerala model. The transformative facilities available in Kerala jails and their empathetic staff who respect basic human rights,'' Nidheesh said.

Once a fisherman, Jayanandan was sentenced to death in the murder of the 82-year-old victim. His punishment was commuted to life imprisonment after Project 39A, a criminal justice programme at NLU, appealed the sentence in 2016.

Nidheesh, who has researched and published a series of articles on Jayanandan raised questions about how law enforcers manipulated facts to make Jayanandan out to be a serial criminal.

"All stories about him in the public domain are based on his alleged confessions to police. But few people know that he retracted his statements as soon as he was produced before a magistrate and has consistently maintained in these 17 years that the confessions were extracted by the investigators through torture," Nidheesh said.

When asked about his version of the charges imposed on him, Jayanandan remained speechless but seemed emotional.

Several witnesses told Nidheesh that they were coerced into lying in court to ensure punishment for Jayanandan, who lacked proper legal help because of his poor background, the journalist said.

In one of his investigative articles, Nidheesh interviewed a top police officer who revealed that he tortured Jayanandan to confess to one of the crimes.

The investigation also revealed that the prosecution did not provide lab results that could have facilitated his acquittal in at least one case charged against him.

Stranger than fiction

The book that Jayanandan released on December 23, 2023, was a fictional account that revolved around the positive transformation of a murderer behind bars. Speaking at the release, Jayanandan said that the struggles of a fellow prisoner prompted him to pen the novel.

K Narayana Kurup, former acting chief justice of Madras high court released the book by handing over a copy to KP Rajagopal, a retired police officer who was part of many sensitive crime and murder-related investigations in the state.

Rajagopal is also the father-in-law of Jayanandan's daughter, Keerthi.

"Only a police officer can understand how easily people are being branded as criminals and put behind bars, quipped Rajagopal in his address to the function attended by rights activists, social workers, and the general public. The criminal investigation system in the country required an overhaul, he admitted.

Jayanandan's incarceration for the past 17 years occupies Kerala's civil society even today. Opinion is divided over whether Jayanandan committed the crimes he is accused  and suspected of  or not. In some ways, his case generated the same divide as the Talwars of Noida did in 2008. Incarcerated for murdering their teenage daughter, Rajesh and Nupur were eventually released for lack of evidence. Society was sharply divided over their roles in the double murder of 14-year-old Aarushi Talwar and domestic help, Hemraj Banjade, who was in his 30s.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event to the Hindustan Times, Jayanandan said his initial years in jail were unbearable and there were occasions when he felt like he was on a stormy sea.

When asked about how he conceptualised the novel, Jayanandan recounted the story of when he was still awaiting execution. One day, was travelling in a police jeep which passed a blind mother carrying her infant and holding her aged father's hand.

Despite his age, the man tried to protect his blind daughter, and they got stuck in front of the police jeep for a while. Later, thinking about them, he found similarities between the old father and one of his fellow prisoners, who was also protective of his family.

He started thinking about human virtues and people's ability to sacrifice themselves to help others, he said. Jayanandan even wanted to donate his eyes to that woman after his execution.

All these years in jail turned Jayanandan into an avid reader, especially of Malayalam translations of world classics, mythology, and new literary experiments. His inspiration was Henri Charriere's now best-selling book Papillon, published for the first time in 1970. The French writer, convicted in 1931 as a murderer by the French courts and pardoned in 1970, details in this book his numerous escapes, attempted escapes, adventures, and imprisonment.

Life inside the prison made him an avowed reader, and Jayanandan said he found himself writing only after he started interacting with Anoop Surendran, a law professor whose brainchild, Project 39A, aims also to improve the living conditions of prisoners on death row.

Additionally, he recalls with gratitude the assistance of TP Senkumar, the former chief of the Kerala police and DGP of the prison department, who encouraged prisoners to read voraciously.

At the book release, Jayanandan looked happy and content. He declared that he would keep reading in addition to writing books for the rest of his life.

Jayanandans book has done well: 2000 copies of the first print run sold off in a week; the book has now gone into reprint. Meanwhile, Jayanandan is writing another work of fiction, and his autobiography is already with the publishers. Its incorrect to assume that interest in his case alone is helping sales. Eminent Malayalam literary critic Dr PK Rajasekharan said that Jayanandans power and hold over the language is such that he turns his readers emotional.
India plans to take up with the Maldives during talks of the high level core group next month, the modalities and timing of withdrawal of Indian defence personnel flying two ALH helicopters, one Dornier and sailing an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) in the island, people familiar with the matter said. Maldives President wants India to withdraw its military personnel crew flying the two helicopters and one Dornier by March 15.

New Delhi is yet to officially respond to the demand by the Mohammed Muizzu government that the personnel be withdrawn by March 15, two days before the crucial Majlis election on March 17.

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At the first meeting of the core group on January 14 and 15, Maldivian representative Ali Naseer asked Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Munu Mahawar to replace the defence personnel with civilian crew by March 15. New Delhis response will come in the February round and be based on the availability of civilian crew for the surveillance assets.

The two ALH under Maldivian colours, one Dornier aircraft and one OPV have all been grounded as President Muizzu continues with his anti-India campaign ahead of the Majlis elections. The Maldivian position has become more strident after Muizzus party lost the Male mayoral election to the Maldivian Democratic Party, which wants to maintain ties with India, on January 14.

According to people familiar with the matter, Muizzu could seek support from Beijing to replace Indian assets with Chinese ones with the Xi Jinping regime arranging crews from private companies in Singapore. However, this move could cost Muizzu upwards of $ 10 million, something that the cash-strapped Maldivian economy can ill-afford, they added. Maldives debt to China and India amount to 30% and 10% of its GDP. It has to pay $100 million this year to India according to its debt repayment schedule.

Interestingly, the only substantive issue regarding India that Male raised during the talks was the withdrawal of the defence personnel. There was no discussion on the India-funded and managed Greater Male Connectivity Project, the largest infra project taken up in the Island nation. The project is funded under a grant of $100 million and a line of credit of $ 400 million from India. The project envisages a 6.74 kilometre long bridge and causeway link that will connect Male with adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

To be sure, Muizzus comments during, and after his January 8-12 visit to Beijing suggest that he may be looking at China as a possible source of funds and other resources -- although experts point out that Sri Lankas experience in this regard is telling.
Karnataka minister and Congress leader KN Rajanna on Tuesday courted controversy by calling the existing idol of Lord Ram in the makeshift temple in Ayodhya a doll in a tent. During an event in Bengaluru, Rajanna accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of cheating the public saying the saffron party kept two 'dolls' in a tent following the demolition of Babri masjid in 1992 and called it Ram. Karnataka minister KN Rajanna(ANI)

"There are Ram temples with a history spanning thousands of years. But the BJP is building temples for elections. The BJP is cheating people... I had gone to Ayodhya when the Babri Masjid was demolished. Later, they kept two dolls in a tent and called them Ram," news agency ANI quoted Rajanna as saying.

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"Back home, when we go to a Ram temple, we feel a certain vibration. In Ayodhya, I felt nothing," he added.

Former Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister TS Singh Deo criticised the remarks and said there's no need for such statements as Lord Ram has been in the hearts of people for centuries.

"Lord Ram has been in the hearts of people for centuries. I feel that there is no need for such statements," Singh Deo told ANI.

Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Alok Kumar also lambasted the minister saying such remarks came out of "frustration" and "disappointment" of the Congress leaders as they decided to skip the consecration ceremony.

Meanwhile, the week-long Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in the newly built Ram Janmabhoomi Temple commenced on Tuesday with the host appointed by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra conducting the atonement ceremony. Panchgavyaprashan was also performed at Ram Janmabhoomi Temple with Panchgavya (milk, urine, dung, ghee, and curd), after worshipping Lord Vishnu.

On Wednesday, the idol of Lord Ram Lalla will be touring the premises of the temple. "On Wednesday, January 17, after 1:20 pm, there will be Jalayatra, Teertha Puja, Brahmin-Batuk-Kumari-Suvasini Puja, Vardhini Puja, Kalshayatra and a tour of the idol of Lord Shri Ram Lalla in the Prasad premises," the temple trust said in a post on X.

The rituals will culminate on January 22 with the pran-prathistha ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to preside over the ceremonial installation of Ram Lalla. The temple will be open for 'darshan' for the general public from January 23.

(With inputs from ANI)
New Delhi: The Directorate of Estates, the department that manages and maintains the Central government's official and residential properties, has asked Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra to vacate the government-allotted bungalow immediately. The bungalow had been allotted to her as a Member of Parliament (MP). However, since she was expelled from the Lok Sabha last year over the cash-for-query scandal, the government has asked her to vacate the plush property. Kolkata, Jan 03 (ANI): Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra speaks to the media on Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's statement, in Kolkata on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)(ANI)

News agency PTI, quoting a Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry source, reported that Moitra has been asked to vacate the house immediately and that a team of the department will be sent to ensure that the property is "vacated at the earliest".

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"Since the eviction notice was issued to her (Moitra) on Tuesday, a team of officials from the directorate of estates will now be sent to ensure that the government bungalow is vacated at the earliest," a source told the news agency.

Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8 after the Ethics Panel found her guilty of sharing her parliamentary login credentials with businessman Darshan Hiranandani. Earlier, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had lodged a complaint against Moitra saying she accepted bribes in return for asking the businessman's queries in the Lok Sabha. In her defense, Moitra said she had never accepted any bribes from the businessman and that she shared her credentials only to have his staff type out her queries on to the portal.

Also read: Delhi HC disposes Mahua Moitra house eviction plea, says seek permission from

After her expulsion, the Directorate of Estates directed her to vacate the bungalow by January 7. She moved to the Delhi High Court against the order.

On January 4, the Delhi High Court asked the Trinamool leader to approach the Directorate of Estates for permission to occupy the government accommodation allotted to her.

Also read: Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra expelled from Lok Sabha; she says will fight back

The court observed that per the rules, the authorities can allow a resident to overstay for up to six months. It, however, said the DoE can decide on her case after applying its own mind.

The Directorate of Estates sent two eviction notices to her this month.
The Ministry of External Affairs' spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reacted to Irans air strikes in Pakistan, saying that the matter is between the two countries, as per news agency ANI. This comes after Islamabad recalled its ambassador to Tehran, a day after Iran launched airstrikes on Pakistan that it claimed targeted bases for Jaish al-Adl. Islamabad denounced the attack as a blatant violation of its airspace and said it killed two children after Iran targeted southwestern Baluchistan province in the country. An Iranian flag flutters.(Reuters)

The attack comes amid heightened tension in the Middle East by Israel's ongoing war on Hamas in Gaza. Iran also launched strikes earlier in Iraq and Syria over an Islamic State-claimed suicide bombing that killed over 90 people earlier this month.

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MEA official spokesperson said, This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan. Insofar as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

The statement added, "We understand actions that countries take in their self defense.

What has Iran said on the strikes?

Iran's foreign minister said that it had hit militants in "missile and drone" strikes as Tehran targeted two bases of the Sunni Muslim group Jaish al-Adl, which is designated a "foreign terrorist organisation" by the US state department.

"Iran's security has been repeatedly targeted by Jaish al- Adl terrorist group from Pakistani soil and we are hopeful that stronger security cooperation between the two countries continue," Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said in Davos.

What Pakistan said on the strikes?

Pakistan said that the airstrikes are a violation of its airspace and resulted in the deaths of two children without disclosing the location of the strikes. Although, Iran contested the claim alleging that only militants were hit and those targeted were linked to Israel.
The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has cancelled the foreign contribution regulation act (FCRA) licence of leading think-tank Centre for Policy Research (CPR), about a year after it was suspended, for allegedly violating provisions of the foreign funding law, people familiar with the development said. Office of the Centre for Policy Research at Diplomatic Enclave in New Delhi. (Vipin Kumar/ HT Photo)

The FCRA licence of CPR was suspended in February last year for 180 days and then the suspension was extended for another 180 days.

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People cited above said a decision to cancel the FCRA licence was taken last week and has been conveyed to the organisation.

CPR is a leading policy think-tank since 1973, which conducts advanced and in-depth research on a wide range of policy-relevant issues, with a focus on Indias 21st Century challenges.

Earlier, the Income Tax department had in September 2022 conducted a survey operation against CPR, and two other organisations  Oxfam India and a Bengaluru-based Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation (IPSMF)  as part of a probe to look into their foreign funding.

Oxfam Indias foreign funding is also blocked in India as MHA, in December 2021, refused to renew its FCRA licence. Paralelly, the Central Bureau of Investigation is also investigating Oxfam India.

On CPRs challenge in the Delhi high court against the suspension of its licence, the MHA had argued that the think-tanks foreign funding needed to be stopped as it was receiving foreign contributions for undesirable purposes likely to affect the countrys economic interest. It alleged that CPR transferred foreign contributions to other entities and deposited the contributions in non-designated accounts in violation of FCRA.

HT has reached out to Yamini Aiyer of CPR for comment on cancellation of foreign funding licence. The story will be updated accordingly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at Shree Ramaswami Temple and Guruvayur Temple on day two of his visit to Kerala on Wednesday. He performed the thulabharam ritual in which a person is weighed against the equivalent weight of fruits or grain donated to the Guruvayur Temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Guruvayur Temple. (PTI)

Shree Ramaswami Temple is part of the Nalambalam circuit of four temples dedicated to Lord Ram and his brothers Bharat, Lakshman, and Shatrughan. Visiting all four temples on a single day during the Malayalam month of Karkidakam is considered auspicious.

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Modi on Friday last said he will undertake a set of rituals required ahead of the consecration of the idols at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. He later visited Panchavati in Nashik, where Lord Ram spent much of his exile.

Modi shared pictures of day two of his Kerala visit on X. It was early in the morning but people in Guruvayur came in large numbers to bless me. I cherish this warmth and it motivates me to work even harder for the people, he wrote. Prayed at the sacred Guruvayur Temple. The divine energy of this Temple is immense. I prayed that every Indian be happy and prosperous.

Modi also attended the wedding of actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suresh Gopis daughter at the Guruvayur Temple. He handed over the garlands to the bride and groom and clicked photographs with the couple and their parents.

Actors Mammootty, Mohanlal, Jayaram, Khushboo, director Hariharan, and producer G Suresh Kumar were among those who attended the ceremony.

Gopi, who has starred in over 250 films in Malayalam and is a former Rajya Sabha member, is likely to be the BJP candidate for the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat. He contested the 2019 elections from Thrissur but finished third even as the BJPs vote share increased.

Modi also inaugurated shipping projects at Willingdon Island in Kochi and addressed a meeting before flying back to Delhi.
What is the NITI Aayog? It is the cheerleader of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said on Wednesday, discarding the public policy think tank's report that nearly 25 crore people were moved out of poverty in the last nine years. Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh.(ANI)

The NITI Aayog and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly released a discussion paper on the multidimensional poverty index that attempts to study the rate of decline in the number of multidimensional poor populations in the country. Using the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (NMPI), the study found about 24.82 crore people in India moved out of poverty since 2013-14. The largest decline was reported in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

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The report predicted India would achieve the target of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of halving multidimensional poverty before 2030. It further credited the government's persistent dedication and resolute commitment to enhancing the lives of the most vulnerable and deprived have been instrumental in this accomplishment.

The Congress shunned the report, terming it bogus and calling the NITI Aayog the drum-beater for the PM. Nobody can believe the data released by the body. Every expert has criticised the report, Ramesh said. He said a press conference will be arranged on the issue tomorrow to explain the party's statement further.

Earlier, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar took a jibe at the second instalment of the Rahul Gandhi-led foot march, Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, and referred to the NITI Aayog report to indicate who is doing real justice.

The whole country knows about the atrocities they (Congress) were doing to the poor for the last 65 years. 25 crore people got to come out of poverty only after PM Modi came to power. So, the whole country knows who is doing justice and who is doing injustice. But, we don't have any problem if they want to call their Yatra 'Nyay Yatra', he said.

The NITI Aayog was established in 2015, replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission, and came up with the 15-year road map model instead of the 5-year-plan used in governance earlier.
Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday said it is important to visit the Ram Temple but the timing does not matter. On being asked whether Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who has been skipping ED summons would visit the Ram Temple consecration event in Ayodhya on January 22, Bharadwaj said, "Kejriwal has already been there. The connection is with Lord Ram. Lord Ram will be there on 23, 24 as well.. And if you have devotion, you can pray here, in this office only," Bharadwaj said. "Most of the opposition party leaders said that they would go. And I think there should not be such controversies that everyone has to go to the temple with PM Modi, sit with PM Modi," the minister said. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal with his wife Sunita Kejriwal performing havan during Sunderkand path at Rohini on Tuesday.

"I don't know about CM Kejriwal's schedule. And I also think it should matter. I would say one must go, but not necessarily with PM Modi," Saurabh said.

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Kejriwal will be on a three-day visit to Goa from January 18.

Kejriwal, his wife Sunita Kejriwal and other AAP leaders attended a Sundar Kand recital programme at a temple in Rohini -- as the party is holding Sundar Kand and Hanuman Chalisa recitals across Delhi on Tuesdays.

Kejriwal's visit to the programme on Tuesday drew flak from AIMIM as president Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the difference between the AAP and the BJP. "Some are saying they will go to the Saryu river (Ayodhya), now in Delhi they are saying they will hold Sundar Kand and Hanuman Chalisa recitals. There's no difference between them and the BJP-RSS, and they are now following their ideology," Owaisi said.

"I feel that we need not reply to Owaisi. We will seek blessings for him from Lord Hanuman and God should bless him too," Saurabh said on Tuesday as he participated at a Sundar Kand event in Chirag Dilli.

Row over Ayodhya Ram Mandir invite

Several opposition parties, including the CPM, the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and Samajwadi Party, announced that they would skip the inauguration ceremony. Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena said he was not invited despite the contribution of Balasaheb Thackeray behind the Ram Mandir dream. Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar will also skip the event.

The Aam Aadmi Party has not yet announced its official stance as for long they said Kejriwal was not invited. The Ayodhya Temple Trust reportedly said they sent Kejriwal the invitation by the speed post. On January 22, AAP will hold Sundar Kand recitals across the national capital.
Stepping up the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a roadshow in Kochi on Tuesday evening as part of his second visit to Kerala in less than two weeks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the supporters during a roadshow, in Kochi on Tuesday (ANI)

PM Modi, who arrived at the Cochin International Airport from Andhra Pradesh around 6.30pm, was received by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the tarmac. He then took a chopper ride to the Naval Base airport from where he drove down to the Maharajas College ground, the starting point of the roadshow.

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At around 7:35 pm, the roadshow began with PM Modi travelling in an open jeep, accompanied by BJP state president K Surendran, as hundreds of party workers lined up both sides of the road shouting slogans and throwing flowers at the cavalcade.

The PM, who had last visited Kochi in April 2023 for a youth conclave, waved his hands as ecstatic party workers cheered on on the 1.3 kilometre-long route. The roadshow ended in front of the Ernakulam Guest House around 8:10 pm.

BJP district president KS Shaiju had said that around 50,000 workers were expected to participate in the roadshow.

As part of his two-day visit to the state, PM Modi is scheduled to offer prayers at the famous Sree Krishna temple in Guruvayur on Wednesday and attend the wedding of the daughter of actor and BJP leader Suresh Gopi. He will then visit the Triprayar Sree Rama temple, also in Thrissur district, where he will offer prayers. The PM had last visited Thrissur on January 3 when he held a roadshow in the city and addressed a womens conclave.

On Wednesday evening, the PM will return to Kochi where he is scheduled to dedicate to the nation the Drydock of the Cochin Shipyard, the International Ship Repair Facility as well as the LPG import terminal of the IOCL.
A police commando was killed in a gunfight triggered after a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on a security forces camp in ethnic violence-hit Manipurs border town of Moreh on Tuesday morning, people aware of the matter said. At least 200 people have been killed and over 50,000 people displaced since the beginning of the ethnic violence last year. (PTI)

The Manipur Police commandos were inside their camp in Moreh town when gunmen first fired an RPG and then followed it with heavy gunfire. While one commando [identified as W Somorjit] died, another has sustained injuries, an official said.

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A second official said that the gunfight lasted for almost an hour and that the situation was tense.

Moreh in the Tengnoupal district has been on high alert after a spate of attacks on security forces, especially Manipur Police commandos. On Monday, two men including a former territorial army soldier and head of Morehs village defence force were arrested for the murder of a Manipur Police officer on October 30. Moreh has been tense and under a curfew since then.

The Kuki organisations have accused Manipur commandos of bias and demanded that they be removed immediately.

At least 200 people have been killed and over 50,000 people displaced since the beginning of the ethnic violence in May last year between Kuki and Meitei groups. The violence has birthed new armed militias ostensibly guarding their villages and new boundaries within the state. Kuki mostly live in the hill districts and Meiteis in the Imphal valley.
The topic of "giant pandas returning to the US" has become a hot issue in American public opinion in 2024. China's relevant statements have received high attention and enthusiastic interpretations. Several cities in the US, such as San Francisco, San Diego and Washington, have shown efforts and actions to attract giant pandas. The fondness of many Americans for giant pandas has even sparked some hidden psychological reactions among some American elites. Some American media outlets are politicizing this topic, which deserves our vigilance.

The love and enthusiasm of the US for Chinese giant pandas primarily stem from local initiatives and public sentiment. In the effort to have giant pandas reside in San Francisco, Mayor London Breed initiated communication with China several months before the APEC Leaders' Meeting last year, and later expressed willingness to host these "cherished diplomats" in a letter she sent to Chinese president. Michael Froman, president of Council on Foreign Relations, personally asked whether Washington can host a giant panda in a conversation with Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of CPC Central Committee, during his visit to the US. The hopes for China-US relations lie with the people, and the foundation lies in the grassroots, as it's evident from the case of the giant pandas.

Many Americans eagerly anticipate the "return of giant pandas to the US," but not everyone shares this sentiment. In recent years, the unhealthy atmosphere against China in the US has led to many politicized interpretations of matters related to giant pandas. Those who do not wish for giant pandas to return to the US are not necessarily expressing a stance against the giant pandas themselves; rather, they view giant pandas as a politicized symbol and a representation of China's soft power. Their intention is to sever any ties that could bring the peoples of China and the US closer emotionally. Giant pandas, beloved by the peoples of both China and the US, and even people worldwide, easily become a target for them. Their aim is to destroy the positive aspects between China and the US.

In China, there are also some people who are unwilling to see the "giant pandas return to the US." However, unlike those Americans, these Chinese people's concerns stem from their compassion for giant pandas and worries about the poor care they receive in American zoos. This is understandable. Last year, when the emaciated appearance of the giant panda Ya Ya at the Memphis Zoo in the US was reported back to China, it sparked strong concerns and even accusations of abuse toward overseas cooperative institutions in terms of facility construction, feeding and care, disease prevention and control measures. The concerns are reasonable. Ultimately, Ya Ya was brought back to China.

Although various pieces of information also indicate that the Memphis Zoo had made many efforts to take care of the giant pandas and had no motive to abuse Ya Ya, the negative impact of this incident objectively exists. It needs to be emphasized that the opinions and concerns of Chinese netizens are not based on hostility toward American politics or society, but on the fact that Ya Ya was not well taken care of, which evokes a simple sentiment. If any American zoo wants to lease giant pandas, they need to learn from the Ya Ya incident and make the Chinese side believe that they can provide suitable living conditions and environment for the giant pandas.

There has been a saying that China took giant pandas as a diplomatic tool to open the door to China-US relations. This is incorrect. Instead, it should be said that giant pandas are a symbol of friendly or normal relations between China and the US. This is because only when both sides have established a baseline of trust, can there be a history of panda exchanges, where pandas travel across the ocean to the US, promoting cultural exchanges and fostering a heartwarming story between the people of China and the US.

The US is the country with the most cooperation in giant panda conservation research with China. Giant panda conservation is one of the most successful areas of animal cooperation between China and the US. Now, giant pandas have become "remarkable ambassadors," which is inseparable from the joint efforts of several generations of scientists from China and the US. This is the broader significance of China-US cooperation.

Today, the exchange of pandas continues the tradition of cultural exchange from the past, while also placing more emphasis on international cooperation in giant panda conservation and research. The adorable giant pandas are, to some extent, a message of peace and friendship that China conveys to the world. The more of such messages, the better. (Source: Global Times)


The second day of the pre-consecration ceremonies at Ayodhya's Ram Temple saw several rituals being performed ahead of the pran pratishtha ceremony on January 22. The Ram Lalla's idol was carried to the temple in a truck from Vivek Srishti Trust in a homecoming for the Lord. Earlier in the day, a representative idol -- a silver Ram Lalla -- was carried across the Ram Temple premises. Ayodhya Ram temple: Special rituals being performed at Ram Mandir garbha-griha on Wednesday before the idol arrived.

Ram Mandir opening: Here's what happened on the 2nd day of the 7-day anushthan

1. The idol arrived in the temple on Wednesday night. A special Puja was held at the sanctum sanatorium before the idol is brought inside the garbha griha. Shri Ram Mandir Construction Committee Chairperson Nripendra Mishra said the idol is likely to be placed at the sanctum sanctum on Thursday, the third day.

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2. On Wednesday night, the idol was brought inside the Ram Mandir complex using a crane.

3. This is the first entry of the Ram Lalla idol sculpted by Karnataka's Arun Yogiraj into the premises.

4. As reported earlier, the idol is 51-inch-tall, the form of Lord Ram as a five-year-old boy -- reflecting the pride of a king, and the innocence of a child.

5. PM Modi would serve as the chief yajman of the pran-pratishtha ceremony. Dr Anil Mishra, a member of the Trust, is the chief yajman of the pre-consecration rituals.

6. Over 500 women participated in the Jal Kalash Yatra ritual on Wednesday in which they filled pots from Saryu river and took them to the Ram temple.

7. Ahead of the pran-pratishtha, the other rituals started on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Kalash Yatra was performed followed by parishar-pravesh (entry into the complex) of the idol.

8. A Ram Lalla idol -- not the one to be placed at the sanctum sanctorum -- toured the temple premises.

9. Television serial Ramayan-fame actors Arun Govil, Sunil Lahiri, and Deepika Chikhalia on Wednesday visited Ayodhya to shoot their album 'Hamare Ram Aayenge'.

10. The Bar Council of India (BCI) has written to CJI D Y Chandrachud requesting him to declare a holiday in all courts across the country to mark the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
The seven-day Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhya began on Tuesday ahead of the much-awaited consecration event of Ram Temple on January 22. On the second day of the week-long rituals, the idol of Lord Ram Lalla will tour the premises of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi temple after 1:20 pm, Vedic scholar Acharya Shri Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid said. Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha Day 2 today(ANI)

On Wednesday, January 17, after 1:20 pm, there will be Jalayatra, Teertha Puja, Brahmin-Batuk-Kumari-Suvasini Puja, Vardhini Puja, Kalshayatra and a tour of the idol of Lord Shri Ram Lalla in the Prasad premises, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, quoting the statement of Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid.

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Earlier on the first day of the Vedic rituals, Shri Anil Mishra atoned all essential belongings and took a bath in the Saryu river. He then worshipped Lord Vishnu and performed Panchgavyaprashan at the Ram temple with Panchgavya (milk, urine, dung, ghee, and curd). According to the temple trust, the Karmakuti Homa was also performed at the idol-making place and Valmiki's Ramayana and Bhusundiramayana were recited at the pavilion.

Along with this, Godan (cow donation) was performed as a part of atonement from Dwadshabd Paksha.

Rituals for the next five days

On January 18, the rituals of Teerth Poojan, Jal Yatra, and Gandhadhivas will be held.

On January 19 morning, the rituals of Aushadhadhivas, Kesaradhivas, Ghritadhivas will be held, while in the evening, the Dhanyadhivas ritual will take place.

On the morning of January 20, the Sharkaradhivas and Phaladhivas rituals will take place, while the Pushpadhivas ritual will be done in the evening.

On January 21, the last day of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, Madhyadhivas ritual will take place in the morning while the Shaiyadhivas will be held in the evening.

The Ram temple consecration ceremony will be held on January 22. 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.

Meanwhile, the temple will be open to the general public from January 23 onwards.
The week-long consecration (pran pratishtha) ceremony of the infant god Ram, or Ram Lalla, began in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple on Tuesday, marking the start of an event that will culminate with the opening of the temple. Workers install doors of the sanctum sanctorum on the Ram Temple on Tuesday. (PTI)

On Tuesday, 121 priests chanted Sanskrit hymns and performed Vedic rituals in the Abhijit Muhurta (atonement for ones sins) in the afternoon.

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Rituals began with Prayaschita Karmakutipujan at 1pm and will end on January 22, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing the last ritual of the consecration ceremony.

The anushthan has started and will continue till January 22, the day of the consecration ceremony. Eleven priests are performing the rituals invoking all goddesses and gods, Ram temple chief priest Satyendra Das said.

The yajman at the rituals  including the ones conducted on the final consecration days  is Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust member Anil Mishra and his wife Usha Mishra. Typically, the yajman is the main host of a puja  the person on whose behalf the prayers are offered. Mishra has to attend the rituals on all days, including on January 22 when Modi will preside over the event.

Vedic scholar Lakshmikant Dixit of Varanasi, who is heading the seven-day rituals, reached Ayodhya from Varanasi on Tuesday evening. According to the Trust, which is overseeing the construction of the temple, there are seven Adhivasas in pran pratishtha ceremony, and a minimum of three Adhivasas are in practice. Adhivasa literally means to live in. Adhivasa is a rite that invokes the deity to live in the idol.

Around 121 priests are conducting the rituals, overseen by Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid, a priest from Varanasi, who is also coordinating, anchoring, and directing all the proceedings. Acharyas of all schools of Bharatiya spiritualism, religion, sect, system of worship, tradition, saints of more than 150 traditions, mahamandaleshwars, mandaleshwars, shrimahants, mahants, nagas, as well as leading figures of more than 50 adivasi, girivasi, tatavasi, dwipavasi tribal traditions, will be present at the prana pratishtha ceremony, said the Trust.

The final leg of the consecration ceremony, to be presided over by Modi, will start at 12.20pm on January 22 and end by around 1pm.

The 51-inch stone idol of renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj from Karnataka will be enthroned at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Mandir.

On January 17, the idols parisar pravesh will be completed, followed by teerth poojan, jal yatra and gandhadhivas on January 18 and aushadhadhivas, kesaradhivas, ghritadhivas and dhanyadhivas on January 19, according to a schedule released by the Trust.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the administrations of Chhattisgarhs Raipur and Maharashtras Yavatmal districts to remain cautious and prevent any incitement of violence or hate speech ahead of two events organised by Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator T Raja Singh. Supreme Court of India (Representative Photo)

The Court ordered the district administrations to take all possible steps, including the installation of CCTV at the venue of rallies to identify the perpetrators of hate speeches.

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We require the authorities to be cautious of the fact that no incitement for violence or hate speech is permitted, a bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said.

Police will install CCTV cameras with recording facility so that in case anything occurs, the perpetrators can be booked, the bench said.

The Court was hearing an application filed by one Shaheen Abdullah seeking orders to stop the event organised by the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti in Yavatmal on January 18 and a series of rallies by BJP MLA from Telangana Raja Singh in Raipur from January 19 to 25.

The application produced past speeches given by Singh and at events organised by the Samiti openly inciting violence against a certain community.

The court further directed the district magistrate and superintendent of police of Yavatmal and Raipur to take notice of the allegations and take appropriate action as advised and required.

Also Read: SC verdict dashed Naidus hopes of getting case quashed, says YSRCP

Noting that a few speeches delivered by Singh previously were certainly objectionable, it said that no pre-emptive action can be taken for his future speeches.

Certainly the statements are objectionable.in view of the assertions made, we direct the district magistrate and superintendent of police of Yavatmal, Raipur to take notice of the allegations and take appropriate action as advised and required, the bench said.

Police will install CCTV cameras with recording facility so that in case anything occurs, the perpetrators can be booked, said the court.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the applicant along with advocate Nizam Pasha pointed out that Singh and the Samiti are repeat offenders who have made similar speeches at various events across many states but no preventive action is taken to restrain them.

The application sought to withdraw the permission granted for the two events considering their track record.

The bench, however, refused to pass any restraint order against the programme saying that neither the Samiti nor the BJP legislator was a party in the application or the petition filed seeking curbs on hate speeches.

There cannot be pre-emptive orders passed. It is for the concerned government in the state to decide any action against him, the bench told Sibal.

The Court noted that last year in Haryanas Nuh district when similar allegations of hate speech were made, orders were passed to authorities to install CCTVs and record speeches to ensure the past orders of the top court are made effective.

Guidelines are there but we want to strengthen them. At one time when we passed orders (concerning Nuh violence), it did have its impact and it (hate speeches) did stop, the bench said.

Abdullahs application said: All speeches that are delivered by the said speaker (Singh) under the pretext of establishing a Hindu Rashtra, necessarily involve the vilification of, calls for violence against and boycott of Muslims. The latest alleged hate speech by Raja was at Solapur on January 6.

Also Read: No need to cap iron ore mining in Odisha, Centre tells top court

It accused the Samiti of organising events where speeches are delivered openly demonising Muslims and calling for their boycott and running a website that demeans and vilifies minorities. It complained that the police do not act against them.

Far from taking action against repeat offenders, the authorities fail to even prevent them from holding further rallies where they deliver hate speeches with impunity despite specific directions to this effect been issued by this court.

The Supreme Court has directed authorities to register criminal cases against persons indulging in hate speeches without waiting for a formal complaint to be lodged.

In 2018, the Supreme Court ordered states and union territories to appoint nodal officers responsible for preventing hate crimes and registering offences.
Hyderabad: The split verdict given by a Supreme Court bench on the petition filed by Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu seeking to quash the case against him in the multi-crore skill development case is a big setback to him, the ruling YSR Congress party said on Tuesday. Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu is an accused in the multi-crore skill development case. (ANI)

Additional Advocate General Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy said the judgement given by the Supreme Court bench, referring the case to a larger bench headed by chief justice of India was a big jolt to Naidu. The development has dashed Naidus hopes of getting the case quashed on technical grounds, Reddy said.

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Senior YSRC leader and state industries minister Gudivada Amarnath said the Supreme Court had not exonerated Naidu in the skill development case and had only focussed on the following of procedure in filing the case.

Even Naidu and his lawyers argued the case on the applicability of Section 17-A of the Representation of Peoples Act but did not claim that he was not guilty in the case. It is pretty clear that Naidu has committed the crime and he has to face the punishment in the peoples court, if not in the Supreme Court, Amarnath said.

Senior TDP leader and former minister Nakka Ananda Babu, however, accused the Additional Advocate General of behaving like a YSRCP leader. The ruling party leaders are commenting as if the Supreme Court has given the judgement against Naidu, which is not. The judges differed on the procedure followed by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government and referred it to the Supreme Court, he said.

The TDP leader said it was in fact, a partial victory for Naidu. We need to see whether the case will be referred to a three-member bench or a five-member bench or even a Constitutional bench. Naidu is going strictly as per the law to get out of the cases illegally foisted on him, he said.
Kolkata: The Calcutta high court on Wednesday ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and West Bengal police to trace Sheikh Shahjahan, the absconding Trinamool Congress leader from Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, who allegedly masterminded the January 5 attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during a raid at his residence in connection with the public distribution system scam, lawyers who represented the federal agencies in court said. The Calcutta High Court. (PTI file photo)

The single bench of justice Jay Sengupta ordered the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) comprising equal number of officers from CBI and the state police and said no officer from police stations in North 24 Parganas should be deployed in the investigation.

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The SIT can seek assistance from central paramilitary forces to conduct raids, the court said.

The bench said that report of the SITs investigation cannot be submitted before any other court without its permission. The bench will hear the case again on February 12. The CBI and state police teams will be headed by officers of the rank of superintendent of police, a lawyer said on condition of anonymity.

The CBI expressed its reservation about conducting a joint investigation with the state police saying the latter have never cooperated with federal agencies but the court did not pay any heed to this. During the hearing, the judge criticized the local police and ED for failing to trace Sheikh Shahjahan in 12 days, the lawyer added.

We are waiting for the official copy of the court order. We have to seek legal opinion since federal agencies follow Central government rules to start investigations, said a CBI officer, asking not to be named.

On Tuesday, justice Sengupta ordered installation of security cameras at the home and business establishments of Sheikh Shahjahan. The order was carried out by local police on Wednesday.

Also Read: Sandeshkhali attack case: Calcutta HC orders interim stay on FIR against ED officials

The police came and instSheikh Alamgiralled the cameras. I havent had any contact with my brother since the incident. I have no idea where he is, , the TMC leaders younger brother, told the media even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused TMC of shielding the suspect.

Reacting to the court proceedings, Bengal BJPs chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said: We welcome it but can anyone trust the state police? We have heard from local people that Shahjahan has been seen at Sarberia, Dhamakhali and other locations. The police could have easily nabbed him but it cannot take any action unless the green signal comes from top TMC leaders.

TMC Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen said: We wont comment on todays order but it is public knowledge that the high court pulled up CBI several times in the past for its failure to complete investigations. For example, CBI is yet to recover Rabindranath Tagores Nobel prize medallion which was stolen from Santiniketan in 2004.

The North 24 Parganas police had arrested seven villagers until Tuesday in connection with the attack on ED officials. Three ED officials were admitted in hospital with multiple injuries after they fled Sandeshkhali on January 5. Their vehicles were vandalised despite the presence of armed central paramilitary personnel who escorted them. Media persons covering the raid were attacked too.

The federal agency has told the high court that Shahjahan is a suspect in the alleged public distribution system scam in which the agency arrested former food minister Jyotipriya Mallick on October 27. Mallick is currently in judicial custody.

The local police are conducting investigations against the ED as well.

The police registered a case based on a complaint lodged by Didar Baksh Mollah, the caretaker of the TMC leaders home. 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. Shahjahan was in the building at that time, ED has told the high court.

The police have also pressed charges against unnamed ED officials under Sections 354 (assault on woman to outrage modesty), 447 (criminal trespass) and 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR was registered at the Nazat police station.

ED moved the Calcutta high court on January 10 challenging the FIR.
At least six people were injured after a reported gas leak in an LPG cylinder triggered a blast in Lal Bahadur Shastri Layout within the Yelahanka police station limits of Bengaluru, said police, adding, five houses were also damaged during the incident. Preliminary investigations suggest that a leak in the domestic cylinder may have triggered the blast (Getty Images)

According to police, out of the six injured, condition of two people has been stated to be critical.They have been transferred to Victoria hospital for immediate medical attention, while the remaining injured are receiving treatment at the Yelahanka government hospital, said officials.

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The explosion occurred on the ground floor of a residence in Lal Bahadur Shastri Layout, said police.

Four houses in the close range of the explosion site were damaged due to the impact, said an official familiar with the matter. The injured have been identified as Arfaz, Fouzia Banu, Asma,said police, adding, that the identity of others is being ascertained.

After the incident, fire and forensic science teams were dispatched to the site. Providing details, BM Laxi Prasad, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) for the North East, said, We received a complaint about a cylinder explosion at Yelahanka. People from FSL, and fire and gas agency teams visited and inspected the spot where the explosion occurred.

Six people suffered injuries, two are said to be in a critical condition. The explosion took place on the ground floor of a single-story building. The residents of the house had replaced the empty cylinder with a new one on Monday night. The gas leaked at night and the explosion took place in the morning. Investigators suspect that the occupants might have switched on an electrical appliance, triggering the blast due to the gas leak.

The residents informed the fire and emergency services officials about the blast around 7.15 am, said an official.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a leak in the domestic cylinder may have triggered the blast. The five injured were residing on the ground floor when the blast occurred, said a senior officer on the condition of anonymity. He added, The impact of the blast was also felt in the adjacent houses, and minor cracks were seen on the walls. Further damage is being assessed.

One of the injured who was being treated at the government hospital was discharged with minor injuries, while others are being kept under observation, said the police.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday questioned the government's preparedness to ensure airlines have sufficiently trained pilots to land planes on CAT III-B compliant runways at Delhi airport that enable continuance of flight operations even during visibility as low as 50 metres due to fog conditions. He pointed out the ordeal of passengers amid flight delays for up to 12 hours, leading them to eat meals on the tarmac, in the background of the sorry state of affairs of India's aviation sector. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor(ANI)

Citing several media reports, Tharoor criticised the Union aviation ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for not being able to upgrade the CAT III-B to the CAT III-C category, which would allow pilots to land flights even at zero visibility. He also targeted the government for failing to ensure pilots flying to Delhi were trained to land on CAT III-B runways.

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All the way back in 2008, the UPA government could ensure a CAT III-B runway. 16 years have passed since then, with 10 years under the present government. Still, they have yet to even plan a single CAT III-C runway, the Congress MP wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in a series of posts.

According to the Delhi Airport Flight Information Display System, operations of around 120 flights, including domestic and international, were affected due to fog.

Even worse, a crane from some other construction work was blocking the operation of CAT III-B on one runway, even after repairs were complete. Delhi Airport flagged this over 10 days ago, on Jan 5th, but no action was taken, he said, raising the issue.

Several incidents of passengers being stranded for long hours are reported as the national capital is shrouded by dense fog. Large-scale flight disruptions are causing incidents that lead passengers to take unprecedented steps to hit a pilot. Visuals had also emerged, showing people sitting in groups and eating meals on the tarmac next to an aircraft after facing a nearly 12-hour delay in flight.

Tharoor pointed out that the DGCA has failed to enforce basic passenger rights, such as providing food and drink and free accommodations based on the duration of flight delays. He also cited the Civil Aviation Requirement rules, which have laid out the passenger rights on the matter, and said the airlines have openly flouted these norms.

For years, airlines have violated rules - passengers with tickets denied boarding, compensation not provided after delays, etc. DGCA hauls them up for publicity, but either takes no action or imposes fines of token amounts, he said.
The Mandya district administration has launched a probe into a police complaint alleging that the land belonging to a temple was illegally acquired. The development came to the fore after an activist filed a complaint with the Mandya deputy commissioner alleging that 14 acre land of Melkote Cheluvanarayana Swamy temple in Kesare village, in Pandavapura taluk, Mysore, was illegally registered in the name of four private individuals. Social activist Ravikumar had filed a complaint with Mandya deputy commissioner in connection with the incident (HT)

Mandya-based social activist Ravikumar had filed a complaint with Mandya deputy commissioner in connection with the incident.

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According to the complainant, the Maharaja of Mysuru had donated 20 acres of land to Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple in Melukote town of the district.

In 2001, according to the complaint, revenue department officials fabricated a document under the guise of allotting land to these individuals as per the Land Reforms Act, 1973. The complainant has urged for swift action to rectify the situation, calling for the immediate transfer of the land back to the temples ownership. In response to the complaint, the Mandya district administration has started a comprehensive examination of the records, officials familiar with the matter said. The matter came to light after the encroachers allegedly tried to sell the land by constructing a residential layout.

Pandavapura sub-divisional magistrate B Shiva Murthy, following the instructions of the DC, also conducted an on-site inspection of the land in question.

Based on the complaint that the DC received, a committee has been set up with Pandavapura, Mysuru tehsildars and temple executive as its members the SDM said. He added, The team conducted a spot inspection a week back and has submitted a detailed report to the deputy commissioner.The DC will soon initiate action into the matter.

According to prima facie investigation, the sanctioning of land in this case is illegal... the land tribunal of Mysuru taluk in 2001 had granted tenancy rights to people who are not tenants of the land. As the land is in the name of God, no one has given it to tenants, the SDM said.

The occupants of land illegally claimed that they are tenants and secured order in their favour, he added.

In our report to the DC we have recommended to challenge the order of land tribunal in the high court as occupants are non-entitled persons, said the SDM, adding that an appeal into the matter will be filed soon.

According to the officials, since the land is in Kesare village in Mysuru taluk while the temple is in Melukote which is 30 km away, the Muzarai (religious and charitable endowments) department did not visit the 20 acres land.
New Delhi There has been an overall global decline in tobacco use over the last two decades with about one in five adults worldwide consuming it in 2022 compared to one in three in 2000, according to the estimates in the latest WHO (World Health Organisation) tobacco trends report released on Monday. A man smokes a cigarette as he walks at the old bazaar in the city of Shahr-e Ray, south of Tehran, Iran on January 8. (AFP)

The report shows that 150 countries have been successful in reducing tobacco use, with India among the countries that have taken the most effective measures over the years to curb the practice.

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WHO, however, warned that tobacco-related deaths were expected to remain high for years to come, and that the world is set to miss its goal of a 30% drop in tobacco use between 2010 and 2025.

Tobacco use is still estimated to kill at least 8 million people each year, including an estimated 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke, said the report. To be sure, tobacco is not a banned substance in any country in the world but is sold with strong health advisories in most countries.

Good progress has been made in tobacco control in recent years, but there is no time for complacency. Im astounded at the depths the tobacco industry will go to pursue profits at the expense of countless lives. We see that the minute a government thinks they have won the fight against tobacco the tobacco industry seizes the opportunity to manipulate health policies and sell their deadly products, said Ruediger Krech, director of WHOs department of health promotion, in a statement.

The WHO South-East Asian Region has the highest percentage of population using tobacco at 26.5% with the European Region not far behind at 25.3%. The report shows that, by 2030, the WHO European Region is projected to have the highest rates globally with a prevalence of just over 23% while the use in South-East Asian Region will come down to 20%.

While the numbers have steadily decreased over the years, the world will make it to a 25% relative reduction in tobacco use by 2025, missing the voluntary global goal of 30% reduction from the 2010 baseline. Only 56 countries globally will reach this goal, down four countries since the last report in 2021, said the report.

WHO urged countries to continue putting in place tobacco control policies and continue to fight against interference from the tobacco industry.

Country surveys consistently show that children aged 13-15 years in most countries are using tobacco and nicotine products. To protect the future generations and ensure that tobacco use continues to decline, WHO will dedicate this years World No Tobacco Day to Protecting children from tobacco industry interference, said the UN health agency in the report.

A particular focus, it said, should be on gathering better data on tobacco use among adolescents, especially for newer smokeless products. The report said that on average, around 10% of 13- to 15-year-olds globally use one or more types of tobacco. That amounts to at least 37 million adolescents, including about 12 million who use new smokeless tobacco products.

The Newer smokeless tobacco products include the snus or dissolvable ones. Unlike traditional oral (smokeless) tobacco products (loose chewing tobacco or moist snuff), snus and dissolvable tobacco come in prepackaged portions and do not require users to expel saliva byproducts. In addition, snus and dissolvable products could appeal to youth because they are predominately marketed in flavours.

Meanwhile, six countries have seen tobacco use rise since 2010 -- the Republic of Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Moldova and Oman.

India has demonstrated a steely resolve to contain the menace of tobacco through a comprehensive control strategy that combines several demand and supply reduction measures. India, as a signatory to FCTC, is actively involved in combating the menace of tobacco with renewed fervour. From imposing a complete ban on E-cigarettes in September 2019, under the guise of preventing potential health risks to Indias youth, to bringing the new age OTT Platforms under the realms of Films and TV Rules with the same intent, implementation of 85% pictorial health warnings, ban on gutka and other tobacco control policy measures, the Government of India has exhibited complete will in protecting the youth of our nation. But it is, needless to say, more efforts are needed to change the landscape of tobacco control in India, said Bhavna Mukhopadhyay, chief executive, Voluntary Health Association of India.

As envisioned a relative 30% reduction in the prevalence of current tobacco use is possible through concerted efforts in the right direction, the significance of those could be increasing taxes on tobacco products, strengthening tobacco control laws and ensuring its enforcement.
As county commissioners hatch plans for a multimillion-dollar jail expansion, the Billings Public School system is taking a different approach to addressing youth violence and crime by training school staff to teach conflict resolution skills.

Law enforcement officials in Yellowstone County have noticed a common thread among many of the juveniles charged with violent crimes  they seem to have no conflict resolution skills short of using weapons.

Police and community leaders are looking to schools to help teach those skills. In the new Billings schools program, wrongdoing and conflict are viewed as learning opportunities. Misbehavior is reframed as harming people and relationships, rather than breaking school rules. Rather than outsourcing discipline to the front office, teachers facilitate problem-solving processes, which engage wrongdoers and those affected or harmed.

Its called restorative practices, and if it seems hippie-dippie, the program has serious backers. Its being funded through a Juvenile Justice Grant from the Montana Board of Crime Control.

The grant-funded restorative practices training for 30 elementary school and 30 middle school staff, including teachers, counselors, and principals, which was conducted by a Colorado-based non-profit called Restorative Justice Education. Participating staff attended two days of training in October and another two days in early January.

Adding strategies

The philosophy takes its name from restorative justice, a movement within the criminal justice system focusing on repairing the harm caused by a crime.

Teachers and principals asked for restorative practices training, according to Amity Burkhardt, Wellness and Resiliency Project Coordinator for BPS. The grants only provided enough training spots for 60 staff, so participants were those who were interested in the program and wanted to apply.

The inclusion of restorative practices will not change the formal disciplinary policies of BPS.

Its not the removal of consequences, but the addition of strategies, Burkhardt said.

Travis Niemeyer, principal of Beartooth Elementary, participated in the training, and hopes restorative practices can help teach children empathy and how to talk to each other.

We want to support kids through this growth, Niemeyer said. Kids arent learning through suspension.

Under restorative practices, students and teachers talk about problem behavior and come up with a plan to address it.

Both students and teachers learn how to make good choices when wrongdoing and conflict occur. They learn how to make peaceful and nonviolent choices, according to the training manual.

The foundation of the program is building community in schools, through a daily community building circle that gives students the opportunity to connect with one another.

When students know their teachers and peers, they learn better, comprehend better, and score better on tests, said Everett Vigil, the lead facilitator of the Billings training and the managing director of Restorative Justice Education.

Everrett said he hasnt faced much pushback from parents in his decade of bringing restorative practices to schools, but when he has, hes been accused of bringing therapy into schools  which is less controversial amid the present mental health crisis.

So, if your kid becomes more emotionally intelligent than you, telling you that all behavior is a form of communication, asking you to have a conference and take turns with the talking stick, requesting you to de-escalate and process your feelings, youll know why.
During his two-day visit in the southern state of Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kochi, asserting that their track record has been "synonymous with a history of corruption." He urged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers to communicate this message to the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking at the Shakthikendra Incharges Sammelan in Kochi on Wednesday.(PTI)

Speaking at the Shakthikendra Incharges Sammelan in Kochi on Wednesday, Modi said that the BJP is the sole party in India with a demonstrated track record of swift development and a clear vision for the future.

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As per a recently released report, 25 crore people were uplifted from poverty in the last nine years in the country. This is a big thing in a country where Congress only gave the 'Garibi Hatao' slogan for five decades, PM Modi said.

We saw the potential of the Kerala BJP party workers during the Nari Shakti Sammelan in Thrissur. With my own experience, I can say that only a strong organisation can have such a huge conference. It shows that you are all putting in a lot of effort. BJP is the only political party that has a track record of fast pace development and vision for the future, he added.

Reflecting on the reception in Kerala, PM Modi expressed gratitude for the love and affection shown by the people in the state. He noted the blessings received during his arrival at Kochi and on the route to the Triprayar Sree Ramaswamy Temple.

As part of his two-day visit, PM Modi paid his respects at the Guruvayur Sree Krishnaswamy Temple in Thrissur, a revered Hindu place of worship in Kerala. Additionally, he took part in the marriage ceremony of the actor and former Member of Parliament, Suresh Gopi's daughter, held at the Guruvayur Sree Krishnaswamy Temple in Thrissur this morning.

Welcomed by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, MoS V Muraleedharan, and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar at the Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery on Tuesday, Modi held a grand roadshow in Kochi, attended by thousands of supporters. This marks PM Modi's second visit to Kerala in two weeks.

Kochi set to become shipbuilding hub: PM Modi inaugurates  4000 cr projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Kerala visit unveiled projects worth 4000 crore in Kochi.

The initiatives encompass a dry dock measuring 310 meters in length, built according to global standards, and the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF), representing India's inaugural fully developed, dedicated ship repair ecosystem. Furthermore, the commitment involves the LPG import terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

Seeing the happy faces when I landed in Kochi gave me immense joy. Thank you for the grand welcome. I consider myself fortunate to have gotten a chance to offer prayers at the Guruvayur Temple in Thrissur, PM Modi said in his inaugural address.

"A few days ago while inaugurating the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya on December 30, I talked about four temples related to Ramayana in Kerala. I am fortunate to offer prayers at Thriprayar Shree Ramaswamy Temple just before the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony in Ayodhya," he said.

Highlighting the new infrastructure initiatives inaugurated on Wednesday, PM Modi said the central government is working to increase the capacity of coastal cities like Kochi.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
Kochi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will headline a protest against the Centres alleged apathy and neglect towards the state in Delhi on February 8, Left Democratic Front (LDF) convenor EP Jayarajan said on Tuesday. The decision was taken at an LDF meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. (PTI)

The protest, scheduled to take place at Jantar Mantar in the heart of Delhi, will be attended by ministers of the Kerala government, all LDF MLAs, MPs from both Houses, leaders of various parties within the coalition, and other like-minded parties.

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The decision was taken at an LDF meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday and comes a day after the chief minister held talks with Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan of the Congress and PK Kunhalikutty, deputy leader of opposition belonging to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) regarding the issue.

The state governments right to borrow funds is being denied. The Centres investments in the state are decreasing and the number of central institutions are dwindling. The lowest railway allocation given to a state in India has been to Kerala. Projects like the Sabari rail corridor are not being taken forward. In short, the Centre is halting the development of the state and UDF leaders are not coming forward to call it out, alleged Jayarajan.

The protest we are planning on Feb 8 in Delhi is not just a LDF protest, but that of the people of Kerala. We request the UDF leaders to join the protest as well as it concerns the welfare and prosperity of the state, the LDF convenor said.

Post the discussions with the chief minister, Satheesan on Monday had said that the UDF leaders will meet and decide on whether to participate in a joint protest with the LDF against the BJP-led Centre.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will decide what is good for the country and its people in dealing with the challenge to the release of genetically modified (GM) crops into the environment. Supreme Court of India (Representative Photo)

Hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the decision of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) that cleared open air release of GM mustard, a bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol said, The question before us is what is good for the country and the people.

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The Centre had last year sowed GM mustard crop DMH-11 at eight designated sites of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) before it was released into the environment.

The petitions filed by NGO Gene Campaign, Research Foundation for Science Technology, and activist Aruna Rodrigues, among others, also sought the Courts intervention to further strengthen the regulatory framework for assessing risks posed by genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Also Read: Supreme Court tells Centre to finalise Motor Vehicle Act amendments by April

Presently, India has permitted only one GM crop  Bt cotton for commercial cultivation.

The Centre has requested the Court to carry out further research on GM mustard even as the Court has set out to decide the issue comprehensively without restricting its consideration to GM mustard.

In this regard, the Court sought to know from the Centre what steps it took according to a report by a Court-appointed technical expert committee (TEC) which advised against the open release of GMOs in its report of June 2013.

On Wednesday, attorney general R Venkataramani, appearing for Centre, showed the Court how the TEC went beyond its terms of reference (ToR), and hence, the Court was not required to consider the findings given on the feasibility of environmental release of these crops.

The TEC was not meant to be a fact-finding committee but was to recommend safety measures. It went beyond the ToR. What is good for India must be seen from the ToR of the TEC, he said.

The Centre will continue its submissions on Thursday as solicitor general Tushar Mehta requested some time to address submissions.

We are not concerned with picking holes in the TEC report. We do not want to debate with scientists as we are not scientists. We will consider the report and the steps taken by you pursuant to the report and give our findings. This matter cannot be adversarial. It can only be what is good for India, the bench told the attorney general.

Also Read: SC declines to stop Yavatmal, Raipur events; tells DMs to not allow hate speech

The petitioners, represented by senior advocates Sanjay Parikh, Trideep Pais and Prashant Bhushan, submitted that they were not opposed to the experimental release of the GM crops, but its environmental release poses danger to human and animal health, besides causing irreversible damage to soil and environment.

The Court said, We are not saying there should be a ban on research, but these days, traditional fertilizers are not used. No matter how much cow dung and horse dung you put, the soil is so accustomed to synthetic fertilizers that you have to keep on pouring urea, ammonia and such chemicals into the soil.

An intervention filed by a farmer group sought to support the Centre and said that organic farming is not affordable and the hybrid mustard crop should be allowed to be grown by the farming community.

Venkataramani said, I do not mind getting into a debate on the larger issue, but there are factual things I need to correct.

We only want to vent our concern for the Indian farmers. Indian farmers had always been organic. Now we have fallen for synthetic. Thats the situation of Indian farming now as organic farming has become costly, the Court observed.

The Court had last week said that the use of genetically modified crops raises a vital issue for consideration.

The Court began hearing the matter last week after it noticed that the first petition filed in this Court in 2004 remained pending despite the case raising serious issues concerning human health and safety.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced that she will offer prayers to goddess Kali at a temple and then hold an inter-faith rally in Kolkata on January 22, the day on which the Ram Temple consecration ceremony will be held in Ayodhya. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna on Tuesday. (PTI)

Banerjee, who is also the chief of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state, said the rally will be held from Hazra Crossing to Park Circus Maidan after she offers prayers at the temple.

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On January 22, I will first offer prayers to Maa Kali and then lead the inter-faith rally. People from all faiths will take part in the rally. It will touch upon temples, mosques, gurdwaras and churches along its route before culminating at Park Circus Maidan, where a public meeting will be held, she told reporters at the state secretariat. Our people (referring to TMC workers) will take out similar processions at every community block in every district at 3pm on that day, she added. She also said that she is not holding this rally to counter anyone or protest anything.

The run-up to the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony on January 22 began on Tuesday with a series of rituals. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to deliver a speech at the end of the consecration ceremony, expected to be attended by 8,000 guests.

Earlier, the TMC chief had accused the BJP of indulging in a gimmick show through the inauguration of the Ram Temple ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The chief ministers plan for a rally in Kolkata on January 22 evoked sharp criticisms from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which alleged it may lead to communal tensions in the city.

This is nothing but preparing ground for communal confrontation(s) on a day when Hindus will be fasting, observing rituals and visiting temples, BJP national executive member and in-charge of Bengal, Amit Malviya, wrote on X.

State BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said: The TMC has decided to give the Ram Temple event in Ayodhya a miss, and that is why they are now making excuses.

Senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty criticised both the BJP and the TMC for deflecting attention from crucial issues such as unemployment with programmes like this.
Switzerland's prestigious Kunstmuseum Basel said Tuesday it would not be restituting a painting bought from a fleeing German countess in 1940, concluding that unlike Nazi loot, it was a "flight asset". The art museum bought the French post-impressionist artist Henri Rousseau's 1909 work "La muse inspirant le poete / c" from the German countess Charlotte von Wesdehlen, after she fled Berlin. Switzerland's Kunstmuseum Basel will not return painting bought from German countess in 1940 (Representative image)(AFP)

In 2021, lawyers for one of her successors approached the Basel museum with a request to investigate the purchase, and in 2022 sought its restitution. But after a research process, the museum -- which holds more than 300,000 works -- concluded it was a so-called "flight asset", rather than an artwork given up as a result of Nazi persecution. The findings "do not... support the right to restitution of the painting", the museum said in a statement.

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Rather, negotiations for a 'just and fair solution' have been advocated and have already begun. In contrast with looted art, stolen from Jewish owners by Germany's Nazi regime, the museum defines flight assets as "works of art that owners who were persecuted by the Nazis managed to bring to a comparatively safe country such as Switzerland, and then sold there".

Unlike with looted art, the owners sometimes got market-based prices for their art and were free to do with the money as they pleased. Still, these sales were ultimately prompted by the same Nazi policies of persecution, expropriation, and looting. Von Wesdehlen, who died in 1946, was a naturalised Swiss citizen of Jewish origin from Germany, who had to leave her home in Berlin due to the Nazis, the museum said.

She sold the work because she needed money to support herself in Switzerland. "The sale price was low; Georg Schmidt, the director of the Kunstmuseum Basel at the time, himself called it 'shamefully cheap'," said the museum.

The museum concluded that the circumstances of the sale did not warrant restitution, but rather that a "just and fair" solution be sought, in accordance with the Washington Principles on flight asset purchases.

The painting is currently in a special exhibition but when it moves back to the regular exhibition collection, a sign next to the painting will outline its origins.
The auspicious festival of Shakambhari Navratri is celebrated with much pomp by Hindus. It begins on Paush Shukla Ashtami and ends on Paush Purnima. According to Hindu traditions, Paush Shukla Ashtami is also called Banada Ashtami or Banadashtami and Paush Purnima is known as Shakambhari Purnima and Shakambhari Jayanti. While most Navratri begin on Shukla Pratipada, Shakambhari Navratri begins on Ashtami and ends on Purnima in Paush month. Additionally, Shakambhari Navratri spans for eight days. However, sometimes, it may last for seven or nine days because of skipped tithi. This year, it will last for eight days. Scroll through to know all the details of this Hindu festival inside. Know Shakambhari Navratri date, rituals, celebrations, shubh muhurat, significance and more inside. (Pinterest)

Shakambhari Navratri 2024 Date: When is it beginning and shubh muhurat

Shakambhari Navratri will begin on Thursday, January 18, 2024, and end on Thursday, January 25, 2024, according to Drik Panchang. The Ashtami Tithi starts on January 17 at 10:06 pm and ends on January 18 at 8:44 pm. Meanwhile, the Navratri Purnima Tithi will begin on January 24 at 9:49 pm and end on January 25 at 11:23 pm.

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Shakambhari Navratri 2024: Significance, rituals and how is the festival celebrated

Hindus celebrate Navratri four times a year. While Maa Durga gets worshipped during Chaitra and Shardiya Navratri, devotees pray to Maa Shakambhari during the festival of Shakambhari Navratri. Maa Shakambhari is also known as the Goddess of vegetables, fruits and green leaves and is depicted with green surroundings of fruits and vegetables. Hindu scriptures say that Maa Shakambhari is one of the forms of Devi Bhagwati. When humans were suffering from severe famine and food crises, Devi Bhagwati incarnated as Goddess Shakambhari to end their pain. The Goddess resides in Lotus and holds an arrow, vegetables and a luminous bow in her hands.

On Ashtami, devotees should wake up early and bathe to purify themselves. First, they should worship Lord Ganesha. Then, they pray to Maa Shakambhari, meditate, keep a statue or picture of the Goddess in the place of worship, sprinkle Gangajal, arrange fresh fruits and seasonal vegetables in front of Maa Shakambhari, and visit the temple. One should also offer halwa-puri, fruits, vegetables, sugar candy, and dry fruits to the Goddess.
Despite multiple ongoing crises around the world, the political future of Taiwan remains of critical global importance. The victory of Lai Ching-te (or William Lai) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in last weeks presidential elections  on a platform critical of the Peoples Republic of China  was welcomed by the United States (US) and other western capitals. But the extension of the DPP rule was moderated somewhat by the partys losses to the more Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) in legislative polls.

Taiwans political status will inevitably be a zero-sum matter in the intensifying global competition between China and the US. For Beijing, Taiwan is a reminder of the unfinished project of national unification by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Taiwans very existence as a thriving democracy, with a per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $34,000 (more than twice mainland Chinas), undermines the Communist Partys claims of providing the only viable political and economic model to govern the Chinese people. Furthermore, a forceful unification of Taiwan by China would push US military power decisively out of what is referred to as the First Island Chain, confirming Beijings primacy in the western Pacific.

Chinas paramount leader Xi Jinping has escalated rhetoric around the prospect of Taiwans reunification, including in recent speeches. The PLA has begun preparing for hostilities across the Taiwan Strait, with military exercises now regularly occurring to Taiwans east. Beijings imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 also set back the prospects of Taiwan retaining administrative or economic autonomy in the event of a peaceful reunification.

The US understands Taiwans importance all too well. As it initiated engagement with Beijing in the 1970s, the US ensured deliberate ambiguity in its One China Policy, which gave it latitude to continue engagement with Taiwan. At the time, such ambiguity suited China perfectly, although it soon made attempts to test Washingtons commitment. During the 1990s, the US intervened to prevent an escalation in tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Today, despite divisive domestic debates over US support for Ukraine and Israel, there is growing appreciation across the American political spectrum for Taiwan. The immediate strategic and economic repercussions are apparent, even if sometimes simplistically rendered in the form of specific concerns about Taiwans world-class semiconductor industry.

Taiwans outgoing president Tsai Ing-wen worked assiduously over her two terms to shift Taiwanese public thinking about the prospects of unification with China. She avoided loose talk about independence but worked to make Taiwans politics more resilient and improve its military preparedness. Victory by Lai will further consolidate Tsais legacy. Internationally, Tsai strengthened relations with key constituencies in the US, Japan, and Europe. But recent years have also witnessed diplomatic setbacks for Taiwan, with the government in Taipei now recognised diplomatically by less than a dozen other countries.

Indias cooperation with Taiwan has traditionally been tepid. Politically, the government in Taipei was not necessarily a natural ally in Indias own attempts at countering Chinese aggression given its own historical claims. Nor did India enjoy a track record of diplomatic or military engagement with Taiwan. Taiwans military forces and intelligence agencies were also, by virtue of their history, heavily politicised, raising questions about their effectiveness.

That said, engagement between New Delhi and Taipei over the past three decades has created new opportunities. Economic and trade relations have grown steadily. In the 1990s, India set up a de facto embassy in Taipei, and Taiwan reciprocated with an economic and cultural office in New Delhi. Subsequent Taiwan Economic and Cultural Centers have been established in Chennai and, more recently, in Mumbai. Taiwanese companies have been investing in and establishing factories in India. Following difficulties with China due to the boundary dispute and coronavirus pandemic, Indian entities are slowly exploring possibilities in Taiwan for Chinese language training and think tanks and educational exchanges.

Yet for India, the struggle over Taiwans status has very real consequences. An obvious reason is economic. Conflict in the Taiwan Strait would hinder Indian commerce with the dynamic economies of northeast Asia. It would also disrupt supply chains in a manner that would make the Ukraine war appear minor. A recent Bloomberg economics assessment suggested that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan that drew in the US would set back the global economy by 10.2% in the first year. The same assessment suggests that Indias economy would suffer more (8-9%) than even the US (6-7%). Meanwhile, a Chinese blockade of Taiwan, which some believe represents a more realistic possibility, would come at a cost of 5% of global GDP.

However, the strategic consequences of a Taiwan conflict could prove as catastrophic as the economic situation for India. Chinas forceful reunification with Taiwan would dramatically increase the probability of a unipolar Asia. New Delhi realises that a multipolar world  which it seeks in order to facilitate its own rise  is impossible without a multipolar Asia. As long as Chinese hegemony in the broader Indo-Pacific can be expected to have adverse consequences for Indias rise and ambitions, Taiwans future will remain of critical importance for New Delhi.

Dhruva Jaishankar is executive director, ORF America. The views expressed are personal
Military actions by the Yemen-based Houthi militia, officially known as Ansrallah, targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea have opened a new theatre within the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. An attack on an oil tanker in late December sailing between Saudi Arabia and India, MV Chem Pluto, by a projectile which hit the vessel barely 200 nautical miles from Indian shores, raised red flags over the prospects of the West Asian conflict spilling far into the Arabian Sea.

External affairs minister S Jaishankars visit to Iran seemed to be centred around this developing security spiral. While it is unclear whether this visit was planned recently or not, the probability of the trip taking shape due to the rising attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea by the Houthis, a group known to enjoy the patronage of Iran, seems favourable. But what are the Houthis planning, and what security issues does this raise for New Delhi?

The Houthis have been a central player in the Yemen war for nearly a decade. In 2015, as the war in Yemen escalated, India successfully mobilised its diplomacy with Saudi Arabia and Iran to install ceasefires in the countrys capital Sanaa to evacuate its citizens by air. However, back then, the Houthis were small in capacity with finite means, both financially and materially. Today, as a quasi-official part of Irans resistance across the region, the group boasts expansive capacities that include anti-ship cruise missiles.

Other weapons in the arsenal include anti-ship ballistic missiles (range over 450 km), armed speed boats, torpedoes, drones, radars, and equally importantly, an increasingly expansive online propaganda ecosystem on major social media platforms. The Houthis rallying behind Palestinians and attacking the United States (US) and Israel over Gaza is in large part to shore up domestic and regional support for themselves.

We have even seen some attacks in the vicinity of India. Obviously, it also has a direct bearing on Indias energy and economic interests. This fraught situation is not to the benefit of any party and this must be clearly recognised, Jaishankar said in a statement in Tehran. Contrarily, the statement from the Iranian side said that they underscored the importance of security in international waters and that the White Houses support for war crimes by the Zionists paves the way for spillage of instability across the region. These reveal starkly different views and interpretations.

The Iranian web of proxies installed across the region, which includes the Houthis, has been targeting western, particularly American installations in Iraq and Syria, for months. These proxies also have elements from South Asia, in the way of the Fatemiyoun Brigade manned by Afghan Shias and the Zainabiyoun Brigade manned by Pakistani Shias. In both cases, the fighters come from the two countries directly but predominantly from ethnic populations already in Iran. Pressure has been growing on the Biden administration to deliver a stern response. However, with elections looming, the White House may not want to start another conflict.

India may have little sway with Iran at this moment. Since the government decided to stop buying oil from the country owing to sanctions and pressure from the then-US administration in 2018, IndiaIran ties have been brought down to the bare minimum. Moreover, the rapidly increasing investment and trade relations with the Arab powers, notably UAE and Saudi Arabia, alienate Tehran.

Regional security in West Asia stands at a precarious intersection. While Tehran is utilising the war in Gaza to further its agendas, Riyadh, technically at war with the Houthis since 2015, normalised relations with Iran last year in a deal brokered by China. This decision in part was taken by the Saudis due to an increasingly unreliable American security umbrella. This has perhaps been the most tectonic change in strategic positioning since February 1945 when then US President Franklin D Roosevelt and Saudi King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud met on board the warship USS Quincy in the Suez Canal to seal an oil for security arrangement.

A debilitating security situation around these critical sea routes has always been a recurring strategic conundrum for India. The recent successes of non-State militant actors  the Taliban in Afghanistan to the Houthis in Yemen  bring a perilous trend of well-armed militia-run extremist States within its sphere of strategic influence, interest, and security. New Delhis security challenges have expanded.

Kabir Taneja is fellow, Strategic Studies Programme, Observer Research Foundation. The views expressed are personal
Year after year, rents in Davos hit the roof, especially during the World Economic Forum meet as most property owners try to capitalize on the annual event. The Davos Congress Center, center, where the World Economic Forum is taking place is covered in snow in Davos, Switzerland.(AP)

While all rooms are sold out during the ongoing event, weekly rentals quoted by AirBnB a few days back ranged from 7.98 lakh for a studio apartment with a kitchenette, 68 lakh for a two bedroom apartment, 26 lakh for a one bedroom apartment and 18.96 lakh for a bed in a showroom with no shower. Rents were higher for properties located close to the convention centre. A lodge was reportedly rented for 3.78 crore during the event. The same property normally rents for 44 lakh a week.

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The 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is being held from January 15 to January 19 in Davos, Switzerland at the local Swiss Alpine School in the center of city. It has welcomed more than 100 governments, major international organizations, 1,000 forums partners, as well as civil society leaders, social entrepreneurs, and media representatives.

Also Read: Davos World Economic Forum meeting 2024 : List of ministers and VVIPs set to represent India

Of Vibrant Gujarat and Dubai Expo

Real estate experts say that one can at best compare this global annual meeting to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit back home and the Expo 2020 Dubai (that was held for more than 100 days).

They said that the impact in Gujarat was felt directly on hotel rentals rather than residential properties. Most of the big hotels in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad commanded rentals that were 3X to 10 X more than the regular rack rates. Some five star hotel properties commanded anything from 15000 to 50000 per key compared to regular prices of 5000 to 10000 per key.|

Also Read: Vibrant Gujarat Summit: Exclusive vegetarian thali for guests over 3 days

In the case of Dubais property market, rates for short term rentals had shot up, especially for properties located closer to the Expo venue, say property experts.

Swiss news websites such as Swentr.site attribute the trend of increasing rentals during the Summit to the economic principle of supply and demand mismatch. Other websites term the high rentals during the WEF event as an annual spectacle of the absurd.

Numerous houses are exclusively offered for the duration of the WEF and local media reports say many housing units are kept vacant for most part of the year as landlords earn much more within this week than what they earn through regular rentals throughout the year.

According to a local newspaper NZZs website, the demand for accommodations during the WEF has seen rental prices reach exorbitant levels. Shop owners are reportedly charging between 1.66 crore to 2.49 crore per week for their spaces. Even the most affordable Airbnb room, with a shared bathroom, is listed at 1.34 lakh.

The local website also mentioned that companies and government organizations from around the world have taken over bakeries, bookstores and opticians' offices. During the WEF, these serve both as temporary offices and advertising platforms. Some residents have also vacated their homes to make room for the thousands of guests for whom there aren't enough hotel rooms, the media report said.

How ski resorts fare in terms of property rankings

Knight Franks Ski Property Index reveals that Swiss resorts lead the rankings for the second year running, with three German-speaking resorts  Klosters (16%), Davos (13%), and Andermatt (9%), occupying the top spots. A severe lack of stock and infrastructure improvements in each resort are pushing prices higher.

According to Wikipedia, Davos is an Alpine resort town and a municipality in the Prattigau/Davos Region in the canton of Graubunden, Switzerland. It has a permanent population of 10,832 (2020).

According to an article by JLL titled Facts About the Housing Market in Switzerland, in 2021, two thirds (67%) of residential buildings in Switzerland belonged to private individuals, with legal entities owning around one in ten buildings (12%). 41% of these were companies active in construction or real estate. 14% of the buildings were owned by communities (simple societies, communities of heirs, communities of property, communities of municipalities).

It observed that Switzerland is a country of tenants. At the end of 2021, there were 2.4 million tenant households and 1.4 owner-occupier households. The urban cantons Basel-Stadt (83%) and Geneva (78%) had the highest proportion of rented dwellings whereas the cantons Appenzell Innerhoden (38%) and Valais (40%) had the lowest. Tenant households were primarily single-person households (45%) or couple households with or without children (44%). These two household types correspond to 37% and 54% of all households, respectively.

Regardless of size, the average net rent in 2021 was CHF 1,393 ( 1.34 lakh) at national level. The highest rents were found in the cantons of Zug, Zurich and Schwyz. The cheapest cantons are Jura, Neuchatel and Valais. In general, it can be observed that the longer households rent their dwellings, the lower the rents.

New dwellings, i.e., those built less than two years ago, are the most expensive. For older dwellings, leases concluded less than two years ago are at clearly lower levels. For example, a new four-room apartment has an average rent of CHF 2,112, ( 2.03 lakh) while older four-room apartments have an average rent of CHF 1,700 ( 1.63 lakh), the article noted.

It noted that more than a third (39%) of buildings were built in the past 40 years, i.e. after 1980. Whereas 45% of single-family houses have been built since 1981, only 37% of multi-family buildings were built after this year and 20% of buildings in other categories (buildings not for solely residential purposes).
For the first time since 2010, Apple Inc has dethroned Samsung Electronics to become the best-selling smartphone company in 2023. Apple, ranked number one on the list after the iPhone, accounted for a fifth of the global market with close to 235 million shipments last year. Apple iPhone 15 plus (HT Photo/Vishal Mathur)(HT_PRINT)

Samsung, whose shipments slumped double-digits to 226.6 million, came in second, ahead of Chinese device makers like Xiaomi Corp. This comes despite Apple iPhone's demands hitting a slump in many countries due to availability of cheaper alternatives.

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While Apple has dominated the holiday quarter in recent years, its surge ahead of Samsung over a full year is unprecedented and suggests Apple is weathering an industrywide slump better than rivals.

Apple iPhone 15 had a lukewarm reception in China, which is its biggest market in the world, due to the growing popularity of Huawei Technologies Co. in the country. However, Apple managed to expand its base in 2023 through aggressive offers amid rising demand for premium smartphones.

Research firm IDC's director Nabila Popal said, "While we saw some strong growth from low-end Android players like Transsion and Xiaomi in the second half of 2023, stemming from rapid growth in emerging markets, the biggest winner is clearly Apple."

Popal further added, "All this despite facing increased regulatory challenges and renewed competition from Huawei in China, its largest market. Apples ongoing success and resilience is in large part due to the increasing trend of premium devices, which now represent over 20% of the market.

How Apple dethroned Samsung

While Apple has been facing a slump in China, the company drove up sales after the shift up the smartphone price chain driven in part by attractive trade-in offers and interest-free financing, according to IDC.

The research firm further said that Apple has been the only firm among the top three to record a global growth of 3.7 percent. However, the company is still not immune to the wider decline in demand.

Apple has been able to dethrone Samsung in the race to the top since the price range of premium smartphones by the latter has been on an exponential rise, while Apple is trying to keep its rates contained over the last two years.

However, the iPhone-maker is facing a decline in China due to heavy competition from local tech powerhouse Huawei, which reclaimed some of the market share it lost after US sanctions by releasing the Mate 60 Pro smartphone running on an advanced made-in-China processor.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)
A Billings man admitted Wednesday to offering meth to a teenager in exchange for sexual acts.

Bradley Engelhardt Thompson pleaded guilty in Yellowstone County District Court to felony counts of child sex abuse and drug possession with intent to distribute. The 40-year-old reached a plea agreement with county prosecutors after criminal charges were filed last year. His guilty plea followed an investigation on the part of state and federal authorities.

In May 2023, court documents said agents with the FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation were aware that Thompson was giving meth to teenage girls at his South Side home. Police spoke with several of the girls, none of whom said they had sex with Thompson in exchange for drugs. However, Thompson did offer at least one girl money in exchange for lewd pictures.

That same month, Thompson began an online exchange with an underage girl, during which he badgered the girl to meet with him and sent a picture of what appeared to be meth. Thompson then started exchanging messages with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl, sending her photos of his penis and encouraging her to send him pictures of herself.

Police arrested Thompson on May 31, 2023, according to court documents, and found him carrying a baggie containing meth. He agreed to speak with investigators, and said he had 17- and 18-year-olds at this home while he smoked meth, but he wasnt sure if any others smoked from his bong. None of the girls at his home ever paid Thompson for meth, he said, but he frequently shared the drug with others.

Thompson was booked into Yellowstone County Detention Facility that same day. He was initially charged with prostitution of a child and possession with intent to distribute. Thompson, who was previously sentenced for drug possession, remained in custody on a $250,000 bond.

In exchange for Thompsons guilty plea, prosecutors are recommending he be sentenced to 25 years in prison for child sex abuse, with no time suspended, and five years for drug possession to run concurrently. In Montana, a conviction for child sex abuse comes with the possibility of up to life in prison.

Thompson entered his guilty pleas Wednesday via teleconference, appearing before Yellowstone County District Judge Jessica Fehr via Zoom. His sentencing will be scheduled after he undergoes a psychosexual evaluation.
ChatGPT creator OpenAI is working with the US military on a number of projects including cybersecurity capabilities, Bloomberg reported.



OpenAI is developing tools with the Pentagon on open-source cybersecurity software. It is also collaborating with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA for its AI cyber challenge.



The ChatGPT maker has also held initial talks with the Biden administration on methods to assist with preventing veteran suicide, OpenAI's vice president of global affaors Anna Makanju said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.



ALSO READ: OpenAI, Microsoft sued again for copyright infringement: No different than any other thief



Recently, Sam Altman-led OpenAI had removed language in its terms of service while banning artificial intelligence from military applications. Makanju has now described the latest decision as part of a broader update of policies.



Because we previously had what was essentially a blanket prohibition on military, many people thought that would prohibit many of these use cases, which people think are very much aligned with what we want to see in the world, she said. But OpenAI maintained a ban on using its tech to develop weapons, destroy property or harm people, Makanju told Bloomberg.



ALSO READ: 'Checking whether...': EU examines Microsoft investment in OpenAI OpenAI is developing tools with the Pentagon on open-source cybersecurity software(REUTERS)

Microsoft Corp., which happens to be OpenAI's largest investor, has been providing several software contracts to the US armed forces and other government branches.



OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Microsoft are assisting the US Defense Advanced Research Agency with its AI Cyber Challenge to find software that will automatically fix vulnerabilities and defend infrastructure from cyberattacks.



In another development, OpenAI has also come out with a plan to prevent its tool from being misused to spread election-related misinformation as voters in more than 50 countries including India prepare to vote in general elections this year.

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In a blog post, OpenAI stated preexisting policies and newer initiatives to prevent the misuse of its wildly popular generative AI tools, AP reported.

The ChatGPT maker said it plans to continue our platform safety work by elevating accurate voting information, enforcing measured policies, and improving transparency.
Samsung on Wednesday unveiled the Galaxy AI-powered latest lineup of smartphones, the Galaxy S24 series at its Unpacked event. The lineup comprises three variants, i.e Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24.



The new S24 series is packed with latest AI functions, a move intended to attract more buyers, especially after Samsung has been overtaken by rival Apple as the largest smartphone seller in the world.



The new S24 smartphones will be equipped with a two-way voice translation in real time of a live phone call conducted in two different languages. This feature is available in 13 different languages, and the on-device AI function is offered via Samsung's own generative AI training.



Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 LIVE coverage A Samsung smartphone Galaxy S24 is displayed during its unveiling ceremony in Seoul, South Korea.(Reuters)

The Galaxy S24 series transforms our connection with the world and ignites the next decade of mobile innovation, Galaxy AI is built on our innovation heritage and deep understanding of how people use their phones. Were excited to see how our users around the world empower their everyday lives with Galaxy AI to open up new possibilities," TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, said in a statement.

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The Samsung Galaxy S24 series also offers a Google-powered circle to search function. The user, by circling any part of an image on screen can, search it in Google.

The other features include AI translation and changing the tone of messages to casual, formal, business or social media.

There are also AI summaries and translation of voice recordings, "generative editing" of photos that fill in non-existent backgrounds, and a feature that turns real-time videos into slow-motion by filling in non-existent frames with AI.

On-device AI refers to generative AI functions that are downloaded to each user's device after being trained, which do not need to connect to the cloud.

Companies like Qualcomm and Samsung are touting on-device AI as more secure for personal information, as it does not need to send data to the cloud for use.



(With Reuters inputs)




A man took to X to share 'late-night scenes' from Bangalore Airport after flight delay. He expressed his disappointment with IndiGo Airlines after the airline kept delaying his flight. He also posted a video that shows passengers waiting in front of an IndiGo counter at the airport. IndiGo passenger expressed his disappointment with IndiGo Airlines for delaying flights every 30 minutes on January 16. (REUTERS)

"Yesterday, late night scenes from Bangalore Airport while flying to Pune...5 times flight got delayed every 30 mins they informed and the last stupid reason they gave was they don't have crew members for the flight. Indigo at its worst," wrote Someswar Deb on X.

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The video showed several passengers lined up before the IndiGo check-in counter, questioning and complaining to the staff.

Watch the video here:-

Since being shared on January 16, the X post has accumulated around four lakh views. The share has also garnered numerous reposts and comments.

Here's how people reacted to this post:

"Same old story every day. They want to charge for everything but dont want to give even basic minimum services," posted an individual.

Another wrote, "How public expecting flights to go on time when it's 0 visibility in North India... And how one can blame airlines for the same... Will they fly in 0 visibility?"

Tagging DGCA and Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia in the comment, a third user wrote, Will the government take any action against these airlines and protect passengers right? @IndiGo6E is not able to serve passengers.
Pankaj Tripathi is busy promoting his upcoming film Main Atal Hoon, which is slated to release on January 19. As part of the films promotions, he visited the newly inaugurated Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu in Mumbai with the students of DAV School. The actor also shared a video from his visit to Atal Setu on Instagram. Mumbai: Pankaj Tripathi travelling on a bus full of students ahead of the release of his upcoming film Main Atal Hoon. (Instagram/@pankajtripathi)

The video shows Pankaj Tripathi travelling on a bus full of students from Atal Bihari Vajpayees alma mater. As the video goes on, he shares that a new promo of the film featuring the students will be released. He also shows a framed art piece gifted to him by one of the students, which features the poster of his film. Additionally, he asks the other students to show the art they have created.

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Watch the video shared by Pankaj Tripathi here:

The video, since being shared a day ago on Instagram, has accumulated over six lakh views, and the numbers are still increasing. The video has also been liked by over one lakh people. Many also dropped comments after watching the video.

Heres how people reacted to the video:

King of simplicity, posted an individual.

Another added, All the best, sir, for your movie.

Aapki saadgi bahut achchi lagti hai Pankaj bhaiya [I really like your simplicity, Pankaj brother], expressed a third.

A fourth commented, Love from Pakistan.

One of the best actors, Pankaj Tripathi ji, shared a fifth.

About Main Atal Hoon

Main Atal Hoon is directed by Ravi Jadhav, who has also written the film with Rishi Virmanu. In the film, Pankaj Tripathi plays the role of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos on January 16. In a conversation with Brge Brende, the President of the World Economic Forum, Zelenskyy slammed Putin and said, "I dont believe Vladimir Putin is capable of changing, only humans can do that." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos,(AP)

Zelenskyy on Russian Federation

He began his address by talking about the difference between autocracy and democracy. He said, "How much longer will the people of Russia allow Putin? And afterwards, it's not important whether it's war or elections or to be the head of state. The question is, for how long will the people allow it? That is the principle of democracy, and this is the difference." (Also Read: Zelensky's frozen products remark at Davos: Vladimir Putin is a predator)

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He further talks about how people in Russia need to change their thinking. "For how long are people ready to not hear anything, to be deaf, to not see anything, to pretend everything's okay, everything is going well. That's the question for the people of the Russian Federation," said Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy's remark on Putin

While he urged people to move towards a change for the betterment, he also mentioned that Putin is not capable of it, as change is something that 'only humans can do'. (Also Read: Ukraine's Zelensky says Vladimir Putin won't stop war 'until we all finish him')

Who did Zelenskyy meet at the World Economic Forum?

As the war took a hit on Ukraine's economy, Zelenskyy also made efforts to meet international investors. His office said the Ukrainian president met JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N) CEO Jamie Dimon and other other senior JPMorgan executives. He also connected with top management of BlackRock, Bridgewater Associates, the Carlyle Group, Blackstone, Dell and ArcelorMittal. Ukraine's economy ministry said about 100 senior executives joined the meeting.

The focus of this meeting was rebuilding Ukraine and modernising the economy of the country, which has been devastated due to war.

According to his office, Zelensky discussed the necessity of creating and implementing financial instruments that combine public and private capital. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko stated that Kyiv was attempting to expand war insurance for businesses and wanted to strengthen its air defence further.
At least 18 people have died after an explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand on Wednesday, a rescue worker said. The blast occurred at around 3:00 pm (0800 GMT) near Sala Khao township, in central Suphan Buri province.

"Eighteen found dead, confirmed," the rescue worker said, revising down his earlier estimate of 20.

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The blast occurred at around 3:00 pm (0800 GMT) near Sala Khao township, in central Suphan Buri province.

Police told AFP authorities were still checking the official death toll.

"There were deaths, we are checking how many people died," police colonel Theerapoj Rawangban told AFP.

"We do not see more damage toward other houses or people who live in the (nearby) community," he added.

There was no indication of what may have caused the explosion.

Images shared by the local rescue service showed metal debris littered on the ground, and a huge plume of black smoke.

Explosions at workshops producing firecrackers and other pyrotechnics are not uncommon in Thailand.

Ten people died, and more than 100 were injured, after an explosion in an fireworks warehouse in Sungai Kolok town in southern Narathiwat province last year.

The Southeast Asian kingdom also has a poor safety record in the construction sector and deadly accidents are common.
Toronto: The Canadian government has announced that it will halt funding research in sensitive technology areas if any of the researchers are connected to military, national defence or state security entities that pose a risk to Canadas national security. Ottawa also published a blacklist of over 100 of these institutions, with nearly 90 of them in China. HT Image

The list of the proscribed Named Research Organisations (NROs) also include those from Russia and Iran.

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While Canadian-led research is defined by its excellence and collaborative nature, its openness can make it a target for foreign influence, increasing the potential risks for research and development efforts to be misappropriated to the detriment of national security, a joint statement from Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Health Mark Holland and Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc, said.

These measures will be implemented under the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern which lists the NROs and the sensitive technology research areas. We encourage researchers and institutions to continue to exercise due diligence in all of their research partnerships, the ministers said.

The release said that the research areas identified are for advanced and emerging technologies that are important to Canadian research and development, but may also be of interest to foreign state, state-sponsored, and non-state actors, seeking to misappropriate Canadas technological advantages to our detriment. The list has 11 broad heads including digital infrastructure, energy, weapons, artificial intelligence, life sciences, quantum science and robotics and autonomous systems.

While advancement in each of these areas is crucial for Canadian innovation, it is equally important to ensure that open and collaborative research funded by the Government of Canada does not cause injury to Canadas national security or defence, the statement noted.

The Chinese institutes named include, among others, the Academy of Military Science, Beihang University, Beijing Institute of Technology, China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Hunan University, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, National Defense University, Tianjin University and University of International Relations.

This list is composed of research organizations and institutions that pose the highest risk to Canadas national security due to their direct, or indirect connections with military, national defence, and state security entities, the release said.
Afghanistan's former vice president Amrullah Saleh on Wednesday took a stinging jibe at Pakistan after the airstrikes on its territory by Iran, saying the vision of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the revisionism of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq are all faltering. Former Vice President of Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh.(AFP / File)

Calling the airstrikes on alleged militant bases in Pakistan a great and courageous move, Saleh wished Afghanistan's military under the West-backed government had such capability to target the Quetta Shura, the leadership council of the Afghan Taliban, when they were based in the neighbouring country for over 20 years.

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The term "Quetta" comes from the Pakistani city of Quetta, where the leadership council is believed to have been based at various times. The Quetta Shura has played a significant role in the Taliban's organizational structure and decision-making processes.

Recalling his encounter with General Parvez Musharraf, Saleh said the then-Pakistan president told him that his country is not a banana republic where you can send your agents claiming the presence of dreaded Al Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden.

"I replied, Mr. President, that is the title you just give to your country not me. Maybe it is. I din't know then and I don't know now the meaning of the banana republic but I think it means that if a country has nuclear arsenal but gets kicked from all sides, (sic)" Saleh wrote in a post on X, mentioning US Navy SEALs' May 2011 operation to kill Laden, India's surgical strikes, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan's attacks from Waziristan, and the latest missile strikes by Iran.

The vision of Jinah and the re-visionism of Gen. Zia are all faltering. I don't mean to hurt anyone's feelings, he added.

Pakistan on Wednesday condemned Iran for allegedly violating its airspace and carrying out a strike inside Pakistani territory that it says killed two children.

This violation of Pakistans sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences, the foreign ministry said in a statement posted to its website. It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran.
Iran's top diplomat said that the country targeted an "Iranian terrorist group" in Pakistan after Islamabad said the strike killed two children. Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, None of the nationals of the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan were targeted by Iranian missiles and drones, adding, The so-called Jaish al-Adl group, which is an Iranian terrorist group, was targeted. Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian gestures during a discussion at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos.(AP)

Amir-Abdollahian said Iran's attack on "Pakistan's soil" was a response to the Jaish al-Adl group's recent deadly attacks on the city of Rask.

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The strike in Pakistan came after Iran also launched attacks in Iraq and Syria against "anti-Iranian terrorist groups".

"The group has taken shelter in some parts of Pakistan's Balochistan province," he said, adding that "we've talked with Pakistani officials several times on this matter".

Iran's foreign minister asserted that Tehran respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan but would not "allow the country's national security to be compromised or played with".

What has Pakistan said on the strike?

Pakistan condemned the strike near the nations' shared border and recalled its ambassador from Iran while blocking Tehran's envoy from returning to Islamabad. Pakistani caretaker PM Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar also met Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of Davos, Associated Press reported.

What we know on Jaish al-Adl attacks in Iran?

At attack on January 10 on a police station in Rask killed a policeman, almost a month after 11 police officers were killed in a similar attack in the area. Both attacks were claimed by Jaish al-Adl which Iran has blacklisted as a "terrorist" group.

What Iran foreign minister said on Mossad HQ attack?

The foreign minister said that Tehran shared intelligence with Iraq about what it said were activities of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad in the Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned that a "full-fledged confrontation" between Israel and Lebanon would be a "total disaster" for the world as he spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Calling for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza again, he said, The spillover that is already taking place, the risk of a full-fledged confrontation in Lebanon, it would be a total disaster. We need to avoid it at all cost. Israel-Hamas War: UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Gaza.(AFP)

This comes as the Lebanese-Israeli border witnesses a near daily exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, amid Gaza war. Meanwhile, Houthis have also struck shipping in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The United Nations chief said, What we are seeing in the Red Sea, all this demonstrates that it's not enough. It's very important to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. It's very important to have a humanitarian ceasefire.

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Reiterating his demand for an independent Palestinian state to be established, Antonio Guterres said, I believe that the present situation has demonstrated that the two-state solution is an absolutely central way to solve this problem.

This comes as the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said that many residents are no longer able to see "the future in the Gaza Strip".

"You have hundreds of thousands of people living now in the street, living in these plastic makeshift (tents), sleeping on the concrete," he said, adding, The north for us is a pocket of humanitarian catastrophe. Would you even encourage anyone to go to the north when we know the north is infested by UXOs -- unexploded ordnance -- and rubble, and non-functioning services?

What's happening in Gaza?

Fighting continued in Gaza since Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel that killed 1,140 people. Israel's bombardments and ground assaults have killed at least 24,448 Palestinians, more than 70 percent of them women, young children and adolescents. Half a million children in Gaza aged six to 14 are estimated to have no access to education, it was reported.
A former Helena West Valley Fire Rescue chief has been placed under home detention on pending charges he participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection in Washington, D.C.

Frank Dahlquist, 45, was charged Jan. 11 with felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers. He was arrested Jan. 10 by FBI agents.

He appeared Tuesday in front of U.S. District Court Judge John Johnston in Great Falls.

Johnston ordered during the 11-minute hearing that Dahlquist be released after processing. He is expected to appear remotely Thursday in front of a District of Columbia U.S. District Court judge.

He also faces several misdemeanor offenses, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, a U.S. Department of Justice news release states.

Dahlquist is under home detention and not allowed to consume alcohol or narcotics, possess a firearm and submit to testing for a prohibited substance. He must submit to supervision by the U.S. Probation office. He is restricted to his residence with conditions.

The FBI asserts media footage from Jan. 6, 2021, shows Dahlquist "spraying an orange-colored chemical agent directly into the face of a police officer. Following this attack, the officer was required to seek medical attention. Dahlquist was then captured on body-worn camera footage spraying a chemical agent toward the face of a Metropolitan Police Department officer. This officer was also required to seek medical attention."

Dahlquist also allegedly entered the Capitol, where he walked around recording his progress with his cellphone camera for about 20 minutes before returning outside where he "continued to engage with law enforcement," for about another hour.

Marc Boutilier, board chair of West Valley Fire Rescue, said Dahlquist submitted his resignation Wednesday morning.

He said service to those residents protected by West Valley Fire Rescue will not be interrupted and that the volunteer department would continue to concentrate on providing high-quality service.

Dahlquist was sworn in November 2022 as the new fire chief of West Valley Fire Rescue, replacing Jerry Shepherd, who retired. He and his family moved to Helena from Monroe, Washington, West Valley officials said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
Two children lost their lives, and three others sustained injuries in what Pakistan claims to be an "illegal" airstrike conducted by Iran. The incident prompted Pakistan's foreign ministry to summon Tehran's top diplomat in Islamabad, expressing vehement protest against the alleged unprovoked violation of its airspace. The Iranian flag(REUTERS)

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency and state television had said that missiles and drones were used in the strikes in Pakistan. Press TV, the English-language arm of Iranian state television, attributed the attack to Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Confusion followed the announcement from Iran as state media reports on it soon disappeared.

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Iran said that the target of its attacks was the bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl, potentially further raising tensions in a Middle East already roiled by Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Jaish al-Adl, known as the Army of Justice, is a Sunni militant group founded in 2012, primarily operating across the border in Pakistan. The group has a history of claiming responsibility for bombings and abduction of Iranian border police.

While Iran has engaged in border clashes with militants in the past, launching a missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan was an unprecedented move. Iranian reports have placed the strikes in the mountains of Pakistans Baluchistan province.

Pakistan strongly condemned the violation of its sovereignty, deeming it "completely unacceptable" and warning of potential serious consequences.

Tensions between Tehran and Islamabad have often involved accusations of allowing militants to operate from each other's territories, although direct engagement by official forces is rare. The Pakistani foreign ministry expressed heightened concern over the airstrike, stressing the occurrence of such an "illegal act" despite established communication channels between the two nations.

"It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan's strong protest has already been lodged with the concerned senior official in the Iran ministry of foreign affairs in Tehran," the statement read.

"Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighbourly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence," it added.

The attack took place a day after similar Iranian strikes in Iraq and Syria.

Iran's missile attacks targeted what it claimed were Israeli "spy headquarters" in Irbil, the capital of Iraq's northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and locations associated with the Islamic State group in northern Syria. The strikes, occurring amid heightened regional tensions, came after the Islamic State claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings earlier in the month.

Irans Revolutionary Guard said in a statement that it launched four missiles at IS positions in Syria's Idlib province and 11 missiles at the Kurdish region in northern Iraq, where it said it hit a centre of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency.

Qassim al-Araji, the adviser for national security affairs to Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani who is heading a committee investigating the attack in Irbil, said Iran's "claims of targeting a Mossad headquarters are baseless.

Iraq, meanwhile, has recalled its ambassador from Tehran for consultations and summoned Irans charge daffaires in Baghdad in protest over Iranian strikes on northern Iraq. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry labelled the Iranian attack as a "blatant violation" of Iraq's sovereignty, strongly contradicting principles of good neighbourliness and international law, and posing a threat to the security of the region.
Toronto: The mayors of the towns of Brampton in Ontario and Surrey in British Columbia have jointly asked Ottawa to act to stem the menace of extortion attempts that have targeted Indo-Canadian businesses in their areas and also in other parts of Canada. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke addressing a community forum on extortion attempts targeting Indo-Canadian businesses on January 6. (Courtesy Vedic Hindu Cultural Society)

Brampton mayor Patrick Brown and his Surrey counterpart Brenda Locke sent a letter to Canadas Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc in this regard last week. According to the daily Toronto Star, the mayors expressed their deep concern over the increase in extortion attempts and violent acts, including shootings.

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This alarming development underscores the severity and widespread nature of these threats, which are predominantly targeting members of the South Asian business community. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and local police departments, including Peel Regional Police (PRP), have acknowledged the gravity of the situation, the letter noted.

We implore you to prioritise this issue and engage in a concerted effort with local and provincial authorities, along with necessary federal agencies, to develop a comprehensive strategy to address these extortion threats, the letter added.

It came as such extortion attempts targeting Indo-Canadian businesses have surged in recent months, and have been reported from the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, which includes Surrey, and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) which includes Brampton, and also Edmonton in the province of Alberta.

The outlet Global News had cited local law enforcement in Abbotsford in BC as believing the source of the threats could be linked to Indian gangs, particularly that run by Lawrence Bishnoi.

Thus far there have been 16 such cases reported from the GTA, 35 from the Lower Mainland, and 18 in Edmonton, where arson attempts have also been connected to extortion.

On January 6, a community forum was held in Surrey to address this matter. It was organised by the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Satish Kumar days after his sons residence was peppered with bullets in the middle of the night on December 27. This was to address our two main concerns  driveby shootings and extortion calls, Kumar said after the event.

Earlier this month, Peel Regional Police said that it was currently investigating a disturbing trend of extortion attempts targeting Indo-Canadian businesses. While it has set up an Extortion Investigative Task Force, it also announced a hotline for those facing such threats to contact police. It said that 16 such incidents in the GTA were under investigation. There are 18 investigations in progress in Edmonton and several more in the Metro Vancouver region, including Surrey and Abbotsford.

On January 4, Edmonton Police Service said 18 such investigations were ongoing in the capital of Alberta. EPS also said six persons have been arrested so far in this connection for shooting and arson incidents that have been connected to the extortion series. They include 20-year-old Parminder Singh, who faces 12 firearms-related charges connected to an October 19 shooting at a residence in the city. He remains in custody. Others were identified as Hassan Dembil, 18, Manav Heer, 18, Ravinder Sandu, 19, who were charged with arson-related offences linked to a December 19 residential fire. They have since been released. Also arrested and then released was Arjun Sahnan, 19, who faces five firearms-related charges.

On December 9, PRP arrested 23-year-old Tanmanjot Gill, resident of Abbotsford in British Columbia, for discharging a gun and firing multiple rounds at a business in the town of Brampton in the GTA. Officers are looking for a second suspect, described as a South Asian male of medium build.

In an interview with the news network CP24 on Tuesday, Brown said the joint letter was to seek Federal intervention because not only were several areas in Canada impacted, but the gang-related activity had an international dimension. We cant tolerate our residents being terrorised, he said.

The Bishnoi gangs main figure in Canada, Satinderjeet Singh, better known as Goldy Brar, is believed to be based in Brampton. He had claimed credit for the killing of Punjabi entertainer-turned-politician Sidhu Moose Wala in May 2022. The Indian government declared Brar a terrorist this year, alleging that he assisted pro-Khalistan groups including the Babbar Khalsa International, which is also a listed terrorist entity in Canada. India has also warned of the intersection between gangs and separatists. None of the allegations against Brar have been tested in a Canadian court.
Pakistan caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar urged US president to acknowledge his country's role in regional and global matters asserting that Pakistan is not a country of concern and it should be constructively engaged with. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar made the comments at Davos while attending the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) summit after the US last week designated Pakistan as "country of particular concern" for engaging in and tolerating "particularly severe violations of religious freedom." Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Pakistan's caretaker prime minister, during a panel session on day two of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.(Bloomberg)

When asked what Pakistans message would be to the Joe Biden administration, the caretaker prime minister said, Pakistan is a country of consequence, not a country of concern so we Pakistan should be constructively engaged.

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Pakistan is a mid-sized power and its actual potential and role needs to be appreciated, he said, adding, It is the need of the hour to recognise Pakistans role, be it in the region or at the global stage."

The statements come after two bases of the Balochi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan were targeted in Balochistan province by Iranian missiles and drones. On the need for a regional approach to deal with the challenge of terrorism, the caretaker PM said that China and Pakistan enjoy strategically close relations, adding that no matter what happens in the region or anywhere else, nothing can affect Pakistan's relationship with China.
Pakistan foreign ministry said that the strike inside its territory was illegal and unacceptable act after Iran targeted two bases belonging to Jaish al-Adl militants in Balochistan province using drones and missiles leading to a diplomatic crisis between Tehran and its nuclear-armed neighbor at a time of rising regional conflict. Iran Attack In Pakistan: An Iranian flag flutters.(Reuters)

Pakistan reserve the right to respond, its foreign ministry said as the country became the second of Irans neighbors to complain of an attack on its soil within 24 hours amid tensions sparked by the war between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East. Earlier, Iraq criticized a deadly Iranian missile strike that targeted an Israeli spy base in Iraqi Kurdistan in retaliation for the killing of an Iranian commander in Syria.

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Pakistan also recalled its ambassador from Iran and stopped Tehran's envoy from returning to Islamabad.

"Last night's unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan's sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations," the foreign ministry said.

Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs summoned the Iranian charge daffaires in protest at the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory which killed two children and injured three others. Responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran. Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighborly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence, it said.

Mushahid Hussain Sayed, chairman of the Pakistani Senates defense committee, said, We have to seek talks to eliminate the root causes of the issue, whether ungoverned spaces in Iran which are used against Pakistan or ungoverned spaces in Pakistan which may be used by terrorists against Iran."

What Iran said on the strikes?

Iran said its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard targeted bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl which seeks an independent Balochistan and has spread across Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Six bomb-carrying drones and rockets struck homes that the group said house their families.

China expressed concern over the ramp-up in tensions saying, We urge the two sides to exercise restraint, avoid any actions that escalate the tensions, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region."
Russia has asked its neighbour Kazakhstan to increase egg supplies to Russian retailers, the Kazakh government said on Wednesday, after President Vladimir Putin personally apologised for soaring egg prices. Russian president Vladimir Putin(Reuters)

The Kazakh cabinet said in a statement that a Russian deputy prime minister had raised the matter in talks with his Kazakh counterpart Serik Zhumangarin, who in turn ordered the Kazakh Agriculture Ministry to look into it.

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The price of eggs in Russia rose more than 40% last year and the Moscow government has said it will exempt 1.2 billion eggs from import duty in the first half of this year in order to address the problem.
Saudi Arabia said that it is incredibly concerned about Middle East security amid the Israel-Hamas war as it feels that the conflict could spread across the region. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan reiterated that there needs to be a cease-fire in Gaza in order to reach a resolution on the conflict. During the cessation of hostilities, international powers should use diplomacy to end Houthi groups shipping attacks in the Red Sea as well, he said. Israel-Hamas War: Israeli battle tanks take a position along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel.(AFP)

Were incredibly concerned for regional security, he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, adding, Freedom of navigation in the Red Sea impacts all of us. We think the priority needs to be deescalation  deescalation in the Red Sea and in the entire region. Part of that is making sure we engage with all stakeholders.

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The Red Sea has been disrupted by Houthi attacks since mid-November as the Yemeni group has fired missiles and drones and tried to capture vessels which it says is in support of Hamas and Palestinians. Last week, the US and UK launched missiles at targets in Yemen used by the group to stop Houthi assaults. But the Iran-backed group said that it would step up their aggression until Israel pulls out of Gaza as they hit a Greek-owned bulk carrier.

Saudi Arabia has been trying to reach a peace deal with the Houthis for more than a year. Although none of their own vessels have been targeted, countries have begun to increasingly avoid the Red Sea which may lead to further rises in global freight costs.

Prince Faisal Bin Farhan said that Saudi Arabia is ready to formally recognize Israel despite the war against Hamas if it takes steps toward a two-state solution .

Peace and security for Israel is intimately linked with peace and security for the Palestinians, he said, asserting, We agree that regional peace includes peace with Israel. But that can only happen through a Palestinian state.

A cease-fire in Gaza is all the more necessary because Israel is not achieving its aims in the war, he said, referring to Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement that war must much continue until Hamas is destroyed.

Frankly, we dont see any real sign that any strategic objective of Israel is coming any closer. We need to have a cease-fire immediately. Continuing as we are now  continuing to see the suffering thats happening in Gaza  is likely to lead to continuing cycles of escalation," the Saudi minister said.
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Tuesday the kingdom could recognise Israel if a comprehensive agreement were reached that included statehood for the Palestinians, ambitious talk as the war between Israel and Hamas shows no sign of easing. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister,(Bloomberg)

"We agree that regional peace includes peace for Israel, but that could only happen through peace for the Palestinians through a Palestinian state," Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

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Asked if Saudi Arabia would then recognise Israel as part of a wider political agreement, he said: "Certainly."

Prince Faisal said securing regional peace through the creation of a Palestinian state was "something we have been indeed working on with the U.S. administration, and it is more relevant in the context of Gaza".

Securing a normalisation deal with Saudi Arabia would be the grand prize for Israel after it established diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, and could transform the geopolitics of the Middle East.

The Sunni Muslim kingdom, the most powerful country in the Arab world and home to the most sacred sites in Islam, wields considerable religious clout across the globe.

After the eruption of war last October between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas that rules Gaza, Saudi Arabia put on ice U.S.-backed plans for the kingdom to normalise ties with Israel, two sources familiar with Riyadh's thinking said, in a swift reordering of of its diplomatic priorities.

The two sources told Reuters there would be some delay in the U.S.-backed talks on normalisation of Saudi-Israel ties, which is seen as a key step for the kingdom to secure what it considers the real prize of a U.S. defence pact in exchange.

PALESTINIANS

Before Oct. 7, when Iran-backed Hamas fighters launched an attack on southern Israel, both Israeli and Saudi leaders had signalled they were moving steadily towards establishing diplomatic relations that could have reshaped the Middle East.

The Palestinians want a state in territories captured by Israel in a 1967 war, with East Jerusalem as their capital. U.S.-sponsored negotiations with Israel on achieving that stalled more than a decade ago.

Among the hurdles have been Israeli settlement of occupied land and feuding between Western-backed Palestinian authorities and Hamas Islamists who reject coexistence with Israel.

"There is a pathway towards a much better future for the region, for the Palestinians, and for Israel, that is peace, and we are fully committed to that," said Prince Faisal.

"... a ceasefire on all sides should be a starting point for permanent sustainable peace, which can only happen through justice to the Palestinian people."

Israel's hard-right government has played down the prospect of it making significant concessions to the Palestinians as part of any potential normalisation deal with Saudi Arabia.

The war in Gaza started when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages. Israel says more than 130 remain in captivity.

Israel responded to Hamas' assault with a siege, bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza that have devastated the tiny coastal territory and killed, Palestinian health officials say, more than 24,000 people.

The war has raised fears of wider regional instability. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah have frequently clashed along the border with Israel, while pro-Iranian militias have attacked U.S. targets in Iraq.

Attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have disrupted shipping in the Red Sea and they say they will not stop until Israel halts its bombardment of Gaza.
The next Republican presidential debate has been cancelled by ABC News and WMUR after former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said she wouldnt participate in the event unless ex-US President Donald Trump would not appear on stage. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (AP)

Trump has refused to take part in any of the Republican primary debates so far, making Florida Governor Ron DeSantis the only candidate committed to Thursdays event in New Hampshire.

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In a statement on Twitter (formerly X), Haley said: Weve had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it."

The debate, which was slated for Thursday, was one of two such events that were planned in advance of the New England state's contest on January 23.

"Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates," an ABC News spokesperson said.

Haley's statement comes a day after Trump dominated the Iowa caucuses. She secured third-place with 19% of the vote, behind DeSantis with 21% and the ex-US President with 51%.

Also Read: Why Indian-American leaders are not happy with Nikki Haley

Ron DeSantis lambasts Haley, claims shes running to be Trumps VP

Taking to X, Ron DeSantis slammed Haley over her decision to skip the event , stating that she is afraid to debate him in the runup to the New Hampshire nominating contest because she doesn't want to take difficult questions. He went on to accuse her of running to be Trumps VP and stated that he looked forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week.

The Sunshine State governor further alleged that his GOP rivals -- Trump and Haley -- were running a basement campaign.

Im the only candidate that actually agreed to come to New Hampshire to debate, DeSantis told voters during a town hall in Henniker, New Hampshire, reported NY Post.

What does that say? We have four candidates for president now  Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and me. Im the only one whos not running a basement campaign at this point, he said.

DeSantis argued that people of New Hampshire deserve to have all the GOP presidential hopefuls answer questions in moderated debates and questioned Trump disappearance from the debates since announcing his presidential run.

The 45-year-old Florida governor further targetted Haley for spending 100% of her money attacking me and not one red cent attacking Trump in Iowa.

In New Hampshire, you cant do that, he added.

The New Hampshire GOP primary is all set to take place on January 23.

The average of Granite State polls conducted by RealClearPolitics prior to the Iowa Caucus shows DeSantis with just 6.5% of the votes, significantly less than Trump's 43.5% and Haley's 29.3%.
A Bahamas vacation recently turned out to be a tragic ordeal for a 10-year-old boy. On Monday, a Maryland boy was bitten by a shark while vacationing in the Caribbean. Authorities revealed that he was bitten on the right leg during an expedition in a shark tank. Representational Image

Royal Bahamas Police Force announced the tragic incident in a release on Tuesday. The boy was bitten by a shark while participating in an expedition in a Shark Tank at a local resort on Paradise Island, the statement revealed.

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ALSO READ: Nimrada: Trump compares Nikki Haley to Hillary Clinton, attacks her over Indian name

Following the incident, he was rushed to the hospital for medical attention. According to the authorities, the boy is currently in stable condition. The statement also added that investigations are currently underway for this bizarre incident.

Police Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told NBC News on Tuesday declined to provide the name of the resort where the shark attack occurred. When asked about the necessary precautions around the dangerous expedition, Skippings couldn't explain what protective measures were taken.

ALSO READ: I like Trump but.., Ahead of Iowa Caucus, gloves off for Vivek Ramaswamy and Donald Trump

I'm a police officer on the island, and I have never been over to the aquarium that they're referring to. As for how it's set up, you'll have to speak to personnel at the resort, the superintendent said.

This news comes after a deadly shark attack last year in Nassau, Bahamas. On December 4, 2023, a 44-year-old Massachusetts math editor, Lauren Erickson Van Wart, encountered a fatal shark attack while vacationing with her husband. At the time of the incident, the duo were paddleboarding near a resort.

Following the deadly incident, authorities revealed in a press release that Van Wart had sustained significant trauma to the right side of her body. The statement added that she showed no vital signs of life upon examination by medics at the scene, per People.
Health officials are closely monitoring a possible measles outbreak across various US states. Experts have issued a warning after several confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease in at least four states. Out of caution, authorities in the states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Washington are investigating potential cases of exposure. Representational Image

Reported cases of measles across US states

The Virginia Department of Health said in a statement released earlier this week, Out of an abundance of caution, VDH is informing people who were at various locations, including Dulles International Airport on January 3, 2024, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 4, 2024, that they may have been exposed.

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Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights, the statement added.

ALSO READ: Bitten in Bahamas: Shark tank experience goes awry, 10-year-old attacked

A similar release was issued by DC Health on Tuesday that read, DC Health has been notified of a confirmed case of measles in a person who travelled through DC area airports when returning from international travel. While the threat of transmission is low, DC Health is notifying District residents who were at these locations about their possible exposure.

Meanwhile, health officials in Philadelphia are tracking a measles outbreak with eight confirmed cases in the area. The outbreak began after an infected person who travelled overseas came in contact with others at a hospital and daycare facility, per US News. Additionally, officials in New Jersey are also closely monitoring the possible outbreak after one confirmed case in the region.

The outlet adds that last week, officials in Delaware also said, 20 to 30 people may have been exposed to measles by an infectious person at Nemours Childrens Hospital in Wilmington on December 29.
The continuous split between various blocs within the Democratic Party was exposed when Senator Bernie Sanders' resolution was pushed back in the Senate. It demanded the State Department to produce a report within 30 days on whether Israel has violated human rights amid its ongoing war with Hamas. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (REUTERS)

The resolution, pushed by progressive Senator Sanders, attempted to freeze all US security assistance to Israel until this report was produced, invoking a decades-old legislation that requires all military aid and weapons be used in compliance with international human rights agreements.

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A majority of senators struck down the resolution on Tuesday evening, with 72 voting against the proposal, and 11 backing it. Those who voted in favor of the resolution include Republican Rand Paul, along with Democrats Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, Martin Heinrich, Laphonza Butler, Ed Markey, Ben Ray Lujan, Mazie Hirono, and Peter Welch.

Bernie Sander says Israel has no right to wage war against all Palestinians

In an interview ahead of the vote, Sanders told Associated Press, "To my mind, Israel has the absolute right to defend itself from Hamass barbaric terrorist attack on October 7, no question about that."

But what Israel does not have a right to do  using military assistance from the United States  does not have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people, said Sanders, stressing that And in my view, thats what has been happening.

He further said that the United States must ensure its aid is being used in accordance with human rights and our own laws.

As per officials, the Palestinian death toll has reached over 24,000 since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on 7 October, 2023 and Israels attack has displaced most of Gazas 2.4 million residents, the Guardian reported.

Also Read: Biden 'Frustrated' With Netanyahu As Israel Rejects U.S. Requests | 'Getting Slapped In The Face'

Unworkable: White House opposes resolution as Biden calls for more aid

The White House had said it opposed Sanders' resolution and US President Joe Biden has requested Congress to authorise an additional $14bn for Israel. The United States provides Israel with security aid worth $3.8 billion annually, which includes fighter jets and munitions capable of destroying Hamas tunnels.

The head of the Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, pushed to veto the bill, claiming it is "counterproductive" and will make it more challenging for the US to stop the escalation of the expanding war.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had termed the resolution as unworkable.

We do not believe that this resolution is the right vehicle to address these issues. And we dont think now is the right time. Its unworkable, quite frankly, Kirby said in a statement.

The Israelis have indicated they are preparing to transition their operations to a much lower intensity. And we believe that transition will be helpful both in terms of reducing civilian casualties, as well as increasing humanitarian assistance, he added.

Meanwhile, Senators, including Republican Senator Lindsey Graham who opposed the measure, stated that it sent the wrong message at a time when Israel had said its focus has shifted to a more targeted campaign.

This resolution is not only off-base, its dangerous. It sends absolutely the wrong signal at the wrong time, said Graham.

Progressive lawmakers like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Barbara Lee, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar have called for a ceasefire amid anti-war demonstrations taking place all across the United States. Numerous congressmen emphasised in a letter to Biden that thousands of children had perished as a result of Israeli bombings.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made several efforts to keep his January medical emergency a secret, a 911 call has revealed. He had been hospitalised in the beginning of January due to complications from prostate cancer surgery. According to the call, an aide asked 911 operators to ensure the ambulance being sent for him does not turn on its lights and sirens. Lloyd Austin speaks at a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, Nov. 22, 2023, at the Pentagon in Washington (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)(AP)

Can I ask  can the ambulance not show up with lights and sirens? the staffer said in the recording, obtained by The Daily Beast. Um, were trying to remain a little subtle.

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The dispatcher agreed, explaining that usually when they turn into a residential neighbourhood, theyll turn them off. The operator, however, added that according to the law in Virginia where Austin lives, EMTSs must use the lights and sirens on main streets and major thoroughfares.

What happened to Lloyd Austin?

What happened to Austin was revealed much later, on January 9, when the Pentagon disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis. The surgery reportedly caused infection and he had to be hospitalised at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a statement from his doctors released by The Pentagon said.

The Defense Department was deeply criticised for taking three days to inform the White House and key defence officials about the hospitalisation. Questions were raised on how the head of the military could be away from work for such a long time without informing senior members of the administration.

The statement from Austins doctors, John Maddox and Gregory Chestnut, said that his surgery was done on December 22. All went well with the surgery but he was under general anaesthesia. "The cancer was detected early and his prognosis is excellent," the doctors said.

While the 70-year-old returned home on December 23, he started experiencing severe hip and leg pain and nausea on January 1. He then had to return to the hospital.

It was determined that Austin had a urinary tract infection, so he was transferred to the intensive care unit for close monitoring and a higher level of care," the statement said. Doctors later found that he had "abdominal fluid collections impairing the function of his small intestines."

"This resulted in the back up of his intestinal contents which was treated by placing a tube through his nose to drain his stomach," the officials added. "The abdominal fluid collections were drained by non-surgical drain placement. He has progressed steadily throughout his stay." Austin has now been released from the hospital, as per several reports.
National Bootlegger's Day is observed every year on January 17. Although the holiday is largely unofficial, history enthusiasts come together on this day to mark events dating back to the prohibition era in the United States. Here's all you need to know about this holiday: National Bootlegger's Day is celebrated on January 17 (Representational Image)

Why is National Bootlegger's Day celebrated?

National Bootlegger's Day was first observed in 2015 by Infinium Spirits. The holiday was instated to honour the legacy of farmers in Iowa who created the Templeton Rye whiskey during the prohibition era, which spanned from 1920 to 1933. Owing to its rich history, the Templeton Rye has a special day dedicated to it.

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Meanwhile, the term bootlegger originated in the Midwest America during the 1880s. National Bootlegger's Day is a tribute to those who endured the worst to distil and distribute alcohol during a period when the manufacturing, sale, and transportation of alcohol was prohibited. The day provides an opportunity to look back on the tales of bootleggers who engaged in the illegal trade of liquor and alcoholic beverages.

Per National Today, bootleggers engaged in the illegal trade of alcohol with Native Americans by often concealing flasks in their boots. Though notorious, this method was also utilised by military personnel, who would sneak liquor into their base camps in flasks hidden in their boots. While the term bootlegger was used in reference to those who smuggled liquor on land, the people who conducted such a trade via waters were dubbed rum-runners.

Things to do on National Bootlegger's Day

One of the best ways to celebrate the January 17 holiday is to delve deep and explore the history of the daring figures who distributed alcohol across regions when it was strictly banned.

National Bootlegger's Day gives an opportunity to honour those who made the Templeton Rye famous, making it available in bars again after the prohibition laws were repealed in 1933. In 2006, Templeton Rye was stocked legally for consumption by the common folk.

Another way to mark the day is to partake in themed parties filled with Templeton Rye whiskey. History enthusiasts can also take a creative approach by curating special cocktail recipes featuring rye whiskey from various distilleries.
When its mid-January and chilly outside, only one beverage can fill our hearts  hot buttered rum. January 17 is dedicated to this colonial-era beverage, and is known as the National Hot Buttered Rum Day in the US. When its mid-January and chilly outside, only one beverage can fill our hearts  hot buttered rum (Pixabay)

If you havent tried the beverage yet, here is your chance.

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History of National Hot Buttered Rum Day

National Hot Buttered Rum Days background can be traced back to the mid 17th century. At the time, rum, the popular alcoholic drink, had been introduced into the US from Jamaica. People eventually began adding rum to different drinks, be it hot or cold, to experiment with the taste.

It is believed that the Tot Toddy may be the drinks ancestor, and that it evolved and was tweaked into what eventually became hot buttered rum. The drink is associated with cold weather, and people generally enjoy it during the holiday season, including Christmas and New Year.

What is hot buttered rum?

According to the website of Wine Enthusiast, Originally intended for medicinal purposes, this colonial-era drink is steaming mixture of rum, butter, sugar, spices and hot water.

If youre weirded out by the notion of drinking butterunderstandably!let us put your mind at ease. The requisite butter in hot buttered rum gives the sipper a velvety richness and noted depth, while sugar (we prefer molasses-forward brown sugar) lends a rounded sweetness. Meanwhile, various spices and aged rum contribute additional layers of complexity and aromatics, it adds.

Of what the best rums for hot buttered rum are, the website says, Hot buttered rum is also a great excuse to use some of those liqueurs gathering dust on your bar cart. If youve still got that bottle of Drambuie or Galliano thats been taking up space in your liquor cabinet since 1983, this is your opportunity to throw in a splash and put them to work.
A new study suggests that the United States could look very different by the year 2100 as nearly 30,000 cities in the nation could turn into ghost towns, witnessing a population decline ranging from 12 to 23 percent. Reductions in birth rates combined with an intensifying urban migration could result in a major population drop in as many as two thirds of cities. Researchers at the University of Illinois said that all American cities are expected to be impacted, excluding Hawaii and Washington, D.C.(Unsplash)

Researchers at the University of Illinois said that all American cities are expected to be impacted, excluding Hawaii and Washington, D.C.

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The way were planning now is all based on growth, but close to half the cities in the U.S. are depopulating, said a senior author Sybil Derrible, an urban engineer at the University of Illinois Chicago, according to nature.com . The takeaway is that we need to shift away from growth-based planning, which is going to require an enormous cultural shift in the planning and engineering of cities.

What are the challenges that authorities face?

Researchers stressed these future cities are more likely to resemble fractured, thinning, or sprawling communities than total ghost towns, as populations shift within and between cities. That is, unless local governments and town planners can respond and adapt to the changing needs of their residents.

A massive decline in population is expected to bring unprecedented challenges, including the possibility of disruptions in essential services such as electricity, clean water, internet access, and transit due to low fertility rate and cities shrink, according to the analysts who forecasted what the next 80 will look like on the basis of past 20 years existing trends.

The new study aligns with the US Census data that indicates the United States as a whole will witness population decline by 2080.

Lower median household income more likely to witness depopulation over time

The team considered the average yearly population change for each city from 2000 to 2020 in addition to examining the population changes from 2000 to 2010, 2010 to 2020, and 2000 to 2010.

Cities with an annual population decline of five percent or more were classified as severely depopulating, one to one percent as moderately depopulating, and 0 to one percent as slowly depopulating.

They discovered that cities with lower median household incomes in the Northeast and Midwest were at a high risk of seeing population declines over time.

The research notes that depopulation, or population reduction, has become a demographic reality in many areas of the United States. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that 3.2% of the population decline between 2010 and 2017 occurred in nonmetropolitan counties.

The United States' rural areas are seeing a long-term population reduction, which is a sign of an economic change that will ultimately lower community well-being and the likelihood of a sustainable future. Young adults frequently leave the rural commercial centers, changing the demographics and leaving an aging population in depopulating areas.
After securing a record-setting win in Iowa caucuses, former President Donald Trump launched multiple attacks on his Republican primary rival Nikki Haley in an attempt to show that he is the best GOP candidate to beat incumbent President Joe Biden. In his latest attack on Haley, Trump compared her to Hillary Clinton for her name changes and posted a photo of Haley's face on the former Secretary of State's body. Ex-US President Donald Trump compared Nikki Haley to Hillary Clinton for her name changes and posted a photo of Haley's face on the former Secretary of State's body.(X)

On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump shared an image from the Indian-American's campaign, but imposed Haley's face on the body of Clinton, who was his 2016 challenger.

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The attacks come amid speculation that Haley is Trump's main rival for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024  rather than Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who finished a distant second in Iowa on Monday. It is anticipated that the January 23 primary in New Hampshire will be a closer contest between Haley and Trump, with some polls showing that ex-South Carolina Governor has reduced Trump's lead to just single digits.

On Tuesday, Haley, who has declared that the primary is now just between her and Trump, refused to participate in the next Republican presidential debate, stating she would not appear on stage unless Trump takes part.

Weve had five great debates in this campaign, Haley said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it.

Any one listening to Nimrada: Trump targets Haley over Indian name

In another post on Truth Social, Trump misspelled Haley's Indian name 'Nimarata Nikki Randhawa', which was given to her at the time of birth.

"Anyone listening to Nikki 'Nimrada' Haley's wacked out speech last night, would think that she won the Iowa Primary. She didn't, and she couldn't even beat a very flawed Ron DeSanctimonious, who's out of money, and out of hope," the Republican frontrunner wrote.

Earlier, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of White race after finishing fourth in the Iowa primary, also targetted the former UN ambassador over her birth name. In 2018, Haley addressed the same on a social media platform.

"Nikki is my name on my birth certificate. I married a Haley. I was born Nimarata Nikki Randhawa and married Michael Haley," Haley wrote.

Clinton has faced similar criticism over using her maiden name, "Rodham," and other times for not doing so.

Trump ridiculed Clinton for not using her maiden name anymore during the 2016 presidential election, and later nicknamed her "Hillary Rotten Clinton."
Donald Trump and his Republican opponents kicked off a week of campaigning in New Hampshire on Tuesday ahead of the state's nominating contest, with the ex-president's competitors battling to slow his march to the party's White House nomination. Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, during a campaign event in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (Bloomberg)

A day after Iowans gave him an overwhelming victory in the first vote of the 2024 presidential contest, Trump, who faces multiple criminal and civil cases, appeared in a New York court to defend himself against charges that he defamed writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused him of raping her decades ago.

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More than half of Iowa voters backed Trump, 77, propelling him toward a potentially close and acrimonious rematch against Democratic President Joe Biden, 81, in the campaign for November's presidential election.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, 45, finished a distant second to Trump in Iowa, pushing former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, 51, into third.

"We really gotta get back on to Biden and beating the Democrats, and not wasting a lot of time with these two," Trump said of Haley and DeSantis to a crowd of supporters in Atkinson, New Hampshire, located about an hour's drive north of Boston.

Trump is betting he can fast-track the normally months-long Republican selection process with a series of convincing early primary wins to force out his rivals.

Like in Iowa, the candidates face frigid temperatures and snow as they try to turn out supporters to campaign events ahead of the Jan. 23 New Hampshire primary vote.

At a hotel in Bretton Woods, a remote area in New Hampshire's White Mountains, Haley told a group of around 100 supporters who braved a snowstorm that Trump was the wrong choice.

"Rightly or wrongly chaos follows him. You know Im right," Haley, who held the rally with New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, said to cheers.

Desantis spoke at a CNN-moderated town hall at New England College in the town of Henniker, where he said he was encouraged that nearly half of Iowa voters cast ballots for candidates other than Trump.

"(That) tells me that there is an appetite for a different leader," DeSantis said. He held a campaign event earlier on Tuesday in South Carolina, which holds its Republican nominating contest on Feb. 24.

CANCELED DEBATE

With polls showing him far ahead, Trump has refused to debate his Republican rivals. Haley said on Tuesday that she would skip any future party debates unless Trump attends, prompting ABC News to cancel a New Hampshire debate that was set to feature her and DeSantis.

The debate, which had been scheduled for Thursday, was one of two such events scheduled ahead of the New England state's Jan. 23 contest.

"Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates," an ABC News spokesperson said.

DeSantis had vowed to take the debate stage alone in New Hampshire if necessary. CNN did not respond to a request for comment about its Sunday night debate.

Trump is the only current or former U.S. president to be charged with criminal activity, but he won by an unprecedented margin for an Iowa Republican contest, strengthening his case that his nomination is a foregone conclusion.

He won 51% support in the Midwestern farm state  a victory margin that far surpassed the previous record of 12.8 percentage points for Bob Dole in 1988.

DeSantis won 21% and Haley 19%, with 99% of the expected vote tallied, according to Edison Research. Following the results, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson both ended their campaigns.

Ramaswamy, who has endorsed Trump, spoke at the former president's campaign event on Tuesday night.

LEGAL WOES

Trump's Iowa triumph showed his enduring popularity among Republicans even after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters and the 91 criminal charges that he tried to overturn the 2020 election, retained classified documents, and falsified records over hush money payments to a porn star.

Trump faces four prosecutions, setting up the unprecedented prospect of a president being convicted or even serving from prison, with the courts almost certainly weighing in at every stage.

The former president claims falsely that his 2020 election loss to Biden was due to widespread fraud and has vowed, if elected again, to punish his political enemies and introduce new tariffs on imports.

Nearly two-thirds of Iowa caucus-goers embraced his false voter fraud claims, saying they did not think Biden legitimately beat Trump. More than 60% said Trump would be fit to serve as president even if convicted of a crime.

He has drawn criticism for increasingly authoritarian language, including comments that undocumented immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country." He has also vowed to end the almost two-year-old Ukraine-Russia war in 24 hours, without saying how.

Biden used Trump's decisive Iowa win to frame the November election as a battle against "extreme MAGA Republicans," a reference to Trump's Make America Great Again slogan, and urged supporters to donate to his re-election effort.

While Trump's performance in Iowa showed his enduring popularity among Republican voters, it remains unclear how that might translate among a wider swath of the American public in November's general contest. Iowa and New Hampshire - which are majority white and less populated - historically have played outsized roles in presidential campaigns given their early spots on the campaign calendar. But Democrats have changed their playbook, shifting their initial nominating contests to South Carolina, Nevada and other more densely populated and racially diverse states that they say better reflect the nation.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll this month found many Americans appear unenthusiastic about their choices so far with Trump and Biden in a dead heat.
After finishing fourth in the Iowa caucus, Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy called on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to drop out of 2024 Republican presidential race and endorse Donald Trump. US entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (R) endorses Republican presidential candidate former US President Donald Trump during a campaign event at the Atkinson Resort and Country Club in Atkinson, New Hampshire, on January 16, 2024. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)(AFP)

Ramaswamy's remarks come after he joined ex-US president Trump at New Hampshire rally to encourage voters to support him.

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[The GOP electorate] sent a positive message to all of us that Donald Trump needs to be the nominee of this party, and I think Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley would actually at this point do this country and this party a service by stepping aside, he said while speaking to Fox News.

When pressed by Fox host James Watters if he is calling on Haley and DeSantis to drop out right now, Ramaswamy asserted, I am, and I think that would be healthy for this country."

Especially Ron DeSantis, of the two of them, will have an important role to play in the future of this country and leading this nation. I believe that, he added.

Ramaswamy withdrew from the 2024 GOP presidential race and endorsed Trump following a lackluster performance in Monday's Iowa caucuses.

Also Read: Mary Trump mocks Donald Trump as he loses three lawyers in a day, says 'Iowa victory undermined

Trump welcomes true leader Ramaswamy on stage in New Hampshire

Lauding Ramaswamy as a "true leader" with tremendous ideas, Trump welcomed him at a campaign event in Atkinson, New Hampshire. He stressed on their friendly ties despite competing against each other.

Last night, I was honoured to receive the endorsement of a man who has become a true leader and earned the admiration of so many patriots. I've been a friend of his, even though we were competing against each other, and we got along. And he was saying, he's a great president. I kept saying, why is he running? He keeps calling me a great president, but he's a fantastic guy, a very smart guy," the ex-US president said.

Ramaswamy thanked Trump and acknowledged him as a "great president" with a "bright future."

Despite the fact that Trump and Ramaswamy were contesting against each other in the race, the 38-year-old has earlier voiced his support for the former President. He had even appealed to the other GOP contenders to promise that they would pardon Trump for federal charges he faces in handling confidential documents after leaving the White House.

In Iowa, Ramaswamy's performance was disappointing as he received support in the single digits. With 51 percent of the vote, Trump won by nearly 30 percentage points, and DeSantis secured second place with 21.2 percent and Haley came third with 19.1 percent, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Former US President Donald Trump left Trump Tower on Wednesday morning as he heads back to Manhattan court where rape accuser E. Jean Carroll was poised to testify against him for $10 million defamation case. Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower in New York for Manhattan federal court Wednesday.(Charly Triballeau / AFP - Getty Images)

The Republican frontrunner flew back to New York late on Tuesday night after addressing a campaign rally along with biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in New Hampshire.

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According to Daily Mail, some mysterious red cuts were seen on Trump's hand.

On Tuesday, Trump said that his accuser had gained fame and money through "fabricated lies and political shenanigans" in the case.

"I am the only one injured by this attempted EXTORTION," he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

Carroll testifies in court with Trump in attendance

Meanwhile, rape accuser Carroll testified in a New York court that Trump "shattered" her reputation by lying about sexually assaulting her and calling her a "wack job".

Donald Trump assaulted me and when I wrote about it he said it never happened. He lied and shattered my reputation, she replied to her lawyer Roberta Kaplan who asked why she was in court as per NBC News.

Trump stared down Carroll as she expressed her desire to dissuade the former president "from telling lies about me". He was even seen shaking his head, wincing and whispering to his attorney.

Carroll was sexually abused by 77-year-old former president in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in the 1990s, according to a New York jury's verdict last year. Carroll was even awarded $5 million in damages. The jury, however, maintained that the columnist hadnt proven her claim that Trump raped her.

The remarks that Trump made about her during his presidency are the basis for the new trial.

Carroll says she's facing online threats as Trump called her 'liar'

Carroll further stated that she expected Trump to respond when excerpts from her book, which included a section regarding Trump's assault, were published in New York Magazine in 2019.

She stated that she anticipated Trump would refute it and claim it was consensual, which the rape accuser said it was not.

In her testimony, she noted Trump's allegations of her being a liar resulted in several online threats that "ended the world I had been living in."

"To have the president of the United States, one of the most powerful persons on earth, call me a liar for three days and say it 26 times  I counted them. It ended the world I had been living in, and I lived in a new world," Carroll said.

Citing the attacks she faced on Twitter and Facebook with thousands of messages calling her a liar and ugly, Carroll said: "It was a new world, I left the world of fact and was living in a new universe and it happened instantaneously.  Much of the wording people used repeated his words."

'Sit down': Judge snaps at Donald Trump's lawyer

Alina Habba, the attorney for Trump, and Judge Lewis Kaplan got into a heated argument when she insisted that the trial should be postponed so that the former president could attend his mother-in-law's funeral. The judge instructed Habba to sit down, despite her persistent requests.

Later, Carroll's attorney Shawn Crowley complained that Trump has been loudly saying things throughout the hearing in front of the jurors.

Crowley alleged to the judge while jury was out for a break, Trump couldn't stop saying that Carroll's statements were false and also grousing that she now seems to have finally gotten her memory back."

Judge instructs Trump to keep his voice down

Judge Kaplan then asked Trump "to keep his voice down" after he denounced Carroll's testimony as false within earshot of jurors.

Im going to ask that Mr. Trump take special care to keep his voice down when conferring with counsel so that the jury does not overhear," the judge said.

Trump, who won the Iowa caucuses on Monday, claims that he never met Carroll and nothing happened between them.

Carroll is currently asking for millions more in punitive damages in addition to $10 million in compensatory damages.
An appeals panel of three Billings School District 2 board trustees have recommended that the Japanese sci-fi graphic novel series Assassination Classroom be banned from SD2 school libraries.

The Monday committee meeting was well-attended by mothers, librarians, scholars and concerned residents, who came out on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to provide their input regarding the potential book ban.

While two public comments were made in support of banning the book, the majority of those in attendance shared statements in defense of the book and opposed the banning. The panels recommendation to ban the book series from SD2 school libraries will be put to vote at the upcoming school board meeting on Jan. 22.

Discourse concerning Assassination Classroom by Yusui Matsui began when SD2 received a written request for reconsideration of media for the book. A review committee was then formed by the district to review and evaluate the request. After reading the book and reviewing the issues shared in the request, the committee meeting late last year agreed that the book should only be carried in SD2 high-school level library collections.

The review committees conclusion states, According to all objective and standardized criteria, this book is appropriate for high schoolers. Additionally there is no evidence that banning a book will result in safer schools nor intervene when someone is on a pathway to violence. Banning a book that is age appropriate and less graphic in violent content than other books for this same age group, when we have no evidence to support positive implications of a ban of this nature, is a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. Infringing on the Constitution in this manner would create a domino effect in which we must critique our entire literary collection, leading to gross censorship and undermining the entire purpose of a library.

Following the decision, an appeal was made to remove the book from SD2 school libraries all together, from the same individual. Jessie Browning, an SD2 foster parent made the appeal, stating, I am very disappointed that they chose to promote school shootings and violence against teachers by allowing this book to remain. That is the message that will be given to students by keeping this book.

School Board Chair Scott McCulloch then appointed a panel of board trustees Jennifer Hoffman, Andrea Nemitz, and Brooke Wagner to review the appeal and make a recommendation to the full board, per district policy.

It is our job to provide materials that are purposeful and useful to our students. And I just have a difficult time in our current climate in having a series of books whether its fictitious, science fiction, manga, whatever it is, that depicts and glorifies killing our teachers, said panel member Hoffman during Mondays meeting. We love our teachers. We want nothing but our teachers to be safe.

I think the problem here is, I believe some people have flipped through this book, looked at the pictures, found something objectionable and are taking it out of context, said Darrell James during public comment. After two careful readings of this book, I can tell you it has very little to do with assassination and a great deal to do with the classroom.

A quote from a character in the story details the plot in more detail, This guy vaporized 70 percent of the moon and plans to destroy Earth in March. He can do it; the issue is how to stop him. Oh, and for some reason, before ending the world, he wants to teach a bunch of last chance, junior high nobodies. The ministry of defense was quick to make the most of the situation. They gave us a mission, kill our teacher, save the planet.

James, a Billings resident with an educational background in text analysis and Shakespeare, stated that the story of Assassination Classroom is an allegory about oppressive and rigid educational systems that fail to reach unique students.

It requires an alien-like outsider resembling an octopus to use his special gifts and empathy to bring out the very best in those students. This book reaches students, said James.

Browning, a recent foster parent advocating banning the book series from school libraries is afraid of exactly that. She is concerned that the districts many homeless and foster students could be triggered and retraumatized by unnecessary violence and graphic content in these books, she said. Kids are literal. Many are not going to see the supposed meaning in this book thats actually going to benefit their academic success and mental health.

Public comment in the meeting ranged from those wishing to shield young, impressionable minds from exposure to inappropriate behaviors, to those who came in defense of the integrity of the book itself, to those cautioning the banning of books in general, describing it as a slippery slope.

Banning books is a damaging practice for a number of reasons, said Shannon Reiser, a mother of a high school student. It takes away my childs right to make decisions for themselves and also my right as their parent to make decisions.

James cautioned of the dangers of banning books, Withholding information is the essence of tyranny. Controlling the flow of information is the tool of dictatorship, he said. Making decisions for our whole district based in opinion is anti-freedom.

The appeal panel concluded the meeting by sharing their concerns to make a recommendation in line with their constituents opinions.

Im trying to do the same thing that you guys on the committee tried to do. You tried to look at it objectively. Im trying to look at it objectively based off what my constituents are telling me to do, Hoffman said.

There definitely are some undertones that you can see that those kids are relating to their teacher and their teacher is building a relationship with them. Its tough, sometimes in this position, we do what our constituents want us to do, instead of our own personal beliefs.

I was voted in based on what my constituents needs are, Nemitz said. And thats why Im here and thats who I represent. As far as Im concerned, in this moment, its no.

The panel decided to recommend the removal of the book from SD2 school libraries. The decision will be put to vote at the next SD2 school board meeting, at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 22 in the Lincoln Center auditorium. The public may email comments to the board regarding the issue, leading up to the meeting, at board.email@billingsschools.org.

A recording of the Jan. 15 Ad Hoc Committee Book Challenge meeting is available for public viewing on the Billings Public Schools website, under the school boards agendas and minutes tab, in board committee meeting recordings.
To say that the MAGA crowd are enthused about Vivek as Veep is as obvious as saying that the Bulls love Scottie Pippen. A Trump-Ramaswamy ticket? (AP)

A day after the Iowa caucuses result, former President Donald Trump, who registered a big win, held a rally in Atkinson, New Hampshire on Tuesday (local time) with fellow GOP leader Vivek Ramaswamy and thanked the Indian-American leader for endorsing him.

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After dropping out of the race on Monday (local time), Ramaswamy had straightaway endorsed Trump and urged Republican voters to put an "America First patriot" in the White House.

On similar lines, Ramaswamy again endorsed Trump at the Atkinson rally stating that there is not a "better choice" than him and urged people to do the "right thing".

"There is not a better choice left in this race than this man right here. And that is why I am asking you to do the right thing as New Hampshire and to vote for Donald Trump as your next president," Ramaswamy said in his address.

The former President also thanked Ramaswamy for his endorsement and said that the Indian American leader will be working with him for a 'long time'.

"It's an honor to have his endorsement. He's gonna be working with us and he'll be working with us for a long time. Thank you," Trump said.

X users, who have been backing Trump and Ramaswamy were equally enthused about the idea.



James Jinette wrote on X: VivekGRamaswamy gave one of the most energetic and fiery speeches Ive ever heard. Its time to take America back. America-First till the end.

Another user calling himself Mr Tesla wrote: Theyre the complete opposite of Biden and Harris. Biden and Harris are destroying our nation, while Trump and Vivek will restore it to its former glory.

Notably, Trump and Ramaswamy have been praising each other throughout the campaign.

Trump has lauded Ramaswamy's campaign and even signalled that he would be open to having him as his running mate, stating that "He would be very good...".

Ramaswamy, has been one of Trump's staunchest defenders against the four indictments levelled against him. He has dubbed him as the "greatest President" of the 21st century and even vowed to pardon Trump from all charges, on his first day in office.

The only hiccup came earlier this week, when Trump suddenly attacked Ramaswamy calling his campaign "deceitful" and urging his supporters not to "waste" their vote on him. However, Ramaswamy still said he won't criticice the former President and reiterated his earlier stance that Trump indeed is the "greatest President" of the 21st century.

Meanwhile, the GOP race will now shift to New Hampshire, where the primary is set for January 23.

In the Iowa caucuses, Trump won 20 out of the 40 delegates from Iowa with 56,250 votes -- a whopping difference of around 32,840 votes.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came a distant second with eight delegates and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley finished not much behind with seven delegates.

Trump's win at Iowa showed the hold he maintains over the party as well as its supporters, as he closed in for a 2020 rematch contest with incumbent Joe Biden, despite being levelled against multiple indictments and legal hassles.

With inputs from agencies
A woman was found dead after falling almost 100 feet inside a cave in southwestern Virginia, according to officials. A representative image of Virginia cave(Unsplash)

In a statement posted to Facebook, the Giles County Emergency Services informed that the incident took place on Friday afternoon in the Staffordsville Community outside of Pearisburg. They received a 911 call that a woman had fallen approximately 100 feet within a cave.

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Giles County Sheriffs Office Deputies, Pearisburg Fire Department, and Giles Rescue Squad responded to the emergency and they quickly identified the need for additional specialised resources.

What was Draper doing in the cave?

The rescue operation was soon joined by the Celco Emergency Response team along with Blacksburg Rescue Squads Technical Rescue Cave team, and they were able to extricate the woman's body. The authorities, however, did not reveal whether the cave was a tourist attraction.

Officials have identified the deceased as 38-year-old Autumn Nicole Draper, who was from Fairlawn. It remains unknown what Draper was doing in the cave. However, the incident is being investigated by the Giles County Sheriffs office.

According to the Virginia Department of Energy, the state features around 4,000 caves, reported ABC News.

Humans are presently the largest animals which visit Virginia caves. We have used caves for shelter, religious purposes, moonshine production, mining of saltpeter, groundwater, scientific and educational research, recreation, and as commercial attractions," the department said.

The Virginia Speleological Survey, a volunteer organisation that investigates caves and operates a nature park in Giles County, estimates that there are at least 253 caverns in the county alone. The organisation stated that two of the county's greatest caverns are over 118,000 feet long and 718 feet deep.
After dropping out of the 2024 presidential race on January 16, Vivek Ramaswamy has now appeared on stage with Donald Trump in New Hampshire. Shortly after quitting, Ramaswamy endorsed Trump, who won the Iowa caucus. The two have now appeared together at a campaign event at the Atkinson Resort and Country Club in Atkinson, New Hampshire Donald Trump with Vivek Ramaswamy during a campaign event at the Atkinson Resort and Country Club in Atkinson, New Hampshire, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 (Photographer: Mel Musto/Bloomberg)(Bloomberg)

Trump welcomed Ramaswamy on stage in New Hampshire, saying, Last night, I was honoured to receive the endorsement of a man who has become a true leader and earned the admiration of so many patriots. I've been a friend of his, even though we were competing against each other, and we got along. And he was saying, he's a great president. I kept saying, why is he running? He keeps calling me a great president, but he's a fantastic guy, a very smart guy. He's got some tremendous ideas and he's young, and he's got some young ideas, too, and that's a good thing. So he has a big, beautiful, bright future ahead  Vivek Ramaswamy."

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Ramaswamy then came up on the stage and said, Patriots across this state, we are in the middle of a war in this country. That's what this is. It's not a war between black and white. It's not between Democrat and Republican, even in a deeper sense. It's between the permanent state and the everyday citizen, between those of us who love the United States of America and a fringe minority who hates this country and what we stand for.

And right now, we need a commander in chief who will lead us to victory in this war. That's what we need in this country. You got to know you're in a war to win one. You can't win one if you're asleep at the switch, have your head stuck in the sand like most Republicans. And I think that's going to require somebody who isn't bought and paid for, a businessman, not a politician. Anybody heard of that? And that's why I was in this race, he added.

Ramaswamy went on to say that the people of Iowa spoke loud and clear last night. And I'm a big believer that we the people create a government that is accountable to us, not the other way around, that we the people choose who leads this country, he said.

He added, And so we heard we the people last night. And that is why last evening, I met my friend here. We met in person, and I told him that I would endorse Donald J. Trump for president of the United States and do everything in my power to lead us to victory in this war.

Vivek Ramaswamy blasts Nikki Haley

Ramaswamy also took a dig at Nikki Haley. We do have some enemies that we need to defeat on the other side, but we have challenges to address in our own party right here at home. So you know what? If you want somebody who's going to foist onto you to use your social media account, you want to use a driver's licence to do it, to have the right to use the Internet, this man's not your man. There's another candidate in this race who'll do that for you. It's Nikki Haley," he said.

"You want to cut Social Security, you want to cut Medicare, you want to cut veterans benefits so we can fork over more money to Ukraine so some kleptocrats can buy a bigger house. Vote for Nikki Haley, not this man, he said.

But if you want to actually put an agenda that puts Americans first, to say that the moral obligation of your leaders is to the citizens of this country, not another one," Ramaswamy said, adding that there is not a better choice left in this race than this man right here.

"And that is why I am asking you to do the right thing as New Hampshire and to vote for Donald J. Trump as your next president, Ramaswamy said.

When Donald Trump attacked Vivek Ramaswamy ahead of Iowa caucuses

Notably, two days before the Iowa caucuses, Donald Trump criticised Vivek Ramaswamy publicly for the first time. "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 his social media platform, Truth Social.

The attack stemmed from shirts saying 'Save Trump, Vote Vivek' that Ramaswamy's campaign had been handing out. Ramaswamy posted a photo with a group of men wearing those shirts, which came to Trump's notice.
US top diplomat Antony Blinken's Boeing plane broke down on Davos trip leaving him stranded, Bloomberg reported, owing to which the Secretary of State was unable to fly home as scheduled due to a critical error with his aircraft. Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, during a conversation session on day two of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. (Bloomberg)

Why did Antony Blinken's plane break down?

The incident happened when Antony Blinken flew from Davos on helicopters and boarded the modified Boeing 737. He was then informed that the aircraft had been deemed unsafe to fly as an oxygen leak detected previously could not be remedied, the report claimed.

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How will Antony Blinken fly to US?

The report added, A smaller jet was being flown to Zurich from Brussels to ferry home the top US diplomat, while many of his aides and members of the press pool had to travel to Washington commercially.

Similar incident happened with Justin Trudeau in September

Last September, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau got stuck in India after a Group of 20 summit in New Delhi after a mechanical fault with his plane as well.

What Antony Blinken said at Davos on Israel-Hamas war?

The US Secretary of State, at the World Economic Forum, earlier called for the need for a pathway to a Palestinian state saying that Israel would not get genuine security absent that.

If Israel can be brought into the fold of the Middle East, the region would be coming together to isolate Iran, which he called the biggest concern in terms of security, as well as its proxies, he said, adding, The problem is getting from here to there, and of course, it requires very difficult, challenging decisions. It requires a mindset that is open to that perspective."

What Antony Blinken said on Russia-Ukraine war at Davos?

Antony Blinken met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at Davos. When asked on whether Jewish lives matter more than Palestinian lives, he responded, No, period. But on ceasefire in Ukraine, he said, "I don't see it. We are always open to it, attentive to it, because more than anyone else the Ukrainian people want this. But there has to be a willingness on the part of Russia to engage, to negotiate in good faith, based on the basic principles that have been challenged by its aggression -- territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence.
Russia will open polling stations for its March presidential election at three diplomatic missions in the US, its envoy in Washington said Wednesday, as relations dip to an all time low since the Cold War over Ukraine. Russia's president Vladimir Putin(Reuters)

The announcement came as Moscow said it has not yet decided if voting will take place in what it calls "unfriendly" European countries.

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The March 17 vote is expected to extend President Vladimir Putin's long rule until at least 2030. He faces no real competition in the election, which will take place more than two years since Russia launched its Ukraine offensive.

"In the US, we plan to open three polling stations: in our embassy in Washington, as well as our consulates in New York and in Houston," Russia's ambassador Anatoly Antonov said in an interview published by his embassy.

The US has armed Ukraine against Moscow's forces and the West has imposed huge economic sanctions on Moscow.

Russia said last week it did not yet decide if it will open voting stations in Europe.

"We are asking countries to ensure security," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said last week.

She said a decision will be made by the end of January.

Thousands of Russians have fled their country after Moscow sent troops to Ukraine, with many residing in EU countries.

The vote will take place as Russia has banned criticism of its Ukraine offensive.

Putin, who will run for a fifth presidential term, has been in power since 2000.
Microsoft is bringing its Copilot AI assistant to small businesses as the tech giant is launching a new premium tier of the technology for individuals.

On Tuesday, the company made an announcement letting small businesses know that they can now subscribe to its Copilot virtual assistant in the company's productivity apps. Furthermore, consumers who are paying for Microsoft 365 software can sign up for a new paid version of the assistant.

Microsoft Expands Copilot AI

The new updates will help the company expose more of its customers to generative artificial intelligence. This is a type of technology that startup OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot popularized last year.

It is capable of composing natural-sounding text with a person's brief written command. The tech giant's efforts to expand access to the technology could help it start to cover the costs of building data center infrastructure that enables AI.

Investors have been gambling on Microsoft to capitalize on generative AI demand in operating systems, cloud, productivity, web search, and security. This is despite facing competition from the likes of Amazon and Google, as per CNBC.

Last week, Microsoft was able to reclaim the title of the most valuable publicly traded company from Apple. The company's CEO, Satya Nadella, has recently been conveying that AI lies at the center of the software maker's current identity.

The first time that Microsoft started offering Copilot for Microsoft 365 was for large companies in November last year as well as faculty and staff at educational institutions the month after. For the latter, the add-on costs $30 per person per month on top of existing subscription costs.

The latest announcement gives small businesses that pay for Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Business Standard the opportunity to sign up for up to 299 licenses at $30 per person per month.

On the other hand, the new premium tier for individuals will be available for $20 per month and will be called Copilot Pro. The new subscription will add a text-drafting, number-crunching AI assistant to Microsoft's widely used applications, including Word and Excel, according to Inquirer.

Read Also: Capella Reveals New Artificial Intelligence App that Deciphers Your Baby's Crying

New Premium Tier for Individuals

The latest development will also allow consumers to gain access to new tools and AI models, such as GPT-4 Turbo. Microsoft added that it would be removing a 300-person minimum requirement to purchase the enterprise version of the AI assistant.

This makes the security controls and Microsoft Teams upgrade that come with the $30 per month per user Copilot available to smaller businesses. Corporate Vice President Jared Spataro said that the tech giant is now expecting virtually all of its business customers to sign up for access to Copilot AI.

While most of the features that were previously available to businesses for the last few months will become accessible to consumers, there is a big exception. This is the capability to summon Copilot to generate a PowerPoint deck based on a Word document.

This is because the consumer version is not powered by Microsoft's Graph technology, due to the functionality not being available just yet. Furthermore, the AI assistant includes improvements to the Image Creator from Designer and allows users to build their own Copilot GPT, said The Verge.



Related Article: AI Takes Center Stage at CES 2024
A summer instruction program for Native American students in North Dakota is being expanded to make all Native students in grades six through 12 eligible to apply.

Valley City State University hosts INSTEM, which is short for Indians Into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The free program is held in June, with students staying in a residence hall for four days, with meals provided. INSTEM last year hosted 54 students over three weeks.

The program has hosted only students from New Town and the Eight Mile District, which is part of the Trenton Indian Service Area southwest of Williston. This year, Native American students in grades six through 12 may apply for INSTEM from anywhere in North Dakota, according to the state Department of Public Instruction.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said students who want priority consideration should apply by Feb. 28. The final application deadline is April 15. To apply go to bit.ly/3vIwis4.
On Wednesday, Pakistan recalled its ambassador from Iran after an airspace violation by the Iranians in pursuit of targets they say are militant bases.

The airspace violation occurred on Tuesday when Iranian missiles targeted two bases in Pakistan's territory that Iran believes belong to the militant group Jaish al Adl.

Pakistani officials say the attack resulted in the deaths of two children.

Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's Foreign Minister, said Iran hit militants in drone and missile strikes and that no Pakistan citizen was targeted. Pakistan has not confirmed the location of the target nor the nature of the airspace violation.

Iran asserts that only terrorists were hit. Pakistan maintains that the violation was unprovoked and a breach of their sovereignty. The relationship between Islamabad and Tehran has been tenuous for years but this is the highest-profile cross-border incident between the two countries in recent memory.

The strikes in Pakistan came a day after missile and drone strikes in Syria targeting the Islamic State. Pakistan officials say that four missiles hit the Panjgur district, which is located near the border with Iran.

Officials in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan, which borders Iran, said that four missiles had hit the Panjgur district close to the Iranian border.

"Four missiles were fired in the village of Koh-i-Sabaz which is around 50 km inside Pakistan soil," a senior official of the Panjgur administration told Reuters."

A mosque and three houses were reportedly damaged in the attack," another official said, adding that two young girls were killed and three other people injured.

Jaish al-Adl, also known as the "Army of Justice," is a Sunni militant organization founded in 2012 that primarily functions in Pakistan across the border, and has claimed responsibility for bombings and abducted Iranian border police in the past.

Iran and Pakistan have long had a tense relationship, in large part because of the activities of Balochi separatists and other militant groups in the border area.

Although Iran's armed forces are the 14th most powerful in the world, according to The Guardian.

Also, they have mastered the manufacturing of cheap, deadly drone technology, Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed Muslim country on record. They have produced approximately 150 nuclear weapons to date.
On Wednesday the Jordanian army said its military field hospital in Khan Younis had been severely damaged due to Israeli shelling in the area and that it held Israel responsible for a "flagrant breach of international law," reported the BBC.

Residents of Khan Younis in southern Gaza say they have faced one of the most intense nights of air strikes since the start of Israel's offensive.

"This is the loudest sound of armed clashes [between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters] that I've ever heard," Yasser Zaqzouq, who has been sheltering at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis with his family, told the BBC.

A woman in southern Gaza, who insisted on anonymity, said children could not sleep "because of the sounds of missiles".

"We are living in fear and terror," she told the BBC, adding that many of the children had begun to wet themselves out of fear.

Israel's Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, has said that the intense stage of Israel's military operations against Hamas would "soon" wind down in the South of Gaza, including Khan Younis. According to the BBC, Gallant said that the military had already switched to more targeted action in the north, where it began its ground offensive.

Israeli Tanks' Return Raises Concerns

However, in recent days, the return of Israeli tanks to parts of the north that ground forces had previously left has led some Gazans - who had been planning to return home - to reconsider the move. Military officials in Israel have persistently warned that the war on Gaza will continue for months.

Explosions and damage from shelling and air strikes have left only about a third of Gaza's hospitals operational and some only partially, said Reuters. People in and around another hospital, Nasser, fled as tanks approached the district overnight following an Israeli army statement that it had come under fire from the area. Hamas militants deny using health facilities for military operations, the news outlet continued.

Reuters further disclosed that Palestinian health officials reported seven people were killed by Israeli air strikes that damaged homes near the hospital. Many of the Nasser hospital staff have left for shelters further south, with just one doctor for more than 100 burn victims remaining, Sean Casey, World Health Organisation emergency medical teams coordinator in Gaza, said on Jan. 9.
After the United States and the United Kingdom carried out airstrikes in Yemen the previous week, Iran has not yet restocked Houthi rebels with weaponry by sea, according to Western authorities. This suggests a cautious sense of hope over the effectiveness of the military operation in cutting off the group's access to weapons.

It is still too early to determine the long-term effect of the attacks, but at least momentarily, they seemed to have shut off important supply routes from Iran to Yemen, as per the officials who talked to Bloomberg. Confidential information was discussed, so these individuals agreed to remain anonymous.

While trying to prevent a broader conflict in the Middle East and stop the organization from attacking the Red Sea again, the US has taken the lead in trying to discourage such assaults.

Further Attacks That Cause Delayed Weaponry Supplies

In a significantly more restrained operation than the one on January 11, the US struck four Houthi missiles in Yemen on Tuesday, January 16, in a preventive attack. Two commercial ships in the Red Sea were hit by missiles within a 24-hour period, prompting these further attacks.

On Tuesday, a missile attacked the Greek-owned cargo ship Zografia as it sailed south of the canal. The previous day, a US-owned bulk freighter named the Gibraltar Eagle was also targeted. Apparently, the Houthis were still planning to launch further strikes after last week's combined US-UK operation.

In spite of this, officials from the US and Britain have said that no shipments have been attempted along the supply channels that they claim Iran has used for years to transfer weapons to the Houthis via Somalia and the Gulf of Oman, among other places.

Even if Iran may resume its attempts to equip the Houthis, one official saw it as a good indication. According to another insider, the Houthis' capacity to resupply weapons swiftly was a key target of the attacks. Nevertheless, the official also said that the rebels still obtain weaponry via other channels, including land.

Also Read: White House Designates Houthis as Terror Group

Major US Airstrikes Failed to Put an End to the Houthis

The first large-scale US airstrikes failed to totally stop the Houthi onslaught, as confirmed by National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby at the White House. Kirby highlighted that this had not been anticipated. "We have seen some additional lower-scale retaliatory strikes by the Houthis in the last few days, much smaller than what we had seen before and none of them effective," he said, as reported by CBS News.

At Tuesday's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan addressed the US assaults and pointed out that they are not looking for regional conflict. However, he did state that they reserve the right to take further action in response to the Houthis' attempt to basically hijack international commerce.

Also Read: Yemen's Houthi Rebels Fire Missile at US Warship in First Attack Following Washington's Strikes
Arnold Schwarzenegger was stopped at Munich Airport and questioned "under tax law" for an unregistered expensive watch that he intends to sell, as per a report from German media.

According to BILD, the actor-turned-politician was seen with customs authorities after arriving in the United States from Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, January 17. He has been waiting for many hours.

Detained in Munich

Schwarzenegger, 76, who has dual citizenship in the US and Austria, is claimed to have been on his way to Kitzbuhel in order to participate in a charity auction for climate change that would take place the next day. Reportedly, the former governor of California, a staunch environmentalist, brought a costly watch from the Swiss luxury brand Audemars Piguet to auction off.

In an interview with BILD, Thomas Meister, a spokesperson for the Munich Main Customs Office, said the department has initiated criminal proceedings under tax law. Considering that the watch is an import, it ought to have been documented.

"If the goods remain in the EU [Europe], you have to declare them through customs. This applies to everyone, whether their name is Schwarzenegger or Muller, Meier, Huber," a customs representative informed a German news site SZ. According to them, the actor is still with customs authorities while they inspect his bags.

Shortly before 5:00 PM local time, the Hollywood actor was freed and permitted to continue his trip to Austria, as reported by The Sun.

According to the Daily Mail, Schwarzenegger was also en route to see the Hahnenkamm Race, a significant competition in the Alpine ski calendar. His charitable organization, The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, is situated in Vienna, Austria. It is an environmental organization that is holding a party during the coveted race week in order to raise money.

Also Read: Rapper G Herbo Could Face Over a Year in Jail in Credit Card Fraud

Schwarzenegger and His Watch Collection

The A-lister is well-known for his passion for luxury timepieces. In 1999, he made history by releasing his very own limited-edition model in collaboration with Audemars Piguet.

The Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy collection was ever limited to a production run of just 1,500 pieces, and each one is priced at more than 30,000 (more or less $40,000).

A large number of timepieces, including those made by Rolex and other premium brands, are among the huge collections that the former bodybuilder has.

Also Read: Shakira Tax Fraud Trial: Colombian Pop Star Reaches Deal with Spanish Prosecutors to Avoid Jail Time
SpaceX and Axiom Space have announced that the rocket bringing four people to the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to launch on January 18.

According to the launch provider, Wednesday's (January 17) launch attempt off of Cape Canaveral, Florida was scrubbed in order to allow launch teams to "complete pre-launch checkouts and data analysis on the vehicle," referring to the Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule named "Freedom."

Space.com reported that Freedom has since carried two astronaut crews to and from the ISS - NASA's Crew-4 in 2022 and Axiom's Ax-2 in May 2023.

Read Also: Self-Eating Spacecraft? UK Scientists Develop Strange Rocket

Overview of the Ax-3 Crew, Mission

Riding aboard the Freedom is a four-man crew provided by Axiom Space, a space company providing augmented manpower to the ISS to conduct experiments in orbit.

Axiom also intended to gradually build a space station of its own, first attaching itself to the ISS, and upon completion, undocking it to become an independent private station.

Thursday's launch would see retired NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria (commander), Italian astronaut Walter Villadei (pilot), Swedish astronaut Marcus Wandt (mission specialist), and Turkey's first astronaut, Alper Gezeravc (mission specialist).

The crew would spend around two weeks aboard the ISS conducting more than 30 science experiments, Axiom said.

Related Article: NASA, Lockheed Martin Unveil X-59 Supersonic Marvel That Can Travel Faster Than Sound
Following Taiwan's election, the defense ministry reported detecting Chinese air force planes and warships around the island.

In a recent article from Reuters, Taiwan's defense ministry stated that it has sighted 18 Chinese air force jets around Taiwan in addition to what has been described as "Joint combat readiness patrols" with Chinese warships on Wednesday. This was immediately following Taiwan's recent election of Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party(DPP) on Saturday. Ching himself has been on the receiving end of some of Beijing's comments that have referred to him as a dangerous separatist and bringer of war.

Taiwan's defense ministry has also stated that 11 of the 18 jets have crossed the Taiwan Strait Median line. However, China does not recognize the existence of said line. In response to these operations, the ministry has sent its forces to observe.

In a statement, the Ministry said "The security and prosperity of the Taiwan Strait region are closely related to global development and stability, and are obligations and responsibilities that all parties in the region must share. The Ministry went on to reveal that, "The military will continue to strengthen its self-defence capabilities in accordance with enemy threats and self-defence needs, and respond to regional threats ". The Chinese defense ministry has not made any comments regarding this statement at the time of writing.

What's Next?

Lai will be taking office on May 20th this year and has reached out to China on multiple occasions to no avail. While expressing a commitment to preserving peace and stability in the Strait, he has emphasized that the future of Taiwan should be determined solely by its people.

Before it attacked Ukrainian territory, the Russian military was seen doing military exercises along the border. However, it remains unclear whether China intends to take a similar route but it is clear that Taiwan is dedicated to maintaining its independence with this election being a significant representation of said independence. However, on Wednesday China's Taiwan affairs office went on record stating that Beijing would not renounce its efforts using force to bring Taiwan under its control and that said force was aimed at interference from foreigners and a small amount of separatists. Even going on record to "crush" the territory's independence as the election was being held.
Two state lawmakers from northwestern North Dakota have announced plans to leave the Senate.

Longtime state Sen. David Rust, R-Tioga, says he will not seek another term in this year's election.

Rust, 78, was first elected to the Legislature in 2008, and has served in both the state House and Senate. His tenure began in the House before he was elected to the Senate in 2014.

The District 2 lawmaker cited age, term limits, and family as contributing factors in his decision to retire.

Rust spent time as the superintendent of Jud, Regent and Tioga schools before retiring. He listed his priorities as a lawmaker as "education funding and issues, fair distribution of oil and gas taxes, the sanctity of life, and protections for the common citizen."

During the 2023 regular legislative session he served on the Appropriations Committee and the Appropriations-Education and Environment Division. In the interim he's serving on the Budget Section and the School Funding Task Force.

Rust said his decision to retire from the Senate when his term concludes is "one of the most difficult I've made."

"It is time to hand the reigns over to the next generation of leaders who must become the guardians of our republic," he said in a Tuesday statement.

Meanwhile, state Sen. Jordan Kannianen announced on Jan. 9 that he would not be seeking another term. The Stanley Republican was first elected in District 4 in 2016, and served on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the 2023 regular legislative session. Kannianen, 40, is an electrical contractor and business owner.
This blog post provides details about nine vulnerabilities affecting the IPv6 network protocol stack of EDK II, TianoCore's open source reference implementation of UEFI.

Introduction

In this blog post we describe PixieFAIL, nine vulnerabilities that affect EDK II, the de-facto open source reference implementation of the UEFI specification and possibly all implementations derived from it. The vulnerabilities are present in the network stack of EDK II and can be exploited during the network boot process.

Network boot is a standard feature on enterprise computers and servers. Using network boot to load an OS image from the network at boot time is popular in data centers and high-performance computing (HPC) environments, since server farms and HPC clusters may have hundreds or thousands of compute nodes that need to be provisioned with the same operating system and software configuration, and downloading and running the OS from a central set of servers (Boot servers) could greatly simplify management. In order to provide this network booting feature, UEFI implements a full IP stack at the DXE phase, opening the door to attacks from the local network during this early stage of the boot process.

The Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) is the specification for a standardized client-server solution to allow computers to boot over the network, colloquially referred to as netboot or Pixie boot. It was originally introduced by Intel in 1998 and later incorporated into the UEFI specification. Besides IPv4, PXE originally relied on a handful of simple protocols to achieve network booting: DHCP, UDP, and TFTP. These were considered relatively simple protocols that could be implemented with a sufficiently small footprint to fit in Option ROM or Network Interface Card (NIC) firmware. Since the release of version 2.2 of the UEFI specification in 2010, IPv6-based PXE has been part of the UEFI specification as well. In the case of IPv6, besides the core protocol, other protocols such as ICMPv6, Neighbor Discovery (ND), Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD), UDP, TCP, DHCPv6, DNS, and TFTP are implemented, which increased the overall attack surface.

EDK II is an open source implementation of the UEFI specification developed and maintained by Tianocore, a community of developers from software vendors that also leverage the project for their own UEFI implementations. In a prior blog post Gwaby explored the attack surface and exploitability of EDK II and showed that even a bug that provides just minimal capability could be used to achieve arbitrary code execution if the context is right. UEFI vulnerabilities that could be triggered remotely seemed like an interesting context for exploitation, and eventually persistence, but where would we look for those?

The EDK II UEFI reference implementation provides both IPv4- and IPv6-based PXE. In the latest available specification (UEFI 2.10) as of this writing, IPv6-based PXE is described in section "24.3.18 - Netboot6".

We performed a cursory inspection of NetworkPkg , Tianocore's EDK II PXE implementation, and identified nine vulnerabilities that can be exploited by unauthenticated remote attackers on the same local network, and in some cases, by attackers on remote networks. The impact of these vulnerabilities includes denial of service, information leakage, remote code execution, DNS cache poisoning, and network session hijacking.

Affected vendors

Tianocore EDK II UEFI implementation NetworkPkg PXE stack.



Other vendors that use EDK II's NetworkPkg module (non-exhaustive list):

CERT/CC published Vulnerability Note VU#132380 with a more comprehensive list of affected vendors, and guidance to deploy fixes and mitigations.

Proof of concept scripts to detect the presence of vulnerabilities 1 to 7 are available here.

Technical details

Preboot Execution Environment (PXE)

In order to boot from the network, a client system must be able to locate, download, and execute code that sets up, configures, and runs the operating system. This is usually done in several stages, starting with a minimal program that is downloaded from a network server using a simple protocol, such as TFTP, which then downloads and runs a second booting stage or the full operating system image.

To locate this minimal program, called Network Bootstrap Program (NBP), the PXE client relies on a DHCP server to both obtain the configuration parameters to configure its network interface with a valid IP address and to receive a list of Boot Servers to query for the NBP file. Since the DHCP server must provide such a list and other special parameters, the PXE client has to send some mandatory PXE-releated DHCP Options, consequently, the DHCP server must be "PXE enabled", i.e. configured appropriately to recognize PXE client options and to reply with the proper DHCP server options. To facilitate network booting without having to modify the configuration of operational DHCP servers servicing all types of clients, not just PXE clients, the specification splits the regular DHCP server functionality from the PXE-related functionality into two separate services, the DHCP service, and the proxy DHCP service, running on different ports on the same or separate machines.

The PXE client selects a Boot Server and communicates with it using the DHCP protocol to obtain the filename and file service (TFTP) parameters necessary to download the NBP. Finally, the NBP is downloaded, verified (in the case of Secure Boot), and executed. Once the next booting stage or the fully-fledged operating system image is downloaded and setup, execution control is transferred to it. A more detailed description of the PXE boot process is provided here.

PXE over IPv6 is based on a combination of the DHCPv6 and TFTP protocols, which in turn implies the usage of IPv6 and UDP at layers 3 and 4, respectively. Because a DHCP server may provide a list of Boot Servers by hostname, it is also necessary to have a working implementation of the DNS protocol.

The following picture from the UEFI 2.10 specification summarizes the PXE boot process over IPv6:

CVE-2023-45229: Integer underflow when processing IA_NA/IA_TA options in a DHCPv6 Advertise message

When trying to boot using PXE over IPv6, the EDK II firmware starts by sending DHCPv6 Solicit messages. DHCPv6 servers answer with an Advertise message. Advertise messages are handled in EDK II by the Dhcp6HandleAdvertiseMsg function in NetworkPkg/Dhcp6Dxe/Dhcp6Io.c , which calls Dhcp6SeekStsOption in order to search for Status codes in the received message. A Status code may appear as an option in the DHCPv6 message, or as an option inside another option, such as the IA_NA or IA_TA options.

When seeking for Status codes encapsulated in IA_NA or IA_TA options, the vulnerable function Dhcp6SeekStsOption in NetworkPkg/Dhcp6Dxe/Dhcp6Io.c does the following:

EFI_STATUS Dhcp6SeekStsOption ( IN DHCP6_INSTANCE * Instance , IN EFI_DHCP6_PACKET * Packet , OUT UINT8 ** Option ) { [...] // // Seek in encapsulated options, IA_NA and IA_TA. // * Option = Dhcp6SeekIaOption ( Packet -> Dhcp6 . Option , Packet -> Length - sizeof ( EFI_DHCP6_HEADER ), & Instance -> Config -> IaDescriptor ); if ( * Option == NULL ) { return EFI_SUCCESS ; } [...] if ( Instance -> Config -> IaDescriptor . Type == Dhcp6OptIana ) { [ 1 ] IaInnerOpt = * Option + 16 ; [ 2 ] IaInnerLen = ( UINT16 )( NTOHS ( ReadUnaligned16 (( UINT16 * )( * Option + 2 ))) - 12 ); } else { [ 3 ] IaInnerOpt = * Option + 8 ; [ 4 ] IaInnerLen = ( UINT16 )( NTOHS ( ReadUnaligned16 (( UINT16 * )( * Option + 2 ))) - 4 ); } [ 5 ] * Option = Dhcp6SeekOption ( IaInnerOpt , IaInnerLen , Dhcp6OptStatusCode ); [...]

Basically, the IA_NA and IA_TA options in an Advertise message are trusted without doing basic sanity checks, e.g.:

in the case of IA_NA options: that the option is at least 16 bytes in length before setting IaInnerOpt to *Option + 16 , at [1]. that the value of the optlen field of the option is at least 12, before subtracting 12 from it, at [2].

in the case of IA_TA options: that the option is at least 8 bytes in length before setting IaInnerOpt to *Option + 8 , at [3]. that the value of the optlen field of the option is at least 4, before subtracting 4 from it, at [4].



The lack of checking for sane values in the optlen field of these options allows to trigger an integer underflow, by setting the optlen field to a value < 12 (in the case of IA_NA ) or < 4 (in the case of IA_TA ).

As an example, if we send a DHCPv6 Advertise message containing an IA_NA option with its optlen field set to 11, when the code above calls Dhcp6SeekOption at [5] to scan forward for status options, the IaInnerLen parameter will be set to 0xFFFF (11 - 12), and as a result function Dhcp6SeekOption will attempt to read memory well past the end of the received packet.

CVE-2023-45230: Buffer overflow in the DHCPv6 client via a long Server ID option

After doing the initial Solicit / Advertise exchange, a DHCPv6 client needs to send a Request message. This is done via the Dhcp6SendRequestMsg function in NetworkPkg/Dhcp6Dxe/Dhcp6Io.c .

This Request message needs to keep a few DHCPv6 options sent during the Solicit message, such as OPTION_ORO (0x6), OPTION_CLIENT_ARCH_TYPE (0x3D), OPTION_NII (0x3E), and OPTION_VENDOR_CLASS (0x10). These options are kept in Instance->Config->OptionList . Their lengths are added up ([1]), in order to calculate the size of the buffer needed to store the Request packet. Notice that the total size of the allocation is DHCP6_BASE_PACKET_SIZE (1024, defined in NetworkPkg/Dhcp6Dxe/Dhcp6Impl.h ) plus the sum of the lengths of the options mentioned before ([2]). In our tests UserLen typically ends up having the value 67, so the total size of the allocation is 1091 bytes.

EFI_STATUS Dhcp6SendRequestMsg ( IN DHCP6_INSTANCE * Instance ) [...] // // Calculate the added length of customized option list. // UserLen = 0 ; for ( Index = 0 ; Index < Instance -> Config -> OptionCount ; Index ++ ) { [ 1 ] UserLen += ( NTOHS ( Instance -> Config -> OptionList [ Index ] -> OpLen ) + 4 ); } // // Create the Dhcp6 packet and initialize common fields. // [ 2 ] Packet = AllocateZeroPool ( DHCP6_BASE_PACKET_SIZE + UserLen ); if ( Packet == NULL ) { return EFI_OUT_OF_RESOURCES ; } Packet -> Size = DHCP6_BASE_PACKET_SIZE + UserLen ; [...]

The Request message also needs to retain the Server ID (0x2) option that was previously sent by the DHCPv6 server in the Advertise message. It is retrieved this way:

[...] // // Get the server Id from the selected advertisement message. // Option = Dhcp6SeekOption ( Instance -> AdSelect -> Dhcp6 . Option , Instance -> AdSelect -> Length - 4 , Dhcp6OptServerId ); if ( Option == NULL ) { return EFI_DEVICE_ERROR ; } ServerId = ( EFI_DHCP6_DUID * )( Option + 2 ); [...]

Then, the Request packet is built by assembling all the needed options, one after the other: first the Client ID, then the Elapsed Time, then the Server ID, and so on. Notice that when appending the Server ID option (which is fully controlled by the DHCPv6 server), its Length field is fully trusted, without any sanity checks. Therefore, a Server ID option with an overly large Length field can overflow the Packet->Dhcp6.Option buffer with fully controlled data (overflow data comes from the DUID field of the Server ID option).

[...] // // Assembly Dhcp6 options for request message. // Cursor = Packet -> Dhcp6 . Option ; Length = HTONS ( ClientId -> Length ); Cursor = Dhcp6AppendOption ( Cursor , HTONS ( Dhcp6OptClientId ), Length , ClientId -> Duid ); Cursor = Dhcp6AppendETOption ( Cursor , Instance , & Elapsed ); Cursor = Dhcp6AppendOption ( Cursor , HTONS ( Dhcp6OptServerId ), ServerId -> Length , ServerId -> Duid );

The very same bug seems to be present in functions Dhcp6SendDeclineMsg , Dhcp6SendReleaseMsg , and Dhcp6SendRenewRebindMsg ( NetworkPkg/Dhcp6Dxe/Dhcp6Io.c ).

CVE-2023-45231: Out of Bounds read when handling a ND Redirect message with truncated options

Function Ip6ProcessRedirect in NetworkPkg/Ip6Dxe/Ip6Nd.c handles Neighbor Discovery (ND) protocol's Redirect messages. This function calls Ip6IsNDOptionValid ( NetworkPkg/Ip6Dxe/Ip6Option.c ) to verify that all the options included in the Redirect message are valid.

EFI_STATUS Ip6ProcessRedirect ( IN IP6_SERVICE * IpSb , IN EFI_IP6_HEADER * Head , IN NET_BUF * Packet ) { [...] // All included options have a length that is greater than zero. // OptionLen = ( UINT16 )( Head -> PayloadLength - IP6_REDITECT_LENGTH ); if ( OptionLen != 0 ) { Option = NetbufGetByte ( Packet , IP6_REDITECT_LENGTH , NULL ); ASSERT ( Option != NULL ); if ( ! Ip6IsNDOptionValid ( Option , OptionLen )) { goto Exit ; } } [...]

If the options section of an incoming ND Redirect message is made of one single option, which is truncated and composed of only the Option Code (i.e. 1 single byte), Ip6IsNDOptionValid returns TRUE. This happens because Ip6IsNDOptionValid is called with parameter OptionLen == 1, and sizeof(IP6_OPTION_HEADER) is 2, therefore the while loop in charge of traversing the list of options ([1]) is never entered, and we just reach the return TRUE at the end ([2]), meaning that the truncated option is considered as valid, even though it is not.

BOOLEAN Ip6IsNDOptionValid ( IN UINT8 * Option , IN UINT16 OptionLen ) { Offset = 0 ; // // RFC 4861 states that Neighbor Discovery packet can contain zero or more // options. Start processing the options if at least Type + Length fields // fit within the input buffer. // [ 1 ] while ( Offset + sizeof ( IP6_OPTION_HEADER ) - 1 < OptionLen ) { [...] } [ 2 ] return TRUE ; }

After that, back in Ip6ProcessRedirect , options are actually processed. If our options section of the packet is composed of a single byte (i.e. a truncated option composed of just the option code), the Length variable takes value 1 at [3], so it enters the while block at [4], and at [5] or [6] (depending on the option code we specified in the truncated option), one byte is read past the end of the packet, which is the missing length field of our truncated option.

// Check the options. The only interested option here is the target-link layer // address option. // [ 3 ] Length = Packet -> TotalSize - 40 ; Option = ( UINT8 * )( IcmpDest + 1 ); LinkLayerOption = NULL ; [ 4 ] while ( Length > 0 ) { switch ( * Option ) { case Ip6OptionEtherTarget : LinkLayerOption = ( IP6_ETHER_ADDR_OPTION * ) Option ; [ 5 ] OptLen = LinkLayerOption -> Length ; if ( OptLen != 1 ) { // // For Ethernet, the length must be 1. // goto Exit ; } break ; default : [ 6 ] OptLen = * ( Option + 1 ); if ( OptLen == 0 ) { // // A length of 0 is invalid. // goto Exit ; } break ; } Length -= 8 * OptLen ; Option += 8 * OptLen ; }

CVE-2023-45232: Infinite loop when parsing unknown options in the Destination Options header

The function Ip6IsExtsValid in NetworkPkg/Ip6Dxe/Ip6Option.c validates the extension headers that can be found in an incoming IPv6 packet. When dealing with a Destination Options extension header, function Ip6IsOptionValid is called at [1] to validate whatever options are embedded in said Destination Options header:

BOOLEAN Ip6IsExtsValid ( IN IP6_SERVICE * IpSb OPTIONAL , IN NET_BUF * Packet OPTIONAL , IN UINT8 * NextHeader , IN UINT8 * ExtHdrs , IN UINT32 ExtHdrsLen , IN BOOLEAN Rcvd , OUT UINT32 * FormerHeader OPTIONAL , OUT UINT8 ** LastHeader , OUT UINT32 * RealExtsLen OPTIONAL , OUT UINT32 * UnFragmentLen OPTIONAL , OUT BOOLEAN * Fragmented OPTIONAL ) { [...] while ( Offset <= ExtHdrsLen ) { switch ( * NextHeader ) { [...] case IP6_DESTINATION : [...] Offset ++ ; Option = ExtHdrs + Offset ; OptionLen = ( UINT8 )(( * Option + 1 ) * 8 - 2 ); Option ++ ; Offset ++ ; [ 1 ] if (( IpSb != NULL ) && ( Packet != NULL ) && ! Ip6IsOptionValid ( IpSb , Packet , Option , OptionLen , Offset )) { return FALSE ; } [...]

The function Ip6IsOptionValid handles different option types. If it's not one of Pad1 , PadN , or RouterAlert , the switch case falls into the default clause at [3]. In that case, the option code is masked with Ip6OptionMask (0xC0) at [4], and if the result of the AND operation is Ip6OptionSkip (0x00), then the Offset variable is updated by adding the value of the Length field of the option at [5]. Notice that it doesn't check if the Length field of the option is 0, in which case the Offset value is never modified, and thus an infinite loop ensues, since execution can never break out of the while loop at [2].

Ip6IsOptionValid ( IN IP6_SERVICE * IpSb , IN NET_BUF * Packet , IN UINT8 * Option , IN UINT8 OptionLen , IN UINT32 Pointer ) { [...] [ 2 ] while ( Offset < OptionLen ) { OptionType = * ( Option + Offset ); switch ( OptionType ) { case Ip6OptionPad1 : [...] break ; case Ip6OptionPadN : [...] break ; case Ip6OptionRouterAlert : [...] break ; [...] [ 3 ] default : // // The highest-order two bits specify the action must be taken if // the processing IPv6 node does not recognize the option type. // [ 4 ] switch ( OptionType & Ip6OptionMask ) { case Ip6OptionSkip : [ 5 ] Offset = ( UINT8 )( Offset + * ( Option + Offset + 1 )); break ; [...]

As a result of this infinite loop, the affected computer never finishes booting up.

CVE-2023-45233: Infinite loop when parsing a PadN option in the Destination Options header

As mentioned in the previous bug, function Ip6IsOptionValid in NetworkPkg/Ip6Dxe/Ip6Option.c is called to validate whatever options are embedded in a Destination Options header within an IPv6 packet. The function Ip6IsOptionValid handles different option types. One of those supported types is PadN ([2]). In that case, the Offset variable is updated by adding the value of the Length field of the PadN option, plus 2 ([3]). If the Length field of the option is 0xFE, then 0x100 (0xFE + 2) will be added to Offset . But the result of that addition is truncated to a UINT8 (the type of the Offset variable), which means that when adding 0x100 to Offset it will remain unmodified, and thus an infinite loop ensues, since execution can never break out of the while loop at [1].

Ip6IsOptionValid ( IN IP6_SERVICE * IpSb , IN NET_BUF * Packet , IN UINT8 * Option , IN UINT8 OptionLen , IN UINT32 Pointer ) { UINT8 Offset ; [...] [ 1 ] while ( Offset < OptionLen ) { OptionType = * ( Option + Offset ); switch ( OptionType ) { [...] [ 2 ] case Ip6OptionPadN : // // It is a PadN option // [ 3 ] Offset = ( UINT8 )( Offset + * ( Option + Offset + 1 ) + 2 ); break ;

As a consequence of this infinite loop, the affected computer never finishes booting up.

CVE-2023-45234: Buffer overflow when processing DNS Servers option in a DHCPv6 Advertise message

The function PxeBcHandleDhcp6Offer in NetworkPkg/UefiPxeBcDxe/PxeBcDhcp6.c handles DHCPv6 offers made by DHCPv6 servers in response to EDK II Solicit messages. The function allocates a pool buffer with the size given by the OPTION_DNS_SERVERS (0x17) option length at [1], which is controlled by the DHCPv6 server, then at [2] it calls CopyMem with a fixed size: sizeof (EFI_IPv6_ADDRESS) , which is 0x10. This means that if the length of the OPTION_DNS_SERVERS option included in the server response is shorter than 0x10, then that leads to a buffer overflow.

PxeBcHandleDhcp6Offer ( IN PXEBC_PRIVATE_DATA * Private ) { [...] // First try to cache DNS server address if DHCP6 offer provides. // if ( Cache6 -> OptList [ PXEBC_DHCP6_IDX_DNS_SERVER ] != NULL ) { [ 1 ] Private -> DnsServer = AllocateZeroPool ( NTOHS ( Cache6 -> OptList [ PXEBC_DHCP6_IDX_DNS_SERVER ] -> OpLen )); if ( Private -> DnsServer == NULL ) { return EFI_OUT_OF_RESOURCES ; } [ 2 ] CopyMem ( Private -> DnsServer , Cache6 -> OptList [ PXEBC_DHCP6_IDX_DNS_SERVER ] -> Data , sizeof ( EFI_IPv6_ADDRESS )); }

CVE-2023-45235: Buffer overflow when handling Server ID option from a DHCPv6 proxy Advertise message

The function PxeBcRequestBootService in NetworkPkg/UefiPxeBcDxe/PxeBcDhcp6.c builds and sends a request to retrieve the boot file, and parses the reply.

EFI_STATUS PxeBcRequestBootService ( IN PXEBC_PRIVATE_DATA * Private , IN UINT32 Index ) { [...] EFI_PXE_BASE_CODE_DHCPV6_PACKET * Discover ; [...] [ 1 ] Discover = AllocateZeroPool ( sizeof ( EFI_PXE_BASE_CODE_DHCPV6_PACKET )); if ( Discover == NULL ) { return EFI_OUT_OF_RESOURCES ; } // // Build the request packet by the cached request packet before. // Discover -> TransactionId = IndexOffer -> Dhcp6 . Header . TransactionId ; Discover -> MessageType = Request -> Dhcp6 . Header . MessageType ; RequestOpt = Request -> Dhcp6 . Option ; DiscoverOpt = Discover -> DhcpOptions ; DiscoverLen = sizeof ( EFI_DHCP6_HEADER ); RequestLen = DiscoverLen ; // // Find Server ID Option from ProxyOffer. // [ 2 ] if ( Private -> OfferBuffer [ Index ]. Dhcp6 . OfferType == PxeOfferTypeProxyBinl ) { [ 3 ] Option = PxeBcDhcp6SeekOption ( IndexOffer -> Dhcp6 . Option , IndexOffer -> Length - 4 , DHCP6_OPT_SERVER_ID ); if ( Option == NULL ) { return EFI_NOT_FOUND ; } // // Add Server ID Option. // OpLen = NTOHS ((( EFI_DHCP6_PACKET_OPTION * ) Option ) -> OpLen ); [ 4 ] CopyMem ( DiscoverOpt , Option , OpLen + 4 ); DiscoverOpt += ( OpLen + 4 ); DiscoverLen += ( OpLen + 4 ); }

At [1] the function allocates a buffer in the pool to hold an EFI_PXE_BASE_CODE_DHCPV6_PACKET structure, which is defined this way in MdePkg/Include/Protocol/PxeBaseCode.h :

/// /// DHCPV6 Packet structure. /// typedef struct { UINT32 MessageType : 8 ; UINT32 TransactionId : 24 ; UINT8 DhcpOptions [ 1024 ]; } EFI_PXE_BASE_CODE_DHCPV6_PACKET ;

If the DHCPv6 offer it has received is a proxy one ([2]), then the function searches for the Server ID option contained within said DHCPv6 offer ([3]), and proceeds to copy it to Discover->DhcpOptions (the buffer that was previously allocated in the pool at [1]), blindly trusting the option length as the size of the copy, which is fully controlled by the DHCPv6 server ([4]).

As a result, if the Server ID option of the DHCPv6 proxy offer is longer than 1024 bytes (the size of the DhcpOptions member of the EFI_PXE_BASE_CODE_DHCPV6_PACKET struct), it results in a pool buffer overflow.

CVE-2023-45236: Predictable TCP Initial Sequence Numbers

Predictable TCP Initial Sequence Numbers (ISNs) are known to be a security issue since 1985 (see Morris1985 and Belovin1989) and a practical attack that exploits it was described in 1995 by Laurent Joncheray (Joncheray1995). A real world instance of an attack that exploited weak TCP ISNs to inject data in a TCP session to compromise a system was disclosed in 1995 (Shimomura1995).

Given these and other findings, RFC1948 proposed an algorithm to generate TCP ISNs in a way that prevents the described attack. In 2012 RFC6528 officially updated the TCP protocol specification and the new TCP ISN algorithm achieved the status of Proposed Standard. In August 2022, RFC 9293 a revision of the core TCP specification was published as the new Internet Standard, and the aforementioned algorithm was recommended for the generation of TCP ISNs.

The TCP implementation in Tianocore's EDK II IP stack generates trivially predictable TCP Initial Sequence Numbers and it is therefore vulnerable to TCP session hijack attacks.

The ISN for a new TCP instance is populated in TcpInitTcbLocal by calling TcpGetIss() as shown below in file TcpMisc.c

TcpInitTcbLocal ( IN OUT TCP_CB * Tcb ) { // // Compute the checksum of the fixed parts of pseudo header // if ( Tcb -> Sk -> IpVersion == IP_VERSION_4 ) { Tcb -> HeadSum = NetPseudoHeadChecksum ( Tcb -> LocalEnd . Ip . Addr [ 0 ], Tcb -> RemoteEnd . Ip . Addr [ 0 ], 0x06 , 0 ); } else { Tcb -> HeadSum = NetIp6PseudoHeadChecksum ( & Tcb -> LocalEnd . Ip . v6 , & Tcb -> RemoteEnd . Ip . v6 , 0x06 , 0 ); } > Tcb -> Iss = TcpGetIss (); /** new ISN is populated **/ Tcb -> SndUna = Tcb -> Iss ; Tcb -> SndNxt = Tcb -> Iss ; Tcb -> SndWl2 = Tcb -> Iss ; Tcb -> SndWnd = 536 ;

The function TcpGetIss simply increments a global counter using a fixed increment as seen below:

TCP_SEQNO TcpGetIss ( VOID ) { mTcpGlobalIss += TCP_ISS_INCREMENT_1 ; return mTcpGlobalIss ; }

The global variable mTcpGlobalIss is initialized to a fixed value in line 23 of TcpMisc.c

TCP_SEQNO mTcpGlobalIss = TCP_BASE_ISS ;

The global variable is also updated with a fixed increment by the timer in TcpTimer.c

VOID EFIAPI TcpTickingDpc ( IN VOID * Context ) { LIST_ENTRY * Entry ; LIST_ENTRY * Next ; TCP_CB * Tcb ; INT16 Index ; mTcpTick ++ ; mTcpGlobalIss += TCP_ISS_INCREMENT_2 ;

The values TCP_BASE_ISS , TCP_ISS_INCREMENT_1 and TCP_ISS_INCREMENT_2 are defined in TcpMain.h:

/// /// The implementation selects the initial send sequence number and the unit to /// be added when it is increased. /// #define TCP_BASE_ISS 0x4d7e980b #define TCP_ISS_INCREMENT_1 2048 #define TCP_ISS_INCREMENT_2 100

Therefore Tianocore's EDK II TCP implementation generates ISNs using fixed increments from a fixed base value and thus is susceptible to TCP session injection and session hijack attacks.

CVE-2023-45237: Use of a Weak PseudoRandom Number Generator

The EDK II IP stack uses a pseudorandom number generator which is defined in Network/Include/Library/NetLIb.h as:

#define NET_RANDOM(Seed) ((UINT32) ((UINT32) (Seed) * 1103515245UL + 12345) % 4294967295UL)

Throughout the NetworkPkg stack the above macro is used with Seed usually taking the value from the NetRandomInitSeed() function defined in NetworkPkg/Library/DxeNetLib/DxeNetLib.c as follows:

UINT32 EFIAPI NetRandomInitSeed ( VOID ) { EFI_TIME Time ; UINT32 Seed ; UINT64 MonotonicCount ; gRT -> GetTime ( & Time , NULL ); Seed = ( Time . Hour << 24 | Time . Day << 16 | Time . Minute << 8 | Time . Second ); Seed ^= Time . Nanosecond ; Seed ^= Time . Year << 7 ; gBS -> GetNextMonotonicCount ( & MonotonicCount ); Seed += ( UINT32 ) MonotonicCount ; return Seed ; }

The above function outputs an integer value based on the platform's clock time at which the function is called and the platform's monotonic counter. The C language idiom NET_RANDOM (NetRandomInitSeed() is used in several NetworkPkg functions to generate supposedly random unique numeric identifiers for various network protocol fields. Generating numbers in such a way does not produce random numbers with a uniform distribution, instead, it produces easily predictable numbers and a biased distribution. Furthermore, the use of the same idiom in different network layers to assign allegedly random values to protocols' fields or objects makes it possible for an external observer to recover the internal state of the generator by obtaining samples of the numbers used in any such network layer.

The idiom is used to generate DNS query IDs in ConstructDNSQuery :

ConstructDNSQuery ( IN DNS_INSTANCE * Instance , IN CHAR8 * QueryName , IN UINT16 Type , IN UINT16 Class , OUT NET_BUF ** Packet ) { ... // // Fill header // DnsHeader = ( DNS_HEADER * ) Frag . Bulk ; DnsHeader -> Identification = ( UINT16 ) NET_RANDOM ( NetRandomInitSeed ()); DnsHeader -> Flags . Uint16 = 0x0000 ; DnsHeader -> Flags . Bits . RD = 1 ; DnsHeader -> Flags . Bits . OpCode = DNS_FLAGS_OPCODE_STANDARD ; DnsHeader -> Flags . Bits . QR = DNS_FLAGS_QR_QUERY ; ...

It is also used to initialize the value of the IPv4 IP ID field in Ip4DriverBindingStart() :

// // Initialize the IP4 ID // mIp4Id = ( UINT16 ) NET_RANDOM ( NetRandomInitSeed ());

which is simply incremented for each outgoing IPv4 datagram in Ip4Output()

// Before IPsec process, prepared the IP head. // If Ip4Output is transmitting RawData, don't update IPv4 header. // HeadLen = sizeof ( IP4_HEAD ) + (( OptLen + 3 ) & ( ~ 0x03 )); if (( IpInstance != NULL ) && IpInstance -> ConfigData . RawData ) { RawData = TRUE ; } else { Head -> HeadLen = ( UINT8 )( HeadLen >> 2 ); Head -> Id = mIp4Id ++ ; Head -> Ver = 4 ; RawData = FALSE ; }

The same idiom is used to initialize the fragment ID for IPv6 fragmentation Extension Headers, to generate DHCP transaction IDs on both Dhcp4 and Dhcp6 code, to obtain ephemeral port numbers for UDP and TCP, and in other parts of the stack.

The security and privacy vulnerabilities arising from the use of a weak pseudorandom number generator in various Internet Protocols are described in RFC 9414 and a number of algorithms to address those issues are suggested in RFC 9415. In this particular case, the use of a weak PRNG could facilitate DNS and DHCP poisoning attacks, information leakage, denial of service, and data insertion attacks at the IPv4 and IPv6 layer (due also to the use of a per datagram unit increment of the corresponding ID fields).

At the root of this issue is the use of a Linear Congruential Generator to generate a sequence of pseudorandom security-sensitive numbers. The unsuitability of LCGs for security-sensitive purposes (where the numbers generated should not be guessable) has been known for decades, for example in Stern 1987.

Updates

As a response to this blogpost, Binarly REsearch added nine corresponding rules to FwHunt, their UEFI analyzer.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our colleagues at Quarkslab for providing feedback and reviewing and editing this blog post. We would also like to thank Vijay Sarvepalli of CERT/CC, the team members of CERT-FR, and all the PSIRT and product security coordinators from the multiple vendors that participated in the disclosure process.

Disclosure timeline

Below we include a timeline of all the relevant events during the coordinated vulnerability disclosure process with the intent of providing transparency to the whole process and our actions. The timeline also serves as a detailed example of the complexity of reporting vulnerabilities and coordinating the development and release of security fixes in a complex multi-vendor firmware supply chain.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced an agreement between a Hyatt affiliate and City Hotel Limited to transform Hyatt Place Kathmandu into the planned Hyatt Centric Soalteemode Kathmandu, fully rebranding into the first Hyatt Centric hotel in the country upon completion of a renovation. The rebrand will come with a renovated entrance and lobby area, a unique sky bar and lounge, and enhanced amenities. Every element of this transformation will be carefully curated to embody the distinct vibrancy of the full-service Hyatt Centric brand.

A launchpad to inspire exploration for savvy travelers, the property is conveniently located near the city centre, within a short driving distance from renowned pilgrimage destinations, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Swayambhunath Stupa, Boudhanath Stupa, and Pashupatinath Temple. Situated in a picturesque valley rich in historic sites, ancient temples, shrines, golden pagodas, and fascinating villages, the hotel's location will make it a perfect choice for contemporary travelers with an adventurous spirit.

Located in prime destinations across world-class cities like New York, Madrid, Mumbai, Bangalore, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Chicago, the Hyatt Centric brand is thoughtfully designed to turn a stay into an opportunity for discovery, targeting millennial-minded travelers who want to be in the center of the action.

Hyatt's current portfolio in India and Southwest Asia consists of 47 properties, with 45 in India and two in Nepal. The diverse collections spans eight distinct brands, including Alila, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Place, Hyatt Regency and Park Hyatt.

Hotel website
Hotel Pilgrim **** is a contemporary place in an extremely old neighborhood.

Its dark facade stands out amongst the neighboring Haussmann-style buildings.

Inside, exposed concrete evokes the walls of a contemporary art gallery or the home of an art collector.

However, the Hotel Pilgrim's style is actually inspired by the aesthetic universe of the 1970's, that creative golden age, evoked in a play of materials with Bohemian overtones.

Rooms

Developed in four color moods, a stay in one of Hotel Pilgrim's 53 rooms offers a different experience of Paris by immersing you in a creative, multi-cultural neighborhood that came alive in the 1970's.

The Hood

Here the most diametrically opposed strata of history co-exist, we can pass from one millennium to another by simply wandering down what appears to be a non-descript street. In this neighborhood, more than elsewhere, it seems natural to contemplate the silhouette of a 13th century Cistercian college (College des Bernardins) from your exposed concrete hotel room on the rue de Poissy.

This architectural diversity is proof of the neighborhood's little-known eclecticism.

Of course, the 5th arrondissement is also the setting for what is most quintessential about Paris and what Americans dream of: Paris as a village with its miniscule cobblestoned squares, hundred-year-old shops, bakeries, cheese stores and cafe terraces frequented by the neighborhood's literary inhabitants.

But it is also a neighborhood that stands out thanks to its openness to the world in an arrondissement that is fascinated by every culture.

This cosmopolitan attitude is an integral part of the neighborhood's identity.

Hotel website
Amsterdam  Ireckonu, a leader in hospitality technology, is thrilled to unveil its refreshed brand identity, epitomizing a commitment to excellence and simplicity in hospitality solutions.

Ireckonus revamped logo, drawing inspiration from modern design principles, symbolizes the brand as the single source of truth  consolidating and centralizing data from connected systems, offering a unified, data-driven approach to hospitality success and unparalleled clarity for decision-making excellence.

The rebrand is a testament to Ireckonu's mission to simplify complex tech landscapes, integrations, and data, making them accessible and powerful for hotels globally. This evolution cements Ireckonu as a beacon of innovation in the hospitality tech landscape.

Essential products of the brand:

CORE Middleware:

Ireckonu's Middleware excels at cleaning, consolidating, and centralizing data, serving as the vital bridge between on-premises and above-property systems. It ensures seamless integration, data accuracy, and real-time issue management.

IKNOWU CDP:

Ireckonus CDP empowers hotels to access guest data from all integrated systems, offering a precise view of guest preferences and behaviors. With machine learning, it enhances guest data, removes duplicate profiles, and creates a reliable backbone for all your marketing endeavors, delivering tailored and unforgettable experiences.

AI & ML-Driven Features:

Amplify capabilities with Ireckonu's extensive suite of features, including Loyalty RFM+ calculations, Messaging, Churn Management, Next Best Offer, and more  all built upon its Middleware and CDP.

Visit the Ireckonu website to discover more: www.ireckonu.com.

About Ireckonu

Founded in 2014, Ireckonu is a leading Dutch company revolutionizing the hospitality industry through innovative digital solutions. With a global team of over 60 professionals, Ireckonu specializes in cutting-edge Software as a Service (SaaS) products and services. Seamlessly integrating Middleware expertise with a state-of-the-art Customer Data Platform, Ireckonu empowers hotels with a unified, data-driven approach, trusted by renowned brands such as Okura, CitizenM, Hard Rock Hotels, and more. Ireckonu stands at the forefront of shaping the future of hospitality.

Visit the Ireckonu website to discover more: www.ireckonu.com.

Marieke Wisse

Head of Marketing
As a preferred employer in the hotel industry,Atrium Hospitality invests in the rewarding hotel career journeys of our thousands of Associates across the United States. In 2023, Atrium supported nearly 1,000 management-level internal promotions and new hires for corporate and on-property positions with our growing company. Alpharetta, Georgia-based Atrium Hospitality is one of the nations largest hotel operators. Our company manages a portfolio of 80 hotels, representing well-known brands such as Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and Wyndham, in 28 states. Atrium operates approximately 20,000 guest rooms/suites and 3 million square feet of event space.

Atrium Hospitalitys 2023 Management-Level Talent Trends Snapshot

Management-Level Internal Promotions: Eighty-six percent of Atriums management-level internal promotions were for on-property roles, and 14% were for corporate positions. Internal promotions represented more than one-third (35%) of the nearly 1,000 management-level positions Atrium filled in 2023.

Eighty-six percent of Atriums management-level internal promotions were for on-property roles, and 14% were for corporate positions. Internal promotions represented more than one-third (35%) of the nearly 1,000 management-level positions Atrium filled in 2023. Management-Level New Hires: Eighty-seven percent of our companys management-level new hires supported on-property jobs, and 13% joined corporate roles.

Eighty-seven percent of our companys management-level new hires supported on-property jobs, and 13% joined corporate roles. On-Property Focus: The areas of sales, food and beverage, and accounting represented the greatest demand for Atriums on-property management-level internal promotions and new hires.

The areas of sales, food and beverage, and accounting represented the greatest demand for Atriums on-property management-level internal promotions and new hires. Corporate Focus: The sales and accounting functions demonstrated the highest growth for corporate management-level internal promotions and new hires with our company. Atrium has experienced a significant expansion of our above-property enterprise sales organization (ESO), where remote-based highly skilled sellers support multiple hotels and brands.

Committed to Boundless, Rewarding Career Journeys

Atrium Hospitalitys six core values of Service, Perseverance, Inclusion, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork guide the Atrium SPIRIT for creating a welcoming environment for all, nurturing personal ambitions, inspiring professional opportunities, and being a responsible community partner.

At Atrium Hospitality, our valued Associates are part of an extended family, united in the shared pursuit of service excellence. A career with us is a boundless journey enriched by appreciation, teamwork and travel incentives. Go to Your Career at Atrium Hospitalitys website to find out more about professional opportunities at our companys national management portfolio.

Were deeply committed to developing our internal talent. Focused leadership training, appealing growth opportunities, an emphasis on innovation, and great travel perks are making the difference in members of our diverse Atrium family taking the next steps for progressing in their hospitality careers with us. Anneliesse Cooper, Chief Human Resources Officer, Atrium Hospitality

About Atrium Hospitality

Atrium Hospitality is ranked as one of the nation's largest hotel operators. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, the company manages a portfolio of 80 hotels in 28 states, representing well-known brands such as Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and Wyndham, among others. Atrium operates approximately 20,000 guest rooms/suites and 3 million square feet of event space. Atrium Hospitality's six core values of Service, Perseverance, Inclusion, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork guide the Atrium SPIRIT for creating a welcoming environment for all, nurturing personal ambitions, inspiring professional opportunities, and being a responsible community partner. Atrium is conserving the planet's natural resources and being more efficient in support of the company's commitment to sustainability, all while providing exceptional guest experiences. In 2022, Atrium Hospitality added another Atlanta Top Workplaces win to the company's accolades and celebrated being recognized by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for a second year. Atrium supports a range of civic and community activities, and Atrium-managed properties nationwide are proud to take part in Project SEARCH, a school-to-work program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For more information about Atrium, visit www.atriumhospitality.com.
Los Angeles, CA  The Travel Industry Executive Womens Network (TIEWN) in collaboration with BLLA, has announced that its annual Executive Women in Travel & Hospitality Conference will be held March 6 & 7, 2024 at the Westlake Village Inn in Westlake Village, CA with an evening opening reception on March 6 at the Mizel Estate Winery in nearby Hidden Valley. With a theme of Embracing Your Power, its no coincidence that this years conference leads up to International Womens Day on March 8th with its United Nations-backed theme of Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress.

Tenth Annual Women In Travel & Hospitality Conference March 6 & 7 in Los Angeles  Photo by BLLA

The interactive two-day TIEWN Conference agenda will address the reality that while women make 80% to 85% of travel decisions and represent two-thirds of global travelers, females only comprise 54% of the workforce in the $2 trillion global travel industry. Only 20% of women in the field are in management positions and a mere 8% are in high-level roles. The lack of C-Suite positions for females in the travel and hospitality industries is also reflected in an actual widening of the pay gap  2% and 1% respectively  according to the 2023 Gender Pay Gap Report. The TIEWN gathering will address these inequalities while celebrating the potential of women in the field since global tourism ended the year at almost 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

To empower women with tools to succeed in the workplace, agenda topics in the 2024 TIEWN event will cover technology, business and personal financial well-being, mentorship, raising capital, self-growth, and tools for mentoring one another along the career path. The program includes workshops and roundtable discussions as well as a very special closing ceremony.

Facilitators and presenters for the full day, interactive event will comprise a range of executives from travel, tourism and hospitality including Andrea Nicholas Perdue, CEO - Wagonhound Holdings, Ariela Kiradjian, COO & Co-Founder - BLLA, Claudia Vecchio, President/CEO - Sonoma County Tourism, Erin Levzow, CMO - Museum of Ice Cream, Grace McBride, Founder & CEO - LUCIA, Greg DeShields, Executive Director - Tourism Diversity Matters, Heidi Miersemann, General Manager - Alila Napa Valley, Kristen Moore, CEO - Destinations of Distinction, Mandy Murry, Hospitality Consultant - Hospitality Concierge, Marina MacDonald, Chief Marketing Officer - Red Roof Inn, Marissa Ballan, Head of Development - Radisson Blu, Mary Rogers, Managing Director - Montage Laguna Beach, Montage Healdsburg and Pendry San Diego, Megan Zoback, Chief Business Officer - Aero, Melissa Cherry, SVP / Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer - Miles Partnership, Melyssa Reeves, President & CEO - Destination Marketing Association of the West, Nicole Swartz, Founder - Sprout Law, Robin Kennedy, EVP / Chief Development Officer - Montage International, Rydhima Shah Brar, Founder & Principal - Rterior Studio, Sarah Dandashy , Travel Expert & Author - Ask A Concierge, Tia Graham, Founder - Arrive At Happy, Tina Burnett, Chief Development Officer - G6 Hospitality

As trailblazers, creators, and leaders, we understand that our journey involves not just adapting to change, but actively reclaiming our roles, narratives, and contributions in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors, and truly embracing our power. TIEWN Co-Founder Ariela Kiradjian

The link to register is open. Sponsorships are still available including special pricing to sponsor multiple registrants. Current Headline Sponsors include Choice Hotels, Nestle Premium Waters, Miles Partnership, Destinations of Distinction, and Greenberg Traurig.

About TIEWN

Founded in 2008 by Frances Kiradjian, Founder & CEO of BLLA (The Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association), the Travel Industry Executive Womens Network (TIEWN) was created to facilitate global connections between female hospitality, travel, and tourism executives. TIEWNs more than 13,000 global members work in hotel & lodging, airlines, cruise lines, car rental, travel agencies, corporate travel management, tour operation, rail, and travel technology. With a goal of collaboration and mutual support, TIEWN is in sync with other travel and hospitality organizations, working to improve the industry through the dynamic participation of professional women. TIEWN.com

About BLLA

The official organization for the world's independent boutique lifestyle hotels and leaders who are entrepreneurs themselves, promoting capital, resources, connection, education, and advocacy. As a pioneer in forecasting the boutique movement, BLLA's boutique community currently extends to more than 10,000 verified boutique and lifestyle hotels. BLLA is a catalyst for trends and the future of the boutique lifestyle, exactly what today's traveler is embracing. BLLA.org / Stay-Boutique.com. BLLA is also a capital/partner matchmaker via its Boutique Money Group division.

The corporate manifesto is: Experience the intention behind the brand.

Kim Marshall

Media Contact

BLLA

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New year, new email rules. Google and Yahoo have announced new email authentication requirements that take effect on February 1st, 2024. As email marketers in the hospitality space, we should pay attention to these new rules, because email continues to be a top  if not the top  marketing channel. Email marketing is stable, controllable, and affordable. Moreover, everyone has an email address. The last thing we want is to threaten this direct access to our customers and prospects by not complying with sender rules.

Non-compliance with sender requirements can reduce the likelihood of your emails reaching the subscribers inbox. This likelihood is called email deliverability. One variable that affects email deliverability is email authentication.

Email authentication is the process that verifies the legitimacy of an email sender. Authenticated emails allow email service providers (ESPs) to trust that the emails they are sending are not coming from bad actors, like spammers, spoofers, or scammers. Failure to properly authenticate emails can result in messages ending up in the spam folder or not being delivered at all.

Hotels that use Google or Yahoo and do not meet their new requirements will have their emails sent to spam and junk folders or be blocked entirely. Imagine all of your marketing and transactional emails are never even received by your guests. How much revenue would your hotel lose if you couldnt communicate with your guests via email?

Dont worry  well cover what you can do to ensure high email deliverability for your property.

What changes are Google and Yahoo making to their email standards in 2024?

Both Google and Yahoo are ESPs that are enforcing identical requirements for bulk email senders on February 1st, 2024. Both ESPs require bulk senders to authenticate their email, enable easy unsubscription, and ensure theyre sending wanted emails.

From Googles blog:

Authenticate their email: You shouldnt need to worry about the intricacies of email security standards, but you should be able to confidently rely on an emails source. So were requiring those who send significant volumes to strongly authenticate their emails following well-established best practices. Ultimately, this will close loopholes exploited by attackers that threaten everyone who uses email.

Enable easy unsubscription: You shouldnt have to jump through hoops to stop receiving unwanted messages from a particular email sender. It should take one click. So were requiring that large senders give Gmail recipients the ability to unsubscribe from commercial email in one click, and that they process unsubscription requests within two days. Weve built these requirements on open standards so that once senders implement them, everyone who uses email benefits.

Ensure theyre sending wanted email: Nobody likes spam, and Gmail already includes many tools that keep unwanted messages out of your inbox. To add yet another protection, moving forward, well enforce a clear spam rate threshold that senders must stay under to ensure Gmail recipients arent bombarded with unwanted messages. This is an industry first, and as a result, you should see even less spam in your inbox.

Lets explore these requirements and how to comply with them in more detail.

Know who manages your domain

Authenticating your email is the best way to ensure your messages reach your subscribers inbox. To start the process, youll need to know who manages your domain. Your domain is your propertys URL, like revinate.com, and it follows the @ symbol in your email address. Managing your domain means that you can make technical changes to it, like pointing it to a different webhost (the company that serves up the content of your website). Most of the changes will be done by writing DNS records, which are information that other systems can access, like in the case of authenticating email as legitimate. We recommend having someone on hand with the technical ability and knowledge to modify your DNS records.

Set up SPF and DKIM email authentication for your sending domain

DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is a protocol that validates that the content of an email has not been altered in transit. This validation is achieved by adding a non-visible string of characters to the email that acts as a unique key  also known as a hash. The recipients email system will recognize that key and verify that the message has not changed since the time it was sent. DKIM records are provided by your ESP.

Once you have your DKIM record, youll have to access the DNS zone for your domain and create a CNAME record. Depending on your domain configuration, this maintenance may take place with the registrar or your web host. Each of these providers offer different experiences for writing DNS records, so we recommend following your providers support documents.

Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is a method to prevent unauthorized email senders from using your domain for their email deployments. The SPF record allows the recipients email system to recognize and accept only authorized senders of your domain. Unauthorized senders run the risk of being blacklisted or having their emails blocked.

A technical resource will be required to write your SPF record, but youll be able to define rules for sender IP addresses, mail exchange servers, and domains. For guidance on writing the record, check out this SPF guide on syntax.

Set up a DMARC policy for your sending domain

Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) is a protocol that provides instructions to mailbox providers on what should happen if an email fails SPF and/or DKIM checks. DMARC also provides reporting to senders to improve protection of their domain from fraud.

Two important callouts regarding DMARC: First, the domain in the senders From header must be aligned with either the SPF or the DKIM domain. Second, this record is only required for bulk senders deploying over 5,000 emails a day, but its still highly recommended for all properties.

To set up your DMARC policy, youll start by creating a TXT record in your DNS for _dmarc. For the first field when entering the record name, youll type _dmarc.yourdomain.com (replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name). For the record value, youll define your DMARC protocol, including your policy for email that fails DKIM and SPF checks. If your record looks like this:

Then the p value represents your policy. P can equal none, quarantine, and reject. These are instructions to the receiving mail server on what to do if an email fails authentication. None takes no action, and the message is delivered as normal, but an email is sent to the address defined by the rua parameter for reporting. Quarantine sends the email to spam. Reject will bounce the email.

It is very important to start with p=none and go through a monitoring phase before implementing an enforcement policy of p=quarantine or p=reject as you could prevent legitimate sources from sending email on your behalf. Monitoring can be done for free with several 3rd party companies including Valimail* and others.

*Your use of any Valimail or other 3rd party tools is subject to their terms and conditions, and it is your responsibility to review and comply with those terms.

Establish one-click unsubscribe

Make it easy for email recipients to unsubscribe by making your unsubscribe link clearly visible on every email. Subscribers should also be able to unsubscribe from emails with one click.

Keep in mind that this does not mean you can have an unsubscribe link that sends the subscriber to a preference center or an unsubscribe confirmation page. These processes typically require the user to click an acknowledgement. One-click unsubscribe means one click. Finally, once a subscriber has unsubscribed, you must honor their request within two days.

Keep spam rates below 0.3%

Unwanted email is a chore to deal with. After deleting enough irrelevant messages, subscribers are likely to punish senders by reporting their email as spam. If the number of spam reports rises above established ESP thresholds, your sender reputation will be damaged, and Google and Yahoo may not deliver your emails. Google Postmaster Tools lists their spam threshold as 0.3%, but you should aim for 0.1% for every email deployment.

Following established email hygiene can help keep spam reports low. Practice permission-based marketing, enable double opt-in, segment your marketing lists, and make sure youre not sending unexpected messages. Its practically impossible to prevent all spam reports, but observing email best practices will help keep your email marketing in compliance.

Get more help with your email deliverability

If youre a Revinate Marketing customer, our support team will help you meet ESP requirements. This maintenance includes:

Ensuring that sending domains or IPs have valid forward and reverse DNS records, also referred to as PTR records.

For subscribed messages, enabling one-click unsubscribe (list unsubscribe) with a visible unsubscribe link in the message body.

Formatting messages according to the Internet Message Format standard (RFC 5322).

Current customers can read our helpdesk article on these upcoming email authentication requirements. You can also reach out to your Customer Success Manager or email deliverability[at]revinate.com. Please use the subject: Gmail/Yahoo Authentication. Also, please include your sending (From) domain(s) and property name(s).

Not yet a Revinate Marketing customer? Discover the industry-leading CRM and email marketing solution thats been voted #1 for five years in a row. Schedule a demo today!

About Revinate

Revinate empowers hoteliers to directly connect with their guests.

Our Guest Data Platform and communication solutions unlock revenue for hoteliers and put them in control of the full guest experience  initial research, booking, check-in, throughout the stay, and even after check out  all via the communication channels that guests prefer, whether it's voice, text, email, or web.

More than 12,000 hotels globally bank on Revinate to drive direct revenue and deliver delightful guest experiences.

Ask us how we do it. Visit our website to get a demo.

Sanjana Chappalli

VP of Brand Marketing and Communications

Revinate, Inc.

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Little Rock is experiencing growth, both recent and potential. Propelled by average rate growth, hotel RevPAR in Little Rock continued to improve in 2023, with occupancy meeting or exceeding prior pandemic levels at most hotels. In addition to a recovery trend in both business travel and group demand, tourism and leisure demand in the Natural State experienced significant growth after the pandemic.

There is a push for a resurgence in Downtown Little Rock, focusing on enhancements to the River Market District, including creating a revamped meeting and group destination. A deck park, similar to Dallas Klyde Warren Park but on a smaller scale, has also been proposed for development over Interstate 30 between Sixth and Ninth streets; the project is in the planning phase and is subject to a federal grant. Furthermore, work has been underway since 2020 on the 30 Crossing project, which encompasses widening Interstate 30 and building a new river bridge. This project is expected to be completed in 2025.

New development in Little Rock includes two new hotel properties expected to open in 2024: a Home2 Suites by Hilton Little Rock in Midtown/Medical Center and a Hampton Inn by Hilton on the grounds of the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.

In April 2024, hoteliers will benefit from Little Rocks location within the path of totality during the total solar eclipse, drawing an estimated 1.5 million tourists to Arkansas. Along with this event, Little Rocks solid employment base and strengthening economy support an optimistic outlook for area hotels.

Our work within local markets empowers us to conduct primary interviews with key market participants. This approach ensures we obtain real-time insights and current data for each market we operate in. For more information about the Little Rock market or for help making informed investment decisions that align with your goals and risk tolerance, please contact Kathleen Donahue with HVS Dallas.

Sources: https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2023/jun/18/progress-on-i-30-deck-park-plan-is-moving-slowly/ https://connectingarkansasprogram.com/corridors/9/i-30-pulaski-county/ https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2023/dec/19/ardot-traffic-plan-anticipates-15-million/

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JLLs Hotels & Hospitality group announced today that it arranged construction financing for the 296-key AC Hotel / Element by Westin hotel in Boise, Idaho.

JLL worked on behalf of the borrower to secure the conventional loan through a national bank.

The AC Hotel consists of 175 guest rooms and the Element by Westin has 121 guest rooms. The 15-story hotel is located at W. Grove Street and 10th Street in Downtown Boise and features a rooftop bar and restaurant showcasing the Boise skyline.

Given the volatile capital markets environment, limited hospitality allocations, and deal size, the JLL team conducted a wide marketing effort of both recourse and non-recourse lenders which resulted in ten quotes. The process brought in a lender that had previously declined and ultimately resulted in pricing inside of the broader market. This proves both the quality of the project and sponsorship and the value of a competitive process with the team, said a JLL spokesperson.

JLLs Hotels & Hospitality Group has completed more transactions than any other hotels and hospitality real estate advisor over the last five years, totalling $83 billion worldwide. The groups 370-strong global team in over 20 countries also closed more than 7,350 advisory, valuation and asset management assignments. Our hotel valuation, brokerage, asset management and consultancy services have helped more hotel investors, owners and operators achieve high returns on their assets than any other real estate advisor in the world.
How Do We Craft Memories That Will Last a Lifetime? By Putting Travelers First.

Imagine three groups of travelers organizing their next trip: a family of four with two young kids, an executive looking to expand their business, and four twenty-year-olds looking to go rock climbing. They all have one thing in common: they want to go to Greece. No travel agent, or search result, would offer them the same trip.

It's not where they're going that matters. It's the experience they're looking for. The family is looking for a fun and safe place to relax and unwind. The business executive wants to meet as many customers and prospects as possible. The group of climbers are hunting for a hearty dose of adventure on a bit of a budget. They're all looking for connection, and they'll be in the same destination, but on completely different journeys.

At Amadeus we believe that better travel puts people first. It's not just about reaching a destination; it's about searching for connection, and crafting unique experiences that will be remembered. Memorable moments, whether for business or for pleasure: that's always the goal.

When your airline shopping cart remembers your frequent flyer number, your biometrics pave the way for a swift airport passage, or you're greeted with a personalized welcome at a hotel, these are not just conveniences; they are manifestations of our commitment to making travelers' journeys simpler and more personal.

How do we anticipate what travelers want?

If travelers are at the center of everything that we do, we need to get to know them. By understanding the broader trends on the horizon and studying changing behaviors, we can get better at anticipating what travelers want today, and maybe even tomorrow.

Traveler Tribes 2033, for example, allowed us to explore how we might travel in the future. The global research study  the third in a series spanning back nearly two decades  looks at the forces of change transforming travel, alongside emerging traveler traits, behaviors and preferences, to understand exactly what it is that travelers will want a decade from now.

Business travelers, too, are under the spotlight in a study we carried out alongside researchers at Forrester. This study from 2022 looked at different corporate travel priorities, and how Travel & Expense technology could help.

Travel Trends 2024 is another great example. Each year, we consult with industry experts from around the world in search of insight into the future, examining the factors we expect to shape the travel industry in the months to come.

Research like this gets us closer to travelers so we can keep their needs at the center of our thinking as we develop the solutions that will serve them best now, and in the future.

How can technology make travelers' journeys better?

Armed with insights, we collaborate with the travel and technology industries to bring big and bold ideas to life. Technology connects travel and inspires new opportunities for innovation and growth. Most importantly, technology makes travel simpler, more personal, and enjoyable for all.

In the aviation space for example, Amadeus Nevio makes traveler-centric retailing a reality. This new generation of open airline technology helps airline marketers design new offers for their customers more quickly, so they can innovate and adapt their digital retailing capabilities to keep up with changing traveler needs.

On the ground, airports around the world are using Amadeus technology to reduce long lines, create more touch-free experiences and get travelers to where they want to go quickly. Travelers can use biometric technology to check-in, drop-off bags, enter a premium lounge or even pass through security, creating a more enjoyable experience.

Meanwhile, Amadeus Travel Ready digitalizes and verifies documents such as passports, visas, ID cards and health documents at every stage of the traveler journey. This innovative technology saves travelers from having to share the same identity details at many stages of their trip, so they can keep their documents safely tucked away.

How can we write a better future for travel together?

The travel industry is interconnected: no airline, airport, hotel, or travel agency works in a vacuum, and neither do we. Collaboration is at the heart of everything that we do.

For example, we've integrated Cytric Easy from Amadeus into Microsoft Teams, to allow business travelers to collaborate, plan and share trips with colleagues, to make business travel planning easier than ever before. We couldn't have done this without our partners at Microsoft, who are helping us apply the power of Azure and its AI capabilities to create new, smoother experiences for travelers worldwide.

Putting the traveler first is an industry-wide endeavor. At Amadeus, we're taking an ecosystem approach and are working with everybody, from across the travel and technology sectors and beyond, to bring our ambition to life. We're always looking for new collaborators across the travel and technology industries to turn fresh thinking into practical solutions.

As we look to the future, our optimism knows no bounds. The path ahead is illuminated with possibilities, innovations, and a steadfast commitment to industry-wide collaboration to put the traveler first. By working together, we can make sure each traveler feels like the protagonist of their own extraordinary adventure. We can make the experience of travel better for everyone, everywhere.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Scattered snow flurries early. Clouds will linger later on. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 29F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Hudson, NY (12534)

Today

Overcast. High 46F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
North Adams Seeks Extension on MSBA Study Agreement

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The School Building Committee is asking for an extension of the timeline of the $61 million Greylock School project.

The idea of an extension has come up several times over the past year in terms of meeting the design and funding deadlines.

"We will be requesting a feasibility study agreement extension and the logistics of that are being discussed with the MSBA as to exactly how much time we would request," Matthew Sturz of Colliers International, the owner's project manager, told the committee on Tuesday.

The project to build a new Greylock School entered the schematic design module after the feasibility study was accepted by the Massachusetts School Building Authority last November. According to the current timeline, a design would be submitted to the MSBA by May 2 for a vote on June 26.

At the same time, it is entering funding process with the expectation of a borrowing authorization by the City Council in September.

"The extension would need to be through the board of directors' meeting on the 26th and beyond that point by statute," Sturz said. "We have 120 days sort of built into the existing feasibility study agreement to get us to an anticipated City Council vote."

He learned that the director of the MSBA could grant up to a six-month extension; anything more would have to be approved by the agency's board.

"We're going to work through crafting that extension request formally over the next week or so and get that process underway with MSBA," Sturz said.

Superintendent Barbara Malkas reported that the design working groups have begun meeting. A "productive" meeting of the school safety committee was held on Friday, with another planned next month, and a general education session was held on Tuesday with faculty from both Greylock and Brayton elementary schools.

More sessions are planned this week with specific grades, programs and staff.

A finance committee meeting is set for Feb. 14 and facilities and operations is planning a daylong session to discuss technology, zoning and recreation. A virtual meeting for sustainability and energy efficiency has not yet been set.

"I think it's been pretty informative for folks to kind of understand what the design team's preliminary thinking is," said Malkas. "And then really seeking that feedback and input at this stage as we enter into that schematic design phase."

Sturz said the working groups will be giving feedback to the design team to incorporate into the schematic design and "such that we're delivering a design that is a highly tailored to the way that you would like it to be and the way that you will use the building."

Jessie Saylor of the project's designer, TSKP Studios, said the working groups were given early visualizations of room layouts with furniture.

"I find that just in general people understand this stuff when they see furniture in there and they start to think of how many people that implies," he said. "These kinds of visualizations we find help create discussion."

A 3D rendering of a prekindergarten classroom, for example, raises discussion about the use of cubbies, their size and orientation and how that affects the layout.

"It's important to have these discussions early in the process so that we can plan for these things and meet your needs in that way," Saylor said, adding that the process right now is in "meeting mode."

He anticipated having enough details to send to the estimators by the end of March.

In other business, the committee will meet briefly next Tuesday to approve an amendment to TSKP's contract regarding the hiring of a site surveyor subcontractor.

The hiring falls under TSKP's purview but the environmental and site budget line item to fund it did not.




iciHaiti - Petit-Goave : Official launch of the Prison Vocational Training Center





At the beginning of the week in the auditorium of the Petit-Goave Prison, the dynamic Commissioner Jean Louidor Sony launched the Professional Training Center for Petit-Goave inmates in the presence of members of the Municipal Commission (Jean Bertrand Subreme, Mrs. Marthe Noel), the President of the Bar Delpeche Joassaint, the Police, members of civil society, of Haiti DAWA, Delor Desgranges, the Director Jean Claude Charlemagne, the Notary Louis Frantz Batista and the Director of the Notre hospital Lady, Dr. Fred Jasmin.



This training center aims to facilitate the social reintegration of prisoners upon release from prison, explained Commissioner Sony who is committed to fighting against juvenile delinquency because the prison has more than 300 prisoners, most of whom are young people aged 20 and at 30 years old.



As for the President of the Bar Delpeche Joassaint, he insisted on respecting the rights and dignity of prisoners through the creation of this professional training school within the prison.



Director Charlemagne Jean Claude praised the benefits of training in a prison space and requested financial support from everyone in order to continue the training of prisoners in different disciplines such as plumbing, IT, building electricity, decoration, crafts, sewing, cutting, preparation of products among others. Experienced trainers or teachers will deliver the courses.



IH/ iciHaiti / Guyto Mathieu (Petit-Goave Correspondent)


















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Chinas population has undergone a second consecutive annual decline, falling by more than 2 million in 2023, according to government data released on Wednesday.

The National Bureau of Statistics of China reported that the total population was 1.409 billion by the end of 2023, a significant decrease of 2.08 million against 2022.

This decline is twice as large as the previous years fall of some 850,000, itself the first population drop in 60 years in China.

On Wednesday, Beijing announced that the birth rate had decreased to 6.39 per 1,000 people  aligning with rates in other advanced east Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea  despite concerted efforts by the Xi administration to encourage families to have more children.

China also saw a notable spike in its death rate in 2023, up 6.6 per cent to 11.1 million, the highest death rate in the 50 years since the era of Mao Zedongs Cultural Revolution.

Experts have attributed this spike in part to the abrupt lifting of Chinas Covid-19 restrictions in late 2022.

The number of births decreased for the seventh consecutive year, with about 9 million babies born in 2023, half the number in 2016.

When China introduced an amended gender discrimination law in 2022, the government instructed women to adhere to family values and to be good wives and mothers  highlighting the increasing pressure on women to embrace domestic roles.

Chinese president Xi Jinping recently urged government officials to promote a marriage and childbearing culture and to try to influence young peoples thinking on love and marriage, fertility and family.

But young Chinese people have not been receptive to the governments efforts, in part because they do not address the main concerns preventing people from having children.

Women still dont feel sure enough to have children in our country, Rashelle Chen, 33, a social media professional from the southern province of Guangdong told The New York Times. She has been married for five years. It seems that the governments birth policy is only aimed at making babies but doesnt protect the person who gives birth. It does not protect the rights and interests of women.

China has experienced a declining birth rate for decades, beginning with the controversial one-child policy in the 1980s that was designed to address overpopulation.

The government lifted the policy in 2015 in an attempt to address population decline, and has since introduced various incentives including subsidies and cash payments to encourage people to have children.

In 2021, the government further relaxed restrictions, allowing couples to have up to three children. But it seems to have come too late, with the population starting to fall faster than was expected. Experts warn that this could have serious repercussions for the economy, curbing growth and shrinking the workforce while reducing demand for housing.

In April last year, in an attempt to slow its demographic decline, Chinese policymakers were contemplating opening up IVF access to single women and providing them with child subsidies that were previously only available to married couples.

Last year, a Chinese state broadcaster slammed international media reports for bad-mouthing the country after UN data suggested India was set to overtake the Asian giant as the worlds most populous nation. The UN now estimates that India has done so.

A day before the latest data was released, the state-owned Global Times reported that Chinese demographers had suggested reshaping fertility support policies to counteract population decline.

The report said that experts had proposed a systematic policy overhaul in an attempt to address factors contributing to the declining birth rate. These include subsidies for newborn care, reducing living expenses, alleviating educational anxiety, and promoting female employment.

Chinas diminishing workforce also poses a potential threat to the global economy, as the countrys once massive working-age population dwindles. The shortage of factory workers, attributed to a better-educated workforce and a declining youth population, may lead to increased costs for consumers worldwide, especially in countries that are heavily reliant on imported Chinese goods.

As Chinas working-age population falls over time, the government may face further challenges in supporting a large and ageing population with longer life expectancy. And a report from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 2019 forecast that the countrys primary pension fund could be depleted by 2035, citing the impact of a shrinking workforce as one contributing factor.
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Pakistan has warned of serious conquences after a strike by Iran that killed two children. It is the third air strike on another country by Tehran this week after earlier attacks on targets in Iraq and Syria  further stoking fears of conflict spilling out across the Middle East.

Iranian state media confirmed missile strikes were carried out on targets in Pakistan, saying they hit two bases connected to the militant group Jaish al-Adl.

In a strongly-worded statement, Pakistans foreign office said the attack was an illegal act that could have serious consequences.

"Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory which resulted in the death of two innocent children while injuring three girls.

This violation of Pakistans sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences, Pakistans foreign office spokesperson said in the early hours of Wednesday.

Many nations across the Middle East have been on edge since a Hamas attack inside Israel on 7 October killed 1,200 people and saw 240 more taken hostage. In response, Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas and has launched airstrikes and ground operations inside Hamas-controlled Gaza, backed up by a blockade. Health officials in Gaza say more than 24,000 people have been killed in the three-month conflict.

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Hamas are backed by Iran, with Tehran also supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Hezbollah have been engaging in near-daily exchanges of fire with Israeli forces on the Israel-Lebanon border, while the Houthis have been striking ships in the Red Sea, a vital route for global trade. The Houthis claim they are targeting Israel-bound ships, but have struck several US-owed vessels, sparking the creation of a multi-national force in the area, led by Washington, to protect shipping.

The UK and US have also struck a number of Houthi sites across Yemen with missiles to try to deter attacks. The latest strike took place on Tuesday, according to US officials, with four anti-ship ballistic missiles that were being prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled territory struck and destroyed.

In state media reports, which were later withdrawn without explanation, Iran said its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard targeted bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl, or the "Army of Justice." The group, which seeks an independent Baluchistan and has spread across Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, acknowledged the assault in a statement shared online.

Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group, has launched attacks on Iranian security forces along the border it shares with Pakistan in the southwestern region.

Six bomb-carrying drones and rockets struck homes that the militants claim housed children and wives of their fighters. Jaish al-Adl said the attack killed two children and wounded two women and a teenage girl. A Pakistani intelligence report said the two children killed were a 6-year-old girl and an 11-month old boy. Three women were injured, aged between 28 and 35. The report also said three or four drones were fired from the Iranian side, hitting a mosque and other buildings, including a house.

"It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran," the statement from Pakistans foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Pakistan said it will recall its ambassador in Tehran after Iran violated its airspace, the Pakistani foreign ministry sais, with a spokesperon adding that Iran's envoy in Islamabad, who is visiting his home country, will not not be allowed to return. She said the violation was an unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan's sovereignty and was "unacceptable".

"Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act," she added.

The location of the missile strike and the full nature of the airspace violation was not immediately clear, while Pakistans statement did not specify details.

Pakistan has become the third country after Iraq and Syria to be targeted by Iranian attacks in the past few days.

Tehran has said the strikes on Pakistan, Iraq and Syria are against their enemies, especially in the wake of a double suicide bombing in the city of Kerman on 3 January, in which more than 80 Iranians were killed. Isis claimed responsibility for that attack.

The US condemned an attack by Iran on targets in Erbil, northern Iraq on Monday, which Tehran said targeted an Israeli spying operation.

Shortly after the attack, Iraq said it will take Iran to the UN Security Council over what Tehran has claimed was an attack on an Israeli espionage headquarters in the north of the country.

Associated Press contributed to this report
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At least 20 people have been killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand, police said on Wednesday.

The explosion was reported at a factory in Suphan Buri, about 120km (74.56 miles) north of Bangkok, at around 3.30pm, according to ThaiPBS.

Around seven people were injured in the mishap and taken to a hospital at Chao Phraya Yommarat in the province.

We cannot tell whether all the workers were killed. The officials are entering the site to investigate. They have not found any survivors, provincial governor Nattapat Suwanprateep told Reuters.

The fire has been controlled and workers were trying to confirm the exact number of casualties, said Kritsada Manee-In with the Samerkun Suphan Buri Rescue Foundation.

Visuals showed a huge pillar of black smoke rising in the air after the fire was doused.

Photos posted online by local rescue workers showed the site, in an otherwise unoccupied rice field, levelled flat aside from what were remnants of the factory.

Prime minister Srettha Thavisin, who is at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was briefed on the explosion and called for a swift investigation.

The prime minister ordered an inspection of the plant to see if it was operating legally and if the explosion was caused by negligence. The law must be enforced to the fullest extent because there are innocent deaths and injuries, Mr Sretthas office said.

The cause of the explosion remains unclear.

The incident coincides with a period of heightened demand for fireworks in the country and comes less than a month before the Chinese New Year in February.

In July 2023, a massive explosion rocked a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand, leading to at least 10 deaths and 100 people injured, as reported by officials. The explosion in the Narathiwat province happened in a residential area, gutting at least 100 houses within 500m radius.
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William Hill owner 888 has revealed a drop in yearly sales amid a clampdown on safe gambling in the UK, and said its profit is likely to be affected by increased spending on artificial intelligence (AI) and automation.

The gambling giant also said it was targeting some 30 million in savings, which includes closing its office in Bulgaria and making redundancies overseas.

The firm revealed an 8% decline in total sales over 2023, to 1.71 billion from 1.85 million generated the previous year.

The fall was driven by the group moving away from dotcom markets, which refers to places where 888 runs its website but does not do any marketing, which it said led to an 80 million hit to revenues during the year.

Sales were also impacted by the introduction of safer gambling measures in the UK, designed to protect more vulnerable players and prevent problem gambling, and changing how it advertises to customers.

The financial performance of the group must improve, and the actions we are taking will build a leaner, more agile and more effective organisation structure Per Widerstrom, 888's chief executive

888 said it saw an 18% reduction in average revenue per customer in the UK and Ireland, meaning people spending less money each time they bet, more than offsetting an 11% increase in the average number of active customers it had per month.

The group said it initiated a global cost savings programme of about 30 million in December.

Chief executive Per Widerstrom said the company was taking rapid actions to position the group for future success, including reducing our overhead costs and freeing up funds to invest in growth.

A spokesperson for the group confirmed that it had made the difficult decision to close one of its 11 global offices, in Sofia, Bulgarias capital city. It also said it would be making some redundancies in Israel as part of organisational changes.

But the company added it was planning to invest more in several areas such as intelligent automation and AI-powered data and insights.

It is also shifting its focus toward recreational customers alongside strengthening its own gambling protections.

888 said the plans will improve profitability in the long term, but the additional spending means it now expects adjusted earnings for 2024 to be at the low end of its guidance, currently between 340 million and 397 million.

Mr Widerstrom, who became the groups chief executive in October, added: I have joined the business at both an exciting and important time.

There are clear opportunities to unlock our significant potential, but as a business we know that going forward we must be more proactive in adapting to changes in regulation and technology.

The financial performance of the group must improve, and the actions we are taking will build a leaner, more agile and more effective organisation structure, as well as establishing a more effective management of the customer and product life cycle.

Shares in 888 were down by nearly 9% on Wednesday morning.
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McLaren boss Zak Brown has urged Formula One and the governing FIA to ensure Red Bull and sister team AlphaTauri do not gain an unfair advantage from closer ties.

Red Bull have owned two teams since 2006, when the Austrian energy drink brand bought the failing Italy-based Minardi and renamed them Toro Rosso, again changing the name in 2020 to AlphaTauri.

AlphaTauri are undergoing a further rebranding this season, with Laurent Mekies the new team boss and Peter Bayer as chief executive, and are planning closer ties with Red Bull in Milton Keynes.

Brown told reporters at his teams Woking headquarters that he was concerned by the tightening Red Bull alliance and the issue needed to be addressed.

Faenza-based AlphaTauri have traditionally served as a feeder outfit for Red Bull Racing, bringing on young drivers within the Red Bull junior programme, and Brown referred to them as a B team.

This A/B team and co-ownership, which is a whole other level of A/B team, is of big concern to us and the health of the sport and the fairness of the sport, he said.

The thing I would like to see us as a sport focus on, and where we sit on the regulation side, is the A/B team co-ownership.

AlphaTauri and Red Bull have ofted shared a close relationship (Getty Images)

I believe its a serious issue for the fairness of the sport, for the fans. Thats why its pretty much not allowed in any other form of major sport.

Id like to see us as an industry focus on that before it gets to a level of being where Formula One once was, which is very out of balance because people are playing by the rules but a different set of rules.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said last month that AlphaTauri operated independently from his team.

They take benefit of the parts that are allowed to be transferred, like the gearbox and the suspension and so on, in the same way that Williams and Aston Martin have done so with Mercedes or Haas with Ferrari, he added.

Theyre designing their own car, theyve got their own ideas.

The FIAs single-seater head Nikolas Tombazis said last month that the governing body was aware of concerns and would be issuing further guidance.

Formula One has a budget cap to prevent teams from massively outspending others, as they did in the past, and to make the racing more competitive.

Champions Red Bull Racing won 21 out of 22 races last season, the most dominant performance in the history of the sport, with Max Verstappen taking his third title in a row.

AlphaTauri, who have experienced race-winning Australian Daniel Ricciardo cementing his comeback before a possible move back up to Red Bull, finished eighth out of 10 teams overall.
Two years ago, at 8am, chef Richard Corrigan visited the Francis Bacon exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, then went to The Wolseley for champagne and a bacon sandwich with the archivist who had taken him round. I was gorged, mentally gorged, he explains. He was the most horrid creature in the widest world. A glass or two of champagne and a bacon sandwich made sense.

It made sense, not just for the obvious symmetry of bacon and Bacon, but because after being mentally gorged, he needed to be physically restored; to recover from Bacons assault on the senses. Corrigan is one of the countrys most revered chefs, with restaurants in Mayfair, the City, Ireland and, most recently, the top of the National Portrait Gallery in London. Yet, when confronted with art as exceptional and extreme as Bacons lurid distortions of man and beast, he didnt need a tasting menu of 12 courses. He needed what all of us need when discomfited: buttered bread and bacon.

Its a hungry relationship, between artists and chefs, Corrigan continues  and I like the sentiment, even if I dont fully get what it means. I like the idea, particularly within the context of Francis Bacon, that the connection between food and art is centred on appetite, before anything more highfalutin. Corrigans National Portrait Gallery restaurant, The Portrait, opened in the summer last year. The year before, Spanish chef Jose Pizarro opened a restaurant and bar in the Royal Academy of Arts.
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The British monarchy has been hit by a double health scare with the Princess of Wales in hospital for two weeks after abdominal surgery and King Charles set to undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace announced the King will go to hospital next week for the corrective procedure, adding that the 75-year-olds condition was benign but that all upcoming public engagements would be postponed.

Less than two hours earlier, Kensington Palace revealed that Kate Middleton was in hospital recovering from planned abdominal surgery. The future Queen is expected to remain in hospital in central London for 10 to 14 days before recovering in Windsor.

Kate, who was last seen in public 23 days ago after a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham, is expected to return to public duties after Easter.

Follow our live blog for all the latest royal updates by clicking here

King Charles and the Princess of Wales have both cancelled public duties with both announcing health issues (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

In its statement, Buckingham Palace said: In common with thousands of men each year, the King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.

His Majestys condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure. The Kings public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.

Benign prostate enlargement, common in men over the age of 50, is not a cancer and usually does not pose a serious threat to health, the NHS says. Treatment takes place depending on how severe the symptoms are - but can include lasers, implants and even water injections.

The King was due to attend a series of meetings and events at Dumfries House on Thursday and Friday. It is believed that the announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon to give guests, who were due to travel to Scotland, advance notice.

Separately Kate was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday for her planned procedure. Kensington Palace, although not revealing the nature of the 42-year-olds condition, said it was not cancerous.

Kate Middleton is expected to return to public duties after Easter (PA)

Heir to the throne, William will now combine being at Kates side with caring for their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and he has also postponed a number of engagements.

Kates family, including parents Carole and Michael Middleton, are expected to provide support when she returns home to Windsor.

A spokesperson said: The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

King Charles was pictured meeting school children in West Norfolk on Friday, 5 January (PA)

Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness progress when there is significant new information to share. The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements.

She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.

Kate usually enjoys good health but was previously admitted to hospital while pregnant after suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum  severe morning sickness.

Palace sources told The Times the surgery is said to have been a success and Kate is "doing well".

King Charles was recently pictured attending a Sunday church service in Sandringham on 7 Janaury.

The monarch took to the throne following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, in September 2022. At the age of 73, he was the oldest person to take the crown with his coronation taking place at Westminster Abbey in May last year.

It was an eventful 2023 for the King, who delivered the opening statement at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai in December. In his Christmas message, he thanked the selfless army of volunteers who he said were the backbone of British society.

King Charles pictured attending a Sunday church service in Sandringham on Sunday, 7 January (PA)

The princess marked her birthday just over a week ago, with the monarchys official social media accounts sharing a new behind-the-scenes photo of the princess at the Kings coronation.

Like King Charles, she had a busy 2023 with the coronation and adjusting to her new role as the Princess of Wales.

The pair were also embroiled in a royal racism scandal when Omid Scobies book Endgame named them as the two royal family members who allegedly made remarks about the skin colour of Prince Harry and Meghans unborn baby Archie.
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American actor Shannen Doherty has admitted there are a lot of people she does not want at her funeral, as she opened up about her ongoing battle with cancer.

The 52-year-old Charmed and 90210 star announced her cancer diagnosis in 2015. She then went into remission in 2017, but in February 2020 Doherty revealed her breast cancer had returned to stage four and later said that it had spread to her bones.

Now, in her most recent podcast episode on Lets Be Clear, Doherty candidly shared her feelings about who she wants and doesnt want at her funeral.

She admitted there were "a lot of people" she didnt want at her send-off. "Theres a lot of people that I think would show up that I dont want there," she told her best friend and executor of her will Chris Cortazzo.

Speaking to Cortazzo, the Beverly Hills actor said she believes some may not attend her funeral out of genuine affection but may show up for the wrong reasons.

"I dont want them there because their reasons for showing up arent necessarily the best reasons. Like, they dont really like me  and they have their reasons, and good for them  but they dont actually really like me enough to show up to my funeral, she told Cortazzo.

Doherty continued: "But they will... because its the politically correct thing to do, and they dont want to look bad."

The actor hoped her statement would "take the pressure" off people attending her funeral.

Detailing her list and the ceremony, Doherty said she does not want people to be crying or people to privately be like, Thank God that bitch is dead now." When asked by Cortazzo if hed be invited, she joked: "Thats the shorter  thats the better list. I cant give you a list of who I dont want because thats way too long."

Doherty went on to say she "abhor[s] fakeness" and "cant stand" people who "pretend that they "found Jesus" and claim to be "so sorry" for "anything bad that they said about you".

"Im like, No, no, no. I know youre still the exact same petty human being. Dont. Just stay away from me. Were good," she continued.

The Beverly Hills star has a long list of people she does not want at her funeral (Getty Images for Hallmark Channe)

The Little House on the Prairie star also shared her plans for her remains. "This is such a morbid conversation, but its also so fun. I want [my remains] to be mixed with my dog and I want it to be mixed with my dad.

She said she wants her final resting arrangements to be "a healthy mixture" of the options available.

But the actor said she is still unsure of where to scatter her ashes and the idea of potentially using them to "grow them into a tree" interests her. She also wants to "find a place that my dad and I both really loved and it meant a lot to us.
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A Texas doctor celebrated his retirement by rollerskating during his final shift in the emergency room.

In a viral TikTok video, Dr Phil Masterson roller skated into retirement after 40 years of work, rocking a retired sash gifted to him by his staff at a free-standing ER near Dallas.

As the doctor celebrated his retirement and skated to songs such as Hit The Road Jack, his daughter Nicole Masterson (@chanelandcoke) reportedly recorded a video of the fun moment and posted it to TikTok. The video has since received over 1.7 million views. It made me happy to see him happy, she said.

Dr Masterson - who will be turning 70 this year - says his big move back in the day used to be the Russian Roulette, and showed CNN a picture of him in his 20s shows him crouched with his arms folded as he kicked in the air. But he admitted that he cant bust that move anymore, explaining to the outlet, My knees wont allow me to do that any longer.

On his final shift, Dr Masterson, who has been skating since he was a teenager growing up in late 1970s Detroit, surprised his co-workers with his skating skills. Ive always had a thought: You know when I retire, I want to do something crazy, the doctor said. They were flabbergasted.

Before he retired, the doctor had reportedly joked with his staff that he planned on streaking through the halls in nothing but a cowboy hat and some matching boots. At the time, his staff wasnt sure whether or not he was going to go through with it. Obviously, that was kind of extreme, he admitted to Fox.

It wasnt until he spoke to a close friend and fellow retiree that he was struck with the idea to rollerskate, recalling: Im a great rollerskater, so I said, I think Ill do that.

Back in medical school, the doctor said that skating multiple times a week was a way he used to alleviate stress. He explained, It was a tremendous source of stress relief for me.

Dr Masterson has been overwhelmed by the positive response to the video. Im quite surprised with the response its had since she posted it on TikTok, he said. I think [the video] shows my light and how much fun I was having and how happy I was to be retiring.

The doctor reportedly plans on moving to Spain for one year with his wife, Sherry, who also retired from practising medicine the previous week. He added to the outlet that beyond immersing himself in Spanish culture, he plans on picking up old hobbies hes neglected such as playing the trumpet and studying art. He said, Im looking forward to that.
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A judge at Lebanons highest court suspended the arrest warrants against two former cabinet ministers in the 2020 Beirut port blast case, officials said Tuesday.

The explosion was one of the worlds largest non-nuclear blasts ever recorded.

Judge Sabbouh Suleiman of the Court of Cassation lifted the warrants against former public works minister, Youssef Fenianos, as well as former finance minister and current member of parliament Ali Hassan Khalil, judicial officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

In 2021, Judge Tarek Bitar, who has led the investigation into the explosion, issued warrants against Fenianos and Khalil. Fenianos in turn asked for Bitar's removal over legitimate suspicion of how he handled his case. The judge accused Fenianos, Khlail and two other former senior government officials of intentional killing and negligence that led to the deaths of more than 200 people in the explosion.

Some politicians and security officials have also been asking for Bitar's removal as anger and criticism by families of the victims and rights groups have grown with the investigation being stalled for over a year.

Despite arrest warrants issued for cabinet ministers and heads of security agencies, no one has so far been detained amid political interference in the work of the judiciary.

The United States Treasury in September 2020 slapped sanctions on Fenianos and Khalil, accusing them of corruption and providing material support to the militant Hezbollah group. Bitar had also charged and pursued Khalil in the port blast probe with homicide and criminal negligence.

The Aug. 2020 blast killed at least 218 people and more than 6,000 wounded, according to an Associated Press tally. It also devastated large swaths of Beirut and caused billions of dollars in damages.

More than three years later, there are still no answers to what triggered the explosion, and no one has been held accountable. Rights groups and local media revealed that most state officials knew of the presence of hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material used in fertilizers that had been improperly stored there for years, in the port.
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Most people have never wondered how and why their urine became yellow. But scientists have been puzzling over it for more than a century.

Back in the late 19th century, medical researchers identified urobilin as the chemical compound that gives pee its distinctive chartreuse hue.

What they didn't know was how exactly the human body  or rather, our resident colony of gut microbes  produces urobilin out of another compound called bilirubin, which is a waste product from the death of red blood cells.

A urine sample at Frances national anti-doping lab near Paris, 2015 (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)

Now a study in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Microbiology claims to have identified the enzyme that produces urobilin.

Named bilirubin reductase, the enzyme's discovery could help understand how gut microbes influence harmful conditions such as jaundice, gallstones, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Its remarkable that an everyday biological phenomenon went unexplained for so long, and our team is excited to be able to explain it, said lead author and University of Maryland professor Brantley Hall.

Speaking to Healthline, he explained further: Unfortunately, gut microbes can be challenging to study. The gut is a low-oxygen environment, and many of the bacteria in our guts cant survive if too much oxygen is present, making them difficult to grow and perform experiments on in labs."

But, he said, recent advances in genetics allowed the scientists to compare the DNA of different microbe strains and identify the gene responsible for bilirubin reductase.

"In summary, we unraveled a fundamental aspect of how our gut microbiomes influence our daily lives," Mr Hall concluded.

Scientists have long known that the amount of urobilin in a person's blood, and thus the colour of their urine, is a crucial indicator of certain diseases.

Jaundice, for example, results from an overload of bilirubin in the body, sometimes because it is not being properly metabolised by the liver or other organs.

This new study also found that newborn babies, who are vulnerable to jaundice, and people with inflammatory bowel disease have lower levels of bilirubin reductase, suggesting that its absence may contribute to such diseases.

Mr Hall now hopes to test that idea through human studies, examining how our gut microbes' production of the reductase influences the amount of bilirubin in our bodies.
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A man accused of violent disorder at a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Merseyside and said to have been organised by the English Defence League League has told a court he was walking his dog.

Daniel Fulham, is one of five men on trial for violent disorder following the demonstration at the Suites Hotel in Knowsley on 10 February last year, during which three officers were injured and a police van set on fire.

Mr Fulham admitted that he was at the scene but denied any wrongdoing, saying that he was in the area to walk his dog. Jonjo ODonoghue, his co-defendant, told the jury he had gone to the protest out of boredom.

Footage of the protest showed Fulham, 39, of Kirkby, Merseyside, lifting his Jack Russell above his head in front of a police cordon, claimed he was shouting this is our road during the protest in reference to himself and his dog, who he said regularly walk down the road.

A burnt out police van after a demonstration outside the Suites Hotel in Knowsley, Merseyside, in February 2023 (Peter Powell/PA) (PA Archive)

It could be called Jessies road because we go there that often, he told Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday.

The trial has heard there was ill feeling in the Kirkby area after a video appearing to show an asylum seeker from the hotel asking a 15-year-old girl for her phone number and a kiss was shared on social media.

Fulham said he had been told about the video showing that poor baby getting touched by them people.

He accepted telling a police officer f*** you but denied that it was a threat of violence.

He said he left the area because stuff started going mad and went home.

Asked what he thought about the incident afterwards, he said: I thought it was shit on my dog, to be honest.

ODonoghue, 21, said he had gone to the protest out of boredom with friends.

Police in riot gear after a demonstration outside the Suites Hotel in Knowsley, Merseyside (Peter Powell/PA) (PA Archive)

He said he and two friends got a taxi from Kensington, Liverpool, to the area and when he arrived, between 10pm and 10.30pm, he saw the burnt out police van.

He said: That was the reason why I didnt stay very long because the scene was quite agitated, the crowd was quite agitated.

He told the court he was handed two fireworks by someone, but said he had no idea who had given them to him.

He said: I let a couple of fireworks off out of curiosity. It wasnt something I intended to cause violence or anything to anyone.

He denied being a person shown on footage throwing a firework at police.

ODonoghue said he had no strong views on immigration and when he was asked about right-wing politics said: Its all like talking a different language to me to be honest.

Brian McPadden, 61, Thomas Mills, 47, and Paul Lafferty, 42, are standing trial alongside ODonoghue and Fulham.

All men accept being present on the night but deny violent disorder.

Three women  Cheryl Nicholls, 44, Nicola Elliott, 52, and Jennifer Knox, 41  were found not guilty of violent disorder on Monday following a direction from judge Denis Watson KC, who said there was insufficient evidence.

The trial was scheduled to continue on Wednesday, when the jury was expected to hear legal directions.
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Two British brothers have been jailed for stealing Ming dynasty artefacts worth around 3m from a Swiss museum, police said.

Louis and Stewart Ahearne, from Greenwich, south London, pleaded guilty to stealing two Chinese Ming dynasty vases and a cup from the Baur Foundation, Museum of Far Eastern Arts in Geneva on the night of 1 June 2019.

On Tuesday, the brothers were each sentenced to three years and six months in prison at a court in Geneva, the Metropolitan Police said.

Swiss authorities said the men were wearing masks and gloves when they broke into the museum by smashing a pane on the front door before shattering a display case and leaving with the items, believed to be from the 15th century and valued at 2,870,000.

Stewart Ahearnes DNA placed him at the scene of the heist (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Matt Webb, detective chief inspector who led the investigation, said: The Ahearne brothers meticulously planned this burglary, carrying out careful reconnaissance to ensure they could make a clean getaway and bring the items back to the UK.

They naively believed that having fled the country they had escaped punishment, but they did not bank on the fact we would work so closely with our Swiss counterparts to identify those involved.

Organised crime often crosses international boundaries and as this result shows, we will use all of the powers at our disposal to identify and arrest those involved in committing these types of offences.

DNA from the scene matched Stewart Ahearne, 45, when shared by officers in Switzerland on the international database.

A cup stolen by Louis and Stewart Ahearne (Metropolitan Police/PA)

They also identified the registration plates on a car leaving the scene and discovered it had been hired days before the burglary.

Inquiries with the hire car company revealed Stewart collected it at the airport, and it was then used to drive the stolen goods back into the UK.

CCTV images implicated Louis, 35.

The first joint investigation team of its kind between the UK and Swiss law enforcement was set up to easily share information, the Metropolitan Police said.

The force set up an undercover sting, posing as art buyers and arranging to meet the gang at a central London hotel.

Stewart and his co-conspirator Mbaki Nhkwa handed the vase to the undercover officers in exchange for 450,000, and were promptly arrested.

The brothers attempted to sell the Ming vase to undercover officers (Metropolitan Police/PA)

The Ahearnes were extradited to Switzerland and pleaded guilty there on 15 January.

Their sentences will be served in Switzerland and once released they will be banned from entering the country for five years.

They were also ordered to each pay 52,261 Swiss Francs (47,500).

Nkhkwa, David Lamming and Kaine Wright, were all previously sentenced for possession of criminal property for their role in the attempted sale of the vase in London.

A reward of up to 10,000 is on offer for information leading to the recovery of the doucai style Ming Dynasty wine cup, which remains missing, and features chickens on its side.

Anyone with knowledge of its whereabouts is asked to call police on 101 and reference Operation Funsea, or call Crimestoppers.
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In a bizarre court appearance this week, American fugitive Nicholas Rossi could be seen defending himself on a grainy livestream video against allegations of rape from a Utah courtroom. However, Rossi does not just reject rape charges. He has chosen to reject his entire identity.

The 36-year-old identifies himself in court as Arthur Knight Brown and has called allegations that he wasnt giving his true name in the hearing as complete hearsay.

Rossi is facing rape charges in Orem, Utah from 2008 after being identified as a suspect 10 years later. But before authorities had the chance to catch him, Rossi allegedly faked his death and fled to Britain.

Over in the UK, he re-married and built an entire life around his new alias Arthur Knight.

As his case prepares to go to trial in the US, heres what we know about Nicholas Rossi:

The man claims to be called Arthur Knight but US authorities say he is Nicholas Rossi (PA)

Nicholas Rossi, whose legal name is Nicholas Alahverdian, has been charged with the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Orem Utah in 2008, prosecutors have said.

He wasnt identified as a suspect until about a decade later due to a backlog of DNA test kits at Utah State Crime Lab and a sealed arrest warrant was issued in 2020.

Rossi has also been accused of raping another woman in Salt Lake County later the same year and faces multiple complaints against him in his native Rhode Island for alleged domestic violence.

Rossi was born as Nicholas Alahverdian in Rhode Island, in July 1987 to Diana and Jack Alahverdian, according to reports in US newspaper The Providence Journal. He was adopted by his stepfather David Rossi, and changed his surname to Rossi.

He grew up in Rhode Island foster homes and made a name for himself as a vocal critic of the states Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Nicholas Rossi was extradited from Scotland earlier this month (PA Archive)

What did he do in the UK and who is Arthur Knight?

In early 2020, Rossi told media in Rhode Island that he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had weeks to live and an obituary published online claimed he had died on February 29, 2020.

According to his former lawyer, Rossi had moved to Ireland in 2019 but the exact location is unclear.

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.

The pair moved up to Glasgow in 2021 where he claimed to be a professor teaching at the University of Glasgow. Neighbours told The Times that he used an English accent and remarked: For someone who was on the run, he really liked to draw attention to himself.

Miranda Knights brother, Kevin Knight, told the Daily Record in 2022 that she had been distraught when accusations came to light and that she was in denial, believing the police had to wrong man.

He also said that Rossi had always spoken with a thick Irish accent and never spoke about his family.

Prosecutors said he has used at least 10 different aliases over the years.

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 (PA)

How was he caught?

Authorities said his run from the law ended when he was arrested in December 2021 after being recognized by someone at a Glasgow, Scotland, hospital while he was being treated for Covid-19.

He insisted he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight and had never set foot on American soil.

Rossi had said he was framed by authorities who took his fingerprints while he was in a coma so they could connect him to the crimes.

The fugitive also claimed that the tattoos he had, which matched those of Rossi, were also given to him while unconscious in hospital.

But in November 2022 a sheriff in Edinburgh ruled that he was in fact Nicholas Rossi and lost his final appeal against extradition on 14 December last year.

Nicholas Rossi: Rape suspect who 'faked death' speaks in bizarre British accent

Whats next?

Rossi appeared in a Utah court on Tuesday for his first hearing since he was extradited from Scotland at the beginning of January.

He identified himself as Arthur Knight Brown and appeared from jail via video wearing an oxygen mask.

He did not enter a plea at the initial court appearance and Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Tamara Basuez said Rossi has not admitted his name or birthdate since he returned to Utah.

Objection, my lady, that is complete hearsay, Rossi told the judge in response to this.

Rossi is in custody without the possibility of posting bail in the Orem case and a second hearing has been set for January 26. If found guilty, Rossi could face a prison sentence of five years to life.
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A 27-year-old man has been extradited from Pakistan and charged with the 2015 murder of Manchester-based gang member Andre Marshall, police said.

Abdul Ahsan, who fled to Pakistan to evade detention, was extradited on Tuesday in a joint effort by UK and Pakistani authorities, said Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

Marshall, 29 at the time of his death, was shot multiple times in his leg and torso and his body was found next to a vehicle in Manor Park Urmston on 20 May 2015.

He was a known member of the Moss Side Gooch Gang in Manchester and was jailed in 2008 for a gun attack.

Mr Ahsan was initially arrested in 2015 but failed to answer police bail later that year, police said. A 10,000 reward was offered for information leading to Mr Ahsans arrest.

"This charge is an important development in the investigation into the death of Andre Marshall, detective chief inspector Gina Brennand of GMPs Major Incident Team.

"On behalf of our investigation team, I would like to thank our colleagues in the National Crime Agency and also the Pakistan Federal Investigation Agency and the UK Crown Prosecution Service, who have all jointly worked together to facilitate this progress in our investigation, she said.

Two people, Danial Shahid and Kadell Rivers, have already been sentenced for their involvement in the murder case.

Shahid, then 18-year-old, was sentenced to four years in jail after he was found guilty of assisting an offender following a trial at Manchester Crown Court on 19 May 2016.

Rivers, then aged 20, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and possession of a weapon and was sentenced to three and a half years in jail.

Ahsan will appear at Manchester Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

It comes as courts in Pakistan and the UK tussled over the complex legal issue of custody of the siblings of Sara Sharif.

Sharif, a 10-year-old schoolgirl, was found dead under a blanket in bed at her home in Surrey last year and her father, stepmother and uncle have denied her murder. Her family left for Pakistan with her five siblings a day before she was found dead on 10 August.
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An investigation into potential criminal offences linked to the Post Office/Horizon scandal will take at least until 2026, Britains most senior police officer has admitted.

Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said that an exhaustive nationwide investigation will take place to determine whether crimes have been committed. The investigation will follow the public inquiry into the scandal, which is due to publish its findings late next year.

He said detectives will have to trawl through tens of millions of documents in order to establish whether crimes such as fraud or perverting the course of justice took place. Officers will have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there was deliberate malice on the part of alleged suspects.

Hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongly convicted of stealing after the defective Horizon accounting system, developed by Fujitsus ICL business, made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

The Post Office also forced at least 4,000 branch managers to pay back cash based on the flawed data.

Mark Rowley told his host on LBC that a detailed investigation wont be quick (PA)

Sir Mark told LBC: Were now working with police forces across the country to pull together what will have to be a national investigation, which well pull together because theres hundreds of postmasters and mistresses from across the country.

Fujitsu are based in one part of the country and the Post Office is in another part of the country; [its a] massive piece of work to do.

There are tens of millions of documents to be worked through in a criminal investigation. And of course, weve got to do that following on behind the public inquiry, which I think finishes at the end of this year but wont publish until late next year.

He told host Nick Ferrari it would take until at least 2026 for the work to be completed. Proving criminal intent, if it existed, will need a detailed investigation that wont be quick, he said.

At the core of the issue youve potentially got fraud in terms of false documents if its for financial purposes, and youve potentially got perverting the course of justice if people have deliberately set in train evidence into a legal process which they know is false. That would be perverting the course of justice.

To prove this to a criminal standard is different to whats in a documentary. Clearly, we have to prove beyond all reasonable doubt, really 99.99 per cent, that individuals knowingly corrupted something. So thats going way beyond incompetence, you have to prove deliberate malice, and that has to be done very thoroughly with an exhaustive investigation. So it wont be quick.

But the police service across the country is alive to this, and we will do everything we can to bring people to justice if criminal offences can be proven.

Alan Bates (left) and Toby Jones, who played him in the ITV drama about the scandal, Mr Bates vs The Post Office (PA/ITV)

The commissioners comments came as the government announced it had requested discussions with Fujitsu on the companys contribution to the provision of compensation to subpostmasters. One of the tech giants executives this week told MPs it has a moral obligation to contribute to any redress.

The prime ministers official spokesperson said on Wednesday: The Department for Business and Trade has formally started the process of requesting discussions about how we explore that. The inquiry does need to establish the facts, but were keen to be as prepared as possible to act at the appropriate point.

The official added: Its important that we dont do anything that would jeopardise our approach, and we will set up these discussions so that we can move as quickly as possible, but its right that we establish culpability fully.

The spokesperson declined to comment on the pace of the criminal probe in light of Sir Marks comments.

Meanwhile, the public inquiry into the scandal heard that Fujitsu, the IT firm behind the Horizon software, didnt want to be dragged into the criminal prosecutions of the subpostmasters.

Data showing keystrokes from subpostmasters had previously been extracted and presented to the Post Office, but Fujitsu employee John Simpkins told the inquiry that the company had stopped offering to filter data after 2011, when emails showed requests to improve functionality.

Mr Simpkins told the inquiry it was partially because Fujitsu wanted to avoid being involved in criminal prosecutions of subpostmasters, and also because it was too difficult a process to carry out.

Software engineer Gerald Barnes told the hearing that error handling in Fujitsu wasnt as good as it could have been if designed properly from the start, and that his concerns had been dismissed by colleagues.

In January 2008, Mr Barnes suggested a fix was needed to correct an error that affected subpostmasters when they balanced their accounts, but his request was refused because the problems were deemed a rarity.

Rishi Sunak announced earlier this month that MPs will pass a new law to exonerate those convicted because of the Horizon software, after ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office shone a light on the plight of affected subpostmasters, whose fightback was led by Alan Bates.

There will also be a new upfront payment of 75,000 to those who were not convicted but were affected by the scandal.

However, No 10 has already admitted that it expects only around a third of the postmasters, who were forced to shell out huge sums during the debacle, to accept the 75,000 payment, and that many will push for more.

The Post Office has already conceded that it owes compensation to thousands of subpostmasters who were not convicted but were forced to pay back incorrect shortfalls  with 2,700 people so far offered an average of around 44,000 each in compensation.

Lawyers have also said that hundreds more victims who were caught up in the scandal could now come forward.

This week, Mr Bates warned that subpostmasters are dying while they wait for payments from the Horizon scandal compensation scheme, as he described the delays as madness.
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Girls were left at the mercy of paedophile grooming gangs for years in Rochdale because of failings by senior police and council bosses, with countless warnings ignored and dismissed, a report found this week.

The review, published on Monday, covers 2004 to 2013 and found that Greater Manchester Police failed to properly investigate a widespread criminal gang who were trafficking and sexually exploiting vulnerable young children.

Despite a healthcare worker alerting the police and local authorities to patterns of sexual abuse in 2007, childrens unwillingness to make a formal complaint was repeatedly used as an excuse for not investigating.

While the ring-leaders, a group of Asian men, were described as prolific criminals by the police, they were allowed to continue their abuse, causing one whistleblower detective to resign in disgust.

Former detective Maggie Oliver resigned from GMP and became a whistleblower (PA Archive)

Another police investigation into two takeaway shops in Rochdale, involving 30 adult male suspects, was also aborted prematurely because police bosses failed to resource it and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) deemed the main child victim an unreliable witness.

In the damning 173-page review, Malcolm Newsam CBE, co-author of the report, said: Successive police operations were launched over this period, but these were insufficiently resourced to match the scale of the widespread organised exploitation within the area.

Consequently, children were left at risk and many of their abusers to this day have not been apprehended.

Here is a timeline outlining how the Rochdale grooming scandal broke headlines across the UK, and why its repercussions are still being felt a decade later:

2004

Child sexual exploitation and grooming are recognised to have begun in the Rochdale area, with mainly white girls from poor backgrounds targeted.

Girls as young as 12 were plied with alcohol and drugs and gang raped in rooms above takeaway shops and ferried to different flats in taxis where cash was paid to use the girls.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham described the results as distressing (Richard McCarthy/PA Wire)

2007

Health worker Sara Rowbotham and her team alerted GMP and Rochdale Council about a gang of men of Pakistani and Afghan heritage engaged in child sexual exploitation.

The police and local authorities chose not to progress any investigation into these men, according to the review. Between 2003 and 2014, Ms Rowbatham made 180 attempts to alert police and social services.

2008

A girl who was arrested on suspicion of damaging a takeaway reported that she had been raped by its staff, with an investigation identifying widespread child sexual exploitation by at least 30 adults. The CPS decided against prosecuting two men, and the investigation was halted.

December 2009

A second victim made complaints of a similar nature at the same two takeaways, but insufficient efforts were made to investigate, the report said.

Spring 2010

Police finally act on sexual grooming in Rochdale by launching Operation Span and make a number of arrests.

21 February 2012

Ringleaders Shabir Ahmed, Qari Abdul Rauf, Abdul Aziz and Adil Khan are among nine men who go on trial, denying a range of offences involving grooming, sexual abuse and trafficking of vulnerable teenage girls.

While the force hailed Operation Span as a fantastic result for British justice, the report states the police operation failed to address numerous other crimes and ignored childrens allegations leaving their abusers off the hook.

Several members of the paedophile gang have been convicted and jailed

GMP and Rochdale Council had presented the court convictions as having resolved grooming in the town, but in reality it had only scraped the surface, the report said.

Former GMP detective Maggie Oliver resigns from the force after being dismissed by her bosses as an emotional woman when she tried to get action on grooming.

Ms Oliver, who now runs a charity supporting adult survivors of child abuse, has now been praised alongside whistleblower Sara Rowbotham, co-ordinator of the Crisis Intervention Team, as being lone voices in the damning report, which said young girls were left at the mercy of paedophile grooming gangs for years.

9 May 2012

All nine are convicted. Ahmed is jailed for 22 years, Aziz, nine years, Khan, eight years and Rauf six years. Both the Crown Prosecution Service and GMP apologised for their failures after the conviction.

July 2015

Home secretary Theresa May notifies each of the four with dual UK/Pakistan nationality that she intends to make an order to deprive each of UK citizenship.

May 2017

The televised drama Three Girls is followed by a harrowing documentary The Betrayed Girls, both of which are broadcast on the BBC. The newly elected mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, commissions an independent assurance review into how GMP and other agencies responded to child sexual exploitation.

Malcolm Newsam during a press conference for the publication of the review into child sexual exploitation in Rochdale (Richard McCarthy/PA Wire)

15 January 2024

The highly critical review is published, which lists several deplorable failings and identifies at least 96 individuals who could pose a risk to children, many of whom are yet to be prosecuted.

The findings include police secretly taking the aborted foetus of a 13-year-old grooming victim in order to do a DNA test without her consent, and taking no action in the case of a 15-year-old girl who gave birth to the child of her pimp.

Mr Burnahm said it gave a detailed and distressing account of how many young people were failed and added: That said, it fulfils the purpose of why I set up this review in the first place.

It is only by facing up fully and unflinchingly to what happened that we can be sure of bringing the whole system culture change needed when it comes to protecting children from abuse.

He continued: We are sorry that you were so badly failed by the system that should have protected you.
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Undercover officers are luring Rolex rippers by wearing luxury watches in crime hotspots, the Metropolitan Police has revealed.

The new undercover tactics have helped snare more than 20 robbers in the capital in the past year and were rolled out after 300 watches - with a total value of nearly 4m -were stolen in Londons West End in the six months leading up to October 2022.

Dramatic CCTV footage shows how undercover officers posing as members of the public wearing high-value watches were targeted by criminals who lured them to a quiet street before attempting to rip the watch from their wrists.

The force said its two covert operations were developed with precision tactics to target key times and locations where most watch theft takes place.

Data shows most robberies happen in Londons West End between 11am and 4am, with criminals targeting victims who had been drinking as they leave nighttime venues.

Often, the attackers  who have specialist knowledge of high-value watches - attempt to befriend a victim or offer them drugs before taking them to a quiet spot to mug them.

The undercover operations resulted in 31 arrests and 27 successful charges, leading to 21 convictions to date. Of this group, 14 individuals have so far been sentenced to a total of 26 years in prison, with other cases pending.

CCTV of an undercover officer wearing a luxury watch being followed by four thieves with their hoods up in Londons West End in October 2022. (Met Police)

Unveiling the results, Ben Russell, Commander for Met Intelligence, paid tribute to the immense professionalism and dedication of his undercover officers.

They are volunteering to stand alone in dark streets in the middle of the night waiting to be robbed. I am immensely proud of their work, he said, adding it requires them to be courageous, calm under pressure and uniquely dedicated to the task.

The first operation, which ran between October and December 2022, resulted in a reduction in watch thefts of 28 per cent across the boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.

The second operation ran from March to October 2023 and saw a 15.8 per cent reduction in watch robberies compared to the same period the previous year.

Footage of one covert operation showed an undercover officer being followed by four hooded men in Sohos Berwick Street in October last year.

An undercover officer, whose identity cannot be revealed, described the sting: About 20 minutes earlier a gentleman approached the undercover officer and asked if he would like to go to a brothel.

Hes taken him on a walk around Soho and taken him to a quiet street. During that time they are being followed by four other males. This resulted in a robbery and four men were convicted.

The footage shows the men turn on the victim before police sprang into action to arrest the suspects.

A second clip shows an undercover officer being targeted in Sohos Broadwick Street in March last year.

CCTV shows men attempted to rob a luxury watch from an undercover officer in Londons Greek Street in November 2022 (Met Police )

Three males had approached him earlier noticed his watch and tried to befriend him and bring him back to their house, before they attempted to rob him and pull the watch from his wrist, the undercover officer explained.

Other footage revealed similar operations in November 2022 and July 2023.

The officers said the robbers are targeting high value luxury Swiss brands like Rolex and Patek Philippe that retain value on the second hand market, which can be worth anything from 10,000 up to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Commander Russell added: This a rare chance to give the public insight into the work done by our undercover officers, which resulted in 31 robbers arrested in a 12-month period, all caught red-handed trying to steal high value watches in the heart of the West End. Fourteen have already been convicted, with more awaiting sentencing and other cases pending.

Using data and intelligence, we identified the locations and times where these crimes were taking place and deployed undercover officers into the area, as part of our precision-based approach to fighting crime.

By targeting the people causing the most harm and the locations most frequently linked to crime, we are having a greater impact on keeping people safe.

Undercover operations will always carry an element of personal danger and, while we risk assess all our operations thoroughly, all the officers involved demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination to keep Londoners safe.
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Councils need more support to help children in care to reunite with their families, new research has warned, after data showed a third of children who go home are returned to care within six years.

Local authority workers said dwindling funding and a lack of expert staff were contributing to the breakdown of family reunifications.

A survey of 75 councils across England by childrens charities Action for Children and the NSPCC found 78 per cent wanted to provide more support to help families reunite but over two-thirds of those councils could not afford to do so.

Councils are spending eye-watering amounts of money on childrens care placements. Since 2010-11 real-term expenditure on the care system has increased by more than 2bn, a rise of 61 per cent, according to recent research from childrens charities.

This is partially explained by the 25 per cent increase in the number of children in care in the last 12 years, but the government has also blamed profiteering in childrens homes for the soaring costs.

With childrens care spending taking up so much of councils budgets, care workers said they were keen to help children reunite with their families.

One local authority worker told researchers that if there is an option that we can channel support into families, my position is that that would be the preferred option.

They added: Why wouldnt we invest in families if we can? Why am I spending 7,000 a week on a rubbish placement?

A survey of 75 councils across England found that 78 per cent wanted to provide more support to help families reunite (PA)

Another said: We were just bouncing them into more and more high-cost placements and were spending close to about 4m on these 11 children... even if five of the 11 ended up back home, wed more than cover the cost of what we needed to do.

They added: You only need to have one or two of these children (in placements) go home and you pay for a service that can support 10, 15, or 20 children to reunify.

Despite this, the majority of councils surveyed, 65 per cent, said that struggles with retention and recruitment of staff were preventing them from providing more support to reunifying families.

Some 12 per cent of children go back into care after a family reunification after three months, 20 per cent after one year, and 35 per cent after six years.

Council workers said they struggle to support the families properly, especially when they have complex problems.

One support worker said: Our social workers become four or five practitioners rolled into one... whereas in the past you might have access to a domestic abuse worker, a drug misuse worker, and they would see the family weekly, you might have our social workers deliver similar sessions one day and something else on another day, something else on another day.

Another local authority worker said they had to beg, borrow and steal to get the right support for families. And 79 per cent of councils said lack of funding was limiting their ability to keep families together.

Abigail Gill, associate head of policy and public affairs at the NSPCC, said: We urgently need to invest in an effective, joined-up system which has the tools to accurately assess what a family needs and the capacity to prioritise solutions that work in the best interest of the child.

Joe Lane, head of policy and research at Action for Children, said: Going home is the most common way for children to leave care but too many reunified children end up back in care. More children could return to their families and fewer of them would come back into our over-stretched care system if local authorities had the means to make family reunification work better.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: We are committed to reforming the whole childrens social care system to better support families - with more early support, reducing the need for crisis response at a later stage, and plans backed by 200million to test and refine our approach.

Local authorities are required to have a plan for every looked after childs development, which for some children, will include family reunification where that is most appropriate for them.
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The daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess is suing the police and government for failing to stop his death.

Katie Amess, 38, launched a High Court civil case for personal injury against the Home Office and Essex Police following her fathers murder in 2021.

Sir David, 69, was stabbed 21 times by Islamic State fanatic Ali Harbi Ali outside a constituency surgery held at a methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

Ali, 28, had been referred to the Home Offices deradicalisation scheme Prevent seven years earlier but boasted he was able to look compliant when dealing with the organisation.

Like so many others, Katie Amess was horrified both by the fact of her fathers murder, and the circumstances surrounding it, Daniel Machover, head of civil litigation at the solicitors firm overseeing Ms Amesss case told the Daily Mirror.

Ali was referred to the Home Offices anti-terror scheme prevent but boasted he was able to trick it before murdering Sir David (PA Media)

She has issued a claim at court as part of her desire to ensure proper accountability and learning from Sir Davids murder.

It comes after an independent review of the scheme last year found it was failing. Ali, from Kentish Town in North London, spent years planning an attack and earlier had plans to target MPs including Cabinet Minister Michael Gove.

He had emailed Sir Davids office and told him he wanted to discuss foreign affairs. Ali then pulled put a knife, said sorry, and stabbed him.

A couple arriving at the surgery heard cries from the MPs aides as Ali waved the bloodied weapon, shouting: I killed him.

Ali, who said he was taking revenge on MPs who voted for airstrikes in Syria, was given a whole life sentence in April 2022.

Father-of-five Sir David was an MP for nearly 40 years before being murdered by an Islamic State fanatic (PA)

A Home Office spokesperson said it would be inappropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings. It told The Independent: The government takes the safety of Members of Parliament extremely seriously, and significant work has been taken forward in response to the tragic killing of Sir David Amess.

Essex Police told The Independent: We are aware that what is in effect a protective claim form has been filed at court, however as these papers have not been served on our force, we are unable to comment any further upon them.

We remain committed to supporting our elected members across the county in the execution of their public duty and to this end we regularly review and advise around security arrangements for our Members of Parliament. Sir David and the Amess family remain in our thoughts.
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A manhunt has been launched after a prisoner escaped from a jail in Derbyshire. Frankie Michael OLeary absconded from HMP Sudbury, Ashbourne, at around 5.30pm on Friday, 12 January.

It was unclear exactly how OLeary, who was sentenced to a seven-year, 10-month sentence for GBH with intent in 2021, escaped.

OLeary is described as being 5ft 10ins tall, has brown hair which is short on the sides and longer on top, and is of slight build with blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing a pair of black Under Armour tracksuit bottoms, a black puffa jacket, and a pair of white and grey Nike trainers.

Police are appealing for anyone who might have information about OLearys whereabouts to contact them but have been warned not to approach him.

Officers said he has links to several areas across the country including north London; Bedfordshire, Poole, Dorset; Hampshire, Lymington area; North Wales, Llandudno; Brighton and Hove; Northampton, Blackthorn area; Cambridgeshire, Bedford area; Wiltshire, Swindon area.

HMP Sudbury is an open prison that holds just over 600 adult men.

It is a Category D jail, meaning it has minimal security.

File photo: HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire (PA)

Eligible prisoners are allowed to spend most of their day away from the prison on licence to carry out work, education and other rehabilitation activities.

Category prisons only house prisoners who have been risk-assessed and deemed suitable for open conditions.

An unannounced inspection of the jail in August last year found that it was reasonably good on several areas, including safety, rehabilitation and respect towards staff.

However a significant quantity of illegal narcotics had been entering the prison, which had a bigger drugs problem than other comparable jails.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: All prisoners in Category D jails are robustly risk-assessed and absconds have reduced by more than two-thirds since 2010.

Offenders who break the rules are punished and face extra time behind bars and we are working with the police to recapture this prisoner.
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Peter Bones partner has said she is proud to have the former Tory MP on the campaign trail with her after he was booted out of parliament for sexually abusing a member of staff.

Helen Harrison, who is standing in the by-election to replace Mr Bone, also said the panel which found him to have exposed himself to an aide and physically struck him had got it wrong.

The local councillor, who has been in a relationship with Mr Bone for years, said she had seen every single bit of evidence in the case against the disgraced ex-MP.

I think the panel got it wrong, she told the BBC.

Former Tory MP Peter Bone was ousted by voters through a recall petition (Kirsty OConnor/PA) (PA Wire)

It came after Mr Bone was spotted on the campaign trail in Wellingborough, where the Conservatives had a chunky 18,540 majority at the 2019 election.

Pollsters have warned that the partys decision to pick Ms Harrison could add to the partyTories woes, with Labour hoping to overturn the majority.

But, hitting back after he was spotted knocking doors for Ms Harrison, she said: Im proud to have him as part of my campaign."

She denied voters are not talking about Mr Bones behaviour.

"People are not raising that issue with me," she said.

"Theyre talking to me about the small boats; theyre talking about potholes; theyre talking about their health services [and] getting more police on the beat - those issues that people are going to be voting on in this by-election."

In October, Mr Bone was found to have indecently exposed himself to a staff member and trapped him in the bathroom of a hotel room.

The parliamentary commissioner for standards upheld five allegations of bullying and one of sexual misconduct against the former Wellingborough and Rushden MP.

Mr Bone, one of the most outspoken pro-Brexit Conservative MPs, was found to have engaged in violence, shouting and swearing, mocking, belittling and humiliating behaviour, and ostracism.

Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth in Wellingborough with his partys candidate, Gen Kitchen (PA)

He was suspended from parliament and then lost his seat after constituents backed removing him via a recall petition.

Ms Harrison was selected as the partys candidate for the seat after Mr Bone reportedly threatened to run as an independent in the by-election - risking a split in the Tory vote - unless she was chosen.

At the time, Jonathan Ashworth, Labours shadow paymaster general, said: Rishi Sunak caving to Peter Bones demand to select his partner so he doesnt run as an independent shows just how weak the Prime Minister is.

Rishi Sunak is too weak to lead his own party, let alone the country. The people of Wellingborough deserve the best possible candidate to represent them, not the product of a quick political fix.
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Rishi Sunak has faced down rebels within his own party to win a showdown Commons vote as he fights to save his flagship Rwanda policy.

MPs passed the embattled prime ministers controversial deportation bill by 320 votes to 276, after most Conservative rebels wimped out of a threatened revolt.

Losing the vote could have imperilled Mr Sunaks leadership and even sparked a general election, as Labour mocked the Tories for what it called their farcical divisions over asylum policy.

But in the end just 11 Tory MPs voted against, including ex-home secretary Suella Braverman and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick.

The PM still faces a lengthy battle over the legislation in the House of Lords and the courts, however, as the government refused to say when flights to the African country might finally take off.

It came as:

Rwanda suggested it could refund some of the 240m cost if no asylum seekers are ever sent there

Rebels undermined the PM by publishing their own last-minute alternative to his Rwanda bill

Lee Anderson did not vote against the bill  despite resigning his top Tory role in protest only 24 hours previously

Mr Jenrick claimed Mr Sunak didnt have the guts to throw a policy grenade

Sir Keir Starmer compared the Tories to hundreds of bald men scrapping over a broken comb

Home secretary James Cleverly said the legislation would end the merry-go-round of legal challenges by migrants trying to avoid deportation.

Rishi Sunak forced his bill through the Commons at third reading stage (PA Media)

The prime ministers allies believe they have scored a decisive victory over right-wing Tories who have been a constant thorn in his side.

Twice in the space of weeks, right-wing rebels have boasted they are about to inflict a major defeat on the government over the Rwanda plan only for the threats to prove empty on both occasions.

Before the result, Mr Sunak received another boost when Rwandan president Paul Kagame said he would return money already paid by the British government if no migrants were sent there from Britain.

The estimated 400m paid by the UK to Rwanda so far before the scheme has got off the ground has been the main focus of Labours attack on the government.

However, Mr Sunak did suffer a rebellion on an ultimately unsuccessful amendment to the Bill, as 59 Tory MPs backed a proposal designed to allow UK ministers to ignore emergency injunctions by European judges.

On Tuesday, Mr Sunak suffered a major blow when two deputy chairs of the Tory party resigned and 60 of his own MPs rebelled by voting to toughen the bill.

But in the end even those who resigned over the issue, Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith, did not oppose the bill at its third and final reading in the Commons.

As the revolt melted away in the hours before the vote, rebel Tory MPs held an eleventh-hour meeting to decide the way forward. A source within the rebel camp told The Independent: The mood of the meeting was to support the government.

They added: People feel the bill is better than the status quo, even if it is not perfect. And the risk is, if they vote it down, it could bring the government down  and they were not prepared to do that. The feeling is that changing leader again would make us look ridiculous.

Robert Jenrick was one of only 11 rebels who finally voted against the government (PA Archive)

In a bid to repair splits in the party, James Cleverly told MPs he had respect for the Tory rebels. He also told MPs the legislation would end the merry-go-round of legal challenges by migrants trying to avoid deportation.

But Tory moderates expressed anger at the damage caused. One senior MP said rebels looked foolish for talking down and trying to kill off a bill that they now need to tell voters might work.

The Sunak ally said: It would have been a calamitous embarrassment to lose. But having senior people in the party saying this bill wont work has not been the best way to project competence.

A close ally of Mr Sunaks said it was inevitable that Tory right-wingers would wimp out of taking part in a revolt that could have triggered a general election, in which the party would be set to face a thumping from Labour.

After the vote, Matt Warman, a leading member of the One Nation caucus of Tory MPs, appealed for unity behind the bill as he called on Tory MPs to talk about other issues that matter to our constituents, from the NHS to the economy and beyond.

One former cabinet minister said the events of the last few days would do nothing to help the partys dire poll ratings in the run-up to this years general election. This just proves everything people already think about the government, they said.

Starmer compared Tories to hundreds of bald men scrapping over broken comb (PA)

Earlier, anger spilled over in the Commons, with leading Tory moderate Sir Robert Neill attacking the rebels for their ridiculously bad politics.

But defiant backbenchers offered a final warning to their party leader of the consequences of failing to toughen the bill.

Mr Jenrick said that, as night follows day, we will find ourselves in exactly the same situation we were in in the summer of 2022  when a Rwanda deportation flight was stopped.

Suella Braverman criticised the governments efforts to tackle the small boats crisis, saying this bill was ministers third time round the issue, and adding: The British people are fed up. They have run out of patience ... and this is our last chance to get it right.

Former business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, who backed the Bill in the end, said afterwards: "Without the amendments it's unlikely to prove effective in my view in the time available before a general election, but I'd be delighted to be proved wrong."

In a desperate bid to reassure the Tory right-wing rebels, Mr Sunaks illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson said ministers were considering tweaking the civil service code to remind officials to follow ministerial decisions.

The government then shared an exchange of letters between top officials at the Home Office and Cabinet Office confirming the government had scrapped guidance for civil servants saying they should obey injunctions from the European court.

Instead, civil servants must now refer any rule 39 injunctions for a ministerial decision immediately. But many right-wing rebels were unimpressed. Mr Jenrick said the attorney general had previously advised ministers they could not ignore injunctions from the European court.

During a bruising PMQs Labour MPs jeered the PM as party leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Sunak had been brutally exposed by his own MPs yet again and that the Tories were in open revolt over Rwanda.

He said the party was tearing itself apart, comparing the Conservatives to hundreds of bald men scrapping over a single broken comb.

A government analysis has suggested the cost of sending a single person seeking asylum to Rwanda could be 169,000. Labour MP Jess Phillips said MPs should feel shame for voting for a policy when they had no idea how much it would eventually cost.

Earlier the Rwandan president raised eyebrows by offering to repay potentially hundreds of millions of pounds if the Sunak government is unable to deport any asylum seekers. He told the BBC at the Davos summit that the 240m already committed is only going to be used if those people will come.

The Rwandan governments spokesperson later said it would consider a request if the UK government wishes to request a refund of the portion of the funding. Labours Yvette Cooper said the government should seize the chance to get the money back.
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Rishi Sunak faces his biggest personal crisis as prime minister in the Commons tonight as he bids to save his flagship Rwanda policy.

A group of 60 right-wing Tory MPs, backed by Boris Johnson, threatened the PMs deportation legislation by backing amendments aimed at toughening it up on Tuesday evening.

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quit as deputy chairmen after siding with rebels, while ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick and others said they were ready to defy the government at the showdown vote later on Wednesday.

If around 30 of the rebels carry out their threat, Mr Sunak will be handed a humiliating defeated  potentially sparking yet another Tory leadership contest or a general election within weeks.

Mr Sunaks allies claim the risk of an early election  with an almost certain big Labour victory  will make the rebels will back off, allowing the PM and his battered administration to live to fight another day.

In a sign that No 10 is looking at fresh concessions to the Tory right-wing rebels, Mr Sunaks illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson said ministers were considering tweaking the civil service code to remind officials to follow ministerial decisions.

It comes amid concerns by Tory rebels that the Rwanda legislation fails to go far enough to block last-minute, rule 39 injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Its crunch time for Rishi Sunaks Rwanda bill (PA Wire)

Mr Tomlinson told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: My expectation is that there will be further confirmation that it will be for ministers to decide and then, once those decisions are made, they will be carried out ... by our excellent and efficient civil servants.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned Mr Sunak that his vote on the Rwanda bill depends on a guarantee that ECHR rulings can be ignored. Will the attorney general basically agree that a Rule 39 order can be overruled? If thats the governments position, thats really important.

But one senior Tory rebel told The Independent they were not particularly impressed by the assurance the code would be tweaked.

No 10 said is not right to say that the government is seeking to rewrite the civil service code over its Rwanda plan. Mr Sunaks official spokesman said there would be additional guidance for civil servants to give clarity on following ministers decisions in the application of the legislation.

Mr Jenrick has told MPs that the attorney general had advised ministers they could not ignore injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as the law currently stands.

The leading Tory rebel  the former immigration minister  said it was in theory at the discretion of a minister as to whether or not to comply with a rule 39 injunction on Rwanda deportaions from the Strasbourg Court.

Mr Jenrick added: Belying that, was the government legal advice that in its opinion, which I believe to be erroneous, it would be in breach of international law to do so.

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick is one of the rebels pushing for changes to Rishi Sunaks Rwanda Bill (PA Archive)

Deportation flights to Rwanda must take off regularly or the public will view the scheme as a gimmick, Tory MP Jonathan Gullis  who is considering rebelling  has said.

Mr Gullis told LBC the giovernment had to ensure regular flights with lots of people on board, otherwise people will just see it as a gimmick, the voters will see it as a gimmick.

He added: We will have tried a third piece of legislation in three years and, if it fails, it will be three strikes and youre out.

Last night saw 60 Tory MPs back rebel amendments to the governments Rwanda legislation, as well as the resignation of deputy party chairmen Mr Anderson and Mr Clarke Smith.

A close ally of Rishi Sunak has said most of the Tory rebels will wimp out when it comes to Wednesday evenings crucial vote.

The senior Conservative MP told The Independent: They will wimp out at the third reading. Theyll fall into line. Voting against the bill would force a general election now  so why would they do it?

Another Tory MP loyal to Mr Sunak said: Most realise to defeat the government to bring down one of its major policies on this would be political madness.

Ex-levelling up secretary Simon Clarke is voting against bill tonight (PA Wire)

Tory rebel Simon Clarke is the first to state explicitly that he will be voting against the Rwanda bill  a sign the most hardline of MPs have given up on getting assurances from No 10

In an op-ed for The Telegraph, the ex-Liz Truss minister claimed that a defeat for Rishi Sunak would not necessarily throw his premiership into crisis or force a general election.

If the bill is voted down this evening, there will be one final opportunity for the government to return to parliament with a bill that works, and which can command the support of the whole of the Conservative party.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt insisted this morning that the party is united behind the principle of the Rwanda deportation scheme, saying devisions amounted to lively debates.

The chancellor said: We are united in the Conservative party in our belief we need to solve this problem. Of course, we have lively debates inside the party about how to deliver the Rwanda policy.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claimed at PMQs that Mr Sunak had been brutally exposed by his own MPs yet again  arguing that Tories were in open revolt against his [Rwanda] policy.

Earlier this week a YouGov poll that suggested the Conservatives could see a 1997-style wipeout, gifting Labour a majority of 385 seats.
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Rwandas president has offered to repay hundreds of millions of pounds if the UK is unable to deport any asylum seekers to the country as part of Rishi Sunaks small boats policy.

Paul Kagame also said whether or not the PMs flagship deportation policy is successful is not Rwandas problem. Ask the UK, he said, when asked whether the 240m scheme is working.

No asylum seekers have yet been sent to the African country, with Mr Sunak insistent that his legislation will help the first deportation flights get off the ground.

So far the UK has sent 240m to the east African nation, with another 50m payment scheduled in the coming year.

Just 20m of the money allocated so far has gone toward set-up costs, including accomodation for asylum seekers who arrive, with the remainder penned for investment in economic transformation.

Labour has warned the scheme could cost 400m based on the cost of supporting each asylum seeker in Rwanda once they arrive.

Rishi Sunak with Rwandan president Paul Kagame (PA Wire)

Assked by the BBC, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, why his country was taking millions of pounds of UK money without taking any asylum seekers, Mr Kagame replied: Its only going to be used if those people will come.

The Rwanda president added: If they dont come, we can return the money.

Mr Kagame did not clarify how much of the money he would return, or when. Asked by the BBC about the current political and legal obstacles around the deal with his country, Kagame said: Ask the UK  it is the UKs problem, not Rwandas problem, he said.

Labours Yvette Cooper has said the government should seize the chance to get money back from Rwanda after Paul Kagames offer of a refund.

If Rwanda says we can have the money back from this failing scheme, Rishi Sunak should seize the chance, instead of dragging out this Tory asylum chaos any longer. We need proper grip not more of this failing gimmick, said the shadow home secretary.

Although Mr Kagames comments at Davos appeared offhand, a top official later confirmed Kigali would listen to requests for a refund.

Yolande Makolo, the Rwandan governments spokesperson, said: Under the terms of the agreement, Rwanda has no obligation to return any of the funds paid.

However, if no migrants come to Rwanda under the scheme, and the UK government wishes to request a refund of the portion of the funding allocated to support the migrants, we will consider this request.

Kagame said Sunaks struggles to get legislation passed is not Rwandas problem (AP)

Labours Stephen Kinnock pointed to the Home Offices impact assessment  which revealed the plan would cost the government 169,000 per asylum seeker sent to Rwanda.

The shadow immigration minister told the Commons: This whole sorry tale is a shambolic farce, and the cost to the taxpayer of the Rwanda policy, of the this legislation and of the asylum backlog, has become utterly extortionate.

Mr Sunak faces his biggest personal crisis as prime minister tonight as he faces a showdown vote to get his Rwanda bill through parliament.

A group of 60 right-wing Tory MPs threatened the PMs deportation legislation by backing amendments aimed at toughening it up on Tuesday evening.

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quit as deputy chairmen after siding with rebels. Ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick and others have said they are willing to defy the government later on Wednesday.

If around 30 of the rebels carry out their threat, Mr Sunak will be handed a humiliating defeated  potentially sparking yet another Tory leadership contest or a general election within weeks.

Rishi Sunak and Rwanda president Paul Kagame (PA Archive)

No 10 offered fresh concessions to the Tory right-wing rebels, as illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson said ministers were considering tweaking the civil service code to remind officials to follow ministerial decisions.

It comes amid concerns by Tory rebels that the Rwanda legislation fails to go far enough to block last-minute, rule 39 injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

But one senior Tory rebel told The Independent they were not particularly impressed by the assurance the code would be tweaked.

A close ally of Mr Sunak has said most of the Tory rebels will wimp out when it comes to Wednesday evenings crucial vote.

The senior Conservative MP told The Independent: They will wimp out at the third reading. Theyll fall into line. Voting against the bill would force a general election now  so why would they do it?

Another Tory MP loyal to Mr Sunak said: Most realise to defeat the government to bring down one of its major policies on this would be political madness.
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Alex Murdaugh stumbled over his feet as was escorted back into a South Carolina courtroom to fight for a new trial nearly a year after he was convicted of killing his wife and son.

The disgraced legal scion wore a bright orange jumpsuit and was handcuffed for his appearance at the pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, which was held to determine what evidence and witness testimony the court will hear later this month.

It appeared Murdaugh missed the last step leading into the courtroom, which sent the six-foot-four tall man off kilter for a brief second before he composed himself.

He faces a steep uphill battle in his push for a new murder trial after former South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal limited witness questioning and set a high burden of proof surrounding accusations that the court clerk tampered with the jury during last years sensational proceedings, The Associated Press reported.

Murdaughs defence lawyers Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian, who appeared beside him at the pre-trial proceedings, filed the motion for a new trial alleging that Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill pressured the jury into reaching a guilty verdict.

But Judge Toal said that even if the allegations were proven, the defence must also demonstrate that Ms Hill did so with prejudice against Murdaugh.

(Gavin McIntyre/The Post and Courier via AP, Pool)

Judge Toal took over the request for a new trial after the judge overseeing the case, Clifton Newman, recused himself late last year.

The state judge also said she would not ask about other wide-ranging accusations of wrongdoing against Ms Hill, including that the elected official misused public funds and plagiarised parts of her new book on the Murdaugh saga.

The latest allegation arose during the pre-trial proceedings with Murdaughs defence lawyer Dick Harpootlian claiming that the court clerk told a colleague that a murder conviction would be good for her book sales.

[Prosecutor Creighton Water] told me this morning that one of the assistants that worked for Hill during the trial was told by Ms Hill during the trial that a guilty verdict would be good for sales for the book, Mr Harpootlian said of Ms Hill. Motive: Selling books.

Judge Toal ruled that the clerk must testify at the hearing but emphasised that this is not a trial of Ms Hill.

Im very, very reluctant to turn this hearing about juror contact into a wholesale exploration about every piece of conduct by the clerk alleged to have been improper on its own, indicative of her characteristics or personality, or anything of that nature, she said.

This is not the trial of Ms Hill, she later added, emphasising that the inquiry is focused on the court clerks interactions with jurors and the jurys ability to impartially reach a verdict.

Former South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal on Tuesday limited witness questioning and set a high burden of proof surrounding accusations that the court clerk tampered with the jury (The State Newspaper, 2024)

Hill has denied all allegations of jury tampering, and prosecutors argue that Murdaughs defence team has weak evidence to prove their argument for a new trial.

State police are investigating the jury tampering and misuse of office allegations against Ms Hill but have not charged her with any crimes. Her attorneys did acknowledge last month, however, that she had submitted a BBC reporters writing to her co-author as if it were her own words.

Judge Toal struck another blow to the defence by blocking questions about what effect the jury tampering alleged by Murdaughs lawyers might have had on jury deliberations, The Associated Press reported. She will ask jurors only about its possible impact on their final conclusion, not how they reached their decision.

No one  not myself or anyone else  is going to be asking a juror about the specifics of their deliberation, Judge Toal said.

Rebecca Becky Hill has denied all allegations of jury tampering (Colleton County)

She also ruled that neither the attorneys in the case nor Judge Newman will testify at the three-day evidentiary hearing to determine whether Murdaugh will be retried for the June 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and his son Paul, which is set to begin on 29 January.

Court television cameras will be allowed for the evidentiary hearings, but cameras cannot focus on the testifying jurors, who will be referred to by their number and not their names.

Murdaugh is serving life imprisonment without parole after a jury found him guilty last March of the double murder. He also faces an additional 27 years after pleading guilty in November to stealing millions of dollars.
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Newly released video footage shows the harrowing moment police found two young girls hidden inside barrels by a Doomsday cult leader in Utah.

The video, uploaded by the YouTube channel Explore With Us, showed the disturbing moment that police discovered the two youngsters inside the barrels back in 2017.

The Iron County Sheriffs Office said in a statement at the timethat on 1 December 2017, they had received court documents from Micha Coltharp that she believed her four biological children were in their county. She told authorities that they had been taken by their father, John Coltharp.

Two children on the court order, Seth and William Coltharp, were found on 4 December 2017 at a remote compound made up of shipping containers with a woman called Catherine Coltharp.

These children were taken into police custody, medically checked and interviewed.

Two other children, Dinah and Hattie, were thought to be with Samuel Shaffer, who police say referred to himself as the Prophet of the religious sect Knights of the Crystal Blade.

Police said that Shaffer had turned over the position of Prophet to John Coltharp and left the compound with the girls and his own two biological children, Lily and Samantha Shaffer, on 3 December 2017.

It was reported Samuel had spent the previous night with all four girls in a tent on or near the property, the press release said.

An Amber Alert was issued for Dinah and Hattie, which prompted a person to report a white man walking alone on the dirt road several miles west of the compound.

Shaffer was located and arrested before telling police the general location of the two girls, reported KUTV.

There the new video shows they found Lily and Hattie inside two blue plastic 50-gallon water barrels around 1000 yards from the Coltharp property.

The footage shows police finding the girls inside barrels in subfreezing temperatures (Explore With Us/ YouTube)

At that time, Shaffer stated the children had been placed in the water barrels to conceal or hide them from being found by searching law enforcement, the police statement read.

At this point, police believed the girls had spent around 24 hours in the barrels in subfreezing temperatures, were not properly dressed and did not have food or water with them.

Shaffer also said that he left a firearm next to the barrels on the ground.

At first, Shaffer did not say where the other two girls, Dinah and Samantha, and 20 law enforcement agents searched for them.

After an hour, Shaffer provided their location and they were found in an abandoned single-wide mobile home in poor health, showing signs of dehydration and acting lethargic.

All four girls were taken to hospital, but Samantha had to be flown to a childrens hospital due to her condition.

Investigators stated that Shaffer and Coltharp were married to each others daughters, who were minors, according to reports.

Shaffer was sentenced to a minimum of 26 years in prison in 2018 for first-degree felony rape of a child and one second-degree felony count of child abuse and was later sentenced to 15 years to life for sodomy, KUTV reported.

Coltharp pled guilty to child sodomy and child bigamy and was also sentenced to at least 26 years in prison, The Deseret News said in 2018.

The Independent has contacted the Iron County Sheriffs Office for comment.
 Close Heather Mack: Who is the woman who pleaded guilty to her mothers murder in Bali

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Suitcase killer Heather Mack was back in court in Illinois on Wednesday to be sentenced over the 2014 murder of her mother at a luxury Bali resort.

Mack, 28, was sentenced to 26 years in prison.

In the courtroom, she was confronted by her family members who told the judge she should not be granted any leniency over Sheila von Wiese-Macks murder.

Prosecutors sought a 28-year sentence while Macks attorneys are asking for 15 years with credit for seven years spent in an Indonesian prison.

The tragic case began in August 2014 when Illinois socialite von Wiese-Mack, 62, took her then-18-year-old pregnant daughter on vacation to the St. Regis resort.

Macks boyfriend Tommy Schaefer, 21, flew out to the island and the pair bludgeoned von Wiese-Mack to death, stuffed her body in a suitcase and left it in the trunk of a taxi.

Both Mack and Schaefer were convicted of murder in Indonesia in 2015.

Mack served 7 years in prison before being deported and arrested as soon as she stepped foot on US soil.

After two years in federal prison awaiting trial, Mack reached a plea deal in June, pleading guilty to conspiracy to kill a US national.
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For over a decade, the Dulos family nanny has helped care for Jennifer and Fotis five children  including the years after the beloved Connecticut mother disappeared and her estranged husband died by suicide after being charged with her murder.

On Tuesday, Lauren Almeida, 32, who still works as a nanny for the children, took to the witness stand in court in Stamford to testify at the trial of Fotis Dulos then-lover Michelle Troconis, who is charged with conspiracy to murder.

Ms Almeida told the court that she began babysitting for the Dulos children in September 2012, and became their full-time nanny in 2013 after graduating from college.

At that time, the oldest set of twins were six, the other twins were four and the couples youngest daughter had just turned one year old.

Over the years, Ms Almeida grew close to Jennifer before her sudden disappearance one day in 2019.

It was Ms Almeida who alerted police after discovering the mother-of-five was missing.

During courtroom testimony on Tuesday, Ms Almeida described Fotis as someone she used to think of as a role model, a mentor and a friend.

Other than her regular nanny duties, she had also been offered a part-time job at Fotis construction company.

I saw him as like a role model and a mentor and I thought at the time that hes giving me this really great opportunity so I really, I considered him a friend, she told the jury.

When asked about the former couple, Ms Almeida said that they used to be nice to each other.

But then there was a big dynamic change, she said.

Lauren Almeida described Fotis Dulos (pictured in 2019) to the jury as someone she believed to be, at the time, a role model and considered him to be a mentor and a friend (AP)

It happened in March 2017 when Ms Almeida said that Jennifer confided in her during a family vacation to Miami that she believed Fotis was having an affair.

She said she had this feeling that he was acting weird. I didnt really believe her at first, Ms Almeida said. I believed him to be an honest guy and I couldnt imagine him having an affair when there were five little kids involved.

I told her I didnt think it was true... she was very anxious, kind of tight and she seemed upset, she continued.

Ms Almeida added: She was my boss, but she was someone that I always just connected really well with. I confided in her with a lot of things. I just always trusted her. We had a really good relationship.

When asked how Jennifer felt about her husband, Ms Almeida said she confided in her that he had a bad temper.

He was harsh and she didnt like conflict, Ms Almeida testified.

Investigators believe Fotis killed Jennifer and that Michelle Troconis, Fotis then-girlfriend, helped him cover up the murder (AP)

Ms Almeida told jurors that while the five children always followed their fathers orders, they had a silly relationship with their mother.

Jennifer was a soft-spoken" and incredibly nurturing mother who loved pumpkin picking and picking out a Christmas tree with her children, Ms Almeida told the court.

It was very silly, her relationship with the kids," she added. "She would sing to them and laugh with them and she never raised her voice.

She recalled: They always wanted to be next to mommy. She never raised her voice, never got angry. She was just so nurturing.

Jennifer was last seen on 24 May 2019 after dropping off the children at school in their wealthy New Canaan neighbourhood.

She and Fotis were going through a contentious divorce and custody battle at the time.

Fotis killed himself in 2020 after being charged with her murder. He continued to claim his innocence, with his attorney bizarrely claiming Jennifer staged her disappearance in a Gone Girl-style plot.

While Jennifer Dulos body has never been found, she has since been declared dead. Her mother Gloria Farber was granted custody of all five children.

Investigators believe Fotis killed her in the garage of her home and that Ms Troconis, 49, helped him cover up the murder.

Ms Troconis is charged with conspiracy to murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in the case.

She has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denies having anything to do with Jennifers disappearance or death.

Her trial is expected to last six weeks.
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One night in March 2015, Denise Huskins and her boyfriend Aaron Quinn awoke to a scene of brutal confusion. Someone had broken into Quinns home in Mare Island, a peninsula in Vallejo, California, where Huskins was staying over that night. Quinn would later recount being blinded by a bright white light. A Taser buzzed, and a man told him to lie face down. Quinn and Huskinss senses were neutralized: they were blindfolded with blacked-out swim goggles; the abductor placed headphones over their ears and gave them sedatives. The abductor carried Huskins to Quinns Toyota Camry and placed her into the trunk. Quinn heard the car pull away with Huskins in it.

For two days, Huskins was held captive. Her abductor  a man eventually revealed to be called Matthew Muller  raped her twice. He then drove her hundreds of miles before releasing her. Quinn, meanwhile, reported Huskinss abduction to the police  the first stage of a nightmare that would play out over months and years.

Huskinss abduction and its cruel aftermath are explored in heart-stopping detail in An American Nightmare, a new documentary released by Netflix. It examines how, after Huskinss return, law enforcements suspicion of the couple endured, and Huskins found herself unfairly accused of having staged her own abduction.

It was maddening, Huskins tells The Independent. Two days of being questioned by police and the FBI, and all I could do was tell them the truth over and over again. And they just refused to believe it. At times, you start to question yourself and your own sanity. Its a really scary place to be in.

Huskins and Quinn were respectively 29 and 30 when Huskinss abduction took place. Both worked as physical therapists. Their relationship had experienced ups and downs, but  as Huskins recounts in American Nightmare  they were trying to work things out.

Together, they previously released a 2021 book, Victim F: From Crime Victims to Suspects to Survivors, about their shared ordeal. The case became a tabloid sensation. Headlines basessly compared Huskinss situation to Gillian Flynns novel Gone Girl. (In the 2012 thriller, the fictional Amy Dunne stages her own disappearance and plans to fake her own death, framing her husband for the crime in retaliation for his perceived marital failings.)

Members in the media have an incredible responsibility when it comes to reporting these real-life traumas, Huskins tells The Independent. Sometimes, we, as real people and real victims, get stripped of our identities. We get reduced to labels and symbols, and whatever narrative they want to go with at the time.

American Nightmare unfolds in three episodes, recreating the harrowing chaos of Huskinss abduction and return. Quinn and Huskins share their own perspectives in revealing interviews. Their voices drive the story.

Were hoping that people can feel that step by step, what its like to go through a traumatic experience like the home invasion and kidnapping, Quinn tells The Independent, and then have the desperation of looking to authorities for help and being told that you are a murderer.

American Nightmare trailer

The series makes for an infuriating watch at every step: while Huskins is held captive by Muller, investigators focus on Quinn, accusing him (falsely, as it turns out) of having killed Huskins. Once Huskins returns from her captivity, she is immediately re-traumatized, and must deal with the terrifying reality of finding herself under suspicion.

For most of that, I was in shock, she tells The Independent. [I went] through two days believing that I was going to be killed, only to be set free without even really getting to comprehend my freedom. [Then] Im being met with authorities saying basically, We dont believe you and we intend to prosecute you. I had no choice but to get an attorney. And thank God I did.

Without revealing too much here, even viewers with general knowledge of the case are liable to find themselves surprised as the series unfolds. Some of the most chilling moments in American Nightmare come when we are shown video footage of Quinn being interrogated by police shortly after Huskinss abduction. At that point, Quinn was treated like the prime suspect in her disappearance, and the interrogating officer tried to get him to confess.

I dont think [Huskins] was kidnapped from your home, the officer tells Quinn at one point. I think something bad happened in your house, and it happened between you and her. The officer then starts offering various theories: maybe Huskins overdosed, he suggests, or maybe Quinn called out his exs name during sex. And [Huskins] got pissed, and you carted her ass out of there, the officer adds.

Quinn didnt confess, because doing so would have derailed the investigation into Huskinss disappearance.

I needed help to find Denise, he tells The Independent. The authorities wanted me to lie to them. And I knew that if I said anything they wanted me to say, then they would stop looking for Denise.

Still, its impossible to watch those tapes and not feel the danger of the situation. Its impossible not to think of other cases that have involved false confessions and ruined lives.

Some people dont understand why you would falsely confess, Quinn tells The Independent. As someone who experienced it  you just want it to end. So many people confess because thats the only thing that would stop the police from [using] these tactics. Hopefully in the documentary people can get a sense of that, and maybe change their opinions going forward.

Huskins interviews are the documentarys throughline, and Bernadette Higgins and Felicity Morris  the documentary series writers, producers, and directors  worked hard to create the conditions in which she could tell her story honestly and thoroughly. Higgins and Morris spoke to Huskins for hours and hours on Zoom before she even sat down in front of the cameras. Once in production, they used a closed set for Huskins interviews, meaning most crew members werent present.

We want audiences to feel that stories told from the point of view of victims can be just as compelling as documentaries grounded in the perspective of the perpetrator, Morris tells The Independent. It was also important to us that people leave this series with a sense of hope, and to honor Denise and Aarons relationship and the love story that has come out of this and their resilience.

Huskins found the experience of sitting down in front of Higgins and Morriss cameras empowering. She was seven months pregnant with her second child during filming, which added another emotional component to the whole exercise.

Sitting down for hours on end and recounting the worst moments of your life  it brings up a lot of old emotions that are deeply embedded within you, she tells The Independent. At the same time, it was motivating because with my two daughters, we want to make sure we do whatever we can to make change. If, God forbid, anything happens in the future, hopefully law enforcement, the public, media  everyone  can treat victims a little differently.

Following their ordeal, Huskins and Quinn moved closer to nature in pursuit of a healing environment. They attended therapy together, as well as individually. Both resumed working as physical therapists, which Quinn says helped, too.

A big part of our job is helping people. That in itself can be healing because after something this traumatic happens to you, you almost feel like youre incapable of contributing more, [because] youre too broken, he says. Finding something where you can help people on a small scale can give you a sense of purpose.

Writing a book also helped. Now, Huskins and Quinn both hope that American Nightmare will leave people less prone to judgment and outrage.

Its easy to see a headline and get outraged, or to know a little bit of information and make an opinion based on that, Quinn says. If people walk away from the documentary going,  Maybe I dont know enough to have an opinion, I need to learn more, or I dont need to have an opinion on this because I dont know enough information, that would be a really positive outcome.

Huskins hopes the series might help others who have experienced trauma  and she hopes it inspires people to listen to survivors of violence with an open heart and an open mind.

You can watch as many true crime shows as you want  you never know what its going be like when youre confronted with a real-life nightmare, she says. We need to approach each other and ourselves with more empathy.

American Nightmare streams on Netflix on 17 January in the US and in the UK
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The FBI is reportedly investigating the former chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch over allegations of sexual exploitation, abuse and trafficking of men at lavish events he and his partner hosted in America and abroad.

Mike Jeffries, the companys boss during its heyday in the 1990s and early 2000s, and his British partner Matthew Smith are facing a civil lawsuit over alleged trafficking operations.

The BBC reported on Wednesday that FBI agents are now interviewing and issuing subpoenas to potential witnesses as part of an investigation, citing multiple sources aware of the probe.

The FBI is yet to comment publicly on the matter, and the BBC said a lawyer for Mr Jeffries declined to comment.

FBI agents specialising in alleged sex crimes and federal prosecutors from the eastern district of New York were reported to be leading the investigation.

An earlier BBC documentary alleged that Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith used a network of middlemen to organise events in London, Paris, Venice and Marrakesh between 2009 and 2015.

At least eight men said that they attended the events, some of whom claimed they were exploited or abused. One man told the BBC he felt forced to let another man perform oral sex on him.

A middleman representing Mr Jeffries, 79, and Mr Smith, 60, has denied any wrongdoing and said the alleged victims went in to the events with their eyes wide open.

The eight men who attended the events said they were recruited by a middleman, who they described as having a missing nose covered with a snakeskin patch. He was identified as James Jacobson in the BBC investigation.

One of the accusers is David Bradberry, a former model who chose to go public with his allegations. He said he was introduced to Mr Jacobson by an agent  who described himself as the gatekeeper to the owners of A&F  in 2010 when he was 23, but that there was no mention of sex. He is now suing the company alleging it allowed Mr Jeffries to run a sex-trafficking organisation during his 22-year tenure.

Mr Jacobson, now aged 70, told the BBC in a statement issued through his lawyer that he took offence at the suggestion of "any coercive, deceptive or forceful behaviour on my part" and had "no knowledge of any such conduct by others".

In December last year, Mr Jeffries filed a lawsuit against the apparel retailer for allegedly refusing to cover his legal fees after he was accused of running a sex trafficking operation for two decades.

The ex-chief executive, who stepped down in 2014, filed a lawsuit in Delaware, stating that the company was ignoring his right to have his fees covered in relation to a class action suit filed in October.

In a statement released in October, Abercrombie & Fitch said: "For close to a decade, a new executive leadership team and refreshed board of directors have successfully transformed our brands and culture into the values-driven organisation we are today.

"We have zero tolerance for abuse, harassment or discrimination of any kind." The company said it did not comment on pending litigation.
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The Capitol Police are reportedly investigating alleged remarks made by Roger Stone calling for the assassination of a pair of Democratic lawmakers.

Mr Stone allegedly told a former NYPD police officer who worked for him, Sal Greco, that Congressmen Jerrold Nadler and Eric Swalwell needed to "die" before the 2020 election.

The conversation was captured in an audio recording, which Mediaite obtained and published last week.

Its time to do it, Mr Stone allegedly says in the recording. Lets go find Swalwell. Its time to do it. Then well see how brave the rest of them are. Its time to do it. Its either Swalwell or Nadler has to die before the election. They need to get the message. Lets go find Swalwell and get this over with. Im just not putting up with this s*** anymore.

Now, the Capitol Police and the FBI are investigating the remarks, Mediaite reported, citing an unnamed source.

The FBI does not confirm or deny any of its ongoing investigations, and the Capitol Police did not return a request for comment.

Both Mr Swalwell and Mr Nadler serve on the House Judiciary Committee. When the committee announced it would investigate Donald Trump's pardon for Mr Stone after the longtime political operative was convicted for lying to Congress during the Mueller investigation, Mr Stone allegedly called up Mr Greco for a sit-down.

Mr Stone denied the allegations, claiming that the recording was a "poorly fabricated AI-generated fraud all because I am loyal to [Mr Trump]".

He further denied the claims in a post on X/Twitter.

"I never spoke about assassinating anyone. Fake Mediaite can't produce the recording they claim to have and, contrary to their claim, Newsweek never contacted me for comment," Mr Stone said in response to a Newsweek story covering the alleged audio.

The Independent has reached out to Mr Stone for comment.

The source who provided Mediaite with the audio reportedly said Mr Stone's alleged remarks were not jokes.

Mr Swalwell offered a comment to Mediaite on the comments allegedly made by Mr Stone, saying that "this is what Trump and his real-life thugs do: they try to intimidate opponents and will always choose violence over voting".

He further said that threats made by Mr Trump and his allies "must be taken seriously" and that both parties needed to condemn the violent rhetoric.
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Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis has said he is the only candidate whos not running a basement campaign after rival Nikki Haley dropped out of ABC News planned New Hampshire debate, forcing the network to cancel the event.

Mr DeSantis took part in a CNN town hall in the Granite State on Tuesday evening, where he hit out at his Republican rivals in the 2024 White House race.

Im the only candidate that actually agreed to come to New Hampshire to debate, he said.

Im the only one whos not running a basement campaign at this point.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ms Haley posted on X that she would not be taking part in any further GOP debates unless frontrunner Donald Trump finally agreed to join her and Mr DeSantis on stage.

Weve had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them, she wrote.

He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it.

The partys last debate on CNN a week ago was a simple head-to-head between Ms Haley and Mr DeSantis as Mr Trump was the only other candidate who qualified  and he once again declined to take part, opting for a much friendlier hearing on Fox News instead.

Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy and Asa Hutchinson all failed to make the grade and all three have since suspended their campaigns for the presidency.

Ms Haleys decision left ABC News and partner WMUR with little choice but to cancel their debate planned for Thursday evening, ahead of next weeks New Hampshire primary  rather than leave Mr DeSantis alone on the stage with only the moderators and studio audience to talk to.

Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race, the network said in a statement.

As a result, while our robust election coverage will continue, ABC News and WMUR-TV will not be moving forward with Thursdays Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire.

All eyes are now on the Granite State after Mr Trump chalked up a huge victory in Iowa on Monday evening, kicking off the campaign year by securing a dominant 51 per cent of the vote.

Ron DeSantis came in second place in the Republican Iowa caucuses (AFP via Getty Images)

Mr DeSantis came second with 21 per cent, Ms Haley came a disappointing third with 19 per cent and Mr Ramawamy scored eight per cent.

Elsewhere during his appearance on CNN last night, Mr DeSantis warned that his party would lose Novembers election to President Joe Biden if Mr Trump is chosen as its nominee.

If Donald Trump is the nominee, the election will revolve around all these legal issues, he said.

Were going to lose if thats the decision voters are making based on that. We dont want it to be a referendum on those issues.

We want it to be a referendum on the country going in the wrong direction and a candidate like me being a president who could reverse the decline.

Mr DeSantis also attacked Ms Haley, saying she would not be able to unite a divided GOP.

To win a Republican primary you gotta be able to win core Republicans, you gotta be able to win conservatives, and she cant do that, he said.
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Justin Trudeau has said that if Donald Trump is re-elected as US president, it will not be easy for Canada.

The Canadian prime minister said that the former president returning to the White Housewould be a step back and a victory of populism, in remarks made on Tuesday.

It comes after Mr Trump  the clear GOP frontrunner  scored a decisive victory in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night.

Many have speculated that the win puts him in good stead to secure the Republican nomination  taking him one step closer on his path back to the Oval Office.

Mr Trudeau, whose centre-left Liberals came to power in November 2015, had rocky relations with Mr Trump during his first four-year White House term. In 2018, the former president accused him of being weak and dishonest.

"It wasnt easy the first time and if there is a second time, it wont be easy either," Mr Trudeau said in French during a discussion hosted by the Montreal chamber of commerce.

Justin Trudeau with Donald Trump in the Oval Office in February 2017 (Getty Images)

"But we cant imagine a day when it will ever be easy with the Americans. The main responsibility for any prime minister is to represent and defend Canadas interests ... weve been able to do this very well these past few years."

Canada sends 75% of its goods and services exports to the United States and is particularly vulnerable to any US shift toward protectionism.

According to Reutersin a survey this month, around two-thirds of Canadians surveyed said they did not think US democracy could survive another four years of Trump in power.

Around half said the US is on the way to becoming an authoritarian state, the poll, which was released on Monday, stated.

Mr Trudeau added that a win for Mr Trump would be "a step back" and a victory for "a populism that reflects a lot of anguish and fury ... without necessarily providing solutions".

He said that Mr Trump also had shown little interest in tackling climate change, in contrast to the Liberals, for whom it is a priority.

"There are clearly issues where I do not agree at all with Mr. Trump," Mr Trudeau said, citing the climate question, per Reuters.

Trudeau had rocky relations with Trump during his first four-year White House term (EPA)

The remarks by the Canadian prime minister come shortly after a similar sentiment was shared by the president of the European Central Bank.

Last week, Christine Lagarde warned that the re-election of Mr Trump would be a threat to Europe.

In an interview with France 2 TV, she said the way Mr Trump conducted his first term as president was enough to raise concerns over his potential return to power.

If we should learn lessons from history, from the way he led the first four years of his mandate, it is clearly a threat, Ms Lagarde said during the interview.

Its sufficient to look at the trade tariffs, the commitment to Nato, the fight against climate change. In just these three areas, in the past [under Trump], US interests were not aligned with European interests.

Observers said Ms Lagardes comments marked a departure from the customary practice of central banks leaders to avoid involvement in political matters.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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House Republicans have paused their attempts to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress as they try to schedule the presidents son to appear and testify.

Mr Bidens lawyers and the House Judiciary and Oversight committees have restarted conversations about a date when that might happen, according to Politico.

It comes a week after the Republican-led committees voted to recommend that Mr Biden be held in contempt by the full House for defying a subpoena in the GOP impeachment efforts of his father.

Hunter Biden has offered to testify in public, which has so far been rejected by Republicans, but has refused to take part in any behind-closed-doors hearings.

A spokesperson for the Oversight Committee GOP told Politico that they were working with Mr Bidens lawyers on a date for him to appear.

Negotiations are ongoing this afternoon, and in conjunction with the disruption to member travel and canceling votes, the House Rules Committee isnt considering the contempt resolution today to give the attorneys additional time to reach an agreement, said the spokesperson.

An oversight meeting earlier this month descended into farce when Hunter Biden and his lawyers showed and offered to testify  if it was in public  up just as Republican members were castigating him for not being willing to show up and testify. Mr Biden and his team walked out just as Marjorie Taylor Greene got up to speak.

Republicans have focused on business deals involving Hunter Biden but have so far failed to provide any evidence that Joe Biden did anything as vice president or president to benefit his family through those business dealings. Meanwhile, Democratic members of Congress have published evidence showing that Donald Trumps hotel properties earned more than $7m from foreign governments, mostly from China, during his presidency. Mr Trump has declined to deny those claims. The Republican-led committees have so far refrained from opening investigations into Mr Trump and his familys business dealings during his time in the White House.

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of lying about his drug use in October 2018 on a form to buy a gun.

His lawyers have said that he did not break the law despite struggling with addiction to crack cocaine during the same period of 2018. Mr Biden has since said he has stopped using drugs.

He also pleaded not guilty to federal tax charges in Los Angeles last week, with prosecutors in California alleging he took part in a four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4m in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019.
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Kamala Harris has rejected Nikki Haleys claim on Fox News that the United States has never been a racist country.

The vice president criticised the Republican 2024 hopeful a day after Ms Haley rejected the suggestion she finished third in the Iowa caucuses behind two white men because of the colour of her skin.

Ms Haley, Donald Trumps former ambassador to the UN, made her comments during a Tuesday appearance on Fox News in response to comments by MSNBC host Joy Reid.

Were not a racist country Weve never been a racist country, she said. Our goal is to make sure that today is better than yesterday. Are we perfect? No. But our goal is to always make sure we try and be more perfect every day that we can.

She continued: I know I faced racism when I was growing up. But I can tell you, today is a lot better than it was then. Our goal is to lift up everybody, not go and divide people on race or gender or party or anything else. Weve had enough of that in America.

Ms Harris slammed that position when she was asked about it during a Wednesday appearance on The View.

The issue of race in America is not something that should be the subject of a soundbite. The history of racism in America is not something that should be the subject of a soundbite or a question that is meant to illicit a one-sentence answer, the Democrat from California said.

VP Kamala Harris on The View reacts to Nikki Haley saying that the United States has never been a racist country:



There is no denying that we have, in our history as a nation, racism, and that racism has played a role in the history of our nation. pic.twitter.com/s82KEq4SvJ  The Recount (@therecount) January 17, 2024

But there is no denying that we have, in our history as a nation, racism, and that racism has played a role in the history of our nation.

When I think about it I think we would all agree that while it is part of our past and we see vestiges of it today, we should also be committed collectively to not let it define the future of our country. But we cannot get to a position of progress on the issue of race by denying the existence of racism, by denying the history of racism.

Ms Haley was previously criticised for failing to say that slavery was a cause of the Civil War during a town hall last month.

Without naming Ms Haley, Ms Harris slammed anyone who thought that the 19th-century conflict had been prompted by anything other than slavery in America.

She also railed against those states that are banning books and said it was unfortunate that some people denied facts when moving towards progress requires that we speak truth.
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Nearly three years after removing them from US government rolls of international terrorist groups, the Biden administration is re-adding the Yemen-based Houthis to a list of specially designated global terrorists following a series of attacks by the group on US forces and international shipping in the Red Sea.

A senior Biden administration official told reporters late Tuesday that the Houthi militia will not be re-added to the ranks of groups designated by the State Department as Foreign Terrorist Organisations, but will instead receive the lesser designation, which automatically imposes a range of US sanctions on the group.

By contrast, a designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation makes it a crime for anyone to provide material support to the group, a category broad enough to potentially include humanitarian aid meant for the people of Yemen.

The official said the re-designation of the Houthis under the SDGT category was necessitated by the groups string of attacks against US forces and international shipping.

Over the past month, Yemen based Houthi militants have engaged in unprecedented attacks against US military forces and international maritime vessels operating in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism, endanger US personnel, civilian mariners and our partners, jeopardising global trade and threatening freedom of navigation, the official said.

We are taking this action because of the Iranian backed Houthis continued attacks on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These attacks are a clear example of terrorism and are a violation of international law and a major threat to lives, global commerce and they jeopardise the delivery of humanitarian assistance, the official continued, adding that the ultimate goal of the renewed sanctions is to pressure the group to de-escalate and undergo a positive change in behaviour.

In a statement White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called the designation an important tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions.

If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will immediately reevaluate this designation, he added.

The move comes nearly three years after Secretary of State Antony Blinken stripped the Houthis of both the FTO designation and the lesser SDGT designation in an effort to speed the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen. At the time, Mr Blinken called the move a recognition of the dire humanitarian situation in the country, which has been ravaged by years of civil war.

In a statement announcing the move, Mr Blinken said the Houthis must be held accountable for their actions, but not at the expense of Yemeni civilians.

As the Department of State moves forward with this designation, we are taking significant steps to mitigate any adverse impacts this designation may have on the people of Yemen, he said.

Because the sanctions imposed pursuant to a terrorist designation would normally prevent most forms of aid from flowing into areas controlled by the Houthis, a second official said the Biden administration is balancing the designation with unprecedented carve-outs and licences as well as a 30-day delay for implementing the designation to ensure that the carve-outs and licenses are in place to prevent adverse impacts on the people of Yemen.

The people of Yemen should not pay the price pay the price for the actions of the Houthis, said the official, who said the Biden administrations clear message is that commercial shipments into Yemeni ports should continue to bring food, medicine and fuel into the country because they will not be covered by the coming sanctions.

We recognise the grave humanitarian situation in Yemen and we're taking many steps to ensure these sanctions do the least harm to the Yemeni people, the official said.

A Treasury Department official told reporters that the departments Office of Foreign Asset Control will prioritise mitigation of unintended adverse impacts as they implement the renewed sanctions, including through broad general licences that authorise certain transactions related to the provision of food and medicine and medical devices, fuel, personal remittances ... telecommunications, operations of ports, and airports.

The official added that the general licenses will be added to existing humanitarian carve-outs for authorised activity by contractors and implementers working for non-governmental organisations and the US Agency for International Development.

Before the 30-day pause ends on 16 February, the government will be reaching out to stakeholders crucial to facilitating humanitarian assistance and the commercial import of critical commodities into Yemen, as well as financial institutions, commercial shippers, NGOs, UN humanitarian assistance agencies, and other critical international organisations that deliver vital humanitarian assistance to ensure continued delivery of aid and needed goods and services.
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Special counsel David Weisss office on Tuesday dismissed Hunter Bidens allegations that he was only indicted on gun charges because of right-wing bias.

Lawyers for the son of the US president are currently attempting to have three felony gun charges against him thrown out, in part by accusing Mr Weiss, who was appointed US attorney by former president Donald Trump, of [buckling] under political pressure from congressional Republicans loyal to Mr Trump.

As a holdover from the Trump Administration, Mr. Weiss faces political pressure from his own party to pursue Mr. Biden more aggressively than similarly situated individuals and to do so for vindictive reasons, Mr Bidens legal team argued in a court filing. His political future within this constituency may depend upon it.

Mr Weiss pushed back against the allegation, calling Mr Bidens claim a fiction designed for a Hollywood script.

This claim borders on the absurd, Mr Weisss office wrote in a 57-page response on Tuesday.

Special counsel David Weisss office on Tuesday dismissed Hunter Bidens allegations (AP)

The response added that Mr Bidens argument was implausible because Mr Weiss was empowered to bring the charges by an attorney general who was appointed by President Joe Biden.

Hunter Bidens motion [to dismiss] is stunningly weak and wholly unsupported by facts and law, Mr Weiss office wrote.

Stripped of its bluster, the defendants theory of vindictiveness is simply not credible. Left with the inconvenient truth of trying to explain how this could happen during the Biden Administration, the defendant suggests that evil motives are lurking deep within the Department of Justice, prosecutors added.

Hunter Biden was indicted in Delaware in September over a gun purchase in October 2018 when he was in the grips of drug addiction.

Prosecutors allege that Mr Biden unlawfully possessed a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver for 11 days, after he falsely claimed on a gun purchase form that he didnt use drugs. Under federal law, an unlawful drug user cannot legally possess a firearm.

Attorneys for Mr Biden have claimed that he never fired the gun in the 11 days he owned it. Mr Biden has also pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of lying about his drug use.

The presidents son is facing up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000 on the charges.

On Tuesday, prosecutors said they had overwhelming evidence against Mr Biden as they sought to push back on allegations that the charges are politically motivated.

Investigators said they found trace amounts of cocaine on a brown leather pouch that held the firearm after it was recovered by police.

Mr Biden has previously acknowledged struggling with an addiction to crack cocaine in 2018 but his lawyers have said he didnt break the law. Hunter Biden has since said that hes stopped using drugs and has worked to turn his life around.

In addition to the gun charges, Mr Biden is also facing a separate tax indictment. He pleaded not guilty to those charges last week.

Congressional Republicans have also threatened to hold Mr Biden in contempt of court over his defiance of a December subpoena for a hearing about his fathers involvement in his foreign business dealings.

However, House Republicans paused such efforts this week, citing negotiations with his attorneys that could end the standoff.
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Hunter Biden posed a threat to public safety and cannot rely on his constitutional right to a firearm to avoid prosecution for federal gun charges, the US Department of Justice said in a court filing on Tuesday.

Lawyers for the son of the president are currently attempting to have three felony gun charges against him thrown out after he was indicted in Delaware in September over a gun purchase in October 2018 when he was in the grips of drug addiction.

Prosecutors allege that Mr Biden unlawfully possessed a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver for 11 days after he falsely claimed on a gun purchase form that he didnt use drugs. Under federal law, an unlawful drug user cannot legally possess a firearm.

Attorneys for Mr Biden have attempted to get the charges thrown out, arguing that the law used to charge him was likely unconstitutional based on a recent Supreme Court ruling on the Second Amendment, which ruled that gun restrictions must be consistent with the US historical tradition of firearm regulation.

Legal experts claim this could protect Mr Biden from prosecution, arguing that the government has historically chosen not to disarm individuals who used drugs or alcohol.

However, the Department of Justice has argued that Mr Bidens legal team has misinterpreted US Supreme Court guidance by arguing there is no historical precedent for preventing people with a history of substance abuse from possessing guns.

Hunter Biden was indicted on three felony gun charges (Reuters)

Anglo-American law has long recognised that the government may disarm those who, by their conduct or characteristics, present an increased risk to public safety if they possess firearms, the DoJ said in a court filing in Delaware.

The presidents son is facing up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000 if he is found guilty.

Lawyers for Mr Biden have claimed that he never fired the gun in the 11 days he owned it. Mr Biden has also pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of lying about his drug use.

This week, attorneys for Mr Biden made another attempt to get the charges against him thrown out, accusing the US special counsel who charged Mr Biden, David Weiss, of [buckling] under political pressure from congressional Republicans loyal to Mr Trump.

Mr Weiss, who was appointed US attorney by former president Donald Trump, pushed back against the allegation, calling Mr Bidens claim a fiction designed for a Hollywood script.

This claim borders on the absurd, Mr Weiss office wrote in a 57-page response on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, prosecutors said they had overwhelming evidence against Mr Biden as they sought to push back on allegations that the charges are politically motivated.

Investigators said they found trace amounts of cocaine on a brown leather pouch that held the firearm after it was recovered by police.

Mr Biden has previously acknowledged struggling with an addiction to crack cocaine in 2018 but his lawyers have said he didnt break the law. Hunter Biden has since said that hes stopped using drugs and has worked to turn his life around.

In addition to the gun charges, Mr Biden is also facing a separate tax indictment. He pleaded not guilty to those charges last week.

Congressional Republicans have also threatened to hold Mr Biden in contempt of court over his defiance of a December subpoena for a hearing about his fathers involvement in his foreign business dealings.

However, House Republicans paused such efforts this week, citing negotiations with his attorneys that could end the standoff.
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Three migrants drowned in the Rio Grande near the Texas border with Mexico amid Governor Greg Abbott's attempt to wrestle control of immigration enforcement away from the government.

Federal officials claim the migrants may not have died if they were not barred from conducting their patrols by Texas National Guardsmen.

Mr Abbott directed the guardsmen to seize a park in the border town of Eagle Pass, Texas, where the US Border Patrol had been processing migrants who crossed into the US. The guardsmen were instructed to refuse entry to federal officials who patrolled the border in the area.

Mexico's National Institute of Migration identified the migrants who died on Monday. The victims are Victerma de la Sancha Cerros, 33; Yorlei Rubi, 10; and Jonathan Agustin Briones de la Sancha, 8, according to CNN, citing the Mexican agency.

Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar of Texas said the migrants were a mother and her children, according to Mother Jones.

Mr Abbott passed a law last month that made illegal migrant crossings into Texas a state crime, which he argues allows state law enforcement the right to arrest undocumented migrants anywhere in the state.

Federal officials have maintained that enforcing immigration is solely done by the US government, not the state.

Shelby Park in Eagle Pass has been a site of frequent friction between Mr Abbott and the federal government. The state previously seized the park after the town's mayor, under the direction of the Texas Department of Public Safety, claimed it as private property.

Mr Abbott used the park as an operations centre for his "Operation Lone Star," which uses Texas National Guard troops to enforce illegal immigration into the state.

The programme was criticised after four guardsmen forced to participate in the operation died by suicide and for the construction of a barrier in the Rio Grande that opponents said threatened both the safety of migrants and the environment.

On Saturday, Mr Cueller said that Texas officials refused to allow US Border agents access to the site to save the drowning migrants. However, a filing by the DOJ with the US Supreme Court has refuted those claims, stating that Border agents were not notified about the drownings until after they occurred.

However, the DOJ filing does note that two other migrants were "in distress" on the US side of the Rio Grande in a separate incident and that guardsmen physically barred US Border agents from assisting the migrants. Those migrants were eventually saved by Mexican law enforcement.

The filing claims that it is impossible to say what might have happened if Border Patrol had had its former access to the areaat the very least, however, 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.

Texas stands in the way of Border Patrol patrolling the border, identifying and reaching any migrants in distress, securing those migrants, and even accessing any wire that it may need to cut or move to fulfill its responsibilities," the DOJ said in its filing.

The Biden Administration responded to the seizure of the park by sending a cease and desist letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, claiming Texas's actions were unconstitutional, according to the Texas Tribune.

The Texas governors policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texass blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks, the US Department of Homeland Security said in a statement reported by Mother Jones.

The federal government has given the state until Wednesday to remove its forces from the border.
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On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson met with President Joe Biden along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss a proposed bill to provide security spending for Israel and Ukraine, among other aspects of national security.

To recap, the president and Democrats have bent as much as they could to pass a supplemental spending bill. But as The Independent reported early last year, Republicans were always going to oppose providing more aid to Ukraine. As a result, Republicans have demanded that any spending to support Ukraine be tied to provisions restricting immigration, which they have billed as border security.

But now, Mr Johnson is facing criticism from his fellow House Republicans, and the negotiations with the president and fellow congressional leaders could threaten his speakership.

House Republicans unanimously picked Mr Johnson after Rep Matt Gaetz led an effort to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker and Republicans cycled through multiple nominees. But Mr Johnson, a political newcomer only elected in 2016, did not have much experience as a congressional leader.

Most Republicans gave him a mulligan when he needed to pass a stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown late last year, blaming Mr McCarthy for not keeping the House on schedule to pass 12 individual spending bills.

Ukraine is different though. Much of the House Republican conference viscerally hates supporting Ukraine. Restrictions to immigration are the only type of sugar that would allow them to swallow the medicine of Ukraine spending. Furthermore, most House Republicans have shown an aversion to supporting a potential Ukraine-immigration deal that a bipartisan group of senators is brokering, despite the fact there is no final agreement.

Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, the right-wing conspiracist from Georgia, told The Independent that she would file a motion to vacate against Mr Johnson if any spending went to Ukraine.

The wars basically lost, Ms Greene said, saying that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for peace talks. It would be like continuing murdering a bunch of people at this point.

Rep Eli Crane of Arizona  one of the eight Republicans who voted to remove Mr McCarthy  for his part said he worried that Mr Johnson would cave to the Democrats.

We're gonna I think we're gonna continue to spend way too much money that we don't even have, he said. In return, we're not going to get a secure southern border.

Of course, this anger from conservatives is incredibly self-serving and only seeks to increase their own brands since it gives conservative voters grandiose expectations that somehow, Mr Johnson could somehow get a staunchly conservative wishlist bill on immigration when Republicans only have one half of one chamber of Congress while Democrats control the Senate and the White House.

House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole told The Independent that conservatives needed to realise that Republicans also only have a razor-thin majority given the number of resignations and absences on any given day.

I'm sorry, with a majority like this there's a limit to what you can do, he said. Mr Cole also shot down the idea. Mr Cole, a veteran lawmaker who resembles the olden days where members could hash out legislation in a smoke-filled room (the scent of cigars on which he likes to chomp often wafts through the doors of his office) understands how legislation is passed.

But some freshman lawmakers like Rep Cory Mills of Florida, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, seem to understand Republicans will not get everything they want are giving Mr Johnson the benefit of the doubt.

I know that he's put into a very difficult position because he's sitting there with a Democrat president, a Democrat, Senator, Chuck Schumer, and another Democrat, Senator Mitch McConnell, he told The Independent, he said despite the fact Mr McConnell takes joy in obstructing Democrats. So he's the only conservative in there who understands that we can't link the border security and American security to foreign security. And so I think that he's going to hold the line on that.

But Johnson still has to grapple with the fact the slim margins within his Republican conference and his opponents only need a handful of Republicans to make him suffer the same fate.

At the same time, he cannot risk allowing American leadership on the international stage to falter, or else he alone will share the blame if Ukraine falls to Russia. Talk about the end to a honeymoon phase.
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GOP presidential primary candidate Nikki Haley dodged commenting on Donald Trump's legal battle with columnist E Jean Carroll, saying she hasn't "looked at" the case.

Ms Haley, a former UN Ambassador, sat down with CNN on Tuesday. When asked about the E Jean Carroll defamation case, she denied having knowledge of its details.

Youre the only woman in this race. How do you feel about your partys front-runner being held liable for sexual abuse? CNNs Dana Bash asked Ms Haley.

First of all, I havent paid attention to his cases, and Im not a lawyer, she responded. All I know is that hes innocent until proven guilty, and when hes proven guilty, and hes sitting in a courtroom  thats exactly what Im talking about. Youve got investigations on Trump and Biden.

Bash pushed her on the issue, noting that many Republicans dismiss Ms Carroll's case as a "witch hunt."

Some of the cases have been political. Look, if hes found guilty then he needs to pay the price, he needs to do what hes supposed to, Ms Haley said. Every one of these cases, they need to be heard out, he needs to defend himself. If hes found guilty, hes gonna pay the price. If hes not found guilty, then we move forward. What I will tell you is that Im focused on the economy, the border, and education, and getting our country back on track.

She then suggested that Mr Trump's criminal cases were a "distraction" from more pressing national issues.

If hes sitting in a courtroom, that goes back to what Im saying, Ms Haley said. We cant continue to be distracted. We cant continue to be in chaos. We have a country to save.

That comment falls in line with her recent campaign advertising, which suggests Democrats want Mr Trump to win the Republican nomination so they can keep him tied up in court. The underlying message is that Ms Haley is a better candidate to support because their alleged tactic will not work if she is the nominee.

Mr Trump has already been found liable for both sexually abusing Ms Carroll, and for defaming her. The current trial will determine the former president's penalty for defaming her again.

Ms Carroll accused Mr Trump of raping her in the dressing room of a retailer in the 1990s. Mr Trump denied knowing her, and called her a liar who was using the allegations to help her sell books. She claimed he had damaged her reputation, and sued him for defamation.

A jury found Mr Trump liable both for sexually abusing Ms Carroll and then defaming her. She was awarded $5m. Mr Trump has continued to insist he does not know Ms Carroll.

Ms Carroll is seeking a minimum of $10m in the current damages phase of the trial.

Mr Trump took to Truth Social to express his frustration over the case, even though he has already lost one defamation case to Ms Carroll.

The only right, honest, and lawful thing that Clinton-appointed Judge Lewis Kaplan, who has so far been unable to see clearly because of his absolute hatred of Donald J. Trump (ME!), can do is to end this unAmerican injustice being done to a President of the United States, who was wrongfully accused by a woman he never met, saw, or touched (a photo line does not count!), and knows absolutely nothing about, Mr Trump wrote.
Five years after the Erie County Industrial Development Agency announced plans to acquire the closed former Eden-Angola Airport and turn it into an agribusiness industrial park, the agency is seeking public comment on a draft environmental impact statement that is a critical step in the redevelopment.

The ECIDA and its affiliate, the Buffalo and Erie County Industrial Land Development Corp., are proposing to redevelop the 242.03-acre former private airport into a shovel-ready business complex geared specifically toward agricultural-related businesses.

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The goal is to support agriculture in the region by attracting food-related companies that would buy locally grown products, giving farmers new markets for their goods, and new sources of revenue. In turn, that will also retain farming jobs, while creating jobs at the business park.

The project has been in the works since at least 2018. Modeled after Genesee Countys agribusiness park near Batavia, plans called for utilizing and expanding the airports infrastructure to accommodate food processing, light industrial and commercial companies seeking to establish operations near Western New York farmers in the Southtowns.

Two options are under consideration for development, for either full or partial build-out, but the project is still at the conceptual stage, according to the environmental statement.

But a full build-out would create 1.9 million square feet of office, light industrial, controlled-growth facility and cold-storage space. It would also include a potential logistics hub and alternate energy area, as well as a new rail spur and power line on the northwest corner to link up with the adjacent Norfolk-Southern railroad. And it would feature 50 acres of wetlands and conservation land on the southeast corner.

Closed in 2002 after its owner filed for bankruptcy, the airport property was bought by the ILDC for $980,000 in April 2020. At the time, ECIDA had more than $1.2 million in grant funding for the project, with Erie County contributing $230,000 to fund master-planning efforts, while National Grid provided $354,000 in economic development money to help pay for infrastructure improvements.

Located at 1526 Eden Evans Center Road in the Town of Evans, the mostly wooded site extends nearly 2,000 feet along the roadway. It sits east of Delamater Road and two parallel railroad tracks, and west of Southwestern Boulevard, or U.S. 20, and is a mile west of the Eden-Angola exit off the Thruway.

The property still includes a paved runway that extends north-south along the western part of the site, and a paved former aircraft apron along the east side of the runway, as well as former airplane hangars and office buildings.

There's also a "large, cleared area" running from east to west that was used as part of an old turf runway. And a new water storage tank and related infrastructure has been constructed on the northern part of the land.

A single-family home lies just to the west, along with two residential parcels along the front of the site, while the Norfolk-Southern railroad runs along the western edge in the rear.

Tentative initial plans call for converting the runway into a road and installing other driveways, while extending new water, sewer, stormwater and utility lines into the site. About 5,300 linear feet of streets and access roads would be created. A microgrid may also be included. And amenities could feature greenspace and trails.

Officials say they have not determined how many businesses could fit on the entire property, since that depends on demand and need. But according to the DGEIS, the master plan for the project envisions creating up to 19 separate lots, ranging from one acre to 38.2 acres in size, and arranged along both the former runway-turned-roadway and several additional access drives. The ILDC would subdivide and sell the individual lots for private development.

But the project has taken several years to advance because of the required process under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, which mandates a detailed analysis of all possible impacts of such a large project on the environment and the community. That process kicked off in 2021, with the ILDC taking the lead on a coordinated review, laying out the scope of the study, and starting to prepare the detailed document.

The agency was slated to hold a public hearing on the environmental impact statement at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Evans Town Hall or online, but is rescheduling because of the weather.
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The US Senate has voted to advance a stopgap spending bill, as Congress hurtles toward Fridays deadline to avert a looming government shutdown.

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and House speaker Mike Johnson have reached a tentative deal to extend government funding into March  but it still needs to pass formal votes in both chambers.

On Tuesday night, Congress took a key first step to passing the continuing resolution before Friday, with the Senate voting 68-13 to advance it.

Mr Schumer said on Tuesday that he expects the continuing resolution to be wrapped up no later than Thursday.

If both sides continue to work in good faith, Im hopeful that we can wrap up work on the CR no later than Thursday, he said.

The key to finishing our work this week will be bipartisan cooperation in both chambers, you cant pass these bills without support from Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate.

The stopgap bill will extend government funding through to 1 March and 8 March, to allow for more time to pass longer-term funding.

The agreement sets a topline spending number of $1.59 trillion for the fiscal year and $69bn in budget adjustments, and will mark the third CR since 2023 funding expired in September.

Mike Johnson on Capitol Hill on 10 January 2024 (Getty Images)

However, if the continuing resolution fails to pass by the deadline of Friday 19 January, government funding will run out for some federal government agencies  and the government will partially shut down.

While Tuesdays vote marks a key step in the right direction, there are still challenges to getting it over the line in both chambers.

In the House in particular, Mr Johnson is facing pushback from the far-right faction of the Republican party, namely members of the House Freedom Caucus.

Were making a statement that what the deal, as has been announced, that doesnt secure the border and that doesnt cut our spending, and thats gonna be passed apparently under suspension of the rules with predominantly Democrat votes is unacceptable, representative Bob Good, the Freedom Caucuss new chairman, told reporters last week.

Several congressional Republicans pushed back against the Freedom Caucuss reaction.

If Republicans want to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the election this year, fail to fund the government, Republican Senator Thom Tillis said, according to Punchbowl News.

Representative Garret Graves also said hes sticking with Republican leadership.

Youve got a number of people that have no legislative track record, no legislative wins, that are out there trying to dictate strategies that have repeatedly resulted in less conservative outcomes, he previously told The Independent. I think that if then a better path forward is actually following game plans and strategies that have resulted in wins that have resulted in conservative wins.

Much of the battle surrounding 2024 government spending has been about immigration, with some House Republicans demanding that congressional Democrats agree to tougher border policies.

President Joe Biden and Mr Johnson spoke on the phone on 10 January regarding border security, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Congressional officials released the full text of the resolution on Sunday evening.

Last week, House Republicans achieved an improved topline agreement that will finally allow the House and Senate to complete the annual appropriations bills, Mr Johnson said in a statement.

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries were also involved in discussions on the CR, Mr Schumer said in a statement, as he hailed it as a bipartisan topline funding agreement that will ensure that America will be able to address many of the major challenges our country faces at home and abroad.
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Inside a federal courthouse in downtown Manhattan on Tuesday, writer E Jean Carroll sat alongside her attorneys, facing forward and refusing to look back at the man she accused of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s: Donald Trump.

It is the second time that Ms Carroll and Mr Trump have faced off against one another in court  only this time the tension was far more palpable.

Last spring, a jury sitting in the same seats as the current nine-person panel, found Mr Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against Ms Carroll. The defamation in that trial pertained to statements the former president made in 2022 in which he denied sexually assaulting Ms Carroll or even knowing her.

This time, the jury is being asked to only determine how much, if any, damages the former president owes Ms Carroll for defaming her in statements he made in 2019 in which he claimed Ms Carroll was not my type and accused her of lying about sexually assaulting her.

The facts of the case, that Mr Trump sexually abused Ms Carroll and lied about it, have already been established.

Unlike last time, now Mr Trump cannot defend himself against the allegations of sexual abuse  likely a difficult feat for the former president.

When Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is overseeing the case, articulated the facts of the case to the jury, Mr Trump shook his head as if to remind himself he didnt subscribe to the previous jurys findings.

Even throughout jury selection on Tuesday morning, while the former president sat facing forward in the courtroom, Mr Trumps Truth Social account posted no less than 22 posts about Ms Carroll  claiming the first trial was corrupt, claiming Ms Carrolls allegation was a fake story, and once again, claiming he never met, touched or seen Ms Carroll.

Shawn Crowley, the attorney for Ms Carroll, urged the jury to consider how much money it would take to get Mr Trump to stop defaming her.

Think carefully about what exactly Donald Trump did here, Ms Crowley said during her opening statements.

She argued that Mr Trumps claims that Ms Carroll was lying led to swaths of online hate and threats, which made Ms Carroll fear for her life.

Its time to make him pay, dearly, for what hes done, Ms Crowley said.

Writer E Jean Carroll has accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s (Getty Images)

Ms Crowley reiterated multiple times that the facts of the case could not be disputed and that Mr Trumps continuing attempts to undermine Ms Carrolls lawsuit had damaged her reputation as a writer and her career.

Meanwhile, Alina Habba, the lawyer for Mr Trump, said that Ms Carrolls career had actually never been so successful than in the wake of Mr Trumps defamation  which ultimately is what the trial is about.

This case is not about assault, we had that case, Ms Habba told the jury, asking them to only focus on two statements Mr Trump made in 2019.

Ms Habba argued that the jury would be tasked with determining if only the two statements Mr Trump made in 2019 caused Ms Carrolls reputation to be harmed. She called the hate messages Ms Carroll received to be just mean tweets and argued that those were a natural part of social media.

The trial is expected to last three to four days and will include testimony from Ms Carroll and, possibly, Mr Trump.
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A jury has already determined that Donald Trump sexually abused E Jean Carroll in the 1990s, then defamed her by lying that it never happened.

Now the former Elle magazine columnist says she has been branded a fraud and a whack job by the same man, who appeared in a federal courtroom in New York City on Wednesday to watch her testimony during a second defamation trial stemming from her allegations against the former president.

Im here because I was assaulted by Donald Trump and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened, she testified.

He lied, she said. And he shattered my reputation.

Mr Trump  who also watched opening arguments in the case on Tuesday  shook his head and made comments about Ms Carroll and the case within earshot of the jury as he sat with his attorneys at the defence table.

US District Judge Lewis Kaplan warned Mr Trump could be kicked out of the courtroom for his outbursts, which have become a central part of his campaign to become the Republican nominee for president as the race overlaps with a long list of criminal and civil cases.

Asked by her attorney how Mr Trumps remarks have damaged her career, Ms Carroll said: People dont write to an advice columnist thats being attacked like this.

Previously I was known simply as a journalist, she said. Now Im known as a liar, a fraud, and a whack job.

Ms Carroll  while testifying about the deluge of derogatory messages she receives that label her a liar, call her names, or threaten violence  sobbed as she recalled her fears that someone would shoot her.

A jury will determine monetary damages owed to Ms Carroll, whom Mr Trump repeatedly defamed by calling her a liar and denying that he sexually assaulted her. Ms Carroll is seeking $10m (7.9m) in compensatory damages and punitive damages.

The facts in the case have already been established; Mr Trump is barred from disputing that he sexually abused her, and a judges pretrial ruling has found him liable for defamation, leaving a narrow trial to determine how much he should pay, if anything.

A courtroom sketch depicts E Jean Carroll testifying as Donald Trump watches from the defence table (Reuters)

The trial is the second stemming from defamation claims brought by Ms Carroll. Last year, a jury found him civilly responsible for sexual abuse and awarded her $5m. The second trial stems from similarly defamatory remarks about Ms Carroll while he was still in the White House.

Despite the defamation claims against him, he insists he never met her and has repeatedly mocked and ridiculed Ms Carroll in the wake of that verdict.

In opening arguments on Tuesday, Ms Carrolls legal team asked the jury to consider not just an appropriate amount Mr Trump owes for his defamation, but how much is necessary to make him stop.

Think carefully about what exactly Donald Trump did here, attorney Shawn Crowley told jurors on Tuesday. Its time to make him pay, dearly, for what hes done.

The former president has baselessly cast the trial  among a growing list of legal challenges, including criminal charges and lawsuits that threaten his eligibility for 2024 ballots and his ability to do business in the state of New York  as part of a conspiracy from Democratic officials and Joe Biden to keep him out of the White House.

As he arrived at the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan on Tuesday, he unleashed 30 posts on his Truth Social platform repeating the same false claims at the centre of the defamation cases against him. After his courtroom outbursts on Wednesday, he returned to his social media platform to attack the judge.

He has continued to lie, Ms Carroll told the court on Wednesday. He lied last month. He lied on Sunday. He lied yesterday.

To be repeatedly cast as a liar by a sitting president ended the world that I had been living in. And I entered a new world, Ms Carroll said.

Carroll arrives at a Manhattan federal courthouse for the second day of a trial that will determine how much Donald Trump owes for defaming her (Reuters)

In 2019, while Mr Trump was president, New York magazine published Ms Carrolls account of Mr Trumps assault in a Bergdorf Goodman department store in the mid-1990s. She also published details in her 2019 book What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal.

Mr Trump denied her account in an official government statement, claimed he never met her and that Ms Carroll is trying to sell a new book that should be sold in the fiction section. He also called on the public to report allegations to his administration to determine whether the Democratic Party is working with Ms Carroll or New York magazine.

The thing that really got me about this is from the White House, Ms Carroll said during her testimony on Wednesday.

Mr Trump also was quoted by The Hill in 2019 denying the allegations and stating that Ms Carroll is not my type.

It means Im too ugly to assault, Ms Carroll said on the witness stand on Wednesday.

Throughout Wednesdays hearing, the judge repeatedly admonished Mr Trumps attorney Alina Habba  who represented the former president in his fraud trial and serves as a senior counsel for a political action committee affiliated with his campaign  for repeat objections and failures to properly introduce evidence.

Mr Trumps legal team called on the judge to recuse himself and then demanded a mistral. Both motions were denied.

Before the trial adjourned for the day, Ms Carroll told the court that said she pursued the case to show that a woman can speak up and win.

I dont want to be quiet, she said. Im 80, its not right to make women quiet it has been going on for too long.
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There were tense moments in court in New York on Wednesday morning, when Donald Trumps lawyer attempted yet again to ask the judge in the E Jean Carroll defamation trial for a postponement.

Alina Habba has asked several times for Judge Lewis Kaplan to pause proceedings to allow the former president to travel to Florida for the funeral on Thursday of his mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs.

In asking to renew her request to postpone the trial  the second defamation case against Mr Trump brought by former Elle columnist Ms Carroll  Ms Habba earned a sharp rebuke from the judge.

Your Honour, clearly we are not going to finish this trial tomorrow. This trial will go into next week, Ms Habba said as day two of the trial began.

I am asking your honour to have the kindness that my client deserves to be with his family tomorrow and not have to choose to miss the trial that he has a right to be here for.

Alina Habba (AFP via Getty Images)

Judge Kaplan denied the request, noting that Mr Trump has the right either to appear in person or be represented by counsel.

And nobody is stopping him from doing either. The application is denied. I will hear no further argument on it. None. Do you understand that word? None. Please sit down."

Ms Habba responded by asking the judge not to speak to her in that way.

I dont like to be spoken to that way. And we are going to be here for several days, she said. Im not going to speak to [Ms Carrolls lawyer] Ms Kaplan like that. I will not speak to you like that. I am asking your honour to please refrain from speaking to me in that manner.

Judge Kaplan did not acknowledge her protest and again reiterated that her request to adjourn the case was denied and  again  told her to sit down.

As Ms Carrolls testimony continued throughout the morning, Ms Habba peppered it with objections, at one point earning another admonishment from Judge Kaplan for not standing up when addressing the court.

The judges rebukes of Ms Habba were variously called a disaster for the defence case, with predictions of a bigly loss for the former president, with the Trump attorney being called a hack and Ron Filipkowski noting that she had just found out this isnt a Newsmax interview.

There was more drama in the courtroom when Judge Kaplan threatened to remove Mr Trump from the courtroom if he did not stop audibly commenting on the testimony of Ms Carroll.

The judge acknowledged that the former president was probably eager for him to do so, to which  according to reporters in court  Mr Trump responded: I would love it.
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After Donald Trump repeatedly loudly complained about E Jean Carrolls testimony in a second defamation trial against the former president, the federal judge overseeing the case in New York warned he could remove him from the courtroom for his outbursts.

Mr Trump ignored several warnings from US District Judge Lewis Kaplan on Wednesday after he could be heard calling the case a witch hunt and a con job as he watched Ms Carrolls testimony, which detailed the daily abuse and death threats she has received as a result of the former presidents ongoing defamatory statements about her.

Mr Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which what has been reported to me consists of, the judge said. I hope I dont have to consider excluding you from the trial.

Mr Trump then tossed up his hands, telling the judge I would love it.

I know you would, Judge Kaplan replied. You just cant control yourself in this circumstance, apparently.

The latest courtroom outburst from Mr Trump, who is not obligated to attend the trial, follows a series of gag orders in his civil fraud case that were upheld after his derogatory comments about the courts chief clerk sparked a wave of credible death threats.

The former president also defied the judge overseeing that case by lashing out from the defence table during closing arguments last week. He also lambasted the judge, the state attorney general suing him, the state lawyer questioning him, and the case itself when he appeared on the witness stand during that trial last year.

Mr Trump has relied on a growing list of criminal indictments and lawsuits against him for his campaign for the 2024 Republican nomination for president, casting himself as a victim of political persecution and baselessly asserting that the cases are a Democratic-led conspiracy to keep him away from the White House.

Following Judge Kaplans warning, Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social that he has an obligation to be at every moment of this ridiculous trial, because we have a seething and hostile judge who suffers from a major case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

He is abusive, rude, and obviously not impartial but, thats the way the crooked system works! he wrote.

A jury will determine monetary damages owed to Ms Carroll, a former Elle magazine writer whom Mr Trump repeatedly defamed by calling her a liar and denying that he sexually assaulted her. Ms Carroll is seeking $10m in compensatory damages and punitive damages.

The facts in the case have already been established; Mr Trump is barred from disputing that he sexually abused her, and a judges pretrial ruling has already found him liable for defamation, leaving a narrow trial to determine how much he should pay, if anything.

Earlier on Wednesday, while jurors were not in the room, Ms Carrolls attorney Shawn Crowley told the judge that Mr Trump was loudly dismissing Ms Carrolls testimony as false.

Before the jury returned, Judge Kaplan asked Mr Trump to take special care to keep his voice down so the jury does not overhear it.

The request didnt appear to stick, teeing up the judges warning before a brief break for lunch.

Before the jury returned to the courtroom, Mr Trumps attorney Michael Madaio demanded that the judge recuse himself from the case.

Denied, the judge replied.
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Nikki Haley is going all in on what she sees as the safest line of attack against Donald Trump  questions about his mental fitness and temperament in a year where the incumbent Democratic president is facing similar concerns.

The former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador sat down with NBCs Craig Melvin for an interview with the Today show on Tuesday as she prepares for a showdown with Mr Trump in her home state that is a litte more than a week away. The primary election in South Carolina could be a jolt in the arm of her campaign as she continues to steeply trail the frontrunner  or, it could be the death knell of her presidential bid. It could also be neither of those things, as she plods along towards Super Tuesday in March.

Ms Haley made some of her most forceful criticism of Mr Trumps mental state yet during the interview.

The problem now is, he is not the same person he was in 2016. He is unhinged; he is more diminished than he was, just like Joe Bidens more diminished than what he was, Ms Haley told NBC.

We have to see this for what it is, she went on. This is a fact: he is now saying things that don't make sense.

She contrasted Mr Trumps mood and temperament now with what she experienced during his administration, when the former UN diplomat said that Mr Trump was responsive when his deputy came to him with concerns. Two of those concerns she named directly: his response to a white nationalist riot in Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as his pattern of rhetoric about women.

If something was wrong ... I had a conversation with him about Charlottesville, I had a conversation about something that he would say about women, I had a conversation with him about multiple things, said Ms Haley.

Ms Haley has made her opponents age an issue the same way Trump-aligned Republicans have sought to cast doubts about Mr Bidens focus and mental clarity. Some of the ex-presidents more rabid supporters have even taken things a step further and openly suggested that the incumbent president has dementia.

Concerns about Mr Bidens memory were energised by the release last week of a report authored by Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Hur regarding the investiation into the presidents handling of classified documents. During interviews, Mr Hur described the president as severely forgetful and unable to recall details about major events from his life, including the death of his son Beau. Mr Biden would go on to angrily rebut that criticism at a press conference.

"You've got Joe Biden, where the special counsel said he was diminished, and he's not the Joe Biden he was two years ago," Ms Haley told NBC on Tuesday. "You've got a Donald Trump who's unhinged, and he's more unhinged than he ever was.

[W]hy are we settling for that when the country is in disarray and the world is on fire?" she aked. We don't want these two old men running. We want someone who's going to go and fight for us and work for us, with no drama, no vendettas."

The no vendettas line was a clear reference to Mr Trump frequent vows of revenge against his political enemies; he has told supporters that he will direct the Justice Department to prosecute Joe Bidens family if he is elected for a second term, and a group of conservative organisations is purportedly working on plans to seriously diminish the independence of the Justice Department to allow him to do so.

Ms Haley continues to trail Mr Trump according to all available polling, both in South Carolina and nationwide. Her campaign has begun looking ahead to primary states voting in March even as she hopes for a shock performance in her home state similar to the stronger-than-expected showing she had in New Hampshire.
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As he arrived at a federal courthouse in lower Manhattan, Donald Trumps Truth Social account released an avalanche of posts attacking E Jean Carroll, who is suing the former president for defamation.

A jury in New York City will determine what damages he owes Ms Carroll, whom Mr Trump defamed by repeatedly calling her a liar and denying that he sexually assaulted her.

Its the second trial stemming from defamation claims brought by Ms Carroll, and a jury already found him civilly responsible for sexually abusing her in the 1990s. He continues to claim that he never met her and has repeatedly mocked and ridiculed Ms Carroll in the wake of that verdict.

Ms Carroll was awarded $5m in that trial. A second trial stems from his remarks about Ms Carroll while he was still in the White House, made in response to her allegations that he raped her years earlier. The judge overseeing the case issued a pretrial judgment last year finding him liable for defamation, leaving a trial to determine how much he will pay.

In a series of posts on his Truth Social on Tuesday, as he was arriving in the courtroom and while he was seated with his attorneys, without his phone, Mr Trump repeated false claims that are at the centre of the defamation cases against him, including his claim that he has never met Ms Carroll, and called the case an unAmerican injustice and that he was wrongfully accused.

He called the case attempted EXTORTION based on fabricated lies and political shenanigans.

The former president has baselessly cast the trial  among a growing list of legal challenges, including criminal charges and lawsuits that threaten his eligibility for 2024 ballots and his ability to do business in the state of New York  as part of a conspiracy from Democratic officials and President Joe Biden to keep him out of the White House.

US District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is overseeing the trial, should put this whole corrupt, Crooked Joe Biden-directed Election Interference attack on me immediately to rest, Mr Trump wrote.

Ms Carroll seeks $10m in compensatory damages and punitive damages to be determined by a jury.

His appearance in the courtroom on Tuesday is his second in-person appearance within a week, after he joined his attorneys and spoke out from the defence table during closing remarks at his civil trial on fraud allegations within his Trump Organization empire. He was not obligated to attend either hearings, but he continues to falsely claim that he is being pulled off the campaign trail to attend them.

In letters to the judge last week, attorneys for Ms Carroll warned that Mr Trump wants to use the proceedings to sow chaos in the case, pointing to his behaviour at his fraud trial.

Under the trials narrow scope, Mr Trump cannot testify that he did not sexually assault Ms Carroll or claim that he does not know her, or make reference to a wide range of other prejudicial, irrelevant, or otherwise inadmissible matters that have featured prominently in his recent public statements about the case, Ms Carrolls attorneys wrote.

If Mr Trump appears at this trial, whether as a witness or otherwise, his recent statements and behavior strongly suggest that he will seek to sow chaos, attorneys wrote. Indeed, he may well perceive a benefit in seeking to poison these proceedings, where the only question for the jury is how much more he will have to pay in damages for defaming Ms Carroll. This Court should make clear from the outset that Mr Trump is forbidden from engaging in such antics and will suffer consequences if he does so.

An attorney representing Mr Trump in this case and in his New York criminal trial on charges of falsifying business records announced he was withdrawing from the former presidents legal team one day before the beginning of the defamation trial.

High-profile defence attorney Joe Tacopina filed court documents accouncing his withdrawal on Monday. He did not provide a reason to The Independent.
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A white New York school teacher accused but then exonerated of putting up a racially offensive image in a classroom claims she was a victim of racial discrimination herself.

In 2019 an image circulated of a collage displayed in a classroom at Roosevelt Middle School in New York that sparked outrage among the community and school district officials.

The photo, part of a larger classroom display of teachers and students, showed a pair of nooses under a caption that said back to school necklaces, alongside the words, Ha Ha, #YES and a smiley face.

The school district blamed an isolated group of teachers for the collage and said appropriate action had been taken, according to The Daily Beast.

Years after the incident, Nancy Jones Doering filed a lawsuit against the school district, revealing herself as one of the teachers accused.

The lawsuit filed by Ms Jones Doering, obtained by The Independent claimed that she has been subject to discrimination and harassment based on her race following the incident.

In October 2022, Ms Jones Doering was exonerated by a Hearing Officer who ordered her to be reinstated as a social studies teacher at Roosevelt Middle School, situated in an area populated with more than 50 per cent Black or African American residents.

However, the teacher alleges that since the incident, she has been living in constant anxiety, stress and daily fear to herself and her family.

The lawsuit alleges that Ms Jones Doerings car had been vandalised and that there had been racist comments written on a whiteboard stating white supremacy is a hell of a drug.

She also claims that after returning to the school she was put in an isolated office with no windows and that officials stripped her of all her duties and responsibilities.

Ms Jones Doering claimed in the lawsuit that she never created, displayed or assisted anyone in putting up any racist collage.

[The] Defendants were very much aware of that since they knew who created the collage and who displayed it, but yet maliciously and intentionally publically made false statements about Plaintiff, the suit stated.

The lawsuit went on to say that various media outlets had reported on the accusations and community members, such as Reverand Mackey, were encouraged to publicly attack, defame, shame and harass her.

Pastor Arthur Mackey J of a local church in Roosevelt spoke to outlets at the time after he was sent the picture of the collage, saying the image was totally unacceptable and is a hate crime and racial discrimination, CNN reported back in 2019.

The lawsuit states that on 6 February 2019, the Roosevelt Union Free School District was informed of the offensive and racially infused collage on display, but when administrators from the district visited and inspected the collage they failed to remove it or instruct that teacher from removing it.

Ms Jones Doering said in the lawsuit that the classroom where the collage was displayed was not hers, referring to it being in an other teachers classroom.

The suit claims that a day after, Ms Jones Doering entered the classroom to leave lesson plans there she noticed the offensive nature of its content, and removed it from the classroom so that students and staff members are not exposed to it.

She then allegedly placed the images in a locked cabinet in her classroom.

The next day, Ms Jones Doering was asked by the other teacher who allegedly had the collage in her classroom, to accompany her to a Human Resources meeting to represent her as her union representative.

However, following the meeting, they were both given letters of suspension and claimed the defendants refused to provide any information regarding this decision.

She claimed that the school district falsely accused her of displaying the collage in her classroom, which is completely false and fabricated accusations, the lawsuit said.

Ms Jones Doering also purports that she was accused of interfering with an alleged investigation into the collage by removing the offensive imagery and bringing negative attention to the school - which she claims was caused by tips to the media.

She is accusing the defendants of racial discrimination, retaliation, promoting a hostile work environment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent supervision and defamation.

She is demanding a jury trial and various damages and to enjoin the defendants from further discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

The Independent has contacted Reverend Mackey and Ms Jones Doerings attorney for comment. The Roosevelt Union Free School District has also been contacted via Facebook after they could not be reached by phone.
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The United States on Wednesday put Yemen's Houthis rebels back on its list of specially designated global terrorists, piling financial sanctions on top of American military strikes in the Biden administration's latest attempt to stop the militants' attacks on global shipping.

Officials said they would design the financial penalties to minimize harm to Yemen's 32 million people, who are among the world's poorest and hungriest after years of war between the Iran-backed Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition.

But aid officials expressed concern. The decision would only add "another level of uncertainty and threat for Yemenis still caught in one of the worlds largest humanitarian crises, Oxfam America associate director Scott Paul said.

The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing.

President Donald Trump's administration designated the Houthis as global terrorists and a foreign terrorist organization in one of his last acts in office. President Joe Biden reversed course early on, at the time citing the humanitarian threat that the sanctions posed to ordinary Yemenis.

Military strikes by the U.S. and Britain against Houthi targets in Yemen have failed to stop weeks of drone, rocket and missile strikes by Houthi forces on commercial shipping transiting the Red Sea route, which borders Yemen.

The Houthis are one in a network of Iran- and Hamas-allied militant groups around the Middle East that have escalated attacks on Israel, the U.S. and others since Israel's military offensive in Gaza, in response to Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.

The Houthis were originally a clan-based rebel movement. They seized Yemen's capital in 2014 and withstood a subsequent yearslong invasion led by Saudi Arabia aimed at driving the Houthis from power. Two-thirds of Yemen's people live in territory now controlled by the Houthis.

Critics say the additional broad U.S. sanctions may have little effect on the Houthis, a defiant and relatively isolated group with few known assets in the U.S. to be threatened. There is also concern that designating the Houthis as terrorists may complicate international attempts to broker a peace deal in the now-subsided war with Saudi Arabia.

War and chronic misgovernment have left 24 million Yemenis at risk of hunger and disease, and roughly 14 million are in acute need of humanitarian assistance, the United Nations says. Aid groups during the height of Yemen's war issued repeated warnings that millions of Yemenis were on the brink of famine.

Aid organizations worry that just the fear of running afoul of U.S. regulations could be enough to scare away shippers, banks and others in the commercial supply chain that Yemenis depend upon for survival. Yemen imports 90% of its food.

U.S. officials told reporters before the State Department's announcement Wednesday that the sanctions would exempt commercial shipments of food, medicine and fuel, and humanitarian assistance. The U.S. will wait 30 days to put the sanctions into effect, officials said, giving shipping companies, banks, insurers and others time to prepare.

The administration, for now, is not reimposing the more severe designation of foreign terrorist organization on the Houthis. That would have barred Americans, along with people and organizations subject to U.S. jurisdiction, from providing material support to the Houthis. Aid groups said that step could have the effect of criminalizing ordinary trade and assistance to Yemenis.

The three U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail internal administration planning, described Wednesday's designation as part of a range of American measures designed to pressure the Houthis to stop their attacks on shipping. The U.S will reevaluate the designation if the Houthis comply, officials said.

Jared Rowell, the Yemen country director for the International Rescue Committee, said last week that the attacks and counterattacks were interrupting the delivery of goods and aid into Yemen, delaying shipments of vital commodities and raising prices for food and fuel.

Conservatives have pressed for the foreign terrorist designation to be reimposed ever since the Biden administration lifted it. Calls for tougher action against the Houthis and and their Iranian backers have grown louder since the Israel-Hamas war.

When Biden was asked last week whether the Houthis were a terrorist group, he replied, I think they are.

Hisham Al-Omeisy, a Yemeni analyst living in the Washington, area, said the U.S. designation plays into the Houthis narrative to the world that they are standing up to a superpower to champion Muslims everywhere.

At home, the designation helps the Houthis' message to Yemenis that the U.S. is the cause of their suffering, Al-Omeisy said.

In the past, he said, the Houthis were angered that the U.S. was basically treating them as a bug on the windshield.

Now, "theyre like, You know what, they respect us, he said of the Houthis' attitude. Yeah, we can go toe to toe with the Americans, right?
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Record amounts of cocaine are being seized in Europe, with 303 tons stopped by EU member countries in one year alone, new figures have shown.

The news comes as customs seized 116 tons of cocaine in the port of Antwerp in 2023, setting a record for the second year in a row, Belgian authorities said on Wednesday.

Demand for cocaine is growing rapidly across the EU, and governments blame the drug trade for outbreaks of violence in major port cities like Antwerp, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and Marseille in France.

The port of Antwerp has become the main gateway for Latin American cocaine cartels into the continent.

Another five tons of cocaine were seized last year at the port of Zeebrugge, which is part of the larger Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem.

Thousands of employees, spread all over the country, gave their best in once again extraordinary circumstances last year, the minister said.

Belgium Antwerp Cocaine (FILE - In this frame grab taken from video of the Belgian Finance Ministry, bags and narcotics wrapped in plastic )

The announcement was made a day after 22 people, including three police officers, were arrested in a major anti-drug bust targeting individuals suspected of smuggling cocaine through Antwerp.

The quantity of cocaine seized in Europes second largest seaport rose from 110 tons in 2022, Belgian authorities said, adding that Colombia, Ecuador and Panama remain the top origin countries.

Record amounts of cocaine are being seized in Europe, with 303 tons stopped by EU member countries in 2021, the most recent year for which figures are available. According a report from the EU agency monitoring drugs and addiction, 75% of that quantity was seized in Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain.

In Belgium, federal authorities say drug trafficking is penetrating society rapidly as foreign criminal organizations have built deep roots in the country, bringing along their violent and ruthless operations.

In the past four years, Antwerp has seen dozens of grenade attacks, fires and small bombs, many linked to gangs trying to carve up the thriving cocaine trade. In Belgium, then-Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne spent time living in hiding after evidence emerged drugs gangs might be seeking to kidnap him, or worse.
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation  the largest foundation exclusively focused on health outcomes in New York  on Wednesday announced its annual year-end grants to nonprofit organizations across the state.

The foundation awarded 53 grants across Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties, totaling $15.3 million. Those were just some of the 514 grants the foundation awarded across the state, totaling $172 million.

The largest Western New York grant was $2 million, awarded to the Mercy Hospital Foundation for a project geared toward expanding access to emergency services for at-risk adults. Catholic Health said the $2 million grant will help fund the purchase of two new CT scanners for Mercy Hospital of Buffalos Emergency Department, which sees almost 25,000 patients a year.

Mercy Hospital currently has two CT scanners  one each in its Emergency Department and in the nearby Imaging Department. The Mother Cabrini grant will allow Mercy Hospital to replace the CT scanner in the Emergency Department with two new scanners, which Catholic Health said should reduce wait times for patients in southern Erie County.

The new CT scanners should be online by the end of 2024, Catholic Health said. The health system noted it is in the midst of a larger fundraising campaign to make improvements to Mercy Hospitals Emergency Department. So far, more than $3.1 million has been raised toward that $4.2 million project.

The Sisters Hospital Foundation also received $125,000 to support medical outreach in Buffalos West Side.

These grants will help us enhance emergency services to residents across South Buffalo and the Southtowns, and improve access to care for families on the West Side of Buffalo, Catholic Health President and CEO Joyce Markiewicz said.

The second-largest local grant was $1.1 million, awarded to the Mental Health Association of Erie County for a school social work program.

The Childrens Hospital of Buffalo Foundation and the FeedMore WNY Foundation each received a $1 million grant.

The Childrens Hospital of Buffalo Foundation, which supports Oishei Childrens Hospital, said the Mother Cabrini funds allowed the hospital to develop and sustain a coordinated community approach to reduce racial inequalities and address social determinants of health in Buffalo though primary care services.

The foundation noted that 90% of the children served through the hospitals primary care facilities use Medicaid for insurance coverage and nearly half are living in poverty.

Through the grant, we have coordinated efforts to tackle a host of issues including food insecurity and childhood literacy, the foundation said.

The FeedMore WNY grant is for a project described as setting the table for a permanent home for FeedMore WNY-The Next Phase, according to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. FeedMore WNY is in the midst of a capital campaign to raise funds to build a regional headquarters at 4832 Camp Road in Hamburg.

FeedMore WNY launches campaign to build new hub in Hamburg FeedMore is asking the public to help raise the remaining $33.7 million needed to break ground on the project next spring.

Other noteworthy Mother Cabrini grants include:

The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo received $200,000 for a project aimed at reducing lead poisoning in rental housing in Buffalo.

Jericho Road Ministries Inc. received $200,000 toward its Vive shelter,

.

The largest grant in Niagara County went to Heart Love & Soul, which received $275,000 for strengthening access to social care and community health services.
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Emmanuel Macron said he was willing to work with Donald Trump if the former president ended up winning the US elections.

This comes just a day after Mr Trump scored a record-setting win in the Iowa caucuses.

Ive always had the same philosophy, I take the leaders that people give me, The French president said on Thursday during a news conference.

He added: The United States is an important ally... Its a democracy thats going through a crisis in which it itself is the first priority and the second priority is Chinas power. All of us Europeans need to be lucid about that.

The French president previously suggested that the US interest in protecting the global order receded under the tenure of Mr Trump. In 2019, Mr Macron described Nato as brain dead, citing waning US support for the transatlantic military alliance.

The former president called these comments by Mr Macron nasty and insulting.

Mr Trump has previously described Europe as a foe which is almost as bad as China and hinted that he might pull out of the alliance if its terms were not altered to suit the United States.

Mr Macron initially considered Mr Trump a friend and even extended invitations like dining at the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day but his relationship with the former president soured over time due to disagreements on climate, taxation, and Iran.

Tensions further rose over issues with Turkey, Syria, and Russia, while trade disputes, including Frances new tech tax, added to the discord.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump, the sole current or former US president facing criminal charges, secured a victory in the Iowa Republican contest by an unprecedented margin.

Justin Trudeau has said that if Mr Trump is re-elected as US president, it will not be easy for Canada.

The Canadian prime ministers remarks on Tuesday echo concerns by the president of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde, who previously warned that the re-election of the former president would be a threat to Europe.

Additional reporting with agencies
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Belgian police have found stolen Picasso and Chagall paintings in a basement in the city of Antwerp, local authorities have said.

Investigators from Belgiums federal judicial police have established that the artworks are Marc Chagalls The Man in Prayer, signed in 1970, and Pablo Picassos Head, dated 1971. The paintings were stolen from an art collector in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 2010 and are worth $900,000 (711,000).

At the time of the theft, $680.000 worth of jewelry was stolen as well but only the paintings have been found.

Local police, who say the paintings are still in good condition, started an investigation when a source informed them that a Belgian national was offering both artworks for sale. The investigation finally led officers to Antwerp, where the two paintings were discovered in a cellar.

The local prosecutor said the main suspect has been arrested and charged with receiving stolen paintings.

Reuters
 Close Moment Russian plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war appears to crash

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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.
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The US, Russia and China have the worlds most powerful militaries while the UK comes in seventh, according to annual rankings produced by a defence sector analyst.

Global Firepowers 2024 Military Strength Rankings evaluated 145 countries, assessing them based on their military capabilities.

The US ranked first out of the 145 countries analysed, followed by Russia in second position and China in third. The US scored 0.0699 (the lower the better), with Russia following a close lead with 0.0702 and China at 0.0706, it said.

India has the fourth most powerful military followed by South Korea, while the UK took seventh spot.

The US boasts the highest military expenditure in the world at $876bn, and secured its position at the top of the index due to its dominance in a range of categories from finance to available resources.

The country stood out as a major player in technological advancements, excelling in the medical, aerospace, and computer/telecom sectors.

According to the report, the US possesses an impressive fleet of 13,300 aircraft, including 983 attack helicopters.

In second spot, Russia was recognised for its advanced technology and global influence despite the losses its armed forces have suffered in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

With military spending of an estimated $292bn, China has made significant strides in its naval, airpower and land warfare capabilities, benefitting from its impressive domestic resources.

The least powerful country on the list was Bhutan with a power index of 6.3704, while Moldova also features in the bottom five.

The US has 2,127,500 military personnel, significantly fewer than Russia and China. Russia has 3,570,000 personnel and China has 3,170,000, while India has the largest armed forces out of the top players with 5,137,550 personnel, according to the rankings.

The index rankings are determined by assessing countries across various parameters, including military resources, natural resources, industry, geographical features, and available manpower.

Global Firepower said it has released the ranking based on its unique, in-house formula that allows smaller, more technologically advanced nations to compete with larger, lesser-developed powers, and special modifiers, in the form of bonuses and penalties, are applied to further refine the list, which is compiled annually.
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Tensions in the Middle East have risen after Iranian-backed Houthi rebels began striking at ships passing through the Red Sea in November.

Crews extinguished a fire on board a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel on Saturday after it was struck by a Houthi anti-ship missile in the Gulf of Aden, according to commodities trader Trafigura. It is the latest of more than 30 Houthi attacks in the past three months.

The Islamist group claims it is striking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which is a narrow strip of sea between Yemen and east Africa that is a key international trade route, in a bid to end Israels air and ground offensive against Hamas.

In retaliation, Britain and the US have launched air strikes across Yemen against Houthi forces.

President Joe Biden, speaking after the first round of strikes, said they were a direct response to an onslaught of attacks on Red Sea ships which jeopardised trade, and threatened freedom of navigation.

Mr Sunak said the action was necessary and proportionate.

About eight hours after the incident involving the Marlin Luanda, the US military destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Red Sea and ready to launch, according to US Central Command.

The missile presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region, it said.

The Houthis' Al-Masira television also said on Saturday that the United States and Britain launched two airstrikes that targeted the port of Ras Issa, Yemen's main oil export terminal.

But who are Yemens Houthi rebels? How are they linked to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and why are they attacking western ships now?

Click here for live updates from the latest on the conflict.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Carney intervened to protect commercial ships under attack by Houthi drones (AP)

Its clearly linked to a broader strategy of Iran, which is the main backer of the Houthis, militant jihadist expert Dr Elisabeth Kendall told The Independent.

It is designed to ramp up pressure on Israel, America and other allies to stop the war in Gaza. The Houthis are armed, sponsored and trained by Iran as part of the so-called axis of resistance, Dr Kendall said.

The Houthis, formed in the late 1990s, developed as political-religious Shia movement and launched a series of guerrilla wars against Yemens national army.

The group seized the countrys capital of Sanaa when the Yemen civil war started in 2014, which caused neighbouring Sunni Islam Saudi Arabia to intervene at the head of a western-backed coalition over fears of growing Shia influence on its border. Since then, the civil war is estimated to have killed almost 400,000 people.

The takeover of the capital prompted Saudi Arabia to intervene in a bid to restore the internationally recognised government, which has a Sunni majority. A Saudi and UAE bombing campaign against Houthi targets was launched in 2015 and drew criticism over civilian deaths, leading to calls for the UK to cease arms exports to Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis have developed an arsenal including ballistic missiles and armed drones capable of hitting Israel more than 1,000 miles from Sanaa. The rebels have fired these missiles at Saudi Arabia dozens of times during the Yemen war. In September, the Houthis displayed anti-aircraft Barq-2 missiles, naval missiles, a Mig-29 fighter jet and helicopters for the first time.

Houthi supporters rally to show support for Palestine in Sanaa, Yemen, on 7 October (REUTERS)

Saudi Arabia and the US have accused Iran of fully enabling the rebel group to attack Israel and Western ships in the Red Sea. Iran denies the allegations, and says the Houthis are autonomous.

But experts say the Houthis, along with Gazas Hamas and Lebanons Hezbollah, form part of Irans axis of resistance - a military alliance built over four decades to oppose Israeli and American power in the Middle East.

Baraa Shiban, a Yemeni human rights activist who previously negotaited with the Houthis during failed peace talks in 2014, said it was clear in the decade since those talks that Iran has been supplying the militants with weapons.

You have a situation where the Houthis have had a constant flow of weapons over the course of 10 years, he told The Independent.

Citing a Houthi military parade last September as evidence of this, he said they showcased a wide range of military capabilities.

If you know anything about how the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) operates, he added, referring to the Iranian military, you can see that those missiles and drones are basically mimics of Iranian weapons.

The axis of resistance comprises a group of violent proxies across Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Palestine, coordinated by Irans Quds Force, the foreign arm of the IRGC.

The Quds Forces aim is to export Irans 1979 Islamic revolution abroad. The US assassinated the former head of the Quds Force, Qassem Solemaini, in January 2020.

Lebanons Hezbollah, the most powerful group in the axis, boasts 100,000 fighters, has exchanged fire with Israeli forces since Hamas went to war with Israel and more than 70 of its fighters have been killed.

The US also says its troops in Syria and Iraq have been attacked at least 55 times by Iran-backed proxies since Hamass assault on Israel on 7 October.

The war has been viewed as a proxy in a wider conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia as they both seek greater influence across the Middle East.
 Close Biden and Sunak spoke about Red Sea attacks, Gaza on phone call, according to White House

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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.
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A man has been arrested at a Tokyo airport after allegedly biting a cabin crew member on a flight bound for Seattle.

The All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight was forced to return to Haneda Airport in Tokyo in the early hours of Wednesday morning after the incident prompted the captain to make a U-turn over the Pacific Ocean.

Data from Flight Radar shows an ANA Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner departing from the major flight hub at 9:47pm local time before turning around at 10:50pm and landing back at the airport at 12:23am on Wednesday morning.

An All Nippon Airways flight bound for Seattle made a sudden U-turn over the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday night (Flight Radar)

Kyodo News reported that a 55-year-old American man was restrained by crew members and then handed over to police on suspicion of causing injury to a member of cabin crew.

Several local news outlets reported that the man denied the allegation and was cited as saying he does not remember what happened as he had taken a sleeping pill.

The Independent has contacted Tokyo Police, ANA and Haneda Airport for a comment.

Japanese air travel has made several headlines in recent weeks, with two crashes occurring within two weeks of each other.

On January 2nd, a fatal plane collision also at Tokyos Haneda Airport left five people dead when a Japan Airlines erupted into flames after the collision with a coastguard aircraft on the runway.

Footage from within the Japan Airlines Airbus-A350, which was carrying 379 people, including eight children, showed smoke pouring from beneath its wings as it landed at Tokyos Haneda airport at around 5.45pm local time (8.45am GMT).

On January 2nd, a fatal plane collision also at Tokyos Haneda Airport left five people dead (AP)

By the time the plane came to a standstill, it was engulfed by flames as rescuers rushed to evacuate all the passengers. Five coastguard crew members were killed in the collision. The pilot survived but was in a serious condition.

A passenger on board the commercial flight described the moment their plane appeared to have collided with the other aircraft.

I felt a boom, the unnamed passenger told the Kyodo news agency, like we had hit something and jerked upward the moment we landed. I saw sparks outside the window and the cabin filled with gas and smoke.

Just yesterday, A Korean Air Lines plane came into contact with a Cathay Pacific Airways aircraft at New Chitose Airport on Japans northern island of Hokkaido.

A Korean Air spokesperson said: A Korean Air aircraft came into contact with a Cathay aircraft during pushback at New Chitose (Sapporo) Airport by the third-party ground handler vehicle which slipped due to heavy snow. There were no injuries and the airline is cooperating with all relevant authorities.
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Ryanair is happy to sell plane tickets at a loss in order to get people on its planes during off-peak spells, the chief executive has said, as he shared that low-cost flights will continue to be on offer  though not as inexpensive as they once were.

Michael OLeary was speaking to The Independent after research showed a wide range of flights selling for less than the 13 air passenger duty his airline must pay when a customer steps on board a Ryanair plane from the UK.

From London Stansted to Venice, a 12.99 fare is available any day from Saturday 20 January to Thursday 25 January.

The same applies to flights from the Essex-based airport to Catania in Sicily, all week from Thursday 18 January to Wednesday 24 January. The one-way journey is 1,230 miles, and for a 12.99 fare, that is less than the Stansted Express train from London to the airport  even with a railcard.

A search by The Independent found the same 12.99 deal for flights departing from British airports on Wednesday 24 January, such as Bristol to Sofia in Bulgaria  a three-hour journey covering almost 1,400 miles. Other journeys available at the same fare on the same day include Belfast International to Porto and Stansted to Prague or Baden-Baden.

There will always be periods of time, particularly at this time of the year  January, February before you get to the school mid-term break or the Easter holidays or summer  where were trying to fill flights, Mr OLeary said.

Were happy to fill flights at loss-making air fares. So there will still be lots of low air fares.

The airline tells investors it has a is has a yield passive strategy whereby seats are priced to ensure that high load factor targets are achieved.

In 2022, Mr OLeary said the days of 9.99 flights were over  a view he reiterated to The Independent for 2024.

Were now paying $80 (63) a barrel for fuel. I dont think youll see a return to 9.99 air fares but 15, 20, 25 is still a phenomenally cheap air fare  when you go back to the pre-deregulation days of the 1980s or the early 1990s when airfares were regularly 200 or 300.

Anna Hughes, director of Flight Free UK, said: Ryanair offering flights at a loss shows just how upside down our transport system is.

Even considering air passenger duty, theres still no tax on aviation fuel, meaning that Mr OLeary can afford to offer dirt-cheap fares even if in the short term it means making a loss. At the same time, rail fares keep rising every year.

Its time to make aviation pay for the environmental damage it causes by taxing airline fuel.

The 12.99 Ryanair flights allow only one small backpack to be carried on board, with a random seat assignment. Anything else  from bigger cabin or checked baggage to speedy boarding  is extra.

The aviation analyst Sean Moulton said: Ryanair are looking to gain market share and airport dominance through low fares by generating more passengers and thus lower costs at major airports.

Ryanair also make the bulk of its profit through ancillary services such as check-in bags, seat selection and onboard sales which offset their low fares and ensure they remain profitable.

Ryanair has forecast full-year profits of around 2bn (1.72bn).

Mr OLeary predicted the summer of 2024 would experience less flight disruption than last year, though air traffic control issues remain a concern.

I think the French air traffic control strikes will continue. Europe has failed to take any action to protect overflights which would solve 90 per cent of these issues. And I worry about UK Nats. I think there will continue to be systems failures and there will continue to be short-staffing.

Other than that though, I think this will be a better summer. Capacity will still be constrained in Europe. So Im hopeful that the experience at the airports  except where there is a Nats failure or a French ATC strike  will be better this year than it was last summer.

Listen to Simon Calders interview with Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary
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A former TSA agent has attempted to provide some clarity about what travellers can and cannot bring through airport security.

Caleb Harmon-Marshall, who posts under the TikTok username @travelwiththeharmony, recently took to the platform to explain what hes learned in the eight years on the job.

Harmon-Marshall also went on to create his own newsletter called Gate Access, where he provides tips on getting through airport security to make a persons overall travel experience easier to navigate.

While working at the worlds busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, he said that he heard many of the same questions and repeatedly sorted out the same problems. So, he said, his main objective with his newsletter was to help people know and understand their rights.

People think that the officers are mean, and they feel like they are prisoners when they go through security, he said in an interview with Business Insider.

And I just wanted to let passengers know that this is here for your safety, theyre working for you, theyre not against you.

He even posts TikToks and writes about specific airlines and their policies, and how they may differ from other airlines. In the interview, he told the outlet that he would spend time reading the terms and conditions of various airlines to give his followers the run-down on the TSA rules.

One of his general tips that he thought travellers should be aware of is that people can bring water or any liquid that breaks the typical 3.4 ounces only rule if they freeze it beforehand.

The TSA website confirms the rule on its website, which reads frozen liquids are allowed, as long as they are frozen solid when presented for screening.

If frozen liquid items are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they must meet 3-1-1 liquids requirements, the website reads.

Harmon-Marshall has more than one TikTok video on the subject, with hundreds of thousands of combined views because so many people are unaware that this can be done. If you freeze your water, you can take it past TSA, he reiterated.

A lot of people, theyll get their own bottle, theyll put their water in there, theyll freeze it, and then theyll just thaw out, and theyll drink it as it thaws out.

Another common misconception is that food isnt allowed through the scanner, while in reality travellers are allowed to pack some.

Why would you spend all your money on airport food? Harmon-Marshall said. Its very expensive to buy anything at the airport. Buy something before you go, take it with you, and you can even take it on the plane and eat it.

There are also certain rights that passengers can execute, such as opting for their items to be searched by hand if they are more fragile, like camera film. Theyll just take it and walk it over to the other side, and theyll check it by hand, Harmon-Marshall said.

People can also choose not to go through the body scanner if they have a fear of the radiation they are exposed to. The radiation exposure is less than that of two minutes, but Harmon-Marshall said people were entitled not to use it. Instead, travellers can opt for a physical pat-down by a same-sex officer.

You dont necessarily have to go through there if you dont feel comfortable, he said. A lot of people feel like the radiation and all that kind of stuff can affect them. Pregnant women, they dont like going through it.
Nicholas Rossi spoke in an apparent British accent as he appeared in court for the first time in Utah on Tuesday, 16 January.

The 36-year-old, whose legal name is Nicholas Alahverdian, is accused of faking his death and fleeing the US to avoid rape charges.

Mr Rossi identified himself in court as Arthur Knight Brown.

He called allegations that he wasn't giving his true name complete hearsay."

Mr Rossi, who was extradited from Scotland, is charged with the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Orem, Utah, in 2008.

He wasn't identified as a suspect until around 10 years later due to a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah State Crime Lab.
SUNY report reveals strategies for bucking enrollment trend

Attracting new students to enroll in two- and four-year colleges is a struggle thats going to get even harder as the population of graduating high school seniors takes a dive off the so-called enrollment cliff in the next few years.

But SUNY is optimistic it can boost enrollment on its 64 campuses across the state, according to a 72-page progress report released earlier this month.

In compiling its 2024 SUNY Report on Long-Term Enrollment and Financial Sustainability, SUNY identified a slate of new enrollment strategies that are already starting to make a difference.

SUNY saw a 1.1% increase in total enrollment last year, tiny by pre-pandemic standards but significant in light of the ongoing declines at schools across the country.

SUNY also saw a 4.3% increase in undergraduate first-time enrollment, which it called an even more encouraging development that signals a renewed interest and confidence in the value of SUNYs educational offerings.

Part of that increase can be credited to new measures implemented last year by SUNY schools like Buffalo State University, which welcomed a 20% larger incoming class in fall 2023 thanks to new grants for prospective students who participate in campus visits during their college search and those who choose to live on campus.

SUNY is looking to adopt a bunch of new strategies aimed at personalizing and easing the enrollment process, helping potential students get financial aid and better supporting them once they are in school.

Here are five enrollment takeaways from the SUNY report.

Direct admission for graduating high school students

Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to offer all students in the top 10% of their graduating high school classes direct admission to SUNY and CUNY institutions.

Over the next year, SUNY will develop a direct admissions program that can reach across the state and help more students achieve their potential, the report says.

SUNYs 30 community colleges started direct admissions in spring 2023, sending personalized letters to 125,000 graduating seniors confirming they earned a spot at their local community college.

In Idaho, the first state to do this, in-state enrollment increased by 12%, the report said.

SUNY will also match students not accepted into their top SUNY choice with admission to other SUNY schools with degree programs in their area of interest. According to the report, 23 SUNY campuses will participate the cascading admissions program called SUNY Match for fall 2024.

Marketing, outreach and strategic enrollment

SUNY is working with its campuses to tailor marketing campaigns to their institutional strengths and offer bus trips to bring prospective and accepted students to campus, which helps new students feel connected to a campus before they start college.

Over the past two years, 29 SUNY community colleges received intensive support developing strategic enrollment management plans targeted at recruiting and supporting working adults. An additional 15 state-operated (four-year) campuses are receiving enrollment-management planning support this year, the report said.

Tuition match for out-of-state students

SUNY offers an out-of-state tuition match program supporting campuses that choose to match the in-state tuition rate in neighboring and other key states in order to make SUNY more competitive and generate more revenue from out-of-state students.

Nineteen campuses including Buffalo State and SUNY Fredonia are participating by matching tuition for state flagship schools in eight states: Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Illinois and California.

Financial aid

SUNYs Educational Opportunity Program, serving students from low-income backgrounds who face academic challenges, has resulted in more than 85,000 graduates since it began in 1976. EOP students have higher than average completion rates and over 78% of EOP graduates continue to live and work in New York.

Because of that success, SUNY is accelerating efforts to ensure that as many students as possible can benefit from the program. First-time full-time EOP enrollment for fall 2023 is 20% higher than fall 2022. Overall EOP enrollment is up 5.2% from fall 2022, the report says.

Hochul says she will propose legislation to require school districts to ensure every high school senior completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or the New York State Dream Act Application.

This initiative will ensure that every New York student has access to the full breadth of their financial aid options and opportunities for future success, Hochul said.

Basic needs

In order to support the retention and success of todays SUNY students, SUNY must work to address students basic needs such as food insecurity, housing insecurity, and transportation access, the report says.

Hochul allocated $1 million of last years record $163 million in state aid for SUNY schools to support campus food pantries. Hochul has also directed SUNY and CUNY to expand outreach on their campuses to help eligible students enroll in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

THE LATEST

With another storm on the way, the mad dash is on to stock up on groceries.

Gov. Hochul put numbers behind her economic development proposals.

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is in line for state money for mobile screenings.

More self storage is coming to Amherst.

AKG workers will vote on forming a union soon.

Ellicott Development proposes apartment project in South Buffalo.

Spectrum customers brace for a rate increase.

Benderson to move regional headquarters from Buffalo to Amherst.

Clarence glass shop expands; Hilbert adds playing field.

Tommyrotter distillery is closing its Seneca Street production facility.

Ciminelli is scrapping a Lackawanna warehouse project.

A former Noco executive is planning a housing project on Grand Island.

The state is planning a workforce development program to train tech workers.

A new consortium could boost UB's artificial intelligence capabilities.

Is Buffalo Niagara really the nation's hottest housing market? Here's why Zillow says it is.

An apartment complex is in the works for West Seneca.

Ontario securities regulators penalized the owner of the former Adam's Mark hotel.

Why workers still are hard to find, even though the local labor force is bigger than it's been in years.

ICYMI

Five reads from Buffalo Next:

1. The grand plan for UB's medical school.

2. Why Buffalo Niagara's housing market is "hot."

3. Ski bummer: It's been a rough year for local ski areas.

4. Here are five ways shopping could change this year

5. This Canadian startup didn't win the 43North competition. But it's still setting up shop in Buffalo.

The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.

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A Holocaust memorial in Philadelphia has been vandalised for a second time.

Rubbish was dumped at the Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza days after a swastika was painted on a nearby wall over the weekend.

Video shows the trash emptied from an overturned bin at the foot of a bronze sculpture.

A post on the memorials social media described the first incident as a disgusting act of antisemitism that comes amid a staggering spike in anti-Jewish hatred across Philadelphia and the country more broadly.
Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson has insisted there was a unity of purpose among MPs on the Prime Ministers Rwanda plan.

What we saw yesterday was a unity of purpose, every single Conservative member of Parliament determined to ensure that the Rwanda policy works and to stop the boats, he told Sky News on Wednesday (17 January).

Mr Tomlinson said there had been detailed debate and constructive, robust exchanges on all sides.

Asked if the Government might consider pulling the third reading after the backbench rebellion, he said: Oh, no. This afternoon, Ill be on my feet again in the chamber of the House of Commons.
Robert Jenrick urged MPs to find a way through the entirely foreseeable prospect of European judges challenging the Rwanda plan.

The former immigration minister is leading Tory efforts to rewrite the legislation in the House of Commons.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday (17 January), Mr Jenrick said: It is, as Ive said before, a bit like pulling the pin out of a grenade but not being prepared to throw it.

Setting this scheme in train without knowing what you would do when this happens  its entirely foreseeable, lets find a way through this challenge.
Sir Keir Starmer joked that the only people sent to Rwanda are ministers as he criticised the government ahead of a crunch vote on the plan.

Rishi Sunak is seeking to win over Tory rebels ahead of the vote on his flagship policy - which takes place on Wednesday 17 January - amid the biggest Conservative revolt of his leadership.

The only people hes sent to Rwanda are cabinet ministers, Sir Keir said during PMQs.

We know that the prime minister himself doesnt even believe in this gimmick... he didnt want to fund it, he didnt think it would work.
A truck had be hauled out of the snow as extreme cold hits New York, blanketing roads and towns across the state this week.

Footage from the New York State Thruway Authority on 14 January shows a truck having to be pulled out of snow on a highway, as arctic air blasted its way across the US.

Cold air created lake-effect snow conditions in Buffalo, burying towns and making visibility nearly impossible in parts of the city.

The New York City Emergency Management Department placed the city under a Travel Advisory due to snow and possible freezing.
Rishi Sunak has refused to answer questions about 4,250 migrants earmarked for deportation to Rwanda who have gone missing.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer demanded three times to know: Where are they? during Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday (17 January).

The Prime Minister appeared to hit back saying the Government has identified and removed more than 20,000 people from the country.

He then launched a verbal attack on the Labour leader for saying he would scrap the deportation scheme if Labour win the next election.
Footage shows the moment a firefighter in Utah jumped into a frozen pond to rescue a dog.

The daring rescue unfolded on a cold Sunday in the city of Clearfield, where Firefighter Logan braved icy waters to save a pooch named Bob.

Equipped with a rope tied around his waist, he crawled into the frozen pond and successfully pulled the dog to safety.

Bob the dog loves the water but the ice shelf prevented him from being able to get out after his polar plunge, North Davis Fire District wrote, sharing the video on social media.

Firefighter Logan did a fantastic job today.
In a little over a year, if all goes well (from his point of view), Donald Trump will have been inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States. Back in the White House for a second term of office, he will soon be off on a victory lap, meeting world leaders.

Early calls will be paid to the countries with which America considers it enjoys a special relationship  Canada, Mexico, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The UK, which thinks it has a special relationship, along with other European powers, will come a little later.

And then we will see the emergence of the oddest of odd couples ever to have been thrown together by a geopolitical Cupid  president Donald J Trump, and  if current polling is to be believed  the also newly installed prime minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer.
As much as 402m worth of retail properties were sold in over 36 transactions in the Irish market in 2023.

Not only do these figures represent an 8pc increase on 2022 but it was also the highest annual total recorded in both volume and number of transactions since 2019.

These are among the findings in Cushman & Wakefields latest report on the retail sector.

Karl Stewart, director at Cushman & Wakefield, saw an ongoing increase in investor interest in the Irish retail property market throughout the year, as improving market fundamentals surrounding the retail sector and its asset types have contributed to increased investment volumes.

Retail assets accounted for close to 19pc of overall investment turnover in Ireland in 2023, up significantly from just over 8pc in 2022.

But that increased market share also reflected a drop in sales of other types of properties, including offices and apartment blocks.

The most sizeable retail transaction of the year was the sale of a portfolio of six shopping centres in the third quarter to a fund managed by Davy Real Estate.

It paid 74m for the Hexagon portfolio, a collection of six shopping centres including Donaghmede in Dublin, Parkway in Limerick and others in Galway, Laois, Letterkenny and Louth.

Formerly part of Pat Dohertys Harcourt Developments, the portfolio had originally been put on the market for 100m.

Davy also acquired Marshes Shopping Centre in Dundalk for 29m, about 15m less that what the vendor, Kennedy Wilson, paid for the Marshes in 2014.

Other deals of note in 2023 included the sale of two regional retail parks, City East Retail Park in Limerick and Blackwater Retail Park in Navan, to US investor Realty Income for a combined value of 45.9m. French investor Inter Gestion Reim bought B&Q Liffey Valley for 26.6m.

Parkway shopping centre in Limerick

These investment deals have been underpinned by demand from retailers seeking to rent space. New brands located in Dublins Grafton Street area, such as Chupi on Clarendon Street, while recent announcements indicate that Pitch, Castore, Carhartt and Rains are set to occupy space in 2024. On Dublins Henry Street, US giant Bath & Body Works opened an outlet within Next, and the Blanchardstown Centre welcomed Calvin Klein and Lego, while both Miele and H&M Home opened in Liffey Valley.

Dunnes Stores opened its latest store in the Dundrum Town Centre.
The Live Nation operator of the 3Arena in Dublin recorded pre-tax profits of 15.82m in 2022 on the back of sell-out shows by Robbie Williams, Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa.

New accounts filed by Amphitheatre Ireland Ltd show that the business recorded the pre-tax profits after revenues increased from 4.79m to 31.06m in 2022 as music fans flocked back to the venue as part of the post Covid-19 business recovery.

The accounts disclose that in a post balance sheet event, Amphitheatre Ireland Ltd last year paid out a 14.5m dividend to its immediate parent, Live Nation Ireland Holdings Ltd, after recording the 2022 profits.

The 3Arena achieved the revenues after the number of patrons attending the Dublin venue increased from 87,408 in 2021 to 977,025 in 2022.

This followed the number of shows increasing from 14 events during the Covid-19-hit 2021 to 121 in 2022.

Revenues for 2023 will be even higher with US trade journal Pollstar figures showing that 2023 box-office revenues at the 3Arena increased by 50pc to a bumper 74.02m. Box-office receipts are shared between performer, promoter, ticket seller and venue operator.

In their report, the directors for the Amphitheatre Ireland firm state that the companys earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) in 2022 totalled 17.1m compared with 700,000 in 2021.

The company in 2022 recorded an operating profit of 15.28m and interest payments received of 530,465 increased the companys profits to a pre-tax profit of 15.82m. The pre-tax profit followed a pre-tax loss of 655,156 in 2021.

The firm recorded a post-tax profit of 14.04m in 2022 after incurring a corporation tax charge of 1.77m.

The profits take account of non-cash depreciation costs of 1.79m while administrative expenses increased from 3.76m to 11.78m.

The venue received government grants of 109,215 in 2022 and 528,920 in 2021. A note states that the 2022 government grant income relates to grants received from the Live Performance Restart Grant Scheme funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Numbers employed increased from 30 to 39 as staff costs rose from 875,744 to 2.3m.

At the end of December 2022, the firm had shareholder funds of 72.73m that included accumulated profits of 56.3m.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Postal Service is once again considering moving some mail processing operations from its William Street facility in Buffalo to a similar building in Rochester, and local members of Congress are not at all happy about it.

The Postal Service on Tuesday offered some bare-bones details about its proposal in a notice of an upcoming public meeting about the review it is undertaking of the William Street operation. The notice said the Postal Service is considering converting the Buffalo facility from a regional Processing and Distribution Center into a Local Processing Center.

"The Buffalo LPC will be a critical node to the unified movement of mail and packages across the regional processing and transportation ecosystem," the notice said. "The facility will offer expanded and streamlined package processing capabilities in the local market and new workplace amenities for USPS employees. Additionally, the business case supports transferring some mail processing operations to the Rochester P&DC."

The proposal is part of the agency's decade-long "Delivering for America" plan. The Postal Service said the plan "includes initiatives to improve organizational and operational processes and actively make the Postal Service an efficient, high-performing, world class logistics and delivery provider."

Buffalo-area residents and businesses won't notice any change in their mail delivery during the review, and jobs at the William Street facility  which employs about 700  won't be immediately affected, either, the Postal Service said.

"The evaluation is a first step in the Postal Service review and investment process in this facility and will not result in this facilitys closure or career employee layoffs," the Postal Service said.

But Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat, expressed concerns about the proposal.

Any plans to alter operations at Buffalos William Street postal facility that would undermine local mail service or create undue hardship on our dedicated postal workers should immediately be stamped return to sender,'  Schumer said in a statement. Right now, our postal workers and the public feel left in the dark, so we need a whole lot more info from the USPS ASAP on any proposal to alter mail operations.

And Rep. Brian Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, on Tuesday sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy objecting to any changes and asking that the proposal be abandoned.

"The relocation of operations from Buffalo to Rochester will result in delayed mail and diminished services," Higgins wrote. "For Western New York residents and businesses this means late checks, packages and prescriptions, compromising the health and security of senior citizens and resulting in a competitive disadvantage for Buffalo area businesses that rely on the U.S. Postal Service for timely mail and packages."

The proposal would also have dramatic ramifications for local Postal Service employees, Higgins wrote.

"The proposed transfer of processing operations would create instability and make the jobs of USPS employees increasingly difficult," Higgins said. "Employees in Buffalo could be forced to deliver mail late into the evening, face unwanted relocation and be at risk of losing their jobs altogether."

Noting the dearth of specifics about the Postal Service's proposal, Higgins added: "I am concerned that the United States Postal Service is trying to sneak this by Buffalo."

The proposal comes 12 years after the Postal Service launched an attempt to close the William Street facility altogether and move its operations to Rochester. The agency eventually dropped that plan amid pressure from lawmakers and the public.

The Postal Service said it will hold a public meeting to discuss the proposal at 3 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Creekside Banquet Facility, 2669 Union Road, Cheektowaga. The agency said it will release a summary of the results of its review at least a week before that meeting.

In addition, the Postal Service is seeking public comments on the proposal. Members of the public can submit their comments on an online form. Comments must be received by Feb. 15.
The number affected is understood to be below 30, which is the threshold for formal notification to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment under Irish law

Google Ireland looks set to target a number of Irish advertising staff for redundancy as part of a global reorganisation.

While the Irish government has been briefed on the issue, the number of staff affected is understood not to have triggered mandatory notification protocols under Irish industrial law.

Multinationals that create redundancies in Ireland are typically required to notify the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the proposed number of layoffs is over 30.

"Every year we go through a rigorous process to structure our team to provide the best service to our Ads customers, a spokesperson for Google Ireland told the Irish Independent.

"We map customers to the right specialist teams and sales channels to meet their service needs. As part of this, a few hundred roles globally are being eliminated and impacted employees will be able to apply for open roles on the team or elsewhere at Google.

Its the second wave of reorganisation-related layoffs globally in the company in recent weeks. The tech giant, which employs almost 9,000 people in Dublin, over half of which are staff, announced last week that it would let hundreds of people go globally from its digital assistant, hardware and engineering divisions.
The Taoiseach intends to press for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war at a meeting of global political and business leaders in Davos.

On his way into his first engagement at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday night, he also clarified Irelands stance on China, after reports in Chinese media said he had expressed his support for the One China principle during premier Li Qiangs state visit today.
I was fined for not speaking English at school so I know why the world remembers the British empire with anger

Journalist Sathnam Sanghera was accused of demeaning his countrys history after his first book on the subject but he is back with a powerful sequel

Dark history: British troops on patrol in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1946. Photo: Getty

Azmia Riaz Wed 17 Jan 2024 at 03:30







The British left India nearly 50 years before I was born, but every time I read about colonialism, I feel like I understand myself a little better. Growing up in post-colonial India leaves you with many questions. Sathnam Sangheras Empireworld is full of uncomfortable answers.
The TV series has turned to serious issues like domestic abuse  but it is not a serious drama

At the time, the time being 2014, the idea of turning the Coen brothers 1996 film Fargo into a television series seemed like a guaranteed recipe for disaster.

Ten years later, with the finale of season five of Fargo (Amazon Prime Video) landing on Wednesday, we know better. But you can understand why there were reservations.

TV series based on movies had been around for decades. Most of them sank without trace, but an elite few  including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and M*A*S*H  became so acclaimed and beloved they eclipsed the films that spawned them.

Still, we werent talking about the big-screen Buffy, which was a stinker, or Robert Altmans original M*A*S*H, a film whose mean-spirited sexism and smirking homophobia render it almost unwatchable today. This was Fargo, winner of two Oscars (it should have won more) and widely regarded as the Coens masterpiece.

A previous attempt to make a Fargo TV series, in 1997, got no further than a pilot, which is available on YouTube.

Who would be mad enough to try the same thing again? Answer: Noah Hawley. If this was madness, though, it soon became clear it was madness with a method.

Rather than making the mistake, as the failed pilot had, of simply giving us a scaled-down, network TV-friendly sequel to the film with the same characters but a different cast (future star of The Sopranos, Edie Falco, played Marge Gunderson), Hawley had a vision of an anthology series set in a wider, generations-spanning Fargo universe populated by new characters in new stories that retained the Coens offbeat narrative sensibilities.

For three excellent seasons, the second of which remains the standout, Fargo was one of the best things on television. And then, in 2020, came the crushing disappointment of season four.

A 1950s-set story of warfare between African-American and Italian gangs, it was bloated, sprawling, self-indulgent, overloaded with too many characters, lacking in momentum and, frankly, often boring. It didnt even feel like Fargo most of the time.

Tillman is a God-fearing, flag-waving, gun-toting redneck Trump supporter

Its no surprise that season five, which is notable for being set in 2019  the first time the series has touched the Donald Trump era  is being hailed as a return to form; to be honest, that wouldnt be difficult given how low the previous one set the bar.

But the more Ive seen of this season, the less convinced I am that its the triumph many claim. Hawley has gone back to basics, its true.

The story is smaller, simpler and more streamlined. All the familiar Fargo-esque trademarks are there. The comedy is dark, the plentiful violence deadpan. Theres a full complement of colourful characters, ranging from the quirky to the grotesque to the downright terrifying.

Fargo has a glowing record of creating weirdo bad guys (Lorne Malvo in season one, VM Varga in season three). This season adds another to the list: the bizarre, kilt-wearing killer for hire Ole Munch (Sam Spruell), whose dreadful haircut makes him a spiritual cousin of a character in another Coen brothers film: No Country for Old Mens Anton Chiguhr.

But the primary antagonist is Roy Tillman (Jon Hamm), a sheriff in the Joe Arpaio mould  although theres no evidence that Arpaio, nauseating as he is, has ever murdered anyone in cold blood.

Tillman is a God-fearing, flag-waving, gun-toting redneck Trump supporter. Hes also an ultra-violent domestic abuser wholl go to any lengths to recapture his wife Nadine (Juno Temple), who escaped from him years ago and made a new, married life for herself under the name Dorothy (Dot for short).

Strip away the trimmings and season five of Fargo is really the story of the resourceful Nadine/Dot trying to stay out of the clutches of a monstrously violent man who considers all women to be doormats, sex slaves or punchbags. Hes toxic masculinity in a Stetson and cowboy boots.

This is where I have a problem. Domestic abuse is a serious issue that deserves serious dramatic treatment. Whatever else Fargo is  clever, ingenious, entertaining  its not serious drama.

It exists in a hermetically sealed fantasy world where reality has no business intruding. After this season, it might be time to forgo any more Fargo.
BREAKING |

Family stunned after man arrested on suspicion of murder of Ken Fetherston, discovered four months after his disappearance in 2009
Supporters of Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump react at a campaign rally ahead of the New Hampshire primary election, in Atkinson, New Hampshire, U.S. January 16, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

If American farmers have their way, Donald Trump will be president again. That's despite concerns he could restart a trade war with China, the world's largest buyer of US agricultural products.

Growers helped propel Trump to the 2024 Republican nomination in Iowa, with the former president beating rivals Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley by a wide margin. The victory in a state where agriculture is king showed farmer support remains strong even in the face of trade disputes that could end up hurting their incomes.
The cordoned off scene in Lanesboro, Co Longford, where gardai are continuing to carry out a technical examination

Local residents and business owners living in a rural south Longford town have described as horrific the actions of perpetrators behind a suspected arson attack on a building set aside to accommodate over 80 Ukrainian refugees.

Gardai have launched an investigation into the fire, which was swiftly brought under control, at Lanesboros former Convent building late last night.

The fires happened at the front and back doors of the old convent in the tourist town at around 9.30pm. Despite the episode, there was little or no damage caused to the building.

Work began on the old convent in recent months and it is expected it will be ready for occupation in May.

The scene itself remained sealed off this morning as forensic officers carried out a technical examination of the scene.

In the midst of those inquiries, local business owners and residents were quick to condemn the incident.

Local pharmacist Gareth Johnston, whose premises is situated beside the former convent, said the actions of those behind last nights episode could not be condoned.

Gardai at the scene of where a fire broke out at a building earmarked to accommodate over 80 Ukrainian nationals in Lanesboro

The events of last night were an absolute disgrace because our building is attached to it and the building beside that is a distillery, he said.

There is just no thinking there at all.

Its not right, these people are coming from a different country and we should be inviting and doing what we can.

This is not what we stand for in Lanesboro and it is certainly not what we are about.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 17th

Local shopkeeper Joe OBrien backed up those views, insisting the instigators behind last nights incident were not indicative of the values and beliefs of the wider Lanesboro community.

Its horrific anything like this should happen, he said.

We all have a right to agree or disagree and protest, but we dont have a right to damage anybody elses property.

I knew nothing of it until this morning when a customer came in and he showed me some of the social media texts that were going around."

Its understood local authority chiefs were considering purchasing the building last year to serve as a community and enterprise hub, prior to it being snapped up privately by Co Westmeath based businessman.

A garda spokesperson said: No injuries have been reported, and a technical examination of the scene will take place.

Local Independent councillor Mark Casey and Fine Gael councillor Gerard Farrell met with the developer and Longford County Council executives at the site before the fire yesterday.

The meeting was organised to inform the councillors of the plans for refugee accommodation and to assess progress and a future timeline for the completion of the work.

We were brought in by the developer and the council to see it and it seems to be a done-deal. There will be 85 Ukrainian refugees brought in by the Department of Integration around the second week of May, said Mr Casey.

This town has been hit hard in recent years with the closure of the Bord na Mona plant and the ESB station, and a nursing home has been converted for refugees.

"There is anger in the town at the Government because there is no accommodation for the young people. There was no task force set up to look at resources and facilities for the town after the closure of two huge employers. The town and its people were neglected, but now suddenly theres money available for accommodation for this.

There was no consultation about it, but the developer has agreed to an open day in the building for local people in the coming weeks. But its a done deal at this stage. If you want to build as much as a shed you need planning permission, but this is being done under some sort of emergency planning.

There is a lot of local concern about the fires. There are people living beside the convent and local businesses there too. The people of Lanesboro are quiet people who just want to get on with their lives.

Mr Farrell said news of the fires at the convent is stressful for the local community.

They dont want this sort of publicity. I dont think locals are involved in it. We all need to do our bit for the Ukrainians, they have been through a lot, he said.

But I represent peoples views and in Lanesboro we are maxed-out at this stage. We have no homes to rent or buy, and theres pressure on schools and doctors and other facilities and services. People are wondering how the people arriving will fit into that.

Longford County Council are recruiting an integration officer and that might help, but people are wondering what way the new 90-day accommodation rule will apply on providing places for people from Ukraine. Will they be moved elsewhere after 90 days? Will more move in then? The contract on this building is for two years. What will happen after that?

The Irish Independent has contacted the Department of Integration for comment.
Dancing with the Stars judge Arthur Gourounlian says he and husband Brian Dowling are trying for their daughter Blake to have a sibling to play with and are in in talks with a surrogacy mother.

The RTE celebrity adjudicator announced last November that the couple, who welcomed their daughter Blake into the world in September 2022, had hopes of becoming dads for a second time.

At the time, the couple announced that they are back on the baby train and were looking to become a family of four in the next few months.

Listen, Ive always been loud about it, I want Blake to have siblings, Im not getting any younger. We want her to have someone to play with, Gourounlian told the Irish Independent.

He indicated that the he and his Big Brother-winning partner Brian Dowling, who wed back in July 2015, are working on it.

Baby Blake was born with the help of Mr Dowlings sister, Aoife Dowling, who acted as a surrogate mother.

The couple offered a window into their journey with Ms Dowling through their RTE documentary Brian & Arthur's Very Modern Family which chartered the highs and lows of them becoming fathers.

The pair, who met in 2002, said they always felt the time was never right as they were focused on their careers while living in London. We kept making excuses, they said before the documentary was released.

Mr Gourounlian described his sister-in-law Aoife Dowling as the best thing ever and said that the couple will never be able to repay her for helping them bring Blake, now 16-months-old, into the world.

On whether Aoife would be willing to embark on a surrogacy journey for the celebrity couple for a second time, Mr Gourounlian said: There are talks.

He recalled speaking with her near the end of their documentary, when the Armenian-born professional dancer asked her if she would be willing to help them again, to which she said: yes.

I definitely want it to happen, so fingers crossed. If it happens, great, and if it doesnt, that is life, he added.
China is to reopen to Irish beef exports, in a major boost to farmers.

The Taoiseach made the announcement today after his meeting with Chinese premier Li Qiang in Farmleigh House.

There were two tangible outcomes from the meeting. The first is that China is reopening its market to Irish beef, which is very positive and will be welcomed by farmers around the country and also the food industry.

And also, China is liberalising its visa rules in relation to Irish citizens. So Irish citizens will now be able to travel to China and stay for up to 15 days without a visa.

Thats going to make family visits, tourist visits, business visits and academic visits so much easier  just being able to go to the airport without having to get a visa in advance.

Read more Chinese premier Li Qiang welcomed by President Michael D Higgins at Aras

The Irish export market to China is worth a minimum of 40m a year.

Asked by the Irish Independent if the reopening was immediate, Mr Varadkar said:

I'm not 100pc sure. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue is actually traveling with Premier Li to the airport as we speak, just to confirm all those details, said Mr Varadkar.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 17th

I also think there is a lot more that we can work together on.

The question of human rights was raised in our meeting. I raised our concerns about the situation in Xinjiang and Tibet, in Hong Kong as well, and also the forthcoming trial of Jimmy Lai.

I think it's fair to say that the Chinese government have a different perspective on these things than we do  but they were certainly willing to have them raised and the beef ban being rescinded.

Mr Li said the Chinese accepted that a recent test that resulted in BSE trace detection (a link to Mad Cow Disease) was likely an anomaly.
Imagine youre the Dustin Hoffman character in The Graduate, rushing to get to the wedding so that you can speak up and not have to live with the consequences of forever holding your peace.

If youre a Buffalo resident concerned about the new police contract that contains more money for cops, you dont have to imagine. The only difference is that, unlike in the movie, youve already missed your chance to speak.

That sole opportunity for citizens to say what they want in return for that extra money came and went with Tuesday mornings Common Council Finance Committee meeting. Instead, the sparsely attended session was dominated by members of the Brown administration, which negotiated the deal, and the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority, which recommended its approval.

Just four hours later, in a hastily called special meeting Tuesday afternoon, eight members of the Council unanimously approved the four-year contract, retroactive to July 1, 2021, granting annual raises of 3% the first year and 4% each year thereafter.

All of that for a Police Department:

That is the subject of a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city alleging a discriminatory pattern of traffic enforcement including checkpoints that targeted Black and Hispanic neighborhoods.

That also is the subject of a separate lawsuit filed by two officers and a mental health clinician  all African American  alleging that a white captain openly made racist remarks. The captain was suspended but eventually returned to work.

Whose performance sparked a petition drive by a coalition of good-government groups to try to create a civilian review board to oversee the department and discipline officers who abuse their authority.

The petition drive failed, but the effort underscored the degree of dissatisfaction with the very department citizens are now being asked to pay more for.

Yet during the Finance Committee session attended by most of the Council, almost all of the questioning had to do with the citys ability to pay for the pact, especially in the years after the current years cost of $2.7 million.

Any stranger listening to most of the discussion might have thought they were in a fiscally challenged Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show, not in an urban center facing the same policing issues that have made headlines across the nation.

University Council Member Rasheed N.C. Wyatt was the only one to bring up the lawsuits, the complaints he hears about minority drivers being pulled over, and to ask what the officer evaluations called for in the new pact will look like.

Not that he, too, wasnt concerned about finances, questioning for instance whether the pacts seven-year residency requirement might erode the citys tax base if cops move out after that initial period expires. But concerns about finances and officer behavior are not mutually exclusive.

Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said the evaluations  up to four per year  will be used to identify areas in which an officer may be deficient, such as exhibiting a lack of understanding, and that the department is still looking at various evaluation models.

Wyatt, noting that no private-sector corporation would retain employees whose behavior cost it millions of dollars in lawsuits, also wondered if the evaluations would affect an officers pay and whether that was addressed in the talks with the police union.

Apparently not. Administration officials pointed to the qualified immunity given police officers and said that issue would have to be addressed by the state.

And with that, it was a done deal  or at least it was just a few hours later, with Wyatt the only Council member not at the afternoon meeting.

After learning a new recruiting class starts Friday, there was a rush to move approval up from next Tuesdays regularly scheduled Council meeting so that the pact would cover the new recruits. And Council President Christopher Scanlon cited the forecast of more snow as the reason for doing it Tuesday afternoon rather than later in the week.

While the impact on taxpayers is obviously of great concern, youd think the history of the department  and of policing nationally  would have prompted more than just one lawmaker to at least be publicly curious about the new contracts impact on improving officer behavior on the street.

Come to think of it, you might expect community groups to have shown up to raise their own concerns about that very issue.

Maybe citizens are satisfied with recent reforms already made, such as the seven-year residency requirement that is maintained in the new pact, the implicit bias training already being implemented or the use of appearance tickets for low-level offenses rather than making arrests. All are important improvements.

Or maybe it was because the Council could not change the pact, only vote it up or down. And administration officials warned that a no vote would have sent the matter to so-called interest arbitration, which they said could have resulted in the city paying even more in raises.

But this was the time that anyone engaged in police protests or simply calling for reform should have been pressing Council members to use the leverage they have at contract time to at least thoroughly vet the issues that have drawn concern, if not insist that achieving more concrete reform is worth the risk of arbitration.

Apparently, though, that wasnt the case. Apparently, policing in Buffalo is so good now that residents dont mind paying more for it  no questions asked.
Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, whose arrival caused commuter chaos in Dublin today, has been greeted at Aras an Uachtarain.

President Michael D Higgins engaged in a handshake with the No. 2 man to President Xi Jinping at the start of his day-long visit to Dublin.

Mr Li, controller of the central committee of the Communist Party, was greeted by Mr Higgins and wife Sabina in the State Reception Room.

Mr Li remarked to the President that he believed he visited my home town. It is believed he was referring to Shanghai, where he was governor, rather than Ruan, the small rural village where he was born.

After talks between the two men, Mr Li was ferried across the Phoenix Park for a bilateral meeting and working lunch with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House.

Chinese premier Li Qiang meets President Michael D. Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin during his two-day visit to Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

The park will be closed to traffic until 7pm this evening.

The talks are likely to be dominated by trade and economic issues including the possibility of reopening the Chinese market for Irish beef.

It is also expected that the Irish side will raise concern about human rights in China.

Speaking ahead of Mr Lis arrival on Tuesday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it is an important visit.

He added: China is a very important political and economic power in the world and becoming bigger all the time in that sense so its important that we have good relations with China but also some questions we need to talk about as well.

Mr Lis trip comes after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since President Xi Jinping in 2017.

The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite the strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
Warning: graphic images included

A Wicklow couple have been banned for life from owning American Bully dogs and ordered to pay fines of 3,000 after admitting responsibility for having the ears of two dogs cut off.

Ms Susan Douglas of Hazelbrook Rise, Merrymeeting, Rathnew, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty to two offences under sections 11 and 12 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (AHWA).

Mr Michael Lambert, of the same address, pleaded guilty to two offences under section 12 and one offence under section 16.

Following a report from a member of the public, the two American Bully pups at the centre of the case were found by ISPCA Chief Inspector Conor Dowling at the home of Ms Douglas and Mr Lambert on December 15, 2021.

A picture of one of the dogs with its ears cropped. Picture: ISPCA

Mr Dowling told the court that the ears of the pups had been removed, leaving raw wounds that had been stitched with some form of twine.

The pups were initially seized and later surrendered and have been rehomed.

The ISPCA inspector said Mr Lambert had initially told him that he had bought the dogs a week ago with their ears already cropped.

However, in a subsequent interview with Ms Douglas, Mr Dowling was told that the couple had the pups for three or four weeks and that Mr Lambert had organised the cropping of the dogs ears without Ms Douglas knowledge.

Mr Dowling told the court that ear cropping does not benefit dogs in any way and is a purely cosmetic procedure to achieve a certain look.

Judge David Kennedy described the offence as serious and commented that the cropping was done to make dogs look this way, an unnatural way.

The second dog. Picture: ISPCA

Both Ms Douglas and Mr Lambert received a lifetime ban from owning American Bully dogs.

Mr Lambert was fined a total of 2,500 with 12 months to pay, while Ms Douglas was fined 500 with six months to pay.

The couple were also ordered to pay 1,026.55 in ISPCA costs and 2,460 in prosecution costs.

Ear cropping is a barbaric mutilation, Chief Inspector Dowling said.

The dogs on which it is inflicted are caused an incredible amount of pain during the procedure and its immediate aftermath. But they can experience life-long pain as a result, of having their ears cut off and it also affects their ability to communicate throughout their lives, he added.

It has become more prevalent in recent years with the rise in popularity of American Bullies, so much so that new legislation was introduced last autumn to put a stop to ear cropping in Ireland for good, Mr Dowling said.
TWO men accused of murdering gunman Tristan Sherry, who died from "blunt force trauma to the head" after he fatally shot a man in a Dublin restaurant on Christmas Eve, have been denied bail.
Decision on retention of extension made three days before RTE show broadcast

Matching a dream view of the Rock of Cashel to their budget realities proved quite the task for Kate Moloney and Brian Carrigg on their home renovation.

Anywhere, literally in any location, you can see just see it. It is just the dream, Kate said from her kitchen on RTEs Room to Improve. Brian added: We didnt envisage in our wildest dreams something like this. Its incredible. We are literally obsessed with the house. 

But celebrity architect Dermot Bannon convinced the couple to include an upstairs bedroom en suite, with a first-floor box dormer window, in their plans, despite a budget described by Bannon as really, really tight.

What the RTE show did not mention is this addition meant the project needed planning permission, which had not been received. Building without permission is both risky and not considered best practice.

The council decided the architects office made errors on the application first time around, meaning a second submission had to be filed.

After his first effort was deemed invalid, the second application was decided on only last week  three days before the show went out. However, full planning permission will not be formally granted for another month.

Dermot Bannon with the couple

Earlier this month, the Irish Independent reported on a growing phenomenon of build first, ask later. An investigation found 11,000 people had constructed buildings since 2019 and asked forgiveness afterwards. The vast majority were granted retention approval.

This isnt the first time Bannon has had trouble with planners. Dublin City Council previously launched an investigation into his own property after a major renovation saw an outdoor area for a bathtub installed without permission.

Room to Improve is currently being praised by Housing Minister Darragh OBrien and Bannon has received briefings from Department of Housing officials. The Government hailed the show at the weekend, saying Room to Improve showcases the use of the vacant property refurbishment grant.

Bannon had defended the private briefings, saying the programme didnt get special treatment and we need to know what we are talking about.

It would change the nature of the show completely if every regulatory issue were to feature in every episode

Bannon says the couple in Cashel were told the second-storey changes would require planning permission. But he cant explain why this was not included in the show. Thats an editorial decision that I am not involved in, he said.

RTE said the programme followed a format because every build is a real-life build. Plans can  and sometimes do  change. While the series at times endeavours to give a flavour of this, it would change the nature of the show completely if every regulatory issue were to feature in every episode, it said.

Payment of government grants can be contingent on having planning permission. In the Cashel case, there was 70,000 of vacant and derelict house grants on the table. Any grant approval in principle shall not be confirmed as approval in full until a final decision has issued in respect of the planning application by the planning authority, the Department of Housing says.

But Bannon says the grants did not apply to the extension, which needed planning permission. The payment of grants are not contingent upon planning permission being in order in this situation. The grants are solely for the upgrade works to the existing house which didnt require planning permission. There are a few instances where planning permission would be required for works to an existing house, ie, works to a protected structure, but that did not apply in this instance, he said.

The house before renovation

The first planning application submitted by Bannons firm in November, after the work was completed, was rejected because it was not clear enough.

I am to inform you that your application is invalid and does not constitute a valid planning application, a letter from a planner said the day after the application was lodged.

The application for planning and retention permission got a swift rebuke on four grounds from Tipperary County Councils planning department.

The newspaper notice was misleading because it was unclear what is for permission and what items are for retention. Site notice indicates permission & retention permission, and newspaper notice only states retention permission.

The structures proposed for demolition were not clearly indicated on the site layout map and the plans did not have drawings of the existing sheds to be demolished or indicate the area on the existing ground-floor plan to be demolished. The renovation involved the demolition of the existing rear kitchen and utility extension and the construction of a rear extension  including kitchen, dining, living area and upstairs bedroom en suite, with the box dormer window  facing the Rock of Cashel.

Permission was also being sought for the demolition of existing sheds and construction of new relocated shed.

Within days, a second application was lodged, accompanied by a letter from Dermot Bannon Architects explaining the circumstances around the requirement for this retention application. The letter says the initial plan  the original client brief  was for a single-storey extension designed to be within the limits of an exempted development.

Although the programme shows clearly that Bannon pushed the couple to build the second storey on to the extension, the planning application letter puts the focus on the clients.

Grant Designs

However, the clients have since decided to utilise the generous roof space within the extension to create a master bedroom suite with the inclusion of south-facing box dormer window. It is therefore outside the terms of an exempted development and we would therefore submit the above information to regularise the as-built extension, the letter says.

They had a massive dream for this place. They had huge expectations but they never really had the budget to match what they really wanted to do

Bannon told the Irish Independent that retention is a mechanism to regularise planning issues, but didnt address questions on whether it was best practice to build without permission.

The project started off as a 40sqm extension to the rear of the house, which would have been an exempted development. During construction and when the clients saw the attic space, they asked if it could be used as a bedroom. The conversion from attic space to habitable space pushed it over the 40sqm, so we took a decision to apply for retention permission as the structure had been constructed as a roof, he said.

Retention is a mechanism that can be used to regularise planning issues that may arise during construction due to design or site condition changes.

A decision on the planning application was due later this month, on January 24. Conveniently for the programme-makers, the decision was made on Thursday, January 11, just days before the show was aired. A notification of a decision to grant permission for retention with conditions was posted to their architect. Formal permission will follow after a 28-day period for appeals.

Until a Grant of a Permission has been issued, the development in question is not authorised, the county council says.

The finished home

The site, located less than a kilometre from the Unesco World Heritage Site at the Rock of Cashel, was visited by a planner as recently as last Tuesday.

The planner notes the house is on the border of, yet not within, the zone of high visual sensitivity. Although this was considered, it was not applicable to the application. I do not consider the proposed development has an appreciable impact on the visual amenity of the area, the planner said.

A recommendation to grant planning permission was made, with four conditions, including that a drainage kerb or cattle grid be added at the entrance to take away rainwater.

During the programme, viewers were told the couple bought the Tipperary bungalow for 303,000 and spent 363,000 (including 98,000 from various grants) on the renovations.

They had a massive dream for this place. They had huge expectations but they never really had the budget to match what they really wanted to do, Bannon said.

The celebrity architects services are provided free to participants in Room to Improve, so the cost of the two planning applications had to be met by Bannon.
A picture of the man from the GoFundMe page

A fundraising appeal launched for a man who was caught up in clashes between gardai and protestors at the Racket Hall Hotel in Roscrea raised just 10 in its first day.

A GoFundMe page was set up for the unnamed man who is pictured grimacing as he lies on his back on the ground.

The page, entitled This man deserves better, claims to be raising funds for the gentleman who allegedly suffered injuries during a confrontation with gardai.

It was set up by a person using the name Balding Whiteguy who does not appear to have any connection with the target of the fundraiser.

This should not stand and he deserves better, the GoFundMe page reads.

Lets at least get enough to cover his medical bills and get him a few pints in his local. Its the least he deserves.

It has since garnered 60 towards a 5,000 goal.

Scuffles broke out at the site of the hotel on Monday as protesters tried to block a bus carrying 17 asylum seekers  men, women and children - who arrived under Garda protection.

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Gardai, assisted by the public order unit, insisted they acted to maintain safety and order with a measured response by officers, none of whom wore body armour or helmets.

One man was arrested under the Public Order Act during roadside scuffles as the first asylum-seekers were successfully escorted into the hotel.

A major protest meeting was staged outside the hotel yesterday evening as demonstrators accused gardai of heavy-handed tactics during the tense stand-off.

The decision to bring the 17 men, women and children  into the property has sparked a five-day round-the-clock protest outside Racket Hall.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 17th

Protesters insisted last night that, had they been informed that women and children were being brought into the hotel, they would have immediately stepped back.

Locals claimed that a government letter indicated to them last week that those to be assigned to the Roscrea hotel would be single males.

Some described juvenile asylum-seekers as being very distressed amid the protest scenes.

Gardai were forced to move demonstrators, who had formed a human chain in front of the entrance to the hotel, to allow the 17 asylum-seekers to gain entry to their new accommodation.
Heated debate in Dail over recent asylum centre protests in RoscreaIndependent TD Michael Lowry criticised the Government over its failure on immigration

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has questioned how people can attend anti-migration demonstrations during the day while most others are at work.

During a very heated Dail debate on migrant accommodation centres in Roscrea and other centres the Ceann Comhairle, Sean O Fearghail, intervened to warn People Before Profit TD Brid Smith against referring to any TD or senator as a Nazi when speaking about immigration.

The Dublin South-Central TD had challenged Independent Tipperary TDs, Michael Lowry and Mattie McGrath, to explain why they backed failed government policies which helped the far right to suck in ordinary decent people to blaming migrants for lack of housing and other services.

Ms Humphreys said her department had provided 7.8m in supports and grants to Roscrea in recent years. She said migrant workers in key sectors of health, hospitality, food processing and others had paid 3bn in PRSI last year and 17bn over three years to help fund pensions and other welfare payments.

Youd wonder how some people can be at protests in the middle of the day when other people are working. So, we have had to announce more work permits recently because we cant get the staff in certain sectors, said Ms Humphreys.

She said the Government had been responding to an emergency situation following the Russian invasion in Ukraine which meant over 100,000 refugees had come from there to Ireland.

Now the Government was trying to change from an emergency response to a more systematic treatment of the problems and, while she acknowledged the dangers in rising far-right groupings, she warned against linking housing and emergency accommodation provision.

Independent TD for Tipperary Michael Lowry

Ms Smith said the problems were at root caused by the current and previous governments failure to provide housing, which in turn fed into a shortage of personnel in health and other services. She said she had been angered by scenes of women and children being frightened by crowds protesting in Roscrea, but it was down to lack of services.

These have led to ordinary people being whipped up by the lies and viciousness of the far right, the Nazis who have to blame refugees and people of colour, Ms Smith said.

She also urged the two governing parties to rein in their councillors, like those in Mayo who have pledged not to cooperate with the Government on refugee accommodation.

Mr Lowry said he had never been racist and never resorted to extreme language. He said the people of Roscrea were decent and hospitable, but the town had been overburdened by excessive migrant numbers. He said he was elected over 37 years in large part because he had supported governments which helped deliver for his constituency.

He contrasted his political approach to that of Ms Smith. Unlike her, I stand for something. In her positions, she is against everything and for nothing, he said.

The Independent TD said he had raised the issue of a chaotic government response to migration four times recently and cited the case of Roscrea each time.

The Government has failed Roscrea on immigration. They neglected to support this town in its time of greatest need, said Mr Lowry.

On a proposal for a state-backed community hotel in Roscrea, Mr Lowry said he was sceptical and found the situation ironic as this latest controversy began with the withdrawal of another hotel assigned to migrant accommodation. But he said was prepared to try to work on this and other potential remedies.
24/04/2023 Susan McKay Press Ombudsman during a Shared Island Dialogue to focus on Media representation of the island of Ireland at the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD). The Dialogue will brought together over 150 stakeholders drawn from the media, politics, academia and civil society to explore how the media represents the island, North and South, in terms of our diverse identities and political traditions. Photo: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

THERE is a growing trend of people connected to the far-right making complaints about media articles to the Press Council of Ireland, TDs and Senators have been told.

Press Council chair Rory Montogomery told the Oireachtas Media Committee it is a phenomenon the organisation had noticed recently of people using its procedures to object to specific articles.

He said there had been a taste of this during the Covid-19 pandemic when there were a flood of complaints about legitimate newspaper coverage.

Mr Montgomery was giving evidence to a committee discussion on the mechanisms available  other than recourse to the courts  for dispute resolution with the media.

Press Ombudsman Susan McKay also said she hears frequently from journalists being subjected to threats and bad behaviour at public events which was not acceptable.

Some of those who define themselves as citizen journalists do not behave properly either to members of the public or towards journalists of the mainstream media, she said.

Ms McKay said it was a threat to democracy when newspapers say they cannot pursue investigations because of the fear of legal action. She described as disturbing some evidence given to the committee of newspaper editors getting calls from lawyers threatening litigation.

Connacht Tribune editor Dave OConnell said you end up pulling your punches on some stories because of this threat. Business Post editor Daniel McConnell, appearing on behalf of Newsbrands Ireland, said there are sleepless nights.

The hearings were sought by Fine Gael senator Micheal Carrigy over his concerns about an increasing prevalence of Sinn Fein representatives using the courts in disputes with media organisations and journalists over coverage of them and the party.

Several government members of the committee raised cases involving Sinn Fein members. National Union of Journalists Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said there was a history of politicians from all parties taking cases.

Ms McKay said her concerns related to all parties and public figures, but added there should be no reason for politicians to use the law to pursue media organisations. It would show a very good example to the public if they came to the Press Council instead, she said.

She said the council and ombudsman needed to be able to advertise its services more widely but said it was a matter of great concern that funding is very low. Her office had just two full-time members of staff, including herself, and a part-time administrator.

Sinn Fein Senator Fintan Warfield described the meeting as a somewhat political hearing. Justice spokesperson Pa Daly said most politicians had been defamed or misquoted online. He claimed some government members were still in a 1980s Section 31 mindset - a reference to the ban on Sinn Fein members voices being broadcast up until 1994.
A man in his 30s has been arrested by Gardai in connection with the discovery of 14 people concealed in a shipping container at Rosslare Europort on Monday, January 8.

The man was arrested this afternoon, Wednesday, at Rosslare for an alleged offence under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act, 2021, and is currently detained at a Garda Station in the southeast of the country.

The migrants, which include 10 Kurdish people from Iran and Iraq, including two girls aged six and four years, as well one person from Turkey and three from Vietnam, were discovered on a vessel, coming from Zeebrugge in Belgium, at 3am on Monday, January 8.

They had to cut a hole in the side of the container as they were struggling to breathe. UK authorities had alerted gardai and emergency services were awaiting their arrival at the port.

They were assessed by medics before being transferred for processing by the international protection service.

The Irish Independent revealed last week that at least eight of the 14 migrants have fled state services.

The undocumented migrants were found in a refrigerated container that arrived at Rosslare Europort, Co Wexford.

It is understood that at least eight of the individuals are now missing following their transfer to an asylum centre in Dublin.

Senior sources have told the Irish Independent that they are not being sought by gardai as they are not under criminal investigation.

The investigation is ongoing and gardai said that the evidence discovered in this case will ultimately determine whether this incident is a case of Human Trafficking or People Smuggling, which, while both involve the illegal transportation of humans, the transportation is for a different purpose.

People smuggling involves illegal 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, transportation and ultimately the exploitation of a victim, which can be for a number of reasons including labour exploitation, sexual exploitation, forced Criminality or exploitation consisting of the removal of one or more of the organs of a person, a garda spokesperson said.
All travel bans will have been lifted in Erie County as of 8 a.m. though the county will remain under a travel advisory, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said.

The City of Buffalo lifted its partial ban for the area south of Broadway and the Town of Orchard Park also lifted its ban at 8 a.m.

Lackawanna and the Town of Hamburg lifted their bans at 7 a.m., while West Seneca, Cheektowaga, Depew, Sloan and the Town and Village of Lancaster lifted their bans at 6 a.m.

The travel advisory, urging no unnecessary travel, is set to expire at 7 p.m.

The commercial vehicle ban has been lifted around 8 a.m. Thursday for the Thruway from the Pennsylvania line to Exit 46/I-390 near Rochester and Interstate-190.

Closures

Buffalo Public Schools are closed Thursday. The University at Buffalo also is closed Thursday.

Visiting hours are canceled for the Erie County Holding Center in downtown Buffalo and the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden for the rest of the week due to the forecast, the Sheriff's Office announced.

Federal court in downtown Buffalo is closed.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Ireland depends on migrants coming to work in the country. Photo: AP

The Government has been forced to announce a fresh round of state supports for communities impacted by the migrant crisis amid increasing tensions nationwide.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said areas of the country that have hosted the most Ukrainian refugees and asylum-seekers will be assessed for additional supports and services.

Government officials are to draft proposals for extra resources across health and education, as well as policing for these specific areas.

The move comes after Mayo County Councillors unanimously passed a motion on Monday calling on council staff to cease co-operation with the Department of Integration over the housing of asylum-seekers and refugees in the county.

The motion, which was endorsed by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail councillors, called for co-operation with the department to cease until such time as a strategy for housing refugees was produced.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy said all Ukrainians can stay in Ireland until the war with Russia ends, in an apparent contradiction of party leader Mary Lou McDonald, who suggested they should leave next year when an EU temporary protection order expires.

Mr Carthy also said Ukrainian refugees who stay here after the war should enter the direct provision system.

A cabinet meeting yesterday heard that the Government plans a major information drive on the States asylum policies, including providing more details on the enforcement of deportations.

The State is going to take a bigger role in areas of the country who have borne the toll of the increase in people arriving here, a source said.

Ministers also discussed the 50m Community Recognition Fund, which is now in the process of having its funds drawn down. Officials have been asked to establish the quickest routes for giving supports to communities.

A government spokesperson said funds have not yet been allocated, but said any allocation of public money will go through the financial process. Its safe to say the Government is cognisant of the need to recognise the impact this is having, he said.

At a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting last night, Office of Public Works Minister Patrick ODonovan said a lot of protesters outside refugee and asylum-seeker accommodation are not the Nazis some people would like to portray them as.

Mr ODonovan described many of the protesters as decent people with concerns and misgivings.

The Taoiseach said he will always make the case that immigration is good for Ireland and it would not have the public services it has or as strong an economy without migrants.

Mr Varadkar said he wanted a migration system that is welcoming and fair but also firm.

However, a number of TDs and senators criticised the Governments handling of the immigration crisis to date.

Clare-based senator Martin Conway described the Governments communications strategy on migration as a dogs dinner and said he could not understand the flip-flopping on accommodation centres intended to be used for males and now being used for women and children.
Irish media organisations are facing unwarranted and exaggerated claims for defamation on an almost daily basis with some newspapers one half-decent court action away from being closed down, TDs and senators are to be told this week.

Media representative organisations will tell the Oireachtas Media Committee today that proposed reforms to defamation laws do not go far enough amid mounting concern over the effects of High Court actions on journalism in Ireland.

The committee is holding hearings with the Press Council of Ireland, the Office of the Press Ombudsman, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Newsbrands Ireland, Local Ireland and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) as part of a discussion on the mechanisms available  other than recourse to the courts  for dispute resolution with the media.

The hearings were sought by Fine Gael senator Micheal Carrigy before Christmas after he expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of Sinn Fein representatives using the courts in disputes with media organisations and journalists over coverage of them and the party.

NUJ Irish secretary Seamus Dooley will tell the committee that journalist Malachi O'Dohertys description of feeling both his house and professional credibility were at risk because of a recent defamation action against him taken by Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly  which was dismissed by the Belfast High Court earlier this month  resonated with many journalists.

Mr Dooley calls on the committee to back calls for a serious harm test, that would aim to prevent trivial claims, to be extended to all defamation cases. At present, reforms proposed by the Government would confine the serious harm test to cases involving corporate bodies, public authorities and retailers.

The representative body for many newspaper publishers in Ireland, NewsBrands Ireland, said it is a mystery as to why the test is not being proposed to be be used for all cases under the Coalitions proposed reforms.

The Irish media faces, on an almost daily basis, unwarranted and exaggerated claims for defamation, NewsBrands will tell the committee. The costs of defending these cases are significant and these costs are often unrecoverable even where the defence succeeds.

It will tell members that in the absence of the test, very wealthy claimants, including those with no connection to the country, will have little deterrent to stop them using the courts.

Connacht Tribune editor Dave OConnell, speaking on behalf of Local Ireland, which represents 33 local newspapers, will tell the committee that legal fees are killing us and that the time lapse between the cause of an complaint and final arbitration does not serve either side of a dispute. One half-decent action, without any malicious intent, could close us down, he will tell members.

Meanwhile, IBI chair John Purcell will raise concerns that the current procedures for complaints against broadcasters do not allow for certain complaints to be ruled out for being frivolous or vexatious.

We now live in an age of outrage and radicalisation. In other jurisdictions, there is an increased trend towards the weaponisation of complaints processes where complaints can become part of a strategy aimed towards political ends. It is a system built on good faith which can and increasingly is abused, he said, adding there is no reason to believe that this trend may not emerge in this country.
PEOPLE Before Profit has called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to boycott the annual St Patricks Day visit to the White House to meet Joe Biden in light of the US Presidents continued backing of Israel.

TD Paul Murphy said the call extends to all politicians including in Sinn Fein, whose leadership traditionally visit powerbrokers in Washington DC during St Patricks week in March.

Mr Murphy said that such a move by Irish politicians would have an impact symbolically in the US and around the world amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

The Dublin South-West TD said the annual White House visit was used in America for the benefit of Irish-Americans for political purposes and is enormously symbolic.

We think this year, that should not happen. The US is the number one supporter of what is happening in Palestine, right now. Without US support, it could not be happening. So we think that's a crucial call that we're making on the government and on other politicians, he said.

He said that Mr Varadkar should pick up the phone to Mr Biden today to say that Ireland does not support US backing of Israel and say that it is also stopping the use of Shannon Airport by the US military.

Mr Murphy told reporters at Leinster House: We have to send a signal that Ireland, as the vast majority of the people in this country, says no to this genocide, opposes what is happening and opposes US support for it.

"So it's important that the government and all politicians say we will not be going to shake hands with Joe Biden and other members of the US administration.

He said this should not extend to ministers participating in parades across US cities or meeting with local politicians in those areas who may be supportive of Israel. Its people who are part of the US government, he said.

Mr Murphy said he hoped that Sinn Fein would change their position on a boycott of meetings with political leaders in the US this March as they had changed their position on the expulsion of Israeli ambassador.

So if enough pressure comes from below, we're hopeful that Sinn Fein will shift position on that and that in turn will add pressure onto the government to change their position as well, he said.

Mr Murphy said that PBP had also unsuccessfully sought a Dail debate this week on South Africas case against Israel for genocide in the International Court of Justice as it wants Ireland to intervene in the case.

The Governments has said it will await the provisional response of the court in The Hague in the coming weeks before deciding on its position and what future steps to take.

We think there's an absolute obligation on the Irish state, on the Irish government to join in this case, to intervene and were going to be insisting very strongly today that that debate happens this week and that the Dail gets to decide, Mr Murphy said.

Mr Murphy also said it was quite disgusting that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was meeting with Chinese premier Li Qiang given the human rights violations in China.
The Taoiseach has dismissed a vote by Mayo County Council to suspend all dealings with the Department of Integration over the settlement of migrants and refugees.

Leo Varadkar noted that Mayo couldnt take an arbitrary stance on one issue, while seeking huge Government funding on a range of others, such as roads.

He noted that the resolution by councillors  including some from his own Fine Gael party  was non-binding.

You cant have an a la carte relationship with government departments, the Taoiseach said.

You cant refuse to cooperate with some when you're asked to do something, and then apply for funding from five others.

That's not a tenable position.

Mr Varadkar added: I only heard about it after the motion had been voted through. I disagree with the motion that has been passed.

Local authorities can't have an a la carte relationship with central government, any local authority and all of them.

Mayo County Council is one that would receive very significant grants from central Government; from the Department of Transport for roads, for example, from the Department of the Environment for other things.

And you cant say that you're going to withdraw co-operation from one Government department and then look for funding for five others. That's not a tenable position, I'm afraid.

On wider migration, the Taoiseach said he had asked ministers to put together a package between now and the first Cabinet meeting in February to allow for further support of places where Ukrainian refugees and others were housed.

We had the community recognition fund already. So one option is opening that to new applications, or finding ways to make it more flexible, because there has been some difficulty in drawing down some of the existing money and getting some of the existing projects off the ground, Mr Varadkar said.

But more so than that, I have particularly asked Health, Education and Justice [departments] to see what they could do.

He added: When it comes to justice, obviously it's around policing resources, when it comes to education, its around schools, and when it comes to health, it is particularly around primary care.

A lot of this happening already. But I really want to emphasise that we need to particularly focus on those parts of the country that have seen a very large number of people from Ukraine and people seeking International Protection move into their areas.

The Taoiseach explained: While they are welcome, its a simple fact that the number of people who have come to live in Ireland, and come to live in certain parts of the country, has changed the demographics of those areas, and in some cases, change the economy of those areas  particularly when tourist accommodation has been taken out of use.

So we have to accept that and have to understand why that can cause concerns in local communities  and respond to those concerns.

But he warned: The response isn't closing our borders. That's not realistic. There are more people on the move in the world now than at any time since the Second World War.

Migration is a challenge in every developed country. But we have to respond to genuine concerns from people around the country who have just seen this change happen very quickly and are worried about it.
An Independent Senator has denied remote-control electric shock collars for dogs and cats are cruel as the Government launches a public consultation about a possible ban.

The UK will impose a ban on the devices for dogs this year.

The Governments consultation relates only to remote-controlled e-collars and not shock collars used for fencing systems to prevent straying, or anti-bark collars.

However, sheep wont be able to graze safely with e-collars banned, according to Independent Senator Ronan Mullen, who said the collars are used to train dogs to stop them chasing sheep.

He said positive training, such as rewarding dogs with biscuits, is not as effective.

E-collar training is used by thousands of dog owners to make their dogs wary of approaching sheep when they escape, said Mr Mullen.

There is an impressive amount of science demonstrating the effectiveness of e-collar training. The alternative of training dogs through rewarding them with biscuits, so called positive only training, is not proven to be effective at stopping predatory attacks on livestock. It is scientifically illiterate to suggest otherwise.

There is a lot of evidence to show that e-collar training is not cruel.

He referred to comments by Fine Gael senator Regina Doherty, who said e-collars are an incredibly cruel method of training dogs. She said collars emit up to 6,000 volts for up to 11 seconds at a time. But senator Mullen said science experiments in schools which make childrens hair raise create 200,000 volts.

And so I am surprised that my Seanad colleague, Regina Doherty claims that the dog e-collars are incredibly cruel because they create 6,000 volts. Yet 200,000 volts is safely used in classroom experiments in which childrens hair is raised. Extremely high voltages can be safe when the current is low, he said.

There may be a temptation for the minister to take the cuddly stance of wanting to ban a device which some campaigners portray as cruel. But the Government needs to take an evidence-based approach to the issues of whether these e-collars are effective and whether their use compromises the safety and welfare of animals.

He called on the public consultation to be extended past the deadline of January 26.

Senator Doherty said: You do not have to be cruel to an animal to teach them a certain behaviour. Its just not right.
The WRC said Jinxiu Zheng thought the recruitment fee he was paying was going directly to the directors account

A Chinese restaurant owner ordered to pay more than 28,000 to a migrant chef who suffered humiliating and degrading treatment has claimed he didnt treat his former employee badly and shouldnt have to pay compensation.

Kitchen worker Jinxiu Zheng recently took a successful case to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) over his treatment while working for Ming Feng Ltd, which operates the Rose Palace Restaurant in Portlaoise, between July 2022 and January 2023.

During the hearing Mr Zheng, who came to Ireland from China, said many others worked in similar circumstances who could not do anything about their predicament as they had come to Ireland on borrowed money and were dependent on their employers for their work permit and accommodation.

He told the WRC that before he started, he was promised 15.78 per hour for a 39-hour week with a 30c hourly premium on Sundays  but ended up getting paid just 300 a week for working between 50 and 60 hours.

He gave evidence of a litany of other issues, including that his final wages were thrown on the floor and when he raised issues about tax or employment conditions, he was told his work permit and status could be in jeopardy.

He said he was further informed that as a foreign worker the contract of employment did not apply to him.

The WRC said Jinxiu Zheng thought the recruitment fee he was paying was going directly to the directors account

Yu Ming Zheng (48), who runs the restaurant and is no relation to his former employee, told the Sunday World this week that he wasnt even aware he had lost the case, and said he cant afford to pay the compensation.

I dont have money for the fine. He should pay me money not the other way around, Yu Ming Zheng said. I was not rude to him. I didnt know I had to pay this. Its not fair.

He denied throwing his former employees wages on the floor. No, I didnt do this, he claimed.

He claimed the former employee worked 37 to 39 hours a week and not 50 to 60 and was given food and accommodation as well as wages.

He also claimed he loaned his former employee money to be paid to a recruiter in China.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 17th

The WRC heard that while the restaurant owners made written submissions ahead of the hearing they didn't turn up on the day to make themselves available to be cross-examined.

Yu Ming Zheng, who spoke to the Sunday World with the aid of his daughter who translated, said he didnt have the time to turn up to the hearing but also said he was unaware it had actually gone ahead as he may have missed the notification.

Its a family business. Im working every day in the restaurant. I dont have time and I dont have good English. When I get letters and emails I dont know.

Sometimes we have a lot of letters and I might not have seen it. I work seven days. I pack up everything at night time and its 3am. I wake up in the afternoon and start cooking. I dont have time.

He admitted he was aware of the initial complaint as people came in to speak to him about it, but said he couldnt afford to hire a lawyer to represent him.

Im paying a lot for electricity and gas  every month its more than 4,000. I dont have the money to pay, I dont have the money for a solicitor.

He said he owed money for utilities, rates and taxes and cant afford to pay the compensation to his former employee.

If I have to pay this I will probably close down.

At the WRC the complainant gave evidence that he came to work in Ireland, which involved the payment of fees to a recruiter.

Jinxiu said he was paid 300 in cash per week on a Sunday and didnt receive payslips, worked between 50-60 hours a week and did not receive extra pay for additional hours or take annual leave.

He said he began to query whether tax was being paid on his behalf and when he checked on the Revenue website he discovered he was not paying tax and raised the issue with his employer. He was eventually registered for tax months later.

He said he complained but was told his work permit and status as a worker could be in jeopardy and that he was punished by getting dirty jobs around the restaurant.

Jinxiu denied claims made by the restaurant in submissions about his work ethic and said he commenced work on time and had a good work ethic.

He said he borrowed money which was to pay a recruitment fee and a contract was drawn up which included terms that he would work for five years and his tax would be paid.

He said that there was mention of a third party to be included in the contract as agent. His understanding was that the recruitment fee he was paying was going directly to the Directors account, the WRC said in a summary of his evidence

Jinxiu added that it was normal in this type of business for his rent and food to be paid and this was agreed prior to travel to Ireland and not mentioned in the contract.

The WRC said his evidence was that: As a dispute arose with the Director over the outstanding recruitment fee payment, he was informed that he would be replaced with another foreign worker and his work permit would be cancelled.

The complainant said his final weeks wages were withheld and, on January 17, 2023 he was told to return the keys to his accommodation which he did not do as he had no alternative accommodation

A few days later, a director requested him to sign a resignation letter. When he translated this letter, it purported to say that he was resigning on good terms and that he was surrendering his employment permit. He refused to sign the letter.

On February 14, 2023, he received his outstanding pay for his last week when he said the 300 was thrown on the floor by one of the directors. He left the accommodation on this day.

WRC adjudicator Seamus Clinton found in favour of the complainant on a number of grounds including harassment, racial discrimination and employment law breaches.

He said the harassment complaint was well founded and ordered that 10,000 be paid in compensation. He also found that the former employee had been discriminated against on race grounds and ordered that another 15,000 be paid in compensation for this.

He also found in favour of the former employee on a number of other issues including minimum wage, holiday pay, weekly working hours and rest breaks bringing the total amount awarded to 28,275.

Mr Clinton said he had no jurisdiction to rule on Mr Zhengs wages claim in respect of alleged payments to his employer for a recruitment fee.
The One-China policy, the Phoenix Park closure and the security operation  what you need to know about Chinese premier Li Qiangs visit to Dublin

Beef ban will be highest on the agenda as PM meets Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Chinese premier Li Qiang lands in Dublin on his first visit to Ireland

Senan Molony Wed 17 Jan 2024 at 03:30

The premier of the Peoples Republic of China  second only to communist strongman Xi Jinping  will meet President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today.
Chicago is teeming with tourist attractions - the Bean at Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Riverwalk, Wrigley Field - the list could go on and on.

But this week a new spectacle has been drawing sightseers to a tree-lined sidewalk in a residential neighbourhood miles and miles from the Loop.

They come to see the Chicago Rat Hole.

An imprint in the concrete of what appears to be a rodent has been a curiosity on West Roscoe Street for decades, but it became a destination attraction this week after a Chicago artist posted a photo of it on social media.

The post on X, formerly known as Twitter, has since been viewed more than five million times and has drawn hundreds of people a day to ooh and aah, giggle and take photos at a decades-old splat mark.

"It's like a very viscerally silly thing to see," Winslow Dumaine, who posted the photo, told The Washington Post.

Dumaine, who moved to Chicago in 2017, first heard of the rat hole this month. On a recent Saturday, he was heading to the Roscoe Village neighbourhood to visit a shop that sells his artwork. His friend Hayley Hudson told him that, since he was in the area, he should keep an eye out for the Chicago Rat Hole.

"I didn't know what she was talking about," he said.

Dumaine made the trek, nevertheless, and upon seeing what his friend had been talking about, he burst into laughter.

"It's just this perfect example of visual storytelling. You see it, and you can tell exactly what happened. It's this thing that extends across language barriers," he said, adding: "You could show this to someone 500 years ago, they would know exactly what happened."

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Dumaine took a photo and posted it on X. Within an hour, it was well on its way to going viral, which wasn't exactly a surprise to Dumaine. He suspected it might be a hit. It was funny, physical and animal related.

"Everybody just thinks it's fun. It's incredibly hard to find things like that - pure, funny, silly things."

Cindy Nelson said that the imprint has been there ever since she and her husband moved to the neighbourhood in 1997, and that a neighbour who has lived there since the early '90s told her it was there then, too.

Residents who live on the block are tightknit, communicate often through group chat and are celebrating, if a little surprised at, the sudden popularity of their neighbourhood marvel.

"We're fond of the little critter," Nelson said. "We never thought people would think it's this exciting."

As Nelson and her husband raised three kids across the street from the splat mark, they noticed a pattern. Someone would be walking by the imprint, notice it, look more closely at it and laugh. Then they would look up to figure out what had caused it.

Years ago, there was a "huge, old, beautiful" oak tree above the imprint, Nelson said, adding that she believes it was actually a squirrel that fell out of the tree and plunged into fresh cement, making what would become known as a rat hole. That tree eventually got sick and was cut down, and so passersby looking up at nothing but sky in recent years grew visibly confused about how the imprint was made.

Nelson and Dumaine said the Chicago Rat Hole embodies the city it's named after. For Nelson, the cheeky, decades-old imperfection captures the way Chicagoans can laugh at themselves. Dumaine said that Chicago can have a harsh climate, citing that in 2019, it was colder than the South Pole. But Chicagoans are gritty, a quality shared by the cement-covered rodent memorialised decades later on a random sidewalk.

"That rat fell in that cement, brushed himself off and went to work," he added.

Dumaine said he posted a photo of the rat hole so others could share the joy it gave him. Although his art is admittedly "really grim, dark and morbid," Dumaine said he's an optimistic person who savours moments of joy whenever possible. When he saw the now famous Chicago Rat Hole, he saw an opportunity for others to join in.

"It is a very, very small thing - it's just a picture of a splat mark - but it's also part of a greater philosophy of just like, let's make as many people smile as we can."
Former subpostmistress Jo Hamilton speaks to the media as the Post Office Horizon inquiry continues, in London. Photo: Belinda Jiao

The philosopher Bertrand Russell once said: Everything ought to be done for the sake of something else. And while the post office scandal which has rocked Britain is ostensibly about a major miscarriage of justice, its also very much about ordinary people versus the big cheeses.

The more than 700 subpostmasters and postmistresses who operated local post offices, unjustly accused of theft and false accounting, were decent, provincial, not particularly sophisticated folk who were doing their jobs and serving their communities. The UK Post Office, which prosecuted and persecuted them, represented a corporate elite pulling in large salaries, backed by the intimidating forces of computer technology.

The injustice of the wronged postal employees had been rumbling on for years, but it really came alive to the public in the ITV drama-documentary Mr Bates vs The Post Office earlier this month.

Millions of viewers identified with the moment when conscientious subpostmistress Jo Hamilton wrestled with the post offices computer accounting system at the end of a working day. As she tried to make sense of its calculations, the computer kept increasing the huge sums it claimed she owed the company. When she politely called the helpline, she was arrogantly informed it was all her fault.

At a lesser level, most of us have struggled with bureaucracies that dont seem to listen, or with technology run by chatbots, and felt powerless as the system overrules us or denies access. With bank branches and post offices closing all over Britain (as in Ireland), people can feel alone and alienated by technology. But this scandal has revealed one instructive truth: the computer can be wrong  and in the case of the Post Office, it was their Horizon computer system and its software, supplied by Fujitsu, which was at fault.

What was galling was that each time a subpostmaster or postmistress lodged a complaint about the computer problem, they were informed: You are the only one to complain.

The Post Office felt its first duty was to protect the brand. The investment had to be defended  not the problems investigated.

Lined-up against the little people who ran the provincial post offices was a well-connected establishment. Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, brushed aside concerns about the failing system when he was postal minister in 2010. Tony Blair was told by then secretary of state Peter Mandelson that it would be unwise to jeopardise relations with Japan by questioning the efficacy of Fujitsu (which benefited from 191 government contracts, including one relating to Northern Ireland schools).

Paula Vennells, chief executive of the Post Office between 2012 and 2019, while the prosecutions were ongoing, has emerged as the most visible face of uncaring corporate power, insisting that Horizon was robust while evidence was accumulating that it was faulty.

Ms Vennells is an ordained minister in the Church of England who was being groomed to be appointed the bishop of London. Justin Welby, then archbishop of Canterbury and a former oil executive, was keen to involve the church with corporate life.

In the ITV drama, Rev Vennells is portrayed as unlikeably sanctimonious  preaching while showing scant compassion for the Post Offices victims. In real life, she has made some sanctimonious statements too about how her mission is driven by the glory of God, while taking home 4.5m (5.2m) in salary and bonuses.

Rev Vennells was awarded a CBE in 2019  endorsed by Theresa May, a keen Anglican and supporter of womens ordination.

One million people signed a petition calling for her to hand back the award. She has recently done so and stepped down from a range of other directorships and advisory roles. She will be facing some tough questioning in the public inquiry.

The scandal will continue for some time  550 of the postal workers have successfully sued and some have received compensation. But many still have not, and many have had their lives ruined.

The Post Office hounded some of them like Mafia gangsters, the inquiry has heard.

Shazia Saddiq, in Newcastle, was falsely accused of being responsible for a missing 30,000 and got more than 60 aggressive phone calls from a Post Office enforcer. The money was subsequently found within the system.

The TV dramas writer Gwyneth Hughes said it was the banality of bureaucratic indifference that enraged most people.

Your call is important to us is often heard by Joe Public as get lost, little person.

Alan Bates, the subpostmaster who took on the Post Office, was the ordinary, unpretentious guy who showed such leadership and grit. And the little people are still fighting back.
The end of the lake-effect onslaught is in sight.

The National Weather Service says the area has "one more day of localized, heavy lake-effect snow."

Heavy lake-effect snow  with a maximum rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour  will continue this morning as the band is "expected to move from the Southtowns this morning across the Buffalo Metro during the midday and afternoon," the National Weather Service said.

The snowfall rate will lessen in the afternoon, though remaining a heavy 1 to 2 inches per hour, according to the weather service.

But the forecast also includes these magic words: "Lake effect will finally end tonight."

As of 8:55AM, lake effect bands are going strong off of both lakes. Off of Erie - the band is producing 2-3" per hour and is starting to PUSH NORTH. Off of Ontario - the band is producing 3+ inches per hour and will remain stationary through the next few hours. pic.twitter.com/SlnzqaJmoC  NWS Buffalo (@NWSBUFFALO) January 18, 2024

Thursday: Even more snow

The lake-effect snow warning issued by the National Weather Service will continue until 7 p.m. for Erie, Genesee and Wyoming counties.

From 4 a.m. Thursday, an additional 8 to 14 inches of snow was expected from the southwest corner of Erie County into some of the Southtowns.

In North Buffalo and the Northtowns, 2 to 4 inches or 3 to 5 inches are possible, depending on whether the band gets that far early Thursday afternoon.

From midmorning through midday, the band is expected to reach downtown Buffalo and Buffalo Niagara International Airport before drifting north into the Northtowns for a few hours between early and midafternoon, the weather service said.

Friday: Snow continues

A new weather system will spread lake-enhanced snow across the Southern Tier before it moves northward. Lake snows also are expected to form south of the Lake Ontario shore in Niagara and Orleans counties. A general snowfall of 2 to 4 inches is expected. Temperatures will peak in the low 20s, then drop to the single digits at night.

Are the Bills and Chiefs going to play Sunday?

There has been no discussion about moving the time or location of the next Buffalo Bills home playoff game.
Yesterdays article (Despite chorus of reasons as to why he is unfit for office, Donald Trump still dominates the polls, Editorial, January 16) is not the only editorial or op-ed piece across the world expressing similar sentiments.

On March 4, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the 32nd president of the US. His inaugural address included the greatest statement of the 20th century: The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.

The previous January, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany. What a contrast.

In 2013, Irish Nobel-winning poet Seamus Heaney sent a message in Latin to his wife and children on his way to the operating theatre: Noli timere  dont be afraid.

Causality may be the main outcome of the US presidential election. Perhaps the US has to suffer a time of internal crisis for its narrow-minded citizens to realise there is no magic formula available to any president, other than responsibility and thoughtfulness to the entire nation. We can but trust in God.

Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia

Closing a working hotel in Roscrea is no way to win over already welcoming locals

The decision to use Racket Hall Hotel in Roscrea, Co Tipperary as an accommodation centre for refugees was a poor decision. It was, after all, a functioning business in a rural town.

I wouldnt have thought this is a good way of winning the hearts and minds of people who have already welcomed more than 600 people into their town.

Donal Healy, Jenkinstown, Co Meath

Irish energy plan is full of inconsistencies as nuclear options entirely ignored

Two relevant energy security-related articles were published recently in the Irish Independent.

The Editorial (Why choosing to import nuclear power is a typically Irish solution, January 8) and the article by John Mulligan (Oil firm decries Environmental Minister Eamon Ryan for rejecting Barryroe gas development, Irish Independent, January 9) highlighted the incoherence and inherent inconsistencies in Irelands current energy policy.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryans argument against nuclear energy is based on the notion that we dont have the expertise or knowledge to consider or even discuss the new generation, small-scale modular reactors, which many experts, such as Emeritus Professor William Reville at University College Cork, now agree would be ideal as zero-carbon back-up to renewables. 

The irony is that while promoting wind and solar, we in Ireland dont have the indigenous expertise or knowledge to develop giant offshore floating or fixed wind turbines, or the associated ancillary equipment, as all the main players, expertise and manufacturers are imported.

Also, the Irish taxpayer is about to stump up more than 20bn to achieve the promised 5GW of offshore capacity, no small change either.

The decision by the Coalition to reject and not support the development of Barryroe, as well the Inishkea oil and gas fields, has been described by many as irresponsible, only matched by the equally disastrous and bizarre decision to cease issuing oil and gas licences off our coasts.

These decisions were taken when it was clearly evident that Irelands energy security is on a knife-edge, with Corrib fast dwindling.

Over 70pc of our supplies are imported from an increasingly unreliable and chaotic Brexit-embroiled British establishment, a significant quantity of which is pumped thousands of kilometres from Norway, with a huge carbon footprint, all through increasingly vulnerable pipelines.

John Leahy, Wilton Road, Cork

Political coverage is well and fine, but I want to get a deeper look at TD oddities

Being retired I have plenty of time to read the papers and enjoy doing so. I particularly enjoy the broad coverage you give to the political scene.

Having said that, it might add to the picture if you gave a little coverage to the personalities and oddities of the individual TDs. For example, does Michael Healy-Rae take off his cap when he is taking a shower?

Why does the labour TD call himself A Yawn O Riordain? There must be others. Lets have them.

Brendan Casserly, Bishopstown, Cork city

Getting away from factory farming may cut risk of a future global pandemic

In the midst of the various crises currently unfolding, from famine to war and all the way up to existential planetary concerns, we hardly need a new global pandemic coming at us.

Yet, we are firmly set on a course that is, on a daily basis, increasing that risk. The latest outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) reached North America in December 2021  in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Subsequently, viruses have been confirmed in wild birds, backyard flocks, commercial poultry facilities and wild mammals in both Canada and the United States.

Detections of avian influenza in mammals were recorded in 2022 and 2023, including seals, skunks, mountain lions, red foxes, raccoons and even a bottlenose dolphin. Many more mammals are expected to join this growing list over the coming months. On December 6 last, the Alaska State veterinarian confirmed that a polar bear had died from avian influenza, in what is believed to be the first recorded case.

Scientists and scientific bodies are at pains to reassure the public that avian flu poses little or no threat to humans. Yet those same scientists understand that the more prevalent a virus is, the greater the chance of mutation and with a rapidly mutating virus, no one can predict the outcome.

Put simply, the more mutations there are, the greater the risk of animal to human transmission, the next step being human to human transmission.

No one disputes the fact that factory farms are breeding grounds for viruses. Because of the way we are now farming animals intensively, once disease enters the closed environment, it spreads rapidly among the immunocompromised animals inside.

With tens of billions of animals  mainly chickens and pigs  crammed into sheds together all over the world, including here in Ireland where 100 million birds and 3.5 million pigs are raised in sheds each year, it is surely only a matter of time before another serious zoonotic event occurs.

By moving rapidly away from the factory farming model of animal agriculture, we are at least reducing the risk of future pandemics, and surely that is a no-brainer.

Gerry Boland, Keadue Co Roscommon
Businesses participating in the Geopark Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism with Elected Members and representatives of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, Burren Ecotourism Network and Clare County Council officials. Photo: Eamon Ward.

From a hotel harnessing all its electricity needs through hydropower to an artisan producer embracing sustainable farming practices, 70 members of the Burren Ecotourism Network have now signed up for the Geopark Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism.

Together, the businesses are actively monitoring and adapting their environmental performance, as well has helping to build sustainable communities.

Developed with EU LIFE funding, the Code is the only sustainable initiative of its kind in Ireland and in the network of 169 Geoparks spread across 44 countries. The initiative is being funded by Clare County Council and is third-party verified by the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.

Carol Gleeson, Manager of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, said: Working with the Burren Ecotourism Network, we are raising the standard of sustainable practices among tourism businesses across the entire destination of the Geopark and across all types of businesses.

The Code of Practice is actively developing a sustainable ethos and practices amongst a critical mass of tourism businesses in a destination.

The growing network of businesses signing up to the Code is reflective of Clares continued moves toward established as a truly sustainable destination and follows the recent announcement that the County has broken into the Top 40 of the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index, a sustainability benchmarking and performance improvement programme for destinations, she added.

The Burren, in County Clare. Photo: AirSwing Media

Among the businesses is the Burren Smokehouse, which has taken steps to measure and manage its energy and water consumption, as well as the Falls Hotel Spa in Ennistymon, which became a certified carbon-neutral property through Green Hospitality Ireland in 2021.

Doolin Ferry Co also has made strides towards sustainability, with a key focus on reducing its environmental footprint, as well as Hotel Doolin, which became Irelands first carbon neutral hotel in 2019 and has received national acclaim for the 30-mile menu at its Glas Restaurant.
The past year was a horrendous one for the people both living in and frequenting Charleville town in that two elderly people lost their lives in incidents involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on the Main Street, bringing to ten the number of people who have perished in similar circumstances in the last decade.

Little has changed since the most recent deaths to remedy the situation by Cork County Council, save for electronic signs at the southern and northern entrances to the town, urging motorists to look out for pedestrians.

Smaller signs telling people to use the controlled pedestrian crossings to cross the street have also been erected, but to no great affect as they are too high up on poles to be seen. So, people continue to persist in crossing the street heedlessly, still risking their lives.

It is also hugely distressing for the drivers of these HGVs, and grossly unfair to them, as they already have an enormous responsibility ensuring that they safely negotiate the street without causing harm or damage to people or property.

The call locally is for a ring road around the town to take the HGVs off the street to alleviate the 15,000 vehicles using the Main Street daily.

Despite this being raised in Dail Eireann by Michael Moynihan TD, and at Cork County Council level by Cllrs Ian Doyle and John Paul OShea, and being approved by the T.I.I., and being further recommended by the Coroner for Co. Cork, who conducted the inquests in to the latest deaths, nothing has happened, at least outwardly. This calls into question the effectiveness of the towns representation at both national local levels.

Charleville Community Forum organised a public meeting last June, but neither has this borne any fruit in providing an effective solution to the traffic problem. They have now organised a further public meeting for the Charleville Park Hotel for Monday evening, 29th January.

They will be inviting all local and national public representatives, and the members of the Cork County Couuncil roads authority to be present to outline their response to providing Charleville with a ring road that is so badly needed.

Commenting on the proposed meeting, community council chair Evelyn OKeeffe said: Charleville Community Forum wants better engagement between Cork County Council, the local community, and our elected representatives. Too many announcements have been made over the years, and nothing delivered in terms of HGV traffic reduction on Charlevilles Main Street.

The latest announcement from Cork County Council is just another feasibility study (see report on page 10) and we know how long that takes, she said.

Putting table tops on the pedestrian crossings will have little effect on pedestrian deaths, and wont take one HGV off of the Main Street.

The meeting will give us a chance to pin down what is or what is not happening, Evelyn added.
A senior official with Cork County Council has confirmed that works to repair the potholes in Devlin Street in Fermoy are scheduled to commence this year.

Brendan OGorman who is a Senior Executive Engineer with the local authority was replying to a motion from Fianna Fail councillor Frank OFlynn at a recent Fermoy Municipal District meeting which raised the issue of repairing potholes in Devlin Street in the interests of safety.

Mr OGorman informed the councillors in the chamber. This route has been patched and will continue to be so until the road receives an overlay, which is scheduled under 2024 RI for mid-summer works.

I am delighted with the response, said the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank OFlynn. The residents there brought it to my attention recently. It is a very busy road. There are quite a lot of potholes. The surface is also poor. I am delighted it is going to be resurfaced this year. It is good news for the residents.

It was also confirmed at the recent Fermoy MD meeting that a request by the local authority for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) funding has been made to refurbish the footpaths in Patrick Street in Fermoy.

Mr OGorman provided the councillors with an update on the situation. A request for TII funding has been made. There is 55m of cobble block that needs a new bedding foundation, on the southern side. Excessive settlement observed.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank OFlynn said he brought forward the motion after safety concerns were expressed to him. This section of footpath is very dangerous. There have been numerous cases of people falling there recently. People have brought it to my attention as to how dangerous that footpath can be. There is also excessive wear in places.

I am delighted the request has gone to the TII for funding. I hope it will be successful and it will be looked after this year. It is very much needed in Fermoy. It is an exceptionally busy street. There is a big footfall in that area, he added.
The club noted that the facilities would be a valuable resource to club members

A Cork city GAA club has been granted conditional planning permission to expand its playing facilities.

Brian Dillons GAA Club has been granted permission to construct a floodlit all-weather playing area, a hurling wall, ball-stopping net and to replace existing fencing.

The club, founded in 1910, applied for permission for the developments at a site south of its Tank Field on Murmont Road in Montenotte in May 2023.

In its application to the council, the club noted that the site where it proposed to develop its new facilities was home to temporary primary school accommodation up until 2019 and later reinstated to grass.

A civil engineer working on behalf of the club said that replacing the grass with synthetic grass was required at the site to allow younger children train in winter months, and during inclement weather.

The proposed all weather playing area would be a valuable resource to club members, and the wider community, the application said.

Following a request, the GAA club submitted further information to Cork City Council regarding the proposed development in December 8, 2023.

After a city planners report was completed, permission was granted for the clubs proposed developments on Friday, January 12.

The development is subject to nine conditions outlined by the local authority, one of which states that the use of the all weather pitch and flood lighting system shall be restricted to between 9am and 9.30pm on any day.
St Stephens Green church inviting couples who got married there to special mass next month

Eimear White and Ronan Cosgrave on their wedding day at Dublin's University Church on November 6, 2021

Eimear White and Ronan Cosgrave on their wedding day at Dublin's University Church on November 6, 2021

A Dublin church is celebrating the couples who got married there in the past 100 years with a unique photo collection and a special mass to honour their commitment to love.

The Newman University Church on St Stephens Green is inviting everyone who got married there to come to a celebratory mass on February 11.

Katherine Dunn, Director of IT and Communications at the church, said its really important to celebrate the sacrament they chose together.

Its so impressive to commit your love to someone else. Every week, someone comes in to say they got married here, or their parents or grandparents got married here.

Some come back to relive the day, they get to tell their kids all the details. Theyd talk about the style, what it was like to get married then, the stories are very sweet.

Michael Deeny and Maeve O'Grady Walshe, married on April 9, 1994

Each year, the church hosts at least 50 weddings, sometimes its two or three a weekend, and they are excited to bring back some of those couples on Valentines weekend.

Were inviting any couple who got married at our church to come and celebrate mass with us around Valentines Day, Ms Dunn said.

Last year, we collected photos of weddings from the past 100 years and displayed them. Everyone came in, it was really sweet, so were doing it again.

Couples were there, widows were there, and they brought their kids or their grandkids to show them where they got married.

The sweetest part of last year is that everyone there had something in common. When everyone is chatting afterwards, theres no awkward small talk, they had their weddings in common.

An older man came by himself last year; he got the train from Limerick to give in his photo. His wife had passed, he sat with me, showed me the photo, and talked to me about her.

It was a space for him to talk about her, he loves her, she added.

Eleanor and Paul, married on August 14, 2015

Originally, you had to have attended UCD to get married in the church, but now it is open to all couples.

It was UCD college chapels. The older folks who got married here all went to UCD. Thats the older history of it. But now, anyone can get married here, Ms Dunn said.

Right now, I have 206 photos to display in the atrium of the church for about a month. Itll begin on February 11 and well have champagne and chocolate.

The display of photos will be up in University Church from Sunday, February 11, until Sunday, March 17. Couples are invited to the special mass celebration on 6.15pm on February 11.
The Boeing 747-8 is 76 metres long and has a wingspan of 68 metres. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Shaun Dunne (16) on the runway at Dublin Airport last night beside the plane carrying Chinese Premier Li Qiang

A Dublin teenager who got to stand close to the largest commercial plane to ever land at Dublin Airport, has described the experience as mad.

Shaun Dunne (16), from Lusk, Co Dublin, was invited out on the runway to view the Boeing 747-8 which touched down yesterday evening carrying the Chinese Premier, Li Qiang, on his trip to Ireland.

He was thrilled to get as close as he did to a plane of this size, saying it was huge.

Air Chinas 747-8 becomes attraction for plane spotters as Li Qiang leaves Dublin

After documenting Joe Bidens arrival at Dublin Airport last year, Shauns posts around aviation gained momentum, spurring him to continue.

The young plane enthusiast has since amassed a following on Twitter for sharing news, incidents, plane spotting, and radio scanning from Dublin Airport, who invited him out for the occasion last night.

The Boeing 747-8, which is 76 metres long and has a wingspan of 68 metres, is the largest commercial plane to ever touch ground in the capital. Air Force One, which carries the US president, is 70 metres long with a wingspan of 60 metres.

The self-proclaimed aviation journalist, told the Irish Independent he had to check it wasnt a fake account when he received the surprise invite from Dublin Airport.

The Boeing 747-8 is 76 metres long and has a wingspan of 68 metres. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Ive been passionate about aviation since the age of three or four. My dad used to bring me up to the airport every Sunday to watch the planes take off and land for a few hours, he said.

I am shocked by the interest in the accounts. Im still in school but hope to be a pilot in the future, potentially for Aer Lingus.

He arrived at the Airport last night around the time of the planes arrival at 8pm, and got to talk to a couple of people who recognised him from his account.

Its the biggest commercial plane to ever land in Dublin; there was a bigger military plane back in 2019, but these carry passengers, he said.

It was mad; the plane was cordoned off from the media, but the photo I got was the closest I could get.
Some of the cast of Killorglin Pantomime Group's Goldilocks and The Three Bears in The CYMS Hall Killorglin which kicks off on Saturday afternoon next with a matinee.Photo by Michael G Kenny

Niamh (Bronagh Murphy ) and Oisin (Denis Fenton) preparing for Killorglin Pantomime Group's Goldilocks and The Three Bears in The CYMS Hall in Killorglin.Photo by Michael G Kenny

Killorglin Pantomime Group presents Goldilocks and The Three Bears in The CYMS Hall Killorglin starting on Saturday afternoon next with a matinee L-R:Mama Bear (Declan Mangan) Papa Bear(Michael F O'Sullivan) and Baby Bear(Carmel O'Connor Standing in for Shona Murphy) Photo by Michael G Kenny

Goldilocks(Caroline Hennessy ) and The Seanchai (Stephen Scales) getting ready to tread the boards in The CYMS Hall Killorglin for this years Pantomime Goldilocks and The Three Bears which opens next Saturday. Photo by Michael G Kenny

Killorglin Pantomime Group presents Goldilocks and The Three Bears in The CYMS Hall Killorglin starting on Saturday afternoon next with a matinee L-R:Mama Bear (Declan Mangan) Papa Bear(Michael F O'Sullivan) and Baby Bear (Carmel O'Connor,Standing in for Shona Murphy) Photo by Michael G Kenny

Oh yes it is...It's that time of the year again in Killorglin...Panto Time! The annual Pantomime kicks of in The CYMS Hall on Saturday next with a Matinee of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Pictured here Baby Bear (Carmel O'Connor standing in for Shona Murphy) Mama Bear (Declan Mangan) Papa Bear(Michael F O'Sullivan) and Goldilocks( Caroline Hennessy) getting ready for what will be Killorglin Pantomime Group's 61st production. Photo by Michael G Kenny

As the saying goes, if you didnt laugh, youd cry, and its certainly true for this years Killorglin Panto as the town gives its very own unique  and rather unusual  take on Goldilocks and The Three Bears.

It is rather a complicated tale of Goldilocks. We start off in ancient Ireland with Fionn Mac Cumhail and head to Tir na nOg and, on the advice of our druid, we search for Goldilocks and the three bears to get some honey. Then we finish off with a bearbeque, explains Declan Mangan.

Declan who traditionally plays the Dame  and has done so for more than 50 years  has this year handed over this role to Caroline Hennessy but, nonetheless, the famed stalwart will be still be centre-stage with his role as Mama Bear.

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Declan has in fact starred in every one of the 61 pantos that Killorglin Pantomime Group has hosted, working alongside his wife Ann who plays her own the lead role as stalwart costume designer.

There will be a host of other performers  young and old  to host the now traditional and very much-loved pantomime that will hit the stage this Saturday, January 20, with a matinee performance.

The long-running cast is also joined by new members of the Killorglin community, including Ukrainian refugees playing roles on and off the stage and an African Zumba dancing group made of refugees living in the area, making Killorglin pantomime a multi-cultural affair.

In keeping with the community ethos, funds raised from this year's event will also be donated to the Kerry Hospice Foundation, in memory of Killorglin mother Aoife Kingston, who passed away following a courageous cancer battle. Aoife, too, played a key part in the panto over the years as child welfare officer and her family have been a huge part of the show, so her presence is sorely missed this year.

Asked what Declan think makes Killorglin panto so special, he replied simply: "It brings out the child in everyone.

So be ready to bring out your inner child and have some fun in Killorglin CYMS Hall over the next two weeks with seven shows in total. There are four matinees  two this weekend, January 20 and 21, and again next weekend, January 27 and 28. There are three nigh-time shows also, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, January 24 to January 26.
Principal welcomes new arrivals but says more help is needed from Department

Principal of Caherdaniel National School is seeking support from the Department of Education amid a huge increase in Ukrainian student numbers. Pictured are Lily O'Sullivan, Principal Maria Maunsell and Alina Nazarenko.

A South Kerry school principal has pleaded for help to provide appropriate support and care to the increased pupil population brought on by the huge number of Ukrainian children enrolling at the rural school.

Caherdaniel National School (Scoil Crochan Naofa) has seen its school population more than double since the Ukrainian war, and currently 66 per cent of all students are non-English-speaking students from the Ukraine, living in an IPAS centre at the Derrynane Hotel.

In September 2023, the school had 20 new children enrol; just five of them are English-speaking children. The numbers are constantly changing, with Ukrainian students coming and going, but overall the numbers at the school have doubled, placing staff under increased pressure.

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"Money is a big problem, said principal Maria Maunsell, who is seeking DEIS school status to provide the supports the school needs for its students.

"I have sent numerous emails [to the Department]. We did get an extra classroom, but we need funding to pay all the bills. In every school, funding is an issue, but the situation here is very hard on my teachers...we need more supports like psychological and translation support, she said.

"There is a lot of pressure on our staff...We are so isolated we feel forgotten about...We are neglected by the Minister. We have no problem welcoming children, but it is hard to support everyone.

DEIS status would provide extra funding for literacy and other similar supports for disadvantaged students  something she says is vital. Many of the more recently enrolled pupils are more traumatised than the earlier intakes of Ukrainian children as they have experienced more of the war.

Ms Maunsell is pleading for resources such as sensory equipment, interactive white boards, Aistear resources, well-being resources and more storage space, furniture and kitchen facilities. She is also seeking a home-school liaison officer and an administrative principal appointment.

While additional staff numbers and space have been provided at the school, something thats been warmly welcomed, it is nowhere near enough support to help all the students. Ms Maunsell said she and staff are feeling the pressure.

Sinn Fein TD Pa Daly visited the school last week as it seeks support from the Department of Education.

I am calling on the Minister to review the status of Scoil Crochan Naofa. The schools pupil numbers have increased due to a new facility housing Ukrainian refugees in the town, he said.

Many of the children do not speak English, and their needs are complex. There is a requirement for psychologists and additional supports.

DEIS status, a home-school liaison officer and an administrative principal appointment would do much to help.

Education Minister Norma Foley has praised the remarkable efforts made by all schools to integrate over 17,000 Ukrainian students here since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A spokesman for Education Minister Norma Foley said that a department official had contacted Caherdaniel national school this week (Monday) to discuss the issues raised by the principal.

He said there had also been a site visit this week (Monday) by the Realt co-ordinator who works with schools accommodating Ukrainian children,

In relation to the schools request to be granted DEIS status, the spokesman said the most recent expansion of the DEIS scheme took place in March 2022 and that there all schools will be considered when the scheme opens again. In relation to the schools request to be given an administrative principal post the spokesman said that the current minimum enrolment required to qualify for this was 174 pupils.

The Department have been engaging with the school and will continue to do so on an ongoing basis, he said
The Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign are calling on people to attend the rally for Gaza in Dundalk on Sunday

The Louth Branch of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) is urging people to attend a Rally for Gaza which is taking place at the square in front of Dundalk courthouse on Sunday January 21 at 2pm.

Its important people continue to come out and put pressure on our local representatives and government to implement the Occupied Territories Bill and for our county council to formally support the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, Michael Tuite, chairperson of Louth IPSC said

Following the continuous bombardment of Gaza since October 7th and following the two-day public hearing at the International Court of Justice, where South Africa has alleged that Israel has committed and is committing genocide, we urge all people to attend and highlight the plight of the Palestinian and press our government, the European Union and international community to stand up to an oppressive and apartheid regime which is intent on carrying out a policy of genocide against the Palestinian people.

Speakers from Sinn Fein, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit will address the rally.
The Interfaith Climate Justice Community of WNY has joined NYPIRG and 250 other environmental justice, labor, youth and faith organizations in support of the New York Climate Change Superfund Act. A hundred local elected officials around the state and the comptrollers of New York City and Erie County also have declared their support.

We are united in our call for Gov. Kathy Hochul to include the bill in her 2024 executive budget. We agree with the Buffalo News editorial board (May 30, 2023) that the act "will help alleviate climate action costs without causing pain to consumers and that "the Legislature should pass it."

The Senate passed the bill last session. The Assembly didnt. Only one member of the Western New York Assembly delegation is a co-sponsor to date. Our governor is interested but uncommitted.

Our request is a simple call for justice. New York taxpayers are now paying the full cost for the repairs and upgrades to drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, and strengthening the electric grid. Without a new revenue stream, many of our cash-strapped municipalities will be forced to cut essential services to address climate-related damage.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found that over a 10-year period (the last five and next five years), 55% of New York localities municipal funding outside New York City was or will be related to climate change. Resiliency costs to the grid and our water treatment and sewer plants could cost billions. A CNN report declared Buffalo as one of the most climate disaster-prone cities in the nation due to our location on Lake Erie.

The Superfund Act addresses this injustice. It mandates that the 30-40 largest oil companies pay a combined total of $3 billion annually into a fund for 25 years. It will assist New York State municipalities to pay for infrastructure repairs and resiliency improvements.

In 1957, one of their own scientists noted the adverse consequences of pumping carbon dioxide into the air. Yet the companies continued to do so, denying that burning fossil fuels was contributing to global warming and extreme weather.

Today they are pumping more oil than ever, making worldwide record profits of $700 billion in the last two years. They can well-afford to help pay for their mess.

The first Superfund of 1980 was in response to the Niagara Falls Love Canal health emergency declared two years earlier. Due to the activism of the Love Canal homeowners and federal Superfund legislation sponsored by area Rep. John LaFalce, the the polluter pay principle became law  Hooker, and chemical companies around the country, were mandated to buy out residents and remediate the dumps they had created.

Today, we need to hold accountable fossil fuel companies that have contaminated the atmosphere with billions of tons of greenhouse gases. The Climate Change Superfund Act is the way to do it. We respectfully ask the governor and Assembly to make it happen.

Roger Cook is co-convener, Interfaith Climate Justice Community of WNY, a former member of the Love Canal Ecumenical Task Force and the retired director of the WNY Council on Occupational Safety and Health.
Minister OGorman confirmed that funding mechanisms will be examined to reopen a former Roscrea hotel in a bid to ease tensions

Grants Hotel in Roscrea, also known as the Damer Court, is slated to be a community model hotel for the people of Roscrea.

Minister for Integration Roderic OGorman has confirmed that Government parties agree in principle to examine funding mechanisms to allow for a former hotel in the centre of Roscrea to be re-opened as a community model hotel.

Following a meeting on Tuesday evening between Minister OGorman, Fianna Fail TD Jackie Cahill and Tipperary county councillor Michael Smith, a proposal was put forward to turn the former Grants Hotel, otherwise known as the Damer Court Hotel, into a community model hotel in an effort to ease tensions in the town.

It comes as protesters remain outside the Racket Hall Hotel in Roscrea, where 17 of an expected 160 International Protection Applicants have been accommodated there since Monday.

Speaking on Tuesday night following the meeting, Deputy Cahill said: I am pleased that both myself and Cllr Michael Smith were afforded the opportunity to meet with Minister OGorman to discuss the needs of Roscrea.

There is a lot of concern locally, particularly in relation to the loss of the only hotel in the town. I am pleased with the discussions today and firmly believe that support will follow from Government for Roscrea.

Following the meeting, Minister OGorman agreed to discuss Deputy Cahill and Cllr Smiths proposal with the leadership of the three parties of Government.

"Across the Government parties, there is a recognition of the value that the proposal for a community hotel model would represent to the people of Roscrea," said Minister OGorman.

The Government parties agree in principle to examine funding mechanisms that can be brought forward to support this proposal.

Both Deputy Cahill and Cllr Smith said they have welcomed the response from Minister OGorman and have committed to continuing their work on this project.

Meanwhile, two bishops have issued a joint statement on the recent events in Roscrea, appealing for calm.

Bishop Fintan Monahan, Catholic Bishop of Killaloe and Bishop Michael Burrows ,Church of Ireland Bishop of Killaloe, Limerick and Tuam issued a joint statement on Wednesday where they spoke about concerns regarding what the long-term effects the protests might have on the young children and families at the Racket Hall Hotel.

Bishop Fintan Monahan Catholic Bishop of Killaloe and Bishop Michael Burrows, Church of Ireland Bishop of Killaloe, Limerick and Tuam

Over the past number of days and weeks it has been disturbing and sad to see some of the strong protests against the arrival of people seeking emergency accommodation in Roscrea and also other venues and locations of the country, said the bishops.

The situation in Roscrea and in other places have many local complexities, with some genuine concerns both regarding resources for the new residents and for the amenities and services in the areas in question.

However, we would appeal for calm, for a peaceful approach to the issues involved. Many have expressed concerns at the long-term effect the protests and unrest might have on the young children and families now resident in the facility.

Our joint appeal is for us all to keep on mind the bigger picture and the emergency situation that presents itself. Many of the people coming to our shores are coming from very distressful situations and are in dire need of refuge and shelter. They deserve whatever level of help can possibly be offered and provided, even if it involves some sacrifice or inconvenience, going the extra mile, so to speak.

One of the key issues is provision of resources and we welcome the announcement today of the government promise of extra provision for local areas in relation to health, education and policing. It was also positive and encouraging to hear today the conciliatory approach being explored in relation to a community hotel facility.

What began as a peaceful but determined protest at Roscreas Racket Hall escalated in seconds into a violent confrontation with Gardai

Separately, Councillor Michael Smith told Fran Curry on Tipp FM on Wednesday morning, that he attended the meeting with the Minister with an ambitious plan for Roscrea based on what the people of Roscrea had been looking for the 12 months.

Over the last 12 months, it was continuously said to me: can we not have the hotel back? We now have a situation where there is a commitment from Government. Yes it is unique, yes we have to work with different agencies to get more funding into it. But I will work to make that happen.

Councillor Smith said he did not attend the protest on principle. These are people who have suffered trauma and they are seeking shelter and we need to learn from the past. From message I have received on Monday, I am a person who want to rebuild our town now.

I dont want to see the images that I saw. Its catastrophic for our town. Right across from that site, we are looking to attract foreign direct investment. I dont want people to be talking about Roscrea in this light, I want to talk about the future that we have.

We have a unique opportunity here now. It looks like this Government are going to run with it, and work with the Town Centre First Committee. Thats something Ive been trying to do, added Cllr Smith.

A multi-agency task force set up in Tipperary to deal with asylum issues which meets on a monthly basis, had its meeting brought forward to last Monday. The group consists of Joe McGrath, CEO of Tipperary County Council, Cathaoirleach Ger Darcy, the HSE, ETB, Gardai, LEADER and the NTDC development company.

Its understood the owner of the hotel has been written to, to establish the long-term position in relation to the hotel.

Cllr Smith told the Irish Independent that he has tried to make contact with the owners. I made contact but no one has come back to me. I am assuming we will get a response and we will get a meeting, because its important, he said.

The community model involves the State purchasing the former Grants Hotel, while other funding streams would be used to redevelop and renovate it.

It would be used as a functioning hotel and a community cafe. A board of directors would be established which would be steered by Tipperary County Council, as this was a project that was sought under the Roscrea Town First plan.

There now needs to be the close of the sale, explained Cllr Smith. Then it needs to be established which fund is the best fit for the hotels structure and size.

It would be in essence a building that is owned by the people of Roscrea, and any monies that are derived from it. There will be jobs: the model is there and it is unique, but we have a unique circumstance already here in Roscrea. We just have to try and rebuild and thats what Im trying to do.

Meanwhile, a 26-acre site across from the Racket Hall which has been purchased by the Council, is ripe for foreign direct investment, added Cllr Smith. The site was purchased from the regional Shannon Development company.

Were trying to get people to invest in that site, he said. Given the current exposure that Roscrea is getting, now would be the ideal time to promote the site.
Sinn Fein TD for Wexford, Johnny Mythen, has called on all TDs in Wexford to support Sinn Feins motion to tackle the unacceptable practice of investment funds snapping up family homes.

He has also criticised the government for failing to tackle investment funds snapping up family homes.

The motion will be debated in the Dail on Wednesday January 17.

This follows the bulk purchase of 85 percent of homes in a new housing development in Dublin by an investment fund.

Speaking today, Teachta Mythen said: The purchase of 46 family homes at Belcamp Manor in Balgriffin, Dublin by an investment fund is another blow to struggling first time buyers.

This is not an isolated incident, with the Government failing to tackle investment funds snapping up family homes under the noses of workers and families who are and have saved every euro they can to buy their first home.

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For years, Sinn Fein argued for new laws and a higher rate of stamp duty to be charged to stop this unfair and unacceptable practice, including through amendments to the Finance Bill, which the Government opposed.

He also shared his opinion that the government's introduction of a 10 percent stamp duty on the bulk purchase of family homes was too little.

After public and political pressure, the Government belatedly moved in May 2021 to introduce a 10 percent stamp duty on the bulk purchase of family homes by investment funds.

At the time Sinn Fein warned in the Dail that this charge was too low to act as an effective deterrent and that has proved to be the case, he said.

In less than two years to the end of March 2023, investment funds bulk-purchased 630 homes worth 205 million.

It was clear at the time, and even clearer today, that the Government paid lip service to the public outrage caused by the snapping up of family homes by investment funds.

The stamp duty charged for the bulk purchase by investment funds of homes that should be available to workers and families must be increased to stop this unacceptable practice, he added.

Deputy Mythen said that Sinn Fein will introduce a motion to call for the rate of stamp duty to be increased.

On Wednesday, Sinn Fein will introduce a motion to the Dail calling for this stamp duty to be increased to stop this unacceptable practice.

Since this Government took office, house prices have risen by 28 percent with a first-time buyer now needing an income of 95,000 to buy a new home, he said.

The housing crisis is going from bad to worse under this government, with home ownership becoming more difficult and expensive for an entire generation, he added.
Wexford Fashion Designer Faye Anna Rochford will showcase her latest collection at Irelands annual ARC Fashion Show on Thursday March 28 at the RDS Concert Hall in Dublin. Now in its ninth year, the ARC Fashion Show will feature its biggest line-up yet with 25 fashion designers, five accessories designers and eight milliners.

Renowned Irish author and cancer survivor Emily Hourican will launch the show and all funds raised will go to ARC Cancer Support Centres who offer vital psychological, emotional, practical, and educational assistance to individuals of all ages affected by cancer and their caregivers.

Cleariestown native and 2009 NCAD fashion degree graduate, Faye Anna Rochford will unveil pieces from her FeRi fashion brand which is born out of creativity and nostalgia and designed to bring joy to the wearer.

The brand features pieces that "capture the energy of old and new, designed for those who want clothes they can love wearing, cherish and eventually pass on.

Sustainability is sewn into the roots of the brand with an emphasis on natural and reclaimed vintage textiles. Vibrant colours and hand-painted prints are designed in retro-inspired silhouettes, which are hand-made in tiny quantities. Fayes philosophy is Wear. Care. Mend. Lend which she attributes to her rural background growing up on a dairy farm in rural Co Wexford.

Dee Grant, CEO, ARC Cancer Support Centres, says, With an audience of 900 people in attendance, The ARC Fashion Show has become a firm favourite among the Irish public and a must-see fixture in calendars across Ireland.

"With the proceeds raised from the event, it means that ARC can be there for men, women and children affected by cancer and those who care for them. It means that we can be there for them every step of the way for as long as they need us. All of our services at ARC are provided completely free of charge.

The ARC Fashion Show takes place on Thursday, March 28 in the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin 4. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the show starting at 8 p.m. sharp via the Merrion Road entrance. Tickets cost 65 and can be purchased via Eventbrite - https://ARCFashionShow2024.eventbrite.ie
Arklows famous community spirit was on full show when local volunteers, residents and elected representatives gathered at Arus Lorcain to enjoy the Arklow Community Action Resource Centres annual New Years dinner.

Hosted by volunteers from the Community Action Resource Centre and Arklow parish priests, Arus Lorcain was buzzing with a sense of good cheer as guests were treated to a delicious three course meal with all the trimmings, courtesy of Chef Donal, followed by music, dancing and a bumper raffle.

Community Action Resource Centre volunteers were thrilled with the turnout and had high praise for the huge team of community members who made the afternoon possible.

What a great success our community dinner was, from start to finish there was a great atmosphere and was so lovely to see all our guests enjoying the wonderful food and dancing, an Arklow Community Action Resource Centre spokesperson said.

Big thanks to Donal and company for the lovely dinner, and of course to our great group of volunteers whose help we couldn't do without.

To Cliff Savage who provided the music, thank you. To all who sponsored the raffle prizes and donated in any way, we are very grateful. Thanks to our lovely Garda taxi and to the Arus for their hospitality.

Ourselves and the priests of the parish look forward to hosting this event each year and thank you all for everything.
The entrance to Mill Lane from the Kilcoole Road end. One of the incidents is alleged to have happen near this location. Photo: Google Earth

Gardai are investigating two incidents in Greystones, County Wicklow, following reports that a man approached a 13-year-old boy and allegedly tried to drag him into bushes, and a man allegedly exposed himself to a young girl on her way to school.

On Friday, December 22, 2023, a woman took to social media to warn of a man who it is believed approached her 13-year-old son on his way home from the rugby club in Greystones. She said the man came out of the bushes and tried to drag him into a bush.

Luckily my son is clever, fit and strong he sprinted home, he is shaken but ok. The guards are looking for him and took a statement. I will keep you all informed, she added.

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating an incident that took place on Mill Road in Greystones, County Wicklow on December 22, 2023.

On Friday, January 12, a resident took to the same forum to report a second incident on behalf of another woman. This incident is believed to have taken place on Mill Lane, a path connecting Kilcoole Road with Mill Road.

At 8:10am yesterday morning [Thursday, January 11] a local school girl walking to school was followed from Glen Herron estate and it is alleged a man exposed himself and asked her if she liked.

Thankfully she got away and physically unharmed. This has been reported to the gardai in Greystones. I was asked to post this from the mother of the girl. This is not ment (sic) to frighten anyone But please make your children aware. As a father of 4 I cannot express here how angry I am.

When contacted, gardai confirmed they are investigating an incident which occurred on the Kilcoole Road at approximately 8.20am on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

Following that incident, the Principal of Greystones Community College, Ruairi Farrell, said he has issued advice to parents.

I can confirm I have been made aware of an incident that occurred on Mill Lane last week, he said. I am aware that local gardai are investigating the matter. The school has written to parents to advise them to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious behaviour directly to Greystones gardai.

Local TD Jennifer Whitmore has also addressed the reports and raised residents concerns for their safety and that of their families.

I have been contacted by a number of very concerned constituents regarding these worrying reports, and I will be raising this with the gardai. We must do everything we can to ensure people feel safe in our community, she said.

Both incidents follow multiple, unconfirmed reports on social media in roughly the same location and of a similar nature.

On Saturday, January 6, a woman reported that a man standing behind a wall tried to talk to me and told me to come talk to him, I got out of there very fast and very shuck up (sic) i just want to warn anyone if anyones teenagers are out and about.

Meanwhile, over the weekend of January 13/14, a woman reported that a man followed my daughter and her friend from [outside] SuperValu in Charlesland last week and put his hands down his pants. They ran and he stopped following them. Theyre both ok but were both freaked out.

These reports have prompted calls for more awareness by residents in the community and boosting a presence through the Neighbourhood Watch so people feel safer.

Gardai said enquiries are ongoing into the incidents which took place on Friday, December 22, 2023 and Thursday, January 11, 2024.
Susan McGinnell with Paddy, Jen, Roisin and Aibhilin Walsh at the New Year Sea Swim in Bray.

Christ Church COI

Services of Worship for this Sunday The Third Sunday after the Epiphany: 11am Morning Prayer.

Parish Life Centre [PLC] Bookings: The Parish Life Centre is available for day and evening bookings. Please contact Tracey in the Parish Office at 01-286 2968.

Parish Office: The Parish Office can be contacted at 01- 286 2968 or info@christchurchbray.ie between 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday.

Connect Online: Our most active communication tools currently are our Website www.christchurchbray.ie which contains information on our live streamed worship services, weekly Blogs, events and news, and our facebook page @christchurchbray.

Irish Trefoil GuildGuiding for Life: Calling all former leaders of the Irish Girl Guides in Bray and the surrounding area. There is now a Trefoil Guild in Bray. Contact Anne at braytrefoilguild@gmail.com.

Bray Methodist Church

Worship for this Sunday: 10amSunday Worship with Creche and Sunday School.

Bray Presbyterian Church

Worship for this Sunday: 11.30am Sunday Worship.

Christian Assembly Church

Worship for this Sunday: 10.45am Morning Worship

Wednesdays: 8pm Prayer Meeting & Bible study.

Cornerstone Church at The Well

Worship this Sunday: 11am.

Bray Gospel Hall

Bray Gospel Hall, 27 Florence Road - Sunday Morning 10.45am to 12 Noon: Breaking of Bread (Lords Supper)A Time of Worship, Praise and Remembrance.

Holy Redeemer Parish

Contact Holy Redeemer Parish: Call (01) 2868413. Website: www.holyredeemerbray.ie; Email: office@holyredeemerbray.ie.

Parish Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 9.30am to 11am. If you need to contact us email: office@holyredeemer.ie.

Mass Times: 10amMonday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday No Mass on Tuesday. Sunday Masses: 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday and on Sunday at 10.30am and 12Noon. To book a Mass, please call into the Sacristy before or after our Masses.

Mass Cards: Mass Cards may be purchased from the Parish Office during its opening hours.

Baptism: Registration for Baptism can be made online via the parish website www.holyredeemerbray.ie.

St. Annes Church, Shankill: The Vigil Mass on Saturdays is celebrated at 5pm. All are welcome.

St. Peters Parish

To Book a Mass: To book a Mass, please contact the Parish Office on 01- 282 9467 or email: stpeterslittlebray1@gmail.com.

Parish Office: Parish Office opening hours areMonday: 9.30am to 12.30pm; Tuesday: 9am to 12.30pm; Wednesday: Closed; Thursday: 9am to 12.30pm; Friday: 9am to 12.30pm.

The parish office can be contacted by calling 01-282 4967 or by email: stpeterslittlebray1@gmail.com.

St. Peters Church Mass Times: Sunday: 9.30am (Irish), 11.30am. Holy Days of Obligation: 11.30am. No Weekday Mass. Mass on the First Friday of the Month is celebrated at 10am. Sunday Mass is broadcast on the parish web-site at 9.30am (Irish) and 11.30am (English)Google Chrome required.

Car Park Hours: These are from 9am to 12.30pm, Monday to Friday, for parish business and at the weekends during church ceremonies. The Cemetery is accessible via the laneway for pedestrians.

St. Peters Cemetery: There is a strict policy of No Dumping Allowed in any area of the cemetery. Visitors to the cemetery are requested to take home all forms of rubbish with them in order to keep the cemetery tidy. Your co-operation is appreciated.

St. Annes Church, Shankill: A Vigil Mass is celebrated on Saturdays at 5pm. All are welcome.

St. Fergals Parish

Mass Times: Mass times are 9.30am Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. No morning Mass on Thursdays and Saturdays. Saturday: 7pm Vigil Mass; Sundays: 8am and 10.30am.

Baptism: Baptisms take place on the first and third Saturday of each Month at 12Noon. Bookings can be made through the Parish Office Only. The Preparation meeting takes place on the Monday before the 1st Saturday of the month. Please call into the Parish Office three weeks in advance of the Baptism to complete the Baptism Form and to confirm the date.

Confessions: Are heard on Saturdays after the 7pm Vigil Mass.

Marriage: All couples must give notice to the priest or Parish Secretary at least three months prior to the date of marriage.

Syro Malabar Catholic Church

Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 2.30pm in St. Fergals Church, Ballywaltrim.

Our Lady Queen of Peace

Parish Website: www.queenofpeace.ie.

Church Opening Hours: The Church closes at 4.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Eucharistic Adoration: Eucharistic Adoration takes place from 11am to 10pm on Mondays only in this Church.

Mass: Weekday Masses are celebrated at 10.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekend Masses are at 6.30pm on Saturdays and 10.30am and 12 Noon on Sundays.

Mass Bookings: Anyone who wishes to book a Mass can do so by contacting the Parish Secretary via email at: secretary@queenofpeace.ie, or call 2745497.

Parish Centre: To book a meeting room in the Parish Centre please call 01-2760045 or email: villafas1@hotmail.com.

QOP youth club

Queen of Peace Adventure Youth Club leaders met and put together a proposal for a very advanced exciting and challenging programme of events for the year. It includes a lot of outdoor adventure activities for at home and away. The proposal will only be adopted if enough volunteers are available to run with it.

Diving club

Bray Divers Sub-aqua Club based in Greystones Harbour will be recruiting up to six new recruits. Club activities include diving for fun, regular surveys, removal of plastics, and other items from the sea floor.

Some of the divers hope to plant sea grass in the Greystones area in the near future which will improve the environment. Diving is organised locally, nationwide and abroad. All training and certification issued has worldwide recognition. For more information call 087 6756439.

Bray Library

Opening hours are 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday with late opening on Tuesday and Thursday until 8.30pm. The library can be contacted at 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie. Online services including e-books, audio-books, digital magazines and newspapers and e-learning are available via the library website.

The library is again involved in Imbolc, the Community Seed Arc programme, where one can get seeds for a variety of plants and after they flower, donate seeds from them for the programme. As always, you can have seeds sent to your local Wicklow Library branch by emailing your branchand requesting up to 4 packets.

Knit and Crochet for Purple House Cancer Support takes place at 11am every Monday in the library no need to book.

Doodle Time for 9-12 year olds takes place every Thursday from 3pm to 4pm.

Afterschool Storytime takes place every Tuesday at 3pm in the Junior Library.

Resistance training for beginnersa six-week introductory course for beginners with Michal Turkowski will take place from 10.05am to 10.50am on Fridays February 16th, February 23rd, March 1st, March 8th, March 15th and March 22nd. Participants should be available for all six sessions. Booking required email:braylib@wicklowcoco.ie to reserve a place.

The Junior Book Club (ages 9 to 11) is now accepting new members. It meets on the second Monday of each month at 3.15pm. Email:braylibrary@wicklowcoco.ie or ask at the library desk to book a place.

Today (Wednesday) as part of Local History in your Library James Scannell will present Going to the Pictures in the 1950s and 1960s at 7pm in Ballywatrim Library, Boghall Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Ballywaltrim Library

Opening hours are 10am to 5 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 10am to 8pm on Wednesday. The library can be contacted at 01-2723205 or by email at: ballywatrimlibrary@wicklowcoco.ie. Online services including e-books, audio-books, digital magazines and newspapers and e-learning are available via the library website. Borrowers can renew their books on-line at any time. Tummy-Time for Babies takes place every Monday and Friday from 10.30am to 12pm no booking required.

Today ( Wednesday) as part of Local History in your Library James Scannell will present Going to the Pictures in the 1950s and 1960s at 7pm in this library. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Bray Cualann Historical Society

The Bray Cualann Historical Society, the local history society for Bray and North Wicklow, will open its 2024 programme in the Royal Hotel, Bray, at 8pm on Thursday January 18th 2024 when the AGM will take place and will conclude with a presentation by James Scannell called A Dangerous Occupation Working on the Railway in the Bray Area which will recall a selection of accidents in and around the Bray area all are welcome to attend this lecture admission is 8 for non-members/visitors.

Members and supporters of the Society are asked to note that the following events will take place in the coming week today (Wednesday) James Scannell will present Going to the Pictures in the 1950s and 1960s at 7pm in Ballywatrim Library, Boghall Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Admission is free and all are welcome; Dr. Cormac Moore will present A History of Lemons Sweets at 7.30pm to the Greystones Archaeological and Historical Society in Kilian Family Centre, beside Holy Rosary Church, Greystones. All are welcomeadmission is 3; Antoine Giacometti will present Archaeological Investigations at Pucks Castle, Shankill at 8pm to the Dun Laoghaire Borough Historical Society in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire. All are welcomeadmission is 5; tomorrow (Thursday) the AGM of the Bray Cualann Historical Society will take place at 8pm in the Royal Hotel, Main Street, Bray, and all members are requested to attend. The AGM will be followed by a presentation by James Scannell recalling A Dangerous Occupation: Working on the Railway in the Bray Areaall are welcome admission is 8 for non-members.

The Bray Cualann Historical Society is always interested in new members and those wishing to join the Society can do so at tomorrow nights meeting of the Society in the Royal Hotel, Bray, or log onto the Societys website to obtain more information.

The attention of members and supporters of the Society is drawn to the Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society 2023/2024, Joint Editors Chris Lawlor and Declan Keenan, in which more of the articles are Dame Ninette de Valois (Edris Stannus by Paul Tyrell, A 1792 Rental of the Lordship of Belan, Co. Kildare by Richard B. Lennon, Language Matters Revisited by Ita Roddy, Death from a Flat-Nosed Bullet in Blessington by James Scannell, A farming community: Hollywood in the early nineteenth-century by John Glennon, Sadhbh OByrne glimpses of a Gaelic woman of sixteenth-century Ireland by Cora Crampton, and The Manor of Blessington, created by Michael Boyle by Jim Corley. Copies can be ordered from the West Wicklow Historical Society by emailing: info@wwhs.ie.

Poetry in the Park

Poetry in the Park takes place on the First Sunday of Every Month at 12pm on the bandstand in the Peoples Park, Lower Dargle Road, Bray. Listen to or read your favourite poems, hear original poetry performed by local poets or simply chat with other poetry fans in this beautiful outdoor setting on the banks of the River Dargle.
Parish of Powerscourt with Kilbride

Services at Powerscourt with Kilbride: All Services are available on the Parish YouTube Channel.

Service of Worship in St. Patricks Church, Powerscourt, for this Sunday The Third Sunday after the Epiphany: 11.30am All Age Service.

Service of Worship in St. Brigids Church, Kilbride, for this SundayThe Third Sunday after the Epiphany: 9.45am Holy Communion 2.

Community Prayer: This month our gathering with St. Marys takes place today (Wednesday) at 11am in St. Patricks rectory. All are welcome.

Irish Trefoil GuildGuiding for Life: Calling all former leaders of the Irish Girl Guides in Bray and the surrounding area. There is now a Trefoil Guild in Bray. Contact Anne at braytrefoilguild@gmail.com.

St Marys Church

Parish Website: www.enniskerryparish.ie is the Parish website of the Immaculate Heart of Marycheck it out for the latest information about our parish.

Facebook Page: There is a facebook page for the parish of Enniskerry, incorporating all four churches which facebook users will find under Enniskerry parish with a cover photo of trees and profile picture of a quote from Pope Francis. Please give it a like and feel free to post news from your community.

Enniskerry (also Curtlestown & Glencree) Parish Office opening times: Monday to Friday: 10am to 1pm; email: stmarys@enniskerryparish.ie; or call 01-2760030.

St. Mochonogs Parish Office opening times: Monday: 9am to 2pm, Tuesday: (by phone) 10am to 1pm, Wednesday: 10am to 2pm, Thursday (by phone) 10am to 1pm. Closed Friday.

Parish Churches Schedule of Masses: EnniskerrySt Marys: Saturday evening 6pm and also via parish webcam; Sunday 11am and also via parish webcam. Weekday Mass at Enniskerry is at 10.15am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and also via parish webcam lay-led prayer service on Wednesday; and Saturday at 10.15 am and also available via parish webcam. Masses in Curtlestown and Kilmacanogue are on Sunday at 10am. Mass in Glencree is at 9am on the first Sunday each month.

Baptism Requests: Requests for Baptism are now taking place online at www.enniskerryparish.ie.

St. Mochonogs, Kilmacanogue: St. Mochonogs are starting to put together ideas to celebrate our 200th anniversary this year. If you feel you can help in any way, please give Joyce a call and we will get back to you. We are anxious to include the entire Community and involve as many parishioners as possible. All are welcome

Community Prayer: This month our gathering with St. Patricks will take place at 11am today (Wednesday) in St. Patricks rectory. All are welcome.

Hard of Hearing: There is a hard at hearing acoustic loop in St. Marys Church. If you are having difficulties in hearing and you have hearing aids with a hard at hearing radio facility, switch your hearing aid to this radio mode.

Church Music Group: We meet on Tuesday evenings at 7.15pm in St. Marys Church. We would love to have a few more voices. If you would like to try, just come along and you will be warmly welcomed.

Broadcast List: A broadcast list for the parish is now up and running. This is to keep everyone up to date with what is happening in the parish and for easy communication in relation to building our communities. If you would like your name added to the list please contact Aideen 086-8182 241.

Knock Pilgrimage Save the Date: Archbishop Dermot Farrell will lead our annual pilgrimage to Knock on Saturday April 27th. This year we are celebrating 145 years since the apparition in 1879. We are encouraging Parishes/Parish Partnerships to book buses and to share the date with parish groups. We are glad to say that the Choir of Many Voices from throughout the Archdiocese will be back this year. A series of workshops with interesting and thought-provoking speakers and being planned, more details to follow. As in previous years, parishes should plan to arrive in Knock for 11.45am. We are looking for expressions of interest for the above.

If you are interested and have the date free, please contact the parish office at 01-2760030 (St. Marys) or 01-2021882 (St. Mochonogs) or text 086-8182241.

New Here? You are very welcome. Please keep up to date with us at www.enniskerryparish.ie. You can register as a parishioner by mailing us at stmarys@enniskerryparish.ie or stmochonogs@enniskerryparish.ie. If you wish to receive items, or if you would like to receive the Parish Link by email weekly please phone the Parish Office in Enniskerry on 01-2760030 (10am to 1pm Monday to Friday or email: stmarys@enniskerry.ie; and Kilmacanogue on 01-2021882. (10am to 1pm) Monday to Thursday or email:stmochonogs@enniskerryparish.ie.

Rosary: A group from the parish meets every Wednesday evening, on Zoom, from 7.30pm to 8pm, to pray the Rosary. Please call or message 087-4189 338, to be added to the group or for further information.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul: The local telephone number is 01-8550022.

History Society

Members and supporters of the Enniskerry History Society are asked to note that the following events will take place in the week ahead.

Today (Wednesday) James Scannell will present Going to the Pictures in the 1950s and 1960s at 7pm in Ballywatrim Library, Boghall Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Admission is free and all are welcome; Dr. Cormac Moore will present A History of Lemons Sweets at 7.30pm to the Greystones Archaeological and Historical Society in Kilian Family Centre, beside Holy Rosary Church, Greystones. All are welcomeadmission is 3; Antoine Giacometti will present Archaeological Investigations at Pucks Castle, Shankill at 8pm to the Dun Laoghaire Borough Historical Society in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire. All are welcomeadmission is 5; tomorrow (Thursday) the AGM of the Bray Cualann Historical Society will take place at 8pm in the Royal Hotel, Main Street, Bray, and all members are requested to attend. The AGM will be followed by a presentation by James Scannell recalling A Dangerous Occupation: Working on the Railway in the Bray Areaall are welcome admission is 8 for non-members; Cormac F. Lowth will present A History of Lifeboats in Dublin Bay at 8pm to the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association in the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club, Ringsend Road, Dublin 4. All are welcomeDonation to the R.N.L.I.

The attention of members and supporters of the Enniskerry History Society is drawn to the Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society 2023/2024, Joint Editors Chris Lawlor and Declan Keenan, in which more of the articles are Revisiting the 1798 Dunlavin massacre for its 225th anniversary by Chris Lawlor, Balfe the Robber by Brendan Corrigan, A sociological interpretation of the Hillfort Capital exploring Hughstown and Tinoran hillforts: part one of three by Mairead Kelly, Charles Maule Drury (1848-1939) collector of folklore Paul Gorry, The castles of Oldcourt and Three Castles by Peter W. Halligan and  I say as I think it: The life and controversial times of Rev. T.C. OConnor, Rector of Donoughmore and Don by Rosemary Raughter. Copies can be ordered from the West Wicklow Historical Society by emailing: info@wwhs.ie.

Enniskerry Library

Opening hours are Tuesday 10.30am to 12.30pm & 1.30pm to 4.30pm; Wednesday: 2pm to 4.30pm & 6pm to 8pm; Friday: 10.30am to 12.30pm & 1.30pm to 4.30pm; Saturday: 10am to 2.30pm. The library is closed on Mondays and Thursdays and on the Saturdays of Bank Holiday weekends. The library can be contacted at 01-2864339 or email: enniskerrylib@wicklowcoco.ie. Online services including e-books, audio-books, digital magazines and newspapers and e-learning are available from the library website.

Today (Wednesday) Knitting with Bridhid takes place at 6.45pm all ages are welcome 4mm needles required and a ball of wool. Booking is required call 01-2864339 or email: enniskerrylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

On Wednesday February 7th as part of Local History in your Library Bill Nelson will recall a Junkers 52 Plane Crash in the Wicklow Mountains at 6.45pm admission is free but booking is requiredcall 01-2864339 or email: enniskerrylib@wicklowcoco.ie
A debate over the need for Bray to have its own town team took place at the January meeting of Bray Municipal District, where councillors felt more time was needed before approving a body that would enable its stakeholders to have a say on projects for Bray town centre.

There are four town teams operating across the five municipal districts in Wicklow, with the exception of Bray. At the September meeting of Bray Municipal District, the elected members received a presentation from the town generation officer, Deirdre Whitfield, on the policy and the objectives within the Governments Town Centre First policy and the proposal to establish a town team for Bray.

Councillors at that meeting agreed that a group of officials would be convened to develop terms of reference for the establishment of the town team, which would be brought back to the Municipal District elected members of Bray for consideration.

The policy framework for the Bray Town Team includes the national Town Centre First policy that was launched in 2022 to provide guidance for the regeneration of town centres in Ireland.

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It is viewed that the decision to establish a town team is a significant step towards this goal. The town team brings together key stakeholders, from a variety of sectors, who can cooperate and work together on actions to make the Bray town centre a better place.

It would be unrealistic for the town team to cover the whole area of Bray. The main challenge therefore is to focus on the rejuvenation of the town centre.

The members of the town team will be a cross-section of stakeholders in the town centre, namely: Four councillors elected by Bray Municipal District, two council officials appointed by the Bray Municipal District Manager, one representative of the Bray business community facilitated by Bray Chamber, two retailers from the town centre facilitated by Bray Chamber, one representative of social services facilitated by Bray Area Partnership, one representative of the Bray Tidy Towns, one representative of community and residents organisations facilitated by Wicklow PPN, one representative of educational providers facilitated by KWETB, one representative from the local arts and culture community and one representative of An Garda Siochana

Among the terms of reference, it was stated that the chair will be appointed by the members of the Bray Town Team and members of the Bray Town Team will serve for a period of no longer than five years. Members may decide to operate the Bray Town Team as a company limited by guarantee (CLG). In such a case, the Bray Town Team will organise an Annual General Meeting which will be a public meeting where all stakeholders are invited to attend. At the AGM members will be able to nominate and elect the directors of the CLG.

If the members establish a CLG, then the Bray Town Team will open its own bank account to which grants and contributions will be deposited and from which expenditures for town team activities and projects will be paid.

Within the first year of its inauguration, the Bray Town Team will draft a plan with objectives and actions to address the opportunities and challenges to rejuvenate the town centre.

The work of the Bray Town Team will be communicated to the public on platforms including those of Wicklow County Council such as Bray.ie.

In a lengthy debate, the terms of reference were discussed by elected members, beginning with Councillor Rory OConnor, who believed that town teams were something of a necessary evil and that in an ideal world councillors should be having more meetings to address those issues that town teams in other districts deal with.

In his opinion, the chair of any town team should always be the cathaoirleach, which would show it is not some ad hoc council. He also believed there should be a reduction in the number of members.

Cllr Dermot OBrien said he could not endorse the document as things stood, as he felt there was a lot of work that needed to be done with it. While passionate about public engagement, he had his reservations over the formulation of something that he wasnt a co-architect of.

He also had issues with the identity of a town team, given it didnt appear to represent the whole of the district geographically. He also took issue with the fact that in the 88-page document, councillors were mentioned zero times, which appears to diminish their role, at least in this space.

This was something very challenging, he said, and added that there was an interesting power dynamic at play.

The draft also failed to mention the role of young people, Cllr OBrien said, despite in the review of town teams, it was acknowledged that the voice of youth was the most recognised absent voice that would be recommended to be in the town team.

This, he said, shows there is still work to do. He also pointed to the numbers, where there were only four councillors under the terms of reference to be included on the team, and how that choice might be made from the sitting group of eight.

There also needs to be a big conversation around why this needed to happen  because national policy demands it, because it was recommended . . . or because we think it will add value to local democracy?. Maybe there is a better vehicle to achieve the ends of any town team, he suggested. Finally, he said time and space had to be created to ensure trust in reaching any consensus.

Cllr Anne Ferris also echoed the need to find pace and space for debate, and that agreement could not happen tonight. Councillors needed more time to review the terms of reference, she suggested.

On composition, to be able to embrace all the organisations in the town it may indeed be successful, and she doesnt believe there is a real fear that the town team would take over the roles of the councillors.

She added that she was in favour, in general, of a town team, and with four councillors they would be the largest stakeholder. However, given people have very strong feelings about it, there was a need to step back and take sufficient time to consider it further.

Councillor Joe Behan however had no truck with the move to form a town team.

It was no coincidence that the decline of town centres also happened at the same time that urban district councils were abolished and the powers that councils such as this council had, over planning, housing, finance were taken away, and effectively sub-let down to Wicklow County Council or now, as Government is suggesting, given out to people who were not elected at all, he said.

Since 2014 [when administration of the town was amalgamated with Wicklow County Council under the Local Government Reform Act] Cllr Behan said he believes that councillors have been effectively hamstrung, and if the Government are [now] waving money and saying abandon your powers, give them over to elected people, and well give you money, that to me is a disgrace, four months before we go to the people looking for a mandate to serve them for the next five years.

Cllr Behan said that councillors have a duty, to represent the people that put us here, adding that within the terms of reference, this unelected body would be able to open a bank account of its own with no oversight by the elected representatives but will be overseen by the officials of Wicklow County Council, bypassing us.

He said enough powers had been lost and we might as well finish the job and relinquish the remainder to an unelected body.

We made the decision, he continued, that on any town team, the chairperson would be the cathaoirleach of the district and any councillor who wants to be on it, will be on it. This, he said, has been completely ignored despite it being passed as policy by the elected members.

I dont have trust in this process, we have a lot of work to do on the town centre, that is for sure, he said. And maybe, before worrying about the money that we might get from the Government if we set up this town team, maybe we should spend the next meeting talking about the 2.5m that came into the coffers of Wicklow County Council, as per the auditors report [yesterday], on the Florentine Centre . . . maybe we should talk about how were going to spend that money developing the town centre.

Councillor Aoife Flynn Kennedy expressed some disappointment at the use of language, particularly around the terms power and disgrace, amid suggestions that Wicklow County Council would be taking over the decisions of what happens with this town team from the elected members here.

As the only district without a town team, Bray had the benefit of being able to see the work of similar teams in other districts and to ensure that any established in Bray would be able to learn from that experience.

She was glad that at least a discussion was under way and that there was consensus on allowing more time to reach a decision.

Anything that provides an opportunity for more community to have a voice is a positive thing, she said. When it came to the issue of power, it was not about kudos or achievements, but the potential benefit to the community from having a town team.

Hoping to bring a resolution of sorts to the debate, Cllr Erika Doyle said that while she didnt believe there was the intention to use the town team as a vehicle for nefarious means, it was open to that and the success or failure would lie with those involved.

If someone has a vested interest, of course they can use this as a vehicle, she said. To that end, she believed that any, and as many, members who want to be included should be.

Seeing the merits of the town teams, in a general sense, the devil is in the detail, Cllr Doyle said, and suggested that rather than the elected members going their separate ways to pore over the document further and submit feedback individually to a separate committee, a meeting of all the members should be arranged to find common ground.

District Manager Lorraine Gallagher outlined the merits she believed came with the establishment of a town team, and noted how the district would not want to be an outlier without one, given the benefits to the community that have been witnessed elsewhere in the county.

Cathoirleach, Councillor Melanie Corrigan, put the proposal to the councillors, whereby an agreement was reached for the elected members to convene separately before the next meeting in February.
Greystones Councillor Lourda Scott has been selected as a substitute MEP candidate for the Green Party in the Ireland South constituency.

Substitutes replace the MEP if the MEP is unable to complete their term in the European Parliament for any reason. Councillor Scott will be third on the panel, following a recent voting process among Green Party members.

Speaking after the selection, Cllr Scott said: I am delighted to have the endorsement of my fellow Green Party members and to be added to the MEP substitute panel. This means that if Ireland South re-elects an MEP that I could potentially become his or her replacement.

I recently travelled to Brussels to meet with current Ireland South MEP Grace O Sullivan. It was great to visit the European Parliament and get an insight as to how European politics works. We discussed at length how the EU can work for us on a local level here in Wicklow, through funding schemes such as LEADER and the translation of EU legislation to practical actions on the ground.

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I pointed out that sometimes the work locally can point the way forward. For example, through my efforts on the Climate Policy committee the use of glyphosate by the Council is now banned, a topic that is being hotly debated in Europe. We also discussed the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the response by parliamentarians.

Cllr Scott continued: It is a huge honour to be considered as a replacement for an MEP should the opportunity arise. However, my priority at the moment is to continue with my Council work. I will be seeking re-election in the Greystones Municipal District in June.

I want to remind all residents who are over the age of 18 that they are entitled to vote in the local elections and all citizens of the European Union over the age of 18 that they are entitled to vote in the European elections. I encourage everyone to join the electoral register if they arent already on it and to use your vote this year, she concluded.
Cormac has had a lifelong interest in the sea and maritime history and spent several years as a merchant seaman on cargo ships and has been a scuba diver for much of his life.

Speaking about the upcoming lecture, Stan OReilly of Wicklow Historical Society, said: Cormac will be covering the history of the RNLI Lifeboats in Dublin in his illustrated lecture. He will be going back to the early 19th century, including before the RNLI was established, but where lifeboats were still sent out to rescue. He will also be covering the 1895 disaster in Dun Laoghaire where a whole rescue crew lost their lives while out on a rescue mission. They all died and it actually turned out that nobody on the boat they were trying to attend to was in any real harm. All 15 were buried at a huge service held at Deans Grange Cemetery.

The lecture takes place on Tuesday, January 23, at the De La Salle Pastoral Centre in Wicklow town, starting at 8 p.m.
The United States is the only nation on Earth with perpetual presidential campaigns. Campaigns for president begin the day after a president is elected and literally continue non-stop until the next election day. As election day moves closer, we then have to endure a mind-numbing, nonsensical Republican primary system that requires presidential contenders to spend months in two sparsely populated states that are simply not representative of the overall American populace or the issues facing the nation.

This idiotic system begins with the Iowa caucuses. Iowas population of 3,207,000 people accounts for just 1% of the United States total population. Its percentage of rural residents is almost double that of the national average. Blacks comprise just 3.8% of its population. Blacks, however, comprise 13.6% of the United States total population. Yet, the winner of the Iowa caucuses almost always then becomes the early favorite for the party nomination.

The campaign then moves on to the New Hampshire primary. New Hampshire is even less representative of the national populace than Iowa. New Hampshires population doesnt even amount to one-half of one percent of the United States total population. Only 1.5% of its population is Black. The person who wins both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary then becomes the prohibitive favorite to go on to win the nomination for president. The Democratic Party state primary sequence differs from the Republican but is just as nonsensical.

Normally, in any election for any public office, the winner is the person who gets the most votes. However, because of the absolutely outdated and un-democratic Electoral College System, the eventual winner of the national presidential election doesnt need to get the most votes and doesnt even need to campaign in multiple states, or even gather a single vote in multiple states to win the election. This, of course, makes no sense, but until American voters demand changes in the primary system and the elimination of the Electoral College, we will elect presidents who simply do not represent the majority will of the American people.

Richard W. Kirisits

Kenmore
Arnold Schwarzenegger was detained by customs officials at Munich airport on Wednesday 17 January after failing to declare a luxury watch.

German authorities found an Audemars Piguet wristwatch in luggage belonging to the 76-year-old former Governor of California and Terminator star.

According to reports in Bild, Schwarzenegger told authorities that he intends to auction off the custom-made watch at an event this weekend.

A representative for the Munich customs office told the newspaper: We have initiated criminal tax proceedings. The watch should have been registered because it is an import.

The spokesperson added: If the goods remain in the EU, you have to pay tax and duty on them. That applies to everyone. They declined to say exactly how long Schwarzenegger was being held for, saying simply: That takes a bit of time.

However, they added that the actor and politician would soon be able to resume his journey to Austria. Schwarzenegger was reportedly on his way to a charity auction to benefit climate initiatives, and also has plans to attend the Hahnenkamm ski race in the village of Kitzbuhel in the Austrian Alps.

Last year, Schwarzenegger was sued over a January 2022 car crash, which reportedly left a woman permanently disabled.

In court documents obtained by TMZ, Cheryl Augustine claimed she was driving near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Allenford Avenue in Los Angeles when she was struck by Schwarzeneggers car.

The lawsuit accused him of driving wrongfully and recklessly.

As a result, Ms Augustine claims she sustained shock and injury to her nervous system, and that her injuries will result in some permanent disability.

The lawsuit, also obtained by The Blast, claims the woman has been unable to work since the car crash and has suffered out-of-pocket property damage, loss of use of her automobile, and incurred other out-of-pocket expenses in an amount not known.

She is seeking damages to cover her medical bills and property damage, among other items.

The incident at the centre of the lawsuit unfolded on 21 January 2022, when Schwarzenegger was driving a Yukon SUV in the area around half a mile from his home.

TMZ reported that Schwarzeneggers SUV collided with a red Prius at around 4.35pm that afternoon.

Law enforcement sources told the outlet that the actor had gone to turn left before the left turn arrow on the traffic lights switched from red to green.

No arrests were made and police did not believe any alcohol or drugs were involved, ABC7 reported.
Paul Mescal play the lead Lucius in 'Gladiator 2', which goes on release in November. Photo: PA

Paul Mescal has said hell be profoundly depressed if Gladiator 2 makes him globally famous, as the release date for Ridley Scotts epic approaches.

The original 2000 film about a Roman general, Maximus Decimus Meridius, who ends up in slavery after the murder of emperor Marcus Aurelius, became a global hit and raised the profile of its lead Russell Crowe.

Crowe, now 59, won an Oscar for the movie, which received 12 nominations, and eventually took home five awards.

Scott returns to direct Gladiator 2, which releases in November this year, with Mescal playing the films lead Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen).

He will star opposite Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi and Joseph Quinn.

In an interview with The Sunday Times on 14 January, Mescal said he doesnt know what difference an increased level of fame could mean, adding he would hope the reception to Scotts magnum opus doesnt alter his day-to-day.

The 27-year-old Olivier award winner added: Maybe thats naive? Is it just that more people will stop you in the street? Id get profoundly depressed if thats so and hope it isnt true.

Ill have an answer next year, but if [Gladiator 2] impacts my life in that way, Ill be in a bad spot. Id have to move on and do an obtuse play nobody wants to see.

Mescal added he would just get too f***ing bored living life hidden away in a VIP section, and that he doesnt want to close himself off to going out or meeting someone in a bar or getting drunk at a party.

That would turn me into a boring human, the Normal People star said: It would be dangerous to start wrapping yourself in cotton wool and not be out in the world, through fear.

Mescal also told the newspaper that things are generally okay when he meets people who recognise him, but if someone wants to be a d*** and say that they went on a date with me, it doesnt reflect poorly on me, it reflects poorly on them.

Elsewhere in the interview, the Maynooth-born actor spoke about how toxic masculinity has ruined the world.

Changing what it means to be a man isnt an easy thing, theres a lot of painful conversations to be had, Mescal reflected.

He rose to fame for playing complex student Connell opposite Daisy Edgar Joness Marianne in the hit BBC series Normal People, based on Sally Rooneys eponymous novel.

Last year, he was nominated for an Oscar and Bafta for Aftersun, about a father struggling with his mental health while on holiday with his daughter, and won an Olivier Award for a stage adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire.

His latest film, romantic fantasy drama All Of Us Strangers, sees him star opposite fellow Irish actor Andrew Scott.

Additional reporting from wires.
Pierce Brosnan has pleaded not guilty to allegedly entering an off-limits area at a US national park.

The James Bond actor is accused of straying off the designated walkway and hiking in the "delicate and dangerous Mammoth Hot Springs at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

He was charged with foot travel in a thermal area and a closure violation after allegedly venturing off the permitted path, attempting to get a closer look at thermals on November 1, according to court documents obtained by The US Sun.

The Cowboy State Daily reports that the Navan man entered a plea via a paper filing on January 4 over the incident in the US District Court for Wyoming and requested that his upcoming court hearing on January 23, which he would have been required to attend in person, be postponed.

Brosnans attorney Karl Knuchel filed the not-guilty plea on his clients behalf.

Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick granted his request to cancel his initial court appearance, setting up a virtual conference for February 20 instead.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 17th

Brosnan was cited twice for allegedly breaking rules at Mammoth Hot Springs by the US Attorney for Wyoming on December 26.

A photo of the 70-year-old posing on the geothermal springs was uploaded to the Instagram account @touronsofyellowstone, which exposes tourists, back in November.

He had been in the area filming The Unholy Trinity, a Western directed by Richard Gray and starring Brosnan as a sheriff alongside Samuel L. Jackson.

According to the National Park Service (NPS) website, Water in hot springs can cause severe or fatal burns, and scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs.

More than 20 people have been killed by some of Yellowstone's 10,000 geothermal pools, geysers, mudpots, steam vents, and hot springs.

Federal rules state that national park visitors must remain on designated walkways for safety reasons. Anyone who ventures off the boardwalk risks a possible six months in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 (4,500).
Kate Garraway, with her husband, Derek Draper, and her parents, Gordon and Marilyn Garraway (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Kate Garraway is being supported after vile and disgusting comments made by former Apprentice contestant Katie Hopkins about her late husband Derek Draper.

Hopkins, who first rose to fame in the third series of The Apprentice, has become known over the years for her extreme views and, in 2020, was banned from X/Twitter for breaching the sites rules by sharing abuse and hateful conduct.

However, Hopkins, who has previously generated intense backlash due to such posts, had her account reinstated in November 2023 after the platform was acquired by Elon Musk  and on Sunday (14 January), set her sights on Good Morning Britain broadcaster Garraway just nine days after the death of her husband after a lengthy battle with long Covid.

On 5 January, Garraway, who spent the last four years caring for the former political lobbyist, thanked her friends and fans for their unwavering support, and has since shared an update on family life following Drapers death.

Hopkins used the opportunity to mock Garraway in a video that has now been viewed more than four million times. In the clip, she said: 8.30 tonight theres a documentary on the TV that you all need to watch. Yeah, its a Kate Garraway documentary, so its important that I finish on time for you tonight.

Hopkins then added, laughing Its Kate Garraway: Life After Derek. Theres also a book shes releasing to go with the documentary hes only been dead a week.

Kate Garraway, with her husband, Derek Draper, and her parents, Gordon and Marilyn Garraway (Andrew Matthews/PA)

There is no such interview or book being released by Garraway. Her comments have led to outrage, with many branding them vile and disgusting.

Among those supporting Garraway in the wake of the comments is Piers Morgan, who called Hopkins despicable and comedian Dom Joly, who said of the commentator: She is a pure sociopath  zero empathy, total grifter.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 17th

Meanwhile, broadcaster Lorraine King added: Just when you think Katie Hopkins cant stoop lower she pulls out a joker card.

What breed of sick person would laugh at Kate Garraway and her now late husband Derek Draper. Hopkins is clearly jealous that she hasnt experienced true love. Why cant she just be nice  even once.

In the wake of of Drapers death, Garraway announced she would take a leave of absence from her presenting roles, including on GMB.

The presenter, who also hosts her own show on Smooth Radio, plans to return to work in the future, according to the PA news agency.

Katie Hopkins

Garraway announced that Draper, who contracted Covid-19 during the early days of the pandemic, had died after becoming critically ill early in December last year.

Her statement read: Im sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.

As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.

Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.

Tony Blair, Elton John, Gordon Brown, former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell, and Lorraine Kelly led the tributes to Draper.

Blair described the Labour adviser as a ruthless political operative and an important part of the New Labour story, while Brown remembered him as a brilliant, creative and multitalented man.
Abbeyfeale on the Kerry-Limerick border was the coldest place in the country so far this week as it hit -6.5C

Hard frosts and plummeting temperatures over the next 48 hours will be swiftly followed by what is expected to be a massive storm this weekend.

A status yellow low temperature and ice warning for all of Ireland was extended for another day and will now be in place until noon on Thursday.

Met Eireann has also extended a status yellow snow and ice warning for Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo, which will be in effect until 11am on Thursday.

A weather advisory for Ireland remains in place until midday on Friday as cold Arctic air will bring difficult conditions this week.

Sharp to severe frosts are expected with icy stretches on roads and pavements. There may be sleet and snow, mostly in the north and on the hills, the national forecaster said.

Luna (left) and Daisy play in the snow during a walk at Sixmilewater Park in Ballyclare, Co Antrim. Photo: PA

Carlow Weathers Alan OReilly has forecast the freezing temperatures to be followed quickly by mild weather and a potential massive storm on Sunday.

Speaking to RTE Radio Ones Claire Byrne this morning, Mr OReilly said we were set for a dramatic change.

It will be very hard frost again tonight and very little thaw tomorrow, with a hard frost again overnight on Thursday and very little thaw again  it will stay bitterly cold, Mr Reilly said.

There have already been a good few snow showers. Abbeyfeale was the coldest place in the country with -6.5C this morning.

But we are set for a dramatic change for the weekend. If you dont like the cold weather, its good news, but if you dont like the rain then its not good news.

Were in for a massive storm on Sunday, very strong gusts and very heavy rain.

Looking further ahead, Mr OReilly said the forecast is for unsettled weather next Monday and Tuesday.

Weve had an exceptionally mild winter so far. Most people are happy enough when it is cold and crisp and dry, and theres a nice blue sky, but the cost of the heating is probably the biggest issue, he said.

Mr OReilly added that Ireland was only halfway through winter, since meteorologists determine winter to be from December to February.

"The weather models show that we could have another high-pressure system at the start of February so we could see another cold spell yet. But the first half of the winter will certainly go down as mild, he said.

Meanwhile, for those planning to travel north today, the UKs Met Office has issued a yellow snow and ice warning for all counties in Northern Ireland until midnight.

Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry could see frequent heavy snow showers continuing to push inland, which may lead to travel disruptions across the country.

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Temperatures will be low, ranging between 0-4C, with light freezes.

Today, the day will remain mostly dry with some sunny spells, but some scattered wintry showers in the northern counties and some showers in the west can be expected.

Widespread frost and ice are likely on a very cold Wednesday night, as temperatures will drop to 5C to 1C, accompanied by light breezes.

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Most areas will remain dry with clear spells, patches of fog and possible freezing fog.

Northern and western coasts might see some wintry showers.

Thursday will be another very cold day with frost, ice, and fog that will clear slowly and linger in some areas for the whole day, Met Eireann said.

However, Leinster and Munster will enjoy sunny spells and remain dry in most places.

Scattered wintry showers are likely in the northwest, extending to Ulster and Connacht later in the day. Temperatures will be 1 to 5C, with light breezes expected.

Thursday night will remain dry in most places and clear, with isolated showers on the western and northern coasts.

The night will be very cold as widespread sharp to severe frost with ice, patches of fog and possible freezing fog are expected.

Temperatures will drop to 5 to 2C, with light and variable breezes.
A Thai court sentenced a jailed activist lawyer to four years in prison on Wednesday for royal insults from a 2021 social media post, his lawyer said, in one of the country's high profile lese-majeste cases.
Zelensky lashes out at Putin in Davos tirade

Ukraine president urges the West to speed up the peace process and help rebuild his country

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky gestures after his speech at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Photo: AP

Jamey Keaten Wed 17 Jan 2024 at 03:30







Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky took a swing at Russian president Vladimir Putin at the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Switzerland yesterday.
LATEST | Israeli tanks storm back into northern Gaza despite claims of scaling back

Health authorities say 158 Palestinians were killed in latest Israeli bombing

Palestinian children wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Nidal al-Mughrabi, Arafat Barbakh and Tyrone Siu Wed 17 Jan 2024 at 03:30







Israeli tanks stormed back into parts of the northern Gaza Strip they had left last week, residents said yesterday, reigniting some of the most intense fighting since the new year when Israel announced it was scaling back its operations there.
The US military yesterday carried out a new strike in Yemen against four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles, two US officials told Reuters, the latest move against the Iran-aligned group over its targeting of Red Sea shipping.

One of the officials said the missiles were struck because they were being prepared to target ships in the region. The US strike came a day after Houthi forces hit the US-owned and operated dry bulk ship Gibraltar Eagle with an anti-ship ballistic missile.
Iowa was always Donald Trumps to win  so can anyone now stop his nomination?

Donald Trump speaks after cruising to victory in the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses

Dan Balz  Washington Post Wed 17 Jan 2024 at 03:30

Iowa was never destined to surprise. The caucuses were always Donald Trumps to win, and he did that easily on Monday night, beginning what could be a quick march to the Republican presidential nomination and a likely rematch against President Joe Biden in the November election.
Republicans shift to New Hampshire as rivals bid to stop Trump

Former president buoyed by record win in Iowa vote for nomination

Supporters of former President Donald Trump attend his caucus night event at the Iowa Events Center on January 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Iowans voted today in the states caucuses for the first contest in the 2024 Republican presidential nominating process. Trump has been projected winner of the Iowa caucus. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Gram Slattery Wed 17 Jan 2024 at 03:30







Republican candidates trying to stop Donald Trump from being the partys White House nominee turned yesterday to New Hampshire, the next nominating contest, having lost to the former president by historic margins in Iowa.
Thats going to be the least of it: Donald Trump claims US is facing a bloodbath if he loses November election
Health insurance company ManipalCigna has garnered 38 per cent gross written premium (GWP) growth in East India in the financial year 22-23.

The company said it expects the business to double in the next two years in the eastern region.

Sapna Desai, Chief Marketing Officer, ManipalCigna Health Insurance, said, told IBNS at the sidelines of an event in Kolkata: "The company has garnered 38% gross written premium (GWP) growth in the financial year 22-23. We expect to maintain similar growth in the upcoming year. We expect our business to double in the next 2 years in the eastern region."

"We aim to expand our reach and distribution," she said.

Speaking on the expansion plan of the company,Ashish Yadav, Head of Products,ManipalCigna Health Insurance, told IBNS "We have a robust expansion plan in place and we will follow it accordingly."

He said the company's expansion plan will create more employment opportunities.

"We are growing at about 38 per cent and we expect further expansion and hence create more employment opportunities in the upcoming days,"

As a standalone health insurance entity, ManipalCigna has a network of close to 1000 hospitals in Eastern region, out of the over 9,000 pan-India hospitals across the country.

In 2023 Manipal Hospitals also acquired stakes in Kolkata-based AMRI (Advanced Medical Research Institute) Hospitals.

Highlighting the scenario in West Bengal, Sapna Desai said, As per National Health Account (NHA) report, in West Bengal 67% of people rely on Out-of-Pocket Expenses (OOPE) to cover their healthcare-related costs. Several research studies also show health concerns of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and the West Bengal state has also consistently ranked high in the number of cancer cases over the past years."

She said: "ManipalCigna offers various tailored health insurance solutions such as Manipal Cigna Lifetime Health that covers illnesses and hospitalizations and offers Sum Insured up to 3 crore to cater the unique health requirements of the West Bengal market.

(Reporting by Supriyo Hazra)
Screen grab of video posted on X by @CMOMaharashtra

Davos (Switzerland): Adani Groups flagship company Adani Enterprises Limited on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government to set up 1 GW hyperscale data centre infrastructure in the state at an investment of Rs 50,000 crore in the course of the next decade, media reports said.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally executed in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani during the World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos, reported Moneycontrol.

The upcoming data centre infrastructure, strategically located in key areas such as Mumbai and Pune, will operate on renewable energy sources.

This initiative is expected to significantly bolster the green energy landscape in Maharashtra while creating employment opportunities for approximately 20,000 individuals, as per an official statement from the Adani Group, reported Moneycontrol.

The Adani Group has outlined plans to make substantial investments in deemed distribution to power the proposed 1 GW hyperscale data center infrastructure.

The Maharashtra government is keen on promoting information technology related infrastructure and services and considers the proposed hyperscale project to be economically and socially beneficial to the state, the release added, the report said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Office wrote on X, "In the ongoing World Economic Conference in Davos, Switzerland, Maharashtra signed MoUs worth 3 lakh 10 thousand 850 crores in two days and agreements worth 42 thousand 825 crores are being signed tomorrow. In this way, Chief Minister @mieknathshinde informed today through social media that he is making a record MoU worth 3 lakh 53 thousand 675 lakh crores.

"Apart from this, the Chief Minister also thanked the state by saying that global industries and investors have increased their confidence in the state as the industries have shown interest in investing 1 lakh crores."

It is worth noting that Mumbai's renewable energy share surpasses that of top global cities at present.

In 2023, Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited [AEML] accounted for up to 38 percent of Mumbai consumers' electricity needs from renewable sources and aims to double this number to 60 percent by 2027.
Smoking tobacco is on the decline worldwide. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash/Andres Siimon

The number of people using tobacco continues to decline despite industry attempts to jeopardize progress towards stamping out cigarettes and other such products, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report published on Tuesday.

Trends in 2022 showed that roughly one in five adults worldwide uses tobacco, compared to one in three in the year 2000.

While cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use worldwide, other products include cigars, waterpipe tobacco also known as hookah, and smokeless tobacco products, all of which are harmful.

The tobacco epidemic is among the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing over eight million people a year, according to WHO. More than seven million of these deaths are the result of direct tobacco use, but some 1.3 million non-smokers die from exposure to second-hand smoke.

Control measures working

Globally, there are 1.25 billion tobacco users, according to the latest estimates, which revealed that 150 countries are successfully reducing rates among people aged 15 and above.

Examples include Brazil and the Netherlands, which are seeing the benefits of implementing an initiative known as MPOWER, focused on six tobacco control measures including protection, enforcement of advertising and sponsorship bans, raising taxes on tobacco products, and helping people to quit.

As a result, Brazil has made a relative reduction of 35 per cent since 2010 and the Netherlands is on the verge of reaching the 30 per cent target.

Profit over people

Dr. Ruediger Krech, Director of WHOs Department of Health Promotion, hailed the good progress achieved so far while warning against complacency.

Im astounded at the depths the tobacco industry will go to pursue profits at the expense of countless lives. We see that the minute a government thinks they have won the fight against tobacco the tobacco industry seizes the opportunity to manipulate health policies and sell their deadly products, he said.

WHO urged countries to continue putting tobacco control policies in place and to keep fighting against tobacco industry interference, highlighting how it continues to lie to the public, including through front groups and third parties, sponsored events, social media influencers, sponsored events and funding scientists and biased research.

Prevalence by region

Southeast Asia currently has the highest percentage of population using tobacco at 26.5 per cent, followed closely by Europe at 25.3 per cent. Tobacco use rates among women in Europe are more than double the global average and are reducing much slower than in all other regions.

The prevalence of tobacco use has changed little since 2010 in some countries, while it is rising in six others: Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Oman, and Moldova.

Missing the goal

WHO said the world is on track to achieve a 25 per cent relative reduction in tobacco use by 2025, short of the voluntary global goal of 30 per cent reduction from the 2010 baseline.

Only 56 countries will reach this goal, down from 60 since the last report three years ago,

With more work still ahead, WHO called for countries to step up action, noting that efforts to protect health policy from increased tobacco industry interference have faltered around the world.

Country surveys consistently show that children aged 13 to 15 years in most nations are using tobacco and nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, the agency said.
Kolkata/IBNS: New Jersey (USA) based author and entrepreneur Anirban Andy Bhattacharyya, recently shared the dais with Kolkatas interdisciplinary artist Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee, at a programme titled Pipe Dream.

The main event was woven around the book, The Ruins of Hope, authored by Bhattacharya, where Chatterjee moderated the book reading session followed by a conversation with the author.

Bhattacharya who wears many hats, including that of an entrepreneur, adjunct faculty at Rutgers University, climate risk activist, a TEDx speaker, etc. has worked for and been an advisor to many global enterprises.

He holds six Intellectual Properties in Industrial and Business Automation.

Bhattacharya is the founder of Amploglobal, a company that works on sustainability issues, which were discussed by him at length.

Sudakshina Addy and Bhattacharya also spoke about their engagements with various non-government organisations (ngo).

A performance by children of sex workers and domestic helps residing around Kalighat area of south Kolkata was also held.

Bhattacharya also said that Amploglobals CSR team is working with an NGO, Jadavpur Bondhu Collective Social Welfare Society, based in Kalighat and run by Smritiparna Sengupta, which works for the betterment of these children.

Bhattacharya has launched an anti-sex trafficking non-profit organization (surindia.org), which nurtures and promotes talented yet vulnerable young students interested in vocal and instrument-based music and other subjects.

Bhattacharya, who is also involved with organizations such as ApneAap, Home of Hope, and Kolkata Foundation, has launched a social entrepreneurship framework for aspiring social startups.

Apart from penning The Ruins of Hope which ranked as a best seller on Amazon, he has also authored a book named Industry 5.0 and Data Economy and another titled ESG and Data Monetization.
Photo courtesy: IBNS File

Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced she will offer her prayers to Maa Kali at Kalighat Temple and then hold an all-faith rally in Kolkata on January 22 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the consecration of Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya.

Speaking at a press conference at her office Nabanna on Tuesday, Mamata announced she will offer prayers at Kalighat Temple, which is close to her residence.

She will then hold an all-faith rally from Hazra More to Park Circus in south Kolkata but refused to acknowledge it as a counter to Ram Temple inauguration.

"We will cover mosques, temples, churches, gurdwaras on the way," mentioned the Chief Minister, who days ago said she won't allow people to be divided on the basis of religion in the state.

In reference to the Ram Temple event, Mamata, who heads the ruling Trinamool Congress and a staunch opponent of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said, "Pran Pratistha is not our job. It is the job of seers and sadhus. Our job is to build the infrastructure. I will do that."

Read: Odisha's Patnaik govt unveils grand Jagannath Temple Parikrama project amid excitement over Ayodhya's Ram Temple

Slamming Mamata, Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari said, "She will lead the rally to Park Circus where a Shaheen Bagh-type protest against CAA was organised. It is very alarming. She is trying to disrupt the communal harmony upon losing the confidence of the Muslim community."

CPI-M state secretary Md. Salim remarked, "Mamata Banerjee has no right to hold an all-faith rally because she was the one who brought BJP to the state. She has always been in favour of RSS and BJP. Her previous interviews are there to prove it."

Mamata, who is among the politicians skipping the mega event in Ayodhya, had earlier said, "I have no objection to Ram Temple inauguration. They are doing it under court order just before the elections to create a gimmick. I have no objection. But I don't support any festivity that excludes any community."

More than 11,000 guests have been invited from across the country to attend the Ram Temple inauguration, which has remained the BJP's poll promise for decades.

On January 22, the idol of Ram Lalla will be installed in the temple.

The seven-day ceremony already kickstarted from January 16.
Photo courtesy: IBNS File

Kolkata/IBNS: Actress-turned politician Nussrat Jahan has been asked by the Alipore Court to appear before it in connection with a case pertaining to her association as a director with a company which allegedly duped people with the promise of providing flats, media reports said.

In September last year, a court had asked her to physically appear in the case.

Nussrat, a Trinamool Congress MP, had challenged the order in a higher court, which on Tuesday upheld the lower court's order.

The popular Tollywood actress was also quizzed by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the case for nearly six hours last year.

What is the accusation?

The complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shankudeb Panda with the ED claimed a financial entity named Seven Sense Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., where Nussrat reportedly served as the director for a few years, received around Rs 6,00,000 from each of the duped investors and promised them residential flats at reasonable rates within the span of four years.

It has been alleged that Nussrat also took a loan from the company and bought her house.

Nussrat's immediate reaction

After the allegations were levelled against her, Nussrat, who is an MP from West Bengal's Basirhat constituency, held a press conference at Kolkata Press Club for a "clarification".

"The company, which I had quit in 2017, had given me a loan but I have returned it back with interest. I have all my bank statements," Nussrat had said.
Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X video

Imphal/UNI: A Manipur Police commando, identified as Somorjit was killed, and another was seriously injured in a series of attacks at Moreh town, Tengnoupal district, on Wednesday by suspected Kuki miscreants.

Heavily armed Kuki miscreants launched attacks at various security posts at Moreh.

The Kuki miscreants used rocket-propelled grenades, sniper rifles, and heavy machinery, which destroyed several buildings occupied by security personnel.

Some personnel of the Assam Rifles stationed at Moreh were also stopped from moving around at Moreh by the armed miscreants.

Security Forces Threatened By Kuki Narco Terrorist In #Moreh, Manipur



1. The recent attack by the Kuki Zo Militants on security forces at Moreh, Manipur, India, resulting in the martyrdom of a Jawan of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), is a deeply concerning and disheartening pic.twitter.com/tdwT5Va4MH  Meckley W (@mapunachanbiba) January 17, 2024

Earlier, an SDPO of Manipur Police was shot dead by a Kuki militant, and after his arrest, Kuki miscreants warned the Manipur government to release him with another militant.

Khongsai, who allegedly killed SDPO Anand on October 31, 2023, had served in the Assam Regiment earlier.

The other Kuki militant nabbed by police, identified as Mate, was found to be the Treasurer of the BJP, Tengnoupal.

BJP Manipur said Mate is suspended from the party.

Moreh continued to be tense after Kuki militants attacked Meitei and destroyed all houses on May 3, 2023. All other communities except Kuki are now staying at Moreh.
Photo Courtesy: India in Bangladesh X page

India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Tuesday called on Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud when he discussed wide-ranging issues that can further strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

"HC Pranay Verma paid a courtesy call on the new FM of Bangladesh H.E Hasan Mahmud on 15 Jan 2024 & conveyed greetings on behalf of Indias EAM. They discussed wide ranging issues to advance bilateral cooperation in the new term of the Bangladesh Govt," the official X page of the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh posted.

HC Pranay Verma paid a courtesy call on the new FM of Bangladesh H.E Hasan Mahmud on 15 Jan 2024 & conveyed greetings on behalf of Indias EAM. They discussed wide ranging issues to advance  bilateral cooperation in the new term of the Bangladesh Govt.#IndiaBangladesh@MEA pic.twitter.com/K83RYfemKt  India in Bangladesh (@ihcdhaka) January 15, 2024

PM Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League returned to power in the country for the record fourth straight term after winning polls this month.

In the polls, Awami League clinched 223 seats.

The country's key opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies boycotted the polls.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Hasina following her landslide victory in the polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and congratulated her for the "historic" victory in the Parliamentary elections.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: "Spoke to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and congratulated her on her victory for a historic fourth consecutive term in the Parliamentary elections."

Spoke to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and congratulated her on her victory for a historic fourth consecutive term in the Parliamentary elections. I also congratulate the people of Bangladesh for the successful conduct of elections. We are committed to further strengthen our  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 8, 2024

PM Modi also congratulated the people of Bangladesh for the successful conduct of the elections.

He said, "We are committed to further strengthen our enduring and people-centric partnership with Bangladesh".
0116 na ethics jamaica

By Allan Lanthier

As has been widely reported, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family vacationed at a luxury resort in Jamaica over the holidays. And it wasnt just any vacation: they stayed at a 5,000-square-foot villa, with six bedrooms and a private swimming pool just steps away from a private, secluded beach. The villa was staffed by a cook, housekeepers and butlers.

Mr. Trudeau didnt have to pay a cent: the resort is owned by Peter Green, a longtime friend of Trudeaus late father, and was provided at no cost. Had the prime minister been charged the going rate, he would have paid about $84,000 for the nine-day stay. While no one begrudges a hard-working Canadian a Christmas vacation to escape the cold and snow, Mr. Trudeau is an employee of the federal government, and so the tax question is whether he received the $84,000 as a taxable employment benefit.

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Under our tax act, employees are taxed on the value of almost all employment benefits. For example, if you attend your employers holiday party and the employers cost is more than $150 a person, you are taxed on the entire amount, whether you wanted to attend or not. So is Mr. Trudeau taxable on the $84,000?

Hes not employed by Peter Green, of course. But thats not actually relevant. An employment benefit is taxable whether provided by an employer or a third party, a fact the tax authorities have confirmed time and time again. In 1968, for example, Canadas Exchequer Court considered a situation where an employee and his wife received an expense-paid vacation  a Caribbean cruise arranged and paid for by a supplier of the mans employer. The court decided that the entire cost of the vacation  a cost of $1,384 at the time, which is about $13,400 in 2023 dollars  was a taxable employment benefit.

The Supreme Court has said that, to be taxable, a payment does not have to be for specific services: the test is simply whether there is some connection between the payment and the recipients employment status. In Trudeaus case, the question is whether the vacations were given in his capacity as prime minister, with the transferor expecting something in return  in which case the benefits are taxable. The other possibility is that the vacations were personal, tax-free gifts, with the transferor having no expectation of receiving anything back.

Story continues

In 2016, the Trudeau family enjoyed a Christmas vacation at a private island in the Bahamas as a guest of the billionaire Aga Khan. The vacation cost Canadian taxpayers more than $215,000.

The Aga Khan Foundation Canada had received nearly $330 million in grants from the federal government since 1981, and the foundation was registered to lobby the Office of the Prime Minister. In 2017, the late Mary Dawson, Canadas smart and accomplished ethics commissioner, issued a 74-page report concluding that Trudeau had contravened conflict-of-interest rules when he accepted the free vacation, and stating the vacation might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence Mr. Trudeau.

The issue went further than a slap on the wrist from the commissioner. It was reported that the RCMP considered pursuing criminal fraud charges against the prime minister, but ultimately decided to drop the case.

Under Canadian tax rules, an amount is not a gift if there are strings attached. Given the fact that the commissioner concluded the vacation was meant to influence Mr. Trudeau, its value was almost certainly a taxable employment benefit, not a gift. Whether Mr. Trudeau paid tax on the benefit is not known.

The proper characterization of Trudeaus most recent family vacation in Jamaica is not as clear. Peter Green is a resident of Bermuda and has few ties to Canada. There seems to be little he could expect to receive in return for his generosity (apart from some free publicity that might attract a few more paying customers to his resort).

If your high school buddies invite you to their Muskoka cottage for the Canada Day weekend to barbecue hamburgers and enjoy the fireworks, you know the stay is not taxable because it has nothing to do with your employment. Perhaps the same conclusion applies in the case of Trudeaus Jamaican vacation, notwithstanding the opulent locale. We dont have enough of the facts to know.

Unless Trudeau declares a taxable benefit for the getaway on his personal tax return, Revenue Canada should complete an audit and come to its own conclusion.

Allan Lanthier, retired partner of an international accounting firm, has been an adviser to both the Department of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency.

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Dont miss the business news you need to know  add financialpost.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X video

Imphal/IBNS: A second Manipur Police commando has died amid renewed violence in Manipur's Moreh, a small but important trading town located a few hundred metres from the Myanmar border.

Two other commandos, both critically injured, have been airlifted to the state capital Imphal for treatment.

The deceased commando has been identified as Takhellambam Saileshwore.

Earlier in the day, another commando identified as Somorjit was killed, while one was seriously injured in a series of attacks at Moreh town.

Heavily armed Kuki miscreants launched attacks at various security posts at Moreh on Wednesday morning.

The Kuki miscreants used rocket-propelled grenades, sniper rifles, and heavy machinery, which destroyed several buildings occupied by security personnel.

Some personnel of the Assam Rifles stationed at Moreh were also stopped from moving around at Moreh by the armed miscreants.

Security Forces Threatened By Kuki Narco Terrorist In #Moreh, Manipur



1. The recent attack by the Kuki Zo Militants on security forces at Moreh, Manipur, India, resulting in the martyrdom of a Jawan of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), is a deeply concerning and disheartening pic.twitter.com/tdwT5Va4MH  Meckley W (@mapunachanbiba) January 17, 2024

Earlier, an SDPO of Manipur Police was shot dead by a Kuki militant, and after his arrest, Kuki miscreants warned the Manipur government to release him with another militant.

Khongsai, who allegedly killed SDPO Anand on October 31, 2023, had served in the Assam Regiment earlier.

The other Kuki militant nabbed by police, identified as Mate, was found to be the Treasurer of the BJP, Tengnoupal.

BJP Manipur said Mate is suspended from the party.

Moreh continued to be tense after Kuki militants attacked Meitei and destroyed all houses on May 3, 2023. All other communities except Kuki are now staying at Moreh.
Representative Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Iran on Tuesday claimed it conducted missile and drone attacks which destroyed two strongholds of the terrorist group Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Pakistan's Balochistan region, prompting protest from the neighbouring nation.

"Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jeysh al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan have been obliterated through precision missile and drone strikes," reported Iran's Tasnim News Agency.

Last month, members of the terror group allegedly stormed a police station in Sistan and Balouchestan provinces city of Rask, southeast of Iran, which resulted in the death of 11 Iranian Police forces.

Pakistan condemns

Pakistan condemned Iran for violating Pakistans sovereignty and claimed two children were killed in the attack.

In its statement, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory which resulted in the death of two innocent children while injuring three girls."

: PR NO. 15/2024



Pakistans Strong Condemnation of the Unprovoked Violation of its Air Space



https://t.co/TAWRqC7qMy pic.twitter.com/oqi3tvAOso  Spokesperson  MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) January 16, 2024

"This violation of Pakistan's sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences," it said.

Pakistan described Iran's action as an 'illegal act'.
Image credit: Pixabay

Unknown attackers targeted the premises of Government Model High School in Pakistan's Kharan region during a training session for polling staff on Monday.

According to reports, the attackers hurled a grenade inside the premises of the school.

The powerful blast shattered the windowpanes of some classrooms, causing a disturbance in the vicinity, Dawn News reported.

The government officials and election commission staff remained unharmed.

Law enforcement officials rushed to the spot after the blast and cordoned off the area.

An investigation has been initiated.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Nine people, including a traffic policeman and three children, were injured after a blast rocked Pakistan's Quetta region on Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operation Jawad Tariq confirmed the number of injured to Dawn News.

He told the newspaper that the explosive material was planted in a heap of trash.

The explosion occurred when children, who were picking trash, were sifting through the garbage, he said.

The material of the explosive is still not known.

The explosion was not a security lapse, he told the newspaper.

Foolproof security arrangements have been made with regards to the elections, he said.
Pakistan expels Iran's envoy following airstrike in Balochistan. Representative Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Pakistan on Wednesday expelled Iran's ambassador from the country after Tehran conducted missile and drone attacks which destroyed two strongholds of the terrorist group Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan.

Islamabad also recalled its envoy from Tehran.

"Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being," Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said while addressing a press briefing in Islamabad as quoted by Geo News.

Pakistan earlier condemned Iran for violating Pakistans sovereignty and claimed two children were killed in the attack.

In its statement, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory which resulted in the death of two innocent children while injuring three girls."

"This violation of Pakistan's sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences," it said.

Pakistan described Iran's action as an 'illegal act'.

Iran's action

Iran on Tuesday claimed it conducted missile and drone attacks which destroyed two strongholds of terror group.

"Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jeysh al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan have been obliterated through precision missile and drone strikes," reported Iran's Tasnim News Agency.

Last month, members of the terror group allegedly stormed a police station in Sistan and Balouchestan provinces city of Rask, southeast of Iran, which resulted in the death of 11 Iranian Police forces.
Responding to concerns of Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians & Spirit Lake Tribe

NORTH DAKOTA  In a landmark decision, U.S. District Chief Judge Peter D. Welte has ordered a new joint North Dakota legislative district, responding to the concerns of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and the Spirit Lake Tribe. This...
SOUTH DAKOTA  In a developing conflict over public records, the City of Martin, South Dakota, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe find themselves at an impasse, with the South Dakota American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) intervening. At the heart of the...
NORTH DAKOTA  The University of North Dakota (UND) is preparing to return Native American ancestral remains and burial objects to their respective tribal nations, a significant undertaking that marks a major step in addressing historical injust...
Wednesday, a teenage drama on Netflix, is coming back for additional episodes following its incredibly popular and viral first season. In January 2023, the popular series featuring Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams was given a second season renewal.

wednesday season 2 details/Netflix

During the Emmys 2024, Jenna Ortega gave some exciting updates of Wednesday S2.

The 21-year-old actress disclosed that she had gotten the script for the new season while speaking at the E! red carpet pre-show.



In the upcoming season, Jenna will be seen as Wednesday Addams again; she is also serving as producer for the show. In response to a question concerning season two of the show, the actress said that the creators are "definitely leaning into a little bit more horror."

Wednesday season 2 renewed/ imdb

Jenna Ortega Talks About The Wonderful Thing About Her Character

Jenna voiced her delight at the possibility, saying that she believes her character would benefit from "a bit of an arc" because she "never really changes" throughout the showanother "wonderful thing" about her character, in her opinion.



She went on to say that it will have some "really good one-liners". "It's a lot more action-packed. I think each episode will probably feel a little bit like a movie." she added.



Jenna Ortega as wednesday Addams/Neflix

In January 2023, Netflix released an intriguing announcement video featuring Jenna Ortega to confirm the second season of Wednesday.

Over the past few weeks, Ive been hunted, haunted, and mimicked millions of times across the internet. Its been pure torture. Thank you, she says in the video.



When Will Wednesday Season 2 be released?

If reports are anything to go by, then we can expect the show to release in 2025. The second season's development was put on hold while writers' and actors' strikes were ongoing. Deadline revealed that "Wednesday" season two will be filmed in Ireland, with shooting scheduled to start in late April 2024, following the resolution of both strikes.



Wednesday season 2 details/Netflix

What Is Wednesday About?

Based on Charles Addams' character Wednesday Addams, Wednesday is an American supernatural comedy-horror television series that follows a coming-of-age story. The film, which was co-written by Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, stars Jenna Ortega as the lead role. Other supporting cast members include Christina Ricci, Moosa Mostafa, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Georgie Farmer, Naomi J. Ogawa, and Gwendoline Christie. Tim Burton, who also acts as executive producer, directed four of the eight episodes of the first season. Wednesday Addams is the main character, and she works to solve a murder mystery at her new school.



You can stream Wednesday Season 1 on Netflix.

(To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE)


Maharaja, the 50th feature film of National Award winner Vijay Sethupathi and also starring Anurag Kashyap, is soon to release in theaters. The film is directed by Nithilan Saminathan of Kurangu Bommai fame.

Although the film has not been released yet, we know where you will be able to stream it after its theatrical release.

Maharaja Poster

Where To Watch Vijay Sethupathi's Maharaja On OTT?

The official streaming rights of the film have been bagged by Netflix. Maharaja will be accessible for streaming in Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada in addition to its original Tamil version.

When To Watch Vijay Sethupathi's Maharaja On OTT?

The release date has not been announced yet, but it is expected to drop on the platform two months after the theatrical release.

Maharaja's theatrical release date too has not yet been disclosed. Since it is Sethupathi's 50th movie in a nearly 25-year career, it holds special significance for him.



AFP

Maharajs New Second-Look Posters!

The actor celebrated his 46th birthday on January 16th. Celebrities and fans wished the actor on social media. The second-look poster for Vijay Sethupathi's film Maharaja was unveiled on social media by the film's directors to mark the occasion.



Sharing the photos, the makers wrote, A Maharaja crowned by the people. Makkalselvan for a reason. #Maharaja is coming soon on Netflix in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi after theatrical release!.



The movie is being produced by Passion Studios, with financial backing from Jagadish Palanisamy and Sudham Sundaram. B. Ajaneesh Loknath is handling the film's soundtrack. Moreover, Philomin Raj is handling the film's editing, with Dinesh Purushothaman handling the camera.

Vijay Sethupathis Recent Project

Merry Christmas, a bilingual film starring Vijay Sethupathi in Tamil and Hindi, was directed by Sriram Raghavan. The lead actress Katrina Kaif and director made their Tamil cinema debuts with the release of the movie on January 12. In addition, the movie included a number of multilingual actors, including Vinay Pathak, Sanjay Kapoor, Raadhika Sarathkumar, Gayathrie, and Radhika Apte. When the movie was out, it was praised widely, particularly for the lead actors' performances and the cinematography.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Nearly half of the water that Bangladeshis are drinking contains dangerously high levels of arsenic, a new study has revealed.

A team of scientists found that 49 per cent of the water, which an overwhelming majority of the population depends on, contains unsafe limits of the carcinogenic contaminant.

The discovery highlights a looming public health crisis in the South Asian country, which routinely faces heavy flooding and is one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of a spiralling climate crisis.

In 2018, Bangladesh was left one-third underwater after Cyclone Amphan. On average, 21 per cent of the country gets flooded annually due to intensifying monsoon rains.

The increased levels of arsenic were directly linked to rising sea levels and more severe seasonal flooding, according to the study published on Wednesday in journal PLOS ONE.

When saltwater from the ocean mixes with freshwater, it causes arsenic to be released from sediments.

The researchers collected water samples from wells across Bangladesh to test for oxygen concentration, pH, and temperature to understand the dynamics behind the arsenic release.

They found that approximately 49 per cent of Bangladeshs groundwater had arsenic concentrations exceeding the 10 micrograms per litre ( g/L) safe limit set by the World Health Organisation for drinking wateraa.

In some samples, the arsenic concentration recorded was as high as 450g/L - exceeding the WHO guidelines by 45 times.

Map of Bangladesh showing locations from where the samples for well water were collected (Map/PLOS ONE)

The crisis is not limited to Bangladesh. Dr Seth Frisby, the author of the study and a professor at Norwich University said the chronic arsenic poisoning has also been impacting residents of Indias West Bengal, a state neighbouring Bangladesh.

The same chemical processes from rising sea levels that release arsenic from sediments into Bangladeshs drinking well water will also very likely release arsenic from sediments into West Bengals drinking well water, he told The Independent.

Dr Frisby said the impacts of arsenic poison were first identified on the subcontinent in West Bengal 11 years before it was discovered in Bangladesh.

Story continues

He raised concerns that the drinking water standards for arsenic in both India and Bangladesh are many decades out of date, which makes the population even more vulnerable.

The findings signal a public health emergency. Prolonged arsenic exposure can cause severe health issues, including cancers and vascular diseases.

In response to findings, Jamie Williams, senior policy advisor for poverty reduction at Islamic Relief, said Bangladesh is already suffering from water shortages due to pollution from pesticides, particularly in fishing areas. The charity is currently running awareness campaigns in the country on unsafe drinking water.

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change due to its population density, and limited low-lying land area dominated by major rivers that drain the Himalayan mountains and foothills, he told The Independent.

Many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; waterborne diseases are prevalent.

People inspect damaged belongings in their homes as flood water levels recede in Sylhet, Bangladesh in 2022 (AP)

The climate crisis, largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels, is projected to cause sea level rise of around one and a half foot on average in Bangladesh by mid-century. Yet two-thirds of the country is less than 15 feet above sea level.

Bangladesh is also being hit by more powerful cyclones which unleash disastrous flooding, and the monsoon season adds to this burden with increasingly intense levels of rainfall, according to a 2019 study.

These factors are expected to make safe drinking water a scarcer resource for the 165 million Bangladeshis living in low-lying areas.

The researchers called for faster development of possible solutions including water purification technologies and infrastructure to prevent groundwater contamination.
Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration: After an anticipated period of nearly 500 years, the historic inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya took place on January 22, 2024. The government has changed amped the beauty of Ayodhya to ensure a grand celebration of this momentous event.

As stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the entire nation will celebrate Diwali on the day of the Ram Mandir inauguration to create a festive atmosphere.

On January 19, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that Indian stock markets (NSE and BSE) would be closed on January 22, following the public holiday declared by the Government of Maharashtra.

As Ayodhya gears up for the consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple on January 22, several states have declared a 'dry day' and a public holiday. Here's a list of those states.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration: These States Declares Public Holiday On January 22 So Far

Public Holiday on January 22 in these states

Uttar Pradesh

On January 22, educational institutions in Uttar Pradesh will remain closed during the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony, as directed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Additionally, liquor shops will be closed throughout the state on that day.

Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has declared January 22 as a school holiday, encouraging people to celebrate the day like a festival. Yadav has also announced a dry day in the state on January 22, issuing orders to keep all types of shops, including liquor and Bhang outlets, closed.

Goa

The Goa government has also declared a holiday for government employees and schools on January 22, in light of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, according to a Live Mint report. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated during a press conference after the cabinet meeting that there will be a public holiday only for government servants along with schools.

Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh government has declared January 22 as a holiday for all state government schools and colleges to celebrate the consecration ceremony of the new idol at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced via social media.

Haryana

The Haryana government has also announced the closure of schools on January 22 given the Ram Temple Inauguration. Additionally, the consumption of liquor will not be permitted anywhere in the state on the day of the consecration ceremony.

Uttarakhand

Liquor shops and bars will remain closed in Uttarakhand on January 22 on the occasion of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government has declared a public holiday on January 22, aligning with the consecration ceremony of Ayodhyas Ram Temple.

Half Day Announced in Rajasthan and Odisha Schools

Due to the celebration of the 'Pran Pratistha' of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, the governments of Odisha and Rajasthan have announced that state government offices, as well as revenue and magisterial courts, will remain closed for half a day until 2:30 pm on January 22.



Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration: These States Declares Public Holiday On January 22 So Far

List Of States To Observe 'Dry Day' On January 22

Several states in India have declared dry days on January 22 in reverence to the inauguration of the Ram Mandir:

Uttarakhand

Known for its deep spiritual significance, Uttarakhand encourages people to abstain from drinking on January 22 as a way of showing profound respect for the significant religious event.

Assam

Assam, under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, has announced a dry day on January 22 to honor the inauguration moment of the Ram Mandir.

Rajasthan

The state of Rajasthan aims to promote public order and demonstrates its respect for the significant religious event by declaring a dry day on January 22.

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh, too, chooses to exhibit strong reverence to Lord Rama by declaring a dry day on January 22 in conjunction with the Ram Mandir inauguration.

Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh joins the list as well, with the decision to halt the sale of alcohol on January 22, aligning with the much-awaited inauguration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in India.

Madhya Pradesh

All liquor outlets in Madhya Pradesh will remain closed on January 22. The Haryana government has declared a 'dry day' and announced the closure of all liquor establishments in the state.

Haryana

In anticipation of the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced on Monday that January 22 will be observed as a dry day. Haryana thus becomes the seventh state to prohibit the sale of liquor on the day of the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The central government declared a half-day closure

The central government has announced a half-day closure for all central government offices, central institutions, and central industrial establishments throughout the country on Monday, January 22.

Share Market holiday on Jan 22

The stock market will be closed on Monday. According to a circular from the National Stock Exchange, the currency derivative segment will remain closed on January 22. The Indian stock market will have a full trading session on Saturday, January 20.

Money markets closed on January 22

Money markets will be closed on January 22, as announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday. No transactions and settlements will take place in government securities (both primary and secondary markets), foreign exchange, money markets, and rupee interest rate derivatives on that day, as per the RBI's latest circular.

Reliance Industries has declared a holiday

In anticipation of the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, Reliance Industries has announced a nationwide holiday for all its offices on January 22, as reported by ANI.





Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration: These States Declares Public Holiday On January 22 So Far

Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration FAQs

When was Ram Mandir's inauguration?

The inauguration of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi is slated for January 22, 2024, and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra is currently accepting online and offline bookings for 'Aarti' passes in anticipation of the official opening of the temple. As per the reports, the commencement of the inaugural ceremony is scheduled to begin on January 16, 2024.

Where is Ram Janmabhoomi?

Ram Janmabhoomi is located in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. It's believed to be the exact birthplace of Rama, a revered deity in Hinduism, as mentioned in the epic Ramayana. The site lies on the banks of the Sarayu River, making it a significant pilgrimage destination for many Hindus.

Which is the nearest railway station for Ram Mandir Ayodhya?

Ayodhya Junction railway station, officially named Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station, is a railway station in the city of Ayodhya in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.

What is the distance from Delhi to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir?

The Delhi-Ayodhya distance is 680 km via road travel. It will take you 9h 54m to reach Ayodhya on a road trip.

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Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2024: Guru Gobind Singh - the tenth Sikh guru - was born on the Saptami Tithi during Shukla paksha in the month of Poh (paush) -this is according to the Nanakshahi calendar. The day may vary according to the Gregorian calendar every year, but the celebrations take place as per the Nanakshahi Sikh schedule.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born in Patna. He was the son of the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and was chosen as the tenth Guru when he was only nine years old. Guru Gobind Singh, established the Khalsa, at the Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib near Anandpur, in the Indian state of Punjab. This is the place where he spent most of his life in the presence of his father.

Foundation of Khalsa

In the year 1699, Guru Gobind Singh requested Sikhs to congregate in Anandpur on Vaisakhi. According to the Sikh tradition, he asked for a volunteer from those who were there - someone willing to sacrifice his head. One came forward, whom he took inside a tent and returned to the crowd without the volunteer, but some blood on his sword. He repeated this process for four more volunteers. After the fifth person went with him into the tent, the Guru returned with all five volunteers, all safe and very much alive. He called them the Panj Pyare and the first Khalsa in the Sikh tradition.

Guru Gobind Singh | Shutterstock

Best Gurudwaras In India You Must Visit

The place of worship for Sikhs is the Gurudwara, which holds not only historical and spiritual significance but is also unique for its inclusive nature, welcoming people from all communities and treating them with equal respect. On the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2024, here are some of the most renowned Gurudwaras in India.

1. Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)

The Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, is the central religious place of Sikhism and one of the holiest sites in the world. Located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India, it stands as a beacon of peace, unity, and spirituality.

History and Significance

Founded in 1577 by Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru.

Constructed on a sacred island amidst the Amrita Saras ("Pool of Nectar"), symbolising the purification of the soul.

Became a center of Sikh scholarship and learning, and later, a focal point of resistance against Mughal rule.

Visiting the Harmandir Sahib

Open 24/7, although specific dress codes apply (covering head and removing shoes).

Visitors can bathe in the Amrita Saras for spiritual purification.

Langar is served throughout the day, offering a unique experience of Sikh hospitality.

Special religious ceremonies and festivals are celebrated throughout the year, attracting large crowds.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Special: Best Gurudwaras In India You Must Visit

2. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib stands as a beacon of faith, service, and inclusivity. It invites you to experience the beauty of Sikhism, embrace the power of compassion, and leave with a heart full of peace and hope.

Historical Significance:

Originally a 17th-century bungalow gifted by Raja Jai Singh to Guru Har Krishan, the eighth Sikh Guru.

Transformed into a Gurdwara after Guru Har Krishan's healing efforts during a smallpox epidemic won the city's respect.

Now one of the most prominent Gurdwaras in Delhi, attracting Sikhs and visitors from all over the world.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee

3. Gurudwara Tarn Taran Sahib

A must-visit destination is Tarn Taran Sahib, where you can experience the country's largest sarovar within a Gurudwara. Not only is this Gurudwara visually stunning, but it also attracts a substantial number of devotees, particularly on the day of Amavasya every month.

Gurudwara Tarn Taran Sahib | Wikipedia

4. Takht Shri Damdama Sahib

Nestled in the heart of Punjab, India, the serene town of Talwandi Sabo holds a treasure trove of Sikh history and significance: Takht Sri Damdama Sahib. Not just a Gurdwara, it stands as one of the five Takhts, seats of authority within Sikhism, and boasts a rich legacy intertwined with the creation of the sacred Guru Granth Sahib.

In 1705, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, arrived in Damdama Sahib seeking refuge from Mughal hostilities. This period of relative peace proved pivotal as it became the stage for a monumental undertaking - the final compilation and standardisation of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Additional Information:

Takht Sri Damdama Sahib is located in Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda district, Punjab, India.

It is open to visitors from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Takht Shri Damdama Sahib | goldentempleamritsar

5. Guru Baba Atal Sahib

Nestled amidst the vibrant energy of Amritsar, India, stands a nine-story octagonal marvel  Gurdwara Baba Atal Sahib. More than just a stunning architectural feat, this Gurdwara holds a poignant story of a young life sacrificed for faith, reminding us of the boundless possibilities of spirit even in the face of brevity.

Born in 1619, Baba Atal Rai was the son of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru. Though his life only spanned a meager nine years, it was a life lived with extraordinary wisdom and spiritual strength.

Additional Information:

Gurdwara Baba Atal Sahib is located south of the Golden Temple, within the Golden Temple complex.

It is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset.

Modest dress code and removal of shoes are required before entering the Gurdwara.

6. Gurudwara Sri Paonta Sahib

Gurudwara Sri Paonta Sahib is a revered Sikh shrine nestled on the banks of the Yamuna River in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Its rich history, serene setting, and cultural significance make it a captivating destination for spiritual seekers and travellers alike.

Historical Significance:

Founded in the 17th century by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, who resided here for over four years.

Served as a sanctuary for Guru Gobind Singh during his time of conflict with the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

During this period, Guru Gobind Singh composed parts of the Dasam Granth, the holy scripture of Sikhism.

Played a crucial role in shaping the Khalsa, the baptised Sikh community, as Guru Gobind Singh established their tenets and ideals here.

Gurudwara Sri Paonta Sahib | Wikipedia

7. Gurudwara Rewalsar

Situated amidst the picturesque hills of Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India, lies Gurudwara Rewalsar. More than just a Gurdwara, it's a tapestry woven with history, legend, and spiritual significance, drawing both Sikh devotees and curious travellers into its vibrant embrace.

Additional Information:

Located around 15 kilometers from Mandi town, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Accessible by road, making it a convenient visit for tourists.

The Gurdwara complex is open all day, though specific dress codes apply (covering head and removing shoes).

Gurudwara Rewalsar | discoversikhism

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From the recent earthquakes in Japan to the ones occurring all over the globe, these natural disasters have become a common occurrence. But while the one with less magnitude may not cause much of a problem, one can never be sure how much damage can be caused due to these earthquakes. So, to be sure one definitely needs to be prepared and know what to do to refrain from what happened at Northridge Los Angeles.

Here is how one can be prepared for an earthquake:

Before the earthquake:

1. Learn your region's earthquake risk: Find out about earthquake faults and past earthquake activity in your area. This will help you understand your vulnerability and prepare accordingly.

2. Prepare an emergency kit: Assemble a kit with essential supplies like food, water, first-aid, flashlight, radio, batteries, and important documents. Keep it easily accessible, ideally near your bed or in a central location.

3. Secure your home: Identify and stabilize potential hazards like bookcases, heavy objects, and appliances. Install latches on cabinets and drawers to prevent them from flying open.

4. Practice "Drop, Cover, and Hold: This life-saving drill helps you react instinctively during an earthquake. Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck with your arms, and hold on to sturdy furniture or a wall until the shaking stops.



Pexels/ Earthquake

During the earthquake:

Stay inside! Take cover under a sturdy desk or table, or against an interior wall if no furniture is available. Stay away from windows, mirrors, and hanging objects.

6. If you're outdoors: Move away from buildings, power lines, trees, and anything that could fall on you. Find an open and empty space. Make sure to stay until the shaking stops.

7. If you're driving: Pull over to a safe area away from traffic and stay inside your car. Avoid bridges, overpasses, and tunnels. Try to stop at an area with an open space which isn't clustered with buildings.



Pexels/ Earthquake

After the earthquake:

Tend to yourself and others who may be hurt. Call your emergency contact or the medical authorities of your area as soon as possible to get help.

9. Beware of aftershocks: These smaller earthquakes can occur after the main shock. Be prepared to take cover again. Check for damage: Inspect your home for structural damage, gas leaks, and other hazards. Turn off utilities if necessary.

10. Follow instructions from authorities: Stay informed about official updates and warnings. Don't spread or believe rumours. Check news channels or any updates from the government authorities.

Pexels/ Earthquake preparation

It is called a natural disaster for a reason. Always make sure to be prepared.
It is not uncommon to hear of 'frauds' or malpractices during examinations in India, especially in competitive examinations.

In the latest incident, a BPSC teacher fraudulently obtained a job and was working in a government primary school at Raghunandanpur in Bihar's Begusarai. He was caught this Tuesday, long after the examination was held.

Thumb impression was a mismatch

The incident of fraud came to light when the District Education Officer was scanning the documents of all newly-appointed teachers in the first phase of recruitment last year.

BPSC Teacher recruitment exam/ HT

The DEO found that the photo of the teacher - Numa Kumari - who was working in the school and the photo of the candidate who had given the examination were different.



Post this, the DEO initiated an inquiry and asked officials to conduct the biometric including thumb impression of Numa Kumari.

When the thumb impression also proved to be a mismatch, the issue was conveyed to the District Magistrate, who ordered the fake teacher's arrest.

Subsequently, the teacher was arrested, police said on Tuesday.

The official said that she will be produced in the local court and she will go to judicial custody.

Why were biometric tests ordered for the newly appointed teachers?

Complaints about candidates fraudulently obtaining the job of teacher in the first phase was commonly received by the Education Department.

Representative image

As a result, Additional Chief Secretary, Education, K.K. Pathak had ordered biometric tests for newly-appointed teachers.



Not the first time: Cases abound of fraudulences in examinations

Recently, the news of a Punjab man dressing up as his girlfriend to write a multi-purpose health workers exam in Punjab's Faridkot grabbed made the headlines.

Surprisingly, Angrez Singh even showed fake voter and Aadhar cards to prove he was the candidate, Paramjit Kaur.

In October last year, three fake candidates including two women who were impersonating male candidates were arrested in Jaipur, while appearing for the Plus Three first semester examination of Shastri at a Sanskrit college.

careers360

It is not just the common man, but even known personalities who have been a part of such frauds. A case in point being senior BJP leader and Chhattisgarh education minister Kedar Kashyap's story.



In 2015, a fake candidate allegedly sat for university exams as proxy for senior BJP leader and Chhattisgarh education minister Kedar Kashyap's wife Shanti Kashyap.

For more information on exams, results and careers, please visit Indiatimes Education.
PhD students in India have a great opportunity at hand. The Google PhD Fellowship Program intends to support PhD students in India (and around the world) who are doing research in computer science and related fields.

Even active professors at degree-granting institutions can apply for this fellowship.

Reuters

This fellowship programme by Google directly supports graduate students as they pursue their PhD, as well as connect them to a Google Research Mentor.



Google PhD Fellowship Program: Awarded in select fields

The Fellowships are awarded to students who have an interest in research in the following fields:

Algorithms, optimizations and markets

Computational neural and cognitive sciences

Health research

Human-Computer interaction

Machine learning

Machine perception, speech technology and computer vision

Mobile computing

Natural language processing (including Information Retrieval and Extraction)

Privacy and Security

Programming Languages and Software Engineering

Quantum computing

Recommender systems

Structured data and database management

Systems and networking

Google PhD Fellowship Program: Benefits

If you get selected for the Google PhD fellowship program, you would get the following:

1. A yearly grant of upto US $50,000 for four years.

2. Guidance by mentors from Google Research

3. Chance to visit Google Research Offices worldwide, take part in conference and collaborate with other researchers.

Google PhD Fellowship Program: Eligibility Criteria

The following candidates are eligibile to apply for the Google PhD Fellowship programme:

1. One who is enrolled in a PhD program at an accredited university in India

2. One who has a strong academic record

3. One who is pursuing a research program in computer science or a related field. You can find further details about the criteria here.

Google PhD Fellowship Program: Application process

The application process for the Google PhD Fellowship 2024 will open in March 2024 and close in May 2024.

Unsplash

Decisions for the 2023 applications were announced via email in October 2023, and candidates can expect the same this year.



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According to Global Firepower, a website that tracks global defense information, the United States maintains the most powerful military globally, with Russia and China securing the second and third positions, respectively. India holds the fourth position in the Military Strength Rankings for 2024.

indian-army

Ranking based on these factors

The rankings assess 145 countries based on over 60 factors, including troop numbers, military equipment, financial stability, geographic location, and available resources.

The PowerIndex score, generated through a unique formula, reflects military capabilities, with lower scores indicating stronger capabilities. Global Firepower's methodology aims to create a comprehensive assessment that allows smaller, technologically advanced nations to compete with larger, less-developed powers.

Special modifiers, in the form of bonuses and penalties, further refine the list. The approach considers economic strength, logistical efficiency, and geography to offer a nuanced understanding of global military landscapes beyond raw firepower.



The report covers 145 countries and analyzes changes in each nation's ranking from one year to the next.

Getty

Top 10 strongest militaries

Here are the top 10 countries with the most powerful militaries in the world:

United States Russia China India South Korea United Kingdom Japan Turkey Pakistan Italy

Top 10 weakest militaries

Here are the 10 countries with the least powerful militaries in the world:

Bhutan Moldova Suriname Somalia Benin Liberia Belize Sierra Leone Central African Republic Iceland

While the Global Firepower Ranking provides a useful starting point for understanding global military situations, it's essential to be critical and consider the broader context, as military power is a complex and multifaceted matter.

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In Gujarat's Vadnagar, native village of PM Narendra Modi, remnants of a human settlement dating back 2,800 years have been found.

The evidence of a colony as ancient as 800 BCE in Vadnagar has been uncovered by researchers from IIT Kharagpur, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Deccan College.



Vadnagar is known for its decadent history as a multi-cultural and multi-religious community, with influences from Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and Islamic traditions.



The ongoing excavation work in Vadnagar, initiated in 2016, has revealed seven distinct cultural stages at the site, as Dr Anindya Sarkar, Professor of Geology and Geophysics at IIT Kharagpur, reported.



These findings provide valuable insights into the diverse cultural and historical layers of Vadnagar, highlighting its significance as a hub of civilization throughout the centuries.

#WATCH | Gujarat: Remains of a 2800-year-old settlement found in PM Narendra Modi's village, Vadnagar. pic.twitter.com/Fefjt7Dn9Z  ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2024

What has been found in Vadnagar?

According to a statement by IIT Kharagpur, the examination of deep archaeological excavation at Vadnagar shows that the ascent and decline of various kingdoms over 3,000 years, as well as repeated invasions of India by Central Asian warriors, were influenced by significant changes in climate, such as rainfall or droughts.

Excavation in Vadnagar's deep trenches revealed seven cultural stages: Mauryan, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, Hindu-Solankis, Islamic, and Gaekwad-British colonial rule and the city continues to live on till today.

One of the oldest Buddhist monasteries has also been discovered during the excavation, the statement said.

X(Twitter)

" We found characteristic archaeological artefacts, potteries, copper, gold, silver and iron objects and intricately designed bangles. We also found coin moulds of Greek king Appollodatus during the Indo-Greek rule at Vadnagar," explained Abhijit Ambekar, an ASI archaeologist and co-author of the paper who led the excavation between 2016 and 2018.



Ambekar stated that the evidence collected by their team indicates that Vadnagar is the oldest living city in India, with a single fortification uncovered so far.

Significance of discoveries in Vadnagar

Vadnagar is unique as it holds a record of early historic to medieval archaeology with precise chronology, which has not been discovered elsewhere in India.

IIT Professor Rs Sarkar suggests that recent radiocarbon dates show the settlement could be as old as 1400 BCE, indicating cultural continuity in India for the last 5,500 years and disputing the existence of a so-called Dark Age.

ANI

According to Dr Sarkar, the earliest settlement period in Vadnagar dates back to at least 800 years BCE, during the early Iron Age or the Late Vedic period, before Buddhism and Jainism. This period lasted through the Mauryan rule and ended with its fall around 150 years BCE. After the decline of the Gupta Empire, there was a significant reduction in urbanization, the drying up of water bodies, famines, and a contraction in population across India.



He further elaborated that during the last 2,200 years of tumultuous time of Indian history, there were seven invasions from central Asia to India (including Gujarat), imprints of which can also be found in the successive cultural periods of Vadnagar.

" Our isotope data and dates of the cultural periods at Vadnagar suggest that all these invasions happened precisely when the agrarian Indian subcontinent was prosperous with stronger monsoon but central Asia was extremely dry and uninhabitable with recurrent droughts from where almost all the invasions and migrations happened," he explained.

All about the study in Vadnagar

The excavation in Vadnagar was conducted under the leadership of ASI. The study was funded by the Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Gujarat. This organization has been entrusted with the task of building India's first experiential digital museum in Vadnagar. The term 'experiential' refers to the process of learning through experience.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavated at Vadnagar, located in Western India, between 2016 and 2023. The excavation work at the site reached a depth of 20 meters.

According to Archaeological Supervisor Mukesh Thakor, more than 100,000 remains have been discovered so far, and about 30 sites have been evacuated.

The research findings have been published in a paper called 'Climate, human settlement, and migration in South Asia from Early historic to medieval period: evidence from new archaeological excavation at Vadnagar, Western India' in the Elsevier journal 'Quaternary Science Reviews'.

The research work at Vadnagar and Indus Valley civilization received funding support from Sudha Murthy, the former Chairperson of Infosys Foundation.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In a relief for flyers travelling from and to the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that RWY (runway) 29L has been made CAT III operational.

According to the minister RWY 29L at the Delhi airport has been made CAT III operational from Tuesday.

BCCL

What Scindia said about runway RWY 10/28

Scindia further said that the DIAL has been asked to expedite the operationalisation of runway RWY 10/28, which also has CAT III-B, but is closed for repairs.

On Tuesday, Scindia said the operationalisation of RWY 10/28 will be done after re-carpeting work.

According to Delhi International Airport Ltd, the maintenance work was impacted due to various reasons, including disruption in raw material supply, as per the sources in the know.

AFP

When will runway 10/28 be open

DIAL said it was committed to completing the project at the earliest and is targeting to complete all activities by 19th January for DGCA inspection.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport has four runways -- RW 09/27, RW 11R/29L, RW 10/28 and RW 11L/29R. Out of them, three runways, including CAT III-compliant RW 11L/29R, are operational. CAT III compliance allows for operating flights in low visibility conditions.

The airport handles around 1,300 flights daily.

Disruption of flights at Delhi airport

The closure of the runways came into focus late last month after hundreds of flights were delayed, cancelled, or diverted due to the fog and low visibility conditions at the Delhi Airport.

AFP

As North India continues to be in the grip of an intense cold wave and fog, the Civil Aviation Ministry has sought incidence reporting -- thrice daily -- from all the six metro airports, to reduce difficulties faced by passengers.

SOP for airlines

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for mitigating passenger inconvenience were issued by the ministry on Monday to all the airlines.

As per the SOPs, airlines shall be required to publish accurate real-time information regarding delays of their flights on the respective website of the airline and provide advance information to affected passengers by SMS, WhatsApp and email.

BCCL

The Civil Aviation Regulator, in its SOP, also mentioned that there should be a display of updated information regarding flight delays for passengers waiting at airports.

"There should be appropriate sensitization of the airline staff at the airports to suitably communicate with and continuously inform the passengers about flight delays," the SOP stated.

It also mentioned that in view of the prevalent fog season and adverse weather conditions, airlines may cancel, sufficiently in advance, such flights that are anticipated to be delayed or consequentially delayed on account of such conditions beyond a period of 3 hours with a view to obviate congestion at the airport and mitigate passenger inconvenience.

"All airlines shall mandatorily adhere to the above SOP with immediate effect," SOP stated.

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As Pongal, the traditional New Year continued to be celebrated across Tamil Nadu, a group of Forest Department officials and tribals marked the occasion with elephants.

They celebrated Mattu Pongal by serving a special banquet pongal to the captive elephants of Anaimalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).

Special pongal for Anaimalai's elephants

VIDEO | Visuals of Elephant Pongal Festival celebrated by the Forest Department at Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp under Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu earlier today.#PongalCelebration pic.twitter.com/diTiuuWjSV  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 16, 2024

At the Kozhikamuthy elephant camp of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, the captive elephants including the legendary Anamalai Kaleem, were bathed and decked up for the occasion by their mahouts.

On Tuesday, Kaleem who led the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's kumki squad was adorned with traditional caparison as the jumbo was honoured for its four-decade-long career.

Kaleem retired from service last year after being involved in the capture of nearly 100 wild elephants across Tamil Nadu and other states.

All 26 elephants at the camp were fed pongal, sugarcane and fruits by the officials and tribal families who take care of them every day.

BCCL

The elephants performed special pujas at the temple located in Kozhikamuthi camp.

Elephant pongal in Mudumalai

A similar celebration was also organised for the elephants at the Mudumalai Theppakadu Elephant camp in Nilgiri on Tuesday.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Elephants were given special delicacies including Ven Pongal at the Pongal celebration held at Mudumalai Theppakadu Elephant camp in Nilgiri. (16.01) pic.twitter.com/8JOYc7AbYs  ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2024

Jallikattu during Pongal

While celebrating the harvest festival with the elephants is relatively new, one of the integral parts of Pongal is the bull-taming sport Jallikattu.

Jallikattu is an age-old event celebrated mostly in the state of Tamil Nadu as part of Pongal celebrations. In the sport, a bull is released into a crowd of people and participants of the event try to grab the large hump on the bull's back, attempting to bring the bull to a stop.

About 42 people, including 14 tamers and 16 spectators were injured in the Jallikattu season held at Palamedu in Madurai on Tuesday.

The best tamer who embraced 14 bulls and the owner of the best bull that stubbornly refused to be subdued were each presented with the coveted Chief Minister's car as a prize.

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Golriz Ghahraman, a member of the New Zealand Parliament has stepped down from her post after she was accused of shoplifting.

Ghahraman, an MP for the Green Party is accused of theft on three occasions, from two boutique clothing shops in late 2023.

AP

MP accused of shoplifting

In a CCTV video surfaced online, the 42-year-old could be seen taking a designer handbag from an Auckland boutique.

The former human rights lawyer admitted her mistake and said her actions were "not a behaviour I can explain".

Ghahraman conceded she had fallen short of the standards expected of politicians and needed time to address her mental health.

Blames it on Work-related stress

Work-related stress led her to "act in ways that are completely out of character. I am not trying to excuse my actions, but I do want to explain them", she said in a statement.

"The mental health professional I see says my recent behaviour is consistent with recent events giving rise to extreme stress response, and relating to previously unrecognised trauma.

UNHCR

"I have let down a lot of people and I am very sorry. It's not a behaviour I can explain because it's not rational in any way, and after medical evaluation, I understand I'm not well."

Who is Golriz Ghahraman

In 2017, Ghahraman had created history after she became the first refugee to be elected as an MP in New Zealand.

Born in Iran, Ghahraman had moved to New Zealand as a child with her family when they were granted political asylum as refugees.

INSTAGRAM

New Zealand Police said in a statement they were investigating an incident at a Ponsonby store in December but would not give any other details. They did not confirm the incident involved Ghahraman.

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Russia ally Belarus to permit use of nuclear weapons for first time in new military rulebook

Russia ally Belarus has amended its military doctrine to permit the use of nuclear weapons for the first time, months after its decision to host Vladimir Putins nukes sent alarm bells ringing across Europe.

Belarus borders Poland, Latvia and Lithuania to its north and west, and the prospect of Russian tactical nuclear weapons being housed so close to Nato allies sparked an international furore late last year.

Defence minister Viktor Khrenin said at a national security council meeting on Tuesday that the change in military doctrine represented a new chapter for Belarus, which does not have its own nuclear weapons.

We clearly communicate Belaruss views on the use of tactical nuclear weapons stationed on our territory. A new chapter has appeared, where we clearly define our allied obligations to our allies, he said.

Belarusian forces are not believed to have actively participated in Russias war against Ukraine, but the country has supported Moscow in various ways throughout the almost two-year conflict.

The Belarus border is just 140 miles from Ukraines capital Kyiv, and Russian troops stationed in Belarus invaded Ukraine from the north during the opening days of the war in February 2022.

In December, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko confirmed the shipment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons for deployment in his country was complete, marking the first such placement outside of Russias borders.

The shipments were completed back in October, Mr Lukashenko revealed at a meeting of a Moscow-led economic bloc in St Petersburg.

Russia has said it will maintain control over the nuclear weapons positioned in Belarus, which are intended for battlefield use, having short ranges and comparatively low yields.

Mr Lukashenko did not share further details at the time regarding the quantity of weapons sent or their specific deployment locations.

On Tuesday, Belaruss security council secretary Alexander Volfovich claimed the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus was aimed at detering aggression from Poland, a Nato member.

Unfortunately, statements by our neighbours, in particular Poland forced us to strengthen the military doctrine, he said.

The doctrine will now be taken to the All-Belarusian Peoples Assembly, a representative body that operates in Belarus in parallel with its rubber-stamp parliament.
In the exciting initiation of homeownership, one anticipates a joyous occasion. However, life often unfolds with surprising twists, introducing unforeseen challenges along the way.

In the excitement of moving into a new house, a worker faced an unexpected setback: she recorded the moment she got fired.

This bizarre contrast between career failure and personal success illustrates the paradoxes of life quite well.

Come along for a frank recording that captures the intricate fabric of modern life as we explore the highs and lows of buying a property and losing a job.

Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster.

Who Is This Woman Who Lost Her Job?

Woman who lost her job from Discord and she just bought a house | Image: X

Chloe Shih is the woman who just lost her job. She was an employee of Discord.



What Happened With This Woman?

Shortly after Discord, the instant messaging app, disclosed its decision to lay off 17% of its workforce, this employee uploaded her video capturing the termination by the company.

Chloe Shih captured the moment the business revealed that she was one of the 170 workers dismissed by Discord.

A little over two years into her employment with the organisation, Chloe posted her response video on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

The widely used messaging app for gamers notified all of its staff members that they would all be receiving emails following the virtual conference.

Woman who lost her job from Discord and she just bought a house | Image: X

Chloe opens the video by recounting the actual Discord announcement. "Today we are making the regrettable and challenging decision to reduce the size of Discord's workforce by 17%," the spokesperson stated.



Following the narration, Chloe is heard stating, "I find out if I'm laid off in 20 minutes," with an anxious look on her face.

When Did The Video Of Woman Being Layoff Go Viral?

Woman who lost her job from Discord and she just bought a house | Image: X

On January 13, the video of Chloe expressing herself as being laid off from Discord went viral.



Where Can You Watch The Video?

You can watch the video on X posted by @colorsofchloe.



How Did The Internet React?



Since the video was shared on social media, it has had over 3.5 million views. In the comment section, people are just feeling sad for her.



Internet reacts over this woman who just lay off from Discord | Image: X

Internet reacts over this woman who just lay off from Discord | Image: X

What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments.



For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
Shocking scenes were reported at a coffee shop in Atlanta airport, in the U.S., after an employee fought with her boss after he fired her. Here's what went on.

Where did the incident occur?

Screengrab of the video from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport where the fight took place | Image: X

The incident took place on Saturday at the Harvest & Grounds coffee shop in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's Concourse D.



Why were the people seen fighting?

According to The New York Post, the woman was dismissed after arguing with another staff member about espresso shots.

Who was the employee who got fired?

Before departing, the employee, Shacoria Elly, lashed out at her superiors, and the confrontation escalated | Image: X

Before departing, the employee, Shacoria Elly, lashed out at her superiors, and the confrontation escalated.



What do you see in the video that is now going viral?

In a video published by X account 'Clown World,' the two managers are seen pulling her towards the back of the store while she repeatedly tells them to "give me my stuff." The woman then grabs a chair and attempts to toss it before one of the managers intervenes. As per the clip, she then charges at the manager and strikes him, who, in return, throws her to the ground.

The footage then shows the woman walking away before abruptly reversing and jumping over the counter. As she attempts to flee the store with her purse and coat, she trips and falls to the floor. The video ends with her walking out of the store.

How did the authorities react?

The incident also led Atlanta Police officers to respond, although she had already left the scene. According to the article, Elly was "terminated from her position" and airport security confiscated her badge.

"All parties were issued a case number and a time frame in which they can obtain a copy of this report; nothing further to report at this time," the report said. Officials have not charged her with a crime.

Check the video here:

ATLANTA, GA.- Altercation recorded on video involving a manager and an employee at Harvest & Grounds near Terminal D in the airport. pic.twitter.com/EaI4znfaaE  Clown World   (@ClownWorld_) January 16, 2024

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.
At a time when India's relations with the Maldives are reportedly strained due to remarks made by the island nation's officials on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, many chose to emphasise the beauty of local tourist destinations.

Who shared the intriguing video?

Screengrab of Ghazal Alagh's Mumbai-Nasik trip | Image: X

In one such tweet, Mamaearth co-founder Ghazal Alagh shared a video stating that Indians should explore their nation more.

"If I told you I was in the Maldives right now, would you believe me? But I'm actually on a helicopter from Mumbai to Nashik. India is on par with the foreign countries we wish to visit. We just need to look into it more," Alagh commented on X, formerly Twitter.

How did people on the internet react?

People also reacted to her post. "No I'd not believe you were in Maldives when I can clearly see the red, volcanic soil of Maharashtra, home to all my known forefathers," a member of the public said.

"Amazing! I was a regular in the Maldives until the pandemic hit, but I've also visited the Andaman Islands. The Andaman Islands are stunning and offer an excellent option." Another person commented that other sites, such as Lakshadweep, should be made more "tourist-friendly."

"The commercialisation is lacking. I traveled to Munnar in Kerala to go hiking (something I do all around the world). India was by far the most difficult to reach natural beauty. Permission and police guards everywhere," a user wrote, revealing his personal experience.

With 290+ retweets, 1.8k likes, and 658.5K views, check the post here.

If I told you I was in the Maldives right now, you'd believe me, right?

But, I'm actually in a chopper from Mumbai to Nashik.



India really is no less than the foreign countries that we aspire to go to. We just need to explore it more. pic.twitter.com/h3t7sAdHN7  Ghazal Alagh (@GhazalAlagh) January 16, 2024

Are you thinking about where to find more such sights? Look no further than India.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.


A male passenger on a Mumbai-Bengaluru Spicejet flight was trapped inside a toilet for nearly 100 minutes early Tuesday as the door lock allegedly malfunctioned, claim reports.

He was rescued after engineers broke open the loo door at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) here. Stuck in the toilet, especially during landing, the passenger was in shock.

When did the incident take place?

AI imagines the man stuck in the lavatory | Image: Generated on DALL.E

KIA sources said the incident unfolded on Flight SG-268, which took off from Mumbai airport at 2 am Tuesday. On Monday, the flight was supposed to depart at 10:55 p.m.



Who was the passenger who got stuck in the lavatory?

It was not possible to quickly obtain the passenger's details. Spicejet had not yet responded. "It was known that shortly after takeoff, the person occupying seat 14D walked to the restroom, triggering the seatbelt signals. Sadly, the toilet door malfunctioned and he became stuck inside," a KIA ground staff member stated.

Spicejet had not yet responded to this incident| Image: Generated on DALL.E





What did the staff say?

The staff heard the passenger's panicked calls and attempted to open the door from the outside. Another airport officer in Bengaluru said, "The poor man flew from Mumbai to Bengaluru inside the toilet and, shockingly, landed trapped inside the tiny lavatory."



When an air hostess realised there was no way to open the restroom door while the crew was in the air, she wrote a note on brown paper in capital letters that said, To console the stranded flyer, she slipped the message under the bathroom door: "Sir, we tried our best to open the door, but we could not."

"Remain calm. Please close the toilet lid, sit on it, and brace yourselfwe're landing in a few minutes. The engineer will arrive as soon as the main door is opened."

How did the man react?

The plane landed on Tuesday at 3:42 a.m. After a two-hour adventure, engineers got inside the aircraft, forced open the door, and saved the man.

First aid was administered to the traveller right away. First aid was administered to the passenger right away. The officer stated, "The passenger was totally traumatized due to claustrophobia."

Man was left feeling claustrophobic | Image: Generated on DALL.E

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.



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Recently, video of an IndiGo passenger assaulting a pilot for flight delay had gone viral. The unruly behavior of the passenger makes him a prime candidate of the no fly list. Do you ever wonder what happens when one is put under it? Not many know but Hundreds of airline passengers in India have in recent years been put on no fly list.

So what does it mean? What are its consequences? Is it only a ban or a penalty too? Let us simplify and explain it to you.

What It Means To Be Put On An Airline's No Fly List?

no fly list ban india/shutterstock

No Fly List is an initiative by the Indian government to identify disruptive passengers and ban them from boarding flights either temporarily or even permanently. The no fly list is aimed to ensure safety and check unruly and disruptive behaviour of passengers on the aircraft. The no-fly list is compiled and maintained by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)



Generally, passengers who engage in unruly physical gestures, verbal harassment, unruly inebriation, physically abusive behaviour, or any life-threatening action on board an aircraft get placed on the no fly list. A passenger on the no fly list is banned from flying in that airline's aircraft for a particular duration, such as six months or one year. In some cases, the ban can be a longer or even a permanent one.

Comedian Kunal Kamra Was One Of The Most Prominent Cases Of The 'No Fly' List

One such prominent case was in the year 2020, when comedian Kunal Kamra was banned by four airlines in India  IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India and GoAir after he allegedly heckled news anchor Arnab Goswami on an IndiGo flight.

indiatimes

Also Read: Explained: How Do Airlines Calculate Your Flight Cost?

How Much Penalty Is Slapped On Airlines & Passengers?

While many instances wherein passengers were put on no fly list have been restricted to only bans, sometimes the involved airline and passengers have been fined in lakhs of rupees.

For an incident in AI-102 flight, New York to New Delhi, dated November 26, 2022, a financial penalty of Rs 30 lakh was imposed on Air India. Also, a financial penalty of Rs 3 lakh was imposed on Director Flight services of Air India.

flight no fly penalty/shutterstock

Earlier in 2017, a businessman on a Jet Airways Mumbai-Delhi flight was put on the no-fly list for leaving a warning note in the restroom that there were hijackers and explosives on board. The flight made an emergency landing and the man was put on no fly list. A special NIA court had then sent him to prison for life and fined him Rs 5 crore. However, in 2023, the Gujarat High Court acquitted the passenger, and dubbed the case as bizarre.



In January 2023, The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) levied a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for not timely reporting two unruly passengers on a Paris-Delhi flight.

Also Read: How Much Compensation Are You Entitled To Get In Case Of Flight Gets Delayed

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
Rising star Adarsh Gourav takes a quantum leap in his career as he jets off to Thailand to commence filming for the highly anticipated project next week, Aliens, part of Ridley Scott's iconic franchise. The Alien prequel show, helmed by acclaimed writer and director Noah Hawley, unfolds 70 years before the events depicted in the first Alien film released in 1979.
Chinenye Nnebe, an actress in Nollywood, has cautioned women not to feel entitled to a luxurious lifestyle that they are unable to pay for.

To spread this knowledge, she used her Instagram account.

No man owes any lady such a lifestyle, in her opinion, particularly if the lady in question cannot afford it for herself.

The actress suggested that they quit being entitled and find something doing so that they could afford their desired luxuries.

She wrote,

Nobody owes you a Luxurious life style you cannot afford for yourself, go and work stop being entitled,

I come in peace my loves, I wish you a blessed week

READ MORE: Yul Edochie Comes Under Fire For Supporting Cameroonian Boxer Francis Ngannou

See some reactions to the post

grant_apex stated: See no one feels entitled just help who u can and stop thinking theyre feeling entitled Peace 

temmygold_wears added: Yea you are right but some are even working and hustling more than you but are not opportunedEveryone grace is different

ifeoluwaoni_ wrote: Na the work I dey do so 00000, when I start enjoying make nobody disturb me. Back to the topic of the day, Chinenye the stunner 

victor_chidera7 asked: @chinenyennebe what of does that cant see and can not Afford for there selfs they should go and work too. Where ever you are today, Appreciate 

ceemonelson commented: Then u so called celebrities should stop living life of champagne on a palm wine budget

SEE POST:
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, disclosed that his administration kept records of its stewardship.

According to him, he knew he would always be required to account for the trust entrusted in him.

He stated this at the book launch that chronicled his achievements in the eight years he held sway as President.

The books are Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser Media and Publicity (20152023), authored by Femi Adesina and Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy (20152023), a compilation of about a hundred contributors edited by Udu Yakubu.

Buhari, who was visiting the nations capital for the first time since leaving office in May 29, 2023, said under his watch, nothing was done under the veil of secrecy.

While noting the efforts of authors of the books to document his administrations achievements, Buhari stated: Without documentation, revisionism wins.

Human beings often have short memories, and unless events are recorded in cold print, some people would come and attempt to either distort, or even obliterate recent history.

But the fact in our favour is that nothing was done under the veil of secrecy. We were as transparent and accountable as possible, being aware of the fact that posterity was the ultimate judge.

READ ALSO: Im Happy Buhari Didnt Interfere In My Cabinet Formation  Tinubu

We kept records of our stewardship, knowing that we would always be required to account for the trust entrusted to us. This event today is part of accounting for our two terms in office, and I thank those who have laboured day and night to ensure this history is recorded for now and the future.

Government is a continuum. It is like a relay race. You run your course, and hand over the baton to the next person. This we have done.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration has my support and confidence, in the quest for us to have a country of our dreams, where there is emancipation for our teeming population.

With the cumulative achievements of government after government, I believe we will get there in no distant time.

In our journey to the desired destination, there will be hard decisions taken, and the people would bear some costs. We can only seek their understanding, and state that there was no intention to deliberately inflict pain and anguish on anyone.

This is why I apologized to such people at the end of our time in office. Sacrifices are still being made now, and will continue to be part of our national life and development.

Governments will continually seek the understanding and support of the people they lead, for our ultimate good and goal.

Let revisionists not rejoice that they have the ultimate say in the bid to distort history. Facts and records will ultimately prove them wrong.

When some people engage in deliberate falsehood and distortion of facts that pertain to our tenure in office, I take solace in the fact that records are there, and will remain inviolable, he detailed.
The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has called on the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to address the current insecurity challenge, facing the country.

In a statement via his X handle, on Tuesday, Obi expressed displeasure over what he described as a surge of violence spreading through the Federal Capital Territory .

He said that insecurity worsened under the past administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari, who campaigned and won the elections with the promise of tackling security, the economy and corruption.

He reminded Shettima of his promise to handle security if the ruling All Progressives Congress is elected, adding that it is time to fulfil the campaign promises.

READ MORE: Peter Obi Hails Tinubu Over 60% Cut In Presidential Travel Expenses

The statement reads: As terror attacks, banditry, kidnappings and violence continue to rage through the country, it is more concerning now with the surge of violence spreading through the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The recent killings of two abducted young girls in Abuja make it more depressing and urgent. It is now time for we, the leaders, to take all forms of serious measures to tackle the situation.

It is unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2015, campaigned and won the elections on three items; Security, Economy and Corruption (SEC).

After his eight years in office, the situation has worsened in all three areas. The present administration, on assuming office, promised to deal decisively with the same situation  Security, Economy and Corruption. Today, however, the situation is getting even worse than ever.

At the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association held in Lagos in August 2022, the then Vice Presidential candidate, Sen Kashim Shettima, categorically stated that if APC is elected, he as Vice President would be in charge of security, while the President as an expert in economy would handle the economy.

It is now time to stop all forms of foreign trips from people in government until we deal with the ugly situation facing us at home.
The abductors of Gideon Haanongon, the caretaker Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, have demanded the sum of N50 million as ransom.

The chairman was in the early hours of Saturday abducted alongside his personal assistant, police orderly and driver around Anyagba, Tongov Katsina-Ala LGA on his way to attend the funeral of Ter Katsina-Ala, Benjamin Fezaanga Wombo.

An anonymous source told Punch on Tuesday that the abductors demanded N50m.

The kidnappers called on Monday and asked one of the relatives of the chairman that they should be ready to pay N50m if they still want to see their breadwinner, the family source said.

It could not be established if the N50m was the ransom for the four people or the chairman alone.

READ ALSO: Bandits Kidnap Man Who Volunteered To Deliver Ransom In Kaduna

The state Commissioner for Information, Matthew Abo, also confirmed on Tuesday that the kidnappers had opened contact but declined to say the amount being demanded was for the ransom.

Abo said, I heard that the kidnappers are demanding certain amount of money though I cannot authenticate the veracity of the rumour.

I cannot state categorically but the state government has mobilised security operatives who are working hard to rescue the chairman.

State Governor Hyacinth Alia while speaking at the funeral of Ter Katsina-Ala had pleaded with the kidnappers to release the LG chairman and three other victims, promising that his government was ready to assist them to be useful to society.
The Columbus Alzheimers/Dementia Support Group will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, at the Columbus Senior Center (old hospital), 3111 19th St. Attendees should use the door on the north side.

Adam Lassen will be the facilitator. There will be information and conversation about Alzheimers and dementia.

For more information, contact Lassen at 402-910-8111 or Martha Davidson at 402-910-8580.
Aisha Lawal, a Nollywood actress, has shown appreciation to her creator after cheating death.

On Tuesday night, an explosion was reported in the city of Ibadan, Oyo State, causing alarm among locals.

Although the cause of the explosions has not yet been determined, the government has verified the terrible incident and investigations have commenced.

Reportedly, the explosion caused property damage, and the blast broke through the glass windows of the UCH School of Nursing dormitories.

Aisha Lawal disclosed that she was present in Bodija during the explosion and that the impact is still causing pain in her ears.

Aisha thanked God for saving her life as she described the situation, revealing that she had parked her car in front of an estate to buy suya but had moved it to the scene.

The actress, who questioned what led to the tragic event, claimed to have seen numerous dead bodies.

She wrote,

Alhamdulilah for today, I was at Bodija when the explosion happened, in fact, my ears are still ringing from the effect. Thank God for our lives.

I even parked to buy suya opposite that Estate o! Now later moved my car from Sloggers Club to the Metro hotel on the same Osuntokun when it happened. Olohun anu oooooooo

Too many dead bodies, ehhhhhh what exactly is going on oooo

Olohun sanu oooo.

READ MORE: Lady Accuses Davido Of Hiding Under His Wealth To Showcase Bad Behaviour

Her colleagues flooded her comment section appreciating God for her life.

Fausat Balogun wrote, Alhamdulillah baba dada oseee

Foluke Daramola wrote, Haaaa adupe lowo Oluwa ooo

Jamiu Azeez wrote, Alhamdulillah pls stay safe dear

Faithia Williams wrote, Thank God

Bimbo Oshin wrote, Oluwaseun

Wumi Toriola wrote, Thank you, Lord, May God comfort those affected

Bukola Adeeyo wrote, Glory be to God

Bimpe Akintunde wrote, Oluwaseun pls stay safe

SEE POST:
Lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Heebah Kingibe has added her voice over the deteriorating security situation in Abuja.

Kingibe asserted that it appears the nations security agencies are not effectively addressing the challenges.

Her reaction stems from the tragic killing of Nabeeha Al-Kadriya, a 400-level Biological Sciences student at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, by kidnappers.

She criticized the escalating rate of criminal activities in the FCT, emphasizing its unacceptability and embarrassment.

Recall that Nabeeha, along with her father and five sisters, was abducted in Zuma town in Bwari, Abuja, on January 2, 2024.

Despite the father being released to raise the initial N60 million demanded by the kidnappers, Nabeeha was tragically murdered, and the ransom demand increased to N100 million.

READ ALSO: I Wont Rest Until Agents Of Darkness Causing Insecurity Are Eliminated  Tinubu Vows

In a Tuesday statement signed by Nana Kazaure, her Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kingibe described the situation as a stain on the nations conscience and a failure of the governments primary responsibility to secure lives and property.

While expressing disbelief and dissatisfaction, she said, It is as if our security agencies have gone to sleep. It surely beggars belief that this should happen in the Federal Capital and is unacceptable to me and Nigerians in general.

Senator Kingibe highlighted the irony that residents of the FCT, expected to benefit from enhanced security due to their proximity to the seat of power, are instead facing increased terror from criminals.

Commiserating with the Al-Kadriyas on the loss of Nabeeha, Senator Kingibe urged security operatives to act promptly to secure the release of the remaining siblings and others in captivity.

Moreso, she called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity nationwide.
Femi Adesina, ex-spokesperson to former President Muhammadu Buhari, says contrary to general opinion, his principal is not a bigot.

He however described Buhari as a fair-minded personality, while speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday.

Having launched a book Working with Buhari: Reflections of A Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023), in Abuja on Tuesday, he noted that a lot of people have different narratives about the personality of Buhari.

Meanwhile, the book launch was attended by Buhari, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Buharis political appointees and other stakeholders.

During the administration of Buhari, some Nigerians described him as a bigot due to the perceived lopsidedness in his appointments.

Defending his principal during the interview, Adesina added that his book was written to showcase the real and true Buhari.

According to him, Buhari does not impose his religion on others.

READ ALSO: I Wrote My Book On Buhari To Change False Narratives About Him  Femi Adesina

A lot of people have different perspectives and narratives about former President Muhammadu Buhari depending on what they think they know and what they think they were exposed to about him.

That is why I thought the book was necessary so that the real and the true Muhammadu Buhari can be known.

He is a patriot; somebody who loves Nigeria dearly, and a fair-minded man. Those who call him nepotist and bigot dont know him. A man who will never seek to impose his own religion on you and will respect your own religion.

I devoted a good part of my book to that. When my mother died in 2013, I invited him to the Commendation Service in Lagos, he was not president then, he flown all the way from Kaduna to Lagos to attend a Christian programme. He stayed throughout.

Yet, some people will say he is a religious bigot. A bigot will never enter a worship house that is not his own religion. And they say he is a nepotist, I have never seen it, Adesina detailed.
Two Philadelphia women say they were seriously injured after children rammed them with electric scooters while they shopped at the Cherry Hill Target.

Their allegations are laid out in a lawsuit against Target that was transferred to federal court in New Jersey earlier this month.

Brittany Lewis and her godmother, Cynthia Harris, say they were run down by five children on scooters  which are available for customers with mobility issues  during a routine Target trip the Saturday before Christmas in 2021, according to their attorney, Michael van der Veen, and court documents.

Target allowed a number of youths into the store without really monitoring them or figuring out what they were doing, said van der Veen, a Philadelphia lawyer who defended President Donald Trump at his second impeachment trial. They hopped on scooters that were there and were just zipping around the store.

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Van der Veen said the women did not know the children who ran into them, nor did the pair have any prior interactions with them inside the store. Target did nothing to prevent the injuries, van der Veen said, or to remedy the situation afterward.

This has been extremely traumatic for them, van der Veen said. Theyve got substantial and unfortunately what are probably lifelong injuries. And it was all preventable. Its really a gross negligence that Target was displaying.

Target spokespeople did not return requests for comment. In court documents, the corporation denies that it was careless or negligent, saying that the store was adequately supervised. Employees had no notice that the scooters were being misused, according to Target, and any injuries to the women were caused by other customers over whom the company had no control nor right of control.

Van der Veen is trying to get access to the stores security footage, he said, in order to determine what happened and put a dollar figure on the damages incurred by his clients. In court documents, he says his clients are likely to seek more than $75,000.

Lewis, of Brewerytown, and Harris, of Tioga, suffered serious leg and knee pain as a result of the incident. Harris has medical documentation of several herniated discs in her lower back, van der Veen writes in the documents, and they have incurred expenses for prescriptions, physical therapy, and other care.

Van der Veen said he hopes the case has a broader impact in the retail industry.

Were really trying to establish a minimum standard of care big box stores like these owe to their customers, he said.
Claire M. Fagin, former interim president of the University of Pennsylvania and former dean of its school of nursing, has died. Read more

Claire M. Fagin, 97, formerly of the Philadelphia area, former interim president of the University of Pennsylvania and the first woman to lead Penn, died Tuesday at her Manhattan home, according to the school and her family.

Dr. Fagin also formerly led Penns school of nursing and was well known for helping to pioneer the practice of allowing parents to stay overnight in the hospital with their children when they were admitted.

Dr. Fagin experienced this herself, when her own child was hospitalized  and she decided to study the phenomenon, writing her dissertation on rooming in, Penn says on its website. Widely publicized nationally, including through television appearances by Dr. Fagin, her dissertation and subsequent research helped transform hospital practices nationwide.

 READ MORE: Penn receives record $125 million to offer free tuition to nurse practitioners to work in underserved communities

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She served as interim president of Penn for a year in 1993-94, guiding the university following the infamous incident in which a student called Black sorority sisters water buffalo, leading to one of the greatest controversies in Penns history, with it facing both accusations of racism and failure to honor free speech.

Dr. Fagin led during a challenging time and very much served the role of healer, seeking broad community input, and implementing many of the recommendations that inform our policies of open expression, respect, and civil discourse today, said Penns interim president J. Larry Jameson.

She also made a difference to Ayanna Taylor, one of the young women who accused the student of racial harassment in the incident. Dr. Fagin invited Taylor to work in her office and help with her research on the image of nurses in the media.

She chose me, and I was grateful for that, Taylor, a 1994 Penn graduate, wrote in a 2016 email to Antonia Villarruel, dean of Penns nursing school. I think she knew that I needed to feel connected to the university in that way after so much that had marginalized me.

Taylor, 51, of New Jersey, who is now chief of staff for a nonprofit that works to improve the life expectancy of Black women, said Tuesday that she and Dr. Fagin reconnected when Dr. Fagin was in her 90s and had lunch together in New York.

Weve stayed in contact ever since, and she continued to encourage me to start my doctoral program and was just a constant reminder that I had everything I needed to accomplish anything I wanted, said Taylor, who completed her doctorate in leadership and innovation from New York University in 2021.

 READ MORE: Former Penn president Judith Rodin on shifting business/university relations, and rebuilding Philly

Dr. Fagin is credited with paving the way for other women to lead Ivy League universities. At Penn, she was followed by Judith Rodin, the first permanent female president of an Ivy League university, who served in that role for a decade; Amy Gutmann, who was Penn president for a record-breaking 18 years; and Liz Magill, who resigned last month following criticism of her congressional testimony about antisemitism on campus.

 READ MORE: Confirmed as the next U.S. ambassador to Germany, Amy Gutmann reflects on nearly 18 years as Penns president

A psychiatric nurse, Dr. Fagin took over as dean of Penns nursing school in 1977, when it was struggling, and over her 14-year tenure, elevated it to one of the best in the nation.

Claire was brought in to put it on the map, and thats exactly what she did, said the dean, Villarruel, who met Dr. Fagin when she was a student there and Dr. Fagin was dean. I think she told us we were No. 1 before we became the No. 1 school. It was almost like she willed it to happen. ... She believed in what could be and that inspired everybody.

Fagin Hall, which houses Penns school of nursing, is named after her.

Born in the Bronx, she was the child of Eastern European immigrants who worked in a family grocery through the Depression. She got her bachelors degree from Wagner College in 1948, her masters from Columbia University in 1951, and her doctorate from NYU in 1964.

When she was working toward her doctorate, children admitted to the hospital were still separated from their parents. Dr. Fagin experienced that herself when her son Joshua was hospitalized for a hernia. She insisted on staying with him, knowing thats what he needed, according to family and friends.

They told her to leave; she did not leave, said Villarruel, who recalled Fagin telling the story.

Hospitals eventually changed their practices, and according to Penn, by 1978, more than half allowed 24-hour visits in pediatric units.

Before Penn, Dr. Fagin taught at NYU and Lehman College, a division of the City University of New York, where she created the first baccalaureate program that prepared nurses for primary care practice and demonstrated that college-educated nurses could do both the theory and practice of nursing, according to Penn.

She also was the first childrens psychiatric nurse in the country to earn a doctorate,

I just absolutely loved it, Dr. Fagin said of nursing in a 1993 Inquirer interview. I felt that I was realized. There was nothing I didnt like, absolutely nothing. I loved the operating room and pediatric nursing and OB. I just loved it all. It was all kind of a shock, to love it all  nobody could understand it.

As nursing school dean, she told students at commencement they could pick up the phone for the rest of their lives and call the school if they needed assistance.

Well be there, she told them, recalled Neville Strumpf, a retired Penn nursing professor and former interim nursing school dean. That was the kind of spirit she imparted.

She advocated for universal health care, nursing education, and the prominence of women in nursing and health fields and received many awards, including the nursing professions highest honor from the American Nurses Association, according to Penn.

When she was named interim president upon president Sheldon Hackneys departure, she invited the nursing faculty to visit her in the presidents house.

She said, If you want to, you can go anywhere in the house you want, Strumpf said. None of us had ever been in the private quarters of the president before. We went up and looked in her closet. We checked out the bedroom.

After her presidential term, Dr. Fagin returned to teaching and research until her retirement in 1996.

She received 15 honorary doctorates and once gave a speech at NYU, sitting next to Bill Clinton, her family recalled.

Dr. Fagin stayed active after her retirement from Penn, working as a consultant. She loved the arts and theater and had many memberships, her family said. She and her husband, the late Samuel L. Fagin, who died in 2019, enjoyed walking in Central Park together and traveling, especially sailing. They were married for more than 65 years and until the very end used to sit together and hold hands while they watched television, said her daughter-in-law France Myung Fagin.

In addition to her daughter-in-law, Dr. Fagin is also survived by her son, Charles, of New York. Her son, Joshua, died in 2020.

Dr. Fagin will be buried at the Woodlands cemetery, near Penn in West Philadelphia, at 1 p.m. on Jan. 24. Funeral arrangements are private.

Philadelphia and Penn were such an important part of her life and where she wants to rest, her daughter-in-law said.

Donations in her name can be made to Penns school of nursing. Checks should be made out to Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania with Fagin Scholarship in the memo field and mailed to University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing; Development Office; Claire M. Fagin Hall; 418 Curie Boulevard Suite 445; Philadelphia, Pa. 19104-4217
Jerry Jordan, longtime Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president, is retiring July 1. He has led the city teachers' union for 17 years and has earned wide respect around the city. Read more

Jerry Jordan, the decades-long mainstay of the powerful Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and a well-respected figure across the city, is retiring.

Jordan has opted not to run for reelection as president of the 13,000-member union, which is in a contract-negotiating year.

Arthur Steinberg, who runs the PFTs health and welfare fund and is president of the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania, will become the next city teachers union president. No other candidates had declared themselves by Tuesday at 5 p.m., the submission deadline.

Jordan, who has led the PFT since 2007, will remain at the helm until July 1.

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 READ MORE: Heres what leaders say about Jerry Jordan, whos retiring as PFT president : Hes the kind of guy you want to be the one taking care of you forever

He informed members of his decision in an email sent Tuesday evening.

His decision to retire is likely to surprise many; though he is 74, Jordan has shown no signs of slowing down and said he plans to remain active. But in a way, the announcement is quintessential Jordan, a cards-close-to-the-vest move for a person who has always been very private, despite his very public role.

From classroom to negotiating table

Jordan, the PFTs first Black president, has led the union since 2008, but worked as a PFT staffer since 1987. Born and raised in West Philadelphia, a product of the Philadelphia School District, Jordan began his career teaching English language learners at Martin Luther King High School in 1976. When he moved to University City High School, Jordan became shop steward, the first step on a path that would define his working life.

Jordan loved teaching  theres never a boring day, he said. (Also: Dealing with adults is harder.) And although he enjoyed representing his colleagues and his students interests as a building representative, leaving the classroom to work for the PFT  let alone becoming its leader  never entered his mind, he said.

When PFT president Marvin Schuman called Jordan in 1986 to ask him to work for the PFT, he was totally stunned, Jordan said, but also intrigued. He began working as a PFT staffer, responsible for representing members at 50 schools around the city, in 1987. He never looked back.

Jordan rose through the ranks of the union, becoming director of staff, vice president and chief negotiator before taking over when Ted Kirsch left PFT to lead the statewide American Federation of Teachers chapter in 2007.

In his 34 years as PFT leadership, including 17 as president, Jordan has seen much: from the contentious state takeover of Philadelphia schools and budget cuts so deep the district laid off thousands of employees, to wholesale school closings and the School Reform Commission attempting to cancel the teachers unions contract.

But Jordan was a constant  not a flashy leader but a deeply thoughtful and strategic one, said State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D., Phila.), head of the Senate Appropriations committee. Jordan honed excellent listening skills as an ESL teacher, and it shows.

Steady, focused, unwavering: Thats Jerry, said Hughes. Never got sidetracked by other issues in politics or in the community. Its always about the students and the teachers with him.

Gemayel Keyes, a 17-year district veteran employee, said Jordan earned wide respect because he takes the work personally, and doesnt make promises he cant keep. Keyes was a paraprofessional when he first told Jordan at a membership meeting that he was in school to become a teacher but couldnt afford to stop working to complete his student teaching. Could the PFT help, Keyes asked?

Jordan called Keyes later and told him about his plan to work with the district to build a pathway to help paraprofessionals become teachers.

He said, I cant guarantee that I can get this done, but this is at the top of my list, and I promise you that I will work as hard to get as much of this as I can, Keyes said. There are some people that think a leader should always be loud and boisterous, but its not bravado and puffing up my chest, its about having a plan and knowing how to execute it.

The union and district eventually announced its Para Pathway program; Keyes is now a classroom teacher at Spruance Elementary in the Northeast.

Randi Weingarten, president of the national American Federation of Teachers, counts Jordan as a longtime friend and thought partner, she said.

He combines a deep sense of compassion and righteous anger, a great strategic mind, with being a real gentleman, a real mensch, said Weingarten.

The best and worse of his tenure

Jordan loved working with Superintendent Constance E. Clayton, who, like Jordan, could be formal, old-school. He disagreed with almost everything Superintendent David Hornbeck did. Arlene Ackerman?

That was a really, really tough period, Jordan said. She literally gave away schools, including the new Audenried building, and other buildings.

And then there was the most difficult day of Jordans professional career: Oct. 6, 2014, when the SRC moved to cancel the teachers contract, a move that caught the city  and the PFT  off guard.

I was not afraid; I was pissed, said Jordan, whose default is mild-mannered and courtly, but when his ire is raised, watch out. (I try not ... to allow myself to get very angry, because it may not be nice, he said.)

Critics contend that Jordan is too traditional, top-down, hesitant to forcefully challenge the status quo. Many wanted the PFT to strike then as a show that teachers would not stand for what was ultimately judged to be an illegal action by the SRC. But Jordan told his members to stay on the job, promising that they would win the day through the courts.

They did.

People will say, he should act, he should be more vocal, but he always had a plan, said Dee Phillips, a longtime member of Jordans executive team who is now retired.

Jordan is good at the long game; he has negotiated high-stakes contracts for years. But he brightens visibly on school visits, in interactions with youngsters.

Asked to list things achieved in his tenure that hes proud of, Jordan, who would clearly rather not talk about himself, says any accomplishments he has realized have been because of the team behind him and the members who power them.

But he does list a few: the PFTs work drawing attention to the districts facilities crisis; its February 2021 action during the COVID-19 pandemic, when teachers worked outside in frigid temperatures to push back against what they said were insufficient guarantees that school buildings were safe for them and students to return; and the design and implementation of a Peer Assistance and Review program for all new teachers and those rated unsatisfactory by their principals.

On the other side of the coin, Jordan said he still struggles with the loss of Laporshia Massey, a 12-year-old who died from complications of an asthma attack she suffered at Bryant Elementary, a West Philadelphia school that had no nurse on duty because of budget cuts, and the mesothelioma diagnosis of Lea DiRusso, who contracted the deadly disease after teaching for years in two Philadelphia schools that were known to have damaged asbestos.

I take those things personally, Jordan said.

Why he says its time to retire

There comes a time when you need to know when its time to go, Jordan said. I put in a lot of years in this union. I was very deliberate in who I hired, and I hired people who I wanted to be able to continue running this operation well, and after I left. I knew that I would be leaving at some point.

Jordan used to tell people hed retire when schools are as good as when I attended, and theyre not there yet, he said.

But, he said, theyre getting there.

The trajectory is positive, Jordan said: The school district is back under local control; a judges 2023 ruling that Pennsylvanias education-funding system is unconstitutional brings hope that Philadelphia will reliably get more equitable funding from the state; and the public is better aware of the districts building crisis, as evidenced by a recent state appropriation to fix old schools, the first such award in years.

We have been very effective in really bringing to light the facilities crisis in our school system, said Jordan. In my very first meeting with Gov. [Josh] Shapiro after he was in office, he mentioned the facilities problem.

Whats next? Hes not walking away.

I will do whatever it is that I can to assist with contract negotiations or anything dealing with the operations of this union, before I leave as well as after I leave, Jordan said. You dont put in as many years into an organization and then just walk away.

Jordan loves to travel, and he plans to do more of it, as well as volunteer work, likely with an organization that supports children.

And I am going to become very, very active in the upcoming election and in politics, said Jordan, a Democrat. Its just so important that we elect the right person.
Temple University has become the latest local college to face a federal probe over its handling of antisemitism complaints on campus.

The U.S. Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights this week included the North Philadelphia university on its list of open investigations for discrimination allegations over failure to handle complaints about antisemitism and Islamophobia.

The department did not specifically say why it was investigating Temple, but the editor-in-chief of Campus Reform, an Arlington, Va.-based national conservative news website focused on higher education, had filed a complaint against Temple, alleging that Jewish students are increasingly unwelcome, unsafe, and discriminated against, according to an article on the Campus Reform website. The news was reported on this week by Temple News, the universitys student newspaper. Campus Reform also published part of a letter it received from the department, specifying that it would investigate.

Temple University said in a statement Wednesday that it would fully comply with the investigation and that it unequivocally condemns hate and discrimination against any person and will always strive to ensure that all of our students, faculty, and staff feel welcomed and safe in our community and throughout our campus.

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 READ MORE: After protesters chant from the river to the sea, Temple law school warns about disrupting class

As this situation evolves, the university will continue to adapt, ensuring that all members of this community have access to the support and resources that they need. said Steve Orbanek, a Temple spokesperson.

Drexel and Rutgers Universities and Lafayette and Muhlenberg Colleges in the Lehigh Valley also are on the departments list of nearly 100 open investigations into colleges and K-12 schools for alleged discrimination involving shared ancestry, including antisemitism or Islamophobia, about half of which began to surface following Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the countrys subsequent military response.

The University of Pennsylvania also had been on the list, but the federal education department on Jan. 2 told Penn it had dismissed the case because a lawsuit with the same allegations was filed in federal court. The relief sought, the department said, is the same as would be provided if the department found a violation.

 READ MORE: U.S. Department of Education investigates Penn, Lafayette, over antisemitism and Islamophobia allegations

Penns former president Liz Magill resigned last month after an uproar over her congressional testimony about the handling of antisemitism on campus. The university for months has been dealing with tensions, starting with the Palestine Writes Literary Festival held on campus in September, which some critics said included speakers with a history of making antisemitic remarks. A donor backlash ensued, with calls for Magill and former board chair Scott L. Bok to resign.

Penn was among many universities nationwide facing pressure to respond to the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

 READ MORE: Brandeis Center files federal discrimination complaint against Penn over handling of antisemitism

Temple, too, has been the site of demonstrations by pro-Palestinian groups, as well as those supporting Israel. At its law school in October, some students engaging in a walkout in support of Palestinians shouted as they left the classroom from the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free  a sentiment that some have used as a rallying cry for the destruction of Israel. The law school held a four-hour Zoom meeting with students and issued a statement, clarifying that although free speech is permitted and supported on campus, conduct that disrupts a classroom is not.

Some law school students told The Inquirer at the time that they were unnerved by what happened and wanted more action by the school.

The complaint by Campus Reform editor-in-chief Zachary Marschall asserts that the phrase from the river to the sea supports the expulsion, and even genocide, of Israels Jewish inhabitants, according to Campus Reform. Other people, however, have said the phrase is merely a call for permanent statehood and an end to Israels occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

 READ MORE: Antisemitic incidents have soared in Philly  but counting pro-Palestinian rallies draws rebuke

The article in Campus Reform also cited other phrases allegedly shouted during demonstrations that students participated in, including Gaza, Gaza you will rise, Palestine will never die and during a protest outside Goldie, a Center City falafel shop with Israeli owners, Goldie, Goldie you cant hide, we charge you with genocide.

The education departments Office of Civil Rights is overseeing the probes, but has not provided a timeline on the work. When the department receives a complaint, it evaluates whether it is subject to further processing and whether it can investigate, according to the offices website. But deciding to investigate in no way implies that OCR has made a determination with regard to the merits of the complaint, the office states.

In announcing the first round of investigations in November, the department said schools that do not address the offices findings could lose their federal funding.

Hate has no place in our schools, period, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in November. When students are targeted because they are  or are perceived to be  Jewish, Muslim, Arab, Sikh, or any other ethnicity or shared ancestry, schools must act to ensure safe and inclusive educational environments where everyone is free to learn.
Nija Wiggins dreams big about corn.

Wiggins, 35, of North Philadelphia, sells freshly prepared gourmet corn on the cob and popcorn at her food cart, Corneeys. The mother of twins and former songwriter is on a mission to establish her corn creations  including deep fried corn on the cob, jerk-style corn on the cob with jerk chicken and peppers, and Cajun-style corn on the cob topped with shrimp and turkey sausage  as staples of the Philly food scene. Like cheesesteaks and soft pretzels, she likes to say.

I believe the higher you dream, the harder you work, said Wiggins, who envisions opening shops and stands along the Jersey Shore and inside Lincoln Financial Field.

Wiggins, who first started selling her corn out of her grandmothers Mount Airy kitchen in 2018, recently won some help with her dreams.

In September, Wiggins was one of 20 Philly small-business owners awarded a $5,000 grant from Elevate Together. Funded by the Office Depot Foundation  and partnering with the Urban League of Philadelphia and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce  the national nonprofit addresses systemic discrimination and historical racial disparities in business growth.

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I was extremely surprised and humbled, Wiggins said. I felt like what I was working for was real, like all the hard work I have been doing was finally being acknowledged.

Wiggins said the inspiration for her cooking is found in the recipes learned during her familys regular Sunday dinners at her great-grandmothers house in North Philly. Momma Barlows table was always heaped high with homemade soul food, she said.

Everyone feels their family was the best cooks and had the best recipes, she said, with a laugh. Of course I felt the same way.

After pursuing a music career and becoming a mother to twin girls, Brooklyn and Bailey, Wiggins started to think seriously about a career in the food industry.

I wanted to sell something that you could walk the boardwalk with, she said. Something easy, something accessible, something fun, and something you can dress up anyway you want to.

She named most of her menu items after family members (I am extremely proud of where I came from, she said.) Her family works the cart with her. Her Aunt Lisa works the window. Her father, George, shucks the corn. And the twins help out when theyre not busy with school. She first started by selling her corn to friends and neighbors for a few dollars. Soon, she no longer recognized the customers streaming into her grandmothers kitchen.

Thats when I knew I was onto something, she said.

After opening her cart in 2020, she became a regular at Philly food festivals and street fairs. She credits the Philadelphia Housing Authoritys small business incubator program and the Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association with helping her grow her business.

Wiggins plans on using some of the grant money to buy a new sign for her cart  and to hire a helper. Someone young who dreams the same dreams she does, she said.

So they can see someone who looks like them making it happen, she said.
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and Mastery Schools will be partners in a high school designed to prepare graduates for jobs in health care. Read more

A partnership of the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and Mastery Schools is participating in a $250 million Bloomberg Philanthropies nationwide program announced Wednesday to create 10 high schools focused on training students for health-care jobs.

The Philadelphia partnership will receive $19.6 million over five years to revamp an existing Mastery school to prepare graduates for positions such as surgical technologists, radiology technicians, and respiratory therapists, Bloomberg said. Specialized health-care classes will be co-taught with CHOP employees, and CHOP will provide job opportunities for graduates.

For too long, our education system has failed to prepare students for good jobs in high-growth industries, said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and former New York City mayor. America needs more healthcare workers, and we need a stronger, larger middle-class  and this is a way to help accomplish both goals.

Other cities involved in the program include Boston, New York, Dallas, and Houston. The Bloomberg initiative also includes rural areas in Alabama and Tennessee.

The Bloomberg money will pay for start-up costs, such as classroom and lab renovations, plus the cost of hiring specialized personnel. The money can also be used to develop curricula, lab materials and equipment, and stipends for work-based learning, Bloomberg said.

Mastery plans a local announcement of the program in the spring, when it will disclose which location in its charter school network will be used for the Bloomberg program, said Yvette A. Nunez, chief of staff at Mastery. The school is slated to begin operating in September 2025. Mastery operates 24 schools in Philadelphia and Camden with 14,000 students.

CHOP, which had $4 billion in revenue in the year ended June 30, has hospitals in University City and King of Prussia. It employs nearly 19,000 people. The nonprofit already participates in job-training programs for local residents, including the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, which trains adults.
Philadelphia health officials are asking anyone who isn't vaccinated or otherwise immune against measles to get the MMR vaccine. Read more

Editors note: this story was updated with new information from the city.

A ninth person in Philadelphia has tested positive for measles, health officials said Tuesday.

The outbreak began last month at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and spread to a day-care center on Castor Avenue.

The latest case is the parent of a child who was previously infected at the daycare. It is the fifth infection related to the facility, according to the department of public health.

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An unvaccinated child was exposed to measles while hospitalized at CHOP and subsequently attended the daycare center in violation of quarantine guidelines.

 READ MORE: Two more day-care children are infected with the measles. Heres what to know about the outbreak in Philadelphia.

Previous cases included one unvaccinated adult and seven children. At least six of the people infected were hospitalized to treat the infection, and all were later discharged.

Authorities in Pennsylvania, Wilmington, and Delaware and Montgomery Counties have warned local residents of potential measles exposures from Philadelphia residents who visited health-care facilities outside the city.

Last week, a child in Camden County tested positive for measles. Authorities do not know where the child was exposed, and there is no known connection to the Philadelphia outbreak.

Camden officials warned the public about the following exposures:

Cooper University Healthcare Pediatrics in Voorhees Township on Jan. 5 between 11:35 a.m. and 2:32 p.m. Jefferson South Jersey Stratford Hospitals emergency department between 8 p.m. Jan. 8 and 12:38 a.m. Jan. 9.

Anyone who has been exposed in New Jersey and is not vaccinated or otherwise immune could develop symptoms from these exposures for several weeks, through Feb. 2, health officials warned.

What to know about measles symptoms and vaccine

Measles is highly infectious and spreads through breathing in an airborne virus or touching contaminated surfaces, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By some measures, measles is seven times more contagious than COVID-19. The virus can remain in the air for two hours.

Even just one dose of the vaccine, which babies can receive when they are 12 months old, is 93% effective at preventing measles, according to the CDC. Two doses bring up that rate to 97%. People who were born before 1957 or have had measles are also considered immune.

The illness can be dangerous, especially for children under 5, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems.

A measles infection can lead to respiratory failure, inflammation of the brain, and death. In rare cases, the virus can cause a yearslong brain decline that results in death.

 READ MORE: Health department warns of measles cluster among unvaccinated residents that originated with CHOP patient

Measles symptoms appear up to two weeks after an exposure, according to the CDC. Initially, measles presents like a regular flulike illness: Patients may have a high fever, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, the rash commonly associated with measles breaks out.

People with known exposure who are not vaccinated or otherwise immune should quarantine for 21 days.
Support staff at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children voted to leave their union last November. Read more

The support and administrative workers at St. Christophers Hospital for Children voted to dissolve their union late last year, bucking recent organizing trends that have led to new unions and strikes at other Philadelphia-area hospitals.

Nearly 300 St. Christophers clerks, medical assistants, food service workers, and other support staff were represented by District 1199C, an affiliate of the national AFSCME union for hospital and health care workers. They unionized in 2016 and signed their last contract in 2020.

More than 220 workers participated in the Nov. 30 election administered by the National Labor Relations Board. Nearly 60% voted against the union.

A spokesperson for Tower Health, which owns St. Christophers, said the hospital respects the employees decision.

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Union president John Hundzynski declined to comment.

 READ MORE: At these two Temple hospitals, 2023 was a big year for unionizations

Not going anywhere?

The campaign to get rid of the union began when outpatient service coordinator Shidiah Jackson moved from part- to full-time work at St. Christophers in 2018.

Her full-time peers were unionized, but no one told her that she would become part of the union. When she noticed union dues on one pay stub, human resources told her it was a mistake and refunded her.

She recalled having no contact with the union until last summer, after Jackson asked for a raise and hospital administrators told her that she needed to go through the unions process to get one.

Im being told that Im in this union that I know nothing about, Jackson said.

Jackson didnt want to be part of a union. She could advocate for her own benefits and never got in trouble so didnt see the need or wish to pay for it with dues.

When she learned that she was part of the union, she met with her local delegate, a St. Christophers worker trained to assist peers in exercising their rights under the contract. The union isnt going anywhere, Jackson recalled the delegate saying, whether she liked it or not.

OK, well see about that, she said.

Jackson began researching how to leave a union, or decertify. She filed petitions with the NLRB, helped by a lawyer from the National Right to Work Foundation. The Virginia-based nonprofit group represents workers in cases against unions. Locally, lawyers from the foundation represented workers at Good Karma, a coffee shop in Washington Square that ended their union representation in September.

Jackson received advice from the foundation, but said they did not represent her legally.

 READ MORE: Good Karma employees voted to get rid of their union

The process to terminate a union arrangement is similar to forming a new one: Workers first need to sign a petition to show that others are interested, and then the NLRB holds an election.

Ultimately, Jackson gathered the necessary signatures and on Nov. 30, she and a majority of her peers voted to end union representation.

Against the trend

Unions were active in Philadelphia last year, including high-profile decision by Penn Medicine residents and fellows to unionize. In March, they formed the largest new union in Philadelphia in a half century.

The regions hospitals also saw new unions form across diverse groups of workers, including nurses, techs, clinical research staff, and gig workers who act as patients.

 READ MORE: Philly workers got organized in 2023. Look back on this years strikes, walkouts, and union campaigns.

Its a big victory for Shidiah and her colleagues that in a union town they were able to get rid of a very powerful union, said Glenn M. Taubman, an attorney with the National Right to Work Foundation.

Data shows that unionization petitions are more common than decertification petitions. The NLRB administered 1,525 elections for workplaces seeking to form unions and to only 168 decertification votes in year that ended in September 2023, the boards data shows.
Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife are seeking separate trials on bribery charges they each face in a New York court.

The New Jersey Democrat and his wife, Nadine, were each charged in the fall with aiding three New Jersey businessmen in return for cash, gold bars and a luxury car.

The couple and the businessmen, who also face charges, have all pleaded not guilty.

 READ MORE: John Fetterman used a George Santos Cameo video to troll Bob Menendez

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Nadine Menendezs lawyers asked in papers filed late Monday for the severance on the grounds that the senator may want to testify at a trial scheduled to start in May and may divulge marital communications that she plans to keep secret.

Lawyers for Bob Menendez wrote that each spouse should face separate trials so that the senator does not provide information about marital communications during cross-examination that might be damaging to his wife's defense.

They asked the trial judge not to force him to choose between two fundamental rights: his right to testify in his own defense and his right not to testify against his spouse.

The requests for separate trials were made as part of several pre-trial submissions late Monday by lawyers for defendants in the case.

 READ MORE: Sen. Bob Menendez facing new charges of acting as a foreign agent for Egypt

Several days earlier, the senator's lawyers had asked that charges in the case be dismissed. They added to those requests Monday, calling charges against him a distortion of the truth.

Senator Menendez isnt just not guilty  he is innocent of these charges. Senator Menendez has never sold out his office or misused his authority or influence for personal financial gain, they wrote.

Since the senator was first charged in September, he has been forced to relinquish his powerful post leading the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Prosecutors have added to the bribery charges too, saying that he conspired with his wife and one businessman to secretly advance Egypt's interests and that he acted favorably toward Qatar's government to aid a businessman.

Over and over again, the Indictment distorts or ignores evidence reflecting the Senators conduct in favor of American  and only American  interests and his decades of appropriate constituent services, the lawyers said.

Worse yet, the government knows it. The government has buried evidence proving Senator Menendezs innocence, including evidence that directly undercuts the allegations in the Indictment. And the defense is prohibited from disclosing any of it to the public  necessitating a redacted filing under seal  even as the government has gone on its own media blitz to advance its false narrative, the lawyers said.

The lawyers also said the trial should not be in New York since almost everything alleged to have occurred happened in New Jersey or outside New York.

This case belongs in New Jersey, they said.

The lawyers noted that Menendez won an earlier corruption case in New Jersey with at least 10 jurors voting to acquit the Senator on the governments hyped-up corruption charges.

A spokesperson for prosecutors declined to comment. Prosecutors will reply to all the pre-trial motions with arguments of their own in several weeks.
Leaders from a half-dozen nonprofits that have held contracts with the citys Office of Homeless Services told The Inquirer that, since at least 2020, they have experienced severe delays in payment, in some cases stretching for months or years. Those gaps can jeopardize the availability of already scarce resources like emergency shelter and housing assistance for the citys most vulnerable populations, according to executives at the nonprofits. Read more

It was the Monday after Thanksgiving when officials at Glorias Place, a West Philadelphia homeless shelter thats operated for five decades, learned their contract with the city wouldnt be renewed due to a lack of funding, and the seven families in its care would need to find shelter somewhere else.

That came after Glorias Place had for ten months housed dozens of children and adults referred to them by the city  but were not paid the more than $400,000 the city owed them.

Officials at Hope PHL, which operates Glorias Place, said the effects of the delays in payment and the abrupt contract cancellation are devastating. The nonprofit is no longer able to bill the city for its services, but two families remain there in the middle of winter with nowhere else to go.

Those contracts keep real families, youth, and young children housed and safe, said spokesperson Trish Downey. Our families at Glorias Place are feeling the unfair and life-altering repercussions of these decisions.

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And Glorias Place is not alone.

Leaders from a half-dozen nonprofits that have held contracts with the citys Office of Homeless Services told The Inquirer that, since at least 2020, they have experienced severe delays in payment, in some cases stretching for months or years. Those gaps can jeopardize the availability of already scarce resources for the citys most vulnerable populations like emergency shelter and housing assistance, according to executives at the nonprofits.

 READ MORE: Phillys Office of Homeless Services overspent its budget by almost $15 million and faces an investigation

The situation presents a challenge for new Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, who was inaugurated earlier this month and inherits an office now facing questions about its fiscal responsibility.

Last month, top officials in former Mayor Jim Kenneys administration said they became aware in the fall that the Office of Homeless Services had spent nearly $15 million more than it was budgeted over the last four years. Those officials, who said they had seen no evidence of corruption or self-enrichment, referred their findings to the citys inspector general, who is investigating the matter.

While it is common for providers that hold contracts with government agencies to experience remittance delays, some nonprofit leaders in Philadelphia say payments from the Office of Homeless Services are more inconsistent than other agencies and have worsened since 2020.

The office admits that a number of nonprofits werent paid in a timely manner. Spokesperson Sherylle Linton Jones said the cost of services completed through the pandemic exceeded the funding allocated to the office, so it paid prior year costs with funding in the then-current fiscal year.

She said the office expects to complete all payments for fiscal year 2023 by the end of February.

All these issues involving OHS developed during the Kenney administration, Linton Jones said. However, the Parker administration ... is committed to seeing them resolved in a transparent manner, so that vital services to people experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia are delivered efficiently, fairly and equitably.

A budget shortfall and a closing shelter

The lagging dollars can have cascading effects on nonprofits finances. One organization has had to tap a line of credit to cover shortfalls because the city took too long to pay. Another is in the process of transferring its contracts to a different city agency that pays faster than the Office of Homeless Services.

Jeremy Montgomery, president and CEO of Philly House, the citys largest and longest-running shelter, said his organization hasnt been paid by the Office of Homeless Services since 2020 and is owed more than $600,000. Linton Jones said the delay is unrelated to invoicing issues.

Montgomery said Philly House continues to partner with the city and shelter people referred to them because theyre fortunate to not rely entirely on public funds  and they want to meet their mission of housing people most in need.

We dont want our history to be jeopardized, he said.

Through the pandemic, the Office of Homeless Services budget significantly ballooned, rising from about $80 million in the 2020 fiscal year to nearly $130 million today. The city also saw an unprecedented amount of federal assistance, some of which was allocated to homelessness prevention and treatment.

Since 2020, the Office of Homeless Services spent $9.6 million more that it was allocated, then overspent its budget in the current 2024 fiscal year by another $5.1 million.

The overruns occurred during the tenure of former executive director Elizabeth Hersh, who led the office since 2016 and resigned in October. Officials said her departure was unrelated to the budget overruns.

Hershs former chief of staff, David Holloman, is leading the office on an interim basis until Parker names a replacement. In November, Holloman asked City Council for a budget infusion to cover the nearly $15 million shortfall. But Council members denied the request and only approved an additional $9.6 million  just enough to cover overruns from previous years.

 READ MORE: Phillys annual census of youths experiencing homelessness attracts counters who care

Linton Jones said the office is cutting administrative expenses, freezing hiring for some roles, reducing contracts with consistent underspending, and putting off some new programs to resolve the current years $5.1 million shortfall.

Glorias Place officials said they were surprised to be told on Nov. 27 that the shelter would lose its city funding  the same week officials from the Office of Homeless Services testified to Council about their budget hole.

But it had still not been paid for housing families through 2023. Downey said that until mid-December, four of Hope PHLs five contracts with the Office of Homeless Services were not uploaded into the offices invoicing portal, so they couldnt bill the city for the services they performed for most of the year.

Linton Jones said there was never dedicated funding to support the ongoing operation of Glorias Place. She said the emergency nature of the services and staffing issues at the Office of Homeless Services led to the delay in contract finalization.

As of last month, Hope PHL was able to invoice the city for the $422,000 it was owed. But without a contract with the Office of Homeless Services, Glorias Place is set to close.

Downey said the organization is seeking funding from private sources to help place the two remaining families in housing elsewhere.

We will not ask families to leave our shelter without having alternative accommodation identified, she said.

How OHS can move forward

Nonprofits that contract with the Office of Homeless Services have not been affected by payment delays in the same way, and funding loss tends to have a more significant impact on groups with smaller budgets that rely most heavily on city dollars.

 READ MORE: How Philadelphians feel about housing security and affordability

David Chiles, executive director of the Lutheran Settlement House in Fishtown, said its fairly common for nonprofits to experience delays in being paid by the city. His organization, he said, has enough funding from other sources to cover shortfalls.

The reality of government funding thats reimbursement based, for smaller organizations, thats really tricky, he said. You have to have a lot of cash reserves so you can put that money out and you know it will take a little while for it to come back to you.

Chiles said the Office of Homeless Services has been a strong partner and that overspending could be a result of underfunding. He said the Parker administration and City Council should consider bolstering the citys funding for homelessness treatment and prevention  not cut it due to overspending.

I hope they recognize the critical role that Lutheran Settlement House and nonprofits like us play in caring for some of the most vulnerable people and individuals and families in Philadelphia, he said, and that we need their support.

 READ MORE: Homelessness has hit record levels, and snow is coming. This should be our new mayors immediate priority.

Other potential fixes could be bureaucratic in nature. Parker has said her administration is exploring ways to streamline the contracting process across the government, and she has charged agencies with developing a strategy to improve service delivery, including paying providers it contracts.

Even amid the budget shortfall, some snags in payment delays could be relatively minor.

For example, Montgomery said Philly House learned late last year that a 2021 payment was held up due to a $250 lien for failure to pay an annual commercial trash collection fee  but Philly House doesnt pay that fee because it uses a third-party trash collector.

It doesnt matter who the contractor is with the city, thats a common woe, he said. The city systems are not fully efficient and productive.
Police at the scene, near the 7800 block of Roosevelt Boulevard, where a man in his 70s was shot and killed by police after officers said he shot at them early Wednesday morning. Read more

Philadelphia SWAT officers shot and killed a 73-year-old man Wednesday morning after he shot at officers from his car parked outside a car dealership in Rhawnhurst, police said.

Police said the brief standoff began about 5 a.m. after officers went to investigate a report of a car crash. The caller said a man was seated in a crookedly parked tan Dodge pickup truck, with two of its wheels up on the sidewalk outside Gary Barberas car dealership on Borbeck Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, said Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore.

An officer responded to the call and asked the man whether he needed help, Vanore said. He said no.

Vanore said the officer returned to his patrol car and, as he drove away, he heard gunfire coming from the direction of the truck. Its not clear at whom or what the man shot, Vanore said, but the officer was not struck, nor was his patrol car.

Surveillance video outside the dealership, obtained by The Inquirer, showed the officer begin to drive away after the brief interaction, then suddenly turn around. The officer then got out of his patrol car and approached the truck with his gun drawn, appearing to tap on the trucks passenger window. The video, which has no audio, then appeared to show the officer take cover behind a car in the dealership lot, and call for backup.

When SWAT officers arrived, Vanore said, the man shot at police again.

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Two SWAT officers returned fire, fatally striking the man in the truck, Vanore said. No officers were injured. Medics arrived on scene and pronounced the man dead shortly before 6 a.m., he said. A revolver was recovered inside the truck, he said. The truck had at least seven bullet holes in the front windshield.

Vanore declined to identify the man Wednesday afternoon, saying only that he was last known to live in Jenkintown.

Its not clear why the man was armed and seated outside the business, just steps from the sales department entrance so early in the morning. But Vanore said some evidence suggests that he was a disgruntled customer who had an ongoing grievance involving a car from the dealership.

I dont know what was playing in his mind, being there with a gun, Vanore said.

Gary Barbera, who owns the 100-employee dealership and service center, said the man did not buy his car there, but had been into the dealership within the last year.

He lived around here and something happened [early] in the morning, Barbera said. So when we got here, it was like wow.

Shortly before noon, with the temperature below freezing, a Philadelphia Police Department tow truck came to haul away the bullet hole-ridden truck.

Sadly, a man died, Barbera said. But I do want to thank the police for keeping the area and keeping us all safe.

Staff writers Chris Palmer and Beatrice Forman contributed to this article.
Chalk marks on the 2400 block of Myrtlewood Street where six people were shot and two were killed in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia, Pa. on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Read more

Philadelphia police on Tuesday identified the two men killed in a shooting that also wounded four other people at a suspected speakeasy in the citys Strawberry Mansion section over the weekend.

On Sunday about 12:50 a.m., police responded to a reported shooting at a residence on the 2400 block of Myrtlewood Street and found three shooting victims.

Edison Frazier, 53, of West Philadelphia, was shot in the face and pronounced dead at the scene by medics.

Christopher Smith, 41, of Ogontz, was shot several times in the chest. He was taken by police to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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Police also took a 42-year-old man to Temple with a gunshot wound to his left hand. He was listed in stable condition.

Three other victims were taken to Temple by private vehicles. A 23-year-old woman had a gunshot wound to her left arm. A 28-year-old man was shot three times in the right leg and hip. A 33-year-old woman had two gunshot wounds to her left arm. All three were listed in stable condition.

Police said one or more shooters fired from the street into the front of the residence through the front door and window.

No arrests were reported.

In 2023, the city saw a decline in gun violence from the year prior, yet homicides and shootings in Philadelphia remained near historically high levels. 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.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is photographed in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. PAFA, billed as the countrys oldest institution that is both a museum and school, is dismantling its degree programs. Read more

On Jan. 10, the day before the spring semester began, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where I am a fourth-year student, announced the discontinuation of its Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts programs. This was a decision that shocked the faculty and my fellow students alike. It was also entirely unnecessary.

In an email sent to the campus community, the board of trustees insisted that it made every effort to save the degree programs. This is a bold claim, and one that no one in leadership, including academy president Eric Pryor himself, has been able to back up in meetings held with the student body.

Make no mistake, this wasnt something that was unavoidable. The board of trustees was not a mere bystander to the inevitable death of the academy. The board has touted the attempted merger with Drexel University as an effort made to save the institution. Yet I believe that was done to clean its hands of this entire, centuries-old fine arts educational institution, to hand it off with minimal mess and be done with it.

Just about everyone knows that higher education is headed toward an enrollment cliff, where the number of students applying to colleges is expected to drop dramatically in the next year or so. My theory: Rather than deal with the hassle of increasing enrollment, the academys leadership would rather let the school wither in favor of a model that they believe will net them more profit.

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The board of trustees assures everyone that the certificate program will be reinstated and that the academy will continue its fine arts education. However, on Jan. 10, I asked the administrator present at the first student meeting regarding this decision  a meeting at which none of the boards members nor Pryor appeared  how a program that, despite its many values, is ineligible for federal loans and grants (and costs $43,000 a year) can be a feasible alternative in this current economic climate? No answer could be given, other than a five-year marketing plan.

From what students, faculty, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts community have seen, the marketing has been abhorrent for decades. When asked in a meeting with students if any fundraising efforts were made to save the programs, the administrations answer was simple: It had done the annual student exhibition and the annual Bacchanal Wine Gala and Auction, the same two fundraisers the school has been running for decades. It is unclear whether there was any outreach made to donors to cover the institutions deficit.

Knowing firsthand the unparalleled classical fine arts education present in the BFA program, it is unimaginable to see it axed like this. The institutions contribution to not just the Philadelphia art community but the entire American art world is one that is nationally renowned.

Much of Philadelphias earliest artwork and architecture was created by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts graduates, including our own City Hall, which contains over 250 pieces of sculptural architecture created by Alexander Milne Calder. Many noted artists studied at the academy, including 19th-century students Mary Cassatt and Henry Ossawa Tanner, and more recent graduates like Njideka Akunyili Crosby.

The education students receive at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is distinctive in the world of modern art schools. A focus on studio practice and technical training is deeply entrenched in the curriculum, creating similarities between this modern institution and traditional workshop-based models of artistic training. The relationships between students and professors become that of mentors and mentees, with professors providing students with opportunities, training, guidance, and support to ensure they are prepared for life as working artists.

The BFA program allowed students who arent able to take out over $100,000 in loans with no federal aid access to this incredible institution, with its traditional training and sense of community that is unparalleled.

By discontinuing the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts programs of higher education, the board of trustees is not only felling the countrys oldest place of arts education but also spitting in the face of the entirety of the American art world by destroying one of its most valuable resources.

We must demand complete disclosure from the academys administration of all steps taken within the past 10 years to ensure that this institution will continue to thrive, since the board and Pryor have apparently failed in their stewardship.

We must not allow Philadelphia to lose this local and national treasure.

Raffi Zarzatian is a printmaker and South Philadelphia native who is currently attending his fourth year at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
If Israel is being charged with genocide at the International Court of Justice, why isnt Russia?

This is a question I find very troubling, as do some of my readers. Despite harsh critiques of the civilian carnage in Gaza caused by Israels bombs  of which I have written my share  that war originated with a grisly Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. And Hamas explicitly calls in its charter for the military destruction of Israel and the death of its Jews.

Ukraine, on the other hand, never attacked Russia. Yet Vladimir Putin unleashed a brutal war against a peaceful neighbor that specifically targets civilians. Moreover, he has made no secret of his intentions, which are the critical element in finding a verdict of genocide.

Putin has said repeatedly that Ukraine has no right to exist separately from Russia.

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What I dont understand, one reader wrote, is that Russia has invaded a sovereign country and for two years has brutally attacked, killed, and raped so many Ukrainian innocent people and destroyed their infrastructure and homes; and yet Putin and his government have not been charged with genocide  how is that possible?

How indeed?

Before I attempt to answer, lets look at the compelling case against Russia.

 READ MORE: Why Ukraine can beat Russia, and why that matters to America | Trudy Rubin

According to the 1948 Genocide Convention, a charge of genocide requires deliberate intent to destroy in whole or part a national, ethnic, racial or religious group as such. The means can include killing group members, causing them serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately imposing conditions calculated to bring about the groups physical destruction, or forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Intent is the key word, and Putin has made crystal clear his intention to swallow Ukraine into the Russian empire as a subjugated entity, as he has done with Belarus. Over and over he has rejected the idea of Ukrainian statehood, insisting that Ukraine and Russia are one people and that true sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia.

The idea of the Ukrainian people as a nation separate from the Russians, he declared the night before the 2022 invasion, has no historical basis.

Putins front men have been blunt about wiping out any remnants of Ukraine-ness from that country. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, on whom Putin leans to dispense cannon fodder troops to the front lines, says that Ukronazi trash and rodent pests (i.e., Ukrainian leaders) should be wiped from the face of the Earth.

Talking heads on Russian state-controlled TV, along with some parliament members, have proposed drowning Ukrainian children; they call Ukrainians scum, the brown plague, nonhuman. They also talk of killing millions of Ukrainians and turning Ukrainian children into Russians.

That last scenario is not far-fetched. Officials have documented at least 19,000 Ukrainian children who have been taken away to Russia, and the number could be much higher.

Forced deportation of children is one of the elements of genocide, and was a matter of intentional policy, taking them not only from orphanages but from families, I was told in July in Kyiv by Ukraines prosecutor general, Andriy Kostin.

Ukraine has successfully charged Putin with war crimes for kidnapping children before the International Criminal Court  a separate venue from the International Court of Justice that handles cases of genocide.

Meantime, Russia systematically bombs infrastructure  electric grids, heating units, schools, hospitals, markets, hotels, pizza parlors, even blowing up a dam  and leveling whole cities such as Mariupol. I have seen unbelievable horrors with my own eyes, shattered apartment buildings nowhere near any military installation, blasted churches, and shredded restaurants. All targeted to convince Ukrainians they have no alternative but to surrender to Russian rule.

If all this doesnt stink sufficiently of genocidal aims, I have interviewed escapees from Russian-occupied Ukraine who confirm that their Russian overlords harshly punish any reference to Ukraines national history or any use of the Ukrainian language (contrary to Putins lies, one can still hear Russian spoken in bilingual cities like Kharkiv, even as they are hit by Russian bombs).

Knowing all that, why has Israel been charged with intent to commit genocide and Russia not? The answer is both practical and highly political.

With limited resources, Ukraine is focused on documenting more specific war crimes before evidence fades, and Kostins office has so far amassed evidence of 109,000 cases.

But that doesnt tell us why no other country as brought a genocide case against Russia - as South Africa has done with Israel. One obvious answer is that power talks.

 READ MORE: GOPs blocking of Ukraine aid would be a national security debacle | Trudy Rubin

The world is afraid of the consequences of charging Russia, argues Peter Doran, an expert on Russia and Ukraine at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. A lot of statesmen fear the idea of putting Putin in the dock because they want to go back to the world as it was pre-February 2022, when the Russians invaded. They want to start negotiations with Putin and move on. But you cant go back.

I believe Doran is correct. Charging Israel and not Russia reflects a truth that much of the global south refuses to recognize: Moscows war on Ukraine is genocidal colonialism at its ugliest and most deliberate.

It was not surprising to hear from Kostin that South Africa was reluctant to support Ukraines war crimes charge against Putin for kidnapping children. That would have required Pretoria, as an International Criminal Court signatory, to arrest Putin if he stepped on its soil to attend a conference.

The countries of the global south need to understand that if they put their short-term interests above the human rights values that theyve fought for for decades, then this evil will return, Kostin told me. Now is a very important moment for that part of the world that believes force matters more than justice.

In other words, the big fry like Russia and China will see that much of the world will give them a free pass for genocidal aggression.

To charge Israel and not Russia makes the genocide charge look like a political tool to bash the West rather than a search for justice in an ugly world.
Meek Mill speaks at a ceremonial bill signing celebrating Pennsylvania probation reform and clean slate legislation at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia in December. Read more

The 2024 election season is upon us and Meek Mill has some thoughts.

The 36-year-old rapper retweeted a clip of ex-presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy endorsing Former President Donald Trump this week.

Mill commented on it: Wait til yall see who the black people in poverty voting for!!!

In the clip, Ramaswamy, who came in a distant fourth in the frozen Iowa caucuses, tells the crowd Trump is going to be your next president.

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He then offers a series of truths.

There are two genders in this country, period.  Fossil fuels are a requirement for human prosperity  reverse racism is racism, Ramaswamy says.

Taken together it sounded a little like a Mill endorsement  or at least an argument that Trump, 77, has appeal among some Black men. But attempts to reach him through an agent to clarify were unsuccessful.

Also this week, the rapper and criminal justice reform advocate retweeted a video of President Joe Biden at a stop in Allentown and weighed in on the presidents age.

Mill added his own comment with the video about the 81-year-old president: Joe Biden is too old to be our president respectfully wtf is going on in the American system that yall pushing this through like its okay to trust what we seeing.

The Biden campaign cant be too happy about the take. Recent polls have shown Biden losing support among Black voters, and specifically younger Black men.

And Mill is a beloved artist in Philadelphia, where Biden, well aware of the citys importance in November, visits so much hes basically taken up dual residency.

Mill is not the first high profile Black celebrity to criticize Biden. Radio host charlamagne tha god, who has a monthly podcast audience of more than 8 million, made a huge splash after he said he regretted endorsing Biden in 2020 and blasted Bidens reelection campaign.

In 2024, its a race between the cowards, the crooks, and the couch, the radio host told Politico, referring to Biden, Trump, and the option to stay home.

In 2021, Mill teamed up with Drake and other big-name rappers and athletes to push Biden on marijuana reform. The group called for pardoning non-violent cannabis offenders serving time around the country.

Biden has since taken some steps on the issue, making eligible for pardon thousands of people convicted of use and simple possession of marijuana in Washington D.C. and on federal land.

Mill has appeared alongside Democrats in the state. He performed at Gov. Josh Shapiros inauguration last year and stood beside the governor at a bill signing focused on reforming the states probation system and Clean Slate Laws, two things Mill has advocated for.

Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics.
OMAHA  Mouthwatering scents fill the basement kitchen where Djamil Djibril Bah-Traore is teaching his latest class of students how to make their way in America.

He shows them how to chop vegetables, measure spices and prepare dishes for an upcoming event catered by House of Bah, the company and nonprofit foundation that Bah-Traore started.

How much salt? one student asks.

Cook from your heart, Bah-Traore answers. We dont cook from a recipe. We cook from the heart. You know when it's enough.

His answer is murmured back in Arabic, French and the West African language Ewe to the students  refugees from Syria, Jordan, Morocco, Benin and Sudan.

The House of Bah is still a catering company. Djamil Bah-Traore (pronounced Ja-meel) regularly cooks African cuisine at weddings, pop-ups and special events in Omaha, sometimes renting a food truck and serving from there.

But since 2022, Bah-Traore has, through the House of Bah Foundations classes, helped more than 30 immigrants prepare for a job in the food industry or to, if they choose, start their own food businesses.

Some have come to work with Bah-Traore, teaching others what they learned, helping translate and running the kitchen during catering jobs. At least one graduate, a refugee from Ukraine, is now working in the restaurant industry.

They dont really have any options as far as learning how a commercial kitchen works, or what the life of a professional chef is like, Bah-Traore said. This class gives them the chance.

Hes also working toward a more personal goal: Widely introducing Omahans to African cuisine.

Bah-Traore moved to the United States in 2003 to study accounting and business and worked in corporate finance for 13 years. But he couldnt quiet memories of his childhood in the West African country of Togo  his family, his mothers cooking, the food he ate as a kid.

He saw a TV commercial for the Metropolitan Community College culinary institute and decided to enroll.

He quit his corporate job and became a student, driving a taxi at night to support his family: wife Aicha, daughters Nihad, Naazik and Nuzhat, and sons Murad and Muksit. He also supports cousins and two half brothers, aged 17 and 22, in Togo.

Bah-Traore interned at Dante in west Omaha while he was a student. Hed drive his taxi to the restaurant, do his shift, get back in the taxi and drive, sometimes all night long.

He kept that schedule  MCC during the day, cook for a few hours, drive all night, get a bit of sleep, start again  for a year and a half, until he graduated from the culinary institute.

In a new way, he was continuing a long family tradition.

Bah-Traores great-grandfather worked as a cook, among other jobs, in Togo before and after the French seized power at the end of World War I. He taught all of his sons how to cook. Bah-Traores mother learned to cook from her father and then taught him.

After he graduated, Bah-Traore worked in several hotels, all the while doing his own version of African food at pop-up events, most often at the former House of Loom. He regularly suggested to his kitchen bosses that hed like to introduce African dishes on menus or for hotel catering jobs. They always turned him down.

It seemed like there was no way to bring African food into the hospitality business, he said.

When the coronavirus hit and Bah-Traore was no longer in the kitchen daily, he had time to think. He decided he would bring African cuisine into the hospitality business himself.

Hes done a pop-up at the Switch, the food hall in Aksarben and continues to cater events, including weddings for African families. The next step is getting House of Bah on preferred catering lists for event venues.

Aboubakar Tchalombo, a House of Bah board member and Bah-Traores half brother, said theres value in normalizing African cooking. Someone being able to have this kind of food at their wedding, it makes them feel at home, he said.

House of Bah is now also cooking at events where most of the patrons have never tried African food. Those are perhaps the most fulfilling experiences, Bah-Traore said.

Guests tell him his chicken and waffles are the best theyve ever had. The smoked brisket rice? Amazing. The diner who had only tried black eyed peas once and hated them had his mind changed with Bah-Traores version.

Then there was the 80-year-old German woman who tried Bah-Traores food at an event. She told her daughter she loved it.

The guest said, If you can make my mother love African food,' Bah-Traore said, 'you can make anyone love it."

Bah-Traore said lots of guests ask him when hes planning to open a restaurant. But he has different plans in the works: a class, which he thinks will take place in 2024, where he will work with MCC to educate working chefs about how to cook African dishes as part of a new course called the African culinary academy. And in 2025, a Midwest African Food Expo that will feature food from the African diaspora, immigrants and refugees cooking across the Midwest.

Brian OMalley, an associate dean at the culinary institute, said Bah-Traore sees food as a tool to connect people to their community.

He helps these folks see that it might also be a way into a career, he said. That has been really impressive to see. At the same time, it also celebrates foods we dont have on our radar.

As the final cooking class of 2023 winds down in the basement kitchen, the students begin to prepare a family meal for lunch: a fragrant, traditional African mafe sauce blended with an Indian coconut curry that will be served with basmati rice. Generally made with chicken, Bah-Traore this day prepared a vegan version with tofu, plantain and cauliflower.

Roukaya Alramadan, a graduate who helps translate during the classes, relayed why some of the current students  all women  enrolled for the course.

To learn new things and new techniques, Alramadan translates. To open a business in the future. To learn the techniques in the American way. To get better at cooking.

The students all wear aprons gifted to the House of Bah from famed chef Jacques Pepins foundation  which also gave the nonprofit a $10,000 grant  branded with the same line: We are all equal in the eyes of the stove.

The phrase rings true as the women move seamlessly through the kitchen, washing dishes, adding seasonings and tomato paste to the sauce, slicing and zesting oranges, all the while chatting in different languages. As the dish is finished, everyone gets a tasting spoon to sample before Alramadan begins dishing out sizable plates and the cohort sits down to eat lunch.

Tchalombo, between bites, said the classes continually surprise him because they bring people from different cultures who speak different languages together through one thing: food.

Bah-Traore nodded.

One day, when you go to an Omaha public school and every kid knows what jollof rice is, that is how we become a diverse country, he said. If you love somebodys food, it is hard to hate them.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

Photos: 10 members of the Nebraska Army National Guard return home after deployment training Ukrainian Troops
The study also monitored the efficacy of a self-regulated industry moratorium placed on the use of genetic information by life insurers in 2019, according to the ABC News report. The moratorium banned life insurers from requesting genetic testing results under a certain threshold. Stakeholders argue that the thresholds set are too low; in some cases, there were compliance issues and there was low public confidence in its effectiveness.
On the technology front, while there have been great improvements in the last few years, there is no customer facing integration into these platforms, he said. I take the view that these are experiences that customers expect from us in our modern world and would greatly improve the efficiencies in our operations.
Also, working with a smaller organization gives me the ability to voice what I need and to be able to get it done without having to go through a more corporate structure. I dont feel like I have to jump through hoops in order to get things accomplished.
Matt has accomplished a great deal during his tenure at Foresters, Fortin said. His contributions and guidance will continue to be invaluable to our future success. As Foresters celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, Matt will usher in a new era of innovation in the solutions we provide to our members and the advisors who serve them.
The Grande Costa DAvorio cargo ship was being loaded with 1,200 West Africa-bound cars at Port Newark last July when a deadly fire began. Dense black smoke limited visibility to about 3 feet, and the floor was so hot it made the soles of a firefighters boots begin to peel off.

We cannot find our way out! Newark Fire Capt. Augusto Augie Acabou yelled into his radio as he tried to fight the growing blaze. We are lost!

Those words touched off a frantic scramble to find Acabou and fellow Newark Fire Department Capt. Wayne Brooks Jr., who had become disoriented in the heat, smoke and darkness  an effort that was plagued by confusion, adrenaline, panic and a shortage of personnel and equipment.

By 3 a.m. the next day, Acabou and Brooks would be dead.

Now, the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are among numerous agencies trying to determine what went wrong on board the ship, an effort not only to determine what happened the night of July 5, 2023, but also to try to learn from it and prevent others from dying under similar circumstances in the future.

Investigators, port workers and ship crew members testified this week at an investigative hearing in New Jersey that will continue into next week. This account is based on that testimony.

The fire began around 9 p.m. when a Jeep Wrangler being used to push the mostly inoperative vehicles up steep ramps of the 12-level ship caught fire, causing a port worker to jump out the drivers door and run for portable fire extinguishers that quickly proved inadequate.

The Newark Fire Department responded first to the blaze. About 45 minutes later, mutual aid assistance from two nearby fire departments, the North Hudson Regional Fire Department and the New Jersey Regional Fireboat Task Force, was requested by Newarks fire dispatchers.

But two minutes later, a deputy fire chief canceled that request.

He did not believe those resources were needed at that time, Michael Richardson, a fire fatality investigator with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, testified on Friday.

Under cross examination from a lawyer for a port company, Richardson said the cancellation was made at a time when it was not obvious that the fire extended beyond some cars burning atop the ship. The decision was a significant one, particularly as conditions worsened, and numerous firefighters expressed concern about not having enough personnel and oxygen tanks at the scene, Richardson said.

At 11:13 p.m., a renewed mutual aid call for help was issued, this time bringing assistance from firefighters in Elizabeth and Jersey City, both adjacent to Newark.

Finding Acabou and Brooks was the top priority; nothing had been heard from either of them since Acabou repeated his desperate call for help a minute after his first one, when he repeated, We are lost!

Newark firefighters searched on deck 10, where the fire began, and found the first one.

Acabou, who was unconscious and unresponsive, was standing upright, pinned between two vehicles so tightly that no one could move him, or the vehicles. The face plate of his breathing apparatus was partially dislodged. Rescuers hooked a replacement unit up to him, and had to replace it several times.

It took 70 minutes to dislodge Acabou using a hydraulic rescue tool known as the jaws of life.

Then began the grueling effort to carry him away from the burning areas of the ship, up a staircase to the top deck, and across its scorching-hot metal. They placed him in a horizontal rescue basket and used a ship-top crane to lower him to the dock at 12:45 a.m., more than two hours after his mayday call.

As this was happening, some of the rescuers searching for Acabou and Brooks got into trouble themselves. At least one of two Elizabeth firefighters issued a mayday emergency call for assistance from a stairwell not far from where the missing firefighters were being sought.

The Elizabeth rescuers were found and led to safety. But Brooks was still missing.

Additional mutual aid from other departments including New York City, fanned out in search of him. Jersey City firefighters literally reached the end of their rope, spooling out 200 feet of rescue line before turning back, not wanting to get themselves lost in the smoke.

New York City firefighters picked up the trail from there, advancing another 75 feet. Along the way, someone found Brooks flashlight lying on the ground.

Soon, a piercing shriek was heard: it was a personal location alarm firefighters wear that activates when they are motionless for more than a short time. The sound led them at 2:09 a.m. to Brooks, who was lying on the floor near a ship column, also unconscious and unresponsive. His helmet was found some distance away from him.

But his radio was never located, and an oxygen tank initially thought to have been used by him turned out not to have been, Richardson said. Investigators continue to probe what happened to his tank; one found in the wreckage was damaged beyond the point of being identified as belonging to any specific firefighter, he added.

Brooks was lowered onto the dock an hour later, also by crane. He and Acabou were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Photo: A photo displayed on a video monitor in Union,N.J., Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 shows a burning cargo ship in Newark N.J. on July 5, 2023. Federal investigators are conducting hearings into the blaze that killed two Newark, N.J. fire captains. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Trucking
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced a $3.5 million settlement Friday with the online food delivery service platform Grubhub.

The settlement resolves a 2021 lawsuit brought by Campbell alleging Grubhub illegally overcharged fees to Massachusetts restaurants in violation of a state fee cap put in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Under the terms of the settlement, Grubhub will pay a combined total of over $3.5 million to impacted restaurants, Campbell said. Grubhub will also pay $125,000 to the state.

Grubhub unlawfully overcharged and took advantage of restaurants during a public health emergency that devastated much of this industry, Campbell said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the company said serving restaurants is at the heart of everything Grubhub does.

Our success depends on these valuable merchant partners. While we have always complied with Massachusetts temporary price control, were ready to move forward from this situation and continue providing Massachusetts restaurants with the best possible service, the spokesperson said in a written statement.

Grubhub contracts with restaurants to provide online customer ordering and delivery services and charges fees to contracted restaurants per customer order. The fees are generally charged as a certain percentage of the restaurant menu price of each order.

Massachusetts declared a public health state of emergency during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the emergency  when public traffic to restaurants plummeted and diners increasingly relied on delivery  lawmakers approved legislation barring Grubhub and other third-party delivery service platforms from charging fees to restaurants exceeding 15% of an orders restaurant menu price.

The fee cap remained in effect between Jan. 14, 2021, and June 15, 2021, when former Gov. Charlie Baker lifted the state of emergency in Massachusetts.

The AGs lawsuit, filed in July 2021, alleged Grubhub repeatedly violated the 15% fee cap by regularly charging fees of 18% or more, leading to significant financial harm to restaurants by often raising their operational costs by thousands of dollars.

In March 2023, Suffolk Superior Court ruled in favor of the state. The ruling indicated Grubhubs conduct had violated both the 15% statutory fee cap and the states primary consumer protection statute, according to Campbell.

Restaurants who may be eligible to receive funds from the settlement will be contacted, Campbell said.

Stephen Clark, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, said restaurants are grateful for the settlement and that funds will go back to the restaurants that were working hard to survive and serve customers during the pandemic.

While the dark days of the pandemic are behind us, the impacts are still being felt across the restaurant industry. Delivery, especially third-party delivery, is not going away. Restaurants and third-party delivery companies will need to continue to work collaboratively to survive and grow, he said in a statement.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Massachusetts COVID-19
The Vermont Department of Economic Development reported the state licensed a total of 38 new captive insurance companies in 2023, making it now home to 659 captives.

That growth made 2023 one of the best years since Vermont licensed its first captive in 1981.

The new captives were licensed in 13 different industries, with the top three industries being manufacturing (7), insurance (6), and real estate (6).

in 2024, the state said it has already licensed nine new captives.

In addition to the number of newly licensed captive insurance companies, Vermonts 62 sponsored captive insurance companies continued to experience growth in the number of new protected cells, with more than 30 additions in 2023. Sponsored captive insurance companies provide a licensed insurance vehicle with an established structure for companies to participate in their own risks via protected cells.

Vermont remains a credible global leader and committed to continuing to lead the industry with innovative, high-quality regulation that meets the needs of captive insurance companies, said Governor Phil Scott.

Companies continue to face challenges placing insurance and find they are better able to negotiate when they have a captive that can take on higher retentions and fill gaps in coverage, said Director of Captive Insurance Christine Brown. She said a captive also gives its owners greater control over underwriting and claims management.

At least seven of Vermonts new captives in 2023 have international roots hailing from Canada, Chile, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The state and the local captive industry launched the Vermont Captive Insurance Emerging Leaders (VCIEL) initiative in March 2023, bringing together about 30 captive insurance professionals in Vermont with a goal of raising awareness about captive insurance as a career path in the region.

We recognize that we are at a critical time in the captive industry where the industry needs to work together to highlight captive insurance careers so we can keep pace with growth, said Brittany Nevins, of the Department of Economic Development and current chair of the VCIEL.

Topics Trends Vermont
The Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon and Russia-linked hackers have stepped up cyberattacks against Israel since the war with Hamas began, according to the chief technology officer of Israel-founded cybersecurity company Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

While a lot of the war right now is with Hamas, actually the entity that has the strength in the cyberspace is Iran, Check Points Dorit Dor said in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. And Iran is activating Hezbollah.

Hackers on both sides of the conflict have sought to disrupt their opponents digital capacity since fighting started on Oct. 7. Israeli targets have seen a 20% increase in cyberattacks since then, with the figures rising to 50% for defense-linked companies, according to Dor.

While attacks have become more frequent, the tactics being deployed  includingdistributed denial-of-service attacks and intelligence-gathering efforts  arent novel, she said.

There is an increase in play from Russia targeting Israel, although it isnt clear if those attacks are state-backed or opportunistic, Dor said.

Israel and Hamas have been at war since Palestinian militants invaded southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, according to government figures. More than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels air and ground invasion in Gaza, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory.

While the fighting is concentrated in Gaza, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire nearly daily along the border with Lebanon, and hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians have been evacuated from northern towns.

Irans alliance of militias includes Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as Yemens Houthi rebels that have been targeted by US and UK airstrikes in an attempt to stop shipping attacks in the Red Sea. Hamas and the military wing of Hezbollah are designated terrorist organizations by the US and European Union.

Israel last month said it thwarted an attempted cyberattack on a hospital that the government attributed to Hezbollah and Iran. The same day, Iran blamed cyberattacks that disrupted gasoline stations around the country on Israel and the US.

Photograph: A computer set up arranged in Danbury, UK, on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber Russia
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Aspen UK, Canopius Group and London-based broker Miller.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Aspen UK Names Stanford as Interim CEO, Succeeding Milner

Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. announced the appointment of Sarah Stanford as interim CEO, Aspen UK, effective immediately.

She takes over from Richard Milner, who will be leaving Aspen on March 31 to pursue other opportunities.

Stanford is currently active underwriter, Lloyds Syndicate 4711, which represents approximately 75% of Aspens UK business. Under her leadership, Aspen said, the syndicate has seen substantial progress, reporting significant growth to 838.6 million (US$1.1 billion) in GWP and delivering a 75.4% combined operating ratio in 2022, while becoming one of Lloyds best performing syndicates of the year.

In 2023, Stanford led the creation of Aspen Digital, which provides additional, digital-only follow capacity, in an industry-first partnership with Ki.

Stanford has over 25 years experience in the industry. She joined Aspen in 2007 and has held several senior roles, including head of International Management Liability and Professional Lines, before being appointed active underwriter of Aspens Lloyds Syndicate 4711 in 2019. Before Aspen, she worked in underwriting positions at Limit MJ Harrington Syndicate 2000/QBE.

Stanford will continue to report to Mark Cloutier, executive chairman and group CEO, and to be a member of the Group Executive Committee. A formal selection process is underway to confirm a permanent CEO, subject to board and regulatory approval, which will be announced in due course. In the meantime, and in addition to her interim UK CEO responsibility, Stanford will continue as active underwriter.

I am pleased that Sarah is stepping in as interim UK CEO. As active underwriter of Syndicate 4711, Aspens core platform in the UK, she brings an impressive track record and credentials in the form of a robust performance, innovative progress, and a solid market reputation for the syndicate, commented Cloutier.

Cloutier went on to thank Milner for his contributions to Aspen over the past four years and wished him well in his future endeavors.

***

Canopius Appoints Crane as Head of UK Distribution

Canopius Group, the global specialty and property/casualty insurer and reinsurer, announced the appointment of Matthew Crane as head of UK Distribution. He takes up the newly created role with immediate effect and will also serve on the Canopius UK Executive Committee.

Crane will be responsible for enhancing Canopius relationships with its global brokers, regional distribution partners and strategic clients, supporting the business as it looks to realise new growth opportunities.

Crane brings nearly two decades of senior market experience to Canopius. He joins most recently from PIB Group where he was CEO of Q Underwriting.

Crane spent 15 years at QBE, where he progressed to managing director UK and Ireland. Following from this, he served as CEO of Amwins Global Risks where he oversaw the business London and Lloyds market, Europe, Asia and LatAm operations.

Canopius has also appointed Uwe Schoberth as head of Distribution, U.S. and Bermuda. Schoberth and Crane will collaborate closely, ensuring alignment of Canopius distribution strategy and clear points of access and lines of communication for Canopius partners in both markets.

***

Miller Taps Carpenters Sinniah as Head of Reinsurance and Capital

Miller, the London-based independent specialist re/insurance broker, announced the appointment of Shaun Sinniah as head of Reinsurance and Capital, as the firm builds out its reinsurance offering and international presence. Shaun will be based in London.

Sinniah was previously head of Placement & Distribution and chief operating officer of Guy Carpenters International & Global Specialties divisions. Prior to this, Sinniah held various roles at Willis Re including managing director, global head of Sales & Client Management. Sinniah joined the insurance industry from Goldman Sachs where he worked in London & Hong Kong.

His appointment aligns with Millers growth plans and accelerated reinsurance buildout. Sinniah will lead the expansion of Millers reinsurance offering, deployment of innovative data driven approaches and enhanced strategic advisory capabilities.

Miller has made a number of senior reinsurance appointments over the past 18 months in Bermuda, London and APAC, including the build out of a new APAC treaty reinsurance team. In his new role, Sinniah will also support the business broader international strategy, following the formation of Miller International at the start of 2023.

We have a clear strategy to grow our reinsurance footprint in areas where it aligns with both client needs and our ambitious strategy. Im delighted to be welcoming Shaun to the team as part of this. His wealth of experience will be invaluable as we continue to build out the reinsurance part of our business, commented Miller CEO James Hands. Since 2022, Miller has launched 12 new teams and welcomed over 200 new employees. Bringing in experts such as Shaun will allow us to accelerate this exciting trajectory and bolster our specialty offerings.

Topics Reinsurance
The state of Michigan has agreed to pay $1.75 million to an innocent man who spent 35 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of sexual assault.

Louis Wright was released in November after authorities said DNA tests ruled him out as the perpetrator in an attack on an 11-year-old girl in Albion, a small town in southwestern Michigan, in 1988.

People who are exonerated based on new evidence are eligible for $50,000 for each year spent in a Michigan prison. The attorney generals office sometimes resists paying, based on strict criteria in the law, but quickly agreed to compensate Wright.

The deal was approved by a judge Wednesday.

Wright told The Associated Press that hell likely use some money for a house as well as a vehicle for a sister.

Nothing can make up for 35 years in a Michigan prison for something he did not do, Wrights attorney, Wolf Mueller, said. This is a first step toward getting Louis life back at the age of 65.

Albion police investigating the assault settled on Wright as the suspect after an off-duty officer said he had been seen in the neighborhood. Police said he confessed, though the interview was not recorded and he did not sign a confession, according to the Cooley Law School Innocence Project.

The victim was never asked to identify Wright, the Innocence Project said.

Wright eventually pleaded no-contest to the charges and was sentenced to 25 years to 50 years in prison. He then tried to withdraw his plea at sentencing, but the request was denied.

Wright was repeatedly eligible for parole consideration, starting in 2008. But he refused to take a sex offender therapy class, a key condition for release, and remained behind bars until DNA cleared him, Mueller said.

He said, I didnt do this crime. Im not taking a therapy class. He cost himself several years, just standing on principle, Mueller said Friday. Not a lot of guys would do that.

Wright said he knew he would eventually be cleared when his mouth was swabbed last summer for DNA testing.

I spent the last couple months in prison with a smile on my face. Everyone thought I had something up my sleeve, he said.

Since his release, Wright has been reuniting with family and enjoying simple things, such as shooting pool in a bar. Thanksgiving was special, he said, because it meant having a genuine turkey dinner  not the white slab slime stuff.

I had the real thing, said Wright, adding: Im just taking it one day at a time right now.

Separately, Mueller filed a lawsuit against police seeking more than $100 million. The lawsuit claims Wrights rights were violated during the investigation in 1988.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Michigan
South Korean Bankruptcy Court Judge Calls for More Crypto Regulation

A South Korean bankruptcy court judge has called on the government to bolster regulation in the crypto industry, claiming investors need more protection.

Per Newsis, the claims were made by Judge Lee Seok-jun, of the Seoul Bankruptcy Court. Lee wrote a paper on regulations intended to protect virtual asset investors.

The paper was published in the most recent issue of the Court of Koreas academic journal Sabeub (literal translation: Justice).

A slew of crypto-related legal changes come into force in July this year when the Virtual Asset User Protection Act becomes law.

But Lee argued that more regulation is still needed. Lees paper analyzed several crypto-related court cases.

Lee concluded that many judges had been forced to create precedents due to a lack of legislation. The judge wrote:

There was a tendency for the final resolution of [crypto-related] cases to be achieved through court rulings instead of the application of regulations.

Lee added that the crypto sector urgently needs regulations on market entry, business activities, and disclosure.

Does South Korea Need More Crypto Regulation?

The judge noted the case of a group of trading platform customers who tried to sue a crypto exchange when a power outage restricted their trading options.

The customers said they were unable to sell coins when a blackout stopped them from logging into their accounts.

Lee was likely referring to a case from 2022, when a fire broke out at a data center hosting the chat app KakaoTalks servers. The crypto exchange Upbit uses KakaoTalk for login user identity verification.

 South Korea Seeks Regulation Against Crypto Mixers Citing Illegal Use Cases Learn more   Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 15, 2024

Investors tried to sue Upbit for restricting their ability to trade during the outage.

However, they were initially told they would only receive compensation if they could prove they intended to sell coins during the outage.

A court ultimately dismissed the investors case, saying that was difficult to say that the exchange was responsible for the losses.

 No South Korea Bitcoin ETF Approval Before Elections, Say Experts Breaking down the details  Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 15, 2024

The judge said that the new law does not regulate compensation-related matters at all, adding:

I believe there are bound to be limitations in protecting cryptoasset investors due to individual courts interpretations.

Securities Better Regulated than Crypto, Judge Says

Lee noted that the Capital Markets Act, which governs the domestic securities market, requires all providers to protect investors.

The same act requires operators to have sufficient staff capabilities, IT facilities, and other physical facilities.

But no such provisions are stipulated for crypto players, the judge explained.

And Lee said crypto providers should be obliged to ensure that investors understand what they are paying for.

Lee made mention of an investor who attempted to sue a crypto firm after losing money on crypto futures margin trading products.

The investor claimed they had only watched part of an explanatory video about margin trading before giving up because the subject looked too difficult.

The investor tried to sue the crypto firm on civil good faith principles-related matters, but a court rejected the case.

The judge wrote that the case had failed since civil good faith principles apply only in the case of conventional financial products.
Sophia Danner-Okoties 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 brands 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 Courts 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.

One conservative activist, Christopher Rufo, claimed another victory this month with the resignation of Harvards first Black woman president, Claudine Gay, after allegations of plagiarism and a furor over her congressional testimony about antisemitism.

Rufo, who has cast Gays 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 Floyds 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 Blums 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 Blums 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 lawsuits dismissal, arguing the fellowships 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 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 Transportations 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 Comcasts 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 Courts 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

Many of the lawsuits challenging diversity programs, including the cases against Pfizer and the Fearless Fund, are relying on a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which prohibits racial discrimination in contract agreements. The law was originally intended to protect formerly enslaved people, but conservative activists are citing it to challenge programs designed to benefit racial minorities.

Their lawsuits generally target programs that have clear race-based eligibility components. A more difficult challenge is proving that companies are making hiring decisions based on race, said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at New York Universitys School of Law.

Taking race into account for hiring or promotions is illegal under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. A debate has emerged about whether companies are crossing the line by announcing goals for increasing Black and other minority representation. Companies say such efforts are not quotas but aspirational goals they will try to achieve through policies like widening candidate pools and rooting out bias in hiring processes.

Glasgow called it a gray area that could depend on a courts interpretation of corporate policies. He said it could be hard to prove discrimination just because a company announced in a really broad way that it would be nice to have more people of color in management but plaintiffs could try to argue that Diversity Equity and Inclusion policies are pressuring hiring managers to make race-based decisions.

Conservative activists are trying to make just that case, seizing on corporate documents that share data on efforts to increase the ranks of Black, Hispanic and other underrepresented groups in their workforce, however modest that progress might be.

America First Legal, a group run by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller, sent a letter in November to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seeking an investigation into Macys efforts to strengthen its DEI policies, arguing they amount to discriminatory hiring practices.

In 2019, Macys announced a goal of 30% ethnic diversity among its leadership at the director level and above by 2025, in part to better serve its customer base, which is about 50% non-white. The retailer launched a leadership training program for selected managers of color, and last year required that candidates for director roles include ethnically diverse applicants. It also has incorporated its DEI goals into annual performance reviews for directors and company-wide incentive calculation.

America First Legal cited those initiatives to argue that Macys has set explicit racial and other quotas for hiring. The group has sent dozens of similar letters to the EEOC targeting companies from IBM to American Airlines.

Macys declined to comment on the letter. But in a previous interview with The Associated Press, outgoing Macys CEO Jeff Gennette said the company is sticking with its DEI policies while closely watching legal developments.

Our enthusiasm and our commitment to all the prongs that we had with DEI, and our strategy, remains. We might express it differently based on court rulings and in the future, Gennette said, without providing details.

Photo: Sophia Danner-Okotie poses for a portrait in her shared workspace in October 2023. Sophia Danner-Okotie has ambitious plans for her Nigerian-inspired clothing line but a sense of dread has punctured her optimism as she watches a lawsuit try to take down a small venture capital firm that was instrumental to her boutique brands growth. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Wisconsin
New bi-partisan legislation meant to keep the regulation of insurance companies with state regulators was introduced in the Senate on Jan. 16.

The Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act of 2024 from senators Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Joe Manchin, D-W.V., was referred to the U.S. Senates Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to make sure the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) does not overstep their statutory authority.

The CFPB was formed as part of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010 but has sinceaccording to the bills authors and industry lobbying groupscut in on state-regulated business of insurance, which was excluded from the CFPBs purview when it was created.

Congress made clear when it crafted the Dodd-Frank Act that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau does not have regulatory authority over the business of insurance, said Jimi Grande, senior vice president of federal and political affairs for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC). Since then, the bureau has continued to encroach on issues involving insurance products and services that are rightfully under the authority of the states. State regulators have expertise about the risks and conditions in their individual markets and have been the gold standard for consumer protection for more than 150 years. Congress should take this opportunity to set a clear boundary for the CFPB. Doing so will prevent confusion for consumers and their insurers as well as the potential for duplicative or conflicting regulations.

Nat Wienecke, senior vice president of federal government relations for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) added: Senator Scotts Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act recognizes that the state-based system for insurance regulation has been effective in protecting consumers and fostering competitive insurance markets for over 150 years. APCIA supports the reintroduction of this important legislation to provide increased clarity on the insurance exemption and the CFPBs boundaries.

According to Scott and Manchin, the proposed legislation is also supported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, R Street Institute, Surety and Fidelity Association of America, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Defense Credit Union Council, Consumer Credit Industry Association, American Council of Life Insurers, American Land Title Association, and National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

CFPB declined to comment.

Congressman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) is leading companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This is not the first time Scott and Manchin have been involved in an attempt to limit CFPBs regulation of insurance matters. Six years ago, Scott introduced the first Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act of 2018, with Manchin among its sponsors. That bill stalled in the 115th Congress.

At that time, NAIC said it was understandable that some unintended overlap or duplication of effort with other regulators can occur, but that the bill would clarify the intent of the business of insurance exemption.

Topics Legislation
Texas Mutual Insurance Company recently reported that a Travis County district court sentenced Ruth Castilleja of Baytown, Texas, on workers compensation fraud-related charges.

Castilleja reported an on-the-job injury while working as a phlebotomist for BestCare Laboratory Services LLC in Houston, Texas, and claimed she was unable to work as a result of the injury. Texas Mutual began paying income benefits to her, but then discovered Castilleja was working as a phlebotomist for another company. This type of activity is considered workers compensation fraud and is often referred to as double-dipping because the claimant collects benefits for being too injured to work while simultaneously being gainfully employed.

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers Compensation, prosecutor in Travis County handled the case. The court sentenced Castilleja to a Class A misdemeanor with 18 months deferred adjudication. She also served 3 days in the Travis County Jail and attended theft school. She will pay $7,100 in restitution to Texas Mutual.

Source: Texas Mutual

Topics Texas Fraud Workers' Compensation Talent
The Florida Senates Banking and Insurance Committee on Tuesday approved a bill that would make the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. more like an insurer of last resort, unrestricted by premium caps  at least for some expensive homes in the state.

By a unanimous vote, the committee endorsed Senate Bill 1106, which would raise the policy limit on homes that can be insured by Citizens, from $700,000 to $1 million. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Palm Harbor, also would do away with the glidepath, which has limited Citizens premium increases to no more than 15% per year, for homes and condominium units in that value range. It would also place a surcharge on the policies of $2,500 or 25% of the premium and require actuarily sound rates.

Senators said the idea is to provide an option for some affluent homeowners who have been unable to find affordable coverage in the primary market in Floridas distressed insurance environment. Since 2014, state law has placed a $700,000 policy limit on Citizens, except in Monroe County, home of the Florida Keys, and Miami-Dade County.

If youve looked at buying a house, you know that $700,000 is not a mansion, Hooper said at the committee meeting. Its almost the median price of housing.

Committee member Doug Broxson, R-Milton, told of one Florida homeowner who could not find coverage for a $1 million home, except in the surplus lines market. His premium jumped from $8,000 to $38,000. Broxson said the current state of the Florida market has created a doughnut hole, in which lower-priced and more-expensive homes can find reasonable coverage, but those in semi-pricey category cannot.

This is really the purpose of Citizens, Broxson said. Citizens is the company of last resort.

Florida lawmakers in the last 18 months have approved sweeping legislation that aims to curtail claims litigation, something insurers have decried as the driving force behind soaring loss expenses and premiums. But those reforms could take another year or two to stabilize rates, and officials are under increasing pressure from property owners to take further action this year to stem rate hikes.

Sen. Jim Boyd, chair of the committee, said he was reluctant to endorse a plan that would shunt more policyholders to Citizens. Such a move could make Citizens compete with primary carriers and would elevate the risk of an assessment on Florida policyholders in the event of a major catastrophe in the state.

But these are unusual times, Boyd said at the meeting. The market is starting to respond, but its still a ways off. There are certain things the Legislature needs to do now.

A representative of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents signaled at the meeting that the group supports the bill. But others at the hearing spoke out against it. Gary Rosen, a building and mold-remediation contractor, argued that Citizens does not need to raise premiums and surcharges. Instead, the corporation should ensure that contractors restoration work is fully inspected, which would help prevent lawsuits by homeowners and reduce costs for the insurer.

Robert Reyes, who represents Monroe County, testified that the proposed $2,500 surcharge on policies for pricey houses would be unfair to homeowners already are struggling to find affordable insurance. The median home price in Monroe County late last year was $1.4 million. Statewide, the median price was about $403,000, according to Redfin and Houzeo real estate tracking sites.

To be presented to the governor, SB 1106 must be considered by two other Senate committees, the full Senate and the House of Representatives before the 2024 session ends March 8. If signed into law, the measure would take effect Aug. 1 of this year.

The bill can be seen here. A late amendment to the bill, approved by the committee, is here.

Top photo: Sen. Broxson at the committee meeting Tuesday. (The Florida Channel)

Topics Florida Funding Politics
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration this week fined a Mississippi poultry processor $212,646  an amount set by law  after a 16-year-old was pulled to his death inside a deboning machine last summer.

Mar-Jac Poultry MS LLC in Hattiesburg failed to follow standard lockout/tagout procedures that are supposed to keep machines turned off when a worker is cleaning them, OSHA said in a bulletin.

Mar-Jac Poultry is aware of how dangerous the machinery they use can be when safety standards are not in place to prevent serious injury and death, OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer said in a statement. The companys inaction has directly led to this terrible tragedy, which has left so many to mourn this childs preventable death.

OSHA had previously cited Mar-Jac after a 2021 incident in which an employees shirt sleeve was caught in a machine and he was pulled in, pinning the man and killing him. Another worker died at the Mississippi plant in 2020, according to news reports.

Mar-Jac Poultry should have enforced strict safety standards in its facility, Petermeyer added. Only about two years later, nothing has changed and the company continues to treat employee safety as an afterthought, putting its workers at risk.

The agency did not identify the 16-year-old killed last July. But news reports and a immigrant advocacy group said he was Duvan Thomas Perez, who came to the United States from Guatemala about six years ago.

Minors are barred from cleaning meat processing machines because regulators have deemed the job to be too dangerous, the New York Times reported. Georgia-based Mar-Jac has been under investigation for child labor violations since 2021, the news site noted. The poultry company had not responded by Wednesday to requests for comment from the Times.

The company has 15 days to comply with the latest citation, request an informal conference with OSHA or contest the agencys findings, OSHA said in its bulletin.

Its unlikely that Perez family members would be eligible for workers compensation fatality benefits. Mississippi, like most states, limits death benefits to spouses or children of the deceased worker.

Related: Teens Death in Poultry Plant Shows Child Labor Remains a Problem, Feds Say

OSHA Fights Mar-Jac Over Right to Inspect Facility

Topics Workers' Compensation Mississippi
VANCOUVER, BC - January 17, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals" or the "Company") (TSX-V:DEFN / OTCQB:DFMTF/ 35D: FSE) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Co-Design Agreement (the "Agreement") with the McLeod Lake Indian Band ("MLIB"), regarding ongoing project development of Defense Metals' 100% owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project (the "Wicheeda Project") located 80 kilometres northeast of Prince George, British Columbia.

The Co-Design Agreement

Pursuant to the Agreement, Defense Metals will collaborate on the design of the Wicheeda Project with MLIB. Collaboration will incorporate MLIB's interests and priorities in the planning and design of future feasibility studies and the environmental assessment process and include MLIB involvement in certain technical studies related to the Wicheeda Project. Comprehensive budgets and workplans are to be cooperatively developed and incorporated into the process. In addition, Defense Metals will make an upfront payment to MLIB, fund certain of MLIB's costs of participating in review activities and support MLIB Members in attending post-secondary training in a mining-related field. Central to this collaboration is the Wicheeda Project's integral role in supporting British Columbia's contribution to the clean energy transition. With a targeted annual production equivalent to approximately 10% of current global production, the project has the potential to become a significant supplier of rare earth elements.

MLIB Partnership Investment

Defense Metals Corp. also announces that MLIB has agreed to make a strategic investment into Defense Metals by way of a non-brokered private placement financing of 2,557,795 common shares of the Company at a price of $0.26 per share (the "Offering Price"), for aggregate proceeds of $665,026.70 (the "Offering"). In consideration for RCF Opportunities Fund II L.P. ("RCF") agreeing to subscribe as lead order in a previous private placement (see Defense Metals news release of April 27, 2023) RCF was granted the right to participate in subsequent equity or debt financings of the Company on a pro rata basis based on RCF's ownership stake (determined on a partially diluted basis immediately prior to the proposed financing), while RCF's ownership in the company is greater than or equal to five (5) per cent (determined on a partially diluted basis). If RCF elects to participate in the Offering, in accordance with their existing participation rights, the Company may issue up to an additional 283,883 common shares at the Offering Price for additional gross proceeds of up to $73,809.58.

It is intended that the Offering will be completed promptly following TSX Venture Exchange approval. In addition to the statutory hold period of four months and one day, the common shares issued under the Offering will be subject to a two-year voluntary hold period from the date of issuance. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering towards advancing the Wicheeda Project.

The common shares of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there by any sale of the securities referenced in this press release, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Qualified Person

Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (B.C.), Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, Alberta, and a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information and verified the data contained in this news release as it relates to the Wicheeda Project.

About Defense Metals Corp. and its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project

Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the development of its 100% owned, 8,301-hectare (~20,534-acre) Wicheeda Project that is located on the traditional territory of the McLeod Lake Indian Band in British Columbia, Canada.

The Wicheeda Project, approximately 80 kilometres (~50 miles) northeast of the city of Prince George, is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and has nearby infrastructure, including hydro power transmission lines and gas pipelines. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia.

Defense Metals Corp. trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "DEFN", in the United States, trading symbol "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D".

Defense Metals is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: http://www.discoverygroup.ca/

For further information, please visit www.defensemetals.com or contact:

Todd Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd.

Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: (778) 994 8072

Email: todd@blueskycorp.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, any statements (expressed or implied) relating to: advancing the Wicheeda Project, including the prospective feasibility study and the environmental assessment process, technical studies, and related matters, the expected timeline of advancing the Wicheeda Project, the expected targeted annual production, the Offering, RCF's participation in the Offering, approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, the use of net proceeds from the Offering, obligations and commitments under the Agreement and related objectives, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events, contribution or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements.

Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to the Company's business and the Wicheeda Project. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the anticipated costs and expenditures, accuracy of assay results, performance of available laboratory and other related services, future operating costs, interpretation of geological, engineering and metallurgical data, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration, engineering and metallurgical results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration, metallurgy and development and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of personnel, materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological, metallurgical and engineering assumptions, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, or directors, increase in costs, delayed results, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof and the Company does not undertake to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Defense Metals Corp.

Defense Metals (TSX-V: DEFN.V) (OTCQB: DFMTF) is a featured mining stock on Investorideas.com More info on DEFN at Investorideas.com Visit: https://www.investorideas.com/CO/DEFN/ Get news alerts on this company!

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January 17, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao is the most popular personality in the cryptocurrency industry, a new study has revealed.

The study, conducted by cryptocurrency tax software CoinLedger, combined social media followings from both X and Instagram to reveal which well-known cryptocurrency popularities are statistically the most popular worldwide.

The ten most popular personalities in cryptocurrency

Rank Name Number of X and Instagram followers combined 1 Changpeng Zhao 9,071,000 2 Vitalik Buterin 7,700,000 3 Jack Dorsey 6,400,000 4 Michael Saylor 3,244,000 5 Cathie Wood 1,602,090 6 Chamath Palihapitiya 1,600,000 7 Marc Andreessen 1,300,000 8 Barry Silbert 1,252,400 9 Brian Armstrong 1,204,547 10 Sam Bankman-Fried 1,066,300

With a combined social media following of more than nine million (9,071,000) on both X and Instagram, Changpeng Zhao is the most popular personality in the cryptocurrency industry. More than 8.6 million of his followers are from X, which is the most of any character on the platform. Zhao is the co-founder and CEO of Binance which - as of July 2022 - is the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume.

Vitalik Buterin is the second most famous personality in cryptocurrency, with a combined social media following of 7.7 million. The Ethereum co-founder is also the most popular personality on Instagram, with 2.7 million followers on the website.

Block Inc. CEO Jack Dorsey ranked third with a combined social media following of 6,400,000. All his followers came from X (formerly known as Twitter) after he deleted his Instagram account. Dorsey co-founded Twitter and was previously the company's CEO before selling it to Elon Musk.

Executive chairman and co-founder of MicroStrategy, Michael Saylor, is the fourth most famous personality in cryptocurrency. The American entrepreneur has a combined social media following of over 3.2 million (3,244,000) with 3.1 million coming from X.

With a combined social media following of more than 1.6 million, Cathie Wood, CEO of investment management firm Ark Invest, ranked fifth. Wood has been named one of 50 people shaping global business by Bloomberg.

Chamath Palihapitiya is the sixth most famous personality in cryptocurrency with a social media following of 1.6 million, all of which are on X. Palihapitiya was an early investor in Bitcoin and at one point personally held around 5% of Bitcoin's circulating supply.

Marc Andreesen is the seventh most famous personality in cryptocurrency, with a social media following of 1.3 million. Andreesen is a cofounder of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, and an inductee in the World Wide Web Hall of Fame.

With a combined social media following of more than 1.25 million (1,252,400), Barry Silbert is the eight most famous personality in cryptocurrency. He is the second most followed personality on Instagram, with 493,000 followers, and is the founder and CEO of the blockchain company Digital Currency Group.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong (1,204,547) ranked in ninth. Armstrong also co-founded GiveCrypto, a platform that encourages giving cryptocurrency to underprivileged people who otherwise cannot access finance opportunities.

Despite his fraud convictions, Sam Bankman-Fried (1,066,300), ranked in tenth.

Meanwhile, Tyler Winklevoss (1,058,000) and his twin brother, Cameron (767,800) also ranked in the top 15. The brothers are known for co-founding HarvardConnection - later renamed ConnectU - along with Harvard classmate Divya Narendra. In 2004, the brothers sued Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, after he allegedly he stole their ConnectU idea to create the popular networking site.

David Kemmerer, Co-Founder and CEO of CoinLedger, commented on the findings: "This data offers a fascinating insight into the people within the crypto sphere who hold the most influence, and many of the names that feature in this study helped to popularize the cryptocurrency industry. Without their influence, hundreds of millions of people who now invest in cryptocurrencies wouldn't have been afforded the opportunity to do so."

CoinLedger conducted the research.

Methodology: After compiling a list of the 30 most influential people in cryptocurrency in 2023 (according to CryptoWeekly), the study combined their respective social media followings to determine which personality is the most popular worldwide.

More Info:

This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders

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40 years of evolution and innovation at Barry & Fitzwilliam

Despite operating in one of the worlds oldest industries, drinks distributor Barry & Fitzwilliam has rarely sat still since they were founded over 40 years ago.

The supplier of a range of local and internationally known brands, the firm has continued to expand and evolve.

The company was founded by Michael Barry in 1982. Since then, it has grown to become one of Irelands leading independent drinks companies.

Over the past four decades, it has acquired a number of other firms as it expanded including McCullagh, Maxxium Irl and Allied Drinks & Approach Wines.

Today, Barry & Fitzwilliam is headquartered in Ballycurren where it employs 55 people.

Some of its best-known wine brands are McGuigan, Villa Maria, Michel Lynch, Graham Norton, Kylie, Sarah Jessica Parker, Pol Roger Champagne and spirit brands such as Tia Maria, Cointreau, Passoa, and Disaronno. Its best-known beer is Brewdog.

Barry & Fitzwilliam has about 3,500 accounts. In the off-trade, it supplies Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, Tesco, Musgraves, Centra, BWG Group, Spar & Londis, Carry Out, OBriens, ODonovans and many other independent retailers.

It is heavily involved in the hospitality sector and was able to adapt the business successfully during covid lockdowns to concentrate totally on the retail sector and has increased turnover continuously since.

The firm continues to look for new additions to its portfolio and is very aware of new trends within the industry which has served it well in the past. It holds several meetings each month with new suppliers looking for distribution.

Currently, it is expanding its no and low-alcohol offering, a trend it expects to continue to rise and is also expanding its organic wines offer which has growing interest among Irish consumers.

Another new area of growth is the CBD drinks offering.

Barry & Fitzwilliam currently has one CBD brand, Good Rays, in its portfolio.

In relation to ESG, Barry & Fitzwilliam is working with all its brand owners on a sustainability project.

The lighting in its 50,000sq ft warehouse has been changed to LED to reduce energy. It also has a strong history of support and sponsorship of events and charity functions.

We are absolutely delighted to be chosen as a finalist in the Cork Chamber Company of the Year awards, said Mr Barry.

We previously won the SME section in 2011 and we would be honoured to win the award a second time, he said.

Bundledocs adding to its client base and entering new markets

Bundledocs is an example of how the development of the right product can be expanded and scaled globally.

Brian Kenneally founded Bundledocs in 2009 along with Lisa Walsh and James Hogan.

Bundledocs is a document collation, editing, and collaboration solution designed for the legal industry.

It was initially designed to help legal professionals create documentation for court, arbitration, and any case between disputing parties.

This work was traditionally done manually using paper, but using Bundledocs they can automate this process and streamline time-intensive tasks, to make their workflows easier and more efficient.

The company quickly found that legal professionals were having the same problem with document production in all jurisdictions, and it has since become a true cloud solution.

Bundledocs was founded in 2019 by Brian Kenneally, Lisa Walsh, and James Hogan. Headquartered in Ballincollig in Cork, the firm now has offices in Montreal, Canada, servicing the North American market and in Sydney, Australia, servicing the APAC market.

Since launching, their client base has grown to include some of the worlds top 200 law firms and government departments. They are scaling internationally and currently have 1,400 customers in 34 countries that benefit from their time-saving processes. In the last year, they released their PDF editing cloud offering.

What had begun as a simple bundle tool has now evolved to include document editing, OCR, e-file delivery, online collaboration, annotations, and much more.

The firm is privately funded, with no VC funding. In 2019 they received 250,000 in funding from Enterprise Ireland and 300,000 in private funding. They are cash positive at the current rate of 1.3m and to date have not sought additional funding.

Today, the company employs 18 people by adding strategic team members with a focus on hiring quality, key individuals that add value to existing teams.

In the last year, further product development and innovation has been their focus and they have expanded the development team, with a mix of experience levels.

They are committed to further building their client base within existing markets and expanding their presence into new ones  with a specific focus on North America.

Having started in Cork and expanded globally since then with customers across 34 countries, we are thrilled that Bundledocs is a finalist in the Cork Company of the Year Awards, CEO Brian Kenneally said. Our software addresses a critical need in the legal tech sector, and this recognition is a testament to the exceptional dedication and hard work of our Irish and internationally-based team.

Swyft Energy is helping drive Irelands green transition

Swyft Energy is a company that is not just changing the energy game; it is actively leading it towards a greener, more sustainable future.

Swyft Energy co-founder Adrian Casey.

The company today is a significant player in the renewable energy sector, offering a range of products and services to help businesses and individuals transition to sustainable energy sources.

They primarily design supply and fit solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for businesses and homes.

It has already completed over 12,500 installations.

It is also the largest gas boiler installer in Ireland, backed up by custom-built technology, systems and processes.

The company was formed in 2017 by Corkmen Adrian Casey and Joseph Freyne who have degrees in engineering and business.

Swyft Energy has invested several million euro building a technology platform to deploy its energy-saving products at scale with a focus on playing a key role in Irelands transition to net zero under the Governments national plan for decarbonisation.

Over the past three years, it has introduced a range of products, services and innovations.

Swyft Store is the first e-commerce platform in Ireland for home services, making it easier for clients to explore and purchase renewable energy products.

Pipelyne captures data with a customised web form that rewards customers with an instant recommendation to boost conversions and sales.

For Swyft Energy, customer satisfaction is a key element of its business and is built into every system and process.

To measure it, the company gathers feedback through post-installation surveys, regularly monitors system performance, and maintains open lines of communication with clients.

Its customer support team is always ready to address inquiries and concerns promptly.

It also tracks customer referrals and repeat business as indicators of satisfaction and trust in its services. Swyft Energy has also expanded its product range to offer a wider selection of renewable energy products, including solar PV systems, and energy-efficient appliances.

We are very happy to be nominated for the Cork Chamber Company of the Year awards along with so many other great past and present nominees, said Mr Casey.

We are a proud Cork-based company and are committed to creating employment in the Cork area long into the future. To be recognised by our peers in what is a very prestigious award means a lot to us as a company.
French sport supplies and activewear retailer Decathlon has signed a letting contract with the Clerys Quarter development in Dublin city centre.

The new store is expected to open in the middle of this year and create around 50 jobs.

The French retailer will join H&M and Pret A Manger among others in the restored iconic Clerys building. The HSE has also taken some space in the development, on behalf of the Rotunda Hospital, for a new maternity outpatient hospital catering for over 100,000 outpatients annually.

Decathlon secured the space through Europa, a pan-European real estate investment, and its local partners Core Capital and Oakmount.

The arrival of Decathlon is a major coup for Clerys Quarter and means that the entirety of the schemes retail space is now occupied, said James Keast, director of asset management at Europa.

The restoration of the building was completed last summer 2023 and it has retained some historic features including the famous refurbished Clerys clock.

Kevin Sweeney of Savills acted for the landlord and Michael Turley of Turley Property Advisors acted for Decathlon.

The retailer has expanded its presence in Ireland following the success of its 13m store in Ballymun opposite Ikea, which opened shortly before the pandemic arrived in Ireland.

The sports giant also opened a store in Parkway Retail Park in Limerick last year.
Brace yourselves, tech enthusiasts, as Samsung took the stage to unveil its latest flagship series, the Samsung Galaxy S24. In a world where smartphones have become indispensable, Samsung aims to redefine our daily interactions by introducing what they are calling groundbreaking features and a relentless focus on personalisation through Galaxy AI.

Galaxy AI

Samsung said Galaxy AI represents a significant leap forward in on-device and cloud-based AI, bringing together Samsung's innovation prowess and collaboration with industry leaders. The mission? To democratise meaningful AI innovation and usher in life-enhancing experiences for users globally.

The promise of Galaxy AI is personalisation. The Galaxy S24 Series is designed to seamlessly adapt to users' preferences, making every interaction a bit more 'you.' It's an ambitious goal, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Samsung.

Breaking down communication barriers

Communication lies at the heart of our smartphone experience, and Galaxy AI intends to break down those language barriers. The real-time two-way call translation feature is a game-changer, supporting on-device voice and text translations in 13 languages. Privacy is a priority, with all data staying securely on the device.

The Chat Assist feature takes it further, offering real-time text translation in 13 languages for multi-language messaging. Samsung's AI-infused keyboard ensures that translation capabilities extend beyond messages to social media, emails, and various apps. Samsung promises a seamless experience that makes you forget the language differences.

Searching made smarter

Samsung has introduced Google Circle to Search, a new way to search your phone using a simple gesture. Paired with the improved S Pen, this feature makes searching more intuitive. Circle, highlight, scribble, or tap on any image, video, or text, and voila! Your search results appear without the need to switch apps. A small but significant enhancement that streamlines the way we find information.

AI-powered photography

Editing gets an AI boost with features like Edit Suggestion, Generative Edit, and with Super HDR your photos now undergo a refinement process that ensures life-like range, brightness, and contrast. And if an action-packed video needs to be slowed down, the new Instant Slow-mo can generate additional frames based on movements to slow down action-packed moments for a more detailed look smoothly.

Power and gaming

The Galaxy S24 Ultra takes things up a notch for gamers, and every Galaxy S24 Ultra has the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy. The company claims that the new processor, designed with Galaxy users in mind, offers a notable NPU boost for effective AI processing. Enhanced heat dissipation, ray tracing, and optimised games promise an immersive gaming experience. The adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz) and their brightest display ever deliver smooth visuals and optimal battery consumption.

Security and sustainability

Security is a non-negotiable, and Samsung knows it. The Samsung Knox security platform ensures a protected and private user experience. The Galaxy S24 Series takes a step forward in data transparency and control, allowing users to choose whether to allow online data collection and processing for AI experiences.

In line with Samsung's commitment to sustainability, the Galaxy S24 Series incorporates recycled materials, contributing to a more circular design. The packaging is made with 100% recycled paper, aligning with Samsung's efforts towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Your Galaxy, your way

As the Galaxy S24 Series hits the market, Samsung is prompting users to explore the possibilities of Galaxy AI. They said the Galaxy S24 isn't just a smartphone; it's a personal assistant, a creative tool, and a gaming powerhouse all rolled into one.

Availability and special offers

Starting on 31st January, the Galaxy S24 series will be widely available in operators, retailers and samsung.com with pre-orders beginning today (January 17).

The Galaxy S24 series comes in Earth mineral-inspired colour tones. On Galaxy S24 Ultra, colours include Titanium Grey, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet and Titanium Yellow. The colours of Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 include Onyx Black, Marble Grey, Cobalt Violet and Amber Yellow.

For customers who pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra from Samsung.com, we will offer double the storage for the price of the lower storage model, with savings available of up to 260.

Pricing

Galaxy S24 Ultra RRP:

 256GB  1,469

 512GB  1,589

 1TB  1,849

Galaxy S24+ RRP:

 256GB  1,159

 512GB  1,269

Galaxy S24 RRP:

 128GB  919

 256GB  969

For more information about Galaxy S24 series, please visit: Samsung
Just how bad could it get?

Theresa Myers thought of that question as an Irish immigrant turned U.S. citizen spoke at the Braver Angels National Convention in Gettysburg last July.

He stood and said I know about division and how ugly it can get. We need to stop this in America now, the Newburg area woman said.

An older man, he had lived through the Troubles, a period of sectarian violence between Catholics and Protestants over Northern Ireland. His example made her wonder if something similar could happen here between the blues, who lean liberal, and the reds, who lean conservative.

Everyday people dont want to see the country divided, Myers said. The majority of people dont want that. Braver Angels can give us tools so we can bridge the divide. Its a small thing. Im one person. Its one relationship at a time, but its a start.

Bosler event

She is one of three local organizers who want to bring the Braver Angels movement into Cumberland County. The first event is a workshop titled Depolarizing Within scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St., Carlisle.

Seating is limited. The public should register in advance by visiting braverangels.org/events and scrolling to the date and venue. The event is free to attend. A light lunch will be served.

A cross-partisan, volunteer-led organization, Braver Angels started in 2017 in response to political division in the wake of the 2016 presidential election. Early organizers brought together equal numbers of Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton supporters to talk about what set them apart.

It happened in the basement of a small church in Ohio, Myers said. They were able to see each other as people instead of an enemy that had been portrayed as fanatics on both sides. They were onto something. Braver Angels grew into what it is today.

With chapters called alliances across the country, Braver Angels strives to mitigate the problem of extreme political polarization, said John Sigle of Carlisle. The workshop at Bosler Library will be hosted by the Braver Angels Lower Susquehanna Alliance from Lancaster.

A self-described political junkie for over 10 years, Sigle has written opinion columns for The Sentinel newspaper. Hes leading the local effort along with Myers, a fellow Sentinel columnist, and Ron Chadwell, a Lower Allen Township resident specially trained by Braver Angels to be a debate moderator.

Nobody denies the problem, Sigle said. Everybody agrees that we are very divided, very badly. We have turned into primarily two tribes. Theres a tendency to see the other  red or blue  as bad people. My experience is theyre not bad people. We live in different information realities.

Slanted viewpoints from media and social media outlets have reinforced the differences between the two sides, said Sigle, a blue. In fact, there are algorithms developed to make profit. Divisive items generate more interest. Its a big problem. There are forces at work that will make it even bigger.

Were hoping to expose and mitigate it, he said. There are families that cant get along because of this polarization. Friends have been lost. Its hard to conceive that our country could survive and prosper if we dont reduce this problem. If we cant relate to each other well enough to be civil and have intelligent discussions.

Methods

Braver Angels has developed workshops to teach people how to talk to those on the other end of the political spectrum. For example, Depolarizing Within focuses on methods each person can use to challenge the stereotypes they have of blues or reds along with ways to intervene when a person in your tribe demonizes broad swaths of people on the opposite side of the divide.

We hope to have participants who will go away from the workshop and tell their friends, Sigle said. They will tell their friends and people will join. We hope people will get involved both locally and nationally to strengthen the basic movement that were talking about here.

Part of the mission of Braver Angels is to bring the movement to college campuses. Sigle plans to meet with the leadership of Dickinson College and its program Dialogues Across Differences. One reason for the divide is a disconnect between the groups due to demographics, different social situations and ideological backgrounds.

I hardly know anybody whos red, Sigle said. Everybody I know is blue. Basically, I was a college professor, retired at this point. I attend a Unitarian Church. Im involved in local Democrats. My neighbors are all nice people. Im pretty sure that some of them are red. We havent talked much about politics.

Chadwell grew up in Waynesboro, Franklin County, a small town on the Maryland border.

There was a real sense of community, he said. They were great, down-to-earth people. My dad was one of two or three Democrats. They would have debates all the time. It was an ongoing thing. He would walk into the store for a little banter about politics. But that was it, they were the best of friends. They didnt carry it any further.

There was an unspoken rule in town. Never bring politics into church. The purpose there was fellowship and worship. Walk around, chuckle about politics all you want. Just keep it outside of church.

You could have serious discussions with no fear of losing a friend or having someone get angry at you, Chadwell said. Ive been a proponent of civility for a very long time. I was sitting at home with my wife watching CBS News Sunday Morning when a story came on about Better Angels.

It seemed a light bulb clicked on inside his head. Chadwell had to join. He had to get involved.

You cannot have a democracy without civil debate, he said. Good ideas can come from anywhere. If we focus on the ideas and the likely outcomes rather than on scoring political points every minute of the day, that can go a long way towards healing the problems in the country.

Aside from workshops, Braver Angels host debates where equal numbers of blue and red speakers are lined up to approach issues from a variety of angles, Chadwell said. The debates are structured around a parliamentary procedure where all the questions are asked of the chairperson and then posed to the panel of speakers and the audience, he said. This keeps the discourse focused on the topic and reduces the likelihood of personal attacks.

Braver Angels also use one-on-one conversations to get blues and reds to talk. In the case of Myers, a red, she signed up to be paired with a blue during two 90-minute sessions. The first session was designed to learn the basics about where each person was coming from. The second session involved Myers and her partner each picking a topic to discuss using a structured format that kept them on point.

Its very organized, so you dont go off on a tangent, Myers said. It was an eye-opener for both of us. She picked gun control. I picked abortion. It was just very nice to hear why she believed the way she did.

Before I used to think the blues were the enemy, she said. Now, I dont see it that way. I see them as just people who see solutions differently than I do. Thats it. I dont have any judgment on them as a person. Thats gone.
Although it is cold here, things are certainly heating up in Australia for our daughter Becky. They arrived at International Dairy Week three days before the showing began in order to settle all the milkers in after what was a seven-hour drive from the McGrath's farm.

I still feel it strange adjusting to the time difference, a few early morning or late night messages. Becky had a full team of animals to clip, but with six full days of showing, some of the clipping had to be left till show day. Sunday started early in Australia as Becky had two milkers to clip before she joined her teammates to compete in the youth challenge, which involves a team of four clipping and prepping a heifer in under 30 minutes and ready to be paraded.

The team also had to complete stock judging, a great experience for her as the youth challenge is also the Australian trials for those wishing to travel abroad.

Our alarm clocks were set for a 5am wakeup so we could watch the showmanship classes, Jessica Gavenlock taking up the judging of the classes in what is the Sheri Martin Memorial Showmanship.

Sheri was a huge supporter of young people wishing to show dairy stock and the showmanship in memory of her is considered a huge accolade to win.

The age categories differ somewhat to Ireland, while Becky is still considered an Intermediate handler in Australia, the age group is 15 to 18 years of age. We watched the livestream in anticipation with over 40 handlers making their way into the ring, a big class with the Australian heat topping 30 degree celsius adding an extra challenge for Becky.

As Jessica began to sort her class, Becky was in the top six on the first lineup, with such a big class it can be hard for any judge to place handlers and it takes time, as the top handlers were put through their paces, Becky was up to second.

When Izzy Laird judged Becky last summer, she commented that the girl never gives up and competes to the end of the class. True to form she set her heifer perfectly and kept an eagle eye on the judge, constantly adjusting the heifer, as Jessica went to tap her final lineup she gave Becky the nod and all of a sudden a young Irish girl was walking to top spot at IDW.

It was an unbelievably proud moment for us a, parents hearing the commentator call out the winner as "Becky Hynes from Ireland". 2023 was a huge year for us as a family in the show ring, but it seems Becky decided she would start 2024 even bigger.

As we video called Australia, team McGrath were celebrating with the clink of champagne glasses; they truly are a great family to show dairy stock for. We have become huge friends with Rachel, her mum, Anne, has great Irish roots. She is a woman who has seen the highs and lows of dairying and always has a positive frame of mind, she truly is a warrior who has battled life and taught her family great values, work hard and relish any success because it never comes easy.

As Rachel put down the champagne glass to lead the last cow into the clipping crate so Becky could finish clipping, Anne was talking up proud mum duties in my absence, and no doubt the whole of International Dairy Week now knows a 16-year-old Irish girl flew to Oz by herself to show the McGrath's heifers and cows and has started with big success in the ring.

As I am writing this, it will be bed early this evening as Becky is showing in eight classes on day two of IDW so we hope to watch most of them through the night on TV.

At home here on the farm, ground conditions were super for the reopening of slurry spreading, so we have been making progress in getting slatted tanks lowered in case the weather breaks in the near future.

Hopefully, this will allow some lower grass covers to grow between now and March. Fresh calvers have been out at grass by day; currently, they are getting seven hours daily at grass, but we will reduce this to three-hour breaks if the wet weather returns.

With the main calving season looming, easy days are numbered, so while we try to get some extra work done every day, we also try to make it our business to get home sharpish in the evenings before the late work nights return.

My main concern for 2024 is how fast the dairy processors will increase milk price, yes we have seen increases for December and January but with base prices still only hovering around 37c, the reality is the markets are delivering more so Irish processors are lagging behind by at least 2cpl.

The only way processors can remain efficient is through adequate supply and while intakes in November were 20% down on 2022, the reality is processors only have themselves to blame, they were lagging behind on milk price for months and farmers cannot be expected to work for free.

The reality is that Irish dairy processors need to decide before the middle of February if they want an adequate supply of milk in 2024. They need to set base price at the highest possible when they meet in February, and that needs to be a base of 40c. Cows need to be fed well in early lactating, and if the processors are not willing to pay a realistic price, then cows will not hit a high peak milk production, and stainless steel will lie idle in May and June.

Right across Europe, farmers are protesting; increased regulation frustrates them, but in simple terms, farmers cannot produce food for free, and Irish processors need to see that reality. As it stands, many hundreds of smaller dairy farms are yet again ceasing milk production this spring, and I have to wonder is sustainable Irish dairy farming content to see the demise of the family farm, which was globally recognised as a unique part of the Irish dairy industry?
The resumption of access for Irish beef exports to China has been announced.

Beef shipments to China had been suspended following the confirmation in November 2023 of an isolated case of atypical BSE in a cow.

This was detected by the Department of Agriculture's surveillance programme. It did not enter the feed or food chain and posed no risk to human health.

Atypical BSE occurs sporadically in all cattle populations at a very low rate and is not considered a public health risk.

Ireland is internationally recognised as having the lowest possible risk status for BSE.

The suspension of access to the Chinese market was entirely precautionary and in line with a protocol agreed with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

The resumption of exports follows high-level discussions between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday.

Effectiveness of controls

Making the announcement, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said: "Negotiating the resumption of beef access has been a top priority for me since the temporary suspension last November.

"Utilising relationships that have been developed over recent years, my department has engaged at diplomatic, political, and technical levels to provide the scientific and technical detail needed to reassure the Chinese authorities of the effectiveness of Irelands BSE controls.

These efforts culminated in the presentation of detailed epidemiological information to China in early December, and my department delivered a detailed presentation to GACC vice minister Li Kuiwen at a meeting in Dublin last month.

"Chinas decision to resume Irish beef imports on the same conditions as before represents a clear vote of confidence in Irelands food safety systems and in the output of its beef sector."

Developing trade

Minister of State Martin Heydon said that this is a "great result" for the Irish beef sector.

"It is a testament to Irelands food safety standards and the strong bilateral relations we have developed with Chinese counterparts," he said.

"We will continue to work with the Chinese authorities to maintain and enhance our access to the Chinese market for Irish food and drink and I look forward to further developing trade in the coming years."

Prices for farmers

Irish Farmers' Association president Francie Gorman has welcomed the announcement, but said that the renewal of access to this market "must be reflected in further price increases for farmers".

"We are always seeking access to as many markets as possible and the Chinese market offers very significant opportunities," Mr Gorman said.

"Given the nature of the case which brought about the suspension, there shouldnt have been any delay in regaining access.

"Beef farmers will hope the formalities are concluded as quickly as possible and that trade will resume."
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks are no strangers to a war drama about grit, resolve and brotherhood.

From the 1998 epic Saving Private Ryan, directed by Spielberg and starring Hanks, to the 2001 series Band of Brothers, which they created, and its 2010 companion piece The Pacific, which they produced, telling the story of a team of young soldiers protecting each other through thick and thin has been something of a collaborative theme for the industry legends.

Now, Spielberg and Hanks are returning to serve as executive producers on Masters Of The Air, an Apple TV+ series starring Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle and Barry Keoghan, which tells the story of the US Air Forces 100th Bomb Group, or Bloody Hundredth, during the Second World War  a companion piece to Band Of Brothers and The Pacific.

The 100th Bomb Groups unfortunate nickname was coined thanks to the heavy losses the unit incurred during combat, with 177 aircraft going missing in action.

While the tragedy is undoubtedly a huge part of the Hundredths story, Masters Of The Air tells a tale of brotherhood, determination, bravery and friendship, based on Donald L Millers book Masters Of The Air: Americas Bomber Boys Who Fought The Air War Against Nazi Germany.

I didnt know about any of the characters we were playing  and each day was a school day, says Irish actor Anthony Boyle, 29, who won an Olivier for originating the role of Scorpius Malfoy in the West End and Broadway productions of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child.

Reading the script was one layer, then reading the books that these men had written was another, and then stepping into their shoes and trying to really empathise and sympathise with what they were going through day to day, and what it was like to go up into the sky in those tin cans  a lot of work went into it.

Boyle plays navigator Major Harry Crosby in the series, working closely alongside Elvis star Austin Butler as pilot Major Gale Buck Cleven, Fantastic Beasts star Callum Turner as Major John Bucky Egan, and Saltburns Barry Keoghan as pilot Lt Curtis Biddick.

Biddick, Id like to say he brings that humour in these very extreme situations, especially when death is there, you know, says Dublin-born Keoghan, 31.

As an Irishman, we tend to bring the humour in a lot, to kind of soften it. So I think Biddick was that, (he) kind of eased a lot of stuff off, and brought that firecracker kind of thing into it.

When I first started reading the script, Id never seen anyone like Crosby in a war drama, says Boyle of the role he plays.

In the first few episodes, I feel like everyone was in Band Of Brothers and Crosby was in some like, comedy movie in the 80s. I was like: What is he doing? What is he going on about?

I found him so hilarious, and just such a beautiful soul.

Rafferty Law in Masters of the Air.

Joining the cast is Raff Law, son of actors Jude Law and Sadie Frost, as crew chief Sgt Ken Lemmons.

From day one theyre a very tight-knit, close group, says Law of the Hundredth.

And throughout the series, as some lives are lost and more people come in, it was interesting for me as the mechanic, who wasnt flying the missions, to understand how that relationship changes throughout.

The mechanics speak a lot about how they didnt want to give names to people, or get to know people so well, in case they werent going to come back, because it kind of humanised them even more.

Law says he found it rewarding representing the ground crew, and being able to show, possibly, a side that isnt always told and always seen.

These (are) guys who are working day and night, fixing the planes, doing their all to make sure that the guys could fly the missions, the heroes who are flying the missions  but theyre these people behind closed doors, he adds.

The series holistic approach to telling the story of the Hundredth was also pertinent for Nate Mann, who plays pilot Major Robert Rosenthal.

Theres a crew of 10 in every plane that goes up in the sky, and these were men plucked from all over the country, I mean, people whod never ordinarily cross paths are now taking one anothers lives in each others hands, says Licorice Pizzas Mann.

Theres a level of trust and, I think, love that ends up being so important, that wasnt only foundational to the war effort, but also, of course, an important part of our series.

Keoghan found this connection and trust to be a striking element, too, particularly in the scenes where the men are fighting in the air and have to rely on other forms of communication as its too loud to speak.

Connection is  youre in the cockpit, and for me, it was appreciating the moments that didnt have dialogue  trying to communicate what was going on, he says.

You know, a lot of stuff up there gets lost, its loud, and I felt that when we were filming it, as well. So connection is a big one for me, in terms of when we didnt speak.

Cast of Masters of the Air.

Filming those scenes in the air was intense for the cast, particularly as the films crew made it as visual and realistic as possible for them.

We had replica cockpits, several of them, and they would be on these hydraulic rigs 25 feet up in the air, Mann explains.

The rigs would move about in relation to a bunch of screens, like these 360 degree screens, and our visual effects team could actually place the incoming fighters, and we would see them, and then the hydraulic rig would move in relation  its all very, very visceral.

Which sounds like a lot of fun, but only when youve done it once or twice  it was like being on a continuous Alton Towers ride! adds Boyle.

It was quite a tight space, and youve gotta know every single switch around you  making it look organic up there was the trick, says Keoghan.

Youve got, I think, four or five layers on, and youre sweating, which kind of adds to it.

Its all within the eyes, Keoghan adds of the performance in those tense cockpit action scenes.

If you can convey whats going on through the eyes, I think youre doing a good thing.

But yeah, it was quite intense. Definitely quite intense.
Last october, the justice minister travelled to Limerick to open a new state of the art female prison.

The new unit, which could hold 56 inmates, replaced the continually overcrowded old unit, which had just 28 beds. It includes a mix of apartment-style units and a mother-and-baby unit, all with individual en-suites.

Speaking at the new unit on October 18, Helen McEntee said: These additional spaces are necessary to ensure that we have the sufficient space and facilities to support those committed to serve a custodial sentence in an environment that is safe and has the space and capacity to focus on rehabilitation.

However, within a month, the Limerick Female Prison was at full capacity. Numbers continued to grow and, as of December 15 last, there were 65 inmates for the 56 beds and, as of last Monday, there were 67 in custody.

In her visit, the minster also announced that 90 additional spaces had been built in Limerick Male Prison.

Prison figures show there were 210 spaces there on December 15, 2022  increasing to 286 a year later. But the number in custody also grew, from 230 to 324 over the same time period.

The trend reflects what is happening across the system. While six of the 12 closed prisons were over capacity in December 2022, nine were a year on.

The five most overcrowded are Limerick Female (116%), Limerick Male (113%), Cork Prison (111%), Mountjoy Female/Dochas (110%) and Midlands (109%).

The total capacity of the prison system has risen, from 99% a year ago to 105% in December 2023. The figure was 87% in 2017.

The accompanying graphic shows how the pressure on the prison system is mounting all the time.

Prison capacity has increased since 2017, with 229 more bed spaces (up 6%), mostly created in the last two years.

But the total number of prisoners in the system  including those in custody and those on temporary release (TR)  has increased by 34%.

The actual number in custody has risen by 28% and the number on TR has risen by 144%.

Prison insiders and advocacy groups all point to the same issues driving up numbers:

More court activity, with committals jumping from 6,133 in 2021 to 7,946 in 2023;

Longer sentences and new offences;

More people in prison on remand awaiting trial, increasing by around 50% since 2017, and many are on remand for longer;

More people being convicted for sex offences, which, the Irish Prison Service (IPS) said, is expected to increase further over the next three years;

Increase in female committals;

Evidence of an increase in people committed to prison with severe mental illnesses.

As of yesterday, there were 4,748 prisoners in custody, the highest since July 26 last when there was one more (4,749).

Estimates suggest the system could hit 5,000 by the middle of this year.

Last October, the Department of Justice said the minister intends to prioritise four additional short-term capital projects at Castlerea, Cloverhill, Midlands, and Mountjoy prisons, which could provide for a minimum of 620 additional people over the next five years.

The department said then that Ms McEntee was engaging with Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath with a view to progressing an agreed schedule of capital budgets.

It is understood that none of the projects have yet been approved.

New prison beds were opened last October, however within a month, the Limerick Female Prison was at full capacity. Picture: Dan Linehan

The Irish Penal Reform Trust said it flagged grave concerns over rising numbers in prisons almost a year ago.

Executive director Saoirse Brady said: The continued over-reliance on imprisonment in the courts means that the increase in the number of people in prison was predictable and it will continue to get worse.

She said community-based sanctions should be the default option for less serious offending, especially given that three out of four committals were for a sentence of 12 months or less.

Until meaningful measures are taken to stem the flow of people being sent to prison, we will continue to see overcrowding given the number of new offences coming onstream and increased court sittings.

She said the IPS annual report 2022 showed that the daily average number of women in custody across the two female prisons was already up 20% on the 2021 average.

Just months later these new spaces at Limerick are now full and the prison is overcapacity, Ms Brady said.

She said there was a worryingly high number of people on remand.

Ms Brady said they are particularly concerned about the renewed focus on prison expansion, saying it goes against established government policy.

She said the Government should concentrate on its own Review of Policy Options for Prisons and Penal Reform 2022-2024, published in August 2022, so community sanctions become the default option.

A spokesman for the IPS cited the significant capital funding the Government has provided, which has seen the opening of the two new units in Limerick Prison, and the Governments prison policy review 2022-2024.

The former Minister for Justice Simon Harris announced last April that he had brought a memo to Government outlining capacity issues in prisons  both in terms of the scale of the problem faced and how we might progress medium and longer-term solutions for it, he said.

Working with officials in the Department of Justice and the Prison Service, he said the Minister identified the capital projects in four existing prisons that could deliver over 400 prison spaces over the next five years.
Chinas second most powerful man has landed in Dublin as part of a brief diplomatic visit.

Li Qiang, the prime minister of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived on a Boeing 747 Max 8  the largest commercial aircraft to land at Dublin Airport.

He was presented with red roses by a Chinese official upon landing.

He was also greeted by Transport and Climate Minister Eamon Ryan and Irelands ambassador in Beijing Ann Derwin.

There was a heavy Garda presence at the airport for the visit.

Chinese statesman Li Qiang arrives at Dublin Airport for his two-day visit to Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Lis trip comes hours after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since President Xi Jinping in 2017.

The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite the strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some Western countries have also avoided using or criticised technologies linked to the Chinese state over security concerns: including TikTok and Hikvision, the latter of which manufactures CCTV cameras used in the Dail.

Mr Li is to meet with President Michael D Higgins on Wednesday morning before joining Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for a working lunch at Farmleigh House.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Varadkar said China is a very important political and economic power in the world.

So its important that we have good relations with China but also some questions we will need to talk about as well, the Taoiseach said.

Mr Varadkar did not elaborate on the questions or issues he will raise with Mr Li.

The Ireland-Asia think tank Asia Matters has said it is hoping the ban on beef exports to China will be on the table when the two leaders meet.

Beef exports from Ireland to China were suspended when a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) was discovered by Irish veterinary officials in November.
Emergency services attended the scene of a fire in Co Longford at a premises which had been due to house Ukrainian refugees.

It is understood about 80 Ukrainian refugees were to be housed in the convent in Lanesborough, although no official move-in date had been set.

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Fine Gael councillor Colm Murray said the fire began by the front door of the building, and another fire was started in the back of the premises.

Both fires were put out "in a matter of minutes", and left no lasting damage to the property, he said.

No injuries have been reported.

Mr Murray said a meeting had taken place on Tuesday with local councillors, council staff and the building owner "with regard to the development and what his plans are and to raise the concerns that they in the community had".

The building owner had agreed to hold a drop-in day over the next couple of weeks for members of the community to look at the plans for the building and voice their concerns on the situation.

However, Cllr Murray feels this incident will not change these plans that had already been put in place to inform the community.

"None of us, none of the local authority members condone this type of behaviour, regardless of whether it's a small incident or a big incident. If that had gone very wrong last night, half the town of Lanesborough could have been burned," he said.

The convent, which is an adjoining building, is situated in the middle of the town.

Gardai said a technical examination of the scene would take place.
A woman has told how she watched as her husband tried to resuscitate their 21-year-old daughter after she collapsed at home just hours after being discharged from University Hospital Limerick.

He kept saying 'stay with me, look at me', Melanie Sheehan Cleary told the High Court judge hearing her familys action against the HSE over the death of her eldest child, Eve, five years ago.

Eve Cleary (21), from Corbally, Limerick, died in the early hours of July 21, 2019, two days after she fell and hurt her leg and went to the A&E department of the Limerick Hospital and just hours after she had been discharged and told to go home and rest.

Eves mother told the judge after the ambulance arrived she remembered her daughter pulled down her oxygen mask and spoke to her.

She said 'Mam, I am so sorry' and she never got to finish it, she told Ms Justice Emily Egan.

Eve Cleary, 21, died in 2019 from a blood clot, just four hours after being discharged from UHL, where she had spent 17 hours on a trolley after a fall in Limerick city centre.

Eves dad, Barry Cleary along with his wife Melanie their daughters Kate, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Emma, and son Sean have sued the HSE over her death and also for mental distress.

Their counsel Dr John OMahony SC with Doireann OMahony BL opening the case at the Four Courts, said it was a profound and tragic case that would bring tears to a stone".

In evidence, Mrs Cleary said when her daughter went to the Limerick Hospital A&E after falling and hurting her leg on July 19, 2019, she was on a trolley in the corridor where there was a stench of urine.

She said the smell "took my breath away".

Eve, she said, used her hoodie as a blanket and Mrs Cleary put a jumper under her head.

She said dont leave me on my own and said her leg was searing like a poker, she told the judge.

She said her daughter's lower limb was "red and angry from her ankle up to her knee and there was a quite vicious swelling".

"It reminded me of a Christmas ham her leg was bulbous, she told the judge.

At one stage she said she put her hand on her daughter's leg and Eve told her not to do it because it was too painful.

She later got a bed and a scan and X-ray were clear. She was discharged from the hospital at 8.30pm on July 20 but collapsed at home over three hours later.

She was brought back to hospital by ambulance after she went into cardiac arrest and died before 2am on July 21, 2019.

It is claimed that Eve was allegedly allowed to develop a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and that an opportunity had been missed at the hospital to put her on the anticoagulant Heparin on admission.

The HSE accepts a formal risk assessment in relation to blood clots was not done but has denied all other claims.

The HSE, the court heard, does not accept the failure to carry out the risk assessment was a breach of duty as it was in accordance with the guidelines at the time.

It says the treatment and management of Eve Cleary was reasonable and appropriate.

The case continues.
DOUGLAS Court shopping centre has been sold for more than 21m to the OLeary family, formerly of Cork-based OLeary Insurances.

The sale will see a partnership of Anthony OLeary and his three sons, Nicholas, Robert and Olympian Peter, married to fellow-Olympian Derval ORourke, take over one of the most high-profile shopping destinations in Cork Citys suburbs.

Douglas Court Shopping Centre Picture: Denis Scannell

The new owners said they are delighted to take on the 59-unit centre as the family has deep business roots in Cork. As Anthony OLearys family home was on the nearby Rochestown Road, you could say he bought in his own back yard.

The sale of 160,000 sq ft (14,865 sq m) Douglas Court to a well-known local family marks a departure from a wider trend of foreign funds buying up landmark retail properties. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the OLeary family said they saw their acquisition as an opportunity to contribute to the community we hold dear and that they were looking forward to a new chapter for the shopping centre.

Our vision is to make Douglas Court Shopping Centre a destination that not only meets the needs of contemporary shoppers, but also serves as a catalyst for local business growth, Anthony OLeary said.

Anthony O'Leary Picture: Europhoto.

We are committed to enhancing the shopping experience, attracting new businesses, and ultimately creating a dynamic and thriving local retail destination," he added.

Mr OLeary sold the familys successful insurance business in December 2020 to B rown & Brown, the sixth largest independent broker in the US. Industry experts estimated the deal to be worth c100 million. Douglas Court, where the anchor tenant is Dunnes Stores, is an acquisition valued at 25m, according to its new owners. Industry sources indicated that it transacted (via agents Cushman & Wakefield) for in the order of 21.5m. Accounts filed by the vendors, Chandos Investments, valued it at 22.86m as of June 30, 2021. Chandos also own Blackpool Shopping Centre. Key tenants at Douglas Court include New Look, Kilkenny Design, Carraig Donn, Costa Coffee, OBriens Wines and Boots pharmacy. Tenants are unaffected by the sale.

Douglas village with Douglas Court shopping centre in the background Picture: Denis Scannell

Both Douglas Court, which is trading for more than 25 years, and Blackpool shopping centre, are former Love family/Shipton group assets, and its understood Clayton Love Jnr was involved in an advisory capacity in the latest deal. T he Love family has a retail development history in Cork dating back to the mid-1970s, when the original open mall Douglas Village Shopping Centre opened as Irelands second-ever shopping centre. It was bought last year in a c23m deal by the Tom Coughlan-led property investment firm Urban Green Private.

Douglas Village shopping centre

Mr Coughlan is also behind the Marina Market.

The OLeary family has enjoyed considerable business success over the decades, starting with Mr OLearys father, Archie, who founded OLeary Insurances in 1961. He was a colourful character who owned a number of racehorses, including Hennessy Gold Cup winner Florida Pearl, and he was also capped three times for Ireland at rugby. Archies father was the first to scale the flagpole at UCC, then Queens College, where he replaced the flag with a tricolour, while wearing an Irish kilt.
The Government has agreed "in principle" to purchase a disused hotel in Roscrea after clashes followed the change of use of the Racket Hall hotel to asylum seeker accommodation.

Fianna Fail TD for Tipperary Jackie Cahill said that he received assurances that the hotel would be purchased to cater for the community after locals cited the loss of the town's only hotel as a reason for a protest at Racket Hall.

The protest has lasted nearly a week and saw a man arrested after clashes with gardai on Monday.

The plan would see the State purchase the 24-bedroom former Grants Hotel in Roscrea town centre, which has been out of business since 2013.

Mr Cahill told the Irish Examiner that the plan was based on the Sliabh Beagh Hotel in Monaghan, the country's only community-owned and managed hotel.

He said that he had received assurances following a meeting with Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman.

This will be a great fillip for the commercial revitalisation of the town centre.

"It is an innovative solution and while it won't solve all the problems there, it will return a hotel to the town and it will be right there in the centre of town."

Mr Cahill said that the purchase was "a recognition that Roscrea has been asked to shoulder a lot" in terms of housing asylum seekers. The town has around 80% of all of the county's refugee intake, protesters have said.

Mr Cahill said that funding would be examined, but a Government source said that any purchase will not happen imminently.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that beef exports to China will resume, following a series of meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Mr Varadkar said: China is reopening its market to Irish beef, which is very positive and will be welcomed by farmers around the country and also the food industry.

The resumption of beef exports is to come into effect from today.

Speaking to reporters after the departure of Mr Qiang from Farmleigh House, the Taoiseach said: Theyve accepted our scientific data that the BSE case was an atypical case and that allows us to re-open that export market, which is important for Irish farmers, for the food industry because the more markets we have, the better price we get and the less risk of volatility as well.

Beef exports to China were initially suspended in November 2023 following an atypical case of BSE, which was picked up by the Department of Agriculture. However, the department said that the case did not enter either the food or feed chain.

The Chinese market had previously been suspended for three years after a BSE case was discovered in 2020, with the market only reopening in early 2023.

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said the Government had provided the technical and scientific data to Chinese authorities to reassure them of the atypical nature of the BSE case.

Chinas decision to resume Irish beef imports on the same conditions as before represents a clear vote of confidence in Irelands food safety systems and in the output of its beef sector, Mr McConalogue said in a statement welcoming the move.
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Chris Heaton-Harris has been accused of failing the people of Northern Ireland on the eve of what is expected to be the largest strike in the region in recent history.

An estimated 150,000 public sector workers from areas including health, education, police staff, transport, roads maintenance and civil servants will take part in the walkouts over a pay award.

There have been warnings of serious disruption due to services such as road gritting being withdrawn.

Schools will be closed and hospitals operating reduced services, while the Department for Infrastructure has advised against any unnecessary travel.

There are expected to be picket lines, parades and rallies across Northern Ireland, including at Belfast City Hall, the Guildhall Square in Derry, Omagh court house and Enniskillen town hall.

The Secretary of State had been urged to intervene and secure the funding for the pay awards in the absence of a functioning Stormont Assembly and executive, but he insisted that public sector pay is a devolved matter.

In December Mr Heaton-Harris offered the Stormont parties a 3.3 billion (3.8bn) package to stabilise finances in Northern Ireland, which included 600 million (697m) to settle public sector pay claims.

It will be available when the institutions are restored.

A last-ditch attempt to revive Stormont with an Assembly recall on Wednesday was not successful, with the DUP maintaining its position to not participate in devolved government until unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements are addressed.

Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) assistant general secretary Gerry Murphy said Mr Heaton-Harris strategy has failed.

Today in the house of Commons, Chris Heaton-Harris repeated the same discredited line he has held throughout this crisis, that fair pay for public servants is not his responsibility, but that of a restored NI Executive, he said.

File pic of Gerry Murphy, assistant general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). (PA)

The secretary of states strategy has clearly failed and it has failed the people of Northern Ireland.

The trade union movement have won the popular argument, as witnessed the support we have seen from womens groups, the voluntary sector, students unions, the 50 chief executives in the public sector, the PSNI Chief Constable and the head of the NICS and the public at large.

He said the strikes and rallies on Thursday will be demonstrations of industrial and public solidarity on a scale never seen before in this place.

Each industrial dispute has been mandated by the votes of trade union members, he said.

Every stage of this campaign for fair pay and better budgets from accountable local political institutions, has had the input of small and large trade unions.

We have worked with every political party to ensure that our message is clearly understood and our economic analysis is appreciated by all sides.

It only remains for Chris Heaton-Harris to do the decent thing and release the funds.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said a significant policing operation will be in place across the day, with a visible presence at parades and picket lines.

We are there to monitor crowds, minimise disruption and to keep everyone safe, she said.

A number of large parades are planned across the country including in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Fermanagh and Omagh.

We anticipate some traffic disruption in these areas and have issued guidance on our social media channels about the potential for delays.

I would encourage the public to check this guidance before they travel.

With the icy conditions and the disruption to gritting operations, I also want to highlight the advice recently issued by the Department of Infrastructure that people should avoid unnecessary travel.

If you do need to use the roads, please take extra care and allow additional time for your journey.

She added: I want to reassure the public that we have clear plans, command structures and highly capable officers in place across the country who have significant experience carrying out this type of public safety operation.

Kerry Fleck, vice president of the Belfast and District Trades Union Council, said 150,000 workers from 16 trade unions will take part in the strike action.

The significance of this moment should not be underestimated, she said.

Across Northern Ireland tomorrow we will see workers, as in many key moments in our history, set aside differences and stand together to say no more to the push back on rights, wages and terms and conditions; no more to the planned destruction of our public services; no more to food banks, hungry children and freezing homes.

Tomorrow it will again become clear that not a wheel turns or a light switches on without the intervention of a worker.

This is a crucial moment for a renewed trade union movement to demonstrate the power that lies in the hands of all working people and that unity and solidarity are how we win a better world and defend our collective interests.
LIKE many women of my generation on this island, I was educated by nuns.

It may seem counterintuitive  courageous, even  to admit that the Sisters of St Clare in Newry were the first feminists I met.

They encouraged us to be independent, critical thinkers and to take on our roles in society with confidence.

They never tired of telling us that education was the way out of poverty, ignorance, and conflict, an article of faith we clung to during the Troubles.

Any recognition of the achievements of the nuns is to risk derision or outrage.

This is because of the visceral and justifiable wrath that has raged for almost 30 years against the institutional response of the Catholic Church to the abuse scandals and its continued failure to take responsibility, at the highest levels, for the systemic cover-up of those abuses.

We are angry, still, at the pervasive and often malignant power the Catholic Church wielded over our lives.

That fallout is not without consequence: Pews are nearly empty, religious vocations are negligible, and the proportion of the Irish population who identify as Catholic fell from 79% in 2016 to 69% in 2022.

Faith in the institutional Church has been decimated, such that our Catholic identity is often reduced to the bouncy castle kind  attending weddings, funerals, and Holy Communions.

Faith still matters for many, but we are, arguably, a post-Catholic State, having voted for marriage equality and to repeal the Eighth Amendment.

But it was not so long ago that a large number of Irish families had at least one priest or nun in their midst.

Male and female religious werent the other. They were us. They are still us.

Twenty-five years or so after the abuse scandals, can Irish society hold two truths, the achievements of our women religious as well as the legacy of abuse?

Can we acknowledge that there is more to the nuns story than the terrible cruelties?

Can we distinguish the individuals we know and respect from the institutions of which they are members, orders that harmed women and children under their control and domination?

Convents were once ubiquitous in Irish towns and villages. From the early days of an impoverished, fledgling Irish State, the numbers of nuns and sisters swelled to a peak in the 1960s, with almost 14,000 women religious running most of our schools and hospitals.

Now there are barely 4,000, with an average age of at least 80 years old.

The nuns way of life  for better or worse  could be gone within 10 or 15 years. Are these the last nuns in Ireland?

The nuns story is not black and white. It is as complicated as it is current, as the ongoing, confidential negotiations with religious bodies that ran mother and baby homes, regarding financial contributions to the Governments latest 800m redress scheme, attest.

Journalist and author Dearbhail McDonald is presenter of The Last Nuns in Ireland

Offering a nuanced contribution of our women religious risks accusations that we are failing victims.

We cannot ignore the harrowing accounts of countless, courageous victims of clerical and institutional abuse.

The testimonies of women incarcerated in Magdalene laundries and mother and baby homes.

Women whose infants unidentified remains are soon to be excavated in Tuam, before being identified  if they can be identified  and returned to families for burial.

We cannot ignore the testimonies of women whose babies were adopted illegally, as well as women subjected to needless symphysiotomies and hysterectomies.

We also cannot ignore the contributions of women of faith who have contributed positively to society, at home, and overseas.

Women whose congregations established hospitals, schools, and social services at a time when the State could not.

We rightly celebrate women religious such as Sr Consilio and Sr Stan, who, to this day, valiantly attend the needs of the poor and marginalised.

Both the achievements of nuns and priests, as well as the legacy of abuse, exist. Neither can be erased or overlooked.

As well as a hard-fought peace on this island, the relationship between Church and State is the most significant part of our national story in the last century.

It is who we are, but critical pieces of the jigsaw are still missing.

Financial compensation and redress aside, reconciliation cannot take place unless the Catholic Church takes full accountability, beginning with the opening of its archives.

Without that public record, we cannot honour victims, nor can we fully understand Ireland in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Its not just the past: We need to understand our relationship with the Catholic Church to navigate those inevitable future flashpoints  especially in the areas of redress, land ownership, asset transfers, education, and healthcare.

The biggest barrier to moving forward remains the failure of the Church leadership to truly accept responsibility, as well as presiding over systems that, by design, covered up abuses and allowed them to continue.

If these really are the nuns and priests in Ireland, scrutiny and accountability cannot be allowed to wither on the vine.

Journalist and author Dearbhail McDonald is presenter of The Last Nuns in Ireland.
More than 100 civilians were killed by Russias missile and drone attacks across Ukraine during December, according to a UN report which said nearly 500 were injured.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraines report, published on Tuesday, said there was a 26.5% increase in civilian casualties last month  from 468 in November to 592 in December.

With some reports pending verification, it said the increase was likely higher.

Danielle Bell, who heads the UNs monitoring mission, said: Civilian casualties had been steadily decreasing in 2023, but the wave of attacks in late December and early January violently interrupted that trend.

A firefighter works to extinguish a fire after a Russian missile attack in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP)

The UN mission said it is verifying reports the missile and drone attacks that began hitting populated areas across Ukraine on December 29 and continued into early January killed 86 civilians and injured 416 others.

These attacks sow death and destruction on Ukraines civilians who have endured profound losses from Russias full-scale invasion for almost two years now, Ms Bell said.

The UN said the highest number of casualties occurred during attacks on December 29 and January 2 amid plummeting winter temperatures.

On January 4, it said, Russian missiles struck the small town of Pokrovsk and nearby village of Rivne close to the front lines, burying two families  six adults and five children  in the rubble of their homes. Some bodies have still not been found, it said.

In another attack on January 6, the blast wave from a Russian missile strike in Novomoskovsk injured 31 civilians, including eight passengers on a minibus that was destroyed during the morning commute, the UN said.

The confirmed number of civilians killed since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 2022 is more than 10,200, including 575 children, and the number of injured is more than 19,300, the UN humanitarian offices operations director Edem Wosornu told the UN Security Council last week.
Lawyers for former president Donald Trump have foreshadowed elements of their defence in the criminal case which charges him with illegally retaining classified documents.

The lawyers said in a motion filed on Tuesday that they will dispute prosecutors allegations that the estate where the records were stored was not secure.

The defence team also said in a wide-ranging court filing that they are seeking communication between the justice department prosecution team and associates of President Joe Biden in hopes of advancing their claims that the classified documents case is politically motivated and designed to harm Mr Trumps 2024 campaign.

The brief, which asks a judge to compel special counsel Jack Smiths team to turn over a trove of information, offers the most expansive view yet of potential lines of defence in one of the four criminal cases Mr Trump faces as he seeks to capture the Republican nomination and reclaim the White House.

It offers a blend of legal analysis and political bombast that has come to be expected in the Trump team motions.

Attorney general Merrick Garland (pictured) appointed Jack Smith as special counsel (Mariam Zuhaib/ AP File)

For instance, it references Mr Trumps record victory this week in the Iowa caucuses and decries the charges as partisan election interference  familiar statements from the ex-presidents lawyers that seem intended to appeal as much to voters on the campaign trail as to the judge presiding over the case.

Mr Trumps lawyers wrote: The special counsels office has disregarded basic discovery obligations and DOJ policies in an effort to support the Biden Administrations egregious efforts to weaponize the criminal justice system in pursuit of an objective that President Biden cannot achieve on the campaign trail: slowing down president Mr Trumps leading campaign in the 2024 presidential election.

Despite Mr Trumps repeated claims, there is no evidence of any coordination between the justice department and the White House, which has said it had no advance knowledge of the FBIs August 2022 search of Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate that recovered dozens of classified documents he had taken with him when he left the White House.

Attorney general Merrick Garland months later appointed Mr Smith as special counsel as a way to try to insulate the justice department from claims of political bias.

A spokesman for Mr Smith declined to comment on Tuesday night.

Prosecutors will have a chance to respond to the filing, and are likely to tell US district judge Aileen Cannon that much of the material defence lawyers are seeking is not relevant to the case.

A June 2023 indictment charging Mr Trump with dozens of felony counts alleges that investigators found boxes of sensitive documents recklessly stored at Mar-a-Lago in spaces including a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, his bedroom and a storage room.

Prosecutors have said the documents he stowed, refused to return and in some cases showed to visitors risked jeopardising not only relations with foreign nations but also the safety of troops and confidential sources.

But defence lawyers said in their motion that they intend to dispute allegations that Mar-a-Lago was not secure and that there was a risk that materials stored at those premises could be compromised.

They argued that prosecutors should be forced to disclose all information related to what they have previously described as temporary secure locations at Mar-a-Lago and other Trump properties.

They contended that such evidence would refute prosecutors allegations because the US Secret Service took steps to secure the residences and made arrangements for him to review and discuss classified information.

Mr Trumps lawyers also referenced what they said was an energy department action in June, after the charges were filed, to retroactively terminate a security clearance for the former president.

They demanded more information about that, saying evidence of a post-presidential possession of a security clearance was relevant for potential arguments of good-faith and non-criminal states of mind relating to possession of classified materials.

The case is currently scheduled for trial on May 20, but that date may be pushed back.
Two British brothers have been jailed for stealing Ming Dynasty artefacts worth around 3m (3.48m) from a Swiss museum.

Louis and Stewart Ahearne, from Greenwich, south London, confessed to stealing two Chinese Ming Dynasty vases and a cup from the Baur Foundation, Museum of Far Eastern Arts in Geneva on the night of June 1 2019.

On Tuesday, the brothers were each sentenced to three years and six months in prison at a court in Geneva.

Swiss authorities said the men were wearing masks and gloves when they broke into the museum by smashing a pane on the front door before shattering a display case and leaving with the items, believed to be from the 15th century and valued at 2,870,000 (3,329,000)

Louis Ahearne (Met Police)

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, who led the investigation, said: The Ahearne brothers meticulously planned this burglary, carrying out careful reconnaissance to ensure they could make a clean getaway and bring the items back to the UK.

They naively believed that having fled the country they had escaped punishment, but they did not bank on the fact we would work so closely with our Swiss counterparts to identify those involved.

Organised crime often crosses international boundaries and as this result shows, we will use all of the powers at our disposal to identify and arrest those involved in committing these types of offences.

Stewart Ahearne (Met Police)

DNA from the scene matched Stewart Ahearne, 45, who was living in south-east London, when shared by officers in Switzerland on the international database.

They also identified the registration plates on a car leaving the scene and discovered it had been hired days before the burglary.

Inquiries with the hire car company revealed Stewart collected it at the airport, and it was then used to drive the stolen goods back into the UK.

CCTV images implicated Louis, 35.

The first joint investigation team of its kind between the UK and Switzerland law enforcement was set up to easily share information, the Metropolitan Police said.

The Met set up an undercover sting, posing as art buyers and arranging to meet the gang at a central London hotel.

A cup stolen by Louis and Stewart Ahearne (Met Police)

Stewart and his co-conspirator Mbaki Nhkwa handed the vase to the undercover officers in exchange for 450,000 (522,000), and were promptly arrested.

The Ahearnes were extradited to Switzerland and pleaded guilty there on January 15.

Their sentences will be served in Switzerland and once released they will be banned from entering the country for five years.

They were also ordered to each pay 52,261 Swiss Francs.

Nkhkwa, David Lamming and Kaine Wright, were all previously sentenced for possession of criminal property for their role in the attempted sale of the vase in London.

A reward of up to 10,000 (11,600) is on offer for information leading to the recovery of the doucai style Ming Dynasty wine cup, which remains missing, and features chickens on its side.

Anyone with knowledge of its whereabouts is asked to call police on 101 and reference Operation Funsea, or call Crimestoppers.
Donald Trump has been told to keep his voice down in court after writer E Jean Carrolls lawyer said the former president was grumbling loudly to his attorneys as she described how he shattered her reputation after she accused him of sexual abuse.

Carroll lawyer Shawn Crowley told Judge Lewis A Kaplan that Trump could be heard loudly saying things that are false as he sat at the defence table, frequently tilting back in his chair and leaning over to talk with lawyers Alina Habba and Michael Madaio.

Among his comments, Ms Crowley said, were that the long-time Elle magazine advice columnist was lying about the assault and that she seemed to have gotten her memory back.

E Jean Carroll, Mr Trumps accuser (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP)

The lawyer suggested that if Ms Carrolls lawyers could hear Trump from where they were sitting, about 12ft away, then jurors might have been able to hear him as well.

Im just going to ask Mr Trump to take special care to keep his voice down when conferring with counsel to make sure the jury does not hear it, Judge Kaplan said before jurors returned to the courtroom after a morning break.

Earlier, without the jury in the courtroom, Trump slammed his hand on the defence table when the judge again refused his lawyers request that the trial be suspended on Thursday so the ex-president could attend his mother-in-laws funeral in Florida.

Ms Carroll, 80, was the first witness in a Manhattan federal court trial to determine any damages owed by Trump for remarks he made while he was president in June 2019. He denied attacking her or even knowing her.

A jury last year found that Trump sexually abused her in 1996 and defamed her when he made a round of denials in October 2022.

The judge has put limitations on the trial in light of the previous verdict and prior rulings he made restricting the infusion of political talk into the proceedings.

Ms Habba raised multiple objections seeking to prevent the jury from hearing details of Ms Carrolls sexual assault allegations.

Ive paid just about as dearly as its possible to pay, the writer said, referencing the damage she said Trump had caused to her reputation.

She said Trumps vitriol toward her has not ceased, pointing to multiple social media posts he had made about her in recent days, and that his rhetoric continues to inspire venom against her from strangers because she claimed he sexually abused her decades ago.

He lied last month. He lied on Sunday. He lied yesterday. And I am here to get my reputation back, Ms Carroll said.

She said she opened a social media website on Tuesday and saw a post that said: Hey lady, youre a fraud.

She went into the witness box after a hostile encounter between Ms Habba and Judge Kaplan  culminating in Trumps desk slam  over the judges refusal to adjourn the trial on Thursday so Trump could attend the funeral for former first lady Melania Trumps mother, Amalija Knavs, who died last week.

Ms Habba called the judges ruling insanely prejudicial but he cut her off, saying he would hear no further argument on it. She told the judge: I will not be spoken to that way, your honour.

When she mentioned the funeral again, the judge responded: Its denied. Sit down. Bring in the jury.

Ms Carrolls evidence came less than a year after she was in the same chair aiming to convince a jury that Trump could be held accountable in a way that would stop him from frequent verbal attacks against her as he campaigns for the presidency. He is the front-runner on the Republican ticket.

Im here because Donald Trump assaulted me and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened. He lied and shattered my reputation, she said.

She said that once she was a respected advice columnist.

Now, Im known as the liar, the fraud and the whack job.

Because the first jury found that Trump sexually abused Ms Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her in 2022, the new trial concerns only how much more  if anything  he will be ordered to pay her for other remarks he made in 2019 while he was president.

Trump, who is juggling court appearances with campaign stops, sat in on jury selection on Tuesday. Before opening statements began, he left for a rally in New Hampshire.

He wrote on social media on Tuesday that the case was nothing but fabricated lies and political shenanigans which had garnered his accuser money and fame.

Donald Trump in court with his lawyer Alina Habba (Elizabeth Williams/AP)

I am the only one injured by this attempted EXTORTION, read a post on his Truth Social platform.

Ms Carroll claims he forced himself on her in a dressing room after a chance meeting at a luxury department store in 1996. Then he publicly impugned her honesty, her motives and her sanity after she told the story publicly in a 2019 memoir.

She has maintained she lost millions of readers and her longtime post at Elle magazine, where her Ask E Jean advice column ran for over a quarter of a century, because of her allegations and Trumps reaction to them. Elle has said her contract was not renewed for unrelated reasons.

Trump claims nothing happened between him and Ms Carroll and that he had never met her. He says a 1987 party photo of them and their then-spouses doesnt count because it was a momentary greeting.
A shipment of medicine for dozens of hostages held by Hamas has arrived in Gaza after France and Qatar mediated the first agreement between Israel and the militant group since a week-long ceasefire in November.

Qatars Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, announced late on Wednesday that the shipment had crossed into Gaza, without saying whether the medicine had been distributed.

A senior Hamas official said that for every box provided for the hostages, 1,000 boxes of medicine would be sent in for Palestinians. The deal also includes humanitarian aid for residents of the besieged coastal enclave.

The agreement came more than 100 days into a conflict that shows no sign of ending and has sparked tensions across the Middle East, with an array of strikes and counter-strikes in recent days from northern Iraq to the Red Sea and from southern Lebanon to Pakistan.

An Israeli tank near the Gaza border (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Palestinian militants are still putting up resistance across Gaza in the face of one of the deadliest military campaigns in recent history. Some 85% of the narrow coastal territorys 2.3 million people have fled their homes, and the United Nations says a quarter of the population is starving.

Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas to ensure it can never repeat an attack like the one on October 7 that triggered the war. Militants burst through Israels border defences and stormed through several communities, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing around 250.

Israel also has promised to win the return of more than 100 hostages still held inside Gaza. Hamas in late November released most of the women and children held captive in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

Hamas has said it will not release any more hostages until there is a permanent ceasefire, something Israel and the US, its top ally, have ruled out.

In the past few days:  A US-led coalition has carried out strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen;

 Iran has struck what it described as an Israeli spy headquarters in northern Iraq and anti-Iran militants in Pakistan and Syria;

 Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah escalated the intensity of their fighting across the border.

The scene after an Israeli strike in Rafah (Fatima Shbair/AP)

Irans militant allies across the region say they are striking US and Israeli targets to pressure the two countries to halt the Gaza offensive. Tehran has encouraged the attacks while avoiding direct involvement, but it appeared to be flexing its muscles with the strikes in Syria and Pakistan.

The Houthis have vowed to continue attacking international shipping in the Red Sea in what they say is a blockade of Israel, with repercussions for global trade.

Tensions are also soaring in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have conducted near-daily arrest raids that often trigger shootouts with Palestinian militants.

Israeli forces killed at least 10 Palestinians on Wednesday in the West Bank, including five in the urban Balata refugee camp in the north, the military said. Among that group was a senior militant whom the military said was involved in recent attacks against Israelis.

Five Palestinians were also killed in an Israeli strike in Tulkarem, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The military said it targeted a group of militants who had opened fire and were throwing explosives at Israeli soldiers.

More than 360 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 7.

A Palestinian woman flashes a V-sign towards Israeli troops during an army raid in the Tulkarem refugee camp on the West Bank (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Israel said at the start of the year that it had largely defeated Hamas in northern Gaza and would scale back operations there, focusing on dense urban areas in the centre and south of the territory. Additional Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza on Monday, but there has been little apparent let-up in strikes, with scores of Palestinians killed every day.

Gazas Health Ministry said on Wednesday that 163 bodies had been brought to the territorys remaining functioning hospitals in the past 24 hours, as well as 350 wounded people.

The update brought the wars overall death toll in Gaza to 24,448, with more than 60,000 wounded. The ministry said many other dead and wounded are trapped under rubble or unreachable because of the fighting.

Israel blames the high civilian death toll on Hamas because it fights in dense residential areas. Israel says its forces have killed roughly 9,000 militants, without providing evidence, and that 192 of its own soldiers have been killed since the Gaza ground offensive began.

Militants are still fighting in all parts of the territory, and Israel appears no closer to freeing the remaining hostages. The deaths of two more hostages were confirmed on Tuesday after Hamas said they were killed in Israeli air strikes.
A second ex-auxiliary deputy has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds in the alleged badges-for-bribes scheme under the previous administration at the Culpeper County Sheriffs Office.

James Metcalf of Manassas, in a plea agreement Jan. 10 with federal prosecutors, admitted to paying former Culpeper Sheriff Scott Jenkins $5,000 in 2022 in exchange for being appointed a volunteer deputy and given a badge.

The maximum penalty in the case against Metcalf is a fine of $250,000 and a 10-year prison term, according to court documents. He is the owner of Yona Systems Group in McLean.

Washington, D.C., defense attorney Timothy D. Belevetz is representing Metcalf. He declined comment on Thursday. Metcalf agreed to cooperate against remaining defendants, including Jenkins, NBC4 Washingtons Ted Oberg originally reported Wednesday of the new plea deal.

A June 2023 indictment, following an FBI wiretap, investigation and seizure of campaign funds, charged Jenkins, Metcalf and two other Northern Virginia businessman in the alleged bribery. The indictment alleges the businessmen donated to the sheriffs reelection campaign in exchange for being sworn in as auxiliary deputies.

Metcalf was charged in the June indictment with conspiracy, honest-services wire fraud and two counts of federal programs bribery.

Jenkins, who came in third in the November election, has maintained his innocence. The former sheriff has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, four counts of honest-services mail and wire fraud and eight counts of federal programs bribery. Jenkins is awaiting trial this spring.

Metcalf showed initial interest in the alleged badges-for-bribes scheme in 2019 with an email to another businessperson, from Prince William County: I am ready to pop a little cash on somebody and get a badge brother will talk about that at lunch, the email from Metcalf said, according to the indictment.

In or around late 2021 to early 2022, Jenkins, who served three terms in office, reached out to the Prince William businessman about building his war chest for his 2023 reelection campaign, according to the indictment.

They agreed the Prince William businessman would recruit individuals to make payments to the sheriff and the sheriff would appoint them auxiliaries, according to the indictment. The businessman allegedly contacted Metcalf in August 2022 and told him he could get a badge for $5,000.

Jenkins appointed Metcalf on Sept. 6, 2022, and the next day Metcalf came to Culpeper to have lunch with the sheriff and the businessman who recruited him, according to the indictment.

After lunch, Metcalf handed Jenkins a white envelope containing a $5,000 check from his company, Yona Systems Group, made payable to Scott Jenkins for Sheriff, the indictment says. He went with the businessman to be sworn in that day in the Culpeper County Circuit Court Clerks Office.

As they drove there, Metcalf said he could recruit additional pay-to-play guys to make donations to the sheriff in exchange for becoming auxiliary deputies, according to the indictment. Look, I, you heard me say it. I respect what his, I understand what the engine is, I understand how this works. You dont just get money cause you clap your hands.

Back at the sheriffs office, Jenkins gave Metcalf a badge, the indictment says. The Prince William businessman told the sheriff he had other guys willing to make $10,000 donations.

Sounds good to me, the sheriff said, according to the indictment.

Jenkins suggested the donors make payments to his relatives versus directly to his campaign account if they didnt want their businesses and things tied.

New Culpeper Sheriff Tim Chilton has disbanded the agencys auxiliary deputy program and is attempting to retrieve all the guns, badges, uniforms and vehicles assigned during the Jenkins administration.

In November, Fairfax businessman Frederic Gumbinner also pleaded guilty to one count of bribery in the alleged scheme with the former Culpeper sheriff. He was indicted in June on four charges: conspiracy, honest-services wire fraud and two counts of federal programs bribery.

Also charged in the June indictment was former auxiliary deputy Rick Rahim, a Great Falls businessman. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, three counts of honest-services mail and wire fraud and three counts of federal programs bribery.

Rahim was additionally charged in November with tax evasion in a separate case.

U.S. attorneys in the statement issued last summer announcing the indictments noted, if convicted, each defendant faced up to five years in prison on the conspiracy count, up to 20 years in prison on each of the honest-services mail and wire fraud counts and up to 10 years in prison on each of the federal programs bribery counts.

A jury trial in the case for defendants not accepting plea deals is scheduled for May 13-24, in Charlottesville, before Senior Judge Norman Moon.
Wednesday, Jan 17th, 2024 (11:00 am) - Score 10,600

The CMO of full fibre operator CityFibre, Dan Ramsay, has today told the CEO of ISP Zen Internet, as part of a new interview, that they expect that the c.100 alternative broadband networks in the UK market today to eventually become one single operator. Ramsay separately denied that there had ever been talks of a merger with Virgin Media (VMO2).

In case anybody has forgotten, CityFibre currently hold an ambition to deploy their 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network to cover up to 8 million UK premises (funded by c.2.4bn in equity and c.4.9bn debt)  across over 285 cities, towns and villages (c.30% of the UK)  by the end of 2025 (here).

NOTE: CityFibre is owned by Antin Infrastructure Partners, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Mubadala Investment Company and Interogo Holding.

The operator has already passed over 3 million UK homes (Ready for Service) and has an overall build footprint of 3.37m (i.e. not all areas are live via an ISP yet). But CityFibre, not unlike a fair few other operators, has also had a challenging year that saw a sizeable number of job losses (here) and a worrying number of build suspensions due to issues with contractors like Kier Group, Telec etc. (examples here, here).

Despite this, the provider remains optimistic about the future and has previously acknowledged that Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) may need to play a big role in their growth if theyre to hit their current coverage target. In that sense, CityFibre sees themselves more as being a consolidator than one of the consolidated, which todays interview piece reiterates.

At this point its worth reminding readers that CityFibre, at least for a brief period last March 2023, became the subject of much speculation after a report in the Telegraph (paywall) claimed (here) that VMO2 had held initial talks over the possibility of mounting a 3bn takeover bid for the AltNet.

The paper suggested the discussions involved Mike Fries, CEO of VMO2s co-parent company Liberty Global, and the CEO of CityFibre, Greg Mesch. But the high level of pre-existing overbuild between the two, as well as possible regulatory concerns, always made such a deal seem, at best, difficult to achieve and Dan Ramsay has now put a lid on it.

You know better than to believe everything you read in the press, I wouldnt believe that story at all either. We werent in active conversations with VMO2 at that stage at all, and so theres no grounding to that, said Ramsay in the new interview. In fairness though, the newspaper did say the talks involved Liberty Globals boss, not VMO2 or even nexfibre itself, and there may well have been informal chats (i.e. not official). But either way, nothing ever came of this.

Speaking of overbuild between rival networks, Ramsay added that they actively try to avoid overbuilding other altnets for obvious reasons, thats not good for them or for us. We are about 70% not overbuilt today, although this figure would be quite different if they were also factoring in Openreach and Virgin Media. Likewise, its worth remembering that CityFibre cant stop other AltNets that do choose to overbuild them.

Ramsay added that there are good sides to overbuild as well  that is choice and competitiveness in the market, which ultimately is good for UK plc. So its a bit more nuanced than overbuild or not, its more about the type of overbuild, the timing and how it plays out, thats probably the challenge for us.

Speaking of consolidation, Ramsay appeared to agree with Richard Tang that, over the next c.3-5 years, the alternative network provider market would probably end up being whittled down from c.100 players today to just 1, with CityFibre itself leading the consolidation charge. We wont end up at the end of this with Openreach, Virgin Media plus five others. We will end up with probably three, I think, because in most mature markets thats what you tend to see, said Ramsay.

In our view it will take a lot longer to reach such an outcome and, even then, the market may well have 3 or possibly 4-5 large / large-ish players, but there will still be other smaller fish in the sea, much as there always has been. For example, operators like B4RN are community benefit societies and likely to remain independent, with other operators also filling niches that may not bring much benefit or attraction to the largest players via consolidation.

Similarly, there will be some AltNets where, due to pre-existing overbuild, complexity / cost of integration, leadership decisions or a combination of other factors, it wouldnt make much economic sense for the biggest players to consolidate them into their own networks. In that sense we still expect to be seeing a patchwork of large, medium and small sized networks surviving past the 5-year mark, albeit somewhat fewer than the 100+ we see today. But for some of those very same reasons, CityFibre may also find it difficult to consolidate their way toward achieving their current build target by the end of 2025.

You can check out Richards interview series here, and well paste the latest video below.
A Madison County man is facing life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in connection to the fatal shooting of man in a gated community on the shores of Lake Louisa last May. The crime, described as a bloody execution, was captured on a nearby dashcam.

Three weeks before he was to face a jury, 37-year-old David Allen Branham pleaded guilty to both first-degree murder and using a firearm in commission of a felony.

Branham stood accused of ambushing 29-year-old Louisa County resident Alex Daniel Brown in front of his loved ones and brutally killing him on the streets of the Blue Ridge Shores gated community on May 9.

This was a tragedy that will scar many for the rest of their life," Louisa County Commonwealths Attorney Rusty McGuire said in a statement announcing Branham's conviction. "From the three children who will grow up without their father, to Alexs mother, girlfriend, and stepfather who witnessed the murder, and the numerous neighbors, litigants, and workers who witnessed this heinous crime and will carry this trauma because of the defendants callous actions."

The trouble, McGuire said, started earlier last year.

Brown's ex-wife had been living with Branham.

"Last spring Alex Browns ex-wife called him to tell him she was moving out of Branhams house and asked Alex to take full-time custody of their children," McGuire wrote. "She indicated things were too toxic with the defendant."

That decision led to a custody hearing set for May 9 in Madison County's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

However, at 4:30 that morning, Branham was caught on camera attempting to purchase a firearm without obtaining a government record at a 7-Eleven convenience store, according to McGuire. Next, McGuire alleged, Branham sent Brown a series of messages.

"He sent threatening texts to Alex telling him to be careful coming to court today," McGuire wrote.

Brown's ex-wife, as well as attorneys in the custody case, saw the messages at the courthouse and confronted Branham, who then left before the hearing began, according to McGuire.

"Branham went home and grabbed a shotgun and a box of shells and drove to a gated community in Louisa County where Alexs mother lived," McGuire wrote. "He accessed the neighborhood without an access card by closely trailing behind an authorized vehicle."

According to the timestamp on surveillance footage from a gate at Blue Ridge Shores, it was 3:10 p.m. when an older-model, black pickup truck slid past the control gate behind another vehicle.

"The victim arrived at the community nine minutes later," McGuire wrote. "The defendant was waiting when the victim arrived at his moms house."

Branham was witnessed firing three times into a car that had Brown and two other women inside. Brown was hit by at least one shotgun blast.

"Alex jumped out and ran inside bleeding," McGuire wrote. "The defendant followed him into the residence and shot again."

"Alex managed to flee the house and ran down the street," McGuire continued, "with the defendant trailing him, reloading and continuing to fire."

Brown ran for his life along Lakeshore Drive to the front door of another house. As the wounded man desperately pounded on the front door, a nearby volunteer firefighter drove in the direction of the screams and gunshots.

"He made it to the scene for the final shots which were caught on video from his dashcam," McGuire wrote. "He heard the victim screaming for help before the defendant executed him while shouting profanities."

The court record shows that Branham was initially charged with second-degree murder, but the charge was upgraded to first-degree murder by a grand jury in July. With his guilty plea, Branham saw other charges dropped, including armed burglary, shooting at a vehicle and shooting into a residence.

McGuire said that he was thankful for the Louisa residents who contacted authorities the day of May 9. The rapid collection of surveillance footage was able to seal the case, he said.

"We are thankful that technology played a major hand in resolving this case," McGuire wrote. "Everything the witnesses told the Commonwealth was corroborated by video or forensic evidence."

Branham's sentencing has been set for April 13 with the possibility of life plus three years in prison.
Wednesday, Jan 17th, 2024 (10:22 am) - Score 1,000

Network testing and benchmarking firm MedUX has today published new research, which examines the performance and quality of 5G (mobile broadband) networks  including EE (BT), O2 (VMO2), Vodafone and Three UK  across London. The results indicate that EE is leading the pack in most areas, at least in the UKs capital.

The new analysis is said to be based on a robust methodology involving 88,311 radio samples and 11,833 tests conducted in Q3 2023, which evaluated the performance of all four primary Mobile Network Operators (MNO) across various elements essential to 5G service quality and how they cover the UKs capital. The 5G QoE Benchmarking Report for London then produces an overall QoE score, measuring a combination of availability, accessibility, speed (broadband), streaming, data and OTT (over-the-top) experience results.

Overall, EE provided the highest 5G registration rate (92% of time) and the most consistent experience (99.6% service reliability), leading in areas like accessibility, web navigation, gaming and video streaming. The operator was subject to 22,709 radio samples and 3,040 tests to its network, with findings highlighting customers will experience an excellent overall quality, fast loading of video content, fast time-to-content in social media and OTT services, commendable gaming experiences, and fast download speeds (achieving speeds of up to 800Mbps).

In terms of speeds, Vodafone secured the lead in 5G download speed, with an 87% value for speed score, narrowly outperforming EE by around 2%. But Three UK shone in upload performance (UL), achieving a remarkable maximum speed of 157Mbps. Finally, O2 just about managed to come top for having the most reliable DNS resolution service, albeit sharing a 92% DNS score with Three UK.

However, MedUX is also compiling a broader report at a European level (due to be available in the first half of February), which preliminarily shows London as having one of the worst overall experiences when compared to its European counterparts. But for now we only get a very limited overview of take-up.
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A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
More and more these days, local governments are saying thanks but no thanks to the big arrays of solar panels that are key to Virginias move to a clean energy future.

Its a growing concern in a state where theres a now-four-year-old law that says Dominion Energy must have 16,100 megawatts of solar facilities tied into its grid  enough to power more than 4 million homes  by 2035. Dominion currently has about 1,600 megawatts of solar facilities.

Youve got to do something to get there, said state Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax, who as the newly appointed chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources committee said finding a comprehensive answer to the challenge of finding sites for solar facilities will be a major focus this year.

Either you have a real policy or you just have a bright shiny thing you can take out and admire without doing anything about it, he said.

Its an issue that can pit rural Virginians against urban and suburban neighbors, because solar farms can take up a lot of space  hundreds of acres for some of the biggest  and there is more so far unbuilt-upon acreage in rural Virginia than in cities and suburbs, Marsden said.

As part of a package of bills aimed at speeding up Virginias move to reduce fossil fuel use, Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, is proposing in House Bill 636. It would let the state step in to approve sites for solar facilities if local officials dont act in a timely way on a request to install them.

Even if local governments in rural Virginia, with their limited streams of property and business taxes, like the idea of the additional tax revenue a solar facility could bring, they dont like flouting voters who are have been saying they dont want to look at a field full of solar panels, that theyre worried that rainwater running off the panels will pollute streams and groundwater, that the facilities will destroy the rural nature of their communities.

Residents' objections

Theyre saying quite loudly: Not In My Back Yard.

Weve put all kinds of money into the house to make it our home, our oasis, Prince George County resident Michelle Coker told the county's supervisors last month, as they considered and eventually rejected a 100-megawatt facility that RWE wanted to erect on 506 acres of a 1,295 acre site.

I currently work from home, so this eyesore will be at my back door every day, she said, adding that she has cancer and will soon be unable to travel from home. Thats all well see. It will be solar farms next to us  please keep it rural.

County resident Chris Brooks told the supervisors: These solar farms do not benefit our properties in any way, saying he has three properties in three counties all within a mile of solar farms. The value of those properties has declined, and the buffers do not block the sight of them.

What about the long-term effect of these panels after 30 years  what about wildlife in these areas  these solar farms do not provide power direct to Prince George, it is sent upstream and then sold," he said.

It can take years to get a solar facility approved  RWE started development work on the Prince George project in 2017.

In Madison County, the board rejected a solar facility proposed for 59 acres of a 92-acre site in July.

Fauquier County supervisors in August pulled the plug on Torch Clean Energys proposal for an 80-megawatt, utility-scale solar farm, dubbed the Sowego Energy Facility, deciding it is not in accordance with the countys Comprehensive Plan.

Mecklenburg County supervisors last year did the same with a proposed 90-megawatt project proposed for more than 1,000 acres, arguing that it would remove nearly 490 acres of farmland while runoff would send dirt and mud into nearly Allen creek and from there to Lake Gaston, contaminating water that local cattle ranchers use to water their animals.

In Dinwiddie County, Energix Renewables second effort to win a greenlight for its Lily Pond solar facility, to be built on 500 acres of a 1,900-acre tract, ran into such strong local opposition that it withdrew its bid for supervisors approval in June. It is trying again, with a revised proposal slated for the county planning commissions review next month.

Sullivans bill sets timelines for various steps a locality would take in considering a large solar, wind or battery project if that locality has an existing ordinance allowing such facilities and setting standards for them.

If the locality cannot act in a timely manner, the bill would allow the State Corporation Commission to review and decide whether to approve the project.

The commission could also step in if the local government rejects a project that complies with State Corporation Commission requirements for its approval of a project.

In addition, it could if the locality enacts a zoning or land use ordinance after a renewable energy developer first proposes a project.

The Virginia Association of Counties opposes the bill.

The group argues that local review and approval of utility-scale solar, wind and battery storage projects is necessary to make sure they fit the locality's land use objectives.

The state should not usurp local authority to make that decision, the association said.

Greg Habeeb, a lobbyist how represents solar interests, said the bill is an effort to find a balance between the state's renewable energy goals and local authority.

"This is not about preemption," he said.

Along with the bill, Sullivan is proposing measures to facilitate more shared solar facilities  the kind of facility that an apartment or condominium community might set up. Here, hes proposing that the bills customers pay would reflect their actual use  reduced because of what they receive from the solar panels  as well as the basic cost of being connected to the system. Current law says the minimum bill has to include the costs of all utility infrastructure and services used to provide electric service.

Hes also proposing measures that say data centers  major energy users  cant get a promised sales tax break unless they can procure energy that does not create carbon emissions equal to 90% of their electricity use. Dominion says the energy demands from data centers mean it will need to keep operating gas-fired plants

Another bill would create an Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund to assist private developers with non-utility costs associated with the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.

Yet another would levy a daily charge of 33 cents per kilowatt hour on electric companies if they take too long to process requests for interconnections where a customers own renewable generators  solar panels on a roof, or a wind turbine, for example  require the utility to track how much electricity from the customers facilities flows into the grid where others can tap it.

After four years, were finding where the pinch points are, said Sullivan, who sponsored the 2020 Virginia Clean Energy Act, which commits electric utilities to stop burning fossil fuels and emitting carbon as they generate electricity.

Weve got state goals and we need to think as a state about how we get there.
Committee on Academic Freedom of the Middle East Studies Association seeks to foster the free exchange of knowledge as a human right and to inhibit infringements on that right by government restrictions on scholars. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provide the principal standards by which human rights violations are identified today. Those rights include the right to education and work, freedom of movement and residence, and freedom of association and assembly.
Berkeley, CA (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  Much of the media conversation about the recent resignation of Harvards president, Claudine Gay, has (rightfully) framed her abrupt removal in the context of the current right-wing assault on liberal education and, particularly, its targeting of the policies and practices designed to promote racial equality on US campuses (DEI). Indeed, many of the leading actors who mobilized to bring down President Gay have made no secret of their aim to exploit her fall from grace as fodder for their war on affirmative action policies in US academia. However, while this is undeniably one half of the story, the other, even more worrisome half, has received strikingly little attention among commentators (including, unfortunately, President Gay herself): that her successful ejection from office was enabled, first and foremost, by her failure to satisfy a congressional inquisition on antisemitism on campus to which she had been summoned.

At that event, President Gay fell into the trap of accepting Representative Elise Stefaniks radical mis-characterization of two expressions that have a long history within Palestinian struggles for freedomintifada, and the phrase from the river to the sea,as calls for genocide against Jews, and then, when pressured, failed to state unequivocally that such speech was a violation of Harvards rules of conduct. That is, when pressed to state that pro-Palestinian perspectives, wherein the use of these terms is commonplace, should be forbidden from campus, she wavered, perhaps momentarily confused by her free speech concerns. It was this failure to denounce the illegitimacy of pro-Palestinian speech and activismglossed as genocidal by Stefanik, and accepted as such by all present, including Gaythat ultimately spelled her downfall.

Embed from Getty Images

Supporters of Palestine gather at Harvard University to show their support for Palestinians in Gaza at a rally in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 14, 2023. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images).

The main reason liberal pundits have downplayed the salient role of what could be called anti-Palestinianism in sealing Dr. Gays fate is that, unlike the attack on liberal education, it cannot be framed as a partisan issue. The termination of her presidency did not provoke any outcry among Washington Democrats largely because they also have embraced the position expressed in Rep. Stefaniks rhetoric, namely, that anti-Zionism (i.e. expressed in calls for an end to the Israeli occupation) is equivalent to antisemitism or, in other words, that calls for Palestinian liberation, for full legal and political rights for Palestinians, constitute a murderous threat to exterminate Jews.

For clarification, let me note here that intifada, as used by Palestinians in recent history, simply means uprising, and more specifically, an uprising against the oppressive conditions of the Israeli occupation; from the river to the sea (Palestine will be free), for its part, is chanted at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, not as a call for genocide of Jews, but a demand that everyone inhabiting this geography have equal rights and freedoms. That scholars of the region have vehemently and publicly criticized the misuse of these terms within US political discourse has not hindered pro-Israeli pundits from rehashing such mistranslations.

Stefanik and co. have now demonstrated how the political classs unwavering support for pro-Israeli perspectives and policies can be weaponized against the university, including its commitments to racial equality. The current chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, who originally organized the congressional hearings on antisemitism on college campuses, now plans to expand the scope of her investigation into antisemitism on campus to other elite schools, giving particular attention to the way DEI programs may have adversely affected Jewish students.

The congressional group, under Foxxs leadership has already demanded that Harvard make available a list of posts by Harvard students, faculty, staff, and other Harvard affiliates on Sidechat and other social media platforms targeting Jews, Israelis, Israel, Zionists, or Zionism.

And who will be the primary victims of this congressional campaign targeting critics of Israeli occupation? Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims, of course, will find themselves directly in the crosshairs of this witch-hunt. Butand, for the critics of the liberal university, this is the genius of the Republican planso will the Black and Brown folk who have played a dominant role in urging universities to adopt DEI concerns and commitments. Why? Because the underlying values and principles informing DEI initiatives are radically incompatible with the ethnonationalism of the Zionist project. Indeed, if there are three terms that are completely foreign to Israeli political discourse on the Palestinian people they are Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The Young Turks Video: Right-Wing Activist BRAGS About His Scheme To Oust Harvard President Claudine Gay

Will the Democratic majority in congress be able to counter this Republican assault on liberal education and on its recently bolstered commitments to anti-racism? Unlikely. As the congressional ambush of the presidents of Harvard, U Penn, and MIT demonstrated, the Democrats near total devotion to the cause of defending Israel, however egregious its violation of international laws, renders them largely incapable of defending the academic institutions they claim to value. Their blind dedication (subservience is probably a more accurate term) to Israel prevents them from calling out the weaponization of the antisemitism charge for what it is, a well-planned and orchestrated effort to silence any criticism of Israels decades-long brutalization of Palestinians.

To be clear, I am not suggesting that antisemitism is not a real issue in the US today, simply that its use to tarnish the struggle for Palestinian justice is based on a profound and dangerous political lie. As Bernie Steinberg, a previous executive director of Harvard Hillel, has written: As a leader in the Jewish community, I am particularly alarmed by todays McCarthyist tactic of manufacturing an antisemitism scare, which, in effect, turns the very real issue of Jewish safety into a pawn in a cynical political game to cover for Israels deeply unpopular policies with regard to Palestine.

The fact that the Democrats are willing to throw their commitment to racial equality under the bus for the sake of demonstrating their infinite devotion to Israel suggests that such a commitment may have been rather thin to begin with. Can support for Israels apartheid system (as it has been described by most reputable human rights organizations), not to mention for the war crimes currently being committed in Gaza (again, the designation comes from those same human rights organizations), be squared with a politics of racial justice in the US? When push comes to shove, which is where we are now, then it is obvious the answer is clearly no.
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 17, 2024 /CNW/ - FPX Nickel Corp. (TSXV: FPX) (OTCQB: FPOCF) ("FPX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a subscription agreement for a private placement financing (the "Private Placement") with a new cornerstone strategic investor, Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. ("SMCL"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (TSE: 5713) ("SMM").

Under the terms of the Private Placement, FPX will issue 30,104,488 common shares ("Private Placement Common Shares") in the capital of the Company to SMCL at a price of $0.48 per Private Placement Common Share, for gross proceeds of $14,450,154. Upon completion of the Private Placement, SMCL will own 9.9% of FPX's issued and outstanding common shares on a non-diluted basis.

"This strategic investment by Sumitomo Metal Mining represents another significant technical validation of FPX's Baptiste Nickel Project ("Baptiste" or the "Project"), and underscores our view that Baptiste is a class-leading asset," commented Martin Turenne, FPX's President and CEO. "SMM is one of the world's largest nickel producers, with peer-leading expertise in mining, processing and refining products in the stainless steel and electric vehicle battery supply chains. FPX is pleased to be one of SMM's preferred partners as they look to expand their nickel production profile and diversify their supply chain to allied partners in North America."

Eiichi Fukuda, Executive Officer and General Manager of Mineral Resources Division of SMM stated, "We expect that this investment will establish a strong relationship between SMM and FPX, with the aim to contribute to SMM's long term production target of 150,000 tonnes of nickel per year. We have a long business history in Canada with a variety of partners, and we are excited to be working with FPX."

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement primarily for exploration and development activities at the Project, continuance of ongoing environmental baseline activities, feasibility study readiness activities, and general corporate and administrative purposes. The Private Placement is expected to close on January 22, 2024 and is subject to certain customary conditions, including acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange, as well as execution of an Investor Rights Agreement and a ROSO agreement (each as described below). The Private Placement Common Shares issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period of four (4) months and one (1) day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Transaction Details

Concurrently with the closing of the Private Placement:

FPX and SMCL will enter into an investor rights agreement (the " Investor Rights Agreement " or " IRA ") that provides, among other things, SMCL with certain rights in the event it maintains minimum ownership thresholds in the Company, including the right to participate in equity financings. Further, the IRA will include a covenant from SMCL to not vote against management's recommendations on ordinary matters to be approved by the shareholders of the Company, in each case subject to certain customary conditions and exceptions. In addition, pursuant to the Private Placement, SMCL has agreed to a two-year standstill with respect to the acquisition of additional securities in FPX totaling greater than 14.9% of the common shares of FPX then issued and outstanding on a non-diluted basis, other than pursuant to exceptions customary for a standstill of this nature and acquisitions pursuant to SMCL's rights under the Investor Rights Agreement. In the event SMCL reaches and maintains a minimum ownership of 15% or more of the issued and outstanding common shares of FPX on a non-diluted basis, SMCL will have the right to nominate one director to FPX's board of directors.





" or " ") that provides, among other things, SMCL with certain rights in the event it maintains minimum ownership thresholds in the Company, including the right to participate in equity financings. Further, the IRA will include a covenant from SMCL to not vote against management's recommendations on ordinary matters to be approved by the shareholders of the Company, in each case subject to certain customary conditions and exceptions. In addition, pursuant to the Private Placement, SMCL has agreed to a two-year standstill with respect to the acquisition of additional securities in FPX totaling greater than 14.9% of the common shares of FPX then issued and outstanding on a non-diluted basis, other than pursuant to exceptions customary for a standstill of this nature and acquisitions pursuant to SMCL's rights under the Investor Rights Agreement. In the event SMCL reaches and maintains a minimum ownership of 15% or more of the issued and outstanding common shares of FPX on a non-diluted basis, SMCL will have the right to nominate one director to FPX's board of directors. FPX will grant a right of second offer ("ROSO") that provides SMCL the right, so long as it continues to hold all of the Private Placement Common Shares, to negotiate, at market terms, one or more offtake agreements with FPX for up to an aggregate of 60,000 tonnes of nickel from the Project, with the timing and annual volume of such offtake to be negotiated at a later date. SMCL's offtake right will rank secondary to the offtake right previously granted by FPX to Outokumpu Oyj (see the Company's May 30, 2023 news release).

Based on the Company's 2023 preliminary feasibility study ("PFS"), Baptiste has the potential to produce an average of 59,100 tonnes of nickel per annum over a projected mine life of 29 years. There is no certainty that the conclusions or results as reported in the PFS will be realized (see the Company's September 6, 2023 news release).

Andrew Osterloh, P.Eng., FPX's Senior Vice President, Projects & Operations, FPX's Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release.

Webinar and Presentation

The Company's management will host a live webinar on Wednesday, January 17 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern (11:00 a.m. Pacific) to provide a Company update and to answer questions from participants. Participants can access the live webinar at the following link: Click Here

About Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.

SMM is an integrated producer covering from mineral resource development, smelting & refining, to the production of battery materials and functional materials in Japan and internationally. SMM's business strategy of partnering with high-quality operators is evidenced by its strong portfolio of joint venture overseas assets, including several large-scale base metal operations held in joint ventures with partners including Teck Resources, Freeport-McMoRan and Lundin Mining. SMM has expertise, deep knowledge and many years of experience in producing various types of nickel products and aims to increase its production capacity of nickel from approximately 82,000 tonnes per annum currently to 150,000 tonnes per annum in the long term.

About the Decar Nickel District

The Company's Decar Nickel District represents a large-scale greenfield discovery of nickel mineralization in the form of a naturally occurring nickel-iron mineral called awaruite (Ni 3 Fe) hosted in an ultramafic/ophiolite complex. FPX's mineral claims cover an area of 245 km2 west of the Middle River and north of Trembleur Lake, in central British Columbia. Awaruite mineralization has been identified in several target areas within the ophiolite complex including the Baptiste Deposit and the Van Target, as confirmed by drilling, petrographic examination, electron probe analyses and outcrop sampling. Since 2010, approximately US $30 million has been spent on the exploration and development of Decar.

Of the four targets in the Decar Nickel District, the Baptiste Deposit has been the focus of increasing resource definition (a total of 99 holes and 33,700 m of drilling completed), as well as environmental and engineering studies to evaluate its potential as a bulk-tonnage open pit mining project. The Baptiste Deposit is located within the Baptiste Creek watershed, on the traditional and unceded territories of Tl'azt'en Nation and Binche Whut'en, and within several Tl'azt'enne and Binche Whut'enne keyohs. FPX has conducted mineral exploration activities to date subject to the conditions of agreements with First Nations and keyoh holders.

About FPX Nickel Corp.

FPX Nickel Corp. is focused on the exploration and development of the Decar Nickel District, located in central British Columbia, and other occurrences of the same unique style of naturally occurring nickel-iron mineralization known as awaruite. For more information, please view the Company's website at www.fpxnickel.com or contact Martin Turenne, President and CEO, at (604) 681-8600 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

On behalf of FPX Nickel Corp.



"Martin Turenne"

Martin Turenne, President, CEO and Director

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including those describing FPX's future plans, and the expectations of management that a stated result or condition will occur. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Actual results could differ materially from those currently projected by management at the time of writing due to many factors the majority of which are beyond the control of FPX and its management. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining, directly or indirectly, to the following: the Private Placement, including, closing and the timing thereof, including receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the timing thereof; the final terms of the IRA and the ROSO and entering into thereof; the use of proceeds of the Private Placement; future acquisition of common shares of FPX by SMCL; the nomination and appointment to FPX's board of directors of a nominee of SMCL; potential business synergies as a result of SMM's investment in FPX; and future off-take agreements pursuant to the ROSO; the advancement of exploration and development activities at the Project; the Project's potential nickel production as set out in the PFS; and FPX's contribution to SMM's long term production goal of 150,000 tonnes; Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. These statements speak only as of the date of this release or as of the date specified in the documents accompanying this release, as the case may be. The Company assumes the obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (the "Company" or "Blackrock") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. to act as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters (collectively, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase for resale 15,000,000 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.20 per Unit (the "Offering Price") on a "bought deal" basis for gross proceeds of C$3,000,000 (the "Offering").

Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share of the Company at a price of C$0.30 at any time on or before that date which is 36 months after the closing date of the Offering.

The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option exercisable at the Offering Price for a period of 30 days after and including the closing date of the Offering, to purchase for resale up to an additional 15% of the number of Units sold under the Offering to cover over allotments, if any, and for market stabilization purposes. The Offering is expected to close on or about January 26, 2024 (the "Closing Date") and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The net proceeds raised under the Offering will be used by the Company to complete the final option payment on the Company's flagship Tonopah West project ("Tonopah West") in Nevada, after which the Company will own 100% of Tonopah West, continue with metallurgical characterization, engineering evaluation, and hydrological assessment, as well as for general working capital and corporate purposes.

The Units will be sold by way of a prospectus supplement to be filed in all of the provinces of Canada except Quebec to supplement the short form base shelf prospectus of the Company dated August 4, 2023. The Units may also be sold in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and in such other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States, in each case in accordance with all applicable laws provided that no prospectus, registration statement or similar document is required to be filed in such jurisdiction.

The securities being offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, nor will they be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Blackrock Silver Corp.

Backed by gold and silver ounces in the ground, Blackrock is a junior precious metal focused exploration company driven to add shareholder value via the drill bit. With 6.12 million tonnes grading 508.5 g/t silver equivalent[1] at its Tonopah West project, and a new bonanza-grade gold discovery at its Silver Cloud project, the Company has a proven track record of exploration success. In addition to its gold and silver project portfolio, the Company is credited with a lithium discovery, the Tonopah North project, which is under option to a lithium exploration group. Anchored by a seasoned Board of Directors, the Company is focused on its 100% controlled Nevada portfolio of properties consisting of low-sulphidation, epithermal gold and silver mineralization located along the established Northern Nevada Rift in north-central Nevada and the Walker Lane trend in western Nevada.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Pollard, President & Chief Executive Officer

Blackrock Silver Corp.

Phone: 604 817-6044

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements concern, without limitation, the completion and Closing Date of the Offering and the anticipated use of proceeds therefrom. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors, including the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

[1] Technical information relating to the Tonopah West project is based on and derived from the National Instrument 43-101 technical report prepared for Blackrock entitled "Technical Report for Updated Estimate of Mineral Resources, Tonopah West Silver-Gold Project, Nye and Esmeralda Counties, Nevada, USA" effective October 6, 2023 and dated November 8, 2023 authored by Jeffrey Bickel, C.P.G. (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report outlines 6.12 million tonnes at a block diluted grade of 242 grams per tonne (g/t) silver (Ag) and 2.9g/t gold (Au) for a total inferred mineral resource of 47,738,000 ounces Ag and 570,000 ounces Au, or 508.5 g/t silver equivalent (AgEq) for 100.04 million oz AgEq. AgEq equivalent grade is based on silver and gold prices of US$22/ounce and US$1,850/ounce, respectively, and recoveries for silver and gold of 87% and 95%, respectively.
Vancouver, B.C.  TheNewswire -- January 16, 2024  RT Minerals Corp. (TSXV:RTM) (OTC:RTMFF) (the Company or RTM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Thomas and Alson Niu to the board of the Company.

Chris Thomas is a seasoned entrepreneur with nearly a decade of various business endeavours. He has successfully navigated transactions exceeding nine figures in value, garnering numerous sales accolades and establishing lasting partnerships. His financial expertise in securing debt financing for businesses remains a key asset, while his ability to leverage his influential network adds a distinct advantage to the company. Additionally, he currently serves as CEO and Director of another publicly traded company in the mining sector. With his extensive experience in sales, real estate acquisitions, and expertise in raising capital, his multifaceted background brings valuable insights to both the mining company he directs and the board he sits on. Mr. Thomas' ability to leverage his diverse skill set and strategic vision has consistently delivered outstanding results and forged enduring partnerships throughout his career.

Alson Niu is a multi-disciplined business professional with 4 years of experience acting as a director of multiple publicly traded companies, with one focused primarily in the mining sector. Specializing in private equity and capital markets, Mr. Niu is a managing partner at Conquest Capital, a venture firm invested in many industries such as agriculture, technology, and gaming. He also serves as a partner for Evolve Branding, a premium marketing consulting company specializing in branding & online marketing.

In addition, Mr. Douglas Andrews BSc. MSc. has resigned as VP Exploration and director of the Company. The Company would like to thank Mr. Andrews for his contribution and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

About RT Minerals Corp. RTM is a junior exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol RTM. The Company holds a 100% interest, largely royalty free, in a portfolio of rare earth element, gold and base metal properties in Ontario, Canada.

For more information on the Company please visit the companys website at www.rtmcorp.com.

On behalf of the Board and for further information contact:

Mr. William Elston, President, CEO, Director RT Minerals Corp. Telephone: (604) 725-0604

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect managements current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Companys exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward- looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law.




SUDBURY, ON, Jan. 17, 2024 /CNW/ - SPC Nickel Corp. (TSXV: SPC) ("SPC Nickel" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the West Graham Project ("West Graham" or the "Project"), part of the Company's large-scale Ni-Cu property (Figure 1 & 2) in the southwest corner of the Sudbury Basin, referred to as the Lockerby East Property.

The MRE shows Indicated Resources of 224.8 million pounds of contained nickel and 155.0 million pounds of contained copper and further Inferred Resources of 86.2 million pounds of contained nickel and 57.5 million pounds of contained copper (Table 3).

The MRE, in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") is effective as of December 4, 2023, was produced following the consolidation of the Project in January 2023 (see News Release dated January 23, 2023) through an agreement with Vale Canada. Following that consolidation, SPC Nickel completed a diamond drilling program (67 holes totalling 14,180 metres) in connection with producing the MRE.

Highlights:

In-Pit Resource at a 0.3% NiEq 1 Cutoff Grade Indicated Resource of 19.3 Mt at 0.42% Ni, 0.28% Cu (0.57% NiEq 2 ) Inferred Resource of 3.3 Mt at 0.37% Ni, 0.28% Cu (0.53% NiEq 2 )

In-Pit Resource extends from surface to a vertical depth of 435 metres.

Future Expansion: Potential to expand the 'higher-grade' (>0.9% NiEq 2 ) zones within the In-Pit Resource with additional infill drilling.

Out-of-Pit Resource at a 0.7% NiEq 1 Cutoff Grade Indicated Resource of 3.2 Mt at 0.63% Ni, 0.47% Cu (0.92% NiEq 2 ) Inferred Resource of 3.9 Mt at 0.69% Ni, 0.43% Cu (0.97% NiEq 2 )

Exploration Upside: Significant potential to expand the Out-of-Pit Resource with additional infill drilling.

*Please see Mineral Resource Estimate Notes at the end of this release.

Grant Mourre, CEO and President of SPC Nickel commented, "SPC Nickel is very pleased to deliver this maiden Mineral Resource representing yet another major milestone for the Company as we continue to grow and advance the West Graham Project. To produce a Mineral Resource Estimate within 12 months of signing an agreement to consolidate the asset with Vale in January 2023, is a tremendous achievement by our team.

The geometry of the mineralization at West Graham, its amenability to low-cost open-pit mining methods, the availability of local skilled labour, proximity to power, transportation and processing infrastructure, including both nickel sulphide mills and smelters, favourably positions the project for a near-term path to production. The West Graham Deposit, as well as the larger Lockerby East Property, retains remarkable exploration upside and our maiden Mineral Resource is a vital step towards unlocking and realising that potential."

Mineral Resources

The Mineral Resources at West Graham were estimated by SGS Geological Services and are summarized in Table 1. Sensitivity to cutoff grade is summarized in Table 2, and contained metal summarized in Table 3. Mineral Resources include near surface mineralization with potential for open-pit mining, as well as higher grade mineralization amenable to conventional underground mining methods (Figure 2). The full technical report, which is being prepared in accordance with NI 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects will be available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the Company's issuer profile within 45 days from this news release.

Table 1: West Graham Project Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate effective December 4, 2023.

*Please see Mineral Resource Estimate Notes at the end of this release.

Area Category NiEq

Cuttoff1 Tonnes Ni % Cu % Co % Pt g/t Pd g/t Au g/t Ag g/t NiEq %2 West Graham In-Pit Resource In-Pit Indicated 0.3 19,326,000 0.42 0.28 0.01 0.06 0.02 0.02 1.47 0.57 In-Pit Inferred 0.3 3,283,000 0.37 0.28 0.01 0.10 0.03 0.03 1.24 0.53 West Graham Out-of-Pit Resource Out-of-Pit Indicated 0.7 3,238,000 0.63 0.47 0.02 0.24 0.06 0.07 2.64 0.92 Out-of-Pit Inferred 0.7 3,867,000 0.69 0.43 0.03 0.22 0.06 0.06 2.20 0.97

(1) NiEq cutoff grades consider metal prices of $9.50/lb Ni, $3.50/lb Cu, $22.00/lb Co, $1000/oz Pt, $1,800/oz Pd and $1,700/oz Au and consider metal recoveries of 90% for Ni, 90% for Cu, 56% for Co, 69% for Pt, 68% for Pd and 68% for Au. Ag is not used. (2) NiEq grades are calculated using this formula: Ni (%) + [Cu (%) * 0.369] + [Co (%) * 2.318] + [Pt / 31.1 * 4.779] + [Pd / 31.1 * 8.602] + [Au / 31.1 * 8.124] with price assumptions of $9.50/lb Ni, $3.50/lb Cu, $22.00/lb Co, $1000/oz Pt, $1,800/oz Pd and $1,700/oz Au. Ag is not used.



Table 2: West Graham Resources, Sensitivity to cutoff grade. West Graham In-Pit Resource and Out-of-Pit Resource.

NiEq

Cutoff1 Tonnes Ni % Cu % Co % Pt g/t Pd g/t Au g/t Ag g/t NiEq %2 West Graham In-Pit Indicated Resource 0.2 20,800,000 0.40 0.27 0.01 0.06 0.02 0.02 1.42 0.55 0.3 19,326,000 0.42 0.28 0.01 0.06 0.02 0.02 1.47 0.57 0.4 15,508,000 0.46 0.31 0.01 0.07 0.02 0.03 1.54 0.63 0.5 10,330,000 0.53 0.34 0.01 0.08 0.02 0.03 1.66 0.72 0.6 6,534,000 0.61 0.38 0.02 0.09 0.02 0.03 1.77 0.82 0.7 4,085,000 0.69 0.41 0.02 0.10 0.03 0.03 1.85 0.92 0.8 2,618,000 0.78 0.44 0.02 0.10 0.03 0.03 1.93 1.02 0.9 1,641,000 0.87 0.47 0.02 0.11 0.03 0.04 2.02 1.12 1.0 1,044,000 0.95 0.48 0.02 0.11 0.03 0.04 2.11 1.22 West Graham In-Pit Inferred Resource 0.2 3,350,000 0.37 0.28 0.01 0.10 0.03 0.03 1.22 0.53 0.3 3,283,000 0.37 0.28 0.01 0.10 0.03 0.03 1.24 0.53 0.4 2,857,000 0.39 0.30 0.01 0.10 0.03 0.03 1.29 0.56 0.5 1,723,000 0.43 0.33 0.01 0.12 0.03 0.04 1.38 0.62 0.6 758,000 0.51 0.37 0.02 0.14 0.03 0.04 1.46 0.72 0.7 341,000 0.59 0.40 0.02 0.15 0.04 0.04 1.60 0.82 0.8 151,000 0.65 0.46 0.02 0.16 0.04 0.05 1.69 0.91 0.9 68,000 0.71 0.52 0.02 0.17 0.04 0.05 1.98 1.00 1.0 24,000 0.80 0.55 0.02 0.17 0.04 0.05 2.61 1.11

NiEq

Cutoff1 Tonnes Ni % Cu % Co % Pt g/t Pd g/t Au g/t Ag g/t NiEq %2 West Graham Out-of-Pit Indicated Resource 0.6 5,184,000 0.55 0.42 0.02 0.22 0.06 0.05 2.29 0.81 0.7 3,238,000 0.63 0.47 0.02 0.24 0.06 0.07 2.64 0.92 0.8 1,982,000 0.72 0.52 0.02 0.25 0.06 0.06 2.95 1.04 0.9 1,240,000 0.81 0.56 0.02 0.25 0.08 0.08 3.14 1.16 1.0 794,000 0.92 0.60 0.03 0.27 0.08 0.08 3.29 1.29 1.1 596,000 0.99 0.63 0.03 0.26 0.05 0.05 3.44 1.37 1.2 451,000 1.05 0.66 0.03 0.21 0.10 0.14 3.59 1.45 West Graham Out-of-Pit Inferred Resource 0.6 6,152,000 0.59 0.39 0.02 0.20 0.06 0.05 2.01 0.85 0.7 3,867,000 0.69 0.43 0.03 0.22 0.06 0.06 2.20 0.97 0.8 2,627,000 0.78 0.44 0.03 0.24 0.07 0.05 2.26 1.08 0.9 1,728,000 0.90 0.45 0.03 0.24 0.07 0.05 2.18 1.21 1.0 1,298,000 0.99 0.45 0.03 0.26 0.07 0.05 2.08 1.30 1.1 993,000 1.08 0.44 0.04 0.25 0.06 0.03 1.97 1.39 1.2 756,000 1.16 0.42 0.04 0.25 0.08 0.04 1.77 1.47

(1) NiEq cutoff grades consider metal prices of $9.50/lb Ni, $3.50/lb Cu, $22.00/lb Co, $1000/oz Pt, $1,800/oz Pd and $1,700/oz Au and consider metal recoveries of 90% for Ni, 90% for Cu, 56% for Co, 69% for Pt, 68% for Pd and 68% for Au. Ag is not used. (2) NiEq grades are calculated using this formula: Ni (%) + [Cu (%) * 0.369] + [Co (%) * 2.318] + [Pt / 31.1 * 4.779] + [Pd / 31.1 * 8.602] + [Au / 31.1 * 8.124] with price assumptions of $9.50/lb Ni, $3.50/lb Cu, $22.00/lb Co, $1000/oz Pt, $1,800/oz Pd and $1,700/oz Au. Ag is not used.



Table 3: West Graham Resources, Contained Metal in West Graham In-Pit Resource and Out-of-Pit Resource.

NiEq

Cutoff1 Category Tonnes Ni lbs (Millions) Cu lbs (Millions) Co lbs (Millions) Pt (ozs) Pd (ozs) Au (ozs) Ag (ozs) West Graham In-Pit Contained Metals 0.3 Indicated 19,326,000 179.1 121.0 5.1 39,000 12,000 15,000 911,000 0.3 Inferred 3,283,000 26.7 20.6 0.8 10,000 3,000 3,000 131,000 West Graham Out-of-Pit Contained Metals 0.7 Indicated 3,238,000 45.7 34.0 1.5 25,000 6,000 7,000 275,000 0.7 Inferred 3,867,000 59.5 36.9 2.4 27,000 7,600 7,000 273,000

(1) NiEq cutoff grades consider metal prices of $9.50/lb Ni, $3.50/lb Cu, $22.00/lb Co, $1000/oz Pt, $1,800/oz Pd and $1,700/oz Au and consider metal recoveries of 90% for Ni, 90% for Cu, 56% for Co, 69% for Pt, 68% for Pd and 68% for Au. Ag is not used.

In addition to the West Graham Deposit, the property also hosts the 100% owned high-grade LKE Deposit (formerly called the Lockerby East Deposit). Located 200 metres down-dip of the West Graham Resource (Figure 2), the deposit is comprised of a lens of high-grade Ni-Cu-PGM massive sulphide where historical drilling returned values as high as 5.60% Ni and 1.26% Cu over a core length of 10.0 metres (see reference section). In 2009, First Nickel Inc published a historical resource for the LKE Deposit, that contained 0.18 Mt at 2.32% Ni, 0.78% Cu in the indicated category and 0.04 Mt at 2.90% Ni, 0.80% Cu in the inferred category (see reference section). SGS Geological Services is currently updating the historical resource to current standards based on a validated historical database and a revised resource model and will incorporate this resource estimate update in the full technical report.

Mineral Resource Estimate Notes:

(1) The Mineral Resource Estimate was estimated by Allan Armitage, Ph.D., P. Geo. of SGS Geological Services and is an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr Armitage conducted a site visit to the Lockerby East Property on July 24, 2023. (2) The classification of the current Mineral Resource Estimates for the West Graham Deposit into Indicated and Inferred is consistent with current 2014 CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. (3) All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and numbers may not add due to rounding. (4) All mineral resources are presented undiluted and in situ, constrained by continuous 3D wireframe models (the constraining volumes), and are considered to have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. (5) Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that most of the Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. (6) The validated database for the West Graham Deposit provided by SPC Nickel for the MRE includes data for 560 surface and underground diamond drill holes and 26 surface rock channels totalling 182,936 m. The database totals 20,294 assay intervals representing 27,388 m of drilling and channeling. The database includes data for 85 drill holes completed by SPC totalling 19,393 m and including 7,093 assay samples. The average assay sample length of all drilling is 1.35 m. (7) The West Graham resource model is based on 256 mineralized intercepts from 236 drill holes and 17 rock channels, including mineralized intercepts from all 85 drill holes completed by SPC. The mineralized database included 7,953 assay samples, average length of 1.30 m and 7,119 1.5 m composites. (8) The West Graham Mineral Resource Estimate is based on a three-dimensional ("3D") resource model, constructed in GEOVIA GEMS version 6.8.3 software ("GEMS"). (9) Grades for nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum, palladium, gold and silver were estimated were interpolated into a block model, with block dimensions of 10 * x 5 (y) x 5 (z) m, using 1.5 m capped composites assigned to that model. To generate grade within the blocks, the inverse distance squared (ID2) interpolation method was used. The resource estimate search parameters are based on drill hole spacing, and size, shape and orientation of the resource domain. The classification of resource into Inferred and Indicated is based primarily on drill hole spacing. (10) An average density value for the West Graham Deposit was assigned based on a database of 6,295 mineralized samples. A value of 2.92 is used for West Graham. Values ranging from 2.85 to 3.00 are used for waste. Waste densities are based on a database of 7,039 samples. (11) The West Graham Deposit mineralization is considered amenable to open-pit and underground extraction. (12) It is envisioned that parts of the West Graham Deposit may be mined using open pit mining methods. In-pit mineral resources for the West Graham Deposit are reported at a base case cutoff grade of 0.3 % NiEq within a conceptual pit shell. Whittle pit optimization software (GEOVIA Whittle 2022) was used for pit optimization. The results from the pit optimization are used solely for the purpose of testing the "reasonable prospects for economic extraction" by an open-pit and do not represent an attempt to estimate mineral reserves. There are no mineral reserves on the Property. The results are used as a guide to assist in the preparation of a Mineral Resource statement and to select an appropriate resource reporting cutoff grade. The West Graham in-pit Mineral Resource grade blocks are quantified above the base case cutoff grade, above the constraining pit shell, below topography and within the constraining mineralized domain (the constraining volumes). (13) Underground Mineral Resources for the West Graham Deposit are estimated from out of the pit shell and are reported at a base case cutoff grade of 0.7 % NiEq. The West Graham underground resource grade blocks were quantified above the base case cutoff grade, out of the constraining pit shell and within the constraining mineralized domain (the constraining volume). (14) Based on the size, shape and orientation of the deposit, it is envisioned that the West Graham underground resource may be mined using the longhole open stoping mining method (a bulk mining method that has long been utilized in the Sudbury region). (15) NiEq cutoff grades consider metal prices of $9.50/lb Ni, $3.50/lb Cu, $22.00/lb Co, $1000/oz Pt, $1,800/oz Pd and $1,700/oz Au and consider metal recoveries of 90% for Ni, 90% for copper, 56% for Co, 69% for Pt, 68% for Pd and 68% for Au. Silver is not used. (16) NiEq grades are calculated using this formula: Ni (%) + [Cu (%) * 0.369] + [Co (%) * 2.318] + [Pt / 31.1 * 4.779] + [Pd / 31.1 * 8.602] + [Au / 31.1 * 8.124] with price assumptions of $9.50/lb Ni, $3.50/lb Cu, $22.00/lb Co, $1000/oz Pt, $1,800/oz Pd and $1,700/oz Au. Silver is not used. (17) For the West Graham Deposit, pit optimization and the in-pit base case cutoff grade of 0.3% NiEq considers a mining cost of US$2.50/t rock and processing, treatment and refining, transportation and G&A cost of US$38.00/t mineralized material, and an overall pit slope of 55 degrees, metal prices and process recoveries. The underground base case cutoff grade of 0.7 % NiEq considers a mining cost of US$45.00/t rock and processing, treatment and refining, transportation, G&A cost of US$42.50/t mineralized material and process recoveries. (18) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

Reference

Technical Report on the 2009 Resource Estimate for the Depth, East and Upper West Zones, Lockerby Mine, Sudbury, Ontario, prepared by First Nickel Inc., February 23, 2009.

News Release, First Nickel Reports: 10 Metres Of 5.60% Ni and 1.26% Cu Hosted in Footwall from Lockerby East Zone, February 7th, 2006.

Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Qualified Persons

The Mineral Resource Estimate was estimated by Allan Armitage, Ph.D., P. Geo. of SGS Geological Services who is an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr Armitage conducted a site visit to the Lockerby East Property on July 24, 2023.

Technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Grant Mourre, P.Geo. (PGO), CEO and President of SPC Nickel Corp. and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

About the West Graham Deposit

The West Graham Project is located in the heart of the Sudbury Mining District where nine mines are currently in operation and two more are in the development phase. The region benefits from its proximity to well-developed transportation infrastructure including roads, railways, and electrical grid. In addition, West Graham is situated close to processing, smelting and refining assets which include two mills, two smelters and one nickel refinery. Local operators include global mining corporations Vale, Glencore and KGHM.

About SPC Nickel Corp.

SPC Nickel Corp. is a Canadian public corporation focused on exploring for Ni-Cu-PGMs within the world class Sudbury Mining Camp. SPC Nickel is currently exploring its key 100% owned exploration project Lockerby East located in the heart of the historic Sudbury Mining Camp that includes the West Graham Resource and the Crean Hill 3 property under option from Vale. SPC Nickel also holds three additional projects across Canada including the large camp-scale Muskox Project (located in Nunavut), the past producing Aer-Kidd Project (located in the Sudbury Mining Camp) and the Janes Project (located 50 km northwest of Sudbury). The corporate focus is on Sudbury, and SPC Nickel continues to look for new opportunities to add shareholder value. Additional information regarding SPC Nickel and its projects can be found at www.spcnickel.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of SPC Nickel. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, SPC Nickel expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - K2 Gold Corporation (TSXV: KTO) (OTCQB: KTGDF) (FSE: 23K) ("K2" or the "Company") today announced the results from rock grab and chip sampling at its Mojave Project, located in Inyo County, California.

Highlights

Sampling at the Gold Valley target located on the east side of the property returned grab samples of 208 g/t (6.7 oz/t) gold and 32.1 g/t gold from initial prospecting.

Gold Valley is located 1.5km north-northwest along the same structure as the Dragonfly target, a high-grade gold zone which K2 successfully drilled in 2020 with a highlight result of 86.9m of 4.0 g/t gold from surface.

The mineralized corridor from the Newmont, Dragonfly, and the Gold Valley targets now extends for over 4.5km.

Sampling at the Soda Canyon target in the northwest of the Project area returned a sample grading 1.87% copper, and two additional samples with greater than 1% copper which are currently in the process of overlimit analysis.

"The sample collected at Gold Valley is the highest-grade rock sample ever collected on the Mojave Project by a significant margin, the overlimit copper results at Soda Canyon are also very exciting to see. The expanse of high-grade near surface mineralization at Mojave displays the signature characteristics of a remarkable deposit. The combination of these recent samples and previous drill results expanding the strike length over 4.5km suggests significant scale and the possible continuity of high-grade gold far beyond our original expectations," stated Anthony Margarit, CEO of K2 Gold. "As we continue with the EIS permitting process, we look forward to generating more exciting results at these new extensions."

Rock Sampling Program

As K2 continues to progress favourably through the EIS permitting process, the decision was made to continue fundamental prospecting and sampling to continue to develop the knowledge and understanding of the extensive mineralization present on the property in preparation for future exploration.

A total of 119 rock and chip samples were collected at multiple targets over two campaigns, with a focus on the Gold Valley and Soda Canyon targets, and with minor sampling conducted at the Stega and Morning Star targets. Sampling returned values from trace to 208 g/t gold and trace to 4.11% copper.

Gold Valley - High Grade Gold at Surface

Initial results from prospecting at Gold Valley suggest the presence of high-grade Dragonfly-style sediment-hosted gold mineralization at surface in an area of the Property that has seen little to no modern exploration.

Highlight rock samples grading 208 g/t Au and 32.1 g/t Au are found along the projection of a mapped fault extending north-northwest from the Dragonfly target, where K2's drilling in 2020 returned 86.9m grading 4.0 g/t Au from surface (see News Release here). The results from Gold Valley expand the strike length of high-grade mineralization hosted by the Dragonfly-Newmont corridor an additional 1.5km, to a total extent of more than 4.5km.

Figure 1: Plan map of the Gold Valley target in relation to the Dragonfly target. Multiple parallel structures extend over 1.5km north-northwest from Dragonfly to Gold Valley.

Soda Canyon - Copper in the Western Regions

Prospecting was also completed at the Soda Canyon target located in the northwest of the Project area, 4km west of Gold Valley. Rock sampling returned three samples with Copper values greater than 1%, with one sample grading 1.87% Copper and the remaining two samples pending overlimit assay results.

Soda Canyon is found at the northwestern end of a greater than 6km NNW-SSE trend of sediment-hosted copper mineralization beginning at the Stega target in the south, where K2 collected samples with results from trace to 14.2% Copper in 2021 (see News Release here). Very little exploration has been completed in the Soda Conyon target area, and to the knowledge of K2's Management team it has never been drilled.

Seven rock samples collected in the vicinity of the Stega copper zone returned trace to 0.741 g/t gold and trace to 0.23% Copper. A due diligence sample collected from the Morningstar target area 2.7km northwest of Soda Canyon returned 37.66 g/t silver, 4.11% copper, 1.57% lead, and 1.95% zinc. Follow-up prospecting, sampling, and geological mapping is planned for the 2024 season. More information on 2024 plans will be provided in the near future.

Figure 2: Plan map of the Soda Canyon target area with copper-in-rock results indicated.

Another Milestone Soon to Be Surpassed in the EIS Process

K2's Plan of Operations for the Mojave Project was subject to a 60-day scoping and public comment period which closed on October 16, 2023. Since the closure of the scoping period, the BLM has been preparing a Draft EIS document which will incorporate public scoping comments and assess project alternatives.

The Draft EIS will be made available for a second round of public comment following the publication of a Notice of Availability ("NOA") in the Federal Register. K2 expects that the Draft EIS will be completed in early 2024.

What is an Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS")?

An EIS assesses the potential impact of actions that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment. This comprehensive document describes the current conditions of the environment in the affected area and identifies positive and negative effects from the proposed project. As well as identifying and assessing, it offers alternative actions, including inaction, in relation to the proposed project.

This requirement under the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA") does not prohibit harm to the environment, but rather requires that the project prevents unnecessary or undue degradation. An EIS represents the most comprehensive environmental review possible for a mineral exploration project under NEPA.

Figure 3: Overview of target areas at the Mojave Project.

Qualified Person ("QP")

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Eric Buitenhuis, M.Sc., P.Geo., K2's QP and Vice President of Exploration.

The analytical work for the rock sampling programs was performed by MSALABS in Langley, British Columbia and ALS Laboratories ("ALS") in Reno, Nevada and North Vancouver, British Columbia. Samples analyzed by MSALABS were prepared using procedure PRP-910 (dry, crush to 70% passing 2mm, riffle split off 250g, pulverize split to better than 85% passing 75 microns) and analyzed by method FAS-111 (30g fire assay with AAS finish) and IMS-130 (0.5g, aqua regia digestion and ICP-AES/MS analysis). Any samples containing >10g/t Au will be reanalyzed using method FAS-415 (30g Fire Assay with gravimetric finish). Samples containing >1% Cu, Pb, & Zn were reanalyzed using method ICF-6 (0.2g, 4-acid digest and ore grade ICP-AES analysis).

Samples analyzed by ALS were submitted to ALS's Reno, Nevada facility where they were prepared using procedure PREP-31 (crush, split, and pulverize 250g to better than 85% passing 75 microns). Pulp samples were then analysed for gold by method Au-AA23, a 30-gram Fire Assay fusion with an atomic absorption finish (AAS). A 0.5g pulp was analysed by aqua-regia acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for 35 elements using method ME-ICP41. An additional 0.5g pulp was then analysed by ICP-mass spectrometry (MS) for mercury. Samples containing >1% Cu were reanalyzed by method Cu-OG62, a 4-acid digest and ore grade ICP finish.

About K2 Gold

K2 is a proud member of Discovery Group and currently has three projects in Southwest USA and the Yukon.

The Wels Project lies approximately 40km east of the community of Beaver Creek and 60km south of Newmont Goldcorp's Coffee deposit discovered by Kaminak Gold Corporation (formerly a Discovery Group company prior to its acquisition by Goldcorp-Newmont). Both the Coffee project and the Wels project lie within the Tintina Gold Belt, share similar characteristics, and are host to structurally controlled gold mineralization within intrusive rocks exhibiting multiple trends of mineralization.

K2's 2023 Reverse Circulation drilling program at the Wels Project intersected gold in every drill hole, including the discovery of a new mineralized corridor at the Saddle South target. The Wels land position consists of 350 contiguous quartz claims covering 7,200 hectares and lies within the traditional territory of White River First Nation.

The Si2 Gold Project is located in Esmeralda County, approximately 60km northwest of Tonopah, Nevada, and 20km northwest of Allegiant Gold's Eastside deposit (1.4Moz Au, 8.8 Moz Ag). The project is road accessible and consists of 118 BLM lode claims covering 986 Ha, 65 of which are under option from Orogen Royalties Inc. (TSXV: OGN). The claims cover an 8 km2 area of steam heated alunite-kaolinite-buddingtonite alteration within a sequence of felsic to intermediate volcanic rocks displaying brecciation and strongly anomalous mercury.

K2's 2023 diamond drill program at the Si2 Project confirmed that the system is gold bearing. The project was initially identified using the same methods, and by the same exploration team that identified AngloGold Ashanti's 4.22 Moz gold Silicon project1 near Beatty, Nevada, and was staked based on its strong geological similarities to Silicon.

K2 is committed to transparency, accountability, environmental stewardship, safety, diversity, inclusion, and community and indigenous engagement.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Anthony Margarit

President and CEO

For further information about K2 Gold Corporation or this news release, please visit our website at k2gold.com, contact our office at 778-266-1456, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

K2 Gold Corporation is a member of Discovery Group based in Vancouver, Canada. For more information please visit: discoverygroup.ca.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the exploration program at Si2, Wels, and Mojave, including results of drilling, and future exploration plans at Si2, Wels, and Mojave. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, and the Company's inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. The reader is referred to the Company's public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. No securities of the Company have been or will, in the foreseeable future, be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE
THIS legendary K-drama actress finally addressed her dating rumors with Jo In Sung.

Curious about who the celebrity and her real score with the top actor? Read on to know!

Go Hyun Jung Speaks Truth About Her Dating Rumor With Jo In Sung

In the new episode of "Fairy Jae Hyung" on YouTube, released on January 16, host Jung Jae Hyung welcomed veteran actress Go Hyun Jung as his celebrity guest.

As the show began, Jung Jae Hyung asked the K-drama star why she had not appeared on TV that much. She then responded by saying that she doesn't receive many offers from networks.

As the conversation jumped from one topic to another, Go Hyun Jung candidly opened up about her past romance rumor with Jo In Sung.

The duo collaborated in the drama "Dear My Friends," and since they were screen partners at that time, people linked them and speculated that they were dating.

"Jo In Sung and I worked on a project. After that, rumors began swirling with photos of us at the airport. It was hilarious because Song Joong Ki and Lee Min Ho were there too, but somehow, it was just us in the pictures."

The "Mask Girl" star denied her romance with Jo In Sung and explained:

"We're actually just good friends. We met when Jo In Sung was 25, and he's a really nice and manly friend."

Go Hyun Jung also explained that the actor has his own standards for women, that's why it was impossible for them to have a romantic relationship.

Go Hyun Jung to Possibly Return With New K-Drama This 2024

In 2023, "The Great Queen Seondeok" lead star made her small screen comeback through Netflix's "Mask Girl." It was her first series after having a two-year hiatus.

This 2024, Go Hyun Jung might have a busy year as she received more project offers. One of the works she is in talks to appear in is the forthcoming series "La Mante" also known as "The Mantis."

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Go Hyun Jung Relationship 2023: 'Mask Girl' Legend On Dating, Remarriage & More

It was revealed in November 2023 that Go Hyun Jung was being courted to lead the said drama. Her agency IOK Company released a statement confirming the actress cast in the project, and she is reviewing the offer to participate in the series but nothing has been decided yet.

Ji Chang Wook was also offered to play as the main protagonist of "La Mante." Unfortunately, his agency announced that the actor turned down the offer due to scheduling conflicts.

As of this writing, there's no update yet on who among K-stars will be joining the lead cast of "La Mante."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Go Hyun Jung To Headline French Thriller Remake 'The Mantis' + More Details Inside!

What can you say about Go Hyun Jung's revelation? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Lee Do Hyun shared his honest thoughts about the recent event for his new movie "Exhuma" with Kim Go Eun.

Keep on reading to know what the actor said.

Lee Do Hyun Makes Surprise Appearance at 'Exhuma's' Press Conference

On January 17, the cast of the forthcoming thriller movie "Exhuma" attended a press conference to further discuss the film. The event was held at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul. Present at the gathering are lead stars Choi Min Sik, Kim Go Eun, and Yoo Hae Jin. The creative mind behind the work, Director Jang Jae Hyun also made his appearance.

"Exhuma" is a horror-thriller movie that features the story that occurs to a feng shui, a funeral director, and a shaman who are paid a large amount of money to relocate a tomb.

During the event, actress Kim Go Eun was shocked to see Lee Do Hyun in a special video appearance, introducing his character, Bong Gil, a shaman in the movie. It is known that the actor is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service.

Lee Do Hyun Disappointed for His Absence at the Movie Press Conference

In his video greeting, Lee Do Hyun expressed his disappointment for the reason that he couldn't be physically present at the movie's press conference. He eagerly wanted to join his co-stars that day but he had another responsibility to do in the army that's why he failed to attend the gathering.

However, despite his absence, Lee Do Hyun still made a thoughtful move to record himself and greet the viewers through video.

Lee Do Hyun said, "I'm disappointed that I couldn't be there with you today, but I wanted to greet you through a video to introduce my character, Bong Gil. He is a shaman who moves a mysterious tomb along with Hwarim."

Kim Go Eun takes the role of Hwarim, who is also a shaman.

Apart from his surprise video message, Lee Do Hyun gained attention with his unexpected question for his co-star Kim Go Eun.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Lee Do Hyun, Kim Go Eun's Thriller Movie 'Exhuma' Unveils Spine-Chilling Teaser

He explained, "Bong Gil is a young man who has skills and looks. He belongs to the MZ generation. My special role was to protect Hwarim like a bodyguard." The actor then asked, "Hwarim, am I reliable?"

Kim Go Eun Acknowledges Her Great Chemistry With Lee Do Hyun in 'Exhuma'

The actress was surprised yet enthusiastic about Lee Do Hyun's spontaneous message.

As the video continued, the "The Glory" actor expressed his confidence in the soon-to-release movie.

"I hope you look forward to the chemistry between Hwarim and Bong Gil. You will also see a new side of me that you haven't seen in my past works."

Following his video message, Kim Go Eun acknowledged her perfect chemistry with Lee Do Hyun, "We had great chemistry. Since we are almost the same age, we got along pretty well."

Furthermore, "Exhuma" will hit the cinemas beginning this February.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Lee Do Hyun Dancing? Actor Garners Attention for His Unexpected Performance in Military

What can you say about Lee Do Hyun and Kim Go Eun's upcoming movie? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
In 2021, romance filled the air after Netflix released "Our Beloved Summer" which depicted the story of two young exes who reunited as adults a few years after their breakup.

The drama starred Kim Da Mi and Choi Woo Shik, and delivered a syndrome-level success. Even after two years, "Our Beloved Summer" continues to grow in popularity around the globe.

Missing the cast of the show? Here's what's next for the actors this 2024. Keep on reading to know more.

Kim Da Mi

After coming back to the silver screens last year, Kim Da Mi lands another big scale project. At the moment, she's currently filming her brand new disaster film "The Great Flood" with Park Hae Soo.

In the film, the actress transforms into Anna, an AI development researcher who gets stuck inside her apartment building which is subjected to sinking under water due to the great flood.

Park Hae Soo of "Squid Game" and "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" completes the main cast as Hee Jo, a member of the human resource security team who saves Anna.

The meeting of two award-winning actors heightened the fans' excitement. Meanwhile, the work is still underway. It's expected to be released some time this 2024.

READ MORE: Kim Da Mi Fashion: 3 Styling Tips To Cop From 'Soulmate' Star's Refined Taste

It will hit the big screens nationwide and thankfully, it will also be available for worldwide streaming on Netflix for foreign audiences.

On the other hand, Kim Da Mi's other works including "Soulmate," "Itaewon Class" and "The Witch" film series are worth checking out.

Choi Woo Shik

Despite not appearing in the screens in 2023, Choi Woo Shik widened his horizon by joining the variety program "Jinny's Kitchen" with his good friends, Wooga Squad.

This year is a grand time for the actor's fans as he's set to make his comeback with a slew of multiple projects. At the moment, he's gearing up for his much anticipated film "Wonderland."

It's a sci-fi work that follows the lives of people who reunite with their loved ones through artificial intelligence. The film also stars Suzy, Tang Wei and Park Bo Gum.

Preparation for the film is in the final phase, and the production unit aims to bring comfort to viewers who experience grief and loss. It's slated to be released in the second half of the year.

In addition, he also headlines "A Killer Paradox" opposite Lee Je Hoon and Son Seok Koo, which depicts the chase between a detective and a man who accidentally kills a serial killer.

It consists of a total of 8 episodes, and will be available for streaming on February 9 on Netflix. Furthermore, Choi Woo Shik will also join Lee Jun Young and Park Bo Young in "Melo Movie."

It's penned by "Our Beloved Summer" writer Lee Na Eun. Choi Woo Shik plays Go Gyeom, an actor who becomes a film critic whose dream is to watch every single movie in the world.

Details regarding the work haven't been released yet so stay tuned for more updates.

ALSO READ: Choi Woo Shik Reveals How Living In Foreign Country Affected His Acting Career: 'That's why I was always...'





KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
KDDI Philippines revealed on Monday that it has been contracted by French transportation systems company Thales to build the telecoms infrastructure for the first subway system in the Philippines.

The planned 30-km subway system will connect the northern city of Valenzuela and the southern city of Paranaque in the metro Manila area. Under the contract with Thales  which will supply the transportation systems for the project  KDDI Philippines will construct the telecoms system and fare collection system in collaboration with partner companies.

The telecoms infrastructure includes piping components, cabling work and equipment installation. Deployment of the fare collection system will include installation work of ticket gates and ticket vending machines, and delivery and installation of communication equipment, servers and other equipment.

The KDDI project covers fifteen stations from East Valenzuela Station to NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Terminal 3 Station, as well as the depot and operation control center.

The subway is being built to alleviate the growing traffic congestion problem in metro Manila as the citys population increases. According to Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, metro Manilas population has grown from 7.92 million in 1990 to approximately 13.48 million in 2023, but development of public transportation is lagging behind that growth. The ODA says economic losses due to traffic congestion are estimated to be 3.5 billion pesos (US$64.4 million) per day.

The subway project is being financed by Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA), which signed a loan agreement for 104.5 billion yen (US$709 million) with the Philippine government in March 2018.

KDDI Philippines said it signed its contract with Thales in December 2023.

The subway project is expected to be completed in FY2029.
The family of a Cree elder who spent four days in a Montreal emergency room hallway say they're hopeful that sharing his experience might spur some change for the treatment of patients in Quebec emergency rooms. Matthew Mukash, 72, a former grand chief of the Grand Council of Crees in Quebec, has his bed lowered by his granddaughter Jade Mukash at a hospital in Montreal in a still image made from undated handout video footage. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Pakesso Mukash, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Former mental health and addictions minister Carolyn Bennett is set to become the next ambassador to Denmark, according to a senior government source. Bennett rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Ontario is preparing for the next step in its expansion of private clinics that can offer publicly funded tests and procedures. Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones makes an announcement on healthcare with Premier Doug Ford in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn


Tuesday, January 16, 2024  A bride had her mugshot taken on her wedding day as she and her husband were charged as part of a wider extortion scheme.

Their crimes allegedly involved the La Familia Michoacana drugs cartel in Mexico, with a bride known as Nancy Lizeth N arrested on December 22 along with her soon-to-be husband, Clemente N.

Her partner was dubbed "Raton," meaning "mouse".

Six other men were arrested alongside the bridge and groom, with accusations levelled at the cartel group over their involvement in pressuring chicken merchants of Mexico City

The arrested group is alleged to have kidnapped four employees of a poultry shop in nearby Toluca, with prosecutors now identifying their roles in the scheme.

One suspect aptly nicknamed "Chicken," identified by authorities as Misael N., was said to be controlling "extortion activities" while Santiago N. had driven an "Explorer-type truck" to transport the kidnapped victims.

A third person involved in the extortion attempts, Nabor N., is believed to be a "main order and controller of the chicken and egg trade," the Daily Mail reported. The group has since tried and failed to make some more cash from those involved in the food industry.

Attempting to extort the chicken business and failing to do so has, according to investigating authorities, cost the gang of eight around $ 47 million.

Police are continuing their investigation into the multi-million-pound racket, though authorities are claiming there has been a drop in gang activity despite the group's recent ties to a vicious cartel.

La Familia Michoacana was recently linked to a horrifying drone attack in Southern Mexico earlier this month, with half a dozen people believed to have been killed.




Wednesday, January 17, 2024

- Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka now plans on suing Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over what he termed as misrepresentation of facts in the latter's book, For The Record.

Speaking during an interview, Kalonzo claimed that Duale's account of a visit by former President Uhuru Kenyatta and his successor, William Ruto, to his house, was not factual.

He maintained that he had never told the duo (Uhuru and Ruto) that they would be jailed at the Hague as claimed by Duale.

Kalonzo wondered why the CS could attribute the sentiments to him yet he was not present at the meeting.

According to Kalonzo, the meeting at his house was planned by politician Jimi Wanjigi as they sought to broker a deal and lineup ahead of the 2013 elections.

"Out of that, I have heard stories saying that I said that when the two of them (Uhuru and Ruto) go to jail at the Hague, then I will take over. Can you imagine?

"What Vice President or human being would tell a suffering duo that when you go to jail, I will come and help you?

"That is why I am suing Duale.

"He has written a book on that chapter and he was not there.

"It is a very interesting suit against Duale because he wrote things he does not know.

"Therefore, I recommend Kenyans to read my book," he stated.

Duale has previously referred to the meeting at Kalonzo's home.

According to the CS, Kalonzo was to be the presidential candidate with Uhuru as his running mate.

Ruto was to be the majority leader with each taking 33 per cent of government.

However, according to both Duale and Ruto's accounts, Kalonzo's alleged remarks on the duo being jailed made the deal fall apart.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas ambitions to succeed President William Ruto in 2032 have received a huge blow, after his close allies, led by Nyeri County Governor Mutahi Kahiga, abandoned him.

In an interview with one of the local dailies on Tuesday, Kahiga who talked about the supremacy battle between Gachagua and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, said the future of Mt Kenya leaders belongs to young Turks.

However, Kahiga urged those pushing for 2027 and 2032 succession politics to stop it and let President William Ruto and his deputy implement their manifesto.

I want to urge these young leaders to refrain from talking about 2032 succession politics and instead give Ruto and Gachagua ample time to implement their manifesto, Kahiga stated.

Kahiga spoke days after 15 lawmakers from the Mt Kenya region endorsed Ndindi Nyoro as Rutos successor during the 2032 presidential election.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Analyst company Canalys reported that global smartphone shipments grew 8% year-on-year in Q4 2023 to 320 million units, ending seven consecutive quarters of decline.

Apple was the highest shipping manufacturer with 24% of shipments in the quarter due to its recent iPhone launches, Samsung was second with 17% and Xiaomi took the final podium spot with 13%.

Transsion, owner of Tecno, Itel, and Infinix rose to fourth for the first time with 9% and fellow Chinese manufacturer Vivo completed the top five with 7%.

Canalys Senior Analyst Toby Zhu noted the quarter was aided by improved holiday season demand and that devices in the mid to low-end ranges were the driver of shipment growth, and helped by a rebound in demand in emerging markets, such as the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Canalys Research Manager Amber Liu noted Apple and Samsung saw 1% and 3% market share declines in the quarter despite their top position.

In 2023, Samsung focused on the mid-to-high-end segment for profitability but lost share in the low-end segment and also its leading position in the global market. Its 2024 product launches, especially in the high-end segment with a focus on on-device AI, will support its rebound as an innovation leader in 2024, said Liu.

On the other hand, Apple showed resilience over the past two years, thanks to solid ongoing demand in the high-end segment. The expanded positioning of its iPhone 15 series has pointed to the future direction of Apples portfolio strategy to reach a broader range of consumer segments.

She warned Apple is seeing rising competition from Huawei in mainland China, while high end device replacement in Europe and North America is levelling off. The iPhone maker has to seek new market growth and ecosystem strength to reinvigorate its iPhone business.




Wednesday, January 17, 2024

- Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has praised Interior Cabinet Secretary, Prof Kithure Kindiki, for restoring peace and security in the country.

Speaking during the launch of the affordable housing programme in Nanyuki on Tuesday, Gachagua said the country is currently enjoying security courtesy of the leadership of the soft-spoken CS.

According to Gachagua, the country has never witnessed a more peaceful era than the current one under President Willia Ruto's administration.

"Kindiki has been in charge of security, and now the country is silent.

"For the last 20 years, Kenya has not had peace and security like it is now with Kindiki at the helm of the interior docket and under the overall leadership of President William Ruto," Gachagua said.

At the same time, Gachagua praised leaders from Mt Kenya who have been appointed by the Kenya Kwanza administration to various positions, saying they have not disappointed the president.

"And I want to thank the people from this region who have been given jobs by the government because they have not disappointed the president," the second in command stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Wednesday, January 17, 2024  Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua should just forget about taking over from President William Ruto when he retires.

This is after former Mungiki Leader Maina Njenga also endorsed Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro to take his place as the simmering tensions between the two Mt Kenya politicians hit a crescendo.

Speaking during an interview, Njenga emphasised that if Ndindi Nyoro runs for the presidency in 2032, the region would back his bid.

Njenga noted that it was high time for a president to emerge from Murang'a County, adding the Kiharu MP would be an excellent pick for the top seat.

"We do not refute that Gachagua is the senior leader in the region.

"However, we cannot fail to listen to their voices here, Gachagua cannot work alone," he stated.

Additionally, he dismissed the argument that it was too early for Nyoro to start campaigning for 2032.

In Njenga's view, the time is ripe to lay the groundwork to allow the youthful MP to marshall enough support to succeed President William Ruto.

Njenga described Nyoro as an ambitious politician, asking those blocking his political growth to stop.

He also called upon Mt Kenya leaders to unite and speak in unison to avoid diving the region further.

"I have no problem with the DP, let him do his job and we will do ours. All I can say is one person cannot run the country," he remarked.

Njenga also called upon other politicians to carry out their roles as mandated by the Constitution before the next election.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, January 17, 2024

-

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has dismissed reports of a fallout within the Azimio la Umoja coalition led by Raila Odinga.

Addressing the press yesterday, Kalonzo insisted that the differences in opinions among the Azimio leaders were not an indication of a fallout.

"There is no such thing as Azimio La Umoja Coalition falling apart.

"Its all in peoples imagination because we are committed.

"Differences in opinions here and there cannot be taken as problems within the coalition.

"We are very determined more than ever before to forge a unified position as Azimio La Umoja One Kenya.

"The coalition is as strong as ever," Kalonzo stated.

The former vice president also disclosed that he had spoken with KANU leader Gideon Moi and he is still a member of the coalition.

Reports emerged that there was a split in Azimio after leaders disagreed over the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.

Former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and NARC Kenya leader Martha Karua both rejected the NADCO report which was endorsed by Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka.

The NADCO report has nothing to alleviate the suffering of citizens but it offers goodies to the leadership.

"This is totally unacceptable; it is a fraud upon Kenyans and it should be frowned upon and rejected. It is a distracting national smokescreen, remarked Karua.

On the other hand, despite being a member of the team, Wamalwa insisted that he would not append his signature to the NADCO report.

Raila has insisted that the coalition is firm, and there's no split of the team but just differences of opinions.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, January 17, 2024

- Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka was yesterday forced to defend former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi after a long absence from Azimio meetings and events.

Speaking during the Wiper Party National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, Kalonzo remarked that Moi still subscribed to Azimio ideals.

He added that all Azimio principals were in harmony and rumours of an imminent split were unfounded.

I was in a meeting with Gideon Moi today in the morning and he assured me that he is firmly in Azimio, Kalonzo revealed.

Kalonzo further added that although the KANU party leader never actively participated in any Azimio events, he was always indirectly involved.

Even during the protests, he was represented by KANU Secretary General George Wainaina, he remarked.

Gideon Moi was part of Azimio principals who campaigned for Raila Odinga in the 2022 Presidential election.

Immediately after the elections, Gideon Moi took a backseat in all political activities and has rarely been seen in public political meetings, and has instead chosen to attend family and social functions instead.

Rumours of a split within Azimio stemmed from public disagreements over resolutions made by the National Dialogue Committee which was co-chaired by Kalonzo Musyoka.

Former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Narc Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua stated that they would not support recommendations made by Kalonzos team.

In an escalation of the disagreements, Kalonzo faulted Martha Karua and other Azimio leaders from Mt Kenya for forming a political outfit named Kamwene.

This thing means individualism.

"It's a terrible political philosophy.

"I would advise my friends to leave it and we stick together in Azimio," he stated during a media interview.

Martha Karua in response remarked that Kalonzo was politically afraid of Kamwene.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odingas Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has welcomed the dialogue between President William Ruto and Chief Justice Martha Koome, over corruption allegations in the Judiciary.

Koome on Monday said she is ready to meet with President William Ruto to resolve the differences between the Executive and Judiciary.

However, speaking on Wednesday, ODM Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, said though he welcomes the talks, he said all Kenyans must be included.

Martha Koome akiongea na Ruto lazima Wakenya wakue hapo ndio tujue wanaongea nini, which translates to When Martha Koome talks to Ruto, Kenyans must be there to understand what they are discussing.

Sifunas remark underscores the importance he places on transparency and openness in political discourse, particularly when high-profile figures from different spheres engage in discussions that could have far-reaching implications for the nation.

The unexpected call for talks between the Chief Justice and the President has sparked curiosity among the public, and Senator Sifunas statement reflects the sentiment that such interactions should not be shrouded in secrecy.

Senator Sifunas assertion also highlights the evolving nature of political dynamics in Kenya, where leaders from different branches of government are occasionally prompted to engage in dialogue for the greater good of the nation.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, January 17, 2024 -

The Law Society of Kenya(LSK) has slammed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, over his intention to petition for the removal of High Court Judge Esther Maina.

Gachagua, on Sunday, declared his intention to seek the removal of Justice Maina from office, citing misconduct and corruption.

The second in command accused the judge of declaring his hard-earned wealth amounting to Ksh202 million, proceeds of corruption, without allowing him to be heard.

Reacting to Gachagua's remarks, LSK President Eric Theuri dismissed the DP's utterances against the judge as reckless, given his office.

"We take great exception to the statements that were made by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

"To suggest that a court is wrong or corrupt merely because it made a decision against you is not only reckless but also a case of tragicomedy," the LSK boss stated.

"It suggests to us that the deputy president does not understand the public trust that repossesses in his office and the requirements contained in the public offices' ethics act and the constitution that the actions and utterances of public officers must bring honour and respect to the offices that they hold," he added.

Gachagua is expected to file the petition against Justice Maina on Thursday afternoon.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

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A man suspected of killing a lady at an Airbnb along TRM Drive over the weekend before dismembering her body has been arrested.

A neighbour was called by detectives from DCI headquarters to give information regarding the suspect.

The suspects neighbour saw the CCTV footage and discovered he could be someone he knows in one of the estates in Syokimau.

I used to give him cars for hire, so when I saw the photo on TV I realized its him, he said.

He described the neighbour as a "calm and collected fellow," adding that he saw him in custody but didn't say much as he looked confused.

Two other suspects, including a Nigerian national, have been arrested in connection with the murder.

The Nigerian was arrested at JKIA while boarding a flight to Abuja.

Below are photos of the suspect, whom police believe is the man captured on CCTV booking an Airbnb where he brutally murdered a lady.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - Azimio Leader Raila Odinga has warned Chief Justice Martha Koome against meeting President William Ruto.

Speaking yesterday, Raila said the meeting between Ruto and CJ Koome will compromise the independence of the Judiciary.

Raila argued that the executive has an active case in court and if Ruto meets the Chief Justice the case will be compromised.

The Chief Justice is talking about having a dialogue with the Executive which has got an active case in the court.

"That is how to compromise justice, let the judges do their thing independently.

"We want to tell the Chief Justice not to compromise the position of the court.

She already took the position there is no need for dialogue.

"If I have a case in court I dont need to go and negotiate with the judges, either I am right or I am wrong, said Raila.

The Azimio leader also said the meeting would not only affect the Judiciary but also the entire country.

As a result, he called on Kenyans to stand firm and protect the independent institutions that were created by the constitution.

On Monday, Koome begged Ruto for a sit-down over his recent corruption claims in the Judiciary, and the president obliged.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
DellOro Group predicted revenues from Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) will surpass US$40 billion over the next five years partly due to the increase in subscribers in emerging markets.

The analyst company found FWA spending had surged in recent years to support both residential and enterprise connectivity due to ease of deployment and the widespread availability of 4G and sub-6GHz 5G networks. These enhancements have made FWA connectivity more reliable with improved throughput, performing comparably to fixed broadband.

It was noted that long-term subscriber growth is expected to occur in emerging markets particularly in Southeast Asia and Middle East North Africa. FWA growth in these regions is due to upgrades of existing 3G and 4G networks, and a demand to connect subscribers economically.

Another key technology for connectivity in emerging markets will be satellites from LEO-based providers such as Starlink, OneWeb, and Project Kuiper.

Preliminary data from DellOro found total FWA revenues including RAN equipment, residential CPE and enterprise router and gateway revenue is on track to increase by 27%, for 2023. This will be driven predominantly from residential subscriber growth in North America.

Global FWA revenues are predicted to surpass US$9 billion by 2027 due to sustained investment and subscriber growth in both 3GPP- and non-3GPP-based network deployments.

FWA has proven that it can provide connectivity both in rural and underserved markets while also competing head-to-head with fixed broadband technologies in urban and suburban markets, said DellOro Group VP and analyst Jeff Heynen.

Beyond residential connectivity, enterprises are relying more heavily on FWA-enabled routers and gateways to connect branch offices, vehicles, and kiosks as part of their own private wireless initiatives.




Wednesday, January 17, 2024

- Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged Chief Justice Martha Koome not to meet President William Ruto to resolve the impasse pitting the Judiciary and the Executive.

On Monday, Koome who is the chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) said she is ready to dialogue with the President who has been attacking the Judiciary over corruption.

Speaking in Vihiga County on Tuesday, Raila observed that such a move was likely to compromise the independence of the Judiciary.

"Koome says she wants to hold talks with Ruto.

"This is the beginning of dropping the guard.

"There is no need for such talks.

"If Ruto is unhappy with any court ruling, then he should appeal," Raila said.

The former Premier said that there is already an active case in court in which the court has made a ruling and the Executive has appealed.

"The matter is supposed to be decided on January 25, 2024.

"On the other hand, the CJ is talking about having a dialogue with the Executive.

"That is how to compromise justice.

"Let the judges do their thing independently," Raila stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, January 17, 2024

- ODM leader, Raila Odinga, has condemned the recent brutal killings of young women, among them Pastor Kanyaris sister Starlet Wahu.

Taking to his official social media platforms, Raila said the ugly scourge of murder of women should be declared a national emergency.

He further termed the rising murders of women in the country as a threat to homeland security, adding that murder is and will always be wrong.

It is sad to see a troubling increase in the deaths of young women, leaving a trail of grief for families and friends.

"The abnormality of these murders cannot become the new normal. Murder is and will always be wrong, and there is no excuse.

"The ugly scourge of murder of women is now a national emergency. It is a threat to homeland security. It must come to an end, he wrote.





Railas remarks come amidst a probe of a young lady who was brutally murdered at an Airbnb along TRM Drive over the weekend.

Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder, among them a Nigerian national.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, January 17, 2024

- President William Ruto has agreed to hold talks with Chief Justice Martha Koome and the two Speakers of Parliament following the sustained attacks on the Judiciary in the past two weeks.

Speaking during the commissioning of Tinderet Integrated Technical and Trainers College, Nandi County yesterday, Ruto explained that dialogue was necessary to rid the Judiciary of what he described as a few 'corrupt' individuals who he claimed have kept disrupting the country's development.

"I agree with what CJ says about dialogue and we must have a conversation about corruption and we will not allow graft to impede our development," the Head of State remarked.

"This is the year we will sort out corruption in Kenya. Let me tell you CJ, I am ready to hold a meeting between the leadership of the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature.

"I am ready for the conversation on how we will deal with corruption because it is sabotaging the progress and potential of Kenya."

The President also noted that the conversation should encompass all relevant stakeholders.

"I am going to lead from the front in that conversation so that we can deal with the corrupt who go to court to escape justice and stall government operations.

"They want to hold the system hostage by bribing the Judiciary through hiring expensive lawyers and derailing the progress," he noted.

"I'm confident that we will have that conversation."

On Monday, CJ Koome called for a meeting with Ruto to discuss the issues he has raised in the past weeks over alleged corruption in the Judiciary.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - The family of Rita Waeni Muendo, the 20-year-old woman who was found murdered in an apartment in Roysambu on Sunday, has revealed that the perpetrators demanded ransom hours after her mysterious disappearance.

In a statement, Waeni's father received a message on the fateful day demanding a ransom of Ksh500,000 within 24 hours for her release.

The family then reported the matter to the police and detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

"Additional two messages were sent to the family demanding the ransom. Unfortunately, the family did not get further details about the ransom or an opportunity to explore this route.

"Additionally, some demands were made when she had already been murdered," the statement released by Dr. Lilian Mutea, Family Spokesperson, stated.

Following investigations conducted by the police, the family received a call that Waeni had been brutally murdered.

The family members believe that she was lured by her killer, who also tried to extort money from them, even after killing her.

"We are broken and our lives have been shattered, at the loss of Waeni, and especially how she was killed. Her parents, siblings, and our entire family are yet to come to terms with this tragic event," the family added.

Waeni was described as a devoted girl who was spirited and caring and was dedicated to making a positive impact on society.

Her body was found in a mutilated state on Sunday in an apartment in Roysambu.

Detectives have since arrested three suspects, including a Nigerian national, who is treated as the main culprit in the gruesome murder.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - Governor Susan Kihikas husband, Sam Mburu, is swimming in money, even as millions of Kenyans complain of harsh economic times.

The flamboyant businessman has joined the list of elite Kenyans who own private choppers after importing two American-made AS350 choppers.

The birds were pictured being loaded into trucks at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Kihikas husband was once arrested for defrauding the government of Sh64 million through tax evasion.

Last year, he was also linked to the multi-billion sugar scandal.

Sam Mburu is among the businessmen who funded President Rutos campaigns.

See photos of his choppers.




Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - The family of Rita Waeni, the 20-year-old lady who was brutally murdered at an Airbnb along TRM Drive, has broken silence through their spokesperson, Dr. Lillian Mutea.

The family said that on Saturday, January 13, 2024, the fateful day that their daughter was murdered, she left her aunts residence in Syokimau to meet a friend.

On Sunday, January 14, at 5:00 am, her father received a chilling message from Ritas phone number, demanding a ransom of Ksh 500,000.

The family reported the matter to the police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), initiated investigations.

Two subsequent messages followed, reiterating the demand for ransom

Regrettably, the family could not gather more details or negotiate.

The phone was later switched off.

The ruthless killer demanded ransom from Ritas family even after killing her and dismembering her body.

After a painful and futile search, working with the DCI, we positively identified our child as the girl tragically murdered at the wake of Sunday morning at/or around Thika Road Mall, January 14.

"We believe she was lured by her killer, who also tried to extort money from her family, even after killing her, expressed the grief-stricken family.

Rita was 20 years old and was due to join her fourth and final year of University at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

The family expressed gratitude to DCI for their support and hoped that those responsible for the barbaric murder will be held accountable.

During this period of grief, we kindly request privacy as we mourn the loss of Waeni.

"Our focus is on cherishing the precious memories we shared with her and supporting each other as a family.

"We also appeal to the media for respect and understanding as we cope with this profound loss, the family added.




Wednesday, January 17, 2024

- Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has attacked

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his recent remarks that he plans to file a petition against Justice Esther Maina.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, Kalonzo said he was waiting to see whether Chief Justice Martha Koome would receive Gachagua when he files a petition seeking the removal of Justice Esther Maina.

"He (Gachagua) said he was going to lead a protest.

"I want to see that because that will be the culmination of absurdity about the relationship between the Executive and the Judiciary.

"We are witnessing very absurd situations, and we must say enough is enough.

"Please leave the Judiciary alone," Kalonzo said.

The Wiper Democratic Movement party leader also dismissed claims that he was behind the recent anti-government protests organised by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).

"Some people thought that when I wore my robes and took part in the LSK protest, I had organized that.

"These people have a larger life than I claim to.

"If I can marshal the whole of LSK to go and protest, then they better be very afraid," Kalonzo added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Tuesday, January 16, 2024  A 23-month-old toddler, Retshidisitswe Mahlangu was brutally killed in a hospital in Vereeniging, Gauteng Province, South Africa.

The incident happened on Friday, January 12, 2024, at the Old Vereeniging Hospital popularly known as 21.

Describing Friday's scene, the child's grandmother, Paulina Mahlangu (53) said the toddler was found with a knife still stuck in her head, and her stomach cut open.

Paulina says she was at work when the incident unfolded after her daughter, the child's mother, Nthabiseng Mahlangu, 25, left Retshidisitswe with a friend to run errands.

Nthabiseng had left the child with her friend when she went to run errands in town. This is something she and her friend usually do; they babysit for one another, she explained.

"She says she was surprised to see the friend in town, and when she questioned her about the whereabouts of the kids, the friend said that she left the kids behind.

According to Paulina, Nthabiseng hurried back and found that her toddler was missing.

A search for the toddler ensued and later, her body was discovered near other vacant rooms on the Hospital premises.

This incident has broken us as a family. My daughters friend knew very well that my sister was home, she could have left the child with my sister,

"We have so many questions because up until now, no one can tell us what happened. Even if the person that did this gets caught, it will still not bring back my granddaughters life.

The family says they hope justice will be served.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant, Colonel Mavela Masondo, who confirmed the tragic incident, said that a murder case docket has been launched for investigation.

He urged anyone who might have information that can help in the investigation or assist the apprehension of the suspects to come forward.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - Former Auditor General, Edward Ouko, was filmed at a night party having a good time.

Ouko was dancing to Ohangla tunes while in the company of Siaya Governor James Orengo.

He proved that age is just a number by displaying his energetic dance moves.

Ouko served as Kenyas auditor general for 8 years, meticulously overseeing the nation's financial affairs and ensuring transparency and accountability in government spending.

His dedication to public service earned him respect and recognition.

He is among the senior government officials in the previous regime who left office without being linked to any scandal involving looting of public funds.

Kenyans online expressed their delight in witnessing the former Auditor General's joyful side.

Watch the video and reactions.

Former Auditor General Edward Ouko enjoying his retirement in style. pic.twitter.com/nKGTIVO5ZK  Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) January 16, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Tuesday, January 16, 2024  Mila De Jesus, the 35-year-old Brazilian-born influencer renowned for her transformative weight loss journey, passed away recently after a suspected cardiac arrest.

The news was confirmed by her newlywed husband, George Kowszik.

Mila De Jesus rose to fame on social media after undergoing gastric bypass surgery on October 5, 2017. Just a few months ago, she celebrated the six-year anniversary of the life-changing procedure, sharing before-and-after pictures that captured her remarkable journey.

Beyond her weight loss journey, Mila De Jesus was recognized for her makeup tutorials on YouTube, where she amassed a substantial following of over 100,000.

Four months before her tragic death, Mila tied the knot with George Kowszik.

The influencer, who hailed from Brazil but called Boston her home, leaves behind four children from a previous marriage.

Many have gone on social media to post tributes and condolences.


Tuesday, January 16, 2024  A mother has killed herself and her two children after leaving behind two suicide notes to explain her motive.

Amina, 31, fed her two kids  a son aged 10 and a daughter aged 5  yoghurt laced with rat poison, and she also took the poisoned yoghurt.

Their bodies were found in their rented room.

Amina wrote two notes, one to her husband in which she told him that he is responsible for her death and the children's.

The second note was to her family where she apologised for her actions but said she is tired of life and the fights with her husband.

"I love you all," was her last post on her WhatsApp status.

Scrolla.Africa spoke to the deceaseds brother-in-law Robert Majekwana who confirmed that he found an open bottle of juice, open containers of yoghurt and rat poison.

Robert said he received a call from one of Aminas brothers to inform his wife (the deceaseds sister who is married to Robert) that Amina and her two children had not been seen for some time.

As we left our home in Kempton Park to go to Ivory Park, we received a second call telling us that my sister-in-law had been found dead in their rented room, said Robert.

When I got to their room, I found their cold lifeless bodies on the floor. There was no prospect of life.





Amina had left two suicide notes in their room in Ivory Parks Tokyo section near Tembisa.

To her ex-husband, the father of both children, she wrote: My death and the death of my two children are in your hands. You are responsible . . .

To her family, she wrote: I am sorry. I had to do this. But I am tired of life.

Authorities were called to the scene and paramedics certified all three to be dead.

Neighbours say they have been robbed of a friendly community member.

She never showed any sign of depression. Her children were sweet and always happy playing outside with other children. We will miss them, said one neighbour.

Watch a video below.
Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to revolutionize the practice of medicine by expanding our knowledge and reducing our workload. However, physicians should tread carefully and take heed of the example set by other industries. For example, AI was at the core of the negotiations in the recent 2023 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. AI was a dealbreaker, said Fran Drescher, a union leader of the SAG AFTRA following the capitulation of the movie studios. Included in the deal was an arrangement allowing actors to be compensated for any digital replicas of their work or likeness. Prohibitions were set against the use of AI to rewrite scripts or to require writers to use AI. Movie studios must now disclose the use of any material given to a writer from an AI source, and that writers material should not be used to train AI systems. The months-long strikes took a toll on both parties but resulted in concessions supporting writers and actors. If actors and writers are placing limits on AI, why shouldnt physicians do the same?

The strikes were successful for the SAG and WGA, but as AI advances, these efforts may not be enough to protect their livelihood. AI promises to infiltrate all areas of working life and dramatically change the workforce over the next decade. Even in the best-case scenario, AI will result in major shifts in so-called white-collar jobs that are dependent on creativity and language. AI will increasingly find its way into clinical practice as health care costs and medical knowledge expand. Prominent voices already call for AI in health care to not be questioned. They argue that medical students will only have access to about 6 percent of written medical knowledge by the time of graduation, some of it already outdated, and AI will be necessary to fill the knowledge and workforce gap. Yet, The author of the book Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari, heralds the recent developments of AI as the end of human history, where humans will no longer control what is written, designed, and created. As such, physicians should question the quick adoption of AI.

Current AI training requires immense datasets for creating the weighted properties of the artificial neural networks that replicate human thought. The adoption of the electronic health record (EHR) has allowed for the massive accumulation of data primed to train AI to think like doctors. The promised benefits include ease of access to key clinical information, as well as the synthesis of large datasets for research. Clinical work will become less cumbersome with AI-managed charting, billing, and coding. Supportive medical positions such as medical assistants/scribes may soon be a thing of the past. Systems already in existence have been trained by human clinicians, have one billion minutes of medical dictation, and have ten million ambient encounters.

Sounds good.

We are exhausted, overworked, and burned out. Surely, AI could never fully replace the human comfort and touch required for good bedside manner, a concept that we use to self-soothe. Wake up. AI can already pass the USMLE with a 90 percent accuracy rate. Doctors are already using ChatGPT-4 for curbside consults to reduce the difficulty of producing a differential diagnosis and planning next steps in treatment.

AI is increasingly being used in fields such as radiology to unburden doctors from routine tasks such as looking at normal chest X-rays Robotics are being increasingly utilized in my field of orthopedic spine surgery to improve accuracy and take what once required a human hand, and instill machine-like precision. Finally, AI has also increased its capacity to comfort the patient and provide emotional support that is never subject to fatigue, anxiety, or disillusion.

There are downsides to handing over the keys to a physicians human intellect. Although AI may make our lives simpler in the moment, what will the future hold as we physicians train these systems and as they continue to improve? Should AI systems be able to learn from your clinical likeness and those of other physicians without remuneration?

Once these systems are trained, in place, and self-learning, they may quickly displace those of us who have spent decades training. Cui bono? A small group in a large tech industry. The physician authors of the EHR will be overlooked when powerful AI systems use this wealth of information to become trained. The collective knowledge of all doctors on the EHR is primed to be transferred to AI, which is more capable of synthesizing it.

There are other diabolical problems with AI in medicine. In the future, it may become impossible to get insurance approval for a diagnostic or procedure without AI analysis. This will benefit insurance companies, which will have powerful AI at their disposal to process denials without the burden of human gatekeepers. In response, health care providers/systems will have to deploy AI on their own in an insurance claims arms race. Thus, decision-making will be totally removed from physicians by linking the economics of care to AI systems. This will complete the abdication of decision-making authority from human doctors.

What can be done? Physicians should be aware of when and if they are being used to train AI systems or improve AI products. Regulations should be enshrined that limit the use of AI systems in clinical decision-making or for removing the human wardens of payor decisions. The use of AI should never be mandated or required to provide medical treatment. Health care can and should always be between a patient and a human physician.

We stand on the precipice of losing control of not only our livelihoods but also our bond to patient care. While AI promises to improve human endeavors such as research and clinical decision-making, human teachers will be left in the dust. Certain groups of physicians may suddenly find themselves obsolete as corporate medical institutions find a cheaper way to deliver care with the assistance of physician-trained AI. A whole generation of doctors-in-training may fail to realize their careers and recuperate financial loss from medical training.

William B. Schwartz wrote in 1970, Computing science will probably exert its major effects by augmenting, and in some cases, largely replacing the intellectual functions of the physician. Fifty years later, this prediction is coming to fruition. Doctors go into medicine to pursue a career with endless challenges and demand for creativity. Now, we are entering the realm where difficult clinical decisions, patient counseling, and even procedures will be taken out of our hands. What will be left?

Actors and writers realized the peril of AI and were early to demand that the technology be checked. We as physicians must ensure that AI augments our capabilities and avoid training AI free of cost only to be ultimately replaced. Physicians need to look inward instead of to the tech world to improve our fitness to practice, our creative intellect, and our iron-clad character to provide empathic care. In the New England Journal of Medicine, Drazen et al. argue that AI will not displace humans but instead augment our capabilities. Yet, as a physician, I was trained to consider the worst-case scenario, not the best.

This article was written entirely by human hands and minds.

Yoshihiro Katsuura is an orthopedic surgeon and author of The Spine Encyclopedia: Everything Youve Wanted to Know about Back and Neck Pain but Were Too Afraid to Ask. Eric Chang is an orthopedic surgery resident. Kie Shidara and James Schmidt are premedical students and research coordinators.
Court has directed the immediate arrest of Mr Zhang Jun, a Chinese investor who is on the run for dubiously registering a multi-billion company.

Zhang Jun is jointly charged with fellow businessman Hu Zheheng who was yesterday granted a cash bail of Shs3 million and his passport was confiscated by Court as a security to ensure his return whenever needed.

According to the document signed by Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, police are ordered to arrest Zhang Jun and produce him before the Court on February 12, 2024, to answer the charges of obtaining registration and conspiracy to commit a felony.

These investors are fighting the ownership of a multi-billion concrete electric pole manufacturing company.

Chen Chao, the director and chairman of Entec Electric company based in Tororo dragged Hu Zheheng; his former country manager, and Zhang Jun a former salesman to court for fraudulently obtaining registration for the same company as directors.

Hu Zheheng and Zhang Jun both Chinese businessmen are charged with obtaining registration of Entec Electrical Equipment company by falsely pretending that they were the sole proprietors of the said company.

It is alleged that the two used a strict COVID-19 period and absence of the Director General, Chen Chao to fraudulently register themselves with the Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB) as the directors of Entec Electrical Equipment Company Limited.

Prosecution contends that the accused persons committed the offence on June , 27, 2017 at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau offices in Kampala when they willfully procured registration as the only subscribers of Entec Electrical Equipment Company Ltd.

The two claimed they were the sole owners representing 50 percent each.

The case was yesterday January 16, 2024, adjourned until February 12, 2024 for mention.

This is after the resident State Attorney at Buganda Road Court Joan Keko informed Court that investigations into this case are still ongoing.

Find the Court document below;
The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court in Kampala has summoned Ms. Mary Gorreth Kitutu, Minister in charge of Karamoja Affairs, to appear on February 29, 2024, to answer fresh charges. She is accused of causing a financial loss of Shs1.5 billion to the government by failing to conduct peacebuilding activities in the Karamoja sub-region.

Kitutu is jointly charged with Geoffrey Seremba, the accounting officer in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), and Magezi Deogratius, the under secretary and head of the Pacification and Development Program department, and one Tracy Atuhairwe, an accountant from the OPM.

KFM understands that the charges have been sanctioned by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya.

Between February and June 2022, while serving as Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Ms. Kitutu allegedly failed to carry out peace-building activities in Karamoja, resulting in the Shs1.5 billion loss.

The development comes after the IGG dropped corruption charges against five other officials from the OPM to maintain Seremba and Magezi for illicitly obtaining benefits by authorizing payment of Shs2.2 billion to various staff for peace-building activities without taking due diligence.

Both Magezi and Serembawere present in court on Wednesday to enter plea on the new charges before Grade One magistrate Christopher Opit who has also maintained their earlier bail terms on the request of their lawyer.

Minister Kitutu is still battling charges related to the theft of 14,500 pieces of iron sheets that were meant to benefit Karamoja vulnerable communities. She will be appearing in court on February 12, 2024, for hearing of the said charges.
The Secretary Generals of the opposition Democratic Party (DP) and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) will convene today, Wednesday, January 17, 2024, to assess the progress of their cooperation agreement.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao, also the DPs president-general, signed the agreement on behalf of his party one and a half years ago. President Museveni signed for the NRM.

Democratic Party Secretary General Gerald Siranda confirmed the meeting yesterday, stating it will examine the progress made [or lack thereof] and make adjustments as needed.

There were several issues that were in that cooperation agreement that we want to assess and after that, we will give a report to all our parties on where we are and what we are doing, Siranda told KFM.
The High Court in Kampala is today expected to hear a bail application for suspects in businessman Henry Katangas murder case. The application, for his two daughters Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kakwanza, will be presented before Justice Isaac Muwata.

The sisters are accused of tampering with evidence related to their fathers murder by destroying or moving valuable items. Their mother, Molly Katanga, also faces charges of murder but is currently on criminal summons.

Prosecutors allege that on November 2, 2023, at the familys Nakawa residence, Nkwanzi and Kakwanza intentionally destroyed or concealed evidence with the aim of preventing its use in the judicial proceedings. If convicted, they could face a minimum of three years in prison.

Meanwhile, Molly Katanga reportedly received hospital treatment for injuries sustained during the incident. Notably, the familys shamba-boy George Amanyire and a medical practitioner, Charles Otai, are charged with being accessories after the murder of the family head, Henry Katanga. It is alleged that they assisted the women in evading punishment.

All four suspects are due to appear back in Nakawa Magistrates Court on January 22, 2024. Molly Katangas appearance on the same date is also expected.
The High Court in Kampala has further remanded four suspects in the murder of businessman Henry Katanga.

The suspects, who were seeking to be released on bail were on Wednesday advised to await the outcome of the pending Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) revision application on January 24, 2024.

The suspects including two of Katangas daughters; Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kakweza had asked to present their bail application today in which they seek temporary freedom pending the trial relating to the shooting of their father, Henry Katanga.

The businessman was allegedly gunned down at his home on Chwa 11 Road in Mbuya-Nakawa division on November, 2, 2023.

His two daughters and the widow, Ms Molly Katanga together with the familys shamba boy Goerge Amanyiire, and a medical worker, Charles Otai were pointed at as prime suspects with the four (except the widow) being on remand at Luzira prison on charges of destroying valuable evidence and being accessories after the commission of murder.

The four have since made fruitless attempts to apply for bail, the recent one being today before the High Court.

In their pending application, the four applicants claim it is their constitutional right to apply for bail pending trial, noting that they dont know when police will wind up with the ongoing investigations before trial commences.

The suspects say they are innocent of the charges leveled against them, adding that it is their strong desire to prove it.

The accused pleaded that the High Court releases them on bail because they are the sole breadwinners of their young families.

The widow is accused of murdering her husband and is reportedly admitted to a Kampala-based hospital due to injuries she sustained on the day he died.
The Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) says there are serious challenges that affect member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) that deserve urgent attention.

Speaking to journalists at the partys head offices in Kampala, the head of media and communication at UPC, Mr. Faizo Muzeyi, said the heavy debt burden has enslaved NAM member states since the Arab-Israel war of the early 1970s and this has reduced the capacity to invest in economies and trade as well as create viable opportunities for the youthful population.

He urged the NAM delegates convening at Speak Resort Munyonyo, to come up with practical solutions to the debt trap.

Muzeyi also wants the delegates to pay attention to food insecurity, climate change, poor health, unemployment, migration, and terrorism challenges affecting member states.

Meanwhile, UPC demands focus and decisiveness from NAM in order to restore hope for a better future.

Mr Muzeyi says this demands massive investments in innovation and technology that can boast large-scale production as well as heavy reliance on local raw materials.
Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow - Snow-Ice warning for four counties, in addition to the low temperature warning for the entire country.

The snow and ice warning has been issued for Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo this evening by Met Eireann.

The national forecaster has predicted snow showers leading to some accumulations for these counties.

Potential impacts include difficult travelling conditions and some travel and service disruption.

This latest warning, issued at 4.08 pm on Tuesday evening is in addition to a low temperature and ice warning for the entire country which remains in place until 11am on Wednesday, January 17.

After that, Ireland could wave goodbye to the current cold spell and say hello to a "conveyor belt of storms" from the Atlantic over the next couple of weeks.

That's according to weather forecaster Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather who is monitoring some "nasty" systems headed out way next week.

Alan said: "The Atlantic conveyor belt of storms will come roaring back after this cold spell. Firstly for the weekend and then risk of some nasty systems coming our way next week. Sunday and Tuesday likely to see first two systems with Tuesdays looking potentially nasty."
The Cork County Board has officially stated that a conclusive decision is still pending on the naming rights for Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Retailer, SuperValu, were poised to secure naming rights to the stadium for an initial five-year period.

The possible agreement, reportedly has an estimated value of up to 1.5 million, seeing the possibility of rebranding Cork's revered GAA venue as SuperValu Pairc.

A statement from Cork GAA said: "While no matter had been finalised prior to the meeting of delegates to the County Board on Tuesday evening, both sides have been conscious of the public debate that followed recent speculation in the media.

"SuperValu and Cork GAA remain committed to continuing their engagement, as both parties share a common interest in supporting Gaelic games across the county, and discussions are continuing."

Pairc Ui Chaoimh, steeped in history and tradition, holds a special place in the hearts of GAA enthusiasts. The potential alteration of its name has generated diverse reactions among fans, with some expressing concerns about the potential commercialisation of a venue deeply entrenched in sporting legacy.
Two bishops who govern the dioceses covering Roscrea have issued a joint statement in response to the ongoing protests outside a hotel accommodating asylum seekers in the town.

The Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Killaloe, Limerick and Tuam, Michael Burrows, said they have found it "disturbing and sad to see some of the strong protests against the arrival of people seeking emergency accommodation in Roscrea, and also other venues and locations of the country."

"Many of our ancestors were at one time economic migrants, and our children today continue to travel to gain work and life experience. We Irish, more than most, know what it is like to be a stranger in a foreign land," they continued.

They have appealed for calm and "for a peaceful approach to the issues involved".

"Our joint appeal is for us all to keep on mind the bigger picture and the emergency situation that presents itself," the statement from their Excellencies read.

"Many of the people coming to our shores are coming from very distressful situations and are in dire need of refuge and shelter. They deserve whatever level of help can possibly be offered and provided, even if it involves some sacrifice or inconvenience, going the extra mile, so to speak."

The statement praised the "great tradition of hospitality, welcome and friendship" of the people of Roscrea, and welcomed the announcement of the government of "extra provision for local areas in relation to health, education and policing".

"It is our strong hope also that these developments will be accompanied with an increased level of communication and consultation of local communities involved or affected should any new projects arise."

"As we enter this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from January 18 to January 25, we pray that all who follow the way of Jesus Christ would pray for peace and an end to war and conflict in the many troubled spots of the world," the statement concluded.
After viewing a city council meeting earlier this month, a Columbia man claims he filed an election violation complaint against several council members for comments they made.
Israel and Hamas have agreed deal on medicine for hostages, aid to Gaza, Qatar says
A family in Paola is heartbroken after losing more than a dozen animals in an early morning barn fire. Now, the Johnson-Schenk Rescue and Alpaca Farm is looking for ways to move forward.
Ohio police used flash-bangs during raid of home with toddler on a ventilator inside, body camera footage shows
The White House is seen under a dusting of snow January 15 in Washington DC. Congressional leaders have been invited to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden about the future of a supplemental spending bill, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced.
By Kim Hyun-bin

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok met with Cezar Manole Armeanu, the Romanian ambassador to Korea, Tuesday, to foster stronger economic and cultural ties between the Korean port city and the European country.

Yoo emphasized Incheon's global prominence in biopharmaceutical production, its leadership in air mobility and environmentally sustainable energy conversion, and its role as a hub for internationally acclaimed semiconductor post-processing companies.

Expressing optimism, he underscored the potential for establishing robust economic cooperation and collaboration across various sectors between Incheon and Romania.

Furthermore, Yoo articulated a vision to bolster networks with the 7.08 million overseas Koreans, serving as "private economic diplomacy envoys" in 193 countries. This initiative aims to position Incheon among the world's top 10 cities, fostering international partnerships and growth.

During the meeting, Yoo announced the imminent opening of the Honorary Consulate of Romania in Songdo, Incheon, Jan. 26. He hoped that the consulate would offer valuable assistance to more than 300 Romanians residing in Korea, as well as those visiting for education or business purposes, thereby contributing to meaningful bilateral exchanges.

With the establishment of the new Romanian Honorary Consulate in Songdo following similar offices in Daejeon and Busan, expectations are high for enhanced consular support for Romanians in Korea. The consulate is poised to play a pivotal role in boosting trade and investment relations between Romania and Korea.

Romania, renowned for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, forged diplomatic ties with Korea in 1990. The cooperation between the two nations has flourished, particularly in sectors such as nuclear power plant construction and energy and the defense industry. As of 2022, bilateral trade between Korea and Romania surpassed $1.3 billion, showcasing the strength and depth of their collaborative efforts.

The meeting between Yoo and Armeanu signals a positive step towards furthering the longstanding relationship between Incheon and Romania, with both parties expressing enthusiasm for the future of their multifaceted partnership.
By John J. Metzler

Islamic Iran is pulling the strings and its local stooges are jumping to them threatening

global commerce. But beyond Hamas terrorists in Gaza, or Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, a new seaborne threat has emerged in the Red Sea, a vital waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean.



The Houthi militants, a Yemeni-based Islamic militia have taken their fight from the mountainous lands of the Arabian Peninsula to the Red Sea, which serves as a key commercial conduit for merchant ships sailing between Europe and East Asia. Officially the Houthis are involved in a decade-long civil war with Yemens central government, and among other things have caused wider poverty and population dislocation in their already poor country.



The current attacks on and seizing of ships recall memories of the Somali pirate threat of a decade ago.



But the Houthis have upped the ante with drones and long-range missile attacks, supplied by Iran, to harass both merchant vessels and ships of the U.S. Navy and its allies escorting them. The armed militants seized the Japanese-operated cargo vessel Galaxy Leader in November and still hold the ship and its crew hostage.



The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, were declared a terror organization by the U.S. State Department until President Biden removed them from the nefarious status during the first weeks of his administration.



The Red Sea resembles a giant bottle with two necks; an entrance on the northern top at the Suez Canal controlled by Egypt and the exit in the southern Bab El-Mandeb Straits bordering lawless Yemen. In fact, six different countries surround the Red Sea among them Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Egypt and Yemen.



Approximately 15 percent of international trade transits through the Red Sea; rerouting vessels around South Africas Cape of Good Hope adds at least an additional 10-day journey, thus increasing shipping costs and straining supply chains.



Top merchant shipping companies such as Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have halted Red Sea transits.



Significantly the U.S. Navy as well as France maintain a base in nearby Djibouti so Navy resources while stretched are not remote to the strategic region. More ominously China also has a military base in Djibouti not far from the Western installations.



Currently, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is on station off the coast of Yemen, supported by other ships such as the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea and guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely. The Aircraft Carrier Strike Group packs a powerful punch with its Naval Air Squadrons.



Recently when the American ships have come under attack from the land-based Houthis, they have responded in self-defense; a U.S. ship sank three Houthi craft killing 10 militants. In mid-December, the destroyer USS Carney shot down 14 Houthi-launched unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea.



In a separate development in adjoining waters, U.S. Naval Institute News reports that Indian Navy commandos secured the hijacked Liberian-flagged Lila Norfolk last week after a 24-hour confrontation off the Somali Coast in the Arabian Sea. This swift response comes as New Delhi reinforces its presence in the area, surging ships and aircraft to deter attacks on international shipping in the Western Indian Ocean Region.



Currently, the U.S. Navy expends significant resources to shoot down missiles and drones. According to Central Command, the Houthis have made 23 attacks on targets in the Red Sea since Dec. 19.



The U.N. Security Council met to consider the current crisis but with little tangible effect. American deputy Ambassador Christopher Lu stated, We also know that Iran has been deeply involved in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Amb. Lu added, that current attacks pose grave implications for maritime security, international shipping and commerce.



Amb. Lu stressed, the threat to navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea is a global challenge and necessitates a global response.



Currently, Iran is profiting from its widening oil sales to China and has extra cash to support various militant proxy forces such as the Houthis and Hamas. In parallel, an emboldened Islamic Republic is using the Houthis to threaten both American and European commercial interests as well as bring yet another level of destabilization to the volatile Middle East amid the Israel-Gaza war.



Israels representative Gilad Erdan warned that Iran seeks to dominate the Middle East and beyond under Shiite hegemony; he added Iran is a global danger.



So lets get serious about Irans provocations.





John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues He is the author of "Divided Dynamism: The Diplomacy of Separated Nations; Germany, Korea, China."






Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Variably cloudy with snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Cloudy with snow. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 26F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
In a momentous achievement, AOA, the South Korean girl group, has etched its name in the digital hall of fame as their 2014 hit "Miniskirt" music video gracefully breached the 100 million views threshold on YouTube.

This monumental milestone not only marks a significant triumph for AOA but also stands testament to the enduring appeal of their captivating visuals and infectious tunes.

A Decade in the Making: "Miniskirt" Hits the Century Mark

The captivating journey to 100 million views commenced precisely a decade ago, as AOA unveiled the music video for "Miniskirt" on January 16, 2014.

Fast forward ten years, and the video has emerged as a digital titan, becoming AOA's inaugural music video to cross the coveted 100 million views milestone. The timing of this accomplishment on the exact date of its release adds an extra layer of resonance to the celebration.

INCASE YOU MISSED THIS: Missing AOA? Here are the Current Activities of the Members

A Pioneering Feat for AOA

AOA's "Miniskirt" is not merely a music video; it is a cultural touchstone that has left an indelible mark on the K-pop landscape.

The achievement reflects the enduring popularity and timeless allure of AOA's music, resonating across generations of fans. The fact that it took a full decade to reach this milestone underscores the sustained, organic growth of the video's viewership.

Stylish Resurgence: Reliving the "Miniskirt" Magic

As fans and music enthusiasts alike celebrate this achievement, AOA invites everyone to relive the magic of "Miniskirt."

The music video, known for its stylish and visually appealing narrative, encapsulates the essence of AOA's artistic prowess. Its resurgence on YouTube serves as a nostalgic journey for longtime fans and a captivating introduction for new audiences discovering the group's iconic hits.

A Toast to AOA's Continued Success

The journey to 100 million views is not just a numerical triumph but a testament to AOA's enduring impact in the realm of K-pop.

As congratulations pour in from fans worldwide, AOA stands at the pinnacle of a decade-long achievement, with "Miniskirt" serving as a timeless beacon of their cultural significance. Here's to AOA's continued success, and may their music continue to captivate audiences for years to come.

Witness the stylish allure of AOA's "Miniskirt" once again by watching the milestone music video below:



YOU MIGHT ALSO INTERESTED IN: FNC Criticized for 'Incompetence' Following AOA Chanmi's Confession

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Cassidy Jones.
Could THIS fifth-gen idol be a lookalike of Kim Jaejoong?

Here's why netizens are divided over the rookie's comparison to the second-gen icon.

LUN8 Dohyun Touted as Kim Jaejoong's Lookalike, Comparison Ignites Debate Among K-pop Fans

On January 16, netizens gathered in an online community titled, "The rookie male idol who slightly reminds me of Hero Jaejoong during his debut days."

In the post, the author uploaded several photos of Jaejoong in his rookie days, flaunting a loose, hairstyle with spiky bangs covering his forehead, which was a common styling during the K-pop's early days. See the photos below:

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: LUN8's Last-Minute Schedule Cancellation Sparks Wild Speculation - Find Out Why

The author then revealed that Dohyun of the fifth-gen K-pop boy group LUN8 somehow resembled the legendary idol. This was due to Dohyun's facial structure, alongside his almost-similar hairstyle with parted bangs, lip shape, and eyes.

However, in the comments section, K-netz disagreed with the author's claims. They remarked how Dohyun only looked like Jaejoong during the first few photos, as the resemblance faded when the idol was displayed in a different angle.

Read their comments below:

"No at all, but he looks handsome and fresh."

"He's handsome but Hero Jaejoong? Where?"

"I can kinda see it on the one with the blue cardigan."

"He only looks like him in the first picture.

"Only on the 1st picture."

Disagreeing with the resemblance to Kim Jaejoong, netizens also mentioned other K-pop idols with similarities to Dohyun in the visual department. They included well-known artists such as NCT Jaemin, TEMPEST Eunchan, Pentagon Yanan, ZB1 Gyuvin, RIIZE Seunghan, and more.

"I can see it in some pictures, but in others, he looks like other idols. He's handsome either way."

"He looks like Jaemin, but I'm not sure about Hero Jaejoong."

"He looks like Eunchan from Tempest."

"Seunghan looks like him in my opinion."

"Reminds me of Pentagon Yanan."

"I saw it for a SPLIT second in his 4th pic but not after that. They don't look alike."

"He kind of looks like Gyuvin."

"I can see Sungchan instead."

"He looks like Kim Gyuvin + Bae Jinyoung more than Jaejoong. I would believe someone if they told me he was a distant relative, but I don't see Jaejoong himself."

"I think Taeyong and The Boss' Karam look the most like him."

LUN8 made their debut on June 15, 2023, when they released their first mini album "Continue?" along with its double title tracks "Voyager" and Wild Heart."

The group is also under Fantagio, the agency of third-gen representative ASTRO. LUN8 is composed of eight members, namely Dohyun. Chael, Jinsu, Takuma, Junwoo, Ian, Ji Eunho, and Eun Seop.

On November 22, 2023, LUN8 debuted their first-ever sub-unit LUN8wave with digital single "Playground."

Do you see the resemblance between Dohyun and Jaejoong? Let us know in the comments below!

Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Who Is LUN8? Debut Date, Members' Profile, Ages, Concept, More About ASTRO's Brother Group

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Riely Miller
Contrary to claims that ITZY's new album is a "flop," the media and music critics gave their reviews to the group's performance so far.

On January 8, the "4th-gen leader" ITZY started the 2024 by unveiling their new mini-album, "BORN TO BE," with the title track, "UNTOUCHABLE."

Upon release, criticisms poured in, claiming that ITZY failed to meet the K-pop fans' expectations. This is considering how they used to create a huge hit with each of their songs when they were rookies.

Media, Music Critics Recognize ITZY's Rise in Charts + Powerful Performance

Despite the mixed reviews, international media Billboard expressed its high expectations to the group and acknowledged its rise.

The U.S. music chart analyzed that ITZY has quickly risen to international stardom by appearing on various Billboard charts since its debut, just like K-pop girl groups BLACKPINK and TWICE.

With their new mini-album, "BORN TO BE," Billboard is looking forward to the quintet's future global performance.

ALSO READ: ITZY Fails to Create Another Hit With 'Untouchable' According to GP: 'Unappealing members and song...'

Aside from the media, even music critics only have high praises for ITZY, such as popular music critic Kim Do Heon, who said on January 16:

"The new album, 'BORN TO BE' is music with a powerful performance-centered concept that ITZY has not shown before. It is creating a new moment in the girl group performance world."

Ha Jae Geun, another popular culture critic, left good words for the girl group, saying:

"ITZY shows that they are still trying new things and growing with this new album. Their achievements are significant as there is no other K-pop girl group that puts forth strong performances like ITZY."

ITZY's 'BORN TO BE' Achievements

Not only the rave reviews of media and music critics can prove that ITZY is cementing their "K-pop Performance Queen" through their new album, "BORN TO BE."

Global K-pop fans also responded fondly to ITZY's charismatic transformation by giving them musical achievements.

Based on Hanteo Charts as of January 15, ITZY rose to the top of the world chart in the second week of January, immediately after its comeback.

The World Chart is Hanteo Chart's comprehensive chart compiled based on global data of K-pop artists, including albums, music sources, certifications, SNS, and media.

The new album also took first place on the weekly album chart, winning two awards, and swept first place on the Circle Chart's retail album chart for the second week, proving strong interest.

Their album sales are also not as bad as claims. Although they didn't beat their previous initial sales (sales in the first week after its release) of their last album, "KILL MY DOUBT," they still amassed 320,000 albums for "BORN TO BE" which is considerably huge for a K-pop girl group.

As of January 17, the official MV for its title track, "UNTOUCHABLE" has over 7.6 million views, 8 days after its release.

READ MORE: ITZY's Relevance Scrutinized Due to 'Declining' Album Sales: 'Their journey is quite sad'

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson.
Chinese actress and famous lookalike of IVE member Jang Wonyoung, Zhao Lusi, is being slammed for supposedly mocking how the K-pop idol eats strawberries. Keep on reading for all the details.

Jang Wonyoung Lookalike Slammed for Mocking How IVE Member Eats Strawberries

On January 13, 2024, Chinese media outlet China Daily released an article claiming actress Zhao Lusi is being slammed for mocking IVE member Jang Wonyoung.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: IVE Jang Wonyoung Made THIS Much Money in 2023

Zhao Lusi is currently the advertising model for luxury cosmetic brand L'Occitane in China. As their model, Zhao Lusi shot a commercial with the concept of "Winter Strawberry Makeup."

In a behind-the-scenes video of the ad, Zhao Lusi was seen eating strawberries with an exaggerated expression.

FOR YOU: 12 K-pop Idols Who Were 'Forcefully Hated' in Community: IVE Jang Wonyoung, Red Velvet Yeri, BLACKPINK Jennie, More

Due to her reputation as a Jang Wonyoung lookalike, many took to social media to claim the actress was mocking the K-pop idol.

In 2021, Jang Wonyoung, along with her other IVE members, appeared on MBC's "Omniscient Interfering View." During the show, Jang Wonyoung was seen holding a strawberry with two hands and biting into it in a cute way.

After the clip went viral, many accused Jang Wonyoung of trying too hard to be pretty and being overly conscious of the camera.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: IVE Jang Wonyoung's Surprising Acts Caught Off-Cam - 'I thought she only had a..'

Many Chinese internet users have slammed Zhao Lusi, saying she is trying too hard to copy Jang Wonyoung. This is not the first time this accusation has come out.

In July of last year, Zhao Lusi was accused of copying Jang Wonyoung's make-up style and fashion sense.

Some comments read:

"Zhao Lusi is copying Jang Wonyoung again."

"I think Zhao Lusi and Jang Wonyoung are the only people who eat strawberries like that."

"Why is she trying so hard to be like Jang Wonyoung?"

In other news, Zhao Lusi opened a dessert cafe back in 2021. The cafe has been slammed for the alleged unathorized use of paintings by Korean illustrator Lee Seul Ro as decorations.

FOR YOU: IVE Wonyoung Stuns DIVE by Single-handedly Fixing Mistranslations at Prestigious Awards Show- 'She is really an...'

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

IVE Jang Wonyoung Recent Activities

IVE released their debut studio album, "I'VE IVE," on April 10, 2023.

Jang Wonyoung was confirmed to host the 8th Asia Artist Awards in December 2023, alongside co-hosts Kang Daniel and Sung Hanbin. Jang Wonyoung was present for the Paris Fashion Week presentation of Miu Miu's 2024 Spring/Summer collection on October 3.

She was later ranked as the 13th most influential person at Paris Fashion Week by influencer marketing platform Lefty, and her presence brought in an estimated $3 million in media value for Miu Miu.

MORE JANG WONYOUNG: IVE Wonyoung's Scorching Hot Bra Photos Ignite Internet Frenzy - 'How could a princess be a..'

IVE released their third extended play, "I'VE MINE," on October 13. The announcement that Jang would host the 2023 KBS Music Bank Global took place on November 26.

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
Founded in 1883 as a state teachers college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, JSU offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate level. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1 or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.
Enterprise Mayor William Cooper and EHS honor graduate Faith Alexander were honored at the Community Awareness Organizations 35th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration held Sunday afternoon at the Enterprise Civic Center.

The Enterprise mayor was honored was the Community Awareness Organizations Excellence in Community Service award. Coopers selection, said Community Awareness Organization President Gloria Wheeler, was for the extraordinary contributions you have made and continue to make for the betterment of Enterprise as the City of Progress.

Cooper was sworn in to office as mayor of Enterprise 2017, after serving more than 28 years as the citys first African-American councilman. The son of the late Marie and Robert Cooper Sr. of Dothan, graduated from Dothan City Schools and Alabama State University before being hired in 1963 as band director at the then all-African American Coppinville High School. He served as a band director and school administrator for 43 years. You took the time to mold some students, and to break the mold of others, to ensure that they would learn that there was a big difference between attending school 12 years and getting an education, Wheeler said. You personify and embody what it means to be a public servant, you continues to make yourself accessible to the people, you listen proactively to hear them not just with your ears but with your heart because you are guided by the core believe that government is about helping people and improving their lives.

Wheeler told the visibly surprised Cooper that they had considered giving him a key to the city as an award. But then we realized you already have all the keys to the city, she said.

Enterprise High School graduate and now a Tuskegee University student Faith Alexander was awarded the Community Awareness Organizations Scholarship. The daughter of Deborah Alexander graduated EHS with a 4.6 GPA and the student leader has earned a 3.5 GPA in her first semester of college.

The event at the civic center was the second of two MLK commemorations held Sunday in Enterprise. Embracing the national theme of theme of Shifting the cultural climate through the study and practice of King-ian nonviolence, both ceremonies focused on service.

An earlier ceremony Sunday, hosted by the Enterprise Ministerial Alliance and Good Samaritan Helping Hands, the MLK Day of Service Ceremony and Memorial March kicked off at 2 p.m. on the steps of Enterprise City Hall. The event culminated in a walk from Enterprise City Hall to Liberty Missionary Baptist Church.

Cooper, New Brockton Councilman Ronald Terry, Elba Councilman Jonathan Lockett, Level Plains Councilman Cornelius Burrows, and Sgt. First Class Randy Terry from Fort Novosel were joined by members of the L.A. Dream Center, the Wiregrass Hispanic Outreach and the Wiregrass Black Chamber of Commerce in addressing the group about the importance of community service.

King sacrificed his life to bring justice and equal opportunities for people of all races, creeds, and color in America and all over the world, Pastor Rodrick Caldwell, keynote speaker, told those assembled on the city hall front steps. His life and extraordinary contributions have blessed so many and should always be remembered.

Love in Action starts with us, said Community Awareness Organization Board Member Anne Bridgette at the Community Awareness Organizations 35 Annual MLK Jr. Celebration held later at the Enterprise Civic Center.

Let us recommit our lives to the vision of Martin Luther King Jr, said Coffee County Commissioner Jimmy Jones, who spoke at both events. King heard Scriptures command to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. His legacy must live on through each of us.

Enterprise City Councilwoman Sonya Rich agreed. Dr. King inspired action. This is a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities, she said welcoming the hundreds attending the civic center ceremony. Think about how you can give back, how you can be a better neighbor. Dr. Kings family wants the day to be a day of honor  a day on, not a day off.

An inaugural Enterprise Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Day Celebration, sponsored by the Community Awareness Organization and under the direction of Melissa Carpenter and Lawrence Jackson, was held the day before at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church on Rucker Boulevard.

The talents of youth were also featured at Sundays celebration as the Youth Praise Dancers of Johns Chapel AME Church, under the direction of Corrina Knight, performed a tribute to King. Choral and instrumental music was provided by the City-wide King Mass Choir, under the direction of Yolanda Daniels-Milton and Joe Merida, organist.

We celebrate Kings life and contributions to our country and the world, said Ninth Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal Church Episcopal Supervisor Rev. Sherita Moon Seawright, keynote speaker at civic center. We hail his courage as he fought for racial justice and equality.

During his nonviolent journey through America, as a people, we made strides as never before. His impact gave us boldness in moving forward as a people, Seawright said. He laid the foundation for several areas of life for people of color in America. We displayed pride in our race. We broke barriers in social and civic leadership.
FORT NOVOSELThe saying goes, Seek and you will find. Students from the Coffee County Youth Leadership Program (CCYLP) came seeking leadership examples, lessons, and career opportunities as they visited Fort Novosel on Jan. 10.

According to the Chairman of the CCYLP Gavin Mauldin, thats exactly what they found. The CCYLP includes students from six different high schools across Coffee County, including Kinston, Enterprise, Elba, Zion Chapel, New Brockton, and Enterprise Christian Academy, who applied and interviewed to be in the program during their junior year.

Their first stop in the morning during the community engagement tour was at the Engagement Skills Trainer inside the Training Support Center. The students familiarized themselves with various weapons, learned how to zero them, and were able to send virtual rounds down range on the trainers during different scenarios.

Students visited Knox Heliport where they got up close and personal with the CH-47 Chinook. Staff Sgt. Colten Lockard from 1-223rd Aviation Regiment connected with each of the youth leaders and discussed the history of the CH-47, its place in Army Aviation, the various leadership roles of each crew member, and the various career opportunities at Fort Novosel.

Students learned that having the proper training and utilizing the correct equipment to accomplish the mission is also an important part of leadership. For each member of the team to function properly they need to be highly trained and properly equipped to succeed.

Rodolfo Gutierrez from Enterprise High School said, Being inside the helicopter and putting on the equipment that these aviators wear was amazing. It gave me a real sense of what its like to be an Army Aviator here at Fort Novosel.

I learned a lot about leadership today, specifically when it comes to what it takes to pilot an aircraft and lead crew members to accomplish their mission. Good communication skills are important in the air and on the ground. It really is a team effort from everyone involved, said Elba High School student Alyssa McFarland.

The final stop on the tour was at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum which maintains a collection of over 160 military aircraft, including one of the largest collections of military helicopters in the world. The students learned more about the history of Aviation through the many exhibits, and memorabilia and how it related to what they experienced throughout the day. Lt. Col. Macky Price, Battalion Commander of the 1-212 Aviation Regiment spoke with the students, explaining what leadership is and the various ways they can implement it into their lives.

If we cant define what leadership is, then how can we be an effective leader? said Price. Leadership and how you interact with people goes hand in hand so helping these students understand how the two coincide together is important for their growth into future leaders in their communities.

If you are interested in a tour of Fort Novosel for your school, JROTC, or community leadership group please call Public Affairs at (334) 255-2551.
By Ravi Khandelwal

Davos [Switzerland], January 17 (ANI): Germany-headquartered energy company Green Energy 3000 GmbH's Managing Director, Lutz Andreas Renker, said on Wednesday that India has an unlimited market for renewable energy and the company was planning to set up a total of 1000MW solar projects in two 500MW tranches.

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"At the moment, it (India) is an unlimited market for renewable energy, as it is the cheapest energy, cheaper than coal-fired plants, cheaper than nuclear plants, so way is open for renewable energy from an economical point of view," Renker told ANI, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He spoke to ANI from the Maharashtra pavillion.

The advantage specific in India is the ample space, he said. "We want to start with 500MW (two of them) and in total 1000 MW solar."

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"Project is not that easy to realise in Europe for example, but here (in India) we can do," he said.

"We have a long history of developing such projects in Europe, also in Asia. ...About the very good contacts that we have in India, we have announced to start a project here," he said.

India committed to an ambitious five-part "Panchamrit" pledge at COP26 held in 2021. They included reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, to reducing emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030.

India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070.

India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, is dependent on crude oil from various sources in the global market to meet its domestic demand.

The setting up of new renewable energy projects will in the long run help save India's exchequer, besides making the country self-reliant in energy. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Davos [Switzerland], January 17 (ANI): India, with a large population base, has its inherent advantages when it comes to green hydrogen, said Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri, asserting that there will be a large energy demand as the country transitions to greener sources of energy.

"Green Hydrogen is the fuel of the future. I think the world focuses on Green Hydrogen as the fuel of the future. India has some inherent advantages because we have a large consuming population, there will be a large demand for energy and as we transition to greener energy, Green Hydrogen will arrive on our scene sooner than later," he told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

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India committed to an ambitious five-part "Panchamrit" pledge at COP26 held in 2021. They included reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, to reducing emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030.

India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070.

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The Union Cabinet in early January 2023 approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission, aiming to make India a global hub for such technologies' production, utilisation, and export. India meets a sizable portion of its energy needs through imports, and this green hydrogen mission is seen as an avenue to reduce the dependence on imported fuel.

India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, is dependent on crude oil from various sources in the global market to meet its domestic demand.

The setting up of new renewable energy projects will in the long run help save India's exchequer, besides making the country self-reliant in energy. (ANI)

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

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 17: Health and nutritional benefits of Collagen need no special mention. Still, it hardly touches the lives of pure vegetarians since the product so far was exclusively derived from animals.

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This track-record, however, is set to change now, as INJA Wellness, one of the fastest growing health & wellness companies, recently launched India's first-ever pure veg Collagen.

Clinically proven and FSSAI-approved, INJA Veg Collagen is a breakthrough product of intense research, claimed Bhavesh Sheth, Founder of INJA Wellness.

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"Traditionally, Collagen was derived exclusively from animals. It means, vegetarians were not getting the benefits of Collagen. There are Veg Collagen boosters and builders, however they are not Collagen. INJA is the first to launch pure Veg Collagen in the Indian market," said Sheth.

INJA's Veg Collagen emulates the amino acid profile of animal derived Collagen and is clinically proven. Unlike other products in the market, INJA Wellness Collagen is not a booster or a builder, but REAL Veg Collagen. It is a holistic solution designed to address various aspects of well-being.

The product is in a powder form and comes in three delightful flavors: Natural, Green Apple, and Blackcurrant. Each 150-gram pack is priced at INR 2,500, making it accessible to individuals seeking better health benefits.

The key features and benefits of INJA's Veg Collagen include: reduction in wrinkles, improvement in skin hydration and elasticity, thickening of hair, and reduction in hair fall, besides enhanced muscle strength and improved joint health.

"Just add one scoop of INJA Collagen to a glass of water and drink. Do it daily, and you would soon experience its transformative power working from within. You will feel much better and healthier. That is for sure," Sheth enthused.

Interestingly, Collagen constitutes over 30% of all proteins in the human body, and about 80% of our skin's proteins which ensures good skin health. Lack of Collagen leads to wrinkles and weak muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, bones, hair and nails.

As people have become more health conscious, the demand for Collagen products has steadily been rising, world over. "We are seeing substantial demand among individuals aged 35 and above, predominantly among women, with significant increase in interest amongst men aged 40," revealed Sheth.

INJA Wellness, he said, is committed to bringing the finest products to facilitate great health & wellness for all. "For now, INJA Veg Collagen is available online on our website and all major marketplaces. You can also get it from select retail stores, pharmacy chains, nutritional supplement stores and health professionals," Sheth said.

INJA Wellness is a leading name in the health and wellness industry and has been rated as the No. 1 Collagen brand of India.

With a commitment to excellence and a focus on customer satisfaction, INJA continues to lead the way in introducing groundbreaking solutions to the Indian market. The company started off with just 1 product imported from Japan. Currently, INJA Wellness has 11 different SKUs in Collagen, and is dedicated to providing innovative and high-quality products to enhance the overall well-being of women & men, across the world.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chandigarh, Jan 17 (PTI) Chandigarh Congress leaders on Wednesday met party councillor Jasbir Singh Bunty at his home here after the Congress moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court with a habeas corpus petition, accusing police of not allowing them to meet him.

The development came a day after a scuffle broke out between BJP and Congress-AAP workers when Bunty came to withdraw his nomination papers from the post of mayor at the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation office. The mayoral polls of the civic body will be held on Thursday.

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President of the Congress' Chandigarh unit H S Lucky had alleged that BJP workers had tried to take Bunty away forcibly from the corporation's office. The Congress had also accused the BJP of misusing police to poach him.

Lucky said he was allowed to meet Bunty at his residence here by police. Senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal also met the councillor.

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During the meeting, Bunty reiterated that he was with the Congress, Lucky said. Bunty and his father also posed for a photo with Bansal and Lucky.

Lucky said he had moved the high court on Tuesday night against the Chandigarh Police for not allowing Congress leaders to meet Bunty, alleging he had been "detained" at his residence.

The BJP has rejected the allegations, saying it was Bunty's father who had alleged that he was not allowed to meet his son by the Congress.

In the habeas corpus, the petitioner's counsel submitted before justice Alok Jain that police authorities were not letting Bunty move freely which is a violation of his fundamental rights.

Following the scuffle between BJP and Congress-AAP workers, police had brought Bunty to his residence in Attawa here from the municipal corporation's office. Several policemen have been deployed outside the Bunty's residence.

Bunty was initially the Congress' candidate for the post of mayor.

But after the Congress and the AAP sealed an alliance for the mayoral posts, a decision was taken that the AAP will fight for the post of mayor and the Congress nominees will contest the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.

The AAP and the Congress forged an alliance on Monday for the upcoming Chandigarh mayoral polls.

In the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the BJP has 14 councillors. It also has an ex-officio member MP who has voting rights.

The AAP has 13 councillors and the Congress seven. The Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor in the House.

(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, Jan 17 (PTI) A Delhi court on Wednesday sent a suspected Hizbul Mujahideen operative, allegedly involved in 11 terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, to 14-day judicial custody.

Duty Magistrate Isha Singh sent Javaid Ahmad Matoo, 32, to jail till January 31 on an application moved by the Delhi police, after he was produced before the court.

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The accused, carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh, was arrested from Delhi's Nizamuddin area. He was driving a stolen car when he was apprehend, police said.

Matoo is named in "11 known terror attack cases", including five grenade attacks and killing of at least five police personnel in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, police said and claimed he is also associated with another terrorist outfit Al Badr.

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Dozens of police personnel have also been injured in attacks led by Matoo, police said.

(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 17 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested Suraj Chavan, a Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary, in a money laundering case linked to the alleged irregularities in the distribution of 'khichdi' to migrants during the COVID-19 period, official sources said.

Chavan was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) late evening after he was questioned at the agency's office here.

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He is expected to be produced before a local here on Thursday.

Chavan is alleged to be an associate of Aditya Thackeray, son of former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) head Uddhav Thackeray.

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The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW).

According to police, alleged irregularities took place while giving contracts for providing 'khichdi' to migrants during the COVID-19.

(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 17 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave assurance on hearing the pleas concerning marital rape issues.

Advocate Karuna Nundy, appearing for petitioner, said the bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud stated that the matter was listed for the day and it has been pending for long.

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The court said that it would take the matter between the constitutional benches.

Various petitions were filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the exception to marital rape issue.

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One petition is against the Karnataka High Court judgement, which declined to quash the charge of rape against a man accused of raping and keeping his wife as a sex slave.

Another petition has sought striking down of Exception 2 to Section 375 of Indian Penal Code, which provides immunity to the husband of criminal charges for non-consensual sex with the wife in a marital relationship. The petition was filed by one activist Ruth Manorama, through advocate on record, Ruchira Goel.

Exception 2 to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, which defines rape, states that sexual intercourse by a man with his wife is not rape, unless the wife is below 15 years of age.

Earlier, All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) among others has moved the Supreme Court against Delhi High Court's split verdict on the issue relating to criminalising marital rape matter.

Two-judge Bench of Delhi High Court on May 12 2022 pronounced split verdict on issue relating to criminalising marital rape. Delhi HC's Judge Justice Rajiv Shakdher ruled in favour of criminalising while Justice Hari Shankar disagreed with the opinion and held that Exception 2 to Section 375 does not violate the Constitution as it is based on intelligible differences.

AIDWA was represented by advocate Karuna Nundy and the plea was filed through advocate Rahul Narayan.

AIDWA, in its plea had said that the exception allowed to marital rape is destructive and in opposition to the object of rape laws, which clearly ban sexual activity sans consent. It places the privacy of a marriage at a pedestal above the rights of the woman in the marriage, the plea said.

The petition said that Marital Rape Exception is in violation of Articles 14, 19(1)(a) and 21 of the Constitution. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Imphal, Jan 17 (PTI) Security forces exchanged fire with suspected Kuki militants in the border town of Moreh in Manipur's Tengnoupal district on Wednesday morning, police said.

The militants hurled bombs and fired at a post of security forces near SBI Moreh, police said.

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The security forces retaliated the fire, they said.

One security personnel reportedly sustained minor injuries in the exchange of fire but details are yet to be confirmed, they said.

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The suspected Kuki militants fired at the security forces post 48 hours after two suspects in the killing of a police officer were arrested by state forces in the border town, police said.

Earlier, following inputs of "likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and property within the revenue jurisdiction of Tengnoupal" the Manipur government imposed a total curfew from 12 am on January 16.

The order by District Magistrate Tengnoupal stated that the curfew shall, however, not apply to "agencies of the government employed in the enforcement of law and order and maintenance of essential services".

Meanwhile, a report said village volunteers exchanged fire with suspected Kuki militants at Koutruk village in Imphal West district for more than two hours on Tuesday night, officials said.

After Central security forces rushed to the area the attackers halted firing, officials said.

Police had arrested Phillip Khongsai and Hemokholal Mate, the two main suspects in the killing of SDPO Ch Anand in October last year. The two had fired at the vehicles of the security personnel following which police chased and overpowered them.

The two were later produced before the Judicial Magistrate Moreh and have been remanded to nine days police custody, police said.

One pistol with two live rounds, one Chinese hand grenade, ten live rounds of AK ammunition and ten detonators were seized from their possession, police said.

A large number of women had protested in front of Moreh police station demanding "unconditional release" of the two, officials said.

Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal (KIT), Churachandpur district-based Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) and Kangpokpi district-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) have condemned the arrest of the two and refuted the "alleged attempt" to link the two with the killing of a police officer.

(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 17 (ANI): The Delhi High Court discharged senior Income Tax (I-T) department official, Yogendra Mittal, and set aside the corruption charges framed against him on Wednesday. It was alleged that the demanded and accepted illegal gratification from Ullhas Prabhakar who was running a scam under the name of Stock Guru India.

It was alleged that he accused Ullhas Prabhakar at the instance of the petitioner delivered Rs 5 crores on February 2, 2011 to an address in Lajpat Nagar and also paid a second instalment of Rs 10 crores on February 8, 2011, at the same place.

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It was alleged that he demanded and accepted a bribe to settle the matter in favour of Ullhas Prabhakar who allegedly committed cheating of hundreds of crores in seven states.

Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain said, "In the present case the material collected during the investigation.by the CBI is not sufficient to frame the charge against the petitioner."

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"Accordingly, the present petition is allowed. The impugned order is not legally sustainable. The order dated 12.09.2019 whereby the petitioner was charged for the offences punishable under section 120B IPC read with sections 7 and 13 (1) (d) of PC Act and for the substantive offences under sections 7 and 13(1)(d) punishable under section 13 (2) of PC Act, 1988 is set aside," Justice Jain said in the judgement of January 15, 2024.

"The petitioner stands discharged for the offences for which he was discharged," the high court said in the judgement.

A petition was filed on behalf of Yogendra Mittal seeking direction for Setting aside the order dated September 12, 2019 passed by the court of Special Judge CBI Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi whereby the trial court passed an order on charge and also framed charges against the petitioner.

On December 27, 2012 written complaint was made by EOW (Economic Offence Wing) Crime Branch, Delhi seeking necessary legal action regarding illegal gratification demanded by and paid to senior Income Tax Officers.

An FIR dated June 26, 2012 was registered at Moti Nagar Police Station in New Delhi, and on the alleged disclosure statement of Ulhas Prabhakar made in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR on January 9, 2013 was registered by the CBI, under section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under sections 7, 12, 13(2) read with section 13(1) (d) of Prevention of Corruption Act.

The accused Ullhas Prabhakar and his wife Priyanka Dev Jain were arrested on November 10, 2011. The accused during the course of custodial interrogation on November 18, 2012 disclosed that on January 18 and 19 of 2011 raids were conducted at his office at Moto Nagar and residence and a large cash amount was misappropriated by Income Tax (IT) officers and subsequently demands were raised and there was acceptance of illegal gratification by Yogender Mittal, then ADIT, IT Department, New Delhi.

The accused disclosed that at the time of the search, he had offered illegal gratification to the petitioner from recovered money to help him in the matter. However, the petitioner Mittal demanded illegal gratification from the source other than the already recovered money for showing favour by preparing a favourable appraisal report within 12 months, showing that the accused had an income of Rs.105 crores and adjust the recoveredmoney as Income Tax.

Allegedly, the petitioner also promised the accused that all frozen accounts would be opened if he could arrange money for him. The accused further disclosed that he had provided information about his flat in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan to the petitioner where he had kept Rs 42-44 crore.

It was agreed that 50 per cent of the said cash would be kept by the IT officials for a favourable decision, the accused had disclosed. The accused further disclosed that he, after paying Rs 5 crores suspected the intentions of the petitioner and therefore recorded the conversations with the petitioner, using a camera wrist watch which was downloaded and stored in two separate hard disks. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Jan 17 (AP) In a notable test on Tuesday, Senator Bernie Sanders is forcing colleagues to vote on record whether to investigate human rights abuses in the Israel-Hamas war, a step toward potentially limiting US military aid to Israel as its devastating attacks on Gaza grind past 100 days.

The Senate vote, a first of its kind tapping into a decades-old law, would require the US State Department to, within 30 days, produce a report on whether the Israeli war effort in Gaza is violating human rights and international accords. If so, US military aid to Israel could be quickly halted.

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While the Senate is unlikely to approve the measure, the vote by senators will begin to reveal the depth of unease among US lawmakers over Israel's prosecution of the war against Hamas.

With no apparent end to the bombardment, Israel's attacks against Palestinians, an attempt to root out Hamas leaders, are viewed by some as disproportional to the initial terrorist attack on Israel.

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The Biden administration, with repeated overtures to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, is pushing Israel to shift the intensity of the battle.

Some 24,000 people in Gaza, the majority of them women and children, have been killed and the bombings have destroyed most of the housing units.

"To my mind, Israel has the absolute right to defend itself from Hamas' barbaric terrorist attack on October 7, no question about that," Sanders told AP during an interview Monday.

"But what Israel does not have a right to do -- using military assistance from the US -- does not have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people," said Sanders, the independent from Vermont. "And in my view, that's what has been happening."

Heading toward the vote, Sanders said senators are nervous because what he's trying to do is unprecedented in procedure and essentially practice.

"The Congress has always been supportive of Israel in general, and this begins to question the nature of the military campaign," Sanders said.

The White House has rejected approach from Sanders as "unworkable" as it seeks a transition from Israel and works to ensure support at home and abroad against a stirring backlash to the scenes of destruction from Gaza.

"We do not believe that this resolution is the right vehicle to address these issues. And we don't think now is the right time. It's unworkable, quite frankly," said a statement from the White House National Security Council's John Kirby.

"The Israelis have indicated they are preparing to transition their operations to a much lower intensity. And we believe that transition will be helpful both in terms of reducing civilian casualties, as well as increasing humanitarian assistance," Kirby said.

The action comes as Biden's request for USD 106 billion supplemental national security aid for Israel as well as Ukraine and other military needs is at a standstill. Republicans in Congress are insisting on attaching vast policy changes to stop the flow of immigration at the US-Mexico border.

Of that supplemental aid package, more than USD 14 billion would go to Israel, including USD 10 billion in US military assistance, as it retaliates against Hamas for the October 7 surprise attack, among the most deadly assaults ever. Some 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage, many still being held.

Several key Democratic senators have announced their unease with Israel's war in Gaza, insisting the Biden administration must do more to push the Netanyahu government to reduce civilian casualties and improve living conditions for Palestinians in Gaza.

Sanders had already announced his refusal to support more military aid to Israel in the package because of the war.

"If I had my druthers, that's what I would do. That is not what this resolution is about," Sanders said.

But he did say that the resolution should be seen as "a first step, not a last step".

The resolution is drawn from the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which was amended after the Nixon era, enabling Congress to provide oversight of US military assistance abroad. It requires that any arms or military aid must be used in accordance with international human rights accords.

The question before the Senate will be whether to ask the State Department for a report on whether human rights violations using US equipment may have occurred during Israel's current campaign against Gaza, according to Sanders' office.

If the resolution were to be approved, it would force the State Department to produce a report of its findings within 30 days or risk the aid being cut off.

While it's not at all certain that US aid to Israel would actually be halted, since Congress could take steps to ensure no interruption, it is enough of a threat that many senators, even the Democrats who have raised concerns about the bombardment of Gaza and the humanitarian crisis, will be unwilling to support the measure.

Republican senators are likely to fully reject Sanders' proposal. Senate Republicans have been almost unanimous in their support for Israel, even as they are blocking Biden's broader national security package because of divisions within the GOP over helping Ukraine as it battles Russia's invasion.

Talks on attaching the US-Mexico border security provisions to the national security aid package are lumbering along, but no quick breakthrough is expected as Republicans push for tougher restrictions on migrants than Democrats are willing to give, particularly for immigrations seeking asylum in the US. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chief Executive Officer of The Same House Rodney Bullard and educator, motivator and performer Michelle Summers are keynote speakers for the John Robert Lewis Leadership Conference Feb. 2-3 at Troy University in Troy.

Presented by the University and the City of Troy, the conference, now in its 21st year, seeks to bring individuals together to promote dialogue that fosters multicultural collaboration to strengthen relationships and empower diverse leaders with the tools to better serve their organizations and communities.

Launched through the Universitys Leadership Institute in 2002 as the vision of the late Lamar P. Higgins, Troy University Trustee and alumnus, the leadership conference was renamed to honor the memory of Lewis, a Troy native, in 2020.

Adult registration is $30. Student registration is $15. Registration is available online at www.troy.edu/leadershipconference.

Bullard, who will deliver the keynote address during the conferences opening session at 6:30 p.m. in the Trojan Center Theatre on the Troy Campus, is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, received his Juris Doctorate in Law from Duke University School of Law in 2001, and his MBA from the University of Georgia in 2012. A proud veteran, he served in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps, eventually working at the Pentagon as a Congressional Legislative Liaison in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

The Same House, which Bullard currently leads, is a community-driven movement addressing the social and economic challenges facing the world today. The public benefit corporation, based in Atlanta, is rooted in the values and aims of the Beloved Community, an annual experience created by The Same House to bring all of Atlanta together, and the uplifting words of Congressman John Lewis: Were one people. Were One family. We all live in the same house.

Bullard previously served as Vice President of Global Corporate Social Responsibility at Chick-fil-A, Inc., and Executive Director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation, where he stared and scaled the companys corporate responsibility, environmental, community engagement and philanthropic functions. He led Chick-fil-As efforts to revitalize the Westside of Atlanta, the Beloved Benefit, aimed at bridging social and economic division, created the True-Inspiration Awards, and inspired several successful public-private partnerships that touched the lives of more than 30 million annually.

The best-selling author of Heroes Wanted: Why the World Needs You to Live Your Heart Out, Bullard was named to The Atlanta Magazines 500 Most Influential Atlantans list for five consecutive years and was recognized by the Georgia Secretary of State as an Outstanding Georgia Citizen.

Summers, a native of Chicago, will provide the keynote address during the conferences closing luncheon beginning at 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 3 in the Trojan Center Ballrooms.

Summers came to Montgomery to attend Alabama State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Education in Language Arts Secondary Education. Her relationship with ASU continued following her graduation as she served as head of acting for Dr. Tonea Stewarts performing arts camps.

Summers, whose career as an educator spans more than 24 years, currently serves as an educational facilitator with the Department of Youth Services where she seeks to provide hope, direction and educational services to disenfranchised adjudicated young me within the state of Alabama.

She is the founder and CEO of Michelle Summers Enterprise, LLC, as well as the creator and host of the social-media platform Michelle Speaks (Life), which has amassed thousands of followers nationwide.

Summers has performed on diverse stages throughout the nation and is an accomplished inspirational, educational and motivational speaker. She currently serves as President of the MMEA Chapter of AEA and is a sister of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She is the proud mother of a daughter, Elizabeth Caroline.

In addition to the two keynote addresses, participants can take part in plenary sessions that begin at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 3. Plenary session speakers include Salaam Green, a Teaching Artist with the Alabamas Writers Forum and a Certified Listener Poet through the Good Listening Project; Troy native and U.S. Navy Veteran Alisha Brown, owner and lead consultant of Alisha D. Brown Career Consulting, LLC.; and, Dr. Henry Terry, founder of the Community Awareness Organization of Enterprise.
London, Jan 17 (AP) British oil giant BP said Wednesday its interim chief executive, Murray Auchincloss, will be given the job on a permanent basis to replace Bernard Looney, who quit after it emerged that he had failed to disclose to the board past relationships with company colleagues.

Auchincloss, a 53-year-old Canadian who was BP's chief financial officer for more than three years, took on the top job in September after Looney's surprise resignation. Auchincloss joined BP when it took over oil firm Amoco in 1998.

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Since September, BP's board has undertaken a thorough and highly competitive process to identify BP's next CEO, considering a number of high-caliber candidates in detail, BP chairman Helge Lund said.

Lund said the board was in complete agreement that Auchincloss was the outstanding candidate and is the right leader for BP.

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Auchincloss said he was honoured to lead BP and that the company's strategy to diversify away from oil to become an integrated energy company does not change.

Biraj Borkhataria, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, called the appointment the best possible outcome for shareholders, as hiring someone from outside the company would have brought further uncertainty on the direction of the business and potentially more noise around another strategy shift.

However, Charlie Kronick, senior climate adviser at environmental group Greenpeace UK, criticised the move as business as usual for a company that is still failing to transition away from fossil fuels at anything like the pace required.

Kronick said a change at the top was an opportunity for a different approach that redirects significant spending towards the cheap, clean renewables we need to power us through the rest of the century.

Looney, who had spent his working life at the firm, having started as a drilling engineer in 1991, quit after he acknowledged he had not been fully transparent in providing details of all relationships to the board.

He was denied 32.4 million-pound ($41 million) worth of salary, pension, bonus payments and shares, after BP said he had committed serious misconduct by misleading the board.

BP does not ban relationships between staff, but its code of conduct says employees must consider conflicts of interest, for example in having an intimate relationship with someone whose pay, advancement or management you can influence".

BP has had four different bosses over the past 15 years. Prior to Looney's appointment in 2020, Bob Dudley served nearly a decade as chief executive, stepping in to turn the business around after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (AP)

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London, Jan 17 (AP) Two British brothers who broke into a Geneva museum and stole millions of pounds worth of Chinese Ming Dynasty artifacts were sentenced to prison in Switzerland, police said on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Police said Louis and Stewart Ahearne were each sentenced on Tuesday to 3.5 years in a Swiss prison following an investigation by UK and Swiss authorities.

Also Read | Pakistan Expels Tehran Ambassador in Response to Iranian Airstrike on Terrorist Camps.

Police said two Ming Dynasty vases and a cup were stolen in 2019 from the Museum of Far Eastern Arts in Geneva. The 15th-century artifacts were valued at around three million pounds (USD 3.8 million.)

Authorities shared the DNA found at the scene on an international database which linked it to Stewart Ahearne, who was living in southeast London. He had hired a car ahead of the theft and used it to drive the stolen goods back to the UK, police said.

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Detectives posing as art buyers then arranged to meet the suspects in a London hotel to buy a vase for 450,000 pounds (USD 570,000). The Ahearnes were arrested after the undercover operation and extradited to Switzerland, where they pleaded guilty on Monday.

The Ahearne brothers meticulously planned this burglary, carrying out careful reconnaissance to ensure they could make a clean getaway and bring the items back to the UK, said detective chief inspector Matt Webb.

Three other men involved in the attempted sale of one of the stolen vases were separately sentenced for possession of criminal property.

Police said a Ming Dynasty wine cup featuring paintings of chickens remains missing. (AP)

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Beijing, Jan 17 (PTI) China Wednesday asked Pakistan and Iran to show restraint and avoid actions that could escalate tensions after Tehran launched unprecedented missile and drone attacks on terrorist bases in the restive Balochistan province.

Pakistan, which recalled its ambassador to Iran and suspended all high-level planned bilateral visits in the coming days over the aerial strikes, said two children were killed and three others injured in the attack.

Also Read | Pakistan Expels Tehran Ambassador in Response to Iranian Airstrike on Terrorist Camps.

Two bases of Pakistan's Baloch militant group Jaish al-Adl (JAI) were targeted by missiles on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported, a day after Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.

Asked for her reaction to the Iranian airstrikes, which are perhaps for the first time by Tehran against Pakistan, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here that Iran and Pakistan are close neighbours and major Islamic countries.

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"We call on the two sides to exercise restraint, avoid actions that escalate the tension and jointly keep the region peaceful and stable," she said.

For China, it is a piquant situation as Pakistan is an all-weather ally, while Tehran is warming up to Beijing in recent years enabling China to expand its influence in the volatile Middle Eastern region.

China also imports a considerable amount of oil from Iran.

Last year China claimed diplomatic success bringing arch-rivals Iran and South Arabia together following which the two countries restored diplomatic ties after nearly a decade.

"China believes that the relations between countries should be handled based on the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and all countries' sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be earnestly respected and protected, Mao said.

It is a tightrope walking for China as Pakistan, a Sunni majority country, and Iran with predominantly a Shia majority have a tenuous relationship.

China's USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) connecting Pakistan's volatile Balochistan, neighbouring Iran, with its Xinjiang province is increasingly coming under pressure from Baloch nationalists and Sunni extremist groups with repeated attacks on thousands of Chinese workers employed in scores of projects in Pakistan.

Added to the complex environment for China, relations between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban deteriorated leading to the border tensions between Kabul and Islamabad despite their past close relationship.

Much to the chagrin of Pakistan, China has accorded diplomatic recognition to the Taliban's interim administration permitting its official to work as Ambassador in Beijing.

Jaish al-Adl, or the "Army of Justice", is a Sunni militant group founded in 2012 that largely operates in Pakistan. Iran has fought in border areas against the militants, but a missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan would be unprecedented for Iran.

Jaish al-Adl is the "most active and influential" Sunni militant group operating in Sistan-Baluchestan, according to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bangkok, Jan 17 (AP) A court in Thailand on Wednesday acquitted more than two dozen protesters who had occupied Bangkok's two airports in 2008 of charges of rebellion and terrorism related to their demonstration, which at the time disrupted travel in and out of the country for more than a week.

The Bangkok Criminal Court declared that the members of the People' Alliance for Democracy had neither caused destruction at the airports nor hurt anyone. However, 13 of the 28 defendants were slapped with a 20,000 baht (USD 560) fine each for violating an emergency decree that had banned public gatherings.

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The protesters  popularly known as Yellow Shirts for the colour that shows loyalty to the Thai monarchy  had occupied the airports for about 10 days, demanding the resignation of the government, which was loyal to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They had earlier also occupied Thaksin's office compound for three months and blocked access to Parliament.

Thaksin was ousted by a 2006 military coup that followed large Yellow Shirt protests accusing him of corruption and disrespect to the monarchy.

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In 2008, Yellow Shirts stormed Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports, shutting down operations and defying an injunction calling for them to leave. The siege ended only after a court ruling forced pro-Thaksin Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat out of office.

Several dozen protesters involved in the demonstrations were divided into two groups of defendants and indicted in 2013. The verdict for the second group is to be delivered in March.

In 2011, the Civil Court ordered the leaders of the group to pay 522 million baht (USD 14.7 million) in damages to the state airport authority. They were declared bankrupt and had their assets seized last year to pay the sum.

Thaksin came back to Thailand last year to serve an eight-year prison term on several criminal convictions and was right away moved from prison to a state hospital because of reported ill-health. He has remained at the hospital since but his sentence was later reduced to one year, allowing for the possibility he could soon be released on parole.

His return to Thailand came as the Pheu Thai party  the latest incarnation of the party Thanksin led to power in 2001  won a parliamentary vote to form a new government despite finishing second in elections.(AP)

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Islamabad [Pakistan], January 17 (ANI): Despite the 'protracted crackdown' on his political party, loss of the iconic 'bat' symbol and being incarcerated for months, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed confidence that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party will spring a 'surprise' in the February 8 polls, Dawn reported.

Appearing buoyant about electoral prospects, Khan said that PTI will move its 'Plan C', which is ready after the failure of its so-called 'Plan A' and 'Plan B'.

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The PTI founder made these remarks during a conversation with reporters at Adiala Jail, who had gathered to cover the proceedings of cases, including the cipher case, underway against him in prison.

However, he did not elaborate on what he actually meant by Plan C, but earlier, former PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan had said that the 'said plan' revolved around retaining the reserved seats of the party following the loss of their electoral symbol, 'bat'.

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'Plan B' was ostensibly a deal the PTI had signed with its splinter group, PTI-Nazriati, to contest polls under the 'batsman' symbol, which the Election Commission of Pakistan thwarted, Dawn reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, the PTI founder said that the party leadership knew that conspirators would "spoil their plans", therefore, they had worked out alternative strategies.

He claimed that a conspiracy was hatched against the PTI government, adding that about 10,000 workers of the party were put behind bars and efforts to dismantle the political party were also in full swing. He said that as the founder of the PTI, whose political struggle spanned over 27 years, he was facing multiple charges along with his spouse Bushra Bibi.

Speaking on the cipher issue, the PTI founder said that former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa offered him a two-thirds majority to keep quiet on the cipher issue and warned him of consequences if he tried to highlight the issue in public.

He said that Gen Bajwa had made the offer during meetings held at the President's House, provided he (Imran) would "behave sensibly and would not underscore the cipher issue", Dawn reported.

Former Pakistan premier Imran Khan is incarcerated over multiple cases against him. He was initially arrested in connection with the Toshakhana case. But, despite getting bail, he couldn't come out of jail as he was again arrested in cipher case.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Supreme Court upheld the December 22 decision of Election Commission of Pakistan snubbing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) of its iconic 'bat' symbol. (ANI)

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Auckland [New Zealand], January 17 (ANI): A New Zealand legislator, Golriz Ghahraman resigned on Tuesday after claims surfaced that she had shoplifted from two clothing stores, which she said were caused by stress and hurt to her mental health, according to The New York Times.

Ghahraman, a 43-year-old former United Nations human rights lawyer from Iran, rose to attention in 2017 as the first refugee to be sworn in as a member of the country's Parliament.

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"I fell short. I'm sorry," said the lawmaker, Golriz Ghahraman, in a statement on Tuesday, adding that "The best thing for my mental health is to resign as a member of Parliament."

Ghahraman, who made no mention of theft in her statement, claimed she couldn't explain her behaviour since it was "not rational in any way."

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Following the medical treatment, she said, "I understand I'm not well," adding that a mental health specialist she was seeing claimed her behaviour was consistent with "recent events giving rise to extreme stress response," and was tied to prior trauma, The New York Times reported.

According to James Shaw, a Green Party leader, Ghahraman has been threatened with sexual violence, physical violence, and death threats since the day she was elected, and police have been investigating such threats on a regular basis.

She was subjected to higher amounts of stress than other parliamentarians, Shaw stated at a news conference on Tuesday, according to The New York Times.

According to the Green Party, Ghahraman has advocated for refugee and migrant rights throughout her career, as well as stopping New Zealand's military deployments in the Middle East to refocus the country's defence resources on the climate problem.

In 2020, she stated that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

She recently demonstrated her sympathy for the Palestinian people and wore a traditional kaffiyeh scarf in Parliament. (ANI)

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Balochistan [Pakistan], January 17 (ANI): At least two people were killed and 25 others were injured after a passenger bus overturned in Hub City, Balochistan, on Wednesday, according to ARY News.

According to reports, the incident occurred in Bella, Hub, when a passenger bus toppled, killing two people on the spot and injuring over a dozen others.

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The bus was on its way to Karachi from Quetta when the incident happened.

According to ARY News, the rescue personnel arrived at the scene after being notified and transported the deceased and injured to a nearby medical facility.

Also Read | US, South Korea and Japan Conduct Naval Drills As Tensions Deepen With North Korea.

The investigation into the incident is underway.

Road accidents have been recorded across Pakistan as a result of severe fog in recent times.

On January 16, two individuals lost their lives after two cars collided as a result of severe fog near Ghamandpur village, Bahawalnagar, ARY News reported.

Meanwhile, rescue workers transported the injured to a neighbouring hospital, where they were treated before being moved to the headquarters hospital. (ANI)

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Washington, Jan 17 (AP) House Republicans have halted plans to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress this week for defying a congressional subpoena, citing negotiations with his attorneys that could end the standoff over his testimony.

Republicans were set to advance the contempt resolution against Hunter Biden to the House floor in a procedural step on Tuesday, but called it off "to give the attorneys additional time to reach an agreement", according to a spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee.

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The move comes days after an attorney for President Joe Biden's son indicated a willingness to cooperate with Republicans' ongoing impeachment inquiry following months of defiance.

Still, attorney Abbe Lowell wrote to House Republicans on Friday that his client's cooperation is dependent on the committee issuing a new subpoena. They maintained that the two subpoenas sent in November were not legitimate because they were issued before the full House authorised the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.

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Hunter Biden's legal team cited a 2020 legal opinion issued by then-Attorney General William Barr, which stated that a subpoena issued through an impeachment inquiry not yet approved by the full chamber has "no compulsory effect".

Lowell didn't immediately respond to calls seeking comment on Tuesday.

Representative James Comer, the chairman of the Oversight committee, and Representative Jim Jordan, the chairman of the Judiciary panel, had said in a statement on Friday that they were "heartened" by the shift from Hunter Biden's legal team.

Until last week, Hunter Biden had defended his lack of compliance with the GOP-issued subpoena, which ordered him to appear for closed-door testimony in mid-December. Biden and his attorneys have said information from private interviews can be selectively leaked and manipulated by House Republicans and insisted that he would only testify in public.

Further angering Republicans, Hunter Biden and his team have chosen to appear at the Capitol on two separate occasions -- once at an Oversight hearing last week and another time on the day of his scheduled deposition last month. In both instances, the younger Biden refused to testify privately, instead delivering statements to the press where he defended his business affairs and castigated the years-long investigations into him and his family.

As a result, both the Oversight and Judiciary panels approved contempt of Congress charges against Hunter Biden last week.

If the negotiations between both sides fall apart and the resolution comes to the floor, passage of the contempt resolution would send the referral to the Department of Justice. It will then be up to the US attorney for the District of Columbia to decide whether to prosecute Hunter Biden.

The inquiry into the president, which began in September, has focused heavily on in Hunter Biden and his overseas business dealings, questioning whether the president profited from that work. It has so far failed to uncover evidence directly implicating Joe Biden in wrongdoing involving his son's business dealings. (AP)

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Washington, Jan 17 (AP) A federal judge on Tuesday rejected a bid for a new trial for Peter Navarro, a Trump White House official convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack.

Navarro, who served as a White House trade advisor under President Donald Trump, was found guilty by a jury in Washington's federal court for defying a subpoena for documents and a deposition from the House January 6 committee. He's scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

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Navarro's lawyers argued he was entitled to a new trial, alleging that jurors may have been improperly influenced by political protesters when they took a break outside the courthouse before announcing a verdict in September.

But US District Judge Amit Mehta said in his ruling that Navarro has not shown that "any prejudice resulted from the jury's eight-minute break outside the courthouse".

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Jurors only interacted with one another and the court officer who accompanied them, no one approached the jurors and "there were no activities resembling a protest", the judge wrote.

"Defendant not only fails to demonstrate prejudice, he has not shown that any juror was actually exposed to any improper external influence," Mehta wrote.

An attorney for Navarro declined to comment on Tuesday's ruling.

Navarro was the second Trump aide to face contempt of Congress charges after former White House adviser Steve Bannon. Bannon was convicted of two counts and was sentenced to four months behind bars, though he has been free pending appeal.

Navarro has vowed to appeal the verdict, saying the 'die was cast" after a judge ruled that he couldn't fight the charges by arguing he couldn't cooperate with the committee because Trump, a Republican, had invoked executive privilege. Barred from relying on the executive privilege argument at trial, the defence argued that Navarro had not acted "willfully" in his failure to comply.

Navarro's sentencing is scheduled for January 25 in Washington's federal court. He was convicted of two misdemeanour counts of contempt of Congress, both punishable by up to a year behind bars. (AP)

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New Delhi, January 17: The Congress launched a website and an email ID on Wednesday, inviting suggestions from the public for its manifesto for this year's Lok Sabha polls. Addressing a press conference here, P Chidambaram, who heads the Manifesto Committee of the Congress, said the party is holding consultations and seeking suggestions from the public for the manifesto. He said the manifesto for the Lok Sabha election will be a "people's manifesto".

"The present exercise is to receive suggestions from the members of the public. This will be a people's manifesto. So it is important to gather as many suggestions as possible in the few weeks available to us," Chidambaram said. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Priyanka Gandhi Likely To Contest General Polls From Karnataka and Telangana.

"We want to involve the people of India in making the manifesto. We hope people from every walk of life will give their suggestions. We appeal and invite you to give suggestions you would like to be incorporated in the manifesto to make it a people's manifesto," he added.

The former Union minister said at least one consultation will be held in each state. "The idea is to hold at least one consultation in each state. In some states, more than one public consultations may be held," he said. Asked if their INDIA bloc allies will also be consulted, the Congress leader said anyone who wishes to attend the consultation is welcome, but a decision on holding discussions with allies on the manifesto will be taken by the party chief. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi Hold Meeting With Congress Leaders From Andhra Pradesh Over LS Polls.

"If the ally parties of the INDIA group wish to attend the consultation, they are most welcome.... Whether there will be higher-level consultation will be for the Congress president to decide," Chidambaram said. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said the suggestions can be given on the website -- awaazbharatki.in -- or by emailing to awaazbharatki@inc.in.

Convenor of the party's Manifesto Committee T S Singh Deo said the exercise is being carried out to ensure that the voice of people is reflected in the document. "It is important to seek the suggestions of the stakeholders so that it does not remain merely an academic exercise," he said.
Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully completed a live, static-fire test of a Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) stage-two solid rocket motor at the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex. The test was conducted in a vacuum chamber simulating real-world environmental conditions the solid-rocket motor would experience during high-altitude and space flight.

Test data will be analyzed to determine how motor performance matched digitally engineered model predictions, critical to maturing the design and lowering risk.

Following this development effort, Northrop Grumman will begin a series of rocket motor qualification testing for both stages.

Northrop Grumman is designing and producing Stages one and two of the three-stage Sentinel missile.

This test was conducted under the companys engineering, manufacturing, and development (EMD), or design contract for Sentinel. Northrop Grumman continues to perform on this phase and is working closely with the Air Force on progressing EMD milestones.

Our successful test moves us forward for qualification testing in partnership with the Air Force, said Sarah Willoughby, vice president and program manager, Sentinel, Northrop Grumman. The tests data gives us an accurate reading of our designs performance and now informs our modeling and designs. This lowers risk and builds confidence in our approach to deliver the next-generation ICBM capability to the Air Force.

The Sentinel program is a modernization of the nations ground-based leg of the strategic triad and is designed to be viable through 2075.

Northrop Grumman leads a nationwide team for the engineering, manufacturing and design (EMD) contract. The team is responsible for designing the most technologically advanced portion of Americas ground-based strategic deterrent and is closely partnered with the Air Force to continue progress on MD milestones, maturing the design while reducing risk.

Other key milestones previously performed under EMD include hypersonic wind tunnel testing and a stage-one solid rocket motor static fire.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Their pioneering solutions equip customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe.
Samsung is ready to launch the Galaxy S24 series. The Samsung Galaxy S24 series is expected to come with Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra models, on January 17 at 11:30 PM IST. Check for further details here.
At least seven people including students and staff members were injured after a bus of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Agartala fell into a pond near Chakbosta in Tripura on Wednesday, January 17. Chief Minister Manik Saha took to X and expressed grief over the accident. He also prayed for speedy recovery of those involved in the bus accident and informed that instructions have been given to local administration to provide support to the injured. "Got the unfortunate news about the tragic bus accident of NIT Agartala. Early in the morning, the bus fell in a pond near to road. Local administration has been instructed to provide all support to the injured. Prayers for the quick recovery of the injured students, faculty members and other staffs", Manik Saha wrote. Tripura Government Likely to Urge CBSE to Permit Tribal Students in State to Write in Roman Script for Kokborok Exams.

Manik Saha Instructs Local Administration To Provide Support to Injured:

Got the unfortunate news about the tragic bus accident of NIT Agartala. Early in the morning, the bus fell in a pond near to road. Local administration has been instructed to provide all support to the injured. Prayers for the quick recovery of the injured students, faculty  Prof.(Dr.) Manik Saha (@DrManikSaha2) January 17, 2024

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
On 16 January Chile became the first country in the world to sign up to the United Nations (UN) High Seas Treaty, also known as the agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, or BBNJ.

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On 16 January Bolivias government led by Presidentcondemned former president(2006-2019) for his call for protests demanding the replacement of the countrys top judges.

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Joe Biden is escalating his feud with Texas Governor Greg Abbott over Texas blocking federal agents' access to the US-Mexico border to do their jobs and furthering the US migrant crisis, warning the state government that it will take action should the state continue its blockade.

The Biden administration issued this demand after Texas officials stopped Border Patrol agents from entering a section near the US-Mexico border so they could patrol it and prevent migrants from entering, as it is their jobs, calling the actions by Texas National Guard soldiers as "clearly unconstitutional."

Department of Homeland Security attorney Jonathan Meyer reportedly told Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a letter that should the Texas National Guard continue blocking Border Patrol's access to a public park in the border town of Eagle Pass, the matter will be referred to the Department of Justice to explore other options.

Last week, the state government seized control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, along the Rio Grande. State police and the Texas National Guard blocked the public from entering, saying that they were doing this to prevent migrants from entering. However, for some reason, they are also blocking Border Patrol from patrolling the Rio Grande as they have to launch their boats from a dock at the park.

The DHS has since accused Texas of impeding federal operations to apprehend migrants and rescue those who may be in distress. This included the drownings of three migrants, a woman and two children, near Shelby Park as Border Patrol were prevented from coming to their aid by Texas officials.

This also comes as Texas has been accused of human rights violations against migrants, including a bombshell report from a Texas State Trooper that they were ordered to push back tired migrants who had just finished crossing the Rio Grande back into the river, as well as being ordered to not give migrants water despite the scorching Texas heat.

READ MORE: Florida Teen Kills Sister After Argument Over Christmas Presents

Eagle Pass Mayor Says Texas State Government Closed Park Without Permission

As the US-Mexico border drama in Texas is playing out, the mayor of the city where the Texas state government suddenly took over one of its parks to "stop the US migrant crisis" has recently spoken out and revealed that the state did so without the city's permission.

Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas questioned why the state closed the 50-acre park, according to the Associated Press, noting that the daily migrant apprehensions in the area have fallen in recent weeks despite Abbott's claims.

"That is not a decision that we agreed to," said the mayor. This is not something that we wanted. This is not something that we asked for as a city."

Texas Blamed for Drownings of 3 Migrants Amid US Migrant Crisis

Rep. Enrique Roberto "Henry" Cuellar, one of Texas's representatives to the US Congress, slammed the Texas state government, saying that the Texas Military Department and Texas National Guard "did not grant access to Border Patrol agents to save the migrants" who drowned in the Rio Grande last Friday night.

"This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility," said the Congressman. The drownings were the latest in the escalating tensions between Texas and the federal government amid the US immigration crisis as more and more migrants rush to the US-Mexico border, believing they will live a better life in the US.

READ MORE: Mexico Finds Another Dead Body Near Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's Floating Barriers

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Border Patrol blocked from saving drowning migrants by Texas, DHS says - CBS News
In a tumultuous turn of events, 43 prisoners are still on the run following a jailbreak in northern Ecuador, as stated by the SNAI prisons agency on Monday, Reuters reports.

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency last week, accompanied by a nighttime curfew, designating 22 criminal groups as terrorists in response to the country's escalating security crisis.

The recent surge in violence, including a live TV news broadcast stormed by gunmen, city-wide explosions, and the kidnapping of police officers, is seen as a reaction to President Noboa's security plans.

Security forces, including police and military personnel, are intensifying operations across the country.

Over the weekend, about 200 kidnapped guards and administrative officials were freed from at least seven prisons.

Inmates made a daring escape from a jail in Esmeraldas, a city near the border with Colombia, according to a statement by the SNAI on Monday.

The escape was discovered following a thorough search operation conducted by approximately 2,000 members of Ecuador's security forces on Sunday.

The statement from SNAI revealed that, as a result of the inspection, 48 inmates were found to have escaped, with efforts leading to the recapture of five Ecuador prisoners.

Additionally, security forces uncovered the unfortunate news that one prisoner had died within the confines of the prison, though further details were not provided.

Since the state of emergency declaration, security forces have detained over 1,500 individuals and conducted 41 operations against terrorist groups, according to the government.

READ NEXT: Ecuador Gunmen Attack TV Studio While Broadcasting Live

Hostages Freed Amid Prison Riots

All prison staff taken hostage during prison riots amid the heightened violence have been released, announced prison authorities, according to Al Jazeera.

SNAI prison authorities credited security protocols and joint efforts of the police and national army for the successful release.

"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," SNAI prison authorities posted a statement on the social media platform X on Saturday.

The hostages, initially reported as 158 prison guards and 20 administrative staffers, had been held captive in at least seven prisons since last week.

Emotional images showed released guards, many in tears, being supported by their colleagues.

President Daniel Noboa commended SNAI, police, and armed forces for the hostages' safe release.

Ecuador's Daniel Noboa Addresses Global Gang Violence Issue

President Daniel Noboa, Ecuador's youngest-ever president, described the recent gang violence as a global problem in an interview with the BBC.

Facing the country's most significant crisis since taking office in November, Noboa addressed the unrest involving gang leaders' escape, prison riots, and explosive incidents across cities.

Noboa acknowledged the daunting task of restoring peace to the country and declared Ecuador to be in an "internal armed conflict" with powerful drug gangs controlling the cocaine trade.

He ordered the military to "neutralize" 22 armed groups designated as terrorist organizations.

The US is offering assistance, with a delegation of law enforcement, military, and diplomatic personnel expected to arrive in Ecuador in the coming weeks.

While some critics see interventionism, Noboa views it as crucial to international attention to the narco-terrorist operations affecting the world.

President Noboa stressed the need to address the root causes of the problem, emphasizing that the drug trade operations extend beyond Ecuador's borders, impacting regions such as Europe and the US.

The challenges ahead are significant, but President Daniel Noboa remains determined to confront and solve the deep-seated issues contributing to Ecuador's crisis.

READ MORE: Notorious Gang Leader Fito Disappears from Ecuador Prison

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Ecuador under state of emergency after narco boss escapes prison - From FRANCE 24 English
The Gilgo Beach Serial Killer case has gotten a new update as the suspected killer, Rex Heuermann, has now been charged with the murder of a fourth victim.

Suffolk County prosecutors have filed new charges against the suspected serial killer for the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who was 25 when she first disappeared before having her body found buried along with many others in Gilgo Beach.

Brainard-Barnes' remains were found in 2010. Investigations reveal that she had been restrained with a belt bearing the initials HM or WH. The US Sun reported that investigators believe that these initials have ties with Rex Heuermann.

Initially, Heuermann was only charged with the murders of three of the eleven victims found in Gilgo Beach. He is the primary person of interest for the fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Investigators now believe that they have enough evidence to tie the disgraced former architect to her disappearance and death.

Brainard-Barnes, a mother of two, disappeared back in 2007 before her remains were discovered in 2010. She is one of the Gilgo Beach Four whose remains were found near each other in Gilgo Beach, Long Island. She is believed to be the first of the Gilgo Beach Four to be killed.

DNA Evidence Tied 4th Victim to Suspected Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Rex Heuermann

Detectives used DNA extracted from hair at the scene where the bodies were uncovered to tie the disgraced former architect to the murder of the fourth victim.

READ NEXT: Rex Heuermann's Properties Raided; Nearly 300 Guns Found in 'Gilgo Beach Serial Killer's' Home

According to the Associated Press, one of the hairs found on Brainard-Barnes' remains is genetically similar to a DNA sample taken from Heuermann's ex-wife, Asa Ellerup. On the night Brainard-Barnes disappeared, Ellerup and their daughter were out of town and staying at a hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In a new court filing, prosecutors also noted that Heuermann feared getting caught in the months leading up to his arrest. He reportedly obtained data-wiping software to try and destroy evidence on his laptops, phones, and other electronic devices.

Rex Heuermann Google Searches Revealed, Included 'Medieval Torture' and 'Autopsy Photos'

With the new filing from prosecutors also come new reports on the suspected Gilgo Beach Serial Killer's activities online, as it was found that he was looking up deviant sex acts and autopsy photos.

According to The New York Post, Rex Heuermann used the handle name "sandbagger303" for his Gmail account and another email address. He used it to surf the internet and search for pornography. Among his searches include "Tied up fat girl porn," "Skinny white teen crying porn," "medieval torture of women," and "skinny black slave girl."

He also searched for "autopsy photos of female," "how I was raped audio," "stories of rape audio," "crying blow job porn," and "fat teen c*m on face porn."

READ MORE: Richard Ramirez: A Look at Horrific Crimes of the 'Night Stalker'

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: GILGO BEACH | Rex Heuermann To Be Charged with the Fourth Gilgo Beach Murder? - Grizzly True Crime
Authorities in Ohio are launching an investigation after a SWAT team allegedly raided the wrong house, leaving a one-year-old baby injured, according to FOX 28.

The incident occurred in Elyria, Ohio, where a family claims they were traumatized by the police raid.

The family reported that a flash bang injured the Ohio infant during the operation, but police deny using any inside the home.

The Jennings family's Ring doorbell camera captured the SWAT team breaching their front door in the middle of the day last Wednesday.

Courtney Price, a 25-year-old staying at her aunt and uncle's home with her one-year-old son, Waylon May, was alone when she heard a loud bang on the door.

According to Price, lights were flashing, and smoke filled the house. The police allegedly busted two windows during the operation, leaving Price's sick baby covered in glass.

Price, who was detained during the raid, claimed a flash-bang was thrown through the window where her son was sitting.

However, police assert that flash bangs were only deployed outside the house.

READ NEXT: Ohio Teen Faces Arrested Following Alleged Mass Shooting Plot

Ohio SWAT Team Claims Correct Warrant Execution Despite Family's Allegations

The Ohio SWAT team released a statement asserting that the address was correct on the warrant, authorized for an ongoing investigation.

They also claimed to have examined the child for injuries, determining that the baby boy had not been harmed, per The Independent.

Redia Jennings, Ms. Price's aunt, and the homeowner, stated that officers had repeatedly come to her property looking for a suspect she believes was the previous tenant.

"There's been five different occasions that detectives and CPS and officers have showed up at my house looking for (the suspect). They've been told numerous times he does not live here," she said.

Despite the family's allegations, the police department insists that no mistakes were made, and the ongoing investigation will determine the accuracy of the warrant execution.

Body Camera Footage Reveals Ohio SWAT Raid Details

The city of Elyria, Ohio, released redacted body camera footage of the SWAT raid, providing insight into the events that unfolded during the execution of a search warrant.

The video shows officers using a flash-bang grenade to enter the residence, breaking a window to a room where the Ohio infant, was purportedly sitting in a bouncer.

Courtney Price, the child's mother, can be seen handcuffed on the front lawn.

Waylon was subsequently taken to UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, where he is being treated for inflammation of the lungs and irritation of the eyes, along with the lingering effects of smoke.

The Ohio SWAT TEAM denied the toddler's exposure to chemical irritants and asserted that he received proper medical attention.

Price claimed that an officer admitted to going to the wrong house, a statement police vehemently deny.

The search warrant, obtained by 3News, indicated the Parmely Avenue address but was for a teen suspect, raising questions about the accuracy of the warrant.

Elyria Mayor Kevin Brubaker has ordered a full review of the incident and released the body camera footage, emphasizing the need for an external investigation to address the questions surrounding the warrant's issuance.

READ MORE: Arizona Hot Air Balloon Crash

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Ohio mother claims a mistaken police raid injured her toddler - From CBS Mornings
Despite winning Iowa by a large margin, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump returned to New York City for his latest rape case filed by E, Jean Carroll, and he did not seem happy as he was seen glowering menacingly as both sides were selecting the jury for the case.

The Associated Press reported that "He glared and scowled at times as the jury was being picked." However, when Judge Lewis A. Kaplan asked if anyone felt Trump had been treated unfairly by the court system, he raised his hand, only to draw laughter from some people inside the courtroom.

While Trump was getting laughed at in court, Judge Kaplan then retorted, "We know where you stand." The former president was seen to be in a foul mood soon after.

The judge then told would-be jurors that an earlier jury had already decided that Donald Trump was liable for sexually abusing Elle Magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s. This made Trump shake his head in disgust before leaving the courtroom just before opening statements were made.

Trump reportedly left to continue campaigning in New Hampshire, just a day after his big win in Iowa. As he was leaving, Carroll's attorney accused him of using "the world's biggest microphone" to destroy her client's reputation and turn his supporters against her.

This led the former president's lawyers to argue that Carroll has never been more famous and that she is blaming him for "a few mean tweets from Twitter trolls."

However, Trump's attacks on Carroll have already been ruled as defamatory. In the previous case, it was already established that he sexually assaulted her and that case has established that he did indeed defame her after leaving the White House.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Claims He Does Not Know His Rhetoric Mirrored Adolf Hitler, But Reports Say Otherwise

E. Jean Carroll Wants Donald Trump To Pay Dearly During Latest Rape Trial

As the trial continued after the former president left, an attorney for E, Jean Carroll told the federal jury that "self-proclaimed billionaire" Donald Trump needs to "pay dearly" for defaming her for denying that he sexually assaulted her during the 1990s.

"It's time to make him stop. It's time to make him pay dearly for what he's done," added E. Jean Carroll attorney Shawn Crowley.

The jurors will remain anonymous given Trump's penchant for blaming others for his legal woes. They will reportedly be driven to and from the courthouse from an undisclosed location for their safety.

New York Appeals Court Denies Donald Trump Gag Order Appeal

Fresh off from winning Iowa, Donald Trump lost in court again, this time in the New York State Court of Appeals over his New York fraud case gag order. It threw out Trump's challenge to the gag order against him because it involved no "substantial constitutional question."

The gag order was issued against Trump and it barred him from attacking the staff of the judge overseeing the case. The former president previously accused a clerk for Judge Arthur Engoron of being a Democratic operative and the mistress of Senate President Chuck Schumer without any evidence. The clerk had been subjected to death threats since Trump made those claims.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Received Millions of Dollars From China, Other Countries While US President

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Court denies Trump's gag order appeal in civil fraud trial - WFAA
OZARK  It has been 56 years since renowned civil rights activist the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was gunned down as he stood on the second-floor balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

More than half a century later, keeping Kings dream that one day  the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood is more imperative than ever, said Dr. Lanice Armour Bonds, pastor of Christ the King Church in Daleville, keynote speaker at the Ozark-Dale County Ministerial Alliances Annual MLK Community Celebration held Monday at the Matthew-Scippio Academy in Ozark.

Originally from New Orleans, Bonds is an Army veteran who attended Bethany Bible College and Seminary. He holds a doctorate degree in psychology and lives in Level Plains. Today I have come to report that our prognosis in America regarding social reform still hangs in the balance, Bonds said. Racism, injustice and inequality have taken on a new face. Its better dressed, more intellectual, more cunning and covert than ever before.

Racism is yet the elephant in the room because there are still too many social issues connected to racism that are yet unresolved such as health care, equal employment opportunities, equitable housing, a crumbing and biased criminal justice system and an educational and cultural unawareness regarding Blacks and our significant contributions not only in the shaping of America but in the civilization of this entire planet, Bonds said. Kings memory and legacy still resonates throughout time not only in our country but abroad. His dream has now become the impetus and hope for generations to come.

Bonds compared King to the Old Testament Prophet Habakkuk, who observed firsthand the blatant and total inhumanity conducted towards people of color at the hands of cruel men who held disregard for right, righteousness and moral justice. He witnessed the bitter hatred that a degenerative society yielded, both overtly and covertly, on fellow human beings and yearned for the better day when the omnipotent God of Justice, who sees all and knows all, will take notice and implement change in the hearts of men.

Here we are 50 years later, the social and economic gap remains unabated, the criminal justice system is biased and dilapidated, our nation racially fragmented, healthcare somewhat improved yet crawling at a snails pace, our socio/economic status sits in the verge of collapse, while our government leaders are arm wrestling each other for control, said Bonds. With rapid violence in every aspect of our society we stand like Habakkuk with the question God when? How long shall we wait for justice? When will a time of change come?

We must return to prayer. Seek and establish an open dialogue with our God and we must repent and turn from our sins intentionally to God and ask for his intervention, Bonds said. So, America, I serve you notice today that, like Habakkuk and Dr. King, we the people will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and rivers like a mighty stream.

Let us teach our children to teach their children to teach their children to keep the dream and hope alive, he stressed. Today as we commemorate the greatness of this awesome advocate of social justice and equality, Im asking you to reaffirm with me our hope for the future in keeping the dream alive as we seek an honest pursuit of the fellowship with all men, regardless of ethnic persuasion as we co-exist on this great planet.

Keeping the dream alive, was the theme of the multiple MLK Jr. Events sponsored by the Ozark-Dale County Ministerial Alliance which began with a Watch Night Service Dec. 31, 2023 at St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church in Ozark, with Rev. Dr. Michael Bush keynote speaker. A youth program was Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Matthew-Scippio Academy with presentations by youth from local churches. A midweek program was held at St. Rose Missionary Baptist Church in Skipperville with Pastor Rev. Jerry Bennet, keynote speaker.
Pennsylvania officials visited Allentown on Wednesday to offer support for securing health insurance through a state program.

Friday, Jan. 19, is the final day to enroll in 2024 health-care coverage through the states Pennie program, the officials announced during a stop at Star Community Health Sigal Center, 450 W. Chew St. in Allentown.

Gov. Josh Shapiros administration is working to support Pennsylvanians through federal changes to the renewal requirements for the Medicaid and CHIP health-care plans, according to a news release on Wednesdays visit.

Previously, the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for individuals to remain enrolled in Medicaid even if they became ineligible, except in certain circumstances, according to the release. This was also known as the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement. A federal law ended this requirement in March 2023. Now, all Pennsylvanians receiving Medicaid or CHIP must once again complete their annual renewal when it is due to determine if they are still eligible for coverage.

Pennsylvanians who are no longer eligible for Medicaid will be referred to other sources of affordable health plans, like those available through Pennie, so they do not experience a gap or loss in health coverage, the officials said.

All Pennsylvanians deserve the dignity and peace of mind in knowing they can access high-quality, affordable, local health care where and when it is needed. DHS wants to make sure people maintain their health coverage regardless of whether it comes from Medicaid, Pennie, CHIP, or another source, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh stated in the release. If you receive your health care through the state or know someone who does, please make sure they complete their renewal on time so they dont risk a gap or loss in coverage.

If you no longer qualify for Medicaid, dont worry; DHS will automatically connect you to Pennie, where you can find a high-quality, affordable health plan.

Pennie is Pennsylvanias official health insurance marketplace and the only place to get financial assistance to help lower the cost of high-quality coverage and care, the state officials said Wednesday. Visit pennie.com for more information, or call Pennie Customer Service at 844-844-8040.

Pennies Open Enrollment Period is the best time to explore available options and shop around to find a plan, even if you already have insurance, stated Pennsylvania Insurance Department Deputy Commissioner Dave Buono. Quality, comprehensive health care coverage has never been more affordable, or easier to access for Pennsylvanians, and Pennie is the clearest way to make sure you are getting a plan that will cover important medical care in the case of a serious illness or injury.

We encourage consumers to research and compare plans to find coverage that best fits their needs and provides robust benefits for themselves and their families.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.
Bethlehem Township officials turned down an 866,350-square-foot warehouse proposed at 1600 Freemansburg Ave.

The township board of commissioners on Monday night unanimously rejected a resolution for preliminary/final approval of the 1600 Freemansburg Associates LLC proposal.

A portion of the project extends into Freemansburg, where borough officials previously granted conditional preliminary approval, according to Suzanne Borzak, zoning administrator there.

Attorney Catherine E. N. Durso in a statement on behalf of the developer told lehighvalleylive.com: Trammell Crow Company will consider the next steps for the future of the Freemansburg Avenue project in the coming weeks.

Bethlehem Township is drafting a denial letter to send the developer, said Amanda Jensen, township community development director.

At that point, the project is over barring any litigation that may be brought, she told lehighvalleylive.com.

Township commissioners raised concerns primarily related to traffic, Jensen said. Bethlehem Townships planning commission on Nov. 27 voted 4-3 against recommending conditional approval of the warehouse, citing concerns about the projects impact on the nearby intersection of Freemansburg Avenue and Willow Park Road.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission also raised strong objections to the project based on traffic concerns, at its meeting July 27.

The location is a former Bethlehem Steel Corp. limestone quarry.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Eagles running back DAndre Swift sat quietly, his arms resting on his knees after playing in Mondays wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Swift was reflecting after he and his teammates season was over after the Buccaneers soundly beat them 32-9.

BUY EAGLES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER
A flaw in the new 7.6 million Laois county library in Portlaoise has made half of it inaccessible to wheelchair users.

The "embarrassing" problem is down to a lift that is too small for most modern wheelchairs, a local councillor claims.

The sleek two storey library was officially opened on Main Street in July 2023 after a decade of planning, finance and construction that was beset by delays.

The Laois branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association has now said that the first floor is inaccessable to between 80% and 95% of wheelchair users, who use larger modern self-propelled electric chairs that cannot fit in the lift.

Their guidelines are for lift doors 900mm (3ft) wide but the library lift opening is only 700mm.

However the council told them it has no plan to replace the lift, with senior officials saying it met regulations when built.

It means that the student study area, a community meeting room and canteen, reference section and art gallery are out of bounds for most people in wheelchairs.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley revealed what she slammed as a "disgraceful, shameful and embarrassing" design flaw, at the January meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.

She said she was notified in recent weeks but the council was informed of the problem by the local branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association five months ago in early August 2023.

"80 to 95% of people in wheelchairs use the electric ones now. When you go into the lift, you can't turn so the door of the lift can't close. So it's not accessible.

"It was discovered on Make Way Day, ironically. That day is about people with disabilities and their needs in public spaces. The IWA had to notify the council that they couldn't attend a gathering there because of the lift," she said.

The problem will not be an easy fix.

"The lift shaft is concrete. It can't be changed," she said.

Laois County Council Director of Services for libraries Donal Library was informed by the IWA that the lift was too small, in an email seen by the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

They said "we were extremely disappointed that it is incredibly narrow and would not accommodate 80% of the wheelchair users attending our service. It is regrettable that secondary school students using wheelchairs can not currently avail of the study space as they use electric wheelchairs which will simply not fit safely on the lift, or if they do, will certainly not be able to come off it safely as there is no room for them to turn around."

They say they were not consulted during the design process, and said the previous library in Lyster Square had a much larger and accessible lift.

The Director in response said that the lift size met building regulations and a disability access certificate was granted for the library.

He said that other projects built after 2024 will follow new regulations for larger lifts.

Cllr Dwane Stanley said she is disappointed with the response.

She tabled a motion to the January meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District asking if it the lift was accessible, and the same response was given, this time from the County Librarian Bernie Foran.

She said that "the lift is suitable for wheelchair users... and a disability access certificate has been granted for the building".

"I really thought this was a joke. There is no common sense with this. How did we go from a lift that was accessible to a lift that isn't?" Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

The Director of Services with responsibility for the Portlaoise District is Simon Walton.

"The intention is for the building to be fully accessible. If that needs to be addressed, we will address it," he said.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Marie Tuohy.

"The library is fantastic and I'm sorry to say anything negative but this is extraordinary, it's mind blowing," she said.
A Naas District Court judge was told by a mans ex-wife that he needs urgent rehabilitation.

The comments were made by the woman during an in-camera (in private) court session, which was heard on Thursday, January 11 last.

The man had appeared before the judge as part of a contested bail application, following the breach of a protection order taken out on him by his ex-wife, which was granted by the court last year.

A garda who was sworn in told the court that the man turned up to the womans home in Kildare.

The garda also said that he was later identified by CCTV.

Although defending solicitor David Powderly said that the woman was not home at the time, the garda replied: "Yes, but he did not know that she wasnt there at the time."

Mr Powderly then asked the garda if they were aware that his client is homeless at present, and as such, has been finding it difficult to sign on at his local garda station.

In response, the garda said: "I can accept that, but he should have made gardai aware of this."

When the woman took to the stand, she said that the man has an addiction to drugs, and fears for her safety, as well as the safety of her daughter.

"If hes sober, he can come up to the home, but he needs treatment.

"Im more concerned for my daughters safety, and what he has said to my daughter," she added (the exact comments he allegedly made to her daughter were not disclosed to the court).

The woman alleged that on a previous occasion, the man had 'rammed a jeep in front of her home' and proceeded to assault her, and also attempted to assault her daughter.

Mr Powderly pointed out one recent instance in which the man and woman met for coffee, to which the woman explained that she met with him to discuss his issues and she urged him to go to the gardai, as he was not signing on at his local garda station as part of his conditions.

When the man took to the stand, he said that he would abide by any and all bail conditions. and also said that he would enter into rehab for his addiction issues.

He also said: "I dont object to any of what (his ex-wife) has said today. I apologise, I am not proud of my behaviour."

Judge Zaidan said that while he had sympathy for the man, he added that the evidence against the man 'is overwhelming' and refused to grant bail.

The judge also pointed out that his wife wished for him to seek help, adding: "She didnt come here for her pound of flesh, she said: 'He needs help.' Most of what she said here was actually in your favour."

The judge remanded the man in custody until the case resumes on a date next week.

He also ordered for the man to receive medical attention to address his addiction issues while he is in custody.

If you have been affected by this article, you can find resources to help you by contacting Women's Aid at 1800 341 900 or emailing helpline@womensaid.ie, or Men's Aid by ringing 01 554 3811 or emailing hello@mensaid.ie.

Additionally, you can find resources to help you by emailing Samaritans Ireland at jo@samaritans.ie, or by ringing 116 123.

For further information relating to treating addiction, please visit https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/addiction/drugshivhelpline/.
In the big world of AI, small businesses are having a tough time finding skilled folks. The AI market is huge, worth over $300 billion, and everyone wants a piece of it.

Big tech companies snatch up the best talent, making it a real challenge for the little guys. But, is the idea of using AI out of reach for small businesses? Not necessarily.

This week on Lets Talk, our experts share tips on how small businesses can find and build AI talent.

Lets Talk.

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Tristan Wright, CEO and Founder of Evolve to Grow

Tristan Wright, CEO and Founder of Evolve to Grow

For Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) aiming to bolster their AI initiatives, attracting and developing AI talent is pivotal. One effective strategy is to offer competitive compensation packages and benefits tailored to tech professionals. SMEs should emphasise the unique opportunities for growth and impact within their organisation, showcasing the significance of AI roles in driving innovation.

Establishing a robust online presence is equally crucial. SMEs can leverage social media platforms and professional networks to showcase their commitment to AI, sharing success stories and projects. Actively participating in relevant online communities can help in building a reputation as an AI-friendly employer, attracting talent seeking dynamic and forward-thinking workplaces.

Collaborating with AI-focused recruitment agencies can streamline the talent acquisition process. These agencies specialise in identifying and connecting SMEs with skilled AI professionals, ensuring a quicker and more targeted hiring process. Additionally, providing opportunities for skill development and continuous learning, such as workshops and conferences, demonstrates a commitment to employee growth, making the SME an appealing destination for AI talent.

In essence, a multifaceted approach that combines competitive incentives, a strong online presence, strategic collaborations, and a commitment to ongoing learning will position SMEs to successfully attract and develop the AI talent essential for navigating the digital future.

Jo Stewart-Rattray, Oceania Ambassador at ISACA

Jo Stewart-Rattray, Oceania Ambassador at ISACA

An under-resourced sector complicates the task of attracting AI professionals. By 2050, 70 percent of jobs will be in STEM, with an anticipated 75 percent in AI-related roles, necessitating the need to expand this crucial workforce.

But alarming figures reveal only 22 percent of AI workers globally are women. Limited female participation in AI research, development and implementation results in serious consequences: poorly designed algorithms reinforcing gender stereotypes, leading to unfair resource allocation and biased outcomes.

It is imperative that those SMEs developing new technology, adopt a participatory approach in its design, development, and deployment to ensure universally relevant products and services are created.

When it comes to attracting and retaining top AI talent, I believe prioritising diversity and inclusion is key. It not only broadens the talent pool but also provides a strategic edge for organisations in the competitive AI landscape. And establishing gender-balanced tech project teams promotes diverse thinking and innovation.

SMEs can also partner with training organisations and Universities to provide practical experience and mentoring opportunities for students and graduates; while utilising specialist AI consultants.

Grant Case, Regional Vice President, Head of Sales Engineering  APJ at Dataiku

Grant Case, Regional Vice President, Head of Sales Engineering  APJ at Dataiku

While organisations like Canva and Google have the resources to attract top AI experts, SMEs require creative solutions to punch above their weight.

Here are three ways to propel your SMEs AI journey:

SMEs often possess troves of real-world data. Highlighting your datas unique qualities and strengths can act as an irresistible allure for AI talent eager to create an impact. Whether via student competitions, hackathons or open calls for research, showing off your rich data can pave inroads to fresh AI talent and ideas.

Upskill your people by leveraging the many free AI courses offered by vendors and look for transferable innovations by reading AI research and stories from other industries. Upskilled staff who understand external AI trends are better equipped to identify use cases and adapt solutions for quick internal wins.

Provide channels for staff gaining AI skills to collaborate with experts via a shared AI platform. Since many SMEs lack resident data scientists, common platforms that blend domain and technical talent can help drive AI progress and outlast any individual by codifying institutional knowledge.

Implementing these pragmatic measuresspotlighting data assets, upskilling talent, and enabling collaborative creationcan drive AI innovation and give Australian SMEs a competitive edge and position them at the helm of next-generation industries.

Rob Moore, Co-founder and CTO of MakerX

Rob Moore, Co-founder and CTO of MakerX

In the dynamic tech landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) isnt exclusive to tech giantsits a tool for everyone. Agile Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs) stand to gain a competitive edge and unveil new market opportunities by leveraging AIs transformative power. By fostering a culture of innovation and experimentation, these businesses can empower their existing teams to utilise AI without incurring the cost and time to hire new tech talent. This culture thrives on open dialogue, celebrating AI experiments and successes, and constant enablement through education, upskilling, and safe, self-service access to AI tools.

To fully scale and capitalise on these innovations, SMBs can explore corporate venturing opportunities with innovative partners that can unlock AI-enabled industry and product opportunities, shaping a future-ready business landscape teeming with not just growth, but profitable growth and innovation.

Brad Drysdale, Field CTO at SnapLogic

Brad Drysdale, Field CTO at SnapLogic

The current business landscape is unpredictable, and that puts pressure on budgets and resources  and ultimately, on employees. Using AI to automate processes and improve productivity relieves this pressure.

In fact, SnapLogics recent research demonstrates that 66 per cent of workers want to use AI in the workplace. They recognise that it will save them time, improve their productivity and reduce risk and errors in their work. This is very encouraging to hear because employee buy-in is essential to making an AI rollout successful.

However, it should be noted that they are concerned that skills will be an issue  one-third (39%) of respondents claimed that there are very few people within their organisation with the skills required to implement and use AI. Nearly as many (36%) mention wanting a safety net to reduce the risk that they would make mistakes.

To address their apprehension, SMEs should invest in upskilling programs and foster a culture that encourages learning and experimentation. This holistic approach ensures not only the acquisition of necessary skills but also the sustained enthusiasm and confidence of their workforce.

Chris Dahl, Co-CEO at Pin Payments

Despite its transformative potential, the use of artificial intelligence in business is confusing and challenging for many small business owners. In fact, recent research from Employsure shows 59 percent of SMEs havent implemented AI yet due to a gap in awareness, understanding and resources. To develop AI talent, SMEs must first understand what theyre hoping to achieve by implementing AI, and then build a strategy accordingly.

If you dont have the current capabilities to do this, consider hiring a consultant or agency who can do an overview of your business and make recommendations for the best use of AI. To attract the best AI talent your business needs to show its commitment to AI by investing in training and development or partnering with businesses who can help you do this. Likewise, partnering with universities or educational institutions could be a great way to find upcoming talent by offering internships or work experience to students specialising in AI. Lastly, during your recruitment process make sure you are open and transparent about the way you use AI and highlight any ethics your business upholds surrounding its use.

Andrii Bezruchko, CEO and founder at Newxel

Andrii Bezruchko, CEO and founder at Newxel

In the quest to attract and develop AI talent, size doesnt matter  the vision and purpose count.

As someone deeply entrenched in tech talent recruitment, I can attest that SMEs can compete effectively for AI talent by following a strategic approach:

Clear AI Strategy and Vision : SMEs should articulate a compelling AI strategy that aligns with their core purpose. AI professionals are drawn to projects with a meaningful impact, so emphasize how your AI initiatives contribute to real-world solutions.

: SMEs should articulate a compelling AI strategy that aligns with their core purpose. AI professionals are drawn to projects with a meaningful impact, so emphasize how your AI initiatives contribute to real-world solutions. Focus on Development : Top tech talent seeks growth opportunities. SMEs can invest in upskilling current employees by offering AI-related courses, workshops, and certifications. Encourage a culture of continuous learning to keep your team updated with the latest AI trends. Establish mentorship programs where seasoned AI experts guide newcomers. This knowledge transfer fosters skill development and accelerates learning.

: Top tech talent seeks growth opportunities. SMEs can invest in upskilling current employees by offering AI-related courses, workshops, and certifications. Encourage a culture of continuous learning to keep your team updated with the latest AI trends. Establish mentorship programs where seasoned AI experts guide newcomers. This knowledge transfer fosters skill development and accelerates learning. Flexible Work Arrangements : Offer remote or flexible work options to tap into a broader talent pool. Experts from different locations can contribute to your AI projects, bringing diverse perspectives.

: Offer remote or flexible work options to tap into a broader talent pool. Experts from different locations can contribute to your AI projects, bringing diverse perspectives. Competitive Compensation : Stay competitive by offering attractive salaries and benefits packages. Recognize that top AI professionals are in high demand and willing to explore opportunities with appealing incentives.

: Stay competitive by offering attractive salaries and benefits packages. Recognize that top AI professionals are in high demand and willing to explore opportunities with appealing incentives. Outsourcing Expertise: SMEs can overcome the challenge of hiring the right talent at the right time by considering outsourcing. Partnering with a reliable IT outstaffing company grants access to a global pool of AI experts, providing cost-effective and flexible solutions.

By embracing these strategies, SMEs can harness the transformative power of AI and drive innovation within their organizations.

Warren Schilpzand, Area Vice President of Australia and New Zealand at DataStax

Warren Schilpzand, Area Vice President of Australia and New Zealand at DataStax

If it hasnt already, over the coming year artificial intelligence (AI) will impact virtually every aspect of your business, from planning and jobs to resource allocation and customer service.

This puts SMEs in a tough spot. Tech talent in Australia is already at a premium, and finding people experienced in cutting edge applications like AI is even harder. At DataStax, weve built real time AI enablers into our core product, Astra DB, and coupled it with vector search to create a product that not only transforms the way our clients serve their customers, but puts this powerful technology within the reach of everyone.

To find the best people, we create opportunities for them to work on truly revolutionary projects. Projects that arent just incremental, but which totally alter the way we do business and the products we offer.

For SMEs, finding and attracting the best AI talent means kick-starting initiatives designed to change the way your business operates and serves its customers. Star performers want to work on projects that make a difference, challenge them, and grow their skills.

Transforming your business with AI is not the work of a moment. But by embarking on AI endeavours designed to take your business to the next level, youll be able to attract, and retain, the very best talent by giving them the chance to work on something that really makes a difference.

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A prisoner who appeared in Naas District Court on Thursday, January 11 last detailed his mental anguish to Judge Desmond Zaidan.

The man, who is currently serving a custodial sentence on other matters, asked the judge to make an order related to medication to treat his mental health issues.

The exact nature of the offence he was in court for on the date in question was not disclosed.

He explained that he 'hasn't slept in three months' because of the present medication he is on.

"I've been in 20 or 30 different mental health programmes, I think I know the meds I need," he said: I've been having nervous breakdowns left, right and centre.

"My head is up my a**e," he added.

He also said that he is struggling to concentrate in an educational programme, and showed the judge scars on one of his forearms; he said that he had been self-harming.

He further said that while he wants to exercise in prison, his mood has been so low, that some days he finds it hard to even leave his bed.

"The prison is telling me that they're giving me the (correct) meds but they're not, it's f**king my head up. I'm sorry, Judge," he said.

After a brief back and forth, Judge Zaidan sent the man forward to Naas Circuit Criminal Court for a date later this month for sentencing.

He also ordered that the man receive the correct medical attention in prison, which the man thanked him for.

In addition, the judge recommended for a doctor be present on the sentencing date.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Samaritans Ireland (116123 or jo@samaritans.org) or you can visit pieta.ie (24/7 Free Crisis Helpline: 1800 247 247 or Text HELP to 51444).
Valentine's Day can be an expensive day for couples with prices for restaurants and hotels on the up for the commercial celebration on February 14.

However, while couple scroll endless dine and stay deals from luxury hotels across Ireland, a quick romantic hop to the city of love in Venice, Italy, could work out the same price or maybe even cheaper.

A quick search on some of Ireland's nicest hotels and Valentine's overnights with dinner and breakfast can go for anything from 250 to well over 1,000. Somewhere in the middle is a fair estimation of what an overnight in Ireland will cost a couple between travel, a meal, a few drinks and maybe a trip to the spa.

Let's put a figure of 500 on a night like that in a very nice 4 or 5-star hotel, because let's face it, we're not going to slum it on Valentine's Day.

With that figure in mind, our thrifty traveller set about getting a deal to fly to one of the most romantic cities in the world - Venice - for Valentine's.

First up are the flights and flying with Ryanair from Dublin to Venice with cost just over 200 for the basic flights for two people and no checked on luggage. It's just a short trip away after all - travel light and you can avoid given Michael O'Leary those few extra bobs.

The flight over would be on February 13 with the flight back on February 15, so you get two nights and all day on Valentine's Day in Venice.

You can book a bus from the airport to the city itself for around 10 per person so we're up to 220 and we're already perusing the sights and sounds of Venice.

Hotels range from very cheap to extremely expensive in Venice and if you want to go ultra cheap, the Hotel Canada will set you back just 70 for two people for those two nights but it's Valentine's Day and we've got that 500 budget to work with.

The very nice 4-star Plaza Hotel or Leonardo Royal Hotel Venice Mestre will set you back around 177 for a couple for two nights. That's not bad at all and brings out total spend so far to 397. If you had a cheap meal say for 30 on night one and 70 (average in Venice for two people with a bottle of wine is 55) for something a little more special on Valentine's Night, that brings us in at 500.

We've got to factor in some walking around money and small expenses but for around the price of a Valentine's Hotel stay in Ireland, you could create a very special memory in an iconic location.

Which one are you choosing?

APPROX. PRICES - VALENTINE'S IN VENICE:

Flights - 200

Transfers - 40 (both ways)

Hotel (two nights in 4-star) - 177 / Alternative option of 3-star for 70

Food - 100

TOTAL - 517 with 4-star option or 410 in a 3-star hotel
An Irish farmer living with bipolar disorder is set to feature on Ear to the Ground this week.

Sheep farmer Martin Galvin lives in one of Ireland's most breathtaking areas, the picturesque Leenane in Mayo, but for a long time his health challenges overshadowed the beauty of his surroundings.

In this week's episode (Thursday December 18), Ear to the Ground co-presenter Ella McSweeney spends the day with him to discuss the depths of his struggles and occasional peaks, as well as the impact on his family.

He speaks candidly on the show in the hopes of shedding light on the nuances of living with the difficult condition, and reveals his turning point came when his concerned daughter stepped in.

Speaking to McSweeney in a promo clip released by RTE, Martin said, "You can't solve this on your own, you have to get the help, and the help is there."

Check out the first look below:



Additionally, co-presenter Maeve Dineen will visit a Mexican woman, Sonia Viridiana, who manages a quaint farm just outside Dunmanway in West Cork, and co-presenter Darragh McCullough will undertake a comprehensive investigation in Carlow on the future of the vital Whitethorn hedgerow species.
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 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.

Leitrim sheep farmer to share on-farm experiences and speak on flock health issues.



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.
A teenager has been arrested in connection with an incident at a Blanchardstown restaurant on Christmas Eve which led to the deaths of two men.

Two murder investigations are under way after the incident at Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown at around 8pm on December 24.

Gunmen entered the restaurant and fired a number of shots, injuring Jason Hennessy Snr.

He was treated in hospital but died on January 4 from his injuries.

Tristan Sherry, a suspected gunman in the attack, was killed in the incident and died at the scene.

Gardai said that as part of the ongoing investigation, they arrested a teenage man under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

He is currently detained and being questioned at a garda station in Dublin.

He is the sixth person to be arrested as part of this investigation.
Leitrim dancer Edwina Guckiam celebrates ancient cultural traditions of the Celtic calendar in her first book, 'Sparks from the Flagstones' - a reminder of joyful communal gatherings, feasts, and celebrations.

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, the author, who is originally from Drumsha, details these traditions are bound up in her Leitrim childhood and encourages young generations to keep these cherished traditions that mark the round the year alive.

Each page beautifully describes traditions associated with Crossroads Dances, St Brigid's Day, Cake Dances and Cart Dancing of bygone fair days. It reminds children of traditions still held on calendar quarter-days that coincide with the old-world fire festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lunasa.

"I've written the whole book in the present tense because I wanted to show children that these situations are still alive, and now we're passing on these to them. It's their job to continue to keep them alive and, at the same time, empower them to keep and create these traditions themselves.

"I also look at traditions that happen all year with no specific dates. And how we celebrate culturally, how people gather in each other's houses and share stories and music. It's very personal to me. I tell stories of things that I've grown up with.

"Folklore is also a story of other people. It's a way of life. It's how we speak our language, music, song, dance and poetry. It's this huge thing that makes up a nation that people can look to and say, oh, well, that's what that nation they're about," Ewina said.

'Sparks from the Flagstones' explores the Irish folklore of Strawboys with boots mysteriously like Edwina's grandfather's, of Mummers and Biddy Boys, at Crossroads Dances and on Nollaig na mBan, on Wren Day, Halloween, St Brigid's Day, Cake Dances and Cart Dances from past fair days.

"What the children are doing today, in today's world, in Ireland, in 200 years' time, the children in 200 years of Leitrim are going to be looking back and say, well, this is our country.

"They have the power to continue on, just like people have done for thousands of generations beforehand. We're very lucky to have this. Not every country has such a rich folk culture that has survived, and we can trace it back," the local author told the Leitrim Observer.

Edwina is a dancer, folklorist, environmentalist and educator. She won the TG4 Award for her contribution to culture in Ireland in 2022 and was awarded the 2023 Markeivicz Award by Minister for the Arts Catherine Martin.

She has also been awarded Leitrim County Council Arts Person of the Year, Art Council's Next Generation Award and Business Person of the Year by the Irish Enterprise Board.

Edwina started to work on the book about three years ago and said is "excited to let it out into the world." She learned her dancing from her mother and the local dancers of Leitrim and Roscommon.

'Sparks from the Flagstones' is an enchantment for younger and older readers and an encouragement to keep alive the cherished traditions that mark the round of the year and our passage through it.

The Brazilian illustrator and painter Andrea Rossi has worked together with Edwina on the book's illustrations. Her work is inspired by her love of home, community, and everyday life in the West of Ireland.



Illustration by the Brazilian illustrator and painter Andrea Rossi who joined Edwina on the program

She was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and lives in Connemara with her husband and two children. Andrea loves experimenting with traditional materials and using various media on anything that can be illustrated. She applies the Irish language in most of her arts and crafts to express gratitude for the community that dearly embraced her.

"She's wonderful. I found her on Instagram years ago and have been a fan of her work. I always said if I ever publish a book someday, I hope that she would be the illustrator working with me. It's just been amazing having her as a partner in this whole program," Edwina said.

Since 2016, with the support of The Arts Council of Ireland, Dance Ireland and the Leitrim Arts Office, Edwina has hosted the Leitrim Dance Festival, supporting traditional percussive dancers worldwide. She also organises many events in her community throughout the year such as the Effrinagh Crossroads Dance.

She is currently curating a Creative Ireland project called Sowing the Seed with her Leitrim community and further afield encouraging the return of old farming techniques to work with nature once again and looking at the traditions and folk customs associated with the land.

'Sparks from the Flagstones' is published by Lepus Print and set to be launched on St. Brigid's Day at Lough Rynn Castle on February 01. "I started to work on the book about three years ago, so I'm excited to let it into the world," Edwina has said. The book will be available at bookshops across the country or online at https://www.edwinaguckian.com/product/book/.
Forward Water Technologies Corp. Issues Shares for Payment of Services by AGORA Internet Relations Corp.





TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 16, 2024 / Forward Water Technologies Corp. (TSXV:FWTC) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has issued a total of 452,000 common shares in the capital of the Company in settlement of compensation to AGORA Internet Relations Corp. ("AGORA") for certain advertising services provided by AGORA to the Company over the last three months.

The Company has received significant exposure through millions of content brand insertions on the AGORACOM network and extensive search engine marketing over the last six months. In addition, exclusive sponsorships of invaluable digital properties such as AGORACOM TV, the AGORACOM home page and the AGORACOM Twitter account have served to significantly raise the brand awareness of the Company among small cap investors.

President and CEO, Mr. Honeyman comments, "Over the last three months, AGORA has demonstrated its value as a key partner. We are thrilled to leverage their services as we further our footprint in the clean technology sector."

As disclosed in the Company's February 7th, 2023 press release the Company entered into an agreement with AGORA for the provision of marketing services for a period of one year. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement with AGORA, the Company agreed to pay a total fee of $100,000 + HST. The fee is payable, through the issuance of common shares of the Company and the 452,000 common shares being issued are being issued at a deemed price equal to the closing price of the shares:

$20,000 + HST Shares for Services at end of Twelfth Month January 1, 2024 ($22,600.00 / $0.05 Closing Price JAN 01/24).

The shares are subject to a hold period that will expire on May 2, 2024.

About AGORACOM

AGORACOM is the pioneer of online marketing, broadcasting, conferences and investor relations services to North American small and mid-cap public companies, with more than 300 companies served. AGORACOM is the home of more than 7.7 million investors that visited 55.2 million times and read over 600 million pages of information over the last 10 years. The average visit of 8min 43sec is more than double that of global financial sites, which can be attributed to the implementation and enforcement of the strongest moderation rules in the industry.

About Forward Water Technologies Corp.

Forward Water Technologies Corp. (TSX.V: FWTC) is a publicly traded Canadian company dedicated to saving the earth's water supply using its patented Forward Osmosis technology. The Company was founded by GreenCentre Canada, a leading technology innovation centre supported by the government of Canada. The Company's technology allows for the reduction of challenging waste streams simultaneously returning fresh water for re-use or surface release. The Company's mandate is to focus on the large-scale implementation of its technology in multiple sectors, including industrial wastewater, oil and gas, DLE, mining, agriculture and ultimately municipal water supply and re-use market sectors. In addition, the Company has initiated early-stage R&D for the treatment of food and beverage process streams.

For more information, please visit www.forwardwater.com.

Contact Information

For more information or interview requests, please contact:

C. Howie Honeyman - Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

519-333-5888

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws including statements regarding expansion and uptake of the Company's technology and the ability for the Company to achieve its growth strategy and business plan. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, the ability to scale the technology and the adoption of the technology by potential customers.

Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the impacts from the coronavirus or other epidemics, general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; unanticipated operating events; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Forward Water Technologies Corp.

16 january 2024 at 17:30

View the original press release on accesswire.comNews published onand distributed by:
Pizza Nova raises $15,000 for SickKids Foundation as part of its holiday campaign





Toronto, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pizza Nova has donated $15,000 to the SickKids Foundation as part of its holiday fundraiser, featuring the sale of its 60th anniversary commemorative tote bag online and in stores. The bag featured the brand's iconic "Ciao" greeting with a portion of the proceeds directed to the SickKids Foundation. On January 16 Pizza Nova presented a cheque to Alex Chiarlitti, Manager, Cause Marketing, and Stacey Robinson, Director of Cause Marketing at the SickKids Foundation at SickKids Hospital in downtown Toronto. Pizza Nova's donation was part of a two-year partnership with SickKids Foundation.

"We value every opportunity we have to partner with SickKids Foundation and support their lifesaving and life-enriching work," says Domenic Primucci, president of Pizza Nova. "On behalf of our entire team, I thank our loyal customers and franchisees for their enthusiastic participation in this fundraiser and especially the personnel and donors of SickKids who provide leading-edge care for so many children and their families."

This collaborative effort underscores Pizza Nova's commitment to positively impacting the communities in which it operates. The funds raised will go towards health and scientific advancements to continue breakthrough research and patient care. Rian and Qais, SickKids Foundation ambassadors and patients of SickKids Hospital were the faces of the SickKids Foundation campaign. Rian joined the SickKids Foundation and Pizza Nova teams during the cheque presentation event on Tuesday.

"We are grateful to Pizza Nova for its leadership and support," says Stacey Robinson, Director of Cause Marketing at SickKids Foundation. "Partnerships such as these allow us to truly live out our mission of creating a better world through children's health."

For more information on Pizza Nova, visit pizzanova.com or follow the company on social media at @pizzanova.

- 30 -

About Pizza Nova

Founded in 1963, Pizza Nova is a family-operated business that is committed to sharing the rich taste of Italy with Canadians. Pizza Nova has more than 150 stores and concession locations in Southern Ontario and inspired by family values such as trust, integrity, and authenticity. They are known for fresh toppings, high-quality ingredients and a wide range of authentic Italian menu items including lasagna, panzerotti, Italian sandwiches, chicken wings and arancini. They also have a line of Primucci branded products featuring Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Homestyle Tomato Sauce, Italian Hot Peppers, Spicy Green Olives, and Sundried Black Olives. Taste the Difference and learn more at pizzanova.com.

About SickKids Foundation

Established in 1972, SickKids Foundation raises funds on behalf of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and is the largest charitable funder of child health research, learning and care in Canada. Philanthropy is a critical source of funding for SickKids ? one of the world's foremost pediatric health-care institutions. Thanks to the generosity of the community, SickKids Foundation generated more than $205 million in revenue in support of children's health for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. Precision health for every child is the future. At SickKids, it's already begun. Join us at HealtheFuture.ca.

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17 january 2024 at 09:20

News published onand distributed by:
New Arkansas Organization Will Support Healthy Families by Listening to Parents, Advocating for Better Maternal Health Care





Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health promotes healthy moms, which leads to healthier families and stronger communities

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new maternal health non-profit organization has launched a digital platform for Arkansas parents to share their personal experiences before, during and after pregnancy. Maternal healthcare includes prenatal care, safe delivery and postpartum support like mental healthcare.

Driven by research that shows Arkansas has the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation and that healthy moms lead to healthier families and stronger communities, Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health (AIM) is gathering stories from families impacted by poor maternal health outcomes. The organization will amplify these stories to raise public awareness, cultivate champions for change and spur action to improve maternal healthcare access, affordability and quality. Arkansans are encouraged to visit AIMforArkansas.org to share their stories, connect with other parents and learn more about the challenges facing our state.

"Statistics are compelling, but thousands of families have stories about how poor maternal healthcare, including care after birth, set them on the wrong path at a moment when their family's future should have felt so full of possibility. Our goal is to share the stories behind the numbers," said AIM Executive Director Ashley Bearden Campbell. "These moms and dads, and their children, deserve to be heard."

AIM for Arkansas will advocate for pro-family policies, including:

Improved access: One of the most significant barriers to access results from inadequate public health insurance reimbursement rates. Low rates cause issues for hospitals in hiring doctors and nurses. To address the access gap, AIM will support increasing reimbursement rates for providers who deliver babies (both doctors and midwives).





One of the most significant barriers to access results from inadequate public health insurance reimbursement rates. Low rates cause issues for hospitals in hiring doctors and nurses. To address the access gap, AIM will support increasing reimbursement rates for providers who deliver babies (both doctors and midwives). Improved affordability: The 2023 Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee report recommended extending insurance coverage from 60 days to one year postpartum "to monitor the mother's physical and mental health." AIM will support the bipartisan effort to increase Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months postpartum. Arkansas is one of only eight states that has not passed this life-saving legislation.





The 2023 Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee recommended extending insurance coverage from 60 days to one year postpartum "to monitor the mother's physical and mental health." AIM will support the bipartisan effort to increase Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months postpartum. is one of only eight states that has not passed this life-saving legislation. Improved quality: All Arkansans should have access to highly skilled and licensed OB/GYNs and perinatal care providers. To ensure mothers and infants have the highest quality of care, AIM will support increasing funding for workforce training through medical schools and increasing the number of residency slots to train providers in the state.

Research by the Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee shows that 92% of maternal deaths in Arkansas could be prevented by enhancing the quality of maternal health care. Such efforts may include improving mothers' current physical and mental health and reducing the number of cesarean sections. Half of Arkansas births come via c-sections.

An estimated one in 50 Arkansas women has a disease or illness that leads to significant health complications during pregnancy or the postpartum period that require hospitalization, according to Jennifer Callaghan-Koru, associate professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

"A child's future starts at home. We know that when moms do not have access to quality healthcare when they are pregnant, children are more likely to suffer over the long term," Bearden Campbell says. "Not getting the right start in life can diminish educational outcomes and even erode our collective public safety. Arkansas must listen to these families in order to ensure a brighter future for our state and all its residents. With some of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the country, Arkansas policymakers have no time to spare."

According to the March of Dimes , 45.3% of Arkansas counties are defined as maternity care deserts. Nearly half of the state's 75 counties, 48% , do not have a single obstetric provider. Families, especially those in rural areas, also struggle to find hospitals to safely deliver their infants.

In May of 2022, Ashley delivered her daughter, Aubrey, via emergency cesarean at 28 weeks and 5 days. Aubrey weighed 2 lbs. 4 oz and had numerous health complications to overcome. A NICU nurse recognized signs of postpartum depression, anxiety, and PTSD Ashley was experiencing, and provided recommendations for mental health services.

In addition to her personal advocacy to improve maternal healthcare, Ashley has, for nearly 15 years, provided strategic counsel and executed advocacy campaigns to support a wide range of clients at the local and state levels. Beyond her professional endeavors, Ashley is passionate about serving her community. She spends much of her free time volunteering and has served on numerous non-profit boards, including the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, Race for the Cure, and 3 Miles of Men. She has also volunteered for Heifer International.

SOURCE Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health

17 january 2024 at 10:44

News published onand distributed by:
Vietnam EuroCham chairman Gabor Fluit speaks at an event on Jan. 16, 2023. Photo by courtesy of EuroCham

European businesses trust in Vietnams potential for recovery and will increase their investment in the country, a representative has said.

European companies have not reduced their investment in Vietnam despite economic challenges, and one example is Nestle Vietnams recent announcement of a $100 million expansion, said Gabor Fluit, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham).

"This demonstrates the confidence of European companies in Vietnam," he said Tuesday at the release of EuroChams 2024 White Book, an annual publication which offers insights of European businesses activities in Vietnam.

The most recent Business Climate Index of EuroCham considers Vietnam a rising star in attracting global investment, and European companies expressed higher confidence in the last quarter of 2023.

But Fluit anticipated that 2024 would be a difficult year with slower trade and economic uncertainties.

The key to overcoming these obstacles is an adaptive policy to match with ongoing situations.

EuroCham suggested that Vietnam needed to issue regulations to determined land use time for apartments, houses, offices and hotels.

The country also needs to have a policy to protect investors in case a real estate development company becomes insolvent or goes bankrupt.

It also needs to be transparent in foreign ownership of houses by announcing a list of projects that foreign investors cannot buy and give them title deeds on the remaining projects.

European companies want the approval of construction equipment simplified to reduce project delays. Last year, they faced difficulties in receiving approvals for fire safety equipment.

They also want clearer regulations on merger and acquisition and antitrust so they can make firm investment decisions in Vietnam.

Ngo Hai Phan, head of the Department of Administrative Procedures Control under the Government Office, said that last year 628 regulations had been removed to improve the system.

This year, at least 20% of internal procedures will be cut or simplified.
Sustaining the Royal Canadian Air Force's fleet of CH-146 Griffon helicopters





MIRABEL, QC, Jan. 17, 2024 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to extending the life and existing capabilities of the CH-146 Griffon helicopters to support the Canadian Armed Forces and keep Canadians safe.

Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a $2.28-billion contract to Bell Textron Canada Limited (BTCL) to provide in-service support for the Royal Canadian Air Force's active fleet of CH-146 Griffon helicopters.

The helicopters fulfill domestic and international missions, including tactical transport, emergency response, and search and rescue. This in-service support contract will sustain the fleet until at least the mid-2030s.

Under this contract, which will begin in April 2024, BTCL will provide program management, engineering, technical and design change services, component repair and overhaul, procurement of spares and heavy maintenance services. The in-service support work will be done in Canada, namely in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador, which will create or maintain 1,130 jobs across the country.

Through the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, BTCL has committed to providing business activities equal to the contract value that will ensure opportunities for the broader Canadian supply chain, including small and medium-sized businesses.

BTCL's economic commitments to Canada have the potential to contribute at least $125 million annually to Canada's gross domestic product over the life of the contract.

Quotes

"This in-service support contract with Bell Textron Canada Limited will help sustain the Canadian Armed Forces' fleet of CH-146 Griffon helicopters, while also maintaining good jobs here in Canada."

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos

Minister of Public Services and Procurement

"As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force, today's investment is yet another sign of our commitment to invest in our aviators to keep Canada safe. The CH-146 Griffon provides crucial tactical aviation, special operations aviation and search and rescue capabilities to the Royal Canadian Air Force, at home and abroad. This in-service support contract will be key in keeping this fleet going for the next 15 years."

The Honourable Bill Blair

Minister of National Defence

"Canada's aerospace sector is a world leader and a huge benefit to the entire Canadian economy. This project will have an incredible economic impact, benefiting our economy, our supply chain and, most importantly, our aerospace workers."

The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

"Bell is proud to be awarded the contract by the Government of Canada to provide in-service support for the Royal Canadian Air Force's CH-146 Griffon fleet. In collaboration with our many partners in the aerospace industry, our teams deployed across the country will ensure the skills required to support the Griffon remain in Canada. Our 1,500 employees in Canada feel privileged to support the members of the Canadian Armed Forces so they can accomplish the full range of missions entrusted to this fleet, at home and abroad."

Michael Nault

Vice President and General Manager, Bell Textron Canada Ltd.

Quick facts

BTCL is the original manufacturer of the CH-146 helicopter and has exclusive ownership of all intellectual property rights pertaining to the fleet. The company is therefore the only organization capable of providing the required in-service support.

As of 2024, 82 CH-146 Griffon helicopters are in active service, operating out of 11 locations across Canada .

. On January 16, 2023 , Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) released a Request for Proposal to BTCL, and a technical and financial proposal was submitted to PSPC by BTCL on April 28, 2023 .

, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) released a Request for Proposal to BTCL, and a technical and financial proposal was submitted to PSPC by BTCL on . In May 2022, PSPC awarded a separate contract worth approximately $800 million to BTCL in support of the Griffon Limited Life Extension project, to perform the modifications required on the fleet of CH-146 Griffon helicopters to extend their life until at least the mid-2030s.

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SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada

17 january 2024 at 10:44

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PROPERTY management company Aviary Estates is facing winding-up proceedings in the High Court.

Limerick City and County Council, which, according to a public notice is a creditor of the company, has presented a petition to a judge seeking the order to close Aviarys operations and recover money it claims its owed.

The petition, which was presented to the High Court before Christmas, is due to be heard on January 29 next.

Aviary manages buildings across the region.

In a brief comment, a director of Aviary Estates said: We are aware a petition has been lodged to wind up Aviary Estates.

Aviary Estates is disputing this, but we cannot make any further comment as the matter is before the courts.

Aviary Estates, which is headquartered at Mount Kennett Place off Dock Road in the city centre, manages several of the residential blocks in that area.

It provides cleaning, waste collection and other services in the public areas of these buildings.

The Limerick Leader understands there will be no interruption to these services, and that it is business as usual.

When contacted, a spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council said since the matter is before the High Court, it is unable to make a comment.
THE IRISH Red Cross Limerick branch are looking for new members to join the voluntary organisation and to learn life-saving skills.

The group primarily focuses on providing first aid services across the county however, there are a number of other volunteer roles available including drivers and the community support team.

An information evening will be held on Thursday, January 25 at 7:30pm where prospective volunteers can find out more information about the roles within the organisation.

At the information event, people can find out more about the first aid response course which runs on Thursday evenings in Limerick city.

On the PHECC accredited course, the public can learn life-saving skills, how to treat wounds and fractures, how to manage medical conditions while awaiting an ambulance and much more.

The 10 week course will be delivered in person at the Irish Red Cross building in Limerick city starting with the information and registration night.

The Irish Red Cross provide a number of services across the city and county including first aid for events such as the Great Limerick Run, Munster Rugby matches in Thomond Park and sporting fixtures throughout Limerick.

The information event will be held at the Irish Red Cross building on the Dock Road, V94 XE81.

Contact 087 840 0400 or email info@limerickredcross.org to book a place in an upcoming course or to ask about the volunteer roles.
A JUDGE has rejected a claim made by the partner of independent Clare TD, Violet Anne Wynne that he has yet to receive an email from the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) inviting him to sit his driving test, more than three years after he applied for the test.

At Kilrush District Court this Tuesday, Judge Alec Gabbett told provisional driver John Mountaine that it is time you got a full licence. You can't continue to drive on a provisional licence. There are children in this car and lots of driving going on.

Judge Gabbett made his comments as Mr Mountaine, who will turn 42 in March, faced additional summons in court on Tuesday where he is accused of driving without insurance, driving without a licence and driving while unaccompanied by a qualified driver.

Those offences are alleged to have occurred at Wood Road, Kilrush on May 18 2022.

Mr Mountaine was also before the court concerning separate driving offences, which he was found guilty of last July.

Following the conviction in that case, Judge Gabbett had adjourned sentencing to give Mr Mountaine time to sit his driving test in order to obtain a full licence.

Solicitor for Mr Mountaine, Patrick Moylan handed Judge Gabbett a document confirming that Mr Mountaine had applied for a driving test to the NDLS on November 3, 2020.

Judge Gabbett noted that Mr Mountaine, of Pella Road, Kilrush, says that hasnt heard back from the NDLS since.

He commented: "I dont believe for a minute that the NDLS hasnt written to you since November 2020."

In response, Mr Mountaine said: I have no reason to lie.

In reply, Judge Gabbett said: Have you checked your email?

Mr Mountaine then said: "I have - I check my emails regularly for work.

Judge Gabbett said he wants the issue sorted by the next court date on February 13 indicating that he will proceed to sentence Mr Mountaine for the driving offences, otherwise.

"I am very surprised if you haven't got that email in the last three years. It is a very convenient system, commented the judge, who added. "I know for a fact that people have applied for tests and sat their tests since November 2020 including myself for another licensed category."

Judge Gabbett then said: Mr Mountaine has been in a holding pattern for three and a half years and one of the few people who hasnt availed of a test."

Mr Moylan said: "I would imagine that there is a loop in the system.

In reply, Judge Gabbett said: "There is no loop in the system - it is called attending to your paperwork.

Judge Gabbett told Mr Mountaine: If you check your email, there will be an email there to tell you to apply for your test.

Judge Gabbett added: I am looking for compliance here - a pink driving licence for someone who appears to drive without a full licence and at being continually in breach of the law."

At the hearing of the contested case in July, Judge Gabbett said that Mr Mountaine was continuing to break the law by driving around unaccompanied before adjourning the case as he wanted Mr Mountaine to obtain a full licence.

Judge Gabbett said, last July, that he is to convict Mr Mountaine (41) of holding a mobile phone while driving, driving unaccompanied and driving without L plate at Lack West, Kilmihil, Co. Clare.

Mr Mountaine was on a call to Deputy Wynne at Leinster House during a pre-school run for two of the couples children on October 21st 2021 when he was spotted by Garda Patrick Hanley holding a mobile phone up to his ear while driving.

Judge Gabbett said that Mr Mountaine by his admission is continuing to break the law by driving around unaccompanied. He has reasons for that but that doesnt make them valid.

He accepted that Mr Mountaine has a peculiar set of circumstances where he has six children, his partner works in Dublin for a significant portion of the week and he has to drive.
Gardai investigating a violent incident at a restaurant in Dublin on Christmas Eve, in which two people died, have arrested a sixth suspect.

A major garda investigation has been underway since the incident that occurred at a premises at Main Street, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 at around 8pm on December 24.

One of the men died from gunshot wounds while the second sustained serious stab wounds.

A number of suspects are currently before the courts and investigating gardai have now confirmed a sixth arrest was made this Wednesday morning.

"As part of the ongoing investigation into the serious incident at a premises on Main Street, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, on December 24, 2023, gardai have today arrested a male, aged in his teens, under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997," said a spokesperson.

The male is currently detained at a Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.



It's understood the latest arrest is in relation to the wider investigation into all of the circumstances surrounding last month's incident.

Separate incident rooms, each led by a Senior Investigating Officer, have been established by gardai.
An Irish animal rescue is urging people to look out for pets and strays during the ongoing spell of cold weather.

My Lovely Horse Rescue (MLHR) called on people to help animals survive the low temperatures in the wake of a Status Yellow Low Temperature/Ice warning issued for all of Ireland.

In a post published on their Facebook page yesterday (January 16), a spokesperson for MLHR stated, "Please keep an eye out for animals that need help in this weather.

"Offer them shelter if you can, there are so many abandoned dogs and cats that need help, break the ice in water buckets in fields for horses. [It] breaks all our hearts to think of them suffering, [the] next few nights are going to be extremely cold and icy."

According to Met Eireann, very cold temperatures with severe frost and icy stretches can be expected countrywide, leading to animal welfare issues as well as difficult travelling conditions.

A Status Yellow Snow-Ice Alert is also in place in Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Derry.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed the resumption of Irish beef exports to China after a ten week suspension by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

Bord Bia CEO Jim OToole has welcomed the lifting of the suspension by the GACC: This is welcome news for the Irish beef sector and allows our beef exporters to immediately re-commence trade with their Chinese customers. In response to todays news, Bord Bia has reactivated our 1.6 million EU co-funded beef and lamb campaign in China. As part of the campaign, we will be inviting Irish exporters to exhibit at SIAL China, a high profile meat trade show held in Shanghai in May. We will also host Irish beef information seminars in Beijing in March and Shanghai in May, inviting Chinese beef buyers and stakeholders.

According to CSO figures, over 3,200 tonnes of Irish beef, valued at 19.7 million, was exported to China in 2023 prior to the November suspension.

Speaking from Shanghai, Bord Bias China Manager, Conor OSullivan added: "Since Irish beef was first granted access to the Chinese market in 2018, Bord Bias Shanghai office and Irish exporters have been building close trading relationships with Chinese customers. When the Chinese market reopened in January 2023, after the previous suspension, there was immediate interest from Chinese buyers. The medium term forecast for the Chinese beef market is positive as we expect Chinese consumer demand for beef to grow steadily throughout the year. I look forward to once again working with Irish exporters to build the long term opportunities for Irish beef in the Chinese market.
Adani Group on Wednesday said it will invest 50,000 crore over the next 10 years to set up a 1 GW data centre in Maharashtra. The apples-to-airport conglomerate will invest 624 billion in Maharashtra and Telangana as a part of its 7-trillion expenditure plan for the next decade, Reuters reported.

Adani Enterprises Ltd, the flagship company of the group, and the Maharashtra government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up the 1 GW (gigawatt) hyperscale data infrastructure. ALSO READ: Adani-Hindenburg Case Verdict: Adani Group stocks rally up to 12%; overall m-cap jumps over 15 lakh crore The MoU was signed in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani at the World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos," it said in a statement. ALSO READ: Adani Enterprises raises stake in media agency IANS "The data centre infrastructure, which will be set up in key locations such as Mumbai or Navi Mumbai and Pune, will be powered by renewable energy, which will enhance the green energy infrastructure in Maharashtra, and provide direct and indirect employment to 20,000 people," the Adani Group was quoted by PTI as saying.

The Maharashtra government is interested in promoting information technology-related infrastructure and services and considers the proposed hyperscale project to be economically and socially beneficial to the state.

ALSO READ: Adani Group to provide 350 sq ft flats in Dharavi slums, 17% larger than typical projects

Mega projects like this have facilitated Mumbai's renewable energy journey and align well with its broader sustainability goals contributing to India's broader renewable energy targets. Mumbai's renewable energy share now surpasses that of major global cities, PTI reported.

What's in for Telangana

Adani Group said it will invest over 12,400 crore in an array of projects including a data centre, clean energy project, and a cement plant in Telangana.

The Adani Enterprises will set up a 100-megawatt data centre in Telangana, while Adani Green Energy, Ambuja Cements, and Adani Defence Systems and Technologies also signed deals to set up projects in the state.

"The government of Telangana signed 4 MoUs with the Adani Portfolio of Companies for over 12,400 crores at the World Economic Forum, Davos. Adani Group to invest 5,000 crores in 100 MW data centre that will use green energy. Adani Green to set up two pump storage projects using over 5,000 crore. Adani Defence and Aerospace to invest 1,000 crore to set up counter-drone and missile facilities," ANI reported.

Last week, Adani pledged to invest $24 billion over five years in renewable energy in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat.

(With inputs from PTI and Reuters)

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UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher launched a scathing attack on Credit Suisse, blaming its recent woes on leadership failures at all levels. But alongside the criticism, he offered glimpses of hope for the future of the merged entity, including higher potential returns and a commitment to increased regulation, during an interview with Bloomberg in Davos, on January 17.

UBS's return on equity may be higher than currently expected once the integration of its former rival, Credit Suisse, has been completed, its chairman said on January 17. Kelleher pointed fingers at Credit Suisse's board, management, and shareholders for the bank's downfall. Higher return on equity for UBS once the Credit Suisse integration is complete

We have given a 15% target exit ROE at the end of 2026 as a guideline, and obviously there may be upside on that," Kelleher said, as quoted by Reuters.

Kelleher indicated his support for increased regulation in UBS's home market, aligning with the government's efforts to formulate a new approach following the Credit Suisse crisis.

Kelleher emphasized, "The big message here is that there was clearly a failure by the board, management, and the shareholders of Credit Suisse to hold Credit Suisse accountable," as quoted by Bloomberg.

Also Read | UBS Securities bullish on GAIL's profitability and potential stock re-rating; raises target price by over 26%

UBS has been making quick progress on integrating Credit Suisse since it agreed to buy the smaller rival in an emergency takeover ten months ago in what was the biggest banking sector tie-up since the financial crisis. Still, the acquisition comes with a raft of potential difficulties from closing out positions to managing the legal liabilities inherited from Credit Suisse, the Bloomberg report added.

"I don't think the regulators had sufficient powers. Has been pleasantly surprised by the culture of Credit Suisse employees who moved to UBS. 2024 Will be the hard year of heavy lifting," the Reuters report quoted Kelleher.

Also Read | How did Credit Suisse collapse amid nationalisation plans by injecting $57.6 billion?

At Credit Suisse, we have had net new money in deposit channels and wealth management channels," Kelleher further added, as quoted by Reuters.

Investors are urging UBS to capitalize on the Credit Suisse deal, with Cevian Capital AB, holding a stake of approximately 1.3%, expressing confidence in the bank's potential to achieve a return of over 20% on tangible equity after the integration concludes, according to the Bloomberg report.

While Kelleher acknowledged that the fusion of Credit Suisse is progressing well, he noted in the interview that the completed portion so far has been "the relatively easy bit." In contrast, he anticipates that 2024 will be "a very hard year of heavy lifting," he said, as quoted in the report.

UBS intends to merge Credit Suisse's legal entity into UBS by the middle of the year. Kelleher mentioned, "We can really start attacking those allocated and stuck costs" once this integration is completed, as per the report.

Having spent three decades at Morgan Stanley, Kelleher is currently guiding UBS through one of the most significant mergers in recent financial history as the bank assimilates its former rival, Credit Suisse. The Irishman has conveyed his forward-looking perspective, aiming to enhance the Zurich-based lender's valuation and exploring potential successors to Chief Executive Officer Sergio Ermotti.

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A trial for deadly terrorist attacks in Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands, Jan. 16, 2024. Photo by VNA

A terrorist group in the U.S. was accused of inciting people in Vietnam to perform terrorist acts to instill fear, prosecutors said at a Tuesday trial for deadly attacks on government offices in Dak Lak.

Prosecutors of the Central Highlands' Dak Lak Province said Y Mut Mlo, the ringleader of terrorist group MSGI (Support group for Montagnards) based in the U.S., had been persuading H Wuen Eban since 2015 to join armed activities, murder and destroy properties to instill fear among the people and disrupt order in Dak Lak.

Y Mut Mlo is currently on the run and wanted.

Mlo also introduced Eban to other members of MSGI, including Y Chik Nie, Y Nien Eya, Y but Eban, Y Chanh Bya and Y Sol Nie.

In August 2018, Bdap illegally crossed the border to enter Thailand and formed the MSFJ (Montagnards Stand For Justice) organization to incite people of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands to perform terrorist acts.

In 2019, Eban joined MSGI to seek material support from outside of Vietnam to go against authorities, forming the so-called "Degar State" in the Central Highlands.

From 2019 to June 2023, Eban recruited people from Dak Lak villages to form armed groups, as well as calling for funds to buy weapons.

Eban and his accomplices also threatened many to force them to join the armed groups. MSGI often sent money to Eban to pay for living expenses and other costs of the armed groups.

In early 2023, Eban requested permission from MSGI to allow armed groups to perform terrorist acts in Vietnam, murdering people and destroying properties to instill fear in the community. Y Sol Nie returned to Vietnam to help Eban with coordinating the terrorist acts.

On May 12, 2023, Nie came to Thailand from the U.S. and contacted Eban on how to return to Vietnam without being detected. Eban enlisted people to help Nie enter Vietnam, and Nie, along with Eban and others in the armed groups, devised plans and chose locations to attack authorities and steal weapons, among other acts.

They then chose the Peoples Committee offices of Ea Ktur and Ea Tieu communes as their targets, as the locations would make it easier for them to attack and retreat from.

Nie and Eban then approved armed groups to attack the two sites, telling them to destroy everything and kill everyone present, as well as stealing weapons. They were also instructed to expand their attacks to other sites, and following their completion, they must plant the flag of the so-called "Degar State" and record videos to promote their image. "Degar" is a term used for Montagnards groups.

Authorities said that from June 9 to June 10 last year, terrorists trained among themselves and created weapons as preparation. At night on June 10, they split into two groups: one with 33 people and the other with 34 people, to come to the two Peoples Committee offices and launch the attacks.

The attacks resulted in nine deaths, including police officers, officials and civilians, as well as injuring people.

Authorities said most of the accused did the crime as they lacked awareness about the laws, so they were persuaded by Y Mut Mlo and other reactionary groups in the U.S. to join in the terrorist acts.

Among the 100 accused, 53 were tried for terrorism to oppose the people's government; 45 were charged with terrorism (six being abroad); one was accused of concealing crimes; and one was accused of brokering illegal entry, exit, or stay in Vietnam.

The trial started on Jan. 16 and is expected to last 10 days.
When David Witting prepared digital-marketing agency Dept@s Boston-area offices for employees return in 2022, he ordered trendy couches, chairs and high tables, envisioning lively collaboration and banter.

Yet when his co-workers arrived, many skipped the furniture and gravitated toward the private booths scattered in the office. Since then hes jettisoned some of the furniture, and added more booths.

People are coming in to do occasional big meetings, but really the rest of the time, they want a quiet private spot to get on a Zoom call," said Witting, a partner at the company. Its weird."

As Covid-19s remote-work surge fades, some workplaces are quieter and odder than ever. Employees have returned only to park themselves in deserted conference rooms or sound-muffling chambers. Colleagues grumble about booth-hogging co-workers, and some companies have started enforcing time limits on them.

The pods, some resembling old-school telephone booths, have emerged as one of the hottest segments in the $24 billion North American office-furniture industry. Manufacturers such as Room, Nook and Framery say business has been brisk. But some workers and managers say more booths means less eavesdropping, less gossiping, less camaraderie and less fun.

Its strange," said William Blaze, a technology recruiter and consultant, referring to colleagues who end up occupying booths for much of their workdays. Blaze, who lives in Atlantic Highlands, N.J., observed the phenomenon while working at tech companies from 2021 to 2023, as well as at a clients Manhattan co-working office where he now works two days a week.

It seems that the goal of returning to office has been to create a rowdy buzz," said Blaze. Were not seeing that."

Janet Pogue McLaurin, global director of workplace research at architecture and design firm Gensler, said workplace privacy has never been more important. Many of the firms clients, which include big companies such as Amazon, have more than doubled their booths and other private or semiprivate areas since the pandemic.

This is a huge trend," she said.

Demand for privacy has office architects and landlords scrambling to rearrange layouts. Open-plan offices, often dreaded by employees, are now being peppered with pods and booths that scream do not disturb."

Jamie Hodari, chief executive of global co-working company Industrious, said some workers are monopolizing private areas in office spaces that were designed for professionals to connect with other professionals. We see a lot more people linger for two hours post-phone call or a Zoom call because they like having a little space to themselves."

Booth-inclined office workers say their needs have changed post-Covid, and they have a harder time concentrating among noise and distractions.

At CrowdComms, a U.K.-based maker of event technology, managing director Matthew Allen got used to working in near-silence at the office during the pandemic. When colleagues returned, their phone callseven at normal volumeannoyed him so much he bought a sound-dampening booth.

Though it was ostensibly for the entire office, he soon moved in.

Its quite selfish," said Allen, who has added a trio of plants. I think it has very much become my home."

On social-media sites such as X, Reddit and TikTok, employees generally celebrate the booths. Even Chatty Cathys are seeking them out. One X user tweeted that she locks herself in an office phone booth most days because she talks too much.

Others vent about booths poor ventilation and small size, or their aesthetics. Kirsten Auclair, a biomedical researcher in San Francisco, shudders at the harsh lighting in the booths she uses to take Zoom calls at work.

It casts like the worst shadows, you look just kind of like on the brink of death," she said. Still, Auclair considers the oasis from colleagues noise an office lifesaver.

Booth manufacturers insist their products can coexist with collegiality. SnapCab founder and CEO Glenn Bostock said the glass walls of his companys pods allow for a sense of connection with co-workers.

They can see you," he said. You can wave at them. You can still interact with people visually but you get that audio privacy."

Other products seek a different balance between isolation and community. Furniture maker Steelcase offers a desk-encircling tent meant to ensure territorial privacy" instead of silence. Nook, headquartered in the U.K., makes hut-shaped hideaways intended to provide a sense of psychological safety without being completely enclosed.

Nook founder David OCoimin said an office filled with phone booths is like you have a jail instead of having a workplace."

Furniture distributor Thinkspace sells booths that Sid Meadows, principal and vice president, said are designed to allow a low level of outside sound. Humans are wired to crave some background noise, he said, pointing to popular YouTube videos of ambient office chatter.

That matches the findings of a study co-authored by Dr. Esther Sternberg, director of the University of Arizona Institute on Place, Wellbeing and Performance. She and colleagues discovered people became stressed when their surroundings were too quiet as well as too loud. The typical volume of birdsong, at 45 decibels, appears to be just right.

Nick Fine, a user-experience researcher in London, describes himself as an old school, prepandemic office worker" who enjoys the hubbub of a busy workplace. But the now-hybrid worker still spends considerable time in an enclosed pod to work without overhearing his colleagues chatter on days hes in the office.

I have ADHD and working in a pod engages my hyper focus," he said, adding he likes having the booth option when the din is too much.

Farmers Fridge, which sells fresh salads out of vending machines, has eight pods made by Zenbooth and a plethora of conference rooms in its Chicago office. It offers about 40 hideaways for the 85 people who work there, yet that bounty of isolation isnt always enough, even for the CEO.

I actually live three minutes from here," said Luke Saunders, also the companys founder. If I really have to get work done, I do it at home."
Every January, Davos, a ski resort near Zurich, Switzerland, hosts the annual conference of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Carefully curated 3,000 or so delegates and speakers from global business, government, civil society and academia gather for sessions on the most pressing issues of the day. The idea behind it is improving the state of the world".

What are the pressing problems in the world in 2024? The biggest seems to be the lack of political consensus on anything at all; not even on how to talk about sorting out differences and ending wars. Its a time of upheaval and uncertainties  dubbed a polycrisis".

Russias war in Ukraine is on still, even as new conflict is brewing in the Red Sea, endangering one of the worlds most important trade routes that could affect more than 40% of Asia-Europe trade. Ongoing geopolitical tensions between the worlds two biggest economies, the United States and China, are nowhere near repair.

On Tuesday, Iran carried out a missile attack on Pakistan, complicating the already tense situation in the Middle East region because of the Israel-Hamas conflict. On Thursday, Pakistan retaliated with strikes at multiple locations inside Iran. This happened hours after a meeting between Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the Davos conference.

These geopolitical tensions are spilling into global trade, business strategies and policymaking. Companies, investors and governments are setting about refashioning supply chains to reduce exposure to these vulnerabilities and protect national interests even if at the cost of giving up the low-cost advantage associated with sourcing from China.

The US is leading this re-alignment of global trade and supply chains. Plus, it has sparked off a global subsidies war among rich countries for supporting domestic manufacturing of critical semiconductors and electric vehicle parts that the non-rich nations cannot afford.

The uncertainties also arise from the rapid advancement of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). The year 2023 was generative AIs breakout year. As use of generative AI tools by governments and companies picks up, regulation needs to come up if the transition is to be orderly and non-disruptive. (The potential for menacing with democratic elections remains the biggest worry.)

Meanwhile, the World Bank has warned of a decade of lower global growth. How will it be averted?

International cooperation is essential to come to grips with all these problems but multilateralism is no longer working  the World Trade Organisation has proved incapable of resolving global trades problems; the COP 28 was let down by the rich countries chicanery and hypocrisy; and the World Bank and International Monetary Fund are dawdling through the processes needed to help low-income countries in sovereign indebtedness.

WEFs 2024 edition of the Davos conference, which kicked off from 15 January, and will run till the 19th, therefore, seeks to rebuild trust in a fractured world. Can it?

German economist Klaus Schwab had founded it in 1971. (His international not-for-profit organization was named the WEF in 1987.) His big idea wasto nudge business people to think beyond what was good just for them and their shareholders. He wanted them to think about what was good also for all those who have a stake in the destiny of a company, including employees, society, and the planet. He was at the time a 32 year old academic, with five degrees in economics and engineering on his CV, according to The Economist. Davos was where people went to recover from tuberculosis.

Then the annual meetings became a hit. The secret of this success was that they are an informal meeting place for business heads and politicians to talk about policy. Over the years, they became the go-to place for networking among the global elite; upstarts to present their credentials and be admitted into the limelight  the P.V. Narasimha Rao government sent a delegation of ministers to Davos back in 1991, even as his newly-formed government famously managed a severe economic crisis the previous governments had left India on the brink of.

Do the Davos discussions result in breakthroughs? Sometimes. Especially when conventional intergovernmental negotiations become messy. In the 1980s, the WEF brokered peace between Greece and Turkey, preventing war. Subsequently, Davos also brought dissenting world leaders to its platform, such as South Africas Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk, and Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres.

The Global Alliance for Vaccinations and Immunisation, GAVI, was launched at Davos in 2000, long before it facilitated delivery of the covid-19 vaccines produced in the developed and developing countries such as India to underdeveloped and non-producing developing countries.

In 2013, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the WEFs help informally to have its Davos meeting come up with global action areas for reducing emissions and improve climate resiliency through public-private cooperation. Those discussions that year at Davos lent focus to his Climate Summit in September 2014, ultimately leading to the legally binding international treaty on climate change adopted by 196 parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris in December 2015.

But the irresistible draw of the annual Davos conference is also its big weakness, as absentees can dampen its clout. Its hardly surprising that in a year the world is in a flux, this years congregation will miss among others, Joe Biden, Jinping, Narendra Modi and Rishi Sunak.

Worse, the worldview that has so far powered the WEF  globalization will spread and strengthen democracy through the world  is now at variance with the reigning global mood. The US-China tech war and trade tensions and Russias war in Ukraine, the retaliatory sanctions by western countries, after which more than 1,000 companies shut down operations in the country, exposes how out of touch that worldview is with ground realities.

In country after country, rising nationalism, populism, protectionism are challenging the ideals of western liberal democracy, free trade and free-market capitalism. That world order is no longer seen favourably but what the new guiding principles could be is far from clear still.

Could the WEF throw light on the new world order that might replace it? The emerging anti-elite sentiments in the politics of country after country  latest is Italy which has installed its most right-wing government since the second world war with the ruling party known for its unwelcoming attitude towards immigration  points to a disconnect of the regular at Davos.
Europes trade relationships are set to suffer as global conflicts and protectionism open a chillier chapter in international commerce, hitting growth on the continent.

Trade is now growing at a slower pace than the world economy, marking a fundamental shift away from the trade-centric globalism prevalent since the end of the Cold War, Boston Consulting Group said in a report published this month. The slowdown is due to rising protectionism, including in China, and increased disruptions from conflict, BCG said.

A characteristic of the new world trade order will be the growing prominence of [regional] trade blocs," BCG said. The cooler trade climate is part of a reordering of the world trade map."

While trade between China and its major rival, the U.S., will be $197 billion lower in absolute terms by 2032 than in 2022, the main winners of this shift will be Southeast Asian nations, whose trade with China is set to skyrocket.

European nations, whose rivalry with China is less bitter than the countrys relationship with the U.S., wont see the same falloff in trade with the East Asian giant, but growth in commerce between the two will slow nonetheless, BCG said.

In the near term, the export-oriented eurozone looks especially vulnerable to a creaking global trade structure, according to Pantheon Macroeconomics, a consulting group. This year, exports from the bloc are set to take a hit from weakening growth in its major trading partners, notably China, Pantheon said in a recent note. In the past 12 months, export growth has plunged, too, it said.

With imports on track to rebound more strongly than exports, the resultant drag on trade will weigh on already listless economic growth in the bloc, Pantheon said. The continents reliance on energy imports has proved a headache in the last couple of years.

The eurozone is an open economy, very export-orientated," Claus Vistesen, Pantheons chief eurozone economist, told The Wall Street Journal. That is especially true of the blocs powerhouse economy, Germany, but also applies to France and to a lesser extent Italy, he said.

A trend toward on-shoringthat is, efforts to bring production closer to home markets and shorten supply chainsis another problem for European exports, said Jens Magnusson, chief economist at Swedish bank SEB. China is ever keener to produce its own goods, including in key sectors like automobiles, Magnusson said.

Trade spats are an increasingly common feature of relationships between the West and China. Shares in French cognac makers plummeted this month after the Chinese government opened an antidumping probe into imports of the brandy from the European Union. The move was widely seen as a politically motivated one-two after the EU opened its own investigation into Chinas subsidies for electric-vehicle makers, reportedly at the behest of the French government, a major shareholder in automaker Renault.

For now, trade with China is going strong, with the exception of key sectors like semiconductors. The ports are still open, the container ships are still coming from Shanghai," Pantheons Vistesen said.

But geopolitical risk is unpredictable and remains a growing threat, he added. Rather than a continuous trend, geopolitical shifts tend to manifest as abrupt and unexpected flashpoints with serious consequences, Vistesen said, pointing as an example to the Russia-Ukraine conflict that ramped up in 2022. If you look at bilateral trade, especially between Germany and Russia, thats gone. Its basically zero," he said.

Israels military operations in Gaza have added to instability in global trade at the beginning of 2024. Attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi militants in response to the war in Gaza have disrupted trade, forcing ships to take longer routes, and fears remain of a further escalation in the restive region. Were seeing a big, big unexpected flashpoint in the Middle East," SEBs Magnusson said.

Companies and governments can alleviate the risks to trade, including by stocking up on buffer inventories and by vetting alternative suppliers closer to home, BCG said in its report. But an unhappy cocktail of a more guarded industrial policy in the worlds major economies, combined with a global volatility that makes risks increasingly difficult to forecast, means Europe can no longer bank on trade to power its economy.

Of course, we will continue to trade," Magnusson said. But its a downhill slope from here."

Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com
NEW DELHI : The Union governments food subsidy bill for fiscal year 2023-24 is likely to overshoot the budgeted estimate of 1.97 trillion, prompting the food department to seek additional funds primarily to support its flagship programme.

Revised allocation for the ongoing fiscal year is expected to go up by 3% to 2.02 trillion, a top official of the department of food and public distribution told Mint.

The department requires additional funds of nearly 5,600 crore for decentralised procurement of foodgrains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) scheme, and sugar subsidy for families covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana programme, this official said, declining to be identified.

Indias food subsidy bill is likely to go up next year as well, as the Union government recently extended the PMGKAY scheme, its flagship food welfare programme, for another five years ahead of this years general election.

This will require more procurement and storage capacity and a higher state-set minimum or guaranteed price for wheat and rice.

Containing spending on food subsidy is crucial for managing Indias fiscal deficit, which the government is targeting at 5.9% of gross domestic product this financial year, with plans to lower it by at least 50 basis points in fiscal year 2024-25.

In view of a hike in (minimum support price) of crops and other incremental expenses, including the extension to the free food scheme, the food subsidy bill is bound to increase," the official mentioned above said.

Though the (budgeted estimate) is 1.97 trillion for food subsidy in FY24, we require a slightly higher budget. We have given a proposal for additional allocation, and 2.02 trillion may be allocated for food subsidy alone in the ongoing financial year."

A fund for assistance to state agencies for intra-state movement of foodgrains is also expected to be revised to a little over 8,500 crore from the budgeted estimate of 7,400 crore, the official informed.

About 23 crore is also likely to be allocated for the Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART-PDS), which had not received any allocation in the Budget for 2023-24, the official said.

The expenditure and the food and public distribution departments did not immediately reply to queries on the request for additional funds.

India runs its multi-billion-dollar food welfare programme, the world's biggest such initiative, by buying rice and wheat from millions of domestic farmers at guaranteed prices and then supplying the staples at subsidised rates or for free to 800 million Indians.

The government spends some part of the food subsidy also on maintenance and other administrative costs.

Food subsidy depends on the quantum of offtake from the central pool. As there is no additional allocation, food subsidy will not rise much," said Siraj Hussain, former Union agriculture secretary. Additionally, there is an element of buffer subsidy on the stocks, which is also likely to be lower because food grain stocks are at a low level."

Mint on 9 January reported that the Union government may allocate 2.2 trillion towards food subsidy in the upcoming Budget to pay for higher farm support prices and an extended food welfare scheme. The allocation could be 10% higher than last years.

The Union government provides subsidised food grains to states under the National Food Security Act and other welfare schemes, including PMGKAY. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is reimbursed by the Centre for the gap between the cost and the subsidised price of food grains supplied to states.

States participating in decentralised procurement of foodgrains receive direct subsidies from the Centre based on the quantity they procure and distribute. Over the previous 9 years, the government has released food subsidy amounting to 4.04 trillion to such states, and 14.48 trillion to FCI.
The Indian tax departments aggressive stance on tax residency certificates (TRCs) has evoked fresh concerns among offshore investors. In a case pertaining to Blackstone Partners that came up for hearing in the Supreme Court last week, additional solicitor general (ASG) N. Venkataraman expressed concerns that the Delhi High Court (HC) verdict in the matter could potentially set a precedent and, hence, must be stayed.

The Delhi HC had ruled in favour of Blackstone, saying TRCs were sufficient for availing benefits from double tax avoidance agreements (DTAAs). The revenue department challenged the verdict in the apex court, which stayed the order on Friday. The case will soon come up for final judgement.

A TRC is a document issued by the tax department to non-resident investors that mentions the jurisdiction where the fund is based out of, and acts like a proof for availing DTAA benefits.

At the crux of the dispute is whether TRCs alone are sufficient for foreign funds to claim benefits under DTAAs. The funds say they are, but the revenue department says the funds also need to prove they have proper establishment in the foreign country, and not just produce a residence certificate.

Typically, in disputes with tax authorities, the principal contention often hinges on the sufficiency of a TRC as the definitive document for claiming benefits under tax treaties, supported by established judicial precedents. Should the Supreme Court revise this stance, affirming that a TRC alone does not suffice to secure tax treaty benefits, this could embolden the tax office to scrutinize treaty benefit claims more rigorously," said Suresh Swamy, a partner at Price Waterhouse & Co. Llp.

Experts say the tussle between Blackstone and the revenue department will have an industry-wide impact.

The decision of the apex court to grant a stay and look into the matter on the tax departments plea may unfold new dimensions to the issue and would be keenly watched by investors who may look forward to certainty on the position from the highest level," said Kumarmanglam Vijay, a partner at law firm JSA.

In the Blackstone case, the revenue department has claimed that the global fund underpaid tax to the tune of 108 crore. We are not interested in 108 crore immediately being protected," the ASG emphasized in the Supreme Court. The judgment has to be stay here (sic.) because this will replicate."

Offshore funds often route their India investments through jurisdictions like Singapore, Mauritius and Luxembourg. Such structuring is done to ensure both tax efficiency and operational efficiency.

For instance, a US-based fund may set up an intermediary structure in Singapore to invest in India. In such a case, the TRC from the tax department in India would note that the fund is a resident of Singapore. Now, the fund may claim it is entitled to benefits under the India-Singapore DTAA, which provides for concessional tax rates.

However, the tax department says that the fund having a residency certificate of Singapore is not enough to claim treaty benefits. It also needs to show that it has a proper establishment in Singapore and the whole arrangement was not for tax avoidance.

In case the Supreme Court decides the issue against the taxpayer, foreign investors may have to establish that they are a resident of a foreign jurisdiction in substance and not merely by producing the residency certificate. Also, an adverse ruling from the Supreme Court may trigger reassessment proceedings on foreign investors where tax authorities have reasons to doubt the residency of the taxpayer," said Mitesh Jain, partner, Economic Laws Practice.
When I think climate, I think jobsgood-paying, union jobs," proclaims Joe Biden, Americas president. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, says that her Green Deal" offers a healthy planet" for future generations, as well as decent jobs and a solemn promise to leave no one behind". Sir Keir Starmer , Britains probable next prime minister, promises to back a new energy company that will harness clean British power for good British jobs". The state will intervene. The planet will be saved. Jobs will come. And they will be good.

Politicians across the rich world agree that industrial policywheezes which aim to alter the structure of the economy by boosting particular sectorsdeserves to make a comeback. Just about all agree that it should focus on climate change. But is there actually any logic to combining the two? Industrial policy seeks prosperity in the form of economic growth and jobs; climate policy seeks lower emissions and the prevention of global warming. Marrying two aims often means neither is done well. As politicians pour trillions of dollars into green industrial policy, they will increasingly have to choose between the two objectives.

The argument in favour of any climate-change measure starts with externalities (those costs or benefits not borne by producers). There is a missing market for pollution, since emitting greenhouse gas is free. It is thus oversupplied, despite the fact that it hurts others. One way to tackle this is by putting a price on carbon, as many countries are doing. Yet doing only this might encourage investment in making dirty technologies more efficient, and as a result allow fossil fuels to extend their lead over clean tech.

Hence the need to combine carbon prices with subsidies for clean-tech research. In a paper published in 2016, Daron Acemoglu of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and colleagues argue that, under such a regime, subsidies would do most of the work in redirecting technological progress towards clean energy. Only after alternatives to polluting tech had become better and cheaper would carbon pricing take over by encouraging their uptake.

Would such a regime, prudent though it may be, satisfy the political desire for green jobs? Consider the lithium-ion battery, which powers electric vehicles. In 2019 the chemistry Nobel prize went to three scientists for developing it: John Goodenough, then at the University of Oxford, a British university; Stanley Whittingham of ExxonMobil, an American oil firm; and Yoshino Akira of Asahi Kasei, a Japanese chemical firm. Yet none of these countries dominates production of such batteries. China does. Research produces its own set of externalities (positive ones), since knowledge tends to be shared. As companies would rather not give competitors a leg-up, that makes it undersupplied.

The most efficient climate-change policytaxing carbon and subsidising researchis unselfish. As Dani Rodrik of Harvard University, an advocate of industrial policy, has noted, not only is the social return from investing in green research higher than the private one, so is the international return higher than the national onemeaning that both companies and governments tend to underinvest in it. The greenest policies may therefore not create many jobs. By contrast, greenish policies that create jobs may at least have the merit of making climate action acceptable to voters leery of spending on things that benefit other countries.

But as the rich world proceeds along this path, difficulties will emerge. Economists have traditionally criticised industrial policy on the grounds that governments are bad at it. Their ineptitude comes in two forms. First, politicians struggle to pick winners". They lack the ability to identify which tech will win out. Although in the late 2000s the American government offered a loan guarantee to Tesla, which eventually emerged as a successful electric-vehicle maker, it also offered support to Solyndra, a solar-power firm that went bankrupt. This lack of knowledge among politicians contributes to the second problem: rent-seeking. Industrial policy offers a way for companies to capture public funds via lobbying. Governments fail to cut off weak businesses, since doing so means admitting that they wasted public money in the first place.

The new economics of industrial policy, as put forward by Reka Juhasz of the University of British Columbia, Nathan Lane of the University of Oxford and Mr Rodrik in a paper this year, rests on the idea that such problems can either be solved or have been exaggerated. A disciplined government that cuts off bad investment can avoid waste. Clarity and transparency when it comes to goals will help politicians jettison failing companies.

Striking a blow

Maybe. But this is where climate and industrial policy become uncomfortable bedfellows. A firm could deliver good jobs while not being any greener than its competitors. Is that a failure or a success? Is an investment that cuts emissions while displacing workers a worthwhile one? Moreover, it is unclear whether, say, guaranteeing a loan to a loss-making clean-tech firm, such as the bail-out for Siemens Gamesa, a German wind-turbine maker, which was confirmed on November 14th, is throwing good money after bad or investing in the climate. Recent strikes by American carmakers were partly motivated by the idea that manufacturing cleaner electric vehicles will mean fewer jobs than assembling their petrol-powered counterpartsa difficult situation for a government committed to green industrial policy. Such policy seeks to improve international competitiveness, deliver high-paying work, make the economy grow, revitalise poorer regions and cut emissions at the same time. In reality, these goals are often opposed.

The more ambitious industrial policy becomes, the more difficult it will be for politicians to exercise the control advocates say is required. Many governments, including Americas, also want industrial policy to bolster national security. Taken together, such aims risk an almighty mess.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
New Delhi: In a move that could significantly boost India's offshore wind energy sector, the Union Budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 (FY25) is expected to propose a viability gap funding (VGF) scheme with an outlay of 6,000 crore.

The initial allocation is specifically aimed at supporting 1 GW of offshore wind capacity, two people familiar with the developments told Mint, adding that the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has sent a proposal to the finance ministry.

Both the renewable energy and finance ministries didn't immediately reply to queries on the funding proposal. The government will present its interim Budget on 1 February.

MNRE's proposed scheme aligns with the government's broader strategy for offshore wind projects, to be developed under three models. The first involves VGF for two 0.5 GW sites off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The other models propose bidding processes for site exclusivity during survey periods, with or without guaranteed seabed rights.

Offshore wind offers higher quality wind and more efficient energy conversion due to the absence of obstructions at sea, according to the MNRE. The Centre had notified the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy in October 2015, but projects under this failed to take off given the high investments and a lack of economic viability.

Also, given that offshore wind farms need to be set up on the seabed, the technology and infrastructure involved is more complex, resulting in higher gestation periods.

"The cost involved, technology, and the lack of manpower are some challenges for the growth of the sector. The VGF may help lower the cost and help (power distribution companies) take up power from these projects. (But) incentives would be required for initial projects," said Vikram V., vice president and co-group head of corporate ratings, ICRA.

Further, compared to two years to two-and-half years of time required to set up onshore wind projects, offshore projects would require at least four years from the award of the project," he said.

Given the capital-intensive nature of these projects, the MNRE's revised strategy paper in September last year had highlighted the need for central financial support to bridge the gap between actual tariffs and designated power purchase rates. This is particularly crucial given the high costs of setting up turbines on the seabed and the associated power evacuation expenses.

In 2022, the MNRE had informed a parliamentary committee that the per megawatt cost of offshore wind projects could range from 20 crore to 25 crore, varying based on technology, marine conditions, and distance from the shore.

Acknowledging the financial challenges, the committee had recommended VGF to ensure project viability and the necessary transmission infrastructure.

It had added that the potential for offshore wind projects should also be explored in coastal areas other than Gujarat and Tamil Nadu along Indias 7,600 km-long coastline.

The ministry's estimates indicate a need for 14,212 crore in VGF to set up 3 GW of offshore wind energy capacity, along with an additional 13,500 crore for transmission and power evacuation infrastructure.

The September strategy paper for offshore wind projects had, however, recommended that VGF should be initially provided for 1 GW capacity.

The renewed focus on this capital-intensive segment comes as India pursues ambitious renewable energy goals, including a net-zero target by 2070 and a 500 GW installed capacity by 2030. As part of this, the government aims to establish 10 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

As of now, India's onshore wind energy capacity stands at an estimated 44 GW.

Despite the higher costs per MW for offshore turbines, the renewable energy ministry believes desirable tariffs are achievable with the development of a supporting ecosystem.
Artificial intelligence has evolved remarkably over the years, seamlessly integrating into our world. It has been reshaping the way we interact with technology.

From voice-activated virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa to personalized recommendations on streaming platforms, AI has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Its safe to say the use of AI is increasing all over the world at a fast pace. In the coming years, AI will transform the way we live and work even more.

In India, this has raised the question of AIs potential in every industry. Indian firms have already developed uses for AI in healthcare, finance, e-commerce and manufacturing, and its use is expected to increase even more.

Moreover, the shift towards electrification, autonomous and connected vehicles will bring in more opportunities for engineering services in the areas of design and development of electric vehicle components, battery technologies, charging infrastructure, and electric drivetrains or engines.

And this is where midcap IT stock Cyient comes into the picture.

A company with multi-bagger potential, Cyient seamlessly fits into the evolving AI puzzle, poised for its next growth phase.

How Cyient is gearing up for growth

Formerly known as Infotech Enterprises, Cyient has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a GIS data conversion vendor (the process of translating spatial data from one format or type to another within a geographic information system) to a formidable engineering company.

Cyient operates in critical sectors such as transportation, sustainability, and communications, and other new growth sectors.

Within the transport sector, the company caters to the aerospace and the railway segments. It provides software services to enhance aircraft performance, safety, and efficiency. And in the railway sector, it partners with specialized tech providers and startups, contributing to the global rail industrys rapid increase in digital capabilities.

Cyient also partners with digital map developers to help solve issues in the automotive sector as well as make self-driven vehicles safer and smarter.

Baidu, Chinas leading search company, envisions that smart maps for self-driving vehicles will emerge as a more significant business than web search. This is where Cyient aims to drive its future business growth.

Targeting new-age sectors for expansion

The navigation aids created by Cyient assist autonomous vehicles in steering clear of collisions. AI in self-driving cars can identify real-time changes in the environment and update maps instantly.

Apart from this, the company aims to strategically diversify its portfolio, with a keen eye on expanding in the healthcare sector.

This sector, with its continuous investments in predictive and personalized patient care, connected devices, and digital platforms, and the need for accelerated testing, is a great market for the company.

Cyient is also eyeing growth in the sustainability sector, confident of gaining from the massive transition to sustainable sources of energy.

Suffice to say, the company has strategically positioned itself, effectively catering to a bunch of new growth sectors.

Cyient is investing heavily in artificial intelligence, actively constructing AI-powered platforms and integrating them in its products and services.

Recently, the company announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft Corp to create a product named Engeener. Leveraging Azure Microsofts OpenAI service and generative AI technologies, this product aims to enhance agility in the engineering lifecycle across industries.

Cyient has been expanding inorganically as well, having acquired over 20 firms so far. In fiscal year 2023, the company bolstered its presence in the sustainability and communications segments with acquisitions. It acquired Citec and Grit in the sustainability sector, Celfinet in communications, and a strategic purchase in the automotive segment.

The acquisition of Finland-based Citec stands out as the largest in terms of revenue, valuation, workforce size, and geographic reach, highlighting the companys growing commitment to expand in the sustainability sector.

Past victories fuel future confidence

Cyient has transformed its business significantly over the years, expanding into diverse areas since FY2019-20. Previously, over 40% of its revenue was attributed to transportation. It now has a substantially more diversified revenue model.

Cyients Evolving Revenue Mix FY2019-20 H1 2023-2024 Transportation 46% 31% Sustainability 24% 28% Communication 23% 23% New growth areas 7% 1,800%

This shift instils confidence in the companys ability to adapt, evolve and successfully navigate different business segments, showcasing a commitment to ongoing growth and diversification.

The top 20% of Cyients customers contributed 55% of its total revenue in FY2023, down from 71% in FY2020, indicating further diversification and mitigating the risk of dependence on a few clients.

Between 2019-2023, the business has performed admirably. The companys sales and net profit have grown at a CAGR of 8.4% and 4.9%, respectively, over the past five years.

Cyient Financial Snapshot (2019-23) 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 Revenue Growth 17.33% -3.87% -6.25% 8.09% 31.26% Operating Profit Margin 16.61% 15.97% 17.30% 20.51% 18.03% Net Profit Margin 10.33% 7.71% 8.80% 11.52% 8.55% Return on Capital Employed 23.47% 17.49% 16.65% 21.96% 19.92% Return on Equity 19.56% 13.36% 13.25% 17.31% 15.80% Data Source: Ace Equity

The returns have been strong, with its return on equity and return on capital employed averaging at 15.9% and 19.9% over a 5-year period.

The company also boasts a healthy balance sheet, which allows it to reward its shareholders with hefty dividend payments. Its 5-year average dividend yield stands at a commendable 3%.

Cyients stock performance

Cyient has been a huge wealth creator since its listing. From 12 a share in 1998, the stock is now trading at 2,303, clocking in a 200x return. So 100 invested in 1998 would amount to 20,000 today.

Over the past year, the stock price has moved up sharply, more than doubling in value from 886 a share in January 2023 to about 2,270 at present.

The stock has surged following its strong half-yearly results. While sales were up 31% from a year earlier, net profit jumped 81%.

The stock is currently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 36 times, a premium to its 5-year median PE.

View Full Image Cyient is currently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 36 times

Riding the AI wave

With its expertise in AI, strategic diversification, and a proven track record of successful transformations, Cyient is well-positioned to ride the AI wave.

For investors seeking exposure to high-growth sectors, Cyient deserves a closer look.

However, the recent run-up in the stock price indicates that investors may have already factored in the bright outlook, possibly limiting the upside in the near term.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such.

This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com
A collapse in the shares of HDFC Bank Ltd brought the broader market to its knees on Wednesday, inflicting a 4.6 trillion loss on investors as key indices fell the most in 19 months. Provisional data from BSE showed that foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold 10,578.13 crore worth of shares, the highest in a day, pulling down the Nifty and the Sensex by over 2%.

HDFC Bank, Indias largest private lender with the highest weight in the indices, contributed to over a fifth of the days total wealth erosion. The banks shares plunged 8.46% on BSE, erasing 1.07 trillion of value. The decline, the lenders biggest fall in three years and 10 months, came after a mixed bag of earnings the previous day, with net interest income falling below market expectations.

The steep fall pushed indices below important technical levels; unless indices cross their record highs scaled recently, investors may sell every time the market rises, analysts said.

Wednesdays FPI selling was partly absorbed by domestic institutional investors, who purchased a provisional 4,006.44 crore, and retail/high net-worth investor buying of 34 crore till 12 noon, according to BSE.

The fall in banks, which coincided with the expiry of the weekly Bank Nifty options expiry on Wednesday, dealt a severe blow to those long on banking stock futures and short on their options contracts, apart from the notional losses for holders of banking shares.

The Sensex plunged by 1,628.01 points or 2.23% to 71,500.76, while the Nifty fell 460.35 points or 2.09% to 21,571.95. HDFC Bank alone contributed to 944.11 points of the Sensexs fall, followed by ICICI Bank Ltd (176.75 points), Axis Bank Ltd (88.29 points) and Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (84.85 points). Overall, these banks contributed to almost four-fifths or 80% of the Sensexs fall.

Not surprisingly, the Bank Nifty, which plunged by 4.28% to 46,064.45its biggest single-day fall in 18 monthswas the biggest loser among the National Stock Exchanges (NSE) sectoral indices. All of NSEs sectoral indices except Nifty IT ended in the red, underlining the all-around weakness in the market.

There are already indications of more volatility ahead: One, both the Sensex and Nifty have fallen below their 20-day simple moving averages of 71,827.26 and 21,628.76, while the Bank Nifty ended below its 50-day simple moving average of 46,264.80. Two, the negative divergence in the relative strength index (RSI)a gauge of market weakness or strength since mid-December.

The RSI is a technical indicator that measures the speed and change of price movements. An index is considered overbought or oversold when it rises or falls above or below a certain RSI level. Above 70 is overbought while below 30 is oversold. The divergence between the indices and RSI arose in mid-December when the Nifty RSI, for instance, hit 85 when the Nifty hit 21,492.3. Since then, RSI has fallen, while the Nifty rose on to a record high of 22,115.55 on Monday, on which day it was at 73.

Currently, the RSI of the Sensex is 52.67, down from 69.81 on Tuesday, and that of the Nifty is 54 (70.86) and Bank Nifty 38.18 (60.70).

The falling RSI since the middle of December, despite the rising Nifty, indicated that the market was losing steam or topping out, and the fall of today spells some trouble, unless the market pulls back above the key levels," said Rohit Srivastava, founder of IndiaCharts.

Commenting on the outlook for banking stocks, A. Balasubramanian, managing director and chief executive officer of Aditya Birla Sun Life Asset Management Co., said, The banking pack could experience consolidation in the near term as it is over-owned and some money could move from banking to information technology stocks. That said, for the long term, the banking sector remains integral to economic growth and will continue to perform."

The banking pack corrected on heavy delivery volumes, which showed the intensity of Wednesdays selling. On NSE, the HDFC Bank counter witnessed delivery of 53 million shares against the six-month average delivery of 9.35 million shares. ICICI Bank saw 41.9 million shares change hands against the six-month average of 7.01 million shares, Kotak Mahindra Bank of 5.02 million shares (2.14 million) and Axis Bank of 11.6 million shares (4.49 million).

HDFC Bank was the most actively traded stock on the derivatives counter, with outstanding trader positions rising a whopping 52.29% to 554,868 contracts.

Despite the fall in HDFC Bank, Saurabh Mukerjea, founder of Marcellus Investment Managers sounded optimistic: The bank has posted solid results and is adding 1,400 branches a year, which is as many as Federal Bank counts as its own, and I would continue to be sanguine about its growth."
HDFC Bank share price cracked 8.46 per cent to close at 1,536.90 BSE on Wednesday, January 17, a day after the company reported its December quarter results. HDFC Bank share price opened at 1,583.85 against its previous close of 1,678.95 and cracked over 9 per cent to hit the intraday low level of 1,527.25.

The market capitalisation of the stock dropped by nearly over a lakh crore in a single day to 11.7 lakh crore.

Meanwhile, HDFC Bank's US-listed shares fell 6.71 per cent on NYSE after the Q3 results.

HDFC Bank on Tuesday reported a 33 per cent jump in its net profit at 16,372 crore in Q3 of FY24, as compared to 12,259 crore a year ago.

Its net interest income (NII) rose to 28,471 crore in Q3 of FY24 from 27,385 crore in the previous quarter. The core net interest margin was unchanged sequentially. It rose 3.4 per cent on total assets and 3.6 per cent on interest-earning ones year-on-year.

HDFC Banks gross non-performing assets (NPAs) were reported at 1.26 per cent in Q3 of FY24, up from 1.23 per cent last fiscal year. Net NPAs in Q3 of FY24 stood at 0.31 per cent, as compared to 0.33 per cent last year.

HDFC Bank share price declined on Wednesday even as the bank reported in-line Q3 numbers. Analysts pointed out that investors appear to be concerned about the Q3 margins which came largely flat.

Also Read: Nifty Bank hits 5-week low, tumbles 3.3% as HDFC Bank stock takes a sharp nosedive

A majority of brokerage firms retained their positive views on HDFC Bank after its December quarter earnings. However, some of them have trimmed their estimates for the short-to-medium term.

Here's what top brokerage firms said about HDFC Bank stock after the Q3 results:

Motilal Oswal has reiterated its buy rating on HDFC Bank stock with a target price of 1,950.

The brokerage firm underscored that HDFC Bank reported in-line earnings led by healthy other income and steady loan growth.

Also Read: Small is beautiful for HDFC Bank on margin path

Margins stood largely flat (slightly below our expectations) even as the bank deployed excess liquidity and significantly drew down the LCR (liquidity coverage ratio). Loan growth was healthy driven by growth in retail and continued traction in commercial and rural banking. Asset quality ratios improved while PCR (provisioning coverage ratio) also inched up to nearly 75 per cent, Motilal Oswal pointed out.

Also Read: Nifty 50 drops nearly 1.5%, Sensex tumbles 1,000 pts at open: 5 key reasons why Indian stock market is falling

The bank has continued to maintain a 0.6 per cent buffer of floating + contingent provisions, which provides additional comfort. Management suggested that NIMs will improve gradually over the coming years, along with an improvement in operating leverage will enable the bank to deliver healthy return ratios, said the brokerage firm.

"We estimate HDFC Bank to deliver faster deposit growth at 19 per cent CAGR while loan growth to sustain at 17 per cent CAGR over FY24-26. We thus estimate HDFC Bank to deliver an FY26E RoA (return on assets) and RoE (return on equity) of 1.9 per cent and 16.7 per cent respectively," said Motilal Oswal.

Also Read: IndusInd Bank stock gained 23% in less than 5 months; is there more upside left? Here's what brokerages say

Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities

Nirmal Bang is positive on HDFC Bank from a long-term perspective due to its high growth potential on account of good capital position, revenue and cost synergies arising out of the HDFC merger and best-in-class asset quality.

However, the brokerage firm added that in the near term, successful merger transition, elevated operating costs due to continued expansion and margin trajectory will be the key monitorables.

The brokerage firm has a buy call on the stock with a target price of 1,994.

"We are valuing HDFC Bank at 2.7 times December 2025E ABV (adjusted book value) as against (2.75 times September 2025E P/ABV) and adding subsidiary value per share of 180, we maintain our target price at 1,994 and rating as buy," said Nirmal Bang.

Kotak Institutional Equities

Kotak maintained a buy rating on the stock and raised the fair value to 1,860 from 1,800, valuing the bank at 2.5 times book for RoEs (return on equities) at nearly 16-17 per cent levels.

"HDFC Banks reported earnings print was marginally weak as operating profit growth drivers appear to be less sustainable and the bank reported higher provisions. While NIM appears to have bottomed at 3.4 per cent, the drivers for NIM expansion appear to be slower than forecast, resulting in cuts to our earnings," Kotak said.

Kotak believes the bank needs more time to deliver best-in-class return ratios.

"We are building a marginally better loan growth than the industry average given its size. In a benign credit cost environment, we are yet to see a key differentiation in underwriting across the top banks," Kotak said.

"We are not too comfortable building an investment thesis on relative operating profit growth as the valuation differential is not conducive to making this argument. We see HDFC Bank as a bank that is likely to deliver stable earnings growth and valuations are attractive at this point," said Kotak.

Nuvama Wealth Management

Nuvama has downgraded the stock to a hold, cutting the multiple by 5 per cent to 2.4 times one-year forward BV (book value). The brokerage firm has also reduced the target price to 1,730 from 1,770.

"HDFC Bank remains the strongest banking franchise in India in our view, but the earnings narrative will overwhelm in the short to medium term," said Nuvama.

"We are cutting earnings by 56 per cent for FY25EFY26E. While the cut in core earnings is higher at 8 per cent due to a nearly 4 per cent cut in loan growth, it is partially offset by an upward revision of non-core items. The bank has exhausted its LCR, will need to lower its LDR (loan-to-deposit ratio) and is running slower than guidance on deposit growth," said Nuvama.

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Disclaimer: The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts, experts and broking companies, not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

MOTILAL OSWAL FINANCIAL SERVICES More Information

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Shares of metals and mining firm Jai Balaji Industries have given exceptional returns to their investors in the last 1 year. The stock has delivered phenomenal returns surging over 1845 percent to 1,046.90 from 53.8 in January 2023.

This implies that an investment of 10,000 in this penny stock in January 2023 would have turned into 1.94 lakh now.

Jai Balaji Industries stock price trend

The stock has rallied almost 34 percent in January so far, extending gains for the seventh straight month since July 2023.

Between July 2023 and January 2024 (to date), the stock has soared 1277 percent.

In 2023, the stock gave positive returns in eight months and was in the red in 4 months. It also gave multibagger returns in 1 month - July, surging 106.5 percent. Apart from that, it jumped 72 percent in August, 61.4 percent in September, 41 percent in May, and around 31 percent in April and October each.

However, it shed the most in June, down 10 percent followed by March, down 9 percent, February, down 7 percent and January, down 1.6 percent.

The stock hit its record high of 1,046.90 in today's session, January 17, 2024. It has now skyrocketed 2392 percent from its 52-week low of 42, hit on March 28, 2023.

Looking at the long-term performance, the shares produced significant returns, as in the last three years, they have zoomed 3824 percent and in the last five-year period, they soared 3422 percent.

Earnings

The company announced robust September quarter results (Q2FY24), with its consolidated net profit surging by 862 percent to 202 crore. In the same period of last year, it posted a net profit of 22 crore, and in the preceding June quarter (Q1FY24), it recorded a net profit of 170 crore.

The revenue from operations during the September quarter came in at 1,547 crore, a rise of 13 percent over Q2FY23 revenue of 1,369 crore. The company also saw a significant jump in other income to 28 crore, which is an increase of 460 percent YoY and 250 percent on a QoQ basis.

Moreover, it reported a 238 percent YoY growth in operating profit to 213 crore, while the operating profit margin expanded by 900 basis points on a YoY basis.

About the firm

Jai Balaji Industries Limited manufactures and markets iron and steel products primarily in India. The company provides sponge iron, pig iron, DRI, ductile iron pipes, ferro chrome, TMT bars, coke, steel bars/rods, sinter, ornamental steel grills, Portland slag cement, ferro alloys, and alloy carbon and mild steel billets and rounds. It offers its TMT bars (Thermo Mechanically Treated bars) under the Balaji Shakti brand. The company also exports its products. Jai Balaji Industries Limited was incorporated in 1999 and is based in Kolkata, India.

The promoters own 60 percent of the shares in the company as of August 2023, while foreign portfolio investors and domestic institutional investors each own 0.1 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. Regular shareholders own 39.8 percent.

While the stock showcased a stellar return, it's crucial to highlight the inherent risks associated with small-cap stocks. These stocks are characterised by their high-risk nature and are not suitable for investors who adopt a risk-averse approach. It's advisable that only high-risk investors consider investing in such stocks, and even then, allocate only a small percentage of their portfolio to such high-risk assets. Seeking guidance from a financial advisor before making any adjustments to the portfolio is strongly recommended.

Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. Please speak to an investment advisor before making any investment decisions.

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Stock market today: Equity benchmarks the Nifty 50 and the Sensex suffered their biggest single-day percentage loss since June 2022 on Wednesday, January 17, predominantly triggered by a substantial decline in HDFC Bank's share price, a day after the company reported its December quarter results.

HDFC Bank share price plunged over 8 per cent on Wednesday even as the bank reported in-line Q3 numbers. Analysts pointed out that investors appear to be concerned about the Q3 margins which came largely flat.

Also Read: HDFC Bank share price cracks 8% after Q3 results; what should investors do?

The poor performance of HDFC Bank's share price sent shockwaves through the market, precipitating a ripple effect that impacted various other banking stocks. Nifty Bank concluded the day with a steep decline of over 4 per cent, as every constituent found itself in negative territory. This was the biggest single-day percentage fall of the Nifty Bank index since March 7, 2022.

Nifty 50 opened at 21,647.25 against the previous close of 22,032.30 and touched the intraday low of 21,550.45 during the session. The index finally closed with a loss of 460 points, or 2.09 per cent, to close at 21,571.95.

The Sensex opened at 71,998.93 against the previous close of 73,128.77 and touched its intraday low of 71,429.30. The index closed with a loss of 1,628 points, or 2.23 per cent, at 71,500.76.

Also Read: Nifty 50 drops over 2%, Sensex tumbles 1,600 points: 5 key reasons why Indian stock market fell today

This was the biggest single-day fall of the Nifty 50 and the Sensex in percentage terms.

On June 13, 2022, Nifty 50 had fallen 2.64 per cent and Sensex had suffered a loss of 2.68 per cent.

Mid and small-cap indices also incurred losses, but their declines were less pronounced compared to the benchmarks. The BSE Midcap index closed 1.09 per cent lower, while the BSE Smallcap index concluded with a 0.90 per cent decrease.

The overall market capitalisation of the firms listed on the BSE dropped to nearly 370 lakh crore from nearly 375 lakh crore in the previous session, making investors poorer by about 5 lakh crore in a single session.

Top Nifty 50 gainers today

Shares of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (up 1.28 per cent), HCL Technologies (up 1.13 per cent) and Tech Mahindra (up 0.95 per cent) closed as the top gainers in the Nifty 50 index.

Some 10 stocks closed in the green in the Nifty 50 index and 39 stocks suffered losses. One stock - Power Grid Corporation of India - ended flat in the Nifty 50 pack.

Top Nifty 50 laggards today

Shares of HDFC Bank (down 8.16 per cent), Tata Steel (down 3.97 per cent) and Kotak Mahindra Bank (down 3.76 per cent) closed as the top laggards in the Nifty 50 pack.

Also Read: Top Gainers and Losers today on 17 January, 2024: HCL Technologies, SBI Life Insurance Company, HDFC Bank, Tata Steel among most active stocks; Check full list here

Sectoral indices today

Barring Nifty IT (up 0.64 per cent), all sectoral indices ended with losses with Nifty Bank and Financial Services indices falling 4.28 per cent each.

Nifty Private Bank index plunged 4.23 per cent and the Nifty Metal index Suffered a loss of 3.13 per cent.

Expert's view on markets

"A nosedive correction in banking stocks, along with concerns over delays in US Fed rate cuts, impacted market sentiments. The addition of discouraging Chinese growth data and rising US bond yields also resulted in widespread profit-booking. Given the elevated valuations, coupled with the fact that optimism regarding earnings and GDP growth for FY24 is already reflected in the market, triggered the correction," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.

Technical views on Nifty 50

Jatin Gedia, a technical research analyst at Sharekhan by BNP Paribas pointed out that Nifty witnessed a decisive break below the 20-day moving average (21,629) which is a sign of weakness.

The daily momentum indicator has triggered a negative crossover which is a sell signal. Thus, both price and momentum indicators are pointing toward weakness.

"The ideal strategy to trade this fall would be to sell on the rise near the resistance zone (21,800  21,820). On the downside, we expect the Nifty to target levels of 21,167 which is the 40-day moving average and below that, it can slip to 20,870 which is the 38.2 per cent Fibonacci retracement level of the rise the Nifty witnessed from 18,837  22,124," said Gedia.

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Disclaimer: The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts, experts and broking companies, not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

BSE More Information

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In recent years, the National Pension Scheme (NPS) has experienced substantial popularity, driven by its appealing tax advantages, especially in response to recent amendments in Indian income tax regulations. Taxpayers commonly highlight several reasons for choosing to invest in the NPS:

The scheme provides substantial tax deductions under Sections 80CCD(1) and 80CCD(1B) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Individuals are eligible to claim deductions for an amount of up to 10% of their salary (basic + DA) or Rs. 1.5 lakh, whichever is lower, under Section 80CCD(1). Additionally, an additional deduction of up to Rs. 50,000 is available under Section 80CCD(1B). This effectively allows individuals to reduce their taxable income by a maximum of  2 lakh through NPS investments.

2 lakh through NPS investments. Employers have the option to contribute a maximum of 10% of an employee's salary to their NPS account. These contributions not only qualify for tax deductions for the employer but are also exempt from inclusion in the employee's taxable income, providing an added advantage compared to other tax-saving alternatives.

In contrast to conventional pension plans, NPS provides flexibility regarding the frequency and amount of contributions. Individuals can opt to contribute on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis, aligning with their financial circumstances.

Another noteworthy feature is the portability of NPS accounts, allowing individuals to transition between jobs or employers without any disruption to their investments.

The NPS allocates funds across a diverse range of assets, encompassing equities and debt instruments. This strategy not only offers the possibility of long-term wealth accumulation but also caters to varying risk preferences. Furthermore, upon retiring, a portion of the accumulated corpus can be withdrawn as a lump sum, while the remainder is utilised to furnish a steady monthly pension.

Yet, a considerable number of individuals lack awareness about the process of initiating an NPS account, whether through online or offline means.

Opening an NPS account online: A step-by-step guide

To initiate the online opening of an NPS account, you must visit the website of one of the Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAs). These agencies oversee the NPS database and streamline the processes of account opening and maintenance. Here is the procedure for opening a new NPS account:

Step 1: Access the registration link provided by one of the CRAs.

Computer Age Management Services

KFin Technologies

Protean eGov Technologies

Step 2: Input your mobile number, Permanent Account Number (PAN), and email ID.

Step 3: Authenticate the OTP sent to your mobile number.

Step 4: Proceed to follow and fulfill the pertinent instructions displayed on the screen.

Step 5: Upon completing the required formalities, you will receive your Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN), which serves as your login credential for accessing your NPS account.

Opening an NPS account offline: A step-by-step guide

To initiate the offline opening of your NPS account, you need to visit the nearest Point of Presence (PoP). The PoPs play a crucial role in registering your NPS application and are physical locations authorised to assist in NPS account opening. These include banks, post offices, and certain government offices. You can access a list of PoPs on the websites of the CRAs such as NSDL e-Gov or KFin Tech, or through the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) website.

Step 1: Identify the nearest PoP.

Step 2: Go to the PoP and complete the application form.

Step 3: Satisfy the KYC requirements by submitting all the necessary documents.

Step 4: Make a minimum payment of 500 for a Tier I account.

Step 5: Submit the completed application form along with self-attested copies of the required documents.

Head post offices throughout India also function as PoPs for initiating the NPS accounts. This enhances accessibility to this valuable investment and retirement planning tool, especially for individuals in rural areas or smaller towns.

Whether online or offline, upon obtaining your PRAN, you can activate your NPS account through the chosen CRAs website and commence contributing to your retirement fund.

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Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund announced the launch of the Motilal Oswal Large Cap Fund, an open-ended equity scheme predominantly investing in large-cap stocks.

The scheme opened for public subscription on January 17, 2024, and will close on January 31, 2024. The scheme re-opens for continuous sale and repurchase within five business days from the date of allotment.

What kind of a mutual fund scheme is this?

This is an open-ended equity scheme predominantly investing in large-cap stocks. This product is suitable for investors who are seeking

Long-term capital growth

Investments in equity and equity-related instruments of large-cap stocks.

What is the main objective of investing in this fund?

The investment objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation by predominantly investing in equity and equity-related instruments of large-cap companies. However, there can be no assurance that the investment objective of the scheme will be realised.

Navin Agarwal, MD & CEO, Motilal Oswal AMC, said, Given the improving strength in our economy and businesses, theres a potential resurgence of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) returning to India. Historically, a significant portion of FIIs allocation gravitates towards Large Cap. Considering the currently attractive valuations in the large-cap segment, we believe its an opportune moment to step into the large-cap space to capitalise on the potential upside."

How may one invest in this scheme?

Investors can invest under the scheme with a minimum investment of 500 per plan/option and in multiples of Re 1. There is no upper limit for investment.

Under normal circumstances, the asset allocation of the scheme will be as follows:

Instruments Indicative allocations (% of total assets) Risk Profile Minimum Maximum Equity and equity-related instruments of large cap companies 80% 100% Very High Equity and equity-related instruments of companies other than large cap companies including foreign companies 0% 20% Very High Debt and money market instruments (including cash and cash equivalents), liquid and debt schemes of mutual fund 0% 20% Low to Moderate Units issued by REITs and InvITs 0% 10% Very High

Are there similar mutual funds in the market?

To date, many asset management companies (AMCs) have launched similar funds in this category in the past.

Name of the fund house Name of the mutual fund 10-year returns (in %) Mirae Asset Mutual Fund Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund 17.88 Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund Baroda BNP Paribas Large Cap Fund 17.05 ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund 17.03 Canara Robeco Mutual Fund Canara Robeco Bluechip Equity Fund 16.69 Invesco India Mutual Fund Invesco India Largecap Fund 16.68 HDFC Mutual Fund HDFC Top 100 Fund 16.44 JM Mutual Fund JM Large Cap Fund 15.43 Tata Mutual Fund Tata Large Cap Fund 15.33 UTI Mutual Fund UTI Large Cap Fund 15.38 HSBC Mutual Fund HSBC Large Cap Fund 14.98 Source: AMFI (As of January 17, 2024)

How will the scheme benchmark its performance?

The performance of the Scheme will be benchmarked against the Nifty 100 TR index as the scheme will invest primarily in large-cap companies.

The allocation in the fund would be a minimum of 80% in equity and equity-related instruments of large-cap companies and a maximum of 20% in equity and equity-related instruments of other than large-cap companies and debt and money market instruments. Hence, the above-mentioned benchmark will be able to give a true and accurate comparative analysis. The total return variant of the index (TRI) will be used for performance comparison.

Are there any entry or exit loads to this scheme?

This scheme involves no Entry Load", which means that investors do not have to pay anything to park their earnings in this scheme. The Exit Load" would be charged as per the following:

- 1% - If redeemed on or before 15 days from the date of allotment.

- Nil - If redeemed after 15 days from the date of allotment.

Who will manage this scheme?

The fund will be managed by Ajay Khandelwal, Niket Shah, Santosh Singh, Atul Mehra, Rakesh Shetty, and Ankush Sood.

Does the fund contain any inherent risk?

The scheme involves Very High Risk" as per the details mentioned in the Scheme Information Document and is best suited to investors willing to understand that their principal will be subject to very high risk. However, investors should consult their financial advisors if they doubt whether the product is suitable for them.

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Ahead of the Republic Day parade rehearsals beginning today (Wednesday), the Delhi Police has issued an advisory for traffic restrictions in central Delhi. Republic Day parade rehearsals will be held on Kartavya Path for four days, with a break on Friday.

The Delhi Police has said traffic movement will be restricted at Kartavya Path-Rafi Marg Crossing, Kartavya Path-Janpath Crossing, Kartavya Path-Mansingh Road Crossing and Kartavya Path-C Hexagon from 10.15 am to 12.30 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Those headed to New Delhi and beyond from Vinay Marg and Shanti Path have been advised to take Sardar Patel Marg - Mother Teresa Crescent- round about RML - Baba Kharak Singh Marg or Park Street - Mandir Marg and then proceed further.

Also Read | Flipkart Republic Day Sale: From iPhone 15 to Redmi Note 13 Pro+; top smartphone deals you should know

Additionally, the stretch of Kartavya Path between India Gate and Vijay Chowk will also remain closed for any traffic movement.

The authorities have warned that owing to these restrictions, traffic will be diverted to other routes, which can lead to congestion. Motorists have been advised to follow the real-time directives issued by the traffic personnel on ground and plan ahead for their journey.

Meanwhile, flight movements will be in place in Delhi for 11 days starting from January 19 until January 29, in connection with the Republic Day preparations and celebrations, an official said. The movement on the scheduled flights will not be impacted.

Landing or take-off of non-scheduled flights of scheduled airlines, and chartered flights will not be permitted from 10 am to 1.15 pm during the January 19-25 period, the official said on Tuesday.

As per the NOTAM issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), these restrictions will be in force from 6 am to 9 pm during the period from January 26 to 29. French President Emmanuel Macron will be attending the Republic Day parade as a chief guest alongside PM Narendra Modi.

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SINGAPOREChinas powerful internet regulator is conducting a cybersecurity review of Sheins data handling and sharing practices as the fast-fashion company seeks Beijings blessing for its planned initial public offering.

The Cyberspace Administration of China is looking into the ways Shein handles information on its staff, suppliers and partners in China, as well as whether the company can effectively protect such data from leaking to overseas parties, people familiar with the matter said.

Beijing is also interested in the type of Chinese data Shein will disclose to the U.S. securities regulator as it seeks a listing in New York, the people said.

The CAC probe represents an escalation of regulatory scrutiny of Sheins plans to raise potentially billions of dollars through a stock sale. The company is seeking a greenlight from Chinas securities regulator before it can list overseas.

In past cases, similar investigations by the CAC take months to complete, and a prolonged review could result in delays to Sheins stock sale. In the worst case, the plan could be scuttled altogether if the regulator concludes there are any serious problems. The CAC, whose mandate has grown tremendously under Chinese leader Xi Jinping, has hamstrung the overseas listing plans of several large Chinese technology companies.

Beijing launched a similar probe of the Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Global in July 2021, two days after Didi raised $4.4 billion in an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange. Within a year, the Beijing-based company delisted from the U.S. exchange. TikToks parent, ByteDance, in 2021 put on ice its plan to go public after Chinese regulators suggested it focus on addressing data-security risks and other issues, The Wall Street Journal has reported.

Shein and the CAC didnt respond to requests for comment.

China has stepped up oversight of the countrys dominant internet companies and the flow of data across its borders. In recent years, Beijing has rolled out rules to regulate data processing and overseas data transfers that it considers could have national-security implications.

Founded in 2012 by a group of Chinese entrepreneurs, Shein moved its headquarters to Singapore from the Chinese city of Nanjing several years later. It counts the U.S. as its biggest market, having soared in popularity during the pandemic, selling inexpensive and trendy clothes to millions of shoppers.

Shein confidentially filed to go public in the U.S. in November and has hired Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley as lead underwriters. Its IPO could be one of the biggest in years, with Shein recently valued at $66 billion.

To go forward with its listing, according to people familiar with the issue, Shein will need the blessing of both U.S. and Chinese regulators. Shein has filed the paperwork for its U.S. application with the China Securities Regulatory Commission, an agency overseeing the offshore listings of Chinese companies. According to CSRC rules, it can coordinate with other regulators, including the CAC, should the authority have concerns over whether the companys overseas listing could potentially jeopardize national security.

Beijing in recent years has required internet platforms holding large amounts of private user data and critical businesses such as banks and telecom companies to engage in a cybersecurity review.

Shein, which sells $5 crop tops and $10 handbags to customers in more than 150 countries, doesnt sell to shoppers in China. Still, the companys operations are heavily entwined there, including sourcing from thousands of Chinese suppliers. Such relationships are the main reason why the internet regulator has opened a review into Sheins data handling, people familiar with the review said.

Shein has also set up and invested in dozens of business entities in China. It is linked to Chinese business entities involved in areas including logistics, warehousing and other supply-chain services, according to Chinese corporate records. It owns a stake in several other Chinese businesses, according to the Chinese corporate database Tianyancha.

Apart from Didi, two other companies that were newly listed in the U.S.Full Truck Alliance, an operator of truck-hailing apps, and the online recruiter Kanzhunwere also subjected to similar data-security reviews by the CAC around the same time. Regulators said apps operated by the three companies werent allowed to register new users until the end of the investigations.

Didi had gone ahead with its share sale without getting a nod from the CAC, the Journal reported. After the CAC opened the investigation, Didis share price plummeted. When the company eventually delisted, its shares had fallen 80%. The probe was closed in a year, and Didi was fined about $1.2 billion for flouting Chinas cybersecurity, data-security and personal information protection laws.

Full Truck Alliance and Kanzhun resumed adding new users in June 2022 after the two companies issued public statements that they had rectified security issues discovered during the CACs probes. Both companies shares still trade in the U.S., though their stock prices have dropped significantly.

New rules have been introduced on which companies are subject to cybersecurity reviews.

Meanwhile, Sheins IPO plan has encountered a rare delay with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Write to Liza Lin at liza.lin@wsj.com and Raffaele Huang at raffaele.huang@wsj.com
Amid Ram Mandir inauguration, Naveen Patnaik's Jagannath Heritage push in Odisha

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Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is set to unveil the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project on January 17, just five days ahead of the iniaguration of Ayodhya's Ram temple.

Premium Redevelopment work underway near the Jagannath Temple under the Jagannath Heritage Corridor project, in Puri, Odisha. (PTI)

Only five days before the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is set to unveil the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project on January 17. In a video shared by the state's Chief Minister's Office, Naveen Patnaik appealed to the people to light diyas, blow conch shells, offer prayers and perform kirtan on the day of the inauguration. Jagannath Temple is one of the four dhammas that every Hindu is advised to visit. Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath, along with sister Devi Subhadra and elder brother Mahaprabhu Shri Balabhadra, are worshipped in Puri (the Purusottama Kshetra). Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project is 'unique': 5 Key Facts 1. 'Shree Mandir Parikrama' - also called Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project - of Lord Jagannath temple in Odishas Puri will be inaugurated by Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday. The project was completed by the Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC) and handed over to the temple administration Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). "...on the 15th, 16th and 17th January, there is going to be the 'Pratishtha Yagya' and the 'Lokarpana' of the entire project...On the 17th, CM will unveil the plaque of the project and the 'Purnahuti' will take place," said erstwhile king of Puri, Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Ranjan Kumar Das told PTI a large number of dignitaries, including ministers, political leaders and sants are likely to attend the event. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has invited representatives from 90 religious shrines and institutions across the country to attend the mega function on January 17. ALSO READ: Covid-19, Puri heritage corridor, US energy crisis and more 2. Patnaik said the project aims at facilitating the common people to undertake the Parikrama in a smooth and secured way. 3. BJD MP Amar Patnaik called the project unique and said "the pilgrims will now get a kind of spiritual experience, which they have not experienced before". He said, And this would also give them an opportunity to spend more time meditating or connecting with the lord, and that is the main purpose of this project..." 4. As a part of the 800-crore project, 800 metres around the 12th-century Jagannath temple has been redeveloped, news agency PTI reported. No changes have been made in the temple. The project includes parking places, Shree Setu (a bridge), pilgrimage centres, a new road to facilitate the movement of pilgrims, toilets, clock rooms, electrical works and other visitors' amenities, news agency ANI reported. Sri Setu (bridge), Shri Jagannath Ballav Parking, Shri Marg (road) and other projects are almost ready, an official told PTI. ALSO READ: Who is VK Pandian, the IAS officer whose retirement led to a place in Odisha CM Naveen Patnaiks Cabinet? 5. The 800-crore project will ensure expansive, unobstructed corridors around the Meghanada Pacheri (outer wall) of the Jagannath temple and will provide the devotees excellent visual connection with the 12th-century shrine. The project is one component of a massive initiative worth over 4,000 crore to transform Puri into a world heritage city, another official said.

What the project may mean for Patnaik and BJP?

The Odisha Legislative Assembly election are due in 2024. The NDTV reported that this could be Naveen Patnaik and his party Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) "strategic move" to boost religious sentiments and also defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.

The BJD is eying a sixth consecutive term in Odisha. In the 2019 Odisha Assembly elections, the BJD had lost eight of the 21 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP.

Similarities with Ram Mandir inauguration?

Naveen Patnaik's appeal to light diyas on corridor's inauguration seemed to be in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for lighting diyas at home on the day of "Pran Pratishtha" ceremony at Ayodhya's Ram temple on January 22.

Moreover, a paper pouch containing the 'akshat' (rice grains mixed with turmeric and ghee), an image of the Ram temple and a pamphlet describing details of the structure were being distributed to the people ahead of Ram Temple ceremony.

ALSO READ: Odisha: Puri's Jagannath Temple bans 'paan', 'gutka', other tobacco products on premises

In a similar campaign, fleet of 8,000 specially designed vehicles were seen traversing every nook and corner of the state, reports said. The Odisha government said they will collect betel nut and a handful of rice from all households across the state for the inauguration ceremony of the Shree Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project in Puri on January 17.

Even the Opposition's reaction to the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project and Ayodhya Ram Temple projects seemed similar. The Opposition in the country deemed the Centre's move to inaugurate Ram Mandir in Ayodhya as a political strategy to gain in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. In the same way, leaders of the opposition Congress and the BJP in Odisha called the inauguration of Jagannath Heritage Corridor a "political event", PTI reported.

"As the BJP is using the Ram temple in Ayodhya for political gains, the BJD here is using the heritage corridor project for electoral gains. The government is using the public exchequer to further the ruling BJD's electoral prospects," Congress legislative party leader Narasingha Mishra was quoted by PTI as saying.

Mishra claimed that like the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the heritage corridor project in Puri is yet to be complete

Congress leader Bijay Patnaik had reportedly slammed the Odisha government over the Puri Srimandir Parikrama Project. Also, state BJP president Manmohan Samal was quoted by Times of India as saying that the inauguration of the heritage corridor project has been turned into a purely BJD event.

However, BJP leader Amar Prasad Satpathy said that redevelopment was carried to improve amenities around the Janannath temple.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday met bikers during the party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland. People turned up in large numbers as the fourth day of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra resumed in Nagaland.

Addressing the public gathering in Mokokchung today, Rahul Gandhi said, I don't try to take advantage of my religion. I try to live my life according to the principles of my religion." That's why I respect people, don't speak arrogantly, don't spread hatred. This is Hinduism for me," the Congress MP said.

We wanted to send a message that the North East is as important as any other part of India. It doesn't matter if the population is small but the importance has to be the same," he said.

Last year, the Congress MP walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in the Bharat Jodo Yatra to bring the people of India together, Gandhi said, adding We thought that we should do a similar yatra from east to west."

On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi said that the Naga problem requires resolution, but it is lacking "conversation, listening to each other and working in implementing a solution."

There is a problem that needs resolution and clearly, that is a problem that will require conversation, listening to each other and working to implement a solution and that is lacking as far as the Prime Minister's concern," he said.

The Nagaland insurgency is considered to be one of the oldest insurgencies in the country. Several tribal groups have been demanding that the state be declared 'autonomous' from the country. They have been seeking a separate constitution and flag for the state.

However, several governments, during their respective tenures, have attempted to bring stability to the matter. During the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in 2015, a peace accord was signed between the government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland.

The Congress MP took a dig at the Prime Minister and said he makes promises without thinking them through and that people are disturbed because the Prime Minister's credibility is on the line.

"The Prime Minister made many promises to the youth of India; he made promises about education and employment, which he thinks he just made, and the people are disturbed by the Prime Minister's credibility on the line that nothing has happened for nine years," he added.

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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questioned the Indian government's preparedness to ensure that airlines have sufficiently trained pilots to land planes on CAT III-B compliant runways at Delhi airport that enable continuance of flight operations even during visibility as low as 50 metres due to fog conditions. This comes as several flights were delayed or cancelled at Delhi Airport, making passengers wait for long hours amid the severe cold wave conditions that gripped north India. To Tharoor's allegations, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia posted a series of tweets hitting out at the Congress MP. Scindia said, It is for someone who is lost in his esoteric world of thesaurus that data mining of selective press articles from the internet qualifies as research". Shashi Tharoor had in his tweet pointed out the ordeal of passengers amid flight delays for up to 12 hours, leading them to eat meals on the tarmac, in the background of the sorry state of affairs of India's aviation sector". Citing several media reports, Tharoor criticised the Union Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for not being able to upgrade the CAT III-B to the CAT III-C category, which would allow pilots to land flights even at zero visibility. He also targeted the government for failing to ensure pilots flying to Delhi were trained to land on CAT III-B runways.

Calling Shashi Tharoor an arm-chair critic", Jyotiraditya Scindia posted a series of tweets that the BJP MP called actual facts".

Shashi Tharoor, citing new reports, pointed out that the Delhi airport had plummeted into chaos. He pointed out that the Modi government began maintenance work on one of the two CAT III-B runways (in Delhi airport) in September 2023, fully aware that it would not be ready for the winter!"

To this Jyotiraditya Scindia replied, The maintenance was taken on top priority to be completed by 15th December before the onset of the fog season. However, due to pollution incidents and enforcement of GRAP-IV in Delhi, the recarpeting got delayed, resulting in a delay of one month in its commissioning. The revamped RWY is getting operational this week".

"Even worse, a crane from some other construction work was blocking the operation of CAT III-B on one runway, even after repairs were complete. Delhi Airport flagged this over 10 days ago, on Jan 5th, but no action was taken," Shashi Tharoor said, raising the issue.

To this Scindia jibed, The crane was being used for the construction of another critical infrastructure project - the Dwarka Expressway".

Scindia, in his concluding tweet claimed, Under the NDA govt, along with Akasa, 5 new regional airlines have taken birth under the PMs UDAN vision." in reply to Tharoor's, Once a highly competitive industry with many different airlines and cheap fares, now 90% of the market is controlled by just two groups. Market concentration anywhere and everywhere fosters high prices and poor customer service."

According to the Delhi Airport Flight Information Display System, 120 flights were delayed and 53 cancelled, including domestic and international, due to fog on Wednesday.

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In a bid to boost the country's maritime strength, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated projects worth 4,000 crore in Kochi, Kerala on Wednesday. These projects included 310-metre-long New Dry Dock (NDD) at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of CSL and LPG Import Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited at Puthuvypeen. "These major infrastructure projects are in line with the Prime Ministers vision to transform India's ports, shipping, and waterways sector, and build capacity and self-sufficiency in it," a press release by the Prime Minister's Office said. Speaking at the event, PM Modi said, Today, when India is becoming a major center of global trade, we are focusing on increasing the country's maritime strength". He said these projects would help speed up development of the southern region of the country. He also said that many reforms have been carried out in the last 10 years to enhance 'Ease of Doing Business' in the sectors of ports, shipping and inland waterways. the Prime Minister said that his government was working to make India a major maritime power. To achieve that goal, the central government was working to improve infrastructure, capacity, efficiency and connectivity at port cities like Kochi through initiatives like Sagarmala Pariyojana," the PM said. "The projects inaugurated today will speed up progress and development of the southern region of the country," he added. He further asserted that with the Ship Repair Facility being set up, Kochi will become India's major ship repairing centre". This will, in turn, make India a big ship repairing centre in Asia, he said. "We are making efforts to increase the capacity of ports, to build and strengthen port infrastructure and to increase connectivity of ports through initiatives like the Sagarmala Pariyojana," the Prime Minister was quoted by ANI as saying.

The PM further said that the interventions and reforms by his government has brought in huge investments in the ports and also generated more employment.

"In the past, India thrived with significant global GDP contributions, powered by strong ports and port cities," PM Modi said. He recalled the role of ports in Indias erstwhile prosperity in earlier times and envisaged a similar role for ports now when India is taking new strides and becoming a major center of global trade", the press release said.

ALSO READ: India set to be among top three global economies : PM Modi

The Prime Minister said that today, as India reclaims its position in global trade, "we're actively fortifying our maritime capabilities". He also highlighted that earlier ships used to queue up in ports for days on end to offload cargo, but now India has surpassed many developed nations in the ship turnaround time, PTI reported.

PM Modi further said that in the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal', each state plays a vital role in India's journey toward development. Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision presents a roadmap to reinforce Indias maritime prowess for Viksit Bharat," the press release quoted PM Modi as saying. "When everyone works together, the results are much better," he said.

The programme which was attended by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan.

The Central government anticipates that with the dedication of these projects, Cochin Shipyard Limited is poised to double its turnover within the next four years to 7,000 crore.

About three projects and their importance for India

1.The New Dry Dock is built at a cost of about 1,800 crore at the existing premises of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi. This one-of-a-kind 310-meter-long stepped dry dock, with a width of 75/60 meters, depth of 13 meters and a draught of up to 9.5 metres, is one of the largest marine infrastructures in the region. PM Modi said the new dry dock is the India's national pride.

How will it help India: "It is a flagship project reflecting New India's engineering prowess," the press release said. It added, "The New Dry Dock project features heavy ground loading which will position India with advanced capabilities to handle strategic assets like future aircraft carriers up to 70,000T displacement as well as large commercial vessels, thus eliminating India's dependency on foreign nations for emergency national requirements."

2. 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 7 vessels of 130-metre length simultaneously.

How will it help India: The Prime Minister said that it will transform Kochi into India and Asias largest ship repair center. He expressed confidence in the creation of a new ecosystem of MSMEs with the inauguration of such huge shipbuilding and repair facilities. "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 press release said.

3. The Indian Oils LPG Import Terminal at Puthuvypeen in Kochi is built at the cost of about 1,236 crore. With a 15400 MT storage capacity, the terminal will ensure a steady supply of LPG for millions of households and businesses in the region.

How will it help India: PM Modi said the new LPG Import Terminal will meet the LPG needs of Kochi, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Calicut, Madurai, and Trichy while also supporting industries, other economic development activities and creation of new jobs in these areas. "This project will further strengthen India's efforts towards ensuring accessible and affordable energy for all," the press release said.

COCHIN SHIPYARD More Information

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ELKO  Judicial filings closed on Friday with an incumbent and newcomer on their way to six-year terms as Elko and Carlin justices of the peace.

Incumbent Justice of the Peace and Elko Municipal Township Judge Randall Soderquist and social service manager Brandy Holbrook did not receive any challengers by 5 p.m. Friday at the Elko County Clerks office, the final day of statewide judicial filings, and will run unopposed for their respective benches.

This will be the first six-year term for Soderquist since his appointment to replace former Justice of the Peace Mason Simons in 2021. He also ran unopposed to fulfill the last two years of Simons unexpired term.

It will also be Holbrooks first term on the bench as Carlins Justice of the Peace. She will replace outgoing Justice of the Peace Dee Burton-Primaux, who did not seek reelection after being elected to the final two years of Senior Judge Teri Feasels unexpired term.

In two other Elko County courts, three candidates filed to run against incumbent judges Kenneth Calton for Wells and Kenneth R. Quirk for Eastline Justice Court in West Wendover.

Wells Justice Court race

Noah J. Swett filed to challenge Calton in Wells. In his candidate statement, he explained he is a citizen just like you, and has an interest in serving my community and country using common sense and fair application of justice in accordance with the Constitution.

He also stated he had previously run for Wells Justice of the Peace and for the Wells City Council.

Attorney Arron Bushur filed on Friday, becoming Caltons second challenger. He cited his 16 years of legal experience in Nevadas court system at all levels from the Nevada Supreme Court and Nevada Court of Appeals to local jurisdiction courts, tribal courts and federal district and bankruptcy courts.

I believe I have the education, experience, knowledge and desire for this position, Bushur wrote in his candidate statement. I believe that a seasoned attorney who understands Nevada law and procedure, as well as the inner workings of the legal system

Bushur ran twice for Second Judicial District Court judge in Washoe County in 2018 and 2020.

Eastline Justice Court race

Raeanne Hartsell has served as a bailiff in Eastline Court for about a year. She was also an officer with the West Wendover Police Department and deputy coroner for three years before becoming bailiff.

Explaining her reasons for running, she pointed to her family and two-decade career in law enforcement. I will bring qualities of professionalism, fairness and compassion to the judicial bench.

I am committed to ensuring public safety through both traditional and innovative approaches for a safe and healthy community, Hartsell continued. I believe I have a positive reputation as a law enforcement officer and I am confident I have the knowledge and heart to be an effective fair judge.

Hartsell will face incumbent Justice of the Peace Kenneth R. Quirk.

Non-judicial filings due in March

The two-week filing window for non-judicial candidates running for local and state office opens March 4 and ends at 5 p.m. March 15.

Republican Assemblyman Bert Gurr, representing District 33, declared he would run for a second two-year term in the Legislature.

He will be challenged by Democratic candidate John Doc Garrard, who declared his run for office in November. He ran against Gurr in 2022.

Former Assemblyman John Ellison confirmed he is running for outgoing State Sen. Pete Goicoecheas seat in District 19 on Tuesday.

Goicoechea is termed out after serving 12 years, concluding a 22-year career in the Legislature, serving in the upper and lower chambers.

On the Elko City Council, two seats are up for election, those held by Councilman Clair Morris and Councilwoman Mandy Simons.

Simons is termed out after serving 12 years on the City Council.

Elko County Commissioners Wilde Brough for District 1; Jon Karr, District 3; and Rex Steninger, District 5, have seats for up for reelection.

The Elko County School District Board of Trustees has three seats for reelection: Matt McCarty for District 3; Teresa Dastrup for District 4; and Adriana Lara for District 5.

Two seats are up for election for the Elko Convention and Visitors Authority Board. Seat A held by David Zornes and Seat C held by appointee Patricia Anderson.

Elko TV Board Seats D and E, held by Steven Guitar and Kent LeBarts, respectively, are also up for reelection.
Iran on Wednesday launched attacks on Pakistan through drones and missiles, claming to target two bases belonging to the Jaish al-Adl terrorist group, a day after similar strikes were carried out by elite Revolutionary Guards to target Iraq and Syria. In a strongly-worded statement, Pakistan condemned Iran's unprovoked violation of its airspace" and warned of consequences". Pakistan also said two children have died while three others have received injuries in the attack by Iran.

Two "important headquarters" of Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) in Pakistan were "destroyed," Al Arabiya News reported.

Pakistan has called upon the Iranian charge d'affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressing its "strongest condemnation of this clear violation" of its sovereignty. While the Foreign Office of Pakistan did not mention the location where the casualties took place, it is being reported that the bases were in Balochistan and one of the largest headquarters of the terror group has been targeted.

Also Read | Iran launches strikes on 'terrorist' targets in Iraq, Syria amid escalating regional tensions

Describing Iran's attack as "unprovoked violation of its airspace", Pakistan said it vehemently protest the violation of its sovereignty. It is completely unacceptable and it may have serious consequences".

Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighbourly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence," Pakistan said in a statement.

Some videos being shared on social media show damaged house with claims that two kids, aged 8 and 12, were killed in the Iran's attack on Pakistan. LiveMint was unable to verify the claims independently.

JAISH AL-ADL

Jaish al-Adl was formed in 2012 and designated as a "terrorist" organisation by Iran. Jaish al-Adl is a Sunni terrorist group that operates in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. Over the years, Jaish al-Adl has launched numerous attacks on Iranian security forces.

In December, Jaish al-Adl took responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Baluchistan that claimed the lives of at least 11 police personnel.

Sistan-Baluchistan borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. The region has a history of clashes between Iran's security forces and Sunni terrorists, as well as drug smugglers.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on January 17 said it would be "a step back" if Republican frontrunner Donald Trump won the US presidential election in November which would make life tough for Canada, reported Reuters .

While addressing a discussion hosted by the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, Justin Trudeau said in French, "It wasn't easy the first time and if there is a second time, it won't be easy either," reported Reuters.

Justin Trudeau also mentioned that if Donald Trump rose to power following the upcoming elections it would not be easy for Americans, He said, But we can't imagine a day when it will ever be easy with the Americans. " Justin Trudeau said, "A Trump win would be "a step back" and a victory for a populism that reflects a lot of anguish and fury ... without necessarily providing solutions".

He further said that the main responsibility of any prime minister is to represent and defend Canada's interests and that Canada has been able to perform these responsibilities very well over the past few years.

Justin Trudeau's center-left Liberals rose to power in November 2015. These liberals had tense relations with former US President Donald Trump during Justin Trudeau's first four-year White House term. Donald Trump had accused Trudeau of being weak and dishonest in 2018.

Canada is vulnerable to any United States' shift toward protectionism as it sends 75% of its goods and services exports to the US. Donald Trump had vowed to renegotiate the free trade treaty that bound the United StatesCanada and Mexico, when he came to power. Canada spent almost two years locked in talks to produce a trilateral pact that largely protected Canadian interests.

Recent polls released on Monday that surveyed Canadians surveyed revealed that about two-thirds of Canadians believed that US democracy cannot survive another four years of Trump in power. Around half of the Canadians said the United States is on the way to becoming an authoritarian state.

Justin Trudeau said during "the lost four years" of his first term, Trump showed little interest in the environment while the Liberals prioritized 'fighting climate change'. Over the climate question, Justin Trudeau said, "There are clearly issues where I do not agree at all with Mr. Trump," reported Reuters.

Canada is considering measures to cap the number of international students in the coming months as the country deals with a housing crisis.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) started an investigation into a BBC report that claimed the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) sexually exploited men at events he hosted across the globe.

A civil lawsuit against Mike Jeffries and his British partner also claimed that they operated a sex-trafficking business, according to a report published by BBC.

Currently, the federal investigating agency is interviewing and issuing subpoenas to potential witnesses. However, a lawyer for Jeffries refused to comment on the issue.

Sources informed BBC that FBI agents specializing in alleged sex crimes, and federal prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York are investigating the case.

Allegations surfaced in October in a BBC podcast series and documentary that Mike Jeffries along with his partner Matthew Smith had taken advantage of young men for sex at parties they threw in their New York homes and opulent hotels across the globe.

Speaking to BBC, eight men said they had attended these events in cities like London, Marrakesh, and Paris between 2009 and 2015. They claimed that Jeffries and Smith would either "direct" or partake in sexual relations with them.

Flight tickets and event schedules were among the documents the BBC discovered, which showed there was a well-organized scheme involving a network of recruiters and an intermediary named James Jacobson.

The 70-year-old Jacobson was located by the BBC, who stated that men attended these events "with their eyes wide open" and denied any wrongdoing.

Jacobson repeatedly offered to "do a deal," saying, "leave my name out and I'll tell you everything," when the BBC approached him at home.

A&F expressed its "appalled and disgusted" reaction to Jeffries' purported behavior to the BBC. Since then, a sizable portion of his $1 million (792,242) annual retirement benefits have been suspended by the brand.

Jeffries has consistently refused to comment through his attorney, and Mr. Smith has never addressed the accusations made by the BBC.

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WASHINGTONChinese researchers isolated and mapped the virus that causes Covid-19 in late December 2019, at least two weeks before Beijing revealed details of the deadly virus to the world, congressional investigators said, raising questions anew about what China knew in the pandemics crucial early days.

Documents obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by a House committee and reviewed by The Wall Street Journal show that a Chinese researcher in Beijing uploaded a nearly complete sequence of the viruss structure to a U.S. government-run database on Dec. 28, 2019. Chinese officials at that time were still publicly describing the disease outbreak in Wuhan, China, as a viral pneumonia of unknown cause" and had yet to close the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, site of one of the initial Covid-19 outbreaks.

China only shared the viruss sequence with the World Health Organization on Jan. 11, 2020, according to U.S. government timelines of the pandemic.

The new information doesnt shed light on the debate over whether Covid emerged from an infected animal or a lab leak, but it suggests that the world still doesnt have a full accounting of the pandemics origin.

The extra two weeks could have proven crucial in helping the international medical community pinpoint how Covid-19 spread, develop medical defenses, and get started on an eventual vaccine, specialists have said. In late 2019, scientists and governments worldwide were racing to understand the mystery disease eventually named Covid-19 that would kill millions and sicken many more.

It underscores how cautious we have to be about the accuracy of the information that the Chinese government has released," said Jesse Bloom, a virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle who has reviewed the documents and the recently discovered gene sequence. Its important to keep in mind how little we know."

The Chinese researcher who submitted the virus sequence, Dr. Lili Ren of the Beijing-based Institute of Pathogen Biology, didnt respond to an email seeking comment. The institute is part of the state-affiliated Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

China has kept refining our COVID response based on science to make it more targeted," a Chinese Embassy spokesperson said. Chinas COVID response policies are science-based, effective, and consistent with Chinas national realities. They can stand the test of history."

The documents describing a new timeline were obtained by Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee after the committee threatened to subpoena the Department of Health and Human Services.

Melanie Egorin, HHS Assistant Secretary for Legislation, wrote last month to the committees chair, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R., Wash.), that Ren submitted the virus sequence on Dec. 28, 2019, to a genetic database, GenBank, run by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

The first known publication of the sequence of the Covid virus, called SARS-CoV-2, came on Jan. 11, 2020, after Chinese authorities shared the information with the World Health Organization. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta says the virus sequence was shared with Chinas equivalent of the CDC on Jan. 5 but not made known to scientists globally.

The sequence that Ren provided in December 2019 was never published, and was deleted from the database on Jan. 16, 2020, after NIH asked her for more technical details and she didnt respond, Egorin wrote. Then, on Jan. 12, NIH received and published a SARS-CoV-2 sequence from another source.

The sequence published on January 12, 2020, was nearly identical to the sequence that was submitted by Lili Ren," Egorin told the committee.

The discovery that a researcher in the state-affiliated Chinese lab had isolated and mapped the virus well before Beijing revealed publicly that it had done so shows the U.S. cannot trust any of the so-called facts or data provided by the CCP and calls into serious question the legitimacy of any scientific theories based on such information," McMorris Rodgers said in a statement. The committee has spent months probing Covids origins, U.S. government funding of overseas research and other issues.

Ren is listed in contract documents as being a collaborator on a U.S.-funded project to study how coronaviruses can be transferred from animals to humans. The work, which included collecting bat samples in China, was overseen by the nonprofit EcoHealth Alliance.

The Journal has previously reported that Chinese specialists met with the World Health Organization in Beijing on Jan. 3, 2020, but didnt disclose that the new disease was caused by a coronavirus, a fact Chinese officials already knew.

This [database] submission shows that in fact, at least by Dec. 28, 2019, scientists within China did know this pneumonia was being caused" by a new coronavirus, said Bloom, the virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle.

Michael R. Gordon contributed to this article.

Write to Warren P. Strobel at Warren.Strobel@wsj.com
India-Maldives Row: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has asked India to withdraw their troops from the tourist island before 15 March. The troops, which India says provide help with humanitarian aid and medical evacuations for the residents of the remote islands of the country, have become a point of contention between India and Maldives, since President Muizzu , also known to be pro-China, assumed the seat of governance.

However, reports suggest that the specific deadline to withdraw Indian troops from Maldives had more to do with a certain upcoming election, which holds significance for Muizzu's People's National Congress (PNC).

Notably, Muizzu's party lost the Male mayoral election to the Maldivian Democratic Party, which wants to maintain ties with India, on 14 January.

The loss also came amid Muizzu's visit to China, skipping an India visit. For the PNC to cement its hold over Maldives, it is crucial that they win the Majlis elections, set to be held on 17 March, two days after the Indian troop withdrawal.

Officials in both Male and Delhi say that 77 Indian soldiers are posted in the archipelago country. There are also 12 medical personnel from the Indian armed forces, reports Reuters. India has also given Male two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft, which are mostly used for marine surveillance, search and rescue operations and medical evacuations.

During the first meeting of the India and Maldives core group, Maldivian representative Ali Naseer asked Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Munu Mahawar to replace the defence personnel with civilian crew by 15 March. Delhis response will come in the February round, reports Hindustan Times.

The two ALH under Maldivian colours, one Dornier aircraft and one OPV have all been grounded, the HT report adds.

Muizzu's recent visit to China has also heightened suspicion of anti-India campaign, which was inflated by three Maldivian ministers making derogatory remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Lakshadweep visit.

Muizzu's China ties, especially skipping India has been a red flag for the PM Modi government. India has enjoyed strong ties with Maldives, that depends on Delhi for essentials for its 500,000 people, including rice, vegetables, medicines, and humanitarian assistance.

HT reports that Maldives is likely to seek China's help to wean off the India dependency. After Muizzu's recently concluded China visit he had said that China's President Xi Jinping has assured him that the Chinese government will help the Maldives achieve its goals.

The Hindustan Times report says that according to people familiar with the matter, Muizzu could seek support from Beijing to replace Indian assets with Chinese ones with the Xi Jinping regime arranging crews from private companies in Singapore.

However, this move could cost Maldives and Muizzu upwards of $ 10 million, something that the cash-strapped Maldivian economy can ill-afford, they added.

Maldives debt to China and India amount to 30% and 10% of its GDP. It has to pay $100 million this year to India according to its debt repayment schedule.

The islands sit along one of the busiest maritime trade highways in the Indian Ocean, through which nearly 80% of Chinas oil imports pass.

For India, any potential Chinese military presence in Maldives would be considered a threat in its own regional back yard.

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In a setback for Pakistan's former premier Imran Khan , the Lahore High Court on Wednesday upheld the rejection of his nomination papers for the February 8 general elections, Dawn News reported.

The high court upheld the decisions of the returning officer (RO) and appellate tribunal given against acceptance of the disqualified former premier's nomination papers from NA-122 and NA-89 constituencies.

It reported that Imran's nomination papers had been rejected primarily on the grounds of being convicted in the Toshakhana case, in which he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The case, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), had accused Imran of not mentioning the details of state gifts in his tax declarations.

Also Read | Why Iran attacked Pakistan, Syria and Iraq

Imran's nomination papers from NA-122 were also dismissed on the grounds of the proposer not being a voter from the constituency.

The appellate tribunals had also upheld the decisions of the respective returning officers (ROs) with an observation that the conviction and sentence were two different terms as conviction pertained to the guilty verdict and sentence stands for the rigours following conviction.

Earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) reserved the decision on a writ petition filed by Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan against the election appellate tribunal's dismissal of his appeal regarding the rejection of his nomination papers by the Returning Officer (RO), The Express Tribune reported on Tuesday.

Arguing during the hearing, Imran Khan's counsel contended that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lacks the authority to disqualify an individual.

The tribunals had noted that the conviction meant a guilty verdict pronounced by a court in reference to the delinquency attributed to an accused, whereas the sentence denoted the quantum of punishment.

Subsequently, Imran had filed two petitions in the LHC asking the high court to set aside the decisions of the ROs and the appellate tribunals of rejecting the nomination papers of the petitioner from both constituencies of the National Assembly.

During the previous hearing, Advocate Uzair Bhandari had argued on behalf of Imran that the conviction on the charge of moral turpitude did not fall under the definition of disqualification. He said the conviction of the petitioner could not be equated with the conviction for corruption or accumulating illegal assets, Dawn News reported.

He also pointed out that an Indian court enlisted the offence of moral turpitude lower than the offence involving financial corruption. However, the bench observed that the standards of morality in Pakistan were different from other regions.

Bhandari further argued that the RO had no jurisdiction to pass the impugned order on the basis of the conviction on moral turpitude. Meanwhile, a lawyer for the ECP argued that the petitioner's conviction was still in force and he had not been acquitted by the high court.

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A US-bound All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight was forced to return to Tokyo on Wednesday after an intoxicated passenger bit a cabin attendant mid-flight, reported news agency AFP.

The man, reportedly a 55-year-old American, was "heavily drunk" when he bit the crew member's arm, leaving her injured, a spokesperson from the airline told the news agency.

The ANA spokesperson further said following the incident, the pilots of the plane with 159 passengers on board, returned the flight to Haneda airport. The intoxicated passenger was handed over to the police.

The Japanese media reported that the passenger told the police that he "doesn't recall at all" his behaviour. Some social media users are likening the incident in mock horror to the "beginning of a zombie movie".

Also Read | Penal charges on loans: RBI clears the air before the rules come into force

It is the second incident to impact the ANA in the recent past and the fourth involving the Japanese aviation industry in just over two weeks.

Another ANA flight reportedly had to turn back on Saturday after a crack was discovered in the cockpit window of the Boeing 737-800.

"The cracked window incident may have been caused by a faulty window heat system as the temperatures are quite extreme at altitude," an ANA spokesperson told AFP.

"This is not uncommon and has happened to me during my career," he added.

The most serious recent incident occurred on January 2 when a Japan Airlines aircraft collided with a smaller Coast Guard plane. All 379 passengers on board the JAL Airbus escaped but five of the six people on the smaller Coast Guard aircraft which was involved in a relief operation after a major earthquake in central Japangot killed.

On Tuesday, the wing tip of a Korean Air airliner plane collided with a Cathay Pacific plane while taxiing at an airport in Hokkaido. Nobody was injured in the incident.

A similar mishap took place on Sunday when an ANA aircraft came into "contact" with a Delta Air Lines plane at a Chicago airport, the Japanese airline told AFP, also causing no injuries.

Doug Drury, an aviation expert at Central Queensland University, told AFP that "wing strike" incidents "do happen" because many airports are handling bigger planes than they were built for.

ARVIND More Information

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The US presidential election process can be a long and daunting process. With final presidential polls set to be held in November 2024, Donald Trump secured his first crucial victory in Iowas first-in-the-nation caucuses on Monday night. But what are these caucuses, and how are they different from primaries? What's the process for candidate nomination and how do elections happen in the US?

Here's all you need to know about the US poll procedures which takes months. The detailed information mentioned below was gathered from the website of the US government and the US embassy and consulate.

First, a quick recap:

One year before US elections: Candidates from the two main political parties  the Democrats and the Republicans  begin their campaign trails. This part of the campaign includes setting up their team and conducting rallies to seek support and fundraise for their campaigns.

ALSO READ: Vivek Ramaswamy ends his US Presidential bid, endorses Donald Trump as 'best president of 21st century'

At the start of the campaigns: Democrat and Republican candidates participate in televised debates. During the debates, each candidate answers tough questions about their policies. They also get a chance to defend their stance on issues and policies against other candidates.

Elections process begins: Here are the steps that the US follow to elect its president every four years:

View Full Image US Election Explained in Chart (U.s. Embassy & consulate in kazakhstan)

Step 1: Primaries and Caucuses

The main voting events  Primaries and Caucuses  help in the selection of delegates who will represent the people at the upcoming conventions. These are simply two ways that people help states and political parties choose presidential nominees.

ALSO READ: US elections 2024: What's at stake for Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis in Monday's Iowa caucuses?

Caucuses: It's a stage at which party members select the best candidate through a series of discussions and votes. It's a meeting of local members of a political party to select delegates to the national party convention. A caucus is said to be a substitute for primary elections. A delegate is defined as a person authorised to represent others as an elected representative to a political party conference.

ALSO READ: US Presidential Elections 2024: Donald Trump emerges as front-runner in Iowa caucus amid freezing temperatures

Primary: In this, party members vote for the best candidate that will represent them in the general election. Most states hold primaries six to nine months before a presidential election. Primary voters choose their preferred candidate anonymously by casting secret ballots.

The main focus remains on the results from Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. The results in these regions usually determine who the final presidential nominee for each party will be.

Step 2: National Conventions

To become the presidential nominee, a candidate has to win a majority of delegates. Each party then holds a national convention to select a final presidential nominee.

At this stage, delegates selected during the primaries and caucuses "to represent the people" will "endorse" their favourite candidates. Simply put, state delegates go to the national convention to vote to confirm their choice of candidates. The final presidential nominee from each party will be officially announced at the end of the conventions.

If no candidate gets the majority of a party's delegates during the primaries and caucuses, convention delegates choose the nominee. This happens through additional rounds of voting.

It is at the convention that the presidential candidate chooses a running mate"  a Vice Presidential candidate. The presidential candidates campaign throughout the country to win the support of the general public.

Step 3: Presidential general election

In general elections, people in every state across the US vote for one President and Vice President. The candidates names will be listed on the general election ballot.

Notably, candidates from minor political parties and independent candidates might not have a national convention. But they may be on the ballot on a state-by-state basis if they meet the eligibility requirements.

The elections take place on the first Tuesday of November.

But the process doesn't end here.

When people cast their vote, they are actually voting for a group of people known as electors. Each candidate running for President in your State has their own group of electors (known as a slate). When you vote for a Presidential candidate you are actually voting for your candidate's preferred electors.

Step 4: Electoral College

The president and vice president are not elected directly by citizens in the US. Instead, they are chosen by "electors" through a process called the Electoral College.

The Electoral College is a process in which electors or representatives from each state cast their vote and determine who will be president. Each state is given a number of electors based roughly on its size of population.

There are a total of 538 electors selected according to each states policy. Each state gets a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress. Each elector casts one vote following the general election, and the candidate, who gets more than half (270), wins.

That's why, the general elections in November don't tell who is actually going to win. And this is why there are times when a candidate wins the presidency (electoral votes) but not the popular votes (voted by people during the general election).

Watch this video for more clarity

How does the Electoral College process work?

Usually, the candidate who gets the most votes in a state, gets all its electoral votes. "If they win the state by 1 percent, they win 100 percent of electoral votes," VOX media explains. And that's why, the numbers of electors in each state plays a significant role.

1. After one casts their ballot for president, your vote goes to a statewide tally. In 48 states and Washington, DC, the winner gets all the electoral votes for that state. Maine and Nebraska assign their electors using a proportional system.

2. A candidate needs the vote of at least 270 electors  more than half of all electors  to win the presidential election.

3. In most cases, a projected winner is announced on election night in November after you vote. But the actual Electoral College vote takes place in mid-December when the electors meet in their states.

ALSO READ: US President Joe Biden warns of Donald Trump's threat to United States in 2024 election

Candidates focus their energy on swing stats, which can vote either way. Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Arizona are the swing states in the US election, Euronews said. Winning in these states is key to getting the magic number of 270 electoral votes.

The final state: The newly elected President and Vice President take charge in January.

View Full Image Timeline of key events leading to the US presidential election on November 5, 2024 (AFP )

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A day after striking Iraq and Syria, Iran launched missiles on Pakistan's territory late Tuesday. Iranian state media said the "missile and drone" attack destroyed two bases of Baluchi militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan. But why did Iran launched attacks on Pakistan, Iraq and Syria?

Tehran had reportedly launched attacks in Iraq and Syria against what it called anti-Iranian terrorist groups". A day later, it targeted "militant" bases in Pakistan's Balochistan. Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahain said the airstrikes in Pakistan targeted an "Iranian terrorist group".

ALSO READ: Pakistan expels Iranian ambassador, recalls its envoy after 'unprovoked' missile strike

"The so-called Jaish al-Adl group, which is an Iranian terrorist group, was targeted," Abdollahian was quoted by ANI as saying on Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Notably, Iran has fought in border areas against the militants, but a missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan would be unprecedented for Iran.

Why did Iran attack Pakistan

The attack could be seen a retaliatory move by Iran. Jaish al-Adl has previously launched attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan.

Iranian minister Abdollahain said on Wednesday, "The group has taken shelter in some parts of Pakistan's Balochistan province. This group killed our security forces. We only targeted Iranian terrorist group on the soil of Pakistan."

In December 2023, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi had said at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an attack on a police station in Rask, a town close to the border with Pakistan. That attack was claimed by Jaish al-Adl in a brief statement posted on its Telegram channel, AFP reported.

Earlier on July 23 last year, four Iranian policemen were killed while on patrol near the border in an attack claimed by the Jaish al-Adl.

Jaish al-Adl, or the "Army of Justice", is a Sunni militant group founded in 2012 that largely operates in Pakistan. According to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence, Jaish al-Adl is the "most active and influential" Sunni militant group operating in Sistan-Baluchistan.

ALSO READ: China, Iran, Uzbekistan come to Pakistan's rescue from economic crisis

According to reports, Tehran and Islamabad have frequently accused each other of allowing militants to operate from the other's territory to launch attacks. However, it is rare that official forces on either side engage.

Meanwhile, Tehran has repeatedly warned that the Jaish al-Adl militant group is using Pakistani soil in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan to launch terror attacks on Iranian security forces, PTI reported.

Attacks on Syria and Iraq

Iran defended its missile strikes in Iraq and Syria, saying they were a "targeted operation" and "just punishment" against those who breach the Islamic republic's security, AFP reported.

In Syria, the Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said the strikes against alleged Islamic State (IS) targets were in response to recent attacks in Iran.

On January 3, suicide bombers struck crowds gathered near the tomb of the revered IRGC general Qasem Soleimani in Kerman. The attack, for which the Islamic State group later claimed responsibility, killed around 90 people and left scores wounded.

"This strike was said to have been in response to the identification and subsequent destruction of gathering points for the Daesh terrorist group in Syrian territories," Tehran news reported.

According to IRNA, Daesh claimed responsibility for two bomb blasts that killed nearly 100 people at a memorial service for Irans top anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani in southeastern Iran early this month.

In Iraq, the IRGC reportedly said it had struck an alleged Israeli target. It announced a "missile attack and the destruction of the Zionist regime's spy headquarters (Mossad) in the Kurdistan region of Iraq". Mossad is the national intelligence agency of the State of Israel.

"This headquarters has been the centre for developing espionage operations and planning terrorist actions in the region," the official IRNA news agency reported. The attack in Iraq was said to be in response to recent Israeli assassinations of Iranian and pro-Iranian commanders.

No limits in defending security: Iran minister

According to IRNA, Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammadreza Ashtiani said that Iran respects the territorial integrity of other countries but insisted that it has no limits in defending its security.

Back in May 2023, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the IRGC Ground Force, had warned, We are waiting for the Iraqi government to keep its promises, and we have given them a chance to get rid of the terrorists. Otherwise, and if nothing is done, the IRGC strikes would continue."

Could Iran attacks fuel tensions in the Middle-East?

Iran's latest attacks in Syria, Iraq and Pakistan could potentially raise tensions in the Middle East which is already roiled by Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is a Palestinian militant group backed by Iran.

Moreover, Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are also said to be backed Iran, launched attacked on commercial ships and tankers in the Red Sea region. These attacks were retaliated by the US and the UK.

According to BBC, Iran said it does not want to get involved in a wider conflict. However, groups in its so-called "Axis of Resistance", which include the Houthi militants in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and other groups in Syria and Iraq, have continuously carried out attacks on Israel and its allies to show solidarity with the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, security commentator in Pakistan, Aamir Rana, told the BBC that he thought the diplomatic crisis "would take a while to calm down but this is also something that Pakistan would not like to escalate".

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US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the United States sees India as an extraordinary success story". He said the US has seen how the policies of the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been benefiting people. He added that India's leadership under PM Modi has benefited the relations of many ally countries.

We see an extraordinary success story and we see the remarkable achievements that Prime Minister Modi has achieved moving forward under his watch that have materially benefited and positively affected so many of the allies," Secretary Blinken was quoted by ANI as saying at the World Economic Forum.

ALSO READ: PM Modi says India-US ties 'mature and stable' amid Khalistani separatist's murder plot claims

Blinken said the policies and programmes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been very beneficial to the people of India. According to PTI, the US official was replying to a question on whether the rise of Hindu nationalism concerns India despite the country's robust economic growth and infrastructure building under the Modi regime.

Blinken said US President Joe Biden and PM Modi enjoy excellent relations and their conversations cover all aspects. He added the India-US conversation always underscores the significance of democracy and human rights.

"We also see our relationship between our countries that is in a new place at a new level. That's been a very deliberate effort by both the Prime Minister and President Biden. At the same time, a constant and regular part of our conversation is the conversation about democracy and about human rights," Blinken was quoted by ANI as saying.

He added, "When President (Biden) took office, he wanted to make sure that we put back into our foreign policyWe do it in different ways in different places. Because of the nature of relationship, we have with the country, with the government, it's part of very sustain, very real conversation and the conversation that we have off course produces positive change."

ALSO READ: From 'It's complicated' to 'Dating': US ambassador Eric Garcetti on India-America ties

According to the report, Blinken also commented on the recent Taiwan presidential elections and reaffirmed US support for the status quo of the island country. He said, We see a very powerful affirmation of democracy. We congratulated the people of Taiwan. Our fundamental interest is the peace and stability is maintained."

ALSO READ: Davos World Economic Forum meeting 2024: From Smriti Irani to Ashwini Vaishnaw, who are the leaders representing India?

One of the hailmark of success of the relationship between the United States and China since the establishment of diplomatic relations has actually with the management of the Taiwan issue. The premium we have had in maintaining the status quo," Blinken

The Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum provides a platform for thought leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to exchange ideas and perspectives on critical global issues.

(With inputs from agencies)

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I participated in the Nevada Department of Wildlifes Outdoor Education Volunteer Instructor Annual Banquet last Friday at Ogi Deli here in Elko.

Attendees were all volunteer instructors and their families. Disciplines include wildlife education, angler education and hunter education.

The three programs make up a large part of NDOWs outreach to Nevada residents and provide many with their first contact with Nevadas great outdoors and wildlife. These volunteers are also often a residents first contact with NDOW and provide a valuable service.

The Conservation Education Division is responsible for these programs and couldnt do the job without volunteers. In NDOWs Eastern Region, which is made up of Elko, Eureka, Lander and White Pine Counties, there are only three paid employees to cover the 35,000 square miles that make up the region. However, there are approximately 50 active volunteers who help teach Nevadas youth and adults in the region.

I am primarily an angler education volunteer, but also participate in the hunter education and wildlife education programs. Angler education instructors help teach everything from basic fishing techniques to ice fishing, fly fishing and fly tying. We also help out with events such as Free Fishing Day, Take A Kid Fishing, the Angel Lake Kids Fishing Derby and the Elko Sportsmens Expo.

Volunteers can put as much or as little time as they prefer. Some participate in one or two events that are near and dear to them, while others help out on a regular basis. Currently NDOW has a progressive fly-tying class that started in early November and has classes weekly into March. A cadre of five very dedicated instructors teaches this class weekly.

Next month, I am lucky enough to be able to participate in delivering fertilized trout eggs to classrooms in Elko County as a volunteer for the Trout in the Classroom program, in which students learn about the life cycle of trout. It is extremely rewarding and often entertaining, as kids say the darndest things.

We are also entering the busy hunter ed class cycle as our youth (and adults new to the sport) prepare for the upcoming big game tag application process later this spring. Hunter education classes are taught almost weekly between now and the tag application deadline in May. Obviously, this takes a fair amount of manpower.

There is another benefit NDOW and Nevada residents receive from the volunteers. Their time and mileage counts as in-kind match for federal grants. This past year, instructor hours and miles in the three programs resulted in almost $20,000 worth of in-kind match for federal wildlife grants to provide funding for these programs. At a 3-to-1 match, that means that close to $60,000 of federal grant money is available for equipment, facilities and staffing are now available thanks to the hard work of the volunteer instructors.

If you think that you might like to participate, even if it is only for a one-time project like picking sagebrush seed or building a wildlife guzzler (a water catching device), contact Nicole Hamblin. Hamblin is NDOWs regional volunteer coordinator and can be reached at 775-777-2300 or at Nicole.Hamblin@ndow.org. You can also attend the Elko Sportsmens Expo on March 2 and 3 to talk to both Hamblin and the volunteer instructors about the program.

Now, lets get to fishing.

Wildhorse

The weather last weekend was not conducive to comfortable ice fishing, and this weekends warmer weather, while more comfortable for fishing, wont be very good for ice growth or surface conditions. There was still about 7 inches of good hard, clear ice, making ice fishing safe in most areas. But expect almost a foot of slush and snow on top of the ice, so waterproof boots are a must.

Very little change in fishing conditions, as anglers continue to report fair to good fishing for quality trout and poor to fair fishing for perch that, when caught, tend to be small.

Ice anglers have been fishing primarily in the Hendrix and Penrod Arms, though other areas of the lake should also produce fish. Fishing off the rock face on the north side of the Penrod arm is often productive, as is near the submerged island a couple of hundred yards southeast of the state park boat ramp. The island on the southeast side of the lake is also another place to drill a hole.

For trout, anglers should be looking for 8 to 15 feet of water and start fishing 3 to 4 feet below the ice. If no fish are contacted, move the presentation down a foot about every 30 minutes. If there are multiple anglers, each should fish at a different depth until someone catches a fish and then fish at that depth.

Both PowerBait and worms have been working, and the fish seem to be holding 4 to 6 feet below the ice. Small jigs tipped with a piece of worm have also been productive. Other baits that are popular include marshmallows and corn. Another tactic is to take the hooks off a small spinner and put the spinner in line above the bait. With an occasional jigging motion as the bait falls the spinner may attract fish in.

South Fork Reservoir

The warmer temperatures combined with the winds have opened up more of the open water along Jet Ski Beach, which should remain open with the forecast winds over the next few days.

It also means the ice on the rest of the lake continues to be very unsafe. Chances are there wont be ice fishing at South Fork this winter.

Not many anglers are getting out in this weather, but a few anglers are reporting poor fishing, and the fish being caught were smaller, using rainbow or chartreuse/orange PowerBait. No reports of trout on worms or spinners.

Fly fishing was also slow. Fly rodders a few weeks ago were catching fish using small black/red and black/bruised leech patterns and wooly buggers, as well as chironomid patterns. These patterns should be used once weather conditions improve.

Jiggs Reservoir

As of Tuesday, Jiggs Reservoir had 3 to 4 inches of ice and caution should be used. With the warmer weather forecast this week, ice conditions will not improve and may deteriorate. Be sure to drill test holes if you are going onto the ice, which is not recommended at this time.

Anglers can expect fair to good fishing through the ice for 10- to 12-inch trout once it is safe.

Wilson Reservoir

No recent report, but conditions here often mimic South Fork conditions, so this lake is more than likely mostly covered in unsafe ice. With the wet weather this week, expect 4WD conditions and travel is not recommended.

Willow Creek Reservoir

No recent report. Expect it to be ice covered but few catchable sized fish. Not worth the trip.

Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Harrison Pass is closed and anglers should plan on taking Secret Pass to Ruby Lake NWR.

Expect unsafe ice at the boat ramp in the South Lake. The collection ditch did have some ice, but there should be plenty of open water for fishing. Fishing in the collection ditch has been fair to good for trout averaging 14 to 20 inches, with some fish over 20 inches.

Water clarity and levels continue to be good.

Fly anglers have had luck stripping wooly buggers, leeches or small streamers. Chironomids, pheasant tail nymphs and gold ribbed hares ear nymphs have also been working.

Spin fishermen should be using spinners, Kastmasters, panther Martins and other small lures. It is artificial presentations only in the collection ditch and wading is not allowed there.

Anglers should expect snowy/wet/muddy driving conditions and 4WD and chains are recommended at the time of this report.

Jakes Creek/Boies Reservoir

Jakes Creek Reservoir has approximately 5 to 7 inches of ice, but has received little to no ice fishing pressure. The road earlier this week was in fairly good shape, but with the warmer, wet weather in the middle of the week expect snowy/slushy/muddy driving conditions.

Expect fair to good fishing for 10- to 14-inch trout with the usual presentations as that used at Wildhorse Reservoir. Worms, PowerBait, corn and marshmallows should all work.

Cold Creek Reservoir

Cold Creek Reservoir is mostly open water with no report of anglers fishing it. Expect fishing to be slow.

Cave Lake

Cave Lake is lowered to minimum pool and unfishable. Cave Lake is closed to fishing due to shorelines that are very soft and dangerous because of the complete saturation of the soil. Dam construction is fully underway. Fish stocking will resume once the construction is completed and the lake starts to fill. For more information on Cave Lake, please contact the NDOW Ely Field Office.

Comins Lake

Quite a few anglers were on the ice this past weekend, though there are still some areas of only 2 to 4 inches, so caution should be used.

Ice near the channel between the north and south lakes appears to be in the best shape and was averaging about 5 inches last week and may be better now. Anglers are strongly encouraged to utilize safety equipment while ice fishing (e.g. ice cleats, picks, and bring along a long rope). The south lake is the thinnest ice and test hole should be drilled before venturing upon the ice there.

Trout fishing has slowed a bit, but the quality of fish reported was good, with fish averaging between 14 and 18 inches and some pushing 20 inches.

Pike fishing has been good for fish ranging from 18 to 30 plus inches. Anglers should do well fishing for trout by using nightcrawlers, spoons, and jigs. Anglers pursuing Northern Pike will do well on hard and soft plastic baits, as well as flashy spoons and jigs.

Ice conditions permitting, the Ely Rotary Club Ice Fishing Derby will be Jan. 27 on Comins Lake. Go to the Ely Rotary Clubs Facebook page for more information.

Illipah

Illipah Reservoir is ice covered with 5 to 8 inches of ice, except near the spillway and the south end. Anglers are being advised to avoid both those areas. Anglers should fish with caution and use safety equipment.

Fishing has been fair to good for 10- to 15-inch fish using nightcrawlers, PowerBait, as well as small jigs and spoons.

Streams

Fishing streams has been slow due to winter fishing conditions, which is normal for this time of year. Many streams will be 4WD only to get to after this weeks snow and rain. Afternoon highs in many areas will be in the mid 30s to 40 degrees and could produce some muddy/slushy driving conditions on the way out of your favorite fishing hole.

With colder water temperatures, presentations need to be slowed down and stretches of stream should be fished much more thoroughly than when warmer as the presentation needs to be put right in front of the fish.

Flows in the East Fork of the Owyhee below Wildhorse Reservoir are above normal for this time of year and very fishable, though there is snow and ice on the rocks, making wading and walking difficult. Access to the Bruneau and Jarbidge Rivers is through Idaho and even then access to the Bruneau is difficult and not recommended.

As of Wednesday, the East Fork of the Owyhee was flowing at 14.0 cfs below the dam and showing ice at Mountain City; the Jarbidge River at 5.47 cfs; the Bruneau River station showing ice; Salmon Falls Creek at 81.1 cfs; Lamoille Creek at 9.65 cfs; the South Fork of the Humboldt at 21.7 cfs; Cleve Creek at 8.03 cfs; Steptoe Creek at 4.42 cfs; and Kingston Creek at 6.68 cfs.
Taiwanese voters have shrugged off warnings by China that the election of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te to the presidency would increase the risk of conflict in the Taiwan Strait, including a potentially violent takeover of the island nation.

Chinas strong-arm tactics under Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Xi Jinping, who has vowed that the islands reunification with the mainland is a historical inevitability, have failed for now. But that does not mean that these tactics will not continue or that regional geopolitics is any less precariously placed.

Taiwans political dynamics are important to India, too, for several reasons. The principal one is Indias interest in Chinese actions and capabilities in the Taiwan Strait, and the implications these might have for its own boundary dispute with China.

There is also growing interest in the potential for India-Taiwan economic cooperation, particularly in high-tech manufacturing sectors. There is increasing attention to whether or not Taiwanese companies will substantially shift their manufacturing capabilities out of China to India as Taiwan faces Chinese political interference and economic coercion.

The DPP, more than the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), has been a big votary of the shift to India. But there is a degree of disappointment in Indian government circles at the slow pace of this shift of Taiwanese manufacturing to India. The longer this shift takes, the stronger Chinese economic capacity becomes with Taiwanese help, with a cost not just to India and Taiwan but for all open-market systems and democracies.

Now that the DPP has returned to power, how can China be expected to respond politically, economically and militarily?

The DPP under current president Tsai Ing-wen has tried to avoid hot button issues and tried to engage Beijing. But its efforts have been consistently rebuffed by Beijing unwilling to accept anything less than a complete acceptance by the Taiwanese political party of the principle of one China and the idea of reunification.

The DPP, for its part, has been equally insistent on not going down that path and in scaling up its military preparations and expenditure. The length of conscription on the island has been increased after several years of reductions, and Taipei has actively sought arms from the US, seen as the islands most significant guarantor of safety.

Not all such efforts have borne fruit, however, and there is regular news about Taiwanese military personnel caught spying for the Chinese. This is not just a matter of bribery by the Chinese but a legacy of decades of conditioning of the Taiwanese militaryby the KMT that had fled the mainland in 1949 and ruled the island for decadesto believe in the idea of one China and eventual reunification.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the KMT has been the preferred choice of Chinese communists in Taiwans electoral systemironic, given their history of civil war on the mainland itself and subsequent tensions during the Cold War.

Diplomatically, Beijing is going to redouble its efforts to wean away what few allies Taiwan has. The tiny Pacific island of Nauru has already switched to recognizing China in a clear signal to president-elect Lai, who should expect more such instances in his presidency unless he capitulates to Chinas wishes.

China will obviously not be waiting for him to do so, and will seek to sharpen tensions in local politics on the islandrepresented by the DPP losing its majority in the islands legislatureby increasing disinformation campaigns and subverting of Taiwanese political, economic and intellectual elites.

The CCP will aim to convince Taiwanese as the Chinese foreign ministry has that attempts at independence are doomed to failure and will lead nowhere.

Economic coercion can also be expected to continue with Chinese threats to pull out of the bilateral Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, and add pressure on big Taiwanese businesses that are heavily invested in China to work at Beijings behest.

It is just as possible that the Chinese will simultaneously offer greater incentives to Taiwanese companies and businessmen in order to integrate the Taiwanese economy more closely with the mainland economy, and to arrest efforts by the DPP government to decouple and to direct Taiwanese attention towards markets like India.

Militarily, the upswing in recent years of Chinas military coercion around the island crossings by the PLA Navy and Air Force of the median line in the Taiwan Straitis likely to continue.

A PLA military invasion of the island is, however, an extremely unlikely scenario for the foreseeable futurethere are just too many uncertainties about victory including intervention by the US and its allies. Anything less than absolute success could well mean the end of Communist Party rule on China.
The opening sentence of the federal court opinion was like none other: It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." US district court Judge Mark Walker quoted the first line of George Orwells classic novel 1984, as he struck down parts of the Florida law that prohibited colleges from teaching eight topics related to race. The states argument is like the thirteenth chime of a clock: you not only know its wrong, but it causes you to wonder about everything you heard before," Walker explained in the notes of his 2022 decision. He concluded that Floridas passage of its Individual Freedom Act allowed professors to enjoy academic freedom so long as they express only those viewpoints of which the State approves." Walker proclaimed the law positively dystopian" and declared it Orwellian doublespeak."

But, as Florida goes, so goes the nation. When three university presidents were asked by a US congressional committee whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their varsity codes of conduct, their vague and inadequate answers essentially told us that bigotry on campus is unacceptable but punishment is selective.

Demographics are changing with more minority and LGBTQ+ students enrolling in higher education. Campuses that encourage collaborative learning among students of diverse backgrounds find their students are more likely to engage, innovate and open their minds. To make their learning environments more inclusive, many schools decided to adopt rules eliminating toxic hate speech.

But there is growing perception that overzealous administrators often use these rules as tools to exert their power over faculty or promote a political agenda. Rather than find ways to encourage discussions about objectionable points of view, some schools are silencing them.

Harvard rescinded admission offers to ten students who posted sexually explicit messages on social media in 2017. Several colleges proposed guidelines on offensive Halloween costumes in 2016. In 2013, two students at Lewis & Clark College were punished for telling racially themed jokes at a private party.

Many schools have adopted speech codes, making it a violation to say things that some groups find offensive. According to the libertarian-leaning Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), 94 of the 486 schools it monitors had speech codes that substantially restrict free speech" and another 324 schools maintain policies that impose vague regulations on expression."

Worried that diversity policies will lead to left-leaning indoctrination," several Republican-run states have passed bills to restrict discussion of structural racism and injustice, and to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes at colleges.

University speech codes and DEI bans lead to ideological conformity. In his take-down of the Florida law, Walker explained that the state was engaged in viewpoint discriminationin the name of combatting indoctrination of one perceived orthodoxy, the State allows for indoctrination in its preferred orthodoxy."

Floridas Governor DeSantis offered his own example in his state-of-the-state speech last week. He bragged that Florida had eliminated" DEI programmes and scrubbed its public universities of indoctrination," and then announced that the state university system had waived its rules to make it easier for Jewish students who have a well-founded fear of antisemitic persecution at their current postsecondary institutions" to transfer to Florida colleges.

Helping Jewish students is a welcome initiative, but in the light of DeSantis anti-DEI laws, it smacks of hypocrisy. Although Florida bans special treatment of some subjugated groups, when it comes to a constituency of voters that the governor is courting, his ban on inclusionary programmes no longer applies, it would seem.

A debate not restricted to the states that enacted divisive DEI bans, former president Donald Trump said he will implement many anti-DEI policies on a national scale if elected a second time.

Walker suggested that the state could combat woke ideas with countervailing views in the marketplace of ideas..." rather than attempting to eliminate one side of the debate."

We undermine free speech and academic freedom when we silence rival ideas. There is a role for university codes of conduct, no doubt, but the goal should be to keep students physically safe while their minds are subject to the kind of intellectual rigour that makes them uncomfortable. Institutions need divergent voices and inclusive policies to thrive, but their programmes should not be used as a cudgel to promote conformity. bloomberg
The recent release of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2022-23 has generated a considerable measure of interest and commentary, some of which has appeared in this newspaper. Reading these reveals that improvements in data can only be useful if they are accompanied by a better understanding of statistics. To paraphrase an exchange from an old British sitcom, with statistics you can prove anything, even the truth.

In todays column, we will explore some of the common misconceptions which arise when reporting on employment, as well as some puzzles which would require deeper research.

There are three principal ratios which are used in discussions of labour-market conditions, namely the labour force participation rate (LFPR), workforce participation rate (WPR) and the unemployment Rate (UR). If during the specified reference period, the person is working or otherwise engaged in economic activity for most of the time, then he is presumed to be employed. Further, if not employed as above but still making tangible efforts to seek work, then the person is classified as unemployed. If not engaged in economic activity (work) and also not available for work, then s/he would be classified as not being in the labour force. From these, we derive the workforce participation rate, which is the number of workers as a proportion of the total population. The count of workers plus the unemployed defines the labour force, which is also expressed as a percentage of the population. The unemployment rate refers to the unemployed as a proportion of the labour force.

In using these numbers, we need to keep in mind that the absolute magnitude is determined also by the population of the relevant group. Some of the misconceptions arise when these basics are not kept in mind. Since the last census, when our population was approximately 1.2 billion, our population is estimated to have risen to a little over 1.4 billion in 2023. Thus, the denominator in both WPR and LFPR has risen significantly.

One common misconception that arises as a consequence is from the percentage of people with a regular salary having declined from 22.8% in 2017-18 to 20.9% in 2022-23. This seems like a drop, but when we combine this with population numbers, we see that the number of workers in this category increased by almost 15 million in the same period. Thus, a decline in the share of regular-wage jobs does not mean that the total number of jobs in this category has fallen. As the numbers cited show, it is the reverse.

Similarly, there has been some comment on Indias high unemployment rate among the youth. The PLFS 2022-23 shows an unemployment rate of 10% in the age group of 15-29 years, as compared to an unemployment rate of 3.2% across all age groups. This, of course, is an important difference, but it should be noted that the unemployment rate in the age group of 15-29 has seen a very sharp decline from 17.8% in 2017-18. Further, the WPR in this age group has increased from 31.4% in 2017-18 to 40.1% in 2022-23. This implies an additional 35 million people have found work, even though the population in that segment has increased only by 17 million. The implied narrative of dwindling job opportunities for the youth is not borne out by the data. Instead, this age group has seen the largest addition to the number of workers relative to its population.

View Full Image (graphic:mint)

Another issue which comes up in many discussions is a comparison of PLFS numbers with our employment/unemployment data from 2011-12. To put this criticism in perspective, it may be useful to refer to the graph alongside, which shows the WPR from 1978 till 2023. This representation of WPR both puts the criticism in perspective and also raises some interesting puzzles relating to the employment situation in India.

While the WPR in 2017-18 is lower than in 2011-12, this simple comparison ignores a steady decline since 2004-05. If we zoom out to look at a longer time frame, the period between 1999-00 till 2004-05 itself marks a recovery in contrast to a secular decline in this ratio since 1978.

An assumption is often made that 2017-18 was the lowest point in the WPR, but it could have been earlier. What is known, however, is that the PLFS data thereafter shows a sustained increase in spite of major disruptions caused by covid.

What is interesting is Indias steady improvement in womens participation since 2017-18. The urban womens WPR is at an all-time high of 18.7% in 2022-23, having seen a sustained increase since 2018-19.

What is even more interesting in the long time series is a striking change in rural womens workforce participation post-2017, compared to the long decline seen since 1978. The rural female WPR in 2022-23 is 30, which is comparable to this ratio in 1999-00 (29.9) and slightly lower than the figure in 2004-05 (32.7). There have been numerous explanations for this secular decline, but the reversal in trend after 2017 has not been adequately analysed. A good place to start would be a recent analysis by chief economic advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran and Indian Economic Service officer Deeksha Supyaal Bisht published in this paper (bit.ly/3HkG1Y3). The different behaviour between rural and urban women would also need careful explanation.
Going by Niti Aayogs latest assessment, India has made substantial gains in its fight against deprivation. Nearly 250 million people are found to have escaped multiple-count poverty in the nine years starting 2013-14, just before todays administration took charge. On Monday, the government think-tank put out a paper on its multidimensional poverty index (MPI) showing a projected drop from 29.2% of our population that year to 11.3% in 2022-23, with data taken from National Family Health Surveys for its calculations. By Niti Aayog estimates, this ratio was 55.3% in 2005-06, but is now expected to go below 10% in 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the data very encouraging" on X and said it reflected the governments commitment to inclusive growth. Indeed, the Centres welfare measures have played a significant role in the drop. The index tracks a dozen indicators of deprivation clubbed under health, education and living standards, all of which are directly addressable. The governments aim is to bring this metric of poverty down to 1%, although no target date has been set. That it finally looks achievable, however, is remarkable in itself.

Expanded welfare budgets afforded by economic expansion have combined with digital enablersnotably the JAM trio of Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar identities and mobile phonesto allow alleviation at a vast scale with high efficiency. While food handouts and other measures require physical outreach, direct cash transfers have eased the coverage of various benefit schemes. Notably, leakages have fallen. As for recent times, while signs of a K-shaped recovery have been a worry, its a relief to note that acute deprivations have not worsened. The Niti Aayogs index has a formula that echoes what the United Nations Development Programme uses for multidimensional poverty, with parameters that differ slightly. Since the central think-tanks 12 counts include several that targeted programmes can move the needle onlike nutrition, child mortality, sanitation, housing and access to cooking fuel and bank accountsan end to such poverty looks within reach because its mostly a matter of reaching out to those who are left behind.

In the past, Indias poverty measurement relied on consumption patterns, but that method was abruptly dropped some years ago after leaked national survey data pointed to a worsening. That weakly explained move exposed official data to charges of serving optical ends. To be sure, measuring poverty is a complex task and various statistical lenses are valid for what they aim to reveal. A multi-count index clearly captures a broader snapshot of how our have-nots live than, say, the World Banks global poverty-line mark, by which anyone living on less than $2.15 daily counts as poor. As this is barely 180, its bar seems too low to reveal Indian indigence. Yet, a sharp cut-off of a single count can offer clarity on the most basic aspect of subsistence. According to World Bank data, Indias poverty ratio fell from about 19% in 2015 to 11.9% in 2021. Since this tells us something vital about the means people have under their own agency, as distinct from state provisions, it makes sense for India to use both kinds of poverty trackers in conjunction. As for what we subsist on, consumption is even more elementary than income, so a revival of the old metric could give us a fuller view of a problem we should aim to end within a decadeeven if the last haul is sure to prove the hardest.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Wednesday that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will win all the Lok Sabha constituencies in the state amid seat-sharing talks with Congress. "It will be 13-0 (in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections). The AAP will win all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab," Bhagwant Mann said.

Meanwhile, in what is positive news for the INDIA bloc, the Aam Admi Party and the Congress have tied up to contest the Chandigarh Mayoral polls. This alliance signals a positive start for the two parties that are also negotiating on seat sharing in Delhi and Punjab.

Under the arrangement between the AAP and the Congress, the ruling party will contest the mayor's seat while the grand-old party will contest the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal informed.

Also Read | 'Ek thi Congress': AAP's Bhagwant Mann narrates 'shortest story' in Delhi, Punjab

AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar Tita will contest the polls for the mayor's post while Congress nominees Gurpreet Singh Gabi and Nirmala Devi will fight for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor respectively.

But with Bhagwant Mann exuding confidence of winning all Lok Sabha seats, the seat-sharing talks with Congress are likely to hit brakes yet again.

Also Read | Congress should begin seat-sharing talks in Maharashtra with 0 seats, says Sanjay Raut

In the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the BJP has 14 councillors. It also has an ex-officio member MP who has voting rights. The AAP has 13 councillors and the Congress seven. The Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor in the House. The polls for the posts of mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor will be held on Thursday.

Several Opposition parties have come together under 'INDIA' to unseat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the Centre. While the seat-sharing has not been finalised between and Congress, which recently lost power in two state Assemblies, talks are underway across levels ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

(With agency inputs)

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ON JANUARY 13TH William Lai Ching-te was elected as Taiwans president. He thus secured a third term for his pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The vote will shape relations between self-governing Taiwan and China, which wants the island to be governed from Beijing. It will also affect the commercial relations between the twoand, because Taiwanese manufacturers sit at the heart of critical global supply chains, between them and the rest of the world.

For Taiwans big businesses, the cross-strait tensions are unwelcome. Taiwanese entrepreneurs have been building factories on the mainland since the 1980s. These used to make textiles and other cheap goods. Today many make sophisticated electronics, including chips. Chinese data suggest that in 2022 Taiwanese firms had assets worth $43bn in the Peoples Republic; by comparison the figure for companies from America, an economy 35 times the size of Taiwans, was $86bn. The real sum is almost certainly higher, as Taiwanese companies often channel investments via Hong Kong and other jurisdictions to avoid the scrutiny of their China-wary government.

The Chinese Communist Party is likely to express its displeasure at the DPP victory by putting a squeeze on Taiwanese business. It has form. The corporate supporters of the first DPP president, Chen Shui-bian, who served from 2000 to 2008, faced regulatory scrutiny and investment restrictions from China, according to Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council, an agency dealing with cross-straits relations. In 2005 Shi Wen-Long, a petrochemical magnate and one of Mr Chens biggest backers, was forced into a humiliating public endorsement of Chinas anti-secession law, which formalised military threats against the island.

Since the DPP returned to power in 2016 under Tsai Ing-wen, Chinese commercial pressure has increased. Far Eastern Group, a Taiwanese conglomerate, was hit by a fine in 2021, which Chinese publications tied to the political views of its chairman, Douglas Hsu. Shortly afterwards Mr Hsu issued a statement rejecting Taiwanese independence. Even businessmen friendlier to China have not been spared. In October Chinese state media reported a tax investigation into Foxconn, a giant Taiwanese contract manufacturer with vast operations in China. Taiwans National Security Council claims that the tax probe was a targeted effort by China to prevent Foxconns founder, Terry Gou, from dividing the pro-unification camp by running for president. In January China slapped tariffs on a range of Taiwanese chemical exports, a move widely viewed as another warning shot ahead of the election.

In the past such bullying led firms either to back the independence-wary Kuomintang (KMT), which favours closer economic links with the mainland, or to stay out of politics altogether (the approach of TSMC, the worlds biggest chipmaker and Taiwans most valuable firm). This time corporate grandees, even those with exposure to the mainland, appear less cowed. Some have gone so far as to affiliate themselves with the DPP. Early last year Tung Tzu-hsien, who chairs Pegatron, a big contract manufacturer, became vice-chairman of the New Frontier Foundation, a DPP-associated think-tank. In the run-up to the election Frank Huang, chairman of Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation, endorsed Mr Lai openly.

Taiwanese businesses increased resistance to Chinas strongarm tactics has several causes. American tariffs on Chinese-made goods have made export manufacturing on the mainland less attractive, notes Chun-Yi Lee of Nottingham University. Harsh policies such zero-covid" pandemic lockdowns and arbitrary crackdowns on sectors such as consumer technology have further dented Chinas appeal. The recent weakness of Chinas economy is now compounding the sense that Taiwans economic future may not be so closely bound up with the mainland.

A shift is already visible in Taiwans trade and investment trends. The share of the islands exports going to the mainland has dropped to 23% over the 12 months to November, down from an all-time high of 30% in 2021 and the lowest in almost two decades (see chart). In 2010, over 80% of Taiwans annual outbound investment flows went to mainland China. In 2023 just 11% did. Companies like Pegatron and Foxconn are investing in places like India and Vietnam, which offer both cheaper labour and a chance to avoid the American tariffs. According to one recent poll, more Taiwanese business owners care about Taiwans admission to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal between 12 countries including Australia and Japan, than the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement, which a KMT government signed with China in 2010.

View Full Image (The Economist)

Chinas ability to inflict pain on Taiwanese business is diminishing for another reason. More than 60% of the islands exports to the mainland and Hong Kong are electrical machinery and equipment, including computer chips. Cutting off such products could damage Chinese buyers more than it does Taiwanese sellers.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza StripIn a dark tunnel lined with concrete, 60 feet below ground, the Israeli general held one hand above the other to illustrate his soldiers mission: to destroy Hamas in this sprawling city, and in the intricate warrens beneath it.

Its laborious. Underground, the defender has the edge. Were working to cut it down," said Brig. Gen. Dan Goldfus, who commands the 98th Paratroopers Division of the Israeli military. Hes tasked with taking Khan Younis, the biggest city in the southern Gaza Strip and the armys most complex challenge so far.

The tunnel was barely broader than his shoulders or taller than his helmet. You want to avoid going chest-to-chest here," he said. His troops, still exploring the labyrinth, are aiming to outflank the Hamas militants who built it, maneuvering above and below ground to flush them out.

Its a messy business," Goldfus, a grizzled veteran of land, sea and airborne warfare, said of the battle underground.

The Israeli military largely controls the north of Gaza after heavy bombardment reduced much of its urban areas to rubble, along with many tunnels. Hamass battalions there were smashed, although pockets of resistance continue. Many thousands of civilians were killed too. Most of the population fled south.

But Israels progress in the south is facing a logjam. Its forces are closing in on a swollen population of displaced Palestinians who are running out of places to flee. An international outcry is mounting over the heavy toll of civilian deaths and injuries, raising pressure on Israel to change its tactics.

Nearly two million displaced civilians are being pushed into ever-fewer squares on Gazas chessboard. Hamas is able to move with them.

The process could culminate in a cease-fire that spares civilians but also allows Hamas to survive and recover, a strategic defeat for Israel. It also risks ending in an even greater bloodbath than in the north.

Now that the people are clustered in the south, Israel cant do what it did in the north without hundreds of thousands of deaths, something the U.S. is not going to support," said Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute, a think tank in Washington.

At the same time, a political impasse between Israels government, the U.S. and key Arab countries over who should run Gaza after Hamas is also complicating the war. The lack of any government in Gaza is making it hard to deliver humanitarian aid, restore order and basic services, or facilitate the populations return to the north. Israels military worries Hamas will try to exploit the vacuum and return to areas that the army vacates.

This month, Israel promised the U.S., its vital ally, that it would fight Hamas in a more targeted way in southern Gaza, reducing the intensity of airstrikes, which the U.S. had been pushing for. But the military is also under pressure in Israel not to let up on Hamas. Senior officers warn the fighting could take many more months.

Fleeing south

Many Palestinian civilians have no idea where they will end up.

Nasser Qassim left his home in Gaza City in the north, where he owned a perfume shop, on Oct. 8, after the Israeli militarys Facebook page warned of imminent airstrikes. The widower only had time to pack documents, food and money and drive away with his three children. The neighborhood was flattened hours later, he said.

Qassim later moved with his elderly parents, his brothers and their families to a bare house they owned in Khan Younis. Short of clothes, the family suffered from the winter cold. Qassim searched the citys empty shops, eventually finding oversize clothing for his kids, but none for himself, he said.

Khan Younis was packed with refugees from the north. Soon, many were moving on, fearing the city was Israels next target. In mid-December, Qassim and his family moved farther south too. We could hear clashes all the time," he said. We left before the clashes got too intense."

He doesnt know if his house in Khan Younis is still standing. We know the area witnessed severe fighting," he said.

Khan Younis, Gazas second-biggest city, is where many senior Hamas leaders come from, including top leader Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. That day, the U.S.-designated terrorist group massacred some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 240 hostages.

Israeli officials believe Sinwar is hiding somewhere in the tunnels under Khan Younis, along with some of the remaining hostages.

The fight for the city began in December, when Israeli forces seized control of major access roads. Since then, the 98th Division has steadily pushed into its sandy eastern suburbs and compact city center. With seven full combat brigades, Goldfus now commands the biggest division in Israels history.

Like many Israeli soldiers, Goldfus expressed shame over Hamass success in slaughtering Israelis and others on Oct. 7. Israels vaunted military and intelligence agencies failed to prevent the attack on rural kibbutz communities, army bases and a music festival. The militarys reaction that day was slow and chaotic. The general took part in the effort to rally and drive back Hamas.

On the 7th of October I failed to defend my people," said Goldfus as he crouched in a low tunnel beneath Khan Younis.

In a tunnel nearby, in cramped cells off a whitewashed corridor, the Israeli army says it found hair, clothing and personal effects of some of the hostages who were released in November.

The maze here is much more vast and broader than in Gaza City," Goldfus said of Khan Youniss underworld.

He said his operation was first and foremost a rescue mission for the remaining hostages. But so far, Israel has only been able to free one living hostage in Gaza through a military operation.

Above ground, the winter sun laid bare the impact of Israels firepower. Residences near the tunnels secret shaft had been smashed by shelling or pitted by machine guns. Some streets lay flattened by airstrikes. The thump of outgoing artillery and bursts of fire from a helicopter gunship carried far under the crisp blue sky.

The intensity is there, but its focused, controlled. Its not the same level as in the north," said Goldfus.

Army bulldozers had plowed the areas sandy tracks into highways for Israeli armor. Tanks and armored personnel carriers rumbled to and from the border with Israel, churning up dust clouds until they parked behind protective berms of sand.

Inside one armored vehicle, the crosshairs on the gunners monitor scanned broken buildings along the route for any sign of Hamas. There was none.

Of Hamass four battalions in Khan Younis, Goldfus said his forces have destroyed or reduced the two in the citys east. A battalion in the south is active, he said.

The fourth is in the west, embedded amid a population bulging with refugees. We will have to make decisions," the general said.

Israeli units share a digital map, continually updated, of where the civilians are. Color-coded blocks show which districts are crowded with refugees and which have emptied out.

When I maneuver, thats taken into account," Goldfus said. When I plan an operation, first I consider the military objective, then I consider the population and what means we can put into that effort."

Its a great pain when you know that youve accidentally killed civilians. You carry that with you," he said. He blamed Hamas for using the population as a shield, a charge Hamas has denied.

The Israeli militarys evacuation notices in Khan Younis also notify Hamas, he said. Im telling them Im coming into an area. I know they will prepare."

Destruction from the air

Israeli ground forces stormed the north of Gaza after an intensive bombardment of every Hamas target the military could find.

A sergeant with the Israeli armys 5th Brigade witnessed the destruction wrought from the air. Late last year his unit assaulted the dense Kasbah district of Beit Hanoun, a city in northeast Gaza.

In the morning, before we went in, there was a massive amount of airstrikes," he said. I saw complete devastation. It looked like a great earthquake had rocked the place."

He shared photos of his unit patrolling the Kasbah. The bombs had shattered most of the tightly packed houses. Some streets were reduced to low piles of stone and twisted steel. Tank tracks dug deep grooves in the muddy lanes. Childrens soft toys hung out of a window grating. No civilians remained. The whole population had fled Beit Hanoun.

Warnings of imminent strikes have been less comprehensive than in Israels previous, smaller wars in Gaza, say many residents of the enclave. The bombardment has led to lengthy phone and internet blackouts, making it harder to reach people. Leaflets dropped from the air have warned areas of coming ground assaults, but the news can take time to spread.

Over 24,000 Palestinians have died in Israels invasion of Gaza, most of them women and children, according to Palestinian health authorities. The figure doesnt distinguish between militants and noncombatants. Israeli officials have said the overall estimate is roughly correct but that thousands of the dead were Hamas militants.

The Israeli military concedes that civilians are dying, particularly from airstrikes. It says it takes all feasible precautions to avoid civilian casualties and blames Hamas for embedding itself in the population.

Nearly no civilians are left in eastern Khan Younis. Most residents have fled to an area west of the city, which Israeli officers call a safer area," but not a safe area.

The largest number of refugees have headed for Rafah on the Gaza Strips southern border. By now, many people have fled more than once.

Qassims family is now in Rafah, after fleeing the full length of the Gaza Strip. They were lucky: a friend let them use his house free of charge, a rarity in overcrowded Rafah, where rents have soared. Apartments that cost $200 a month before the war now cost $2,000, locals say.

Rafahs prewar population of around 300,000 has ballooned to about 1.3 million. Most of the refugees live in tents. In parts of the city theres no space left to pitch one.

Many people in Rafah fear it will become the scene of the final Israeli assault and Hamass last stand, with a mass of humanity caught between them.

Qassim said he is tired of running. He doesnt want to end up in a tent in Egypts Sinai Peninsula, beyond the border at Rafah. Egypt insists it wont let Israel push people across.

Ive done enough evacuations," said Qassim. Im not going anywhere after this, even if I will be killed."
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has decided to skip the the pran pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22. In a letter to General Secretary of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Champat Rai, Sharad Pawar said he will take time out after the pran pratishtha ceremony and visit Ayodhya for darshan".

After the pran pratistha ceremony is completed on January 22, I will freely take out time and come for darshan and by then the construction work of Ram temple will also be completed," Sharad Pawar said in the letter.

Congress, too, has decided to skip the Ram Mandir pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of making it a political project".

The Congress statement said, Lord Ram is worshipped by millions in our country. Religion is a personal matter. But the RSS/BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain."

While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event," it said.

Mesanwhile, Rahul Gandhi defended his party's decision to decline the Ram Mandir invite, alleging the Ram Mandir consecration event has been made into a "Narendra Modi and RSS-BJP function" with an "election flavour".

The issue frankly is that the RSS and the BJP have made the 22 January function a completely political, Narendra Modi function. It is difficult for us to go to a political function which is designed around the PM and the RSS. We made it clear whoever would like to visit the Ram temple among our partners, among our parties is more than welcome to do so," Rahul Gandhi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple on January 22. As per temple officials, the ceremony will be held over a span of seven days starting from January 16.

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TAINAN, TaiwanMore than a decade ago, some residents of this southern Taiwanese city got a lesson in the character of the man who is now set to be Taiwans next president.

Lai Ching-te, then Tainans mayor, wanted to move a section of railway underground. Residents whose homes would have to be demolished blocked bulldozers with their bodies and accused him of selling them out to property developers. Political opponents called him a dictator.

Lai was undeterred, telling city officials the project was crucial for the citys future.

If he believes something is right, hes all in," said Hsiao Po-jen, one of Lais cabinet officials at the time. Even that means he has to bear heavy responsibility and endure humiliation."

Lais resolveor stubbornness, as his critics call ithas taken on outsize significance since the 64-year-old emerged victorious from Taiwans unpredictable three-way presidential election on Saturday with 40% of the vote. Though he will lead an island of only around 24 million people, many of the decisions he makes in Taipei will have the potential to make waves in other capitals, Beijing and Washington in particular.

The ascent of Lai, currently serving as Taiwans vice president, to the islands top job makes both Chinese and American officials nervous. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of China, sees him as a staunch advocate of independencea red line for Communist Party leaders. The White House worries Lai is more likely than Taiwans departing president, Tsai Ing-wen, to provoke Beijing with envelope-pushing rhetoric and draw the U.S. into a dangerous confrontation, according to U.S. officials.

In one comment that raised eyebrows in Washington, Lai said while campaigning that he looked forward to the day when the president of Taiwan can walk into the White House," which conjured the possibility he might push for official diplomatic recognition from the U.S.

Lais office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lais victory means the DPP will control the presidency for an unprecedented third term in a row. He campaigned on continuity, vowing to maintain the status quo established under Tsai when it comes to Taiwans relations with its authoritarian neighbor.

Though few believe Lai would push Taiwan toward declaring formal independence, he has struggled to shake questions about his ability to navigate the relationship with the same delicate balance as Tsai, due in large part to his past.

On a 2014 visit to China that later became part of the lore around Lai, professors at Shanghais prestigious Fudan University asked about his partys position on Taiwanese independence. He was straightforward. Although Taiwan independence is the DPPs stance, procedurally, it fully respects the will of the Taiwanese people," he said.

Lin I-chin, a former close aide to Lai and now DPP lawmaker, was on that trip and said she still vividly recalls marveling to Lai in Taiwanese as they walked out of the meeting that he had talked openly about independence on Chinese soil.

Lai patted his chest. I guess that makes us brave, right?"

Unlike Tsai, who came from a relatively affluent family and worked mostly as a bureaucrat before winning the presidency in 2016, Lai was born into a poor family in northern Taiwan, one of six children. His father, a coal miner, died in a work accident when he was a few months old, leaving him to be raised by his mother.

Lai pursued medicine, first as an undergraduate in Taipei, then at the National Cheng Kung University medical school in Tainan, on Taiwans southwestern coast. While there, he developed an interest in politics. In the 1980s, the Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party, still had Taiwan under martial law, but its grip was loosening and a new sense of optimism about the islands future had begun to spread.

Lais political awakening was a response to the beckoning of that era," said Ray Hong Chi-chang, a founding member of the then-fledgling DPP and a longtime mentor of Lai.

With Taiwans pro-democracy movement gaining momentum, Lai showed a talent for political organizing, according to classmates. Lais mother and wife wanted him to continue as a doctor, but Hanh Liang-cheng, a professor at the medical school at the time, joined others in urging him to ditch medicine for a political career.

The greatest doctor is one who can heal a nation," Hanh recalled telling his former student.

In 1996, two years after deciding to make the leap into politics with the DPP, Lai was elected as a member of the now-defunct National Assembly. After a four-term stint as a legislator, he ran for mayor of Tainan in 2010 and won with 60% of the vote.

In the way he governs, you see a lot of empathy with people facing hardship," said Chen Tsung-yen, a former Tainan official who had later served as a member of Lais cabinet, referring to the impact of the president-elects tough upbringing on his political career.

Naturally soft-spoken, Lai nonetheless developed a reputation for taking firm positions. During his tenure as mayor, Lai refused to attend city council meetings, despite being required to under Taiwans constitution, after corruption allegations were leveled against an elected speaker. Lai held out for 232 days before relentingan episode his political opponents use to argue that he is headstrong and irresponsible.

Former aides and campaign staffers have described Lai as a detail-oriented perfectionist who will spend hours reviewing campaign materials word by word. Lu Wei-yin, who served as a close aide to Lai for three years, said he benefited tremendously from spending time with the politician but that working with him is very stressful because the standards he demands are exceptionally high."

Similar to former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Lai never sits alone in a car with a woman to avoid any appearance of impropriety, according to Lu. He insists on a formal business suit for himself and his staff, even in the tropical Taiwanese heat.

According to Lin, the former aide, Lai for decades only trusted one stylist in Tainan to cut his hair, which he has kept parted the same waydown the middlefor most of his career.

Though the railway relocation plan dragged on for yearsand in fact, has yet to be completedLai is credited with pushing through other big projects that helped Tainan flourish, including a flood-management system and a new art museum that has attracted hordes of social-media influencers. He also worked with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the worlds largest contract chip maker, to build a science park in the city.

On the back of those accomplishments, Lai cruised to a landslide victory in his mayoral re-election bid, winning 72% of the vote. Three years later, in 2017, Tsai brought Lai to Taipei and appointed him premier.

During a speech in the legislature that same year, Lai surprised many by referring to himself as a pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence"a line that would stick in the public consciousness.

Though he has a reputation for doggedness, people close to Lai said he can be persuaded to change his mind by those he respects.

During one legislative election, Lai fiercely resisted plans to put out flyers urging voters to resuscitate" his campaign, a common phrase in Taiwanese politics that Lai nevertheless dislikedperhaps because he is a doctor," said Hsiao, the former Tainan city official, who was a member of Lais campaign team. But over time, Hsiao said, he and other close confidants got him to release the flyers.

Lais supporters and critics alike say the circle of advisers and allies capable of influencing the views of Taiwans president-elect is small. That could undermine Lai as he confronts tensions around the 100-mile Taiwan Strait separating Taiwan from mainland China, according to Alexander Huang, head of international affairs for the Kuomintang.

How many people in cross-straits, defense and foreign affairs are in William Lais inner circle?" Huang said, using Lais English name.
US Presidential Polls: Indian-American businessman and a former president post hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy pulled out of the race after he marked a distant fourth rank in Iowa. Ramaswamy, however, also endorsed rival and fellow Republican Donald Trump for the US Presidential Polls.

Hours after Vivek Ramaswamy announced pulling out of the presidential bid, he appeared on stage with Donald Trump. The former US president thanked the India-American leader for endorsing him.

A day after the Iowa caucuses result, former President Donald Trump, who registered a big win, held a rally in Atkinson, New Hampshire. Donald Trump has only solidified his position as Republican presidential candidate in his bid to return to the White House with the big win.

Ramaswamy had endorsed Donald Trump and urged Republican voters to put an "America First patriot" in the White House. Ramaswamy again endorsed Trump at the Atkinson rally stating that there is not a "better choice" than him and urged people to do the "right thing".

Impeached former president Donald Trump also thanked Ramaswamy for his endorsement and said that the Indian American leader will be working with him for a 'long time'.

"It's an honor to have his endorsement. He's gonna be working with us and he'll be working with us for a long time. Thank you," Trump said.

Notably, Trump and Ramaswamy have been praising each other throughout the campaign.

Trump has lauded Ramaswamy's campaign and even signalled that he would be open to having him as his running mate, stating that "He would be very good...".

He did a great job. I was actually surprised when he called because he was doing well. And it's an honour to have his endorsement," Trump added, as Ramaswamy left the stage. The crowd was seen shouting VP, VP."
CARSON CITY  Nevadans, many of whom are struggling to pay their electricity bills, are now being asked to reimburse NV Energy for $5.75 million in employee bonuses, thanks to an amended order from Gov. Joe Lombardos appointee to the Public Utilities Commission, Randy Brown.

Brown, the only new member of the PUC appointed by Lombardo, amended a draft order from Commissioner Tammy Cordova that would have split the cost of the bonuses between ratepayers and the utility. Instead, ratepayers are now on the hook for the entire amount.

In a rare move, the PUCs own staff is asking the commission to reconsider its decision to have NV Energy customers pay for the bonuses. Ernest Figueroa, consumer advocate for the Attorney Generals Bureau of Consumer Protection, is also asking the PUC to reconsider.

NV Energys successful effort to recover the cost of the bonuses from ratepayers comes on the heels of the PUCs approval of the companys general rate hike of $92.7 million.

The issue in this case is whether ratepayers or shareholders should bear the financial burden for the 95% STIP (short-term incentive pay) amounts that have already been paid out to Nevada Power employees for 2022, says the petition filed by PUC staff.

Nevada Power is NV Energys utility arm serving Southern Nevada. NV Energys net income for the third quarter of 2023, the last reported, was $275 million.

By NV Energys own admission, its employees achieved 56.9% of their goals in 2022, but the utility nevertheless paid workers 95% of the bonus pay, amounting to $5.7 million.

Allowing a full STIP payout at 95% even though only 56.94% was achieved is akin to a college student getting an A for attendance despite the fact that the same students performance on his classwork and testing merited an F, Senior Deputy Attorney General Whitney Digesti wrote in the BCPs petition.

The BPC argues data presented to the commission for 2022 reflects increased complaints from NV Energy customers and abandoned calls skyrocketing.

In December, Cordova, based on a recommendation from the BCP, issued an order that customers would pay 56.9%, or $3.25 million toward the bonus pay.

It appears that NPC (Nevada Power Company) has created an employee expectation that the STIP will be funded at or near 100%, regardless of the corporate scorecard achievement, Cordova wrote. The Commission agrees with Staff that this negates the STIPs proposed purpose of being variable at-risk compensation that has to be re-earned every year. The Commission finds that NPCs request to recover 95% of STIP in rates creates a situation where ratepayers are being asked to pay for STIP costs that do not have corresponding, measurable ratepayer benefits.

Cordova went on to say the current scheme renders STIP a second form of base pay and removes the incentive for employees to go above and beyond to earn a higher STIP payment.

Days later, Lombardos new appointee Brown drafted an order approving recovery of 95% of the STIP amount, despite NV Energys own representation that employees merited less, based on a corporate scorecard. The Commission approved Browns amendment.

Commissioner Browns only rationale for his reversal on the STIP issue was his recognition of the current labor environment and staffing issues NPC faces in hiring and retaining front line and customer facing staff, the BCP wrote in its petition for reconsideration. In other words, Commissioner Brown  changed Commissioner Cordovas order that unearned bonus pay be ordered for all NPC employees at a manager level or below because of staffing issues and not based on evidence received during the hearing  a violation of law and mistake of fact.

Browns reasoning is plucked from thin air instead of relying on substantial evidence, says the BCPs petition.

A decision that lacks support in the form of substantial evidence is arbitrary or capricious, and thus an abuse of discretion that warrants reversal, the BCP argues.

Staffs petition notes the PUC has broad discretion, bound only by the legislative directive that rates charged for services provided by a public utility must be just and reasonable and that it is unlawful for a public utility to charge an unjust or unreasonable rate.

NV Energy has already paid employees the 96% bonus, the BCP notes, adding the commissions order only causes the utility to charge customers for this unearned bonus pay  further showing that the allowance will in no way, assist with retention.

The BCP says the order is biased in favor of the company at a time NPC ratepayers are already struggling with high utility bills.

July 2023 energy bills for single family homes increased 70% to an average of $407, the BCP wrote, citing news stories, and added that testimony to the Nevada Legislature indicated customers in Southern Nevada paid 54.2% or $844 a year more for electricity in 2022 than in 2021.

On Jan. 10, Nevadans at a session for consumer comment called by NV Energy in preparation for its Integrated Resource Plan to be filed in June, complained that electricity has become unaffordable for some residents.

Mary House of Mountaintop Faith Ministries said shes borne witness to the hardships and inequality of high electricity costs, describing residents who are sleeping with socks, and sleeping with extra blankets, sleeping with house coats because they cant afford to heat their homes.

Its unknown if or when the PUC will take up the petitions for reconsideration. Nevada Administrative Code renders petitions denied if the Commission takes no action within 40 days. A party may appeal a denial to District Court.
Executives atop Harvard Universitys $51 billion endowment made an unusual tour of Silicon Valley last week to try to smooth relationships with top venture-capital investors. Some have been upset at the universitys response to the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

Some of the venture-capital executives who invest money for Harvard had pushed the endowments executives to try to get the university to address their concerns about what they viewed as Harvards weak response to the attacks and to antisemitism under former Harvard President Claudine Gay.

Executives at Harvard Management Company, the nations largest college endowment, met with firms including Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins and Andreessen Horowitz. They also met with Elad Gil, an Israeli-born investor, and Patrick Collison, the chief executive of payments company Stripe; both are influential in Silicon Valley and have been among those who have been more outspoken to Harvards endowment. Harvard is a direct investor in Stripe.

Private-equity executive Paul Finnegan, the endowments chair and a member of the 12-person Harvard Corporation that governs the university, also attended some meetings. It is unusual for Finnegan to join endowment executives on manager visits.

HMC is fortunate to have strong, longstanding relationships with many investment managers who care deeply about higher education," Harvard endowment spokesman Patrick McKiernan said in a statement. It is important to engage with our partners and share with them all of the ways that Harvard is actively working to ensure student safety and protect freedom of speech."

Gay declined to comment through a Harvard spokesman. In her resignation letter earlier this month, she wrote in part that her commitment to confronting hate" was a bedrock value" integral to who she is.

The pressure by some of Harvards money managers, which hasnt previously been reported, adds another dynamic to the tumult that has enveloped elite universities since the attacks on Israel. The uproar was led by big donors such as Apollos Marc Rowan and Pershing Squares Bill Ackman, rather than by investors hired by the schools to manage their money.

Harvards effort also shows the importance of venture capital to the endowment. Harvard has long lagged behind peer endowments in its exposure to venture, which has hurt its returns. The endowment has ratcheted up its venture exposure under Chief Executive N.P. Narv" Narvekar, who arrived in late 2016, but it wants to further increase that exposure. Demand for spots in the most prominent funds regularly outstrips availability.

Many leading venture capitalists have criticized what they see as a pro-Palestinian bias in academia. The industry also counts several prominent Israeli-born investors and has poured billions of dollars into Israeli startups.

There was some internal discussion at the endowment about whether the university could lose its spot in future venture funds. Several people familiar with Harvards tour said it wasnt driven by worries about Harvard losing allocations but by a desire to partner with its managers and answer questions about what was happening at the university.

Harvard executives in meetings last week said that the endowment isnt political and doesnt play a role in choosing Harvards president, said people familiar with the matter.

Executives also addressed frustration among some managers that Gays initial statement responding to the Hamas attacks had been too weak. That statement didnt explicitly condemn Hamas or distance Harvard from a statement by student groups laying blame for Hamass violence on Israels treatment of Palestinians over decades. A follow-up statement condemned the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas" and said student groups dont speak for Harvard. Finnegan said that Gay had sought input from the deans of Harvards various schools and that the process had weakened the statement, signed by Gay and the schools leadership.

Gays resignation has eased the concerns of some managers.

Finnegan in some meetings also said the university was aware of the criticism that its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives had gone too far in recent years and that some students and professors felt they had to censor their views. Harvard was considering whether changes were needed to ensure academic freedom and freedom of speech, he said.

Narvekar, investment chief Rick Slocum and John Shue, a managing director who focuses on private investments, represented the endowment in many of the meetings.

Endowment executives also have been engaging with venture and other managers outside of the tour. Slocum has been in touch with Josh Kushner of Thrive Capital in New York, who has been among the more outspoken venture managers to Harvards endowment about Israel and antisemitism. Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trumps son-in-law.

Narvekar was hired from Columbia University to help turn around Harvards endowment. He was Harvards fourth endowment chief executive in a decade, not counting interim heads.

He and Slocum quickly made sweeping changes. They shuttered most of the endowments internal trading activities, wrote down by $1 billion its investments in timber and other natural resources, and outsourced money management to external managers. One of Narvekars priorities has been to make Harvard attractive to selective funds.

Harvards endowment has gained an average 8.2% a year over the past 10 fiscal years ended June 30, and 9.1% the past five years. Both are the second-worst records in the Ivy League for those periods. Narvekar has written that the endowment missed out on big gains in venture capital.

Write to Juliet Chung at Juliet.Chung@wsj.com and Berber Jin at berber.jin@wsj.com
In a grand event held in San Jose, California, Samsung unveiled its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S24 series, comprising the Samsung Galaxy S24, Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, and the powerful Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Alongside these devices, Samsung introduced the innovative Galaxy AI, promising to enhance communication capabilities on the new phones.

Here is everything Samsung announced during its Galaxy Unpacked event.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The star of the show, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, features a stunning 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 1-120Hz refresh rate. Noteworthy is the all-new Vision Booster, boosting outdoor visibility with a remarkable 2,600-nit peak brightness. The device stands out with a flatter display, slimmer bezels, and the distinction of being the first Galaxy phone with a titanium frame, reducing its weight significantly.

The camera system on the S24 Ultra is truly impressive, sporting a 200MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP 3x telephoto camera. A notable addition is the new 50MP telephoto camera with 5x zoom, offering optical zoom levels from 2x to 10x, thanks to the Adaptive Pixel Sensor technology. Storage options include 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB, each paired with 12GB of RAM. The phone comes in Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow, starting at $1299 in the US.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

The Galaxy S24 Plus features a QHD+ display, measuring 6.7 inches, similar to the one on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The camera system mirrors that of the Galaxy S24, with a 50MP wide camera, 12MP ultrawide camera, and 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The device is available with 256GB or 512GB of storage, 12GB of memory, and a larger 4,900mAh battery. It comes in the same colors as the regular S24, with a starting price of $999.

Samsung Galaxy S24

The Galaxy S24, a more compact and budget-friendly option, boasts a 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 1-120Hz refresh rate. It shares the Vision Booster feature with its Ultra counterpart. The device is equipped with a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, a 10MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP front camera. Available in 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage variants, all with 8GB of memory, the Galaxy S24 introduces a refreshed design with a flat, matte frame. The device is offered in Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, and Amber Yellow, starting at $799.

Galaxy AI

The Galaxy S24 series introduces Galaxy AI, a highly anticipated feature offering significant intelligence to enhance communication capabilities. This includes five key features:

Live Translate: Real-time voice and text translation in two directions, breaking down language barriers without the need for third-party apps.

Interpreter: Translates live conversations instantly on a split-screen view, facilitating communication without requiring cellular data or Wi-Fi.

Chat Assist: An AI tool integrated into messaging apps to enhance language, helping users craft courteous messages and captions with ease.

Note Assist: Integrated within Samsung Notes, offering AI-generated summaries, pre-made templates, and convenient cover creation for efficient note-taking.

Transcript Assist: Utilizes Speech-to-Text and AI technology to transcribe, summarize, and translate voice recordings, even in multi-speaker scenarios.

Circle to Search

The Galaxy S24 series introduces Circle to Search, a new feature powered by Google. Users can discover new things on their devices through simple gestures, such as pressing and holding the home button and circling, highlighting, scribbling, or tapping on the screen for helpful search results.

Seven Years of Software Updates

Samsung takes a step towards sustainability by committing to providing seven years of security updates and seven generations of OS upgrades for the Galaxy S24 smartphone lineup, reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Galaxy Ring

To conclude the event, Samsung provided a glimpse of the upcoming "Galaxy Ring," a health tracking wearable infused with AI for an improved user experience. Although specific details remain limited, this unveiling puts an end to significant speculations and officially confirms that Samsung is actively developing this innovative device.

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Recent events have heightened tensions between Iran and Pakistan, with a missile strike in Balochistan sparking a diplomatic standoff. The alleged strike, condemned by the Pakistani government, has further strained relations between the two nations, potentially bringing them to the brink of conflict. As the world watches, concerns grow over the possibility of a larger regional confrontation.

Details of the Alleged Strike:

The Iranian missile strike targeted the headquarters of Jaish al-Adl, a group accused by Tehran of a previous attack that claimed the lives of a dozen Iranian police officers. While several Iranian news outlets reported the operation, no official statement has been issued by Iran. Pakistan, in response, expressed strong condemnation, citing civilian casualties and the violation of its sovereignty.

Pakistani Protest and Diplomatic Actions:

Islamabad announced its intention to lodge a protest with Tehran, labeling the missile strike as unilateral action with severe consequences. The Foreign Ministry in Islamabad criticized the violation of Pakistani airspace and the resulting civilian casualties, deeming it unacceptable. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian charge daffaires to receive a protest note, emphasizing the blatant violation of sovereignty.

Complexities of Regional Dynamics:

The Balochistan region, situated near the Iranian border, witnessed reported explosions in the city of Panjgur. Iranian media claimed that precision strikes by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted key strongholds of Jaish al-Adl. These developments add complexity to an already delicate regional balance.

IRGCs Recent Actions and Vows:

The IRGCs recent ballistic missile and drone strikes in Iraq and Syria further contribute to the escalating tensions. Their vow to continue strikes until avenging past incidents, including the January 3 bombings in Kerman and the attack in Rask, underscores a commitment to retaliation.

Global Concerns and Potential Ramifications:

As these events unfold, the international community watches with growing concern. The potential for a broader conflict in the region raises alarms about the global implications of an Iran-Pakistan showdown. The need for diplomatic resolutions and coordinated efforts to combat terrorism becomes paramount.

The situation between Iran and Pakistan has reached a critical juncture, with diplomatic protests, military actions, and escalating rhetoric. The international community awaits further developments, hoping for diplomatic solutions to prevail over potential military confrontations. The world watches closely, recognizing the significance of stability in this strategically important region.

The history of relations between Iran and Pakistan is marked by a nuanced interplay of geopolitical, religious, and strategic factors. While both nations share historical, cultural, and economic ties, their relationship has been punctuated by moments of cooperation and, at times, conflict. This narrative delves into the historical backdrop of the Iran-Pakistan relationship, exploring key events that have shaped their interactions.

Partition and Early Relations:

The establishment of Pakistan in 1947 and Irans recognition of the new state set the initial tone for diplomatic ties. The 1950s witnessed a strengthening of relations, with both countries joining the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). However, tensions emerged in the 1960s due to Pakistans close association with the United States and Irans evolving ties with the Soviet Union.

1979 Iranian Revolution:

The Iranian Revolution in 1979, leading to the establishment of an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini, brought ideological shifts that influenced Irans foreign policy. While this period saw an initial warming of relations with Pakistan, divergent geopolitical alignments strained ties, especially during the Soviet-Afghan War.

Afghanistan Conflict and Sectarian Tensions:

The 1980s Afghan conflict deepened the divergence in Iran-Pakistan relations. Iran opposed the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, fostering closer ties with the Afghan resistance. In contrast, Pakistan played a pivotal role in supporting mujahideen fighters with U.S. assistance. The subsequent Taliban rule in Afghanistan further complicated the relationship, with Iran backing the Northern Alliance against the Taliban.

Sectarian tensions also surfaced, particularly regarding the treatment of Shia Muslims in Pakistan. Incidents of violence against the Shia minority strained relations and fueled suspicions.

Nuclear Concerns and Diplomatic Efforts:

The nuclear ambitions of both nations added another layer of complexity. Irans nuclear program and Pakistans nuclear tests in 1998 heightened regional security concerns. Despite these shared challenges, diplomatic initiatives such as the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) aimed at fostering economic cooperation and stability.

Balochistan and Border Issues:

In recent years, concerns have arisen over alleged Iranian involvement in Balochistan, supporting insurgent groups against the Pakistani government. Border skirmishes, including accusations of cross-border terrorism, have strained ties and led to sporadic clashes.

Economic Collaboration and Regional Dynamics:

Amidst these challenges, both nations have recognized the potential benefits of economic collaboration. Initiatives such as the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and the development of the Gwadar port underscore attempts to strengthen economic ties.

The history of Iran-Pakistan relations is a tapestry of cooperation, rivalry, and diplomatic efforts. The complexity stems from a combination of historical factors, geopolitical shifts, and regional dynamics. As both nations navigate contemporary challenges, diplomatic initiatives and dialogue remain crucial for fostering stability and strengthening ties in the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape.

Shayne Heffernan
While the echoes of Milan Fashion Week still linger, Parisian streets pulsate with anticipation for its louder, brasher cousin. The luxury juggernaut that is LVMH takes center stage, with Pharrell Williams, hip-hop icon and newly minted LV Mens creative director, hinting at a cowboy-themed extravaganza.

Amidst the glitz and glamour, a stark reality lurks. The booming luxury sector, despite its 20 billion-euro crown, carries the taint of commercialism. No doubt, its allure remains tarnished as fashions new superstars like Pharrel and LeBron James as ambassadors, fueling a whirlwind of nonsense fashion-music-sports cross-pollination.

Williams debut last summer, shutting down the historic Pont Neuf bridge, ruffled Parisian feathers not only with a disregard for the history of the city and fashion itself, but it undeniably showcased the brands step down in to a product for the masses. Now, amidst American fairground rides and harmonica-laden invitations, his second act promises to explore the dusty plains of the American West and nothing French.

But LVMH is far from the lone ranger in this abandonment of fashion in the cut-throat race for profits. Givenchys recent split with Matthew Williams is just one ripple in the ever-churning designer carousel. Gucci, Chloe, and Alexander McQueen all waltzed with new creative leads last year, highlighting the industrys relentless pursuit of fresh Middle Class narratives.

This weeks Parisian odyssey sees 42 runway shows and 32 presentations, each vying for a slice of the spotlight. Balmain, a veteran returning to menswear after a hiatus, adds another layer to the already worn tapestry.

From Paris, the fashion traveling circus embarks on a whirlwind tour, entertaining the masses in Miami, Copenhagen, New York, London, and eventually returning to Milan and Paris for the womenswear rodeo in February. The pace is frenetic, the stakes are high, and the spotlight unforgiving, the commercialization palpable as the major brands shake off the luxury tag and become trashy American department stores.

Amidst the celebrity endorsements and Hollywood drama, one wonders: is Paris Fashion Week now a testament to American culture or merely another stage for the Celebrities? Perhaps, dear reader, its a captivating train wreck, a whirlwind of obscenities where fashion is the victim and fame reigns supreme, leaving in their dystopian debris an overwhelming sense of sadness and the memory of an industry that was once art in its own form.

Shayne Heffernan
Hossam Heiba, President of Egypts General Authority of Free Zones & Investment, visits EuP Egypt Factory. (Photo: VNA)

The EuP Egypt factory was built on an area of more than 34,000 sq.m with an investment of 30 million USD. It is designed to have 24 production lines with a total capacity of 300,000 tonnes a year, creating jobs for more than 300 local workers. Its products will serve the Egyptian market and exports to the Middle East, Africa, Europe and America.

Founded in August 2022 in Egypt with 100% investment capital from Vietnam, EuP Egypt Industries Company, a subsidiary of EuP, has an ambition to expand markets and become a multinational company.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Nguyen Huy Dung (second from the right) and Chairman of the Egyptian Investment Management Authority and Processing Zones Hossam Heiba (third from the right) cut the ribbon to inaugurate the factory. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony on January 15, Hoang Quoc Huy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EuP, said the EuP Egypt factory is an important step in the companys expansion strategy, adding that it is a symbol of cooperation and development between Vietnam and Egypt.

Hossam Heiba, President of Egypts General Authority of Free Zones & Investment (GAFI), highlighted the significance of the factory as the first project of a Vietnamese enterprise in Egypt, saying it reflects the Egyptian Government's efforts to attract foreign investors.

He affirmed that Egypt will always encourage and protect foreign investors, including Vietnamese ones. He also expected that more Vietnamese businesses will invest in his country.

Vietnam Airlines Group to add over 300 domestic flights for upcoming Tet

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Airlines Group which comprises Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) has announced an addition of over 66,200 seats, equivalent to more than 310 flights, for the peak Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday from January 25 to February 24, 2024, reported Vietnam News Agency.

These figures bring its total to about 2.64 million seats and 12,374 flights during the period.

The additional flights will mostly be operated on domestic routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Hue, Quang Nam, Tuy Hoa, Da Lat, Cam Ranh, Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, and Phu Quoc.

Passengers are advised to proactively book air tickets early in the peak season. They should also carry out check-in process in advance through telephone, website, mobile application, or at kiosks at airports in order to save time.

Hanoi is worlds leading culinary destination in 2024

Hanoi ranked first in the 2024 Culinary Destination rankings voted by TripAdvisor users.

Hanoi cuisine is always highly appreciated by international media. (Photo: hanoimoi.vn)

Travelers' Choice Best of the Best is a prestigious annual award based on reviews and opinions from TripAdvisors travel community.

In the Best Culinary Destination category, Hanoi was honored in the highest order, followed by Rome (Italy), Crete (Greece) and Cusco (Peru). Phuket and Chiangmai cities of Thailand ranked 10th and 17th, respectively, and Kyoto of Japan ranked 22nd.

Last year, dishes in Hanoi were always highly appreciated by international media and domestic and foreign tourists. Some of the top places to eat in Hanoi suggested by TripAdvisor users include: Bun cha Huong Lien, Giang coffee, Thang Long fish cakes, Trang Tien ice cream, Ly Quoc Su Pho, and Bread 25.

Earlier, many traditional dishes of Hanoi were continuously voted by international media agencies and included in must-try lists such as: Pho, bread (banh mi) and spring rolls.

In 2023, the Michelin Guide arrived in Vietnam for the first time and announced a list of 103 recommended restaurants, covering over 20 cuisine types.

Among the 103 recommended restaurants (48 in Hanoi and 55 in Ho Chi Minh City), 4 are recognized with one Michelin Star for their high-quality cooking (3 in Hanoi and 1 in Ho Chi Minh City), and 29 establishments  the inspectors best value-for-money - receive a Bib Gourmand for offering good food at moderate prices.

After the Michelin Guide came to Hanoi, Hanois dishes became more widely known.

The Hanoi Department of Tourism said that the unit is planning to coordinate with localities to promote traditional cuisine, moving forward to build a culinary map for the capital to increase its appeal to tourists. Cuisine is also one of 13 areas prioritized by the city to promote cultural industry.

Not only named in the list of the world's leading culinary destinations, Hanoi ranked 4th in the top 25 world destinations in 2024. Hoi An ranked 10th, Bali ranked 2nd, Bangkok ranked 15th and Phuket ranked 8th.

Tuna exports to Canada prosper in end of 2023

Continuing the growth momentum from September, Vietnam's tuna exports to Canada grew continuously in the last months of 2023.

According to recent statistics from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), tuna exports in the first 11 months of the year earned more than 772 million USD, down 19% compared to the same period in 2022. In spite of decline in exports to main markets such as the US and China, exports of this product to the Canadian market increased strongly in the last months of the year.

In November 2023, tuna export value to the Canadian market increased by 117%. (Photo: congthuong.vn)

In November 2023 alone, tuna export value to Canada increased by 117%. This number has contributed to raising the total export value to Canada in the first 11 months of 2023 to nearly 31 million USD, a decrease of 37% compared to the same period last year.

Citing statistics from the International Trade Center (ITC), VASEP said that in the first 9 months of 2023, Canadas tuna imports from other countries reached nearly 154 million USD. Vietnam ranked third among the exporters with a market share of 12%, behind Thailand and Italy.

Among tuna products, Vietnam mainly supplies frozen tuna meat and canned tuna to the market, with a proportion of 54% and 40%, respectively. VASEP predicted that in 2023, Vietnams exports of these two product groups to Canada both decreased compared to 2022.

Canada was the 12th largest tuna import market in the world in 2022. The import turnover of this market reached more than 272 million USD, an increase of 40% compared to 2021. With this growth, Canada is considered a potential tuna market for Vietnam, especially after the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) took effect.

However, tuna exports to the Canadian market are forecast not be able to fully recover in the coming months, especially in the context of increasing consumer credit debt of Canadians and people tightening spending./.
As Gardai continue to investigate last nights fire at a former convent in Lanesboro which is going to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, local Independent Councillor Mark Casey has hit out at those responsible for the fire and also at the Government for their lack of consultation with the community.

Gardai and units of Longford Fire Service responded to the incident yesterday evening (Tuesday, January 16) at around 9.30pm.

The fire was quickly brought under control and no one was injured, however, Cllr Casey pointed out, The fire last night put people in jeopardy. There are people who live beside that building, there are businesses beside that building, it is an absolute disgrace what is going on.

"Id be very surprised if it was anyone local who had anything to do with this. It is not a thing you would see normally in Lanesboro. It is not the mindset of the people of Lanesboro.

Just hours prior to the fire, Cllr Casey, along with other local elected representatives, attended a meeting with the developer and Longford County Council executives to be briefed on the plans for the property.

He said it was the first time they heard officially about the plans for the former convent building.

Yesterday we were invited into a meeting with the developer and council officials. It was the first time we heard officially what was going to happen.

We were informed that this is a done deal and that the contract has been signed with the Department of Integration to house 85 Ukrainian refugees in the old convent from the second week in May. It was the first time we heard anything about it which I think is a disgrace. Being able to change the use of a building like that without any sort of planning or consultation with local people is disgraceful in my view.

Cllr Casey highlighted how Lanesboro has been hit hard by the ESB and Bord na Mona closures and the closure of a local nursing home that has refugees staying in it, and said it was a bit worrying to learn that this plan was a fait accompli.

He expressed concern over the lack of infrastructure and consultation. I see no infrastructural improvements in Lanesboro in the last twelve months to deal with something like this. We have to look at the schools, doctors; there is no parking at the facility so if these people have cars, where do they park? There are so many unanswered questions here. You would really wonder about the planning of this and how it was rolled out to the local community as well.

We are a welcoming community, we are a tourist town but the way this has happened is a disgrace from the Government. We are saying that we havent been given the proper infrastructure. We need to be consulted and we need to bring the community along with this.

Cllr Casey continued, It is very concerning. This is a government issue and it stems all the way back to government policy on housing. I was speaking to a man whose son and partner had to emigrate to Australia because they couldnt get accommodation around Lanesboro or the surrounding area.

To see now that all these buildings can be repurposed. Why couldnt they have been repurposed five years ago? Why is the government suddenly finding money now ? A town like Lanesboro that has lost so much and when we needed help we got no help from the government.

Cllr Casey said he did ask Longford County Council and the developer to hold an open day at the former convent and invite the local community.

The deal has been done. It has been done at a national level with no consultation with local councillors but I did ask Longford County Council and the developer to have an open day at the convent and we have earmarked the 27th of this month from 2pm to 5pm. That will give concerned residents an opportunity to see the plans and talk to the Ukrainian Liaison Officer, talk to the manager of the facility who is a live-in manager, talk to the developer and talk to Longford County Council.
As the garda investigation continues into last night's fire at a Lanesboro property that will house Ukrainian refugee families, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has issued a statement.

A department spokesperson outlined, "The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth received an offer of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) for the former Convent building, Main Street, Lanesboro, Co Longford.

"The property was offered to provide accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

"The property is currently undergoing refurbishment as part of the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Project overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

"For any alleged incident at an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centre, the centre is required to provide an incident report and the matter will be investigated by IPAS, as appropriate.

"Where An Garda Siochana are already involved, the Department is precluded from commenting as it may prejudice any consequent investigation or court case."

The former convent in Lanesboro is poised to accommodate 85 Ukrainian refugees from the second week in May.

And according to Lanesboro based Independent Cllr Mark Casey the deal is done.

The deal has been done. It has been done at a national level with no consultation with local councillors but I did ask Longford County Council and the developer to have an open day at the convent and we have earmarked the 27th of this month from 2pm to 5pm.

"That will give concerned residents an opportunity to see the plans and talk to the Ukrainian Liaison Officer, talk to the manager of the facility who is a live-in manager, talk to the developer and talk to Longford County Council.
A woman who has made compensation payments of 19,000 will return before Longford Circuit Court next month to have matters progressed.

In 2020 Michelle Mulryan, with an address at Brookfield Park, Kenagh, Longford pleaded guilty to the theft of 52,456 from McKeon Tyres Ltd between November 2014 and November 2016.

Mother of one Ms Mulryan had redirected the transfer of monies and scheduled online payments due to suppliers to her own bank account.

The defendant joined the company through the States JobBridge scheme and was made permanent in 2015. The activity came to light when an audit of the companys finances in 2016 showed the firm lost almost 35,000 for the first six months of that financial year.

A review of the firms online bank statements later showed Ms Mulryan was transferring sums owed to suppliers to her personal account. She was arrested and charged before pleading guilty to the thefts.

Judge Kenneth Connolly was told the defendant has made payments of 19,000 so far to the injured party.

Judge Connolly said an application for a variation to bail conditions can be heard on February 22, 2024 and remanded the defendant on continuing bail.
A defendant was found in possession of stolen perfume gift sets which were valued at 1,600, the recent sitting of Longford District Court heard.

Appearing before the court was Ann Collins of 27 Avilla Park, Finglas, Dublin 11, who was charged with the theft of children's toys and groceries amounting to 698 from Tesco, Longford Shopping Centre, Townspark, Longford on November 17, 2022.

The court heard that she also had in her possession perfume gift sets, stolen from a pharmacy in Mullingar, which were valued at 1,600.

Garda Sergeant Mark Mahon said following one of the thefts, gardai on patrol stopped a car which was seen leaving the scene and the goods were found in the car.

When Judge Bernadette Owens asked if the defendant was driving, Sgt Mahon said she was sitting in the drivers seat, with the keys in the ignition.

The defendant had two previous convictions for theft, one of which was outside the jurisdiction in Northern Ireland, where a six months prison sentence had been suspended for two years.

Defence solicitor Diarmuid Quinn said the defendants son had a serious drug addiction and had amassed a serious debt in Finglas in Dublin and she was trying to help him pay this off.

The defendants health is not good and she had two previous heart attacks.

When Mr Quinn said the defendant was not known to gardai, Judge Bernadette Owens said: She is known to gardai.

Mr Quinn explained that she had not been involved in crime, apart from the period she was trying to help her son.

She was trying to repay these debts from her dole money, he said.

The defendant was entitled to credit for her guilty plea, Judge Owens said. However, it was an aggravating factor that she had committed the offences shortly after a conviction for similar offences in another jurisdiction.

Judge Owens said the value of the goods involved was also an aggravating factor.

A 4 months prison sentence was imposed on the defendant, which was suspended for 18 months, with the defendant to enter a bond of 250.

A fine of 250 was also imposed.

Sgt Mahon said some of the items could not be returned to the shops, as they did not know which ones they came from. He suggested they could be put to good use by local charities.
The closure of Lidl's Longford store will have no impact on those employed on site as workers have been offered employment in adjacent stores

The Longford Leader understands that the German retailer will provide transport to workers who need it to take up posts in their Mullingar warehouse or other supermarkets in the region.

Last Saturday (January 13) Lidl Longford closed their doors to facilitate the construction of a new state-of-the-art store.

Brian Smyth, Regional Property Director for Lidl Ireland said the move will enhance the offering the retailer provides to Longford shoppers: When opened later this year, the expanded new store will offer customers a premier shopping experience in a modern new store built with sustainability at its core.

In November of 2022 Lidl were granted planning permission to demolish the existing store and extend into a derelict site adjacent to the retail outlet. Lidl Ireland were granted permission to the proposed expansion by Longford County Council planners subject to 16 conditions.

The firm have operated the Dublin Road store for over two decades: Lidl has been part of the Longford community for 23 years and we are delighted to bring this new store experience to shoppers whilst continuing to deliver our quality products at the lowest prices, Mr Smyth said.

The Lidl Regional Property Director concluded by saying: We thank the local community for their patience whilst Lidl Longford is being refurbished and look forward to welcoming Longford shoppers to our neighbouring Lidl stores at Old Dublin Road, Patrick Street, Carrick on Shannon and Roscommon in the meantime.

While Lidl Longford is being refurbished, the store team have been accommodated to work in Lidl stores close by.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the WEF's Country Strategic Dialogue on Vietnam in Davos, Switzerland on January 16 (Photo: VNA)

The event saw the participation of Joo-Ok Lee, Head of Regional Agenda for Asia-Pacific at the World Economic Forum (WEF) and about 60 leaders from the WEFs global member groups.

This is one of eight national dialogue activities held within the framework of the 54th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) to introduce Vietnams socio-economic development strategy, priority areas to draw investments, and specific policies that the Government will carry out in the future in order to create an attractive environment to investors.

At the dialogue, partners showed their interest in Vietnams policies in emerging areas such as green transition, renewable energy development, rare earth exploitation, semiconductor industry development, carbon credit market, and power development plan implementation.

The PM affirmed that transforming, finding and creating new growth drivers is an inevitable trend in today's world; no country or economy can develop rapidly and sustainably if it still maintains old thinking, and only relies on traditional growth drivers.

He stressed to promote transformation and creation of new growth drivers, Vietnam will focus on four main groups of solutions, namely reviewing and perfecting institutions and laws with the spirit of creating the most favourable conditions for businesses and investors; developing infrastructure with focus on strategic infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and infrastructure to respond to climate change; developing human resources, especially high-quality human resources; and restructuring the economy associated with renewing growth model, with priority given to renewable energy industries, green transition, digital transformation, semiconductor industry, and innovation.

Chinh said Vietnam is accelerating transformation, including economic transformation with the renewal of old growth drivers and promotion of new growth drivers; digital transformation, green transition, the development of circular economy, sharing economy, knowledge-based economy; transformation of mechanisms and policies, building strategic infrastructure for transformation; and human resources transformation.

Highlighting the countrys potential, Chinh suggested the WEF and its members continue cooperating with Vietnam, while calling on investors to accompany the country to intensify investment in priority areas such as innovation, high sci-tech, including semiconductor technology and artificial intelligence. He affirmed that Vietnam always accompany and cooperate with investors in the spirit of win-win cooperation, harmonised benefits, and shared risks.

Agreeing with PM Pham Minh Chinhs speech, WEF leaders and representatives of businesses spoke highly of the achievements in recovery, development, growth of economic size, trade scale, as well as Vietnam's determination to transform and economic prospects. They assessed Vietnam as one of the bright spots for economic recovery in the region, playing a pioneering role in growth model renewal and commitments to energy transition.

The WEF said Vietnam is one of the countries drawing most interest from the business community at this meeting.

Many businesses affirmed their pleasure with investment projects in Vietnam, and showed their impression on the Vietnamese Governments policies and drastic measures to create an attractive environment as well as its support to the business community.

The business community said that Vietnam is one of the most suitable options, a destination for those seek long-term investment and cooperation opportunities. They wished to continue to support and accompany Vietnam in its development and transition process, while suggesting Vietnam continue sharing issues that the country needs to support, and maintaining stable, long-term policies./.
The plan to house 85 Ukrainian refugees at the former convent building on Lanesboro's main street from the second week in May 2024 has been abandoned following an arson attack at the property last night.

The news came during a meeting of Longford County Council this afternoon where acting director with Longford County Councils Humanitarian Response Team, Michael Nevin, revealed to members that the property owner wasn't proceeding with the plans as he had concerns for the safety of himself, his family, his company and his employees.

It also emerged this evening that efforts were made to burn the building at six different locations and accelerants were used.

Deputy Joe Flaherty commented, "Arson is reckless and endangers lives. It is deeply alarming to learn that efforts were made to burn the building at six different locations and accelerants were used.

"I grew up in Lanesboro and am as passionate about the community as the next man, however, burning buildings is not reflective of the local community."

Earlier this morning, Local Independent Councillor Mark Casey hit out at those responsible for the fire and at the Government for their lack of consultation with the community.

Cllr Casey said, "The fire last night put people in jeopardy. There are people who live beside that building, there are businesses beside that building, it is an absolute disgrace what is going on. Id be very surprised if it was anyone local who had anything to do with this. It is not a thing you would see normally in Lanesboro. It is not the mindset of the people of Lanesboro.

Just hours prior to the fire, Cllr Casey, along with other local elected representatives, attended a meeting with the developer and Longford County Council executives to be briefed on the plans for the property.

He said it was the first time they heard officially about the plans for the former convent building.

We were informed that this is a done deal and that the contract has been signed with the Department of Integration to house 85 Ukrainian refugees in the old convent from the second week in May. It was the first time we heard anything about it which I think is a disgrace. Being able to change the use of a building like that without any sort of planning or consultation with local people is disgraceful in my view.

We are a welcoming community, we are a tourist town but the way this has happened is a disgrace from the Government. We are saying that we havent been given the proper infrastructure. We need to be consulted and we need to bring the community along with this.
Ryanair will deploy more engineers to oversee quality control at US factories building Boeing aircraft for the airline.

Michael OLeary, group chief executive at Ryanair, said the carrier has agreed to step up its activities at the manufacturers site in Seattle and Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, where fuselages are built.

This comes after a Boeing 737 Max 9 operated by US-based Alaska Airlines suffered a mid-air blowout on January 5.

Ryanair does not have any Max 9 aircraft in its fleet, but uses other variants of the 737.

Mr OLeary told reporters at a press conference in London: I think we all as an industry, Boeing and the airline customers, want to be seen to be investing more in quality control of whats coming off the line in Wichita and Seattle.

Boeing are putting a lot of engineers on the line doing quality control, and we want to be seen as well to be investing in it.

I think both Boeing have to improve the quality of what theyre delivering to customers, and customers have to be seen to be actually investing in improving the quality on the shop floor at Boeing as well.

Boeing are very welcoming of us putting in more engineers in Seattle.

Mr OLeary expressed concern that the Alaska Airlines incident will lead to further delivery delays with Boeing aircraft.

He said the management team in Seattle needs to be improved but he gave his support for Boeing chief executive Dave Calhoun, stating that he is doing a stellar job in very tough circumstances.

Mr OLeary added: We dont need more senior management changes in Boeing.
Chinas second most powerful man has landed in Dublin as part of a brief diplomatic visit.

Li Qiang, the premier of the Peoples Republic of China, arrived on a Boeing 747 Max 8  the largest commercial aircraft to land at Dublin Airport.

He was presented with red roses by a Chinese official upon landing.

He was also greeted by Transport and Climate Minister Eamon Ryan and Irelands ambassador in Beijing Ann Derwin.

There was a heavy Garda presence at the airport for the visit.

Mr Lis trip comes hours after he spoke at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

He is the first high-ranking Chinese government official to attend the annual gathering since President Xi Jinping in 2017.

The visit comes amid efforts by EU figures and China to develop ties.

Despite the strong Sino-EU trade, with both regions the others second biggest trading partner, political tensions remain.

China has angered the EU by taking a neutral stance in what most European countries see as a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some Western countries have also avoided using or criticised technologies linked to the Chinese state over security concerns: including TikTok and Hikvision, the latter of which manufactures CCTV cameras used in the Irish parliament.

Mr Li is to meet with Irish president Michael D Higgins on Wednesday morning before a joining Irish premier Leo Varadkar for a working lunch at Farmleigh House.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Varadkar said China is a very important political and economic power in the world.

So its important that we have good relations with China but also some questions we will need to talk about as well, the Taoiseach said.

Mr Varadkar did not elaborate on the questions or issues he will raise with Mr Li.

The Ireland-Asia think tank Asia Matters has said it is hoping the ban on beef exports to China will be on the table when the two leaders meet.

Beef exports from Ireland to China were suspended when a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) was discovered by Irish veterinary officials in November.
Commuters are facing delays this morning following a number of road crashes while "frozen points' on rail lines have delayed a Galway to Dublin train.

There were a number of car crashes this morning with temperatures falling below 0 Celsius overnight.

A crash has happened in the last few minutes on the M7 J09A - NAAS, which has affected Lane 2.

Met Eireann issued a Status Yellow warning on Tuesday, which is in effect until 11am today. They warned of difficult driving conditions.

A crash earlier on the M50 between J09 and J07 Northbound has been cleared recently.

There was also a crash on N40 at 8.28 am between J10 - Mahon and J09 with Bloomfield (Westbound) Lanes affected.

Those travelling to Dublin were warned of delays due to the closure of the Phoenix Park today, Wednesday.

Gardai warned people that it was best to leave extra time for any journey in and around Dublin city centre and to expect some localised delays.

The Phoenix Park will be closed to all access including pedestrians from 7pm this evening for a full 24hrs, which will reduce routes for drivers.

Collision on M7 J09A - NAAS (eastbound) Lanes affected: Lane 2 (17-Jan 08:39) https://t.co/7YdB52UGLt  TII Traffic (@TIITraffic) January 17, 2024

Meanwhile, Irish Rail has reported delays to one of its main train services due to frost. The 6.50am Tullamore to Galway train departed Tullamore approximately 15 minutes delayed, due to "frozen points" in Tullamore.
The fire that broke out in Lanesboro convent yesterday following a public meeting on plans to accommodate Ukrainian refugees was not the work of locals, a Lanesboro elected representative believes.

The fire began at the front door but was quickly brought under control, with little damage: I was surprised it happened, Fine Gael Councillor Gerard Farrell said, I would guarantee you that whoever did that wasn't from Lanesboro or Ballyleague.

Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of the fire, which was soon brought under control by fire services: It's silly, silly stuff. Nobody wants to see this sort of behaviour. There is a local business attached to the convent and it could have been burned down if the fire had spread, Cllr Farrell said.

The Lanesbor LEA member condemned the incident: There is a lot of social and economic development in Lanesboro at present. Lough Ree distillery is just across the road. We have a great tourism product and the last thing we want is the name of our town tarnished by people agitating for their own agenda.

Cllr Farrell told the Leader a meeting took place yesterday with local representatives, local authority staff, and the owner of the premises: The rumour mill started before anyone had any facts. There are people with genuine concerns. The building is to the back of St Mary's Primary School and people need reassurance about who will be located in it.

I've had a lot of contact from people. Most of the concerns were quelled when we had a sit-down with the owner of the premises. There are plans to accommodate 85 Ukrainian nationals, mostly women and children, but some men.

The Fine Gael councillor said there is sympathy for the plight of those to be housed: The Ukraine has been devastated. You have to feel for people who have lost everything. Lanesboro is a wholesome community, we know we have to do our bit. Concerns have been voiced about the facilities and infrastructure for an additional 85 people, that is something that must be addressed."

Cllr Farrell said the social unrest surrounding the accommodation of asylum seekers is also a cause for concern: It's all over the country. We see what went on in Roscrea. There appears to be a lot of hatred in some Irish people these days. Social media, while having many positive facets, is also a scourge. There will always be a minority looking to cause trouble.
Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill has said she fears that the Stormont Assembly may never return following another failed bid to revive the powersharing institutions.

Ms ONeill accused the DUP of refusing to accept a nationalist as first minister and said if the executive could not be restored then a British-Irish partnership that provides joint stewardship and an intensified role for the Irish government in Northern Ireland must be considered.

She was speaking during a recalled session of the Stormont Assembly, a day before thousands of public sector workers go on strike in Northern Ireland.

However, DUP MLA Gordon Lyons said the Stormont recall was a cynically orchestrated stunt.

MLAs met on Wednesday where the DUP again blocked an attempt to elect a speaker, which is required before a first and deputy first minister can be appointed.

Nominations to elect Mike Nesbitt of the Ulster Unionist Party or Patsy McGlone of the SDLP to the role failed to get cross-community support.

The DUP, the largest unionist party, is maintaining its refusal to participate in devolved government until unionists concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements are tackled by the UK Government.

Ms ONeill told the Assembly chamber that the argument that the DUP boycott was related to the Windsor Framework had lost all credibility.

She said: The hardship and suffering, the bread-and-butter issues for workers, families, households and businesses is what counts and its what the DUP refuse to prioritise.

The only remaining explanation for the DUP boycott is the refusal to accept a nationalist first minister.

There is a dangerous attempt under way to discard the democratic outcome of the Assembly election, and this threatens our democratic governance, public administration, reconciliation, and the fabric of this society.

Ms ONeill added: If Jeffrey Donaldson does not change his approach, then this sitting may well be the final one of this Assembly.

I fear that the democratic institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are in free fall.

And while this is reprehensible, those are the hard facts before us.

If it is the case that the DUP will not respect the outcome of the election and restore democracy, then there is an obligation on both the British and Irish governments to look at plan B  a British-Irish partnership that provides joint stewardship and an intensified role for the Irish government in the affairs of this state and our administration.

The public looking on here today are not seeing the change they voted for.

If the DUP position of obstruction remains unchanged, then it is imperative that a change of direction within the constitutional framework of the Good Friday Agreement is now advanced.

Mr Lyons responded: This recall is much like the five others that came before it. It is a stunt.

It has been cynically orchestrated to coincide with the industrial action scheduled across our public sector.

This has been done in an attempt to make the public believe that the restoration of the Assembly today will lead to the cancellation of the strikes tomorrow.

Sinn Fein know full well that there is no prospect of a speaker being elected today.

They know there will not be ministers nominated today.

And they know that if even those do happen, the pay issue will not be settled today but will be subject to negotiation between employers and unions. It is disingenuous to suggest otherwise.

Mr Lyons said the barrier to public sector pay increases was not the lack of a Stormont executive, but lack of finance.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the Government will continue with a pragmatic and reasonable approach to support the region following the failed bid to restore Stormont.

He said: It is disappointing that the Assembly was unable to elect a speaker and restore the Northern Ireland executive today.

The return of a locally elected, accountable and effective devolved government is the best way to govern Northern Ireland.

However, in the absence of an executive, the Government will proceed with a pragmatic and reasonable approach to support Northern Ireland.

The recall also came ahead of Thursdays legal deadline to restore devolution.

Mr Heaton-Harris has already indicated he will pass legislation to extend the deadline, rather than call an Assembly election.
Ireland could be about to wave goodbye to the current cold spell and say hello to a "conveyor belt of storms" from the Atlantic over the next couple of weeks.

That's according to weather forecaster Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather who is monitoring some "nasty" systems headed out way next week.

Alan said: "The Atlantic conveyor belt of storms will come roaring back after this cold spell. Firstly for the weekend and then risk of some nasty systems coming our way next week. Sunday and Tuesday likely to see first two systems with Tuesdays looking potentially nasty."

Looking to the weekend first, Alan said that "latest weather models bring a potentially nasty storm near Ireland Sunday with risk of very strong winds and rain," adding, "this one needs careful watching."

Latest weather models bring potentially nasty storm near Ireland Sunday with risk of very strong winds and rain. This one needs careful watching! pic.twitter.com/qqPR5HQWje  Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) January 16, 2024

Met Eireann is also predicting some wild weather next weekend. They said it will be "an unsettled weekend but milder, as wet and breezy, possibly windy, weather moves over the country."

Between now and then, Ireland will continue to be gripped by cold weather with overnight temperatures reaching a low as -5 degrees in some places.

"Tuesday will continue very cold. Frost and ice in many areas, clearing slowly and lingering on places. Some further out breaks of rain, sleet or snow in Ulster, north Connacht and north Leinster, turning mostly to rain. Brighter further south with some sunshine. Highest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees with moderate southwest to west winds," Met Eireann's latest forecast said.

"Patchy cloud along with some light rain and drizzle will affect the southern half of the country overnight. Long clear spells developing further north with isolated showers of rain, with sleet and snow possible near northern and northwestern coasts. Lowest temperatures of -4 to -1 degrees with a sharp to severe frost and icy stretches forming. A light northerly or variable breeze will also allow patches of fog or freezing fog to develop.

"A bitterly cold day [Wednesday] with frost, ice, fog and freezing fog at first leading to hazardous travelling conditions, slow to clear through the morning. Otherwise, a largely dry day with good spells of winter sunshine though scattered showers of sleet and snow will affect the north and northwest. Highest temperatures of just 1 to 4 degrees generally, not rising above freezing in some areas, in light northwest breezes.

"Another very cold night [Wednesday night] with widespread frost and icy stretches forming. Dry and clear for most but scattered showers of sleet and snow will mainly affect the north and northwest. Lowest temperatures of -5 to -2 degrees in mostly light northwest breezes."

Looking to Thursday, they predict "a frosty or icy start, followed by another very cold day with scattered wintry showers in the north and northwest. Generally dry and sunny elsewhere with just the odd stray shower possible. Highest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees in light to moderate northwest to west breezes. Overnight temperatures generally falling between -5 and -2 degrees.

"Another very cold and bright start to the day [on Friday] with widespread frost and some icy stretches. Scattered showers will mainly affect Atlantic counties. Cloud will thicken from the west later in the day. Highest afternoon temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees. Light westerly breezes will back southerly, strengthening through the afternoon and evening."
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 18 2024

Personal injury law firm Bisnar Chase undertook a comprehensive study to examine this contentious issue.

Each week seems to bring a fresh headline featuring a dog attack, stirring public debate and concern. This trend has led authorities in recent years to implement breed-specific legislation, with measures that often include bans or severe restrictions on certain breeds, notably pit bulls, rottweilers, dobermans, and other large breeds. These laws have sparked a counter-argument among large breed enthusiasts who contend that it's not the dogs that are inherently dangerous, but rather the training and treatment they receive from their owners. In response to this debate, movements advocating for responsible dog ownership have gained momentum across the country, presenting a humane alternative to breed-specific bans.



Personal injury law firm Bisnar Chase undertook a comprehensive study to examine this contentious issue. Their goal was to gauge whether public skepticism is directed more towards the so-called 'dangerous' breeds or the owners who may fail to provide proper training. They surveyed 3,000 people, asking them to reflect on their personal encounters and identify the dog breed owners in New York they find least trustworthy.

Public Perception Rankings: The Breeds and Their Owners

#1 Pit Bulls: Topping the list, Pit Bull owners are perceived as the least trustworthy in New York, a stigma fueled by media portrayals and controversial headlines. However, advocates argue that pit bulls can be among the most loyal and affectionate breeds when raised in a loving environment.

#2 Rottweilers: The second least trusted dog owners are those who own rottweilers. Owners of this German breed are often met with skepticism. Despite the breed's capacity for loyalty and guardianship, the imposing nature of rottweilers can be intimidating if not paired with rigorous and consistent training.

#3 German Shepherds: German Shepherds are third on the list among New Yorkers, which may surprise some given their esteemed role in police and service work. Nevertheless, the breed's strong protective instincts can be misinterpreted as aggression, highlighting the need for thorough training and socialization.



#4 Siberian Huskies: Taking the fourth spot, Siberian Husky owners often face trust issues from the public, largely due to the breed's independent nature and resemblance to wolves. Owners must actively work to channel the breed's energy and intelligence in positive ways.



#5 Wolf-Hybrids: Landing in 5th place are owners of wolf-hybrids. Known for their close genetic ties to wild wolves, these canine owners face skepticism due to the unpredictable nature often associated with these animals. The debate continues on whether their wild instincts can be entirely domesticated.

#6 Bullmastiffs: Known for their strength and protective nature, Bullmastiffs can be gentle giants under the guidance of a firm, caring owner.



#7 Doberman Pinschers: In the seventh position, Doberman Pinschers and their owners are often viewed warily. Historically bred for protection, these dogs can exhibit a powerful presence that demands an owner who is committed to their disciplined training.



#8 Alaskan Malamutes: Similar to Siberian huskies in their thick fur and robust build, Alaskan Malamute owners are challenged to meet their high exercise needs, often a point of contention for those unfamiliar with the breed.

#9 Boxers: At ninth, boxer owners are often perceived as having their hands full managing the high energy and playful antics of their pets. While boxers are generally friendly, their boisterous behavior requires dedicated training to manage effectively in public spaces.

#10 Akitas: Akitas carry a noble stature and a reserved temperament, and while they can be fiercely loyal, they require an owner who understands the nuances of the breed to prevent aggressive tendencies.

"As a personal injury law firm handling dog attack cases, we have witnessed firsthand the complex issues surrounding large dog breeds and public safety. The majority of dogs, if given proper training and care, are not inherently a threat to public safety. The real issue arises when owners neglect their fundamental responsibility to train and socialize their pets. In most states, the law is clear: owners can be held strictly liable if their dog bites someone, even if the dog has never bitten before. This means owners could face not only civil penalties but also criminal charges in severe cases of negligence, says Brian Chase of Bisnar Chase.

He continues: Furthermore, many state laws stipulate that owners are liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by their dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place. It's imperative that dog owners understand the gravity of these laws and the very real consequences of an attack, which can include extensive fines, destroying the animal, restitution, and even jail time. Responsible ownership is the cornerstone of preventing unnecessary harm and upholding the legal standards set forth by our community.
The U.S. military attacked a Houthi launch site for anti-ship ballistic missiles one day after Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps struck what it claimed are Mossad Bases in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil.

U.S. Forces struck and destroyed four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, on Tuesday morning, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported. Hours later, the Houthis successfully launched an anti-ship ballistic missile at a merchant vessel in the Red Sea  but the missile did not hit the target.

The Houthis continue to target shipping despite the United States and the United Kingdoms raid last week that hit Houthi radar and air defense sites, as well as anti-ship missile and drone launch and storage sites. The Iranian-backed militia has vowed to continue attacks on commercial vessels until Israel ends its fight against Hamas in Gaza.

As the Houthis defy the international coalition that is struggling to keep the Red Sea open to commercial shipping, the Iranians launched a ballistic missile strike on what it claimed were Israeli intelligence assets in Irbil, Iraq. On Monday, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the praetorian guard of the clerical regime, took credit for a ballistic missile attack on what it said were Israeli spy headquarters, according to Rudow.

In response to the recent terrorist crimes of the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the spy headquarters and gatherings of anti-Iran groups in parts of the Region were targeted by IRGC ballistic missiles in the middle of the night, the Tasnim News Agency, a mouthpiece for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, reported.

The ballistic missiles struck the home of a Kurdish businessman and impacted near the U.S. consulate and a U.S. military base. Peshraw Dizayee, the Kurdish businessman, and four members of his family were killed, according to Rudow. The IRGC claimed that three Mossad bases were hit. However, Kurdish officials deny the presence of Israels intelligence services.

Iran continues to flex its influence inside Iraq. Its proxy militias, the Popular Mobilization Forces, which are also part of Iraqs security forces, have launched more than 130 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and neighboring Syria. The U.S. military has retaliated with eight strikes, including six in Iraq, in an effort to restore deterrence, but the militias have not ceased their attacks.

Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the policy dialogue (Photo: VNA)

It was one of the eight policy dialogues featuring heads of States and Governments organised by the WEF, reflecting the organisations positive evaluation of Vietnam's international role, position, achievements, vision and development prospects.

As a highlight of the WEF Davos 2024, the event saw the distinguished presence of Prof. Klaus Schwab, WEF Founder and Executive Chairman, along with 100 leaders and representatives from various countries, international organisations, corporations and businesses that are members of the WEF. Renowned international relations commentator Thomas Friedman from The New York Times and author of the book "The World is Flat" assumed the role of event coordinator.

Schwab expressed his delight at welcoming PM Chinh for the first time to the WEF Davos meeting, hailing Vietnam not only as a star in the East Asia but also a nation in the process of ascending as an economically influential player on the global stage. He also highly praised Vietnam's role as one of the trailblazers in the development of a green and smart economy.

Sharing a similar view with Schwab, Friedman described Vietnam as an exemplary model of reform and development, internationally recognised for its rapid and sustainable economic progress. In his coordinating role, he expressed a keen interest in understanding Vietnam's experiences, development directions and contributions to the global problem-solving process.

In his speech, PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted Vietnams key directions and stance throughout its nation-building and development process, and great achievements of historical significance during the nearly 40 years of reform.

Drawing on these successes, he outlined five major lessons, including steadfastly pursuing the path of socialism, maintaining a consistent stance on the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification of external ties, being a trusted friend, reliable partner and responsible member of the international community; considering the people the architects of history; upholding the strength of great national unity; combining the power of the nation with contemporary forces; and upholding the leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

Building upon these lessons, PM offered two suggestions to other nations. He proposed that they identify resources starting from mindset, motivation rooted in innovation, and strength derived from the people. He also underscored the role of international solidarity and multilateralism in addressing global challenges.

The second suggestion was placing people at the centre as the main subject, the most crucial resource, the driving force, and the ultimate goal of development. Accordingly, people should be directly involved in and benefit from policies.

In response to Friedman's query regarding Vietnam's stance in balancing relations with major powers, Chinh underscored the nations status as one of the most adversely affected since the Second World War, enduring persistent impacts from wars, blockades, and sanctions. Nevertheless, Vietnam has put the past aside, overcome differences, promoted similarities, and aimed towards the future to turn adversaries into friends.

He asserted that the recent visits to Vietnam by Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden demonstrate unwavering political trust between the nation and its two partners, as well as its foreign policy of independence and self-reliance for peace, cooperation, development, prosperity, multilateralism, and diversification.

Highlighting several priority areas for Vietnam in the near future, including digital transformation, science and technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and green transition, the PM considered these as both objective requirements and strategic choices.

Regarding the semiconductor field, he shared Vietnam's endeavors in developing strategic infrastructure, particularly in information technology, and disclosed plans to train 50,000 - 100,000 engineers in the time to come.

Addressing artificial intelligence (AI), PM Pham Minh Chinh affirmed Vietnam's proactive approach in leveraging its advantages and mitigating its negative aspects, starting with building a national database, refining investment attraction policies, and boosting the effectiveness of manpower training.

He stressed the Vietnamese Government's commitment to further developing three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure, and human resources, creating the most favorable conditions for foreign companies to engage in cooperative endeavors, based on maximising mutual trust, hope, and determination. He said he wishes businesses will integrate production, consumption, research, and training.

The PM said Vietnam stands among the nations most severely impacted by climate change, underscoring its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). Vietnam has worked to adapt to landslides, droughts, and natural disasters, implementing an innovative initiative for cultivating one million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice, which aligns with global sustainability trends and promotes Vietnam's crucial role in ensuring global food security.

His remarks received high praise from delegates participating in the session, whose open and interactive format as well as diverse media coverage effectively disseminated the message of a Vietnam with a new great plan, potential, position, and credibility./.
Police officers patrol the capital on the first day of the begging ban on Monday

Police officers patrol the capital on the first day of the begging ban on Monday  Photo credit: Sibila Lind

Police officers patrol the capital on the first day of the begging ban on Monday  Photo credit: Sibila Lind

Luxembourg Citys begging ban is set to be debated by the countrys parliament, after a petition opposing the new law garnered thousands of signatures from members of the public within days.

The petition on parliaments website crossed the threshold of 4,500 signatures needed for a debate to be held on Wednesday, just five days after it was opened. The Chamber of Deputies will have to schedule a public debate with the petitioners and members of government, once the signatures have been verified as valid.

Debates carried over from the previous legislature mean that there is a backlog of discussions pending, and it could take weeks or months after the petition is closed for an exchange to take place.

Also read:

Bottleneck in parliament as petitions pend debate for months

The law outlaws all forms of begging between 7am and 10pm in certain shopping streets, squares and parks in the capital. The ban was introduced in mid-December after Home Affairs Minister Leon Gloden reversed a decision by his predecessor to forbid the citys ban.

No fines were handed out during the first day of enforcement on Monday, but ten people were warned about the new rules by police officers on patrol in the capital, Gloden told parliament during a plenary session on Tuesday.

We will gradually increase the police presence in the days and weeks to come to combat drug-related crime and illegal immigration, to combat aggressive panhandling and to restore public cleanliness, where necessary, the minister said.

Opposition to the law comes as public prosecutor Georges Oswald said that there may be no legal basis for enforcement. When legislators were reforming immigration law in 2008, a passage covering begging was mistakenly removed from the penal code, an error which has never been rectified in the years since, Oswald told RTL.

The Home Affairs Ministry did not respond to Oswalds comments, nor a request for interview, the Luxemburger Wort reported.

(This article was originally published by Virgule. Translation and additional reporting by John Monaghan)
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse leave Hanoi on January 16 early morning for attendance at the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF-54) in Davos, Switzerland and official visits to Hungary and Romania. (Photo: VNA)

The PM is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. Luong Tam Quang, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vu Hai San, deputy head of the Government Office Do Ngoc Huynh, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung.

Convening from January 15-19 under the theme Rebuilding Trust, the WEF-54 will bring together more than 2,800 leaders from 120 countries.

Vietnam is among the nine partners proposed by the WEF to co-organise a Country Strategic Dialogue on Vietnam, and and PM Chinh is one of the eight leaders chosen for a separate dialogue session with WEF, underscoring the recognition and appreciation from the WEF and multinational corporations towards Vietnams role, international position, achievements and development vision.

After attending the WEF-54 , PM Pham Minh Chinh will pay official visits to Hungary and Romania, with the aim of further strengthening political trust, elevating and enlivening the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the European countries, promoting and bringing traditional areas of cooperation between Vietnam and the two countries to a new stage, expanding collaboration in areas of potential and strength, and tightening the friendship between the people of Vietnam and the two countries.

The Vietnamese government leaders visits are also expected to connect Vietnam with the Central and Eastern European region, and foster relations between the two countries and ASEAN, towards closely coordinating in resolving global issues, and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world./.
The prominence of the iPhone in North America and much of Western Europe belies a simple fact: Apple has never been the top-selling smartphone brand across the globe. Blame it on Apples unwillingness to compete in the budget phone space, perhaps, but the number one spot usually belongs to Samsung.

While Apple no longer gives sales figures for the iPhone, market analysts track shipments carefully, and now two of them, IDC and Canalys, both say that Apple sold more smartphones in 2023 than any other brand. Samsung dropped to the number two spot.

The gap is close to be sure. Canalys says both brands round off to 20 percent, with Apple having the slight edge. IDC says that Apple shipped 234.6 million smartphones, to Samsungs 226.6just a few tenths of a percent less total market share. But its still notable.

Both analysts acknowledge that this is the first time Apple has ever topped the chart for global smartphone shipments for an entire year. Samsung has held the top spot since 2011 when it shot past Nokia and RIM at the top of the list.

While Apples increased shipments are part of the reason it took the top spot (IDC estimates shipments were up 3.7 percent for Apple), its the sharp decline in shipments from Samsung that is most responsible. The company shipped 262 million smartphones in 2022, but that dropped over 13 percent in 2023. Samsung has been focusing on mid- and high-end smartphones to improve profitability, and theres a lot of global volume in budget phones.
Manchester, VT (05254)

Today

Cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Variably cloudy with snow showers. Low 27F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
The Homeland Spring program held in RoK (Photo: VNA)

The event, which is the biggest of its kind after COVID-19 pandemic, was attended by about 500 Vietnamese people in the host country.

Speaking at the event, Charge d'affaires ad interim of the Vietnamese Embassy in RoK Nguyen Viet Anh said that with the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, the Vietnamese community has always helped each other to overcome difficulties and gained many successes in work and life.

He highlighted the solidarity and mutual support of the Vietnamese community to overcome difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, manifesting the fine Vietnamese traditions and creating good impression on the local society.

President of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in the RoK Le Nguyen Minh Phuong shared that this year's event saw the coordination of six Vietnamese associations sponsored by the Vietnamese Embassy, including the Vietnamese association, the Vietnamese students association and the Vietnamese womens association.

Ly Huan, Head of the Ly Hoa Son (Lee Hwasan) clan who are descendants of Ly Long Tuong, a prince of the Ly dynasty ruling Vietnam between the 11th and 13th century, said the Homeland Spring program is a highly anticipated event of Overseas Vietnamese, international students and workers who cannot return to their hometowns to celebrate Tet.

He also pledged to perform his role in people's diplomacy, actively contributing to the development of economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

At the event, art performances featuring love for the homeland, games and lucky draws brought a joyful atmosphere for the participants./.
An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 16, 2024 shows outbound vehicles at Hemu Village in Kanas scenic area, Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The snow-blocked section of a road linking Hemu Village in the well-known Kanas scenic area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was cleared on Tuesday afternoon after avalanches hit the area days ago.

Currently, the Kanas scenic area in Altay Prefecture, previously hindered by road closures due to avalanches, is now accessible to the surrounding areas. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 16, 2024 shows a special machine clearing the snow-blocked section of a road linking Hemu Village and the county seat of Burqin, in Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The snow-blocked section of a road linking Hemu Village in the well-known Kanas scenic area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was cleared on Tuesday afternoon after avalanches hit the area days ago.

Currently, the Kanas scenic area in Altay Prefecture, previously hindered by road closures due to avalanches, is now accessible to the surrounding areas. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 16, 2024 shows a special machine clearing the snow-blocked section of a road linking Hemu Village and the county seat of Burqin, in Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The snow-blocked section of a road linking Hemu Village in the well-known Kanas scenic area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was cleared on Tuesday afternoon after avalanches hit the area days ago.

Currently, the Kanas scenic area in Altay Prefecture, previously hindered by road closures due to avalanches, is now accessible to the surrounding areas. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 16, 2024 shows outbound vehicles at Hemu Village in Kanas scenic area, Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The snow-blocked section of a road linking Hemu Village in the well-known Kanas scenic area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was cleared on Tuesday afternoon after avalanches hit the area days ago.

Currently, the Kanas scenic area in Altay Prefecture, previously hindered by road closures due to avalanches, is now accessible to the surrounding areas. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 16, 2024 shows outbound vehicles at Hemu Village in Kanas scenic area, Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The snow-blocked section of a road linking Hemu Village in the well-known Kanas scenic area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was cleared on Tuesday afternoon after avalanches hit the area days ago.

Currently, the Kanas scenic area in Altay Prefecture, previously hindered by road closures due to avalanches, is now accessible to the surrounding areas. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

Editor: ZAD
BOSTON  The nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation on Wednesday announced that three Western Massachusetts groups will land portions of $1.8 million in grants focusing on racial justice in health and community-based mental health.

The foundation is making these vital funding commitments to improve the health care experience for communities of color and increase access to community-based mental health services, two areas of great concern, said Audrey Shelto, president and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation.

Stavros Center for Independent Living received $150,000. It is implementing the Project Management Plus model with a program called Take Charge to support people living with disabilities in Western Massachusetts who have difficulty getting mental health services because of limited access to the internet and transportation.

Girls Inc. of the Valley received $300,000 for a project that will advance health care access and health equity by creating new low-barrier, no-cost mental health services for BIPOC youth from low-income families, integrated within the Holyoke-based organizations programs.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst also received $300,000 for a community collaboration between the universitys Elaine Marieb College of Nursing and the Bay Area Neighborhood Council, which will address racial disparities in maternal health by bringing health education and resources to the majority Black and Hispanic Bay neighborhood in Springfield.

The mission of the foundation is to ensure equitable access to health care for all those in the commonwealth who are economically, racially, culturally or socially marginalized. Visit bluecrossmafoundation.org for more. Since it was established in 2001, the foundation has disbursed more than $84 million in grants.
Three Massachusetts men were among six who were charged in connection with a multi-state scheme to take millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds for themselves, Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levys office announced Tuesday.

Richardson Rhau, 49, and Wens Herby Mathurin, 26, both of Brockton were among five charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit unlawful monetary transactions, Levys office said in a statement. Bill Dessaps, 46, of South Easton, was indicted separately on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of money laundering and one count of bank fraud.

Read more: 3rd man arrested in Milford butcher shop armed robbery case

Rhau and Mathurin were charged along with Wallace Ford, 38, of Buford, Ga.; Adiana Pierre, 39, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn.; and Gardy Alexandre, 51, of West Palm Beach, Fla. All have agreed to plead guilty, Levys office said.

Ford, Pierre and Alexandre submitted fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, applications on behalf of several actual or purported businesses and nonprofit organizations, including businesses operated by Mathurin and Dessaps, Levys office said. This was so they could collect kickback payments from the borrower for securing loan amounts.

After PPP funds first became available in April 2020, Ford started submitting applications on behalf of his own businesses, Pierre, Alexandre and other borrowers, Levys office said. Pierre, Alexandre and the other conspirators identified potential applicants and gave those applicants information to Ford.

Ford turned in applications online and fabricated how many employees worked for the businesses, along with those businesses monthly payroll expenses, Levys office said. Ford also turned in false wage and tax forms to support what was misrepresented on the applications.

Between May and August 2020, the group received about $7 million in PPP funds, Levys office said. They also received funds based on fake applications amounting equal to 10 or 20% of the loan amount they received. Ford, Pierre and Alexandre collectively received over $1 million in kickback payments from borrowers.

In June 2020, Rhau connected Alexandre with Dessaps and Mathurin, Levys office said. Dessaps was the operator of an Abington-based used car dealership and then lived in Bridgewater, while Mathurin was the purported operator of a warehouse and cargo delivery business.

Alexandre forwarded their information to Ford, who submitted PPP applications to a lender on their behalf, Levys office said. The application said Dessaps dealership had 40 employees and its average monthly payroll expenses were $334,720. The other application said Mathurins business had 25 employees and averaged $125,541 a month.

Dessaps received a $836,800 PPP loan, while Mathurin received a $313,852 loan, Levys office said. Both made kickback payments to Alexandre, and Mathurin sent an additional $45,000 to Rhau.

Charging documents also claim that Rhau fraudulently received $104,166 in PPP funds and $94,800 in other pandemic relief funds thanks to applications with false information he submitted between April 2020 and April 2021, Levys office said. Dessaps also attempted to get a second draw PPP loan in another fake application in March 2021.

Plea hearings have not yet been scheduled.
Editors note: The first name of the third man arrested has been corrected.

A third person was arrested in a connection with the armed robbery of a butcher shop in Milford in a case that grabbed the publics interest during the first suspects SWAT team-involved arrest on Monday afternoon.

Jonathan De Araujo Lima, 19, of Franklin, was arrested at his home without incident on Tuesday, Jan. 17, according to the Milford Police Department. Milford and Franklin officers and State Police troopers were involved in his arrest, the department said.
Activists are calling on Massachusetts courts to intervene in foreclosure cases that they say discriminate against people of color, women, immigrants, and others through predatory lending practices.

According to the Massachusetts Alliance Against Predatory Lending, dozens of foreclosure cases involving discrimination have gone to the states appellate court last year, and more are expected to arrive in the near future.

For almost 50 years, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, our top court in the state, has been silent on the equal rights of everyone in our state to real property, MAAPL Coordinator Grace Ross said during a rally outside the John Adams Courthouse in Boston Tuesday.

The courthouse, which is home to the Supreme Judicial Court, was just one stop on a statewide tour the advocacy group organized Tuesday. It also held rallies in Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Brockton and Hyannis, where local residents affected by foreclosures shared their stories.

Ross and MAAPLs argument hinges on the 1976 amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution which guaranteed the natural, essential and unalienable rights of life, liberty and property to all people, regardless of sex, race, color, creed or national origin.

However, Ross said lending organizations target homeowners in protected classes, including women, immigrants, people of color, seniors, people with disabilities, and those who speak English as a second language, to sell predatory loans or second mortgages.

Despite this, she said the Supreme Judicial Court has never taken up a discrimination case that centered on home foreclosure, thus failing to protect homeowners right to property.

According to data released last week by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, monthly foreclosure petitions have not yet reached pre-pandemic levels. But they have been steadily increasing since the pandemic-era foreclosure moratorium ended in June 2021.

While the number of monthly petitions began to decrease in March 2023, it started to go up again at the end of June, when the states Homeowner Assistance Fund, which supported households that had fallen behind on mortgage payments to prevent foreclosures, stopped accepting new applications.

Between May and October of 2023, Springfield had the highest number of foreclosure petitions at 127, at a rate of 4.6% of homeowner households. Boston followed with 126 foreclosure petitions. Because of the citys much larger number of homeowner households, this came out to a much lower rate of 1.33%.

Grace Rungu, an immigrant from Kenya who settled in Lowell, asked the court last year to take up her case.

In 2009, she refinanced her home, but within two months, her payments began going up, she said. When Rungus mortgage payments went up to over $2,000 per month, she went to multiple banks trying to get a mortgage modification, but was unable to get one because her original loan was for significantly more than her home was worth, she said.

Rungu said she had never heard of the concept of predatory lending until she read a news article about it happening to someone else.

I thought they were writing about me, she said.

In the years that followed, Rungu continued paying her mortgage, including participating in a program with a local aid organization that allowed her to make smaller payments for a short trial period. Despite making those payments on time, her mortgage again went up at the end of the trial.

Eventually, she learned her mortgage had been sold to another servicer, which told her her mortgage was owned by Wells Fargo Bank. However, when she went to Wells Fargo to try again to modify her loan, she was told she didnt have an account with the bank.

Eventually, Rungu was foreclosed on and lost her home. Several years later, at the beginning of this year, she said she received a check for $200 from Wells Fargo with a message saying they had made an error with her mortgage.

Ross called $200 for the illegal taking of Rungus home outrageous, and that it was not enough for Rungu to get justice. She said Rungus appeal would be a perfect case for the Supreme Judicial Court.

We need our court to act and we need them to have acted yesterday, Ross said.
SPRINGFIELD  Developers creating the new Springfield Crossing out of the rubble of the former Eastfield Mall plan to keep the malls entrance sign in place.

Onyx Partners Limited purchased the 56-year-old mall for $4.5 million last March to develop the $65 million to $85 million Springfield Crossing and began demolition on the 45-acre site in August, starting at the former Cinemark movie theater.

While one giant sign on Boston Road that used to announce Eastfield Mall happenings has been replaced with a giant banner announcing leasing at Springfield Crossing, the other one will remain as is.

Other than a bit of touch-up, Onyx will leave the sign in its current form and size, said Brian Kaplan, vice president of development for Onyx Partners.

We have no plans of taking it down or destroying it, Kaplan said. Its been a staple in the community for years, and so we want to make use of it in the new project.

He added, We dont have any definitive plans for exactly what were going to do to the sign, we just know that were going to leave it in its current location and size. I can imagine that (Springfield Crossings) name will be on it.

The demolition is on schedule, according to Kaplan, who expects it to be complete within a few weeks. Site work will follow to meet a project deadline to finish construction in summer 2025.

The new 360,000-square-foot retail complex, under the direction of leasing agent Atlantic Retail, intends to house Hobby Lobby, PetSmart, Old Navy, Burlington Coat Store, Ulta, Five Below, and Sketchers, several of which have locations nearby.

The new sites largest retailer remains a mystery. The unidentified Proposed Anchor Tenant is speculated to be a Target, though neither the developers nor the store will confirm.

In a previous report, Anton Melchionda, founder of Onyx Partners Limited, said that the company has reached out to all national tenants, a pool of 300 potential businesses.
A man who previously lived in New Bedford pled guilty on Tuesday in connection with a romance scam that involved wire fraud and money laundering to obtain money from people online, Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levys office announced.

Chukwunonso Douglas Umegbo, 38, pled guilty to six counts of making a false statement to a bank, two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, Levys office said in a statement.

Read more: Pedestrian killed in crash with SUV on Route 1 in Wrentham

Between 2018 and 2019, Umegbo opened bank accounts in the greater Boston area using fake identity documents, using names like James Abbott, Michael Philips and Rochard Armani, Levys office said.

These accounts were used to receive fraudulently obtained funds from several victims of romance scams. Such scams happen when someone creates a fictitious online persona to develop online romantic relationships with individuals in the United States and then rely on those relationships to receive money and/or property, Levys office said.

After funds went to Umegbos fake accounts, he withdrew the money in cash and used the funds to purchase cashiers checks or spent the money on personal purchases. In total, Umegbos accounts received a total of over $560,000.

The charge of making a false statement to a bank provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the criminally derived property.

A federal grand jury indicted Umegbo in February 2021. He was arrested in London in April 2022 and was extradited to the United States in February 2023, where he has remained in federal custody since.

U.S. Senior District Court Judge George OToole Jr. scheduled Umegbos sentencing for April 4.
A former nurse from Massachusetts has pleaded guilty to charges that stem from her taking liquid oxycodone from syringes and replacing the drug with saline, according to acting United States Attorney Joshua Levys office.

Jaclyn McQueen, 44, of Dedham, pleaded guilty in Boston federal court to one count of tampering with a consumer product on Jan. 5, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4.
HOLYOKE Considering what Antonia Santos escaped, as a survivor of domestic violence and homelessness, walking into a new 3-bedroom home feels like a gift from God.

It is crazy. As a child, I always wanted to have a house with a white picket fence. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever make enough to qualify for a house, Santos said.

Santos will soon purchase the newest home on Chestnut Street in Holyoke built by the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, which will be dedicated on Valentines Day.

Santos used to work at the YWCA as administrative assistant. One day, a representatives from the nonprofit dropped off flyers.

I read the flyer and said, Wait a minute, I may qualify for this, Santos said.

After applying, Santos was told she didnt qualify because she didnt make enough. She got a raise, though, and went through a credit and first-time homebuyers course to qualify. It was during the pandemic and more people began to outbid her offers, she said.

My heart was crushed, because I couldnt overbid. I was finally making just enough to qualify, Santos said.

And then the family began working on their new home.

Since then, Santos and her four teenagers  aged 12, 14, 17 and 18  have put in about 300 hours of sweat equity.

Santos said her 18-year-old loved working on the house so much that when she graduated from high school, she went on to pursue a degree in architecture at the University of Hartford.

Santos said she hopes Habitat for Humanity will continue to build more homes in low-income areas to help improve the quality of life for those in the community.

Everyone can do their part to build up the community, I know I will do my part, Santos said. If they continue to build in Holyoke it will be nice, she said.

Hearts and Homes fundraising challenge

One lucky winner of the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity Hearts and Homes fundraising challenge will live it up at a Berkshires spa.

The winner will be announced at the groups Valentines Day program, marking completion of the newest Habitat for Humanity home in Holyoke. Participants do not have to be present to win.

For every $20 donation made to the nonprofit by Feb. 13, participants will get a chance to win a spa renewal day gift card for two people at the Canyon Ranch in Lenox.

The Hearts and Homes challenge was inspired by Petrina Winans, a volunteer who asked the spa to support the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity.

Winans has partnered with Habitat for about five years.

The Hearts and Homes fundraiser got started when Winans coordinated the effort between Habitat and the Canyon Ranch spa.

All donations go back into [Habitat] and its participants, Winans said. If you are sick and the sole provider with no supplemental income and your flooring starts to go, you could go to Habitat for help to fix the floor.  it changes lives.

Winans said everyone deserves to have a home and the piece of mind of home ownership. She believes that other small businesses should continue to partner with Habitat for fundraising events like Hearts and Homes.

Aimee Giroux, the nonprofits executive director, said the fundraiser is a way to celebrate the completion of the home on Chestnut Street that will be sold to the Santos family on Valentines Day.

Stable affordable housing plays a key role in a familys well-being and Canyon Ranch wants our donors to have a chance at increasing their well-being by supporting our programs, said Giroux.

The group helps low-income families change their lives through homeownership and preservation opportunities. Since 1987, the Greater Springfield Habitat has built or repaired 129 homes in Hampden County.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the opening of a study session on boosting the high-quality development of the financial sector, attended by principal officials at the provincial and ministerial levels, at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed staying committed to the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics and boosting the high-quality development of the financial sector.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing the opening of a study session at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance).

While abiding by the objective laws of modern financial development, the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics enjoys features that better suit China's national conditions and is fundamentally different from the Western financial model, Xi said at the study session attended by principal officials at the provincial and ministerial levels.

He called for firming up confidence and making sustained exploration and improvement to further broaden this path.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, as well as Vice President Han Zheng attended the opening ceremony of the study session. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the event.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, efforts have been made to constantly deepen the understanding of the essence of socialist finance with Chinese characteristics, and promote financial innovations in terms of practice, theories and institution, Xi said.

The country has accumulated valuable experience and gradually formed a path of financial development with Chinese characteristics, Xi said.

The path adheres to the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee over the financial work and adopts a people-centered approach, according to Xi.

It sticks to the fundamental purpose of serving the real economy, and takes preventing and controlling risks as the eternal theme of financial work, Xi said.

The path also follows the principles of promoting financial innovation and development on the track of marketization and rule of law, deepening supply-side structural reform of the financial sector, coordinating financial opening-up and security, and seeking progress while maintaining stability.

Xi noted that a financially robust country should be based on a strong economic foundation, possessing leading economic, scientific, technological and overall national strength in the world.

At the same time, a country with great financial strength should also boast a series of key core financial elements, namely, a strong currency, a strong central bank, strong financial institutions, strong international financial centers, strong financial supervision and regulation, and a strong financial talent pool, he said.

To strengthen China's financial capabilities, Xi urged efforts to accelerate the building of a modern financial system with Chinese characteristics, and establish and improve a scientific and prudent financial regulation system, a reasonably structured financial market system, a financial institution system with division of tasks and collaboration, a complete and effective financial oversight system, a diversified and professional financial product and service system, and an independent, controllable, safe and efficient financial infrastructure system.

He emphasized efforts to prevent and defuse financial risks, especially systemic risks.

Financial oversight needs to have "teeth and thorns" and be sharp-pointed, he said, adding that law enforcement should be strict in market access, prudential oversight and behavioral regulation.

By boosting opening-up, China will work to enhance the efficiency and capability of financial resource allocation, improve global competitiveness and rule-making influence, and maintain a steady and prudent rhythm and intensity, he said.

It is necessary to promote high-level financial opening-up by focusing on institutional opening-up, and implement the pre-establishment national treatment plus negative list management system, he noted.

Xi stressed alignment with financial rules in global high-level economic and trade agreements, fewer restrictive measures, and better transparency, stability and predictability of opening-up policies.

More should be done to regulate overseas investment and financing activities and improve financial support for the Belt and Road cooperation, he said.

To boost the country's financial strength, it is important to adhere to the combination of the rule of law and the rule of virtue and cultivate a financial culture with Chinese characteristics, he said.

Such a culture adheres to the following principles: being honest and trustworthy; seeking gains through righteous approaches and avoiding a single-minded focus on profit; maintaining prudence and caution in work without succumbing to the lure of quick success; preventing funds from being diverted out of the real economy; ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, and refraining from reckless actions.

Cai Qi said that it is important to deeply understand and grasp the rich connotations of Xi's important words and align thoughts and actions with the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the opening of a study session on boosting the high-quality development of the financial sector, attended by principal officials at the provincial and ministerial levels, at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 16, 2024.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, as well as Vice President Han Zheng attended the opening ceremony of the study session. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the event. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Editor: GSY
A historic $37.8 million grant by the Bloomberg Philanthropies to the Boston Public Schools will underwrite a new partnership between the school system and Mass General Brigham that will double the size of a city school that trains students for healthcare jobs.

City and school officials, joined by leaders from the healthcare titan and Bloomberg, announced the massive infusion of cash on Wednesday, describing it as the largest-ever philanthropic investment in the Boston school system.

The money will expand and transform the Edward M. Kennedy Academy of Health Careers on Maywood Street in the city, allowing it to eventually take in 800 students, while adding new career pathways to surgery, medical imaging, and biotech/medical lab science, officials said in a statement.

The new offerings will compliment existing opportunities in nursing and emergency services, while offering work-based learning, summer and after-school placements, and career counseling for every student in the program, officials said.

Graduates from the school will have the choice between pursuing higher education or taking a job within the Mass General Brigham system after graduation, officials said.

As the birthplace of public education, Boston must give our young people the worldin the classroom, in community, and in every corner of our city. Today we take a huge step forward in our vision for every high school student to be college and career ready, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement.

The EMK school, as its widely known, was founded in 1985 by a group of community health care providers and higher education leaders, officials said. The enrollment expansion for grades 9-12 will unfold over the next five years, with 7th and 8th grade levels added in the later stages of the expansion, officials said.

The schools students are the future of the healthcare workforce in Boston, and through strengthening our partnership with Mass General Brigham, we meet the needs of their workforce and the dreams of our students, Dr. Caren Walker Gregory, the school leader of the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, said.

Meanwhile, the partnership between Mass General Brigham and the Boston school system further opens a pathway for city young people to enter one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy, but one that also has faced ongoing staffing challenges.

Overall employment in healthcare-related jobs is expected to grow much faster than the than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032, according to an analysis by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with an average of 1.8 million openings anticipated each year

The median wage for those workers, whose ranks included dental hygienists, physicians and surgeons, and registered nurses) was $77,760 in May 2022, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $46,310, the federal data show.

The median wage, however, for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (such as Healthcare support occupations, whose ranks include home health and personal care aides, medical transcriptionists, and occupational therapy assistants, was $33,600 in May 2022, the federal data show. That was lower than the median annual wage for all occupations, the analysis concluded.

The labor market in Massachusetts for healthcare jobs has been a tight one, as hospitals and health systems continue to recover from the disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis last March by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission.

Officials said Wednesday that the new partnership will address those workforce needs by building a pipeline that will prepare students to fill those in-demand jobs.

As healthcare providers continue to face persistent labor challenges, it is crucial that we develop innovative partnerships to respond to the challenges of today and invest in the healthcare leaders of tomorrow. Moreover, our work to dismantle generational health inequities depends on our ability to recruit, retain and support a diverse, culturally competent and highly skilled workforce, Dr. Anne Klibanski, the president and of CEO Mass General Brigham, said in the joint statement.

The grant announced Wednesday will allow the Boston school district to build on the success of the EMK partnership with Mass General Brigham to provide our students with meaningful learning experiences that set them up for a bright future, city schools Superintendent Mary Skipper said.

The grant announced Wednesday was part of a broader, $250 million initiative by Bloomberg launched in 1o cities nationwide aimed at building partnerships between schools and healthcare systems and creating new, healthcare career-focused high schools, the philanthropic organization helmed by former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg said.

When its fully up and running, the philanthropic blitz will benefit some 6,000 students nationwide, the organization said.

By combining classroom learning with hands-on experience, these specialized health-care high schools will prepare students for careers with opportunities for growth and advancement, Bloomberg said. America needs more health care workers, and we need a stronger, larger middle-class -- and this is a way to help accomplish both goals.
HOLYOKE  A Holyoke sailor, one of 98 men of the battleship USS California killed in the Pearl Harbor attack Dec. 7, 1941, is returning having been identified through modern DNA technology.

Pharmacists Mate 2nd Class Merle Hillman was born in Chicopee in 1916, according to Navy records. But he listed Holyoke as his hometown when he enlisted in the Navy in 1937.
Yet again, Mother Nature is not finished with Massachusetts. Another system bringing snow is headed to the Bay State, and is expected to reach it Friday morning.

According to National Weather Service forecaster Bill Leatham, the system will likely only dump up to an inch of snow in most areas. The exception is likely to be southeastern Massachusetts, the Cape and the Islands, which are expected to get at least an inch, and could see up to three inches.

The system is predicted to move south to north across the state as it passes by on the ocean just close enough to cause some ocean enhanced snow, Leatham said. It is expected to reach southeastern Massachusetts between 6 and 8 a.m. Friday.

The rest of the state should begin to see some snowfall by 11 a.m. that day, Leatham said. Most of Massachusetts will likely see the snow wrap up before midnight on Friday, though the southeastern part of the state may continue to experience some snowfall into the early morning on Saturday.

Wind is not expected to be much of an issue with this system, though there may be gusts up to 30 mph, Leatham said. Additionally, the Cape and Islands could see some rain mixed in with the snow.

Leatham also warned of cold temperatures Saturday morning that will be exacerbated by wind chills.

Folks should be aware of the cold air that weve got in place. It could be pretty chilly out heading into Saturday morning, he said. Most of the interior parts of the state are predicted to be in the single digits or teens.

Leading up to the snow on Friday, highs on Wednesday and Thursday are expected to be in the mid to high 20s, while lows overnight are expected to be in the teens, according to the weather service. The skies on Wednesday are predicted to be mostly clear, but clouds will begin massing throughout the day on Thursday.

The weekend is expected to be chilly, with highs in the low 20s throughout the weekend, according to the weather service. Massachusetts isnt expected to see any more precipitation for at least a few days following Fridays snow.
A new Boston Globe investigation brings to light allegations that a Dover father  who authorities say killed his wife and daughter  duped his family into believing they were wealthy, when in fact they were anything but.

The Kamal family made headlines in late December after the Norfolk District Attorneys Office announced that 54-year-old Teena Kamal and her daughter, 18-year-old Middlebury College student Arianna Kamal, had been shot and killed in their multimillion-dollar home during an incident of suspected domestic violence.

The district attorneys office later confirmed that Kamals husband, 57-year-old Rakesh Rick Kamal, is believed to have killed his family members before shooting himself on Dec. 28. Soon after, MassLive uncovered information indicating that the Kamals  who were living in the states wealthiest town  may have had money troubles prior to the murder-suicide.

But on Tuesday, The Boston Globe published findings from their in-depth investigation into the Kamal family that reveal just how shaky and secret their financial situation appears to have been.

The Kamals veneer of wealth was in fact an astonishing ruse, orchestrated so stealthily, relatives said, that its mastermind managed to hide it from colleagues, realtors, even his own wife and daughter, the newspaper wrote.

How the Kamals home went into foreclosure

MassLives previous reporting revealed that the Kamals 5-acre property  which included an 11-bedroom mansion  was in foreclosure before their deaths. According to the Globe, a staggering and untraditional mortgage may have been a factor in this.

The Kamals bought the home on Valentines Day in 2019 for $4 million, but paid a down payment of $200,000  a mere 5% of the total purchase price, the Globe reported. They borrowed the other $3.8 million from the builder, Massachusetts-based Wilsondale Associates, instead of a traditional bank.

Read more: DA identifies family members found dead in Dover mansion

According to the Globe, the Kamals were due to pay back the full $3.8 million balance in just two years. Most mortgages in the U.S. are structured to be paid in full over the course of 30 years.

By 2021, Rick Kamal was trying to restructure the mortgage payment to fend off unpaid interest and fines, and in December 2023, a court finally ordered the Kamal family to leave the home, the Globe reported.

Maintaining the veneer of wealth

Rick Kamal had created an identity for himself as a successful software developer and entrepreneur, the Globe reported. Photos of the familys mansion show a placard with their name in gold at an entrance to the property.

To neighbors, associates, and family members, the Kamals had it all, a notion Rick Kamal did little to dispel: There was the luxury car, elite private schools for Arianna, and professional clout, the newspaper wrote.

Despite this image, the Globe reported that EduNova, the familys supposedly successful technology education start-up, had been involuntarily dissolved in 2021. Even so, MassLive previously reported that the companys website was still online as recently as August 2023.

It was also known to several of Rick Kamals colleagues at Harvard Business School Online that he was pushed out of his position as managing director and chief technology officer when he left the job in 2019, the Globe reported. Harvard Business School previously confirmed to MassLive that he held that role beginning in 2015.

Finally, the Globe reported, court documents indicate that Rick Kamal was drowning in personal debts. He had borrowed significant amounts of money from his mother and brother, as well as $500,000 from his wifes brother, the newspaper wrote.

Keeping the truth from the family

According to the Globe, the Norfolk District Attorneys Office said it believes Teena and Arianna didnt know the extent of the familys financial problems even though, as MassLive previously reported, court documents list Teena as having filed for bankruptcy in 2022.

Additionally, despite the pending eviction, Teena, Arianna and other family members believed Rick Kamal was about to purchase a $16.5 million home in Tennessee, and Teena had even begun buying furniture, the Globe reported.

Teena had no clue that there were financial problems, Teenas brother, Sandeep Bedi, told the newspaper. She thought that they were rolling in money.

The murder-suicide and the truth about the Kamal familys finances shocked everyone in the familys lives, the Globe reported.

I would never in my wildest dreams question what Rick is doing, Bedi told the newspaper. We put him on a pedestal so high you cannot imagine.
A pedestrian was struck and killed by an SUV on Route 1 in Wrentham Tuesday, but authorities are investigating whether a second vehicle may also have hit the victim, according to police.

Wrentham police posted about the fatal crash on Facebook a little after 6:20 p.m. to alert the public that Route 1 was closed between Madison and Thurston Street due to the crash. The roadway was later reopened.

Read more: Driver cited after SUV flies into trees and gets stuck in Longmeadow

In a comment below the post, police wrote that the victim had been hit by an SUV and that the driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with authorities. Police have not identified the pedestrian, but WCVB-TV in Boston reported that the victim was a man and that he died at the scene.

The Attleboro Sun Chronicle reported that the crash happened around 5:45 p.m. near 545 Washington St. Police said the victim was walking down the middle of the highway when he was hit, the newspaper reported.

Wrentham police also wrote in the comment that officers are investigating whether a second vehicle  a pick-up truck with a plow attachment  also hit the victim. Police said officers have identified the truck driver and found that they were not actively plowing at the time of the crash.

No further information about the crash has been released. So far, no charges have been fired.
CHICOPEE  A seven-acre plot that was to house Teslas first Western Massachusetts dealership is back on the market, after the electric vehicles maker decided to look elsewhere.

Robert Bolduc, the owner of Burnett Road property in Chicopee, said Tesla pulled out of the project in part because of a long and costly permitting process.

Scannell Properties LLC planned to help Tesla build the dealership across from a Pride truck stop. The 35,700-square-foot dealership was to include 20-foot service bays and 310 parking spaces. The project was expected to bring about 32 jobs to Chicopee, including some 15 mechanics.

You could not ask for a cleaner operation than Tesla, Bolduc said. Everything is electric, and all the utilities are there. It was a perfect site for them. But they had so many problems with a very complicated permitting system, and it took so long that we lost the deal.

He added, Its very sad for Chicopee.

Tesla could not be reached for comment.

Related content:

The vacant property is 7.06 acres of industrial-zoned land with 580 feet of road frontage. It is back on the market at a price of $4 million, listed by Low and Picard Commercial.

The potential dealership and service center received unanimous support from the City Council in a 12-0 vote, along with a special permit last year. Some neighbors expressed concern about a potential increase in traffic on Burnett Road, which is home to the Pride gas station, McDonalds, Motel 6, Bowlero Chicopee, and Mercedes-Benz of Springfield.

Residents of Burnett Road said they believed the proposed dealership was too big for the location and could cause a fire hazard.

In response, Scannell reduced the building size by about a third from the original plan, which called for a 50,300-square-foot building with about 395 parking spaces and 48 bays.

Former Ward 6 City Councilor Derek Dobosz last year called the development the best option for the vacant parcel. He said the business would benefit the city by generating more taxes.

Bolduc said Wednesday he was ready for Chicopee to become home to Teslas first Western Massachusetts dealership and lamented having to put the property back on the market.

He said he doesnt know where Scannell and Tesla will go next but believes the dealership shouldve been operating by now.

The site is clean, flat, and ready to go, he said. All they had to do was put shovels in the ground. It shouldve been a slam dunk.
Donald Trump was threatened with expulsion from his Manhattan civil trial Wednesday after he repeatedly ignored a warning to keep quiet while writer E. Jean Carroll testified that he shattered her reputation after she accused him of sexual abuse.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan told the former president that his right to be present at the trial will be revoked if he remains disruptive. After an initial warning, Carrolls lawyer said Trump could still be heard making remarks to his lawyers, including it is a witch hunt and it really is a con job.

Mr. Trump, I hope I dont have to consider excluding you from the trial, Kaplan said in an exchange after the jury was excused for lunch, adding: I understand youre probably eager for me to do that.

I would love it, Trump shot back, shrugging as he sat between lawyers Alina Habba and Michael Madaio at the defense table.

I know you would like it. You just cant control yourself in this circumstance, apparently, Kaplan responded.

You cant either, Trump muttered.

Read more: 3 ways Trump signaled to white Evangelicals for the Iowa Caucus win

Kaplan cracked down after Carroll lawyer Shawn Crowley complained for a second time that Trump could be heard loudly saying things that are false as he sat at the defense table, frequently tilting back in his chair and leaning over to speak with his lawyer.

Among his comments, Crowley said, were that the longtime Elle magazine advice columnist was lying about the assault and that she seemed to have gotten her memory back. Crowley suggested that if Carrolls lawyers could hear Trump from where they were sitting, about 12 feet (3.7 meters) from him, jurors mightve been able to hear him too.

Im just going to ask that Mr. Trump take special care to keep his voice down when conferring with counsel to make sure the jury does not hear it, Kaplan said before jurors returned to the courtroom after a morning break.

Earlier, without the jury in the courtroom, Trump could be seen slamming his hand on the defense table and uttering the word, man, when the judge again refused his lawyers request that the trial be suspended on Thursday so he could attend his mother-in-laws funeral in Florida.

Read more: Trump wins Iowa caucuses in crucial victory at the outset of the Republican presidential campaign

Carroll, 80, was the first witness in a Manhattan federal court trial to determine damages, if any, that Trump owes her for remarks he made while he was president in June 2019 as he vehemently denied ever attacking her or knowing her. A jury last year already found that Trump sexually abused her in 1996 and defamed her when he made a round of denials in October 2022.

Carrolls appearance, which continues Wednesday afternoon, was somewhat of a tight rope walk because of limitations the judge has posed on the trial in light of the previous verdict and prior rulings hes made restricting the infusion of political talk into the proceedings. Habba lobbed multiple objections seeking to prevent the jury from hearing details of Carrolls sexual assault allegations.

Ive paid just about as dearly as its possible to pay, Carroll said, referencing the damage she said Trump had caused to her reputation.

She said that Trumps vitriol toward her has not ceased, pointing to multiple social media posts he made about her in recent days, and that his rhetoric continues to inspire venom against her from strangers because she claimed he sexually abused her decades ago.

Read more: Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his 2024 Republican presidential bid and endorses rival Donald Trump

He lied last month. He lied on Sunday. He lied yesterday. And I am here to get my reputation back, Carroll said.

She said she opened a social media website on Tuesday and saw a post that said: Hey lady, youre a fraud.

Carroll said her worries about her personal safety after a stream of death threats led her to buy bullets for a gun she inherited from her father, install an electronic fence, warn her neighbors of threats and unleash her pit bull to roam freely on the property of the small cabin in the mountains of upstate New York where she lives alone.

She also brought security along for the trial this week and last May and said shed thought often about hiring security more often to accompany her.

Why dont you? her attorney, Roberta Kaplan  no relation to the judge  asked.

Cant afford it, Carroll answered.

She took the stand after a hostile encounter between Habba and Kaplan  culminating in Trumps desk slam - over the judges refusal to adjourn the trial on Thursday so Trump could attend the funeral for former first lady Melania Trumps mother, Amalija Knavs, who died last week.

Habba called the judges ruling insanely prejudicial and the judge soon afterward cut her off, saying he would hear no further argument on it.

Habba told the judge: I will not be spoken to that way, your honor. When she mentioned the funeral again, the judge responded: Its denied. Sit down. Bring in the jury.

Carrolls testimony came nine months after she was in the same chair convincing a jury in the hopes that Trump could be held accountable in a way that would stop him from frequent verbal attacks against her as he campaigns for the presidency. He is the front-runner on the Republican ticket and won the Iowa caucuses on Monday.

Im here because Donald Trump assaulted me and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened. He lied and shattered my reputation, she said.

Once, Carroll testified, she was a respected advice columnist. Now, Im known as the liar, the fraud and the whack job.

Because the first jury found that Trump sexually abused Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her in 2022, the new trial concerns only how much more  if anything  hell be ordered to pay her for other remarks he made in 2019 while he was president.

Read more: Donald Trump vows to take away tax breaks for universities if reelected

Trump, who is juggling court appearances with campaign stops, sat in on jury selection Tuesday. Before opening statements began, he left for a New Hampshire rally.

He declared on social media Tuesday that the case was nothing but fabricated lies and political shenanigans that had garnered his accuser money and fame.

I am the only one injured by this attempted EXTORTION, read a post on his Truth Social platform.

Carroll, an advice columnist and magazine writer, has said that Trump harmed her deeply. First, she claims, he forced himself on her in a dressing room after a chance meeting at a luxury department store in 1996. Then he publicly impugned her honesty, her motives and even her sanity after she told the story publicly in a 2019 memoir.

Read more: The Supreme Court will decide if Trump can be kept off 2024 presidential ballots

Carroll has maintained she lost millions of readers and her longtime post at Elle magazine, where her Ask E. Jean advice column ran for over a quarter-century, because of her allegations and Trumps reaction to them. Elle has said her contract wasnt renewed for unrelated reasons.

Trump asserts that nothing ever happened between him and Carroll and that he never met her. He says a 1987 party photo of them and their then-spouses doesnt count because it was a momentary greeting.

Trump did not attend the previous trial in the case last May, when a jury found he had sexually abused and defamed Carroll and awarded her $5 million in damages. The jury said, however, that Carroll hadnt proven her claim that Trump raped her.

Carroll is now seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and millions more in punitive damages.

The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done.
A former Massachusetts mother faces child abuse charges after she brought her 3-year-old daughter to a hospital in New Mexico and doctors found the child dead with several bruises and ligature marks.

Kerri Anne Santos, 31, brought her child to the University of New Mexico Hospital at about 3:49 a.m. on Jan. 13. Doctors told police the 3-year-old was already dead when Santos arrived.

Police were called after doctors found Santos extremely suspicious, as well as bruises all over the childs body in different stages of healing, according to a criminal complaint filed in New Mexico court. There were also bruises behind the childs ears and marks that showed the childs wrists and ankles had been bound.

Santos told doctors and police that her child, who was not named in the police report, fell from a toilet and hit her face and that had caused a swollen lip and bruised forehead.

Santos held the child in her arms, wrapped in a blanket, and she initially would not let doctors at the emergency room look at her child. When doctors were eventually able to get Santos in a private room they found the child dead.

Three other people were charged in connection with the childs death, including Christina Hopkins Pena-Cantor, 46, and Austin Bing, 28, who traveled with Santos and her three children to New Mexico from Massachusetts. Santos lived with Pena-Cantor for seven months before traveling together. Bing is Pena-Cantors son.

Christina Hopkins Pena-Cantor, 46, and her son, Austin Bing, 28, were charged with child abuse in connection with the death of a 3-year-old in New Mexico. All formerly lived in Massachusetts.Albuquerque Police Department

The group arrived in New Mexico in recent weeks and stayed at the apartment of an Albuquerque man, who also faces charges in connection with the childs death.

New Mexico police contacted authorities in Gardner, where Santos had most recently lived, and learned that there were several domestic violence reports. They also learned that that an investigation by the Department of Child and Families suspected Santos of using drugs around her children.

Along with the 3-year-old, Santos is the mother of a 3-month-old baby and a 6-year-old child, according to the police report.

After an interview with the 6-year-old child, authorities believed that all three children were victims of sexual abuse, according to the Albuquerque police. The two surviving children were placed in the custody of the New Mexico child welfare department.

Detectives learned that the 3-year-old was bound by one of the adults with a shoelace prior to her being brought to the hospital.
Days before voters in New Hampshire head to the polls, CNN and ABC canceled announced theyd canceled planned Republican debates after only Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accepted an invitation, according to published reports.

CNN had planned to hold a debate on Sunday at New England College in Henniker, N.H, two days before the closely watched Granite State contest, the Washington Post reported. The cable network pulled the plug after former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump passed on attending.

We will continue to pursue other opportunities as the campaign season progresses through 2024, a CNN spokesperson told the Post in an email.

ABC News announced Tuesday that it was canceling a Thursday debate held in conjunction with WMUR-TV, of Manchester N.H.

Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race, an ABC News spokesperson said in a statement. As a result, while our robust election coverage will continue, ABC News and WMUR-TV will not be moving forward with Thursdays Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire.

Trump has declined all debate invitations. Haley, meanwhile, has participated in previous debates, the Post reported. Of the decision to pass on ABCs invitation, Haley said she would not participate in any such forum unless they included Trump or President Joe Biden, according to the Post.

The latter would not happen unless or until Haley, who has trailed in the polls, had secured the Republican presidential nomination, the Post noted.

Haley is still slated to appear at a CNN town hall on Thursday night, the newspaper reported.

In a Tuesday statement, Haley fumed about Trumps absence from the debate stage.

Weve had five great debates in this campaign, Haley said, according to the Post. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide.

On Tuesday, in a post to X, formerly Twitter, DeSantis said Haley was afraid to debate because she doesnt want to answer the tough questions such as how she got rich off Boeing after giving them millions in taxpayer handouts as governor of South Carolina.

Nikki Haley is afraid to debate because she doesnt want to answer the tough questions such as how she got rich off Boeing after giving them millions in taxpayer handouts as governor of South Carolina.



The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, shes running to  Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 16, 2024

The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, shes running to be Trumps VP. I wont snub New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and plan to honor my commitments. I look forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week, DeSantis wrote.
Stop  Its primary time.

For the next week, the eyes of the nations political and chattering classes will be trained on New Hampshire, as this years crop of marquee Republican White House hopefuls  whats left of of them  and a handful of Democrats, descend on Massachusetts nearest northern neighbor for the first primary of the 2024 campaign cycle.

The Jan. 23 contest, which comes on the heels of the frigid Iowa caucuses, will be make-or-break time for the GOP candidates looking to shake loose what appears to be former President Donald Trumps chokehold on the Republican primary electorate.

Meanwhile, supporters of President Joe Biden  notably including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey  are trying to get Bidens name onto the ballot as a write-in candidate.

In an eyebrow-raising move, the nations 46th president took a pass on the Granite States plebiscite over a dispute whether New Hampshire or South Carolina should come first on the Democratic nominating calendar.

With that in mind, here are five things to know about the New Hampshire primary.

Why does New Hampshire go first?

New Hampshire has kicked off the presidential primary calendar for more than a century, going first in 1920, after hosting its first primary in 1916, according to a history compiled by the League of Women Voters. And the grumbling about first-place status going to a state that is whiter and less representative than the nation as a whole, has continued pretty much unabated ever since.

But the states small size and a populist political culture that prides itself on easy citizen access to elected officials has made it a logical stop for White House aspirants looking to build early momentum heading into such critical contests as the South Carolina primary in February, and the Super Tuesday primaries in March.

Granite State voters also turn out in big numbers, as evidenced by the record-setting nearly 30% of registered voters who cast their ballots during the 2020 primary cycle, according to the League of Women Voters.

Its also a so-called purple state, which makes it prime territory among candidates looking to pick off support from independents and the opposing political party.

Last year, Democrats tried to kick New Hampshire out of first place, as they attempted to move South Carolina to the front of the queue. True to their stubborn Yankee nature, Granite State political bosses werent having any of it.

The New Hampshire primary is democracy at its purest, as much as can be, James B. Splaine, a former New Hampshire lawmaker who sponsored the 1975 vintage bill requiring the states top elections official to schedule New Hampshires primary at least seven days before another primary, told the Boston Globe in 2023.

Whos running?

After cleaning up in Iowa on Monday night, Trump comes into New Hampshire as the prohibitive favorite in the primary pack. Trump held an average lead of 43.4% in the Granite State, with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was in second place at 30.3%, according to polling site FiveThirtyEight.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who came in second in Iowa on Monday night, narrowly edging Haley 21.2% to 19.1%, is in a distant third place in New Hampshire, with an average of 5.8%, according to FiveThirtyEight.

As of Tuesday, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who took less than 1% support in Iowa, remains in the GOP nominating pack. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who took 7.7% support in the Iowa caucus, suspended his campaign on Monday, throwing his support to Trump.

And those are just the marquee names. In all, there are 24 Republican hopefuls on the New Hampshire GOP primary ballot, according to the League of Women Voters.

On the Democratic side of the ledger, the party faithful will have their choice of 21 candidates, according to the League of Women Voters. That includes U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and the author Marianne Williamson.

Though his name is not officially on the ballot, Biden leads handily in most public polls ahead of the Jan. 23 election.

What does the primary mean to Nikki Haley?

Heading into New Hampshire, both DeSantis and Haley will be doing everything they can to eat into Trumps substantial polling lead and his enduring popularity among GOP primary voters  despite two impeachments, as well as the four criminal indictments and the civil actions pending against him.

For Haley, the New Hampshire primary is a crucial test, particularly after her poor finish in Iowa on Monday. Haley has the backing of Granite State Gov. Chris Sununu, who has been marshaling his own forces in an effort to elevate the former South Carolina governor, the New York Times reported.

Haley, for her part, has tried to tie Biden and Trump together, painting them as the out-of-touch standard-bearers of another political generation.

The question before Americans is now very clear: Do you want more of the same or do you want a new generation of conservative leadership? Haley asked a crowd in a speech after the Iowa caucus, according to the Times.

Haley runs strongest among college graduates and men, the former of whom tend to stay away from Trump, while the latter tend to gravitate to the former president, ABC News reported.

What does the primary mean to Ron DeSantis?

DeSantis, meanwhile, has had trouble building support in New Hampshire, where he has tried to portray himself as both more accomplished and more Trumpian than the rest of the GOP pack  just without the Trumpian levels of drama, according to Spectrum News.

But if DeSantis has one thing going for him, it could end up being his second-place finish in the Hawkeye State.

Thats because the candidate who wins Iowa doesnt always do as well in New Hampshire, as Politico reported Tuesday.

Republican also-rans Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Ted Cruz each got the nod from Iowa voters during their respective White House bids, only to watch their candidacies collapse, the news organization reported.

But is there room in the Republican primary field for a candidate who wants Trumps popularity without all of Trumps baggage? The short answer, according to NPR, is maybe not. And thats where things could get problematic for DeSantis.

If Trump wins New Hampshire, he will be the first non-incumbent Republican to carry the first two states on the calendar since the caucuses gained prominence in the 1970s. Stopping him after that will become more difficult by the week, Dan Balz wrote for the Washington Post on Tuesday.

Who can vote in New Hampshire?

According to the League of Women Voters, voters must cast ballots in the party where theyre registered: Republicans can only vote for Republicans, while Democrats can only vote in the Democratic primary. Voters who are undeclared can vote in either primary.

And thats a big deal because about 40% of New Hampshire voters are undeclared, according to the League of Women Voters, giving them an outsized say in the contest, and helping to set the tone for the primaries to come.

Thats really why candidates are trying to appeal in a broad way, she said. Theyre not just appealing to R or D, theyre trying to capture these undeclared or independent voters, Liz Liz Tentarelli, the president of New Hampshire league, said.

And for new American citizens looking to participate, the New Hampshire Secretary of States Office has a dedicated voter guide, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin.

How do you register and cast your ballot?

You can either register to vote at the local town or city clerks office; at a local supervisors of the checklist meeting; at the polls on election day; or by mail using the absentee process if you are temporarily out of town or have a disability that prevents you from applying in person. Voters can contact their municipalities for registration deadlines, the Bulletin reported.

On primary day, if youre already registered to vote, at check-in, show the ballot clerk your photo ID and tell them your name and address. Once you receive a blank ballot, enter a voting booth to vote for the candidate(s) of your choice by completely filling in the oval, the Bulletin reported. Then, exit the booth and place your ballot in the ballot-counting device or hand it to the moderator to place in the ballot box, the online news organization reported.
Children make paper cutting works at a kindergarten in Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Hu Panxue/Xinhua)

People buy decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival at a market in Daoxian County of Yongzhou City, central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by He Hongfu/Xinhua)

Actors perform dragon dance in Lushan City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Han Junxuan/Xinhua)

Craftsmen build a dragon light installation at a park in Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Sun Zhongzhe/Xinhua)

A student participates in a dragon dance at a primary school in Jurong City of Zhenjiang, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Zhong Xueman/Xinhua)

Kindergarten children perform dragon dance in Yichun City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Chen Qihai/Xinhua)

A man buys decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival in Wanzai County of Yichun City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Deng Longhua/Xinhua)

A folk artist teaches students dragon dance actions at a school in Xiaochang Township of Zunhua, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

Villagers air newly made Chinese knots in Huanan Village of Huashui Town, Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Bao Kangxuan/Xinhua)

Tourists visit a park decorated with light installations in Nanjing City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Fang Dongxu/Xinhua)

Villagers make a dragon lantern in Huaitang Village of Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Bao Kangxuan/Xinhua)

Tourists visit a cultural tourism block in Nanning City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yu Xiangquan/Xinhua)

A worker makes a dragon lantern in Hongze District of Huai'an in east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Wan Zhen/Xinhua)

People buy decorations for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year at a market in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yu Fangping/Xinhua)

Villagers make artistic steamed buns in Diaoya Village of Yiyuan County, Zibo City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Zhao Dongshan/Xinhua)

Students practice lion dance at a school in Xintian County of Yongzhou City, central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Liu Guixiong/Xinhua)

Chinese calligraphy hobbyists write Spring Festival couplets for locals in Guangshan County of Xinyang, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Wanbo/Xinhua)

A worker colors festive lanterns in Hongze District of Huai'an in east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yin Chao/Xinhua)

Volunteer calligraphers write Spring Festival couplets for workers at a workshop in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Shangguo/Xinhua)

Volunteers perform a stunt of Sichuan Opera in Dongxing District of Neijiang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Lan Zitao/Xinhua)

A villager buys decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival at a market in Lengjia Village of Yanghe Town, Jiaozhou City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Wang Zhaomai/Xinhua)

An artist displays dough figurines, a traditional Chinese folk art, in Zhumadian City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Gong Huajing/Xinhua)

A villager makes dragon lantern in Fatou Village of Deqing County in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Shangguo/Xinhua)

Children make lanterns at a kindergarten in Fushan District of Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Sun Wentan/Xinhua)

Editor: GSY
WESTFIELD  The Mast Cell Northeast Support Group, for those dealing with mastocytosis and other mast cell issues, will have its first in-person meeting since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement, 36 Court St., Westfield.

This meeting is open to all patients, caregivers, family and friends, and any interested party. EMTs and nursing students are encouraged to attend. Support group leader Patty Wright said, This disease is complicated. It presents differently for every person so it helps if our nurses and EMTs understand that our anaphylaxis and reactions may not look what theyre used to and understand what we go through trying to communicate our needs and get treatment especially in an emergency room.

Mastocytosis is a rare condition caused by an excess number of mast cells gathering in the bodys tissues. Mast cell activation syndrome is only one of about 20 mast cell activation diseases, also known as MCADs. The support group is for all MCADs. Making family, friends, coworkers, employers and the community understand their needs is an ongoing challenge and the support group allows members to share both challenges and tips.
WESTFIELD  Traffic was the topic of the night at the Jan. 16 Planning Board hearing on the Falcon Landing proposal, as No More Trucks protesters stayed until 11 p.m., holding signs and passing out flyers.

Some board members said they shared the protesters concerns. Planning Board member Bernard Puza painted a picture of the Westfield exit on the Massachusetts Turnpike on a Friday afternoon, where tractor-trailers back up Southampton Road and run red lights. Asked how many new tractor-trailers the project would add each day, traffic engineer Patrick Dunford said it would be 85 going to the facility and 85 leaving.
Following passage of cyclone Belal and the consequent damages caused to vehicles due to flooding on 15th January 2024, the Financial Services Commission (the  Commission) wishes to inform the public as follows:

1. A Special Desk has been set up at the Commission whereby we request affected policyholders to report the incident irrespective of their types of insurance cover, by phone on 404 5686, e-mail on belal@fscmauritius.org or in-person at the FSC House in Ebene. The Special Desk will be operational as from Wednesday 17 January 2024.

Details to be provided are mentioned at the end of the Communique (*)

2. Those under Third Party cover or not having adequate insurance cover for cyclone/flood, will be compensated by the Authorities on the basis of estimated cost of repairs.

3. The insurance industry has been urged to take swift action in registering and settling eligible claims, ensuring immediate relief to the impacted policyholders.

4. Each insurance company is to designate a senior officer as a Nodal Officer, facilitating a seamless end-to-end process, which includes the swift appointment of surveyors.

. Insurers have also been urged to accommodate delayed claim notifications wherever applicable.

Financial Services Commission

FSC House, 54 Cybercity

Ebene, 72201 Mauritius

T: (+230) 403-7000 F: (+230) 467-7172

E: mail@fscmauritius.org

www.fscmauritius.org

The Commission empathises with the affected policyholders and wishes to assure each of them that the regulator will be working closely with them as part of its objectives.

(*) Details to be provided:

Name, Address, Phone number, Email ID, Vehicle Registration Number, Name of Insurer, Type of Insurance (Comprehensive, Third Party), Claim Registered with Insurer (Y, N)
UISCE Eireann has accepted responsibility for a serious fish kill which occurred in Kiltimagh in 2021.

Inland Fisheries Ireland, the State agency responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats, investigated a serious fish kill incident, which occurred on September 3 2021 at the Glore River in Kiltimagh.

Inland Fisheries Irelands investigation led to the instigation of legal proceedings against Uisce Eireann and court procedures concluded on January 4 2023.

A Senior Fisheries Environmental Officer has inspected the Kiltimagh Water Treatment Plant on several occasions since the fish kill.

Following an onsite meeting on October 28 2022, a number of recommendations were made to Uisce Eireann to reduce the risk of future spills at the Kiltimagh Water Treatment Plant.

Uisce Eireann were fully supportive and these measures have now been implemented.

Inland Fisheries Ireland will continue to inspect the plant to ensure that all recommendations have been followed.

Uisce Eireann has also paid costs and a financial contribution of 15,000 to go towards research for habitat enhancement.

This will be used to identify the potential for a habitat restoration project in the upper Glore River and some of its tributaries.

This project will include a detailed survey of the Glore and possibly some adjacent sub-catchments, which will provide an analysis of current river and riparian habitat quality.

Where deficiencies are identified, appropriate amelioration works will be proposed to aid in the recovery of salmon stocks in the Glore River area.

Members of the public can report fish kills by calling Inland Fisheries Irelands confidential hotline number on 0818 34 74 24, which is open 24 hours a day.
Irish man Thomas Hand has rubbished claims Israel is committing apartheid in Palestine.

Hand, whose daughter Emily was taken captive by Hamas in the October 7 attacks and held for 50 days, spoke about the apartheid accusations on Piers Morgan Uncensored yesterday (January 15).

According to Amnesty International, the term 'apartheid' was "originally used to refer to a political system in South Africa which explicitly enforced racial segregation, and the domination and oppression of one racial group by another".

However, it has since been used by the international community.

When asked whether he thought Israel's response to the October 7 attacks was "disproportionate" given the number of civilian deaths, Hand, who appeared emotional, said, "They don't know a thing. We're living it. Okay? We have been living it every day for twenty years. You have no idea. You have no right to even speak to me.

"Have you been to Israel? Ever? Has any one of you saying it's disproportionate come to see 'apartheid' in this country? It doesn't exist you idiots."

Hand's comments come as South Africa formally accuses Israel of apartheid.

According to Hand, who is originally from Dun Laoghaire, the addition of Hebrew, Arabic and English on street signs and buses is evidence Israel is not engaging in apartheid, stating "the country wouldn't go to that much trouble".

He said, "If it were apartheid, you wouldn't do that, you wouldn't waste your money for crying out loud."

He invited Israel's critics to come to the country and visit hospitals, schools and cities, where they will find "Arabs, women, female Arabs, professors in hospitals, everywhere".

"You're all chanting 'From The River To The Sea' - you don't know what river!"



Thomas Hand, whose daughter was held captive by Hamas for 50 days, reacts passionately to those who say Israel's response has been disproportionate.@piersmorgan | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/UI3WNfClN7  Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) January 15, 2024

He said, "You're talking out of your bottoms. You have no idea, you have no idea. And you're all chanting from the river to the sea, you don't know what river.

"You don't know your history, you don't know your geography, because they're saying from the river to the sea. If you have any idea of geography you could work out where this little country is and go 'It's the mediterranean sea' but they don't know that.

"Educated Harvard University students, I'm sorry, cut out the Harvard bit, educated Harvard, educated University students and they don't even know what river or what sea borders Israel.

"They're probably very educated in their specific subject but they don't know anything else around them."

The video of the exchange, which was posted on Piers Morgan Uncensored's X (formerly Twitter) page yesterday evening, has since amassed over 3 million views and thousands of comments.

One commenter stated: "Thankfully she is safe unlike the 12000 children murdered by Israel. Will you make interview with relatives of those murdered children?"

Another wrote: "I genuinely feel bad about this, and no one should go through such horror. But until you interview people from Westbank who have been through 10 times more horror than this for 56 years, you are a hypocrite!"

In an interview in November 2023, during which Hand believed his daughter was dead, he said, "They just said 'We found Emily, she's dead' and I went 'Yes!', I went 'Yes!' because that is the best news of the possibilities that I knew. She was either dead or in Gaza, and if you know anything about what they do to people in Gaza, that is worse than death. That is worse than death."
Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the outside view of the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

"We once again urge maximum restraint and avoid any further escalation in a region that ... is already volatile and increasingly so. This kind of situation also can lead to miscalculation by parties with even worse consequences," a UN spokesman said.

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is concerned about Iran's missile attacks against what Tehran called the bases of terrorists and Israel's intelligence service Mossad in Syria and Iraq, said a UN spokesman on Tuesday.

"We are very concerned about these reported ballistic strikes that have been claimed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (Corps) that hit ... targets in Syria (and) in Iraq as well," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"We once again urge maximum restraint and avoid any further escalation in a region that ... is already volatile and increasingly so. This kind of situation also can lead to miscalculation by parties with even worse consequences," he said.

Dujarric said the secretary-general further underlines that all security concerns between Iraq and Iran must be addressed through peaceful means and dialogue, in accordance with the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and good neighborly relations.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Tuesday that it has launched barrages of ballistic missiles against the bases of "terrorists" and Israel's intelligence service Mossad in Syria and Iraq's Kurdistan Region in response to recent anti-Iran "terror" attacks.

Editor: WRX
Children make paper cutting works at a kindergarten in Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Hu Panxue/Xinhua)

Craftsmen build a dragon light installation at a park in Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Sun Zhongzhe/Xinhua)

A student participates in a dragon dance at a primary school in Jurong City of Zhenjiang, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Zhong Xueman/Xinhua)

A man buys decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival in Wanzai County of Yichun City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Deng Longhua/Xinhua)

Villagers air newly made Chinese knots in Huanan Village of Huashui Town, Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Bao Kangxuan/Xinhua)

Tourists visit a park decorated with light installations in Nanjing City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Fang Dongxu/Xinhua)

Villagers make a dragon lantern in Huaitang Village of Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Bao Kangxuan/Xinhua)

Tourists visit a cultural tourism block in Nanning City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yu Xiangquan/Xinhua)

People buy decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival at a market in Shijiazhuang City, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Chen Qibao/Xinhua)

A worker makes a dragon lantern in Hongze District of Huai'an in east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Wan Zhen/Xinhua)

People buy decorations for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year at a market in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yu Fangping/Xinhua)

Villagers make artistic steamed buns in Diaoya Village of Yiyuan County, Zibo City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Zhao Dongshan/Xinhua)

Chinese calligraphy hobbyists write Spring Festival couplets for locals in Guangshan County of Xinyang, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Wanbo/Xinhua)

A worker colors festive lanterns in Hongze District of Huai'an in east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yin Chao/Xinhua)

Volunteer calligraphers write Spring Festival couplets for workers at a workshop in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Shangguo/Xinhua)

A villager buys decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival at a market in Lengjia Village of Yanghe Town, Jiaozhou City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Wang Zhaomai/Xinhua)

An artist displays dough figurines, a traditional Chinese folk art, in Zhumadian City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Gong Huajing/Xinhua)

A villager makes dragon lantern in Fatou Village of Deqing County in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Shangguo/Xinhua)

Children make lanterns at a kindergarten in Fushan District of Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Sun Wentan/Xinhua)

Editor: WXL
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 16, 2024

Siding against OpenAI, a judge in Georgia ruled Thursday that radio host Mark Walters can proceed with a defamation claim over false information provided by the chatbot ChatGPT.

Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Tracie Cason didn't spell out the reasons for her decision, other than to say she had reviewed the file and applicable law.

The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed last June, when Walters alleged that ChatGPT provided false and malicious information about him to the journalist Fred Rieh, who founded the publication AmmoLand News, which covers weapons.

According to Walters' complaint, Riehl asked ChatGPT to summarize a separate lawsuit brought in May by the Second Amendment Foundation and its founder, Alan Gottlieb, against Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

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Instead of accurately describing Gottlieb's lawsuit (in which he alleged he was was being wrongly investigated due to his views on gun rights), ChatGPT falsely wrote that Walters was accused of misappropriating funds.

That response was a complete fabrication, Walters alleged in his defamation lawsuit.

OpenAI argued in a November filing that the lawsuit should be dismissed at an early stage.

Although the technology behind ChatGPT may be new, plaintiffs claims fail for reasons deep-rooted in settled defamation law: there was no publication, no actual malice, no listener who believed the alleged defamatory content, and thus no harm to any reputation, the company argued.

Rather, there was only a journalist who knew the plaintiff, misused the software tool intentionally, and knew the information was false but spread it anyway, over OpenAIs repeated warnings and in violation of its terms of use.

OpenAI also argued that AI-generated content is probabilistic and not always factual, adding that there is near universal consensus that responsible use of AI includes fact-checking prompted outputs before using or sharing them.

The company added that the interactions between Riehl and ChatGPT showed that Riehl didn't believe the statements about Walters.

OpenAI argued that during the course of the chat, Riehl told the chatbot its reply was false, and that its replies and the description of Gottlieb's complaint don't match.

OpenAI also said ChatGPT repeatedly told Mr. Riehl that in this specific matter, it could not access, let alone accurately summarize, the legal document in question.

Walters' lawyer countered that OpenAI's arguments were premature in light of Georgia procedural rules.

He wrote in papers filed in late November that Georgia rules preclude picking at factual allegations in a complaint as long as the complaint is reasonably supportable by facts that a plaintiff might prove later in the litigation.

Counsel added that OpenAI's arguments focus on factual issues -- such as whether Riehl believed ChatGPT's statements -- that can only be resolved after both sides have exchanged evidence.
by Les Luchter , January 17, 2024

Four decades ago, Jane Fonda popularized the workout motto, No Pain, No Gain through her enormously popular aerobics videos.

Now, not only is pain desired but failure too, at least according to the new tagline Fail With Us from Solidcore, whose studio-based strength-training workouts have been described as Pilates on steroids.

Failure is not the opposite of success, its the foundation for it, declares the female voiceover of a new spot from creative agency Farrynheight.

The spot is part of a national campaign thats running across paid media like programmatic radio, Google search, Meta social and retargeting, and native ads.

In earned media, Solidcore is using email, SMS and push marketing, social (Instagram, TikTok, X), its website and app, and posters inside and outside its studios.

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"We know that nothing incredible is accomplished in life without a healthy dose of failure along the way, Bryan Myers, Solidcore president & CEO, said in announcing the campaign, adding that the brands mission is to empower those seeking to push their limits in and out of studio.

And, while Solidcore may be saying Fail With Us to consumers, the workout company itself has been anything but a failure.

Last year, a decade after its 2013 launch, founder Anne Mahlum sold all her shares in Solidcore to private equity firm Kohlberg & Company. Price was not officially disclosed (CNBC reported it as $88.4 million ),but millions of dollars were said to be distributed among all full-time employees who had been with the company for at least a year.

Concurrent with the new campaign, Solidcore is rolling out a new beginner class format called Starter 50, which introduces the elements of the brands signature 50-minute workout, while including demos and moving at a more accessible pace.

Solidcore says that customers who take Starter 50 are 15% more likely to commit to program goals.

Solidcore now has more than 110 U.S. locations.
by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, January 17, 2024





If Americas feet moved as fast as our phone-scrolling, wed all be elite runners. Saucony, the Wolverine Worldwide sneaker brand, says people put an average of 79 miles per year on their hard-working thumbs.

The company has created a Marathumb Challenge app to encourage people to match their scrolling mileage with physical activity.

The research is based on polling from HarrisX of a 1,000-person sample. Saucony says that while 60% of consumers say their phone-scrolling and use has increased in the last year, more people are trying to break themselves of the habit.

For those with Android phones, the app platform pulls metrics on screen time and actively compares scrolling distance to stepping distance. For iOS users, the platform links the number of steps to the average national distance scrolled per week.

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The Rockford, Michigan-based company plans to kick off the first six-week challenge on Jan. 22. Theres a social media component, so users can tag Saucony and invite others to play. And the app allows for daily and weekly tracking.

Those who move more than they scroll are eligible for Saucony-branded merchandise.

The company says the effort is linked to the brands belief in the transformational power of movement.

The contest is timed to the launch of Sauconys Ride 17 sneaker, a lightweight shoe made for both everyday movement and longer runs.

Yet the promotion also lands at a moment when Saucony is limping through a crowded footrace in the performance running category. At a time when buzzier running shoe brands are flying out of stores, Sauconys sales fell 14% to $116.4 million in its most recent quarter.

Sales of Deckers Hoka brand jumped 27% to $424 million in the most recent quarterly results. And sales at On, the categorys Swiss darling, increased by 57%.

Brooks continues with the No. 1 spot for the seventh consecutive quarter, with industry sources Circana reporting it has a 21.4% share of performance running.
Highlights: Teenagers from larger families with more siblings often encounter poor mental health compared to those with fewer siblings

Factors such as parental resource dilution and socioeconomic conditions can contribute to adverse mental health outcomes in teenagers

Enhancing social skills among siblings and reducing the probability of divorce in adults with multiple siblings can positively contribute to their mental health



Teens with more siblings face mental health challenges due to resource competition. #siblings #adolescent #mentalhealth #medindia

Uncovering the Sibling Threat Costing The Mental Health In Teens

Did You Know?

80% of the Americans have at least one sibling. The sibling ties, which go far beyond the parent-child bond, are the longest-lasting bond for a lot of people.

More Siblings Tied to Poor Teen Mental Health

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Read More to Know About Bond Exists Between Siblings In Spite Of Rivalries

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Number of Siblings and Mental Health Among Adolescents: Evidence From the U.S. and China - (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0192513X231220045)

The impact of sibling dynamics on various aspects of individuals' lives has been a subject of extensive research, with contrasting findings that highlight both positive and negative outcomes. One intriguing aspect of this exploration is the influence of family size on mental health , particularly among teenagers.A comprehensive analysis of children in the United States and China reveals that teenagers from larger families tend to experience poorer mental health compared to those with fewer siblings. The specific patterns vary based on factors such as the age spacing between siblings and their ages.Surprisingly, this overall pattern was observed in both countries, emphasizing its significance, according to Doug Downey, the study's lead author and a sociology professor at The Ohio State University.The Chinese analysis involved over 9,400 eighth graders from the China Education Panel Study, while the U.S. data included more than 9,100 American eighth graders from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study  Kindergarten Cohort of 1988.In China, teens without siblings displayed the best mental health, while in the United States, those with no or one sibling exhibited similar mental health. The U.S. data showed thatwith older and closely spaced siblings having the most detrimental impact.Downey suggests thatIn single-child families, the child receives all the attention and resources, whereas in larger families, each child receives fewer resources, potentially impacting their mental health.Closely spaced siblings are particularly influential in a negative way, as children of similar ages compete for the same parental resources. Another possible explanation, though less supported by the data, is the "selectivity" explanation, suggesting that families with more children may differ in ways that adversely affect their children's mental health.Despite some support for the selectivity explanation based on socioeconomic factors, the overall results emphasize the negative impact of siblings on mental health. Downey acknowledges that the study doesn't delve into the quality of sibling relationships , and higher-quality relationships may positively influence mental health.Interestingly, while this study highlights the negative impact of siblings, other research suggests positive outcomes, such as improved social skills in kindergarteners with more siblings and a lower likelihood of divorce among adults with multiple siblings.Downey emphasizes the need for further research on the consequences of growing up with fewer or no siblings, especially given the declining fertility rates in the U.S. and other countries. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing this evolving social issue.Source-Medindia
UK to invest $25 mln to unblock Ukrainian exports and imports

British International Investment will invest $25 million to unlock Ukrainian exports and imports, including vital food supplies, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office announced on X social media.

"The UK is helping safeguard Ukraine's long-term future," the Office said.

British International Investment is the UK's development finance institution and impact investor, backed by the UK Government.
PJSC Ukrnafta paid more than UAH 25.7 billion in taxes in 2023, including UAH 4.36 billion in income tax, company director Serhiy Koretsky said.

"Each of us, by paying taxes, helps the Ukrainian defense forces in the fight against a common enemy. In turn, every hryvnia received by the budget should be turned into high-quality body armor, uniforms, drones, weapons, ammunition and other important purchases for the army. By paying taxes, together we are making the best investment  in our free future!" he wrote on his Facebook page.

Ukrnafta is the largest oil producing company in Ukraine, operating a national network of 537 gas stations, of which 456 are operational.
The Navy fired the commander of one of its guided-missile submarines Friday, the service announced in a statement Monday.

The commanding officer of the USS Georgia sub's blue crew -- Capt. Geoffry Patterson -- was relieved by Rear Adm. Thomas Buchanan, the commander of Submarine Group 10, "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command," the Navy said.

Patterson appears to be the first Navy commander to be removed from command this year.

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The Navy's statement did not offer any more information about why Patterson was removed from leadership, outside of the usual remark that the service expects its commanders "to uphold the highest standards of responsibility, reliability and leadership, and the Navy holds them accountable when they fall short of those standards."

When asked for more details, a Navy spokesperson said he was not able to offer anything that wasn't in the official statement.

The USS Georgia is homeported at King's Bay, Georgia. According to data from the Camden County Sheriff's Office, where King's Bay is located, Patterson was arrested in the early hours of Jan. 9 on charges including driving under the influence and improper lane change.

According to the sheriff's website, Patterson was released on bond after a payment of more than $1,800.

Patterson took command of the submarine's blue crew in May 2022.

The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Georgia's last deployment appears to have wrapped up shortly after that, in September 2022. The submarine had been forward-deployed for more than two years -- 790 days.

The Navy currently has four guided-missile submarines that were converted from Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. Instead of nuclear missiles, the four boats instead carry up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and train to deliver special operations forces on covert missions.

Each Navy ballistic and guided-missile submarine has two sets of crews, blue and gold. They take turns manning the submarines and taking them on patrol.

According to the Navy, "this maximizes the [submarine]'s strategic availability, reduces the number of submarines required to meet strategic requirements, and allows for proper crew training, readiness, and morale."

The Navy said that Capt. Christopher Osborn, the commanding officer of USS Georgia gold crew, is now in charge of the boat and noted that "there is no impact to operations."

Related: Navy Fires Commander of Ballistic Missile Submarine over Loss of Confidence
More than 30,000 military veterans and service members have formally agreed to 3M's settlement over allegedly faulty earplugs, prompting 3M to issue $253 million in payments earlier than expected.

The payments will be made by the end of the month to several thousand plaintiffs who were preparing to go to trial as the settlement was drafted and "have now agreed to participate in the settlement and release their claims," 3M said in a news release this week.

3M previously made $250 million in initial payments to more than 30,000 claimants at the end of December.

The milestone is significant because a nearly unanimous level of acceptance is needed from the 276,000 claimants in order for the $6 billion settlement, announced last summer, to be valid.

"We are pleased with 3M's decision to move up this payment and appreciate its commitment to the resolution of these claims," an attorney for the plaintiffs, Bryan Aylstock, said Tuesday. "So far, support for the settlement has been overwhelming and we expect to meet and indeed exceed the 98% participation threshold provided for in the settlement agreement in the coming weeks."

The Maplewood, Minnesota-based company announced the settlement in August after nearly five years of litigation amassed into one of the largest mass torts in U.S. history.

More than a quarter-million veterans and active service members blamed hearing damage on Combat Arms earplugs, made by 3M subsidiary Aearo Technologies and sold to the military from 1999 to 2015. 3M, which acquired Aearo in 2008, maintained the earplugs were safe when used properly.

3M says the settlement "has received strong and widespread support from claimants and the broader military community." The company can walk away from the remaining settlement payments if the 98% participation threshold is not met, though 3M is not required to do so.

Earlier this month, a federal judge signed off on 3M's plan to issue $1 billion in stock to help pay for the settlement. Payments will be made in phases through 2029.

The larger settlement 3M announced last year, involving PFAS contamination in drinking water, heads to a final hearing next month. The class-action deal with public water systems is worth up to $12.5 billion.

That settlement also requires a certain percentage of claimants to participate, but that threshold is not public. According to court filings, 170 valid opt-outs were received out of more than 14,000 potential class members.

"The relatively small number of opt-outs and overwhelming class member participation in the settlement ... demonstrates overall support for the settlement," attorneys for the water systems wrote last month.

The judge overseeing the case previously warned skittish cities and public utilities to accept the settlement or risk languishing in litigation into the 2030s.

2024 StarTribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A Marine base in Guam "disabled" a drone flying over the installation Sunday, prompting a Naval Criminal Investigative Service inquest and a warning to the public that unmanned aerial systems are prohibited on Defense Department property, according to the service.

The incident occurred at Camp Blaz, a fairly new base that was established last year in an effort to boost the Corps' presence in the Indo-Pacific against Chinese influence in the region. When asked, a spokesperson for the Marine Corps would not say whether it was a civilian or foreign drone that was shot down, citing the ongoing NCIS investigation.

Earlier this month, commanders in charge of two Pacific-aligned rotational units said that unmanned aerial systems, or UAS, were a "wicked problem" that they did not have assets to combat on their own. In a press release the following week, the Marine Corps touted how it was "one step closer to defeating" UAS as it urgently works to bring the capability to Marines' hands.

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"On Jan. 14, a drone flying over Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz was disabled," Maj. Diann Rosenfeld, a spokesperson for the base, told Military.com on Monday. "NCIS is investigating the incident. As a public reminder, drone activity over Guam DoD property is prohibited."

When pressed for details, Rosenfeld declined to specify how the drone was disabled, whether it was an incident originating from a civilian-operated drone, or if the incident was related to national security.

"Due to the ongoing NCIS investigation, I'm unable to provide more context," Rosenfeld said.

Meanwhile, the Corps said that in December it had successfully tested the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, a short-range anti-drone system that can be mounted on two tactical vehicles. On multiple occasions, leaders emphasized the urgent need for counter-UAS capabilities, to include the MADIS.

"The importance of countering UAS threats cannot be overstated," Col. Andrew Konicki, program manager for the Corps' Ground Based Air Defense program, said in a press release Friday. "We see it all over the news. MADIS is the key. We're excited to get this out to Marines."

The test included "hitting several launched drones" during a live-fire test in Yuma, Arizona, according to the press release. The MADIS system tracked and hit multiple drones using Stinger missiles and a 30mm cannon, a more robust anti-drone weapon than a Dronebuster, a handheld "gun" that uses radio frequencies to jam UAS.

A U.S. Marine assigned to Special Purpose Marine-Air Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Central Command, operates a Dronebuster during counter unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) training at the Baghdad Embassy Compound in Iraq on Oct. 9, 2020. (Artur Shvartsberg/U.S. Marine Corps)

"MADIS can complete the entire kill chain, and we witness[ed] that during this event," Konicki said. "It is a linchpin for mission success and our ability to neutralize airborne threats ... which in turn, increases our lethality."

The release said that the 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion, which is located at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, will receive the first batch of MADIS after testing continues throughout the next year. The anti-air battalion, which was activated in 2022, provides "critical support and protection" for Marines in the Pacific, according to the service.

While it is unclear what method was used to zap the drone over Camp Blaz, the Marine Corps will roll out the Installation Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or I-CUAS, this year to defend American assets and installations in the U.S. and its territories.

For some units, it appears counter-drone capabilities cannot come soon enough. In a reporter roundtable with representatives from Marine Rotational Forces Darwin and South East Asia earlier this month, commanders for those units expressed a need for the tools.

Unmanned aircraft systems are "a wicked problem that everyone's working hard to come to grips with," Col. Brendan Sullivan, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, or MRF-D, told reporters.

Sullivan, along with Col. Thomas Siverts, the commanding officer of the newly formed Marine Rotational Force-South East Asia, or MRF-SEA, said that, while they did not encounter any foreign UAS on their most recent rotations, they did not have counter-drone capabilities organic to their units and had to rely on Pacific partners for the task.

Instead, the units managed their "signatures," meaning they reduced their risk of detection by enemy drones that might collect information on their position and assets.

"We've taken multiple disparate commercial off-the-shelf and government off-the-shelf technologies and put them together," Konicki, the program manager, said in the press release regarding the MADIS testing. "This is a capability the Marine Corps has never had, and it was a challenge for the acquisition community. This test event shows we met that challenge."

Related: Marine Units Rotating to Indo-Pacific Don't Have Their Own Counter-Drone Capabilities, Commanders Say
Russian President Vladimir Putin met the visiting foreign minister from North Korea for talks that could facilitate a trip to Pyongyang for the Russian leader and arms transfers to aid Moscow in its war on Ukraine.

Putin held talks with Choe Son Hui on Tuesday during a visit to Moscow, the Tass news agency reported. Choe also met counterpart Sergey Lavrov where he expressed appreciation for North Koreas support within the context of the special military operation in Ukraine, Tass said, without providing further details.

Choes visit comes as arms transfers from North Korea to Russia appear to be increasing, with South Korea and the U.S. accusing Pyongyang of providing more than a million artillery rounds and its latest missiles to the Kremlin for use in its bombardment of Ukraine.

North Korea and Russia have repeatedly denied the accusations. But satellite imagery of North Koreas Najin port near the Russian border taken from October to December shows a steady stream of ships, including Russian cargo vessels, at the facility.

The imagery also shows hundreds of shipping containers being loaded and unloaded, and rail cars ready to transport goods, which South Korea has said includes weapons bound for Russia.

North Koreas official media has yet to comment on the meeting between Choe and Putin but said previously the foreign minister is due to finish her trip Wednesday. Putin pledged to visit North Korea when Kim met him for a summit in Russia in September, where he also promised to help Pyongyang with its space program.

The arms from North Korea deepen the pool of weapons Putin has at his disposal to attack Ukraine, replenishing stocks for Soviet-era artillery systems on the battlefield. Any payments for the weapons, which are likely valued at several billion dollars, could boost North Koreas sanctions-hit economy and reduce pressure on Kim to return to long-stalled talks with the U.S. where he might win aid for nuclear disarmament.

In return for the arms, Moscow is believed to be providing technology and support for Kims military programs, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to Seoul in November.

If Putin does visit Pyongyang, it would be the first time he has met Kim in North Korea. Putin traveled there once before in July 2000, to meet Kim Jong Il, the father of the current leader, who was at the center of international attention after he held a landmark summit in Pyongyang with then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung that raised hopes of rapprochement on the divided peninsula.

Kim Jong Un, meanwhile, has started the year by turning up the heat on South Korea, Japan and the U.S. Kim called for removing the concept of peaceful reunification with South Korea from his states constitution as he called Seoul a primary enemy and threatened to strike the U.S., if provoked.

Kim also tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile Sunday designed to strike all of Japan and U.S. bases in Guam. Pyongyang claimed it deployed a maneuverable controlled warhead that moved at hypersonic speeds. If true, this could help it evade U.S.-operated air defense systems in the region.

The U.S., Japan and South Korea are evaluating the missile. South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik said in a radio interview that North Korea has made some progress in its hypersonic weapons program, Yonhap News reported.

_____

2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
JERUSALEM  A ship in the Gulf of Aden came under attack Wednesday from a bomb-carrying drone, the British military said, in a strike likely launched by Houthi rebels.

The attack happened some 70 miles (110 kilometers) southeast of Aden, where the drone smashed into the vessel, said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, an arm of the British navy that oversees Mideast waterways.

The ship's captain reported there was fire onboard which has now been extinguished, it said. Vessel and crew are safe and proceeding to next port of call.

The British military did not immediately identify the vessel, nor whom they suspected in the attack. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

However, the Houthis have launched a series of similar attacks on vessels since November in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

The Houthis say the attacks are aimed at backing Hamas and Palestinians trapped in the Gaza Strip amid Israels war on Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.

The U.S. and its allies have carried out three rounds of airstrikes targeting Houthi sites over the last week, to try to deter the militants. However, the Houthis have launched several attacks in the time since, further imperiling ships traveling on a crucial trade route for cargo and energy shipments moving from Asia and the Middle East toward Europe.

The Houthi attacks are one part of the wider tensions gripping the region. Iran staged airstrikes late Monday in Iraq, killing at least four people. The U.K.s ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hitchen, said Wednesday that a British national, Karam Mikhael, was among the civilians killed there.

Meanwhile, Iran has been edging closer to acknowledging its own role in attacking a vessel in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka and India back on Jan. 4. Then, the chemical tanker Pacific Gold was struck by what the U.S. Navy called an Iranian one-way attack drone, causing some damage to the vessel but no injuries.

On Wednesday, the Lebanese broadcaster Al-Mayadeen reported Iran's Revolutionary Guard carried out that attack, as well as another one not independently confirmed on a separate vessel. Al-Mayadeen is a channel politically affiliated with Hezbollah that has previously announced other Iran-linked attacks in the region.

The Pacific Gold is managed by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, a company that is ultimately controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. Eastern Pacific previously has been targeted in suspected Iranian attacks.

But Iran potentially acknowledging the Pacific Gold attack comes as Tehran has been trying to lash out without directly targeting either the U.S. or Israel.

___

Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report.
BRUSSELS  Ukraine is locked in an existential battle for its survival almost two years into its war with Russia and Western armies and political leaders must drastically change the way they help it fend off invading forces, a top NATO military officer said on Wednesday.

At a meeting of the 31-nation alliances top brass, the chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, also said that behind President Vladimir Putins rationale for the war is a fear of democracy, in a year marked by elections around the world.

Over two days of talks in Brussels, NATOs top officers are expected to detail plans for what are set to be the biggest military exercises in Europe since the Cold War later this year. The wargames are meant as a fresh show of strength from NATO and its commitment to defend all allied nations from attack.

As the war bogs down, and with U.S. and European Union funding for Ukraines conflict-ravaged economy held up by political infighting, Bauer appealed for a whole of society approach to the challenge that goes beyond military planning.

We need public and private actors to change their mindset for an era in which everything was plannable, foreseeable, controllable and focused on efficiency to an era in which anything can happen at any time. An era in which we need to expect the unexpected, he said as he opened the meeting.

In order to be fully effective, also in the future, we need a warfighting transformation of NATO, Bauer added.

On Monday, U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps announced that his government would send 20,000 troops to take part in the NATO military exercises  known as "Steadfast Defender"  with many deployed in eastern Europe from February to June.

The U.K. will also send advanced fighter jets and surveillance planes, plus warships and submarines.

With ammunition stockpiles diminishing as allies send military materiel to Ukraine, the Norwegian government said Wednesday it was earmarking 2 billion kroner ($192 million) to boost defense industry production capacity, saying there is a need for large quantities of ammunition.

Norways Defense Minister Bjrn Arild Gram said that increasing capacity in the defense industry is important, both for Ukraine, but also to safeguard our own security.

Half the funds will go to Nammo, a Norway-based aerospace and defense group that specializes in the production of ammunition, rocket engines and space applications, to increase the production of artillery ammunition, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said.

In Brussels, Bauer said NATO would continue to support Ukraine long-term.

Today is the 693rd day of what Russia thought would be a three-day war. Ukraine will have our support for every day that is to come because the outcome of this war will determine the fate of the world, he said.

This war has never been about any real security threat to Russia coming from either Ukraine or NATO, Bauer added. This war is about Russia fearing something much more powerful than any physical weapon on earth  democracy. If people in Ukraine can have democratic rights, then people in Russia will soon crave them too.

___

Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen contributed to this report.
Navy leaders are starting to put greater emphasis on the need to improve the lives and working conditions of the service's most junior sailors as they wrestle with regular news headlines about suicide clusters, problems at shipyards and barracks, and anemic recruiting figures.

The push to emphasize "quality of service" -- the Navy's catchall term for a host of issues that deals with everything from barracks living conditions to access to mental health care -- is now a top talking point. At a major Navy conference this month in Virginia, it was front and center as admirals and top enlisted leaders all stressed the need to make gains and improvements in the lives of the rank and file.

But relief is not likely to be immediate or sweeping. Many of the ideas or programs that Navy officials are talking about are either broad and lacking specifics or are just getting off the ground. Plus, the sea service has so far not provided many metrics or specific goals to measure its success or failure.

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"There's a lot of things that we need to do," Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the chief of naval operations, said during the Navy Surface Association's annual symposium earlier this month. "People have different expectations now about what their life and what their career is going to be like."

Franchetti said sailors now expect a higher standard of living conditions, as well as more nutritious food, easier access to time off, and other resources.

The services top enlisted sailor, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea, also told an audience of largely enlisted sailors that the struggles he endured when his career began decades ago "aren't challenges or struggles that I want to have for our young men and women that are serving today."

"When I was a young sailor on a ship ... I would have liked to have a barracks room," Honea said. "I would have liked to not have to live on board that ship."

Both Franchetti's and Honea's remarks come just months after a government watchdog report found that barracks rooms across the military suffer from problems that range from plumbing issues all the way to bedbug infestations and squatters.

While the report looked at conditions across the military, it specifically noted that the Navy and Marine Corps reported that about 5,000 sailors and 17,000 Marines lived in substandard barracks as of March 2023.

The report generated outrage from congressional lawmakers almost immediately, and both Republican and Democrat lawmakers called the findings "deplorable," "unacceptable" and "appalling."

The Navy has especially struggled with accommodating sailors when the ships to which they are assigned leave their bases and head to shipyards for maintenance periods that can last for years.

Vice Adm. Brendan McLane, the man who oversees the Navy's surface fleet, told reporters on a recent call that he is aware "sailors sometimes struggle in that [shipyard] environment."

"It's not like what you think the Navy is going to be like -- when you're in a shipyard -- and quite frankly, it's probably the least fun thing that we do in the Navy," McLane said.

The results of those struggles have become deadly for some sailors.

The case of the USS George Washington -- an aircraft carrier that spent more than five years undergoing a massive refueling effort in a Virginia shipyard -- became a clear symbol of what happens to a crew when sailors are denied basic amenities like quiet, comfortable living quarters.

The ship had nine suicides between November 2019 and its departure from the shipyard in May 2023. Another George Washington sailor, assigned to a maintenance center in nearby Norfolk, Virginia, also died by suicide in that time span as part of a separate suicide cluster.

After Military.com broke the story, sailors came forward with stories of being forced to live aboard a ship that was essentially an industrial construction zone, enduring power cuts and loss of heating and ventilation in the dead of winter. Later investigations revealed many sailors resorted to sleeping in their cars.

One top Navy officer later said the ship experienced "a 9/11-like event".

A similar, smaller suicide cluster also happened on an aircraft carrier on the Pacific coast, and Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, the commander of that carrier's strike group, noted that the findings of their investigation, "coupled with those of the investigation into suicides aboard USS George Washington ... indicate that sailors assigned to ships in extended maintenance availabilities may be at higher risk."

Despite the elevated profile of the issue and the admission by leaders that solutions need to be implemented, it's not clear when relief will hit the fleet. Navy admirals who spoke last week didn't offer up many new, concrete programs or offerings.

Franchetti and two senior master chief petty officers gave nods to early efforts to offer sailors Wi-Fi, better barracks, and increased food options at the Huntington Ingalls shipyard that hosted the USS George Washington. Those pilot programs were announced in mid-November.

Force Master Chief Jon Lonsdale, the top sailor for the Atlantic surface fleet, told Military.com on Jan. 11 that Huntington Ingalls is "a natural place to work on these things, to work out the kinks to see if these things work before you scale it out to the rest of the fleet."

"I don't think we'd be at 100% a couple years down the road," Force Master Chief Larry Lynch, the top enlisted sailor for the Navys surface fleet, told Military.com in an interview alongside Lonsdale. But he noted that the Navy is "working in a positive direction" after what it learned from the George Washington tragedy.

Meanwhile, the Navy's top officer in charge of personnel, Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman, said that he's studying options to scale down how many sailors are stationed on an aircraft carrier while it's in a shipyard period.

Cheeseman told reporters that he hopes the results of the study, which he expects "later this spring," will allow him to help design "an orderly transition from operational into yards" for Navy ships and save many sailors from having to be at the shipyard in the first place.

"What will it look like? I'm not sure," Cheeseman said, before adding that he thinks "it'd be radically different."

McLane also floated the idea of "resiliency fairs" -- crew-wide gatherings where Navy leaders explain the various resources available to them ahead of a shipyard period.

That is "something that I want to be able to do throughout the Navy," he said.

Related: Wi-Fi for All Bases? Navy Weighs Quality-of-Life Improvements Amid Poor Living Conditions for Sailors in Shipyards
PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih (Dnipropetrovsk region) in 2023 sent UAH 269 million to help in the fight against Russian aggression and for those affected by the war.

According to the press release, in 2023, priority areas of assistance were urgent large-scale infrastructure projects related to eliminating the consequences of terrorist attacks by the Russian aggressor and assistance to the Ukrainian defense forces and communities. In 2022, the main focus of the companys social and charitable activities was on charitable assistance to war victims and support of the defense forces of Kryvy Rih.

In total, since the beginning of the war, ArcelorMittal and its Ukrainian enterprise have allocated more than UAH 650 million to help in the fight against Russian aggression and those affected by the war, the press release notes.

It is also indicated that after the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station dam in June 2023 by Russian terrorist aggressors, which caused a large-scale environmental and humanitarian disaster, there was a threat of a complete cessation of water supply to Kryvy Rih and the plant. Therefore, the enterprise, in close cooperation with the city authorities, completed two large-scale infrastructure projects in the shortest possible time: expanded the water intake canal of the Saksahan River in order to increase the capacity of transporting water from the Kresivske reservoir to the Pivdenne reservoir, and created from scratch in record time (20 days) a four-kilometer pipeline from the Inhulets River to this reservoir.

After the water supply was started, priority in restoring water supply was given to the city, and then to the plant to resume steel and rolled steel production.

In addition, the company provided more than 4,000 tonnes of construction materials and fuel, as well as electrical equipment to the Ukrainian defense forces.

ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih Material assistance was also provided to the families of deceased plant workers, assistance to employees of the plant and subsidiaries whose housing was damaged by shelling by Russian aggressors.

ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is the largest producer of rolled steel in Ukraine. It specializes in the production of long products, in particular rebar and wire rod.

ArcelorMittal owns the largest mining and metallurgical plant in Ukraine, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, and a number of small companies, in particular PJSC ArcelorMittal Beryslav.
HANCOCK, MICH. -- Wife-carrying contests as a way to celebrate winter? In the U.P., you betcha.

Hancocks annual Heikinpaiva festival is a weeks-long celebration of winter hardiness and the regions rich Finnish-American heritage. The 2024 Heikinpaiva is already underway with cultural activities, films, markets and workshops; the event will culminate on Sat. Jan 27 with a day of special festivities, including a parade, bear dance, polar plunge, wife-carrying race, and more.

Heikinpaiva traditionally marks the halfway point of winter, with its themes inspired by seasonal Finnish proverbs, organizers say. According to Finlandia University, Finnish people make up the largest ethnic group in the U.P.s Copper Country, with approximately 40 percent of Hancocks population claiming Finnish ancestry.

The festivals peak day on Jan. 27 will feature a parade in downtown Hancock followed by several special events and outdoor games. Highlights include an icy polar plunge, kids kicksled race, the spiral bear dance  an ancient Finnish tradition  and the wife-carrying contest, a traditional Finnish event that originated with male competitors racing while carrying female partners. Winners will receive Finnish-themed prizes.

The day ends with Iltamat  an evening event with traditional Finnish foods and live music  at Hancocks Finnish American Heritage Center.

You can find a full 2024 Heikinpaiva schedule here and learn more about the Heikinpaiva festival online and on Facebook.
A new Marvel Studios series has dropped on Disney+ and a young girl from Michigan is one of its stars. All five episodes of Echo are now streaming on both Disney+ and Hulu.

The show is the origin story of Echo, which follows deaf superhero Maya Lopez, played by Alaqua Cox, who must face her past and reconnect with her Native American roots. Lopez, who has a prosthetic leg, is also the first Indigenous lead character in a Marvel series.

We first met Echo in 2021s Hawkeye. The show also finds Maya Lopez being pursued by Wilson Fisks (Vincent DOnofrio) organization.

10-year old Wren Gotts, who is from Northern Michigan, according to 9 and 10 News, plays young Bonnie in four of the episodes. Her character is Mayas cousin. WWTV says Gotts now lives in East Jordan in Charlevoix County.

Gotts told 9 and 10 News that, at first, she didnt even know what project she was in because of Marvels secrecy surrounding the show. But she says because she is a part of the Ojibwe tribe, she knew about Echo, who is a Native American superhero.

Wren Gotts (Young Bonnie) and Devery Jacobs (Bonnie) attend the "Echo" Launch Event at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California on January 08, 2024.Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

They didnt even tell us the title before, Gotts told 9 and 10 News. When I was filming, they called it The Grasshopper. And Moms like, Thats probably the code name. Even the hair and makeup people and the costume people didnt even know. Theyre asking us and theyre like, We dont know either. 

Gotts added that she had to learn sign language to audition for the show. This is her first major acting role.
NILES, MI  A person was shot Wednesday morning after an argument between two Little Caesars Pizza employees in Niles.

Niles police say the wounded person, a 34-year-old Niles man, is expected to survive his injuries. He was treated and released from an area hospital Wednesday.
TROY, MI  A woman was arrested after she allegedly slammed a child into a display case at a Michigan mall.

Foz 2 in Detroit reported that the seemingly random incident occurred when a 10-year-old girl was shopping with her father and some friends at Somerset Mall in Troy on Jan. 12.

According to the TV station, the group was walking through the food court when an unknown woman forcefully grabbed the girls head and pushed her into a glass display.

Police described the incident as appearing to be unprovoked and for no apparent reason.

Police said the assault was caught on camera. The victim told police that the suspect laughed and smiled at her after the alleged assault before leaving.

The suspect, later identified as a 25-year-old Detroit woman, was arrested when she returned to the mall the next day, according to Fox 2.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- One person was injured Tuesday evening in a Dexter Township car crash.

Crews from the Dexter Area Fire Department were called to North Lake Road and Sauer Road around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, for a car in a ditch, according to Lt. Michael Grissom.

The car slid down a roughly 20-foot embankment on the side of the road, Grissom said. No other cars were involved in the crash.

One man estimated to be in his 60s was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital, Grissom said. He was conscious but not alert, Grissom added.

Crews used a Stokes basket, a sloped stretcher typically used in search-and-rescue missions, to get the man.

It is unclear why the car slid off the road, officials said. The investigation was turned over to the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office, which did not respond to a request for comment.

The area was cleared around 7 p.m.

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ANN ARBOR, MI - Free speech is a core value of the University of Michigan, university officials said Tuesday.

Its even more important to defend it during times of great division, said President Santa Ono at a special Jan. 16 meeting of the universitys Board of Regents.

The special meeting convened on the Ann Arbor campus updated and affirmed the universitys free speech policy. The university aims to promote open inquiry and spirited debate and will not kowtow to cancel culture, said Regent Mark Bernstein.

These principles declare unequivocally that cancel culture is dead at the University of Michigan, Bernstein said.

The full statement can be found here. It reaffirms protections for speakers, including protections from spectators trying to disrupt speech or performances. Officials also seek to provide public forums to criticize conflicting or controversial viewpoints.

We recognize that free speech and expression can offend, the statement reads. Every member of our academic community should expect to confront ideas that differ from their own, however uncomfortable those encounters might be. Not all ideas are of equal value. That is precisely why they must be subject to intense scrutiny and thoughtful debate.

One limit to speech on campus is speech that violates the law or university policy, such as targeted speech that constitutes bullying, defamation, destruction of property, discrimination, harassment, violence or threats, said Regent Denise Ilitch.

The new statement comes after input from the regents, university officials, the faculty senate and an open portal for other community members to submit opinions.

Pro-Palestinian protesters on campus have accused the university of not tolerating their free speech in recent months. This includes accusations that officials have repressed protesters through law enforcement, citing the arrest of 40 protesters in November after demonstrating in Onos office for hours.

Despite the recent attention on free speech issues, the universitys updated stance comes after months of work following Onos hiring in October 2022, said Regent Chair Sarah Hubbard. The university has given these protesters room for free expression, Hubbard said, adding that Tuesdays statement strengthens that commitment.

Weve facilitated in many cases when theyve decided to have demonstrations to block off streets to allow them to do that, she told MLive/The Ann Arbor News. Theyve been able to have a very broad audience related to speech on campus, and I think this (policy) for them reaffirms our commitment to being sure their voices are heard.

Multiple other regents commented prior to the approval vote. Regent Ron Weiser emphasized that the policy does not allow protesters to disrupt presentations.

People need to be able to listen if they want to, and people who dont want to listen dont have any obligation to, he said.

Weiser, a former co-chair of the Michigan GOP, also emphasized that the policy invites engagement with conservative ideas.

Regent Jordan Acker also clarified that free speech on campus does not mean until the last Nazi has had the right to speak.

Free speech includes the right to learn and to engage on campus, even on topics that are unpopular, he said.

Timothy Lynch, the universitys general counsel, will lead efforts to implement the policy on the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses. Hubbard also said leaders need to invite a diverse set of speakers on campus moving forward.

This is in order to fulfill the promise of this policy, she said. I look forward to working with everyone on that.

If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools.

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Ukrenergo on Wed records highest level of electricity consumption since week start, again calls on businesses, population to save

Electricity consumption is growing as of Wednesday evening and, according to the forecast, its evening maximum risks being higher than the morning one, NPC Ukrenergo reported.

As she notes in the Telegram channel, for this week today's consumption level is the highest and at 17:00 is 4% more than the same level on Tuesday, January 16.

The main reason for the increase in consumption is a significant cold snap, since over the past 24 hours the average air temperature has dropped from minus one degree Celsius to minus six degrees Celsius, to which were added repairs at thermal power plants and the inability of hydroelectric power plants to operate continuously. Although, as the transmission system operator notes, the situation during the day was somewhat improved by clear weather, which facilitated the operation of solar power plants.

Additional capacity equivalent to at least three thermal power plants will need to be deployed this evening to cover rising demand.

Therefore, reasonable consumption of electricity is extremely important, including for business and industry, which Ukrenergo calls on in the evening hours from 18:00 to 20:00 to reduce the lighting of advertising, shop windows, signs, garlands, turn off the lights in empty rooms, and also reconsider production processes taking into account reasonable electricity consumption.

As reported, on Wednesday morning, the Ukrenergo dispatch center warned of a deficit in the energy system of 5% in the period from 8:00 to 20:00.
One person is dead after the vehicle they were in crashed into an MTA bus while fleeing police in Flint, according to the Michigan State Police.Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Theres nothing like walking into a warm, cozy bakery in the morning and getting hit with the smell of freshly baked bread to get your mouth watering.

With freezing cold temperatures and snow blanketing the state of Michigan this week, this is the perfect time to enjoy a warm, doughy loaf of bread with a steaming hot bowl of soup to stay warm.

Weve rounded up 10 great bakeries in the Grand Rapids area where you can find delicious, freshly made breads that are perfect to pair with your next meal or devour on its own.

On Thursday, MLive/The Grand Rapids Press will give readers the chance to vote for their favorite bakery in the area, so be sure to check back at MLive.com to cast your vote.

Keep scrolling for our list of 10 great places to get a fresh loaf of bread in the Grand Rapids area.

1. Nantucket Baking Company

Nantucket Baking Company is known for its fresh artisan breads, pastries, specialty goods and friendly neighborhood service.

The Grand Rapids bakery, which opened in 2005 and now has two locations in the city, offers a variety of freshly baked breads including sourdough, brioche, garlic parmesan, ciabatta, multigrain and more. You can find the full menu of daily breads on the bakerys website.

Nantucket Baking Companys Fuller location is located at 1308 Fuller Ave. NE and is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can reach the bakery by calling 616-432-3045. Nantuckets Lyon location is at 615 Lyon St. NE and is open on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2. Field and Fire

Field and Fire mixes most of its dough by hand in small batches using organic flour, resulting in higher quality bread than store-bought breads that are made in industrial mixers, according to its website.

You may have seen Field and Fire bread on the shelves of your local grocery store  the Grand Rapids bakery supplies its breads to over three dozen grocery stores and restaurants in the area, including Forest Hills Foods, Bridge Street Market, Meijer Cascade/Knapps Corner and Whole Foods. The full list of wholesalers where you can find Field and Fire is available on the bakerys website.

You can also purchase a loaf directly from Field and Fire at its bakery, located at 435 Ionia Ave. SW in Grand Rapids. The bakery is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, you can call the bakery at 616-551-3491 or visit its website for a full menu of artisan and specialty breads and prices.

3. Wealthy Street Bakery and Hall Street Bakery

Wealthy Street Bakery and Hall Street Bakery are two local bakeries located in walkable neighborhoods that offer a variety of fresh daily breads including country white sourdough, French baguettes, whole-grain health bread and tomato basil focaccia, as well as special breads only available on certain days of the week.

You can find a full menu of breads, pastries and gluten-free options on the bakeries website.

The Wealth Street Bakery is located at 610 Wealthy St. SE and can be reached by calling 616-301-2950, and the Hall Street Bakery is located at 1200 Hall St. SE and can be reached at 616-214-7604.

Both bakeries are open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the Wealthy Steet bakery is also open on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

4. Schnitz Bakery

Schnitz is another classic Grand Rapids bakery that serves up delicious breads baked fresh daily, which can be bought by the loaf or served on a sandwich at Schnitz Deli next door.

The bakery, at 1301 Fulton St. E, is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can find more information by calling the bakery at 616-988-2316 or visit its website.

5. Mediterranean Island Market

Mediterranean Island Market is locally owned international foods store that serves delicious European breads that are made fresh in-house and restocked throughout the day. You can watch the bread get pulled out fresh from the brick oven before it is stocked on the shelves still warm.

Mediterranean Island Market is located at 4301 Kalamazoo Ave. SE and is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can reach the market by calling 616-281-8151 or visit its Facebook page for more information.

6. Sugar Mommas Bakery & Cafe

Sugar Mommas is a bakery and cafe in Grand Rapids that specializes in tasty sweets and savory pastries, cakes, tortes, and an assortment of breads, according to its website.

The bakery has five breads that are made fresh daily  Multi-Grain, French, Cranberry Walnut, Dinner Rolls, Focaccia  as well as a variety of special breads that are made on certain days of the week. You can find the bakerys menu with its daily bread schedule and prices here.

Sugar Mommas, at 6504 28th St. SE, is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can call the bakery at 616-957-2122 or find more information online or on Facebook.

7. Great Bread Co.

The Great Bread Company has been producing artisan quality European-style hearth breads, rolls, coffee cakes and crackers for over 30 years, according to its website.

The bakery has 28 selections of artisan breads, as well as a variety of rolls, buns and seasonal offerings. The companys baking facility is located at 4876 Allen Park Dr. in Allendale, but its baked goods are sold at various farmers markets throughout West Michigan.

In the winter, you can find Great Bread Company products at the Fulton Street Farmers Market in Grand Rapids every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April 27, 2024, and at the Holland Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first and third Saturday of every month through April 2024,

For more information about Great Bread Company, visit the bakerys website or Facebook, call 616-895-0600.

8. DeBoers Bakery

DeBoers Bakery is a family-owned bakery and restaurant in Holland that has been crafting artisan breads, buttery pastries and cookies for decades. The restaurant has two locations in Holland, each offering different menus, but the bakery is located at the DeBoers North location at 360 Douglas Ave.

The bakery sells a variety of fresh breads including some that are only made on Fridays and Saturdays, like the Jewish Deli Rye and Challah breads. You can check a full list of breads and buns on the bakerys website.

DeBoers Bakery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the restaurant closes at 1 p.m. You can call the North location at 616-396-2253 or find more information about DeBoers online or on social media.

9. Rise Authentic Baking Co.

If you are looking for vegan and gluten-free bread and baked goods, Rise Authentic Baking Co. has what you need.

Located in Grand Rapids West Side, Rise Authentic Baking Co. prides itself in being a gluten-free, vegan, and soy-free bakery that makes its products without any artificial flavors and colors, according to the bakerys website.

Rise Authentic Baking Co., at 1220 Fulton St. W, is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can find more information on the bakerys website or Facebook page.

10. Al-Bos Eurocafe-Bakery

Al-Bos Eurocafe-Bakery is a Bosnian restaurant and grocery market in Kentwood that bakes its bread fresh every morning and sells it by the loaf daily.

The Al-Bos bakery and market, located at 2930 Shaffer Ave. SE in Kentwood, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can find more information by calling the store at 616-325-2800 or by visiting the restaurants Facebook page.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Investigators are looking into what caused a camper that was being lived in to catch fire.

Ottawa County sheriffs deputies along with multiple fire departments were dispatched around 7:38 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, to 13665 68th Ave. in Polkton Township for a report of a travel trailer on fire.

Details about the fire were limited, but police determined the camper was being lived in.

The fire is considered suspicious in nature and the sheriffs office requested assistance from Michigan State Police fire investigators to determine the nature and origin of the fire.

No injuries were reported, and the incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office at 616-738-4000 or Silent Observer 877-887-4536.

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OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Ottawa County Administrator John Gibbs is threatening legal action against the county if hes fired, according to an email Gibbs attorney sent to Board Chair Joe Moss.

The email was sent in advance of the county boards Tuesday, Jan. 16, meeting, warning Moss that if he fires Gibbs, legal action would follow. The email, obtained by several local media outlets, was also sent to all the county commissioners.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services and Michigan State Universitys College of Human Medicine have jointly hired a former Ohio State University researcher to serve on their leadership teams.

Dr. Nagy Youssef will serve as Pine Rests first ever vice president of research, and will join Michigan State Universitys College of Human Medicine as professor and director of the schools division of psychiatry and behavior medicine.

I look forward to working together to provide cutting edge medical innovation that serves the Grand Rapids community and the State of Michigan, he said in a press release. We will work together to provide the best education for our learners and scientific breakthroughs for our patients.

At MSU, Youssefs work will focus on supporting the universitys mission of advancing medical education, biomedical research, patient care and community service. His work at Pine Rest will focus on the institutions education and research efforts.

He officially joined both institutions last month.

Prior to now, Youssef spent two years at Ohio State, where he served as director of clinical research and as director of the schools electroconvulsive therapy program. Before that, he worked at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia.

A news release announcing his appointment says Youssefs research has been published in over 200 scientific papers and abstracts in peer-reviewed journals.

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We needed to double business. Brewery closes Grand Rapids location for good

92-unit, upscale apartment project completed in Ada

96-unit, high-end townhome community planned near Grand Rapids

$16.4M affordable housing project coming to Spring Lake
JACKSON, MI  Marco and Bandit are just two of the many pets at Cascades Humane Society that are looking for loving forever homes.

Marco is a silly, handsome and super smart 1-year-old mix breed. He is a favorite of CHS staff, which has already taught him sit, down, place and play dead. Hes a quick learner, very eager to please and will be a dream to train further.

Marco enjoys spending time with other dogs, chewing on bones and playing outdoors. Marco is neutered, up to date on vaccines, microchipped, and has tested negative for heartworm.

This is Bandit, a 1-year-old male cat ready to steal your heart. His striking pink nose and charming chirp make him irresistible.

Bandit loves confidently strolling around, tail held high, searching for treats  his absolute favorite. Hes equally content batting at toys or getting pampered with a brush.

This laid-back, social guy has experience with kids and other cats, though dogs make him a bit nervous. With a gradual introduction to a cat-friendly canine, he could make a new furry friend.

Bandit is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and has tested negative for FIV and FeLV. If youre looking for a feline companion, Bandit might be your perfect match.

If you think Marco or Bandit could be your next perfect, furry family member (or members), then please stop in for a visit. Cascades Humane Society, 1515 Carmen Drive, is open noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

All dogs and cats at Cascade Humane Society have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and given parasite protection prior to adoption. Those who adopt pets also receive a free wellness checkup from any of 24 area veterinarians.

Dog owners wishing to adopt another dog are required to do a meet and greet with their dog and the dog theyre choosing to adopt.

CHS also has added services to its Spay and Neuter Assistance Program. The service, available during scheduled spay or neuter surgeries, includes vaccines, heartworm testing for dogs, FIV and FeLV testing for cats and dental procedures.

CHS also has a Pet Food Pantry to help families going through financial hardship. CHS accepts cat or dog food donations, as long as the food is in its original packaging. Donors can drop off food by the pole barn behind the facility. The Pet Food Pantry is open from noon to 2 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month.

Those considering adopting Marco, Bandit or another pet can apply to do so here. Adoptable pets can be viewed at www.chspets.org. For more information, call 517-787-7387.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.

More Jackson pets of the week:

Pets of the week: Vixen likes to cuddle. Ethel is ready for her forever home

Pets of the week: Nellys nickname is Miss Piggy. Cadillac will bring a touch of luxury to your home

Pets of the week: Benjamina would love to snuggle with you. Pecan is a friendly guy

Pets of the week: Walter is a big love bug who can walk on a treadmill. Stew has unique coloring
ST. JOSEPH, MI -- Businesses and restaurants in St. Joseph are teaming up for the citys 2024 chili competition on Friday, Jan. 26.

The Chili Tour, hosted by St. Joseph Today, has been a winter tradition in St. Joseph for more than 10 years, event organizer Daniele Crevier said.

There will be 25 chilis to sample at various downtown locations. Businesses are competing for the Peoples Choice Award, which is determined by popular vote, and the Chili Pepper Award, which will determined by a panel of judges.

The $5 fee for a chili map of St. Joseph serves as admission and a ballot. A portion of the proceeds from the event are donated to the Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen, Crevier said.

Maps will be available for purchase at the St. Joe Today Welcome Center, 301 State St., from noon to 7:45 p.m. and at The Market, 301 Main St., from 5 to 7:45 p.m. on the day of the event. Sampling will take place between 5 and 8 p.m.

Attendees do not need to try every chili on the map in order to vote, Crevier said. Though they can start the tour at either location, the maps must be returned to the Welcome Center or The Market for votes to be counted.

The full list of participating restaurants and businesses includes:

Affinity Salon & Spa featuring chili by The Mark III Grille & Bar

Caffe Tosi featuring chili by the SJHS Culinary Arts Team

Dads Farm & Cafe and Dogslinger

G&M Variety featuring chili by On The River Tavern

Harbor Town Interiors featuring chili by Lake Street Eats

Infusco Coffee featuring chili by Houndstooth

Kingfisher Cocktails & Tacos and Hill District by North Pier

Lee & Birch featuring chili by Full Circle Cafe

Nardos Pizza

Oh My Darlings featuring chili by The Brick House

Perennial Accents featuring chili by SJHS Culinary Arts Team

Revive Spa featuring chili by Brian - The Munchie Man

Schus

South Bend Chocolate Company

Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra featuring chili by Thorntons Home Town Cafe

St. Joe Community Taproom featuring chili by The Livery

St. Joe Wine Shoppe featuring chili by Anemel

The Buck Burgers & Brew

The Cheese Lady

Third Coast Surf Shop featuring chili by Base Bowls

Union + Social featuring chili by Silver Harbor Brewing

Wanderlust Outfitters featuring chili by Happy Poochie Eatery

Waterfront House of Framing & Fashion featuring chili by bread + bar and Souls Ground Cafe

White Pine Winery featuring chili by Silver Beach Pizza

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Residents will still have a chance to vote for six Republican candidates in Michigans presidential primary election next month despite half of them having since dropped out of the race.

Due to a legislative change passed last year, Michigan will now hold its presidential primary for Democratic and Republican candidates on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

On the Democratic side, voters have the ability to choose between President Joe Biden, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and Marianne Williamson, an author and speaker. As of publication, all of the candidates appearing on the Democratic ballot have not dropped out of the race.

For Republicans, its a bit trickier. Only former President Donald Trump, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and are still in the running.

Despite this, their names will appear on the ballot alongside ex-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the race in January.

Only North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who withdrew his name from the running on Dec. 4, 2023, will not appear on Michigan ballots said Secretary of State Spokesperson Angela Benander, as he withdrew prior to the states Dec. 8 filing deadline.

The state will begin mailing absentee ballots to individuals who have previously requested one beginning Thursday, Jan. 18. Early voting, a move recently implemented by the state legislature and new to Michigans presidential races, can begin as early as Saturday, Jan. 28.

Should municipalities elect not to open early voting in January, they are required by law to offer at least nine days of early, in-person voting prior to the February election. Since that date falls on a Sunday, the Secretary of State noted early voting will officially begin Saturday, Feb. 17.

Voters will also have until 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 to spoil an already mailed absentee ballot, but would need to do so via in-person written request in order to receive a new ballot from their clerks office.

Primary politics

With the Feb. 27 presidential primary, nothing much will change for Democrats. Thats to be expected, considering Michigans Democratic legislature was the one to push for the new primary date in 2023.

For Republicans, however, the move is a bit more complicated.

When taking to the polls next month, voters will see little difference from presidential primaries of years past. Behind the scenes, though, the Michigan Republican Party has worked with the Republican National Committee for months to finalize a hybrid caucus and primary plan.

RELATED: Michigan Republicans internal presidential caucus would be tied for fifth in U.S.

A candidate needs to secure at least 1,215 delegates nationally to secure the Republican Partys nomination. In Michigan, 55 of those delegates are up for grabs.

With the dual system implemented in 2024  done to avoid Michigan Republicans being penalized for holding a primary prior to March 1, which violates RNC rules 16 of those 55 delegates will be awarded through a proportional system based on the Feb. 27 results. In order to win a delegate in the February election, a candidate will need to win at least 12.5% of the vote.

The remaining 39 delegates would then be allocated in closed caucuses, held in each of Michigans 13 congressional district Republican parties. The RNC has reportedly approved a plan where officials in each congressional districts will vote how to award three delegates apiece.
The European Commission, despite the protestations of European countries neighboring Ukraine, is preparing a draft resolution to extend the duty-free mechanism for Ukrainian exports through mid-2025, Ukrainian media reported, citing an interview with Polish Minister of Agriculture Czeslaw Siekierski in Business Insider.

He says that the negative consequences of imports from Ukraine are becoming increasingly noticeable in the countries of not only Eastern but also Western Europe and they concern an increasingly wide range of goods besides grain. France, Austria and Germany are talking about threats to grain, poultry, fruit and sugar markets. They are discussing the need to renew tariff quotas, which are currently suspended under EU rules.

"Poland supports these demands, and we approached the European Commission with a request to renew tariff quotas on some sensitive goods, but the Commission rejected it," he said.

Poland's Agriculture Minister said that the opening of the European market to Ukrainian agricultural products could "completely destabilize not only our domestic market, but also the European market in the future."

Siekierski said that in 2022-2023, "three-quarters of Ukrainian grain exports went to countries neighboring Ukraine, which caused serious market disruptions." This led to a decrease in purchase prices for agricultural products while simultaneously increasing purchase prices for means of production. All this has, and continues to influence the functioning of agriculture in Eastern European countries as a whole.

Siekierski said he intends to meet with European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis in the near future. The ministry will propose that the European Commission resolution include a new protective mechanism that provides for the application of regional restrictions "if a market problem affects not the entire European Union, but one country or region."

In addition, the Polish Minister, as part of the Green Week fair starting in Berlin on January 18, will hold negotiations with ministers of other countries on the import of Ukrainian goods to Poland and the EU.

He added that the first results of Polish-Ukrainian negotiations are already visible.

"We want to develop a way to protect against the negative consequences of importing agricultural products from Ukraine that is acceptable to all EU participants. We are analyzing and conducting internal consultations, in particular, regarding the mechanism for licensing the export of agricultural products to Poland, which was proposed by the Ukrainian side," he said.

He said a solution such as this, "with appropriate support from the European Commission," could be acceptable.

Siekierski stressed that Poland has the political will to develop transit infrastructure for the export of Ukrainian products.

"We will work on the development of port infrastructure. Previously, unfortunately, there were few significant measures in this area. Therefore, in order to streamline and improve the possibilities of transit of agricultural raw materials from Ukraine, it will be necessary to cooperate with other ministries on the development of port, railway, and warehousing infrastructure," the minister said.

He added that Poland is counting on more active support from the European Commission and support for the development of Polish port and railway infrastructure using European Union funds.

"It is very important for Poland to ensure the proper functioning of its "solidarity corridors" so that exported Ukrainian agricultural raw materials are sent to those regions of the world that need Ukrainian grain and food," Siekierski said, recalling that Polish corridor accounts for approximately 15-20% of the Ukrainian grain transported along these corridors in general.

As previously reported, the duty-free trade mechanism between Ukraine and the EU introduced in 2022 (and valid through June 2024), insofar as it led to the reorientation of a significant part of Ukrainian agricultural exports to Europe, led to cheap food from Ukraine ending up in the neighboring countries of Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania. This sparked protests from local farmers.

Under pressure from these countries, the European Commission was forced to take special measures in May 2023, banning the import of Ukrainian food into these states (specifically, wheat, rapeseed, sunflower and corn). After the ban expired in mid-September, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, contrary to the will of the European Commission, introduced prohibitive measures at the national level. Moreover, Poland has expanded its list of products prohibited for import to include rapeseed cake and meal, as well as corn bran, wheat flour and derivative products. Hungary brought this list to 24 product items. Kyiv responded by filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO). Currently, WTO proceedings are suspended for negotiations with the participation of the European Commission.

Negotiations are currently underway on the introduction by Ukraine of a mechanism for licensing the export of its agricultural products with mandatory verification in each of the five countries.
On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda.

"I had a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Davos. We discussed our bilateral relations, in particular cooperation on the track of Ukraine's European integration. We coordinated our positions on the eve of the Washington NATO summit. I informed him about the situation on the battlefield. We discussed further defense support for our country," he said on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.
China firmly opposes U.S. passing of Taiwan-related act: FM spokesperson

Xinhua) 08:07, January 17, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- China strongly deplores and firmly opposes the United States passing the so-called Taiwan-related act, and has made serious representations to the U.S. side, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

It is reported that the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2023, requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to use America's influence in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support Taiwan's membership in this organization.

In response to a related query, spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that the United States passed the so-called act to grossly interfere in China's internal affairs and attempt to manipulate the Taiwan question for political purposes to create "two Chinas" and "one China, one Taiwan." "We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this, and have made serious representations to the U.S. side."

"Taiwan does not have any ground, reason, or right to join the UN, or any other international organization whose membership is confined to sovereign states," Mao stressed.

Mao noted that on Oct. 25, 1971, the 26th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted, with an overwhelming majority, Resolution 2758, which "decides to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations", and to expel forthwith the representatives of the Taiwan authorities "from the place which they unlawfully occupy."

Once and for all, UNGA Resolution 2758 resolved, politically, legally and procedurally, the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, at the UN. It also made it clear that there can only be one seat representing China at the UN, and that is the People's Republic of China, Mao said.

Over the past half century and more, Resolution 2758 has been observed by the UN, special agencies such as the IMF, and other international and regional organizations, Mao said, adding that any issues regarding the Taiwan region's participation in the activities of international organizations must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle.

The United States should fully understand the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan question and immediately stop using the Taiwan question to interfere in China's internal affairs, sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" forces and undermining China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Mao said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhny, held a telephone conversation with chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Robert Bauer, on Tuesday.

"I informed Admiral Bauer about the situation at the front. In this context, we exchanged views on the tactics and strategy of Ukraine and the Alliance in the context of a large-scale Russian invasion. He stressed that in a war of such intensity and scale, it is technology that plays an important role. We discussed the prospects and possibilities of combining the technological efforts of Ukraine and NATO to achieve victory," Zaluzhny wrote on his Telegram channel.

Zaluzhny and Bauer agreed to pay detailed attention to a number of important issues tomorrow during the meeting, which the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will join in a videoconference format.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he would head to Ukraine in February to finalise a bilateral security guarantee deal under which Paris would deliver more sophisticated weaponry, including long-range cruise missiles, Reuters reported.

The trip comes at a time when political infighting in the U.S. and European Union has held up two major packages of assistance for Ukraine.

France is working to finalize a bilateral security guarantee agreement with Ukraine to help strengthen its finances and defense against Russia in order to deter Moscow from future aggression.

Macron said some 40 SCALP long-range missiles and several hundred bombs would be delivered in the coming weeks.

"I will go myself to Ukraine in February and finalise these texts," Macron said, adding that the Europeans need to make sure that Ukraine will be able to continue to defend itself from Russia.

Kyiv is seeking to maintain flows of military and financial aid from its Western allies after nearly two years of fighting a full-scale Russian invasion.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in Kyiv last week to sign a new security agreement and announce an increase in military funding for Ukraine to buy drones, including surveillance, long-range strike and sea drones.

Macron said that Moscow could not be allowed to defeat Ukraine otherwise the security of Europe would be put at risk.
The Russian Navy keeps four warships on combat duty in the Black Sea, among them one Kalibr carrier, the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Wednesday morning.

"There are four enemy ships in the Black Sea, including one carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles, a total salvo of up to eight missiles; one enemy ship in the Sea of Azov; one enemy ship in the Mediterranean Sea," the AFU Navy Telegram channel says.

It is also reported that during the day, in the interests of the Russian Federation, the passage of the Kerch Strait was carried out: one vessel to the Sea of Azov; one vessel to the Black Sea, one of them continued to move towards the Bosphorus Strait.

The Russian Federation continues to violate the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Human Life at Sea (SOLAS) by turning off automatic identification systems (AIS).
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Polish President Andrzej Duda calls on the international community not to stop helping and supporting Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression, and also pointed out that war fatigue is a dangerous phenomenon that must be prevented.

"We were trying and are trying to support Ukraine, but we also continue to call on the international community, and I believe that this is my fundamentally important task. We urge you not to stop this assistance and support to Ukraine," Duda said during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Wednesday.

The President stressed the importance of further support, because if one looks at the potential of the Russian Federation, both from the point of view of the economy, the number of people, as well as the size of the army of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, "it is obvious that Russia is bigger than Ukraine, bigger in all these indicators."

According to him, the fact that "Ukrainians have been able to stop the waves of the Russian offensive for two years, that they are able to repel attacks and even are able to regain part of the occupied territories, demonstrates the incredible determination and heroism of the defenders of Ukraine and the great will to survive as a nation."

"And secondly, it also shows that international support has allowed Ukraine to survive all the time, but it is needed all the time. And war fatigue, which we are talking about all the time, is a very dangerous, very risky phenomenon, and we must try to prevent it," the Polish President said.

Duda noted that Poland is well aware of what the Russian occupation and terror mean, and Poles perfectly understand the situation of their neighbors from Ukraine.
Chandra R Srikanth is Editor- Tech, Startups, and New Economy
Danish Khan is looking after Telecoms and Consumer Technology domains. He previously worked with the Economic Times.
The National Security Adviser to the President of the United States of America, Jake Sullivan, announced the continuation of work to ensure bipartisan support by Congress for the resources necessary to supply Ukraine with the weapons it needs, and expressed confidence that this will be achieved.

Weve got to be able to deliver the necessary resources to Ukraine for the weapons that it needs to be able to achieve the results that it needs, and that requires mobilizing the bipartisan support we have in both the House and Senate, converting that into actual votes for the money. President Biden is absolutely laser focused on that. We are seeking to get that done in the coming weeks. And in fact, I continue to believe and express confidence that we will, you know, after a lot of twists and turns, ultimately get there, he said during a special address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Tuesday.

Sullivan recalled that he and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had the opportunity to hold a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the morning, where, in particular, the situation on the battlefield and various possibilities were discussed.

The adviser added that they had had a very good discussion.

In his speech, he stressed that the United States and partners will continue to support the people of Ukraine.

He stressed that they are expanding the training of Ukrainian servicemen, and working to ensure bipartisan support for the necessary resources to supply Ukraine with the weapons it needs.

Sullivan pointed out that Putin not only failed in his imperialist quest to subjugate Ukraine, but also his invasion strengthened Ukrainian sovereignty, the very sovereignty that he sought to destroy, and strengthened the very resolve of NATO that he sought to weaken.

In addition, the adviser stressed that against the background of all this, Ukraine has carried out economic reforms and strengthened its own military-industrial base, accelerated integration with the West.
January 17, 2024 / 10:20 PM IST

"If you look at how India has conducted its foreign policy, its economic policy, the way it has conducted itself - the entire world has developed a very big amount of trust on India,"Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said at WEF meeting in Davos.

"That trust is what is our biggest capital. That trust gels the entire world into a very harmonious way. For example, we have signed an MoU with the US, Europe, Japan on semiconductors, we are working with South Korean government and South Korean companies. It's like every possible company wants to collaborate with India in one way or the other. So, we don't think that it's a battle, we think that there is enough for everybody. It's a question of how much importance we give and how much talent we put into it and how much focussed we are on it," he added.
Lovisha Darad Lovisha is passionate about domestic and global equity market development. She writes stories exclusively on equities from a fundamental perspective, gathering insights from niche market gurus.
After the destruction of the Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft on January 14, the Russian Federation will probably be forced to reconsider limiting the areas of operation of its aircraft, according to British intelligence report.

On January 14, 2024, a Russian A-5 MAINSTAY, and Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, almost certainly exploded and subsequently crashed into the western Sea of Azov. Concurrently, a Russian IL-22M COOT B aircraft was reported damaged but landed in a nearby Russian airfield, a message published on the social network X of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Wednesday reads.

The intelligence service notes that the destruction of the enemy A-50 aircraft by Ukrainian forces "significant," since it is likely that Russia will now be forced to reconsider limiting the operational areas of its aircraft.

The A-50 is critical to the Russian air surveillance picture over the battle space, the message reads.

At the same time, the Russian Air Force has eight A-50 aircraft, which can probably cover the consequences of the loss of the board, however the increased stress on the remaining airframes coupled with the loss of the crew will likely constrain longer term mission sustainability.
Hungarian President Katalin Novak has said that Russia should not win the war against Ukraine.

Answering the question whether she believes that Ukraine can win, the Hungarian President said: I think Russia cannot win, and this is the most important thing. We must ensure that Russia does not win.

I think that we must continue to support Ukraine, unequivocally. And I can assure you that Hungary will continue to support Ukraine, she said during the panel discussion entitled Defending Europe's United Front at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Wednesday.
Germany will continue to provide military support to Ukraine in 2024, in particular, air defense systems will be supplied, German Ambassador Martin Jaeger said.

"Further air defense systems from Germany will be delivered in 2024. In addition, Germany will continue to supply heavy equipment, artillery ammunition, engineering equipment and will cover many other needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Jaeger said in a joint video message with Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksiy Makeyev on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

He also stressed that Germany has long been focused on the restoration of Ukraine - there is no point in waiting for the end of the war to begin this process.

"And now the traditional annual conference on the restoration of Ukraine will be held in Berlin in June. Presidents and prime ministers, officials and diplomats, representatives of the non-governmental sector and experts, and most importantly, big business, entrepreneurs will gather," said Makeyev.
Sohil Sehran is a journalist with 10 years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital media. He covers politics and national affairs at Moneycontrol. He tweets @SohilSehran
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Patricia Lopez is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
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Ukraine will have our support every day, because outcome of war will dictate future of the world  NATO committee chairman

Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Rob Bauer said that the outcome of Russias war against Ukraine will determine the fate of the world.

"In 2024, a record 2 billion people in the world will vote in democratic elections. And yet the concept of democracy needs to be defended more than ever. The Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are doing so in a way we have never seen before. In the darkness of war they are a beacon of light showing the world what it means to fight for what you believe in. Today is the 693rd day of what Russia considered the Three Day War. Ukraine will have our support every day after that because the outcome of this war will determine the fate of the world," the NATO admiral said before the start of a meeting of the Military Committee at the level of chiefs of defense in Brussels.

Bauer indicated that at the last session the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of commanders-in-chief and chiefs of general staff would take place.

We will hear updates from our Ukrainian partners and discuss the current situation, while reaffirming our continued support for Ukraine, he said.

Discussing the new defense plans, Admiral Bauer said: "These are the most comprehensive defense plans NATO has had since the end of the Cold War. Never before have NATO and national defense plans been so closely linked."

Concluding his opening remarks, Admiral Bauer focused on NATO's cooperation with partners, noting that in more dangerous times, close cooperation and increased interoperability are paramount.
Faizal Khan is an independent journalist who writes on art.
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Germany hands over to Ukraine new package of military assistance with drones and projectiles

Germany has handed over another package of military assistance to Ukraine, including 25 RQ-35 Heidrun unmanned aerial vehicles in addition to the previously delivered 100, eight armored personnel carriers in addition to the previously delivered 16 and ammunition for Leopard 1 tanks.

According to the press service of the German government, the package also includes 50 SatCom communication terminals in addition to the previously delivered 230, 16 Zetros mobile tankers in addition to the previously delivered eight, five border vehicles (243 previously delivered) and three vehicles (trucks, minibuses, allterrain vehicles - unspecified; 358 previously delivered).

In addition, Germany is transferring 1,840 combat helmets, 500 LED lamps and ammunition disposal equipment.

The government reported that in addition, it is planned to transfer 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles in addition to the previously delivered ten, 15 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, a larger number of Zetros tankers, as well as refrigerated trucks.
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Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine Oleksandr Kamyshin announced the first successful use of the "hybrid" air defense of the FrankenSAM project on Wednesday night  the Russian Shahed was shot down.

"The projects [production of hybrid air defense systems], which we are implementing with the United States, we call FrankenSAM. And I'm pleased to report that one of these systems was successfully used for the first time this night. We shot down the Shahed at a distance of nine kilometers from a height of 400 meters. And this is the first use of this particular system. In FrankenSAM's 'portfolio,' we have about five projects. And I'm glad that we've already got these systems on the battlefield, protecting our skies, protecting our people, and grateful to our American partners for making this happen," Kamyshin said during a discussion at the Ukrainian House in Davos.

The minister said the development of any new air defense system takes years and years, everyone understands this, but instead of waiting, Ukraine and the United States found another way. "We take old Soviet legacy systems and adapt Western missiles to those systems, or we take Western launchers and missiles and integrate them into old Soviet legacy systems. We have several similar projects," he said.

At the end of December, Kamyshin announced that the first solutions from the FrankenSAM "portfolio" of projects, which relate to air defense, are already working on the battlefield.
HSBC has filed a contempt of court case against the Central government, alleging non-compliance with the Bombay High Court's ruling concerning a service tax refund.

The Bombay High Court had earlier ruled in favour of HSBC in a service tax dispute and asked the tax department to refund the service tax. HSBC has alleged that the government has not complied with the court order.

HSBC had got its books and records audited for the period March 2007 to 2012. The auditor pointed out that HSBC had not paid service tax on the interchange income earned during this period. As a result of the audit report, HSBC had deposited Rs56 crore voluntarily, although no service tax demand was made by the tax department.

HSBC sought a refund after the final audit report as no show-cause notice was issued about appropriation of the deposited amount by the tax department.

The tax department had argued that the petitioner had voluntarily deposited the amount and the legitimacy of the deposited amount was irrelevant as a similar subject matter was pending before the Supreme Court.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday recommended that state governments should consider fixing a ceiling for incremental guarantees that they issue during a year at 5% of revenue receipts or 0.5% of gross state domestic product, whichever is less.

RBI has also recommended that state governments may consider charging a minimum guarantee fee for guarantees extended and additional risk premium may be charged based on the risk category and the tenor of the underlying loan.

It said that besides, state governments may publish data relating to guarantees, as per the Indian Government Accounting Standard (IGAS).

RBI recommendations also said that the word Guarantee should include all instruments, which create an obligation, contingent or otherwise, on part of the state government and the purpose for which government guarantees are issued should be clearly defined.

The implementation of these recommendations made by the RBIs working group is expected to facilitate better fiscal management by the state governments.

RBI has placed the report of the working group on state government guarantees on its website.

During the 32nd conference of the state finance secretaries held on 7 July 2022, it was decided to constitute a working group comprising members drawn from the ministry of finance, government of India; comptroller and auditor general of India; and some state governments.

The terms of reference of the working group included, inter alia, prescribing a uniform guarantee ceiling for the states; uniform reporting framework for the guarantees given by the state governments; assessing the adequacy of states contribution to the guarantee redemption fund, etc.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs10 lakh on Abhijit Pawar (noticee) for indulging in insider trading in Magma Fincorp Ltd, now known as Poonawalla Fincorp Ltd.

In his 27-page order , Ashwani Bhatia, whole-time member (WTM) of SEBI, says, "Mr Pawar had the UPSI and he transferred Rs15 crore from his and his wife's account to accounts of Rakesh Bhojgadhiya very close to the announcement of the transaction between Magma and the Poonawalla group. The start of the UPSI period for the transaction was 10 January 2021 and ended on 10 February 2021, after market hours. Though Mr Pawar has contended that if he wanted to trade through Mr Bhojgadhiya on the basis of UPSI, he would have done so much earlier than 9 February 2021. However, the transfer of funds from Mr Pawar and his wife on 6 February 2021 shows that he went ahead only when there was reasonable certainty that the deal would go through. In commercial transactions, the surety and finality of the transactions are important."

"Mr Pawar lent money and Mr Bhojgadhiya entered into transactions when they were reasonably sure of the final outcome of the takeover deal of Magma by the Poonawalla group. The transactions were done when there was little uncertainty of any risk of financial loss. Accordingly, the transactions for the purchase of the Magma shares by Mr Bhojgadhiya and Rakesh Bhojgadhiya Hindu undivided family (HUF) happened on 9th and 10 February 2021 and profits amounting to Rs8.32 crore were made in these transactions," the order says.

Earlier, the market regulator had issued show-cause notices (SCN) to seven entities, including Saumil Shah, Surabhi Kishore Shah, Amit Agrawal, Murlidhar Bajranglal Agrawal, Mr Bhojgadhiya, Rakesh Bhojgadhiya HUF and Mr Pawar.

Others, except Mr Pawar, filed applications under SEBI (settlement proceedings) Regulations. The settlement terms they proposed were accepted and approved by the WTM panel. Subsequently, settlement orders were passed concerning the proceedings initiated against them.

SEBI observed that while Mr Bhojgadhiya, Rakesh Bhojgadhiya HUF and Mr Pawar were directed to disgorge the ill-gotten gains of Rs8.32 crore, the entire amount was deposited in an escrow account by Mr Pawar alone. Mr Pawar also gave a no objection certificate to Mr Bhojgadhiya, Rakesh Bhojgadhiya HUF, for using this money deposited by him in the escrow account to pay the disgorgement amount.

"During the personal hearing on 15 December 2023, Mr Pawar was specifically asked to explain the said transactions. Mr Pawar submitted that the bank deposit of Rs8.32 core, which was utilised by Mr Bhojgadhiya for disgorgement of illegal profits, is an outstanding loan without any documentation. I find the said contention to be untenable as it defies logic as to why Mr Pawar would lend such a large amount without proper documentation," the SEBI WTM says.

Further, Mr Bhatia from SEBI says, "It is clear that the transactions done by Rakesh Bhojgadhiya and his HUF were done at Mr Pawar's behest. The transfer of funds from Mr Pawar and his wife to Mr Bhojgadhiya during the UPSI period, and the transfer back of the entire amount lent by Mr Pawar and his wife after the quick sale of Magma shares, and the subsequent payment of disgorgement and penalty by Mr Pawar plainly indicates his economic interest in the transactions during the UPSI period."

SEBI, in its investigation, found that Mr Pawar had a close connection with Mr Bhojgadhiya, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Sakal Money, a company owned by Mr Pawar. Further, there was frequent communication between Mr Pawar and Mr Bhojgadhiya during the UPSI period.

In the order, SEBI says, "Transactions involving crores of rupees cannot be accepted as merely buddy deals when the real intent behind such deals is betrayed by the circumstances surrounding such deals. The timing and the precise amounts of money involved in the above transactions appear suspect and cannot be explained by mere serendipity. The benevolence apparently shown by Mr Pawar in bailing out Mr Bhojgadhiya by providing funds after he was caught by SEBI cannot be overlooked. All these factors show that Mr Bhojgadhiya's trades in Magma were executed on the basis of UPSI, which pre-ponderance of probability suggests, were provided by Mr Pawar."

SEBI had received an alert relating to insider trading by certain entities in the scrip of Magma during February 2021.

SEBI, in a preliminary examination, revealed that Magma had made an announcement on 10 February 2021 on National Stock Exchange Ltd (NSE) and BSE regarding the acquisition of a controlling stake by Poonawalla group company Rising Sun Holdings Pvt Ltd in Magma. The acquisition by the Poonawalla group was to be made through a preferential allotment by infusing fresh capital.

The acquisition by Poonawalla group was to be made through a preferential allotment by infusing fresh capital of Rs3,456 crore in Magma.

SEBI says, "The information regarding the acquisition of a controlling stake in Magma by Poonawalla group was a UPSI in terms of Regulation 2(1)(n) of the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations (PIT Regulations), which had originated on 11 January 2021 and came into the public domain on 10 February 2021. The UPSI period was from 11 January 2021 to 10 February 2021."

Based on UPSI information from certain entities, SEBI investigated Magma Fincorp during the UPSI period. Based on the investigation, it was alleged that some entities, including Mr Pawar, indulged in insider trading in the scrip of Magma Fincorp and had violated the provisions of PIT Regulations and Section 12A(d) of the SEBI Act.

SEBI found that Mr Bhojgadhiya, through Newgen, had received funds amounting to Rs15 crore from Mr Pawar and his wife during the UPSI period and utilised the said funds for making payments to his brokers for purchasing shares of Magma. It is also pertinent to note that for trading in the scrip of Magma during the UPSI period, Mr Bhojgadhiya had opened his trading account with HDFC Securities just a day before fund transfers by Mr Pawar, SEBI noted.

The WTM of SEBI says, "the illegal gains of Rs8.32 crore earned by Mr Bhojgadhiya and Rakesh Bhojgadhiya HUF have already been disgorged. In addition, the said entities have already paid a settlement amount of more than Rs8 crore to SEBI. Thus, the entire ill-gotten gains, along with the additional amount, has already been recovered".

While imposing a penalty of Rs10 lakh on Mr Pawar, the SEBI WTM noted that since Mr Pawar had already undergone a debarment for more than six months and remained debarred from trading in the scrip of Magma after the confirmatory order, he did not deem it fit to extend the restraining order imposed on Mr Pawar any further.
British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary Lord David Cameron intends to reaffirm support for Ukraine and call for security and stability in the Middle East during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to the British government website on Wednesday.

In particular, he intends to call for greater action from world leaders in a bid to mobilize international support and cooperation in solving the world's biggest challenges, and to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

"In my discussion with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, I will make clear the UK will continue to be a steadfast supporter of Ukraine, so it not only wins the war, but emerges from it as a strong, sovereign, and free country. Ukraine is standing up for the rules that keep us all safe. This is why the UK has provided almost GBP 12 billion in support to Ukraine. We will stand with them for as long as it takes to achieve victory," Cameron said.
Ukraine began producing artillery systems according to NATO standards and doubled the production of ammunition, Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin said at a panel discussion at the Ukraine House in Davos on Wednesday.

In addition, according to him, the assembly of hybrid air defense systems has begun, and the production of drones and thermal imagers is expanding.

We are currently experiencing a unique experience of transition from Soviet heritage standards to NATO standards and have already begun to produce artillery systems according to NATO standards. As my president (President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy) said, we are already starting to do this. We have managed to double the production of ammunition. This is what we should pay the most attention to," Kamyshin said.

According to him, the need for components in which there is an acute shortage will be filled by creating joint ventures with foreign partners.

There are not enough components, there are not enough explosives. Therefore, we must pay attention to joint production with European and American companies. I am sure that joint efforts will give appropriate results, the minister said.

He said that Ukraine is actively developing air defense by creating hybrid installations.

Of course, any air defense system, if a new one is developed, requires a long time... And in order not to wait for years, we created homemade air defense. We took Soviet components and used Western missiles. Or, lets say, we took Western missiles, Western launchers, to which used Soviet missiles, Kamyshin said.

He expressed gratitude to the European and American strategic partners who helped Ukraine with strengthening its air defense.

This helped us save lives, Kamyshin stated.

In addition, according to him, the production of drones is developing at a rapid pace in Ukraine.

If you wanted to buy something made in Ukraine a year ago, you would have had little success. There were some brands, but there was not enough craftsmanship. This year (2023) proved that we have built this industry. And it has become a visible and important component of the defense industry. We produce something that works in the sky, on the water and under the sea. Everything works," the minister added.
As a block, its perfect for Easter hosting at home, a morning tea at work, or an easy Easter treat to send to loved ones wherever they are, she said. Its also ideal for those who want to be sure their Easter treats are Good Honest Chocolate, made with people and planet in mind.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not advise the United States and the European Union to experiment with delaying aid to repel Russian aggression, since a global crisis could start in the world.

"To be honest, I would not advise everyone to experiment, as it is a terrible experiment to delay with this or that help. The problem is that we sometimes even call 'help,' because not everyone, unfortunately, realizes that it is security not only of Ukraine. Yes, of the majority of Ukrainian people. But this is also the security of the European continent, which will, of course, have an impact on security on all continents. And is already having an impact," he said at a meeting with the International Media Council in Davos.

In particular, according to him, "Russia's blockade of the Black Sea brought many states dumping pricing policies in the agro-industrial complex, and some states were simply left without bread."

"Strikes on our energy system. Here's an example. Ukraine joined the European network. What did this mean? This was a way out for many European countries to have energy resources after dumping prices that Russia created - this was a way to get cheap electricity. This is also very would greatly help just people in Europe. Ordinary people," the president said.

"Therefore, not helping Ukraine is not helping many continents, where chaos can be sown due to hunger or other things," Zelenskyy said.

Answering the question of what will happen if Ukraine does not receive the expected assistance, Zelenskyy said this will affect even greater mortality among the Ukrainian population and lead to a global crisis in the world.

"We will be weakened on the battlefield. We will have a large artillery deficit. We will have a very large aeroprotection deficit. This means that we will not be able to repel ballistic missile attacks. So there will be a large number of killings and a large number of wounded people," he said.

"[Next] there will be a big crisis. Now there is a war, and there will be a big crisis. Since without the help of the United States, without the help of the European Union, Ukraine, of course, will continue to fight, but Ukraine will be weaker, and this will be an opportunity for Russia capture us. And as soon as they capture us, believe me, it will be a war between NATO and Russia. I believe, frankly speaking, that Putin really wants this," Zelenskyy said.
One woman was killed and two children were injured as a result of an airstrike inflicted by the Russian occupation forces on the village of Maly Burluk in the Kupyansk district, Kharkiv region, the Public Liaison Office of the National Police in Kharkiv region has said.

"A guided bomb was dropped on the village council building in Maly Burluk. Two children were injured. Sasha, 10, who lost his leg, and Alina, 13, who sustained shrapnel injuries, are in the hospital. During the examination of the attack scene, the police found the body of a woman. She is being identified," the police said.

A criminal case has been launched under Article 438 (violation of laws and rules of war) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Another bill aims to use FY 2024 excess, but report shows only $5M unobligated
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, commenting on the words of U.S. former President Donald Trump, who is running for election, that he will quickly end the war in Ukraine, asked a counter question, in particular, what Trump will do if the Russian President does not stop after Ukraine.

"Donald Trump said he can stop the war, he will sit down with Putin and Zelenskyy... I have not seen this video, but as I understand it, there was some kind of conference, and he said that if Putin does not stop, then he [Trump] will transfer more weapons to Ukraine. If Ukraine does not stop, it will take away some reserves," he said at a meeting with the International Media Council in Davos.

According to Zelenskyy, the question is this: "even if Trump does not support us, imagine that we do not agree to give up our territories, then Donald Trump will stop helping us and Putin, say, will occupy us after a certain period."

"Then the question is, what will Trump do after this, if after Ukraine Russia occupies a NATO country?" the president asked.

"That is, he decided that if you do not freeze the conflict, if we allow Putin to enter Ukraine completely, then he will stop. But Putin will not stop. So what will Donald Trump do in the United States after that? Since in this case it means that Europe lost and lost the largest and most powerful army in Europe because it lost Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

Previously, Zelenskyy said Trump provide his specific "peace plan" for Ukraine, if he has one. Zelenskyy also said Ukraine is not ready to give up its territories.
Any suspension of hostilities is an opportunity for Russia to accumulate forces and resume its combat capabilities, deputy head of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Vadym Skibitsky said.

As part of a discussion program organized by the Deciding Your Tomorrow project of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Davos, Skibitsky said this had already been observed in 2015-2016, when hostilities were suspended in the occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and Russia carried out a new full-scale aggression in 2022.

"Our assessment is that military operations at the tactical level will continue. No one is talking about a blind defense now, much less a ceasefire. Since Russia will use any ceasefire to improve its tactical positions, and accordingly, gain greater opportunities for resumption or opening new directions for combat operations. Despite the weather, the winter, you know that the territory there is very difficult for military operations  military operations will continue. We simply cannot allow us to lose our territories through our inactivity," the agency's deputy head said.
MRP threatens intensified campaign against non-local teachers in Matabeleland Schools

In a move that could further escalate tensions in the region, the secessionist political party Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has issued a strong warning, vowing to step up its efforts against the deployment of non-local teachers in Matabeleland schools. MRP President Mqondisi Moyo, as the organization celebrates its 10th anniversary, emphasized that one of their core mandates was to combat what they perceived as the intrusion of Shona-speaking educators in schools within Matabeleland.

Reflecting on their origins, Moyo explained, In early 2013, a dynamic youth organisation focused on Mthwakazis (Matabeleland) welfare embarked on a mission to address pressing issues like Shona educators intrusion in Mthwakazi (Matabeleland) schools and the escalating unemployment crisis, Moyo said.

We advocate schools in Binga to teach languages such as Tonga, in Beitbridge they should learn Venda. MRP has a mandate to fight against imbalances in the education system because we feel that we cannot be taught by non-local language teachers in our schools. This is not right.

MRP alleges that the deployment of non-local teachers in Matabeleland is a deliberate attempt to deprive the Ndebele people of their rightful education.

However, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Educations spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro, stated that they had not received any formal complaints regarding the deployment of non-local teachers to Matabeleland schools. Ndoro clarified, Its not the governments requirement to deploy local teachers to their local places, Ndebele-speaking people have been deployed to teach in different schools in Harare, Ndoro said.

Local teachers are only deployed for pupils in ECD up to Grade 2 only, thats where there is deployment of local teachers. We have received complaints about some Ndebele teachers who are not able to speak Tshangani but they are still deployed there.

The MRP participated in the 2018 and 2023 elections, focusing on local authorities and parliamentary seats in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces but it did not secure any seats. Moyo acknowledged the electoral challenges but highlighted the partys resolute dedication to pursuing self-determination. He also condemned the Zimbabwean government for what he described as the unjust arrests and intimidation of MRP members, with nine individuals currently serving prison terms ranging from 33 to 36 months on what the party deems as baseless charges.

In Setember 2023, top MPR officials handed a petition for self-determination to the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).

Party leaders said the petition was hand delivered to the blocs headquarters in Botswana by local MRP officials led by its chairperson Tobias Fuyane and spokesperson Leonard Dube.

In the petition dated 12 September 2023, stamped at the Sadc offices, and addressed to Sadc chairperson, Moyo said there was a need for the bloc to intervene in Mthwakazis bid to be a separate State.

Our call for self-determination is justified by a number of factors. First, we were a separate nation before 1923. We lostour independent existence through forced amalgamation with Mashonaland in 1923. Knowledge of our borders is as clear today as it was before 1923. Beitbridge border was signed for by King Lobengula in 1887. Ramoqoabane and Livingstone borders were drawn in 1888. These borders are recognised by the International community to this day.

Moyo noted that in 1891, three years before invasion by imperialist forces, the Jameson Line was drawn and signed for. He said this was the border which separated Mthwakazi/Matabeleland from Mashonaland.

This is the very border we want restored. Second, in Zimbabwe we are treated as second-class citizens. We nearly got exterminated between 1982 and 1987, in a government-led genocide against Mthwakazi (amaNdebele). About 40 000 of our unarmed people were killed on the pretext that they were either dissidents, or they harboured dissidents, the petition read.

Breaking News via Email
Yves here. I trust readers will be able to recontextualize what many will see as a self-discrediting throwaway remark by the author at the top of the post. Anglosphere economists have still not gotten the memo from Alex Vershinins 2022 paper, The Return of Industrial Warfare: that it would take a decade for the West to catch up with Russian weapons manufacturing capability. Andrei Martyanov has documented in a series of books that the US is a declining military power (this before Ukraine turned into a demonstration) and that GDP and military spending measures do not capture effectiveness (which is particularly true given how the US arms-as-pork- machine is great at producing expensive fussy weapons that often prove to be fragile in the field).

So the way to think about this piece is that even using conventional spending metrics that likely understate Chinas position, its already become number one in manufacturing. And by a healthy margin.

By Richard Baldwin, Professor of International Economics IMD Business School, Lausanne; VoxEU Founder & Editor-in-Chief VoxEU.org. Originally published at VoxEU

The US is the worlds sole military superpower. It spends more on its military than the ten next highest spending countries combined. China is now the worlds sole manufacturing superpower. Its production exceeds that of the nine next largest manufacturers combined. This column uses the recently released 2023 update of the OECD TiVA database to paint an eight-chart portrait of Chinas journey to superpower status and the asymmetric impact that its dominance has had on global supply chains.

Im not an expert on China, but during ongoing work on global supply chain disruptions with my co-authors Rebecca Freeman and Angelos Theodorakopoulos, Ive noticed a stark fact that I dont think is as widely known as it should be. China is the now worlds sole manufacturing superpower.

This column uses the OECDs recently released 2023 update of their invaluable TiVA database to show, in eight charts, how this came to be. I will skip the historical Chinese reform narrative as that has been well covered by real China experts (e.g. Wang 2023, World Bank 2013, Ranganathan 2023).

The Worlds Big Players in Manufacturing

The charts in Figure 1 show two views of global manufacturing shares in 2020 (the latest year in the database). The left panel displays world shares in terms of gross production; in the right panel, the same is shown in terms of value added. The distinction is in intermediate inputs: Chinese gross production equals the total sales of Chinese manufacturers; Chinese value added is their gross production minus the purchased intermediates.

Figure 1 Slicing the global manufacturing pie, 2020, gross production basis



Source: OECD TiVA database, 2023 update.

Six nations manufacture at least 3% of the world total. China is followed by the US, Japan, Germany, India, and South Korea. Note how the world has changed. Only three of these are long-established industrial economies; the other three are newly industrialised economies. Four of the G7 dont make the cut. The chart separately identifies nations with shares of at least 2%, and on the left, this includes Italy, France, and Taiwan (two of the G7, the UK and Canada, dont make the cut). In the right panel (value-added basis), the UK makes an appearance with a share just above 2%.

When it comes to gross production, Chinas share is three times the US share, six times Japans, and nine times Germanys. Taiwan, Mexico, Russia, and Brazil now have higher gross output than the UK. Canada is further down the ranking, in 15th place.

Unprecedented Industrialisation

Chinas industrialisation is unprecedented. The last time the king of the manufacturing hill got knocked off the throne was when the US surpassed the UK just before WW1. It took the US the better part of a century to rise to the top; the China-US switch took about 15 or 20 years. Chinas industrialisation, in short, defies comparison.

Figure 2 portrays how China dethroned the king of the hill. If we think of this as a 25-lap horserace  one lap per year  all the excitement was in the first 13 laps. Since data only go back to 1995, China started the race a bit ahead of Canada, Britain, France, and Italy. China passed Germany in 1998, Japan in 2005, and the US in 2008. Since then, China has more than doubled its world share while the USs share has fallen by another three percentage points. If this were a live horserace, boredom would have driven most of the audience away years ago.

The right panel shows that Chinas share now exceeds that of the next largest manufacturers combined. This remarkable fact helps us to understand current US-China trade tensions, and the magnitude of supply chain disruptions that occurred when China dialled down its production during Covid. India (not shown separately) was the second fastest share gainer: its global share of manufacturing production rose by two percentage points since 1995.

Chinas rise has slowed and looks to have stagnated at about a third of world output. To confirm this, however, we will need more recent data since the last two years in the sample are muddled by events related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The World Banks World Development Indicators (WDI) has data to 2022 for value added, and these conform to the flattening narrative, but the WDI do not report gross production data.

Figure 2 Chinas meteoric rise in manufacturing, 1995-2020 (world gross production shares)



Source: OECD TiVA database, 2023 update.

Chinas dominance is less stark in exports (Figure 3), though the rise is equally amazing. In 1995 China had just 3% of world manufacturing exports, By 2020, its share had risen to 20%. The corresponding fall in the G7 share was less dramatic than for its share of production. This is explained by the meteoric rise in Chinese domestic consumption, which has absorbed an increasing share of its manufacturing production since 2004. Not shown in the charts is that Chinas export to production ratio, having peaked at 18% in 2004, is 13% in 2020  almost back to its 1995 level of 11%. The same diagrams in the Annex are shown for a value-added basis.

Figure 3 Chinas share of world manufacturing exports, 1995-2020



Source: OECD TiVA database.

Asymmetric Supply Chain Exposure: G7 and China

The global supply chain indicators that Rebecca Freeman, Angelos Theodorakopoulos and I developed last year (Baldwin et al. 2022) provide a convenient way of identifying foreign production exposure in supply chains (eight of our new indicators can be found in the TiVA 2023 update). Two of our new indicators are particularly intuitive when it comes to portraying global supply chain exposure.

Foreign Production Exposure: iMport side (FPEM). This shows the share of all industrial inputs (including domestically sourced inputs) that one nation sources from another on a scale of 0 to 100. FPEM accounts for exposure on a look-through basis in the sense that it looks through the suppliers-to-suppliers veil to discover the purchasing nations reliance on production in the selling nation.

Figure 4, left panel, shows that the US relies far more on Chinese manufacturing production than vice versa. While shocking at first sight, this should not be unexpected. It is natural that a country with 11% of the world output buys more from a country that produces 35% than vice versa, but the numbers are astounding. China was more exposed to US inputs before 2002, but the US has had greater exposure since then. In 2020, the US was about three times more exposed to Chinese manufacturing production than vice versa.

Foreign Production Exposure: eXport side (FPEX). This indicator reflects the share of a nations gross output of intermediate goods that is exported to a particular partner. It is a measure of exposure on the sales side.

Figure 4, right panel, shows the expected result: China is and always has been more reliant on sales to the US than the other way round. In the mid-2000s, Chinas dependence on the US was ten times the reverse dependence, but the asymmetry has narrowed substantially.

Putting together the pieces, this shows a remarkable, historical, world-shaping asymmetry in supply chain reliance between China and other major manufacturing countries. Politicians may wish to decouple their economies from China. These data suggest that decoupling would be difficult, slow, expensive, and disruptive  especially to G7 manufacturers. For explicit estimates, see the simulation studies by Felbermayr et al. (2023) and Goes and Bekkers (2022).

Before closing this chapter on the China rise story, it is important to say that the massive asymmetry has nothing really to do with China. It has to do with Chinas superpower standing in manufacturing. To see this, imagine what the charts would look like if they displayed the facts for OPEC and the G7 in the petroleum sector. We would see that the G7 is massively more dependent on OPEC supplies than vice versa. The next chapter of the story redirects the spotlight to the China level.

Figure 4 China and US bilateral FPEM and FPEX, 1995-2020



Source: OECD TiVA database.

Chinas Balance of Trade by Sector, Supply Chain Engagement, and Openness

What does the rise to superpower status look like from the shores of China? One convenient, if simplistic, yardstick of a countrys competitive profile is its balance of trade by sector.

The left panel of Figure 5 shows the balance of exports less imports in the major sectors: manufactures, agriculture, mining, and services. The overall trade balance, which is just the sum of the sectoral balances, is shown with the thin black line. The pattern is as clear as it is unsurprising. China is a net exporter of manufactured goods and a net importer of everything else  agriculture goods, mining goods and fuels, and services. Both the positive and negative net balances have been growing quickly. Plainly, China is a big importer and a big exporter. Overall, it ran surpluses in the late 2000s, which then decreased and turned negative in 2018 and 2019 (black line).

The right panel provides important hints about the evolution of Chinas manufacturing. It charts the evolution of the countrys net exports of intermediate inputs and final goods. Until the mid-2000s, China was a typical offshore destination: a net importer of intermediate inputs and a net exporter of final goods that embodied the imported inputs. From about 2002, China became a large net exporter of intermediate goods as well as final goods.

Figure 5 Net exports by sector, China, 1995 to 2020



Source: OECD TiVA database.

Aggregate balance-of-trade numbers like those in Figure 5 can hide the evolution of the constituent parts. Figure 6, which focuses on manufactured goods, shows exports and imports separately. In the left panel, we can observe that Chinas engagement with global supply chains was extremely vigorous until the mid-2000s. Imports and exports of industrial parts and components were growing rapidly, and imports and exports were growing in tandem. Afterward that, exports grew faster, and this difference has produced the positive balance in manufactured goods..

The right panel shows a different picture for final manufactured goods. Here, exports have always exceeded imports, with the imbalance growing rapidly in the 2010s.

Figure 6 Trade in intermediates versus final goods, China, 1995 to 2020



Source: OECD TiVA database.

The next pair of charts shows the change in the sectoral composition of Chinas exports.

Figure 7 presents the sectoral shares for 1995 (first year in the database) and 2020. It shows that China has moved from being relatively reliant on simple manufacturing sectors like textiles and clothing to more sophisticated sectors like electronics, basic and fabricated metal products, and chemicals and pharmaceuticals. A telling factoid is that textiles accounted for the biggest share in 1995, but electronics did so in 2020.

Figure 7 Chinas export basket, 1995 versus 2020



Source: OECD TiVA database.

Globalisation Ratio

Finally, consider Chinas globalisation ratios (Figure 8). The right panel exhibits the countrys gross globalisation ratio (GGR) in manufacturing. This is the share of manufactured production that is sold abroad, where production is measured as the total sales of all China-based manufacturers. It differs from manufacturing GDP since it includes all sales, not just final good sales.

Turning to the facts, we see that during its rise to manufacturing superpower status, Chinas GGR rocketed up  almost doubling  in the first decade of the data. Indeed, most of the action came between 1999 and 2004. That period was an extraordinary feat of globalisation, and it is probably why so many think of China as an economy that is incredibly dependent on exports. But the story doesnt end in 2004.

Since 2004, Chinas GGR has been falling steadily. And dont miss the fact that it is, in 2020, not far above where it started in 1995. Chinese manufacturing, in short, is no longer as dependent on exports as many might believe. True, the first part of the rapid growth period involved exports growing faster than production (so the GGR rises). But then production grows faster than exports, implying that domestic sales were becoming relatively more important, compared to export sales  even though domestic and foreign sales were both booming throughout the high-growth episode. This dispels the myth that Chinas success can be entirely attributed to exports. From around 2004, China increasingly became its own best customer.

The takeaway is simple: Chinas openness, as measured by the GGR, has fallen rapidly. By 2020 it was only slightly more dependent on export sales than it was 1995.

Figure 8 Chinas manufacturing growth and Gross Globalisation Ratio (GGR)

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Source: OECD TiVA database.

Concluding Remarks

China is now the worlds sole manufacturing giant. As its recent success in electric vehicles demonstrates, its wide and deep industrial base can help it gain a competitive edge in virtually all sectors. The exceptions are the most advanced sectors, where the G7 countries still dominate.

Politicians who indulge in loose talk about decoupling from China need a clear-eyed look at the facts. As we have shown (Baldwin et al. 2023), all the major manufacturers in the world source at least 2% of all their industrial inputs from China. Decoupling would be difficult, to say the least.

See original post for references
The geometry of other people aeon

Researchers develop hedgehog safety test for robotic lawnmowers PhysOrg (Dr. Kevin)

Catching the flu for the love of science: U. Md. study explores how it spreads Maryland Matters

The WHO and drug regulators want to reformulate the flu vaccine. Its easier said than done STAT (Dr. Kevin)

Climate/Environment

China?

European Disunion

Europes Death Spiral Andrei Martyanov

Gaza

New Not-So-Cold War

Syraqistan

Big Brother is Watching You Watch:

One big wrench in all of this is inconsistent electricity, which is only going to get worse with increased EV demand v. failure to upgrade grids adequately. A friend in Oregon who did not lose power said places nearby have been dark for 5 days and its another 5 days before power is projected to be restored. And.drumroll.stores were taking only cash. My friends ISP had been down and was still down even though he had power, and that seems to the state of play in quite a few retail outlets. Speaking at the WEF, former head of the IMF's China division, Eswar Prasad: CBDC will be programmable, in a way that will enable governments to dictate how, when, where, on what and by whom they can be spent, including the imposition of expiry dates. CBDCs are a totalitarian's pic.twitter.com/sk5yJEJNfb  Wide Awake Media (@wideawake_media) January 16, 2024

Imperial Collapse Watch

Summary from Davos:

 More weapons is the path to peace

 Those who disagree with us spread "hate", "propaganda" or "disinformation" and must be censored

 Worst of all, copyright infringements of Orwell's 1984: "War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength" pic.twitter.com/2wzWugCjKB  Glenn Diesen (@Glenn_Diesen) January 17, 2024 Not able to verify.but wowsers if bona fide: OMG  did Damon really say that to Klaus Schwab?    https://t.co/oSxYFvroYw  Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) January 16, 2024 $1.2 Trillion US Travel Industry Is Plummeting, Says New Study Bloomberg (ma). Who would want to travel here? My input is dated but I am under the impression that LAX, SFO and ATL are OK as ports of entry. But JFK is absolutely terrible. Air travel in the US is way more subject to flight cancellation than evah, which is a big deterrent to domestic travel and even more so to international tourism. NYC is even more expensive and grubbier (look at the inexcusably high museum entry charges when they should be public goods and free or have only modest ticket prices). There are still wonderful destinations whose appeal depends on natural beauty like Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Hawaii, Southern Oregon, Maine.but thats a lot of travel and there are pretty places all over the world. And thats before getting to US hostility to China, when Chinese travelers are an important target market. Woolworths dumps all Australia Day merchandise from stores nationally Daily Mail (Kevin W). From last week, still germane. When I was in Oz, Woolworth + Coles had >80% of all grocery store sales.

Trump

2024

Banks prepare to take on the Biden administration over billions of dollars in overdraft fees Associated Press (Kevin W)

Our No Longer Free Press

Strike threat over claim pro-Israeli lobby forced out Australian journalist Al Jazeera (Kevin W)

Beeper Users Say Apple Is Now Blocking Their Macs From Using iMessage Entirely TechCrunch. Grist for that way overdue Apple anti-trust suit.

The Bill Is Coming Due on a Record Amount of Commercial Real Estate Debt Wall Street Journal (BC). The Journal is over a week behind the Telegraphs Ambrose Evans-Prichard (see here). Also note the Financial Stability Council weirdly worrying about risk to municipalities, when the one in their ambit is banks who hold loans on Class B and C office space, which looks set in many cases to go tits up.

The Bezzle

Class Warfare

A Pyramid of Inequality Doda Drummer (Randy K). In this category because this sort of concentration translates into concentration of returns. Bill Clintons Presidency Was a Disaster for Labor Jacobin

Antidote du jour:

And a bonus (Chuck L). We have featured Shrek before but still noteworthy:

Shrek was an ordinary Merino sheep residing in South Island, New Zealand. One day, he decided to escape his enclosure and ventured into nearby caves. For 6 years, he lived on his own until his owner, John Perrian, discovered him. John remarked upon seeing him,"He looked like pic.twitter.com/eySjMWtvfM  Fascinating (@fasc1nate) January 3, 2024

Mother Duck leads the ducklings to sleep with the kittens  pic.twitter.com/ayRHazBezX

 Nature is Amazing  (@AMAZlNGNATURE) January 15, 2024

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here
Yves here. As KLG indicates in his discussion below, he is generally on board with author Mulgans depiction of the relationship among the scientific establishment, politics, and broader society. KLG is less keen about new regulatory approaches as a major fix. The conundrum is if we had more disinterested, as in not money-driven, science, there would be less need for attempts at overrides.which are likely to be compromised by money anyhow.

By KLG, who has held research and academic positions in three US medical schools since 1995 and is currently Professor of Biochemistry and Associate Dean. He has performed and directed research on protein structure, function, and evolution; cell adhesion and motility; the mechanism of viral fusion proteins; and assembly of the vertebrate heart. He has served on national review panels of both public and private funding agencies, and his research and that of his students has been funded by the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and National Institutes of Health.

COVID-19 has not been good for science. This has been obvious from the beginning of the pandemic. Although pressing scientific (and technological) problems have often been fraught, this has ratcheted up several notches over the past four years. The question is Why? This does not always happen. Forty years ago, the HIV/AIDS epidemic led to an extended priority fight [1] but for the most part scientific arguments remained well within the normal range. Dogmatic behavior (Im right and you are wrong!) among the various research groups working on HIV/AIDS was limited during a time when those in every basic biomedical and clinical research laboratory awaited each weekly issue of Science and Nature and biweekly issue of Cell with unusual anticipation. Although scientists can be competitive just like everyone else, collaboration was extensive in research on the first retrovirus to cause such frightening and horrific epidemic disease in humans

For example, I worked at the margin of a research group that believed the carbohydrates attached to cell surface HIV-binding proteins were a key to AIDS. As it turned out these complex sugar adducts were not all that important in HIV pathobiology, but several well-known research groups throughout the US worked together openly on this hypothesis with credit being shared without argument. On the other hand, political arguments about AIDS were at times fierce, alas, for easily understandable reasons given the nature of the AIDS epidemic in the US and Western Europe. Obergefell v. Hodges was at the time unimaginable and still lay thirty years into the future. And the Band Played On(1987) by Randy Shilts is the go-to source for this history. The HBO movie (1997) follows the book as well as can be expected [2]. These political arguments may have presaged what we have seen a short forty years later.

Both scientific dogmatism and political disputes have been a concomitant of COVID-19 since SARS-CoV-2 became a threat four years ago, when a serious respiratory infection in Wuhan was recognized as the third coming of a lethal human coronavirus disease. When Science Meets Power (Polity Press, Cambridge, 2024) by Geoff Mulgan addresses the reasons for this in detail. Professor Mulgan is currently Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy and Social Innovation at University College London. He was previously the director of the Young Foundation, whose namesake is the indispensable Michael Young, author of The Rise of the Meritocracy, published in 1957 as dystopian fiction and completely misunderstood since the mid-1970s. When Science Meets Power takes an expansive view of power relationships between and among scientists, politicians, and society. Professor Mulgan describes and explains in accessible terms:

How science meets power and vice versa

How states have used science (and how science has used the state)

The nature of scientific and political truth

The institutional science-politics paradox

Global science and politics

The nature of scientific knowledge

When Science Meets Power is a very good read throughout, a book that scientists, politicians, and citizens should read and take to heart. Especially scientists.

Professor Mulgans two-part thesis is described in words that will please every working or aspiring scientist: Science is the most extraordinary collective achievement of the human species  a set of methods, mindsets, theories and discoveries that have changed every part of our lives. The vast majority of scientists will agree wholeheartedly, while naturally assuming that science is an unalloyed good for all of humanity, and as a matter of course the natural world in which we live. However, most scientists will also ignore the second sentence of this short paragraph: But these paradoxical patterns show that a powerful method for amplifying human intelligence is not always so intelligently used. Thus, science, including technology, is (1) extraordinary but (2) not necessarily or always a good thing. A lesson to remember.

Throughout When Science Meets Power, science and technology are often conflated in my reading. This does not detract from the message, however. The book is not a history of science or technology. Professor Mulgan comes from a high-level policy background, albeit New Labour, where technology and science most often meet politics and policy. Besides, the often-sterile arguments about science versus technology (and its sibling engineering) are tiresome. The one cannot exist without the other in the modern world. Moreover, revolutionary scientific advances are often denigrated by scientists as mere method. This was a common reaction among pure scientists of my acquaintance when Rosalyn Yalow won half of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1978 for a method, the radioimmunoassay (RIA). But she and her late colleague Solomon Berson used RIA to distinguish between Type 1 diabetes (insulin insufficiency) and Type 2 diabetes (insulin insensitivity) long before the cellular nature of the insulin response was understood. Without their research, molecular endocrinology, as opposed to clinical endocrinology, could not exist as a discipline. Another technique that revolutionized cell biology came directly out of basic biological research that would not be funded in the current ecosystem of science (GFP: previously covered here). It is ironic that several scientists of my acquaintance who feel they were left out of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for GFP were also unimpressed with Rosalyn Yalow. The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for chemical modifications that make RNA useful as a therapeutic, particularly in mRNA vaccines, is likely to be an interesting subject under the heading Power and Politics Meet Science and Technology on Behalf of Big Pharma.

At the center of When Science Meets Power is metacognition, or thinking about how to think, in this case about science, technology, politics, democracy, and society [3]. As a current example, how do we think about what we know about the cause of COVID-19? This is not difficult. The agent of COVID-19 is SARS-CoV-2, which has been known since the first weeks of what became a pandemic. The cause of COVID-19 is essentially coextensive with its agent, especially, for example, in comparison with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis has been diagnosed in Egyptian mummies but to my knowledge there is scant record of widespread TB epidemics in the ancient world. The agent of tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Kochs bacillus) The cause of what became the White Death in the 19th century was removal of the people from the country, only to be housed in fetid, overcrowded tenements while tormented with malnutrition, disease plus overwork in dark Satanic Mills [4].

Figuring out what to do about COVID-19 required looped rather than linear thinking, since multidimensional knowledgeto handle a pandemicrequires multiple types of knowledge, of which scientific knowledge is only one, and not always the most important. True. But in this case, we did not even get the science right before proceeding to the politics. This is exhibited by the Great Barrington Declaration (GBD) [5], a document with about one million signatures, that originated in the thoroughly Libertarian American Institute for Economic Research (AIER). The GBD identifies valid social concerns but was published in 2000, before long Covid was appreciated as a serious sequela to initial infection and the less-than-effective vaccines were produced. The COVID-19 vaccines may lessen the course of disease in some, but they do not work as we have come to expect vaccines to work. They prevent neither the disease nor its transmission, something covered at Naked Capitalism consistently for the past three years, here three days ago, for example. The PMC, malware that keeps on giving.

Professor Mulgan uses Hegels story of the master and his servant as a descriptor of the science-policy relationship: Politics, the putative master, has nurtured the servant who now greatly outstrips the master in terms of capability and knowledge. Science has gained a de facto sovereignty of its own, that sits along the traditional sovereignty of politics: the servant as to some extent become a master [6] This leads to consideration of when, where, and why both politics and science can fail. The question is: Whose politics and whose science with multiple perspectives interacting with multiple truths.

Sir Geoff Mulgan was previously an advisor to the British government, and When Science Meets Power illustrates how the state and the scientific establishment might work together. The bureaucratic mechanisms are sensible, well-illustrated in the negative by Newt Gingrich, then Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, who effectively abolished the US Office of Technology Assessment (OTA, 1974-1995) because it interfered with corporate productivity. European countries have done better, but such efforts are getting less effective as neoliberal politics and odd initiatives such as effective altruism (EA) assert themselves, although the connection between EA and Sam Bankman-Fried may have dimmed its allure.

This is all well and good. Better communication and understanding plus more effective regulatory oversight are to be desired. But this assumes that regulatory capture, first described by George Stigler [7] of the Chicago School, does not exist. See Boeing-737 Max 8 and Max 9 (Links January 14th) for a crystal-clear example of the false utility of short-term regulatory capture in the engineering and technology used to build safe and durable passenger jets. The failures of science during COVID-19 have not been a failure of regulation. They have been a failure of science, during which trust the science was shown to be virtually worthless.

Still, the failures of science and politics are not due to anything inherent in politics or science. They depend simply on the power of outside, special interests in both: Which politics and what science for whom? That is, trust whose science? In the case of the Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9, the politics was for Boeing, not those who fly in Boeing aircraft, passengers and crew alike. In the case of COVID-19, the science that has had the greatest (but negative) impact was for Biomedicine (Big Pharma, Big Medicine, Big Politics), not the population at large and the healthcare workers at all levels who care for us. This science led to vaccines that really do not work, so far, and big profits for Big Pharma. Other scientific approaches to COVID-19 have comparatively languished in the meantime.

Virologists and infectious disease specialists have known since avian coronaviruses were first described at least fifty years ago that lasting immunity to coronaviruses through vaccination has been difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. Nor should there have been much expectation that herd immunity would work with COVID-19. Thus, disinterested scientific knowledge was available that vaccines to SARS-CoV-2 were uncertain at best and that letting it rip would kill people. Whether those who died were old and/or had comorbidities, some perceived to be their own doing, is both heartless and against every (previous) tenet of public health. Nevertheless, Biomedicine essentially went all-in on vaccines [8] rather than physical interventions that do work, such as effective masking, ventilation, and air filtration. After some early uncertainty, which is to be expected in an emergency, SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed to be an airborne virus, so these interventions were the intelligent public, scientific course of action. But the imperatives of interested science carried the day. This was recently illustrated by the many statements of the former Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases on COVID-19 and its origin.

In his final chapter, The Dialectics of What Is and What Matters, Professor Mulgan writes that the science-politics paradox can be resolved by:

improving the metacognition of our societies, our collective ability to think and act in complex environments. This requires more people who are adept at synthesis  people with the training and experience to grasp in their own minds both the scientific and the political dimension of issues. It requires synthetic institutions which combine scientific methods of analysis with political reasoning. And it requires synthetic processes that allow the exploration of the many dimensions of questions and opportunities.

This will lead to:

new logics that start with outcomes desired and work backwards to available sources of knowledge and power(that)combine attention to what is with attention to what matters(these)can find new homes in new institutionsin nations and globallyand spread in an evolutionary wayjust as current dominant logics of politics, science, and bureaucracy have done.

Yes, this could work, even through this academic-speak, which I am comfortable with because it is an acquired occupational skill. However, as a citizen this seems fairly baroque. Going back to where we started, the HIV/AIDS crisis of forty years ago provides answers to the science-power paradox. In the mid-1980s Biomedical Science had not yet become Biomedicine. Frontline physicians and other healthcare providers, infectious disease specialists, virologists, biochemists, molecular and cellular biologists, epidemiologists, and local politicians and activists in cities such as San Francisco worked together for the most part in a disinterested manner to address, if not immediately solve, a horrific epidemic. Politicians at the national level remained relatively uninterested in HIV/AIDS for reasons obvious at the time, but substantial research support directed at HIV/AIDS was forthcoming without too much delay. The science worked. It was trusted. We did not require new logics to mediate reciprocal, sometimes antagonistic, power relationships.

That we have lost this is in my view the primary reason that the response to COVID-19 has been so dogmatic and combative. Biomedical scientists and particularly those in Biomedicine are simply not as disinterested as they were forty years ago. They also have politicians looking over their shoulder, but politicians do approve the bills. This has been true since Senator William Proxmire of Wisconsin felt the need to hand out Golden Fleece Awards in the 1970s and 1980s to scientists who were working on problems he thought frivolous, often based on the title of a proposal. Perhaps sometimes, but Proxmire was not funny. Now this interest has become more intrusive, more outwardly political, with less understanding. This is, of course, a two-way street described superbly by Professor Mulgan throughout When Science Meets Power.

Professor Mulgan ends with:

We needa science that is responsive, locked in a more intimate relationship with its potential beneficiaries, particularly in fields such as healthcareWe needcareful guardianship, particularly of extremely powerful technologies (such as) artificial intelligencewe need restorative scienceswhich addressthe very issues science has helped create: climate and ecology; mental health and anxietyThese call forth a science that is caring, compassionate, curing and healing, a science that restores equilibrium rather than only breaking it. Perhaps this is the moral mission for our time, and the moral underpinning of new hybrid logics, with a mission to mobilize our collective intelligence in all its forms for survival and thriving.

Yes. All true. But this requires no more metacognitive expertise than we as a society already possess. The people know. These desirable things are possible when and only if we return to a disinterested science that is interested in good science that serves the common good. A key question regarding the common good and science is whether the research leads to a technical solution to a problem that should not exist. For example, Roundup ready commodity crops (e.g., maize, cotton, soybeans) are a tour de force of plant molecular biology, something I observed closely in the adjacent laboratory in the late-1980s. These crops also require the widespread spraying of Roundup on contiguous thousand-acre industrial farms. The increase in yield of these crops is marginal at best according to most sources, but their cultivation does lead to glyphosate-resistant weeds, another very negative Roundup externality.

Good science, in multiple senses of the word, will be supported by a politics that is also disinterested in specific beneficiaries while having only an interest in the common good. Precise philosophical and practical definition of the common good is not necessary. To identify where to begin, one need only reflect that on the day I completed this post, Davos Man returned to his natural habitat in the Swiss Valley of the Landwasser to solve our problems, one of which is The Liberation of Science.

Notes

[1] The was in the form of credit for the discovery/identification of HIV, which early on had two names: LAV for Lymphadenopathy Virus and HTLV-III (Human T-cell Leukemia Virus-3). The LAV Group did publish first and won that argument, perhaps because half of the Medicine prize in 2008 went to Harald zur Hausen for his discovery of oncogenic variants of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This led directly to vaccines that can prevent HPV-mediated cancer.

[2] Ronald Reagan barely acknowledged AIDS until sometime after his friend Rock Hudson became the public face of a disease that could and did strike down anyone anywhere.

[3] The other critical protean term used throughout When Science Meets Power is democracy. In our vernacular, democracy is in the category We know it when they see it. And by default, the only places it is to be seen are in the liberal democracies of the so-called Global North. However, in the Late Neoliberal Age, what is incessantly called Our Democracy that must be saved from assaults of one kind or another is not a democracy interested in the common good. See Dark Money by Jane Mayer, for example. But this dark money is not an attribute of only the Right. The notional Left that is the alternative wing of one bird of prey is just as compromised but probably at a lower price. Regarding science and democracy, see Merchants of Doubt and Why Trust Science? by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway.

[4] The late Richard Lewontin has written clearly about the distinction between agent of a disease and the cause of disease. Unfortunately, his dialectical approach to biology has been largely ignored, probably because it questions the accepted neutral instrumentality of modern biomedical research, and in particular biomedicine (Big Pharma and Little Pharma, Big Healthcare).

[5] Great Barrington is an attractive name for a declaration. Great marketing compared to AIER Declaration!

[6] The metaphor of the master and his emissary used by Iain McGilchrist in The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World (2010/2019) and in The Matter with Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World (2021) seems to me to provide the better perspective. Utterly simplified: The left brain (~science/technology) is better at doing things, mostly unreflectively, while the right brain (~wisdom) is better at understanding the whole. Unless the right brain remains in charge, things often get seriously out of order. NB: I am only 100 pages into Volume 1 of The Matter of Things, a 1578-page work in two volumes.

[7] From the link: Next came George Stigler, who at one time had been a follower of Henry Simons. But later Stigler developed the theory (and justification) for regulatory capture. He argued that because industries targeted by state regulation have more at stake than the public or the agency overseeing the regulation, those industries will inevitably gain control of the process. This is not dissimilar to the NC post of Thomas Fergusons essay last Saturday. Stigler no longer held his earlier views that countermeasures such as strengthening democratic oversight and preventing the runaway growth of corporate power would be useful or necessary. In this environment it was but a short hop to Big Pharma and Evidence-Based Medicine as we have come to know them.

[8] COVID-19 vaccines developed have skewed toward mRNA vaccines, although others have been developed. Based on my experience among scientists I have little doubt that this is because mRNA vaccines are new and revolutionary, not to mention very lucrative. Nevertheless, they have been obvious since the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology was put forth by Francis Crick in the late-1950s: DNA makes RNA makes Protein. Prior to COVID-19 mRNA viruses were attempted for Zika virus, with little success so far. Recent studies are promising. Given the route SARS-CoV-2 takes into the body, intranasal vaccines that induce a mucosal IgA response are the obvious strategy, along with antiviral drugs. There is still no HIV vaccine after forty years, but anti-HIV triple drug therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis work very well for those who have access (i.e., money or a broad-based healthcare system). We also know how to avoid exposure to HIV thanks to the disinterested scientists at CDC in the 1980s.
Russia is forming detachments of so-called "military instructors" for further dispatch to African countries, the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said.

"Moscow is also carrying out persistent recruiting in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, in particular, in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Contracts are proposed to be signed by military reserves of the Russian occupation army  specialists in servicing Russian-made air defense systems, military sailors and some other specialists in the military-technical sector," the agency said in the Telegram channel.

It is noted that the agreements are designed for several years with a monthly salary commensurate with the monetary support of the Russian occupiers fighting against Ukraine.

"Mercenaries are attracted not only by high earnings, but also by the opportunity to avoid participation in a war against our state, which involves high risks of death," the agency said.

Moscow sees the purpose of sending the appropriate contingent to expand its influence in Africa.
Quantum technologies are getting closer to revolutionizing the world of innovation and can be game-changers for security, including modern warfare. Ensuring that the Alliance is ''quantum-ready'' is the aim of NATOs first-ever quantum strategy that was approved by NATO Foreign Ministers on 28 November. On Wednesday (17 January 2024), NATO released a summary of the strategy.

The strategy outlines how quantum can be applied to defence and security in areas such as sensing, imaging, precise positioning, navigation and timing, improve the detection of submarines, and upgrade and secure data communications using quantum resistant cryptography.

Many of these technologies are already used in the private sector and have become the subject of strategic competition. NATOs quantum strategy helps foster and guide NATOs cooperation with industry to develop a transatlantic quantum technologies ecosystem, while preparing NATO to defend itself against the malicious use of quantum technologies.

Quantum is one of the technological areas that NATO Allies have prioritized due to their implications for defence and security. These include artificial intelligence, data and computing, autonomy, biotechnology and human enhancements, hypersonic technologies, energy and propulsion, novel materials, next-generation communications networks and space.

Quantum technologies are already part of NATOs innovation efforts. Six of the 44 companies selected to join NATOs Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA)s programme are specialised in quantum. Their innovations are expected to help progress in the areas of next-generation cryptography, develop high-speed lasers to improve satellite connectivity, and deploy quantum-enhanced 3-D imaging sensors in challenging undersea environments. DIANA also anticipates quantum technologies forming a key part of solutions to its future challenge programme.

Building on its new strategy, NATO will now start work to establish a Transatlantic Quantum Community to engage with government, industry and academia from across the innovation ecosystems.
Today, 17 January 2024, NATOs highest Military Authority, the Military Committee, meets in Chiefs of Defence format at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The focus of the meeting is on strengthening NATOs deterrence and defence by maximising the executability of the new defence plans.

In his opening remarks, Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the Military Committee stressed, The tectonic plates of power are shifting. As a result: we face the most dangerous world in decades. NATO has entered into a new era of collective defence. Together we are defending much more than the physical safety of our 1 billion people and 31 (soon to be 32) nations. We are defending freedom and democracy.

The Deputy Secretary General thanked the Chiefs of Defence for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the Alliance: Few have done more to ensure the security of our Alliance than you and all your predecessors. So I want to start by thanking you all for the incredible work that you and your men and women in uniform have done, are doing, and will continue to be doing for our security, for our Nations, and indeed CMC, to protect our security.

Admiral Bauer praised NATOs political-military structure and welcomed Mircea Geoanas constant engagement with military leadership: It is by working together that we make sure that political will is matched with military capabilities. It is testament to the unique nature of our political-military Alliance.

During his remarks, the Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana outlined some of the main priorities for the Washington D.C. Summit in July 2024. At this years summit in Washington, we will go further. Doing what is necessary to ensure the security of our people, our nations and yes, the international rules-based system. We will strengthen our collective defence, especially our air and missile defence. We will boost our support for Ukraine. And Im thankful for all of you for meeting your Ukrainian counterpart later today. The first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Chiefs of Defence format is another testament of our enduring support for this nation, because the Ukrainians are also fighting our fight. And we will work even more closely with our partners around the world. Thank you again for meeting our partners. NATO may be a regional alliance and this will not change. But we face global challenges and we need to engage even more.

Discussing the new defence plans, Admiral Bauer said: These are the most comprehensive defence plans NATO has had since the end of the Cold War. Never before have NATO and national defence plans been so closely interlinked, highlighting the importance of the new defence plans, and how they will shape Allied armed forces for decades to come.

Admiral Bauer went on to emphasize how Allies are now actively working to maximise the executability of the new defence plans. Militarily there are more steps to be taken to get where NATO wants to be for its collective defence.

Noting the importance of NATOs warfighting transformation, Admiral Bauer spoke of the need to focus on effectiveness instead of efficiency in this new era of collective defence.

In anticipation of General Valerii Zaluzhnyi the Ukrainian Chief of Defences briefing on the situation in Ukraine, the Chair of the Military Committee stipulated: Ukraine will have our support for every day that is to come. Because make no mistake: the outcome of this war will determine the fate of the world.

Concluding his opening remarks, Admiral Bauer focused on NATOs cooperation with Partners. In a more dangerous world close cooperation and increased interoperability is paramount. There is an increased need to prepare for the unexpected and look at challenges from all threat perspectives: for this, our cooperation with Partners is key, stressed Admiral Bauer.

Tomorrow, Thursday 18 January 2024 at 15:15 there will be a joint press conference by Admiral Bauer, Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Cavoli, and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation General Badia. The joint press conference will be livestreamed on the NATO website.
(As Delivered)

Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer

Deputy Secretary General, Admirals, Generals, Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning. Mesdames et Messieurs, bienvenu a la cent quatre-vingt-dixieme session du comite militaire des chefs detat-major de la defense.

Welcome to this 190th Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session. Deputy Secretary General, dear Mircea, we highly value your presence at this meeting. And we deeply appreciate your deep involvement in all matters of military strategic importance. It is testament to the unique nature of our political-military Alliance.

Together, we have to make sure that political will is matched with military capabilities. And with the rules-based international order being under immense pressure, the importance of this cannot be overstated.

The tectonic plates of power are shifting. And as a result: we face the most dangerous world in decades.

NATO has entered into a new era of collective defence. And together we are defending much more than the physical safety of our 1 billion people and 31, soon to be 32, nations - We are defending freedom and democracy.

Please allow me to welcome for the first time at our table in their new capacity as Chief of Defence:

General Charles Brown Jr from the United States,

General Wiesaw Kukua from Poland,

And General George Vlad from Romania.

Let me also welcome the Strategic Commanders who will be supporting our meetings today: General Chris Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and General Philippe Lavigne, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. Philippe is joining us via VTC while his deputy, General Chris Badia, is here at the table.

Todays discussions will first focus on the DDA Family of Plans that were adopted at the Vilnius Summit in July 2023. These are the most comprehensive defence plans NATO has had since the end of the Cold War. Never before have NATO and national defence plans been so closely interlinked. This will shape our armed forces for decades to come. Allies are now actively working to maximise the executability of these new defence plans.

That includes:

putting more troops on higher readiness;

capability building and development;

adaptation of NATOs command and control structures;

creating and sustaining more enablement: logistics, host nation support, maintenance, military mobility, and replenishment and prepositioning of stocks;

and crucially: more collective defence exercises and training against these new plans.

Militarily, there are many more steps to be taken to get where we want to be for our collective defence. However, the responsibility for freedom does not lie on the shoulders of those in uniform alone.



In order to strengthen our collective defence and at the same time support Ukraine in its existential fight, we need a whole of society approach. We need public and private actors to change their mind-set from an era in which everything was plannable ,foreseeable, controllable, focused on efficiency. to an era in which anything can happen at any time. An era in which we need to expect the unexpected. An era in which we need to focus on effectiveness.



In order to be fully effective also in the future, we need a warfighting transformation of NATO. That will be the main focus of todays session led by the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. For this too, public-private cooperation will be the key.



In the final session of today  the first NATO-Ukraine Council in Chiefs of Defence format  we will hear an update from our Ukrainian partners and discuss the current situation while reaffirming our continued support to Ukraine.

This war has never been about any real security threat to Russia coming from either Ukraine or NATO. This war is about Russia fearing something much more powerful than any physical weapon on earth: democracy.

If people in Ukraine can have democratic rights, then people in Russia will soon crave them too. That is what this war is actually about. In 2024 a record-breaking 2 billion people on earth will cast their vote in a democratic election, and yet the concept of democracy needs to be defended more than ever.

The Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are doing this in a way we have never seen before. In the darkness of war, they are a beacon of light that shows the world what it means to fight for what you believe in.

Today is the 693rd day of what Russia thought would be a 3-day war.

Ukraine will have our support for every day that is to come. Because the outcome of this war will determine the fate of the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The ability for NATO to expect the unexpected is directly tied to the ability to see things from a different perspective. To apply new and different ways of working and to accumulate different threat perspectives. For this, our cooperation with Partners is key.

That is why tomorrow we will meet with our Indo-Pacific Partners: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea. As well as with the Chiefs of Defence from the Partner Interoperability Advocacy Group: Australia, Austria, Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland.

And finally, we will have a session with our Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, to discuss the current political objectives and guidance ahead of the Defence Ministerial in February and the Washington D.C Summit in July.

And with that, Mr Deputy Secretary General, I kindly invite you to provide your opening remarks.

NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoana

Thank you so much, Admiral Bauer, dear Rob, thank you for your leadership, your superb leadership, and your friendship.

SACEUR, SACT, Admiral Jones, ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to address you today. Je suis ravie d'etre avec vous.

Here, we will mark NATOs 75th anniversary. Throughout those years, few have done more to ensure the security of our Alliance than you and all your predecessors. So I want to start by thanking you all for the incredible work that you and your men and women in uniform have done, are doing, and will continue to be doing for our security, for our nations, and indeed CMC, to protect our security.

Today, we face many serious challenges. War, terrorism, instability. Authoritarian states threaten our values. We need a strong NATO more than ever. And a strong NATO is what we have. Over the last decade, our Alliance has undergone the biggest transformation since the Cold War.

Thanks in large part to the people in this very room, NATO now has the most robust defence plans in place since the Cold War to deter any enemy, and to defend every inch of our territory. With more troops at a high state of readiness, greater capabilities, more effective command-and-control, all put to the test with regular extensive exercises.

Of course, all of this costs money, time, and energy. And at last years NATO Summit in Vilnius, our leaders agreed a new defence spending target of at least 2% of GDP. And you'll hear from our Secretary General tomorrow that we are heartened that more and more of the Allies are reaching and aiming to reach this important milestone. The fact that they agreed to do so underlines the seriousness of the challenges we face and the importance we all attach to NATO and to our national and collective security.

At this years summit in Washington D.C., we will go further. Doing what is necessary to ensure the security of our people, our nations and yes, the international rules-based system. We will strengthen our collective defence, especially our air and missile defence. We will boost our support for Ukraine. And I'm thankful for all of you for meeting your Ukrainian counterpart later today. The first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Chiefs of Defence format is another testament of our enduring support for this nation, because the Ukrainians are also fighting our fight.

And well work even more closely with our partners around the world. Thank you again for meeting our partners. NATO may be a regional alliance. And this will not change. But we face global challenges and we need to engage even more.

General Bradley, the leader of American forces at Normandy and NATOs very first CMC, said and I quote, Peace is our goal, but preparedness is the price we must pay.

Today, our peace is threatened. But thanks to you, and to your people, and to your service men and women around this great Alliance of ours, we are prepared. As we continue forward, I count on your dedication, your expertise, and your leadership.

Thank you all. It's a privilege for me and tomorrow for our Secretary General to be together with you, the leaders of the greatest and most successful Alliance in history. 75 years is just the beginning of our great journey together. Thank you all, a privilege for me to be with all of you today.

Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer

Deputy Secretary General, thank you for your inspiring words. It is an honour to have you at our table.

Your message is perhaps best summarized in the age-old saying: if you want peace, prepare for war.

Maximising our preparedness and our deterrence helps to minimise the chance of a conflict ever arising.

It is our sacred task to support and enable the work of the enormous band of brothers and sisters in uniform who defend our great Alliance. Let us recognise their service and sacrifice for they are defending the democratic values and the rule of law that form the fabric of our societies. Together, more than 3 million service men and women uphold NATOs defensive shield.

On behalf of the Military Committee, I want to express our deep gratitude and respect for their courage, their professionalism, and their dedication. Our thoughts are especially with the loved ones of those men and women who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. And with all those who are dealing with the physical and mental effects of their time in service.

Please stand with me as we honour their sacrifice.

[Moment of silence]

Thank you.

At the end of our committee sessions tomorrow, SACEUR, DSACT, and I will brief the media on the outcomes of our discussions and then answer questions. I do want to thank the media personnel who have joined us to cover this important event. You play an important role in telling NATOs story and we appreciate your presence.

I kindly ask the media now to depart.
Artificial intelligence is set to affect nearly 40% of all jobs, according to a new analysis by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

IMFs managing director Kristalina Georgieva says In most scenarios, AI will likely worsen overall inequality.

(Article by Blessing Nweke republished from YourNews.com)

Ms. Georgieva adds that policymakers should address the troubling trend to prevent the technology from further stoking social tensions.

The proliferation of AI has put its benefits and risks under the spotlight.

The IMF said AI will likely affect a greater proportion of jobs  put at around 60%  in advanced economies. In half of these instances, workers can expect to benefit from the integration of AI, which will enhance their productivity.

In other instances, AI will have the ability to perform key tasks that are currently executed by humans. This could lower the demand for labor, affecting wages and even eradicating jobs.

Meanwhile, the IMF projects that the technology will affect just 26% of jobs in low-income countries.

Ms. Georgieva said, Many of these countries dont have the infrastructure or skilled workforces to harness the benefits of AI, raising the risk that over time the technology could worsen inequality among nations.

More generally, higher-income and younger workers may see a disproportionate increase in their wages after adopting AI.

Lower-income and older workers could fall behind, the IMF believes.

Countries must establish comprehensive social safety nets and offer retraining programs for vulnerable workers, Ms. Georgieva said. In doing so, we can make the AI transition more inclusive, protecting livelihoods and curbing inequality.

The IMF analysis comes as global business and political leaders gather at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

AI is a topic of discussion, following the surge in popularity of applications like ChatGPT.

The technology is facing increased regulation around the world. Last month, European Union officials reached a provisional deal on the worlds first comprehensive laws to regulate the use of AI

The European Parliament will vote on the AI Act proposals early this year, but any legislation will not take effect until at least 2025.

The US, UK, and China have yet to publish their own AI guidelines.

Read more at: YourNews.com
Total Psyop: American Psychological Association seeks federal funding to fight misinformation online (in other words, to commit more censorship)

The American Psychological Association (APA) is expanding efforts that it launched in 2021 to combat what it considers to be misinformation and is seeking additional government funding to aid in its quest.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the APA accepted a $2 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help it control the mainstream COVID-19 narratives. They were tasked with developing a scientific consensus statement on the science of misinformation, and a post on the APAs website announcing the award claimed: Psychologists can serve an important role in guiding the world out of the pandemic. We are the discipline with expertise to address vaccine decision-making, and susceptibility to misinformation.

Not content to stop there, however, they are now pursuing additional federal funding by proclaiming psychologists as uniquely positioned professionals capable of researching misinformation and coming up with solutions. In a self-serving post on their website outlining eight recommendations for countering misinformation, the APA lists funding psychological research studies as one of its solutions, explaining that large-scale trials will help them understand which interventions work best at combatting specific types of misinformation.

In a new post on the American Psychological Associations website, the groups CEO, Arthur C. Evans, Jr. boasts that the CDC asked them to help fight misinformation and explains how a team of top psychologists spent much of last year poring over research on misinformation and drafting recommendations for mental health providers, social media platforms and policymakers.

He begins with an alarmist introduction with carefully chosen wording designed to make misinformation sound like an urgent and far-reaching issue, writing: The scourge of misinformation touches every aspect in the field of psychology. Clinicians work with patients who have been subsumed by harmful conspiracy theories.

He also said that because this year is an election year, fighting misinformation will be one of psychologys top concerns in 2024.

According to Dr. Evans, researchers found that debunking this information repeatedly and boosting trusted sources that share more accurate information is essential, which sounds like the perfect excuse to exercise even more censorship over what people are discussing online. In fact, Dr. Evans post reports that the APA is trying to disseminate this message.

We are also asking social media companies to reduce the spread of misinformation and are pushing for new federal funding to find more ways to counter it, he notes.

Is the CDC seeking scientific justification for censorship?

Of course, we have already seen Big Techs guidelines in action during the pandemic, working overtime to convey government narratives and censoring those who dare to provide helpful and proven information if it goes against those narratives.

In a recent hearing on social media censorship, House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) revealed that internal documents from Google, owner of YouTube, indicate that President Biden pressured the video sharing platform to censor Americans who were spreading what he considered misinformation related to the COVID-19 virus and vaccines  which, in practice, targeted vaccine skeptics and those who shared negative reactions they experienced after getting jabbed.

In a post on X, Rep. Jordan explained: We knew the Biden White House was pushing Facebook and Twitter to censor more. Now we know the White House was repeatedly pressuring Google to censor content on YouTube."

He explained how Bidens Digital Strategy Director Rob Flaherty reached out to Google asking how they could better crack down on vaccine misinformation and find out how they can work with the social media platform to combat it.

He also cited the Wall Street Journals reporting on Facebooks removal of COVID-19 content after demands by Biden, writing: Facebook removed content related to Covid-19 in response to pressure from the Biden administration, including posts claiming the virus was man-made, according to internal company communications viewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Considering the way that people who tried to share their concerns about COVID-19 vaccines were often mocked online for not believing in science by those on the left, it makes perfect sense that the APA and the CDC are so eager to spend money trying to find scientific justification for further censorship.

Sources for this article include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

APA.org

ZeroHedge.com
Ben Armstrong: Chinas balloon launch over Taiwan is a DISTRACTION for surprise attack on America

Ben Armstrong of the New American magazine believes that China's launch of 10,000 military balloons is a distraction for a potential surprise attack against America.

"China is looking to possibly launch now 10,000 military balloons  over Taiwan. This is, again, more aggressive action from China pointing toward war," he said during a recent episode of "The Ben Armstrong Show."

"If they do that to Taiwan, it would be pointing toward war with America. Anything against Taiwan would provoke war with America. I keep saying: If you look at what they're really doing with their five-point plan, Taiwan is a distraction."

He also cited a clip from the "Stinchfield Tonight" program that featured host Grant Stinchfield talking about the 10,000 balloons Beijing launched over Taiwan. According to Stinchfield, the balloons aren't just capable of surveillance. These balloons are also explosive, i.e. they can be controlled and detonated to cause damage. (Related: Two Chinese balloons spotted flying over Taiwan ahead of the island nations presidential election.)

He added that Beijing may be getting ready for a similar launch, citing whistleblowers from the New Federal State of China (NFSC) inside the Chinese Communist Party. The NFSC was established by former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and Miles Guo of G News.

According to Armstrong, the so-called "five-point plan" overwhelmingly proves that China is colluding with Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and other countries to perpetuate a surprise attack on America.

"They have set up military members in the U.S. through our southern borders. They have bioweapons labs set up in America, and they have bioweapons labs set up in the Middle East for our military," he said.

"China is behind it all. I think the whole time China will try to act like they're behind the scenes on all of this though. So, they don't want to look like they were the frontrunner."

Most Americans don't believe that a surprise attack could happen

Armstrong added that this surprise attack on America won't be a surprise because it's announced, defeating the original purpose. He pointed out that actual surprise attacks happen to nations who don't fear such. However, Armstrong remarked that most Americans don't believe that a surprise attack could happen tomorrow  and if it does, it would be a surprise to 90 percent of the population.

The journalist for the New American magazine also noted that this attack won't be an open one where China sends the People's Liberation Army Navy to attack, like in previous wars. This time, China's surprise attack would involve the use of small, tactical nuclear weapons to inflict minimal amounts of damage to American farmland.

He also noted that nuclear submarines from China and Russia are capable of launching a tactical nuclear strike. Meanwhile, Iran can take care of setting up dirty bombs that can be detonated in major U.S. cities.

Moreover, Armstrong said China has already given Iran the green light. Because of this, Iran-backed proxies and terrorist groups have begun attacks on American forces in the Middle East.

"They're at war with us; they're openly at war with us; they're saying they're at war with us. They are attacking because China wants it to happen. This is why Israel had what happened with Hamas. So, Israel is under war, thanks to China. We're under attack in the Middle East, thanks to China. You have Russia distracting us, depleting our ammunition."

He ultimately remarked that U.S. President Joe Biden and a bunch of other politicians who have become rich through their Chinese connections are compromised. These people, Armstrong added, believe in a one world government that China is trying to implement. But he concluded that these same politicians are foolish to think that they will be part of it.

Follow CommunistChina.news for more news about China's plan to invade Taiwan.

Watch Ben Armstrong's commentary on China launching 10,000 military balloons over Taiwan.

This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

CCP has been creating spy balloons for YEARS out of a heavily guarded naval base in southern China.

Xi shares with Biden his intention to peacefully take Taiwan  but full-scale INVASION remains on the table.

Spy balloons are part of global Chinese surveillance, US military and national security officials say.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

AmericasVoice.news
Boeing aircraft incidents put spotlight on FAA diversity hiring

Recent incidents involving Boeing have highlighted the growing trend of diversity initiatives in the airline industry with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under scrutiny for its efforts to hire people with mental disabilities.

(Article by Naveen Athrappully republished from TheEpochTimes.com)

Earlier this month, a door plug on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 snapped off while flying at 16,000 feet, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. On Saturday, a Japanese airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft returned to its departure airport after a crack was discovered in the cockpit window.

The incidents have put a spotlight on diversity policies in the airline industry, which is being blamed for ongoing inefficiencies. According to the FAAs webpage on diversity, people with severe disabilities are under-represented in the federal workforce. The FAA actively recruits, hires, promotes, retains, develops and advances people with disabilities.

The federal government has identified certain disabilities for special emphasis in recruitment and hiring, which the FAA complies with. This includes hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability, and dwarfism.

To fill vacancies with disabled people, the FAA practices a non-competitive hiring method. Managers can choose to fill an open position through the on-the-spot hiring process.

People with severe disabilitiesmissing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, severe intellectual disability, and psychiatric disabilitymay be hired in an expedited manner once they meet the necessary job requirements.

The FAA sees diversity as integral to achieving its mission of safe and efficient travel across our nation and beyond.

The agency also ensures that people with disabilities have reasonable accommodation at the workplace to suit their needs, including making modifications to existing facilities or installing special equipment.

It is unclear when the FAA began its disability diversity employment program. The website detailing these measures was last updated in March 2022.

DEI Over Safety?

The FAAs disability diversity policies have come under criticism. Just had a conversation with some smart people [who] could not believe this is happening, billionaire Elon Musk said in a Jan. 15 X post.

Just had a conversation with some smart people could not believe this is happening https://t.co/fcu4MZ1l5O  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 15, 2024

The Biden White House flat doesnt care, just so long as theyre destroying the American way of life and our Constitutional Republic, political commentator Lou Dobbs said in an X post.

The Biden White House flat doesnt carejust so long as theyre destroying the American way of life and our Constitutional Republic: FAAs diversity push includes focus on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities https://t.co/2TB7HBBTIk #FoxNews  Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) January 15, 2024

Commenting on the disability employment initiative, the FAA recently told Fox News that the agency is vetting qualified candidates for a range of positions from as many sources as possible.

The FAA employs tens of thousands of people for a wide range of positions, from administrative roles to oversight and execution of critical safety functions, the agency said.

Like many large employers, the agency proactively seeks qualified candidates from as many sources as possible, all of whom must meet rigorous qualifications that of course will vary by position.

Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, chair of Do No Harm, a group of medical experts and policymakers focused on countering the spread of identity politics, told the outlet that people with disabilities who can complete their tasks should never be subjected to discrimination when it comes to employment.

However, identity politics is now creating opportunities for so-called oppressed groups by lowering standards for entry into those fields and thereby endangering the safety of those which its designed to serve. Some endeavors simply do not lend themselves to identity politics.

Just like the healthcare industry must ensure patient safety, the aviation sector too is responsible for the safety of travelers, Dr. Goldfarb pointed out. Such responsibilities outweigh other factors when determining whether an applicant is suitable for a job in these fields, he stated.

The Epoch Times reached out to the FAA for comment.

Boeings Diversity Push

With two of Boeings planes involved in incidents this month, the company is facing scrutiny for its diversity policies.

According to the firms documents, Boeing uses diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria when judging the performance of their executives and deciding their incentives.

Its Global, Diversity & Inclusion report mentions that 2022s intern class was the most diverse in our companys history, with more than 50 percent from underrepresented backgrounds. The firm also has a focus on developing a diverse and inclusive supply chain.

In a Jan. 10 X post, author James Lindsay criticized Boeings diversity programs, stating that DEI was never about proportionate representation; its about destroying objective merit.

In Boeing's 2023 DEI/GEDI report they are proud that more than 50% of their interns are from "underrepresented backgrounds." Were hiring based on merit or based on skin color and identity? DEI was never about proportionate representation; it's about destroying objective merit. pic.twitter.com/F8Vtddu0FR  James Lindsay, anti-Fascist (@ConceptualJames) January 10, 2024

Why does this matter? Whistleblowers from Boeing have pointed out safety concerns with Boeings production quality issues since 2018, but instead of prioritizing safety and fixing these issues, the company created bonuses that incentivize management to focus on hitting DEI goals.

Daniel Turner, the founder of energy advocacy NGO Power the Future, said that Boeings mistake was its focus on DEI.

The loose bolts were not your mistake @Boeing Your mistake is 92% of your workforce is #DEI. You put a persons physical or mental characteristics ahead of their ability to tighten bolts. You got off lucky this time but didnt learn. Your wokeness will get people killed. https://t.co/GMBhsAzBY2  Daniel Turner (@DanielTurnerPTF) January 10, 2024

You put a persons physical or mental characteristics ahead of their ability to tighten bolts. You got off lucky this time but didnt learn. Your wokeness will get people killed, he said.

United and Alaska Airlines have said that they discovered loose hardware or bolts in the assembly of door plugs for the Boeing 737 Max 9.

According to data from Yahoo, the Big Three investment managersBlackRock, Vanguard, and State Streetcollectively own an 18.22 percent stake in Boeing. These three investment managers have been accused of pushing diversity programs onto companies.

A 2022 Senate report said that each of these firms uses the voting power gained from the investors money to advance liberal social goals known as ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).

Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com
CNN spokesperson admits outlet submits stories to IDF for Israeli censorship and control

A spokesperson from CNN admitted that the mainstream media outlet follows a certain protocol that gives Israeli censors influence over its stories.

The said staffer who spoke to the nonprofit news organization Intercept, on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the news outlet's news coverage about Israel and Palestine is first run through and reviewed by the CNN Jerusalem bureau, which is subject to the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF's) scrutiny prior to publication.

The source further revealed that the "review team" restricts foreign news outlets from reporting on certain subjects of its choosing and outright censors articles or news segments if they don't meet its guidelines. This just means that much of the network's recent coverage of the war in Gaza and its reverberations around the world has been shaped by journalists who operate under the shadow of Israeli Military Censor, a unit in the IDF Directorate of Military Intelligence tasked with carrying out preventive censorship. (Related: Israeli Military Censor lists 8 topics journalists are banned from covering.)

Intercept's D.C. Bureau Chief Ryan Grim further reported that a "shaky arrangement" has long existed between the IDF censor and the domestic and foreign press, forcing journalists to frequently self-censor their reporting for fear of running afoul of prohibited subjects, losing their press credentials, and potentially being forced to offer a public apology. "CNN, like other American broadcasters, has repeatedly agreed to submit footage recorded in Gaza to the military censor prior to airing it in exchange for limited access to the strip, drawing criticism from those who say the censor is providing a filtered view of events unfolding on the ground," he further exposed.

The industry insider said that the policy of running stories about Israel or the Palestinians past the Jerusalem bureau has been in place for years. It is simply down to the fact that many unique and complex local nuances warrant extra scrutiny to make sure our reporting is as precise and accurate as possible."

For James Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute, the IDF's approach to censoring media outlets is "Israel's way of intimidating and controlling news." "Every single Israel-Palestine-related line for reporting must seek approval from the [Jerusalem] bureau  or, when the bureau is not staffed, from a select few handpicked by the bureau and senior management  from which lines are most often edited with a very specific nuance," another staffer told the Intercept.

Meanwhile, Jerusalem bureau chief Richard Greene announced it had expanded its review team to include editors outside of Israel, calling the new policy "Jerusalem SecondEyes." The expanded review process was ostensibly put in place to bring "more expert eyes" to CNN's reporting particularly when the Jerusalem news desk is not staffed. The CNN staff also revealed that "war crime" and "genocide" are considered taboo words. Israeli bombings in Gaza will be reported as "blasts" attributed to nobody until the Israeli military weighs in to either accept or deny responsibility. Quotes and information provided by the Israeli army and government officials tend to be approved quickly, while those from Palestinians tend to be heavily scrutinized and slowly processed, the source further disclosed.

Despite the revelations, CNN's senior director of news standards and practices David Lindsey told journalists in a Nov. 2 memo that "Hamas representatives are engaging in inflammatory rhetoric and propaganda... We should be careful not to give it a platform." Another email sent in October suggested that the network aimed to present the Ministry of Health's casualty figures as questionable, with the News Standards and Practices division telling staffers, "Hamas controls the government in Gaza and we should describe the Ministry of Health as 'Hamas-controlled' whenever we are referring to casualty statistics or other claims related to the present conflict." Newsroom employees were also advised to "remind our audiences of the immediate cause of this current conflict, namely the Hamas attack and mass murder and kidnap of Israeli civilians" on Oct. 7.

Military censor says Netanyahu presses him to clamp down on reporting

Back in November 2023, Israel's military censor Brig. Gen. Kobi Mandelblit allegedly complained in private that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior government officials are pressing him to muzzle some media publications without a valid security justification. Mandelblit reportedly vented on the matter to other senior IDF officers in a recent off-the-record conversation, during which he made several harsh remarks about the prime minister and told them he fears Netanyahu wants to remove him from his post or deprive the censor of authority.

Netanyahu's office responded in a statement that the censor had in its view harmed national security and endangered soldiers by permitting the publication of some news during the current conflict in the Gaza Strip. It did not provide details but denied that Mandelblit's job had been threatened.

The military official, who is a cousin of former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and the Israeli jurist who indicted Netanyahu on corruption charges, claimed he was asked to clamp down on information from cabinet meetings in which Netanyahu came off as hesitant about the ongoing war with Hamas. One item that he was requested to withhold, and which was indeed prevented from publication, concerned private matters relating to Netanyahu and his wife, the report said. The censor justified the ban by ruling it was due to security considerations relating to the Netanyahu couple, a local newspaper reported.

Check out Censorship.news to read more stories on news and free speech suppression.

Sources for this article include:

CommonDreams.org

TheIntercept.com

TimesOfIsrael.com
Beijings shipping firm halts Israel operations despite strong ties with Houthi backer Tehran amid rising Red Sea tensions

Despite low chances of the Houthis attacking a Chinese vessel, China's biggest shipping firm COSCO has suspended all shipping operations to Israel. This was reported by Israeli financial news website Globes on Sunday.

The news outlet did not cite any sources for the information and said that COSCO had yet to notify international shippers of its decision. However, the freight company in Israel declined to comment.

The fourth largest container shipping line in the world, with about 11 percent of world trade, decided on this step even though it is not much threatened in the Red Sea because of the East Asian nation's ties with Iran, the backer of Yemeni Houthi rebels that target vessels in the most important trade route. China is the customer for 90 percent of the oil exported by Iran.

A pointer to COSCO's decision was the recent announcement by its Hong Kong-based subsidiary OOCL that it was ceasing to sail to Israel because of "operational problems." That announcement, intended to enable it to sail in the Red Sea without interference by the Houthis, led to wide criticism. In the end, the company caved in, like Singapore-based shipping line ONE (Ocean Network Express). Besides the effect on trade between the Far East and Israel, COSCO's decision was reported to be significant because it cooperates with Israeli shipping line ZIM, which will have to operate more ships on the Far East routes, which is liable to lead to higher shipping costs since XIM will be short of ships, Globes further wrote. The second direct effect will be on Haifa Bayport, which is operated by another state-owned Chinese company SIPG. The port is dependent on the many COSCO ships that visit it.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking shippers in the Red Sea since last month in a campaign that they say aims to support Palestinians in the Gaza war. Said attacks have forced many global shippers, including the world's largest shipping firm Maersk, to suspend journeys, leading to a spike in cargo rates and insurance premiums for shipping firms. (Related: Moscow wins again as Houthi rebels attack Western vessels, while Russian oil tankers freely navigate.)

Meanwhile, Israel's Transport Ministry on Tuesday said it was trying to clarify COSCO's decision on the reported halting of shipping to Israel. "The Administration of Shipping and Ports is working with the relevant parties to clarify the Chinese shipping company's announcement to stop sailing to Israel."

U.S., 13 other nations warn Houthis against further attacks in the Red Sea

In a joint statement, the governments of the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom called on the Yemeni militant group to halt the attacks and release the captured vessels and crews.

They said that "the Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy and the free flow of commerce in the regions critical waterways." The group of nations also called the ongoing attacks "illegal, unacceptable and profoundly destabilizing." "Let our message now be clear: We call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews," the countries said. The said call came amid the continuing attacks by the rebels in the Red Sea, heightening threats to global trade and the stability of the entire region as the intense fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in Gaza continues.

To ensure freedom of navigation, the United States has also spearheaded a twenty-country naval task force to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea and the neighboring Gulf of Aden and deployed aircraft carriers to the region.

The Red Sea is one of the most important arteries in the global shipping system with nearly 15 percent of global seaborne trade passing through it, including eight percent of global grain trade, 12 percent of seaborne-traded oil and eight percent of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade. Any sustained disruption in trade there could send a ripple effect of higher costs throughout the world economy.

Also, a significant number of companies are already rerouting their ships around South Africa to reduce their risks, representing an additional 10 days to journeys on average, negatively impacting international trade and the costs of freight. France's CMA CGM, the worlds second-largest shipper by market share, recently announced that it would double its rates for shipping from Asia to Europe.

Meanwhile, Department of Defense officials and analysts argue that the U.S. should go on the offensive against Houthis, citing a track record of deterrence. After said rebels attacked commercial and U.S. military vessels in 2016, Washington responded with strikes of its own, and the Houthis stood down. "If the United States wants to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and its environs, it is going to have to take the fight directly to the Houthis," said Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Steven A. Cook.

However, such strikes could raise the risk of regional conflict, including with Iran, which has sent its warship into the sea. Unlike in 2016, Houthis are no longer mired in daily conflict with their northern neighbor Saudi Arabia. Every option the West could take therefore has "serious downsides," the Brookings Institution's Bruce Jones commented. "Tensions and bad choices abound in the Red Sea but they are also a harbinger of tougher choices and turbulent waters ahead."

Visit WWIII.news to get updates on the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Sources for this article include:

Reuters.com

En.Globes.co.il

PhilStar.com

CFR.org
Twenty-eight torture rooms were found in the de-occupied part of Kharkiv region, three of them are still not documented due to heavy shelling in the areas of their location, the Interior Ministry of Ukraine has said.

"Investigators of the National Police have found 28 torture rooms in Kharkiv region since the moment of its de-occupation. This is the largest number in Ukraine. Three of them still remain undocumented due to the fact that they are located in the heavily shelled settlements close to the border with Russia," it said on the Telegram channel on Wednesday.

The National Police have found 88 prisons and torture rooms, where the Russian forces had illegally captured and tortured people, in the de-occupied territories since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

"The most high-profile one is the case of a Kupyansk torture room. Sixty-seven people were officially recognized as victims who suffered from the occupiers' hands in this torture room, however the police know that more than 150 people suffered from tortures there. Some of them were captured for more than 100 days," it said.

The victims include schoolchildren, retirees, teachers, heads of local enterprises and farmers, the ministry said.

"Currently, the task of the investigators is to establish and identify all Russian soldiers, LPR/DPR [the so-called 'Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics'] activists and collaborators-traitors involved in torturing Ukrainians, and submit all these cases to court," it said.
Israel cannot beat Hezbollah, DIAs secret assessment concludes

An American intelligence assessment found that it would be difficult for Israel to succeed in a war against Hezbollah amid ongoing fighting in Gaza, according to an exclusive report of the Washington Post.

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Washington found that Israeli forces would not win in a two-front war against Hamas in the beleaguered enclave and Hezbollah in Lebanon despite the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) being in continued exchanges of fire with the militants since the start of the war in October 2023.

"If it were to do so, a new secret assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) found that it would be difficult for the IDF to succeed because its military assets and resources would be spread too thin given the conflict in Gaza," citing two sources and a classified report by the DIA. More than a dozen administration officials and diplomats spoke to the news outlet for the said report, with the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive military situation between Israel and Lebanon.

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to make a "fundamental change" to the security situation along the Lebanese border, American officials have privately warned him against opening a second front. Also, Hezbollah's pounding of an Israeli intelligence base with missiles on Saturday in response to Israel assassinating a senior Hamas leader in Beirut several days earlier has marked a significant escalation. It would be important to note as well that Israel's military relies on reservists to swell its ranks in times of conflict. The IDF called up around 360,000 reservists when the war with Hamas began, although a senior Israeli official told Reuters last week that an undisclosed number would soon be released from duty.

Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah also claimed in November that his forces had tied up around a third of Israel's troops along the Israel-Lebanon border, preventing them from being deployed to Gaza. He added that the rebels' continued skirmishes with the IDF were causing "a state of anxiety, anticipation, panic and fear among the enemy's political and military leadership." In a recent speech, Nasrallah vowed a response to Israeli aggression, while hinting that he might be open to negotiations on border demarcation with Israel.

A full-scale conflict between the two nations would surpass the bloodshed of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war on account of Hezbollahs substantially larger arsenal of long-range and precision weaponry, the paper stated, citing officials who also warned that the militant group could launch missile attacks on Israeli petrochemical plants and nuclear reactors. One more thing is that further escalation could draw Iran into the war and eventually the U.S., sources said.

Blinken pushes for de-escalation while Hezbollah attacks anew

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel, ahead of the visit to the West Bank, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt where he will discuss specific steps to "avoid escalation." "It is in no one's interest  not Israel's, not the region's, not the world's  for this conflict to spread beyond Gaza. But that view is not uniformly held within Israel's government," Blinken's spokesman Matthew Miller said before boarding a plane to the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese militants launched about 40 rockets into Israel on Saturday, one of the largest barrages in recent months. The IDF claimed it launched airstrikes and fired back at militants who had been launching rockets. The Iranian-backed armed group said it fired rockets at an Israeli observation post as an initial response to the killing of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri on Tuesday. Lebanese officials said Arouri's killing was a suspected Israeli attack but Israel has neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the strike. (Related: Hezbollah's "initial" response to assassination of top-ranking Hamas leader involved striking Israeli intelligence base with more than 60 rockets.)

Amid all the conflict, Blinken stood firm on the belief that both Israel and Lebanon have an interest in avoiding escalation. "Nothing is inevitable because countries are clearly going to calculate what their interests are," he told reporters. He added that the U.S. would continue to focus on getting the hostages out of Gaza and expressed concern over the humanitarian situation there, which he called dire.

To date, more than 22,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed since Israel launched a military operation in Gaza aimed at toppling Hamas from power, according to Palestinian health officials. The number does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Catch the latest updates on the Israel-Hamas war at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

WashingtonPost.com

WSJ.com
McDonalds has an Israel problem

McDonalds Corporation is confronting a substantial business downturn in multiple Middle Eastern markets and beyond, owing to an escalating controversy stemming from its perceived support of Israel amid the countrys ongoing war with Hamas. According to Palestinian statistics, since October 7, 2023, over 22,000 Palestinians have lost their lives throughout Israels shelling of Gaza. Most were reportedly civilians.

(Article republished from RT.com)

McDonalds CEO Chris Kempczinski recently disclosed that the company is witnessing a meaningful business impact in the wake of widespread customer boycotts, fueling concerns over the fast-food giants regional and global operations.

Thousands across the world are boycotting Starbucks after it sued its workers union for expressing Palestinian support and solidarity and condemning Israel. But Starbucks isnt alone, McDonalds, Coca Cola, Puma and even Disney are other companies called to boycott. pic.twitter.com/yWZilXCqT8  AJ+ (@ajplus) November 10, 2023

The catalyst for this setback lies in the dissemination of images and videos across social media platforms, revealing McDonalds franchise stores in Israel providing complimentary meals to members of the Israeli military. The resultant public outcry has given rise to spontaneous boycotts, with consumers in the Middle East and other Muslim-majority nations such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Pakistan, expressing their discontent and calling for a boycott of the iconic burger chain.

?? [ FLASH INFO ] LE BOYCOTT FONCTIONNE TRES BIEN : Le PDG de McDonald's, Chris Kempczinski, a declare que la societe reconnait que plusieurs marches du Moyen-Orient et meme certains en dehors de la region "subissent un impact commercial significatif en raison de la guerre" a pic.twitter.com/7wOBSIJ0JT  ? ?? Gaza News+ (@GazaNewsPlus) January 4, 2024

Kempczinski acknowledged the severity of the situation, citing the impact on various markets in the Middle East and beyond. While he decried the disheartening and ill-founded nature of the boycotts, he notably refrained from providing specific details regarding the scale of the business impact. With approximately 2,000 McDonalds restaurants in the region, the repercussions are substantial, underscoring the challenges faced by multinational corporations in navigating geopolitically charged conflicts.

The McDonalds scenario is not isolated, as major Western brands, including Starbucks and Unilever, find themselves entangled in similar controversies due to their perceived alignments in the Israel-Palestine conflict. The complexities of managing public perception and business interests in the face of such politically sensitive issues have proven to be formidable for these global entities.

JUST IN: McDonald's CEO says that 'several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region are experiencing a meaningful business impact due to the war and associated misinformation'. pic.twitter.com/WQrsemkXsm  The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) January 4, 2024

Despite the boycotts and the subsequent geopolitical tensions, both McDonalds and Starbucks have reported positive global sales figures. McDonalds, notably, reported a 10.9% increase in Q4 2023, defying expectations of a more significant downturn. This resilience underscores the nuanced interplay between global brand image and regional controversies.

Read more at: RT.com
Paul Craig Roberts: Washington deems TRUTH its most dangerous enemy

According to former economist and government official Paul Craig Roberts, the federal government in Washington, D.C. deems the truth to be its most dangerous enemy

He expounded on this claim in a Dec. 23 piece on his blog. Roberts cited political commentator Tucker Carlson's remarks about how both the U.S. and the U.K. have committed "an enormous crime" against whistleblower Julian Assange.

Roberts said both the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the American media worked hand-in-glove in framing Assange. He also elaborated on the whistleblower's fate, having been "held for four years in solitary confinement in the U.K.'s maximum-security prison without charges, a total violation of habeas corpus; and for seven years previously in the Ecuadoran embassy in London until Washington paid the Ecuadorian president to revoke Assange's asylum so he could be seized." (Related: Julian Assange suffering torture, abuse in prison as deep state tries to MURDER him.)

The former official was astounded with the American media's endless parroting of the CIA's false claim that Assange was "dangerous spy and a threat to U.S. national security" simply for doing a journalist's job and stating the truth. Based on this, he concluded that America no longer had a media  but a "Ministry of Propaganda." Roberts further lamented that some Americans have allowed themselves to be indoctrinated and brainwashed by the lies the so-called "presstitutes" are telling them.

"It also shows conclusively that Washington regards truth as its most dangerous enemy," he said. "A country without a media cannot be free or have an accountable government. Americans who think that they live in a free country are completely deluded; they are pathetic."

Assange has been in jail since 2019 for exposing the truth

According to U.S. News and World Report, Assange's probable final legal challenge to stop his extradition from the U.K. to the U.S.  where he is wanted on criminal charges  will be held at London's High Court in February 2024.

The 52-year-old founder of WikiLeaks is wanted by U.S. authorities on 18 counts, including one under a spying act, linking to the site's release of enormous troves of secret U.S. military records and diplomatic cables  which Washington said had put lives in danger.

Campaigners said a public hearing would happen at the High Court on Feb. 20 and 21, when two judges will review a previous ruling which had refused Assange permission to appeal. WikiLeaks announced in a statement: "The two-day hearing may be the final chance for Julian Assange to prevent his extradition to the United States."

WikiLeaks initially came to prominence in 2010 when it released hundreds of thousands of confidential classified files and diplomatic cables in what was the biggest security breach of its kind in U.S. military history, which American prosecutors said endangered the lives of agents named in the leaked material.

Supporters of Assange described him as an anti-establishment hero who has been victimized because he exposed U.S. misconduct, and that his prosecution is an attack on journalism and free speech. But if Washington's extradition pushes through after exhausting all legal appeals, Assange would face trial in Alexandria, Virginia. The whistleblower could be sentenced to up to 175 years in an American maximum-security prison  essentially a life term.

The charges were initiated by the Trump administration over WikiLeaks' 2010 publication of cables leaked by U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning recounting war crimes committed by the American government in the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention camp, Iraq and Afghanistan. The materials also exposed cases of the CIA engaging in torture and rendition.

Aside from the London High Court, Assange's lawyers have also applied to the European Court of Human Rights, which could likely order the extradition to be stopped.

"The last four and a half years have taken the most considerable toll on Julian and his family, including our two young sons. The persecution of this innocent journalist and publisher must end," said his wife Stella, whom Assange married in prison.

Follow Truth.news for more news about the truth being suppressed by the federal government and mainstream media.

Watch this short snippet of Tucker Carlson's interview with Julian Assange, which Paul Craig Roberts touched on.

This video is from the HaloRock channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Paul Craig Roberts and Mike Adams reveal the huge MISTAKE US officials are making over Israel, Ukraine and Russia.

Vivek Ramaswamy: Establishment believes Americans CANT BE TRUSTED with the truth.

Top whistleblower HEROES vilified as traitors and domestic terrorists by the highly corrupt U.S. Government and MSM.

Sources include:

PaulCraigRoberts.org

USNews.com

FoxNews.com
Scottish parents face SEVEN YEARS in prison for refusing to affirm childrens gender identity

Newly proposed legislation in Scotland would make it a crime , punishable by up to seven years in prison, for parents to refuse to "affirm" their gender dysphoric children's self-selected "gender identity."

Legislators launched a public consultation in early January to end all conversion practices for both sexual orientation and gender identity. If passed, the bill will impose harsh punishments on parents who refuse to play along with their children's LGBTQ delusions, including a child's desire to slice off body parts or take gender-bending pharmaceuticals.

Proposed by Scottish "Equalities Minister" Emma Roddick, the bill aims to criminalize what it calls "coercive" behavior by parents that intends to "change or suppress" a child's gender identity  because doing so, according to Roddick, causes "harm" to a child.

The word "coercive," as used in the legislation, is defined as any type of "violent, threatening, or intimidating" behavior towards a child that involves "controlling the victim's day-to-day activities," or that involves "pressuring the victim to act in a particular way."

Such behavior would need to be persistent in order to qualify for punishment, though the bill states that it only needs to happen "on at least two occasions" to constitute a violation of "harm."

"Harm," as defined in the bill, involves any "physical or psychological" act that causes "fear, alarm and distress" in a child's mind.

(Related: Did you know that Scotland banned certain types of anesthesia last year due to their "impact on the climate?")

Parental rights on the chopping block throughout the West

Under the proposal, parents would still be allowed to defend themselves against punishment if they can prove that their actions were objectively reasonable.

A group called Women Scotland that exists to protect the rights of women and children  never men, of course  in Scotland is expressing concerns about the draft legislation.

"We have grave concerns that these plans will criminalize loving parents, who could face years in jail simply for refusing to sign up to the gender ideology cult," said Women Scotland spokesperson Marion Calder.

"They will also hand activists and social workers unprecedented powers to meddle in family life, while having a chilling impact on therapists and counselors. If the SNP and Greens insist on pushing this through, it is likely to go the same way as the toxic self-ID and named person laws and be blocked in the courts."

The newly proposed legislation comes amid numerous other recently passed bills pushed by the left-wing Scottish National Party (SNP), which spends a lot of its time promoting transgenderism, particularly among children.

Last year, the SNP voted to remove the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria in order to apply for a gender recognition certificate, which is needed in Scotland to legally change one's official gender.

Another reform pushed by SNP involves slashing the amount of time an applicant has to live in a preferred gender from two years to just three months, as well as lowering the minimum age at which a person can apply for a gender recognition certificate from 18 to 16 years.

"The UK Government committed in its 2018 LGBT Action Plan to end the practice of conversion therapy and published a consultation in October 2021," reads an overview statement from the Scottish government. "However, a Bill has not been included in the UK Government's legislative programme 2023-2024."

"Conversion practices are harmful. They are promoted within an ideology that views LGBTQI+ identities as wrong and believes that they can be changed. This legislation aims to protect people from the harm of conversion practices."

The LGBT takeover of the West by the globalists continues full-steam ahead. Find out more at GayMafia.news.

Sources for this article include:

RMX.news

NaturalNews.com
U.S., Canadian AI companies COLLABORATE with Chinese experts to shape international AI policy

Leading American and Canadian artificial intelligence companies have been engaged in discreet collaborations with Chinese AI experts to shape international AI policy.

The AI companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Cohere, reportedly joined the discussions on mitigating technology risks and establishing global standards in Geneva in July and October 2023. The Geneva meetings, facilitated by the private mediation organization Shaikh Group, received support from the White House, the United Kingdom and Chinese government officials.

According to multiple sources, scientists and policy experts from leading North American AI organizations participated in these covert diplomatic talks alongside representatives from the Chinese Communist Party-backed Tsinghua University and other state-backed institutions. The discussion focused on the potential risks associated with advanced AI technology, ranging from misinformation to threats against social cohesion. The participants also delved into the importance of investing in safety research to ensure the responsible development of AI.

An unnamed negotiator who attended the sessions highlighted the significance of fostering international consensus, especially between the U.S. and China, to establish global AI safety and alignment standards. The progress made during these talks reportedly played a role in shaping discussions at the United Nations Security Council meeting on AI in July and the United Kingdom's AI summit in November. Plans for future discussions are already underway, focusing on scientific and technical proposals to align AI systems with legal codes, societal norms and values.

However, major Chinese AI companies such as ByteDance, Tencent and Baidu did not participate in the talks. Google DeepMind, while briefed on the discussions, did not attend either.

AI makers now fear their own tech

The once-celebrated deployment of AI technologies is now shadowed by fears of negative impacts, such as job losses and ethical concerns. For instance, the release of ChatGPT has brought the attention of the public to the potential biases, discrimination and job displacement associated with AI, prompting companies to reconsider their strategies.

Moreover, the recent dismissal and swift reinstatement of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman a few months ago have ignited a storm of speculation that it is reportedly linked to rumors surrounding a groundbreaking development in artificial general intelligence (AGI) known as Q*.

Some staff researchers at OpenAI allegedly penned a letter to the company board outlining the details of Q*, pronounced as Q-Star, claiming it enables AI robots to "surpass humans in most economically valuable tasks." While these claims have not been proven, Reuters reported on the alleged breakthrough, suggesting it played a pivotal role in the abrupt termination of Altman.

Concerns have arisen regarding the accelerated pace of commercializing this advanced AI model without adequate consideration of its potential socio-economic consequences. Critics argue that such rapid advancement may pose risks to humanity and warrant thorough ethical scrutiny before any widespread implementation.

According to an anonymous inside source, Q* currently demonstrates the ability to solve mathematical problems but only "on the level of grade-school students." Despite its limited scope, the perfect performance on these math problems has sparked enthusiasm among researchers, who express optimism about the future potential of Q*.

Before his dismissal, Altman referred to Q* during the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in San Francisco. In his statement, Altman said: "Four times now in the history of OpenAIthe most recent time was just in the last couple of weeksI've gotten to be in the room when we sort of push the veil of ignorance back and the frontier of discovery forward."

Within OpenAI, there seems to be a disagreement among its members regarding the pace of technological advancement. On one side, some advocate for swift progress, wanting the technology to move forward rapidly, while others prefer a more cautious approach, suggesting a slowdown until there is a better understanding of the potential impact of the technology on the world.

Good news for us humans: the AI robots we have now are not as advanced as real human minds, and we want them to stay that way. Currently, even Q* can only handle tasks at a grade school level. But then, no one can deny the fact of its potential.

"AGI has the potential to surpass humans in every field, including creativity, problem-solving, decision-making, language understanding, etc., raising concerns about massive job displacement," one report explains.

CommunistChina.news has more stories about Chinese hackers stealing intellectual property at the behest of Beijing.

Watch the late economics professor Martin Feldstein discussing concerns about Chinese intellectual property theft below.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Tech firms developing and deploying AI that can deceptively MIMIC HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

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China using AI technology to IMPERSONATE U.S. voters, Microsoft confirms.

More sophisticated Chinese cyberattacks target US firms, government agencies, defense contractors.

Chinese hackers STEAL intellectual property from more than 30 companies.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

FirstPost.com

ZeroHedge.com

Brighteon.com
U.S., U.K. continue airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen

The U.S. and the U.K. are continuing with air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, controlled by the Houthi rebels, as a response to the Iran-backed group's attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

The Biden administration, in collaboration with its allies, issued a warning that the Houthi group would face consequences for its actions. President Joe Biden reportedly authorized the strikes to protect international maritime vessels navigating through the crucial waterway. (Related: U.S. warship in the Red Sea shoots down attack drones fired by Yemens Houthi rebels.)

The operation involved a comprehensive effort, with fighter jets, Tomahawk missiles and the engagement of various naval assets, including the USS Florida guided missile submarine, USS Philippine Sea guided missile cruiser and destroyers USS Gravely and USS Mason.

The U.S. and its allies targeted Houthi assets, including command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defense radar systems. The Houthi rebels, who have been conducting drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea for weeks, continued their activities despite warnings from the international community.

The attacks disrupted global shipping routes, leading to concerns about the security of one of the world's most critical waterways. The decision to conduct direct strikes against the Houthi rebels marked a departure from the U.S.'s previous cautious approach in Yemen, considering the risk of escalation in an already volatile region.

The Houthi attacks on international shipping and their refusal to cease these actions prompted the Biden administration to take decisive military action. The strikes received support from the U.K., Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, emphasizing the international concern over the threat to maritime navigation in the Red Sea.

The coordinated effort aimed not only to deter further Houthi attacks but also to restore stability and safeguard the free flow of international commerce in the strategically vital region.

Houthis remain defiant

The Houthi rebel movement, supported by Iran, defiantly declared its intent to persist in attacking ships in the Red Sea shortly after the U.S. and the U.K. carried out strikes against the group in Yemen.

In retaliation, a Houthi military spokesperson reported 73 attacks resulting in at least five deaths and six injuries. The Houthi movement's Supreme Political Council issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to target ships in strategic waterways, asserting that all American-British interests were legitimate targets. They claimed the attacks aimed to prevent the transit of Israeli ships or those carrying goods to occupied Palestinian ports, vowing to persist regardless of the cost.

The Houthis issued a warning to "all Arab regimes, especially neighboring countries," cautioning against supporting the strikes of the U.S. and its allies.

Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, in a videotaped address, held the "American and British enemy" responsible for the aggression against Yemen, asserting that the Yemeni armed forces would retaliate to defend Yemen's sovereignty and independence.

"American and British enemy bears full responsibility for its criminal aggression against our Yemeni people. This aggression will not go unanswered. The Yemeni armed forces will not hesitate to target sources of threat and all hostile targets  on land and at sea  in defense of Yemen, its sovereignty and independence," he said.

While details of the strikes were not disclosed, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who monitored the operation in real time from the hospital due to surgery-related complications, stated that the strikes targeted various Houthi capabilities, including unmanned aerial vehicles, uncrewed surface vessels, land-attack cruise missiles, and coastal radar and air surveillance systems.

The Houthis recently executed one of the most extensive attacks in the Red Sea. U.S. F-18s, alongside three U.S. destroyers and a British warship, successfully intercepted and neutralized 18 drones and multiple missiles that were launched from areas in Yemen under Houthi control, as reported by U.S. Central Command.

Visit WWIII.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video about Houthi rebels attacking Israel with missiles.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Moscow wins again as Houthi rebels attack Western vessels, while Russian oil tankers freely navigate.

U.S. warship in the Red Sea shoots down attack drones fired by Yemens Houthi rebels.

Major shipping giants HALT Red Sea route following Houthi attacks on shipping vessels.

Sources include:

Edition.CNN.com

CBSNews.com

Brighteon.com
Globalist WEF claims MISINFO and DISINFO are the greatest threats to humanity

The globalist World Economic Forum (WEF) has deemed "misinformation and disinformation" as the greatest threats to humanity in a new report.

The 19th edition of the WEF's Global Risks Report released this month issued this finding based on a panel of 1,490 experts across various fields. Experts have surprisingly ranked misinformation and disinformation as the foremost threat, with climate change taking the second spot. Given this, the report has also sparked concerns about the direction in which the global elite are steering public discourse.

The report's finding aligns with a growing trend among international figures advocating for increased censorship and speech controls to combat what they perceive as an "infodemic." Earlier instances, such as World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus supporting censorship, further highlight the international community's shift towards limiting free speech.

During the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, some "experts" supported restricting information and blocking those who disagreed with them. Ideas that were once considered absolute truths in the media were proven wrong. The mask debate, a focal point of contention during the pandemic, illustrated how scientific discussions turned into political weapons.

Critics who questioned the necessity of school and business closures faced censorship, and their concerns are now being revisited as some countries that did not implement strict measures did not experience significant increases in COVID-19 cases. Some argued against closing schools and businesses, but their views were silenced.

Masks became a significant social and political divider. People without masks were criticized and even chased out of stores or condemned in Congress. Initially rejecting a mask mandate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later reversed its position, emphasizing the divisive nature of pandemic-related measures.

Ultimately, the consequences of pandemic measures such as school closures are now being scrutinized for potential long-term effects on the emotional and developmental well-being of children.

An excuse for more censorship

Over the past four years, extensive censorship and blacklisting have protected certain experts from scrutiny. Now, these same experts are claiming that disinformation is the world's greatest threat. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create sophisticated disinformation is raising alarms about its potential impact on democratic processes.

During the Slovakian elections, a fabricated recording emerged implicating liberal opposition candidate Michal Simecka in a vote-buying conspiracy. Slovakian police have since cautioned voters to be vigilant online against malicious actors with "vested interests." While Simecka lost to a populist "pro-Russia rival," the involvement in the creation of the fake recording emphasized a growing threat to democracy. (Related: AI is currently the greatest threat to humanity, warns investigative reporter Millie Weaver.)

Recent advancements in AI technology, particularly in tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT, have made the manipulation of media cheaper and more accessible. AI-generated text, audio, and video are becoming increasingly realistic and difficult to detect. This has paved the way for the emergence of realistic deepfakes, with instances already impacting narratives surrounding the conflict in Ukraine.

Concerns about the potential electoral impact of AI-generated disinformation have led British officials to discuss the possibility of "AI-created hyper-realistic bots," while a group of U.S. senators has proposed legislation targeting "materially deceptive AI-generated" political ads.

The pressure on social media platforms to combat deepfakes and enhance content moderation has intensified. However, the WEF report suggests that these platforms are now less equipped to handle the rising threat due to reduced investments in election integrity initiatives.

For instance, tech giants like Meta have trimmed their investments in teams dedicated to ensuring safe elections. Elon Musk's X has significantly cut back on content moderation resources, with Musk advocating for what he calls "free speech absolutism."

"I think that the combination of the chaos that the generative AI tools will enable and the drawbacks of the programs that the platforms had in place to ensure election integrity is this unfolding disaster in front of our eyes. I'm extremely concerned that the victim will be democracy itself," said one anonymous head of a digital research non-profit.

Follow Disinfo.news for more stories like this.

Watch the full segment of "The Pete Santilli Show" featuring Millie Weaver's warning about AI below.

This video is from the Ruth Mackenzies channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

WEForum.org [PDF]

JonathanTurley.org

FT.com

Brighteon.com
TEXAS takes over: Biden asks SCOTUS to stop Gov. Abbott from blocking his Border Patrol in Eagle Pass

President Joe Biden's administration is up for another showdown with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott as the Department of Justice recently asked the Supreme Court to order Texas to stop blocking Border Patrol (USBP) agents from a portion of the U.S.-Mexico border, where large numbers of migrants have crossed in recent months.

The Texas National Guard has seized control of the nearly 50-acre (20-hectare) Shelby Park along the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, put up fencing, and is now hindering USBP from entering the area as part of the states effort to curb the surge of illegal immigration into Texas. Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas said he was informed that the decision was in connection to the governor's emergency declaration. Salinas told reporters it was not something the city had requested and he said his understanding is that Border Patrol was now not in the area as a result.

Abbott posted on X, formerly Twitter, of his government's actions, emphasizing that with their "fencing" and blockade, they are making clear that Texas will be a tough place to cross.

As caravans of migrants are moving through Mexico toward the U.S. border, we are making clear that Texas will be a tough place to cross. https://t.co/G4LJfKfiK3  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 12, 2024

In a statement, the Texas Military Department said it has maintained a presence in the park since 2021, including security points and temporary barriers. "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," it said.

Meanwhile, the Border Patrol union confirmed to Fox News that agents were being blocked from entering by Texas soldiers, and praised Abbott for taking matters into his own hands. "Governor Abbott is not harming Border Patrol operations, he is enhancing them," National Border Patrol Council Brandon Judd said in a statement. "His seizing control of Shelby Park allows our agents to deploy to troubled spots that experience high numbers of gotaways. Governor Abbotts actions should be seen as a force multiplier."

Likewise, senior Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources also confirmed that Border Patrol is being blocked at two areas of operation in Eagle Pass and said that agents pulled resources to avoid a confrontation. "It's of no operational or law enforcement benefit to try to block federal authorities from being able to do their job," a senior official said, adding that the tactic has no impact on the migrant flow, and that now, when Texas is done receiving them, they are still turned over at other locations. Therefore, it added extra steps to the process.

The Texas-Biden feud continues amid the worsening border crisis

"It's like a modern-day showdown at the O.K. Corral, but this time it's in Eagle Pass, Texas. The face-off is between the Texas National Guard and the Biden regime. Thanks to a fully fed-up Governor Greg Abbott, Texas has now taken control of Biden's 'New Voter' invasion,'" Revolver News wrote.

According to Abbott's spokesperson Renae Eze, Texas will continue to deploy Texas National Guard soldiers, DPS troopers and more barriers, utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to Biden's ongoing border crisis.

Separately, the Biden administration has previously filed a case against Texas over a recently signed anti-illegal immigration law that allows state and local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants, which the administration says interferes with the federal government's authority and frustrates the U.S. immigration operations and proceedings, and hurts relations with foreign governments. Texas, on the other hand, has sued the administration for cutting and destroying razor wire set up by Texas to stop illegal crossings. That wire has been set up in areas close to Shelby Park. The lawsuit is ongoing and could soon be before the Supreme Court. (Related: 50 Texas counties have now passed resolutions declaring an INVASION.)

"We believe that Gov. Abbott's policies and political stunts are not safe, not safe for Texas communities and our CBP, our law enforcement on the ground who are trying to do their work. It puts them in harm's way, and they dehumanize and demonize immigrants. That's what his political stunts do," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said last month. Abbott's office has dismissed the criticism leveled at it by the federal government, and has instead accused the administration of fueling the crisis with "open border policies."

Head over to BorderSecurity.news to read more about the clash between federal and state border policies.

Sources for this article include:

BorderReport.com

Revolver.news

FoxNews.com
Peer-reviewed academic paper: Chinese naval vessels could penetrate military radar systems of the U.S. and its allies

A recent peer-reviewed academic paper published by a Chinese-language journal, Radio Science and Technology, claims that China has developed a system designed to counter American and its allied radar systems commonly equipped on warships and early warning aircraft for tracking naval vessels.

According to The Times, the academic paper detailed how a team from the People's Liberation Army Naval Aviation University (PLA NAU) and Yantai University successfully demonstrated the ability to use hostile radar signals to detect and track vessels entering or leaving a port. This approach is said to deviate from traditional radar usage, as the physical dimensions of a radar signal are typically only known to its sender or allies. (Related: CCP has been creating spy balloons for YEARS out of a heavily guarded naval base in southern China.)

"The images were clear as day," said Song Jie, a scientist at the PLA NAU.

Meanwhile, the team backed his statement and claimed: "Our system works well for slow-moving targets at sea. It can track ships with ease."

Moreover, the researchers utilized a receiving antenna in a residential building connected to an electromagnetic wave analyzer and an ordinary laptop for signal analysis in an experiment conducted in the port city of Yantai. They claimed to successfully track all commercial ships within 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) of the shoreline, providing details on their courses and speeds.

The Chinese scientists envision broader applications for their technology within the military domain, suggesting potential contributions to electronic warfare capabilities. These applications include electronic surveillance, anti-radiation weaponry, ultra-low-altitude penetration missions and stealth technology.

Interesting Engineering analyzed the technology as a form of "passive bistatic radar," a method that involves borrowing or piggybacking radar signals from sources like warships or ground-based emitters to locate and track naval ships.

China claims its next-gen radar detects all air threats, including stealth fighters

In a 2023 report published by Interesting Engineering, China Electronics Technology Group Corp. (CETC), the leading provider of defense electronics in Beijing, introduced its newly developed YLC-16 multipurpose S-band radar system.

The YLC-16 employs state-of-the-art technologies, including an all-digital, fully solid active phased array and sophisticated processors. Tang Ji, a manager at CETC, showcased the radar during the 10th World Radio Detection and Ranging Expo in Beijing, describing it as "the best three-dimensional, middle-range surveillance radar currently available on the market."

This cutting-edge radar system is designed to detect and track a wide range of threats, including cruise missiles, drones, helicopters, stealth aircraft and loitering weapons. The sleek and efficient YLC-16 operates with minimal power consumption, high stability and dependability.

Its capabilities extend beyond defense, contributing to tracking and predicting extreme weather, thereby aiding in the reduction of the impact of natural disasters. The YLC-16 has already been sold to numerous countries, with field testing commencing in the province of Fujian in December 2021.

Tang emphasized the modular structure of the radar, enabling remote control and real-time data transmission through optical fiber, microwave or satellite. The foldable antennas and covers facilitate quick opening and closing, a feature that enhances its versatility in different environments.

Furthermore, the YLC-16 is not limited to military applications. It can also monitor air traffic in the civil aviation industry. Additionally, CETC 14th Institute, the institute behind the YLC-16, has developed the GLC-36S active phased array radar, which can perform multi-dimensional precise scanning of hazardous weather, including typhoons, rainstorms and thunderstorms.

Learn about other threats to American national security at NationalSecurity.news.

Watch former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and former Defense Intelligence Agency officer Rebekah Koffler discuss below how the intelligence community's focus on Ukraine allowed the Chinese spy balloon to slip unnoticed.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Pentagon deploys air and naval assets in Syria and the Persian Gulf as Russia and Iran threaten US assets in the region.

US Naval Research Lab begins first laser energy test in space.

U.S. naval coalitions efforts to defend Red Sea shipping against Houthi attacks off to rocky start.

China using military lasers to BLIND Philippine Coast Guard ship crews.

Chinese student arrested for omitting link to PLA-backed university in F-1 visa application.

Sources include:

LawEnforcementToday.com

InterestingEngineering.com

Brighteon.com
Woke cross-dressing United Airlines CEO under fire for diverse hiring comments, sponsoring drag shows

As the airline industry continues to fall apart thanks to a growing woke movement that places diversity above merit in hiring processes, comments by United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby are coming under heavy social media backlash.

In a recently resurfaced video, Kirby can be seen bragging about the airline's diversity initiatives. In the interview, he spoke about keeping white men out of their graduating pilot classes, saying: We have committed that 50% of the classes will be women or people of color.

Today, only 19% of our pilots are women or people of color, he said, lamenting the fact that there are too many white males in the airline industry.

He said that he was proud of their diversity efforts and added that they have been making a point of including women and minorities in their interviewing process.

The finance news account Wall Street Silver said on X that people should think twice about flying with United given their leaders priorities.

Anyone who thinks DEI (racism) should play any role in hiring, that person needs to be removed from the process. The board of directors should terminate the CEO immediately and focus on safety and only safety, they wrote.

CEO seen dressing in drag as airline sponsors drag shows

Its clear his focus is not where it should be, and the Libs of TikTok account recently shared footage of him that explains a lot about where his priorities are. Introducing a series of photos in which he can be seen dancing while dressed in womens clothes, they wrote: This is Scott Kirby, the CEO of @united. He likes to dress up in drag. United hired a drag queen to be their CEO and now United has turned their focus to incorporating drag into their business and sponsoring drag shows.

In the photos, Kirby and other employees are seen partying while dressed in drag. United also sponsored several Denver Pride events and called on employees, friends and families to take part.

Kirby accused of purging religious employees with United's COVID-19 vaccine policy

Kirby is no stranger to controversy; he also came under fire for how he handled COVID-19 vaccine mandates. He was accused of essentially carrying out a purging of religious employees by denying exemptions based on religion. A lawsuit filed against the company claims that he also attempted to shame employees by proposing requiring any accommodated employees to walk around with special stickers on their badges broadcasting vaccination states. Internal documents showed that Uniteds lawyers and some HR employees balked at Kirbys proposal.

In another incident, he was forced to issue an apology after he took a private jet from New York to Denver on the same day that United canceled 750 flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home, said the exec, who earns a salary of around $10 million.

Trying to fix the PR damage, he vowed "to better demonstrate my respect for the dedication of our team members and the loyalty of our customers."

The move was also criticized because Kirby has described himself as a climate change geek and has said he wants to make United Airlines 100 percent green by next year.

Boeing and FAA also making risky pushes for diversity

A push for diversity is being seen across the aviation industry, with Boeing recently changing its bonus structure for executives to reward diversity hiring instead of meeting safety goals.

In addition, the FAA was recently exposed for actively recruiting employees who have severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric issues and other types of physical and mental conditions as part of a DEI hiring initiative laid out on their website. They claim that diversity is integral to achieving FAAs mission of ensuring safe and efficient travel across our nation and beyond.

This is certainly not the criteria that anyone who values their life wants the agency to focus on when hiring people who control our nations civil aviation.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

DailyMail.co.uk
Today, the ground component, the airborne component of the Russian Armed Forces, is not capable of conducting strategic offensive operations, but can carry out assault tactical actions, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Vadym Skibitsky said.

As part of a discussion program organized by the Deciding Your Tomorrow project of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Davos, Skibitsky said mobilization measures on the territory of Russia continue, the enemy manages to replenish and renew the losses that Ukrainian forces inflict on them every day.

"But the reserve that they have today is not enough to simultaneously carry out powerful strategic offensive operations  at least two or three directions that Putin is talking about today, which scares the whole of Europe and the European community about the opening of a second front, an offensive and etc. Today, the ground component, the airborne component of the Russian Armed Forces, is not capable of conducting strategic offensive operations. Assault tactical actions  yes, and we see this, they will continue, but strategic offensive operations without powerful strategic reserves  this can be done impossible," Skibitsky said.
ILLEGALS selling drugs and burgers in tent city at NYCs Randalls Island

According to a report, illegal immigrants presently squatting on New York City's (NYC) Randalls Island are now selling food and drugs at the migrant housing turned slum-like tent city.

According to the New York Post, the tent city at the island has spilled out of the 2,000-bed site hurriedly constructed by city officials. Because of this, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks Department) is in a continuing process of chasing away a group of illegals who continue to set up camp outside the facility. Every time the group is dispersed, it returns a little while later and begins selling burgers and blunts (marijuana-filled cigars).

"The problem is that you keep coming back. You're not putting a foot forward to get out of this situation," a Parks Department worker told a dozen or so illegals in Spanish. "You keep coming back to the same place where you're not helping yourself. Yes, you work for your family, to send money to your family. But you come back here doing things you're not supposed to be doing. This is a public park."

However, the park worker's plea fell on deaf ears. Not long after the admonishment, the group set up folding tables against police barrier gates and used small propane burners to cook burgers for sale. Aside from the burgers, they also offered coffee, hot chocolate, loose cigarettes and blunts to fellow border crossers.

Meanwhile, NYC Mayor Eric Adams said the Big Apple would put metal detectors in place at the site. He told reporters on Jan. 8: "We're doing a complete analysis of the security, beefing up our training, [putting] in place a few mobilization concepts, breaking down our location in a color-coded scheme."

"In addition to the metal detectors, in the police department, and our team, we're going to utilize visual technology. We're going to put cameras in many of these sites in locations due to the quick response of a security team that's there."

NYC taxpayers paying $25K daily to secure ILLEGALS

The Big Apple is already spending as much as $25,000 a day on security at shelters that are housing more than 68,000 illegals in its care, officials said. However, this dislodges homeless American citizens in the process. (Related: New York City to spend $4.7 BILLION this fiscal year dealing with illegal immigrants.)

Meanwhile, NBC4 reported that city officials are "redoubling" their efforts after the Jan. 6 stabbing attack that left one dead.

"The overwhelming majority of migrants in our care came to our city in search of a better life and the American Dream. The small number of those disrupting that journey for the rest of the migrants in our care by acting violently will face enforcement to the fullest extent of the law," Adams' spokesman told the news outlet.

The accused Randalls Island killer, 27-year-old Moises Coronado, was indicted on murder and gang assault charges in a Manhattan criminal court on Jan. 7, a day after the stabbing. He was ordered held without bail until his next hearing.

Coronado and at least two others supposedly pursued victim Dafren Canizalez on the night of Jan. 6 inside the cafeteria tent at around 7:30 p.m., cornered him against a door and stabbed him in the chest.

The two got into a fight after Coronado said something to Canizalez's girlfriend, as stated by prosecutors and sources. Canizalez tried to get away from his knife-wielding attackers, who continued to pursue him until he collapsed.

Follow OpenBorders.news for more news about illegal immigrants in America.

Watch Maria Bartiromo blasting NYC Mayor Eric Adams for prioritizing illegals over the police department.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

NYC Mayor Eric Adams warns illegal immigrants will DESTROY the city.

BREAKING POINT reached: NYC, other sanctuary cities "tired" of illegal immigrants influx, struggle with local resources.

NYC Mayor Adams: Illegal immigration under Biden has become a NATIONAL CRISIS.

Illegal alien KILLS fellow migrant in row over woman at NYC shelter.

Chicago officials refuse to disclose how they spent $120M in taxpayer money on ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

Sources include:

LawEnforcementToday.com

NYPost.com

NBCNewYork.com

Brighteon.com
Iran launches missiles targeting alleged Israeli spy centers in northern Iraq

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched ballistic missiles targeting what they claim were Israeli "spy centers" in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region.

At the same time, the IRGC said it also launched missiles against Islamic State targets in northern Syria. The IRGC claimed in a statement that these missile strikes are acts of self-defense.

The missiles that struck northern Iraq targeted supposed Israeli spy centers in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, causing witnesses to see and hear at least eight different explosions in the city of 1.5 million people.

The region's security council reported four deaths and six injuries caused by the blast, and the Kurdistan Regional Government said that it even shot down three attack drones that were targeting a United States-led coalition base in the city, leading to air traffic diversions in the city's international airport. (Related: Iran has developed a new, high-tech combat drone for Russia to use in Ukraine.)

In its statement, the IRGC claims it fired 11 missiles against Israeli "espionage centers" and "anti-Iranian terrorist groups" in Erbil and northern Syria. The Israeli centers were allegedly operated by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. However, the Israeli government has not officially commented on the incident.

The Iraqi government condemned the missile attacks, describing them as Iranian "aggression" that led to civilian casualties in residential areas.

Iraq deemed it a violation of its sovereignty and the security of its people. The government announced plans to consider various actions, including filing a complaint at the United Nations Security Council.

Israel's military offensive in Gaza causing a wider regional conflict

The attacks come amid heightened concerns about Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip causing a wider regional conflict. Since the Gaza conflict began in October, the U.S. and allied forces have faced numerous attacks in Iraq and Syria, attributed to Iran-affiliated armed groups.

Irans Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, emphasized that Tehran respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries but argued that Iran was using its "legitimate and legal right to deter national security threats."

Iraq recalled its ambassador from Tehran for consultations and summoned Irans charge d'affaires in Baghdad over the attacks. U.S. officials reported that the attacks did not affect any U.S. facilities and there were no American casualties. The U.S. also called the missiles "imprecise."

Meanwhile, Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani strongly denounced the attack on Erbil as a "crime against the Kurdish people."

The Kurdistan Region Security Council reported that among the four civilian casualties was Kurdish businessman and multimillionaire Peshraw Dizayee and several members of his family, who were killed when one of the missiles struck their home.

Dizayee, known for his proximity to the prime minister and the ruling Barzani clan, was heavily involved in businesses involving major real estate projects in the Kurdistan Region.

Another missile hit the residence of a senior Kurdish intelligence official, and another struck a Kurdish intelligence center near the Erbil International Airport, halting air traffic.

More stories like this can be found at Terrorism.news.

Watch this clip of the aftermath of Iranian strikes on Erbil.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Houthi missile hits U.S.-owned cargo ship, says U.S. government.

Israel demands U.S. wage war against Iran to install new government: "It's time for the U.S. and its allies to bring down the Iranian regime."

Iran unveils new HYPERSONIC MISSILE in apparent warning to the U.S. and Israel.

Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah ready to join the battle in Gaza, warns Hamas leader.

Iranian Foreign Minister warns U.S. will not be spared if the Israel-Hamas war escalates.

Sources include:

AlJazeera.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
Doug Mackey files an appeal in the election interference/Hillary Clinton meme case that sentenced him to seven months behind bars

Douglass Mackey, who was convicted in a New York City courtroom of "election interference" for sharing a satirical anti-Hillary Clinton meme on Twitter nearly eight years ago, just launched his appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on Jan. 5.

Mackey was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other law enforcement agents at his home on Jan. 26, 2021, six days after President Joe Biden was inaugurated. He was nabbed on felony charges with a ten-year maximum sentence because he posted a meme under the pro-President Donald Trump account @RickyVaughn99 on X, then-called Twitter, which mocked Clinton supporters. The government claimed his posts joking about "texting to vote" constituted a conspiracy on "social media to spread disinformation relevant to the impending 2016 Presidential Election." The government was specifically concerned that "disinformation spread by these individuals often took the form of 'memes.'"

?He was prosecuted in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) before two liberal judges and was convicted despite being a Florida resident. He was sentenced to seven months in federal prison on October 18 and ordered to report to federal prison on January 8, 2024, under 18 USC 241, also known as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) Act, which was passed to stop violent deprivations of civil rights in the aftermath of the Civil War. (Related: Social media influencer Douglass Mackey gets 7 months in prison for making Hillary Clinton memes during 2016 presidential election.)

Ep. 38 The First Amendment is done. Douglass Mackey is about to go to prison for mocking Hillary Clinton on the internet. We talked to him right before his sentencing. Remember as you watch that this could be you. TIMESTAMPS: (3:12) The Hillary Clinton meme (4:20) Hillarys pic.twitter.com/MLwz2SboGr  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) November 9, 2023

In his Substack newsletter, Douglass shared some crucial highlights from the legal brief. According to his appeal, the government is trying to put him in prison for tweeting two deceptive memes about how to vote, on the theory that any false speech that "hampers" voting violates the Enforcement Act of 1870. His counsel argued that this is unprecedented and lawless. "The Government presses a reading of Section 241 that would necessarily criminalize not only lies about how to vote but also lies about also whether and for whom to vote. Such a sprawling political speech code is in the teeth of every applicable canon for reading criminal laws, and grossly offends the First Amendment," the brief also included.

Also, it insisted that the government premised venue exclusively on the fact that internet data associated with Mackey's tweets briefly crossed EDNY waters or airspace on its way to the broader internet. "But this theory would allow for trial in any district that has internet. And a venue theory that is indifferent between Brooklyn, NY and Brooklyn, WI makes a hash of this core constitutional protection. Unsurprisingly, the court has never upheld criminal venue on such a threadbare basis," it further argued.

Moreover, the record failed to reveal any proof that Mackey coordinated his memes with others, or entered any agreement to violate federal law. At most, the government adduced evidence suggesting that other Twitter trolls proximate to Mackey may have colluded with one another. Guilt by association may prove effective at trial but is paradigmatically insufficient as a matter of law. "Mackey cannot be guilty of conspiracy unless he agrees to participate in unlawful conduct. Yet even the government did not take the position that any of Mackey's other Twitter trolling was criminal; nor did the district court suggest otherwise," it also pointed out.

Another point raised was that a progressive activist's Twitter posts did the same thing, except she told Trump supporters to vote by text. But unlike Mackey, she was not prosecuted. "That at least suggests political bias, which reinforces why restricting speech in this context is especially fraught," the appeal emphasized.

Elsewhere in the document, it said that prosecuting Mackey in EDNY on these facts "prejudiced" him and "undermined the fairness of his trial." Given the meager nexus between this case and EDNY, the selection of the forum (headquarters of the Clinton campaign) at minimum risked the "appearance" of manipulation.

Appeal coincides with anti-American movement to kick Trump from ballots

Mackey's long-awaited appeal came on the heels of the decision to kick Trump off the ballot. He pointed out that voters in the Blue States, where Democrats are conspiring to interfere in the 2024 election and suppress voters, can and should file suit against the Department of Justice for infringing on their right to vote for the candidate of their choice.

"GOP voters in Maine and Colorado can file civilly under 18 USC 242, which contains a private right of action, under the DOJ theory that their right to vote for their candidate of choice is being impeded," he tweeted, citing his appeal: "The right to vote includes the right to vote for ones chosen candidate; that is why it violates  241 for officials to change votes after they are cast, United States v. Thompson, No. 6:0916, 2013 WL 5528827, at *1 (E.D. Ky. Oct. 4, 2013)."

Since the decision to kick Trump off the ballot involves state action, GOP voters in Maine and Colorado can file civilly under 18 USC 242, which contains a private right of action, under the DOJ theory that their right to vote for their candidate of choice is being impeded. See https://t.co/JlLjSPwSrI  Douglass Mackey (@DougMackeyCase) January 6, 2024

A fundraiser titled "Meme Defense Fund" for contributions that are tax deductible has been set up by the 501(c)3 non-profit foundation American Cause, independent from Mackey's legal defense team.

Head over to FirstAmendment.news to read more news on the suppression of free speech in the United States.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

DouglassMackey.Substack.com

MemeDefenseFund.com
ABSURD: Maine constructing new luxurious apartments for illegal aliens using taxpayer money

The apartments, located in Brunswick and managed by the Maine State Housing Authority under the Biden Administration's Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, are intended to serve as transitional housing for asylum seekers awaiting work permits.

According to the 2020 Census, Maine, with a median household income of $68,251, has 10.8 percent of its population living below the poverty level. The state is allocating resources to address this issue, with 60 units at Brunswick Landing designated for asylum seekers. Out of these, 24 units are already complete, providing housing for those awaiting work permits.

The National Desk reported that Maine has allocated nearly $3.5 million to cover construction costs and two years of rental support, as well as an additional $100,000 to aid asylum seekers in processing applications and securing work permits. The expectation is that, within that timeframe, the asylum seekers will gain the means to pay for the apartments independently with state support and guidance.

MaineHousing, the agency overseeing the program, will cover the rent for these asylum seekers for up to two years. But, once employed, participants will contribute 30 percent of their rent costs. After this period, the units are expected to transition to a mix of market-rate and affordable housing, unless the state decides to extend the program.

"This is a very unique solution to a very exciting opportunity in our state. We have thousands of folks coming to Maine who want to make Maine home. Were doing everything we can to help that situation," stated Dan Brennan, executive director of Maine Housing.

Housing program for illegal aliens in Maine faces backlash among U.S.-born residents

X, formerly Twitter, has become a battleground for debate as news broke about asylum seekers getting luxurious apartments while a growing number of U.S.-born residents find themselves without shelter.

"What a slap in the face of all Maine residents, and all American citizens in fact, especially the homeless," one posted on X.

Another user criticized the use of taxes to fund the housing of "illegal aliens." Others also argue that these migrants are given priority over citizens, with some living rent-free for up to two years in a new facility. Some are even suggesting that Maine residents should stop paying taxes or refrain from voting for Democratic politicians who approved this arrangement. Meanwhile, one asylum seeker named Esther from Nigeria referred to her new home as a "palace" compared to previous accommodations in shelters and hotels. "In [a] hotel, there are rules and regulations,' Esther told local reporters. In a shelter, too, we have so many people. We share the kitchen together. We share the restroom together," she said. Now critics argue that taxpayer money should prioritize struggling American citizens over non-citizens. Given that Maine, a state with one of the highest property taxes, has faced a surge in homelessness since 2021, with over 4,000 unhoused residents primarily concentrated in and around Portland, the public suggests that the money could be better spent addressing local issues. Visit InvasionUSA.news for more news on illegal immigrants flooding the country.

Watch the video below to see how NYC is being overrun by illegals.

This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

REPLACEMENTS: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to issue work permits for ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

Illegal Alien Invasion: All the big U.S. land grabs by China and globalists may be for housing illegal immigrants.

America sees 550% increase in illegal immigrants coming in from Canada.

Bidens Veterans Affairs helped process 161K medical and dental healthcare claims for ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS while denying care for veterans.

Texas Gov. Abbott begins flooding sanctuary cities with chartered flights of illegal immigrants.

Trump to GO HARD against ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS and human traffickers if elected for a second term.

Sources include:

LawEnforcementToday.com

MSN.com

DailyMail.co.uk
More and more children are getting hurt in American workplaces as CHILD LABOR VIOLATIONS skyrocket by 600%

The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics found that nearly 6,000 children, some of whom as young as 10, were being illegally employed in American workplaces in 2023, with fast food restaurants being among the worst offenders

According to the Labor Department's data, child labor violations have more than tripled in the past 10 years, with violations in the food service industry increasing by nearly sixfold. In the first nine months of 2023, Labor Department officials found more than 4,700 teenagers under 18 working in violation of federal child labor laws. Of these, more than three-quarters worked in the food service industry. (Related: State legislators would rather resurrect child labor than pay adult workers better.)

For comparison, for all of 2015, Labor Department officials only found a little over 1,000 teenagers illegally employed.

Fast food companies that depend on the franchise business model had much higher rates of violations than those that did not. Franchise-heavy McDonald's averaged 15 violations per 100 stores in 2020, ranking among brands with the highest rates of violations. Dairy Queen, Little Caesars, Wendy's and Zaxby's also had some of the industry's highest rates of violations per store since 2020, with all these and other top companies relying on franchises that license out operation of their stores to small business owners.

Investigative reporters Lauren Kaori Gurley and Emmanuel Martinez speculate that franchised stores may have higher rates of child labor violations because they are under pressure to limit labor costs to offset steep corporate fees. Franchise fees can range from $20,000 to $100,000 or more for multiple locations.

Roughly 90 percent of McDonald's 14,000 stores are owned by franchisees. Since 2013, the fast food giant has racked up more than 2,300 child labor violations.

By comparison, Starbucks, the country's second-largest food service chain with over 16,000 stores in the U.S., has received no citations for violating federal child labor laws since 2013. The company also sticks by its policy of not hiring anyone under 16 outside of Montana, where the minimum employment age is 14.

Children illegally employed struggle with their health and in school

Given the illegal nature of their employment, children in workplaces are more susceptible to experiencing injuries on the job.

In Nashville, Tennessee, a construction contractor hired 16-year-old Gustavo Ramirez to work on building a hotel. He was posted to work 11 stories high on the hotel's roofline  reportedly without a safety harness  when he lost his footing and slipped. He fell 160 feet to his death.

His older sister Jenifer says Gustavo wanted to earn enough money to afford his first car. Gustavo reportedly assured his family that he would be doing simple tasks, like cleaning up to help maintain work sites.

Gustavo's experience is unfortunately not unique. In the summer of 2023, at least three other teenagers died at their jobs, including a boy in Missouri who died after getting pinned by a semi-truck at a landfill.

While these deadly injuries are still rare, total workplace injuries and illnesses among employees under 18 are becoming more and more common. Scripps News found that workplace injuries and illnesses among minors rose from about 3,400 incidents in 2011 to more than 6,500 in 2020.

Those not getting hurt by the nature of their jobs are suffering in other ways, including declining academic performances and a near-total loss in future college prospects. This is how Tyler Karpinsky described his experience when, in 2018, at the age of 15, he got a job at a McDonald's in Rutland, Vermont that was later cited by the Labor Department for overworking its teenage employees.

Karpinsky wanted to save up for a trip to Europe with his mother. But his pay of around $11 an hour ended up going to help his family with groceries and utilities. Soon, he was working for over three hours on school nights. This resulted in him missing dozens of assignments. The lack of sleep caused him to doze off in class and for his grades to tank. His future college prospects were nearly threatened.

Karpinsky's managers sometimes kept him running the cash register and taking drive-thru orders for longer than three hours on school nights  a violation of federal labor laws. Managers would also ask him to stay late when someone had called off.

Karpinsky believed this "was normal." But "I was scared that I wouldn't have a high enough GPA [to go to college] by the time I graduated," he added.

Coughlin, Inc., the operator of the McDonald's where Karpinsky worked, had among the highest rates of child labor violations for food service employers nationwide. In just nine stores in New Hampshire and Vermont, the company paid $109,000 for violations in 2022. These violations included allowing more than 140 employees ages 14 and 15 to work beyond legal hours and to use manually operated deep-fat fryers and ovens. At least two kids were burned working these stations.

Watch this episode of "About George with Gene Ho" on AMPNews as host Gene Ho and guests Dave Blaze and Rachel "Writeside Blonde" discuss the possibility of child labor laws being relaxed all over the United States.

This video is from the Patriot.TV channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Department of Labor says California poultry supplier must pay $3.8 million for illegally employing children in "dangerous jobs."

America IGNORING human rights, child labor abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to secure supplies of METALS for EV batteries.

Child labor in America: Dozens of teenagers are employed as slaughterhouse cleaners in Nebraska and Minnesota.

Large companies lobbying to hide import data that could link them to SLAVERY and CHILD LABOR.

McDonald's now resorting to child labor to resolve "staffing issues."

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Spokesman.com

ScrippsNews.com

Brighteon.com
Qatar pauses all LNG shipments in Red Sea following U.S. bombing of Houthis

A broader regional conflict is erupting in the Middle East after intense bombing by the United States against the Houthis in Yemen has driven Qatar to pause all shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

In recent days, numerous major shippers including Maersk have rerouted their vessels away from the embattled Red Sea, which is currently the location of escalating Houthi retaliation against the U.S. and Israel over their "best friendship"-inspired war on Gaza.

The Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa is the new route for many global shippers that are steering clear of the Middle East for the time being, and for their own protection and viability amid rapidly deteriorating diplomatic conditions.

The supply chain disruptions that have resulted from the various bombing campaigns in the Red Sea by the Houthis triggered the West, including the United Kingdom, to start launching bombing raids on Houthi targets.

QatarEnergy, the world's second-largest exporter of LNG, has since abandoned the waterway entirely, according to reports.

"It is a pause to get security advice, if passing [through the] Red Sea remains unsafe, we will go via the Cape," said a company source about the matter.

(Related: The U.S. government says a Houthi missile hit a U.S.-owned cargo ship the other day.)

Is there a coming LNG shortage?

Europe relies heavily on LNG from Qatar, as does the U.S. Any disruptions in shipments of this critical fuel, including even delays caused by rerouting LNG vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, threatens to collapse entire economies.

Should the perfect storm arrive amid all this, it could trigger a global black swan event that few are expecting. Once that happens, the regional conflict in the Middle East will almost certainly go global in a hot second.

The good news for Europe is that its natural gas inventories are currently hovering around 80 percent, which is well above the 10-year average. The reason for this is that weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere have been relatively warm so far.

If really cold weather arrives, all of that will change in an instant. It is now a waiting game to see which domino tips the others to cascade this whopper of a collapse into full-blown motion, probably at some point this year.

"I'm surprised Russia isn't taking this as an opportunity to 'return the favor' for what the U.S. and the UK are doing to them in Ukraine by sending weapons and supplies to the Houthis," one commenter on a story about all this expressed.

"If only Europe had a pipeline to carry gas cheaply and securely, if only," joked another, referring to Russia. "Who is the world's largest LNG exporter?"

"Once again, we blindly bumble into a hornet's nest without a plan," said another about the ridiculousness of the West's bizarre behavior these days.

"Qatar is a Pentagon colony," said someone else. "They're more or less hostages or slaves, 100 percent controlled by military presence. The leaders are compensated but with full understanding if they step out of line, they will be 'couped' in an instant."

Others noted that we are now witnessing the very clear signs of World War III, which many would argue is currently in motion  though at a relatively slow pace, which is keeping the masses dulled and distracted as they slow-boil like the frog in the pot.

"All of the west's foreign policy and military strategy seems directed at suicide!" asked another. "Are the leaders that stupid, or is this the plan ... eliminate the West as a power in the world?"

More related news about the escalating nightmare in the Middle East can be found at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
Report: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin authorized strike against Houthis from hospital bed

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reportedly authorized the military strike against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen while being confined at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.

POLITICO first broke the news of this development, citing information from "two senior administration officials." Even though Austin was treated for complications from a previous prostatectomy, he was reportedly involved in strategic discussions and closely monitored the operation from his hospital bed.

The strike conducted by American and British forces on Jan. 11 targeted the Houthi rebels in northern Yemen in response to the Tehran-backed militants' harassment of ships in the Red Sea. U.S. Navy warships have been intercepting missile launches from Houthi-controlled areas for months. (Related: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warn Iran and its allies against escalating Israel-Hamas war.)

Austin nevertheless faced criticism from various quarters, including both sides of the political spectrum. He was chided for not promptly disclosing his hospitalization and allegedly leaving the White House uninformed.

Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, expressed a loss of trust in Austin's leadership and called for the secretary's resignation. The congressman pointed to the perceived lack of transparency about Austin's medical treatment and its potential impact on the chain of command. Deluzio ultimately emphasized the congressional duty to conduct oversight of the Department of Defense (DoD), which Austin leads.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden criticized Austin's delayed notification of his hospitalization. The "lapse of judgment" on Austin's part has brought attention to the broader issues of transparency and communication protocols within the administration. Despite this, the president expressed confidence in Austin's continued leadership of the Defense Department.

Austin's hospitalization triggers review of White House notification process

The lack of detailed information about Austin's complications has raised concerns among experts, leading to calls for increased transparency in communicating such matters. The incident has prompted calls to review the notification process and raised questions about the transfer of military power and decision-making during high-ranking officials' health challenges.

Austin's prolonged hospitalization, which spanned over 11 days due to complications from prostate cancer treatment, has fueled speculation about the severity of his condition. Medical experts, including Dr. Oliver Sartor of the Mayo Clinic, have noted the unusual nature of the extended hospital stay.

The delayed disclosure of Austin's hospitalization took several days to reach the public and and prompted reviews from key officials  including from both the White House and the Pentagon. The reviews aim to evaluate the notification process and determine whether policies need to be adjusted to ensure more timely and transparent communication, especially in matters related to national security.

Members of the U.S. Senate have also put in their two cents on the matter. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) emphasized the need to ensure that such situations do not occur again. Meanwhile, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) raised concerns about the impact of the breach in protocol on the U.S.'s ability to project strength on the world stage.

Austin's job appears secure despite the criticism, with the National Security Council (NSC) expressing confidence in his continued leadership. NSC spokesman John Kirby noted that there are "no plans or anything other than for Austin to stay in the job and continue in the leadership that he's been demonstrating."

Visit NationalSecurity.news for more stories about the Defense Department.

Watch Clayton and Natali Morris discuss calls by senators for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's resignation below.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warns: Israel risks strategic defeat if it doesnt protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announces another $200 million in military aid for Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warn Iran and its allies against escalating Israel-Hamas war.

Sources include:

JustTheNews.com

Edition.CNN.com

Brighteon.com
Sen. Ron Johnson: COVID-19 injections 55x DEADLIER than the flu vaccines

The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are 55 times deadlier than flu injections , according to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI).

The lawmaker came upon this finding after his staff conducted a study on the deaths caused by the two vaccines. Staffers for Johnson looked at data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) for the paper. "The review involved a certain level of assumption given that no publicly available data exist regarding how many flu vaccine doses were administered in the U.S. over the past 10 years," according to the Epoch Times.

The report assumed that 70 percent of distributed flu vaccines were injected into people's arms. Despite this, the shocking figure emerged: The number of deaths per million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines was at 25.5. In contrast, the number of deaths per million doses of the flu vaccine was a mere 0.46.

Johnson outlined this concerning finding in a Dec. 21 letter to White House health officials. He addressed his correspondence to Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Mandy Cohen.

"Using the midpoint assumption that 70 percent of distributed flu vaccines were administered, the 25.5 deaths per million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine represents a 55-fold increase over the flu vaccine deaths per million doses," Johnson wrote. "This is a shocking difference, and only adds to the growing evidence of safety signals that are screaming to be taken seriously."

Johnson blasts insufficient responses of government agencies

The Wisconsin senator also rebuked the health officials for their insufficient responses to his queries in the Dec. 21 letter.

"When it comes to responding to my data requests on the adverse events associated with the COVID-19 vaccines, your arrogant lack of transparency has been unprecedented, irresponsible and completely unacceptable," he noted. (Related: Steve Kirsch: Vaccine damage data being DELIBERATELY HIDDEN).

"Over the course of the last 32 months, I have raised questions, sent formal requests and conducted oversight on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. Instead of addressing my legitimate questions and requests for information, you and other public health officials continue to promote the COVID-19 vaccines as safe and effective, and often use the number of vaccine doses administered as support for that misleading claim."

Johnson also reiterated his previous requests for data on the safety of the COVID-19 injections, and asked the health officials if they were aware of a study that pointed to "off-target" or incorrect proteins stemming from the vaccine. He gave a Jan. 18 deadline for the necessary information to be produced and turned over to him.

On the same day as Johnson's letter, the JAMA Network published a survey showing that Americans are more skeptical of the COVID-19 vaccines' safety than that of the flu vaccine. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they were worried about the safety of the COVID-19 injection, more than twice the 24 percent who expressed concern about the flu vaccine's safety.

It also found that 28 percent of respondents are "not at all likely" to get the COVID-19 injection in 2023, compared to the 22 percent "not at all likely" to get the flu vaccine. Sixty percent of respondents said they want more research on the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to the only 24 percent who wanted more research on the flu vaccine.

Visit DangerousMedicine.com for more news about COVID-19 injections.

Watch this video from the Brownstone Institute about the modified spike protein mRNA in the COVID-19 injections.

This video is from the Martus for Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Sen. Ron Johnson shares heartbreaking testimony about mother whose daughter was left permanently disabled following covid vaccination.

Senator Johnson's round table shocks the world again: data shows that the vaccinated "have a 26% higher mortality rate."

Sen. Ron Johnson accuses CDC of working with Big Tech to censor speech questioning COVID-19 vaccines.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

RonJohnson.Senate.gov

Brighteon.com
VICTORY: Trump takes Iowa in historic caucus win

The 2024 election season has begun, and Donald Trump is off to a great start after winning the Republican caucus in Iowa with 51 percent of the vote.

According to latest reports, Trump received 56,260 votes (as of this writing) in Iowa, earning him 20 delegates. Ron DeSantis took nine delegates with 23,420 votes, followed by Nikki Haley with eight delegates and 21,085 votes and Vivek Ramaswamy with three delegates and 8,449 votes.

Ramaswamy, by the way, arrogantly claimed prior to the vote that he would "win" the Iowa caucus. He ended up taking fourth place with fewer than one-sixth the number of votes Trump received, and has since suspended his campaign while endorsing Trump.

DeSantis, despite having received more than $100 million in donor money via his Never Back Down SuperPAC, took second place, trailing Trump by a long shot with less than half the number of votes Trump received.

"DeSantis has enjoyed the support of self-proclaimed Iowa influencers such as Steve Deace and Bob Vander Plaats," reports The National Pulse. "He also carried the endorsement of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ... In the end, none of it mattered, with Trump dominating the evening."

(Related: Did you catch the news about Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd, who lied that he was shot at first, before shooting and killing Ashli Babbitt during the January 6 "insurrection?")

Trump: Unity is "going to happen soon"

Trump's record-setting win in Iowa has basically solidified his eventual taking of the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Facing life-threatening cold weather and dangerous driving conditions  and possibly apathy over the clown show circus known as American politics  Iowa saw the lowest turnout caucus in 25 years. Even so, Trump received a 30-point win over his opponents, smashing the record for a contested Iowa Republican caucus with a margin of victory exceeding that of Bob Dole's 13-percentage-point victory back in 1988.

Many were shocked by the outcome, including contenders DeSantis and Haley who are still showing no signs of dropping out of the race, even though neither of them stands a chance at winning the nomination, let alone the election itself.

"Neither candidate appeared poised to exit the race, though they leave Iowa struggling to claim making much progress in trying to become Trump's strongest challenger," reported The Associated Press (AP).

In his victory speech, Trump served up a message of unity.

"We want to come together, whether it's Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative," Trump said. "We're going to come together. It's going to happen soon."

As usual, the next GOP contest is scheduled in New Hampshire, which will hold the first-in-the-nation primary on January 23. One month and one day later, South Carolina will hold its primary.

"Because of your support, in spite of all of what they threw at us, we got our ticket punched out of Iowa," DeSantis told a small crowd of supporters during a visit to South Carolina.

Haley, meanwhile, is gunning for victory in New Hampshire where she hopes to be more successful with the state's independent voters.

"When you look at how well we're doing in New Hampshire and in South Carolina and beyond, I can safely say tonight Iowa made this Republican primary a two-person race," Haley commented, imagining herself to be in the race alone with Trump and actually standing a chance against him.

While all this is taking place, Trump is still contending with the lawsuits filed against him. A jury is set to consider whether or not Trump should pay additional damages against a columnist who won a $5 million jury award last year for sex abuse and defamation.

Will Mr. Operation Warp Speed himself win the 2024 election? You can keep up with the latest at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NaturalNews.com

APNews.com
Data: U.S. Armed Forces seeing sharp decline in white male recruits

The United States Armed Forces is seeing a massive decline in white recruits signing up for the Army

According to internal data reviewed by Military.com, the Army's recruiting of white soldiers has dropped significantly in the last half-decade alone.

In 2018, 56.4 percent of new recruits  44,042 people  were categorized as white. This number has fallen each year to a low of 25,070 in 2023, or 44 percent, with a six percent dip from 2022 to 2023 alone. No other demographic group has seen such a massive decline.

During this same five-year period, the number of Black recruits the Army was receiving rose from 20 to 24 percent, and Hispanic recruits increased from 17 percent to 24 percent.

This shift in demographics comes as the Army continues to fall short of its recruitment goals, with planners noting that the changing racial makeup of the Army is generally insignificant to war planners. In 2023, the Army missed its target of 65,000 new recruits by about 10,000. (Related: TOO FAT TO FIGHT: 10,000 U.S. Army soldiers are now too obese to serve and a quarter of young men cant even qualify for recruitment.)

Experts suggest a confluence of issues affecting Army recruitment

Experts interviewed by Military.com note that they have not seen a single cause to the recruiting problem. But they have suggested a confluence of issues affecting Army recruitment, including partisan scrutiny of the service, a growing obesity epidemic and an underfunded public education system.

The Army has so far refused to comment on the situation, worried about "increasing partisan attacks" against the military for its effort to meet recruitment numbers by expanding recruitment efforts to more diverse communities.

Furthermore, the Army has regional recruiting data that could show which specific parts of the country are struggling to get young white men and women to sign up for the Army. The service has so far refused to share this data.

One explanation proposed by Military.com reporter Steve Beynon points to the gender divide among members of the Armed Forces. This divide for incoming soldiers remains stable, with males making up 83 percent of recruits in 2018 versus 82 percent in 2023.

The disproportionate number of men in the Army means that even small disruptions to men seeking work in the U.S. Armed Forces can have a major impact on recruitment. Civilian experts like Beynon note that this exact dynamic is at play, as men have been disappearing from national labor market statistics.

"Men have been in trouble in the workforce for two generations. The greatest risk of being a labor dropout is being a native-born [White], low-education, unmarried guy," said Nicholas Eberstadt, an economist and expert on demographics at the American Enterprise Institute. "Like with any other big historic change, it's kind of hard to attribute to a single magic bullet."

An Army spokesman who spoke with Military.com agreed with this view, suggesting that recruiting efforts are starting to broadly mimic the trends in the private sector. One big part of this trend is the disappearance of men in their prime working ages of 25 to 54 from the labor market.

"What we're seeing is a reflection of society; what we know less of is what is driving all of these things," said the spokesman. "There is no widely accepted cause."

Follow NationalSecurity.news for more news about the United States military.

Watch the video below about the growing U.S. military recruitment crisis.

This video is from the The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

U.S. Army faces TikTok mutiny as Gen Z soldiers voice complaints and grievances about military life.

No dying for Israel: 72% of Americans UNWILLING to volunteer for MILITARY SERVICE, poll reveals.

Young female military recruit forced to bathe with biological male transgenders who still have their genitalia intact.

U.S. military facing recruitment shortages, with most potential service members DISQUALIFIED.

Biden regime turning military into a freak show as Navy uses non-binary sailor who performs as a drag queen in recruitment campaign.

Sources include:

InformationLiberation.com

Military.com

FoxNews.com

Brighteon.com
Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov signed an agreement with President of the World Economic Forum Brge Brende and Managing Director Jeremy Jurgens on the opening of a government technology center in Kyiv.

"The GovTech center will be engaged in the digital transformation of the government, the development of e-government and digital skills. Thanks to the center, Ukrainian startupers and innovators will be able to exchange experience with foreign partners and accelerate digital reforms in Ukraine," Fedorov wrote on the Telegram channel.

The first center will open in the near future in Berlin. Ukraine will become the second country in the world where such a platform will be opened.

"This proves that international partners highly value the development of innovation and technology in Ukraine. We are gradually becoming global leaders in the digital transformation of governments and states," the minister emphasized.
Children who live closer to green spaces have much stronger bones, which could have long-term health benefits.

Bone Strength

In a first study of its kind published in JAMA Network Open, the researchers discovered that kids who lived in locations with 20-25% more natural areas had stronger bones, which was the equivalent of half a year's development in natural growth.

Scientists used ultrasound to evaluate the bone density of children aged four to six years old.

The child's age, weight, height, ethnicity, and mother's degree of education were all considered.

Children who had 25% more green space within 1,000 meters of their home, for example, had a 66% decreased probability of having very poor bone density, i.e., being in the bottom 10% of measurements. In the study, there was no difference between the boys and the girls.

This also showed that these kids had a roughly 65% decreased chance of developing extremely low bone density.

Screen time, vitamin supplements, and daily dairy consumption were all investigated to see if they altered the children's outcomes, but no significant differences were discovered.

According to the researchers, the findings are significant since inadequate bone growth at a young age is just as critical in the development of osteoporosis as bone loss with age.

Bone strength increases during childhood and adolescence, reaches a plateau around age 50, and then starts to decline. Thus, the researchers hypothesized that making green spaces larger and more accessible to kids could help older adults avoid osteoporosis and fractures.

Read Also: Daycare Children's Immune System Improved Thanks to Mini Forest in Finland

Physically Active

Children that live near parks tend to be more physically active, which promotes bone formation, which may account for the association between green areas and stronger bones.

The strongest correlation was found in green areas with trees, which the scientists hypothesized may be related to the fact that these locations were more appealing to tourists.

An expert said the stronger the bone mass is during childhood, the more capacity you have for later in life.

"So the real public health message from this study is that urban planners can make stronger bones of children, and that has long-lasting consequences," said Prof Tim Nawrot, at Hasselt University in Belgium.

More access to green spaces has been linked to increased physical activity in youngsters, according to prior studies. Numerous advantages for child development have also been shown in studies; these advantages include a decreased chance of obesity, lowered blood pressure, higher IQs, and improved mental and emotional health.

Adults who live in green environments also tend to have better physical and mental health. It is estimated that woodland walks save the UK 185 million annually in mental health expenses.

Two recent studies on bone density in adults and green spaces yielded inconsistent results. An analysis of 66,000 people in southwest China discovered a significant positive connection.

However, a study of 4,000 people aged 65 and older in Hong Kong found no clear association, presumably due to the city's crowded population and lack of natural space.

Related Article: Kids Spending Time Around Trees Help Develop Brain Performance, New Research Says
Experts found out that the Himalayas could be growing due to the collision of Indian and Eurasian plates.

They said that the first-order configuration of the Himalayan orogen is defined by the northward motion of the Indian Plate, whether directly "underplating" under the Tibetan crust or "subducting" beneath a mantle wedge.

The scientists' 3D S-wave receiver-functions newly revealed orogen-perpendicular tearing or warping of the Indian Plate. It showed that west of 90E, the southern limit of the Tibetan lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, is at the Indian crustal front, 100 kilometers north of the Yarlung-Zangbo suture.

This development had implied an underplating of the intact Indian lithosphere beneath Tibet.

Oceanic, Continental Plates Collide

Scientists explained that in cases where oceanic and continental plates collide, the denser oceanic plate slides beneath the lighter continental plate in a process called subduction.

When two similarly dense continental plates collide, however - as is the case below the Himalayas - it is not so simple to predict which plate will end up under the other.

Experts defined subduction zone as the spot where two of the planet's tectonic plates collide and one dives, or subducts, beneath the other. This tectonic process can produce some of the planet's most powerful earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes.

In relation to this phenomenon, geoscientists are still unsure exactly what has been going on in Tibet.

Further east, the delaminated Indian lithospheric mantle during its gravitationally-induced rollback is separated from the Indian crust by an interposed asthenospheric wedge.

The nascent Tibetan lithosphere and its subjacent thin asthenosphere continue 100 kilometers south of the Yarlung-Zangbo suture.

Experts said that the contrast in lithospheric structures across the Yadong-Gulu and Cona-Sangri rifts at 90-92E, in two agreement with helium isotopic anomalies and deep seismicity, has required the subducting Indian Plate to be warped or torn.

Read Also: Evidence Of Massive Landslide In Himalayas During Medieval Era Found

Still Uncertain

The study pointed out that the plate-tectonic process of continental collision has been exemplified on Earth by the collision of India and Asia, forming the Himalaya mountains and Tibet plateau.

Yet the deep configuration or geometry of the two plates has remained uncertain, including whether the Indian plate is pushed horizontally northwards directly beneath Tibet (the Asian plate), or whether India dives more vertically deep into the mantle.

As experts used a range of seismological imaging techniques (using distant earthquakes to make measurements of Tibet and the Himalaya), they showed that the behavior of the Indian continental plate in many ways represents the behavior of oceanic plates in collision or subduction zones, such as the Pacific plate diving beneath South America to form the Andes.

''Similarities include the presence of a dipping lower plate (India or Pacific) with hot mantle above it, between the deep plate and the overlying continent (Tibet or Andes), and a slab tear, or break in the descending Indian plate in the direction of its forward motion,'' experts said.

Scientists have speculated that this slab tear may divide the mountain chain along its length, leading to segmentation of earthquake hazard.

The latest research could help experts point to areas of increased earthquake risk along the plate boundary.

Related Article: Himalayas Used to Be Protected From Cyclones, Now Erratic Monsoons Cause More Avalanches
Bobi the Portuguese mastiff was once considered the world's oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever on record. Back in February 2023, the Guinness World Records announced the title to the 30-year-old Bobi at that time. Since then, Bobi was looked at with high regard and made global headlines until his death several months ago, at an apparent age of 31 years old.

However, Guinness World Records officials recently suspended the world's oldest dog title held by Bobi and temporarily stripped his recognition amid doubts surrounding his lifespan. The source of this concern is traced back to Portugal, the country where the dog was reportedly registered in 1992 and died on October 21 of 2023.

Bobi the Portuguese Mastiff

The title of Bobi the Portuguese mastiff has been suspended until further notice amid on ongoing review and investigation surrounding the record holder's age, which is based on reported details that the now-deceased 31-year-old guard dog was born on May 11 of 1992. The famous canine lived in Portugal, on a farm in the village of Conqueiros located in the Leiria District.

Bobi's owner, Leonel Costa, previously told US media in 2023 that the secret to his pet's long life was healthy food, fresh air, and lots of love, emphasizing that an environment far from the cities or urban areas also helped the dog's remarkable lifespan. Even before the February 2023 Guinness announcement, it was clear that Bobi is the No. 1 pick for the world's oldest dog title.

Also Read: Domesticated Dogs Originated In Central Asia, New Study Shows

World's Oldest Dog Title

Bobi lived his entire life with the Costa family in Conqueiros. Before his rise to fame from his quiet life in the Portuguese village, a dog from the United States, named Spike, was holding the title of the oldest living dog in the world given by the Guinness World Records. Spike was a 23-year-old chihuahua mix from Camden, Ohio.

Spike the Chihuahua was given the title officially on December 7 of 2022. However, weeks after Spike's debut as the oldest living dog, the Guinness World Records received "evidence" of a new contender, Bobi the Portuguese Mastiff. At that time.

Guinness officials believed that not only Bobi was the oldest living dog but also the oldest dog ever. Evidently, the basis for the title does not include ancient or prehistoric dogs that predate domesticated dogs of today. This context gives rise to the question if a modern dog (which is easier to register and record) can live up to 30 years.

Can a Dog Last 30 years?

Experts assert that the average lifespan of a dog ranges from 10 to 13 years, based on estimations including those of the American Kennel Club. Other sources report that the maximum lifespan of man's best friend can reach up to 17 years. While there are cases of dogs reaching above 20 years old, there have been no confirmed documentation of pet dogs reaching the age of 30 and beyond.

In the case of Bobi the Portuguese Mastiff, reports indicate that the basis of doubts surrounding his age is based on observations that images of Bobi back in 1999 had different colors of paws compared with the dog that died in October 2023 in Portugal. In addition, genetic testing of Bobi confirmed that he was old but did not accurately provide his age.

Related Article: 'World's Oldest Dog' Passes Away At 30
The earthquake in Japan on New Year's Day, January 1, is the first major quake of 2024. It surprised the East Asia nation with an intensity of 7.6 magnitude and a series of tsunamis that struck the Japanese west coast, particularly the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. The region is in Honshu, the main island of Japan.

The aftermath of Japan's earthquake resulted in the Noto Peninsula coastline extending by 800 feet due to coseismic coastal uplift, according to recent research and satellite images. This means that a new land emergence occurred in the western coastal areas of the peninsula, which was also shaken by aftershocks following the main identifiable quake on January 1.

Coseismic coastal uplift has been observed by geologists and seismologists before, including in Chile following the 1995 Antofagasta earthquake. In short, coastal uplift pertains to the phenomenon when seafloor surges from the bottom of the ocean or when land is elevated above the sea by seismic or tectonic forces.

Coseismic Coastal Uplift

Coseismic coastal uplift has long been known to be driven by powerful upward thrust coming from coastal tectonics. In a 2004 study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, researchers identified a shoreline uplift marked by a continuous white band visible at rocky headlands during the May 2003 earthquake in Algeria.

Currently, this geologic phenomenon is not considered by scientists as making new islands but rather an extension of coastal shorelines connected to a mainland. In the case of the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) detected land emergence along the coast where the ground has risen.

The observations of the GSI were based on satellite images of the Noto Peninsula coastline taken before and after the new year quake, with the first being in June 2023 and the second on January 2 of 2024. The images show that terrestrial area has slightly increased.

Scientists from the Earthquake Research Institute of The University of Tokyo also confirmed the occurrence of coseismic coastal uplift during a field investigation following the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, which occurred at around 4:10 p.m. JST (local time) on January 1.

Also Read: America Adds Six Regions' Submerged Offshore Areas, Growing 386,000 Square Miles Bigger Last Month

Japan New Year Earthquake

Japan's new year earthquake resulted in the reported deaths of at least 213 people, including eight fatalities at evacuation centers where rescued survivors died from injuries and sickness. The 7.6 magnitude quake caused widespread damage and approximately 26,000 people were forced to stay at schools and other makeshift facilities since their homes were either destroyed or unsafe to live in.

Major tsunami warnings were also issued by Japanese authorities during the onset of the catastrophic natural disaster, which also caused many residents in affected areas to evacuate and seek higher grounds. While the 2024 Japan earthquake is not as powerful as the country's 2011 earthquake, it is still considered significantly devastating.

Related Article: Japan Quake: Aftershocks Bury Homes, Block Roads Making Relief Operations Challenging; Death Toll Breaches 100-Mark
Ukraine wants to have more contacts with China at all levels

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba believes that the war in Ukraine does not meet China's strategic interests and said Kyiv wants to have more contacts with Beijing at all levels.

"I do not believe that this war is in China's strategic interests. We believe that China is currently monitoring developments and watching as different parties pour more and more resources into it. China is not only focused on its economic problems, but and on developments in our region. We want to talk more with China. We want to have more contacts with them at all levels," he said at a discussion program in Davos on Wednesday.

According to the minister, in its approach to China, the Ukrainian side is guided by the fact that Beijing is interested in an independent, peaceful and prosperous Ukraine.

"Also because of the inevitable prospect of Ukraine becoming a member of the single market of the European Union," Kuleba said.
Cisco has raised the profile of the popular container connectivity technology eBPF (extended Berkeley packet filter) with its recent purchase of open-source, cloud-native networking and security firm Isovalent. Cisco announced the deal in late December and expects to close the acquisition in the third quarter of its fiscal year 2024.

eBPF is an open-source Linux operating-system kernel technology that lets programs run securely in a sandbox within the kernel of the OS. This allows customers to incorporate security, observability and networking features quickly and easily without requiring them to modify kernel source code or deal with network overlays or other tedious programming tasks. The technologys open-source development occurs under the auspices of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) and includes industry input and support from Google, Microsoft, Red Hat, Intel and others.

According to the CNCF, many kernel developers have contributed to eBPFs integration into the Linux kernel, making it a stable and reliable, and various other projects have created tools and libraries that make eBPF easier to use and manage. In addition, eBPF is the underpinning for Isovalents widely used open-source, cloud-based Cilium and Tetragon software packages. Cilium uses eBPF to support networking, security, and observability for containerized Kubernetes workloads, while Tetragon lets users set security policies using eBPF.

eBPF is important in todays environment of distributed applications, virtual machines, containers, and cloud assets, where application administrators may have little to no insight into the underlying infrastructure, leaving a gap in visibility and security, said Tom Gillis, senior vice president and general manager of the Cisco Security Business Group.

eBPF and Cilium will let set all sorts of features such as firewall, load balancing, DNS  all kinds of application service level features, all from software in a single location, Gillis said. Without eBPF, all of that functionality would have to be enabled individually, which is time consuming and potentially leaves lots of places open to security and networking problems.

The combination also provides analysis of network traffic and container behavior, enabling network experts to troubleshoot issues and optimize performance, Gillis said.
Kuleba: Europe has to build up its defense industry, if Putin attacks EU tomorrow, it to be unable to defend itself

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba noted the importance of the EU building up its defense industry and drew a parallel with the need to create Airbus in the defense industry.

"I understand that this is not what people want to hear, but if Putin attacked the European Union tomorrow, the EU will not be able to defend itself. It will fall because the current state of the defense industry in the EU does not allow it to properly defend itself," Kuleba said during a discussion program in Davos on Wednesday.

He said Europe must grow its defense industry as the problem Europe faces will not end when Ukraine wins.

"For the coming decades, it is necessary to guarantee the security of Europe. And they simply cannot do this now," the foreign minister said.

According to him, every country that increases its own production does not solve the problem, since joint efforts by the EU are needed to remove bureaucratic barriers, harmonize the legal framework, and synchronize technical standards.

"We need Airbus in the defense industry. There are hundreds and thousands of companies involved in creating Airbus. Everyone uses the same legal framework, the same technical standards. And that's why it works. We need the same level of interaction, cooperation between the defense industries. If this problem is not solved, we will still win, but at a much, much higher cost, and it will take much longer," Kuleba said.
Trumps kicks off 2024 bid with Iowa win; Ramaswamy gives up

Washington, Jan 17

Americas twice-impeached former President, who is also facing more than 90 criminal charges, kicked off his bid for the Republican party's nomination for President with a thumping victory in the first of the primaries held Monday in Iowa.

Indian American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamys long-shot campaign did not last the night as he announced he was dropping out of the race and endorsed Trump.

Trump called his victory a "landslide". DeSantis and Haley are both spinning their Iowa performance as proof the nomination is a two-person race between either one of them and Trump.

But, the reality is, the Republican nomination contest remains unambiguously a one-person race.

Iowa caucuses are a unique feature of the US presidential election process. The state is the first to vote in the process. But, starting this year, the first only for Republicans; Democrats have announced a parallel schedule for their primaries, kicking it off in South Carolina.

But, equally, Iowa has a reputation for backing candidates who go on to either lose the nomination or the presidential election  it voted for Ted Cruz, the Texas Senator, in 2016 over Trump, who went on to pick up the nomination and the White House.

Trumps victory advances his claim on the nomination but does not guarantee it. Haley and DeSantis are both hoping to overtake him further down the primaries but the gap between the former President and both his rivals remains too wide.

New Hampshire is the next state in the Republicans primaries and Haley has closed it to Trump in polls and with the backing of the state's popular Governor, Chris Sununu, who has endorsed her, hopes to catch up with the former President. The state after this is South Carolina, her home state where she served as Governor for two terms.

"The race now moves to less Trump-friendly territory. And the field of candidates is effectively down to two, with only Trump and Nikki Haley having substantial support in both New Hampshire and South Carolina," the Haley campaign said in a statement on Tuesday.

"That never happened in the 2016 nominating contest, when a larger field allowed Trump to win many primaries with pluralities rather than majorities."

In a new ad, Haley projected herself as an alternative to both Trump and President Joe Biden, who is seeking a second term.

Though she trails Trump in polls on the Republican primaries race, she has a commanding lead over the President in head-to-head matches, beating him by a wider margin than Trumps over Biden.

"The two most disliked politicians in America?, the narrator says in the ad. Trump and Biden. Both are consumed by chaos, negativity, and grievances of the past. The better choice for a better America? Nikki Haley."

The former President is facing 93 criminal charges and runs the risk of being disqualified from running in 2024; two states have already struck him off the list of candidates for the presidential nomination.

Both Haley and DeSantis may stay in the race in the hope of Trump being taken down by any one of these cases, but that would depend on their ability to finance their campaigns long enough in the face of Trumps unstoppable run; donors may fade away rather than sink their money in doomed campaigns.

(IANS - Posted on 17 January 2024)

Trumps kicks off 2024 bid with Iowa win; Ramaswamy gives up

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PM Modi pays tribute to MGR on his birth anniversary

Chennai, Jan 17

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) on the latter's 107th birth anniversary.

He was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death in 1987.

In post on X written in Tamil, the Prime Minister said: "Today we commemorate the great MGR on his birthday and celebrate his life. He was a true icon of Tamil cinema and a visionary leader. The social justice and compassion that permeated his films won hearts beyond the silver screen.

"As a leader and Chief Minister, he worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people and had a lasting impact on the growth and development of Tamil Nadu. His work continues to inspire us."

MGR, who was was a highly popular Tamil actor, entered politics by becoming a member of the C.N. Annadurai-led DMK.

After differences cropped up with M.Karunanidhi, he walked out of the DMK and in January 1972 launched the AIADMK.

(IANS - Posted on 17 January 2024)

PM Modi pays tribute to MGR on his birth anniversary

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Google Pay India joins NPCI International to expand UPI payments globally

New Delhi, Jan 17

Google India Digital Services Out Ltd on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), to expand the transformative impact of UPI to countries beyond India.

The MoU also intends to assist in establishing UPI-like digital payment systems in other countries, providing a model for seamless financial transactions. Also, it focuses on easing the process of remittances between countries by utilising the UPI infrastructure, thereby simplifying cross-border financial exchanges, the tech giant said in a statement.

Google Pay has been a proud and willing collaborator to NPCI and the financial ecosystem, under the regulators guidance, and this collaboration is another step towards our commitment to making payments simple, safe and convenient, said Deeksha Kaushal, Director, Partnerships, Google Pay India.

The goal is to provide foreign merchants access to Indian customers who will no longer have to rely only on foreign currency and/or, credit or forex cards for making digital payments and will have the option using UPI powered Apps from India including Google Pay.

Moreover, the MoU will also significantly contribute to simplifying remittances by reducing dependence on conventional money transfer channels.

This strategic partnership will not only simplify foreign transactions for Indian travelers but will also allow us to extend our knowledge and expertise of operating a successful digital payments ecosystem to other countries, said Ritesh Shukla, CEO  NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL).

(IANS - Posted on 17 January 2024)

Google Pay India joins NPCI International to expand UPI payments globally

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Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin and Chief of Mission of International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ukraine Alessia Schiavon signed a new Cooperation Agreement designed to strengthen the partnership, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) press service said.

"This agreement is devoted to the issues of preventing illegal migration, combating human trafficking, compensation for damage to victims and the introduction of human-centric approaches," the PGO said in the Telegram channel.

Kostin said PGO and IOM have a long history of cooperation, which only intensified with the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

"I am convinced that together we can improve services and support systems for those whose lives were destroyed by Russian aggression," he said.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Some snow flurries during the morning hours will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 27F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.
In a recent study posted to the arXiv preprint* server, researchers at Google Research and Google DeepMind introduced Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer (AMIE), a Large Language Model (LLM)-based artificial intelligence (AI) system to optimize diagnostic dialogue.

The physician-patient interaction is at the core of medicine, where skilled history-taking sets the path for correct diagnosis, successful care, and long-term trust. Artificial intelligence systems capable of diagnostic discourse can improve accessibility, consistency, and quality of care. However, simulating physician skills is a significant issue.

Study: Towards Conversational Diagnostic AI

*Important notice: arXiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.

About the study

The researchers of the present study developed the AMIE framework for conversational AI applications.

The team created a self-play-driven simulated discussion environment with automatic feedback to extend AMIE's learning capabilities across multiple medical conditions, settings, and specializations. They also implemented inference-time-based chain-of-reasoning techniques to improve AMIE's conversation quality and diagnostic accuracy. During online inference, the techniques gradually modified AMIE answers based on the present discussion, resulting in accurate and grounded responses to patients at each dialogue turn.

The team used an iterative self-improvement strategy comprised of two self-play cycles. The inner loop modified its behavior on AI patient agents based on in-context critic input, while the outer loop included refined conversations into subsequent fine-tuning cycles. To illustrate the improvement, they used the auto-evaluation approach on simulated talks before and after the self-play procedure.

The team developed the AMIE framework to evaluate clinically significant performance parameters such as history recording, diagnostic accuracy, management reasoning, communication, and comprehension. The researchers created a prototype assessment criterion to measure history-taking, communication skills, diagnostic reasoning, and comprehending of medical diagnostic conversational artificial intelligence, including clinician- and patient-centered metrics.

The team conducted a remote double-blinded randomized crossover study including 149 clinical case situations from health providers in the United Kingdom, India, and Canada. Randomization enabled counterbalanced comparisons of the AMIE framework to 20 primary care physicians (PCPs) while consulting with verified patient actors.

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) modeled patients using an online multi-turn synchronous text conversation and generated post-questionnaire responses. Specialist physicians and patient actors reviewed the data. The researchers performed several analyses to improve understanding of AMIE's capabilities, identified primary limitations, and offered essential next steps for real-world clinical translation of AMIE. They assessed conversational features using the General Medical Council Patient Questionnaire (GMCPQ), the Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES), and a narrative analysis of Patient-Centered Communication Best Practice (PCCBP).

Results

The study showed that AMIE outperformed PCPs on 28 of 32 assessment axes from specialist physician perspectives and 24 out of 26 assessment axes from patient actor perspectives. Under specialist physician examination, AMIE demonstrated higher differential diagnosis (DDx) accuracy than PCPs, with the highest gains in the cardiovascular and respiratory specialties. According to auto-evaluation, AMIE was as efficient as PCPs in data collection. The team used the same procedure to replicate the differential diagnosis precision analysis with the model auto-evaluators rather than specialist raters and noticed that the auto-evaluator's performance trends aligned with specialist evaluations despite minor differences in computed values for accuracy.

Superiority of large language model #AI randomized vs 20 primary care physicians on 149 case scenarios for

diagnostic accuracy, conversation, communication, clinical exam skills, empathy, & management plan https://t.co/RdmBrrXwzb @taotu831 @alan_karthi @vivnat @GoogleDeepMind pic.twitter.com/9MuZLG9BUc  Eric Topol (@EricTopol) January 12, 2024

The study compared AMIE's DDx performance to that generated by primary care physician consultations using the differential diagnosis auto-evaluator and identified comparable DDx performance. The findings indicated consistent diagnostic performance irrespective of AMIE processing data from its dialogues or those of the PCPs. Both techniques outperformed PCPs' differential diagnosis considerably.

Regarding the overall word counts generated in their replies throughout the consultation, AMIE was more verbose than PCPs. However, conversational turns and word counts obtained from patient actors were comparable among the OSCE agents, implying that the AMIE system and primary care physicians gathered equivalent amounts of patient data during the interaction.

According to specialists and patient actors, AMIE outperformed PCPs in conversation quality. Patient actors judged AMIE consultations considerably higher than those from PCPs on 24 of 26 dimensions. For scenarios within their realm of competence, specialist physicians evaluated both the conversational quality and replies to the post-questionnaire. The findings indicate that AMIE was as effective as PCPs in extracting relevant data during simulated consultations and was more accurate than PCPs in forming a comprehensive differential diagnosis when given the same amount of data.

Overall, the study findings highlighted the potential of the AMIE conversational artificial intelligence system for clinical history-taking and diagnostic discourse. AMIE, which blends real-world and virtual medical conversations, scored higher than PCPs on multiple dimensions. The study, however, had limitations since clinicians were limited to unfamiliar synchronous text conversations. AMIE's success in simulated consultations is a huge step forward, but converting it into real-world tools requires more study to assure safety, dependability, fairness, efficacy, and privacy.

*Important notice: arXiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that higher levels of exposure to outdoor artificial light at night can increase the risk of incident exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Study: Nighttime Outdoor Artificial Light and Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Image Credit: CGN089 / Shutterstock

Background

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by progressive loss of central vision due to damage in the retina's macular region. The condition can potentially lead to irreversible blindness. AMD is a multifactorial disorder associated with a number of genetic as well as non-genetic risk factors.

Increasing age is the most prominent non-genetic risk factor for AMD. In addition, cigarette smoking and low antioxidant intake are the other consistent non-genetic risk factors. Among various environmental risk factors, light pollution is known to have a significant negative impact on the retina and optic nerve. High levels of light exposure can damage optic tissues.

In this study, scientists have investigated the effect of night-time exposure to outdoor artificial light on the risk of incident exudative AMD in South Korea. Outdoor artificial light at night refers to the changes in natural light levels at night due to human-made light sources. The exudative form of AMD is characterized by the formation of pathological choroidal neovascular membranes under the retina, which can cause leakage of fluid and blood.

Study design

The scientists collected demographical and medical data of adult individuals (aged 50 years and above) with newly diagnosed exudative AMD between January 2010 and December 2011 from the Korean National Health Insurance Service registration program database for rare and intractable diseases.

They also identified age- and sex-matched individuals who had not been diagnosed with exudative AMD until 2020 and included them in the analysis as study controls. The scientists acquired the 2010  2011 medical data of the patients and controls in 2021 to ensure a follow-up duration of at least 10 years.

They used the latest radiance-calibrated light-at-night data obtained from the National Geophysical Data Center to measure mean levels of outdoor artificial night-time light at participants' residential addresses during 2008 and 2009.

They assessed the association between night-time outdoor artificial light exposure and risk of incident exudative AMD after adjusting for sociodemographic features of the participants, comorbidities, and other environmental risk factors, such as night-time traffic noise and levels of particulate matter in the air.

Important observations

The study was conducted on a total of 126,418 individuals, including 4078 exudative AMD patients and 122,340 control individuals without the disease. Overall, the participants with higher night-time outdoor artificial light exposure had higher exposure to particulate matter and night-time traffic noise. In contrast, the participants with lower night-time outdoor artificial light exposure had lower physical activity levels.

After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the analysis indicated that higher levels of night-time outdoor artificial light exposure can significantly increase the risk of incident exudative AMD. An interquartile range (IQR; 55.8 nanowatts/cm2 /steradian) increase in night-time outdoor artificial light exposure was found to be associated with a hazard ratio of 1.67 for incident exudative AMD.

The analysis of the shape of the exposure-response curve for the association between night-time outdoor artificial light exposure and risk of exudative AMD revealed a non-linear, concave upward slope that became more pronounced at higher levels of light exposure.

A subgroup analysis involving 73,551 participants from urban areas showed that about 3.7% experienced incident exudative AMD between 2021 and 2011. A similar analysis involving 48,972 participants from rural areas indicated that about 2.5% of them experienced incident exudative AMD during the same period.

Further analysis revealed that an IQR increase in night-time outdoor artificial light exposure was associated with an increased risk of exudative AMD in urban areas but not in rural areas.

The stratified analysis of the hazard ratio of incident exudative AMD by personal characteristics at baseline revealed that the AMD risk from night-time outdoor artificial light exposure was significantly higher for older individuals, men, smokers, urban residents, individuals with higher body mass index, individuals with hypertension or dyslipidemia, and those with alcohol drinking habits.

Study significance

This population-level case-control study conducted in South Korea indicates that higher levels of night-time outdoor artificial light exposure can significantly increase the risk of incident exudative AMD.

Since AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, future studies analyzing different levels of light exposure, individual adaptive behaviors, and potential mediators are needed to understand the relationship between light exposure and AMD development more conclusively.
A new study links increased use of acetaminophen during pregnancy  particularly in the second trimester  to modest but noticeable increases in problems with attention and behavior in 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds. The study adds to a growing body of evidence linking the frequent use of acetaminophen in pregnancy to developmental problems in offspring.

The findings are detailed in the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology.

The research is part of the Illinois Kids Development Study at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which explores how environmental exposures influence child development. The study tracked hundreds of children, collecting data on their prenatal chemical exposures and asking caregivers to assess their behaviors and traits at ages 2, 3 and 4.

While acetaminophen is considered the safest painkiller and fever reducer available during pregnancy, previous studies have found evidence of a range of possible negative outcomes for children exposed to the drug in gestation, said Megan Woodbury, who led the research as a graduate student at the U. of I. with comparative biosciences professor emerita Susan Schantz, the principal investigator of the IKIDS program at Illinois. Woodbury is now a postdoctoral researcher at Northeastern University in Boston. Schantz is a faculty member of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the U. of I.

A recent study led by Woodbury and Schantz linked higher acetaminophen exposure in pregnancy to language delays in children.

Some previous studies have found no relationship between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and attention and behavior in childhood, while other, usually larger studies found relationships between more frequent use of the medication during pregnancy and attention-related and behavioral problems in offspring. Most of the latter studies were conducted in older children and questioned pregnant participants about their use of acetaminophen at most once per trimester. The new study asked pregnant parents about their acetaminophen use six times over the course of the pregnancy  roughly once every four-to-six weeks  offering a more precise picture of the magnitude and timing of the drug exposures.

The researchers also asked caregivers to answer dozens of standardized questions about their child's behavior and ability to pay attention at ages 2, 3 and 4. More than 300 children were assessed at age 2, with 262 assessed again at 3, and 196 at age 4.

"Our most important finding was that with increasing acetaminophen use by pregnant participants, especially during the second trimester, their children showed more attention-related problems and ADHD-type behaviors, which we call 'externalizing behaviors,' at every age we measured," Woodbury said.

The kinds of behaviors the caregivers reported included things like the child talking out of turn, not paying attention, not being quiet when they were supposed to be quiet, not sitting down when they were supposed to be sitting down, and being a little aggressive with other children." Susan Schantz, principal investigator of the IKIDS program at Illinois

The findings are not an indication that the children have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or that they will be diagnosed with ADHD at a later date, Schantz said. But the children seem to be having more trouble with attention than peers of the same age who were less exposed or not exposed to acetaminophen in the womb.

Woodbury, who herself is pregnant, says she does not want to scare others away from using acetaminophen in pregnancy when needed. Extreme headaches or other painful episodes and fevers can be debilitating and even dangerous, calling for use of the drug. She said she has turned to acetaminophen once per trimester so far. But she also chooses not to use it for minor aches, pains or slight fevers.

More research is needed to test whether more frequent use of acetaminophen during the second trimester of pregnancy may be particularly problematic for the developing brain, the researchers said. The study also is limited as participants were mostly white, non-Hispanic and of higher economic status. Schantz and her team are working to broaden the cohort of participants in IKIDS to include pregnant people from a greater diversity of social, economic and racial backgrounds.

This research was supported by the Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institutes of Health Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes program.
The Bundestag, at a vote on Wednesday, January 17, did not support the draft resolution on the transfer of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, Der Spiegel said.

According to the publication, some 178 parliamentarians voted "for," while 485 "against."

The resolution was opposed by the Greens and the Free Democratic Party, which previously approved an increase in military assistance to Ukraine, including cruise missiles. As the publication notes, the initiative of the CDU/CSU party was regarded as an attempt to gain a tactical advantage in the internal political debates in Germany.

In addition, the Greens criticized the parliamentary majority for refusing to approve Ukraine's applications to join the European Union and NATO.
In a recent turn of events, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has released fresh Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as air travel faces turbulence due to dense fog and disruptions at Delhis airport.

The ministry and DGCAs swift actions come in response to viral videos depicting passengers stranded on the tarmac, casting a shadow on Indigo Airlines and Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).

SOPs Released by DGCA

Real-time Information Circulation:

Airlines to publish accurate flight delay information on their websites.

Advance notification to affected passengers via SMS, WhatsApp, and email.

Display updated delay information at airports.

Sensitize airline staff to communicate effectively with passengers.

Proactive Flight Cancellations:

Airlines may cancel flights anticipated to be delayed for more than 3 hours due to adverse weather conditions.

Aimed at preventing airport congestion and mitigating passenger inconvenience.

Reporting and Monitoring:

Incidence reporting thrice daily for all six metro airports.

Vigilant monitoring and reporting of DGCA directives, SOPs, and Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs).

Emergency War Rooms:

Establishment of War Rooms at the six metro airports to address passenger inconvenience promptly.

Ensuring round-the-clock availability of sufficient CISF manpower.

Show Cause Notices to Indigo and CSMIA:

In response to the chaotic scenes, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) issued show cause notices to Indigo Airlines and CSMIA, Mumbai. Failure to respond may result in financial penalties.

Delhis CAT III Runway Progress:

Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, shared on Twitter the progress made at Delhi Airport. Runway 29L has become CAT III operational, allowing landings in low visibility. Efforts are underway to make the third runway CAT III compliant.

Passenger Compensation Woes:

Despite the CAR, passengers face issues in receiving refunds and proper communication from airlines in case of disruptions. The ministry emphasizes adherence to guidelines on compensations for delayed or canceled flights.

As fog continues to disrupt flight operations in North India, the aviation sector faces challenges, and these new SOPs aim to provide clarity and assistance to passengers during adverse weather conditions. Will these measures be enough to weather the storm? Only time will tell.
Hyundai Motor Company, the South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer, plans to rehabilitate its recently acquired second plant in India with a sizable investment of Rs 7,000 crore.

Hyundai Motor intends to invest the funds to repair General Motors mothballed plant in Maharashtra.

With the successful acquisition of the idle plant from General Motors Co., the automotive behemoth brought about a dramatic change in the Indian auto industry. The investment deal is about to be formally signed in Davos, Switzerland, during the annual World Economic Forum summit.

Maharashtras Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently confirmed this news on his X platform (formally known as Twitter), expressing the states enthusiasm for this big economic collaboration as reported by ET.

The Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister announced that Hyundai has confirmed a Rs 7,000 crore investment in Talegaon, Pune. He also stated that this will be the automakers first investment in India outside of Tamil Nadu, where the company has been investing and doing business successfully for over 25 years.

He further informed that Hyundai will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra (GoM) at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos.

It was a great pleasure to meet Mr. Kim Unsoo, MD and CEO of Hyundai Motor India (HMI) along with Executive Director J.W Ryu and HMI senior officials.They apprised me on HMIs  , .They also sought advice pic.twitter.com/RrX2zsdW9V  Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 13, 2024

Hyundai made headlines last year when it acquired the Talegaon General Motors factory. The facility had been inactive for a long time as a result of the American automakers struggles to sell it after exiting the Indian market.

Meanwhile, Hyundais large investment demonstrates the companys dedication to growing its presence in India. It is anticipated that the infusion of Rs 7,000 crore into the Indian market will have a knock-on effect, strengthening Hyundais position in the cutthroat Indian auto industry, encouraging the local economy, and generating job opportunities.

The automakers production capacity should increase dramatically with the new plant. Its 8.25 lakh annual production capacity at its Tamil Nadu manufacturing facility makes it the second-largest carmaker in India at the moment.

However, it is unclear what increased production capacity the brand will have once the Talegaon plant is operational. The date on which it will resume functioning to begin distributing Hyundai automobiles is also unknown.

The automaker reportedly has been concentrating on SUVs in order to keep up with the countrys growing demand for utility vehicles. According to reports, Hyundai also intends to invest Rs 200 crore over the next eight years in the production of new electric cars, a battery pack assembly unit, and EV charging stations on Tamil Nadus main thoroughfares.
Are Banks Closed Today? Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti or the Prakash Parv of the tenth Sikh Guru will be celebrated on January 17 this year. The day will commemorate the 357th birth anniversary of the last personal Guru of Sikhism. Thus, banks will remain closed in Chandigarh.

On the other hand, banks in Tamil Nadu will remain shut on January 17 in observation of Uzhavar Thirunal.

In January 2024, banks in India will observe closures for 16 days. Those with urgent banking needs should take note of the designated holiday dates. Bank customers must understand that while physical branches will be shut on these upcoming holidays, digital services like mobile banking, UPI, and Internet banking will continue to operate without any interruptions.

Key bank holidays in India include Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), and Christmas (December 25).

Additionally, banks are closed on specific religious festivals, such as Diwali, Dussehra, Eid, Ganesh Chaturthi, Buddha Purnima, and others. Its worth noting that the dates of these festivals vary each year.

Remaining Bank Holidays January 2024

January 21 (Sunday)

January 23 (Tuesday)- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti

January 25 (Thursday)- State Day (Himachal Pradesh)

January 26 (Friday)- Republic Day

January 27 (Saturday)-Fourth Saturday

January 28 (Sunday)

January 31 (Wednesday): Me-Dam-Me-Phi (Assam)

The RBI classifies holidays into three categories: Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act and Real-Time Gross Settlement Holiday, and Banks Closing of Accounts.
Medi Assist Healthcare IPO: The initial public offering of Medi Assist Healthcare Services Ltd, which is going to be closed on Wednesday, has received a muted response from investors. Till 12:17 pm on the final day of bidding on Wednesday, the IPO has received 2.15 times subscription, garnering bids for 4,22,66,350 shares as against 1,96,19,719 shares on offer.

The Rs 1,171.58-crore IPO was opened for public subscription on Monday, January 15.

The retail category has been subscribed 2.27 times, while the non-institutional investor (NII) quota has been subscribed 3.55 times. The qualified institutional buyers (QIB) received 0.90 times subscription.

The price band of the IPO has been fixed at Rs 397 to Rs 418 per share. Once the IPO subscription dates are over, the allotment will take place on January 18, while its listing will take place on both BSE and NSE on January 22.

Medi Assist Healthcare Services offers third-party administration services to insurance firms.

Medi Assist Healthcare IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Medi Assist Healthcare Services Ltd continue to trade Rs 27 higher in the grey market as compared with its issue price. The Rs 27 grey market premium or GMP means the grey market is expecting a 6.46 per cent listing gain from the public issue. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing.

Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Medi Assist Healthcare IPO: Should You Subscribe?

Giving a Subscribe rating to the IPO, brokerage Choice Broking in a note said, At a higher price band, MAHSL is demanding a P/E (price-earnings) multiple of 34.8 times (to its TTM EPS of 12), which is at a discount to the peer average of 42.6 times. Thus the issue is attractively priced.

It said there are no comparable peers having business model similar to MAHSL. Considering the nature of the operations, the above peers are considered only for benchmarking the demanded valuation.

Another brokerage Globe Capital has recommended to subscribe to the IPO for medium to long term. It said Medi Assist is one-of-a-kind operator in the third-party administration industry in the insurance sector, and its reach is expanding as more healthcare contracts are signed due to increased knowledge.

Medi Assist Healthcare IPO Details

The maiden public issue is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) of 2,80,28,168 (or 2.8 crore) equity shares of Medi Assist by promoters and existing shareholders.

As a part of the OFS, promoters  Vikram Jit Singh Chhatwal, Medimatter Health Management and Bessemer Health Capital LLC  will offload shares, besides investor Investcorp Private Equity Fund I will offer shares among others.

Since the issue is completely an OFS, the company will not receive any proceeds and all the funds will go to the selling shareholders.

At the upper end of the price band, the issue is expected to fetch Rs 1,171.58 crore.

Half of the issue has been reserved for qualified institutional investors, 35 per cent for retail investors and the remaining 15 per cent for non-institutional investors. Investors can bids for a minimum of 35 equity shares and in multiples of 35 equity shares thereafter.

Bengaluru-based Medi Assist is a health-tech and insurtech company focused on administering health benefits across employers, retail members, and public health schemes.

The companys primary clients are insurance companies. It also serves as an intermediary between general and health insurance companies, the insured members insurance companies and healthcare providers (such as hospitals), and the government and beneficiaries of public health schemes.

Axis Capital, Nuvama Wealth Management, IIFL Securities, and SBI Capital Markets have been appointed as merchant bankers to advise the company on the IPO. The equity shares of the company will be listed on the BSE and NSE.
Government-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) may consider reducing prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 5-Rs 10 next month after they announce Q3 FY24 results, according to a Hindustan Times report citing three people aware of the matter. The OMCs are likely to cross a record Rs 75,000 crore in their combined net profit amid lower costs of acquiring crude oil.

Three state-owned fuel retailers  Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL)  which control roughly 90 per cent of the market, have kept petrol and diesel prices on freeze for a record 21 months in a row.

According to the HT report citing the sources, OMCs are sitting on margins of Rs 10 per litre that can be passed on to consumers.

Due to higher marketing margin on the sale of fuels, the three OMCs (oil marketing companies) posted significant net profit in Q1 and Q2 [of FY2023-24] and the trend will continue in Q3. After results by the end of this month, they may consider reducing petrol and diesel rates between Rs 5 and Rs 10 a litre, keeping some cushion for future spike in international oil prices. A decision will be taken by the companies in consultations with their stakeholders, the report quoted one of the people saying so.

In the first half of the current financial year 2023-24, the combined net profit of three OMCs stood at Rs 57,091.87 crore, which is a jump of over 4,917 per cent as compared with a combined net profit of Rs 1,137.89 crore in the entire 2022-23.

HPCL will declare its Q3 financial results on January 27, while BPCL and IOC are also expected to announce the earnings around the same time.

Currently, petrol in Delhi is being sold at Rs 96.72 a litre while diesel is being sold at Rs 89.62 a litre. Whereas in Mumbai, petrol is available at Rs 106.31 and diesel at Rs 94.27 per litre. While petrol in Kolkata is Rs 106.03 and diesel is Rs 92.76 per litre. On the other hand, petrol is being sold at Rs 102.63 and diesel at Rs 94.24 per litre in Chennai.
The currency is the most basic unit of an economy, which is a medium of exchange of goods as well as a store of value. The strength of a currency also indicates the health of the economy. The stronger it is, the more confidence in the economy among investors. According to a Forbes report, the Kuwaiti Dinar is the strongest currency in the world, while the US dollar is the 10th top currency.

Forbes has released a list of top-10 currencies in the world, along with factors that made them strong.

US Dollar

The currency at the 10th position is US Dollar: According to the Forbes report, is the most widely traded currency globally and holds the position as the primary reserve currency.

Euro

The 9th-strongest currency in the world, as per Forbes, is Euro. It is the second-largest reserve currency and the second-most traded currency worldwide.

Swiss Franc

The 8th-strongest currency is the Swiss Franc. It serves as the currency of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Switzerland is known for its economic stability and is among the worlds wealthiest countries.

Cayman Islands Dollar

The Cayman Islands Dollar is the 7th-largest currency in the world. Its value is the 5th highest globally. Initially using the Jamaican Dollar, the Cayman Islands adopted their own currency in 1972.

Gibraltar Pound

Gibraltar Pound, which is the currency of Gibraltar, is the 6th strongest currency in the world. It is pegged at par value to the British pound sterling. As a British overseas territory, Gibraltar depends on sectors like tourism and e-gaming, according to Forbes.

British Pound

Apart from Great Britain, British Pound is also broadly used in other countries and territories. The Pound holds a significant place in global finance and is the 5th strongest currency in the world. Londons status as a financial hub and Britains extensive trade activities contribute to the strength of the pound.

Jordanian Dinar

Jordanian Dinar is the 4th-strongest country in the world. It is used in the Middle Eastern country Jordan. According to Forbes, Jordans fixed exchange rates and diversified economy have contributed to the high value of its currency.

Omani Rial

Omani Rial is among the top-3 currencies in the world. It is at the third position in terms of the strength of the currency. According to Forbes, Omani Rial was introduced after the country ceased using the Indian rupee as its official currency. As a country with significant oil reserves, Omans economy heavily relies on the oil sector. The Omani Rial, which is tied to the US dollar, is the third most valuable currency in the world.

Bahraini Dinar

Bahraini Dinar (BHD) is the second-most strong currency in the world. It is pegged to the US dollar and exclusively used in Bahrain. According to Forbes, with a strong expat community, including a significant number of Indians, the BHD holds the position as the second strongest currency globally.

Kuwaiti Dinar

Kuwaiti Dinar is the worlds strongest currency, on the back of Kuwaits economic stability, driven by its oil reserves and tax-free system, according to Forbes. It was introduced in 1960.

Meanwhile, according to Wednesdays exchange rate published on the International Monetary Funds (IMF) website, India is ranked 15th with value listed as 82.9 per US dollar.
Following the success of the Vidhu Vinod Chopra film 12th Fail starring Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar, many civil servants from across departments came forward to share their own experiences and perspectives regarding their Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) preparation days.

However, a recent post on the social media platform X by an Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) officer Ananth Rupanagudi has caught peoples attention as he not only shared his thoughts on the movie but also on IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, who is the real-life inspiration for Vikrant Masseys role. Having known the real Manoj Kumar Sharma and Shraddha Joshi personally, Rupanagudi expressed appreciation for the couples kindness. However, it was his commentary on the movies interview sequence that became viral online.

When expressing his views about the movie, Rupanagudi acknowledged that 12th Fail made use of artistic liberties, especially when it portrayed an exaggerated UPSC interview process. He explained that real-life interview panels are rarely as harsh or judgmental, even though the movie portrays some parts for a dramatic purpose.

Regarding the #12thFailMovie, its reasonably well-made with certain artistic liberties that slightly exaggerate the UPSC examination process and efforts. Yes, it requires a lot of effort but generally, the interview panel members arent hostile and arent so judgemental.4/5  Ananth Rupanagudi (@Ananth_IRAS) January 14, 2024

Regarding the #12thFailMovie, its reasonably well-made with certain artistic liberties that slightly exaggerate the UPSC examination process and efforts. Yes, it requires a lot of effort but generally, the interview panel. members arent hostile and arent so judgemental, The post shared by Rupanagudi on X (formerly Twitter) read.

The UPSC interview, often known as the Personality Test, is the final barrier for civil service examination aspirants. The candidates personality, interpersonal skills, general aptitude, critical thinking abilities, judgmental equilibrium, and mental alertness, for a career in the civil services are evaluated during this interview round among other things.

The IRAS officer further mentioned in his widely circulated post thread that he met the real-life couple, IRS officer Shraddha Joshi and IPS officer Manoj Sharma, while he was posted in Mumbai. Rupanagudi in another post recalled an interaction with Sharma from when he was serving as the DCP, Zone-1, of the Mumbai Police, and appreciated his humble demeanour and sense of humour.

Thinking back to a trip to Kolhapur, where Sharma was the SP, Rupanagudi recalled Shraddhas kind hospitality at the SPs bungalow. His earlier tenure was as SP, Kolhapur, and on his invitation, we had visited the city where Shraddha took us around and we even stayed over at the SPs bungalow, he wrote.

Rupanagudi was deeply touched by the couples humility, which demonstrated a side to them beyond their achievements in their respective careers.

Also Read| Amid Vikas Divyakirtis Glory Post 12th Fail, Recalling Another Guru Who Ditched Rs 107 Cr for the Poor

The movie 12th Fail highlights the inspiring narrative of Manoj Kumar Sharmas path from failure to becoming an IPS officer. Several individuals may relate to the film, which emphasises the need for endurance and love in conquering the challenges that life presents one with.
Indian Mathematics genius Vashishtha Narayan Singh emerged as one of the most brilliant minds in Indian history. Originating from a small village in the Basantpur area of Bihar, Vashishtha Narayan Singh showed great potential by topping both B.Sc and M.Sc in consecutive years. Born in 1942, the mathematical geniuss academic excellence led him to collaborate with esteemed institutions such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), and Berkeley.

Hailing from an obscure village in the Siwan region of Bihar, Vashishtha Narayan rose to international prominence, with some claiming that he challenged Albert Einsteins well-known theory. According to anecdotes, he participated in critical NASA calculations during a computer breakdown and made contributions to the Apollo missions, which were designed to land humans on the moon.

Vashishtha Narayan was the son of a police constable who began his journey at Netarhat School in Jharkhand. He then proceeded to Patna Science College, where his mathematical prowess earned him special attention. The college principal facilitated an accelerated education plan, leading him to complete his doctorate degree in 1969.

Professor John L Kelly acknowledged his brilliance and arranged for Vashishtha Narayan to study in the United States at the University of California, Berkeley. After nearly a decade abroad, he returned to India to teach at prestigious institutions like IIT Kanpur, TIFR Mumbai, and ISI Kolkata. Despite his early promise, his career trajectory took an unexpected turn due to mental illness, converting him from a possible successor to Ramanujan into a could-have-been. His life took a tragic turn when he developed schizophrenia, leading to the breakdown of his marriage and a decline in academic recognition.

Vashishtha Narayan, who suffered from schizophrenia, faced personal and professional setbacks. After his marriage broke up in 1976, he was placed in an institution by the mid-80s. After undergoing treatment, he mysteriously disappeared during a train journey, only to be discovered living pennurrely in his hometown.

Vashishtha Narayan battled his disease after being admitted to NIMHANS Bengaluru and receiving treatment at IHBAS Delhi with the help of BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha. Despite the challenges, the mathematical genius returned to academia at BNMU Madhepura. The 72-year-old math prodigy, who was never able to reach his full potential, breathed his last on November 14, 2019, receiving a posthumous Padma Shri award in appreciation of his contributions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided guidance to party workers on Wednesday on winning over voters in Kerala, where the BJP has not made any major gains in elections till now.

Addressing a gathering of around 6,000 in-charges of Shakti Kendras, each comprising two to three booth-level areas, at Marine Drive, the prime minister said that Kerala has the potential to influence who will be in power in Delhi. He urged the BJP workers to ensure victory in their respective booths. If we win our booths, we will win Kerala. For that you (party workers) have to focus your attention on every voter in every booth-level area and work hard.

You should have a list of every beneficiary in your booth, meet them, get to know their names, meet their families; that should be the first priority, Modi said. He further advised his party workers to include in the ongoing Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Kerala those who have not yet benefited from the central governments development and welfare schemes.

You have to bring them to the vehicle of Modi ki guarantee. Modi ki guarantee means a commitment to fulfilling promises. I believe each one of you can convey this message to the people, Modi said. Claiming that the BJP is the only party in India with a proven track record of speedy development and a clear vision for the future, he urged the functionaries to make use of the My Bharat initiative, Namo app, as well as social media platforms to attract youth and spread positivity about the party and the schemes of the central government.

Speaking about the upcoming consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, the PM called upon party workers to initiate cleanliness campaigns in temples across villages and cities. Modi noted that Kerala is a state where the Ramayana month is celebrated and exhorted party workers to disseminate the message to every household in their area, encouraging them to illuminate the Ram Jyoti on the evening of January 22 and ensure widespread participation in the event.

Among the responsibilities assigned to party workers, the prime minister emphasised the importance of regularly engaging with constituents in their designated Shakti Kendras. He appealed to them to comprehend public opinions and identify schemes that could address prevalent issues. Furthermore, every worker should take the responsibility of a fixed number of people, be it 10 families or 15 families, at their booth levels, the PM said.

This way, right from now, the duties of every worker would be fixed. They will know what they have to do, he said. The prime minister also directed the party workers to ensure no person is left out of the voter list.

In his speech, Modi also highlighted the diverse initiatives like free ration, free medical treatment and free gas connection for the poor, implemented by his government to enhance the well-being of citizens. Citing a recent report, he said in the last nine years around 25 crore people have been pulled out of poverty in India.

This indicates that the direction that we have taken for a developed nation is the correct one, he said. The BJP is the only party in India with a proven track record of speedy development and clear vision for the future, he added.

The prime minister also asked party workers to point out to people that the track record of the LDF and UDF in Kerala was synonymous with a history of corruption. Modi also referred to the welcome he received on Tuesday on his arrival in the state and said that he was overawed by the love and affection the people of Kerala.

He said that people blessed him on his arrival at Kochi on Tuesday and also on the route to the Thriprayar Sree Ramaswamy temple this morning. The PM, who arrived on a two-day visit to Kerala, the second one in a span of two weeks, led a massive roadshow in this port city a day ago.

Thereafter, on Wednesday morning he offered prayers at Keralas famous Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur and attended the wedding of actor-politician Suresh Gopis daughter, where top stars of Malayalam cinema were in attendance. Later, he offered prayers at the Thriprayar Sree Ramaswamy temple situated on the bank of the Karuvannur river, also known as Theevra river, in Thrissur district.

This visit by Prime Minister Modi follows his recent remarks in Ayodhya about Keralas famous Nalambalam yatra ceremony, a pilgrimage to the abode of Lord Ram and his brothers Bharat, Lakshman, and Shatrughan during the Malayalam month of Karkidakam. PM returned to Kochi where he inaugurated projects worth Rs 4,000 crore, including key strategic initiatives at Cochin Shipyard Ltd.

He returned to Delhi after addressing the meeting of the BJP party workers.
Darsh Mody, known for his role as Ranjan in the TV series Pyaar Ka Pehla Adhyaya Shiv Shakti, has garnered praise for his acting prowess. Post his tenure on the show, the actor is presently directing his attention towards his personal life. He is gearing up to exchange vows with celebrity makeup artist and model Kriti Chhabra. The wedding scheduled for January 28 will be held in a resort in Rajasthan. The duo got engaged in April last year.

Darsh shared with ETimes that he met Kriti at a house party hosted by her. He mentioned, Interestingly, I initially didnt want to attend it because it coincided with my mothers birthday. However, I am glad I had a change of heart and ended up going there because thats where I met Kriti. And here we are now. I believe it was destiny. We fell in love almost instantly. He added that the party was held on July 17, 2021, and they officially started dating a week later.

Darsh Mody remains open about his personal life. He holds the belief that in todays world, establishing a genuine connection with people leads to lasting love. Embracing authenticity on social media is a key principle for him, whether it involves sharing insights about his family or private details about his upcoming wedding.

Darsh Mody disclosed that he has currently paused his acting commitments to concentrate on his upcoming big day. The actor expressed gratitude for the positive feedback he received for his role in Pyaar Ka Pehla Adhyaya Shiv Shakti. The show, produced by Studio LSD Productions and featuring Arjun Bijlani as Shiv and Nikki Sharma as Shakti, has achieved considerable success since its premiere. Darsh assured his fans that he would be making a return with another remarkable show in the near future.

Apart from Pyaar Ka Pehla Adhyaya Shiv Shakti, Darsh Mody has been part of the web series Crackdown. He was also seen in the movie JugJugg Jeeyo, which also starred Kiara Advani, Varun Dhawan, Neetu Kapoor, and Anil Kapoor.
KYIV. Jan 17 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The Optima distance learning school announced the forced suspension of construction of an educational center near Kyiv due to unfounded accusations from law enforcement officers of the illegal land acquisition.

As the founder and CEO of the Optima distance learning school, Maria Miletska, said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday, it concerns investigative actions by law enforcement agencies, which accused her of illegally acquiring a land plot of about 4 hectares near Kyiv.

According to Miletska, the project has been suspended for at least four months.

For his part, Miletska's lawyer Oleksandr Protas said that, according to accusations from law enforcement agencies, Miletska does not have legal rights to the land plot, despite the fact that she purchased it on the secondary market at the market price.

Protas said that the site was alienated from the land fund of the Ministry of Defense six or seven years ago and, since then, it has changed owners several times.

"As it turned out later, this land is under investigation, since it became a source of enrichment for some officials. I do not undertake to comment on how legally or illegally this land was transferred to individuals at one time, but Miletska acquired this land completely legally, at the market price. A company engaged in a professional search for land plots offered this land, all payments were cashless. There were no comments from the public registrar, the notary who endorsed this registration. And after the land was acquired, Maria Oleksandrivna, unfortunately, became a participant in criminal proceedings," he said.

At the same time, the lawyer emphasized "unprecedented pressure [on Miletska] from the investigators in this case."

"I was present during the unexpected searches. I witnessed outright threats. There was no need to conduct such investigative actions as a search at all because the documents required by law enforcement officers were given voluntarily," he said.

Protas said "there are already two court decisions recognizing Maria Oleksandrivna as an absolutely respectable purchaser of this land."

"The panel of judges sided with our client in that Maria Miletska did not alienate the land from the Ministry of Defense, that Miletska acquired it from individuals, to whom until recently the state had no claims," he said.

Protas said that the local rural council distributed this land among its residents back in 2017, and until 2023, they were the absolutely legal owners of these lands.

At the same time, Protas said that, at present, his client does not yet have any grounds for appealing with the ECHR since all possibilities for protection provided for by national legislation have not been exhausted.

In turn, the founder of the Optima school, Latvian citizen Roberts Vaishla, said that the school has already implemented several educational projects in Ukraine. In particular, it is the Optima Kids project, providing educational materials and enabling children to prepare for school, and a college training in three specialties.

In addition, Optima has received Cambridge accreditation and is preparing content, allowing Ukrainian children to study according to Cambridge standards and programs in Ukraine.
Iran launched an unprecedented missile and drone attacks on terrorist bases of a Sunni militant group in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, killing two children and injuring three others.

Iranian news agency Mehrnews said the missile and drone response targeted the Jaish al-Adl groups headquarters in Pakistan, calling it another decisive step taken by Iran in response to the aggression against the security of our country. Two bases of Balochi militant group Jaish al Adl were targeted by missiles in the attack.

The attacks led to severe criticism from Islamabad with the latter issuing a strongly-worded condemnation of Irans violation of its airspace. Irans attack on Pakistan came less than a day after Iranian strikes on northern Iraq that killed several civilians.

Why Iran Launched Attacks in Pakistan?

The attack comes a month after at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an overnight strike on a police station in the southeastern province of Sistan-Balochistan in December.

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi blamed the attack on the Jaish al-Adl, which operates from Pakistan, for the incident. He claimed the Jaish militants had entered Sistan from the Pakistan side near Panjgur. It is suspected that the bases were in Panjgur in Balochistan province.

Jaish al-Adl, which seeks an independent Baluchistan and has spread across Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, acknowledged the latest assault in a statement shared online.

Irans attack could potentially raise tensions in the Middle East, already roiled by Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

What is Jaish al-Adl?

Jaish al-Adl, that translates into Army of Justice, was founded in 2012, and is believed to largely operate in Pakistan. It is the most active and influential Sunni militant group operating in Sistan-Baluchestan, according to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence.

The group is among the several Sunni separatist groups claiming to fight for the independence of the Sistan and Baluchestan province in the southeastern corner of Iran, bordering Pakistans Balochistan province.

According to the US counter terrorist website, the group was formerly called as Jundallah, and was founded by former leader Abdolmalek Rigi in 2002 or 2003. Rigi served as its leader until the Iranian Government captured and executed him in 2010. After his execution, the group changed its name to Jaysh al-Adl in 2012.

Jaish al-Adl is blacklisted by Iran as a terrorist group and has carried out several attacks on Iranian soil in recent years. The United States has also labelled Jaish al-Adl a terrorist organisation, saying the group primarily targets Iranian security personnel but also government officials and civilians with assassinations, kidnappings, and suicide bombings.

In December, suspected Jaish al-Adl members killed 11 people and wounded eight others in a nighttime attack on a police station in southeastern Iran. Another recent attack killed another police officer in the area.

In 2019, Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing targeting a bus that killed 27 members of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

Irans Distrust of Pakistan

There were no details shared with Pakistan by Iran prior to the strike, according to reports. A senior Pakistani security official told the Associated Press that Iran had shared no information prior to the strike. He said Pakistan reserved the right to respond at a time and place of the countrys choosing and such a strike would be measured and in line with public expectations.

Tehran and Islamabad frequently accuse each other of allowing militants to operate from the others territory to launch attacks, but it is rare that official forces on either side engage.

Iran has suspected that Sunni-majority Pakistan is hosting insurgents, possibly at the behest of its regional arch-rival Saudi Arabia. However, Iran and Saudi Arabia reached a Chinese-mediated detente last March, easing tensions. Pakistan, meanwhile, has blamed Iran in the past over militant attacks targeting its security forces.

Iran has fought in border areas against militants, but a missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan is unprecedented.

Pakistans Baluchistan province, as well as Irans neighboring Sistan and Baluchestan province, have faced a low-level insurgency by Baluch nationalists for more than two decades. They initially wanted a share of provincial resources, but later initiated an insurgency for independence.

On July 23 last year, four Iranian policemen were killed while on patrol near the border in an attack claimed by the Jaish Al Adl.

In May, five Iranian border guards died in clashes with an armed group in Saravan, southeast of Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Balochistan.
Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park has lost one more cheetah in the enclosure, just when it was bracing up to re-release all the adult cheetahs into the wild.

The seven-year-old male cat Freddy, later named Shaurya, was brought to India from Namibia in September 2022 in one of the biggest-ever translocations of African cheetahs in the country. A wild-born cheetah, it had quickly begun to hunt on its own when it was first released from the quarantine early last year.

According to the state wildlife department, the Namibian cheetah passed away in the afternoon, just hours after it was tranquilised by the forest team for observation.

Around 11am, incoordination and staggering gait was observed by the tracking team following which the animal was tranquilised and weakness was found. Following this, the animal was revived, but complications arose post revival and the animal failed to respond to the CPR, the statement read. The cause of the death is yet to be confirmed and the post mortem is underway, said officials.

Shaurya was re-captured from the wild last year along with all the other adult cheetahs after the winter-coat scare that was linked with the death of three cheetahs in July. The winter coat  a thick layer of skin that African cats develop ahead of winter (in Africa)  was cited as a reason for the sudden death of cats during Indias humid monsoons.

All the 14 adult cheetahs were then put back into the larger enclosures (bomas) as a precautionary measure, and remained there for months. However, last December, the forest department began re-releasing the cats into the wild  with the first batch of four cheetahs  Agni-Vayu male coalition, female cheetah Veera and a feisty male cheetah Pawan.

We had released three cheetahs in the wild again last December, and have plans of releasing more in the coming few weeks. The rest of them, including the four cubs, are doing fine, and will be released gradually, said one of the senior officials. Though they are within enclosures, they are hunting on their own.

India had airlifted a total of eight cheetahs from Namibia in a historic translocation conducted in September 2022 to revive the species in the country, followed by 12 more from South Africa in February. However, a year-and-a-half after the project began, seven adult cheetahs and three cubs have died, taking the overall death toll to 10.

The latest incident comes just two weeks after the national park celebrated the birth of three cubs, born to the female Namibian cat Aasha. They join the one-year old lone cub  the first cheetah to be born in India in 70 years  who remains the only one to pull through out of the batch of four who perished during the peak of summer in 2023.

The Kuno National Park now has about 13 adult cheetahs and four cubs, including three new-borns.
Yemens Iran-backed Houthis, who were the latest to join the Israel-Hamas war, have been attacking ships, which are either Israel owned or heading to Israeli ports, in the Red Sea, leading to a direct confrontation with the US, whose cargo ship was destroyed by the rebel group in the Gulf of Aden on Monday.

The Red Sea connects the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean by Suez Canal.

When News18 spoke with external affairs minister S Jaishankar about the issue at large and why were the vessels being targeted by the Houthis, he said, We have multiple phenomena out there we had piracy, resurfacing of piracy. Thats a different problem. The drone strikes and missile strikes are different problems so both factors are important but the second one is more. It (the issue) has started to divert shipping and that has its cost. He further said such attacks would impact Indias energy and economic interests. He stressed that the issue should be speedily addressed.

Several shipping lines have announced that they are diverting round the Cape of Good Hope to reach Europe after Houthis are hitting vessels in the Red Sea. The latest one was the Greek-owned bulk carrier Zograflia from Vietnam to Israel, which was struck by Houthis on January 17.

Jaishankar, who was on an official visit to Iran, met President Ebrahim Raisi on January 16 regarding speeding up the implementation of bilateral agreements, including the Chabahar Port Development Plan.

Raisi highlighted importance of Iran-India ties, but raised concerns regarding Israels counter offensive in Gaza, and urged India to help in ending the bombings.

The President described the crimes committed by Zionist regime in Gaza as clear examples of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and clarified stopping the attacks on Gaza, punishing the Zionist regime and fulfilling the rights of Palestinian people is the only way to return stability and security to the region. It is important for India to play a role in ending the bombings, lifting the blockade of this region and realising the rights of the Palestinian people, Raisis statement said.

According to The Wall Street Journal, British oil giant Shell on Tuesday announced suspending all of its shipment through the Red Sea infinitely.

US and British warplanes, ships and submarines last week launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen in retaliation to Houthi attack on Red Sea shipping, which the Iran-backed movement considers as a response to Israels offensive in Gaza.

(With inputs from BBC, Reuters and ANI)
A pistol used to shoot dead ex-model Divya Pahuja in a hotel room here was recovered from Old Delhi road on Wednesday, police said.

The murder weapon was recovered after conducting a large-scale search operation in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, they said.

Divyas body was recovered from a canal in Haryanas Fatehabad district on January 13, 11 days after she was shot dead inside a room in Hotel City Point.

The main accused, hotel owner Abhijeet Singh (56) was produced in court today after completing 13 days in police remand. He has been sent to 14-day judicial custody, police said.

Balraj Gill (28) who disposed of Divyas body in the canal, is also on police remand and he will be produced in court on Thursday, they added.

Police claimed that during his 13-day police remand, Abhijeet confessed to crime that he had shot dead Divya and on his disclosure, the murder weapon was recovered.

A senior investigating officer said Abhijeet told police that he had shot Divya due to personal reasons while earlier he had said that Divya was blackmailing him, so he killed her.

Till now Gurugram Police have arrested six people  Abhijeet, his partner Megha, Gill, Hemraj, Omprakash and Pravesh  in connection with the case.

Abhijeet has allegedly procured the murder weapon from Parvesh who was arrested on January 12.

Ravi Banga who disposed of the body with Gill at the behest of Abhijeet is still at large and police are conducting raids to nab him, they said.

A total of six accused including Abhijeet have been arrested by Gurugram Police in Divya Pahujas murder. Banga will be arrested soon and the further probe is underway, ACP crime Varun Dahiya said.

Divya was in jail for over seven years for conspiring a fake encounter of her partner gangster Sandeep Gandoli in Mumbai with Gurugram police and rival gang leader Virendra Kumar alias Binder Gujjar on February 6, 2016.

At the time of Gandolis killing, Gujjar was in prison but had hatched the plan with the help of his brother Manoj and roped in Divya.

Mumbai Police registered an FIR against five police personnel, Divya, her mother and others. The Bombay High Court granted bail to Divya in June, 2023.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, while replying to a reporters question on whether he would go for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhyas Ram Temple, said while he intends to visit the temple later, he does not find any difference between it and the Bhadrachalam temple in Telangana.

Reddy added that he is a regular visitor to the Sita Ramachandraswamy temple, which is located on the banks of river Godavari, at Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. It is also referred to as Dakshina Ayodhya.

As the devout in the country rejoice about the new temple in Uttar Pradesh, the temple in Bhadradri is an interesting mention as it is one of the few temples in which the main deity has four hands.

The icon worshipped there is Vaikuntha Rama, a form Lord Vishnu took to fulfill a promise made to a devotee. It is said that in his hurry to appear as Ram, Lord Vishnu forgot that the former was a mortal and he retained his four arms. The deity features wife Sita sitting on the lap of Ram and brother Lakshman standing beside him.

Story behind the temple

The Bhadrachalam temple is unique not only because of the four-armed deity, but also the stories associated with it.

It is said that a stone turned into a human being named Bhadra due to Lord Rams grace. He was the son of Mount Meru and Menaka. In order to convey his gratitude to his Lord, Bhadra started meditating on the banks of Godavari. Around the same time, Ram, Sita and Lakshman were living in Dandaka forest after they were sent on a 14-year exile. After years of Tapasya, Bhadra did manage to spot his Lord, but Ram could not halt to meet him as he was looking for Sita who had been abducted by Ravana. However, he promised that he would later come and bless Bhadra. As he engaged in an epic battle with Ravana, Ram was unable to honour the promise made to his devotee.

Years later, Lord Vishnu remembered the promise and made an appearance in front of Bhadra. He also brought along Sita and Lakshman with him. Bhadras joy knew no bounds to see the unique avatar of Lord Ram. He had a conch in one hand, Sudarshan Chakra in another, and bow and arrow in the lower hands. Hence, the place where the Lord appeared was christened Bhadrachalam or Bhadradri.

Another story says that a devotee of Lord Ram, Pokala Dhammakka, had a dream that a statue of God was hidden in the forest. After intense search, she found this icon of Lord Ram buried in an anthill. She then established it as a deity with the help of villagers.

Bhadrachala Ramadasu

The temple was built in the 17th century due to the efforts of Bhakta Ramadasu. He is a legendary figure in the Telugu-speaking states and numerous movies have been made on his life. His real name was Kancherla Gopanna and he was a tehsildar under the reign of the last Sultan of Golconda, Abul Hasan Qutb Shah.

He was known for his Ram bhakti and is one of the most renowned vaggeyakaras in Telugu. As part of his job, he had to collect taxes from villagers. When he came across the Ram deity in Bhadrachalam, he expressed a desire to build a temple there. He asked villagers for contributions, and when the money fell short, he used the revenue he had collected for the government. Though the temple was built, he was sent to prison for 12 years for fraud. Even in confinement, he composed hymns in praise of Lord Ram.

It is said that two young men, who were none but Rama and Lakshmana in disguise, paid the Sultan gold coins to release Ramadasu.

Politics over temple

When Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated, Telangana and residuary AP had fought to include the temple in their own territories. The former chief minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao, was criticised time and again for not personally offering pattu vastralu (silk clothes) and Mutyala Talambralu (pearls) to the temple during the celestial wedding of Lord Rama and Sita.

This is an age-old tradition that is being followed from the 17th century in which the reigning ruler brings these offerings for the wedding. During his election pitch in the last assembly elections, Union home minister Amit Shah had said that if BJP came to power, the chief minister would resume this tradition.
My unit is posted on the Indo-Pak border in Punjab. I often take down Pakistan sent drones carrying payloads of drugs and small weapons with my rifle, gushes constable Renu of the Border Security Force (BSF) while practising for the Republic Day march.

A few kilometres away, deftly handling the reins of her camel, is BSFs Ambika Rathore who says, These camels take us through sand dunes on the border. When we do special patrolling, camels take us to the points where vehicles cant reach.

These are the stories and experiences with which the all-women contingents of Indias para military and defence forces will display their might at Kartavya Path on January 26.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), BSF and Delhi Police will have all-women contingents at Kartavya Path. Their brass bands will see only womens participation. The defence forces will have two  the Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services and tri-service women personnel  all-women marching contingents. The 144-member tri-service contingent will have 60 soldiers from the Indian Army and the rest from the Air Force and Navy.

The Indian Air Force marching contingent will witness women Agniveer Vayu soldiers showcasing their skills.

Proud to wear the blues. Proud to march together. Proud to be part of the Republic Day 2024, IAF posted on social media platform X. The Indian Navy tableaux is built on the Nari Shakti theme.

Each marching contingent will have 148 members while the bands will have 72 women playing melodies and patriotic songs. The BSF, CRPF and SSB women personnel will come together for a daredevil act atop 350 CC Royal Enfield Bullets, just before the IAF puts up the air show.

Last year, the Ministry of Defence had decided to make the 2024 Republic Day celebrations a display of Nari Shakti. BSFs camel contingent saw women make its debut in the R-Day parade last year. Twelve of us got the privilege last year. But this time, 21 of us will take the camel contingent, Priyanka Rithala told News18. Women in our part of the world (Rajasthan) handle the Ghoonghat as neatly as they handle the camel. That is the message we hope to give to the world, she added.

The camel contingent, considered a male only domain till last year, has now seen participation from women personnel deployed in Punjab, West Bengal and Rajasthan. BSF marching contingent has women from 20 states and Union Territories while the Delhi Police will see representation of women from the northeast. SSB, which is amongst the first CAPF to induct women in border guarding roles, will be led by a lady officer from its first batch.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on a two-day visit to Tehran this week held meetings with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian and minister of roads and urban development Mehrdad Bazrpash and discussed various issues ranging from the Chabahar port situation, the Gaza war, and attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.

Jaishankar, who was in Tehran as part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two sides, also called on Iranian President Dr Ebrahim Raisi and conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18 after his return, the minister said, Our relationship with Iran is growing and we have been negotiating a long-term framework for Chabahar because till now it has been running on a series of short-term contractsWe finalised a long-term contract in 2016 and then the Iranians asked for a change. Lot of issues got reopened. Since 2016 it has been running on short-term contracts. All the while people have been negotiating a long-term contract. My purpose of going there was to impress on them that there is so much riding on the North-South corridor and on Chabahar port that we really need to push together to get a long-term contract doneI think today there is a realisation that we need to do it."

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.

Jaishankar during his visit also discussed with his Iranian counterpart the Red Sea crisis, which holds the potential to hurt global trade. The situation escalated in early December after Yemens Houthi militants stepped up their assault on commercial vehicles as they demanded a ceasefire in Gaza. Cargo vessels with Indian crew members were also attacked last month.

So we have our own relationship on one side, but we also have problems to discuss. There are attacks going on on maritime shipping, both drone and missile attacks. And endangering maritime shipping is a very dangerous game to play," Jaishankar told CNN-News18. We have seen some attacks close to our waters. I discussed it at some length, and I was fairly forthright in expressing our anxiety publicly when I was there."

India has been closely monitoring the unfolding situation in the Red Sea. The issue figured in a phone conversation between Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week.

Also when one looks at what is today the no. 1 issue in world politics, which is the fighting going on in Gaza. They have their point of view, we have our point of view, they are not the same. They obviously laid theirs out, and I was equally straight in expressing our point of view," Jaishankar said to CNN-News18. A lot of diplomacy is partly communication but at the end of the day, a lot of it is finding intersections. Finally I think Iran and India have a lot of common interests. Diplomacy is that from a very amorphous set of issues out there you pick out the positive ones and take them forward."
While Irans attack on Pakistan is their internal matter, India is watching the situation closely, said top intelligence sources. Meanwhile, Pakistans top military brass is holding a meeting at the General Headquarters (GHQ) to look at how to respond to the attack.

ALSO READ | Iran Urged ISI, Pak Army Not to Shelter Jaish al-Adl Militants, Then Came the Missiles

Pakistan on Wednesday condemned Iran for launching airstrikes the previous day that Tehran claimed targeted bases for a militant Sunni separatist group. Islamabad angrily denounced the attack as a blatant violation" of its airspace and said it killed two children.

This action by Iran is their internal matterThis, however, proves Pakistan is a terror state and even the Muslim world has started attacking them nowPakistan is safe haven for terrorists after Taliban. Iran is after them to act otherwise they will be forced to take action," intelligence sources said.

THE STRIKE

Tuesdays strike in Pakistans restive southwestern Baluchistan province imperiled diplomatic relations between the two neighbors  Iran and nuclear-armed Pakistan have long regarded each other with suspicion over militant attacks. However, both sides appeared wary of provoking the other.

The attack also threatened to further ignite violence in a Middle-East unsettled by Israels ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iran launched strikes late Monday in Iraq and Syria over an Islamic State-claimed suicide bombing that killed over 90 people earlier this month.

In state media reports, which were later withdrawn without explanation, Iran said its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard targeted bases for the militant group, Jaish al-Adl, or the Army of Justice. The group, which seeks an independent Balochistan and has spread across Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, acknowledged the assault in a statement shared online.

Six bomb-carrying drones and rockets struck homes that the militants claim housed children and wives of their fighters. Jaish al-Adl said the attack killed two children and wounded two women and a teenage girl.

Videos purportedly from the site, shared by the Baluch activist group HalVash, showed a burning building and two charred, small corpses.

Pakistans Foreign Ministry said it issued a strong protest late Tuesday with Irans Foreign Ministry, and summoned an Iranian diplomat in Islamabad to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistans sovereignty."

ALSO READ | What is Jaish Al-Adl, the Pakistan-based Separatist Group, That Led Iran Into Attacking Pakistan

The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran," it said.

A senior Pakistani security official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said Iran had shared no information prior to the strike. He said Pakistan reserved the right to respond at a time and place of the countrys choosing and such a strike would be measured and in line with public expectations. The dangerous precedent set by Iran is destabilising and has reciprocal implications," the official said.

With AP Inputs
With major winter tourism attractions in Kashmir leaving them disappointed due to lack of snowfall, tourists are now turning to an off-beat destination in higher reaches of the valley, Sinthan, to enjoy snowfall.

Situated at 12,500 feet, Sinthan top is a snow-clad mountain peak that connects Anantnag in south Kashmir to Kishtwar in Jammu region via Kokernag.

The state is currently going through one of its worst dry phases as snow has melted at most places where usually a thick blanket of snow is found at this time of the year, officials said.

They further said that the higher reaches of the valley, which used to look pristine with a white carpet of snow are looking barren as most of the glaciers have melted up.

Tourists Enjoy Snow at Sinthan Top

A large number of tourists who visited Jammu and Kashmir around the New Years Eve in the hope of enjoying the snow in Gulmarg, headed back in disappointment. However, the only silver lining at this point is the snow at Sinthan Top which has retained some amount and is providing some solace to the visitors, the officials said.

VIDEO | Tourists enjoy snowfall at Sinthan Top, the renowned mountain pass linking Anantnag and Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/mOefnNFeFi Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 16, 2024

An otherwise off-beat destination, Sinthan Top is attracting tourists in hordes these days as local travel agents redirect the visitors to the spot to experience some snow. They are also advising tourists to include Sinthan Top in their itineraries.

Travellers Share Experience at Off-Beat Spot

One of the tourists, Aslam Saleem from Dhaka, Bangladesh who visited the Sinthan Top to see snow shared his experience. Saleem said, There is no snow elsewhere in Kashmir in the month of January, but my heart filled with joy when I reached here. The weather is very good, Kashmir is truly a paradise.

Another tourist from Bangladesh said, This is a very nice place. I am here with my family, and we became very happy when we arrived. We are enjoying it very much.

A tourist from Madhya Pradeshs Bhopal, Vaishali said that they changed their plans when they heard about snow at Sinthan Top. Except for this place, there is no snow anywhere in the whole of Kashmir. We had plans of visiting Aru and Beetab valleys, but, when we came to know that there is snowfall in Sinthan Top, we changed our plans. We are enjoying it so much here and are happy that we changed our plans, she said.

Tour Operators Advise Tourists to Add Sinthan Top to Itinerary

The tour operators are providing options to the tourists to change their itinerary and go to places like Sinthan Top to see snow. Many tourists are opting to go to Sinthan Top rather than other places in Pahalgam because of snow there, President of Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK), Rouf Tramboo, told PTI. He further said that the tourism players in the valley are worried in the absence of snowfall and the month of January has been a total loss.

The bookings have come down 75-80 per cent. Tourists used to come here for snow especially at Gulmarg and then it used to trickle to other places including Srinagar. But, now, there is a loss at the source as Gulmarg is snow-less, he said.

The tour operators were now providing an option to the tourists to delay their visits till February or March.\

ALSO READ: Why is Kashmirs Ski Haven Gulmarg Seeing Snowless Winter This Year? | Explained

Hotels Trying to Retain Bookings Amidst Lack of Snowfall

Asif Burza, a young hotelier who is the managing director of Ahad Hotels and Resorts, said that bookings and tourist arrivals have decreased. We are trying our best to retain bookings, but we are not sure about the snow, he said.

Many tourists come to Kashmir to experience snow. In the absence of it at many prominent destinations, tourists are preferring to visit places like Sinthan Top. We hope there is snowfall and the numbers increase, Burza told PTI.

Weather Experts Highlight Concerns on Decreasing Snow in J&K

Experts have said that studies show the glaciers in Jammu and Kashmir have dwindled by 25 per cent in the last six decades, while 48 per cent of them could vanish by the centurys end even with moderate climate change.

#WATCH | Baramulla, J&K: Tourist destination Gulmarg witnesses dry spell this winter. The Kashmir Valley has experienced a 79% rainfall deficit throughout December and an absence of snow. According to the meteorological department, dry weather conditions will persist until pic.twitter.com/8WS0bIXr9t ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2024

An earth scientist and glaciology expert has voiced concerns highlighting the significance of snow and glaciers for J-K and Ladakh. The scientist also noted that under climate change and increasing temperatures, the glaciers in the region were melting.

An official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said there has been a large deficit in winter snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Ladakh this year and the situation is unlikely to change before Republic Day.

According to the IMDs data, December 2023 saw 79-per cent deficit rainfall, while the first half of January this year has also been largely dry except for a one-time light snowfall in places like Gurez.

The lack of western disturbances in northwest India is often related to the climate change in the emerging scientific literature. The rise in global temperatures and altered weather patterns impact snowfall patterns. Due to the lack of snow, the local ecology, as well as the economy face the risk of severe disruptions.

According to The Weather Channel, western disturbances are storm systems originating in the Mediterranean Sea that bring non-monsoonal rainfall and snowfall across northwest India.

(with agency inputs)
The situation in Manipurs Moreh remains tense following multiple gun and bomb attacks on police personnel by militants and a face-off between local residents and central forces. The gunfight began after militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a temporary police unit near SBI Moreh, which was followed by multiple attacks on security forces at Ward No 7 and Chikim village located near the towns border with Myanmar.

Here are the latest updates:

Two casualties have been reported. During an ambush near Ima Kondong Lairembi Devi temple, 32-year-old Wangkhem Somorjit, a Manipur police personnel, sustained gunshot wounds and died during treatment at Key Location Point (KLP) of Assam Rifles. Two more IRB personnel were injured in the exchange of fire, officials added. A top official said the bodies of Somorjit and the two injured personnel have been airlifted by a helicopter to Imphal. N Bheem (35), who sustained injuries on his left leg, and ASI Sidharth Thokchom (35), who sustained injuries on his face and ears, have been admitted to RIMS for treatment, the official added. More central forces and at least two companies will go to Moreh on January 19. More special forces and Assam Rifles have moved into the spot. The state government has asked for more helicopters from the Centre. In a related development, a woman was critically injured after being accidentally hit by a vehicle of the central forces when she tried to stop it, as per officials. Despite curfew, a large number of women came out on the streets and blocked the road to restrict the movement of Assam Rifles and army personnel rushing to contain the situation. A top-level meeting to discuss the situation was held at the chief ministers secretariat, attended by N Biren Singh, ministers, and MLAs, an official told PTI. Moreh has been experiencing regular exchanges of fire between security forces and militants over the past few days. The latest firing incident took place just 48 hours after the arrest of two suspects involved in the killing of a police officer by the states forces. The Kuki side has claimed that at least nine residential houses and two schools have been burnt down in Moreh. Earlier this month, Singh had said there were high chances of involvement of foreign mercenaries from Myanmar in the gun and bomb attacks.

(With PTI inputs)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. A new mechanism is being created to support entrepreneurs operating in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, said Chairman of the Board of Entrepreneurship Development under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan Osman Khaliyev, Trend reports.

Khaliyev made his statement during the press conference dedicated to the results of activity for 2023.

"The mechanism will be applied starting from February 2024. Within the mechanism, 90 percent of the loan portfolio with a total value of 500 million manat or $294.1 million [450 million manat or $264.7 million] will be guaranteed, with subsidies of up to 150 million manat possible. The maximum amount of soft loans is 5 million manat and the repayment period is up to seven years. The interest rate on the loan is up to 15 percent," Khaliyev noted.

Entrepreneurshp Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan has provided soft loans worth 193.8 million manat ($113.9 million) to finance 3,276 investment projects in 2023. The total cost of investment projects amounts to 459.9 million manat or $270.5 million, and the volume of lending has increased by almost 33 percent.

In 2022, entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan received loans worth 145.9 million manat ($85.8 million) through the Entrepreneurshp Development Fund of Azerbaijan.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
India on Wednesday reacted to Irans strikes on militant group Jaish al-Adl bases in Pakistan and said this is a matter between the two countries. However, New Delhi said it understands actions that countries take in their self defense.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that India has an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

We understand actions that countries take in their self defense, he added.

This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan. Insofar as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self defense, read the statement.

It may be noted that India conducted air strikes to wipe out a terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp in Balakot in northeast Pakistan on February 26, 2019 days after the killing of 40 CRPF personnel in the Pulwama terror attack.

Iranian Strike Targets Pak-Based Militant Outfit: Heres a List of Other Such Operations by US, India

Pak Condemns Iranian Strikes

Pakistan strongly condemned Irans missile attack in Balochistan on Wednesday, terming it an unprovoked breach of sovereignty. In an official statement, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry declared the air strike, targeting what Iran claimed were bases of a Sunni militant group, as an illegal act.

Islamabad said the responsibility for consequences is squarely placed on Iran. Pakistan announced the suspension of all ongoing and planned high-level visits and the recall of its ambassador from Iran. The Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, currently abroad, has been advised not to return temporarily.

Last nights unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistans sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever. Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act. The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran, the ministry said in a statement on its official Facebook handle.

Pakistan said that Iran carried out an air strike on its territory that killed two children, after Tehran launched attacks in Iraq and Syria against what it called anti-Iranian terrorist groups. Iranian news agency Mehrnews said the missile and drone response targeted the Jaish al-Adl groups headquarters in Pakistan, calling it another decisive step taken by Iran in response to the aggression against the security of our country.

Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl is blacklisted by Iran as a terrorist group and has carried out several attacks on Iranian soil in recent years. The strike came after Iran launched missile attacks on spy headquarters and terrorist targets in Syria, and Iraqs autonomous Kurdistan region. The Iranian strikes add to multiple crises across the Middle East, with Israel waging a war against Hamas in Gaza and pro-Palestinian Houthi rebels in Yemen attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR). The policy think tank confirmed that it received the order for FCRA cancellation on January 10.

The ministrys decision came 11 months after it suspended the FCRA license for CPR. Last year, on February 27, the MHA had suspended CPRs FCRA registration on the grounds of violating the Act. The initial suspension, which was meant for 180 days, was eventually extended.

CENTRES ACCUSATIONS ON CPR

The Centre has accused CPR of violating the FCR Act by publishing current affairs programme, diverting funds to anti-development project litigants and hampering Indias economic interest.

Sources in the government said that the policy think tanks activities were in violation of Section 3 of the FCRA.

CPR  an FCRA registered association  is engaged in production of current affairs programmes such as Overview on the CAQM (Commission of Air Quality Management) Act, 2021, policy challenges for the new government, etc. Publishing current affairs programme using foreign funding is prohibited under section 3 of the Act, government officials said.

MHA officials accused the think tank of misusing foreign contributions to fund litigations including that of entities involved in protests against development project including coal mines.

The Centres earlier decision to suspend the registration had come after the Income Tax survey on CPR in September 2022. During its survey, the IT department had focused on CPRs association with activists and lawyers spearheading protests in Chhattisgarhs Hasdeo Arand region. The government said that the funds diverted by the think tank to these individuals and organization were received for educational activities.

It was found that CPR has diverted foreign donation to Non-FCRA entity to fund protests and legal battles against development projects. Foreign funding was used to fund paralegals for filing litigations. Funds found to be used for litigation matters including cases against coal mines/plant, sources in the government said.

They added that this diverting of funds for opposing developmental projects in court is not in tune with CPRs FCRA registration.

The ministry also told the Delhi High Court that CPR was using its foreign funding for undesirable purposes. Depositing foreign funds received under FCRA, in non-designated accounts, is a violation of FCRA, a ministry official had said.

Meanwhile, CPR had also approached the court challenging the Income Tax departments decision to withdraw the tax exemption granted to the think tank.

CPR functionaries said they are weighing their legal options after the latest order from MHA on FCRA registration.

CPRS RESPONSE

President of Centre for Policy Research, Yamini Aiyar, termed the governments decision to be taken without any inquiry.

Issuing a statement on the cancellation, Aiyar said that the basis of MHAs decision is incomprehensible and disproportionate, adding that some of the reasons given by the ministry, challenge the very basis of the functioning of a research institution like that of CPR.

This includes the publication on our website of policy reports emanating from our research being equated with current affairs programming, she said.

The think tank said that it will continue to seek recourse in all the possible ways.

CPR, in its statement reiterated that it is in complete compliance with the law, and has been cooperating fully and exhaustively at every step of the process. We remain steadfast in our belief that this matter will be resolved in line with constitutional values and guarantees, Aiyar added.

The organization has argued that their operations in the last few months has been severely jeopardized in the aftermath of the governments decision. In the high court, the policy think tank said that the decision taken by the MHA on FCRA lacked inquiry.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor reacted to the MHAs decision and called it a shame. Taking to the microblogging site X, Tharoor wrote, This is a shame. Our Government should realise that flourishing independent think-tanks add to Indias credibility among democracies abroad. Quite apart from the injustice to fine professionals and an excellent institution, this kind of vindictive behaviour towards @CPR_India will only discredit India internationally.

WHAT IS FCRA?

In its definition, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010, is a law to combine regulating and prohibiting of the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by certain individuals or associations or companies.

The Act aims to prevent acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for any activities detrimental to the national interest.

As per the governments FCRA guidelines, all registered organisations are required to submit an online annual report comprising of income and expenditure statement, receipt and payment account, balance sheet, etc., for every financial year within nine months of the closure of the financial year.

Any entity, or person, can be a recipient of foreign funds as long as it has a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme and permission under FCRA rules from the Centre.

The law states that government should be content that the acceptance of foreign contributions do not affect the sovereignty and integrity of the nation, public interest, or, freedom or fairness of election to any Legislature, or friendly relations to any foreign state, harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic or regional groups, castes or communities.

Amending the FCRA in 2020, the government said the annual inflow of foreign contribution has almost doubled between the years 2010 and 2019 many recipients of foreign contribution have not utilised the same for the purpose for which they were registered or granted prior permission under the said Act.
The Nigerian drug regulator has recently heightened its standards for Indian drug makers exporting to the country, News18 has learnt. Drug makers are now required to adhere to the latest specifications and strictly use raw materials following the updated guidelines.

According to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)  the health regulator of Nigeria  the quality of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) used in finished pharmaceutical products manufacturing directly impacts the safety, efficacy, quality, regulatory compliance, consistency, supply chain, reputation, and cost-effectiveness of pharmaceutical products.

APIs or bulk drugs are raw materials used in making medicines. For instance: Paracetamol is the API in Crocin.

Starting January 2024, the Nigerian drug regulatory authority will only accept and review applications for product registration if they are supported by raw materials from approved sources. These approved sources specifically include providers of APIs or finished pharmaceutical products.

In a letter written by the director general of NAFDAC, Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, sent to the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), pharmaceutical companies have been asked to prioritise sourcing APIs from reputable suppliers while adhering to stringent quality control measures to ensure the highest standards in their products.

Pharmexcil is an arm of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry which is mandated to oversee and boost pharma exports.

Fallout of previous lapses, new rules may impact exports

According to industry experts, the stringent rules may impact Indian exports negatively.

Nigerian FDA (NAFDAC) mandates the use of API sourced from qualified or stipulated manufacturing facilities. It is a very rigid requirement aimed at the availability of quality medicines in the local market but likely to adversely affect Indian exports. Nigeria is among our top 10 exporting countries and its place keeps fluctuating between fifth and sixth of the top 10, said Dr PV Appaji, former director general, Pharmexcil.

Another industry veteran, who refused to be quoted, blamed the global incidents in The Gambia, Uzbekistan, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and the United States caused due to spurious made-in-India drugs.

These incidents have created a trust deficit and such demands for importing countries are the side-effect of those incidents, he said.

Stringent requirements for drugmakers

NAFDAC has informed Pharmexcil that all stakeholders who intend to submit dossiers for product registration in Nigeria, starting from January 2024, must be supported by documents showing the sources of APIs and other products.

It has given five options listing the approved sources that will be accepted for review.

It includes WHO-prequalified APIs, APIs with certificates of suitability to the monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia, products sourced from facilities certified by PIC/S participating authorities and products sourced from facilities certified by Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRA) or WHO Listed Authorities (WLA).

It also includes APIs certified by accredited quality control laboratories.

The agency has also asked that all excipients to be used to manufacture finished pharmaceutical products must be of pharmacopoeia grade, and must be from an ISO or EXCiPACT-certified facility.

This directive takes immediate effect. Please note that failure to comply will attract very stiff penalties, said the notice.
Amid the excitement over the Pran Pratishtha at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, there is also a debate over whether the ceremony can be conducted before the completion of construction. A section of Shankaracharyas has even said that they are opposed to the way the ceremony is being conducted, saying it is not in accordance with the Hindu shastras and traditions.

ALSO READ | Incomplete Construction: Why All Four Shankaracharyas Not Attending Ram Lallas Pran Pratishtha

News18 spoke to a range of experts, from Sadhguru to International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) priests and astrologers, well-versed in the Hindu tradition to check whether the Pran Pratishtha can be conducted before the completion of construction.

While Isha Foundations Sadhguru said a temple will always be evolving", ISKCON Senior Vice-President His Grace Chanchalapathi Dasa said there was nothing wrong with conducting the ceremony, as long as the deity seva can be done properly". Renowned Belagavi-based astrologer NR Vijayendra Sharma said there shouldnt be many restrictions for Gods work".

UGLY TO ASK TO WAIT FOR 2 YEARS: SADHGURU

A temple will always be evolving," Sadhguru said. After 550 years, I think it is ugly when someone asks to wait for another two yearsthe temple is of three floors. They have completed one floor and they are doing the Ram Lalla consecration and its already a consecrated deity. They are further enhancing that."

Speaking about the completion of the temple, Sadhguru said, If one loves something, you are never going to do something that says this is enough! It will never be over. It will go on. If we do stone, then somebody will say lets cover it with gold. Somebody will say lets put a diamond on it because when you love something, you can never do enough."

CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER PARTS CAN CONTINUE: ISKCON

According to His Grace Chanchalapathi Dasa, as long as the deity seva can go on properly, it is possible for other facilities to come up in due course of time.

It is possible to complete the Garba Griha, and a few other deity service facilities, install deities, while construction of other parts of the temple continues," he told News18.

ISKCON Bangalore will commemorate the consecration of Sri Ram Mandir and Prana Pratishtha of Sri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya on 22 Jan 2024 at ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna Temple, Rajajinagar, and ISKCON Vaikuntha Hill, Vasanthapura. We invite you to participate in the grand celebrations pic.twitter.com/rukeIhe7Ct  ISKCON Bangalore (@ISKCONBangalore) January 16, 2024

SERVICE TO GOD: ASTROLOGER CONSULTED BY PM MODI

Sharma, who was also one of the persons consulted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find an auspicious time and date to mark the foundation of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on August 5, 2020, is also of the opinion that the Pran Pratishtha can go ahead.

How can they say that the temple is incomplete? Three floors have been already built. There will be a Pratima of Ram on each floor. In case of the idol on the ground floor, a kalasha has already been kept on top of it. So this auspicious event can take place," Sharma said.

Speaking about how finding an auspicious time (muhurtham) for be it a wedding, to start a new venture or any good thing is important, he said, This is a service to God. According to our Hindu traditions and religious texts, we can go about it with utmost devotion."

Answering questions related to the event being conducted in Paush, he said that Prathishta can take place in Makara Pushya, but not in Dhanur month.

As this is Gods work, there will be not many rules or restrictions. For example in Tirupati, they conduct the Kalyanotsavam during Amavasya. We usually do not do anything during Amavasya, but when it comes to offering to God, service to Him, such restrictions dont matter," said Sharma, who is close to Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, also known as Kishore ji Vyas, a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust.

Modiji is a man who is leading our country and we must respect his position and his efforts," he said.

SHANKARACHARYAS OBJECTIONS

So why are the Shankaracharyas of Jyotirmath and Puri opposed to the way the ceremony is being held?

ALSO READ | Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Shankaracharyas of Sharda, Shringeri Peeth To Attend Pran Pratistha Ceremony

Referring to the Hindu scriptures, both the Shankaracharyas have called it a deviation from Hindu traditions and expressed that the Pran Pratishtha cannot be done, until the temple structure is complete. However, it is learnt that the Shankaracharyas of Dwarka and Sringeri Maths have urged all devotees to participate in the ceremony with utmost faith and devotion.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday inaugurated the much-awaited Srimandir Parikrama Project in the pilgrim town of Puri. The inauguration was held in the presence of Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deva after conclusion of yajna rituals.

The identity of Odisha and its people is firmly associated with Jagannath Culture. People of the state owe their existence and wellbeing, progress and prosperity to the Lord.

Odisha is currently going through a phase of cultural transformation that has never been seen before and at the core of this transformation is the Srimandir Heritage Corridor Project also known as the Parikrama Prakalpa.

With the inauguration of the Parikrama Prakalpa, a spiritual environment has descended all over the state. The Srikshetra has been decked up for this historic event and people from across the state and outside have become the part of this history. The entire state is in a mood of festivity to celebrate the resurrection of Jagannath cult.

Odisha under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and personal supervision of 5T Chairman Kartik Pandian has taken unto itself to record this holy event in the history books. From villages to cities, people across all the state are celebrating and taking part in the event.

The Srimandir Parikrama Project entails the development of the 75 meters corridor around the Jagannath Temple with amenities and infrastructure. The various components of the project include a modern Shree Jagannath Temple Administration building redevelopment, a 600-capacity Srimandir reception centre, Shree Jagannath cultural centre that would include the Raghunandan library, integrated command, and control centre, Badadanda heritage landscape, Srimandir amenities improvement, Sri Danda, AC Tunnel for devotees and many more.

The Jagannath Ratha travelled across the state spreading the essence of Jagannath culture. This was the most important event associated with the inauguration of the Heritage Corridor Project in Puri. People across the state took part in this ten-day event to make themselves associated with the divine activity.

The Sri Jagannath Parikrama Ratha accompanied Sankiratan Mandalis singing the glory of the Lord Jagannath. Along with this, cultural and religious programs associated with Sri Jagannath culture have been organized at the Panchayat and Block levels ahead of the opening of the Parikrama project to promote, preserve and protect Jagannath culture and to make the future generations aware about these.

Thirteen teams visited the holy places of Odisha handed over the invitations to temples such as the Lingaraj Temple, Maa Samaleswari temple, Maa Biraja shrine and Taratarini Temple. Another 17 teams visited various cities of the country and invited the temple authorities to witness the most important inauguration of the Jagannath Temple Parikrama Project.

Nepals Pasupatinath Temple, Madurais Minakhshi Temple, Tirupati Balaji Temple, Badrinath Dham, Kedarnath Temple, Vaishno Devi Temple, Mallikarjuna Temple, Somnath Temple in Gujarat have also been invited to the inauguration program. From east to west and from North to South, the whole country today witnessed the spiritual event where divinity meets development.

The transformation works being undertaken in Puri will make it the hub of pilgrimage. One of the most important development works has been undertaken in Puri in the last few centuries and the much needed development will help devotees and pilgrims to have hassle free darshan of Lord Jagannath and have divine experience at the most revered holy place of the country.

Improving the amenities at the temple has been necessitated by a manifold increase in the number of people in the last few decades. From the security point of view also there was a necessity to create an open space around the important temple.
Uttar Pradesh is planning to start helicopter services to Ayodhya from six districts  Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Mathura and Agra  by the end of January. The fares for the rides have been fixed by the government, said principal secretary (tourism) Mukesh Meshram.

According to an official statement, chief minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the helicopter service from Lucknow. To facilitate the pilgrimage for Ram devotees and tourists visiting Ayodhya Dham by helicopter, the Yogi government is introducing helicopter services from six districts in the state, news agency ANI quoted a statement from the chief ministers office (CMO).

Meshram said in addition to this, the state government is also introducing an aerial darshan of Ayodhya and the Ram temple. For this, helicopter rides will start from a helipad near the tourism guesthouse along the banks of the Saryu river, he said. The official added that those interested will have to make advance bookings. The tour will cover the Ram temple, Hanumangarhi and Saryu ghat among other places.

Here is all you need to know:

Helicopter services will be available from Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Mathura and Agra. Aerial darshan of Ayodhya on helicopters will start from a helipad near the tourism guesthouse along the banks of Saryu river. It will cover the Ram temple, Hanumangarhi and Saryu ghat among other places. Those interested in the aerial tour will have to make advance bookings. The duration has been fixed for a maximum of 15 minutes and the fare will be Rs 3,539 per person. The helicopter service from Gorakhpur to Ayodhya will cover 126 km in 40 minutes, for which the fare has been fixed at Rs 11,327 per person. From Varanasi and Lucknow, the fare will be Rs 14,159 per person for a 55-minute and 45-minute flight, respectively. A fare of Rs 14,159 per person will be charged from Prayagraj for a 50-minute flight. From Mathura and Agra, Rs 35,399 per person will be charged for a 135-minute flight.

(With PTI inputs)
To counter the Opposition narrative on the Pran Pratishtha ceremony as a political event, the RSS, its affiliates, like-minded intellectuals, authors and academics have come up with their literature and started social media campaigns based on their research to promote Ram Temple as Bharats civilisational movement and its struggle for decades to find space.

Over the past week, at least two books have been released, which explain why Ram Mandir is not just about religion but also about Dharma or Hinduism, a way of life.

At least half a dozen of these books on the history of Ayodhya are in the pipeline, News 18 has learnt. The latest one, RAMJANMABHOOMI: How Hindus Won 500 Years Long Civilisational War by senior author and columnist Arun Anand, was released on Wednesday.

Last week, Tryst with Ayodhya: Decolonisation of India by author and former MP Balbir Punj was released. The book dealt with the history of the occupation Ram Janmabhoomi by invaders. In fact, in the book, Why Bharat Matters by external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Ramayana finds its mention. He tried to bring a Ramayana-type theme to explain diplomacy and its historical relevance.

Talking to News 18, author and columnist Arun Anand explained why the right-wing academics call the Ram Temple as the most significant part of Indias as civilisational struggle and the ensuing movement.

The struggle for construction of Ram Temple lasted for around 500 years. It began after the demolition of Ram Temple in Ayodhya by Baburs forces. For Bharatiya society, Babur was an Islamic invader. He represented and practised a set of cultural values that didnt believe in co-existence, whereas Lord Ram represents civilisational values that believe in  Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the whole world is one family), he said.

The struggle for building a Ram Temple at Ayodhya, was thus, a civilisational war between these two sets of values. How Hindus fought this war and won it despite all odds is a breath-taking story that the world needs to know. As this story is not about merely a temple or a God, it is about the victory of Dharma that is the soul of Hindu civilisation and Bharat, added Anand.

A Cultural & Civilisational Movement, Not Politics: RSS

Even as the Oppositions INDIA bloc refused to attend the consecration ceremony calling it as a political one, the senior RSS functionaries said they are mixing Indias social-cultural struggle for survival with their petty electoral politics for vested interest.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has embarked on Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra from Manipur has time and again called the Pran Pratishtha a BJP-RSS event. Even though all the Opposition leaders denied to attend the Pran Pratistha ceremony, they have planned programmes around Ram or other Hindu deieties to mark the ceremony in their own ways.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his party colleagues organised a Sundar Kand recital programme at a temple in Rohini on Tuesday, and sought the blessings of Lord Ram and Hanuman for the countrys progress. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced that she would visit the Kali Temple at Kolkatas Kalighat area on January 22, the day of consecration ceremony. She would offer prayers at the Kali Temple and will take out an all-faith rally in the city post her temple visit.

Reacting to such statements and programmes organised by the Opposition politicians, a senior RSS functionary said, They are talking like ignorant persons. They are blinded by their political ambitions and that is why they refused to attend the ceremony, when invited. Every practising Hindu will wish to attend the ceremony if given a chance, however, these politicians boycotted the ceremony. They have their different excuses like one called it a BJP-RSS event, another used the incomplete structure as an excuse. But they are failing to understand that Ram Temple is more than just a religious programme. Ram Temple has always been part of Indias history, its struggle against the foreign power, and a symbol of its old tradition and ancient civilisation.

We know that the Leftist Communist historian would always want to dismiss Ram calling him a mythological figure, and calling Hindu religion as non-congregational. But can they ignore Indias culture and tradition, which has always revolved around Ram Rajya? They only talk about the empires set up by the invaders, but they conveniently forget our ancient civilisation. We want people to know about the forgotten or covered up history. That is why, the RSS inspired authors and academics have done their research and written such books, he added.

Arun Anand further said he wrote a first book on this issue in 2018 which was published in 2020 during Covid-19 restrictions. However, much has happened after that and more importantly there has been a consistent attempt to equate Ram Temple to a religious structure, it is a Dharmic structure as it represents Dharma and Maryada, that is why Ram has been known as Maryada Purushottam. To establish this, I came up with this new and latest book on Ram Janmabhoomi, he said.
A petty argument between two neighbours over chicken in Hyderabads Tukaram Area led to one of them allegedly killing the other person.

The deceased identified as, Ajay Kamble was stabbed by a 42-year-old neighbour, Srinivas Chary, a cable TV technician on Monday, reported Times of India, adding that the accused has now been taken into custody.

Kambles wife Priyanka informed police that her 23-year-old husband had brought tea from a hotel and they decided to have it at a friends house, however, things took a bitter turn when she saw Chary eating uncooked chicken.

She suggested Chary to eat chicken after cooking it properly, but he started to abuse her with cuss words and came forward to hit her which angered Ajay.

When Ajay tried to rescue her, Chary stabbed him with a knife in his chest and died on the spot. Priyanka also suffered an injury on her right hand finger while trying to rescue Ajay.

Priyanka told the police that she started to scream after the incident. Alarmed by her voice, her neighbors arrived at the spot and rushed Ajay to the Gandhi hospital, where he was declared dead.

Police have registered a case against Chary under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (insult to modesty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

In another crime reported from Hyderabad, an auto driver was arrested for allegedly stabbing his wife to death on suspicion of infidelity. The incident was reported at the two-bedroom government-owned flat at JNNURM Colony in Hyderabads Abdullapurmet on Tuesday morning.

The accused, identified as Vijay, took his 41-year-old wife, Pushpalatha, to his sisters newly allotted vacant 2BHK house on the pretext of cleaning it.

There, Vijay reportedly attacked Pushpalatha with a knife and stabbed her to death. He then severed her head and kept it aside in the flat, a report by Times of India said quoting police.

After committing the crime, Vijay exited the flat in blood-stained clothes shocking locals, who raised an alarm.
Denmark erupted in thunderous applause and cheers as former Queen Margrethe IIs son Frederik X and his wife Mary Uffe Franke were crowned the King and Queen of the country. After ruling over Denmark for 52 years, Margrethe II abdicated her throne on January 14. When the newly appointed King and Queen made their first appearance on the balcony at Copenhagens Christiansborg Amalienborg Palace, the people of the European country gave them a warm welcome. Waving at the thousands of people assembled outside the Palace, King Frederik X and Queen Mary painted a picture of elegance and fine aristocracy in their regal ensembles.

King Frederik X picked out sophisticated regalia with a uniform for Coronation Day, featuring medallion embellishments and a sash. The Elefantorden or Order of the Elephant, is recognised as Denmarks most respected order of chivalry. Taking note of his kingly duties, Frederik, as the sovereign of the order, bore its representation in his uniform. The right lapel of his military uniform came with an elephant pin. On the left, there was an eight-point silver star, and a light blue silk moire band ran across his torso, symbolising Frederiks affiliation with the order of chivalry.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@denmarksqueenmary)

According to the Copenhagen magazine Billed Bladet, Queen Mary Uffe Franke turned muse to designer Soeren Le Schmidt. An epitome of grace, she showed up in a full-sleeved sheer white dress, sewn with perfection by Birgit Hallstein. The ensembles subtle bridal touch came from the fact that Birgit was the one who designed Marys wedding attire. Featuring a slim silhouette, the main highlight of Marys Coronation outfit was a scarf-like cloth wrapped around her neck. The pleated drape cascaded down her back in a royal fashion, while its front part was tucked inside a matching waist belt.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@denmarksqueenmary)

Queen Mary opted for minimal yet classic jewellery for the special day. Ruby-encrusted diamond earrings and a similar statement ring from the Danish Ruby Parure set added a flush of colour to her all-white avatar. Since Denmarks flag is red in colour, Mary displayed her commitment to her country by adopting similar hues in her ornaments. But, the real display of eliteness came with a distinct brooch attached to her shoulder. The brooch, adorned with diamond Maltese crosses and pearls is called an ordensportrttet  a Danish royal heritage. It featured a fine portrait of former Queen Margrethe II, Marys mother-in-law, reported Vogue Scandinavia.

Safe to say, Denmarks King and Queen started their new journey on the throne in regally relevant costumes.
Jimmy Shergill started his film journey with Maachis, but it was his role in Mohabbatein that made him a household name. Despite gaining popularity for his boy-next-door image, Jimmy wanted to do more than just chocolate boy roles. In a recent interview, he mentioned returning signing amounts to some producers because he aimed to take up varied projects instead of sticking to similar roles.

Jimmy shared that even though people suggested he capitalise on his charm, he wanted to explore new opportunities. Realising that sticking to the same type of roles wouldnt be beneficial in the long run, he mentioned that after working hard for the first two years, he returned the signing amount to many people because he wanted to do something different. Because this chocolate boy thing was a little too much at the time. Everybody would say why? This is amazing and I would say no, there is something inside me telling me that this wont last for more than 2-3 years. So I knew that I needed to look for thats where films like Munna Bhai, Haasil, Yahaan, these films came to me, he shared with Bollywood Bubble and added, These gave a different image and never let you get stuck into one particular image.

Jimmy, born as Jasjit Singh Gill and a Sikh by birth, also spoke about cutting his hair at 18, causing some tension with his parents. Reflecting on that time in his life, he said, You are a kid, you make mistakes, even I made a few mistakes. Someone brought it up and it went on a little too far.

Jimmy said that not talking to ones parents is more painful and shared that his parents probably forgave him within a year and a half. Maybe it was destiny, and it works more than your plans. At that time, I could not even think that I would land in this industry but maybe it was written, he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Holding discussions on the results of COP28 and the impact of Global Climate Change on Azerbaijan is included in the Spring Session Legislative Work Plan of the Parliament Committee for Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology, Trend reports.

According to the plan, meetings and discussions with non-governmental organizations specializing in environmental issues are also scheduled within COP29.

This also includes hearings on air pollution management in Baku city within COP29.

The decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023.

Besides Azerbaijan, both Armenia and Bulgaria nominated their candidatures. However, after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia on December 7, 2023, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in favor of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed suit and also withdrew its candidacy.

On January 4, 2024, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, was appointed as President of COP29.
Munawar Faruqui will be seen getting into an ugly fight with Vicky Jain in the upcoming episode of Bigg Boss 17. On Wednesday, Colors TV dropped a promo in which the stand-up comedian was seen holding Ankita Lokhandes husband by his collar.

The promo began with Munawar Faruqui trying to get hold of a bucket during the torture task. He was standing on a branch of the tree when Vicky, who was in the opposite team, took the broom from his hand. This left Munawar agitated. He screamed at Vicky and told him that he could have fallen. He called Vicky bewakoof and grabbed him by his collar. While everyone tried to get hold of Munawar, Ankita Lokhande was also left shocked at his behaviour. Chod Munna uska gala, she told him. Vicky then attacked Munawar saying he uses women. Munawar too lost his cool and threatened him saying, tereko tunnel tak chod ke aaunga. Watch the video here:

Soon after the promo was shared online, several social media users reacted to it. One of the Bigg Boss fans pointed out that Munawar uses the same dialogue on all and wrote, Ye har baar tunnel tak chhod ke aani waali dialogue maarta hai. Another user slammed Vicky and shared, The way Vicky and all performed with the other team, Vicky deserves this! Red chilli into their eyes and Bigboss didnt say anything. Totally ridiculous.

Even though Munawar and Vicky do not share a good bond, the former is friends with the latters actress wife Ankita Lokhande. Recently, when Ankita expressed disappointment with Vicky and accused him of spending more time with Mannara Chopra, the businessman also hit back saying he does not get upset with Ankita spending time with Munawar.

Meanwhile, Bigg Boss 17 is now inching close to its finale. Reportedly, Salman Khans show will have its grand finale on January 28. However, there is no official announcement regarding this as of now.
Amidst the glamour and buzz of The Emmys Awards, there were poignant and touching moments during the ceremony. On Monday night, the In Memoriam segment, dedicated to remembering prominent figures from the film industry, left attendees teary-eyed as it paid tribute to the late F.R.I.E.N.D.S star, Matthew Perry. Despite a night filled with nostalgic reunions, Perrys castmates were notably absent from the tribute. The Emmys producers did attempt to involve Perrys F.R.I.E.N.D.S co-stars in the tribute, but executive producer Jeannae Rouzan-Clay explained that the recent loss of Perry remained an emotionally sensitive matter for them.

Its still very fresh for them, Clay told the Hollywood Reporter. Fellow executive producer Jesse Collins further explained, We talked about inviting the cast of the 90s sitcom  Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer during the Emmys planning process but they ultimately decided against it.

I can imagine, from their side, theyre mourning someone who was still very close to them. I cant speak for them, but we all have to respect that they were their own family. It was probably just a little too soon, Collins added.

Apart from this, Collins also explained that the Emmys aimed to acknowledge and remember all stars in a balanced manner during the segment.

Yes, Norman Lear and Matthew Perry, you have to give some special attention to, but you dont want anyone to feel slighted. Everybodys contribution was significant, and this is their moment inside this package, the producer told the Hollywood Reporter.

The In Memoriam segment during the ceremony concluded with Perrys name being the last to appear. The tribute featured musicians Charlie Puth and duo The War and Treaty delivering a solemn cover of the F.R.I.E.N.D.S theme song, Ill Be There for You after Charlie Puth performed his acclaimed See You Again.

Matthew Perry, who passed away on October 28 at the age of 54, gained widespread recognition and love through his role as Chandler on F.R.I.E.N.D.S, which aired from 1994 to 2004.

Notably, he received an Emmy nomination in 2002 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and earned four additional nominations, including two for his guest appearances on The West Wing.

Matthew Perrys legacy extended beyond his on-screen character. In his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, the actor candidly discussed his decades-long battle with addiction. Perry expressed that his primary goal was to help others overcome their struggles, stating during a Q with Tom Power interview in November 2022, The best thing about me, bar none, is if somebody comes up to me and says, I cant stop drinking, can you help me? I can say yes and follow up and do it.

Ultimately, in the same interview, Matthew Perry also revealed that he wished to be remembered as, someone who lived well, loved well, and dedicated himself to helping others.
With a pro-Chinese, anti-India government in the Maldives, China has done what was expected from it, fuelling further the hostility against New Delhi of the current president, Mohamed Muizzu. China has asserted its support for the sovereignty rights of Indias tiny neighbour. Muizzu was given a red-carpet welcome and China and the Maldives agreed to elevate ties to a strategic level of cooperation. Geopolitically known as Pakistans big brother, China is now attempting to play a similar role in the Maldives. China assures Male (and indirectly conveys to India) that it firmly opposes any external interference in the Maldives internal affairs.

The result? Maldivian President Muizzu has escalated his anti-India stand after returning from China, issuing a March 15 ultimatum to New Delhi to recall its military personnel stationed there. This is very high anti-India rhetoric, considering it has only 77 unarmed military personnel deployed in the Maldives, engaged in humanitarian aid and medical evacuations through two helicopters and one Dornier aircraft provided by India.

China is also behind the Maldives financial struggles. Most of the loans were given to the nation during the reign of the previous pro-China president, Abdulla Yameen. China holds 60% of the Maldivian sovereign debt. Despite being only a USD 5.5 billion strong economy, the World Bank predicts that by 2026, the country will have to service a record USD 1 billion in external debt. The IMF also adds that the country is at high risk of external debt distress.

The Maldives current problems trace their origin to a growing dependence on Chinese debt and a deepening Maldivian handicap is a perfect fit in Chinas designs to encircle India. China follows a string of pearls policy in the Indian Ocean region to surround India, aiming to create commercial bases in the countries around, which could be converted into military ones in the future through Beijings debt trap and coercive diplomacy.

STRAINED RELATIONSHIP

India and China have been known to share strained ties for the past seven decades. In 1950, China captured Indias Aksai Chin area, measuring 38,000 sq km. India was caught off guard when it became an unprepared nation in a war in 1962. In 1963, China obtained another 5,800 sq km of area in the Shaksgam Valley, which is Indian territory but illegally occupied by Pakistan during the 1947 partition.

China has never recognised Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh as parts of India. The country issues stapled visas for Arunachal Pradesh and J&K residents, considering these Chinas parts, calling Arunachal Pradesh South Tibet. India considers China the main hurdle in obtaining memberships in the UNSC and NSG.

China pushes Pakistans anti-India policy further by supporting it with weapons and economic aid and backing anti-India terrorists based in Pakistan. China has been a prominent voice opposing UN efforts to label them as globally designated terrorists. Along with Pakistan, it opposed the revocation of Article 370 sections from J&K. Chinas flagship CPEC passes through Indias land in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir. The country has supported many terrorists active in N

ortheast India in the past.

WHY DID CHINA PRAISE INDIA? WHAT LIES BENEATH?

Therefore, the approach taken to praise India in one of its official publications, Global Times, seems contrary to Chinas hostile policy so far. An opinion piece in the publication, praising India, was aimed at portraying New Delhi as a world mentor free from Western clutches.

India is currently the fastest-growing economy globally and is set to become the third-largest soon. As the most populous nation with a thriving market base and the largest working-age population, India is in the driving stage for the world economy and stability. Its rapid economic growth indicates it is on a trajectory of commercial and military advancement, similar to what China achieved in the recent past.

So, the rare positive word from China seems to have an honest appreciation of Indias growing stature in the world, but here, we cannot ignore the fact that the realpolitik behind it could also be a Chinese reservation.

CHINAS GRUDGES AND LIMITATIONS

Chinas President Xi Jinping envisions a multipolar world, not dominated solely by the Western bloc but also by nations of the Global South, with many emerging as possible global poles in the future. China wants a shift in the global geopolitical direction from the developed to the developing world and sees itself in a leadership position in that change.

This is unlike in the past when China aspired to replace the US as the sole global superpower but realpolitik dictated otherwise.

Chinas economic growth is slowing down, and projections show that it is not expected to retain the high growth rates, an annual average of 10%, seen in the past. Coupled with an ageing workforce and declining population, this signals a shift from rapid economic growth to a different policy approach now: create blocs and try to make them centred on China like SCO or BRICS or force own geopolitical interests through the Chinese debt trap.

China aspires to lead the Global South as well. It befriends nations like Syria and Venezuela, calls ties with their dictators a strategic partnership, and increases its stake in West Asia politics.

China, run by Xi Jinping, would never want India to share close ties with Western nations. The country despises initiatives like Quad or IPEF, or deepening India-US ties. Beijing knows that India is the key to the Western nations anti-China plans. Indias future economic and military might, tied with the Western nations, will be a big challenge for China if this materialises. So, when the country saw some points of contention between India and the Western world, it just tried to read in between the lines by praising India on the stand taken.

NO FRIEND, NO FOE

Geopolitics is often called a game with no permanent friends or foes. Former United States Representative William Clay once said, This is quite a game, politics. There are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends, only permanent interests.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a recent interview with the Financial Times, reinforced this fact. India is actively working on information provided by the United States on the alleged murder plot of a Khalistani terrorist involving some Indians, but these incidents are not expected to derail India-US ties driven by mutual interests. Also, Indias stand on the Russia-Ukraine war dates back to February 2022, and PM Modi went on a landmark state visit to the US in June 2023.

India has taken a neutral approach to the Russia-Ukraine war, calling for dialogues and discussions, and has decided not to join the trade pillar of the IPEF until further discussions. Khalistan terrorism and a plot to murder a Khalistani terrorist in the US are other points of discord between India, the US, and Canada. India demands Western nations to respect its sovereignty and not allow anti-India terror elements to be active there.

But this doesnt mean the blocs led by the Western nations and India will have strained ties because of these incidents. It is not in their geopolitical interests. The Tiananmen Massacre incident serves as an example. Apart from criticisms and temporary restrictions, nothing more was done by Western nations and many other influential countries globally. The world then needed a Chinese factory. Going back further, it was a Cold War necessity that brought the US and isolated Communist China together.

Also, unlike China, India is the worlds largest democracy working spectacularly for the past seven decades, much like the Western nations. This makes them a better fit when they need each other. Also, the world always needs at least one rapidly growing major economy, something that China was in the past and that India is today.

GEOPOLITICAL OPTICS

A world power needs multi-alignment. A nation seen as a world power is also a soft power projecting nation exporting its culture and tales of its economic and military might. China, with a dictatorial regime, attempted to achieve this, but India, with its democratic ethos, can do much better on this geopolitical optics, whether Beijing praises it or not. China is known as a hostile, expansionist country while India achieved its independence through Mahatma Gandhis non-violence.

India, like China, also advocates for a multipolar world. It also wants to lead the Global South movement and is better placed than China to achieve it. China might follow coercive diplomacy as most Global South countries are victims of Chinese debt, but India has always led the Global South movement by acting as its international voice. Last year, pushed by India, the African Union was made a G20 member in a further expansion of its Global South initiative. Indias ties and confrontations with Western nations and the larger world are geopolitical optics for both, and China should know from its history. It is not going to damage ties.
India-Maldives relations are straining as a result of events that happened recently. Concerns were raised by the swift deterioration of India-Maldives ties, which occurred only one month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Mohamed Muizzu, the recently elected president of the Maldives. The catalyst was a series of tweets from three Maldivian ministers denouncing Prime Minister Modis visit to Lakshadweep and his close ties with Israel.

India and the Maldives have long-standing historical ties in terms of ethnicity, language, culture, religion, and trade. The partnerships have been multifaceted, amicable, and sincere. Following Maldives independence in 1965, India was one of the first countries to recognise the country and open diplomatic ties with it. Indias quick intervention in the 1988 coup attempt resulted in the growth of mutual trust and peaceful, long-lasting bilateral ties with the Maldives. Our forces prompt evacuation when they were deemed unnecessary allayed concerns about potential Indian territorial aspirations and supremacy.

Since 1988, India and Maldives have worked closely together in the fields of security and defence. In order to accommodate the Maldivians needs for defence equipment and training, India took a highly cooperative and versatile approach. In April 2016, a comprehensive Action Plan for Defence was also signed in order to strengthen the defence collaboration.

When the Tsunami struck in 2004 and Male faced a water crisis in December 2014, India was the first country to step up by aiding the Maldives. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) was built in 1995 with Indian grant assistance. At a cost of Rs 52 crore, major renovations to the IGMH sponsored by the Government of India culminated in June 2017. During her visit to Male on March 1718, 2019, the late EAM Sushma Swaraj entrusted the renovations of IGMH to the people of Maldives. Indias credentials as the first responder have been further cemented by the countrys prompt delivery of 30,000 doses of the measles vaccine in January 2020 to stop an outbreak in the Maldives, as well as by its prompt and all-encompassing aid to the Maldives since the start of the Covid epidemic.

Tourism, which is the main source of government revenue and foreign exchange gains, is a major contributor to the Maldivian economy. About 25 per cent of the Maldives GDP is derived directly from tourism, with a far larger percentage coming from indirect sources. For Maldivians, the hospitality sector provides over one-third of direct employment prospects. India remained the leading market in 2021 and 2022, with approximately 2.91 lakh and 2.41 lakh arrivals of Indian tourists, and a 23 per cent and 14.4 per cent market share respectively. An open skies agreement between Maldives and India was reached in March 2022, substantially enhancing connectivity between the two nations. With 100,915 visitor arrivals (up to June 13, 2023), India ranks as the top source market for the Maldives, accounting for 11.8 per cent of the market.

India and China, the two main geopolitical powers, have been jostling and strategising for the Maldives for over ten years, and as a result, its domestic politics have suffered greatly. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the former president of the Maldives, adopted an explicitly Indian First approach, recognising the countrys neighbour as its most important international ally. Maldives has received billions from India, which has been generous to them in helping to pay off the vast amounts of debt left by the previous government. However, following Muizzus victory last year, ties between these two countries began to deteriorate.

In an apparent political tactic to promote his election campaign, Muizzu used the India Out card early in the campaign, which Yameen supporters intensified. This played on widespread fears about Indias dominance. Concerns about dominance are shown in the strong opposition to a small Indian military presence in this country. Small contingents of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard operate two helicopters, a marine patrol aircraft, and search and rescue capabilities for medical evacuations and exclusive economic zone monitoring. A large number of locals falsely think they are spies and intruders.

However, as anticipated after President Muizzu took office, the government chose to dissolve the agreement for cooperative hydrographic surveys with India. Signed amid the 2019 Maldives visit by Prime Minister Modi, the agreement was regarded as a representation of India-Maldives defence relations. A few weeks after the island country officially asked that New Delhi relocate its Indian military forces from its territory, Male also chose not to attend the most recent Colombo Security Conclave summit in December 2023, perhaps further highlighting its misgivings regarding defence collaboration with India.

The situation worsened when Muizzu chose to visit Ankara rather than New Delhi, defying a long-standing custom among Maldivian presidents. Muizzus main focus is making new friends during a period when he has made it obvious that he wants to distance himself from India. However, the tweeting controversy brought the ties between India and the Maldives to an all-time low. Following PM Modis tweet thread on his visit to Lakshadweep Island, three Maldivian ministers, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, made racist statements. The damage was done even though the tweets were taken down, the ministers were suspended, and the Maldivian government disassociated itself from them. The corresponding envoys were called.

Indian visitors make up the majority of arrivals in the Maldives following Covid; thus, hurt Indians have taken to social media to call for an economic boycott of the island. With the large number of tourists opting to cancel their Maldives trips, some travel companies have decided to delete the Maldives category from their online listings. Trade associations like the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) urged exporters and local traders not to do business with the island nation. Additionally, in solidarity with India, EaseMyTrip halted all airline reservations to the island nation on its website.

Indias boycott of the Maldives might have a big impact on both nations economies and relations. The Maldives economy is highly dependent on tourism, so if Indian travellers stop going there, it might cause the countrys GDP to shrink. Tense relations might develop diplomatically and harm stability and cooperation in the region. On the positive end of the spectrum, it is underlined that Lakshadweep will greatly benefit from the shift.

The recent surge in travel will encourage more individuals to discover unexplored beach hideaways, in addition to boosting the economy and advancing tourist development. However, this also has an undesirable effect. Maldives is Indias most significant maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and is given a prominent position in the Neighbourhood First Policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiatives of the government of PM Modi. If things become worse, everything will ultimately come to a tragic conclusion.

It is imperative that both governments use diplomatic channels to resolve issues in order to reduce any adverse consequences. India should use its soft power diplomacy, since the strain between the two nations will allow China to expand and threaten the stability of the region. Despite their disagreements, both India and Maldives have decades of history together; therefore, they should be able to work through this to create an immensely collaborative and cooperative cooperation.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
India was seen as a poor nation where uplifting crores of people was considered an incredibly difficult, if not an impossible task. Turns out, all that was needed was a determined leadership to intervene on this front and deliver rapid results. Since 2014, the share of Indias population living in multidimensional poverty is estimated to have fallen to 11.28 per cent. In 2014, that figure stood at 29.17 per cent. This means India lifted a staggering 24.82 crore people out of multidimensional poverty in just nine years.

What changed in 2014? The people of India, for the first time in 30 years, elected a majority government. Led by Narendra Modi, the BJP stormed to power. A decade since, it has become evident that the poor have emerged as the biggest beneficiaries of the electoral choice India made first in 2014, and then in 2019.

That is what the NITI Aayogs discussion paper released on Monday has revealed. According to the think tank, which is principally tasked with devising new policies and improving upon existing ones, India will achieve single-digit poverty levels this year itself. For a country whose hallmark around the world not very long ago was poverty, this is indeed a landmark achievement. The paper also said India is likely to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or reduce multidimensional poverty by at least half, much ahead of 2030.

States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan recorded the sharpest decline in the number of people classified as poor based on the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).

Heres some perspective: In 2005-06, the share of MPI poor in Indias total population was 55.34 per cent. Today, only about 11.82 per cent of the population can still be considered to be living in multidimensional poverty. Of course, the fact that the share of MPI poor people dropped from 55.35 per cent in 2005-06 to 29.17 per cent in 2014 cannot be ignored. This coincides with the tenure of the UPA 1 and 2 governments.

The NITI Aayog is not the only body extolling the strides India has taken towards poverty reduction. In fact, the World Bank had earlier noted that the share of Indias population living in extreme poverty had fallen from 18.7 per cent in 2015 to 12 per cent in 2021. In 2022, the United Nations said 415 million people exited multidimensional poverty in the country in 15 years between 2005-06 and 2019-21. According to UNDP estimates, the number of people who lived below the $2.15 per day poverty line had declined to 10 per cent in India in 2021. World Bank data also shows that the poverty headcount ratio in India, at $2.15 a day, decreased from 18.73 per cent in 2015 to 11.9 per cent in 2021.

That India has lifted crores of people out of multidimensional poverty can become a case study for the developing and underdeveloped world. For the Global South, India can serve as an example of how to deliver development to people who need it the most, while also reducing poverty through a slew of government interventions. India has started acting on this front already, as is evident from the growing interest of various countries in Indias massive digital public infrastructure (DPI), or even its physical infrastructure facilitator  the Gati Shakti Masterplan. The world is also stunned by the penetration that digital payments have achieved in India, which is why there is a global admiration for the United Payments Interface (UPI) today.

Garibi Hatao Not Just a Slogan Anymore

For the present government, Garibi Hatao is not just a political slogan meant to paint a sense of hope for the countrys poor and underprivileged. In recent times, Narendra Modi has sought to project the poor as his core constituency. Ensuring their development and uplifting them, therefore, has become the biggest policy objective of the Modi government. This objective is backed by a slew of initiatives and schemes, such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission, Poshan Abhiyan, Samagra Shiksha, Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya), Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana  to name a few.

All such initiatives are meant to benefit the most underprivileged and marginalised people in India. The most intriguing part is that they all have very strong interlinkages. Whether it be building toilets and ensuring hygienic sanitation through the Swachh Bharat Mission, or providing tapped water connections to crores of households under the Jal Jeevan Mission  the end goal has been to provide the poor with all the basic amenities that they had been deprived of since independence.

Similarly, ensuring that everyone has a pucca house, and that such houses have electricity and LPG cylinder connections, while those who live in the said house have bank accounts and are connected to the digital world, is all being taken up on a mission mode at the Central governmental level. The goal is simple: lifting Indians out of poverty and giving them what they need to lead respectable lives.

At the same time, initiatives like Poshan Abhiyan and Anaemia Mukt Bharat have significantly enhanced access to healthcare facilities, leading to a substantial decrease in deprivation. Infant mortality has also fallen steadily, and as of 2020, Indias infant mortality rate was lower than South Africas.

The Modi government also runs the worlds biggest food security program, providing 81.35 crore beneficiaries free food grains across rural and urban India. Similarly, direct benefit transfers are now made straight into the bank accounts of beneficiaries. Therefore, corruption-related leakage has been minimised, and this has been made possible due to the creation of over 500 million new bank accounts since 2014 which are linked to Aadhaar.

Infrastructure is expected to become the biggest contributor to Indias economic growth in the coming years. The Centre plans to invest Rs 143 lakh crore on infrastructure between 2024 and 2030. That is double of what India has spent on infrastructure in the past seven years. Obviously, this has led to more jobs for Indians. Importantly, job demand in rural India under the MGNREGA initiative remains high, and is largely in sync with the increase in budgetary allocation for the scheme from Rs 32,992 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 60,000 crore in 2023-24. This has a lot to do with infrastructure now reaching rural India.

Similarly, as a result of the proactive efforts towards Make in India and Indias aim to become a global manufacturing hub, Indian manufacturers posted a 36 per cent increase in job postings over the past year. Meanwhile, the Modi government has been transferring a sum of Rs 6,000 to farmers every year. If the whispers in the corridors of power are to be believed, this amount could be doubled in the interim budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman next month.

This direct transfer has acted as a cushion for farmers, further enabling poverty reduction, especially among those who have small land holdings and crop yields. Meanwhile, with the e-National Agricultural Market (eNAM), farmers can now sell their produce to the highest bidder, thereby improving income levels.

Speaking about incomes, the weighted mean income in India rose from Rs 4.4 lakh in 2014 to Rs 13 lakh in FY23. In the same period, Indias per capita income in nominal terms almost doubled to Rs 1.72 lakh in 2022-23 as compared to Rs 86,647 in 2014-15. The State Bank of India has predicted that Indias per capita income is expected to increase from Rs 2 lakh ($2500) in FY23 to Rs 14.9 lakh ($12,400) in FY47.

More and more people are entering the middle class, which is a glowing testament to poverty reduction in India. Compared to 2011, 13.6 per cent of the population has left the lower-income strata and migrated upwards.

The bottom line is this: India is reducing multidimensional poverty fast. The India Model can help other countries achieve the same. What is needed as a prerequisite though, is a committed leadership that is driven by the goal of eliminating poverty and raising peoples standards of living. Furthermore, the reduction and eventual elimination of poverty must not remain a mere governmental campaign. The participation of people from all walks of life is instrumental as well.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said he is unlikely to join Congress Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi.

When asked about this at a press conference at the party office here, Yadav said, Neither the Congress nor the BJP invites us to their programmes. Yadav, who flagged off Samvidhan Bachao, Desh Bachao Samajwadi PDA Yatra from the party office, said that the yatra will spread the ideologies of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia and Mulayam Singh Yadav down to the villages.

PDA stands for Pichada, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak-Muslims (backward, Dalits and minorities, especially Muslims).

We have taken a pledge to fulfil dreams of old socialists and the yatra will cover many districts of the state. It will attempt to unite backwards, Dalits, minorities and also upper castes, he said, adding that SP was the only party which was fighting to save constitutional values and the constitution.

Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Ajay Rai told PTI that Rahul Gandhis yatra is expected to come to Uttar Pradesh on February 14.

It will spend 11 days in the state and pass through Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency Varanasi, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhis constituency Rae Bareli, and Rahuls former constituency Amethi, currently represented by Union Minister Smriti Irani, among others.

In total, the party will cover 1,074 km in 20 districts of UP.

There is no clarity yet whether SP will have a tie-up with the Congress in UP for the general election or not.

Yadav said that youths of the state were not getting employed as per their qualification. However, 2024 is the year of change and transformation.

He also tried to corner the BJP government and asked about the Rs 40-lakh crore MOU, which it claimed to have signed in the investor summit, gone as youths were not getting employment.
Even as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc of opposition parties continues to remain in dilemma for days over attending the Ram Mandir inauguration on January 22, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah was back to work on Tuesday to discuss the seat-wise Lok Sabha election preparations, within 24 hours of his elder sisters death at a Mumbai hospital.

While the Trinamool Congress (TMC) from the INDIA bloc will observe January 22 as a day of social cohesion, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has smartly said they will prefer to visit Ayodhya, but after the pran pratishtha is done. Meanwhile, the Congress has declined the invite, creating a rift within the party.

Away from the opposition-style mega huddles, the BJP top brass met on Tuesday to quietly do its job. In attendance were 300 BJP workers, including BJP general secretaries namely Arun Singh, Tarun Chugh and Vinod Tawde.

THE BJP MEET

Armed with pen and paper, it was time to listen to party seniors Amit Shah, JP Nadda and BL Santhosh. The BJP not only strategised to win a maximum number of seats, but also decided how they could contribute to helping their allies win.

In terms of the 2019 Lok Sabha poll dates and counting, a reverse timetable is being prepared by the BJP. During the deliberations, Voter Contact Campaign, Gaon Chalo, Labharthi Sampark or Beneficiary Contact and saturation of outreach to OBC, Dalit, Tribal Youth, and Women were stressed, said Tawde.

Shah stressed on last-mile delivery of government schemes  something PM Modi has been reiterating over the years. He is also believed to have harped on the ideological importance of the party, while mentioning Deen Dayal Upadhyay  a leader of the Jan Sangh, the BJPs forerunner.

Interestingly, Shah is also learned to have urged those present to help leaders and eminent citizens who want to join the nationalist stream.

Meanwhile, party president JP Nadda urged all to be extra active at the level of Shakti Kendra and booth level  two micro levels of the BJPs grand scheme of things. Nadda particularly asked everyone to ensure that the BJPs vote increases in every single booth across India. Acknowledging that there are geographic areas where the BJP is still weak, Nadda urged the cadre to go the extra mile to make the BJP visible there.

Nadda stressed the pro-people policies of the Narendra Modi government that helped India flourish financially, while helping 25 crore Indians come out of poverty in the past nine years.
YS Sharmila, the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy who joined the Congress on January 4 in the presence of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, is now ready to don a new role. She has been appointed as the state in-charge of the grand old party in Andhra Pradesh.

The daughter of the late stalwart YS Rajasekhara Reddy has her task clearly cut out as the Lok Sabha elections are just around the corner. Andhra Pradesh will also go to polls around the same time.

Even though she has been made the PCC chief, sources close to Sharmila maintain that she is unlikely to get into the electoral fray from her home state. If sources are to be believed, the Congress top brass has promised her a Rajya Sabha nomination from the neighbouring state of Karnataka.

Earlier, she had merged her YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) with the grand old party. Although Telangana based, her political outfit did not participate in the state assembly elections of Telangana, which were held recently.

ANDHRA GROUND REALITY

Andhra Pradesh is said to be a battle between the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and its bitter rival Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which is in alliance with Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena. Then comes the Congress and the fourth in the fray is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been desperately trying to find its footprint in South India, especially in Andhra Pradesh. In the last elections, the vote percentage of the BJP was barely 1%.

The Congress is fancying its chances, given the recent success in Karnataka, where it overthrew the BJP government with a clear majority.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Sharmilas task is also to take on her elder brother and AP CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSRCP.

Jagan is serving his first term as the chief minister of the state, and that too with a defining majority. Jagans party has 151 MLAs in the assembly and 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha. Recently, TDP Lok Sabha MP Kesinani resigned from the TDP and joined the YSRCP.

In the run-up to the assembly and the Lok Sabha polls, many leaders who are denied ticket by Jagans party are likely to jump either to the TDP or even the Congress, in which Sharmila is likely to play a crucial role.

While Sharmila is expected to marshall the resources, Jagans party is perceived by many to be a team close to the BJP. The YSRCP lent his support to the Centre on multiple bills in Parliament and the candidature of the president and vice-president.

Sharmila came to the fore when she undertook a major padyatra in 2012 when her brother was in jail. Along with her mother, Vijayamma, Sharmilas yatra travelled more than 3,000km, crossing 14 districts in the state.

Following differences with her brother in July 2021, she launched her own party, the YSRTP.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, is set to leave for a three-day visit to Goa on Thursday (January 18), the same day he has been asked to present himself for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise case.

Kejriwal, along with Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and MPs Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak will be in the coastal state from January 18 till January 20, according to AAPs Goa chief Amit Palekar.

As per Palekar, the senior AAP leaders will meet the partys Goa MLAs and other state functionaries and volunteers during their visit, which comes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

AAP has two MLAs in the Goa assembly  Venzy Viegas (Benaulim) and Cruz Silva (Velim).

Interestingly, Kejriwal, who had skipped three summons by ED earlier, has been asked by the probe agency to before it on January 18 for questioning in the money laundering probe related to irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

In his response to the EDs third summons, which the Delhi CM termed as illegal, Kejriwal said he was ready to cooperate but EDs intention was to arrest him and stop him from election campaigning.

ED has said it wants to question the Delhi Chief Minister on the formulation of policy, meetings held before it was finalised, and allegations of bribery.

However, Kejriwals repeated disregard of the summons has been reportedly scuttling the agencys probe into the case.

In the past, ED has claimed that bribes generated in the excise policy were used to fund the campaign for the Goa assembly elections.
Guruvayur temple in Keralas Thrissur district has the rare credit of being the location of the highest number of weddings in a single day at 277, a feat it achieved in 2017. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a marriage ceremony at this temple and performed kanyadaan for bride Bhagya Suresh, daughter of Malayalam superstar and former BJP MP Suresh Gopi.

At 8.45 am, adorned in a Kerala-style white dhoti and shawl, the prime minister handed over garlands to the couple, who exchanged them at a mandapam in front of the temple. He blessed the couple, who touched his feet after the traditional ceremony attended by the likes of Mammootty, Mohanlal, Dileep, Jayaram, Khushboo and Biju Menon.

Despite the grandeur, Bhagya chose an simple and elegant look for the wedding by donning an orange silk saree. On January 15, Suresh Gopi and his family also offered a five-sovereign golden crown to Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral in Thrissur as an offering.

Before blessing the couple, Prime Minister Modi started the day by offering prayers at the Guruvayur temple. He took part in a thulabharam at the temple, an offering to the deity by weighing against a commodity  in this case, lotus buds akin to his weight. He also blessed four more couples out of the 77 couples, who tied the knot at the shrine on Wednesday.

Following the temple ceremony, a wedding reception took place at the Gokulam Convention Centre with several dignitaries in attendance.

Gopi, the National Award-winning actor and former nominated member of Rajya Sabha, is expected to be the BJP candidate from Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency. In 2019, he staggered both the rival alliances, led by CPM and Congress, with an impressive show by adding 17.05 percent votes to the BJP as compared to 2014, coming in close behind the Left candidate.

Ahead of Ram Lallas pran pratishtha on January 22, the PM also offered prayers at the famous Thriprayar Sree Ramaswamy Temple, which is renowned for being a part of a pilgrimage to the abodes of Ram and his brothers. He also offered prayers at the Sree Ramaswamy temple situated on the bank of the Karuvannur river, also known as Theevra river.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Azerbaijan's Media Development Agency is conducting educational activities to further improve the activities of journalists at the upcoming presidential election in the country, said the agency's Executive Director Ahmad Ismayilov, Trend reports.

Ismayilov emphasized that the agency has already held a number of events on the topic of media and election.

"A meeting was held with the joint organization of the CEC, the agency, Audiovisual Council, and Press Council on the possibilities of election campaigning and the basics of media entities' activities in elections. A practical seminar on "Role and tasks of media in the presidential election" was also organized. The participants were provided with detailed information on compliance with the requirements of the electoral legislation in carrying out professional activities during the pre-election campaigning stage and on the voting day," he said.

Ismayilov added that the agency continuously monitors the process of media coverage of the election process. According to the Media Law, the peculiarities of media entities' activities in connection with election campaigning are regulated by the Election Code.

"The agency maintains interactive contact with media representatives covering the election process, promptly answering their questions," he noted.

On December 7, 2023, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on holding extraordinary presidential elections in the country on February 7, 2024.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
With another tour to South India coming up later this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have spent one week out of the first three weeks of 2024 in the South. This is a major push by the PM in South India ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

ALSO READ | In PM Modis Mission South, BJP has a 40-50 Seat Target for 2024 LS Elections

The PM will be on his third tour to South India this year later this week. He will first travel to Solapur in Maharashtra on January 19 for a public function, from there he will be in Bengaluru for a Boeing India function, and then he will go to Chennai that day for the Khelo India Youth Games.

On January 20 evening, he will be in Chennai for the Khelo India Youth Games.

Prayed at the Thriprayar Shree Ramaswami Temple. To hear verses of the Shri Adhyathma Ramayana and other Bhajans in Malayalam was also very special. pic.twitter.com/oZK0sAObLT Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 17, 2024

On January 21, the PM will also be in Chennai and so far is scheduled to return to Delhi at 4 pm from Chennai.

On January 22, Modi is scheduled to be in Ayodhya.

The PM was in Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep and Kerala on January 2-3 earlier this year. On January 16-17, the PM went on a two-day tour to Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. He also visited Maharashtra last week for inaugurating mega infrastructure projects. During these trips, PM Modi has also gone to various temples associated with Lord Ram and the Ramayana in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
Emphasising the need to steer clear of religion-based politics, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday said attempts are underway to polarise the nation in the lead-up to the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Addressing the BJPs assertion that Asli Azadi (true freedom) would be realised on January 22, Yechury criticised the narrative, contending that it undermines the sacrifices made by freedom fighters during the struggle for independence.

Yechury, who was in the city to participate in an event commemorating the 15th death anniversary of Marxist patriarch Jyoti Basu, urged political parties, irrespective of their affiliations, to safeguard secularism.

They (BJP) are saying the dream of Asli Azadi will be realised on January 22. That negates the freedom struggle, the sacrifice of our patriots, that nullifies the collective decision of our national leaders (where the proponents of Hindu Rashtra had no part) to turn India into a secular, democratic country of pluralism. Left patriarchs like Jyoti Basu had also dreamt that by embracing the path of secularism, democracy gradually will lead to a socialist country, Yechury remarked.

The CPI(M) leader accused the BJP government at the Centre of attempting to transform a secular democratic republic into a fascist Hindu Rashtra. But the idea of a hardline Hindu Rashtra is the concept imported by BJP-RSS. The call to consecrate Ram Temple on January 22 is the first step. We are at the crossroads to decide which way the country should take in the coming days, he added.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that everyone has the right to practice their religious beliefs without interference. In a subsequent interaction with reporters, Yechury emphasised that every political party should work towards preserving communal harmony and upholding the tenets of the Constitution.

The Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya is scheduled for January 22. On the same day, the Trinamool Congress plans to organise a harmony rally with leaders from various faiths. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee announced that she would lead the rally in Kolkata after performing puja at the Kali temple at Kalighat.

Commenting on the TMCs programme, Yechury cautioned against competitive communalism and political polarisation in the name of protecting communal harmony. Every party has the right to undertake its campaign for protecting communal harmony. But by the name of such a campaign, there should not be any competitive communalism. There should not be any political polarization, he said.

Political parties need to protect secularism and give everyone the right to carry out his or her religious practices without interference, the CPI(M) leader said. During his speech, he criticised the BJP government at the Centre, alleging the misuse of central agencies such as ED and CBI to harass political opponents.

In West Bengal, ED is working under the high courts order, but elsewhere in states like Tamil Nadu, the central agencies are working under BJPs order, Yechury said. He alleged that like the BJP, the TMC is also unleashing attacks on its political opponents as they have no respect for democratic values.

As part of the INDIA bloc, the Left aims to remove the BJP from power at the Centre, but Yechury expressed concerns over the similarity between the saffron camp and the TMC in indulging in the politics of religion. The TMC in no way is different from that of the BJP as both practice politics of religion, he said.

In his speech, Yechury recalled how Jyoti Basu had stood for democratic, secular, and socialist values and prevented a communal flare-up in West Bengal after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. They had invited me to the Ram Temple inauguration and said, as your name is Sitaram, hence please come to attend the program on January 22. I said being Sitaram, I know what is the purpose of dharma rashtra. Everyone has the right to profess his or her religion or beliefs. As I turned down the invite, there has been propaganda against me that I am anti-Hindu, he said.

Discussing the economic situation of the country, he remarked, Now poor people are travelling from cities to villages for want of work, and that is reverse migration. People are expelled from Parliament for raising their voices, he said, adding that non-BJP states are being subjected to authoritarianism. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who were also invited to the program but couldnt attend due to prior engagements, sent their messages eulogizing the veteran Marxists role in the country.
Samsung has become the first smartphone brand to partner with Google Cloud to bring Gemini Pro Googles generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology in smartphones. The new Galaxy S24 series smartphones will be powered by Gemini Pro and Imagen 2 on Vertex AI for producing new text, voice, and image features.

Google and Samsung have long shared deeply held values around the importance of making technology more helpful and accessible for everyone. Were thrilled that the Galaxy S24 series is the first smartphone equipped with Gemini Pro and Imagen 2 on Vertex AI. After months of rigorous testing and competitive evaluation, the Google Cloud and Samsung teams worked together to deliver the best Gemini-powered AI experience on Galaxy, said Janghyun Yoon, Corporate EVP and Head of Software Office of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics.

According to Samsung, Gemini can generalise and seamlessly understand, operate across, and combine different types of information including text, code, images, and video. Starting with Samsung-native applications, users can rely on the summarization feature across Notes, Voice Recorder, and Keyboard. Gemini Pro on Vertex AI provides Samsung with critical Google Cloud features, including security, safety, privacy, and data compliance.

Galaxy S24 series users can also immediately benefit from Imagen 2, Googles most advanced text-to-image diffusion technology from Google DeepMind to date. With Imagen 2 on Vertex AI, Samsung can bring safe and intuitive photo-editing capabilities into users hands. These features can be found in Generative Edit2 in S24s Gallery application.

As part of this partnership, Samsung is also one of the first brands to test Gemini Ultra, Googles most capable and largest model for highly-complex tasks. The S24 series will also use Gemini Nano, an on-device LLM delivered as part of the Android 14 operating system, the most efficient model of Gemini for on-device tasks.

Together with Samsung, Google Cloud sees the tremendous opportunity for generative AI to create meaningful mobile experiences that stimulate and strengthen connection and communication for millions. With Gemini, Samsungs developers can leverage Google Clouds world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge performance, and flexibility to deliver safe, reliable, and engaging generative AI powered applications on Samsung smartphone devices, said Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google Cloud.
Samsung Galaxy S24 series has been unveiled in New York on Wednesday and as expected, you have three models in the flagship lineup once again. Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus and the Galaxy S24 Ultra will be the major phones from the company this year and were eager to see how the new AI features function and advance the use of these phones in the coming months. Samsung has gone with a dual chipset strategy once again, using Exynos 2400 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC for different variants.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Price

Samsung Galaxy S24 series starts from $799 (Rs 64,500 approx) for the base model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, going up 512GB for the highest variant. The Galaxy S24 Plus comes for $999 (Rs 82,500 approx) for the base 12GB + 256GB model. And finally, the Galaxy S24 Ultra starting price this year is $1,300 (Rs 1,05,000 approx) which gets you the 12GB + 256GB model. Well get the India pricing for these phones and will soon share the details with you.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Specifications

Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus sport a 6.2-inch FHD+ and QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, respectively. Both the phones are powered by Exynos 2400 chipset, with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. Samsung is offering the Android 14-based One UI 6.1 version out of the box with these two phones. The company has also confirmed that starting with the Galaxy S24 series, buyers will get seven years of OS upgrades and security updates just like Google announced with the Pixel 8 series last year.

On the imaging front, the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus models carry a triple rear camera system that gives you a 50MP primary wide sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto sensor. The front of the phones come with a 12MP shooter for selfies and video calls. The other big changes are in the battery department, where the Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S24 Plus carry a 4,000mAh and 4,900mAh batteries, respectively, offering 25W and 45W wired charging speeds. In case you were wondering, they also get wireless charging support.

Coming to the big fish which is the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung is clearly focusing on this model which gets the latest hardware and yes, AI features like live translate, chat assist, Android Auto with Samsung keyboard, and Note assist among others. It also gets a titanium frame this year which should help with better durability along with the available IP68 rating.

The phone features a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate screen. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset with 12GB RAM and up to 1TB as storage variants this year. The new S Pen comes with the regular features and some AI-centric tools as well.

Talking about cameras, the Ultra model gets a 200MP wide sensor along with a 50MP telephoto sensor that supports 5x optical zoom, OIS, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, OIS and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor. The large size phone gets a 5000mAh battery but you still have the same 45W wired charging support on this device.
The ongoing cold wave in North India, coupled with dense fog, has led to numerous flight delays and caused significant disruptions for passengers. Many travellers have expressed frustration over the lack of timely communication and perceived shortcomings in service from airlines. Despite the criticism, some passengers are taking a different approach by commending flight staff for their efforts in managing adverse conditions. A recent instance involved an IndiGo Airline passenger who shared positive feedback on social media, praising the flight staff for their efforts in making the delayed flight experience more bearable.

In a long post, a frequent flyer user wrote, My Hyderabad Jaipur flight was ready for take-off at 4:50 am and just as the aircraft door was being closed, three passengers rushed up the aisle and began arguing with the crew and departing ground staff. It appeared two of their fellow travellers had not arrived at the boarding gate in time. The passengers abused and threatened the staff and I must say the crew handled the situation very calmly.

At a time when @IndiGo6E is being bashed left, right and centre for poor services, let me share an experience I had with them just a week ago. My Hyderabad Jaipur flight was ready for take off at 4:50 am and just as the aircraft door was being closed, three passengers rushed up pic.twitter.com/Jl8sa01By6 Sudipto (@SudiptoDoc) January 15, 2024

He added that their flight was diverted to Ahmedabad instead of landing in Jaipur due to poor visibility. The IndiGo staff gave the passengers a nice refreshment hamper and remained on their toes. The user wrote, Once we landed at Ahmedabad, we were requested to remain in the aircraft. Every passenger was handed a refreshment hamper that contained a fairly large cookie, some nuts and a packaged fruit beverage. Water and coffee were on the house. The crew remained on their toes throughout. The wait was annoying but the crew ensured it didnt become agonising.

He concluded the post, by saying that IndiGo Airlines needs to do better when it comes to improving the flight schedule, meanwhile, the crew and staff of the airline were the saving grace of the flying experience.

Commenting on this post, an X user wrote, We need people sharing their positive experiences too, instead of using Twitter purely for ranting and cribbing all the time against brands, especially airlines, which are incurring mounting costs with each delay and diversion (plus crew working extra hard), due to winters. 

Another person wrote, Good to hear some positive feedback though never received anything as such in person. Btw a suggestion would be during winter when you know fogs gonna hamper your schedule why have a 5/6/7 am flight to the North? Why not plan better guys?
Saudi Arabian foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the kingdom could recognise Israel only if a comprehensive agreement is reached that includes statehood for the Palestinians.

The talks come as Israelis and Palestinians marked 100 days of war last week. We agree that regional peace includes peace for Israel, but that could only happen through peace for the Palestinians through a Palestinian state, Saudi Arabias foreign minister was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.

When asked if Saudi Arabia would then recognise Israel as part of a wider political agreement, Prince Faisal bin Farhan replied: Certainly.

There is a pathway towards a much better future for the region, for the Palestinians, and for Israel, that is peace, and we are fully committed to that, he was quoted as saying by the news agency.

He further explained that the aim of securing regional peace by creating a Palestinian state was also being discussed with the Americans. (It is) something we have been indeed working on with the US administration, and it is more relevant in the context of Gaza, Prince Faisal bin Farhan was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The Saudi foreign minister also highlighted that a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war is necessary and could be a first step towards sustainable peace.

(A) ceasefire on all sides should be a starting point for permanent sustainable peace, which can only happen through justice to the Palestinian people, he said.

However, the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on several occasions maintained that he will not make significant concessions to the Palestinians as part of any potential normalisation deal with Saudi Arabia.

If Saudi Arabia and Israel secure a normalisation deal it will be a major achievement for the country. It earlier established diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco and these agreements could change the geopolitics of West Asia.

Saudi Arabia, a Sunni Muslim kingdom, is the most powerful country in the Arab world and home to the most sacred sites in Islam. The nation has considerable religious clout across the globe.

Saudi Arabia put its plans to normalise relations with Israel in deep freeze following the eruption of the Israel-Hamas war last year as it reordered its diplomatic priorities, according to Reuters.

Saudis are also eyeing a US defence pact in exchange of normalising ties with Israel, according to the news agency.
Chinese scientists, linked with the countrys military, have conducted experiments involving a deadly mutant strain of coronavirus in mice, according to a British media report.

The study, not yet published, has raised concerns about the potential risks associated with such research and the possibility of triggering another pandemic, UKs Daily Mail reported. The experiment involved cloning a Covid-like virus discovered in pangolins, known as GX_P2V, and infecting mice engineered to express a human protein.

Every mouse infected with the pathogen succumbed within eight days, revealing an unexpectedly rapid progression of the virus. The study noted elevated viral loads in the mices brains and eyes, indicating a unique pattern of multiplication and a potential spillover risk into humans. Professor Francois Balloux of University College London slammed the study as scientifically pointless and potentially risky.

I had a look at the preprint. Its a terrible study, scientifically totally pointless. I can see nothing of vague interest that could be learned from force-infecting a weird breed of humanised mice with a random virus. Conversely, I could see how such stuff might go wrong  Prof Francois Balloux (@BallouxFrancois) January 10, 2024

Professor Richard Ebright of Rutgers University expressed concern about the lack of information on biosafety precautions, raising parallels with research in Wuhan that may have contributed to the Covid-19 pandemic. The virus, GX_P2V, was originally discovered in 2017 in pangolins in Malaysia and stored in a Beijing lab, where it evolved over time. The study does not specify when the research was conducted, leaving uncertainties about potential mutations during storage.

Eight mice infected with the virus died within seven to eight days, accompanied by symptoms such as white eyes, rapid weight loss, and fatigue. According to Daily Mail, high viral loads were detected in various organs, including the brain, lungs, noses, eyes, and windpipes, suggesting a unique infection pattern compared to Covid. Severe brain infection appeared to be a key factor in the mices deaths, the report said.

The study underlines the potential spillover risk of GX_P2V into humans and raises questions about the biosafety measures employed during the research. This experiment echoes previous controversial research, with parallels to gain-of-function studies, which have been subject to several debates and ethical concerns.

The latest study does not seem to be linked with Chinas infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), which had been at the center of theories suggesting a lab leak related to the Covid-19 pandemic. US agencies discovered no conclusive evidence supporting the lab leak theory from WIV. However, they did not dismiss the possibility that the virus could have originated from an alternative source. Till date, the origin of Covid remains uncertain.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday termed India as an extraordinary success story, saying the policies and programmes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been very beneficial to the people of India.

During an interview at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024, he also said US President Joe Biden and PM Modi enjoy excellent relations and their conversations cover all aspects, including US-India ties.

Praising the expansion of US-India relations, the top American diplomat said the US and India are always in constant conversations and those cover all aspects, including on democracy and fundamental rights. Its part of very sustained and very real conversation we have always had, he said.

His answer came in response to a question on whether the rise of Hindu nationalism concerns India despite the countrys robust economic growth and infrastructure building under the Modi regime.

Israel-Hamas war

On the Middle East conflict, Blinken called on Israel to help rather than hinder the Palestinian Authority, saying that Israels long-term security was at stake. He Blinken renewed his call for a pathway to a Palestinian state even as Washington backs Israels Gaza campaign launched in response to the October 7 Hamas attack.

Youre not going to get the genuine security you need absent that. And, of course, to that end as well, a stronger, reformed Palestinian Authority that can more effectively deliver for its own people has to be part of the equation, Blinken said. An effective Palestinian Authority can only operate with the support, with the help, of Israel, not with its active opposition, Blinken said.

Even the most effective Authority is going to have a lot of trouble if its got the active opposition of any Israeli government, he said. The Biden administration has backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus call to eradicate Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, but has called for the Palestinian Authority gradually to take over control in the Gaza Strip.

Fighting has ravaged Gaza since Hamass Oct 7 attacks on Israel that resulted in the death of about 1,140 people. At least 24,448 Palestinians, about 70 percent of them women, young children and adolescents, have been killed in Israeli bombardments and ground assaults, according to the Gaza health ministrys latest figures.

(With agency inputs)
Tens of thousands of Iranians and a commander of Irans elite Revolutionary Guards, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, in 2019 urged former Iranian president Hassan Rouhani to give the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) more freedom to act against Pakistan for sheltering and harbouring separatist elements.

The Iranian armed forces officer was addressing a gathering which was mourning the 27 Revolutionary Guards killed in a suicide attack perpetrated by Jaish-al-Adl who Iran claims is backed by Pakistan, with support from Saudi Arabia.

The government of Pakistan must pay the price of harbouring these terrorist groups and this price will undoubtedly be very high. The Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer observe the previous reservations and will directly act to counter such acts," Jafari told mourners gathered at the city of Isfahans Bozorgmehr Square, according to an AFP report.

At that time, Jafari blamed Pakistans army and Inter-Services Intelligence agency for sheltering the perpetrators.

Irans former president Hassan Rouhani even demanded Pakistan act decisively against anti-Iranian terrorists" in a phone call with former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan in 2019.

He said that Pakistan should not allow other nations with vested interests to spoil Iran-Pakistan relations, alluding to the United States and Israel, as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which it accuses of aiding jihadist groups responsible for attacks from Pakistani soil.

Five years later, the Iranian government led by Ebrahim Raisi appeared to have taken steps to reduce the groups ability to conduct operations. Iranian media outlets reported that the nations armed forces destroyed the Pakistani headquarters of the jihadist group Jaish al-Adl in a series of missile strikes.

The Iranian governments actions did not happen in a vacuum.

Prior to the strikes that targeted Pakistans Balochistan region on Tuesday night where Iran believes Jaish-al-Adl is based, the separatist group carried out two attacks in December 2023 and earlier this month targeting Iranian forces in Rask.

Two attacks on security forces in Rask, which is located in Sistan-Baluchistan province, led to the deaths of 12 policemen within one month. Throughout 2023, the Jaish-al-Adl and Iranian forces engaged in several confrontations which left at least eight Iranian police officers dead.

Who Are the Jaish-al-Adl

Iran did not expect the skirmishes between Jaish-al-Adl and Iranian forces to intensify after it executed Abdolmalek Rigi, in 2010. Rigi founded the militant group Jundallah, as per his claims, to fight for better rights for Sunni Muslims in Shiite Iran.

The only thing we ask of the Iranian government is to be citizens. We want to have the same rights as the Iranian Shiite people. Thats it. We do not want discrimination between Sunnis and Shiites in this country. The Shiites are free to talk about their beliefs in public, to criticise and challenge the Sunni beliefs, by means of their books and the media. A Sunni, however, is not allowed to defend his beliefs, and to respond to the lies that the Shiites level against them on TV, in radio, in the press, and so on," Rigi told Al-Arabiya in an interview in 2008.

However, Iran claimed it had valid reasons to execute him. Jundallah carried out several attacks targeting Iranian forces and allegedly ambushed former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejads motorcade near Zabol, killing one of his bodyguards in 2005. They also carried out a bombing in Pishin killing around 40 people, including veteran commander Noor Ali Shooshtari.

The Jaish-al-Adl is one of many splinter organisations that emerged from Jundallah after Rigi was executed, according to the US Institute of Peace (USIP). The Iranian government recognizes it as the successor of Jundallah and alleged that Saudi Arabia and the US are key backers of the group, even though the US, Japan, and New Zealand, like Iran has labelled it a terrorist group.

The USIP report pointed out that Jaish-al-Adl appears to wield more power and influence than other organisations that broke out of Jundallah. It has taken on most of Jundallahs tasks and functions, serving as the primary symbol of Baluch resistance in Iran.

Jaish-al-Adl  Tactics

Jaish-al-Adls logo is green in colour and displays the organisations name in Arabic and English. It features scales of justice hanging from an assault rifle and crossed sabres above a Quran. The groups key leaders were Salahoodin Farooqi and Mullah Omar. The group has been also linked to al Qaeda cells in Pakistan and is known to support the Sunni opposition in Syria and Iranian Kurdish separatists. Jaish ul Adl conducts cross-border raids between Iran and Pakistan and uses Pakistani territory as a rear base for activities in Iran.

The group claimed responsibility and announced its formation by conducting attacks in October 2013, April 2015, and April 2017 which resulted in the deaths of Iranian border guards.

Unlike other Baloch insurgent groups, the Jaish ul Adl actively shares its operations on YouTube. In the videos shared it was seen that its fighters often dont retreat and instead close in on Iranian government forces while attacking them.

Tehran and Islamabad frequently accuse each other of allowing militants to operate from the others territory to launch attacks, but it is rare that official forces on either side engage.

(with inputs from USIP blogs, IRNA, AP and AFP)
The World Trade Organizations chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Wednesday said she was less optimistic about world trade in 2024, pointing to tensions in the Red Sea.

The head of the international trade body said weaker global economic growth, worsening geopolitical tensions, the new disruptions we see in the Red Sea, on the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal meant we are less optimistic. She was speaking to journalists at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos where political and economic elites are meeting to discuss global challenges.

Before the massive Hamas attack on Israel in October and the subsequent outbreak of war in Gaza, the WTO had predicted trade would grow by 0.8 percent in 2023 and projected growth of 3.3 percent this year. But Okonjo-Iweala warned the figure for 2024 would now be lower in future forecasts.

We think there are a lot of downside risks to the forecasts we had made last year of 3.3 percent of growth of merchandise volumes this year. So we expect weaker performance, she said. We will be revising estimates for this year, but they wont be ready for another month or so, Okonjo-Iweala added.

A spate of attacks by Yemeni rebels on Red Sea shipping has disrupted the vital trade route while the worst drought in decades to hit the Panama Canal has forced authorities to slow transits. Yemens Huthi rebels say their strikes are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The attacks have, however, also caused shipping companies to avoid the Suez Canal.

The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the death of around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. More than 24,400 Palestinians, around 70 percent of them women, young children and adolescents, have been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments and ground offensive since October 7, according to the Hamas governments Ministry of Health.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Tomorrow is the deadline for clarification of voter lists for polling stations established in the territories of military units, pre-trial detention centers, and penitentiary institutions for the upcoming presidential election in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

This is noted in the Calendar Plan of main actions and measures on preparation and holding of extraordinary presidential election in Azerbaijan.

According to the Calendar Plan, the lists should be clarified by precinct election commissions no later than 20 days before the voting day (January 18, 2024).

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.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Pakistan strongly condemned Irans missile attack in Balochistan on Wednesday, terming it an unprovoked breach of sovereignty. In an official statement, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry declared the air strike, targeting what Iran claimed were bases of a Sunni militant group, as an illegal act.

Islamabad said the responsibility for consequences is squarely placed on Iran. Pakistan announced the suspension of all ongoing and planned high-level visits and the recall of its ambassador from Iran. The Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, currently abroad, has been advised not to return temporarily.

Last nights unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistans sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever. Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act. The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran, the ministry said in a statement on its official Facebook handle.

We have conveyed this message to the Iranian Government. We have also informed them that Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being. We have also decided to suspend all high level visits which were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in coming days, it added.

Pakistan said that Iran carried out an air strike on its territory that killed two children, after Tehran launched attacks in Iraq and Syria against what it called anti-Iranian terrorist groups. Iranian news agency Mehrnews said the missile and drone response targeted the Jaish al-Adl groups headquarters in Pakistan, calling it another decisive step taken by Iran in response to the aggression against the security of our country.

Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl is blacklisted by Iran as a terrorist group and has carried out several attacks on Iranian soil in recent years. The strike came after Iran launched missile attacks on spy headquarters and terrorist targets in Syria, and Iraqs autonomous Kurdistan region. The Iranian strikes add to multiple crises across the Middle East, with Israel waging a war against Hamas in Gaza and pro-Palestinian Houthi rebels in Yemen attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

China, close partners of Iran and Pakistan, urged restraint, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning saying both should avoid actions that would lead to an escalation of tension. Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for an attack in December on a police station in Rask that killed at least 11 Iranian police officers.

The US has also labelled Jaish al-Adl a terrorist organisation, saying the group primarily targets Iranian security personnel but also government officials and civilians with assassinations, kidnappings, and suicide bombings. Tehran and Islamabad frequently accuse each other of allowing militants to operate from the others territory to launch attacks.

(With agency inputs)
Asserting that Pakistan is not a country of concern and it should be constructively engaged, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday urged US President Joe Biden to acknowledge its role in regional and global matters as the need of the hour.

Kakar is at Davos attending the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) summit. He was speaking with CNBC in an interview on the sidelines of the Summit.

The US last week designated China, North Korea, and Pakistan as Countries of Particular Concern for engaging in and tolerating particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

When asked what Pakistans message would be to the Biden administration ahead of the February 8 polls, the prime minister said: Pakistan is a country of consequence, not a country of concern so we Pakistan should be constructively engaged. He said Pakistan is a mid-sized power and its actual potential and role needs to be appreciated.

It is the need of the hour to recognise Pakistans role, be it in the region or at the global stage, The News International newspaper quoted Kakar as saying.

The caretaker prime ministers statements come a day after two bases of the Balochi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan were targeted in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan province by Iranian missiles and drones.

Responding to a question, the caretaker prime minister emphasised the need for a regional approach to deal with the challenge of terrorism.

When asked about relations with China, Kakar said Pakistan enjoys strategically close relations with Beijing.

He said no matter what happens in the region or anywhere else, nothing can affect Pakistans relationship with China, the report said.
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 18 Indian fishermen and seized their trawlers for allegedly poaching in the island nations waters, an official statement said on Wednesday, in the third such incident this month.

In a press release, the Sri Lanka Navy said the fishermen were arrested, and their two trawlers seized on Tuesday off the coast of Mannar in the northeast. The 18 apprehended fishermen were escorted to the Thalpadu Pier in Mannar and will be handed over to the Talaimannar Fisheries Inspector for further action, it said.

On Sunday, as many as ten Indian fishermen were arrested, and their trawler seized for allegedly poaching in the island nations waters, while 12 Indian fishermen were apprehended on Saturday.

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. Last year, the island nations Navy arrested 240 Indian fishermen along with 35 trawlers for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

(With agency inputs)
Donald Trump attended the New Hampshire rally on Tuesday after his decisive win in Iowa solidified him as the likely GOP presidential nominee. The former president secured 51 percent of Republican voters to defeat rivals Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley for the biggest Iowa caucus win.

Victory in next Tuesdays primary would mean Trump could all but seal the nomination as he aims for a sensational White House comeback despite a string of scandals that would sink most other politicians. At New Hampshire, Trump was accompanied by biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out and endorsed the former POTUS on Monday night.

BREAKING: Vivek Ramaswamy is on FIRE as Donald Trump welcomes him to the stage in New Hampshire in his first appearance after endorsing President Trump:We need a Commander-in-Chief who will lead us to victory in this war. pic.twitter.com/fUeeBSP8Do  Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 17, 2024

Last night I was truly honoured to welcome the endorsement of the man who has become a true leader and earned the admiration of so many patriots. I have been his friend even though we were competing against each other, the 77-year-old said at the rally as he welcomed the Indian American on stage.

Addressing Trump supporters, Ramaswamy said that the United States is in the middle of a war. Its not a war between black and white. Its not between Democrats and Republicans, even in a deeper sense. Its between the permanent state and the everyday citizen, between those of us who love the United States of America and a fringe minority who hates this country and what we stand for, he added.

The 38-year-old political novice said he called the former president earlier Monday evening to congratulate him on his victory in Iowa. Ramaswamy told supporters gathered at a Des Moines hotel that Trump will have my full endorsement for the presidency. And I think were going to do the right thing for this country. And so Im going to ask you to follow me in taking our America First movement to the next level, he added. Trump, in his victory speech earlier, said Ramaswamy did a helluva job in the campaign.

VP VP VP

BREAKING: Trump crowd chants VP VP VP after Vivek gets done speaking. Trump says hes going to be working with us for a long time pic.twitter.com/NV8P6hKrET George (@BehizyTweets) January 17, 2024

At the New Hampshire stage on Tuesday, the Trump crowd chanted VP VP VP after Vivek was done speaking. Despite bonhomie on both ends, the question remains if Vivek will stand beside Trump for the vice presidency if the former president returns to the White House. Trumps top advisor earlier had virtually ruled out the possibility that Ramaswamy would be the Vice President pick despite finding support for this prospect among Republicans.

Trump aide Jason Miller indicated that voters could probably exclude the Indian American candidate as the ex-presidents running mate. Pretty safe to say it wont be Vivek, Miller told the New York Post on Saturday. The youngest GOP candidate has previously said he is not a plan B person. However, after Monday nights endorsement, experts believe that things could change.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. President Ilham Aliyev has made Azerbaijan a key regional economic player, Valentina Chabert, the representative of the Sapienza University of Rome, a geopolitical analyst told Trend.

"Over the previous two decades, President Ilham Aliyev has been able to dramatically improve his country's economic situation, making Azerbaijan a vital regional economic actor as well as a reliable oil and gas provider not only for the European Union," she said.

According to her, this is especially evident since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, as in 2022, Azerbaijan, led by Ilham Aliyev, signed an agreement with the European Commission for gas supply, confirming its critical role in European efforts to reduce energy dependency on sanctioned Russia as well as in the European energy transition.

"Concurrently, Azerbaijan can contribute to the energy security of various countries in Eastern Europe, particularly in the Balkans, with which relations have greatly improved over the previous decade," Valentina Chabert said.

Speaking about regional connectivity, a geopolitical analyst noted that the presidency of Ilham Aliyev was a period of improved and ongoing renovation from the point of view of infrastructure.

"Not only can we mention the Middle Corridor, but also the development of railroad infrastructure connecting with Georgia, the Alat Free Economic Zone, and the Alat port, all of which demonstrate Azerbaijan's ability to attract investment and serve as a bridge between Europe and Asia. Similarly, during Ilham Aliyev's presidency, a crucial agreement was made with Russia, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan on the legal status of the Caspian Sea, bringing an end to a dispute that had been ongoing since the Soviet Union's demise in 1991. At first glance, this could appear as a minor event, but it represents instead a great achievement that will produce its results in the years to come and that will allow Azerbaijan to fully exercise the sovereign right to exploit natural resources in the Caspian Sea in accordance with the other mentioned riparian states," Valentina Chabert noted.

A geopolitical analyst pointed out that, last but not least, the full restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity in Azerbaijan can be considered the greatest success of Ilham Aliyevs presidency.

"Though it went through a war, anti-terrorist measures, and several low-intensity small-scale clashes, President Aliyev was able to forge regional and international relations to support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the respect of United Nations resolutions affirming that the economic region of Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan. In any case, alongside achievements, there are considerable changes ahead. This and the next few years will indeed be crucial for the signature of a peace treaty with Armenia, which will bring back peace to the South Caucasus after almost thirty years. Similarly, the reconstruction of Karabakh will require joint efforts and significant investments, as well as the development of attractive national policies that stimulate the Great Return of Azerbaijani citizens who were forced to leave the area because of Armenian occupation," she added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Editor-in-chief of the La Gazette du Caucase online newspaper based in Paris, renowned French journalist Jean-Michel Brun has published an article about the upcoming presidential election in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The article reads as follows:

On December 7, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, decided to bring forward the date of the presidential election scheduled for 2025 to February 7, 2024.

A decision that has not failed to provoke comment, especially in the French media, and not always kindly.

What is the reason behind this early election?

Since October 2023, the country's situation has changed radically. Occupied for almost 30 years by Armenian forces, Azerbaijan regained its territorial integrity following a 44-day war in 2020, and a blitzkrieg in 2023 that liberated the town of Khankendi, where the last Armenian separatist fighters had been concentrated.

This is the first time since the invasion of 1993 that Azerbaijan has regained sovereignty over its entire territory. The country is thus, in President Ilham Aliyev's own words, entering a "new era", which in his view justifies the need to set the record straight.

President Ilham Aliyev also mentioned a second, equally symbolic reason. It will be 20 years since he took office. His re-election is hardly in doubt, as Ilham Aliyev's popularity is currently at an all-time high. His handling of the conflict, which took everyone by surprise, including the Armenians, and ended in a resounding military victory, is approved by over 75 percent of Azerbaijanis. A stroll through the streets of Baku in recent months was enough to witness the spontaneous outpouring of popular jubilation, fuelled as it was by the ambitious program to rebuild the towns destroyed under Armenian occupation.

The return of the former inhabitants of Karabakh to their native lands has already begun and, for the first time since independence, all regions of the country will be able to take part in the ballot. Former refugees who were expelled from Karabakh in 1993 and who have now returned to Shusha, Aghdam, and Fuzuli in particular, will be able to take part in the ballot from the liberated territories. The fact that the first election to be held throughout the country is a presidential election is naturally a powerful symbol for the Azerbaijani nation.

Another reason for Azerbaijanis to support the outgoing president is that the situation in the region is far from stabilized, and his determination and strategic sense make him, in their eyes, the best candidate to negotiate a lasting peace with the Armenians and the main regional players.

The armed separatist groups that were able to escape from Karabakh and find refuge in Armenia are continuing their training there, with a view to the resumption of hostilities they are calling for, even if it means overthrowing the Pashinyan government, whose "defeatism" they criticize. France continues to lead the way in military and financial support for the Armenian nationalists, in particular with its promise to deliver heavy armaments to Armenia. The Azerbaijanis, who have witnessed the strategic skill of their leader, will undoubtedly renew their confidence in him to protect the country and ensure stability in the Caucasus, to show no weakness or procrastination in the face of potential external threats, and to further strengthen the country's military power. The state is expected to invest over 500 million euros in the defense industry by 2024.

President Ilham Aliyev's other success is economic. Azerbaijan is now recognized as a reliable energy partner by the EU, and an ambitious energy transition plan is being developed, notably through the construction of "smart", resource-efficient cities in the liberated Karabakh.

Other projects await the future president of the republic, such as the standard of living and the international cultural influence of Azerbaijan, a priority for the country's authorities.

According to the schedule, the election campaign begins 23 days before polling day and ends 24 hours before polling day. It began on January 15, 2024, and will end on February 6 at 8:00 a.m. The election will take place on February 7, based on a two-round first-past-the-post system for an unlimited seven-year term.

More than 17,500 observers will be accredited to monitor the presidential elections, Mazahir Panahov, Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, told journalists. He stressed that there would be three observers in each of the 6,300 polling stations: "The more observers, the better".
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested the Director General of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Mr Aaron Chigona on charges of criminal abuse of office.

Mr Chigona is accused of fraudulently issuing an Environmental Impact Assessment certificate to a company.

He is appearing at Harare Magistrates Court today.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday is taking up challenges by commercial fishermen to a fee requirement that could achieve a long-sought goal of business and conservative interests: limiting a wide swath of government regulations. Billions of dollars are potentially at stake in front of a court that, like the rest of the federal judiciary, was remade during Donald Trump's presidency by conservative interests that were motivated as much by weakening the regulatory state as social issues including abortion. Lawyers for the fishermen are asking the justices to overturn a 40-year-old decision that is among the most frequently cited high court cases in support of regulatory power, including on the environment, public health, workplace safety, and consumer protections, the AP reports.

Lower courts used the decision known colloquially as Chevron to uphold a 2020 National Marine Fisheries Service rule that herring fishermen pay for government-mandated observers who track their fish intake. The 1984 decision states that when laws aren't crystal clear, federal agencies should be allowed to fill in the details as long as they come up with a reasonable interpretation. "Judges are not experts in the field, and are not part of either political branch of government," Justice John Paul Stevens wrote for the court in 1984, explaining why they should play a limited role. The court ruled 6-0, with three justices recused. As the New York Times explains, "on paper," the case is "about a group of commercial fishermen who oppose a government fee that they consider unreasonable"but there's a lot more to it than that.

Opponents of the Chevron doctrine argue that judges apply it too often to rubber-stamp decisions made by government bureaucrats. Judges must exercise their own authority and judgment to say what the law is, the lawyers for the company that owns the Rhode Island based Relentless and Persistence fishing boats told the court. Conservative billionaire Charles Koch is backing the case, and one expert on environmental law explains why to the Times: "It might all sound very innocuous, but it's connected to a much larger agenda, which is essentially to disable and dismantle federal regulation." The Biden administration said that overturning the Chevron decision would produce a "convulsive shock" to the legal system, and environmental, health advocacy, civil rights, and organized labor groups are pushing for it to remain in place. (More regulation stories.)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday passed up a chance to intervene in the debate over bathrooms for transgender students, rejecting an appeal from an Indiana public school district. Federal appeals courts are divided over whether school policies enforcing restrictions on which bathrooms transgender students can use violate federal law or the Constitution. In the case the court rejected without comment, the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an order granting transgender boys access to the boys' bathroom, the AP reports. The appeal came from the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville, about 30 miles southwest of Indianapolis.

The federal appeals court in Richmond, Virginia, also has ruled in favor of transgender students, while the appeals court based in Atlanta came out the other way. Legal battles over transgender rights are ongoing across the country, and at least nine states are restricting transgender students to bathrooms that match the sex they were assigned at birth. In her opinion for the 7th Circuit, Judge Diane Wood wrote that the high court's involvement seems inevitable. "Litigation over transgender rights is occurring all over the country, and we assume that at some point the Supreme Court will step in with more guidance than it has furnished so far," Wood wrote.

(More transgender stories.)
UPDATE

Jan 18, 2024 12:00 AM CST

A shipment of medicine meant for Israeli hostages being held by Hamas entered Gaza late Wednesday, according to Qatar, which brokered the deal between Israel and Hamas along with France. A senior Hamas official says that for every box of medicine that arrives for a hostage, 1,000 will arrive for Palestinians in Gaza, the AP reports. Food and humanitarian aid will also be delivered to Palestinians as part of the agreement. Since France supports Israel, Hamas demanded that Qatar provide the medications, and it will not allow Israeli authorities to inspect the shipments.

Jan 17, 2024 12:30 AM CST

Israel and Hamas have reached a deal on medicine and aid amid the ongoing war in Gaza. In an agreement brokered by Qatar and France, the two sides agreed medicine will be delivered to Israeli hostages being held in Gaza in exchange for medicine and humanitarian aid being delivered to Palestinians in Gaza, CNN reports. This is the first deal between Israel and Hamas since the end of the temporary ceasefire in November, the AP reports.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Aykhan Hajizads, Spokesman for Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, dismissed the comments from EU Ambassador Peter Michalko about Azerbaijan's judicial system as unfounded, Trend reports.

"This claim is both groundless and irresponsible! It would be better if the Ambassador would concentrate on lack of justice and mistreatment in the court systems of certain EU countries," he wrote on his page on X.

Hajizada noted that interference in the judiciary of Azerbaijan that was built on best international practices is unacceptable.
Lloyd Austin was released from Walter Reed hospital on Monday, two weeks after being secretly admitted for complications following surgery for prostate cancer. Now, audio is out of the call requesting an ambulance be sent to the defense secretary's Virginia home on New Year's Day, with a special request made to the Fairfax County dispatcher. "Can I ask [that] the ambulance not show up with lights and sirens?" a male voice can be heard saying in the redacted 911 call released by Virginia officials. "We're trying to remain a little subtle."

Fox News identifies the voice in the call as that of an Austin aide. The ambulance was apparently subtle enough, because barely anyone knew of Austin's hospitalization, which has led to an uproar of sorts in DC. As Austin recuperates and works from home, his doctors say the 70-year-old "progressed well throughout his stay and his strength is rebounding," with an "excellent" prognosis, per the AP. Austin, meanwhile, says in a statement, "I'm eager to fully recover and return as quickly as possible to the Pentagon." (More Lloyd Austin stories.)
The 159 passengers of All Nippon Airways' Flight 118 only made it about an hour into their journey to Seattle Tuesday night before the plane turned around and returned to Tokyo. The cause? An unruly male passenger, this time one who an airline rep said bit a female flight attendant, reports CNN. She suffered minor injuries. The unnamed passenger, described by an ANA rep as a "heavily intoxicated" 55-year-old American, was detained by police upon the plane's arrival at Tokyo's Haneda Airport.
The United States on Wednesday put Yemen's Houthis rebels back on its list of specially designated global terrorists, piling financial sanctions on top of American military strikes in the Biden administration's latest attempt to stop the militants' attacks on global shipping. Officials said they would design the financial penalties to minimize harm to Yemen's 32 million people, who are among the world's poorest and hungriest after years of war between the Iran-backed Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition, the AP reports. But aid officials expressed concern. The decision would only add "another level of uncertainty and threat for Yemenis still caught in one of the world's largest humanitarian crises," Oxfam America associate director Scott Paul said.

Donald Trump's administration designated the Houthis as global terrorists and a foreign terrorist organization in one of his last acts in office. President Biden reversed course early on, at the time citing the humanitarian threat that the sanctions posed to ordinary Yemenis. Military strikes by the US and Britain against Houthi targets in Yemen have failed to stop weeks of drone, rocket, and missile strikes by Houthi forces on commercial shipping transiting the Red Sea route, which borders Yemen. The Houthis are one in a network of Iran- and Hamas-allied militant groups around the Middle East that have escalated attacks on Israel, the US, and others during Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

Critics say the additional broad US sanctions may have little effect on the Houthis, a defiant and relatively isolated group with few known assets in the US to be threatened. There is also concern that designating the Houthis as terrorists may complicate international attempts to broker a peace deal in the now-subsided war with Saudi Arabia. US officials said the sanctions would exempt commercial shipments of food, medicine, and fuel, and humanitarian assistance into Yemeni ports. The US will wait 30 days to put the sanctions into effect, officials said, giving shipping companies, banks, insurers, and others time to prepare. (More Houthis stories.)
Emergency services were called to the area on Sunday evening after a man was seen in difficulty in the water.

He was seen getting into the water from the rock breakwater, near the entrance to the Gulf Harbour Marina, between 8 and 9pm.

Police, with the assistance of Coastguard, have been searching the immediate area over the last few days but haven't found him.

"Searchers are continuing their efforts on Wednesday and we are now seeking information from the public in relation to our search," police said.

"Anyone who witnessed a male swimming out from the breakwater, or have any other information which may assist, is asked to please contact Police."

Information can be provided via our 105 phone service or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105, using Update My Report. Please reference file number 240115/5399.

Newshub.
Charges have been laid against former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman over shoplifting allegations, police confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.



"Police can advise charges have been laid as part of an investigation into shoplifting reports that are subject to ongoing public interest," a spokesperson said.

"These charges relate to incidents at a Ponsonby retailer that allegedly occurred on December 21 and 23, 2023."

Police said a 43-year-old woman has been charged with two counts of shoplifting and is due to appear at Auckland District Court on February 1.

Investigations into the allegations continue, police said.
That compared to four in 10 who said the economy was No. 1 and three in 10 who pointed to immigration.

National polling provides a similar picture. When Americans have cited matters involving foreigners as the country's top problem, they most often have referred to immigration and not foreign conflicts, Reuters/Ipsos polling over the last decade shows.

In a December Reuters/Ipsos poll, 6% of respondents nationwide said war and foreign conflicts were the U.S.'s most pressing problem, compared to 11% who cited immigration and 19% who pointed to the economy. Ten percent cited crime.

While domestic concerns have long dominated U.S. politics, isolationism has grown in recent years - particularly within the Republican Party - as Trump and other leaders have criticized U.S. aid to help Ukraine fight off Russia's 2022 invasion, while Trump has warned America could become ensnarled in a world war.

Foreign diplomats in Washington are scrambling to assess the former president's foreign plans, with Trump aides saying he would cut defense support to Europe, further shrink economic ties with China and again wield tariffs as a key tool of his foreign policy.

They have also expressed worry at congressional Republicans' opposition to Democratic President Joe Biden's request for more funds for Ukraine, for Israel in its conflict with Hamas and for Taiwan as it faces a more assertive China. The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives in November passed an Israel aid package that would offset that spending with cuts to the federal tax-collection agency, an idea the Democratic-majority Senate has rebuffed.

"Trump has been instrumental in raising questions about our alliances and our involvement in the world that were pretty much taken for granted," said Dina Smeltz, a public opinion expert at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

A Chicago Council poll in September found, opens new tab that 53% of Republicans thought the U.S. should "stay out of world affairs," the first time a majority of either party backed such an isolationist stance in the council's polls going back to 1974.

NATO SKEPTICISM

If elected to a second term following his 2017-2021 presidency, Trump is expected to install loyalists in key positions in the Pentagon, State Department and CIA whose primary allegiance would be to him, allowing him more freedom to enact isolationist policies.

Thierry Breton, a French commissioner who is responsible for the European Union's internal market, said earlier this month that in 2020 then-president Trump told top European officials the United States would never help Europe if it came under attack, and that Washington would withdraw from its NATO military alliance with European countries and Canada.

It is not just Republican lawmakers who are skeptical about aid for allies. Republican respondents to a January Reuters/Ipsos poll showed a similar view with one in three backing sending weapons to Ukraine, and just one in five when respondents were asked whether they support providing Ukraine with both weapons and money.

Nearly half of Republicans supported sending weapons to Israel. The level of support was slightly lower for both money and weapons.

Some of those closest to the United States have also expressed concerns about the prospect of another Trump presidency, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying on Tuesday: "It wasn't easy the first time and if there is a second time, it won't be easy either."

Reuters
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Mazahir Panahov visited the CEC's Independent Media Center, which started its work in connection with the upcoming presidential elections, Trend reports.

''Azerbaijan is intensively implementing several projects aimed at preparation, free, fair and transparent holding of extraordinary presidential elections scheduled for February 7, 2024,'' said Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan Mazahir Panahov.

He mentioned that they are actively working on creating comprehensive conditions and extensive opportunities for electoral participants with varying statuses.

The Center underwent inspection with the involvement of Commission members and Secretariat representatives. After getting acquainted with the established conditions, the CEC Chairman stressed the importance of providing local and international media representatives with free and easy access to information about the presidential elections. He also highlighted the need for more efficient and quality services for other participants in the electoral process and shared his recommendations on this matter. Subsequently, Mr. Panahov provided the media representatives with detailed information about the activities of the media center and the overall preparations for the presidential elections.

During the event, it was emphasized that the primary goal of the Independent Media Center is to offer broader opportunities to local and international media representatives, playing a crucial role in ensuring a high level of openness and transparency in the elections. The Center aims to assist them in comprehensive, prompt, and objective coverage of the elections, as well as in obtaining and promptly publishing information. Media representatives are free to utilize computers, telephones, and fax machines, along with enjoying free Internet access at the fully equipped Center, featuring modern information and communication technologies.

The Independent Media Center's website (www.secki-2024.az) regularly provides the latest information on the elections in Azerbaijani, English, and Russian languages. Competent individuals' and experts' opinions on various election-related issues, as well as statements and viewpoints, are promptly published, accompanied by the dissemination of photos and video recordings.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. The expert platform Baku Network has aired the latest episode of the analytical video project "Dialogue with Tofig Abbasov", Trend reports.

The guest on the program was Sevinj Fataliyeva, Deputy Chair of the International and Inter-Parliamentary Relations Committee of the Milli Majlis (Parliament).

She pointed out that Armenia consistently seeks excuses to avoid its commitments.

"As we enter 2024, there's a sense of cautious anticipation. Looking back at the events of 2023, it seems we're making some positive strides, even if it's in small steps. While we may not have achieved the goal of signing a peace treaty with Armenia, it wouldn't be fair to label it as a complete failure. However, history has shown that complete trust in Armenia is not warranted. The Armenian side always finds reasons to evade its responsibilities," she remarked.

Trend provides the full segment of the program:
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE, Jan. 17, 2024 /CNW/ - National historic sites reflect the rich and varied heritage of Canada and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our diverse history. Parks Canada's network of national heritage places represents the very best that Canada has to offer and share stories of who we are, including the histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples.

Green Gables Heritage Place. Photo credit: Parks Canada (CNW Group/Parks Canada)

The first stand-alone management plan for Green Gables Heritage Place was recently developed and comes as the site enters an integral milestone in its history, as 2024 will mark the 150th birthday of Lucy Maud Montgomery. Previously, Green Gables was included in the larger management plan for PEI National Park. Set to be renewed every ten years, management plans are a requirement of the Parks Canada Agency Act and guide the management of national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas.

The Green Gables Heritage Place management plan targets are outlined within three key strategies that will help guide the vision of the visitor experience of the site, the management of natural and cultural resources, and continued collaboration of partners, stakeholders and first nation communities. The three key strategies include:

Key Strategy 1: The Scope of Visitation

Key Strategy 2: The Pleasant Ache of Nature

Key Strategy 3: Working with Kindred Spirits

The management plan for Green Gables Heritage Place was based on input from Mi'kmaw partners of Prince Edward Island, the Indigenous community, stakeholder groups, tourism industry, nature and recreation groups, local residents as well as visitors past and present. Through this management plan, Parks Canada will protect an important example of cultural heritage in Canada, engage and collaborate with Indigenous peoples, and provide an opportunity for Canadians to experience and discover history in new and innovative ways.

The Green Gables Heritage Place Management Plan is available on the Parks Canada website at: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/pe/greengables/gestion-management/planning/plan-2023

To learn more about Green Gables Heritage Place, please visit https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/pe/greengables.

Quote

"National historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas are a source of shared pride for all Canadians. They are places where countless Canadians and visitor from around the world connect with history and discover nature every day. Green Gables Heritage Place is a site of international significance and has been drawing visitors to Cavendish, PEI for more than 80 years. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the management plan for Green Gables Heritage Place that will help shape the future of this treasured site."

Heath MacDonald

Member of Parliament for Malpeque, Prince Edward Island

Quick Facts

Green Gables Heritage Place is located in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island . Green Gables has become famous around the world as the inspiration for the setting in Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic tale of fiction, Anne of Green Gables .

. Green Gables has become famous around the world as the inspiration for the setting in classic tale of fiction, . L.M. Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site includes both Green Gables Heritage Place and the Site of L.M. Montgomery's Cavendish Home, which is privately owned and operated. Parks Canada works collaboratively with partners and stakeholders to ensure this important historic site is preserved and improved, and that the stories of this treasured site, the author, and her beloved fictional characters are presented and shared in a meaningful, engaging, and memorable way.

works collaboratively with partners and stakeholders to ensure this important historic site is preserved and improved, and that the stories of this treasured site, the author, and her beloved fictional characters are presented and shared in a meaningful, engaging, and memorable way. 2024 will mark L.M. Montgomery's 150 th birthday. Green Gables Heritage Place will be commemorating this historic milestone throughout the year.

birthday. Green Gables Heritage Place will be commemorating this historic milestone throughout the year. Green Gables Heritage Place underwent a site development project that was completed in the spring of 2019. The project included a new visitor centre, upgraded parking lot design, updated interpretive elements and a new gift shop and cafe. The new visitor centre was designed for energy efficiency and functionality that match the high levels of visitation of the site. The project received the following awards in recognition: Atlantic Wood design award 2019 Canadian Wood council Award 2020 AAPEI Lieutenants award of Excellence in Architecture 2022 Atlantic design awards 2022 SADMag Canadian Green Building Awards 2022



Associated Links

SOURCE Parks Canada

For further information: Joel McKinnon, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Parks Canada, PEI Field Unit, [email protected], 782-377-6854; Media Relations, Parks Canada, 1-855-862-1812, [email protected]
J. Ian Giffen , FCA, FCPA, CF

Chair, Kinaxis Inc., Lead Director, D2L Inc., and Director, CSA Group , and Stratford Festival





, FCA, FCPA, CF Nancy E. Hopkins, KC, (Hon) CPA, ICD.D

Chair, Arthritis Society Canada, and Director, Canada West Foundation





Isabelle Marcoux , CM

Executive Chair of the Board, Transconti nental Inc., and Director, Power Corporation of Canada





, CM Poonam Puri , LSM, LLM, ICD.D

Chair, Holland Bloorview Hospital, and Director, Colliers, DRI Healthcare Trust, Propel Holdings, Solaris Resources, Canada Infrastructure Bank

Biographies are available here.



"Good governance drives strong corporate performance, and this year's inductees embody the excellence, integrity and leadership needed in Canadian boardrooms," says Rahul Bhardwaj, President and CEO. "It's never been harder to be on a board, and directors must be prepared to deal with a variety of issues  new and old. Many of today's risks and opportunities weren't on boardroom agendas two years ago, but now they dominate the conversation."

The inductees are nominated by their peers and reviewed by a Selection Committee that includes highly respected individuals from the corporate director community across Canada. In addition to demonstrated leadership on the boards they serve, other contributions to excellence in governance are considered, such as thought leadership, education and mentorship activities.

To date, 105 directors across Canada have received the ICD Fellowship Award, including this year's recipients. The awards will be presented at the Fellowship Awards Gala on June 5 in Toronto as part of the 2024 ICD National Director Conference & Fellowship Awards Gala.

About the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD)

Established in 1981, the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) is a not-for-profit, member-based organization representing Canadian directors and boards across the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, credit unions and Crown Corporations.

As Canada's largest director community, the ICD creates forums for dialogue, hosts networking opportunities and provides access to world-class resources for more than 17,300 members across a network of 11 Chapters. Members who successfully complete the ICD-Rotman Director Education Program (DEP) and ICD-led examination process earn the highly recognized ICD.D designation.

ICD members provide board oversight across all sectors of the economy and institutions that impact the lives of virtually every Canadian. Learn more at icd.ca.

SOURCE Institute of Corporate Directors

For further information: Media Contact: Ryan Strang, APR, Director of Communications, [email protected]
Most people do not contextualize what is happening in the Ukraine War or the Gaza War with what they expect to happen in a war between China and Taiwan.

Ukraine and Russia have been fighting their larger expanded war for nearly 2 years. Both sides still have weapons and are continuing to hit each other every day. Ukraine has been told not to strike into Russia by the US and the UK. Conventional weapons take time to deliver devastating war damage.

Taiwan is loading up on medium and longer-range missiles. These are able to hit targets across eastern China.

Taiwan and Chinas missile are similar. China has some more long range missiles (DF-26) and Chinas conventional missiles warheads are about 2to 4 times bigger at 800 kg to 1.5 tons versus Taiwan with about 200-400 kilogram warheads.



Taiwan and China would both be able to hit each other with missiles. Both China and Taiwan have tunnels and underground protection for key weapon systems. Both have very important civilian facilities that are completely vulnerable to conventional attack.

Most Important Thing for Taiwan is Hitting Chinas troop ships

Taiwan can use long range missiles or planes to hit Chinas 80 troop ships when they go port once a war has started. The troop ships can also be attacked when they are located with satellites and other intelligence.

The US has a shortage of the best Harpoon anti-ship missiles and JDAM (precision missile guidance). The US has been delayed providing 400 anti-ship Harpoon missiles to Taiwan. The US is looking to modify older Harpoons with less sophisticated but workable launching to speed up delivery to Taiwan. At its peak, JDAMs manufacturer was able to produce around 45,000 JDAMs a year. A Powered JDAM  an innovative concept that would allow a standard 500-pound bomb to travel several hundred miles as a cruise missile  could provide a cheaper, near-term solution to complement the more expensive PGMs that take years to build.

The Joint Direct Attack Munition is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions, and the Extended Range variant (JDAM-ER) converts unguided bombs into precision-guided glide bombs with a range of up to 45 miles. The United States has produced JDAMs in large numbers  over 520,000 in 25 years. The current production rate is 10,500 per year, with a surge capacity of over 50,000. The US has provided about 1800 JDAM to Israel over the last 3 months.

Conventional missile attack is usually slow and not devastating in a day. It is devastating damage over weeks and months.

2000 conventional missile launchers for China and Taiwan about 200.

China and Taiwan both have longer range rocket artillery. They are not cannon-like guns but multi-rocket launchers. They both have systems able to fire 60-190 miles. There are not hundreds of thousands or millions of these short range rockets on either side.

The range of combat would mean 100 to 1000 times less damage being inflicted by Taiwan and China because they could only use long and mid-range rockets or airplane attacks.

The Ukraine and Russian war is showing that modern anti-airplane missile systems are very effective at preventing airplanes from being effective. Air defense is not perfect but it slows down the modern war from shifting into an air dominance phase.

51 russian missiles were used in a recent day. Some targets hit but not a big deal. 51 Russian missiles is less than what two B-52s could delivery in one pass. A B-52 has 20-40 times the bomb payload for one mission as one China missile and 80 times a smaller explosive Taiwan missile.

Ukraine is using 6000 to 10000+ artillery shells per day. This is over 100X the volume of missiles. Artillery has 3-10% of the explosives in a missile. Russia is firing back 40,000 artillery shells per day. Regular cannon artillery does not have the range to strike across the Taiwan Strait.

The China Taiwan war would not be able to shift into a high level of artillery unless China was able to effect a D-day style invasion and get a beachhead on Taiwan.

A long and mid-range missile with some air power war would be about 100 times less intense than what is happening in Ukraine now.

The US had complete air superiority over Iraq and still spent months hunting down Scud missiles and other launchers. Taiwan does not have to hide mobile launchers, they just leave them in caves and mountains that are too thick for bunker busters. Bunker busters which China are inferior and far fewer than US bunker busters.

The US has been able to use air power fairly extensively in several wars. This was against over matched opponents without effective antiair weapons. This got as high as 2000-4000 bombs or missiles per month in the war in ISIS. Hamas fired 20,000+ smaller, inaccurate missiles into Israel. Israel has been doing about 100-400 air strike each day in to Gaza.



The Blitz on London from September 1940 to May 1941 and the V1 flying bomb and V2 rocket attacks in 1944 caused a lot of damage. It is estimated that more than 12,000 metric tons of bombs were dropped on London. Modern missiles, planes and bombs would be more accurate. The amount of explosives would be comparable but we are better able to hit and destroy specific targets. This kind of battle or when Israel uses the air force and missiles only or when the US uses air force only, is more like what the China-Taiwan battle would be for months.

Conventional war is slow, both sides shoot at each other for a long time. Longer range air and missile war is even slower.

Taiwan has a mile of shallow water in most areas which means big troop ships would have to anchor and then send smaller ships over.

The US provided multi-year stockpile of missiles, JDAMs and artillery ammo to Ukraine. 1.5 million shells took about ten years to make. The US is trying to increase artillery production from 14000 per month to 87000 per month.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Colonel General Zakir Hasanov has met with a delegation headed by Deputy Minister of National Defense of Turkiye Celal Sami Tufekci, who is on a working visit to the country, Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence told Trend.

Prior to the meeting, the guests visited the graves of Azerbaijani National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Heydar Aliyev's spouse, outstanding scientist-ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva in the Alley of Honor, as well as Alley of Shehids (Martyrs' Alley) and the monument erected in honor of the Turkish liberating soldiers, laid wreaths and flowers, honoring their glorious memory.

Afterward, the meeting with the Turkish delegation was held at the Defense Ministry.

Colonel General Hasanov greeted the guests and expressed satisfaction with their visit to the country. The parties honored the glorious memory of the servicemen of both armies who became martyrs during military operations.

The minister noted that military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, as well as cooperation in other fields, is developing steadily. It was especially emphasized that the strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkiye is built based on friendly relations. The defense minister emphasized the invaluable role of friendly relations between the heads of the two countries in achieving a high level of bilateral cooperation.

Celal Sami Tufekci, in turn, was pleased by his visit to Azerbaijan. The sides emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation based on mutual trust and support.

Joint projects in the field of military support were highlighted at the meeting, which was also attended by the Ambassador of Turkiye to Azerbaijan Jahit Bagchi as well as the Turkish leadership of defense industry companies. Further expansion of bilateral cooperation in military, military-technical, and other areas, as well as regional security issues, were raised.
Three traditional rulers in Anambra State, who bestowed chieftaincy titles on the senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, have withdrawn them.

There has been a long drawn battle between Ubah and the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, stemming from the formers quest to replace the latter as governor.

Ubah had late last year joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, and he is touted to be APCs joker for Soludos ouster.

Meanwhile, within the yuletide, Ubah who has been noted to be a very strong politician with grassroot acceptability, was bestowed with several titles by different traditional rulers in the state.

Among them are: Igwe F.E. Ebelendu of Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area, Igwe Onwuamaeze Damian Ezeani of Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area and Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu of Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area.

The monarchs bestowed on the senator the following titles: Ikemba Ojoto (strength of Photo community), Odenjiinji Neni (Warrior of Neni Community)and Dike Eji Eje Ogu (warrior that can be taken to battle), respectively.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo who many have said is jittery of Ubahs growing influence has moved to clip the wings of the traditional rulers who awarded the titles.

Soludo started by suspending the erring traditional rulers, citing negligence of due process in awarding titles as contained in the traditional rulers council law.

But the traditional rulers involved, on Tuesday night, tendered an apology to the governor and also withdrew the titles.

In a press release by the Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr Christian Aburime, he said: The monarchs have respectively apologized to Anambra State Government and withdrawn and cancelled the phantom chieftaincy titles conferred on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, as it contravenes the State Traditional Rulers law.

The release further read: This action by the three traditional rulers was in direct contravention of the State Traditional Rulers code, which outlines the rules and regulations regarding the granting and revocation of chieftaincy titles.

Consequently, the titles of Ikemba Ojoto, Odenjiinji Neni and Dike Eji Eje Ogu earlier bestowed on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah have been withdrawn and cancelled by the three Igwes.

This was contained in their respective letters of apology to the State Government which also confirmed the withdrawal and cancellation of the Chieftaincy titles which they variously described as nullity.

The letters by the monarchs were also sighted by this reporter, where they withdrew the titles earlier conferred on Ubah.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Newly appointed Ambassador of Australia to Russia John William Geering has paid a courtesy visit to the doyen of the diplomatic corps, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia.

The Azerbaijani ambassador congratulated Geering on his appointment and wished him success in his career.

Many topics were discussed during the meeting, including current relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Ambassador Geering inquired about the situation in the concluded Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and noted that Australia has always supported the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

Bulbuloglu talked in detail about the history of the conflict, the years-long and inconclusive negotiation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the victory in the Second Karabakh War in 2020, as well as the local anti-terrorist measures taken on September 19, 2023, during which Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty. He also talked of the post-conflict period, large-scale restoration, and reconstruction works carried out in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador informed about the process of reintegration of the Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region into the legal and socio-economic environment of Azerbaijan. Bulbuloglu emphasized that peace, stability, and security in the South Caucasus are possible only through the establishment of good-neighborly relations based on mutual respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of both countries.

The issues of transport communications in the region were discussed during the meeting. Bulbuloglu spoke about the current situation in the development of the North-South corridor, the construction of a road through Iran, pointing out that Baku supports the fastest possible restoration and opening of all communications in the region.

Ambassador John Geering congratulated Azerbaijan on the selection of Baku as a host for COP29 in 2024.

The conversation was held in a sincere and trusting manner. The sides discussed various topics on the agenda between the countries and exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

Ambassador Polad Bulbuloglu thanked John Geering for the visit and expressed hope for further development of friendship and cooperation relations between Azerbaijan and Australia.

Following the visit, Gearing was presented with a book titled "Karabakh before and after occupation" published by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
The former Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Sunday said that President Bola Tinubu has refrained from using his ongoing war against corruption as a tool to witch hunt his political rivals unlike what obtained under the last All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The former PDP spokesman also alleged that under former President Buhari, serving officials of the government were conferred with immunity which resulted in unimaginable impunities and the wanton desecration of national values, wealth, and resources.

He said those in opposition between May 29, 2015 to May 29, 2023, were humiliated, degraded, and persecuted with the massive might of the state.

Chief Metuh said that the locust days appeared to be over, adding that President Tinubu has renewed confidence in the Nigerian project, especially in observing best democratic practices.

He said the president has restored regard for the liberty and freedom of individuals as well as for transparency and accountability.

Recall that under the Buharis administration, the former opposition spokesman was prosecuted on corruption charges but discharged by the courts.

But Metuh said that the Tinubus fight against corruption and financial crimes is different from a fight targeted at opposition figures whilst protecting and sparing those on the corridors of powers.

Noting the positive steps the president has already taken to retool the country, Metuh called on all Nigerians to set aside their various interests and support him.

Metuh in the statement he titled, Work in Progress: Why Nigerians Should Support President Tinubu, said, In the past eight years (May 2015 to May 2023) a vast majority of Nigerians lost hope and faith in the Nigerian project giving the deep damage done to the psyche of citizens, the economy, national unity and the practice of democracy in our country.

A lot of people were sceptical about the direction the nation was headed, giving the deep social wounds and the devastation done on every fabric of our nationhood.

Within those years, we witnessed a country where serving in government or belonging to the ruling party conferred immunity on individuals. This resulted in unimaginable impunities and the wanton desecration of national values, wealth, and resources. Those in opposition were humiliated, degraded, and persecuted with the massive might of the state.

However, in the last seven months, under the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there is renewed confidence in the Nigerian project, especially in observing best democratic practices. This government definitely appears to have regard for the liberty and freedom of individuals as well as for transparency and accountability.

The most reassuring step is the genuine, determined and uncompromising fight against corruption and financial crimes in the country, different and distinct from a fight targeted at opposition figures whilst protecting and sparing those on the corridors of powers.

Today, we see serving ministers and people who are holding top offices being removed from office and investigated for prosecution over corruption and financial crimes.

In the past, the fight against corruption was merely a political cum campaign tool fueled with massive media trials and only targeted at diminishing opposition shinning talents. The fight against corruption is now distinctive to persons who have questions to answer and not a tool for persecution.

More importantly, there is no more demarketing of Nigerians and Nigeria as a nation by those who tagged our hardworking youth as lazy and tarred innocent and resourceful Nigerians on the international arena with the brush of corruption.

Nigerians across board, have applauded the unprecedented patriotic stand for good governance in cutting the cost of governance at the federal level reflected in the recent slashing of all official entourage to state and international events by 60 per cent.

President Tinubu has demonstrated proactive leadership; a listening and approachable leadership that respects the sensibilities of Nigerians as well as the need to re-engineer our nation for greater multi-sectoral productivity.

This uncommon patriotism requires the recognition and support of all well-meaning Nigerians within the public, private and civil society sectors irrespective of political, ethnic, religious or vocational affiliations.

From that standpoint, I call on all Nigerians to set aside every sectional, political and religious sentiments and put the national interest first by supporting President Tinubu bearing in mind that his success is the nations success today and for generations yet unborn.

Nigerias future is much better served by contributions, inputs and constructive criticisms as obligations and duties of responsible citizens in every participatory democracy.

Finally, it is evident that there is a sure and steady move to where we want to be as a nation. This government indeed, is reflective of a good work in progress.




The Rivers State House of Assembly has rescreened and cleared all nine former commissioners who resigned from Governor Siminalayi Fubaras cabinet in the wake of the political crisis rocking the state.

Recall that the commissioners had, in November last year, tendered their resignation letters amid the face-off between Fubara and his predecessor, former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Terrritory, FCT.

However, Fubara, a few days ago, resubmitted the names of the nine nominees to the State House of Assembly for clearance.

During plenary on Wednesday, the former commissioners were asked to take a bow and leave the chamber.




Former AS Roma manager Fabio Capello has slammed the clubs owners, The Friedkin Group, for sacking Jose Mourinho.





Roma dismissed Mourinho on Tuesday following a poor run of form with the team this season.





The Serie A club replaced the former Chelsea boss with former Roma captain Daniele De Rossi.





As far as Mourinho is concerned, it seems to me that these American owners have a way of managing situations without respect for those who work with them. Lets remember how Maldini was sent away by Milan, now Mourinho with the methods of him In their parts there is no sensitivity, there is only business. I believe in something different, you need respect for those who work with you and certain things need to be communicated in other ways, Capello told Sky Italia.





I didnt expect it Above all, I didnt expect it to be this way. Mourinho was treated in the least respectful way possible, it is a way of doing things that doesnt convince me and that I dont accept.





He added, It happened to me with Russia: I was going to the airport, they called me and told me that the relationship was over.




Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), says if Rabiu Kwankwaso asks his supporters to dive into a fire, half of Kano state will gladly oblige him.

Kwankwaso is a former governor of Kano and an ex-presidential candidate - latest being on the NNPP platform. His supporters, easily identified by their traditional red caps, call themselves the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

Galadima spoke on Sunday night during an interview with Channels Television.

He described Kwankwaso as a person who "the people so much believe in".

The NNPP chieftain said Kwankwaso is still the leader of the party, adding that attempts to portray him in bad light failed.

"If Kwankwaso says go and fall into fire and die, I am telling you half of Kano people will do that because they so much believe in him, they trust him," Galadima said.

"There are some leaders of the APC that were paying some groups in the NNPP to try to portray Kwankwaso in a bad light and they are using them.

"But they had a taste of their own pill. They went to court in Anambra where the party was born in Awka and challenged the authenticity of the leadership of the NNPP.

"Do you know what the court ruled? If they ever mentioned that again, they would find themselves in Kirikiri.

"He is still the leader of the party and I want people to understand something. Kwankwaso was being called 'Madugu' before he joined even the PDP.

"He was also called 'Jagora'. The meaning of Madugu and Jagora is leader. So, he is not only a leader in NNPP, but he is also a universally accepted person as a leader and manager of human beings who has done well for the people.

"That is why they love him."
Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that his administration kept records of its stewardship, knowing he would always be required to account for the trust entrusted in him.

Buhari stated this in his remarks at the book launch that chronicled his achievements in the eight years he held sway as President.





The books are Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser Media and Publicity (20152023), authored by Femi Adesina and Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy (20152023), a compilation of about a hundred contributors edited by Dr. Udu Yakubu,





Buhari, who was visiting the nations capital for the first time since leaving office in May 29, 2023, said under his watch, nothing was done under the veil of secrecy.





While noting the efforts of authors of the books to document his administrations achievements, Buhari stated: Without documentation, revisionism wins.





Human beings often have short memories, and unless events are recorded in cold print, some people would come and attempt to either distort, or even obliterate recent history.





But the fact in our favour is that nothing was done under the veil of secrecy. We were as transparent and accountable as possible, being aware of the fact that posterity was the ultimate judge.





We kept records of our stewardship, knowing that we would always be required to account for the trust entrusted to us. This event today is part of accounting for our two terms in office, and I thank those who have laboured day and night to ensure this history is recorded for now and the future.





Government is a continuum. It is like a relay race. You run your course, and hand over the baton to the next person. This we have done.





President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration has my support and confidence, in the quest for us to have a country of our dreams, where there is emancipation for our teeming population.





With the cumulative achievements of government after government, I believe we will get there in no distant time.

In our journey to the desired destination, there will be hard decisions taken, and the people would bear some costs. We can only seek their understanding, and state that there was no intention to deliberately inflict pain and anguish on anyone.





This is why I apologized to such people at the end of our time in office. Sacrifices are still being made now, and will continue to be part of our national life and development. Governments will continually seek the understanding and support of the people they lead, for our ultimate good and goal.





Let revisionists not rejoice that they have the ultimate say in the bid to distort history. Facts and records will ultimately prove them wrong.

When some people engage in deliberate falsehood and distortion of facts that pertain to our tenure in office, I take solace in the fact that records are there, and will remain inviolable.




The Lagos State government has warned residents to be cautious in the purchase of plantain chips amid the spread of unwholesome practices concerning its processing.





Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency LASCOPA disclosed this in a recent statement in reaction to a viral online picture posted by an eyewitness showing a poisonous plantain chips seller allegedly adding Polythene known as Rubber into the hot vegetable oil used for frying the plantain.





The agency said it is investigating the matter and vowed to punish those responsible for the dangerous practice.





The Agency is investigating this discovery and will take appropriate actions to protect consumers and hold those responsible for the dangerous practice accountable.





Meanwhile, members of the public are urged to assist in calling the attention of appropriate government agencies, including LASCOPA, to all unfriendly and unlawful practices among sellers of consumable items that can put consumers health at risk.
A soldier attached to 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, shot himself in the head and died immediately.

According to sources in the Army, the soldier is popularly referred to as Boyi ThankGod.

The sources, who refused to be mentioned by name, disclosed that the soldier killed himself while on standby duty on Monday, the day Nigeria marked Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

A gory picture of the lifeless body of the soldier in the pool of his blood.

The source, who disclosed that the incident happened yesterday on Monday, January 15, said an investigation is ongoing to unravel the reason the soldier killed himself.

Another source said, We are just waiting for the military police officers to conclude the investigation to determine what led to the incident.

The spokesperson of the brigade, Mohammed Goni, could not be reached for comment at press time.




An Umuahia-based Radio/TV online station, ABN, was on Tuesday thrown into darkness after a guest, Mr Udensi Donald, who was on a live programme, was arrested by policemen.

Donald, who was live on a program Youth Rendezvous, was whisked away by policemen who broke into the studio of the station located in front of Matter Dei Cathedral, the headquarters of Catholic Diocese of Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

The officers, who brandished their identity cards on entering the live studio, initially refused to state the offense of the man they came to arrest but later said he was wanted because of a petition written by someone.

From a trending viral video on social media shared by some viewers, the staff of ABN and the guests were seen pleading with the policemen to allow the program to end or to explain his offense before arresting him.

The officers refused their plea and arrested the man, bringing the programme to an abrupt end.

Speaking to DAILY POST on Wednesday morning about the incident, the Director of ABN Radio/TV, Mr Ifeanyi Okali, decried the actions of the policemen, saying that microphone, laptop and camera were damaged during the struggle to arrest the guest.

He narrated that the invasion happened at about 2:40 pm on Tuesday, adding that the police claimed an elder brother to his guest wrote a petition against him over a family matter.

We find this very provocative and indeed an act of overzealousness by the officers who obviously acted in clear contravention of rule of engagement.

It clearly also negates the enhanced police-civil relations which the Commissioner of Police, CP Kene Onwuemelie, has consistently campaigned for, he said.

Okali lamented that staff of ABN who were invited by the Abia State Police Commissioner to explain what happened, were allegedly harassed by police officers at the CPs office who again threatened to arrest them.

He described the invasion as unprovoked, demanding the replacement of destroyed equipment and an apology from the Abia State Police Command.

The Command was yet to react to ABN managements statement as the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Maureen Chinaka, did not pick her phone call and did not respond to messages sent to her at the time of writing this report.




Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, on Wednesday said there was a conspiracy to ensure that the 2023 presidential election did not hold.

Soyinka said people who were calling for an interim government were bent on annulling the 2023 presidential election.

The Nobel Laureate made the claim while speaking with Channels TV on Wednesday.

He said, I am alleging that there was a conspiracy from the very beginning, before the election, to make sure the elections did not take place or that even if the voting did take place, that everything be reverted to what happened under Babangida (former military Head of State General Ibrahim Babangida).

When we all just woke up and discovered that even though the results have been calculated, even though the results were in possession of international bodies, including monitoring embassies and so on, even though we had the results directly, it was suddenly annulled.

History was about to repeat itself, some people were determined to take us back to those days.

So, for me, it was no longer a contest between individuals, it was now a contest between the so-called interim political party and democracy.

When you have a binary like that, I have no doubt or hesitation about what side of the barricade my position should be.
President Bola Tinubu says Muhammadu Buhari, his predecessor, did a wonderful job during his time in office.

Tinubu spoke on Tuesday at the launch of a book written by Femi Adesina, ex-media aide to Buhari, titled Working With Buhari: Reflections of A Special Adviser Media and Publicity (2015  2023).

He said Buhari took over office at a very difficult time.

The president thanked the organisers of the book launch for providing him with the opportunity to reunite with his predecessor.

The book launch was Buharis first official visit to Abuja since he handed over power to Tinubu on May 29, 2023, and left for Daura, his hometown in Katsina state.

Let me thank the organisers of todays book launch for providing me the opportunity to reunite with my predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari since he left office on May 29 2023, Tinubu said.

After handing over, he said I will be far away in Daura. We have partnered to make democracy flourish in Nigeria. Thank you for being who you are.

Being here face to face with you is being here with a great documentation of history, candour, integrity and character.

You assumed office at a very difficult time in our nation slide. The economy was prying into recession, Boko Haram has taken over so many local governments and some parts of the country.

It is easy to forget that the United Nations building was attacked here in Abuja. It is easy to forget the role of the armed forces.

But, if this book is carefully read and taught in time of substance in our various schools, the job of securing every inch of our nation may not be completed, but you did a wonderful job.

And we will not rest I promise you until every agent of darkness is eliminated.

Tinubu also commended Buhari, whom he described as a man of integrity for not intruding in his administration or breathing down his neck to nominate persons for his cabinet.

After handing over, you said I will be far away in Daura but if you need me, contact me. But I wont intrude in whatever you are doing. I wont interfere or breathe down your throat, he said.

Weve partnered to make democracy flourish in Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari, thank you. Except when I call you to say how are you living. Are you in the farm? We dont hear from you either to nominate or intrude in the cabinet or complain about anything. Thank you for being who you are.

When you left the office, you left many battles and a bunch of tasks for me for continuity. And Ive told people I inherited the asset and liability of my predecessor no matter what you say.

We always joke sometimes, and you say you can never please Nigerians but yours is to focus, work hard and satisfy your conscience. You have done that. It is reflected.

You served our country with dedication and uncommon zeal. I was talking to somebody last night that I will be at this book launch and he said oh, I remember you sold us Buhari. And I said, stop where you are, Im not talking to you about a disclaimer. Im talking to you about a programme that I really appreciated and will continue to appreciate.

Being here face to face with you is a great documentation of history, candour, integrity and character.

The author of the books might have done their best but what Nigeria will gain from the book is what history must do and that history is in the book. And Im glad history has been reintroduced and it is part of the curriculum in various schools and it will be emphasised. I promise you.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Each Azerbaijani citizen is to make the right choice during the presidential election, said Chairman of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Committee on Education and Science Bakhtiyar Aliyev, Trend reports.

The chairman highlighted that Azerbaijan is holding its first extraordinary presidential election since establishing full territorial integrity and sovereignty. For three decades, the Azerbaijani people have followed a historical route that led to this election. The pragmatic and successful program launched by Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in 1993 has been seeking to ensure the Azerbaijani people's happiness, prosperity, and security.

He stated that the maintenance of this non-alternative policy was critical for the newly independent Azerbaijani state. Political continuity is an important aspect of strengthening the state.

"Between 1991 and 1993, Azerbaijan faced a tremendous threat with serious repercussions. The Azerbaijani people vividly recall Heydar Aliyev's return to political leadership in 1993, which prevented both civil massacres and the demise of statehood. Another watershed moment in our history occurred with the 2003 presidential election. Choosing a political leader capable of avoiding threats, unifying people, maintaining and confidently pursuing national interests, ensuring stability, and steering the country toward a positive future was a historical need at the time," he said.

Bakhtiyar Aliyev emphasized that in 2003, the Azerbaijani people elected exceptional statesman Ilham Aliyev as president in order to continue National Leader Heydar Aliyev's visionary agenda. This win represented the people's unshakable support for the great leader's program and vision at a critical juncture in history.

"Analyzing the dynamics of Ilham Aliyev's support in the presidential election reveals a steady growth in votes, cementing him as the clear national leader. On October 15, 2003, he received more than 76 percent of the vote, followed by 88.73 percent on October 15, 2008, 84.54 percent on October 9, 2013, and 86.02 percent on April 11, 2018. These results highlight the people's limitless and unwavering faith in President Ilham Aliyev, demonstrating their enduring trust. His unprecedented historical achievements for the nation and state have garnered him great love and admiration," he noted.

Bakhtiyar Aliyev underscored that during his two-decade leadership, President Ilham Aliyev introduced a model of political activity characterized by rational judgments, political realism aligned with national objectives, and a commitment to political culture, moral standards, and national political ethics within Azerbaijan's political system.

As per his statement, the state program for the development of regions, endorsed by President Ilham Aliyev in 2004, along with economic diversification, the cultivation of human capital, the establishment of technology-based industries, and other reforms, have yielded significant results in a brief timeframe.

"It's noteworthy that in 2006, Azerbaijan claimed the top spot globally with a real GDP growth rate of 32.5 percent. This remarkable economic achievement became a focal point of global discussions at the time. However, it marked just the outset. Under President Ilham Aliyev's visionary development approach, state budget funds surged from approximately $3 billion in 2003 to about $38 billion in 2023," he remarked.

Due to President Ilham Aliyev's adept foreign policy focused on national interests, Azerbaijan swiftly gained prominence in the international arena, transforming into an influential global political player. The country's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2011, with the trust of 155 countries, highlighted its growing influence and rapid economic development. Moreover, in 2016, Azerbaijan unanimously assumed the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) for 20192022, a significant role in an institution uniting 120 countries after the UN General Assembly. Under Azerbaijan's chairmanship, the NAM's role in global affairs saw a notable increase, marked by the introduction of new initiatives and heightened involvement in shaping world processes.

Bakhtiyar Aliyev highlighted the substantial economic projects undertaken by Azerbaijan, propelling the nation into a major transport hub that plays a pivotal role in the contemporary global economy.

"The Trans Caspian International Transport Route (TMTM) corridor stands out as a highly efficient and functional transit system for cargo transportation. Additionally, Azerbaijan actively contributes to the establishment of new transportation corridors, a key factor shaping the country's economic development," the chairman said.

"Thanks to extensive efforts, systematic measures, and profound reforms directed by President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has evolved into a politically and macroeconomically stable nation. It stands as a secure country and serves as the political, economic, and cultural nucleus of the region. Azerbaijan is not only an initiator and active participant in significant energy, transport, and infrastructure projects but also a reliable partner in securing Europe's energy needs. Furthermore, it has become a member of the global space community and a crucial transit hub," he said.

He underscored that, as acknowledged by foreign experts, the Republic of Azerbaijan, guided by an independent policy rooted in mutual trust and national interests, currently stands as a model of political stability, peace, progress, and tolerance on the international stage.

"In all his speeches, President Ilham Aliyev has consistently emphasized our primary objective  the crucial task of safeguarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our nation. Every initiative undertaken is dedicated to addressing this paramount challenge. Thus, in addition to foreign policy and economic development, there has been swift progress in establishing a modern army. The armed forces of Azerbaijan, shaped and nurtured through the exceptional contributions of national leader Heydar Aliyev, have evolved into one of the 50 strongest armies globally. This transformation is a result of systematic and steadfast efforts under the guidance of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev. The armed forces are being equipped with diverse military hardware, armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and small arms  all integral components of the reforms crucial for securing our historic victory," the chairman added.

Under the leadership of the triumphant Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan achieved a historic victory in the Second Karabakh War. The restoration of the country's territorial integrity, which was violated for nearly 30 years, and the liberation of Shusha, regarded as the cultural cradle of the Azerbaijani people, represent the pinnacle of President Ilham Aliyev's triumph. Through the resolute leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the unity of the people, and the strength of the Azerbaijani army, the Second Karabakh War, starting on September 27, 2020, and the 23-hour anti-terrorist measures on September 19-20, 2023, eradicated Armenian separatism in Azerbaijan once and for all, restoring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.

Bakhtiyar Aliyev emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev, as a triumphant commander, decisively shattered Armenian myths during the Second Karabakh War. He showcased to the world that the true heroes, courageous soldiers, and officers are the Azerbaijani warriors who, scaling steep cliffs, liberated the ancestral stronghold of Shusha and etched the date of Victory - November 8 - into history. Simultaneously, Aliyev highlighted the historical absence of a state, army, or heroic warriors among Armenians.

He underscored that President Ilham Aliyev, by fostering unity among the people and promoting civil solidarity, executed a series of coherent political, economic, and social reforms, leading to sustainable economic development. On the battlefield, he put an end to the nearly 30-year occupation of Karabakh by Armenia, fully restoring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"Currently, the Republic of Azerbaijan has established a new geopolitical reality in the region, playing a pivotal role in shaping fresh political and economic relationships aligned with this reality. Notably, the nation has achieved economic development despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Second Karabakh War. Adequate measures have been implemented to safeguard the social well-being of the population, ensuring their health, security, and the defense of the country," he said.

"A preliminary comparative analysis of Azerbaijan's development over the last 20 years reveals that the state's consistent pursuit of economic diversification has led to both the sustainable and enduring development of the country. Simultaneously, this approach has effectively reduced the state's and population's dependence on the oil sector. Life has demonstrated that President Ilham Aliyev's political will to implement large-scale reforms, coupled with a well-conceived new model of economic development and an innovative, flexible management system, has effectively secured the attainment of set objectives," he added.

"Under the astute guidance of President Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani people are fortifying the modern Azerbaijani state to meet the challenges of the millennium. Azerbaijan stands as a state founded on the principles of the rule of law and democracy, where fundamental human rights and freedoms are fully safeguarded. The Republic of Azerbaijan is steadfastly progressing on the journey of democratic development. It is imperative for everyone to recognize unequivocally that any actions contrary to the national interests, independence, and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan will be met with a resolute and appropriate response," the MP said.

Bakhtiyar Aliyev highlighted that President Ilham Aliyev is ushering in a new phase in the construction of a modern Azerbaijani state.

According to him, President Ilham Aliyev, engaging with former IDPs in the newly constructed towns and settlements for them, expressed, "We are striving to ensure that you live well and comfortably. And we will construct even more beautiful cities and towns after liberating our lands from Armenia's occupation; we will unquestionably accomplish it." The endorsement of the I Great Return Program and the swift restoration of liberated territories, employing state-of-the-art technologies through projects like Smart City and Smart Village, serve as a tangible testament to the Head of State fulfilling his commitment," he emphasized.

"Former IDPs have now reclaimed five settlements, actively contributing to the revitalization of their homeland from their beautiful and comfortable homes. By 2026, an estimated 140,000 former IDPs would return to their native countries, notably Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, to begin a new chapter in their lives. This demonstrates once more that the Azerbaijani people, led by President Ilham Aliyev, are masters of their fate and unwaveringly committed to progress. The unbreakable political will of the Azerbaijani people remains steadfastly united around their leader and successful commander, President Ilham Aliyev," he said.

"I am confident that in the extraordinary presidential election scheduled for February 7, 2024, every Azerbaijani will cast their vote for the distinguished statesman and architect of modern Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. Under his leadership, our state will undoubtedly achieve new remarkable successes, ushering in an era of Great Revival," Bakhtiyar Aliyev concluded.




A Royal Court in Jersey, United States, has reportedly ruled that stolen assets worth 6.9m ($8.9m) be repatriated to Nigeria.

The said assets were allegedly diverted by Nigerian government officials in 2014 under the guise of purchasing arms to fight Boko Haram terrorists.

According to BBC, the court ruled that the money, deposited in a Jersey bank account, was likely stolen by officials in the Nigerian Government in 2014.

Controversies had surrounded the purchase of weapons in the fight against insurgency with the then National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, being accused of diverting funds meant for security equipment during Jonathans administration.

Also in late 2014, a private jet was arrested in South Africa with $10m cash, which was allegedly meant for the purchase of military weapons.

However, the order of the Royal Court in Jersey followed a forfeiture notice to the court by Jerseys Attorney General, Mark Temple KC.

The court held that the funds were deposited in a Jersey bank account and were not used for the arms purchase.

Temple said the Government of Jersey was in close partnership with Nigeria on the repatriation of the funds.

The AG claimed part of the funds were shared with family members of politicians in the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2015 general election.

This case again demonstrates the effectiveness of the 2018 Forfeiture Law in recovering the proceeds of corruption and restoring that money to victims of crime.

I now intend to negotiate an asset return agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he said.




Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike on Wednesday commenced confidence-building visits to Area Councils in the territory, declaring that security agencies would henceforth make it hot for bandits.

Wike who visited Bwari town, headquarters of Bwari Area Council, held a town hall meeting with the residents, traditional rulers, security, defence and intelligence personnel in the area and other stakeholders.

The minister is expected to also visit other Councils in the coming days.

At the event, Wike declared that enough was enough and that informants working for the bandits would not linger be able to sleep among decent residents.

He said; Security is one of the key priorities of Mr. Presidents administration. Yesterday (Tuesday), Mr President summoned a high-level security meeting, which includes all the Service Chiefs, the Minister of Defence, and my humble self, because of recent attacks, particularly in Bwari. And so, currently, it is one of the key priorities, that Mr. Presidents Renewed Hope Agenda will want to face squarely.

It is no longer going to be business as usual. My coming here today is to show you that we are serious. To all those bandits, enough is enough. We will do everything in our power to make sure that this does not happen again.

Everything has to be done to protect lives and property. Without protection of lives and property, then we have no business in government. My coming here today is to assure you that we are very serious. All those criminals, bandits, enough is enough. We will do everything in our power to make sure that we will not allow this to happen again. That is why just this morning, Mr. President has given me approval, to provide everything required to the security agencies. And just like what Etsu-Bwari and Sarkin-Bwari said, it is not by merely talking, we are serious.

Security agencies will not have any reason to say that they are not equipped; we will provide everything required. I know how big Bwari is, I know that you have boundaries with three states -Niger State, Kaduna State and Nasarawa State. I know because these bandits were chased away from the Northeast, so they are making their way here, we will make it hot for them.

Wike also sought the assistance of the people especially with regards to providing information to security agencies.

Without information there is nothing we can do and that is where you come in. Traditional and community leaders, you have a great role to play. You need to assist security agencies with information.

In the next few days, you will see action from the security agencies. There could be informants even here within this meeting hall. I dont care who you are. I dont care. I am the Minister of FCT. You wont sleep again. Informants, you wont sleep again.

This message is not just for Bwari but to all the Area Councils. From time to time, we will come here and interface with you. We wont sit down in the city.

The minister advised the public against resorting to crowdfunding in a bid to raise funds for ransom, saying it helps terrorists to launch more attacks.

We have to stop this idea of going to radio to say we are going to raise money. When you do that, these bandits are happy that people are concerned and raising money. I know you are concerned that your loved ones are with kidnappers but we must do everything to discourage them, he stated.

Earlier, Chairman of the Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya recalled that in the week leading to last Christmas, kidnappers violently attacked the peaceful agrarian community of Tokulo seriously injuring a number of residents and abducting some of the villagers.

This was followed by another attack on the border community of Kuduru, where two people were killed and the kidnappers also abducted some residents.

Before the end of December 2023, kidnappers also invaded Zuma village, a suburb of Bwari town, killing two persons and abducting some others.

Sadly again, within the first few days of the New Year, kidnappers attacked Dutse-Sagwari, a community along Dutse -Bwari Expressway. A number of people were also abducted during this attack. This sad incident was closely followed by another attack on Padan-Gwari Village, where kidnappers abducted some villagers, too. And most recently, kidnappers launched another ferocious attack on Kawu Village, during which they injured a number of people and kidnapped some.

These are the sad and sorrowful experiences we have been passing through in the last one month. Despite the enormity of these calamities, the Council has refused to be overwhelmed and defeated.

He solicited the help of the minister in providing the needed logistics to security agencies in tackling the security challenges, including vehicles, motorcycles and regular fueling of the vehicles for optimum results.




Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, has criticised the Anambra government over the suspension of Damian Ezeani, traditional ruler of Neni community.

On January 8, Chukwuma Soludo, Anambra governor, suspended Ezeani for conferring a chieftaincy title on Ifeanyi Ubah, a senator representing Anambra south district.

Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, had said the code of conduct for traditional rulers in the state mandates that no monarch can confer a chieftaincy title on anyone from outside his community, without obtaining the permission of the traditional ruler of the recipients community.

Ubah is from Otolo, a community in Nnewi north LGA of Anambra.

OBI OF ONITSHAS RESPONSE

In a letter dated January 12, Obi of Onitsha, who is the chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRC), berated Nwabunwanne for accusing traditional rulers in the state of conferring traditional titles on individuals for pecuniary gains.

The Obi averred that the letter stating the suspension of Ezeani lacked respect and sensitivity in addressing traditional rulers in the state.

Without providing evidence for your sweeping statement about trading chieftaincy titles for money, you also, wittingly or not, thereby indicted the entire traditional institution of the state, the Obi said.

Your press release to a global audience put the institution into disrepute when a direct circular letter to all traditional rulers as the parties of interest would have sufficed.

The tone and language of your letter were, by any measure, a public riot act and pontification to the same majority of traditional rulers that you extolled as acting with dignity and integrity.

The letter lacked respect and sensitivity in addressing the traditional rulers of Anambra State, who, by any standard, are held in very high esteem in the comity of the traditional institutions of Nigeria and beyond.

DESCRIPTION OF SENATOR IFEANYI UBAH IS OFFENSIVE

The Anambra monarch also faulted Nwabunwanne for describing Ubah as one Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in the suspension letter, adding that it is disrespectful and offensive.

Your reference to a second-term Right Honorable Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as one Senator Ifeanyi Ubah is most disrespectful, offensive, and unbecoming of one holding a political office as Commissioner, the monarch said.

It is noteworthy that a person can only qualify to contest elections after scaling through the highest level of security checks at the federal level.

The Anambra monarch said the suspension of Ezeani and the threat of withdrawal of the certificate of recognition suggest that there may be other issues with either Igwe Neni or distinguished senator Ubah, which are being stealthily ventilated in the circumstance.

The Obi of Onitsha averred that the manner in which the state government is handling matters of conferment of honorary chieftaincy titles is the apogee of the progressive dehumanisation and dismantling of the traditional institution under Soludos administration.
A Paterson man was arrested and charged with making cyber threats that included bomb threats and shooting threats, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said Tuesday.

Brandon M. Hernandez, 28, of Paterson was arrested on Jan. 11 and charged with third-degree terroristic threats and fourth-degree cyber harassment.

The Bergen County Prosecutors Office Cyber Crimes Unit noticed a troubling pattern of threats to shoot and bomb government buildings and judges on social media in November of 2023, the office said. Hernandez was identified by investigators as the person allegedly responsible for the posts, authorities said.

A spokesperson for the Bergen County Prosecutors Office did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.

Hernandez previously pleaded guilty to fourth-degree cyber harassment and threats of violence in 2021 in Bergen County. He was sentenced in May of 2021 to three years probation.

Hernandez is currently being held at the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in court. No defense attorney was listed for Hernandez Tuesday evening.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
Walmart is closing two underperforming stores in California next month after the retailer was unable to reach an agreement with property owners and decided not to renew the leases.

The shutdowns for this year come as Walmart shuttered 24 of its stores across 14 states and Washington, D.C. in 2023.

Walmart Store Closings 2024

The following closures are in stores in San Diego County, in the following cities, according to The San Diego Tribune:

Walmart Neighborhood Market on Imperial Avenue, San Diego

Walmart at Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon

Both stores will close Feb. 9, 2024.

Employees at the stores will have the opportunity to get jobs at other locations.

Even though Walmart is downsizing their footprint, there are still more than 4,000 Walmart locations across the U.S.

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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
A 27-year-old Jersey Shore man was arrested over the weekend on charges he sexually assaulted a child in Wildwood.

Jose Lopez-Ortiz is charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, the Cape May Prosecutors Office said Wednesday.

The victim is under the age of 13, according to the Cape May County jail website.

An investigation began Friday and Lopez-Ortiz, of Wildwood, was arrested the following day.

Attorney information wasnt immediately available.

Anyone with information is asked to call the prosecutors office 609-465-1135, or visit cmcpo.tips or cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip. Cape May County Crime Stoppers can be reached at 609-889-3597.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Operators of a Newark hospital and some of its investors will pay nearly $30.6 million in a settlement with the federal government after the facility was accused of falsifying Medicare reports and getting unjustified reimbursements.

Silver Lake Hospital, a long term care facility, agreed to pay $18.6 million, plus interest, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Tuesday. The hospitals investors agreed to pay $12 million, plus interest.

The hospital is owned by Columbus LTACH. It specializes in long-term acute care, according to legal records filed by the U.S. Justice Department.

Attorney information for the hospital was not immediately available on Wednesday.

The payments will be made over five years, officials said.

The long-term care hospital inflated its service costs to get higher reimbursements through the Medicare program, prosecutors said. Millions in those reimbursements were also handed down to the hospitals investors.

Medicare serves to ensure that patients get necessary care, including when that care is very expensive, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a statement. Medicare is not there for hospitals and their investors to gain unwarranted financial windfalls. As alleged, this hospital falsely reported its costs to Medicare for years and reaped millions in unjustified payments.

The hospital abused Medicares outlier payment system, in which the government reimburses a medical provider in cases where care costs are unusually high. The system was developed by Congress as a way to incentivize hospitals to treat patients whose care costs may be expensive, prosecutors said.

Instead of using the outlier payment program as intended, Silver Lake was caught fraudulently obtaining enhanced reimbursements from Medicare they were not entitled, FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said in a statement. Whatever magic trick or sleight of hand hospitals attempt to use to perpetrate fraud, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will diligently investigate and recover any ill-gotten gains.

The settlement also resolves allegations Silver Lake sent millions of dollars to its investors when hospital officials thought they would not be able to pay back Medicare.

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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
Former Gov. Jim McGreevey has raised nearly $900,000 in his 2025 bid for Jersey City mayor, roughly 15 times the the fundraising effort of the only other announced candidate, Hudson County District 2 Commissioner Bill ODea.

Since announcing in November, McGreevey raised $867,828 in the three months through the filing period that ended this week, mostly from outside of Jersey City, according to contribution and expenditure reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. ODeas mayoral campaign collected $59,254 over roughly that same span.
A North Bergen man previously convicted of child pornography offenses admitted Wednesday to possession of more than 1,300 images and video of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Christopher Carvajal, 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to one count of possession of child pornography. He faces between 10 and 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 when he is sentenced May 22.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
HONOLULU (AP)  In life, Abigail Kawananakoa embodied the complexities of Hawaii: Many considered her a princess  a descendant of the royal family that once ruled the islands.

But she was also the great-granddaughter of a sugar baron and inherited vast wealth thanks to Westerners who upended traditional ways of life through the introduction of private property and the diversion of water for industrial plantations.

Now, more than a year after her death at age 96 and the bitter battles over her fortune in the twilight of her life, her estate has been settled. And recently finalized court documents show that after doling out tens of millions to various people  including former housekeepers, other longtime employees and her wife  there will be at least $100 million left to support Native Hawaiian causes.

Kawananakoa cared deeply about advancing Hawaiian culture, and resolving her estate is meaningful to Hawaiians because it is the last of whats known as alii, or royal, trusts, which were set up by royalty to benefit Native Hawaiians, said Dr. Naleen Naupaka Andrade, executive vice president of Native Hawaiian health for The Queens Health System. The health system was created from a trust established by Queen Emma in 1859.

Quite frankly, the needs of Hawaiians in education, in social welfare, in housing, in health far exceed the capacity of these trusts, she said. They augment what federal and state dollars should be doing for Hawaiis Indigenous peoples.

Many have been watching where the money ends up because of concerns about the fate of the foundation Kawananakoa set up to benefit Hawaiians. Kawananakoas trust will perpetuate Native Hawaiian culture and language, Andrade said.

According to documents in the probate case for her estate, $40 million will go to her wife. Settlements have also been reached with about a dozen other people who had claims, including someone described in court documents as her hanai son, referring to an informal adoption in Hawaiian culture.

Legal wrangling over Kawananakoas trust, which now has a value of at least $250 million, began in 2017 after she suffered a stroke. She disputed claims that she was impaired, and married Veronica Gail Worth, her partner of 20 years, who later changed her name to Veronica Gail Kawananakoa.

In 2020, a judge ruled that Abigail Kawananakoa was, in fact, impaired, and thus unable to manage her property and business affairs. The estate has been overseen by a trustee.

She inherited her wealth as the great-granddaughter of James Campbell, an Irish businessman who made his fortune as a sugar plantation owner and one of Hawaiis largest landowners. She held no formal title but was a living reminder of Hawaiis monarchy and a symbol of Hawaiian national identity that endured after the kingdom was overthrown by American businessmen in 1893.

Over the years, some insisted Kawananakoa was held up as royalty only because of her wealth. They disputed her princess claim, saying that had the monarchy survived, a cousin would be in line to be the ruler, not her.

She put her money toward various causes, including scholarships, medical bills and funerals for Native Hawaiians. She supported protests against a giant telescope because of its proposed placement on Mauna Kea, a sacred mountain in Hawaiian culture; donated items owned by King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani for public display, including a 14-carat diamond from the kings pinky ring; and maintained Iolani Palace  Americas only royal residence, where the Hawaiian monarchy dwelled, and which now serves mostly as a museum.

Historically significant items belonging to Kawananakoa will be delivered to the palace, said a statement issued by trustee Jim Wright on behalf of her foundation.

Her trust has been supporting causes dear to her, including programming at the palace such as night tours and cultural dinners, and paying for students at Hawaiian-focused schools to visit cultural sites and experience symphony performances in Hawaiian, Wright said.

After Internal Revenue Service clearance, the foundation will receive the leftover money, which Wright estimated to be at least $100 million, to fund similar efforts.

Kauikeolani Naniole, an educator at Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School in Honolulu, said her school recently received money from the trust for busing to community events.

In those small ways, they make big impacts for schools like us, she said.

She called Kawananakoa an unsung alii because she often donated to causes and people anonymously.

According to documents establishing her foundation in 2001, Kawananakoa wanted it to maintain, support, preserve and foster the traditional Hawaiian culture in existence prior to 1778  the year the first European explorer, Capt. James Cook, reached the islands. That includes Hawaiian music, religion, language and art.

Andrade recently visited Kawananakoas crypt at Mauna Ala, also known as the Royal Mausoleum State Monument, which is the burial place of Hawaiian royalty. She laid an offering of maile leaves entwined with white ginger  a flower Kawananakoa loved.

All of the pilikia  all of the trouble  that occurred in the last several years after she became ill: What was lost in all that was her love of her people, Andrade said. Her deep, deep love and the thoughtfulness she had, and the foresight she had before she became ill about wanting to leave a legacy for her people that could make a difference.

 By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER Associated Press
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. The Deputy Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Agil Gurbanov has met with the delegation led by his Turkish counterpart Celal Sami Tufekci, who is on a working visit to Azerbaijan, the country's Defense Ministry told Trend.

The prospects for the growth of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye were examined during a meeting at the International Military Cooperation Department.

The two sides discussed in depth a number of military-technical problems of mutual concern.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
It went bad very fast.

Newark Battalion Chief Al Maresca, who had been among the first on the scene when fire broke out aboard the Costa Grande dAvorio at Port Newark, had never before fought a shipboard fire in his 36 years with the department. Testifying Tuesday at a U.S. Coast Guard inquiry board into the fatal blaze, he recalled the initial response as crews began showing up on the night of July 5 to Berth 18 where the vessel was docked.
A coalition of Jersey City neighborhood groups is once again putting the post-COVID issue of hybrid public meetings in the news.

The 21 groups request that Zoning Board, Planning Board and Historic Preservation Commission meetings continue to be livestreamed in a way that members of the public can speak  and not just watch -- gives us the opportunity to advocate once again for hybrid meetings for all local governing bodies.

As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. And during COVID, virtual meetings on platforms like Zoom proved an invaluable way to keep everyone safe while still conducting the business of the people with their input. A perhaps unforeseen side effect was the participation of people who may have always had an interest in whats going on at City Hall but were  for whatever reason; it doesnt matter  unable to get to public meetings.
Tammy Murphy wants us to believe that concerns about nepotism, and her paltry qualification to serve in the U.S. Senate, are driven by sexism.

Im not sure a male would be asked this question, she said at a meeting Morris County Thursday night. If my name had been Tommy Murphy, I dont think people would have minded. I dont think anyone cared when Tom Kean ran.
A deep freeze is on the way Tuesday night in New Jersey, and that has weather forecasters concerned about untreated roads and highways turning into a slippery  and potentially dangerous  mess.

With light snow and freezing rain already coating the ground, and some of that precipitation melting, theres a risk of it turning into sheets of ice, forecasters said.

There is a concern tonight just because of how cold we are expected to get across New Jersey, and really across the whole area, said James Tomasini, a meteorologist at the National Weather Services regional forecast office in New York, which covers New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and northeastern sections of New Jersey.

Anything from any snow melt today or any areas that received rain, any untreated surfaces, there is a possibility for ice, Tomasini said Tuesday afternoon.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation weighed in on the issue  warning drivers about thin layers of tough-to-see ice, known as black ice, forming on some roads and highways Tuesday.

BLACK ICE WARNING



Freezing rain and dropping temperatures are causing black ice conditions across the state. Use extra caution while driving this afternoon (especially on bridges and ramps as they freeze before regular road surfaces) and slow down during the evening commute. pic.twitter.com/E2FNdjWaXU  NJDOT (@NewJerseyDOT) January 16, 2024

Temperatures are already hovering in the mid- to upper 20s across most of New Jersey late Tuesday afternoon, with a few coastal areas right near the freezing mark of 32 degrees. Making the situation worse, Tomasini said, is the forecast for temperatures to take a nose dive tonight  down into the teens.

That will be the regular air temperature, by the way, not the wind-chill forecast.

Things wont get much better on Wednesday, with afternoon highs (not lows) expected to be stuck in the low to mid-20s across the region. They normally should be in the upper 30s to around 40 degrees in the middle of January.

Asked if he is concerned about icing on roads, New Jersey meteorologist Steven DiMartino said, Very concerned.

Temperatures are crashing through the 20s into the 10s, DiMartino, head of the NY NJ PA Weather forecasting company, said. Anything wet on the ground now is going to be solid ice by 8 p.m.

Snow will transition to an icy mix from south to north early this morning before tapering off. Snow will be more persistent NW. Temps moderate near the coast, but stay near or sub-freezing elsewhere. Very cold tonight! #pawx #njwx #dewx #mdwx pic.twitter.com/UHNery24T8  NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) January 16, 2024

Winter weather alerts

In northeastern sections of New Jersey  Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties  a winter weather advisory remains active through 7 p.m. Tuesday, with forecasters calling for some additional light snow, possible ice and slippery roads with hazardous conditions.

In the rest of New Jersey, the National Weather Services Mount Holly office has issued a special weather statement also warning drivers about the potential for icy roads.

Temperatures tonight will drop into the single digits (in northwestern New Jersey) and low teens, the weather service said. Any standing water on untreated roads will freeze and roads will become icy. Please exercise caution when traveling tonight.

This is how thick the freezing rain was in some areas of New Jersey Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 16, according to the National Weather Service.Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Current weather 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.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or on X at @LensReality.
UPDATE: Up to 6 inches of snow in forecast. Winter weather advisories issued for 15 counties.

Another winter storm is in the forecast for New Jersey on Friday with 2 to 4 inches of snow expected across most of the state as bitter cold temperatures continue over the next few days.

The below-freezing temperatures Wednesday morning  including single-digit lows in some northwestern towns  have triggered concerns about black ice and slick roads from the snow, rain and wintry mix that fell on Tuesday. Hundreds of school districts also called for delayed openings on Wednesday due to icy conditions.

After navigating the morning commute, forecasters are shifting attention to the next winter storm that could bring flurries to New Jersey late Thursday with the bulk of the upcoming snow falling during daylight hours Friday, forecasters say.

The National Weather Services initial forecast map for this storm predicts:

3 to 4 inches: for much of Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic and southeastern part of Camden an Gloucester counties.

2 to 3 inches: southern Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, Cumberland Salem counties, along with part of Camden and Gloucester counties closer to Philadelphia.

1 to 2 inches: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union and Passaic as well as Sussex and northern Warren

Less than 1 inch: Most of Cape May County and along the southern half of the Jersey Shore.

Significant travel disruptions are possible on Friday due to snow that could mix with sleet, the weather service said.

AccuWeather.com is calling for 1 to 3 inches of snow statewide in New Jersey from Thursday night through Friday night.AccuWeather.com

AccuWeathers snowfall forecast map calls for 1 to 3 inches across all of New Jersey.

Because of a wedge of milder air, there will likely be a zone of wintry mix or rain for a time around Delmarva to southern New Jersey, AccuWeather said. However, that mild period may be brief, and accumulating snow may occur during the last part of the storm system Friday or Friday evening.

Temps this afternoon will only climb to the high teens in northwestern areas of the state and the mid-20s in South Jersey, the National Weather Service said.

Some flight cancellations are persisting Wednesday. As of 6 a.m., 25 flights out of LaGuardia, 23 from Newark Liberty and 10 scheduled to take off from John F. Kennedy International have been canceled, according to FlightAware.com. No flights from Philadelphia have been canceled.

Despite sunny skies, it will not really feel milder today. After lows in the single digits & teens this morning, highs... Posted by US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly on Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Ahead of the storm Friday, temps should rebound Thursday with highs in the 30s and cloudy skies.

Though the sun will be out, itll feel even colder. Winds chill values will be in the single digits this morning and the teens in the afternoon as winds of 10 to 15 mph gust as high as 25. Highs this time of year normally range from the mid 20s to about 40.

After the Friday storm clears out, the weekend should be dry and sunny. Sunday is expected to be about 10 degrees milder than Saturday, when highs will only be in the 20s. Itll be plenty cold at night with the mercury plunging into the teens.

A warming trend is expected into next week, according to AccuWeather.

Coldest spots in New Jersey

These were the coldest temperature readings across the Garden State early Wednesday morning, according to data from the Rutgers NJ Weather Network:

2 in Walpack, Sussex County

4 at High Point Monument, Sussex County

4 in Sandyston, Sussex County

6 in High Point, Sussex County

7 in Hackettstown, Warren County

8 in Vernon Township, Sussex County

8 in Wantage, Sussex County

9 in Kingwood, Hunterdon County

Current weather radar

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Len Melisurgo contributed to this report.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov left on a working visit to the Republic of Uganda today, Trend reports, referring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the visit, the Minister plans to attend the 19th Summit of Non-Aligned Movement Heads of State and Government, as well as undertake bilateral discussions with high-ranking local and foreign authorities.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 27F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
Keep an eye out on Thursday: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival announces its 2024 music lineup on Jan. 18, the fest said on social media. The festival returns to the New Orleans Fair Grounds April 25 through May 5.

JUST RELEASED: New Orleans Jazz Fest 2024 lineup: Foo Fighters, Chris Stapleton, Vampire Weekend and more join The Rolling Stones

So far, we know The Rolling Stones will headline the festival on Thursday, May 2, and that this year's Locals Thursday now takes place Thursday, April 25. But Jazz Fest didn't give any details in its posts about this year's lineup  we'll just have to wait for Thursday.

Gambit will be reporting on Thursday's lineup announcement, so keep up with us here and on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest details.
Kroger and Albertsons will sell more than 400 stores, including 28 in Louisiana and Texas, and other assets for about $1.9 billion, seeking to clear a path for a merger with antitrust regulators reviewing a deal that would unify two of the nation's largest grocery chains.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Today, France pulled yet another anti-Azerbaijani move, and honestly, it's becoming less and less of a shock. The French Senate passed a resolution backing Armenia and pushing for sanctions against Azerbaijan, and get this  the vote was 336 to 1. Talk about a triumph.

If only all this effort actually amounted to something. Firstly, these resolutions carry next to no legal weight. Basically, it is just a fancy way of suggesting to Paris how it should deal with Azerbaijan.

And let's not even get started on the content of this "document". It is a typical biased narrative in favor of Paris's Armenian friends. They are throwing around claims of non-existent aggression from Azerbaijan and Karabakh Armenians supposedly being "kicked out". It is like a carbon copy of what Baku accused Yerevan of for over 30 years. The kicker? The French senators' claims are backed by absolutely zilch, except for the wild imaginations of their Armenian pals.

Paris is not only undermining Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and pointing fingers at supposed wrongdoings but is also trying to turn all of Europe against Baku.

It is crystal clear that this strategy of attacking Azerbaijan is heading straight for a train wreck, legally and politically. Firstly, because there is a lack of concrete evidence - some of these actions have already been shot down. And secondly, because Azerbaijan's role in the region and diplomatic clout are on the rise, with fewer countries likely to join in on this nonsense.

As rightly pointed out by Azerbaijan's high officials, France's involvement in the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a thing of the past.

Azerbaijan's Presidential Representative for Special Assignments Elchin Amirbayov in his comments to LOpinion, condemned the biased pro-Armenian position of France, including the French sides continued supply of weapons and equipment to Yerevan, as well as its active attempts to promote a draft anti-Azerbaijani resolution in the UN Security Council.

"France is now removed from its role as a mediator [between Azerbaijan and Armenia] and is even harming the EU's role in this matter," he said.

In simpler terms, France is basically painting itself into a corner. It would be one thing if everything was absolutely perfect within France, but the country is dealing with a truckload of problems  and that is not even considering its foreign policy, where Paris keeps digging itself deeper and deeper.
Members of the Lafayette Academy band and dance team perform for NOLA Public Schools and Community Academies of New Orleans officials as well as members of the Leah Chase family during a ceremony renaming the Lafayette Academy Lower School building to the Leah Chase Building.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Today, the French Senate adopted an anti-Azerbaijani resolution with 336 votes in favor and just one against.

Natalie Goulet is the lone senator who voted against this resolution. We decided to get her perspective on this document and its potential consequences.

As Natalie Goulet stated in an exclusive interview with Trend, the resolution adopted today in the French Senate is aimed against peace in the South Caucasus.

"This resolution is against reality, peace and stability, and a better future for the South Caucasus. The authors of this document have totally forgotten the history of Armenian occupation," she said.

The senator pointed out that Armenian diaspora in France is playing a toxic and highly dangerous game.

"Its useless and against the peace," she added.

Meanwhile, discussions were held today in the French Senate regarding the bipartisan resolution proposed on December 1, 2023. The resolution aims to condemn the so-called "military aggression" in Karabakh and "prevent further attempts of aggression against the Republic of Armenia and violations of territorial integrity".

The resolution also calls for guarantees of the right of the Armenian population of Karabakh to return.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Azerbaijan and Japan discussed bilateral cooperation, said Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov on X (Twitter), Trend reports.

"Within the Davos Economic Forum, we held a meeting with Eddy Pirard, the President and CEO of Japan Tobacco International Company, and Ana Veljkovic, the Director for International Affairs. Our discussions focused on bilateral cooperation with the company. Additionally, we addressed the upcoming events within the framework of COP29 to be hosted by Azerbaijan, as well as the attraction of the private sector to the activity of COP29," said Jabbarov.

Japan Tobacco International was formed in 1999. The company's mission is to nurture the internationally recognized brand roster while leading the way in reduced-risk products and new ways of doing business.

The decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023.

Besides Azerbaijan, both Armenia and Bulgaria nominated their candidatures. However, after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia on December 7, 2023, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in favor of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed suit and also withdrew its candidacy.

On January 4, 2024, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, was appointed as President of COP29.
Pierogi Fest in Whiting is the first festival from Northwest Indiana to be featured on the cover of the Indiana Festival Guide, a widely distributed tourist brochure.

The statewide booklet is a staple at rest stops, museums, hotels and tourist attractions across the Hoosier State. A half million copies of the 116-page publication are distributed at 1,200 locations across Indiana.

We are proud to earn the distinction of the front cover," said Tom Dabertin, chairman and co-founder of Pierogi Fest. "Pierogi Fest has won a number of accolades as one of the best festivals in the nation; the front cover is a confirmation of the hard work that more than 600 volunteers undertake annually to make it a success."

The Indiana Festival Guide is distributed across all 92 counties in Indiana, from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River and from Terre Haute to Richmond. It tells people about festivals, fairs, gatherings and special events like the 500 Festival, the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, the Fort Wayne Water Lantern Festival and the Lotus Music and Art Festival in Bloomington.

This is the first time a festival in Northwest Indiana has ever been featured on the front cover," said Heather Becerra, chief marketing officer of the South Shore CVA and associate board member of the Indiana State Festivals Association. "Each year an event from a different region of the state is showcased. The covers have already been approved through 2030. The next opportunity for a Northern Indiana festival to be featured wont be until 2036. This is a great opportunity to highlight one of the most unique festivals in all the Midwest.

Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Pierogi Fest will take place from July 26 to July 28 this year. More than 75 food booths will serve pierogi, halupki, buttered noodles, Polish sausage and 1,200 other menu items along 119th Street in downtown Whiting.

It kicks off with the polka parade featuring Mr. Pierogi, the buscias and the Precision Lawnmower Drill Team. The weekend-long festival features seven live entertainment stages, two beer gardens and 55 arts and crafts vendors.

A copy of the Indiana Festival Guide is available at 7770 Corinne Drive in Hammond

For more information, visit www.indianafestivals.org.
LAPORTE  A 43-year-old truck driver is charged with leaving the scene of a highway crash last weekend that left another motorist incapacitated in a burning vehicle in the frigid cold with serious injuries and a predicted hospital stay of at least a month, according to a court document.

An Indiana State Police trooper said he responded around 8:15 p.m. Sunday to the local eastbound lanes of Intestate 94 where he found a 2015 Ford F250 with a Mississippi license plate stopped in the right lane with significant front-end damage.

Region firefighters battle residential blaze in frigid conditions "Units arrived on scene to find a multiple family dwelling, smoke and flames showing," the department reported.

The driver, who was trapped in the crashed vehicle and complaining of "everything" hurting when asked about his condition, reportedly told the officer he ran into the rear of a semi-trailer truck that was breaking extremely fast.

A medical helicopter was called to fly the injured driver to South Bend Memorial Hospital for care after he was extricated from his vehicle, police said. The trooper said it was 11 degrees below zero at the time he arrived at the crash scene and the wind chill was 26 degrees below zero, which he said could have helped extinguish the flames reported earlier on the vehicle.

Noticing the semi-trailer truck in question was no longer at the scene, police, using a description provided by a witness to the crash, began a search and located the damaged truck with a Texas license plate at the nearby Love's Travel Stop in Michigan City.

Medical copters called in for 2 following head-on crash, county EMS says "Upon arriving on scene it was determined both patients were in need of air medical transport due to injuries."

The driver, Gabriel Ramirez Guzman, who had a Mexican commercial driver's license and was in the parked vehicle, reportedly told police he heard a "pop" while driving on the highway and thought a tire on his vehicle had blown. He said he drove to the truck stop and claimed he did not notice the extensive damage to the rear of his trailer, police said.

"Based on the amount damage to the Ford and the amount of damage to the Wabash trailer, it is not plausible that Guzman would not have noticed the collision occurred," police said.

A blood draw was taken from Guzman to check for signs of intoxication and he was taken to the LaPorte County Jail on a felony count of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in serious bodily injury, records show.

Police said they later learned the injured driver suffered a fractured hip, fractured shinbone, fractured wrist, damage to his gums, bruised eyes, several cuts on his face and body, fractured elbow and bruised internal organs.

Police were also told the driver's "left leg was completely broken from the hip to the toes and that he would need surgery involving metal being placed into his leg to try to fix it," according to a charging document filed the LaPorte County prosecutor's office.
EAST CHICAGO  Police chasing two men in a stolen vehicle Tuesday found themselves staring down the barrel of the driver's gun before he was taken into custody after shots were fired, according to the arrest report.

East Chicago police, who released images of the encounter captured on a citywide camera system, say they were called out shortly before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to the 3500 block of Guthrie Street in reference to a stolen Jeep Cherokee in the area.

East Chicago pursuit Police chasing two men in a stolen vehicle Tuesday found themselves staring down the barrel of the driver's gun before he was taken into custo

Officers said they located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, which resulted in the driver and passenger fleeing.

"The pursuit ended in Hammond after the stolen vehicle struck several vehicles near the intersection of Cline Avenue and Calumet Avenue," police said. "Both occupants exited the vehicle, and the passenger was immediately apprehended."

The driver jumped a divider wall and fled on foot, according to police.

"While chasing the driver, officers observed the driver point a semi-automatic handgun at them," police said. "Officers advised the suspect to drop the weapon, but he refused. One officer then fired 3 shots at the suspect, and the suspect stumbled to the ground."

Man confines, points gun at head of pregnant woman, Portage cops say When the woman tried to flee the apartment, the accused reportedly pulled her back in and locked her inside, police said.

The driver continued to resist, but was taken into custody.

"Officers then checked the suspect and observed that he was not struck by the gunfire," according to police.

The driver, identified by police as 32-year-old Brion Dowdell, of Clinton, Iowa, had a U.S. Marshals Service warrant for his arrest for a weapons offense.

The passenger was identified as 25-year-old Antonnette Johnson, of East Chicago.

Portage cops bit, spit at during public intoxication arrest, report says Just two blocks into his drive to jail, he allegedly bit the officer driving the vehicle.

Police said they recovered a .45-caliber Glock modified with a Glock switch from the suspect. The gun was reported stolen from Marion County, Indiana.

The Jeep Cherokee was reported stolen out of Chicago, police said.

"Our Gang and Narcotics Division is currently investigating the case," East Chicago police said.
CROWN POINT  For months, a man who has been incarcerated at the Lake County Jail has trafficked controlled substances into the building through mail and books shipped via Amazon, court documents allege.

Cordero Miller, 31, of Chicago, was charged Thursday with dealing a schedule II controlled substance, a level two felony. Miller allegedly is the primary organizer of the trafficking operation, according to information written in a probable cause affidavit.

An intelligence analyst for the Lake County Sheriffs Department who was monitoring phone calls made in the jail heard discussion that alerted him to the possibility drugs being brought into the building. A jail staffer intercepted a piece of mail believed to be laced with a substance and it tested positive for phencyclidine, a hallucinogenic drug known as PCP, the affidavit said.

The substances are also supposedly brought in through books shipped through Amazon, the lone shipping partner of the jail. An associate of the trafficking ring dips the pages in the substance, boxes it up and ships it to Miller under the guise of an independent book seller via Amazon.

The pages and books are distributed to men throughout the jail and smoked, the affidavit said. The operation allegedly has gone undetected for months.

Detectives searched Millers bunk Dec. 20 and found a discolored book with a bizarre odor. Pages had been ripped from the book, the affidavit said. They found communications between him and his girlfriend that included a username for Cash App and two other instances in which incarcerated people at the jail agreed to send money to the username. A laced book was found in the cell of one of the men who had agreed to send money.

Miller is in the jail on charges he participated in a gang-related shooting in 2022 that left one person dead and three wounded outside a bar in Hammond. He was denied bail, although it was granted for one of his co-defendants.

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said he could not answer questions about the drug trafficking operation because the investigation is ongoing.
CROWN POINT  Lake County Prosecutor Bernard A. Carter will outline his Gun Safety Lock initiative at a press conference next week as accidental shootings continue to increase in Northwest Indiana and Chicago.

It has become evident that education on gun safety and the distribution of free gun safety locks to the community is of upmost importance, Carter said.

The press conference will begin at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 26, at the Purdue Northwest Extension Building located at 2293 N. Main St., in Crown Point. To expand on education and the distribution of gun locks, Carter will be partnering with his clergy council, Indiana State Police, community activist Andrew Holmes, Lisette Guillen of Chicago Files Chicago, Hard Rock Casino and NiSource.

Hard Rock and NiSource have each made donations to fund gun locks and safety courses, a news release stated. Gun lock recipients will receive two YouTube videos about properly storing a gun, and how to use a safety lock. In-person gun safety courses will also be provided at the event.

The distribution of free gun safety locks will include working with our Lake County Prosecutors Clergy Council to distribute safety locks at church services and events, Carter said.

The clergy council is comprised of members of the clergy who represent various religions in Lake County, and who volunteer their time to learn more about criminal justice topics affecting the community.

Anyone with information can contact Holmes at 773-407-9460, or Guillen at 219-973-1878.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Jamille Walker Rebecca Strand Jennifer Phillips William Riley Damien Sahagun Jillian Sencaj Lashawntel Mackay Tursena Harris Semaj Irvin Todd Kasperan Imelda Lopez Tinotchy Evans Luke Hardin Lazarius Allison Patrick Colvin Antonio Santana Cameron Smith Primas Sweet Don Wiley Steven Mikel Jr. Jesus Morales Marcus Nash Mark Nicpon Ann Horta Enrique Feliciano Jacoby Gibson Eugene Clay Haley Austin Robert Van Noort Michael Udrow Derrick Keys Richard Morris Larry Newman Jr. Terrane Robinson Christian Saavedra Ibn Jones Donald Elmore III Brian Hawkins Brian Jablonski LaTeshia Adams Nashee Burns Stephanie Crilley Tonya Stevens Joseph Szilagyi Daniel Tyrka Jessica Smith Victor Sandoval Al Sepulveda Paul Slagle Crystal McLain Stuart Roane III Kelly Klapkowski Alyssa Hecker Eve Holt Lori Kikkert Mosell Gordon Jr. David Garcia Luveli Gipson Xavier Binder Jose Cotto Jr. Stephanie Crilley
Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting will consider authorizing Thea Bowman Leadership Academy later this month, as the Gary charter school seeks a new sponsor following its charter revocation last year.

The college's charter authority board will meet on Jan. 29 to consider the school's application.

Last month, Thea Bowman's current authorizer  Education One at Trine University in Angola  revoked the school's charter, citing high staff turnover, poor academic performance and declining student enrollment.

Additionally, the authorizer's annual reviews for Thea Bowman cited the school for not meeting academic and organizational performance standards set out in their charter agreement.

Thea Bowman school officials claim Education One's decision to revoke its sponsorship is in retaliation for the charter school's decision to seek a new authorizer.

School officials said they began seeking a local authorizer following its deteriorating relationship with Education One. Thea Bowman identified CCSJ as a potential new authorizer last March.

In addition to seeking a new sponsor, the charter school has also taken legal action to block Education One's ability to take action relating to the charter revocation or school closure.

On Dec. 18, a Lake County Superior Court judge awarded a temporary restraining order prohibiting Education One from communicating to Thea Bowman staff, students, families and the public any references to the charter school's closure.

A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Friday.

PHOTOS: First Gary Common Council meeting of 2024 Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. New opportunities for cooperation with Carlsberg Group brewing company have been discussed, said Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov on X, Trend reports.

"At the Davos Economic Forum, we spoke with Jacob Aarup-Andersen, CEO of the Carlsberg Group. Our discussions focused on the company's successful operations in Azerbaijan as well as the positive consequences of our country's economic changes on the business climate. We also evaluated the company's efforts to localize production in Azerbaijan and looked at fresh opportunities for collaboration," the publication reads.

Last year, it was announced that a new plant for processing malt used in beer production would be launched in Azerbaijan.

The new plant is expected to begin operations in January 2024.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
HAMMOND  Despite the sub-zero windchill, hundreds of Purdue University Northwest students and staff crowded inside Alumni Hall Tuesday to celebrate the universitys new leader.

In December, Kenneth Chris Holford was named as PNWs next chancellor, succeeding then-Chancellor Thomas Keon, who announced his retirement in April. Keon had served as chancellor for 12 years.

Holford officially started his chancellorship Jan. 8.

Joining in the celebrations was Purdue University President Mung Chiang.

In his remarks, Chiang noted PNWs recent accomplishments  such as being elevated to a doctoral-granting institution and being named an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University.

He also included the universitys contributions to Northwest Indiana, as PNW is playing a role in the development of the $1 billion Midwest Hydrogen Hub and supporting the South Shore Line Double Track project.

We cannot think of a better leader who ... is able to lead that transformation for the entire Region, Chiang said in his remarks.

Holford said he was a little choked up with the high turnout for the celebration and was appreciative of those attending despite the blistering weather.

The new chancellor noted that while the university has evolved throughout the years, it is still helping students be successful and pursue higher degrees but at a much different level.

Im proud to be part of a faculty that cares so deeply about the success of our students, Holford said.

At the end of his speech, the new university leader received a standing ovation from the audience.

Holford has been part of PNW campuses for over 20 years, serving most recently as provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs since 2020. He was also the founding dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences when PNW was formed in 2016. Holford has also been the dean of the College of Sciences and chair of the Department of Biology and Chemistry at the former Purdue North Central  now the Westville branch of PNW.

Following the remarks from both school leaders, attendees took part in activities, such as games and trivia, and enjoyed food and refreshments.

PHOTOS: Purdue Northwest student panel on climate change Climate change panel at Purdue Northwest Climate change panel at Purdue Northwest Climate change panel at Purdue Northwest Climate change panel at Purdue Northwest Climate change panel at Purdue Northwest Climate panel at Purdue Northwest Climate change panel at Purdue Northwest Climate panel at Purdue Northwest Climate change panel at Purdue Northwest Climate change panel at Purdue Northwest Climate panel at Purdue Northwest
U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, is hosting seven community forums next week, and a Jan. 30 online forum, to hear about issues directly from his constituents and to highlight how his office may be able to help with a variety of federal government concerns.

The hour-long sessions with the two-term congressman are free and scheduled for locations across Indiana's 1st Congressional District of Lake, Porter and northwest LaPorte counties.

"Please join me at a community forum near you for a congressional update on my actions to grow the Northwest Indiana economy with more good-paying jobs," Mrvan said.

"I also look forward to hearing about any issues of concern, including should you or a loved one need any assistance securing deserved benefits from federal agencies, such as Veterans Affairs, Social Security and Medicare. My office is here to serve you."

The congressman's forums scheduled for Friday, Jan. 26 are set for:

10-11 a.m.  Michigan City  City Hall Council Chambers, 100 E. Michigan Blvd.

12-1 p.m.  Valparaiso  City Hall Council Chambers, 166 Lincolnway.

2-3 p.m.  Portage  City Hall Council Chambers, 6070 Central Ave.

4-5 p.m.  Crown Point  Bulldog Park, 183 S. West St.

The forums set for Saturday, Jan. 27 are:

10-11 a.m.  Gary  Police Headquarters, 555 Polk St.

12-1 p.m.  Hammond  Public Library, 564 State St.

2-3 p.m.  Highland  Wicker Park Social Center, 2215 Ridge Rd.

Finally, a virtual forum open to all residents of Northwest Indiana will take place from 12-1 p.m. Jan. 30 through the congressman's YouTube page: youtube.com/@RepMrvan.

PHOTOS: Mrvan volunteers at Food Bank of NWI US Rep Frank Mrvan at food bank US Rep Frank Mrvan at food bank US Rep Frank Mrvan at food bank US Rep Frank Mrvan at food bank US Rep Frank Mrvan at food bank US Rep Frank Mrvan at food bank US Rep Frank Mrvan at food bank US Rep Frank Mrvan at food bank US Rep Frank Mrvan at food bank US Rep Frank Mrvan at food bank US Rep Frank Mrvan at food bank
Indiana Humanities is looking for an official eclipse poet and is asking Hoosiers to submit an original poem inspired by the event. A panel of judges will select the top three poems; winners will be notified by March 1.

The first place prize will be $500; the poem will also be featured on Indiana Humanities' website and social media and the winner will have the opportunity to read the poem during an eclipse watch party in Indianapolis. The second place prize will be $200 and the third place prize will be $100. Both the second and third place winners will be able to read their poems during the Indianapolis watch party.

For generations, eclipses have been spectacles for humans to ponder and make meaning from in the natural world, Megan Telligman, Indiana Humanities director of programs, said in a news release. Though weve learned the science behind the eerie occurrences, eclipses still inspire artists and writers to depict these moments and we look forward to seeing how this unique Indiana event will be interpreted by Hoosiers.

The April eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse to touch America since 2017. Before that, the lower 48 states hadn't experienced a total eclipse since 1979. The next total eclipse visible from the U.S. will occur in August of 2044.

The moon orbits the earth about every 29.5 days. When the illuminated side of the moon faces the sun and the night side faces earth, that is considered a new moon. An eclipse happens when a new moon passes between the sun and the earth at just the right angle and temporarily blocks the sun's light.

To submit a poem to Indiana Humanities, email Telligman at mtelligman@indianahumanities.org by Feb. 9.

In addition to Indiana, the national path of the eclipse will include portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
As dozens of candidates formally file for this years May primary elections, a highly respected police official is announcing his very early candidacy for Lake County sheriff in the 2026 election.

St. John Police Chief Steven Flores publicly tossed his badge into the ring for the countys top law enforcement position, currently held by Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez, Jr.

As sheriff, I will work collaboratively to reach across all of Lake County to build upon the successes of the police departments, Flores told me last week.

Flores will publicly announce his candidacy 7 p.m. Thursday at the Halls of St. George banquet center in Schererville, where a large crowd of supporters is expected.

Theres been a lot of good police work thats been done throughout Lake County. But theres room to do better, Flores said, hinting at the theme of his speech.

Flores, 46, told me that his early candidacy announcement has been in the works for months and is designed to build a foundation of support, fundraising and momentum between now and 2026. Martinezs term limit will be up, opening up the highly coveted yet historically tarnished position.

Martinez was appointed sheriff in late 2017 by a caucus of Lake County Democrats after former Sheriff John Buncich was removed from office because a U.S. District Court jury convicted him of federal bribery and fraud charges.

Martinez was indicted Jan. 6, 2022, on a felony charge of resisting law enforcement and a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving. His jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 12, though Im not convinced that it wont be pushed back again due to repeated legal maneuvers by his defense team.

If convicted, Martinez would lose his position as sheriff. A caucus of Lake County Democrats would convene to replace him. If this happens, Flores said he will put his name on that list.

God forbid if things dont go the way Oscar hopes, but if it does I plan to be on that caucus vote, Flores said.

Martinez had long coveted the sheriffs position before replacing Buncich.

I am not a politician, I am a police officer, Martinez told me in 2010.

He filed his candidacy for that office with the campaign platform: A new direction for Lake County. And yet here we are, going in circles again around a courtroom.

After his indictment two years ago, Martinez correctly pointed out that an indictment is only an accusation and that he was not accused of public corruption, as with Buncich.

Oscar will have his day in court, Flores said, citing plans to campaign on a platform of integrity, transparency and collaboration.

Im a serious candidate so I need to seriously get everything in order now, not wait until 2026 when I will formally file, Flores said.

Other potential candidates include a prominent Region mayor, a county cop, a county commissioner and a state police officer, Im told. But there is plenty of time before those names become public.

I dont want to be one of those candidates who come in at the last minute and throw a campaign together, Flores said.

He grew up in East Chicago, where his father, Augusto Gus Flores, was a police chief with an esteemed reputation. When Steven Flores was sworn in as St. John police chief in 2020, his father held the Bible. He died in April of that year.

Im so proud of him, Gus Flores told me years ago.

He spent his last years investing all he had into the Policemans Bible Ministry that he and his wife, Roberta, started together in 2009. She still lives in East Chicago, and will be moving soon to Cedar Lake to be closer to her family.

Steven Flores graduated from Lake Central High School in 1996 before attending Vincennes University where he earned an associates degree in law enforcement. He returned to this Region to work as an armed security guard, then a short stint as a full-time firefighter in East Chicago and a 14-year stint as a volunteer firefighter for the Lake Hills Fire Department in unincorporated St. John Township.

I enjoyed being a fireman but for my entire life I wanted to be a police officer, Flores said.

He served as a volunteer reserve officer in St. John from 2001 to 2003 before getting hired by the Lake County sheriffs department under former sheriff Roy Dominguez. In 2004, he returned to St. John as a full-time officer, climbing the ranks from a canine officer to detective corporal, detective sergeant and then commander, an appointed position.

In 2020, he became police chief, the same position his father held in East Chicago.

I always looked up to my dad and wanted to be like him, Flores said.

Flores and his wife have three daughters and one grandchild. The family attends St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Schererville, where his public announcement will be released.

I feel Im the right man for this job, he said.
Chinas population has begun to decline, a demographic turning point for the country that has global implications. Experts had long anticipated this moment, but it arrived in 2022 several years earlier than expected, prompting hand-wringing among economists over the long-term impacts given the countrys immense economic heft and its role as the worlds manufacturer.

With 850,000 fewer births than deaths last year, at least according to the countrys official report, China joined an expanding set of nations with shrinking populations caused by years of falling fertility and often little or even negative net migration, a group that includes Italy, Greece and Russia, along with swaths of Eastern and Southern Europe and several Asian nations like South Korea and Japan.
Brian Barczyk, a reptile expert whose upbeat videos attracted millions of fans on social media and who starred in the reality TV show Venom Hunters, died on Sunday at his home in Michigan. He was 54.

The cause was pancreatic cancer, said Stephanie Kent, a representative of the Reptarium, a reptile zoo that Mr. Barczyk founded with his wife, Lori Barczyk, in Utica, Mich.

Mr. Barczyks love of reptiles began when he was a boy. He had said that his earliest memory was coming across a ball python at the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit.

I remember that like it was yesterday, and ever since, Ive just been obsessed, he told the online magazine Hollywood Soapbox in 2016. No one taught me this obsession. I always tell people, I was born with a reptile gene because its just in me. I spent every summer catching garter snakes out in the local woods.
China said on Wednesday that 9.02 million babies were born in 2023, down from 9.56 million in 2022 and the seventh year in a row that the number has fallen. Taken together with the number of people who died during the year  11.1 million  China has more older people than anywhere else in the world, an amount that is rising rapidly. Chinas total population was 1,409,670,000 at the end of 2023, a decline of two million people, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The shrinking and aging population worries Beijing because it is draining China of the working-age people it needs to power the economy. The demographic crisis, which arrived sooner than nearly anyone expected, is already straining weak and underfunded health care and pension systems.
Mayor Eric Adams raised $732,000 in less than two months to pay for legal expenses related to a federal investigation into his campaign fund-raising, according to a filing submitted Tuesday.

The contributors to Mr. Adamss defense fund include an array of wealthy players in business and politics, among them at least four who have been described as billionaires: the former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Ukrainian-born British American businessman Leonard Blavatnik, the real estate and fertilizer tycoon Alexander Rovt and the cryptocurrency investor Brock Pierce.

The fund has so far spent $440,000, most of it on WilmerHale, the law firm Mr. Adams hired to represent him in the investigation, the filing shows.

City law permits elected officials to set up defense funds to pay for expenses related to criminal or civil investigations that are unrelated to their government duties and cannot be paid for with public money. The funds can collect up to $5,000 per donor but are not permitted to solicit or receive contributions from anyone with city contracts or business before the city.
Two New York City police officers were shot in a Brooklyn apartment on Tuesday after a man grabbed a service weapon from one officer during a skirmish that unfolded as the officers responded to a call about a domestic dispute, officials said.

One officer was shot in the left hand, and the other was shot in the left leg, according to officials, who did not identify the officers beyond saying one had been with the Police Department for nine and a half years and the other was a 16-year department veteran.

The man who grabbed the officers gun, Melvin Butler, was shot several times during the altercation and was in critical but stable condition at Kings County Hospital, officials said. He had not been charged as of Tuesday evening, officials said.

Although neither of the officers injuries were life-threatening, Mayor Eric Adams described the shooting as a horrific incident.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Azerbaijan and Finland have discussed opportunities for strengthening regional economic cooperation, Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on X, Trend reports.

"On the sidelines of the Davos Economic Forum, we talk with Finland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen. We exchanged views on the priority directions of our nations' relations, growing chances for strengthening regional economic cooperation, and prospects for bilateral ties," the minister noted.

The data of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee showed that from January through November 2023, Azerbaijan exported goods worth over $326,770 to Finland, while the imports amounted to $97.8 million.
Two Malaysian prisoners at Guantanamo Bay pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiring in the October 2002 nightclub bombings in the resort island of Bali, Indonesia, that killed more than 200 people.

The guilty pleas were the first step in a slowly unfolding proceeding that began when the men, Mohammed Farik Bin Amin, 48, and Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep, 47, were charged in 2021  18 years after their capture in Thailand. Sentencing is scheduled for next week.

The pleas were also seen as a breakthrough for military commission prosecutors, who had been seeking deals to resolve long-running cases against former C.I.A. prisoners. Similar talks with the accused plotters of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, ended last year after the Biden administration declined to consider health care and confinement conditions sought by the prisoners.

Both defendants were held for years in the C.I.A.s secret overseas prison network. They were transferred to Guantanamo Bay in 2006 for trial at the special national-security court that President George W. Bush set up after the Sept. 11 attacks. While in agency custody, according to their lawyers, they were tortured, along with their accused ringleader Encep Nurjaman, an Indonesian prisoner known as Hambali.
To be clear, no one in President Bidens White House would ever root for Donald J. Trump. To a person, they consider him an existential threat to the nation. But as they watched Mr. Trump open the contest for the Republican presidential nomination with a romp through Iowa, they also saw something else: a pathway to a second term.

Mr. Bidens best chance of winning re-election in the fall, in their view, is a rematch against Mr. Trump. The former president is so toxic, so polarizing that his presence on the November ballot, as Mr. Bidens advisers see it, would be the most powerful incentive possible to lure disaffected Democrats and independents back into the camp of the poll-challenged president.

And so, some Democrats felt a little torn this week as the Republican race got underway. None of them would cry if Mr. Trump were taken down by someone like former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, who has one shot in New Hampshire next week to make it a race. Whatever Ms. Haleys flaws, and Democrats see many, they do not believe she would pose the same danger to democracy that Mr. Trump does.

But if she won the Republican nomination, she might pose a bigger danger to Mr. Biden.

The paradox recalls 2016, when many Democrats were not unhappy when Mr. Trump won the Republican nomination, on the theory that the country would never elect a bumptious reality-television star who specialized in racist appeals and insult politics. Burned once, they are not so certain this time, but Democrats are banking on the hope that the country would not take back a defeated president who inspired a violent mob to help him keep power and has been charged with more felonies than Al Capone.
The Biden administration will designate Yemens Houthi militia as a terrorist organization, partly reimposing penalties it lifted nearly three years ago on the Iran-backed group whose attacks on regional shipping traffic have drawn a U.S. military response.

Beginning in mid-February, the United States will consider the Houthis a specially designated global terrorist group, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said in a statement on Wednesday, blocking its access to the global financial system, among other penalties. But Biden officials stopped short of applying a second, more severe designation  that of foreign terrorist organization  which the Trump administration imposed on the Houthis in its final days. The State Department revoked both designations shortly after President Biden took office in early 2021.

That further step would have made it far easier to prosecute criminally anyone who knowingly provides the Houthis with money, supplies, training or other material support. But aid groups are already warning that it could also impede humanitarian assistance to Yemen.

The move comes as a response to, and an effort to halt, weeks of Houthi missile and drone attacks on maritime traffic off Yemens coast. Those attacks, which the group describes as a show of solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli bombardment in Gaza, have forced some major shipping companies to reroute their vessels, leading to delays and higher shipping costs worldwide. After issuing multiple warnings to the Houthis, Mr. Biden ordered dozens of strikes on their facilities in Yemen, although U.S. officials say the group retains most of its ability to attack commerce in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump said in court papers filed on Tuesday night that they intended to place accusations that the intelligence community was biased against Mr. Trump at the heart of their defense against charges accusing him of illegally holding onto dozens of highly sensitive classified documents after he left office.

The lawyers also indicated that they were planning to defend Mr. Trump by seeking to prove that the investigation of the case was politically motivated and biased.

The court papers, filed in Federal District Court in Fort Pierce, Fla., gave the clearest picture yet of the scorched earth legal strategy that Mr. Trump is apparently planning to use in fighting the classified documents indictment handed up over the summer.

While the 68-page filing was formally a request by Mr. Trumps lawyers to the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, to provide them with reams of additional information that they believe can help them fight the charges, it often read more like a list of political talking points than a brief of legal arguments.
Hamas fighters in the northern Gaza Strip fired at least 25 rockets toward a nearby Israeli city on Tuesday, renewing right-wing criticism in Israel of the governments decision to scale back some military operations in the war.

Hamas said in a statement that it had targeted the Israeli city of Netivot, about six miles from the Gaza border. Most of the rockets were either intercepted by Israels missile defense system or fell into open areas, and there were no immediate reports of casualties. But the Israeli police said that at least one building had been damaged.

The attack highlighted Hamass continuing ability to threaten Israeli civilians with rocket fire despite more than 100 days of a devastating Israeli air and ground offensive aimed at destroying the groups military capabilities.

The rocket barrage also underlined the competing pressures Israeli leaders faced: the widespread popular demand to crush Hamas, the calls from right-wing politicians to be more aggressive in that campaign, the pleas by families of the hostages taken by Hamas to make concessions to secure their return and the outrage across the globe over the carnage and destruction in Gaza.
The finale of Vida, the new album by the Chilean songwriter Ana Tijoux, is Fin del Mundo (The End of the World). She sings and raps, in Spanish, about dire expectations: war, pollution, drought, a collision with a comet. But as a techno-tinged disco beat rises around her, she cheerfully declares, If the end of the world is coming, lets dance naked together.

Vida (Life) is Tijouxs fifth studio album and her first since 2014. She chose its title pointedly.

I have a very good friend who talks to me about how life is the best vengeance against death, she said in a video interview from her apartment in Barcelona, where she relocated during the pandemic and recorded the album. That makes so much sense, to have vitality and energy. I insist that it doesnt mean that we live in a superficial place. It doesnt mean that its not political. We are living in a bizarre moment. And there is nothing more political than defending life and defending humanity.

In the albums first single, Ninx (Little Girlx), Tijoux urges her daughter, and all young women, to find strength in joy: Life scares them, she sings. Do not lose the laughter.
The actor Pierce Brosnan has pleaded not guilty to hiking in a restricted area of Yellowstone National Park, according to court documents filed this month in federal court in Wyoming.

Brosnan, 70, faces two charges that were filed on Dec. 23. The court documents describe one as a closure violation  mammoth terraces, and the other as foot travel in a thermal area. Both incidents occurred on Nov. 1, according to the charging documents.

The Mammoth Terraces area at Yellowstone is famous for its fountains and hot springs. But visitors to Yellowstone are, for the most part, required to stay on trails and observe them at a distance. The water in the hot springs is acidic and can cause severe or fatal burns, according to the National Park Service. The water beneath the thin crust around the springs is scalding hot.

The court documents do not detail the events of Nov. 1 or specify how Brosnan is alleged to have violated restrictions in place at the park. Karl Knuchel, the lawyer representing Brosnan in the case, declined to comment, as did the U.S. attorneys office for the District of Wyoming and the National Park Service.
Airbus cemented its position last week as the worlds biggest plane maker for the fifth straight year, announcing that it had delivered more aircraft and secured more orders than Boeing in 2023. At the same time, Boeing was trying to put out a huge public-relations and safety crisis caused by a harrowing near disaster involving its 737 Max line of airliners.

In the long-running duel between the two aviation rivals, Airbus has pulled far ahead.

What used to be a duopoly has become two-thirds Airbus, one-third Boeing, said Richard Aboulafia, the managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory in Washington, D.C. A lot of people, whether investors, financiers or customers, are looking at Airbus and seeing a company run by competent people, he said. The contrast with Boeing is fairly profound.

The incident involving the 737 Max 9, in which a hole blew open in the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines flight in midair, was the latest in a string of safety lapses in Boeings workhorse aircraft  including two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019  that are indirectly helping propel the fortunes of the European aerospace giant.
Chinas No. 2 leader, Li Qiang, traveled to Switzerland with a message for the titans of the business world gathered for the World Economic Forum.

Choosing the Chinese market is not a risk, but an opportunity, Mr. Li, Chinas premier, told an audience in Davos on Tuesday.

But theres a different sentiment about China playing out in the stock market, and its not so optimistic. The worries over Chinas economy have been visible for months in Hong Kong, where stocks plunged 14 percent last year, the fourth consecutive annual decline.

The new year hasnt offered any relief, either, and economic data released by China on Wednesday prompted another sell-off.
The Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday that an initial round of inspections of 40 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes had been completed, but that those aircraft and scores of other Max 9 planes would remain grounded as the agency finalized an inspection process for them.

On Friday, the F.A.A. announced that it was requiring the 40 inspections before it would approve new inspection and maintenance instructions developed by Boeing. The agency grounded 171 Max 9 planes this month after a door panel blew off an Alaska Airlines flight while it was ascending after taking off from Portland, Ore., forcing an emergency landing.

In its statement on Wednesday, the F.A.A. said it would review the data from the 40 inspections, and that the 737 Max 9 planes with the door panels would remain grounded until the agency signed off on the instructions for airlines to inspect the planes. The door panels go where an emergency exit door would in a different configuration of the aircraft.

The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning these aircraft to service, the agency said in the statement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Azerbaijan and the UAE discussed cooperation within the framework of COP29, Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on X, Trend reports.

"On the sidelines of the Davos Economic Forum, we held a meeting with Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, the co-chairman of the Azerbaijan-UAE Joint Intergovernmental Commission. During the meeting, we expressed satisfaction with the high level of the bilateral relations between the two countries," he said.

The minister also pointed out that the discussions covered various aspects of the economic partnership agenda.

"Those include preparations for the 9th session of the Azerbaijan-UAE Joint Intergovernmental Commission, enhancement of trade turnover and initiatives for developing business ties, collaboration within COP29, prospects for joint projects in the transition to sustainable energy sources," Jabbarov added.

The decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023.

Besides Azerbaijan, both Armenia and Bulgaria nominated their candidatures. However, after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia on December 7, 2023, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in favor of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed suit and also withdrew its candidacy.

On January 4, 2024, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev was appointed as President of COP29.
Greenlands expansive ice sheet is known to be shrinking, especially since the 1990s, because of warming from climate change. Its a fate shared by the Antarctic Ice Sheet as well as glaciers around the world. Now, a new study reveals that about 20 percent more of the Greenland ice sheet has disappeared than previous estimates show.

The missing ice has been breaking and melting from the ends of glaciers around Greenlands perimeter. The new research, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, provides a detailed accounting of a process that scientists knew was happening but had struggled to measure comprehensively.

Almost every glacier in Greenland is retreating. And that story is true no matter where you look, said Chad Greene, a glaciologist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the lead author of the study. This retreat is happening everywhere and all at once.
Claire M. Fagin, a leading expert on, advocate for and change agent in the profession of nursing, and one of the first women to lead an Ivy League university, the University of Pennsylvania, died on Tuesday at her home in Manhattan. She was 97.

Her death was confirmed by her son and only immediate survivor, Charles.

Among other achievements, Dr. Fagin was widely credited with overturning the common practice of strictly limiting parental visits to hospitalized children. She was inspired (and infuriated) by what happened in the early 1960s when she and her husband were visiting their young son Joshua, hospitalized for hernia surgery: They were ordered out of the hospital.

So when she earned her doctorate in nursing from New York University in 1964, she made the practice of limiting visits the subject of her dissertation research. Her findings that the practice was harmful drew wide attention  she was interviewed on television about it  and they ignited a transformation in medical care.

She was the one who cracked that, said Linda H. Aiken, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, where Dr. Fagin was named dean in 1977.
Here are six reasons drugs in the United States cost so much:

1. There is no central negotiator willing to walk away.

Other wealthy countries rely on a single negotiating body  usually the government  to decide whether to accept the price a pharmaceutical company wants to charge. In the United States, negotiations with drug makers are split among tens of thousands of health plans, resulting in far less bargaining muscle for the buyers.

Other nations also conduct careful analyses of how much additional benefit a new drug presents over drugs already on the market  and at what cost. If the cost is too high and the benefit too small, those countries are more willing to say no to a new drug.
The people on this cruise ship continue to give me dirty looks everywhere I go, Marc Sebastian announces to his 1.5 million followers on TikTok. He is filming in a cabin onboard the ship, addressing the camera in classic reality-TV confessional style. Text floats above his head. It reads: day one on the 9 month cruise.

The ship in question is Royal Caribbeans Serenade of the Seas, now on a 274-night ultimate world cruise set to visit 65 countries and every continent, including Antarctica. It took to the seas on Dec. 10, carrying its presumably well heeled passengers  the full cruise costs almost as much as a years tuition at an Ivy League institution. Sebastian is not, precisely, one of them; his day one came later. He is there because the cruise has become a strange online obsession. It began with passengers posting snippets of their experience on TikTok and spiraled rapidly from there. The Serenade of the Seas morphed into a spontaneous mash-up of HBOs The White Lotus and Bravos Below Deck; viewers back on land started gobbling up every morsel of cruise-related content they could find, producing their own commentary, concocting their own wild story lines, turning passengers into characters. Many observers are now openly rooting for this opulent vacation to devolve into some kind of entertaining chaos, seizing on any sign of trouble, real or imagined, as a potential first act. Flooded rooms. A shortage of preferred wines. Rumors of sexual libertines. Illness. Exclusive perks for so-called Pinnacle Club members maybe, somehow, sparking class conflict. And of course, microaggressions. This is the drama  in TikTok parlance, the tea  supposedly captured onboard.

Sebastian was, initially, one of those gawking nonpassengers. But he used his own online following to TikTok his way onboard for one leg of the trip, paid for by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Theres going to be mutiny, theres going to be blood, someone is going overboard, I wanna watch, he told his followers. Put me on the cruise. Ill go ... I will cause chaos, I will wreak havoc and I will record everything.

These are the obvious reasons fellow cruisers might be giving him dirty looks. In his cabin confessional, he inserts a shot of himself walking around the ship, smacking gum, as a perturbed fellow guest can be overheard saying, Hes videotaping everything. It sounds like a warning: Stay away from the camera.
A Long Island midwife falsified vaccine records for some 1,500 school-aged children, according to New York States Department of Health, which on Wednesday announced that it had fined her $300,000.

The authorities said the scheme began at the start of the 2019-20 school year after a measles epidemic had led New York to end religious exemptions for immunizations. The new rules meant that about 26,000 children who had previously been exempted needed to get vaccinated to return to school that fall.

But instead of administering the required vaccines, the midwife, Jeanette Breen, of Baldwin, N.Y., gave thousands of homeopathic oral pellets to school-aged children and then falsified their immunization records, according to the authorities.

The oral pellets in question were marketed as an alternative to vaccination but were not authorized or approved by the federal government as a vaccine against any disease. Ms. Breen administered them as a substitute for vaccinations against hepatitis, diphtheria, polio, measles and other diseases, according to the authorities.
Back in 2001, in a visit to the illegal West Bank settlement of Ofra, an out-of-office Benjamin Netanyahu, apparently unaware he was being recorded, boasted to his hosts that America is a thing you can move very easily  move it in the right direction.

At the time, Mr. Netanyahu was talking about his experience with the Clinton White House; he had undermined Washington-led peace efforts during his first stint as Israels prime minister. But more than 20 years later, Mr. Netanyahus assessment feels uncomfortably familiar.

Since the Biden administration pledged its early and unwavering support to Israel following Hamass Oct. 7 attacks, Mr. Netanyahu has repeatedly slow-walked Washingtons behind-the-scenes requests regarding the war, including that Israel use greater restraint in prosecuting its war in Gaza, avoid provoking a broader regional conflagration and work to forge a postwar path toward peace.

As a result, as the war has entered its fourth month, the Biden administration has achieved almost none of its goals regarding Israeli policies and actions. More than 23,000 Palestinians, including over 10,000 children, have been killed so far, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, and the threat of mass starvation and disease looms. Israels government has rejected any horizon for peace, and, after an initial pause in fighting and a hostage/prisoner exchange, such talks seem now to be at an impasse. The only success the United States can claim is in its steadfast support for Israel. And yet the unconditional nature of that backing stands in the way of any prospect of achieving its other policy goals and finding a path out of this horror.
Nikki Haley did well enough in the Iowa caucuses Monday night to keep her supporters hopes alive. But her third-place showing, on the heels of Ron DeSantis and a mile behind Donald Trump, was also just disappointing enough to raise doubts about her candidacy.

Her plan coming out of Iowa is a classic underdog strategy: Use strong early results to upend expectations in the contests to come, reshaping the dynamic of the race one upset victory at a time. So, the thinking goes, her solid-enough performance in Iowa will propel her higher in New Hampshire, where she holds a strong second place in the polls.

Its possible. But even if Ms. Haley does well in New Hampshire, it wont matter. Thats because Ms. Haley is starkly out of step with the evolution of her party over the past decade.

The shape of todays Republican electorate can be seen most clearly in national polling of Republican voters, where Mr. Trump has led by a substantial margin for months. Even in the unlikely event that all the voters who have told pollsters in recent weeks that they support Mr. DeSantis, Chris Christie and the former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson switched over to Ms. Haley, she would reach only the high 20s, placing her more than 30 points behind Mr. Trump, who sits at around 60 percent. (The voters who have said they support Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the race on Monday night, would likely switch to Mr. Trump.)
Conflict between China and the United States just got a little more likely.

On Saturday, Taiwanese voters handed the Democratic Progressive Party, which asserts that Taiwan is already independent from China and should stay that way, an unprecedented third consecutive presidential victory. In doing so, the islands people shrugged off ominous warnings by China that a win by President-elect Lai Ching-te  considered by Beijing to be a dangerous Taiwan independence advocate  could trigger a war.

The result should lay to rest any doubt about the direction in which Taiwan is going. Determined to maintain their autonomy, the people of Taiwan are drifting farther from China and wont come back voluntarily, elevating military action as one of the only options left for China to effect the unification with Taiwan that it has long sought.

This hardening in Taiwanese attitudes has been a long time coming. In 1949, Chinas Kuomintang government lost a civil war against Communist Chinese forces and fled to Taiwan, dividing the two sides. For decades, the Kuomintang clung to an official policy of eventual unification with the mainland, and the question of whether Taiwan is part of China or its own distinct and self-ruled polity has dominated island politics ever since.

In 1994 more residents of Taiwan considered themselves exclusively Chinese than Taiwanese, and more favored moving toward unification with China than toward independence. Beijing courted such sentiments by forging close economic links with Taiwan. But attitudes have shifted as Taiwan blossomed into a democratic and economic success. Now, with Chinas economy stagnating, it has fewer carrots to offer, and repressive Chinese actions like its crackdown on Hong Kongs freedoms have further alienated Taiwan. As a result, President Xi Jinping of China has increasingly turned to wielding the stick  economic coercion, military threats and an online disinformation campaign in Taiwan  to pressure the island's people into unification.
For four years, the computer scientist Trieu Trinh has been consumed with something of a meta-math problem: how to build an A.I. model that solves geometry problems from the International Mathematical Olympiad, the annual competition for the worlds most mathematically attuned high-school students.

Last week Dr. Trinh successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on this topic at New York University; this week, he described the result of his labors in the journal Nature. Named AlphaGeometry, the system solves Olympiad geometry problems at nearly the level of a human gold medalist.

While developing the project, Dr. Trinh pitched it to two research scientists at Google, and they brought him on as a resident from 2021 to 2023. AlphaGeometry joins Google DeepMinds fleet of A.I. systems, which have become known for tackling grand challenges. Perhaps most famously, AlphaZero, a deep-learning algorithm, conquered chess in 2017. Math is a harder problem, as the number of possible paths toward a solution is sometimes infinite; chess is always finite.

I kept running into dead ends, going down the wrong path, said Dr. Trinh, the lead author and driving force of the project.

The papers co-authors are Dr. Trinhs doctoral adviser, He He, at New York University; Yuhuai Wu, known as Tony, a co-founder of xAI (formerly at Google) who in 2019 had independently started exploring a similar idea; Thang Luong, the principal investigator, and Quoc Le, both from Google DeepMind.

Dr. Trinhs perseverance paid off. Were not making incremental improvement, he said. Were making a big jump, a big breakthrough in terms of the result.
For 10 years, Ive belonged to a walking group of 12 women. We all raised our children together. We take long walks on Saturday mornings and have a lively group chat. We also go to dinner once a month. I feel lucky to be friends with these women. The problem: A woman who coordinates the group with me recently added her best friend, with whom I had a falling-out several years ago. She broached the idea of including her on the group chat on a day when I wasnt checking my phone. (She knows about our falling-out.) I have not seen this other woman in years, and I have no interest in reconciling with her. This group was my most cherished social outlet; now, I no longer want to participate. What should I do?

WALKER

Over time, affinity groups  like your walking group  take on lives of their own. No one owns them. And I suspect that trying to blackball a woman from joining friendly group walks on public roads would seem petty and meanspirited to your friends.

Forgive me if I misunderstand the setup, but you probably dont walk 12 abreast or single file. I envision the group breaking into smaller subsets of three or four women who may shift companions over the course of a walk. So, even if you are committed to your estrangement from this other woman, it seems relatively easy to avoid walking with her (or sitting next to her at a monthly dinner).
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By now, they were supposed to be well into the first leg of the three-year Life at Sea cruise, sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia.

Instead, more than a month after the cruise was abruptly canceled, one couple is stranded in an Istanbul hotel and on the verge of becoming homeless; another woman has moved to Ecuador because she cant afford to pay her mortgage; and a man, recently diagnosed with cancer, has delayed his treatment because he doesnt have the money to pay for it.

On Tuesday, 78 would-be Life at Sea passengers sent a letter to Markenzy Lapointe, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, asking him to investigate whether Miray, a Turkish cruise company, defrauded them out of millions of dollars. They claim that the company collected an estimated $16 million and used it toward a deposit to acquire a new ship that it did not end up purchasing. It is unclear if Mr. Lapointe will take action.

Dozens of passengers quit their jobs, sold their homes and withdrew their life savings to pay for what promised to be the adventure of a lifetime: a cruise with 382 ports of call over 1,095 days. But in late November, just days before the cruise was scheduled to depart, the voyage was canceled because Miray had failed to acquire a suitable ship.
Update: The Ann Arbor school board voted in support of a cease-fire in Gaza.

The public school district in Ann Arbor, Mich., is looking to hire a new superintendent. It is building several new schools. And it is revamping how it teaches young children to read.

But over the past month, the Board of Education has debated many hours over whether to support a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Gaza war.

The closely divided board is now set to vote on that resolution on Wednesday, and could become one of the first public school systems in the country to pass such a statement.

Supporters of the proposed resolution, including the boards Palestinian American president and a Jewish trustee, have said that the statement is an urgent moral necessity amid a humanitarian crisis. A few opponents of the resolution have said that they oppose a cease-fire because Israel has the right to defeat Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, after the Oct. 7 attacks.
The news last week that Pea Soup Andersens restaurant on the Central Coast had suddenly closed elicited a wave of nostalgia among Californians, even those like me who had never actually eaten there.

The restaurant's whimsical advertisements along Highway 101, featuring two cartoon chefs, were dependable road-trip markers for me when I was growing up in Ventura County, confirming that we had officially made it out of congested Southern California. (The restaurant, in the small city of Buellton, opened 100 years ago, and the billboards went up not long after that.)

The outpouring of memories got us thinking: What are the other iconic roadside landmarks across the state?

The best known are probably the Cabazon Dinosaurs, the worlds tallest thermometer, the Winchester Mystery House, the formerly reeking Harris Ranch, the Paul Bunyan statue in Klamath and the giant Randys Donuts sign visible from the 405 freeway.
A woman who plotted to kill her mother and then stuffed her body in a suitcase in Bali, Indonesia, in 2014 was sentenced on Wednesday to 26 years in prison, federal prosecutors said.

Judge Matthew F. Kennelly of U.S. District Court in Illinois sentenced the woman, Heather L. Mack, after she had pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiring to kill a U.S. national.

The sentence, handed down in a Chicago courtroom, was just shy of the 28 years sought by federal prosecutors. Ms. Mack was also ordered to pay restitution of $262,708 and a $50,000 fine. Her time in prison will be followed by five years of supervised release, according to prosecutors.

This was a brutal and premeditated crime, Judge Kennelly said in court on Wednesday, according to local news outlets.
These arguably hairsplitting thoughts nagged at me thanks to my job as a congressional correspondent focused on federal spending. (I was in Berlin for a brief break  so much for that.) The assignment requires me to wade through dense legislative documents  sometimes on the order of thousands of pages  in search of projects and earmarks that lawmakers would rather taxpayers not know they are paying for.

But this was secrecy on a whole other scale.

I went home and Googled, expecting to find a lengthy Wikipedia entry or an article in a history magazine. But all I found was a snippet from a textbook published by the National Counterintelligence Center. It mentioned that Roosevelt administration officials had sought in 1944 to smuggle money for the bomb into a military spending bill, and were assisted by Congress.
Straining to recover after a bruising defeat in Iowa, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and his allies moved on Wednesday to shake up his operation yet again, with his super PAC carrying out layoffs and the campaign signaling that it would largely bypass New Hampshires primary election next week in favor of competing in South Carolina.

The change in strategy appeared to set up the one-on-one contest in New Hampshire that Nikki Haley has been hoping for against former President Donald J. Trump, who leads in polls but is more vulnerable in the moderate state than in socially conservative Iowa. At the same time, the shift could put new pressure on Ms. Haley in South Carolina, where she once served as governor.

The maneuvering may not ultimately make much of a dent in a race in which Mr. Trump has dominated polling, won the Iowa caucuses on Monday by a staggering 30 percentage points and spent Wednesday in court for one of his many legal cases, where a judge threatened to kick him out for being unruly. But it changed the calculations for his remaining Republican rivals.

As Mr. DeSantiss team licked its wounds on Wednesday, his super PAC, Never Back Down, trimmed operations in several places, including Nevada. Other staff members were also laid off, including almost the entire online war room team, a person with knowledge of the matter said. Those who were cut had their email accounts immediately suspended. It was unclear how many people in all lost their jobs.
When Ron DeSantis was asked on Tuesday night in a televised town hall in New Hampshire if he agreed with Nikki Haley that America has never been a racist country, as she had said earlier in the day, it seemed like an easy opportunity to hit his rival.

But Mr. DeSantis, the Florida governor, avoided answering the question directly, saying instead that America is not currently a racist country. He also alluded vaguely to things in our history that America had overcome.

Wolf Blitzer, the CNN moderator, again asked if Mr. DeSantis agreed that America was never a racist country. He again answered indirectly, taking a stance that neither agreed or disagreed with Ms. Haleys claim.

We had challenges with how race was viewed, he said, pointing  as he often has on the campaign trail  to the Dred Scott decision in 1857, in which the Supreme Court ruled that Black people could not be citizens of the United States. He added, That was wrong  that was discriminating on the basis of race.
Members of the Supreme Courts conservative majority seemed inclined on Wednesday to limit or even overturn a key precedent that has empowered executive agencies, threatening regulations in countless areas, including the environment, health care and consumer safety.

Each side warned of devastating consequences should it lose, underscoring how the courts decision in a highly technical case could reverberate across wide swaths of American life.

Overruling the precedent, Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar told the justices, would be an unwarranted shock to the legal system.

But Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh responded that there were in fact shocks to the system every four or eight years when a new administration comes in, whether its communications law or securities law or competition law or environmental law.
A Maine judge ordered the states top election official on Wednesday to wait for a U.S. Supreme Court ruling before putting into effect her decision to exclude former President Donald J. Trump from Maines Republican primary ballot.

Justice Michaela Murphy of Maine Superior Court said in the ruling that the official, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, had been forced under Maine law to issue her decision quickly, without the benefit of the high courts input.

The Supreme Court has agreed to review, at Mr. Trumps request, an earlier decision by a Colorado court to exclude him from the ballot, and is expected to hear arguments in the case on Feb. 8. Ms. Bellows had cited the Colorado courts reasoning in her decision.

The secretary confronted an uncertain legal landscape when she issued her ruling, Justice Murphy wrote in a 17-page decision, and should be afforded the opportunity to assess the effect and application to her ruling of whatever the high court decides.
A Kenyan judge on Wednesday said that a doomsday cult leader who the authorities say directed his followers to starve themselves must undergo a mental health evaluation before prosecutors formally charge him with the murders of 191 children.

The charges relate to the discovery last April of mass graves in the Shakahola Forest of southeastern Kenya, where hundreds of people had come to follow the teachings of the cult leader, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, a former taxi driver turned televangelist. Mr. Mackenzie had marketed Shakahola to his followers as an evangelical Christian sanctuary from what he claimed was the fast-approaching apocalypse. The Kenyan authorities say that he told members of his church to starve themselves to death to meet Jesus; more than 400 bodies were exhumed from the forest.

Mr. Mackenzie  who has denied the allegations  appeared in court on Wednesday in the Kenyan coastal city of Malindi. The judge, Mugure Thande, gave prosecutors until Feb. 6 to make sure that he and his co-defendants are fit to stand trial.

The prosecutors office shared with journalists a list of charges that it intends to bring against Mr. Mackenzie and 30 of his followers, including 191 counts of child murder.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Iran is ready to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan in the fields of oil, gas, and electricity, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the meeting with Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, Prime Minister of the interim government of Pakistan, on January 16 in Davos, Switzerland.

According to Amir Abdollahian deep and strong relations exist between Iran and Pakistan. The activity of border markets can be further strengthened to develop trade between the two countries.

The FM added that the two countries planned to increase the annual trade turnover to $5 billion. At present, the trade turnover is $2.5 billion. A joint effort can achieve the intended goal.

During the meeting, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar also stressed that the relations between the two countries are of great importance.

He noted that Islamabad is interested in strengthening bilateral relations with Tehran.

Stating that he shares Iran's pain over the terrorist act committed in Kerman province, the Pakistani minister said that cooperation between the two countries is necessary to limit such terrorist incidents.

On January 3, two explosions occurred in two directions on the way to the cemetery where Iranian general Ghasem Soleimani was buried. As a result of the explosion, 90 people died and 248 people were injured.

In 2020, General Ghasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed as a result of the US attack in Iraq.

---

Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur
Iranian strikes inflame regional tensions

A day after Iran launched missile strikes in neighboring Pakistan, Irans defense minister vowed yesterday that his country would not set any limits on using its capabilities against enemies whenever necessary.

The strikes have raised tensions in a region where conflict has now touched at least five nations.

In a statement, Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state, said it reserves the right to respond to what it called an illegal and unprovoked attack. The country expelled the Iranian ambassador to Islamabad and recalled its own ambassador from Iran. But retaliation could risk drawing Pakistan, which is already mired in political and economic crises, into Middle East upheaval that it has so far avoided.

Details: Iranian strikes also hit targets in Syria and Iraq this week. Iranian officials said the strikes targeted terrorists they accused of being behind the bombing that killed 86 people earlier this month at a memorial procession for Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani. The Iraqi and Pakistani governments rejected Irans justifications and both countries reported civilian casualties.

Analysis: Experts say Iran is walking a fine line, hoping to flex its strength to show conservatives at home that it can hit its enemies  without getting directly entangled in a fight with Israel, the U.S. or their allies.
An Iranian airstrike inside Pakistan on Tuesday that Iran said was aimed at militant training camps has left Pakistani officials facing a difficult decision about whether to retaliate and potentially expand the turmoil that has swept the Middle East.

Relations between Pakistan and neighboring Iran reached a new low after Irans attack in the restive Baluchistan region, with Pakistan reporting civilian casualties, including children, and warning that the violation of its sovereignty could have serious consequences. On Wednesday, Pakistan expelled the Iranian ambassador to Islamabad and recalled its own ambassador from Iran.

In a statement, Pakistan said it reserves the right to respond to what it called an illegal and unprovoked attack.
A fireworks factory exploded in central Thailand on Wednesday, killing at least 20 people and injuring many others, according to the Thai police.

After the blast, the factory, in the middle of a field in Suphan Buri Province, collapsed, leaving nothing but rubble, photographs posted online by Thai media outlets showed.

Nobody could get out. Nobody could get out, said a distraught female resident, who was weeping as she spoke into her mobile phone, in a video posted by Channel 7, a Thai broadcaster.

Another resident who was interviewed by Channel 7 said the blast was so loud that it could be heard almost a kilometer away.
First he was allowed to leave Turkey after he hit a motorcycle courier with his car in November. Then the police blamed the courier, who later died in the hospital, before reversing course.

Finally, on Tuesday, the driver of the car, the son of Somalias leader, was convicted of causing death by negligence and given a prison sentence that was quickly commuted to a fine of 27,300 Turkish lira, or about $900.

Widespread perceptions that the driver, Mohammed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, 40, a doctor, repeatedly received preferential treatment from the authorities have prompted outrage in Turkey and accusations that justice was denied to the courier, Yunus Emre Gocer, 38, a father of two young children.

Many Turks speculated on social media that Mr. Mohamud had been treated differently because of his fathers position and vented about the unusually swift judicial process. Similar cases typically take 18 months to two years, legal experts say.
Polish truckers have lifted their blockade of checkpoints on the border with Ukraine after reaching an agreement with their government, putting an end for now to a two-month protest that has delayed tons of goods from reaching Europe and strained the Ukrainian economy.

Under the agreement, reached on Tuesday afternoon, the truckers will suspend the blockade while they hold further talks with the Polish government to reach a final deal by March 1. A few hours later, Ukraines State Border Guard Service announced that traffic had resumed at the three border crossings that remained blocked.

A free flow of goods is vital in times of war, especially for the supply of the military and humanitarian goods, for exports and for the functioning of our economy, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraines infrastructure minister, said in a statement welcoming the agreement.

Since the war began in 2022, Ukraine has mainly used overland routes for its exports because of Russias attempt to blockade the Black Sea. But Polish truckers have complained about what they see as unfair and cheap competition from their Ukrainian counterparts, threatening their own profits. Starting in early November, they blocked several checkpoints, forcing thousands of Ukrainian trucks to wait for days at the border.
France on Wednesday became the latest Western country to reject accusations that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, a charge that was recently brought before a United Nations court in The Hague.

Stephane Sejourne, Frances newly appointed foreign minister, told lawmakers in Frances lower house of Parliament that the rule of law applies to all, and systematic strikes in Gaza must cease.

But, Mr. Sejourne added, words have meaning.

To accuse the Jewish state of genocide is to cross a moral threshold, he said. The notion of genocide cannot be exploited for political ends. This has always been our position.

Israel is facing the charge of genocide at the International Court of Justice, where South Africa has brought a case arguing that Israel means to create conditions of death in Gaza and demanding that the court order an emergency suspension of the military campaign there. The Israeli authorities deny the accusation.

South Africa has won praise at home and from other countries for challenging what they see as a Western-led global order that is biased toward Israel.

The United States has called the case meritless, and several European countries have rejected it too. Germany, which intervened in the case as a third party in Israels favor, said that there is no basis whatsoever to South Africas claim. Israel was founded in the aftermath of the Nazi-led genocide of European Jewry, and Germany has rooted much of its post-Holocaust identity in the idea of supporting the Jewish state.
After hitting targets in neighboring Pakistan, Iraq and Syria with missiles, Iran talked tough on Wednesday, playing up  to friends and foes alike  not only its military capabilities but its determination to strike enemies at will.

We are a missile power in the world, Irans defense minister, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, told reporters after a cabinet meeting, according to state media. Wherever they want to threaten the Islamic Republic of Iran, we will react, and this reaction will definitely be proportionate, tough and decisive.

Irans show of strength was meant to reassure conservatives domestically and militant allies abroad, and to warn Israel, the United States and terrorist groups that Iran will strike back if attacked, according to two Iranians affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards who were familiar with the planning, and who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters. Supporters of Irans authoritarian clerical regime have been incensed by recent attacks on Iran that made it appear vulnerable, demanding a powerful response.

Yet for all the missiles launched and all the belligerent words, Iran once again appeared to stop short of a major escalation that might further inflame an intensifying regional conflict centered on the war between an Iranian-backed armed group, Hamas, and Irans regional archenemy, Israel. Analysts say Iran wanted the attacks to be measured, flexing its muscles without getting into a direct fight with Israel, the United States or their allies.

By Tuesday morning, murals and banners appeared around Tehran praising the missile attacks and vowing vengeance against Irans enemies. At Palestine Square, a mural on a building depicted a missile being fired, with a caption warning in Hebrew and Persian, Prepare your coffins.
An Indian man has been caught trying to take an exam at a Punjab university on behalf of his girlfriend by wearing lipstick, makeup, and female clothes.

Officials at Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Punjabs Faridkot district recently caught a young Indian man using a disguise and fake documents in order to take the exam of multi-purpose health workers on behalf of a woman believed to be his girlfriend. The youth, identified as Angrez Singh from Fazilka, showed up at the examination center in Kotkapura on January 7 dressed in full female attire, complete with red bangles, bindi, and lipstick, and carrying documents in the name of the woman he was trying to impersonate, one Paramjit Kaur. While his disguise may have fooled the staff, they couldnt trick the biometric scanners when his data didnt fit the one in the database.

The candidate managed to enter the examination hall. However, the officials got suspicious as the picture of Paramjeet Kaur on the application form was not matching with the face of the candidate in question, a police officer told The Indian Express. Later biometrics were done and they didnt match with the ones kept in the records. It was found that a boy named Angrez Singh had impersonated Kaur. He had even got a fake Aadhaar card, voter card and ID card made in the name of Paramjeet Kaur.

Initially, university staff sent Angrez home, but a complaint was later filed against him, and he is currently under investigation for multiple offenses. Paramjeet Kaur is also being accused of conspiring with Singh, as without her consent he would not have been able to attempt the exam in her place.

It turns out that 34-year-old Paramjeet Kaur had attempted the same exam before and failed, so 26-year-old Angrez offered to take her place and hopefully pass this time around. The young man initially told police that Kaur and he were related, but that proved to be a lie.

Photos of Angrez in his feminine disguise made the rounds on social media, and his romantic gesture became a laughingstock.



Interestingly, this story is far from unique. In 2015, we wrote about a man in Kazakhstan who put on a disguise to take an exam in his girlfriends place, and a couple of years ago, we posted the story of a man who put on an elaborate disguise to take a graduation exam on behalf of his girlfriend. The things we do for love


AR Seeks PR to Promote Soybeans Mon., Mar. 18, 2024 The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board is looking to hire a PR firm to educate the public about its activities and the health benefits associated with the "miracle bean."
Bernie Sanders

Senate turns a blind eye. Senator Bernie Sanders could only gain the support of ten of his colleagues to vote for his resolution to direct the State Dept. to conduct a report on whether Israels military is committing human rights violations in Gaza.

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 requires that any nation receiving military aid from the US must comply with internationally-recognized human rights laws.

If they dont, Congress can cut off the weapons flow.

Sanders noted that his resolution was a simple request for information. It did not alter military assistance in any fashion.

This is a very modest, common-sense proposal and frankly hard for me to understand why anyone would oppose it, said Sanders.

The Vermont Senator noted that Israels military used US weapons to raze Gaza, and kill more than 23K of its civilians.

The vast majority of the people in Gaza are homeless and in need of food, water and medical assistance.

The US supply of weaponry to Israelon a no-questions asked basishas damaged Americas reputation throughout the world.

Sanders tried to undo the damage.

Opioid work hit batters McKinsey & Co. The management consultant reports a 22.7 percent drop in fiscal 2023 federal revenues to $54.9M, which is the lowest level since 2014.

The Financial Times attributes McKinseys fall from US revenues grace due to its involvement in the Purdue Pharma opioid scandal.

The consultant advised Purdue executives about how to turbocharge the sales engine" for OxyContin.

It has paid more than $900M to settle legal claims for its role in the opioid crisis.

McKinsey chalked up $114M in revenues in federal revenues in 2018, which was its all-time high.

Watch out PR, here come the deinfluencers. Bloomberg has reported on the rise of social media deinfluencers who encourage their followers not to buy so much junk.

Rejecting overhyped trends and materialism, deinfluencers often simply ask if a product is worth it.

The rise of fast fashion also has spurred the rise of deinfluencers.

They point out the low quality of the merchandise, and shed light on the human rights violations that take place in the factories that produce the garments.

Of course, deinfluencers could benefit from the same PR counsel that made influencers online celebrities.

Deinfluencers could be a potential gold mine for PR. Hows that for playing both sides of the marketing game?

Edelmans Koch Connection.The Guardian chides Edelman for ranking as one of the Charles Koch Foundations top five professional contractors in 2022.

The Foundation, which plants seeds of doubt about global heating, runs afoul of Edelmans pledge not to work for climate warming deniers.

Edelman received $107,750 from the Foundation, according to its disclosure form.

Thats pocket change for the worlds biggest PR firm.

Edelman says it no longer works for the Foundation.

The Guardian may want to do a follow-up on Edelmans work for Saudi Arabia on behalf of promoting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans NEOM city-of-the-future project.

Thats where the big bucks are.
A referral has been made to An Bord Pleanala in relation to a commercial advertising sign in O'Connor Square, Tullamore.

The illuminated, rolling, digital sign is attached to a phone kiosk in the square and former town planner with Offaly County Council, Fergal McCabe has referred a declaration made by Offaly County Council that the sign is a development but is an exempted development.

Mr McCabe says: ''The Square is recognised as Tullamores principal civic space and contains the greatest concentration of protected structures in the town, including its oldest structure (1743) and its iconic Market House.''

Offaly County Council claim that the 1.50sqm sign is an exempted development as it is an ancillary item to the telephone kiosk. However, in the Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 under the heading 'Built Heritage' the council states: ''The use of electronic variable messaging signs commonly known as ''VMS signs'' shall be reserved strictly for use in road work activities, hazard information and or as part of an approved event traffic management plan. Advanced written consent of Offaly Council will be required prior to installation and usage of such signage.''

Mr McCabe also points to recent decisions by the local Planning Authority and An Bord Pleanala in which advertising signage was rejected in O'Connor Square on the grounds that it would result in ''visual clutter'' and detract from the character of a protected structure namely Woodchester House.

In addition an application for a change of use of the former Post Office which is also a protected structure was granted on condition that it excluded signage which was to be the subject of a separate application in the interests of ''visual amenity.''

An Bord Pleanala also deemed the removal by the Council of a raised kerb and wreath laying space which surrounded the nearby War Memorial (also a protected structure in O'Connor Square) was not an exempted development as claimed by the Council. Furthermore, an Architectural Heritage Impact Statement was not provided to justify the work. The raised kerb has never been reinstated.

As part of his referral Mr McCabe noted that An Bord Pleanala refused permission for a recent proposal for a VMS sign in Donnybrook, Dublin which had similar characteristics to that of the one in O'Connor Square.

An Taisce has supported Mr McCabe, stating: ''OConnor Square, Tullamore is a notable historic public space of County Offaly and of the Midlands which survives in a relatively good state of preservation containing various historic buildings including the landmark mid-18th century Market House (Protected Structure). It is of concern to An Taisce that, more than two decades after introduction of the architectural heritage provisions of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (Part IV), OConnor Square has yet to be designated a statutory Architectural Conservation Area (ACA). As part of the measures of Act, planning authorities are obliged to designate ACAs to protect the heritage of their jurisdiction and it is remiss of Offaly County Council not to have yet done so in this instance.

It is considered that modern digital advertising displays are not appropriate to architecturally and historically sensitive locations such as the subject site at OConnor Square.''

Two sides of O'Connor Square consist of nine Protected Structures. The centre of the Square is occupied by the 1926 War Memorial, itself a Protected Structure of Regional Importance.

An Bord Pleanala will make known its decision later this year.
JUDGE Andrew Cody refused a request from a shoplifter who sought additional time to pay 17 compensation for stealing cider.

Tullamore District Court heard that Joseph Coughlan (39), The Granary, Tullamore, had brought 70 to court to compensate for the theft of a 69.99 Parkside power tool from Lidl, Main Street, Tullamore on August 28 last year.

The tool had not been recovered and Mr Coughlan pleaded guilty to its theft. He also admitted stealing 17 worth of Linden Village cider from Dolan's filling station in Tullamore on August 26.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns said the accused had 59 previous convictions and in 2016 had received a six-month suspended sentence for criminal damage.

In 2014 he received two separate six-month suspended sentences for a drugs offences and criminal damage and had been disqualified from driving for four years. He had one conviction for theft.

Defending solicitor Patrick Martin said that at the time of the offences last August Mr Coughlan had been off his medication.

He had brought 70 to court and because he was on social welfare, he would pay the 17 compensation for the stolen cider after he received his dole the following Monday.

Judge Cody's response was that because the accused was in receipt of legal aid it would cost 100 to get 17.

It doesn't make sense, remarked the judge on Wednesday morning, ordering that the matter be left stand until later in the day.

When the case was called again later in the afternoon Mr Martin said the full compensation of 87 had been handed in.

The solicitor added that Mr Coughlan had also been having relationship difficulties at the time of the offences.

Judge Cody imposed a fine of 200.
This week's racing schedule saw Mullingar start its new programme of racing with Friday and Sunday's meetings being BAGS meetings . The BAGS meetings in conjunction with the running of the traditional Saturday meeting with its eleven races will hopefully work well for the greyhound fraternity and hopefully will ensure plenty of races are available for all midland dogs.



The main action was the second round of the Dublin Cup in Shelbourne and the quarterfinals of the Kerry Oaks in Tralee. The first of the big open unraced stakes of the year kicked off in Clonmel with plenty of immaculate bred pups on display.



Early Week Racing



The first three days racing of the week were postponed due to the cold spell and frozen tracks. Two BAGS meetings on Thursday in Waterford and Tralee - nothing of note there for Midland dogs.



Friday Racing



First two Offaly winners of the week were in Newbridge. In an S3 325 yard sprint, Aon Sceal Eile had his second career win for Geashill owners Edmund and Rebecca Garry, in a decent 17.98 by two lengths, at 5/2. In an A3 525, Susie Chaperal had her eleventh win for the Twenty-Eight-Eighty-Two-Syndicate which has Rhode legends Seamus Darby and Gerry Hickey in its ranks in 29.23 by three lengths also at 5/2 with Barry Clancy training.



Tralee staged the quarter-finals of the Nolan CVRT Test Centre A1 Kerry Oaks. Four very competitive heats with Ballymac Opera going fastest for local Kerry trainer Liam Dowling in 29.12 (50 slow) by two lengths at 5/2.



Shelbourne hosted the second round of the 2024 A2 Dublin Cup, eight heats with Miami Prince setting the standard for John Donohoe and Tom ODonnell when stopping the clock in 28.63 by four lengths at 1/1 fav.



In Clonmel, the first of the Open Unraced of the year got underway, the Rural Kennels Unraced Stake, eleven heats where future champions made their debut. Pups with impeccable bloodlines went to traps with owners hoping and praying that this could be the one that dreams are made of. Of the eleven heats Romeo Taylor went fastest when crossing the whitewash in 28.88 (40 slow) by four lengths with champion trainer Graham Holland at the helm. Others winners to catch the eye were Ballymac Darcia for Dowling in 28.94 (40 slow) by two lengths and Stonepark King for Michael ODonovan who was the only trainer to have a double on the night in 28.95(40 slow) by eight lengths. Long way to go in this very competitive unraced stake yet and predicting the winner at this stage an impossible task.



Saturday Racing



Only Faithful County winner was in Galway, in an S6 sprint Birr Bomber won his first race in five starts in for Kevin Pardy in 18.16 (.05 slow) by four lengths at 5/4 fav.



Limerick held the first round of the Born Warrior @ Stud A1 525, five heats with Glengar Jasmine going fastest for Corona Ryan in 28.65 by three lengths at 1/1 fav.



Two finals of note in Shelbourne Park, in the Barking Buzz App AO 550, We Got This (Droopys Buick-Knocksouna Lady) won the 2.2k first prize in 29.90 by one length at 6/1 for Amanda Meade and Sean Roche. In the final of the Talking Dogs A1 Dual Distance with first round over 525 and final on Saturday over 550 was won by Pied Piper (Droopys Jet- Higher Level) with a pot of 2k going to Maurice Heffernan in 30.34 by two lengths at 3/1.



In Waterford, in the final of the Graigavine Livestock and WTSC A3 Novice 730 yard stake, the 1.3k purse went to Rockmount Lucy (Good News-Rockmount Wings) for owner Carol OConnor in 41.10 by two lengths at 2/1.



Sunday Racing



Two more Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, in an A5 contest, Horseleap Pippy won for Sean McGuinness in 30.68 (70 slow) by two lengths at 2/1 fav. In an A4 grade, Mullingar specialist Lingrawn Focus had his twelveth career victory for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 30.64 (70 slow) also by two lengths and also at 2/1.



Upcoming Events



Friday, quarter-finals of the Dublin Cup in Shelbourne and semifinals of the Kerry Oaks in Tralee. Saturday, quarter-finals of the Born Warrior @ Stud A1 525 in Limerick. Sunday, second round of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced in Clonmel.



Tribune Offaly dog of the week



Aon Sceal Eile gets the nod this week as he won the highest grade race by any of the Offaly winners, an S3 in Newbridge on Friday night in 17.98 by two lengths for Edmund and Rebecca Garry. Good win.



Offaly Winners



Five Offaly winners this week, well done to all connections.
As one of the greatest reverse engineering programmes in European history, Bord na Mona's exit from peat production and its plans to rehabilitate 33,000 hectares of bogs is having a huge impact on the landscape of the Midlands.

As one of the greatest reverse engineering programmes in European history, Bord na Mona's exit from peat production and its plans to rehabilitate 33,000 hectares of bogs is having a huge impact on the landscape of the Midlands.

The ambitious plan also impacts on the semi-state body's employees and in a major scheme to assist workers begin their new journeys, Bord na Mona has established a start your own business programme, New Beginnings.

The innovative business programme is run by Bord na Mona in conjunction with Laois Offaly Education Training Board (LOETB) and is delivered by the Entrepreneur's Academy and Hartley People.

The programme is also supported by Offaly Local Enterprise Office (LEO).

Padraig Boland, FET Manager Strategic Projects, at LOETB, explained: New Beginnings is a Start Your Own Business Programme that recognises the contribution of former Bord na Mona employees to the enterprise landscape of the midlands.

The programme builds on the results of individual skills audits and training needs analysis conducted by LOETB with workers and it illustrates the positive skills partnership that has developed between LOETB and Bord na Mona. The programmes greatest strength has been its participants who, despite diverse Bord na Mona roles and a variety of life and educational experience, formed a supportive, committed team.

New Beginnings is unique in capturing the essence of Just Transition  supporting those most affected, people whose own jobs are threatened, by the transition from extractive industry and supporting them to become employment creators, providing services and products that will enhance the sustainability of the midland region and contribute to the green economy.

The first New Beginnings programme ran from June to November of last year with ten participants, who are now in the process of establishing their own businesses  Damien Brazil: Fix My Gaff; Michael Kenny: MK Energy; Owen Kelly: Kelly Tyre Services (KTS); David Feeney: Dave's Midland Courier Service; Ger Dunican: Ger Dunican Retrofitting; John Fitzharris: Fitzzone Gym; Ronan Boylan: Endrim Safety Training; Padraig Mooney: Cosy Home Solutions; Ken O'Shea: Ken O'Shea Agri-Contracting and Trevor Mooney: TM Fabrications.

All the participants took part in-person in the programme which was run at the Accelerate Green hub in Boora for three days with participants spending the remainder of each week working on their business plans or in training.

The QQI and NFQ Level 5 accredited programme is a full-time alternative option to redeployment for those workers whose jobs have been impacted by the transition away from peat. It is necessary for it to be full time in order to ensure participants are fully ready to be self-employed and are equipped with all necessary tools to give them the best chance of success.

The programme starts with getting the participants into the entrepreneurial mindset and then delves deep into finance, market research, sales and marketing, business modelling and operations, value proposition, IT skills, sustainability, human resources and legal issues.

By the end of the programme, participants must present a viable business plan which is scored for their qualification as well as qualifying them for seed funding for their venture from Bord na Mona.

Explaining the germination of the New Beginnings programme, Elaine Negi, Strategic Projects Manager at Bord na Mona said: A lot of employees had good, practical business ideas but didnt know how to go about setting up their own business. This was the first start your own business programme run by Bord na Mona and it aimed to provide them with the necessary training to get off the ground and begin their exciting journeys while continuing to be fully supported.

As this first cohort embark on their self-employed journeys, the first year of a new business is often very uncertain and stressful for the business owner. Business viability can be fragile. Considering this, Bord na Mona and LOETB are keen to ensure that they continue to provide these new businesses with on-going mentoring support. The new businesses will also be encouraged to continue to support each other and benefit from the mentality that blossomed while on the programme.

One of the graduates of the programme, Ronan Boylan, Endrim Safety Training, commented: Throughout this transformative journey, I received invaluable guidance and advice from mentors and trainers. Moreover, I found support among my peersnine others who were also navigating the path of establishing their businesses. Whenever questions or challenges arose, our collective wisdom quickly resolved them. The diversity of viewpoints and options provided profound insights into how to approach various aspects of entrepreneurship.

Participants on the pilot New Beginnings programme were mainly Bord na Mona employees at the old Derrinlough briquette factory and came from all over Offaly, from Ferbane right up to Clonbullogue.

According to Sharon Doyle, Head of HR and Corporate Communications in Bord na Mona: Since placing climate solutions at the centre of our strategy, we have successfully shifted the company to a position of financial strength which allows us to continue the companys long-standing tradition of delivering, in a multitude of ways, for Ireland and our local communities. We are keen to share this success by supporting entrepreneurs in the Midlands and the New Beginnings programme enables us to do this with our own employees who have been impacted by our transition away from peat. The success of the recent programme has far exceeded our expectations and we are now working to launch the next New Beginnings course at the end of February.
THE first turbine has been installed on what will be Offaly's biggest wind farm.

Wind farm developer SSE Renewables described the installation as a key moment in the construction of the 110 MW power generation facility which will have a total of 29 turbines.

The Yellow River wind farm is located on land between Croghan and Rhode and is expected to be commissioned early next year.

The first convoys of turbine components, delivered to the Offaly site from the Port of Galway, got underway in November 2023 with the installation programme beginning shortly after.

SSE Renewables said the deliveries, which are expected to continue until April 2024, are taking place between midnight and 4am to ensure minimum disruption to local residents. All turbines are expected to be installed by the end of summer 2024.

Yellow River has secured a contract for all of the sites planned installed capacity of renewable energy power under the Irish Governments latest RESS 3 auction round for new onshore wind farms. The contract is due to commence shortly after commissioning.

The company says that when complete, the wind farm will generate enough low-carbon renewable energy to power 66,000 homes annually and offset 65,000 metric tonnes of carbon per annum, contributing significantly to Irelands 2030 renewable energy targets.

The project is expected to support up to 80 full-time construction jobs at peak delivery.

Heather Donald, SSE Renewables onshore renewables development and construction director said: Celebrating another milestone at Yellow River so soon after taking delivery of the first turbine components underlines the hard work by everyone involved in the installation programme. It is a pivotal moment in the project as our teams continue to press on with a busy schedule to safely install and deliver turbines at the site.

Achieving this milestone is symbolic of our continued commitment to delivering greener, homegrown energy for Ireland which is needed now and in the future. Across SSE Renewables, we are spending around 4.5m a day on developing and building new clean power assets such as Yellow River Wind Farm. When completed next year, Yellow River will be able to generate in excess of 100MW of wind-powered electricity, contributing significantly to Irelands 2030 renewable energy targets.

James Lappin, project manager for Nordex said: The installation of the first turbine at Yellow River Wind Farm is a significant milestone in our commitment to providing innovative wind energy solutions that contribute to a greener, more sustainable future in Ireland. We are proud to partner with SSE Renewables on this 101 MW project and thank the local community for their continued support and patience during the delivery and installation phase. Our teams are working diligently to deliver a safe and timely project whilst also minimising any potential disruption. We look forward to a smooth conclusion to this stage of the project later this year.

The maximum tip height of the turbine blades will be 166 metres (544 feet).

SSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy, headquartered in the UK and Ireland, with a growing presence internationally.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf held several meetings within the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF), Trend reports referring to Najaf's social media statements.

Particularly, a "strategic dialog" was held during the meeting with Musabbeh Al Kaabi, executive director for low-carbon solutions and international development of ADNOC (UAE).

"Progress on the 'Absheron' Caspian gas production project, low-carbon solutions, potential opportunities for further cooperation were discussed," Najaf's statement said.

ADNOC has been involved in the Absheron project since summer 2023 with a 30-percent stake, which could produce 5 to 6 bcm of gas per year by the end of the decade.

Rovshan Najaf also held productive discussions with U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Action Rick Duke in Davos.

"Potential cooperation was discussed in the field of decarbonization, climate issues, and promotion of a sustainable future for the planet," Najaf said.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Azerbaijan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) discussed broadening cooperation in the field of renewable energy, Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on X, Trend reports.

"Within our trip to the Davos Economic Forum, we held a meeting with Jurgen Rigterink, the First Vice-President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Our discussions emphasized the importance of broadening cooperation between EBRD and Azerbaijan in the renewable energy sector, Azerbaijan's active participation in international initiatives, and the prospects for hosting COP29 in the country. EBRD's expressed support for Azerbaijan in this field was acknowledged," the minister said.

Previously, Jabbarov held an online meeting with Rigterink.

The meeting focused on projects implemented in Azerbaijan with the Bank's support, prospects of cooperation with Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company CJSC, possibilities of expansion of joint activities of the parties in the field of renewable energy sources, and improvement of the information technology ecosystem.

The EBRD First Vice President emphasized the significance of the fact that Azerbaijan has been chosen to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) this year and expressed the Bank's willingness to support Azerbaijan in this regard.

The decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023.

Besides Azerbaijan, both Armenia and Bulgaria nominated their candidatures. However, after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia on December 7, 2023, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in favor of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed suit and also withdrew its candidacy.

On January 4, 2024, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, was appointed as President of COP29.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Azerbaijan and Denmark have discussed opportunities for collaboration in the field of wind energy, Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on X, Trend reports.

"On the margins of the Davos Economic Forum, a meeting was held with Vice President of Vestas Wind Systems A/S Morten Dyrholm. During our conversation, we emphasized the growing importance of sustainable energy sources in the context of climate change. Additionally, we discussed current alternative energy projects in our country, the implementation of 'green' technologies, and explored opportunities for cooperation in the field of wind energy usage."

Vestas Wind Systems A/S is a Danish company and one of the world's largest manufacturers of wind turbines.

Electricity production from renewable energy sources (RES), including hydropower plants, in Azerbaijan amounted to 2.1 billion kWh in 2023.

Last year, 1.75 billion kilowatt-hours were generated by hydroelectric power plants, 56.6 million kilowatt-hours by wind power plants, 79.4 million kilowatt-hours by solar power plants, and about 223 million kilowatt-hours by solid waste incineration plant (SWIP).

The share of the RES sector in the total electricity production in Azerbaijan amounted to seven percent in the reporting period.

Overall, electricity production in Azerbaijan totaled 29.277 billion kWh, while electricity exports from Azerbaijan amounted to 3.253 billion kWh, and imports amounted to 211.8 million kWh.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 17. Kazatomprom (Kazakhstan's national uranium company) expects a reduction in uranium production in 2024 compared to planned volumes, Trend reports.

Thus, the company planned to increase production volumes to 90 percent of subsoil use contracts in 2024, compared to 80 percent in 2023. This decision was made in connection with the company's successful conclusion of medium- and long-term contracts with both new and existing clients.

Expectations for a reduction in uranium production in 2024 are due to difficulties in the availability of sulfuric acid, a key component in the uranium production process, as well as delays in completing construction work at new mines.

As the company noted, the company continues to actively search for alternative sources of sulfuric acid supplies. However, the company predicts that achieving 90 percent production levels may be difficult.

At the same time, the company remains committed to its uranium supply obligations in 2024.

In addition, as the company noted, the impact of this situation on operations is currently being assessed. Results will be provided no later than February 1, 2024.

In addition, the company thinks that returning to 100 percent production in 2025 may also be at risk.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan ranks second in the world in terms of proven natural uranium reserves. The depths of the Republic of Kazakhstan contain around 14 percent of all proven world reserves. The entire proven reserves of uranium in the country are expected to be more than 700,000 tons.

Kazakhstan surpassed the United States in uranium production in 2009 and continues to dominate the global market.

Kazakhstan accounts for almost 40 percent of global uranium output. The volume of uranium production in 2021 was 21,800 tons, while the volume in 2022 was 21,300 tons.
Supreme Court declares presidential pardon granted to Duminda Silva unlawful

Posted by Editor on January 17, 2024 - 10:35 am

Sri Lankas Supreme Court today declared that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksas decision to grant a Presidential pardon to former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva is unlawful.

On September 08, 2016, five accused including Duminda Silva, were convicted by the Colombo High Court and sentenced to death for committing the murder of four persons, including former Parliamentarian Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra on or around October 08, 2011.

However, after the 2019 presidential election victory, former President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa unexpectedly pardoned Duminda Silva on June 24, 2021.

Three separate fundamental rights petitions were subsequently filed in the Supreme Court challenging the legality of the pardon.

The fundamental rights applications were filed by Hirunika Premachandra, her mother Sumana Premachandra, and Former Human Rights Commissioner Ghazali Hussain, PC.

A bench comprising Justices P. Padman Surasena, Gamini Amarasekera and Arjuna Obeysekera, after careful consideration, unanimously concluded that the pardon process was flawed and therefore unlawful.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ordered the prison authorities to take necessary action to implement the Supreme Court judgment in respect of Duminda Silva.
'Do you condemn Hamas?' is a question so ubiquitous in Western media's coverage of the Israel-Palestinian conflict that it has become a political meme. The question typically demands a condemnation of extremism exclusively from the pro-Palestinian side. In the interest of condemning extremism across the board, it logically follows then to ask: what is the Israeli equivalent to Hamas?

Some may argue that the 'Do you condemn Hamas' question is a prerequisite to having a productive civil discussion. An extremist, by definition, is not one to compromise on their views and as such is detrimental to any well-intentioned peace effort. If that is indeed the criterion, then I would argue that Likud should be very much in the same trench as Hamas. Let me explain.

For context, Likud is the leading right-wing party in Israeli politics. It is also the flagbearer of revisionist Zionism: a form of Zionism that prioritizes territorial expansionism. Menachem Begin, the founder of the party, had also been the leader of Irgun, a Zionist terrorist group responsible for the bombing of the King David Hotel and the Deir Yassin massacre. Other leaders of Likud have included Ariel Sharon, the man primarily responsible for the Israeli West Bank barrier and much of the aspects that are frequently criticized as amounting to apartheid today.

Nowadays, Likud is dominated by one man: the current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In many ways, Netanyahu's extended reign has been a continuation of the Likud's policy of revisionist Zionism. He has boasted about being personally responsible for preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state and has been recorded warning his party members that only he could block a Palestinian state. To put it simply, the West's pontification on the two-state solution is utterly meaningless while Netanyahu remains in power. His revisionist Zionism dictates that support of a Palestinian state is, as he puts it, tantamount to yielding territory for "Radical Islam".

More recently, because of the political deadlock in Israel in the last few years, Netanyahu was forced to forge an alliance with even more extremist Israeli parties in order to form a ruling coalition for his sixth term as Prime Minister. This latest coalition has essentially morphed Likud into an umbrella of extremism under which far-right parties are politically emboldened and ensured representation.

This hardline coalition has produced such characters as Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich. Ben-Gvir has been convicted, by an Israeli court, of incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organization. Smotrich is arguably worse as he was apprehended on suspicion of attempting to blow up Ayalon Highway in protest against the Israeli disengagement from Gaza in 2005. These are people with a clear association with terrorism according to Israel's own security apparatus and yet they have been legitimized through Likud's brand of mainstream revisionist Zionism.

By all accounts, the extremism of Likud's revisionist Zionism and Hamas's radical Islam are intertwined. The leaders of Hamas need an expansionist Israel to justify their militant existence, which oftentimes comes at the expense of the wellbeing of the Palestinian people. Likewise, Likud needs a militant Hamas in order to maintain the political cover for their expansionist agenda. And I am not just analyzing here. Netanyahu said as much to his Likud colleagues in 2019, asserting that "anyone who wants to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state has to support bolstering Hamas".

That is why it is baffling to me to see one part of the extremism equation condemned while the other is tolerated. I get that some may find drawing an equivalence between Hamas and Likud outrageous. But the comparison isn't far-fetched once you consider the goal at the core of each political ideology. Hamas's goal of a free Palestine from "the River to the Sea" has drawn endless accusations of antisemitism and genocidal intent. But the fact is that Likud's charter states the same goal almost verbatim: "Between the Sea and the Jordan there will only be Israeli sovereignty." Intellectual honesty dictates that we condemn both statements in equal measure. If you are hesitant to do so then you are quite simply a selective enabler of extremism.

Some may argue that condemning Hamas is condemning terrorism. Yet again, I'm not arguing against condemning Hamas but rather for ideological consistency. If our concern is to condemn the use of violence and intimidation against civilians for political aims, then Israel's Likud-led government is just as guilty of terrorism. What else would you call a sustained campaign of violence with a quite transparent goal of de facto forcing Gazans to leave?

Another argument of the 'Do you condemn Hamas' people is that they are avoiding framing the pro-Palestinian side as an extremist monolith by showing the public that there are pro-Palestinians who oppose Hamas's extremism. If that is the case, then I must ask: how come the Israelis are not afforded a similar courtesy?

Even from a pro-Palestinian perspective, it is imperative for our criticism to be pointed and precise to avoid painting all Israelis with a broad brush. As evident by the growing list of countries endorsing South Africa's ICJ case against Israel, the international community is growing increasingly critical of Israel's war on Gaza. My biggest concern is that framing the Israelis as a monolith at this time would only serve to entrench a siege mentality of extremism in the Israeli society.

Two months ago, 35 Israeli Jewish and Arab human rights groups were calling for a ceasefire and an end to settler violence in the West Bank. Yet their calls went largely ignored as Western media was preoccupied with uncritically reporting Likud's opposition to the ceasefire. Just last week, Likud MK Moshe Saada was on TV bragging about how his sentiment of Israel having to "destroy all Gazans" was no longer limited to right-wing circles in Israeli society. The normalization and mainstreaming of Likud's militant extremism is quite evidently marginalizing other Israeli voices, and it is critical that we acknowledge that media is not doing its part in offering the Israelis an alternative.

I recall watching a documentary years ago in which an Israeli young man and his IDF veteran father were in a helicopter flying over Tel Aviv while discussing peace with the Arabs. During the conversation, the young man proclaims, "for peace, I would give them Tel Aviv", while his father watches in disgust. Feel free to side with the father but he has been having it his way for decades and Israel is no closer to a lasting peaceful coexistence. Isn't it time we listened to what the young man has to say?
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Last month, I re-read Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. No particular reason. Except it's a novel about war. The Spanish Civil War. Here in the US, we are always in war. Always warring. With ourselves. With others.





Many Americans volunteered to fight Franco's fascists in the Spanish Civil War, including the poet Langston Hughes. Other blacks joined the forces in Ethiopia against Mussolini's fascists.





Assigned to dynamite a bridge in the city of Sevogia, Hemingway's protagonist Robert Jordan was already on the pine needle forest among a band of Spanish guerrillas fighting on the Republican side against Franco's fascists. In their territory! As a 1940 New Yorker review cited, everything about that war was "serious", and Jordan and the guerrillas were "engaged in serious actions" that required an engagement in "serious thoughts: about war". "There are necessary orders that are no fault of yours and there is a bridge and that bridge can be the point on which the future of the human race can turn. As it can turn on everything that happens in this war."





The guerrillas are no more perfect than Jordan, but as Jordan notes, he finds in these rebels a passion to make a difference. A positive difference in the lives of their fellow citizens. As Hemingway makes clear, theirs was "a war between those who deny life and those who affirm it". It's possible, he suggests, that their actions could provide the path toward an alternative way of being human in the world. And the reviewer notes that the novel was written with one prejudice, "a prejudice in favor of the common human being".





For Whom the Bell Tolls is "an anti-Fascist novel".

While Jordan prepares to carry out his task of dynamiting a bridge, one of the band of guerrillas asks how did he, an American, "happen to come to Spain?" Jordan tells the Spanish band of fighters that he came 12 years before to study the country and the language. "'I teach Spanish in a university.'" Now Jordan hopes to win against the enemy.





After three days spent among the guerrillas and listening to their storyteller, Jordan awakes to a new reality. Inspired by Pilar, he hopes to emulate the storyteller, focusing on those stories that reveal the complications among the human players, the guerrillas and the fascists, alike. He'll have to become a "much better writer than" he is now, Jordan tells himself because "the things he had to come to know in this war were not so simple".





In the end, Jordan succeeds in blowing up the bridge, but with a seriously damaged leg, he is certain to die in the forest in Spain, among the pine needles. Hemingway has Jordan recognize how "completely integrated" he was in the moments he prepares to send his last blow to the fascists, content that he had broken his silence.





In our final view of Jordan, he is taking "a good long look at everything". He looked "up at the sky" and the "big white clouds in it". Then "he touched the palm of his hand against the pine needles where he lay and he touched the bark of the pine trunk that he lay behind".





Perhaps, writes the New Yorker reviewer, "by blowing up the bridge", Jordan, Hemingway, all of us "may be able to cross over into the future".





And, here we are. In the future.





In this new year, 2024, there is news out of Washington D.C. that the US and the UK have sent missiles flying over Yemen. The Houthis are the enemy. There are, too, women and children in Yemen. "The poorest country in the Middle East" (Consortium News), Yemen, is still suffering from Saudi Arabia's assault that killed "hundreds of thousands" between 2015 and 2022. The wealthy Saudis were supported by the US. Taxpayers. Military. Industrial. Corporate. Community.





This development wasn't something that Jordan and the band of Spanish guerrillas considered an alternative future for the human community!





Israel's assault on Gaza is what the Houthis are protesting. The Houthis are not allowing Israeli ships through the Red Sea. No one is suggesting joining the Houthis or Hamas. But as human beings, pursuing alternative ways of being human and committed to life, we are required, too, to engage in "serious" thought if we are to understand the full story. It's a first step in revolutionary thinking.





Otherwise--otherwise, the daily death toll in Gaza is mounting. Oxfam reports that the death toll is "higher than all major 21st-century conflicts", the United Nation's Office for the Coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reports,





The enemy in Gaza is Hamas. But then it's hard to tell. We see the images. As of January 11, 2024, some 1.9 million, that is, 85% of Gaza, has been internally displaced. This from the United Nation's Office for the Coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs. As of today, 23,469 Gazans have been killed while 59,604 have been injured. Seventy-nine journalist and media workers, according to a Committee to Protect Journalists report, have been killed. That's not an alternative way of being.





If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck...





And to many, it looks like genocide, too.





Dr. King spoke about war in his time, too. He talked about being a voice for the voiceless, for women and countless children, bombed and burned. Killed. And yet, they were called the enemy then. And why--when money that could be spend on the least of these, is used to enrich the coffers of corporate CEO warmongers. As King pointed out, "a true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth". In addition, "a true revolution of values will lay hands on the world order and say of war: 'This way of settling differences is not just'".





King was concerned about the American soldier, who, for the most part, didn't volunteer but was drafted to fight against Communism. As if democracy armed its enablers with a language sanctioning the handing of a M14 to a human being and ordering him to kill another. Many of those soldiers, King stated in "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence", a speech delivered at Riverside Church on April 4, 1967, would come to realize that his tasks placed him on "the side of the wealthy and the secure." No savior, the American soldier helped "create a hell for the poor".





Moving beyond Vietnam, King linked the poor in Vietnam with those in the US, the country spending millions on supplying weapons for war, and all of the poor around the world, facing homelessness and food insecurity, thanks to oppressive Western policies.





"The situation is one in which we must be ready to turn sharply from our present ways."

The US, he stated, must take the "initiative" to bring about a halt to that tragic war. But we have had many since then. We have been living in the shadow of fascism, telling and listening to stories about why going to war is so necessary for the American people.





But we are facing once again "real choices" and must forgo the "false ones". It is in this moment again that we find ourselves sacrificing our lives (as did Jordan and King) for the sake of a nation's survival against its "own folly".





Even more "disturbing", the deep "malady within the American spirit" has Americans patriotically following the path to war. To violence. There is always the criminalizing of anyone or any "serious thought" that might provide an alternative way of being among others. We must think beyond war, King stated. We must recognize this malady in our spirit if we are to effect "a significant and profound change in American life and policy".





Echoing John F. Kennedy, King spoke of the necessity for "peaceful revolution". Our "nation must undergo a radical revolution of values" if this nation is to remain a democracy. King continues, "we must rapidly begin the shift from a 'thing-oriented' society to a 'person-oriented' society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered."





America should take the lead "in this revolution of values". Our best defense against ideologies that depend on chaos and violence is to turn our attention to revolutionizing our values.





Enslaving ourselves to the "business" of harming and killing human beings, and "filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows", and "injecting poisonous drugs of hate into veins of peoples normally humane", and "sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically" and "mentally" damaged, "cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice and love".





It's our time to break the silence.




The Oregon Employment Department wants to divert $45 million from the state fund that pays jobless benefits over the next few years to shore up the agencys funding and boost its flagging customer service.

The employment department, plagued by operational failures throughout the pandemic, is struggling again to answer its phones and promptly pay unemployment benefits. But its nearly $6 billion trust fund is in historically strong shape, the state agency said, so the withdrawals wouldnt risk a shortfall later on.

The share of Oregon jobless claims paid within three weeks has dropped sharply since the summer, from more than 90% to less than 75%. Some people wait much longer than three weeks, and hold times have soared for those calling the agency for help.

The departments performance fell steeply last year even though relatively few people were filing unemployment claims. Oregons jobless rate was 3.6% in November and has been near that historically low level for more than two years.

The employment department blames its deteriorating metrics on two separate issues: lower funding levels and cyberthieves.

The number of people working in the states unemployment insurance program plunged from around 1,200 in the summer of 2021 to fewer than 400 last June as pandemic-era federal funding dried up. At the same time, the employment department says it was dealing with a sharp uptick in fraudulent jobless claims.

It has a direct impact on customer service, agency Director David Gerstenfeld told a legislative committee last week.

If we get a flood of thousands of claims that are fraudulent, being filed with stolen identities, those claims still have to be addressed in some way, and it can bog down our ability to get to legitimate claims, Gerstenfeld said. He has indicated in the past that the department does not believe it is losing large amounts of money to fraud, though he said personnel are spending far more time guarding against it.

The employment department hopes the additional state money will enable it to replace staff laid off when its federal funding dropped and help it overcome the added workload that comes from dealing with attempted fraud. The proposed funds would boost administrative funding for the unemployment insurance program by 15% during the current two-year budget cycle and 21% during the next.

Oregon pays unemployment benefits out of a trust fund comprised of underwritten by employer payroll taxes. Despite record jobless claims during the pandemic, the trust fund is at an all-time high of nearly $6 billion. Thats because COVID-19 job losses were usually brief and because the federal government picked up the tab for many benefits paid in 2020 and 2021.

So Gerstenfeld said that diverting $17 million during the current two-year state budget and another $28 million in the next wont endanger the trust fund or force Oregon to raise employers taxes.

The trust fund is solvent, and it has money in it ready to pay benefits for the next recession, Gerstenfeld said.

The Legislature considered a similar diversion of trust funds last year, but Gerstenfeld said procedural issues prevented its passage during a session marred by partisan fights over other issues. A last-minute question emerged over whether the funding proposal would trigger a requirement that tax matters receive a three-fifths legislative majority approval to pass.

Analysts eventually concluded the funding diversion didnt require that three-fifths approval, according to the department, but there was no time left for a vote last spring.

So the employment department is trying again during the short legislative session that begins next month.

We are neutral on this proposal but remain diligent in watching how the agency spends UI trust funds, said Erik Lukens, communications director for Oregon Business & Industry, the states largest business organization.

The employment department is hopeful a long-delayed technology upgrade, replacing systems from the 1990s, will also improve performance when the new computers come online this spring.

Lawmakers at last weeks committee hearing sounded generally supportive of the employment departments plan. But Gerstenfeld stopped short of promising that the additional funding and new computers will resolve the departments renewed issues.

I cannot say with absolute certainty that this is everything we will ever need, Gerstenfeld told legislators.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com |

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The Port of Portland has requested $10 million in one-time state funding to help cover financial losses at Oregons only international shipping container terminal that imports and exports products worldwide.

The Port of Portland on Tuesday submitted the request to lawmakers in advance of the five-week legislative session, which starts Feb. 5. The facility, Terminal 6, has endured years of losses and faces a projected $14 million loss this year, according to the ports letter to lawmakers on the budget committee.

The terminal connects the world with Oregons consumers and industries, including agriculture, seafood and retail. And its work extends beyond shipping containers. The terminal also handles imported and exported cars and other large, heavy materials.

Given the strategic nature of this service for the state and the clear public benefit, the port has endured financial losses so the terminal would remain available for Oregon importers and exporters, the ports Executive Director Curtis Robinhold wrote in the letter. This practice has never been financially sustainable. Facing a projected loss of $14 million this year, we are requesting necessary gap funding as we negotiate rate increases with carriers and seek a third-party terminal operator for a long-term lease.

Container operations at Terminal 6 support 1,500 direct and indirect jobs, including workers with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, terminal operators, trucking firms, railroads, steamship agents, freight forwarders, and marine construction companies, the letter said. The terminal generates more than $20 million annually in state and local tax revenue from wages and businesses.

The Capital Chronicle obtained a copy of the letter, in which the port warned that without other funding to offset ongoing losses associated with container operations, we will be forced to begin conversations about ending container service at T6.

However, the letter also said the terminal would continue to handle other cargo even if container shipping stopped: Its important to know that no matter what happens with containers in the future, T6 will remain a working marine terminal.

The Port of Portland oversees three airports, four marine terminals and five business parks.

Port officials said they want to keep Terminal 6 operating.

In a statement to the Capital Chronicle, Keith Leavitt, chief trade and economic development officer for the port said: We know container operations at T6 are important for Oregon businesses and our regions economy  which is why weve been doing everything possible to maintain this service. We are committed to continuing to work with our shipping community, other industry stakeholders and legislative leaders as we determine whats next.

The request comes amid other crises in Oregon that need funding, including affordable housing and drug addiction. At this point, lawmakers are not promising to fund the port project.

Its certainly important for Oregons economy to maintain robust container shipping capacity, said Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, D-Portland and co-chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, which handles budget requests. This request will be taken into consideration in the context of other requests being made for the short session, including for housing affordability and addressing the drug crisis.

Besides financial woes, Terminal 6 faces other challenges. Among them: the limited 43-foot depth of water in the Columbia River navigation channel; the relatively small consumer base compared to West Coast cities like Seattle or Los Angeles and the 105-mile transit for ships from the ocean to Portland.

The request comes after years of challenges for the terminal. In 2011, the port started a 25-year lease with International Container Terminal Services, Inc. after losing more than $100 million during the prior decade. Then in 2012, a labor dispute between two unions over who was responsible for work related to refrigerated containers caused work stoppages and legal challenges.

After a study, the port and operator terminated the 25-year agreement in 2017 and the agency started to study how to find a sustainable business model for container shipping. In 2018, officials recognized that a container-only operation is not financially workable.

Other efforts have started and stalled over the years. In 2018, BNSF Railway started a regular service of delivering ocean containers to and from Seattle and Tacoma ports. In June 2022, the railway terminated its intermodal operations there, citing a lack of rail cars and high operating costs. That led to decreased revenues for the terminal.

In April 2023, the port reduced the days the terminal gate is open from five days a week to four to cut back on costs.

The port is planning community forums in the coming months with the shipping community.

-- Ben Botkin; bbotkin@oregoncapitalchronicle.com

Oregon Capital Chronicle is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers.
When David Doyle and Elizabeth Guerrero went to check on their Southeast 122nd Avenue food cart Tuesday morning, they found frozen water lines, a burst $500 part in an espresso machine and several ruptured nozzles and water filters.

Doyle, who co-owns La Osita with Guerrero, said the food cart has lost two days of business since Saturday, when a storm of ice and snow blanketed the city and led to power outages.

There were power blips in our area which turned the heaters off and everything froze inside, Doyle said.

The winter storm that pummeled across Portland and much of Oregon over the weekend also walloped businesses. Beyond lost sales and inventory lost to power outages, many suffered flooding from burst pipes or other weather-related damage.

They were bracing for round two, as an ice storm threatened another wave of power outages and freezing temperatures Tuesday night.

Doyle was still counting up the costs to replace and repair the damaged parts. He estimates that La Osita, which serves Mexican food, lost roughly $2,000 in sales alone from two days of closures and hopes to reopen the food cart by Wednesday.

Small businesses like La Osita operate on thin profit margins, Doyle said, which means they rely on each days sales to pay workers and pay rent, among other costs.

Loc Truong of Pho Oregon, located at 2518 N.E. 82nd Ave., said the Vietnamese restaurant was forced to close its doors on Monday after a pipe ruptured during business hours. He said the restaurant was flooded with 2 inches of water.

While the restaurant was back up and running on Tuesday, Truong said the restaurant would have to close early again because of the approaching ice storm. He said the restaurant was still estimating costs incurred from the burst pipe and that the owners were planning to file a claim with their insurance company.

Another ruptured water pipe flooded the Yves Saint Laurent store at Pioneer Place mall in downtown Portland on Sunday.

Rick Graves, a spokesperson for Portland Fire & Rescue, said construction crews renovating a part of the mall had left an external pipe uninsulated. It ruptured when temperatures dipped below freezing.

Often the discovery of this reality does not occur until it is warmed up, said Graves.

The Portland Water Bureau said it saw an increase in the number of requests for emergency water shut-offs due to burst pipes.

Kenton Brine, president of Northwest Insurance Council, said damages that businesses sustain during natural catastrophes are typically covered under standard commercial insurance policies. How those will impact future premiums, however, depends on the individual businesses and the number of claims theyve submitted. He said businesses that have several claims in a short period of time are more likely to see their premiums rise.

In the last five years, weve seen all the largest weather-related insurance losses in the history of Earth, Brine said. He said he expects premiums to rise as more insurers deal with an increasing number of claims related to extreme temperatures and wildfires.

Brine said an increase in claims related to weather events and natural disasters has led to insurance carriers either increasing premiums or leaving markets where theres perceived risk.

Many more businesses curtailed hours during the stretch of winter weather that had reached its fifth day Tuesday, betting that few customers would show even if employees made the potentially treacherous trip.

Big retail chains closed some stores over the weekend, and some stores were operating with reduced hours on Tuesday. Workers at CVS located at 11620 N.E. Grand Ave. said the pharmacy closed at 1 p.m. Tuesday and that the store would be closing its doors by 4 p.m. due to the weather.

Powells Books closed all three locations on Saturday and Sunday. It reopened stores with limited hours on Monday but closed all its stores again on Tuesday ahead of the forecast ice storm.

We lost more than four full days of business over what would have been a busy holiday weekend. Thats nearly impossible to recoup or easily absorb, the bookseller said in an email. Were hoping that Portland will come out to support local retailers once its safe to do so.

--Kristine de Leon; kdeleon@oregonlive.com
Rite Aid Corp. is closing another dozen stores across the country, including its location in Portlands Pearl District, as part of its restructuring efforts in an ongoing bankruptcy case.

The pharmacy chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October and announced a spate of store closures. The Philadelphia-based company has continued to add more stores to its closure list.

Rite Aid said the stores that were closing are those that underperformed.

In its latest filing submitted to bankruptcy court Tuesday, Rite Aid plans to close its Portland store at 600 N.W. 10th Ave. The store is slated to close on Feb. 1, and prescriptions will be transferred to a CVS Pharmacy less than half a mile away at 105 N.W. 13th Ave.

Rite Aid started its 2023 fiscal year with 2,300 locations in 17 states. Since then, the company has closed hundreds of stores across the U.S., including over a dozen Rite Aid locations in Oregon and southwest Washington. It also plans to close a distribution center in Wilsonville this April.

A complete list of Rite Aid closing dates can be found here. As of this week, the company operates roughly 1,900 locations in 16 states.

--Kristine de Leon; kdeleon@oregonian.com
A 33-year-old man was found sleeping on a couch inside a strangers home after he allegedly stole a fire truck in Vancouver on Monday night and abandoned it in Albany on Tuesday morning, according to Vancouver police and the Linn County Sheriffs Office.

Alex Joseph Doupe, 34, of Vancouver was arrested and accused of unlawful use of a vehicle, interfering with a firefighter and first-degree criminal trespass.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 17. Vice Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Satzhan Ablaliyev and Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA Aset Asavbayev have discussed the development of ferry services on the Caspian and Black Seas, Trend reports.

The parties also exchanged views on transportation issues in the field of road transport, including the problem of traffic congestion at the Sarpi and Red Bridge (Georgia) checkpoints.

Assavbayev informed the Vice-Minister about the current work and status of the implementation of TRACECA countries' initiatives. Discussions included the results of a pilot project for the transportation of goods by semi-trailers, in particular, the importance of implementing subcontracting measures was noted.

In addition, Assavbayev appealed to the Ministry of Transport with a request to assist in speeding up procedures to complete the approval by the Kazakh side of the text of the Agreement on the ETP (unified transit permit).

As he noted, speedy approval will make it possible to prepare the draft Agreement for signing at the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission. The remaining interested countries have completed the approval procedure.

The TRACECA International Program has been operating since 1993 and aims to reduce the delivery time of goods from Asia to Europe and vice versa by 2-2.5 times compared to sea transport routes up to 12-14 days.
Portland Public Schools, Beaverton, Hillsboro, North Clackamas, Tigard-Tualatin and virtually all other metro-area districts will be closed for a second straight day Wednesday given the freezing rain that is falling and forecasts of persistent icy conditions.

In a message to families, Portland school district leaders cited the strong potential for continued power outages and tree damage, as well as dangerous road conditions Wednesday.

Banks, Centennial, Colton, Corbett, David Douglas, Forest Grove, Gladstone, Gresham-Barlow, Lake Oswego, Molalla, Oregon City, Oregon Trail, Reynolds, Parkrose, Sherwood and West Linn-Wilsonville schools also will be closed Wednesday.

Portland and Clackamas community colleges have also cancelled all remote and in-person classes for Wednesday. But Portland State and the University of Portland said they are shooting for mid-morning openings.

Estacada schools will operate exclusively online Wednesday.

Portland Public Schools leaders said they have not been able to inspect all school buildings to rule out burst pipes, ensure that there is running water and make certain that parking lots and school grounds are not littered with storm debris. There are frozen waterlines in the attics of at least three schools and issues with fire sprinklers at Tubman Middle School and Marysville Elementary, said district spokesperson Will Howell.

Additionally, the boiler at Forest Park Elementary School is frozen solid and burst pipes at Lane Middle School damaged at least one classroom and possibly five others, he said.

At this time, we know that 11 schools would not be able to open tomorrow based on the information we have, Howell said Tuesday afternoon. As conditions become safer, our maintenance staff will continue their inspections to make sure schools can safely reopen Thursday, and we will communicate with school communities should we identify school-specific issues that would prevent reopening.

Power outages were also lingering at a handful of schools in Beaverton, district spokesperson Shellie Bailey-Shah said. The district was keeping an especially close eye on West Tualatin View Elementary, which had a burst pipe that caused some flooding.

In Portland Public Schools, as of Tuesday afternoon, Bridlemile Elementary School in Southwest Portland was the only school still without power.

In Beaverton, Cedar Park Middle School and Ridgewood Elementary lacked power as of Tuesday morning, Bailey-Shah said. There were also problems created by a burst pipe at the Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering but crews were on site doing repairs and reopening should not be delayed longer than at other schools, Bailey-Shah said. Crews were also working to clear downed trees from parking lots at Bonny Slope Elementary and Raleigh Hills K-8, she added.

Darin Barnard, the director of operations at the Tigard-Tualatin school district, said he drove to district headquarters to assess damages on Saturday only to find fallen trees blocking the parking lot. He said he got to work with a chainsaw and managed to make a dent  only for another tree to fall nearby while he was working.

Three Tigard-Tualatin schools  Durham Elementary, Hazelbrook Middle School and Creekside Community School  lost power due to the storm, and crews are also checking on heating units at individual buildings for scattered outages in areas of school buildings, like the cafeteria or a cluster of classrooms, Barnard said.

We can bring in portable heaters to take the edge off as needed, Barnard said.

At the North Clackamas School District, maintenance staff reported that the only building damage was at the districts Wichita Center for Family and Community. A downed tree caused minor damage to the buildings roof, gutter and fence. The district kept heating systems running districtwide throughout the weekend and said it has detected no plumbing issues, nor were there any power outages.

Saideh Haghighi, operations officers for the Hillsboro School District, said the district had been fortunate to have no flooding, damage from downed trees or prolonged power outages, save for a frozen pipe at a health center housed in a portable at one of its high schools, which crews were repairing on Tuesday.

Hillsboro schools are structurally ready to reopen, Haghighi said.

Families stuck at home should take heart: Wednesdays daytime high will top out in the low 40s, which should bring a thaw.

But wind chills will hover just above 32 degrees for much of the day, making a thaw a slow and spotty process, according to reports from the National Weather Service. Shadier areas or those at higher elevations may take longer until the roads are safe for students and school buses to navigate.

>

 Julia Silverman, @jrlsilverman, jsilverman@oregonian.com
Portland-area hospital systems implemented widespread closures, cancellations and postponements at its clinics Tuesday, and some will do the same Wednesday,

Others were holding off making a call on potential closures Wednesday until more is known about the weather.

At Oregon Health & Science University, doctors are expected to notify patients individually if their appointments are canceled. The OHSU health system moved to modified operations from 8.m. Tuesday through at least 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Surgery patients should expect to hear from their doctors on whether the operations will go on as scheduled. So-called critical functions including ambulatory clinics will remain open.

At Kaiser Permanente on Tuesday, 23 different clinics and dental offices closed altogether or delayed opening. Officials had yet to decide about closures or postponements on Wednesday.

Kaiser began notifying patients on Monday that weather was forcing the cancellations of some appointments. Urgent appointments were moved to earlier in the day Tuesday. Some scheduled as in-person appointments were conducted by computer or telephone. Kaiser said patients can get the latest updates at healthy.kaiserpermanente.org.

Legacy Health closed or delayed opening 43 different clinics Tuesday, Many of those went to virtual visits. Whether it will do the same on Wednesday is unclear.

Whenever possible, were continuing normal operations, Legacy spokesperson Ryan Frank wrote in an email.

Providence Health & Services clinics moved to mostly virtual appointments Tuesday and expects to do the same Wednesday morning. At that point,

We will reassess hours of operation for Wednesday afternoon, said Providence spokesperson Gary Walker. Providence has 88 clinics in northern Oregon.

The frigid temperatures and snow and ice that moved into the Portland area Saturday has made for a tough couple days at local hospitals. Water pipes burst at OHSU and at Providence Medical Center Portland, where the water pooled in the hospital lobby. Periodic power outages forced Providence to use its emergency generators, and space heaters in some rooms.

 Jeff Manning; jmanning@oregonian.com
Another set of passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight that made an emergency landing in Portland after a door plug blew a hole in the side of the plane filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking a yet-to-be determined amount against the airline and the planes manufacturer, Boeing.

The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court in Washington, appears to be the second stemming from Flight 1282, which landed Jan. 5 just 20 minutes after takeoff. The first suit was filed last Thursday against only Boeing.

The latest suit was filed on behalf of four passengers, ages 20 to 49: Hans Meier, a college student who lives in Washington; Sarah Marrow, a business analyst who lives in Washington; Ernest Talley, a school psychologist; and Gladys Talley, a teacher. The Talleys are a couple and live in California.

The suit seeks compensation for stress, physical pain, post traumatic stress disorder, hearing damage, sleeplessness and other injuries that the suit says the four passengers have suffered.

Their Tacoma attorney, Mark Lindquist, said that in the moments after the hole appeared some passengers were sending what they thought would be their final text messages in this world.

Among them, were Ernest Talleys:

Mom our plane depressed (sic). Were in masks. I love you

G and I are on

Hole in plane

Mom our plane depressed (sic). Were in masks. I love you

G and I are on

Hole in plane

The National Transportation Safety Board investigates a Boeing 737-9 MAX after the left door plug on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 slid off its hinges.National Transportation Safety Board

The suit faults Alaska Airlines for flying the 737 Max 9, alleging that it was defective and unsafe. The National Transportation Safety Board said a pressurization warning light had gone off three times on the planes previous flights, prompting Alaska Airlines to restrict the plane to flying only over land so it could make an emergency landing if necessary. But the NTSB also said that it knows of no correlation between the warning light and the blown door plug, but is looking into it.

According to the NTSB, someone in the Alaska Airlines chain of command decided the subject plane was unsafe to fly over the ocean, the lawsuit states. Still, Alaska Airlines continued to fly the plane over land, including the subject flight.

The suit faults Boeing for alleged design flaws, manufacturing errors and failure to provide adequate warnings and instructions for testing and inspecting the door plug. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun acknowledged a quality escape and a mistake, suggesting a Boeing error contributed to door plug blowout, according to the suit.

The airline declined comment on Tuesdays lawsuit, citing the pending litigation. But in a statement about the blown door plug, Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci previously said safety is our foundational value and the most important thing we focus on every day.

Boeing didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. But last week, Boeings CEO, Calhoun, said the company is working with federal investigators to ensure every next airplane that moves into the sky is in fact safe and that this event can never happen again.

 Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee; 503-913-4197
Michael Andersen

Andersen covers housing for Sightline Institute, a sustainability think tank for the Pacific Northwest. He lives in Portland and served on Portlands inclusionary housing calibration work group in 2022-2023.

Portland City Council is considering whether to reauthorize a policy that requires housing developers to set aside, in apartment buildings of at least 20 homes, a percentage of units affordable to lower-income residents.

Commissioners should renew it  but not before making key fixes to ensure such an inclusionary housing program is delivering as many affordable homes as it can. A report evaluating the citys current version suggests that since 2017, Portland has discouraged the building of potentially thousands of new units  both at and below market price  essentially because tax breaks it offered didnt cover the cost of keeping homes below market rates.

Happily, the city and county now have the data and the opportunity to fine-tune the policy and solve an obstacle to Portlands long-term shortage of homes at all prices.

Here is how Portlands program works. To offset the loss of having to rent homes at a discount ($1,269 a month for a one-bedroom, for example), the city, county and other local governments give new buildings a temporary property tax break and a few smaller discounts.

Its a back-door way to fund an affordable housing program, but the new study shows it can work. As long as that ledger is largely in balance, things go well. Thats been the story in central Portland, where the city and county gave property tax breaks sufficient to cover a projects lost revenue, essentially fully funding the program. Hundreds of below-market homes are now scattered through otherwise high-rent buildings in the urban core, which covers downtown Portland and about half a mile surrounding it.

Unfortunately, the same body of research commissioned by the city also shows that Portlands system has been malfunctioning elsewhere. While the program provides property tax breaks for developers based on all the units in a downtown building, its stingier for projects outside the central city, with tax breaks based only on the number of affordable units. Thats enough to cover only one-fifth of the money required to keep homes below market rate. As a result, the program created many fewer below-market homes than it might have, often because developers bent over backward to avoid the 20-home threshold that would trigger this unfunded mandate.

In fact, the share of new homes in buildings with exactly 12 to 19 units doubled after the program was introduced, the report found. Other buildings had more than 20 homes, but only tiny studio apartments--a way to pocket the publics subsidy for cheap homes without having to cut prices. Maybe worst of all, many homes were never built at all.

Theres an obvious fix: broaden the property tax break for buildings outside the central core. In fact, the top takeaway should be that the government should fully fund  either directly or through tax breaks  any inclusionary housing program for it to succeed.

But is this program a good investment for the public in the first place? The new studies suggest that it is. In places where its fully funded with future tax breaks, Portlands program becomes very cost-efficient. Thanks to its while youre at the store, get me some eggs efficiencies, funded inclusionary housing is great at building homes in desirable areas that are affordable to people making a bit less than 60% of median income. And it can build each of those homes at about the same cost to local taxpayers as property-tax-funded bond issueswithout the layers of federal and state aid that bond projects typically require.

All of this fresh data adds up to the potential for a fully funded program that opens opportunity-rich neighborhoods to lower-income households. (That said, the program should also be careful not to overly fund it by offering needlessly large tax breaks.) At the same time, it frees up future federal, state and local dollars to directly pay for building affordable homes for people in deeper need.

Unfunded inclusionary housing turns out to be quite inefficient, a hidden tax on renters and new homebuyers to pay for this city mandate. But at least in Portland, funded inclusionary housing can potentially be a fiscal bargain and a useful complement to more direct housing programs. As other Oregon cities look for cost-efficient ways to build below-market housing, fully funded inclusionary housing is an option worth considering.

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Jai Sen had just moved into a new rental home in Hillsdale with his 82-year-old mother who has cancer. The technology consultant had relocated his mom from New York state so he could care for her in Oregons milder climate.

So when the power went out Saturday and the gas furnace and hot water stopped working, Sen immediately reported the outage and tried to assess what to do next.
Multnomah County on Tuesday reported two new suspected deaths from hypothermia, bringing the number of people who have died to nine during the spate of freezing temperatures, high winds and snow.

A man was found dead Monday in Northeast Portland, within the 97211 ZIP code covering the Woodlawn, Vernon and King neighborhoods, and another man was found dead Monday in Southeast Portland, within the 97214 ZIP code covering Buckman, Sunnyside and Hosford-Abernethy neighborhoods, according to the county.
As an ice storm gripped Portland Tuesday evening, most flights in and out of the city were canceled.

At least 85 flights scheduled to depart Portland International Airport after 4:30 p.m. were canceled, according to Melanni Rosales, a spokesperson for the Port of Portland.

Only four flights set to take off from PDX after 6 p.m. were scheduled to leave on time, she said. Most arrivals after 6 p.m. were also canceled.

The exact number of flights canceled due to the freezing rain and accumulating ice was not clear  45 of the canceled flights were operated by Alaska Airlines, which uses Portland as a hub. Earlier this month, Alaska grounded all 65 of its 737 Max 9 jetliners after one of its planes lost a door plug after takeoff, which has resulted in ongoing flight cancellations as well.

Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

PDX remains open and operational and our maintenance teams have pre-treated the airfield (runways, taxiways, ramps) and Airport Way with deicer, Rosales said.

The freezing rain, which has paralyzed much of the city with its icy cover, is expected to turn to rain sometime Wednesday.

 Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052; lacker@oregonian.com; @lizzzyacker

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The temperature in Northeast Portland was about 19 degrees early Sunday morning when a fire ignited inside the Word & Spirit Church, killing the twin sisters who lived in an apartment in the building and who led the congregation as pastors.

Electricity in the neighborhood had been off for about 13 hours, neighbors said. A generator is believed to have been in use in the churchs gymnasium, where the fire broke out just before 4 a.m., according to a Portland Fire & Rescue investigator.

The womens apartment was above the gym.

Officials have yet to release the names of the victims, but neighbors and church members who said theyd spoken to fire officials identified them as 76-year-old Kimberly and Stephanie Hjelt. They are among at least nine people who have died during a prolonged arctic storm that has delivered freezing cold, snow, wind and ice to the region since Friday.

Fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Our impression is that the generator was in operation inside the building, said Craig Gault, a Portland fire investigator. Its one of the things were looking at.

Despite neighbors impressions to the contrary, Gault said the building was not operating as a homeless shelter before or during the winter storm but at least two other people were in the building and had been staying there at the time of the fire. One was referred to as a caretaker and the other may have cooked occasionally for the pastors.

Fire officials are pulling city records to determine if the building was permitted for occupancy. The Bureau of Development Services said the building was constructed in 1949 and the original plans from the prior year did not identify residential quarters. An inspection card from 1953 did mention alt custodians quarters. Non-conforming use.

A bureau spokesperson, Ken Ray, did not have access to information Tuesday evening about the status of any alarms or sprinkler systems in the building.

Its unclear how long the two sisters had been living in the church. But they previously listed an address in Happy Valley for a home that sold last February.

The sisters had led congregations in two separate church locations in Portland before settling at Northeast 62nd Avenue and Stanton Street in 2008, according to Tim Duclos, who said he was in charge of media and security at the church and had known the sisters for 23 years.

Kimberly Hjelt was the principal pastor at the church, Duclos said. She graduated from Portland State University and from RHEMA Bible Training College in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, according to a flickr profile posted online. She was an editor/writer at Kenneth Hagin Ministries for 10 years, writing and editing more than 40 books for the ministry, the profile said.

Stephanie Hjelts LinkedIn profile lists her as executive pastor at the church.

Duclos said Kimberly Hjelt had recently broken her hip but was able to get around on crutches or using a walker.

They were very joyful people, very friendly and wanting to help, said Duclos, who described the congregation as small but active. They never backed down from a controversial subject and were very concerned about Portland and where it had come to. They were very active.

The two other people in the building were awake at the time of the fire, Duclos said. They first noticed the fire when they were going to the churchs game room to play pool, he said, adding that he didnt know the identity of those individuals.

Shanda Peterson, who lives two houses down from the church, said she woke about 3:45 a.m. Sunday to go to the bathroom and heard a big pop outside, which she initially thought was an exploding power transformer. When she opened the bathroom curtains, she saw flames shooting above the house next door, then ran to warn her neighbors.

Many neighbors said they knew at least some people slept in the church each night.

It just freaked me out, Peterson said of the church and her neighbors home, which also caught fire. I thought, Oh my god, is everyone out?

Jamie McWilliams, another neighbor, said she and her husband were woken by noise from the fire at about 3:50 a.m., and her husband ran over because they knew people were living in the building.

They always wanted to help people get back on track, she said. And it was so cold.

Several neighbors told The Oregonian/OregonLive that they could not get through to 911 and were left on hold when trying to report the fire.

Portland Fire & Rescue said it initially received a call at 4:05 a.m. from a resident whose home next to the church caught fire and the first crew arrived on scene at 4:12 a.m. At that point, firefighters were unable to make it to the interior stairs of the church and attempted to gain access through a second story window. While a crew was on the second floor, the roof partially collapsed and the incident commander gave the order to abandon the building and fight the fire from the exterior, the bureau reported.

Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control by 5:50 a.m., but it destroyed both floors of the gymnasium and caused extensive damage to the neighboring home, where the occupants safely evacuated. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been organized for the neighbor.

Gault, the Portland fire investigator, said there were household goods stored in the church gymnasium that contributed to the intensity of the fire. Investigating the fire has been challenging because of the roof collapse, which left the rest of the building inaccessible due to its instability.

The building was for sale at the time of the blaze.

Duclos said the sisters had planned to retire in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they were affiliated with Kenneth Hagin Ministries, a non-denominational church that identifies as charismatic and Pentecostal.

Were still trying to figure out what happened, he said.

 Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 17. The government of Kazakhstan has approved the General Plan of Astana until 2035, which outlines steps for further development of social, housing, transportation, and energy infrastructure of the capital, Trend reports.

The relevant decree was signed by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov.

The main urban development document of Astana passed wide public discussions. It envisages measures for advanced development of the city taking into account the dynamic growth of the population. Today the number of residents of the capital is about 1.2 million people, and it is expected that by 2035 this figure will be 2.3 million.

The general plan envisages the construction of 164 schools, 178 kindergartens, and 93 healthcare institutions. There will also be erected 15 modern school palaces by 2029. All these will be financed by the local budget and private investments.

The housing stock of the capital is planned to increase to 68.2 million square meters and the length of the street and road network by 1000 km (up to 2,500 km). The development of alternative modes of public transportation is envisaged, and the construction of five large bridges is planned to relieve the main highways, especially in the Yesil district.

Considering the growth of water consumption, a pumping and filtering station 4 for 210,000 cm per day with a water line from the Irtysh-Karaganda canal will be built. At the same time for technical water supply, the expansion of pumping station "Telmana" with production up to 160,000 cm per day is envisaged.

In terms of heat and electricity, it is planned to build the second stage of CHP-3, four new gas heat stations, and expansion of CHP-2, as well as the commissioning of 14 substations 110/10 kV.

To solve the issues of gas supply, the capacity of the existing automated gas distribution stations AGRS-1 and AGRS-2 will be increased, and AGRS-3 will be built with connection to the main gas pipeline "Saryarka" through a new diversion over 71,000 km long.

In addition, the development of the "Green Belt" of Astana will continue, where last year allocated an additional 2,700 ha, as well as measures will be taken to improve public and yard spaces.

The amount of investment for the implementation of the General Plan until 2025 from all sources will amount to 6.3 trillion tenge (about $14 billion). Private investments in housing construction will amount to about 4.3 trillion tenge (about $9.5 billion), and in infrastructure projects - 700 billion tenge (about $1.5 billion).

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 17. Preparations for the modernization of Kazakhstan's Astana airport are carried out according to the established schedule, Trend reports.

This was stated during a working meeting chaired by Vice Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Talgat Lastayev with a project team that arrived from the UAE to support the issue of renovating the runway of the capitals airport.

The project team, led by the General Director of Terminals Holding (an airport management company), is formed from a number of specialists responsible for areas of airfield pavement, navigation, ground handling, flight safety systems, as well as commerce and finance.

During the visit, a number of meetings were held with representatives of interested government bodies, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, Kazaeronavigatsia, as well as airlines, at which issues of ensuring flight safety during modernization, agreeing on a schedule for partial closure, and other aspects were discussed.

On October 18, 2023, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov signed an agreement with Terminals Holding Company from the UAE as part of a visit to the Turkestan region.

The investor undertook to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the activities of the capitals airport and subsequently take over operational management to improve the quality of passenger service and the efficiency of the air harbor as a whole.

The investor's primary task is to prepare the runway for reconstruction and further modernization.
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is holding its 60th meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, sources close to the organisers said on Wednesday
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - The Beninese government has just provided security forces in border areas with a large consignment of rolling stock, the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security announced on Wednesday
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday appealed to the international community to provide an urgent boost in funding and commitment to address Sudans escalating humanitarian crisis, now entering its tenth month
Photo: (Photo : Paul Morigi / Getty Images)

President Joe Biden has now fast-tracked loan forgiveness for American students under the SAVE plan.

Biden's administration announced they will fast-track student loan forgiveness for certain borrowers to avail themselves of their new repayment plans.

Biden's Fast-Tracked Student Loan Forgiveness

The student loan forgiveness legislature received immense public attention, with numerous students and advocates calling for debt cancellation from the Biden administration last year. Unfortunately, the total debt cancellation for American students was not approved by the higher court.

However, the Biden administration introduced a new repayment plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education or SAVE plan. This new repayment option is a game-changer and offers qualified students much-needed relief.

The plan means cutting down undergraduate borrowers' monthly federal student loan payments from 10% of discretionary income to just 5%. Moreover, it drastically shortens the timeline for loan forgiveness; borrowers with loan amounts under $12,000 are now eligible for forgiveness in a mere ten years, compared to the previous 20 to 25 years.

This limited student loan forgiveness plan was originally announced to be implemented this summer; however, due to regulatory changes in the administration, it has now taken effect. Students who are eligible for the new repayments will be able to utilize the SAVE plan now.

SAVE plan details that eligible students can now have their debts canceled immediately starting next month, and require no additional action on their part.

According to the Department of Education, there are now 6.9 million student borrowers who are enrolled in the new SAVE plan as of early January 2024.

This fast-tracked loan forgiveness initiative is part of a broader effort of Biden and the U.S. Department of Education to make debt more manageable for students and it signifies a substantial policy shift in how the federal government approaches student loan debt.

Read Also: $70 Billion Bipartisan Tax Break Nears Completion: Child Tax Credit, Business Incentives in Focus

Qualifications for the SAVE Plan Details

The SAVE plan's benefits extend beyond just those currently enrolled in specific federal loan programs. Borrowers with other types of federal loans are not left out.

Others have the option of applying to qualify in the program, they can consolidate their existing federal loans into the Direct program, making them eligible for the SAVE plan. This will ensure that the SAVE plan will become more available and accessible to a lot of borrowers.

Additionally, for borrowers facing loan defaults, the Fresh Start program offers a pathway to become current on their loans and regain eligibility for the SAVE plan. These measures underline the Biden administration's commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for various borrower situations.

For students with question and queries regarding their eligibility for the Biden-led student loan forgiveness, students are advised to contact their servicers directly.

If you need an update on your loan repayments and want to know the history, it is highly advisable to message the servicer on their direct website or call the company. It's also important to note that periods of payment pause during the pandemic count towards the forgiveness timeline, an aspect that could benefit many borrowers.

In cases where expected forgiveness does not materialize, reaching out to the Federal Student Aid Information Center is recommended for personalized assistance and guidance.

The Biden administration's decision to fast-track student loan forgiveness under the SAVE plan marks a pivotal progress in addressing the widespread issue of student loan debt in the country.

By providing clear pathways to loan forgiveness and offering solutions for various borrower circumstances, this initiative is poised to offer much-needed financial relief and support to millions of Americans grappling with student loans.

Related Article: Post-Pandemic Student Loan Repayment: Borrowers Face Unexpected Hurdles Over Servicer Lapses
Photo: (Photo : BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / Getty Images)

A teen deepfake victim is now advocating against AI abuse. The teenager who recently became a victim of AI- abuse through creating a nonconsensual sexually explicit photo of herself is joining Rep. Joe Morelle in passing a law against fake images created with AI.

The bill, called the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, will criminalize people spreading nonconsensual, explicit fake images of other people on a federal level.

Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act

The spotlight turned to this urgent issue when a teenage victim, supported by Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., called for decisive legislative action against nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes. The bill advocating for AI abuse, "Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act," was introduced in May and is currently under review by the House Judiciary Committee.

This bill will empower victims of AI-generated fake images. It is stated in the proposed bill that victims will be able to sue and keep the creators and distributors of the materials legally and criminally accountable.

Additionally, this also assures that victims can secure their personal dignity by giving them the power to sue while maintaining their anonymity.

The U.S. currently lacks a unified federal law addressing this issue, leaving victims to navigate a confusing array of state laws. Unfortunately, nonconsensual, explicit, and fake images generated by AI is not a new case.

This legislative gap has resulted in numerous victims coming forward, including Francesca Mani, a New Jersey high schooler.

Mani's harrowing experience, where deepfakes of her and over 30 other girls were created and circulated by male classmates, underscores the disturbing reality of this technology's abuse.

Read Also: Utah's Strict Social Media Limitation on Minors Ignites Legal Action Against X, TikTok, Meta

Battling AI Deepfake Photos

Deepfakes, which involve using AI to superimpose individuals' faces onto pornographic materials, have seen a worrying surge alongside the increased accessibility of deepfake-generating tools and dedicated websites.

Francesca Mani's powerful testimony at the news conference highlighted the emotional toll of being a fake victim. Her call for legal protection reflects a growing consensus on the need for robust laws against such violations.

Rep. Morelle, emphasizing the widespread nature of this issue, pointed out that deepfakes affect women across the country, not just celebrities.

The involvement of Rep. Tom Kean, R.-N.J., as the first Republican co-sponsor of the bill, along with his introduction of the AI Labeling Act of 2023, marks a bipartisan recognition of the seriousness of the issue.

Despite the urgent need for legislation, the "Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act" has yet to see significant progress in Congress. This lack of movement raises concerns about the potential misuse of deepfake technology, especially with the approaching 2024 election cycle.

Legal expert Mary Anne Franks, who contributed insights for the bill, warns that deepfakes have already targeted female politicians, indicating a broader threat to democratic processes.

Franks' statement at the news conference warned parents, women, and children that the AI threat is around the corner, which makes it necessary to have some urgency in this bill. This legislation shines light on an evolving sector in technology where women, children, boys, or girls need to be protected from being abused.

The proposed federal legislation to combat nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes represents a critical juncture in our ongoing struggle to align technological advancements with ethical and legal standards.

Related Article: Navigating Difficult Conversations: How to Guide Your Child Through War Content on Social Media
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These three items went up today on the website of the Interpreter Foundation:

Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 3 Come and Partake of the Fruit: 1 Nephi 6-10

During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of the lectures. We believe these recordings will be interesting to listen to and valuable to your Come, Follow Me study program this year. Each week, we will include the lectures covering the Book of Mormon chapters being studied that week. This week, we have lectures 12, 13 and 14, covering 1 Nephi 11-15. All 112 lectures are immediately available in PDF, audio, video, and electronic formats, as well as in paperback books that are available for purchase. Links for all of the available online sources can be found in the Complete Bibliography for Hugh Nibley at https://interpreterfoundation.org/bibliographies/hugh-w-nibley/lectures/.

The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 4: Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God: 1 Nephi 11-15

In the 31 December 2023 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, Martin Tanner and Terry Hutchinson hosted a special guest, Brant Gardner, for a discussion of Book of Mormon lesson 4, Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God, on 1 Nephi 11-15. Their archived discussion, shorn of commercial and other interruptions, is now available to you at your convenience and at no charge. The other segments of the 31 December 2023 program can be accessed at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-december-31-2023. The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard on Sunday evenings between 7 PM and 9 PM (MDT), on K-TALK, AM 1640. Alternatively, you can listen to it live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com.

Come, Follow Me  Study and Teaching Helps (2024) Lesson 4, January 22-28: 1 Nephi 11-15 Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God

Editors Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current years lessons. Jonn has graciously agreed to write new study aids for those lessons that do not directly correspond to 2020 lessons.

We were up very early this morning for our flight from Cairo to London. Our group continues to fragment, with various flights and destinations, but most of us are still together. I had a window seat on the right side of the plane and although, for the overwhelming majority of our route, the view below was obscured by thick clouds, they opened up at crucial points.

We flew out of Cairo right over Salah al-Dins twelfth-century citadel and over Muhammad Alis large nineteenth-century Ottoman-style mosque, which sits within the citadel. (We took our group to both of them.) I could very clearly see the great fourteenth-century mosque of Sultan Hasan, which sits at the foot of the citadel (and which I regularly included in my Islamic Humanities class at BYU) and the equally large early-twentieth-century Rifai Mosque, which stands directly across the street from Sultan Hasan. I also saw the very important ninth-century Mosque of Ahmad b. Tulun (which I also included in my Islamic Humanities class).

The clouds parted to provide beautiful views of the Alps. Unfortunately, I couldnt determine exactly where we were, but Im pretty certain that I saw the Dolomites and perhaps even the Bernese Alps (though from the southern side, with which Im not very familiar). I also had a great look at the white cliffs of Dover as we crossed the English Channel.

Coming into Heathrow Airport, I enjoyed the best aerial view of London that Ive ever had. London was sunny and clear and cold, and I had an excellent look at (among other things) the Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the so-called Gherkin, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Museum of Natural History, Royal Albert Hall, the Hyde Park Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (only because I know precisely where it is), and St. Pauls Cathedral.

Once we arrived in London, we went, as a group, into the central part of the city. There, arrangements had been made for a guide to take us around precisely St. Pauls Cathedral, the great masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren. A contributor to such fields as astronomy, optics, the problem of finding longitude at sea, cosmology, mechanics, microscopy, surveying, medicine and meteorology, as well as to the difficult problem of finding longitude at sea, Wren was a friend of Sir Isaac Newton and a founder and early president of the Royal Society. His cathedral was consecrated in 1697. (Si monumentum requiris circumspice, reads the epitaph on Sir Christophers tomb in the Cathedral crypt. If you seek his monument, look around.) Ive been into St. Pauls on numerous prior occasions, but it was very helpful to have someone point out aspects of the Cathedral that I hadnt really noticed before.

We closed out the evening with an excellent Indian dinner at Benares Restaurant and Bar, which is located at 12a Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London. Its pricey, but I can really recommend it for a special occasion (as this one was).

Incidentally, among the public events that have taken place at St. Pauls Cathedral are the state funerals of Horatio, Lord Nelson, the hero of the Battle of Trafalgar; Arthur, the Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo; Sir Winston Churchill; and Lady Margaret Thatcher. I think that there have been only four such funerals in the Cathedral, but it was also the scene of the ill-fated marriage between then-Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

Posted from London, England
The Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) that is currently under construction will be ready for use by the end of 2024, the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has said.



At the moment, Mr Agyeman-Manu said, work on the centre was 90 per cent complete, with no construction work going on at the site.



He said the contractors were doing the fittings and electricals but were yet to do installation of equipment and refurbishment.



Mr Agyeman-Manu, who was specking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said the centre, which would attend to urology cases, renal, kidney and renal transplant when it became operational, had a 110-bed capacity.



He said the dialysis unit of the centre that had between 30 to 40 beds would also be able to cater for more patients on dialysis.



Benefits

Touching on the benefits the centre would bring to Ghanaians, Mr Agyeman-Manu said it would support the nations quest to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, explaining that currently, although Tamale, Cape Coast and Komfo Anokye hospitals were all teaching hospitals, they, together with the regional hospitals, still refer cases relating to urology and nephrology to the KBTH because it was the mother of the teaching hospitals in the country.



This, therefore, increases the number of cases relating to those fields that the hospital has to attend to.



I see that centre as something that is coming in to support the nation in terms of health delivery and a liberation in the health expenditure because patients who will not be able to afford the cost of being flown outside the country for similar treatments, can access them here in Ghana at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.



Once they are here, they can be assured that they will well be taken care of, he said.



In the case of kidney transplant, for instance, Mr Agyeman-Manu said when the centre became operational, it would no longer be an issue for patients to transport people outside to donate their kidneys to them.



The Health Minister said the centre would also help the country to conserve the foreign exchange that would otherwise be shipped to other economies when people sought medical care there.



Aside from the clinical services the centre would offer, Mr Agyeman-Manu said it would serve as a place to impact knowledge because doctors, medical students and practitioners could be referred there for research studies.



Background

Giving a background to the establishment of the centre, Mr Agyeman-Manu said the idea to construct the centre was mooted when the three Ghanaian urologists lost their lives in August 2005 through a road traffic crash while returning from an outreach to provide specialist services at a hospital in Sunyani.



The three urologists who lost their lives in that crash were Professor J. K. M. Quartey, Dr Isaac Bentsi and Dr Benjamin Osei-Wiafe.



The fourth person, Professor George Kluffio, survived and is alive and doing well.



At the time of their death, the country did not have sufficient hands and facilities to handle the many cases in that area and that was why the outreach programme was regularly organised.



Following their demise, the Ministry of Health collaborated with the KBTH and a team was set up to mobilise resources for the construction of the centre.



After years of hiccups due to governmental transitions, finally in 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the construction of the project.











Source: graphiconline.com









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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 17. Large-scale military exercises will be held in Kazakhstan, involving Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in 2024, as part of the military training events, Trend reports via the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan.

"This year, large-scale exercises involving five states will take place on the territory of our country, which must be conducted at a high organizational level. It's very important for us to maintain friendly relations between fraternal peoples and armed forces in order to ensure security in the Central Asian region," Kazakh Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov said.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, Marat Khusainov announced that more than 160 operational and over 70,000 combat training events are planned in the country this year.

According to him, the most significant among them are the "Birlestik" exercises, which involve the Naval Forces, Air Forces, Special Operations Forces of the "West" regional command, and military contingents from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Three siblings have been reported dead after spending a night in their grandmothers house at Asawase in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region.



The three, including their grandmother, reportedly inhaled chemicals from an insecticide intended to rid their room of bedbugs, while they slept.



Police report disclosed that the deceased lived with their mother at Parkoso, a community in the Asokore Mampong Municipality. The report indicated that on December 28, 2023, they took advantage of the festive season to visit their grandmother at Asawase.



An uncle of the children, identified as Anthony Frans, reportedly used an insecticide to spray a room in which the siblings were supposed to spend the night, to kill bedbugs and other insects.



Unfortunately, the three children and their 66-year-old grandmother, named as Ekua Gyaabena, inhaled the poisonous chemicals throughout the night, thereby making them very weak and unresponsive the next morning.



The four victims were then rushed to the Manhyia Government Hospital for medical attention, but unfortunately Magdalene and Christian died upon arrival at the hospital.



However, Ekua Gyaabena, their grandmother, and Judith, were still alive so they were hospitalised at the KATH Emergency Centre. But calamity struck again as Judith also died later on, increasing the number of deaths to three.



The grandmother is still receiving treatment at the hospital, whilst their uncle, Anthony Frans, who sprayed the room with the dangerous insecticide, has since been arrested, and arraigned on a provisional charge of murder.



Burial



Scores of mourners from all walks of life in Kumasi, besieged the Asawase Railway Quarters to bid farewell to the deceased, two girls and one boy, at the funeral grounds on Saturday, January 13, 2024.



The tears continued to flow as the siblings, whose bodies were placed in different caskets, were eventually lowered into their graves for their eternal rest.



Suspect Granted Bail



Meanwhile, Anthony Frans, uncle of the deceased siblings, who has been charged with murder, reportedly, appeared at the Asokore Mampong District Court for the second time on January 9, 2024, where he was granted bail of GH20,000 with two sureties.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The recent District Level Elections (DLEs) have once again brought to the fore the worrying issue of dwindling participation of voters in the local elections and low representation of women in local governance in the country.



The DLEs, which was held on December 19, last year, revealed that 95.9 per cent of the 6,243 persons elected as assembly members were males, while females constituted 4.1 per cent.



The percentage of elected women assembly members is an increase of 0.3 per cent compared to the 3.8 per cent in the previous election (2019).



However, the statistics showed that female voters did not repose confidence in women contestants, given that the about 6.2 million voters who turned out for the polls were almost evenly distributed between males and females at 50.5 per cent and 49.5 per cent respectively.



A further dig into the statistics released to the Daily Graphic by the Electoral Commission (EC) showed that the 5,984 males who won the assembly member elections constituted 35.4 per cent of the male candidates, given that 16,925 of them contested the polls.



Comparatively, the 259 women who won the elections formed 25 per cent of the total female applicants which stood at 1,049.



The figures also showed that 73 persons with disability (PWDs), comprising 55 males and 18 females, won the elections.



In terms of the unit committee elections, 22,646 out of the 42,094 male applicants won, representing 87.2 per cent of the total persons elected.



Relatedly, 3,335 out of the 5,666 female applicants for the unit committee elections won, representing 12.8 per cent of the total elected members.



For PWDs, 67 candidates, made up of 38 males and 29 females, were elected as unit committee members.



Predictably, the 2023 DLEs recorded yet another low turn-out of 35 per cent, two percentage points down from the 37 per cent in the previous election (2019).



The EC statistics revealed that many of the peri-urban regions recorded turn-out rates above 50 per cent while the urban regions recorded low voter participation.



According to the statistics, the North East Region had the highest voter turn-out of 55.2 per cent while the Northern, Oti, Upper East, and Upper West regions followed with 52.1 per cent, 51.1 per cent (Oti and Upper East) and 50.8 per cent respectively.



The Savannah, Ahafo and Western North regions recorded 48.2 per cent, 45 per cent and 44.6 per cent respectively while the Bono and Eastern regions had 40.1 per cent and 38.6 per cent each.



Also, the Volta, Central and Bono regions had 37.2 per cent, 36.7 per cent and 36.1 per cent turn-out, with the Western Region settling for 33.7 per cent.



The Greater Accra and Ashanti regions recorded the lowest turn-outs of 18 per cent and 33.4 per cent respectively.



Expert views

Meanwhile, some experts have described the low participation of women in politics, particularly at the local level, as worrying and anti-developmental.



The Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies, Professor Nicholas Awortwi, recently told the Daily Graphic that although women constituted more than 50 per cent of the countrys population, they were underrepresented in terms of leadership at all levels.



Prof. Awortwi added that the lack of incentives for assembly members was largely the cause of the low patronage of the DLEs.



He observed that until the country introduced incentives for assembly members, local government elections would not attract the needed attention and participation of the people, including females.



For instance, he said that compared with the national level, Members of Parliament got incentives such as car loans and salaries, and were given development money otherwise known as the Common Fund to execute projects at the local level but assembly members did not get any form of support.



A Social Development and Gender Specialist/ Consultant, Dr Miriam Rahinatu Iddrisu, also described worrying statistics indicating a decline in womens participation in politics in the country.



Dr Iddrisu said the low representation of women in DLEs was largely because of financial barriers, outmoded traditional and religious definition of a leader being a male, as well as the messy nature of politics in the country.















Source: graphiconline.com









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The first contest of the US Republican party presidential race was no contest at all as former US President Donald Trump won the Iowa caucus in a blowout Monday night, January 15 confirming his place as the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.



Trump, 77, recorded the biggest margin of victory in the modern history of the Iowa GOP caucus, dating back to 1976, and became the first Republican candidate to get more than 50% support in a contested caucus.



With 97% of the expected vote in, Trump had 51.1% support, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (21.2%), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (19.1%) and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (7.7%), who ended his campaign and gave Trump his support as the result became clear.



Trump won or led in 98 of the Hawkeye States 99 counties as of midnight Tuesday, with only Johnson County  the home of the University of Iowa at Iowa City narrowly denying him a clean sweep by barely going for Haley.



I want to congratulate Ron and Nikki for having a good time together. Were all having a good time together, a notably low-key Trump said in his victory speech in Des Moines. I think they both actually did very well. I really do. I think they both did very well.



The 45th president then paid tribute to his late mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs, who died Jan. 9 saying she was up there, way up there, shes looking down and shes so proud of us  and made a call for unity among Americans.



I really think this is time now for everybody in our country to come together. We want to come together  whether its Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative, said Trump, one of the most polarizing politicians in US history.



It would be so nice if we could come together and straighten out the world and straighten out the problems and straighten out all of the death and destruction that were witnessing.



With hundreds of caucus meetings across the Hawkeye State still in progress, media outlets called Trump the winner at 8:30 p.m. ET, with fewer than 10 precincts having reported their vote tallies to the Republican Party of Iowa.



The early projection of a Trump victory, which happened after caucus meetings had begun but before many actual votes had been cast, infuriated DeSantis who accused the press of unduly influencing the outcome.



I spoke before [approximately] 400 Iowans today at a caucus site and DeSantis won, the Florida governors campaign manager James Uthmeier wrote on X. However, they were getting news alerts of a Trump [sic] victory before speeches concluded or voting began.



The media wants to taint this process and its sad for America. Wake up, everyone.



DeSantis, who invested heavily in an Iowa ground game that failed to overcome the former presidents sheer popularity among voters, also referenced the early projection in his remarks to supporters in West Des Moines.



They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us, he said. They spent almost $15 million attacking us  They even called the election before people got a chance to vote.



I am not going to make any excuses, DeSantis added, and I guarantee you this: I will not let you down.









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The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Kwabena Kokofu, says the whole of Asanteman will be delighted if the NPPs flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, picks a running mate from the Ashanti Region.



That will be a piece of great news, he said.



According to him, should the choice come from any other region, they will still rally their support for the party to ensure victory in the December 7 presidential election.



We must support the choice of running mate the flagbearer chooses, Mr. Kokofu told NEAT FMs morning show, 'Ghana Montie' in an interview.



Listen to the interview below







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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The Chief Executive Officer of the InterCity State Transport Corporation (STC) and a leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Nana Akomea says the party's upcoming primaries will not be an easy contest for the candidates.



Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, the STC boss stated emphatically that the primaries will be very tight.



He explained that the primaries, which come off on Saturday, January 27th, is unlike their previous primaries in orphan constituencies.



These primaries, he noted, will be held in constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament of the party.



"The idea is that there are some constituencies where, once you win the primaries, you are already in Parliament. So, it will be tight," he told host Nana Yaw Kesseh.



Expounding on the NPP parliamentary primaries, Nana Akomea pleaded with those in charge to ensure a free and fair process to avoid conflicts.



"I pray that process will be fair, because if we don't make the process fair and someone feels cheated and decides to go independent, it will disturb us," he requested.



He also advised both the delegates and candidates to refrain from the use of foul language and financial inducements prior to and during the elections.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Nana Akomea, Chief Executive Officer of the InterCity State Transport Corporation, has welcomed the decision of some Members of Parliament of the New Patriotic Party to exit the House.



Eighteen (18) Parliamentarians comprising the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, First Deputy Speaker and Bekwai lawmaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, Kennedy Agyapong for Assin Central, Dan Botwe representing Okere and a host of others have announced their decision not to return to Parliament.



Touching on the matter during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo", Nana Akomea noted that the MPs' move is a right decision.



To him, they cannot stay in Parliament forever, hence a time comes when one takes an exit for new persons to emerge.



On the impact that the absence of these MPs will make on the NPP, Nana Akomea saw no big deal about it stressing "they have done their part. They have served Parliament, NPP and Ghana. They cannot stay there forever; no matter what you will go...You will go for someone to replace you. What is important is to have a succession plan .... Because no matter how good you are, you can't do one job forever".



Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party will on Saturday, January 27, conduct their internal polls to elect their parliamentary candidates in constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament.



The party will be electing their candidates to contest the December 7 elections in hope of having a majority in the Legislative House.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Yaw Adomako Baafi, a staunch member of the governing New Patriotic Party, has appealed to the parliamentary aspirants of the party to uphold good virtues and build strong relations with their constituents.



The New Patriotic Party will conduct its parliamentary election in constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament on Saturday, January 27.



The election is aimed at selecting candidates who will compete against the parliamentary candidates of the opposition National Democratic Congress in the December 7 elections, hoping the NPP will win a majority of the seats in the next Parliament.



Addressing the aspirants during a panel discussion programme "Kokrokoo" on Peace FM, Yaw Adomako Baafi advised them, saying "they should adopt interpersonal relationship skills. Becoming an MP is not difficult, although it equally isn't easy. It is about how you relate with the people. You must have a good relationship with them and don't become arrogant. You should also desist from the use of inappropriate language."



To Yaw Adomako Baafi, the NPP is the only best option for Ghanaians, and so he pledged his allegiance to the party.



He encouraged the aspirants to be selfless and sacrifice for the good of the party, stressing that "the hope of Ghanaians is the NPP."





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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RE: ALLEGATION OF SALE OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY BY THE JUDICIAL SERVICE



The attention of Management of the Judicial Service of Ghana has been drawn to public statements relating to Bungalow Number C43, Onyasia Crescent, Roman Ridge, previously occupied by the late Justice Samuel Marful-Sau (ISC).



On December 28, 2022, the Judicial Service received a letter from the Ministry of Works and Housing expressing the desire to implement a Government Redevelopment Scheme within Onyasia Close, Roman Ridge, Accra.



Two (2) properties that had been allocated by the Ministry of Works and Housing to the Judicial Service and which previously had been occupied by the late Justice Samuel Marful-Sau (ISC) and His Lordship Justice Victor Ofoe, JA (Rtd), fell within the re-development enclave.



The plan under Government's Redevelopment Scheme as expressed to the Judicial Service was to increase the housing stock in the enclave within a two (2) year period from the date of hand over of the properties to the Ministry. Upon completion of the project, four (4) housing units were to be allocated to the Judicial Service for use by Superior Court Judges.



The Judicial Service accepted the offer, recognizing the serious accommodation deficit faced by the judiciary, taking into consideration the security and safety requirements of judges, and also convinced that the project will be beneficial to the Judicial Service.



Following a series of meetings between representatives of Government, Judicial Service and the Ministry of Works and Housing regarding the two (2) properties mentioned above, an agreement dated 17th February, 2023 was entered into between the Judicial Service and the Ministry of Works and Housing to proceed with the project.



Developments on the said land are therefore covered by an agreement concluded between the Judicial Service and the Ministry of Works and Housing.



THE JUDICIAL SERVICE OF GHANA





Ministry of Works and Housing response



The Ministry of Works and Housing in a statement on Sunday also refuted claims that its sector minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye, plotted to sell the official residence of the late Justice Samuel Marful-Sau.



Mr. Kennedy Agyapong had raised concern about Mr. Asenso-Boakye's fraudulent leadership at the ministry over the years.



But the Ministry said it strongly refutes the allegation and states that there has been no such sale of the property in a statement.



For the avoidance of doubt, the said land has not been sold as it is mischievously being alleged and remains the property of the State. The Government Redevelopment Programme (GRP) is rather a cost-effective undertaking which ultimately gives optimal benefit and ensures efficient use of government lands, A portion of the statement reads

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Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Member of Parliament for Akim Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, has urged the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to consider stepping down for both his own sake and the good of the government.



The calls for Ofori-Attas resignation have been growing for months, fueled by the countrys ongoing economic challenges.



The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been especially vocal, repeatedly blaming the Finance Minister for the current fiscal difficulties.



In an interview on Face to Face on Tuesday, January 16, Mr Atta-Akyea emphasized the importance of self-reflection for Mr Ofori-Atta, suggesting that he considers his position for his well-being and that of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).



For me, what is very frightening is the fact that you have a whole army of people saying look youve had enoughI think that that could be a way for him to relax. Look at all the burdens on one man. So it is his individual decision to make as to whether he should go or he should continue.



Atta-Akyea went further, stating that Ofori-Attas resignation might even contribute to calmer waters for both the government and the nation. 



He should look at himself and look at the troubles that everybody believes, I mean when he is not there then the nation will have peaceHe should save himself and save the government and have his peace because he needs it, Mr Atta Akyea said.



Mr Atta Akyea also criticized individuals who blame Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for the countrys economic woes.



He acknowledged that the economy is not in its best form, describing it as unkind and cruel for anyone to attribute economic issues in the Akufo-Addo government to Dr Bawumia.



Mr. Atta Akyea insisted that the vice president was in a very serious adversary role that prevented him from making some sensitive decisions for the country.

Source: Citinewsroom









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More than 130 people will be laid off at a medical device companys facility in the Pittsburgh area.

LivaNova USA Inc. filed a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry informing the state that it will lay off 137 people who work out of the facility at 620 Alpha Drive, # 2 in Ohara Township, Allegheny County.

The company said the layoffs are a result of restructuring and are expected to be permanent. LivaNova announced earlier this month that it will wind down its Advanced Circulatory Support Business Unit to increase the companys strategic focus on its core Cardiopulmonary and Neuromodulation Business Units.

The first separations will occur on January 31 or within 14 days of that date with all layoffs completed by Dec. 31.

Of the 137 impacted employees, it was not possible to provide 27 employees with a full 60 days notice of their impending layoffs, the company said in the WARN notice. However, the Company provided as much notice as practicable, and the Company is paying each employee who received less than 60 days notice an amount equal to their expected wages and benefits for any period of notice deficiency, in order to provide them with the full amount of pay and benefits that they would have received had a full 60 days notice been provided prior to their layoff.

The WARN Act is federal legislation that offers protection to workers, their families and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered-business closing and covered-business mass layoff. There are some exceptions to the 60 day requirement. The WARN notice was dated January 8.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 17. Kazakhstan wishes to increase exports of chicken eggs to Russia, Trend reports.

This was stated during a meeting between the Deputy Prime Ministers of Kazakhstan and Russia, Serik Zhumangarin and Alexey Overchuk.

At the meeting, it was noted that the Russian side addressed the Kazakh side with a request to increase the supply of chicken eggs to their retail chains.

In this regard, Serik Zhumangarin instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to consider this issue as soon as possible and find the possibility of increasing the supply of Kazakh products to the border regions of the Russia.

To note, over the 11 months of 2023, Kazakhstan exported about 186.6 million chicken eggs to Russia, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

In addition, the parties also positively assessed the opening of transit of Russian pork from 45 regions of Russia through Kazakhstan and the abolition of restrictions on the supply of Kazakh livestock products to Russia from January 15, 2024.
By Philip Marcelo and David Collins, The Associated Pres

RIVERHEAD, N.Y.  A New York architect charged in a string of slayings known as the Gilgo Beach killings was accused Tuesday in the death of a fourth woman, a Connecticut mother of two who vanished in 2007 and whose remains were found more than three years later along a coastal highway on Long Island.

Rex Heuermann was formally charged in the killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, months after having been labeled the prime suspect in her death when he was arrested in July in the deaths of three other women.

Wearing a dark suit, he remained silent in court as his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. He will continue to be held without bail until his next court date on Feb. 6.

Police say the breakthrough came from DNA extracted from hair at the scene. A hair found with Brainard-Barnes remains is genetically similar to a DNA sample taken from Heuermanns ex-wife. During the period when Brainard-Barnes disappeared in 2007, Heuermanns ex-wife and his daughter were staying out of town at a hotel in Atlantic City, the indictment and her attorney confirmed.

Prosecutors also said in Tuesdays court filing that Heuermann feared getting caught in the months leading up to his arrest.

He obtained data wiping software in an attempt to destroy evidence on his laptops, phones and other electronic devices, they said. Investigators seized hundreds of devices during their lengthy search of Heuermanns home that prosecutors say contained troves of bondage and torture pornography.

Heuermann also scoured the internet for phrases that suggested he was afraid of getting caught, including How does cell site analysis work, Gilgo news, How cell phone tracking is increasingly being used to solve crimes, and phrases with the term Long Island Serial Killer.

Heuermanns attorney, Michael Brown, said afterward that his client has maintained his innocence from day one and looked forward to defending himself in court.

This family photo, provided Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, shows Nicolette Brainard-Barnes, left, and her mother Maureen Brainard-Barnes. (AP Photo)AP

He also called into question some of the evidence touted by prosecutors Tuesday, suggesting new DNA analysis connecting Heuermann to the killing was problematic since it was being introduced some 13 years after Brainard-Barnes body was discovered.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in response that more sophisticated DNA testing had allowed investigators to more conclusively determine the hairs found with Brainard-Barnes belonged to Heuermanns ex-wife and daughter.

He also said the indictment marks the end of the investigation into the so-called Gilgo four victims and provides some small measure of closure for their families.

Prosecutors now turn their attention to prosecuting those cases and investigating other bodies found nearby, Tierney added.

Brainard-Barnes left her hometown of Norwich, Connecticut, on July 9, 2007, and headed to Manhattan for sex work, with plans to return the following day, according to friends who became concerned when she uncharacteristically stopped using her phone.

But the 25-year-old never came back.

Nicolette Brainard-Barnes said she was only 7 years old when her mother, who was once employed as a dealer at the Foxwoods Resort Casino, vanished.

I remember she read to me every night, the now 24-year-old said, surrounded by other family members following Tuesdays court hearing. Now I can no longer remember the sound of her voice.

Maureen Brainard-Barnes sister, Melissa Cann, remembered her as a loving mother and giving friend who would never get the chance to show the world how talented she was.

Maureen was more than how she has been portrayed, the 39-year-old said through tears.

Heuermann was arrested July 14 and charged with killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello, three women who authorities say also were sex workers. Heuermanns lawyer said he has denied committing the crimes. He previously pleaded not guilty to killing Barthelemy, Waterman and Costello.

Alleged Gilgo serial Killer Rex Heuermann appears inside Judge Timothy P. Mazzei's courtroom with his attorney Michael Brown at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, N.Y. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Heuermann is indicted in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes. (James Carbone/Newsday via AP)AP

Brainard-Barnes was the first of the four women to disappear. Their remains were found along the same quarter-mile (400-meter) stretch of parkway in the Gilgo Beach area of Jones Beach Island in 2010. Additional searching turned up the remains of six more adults and a toddler who was the child of one of the victims.

Investigators also found electronic evidence that Heuermann had accessed Costellos prostitution advertisement on Sept. 1, 2010, according to court documents.

Police concluded that an 11th person found dead in a tidal marsh on the same barrier island accidentally drowned.

Investigators have said Heuermann, who lived in Massapequa Park across the bay from where the bodies were found, was probably not responsible for all the deaths. Some of the victims disappeared in the mid-1990s.

Investigators zeroed in on Heuermann when a new task force ran an old tip about a Chevy Avalanche pickup through a vehicle records database. A hit came back identifying one of those makes and models belonging to Heuermann, who lived in a neighborhood police had been focusing on because of cellphone location data and call records, authorities said.

With the tip breathing new life into the investigation, authorities charted the calls and travels of multiple cellphones, picked apart email aliases, delved into search histories and collected discarded bottles  and even a pizza crust  for advanced DNA testing, according to court papers. Detectives said Heuermanns DNA on the pizza crust matched a hair found on a restraint used in the killings.

Last summer, Heuermanns ex-wife, stepson and daughter agreed to give DNA samples to prosecutors, according to court documents. Investigators compared them against DNA collected from bottles sipped by Heuermann and tossed into trashcans near his home.

Police said other evidence linked Heuermann to the victims, including burner cellphones used to arrange meetings with the slain women.

After the arrest, investigators spent nearly two weeks combing through Heuermanns home, including digging up the yard, dismantling a porch and a greenhouse and removing many contents of the house for testing.

Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut. Associated Press writer Cedar Attanasio in New York contributed to this report.
By Jaimie Ding, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

Half a trillion dollars. Thats how large the creator economy, currently pegged at $250 billion, is predicted to grow in the next four years, according to Goldman Sachs.

While people have been making a living off of creating content for online audiences for nearly two decades, what was once a nascent industry is growing up. Brands are getting more strategic about influencer marketing, a thriving ecosystem has emerged to serve creators and their needs, and social platforms are increasingly nudging consumers to spend while they scroll.

What does this mean for influencers and their audiences? The Times asked those who have been in the creator economy for decades to opine on what the new year will bring. Were still in the early innings, they said, but in 2024, the industry will continue to mature in significant ways.

It will get tougher to build a real business.

Most creators start as one-man bands. They brainstorm, film, edit and post content on their own. Day by day, they grow their followings and eventually begin to make money. But then what?

There are two options: You either bring in a manager or agent externally, or you hire a COO or business partner internally, said Jon Youshaei, a creator and founder of Youshaei Studios. And more and more, Im seeing creators bring in a right-hand person internally.

A lot of this has to do with competition. Although the barrier to entry has never been lower, building a real business in the creator economy is getting harder, Youshaei said.

Blake Michael, chief strategy officer of Fourteen Media Group, a consulting firm for creator economy startups, said this necessitates bringing in outsiders to help with growth strategies.

Niche verticals are so quickly becoming saturated, and that means youve got to put more effort into your content to stand out, Michael said.

Companies will be more selective about who they work with 

In the early days of influencer marketing, creators quickly attracted money and attention from companies clamoring to get in on social media. This year, businesses wont be as willing to throw money at any influencer that comes their way.

I just think theyre getting a lot smarter, said Joe Gagliese, co-founder of Viral Nation, one of the worlds first influencer marketing agencies. They want to understand: Does this person really align with my brand? What are their views and perspectives on things that might not align with my brand?

As brands become more disciplined in their efforts in 2024, they will increasingly want to see results they can measure, Gagliese said.

Two influencers who may look the same on paper might produce completely different results. Companies are learning to look at metrics such as community engagement over number of followers, and theyre scrutinizing the type of relationships creators have with their audience.

Theres creators who people look to and trust for their opinion, and then theres creators who folks like to be entertained by, Gagliese said, and those two types of engagement are very different as it relates to being able to help a brand.

 But this could mean more opportunities for micro influencers.

Counterintuitively, the push to formalize channels of influencer marketing will mean more opportunities for creators with smaller followings.

Traditionally, several inefficiencies have slowed down the process when companies want to work with influencers, said Zach Ferraro, head of strategic partnerships at Fourthwall, a platform that helps creators sell products and launch memberships.

First, brands had to look for the right creator  and often they didnt know exactly what they were looking for or what to expect realistically in terms of outcomes, Ferraro said. They had to go back and forth with a manager on rates, which can vary widely, and provide deliverables, such as a certain number of Instagram posts or videos.

To make it worth the friction and costs involved, brands would look only to ink larger deals.

But as companies have become more experienced, platforms that connect creators with brands have proliferated and the process has become more transparent. For example, the company F*** You Pay Me, allows creators to anonymously review brands theyve worked with and share how much they got paid.

Smaller, mid-tier micro influencers are going to get more opportunities as friction goes down, Ferraro said.

Gagliese of Viral Nation agrees.

I think that creators who have really developed core audiences and communities and have the ability to convert and create those business outcomes will likely get paid more, he said. These are the influencers who might not have millions of followers but boast smaller, devoted audiences.

Another possibility is for brands to hire smaller creators for in-house content, Ferraro said. Middle-class creators who might not be doing as well financially as they want to be could find opportunities offering their expertise to brands looking to build their audiences.

Consumers will pay you for your content too.

With the advent of in-app tipping features on social platforms, creators have another way to make money: Their fans can pay them directly without going through a third-party platform, such as Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee.

On TikTok, users can purchase coins to spend on virtual gifts for livestreamers on the platform that can then be converted into earnings. The most popular form of spending is a $19.99 bundle of coins that makes up a quarter of the apps in-app purchase revenue (TikTok takes 50% of the payout).

Lexi Sydow, head of insights at data.ai, said this is a compelling trend because they represent one-off micro-transactions given in the moment for specific creators that consumers enjoy.

Theres not necessarily a subscription tied to it, Sydow said. Youre saying, Kudos. I like this. I want more of it. And I think that thats powerful for this space because I really do believe were in the early days of the growth rates.

In 2023, TikTok became the first non-game app to generate $10 billion in consumer spending, according to data.ai. This bodes well for social media spending overall, which is only projected to grow.

Other platforms such as Instagram and YouTube have also jumped on the bandwagon to introduce tipping features.

Authenticity will rule

Eric Wei, co-founder of Karat, a startup that helps creators with their finances and credit, describes the current era of social media content as sensationalist  and predicts a trend toward authenticity in 2024.

Just take a look at the top subscribed YouTube channel by an individual, MrBeast, whose recent videos include I Rescued 100 Abandoned Dogs! and $1 vs $100,000,000 Car!

Although MrBeast will continue to be popular, Wei predicts a movement of creators toward more unedited content. They include fitness YouTuber Sam Sulek, who has 2.75 million subscribers.

Everyones focusing on Sam, why? The guy doesnt edit, Wei said. Its just him working out at the gym for over an hour.

Youshaei, who also has a YouTube channel, said he sees the rise of this kind of content counteracting the hyper-edited videos that have taken over YouTube in recent years.

 But the rise of fake influencers is coming.

Lil Miquela, self-described as a 19-year-old Robot living in LA, is one of the first virtual influencers. She charges up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for a deal and has worked with brands such as Burberry, Prada and Givenchy, the Financial Times reported recently.

She posts photos of herself vacationing in Europe, dyeing her hair at the salon and eating at taquerias. Does it matter that shes not real? She has 2.6 million followers.

Human influencers may soon have to worry about competition from such AI-generated avatars.

Digital avatars that amass followers is not a new idea. Consider Japanese Vocaloid Hatsune Miku and K/DA, a virtual K-pop girl group featuring League of Legends characters.

And Wei points to Iron Mouse, one of the most subscribed female creators on Twitch who uses a virtual avatar and is known as a VTuber.

Its already a billion-dollar industry, he said.

2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
By MICHAEL R. SISAK, LARRY NEUMEISTER and JAKE OFFENHARTZ, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP)  Donald Trump was threatened with expulsion from his Manhattan civil trial Wednesday after he repeatedly ignored a warning to keep quiet while writer E. Jean Carroll testified that he shattered her reputation after she accused him of sexual abuse.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan told the former president that his right to be present at the trial will be revoked if he remains disruptive. After an initial warning, Carrolls lawyer said Trump could still be heard making remarks to his lawyers, including it is a witch hunt and it really is a con job.

Mr. Trump, I hope I dont have to consider excluding you from the trial, Kaplan said in an exchange after the jury was excused for lunch, adding: I understand youre probably eager for me to do that.

I would love it, Trump shot back, shrugging as he sat between lawyers Alina Habba and Michael Madaio at the defense table.

I know you would like it. You just cant control yourself in this circumstance, apparently, Kaplan responded.

You cant either, Trump muttered.

Kaplan cracked down after Carroll lawyer Shawn Crowley complained for a second time that Trump could be heard loudly saying things that are false as he sat at the defense table, frequently tilting back in his chair and leaning over to speak with his lawyer.

Among his comments, Crowley said, were that the longtime Elle magazine advice columnist was lying about the assault and that she seemed to have gotten her memory back. Crowley suggested that if Carrolls lawyers could hear Trump from where they were sitting, about 12 feet (3.7 meters) from him, jurors mightve been able to hear him too.

Im just going to ask that Mr. Trump take special care to keep his voice down when conferring with counsel to make sure the jury does not hear it, Kaplan said before jurors returned to the courtroom after a morning break.

Earlier, without the jury in the courtroom, Trump could be seen slamming his hand on the defense table and uttering the word, man, when the judge again refused his lawyers request that the trial be suspended on Thursday so he could attend his mother-in-laws funeral in Florida.

E. Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan federal court, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in New York. Less than a year after convincing a jury that former President Donald Trump sexually abused her decades ago, writer E. Jean Carroll is set to take the stand again to describe how his verbal attacks affected her after she came forward. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)AP

Carroll, 80, was the first witness in a Manhattan federal court trial to determine damages, if any, that Trump owes her for remarks he made while he was president in June 2019 as he vehemently denied ever attacking her or knowing her. A jury last year already found that Trump sexually abused her in 1996 and defamed her when he made a round of denials in October 2022.

Carrolls appearance, which continues Wednesday afternoon, was somewhat of a tight rope walk because of limitations the judge has posed on the trial in light of the previous verdict and prior rulings hes made restricting the infusion of political talk into the proceedings. Habba lobbed multiple objections seeking to prevent the jury from hearing details of Carrolls sexual assault allegations.

Ive paid just about as dearly as its possible to pay, Carroll said, referencing the damage she said Trump had caused to her reputation.

She said that Trumps vitriol toward her has not ceased, pointing to multiple social media posts he made about her in recent days, and that his rhetoric continues to inspire venom against her from strangers because she claimed he sexually abused her decades ago.

He lied last month. He lied on Sunday. He lied yesterday. And I am here to get my reputation back, Carroll said.

She said she opened a social media website on Tuesday and saw a post that said: Hey lady, youre a fraud.

Carroll said her worries about her personal safety after a stream of death threats led her to buy bullets for a gun she inherited from her father, install an electronic fence, warn her neighbors of threats and unleash her pit bull to roam freely on the property of the small cabin in the mountains of upstate New York where she lives alone.

She also brought security along for the trial this week and last May and said shed thought often about hiring security more often to accompany her.

Why dont you? her attorney, Roberta Kaplan  no relation to the judge  asked.

Cant afford it, Carroll answered.

She took the stand after a hostile encounter between Habba and Kaplan  culminating in Trumps desk slam - over the judges refusal to adjourn the trial on Thursday so Trump could attend the funeral for former first lady Melania Trumps mother, Amalija Knavs, who died last week.

Habba called the judges ruling insanely prejudicial and the judge soon afterward cut her off, saying he would hear no further argument on it.

Habba told the judge: I will not be spoken to that way, your honor. When she mentioned the funeral again, the judge responded: Its denied. Sit down. Bring in the jury.

Carrolls testimony came nine months after she was in the same chair convincing a jury in the hopes that Trump could be held accountable in a way that would stop him from frequent verbal attacks against her as he campaigns for the presidency. He is the front-runner on the Republican ticket and won the Iowa caucuses on Monday.

Im here because Donald Trump assaulted me and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened. He lied and shattered my reputation, she said.

Once, Carroll testified, she was a respected advice columnist. Now, Im known as the liar, the fraud and the whack job.

Because the first jury found that Trump sexually abused Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her in 2022, the new trial concerns only how much more  if anything  hell be ordered to pay her for other remarks he made in 2019 while he was president.

Trump, who is juggling court appearances with campaign stops, sat in on jury selection Tuesday. Before opening statements began, he left for a New Hampshire rally.

He declared on social media Tuesday that the case was nothing but fabricated lies and political shenanigans that had garnered his accuser money and fame.

I am the only one injured by this attempted EXTORTION, read a post on his Truth Social platform.

Carroll, an advice columnist and magazine writer, has said that Trump harmed her deeply. First, she claims, he forced himself on her in a dressing room after a chance meeting at a luxury department store in 1996. Then he publicly impugned her honesty, her motives and even her sanity after she told the story publicly in a 2019 memoir.

Carroll has maintained she lost millions of readers and her longtime post at Elle magazine, where her Ask E. Jean advice column ran for over a quarter-century, because of her allegations and Trumps reaction to them. Elle has said her contract wasnt renewed for unrelated reasons.

Trump asserts that nothing ever happened between him and Carroll and that he never met her. He says a 1987 party photo of them and their then-spouses doesnt count because it was a momentary greeting.

Trump did not attend the previous trial in the case last May, when a jury found he had sexually abused and defamed Carroll and awarded her $5 million in damages. The jury said, however, that Carroll hadnt proven her claim that Trump raped her.

Carroll is now seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and millions more in punitive damages.

The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done.

Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  A man accused of faking his death and fleeing the U.S. to avoid rape charges in Utah denied at a court appearance Tuesday that he is the suspect and, in an apparent British accent, called allegations that he wasnt giving his true name complete hearsay.

Nicholas Rossi, whose legal name is Nicholas Alahverdian, is charged with the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Orem, Utah, in 2008, prosecutors said. He wasnt identified as a suspect until about a decade later due to a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah State Crime Lab.

Rossi, 36, was extradited from Scotland this month. He identified himself Tuesday as Arthur Knight Brown and gave a birthdate in British English  listing the day first, followed by the month and year  that is different from Rossis, KSTU-TV reported.

He appeared from jail via video wearing an oxygen mask and did not enter a plea at the initial court appearance. He was difficult to understand at times and had to lift up the mask to be heard.

In this file photo, Nicholas Rossi leaves Edinburgh Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Court in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 12, 2023. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP, file)AP

Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Tamara Basuez said Rossi has not admitted his name or birthdate since he returned to Utah.

Objection, my lady, that is complete hearsay, Rossi told the judge.

Rossi is jailed without the possibility of posting bail in the Orem case. The judge set a detention hearing for Jan. 26.

The judge said a lawyer would be appointed for Rossi. He said he has one, but that the attorney did not receive notice of Tuesdays hearing.

Rossi, who grew up in foster homes in Rhode Island, made a name for himself there as a vocal critic of the states Department of Children, Youth and Families. Four years ago, he told media in Rhode Island that he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had weeks to live. An obituary published online claimed he died Feb. 29, 2020.

He has used at least 10 different aliases over the years, prosecutors said.

Authorities said his run from the law ended when he was arrested in December 2021 after being recognized by someone at a Glasgow, Scotland, hospital while he was being treated for COVID-19. He insisted he was an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight and had never set foot on American soil.

The man had said he was framed by authorities who took his fingerprints while he was in a coma so they could connect him to Rossi. He has repeatedly appeared in court in a wheelchair, using an oxygen mask and speaking with the apparent British accent.

After a protracted court battle, Judge Norman McFadyen of Edinburgh Sheriff Court ruled in August that the extradition could move forward. The judge called Rossi as dishonest and deceitful as he is evasive and manipulative.
What at first seemed like a routine death investigation took a grisly turn for an Ohio police department recently.

It began on Dec. 31, when first responders arrived at a home in Butler Township. Upon finding a dead body at the property, officials notified the Columbiana County Sheriffs Office, according to WKBN.

Sheriff Brian McLaughlin determined that Robert Rea, 70, owner of Nettle Creek Farm & Nursery, had died of natural causes.

However, Reas son then told the Sheriffs Department there was another body inside an RV on the property, WFMJ said.

Inside the RV, officials found a body, which was believed to be that of Reas wife Peggy, who had died in 2017.

The body was wrapped in a blanket, surrounded by herbs, and, McLaughlin said, was unusually well-preserved considering she had been dead for six to seven years.

Ive been doing this for almost 34 years and never seen anything like it, McLaughlin said to WFMJ. I have never seen a body that has been gone that long and still that intact. Weve had bodies that have been gone for much, much less time and had next to nothing left.

John Rea, Robert Reas son, told police that his father had living inside the trailer with the body and had been taking care of the remains.

John Rea also said that his parents were Quakers and wanted to be buried together at the same time, WFMJ said.

No charges have been filed yet, police said.
Ellwood Engineered Castings in Ohio has identified a man killed in a workplace incident Saturday after a malfunction led to molten steel being poured on him.

Jawaylan Patterson died after suffering fatal injuries sustained in the accident. He had been working for Ellwood Engineered Castings Hubbard Masury Road facility in Hubbard Township.

Our hearts are broken for the family, friends and coworkers of Jawaylan and we are working to provide them with the support they need at this time, Pat Calligan, president of Ellwood Engineered Castings, said in a statement to The Tribune Chronicle.

The incident occurred during a routine operation on the overnight shift just before 5 a.m., when the hot steel was being poured into a casing.

A malfunction caused the molten steel to start spilling in the pit where Patterson was stationed with a water hose to control any leaks. When an employee yelled for everyone to clear the area, Patterson was unable to get out of the way fast enough. Thats when the hot steel poured on him, WKBN and KDKA reported.

The steel filled the entire floor area, WKBN said.

By the time first responders arrived, Patterson was already dead.

After the incident, OSHA was immediately notified, and we are cooperating fully with their investigation. Our safety team is working to fully research the cause of the incident. We are committed to a full and thorough investigation by our safety team, OSHA and other professionals. We are committed to providing our team a safe workplace and to making sure this kind of tragedy never happens again, Callihan said to WKBN.

The company has been closed since the incident out of respect for the entire team which has been deeply impacted by the tragedy.

The facility will stay closed through at least today and the castings department will remain closed until a later date, WKBN said.
Heading to Costco? Get ready to be carded because if youre not a member, you wont gain entry.

Earlier this month, a picture was posted on Reddit that captured a Costco greeter scanning a customers card in a warehouse in Issaquah, Washington.

It was soon confirmed with USA Today by Costco on Tuesday that several locations have rolled out scanners that check Costco membership cards at the entrance.

This test is to match members to their cards at the door prior to shopping for an improved member experience, Costco said in a statement to USA Today.

In good ol days, Costco members were required to show their membership card to an employee before being permitted to shop. Even though the cards were non-transferrable, members are allowed to give a second household card to one other person of the same household. Cardholders are allowed to bring up to two guests during each visit.

It started to become a problem when non-members were able to make their way into the store with membership cards that didnt belong to them as Costco expanded its self-checkout system, CNN reported.

To combat the issue, the chain had started asking shoppers using self-checkout lanes to see their membership ID with a photo.

Now, with the new system, the ID will be checked, and the membership card will be scanned at the door instead of just showing it to a Costco employee. The pivot will eliminate the need for those items while at checkout.

It speeds up the process at entry and speeds up the process at the checkout, Richard Galanti said to CNN. Thats what we believe and were going to pilot it.
A 30-year-old woman who went missing after jumping into the Delaware River on Monday night in Bucks County was found unharmed, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Troopers with state police at Dublin said they found her in Riegelsville. Charges against the woman are pending, police said. Further details were not immediately available.

Trooper Nathan Branosky, public information officer for the Troop M barracks, said the incident unfolded shortly after 6:30 p.m. Monday following a domestic dispute along Durham Street in Riegelsville. Responding troopers found the woman and a 34-year-old man were involved but had left the home, state police said.

The woman, state police said, later was found by investigators with her three children walking on a path along the Delaware River in Riegelsville. The woman jumped into the river as a trooper approached to speak with her, according to state police.

Troopers were able to secure the children at the scene, state police said.

The 34-year-old man eventually returned home and was taken into custody on an unrelated arrest warrant, Branosky told lehighvalleylive.com.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
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Just a week into 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collected $1.675 billion from a U.S. engine maker for installing illegal defeat devices designed to allow the RAM trucks they were installed in to emit excessive pollution.

Cummins Inc.s acceptance of the fine makes it the largest civil penalty in the history of the Clean Air Act (1963).

Youd probably be surprised to know that the EPA usually collects hundreds of millions of dollars in civil and criminal fines related to breaches of the federal agencys rules every year.

The cases range from small fines and warnings to sometimes multibillion-dollar penalties and surprisingly long prison sentences.

In 2017, a bumper year for the EPA because of the Volkswagen emissions scandal, the agency collected just under $3 billion in fines and sentenced defendants to a combined 153 years of incarceration. Judges also ordered over $3 billion in court-ordered environmental projects and nearly $150 million in restitution.

Sentences that year ranged from simple probation to up to 11 years in federal prison for defrauding a government tax credit scheme.

In 2022, a typical year, defendants were sentenced to a combined 21 years in federal prison, paid $150 million in fees, and forfeited over $200 million in illegal proceeds.

Its unclear if the EPA, weakened and gutted under President Donald Trump, will make good on a series of far more rigid rules passed under President Joe Biden. Enforcing EPA rules is notoriously tricky at the criminal level because each case requires a full investigation.

Former agency leaders who have spoken to Reckon in the past have noted that the agencys priority is to collect penalties and ensure environmental issues are fixed. Court is the last case scenario. But in certain cases, its impossible to avoid.

Here are some of the biggest and most important EPA cases in recent decades:

1. Cummins Inc. vehicle emission control violations (2024): Cummins Inc. was required to pay a $1.675 billion penalty for installing illegal defeat devices in over 600,000 RAM pickup trucks, resulting in the largest civil penalty in the history of the Clean Air Act.

2. Big Lake gas plant (2022): Big Lake Gas Plant L.P., a subsidiary of West Texas Gas, Inc., was sentenced to pay a $3 million criminal fine for negligently releasing approximately 525 pounds of hydrogen sulfide, leading to one death and one injury.

3. Monsanto case (2022): Monsanto pled guilty to 30 counts of violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and for unlawfully storing hazardous waste, resulting in a $6 million fine and an additional $6 million in community service payments.

4. Newport Naval Station Clean Water Act violations (2021): The EPA reached a compliance agreement with the Navy at Newport Naval Station, Rhode Island, for violations of the Clean Water Act, involving over $39 million in stormwater discharge infrastructure improvements.

5. Home Depot lead paint violations settlement (2020): Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. agreed to a $20.75 million settlement for violating the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, requiring a nationwide program to ensure compliance with EPAs lead-safe work practices.

6. Explo Systems illegal dumping and explosion in Louisiana (2018): This case involved the illegal disposal of hazardous waste by Explo Systems, Inc., leading to a large explosion at a storage facility, with cleanup costs exceeding $38 million.

7. Volkswagen emissions scandal (2017): Volkswagen AG was sentenced for three felony counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and violating the Clean Air Act, resulting in a $2.8 billion fine. One employee was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison.

8. KMTEX, KTX, Crosby, and Ramsey case (2017): These corporations were fined $3.5 million for criminal violations of the Clean Air Act related to a fatal explosion in Port Arthur, Texas.

9. AIREKO Construction Company case (2017): AIREKO Construction Company was fined $1.5 million and sentenced to three years of probation for violating the Clean Air Act by illegally removing asbestos-containing materials.

10. The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (2012): Known as the Deepwater Horizon incident, it led to significant criminal charges and fines. In this case, BP Exploration and Production Inc. agreed to plead guilty to felony manslaughter, environmental crimes, and obstruction of Congress.

The company was ordered to pay a record $4 billion in criminal fines and penalties, the largest criminal resolution in United States history. This plea was related to the 2010 disaster that killed 11 people and caused the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.

As you can imagine, no executives were charged. Criminal charges were brought against four lower-level BP employees, with most pleading out for probation and no jail time.

11. Bryan Stowe (2012): One of the most notable environmental criminal cases in the U.S. involved Bryan Stowe, a developer from Sumner, Washington. In 2012, he was sentenced to prison for a felony violation of the Clean Water Act.

This was one of the first prosecutions in the nation for stormwater violations. Stowe was sentenced to six months in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $300,000 fine for knowingly violating a national pollution discharge elimination permit.

Additionally, he made a $100,000 payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for environmental projects targeting resources impacted by the illegal discharges. This case highlights the severity of environmental crimes and the strict enforcement of regulations to protect natural resources.

12. Exxon Valdez oil spill (1991): Exxon was fined $150 million, the largest fine ever imposed for an environmental crime at that time. The court forgave $125 million of that fine due to Exxons cooperation in cleaning up the spill and paying certain private claims.

Of the remaining $25 million, $12 million went to the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund and $13 million to the National Victims of Crime Fund. This settlement was part of a broader agreement that also included civil claims.
Those who missed out on their snow fix last winter no doubt have enjoyed the past couple of weeks.

There was the 3-inch snowfall on Jan. 6 and then another round Monday night and Tuesday morning that had it feeling a bit like old times, with enough snow to close schools and make driving hazardous.

The landscape doesnt figure to change the rest of the week, as temperatures stay at or below freezing, and one more storm in this series will add another layer of white overnight Thursday into Friday.

How much more? Forecasters at this point see this as another nuisance storm, with light snow in the early hours of Friday morning and then a second batch Friday afternoon. All told thats another 1 to 3 inches on top of whats already on the ground.

It wont go anywhere for at least a few days after that, with highs Saturday in the mid-20s and Sunday around freezing.

By this time next week, however, the entire East Coast including central Pa. will be looking at a warming trend. Highs are forecast to shoot past 50 by next Thursday, according to Weather.com. But thats getting a bit ahead of the main story.

Heres the seven-day forecast for Harrisburg and vicinity, per the National Weather Service:

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as zero. West wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 25. Wind chill values as low as zero. West wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Wednesday Night

Increasing clouds, with a low around 16. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Thursday

Cloudy, with a high near 32. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph.

Thursday Night

Snow likely, mainly after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 25. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday

Snow. High near 31. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 24. Blustery.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. Blustery.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 32.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 15.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Tuesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 45.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 17. Kyrgyzstan imported 1,044 tons of oil products from Germany from January through October 2023, which is a 6.8-percent increase compared to the same period in 2022 (978 tons), Trend reports.

Data from Kyrgyzstan's State Statistical Committee shows that the total value of these imports over the ten-month span amounted to $4.015 million, rising by 22 percent compared to January from October 2022 ($3.285 million).

Among the countries from which Kyrgyzstan imported oil products, Germany held the sixth position. Russia stood at the forefront with 392,966 tons valued at $290.386 million, followed by Kazakhstan with 57,307 tons worth $28.305 million, Uzbekistan with 6,425 tons valued at $4.679 million, Belarus with 3,956 tons worth $4.078 million, and Belgium with 2,302 tons accounting for $8.332 million.

In total, Kyrgyzstan's oil product imports for the January-October 2023 period amounted to 469,757 tons, declining by 24.3 percent compared to the same period in 2022 (620,243 tons). The total value for this period reached $357.405 million, marking a 24.7-percent decrease from the corresponding period in 2022 ($474.583 million).

Kyrgyzstan's trade turnover with Germany amounted to $343.217 million from January through October 2023, increasing by 2.8 times compared to the same period in 2022 ($120.921 million).

Kyrgyzstans exports to Germany totaled $6.157 million from January through October 2023, decreasing by 52.5 percent compared to the same period in 2022 ($12.965 million).

The countrys imports from Germany amounted to $337.059 million, rising by 3.1 times compared to the same period in 2022 ($107.956 million).
One of the whole-house short-term rentals currently available in Penticton on the Airbnb platform. Such whole-house rentals will be banned in B.C. effective May 1, 2024.
Canadian attitudes toward climate change are about as consistent as Canadian weather, a new poll suggests. An ice fog hangs over steaming neighbourhoods during a cold snap in Calgary on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Banff, Alta., in Banff National Park, is shown on Friday, July 21, 2017. The town is expected to make a decision today on whether to continue its popular downtown pedestrian zone every summer and fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 17. Turkmenistan has expressed its interest in significantly strengthening cooperation with the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), Trend reports.

This statement was made during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Myakhri Byashimova, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), Kaha Imnadze.

During the meeting, Myakhri Byashimova congratulated Kaha Imnadze on his appointment to a responsible position and stressed the importance of the activities of the center headed by him for the entire region in strengthening cooperation and peace, as well as maintaining mutual understanding between the countries.

It was stated that Turkmenistan is interested in enhancing the role of the Ashgabat regional center of the UN in activating and promoting initiatives to work with mechanisms of multilateral diplomacy, such as the Dialogue of Women of Central Asia, the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, and the development of joint programs on security, education, and training of civil servants.

At the same time, the parties also expressed their interest in the implementation of Turkmenistan's initiatives put forward within the framework of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.

In this context, the importance of Turkmenistan's integrated approach to addressing key issues on the global agenda and the country's contribution to their implementation were noted.

Meanwhile, the UNRCCA is an international institution whose goal is to strengthen peace, security, and sustainable development in the countries of Central Asia.

Working in accordance with the UN Mandate, the Center focuses on preventive diplomacy aimed at conflict prevention, dispute resolution, and promoting sustainable development in the region, interacting with states, international partners, and civil society.

Stay up to date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A sad day came to an end in Burns Wyoming. The Rustic Plate closed for good.

The Rustic Plate started to be a place for the community to eat. The towns only place to eat was closing at the time. The community was needing a place to have an eatery and for the community to have time together. There were more people moving into the community. Ashley Osterman loves to cook and create meals. She had been posting wonderful looking dishes. Osterman had friends and those in the community who encouraged her to start a restaurant so that they could enjoy food when they wanted. Osterman went into busi...
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union is a diversified grassroots organization focused on our farmers and ranchers of Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Sept 11th through the 13th, 2023, a group of people from Farmers Union flew out to Washington D.C. to advocate for the farmers and ranchers of these three regions. There were three topics that were presented to our senators and their staffers. The farm bill of 2024 consists of some very important issues that we, as an organization, are trying to capture the deserved attention from the senate side.

One of the many topics that was brought up was 'The...
CHEYENNE, WY  On January 9, 2024, Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray joined a multi-state settlement with Robinhood Financial LLC, resulting in Robinhood paying $200,000 to the Wyoming Secretary of State, to be deposited in the Public School Fund pursuant to the Wyoming Constitution.

The settlement stems from a multistate investigation sparked by Robinhood platform outages in March 2020, a time when hundreds of thousands of investors were relying on the Robinhood application to make trades. In addition, prior to March 2021, there were deficiencies at Robinhood in its review and approv...
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has changed the country's Prosecutor General, Trend reports.

According to Berdimuhamedov's order, Justice Counselor Myalikgulyev Serdar Gurbangulyevich Myalikgulyev was dismissed from the post of Prosecutor General of Turkmenistan.

By another order, Counselor of Justice III class Mukhamedov Begmurat Rakhmanguliyevich was appointed to this position.

The head of state signed the relevant orders under paragraph 16 of Article 71 of the Constitution of Turkmenistan and with the consent of the Parliament during an extended retreat of the State Security Council of Turkmenistan on the results of the year 2023.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
"SerVlaMin" Takes Down PokerStars NYS $5,200 Main Event For $284K; Sam Grafton Sixth

January 17, 2024 Matthew Pitt Senior Editor

$284,374 is the sum nestled in the PokerStars account of "SerVlaMin" after the Mexico-based star came out on top in the $5,200 buy-in, $1.5 million guaranteed New Year Series No-Limit Hold'em Main Event. Every poker tournament player dreams of kicking off a new year in style, and "SerVlaMin" has laid solid foundations for what could be a stellar year.

The $5,200 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event saw 294 entries, resulting in a small overlay on the $1.5 million guarantee. The top 41 finishers saw a return on their investment, with some of the in-the-money players including Niklas "Lena900" Astedt, Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi, and 13th-place finisher Neymar "Neymar-jr" Jr.

The star-studded final table took place under the watchful eyes of the PokerStars Twitch community. Team PokerStars' Sam "SamSquid" Grafton found himself in the envious position of chip leader only days after clinching a New Year Series title.

The nine finalists jostled for position and felt each other out for the best part of an hour before the first elimination was confirmed. With blinds of 90,000/180,000/22,500a, Michel "FreeLancerZZ" Dattani opened to 385,200 in late position, Roman "RomeOpro" Romanovsky three-bet all-in for 1,284,135, and Dattani wasted little time in calling. Dattani revealed queen-ten of spade, Romanovsky the ace-nine of diamonds, and Dattani locked up the hand by turning a king-high straight.

Dominik Nitsche

Four-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) champion Dominik "Bounatirou" Nitsche joined the list of busted players ten minutes after Romanovsky bit the dust. Vlad "dariepoker" Darie, who was also on the final table of the $1,050 NLHE Main Event, opened to 378,000 from early position with ace-six offsuit, and Nitsche three-bet to 1,170,000 from the button, leaving himself a single big blind behind, doing so with ace-jack. Darie put in a raise, and Nitsche called all-in. Similar to the previous elimination, Darie turned a straight to send another talented grinder to the rail.

Canada's Elliot "4rebmun" Smith crashed out shortly after Nitsche's demise, losing a coinflip against the hot-running Darie. "SerVlaMin" min-raised to 360,000 with suited queen-eight, Smith three-bet jammed for 1,557,264 in the cutoff with pocket queens, only for Darie to wake up in the big blind with ace-king; Darie four-bet, and "SerVlaMin" got out of the way. Darie spiked a king on the flop, and Smith was gone.

The final six became five when Grafton ran out of steam as the final table hit the three-hour mark. Blinds were now 150,000/300,000/37,500a, and Grafton was down to three big blinds. They went into the middle of the virtual felt with king-queen, which proved no match for the ace-deuce of Pascal "Pass_72" Lefrancois in the big blind.

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Fifth place and the last five-figure prize went to Romania's Darie after the largest pot of the final table. Everyone folded to Darie on the button, and he opened to 735,000 with ace-king. Jakob "Succeeed" Miegel looked down at pocket queens in the small blind and made it 2,646,000 to go. Darie wasn't about to let such a strong hand go; he clicked it back to 4,557,000. Miegel ripped it in for 16,154,955, and Darie snap-called off the 10,65,320 chips he had behind. Miegel flopped a set, leaving Darie drawing to a gutshot straight draw, which didn't come in.

Lefrancois bowed out in fourth after a battle of the blinds with Miegel did not go to plan. Miegel raised to 945,000 from the small blind, having found pocket queens again. Lefrancois committed his last 7,442,633 chips with ace-three, and Miegel beat him into the pot with a call. Lefrancois flopped a three and picked up a heart flush draw on the turn, but a brick river ended his participation in the $5,200 Main Event.

Heads-up was reached soon after Lefrancois' exit, and it was Dattano who made his way to the exits. "SerVlaMin" raised to 770,000 from the small blind with the lowly four-deuce offsuit, and Dattani called with ten-nine. "SerVlaMin" continued with a small 350,000 bet on the ten-trey-queen flop, and Dattani called. A five on the turn gave "SerVlaMin" an unlikely open-ended straight draw, and the Mexico-based player bet enough to put Dattani all-in. Dattani tanked before calling off his 2,010,407 stack. It was a solid call, but such plays do not always reap the rewards, and an ace on the river improved "SerVlaMin" to a wheel, busting Dattani in third.

Jakob Miegel

Miegel held a two-to-one chip lead going into the one-on-one battle, but victory was far from assured, especially as there were 210 big blinds in play! Thirty minutes into the heads-up clash, Miegel had his opponent on the ropes, and it looked like the New Year Series Main Event title was heading to Austria. However, the Poker Gods had other ideas.

"SerVlaMin" doubled up before what turned out to be the last scheduled break of the tournament, and they never looked back. Their double-up hand saw Miegel limp for 500,000 with king-nine then call a 2,250,000 raise made with ace-king. "SerVlaMin" led for 1,387,500 on the queen-six-nine flop, and was called. The four of clubs put three clubs on the board, and both players checked. The deuce of clubs landed on the river. Miegel held the king of clubs, but "SerVlaMin" had the ace of clubs in their hand. A flurry of bets resulted in "SerVlaMin" being all-in for 16,381,374, and they doubled their stack.

The contest ended ten minutes after the players returned from a break. Miegel limped for 500,000 with ace-three of spades, "SerVlaMin" raised to 2,000,000 with queen-jack of clubs, only for Miegel to jam for 13,196,627. "SerVlaMin" called. Two clubs on the flop gave "SerVlaMin" flush outs, but they didn't need those because the queen of hearts completed the board, sending Miegel home in second place, and leaving "SerVlaMin" to bask in the glory that comes with becoming a poker champion.

$5,200 New Year Series NLHE Main Event Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Prize 1 SerVlaMin Mexico $284,374 2 Jakob "Succeeed" Miegel Austria $209,093 3 Michel "FreeLancerZZ" Dattani Malta $153,741 4 Pascal "Pass_72" Lefrancois Canada $113,041 5 Vlad "dariepoker" Darie Romania $83,116 6 Sam "SamSquid" Grafton United Kingdom $61,113 7 Elliot "4rebmun" Smith Canada $44,935 8 Dominik "Bounatirou" Nitche United Kingdom $33,039 9 Roman "RomeOpro" Romanovsky Ukraine $27,791

Blaz Zerjav Takes Down the $1,050 NLHE Main Event

Blaz Zerjav

Slovenian pro Blaz "Scarmak3r" Zerjav added to his already glowing reputation by taking down the $1,050 New Year Series NLHE Main Event. Some 1,538 entrants created a guarantee-busting $1,538,000 prize pool, and Zerjav got his hands on $214,053 of that princely sum.

This final table was arguably more stacked than its $5,200 buy-in cousin, with such luminaries as Vlad "dariepoker" Daire, Diego "Die Ventura" Ventura, Matas "bebaimis777" Cimbolas, Juan "Malaka$tyle" Pardo, and Damian "pampa27" Salas all present and correct.

However, the night belonged to Zerjav, who defeated online poker veteran "hello_totti" heads-up after the pair struck a deal to lessen the pay jumps. The champion scooped $214,053, while "hello_totti" raked in $187,327 for their bridesmaid finish.

$1,050 New Year Series NLHE Main Event Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Prize 1 Blaz "Scarmak3r" Zerjav Slovenia $214,053* 2 hello_totti Mexico $187,327* 3 Damian "pampa27" Salas Argentina $119,074 4 JBAG28 Andorra $84,880 5 Juan "Malaka$tyle" Pardo Andorra $60,505 6 Matas "bebaimis777" Cimbolas Lithuania $43,130 7 Diego "Die Ventura" Ventura Peru $30,744 8 Vlad "dariepoker" Darie Romania $21,915 9 t8ofDiamonds Austria $15,622

*reflects a heads-up deal

"baller139" Outlasts 12,789 Opponents to Claim the $109 Main Event Title

The $109 buy-in edition of the New Year Series NLHE Main Event drew in a massive crowd of 12,790 players, who fought tooth and nail for the right to become the event's champion and receive the lion's share of the $1,279,000 prize pool.

When the curtain came down on proceedings after three arduous days of poker action, it was the United Kingdom's "baller139" who had all of the in-play chips. The Brit had earlier struck a deal with Austria's "stuupid5" before defeating their final opponent. The impressive victory came with $152,142 in prize money, with second-place weighing in at $125,513 thanks to that deal.

$109 New Year Series NLHE Main Event Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Prize 1 baller139 United Kingdom $152,142* 2 stuupid5 Austria $125,513* 3 Vocaaas Czech Republic $82,367 4 rssollero Brazil $58,714 5 Raphael "fafinharj" Fernandes Brazil $41,853 6 gahdukatti Brazil $29,835 7 Tauan "kylix42" Naves Brazil $21,267 8 fabitunes Brazil $15,160 9 tsinikV Ukraine $10,806

*reflects a heads-up deal

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Aiken Standard Reporter

Erin Weeks is a reporter with the Aiken Standard. She covers education in Aiken County.

Erin is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken. Her first poetry book, "Origins of My Love," was published by Bottlecap Press in 2022.

To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers 
Aiken County Council is about to begin the process of spearheading the creation of a ballot for Capital Project Sales Tax V for the November general election.

The panel unanimously approved Tuesday a resolution that established a CPST V ad hoc study committee. Its members are County Council Chairman Gary Bunker, Sandy Haskell and Mike Kellems.

The committees purpose is fundamentally to help put together [a project list] and make recommendations to County Council for the countys portion of [the proceeds from] Capital Project Sales Tax V.

County voters approved previous iterations of the 1-cent local option sales tax in 2000, 2004, 2010 and 2018.

When CPST IV was passed six years ago, the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office estimated that the proceeds would total around $163 million.

The funds still are being collected. Using a formula based on population and point of sale, the money is being divided between Aiken County, Aiken, North Augusta, and eight small municipalities: Burnettown, Jackson, Monetta, New Ellenton, Perry, Salley, Wagener and Windsor.

The projects eligible for funding include the design, engineering, construction and improvement of highways, roads, drainage systems and bridges.

The money also can be spent to promote public safety, desirable living conditions and economic development.

Getting ready for the CPST V referendum will be a complicated process, Bunker said. The municipalities, plus the county, each are going to come up with their own list of projects. County Council will then appoint a six-member commission that basically will compile those project lists into the ballot. Then that has to be approved by Aiken County Council.

The first meeting of the ad hoc study committee is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Aiken County Government Center in Aiken.

Also Tuesday during County Councils meeting at the government center, the panel unanimously approved the third and final reading of an ordinance dealing with annexation.
A bill sponsored by S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor received praise from a Republican presidential candidate for the second time Tuesday afternoon after the South Carolina Senate passed it.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, fresh off of a second-place finish in the Iowa Caucuses, congratulated the South Carolina Senate on its approval of second reading of H.B. 3690, the ESG Pension Protection Act, Tuesday afternoon.

The primary goal of the bill is to make sure the state's retirement system makes investments decisions to make the most money for the retirees, Taylor, a DeSantis endorser, told the Aiken Standard last year.

The state's retirement system includes several different retirement systems for different types of government employees and officials. Total assets were around $38 billion as of last March.

"And not to be involved with environmental, social and governance and all the things that come with that," Taylor continued.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) is an investment theory where investors consider the impact of a potential investment on factors like climate change and racial equity.

The South Carolina Senate voted 43-0 to pass the bill.

The yes votes included S.C. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, S.C. Sen. Tom Young Jr., R-Aiken, and S.C. Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington, from Aiken County.

"Very important that you're protecting your constituents from the ESG movement," DeSantis said. "You guys are leading by example. Congratulations."

Taylor said he appreciated the Senate making the bill their No. 1 priority.

The South Carolina House of Representatives passed the bill April 6, 2023. The House voted 103-5 to approve second reading of the bill April 5, 2023.
The Parker's Kitchen being constructed on the former Dick Smith property west of Aiken is eight weeks from opening and the store may get a bigger sign than allowed by Aiken's zoning ordinance.

The Aiken Planning Commission voted unanimously recently to recommend the Aiken City Council approve a waiver to allow the store to have a sign that is 100 square feet in size along Jefferson Davis Highway.

Aiken zones the former Dick Smith property, 140 Jefferson Davis Highway, Planned Commercial. The city's zoning ordinance does not specify sign size for Planned Commercial zoning.

However, the zoning ordinance recommends the use of a similar zoning designation to determine sign size.

The city's Planning Department used the General Business zoning designation to determine that the Parker's Kitchen sign on Jefferson Davis Highway could be 75 square feet in size and 18 feet tall. This zoning designation also limits a proposed sign along the bypass (Robert M. Bell Parkway) to 50 square feet in size and 11 feet tall.

Parker's Kitchen's parent company, the Drayton Parker Companies, applied to the city for a waiver to have a sign along Jefferson Davis Highway that is 198 square feet in size including a 9-by-two-foot base. Including the base, the sign would be 22 feet tall.

This sign would be 164 percent bigger than permitted and 4 feet taller than permitted.

The company applied for a waiver to have a sign along the bypass that is 85.7 square feet in size including a 5-by-2-foot base. Including the base, the sign would be 15 feet, 7 inches tall.

This sign would be 49.4 percent bigger than permitted and 4 feet higher than permitted.

"This site is currently under construction and scheduled to open in approximately eight weeks plus or minus," Daniel Ben-Yisrael, a development manager for Drayton Parker Group, told the Aiken Planning Commission on Thursday evening. "There are some unusual and unique circumstances surrounding this property."
On March 5, special agents with the South Carolina Department of Social Services, Office of Inspector General, arrested a Dorchester County woman in connection with fraudulently receiving $9,584 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Read moreDSS charges Dorchester County woman with food stamp fraud
Robert Green, age 45, died on a Williamsburg County road last weekend. According to Highway Patrol, on March 16, at approximately 5:35am, a 2013 Dodge Challenger was driving south on County Line Road near the intersection of Country Club Road two miles outside of Andrews. The car struck a p Read morePedestrian killed on County Line Road
It was a day for shamrocks and shenanigans on March 16 along Middle Street on Sullivan's Island, as lads, lasses and decked-out canines of all ages celebrated St. Patrick's Day. A swarm of green-clad revelers gathered to ring one of the world's most storied and highly-anticipated holidays at Read moreRocky road to Dublin: Irish eyes smiling on Sullivan's Island
Dust off those winter coats, the arctic blast is coming for you. The bitter cold is anticipated to hit South Carolina this weekend.

Temperatures will be about 20-25 degrees below normal for this time of year, according to Steven Taylor, lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Charleston.

We have probably the coldest air weve seen so far this year moving in this weekend, Taylor said.

The coldest periods will be overnight on Jan. 19, 20 and 21  Friday through Sunday. He said in the Lowcountry, people can expect temperatures ranging from the upper teens around Summerville and Moncks Corner to the low 20s by the coast.

It will be much colder inland, Taylor said. Lows in the Midlands could reach single digits, with highs around 10 to 12 degrees, while the Upstate around Greenville and Spartanburg will have low temperatures near zero.

Three warming centers have been opened this week as a result of the cold temperatures: the Holy City Missions at Aldersgate UMC Warming Center in North Charleston and the Hibben UMC Warming Center in Mount Pleasant were opened on Jan. 16 and 17; the Seacoast Summerville Warming Center opened Jan. 16, 17 and 18.

CARTA will provide transportation to and from all three centers, according to a press release.

South Carolina is getting the outer edge of an enormous swath of winter weather covering about two-thirds of the country and bringing freezing temperatures to several Southern states.

Ben Almquist, Charlestons director of emergency management, said he's helping to coordinate services, communicating with the warming centers that are open.

For now, the city of Charleston doesnt have any warming centers open for the weekend.

Because so much can change in a forecast, we dont want to make firm plans that far out, Almquist said. In the next couple of days, the warming centers will take another look at it and make their determination if theyre going to open or not.
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
Happy Sunshine Week indeed. As we hope youve noticed, our newsroom is spending the week recounting successes its had using South Carolinas Freedom of Information Act to illumine your understanding of what your government is doing on your behalf, in your name and with your tax dollars. Read moreEditorial: SC judges support sunshine whenever they get a chance. They need more chances.
FLORENCE  On a late afternoon in early January, cries of delight echoed through the woods of the Upper Pee Dee River.

A small team of volunteers searching for artifacts from the Revolutionary War era had found an unfired musket or rifle ball  a rarity in the world of archaeology. The volunteers passed the ball back and forth, hefting the heavy lead and running their fingers along the uneven surface.

When done, they placed the ball in a brown paper bag alongside the many other artifacts theyd found  glass, pottery, pieces of pipe, nails, more musket and rifle balls, a padlock, even British coins, among other things.

To the untrained eye, these woods look no different than any other. A passerby could walk through without any idea that it was once the heart of a thriving backcountry community in the mid- to late-1700s.

This swath of land on the riverbank  part of the Cashaway community  is the latest focus for the Archaeological Institute of the Pee Dee.

Buried beneath the dirt, the organization has found fragments of daily life during the Revolutionary period. They are more pieces of the puzzle as archaeologists seek to reconstruct the history of the South Carolina frontier, said Ben Zeigler, the institutes chair.

The promise of excavating a community that was at its peak during the Revolutionary War makes the site all the more tantalizing.

Our hope is eventually, if we put this landscape back together, and we find the mills and the roads and the stables and the enslaved communities, we're gonna have a view of all the different components of what this community was made up of, Zeigler said.

In the 1700s, settlers sought out independence and religious freedom in the forested and swamp-ridden backcountry of South Carolina, according to Zeigler. As their numbers grew, the settlers pushed out the Native American tribes that had for centuries called the banks of the Pee Dee River home.

In many ways, Cashaway was typical of the communities that emerged up and down the Pee Dee.
For months, Republican Nikki Haley has longed to be in a two-person race with GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. Now, she's trying to will it into existence.

A day after finishing third in the Iowa caucuses, Haley issued an ultimatum, saying she would not take part in another presidential debate unless she can take on Trump directly.

"We've had five great debates in this campaign," Haley said in a Jan. 16 statement. "Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it."

Haley's blunt announcement comes as the GOP race for the White House shifts to New Hampshire, where Trump's lead is the narrowest.

It's also where Haley is polling her best, with one recent survey showing she has trimmed Trump's lead in the state to single digits.

And with its more moderate, college-educated electorate, the Granite State GOP primary Jan. 23 could be the last chance for Trump's rivals to slow his march to the nomination.

"These next seven days, it's literally life or death for all of the non-Trump candidates that are still in the race here," said Jim Merrill, a veteran New Hampshire GOP strategist who is neutral in the 2024 primary.

And Haley?

"If Nikki Haley wins in Hampshire, it resets the whole narrative of the primary," he said. "At a minimum, it stretches things out for a few weeks and it makes South Carolina enormously impactful, too. But it would also send a message, a message that Trump can be beaten."
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 17. China's Lanzhou Guangtong New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd intends to manufacture electric buses in Uzbekistan's Andijan region, Trend reports.

A delegation from Andijan visited the Embassy of Uzbekistan in China on January 7, where negotiations were held with the management of Lanzhou Guangtong New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd.

The parties reached agreements on realization of a number of projects on the territory of Andijan region. In particular, an agreement was signed on realization of the project on production of electric buses with annual capacity of 2,000 vehicles. The investment cost of this project is estimated at $100 million.

Another project envisages the establishment of an enterprise for the production of electric scooters - also estimated for $100 million.

Uzbekistan continues to lean more and more towards electric transport, in particular, working closely with Chinese auto companies.

For example, "Dongfeng Motor" plans opening production of electric buses in Uzbekistan, investing $45 million in the project. The volume of investments will rise to $50 million in 2025 to localize the production of batteries and other components for electric vehicles, as well as organize a maintenance service.

Moreover, another Chinese company - Luoyang Grasen Power Technology company plans to launch the production of electric vehicle chargers in Uzbekistan. The company's potential investment in this project is estimated at $30 million.
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IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / ASPINA Incorporated proudly announces the strategic relocation of its corporate headquarters to Irvine, California, effective December 2023. This move represents a significant milestone for ASPINA as it positions the company for continued growth and innovation.ASPINA Inc. Headquarters As of December 2023, ASPINA Inc. relocated its headquarters to 18952 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 230, Irvine, California 92612 U.S.A.The decision to move the corporate headquarters to Irvine aligns with ASPINA's commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and expanding innovation in the southern California area. The new location offers a dynamic business environment, access to top-tier talent, and proximity to key partners, all of which will contribute to the company's vision and ongoing success."We are happy to announce the relocation of our corporate headquarters to Irvine, a city known for its outstanding business community. Irvine is home to some of the top tech companies, start-ups, and UC Irvine, one of the top technical universities in the country," said Nick Lauro, Senior Vice President of ASPINA Incorporated. "This move indicates our dedication to operational excellence, strong commitment to the wellness of our team members, and that of our business partners and the community." As part of its overall vision and strategy, ASPINA will transform its current Culver City location into a specialized Engineering and Technical Center. This decision aims to leverage and expand ASPINA's technical resources, and improve research and development of new technologies and business models. The Engineering and Technical Center will play a crucial role in advancing ASPINA's core technologies and the invention of new ones. The Center will serve as a small eco-hub for start-up companies looking for help to ideate, develop, and build concept proofs and prototypes - even leveraging ASPINA know-how for manufacturing."Our Culver City Engineering and Technical center will enable us to harness the expertise of our talented team and further solidify ASPINA's position as a leader in multiple industries, including automotive, medical, space and robotics," said Hiro Nakajima, Chief Technical Officer of ASPINA.ASPINA remains dedicated to delivering groundbreaking solutions and maintaining its commitment to excellence in every aspect of its operations.Contact InformationNicholas LauroSenior Vice President Business Operationsnick.lauro@aspina-group.com 310-693-7600SOURCE: ASPINA Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com
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Marina continues to be recognized as the best in its classBRUNSWICK, GA / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / In the heart of coastal Georgia, Brunswick Landing Marina has established itself as a premier destination for boaters seeking not only a picturesque harbor but also unparalleled customer service. For the second year in a row, the marina was awarded Best Large Marina in the United States by MarinaLife Magazine. To further cement their position in the industry, the marina also recently received the prestigious Marina of the Year Award for Customer Service at The Docks Expo in Nashville, TN. These three recognitions not only underscore the marina's commitment to excellence but also highlight the dedication of its staff in creating a memorable experience for every visitor.Brunswick Landing Marina receives awards at Docks Expo in Nashville, TN (Left to right, Michael Torras, Marina Manager, Daren Pietsch, President, and Matt Delaney, Yard Supervisor)The Docks Expo, one of the premier events in the marine industry, attracts marina operators, suppliers, industry experts, and boaters from all over the U.S. and beyond. Brunswick Landing Marina stood out among its peers, impressing judges with its unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction. The award for Marina of the Year for Customer Service is a testament to the marina's commitment to providing boaters with a superior and enjoyable experience, setting a benchmark for excellence in the industry.At the heart of this achievement is the exceptional team at Brunswick Landing Marina, which includes their Boat Yard Supervisor, Matt Delaney. Delaney's commitment to the customers, passion for the marine service industry, and team approach have not only elevated the marina's reputation but also earned him a 2023 Young Leader Award at the Expo. This award recognizes individuals under the age of 40 who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and a commitment to excellence in the marine industry.Boaters and visitors to the marina not only enjoy top-notch facilities and amenities but also experience a level of service that sets Brunswick Landing Marina apart from the rest. One of the key factors that contributed to the marina's success in customer service is its proactive communication and personalized attention. The staff takes the time to understand the unique preferences and requirements of each visitor, providing tailored solutions and recommendations. Whether it's assisting with docking procedures, arranging boat maintenance, or offering local insights for an enjoyable stay, the team at Brunswick Landing Marina exemplifies a dedication to making every boater feel valued and appreciated.About Brunswick Landing Marina, Inc.Brunswick Landing Marina is a family-owned and operated full-service marina located in the heart of historic downtown Brunswick, GA. The marina is located in a former US Navy hurricane hole which provides vessels with protection from wind and waves on three sides by land. Brunswick Landing Marina prides itself on being much more than a marina, it is a safe harbor and social destination.Contact InformationMichael TorrasMarina Manager, Brunswick Landing Marinamichael@ torrasproperties.com (912) 324-7415SOURCE: Brunswick Landing Marina, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / On Martin Luther King Jr. Day and every day, we celebrate the power of all we can accomplish when we come together for a common purpose. In recognition of MLK Day, our Chemours Black Employee Network hosted a day of programming and service for our team members to participate in at the Chemours Discovery Hub. The event featured a keynote from Dr. Aaron Bass, CEO of EastSide Charter School - a Chemours ChemFEST program partner - spoken word poetry from local poet Sharon Wilson, remarks from Deborah Reeves of the United Way Delaware, live music from The Smooth Show Band, and volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts and other local organizations."I enjoyed spending time with so many of my Chemours colleagues as we helped introduce the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to our local Girl Scouts. And I want to thank Dr. Aaron Bass, CEO of EastSide Charter School for his inspiring words as our keynote speaker. We hope days like this will spark a lifelong passion for science and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders. I am grateful to everyone who joined us in honoring Dr. King's legacy and making a meaningful difference in our community." - Mark Newman, President & CEO, Chemours"Today was an awesome celebration of MLK and his decision to serve others. Thank you Dr. Aaron Bass for your inspired words of service. Chemours is proud to partner with you and Eastside Charter School to make a meaningful difference to students and the community." - Alvenia Scarborough, Chief Brand Officer, Chemours"It was a pleasure to host the Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service event and celebration at our Chemours Discovery Hub today. I would like to thank our guest speakers for the great and insightful talks. After the celebration we helped the Girl Scouts earn their Exploration Badge. During this activity they had a great opportunity to interact with our scientists and to build their own lava lamps!" - Tim Hopkins, Chemours Discovery Hub site manager"Today, at Chemours we celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King during our MLK Day of Service event and celebration. Thank you so much Dr. Aaron Bass for your insightful keynote and words of inspiration." - Najwa Corum, Early Career Program Leader, Chemours"Yesterday, at The Chemours Company, we paid homage to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrated his life and legacy. His unwavering dedication to justice and equality has inspired a movement that has changed the course of history. Let us all take a moment to reflect on his vision of a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race, religion, or nationality. I would also like to thank Dr. Aaron Bass for the thought-provoking keynote speech he delivered." - Qutell Adderley, Research & Development Chemist, ChemoursView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Chemours Company on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: The Chemours CompanyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/chemours-company Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: The Chemours Company
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TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Abacode Cybersecurity and Compliance (Abacode) today announces their recognition by Microsoft for the Threat Protection Specialization. This designation follows the previous acknowledgment as a Microsoft Designated Solutions Partner for Security and underscores their commitment to delivering world-class cybersecurity services and their dedication to staying at the forefront of the industry. The designation is reserved for partners who demonstrate deep knowledge, extensive experience, and proven success deploying Microsoft Threat Protection, Microsoft Cloud App Security, or Azure Sentinel workloads.The process to be granted Solutions Partner status is complicated and lengthy, and the Threat Protection Specialization further sets Abacode apart from their competitors. This is a key step in the company's continuous growth model to combat the changing threat landscape.As one of Abacode's primary technology partners, this recognition means the company is uniquely qualified to implement Microsoft's cybersecurity solutions. Reaching this milestone required a multi-step process involving both internal and external stakeholders. First, Abacode had to receive a Solutions Partner designation in the Security solution area. Next, they had to attain a minimum level of 1,000 Monthly Active Usage (MAU) growth for either Microsoft Defender for Identity or Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (MDCA) within a trailing twelve-month period. The company did this through the Claiming Partner of Record CPOR process. Internally, six individuals passed the requirements for Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate. Externally, Abacode provided three customer references that demonstrate the company's ability to deploy Microsoft Threat Protection or Microsoft Cloud App Security workload.To learn more about the process to become a Microsoft Designated Solutions Partner for Security, read the company's previous press release at https://abacode.com/media/report-embracing-complexity-a-fresh-approach-to-security-and-compliance/ Abacode Cybersecurity and Compliance specializes in delivering end-to-end cybersecurity and compliance services, helping organizations navigate the complex landscape of cyber threats and regulatory requirements. The Microsoft Threat Protection Specialization further enhances Abacode's ability to provide comprehensive solutions that protect against advanced and persistent cyber threats. As a trusted Microsoft partner, Abacode remains dedicated to staying ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity.Abacode's Chief Technology Officer, Jeremy Rasmussen believes the new certification demonstrates the company's leadership in the cybersecurity industry. "Abacode's inclusion in the Microsoft Threat Protection Specialization program shows two things: first, that we run a world-class Security Operations Center protecting our clients' networks, data, and users; and second, that we have an ecosystem of continuous growth and development, enabling our staff to obtain the critical knowledge and certifications they need to be world-class." ABOUT ABACODE CYBERSECURITY & COMPLIANCEFounded in 2014, Abacode has redefined industry standards by unifying cybersecurity and compliance into one fully managed program. Based in Tampa, FL, with 24/7 Security Operations Centers in Tampa and Las Vegas, Abacode serves a diverse international clientele across various sectors. Abacode's unique approach has enabled clients to achieve results four times faster than the industry average, all while delivering higher value through a consolidated methodology.To learn more about Abacode, visitwww.abacode.com CONTACT: Isaiah Jackson, Head of PR PHONE: (866) 596-9020 EMAIL: press@ abacode.com SOURCE: Abacode Inc.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 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
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Latest edition of the free, biannual report covers emerging cybersecurity threats, critical legislative developments, and emerging AI best practices for healthcare organizations]FRANKLIN, TN / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 /Fortified Health Security (Fortified), a two-time Best in KLAS managed security services provider (MSSP) specializing in healthcare cybersecurity, has released their 2024 Horizon Report. The report comes at a pivotal time when healthcare organizations urgently need increased support and resources to safeguard patient data and strengthen their cybersecurity posture to meet increased regulatory requirements and growing cyber attacks on healthcare.In the latest edition, Fortified and its contributors:Explain significant legislative developments in healthcare cybersecurity, including the Biden Administration's National Cybersecurity StrategyCover the impact of AI and machine learning on healthcare organizations Analyze healthcare cybersecurity trends based on OCR data Share best practices for safeguarding against cyber incidentsPublished biannually as a resource for healthcare organizations since 2017, this year's edition of the Horizon Report includes critical findings:Compromised Patient Records Are Increasing SharplyIn 2023, number of breaches exposing more than two million patient records skyrocketed.Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) Is Critical For Healthcare OrganizationsThe number of Business Associates (BAs) reporting a healthcare data breach has more than doubled in recent years, underscoring the criticality of having a strong TPRM program.Connected Technologies Are Primary Target for Cyber CriminalsLast year, connected technologies were the primary locations where patient records were compromised."In recent years, U.S. Healthcare and Public Health (HPH) sector has seen significant disruptions to patient care and healthcare operations as a result of cybercrime. In fact, the National Security Council (NSC) considers the HPH sector to be one of the top three (3) sectors prioritized for additional cybersecurity attention," said Dan Dodson, Chief Executive Officer at Fortified. "Simultaneously, we are witnessing critical initiatives in the federal, state, and private sectors to establish, agree on, and comply with Cybersecurity Performance Goals. This past year, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency released the Cross Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals, and notably, New York became the first state to announce their plan to implement cybersecurity requirements for all hospitals within the state. This progress is likely to be adopted by other states, as well, significantly altering the healthcare cybersecurity landscape in 2024 and beyond.The 2024 Horizon Report examines these joint efforts between public and private entities in working together to make healthcare more resilient." The full report is available for download here.About Fortified Health SecurityFortified is Healthcare's Cybersecurity Partner - protecting patient data and reducing risk throughout the healthcare ecosystem. A managed security service provider that has been awarded numerous industry accolades, Fortified works alongside healthcare organizations to build customized programs that help clients leverage their prior security investments and current processes while implementing modern solutions that reduce risk and increase their security posture over time. Led by a team of industry-recognized cyber experts, Fortified's high-touch engagements and client-specific process maximize value and deliver an actionable, scalable approach to help reduce the risk of cyber events. To learn more, visit www.fortifiedhealthsecurity.com Press contact information:Denise ReedFortified Health Security dreed@ FortifiedHealthSecurity.com Stephanie Pryor LANC Marketing, LLC stephanie@ lancmarketing.com SOURCE: Fortified Health Security
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Star Royalties Ltd. ("Star Royalties", or the "Company") (TSXV:STRR)(OTCQX:STRFF) is pleased to announce that its joint venture, Green Star Royalties Ltd. ("Green Star"), has entered into an agreement with Locus Agricultural Solutions LLC ("Locus AG") to improve the operating structure of and its royalty investment into Locus AG's regenerative agriculture carbon farming program, CarbonNOW. In addition, the program continues to progress through the registration process and is now listed under the validation category on the Verra Registry ("Verra").Key HighlightsImproved CarbonNOW operating structure: Green Star, Locus AG and Anew Carbon Farming, LLC ("Anew") and certain of their affiliates have agreed to make Locus AG the project operator and formal manager of CarbonNOW. Anew will continue to provide project development and technical services on a fee-for-service basis and will lead the project's validation and verification efforts, as well as conduct carbon credit marketing and sales. The revised operating structure creates stronger alignment between all parties, enables all parties to focus on their core strengths, de-risks program execution, and is expected to result in improved operational efficiencies with respect to future farmer enrollment and data collection and analysis.Enhanced program economics and extended royalty term: As part of optimizing the program, Green Star has agreed to revise its proceeds sharing agreement that is currently with an affiliate of Anew and will partner directly with Locus AG for a 30% gross revenue royalty on CarbonNOW. Green Star's initial US$20.6 million funding commitment remains unchanged, although the revised royalty term has been extended from 10 years to 20 years, resulting in meaningfully greater exposure to longer-term carbon pricing and sequestration performance.CarbonNOW program enters third-party validation process: The CarbonNOW program, as part of project ID 4236, was officially listed under Verra's Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.0 ("VM0042") in September and is currently proceeding towards third-party validation. The listing and the upcoming validation are important milestones in advancing and de-risking the 1.32-million-acre program towards carbon credit issuance.CarbonNOW farmer payments in 2023 exceeded US$2.8 million: U.S. farmers who have implemented regenerative agriculture practices and enrolled into the CarbonNOW program prior to the 2023 growing season have received over US$2.8 million in 2023 to date, highlighting the program's rapid year-over-year growth and farmer benefits. In total, Green Star has invested over US$5.5 million in the CarbonNOW program.Alex Pernin, Chief Executive Officer of Star Royalties, commented: "We are excited to announce these multiple positive developments with the CarbonNOW program. The revised CarbonNOW structure creates an improved and strategic alignment with Locus AG and will drive superior workflow to maximize farmer enrollment and soil carbon sequestration, while Anew continues to provide key support services. The revised gross revenue royalty structure will also improve transparency and reduce risk, while the term extension from 10 to 20 years provides significantly greater exposure to longer-term carbon pricing and sequestration performance for the same royalty investment amount." "The program's listing with Verra marks an important milestone towards generating and issuing premium North American carbon credits from regenerative agricultural practices. We are seeing robust demand for nature-based solutions and anticipate these types of offsets to transact around US$20/tCO2e. Furthermore, our program has paid out approximately US$4.5 million to U.S. farmers and we look forward to continued farmer enrollment into the program." Vic Peroni, Chief Commercial Officer at Locus AG, commented: "We believe this strategic realignment with Green Star and Anew will provide significant operational and economic efficiencies for the CarbonNOW program and allow for Locus AG to improve the overall management and execution of the program with farmers. Green Star's commitment to the CarbonNOW program, the farmers and to Locus AG has always been apparent, and having a direct relationship with Green Star is crucial for the success of the overall program." Angela Schwarz, Chief Executive Officer of Anew Climate, LLC, reiterated the importance of the strategic realignment in ensuring the long-term success of the CarbonNOW program and further commented: "CarbonNOW incentivizes adoption of an innovative and additional solution to achieve land-based carbon removals. Anew has firm demand at significant volume for the CarbonNOW credits at substantially higher pricing than industry reports for nature-based credits. We are pleased to provide project development and marketing services in support of the CarbonNOW program and are confident that the voluntary carbon market will continue to demand and pay a premium for such projects due to their enormous contribution to climate action, biodiversity and natural capital." Improved CarbonNOW Structure, Economics and Royalty Term ExtensionCarbonNOW has been optimized to ensure maximum carbon removals and avoidance, as well as alignment between all involved parties. Green Star, Locus AG, Anew and certain of their affiliates have agreed to make Locus AG the project operator and formal manager of CarbonNOW. Locus AG will oversee all data management and continue to actively recruit farmers under this program until a total of 1.32 million acres of farmland across the United Sates have been enrolled. Anew will remain the program's carbon developer, leading registration and issuance efforts with Verra, as well as executing all carbon credit marketing and sales. Green Star will continue to finance CarbonNOW's initial eligible expenses, farmer payments and registration fees, through quarterly drawdowns by Locus AG, as required, until the previously committed capital contribution of up to US$20.6 million is fully invested. Green Star currently expects to provide the remaining US$15.1 million of capital contributions by 2026.As part of optimizing the program, Green Star will revise its proceeds sharing agreement that is currently with an affiliate of Anew. Green Star will partner directly with Locus AG and will receive a 30% gross revenue royalty, payable from CarbonNOW's gross carbon revenues. The royalty will be payable in cash from the sale of carbon credits or directly in carbon credits, at Green Star's election. The term of the royalty will also be increased from 10 years to 20 years of carbon credit issuance to better capture the longevity and durability of the CarbonNO
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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / In an outstanding finale to the India Blockchain Week (IBW) 2023, the Award Night hosted by Cillionaire and powered by Bybit stood out as a remarkable celebration of blockchain technology, achieving an unprecedented level of success and recognition worldwide. The event, which took place at the Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield, witnessed a staggering number of 3000 registrations for the exclusive 200 available spots, showcasing the immense interest and excitement for blockchain technology across the globe. Participants from countries like Poland, the Philippines, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Thailand, and more, attended, making it a globally recognized and the most celebrated event of the IBW 2023.Event DetailsThis year's India Blockchain Week was more than just a series of events; it was a comprehensive and intensive exploration into the world of blockchain and web3 technologies. Throughout the week, IBW hosted a variety of events including keynotes, workshops, and meetups focused on the latest trends, technologies, and discussions in the blockchain space. It served as a platform for enthusiasts, professionals, and businesses to converge, share ideas, and foster new connections, thereby propelling the blockchain movement forward.Award Ceremony HighlightsAt the Award Night, the spotlight shone on the pioneers and innovators in the blockchain arena through the IBW Awards. These awards celebrated a range of achievements in different sectors:Best Centralized Exchange (CEX) of the Year: Bybit, for its excellent trading platform.Best Layer 2 (L2) Project: Polygon, for making blockchain transactions faster and cheaper.Best Metaverse Project: The Bharat Box by The Sandbox, for creating a virtual world showcasing India.Best Play-to-Earn Project: Nakamoto Games, for its fun and profitable games.Best Real-World Gamification Project: Bonuz, for its social smart wallet gamifying the real world using on-chain social proofs and rewarding Voucher NFTs.Best Web3 Influencer: Sumit Kapoor, for leading and growing the crypto community.Best Crypto Trader: Adrian Zdunczyk, for his expertise in trading cryptocurrencies.Best SocialFi Project: XCAD Network, for creating a new way for YouTube fans and creators to interact.Best Angel Investor: Evan Luthra, for investing in and supporting new digital projects.Best Emerging Play-to-Earn Project: Sidus Heroes, for its rapid growth and potential in online gaming.Best RWA Project: EstateX, for linking real-world assets and blockchain.Best Launchpad: ChainGPT, for helping start new blockchain projects.Best Web3 Art Project: ARTFI, for changing how we value and own art through technology.Best DeFi Wallet: Snowball Money, for making decentralized finance easier for everyone.Best Emerging L2 Blockchain: Rollux on Syscoin, for improving blockchain performance.Best Upcoming Metaverse Project: Pixoverse, for its forward-thinking approach to virtual worlds.Best Web3 VC of the Year: Cypher Capital, for its significant investments in virtual reality.Best Web3 Incubator: Morningstar Ventures, for supporting and growing new startups.ConclusionAs the curtain fell on the India Blockchain Week 2023 Award Night, it marked a pivotal chapter in the global blockchain narrative. Far from being just an event, it was a historic juncture underscoring the significance of blockchain in steering our collective future. The monumental success of the night sets an exhilarating precedent, and the world now eagerly awaits the next wave of innovation, collaboration, and celebration in the blockchain domain.This event unequivocally showcased the blockchain community's passion and commitment to shaping a world where technology drives sustainable and inclusive progress. As the anticipation for future breakthroughs builds, the IBW 2023 Award Night will be remembered as the night when the blockchain community shined the brightest.Media Contact:Name: Ripul MahajanEmai:Contact@ cillionaire.comWebsite:www.cillionaire.comCompany: SOURCE: Cillionaire.com
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 17. Spanish Santander Bank expressed readiness to allocate credit funds worth $500 million to finance promising investment projects expected to be implemented in Uzbekistan, Trend reports.

This was discussed during the meeting with the regional manager of the largest Spanish Santander bank David Plaza, at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Madrid.

The representative of the Spanish bank emphasized that Santander is among the five largest banks in Europe and is the leader in terms of assets in the world. The total assets of the bank amounted to 1.8 trillion euros as of 2023.

It was noted that the bank has also been the leader in Europe in terms of the number of deals concluded in the field of export-import operations for the past two years.

During the meeting, the regional manager of Santander David Plaza noted that the bank's management is currently considering the possibility of entering the Uzbek market for banking services.

At the end of the meeting, it was noted that the possibility of financing investment projects in Uzbekistan will be a factor in accelerating the opening of the Spanish bank's representative office in the republic.

Earlier, the Spanish Almar Water Solutions company expressed readiness to build a water treatment plant in Uzbekistan.

At the initial stage, the company planned to develop project documentation and agree tariffs with Uzbekistan's Suvtaminot Joint Stock Company and Samarkand region administration. After that, the parties will be able to sign a mutual agreement on the implementation of the project.
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HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / LyondellBasell (NYSE:LYB) signed two new Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) in the United States, which will bring the company's total procured renewable electricity to 1,366 megawatts (MW), representing 89% of its goal to procure a minimum of 50% of its electricity from renewable sources."We are taking decisive steps to reduce our scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions and power purchase agreements are a critical lever towards meeting our targets," said Chris Cain, LyondellBasell Senior Vice President for Net Zero Transition Strategy. "These two new agreements help us accelerate the development of clean energy and shift to use of low carbon energy at our sites." The company signed a long-term PPA for 125 MW of renewable electricity sourced from TotalEnergies' Brazoria Solar project in Brazoria County, Texas. The 15-year agreement is expected to generate approximately 300,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of solar power annually, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 28,000 American homes. The project is expected to commence operations at the end of 2025. This is the company's second PPA with TotalEnergies."TotalEnergies is proud to support LyondellBasell on its ambitious climate goals," said Vincent Stoquart, Senior Vice President, Renewables at TotalEnergies. "The signing of this new upside sharing PPA in the U.S. is consistent with our strategy of merchant exposure and will contribute to the objective of profitable growth for our Integrated Power business." LyondellBasell also signed a long-term PPA with Industrial Sun to supply 50 MW of renewable electricity from Industrial Sun's Industrial Bravo solar project in Matagorda County, Texas, to the LyondellBasell Matagorda Complex. This facility produces high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic resins used to manufacture various consumer products. The project is expected to commence operations in the first half of 2026."We are excited to collaborate with LyondellBasell in support of their renewable energy goals," said Wade Gungoll, CEO of Industrial Sun. "Our utility-scale net-metered industrial solar solution will simultaneously reduce the carbon footprint and operating expenses of LyondellBasell's Matagorda Complex, which will in turn enhance the long-term prosperity of the facility and support more job creation in Matagorda County. Our unique projects are win-win-wins for the customer, the community, and the energy grid." LyondellBasell has a target to procure a minimum of 50% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, based on 2020 procured levels. Approximately 15% of the companys 2020 baseline scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions come from its electricity consumption. Renewable electricity is an important component of its pathway to net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050.About LyondellBasellWe are LyondellBasell - a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors and society. As one of the world's largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.Forward-Looking StatementsThe statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management of LyondellBasell which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially based on factors including, but not limited to, the availability, cost and price volatility of utilities; our ability to meet our sustainability goals, including our ability to reduce our emissions and achieve net zero emissions by the time set in our goals; our ability to procure energy from renewable sources; and the successful construction and operation of the projects described in this release. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which can be found at www.LyondellBasell.com on the Investor Relations page and on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov . There is no assurance that any of the actions, events or results of the forward-looking statements will occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made and are based on the estimates and opinions of management of LyondellBasell at the time the statements are made. LyondellBasell does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change, except as required by law.SOURCE LyondellBasell IndustriesFor further information: +1 713 309 7575, mediarelations@ lyb.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from LyondellBasell on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: LyondellBasellWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lyondellbasell Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: LyondellBasell
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CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / MOBILTEX, [an XPV Water Partners company], a leading provider of innovative IIoT hardware and software solutions for cathodic protection, pipeline integrity, and pressurized pipeline remote monitoring, today announced the appointment of Edward Quilty as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, effective Jan. 9, 2024, and will continue in his previous capacity on the MOBILTEX Board of Directors. Quilty is succeeding Marc Bracken, who will continue to provide leadership as an active member of the MOBILTEX Board.Ed Quilty brings decades of executive experience to this role and has a proven track record of leading highly innovative world-class IIoT organizations, having served as CEO of Aquatic Informatics [AQI], Semios Biotechnologies, and as President within the Danaher Corporation. Under Ed's leadership, AQI grew to be the largest water data management, analytics, and compliance software company in the world."I am excited to be in a position to lead the MOBILTEX team as the company continues its growth and diversification strategy," Quilty said. "MOBILTEX has a long history of engineering innovative field and cloud-connected technologies that deliver significant operational, safety, and ESG benefits to the energy sector, water utilities, and critical infrastructure operations around the globe. MOBILTEX is strongly positioned in high-growth and underpenetrated markets, and I look forward to the opportunity to take this well-established organization to the next level. Together with our talented global team, we will continue to rapidly grow, through innovation and acquisitions, to deliver the AI-driven remote monitoring solutions of the future to our customers worldwide." "After a thorough evaluation process, the board is pleased that Ed Quilty has agreed to assume leadership of MOBILTEX as we continue our growth and diversification strategy," said Khalil Maalouf, Investment Partner at XPV Water Partners. "Ed's extensive experience in strategic development, technology, finance, operations, and sales and marketing has prepared him to lead MOBILTEX in both existing and new markets. Ed's M&A experience also fits well with the company's continuing plans for diversification and expansion." "On behalf of XPV and the board, I want to thank Marc Bracken for his tremendous contributions to MOBILTEX over the past five years," Maalouf added. "Marc has been an integral part of the company's dynamic transformation. During his tenure, we made incredible strides in advancing enterprise-wide modernization, achieving world-class operational excellence, and expanding into strategic international markets. Marc's steadfast leadership has been crucial to effectively positioning the company for our next growth phase. I look forward to continuing to work with Marc on the MOBILTEX Board of Directors." ABOUT MOBILTEXMOBILTEX Data Ltd. [an XPV Water Partners company] is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and is proud to serve hundreds of industrial, municipal, and commercial customers around the globe - delivering mission-critical integrity monitoring solutions on over two hundred and sixty thousand kilometres of pipeline assets. MOBILTEX innovative field and cloud-connected technologies deliver significant operational, safety, and ESG benefits to Water Utilities, Energy, and Critical Infrastructure operations. As our reputation grows, we continue to invest and expand our patented IIoT and AI/ML advancements while leveraging 5G cellular and satellite communications across our portfolio. MOBILTEX is widely recognized in the industry for innovation, reliability, and our world-class service and support. Learn more: mobiltex.com ABOUT XPV WATER PARTNERSXPV Water Partners is a team of experienced operators and investors who are committed to making a difference in water. The firm manages investment capital from some of the world's top institutional investors, and partners with emerging water-related companies to help them rapidly expand and achieve their strategic goals. XPV aims to generate strong, risk-adjusted returns for its investors by leveraging its trusted ecosystem, deep industry knowledge, and its water-centric company scaling platform. XPV is committed to building partnerships that contribute to growing people, sustainable businesses, prosperous communities, and a water-secure future. Learn more: xpvwaterpartners.com Contact InformationJonathan SaintMarketing Directorinfo@ mobiltex.com 403.291.2770SOURCE: MOBILTEX Data Ltd.View the original press release on newswire.com
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HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / For anyone moving to Houston or from one area to another, Pack-it Movers, Houston's top full-service commercial and residential moving and storage company, has tips for current and future city residents and businesses to help with the hiring process when choosing a moving company.Moving With the Pros Pack-It Movers: Friendly and Affordable Local Movers Tip 1: Make sure to hire movers with a physical location.Tip 2: Make sure to get a moving quote in writing with a not-to-exceed price.Tip 3: Make sure to not pay for moving services up front.Tip 4: Ask for a copy of the moving company's insurance.Tip 5: Make sure the movers are in a branded truck and are in a matching uniform, with company information and valid Texas DOT number presented on the truck as well as on the company website as it is Texas law to have it on both.Visit https://packitmovers.com/moving-tips/ for more about what to look for in a moving company.About Pack-It MoversPack-it Movers Houston is dedicated to excellence and quality service while moving you and your belongings. First on our mission statement is top-notch service to our customers. This goes hand in hand with our quality assurance and care of your belongings being moved. To whichever location you are bound for, Pack-it Movers Houston has you covered. All you need to do is trust our top-quality service, and we will deliver a perfect job. We offer many services that other moving companies don't, like price-matching, free estimates, and 24-hour live customer service. We are a residential and commercial moving company that families and businesses can trust.Voted best local mover in Texas Licensed and insured Apartment, houses, offices, storage or packing - we've got you covered We are affordable Commercial moves, including office buildings and warehouses Senior citizen relocation specialists Long-distance moves No job too big or small - from single item to entire home Contact InformationAnthony JohnsonCEOaj@ packitmovers.com 713-884-0018SOURCE: Pack-it MoversView the original press release on newswire.com
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Regency Silver Corp. ("Regency Silver" or the "Company") (TSXV:RSMX)(OTCQB:RSMXF) is pleased to announce that it has completed the first tranche of $622,000 of a previously announced non-brokered private placement of $800,000.Regency Silver has issued 3,110,000 units at a price of $0.20 per unit on this first tranche closing for gross proceeds of CAD$622,000. Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company and one half of one transferable common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant is exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of CAD$0.30 per share for a period of two years from the date of issuance.The balance of the private placement is expected to close shortly.In connection with this closing, the Company paid cash finder's fees of $6,790 and issued 33,950 broker warrants. Each broker warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of CAD$0.30 per share for a period of two years from the date of issuance.All securities issued under the private placement will be subject to a four month hold period from the date of issue in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The private placement remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.The proceeds will be used for exploration and development of the Company's properties and general working capital.For further details about Regency Silver please visit the Company's website at www.Regency-Silver.com Contact InformationRegency Silver Corp.Kin Communications Inc.Phone: 1-604-684-6730Email: RSMX@ kincommunications.com Bruce Bragagnolo, Executive ChairmanPhone: 1-604-417-9517Email: bruce@ regency-silver.com Gijsbert Groenewegen, Chief Executive OfficerPhone: 1-646-247-1000Email: gijs@ regency-silver.com ABOUT REGENCY SILVER CORP.:Regency Silver Corp. is a Canadian resource company exploring for high grade gold, copper, and silver in Mexico. Regency Silver is led by a team of experienced professionals with expertise in both exploration and production. Regency's flagship project is the high grade Dios Padre project in Sonora, Mexico where Regency has made a large, high grade, gold-copper-silver discovery which appears to widen at depth. Drill results have included 38 metres of 7.36 g/t gold in hole REG 23-21, 36 metres of 6.84 g/t gold, 0.88% copper and 21.8 g/t silver in hole REG 22-01, and 29.4 m of 6.32 g/t gold in hole REG 23-14.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Regency Silver Corp.
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Offer document published following approval by BaFin. Acceptance period commences today and ends on February 16, 2024; there will be no additional acceptance period. Opportunity for all CropEnergies shareholders to tender their shares at an attractive cash consideration of  11.50 per share, representing a premium of around 36.9 % on the volume-weighted average price during the last six months preceding the publication of the decision to launch the delisting tender offer. Delisting tender offer is not subject to any closing conditions Delisting holds potential for improving liquidity and a revaluation of the Sudzucker shares from which shareholders of CropEnergies can benefit through a re-investment in Sudzucker. CropEnergies remains a strong independent pillar of the Sudzucker Group. Executive board of CropEnergies supports delisting. MANNHEIM, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Sudzucker AG ("Sudzucker") announces the publication of the offer document for the public delisting tender offer to all shareholders of CropEnergies AG ("CropEnergies") for the acquisition of all outstanding shares not already directly held by Sudzucker, following the approval by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority ("BaFin"). Both companies signed a delisting agreement in this matter on December 19, 2023. Sudzucker currently holds around 79.8 % of the share capital in CropEnergies.The acceptance period begins today and ends at midnight (CET) on February 16, 2024.CropEnergies shareholders can accept the delisting tender offer by tendering their shares at an offer price of  11.50 per share. The offer price corresponds to a premium of approximately 36.9 % on the volume-weighted average price of the last six months preceding the publication of the decision to launch the delisting tender offer and a premium of around 69.4 % on the last Xetra closing price of December 18, 2023, i.e. the closing price on the last day prior to the publication of the decision to launch the delisting tender offer.CropEnergies shareholders who wish to accept the delisting tender offer must promptly contact their respective custodian bank or any other securities services company where their CropEnergies shares are being held. As announced on December 19, 2023, the delisting of CropEnergies is a logical step towards a more defined capital market profile of the Sudzucker Group. The delisting creates additional potential for improving liquidity and a revaluation of the Sudzucker shares. The delisting will enable CropEnergies to develop its strategic projects within the Sudzucker Group with a focus on bio-based chemicals in a more focused manner. CropEnergies remains a strong independent pillar of the Sudzucker Group.The executive board of CropEnergies has undertaken, subject to customary reservations, to support a delisting and apply for revocation of the admission of all CropEnergies shares to trading on the regulated market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange during the acceptance period. The executive board and supervisory board of CropEnergies will also publish a joint reasoned opinion on the delisting tender offer during the acceptance period.Dr Niels Porksen, CEO of Sudzucker, says: "We would like to encourage all CropEnergies shareholders to accept our attractive offer before their shares are delisted from the regulated market. Shareholders of CropEnergies can also benefit from the future bundled value potential of the entire Sudzucker-Group through a re-investment in Sudzucker shares. The delisting will create capacities that we will utilise to accelerate the implementation of our 'Strategy 2026 PLUS'. CropEnergies will increasingly focus on the growth topics of biobased chemicals." The delisting tender offer will not be extended (unless required by law) and is not subject to any conditions. The delisting of the CropEnergies shares from the regulated market is expected to become effective after the expiry of the acceptance period of the delisting tender offer by the end of February 2024. The offer document and a non-binding English translation, alongside other information regarding the delisting tender offer, are available at www.powerofplants-offer.com . In addition, a shareholder hotline has been set up, which shareholders can call on 0080008250941 (inside Germany) or +44 207 2930434 (outside Germany, hosted in German) or +44 207 2930434 (outside Germany, hosted in English) if they have any questions.Copies of the offer document are also available free of charge from the Delisting Acquisition Offer Settlement Agent: Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, TAS, Post-IPO Services, Taunusanlage 12, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Order for dispatch of the offer document by fax to +49 69 910 38794 or e-mail to dct.tender-offers@db.com , stating a complete postal address).Important noticeThis announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of CropEnergies AG nor an offer or recommendation to purchase shares of Sudzucker AG. The definitive terms of the delisting tender offer, as well as further provisions concerning the delisting tender offer, are set out in the offer document the publication of which has been approved by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). Investors and holders of shares in CropEnergies AG are strongly advised to read the offer document and all other relevant documents regarding the delisting tender offer, since they contain important information.The delisting tender offer has been published exclusively under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, in particular in accordance with the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz) and the German Stock Exchange Act (Borsengesetz), as well as certain applicable provisions of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act. The documentation relating to the delisting tender offer is or will be available at www.powerofplants-offer.com . Any contract that is concluded on the basis of the delisting tender offer will be exclusively governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and is to be interpreted in accordance with such laws.To the extent permissible under applicable law or regulation, and in accordance with German market practice, Sudzucker AG, its affiliates or its brokers may purchase, or conclude agreements to purchase, shares of CropEnergies AG, directly or indirectly, outside of the scope of the delisting tender offer during or after the period in which the offer remains open for acceptance. This also applies to other securities which are directly convertible into, exchangeable for, or exercisable for shares of CropEnergies AG. These purchases may be compl
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The token-gated Group Chat platform fuses Unstoppable's domain services with Push Protocol's decentralized messaging tech to bring about a new era in private community communicationsDAVOS, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Unstoppable , a leader in web2 and web3 domain names, in partnership withPush Protocol , a pioneer in decentralized communication, today announces the launch of token-gated Group Chat for Unstoppable Messaging, an innovative platform set to transform communication within organizations, communities, and other team-based groups.Designed for dynamic, fast-paced teams and communities where access to conversations should be controlled by blockchain events, Unstoppable Messaging allows users to discover accessible group chats and quickly collaborate using a decentralized messaging technology called Push Protocol. This capability is crucial for teams needing quick decision-making or maintaining records in rapidly changing situations.Group Chat combines Unstoppable expertise in web3 domain services with Push Protocol's cutting-edge decentralized messaging technology. This platform is not just another messaging tool but a revolutionary step in how teams and communities communicate and collaborate, offering unparalleled privacy, security, and user autonomy."Our collaboration with Push Protocol is a game changer. Group Chat is more than a messaging tool - it's a new way for teams and communities to interact, make decisions, and share information rapidly, privately, and securely," said Sandy Carter, COO and Head of Business Development at Unstoppable Domains.As AI, bots, and traditional social engineering techniques continue to be widely used by malicious actors to spread misinformation, managing group access in a decentralized environment is becoming an increasingly strenuous task. This is why it is vital to strike a delicate balance between offering easy access to information and keeping that information private to only the intended parties.By limiting access to specific communities based on users' immutable and verifiable blockchain records and tokens, Group Chat could help eliminate - or at least severely hinder - the rampant spread of misinformation and scams such as phishing, spam bots, project impersonation, social engineering-based attacks, and more by enabling a private and decentralized means of communication between verified community members and project teams.For example, a user may be required to hold a specific set of tokens to qualify for group access. Similarly, people could be automatically added or removed from a group at any time, depending on whether they meet certain blockchain requirements. Such permissions allow users to be confident that their messages are received only by the intended addressees.As a result, it is increasingly difficult for "random" malicious actors to freely access Group Chat's token-gated communities to spread misinformation, deploy bots, or try to defraud users. Consequently, this innovative filtering mechanism can be invaluable for any community to help make it safe, trustworthy, and more inclusive and equitable."We're proud to partner with Unstoppable. Together, we're not just changing how teams communicate - we're revolutionizing it. Group Chat is the embodiment of our commitment to empowering organizations with the best in communication technology," noted Harsh Rajat, Founder and Project Lead at Push Protocol.This partnership between Unstoppable and Push Protocol reflects a shared vision for a future where communication is decentralized, secure, and user-centric. Group Chat is a testament to this vision, providing a platform where teams can collaborate without compromising privacy or efficiency.-end-Press Contactbeth@ cryptolandpr.com About Unstoppable DomainsFounded in 2018, Unstoppable Domains is building a platform for user-owned digital identity. Unstoppable Domains offers Web3 domains minted on the blockchain that give people full ownership and control of their digital identity, with no renewal fees. With Unstoppable Domains, people can replace lengthy alphanumeric crypto wallet addresses with a human-readable name and log into and transact with hundreds of apps, wallets, exchanges and marketplaces. The company was named by Forbes as one of America's Best Startup Employers in 2022.For more information, please visit: https://unstoppabledomains.com/ About Push ProtocolPush Protocol leads in decentralized communication technology, offering innovative, secure messaging solutions.Push Protocol leads in decentralized communication technology, offering innovative, secure messaging solutions. It enables cross-chain notifications and messaging for dapps, wallets, and services tied to wallet addresses in an open, gasless, and platform-agnostic fashion. The open communication layer allows any crypto wallet/frontend to tap into the network and get the communication across.For more information, please visit: https://push.org/ SOURCE: Unstoppable Domains
Access Holdings secured a tentative approval for a new consumer lending division to be named Oxygen X Finance Company Limited, Nigerias biggest lender by assets said Wednesday.

The final operating license that will set the subsidiary running is now expected from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Access Holdings said in a note to the Nigerian Exchange.

The disclosure is the second diversification move by Access Holdings this week after the announcement on Monday of its acquisition of Lagos-based Megatech Insurance Brokers.

Both are parts of the broad plan by the corporation to branch out from core banking into new areas within the financial services in a bid to grow revenue and diversify risk.

The proposed subsidiary will make a positive impact on the financial landscape by providing innovative and seamless digital lending solutions to address distinct challenges faced by individuals and businesses in our rapidly evolving world, the document said.

Oxygen X Finance Company is targeting micro-SMEs and retail customers including lower and middle-income salary earners as well as self-employed individuals as its clientele.

READ ALSO: Access Bank completes acquisition of Zambian bank

Its proposed product offerings encompass traditional consumer and SME lending (asset and device financing, personal loans, working capital financing), emerging consumer lending (Buy Now Pay Later, savings & investment products and value-added services, according to its 5-year strategy document seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

Last week, the group said it had fully acquired African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited (trading as Atlas Mara Zambia) through its commercial banking arm Access Bank.

At least, six other bank acquisitions are lined up for this year in markets including Angola, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Cameroon after sealing deals with Standard Chartered Bank.

Access Holdings total assets stood at N21.4 trillion as of the end of September, according to its latest earnings report. The stock has returned 224 per cent in the last 52 weeks.

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With the lineup of action, drama, comedy, and adventure titles hitting Netflix this January 2024 is looking good already.

The global movie streaming platform Netflix on Wednesday released a list of movies and series streaming this January; they include Adire, Merry Men 3, and Dinner.

On 12 January, Netflix released Adire, the latest instalment of the Merry Men franchise, Merry Men 3: Nemesis, while Dinner, debuts to the platform on the 24th of the month.

Adire

Adire is a Nigerian drama film directed by Adeoluwa Owu. The movie tells the story of Adire, a retired prostitute who moves to a small town and starts a lingerie-making business using her signature Adire material.

Her business empowers the conservative women in the town but angers the self-instilled leader, Folasade, the deaconess and wife, to the towns local church preacher.

Adire was directed by Adeoluwa Owu and produced by Mimi Bartels and Barbra Babaringa.

The movie stars Kehinde Bankole, Funlola Aofiyebi, Femi Branch, Yvonne Jegede, Tomi Ojo, Iya Rainbow, Onyinye Nnenna Odokoro, and Mike Afolarin

Other actors include Damilola Ogunsi, Layi Wasabi, Lizzy Jay, Ifeanyi Kalu, Yemi Blaq, and Ibrahim Chatta.

Merry Men 3: Nemesis

Merry Men 3: Nemesis is a 2023 Nigerian action-comedy film directed by Moses Inwang and produced by Darlington Abuda.

The movie stars Segun Arinze, Nadia Buari, Sam Dede, Iretiola Doyle, Ramsey Nouah, William Uchemba, and Chidi Mokeme.

The movie is the third instalment of the Merry Men franchise and follows the story of four friends who are forced to come out of retirement to save Nigeria from a new villain.

Dinner

Dinner tells the tale of two old friends and their partners gathering for a celebratory meal, where a fifth guest stirs up secrets that threaten to bring down both relationships.

Mike Okafor is invited by his childhood friend and buddy, Adetunde George Jnr, to have dinner and spend the weekend with him and his fiancee, Lola Coker, as they plan for their upcoming wedding. Mike accompanies his girlfriend, Diane Bassey, as he prepares to propose to her.

Things get out of hand when they arrive at Adetundes house, and they discover secrets about each others relationship and the one person in the middle of it all.

Silent Taboos never discussed are blown wide open in Dinner.

The movie stars Kehinde Bankole, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Enyinna Nwigwe, Adeyemi Okanlawon, Keira Hewatch, and Okey Uzoeshi.

Other movie actors include Iretiola Doyle, Ini Dima Okojie, Labelle Vitien, Charles Inojie, Esther Audu, Chima Precious, and Ruby Nwosu.

Also, Netflix would be streaming other Hollywood movies like Good Grief, a riveting tale about an artist grieving the loss of his beloved writer husband who takes his two best friends on a trip to Paris, where they unpack messy secrets and hard truths, from the 5th of the month.

To end the month on a spectacular note on the 31st, Alexander the Great will be available on streaming on Netflix.

This docudrama combines expert interviews with gripping reenactments to explore the life of Alexander the Great through his conquest of the Persian Empire.

In addition to the highlighted titles, Netflix currently boasts an eclectic selection, featuring movies like Ijogbon, The Black Book, The One For Sarah, and The Rise of Igbinogun.

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President Bola Tinubu has violated a new directive he recently issued on cutting down the number of people on his entourage during local and international travels.

Last Tuesday, the President announced the slashing of officials accompanying him and other top government officials on official trips.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the move was part of the new governments massive cost-cutting measures.

Mr Tinubu directed that individuals on his delegations should be pegged at 25 for local travels and 20 for international engagements. He also ordered that security agents based at his destinations should be regularly deployed for his protection whenever he travels to states instead of being accompanied by many security details from Abuja.

The policy drew huge praises from many Nigerians who had all along been irritated by the regime of waste and mismanagement of public funds characterising government operations at state and federal levels.

The directive was issued following a barrage of criticisms of Nigerias 1,411-member contingent to the COP 28 climate conference in Dubai and other wasteful public spending patterns.

But less than a week after the new laudable policy took effect, President Tinubu himself violated it. PREMIUM TIMES understands that when he travelled to the South-east state of Imo on Monday to attend the inauguration of Governor Hope Uzodinma for a second and final term, more than 50 individuals were on his delegation.

In his first trip outside Abuja since the new policy was announced, Mr Tinubu flew with at least 25 people on the presidential aircraft to Owerri, the Imo State capital. At least another 30 officials travelled before his arrival in the city.

Some of those who flew with the President on the NAF 001 are his son, Seyi Tinubu; his senior special assistant/private secretary, Aderemi Damilotun; his principal secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola; his senior special assistant on domestic matters; Subair Oluwatoyin and his senior special assistant on social events, Atika Ajaka.

Also on the flight were two other Personal Assistants to Mr Tinubu, Kamorudeen Yusuf and Wale Fadare; the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale; the State Chief of Protocol, Victor Adeleke; the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the President, Fasasi Adegboyega; the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President, Nurudeen Yusuf (a lieutenant colonel); the Chief Principal Staff Officer to the President (CPSO), Usman Shugaba (a deputy commissioner of police); the Personal Physician to the President, Dr Tinubu Sikiru Adekunle; the Chief Detail to the President; Bashir Mohammed and the Presidential Liaison Officer, Musa Yakubu.

Other officials who flew with Mr Tinubu include:

Two presidential photographers, Asemota Nosa Joseph and Okanlawon Taiwo.

The Presidents official videographer, Sunday Moses.

NTA reporter, Musbau Danwahab.

NTA cameraman, Lukman Sani.

In what one State House official described as ludicrous, also on the presidential aircraft for the trip were Eniola Sakumbi, the personal assistant to the Presidents ADC and a certain Emma, who functions as personal assistant to the Presidents CSO.

In addition to the officials who flew with Mr Tinubu for an engagement that lasted only a few hours, at least 30 other people were mobilised to travel by commercial aircraft ahead of the Presidents arrival in the Imo state capital.

Our sources said the advance party included the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, as well as five other officials from the media unit of the presidency, six officials from the protocol department, 15 security details and five journalists covering the State House in Abuja, even when their media organisations have representatives in Owerri and were on ground to cover the inauguration.

Also on the advance party were soldiers from the Brigade of Guards, drivers and other auxiliary staff with little or no role to play in Owerri.

Presidential spokesperson, Mr Ngelale, did not answer or return calls seeking his comments for this story. As of the time of filing this story, he had yet to respond to a message sent to him.

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Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the core tenet of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. It reflects close integration of both abiding goals of Chinese Communists and the trend of times, expands common ground and convergence among all nations for building a better world. It is of great theoretical value and profound historical significance, and has increasingly demonstrated strong influence, vitality and appeal.

From 27 to 28 December, 2023, the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs was held in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the conference and delivered an important address.

In his important address, President Xi Jinping presented a systematic review of the historic achievements and valuable experience of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, gave a profound exposition on the international environment and historical mission of Chinas external work on the new journey, and made comprehensive plans for Chinas external work for the present and coming periods.

It was pointed out at the conference that the building of a community with a shared future for mankind reflects the Chinese Communists worldview, perception of order, and values, accords with the common aspiration of people in all countries, and points the direction to the progress of world civilisations. It is also the noble goal pursued by China in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era.

Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the core tenet of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. It reflects close integration of both abiding goals of Chinese Communists and the trend of times, expands common ground and convergence among all nations for building a better world. It is of great theoretical value and profound historical significance, and has increasingly demonstrated strong influence, vitality and appeal. Building a community with a shared future for humankind underscores the general trend of history and the direction of the peoples hearts.

In building a community with a shared future for mankind, the goal is to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity, the pathway is promoting global governance that features extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, while the guiding principle is to apply the common values of humanity, and the basic underpinning lies in building a new type of international relations, with the strategic guidance coming from the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative, and the platform for action is high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. On this basis, China seeks to bring countries together to meet challenges and achieve prosperity for all, and usher in a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for our world.

Over the past decade, building a community with a shared future for mankind has developed from a conceptual proposition to a scientific system, from a Chinese initiative to an international consensus, and from a promising vision to substantive actions. It has been included in resolutions of the UN General Assembly for seven consecutive years.

In March, 2013, President Xi Jinping put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. It offers Chinas solutions to meet global common challenges and jointly deliver a brighter future for the world, which has received the extensive support of African countries, including Nigeria.

Last year marked the 10th anniversary of the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind put forth by President Xi Jinping. Over the past decade, building a community with a shared future for mankind has developed from a conceptual proposition to a scientific system, from a Chinese initiative to an international consensus, and from a promising vision to substantive actions. It has been included in resolutions of the UN General Assembly for seven consecutive years. Extending to various regions and covering various areas, it has served as a glorious banner leading the progress of the times.

China, the worlds largest developing country, and Nigeria, Africas largest economy, have long formed a community with a shared future.

Big strides have been made in building a China-Nigeria community with a shared future during the past 10 years. Nigeria has become Chinas biggest contractor market, third largest trading partner and major investment destination in Africa. Practical cooperation across the board has been immensely successful. Major projects including Lekki Deep Sea Port, Zungeru Hydroelectric project, Lagos-Ibadan train route, Abuja-Kaduna rail line, Abuja-Keffi-Lafia-Makurdi road, as well as several airport terminals, undertaken by Chinese enterprises, have been completed or progressing smoothly. Remarkable achievements have been made in the development of free trade areas. China and Nigeria took further measures to facilitate travels between the two countries, and people-to-people exchanges have been increasingly closer. With the joint efforts of both sides, China and Nigeria have developed into important strategic partners, while China-Nigeria relations have been taken to a new stage of jointly building a high-quality community with a shared future.

China will continue to follow the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and pursuing the greater good and shared interests when developing relations with African countries. China will always be Nigerias partner of mutual respect, equality and sincere cooperation, and will continue to work with Nigerian friends to build an even closer China-Nigeria community with a shared future in the new era.

Nigeria is an important member of the China-Africa community with a shared future. Last August, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima attended the China-Africa Leaders Dialogue co-hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, and agreed to jointly build a High-Level Africa-China community with a shared future. In October, 2023, Vice President Shettima attended the third Belt and Road Forum(BRF) for International Cooperation, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his counterpart, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. The leaders of both sides reached important consensus on further deepening Belt and Road cooperation and lifting Nigeria-China relations to a new level.

I am willing to say that flame runs high when everyone adds wood to the fire and that mutual support can get us far. Building the China-Nigeria community with a shared future needs the joint strong efforts of our both sides. Since I came to Abuja as the 14th Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, I have thought deeply on how to promote all-round cooperation between China and Nigeria, and have put forward 5GIST China-Nigeria GDP (Growth, Development, Progress) Strategy, Share Chinese Harmony, Perform Nigeria-China Symphony Initiative and a new model of cooperation named PEG (Party-Enterprise-Government).

China is always committed to providing support to African countries, for their socioeconomic development. In November, 2022, President Xi Jinping announced the launch of nine programmes for China-Africa cooperation. In August, 2023, President Xi proposed that China will launch the Initiative on Supporting Africas Industrialisation, the Plan for China Supporting Africas Agricultural Modernisation and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development. As President Tinubu proposed Renewed Hope Initiative, I am responding to build the Renewed Tie: Thought/ Investment/ Endeavour between our two governments, enterprises and peoples, to sow Renewed Seed: Security/ Education/ Economy/ Dedication, and to fulfill the Renewed GDP: Growth/ Development/ Progress, so as to further promote our cooperation. President Tinubu put forward the 8-Point Agenda. China is ready to work with Nigeria to develop greater synergy in our two countries development strategies, so as to deliver win-win outcomes and achieve development for both sides.

In the Chinese Lunar Calendar, we will soon usher in the Dragon Year of 2024. The dragon is a symbol of auspiciousness, wisdom and strength in traditional Chinese culture. This year, China will host the meeting of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where China and Africa may come together again and draw up new plans for development. China will continue to follow the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and pursuing the greater good and shared interests when developing relations with African countries. China will always be Nigerias partner of mutual respect, equality and sincere cooperation, and will continue to work with Nigerian friends to build an even closer China-Nigeria community with a shared future in the new era.

His Excellency CUI Jianchun is the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 17. Special Representative of Uzbekistan's President on Foreign Policy Abdulaziz Kamilov and President of the European Council Charles Michel confirmed mutual readiness to further promote bilateral ties in all areas of common interest, Trend reports.

Abdulaziz Kamilov and Charles Michel held a meeting in Brussels.

The parties exchanged views on topical international and regional matters.

They discussed topics of further development of relations between Uzbekistan and European countries in political, trade and economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

European Council President Charles Michel praised Uzbekistan's constructive policy in Central Asia.

Earlier, Uzbekistan and the European Commission expressed interest in signing the agreement on enhanced partnership and cooperation, initialed on July 6, 2022, as soon as possible.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on further promotion of Uzbek-European relations and the development of practical interaction in the regional format.

Meanwhile, the EU plans to allocate 76 million euros to Uzbekistan for the first four years (2021-2024) of its 7-year Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021-2027. Additional funds are earmarked for human rights support (the tentative allocation is 3.6 million euros for 20212024) and civil society organizations (3.4 million euros for 20212024).
A new Permanent Secretary for the Federal Ministry of Education, Esther Walson-Jack, has sought the support and cooperation of the staff of the ministry, especially the workers union.

Ms Walson-Jack, who was the permanent secretary in the Federal Ministries of Power, Water Resources, and Sanitation, was posted to the education ministry following the retirement of the ministrys immediate past Permanent Secretary, David Adejo.

Mr Adejo, who took over from the incumbent Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echonu, had retired in December.

Ms Walson-Jack was received at the ministry by the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, (DOOPS), Zubairu Abdullahi, and other directors in the ministry.

Remark

In her address, Ms Walson-Jack pledged to commit to regular interaction with union leaders, fostering open communication and collaboration to deliver on the mandate of the ministry.

She said: We aim to transform public service delivery and enhance our nations development trajectory. We can revive the legacy through capacity building, talent management, performance management systems, and innovation, dispelling the myth of poor performance in the public sector.

In her vision outline to transform public service delivery, Ms Walson-Jack noted that one of her significant duties is to provide expertise and an administrative framework to achieve the mandate of the ministry for Nigerians and fulfil its international obligation.

We must work hard in ways consistent with ministerial and government policy directives and handle practical issues and planning with diligence and commitment, she added.

She noted that her administration will establish the performance within the awards system to foster excellence while also adding that outstanding performance will not go unnoticed on the leadership level and management positions.

Hand-over

During his presentation and handing over of documents, Mr Abdullahi pledged his support for Ms Walson-Jack to deliver her competency during her tenure.

He said: We are delighted to have you in our midst and working alongside our two education ministers. We aim to work simultaneously and achieve the target set by Mr President. We believe these documents will help you kickstart your journey into the ministry affairs.

You are taking over 19,480 staff in the ministry with 24 parastatals, 161 polytechnics run by the federal and state government, 113 unity schools, 115 private universities, 54 federal universities, and unions that include ASUU, NASU amongst others.

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The nine former commissioners who resigned from Governor Siminalayi Fubaras cabinet were on Wednesday reconfirmed by the Rivers House of Assembly.

The commissioners had resigned to spite Mr Fubara in the heat of the power tussle between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Their resignation was also to show their loyalty to Mr Wike who wants to control the politics and governance in the oil-rich state, having helped Mr Fubara to become the governor against all the odds.

A controversial peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu between Governor Fubara and Mr Wike had paved the way for the commissioners to be reinstated.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports the former commissioners were requested to take a bow and leave, exempting them from the rigours usually associated with such screening and reconfirmation.

The confirmation was done during plenary held at the temporary chambers of the assembly residential quarters in Port Harcourt.

Those that the house reconfirmed include Zacchaeus Adangor, Jacobson Mbina, Gift Worlu, Inime Chinwenwo-Aguma, and Chukwuemeka Woke.

Others are Chinedu Mmom, George-Kelly Alabo, Isaac Kamalu and Austin Chioma.

Fubaras letter to the assembly

Before the confirmation, the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule (Obio Akpor 1), read a letter dated 11 December 2013 from Governor Fubara which requested the screening and confirmation of the nine nominees.

Responding to the letter, the House Majority Leader, Major Jack (Akuku-Turu 1), moved a motion permitting the nominees to take a bow and leave since they had been previously screened for the same purpose.

The motion was supported by the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana), and also unanimously supported by all the 22 legislators present at the plenary.

Apart from the formal introductions, the nominees were simply asked to take a bow and leave.

The commissioners would make history in Nigeria as the first set of officials to voluntarily resign their appointment to spite a governor, and then force their way back into the same cabinet.

Before now, the power tussle between Governor Fubara and Mr Wike had split the assembly into two factions, with four of the lawmakers expressing loyalty to the governor, and the others to the minister.

About 26 lawmakers who are pro-Wike had their seats declared vacant when they defected from the PDP to the APC just so they could perfect their impeachment plot against Mr Fubara  that was when the four lawmakers loyal to the governor were empowered by a court ruling to take control of the house.

The pro-Wike lawmakers, although still in the APC, got their seats back based on the Abuja peace deal in exchange for them withdrawing the impeachment notice against the governor.

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Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Koroma has been granted permission to seek medical attention in Nigeria.

He was granted permission by a Sierra Leone High Court, according to a BBC report.

Mr Koroma was arrested and charged with treason against his country, misprision of treason, and two counts of harbouring suspects. He was later granted conditional bail including that he could not leave his house except permitted by the Inspector-General of Police.

The Sierra Leone government had previously said the hearing of the case against the former president will resume today 17 January when they would be ready to bring in witnesses.

The permission granted Mr Koroma is coming amid rumours that he had agreed to go on exile in Nigeria if all charges against him were dropped.

According to the BBC, anonymous sources from the United Nations and ECOWAS said the sub-regional bloc (ECOWAS) had brokered a deal for Mr Koroma to go into exile in Nigeria if the charges were dropped.

The BBC also saw a letter saying Mr Koroma had agreed to the deal, which would see him continue to enjoy the perks of a former president even while in Nigeria.

However, Sierra Leones Foreign Minster Timothy Kabba told the BBC the government did not support the proposal, describing it as a unilateral proposition by the president of the ECOWAS Commission.

Mr Koroma was president of the West African country for 11 years until 2018 when current President Julius Bio succeeded him.

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The Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Tuesday, set aside a judgment directing the Human Rights Radio and Television Ltd. to pay a N10 million in damages to Samuel Onaibre over alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, held that the 20 January 2022 judgment delivered by a sister court in Warri, Delta, was obtained by fraud and lack of service of process on the media station as required by law.

Justice Ekwo held that where a party alleged that a judgement was entered in a case in his absence, It means that such judgement was obtained by procedure adopted which deprived the decision or judgement of the character of a legitimate adjudication.

He said the respondents, having not controverted the averments of the applicants, are deemed to have admitted the case of the applicants.

An order is hereby made setting aside the judgement and orders delivered on 20th of January, 2022 by this honourable court, coram Honourable Justice Okon E. Abang in suit number: FHC/WR/CS/92/2019 between Mr. Samuel O. Onaibre v. Human Rights Radio and Television Ltd. & 2 Ors., he declared.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following a judgment entered in favour of Mr Onaibre, the registrar of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, by Justice Okon Abang at the Warri Division of a FHC in 2022, the media house filed another suit at the Abuja division, praying the court to vacate it.

While Human Rights Radio and Television Ltd was the 1st applicant, Ahmed Isah, the CEO of the station, was the 2nd applicant in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1996/2022.

The applicants had sued Samuel Onaibre, the Inspector-General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police, ACP Fergus Manga and DSP Peter Tanda as 1st to 5th respondents respectively.

The applicants, who gave 12 grounds while the judgment should be vacated, averred that a complainant, Blessing Onu, a student of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, sought the assistance of the media house, alleging that her school refused to award her National Diploma Certificate (NDC).

She alleged that the development resulted to her missing the opportunity to proceed to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme despite complying with all the requirements of the institution.

On 25th February, 2019 during live broadcast of Brekete Family Programme at the 1st applicants radio station, he (Isah) intervened in the matter, requested and got the contact of the registrar, the 1st respondent, on record to hear the position of the school! on the matter.

This was after failed efforts to make the school attend to the complaint without bringing it up on air.

He put a call to the 1st respondent to enquire the truth and position of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro which same was answered and the 1st respondent turned uncivil on the phone call, resorted to abusive, humiliating and unprintable name callings against him (Isah).

He was compel to release the official phone number to the public to elicit the assistance of any listener who would like to persuade him (the registrar) to attend to the case of the complainant.

He later realised that some of the listeners sent the 1st respondent (registrar) threatening and abusive messages upon which he lodged a petition against the applicants and the complainant to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Isah, who deposed to the affidavit, said.

He said despite amicable resolution of the matter by the police, and Mr Onaibre promising to withdraw the suit with a notice of discontinuance of the suit served on him, he was surprised to hear about the judgment of the Warri court against him.

In his preliminary objection, Mr Onaibre asked Justice Ekwo to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the applicants originating motion was incompetent and an abuse of court process.

Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, Mr Ekwo held that there are situations where the court is permitted to exercise jurisdiction, to set aside its own judgement or the judgement of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

This includes, where the judgement is entered in default of the defendants appearance or in default of pleadings; where the judgment was obtained by fraud; where the judgement breached the fundamental right of a party; and where the judgement will work Injustice on one of the partes, he said.

(NAN)

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Kidnappers have failed to release their victim, Chibuike Nlemadim, who was kidnapped five months ago despite receiving N12 million as ransom, the family has said.

Chidubem Nlemadim, the victims nephew, told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that Mr Nlemadim, a real estate agent, was kidnapped in August 2023 in Umudagu village, Mbieri, a community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigerias South-east.

The men who kidnapped him were heavily armed. They were dressed in police uniforms. They double-crossed his car, he came out of the car to run and they took him and the car, Chidubem said in a series of posts on his X handle on Sunday.

He said the kidnappers later contacted the family and demanded N12 million as ransom which was paid to the kidnappers.

The last time the kidnappers called (us) three months ago, he (Nlemadim) was crying and begging that his properties be sold off to raise more money for the kidnappers as they were threatening him, he stated.

Family in agony

Chidubem said the kidnap of Mr Nlemadim has left the family devastated, including his wife, who was pregnant at the time.

For three months plus, we have not heard from him or the kidnappers. We dont know if he is still alive or dead, he wrote on the microblogging platform.

He said the victims wife, Chibuzor, has now given birth, but that she is depressed because of the kidnap of her husband.

The newborn baby is about three weeks old now, he said.

Apart from the newborn, the couple has two older daughters.

Police not helping us

Chidubem said the family reported the matter to the police in Imo State immediately after the kidnap, but that they have been unable to help in the matter.

The Imo State Police have been silent for five months. They are doing nothing about it, he said.

He said the family later contracted someone who tracked the car of the victim in Benin, Edo State, Nigerias South-south, and reported it to the police in Imo State, who visited Benin to recover the vehicle from a man who had put it up for sale.

He told PREMIUM TIMES that the police operatives, subsequently, arrested the car seller

They found over N40 million in his (car sellers) account. He said he only sells mostly stolen vehicles and doesnt know about the kidnap. (But) why cant the police track those who brought in the car (to the car seller)? he said.

The car seller has been in police custody for three months. Nothing has changed. No new development.

Police speak

When contacted on Wednesday morning, the police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, told PREMIUM TIMES that the police did not forget the case, but have been investigating the suspect who was arrested in Benin.

I understand the pain of the family, but since a suspect has been arrested, they should allow us time because kidnapping cases are investigated discreetly to enable us to get other suspects at large, Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, said.

The police spokesperson said they were yet to go public about the case in order not to give out information to other fleeing suspects.

I am assuring the family that since we have arrested one suspect, give us time, we are going to get others, he said.

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Modou Ngum, an alleged torture victim, testified before a Swiss court in the crimes against humanity trial of former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko on Tuesday.

Mr Ngum broke down in tears as he told the court he was protesting electoral reforms in 2016 when he was arrested by Gambian police and tortured by National Intelligence Agency (NIA) officials.

In April 2016, a rare protest broke out in Gambia while the countrys former President and 22-year dictator, Yahya Jammeh, was traveling.

The protest was led by a member of the opposition UDPEbrima Solo Sandeng who was allegedly beaten to death in state custody. The event set off a series of protests and the arrest of more than 30 party members, including party leader Ousainu Darboe.

On the first day of protests, Mr Sandeng was arrested with at least 13 peopleincluding Mr Ngum, and taken to NIA, where they were alleged to have been brutally tortured, leading to Mr Sandengs death.

At least five other people involved in the protests have died since 2017. Their relatives attributed their deaths to the torture they endured at the NIA.

Mr Ngum took the Swiss court into the NIA complex, describing the abhorrent conditions, and emotional and physical torture he says were meted out against him and others.

They stripped me naked and took me to a room at the NIA, Mr Ngum, who was 29 years old at the time, said. Mr Ngum told the court that Tamba Masireh, an NIA official found responsible by the High Court in Banjul for the torture of detainees, said they were going to kill him.

The Junglers came. They beat me until I could not hear myself crying. They later threw me on the grass in an open courtyard. That was where I regained consciousness, Mr Ngum said.

Mr Ngum said he was electrocuted on his genitals. The protesters were sentenced to a 3-year jail term, but Mr Ngum and several others could not appear in court for two weeks due to injuries allegedly caused by torture.

They did not want the court to see me in that condition. That was why I was allowed to see a doctor, he said. They told us not to wear our clothes with which we were tortured. They bought us new clothes.

Madi Ceesay, a lawmaker whose son Ebrima Ceesay was tortured and died shortly after, and Fatoumata Sandeng, the daughter of Solo Sandeng, who died in state custody, sat in tears in the courtroom.

Fatoumatta Jawara and Fatoumatta Camara, two torture victims expected to testify before the court, buried their heads in their hands and wiped their tears.

Sonkos responsibility

Mr Sonko served as police chief under ex-President Jammeh from 2005 to 2006. In the latter part of 2006, he was appointed minister of interior, a position he held from November 2006 to February 2012 and from May 2012 to September 2016.

Mr Sonko was arrested in January 2017 in Switzerland where he sought asylum after falling out with Mr Jammeh in 2016. Swiss justice activists TRIAL International presented evidence of Mr Sonkos alleged crimes to Swiss police.

ALSO READ: Witness tells Swiss Court Jammeh enforcer oversaw interrogation and torture

The Swiss Attorney Generals office, along with 10 plaintiffs from Gambia, is accusing Mr Sonko of torture, murder, false imprisonment, rape, and deprivation of liberty, allegedly perpetrated against Gambians during Jammehs rule.

Swiss prosecutors are trying to prove Mr Sonkos responsibility for torture through his participation in various investigation panels as inspector general or for ordering or abetting abuse as interior minister.

Mr Ngum told the court Mr Sonko was on the panel that oversaw his torture at the NIA and at the paramilitary barracks, where they were processed before being taken to the NIA.

The police were under the command of Ousman Sonko, and he was present on the panel. And Sonko was there when I was asking for water to drink. It was refused, said Mr Ngum. He also accused Mr Sonko and the jailed former head of the NIA, Yankuba Badgie, of ordering his transfer from police custody to the NIA, where he and others were tortured.

Mr Badgie and four former members of the NIA implicated in the torture of the protesters and the killing of Mr Sandeng were sentenced to death by a High Court in Banjul in July 2022.

Mr Sonko denies all wrongdoing. He faces a 20-year prison sentence, including the six years already served, if convicted.

The trial continues Wednesday.

This was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.

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Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has dissolved the State Executive Council, following the commencement of his second tenure in office on Monday.

Addressing members of the cabinet at the Government House in Owerri on Tuesday, the governor, who said the dissolution was with immediate effect, explained that his decision was in tandem with the Nigerian Constitution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those affected by the dissolution include all commissioners, special advisers and senior special assistants.

Governor Uzodinma also announced the removal of all the sole administrators of the 27 local government areas of the state.

The governor commended the outgone cabinet members and the former local administrators for their support and contribution towards his reelection on 11 November 2023 and his subsequent inauguration for a second term.

He said it was because of their support that his administration commenced the dredging of Orashi River, rehabilitation of public schools, establishment of a digital economy and the completion of road projects, among other projects.

This second tenure will offer us the needed opportunity to consolidate on the solid foundation put in place.

I want to remind you that whether you will be directly involved in the new dispensation or tangentially involved, wherever you are, you will be proud to have been part of this government, he said.

He promised to ensure a symbiotic relationship with them in the second tenure, saying We have become a family  politically, economically or otherwise.

Mr Uzodinma stressed that the war against insecurity would be intensified in his second term.

According to him, The second term in office is for us to leave a legacy and do things that we will be remembered for.

It is for us to really and completely build a new Imo state, he added.

The governor appealed to the former officials to appreciate his limitations as a human by not being able to meet their expectations and promised that he would strive harder in the new dispensation to do better.

He promised he would accommodate in the new cabinet those who distinguished themselves in their service during his first term.

(NAN)

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The Kaduna High Court on Wednesday ordered the EFCC to sell a Toyota Camry 2006 model, Mercedes Benz GLK 2010 model, iPhone XR and iPhone Pro Max to the federal government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Godwin Pascal and Carlos Nathan with internet fraud.

Delivering judgment, Dairus Khobo also sentenced Messrs Pascal and Nathan to two years imprisonment.

Mr Khobo, however, gave the convicts an option of N100,000 fine each.

Earlier, the counsel for EFCC, P. C. Onyeneho, told the court that the convicts belonged to a syndicate of fraudsters operating in Barnawa and environs in Kaduna.

He said that the convicts posed as Katie Geoffery, a female from the U.S. and struck a relationship with one Jimmy Michael.

In view of their plea, the EFCC counsel called a witness and tendered some documents to prove the case.

Items tendered included: Toyota Camry 2006 model, Mercedes Benz GLK 2010 model and iPhone XR and IPhone Pro Max, the defendants statement, consent to search devices form, certificate of compliance and scam documents printed from the defendants Instagram account.

The prosecutor stated that the convicts committed an offence punishable under sections 1(1) and 319 of the Penal Code.

Relying on the documents tendered and the witness testimony, the prosecution prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charge.

Counsel for the defendant, B. J. Francis, did not oppose the prayers by the prosecution, but urged the court to temper justice with mercy. (NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu is presiding over the first meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The meeting taking place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa has in attendance, ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff to the President and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The members of the council are to serve as an advisory body to the president, who serves as its chairman and takes the final decision.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council is expected to deliberate on pressing national issues including environment, security and the promotion of the Renewed Hope Agenda implementation as contained in the 2024 budget.

NAN reports that before the beginning of the FEC meeting, the president swore in Desmond Akawor as Federal Commissioner for the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

Mr Akawor, who was nominated in November 2023, was confirmed by the Senate as a member, representing Rivers State on 12 December 2023.

His confirmation followed the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, recommending him for the appointment.

The new RMAFC federal commissioner was appointed, following the death of the immediate past RMAFC Federal commissioner from Rivers, Asondu Temple, on 1 November 2023.

(NAN)

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Increased crude production by Nigeria and Iraq inspired a boost in the December 2023 production by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the group said.

Oil production from the 12 members of the organisation, OPEC, averaged 26.70 million barrels per day (b/d) in December 2023, higher by 73 thousand barrels per day (tb/d) month-on-month, OPEC said in its Monthly Oil Market Report released Wednesday.

According to secondary sources, total OPEC-12 crude oil production averaged 26.70 mb/d in December 2023, higher by 73 tb/d, (month-on-month), the oil cartel said.

The report also noted that crude oil output production in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran decreased in the same month.

Nigerias crude oil production rose to 1.41 million barrels per day in December, from 1.31 million bpd in November 2023, an OPEC survey, which cites secondary data sources, said.

However, according to the oil cartels direct communication data, Nigerias crude oil production rose to 1.33 million barrels per day in December from 1.25 million in November 2023.

OPEC indicated it gets its crude oil production figures mainly from two sources, either as direct communication by member countries or by information released by secondary energy intelligence platforms.

Nigerias December crude production was 100,000 barrels higher than its November production figure as the country continues to recover from a heavily disrupted crude sector plagued by oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Over the years, crude theft and pipeline vandalism and its negative impact on the countrys economy have been a source of concern to the Nigerian government.

In a bid to curb crude theft, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) launched an application in August 2022 to monitor the incidence of theft and vandalism.

The NNPCL also awarded a multibillion naira pipeline surveillance procurement to a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, Government Ekpemupolo.

The Nigerian government had in October last year announced it would target 2 million barrels per day (bdp) of crude oil production by the end of the year.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 17. Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov held a meeting with Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas yesterday, who arrived in Uzbekistan as head of the EU delegation, Trend reports.

"Glad to meet the Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas today at the MFA. We discussed boosting economic diplomacy, collaborating on sustainable development, facilitating people-to-people ties, as well as joint agenda for 2024 at Uzbekistan-EU and Central Asia-EU formats," Bakhtiyor Saidov wrote on social media.

Margaritis Schinas held meetings with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, and Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov.

He is also visiting other countries in the region on the eve of the Europe-Central Asia Investors Forum, which will be held in Brussels on January 29-30.

Meanwhile, special representative of Uzbekistan's President on Foreign Policy Abdulaziz Kamilov and President of the European Council Charles Michel held a meeting in Brussels.

The sides exchanged views on topical international and regional matters and confirmed mutual readiness to further advance bilateral ties in all areas of common interest.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the devastating explosion that occurred on Tuesday night in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The explosion killed two persons and wounded about 80 others. It also destroyed several buildings, vehicles, and other properties.

It is worrisome that the cause of the blast is being attributed to the activities of illegal miners. Those behind the inexcusable and reckless behaviour that has created the conditions for the sad incident to occur must be fished out and punished, the president said.

President Tinubu commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State and called on all concerned agencies of government to unravel the circumstances that led to the tragedy with alacrity.

The president directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to work with the Oyo State Government to offer immediate and comprehensive relief to the victims.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

January 17, 2024

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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has set up a committee to review the laws guiding the control of explosives in the country.

This was done to determine possible violations by alleged illegal miners in Ibadan, which resulted in Tuesdays deadly explosion.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the council, presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, expressed worry about the incident and noted the need to avert a recurrence in the future.

Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, told journalists at the end of the resumed council meeting that despite preliminary investigations suggesting that explosives stored by illegal miners might be the cause of the explosion, there was also suspicion in some quarters that a gas explosion might be the cause.

He noted that federal agents were on the ground at the scene of the incident to ascertain the cause and how to prevent future occurrences.

Our team is there trying to find out what the cause is. But in trying to be proactive, the Council has set up a committee to look into how the control of explosives law was broken, if indeed there were explosives around where this incident happened.

So, wherever the chain is broken, the committee would see how it can be fixed, and gather more information if this is happening rampantly around the country, Mr Abubakar said.

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Gunmen, on Monday, shot dead a female vigilante, Blessing Onana, and injured others during an attack on the office of Ngboejeogu Central Security, Ngbo Court in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The Chairperson of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Odono Onwe, confirmed the incident in a statement he issued in Abakaliki and made available to reporters on Wednesday.

Mr Onwe, who described the incident as cruel, said the hoodlums destroyed some property and stole a motorcycle in the area.

We are saddened over the cruel and bloody invasion of the Office of Ngboejeogu Central Security at Ngbo Court by faceless gunmen.

Severally, our security men have been battered, humiliated, abused and murdered gruesomely.

This demoralises the frantic efforts of our vigilantes in safeguarding our localities.

Sorrowfully, we mourn and console the families of the departed security personnel who lost her life in active service, he said.

The council chairperson said the incident had been reported to the police, and that the perpetrators would be arrested and brought to book.

READ ALSO: Three die in Ebonyi road accident

Our resolve to achieve peace in Ohaukwu Local Government Area can never be undermined by anybody.

We urge our people to be vigilant in their environment and report any illegal movement to the nearest police station.

Ohaukwu is the land of God and such calamity shall never befall us again, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) could not reach the police for their comment on the incident.

(NAN)

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The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, has expressed sadness over the explosion that rocked some parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday night.

The exact cause of the explosion, which has claimed three lives so far with several others injured, is yet unknown.

Oyo State Government and Emergency Response Agencies of both the state and federal governments have promised to help victims recover as much as possible.

In a statement he personally signed and made available to the media on Wednesday, Mr Alake said he was saddened by the news of the explosion.

According to the minister, the tragic incident had devastating effects on lives and property.

I offer my condolences over lost lives on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals to Governor Seyi Makinde and the good people of Oyo State.

I also extend my sympathy to the wounded and other victims who suffered one loss or the other, especially residents whose houses were destroyed. I pray the Almighty God to comfort the families of the deceased and grant succour to those who lost valuables as they begin to rebuild, Mr Alake said.

The minister said he had directed the ministrys mine officers who are already on site in Ibadan to join ongoing investigations to find out the immediate and remote cause of the explosion.

We have ordered a detailed investigation and our officers will work and collaborate with Oyo State Government to know the actual cause, he said.

If the explosion was caused by mining explosives devices as earlier reported, Mr Alake said the ministry would double its effort to tighten the noose around those acquiring explosives and storing them illegally.

He commended Governor Seyi Makinde for the rapid mobilisation of emergency response efforts, including the deployment of fire service, police and other security agencies.

The minister urged members of the public to always be safety conscious and report persons or organisations endangering public health and security.

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A former governor of Kebbi State, Adamu Aliero, on Tuesday, said the continued closure of Nigerian borders with Niger Republic is causing enormous hardship for northern Nigerians.

Mr Aliero, who represents Kebbi Central District in the Senate, spoke to Arise News in its Morning Show programme as monitored by PREMIUM TIMES.

Nigeria had in August shut its borders with the French-speaking country after its soldiers overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in a palace coup. Nigeria also cuts electricity supply to the country.

Residents of border communities and traders have bemoaned the implications of the border closure in several instances.

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.

Enormous hardship

Mr Aliero said the federal government should consider the interest of its citizens while making decisions.

The foreign policy of any state or country should be a reflection of its domestic policy. Our domestic policy is to take care of the interests and welfare of Nigerians. The closure of borders has caused enormous hardship in Nigeria. Not only in Kano. It has affected people in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, and even Kaduna, Yobe and Borno states.

Legislators from these states have called on the government to open the border without any delay because it has caused a lot of economic distortions in these states. It has pushed a number of people into serious poverty, it has pushed a number of people into serious unemployment. It has caused serious friction between Niger and Nigeria. Niger and Nigeria have been strong allies from time immemorial and these two countries are inseparable, the senator said.

He said Nigeria and Niger have same people, same religion, same culture before the incursion of the colonial masters into Africa.

We dont see any sense in enforcing this ECOWAS ban on trade between Nigeria and Niger. The closure of the border is unwarranted, and unnecessary and is causing a lot of hardship to our people. If you go to the border, youll see close to one thousand truckloads of various goods prevented from coming into Nigeria while some of them were not even from Niger but Mali, Burkina Faso. Businessmen are made to suffer a lot, he said.

Mr Aliero, a retired Nigeria Customs Service officer, said by cutting off the electricity supply to Niger, the federal government has also breached a mutual relationship supported by an international agreement.

He said there was an understanding between the two countries for Nigeria to build the Kainji Dam along the River Niger, the neighbouring country should allow the free flow of water by not constructing another dam while Nigeria should provide electricity supply to the Niger Republic in return.

The border closure has been widely criticised especially in the northern part of the country as people in the far north see Niger Republic as a brother country.

In October last year, a member of the House of Representatives from Kano State, Aliyu Madaki, in a motion, called for the reopening of the border. He said the closure had inflicted hardship on large markets.

In December last year, the Association of Freight Forwarding Practitioners of Nigeria said businesses in the borders recorded a N13 billion loss every week due to the closure.

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The Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) announced Monday it is resuming its rights of management of the federal governments 40 per cent shareholding in the countrys eleven electricity distribution companies (DisCos).

A statement on Monday, signed by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of MOFI, Armstrong Takang, said it is taking significant steps to ensure that these assets deliver full value to the country.

The statement explained that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, had issued an order to the board of directors of MOFI to terminate the Power of Attorney (POA) granted by MOFI to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in 2012.

It said the authorisation also allows the MOFI director to assume ownership, control and management of all outstanding Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) equity in all existing electricity successor companies.

Recently, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, issued an order to the board of directors of MOFI to terminate the Power of Attorney (POA) granted by MOFI to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in 2012.

The directors of MOFI were, also by virtue of the same order, to assume ownership, control and management of all outstanding Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) equity in all existing electricity successor companies, Mr Takang said.

MOFI is a statutory corporation-sole established by the MOFI Act, 1959 (the Act). The legislative intendment of the MOFI Act was and remains that the corporation is constituted as the holder and manager of all assets acquired by way of debt or equity capital from the funds of the FGN.

The assets include the investments in the defunct National Electric Power Authority; which, under the repealed Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005 (EPSRA), evolved into Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc and subsequently unbundled into the various electricity successor companies, including the eleven distribution companies (Discos).

Acting under the public enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation Act) (the NCP Act), 1999, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), a body in which the Minister of Finance is a statutory member and Vice-Chairman, decided in 2011 that the privatisation of the electricity successor companies would be by the sale of shares.

At the time, Nigerian company law did not provide for a single shareholder company hence it was legally impossible for MOFI to be the sole holder of the shareholding of the FGN, he said.

He added that this made it necessary that a second entity hold the shares in addition to MOFI.

In addition, the statement said BPE, as the secretariat of the NCP, was the statutory entity tasked to provide support to MOFI in giving effect to the NCPs decision.

Thus, in 2012, MOFI issued a power of attorney to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) whereby BPE was empowered to carry out the actions necessary to fulfil the NCPs directives and complete the various electricity privatisation (share sale) transactions.

BPE had since then held shares in the Discos on behalf of MOFI. This continued for over 10 years after the sales were completed in 2013, until the recent order by the Honourable Minister of Finance, he said.

Mr Takang explained that in the past 24 months, and particularly since the amendment of the MOFI Act by the Finance Act of 2023, MOFI has been reformed and restructured from a unit in the office of the accountant-general to a full-fledged public sector (FGN) asset management corporation.

This, he said, arose from the recognition that FGN assets across practically all economic sectors nominally valued at very significant sums were largely moribund or grossly underutilized and poorly managed.

Consequently, he said it was determined in 2021 by the then Minister of Finance, amongst other relevant decisions, that MOFI would adopt a new, value-driven strategic direction in aggregating and managing FGN assets.

Particularly, MOFI would be restructured and repositioned as an active asset management corporation, would develop a strategy for creating a national assets register that aggregates and profiles all national assets and investments, would develop and implement policies and regulations that ensure the creation and management of assets from debt-related transactions.

ALSO READ: Electricity company announces power outage in Port Harcourt

Would develop and implement policies and regulations that ensure the creation and management of assets from concession-related transactions; and create a robust pipeline of FG-owned and FG-linked investment opportunities, he added.

He said it was further determined that in line with global best practice, MOFI would take on an expanded and more active role, not to directly take over and run the corporate entities created around these FG assets but rather to work with its co-promoters and co-shareholders to develop and implement corporate policies and practices that ensure that these assets are operated for maximum value.

This revitalised strategy is underpinned by a three-point agenda of establishing and confirming state ownership, professionalising state ownership and strategic resource mobilisation and investment.

The process of reform and restructuring leads to the consolidation and assumption of the ownership rights of MOFIs shareholdings across various asset classes, he said.

He noted that this strengthens the FGs shareholder rights and ensures that entities in which MOFI holds equity stakes fulfil their socio-economic responsibilities and generate substantial financial returns for the FGN.

MOFIs resumption of its rights of management of the FGs 40 per cent shareholding in the eleven electricity distribution companies and the various equity stakes in related energy sector companies is an essential element of this consolidation.

It will drive operating efficiency, and best corporate governance practices and ultimately maximise the value derived from these electricity assets, in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubus economic growth agenda, Mr Takang said.

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The government of the state of New Jersey in the United States has recovered on behalf of Nigeria $8.9 million looted under the cover of phoney arms purchase contracts under the previous President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The transactions were carried out at the height of Nigerias war against terrorism in 2014, according to a statement from the office of the New Jersey Attorney General, Mark Temple, announcing the recovery.

The Royal Court in the state, on 12 January, granted the Attorney Generals request for the forfeiture of the sum of $8.9 million on behalf of Nigeria.

I now intend to negotiate an asset return agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Temple said in the statement released on Monday but seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday.

The statement said the tainted property was deposited into a Jersey bank account by Nigerian companies in 2014.

Details of the companies or their promoters were not given in the statement.

But since 2014, there have been public scandals in Nigeria around the use of funds meant for the purchase of arms to boost Nigerias war against insurgency.

In late 2014, a private jet belonging to then President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ayo Oritsejafor, who was reputed for being close to then President Goodluck Jonathan, was arrested in South Africa with $10 million cash that was said to be meant for the purchase of arms.

Subsequent investigations back in Nigeria had pointed to huge diversions of Nigerian arms funds under the control of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in 2014, the penultimate year before the 2015 general elections.

The funds were meant for the procurement of arms for the fight against the long-drawn war against Boko Haram terrorists primarily domiciled in the North-east region.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged in a series of charges it subsequently filed in court that the ONSA during the President Goodluck Jonathan administration doled out arms funds to government officials and officials of the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the campaigns for Mr Jonathans reelection bid in 2014.

Some of the funds, EFCC alleged, were used for PDPs campaign activities ahead of the 2015 general elections, while others were converted to personal use by the recipients.

Then NSA, Sambo Dasuki, who allegedly superintended over the sharing of the funds, is still undergoing trial over the scam. Other related cases are still pending in court while others have been dismissed for various reasons.

$8.9 million recovery

Speaking of the $8.9 million recovered in New Jersey, the states New Jersey Attorney General, Mark Temple, said, It was more likely than not stolen from the people of Nigeria by high-ranking officials within certain departments of the Nigerian Government in 2014.

The comment buttresses EFCCs earlier findings, which the commission has been struggling to prove in Nigerian courts since 2015.

Illicit payments were disguised as transactions relating to government-sanctioned contracts for the purchase of arms and aviation equipment during incursions by Boko Haram in Nigeria between 2009 and 2015, the statement from the New Jersey Attorney General said.

Pointing to the likelihood of diverting Nigerias arms funds into the then-ruling partys election campaigns in 2015, it said, It is probable that most of the funds meant for legitimate arms procurement were diverted through foreign bank accounts to and from shell companies to family members of the former ruling party and shared amongst its members during the 2015 general elections in Nigeria and that the tainted property, in this case, was to be used for the purposes of such an illicit transaction.

According to the statement, the tainted property was transferred to Jersey as part of a corrupt scheme in operation at the time, which used third-party contractors to siphon off government funds for the personal benefit of Nigerian officials and their associates.

It said the recovery was achieved through a close partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria to recover the tainted property on behalf of the people of Nigeria.

The recovery followed a forfeiture notice filed in the states Royal Court under the states relatively new 2018 law governing civil forfeiture of assets.

The filing was anchored on the investigations carried out by the Economic Crime and Confiscation Unit of the Law Officers Department (ECCU), with support from the Financial Intelligence Unit  Jerse

The New Jersey Attorney General also alluded to working in close partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria to recover the tainted property on behalf of the people of Nigeria.

READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW

On 29 November 2023, His Majestys Attorney General served a forfeiture notice under Article 10 (1) of the Forfeiture of Assets (Civil Proceedings) (Jersey) Law 2018 seeking the forfeiture of approximately US$8.9 million of tainted property deposited into a Jersey bank account by Nigerian companies in 2014. On 12 January 2024, the Royal Court granted the Attorney Generals application to forfeit that property.

The Attorney General successfully demonstrated that the tainted property belonged to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was more likely than not stolen from the people of Nigeria by high-ranking officials within certain departments of the Nigerian Government in 2014. The tainted property was transferred to Jersey as part of a corrupt scheme in operation at the time, which used third party contractors to siphon off government funds for the personal benefit of Nigerian officials and their associates.

Illicit payments were disguised as transactions relating to government sanctioned contracts for the purchase of arms and aviation equipment during incursions by Boko Haram in Nigeria between 2009 and 2015. It is probable that most of the funds meant for legitimate arms procurement were diverted through foreign bank accounts to and from shell companies to family members of the former ruling party and shared amongst its members during the 2015 general elections in Nigeria and that the tainted property in this case was to be used for the purposes of such an illicit transaction.

His Majestys Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, said: The Economic Crime and Confiscation Unit of the Law Officers Department (ECCU), with support from the Financial Intelligence Unit  Jersey, has worked in close partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria to recover the tainted property on behalf of the people of Nigeria. I am also grateful to the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa for its assistance to ECCUs investigation. The Royal Courts order concludes a complex and long-running asset forfeiture investigation by ECCU. This case again demonstrates the effectiveness of the 2018 Forfeiture Law in recovering the proceeds of corruption and restoring that money to victims of crime. I now intend to negotiate an asset return agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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A University of Abuja final-year student, Halima Sagir Mahmud, has been declared missing by her family.

The 21-year-old Halima, who is an Electrical Engineering Student at the university, was last seen shortly after she departed its main campus along Airport Road on Tuesday.

The incident occurred less than 24 hours after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, gave assurances that the FCT Administration was taking steps to address security challenges affecting some sections of the territory.

How it happened

According to her elder sister, Amina, Halima left her parents home at Gwagwalada on Tuesday morning for the UniAbuja Main campus to follow up with her undergraduate project work but has yet to return home.

She was last seen in the morning yesterday as she left for school. She reached out by 3 p.m. saying she was on her way back home (and that) if food was ready. She still didnt get home after five hours, she told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview.

Amina explained that the school campus is about 15-minute drive from their parents home but that her sister ( Halima) has not made it home since she made the call that she was coming home.

She also said her parents went in search of her at the school campus but that there was no trace of her.

She has never stayed out past 6 pm (at worst) and we were very worried due to the situation in Abuja presently, she narrated.

Amina further told this newspaper that they kept calling her phone number upon noticing her late arrival but got no response.

At about 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, while we were persistently calling her number, someone picked up the call and said the owner of this phone is dead, the owner of this phone is dead and started speaking Hausa. When we were asking where are you, where are you, the person hung up and this person refused to pick up our calls, she said.

At some point, Amina narrated, the individual would pick up and then place it on the speaker but was whispering in Hausa language what they did not understand.

ALSO READ: Anambra LP governorship candidate still missing after 845 days

She said she had gone to the Nigerian Police Force headquarters in Abuja to file an official report and that a police officer immediately helped in tracking her (Ms Halima) phone number only to discover that the call was made on Nasarawa road, Kano State.

They (the police) said they would drop a full report by afternoon, she said.

The spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, a Superintendent of police, could not be reached for comment. She did not respond to calls to her mobile phone.

Lingering insecurity

Recently, there has been a spike in insecurity across communities of the Federal Capital Territory and other parts of the country, particularly in the North.

PREMIUM TIMES has reported the growing cases of kidnapping and killings across communities in the country.

In Abuja, the spike in the abduction and killing of residents by bandits, especially in Kuje and Bwari Area Councils, has made many residents flee their homes for safety.

On Tuesday, the FCT minister, who acknowledged the challenges, urged residents not to panic, as the government has taken measures to address the ugly situation.

All of us are aware of the security situation in FCT, particularly in Bwari and some other areas that we have witnessed security challenges, Mr Wike said after a close door meeting with security officials in Abuja.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has interrogated the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, and some members of staff of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs over alleged N585.2 million fraud in the ministry.

An EFCC source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Ms Madein and some other members of staff were invited over an alleged link to the alleged N585.2 million case involving the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.

The source said that the AGF was quizzed by EFCC interrogators for several hours at the anti-graft agencys headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, but was later released.

The source said that Mr Madein was queried over the payment of N585.2 million of government funds from the ministry into the private bank account of a government official.

Ms Madein, according to the source, told interrogators that she did not approve the memo from the minister, Ms Edu, for the payment into a private account.

She was grilled for several hours on Monday over the payment of N585.2 million from the National Social Investment Office (NSIO) account to the UBA account of Bridget Oniyelu, the Accountant of the Grants for Vulnerable Groups under the ministry.

She told the investigators that she didnt approve Edus memo for payment into private accounts.

She was not detained, and was released with no condition after she made her explanation in writing to the investigators during interrogation.

The source said some ministry officials were invited to explain their involvement in the exercise, adding that some were quizzed and released while others were detained depending on the level of their involvement.

I dont know how many of them were released or being detained but some of them were still in custody depending on their involvement, the source said.

A leaked memo had revealed how Ms Edu, in December 2023, allegedly requested Ms Madein to transfer the money from NSIO account to the UBA account of Ms Oniyelu, the accountant of the Grants for Vulnerable Groups under the ministry.

The AGF, however, in a statement, countered the claim by the suspended minister.

She noted that allocations were released to self-accounting MDAs in line with the budget and such MDAs were responsible for the implementation of their projects and payments for such projects.

The minister, who was suspended on 8 January by President Bola Tinubu, was last Tuesday grilled by operatives of the EFCC for more than 10 hours over the alleged fraud in her ministry.

The N585 million was meant for payment of grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Cross River and Ogun states.

Also, Halima Shehu, the embattled Co-ordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, domiciled in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, is also being probed by the EFCC over an alleged N44 billion fraud.

(NAN)

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Editors Note: This story, sourced from another media organisation, is undergoing fresh editorial review. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 17. The volume of mutual trade between Uzbekistan and the EU countries is growing dynamically, increasing by 30 percent last year, Trend reports.

This was discussed during a meeting between President of Uzbekistan and the delegation of the European Union headed by Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas on January 16.

At the beginning of the conversation, the representative of the European Union, sincerely congratulating on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the EU and Uzbekistan, conveyed warm greetings and best wishes to the leader of the state from the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.

The matter of further expansion of the multifaceted partnership with the EU was discussed.

The sides noted with satisfaction the notable intensification of cooperation in recent years. The visit of European Council President Charles Michel to Uzbekistan, two meetings of the heads of Central Asian states and the European Union, and the Samarkand conference on interconnectivity have been successfully held.

A joint road map for deepening ties between the EU and Central Asia is being implemented. Work is underway to organize the first EU-Central Asia summit in Uzbekistan.

Brussels will host a major investor forum in late January aimed at strengthening transport and communications interconnectivity between the two regions.

Large investment projects in high-tech sectors of the economy with the participation of leading European companies are being implemented. The term of EU trade preferences for Uzbekistan has been extended.

The sides also exchanged views on topical regional issues, in particular providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
The Nigerian government on Wednesday announced the approval of N5.1 billion for the funding of 185 successful research proposals for the 2023 Grant Cycle under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) National Research Fund (NRF).

This was contained in a statement by TETFund and signed by the agencys Director of Public Affairs, Abdulmumin Oniyangi.

According to the statement, the approval is in continuation of the governments efforts aimed at boosting research and development for economic and technological development in Nigeria by President Bola Tinubus administration.

Selection

Mr Oniyangi said the approval which was granted by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, followed the report of the TETFund National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee, NRFS&M.

He said the committee recommended the funding of 185 research proposals after a rigorous screening exercise that commenced in March 2023 with the receipt of 4,287 concept notes from prospective applicants.

According to the statement, a total of N3 billion was approved for the Science, Engineering, Technology, and Innovation (SETI) thematic group; the sum of N75 million for Humanities and Social Science (HSS) while Cross Cutting (CC) received N58 million with individual grants ranging between N8 million and over N46 million.

The statement reads in part: Some of the approved research works under the Science, Engineering, Technology, and Innovation (SETI) thematic group include Application of the Hydro-Biogeochemical Framework to Develop a National Rural Water Quality Assurance Plan for Sustainable Water Quality Management in Nigeria; Development and Use of Doubled Haploid Maize Lines for Improved Maize Yield and Tolerance to Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda); Development of an Intelligent Multichamber Evaporative Cooling Preservative System for Post-Harvest Storage of Selected Fruits in Nigeria; and Development of Electric Vehicle With Special Tracking Features, among others.

It also revealed that the projects under the Cross-Cutting thematic group include; the Utilisation of Scrap Tires and Plastic Wastes as Aggregate Conductive Material for Renewable Energy Storage Systems; Development of Appropriate Technology for the Production of Aluminum Alloy Sacrificial Anodes for Applications in Nigerias Oil and Gas Industry; Development of an Economical Low Voltage Programmable Electroporator and Investigation of Pulse Electric Field for Wound Healing and Cancer Treatment; among others.

Approved under Humanities and Social Science are Digital Financial Inclusion, Rural Households Consumption Structure and Well-being in Nigeria; Equity and Inclusion: Creating Access to Library Resources for Students Living with Vision Impairment in e-Learning Environment in Nigerian Universities, and Mitigating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Frontline Nigerian Army Personnel using Stress Inoculation Therapy; and Others, TETFund added.

Background

TETFund noted that the National Research Fund (NRF) Grant was introduced by TETFund to encourage cutting-edge research aimed at exploring research areas relevant to societal needs of Nigeria, such as power and energy, health, security, agriculture, employment, wealth creation, etc., in line with the agencys mandate.

The intervention received additional impetus under the Renewed Hope Agenda as a veritable tool to grow the economy and improve the standards of living of the Nigerian people, the statement said.

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The Labour Party (LP) has fixed the cost of its expression of interest and nomination form for the 21 September off-cycle governorship election in Edo State at N30 Million.

The party disclosed this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the National Working Committee (NWC) at its meeting on Tuesday approved N5 million as the cost of the expression of Interest form and N25 million for the nomination form.

Arising from the meeting of the National Working Committee of the Labour Party held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, under the chairmanship of Barrister Julius Abure, the leadership of the party took far-reaching decisions as regards the guidelines for the conduct of Congress/Primaries to elect candidates for Edo state gubernatorial election. They include:

NWC approved the sale of forms to every interested aspirant from the state who are Nigerians and indigene or resident in the state.

NWC approved that the Fees for Expression of Interest shall be Five Million Naira only (N5,000.000.00) while the Nomination Form shall be Twenty-Five Million Naira only (N25,000.000.00), he said.

Mr Ifoh said the NWC approved the commencement of the sale and submission of forms between 25 January and 11 February,

He added that female aspirants are exempted from paying for expression of interest form only.

There are over 30 aspirants on the platform of the LP in Edo State.

The party got the highest number of votes in the state during the 2023 presidential election with its candidate, Peter Obi, securing 331,163 votes.

President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 144,471 votes while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) garnered 89,585 votes.

The PDP is in power in the state.

Primary election

The committee, according to Mr Ifoh, also approved Indirect Primary election wherein a ward and local government congresses shall hold to elect the flag bearer.

He said the screening of the governorship aspirants will be held on 14 February while the primary election comes up on 22 February and the resolution of disputes or appeals arising from the primaries on 23 February.

He said the NWC appreciated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which carried out its verification duty earlier in the day and for also commending the leadership of the party for complying with INECs rules and regulations.

Vote of Confidence

Mr Ifoh said the committee passed a vote of confidence on the partys National Chairman, Julius Abure.

NWC passed a vote of confidence on its National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure for effectively piloting the affairs of the party and giving it a proper direction.

It noted the milestone the party achieved in the recent general election where it won as many as one governorship, seven Senate, 34 House of Representatives and numerous States House of Assembly seats.

 It regretted that the number depleted after losing some seats through the courts while also hoping to gain more seats in the coming days through rerun elections.

The NWC also pledged its loyalty to the national leader and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi for his commitment to the party despite the electoral robbery witnessed in the country recently, the statement said.

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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on Wednesday, inaugurated a Special Intervention Squad (SIS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to address the increasing rate of crime in the territory.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Mr Egbetokun said the squad was made up of trained, well-equipped and highly mobile police officers.

According to him, the squad possesses the capacity for rapid intervention and effective containment of significant security breaches like those currently threatening the suburb of the FCT.

He said the alarming rise in criminal activities, without equivocation, demanded immediate and resolute action from all.

This initiative is not just born out of necessity, but out of foresight, diligent planning and commitment to enhancing the already robust security architecture of the FCT.

The FCT remains a bastion of safety and an example of efficient urban security management and in our pursuit of excellence, we must proactively address even the slightest signs of potential threats.

We are thus duty-bound to confront all challenges head-on to protect the lives and welfare of our citizens, the IGP said.

He said the squad was envisioned to include a thousand personnel in each state with officers and men from each tactical unit of the force.

He said the squad would be supplemented by a formidable arsenal of operational assets, including sophisticated arms, drones, and vehicles.

These assets, some of which are displayed here, are ready for deployment to counteract the security threats.

This deployment symbolises our unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our people, sending a clear message that criminal elements will find no sanctuary within the FCT, and by extension, Nigeria.

I wish to reiterate here that this operation is more than a mere response; it is a bold strategy aimed at dismantling the criminal networks entrenched in our communities, he said.

He said the squad would also engage in community-oriented policing, a testament to the Nigeria Police philosophy that public safety is a collaborative endeavour.

Mr Egbetokun said working hand-in-hand with community leaders, residents and all stakeholders would fortify the already strong bonds between the Police Force and the communities.

He said the idea was to ensure that every corner of the FCT remained a haven for its inhabitants.

(NAN)

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has lost two personnel to a banditry attack in Kebbi.

Its state commands spokesperson, Abdullahi Isa, disclosed this in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

He said: On a sad note, on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, a group of suspected bandits launched an attack on Immigration Officers at Garin Garba entry point, about 12 Kilometers away from Kangiwa headquarters of Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi.

As a result, two gallant officers lost their lives. They are Isa Nafiu (II) NIS No. 34057 and Garba Haruna Fana (II) NIS No. 17796.

The spokesperson said the third officer escaped unharmed.

He revealed that the two deceased had been buried in Birnin Kebbi according to Islamic Injunction.

May the Almighty Allah in His infinite mercy forgive their shortcomings and grant them Jannatil Firdaus and give their immediate families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, he said.

(NAN)

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Traditional rulers in Anambra State have expressed displeasure with the way Governor Charles Soludos administration is treating the traditional institution in the state.

The traditional rulers, in a letter signed by the chairperson of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Alfred Achebe, said the administration was being disrespectful, with the way it was maltreating and suspending some traditional rulers.

The Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, suspended a traditional ruler for conferring a chieftaincy title on Ifeanyi Ubah, a senator from the state.

The state government had threatened to do the same to other traditional rulers if they did not reverse such recognitions.

Apology to Soludo

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that no fewer than three traditional rulers had bowed to pressure by apologising to Governor Soludo for conferring the chieftaincy title. They have also withdrawn the chieftaincy titles.

The traditional rulers that have apologised include Gerald Mbamalu of Ojoto, Damian Ezeani of Neni, and F.E Ebelendu of Aguluezechuwku.

The chairperson of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Mr Achebe, said Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, the local government affairs commissioner, disrespected the traditional institution by taking unilateral action against traditional rulers and communicating with them through social media.

He condemned the suspension of Damian Ezeani, the traditional ruler of Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area, for conferring chieftaincy title for alleged non-compliance with the Code of Conduct as dehumanising and selective.

Assuming that lgwe of Neni did not strictly comply with the Code of Conduct, would the foregoing factors not be sufficiently extenuating to warrant a far less sanction on him as was meted to some other tiny few that also failed to comply?

The severity of suspension and threat of withdrawal of Certificate of Recognition suggests that there may be other issues with either lgwe of Neni or Distinguished Senator Ubah which are being stealthily ventilated in this circumstance.

Your letter to lgwe Damian Ezeani was copied to the Commissioner of Police and Director of DSS, Anambra State, but not to the chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council.

This act, amongst many others, was seen by the traditional rulers of Anambra State as a measure of the worth of the traditional institution to the present administration.

You publicly visited the sins of an unrecognised self-acclaimed traditional ruler on the entire State traditional institution, to which he does not belong, he said.

Dehumanising and deprecating the traditional institution

Mr Achebe said the traditional institution in Anambra comprised some of the finest sons of the state who achieved sterling academic heights and professional attainments.

He said the commissioners claim that traditional rulers had demonstrated a penchant for trading chieftaincy titles for money was not supported by any evidence, adding that their stool was not sustained by it or a government stipend.

He described the handling of the matter of conferment of honorary chieftaincy titles as the apogee of the progressive dehumanisation and dismantling of the traditional institution of Anambra by the present administration.

The livelihood of the traditional rulers does not depend on selling chieftaincy titles or the N175,000 monthly stipend from the state government, but on their own hard-earned modest personal resources.

By their office, age, attainment and standing in society, they deserve far better respect and dignity, than being publicly bullied and unfairly shamed at every opportunity by people in the State Government.

The Federal and other State Governments hold the traditional institutions in high esteem. What then has gone wrong in Anambra State?

The traditional institution of Anambra feels strongly that the present administration is progressively dehumanising and deprecating the institution against the trend in the rest of the country.

The traditional institution is mindful of the awesomeness of the executive power and authority in our democratic dispensation but prays fervently that such power and authority, which come from God through the governed, should be exercised with due sensitivity and humaneness over the governed, he said.

Mr Achebe said contrary to the impression that the issue of honorary chieftaincy title was on the foremost front burner for the Anambra people, the communities were still faced with many development challenges.

According to him, key community challenges are the lack of basic amenities, including electricity, potable water, healthcare, good access roads, youth unemployment leading to other delinquencies and the inability of the communities to fund their contingents of the Anambra State Vigilante Group.

We also demand respectable stipends from the five of the statutory allocation to the Local Government Councils as is applicable in other States of the Federation, he said.

(NAN)

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Following the massive explosion at Dejo Oyelese street in Bodija, Ibadan, on Tuesday, some of the victims have been counting their losses, with most of them rendered homeless.

Some of them, interviewed on Wednesday by PREMIUM TIMES, described the incident as tragic.

Emmanuel Danladi said he was surprised when the loud noise sounded and the explosion happened. He said he and other people in his compound had to jump a close-by fence before crossing a river to escape from the explosion.

Mr Danladi, who was seen moving away with his box, said the destruction was massive.

We jumped the fence, entered the river at the back and crossed to the other side. We came back when some calm had returned. The destruction is much, everything went down, even the house cracked.

Anything the government wants to do, they should consider supporting us with money. We do not have money, yet we need to pack to another estate for now, he said.

OluwaYomife Olowe said his sister got injured in the explosion, with their building completely destroyed.

Mr Olowe stated that though his sister is currently responding to treatment at the hospital, the level of destruction caused by explosion makes him sad.

He said he and his family will be moving in with a family member till they sort things out, as they do not have a home anymore.

The whole building is destroyed. There is practically nothing again. We cant ascertain anything. We are just waiting for them to finish their investigation, he added.

Mr Olowe called on the government for support, saying that the affected residents could not handle the losses occasioned by the destruction alone.

We dont know where to start from. I dont even want to think about the cost. I couldnt sleep throughout last night. We just need help as much as possible, he said.

Another victim, Rebecca Opakunbi said she was on her way back from the market when she heard the sound of the explosion. She recalled how she was unable to see clearly but managed to get to her house.

I was coming from the market. People were shouting for help. My sister and my brother were inside the house. I could not see but I started running and when I got there, I saw people that were already injured, covered in blood. Our neighbour was rushed to Redeemed hospital, some others were rushed to Modupe hospital, she recalled.

Mrs Opakunbi, who also got treated in a nearby hospital alongside other neighbours, lamented that all their belongings had been destroyed.

There is nothing again, nothing that is useful here again. Everything has gone down, including the cars. Were homeless, but we thank God for life.

Another resident, Solomon Omofegbene, whose parents house got destroyed, blamed the incident on lack of security.

For them to be have been able to bring those kind of things inside a residential area, it shows the security lapses, he said.

Mr Omofegbene, however, expressed joy that his mum, sister and children survived the explosion.

He called on the government to support the residents in fixing the affected buildings.

Taiwo Salami also blamed the incident on lack of adequate security in the country, adding that the incident reflected there was no safety or effective security in the country.

He also bemoaned the fact that all his property were lost.

Everything I have is gone; the whole house, all the vehicles. In fact, every house in this area has to be completely demolished because there are structural defects already. As you can see, there are cracks everywhere. Everything has to be demolished and properly rebuilt, and were talking billions here.

Meanwhile, Bernard Akpa, another resident who witnessed the incident, said the explosion was really heavy. He said he suspected the Malian nationals who live in the area and use heavy equipment on their mining site.

I suspect those miners, the Malians that live here. Some of their equipment are supposed to be kept under a particular temperature that they cannot maintain here. The explosion was heavy, it was more than a bomb. I thought it was a rocket shot from somewhere. Immediately the incident occured, I was thrown off balance in my sitting room, Mr Akpa added.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reassured residents of Abuja and its surroundings that the prevailing security challenges in the territory would be decisively addressed and eradicated in line with President Bola Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda.

Mr Wike conveyed this commitment after a town hall meeting in Bwari, in Bwari Area Council, in response to the escalation of kidnappings and violence in the nations capital.

Mr. President has given me approval to provide everything required to the security agencies. And just like what Etsu-Bwari and Sarkin-Bwari said, it is not by merely talking, we are serious.

Security agencies will not have any reason to say that they are not equipped; we will provide everything required.

I know how big Bwari is, I know that you have boundaries with three states: Niger State, Kaduna State and Nasarawa State. I know because these bandits were chased away from the North-east, so they are making their way here, we will make it hot for them, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the minister convened a top security meeting on Monday to discuss how to tackle the recent surge in criminal activities.

While conveying President Tinubus commitment to prioritising security, Mr Wike declared a shift from business as usual.

He assured residents that the government would spare no effort in ensuring the protection of lives and property.

The minister emphasised a comprehensive approach towards resolving the security challenges by ensuring that security agencies have the necessary resources and support.

Security is one of the key priorities of Mr. Presidents administration. Yesterday, Mr President summoned a high-level security meeting, which includes all the Service Chiefs, the Minister of Defence, and my humble self, because of recent attacks, particularly in Bwari.

Security is one of the key priorities of Mr. Presidents Renewed Hope Agenda and we want to face it squarely.

It is no longer going to be business as usual. Everything has to be done to protect lives and property. Without protection of lives and property, then we have no business in government.

My coming here today is to assure you that we are very serious. All those criminals, bandits, enough is enough. We will do everything in our power to make sure that we will not allow this to happen again, he said.

The Chairman of Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya, highlighted the unique challenges posed by the councils size and difficult terrain.

Mr Gabaya appealed for logistical support, suggesting the provision of vehicles and motorcycles to enhance patrol and surveillance efforts in the 16 districts and over 90 villages and hamlets.

The town hall meeting was attended by a former FCT senator, Philip Aduda, the Sarkin-Bwari, and Etsu-Bwari.

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Osobas unbundling of the contradictory tendencies within what he calls the national liberation movement; the centrality of ethnicity and regionalism in contouring these movements; and the perennial factionalism from the 1930 to the era of decolonisation, became foundational in a context where history writing became fused with history making. At every point in this denouement of nation-making/unmaking, from the 1930s right up to the immediate post-colonial period, the contending social forces and their conflicting economic interests are presented and analysed.

Nigeria, Nationalism, and Writing History, the only published text on Nigerian historiography by a master and his academic son tells a singular story about intellectual erasure and culpability in Nigerian/African historiography. Eight of the sixteen chapters in the book deal with nationalist historians and their work  predominantly the untouchable Brahmins at Ibadan, the only exception being Yusuf Bala Usman, whose contribution is captured under the reductionist rubric of radicalism and neocolonialism. A section titled varieties of history contains four thematic chapters  political history; economic history; social history; and womens history and the reconfiguration of gender. And the last two chapters covered Nigerian historiography within the context of African historiography and fragmented nation and histories.

What is palpably missing in this hurriedly scripted text is the dominance and hegemony of the political economy approach  the conceptual anchor which dethroned the hegemonic Brahmins at Ibadan in their competitive bid to do ethnic history organised around inter-group relations  and the central role of Segun Osoba as its foundational practitioner. The Osoba essays on political economy were written/published within a decade: 1969 to 1978. The three overlapping/interconnected essays: Ideological Trends in the Nigerian National Liberation Movement; The Nigerian Power Elite, 1952-65; and The Deepening Crisis of the Nigerian National Bourgeoisie  lay the foundation for understanding the process of nation-making from the mid-1930s to oil boom in the 1970s and the emergence of a Nigerian national bourgeoisie. These three essays appeared in Ibadan; African Social Studies: A Radical Reader; and Review of African Political Economy. Osobas unbundling of the contradictory tendencies within what he calls the national liberation movement; the centrality of ethnicity and regionalism in contouring these movements; and the perennial factionalism from the 1930 to the era of decolonisation, became foundational in a context where history writing became fused with history making. At every point in this denouement of nation-making/unmaking, from the 1930s right up to the immediate post-colonial period, the contending social forces and their conflicting economic interests are presented and analysed. The inherent dynamism in his approach takes us from different fractions of the party apparachiks to the power elite and subsequently the national bourgeoisie.

Elsewhere in Africa during the same period, notably Dar-es-Salaam, the political economy approach had become the only lens through which African history was produced and appropriated. Walter Rodneys How Europe Underdeveloped Africa and the subsequent Dar debates are the veritable signpost of a vibrant radical leftist tradition in Tanazania. The radical pessimist school that Terence Ranger, a pioneer Africanist and foundational gatekeeper, had predicted in the 1960s had arrived all over the continent.

Those who would later embrace the radical political economy approach in Nigeria, mostly leftists activist who were not historians  Eskor Toyo, Bade Onimode, Claude Ake, Edwin Madunagu and Onwakobi Nnoli  started writing in the late 70s and early 80s after Osoba had laid the groundwork of what would later become the hallmark of radical Nigerian academics and political activists; a mixed bag of doctrinaire Marxists, dependency theorists, and radical economists in the labour movements and universities.

The master and co-author of the only published text on Nigerian historiography, a student of Comrade Osoba, who wrote his dissertation on the political economy of Ibadan must have conveniently forgotten that the turn to political economy was a radical project that once defined African historiography. Its Nigerian iteration and subsequent popularity should be anchored around the teachings and practice of Comrade Segun Osoba.

Reacting to Bill Freunds recently published post-humous memoirs (fifty years after Osobas first essay on political economy appeared), Bob Shenton, an American graduate student who researched capitalism in Northern Nigeria in the 70s, struggled to untangle Freunds claim that he (Shenton) was responsible for his (Fruends) turn to Marxist political economy. In his autobiography, Bill points to his years at Ahmadu Bello (ABU) in Nigeria (1974-78) as being the time when he, as he puts it, came out as a Marxist (Bill Freund, 2021:126). Shentons response speaks to the all-embracing notion of context: it was in large measure Nigeria and ABU in the mid-1970s that were the real culprits.

Indeed, the situation in ABU had changed by the mid-70s and political economy had taken hold in History and Political Science. During Yusuf Bala Usmans tenure as chair of History, almost every PhD dissertation was a political economy of something! It was from ABU and Dar-es-Salaam that Bill Freund acquired the theoretical wherewithal that made it possible for him to write his popularly acclaimed African history text book  The Making of Contemporary Africa. He himself obliquely alluded to that  and, it was sans doute political economy writ large!

The dominance and popularity of the political economy perspective in African history/politics and sociology and development studies sadly hit a dead end by the end of the last century. Mahmood Mamdani, an erstwhile practitioner writes: The popularity of political economy spread like a forest fire in the post-independence African academy precisely because it historicised colonial realities, even if in a narrowly economic way. Beyond historicising colonial thraldom, it inaugurated a way of countering two kinds of anthropological presumptions embedded in various theories of modernisation. The first was that identities in colonised societies were not grounded in historical processes. The second was that the beginning of a history for these societies was precisely colonialism, the point at which they were said to be historically animated by contact with the West. (Mamdani 2001:19).

The master and co-author of the only published text on Nigerian historiography, a student of Comrade Osoba, who wrote his dissertation on the political economy of Ibadan must have conveniently forgotten that the turn to political economy was a radical project that once defined African historiography. Its Nigerian iteration and subsequent popularity should be anchored around the teachings and practice of Comrade Segun Osoba.

Ibrahim Abdullah writes from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.

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President Tinubu has by the actions of the past few weeks demonstrated that all the shenanigans and scandals that his predecessors allowed and turned a blind eye on will not happen under his watch. As far as the banking sector and the entire monetary side of the economy are concerned, the President obviously has a willing ally and competent enforcer in the CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso.

Any further analysis of the extensive damage corruption and abuse of office have done to the health and vitality of Nigeria is a gross waste of time, energy and space. What is more important at this juncture is a study of the approach of the present administration to tackling the cancer of corruption.

Grim Corruption Situation

The United States Department of States 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria observed that there was still massive, widespread and pervasive corruption at all levels of government. It attributed this to a lack of consistent implementation of the relevant laws against corrupt practices in public offices.

Nigeria also had an unimpressive ranking on Transparency International (TI)s annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI), a tool for assessing the prevalence of corruption in countries. The country came 150th among 180 countries in the 2022 ranking released in January 2023. It was an improvement in ranking, even though its score of 24 out of 100 points was the same as it was in the previous year when it was ranked 154th. Prior to the 2021 ranking released in 2022, Nigeria was better placed, occupying the 149th position in the 2020 ranking

Tinubus Manifesto on Corruption

In his election-winning manifesto of 2023, President Tinubu promised to fight corruption by focusing more on preventive measures. Part of his strategy, he said, would be putting in place a system for the effective redistribution of wealth in the country to reduce the temptation to commit corruption.

The President also vowed that his administration would support the existing anti-corruption institutions and also address the underlying issues of corruption in the oil industry.

President Tinubu also said he would streamline the civil service to fight corruption, reduce bureaucracy in government agencies and decrease inefficiency and waste.

Such expenditures will have a low priority in our administration. Bona fide hard-working members of the civil service are to be commended for their public service and shall be protected. However, we will continue the process of weeding out ghost workers, as well as ghost projects and expenditures from the system, the campaign document read in part.

Special Investigation on CBN

Knowing fully well that if corruption and abuse of office in high places are allowed to remain the order of the day, his Renewed Hope agenda would rather remain a wretched mirage, President Tinubu came into office with serious fire in the belly and passion to tackle corruption. He had promised to rely on the already existing institutions to carry out his vision on anti-corruption. While the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) are the lead agencies in the fight against corruption, the banking sector has been the major enabler of all manners of financial crimes in the country. The CBN exists to regulate the banking sector, act as banker of the government and ensure financial stability, in line with its mandate. But before it can play the role the President wants it to play in the entire anti-graft crusade, the apex bank itself and its recent past have to be probed.

The special investigator returned a damning verdict to the President. According to the report, former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, had, among other mouthwatering scandals, allegedly used his proxies to illegally acquire Union Bank and other financial institutions.

The President, therefore, on 28 July, 2023, appointed a special investigator, a former Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Mr Jim Osayande Obazee, and tasked him to head a panel to probe the CBN. The President said this was part of measures meant to fortify Government Business Entities (GBEs).

Weilding the Big Stick

The special investigator returned a damning verdict to the President. According to the report, former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, had, among other mouthwatering scandals, allegedly used his proxies to illegally acquire Union Bank and other financial institutions.

The report further linked the late industrialist, Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua, and Emefiele to the illegal acquisition of Keystone Bank and Polaris Bank.

According to the report, which was submitted to the President on 20 December, 2023, the acquisitions were carried out separately.

The special investigator said that it reached the conclusion, following the failure of the purported shareholders to appear before its panel with the necessary documents to prove that they genuinely acquired the bank. The panel therefore recommended that the Nigerian government should take over the bank from the purported owners.

On the basis of the damning report, the CBN wielded the big stick on Union Bank, Polaris Bank and Keystone Bank, and dissolved their management and boards.

The CBN justified its decision on the basis of grievous infringements of financial laws.

It said the banks infractions vary from regulatory non-compliance, corporate governance failures, disregard for the conditions under which their licences were granted, and involvement in activities that posed a threat to financial stability, among others.

According to a statement by the CBN spokesperson, Hakama Sidi-Ali, the first female CEO of Standard Chartered Bank in Sierra Leone, Yetunde Oni, was appointed as the chief executive officer of Union Bank, while Mannir Ubali Ringim was selected as executive director of the bank.

Hence, the apex bank, in the exercise of its regulatory powers, said the dissolution of the boards became necessary due to the non-compliance of the banks and their respective boards with the provisions of the Financial Institutions Act, 2020.

New Kids on the Block

To replace the sacked CEOs, the CBN immediately appointed new executive directors to oversee the operations of the three banks.

According to a statement by the CBN spokesperson, Hakama Sidi-Ali, the first female CEO of Standard Chartered Bank in Sierra Leone, Yetunde Oni, was appointed as the chief executive officer of Union Bank, while Mannir Ubali Ringim was selected as executive director of the bank.

For Keystone Bank, Hassan Imam was appointed as its chief executive officer, while Chioma Mang got the position of executive director.

Also, the Bank appointed Lawal Mudathir Omokayode Akintola as the chief executive officer of Polaris Bank and Chris Ofikulu as its executive director.

Observers will expect the reign of these new heads to usher in some sanity in those banks and the entire banking sector. Heads of other banks will now get the message that there is a new Sheriff in town who brooks no nonsense. This therefore means that going forward, it will be business unusual.

Last Line

President Tinubu has by the actions of the past few weeks demonstrated that all the shenanigans and scandals that his predecessors allowed and turned a blind eye on will not happen under his watch. As far as the banking sector and the entire monetary side of the economy are concerned, the President obviously has a willing ally and competent enforcer in the CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso.

Abdulrahman Abdulraheem is the author of eNaira Revolution: A Peep into Nigerias Cashless Future.

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Central banks must incorporate climate-related risks and opportunities into macroeconomic and financial policies and develop specific mitigation, adaptation, and transition plans. The global journey to net-zero emissions hinges on the committed involvement of central banks, given their pivotal role in shaping financial systems. A substantial shift in financial policies, investments, and regulations is crucial, with central banks playing a fundamental role in driving necessary changes across the financial sector.

At the recently concluded COP28 in Dubai, the sustainable finance forum, Global Climate Action Through Fostering Sustainable Finance, took the centre stage. Organised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the event brought together global leaders from key international financial institutions to address pressing issues hindering the realisation of climate change goals.

Sustainable finance, defined as the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into financial decision-making, has emerged as a critical factor in achieving economic growth, while minimising negative impacts on the environment and society. The urgency to factor climate change into macroeconomic analysis and funding choices is intensifying, with the effects of climate change becoming more visible and impactful worldwide.

As the Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, aptly noted, If you dont move fast, you will be left behind. Despite the consensus on aligning the banking sector with the goals of the Paris Agreement, fossil fuel financing persists. Major commercial and investment banks globally have committed over $3.8 trillion to the fossil fuel industry, highlighting the need for a fundamental shift in investment strategies.

To fulfil the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Accord, investment redirection away from carbon-intensive activities is imperative. Central banks and regulators, responsible for financial and macroeconomic stability, must address climate-related concerns systematically. The International Monetary Funds Resilience and Sustainability Trust (IMFs RST) stands as one of the mechanisms facilitating financial support for low and vulnerable middle-income countries that are addressing climate change impacts.

Central banks and financial regulators in Africa have been actively implementing policies to support sustainable finance and global climate action. Several African states, including Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, and Senegal, have sustainable banking principles in place that guide banking operations and activities, which are aimed at aiding the green economy. For instance, the Central Bank of Egypt has established an independent department for sustainability and sustainable finance within each bank, binding them to integrate policies and procedures for sustainable finance within their credit and investment policies.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, central banks and financial regulators in Africa still have huge responsibilities to ensure that the future of Africa is preserved. The absence of a clear guideline for distinguishing between funds for adapting to and mitigating climate change has hindered the progress of projects in numerous African countries. This emphasises the importance of central banks taking a more proactive role in addressing climate change issues.

In addition, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has joined the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosure (TNFD) to address climate-related and environmental risks and also support the transition to a sustainable economy. This affiliation underscores the CBNs commitment to fortifying the financial systems resilience and facilitating the mobilisation of financial resources that are crucial for transitioning towards a sustainable economy. The African Union, through the African Development Bank, has endorsed the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Plan, which calls for investments in resilient infrastructure, climate-adaptive agriculture, digitalisation, trade reforms, and a broadening of safety nets. These efforts demonstrate a strong commitment to integrating sustainable finance and its principles, while addressing critical climate-related issues in Africa.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, central banks and financial regulators in Africa still have huge responsibilities to ensure that the future of Africa is preserved. The absence of a clear guideline for distinguishing between funds for adapting to and mitigating climate change has hindered the progress of projects in numerous African countries. This emphasises the importance of central banks taking a more proactive role in addressing climate change issues and ensuring that different funds are utilised for the intended purposes.

Furthermore, most central banks in Africa are devoid of tailored policy responses to support a green economy. These responses should be territorially nuanced and take into account different economic conditions, financial infrastructures, and monetary policy frameworks.

The absence of climate change considerations in monetary policy is a significant oversight of the responsibilities of central banks. This is particularly crucial, as the unpredictability introduced by climate change, both in the short term through extreme weather events and in the long term through a general loss of stability, could undermine the ability of central banks to accurately forecast economic variables. Such a scenario could have severe implications for the broader economy, increasing the likelihood of recessions and financial crises. In Sub-Saharan Africa, for instance, climate change could lead to a reduction in the gross domestic product (GDP) by up to three per cent by 2050. Given that central banks often use GDP as a key indicator when setting policy, this could have significant implications for monetary policy.

Financial regulators must be acutely aware of transition risks by formulating policies that mitigate potential adverse effects. In Africa, central banks can spearhead sustainable finance by aligning policies with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. Collaboration with governments, financial institutions, civil society, and the international community is vital to creating an enabling environment for sustainable finance in Africa.

Central banks and financial regulators play a crucial role in the transition to a low-carbon economy, not only through financial stability measures but also via proactive monetary policy actions. Developing monetary operations with green elements, adopting climate strategies, and integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into policies are essential steps.

Financial regulators must be acutely aware of transition risks by formulating policies that mitigate potential adverse effects. In Africa, central banks can spearhead sustainable finance by aligning policies with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. Collaboration with governments, financial institutions, civil society, and the international community is vital to creating an enabling environment for sustainable finance in Africa.

Central banks must incorporate climate-related risks and opportunities into macroeconomic and financial policies and develop specific mitigation, adaptation, and transition plans. The global journey to net-zero emissions hinges on the committed involvement of central banks, given their pivotal role in shaping financial systems. A substantial shift in financial policies, investments, and regulations is crucial, with central banks playing a fundamental role in driving necessary changes across the financial sector. Navigating the financial landscape towards climate concerns encapsulates the critical role of central banks in steering the global financial system towards a sustainable and resilient future. This is a call to action, and the aim is to leave no one behind.

Ebaide Omiunu is a lawyer and development advocate with focus on the UN SDGs.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 17. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed a protocol on introduction of visa-free regime for citizens of Uzbekistan, Trend reports.

The paper was signed by Uzbekistan's Ambassador to the UAE, Abdulaziz Akkulov, and UAE Deputy Foreign Minister, Khalid Abdullah Belhoul.

The document will become effective on February 16, 2024.

According to the document, Uzbek citizens are exempt from visa requirements for the duration of their stay in the UAE (no more than 30 days).

Meanwhile, 104,643 Uzbek residents visited the United Arab Emirates for tourism purposes between January and October 2023.

Furthermore, an agreement was reached between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates to increase the frequency of flights.

According to the information, airlines of both countries can now operate 41 flights per week on various routes, such as Tashkent - Abu Dhabi, Samarkand - Abu Dhabi and others. This agreement is aimed at developing tourism and strengthening ties between Uzbekistan and the UAE.
Two people have been confirmed dead and 77 others injured in the explosion that occurred in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday evening.

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who visited the scene of the explosion, confirmed the casualties.

He also said the explosion occurred at Adeyi Avenue, Bodija, although it was heard and felt in many parts of the city.

Mr Makinde said preliminary investigations by security agencies revealed that the blast was caused by illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija.

Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast. The investigations are ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book, he said.

The governor also disclosed that he directed that the medical bills of all victims of the explosion be covered by the government with a temporary accommodation provided for those whose houses were affected by the explosion.

Many houses were damaged in the explosion, some several kilometers from where the explosion occurred.

We visited the scene of the explosion which occurred at about 7.44 pm yesterday, 16 January 2024 in Bodija, Ibadan. This unfortunate incident resulted in death and injury to residents in the vicinity and also affected properties, Mr Makinde said late on Tuesday. We have already deployed first responders and all relevant agencies within Oyo State to carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations. These operations will continue throughout the night.

Earth moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident. The wounded and injured are being treated and moved to public and private hospitals within Ibadan. Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured. We have visited UCH to see some of those injured during the incident.

In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged and two fatalities. May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

I have directed that the medical bills of all victims be covered by the government. We will also be providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected and ensuring that they are supported to rebuild their lives.

The Oyo governor urged residents to call 615 for any emergencies they may be experiencing at this time and to remain calm and stay away from the immediate scene of the incident to allow rescue operations to be carried out without interference.

We are grateful to the first responders, security personnel and all those who are at the scene to assist with the rescue operations as well as the medical personnel taking care of the injured.Please say a prayer for those who have been affected by this disaster as we continue with the rescue operations, he said.

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In the wake of the lathi-charge incident involving ABVP officials at Mohanlal Sukhadia University (MLSU), BJP MLA Tarachand Jain has complained to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Governor Kalraj Mishra.

Jain alleges that VC Sunita is exhibiting dictatorship, referring to the brutal beating of ABVP officials in connection with the demand for student rights. According to the MLA, the ABVP officials were ruthlessly beaten with lathis, and the Pratap Nagar police arrested eight individuals involved. He has sent a complaint to the Chief Minister, expressing concern that such incidents should not recur in the future.

On the other hand, there has been no statement from the VC regarding the matter, although she had previously defended herself against allegations of slapping a student, claiming she did so in self-defense.

Here is the complete incident:

ABVP officials went to hand over a memorandum to VC Sunita Mishra, who was present at a symposium at that time. The students alleged that the VC refused to accept their memorandum. Without taking the memorandum, the VC sat in her car and left the venue. Subsequently, Pratapnagar Thana police arrived at the scene, and a lathi charge against the students commenced. During this action, many students were injured.

Source :
- Local and state partners join together to bust another barrier to home care through immersive on-the-job language training -

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- San Francisco-based Homebridge - California's only nonprofit dedicated to providing both direct in-home supportive services and workforce training to home care providers - has received a two-year, $5 million grant to develop an immersive, on-the-job English language training program for 150 new in-home care providers in San Francisco. The vocational English as a Second Language Home Care Immersion Training Program funded by the California Workforce Development Board, will provide paid Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) home care training with ongoing language support to strong job candidates whose native language is other than English.

"With this program, we are removing yet another barrier to employment that will be a great benefit to future home care professionals and to recipients of care," said Mark Burns, Executive Director of Homebridge. "This grant is especially timely as the need for a multilingual caregiver workforce is rapidly growing in California, especially with the recent expansion of IHSS eligibility."

The first training cohort of the Homebridge VESL program will begin in July 2024 in collaboration with community partners who will help identify and link the program to qualified candidates who would otherwise not be eligible for the job due to language barriers. This unique collaboration will include: SEIU Local 2015 , Mission Economic Development Agency , Lao Family Community Foundation and Street Level Health Project .

"The VESL program will not only open doors to jobs for many qualified people, it will also improve the quality of care for our clients with better communication, cross-cultural understanding, and ongoing skills development,"said Yan Zhen Guo, home care provider and SEIU Local 2015 member.

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies , an international leader in the field of language training, will develop the curriculum based on vocabulary and language skills specifically needed for the home care setting. "We train professionals to hone their language skills so they can make meaningful contributions in the world, advancing peace and understanding. We're excited to leverage that expertise to help expand California's home care workforce," said Alicia Brent, Senior Director of Executive and Custom Programs for the Institute.

Program participants are hired as full-time SEIU-represented employees with a starting wage of $22 per hour, full medical, dental and vision benefits, paid time off and SEIU pension. The 12-week training program begins with two weeks of intensive classroom-based language instruction followed by 10 weeks of a combination of classroom instruction and the opportunity to shadow another Homebridge Home Care Professional while practicing their language skills with clients and other Home Care Professionals. As part of the grant, Homebridge is also developing a 7-day-a-week translation center that will offer real-time phone-based translation support to any Home Care Professional who needs help communicating with clients who speak another language.

Following successful completion of the program, participants remain Homebridge employees with the ability to participate in Homebridge's robust career ladder program, with opportunities to move up to $26 an hour in their second year of employment. This career advancement program is funded through an ongoing partnership with the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

Homebridge has had a longstanding commitment to supporting its linguistically diverse workforce, which represents more than 30 different languages. Past programs provided traditional language courses for employees with limited English, but did not have specific home care language training tied to on-the-job language and skill development. The $5 million two-year contract from the California Workforce Development Board provides a more immersive training experience that will be integrated into staffing recruitment, onboarding, and employee ongoing support for new hires.

Homebridge applied for the Workforce Development grant after Homebridge Homecare Professionals expressed a strong desire for a VESL program that would allow qualified workers without English language skills to gain employment and to support better care with stronger verbal and emotional connections among current bi-lingual Homecare Professionals. "This grant is a game changer when it comes to addressing the direct-care worker shortage," said Kayt Norris, Senior Director of Growth and Innovation at Homebridge. "It will open the door for many more caring individuals in the San Francisco region to join the home care workforce."

About Homebridge : Homebridge is a San Francisco based organization dedicated to quality in-home supportive services provided by a skilled and supported workforce. The Homebridge client-centered model of care is tailored to provide innovative at-home and community based care for individuals with complex health, behavioral, and social needs. Homebridge provides personal and intensive home care services and training that bridge the gap between healthcare and social services delivery.

About San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development

About SEIU Local 2015

About Lao Family Community Foundation

About The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey .

About Mission Economic Development Agency

About Street Level Health Project

CONTACT: Erin Saberi (916) 952-5080/ [email protected]

SOURCE Homebridge
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. It was a big mistake to tear up the nuclear agreement with Iran, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said, as he addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trend reports.

We had Irans nuclear program in a box. And now, we are in a place, where we do not have it. That is deeply unfortunate, he noted.

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, affecting its oil exports and freezing its assets abroad. More than 700 banks, companies, and individuals were also targeted by the sanctions.

In late 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to implement a strategic plan to tackle the sanctions, citing the non-implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran.

According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear deal. As a result, the control mechanism of the IAEA decreased by 2030 percent.
Future Market Insights, Inc. (FMI) predicts a transformative future for healthcare powered by 5G, the next-generation communication technology. This lightning-fast network is revolutionizing communication between patients, doctors, researchers, and all players in the healthcare ecosystem. Explore full report for insights & stakeholder opportunities.

NEWARK, Del., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 5G in Healthcare Market is slated to have a valuation of US$ 85 billion in 2024. In contrast, the value was marked at US$ 62.2 billion in 2023. The progress of the market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 35.7% through 2034. The valuation of the market is forecasted to reach US$ 1,800 billion by 2034.

Request Exclusive Sample Report: 5G Technology in Healthcare Industry Strategic Insights, https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-12783

Healthcare is integrating technology into its workings at an increasing rate. One such technology making its way into healthcare is 5G. With a need for better communication in the medical field, 5G is enabling greater contact between patients, medical professionals, researchers, and other healthcare sector players.

In recent years, doctors are increasingly relying on remote monitoring equipment. With problems related to the number of hospital beds, understaffing, and funding, many doctors are turning to remote devices to monitor patient's health. 5G remote devices ensure the smooth running of information to doctors and efficiency in the reading of vitals.

The importance of research in the healthcare sector is rising as people are getting afflicted with newer diseases. With the need to get medicines on the shelf as quickly as possible, researchers are leveraging 5G to speed up their processes. Enabling better communication, effective management of data, efficient running of hypotheses, and more, researchers are inclined towards 5G usage in their lab work.

"Robotic surgery is turning out to be a revolutionary technique in the healthcare sector. With 5G assisting robots in surgical tasks, robotic surgery is earning a positive reputation. Thus, robotic surgery is one avenue market players can look towards for rapid growth," says Sudip Saha is the managing director and co-founder at Future Market Insights.

Key Takeaways from the 5G in Healthcare Market Report

The 5G in healthcare market is expected to be worth US$ 85 billion in 2024.

in 2024. Hardware is leading the market by component. From 2024 to 2034, hardware is expected to progress at a CAGR of 35.6%.

5G is most commonly used in healthcare for remote monitoring applications. Over the forecast period, remote monitoring devices are expected to register a CAGR of 35.5%.

South Korea is expected to be one of the leading countries in terms of market progress and is expected to rise at a CAGR of 38.3% through 2034.

is expected to be one of the leading countries in terms of market progress and is expected to rise at a CAGR of 38.3% through 2034. Japan and China are other Asian countries with potential for market growth, registering CAGRs of 37.1% and 36.1%, respectively, over the forecast period.

and are other Asian countries with potential for market growth, registering CAGRs of 37.1% and 36.1%, respectively, over the forecast period. The United Kingdom market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 36.3% until 2034.

Competition Analysis of the 5G in Healthcare Market

Collaborations with both healthcare institutions and medical technology producers are being utilized by key players for market growth. Through the means of acquisitions and mergers, 5G companies are stepping into or increasing their foothold in the market. The prominent companies in the market are:

AT&T

Verizon

China Mobile International Limited

Quectel

Telit

Telus

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Cisco System Inc.

Orange

NEC Corporation

Purchase this report now to get key companies with their Revenue Forecast, Volume Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends, and Pricing Analysis.

Recent Developments in the 5G in Healthcare Market

In November 2023 , HelathNet Global made available a 5G-connected ambulance in Kolkata at the Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals.

, HelathNet Global made available a 5G-connected ambulance in at the Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals. In February 2022 , Cisco acquired Accedian, a 5G healthcare solution provider.

5G in Healthcare Market Segmentation:

By Component: Hardware Service

By Application: Remote Patient Monitoring Connected Medical Devices AR/VR Connected Ambulance Asset Tracking

By End Use: Healthcare Providers Healthcare Payers

By Region: North America Latin America Europe South Asia East Asia Oceania Middle East and Africa (MEA)



Request to Access the Detail Research Methodology from here!

About the Author:

Sudip Saha is the managing director and co-founder at Future Market Insights, an award-winning market research and consulting firm. Sudip is committed to shaping the market research industry with credible solutions and constantly makes a buzz in the media with his thought leadership. His vast experience in market research and project management across verticals in APAC, EMEA, and the Americas reflects his growth-oriented approach to clients.

He is a strong believer and proponent of innovation-based solutions, emphasizing customized solutions to meet one client's requirements at a time. His foresightedness and visionary approach recently got him recognized as the 'Global Icon in Business Consulting' at the ET Inspiring Leaders Awards 2022.

Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage in the Technology Domain:

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai and has delivery centers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis helps businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition.

Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

Contact Us

Nandini Singh Sawlani

Future Market Insights Inc.

Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive,

Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA

T: +1-845-579-5705

For Sales Enquiries: [email protected]

Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com

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SOURCE Future Market Insights
Future Market Insights, Inc. (FMI) predicts a bright future for the acrylic resin market, fueled by digitalization, sustainability concerns, and diverse applications. Dive deeper into the intricate dynamics of this burgeoning market and uncover compelling stakeholder opportunities in our comprehensive FMI report.

NEWARK, Del., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Acrylic Resin Market is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 23.3 Billion in 2024, driven by globalization of supply chains. The trend is expected to create new opportunities for the market, leading to a projected CAGR of 5.6% between 2024 and 2034, and reaching a total valuation of approximately US$ 40.0 Billion by 2034.

Request Exclusive Sample Report: Acrylic Resin Industry Strategic Insights, https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-18805

One of the major factors contributing to the growth of the market is the digitalization and industry 4.0. The integration of digital technologies and Industry 4.0 concepts in manufacturing processes can enhance efficiency and quality control in acrylic resin production. Companies adopting smart manufacturing practices may experience improved productivity.

Increasing regulations related to environmental protection and sustainability drive the development of acrylic resins with lower environmental impact. Compliance with regulations such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals, encourages innovation in formulation and production processes.

Acrylic resins are used in coatings for electronic components due to their electrical insulation properties. The expansion of the electronics industry, including the production of consumer electronics and electronic components, can drive demand for acrylic resins.

The growth of 3D printing and additive manufacturing has led to the exploration of acrylic resins as materials for 3D printing. The versatility of acrylics makes them suitable for various 3D printing applications, offering new possibilities for the market.

Acrylic resins are used in resin infusion techniques for manufacturing composite materials. The increasing demand for lightweight and high strength composites in industries like aerospace and automotive creates opportunities for acrylic resin applications.

The incorporation of performance additives to enhance the properties of acrylic resins, such as UV resistance, flame retardancy, and antimicrobial features, is a trend driven by specific industry requirements.

Acrylic Resins Industry Research Report Coverage:

Attribute Details Estimated Market Size in 2024 US$ 23.3 billion Projected Market Valuation in 2034 US$ 40.0 billion Value-based CAGR 2024 to 2034 5.6 % Forecast Period 2024 to 2034 Historical Data Available for 2019 to 2023 Market Analysis Value in US$ billion Key Market Segments Covered Segmentation Analysis of the Acrylic Resin Market  By Type: o Water Based o Solvent Based o Others  By Application: o Paints and Coatings o Adhesives and Sealants o Others  By End User: o Building and Construction o Automotive o Electronics o Packaging o Others  By Region: o North America o Latin America o Western Europe o Eastern Europe o South Asia & Pacific o East Asia o The Middle East & Africa Key Countries Profiled The United States

Canada

Brazil

Mexico

Germany

France

France

Spain Italy

Russia

Poland

Czech Republic

Romania

India

Bangladesh

Australia New Zealand

China

Japan

South Korea

GCC countries

South Africa

Israel

Key Takeaways from the Market Study

Global acrylic resin market was valued at US$ 22 .0 million by 2023-end.

.0 million by 2023-end. From 2019 to 2023, the market demand expanded at a CAGR of 6.2%.

The market in Korea is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.9% through 2034.

By type, the water based segment to account for a CAGR of 5.4% through 2034.

From 2024 to 2034, acrylic resin market is expected to flourish at a CAGR of 5.6%.

By 2034, the market value of acrylic resin is expected to reach US$ 40.0 million .

"The resurgence of DIY trends, particularly in home improvement and crafting, can contribute to increased demand for acrylic based paints, adhesives, and coatings. Manufacturers targeting the consumer market may find opportunities in this trend," says Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.).

Competitive Landscape

Prominent players in the acrylic resin market are:



BASF SE

Sumitomo Chemicals

DSM

The Dow Company

Showa Denko Materials

Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings

Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd.

Arkema

DIC Corporation

Purchase this report now to get key companies with their Revenue Forecast, Volume Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends, and Pricing Analysis.

Recent Developments

In 2023, BASF SE and Avient Corporation revealed a strategic partnership aimed at providing a range of colored grades of Ultrason high performance polymers to the global market.

In 2023, LyondellBasell unveiled a novel recycled resin obtained from discarded maritime plastics. The innovative resin emerged from a collaboration between a prominent German original equipment manufacturer and a plastic mechanical recycler. Named CirculenRecover PPC TRC 2179N, this PP copolymer recyclate represents a groundbreaking development, specifically designed for injection molding in automotive applications, a pioneering achievement within the industry.

In the same year, SABIC unveiled a novel ULTEM resin grade designed to assist designers in enhancing the style and aesthetics of components in consumer electronics. According to the company, this polyetherimide material not only reduces costs by approximately 25% compared to metal but also boasts surface hardness to prevent scratches and a high modulus that helps prevent cracks in PVD layers, thereby enhancing its overall appearance.

More Valuable Insights Available

Future Market Insights offers an unbiased analysis of the global acrylic resin market, providing historical data for 2019 to 2023 and forecast statistics from 2024 to 2034.

To understand opportunities in the acrylic resin market, the market is segmented on the basis of type (water based, solvent based, others), application (paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, others), and end user (building and construction, automotive, electronics, packaging, others), across seven major regions (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South Asia & Pacific, East Asia, and Middle East & Africa (MEA)).

The chemicals and materials team at Future Market Insights offers expert analysis, time efficient research, and strategic recommendations with the objective to provide authentic insights and accurate results to help clients worldwide. With a repertoire of over 100+ reports and 1 Million+ data points, the team has been analyzing the market lucidly in 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides a brief analysis on key trends including competitive landscape, profit margin, and research development efforts.

Request to Access the Detail Research Methodology from here!

About the Author:

Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) has over a decade of experience in market research and business consulting. He has successfully delivered 1500+ client assignments, predominantly in Automotive, Chemicals, Industrial Equipment, Oil & Gas, and Service industries.

His core competency circles around developing research methodology, creating a unique analysis framework, statistical data models for pricing analysis, competition mapping, and market feasibility analysis. His expertise also extends wide and beyond analysis, advising clients on identifying growth potential in established and niche market segments, investment/divestment decisions, and market entry decision-making.

Nikhil holds an MBA degree in Marketing and IT and a Graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Nikhil has authored several publications and quoted in journals like EMS Now, EPR Magazine, and EE Times.

Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage in the Materials and Chemicals Domain:

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, and has delivery centers in the UK, U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and market analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

Contact Us

Nandini Singh Sawlani

Future Market Insights Inc.

Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive,

Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA

T: +1-845-579-5705

For Sales Enquiries: [email protected]

Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com

LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube

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SOURCE Future Market Insights
The global air circuit breaker market is experiencing growth due to several factors such as increasing demand for the air circuit breaker from petrochemical, manufacturing, construction, and automobile industries.

WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, " Air Circuit Breaker Market by Type (Plain Air Circuit Breaker, Air Blast Circuit Breaker, Magnetic Blowout, and Air Chute Circuit Breaker), Voltage (Low Voltage and High Voltage), and Application (Industrial, Commercial, and Residential): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032". According to the report, the global air circuit breaker market attained $1.8 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $3.0 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 5.6% from 2023 to 2032.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/8694

Prime determinants of growth

ACBs are in high demand due to the increased emphasis on renewable energy on a global level and the increased funding of various infrastructure projects. The necessity of dependable circuit protection in the presence of intermittent renewable energy sources and the essential needs of modern commercial, residential, and industrial growth are the factors for the expansion of air circuit breaker market. However, competition from alternative technologies such as vacuum circuit breakers and other solid-state devices, limits the adoption of ACBs. Environmental concerns related to the use of air circuit hibreaker also restrain market growth. Nevertheless, the technological advancements in the manufacturing of ACBs and ageing electrical infrastructure offer lucrative opportunities for growth.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $1.8 billion Market Size in 2032 $3.0 billion CAGR 5.6 % No. of Pages in Report 300 Segments covered Type, Voltage, Application, and Region. Drivers  Increase in demand for renewable energy  Rise in investment in infrastructure  High demand from end-use industries Opportunity  Technological advancements  Aging electrical infrastructure Restraints  Environmental concerns  Competition from alternative technologies Challenge  Cost Sensitivity

Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War on the Air Circuit Breaker Market

Geopolitical tensions disrupt the supply chain for air circuit breakers, impacting manufacturing and distribution. If key suppliers or manufacturers are in a conflict zone or face trade restrictions, it leads to delays and shortages. Wars often lead to volatility in commodity prices, affecting materials such as copper and aluminum used in air circuit breakers. Price fluctuations result in increased manufacturing costs, potentially influencing the pricing of these components.

Geopolitical conflicts create uncertainty in global markets, affecting economic stability. Businesses become more cautious, leading to a slowdown in investments and spending on projects that involve the installation of air circuit breakers. Furthermore, major conflicts disrupt infrastructure projects that involve the installation of electrical systems, including air circuit breakers. Delays or cancellations of projects have a direct impact on the demand for these components.

In times of geopolitical unrest, there is a slowdown in technological advancements and innovations within the air circuit breaker industry. Companies might redirect resources away from research and development, impacting the introduction of new features or improvements.

Geopolitical events lead to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, affecting international trade. Changes in currency values impact on the cost of importing or exporting air circuit breakers, influencing pricing and market dynamics.

The plain air circuit breaker segment is expected to grow faster throughout the forecast period.

By type, the plain air circuit breaker segment accounted for the highest share in 2022, accounting for around two-fifths of the global air circuit breaker market revenue and is likely to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This can be attributed to the fact that the plain air circuit breaker offered efficient electrical circuit protection owing to its dependability and simplicity of use. It is widely used and considered an excellent alternative for various industrial and commercial applications due to its minimal maintenance requirements and cost.

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The low voltage segment is expected to lead the trial by 2032.

By voltage, the low voltage segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more thantwo-thirds of the global air circuit breaker market revenue and is likely to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This can be attributed to the fact that low voltage air circuit breakers are widely used in commercial, industrial, and residential locations. It is a preferred option for a range of electrical distribution applications owing to its adaptability in handling lower voltage requirements. The cost, ease of installation, and compatibility with a broad variety of electrical systems are other factors that contribute to the low voltage segment's dominance.

The industrial segment is expected to grow faster throughout the forecast period.

By application, the industrial segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global air circuit breaker market revenue and is likely to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This can be attributed to the fact that air circuit breakers are essential to protect industrial gear and equipment. They are crucial for ensuring a continuous power supply in industrial settings owing to their robust design, high interrupting capacity, and dependability. Moreover, the dominance of the industrial segment is attributed to the increasing importance of industrial safety standards and the growing need for effective power distribution.

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Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032.

By region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the global air circuit breaker market revenue, and is expected to rule the roost in terms of revenue throughout the forecast timeframe. This is due to the region's fast industrialization and urbanization, especially in developing nations like China and India. The frequent use of air circuit breakers in various applications is driven by rise in energy demand in the region and increased investments in infrastructure projects. The Asia-Pacific region's dominance is also a result of supportive government initiatives and policies for the development of electrical infrastructure.

Players: -

ABB

ALFANAR GROUP

CNC ELECTRIC GROUP CO.,LTD.

EATON

HAVELLS INDIA LTD.

LTD. HITACHI, LTD.

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

SIEMENS

WEG.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global air circuit breaker market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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Low Voltage Circuit Breaker Market: Global Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027

Generator Circuit Breakers Market - Opportunities and Forecasts, 2023 - 2032

DC Circuit Breaker Market: Global Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030

About us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of " Market Research Reports " and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Proactive measures to re-phase growth investments and optimize cost structure to generate long-term financial flexibility and unlock >$750 million of cash flow over the near term

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), a global leader in providing essential elements for mobility, energy, connectivity, and health, today outlined a series of proactive measures underway to re-phase its organic growth investments and optimize its cost structure in response to changing end-market conditions, particularly in the lithium value chain. These actions are designed to unlock cash flow over the near term and generate long-term financial flexibility.

Albemarle expects its 2024 capital expenditures to be in the range of $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion, down from approximately $2.1 billion in 2023. This new level of spending reflects a re-phasing of larger projects in the near term to focus on those that are significantly progressed, near completion and in startup. Decisions made by the company include to:

Commission the Meishan lithium conversion facility, which reached mechanical completion at the end of 2023;

Complete commissioning activities for Trains 1 and 2 at the Kemerton lithium conversion facility and focus construction on Train 3;

Prioritize permitting activities at the Kings Mountain spodumene resource and defer spending at the Richburg mega-flex lithium conversion facility;

Defer investment for the Albemarle Technology Park in North Carolina; and

Limit sustaining capital spending to the most critical health, safety, environmental, and site maintenance projects.

The company is also pursuing actions to optimize its cost structure, reducing costs by approximately $95 million annually, primarily related to sales, general, and administrative expenses, including a reduction in headcount and lower spending on contracted services. Albemarle expects to realize more than $50 million of these cost savings in 2024 and to pursue additional cash management actions primarily related to working capital.

"The actions we are taking allow us to advance near-term growth and preserve future opportunities as we navigate the dynamics of our key end-markets," said Albemarle CEO, Kent Masters. "The long-term fundamentals for our business are strong and we remain committed to operating in a safe and sustainable manner. As a market leader, Albemarle has access to world-class resources and industry-leading technology, along with a suite of organic projects to capture growth."

Related to the actions announced today, Albemarle will record a charge in the first quarter of 2024, primarily associated with severance and related benefit costs, exit and disposal activities, and asset write-downs.

The company will provide further details on its conference call to announce full-year 2023 results at 9:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, February 15, 2024.

About Albemarle

Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) leads the world in transforming essential resources into critical ingredients for mobility, energy, connectivity, and health. We partner to pioneer new ways to move, power, connect and protect with people and planet in mind. A reliable and high-quality global supply of lithium and bromine allow us to deliver advanced solutions for our customers. Learn more about how the people of Albemarle are enabling a more resilient world at albemarle.com and on X (formerly known as Twitter) @AlbemarleCorp.

Albemarle regularly posts information to www.albemarle.com, including notification of events, news, financial performance, investor presentations and webcasts, non-GAAP reconciliations, Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings and other information regarding the company, its businesses and the markets it serves.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements concerning our expectations, anticipations and beliefs regarding the future, which constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which are based on assumptions that we have made as of the date hereof and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, often contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "guidance," "intend," "may," "outlook," "should," "would," and "will". Forward-looking statements may include statements regarding expected: capital expenditure amounts; the timing of the startup of the Meishan, China lithium conversion facility; plans and expectations regarding other projects and activities, cost reductions and accounting charges, and all other information relating to matters that are not historical facts. Factors that could cause Albemarle's actual results to differ materially from the outlook expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include: changes in economic and business conditions; financial and operating performance of customers; timing and magnitude of customer orders; fluctuations in lithium market prices; production volume shortfalls; increased competition; changes in product demand; availability and cost of raw materials and energy; technological change and development; fluctuations in foreign currencies; changes in laws and government regulation; regulatory actions, proceedings, claims or litigation; cyber-security breaches, terrorist attacks, industrial accidents or natural disasters; political unrest; changes in inflation or interest rates; volatility in the debt and equity markets; acquisition and divestiture transactions; timing and success of projects; performance of Albemarle's partners in joint ventures and other projects; changes in credit ratings; and the other factors detailed from time to time in the reports Albemarle files with the SEC, including those described under "Risk Factors" in Albemarle's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are filed with the SEC and available on the investor section of Albemarle's website (investors.albemarle.com) and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Albemarle assumes no obligation to provide any revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.

SOURCE Albemarle Corporation
Strategic Reno, Nevada location enables bicoastal geographic expansion of Pharma Storage and Services capabilities

DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcami Corporation ("Alcami"), a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced today it has completed the acquisition of Pacific Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. ("PPS"), a preferred provider of cGMP pharma storage and services.

"The Pacific Pharmaceutical Services acquisition is part of our highly intentional strategy to supercharge the capabilities of our pharma storage and services business with locations that best serve biotech and pharma clients across the country," commented Bill Humphries, CEO of Alcami. "With its strategic West Coast location, we can better address bicoastal market needs, improve material safe-guarding from natural disasters with multi-location facilities and support multi-center clinical trials. Adding PPS to the Alcami family cements our status as the U.S. CDMO for West Coast projects as we continue to focus on the stability and security that matters most in storage of pre-clinical and clinical materials."

In addition to the acquisition of PPS, Alcami is strategically expanding its central North Carolina pharma storage and service footprint with the opening of a new 65,000 square foot facility co-located near the Research Triangle Park's biotech and pharma hub. Combined with the acquisition, this additional expansion underscores Alcami's focus on its comprehensive pharma storage and services business.

With its hallmark of personalized, responsive customer care, PPS offers key controlled storage and material management solutions (controlled temperature storage from room temperature down to cryo temperatures and material aliquoting) as well as clinical labeling and support for most development lifecycle stages spanning from pre-clinical to early clinical trials. PPS also provides clinical distribution and material management across various conditions. PPS founder Scott Chadwick will continue with the company in the role of General Manager and Site Head.

"I'm proud of the business we built, and look forward to partnering with Alcami. Combining forces enables us to offer clients even more solutions with the same agile, flexible approach that continues to make us successful," Chadwick shared.

PPS' clients will benefit from immediate access to Alcami's comprehensive service offerings ranging from analytical development and testing to full drug product development and manufacturing of both sterile fill-finish and oral solid dose. Similarly, Alcami's extensive client base will have access to PPS' West Coast cGMP pharma storage capacity and support services, ensuring a seamless experience across the Alcami network of laboratory, pharma storage and manufacturing services.

About Alcami:

Alcami is a contract development and manufacturing organization headquartered in North Carolina with over 40 years of experience advancing products through every stage of the development lifecycle. Alcami serves pharmaceutical and biotech companies of all sizes for small molecules and biologics, providing customizable and innovative solutions for analytical development, clinical to commercial sterile and oral solid dose drug product manufacturing, packaging, microbiology, cGMP biostorage, environmental monitoring, and pharmaceutical support services. Alcami's private equity ownership includes GHO Capital, The Vistria Group, and Ampersand Capital Partners. For more information, please visit alcaminow.com.

About Pacific Pharmaceutical Services

Founded in 2010, Pacific Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. is a GMP-certified warehousing provider for pharmaceutical and biotech companies with operations in Reno, Nevada. Key services include cGMP storage (controlled room temperature to cryo storage) and material management. In addition, it offers clinical labeling and distribution for early phase clinical trials. For more information, please visit pacificpharmaservices.com.

SOURCE Alcami Corporation
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Titan CEO and headline sponsor, Wipfli LLP, are pleased to announce Manuel Rosado, President of Spectrum Investment Advisors, as a 2024 Wisconsin Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Wisconsin's Top 100 CEOs & C-level executives. The recipients are recognized as the area's most accomplished business leaders in their industry, who demonstrate exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. Collectively, the 2024 Wisconsin Titan 100 and their companies employ more than 148,000 individuals and generate $76.4 billion dollars in annual revenues. This year's honorees will be published in a limited-edition "Titan 100 book" and profiled exclusively online. They will be honored at the annual awards ceremony and will be given the opportunity to interact and connect multiple times throughout the year.

"The Titan 100 are visionary leaders that inspire the Wisconsin business community. These preeminent leaders have built a distinguished reputation that is unrivaled in their field. We are humbled to recognize the Titan 100 for their efforts to shape the future of the Wisconsin business community" - Jaime Zawmon, President of Titan CEO.

Manuel is responsible for setting direction and overseeing the overall operations of the firm. He has been in the investment management and retirement plan industry since 1999. His servant leadership has led him to be on the Taylor University Board of Trustees as Board Vice Chair, a member of the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), and many other valuable organizations.

"I am honored to be recognized alongside 99 exceptional and inspiring leaders"  Manuel Rosado, President of Spectrum Investment Advisors.

Manuel will be honored at the annual Titan 100 awards celebration on January 18th, 2024 at Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks. This unique cocktail-style awards event will gather 100 Titans of Industry, and their guests, for an evening unlike anything that exists in the Wisconsin business community.

"On behalf of all the partners and associates at Wipfli, we congratulate all the Titan 100 winners. It's an honor to recognize this diverse group of leaders in Wisconsin. We appreciate the lasting impact each leader has made, and continues to make, in building organizations of significance both here in Wisconsin and abroad. Your ingenuity and creativity have set you apart, and the honor of being seen as an industry Titan is richly deserved," - Gina Skibo, Partner at Wipfli.

SOURCE Spectrum Investment Advisors
Company more than doubles funding for its venture capital arm, Aramco Ventures

Decision supports Aramco's long-term strategy through investments in strategic areas of business development

Intention to finance game-changing innovations across a variety of industries

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aramco ("the Company"), one of the world's leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, has allocated an additional $4 billion to its global venture capital arm, Aramco Ventures. It will more than double the capital allotted to Aramco Ventures, increasing its total investment allocation from $3 billion to $7 billion.

It will take Aramco's overall venture capital allocation to $7.5bn, which also includes the $500 million venture capital fund Wa'ed Ventures that focuses on the start-up ecosystem in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The decision reflects the growing significance of Aramco's venture capital program in enabling the development of disruptive new technologies, creating diversification opportunities for Aramco, and paving the way for collaborations with innovative start-ups. In doing so, it aims to help advance the Company's long-term strategy, which includes a focus on new energies, chemicals and transition materials, diversified industrial businesses, and digital technologies.

Ahmad Al Khowaiter, Aramco Executive Vice President of Technology & Innovation, said: "Innovation is key to addressing some of the fundamental challenges facing the world today, including the energy transition. Through Aramco Ventures, we aim to support pioneers with big ambitions, and ultimately help bring their ideas to life. By injecting an additional $4 billion in funding over the next four years, we intend to provide the financial backing required to take game-changing solutions to the next level. This will provide crucial impetus to businesses at various stages of development around the world, while also contributing to Aramco's own long-term objectives."

Prior to the new capital allocation, Aramco Ventures managed three funds. These are a Digital/Industrial Fund, which stood at $500 million, investing in technologies of strategic importance to Aramco; the Prosperity7 Fund with $1 billion, investing in disruptive technology ventures beyond the energy sector; and the Sustainability Fund, which stood at $1.5 billion and invests in start-ups with the potential to support Aramco's ambition to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across its wholly-owned and operated assets by 2050.

Aramco Contact Information

X: @aramco

About Aramco

Aramco is a global integrated energy and chemicals company. We are driven by our core belief that energy is opportunity. From producing approximately one in every eight barrels of the world's oil supply to developing new energy technologies, our global team is dedicated to creating impact in all that we do. We focus on making our resources more dependable, more sustainable and more useful. This helps promote stability and long-term growth around the world. www.aramco.com

About Aramco Ventures

Aramco Ventures is the corporate venturing subsidiary of Aramco, the world's leading fully integrated energy and petrochemical enterprise. Headquartered in Dhahran with offices in North America, Europe and Asia, Aramco Ventures strategic venturing programs invest globally in start-up and high growth companies with technologies of strategic importance to its parent, Aramco, primarily supporting the company's operational decarbonization, new lower-carbon fuels businesses, and digital transformation initiatives. Aramco Ventures also operates Prosperity7, the company's disruptive technologies investment program.

For more information, please visit www.aramcoventures.com.

Disclaimer

The press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements relating to historical or current facts included in the press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give the Company's current expectations and projections relating to its capital expenditures and investments, major projects, upstream and downstream performance, including relative to peers. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "can have," "likely," "should," "could," and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the expected results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including the following factors: international crude oil supply and demand and the price at which it sells crude oil; the impact of pandemics or infectious diseases on business and economic conditions and on supply and demand for crude oil, gas and refined and petrochemical products; competitive pressure; climate change concerns and impacts; weather; cyclicity of gas, oil, refining and petrochemical sectors; terrorism and armed conflict; adverse economic or political developments; operational risks and hazards in the oil and gas, refining and petrochemicals industries; any significant deviation or changes in existing economic and operating conditions that could affect the estimated quantity and value of the Company's proved reserves; losses from risks related to insufficient insurance; the Company's ability to deliver on current and future projects; comparability amongst periods; the Company's ability to realize benefits from recent and future acquisitions, including with respect to SABIC; risks related to operating in several countries; the Company's dependence on its senior management and key personnel; the reliability and security of the Company's IT systems; litigation to which the Company is or may be subject; risks related to oil, gas, environmental, health and safety and other regulations that impact the industries in which the Company operates; risks related to international operations, including sanctions and trade restrictions, anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and other laws and regulations; risks stemming from requirements to obtain, maintain, and renew governmental licenses, permits, and approvals; risks stemming from existing and potential laws, regulations, and other requirements or expectations relating to environmental protection, health and safety laws and regulations, and sale and use of chemicals and plastics; potential changes in equalization compensation received in connection with domestic sales of hydrocarbons; potential impact on tax rates if the Company does not separate its downstream business in a timeframe set by the Government of Saudi Arabia; risks related to Government-directed projects and other Government requirements, including those related to Government-set maximum level of crude oil production and target Maximum Sustainable Capacity (MSC); as well as the importance of the hydrocarbon industry to the Government; political and social instability and unrest and actual or potential armed conflicts in the regions in which the Company operates and other areas; interest and exchange rate fluctuations; risks arising should the Government eliminate or change the pegging of SAR to the U.S. dollar; and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements in this press release, as set forth in the Company's latest periodic reports filed with the Saudi Stock Exchange. For additional information on the potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted please see the Company's latest periodic reports filed with the Saudi Stock Exchange. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future business strategies and the environment in which it will operate in the future. The information contained in the press release, including but not limited to forward-looking statements, applies only as of the date of this press release and is not intended to give any assurances as to future results. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to the press release, including any financial data or forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law or regulation. No person should construe the press release as financial, tax or investment advice. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations announced its new team of 24 professional truck drivers to the 2024-2025 America's Road Team. The drivers will serve as trucking industry ambassadors, traveling the country to spread the message of safe driving, while teaching about the trucking industry and its opportunities.

"This elite group of professionals rose to the top of their field through years of hard work, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to safety that is measured in millions of miles," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "These exceptional individuals embody an essential segment of the American workforce whose contributions are seen and felt by virtually everyone in this country. As these captains now head over the road with a new mission and a vital message to share, we take extreme pride in their achievements and know that our nation will learn many valuable lessons from them and the example they set for our entire industry."

Founded in 1986, America's Road Team is an elite group of professional truck drivers with superior safety records that represents the trucking industry. Captains, with support from their companies, dedicate time each month to attending industry events, speaking at schools or meeting with policymakers on behalf of the trucking industry.

The drivers on this this year's team hail from 14 different states, represent 14 different motor carriers and have a total of 61.6 million accident-free driving miles.

America's Road Team is sponsored by Volvo Trucks. The new Captains will tour the country in ATA's Interstate One Image Truck, a Volvo VNL 760, towing an American flag-emblazoned trailer that contains a state-of-the-art truck driving simulator and mobile classroom.

"Volvo Trucks is honored to continue our sponsorship of America's Road Team and take part in this week's selection of the 2024-2025 Captains," said Volvo Trucks North America President Peter Voorhoeve. "America's Road Team is one of the most visible groups of professional truck drivers in the country, and we believe their hard work and dedication pays dividends for our industry. We thank the Captains for their engagement and passion as ambassadors for this great profession. We congratulate the 2024-2025 America's Road Team Captains and wish them the best of luck as they carry out their mission over the next two years."

ATA held its final round of selections from January 14-16 at ATA Headquarters in Washington. The drivers were judged on their ability to express their knowledge of the industry, their skills in effective communication about safety and transportation and their overall safe-driving record. The panel of judges included trucking executives and trade press.

"America's Road Team Captains embody the professionalism of our industry, helping to promote a positive image by sharing their stories," said ATA Chief Operating Officer Sarah Rajtik. "They are leaders in their communities and role models in their companies. This new class represents everything we strive to promote about our industry and its professionals."

After receiving their signature navy blue America's Road Team blazers, the 2024-2025 Captains will immediately begin their work improving public perception of the trucking industry. Trucking industry professionals can support America's Road Team's mission by following the team's two-year journey on Facebook and Twitter and interacting with the Captains at major industry events, conferences and community visits.

"I'm thrilled to start off 2024 by welcoming these top-tier professional drivers to America's Road Team," said ATA Chairman Andrew Boyle, co-president of Boyle Transportation. "This program is essential to our industry  Captains serve as ambassadors communicating our message of safety, professionalism and opportunity. I wish the new Captains a warm congratulations and thank them for their hard work and dedication to trucking."

The 2024-2025 America's Road Team Captains are:

Ben Atkinson, ABF Freight System Inc., Florida Willie Baylor, FedEx Freight, Indiana Terry Bennett, ABF Freight System Inc., Florida Perry Carter , Cargo Transporters Inc., North Carolina Damon Evans , United Parcel Service, California Dennis Hall , Tyson Foods Inc., Texas David Hedicker, ABF Freight System Inc., Ohio Lloyd Howell, TCW, Alabama John Lemmons, United Parcel Service, Tennessee Rodney McNew, Groendyke Transport Inc., Texas Michael Middleton, Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., Tennessee Peter Palczynski, Walmart Transportation, Illinois Emily Plummer, Prime Inc., Missouri Wayne Ponschke, United Parcel Service, California Scott Post, FedEx Ground  Spartan Logistics, Minnesota John Antoine Sadler, Walmart Transportation, North Carolina Brian Sheehan, CRST The Transportation Solution Inc., Indiana Molly Shultz, TransLand, Missouri Anthony Tirone, Walmart Transportation, Florida Chevelle Walker , Werner Enterprises, Florida Bernard Wanyo, United Parcel Service, Pennsylvania Michael Whitehead, FedEx Freight, South Dakota James "Gragg" Wilson, United Parcel Service, Nevada David Young, FedEx Freight, North Carolina

To learn more about the 2024-2025 America's Road Team, visit the official America's Road Team webpage.

America's Road Team, sponsored by Volvo Trucks, is a national public outreach program led by a small group of professional truck drivers who share superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward

SOURCE American Trucking Associations
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BankingON , the leading provider of award-winning digital banking solutions, today announced it raised its Series A funding round led by Eagle Venture Fund to launch Boucoup , a family finance mobile banking and interactive learning platform for credit unions.

With Boucoup, credit unions can offer more than simply youth checking/savings, they can empower parents to model and teach essential money skills to their children through convenient tools like instant allowances and chore-based rewards. With Boucoup, teenagers can safely experience financial products, so they are better prepared for adult life.

Boucoup's mission is to increase money skills and peace of mind for the next generation. Post this

BankingON believes credit unions should never outsource their brand and members to fintechs, so they built a platform that uses the credit union's existing core banking system and existing branded debit card. Boucoup offers an intuitive graduation feature that allows members to transition seamlessly into the credit union's 'adult' checking/savings.

"Boucoup's mission is to increase money skills and peace of mind for the next generation. By partnering with credit unions, we're building a powerful force for financial literacy," said Alexey Krasnoriadtsev, co-founder and CEO of BankingON. "We're not just providing software tools; we're fostering a community where parents and teens have the information and interactions they need in their financial learning journey. This partnership is a win-win, ensuring credit unions grow their member base while helping teens develop habits that will serve them well as they become adults."

"As Millennials become parents and the new generations come of age, a significant market opportunity is being created. Parents are looking for tools to teach digital natives about money. We believe that BankingON is uniquely positioned to leverage their trusted track record of proven products to provide a comprehensive banking and educational solution for credit unions, enabling them to attract and retain this emerging demographic," said Wade Myers, General Partner of Eagle Venture Fund.

About BankingON

BankingON is an Austin-based CUSO of B2B2C digital banking solutions committed to empowering Credit Unions to help parents raise money-smart children. Boucoup, its family finance platform, helps CUs offer a valuable, free, branded digital mobile app for parents and teens. With Boucoup, parents can teach teens essential money skills, including earning, spending, and saving, through a fun and interactive platform. Teen-optimized UI and features include instant allowances, chore-based rewards, flexible spending controls, and real-time transaction notifications, all within one seamless mobile app.

Contact

To learn more about Boucoup, visit us at https://www.boucoup.com/ or send us an email at:

Aaron Villarreal

[email protected]

[email protected]

 2024 Boucoup is a trademark of BankingON, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE BankingON
CLEARWATER, Fla., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BayCare Health System, the region's leading provider of behavioral health services, is launching another innovation to help address West Central Florida's mental health needs: The region's first behavioral health urgent care center.

Tracey Kaly envisions this storage space transformed into a calming place for patients at BayCare's behavioral health urgent care slated to open later this year.

Similar to a typical urgent care center, the behavioral health urgent care center will allow individuals to schedule a same-day appointment or simply walk in and be seen. BayCare's professionals will provide mental health and addiction screening and assessment for each person to provide the appropriate care for all levels of needs.

The concept, more than a year in the planning, was embraced last week by the Pasco County Commission, which awarded BayCare the largest share of its opioid settlement money: $3.7 million over three years. The funds will be used to renovate an existing building in Pasco County for the center and begin operation.

"We know, every day, there are mental health needs in our communities that aren't getting addressed. We also know there can be confusion about how to even start getting help," said Tracey Kaly, director of ambulatory clinical operations for BayCare Behavioral Health, and one of the BayCare leaders who helped design the project.

"An urgent care center for behavioral health will provide a place for individuals to go to access urgent referrals or receive follow-up referrals after an inpatient hospital stay," Kaly said.

The urgent care center will be located next to existing BayCare Behavioral Health buildings on King Helie Blvd. in New Port Richey that house inpatient detoxification and withdrawal management services. The campus also has outpatient offices that provide a comprehensive array of services including medication-assisted treatment, peer specialists and care navigation.

"The urgent care will fill the in-between space," Kaly explained. "It can help individuals who aren't sure what they need. They may need to simply talk with someone. They may have suicidal thoughts. They may need detoxification services. We will help them figure out what they need and immediately connect them to those services."

The Pasco County Commission investment stems from the $8 million settlement money it received from the State of Florida as part of a legal action against opioid manufacturers and distributors. Eight other organizations in Pasco County also received funds for programs to help address needs arising from opioid use.

"Pasco County continues to have opioid overdose numbers that are higher than the state average. We believe this new level of care will help fight this epidemic," Kaly said.

Kaly expects the building to open in December. She and others have been meeting with architects and have renderings of what the building, currently being used by facilities for storage and offices, will soon become. Plans include a welcoming lobby, a comfort room with recliners for people to relax, therapist offices and physician offices.

To ensure the urgent care center is meeting the needs of as many community members as possible, BayCare Behavioral Health will continue to collaborate with its many partners, including the Pasco County Sheriff's Office and the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention.

The funds will be released over three years with the first year going toward construction and the next two to meet operational needs. The settlement requires the pharmaceutical distributors to make payments to the state for 18 years. BayCare will continue to evaluate needs and may apply for future funding for this and other projects as needed.

About BayCare Behavioral Health

BayCare is the largest provider of behavioral health services in West Central Florida, including in the Tampa Bay region, with programs that include inpatient services, residential programs, detox, rehabilitation, and outpatient services. With more than 55,000 patients served in 2022, BayCare operates 20 practice locations, 5 community health centers for the uninsured and underinsured, a residential addiction program and a residential child and adolescent program. To better serve needs in the Tampa Bay area, BayCare's psychiatry residency program launched in 2022, and BayCare opened the only combined medical/psychiatric hospital unit in the area at St. Joseph's Hospital-North in 2023.

SOURCE BAYCARE HEALTH SYSTEM
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 18. Iran is the leading funder of terrorism in the region, US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said during a briefing , Trend reports.

He made the remark in response to a question, whether Iran has the right to defend itself.

"We've seen Iran violate the sovereign borders of three of its neighbors in just the past couple of days. On one hand, Iran is the leading funder of terrorism in the region and the primary source of instability. On the other hand, it claims that it needs to take these actions to counter terrorism. So, when you have seen us take action, it has been in Iraq where our forces are at the invitation of the Iraqi government. The only reason our forces are there is that you've seen us take action, which we have done as part of an international coalition, and after a UN Security Council resolution condemning the Houthis for their attacks on commercial shipping," Miller said.

Meanwhile, on January 16, Iranian armed forces attacked two headquarters of the terrorist group "Jaish al-Adl". Drones and missiles were used to hit the headquarters located in Pakistan. As a result, 2 children died and 3 people were injured.
BROOKFIELD, Wis., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Best Version Media has been named a winner of Glassdoor's 16th annual Employees' Choice Awards, honoring the Best Places to Work 2024 . Unlike other workplace awards, the Glassdoor Employees' Choice Awards are based on the input of employees who voluntarily provide anonymous feedback on Glassdoor by completing a company review about their job, work environment and employer over the past year.

Best Version Media has experienced unparalleled growth and success by offering print and digital advertising solutions that connect local businesses to customers. With over 1,200 magazines currently in print, BVM continues to proudly serve local communities by bringing people together with positive, family-friendly content each month. This is the second year in a row BVM has won this prestigious award.

Employees' Choice Award winners for the Best Places to Work 2024 are determined using Glassdoor's proprietary awards algorithm, and each employer's rating is determined based on the quantity, quality and consistency of Glassdoor-approved company reviews submitted by U.S.-based employees between October 18, 2022 and October 16, 2023.

To be considered for the U.S. small and medium company list, a company must have had fewer than 1,000 employees and received at least 30 ratings across each of Glassdoor's nine workplace attributes (overall company rating, career opportunities, compensation and benefits, culture and values, diversity and inclusion, senior management, work-life balance, recommend to a friend and six-month business outlook).

The final list is compiled using Glassdoor's proprietary algorithm, led by its Economic Research Team, and considers quantity, quality and consistency of reviews. Complete awards methodology can be found here .

For the complete list of the Glassdoor Best Places to Work winners in 2024, please visit: gldr.co/BPTWSMB .

About Best Version Media

BVM connects local businesses to customers with innovative print and digital advertising solutions. Visit www.bestversionmedia.com to learn more about what we do.

About Glassdoor

Glassdoor is revolutionizing how people everywhere find jobs and companies they love by providing deeper workplace transparency. Professionals turn to Glassdoor to research ratings, reviews, salaries and more at millions of employers, and to Fishbowl by Glassdoor to engage in candid workplace conversations.

SOURCE Best Version Media, LLC
"Broadway stars are raising their voices in support of people with pulmonary fibrosis," said actress Julie Halston. Post this

Liz Callaway (Grammy nominee for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Tony nominee for Baby , Miss Saigon , Cats )

(Grammy nominee for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Tony nominee for , ) Robert Creighton ( Frozen, Cagney )

( ) Jose Llana ( Here Lies Love , The King and I )

( , ) Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer (Spamalot, Beetlejuice, A Catered Affair)

Benjamin Pajek ( The Music Man, Oliver!, New York City Center's Encores!)

( New York City Center's Encores!) Jasmine Amy Rogers ( BOOP! The Musical, Mean Girls)

( Raena White (Some Like It Hot, Chicago )

Additional cast members will be announced soon. All performances are based on professional availability.

Led by Tony-award winning actress and comedienne Julie Halston (Broadway's Tootsie, Gypsy, You Can't Take It with You, TV's Sex and the City), Broadway Belts for PFF! showcases Broadway's top talent performing their favorite show tunes in a magical and memorable celebration.

"The Broadway community is deeply committed to raising their voices in support of people with pulmonary fibrosis, a devastating illness and growing threat to lung health," said Julie Halston. "We invite everyone to join us for this remarkable event  an unparalleled performance and a meaningful opportunity to contribute to a vital cause."

Gala attendees will enjoy a pre-cocktail reception, three-course seated dinner, show and after party. In addition to the in-person extravaganza at SONY Hall, Broadway Belts for PFF! will stream live to individuals who want to tune in from home. The virtual experience is complimentary but requires reservations. Tickets for the in-person event and livestream are now available at broadwaybeltsforpff.org.

Broadway Belts for PFF!, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation's single-largest fundraiser, has raised over $3 million to drive PF research and to support those living with the disease. Pulmonary fibrosis causes irreversible scarring in the lungs. Fifty-thousand new cases are diagnosed each year.

The 2024 Ralph Howard Legacy Award will be presented to the Hales Family Foundation. The late New York business executive, Thomas Hales, was diagnosed with PF in 2007 and became a passionate supporter of the PF community for more than a decade. His enduring legacy, carried forward by his wife, Alice, and their seven philanthropic children, continues to shape the PFF's trajectory. Thomas was a Board Emeritus member of the PFF and instilled a commitment to the organization in his family. His son, Terence Hales, now a PFF board member, launched the PFF Walk New York City, celebrating its 15th year and raising over $1 million for the cause. The PF community proudly acknowledges the Hales Family's unwavering support, embodying the spirit of the Ralph Howard Legacy Award. Previous honorees include:

2023  Robert Creighton , Actor and Pulmonary Fibrosis Advocate

, Actor and Pulmonary Fibrosis Advocate 2022  Tom Viola , Executive Director, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids

Executive Director, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids 2021  Laurie Chandler , PFF Board member and patient advocate

PFF Board member and patient advocate 2020  Daryl Roth , Tony Award-winning Broadway Producer

"This phenomenal celebration is only possible because of the generosity and devotion of Julie Halston and her dear friends in the Broadway community," said Seth Klein, PFF Chief Development Officer. "We are delighted to offer this star-studded, uplifting experience in person and virtually, extending the profound impact of our mission with as many people as possible."

Broadway Belts for PFF! is directed by Carl Andress (The Confession of Lily Dare, The Divine Sister) with Christopher McGovern (Cagney) as Musical Director. The benefit is produced for the for the fourteenth year by D. Michael Dvorchak, Sue Frost (Memphis, Come From Away), and Julie Halston.

To purchase tickets and for more information about Broadway Belts for PFF!, visit broadwaybeltsforpff.org.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is to accelerate the development of new treatments and ultimately a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Until this goal is achieved, the PFF is committed to advancing improved care of patients with PF and providing unequaled support and education resources for patients, caregivers, family members, and health care providers. The PFF has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is an accredited charity by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance. The Foundation has met all of the requirements of the National Health Council Standards of Excellence Certification Program and has earned the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency. For more information, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733)

Contact: Dorothy Coyle, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 773-332-6201

SOURCE The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
According to a recently published report by Roots Analysis, the increase in chronic diseases has surged the demand for biologics that require cell lines for the evaluation of the efficacy of these biopharmaceutical products, which is anticipated to drive the market.

LONDON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Cell Line Development Market Overview



The global cell line development market is growing rapidly; it is estimated to be worth USD 1.01 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 4.5 billion by 2035. It is anticipated to grow at a higher CAGR of 13.2% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2035.

Cell line development is the most crucial process in the biopharmaceutical industry; it involves in-vitro culturing of stable cell lines that are helpful for the production of biologics and therapeutic proteins. Owing to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases across the globe, biopharmaceutical companies witnessed a surge in the requirement for cell lines. However, cell line development is a tedious and labor-intensive process that involves the isolation of cells, transfection of selected cells, confirmatory analytics, cell line characterization, expansion, and final downstream evaluation. The development of cell lines plays a vital role in several applications, such as the production of monoclonal antibodies, drug screening, recombinant proteins, and the study of genes. Currently, researchers are relying on advanced technologies to improve the cell line development process. The ongoing research and increasing demand for cell lines contributed to the growth of the market in the future.

Download Free PDF Brochure:

https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/cell-line-development-market/request-sample.html

Cell Line Development Market Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 USD 1.01 billion Estimated value by 2035 USD 4.5 billion Growth rate CAGR of 13.2% Forecast Period 2023 to 2035 Segments Covered Distribution, Application of Cell Line, Company Size Geographies Covered (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa and Latin America Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Drivers, Restraints and Trends



Market Drivers

Several drivers propelled the growth of the cell line development market during the forecast period. One of the significant factors is the growing demand for biopharmaceutical products such as monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, and vaccines to treat a broad range of diseases. The ongoing technological advancements to strengthen the cell line development process are the key drivers anticipating growth of the market during the forecast period. Additionally, the increasing research activities in various academic organizations and pharmaceutical companies that require cell lines to conduct basic experiments will contribute towards the growth of the market in the upcoming years.

Market Restraints

Several restraints that hamper the growth of the cell line development market include high initial investment, complex regulatory guidelines, lack of expertise, and challenges regarding reproducibility. Pharmaceutical companies require substantial investment to set up advanced equipment for the isolation, purification, and characterization of cell lines. In addition, the licensing requirement for setting up advanced laboratories to manufacture cell lines may hinder the market growth. Cell line culturing laboratories require regular maintenance and expert technicians that further enhance the overall cost of installation of the development system. Further, achieving consistent results in this field may be challenging, affecting the dependability of experiments and limiting the drug development process.

Growth Factors

The cell line development market witnesses several opportunities that are propelling growth in this field. Examples of promising growth opportunities include the rising demand for personalized medicines and increasing research activities to find advanced drugs to treat chronic diseases. Further, the ongoing collaboration and funding support from several government organizations has also become a primitive growth factor that drives the market in the future. Additionally, the growing requirement of cell lines to study various diseases at the cellular level is likely to support this domain in the future.

Recent Developments in the Cell Line Development Market

It is interesting to note here that several development activities have taken place in the cell line development market; some of these are listed below:

In September 2023 , Lineage Cell Therapeutics, in a strategic relationship with Eterna Therapeutics, announced the initiation of the development of engineered hypoimmune pluripotent cell lines that will be used to treat neurological indications.

, Lineage Cell Therapeutics, in a strategic relationship with Eterna Therapeutics, announced the initiation of the development of engineered hypoimmune pluripotent cell lines that will be used to treat neurological indications. In June 2023 , Matica Bio launched two cell lines, namely MatiMax HEK293 and HEK293T, to strengthen the development of cell and gene therapies; these two cell lines have increased the doubling time, enhanced the production capacity and transfection efficiencies.

, launched two cell lines, namely MatiMax HEK293 and HEK293T, to strengthen the development of cell and gene therapies; these two cell lines have increased the doubling time, enhanced the production capacity and transfection efficiencies. In June 2023 , Curia and MilliporeSingma signed a licensing agreement for the utilization of the latter company's CHOZN GS cell line technology to develop antibodies and therapeutic proteins.

Request Free Sample PDF Copy at:

https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/cell-line-development-market/request-sample.html

Cell Line Development Market Segments

Based on distribution by source of cell lines / expression system, the cell line development market is segmented into mammalian, microbial, insect, and others.

Based on the source of cell lines / expression systems, the market is led by mammalian cells and is expected to capture 74% of the revenue share in 2023.

of the revenue share in 2023. In the long run, mammalian cells will grow at a higher compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% during the forecast period.

Based on the application of cell lines, the cell line development market is segmented into research and development and biomanufacturing.

Based on the application of cell lines, the market is dominated by biomanufacturing, currently holding a significant share ( 88% ) in 2023.

) in 2023. Biomanufacturing segments are likely to drive the market in the future, and it is anticipated to grow at a higher CAGR of 14.5% during 2023-2035

Based on the company size, the cell line development market is segmented into very large, large, mid-sized, and small.

Based on the company size, the cell line development market is led by mid-sized companies, capturing 39% of the overall revenue share in 2023.

of the overall revenue share in 2023. Mid-sized companies are likely to drive the market in the future, and it is anticipated to grow at a higher CAGR of 13.7% during 2023-2035.

Based on the key geographical region, the cell line development market is segmented into North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico), Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Russia, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Rest of Asia-Pacific) and LAMEA (Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Argentina, Rest of LAMEA)

Europe dominates the cell line development market, capturing 32% of the market share in 2023.

dominates the cell line development market, capturing of the market share in 2023. In Europe , the market is anticipated to grow at a higher CAGR of 13.8% during 2023-2035.

Key Companies Profiled

The market report also includes detailed profiles of key players (listed below) that provide cell line development services solutions.

Biovian

Charles River Laboratories

Creative Biogene

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies

KBI Biopharma

Lonza

ProBioGen

Syngene International

Thermo Fisher Scientific

WuXi Biologics

Browse Complete Report at:

https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/cell-line-development-market.html

Key Benefits of Buying this Report

The report offers market leaders and newcomers valuable insights into revenue estimations for both the overall market and its sub-segments.

Stakeholders can utilize the report to enhance their understanding of the competitive landscape, allowing for improved business positioning and more effective go-to-market strategies.

The report provides stakeholders with a pulse on the cell line development market, furnishing them with essential information on significant market drivers, barriers, opportunities, and challenges.

Don't Miss Out on Other Interesting Titles:

Cell Line Characterization and Cell Line Development Market - The global market for cell line development is estimated to be around USD 1,014 million in 2023 and expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 13.2%, during the forecast period 2023-2035.

Oral Solid Dosage Manufacturing Market - Oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market is estimated to be USD 21 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of ~5% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2035.

4D Bioprinting Market - The 4D bioprinting market is estimated to be worth $21 million in 2023 and is expected to grow at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.0% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2035.

In Vitro Diagnostics Market Overview 2023-2035

About Roots Analysis

Roots Analysis is a global leader in the pharma/biotech market research. Having worked with over 750 clients worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, academia, venture capitalists, and strategic investors for more than a decade, we offer a highly analytical / data-driven perspective to a network of over 450,000 senior industry stakeholders looking for credible market insights. All reports provided by us are structured in a way that enables the reader to develop a thorough perspective on the given subject. Apart from writing reports on identified areas, we provide bespoke research/consulting services dedicated to serving our clients in the best possible way.

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CLG's Continued Excellence in Lube Hydroprocessing Reinforces its Strong Market Leadership

RICHMOND, Calif., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chevron Lummus Global LLC (CLG) announced the award of a new licensing contract by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) for the development of a grassroots integrated hydrocracker and catalytic dewaxing unit and a full catalyst reload of their existing lube oil upgrading program (LOUP) at the Mumbai Refinery in India.

"Chevron Lummus Global is honored to once again work with HPCL on this transformative project," said Rajesh Samarth, Chief Commercial Officer of Chevron Lummus Global. "Our deep expertise in hydroprocessing technologies, paired with HPCL's forward-looking approach, underscores our shared commitment to advancing India's energy independence and strengthening its position in the premium base oil market."

The integrated hydrocracker and catalytic dewaxing unit will have a nameplate capacity of 550 KTPA and will facilitate the production of Gr. II+ and Gr. III premium base oils. This strategic move will enable HPCL to make a significant foray into the premium base oil market, tapping into new avenues for growth and market expansion.

About Chevron Lummus Global

Chevron Lummus Global (CLG), a joint venture between Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and Lummus Technology, is a leading technology provider for the production of renewable and conventional transportation fuels, premium base oils, and sustainable petrochemicals from a wide range of feedstocks. Powered by cutting-edge catalysts and innovative reactor internals, CLG's portfolio is designed to optimize efficiency and flexibility while minimizing emissions and maximizing economic returns. For more information, visit www.chevronlummus.com.

SOURCE Chevron Lummus Global
CHICAGO , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chicago Auto Show's 32nd First Look for Charity gala will take place on Friday, Feb. 9, from 7-11 p.m. at McCormick Place. The gala is produced by the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), the organization that represents local new-car dealers, and raises at least $2 million annually for 18 Chicago area charities.

The black-tie affair offers an exclusive, first chance to experience the Chicago Auto Show with gourmet food & drink. Post this Be the first to see the nations largest auto show by attending the black-tie First Look for Charity, benefiting 18 area nonprofits. Complimentary top-shelf refreshments complements abundant hors doeuvres, from notable Chicago eateries. Learn more at FirstLookforCharity.org.

This black-tie affair offers an exclusive, first chance to experience the Chicago Auto Show ahead of the 10-day public opening at McCormick Place on Feb. 10. Guests will be treated to a variety of gourmet food and drink stations from local restaurants, specialty cocktails, and live music across the show floor. Participating restaurant and beverage sponsors include, but are not limited to, Andy's Frozen Custard, Aviation Gin, Baileys Irish Cream, Beyond Catering, Biteable Baked Goods, Bumbu Rum, Carnivale, Catered by Design, Don Juilo, ERIS Ciderhouse and Brewery, Goose Island, Michael's Grill and Salad Bar, Norman's Bistro, Seedlip, Springview Sweets, Tao, Trinchero Family Estates Winery, and Weber Grills, along with McCormick Place's in-house caterer, OVG360.

Gala attendees also have the chance to walk away with the keys to a brand-new 2024 Chevrolet Blazer RS, compliments of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevy dealers.

"There is no other night quite like First Look for Charity," said JC Phelan, Chicago Auto Show chairman. "Attendees range from car buffs to foodies to socialites, and they all come together for a night of first-class food, beverages and fun, but  most importantly  to raise money for 18 local charities who count on First Look to support the incredible work they do in our communities throughout the year."

Since its inception, First Look for Charity has raised more than $60 million for participating local charities. The CATA and new-car dealers also support charities year-round, through a program called Chicagoland Dealers Care. Chicagoland Dealers Care helps match donations made by CATA dealer members to charities within their communities.

"First Look for Charity and Chicagoland Dealers Care each offer a glimpse of the incredible support franchised dealers provide to their respective communities," said Phelan. "However, it's only a glimpse, because so much of the vital support is done quietly and without fanfare."

The 2024 First Look for Charity beneficiaries include: 100 Club of Illinois; Advocate Health Care; ALS United Greater Chicago; Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago; the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago; Cal's Angels; Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet; Franciscan Community Benefit Services; Glenwood Academy; Habitat for Humanity; the Jesse White Tumbling Team; Lydia Home & Safe Families for Children; and Misericordia; Sertoma Star Services; Special Olympics Illinois; Susan G. Komen, Chicago; and Turning Pointe Autism Foundation.

Tickets to the event are $325 each and can be purchased at FirstLookforCharity.org or via 630-495-2282. Benefactors can indicate which charity or charities they want their donation to benefit. They may also choose to split the donation evenly among the 18. Of each ticket, $268 is tax-deductible as a charitable donation.

For more information, please visit FirstLookforCharity.org. For details about the CATA's Chicagoland Dealers Care program, visit ChicagolandDealersCare.com.

About the Chicago Auto Show

First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the nation's longest running auto exposition in North America. The show is produced by the Chicagoland's new-car dealer association, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, which has staged the show since 1935. The 2024 public show is Feb. 10-19 at McCormick Place. For more information and the latest updates, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com.

About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association

Founded in 1904 and located in Oakbrook Terrace, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is comprised of more than 400 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information, please visit www.CATA.info.

SOURCE Chicago Auto Show
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CloudTalk , the fastest-growing AI-powered calling solution, successfully raised a $28 million round, closing its Series B funding. The latest funding, co-led by KPN Ventures and Lead Ventures and supported by existing investors Point Nine Capital, henQ, Presto Ventures, and Orbit Capital, is a big step in CloudTalk's journey to transform business communication.

The company was founded in 2016 to help businesses make customer experience the greatest competitive advantage for driving more revenues. "It's been fun to see how our product solves challenges for over 4,000 teams across 100+ countries, powering more than 400 million customer conversations," said Martin Malych, CEO of CloudTalk.

Their vision is to create a unified ecosystem for customer-facing teams' communication where every professional can engage in more meaningful conversations.

The new investment will strategically accelerate their growth and enhance their cloud phone system. "Users want their solution to be smart. For example, to summarize calls with artificial intelligence, automate note-taking, and monitor customer opinion via sentiment analysis. That's why our focus is now intensely on AI," said Martin Malych.

CloudTalk aims to build a platform that meets the evolving needs of the remote workforce and exceeds customer expectations with innovative AI-powered features. For example, AI-powered dialers, conversational intelligence, and speech recognition.

KPN Ventures, a major telecom operator in the Netherlands and lead investor in this round, fully supports CloudTalk's mission. "We are impressed with their intuitive AI solutions that meet the dynamic needs of modern businesses. CloudTalk's commitment to innovation perfectly aligns with our vision," commented Sem Alberga, Investment Director at KPN Ventures.

More Investor Quotes

"We are impressed by CloudTalk's position as an easy-to-deploy market-leading CCaaS solution powered by AI intelligence with a truly intuitive user interface. The company's status as a market leader is proof of its excellence. We are looking forward to helping CloudTalk further expand its international presence and improve its already superior calling quality."

- Sem Alberga, Investment Director @ KPN Ventures

"We've invested in Cloudtalk due to their strong team and remarkable traction. We are confident that their leadership and the whole team are on the right path to change the way contact centers work globally. We are excited to partner up with them and accompany them on their new journey."

- Kristof Szekely, Partner @ Lead Ventures

SOURCE CloudTalk
Elaine Zaharis-Nikas to succeed William Scapell as Head of Fixed Income and Preferred Securities following over 20 years of partnership

NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cohen & Steers, Inc. (NYSE: CNS) announced today that William Scapell, Head of Fixed Income and Preferred Securities, will retire from the firm and investment management on August 1, 2024 after more than 20 years of service at Cohen & Steers and 30 years in finance, including his work at Merrill Lynch and with the Federal Reserve. Elaine Zaharis-Nikas, who currently serves as a Senior Portfolio Manager, will succeed William Scapell and will be promoted to Head of Fixed Income and Preferred Securities, effective April 1, 2024. Mr. Scapell will remain a Senior Portfolio Manager on preferred securities strategies and funds until his retirement.

Ms. Zaharis-Nikas joined Cohen & Steers in 2003 as part of the launch of the Fixed Income and Preferred Securities business with Mr. Scapell. Her promotion reflects her consistent track record of generating alpha, her experience managing the firm's investment vehicles and client accounts and her leadership among the Fixed Income and Preferred Securities team. This transition reflects Cohen & Steers' commitment to succession planning and building the firm's next generation of leaders.

Joe Harvey, Chief Executive Officer and President, said:

"Bill and Elaine helped launch Cohen & Steers' Fixed Income and Preferred Securities business more than 20 years ago as an extension of the firm's focus on REITs to deliver unique income and total return strategies for investors. Cohen & Steers has attained significant market share in preferred securities under Bill and Elaine's leadership. We thank Bill for his two decades of dedication to our firm and wish him the best in retirement. We also congratulate Elaine and look forward to continued growth under her leadership."

As Head of Fixed Income and Preferred Securities, Ms. Zaharis-Nikas will lead the firm's fixed income and preferred securities investments and teams globally. She will report to Jon Cheigh, Chief Investment Officer.

Jon Cheigh, Chief Investment Officer, said:

"Elaine has played an essential role in developing an industry-leading preferred securities business that has innovated differentiated, alternative income strategies that consistently deliver alpha and income for our clients. Her 20+ years of partnership with Bill and leadership experience led to her being identified as Bill's successor years ago. We sincerely want to thank Bill for his dedication, investment acumen, vision and mentorship of Elaine as his successor."

Ms. Zaharis-Nikas will remain Senior Portfolio Manager for the firm's Preferred Securities and Fixed Income strategies, managing a team of three portfolio managers including Jerry Dorost, Robert Kastoff and Raquel McLean as well as four research professionals. The portfolio management team averages over 15 years of experience at the firm and is supported by a team of traders led by Austin Fagan, a dedicated fixed income trader who has traded for the team since 2003.

For more information about Cohen & Steers, please visit www.cohenandsteers.com.

About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, including real estate, preferred securities, infrastructure, resource equities, commodities, as well as multi-strategy solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Dublin, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore.

Website: https://www.cohenandsteers.com

Symbols:NYSE: CNS, RFI, RQI, LDP, RLTY, RNP, UTF, PSF, PTA

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and other statements that Cohen & Steers may make may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect the Company's current views with respect to, among other things, the Company's operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative versions of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

SOURCE Cohen & Steers, Inc.
Travelers are gravitating towards smaller group tours and are excited to explore France, Southeast Asia, and Italy in 2024

PAWTUCKET, R.I., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Collette saw it's best-year ever in 2023, after a large bounce back in travel throughout 2022. Travelers continue to be eager to get back out and explore the globe now that it's once again safe to do so. As we ring in the new year, Collette is excited to share which destinations are trending for 2024. North America's longest-running tour operator has seen travelers flock to France, Southeast Asia, and Italy. Plus, travelers are showing increased interest in traveling with smaller groups.

Collette's small group Explorations tours have an average of 16 travelers, so you can travel in ways that are authentic, connected, and extraordinary. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/48eGMhc

Explorations tours are Collette's most popular product, with Travelers rating them to be excellent, which is the highest rating, 78% of the time. Each year more and more travelers have been electing to tour with a smaller group. This year is no different.

Collette's new "Best of Italy" small group Explorations tour lets travelers immerse themselves into the country's culture their way. Travelers will have multiple opportunities to decide how they'd like to experience what the country has to offer. While visiting the Romagna Countryside, they'll have the choice between relaxing at their hotel with a wine-infused mud treatment or spending the day in Ravenna for a guided tour of its mosaics. When in Rome later in the tour they'll once again be able to choose how to spend their day. Travelers can elect to take a walking tour of the city and its Renaissance masterpieces, or instead enjoy a tour of the Catacombs and search for the vestiges of the Empire. Travelers can book their spot on the "Best of Italy" for as early as May 26, 2024, for prices starting at $4,399 USD pp.

"Our 'Best of Italy' Small Groups Explorations Tour is a fantastic way for travelers to enjoy Italian culture. On this new tour, they'll be able to make their own decisions on what they'd like to experience during their trip," said Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, CEO at Collette.

Over the course of 19 days travelers will journey across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam on Collette's "Kingdoms of Southeast Asia" tour. They'll enjoy key experiences, stopping at Hanoi's historic Old Quarter for an exciting walking tour, navigating the Cu Chi Tunnels, a maze of underground passageways used by the Viet Cong, and pay a visit to a Vietnam War veteran to learn about the war from his unique perspective. Travelers can book seats on the "Kingdoms of Southeast Asia" tour February 21, 2024, with prices starting at $4,199 USD pp.

"Travelers are flocking to explore Southeast Asia with Collette's Explorations tours," said Jeff Roy, Executive Vice President of Revenue Management and Pricing at Collette. "Collette's. 'Kingdoms of Southeast Asia' tour gives travelers a taste of all the region has to offer. From history to natural beauties, we make sure to hit every attraction."

Travelers who embark on the 7-day tour of Paris with Collette's "Spotlight on Paris" tour truly get to live like a local. Throughout their visit, they'll ride the Metro, Paris' local public transit, all week to get to each of their destinations. They'll also take part in a walking food tour, enjoying some of the city's finest French cuisine. Lastly, travelers will spend a day exploring the neighborhood of Montmarte, which blends artistic roots and quirky modernity. Travelers can book their spot on the "Spotlight on Paris" tour with a departure date as early as March 12, 2024, for prices starting at $2,499 USD pp.

"Our many Spotlight tours like 'Spotlight on Paris,' are great for travelers who want to focus on and explore some of the globe's most wonderful cities," said Dan Sullivan Jr., executive chairman of the board at Collette. "Paris is such a fantastic place to visit, so we want our travelers to enjoy it to the fullest. This tour will allow them to do so, not leaving any stone unturned during their week-long visit."

About Collette:

As the longest-running tour operator in North America, Collette is the company travelers can trust. Leading with integrity, Collette's comprehensive travel protection plan, flexible tour pacing, and strong relationships within the travel space set it apart. The happiness of its guests has been its roadmap since 1918 and today Collette offers over 160 tours to all seven continents and five distinct travel styles, including small group touring and river cruises. This third-generation family-owned business is dedicated to giving back in both local and global communities through its social responsibility platform. For more information, visit www.gocollette.com .

Media Contact:

Sam LaFrance, Collette

Phone: 401.426.4504

[email protected]

SOURCE Collette Vacations
TEX-E grows team, names Julia Johansson Chief of Staff

HOUSTON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy (TEX-E) , a first-of-a-kind collaboration among Greentown Labs, MIT's Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship , and universities across Texas, today announced David Pruner as its first-ever Executive Director.

Pruner Named Executive Director of The Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy Program Built by Greentown Labs, MIT Post this David Pruner Named Executive Director of The Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy Program

Pruner brings more than 30 years of experience across energy, management consulting, financial services, and higher education to TEX-E. His expertise in and passion for the energy transition will play a critical role in TEX-E's growth and evolution as it strives to have an even greater impact across Texas.

"Dave is the ideal leader for TEX-E to build on the great work that's been done to develop a robust entrepreneurial energy ecosystem across these five impressive universities in Texas and to directly inspire and support university students to pursue entrepreneurial careers that will power our clean energy future," said Greentown Labs CEO and President Kevin Knobloch. "Dave's expertise will have a tremendous impact on the strategy, evolution, and success of this ambitious and important program."

Prior to TEX-E, Pruner was a Partner at Heidrick & Struggles placing executives and board members into energy companies. Before that, he was a Senior Vice President for more than a decade at Wood Mackenzie, a leading global consulting and research firm for the energy industry. Prior to that, he held executive roles at several other energy firms and in financial services at Bridgewater Associates and Manufacturers Hanover Trust.

"I am very excited about helping Houston and the state of Texas navigate the energy transition," said Pruner. "We are at a crucial pivot point for the industry and it will be essential for us to help create the next generation of energy transition entrepreneurs. An ecosystem in this area has been building and it will be our mission to inspire, equip, connect and accelerate these individuals and teams working with the universities to make it robust. If we succeed we will assure Texas's role as the leader in energy globally."

Outside of TEX-E, Pruner serves on the board at Southern Methodist University Dedman College and The School of American Ballet in New York. He also teaches energy transition at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University. Pruner earned a master's degree in finance from the A.B. Freeman School of Business, Tulane University and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Southern Methodist University.

TEX-E was launched in 2022 to create a powerful student-driven entrepreneurship ecosystem in Houston and the state of Texas with Rice University , Texas A&M University , Prairie View A&M University , University of Houston , and The University of Texas at Austin as its founding institutions.

As Pruner develops the next chapter of growth and impact for TEX-E, he's building the team to help achieve those goals. Julia Johansson joined the program as Chief of Staff and will manage the day-to-day operations and administrative duties of TEX-E. Previously, Johansson served as a Recruitment Consultant at Selby Jennings and spent time conducting research at the Niwot Ridge Long-term Ecological Research site. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Geography.

The TEX-E team is growing, and is actively recruiting for a Director of University Engagement based out of Greentown Labs Houston. This role will lead programming, recruitment, and partner management for TEX-E.

About Greentown Labs

Greentown Labs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit catalyzing climate solutions through entrepreneurship, partnership, and collaboration. As the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, Greentown brings together startups, corporates, investors, policymakers, and many others with a focus on scaling climate technologies. Driven by the mission of providing startups the community, connections, and resources they need to thrive, Greentown offers lab space, shared office space, machine shops, electronics labs, tool shops, software and business resources, and a large network of corporate customers, investors, and more. With incubators in Somerville, Mass. and Houston, Texas, Greentown is home to more than 200 startups and has supported more than 500 since the incubator's founding in 2011. These startups have collectively created more than 11,000 jobs and raised more than $5.7 billion in funding. For more information, visit www.greentownlabs.com or follow Greentown on LinkedIn .

Greentown Media Contact:

Julia Travaglini

Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Greentown Labs
Ranked #1 in Lash, Brow and Skincare Category

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Deka Lash, the pioneering beauty brand specializing in eyelash extensions and brow services, has been once again named to Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500, ranked #1 in the Lash Extension, Brow Services, and Skincare Solutions category and #421 overall.

Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 is the world's first and most comprehensive franchise rankingconsidered by many to be the go-to source for the fastest growing franchise brands and a key resource for anyone considering investing in a franchise.

Deka Lash Again Earns the Top Spot in Lash Extension, Brow and Skincare Category in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 Post this

"When Entrepreneur evaluates franchises for the Franchise 500, we look at more than 150 data points  including very visible ones like size and growth, but we also take a holistic view of the business, the industry it operates in, and the opportunities available to prospective franchisees. That includes things like franchisee support and training, brand strength and marketing, and more. Coming in at #421 on the overall list, Deka Lash also scores in the top 25% of all companies in size and growth and the top 20% for financial strength this year. That's impressive, too, since the 2024 Franchise 500 is Entrepreneur's most competitive ever with 1,389 franchisors submitting which is a record number," states Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur.

One of the hottest categories in the beauty industry, the do-it-for-me lash extension market is forecast to grow by over $570 million by 2027 (Technavio). The service appeals to consumers of all backgrounds and ages seeking a way to shine a light on their natural beauty. For many, it facilitates a convenient 'no makeup' look without the need to apply mascara. Other customers pursue the service as a means to express their individuality and creativity by experimenting with lashes in a range of shapes, thicknesses, and colors.

Deka Lash, one of the two largest and fastest growing brands in the category, was founded by then stay-at-home mom and Lash Artist Jennifer Blair from a small, rented space in the back of a day spa and has now grown to over 130 studios across North America.

"We are honored to once again be recognized by Entrepreneur for our success. Our vision was to create an empowering, confidence-boosting service. Our members tell us they selected us based on this benefit, as well as our superior quality standards," said Blair, CEO and Founder.

Deka Lash offers franchisees a tested and proven professional training program, a proprietary studio design uniquely tailored to optimize the client experience and support its Lash Artists, a personalized customer experience, and an industry-leading membership program.

"We owe our success to the passion and dedication our franchisees put into exceeding the expectations of every client who walks in the door," adds Shant Assarian, President.

Deka Lash's proven business model and growing demand for eyelash extensions position the company well for significant expansion across North America and beyond.

About Deka Lash

Deka Lash is a beauty company on a mission to help its clients uncover the most confident and empowered version of themselves through customized lash and brow services, high-end products, and an elevated experience. Founded in 2012 by Jennifer Blair, the modern retail studios, which apply semi-permanent, custom eyelash extensions by highly trained Lash Artists, provide a variety of looks and styles to choose from. The concept began franchising in 2016 and is currently operating over 130 studios throughout North America. To learn more about the Deka Lash franchise opportunity, visit https://wwwdekalash.com/franchise

SOURCE Deka Lash
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. The foreign ministers of Iran and Spain stressed the importance of restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear program, Trend reports.

A meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares took place last night in Davos, Switzerland.

During the meeting, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that dialogue is the best way to resolve misunderstandings and disputes about the JCPOA.

Albares noted that Spain supports the continuation of the dialogue towards the restoration of the JCPOA.

At the meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian also said that Iran is ready to return to the JCPOA if all parties return to the plan for restoring it.

The Iranian FM emphasized the importance of developing relations between Iran and Spain in various fields.

He added that Iran does not see any restrictions on the development of relations with Spain and is interested in using common ideas for the development of relations.

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, affecting its oil exports and freezing its assets abroad. More than 700 banks, companies, and individuals were also targeted by the sanctions.

In late 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to implement a strategic plan to tackle the sanctions, citing the non-implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran.

According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear deal. As a result, the control mechanism of the IAEA decreased by 2030 percent.

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The Scholarship, Offered in Partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Supports the Educational Advancement of Descendants

BATON ROUGE, La., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation today announced applications are now open for an advancement of education scholarship program in partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF). The scholarships will provide Descendants of Jesuit slaveholding in the United States with need-based scholarships of up to $10,000 for attendance at a Historically Black College and/or University (HBCUs) as well as other post-secondary institutions.

The initiative is part of the Foundation's core programming plans, which include:

Supporting the educational aspirations of Descendants from early childhood education through post-secondary education. Investing in truth, racial healing and reconciliation in communities and organizations throughout America. Supporting elderly and infirm Descendants.

"Supporting the educational aspirations of the Descendants of Jesuit slaveholding is one of the cornerstones of our foundation's mission. Today marks an important day in the journey of our Foundation," said Monique Trusclair Maddox, CEO and Board Chair of the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation. "Nothing creates opportunity like an effective education. I am heartened by the promise of opportunity this program will bring to Descendants of Jesuit slaveholding across the U.S."

The Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation was born out of the 2016 discovery that in 1838, the Society of Jesus sold more than 272 enslaved men, women and children from their plantations in Maryland to plantation owners in Louisiana in order to save Georgetown College from financial ruin. The Foundation is a partnership between the Descendants of the enslaved and the present-day successors of the enslavers and seeks a joint moral path rather than a legal path to truth, racial healing and transformation.

"We believe one of the most transformative goals that the Thurgood Marshall College Fund can achieve is to open possibilities for the communities we serve and society at large. The power of access to academic and inclusive excellence is profound, as it not only empowers human potential but also becomes a driving force for advancing equity," said TMCF President and CEO, Dr. Harry L. Williams. "We are proud to partner with the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation as they invest in the educational aspirations of the descendants of Jesuit slaveholding. Together, we can forge pathways to economic mobility and employment opportunities, championing a future where education catalyzes positive change and empowerment."

Thurgood Marshall College Fund will administer the program funded by the Foundation as a part of an initial 5-year scholarship program.

To learn how to apply and for more information visit www.descendants.org/dtrf-thurgood-marshall-college-fund-scholarship .

About the Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation

The 2016 discovery of the sale of 272 men, women and children enslaved by Jesuits led to the creation of the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation. A partnership between the Descendants of the enslaved and the present-day successors of the Jesuit enslavers. The Foundation in partnership with the GU272 Descendants Association has a goal of One Billion dollars with key objectives to support the educational aspirations of present and future Descendants; to invest in the aforementioned core programming plans.

About the Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation's largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member schools include the publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs. TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit www.tmcf.org .

SOURCE Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Employment law firm D.Law celebrated an incredibly successful year, sharing highlights of a wide range of 2023 accomplishments with staff and guests at a December holiday gathering held at their future headquarters in Pasadena.

Surpassing the 100-person mark, D.Law more than doubled their team in 2023, establishing three physical locations in Los Angeles along with 15 satellite offices throughout California.

We envision continued growth, more cases, and an even greater level of service and justice for our clients.

The growth was driven in part by the January 2023 acquisition of industry-leading employment law attorney Kevin T. Barnes's law offices and staff following the culmination of a successful 35-year career by Barnes. The acquisition of fellow employment law firm David Yeremian & Associates in August also fueled the company's growth, with David Yeremian and his team joining forces with D.Law.

D.Law Founder & Managing Attorney Emil Davtyan, who orchestrated and spearheaded the acquisitions, described both as "powerful alliances that will take us to the next level of service and success in the field of employment law." The combined power puts D.Law another step closer to becoming the biggest plaintiff-side employment law firm in California, a one-of-a-kind legal powerhouse focused on innovation and new ideas for serving clients as well as creating opportunities for members of the D.Law team.

One of D.Law's specialties is fighting for the California working class to recover unpaid wages in class action cases. In 2023, D.Law initiated hundreds of new class action cases for such unpaid wages. To date, D.Law has helped California workers recover almost 1 billion dollars, and is on track to surpass the billion-dollar mark shortly into 2024. It also significantly increased its social media presence, followers, and clout while rebranding its corporate identity. Reflecting the evolving nature of its business, the company officially changed its name from Davtyan Law to D.Law (pronounced "Dee Law"), a more iconic and universal identity that emphasizes the firm's adaptability to continued growth and expansion throughout California and beyond.

"The D in D.Law will always serve to remind us of our founding as Davtyan Law, but now that D also can express the ideas of defense, dedication, dignity, diligence, and more," said Davtyan. "Our new website has the definitive web address of www.d.law, and we are committed to defining this domain in a way that makes our vision of becoming the biggest and most innovative employment law firm in California, and eventually the nation, a reality."

D.Law's commitment to both its clients and its people was recognized in a series of awards throughout the year, including being honored as 2023's #1 Best Place to Work in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal. In addition, D.Law was voted one of the Most Admired Law Firms in Los Angeles and Emil Davtyan was selected as a 2023 Leader of Influence for Labor & Employment Law.

Currently headquartered in Glendale, D.Law is working with Corsini Stark Architects in creating a magnificent new headquarters in Pasadena, projected for completion in 2025.

Davtyan sees the transformation of the new Pasadena headquarters as symbolic of the progress in store for 2024. "We accomplished more in 2023 than we imagined possible, but we see all of our successes to date as a preview for what's to come," he said. "The new year is already on track to be our most exciting ever, with the evolution of our new building reflecting the amazing changes throughout our company. We envision continued growth, more cases, and an even greater level of service and justice for our clients: the dedicated workforce that continues to help make California an economic powerhouse admired throughout the world."

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE D.Law, Inc.
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dylan Sidoo Award for Future Financial Leaders, founded by esteemed tech entrepreneur Dylan Sidoo, announces the launch of its annual scholarship program for aspiring financial innovators. The scholarship aims to recognize and support students displaying exceptional promise and dedication in the realm of finance.

The scholarship, hosted through the Dylan Sidoo Award for Future Financial Leaders website, is designed to identify and foster the next generation of finance leaders. Open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students enrolled at accredited educational institutions worldwide, the award emphasizes inclusivity by welcoming candidates from diverse academic backgrounds and fields of study.

Applicants for the Dylan Sidoo Award for Future Financial Leaders are required to meet specific criteria, including current enrollment at accredited educational institutions, a commitment to their finance-related studies, and a demonstrated financial need.

"We are thrilled to continue our commitment to fostering the growth of future financial leaders," says Dylan Sidoo, the visionary behind the award. "Our aim is to empower promising individuals who exhibit not just academic prowess, but also a passion for innovative thinking and a dedication to community engagement within the finance industry."

Dylan Sidoo journey as a tech entrepreneur and finance visionary has been marked by excellence and innovation. His educational background includes studies at St. George's School, a Bachelor of Arts degree with Cum Laude honors from the University of Southern California, and ongoing pursuit of a Masters in Global Finance and Banking at King's College London.

To apply for the Dylan Sidoo Award for Future Financial Leaders, candidates are required to submit their essays along with requested personal information, including full name, contact details, educational institution, personal bio, and GPA, via email to [email protected]

For more information about the scholarship and Dylan Sidoo, please visit https://dylansidooaward.com/

About Dylan Sidoo

Dylan Sidoo stands as a distinguished tech entrepreneur, embodying visionary qualities and a fervent dedication to finance, technology, and community engagement. Throughout his journey in the spheres of finance and technology, he has consistently exemplified excellence and innovation, becoming a beacon for aspiring minds. His profound impact inspires and motivates the younger generation to strive for excellence in these dynamic and evolving fields.

SOURCE Dylan Sidoo Award
BOGOTA, Colombia, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC) informs that, the following changes will be made in its senior management:

Alejandro Arango, who has been serving as Corporate Vice President of Human Talent, presented his voluntary resignation from the position, which was accepted as of January 18, 2024. Dr. Victoria Irene Sepulveda, current Leadership and Development Manager, will be in charge of this Vice Presidency from January 19, 2024 until the date in which a new appointment for the position is made.

Fernan Ignacio Bejarano, current Legal Vice President, will carry out his duties until January 31st , 2024. Dr. Rodolfo Mario Garcia Paredes, current Manager of New Business and Corporate Legal Consulting, will be in charge of this Vice Presidency from February 1, 2024 until the date in which a new appointment for the position is made.

Pedro Manrique Gutierrez, who served as Commercial and Marketing Vice President, will retire on January 19, 2024. Dr. Felipe Trujillo Lopez, current Product and Petrochemical Manager, will be in charge of this Vice Presidency from January 20, 2024 until the date in which a new appointment for the position is made.

Ecopetrol S.A. expresses its gratitude to doctors Alejandro Arango, Fernan Bejarano and Pedro Manrique for their valuable management, their contributions to the milestones achieved by Ecopetrol and wishes them much success in their new professional affairs.

Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice.

For more information, please contact:

Head of Capital Markets

Carolina Tovar Aragon

Email: [email protected]

Head of Corporate Communications (Colombia)

Marcela Ulloa

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.
WOBURN, Mass., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cataldo Ambulance Service will be hosting a grand opening of the Cataldo Education Center on Wednesday, January 31st, now located in Woburn, with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:00 AM. "There is a nationwide shortage of EMS professionals. Our new education center is not only an investment in our own team, but the entire industry," says Dennis Cataldo, President and CEO of Cataldo Ambulance Service. "We are committed to the growth and development of experienced EMS professionals as well as inspiring the next generation."

In 2023, the Cataldo Education Center hosted more than 700 classes and educated over 3100 students. With the addition of the Paramedic Program early last year, the education center now offers training for every step of an EMS career. In addition to offering EMS continuing education and career advancement training to Cataldo team members, the Cataldo Education Center also conducts classes or provides space in existing classes to local municipality first responders as part of the company's 911 service contracts. CPR and Stop the Bleed classes are also available for community organizations and local venues.

This new training facilities features 3 large classrooms which will allow the Cataldo Education Center to increase the number of classes being taught and expand on the current course offering. The newly renovated space also provides several smaller breakout rooms where students can practice their skills on state-of-the-art equipment. "EMS is a great career and many people don't know you can get started in just a few short months," adds Scott Meagher, Director of Education at the Cataldo Education Center. "There are many individuals who have spent their lifetime working in EMS, but it also provides real world experience and exposure to other fields like police, fire, or the medical industry. It is a great way to obtain clinical hours and emergency medicine knowledge."

The new Cataldo Education Center is located at 15 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 210 in Woburn, Massachusetts. The grand opening will start with a ribbon cutting at 10:00 AM and will be followed by an EMS education and career open house until 5:00 PM. For more information on the Cataldo Education Center and class offerings, visit https://cataldoambulance.com/training.

Since 1977 Cataldo Ambulance Service continues to distinguish itself as a leader in EMS, providing routine and emergency medical transportation services, offering clinical education, and introducing the first mobile integrated health service line in Massachusetts. As the needs of the community and patients change, Cataldo continues to develop innovative programs designed to ensure the highest level of care is available throughout its service areas. Cataldo is a key partner with the state in providing vaccination services for all ages including the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program across the Commonwealth.

SOURCE Cataldo Ambulance Service
DUBLIN, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Space-Based Laser Communication Market - Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Europe space-based laser communication market is projected to reach $ 1.31 billion by 2033 from $253.9 million in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 10.55% during the forecast period 2023-2033.

The introduction of second-generation satellites with intersatellite links (ISL) has resulted in a notable increase in the market for space-based laser communication in Europe. Modern technologies that improve communication performance both on Earth and in space, such as artificial intelligence (AI), electronically steered antennas (ESAs), component miniaturization, and ISLs, are primarily driving this rise.



Europe is one of the prominent regions for the growth of the space-based laser communication market. A consortium of prominent European space and telecommunications companies, comprising Airbus Defense and Space, Eutelsat, SES, and Thales Alenia Space, has joined forces to submit a bid for a proposed satellite constellation that aims to rival SpaceX's Starlink system. With the European Union (EU) taking the lead, the project will receive a substantial funding commitment of $2.64 billion in 2023. Additionally, the project is expected to secure further financial support from the European Space Agency and private investments, bolstering its overall funding capacity.



Prominent firms that are creating massive constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), such OneWeb, SpaceX, and Amazon's Project Kuiper, also have an impact on the market's trajectory. 2023 will see the integration of laser terminals by low Earth orbit satellites, such those operated by Starlink, into a constellation with optical intersatellite connections (OISLs), producing a strong mesh network in orbit.

When it is fully deployed, Telesat's LightSpeed constellation also intends to include optical satellite links, while OneWeb is considering include optical links in its second phase of rollout. Inter-satellite links are made easier by the inherent nature of Amazon's Kuiper constellation.



To bring cutting-edge and novel products, major participants in this industry, such as Tesat-Spacecom GmbH & Co., SKYLOOM, Bridgecomm, and Mynaric, are substantially investing in research and development.

How this Report Can Add Value



Product/Innovation Strategy: The product segment helps the reader understand the different types of components available for deployment and their potential globally. Moreover, the study provides the reader with a detailed understanding of the Europe space-based laser communication market by end user and solution.



Growth/Marketing Strategy: The Europe space-based laser communication market has seen major development by key players operating in the market, such as contract, collaboration, and joint venture. The favored strategy for the companies has been contracts to strengthen their position in the Europe space-based laser communication market.



Competitive Strategy: Key players in the Europe space-based laser communication market analyzed and profiled in the study involve major Europe space-based laser communication companies providing components. Moreover, a detailed market share analysis of the players operating in the Europe space-based laser communication market has been done to help the reader understand how players stack against each other, presenting a clear market landscape. Additionally, comprehensive competitive strategies such as partnerships, agreements, and collaborations will aid the reader in understanding the untapped revenue pockets in the market.

Analyst's Perspective on Europe Space-Based Laser Communication Market



The Principal Analyst states, 'The space-based laser communication market represents a transformative frontier in the satellite communication industry, poised to revolutionize global connectivity. With the ever-increasing demand for high-speed data transmission, space-based laser communication offers a paradigm shift from traditional radio frequency systems.

The convergence of various factors such as decreasing launch costs, advancements in laser technology, and the insatiable appetite for bandwidth-intensive applications such as 5G, IoT, and Earth observation, are propelling this market. Moreover, space-based laser communication promises lower latency, higher data rates, and enhanced security compared to its RF counterparts, opening up possibilities for not only the commercial satellite market but also defense and scientific missions.

However, it is essential to acknowledge the inherent challenges, including atmospheric interference, beam divergence, and optical component reliability in the unforgiving space environment, that must be overcome for widespread adoption. The competitive landscape is dynamic, featuring both established aerospace giants and innovative start-ups vying for supremacy in this burgeoning sector.

Government support, international collaboration, and regulatory frameworks will significantly influence market dynamics. Moreover, the space-based laser communication market is at a critical juncture, with immense growth potential contingent on technological breakthroughs and strategic partnerships, promising a future where the cosmos becomes the backbone of global connectivity.'



Key Questions Answered in the Report

How is the Europe space-based laser communication market expected to grow during the forecast period 2023-2033?

space-based laser communication market expected to grow during the forecast period 2023-2033? What are the opportunities for companies to expand their businesses in the Europe space-based laser communication market?

space-based laser communication market? What are the key developmental strategies implemented by the key players to sustain in this highly competitive market?

What is the current and future revenue scenario of the Europe space-based laser communication market?

Companies Mentioned

HENSOLDT

Mynaric

ODYSSEUS SPACE SA

Tesat-Spacecom GmbH & Co.

Thales Alenia Space

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/m5gcgd

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DENVER, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Structural Preservation Systems, LLC (STRUCTURAL), a Structural Group company, today announced the completion of its transition with Restruction Corporation. Founded in 1975 in the Denver area, Restruction was the leading provider of concrete upgrade services in the region and was acquired by STRUCTURAL in late 2021.

Restruction is now STRUCTURAL, and part of the largest concrete repair and strengthening company in the United States. The move, aimed enhancing capabilities and expanding operations, has proven highly successful in fortifying STRUCTURAL's position in the Intermountain West region.

The integration carried out over the past two years can be characterized by its seamless blending of expertise, commitment to quality, and a shared dedication to safety. The STRUCTURAL team is grateful to Restruction ownership, employees, and many valued clients. The collaborative process has strengthened the Intermountain West STRUCTURAL team with highly skilled construction professionals, delivering exceptional service.

Leading the charge are Will Fenwick in the Denver Branch, and Kevin Crosby in the Phoenix area Branch. They are joined by industry veterans Mike Lutonsky, who heads up construction operations, and Mike Wyman providing estimating leadership. This integrated team brings over 80 years of knowledge and expertise managing repair and rehabilitation projects.

When asked about the expansion and opportunity, Will Fenwick shared this, "We are excited to continue the legacy of success that Restruction built over the past four decades and look forward to continuing to serve the needs of owners, engineers, and contractors throughout the Intermountain West region."

As STRUCTURAL moves ahead with this and other growth plans throughout the Western US, the company remains committed to setting the standard for delivering the highest level of safety and performance excellence in concrete repair and strengthening. For additional information, please click here.

About STRUCTURAL

STRUCTURAL, a licensee of STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES' engineered products and services, integrates technology-driven solutions into its industry-leading repair and maintenance services. Since 1976, STRUCTURAL, a Structural Group company, has served commercial, public, transportation, water, industrial and power customers, providing a wide range of specialty repair and maintenance services for civil and structural infrastructure. STRUCTURAL has branch offices throughout the United States and the Middle East.

SOURCE Structural Preservation Systems, LLC
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Four astronauts, including the current record holder for the longest single U.S. stay in space aboard the International Space Station, will make their first public appearance in Houston since returning to Earth. The crew also will be available for interviews before the event at 5 p.m. CST Thursday, Jan. 18, at Space Center Houston.

Expedition 69 NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen, Woody Hoburg, and Frank Rubio, along with United Arab Emirates (UAE) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, will be at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston official visitor center to share accomplishments from their mission during a free, public event at 5:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., the crew, along NASA leadership, will help recognize key contributors to the mission's success in an awards ceremony.

Reporters may request an in-person interview no later than 12 p.m. Jan. 18 by emailing Dana Davis at [email protected].

Expedition 69

NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 mission launched in March 2023 with Bowen, Hoburg, and Alneyadi, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, on the sixth commercial crew rotation mission to the space station. The crew spent 186 days in orbit, traveled 78,875,292 miles, and completed 2,976 Earth orbits, splashing down off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, on Sept. 4, 2023. This was Bowen's fourth spaceflight and the first spaceflight for Hoburg, Alneyadi, and Fedyaev. The crew helped improve power systems for the space station through a series of spacewalks. In June 2023, Bowen completed his 10th career spacewalk, tying the U.S. record for number of spacewalks. Alneyadi also completed the first long-duration mission for a UAE astronaut.

The Dragon crew was welcomed aboard the station by the international crew that flew on the Soyuz spacecraft and served on Expeditions 68 and 69. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin launched six months earlier, on the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft in September 2022. The Soyuz crew spent a total of 371 days aboard the space station, traveled 157,412,306 statute miles, and completed 5,963 Earth orbits, landing in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft on Sept. 27, 2023. This was the second spaceflight for Prokopyev and Petelin. This was Rubio's first spaceflight mission and it broke the U.S. record for a single spaceflight by an American.

While aboard the station, the Expedition 69 crew contributed to hundreds of experiments and technology demonstrations, including conducting a student robotic challenge, studying plant genetic adaptations to space, and monitoring human health in microgravity to prepare for exploration beyond low Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth. The crew released Saskatchewan's first satellite, which tests a new radiation detection and protection system derived from Melanin that's found in many organisms including humans.

Stay current on space station activities by following @space_station and @ISS_Research on Twitter, as well as the station Facebook and Instagram accounts and the space station blog.

SOURCE NASA
SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Extra Space Storage Inc. ("Extra Space") (NYSE: EXR), a leading owner and operator of self-storage facilities in the United States and a member of the S&P 500, today announced that its operating partnership, Extra Space Storage LP (the "operating partnership"), has priced a public offering of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 5.400% senior notes due 2034 (the "Notes"). The Notes were priced at 99.745% of the principal amount and will mature on February 1, 2034. Wells Fargo Securities, TD Securities, BofA Securities, BMO Capital Markets, J.P. Morgan, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Truist Securities and US Bancorp are acting as the joint book-running managers for the offering. Regions Securities LLC, BOK Financial Securities, Inc., Citigroup, Huntington Capital Markets, Scotiabank, Zions Capital Markets, Fifth Third Securities, Academy Securities and Ramirez & Co., Inc. are acting as the co-managers for the offering. The offering is expected to close on or about January 19, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Extra Space and certain of its subsidiaries.

The operating partnership intends to use approximately half of the net proceeds from this offering to repay a portion of its term loan under its Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2023, and use the remainder of the net proceeds to repay amounts outstanding from time to time under its lines of credit, and for other general corporate and working capital purposes, including funding potential acquisition opportunities.

The Notes will be issued pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, copies of which, when available, may be obtained from Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Attention: WFS Customer Service, 608 2nd Avenue South, Suite 1000, Minneapolis, MN 55402, by telephone at 1-800-645-3751, or by email at [email protected]; TD Securities (USA) LLC, by telephone at (855) 495-9846; or BofA Securities, Inc. NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department or by email at [email protected]. A prospectus supplement related to the offering will also be available free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.

About Extra Space Storage Inc.:

Extra Space Storage Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, and a member of the S&P 500. As of September 30, 2023, Extra Space owned and/or operated 3,651 self-storage properties, which comprise approximately 2.5 million units and approximately 278.8 million square feet of rentable storage space operating under the Extra Space, Life Storage and Storage Express brands. Extra Space offers customers a wide selection of conveniently located and secure storage units across the country, including boat storage, RV storage and business storage. Extra Space is the largest operator of self-storage properties in the United States.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain information set forth in this release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the terms, timing and completion of the offering of securities by Extra Space and the operating partnership, including the anticipated use of proceeds therefrom. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "estimates," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," or "intends," or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. All forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them, but there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in or contemplated by this release. Such risks and uncertainties include without limitation those associated with market risks and uncertainties and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions for an offering of securities, as well as the risks referenced in the "Risk Factors" section included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE Extra Space Storage Inc.
Body Part Procedure Locator Is Latest Enhancement to Free, Award-Winning FAIR Health Consumer Website

NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today FAIR Health launched the Body Part Procedure Locator, a tool that uses a map of the human body to help consumers identify medical procedures and their estimated costs in consumers' geographical locations. The Body Part Procedure Locator is the latest enhancement to FAIR Health Consumer, a free, national, award-winning website for consumers, available in English (fairhealthconsumer.org) and Spanish (fairhealthconsumidor.org).

To use this new method for finding medical costs, the consumer clicks on a body partfor example, the chestto be directed to a submenu of options (e.g., heart, breast, lungs). Clicking on an option leads to categories of procedures (for example, for the heart, cardiac catheterization and echocardiogram), then to the most frequently searched procedure codes, a brief description of them and their in-network and out-of-network/uninsured costs.1 Consumers have the option of expanding their search beyond the Body Part Procedure Locator to the general medical procedure cost lookup tool.

The Body Part Procedure Locator is intuitive, requiring only a knowledge of the part of the body that is affected. The consumer does not need advance knowledge of the relevant procedure code; instead, the tool guides the consumer from the affected body part to the most frequently searched codes.

In addition to offering medical and dental cost estimates, FAIR Health Consumer includes educational articles and resources about health insurance, shared decision-making tools, a shoppable services tool and a dedicated section for older adults.

The healthcare sector has consistently recognized the importance and effectiveness of FAIR Health's consumer tools, educational content and resources. Among other accolades, FAIR Health has won eHealthcare Leadership Awards every year from 2012 to the present. In that competition in 2023, FAIR Health Consumer received two Best Mobile Website awards, one for the English version and the other for the Spanish version. The Spanish version, FAIR Health Consumidor, won awards for Best Internet Home Page and Best Overall Internet. FAIR Health won a distinction for Best Social Media for its Facebook ad campaign spotlighting FAIR Health Consumer and fairhealthprovider.org, a site for providers focusing on shared decision making. FAIR Health's corporate website, fairhealth.org, won an award for Best Infectious Disease Communications. Finally, FAIR Health received the Mark Gothberg eHealthcare Organizational Commitment Award, the highest honor of the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, recognizing industry leadership, innovation and commitment.

FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated: "FAIR Health is excited to launch the Body Part Procedure Locator, a visual guidepost for consumers, especially those who are just starting to research medical cost information. It is the most recent example of the commitment to innovation and consumer-friendliness that has always marked FAIR Health Consumer."

To find the Body Part Procedure Locator, click here.

Follow us on Twitter @FAIRHealth

About FAIR Health

FAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization that qualifies as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. It is dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 44 billion claim records and is growing at a rate of over 2 billion claim records a year. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data productsincluding benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics and market indicesto commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D; FAIR Health includes among the private claims data in its database, data on Medicare Advantage enrollees. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health's systems for processing and storing protected health information have earned HITRUST CSF certification and achieved AICPA SOC 2 Type 2 compliance by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish, which enables consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offers a rich educational platform on health insurance. An English/Spanish mobile app offers the same educational platform in a concise format and links to the cost estimation tools. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org.

Contact:

Rachel Kent

Senior Director of Communications and Marketing

FAIR Health

646-396-0795

[email protected]

1 The in-network cost is the total fee negotiated between an insurance plan and a provider for an in-network service, including both the portion to be paid by the plan member and the portion to be paid by the plan. The out-of-network/uninsured cost is the amount charged to a patient who is uninsured or obtaining an out-of-network service.

SOURCE FAIR Health
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Iran exports heavy water to various countries that use high technology and operate in this field, said Vice President and Chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami, Trend reports.

He spoke to reporters after the meeting of the Cabinet of Iran in Tehran on January 17.

The vice president noted that even Iran once exported heavy water to the US.

Eslami said that currently Iran is producing heavy water derivatives, and it has orders for heavy water derivatives.

As reported, heavy water and heavy water derivatives are used in various fields, including pharmaceuticals. Iran exports heavy water to 7-8 countries.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) had a limit of 130 tons for Irans heavy water stocks. But in 2020, Iran stopped following the deals rules, and the amount of its heavy water reserves became unknown.

Iran claims that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes such as electricity generation, agriculture, and other fields, 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.

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, affecting its oil exports and freezing its assets abroad. More than 700 banks, companies, and individuals were also targeted by the sanctions.

Iran has been trying to resume talks with the other parties on its nuclear issue and revive the JCPOA. The main goals of Iran are to end the sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries, access funds frozen abroad, and resume its crude oil exports.

In late 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to implement a strategic plan to tackle the sanctions, citing the non-implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran.

According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear deal. As a result, the control mechanism of the IAEA decreased by 2030 percent.

---

Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur
Independent Survey Shows FASTSIGNS Ranks Highest in Franchisee Satisfaction in the Business Service Category Within the Top 200 Franchise Brands for the Sixth Consecutive Year

CARROLLTON, Texas, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FASTSIGNS , the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today it has been ranked Best-in-Category in the Business Service sector on Franchise Business Review's list of the Top Franchises for 2024. This is the 19th annual ranking of the 200 best franchise opportunities as rated by franchise business owners, and the sixth consecutive year FASTSIGNS has ranked. The list is available at https://franchisebusinessreview.com/lists/top-200-franchises/ .

"Being ranked among the top franchise opportunities and as the best in our category year over year is a testament to the relentless dedication of both our corporate team and our franchisees to not only establish FASTSIGNS as the leader in our industry, but also foster a positive culture throughout our network," said Mark Jameson, chief development officer at Propelled Brands. "This recognition fuels our determination to attract the best franchise candidates as we continue to expand our ownership opportunities, including through our co-brand and conversion programs. As we celebrate this milestone, we look ahead to a future where FASTSIGNS continues to set the standard for excellence in the signage industry."

Franchise Business Review , a market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and employee engagement, provides the only rankings and awards for franchise companies based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of the top 200 franchises in its annual Guide to Today's Top Franchises .

FASTSIGNS was among over 375 franchise brands, representing more than 35,000 franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review's research. FASTSIGNS' franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training & support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, and financial opportunity. The brand provides the highest support ratio of any sign franchise and offers diverse opportunities for prospective franchisees, including allowing independent sign shops or businesses in related industries to gain the support of the franchise through its co-brand and conversion programs.

"While researching franchises, I selected an industry leader. The visibility, products and services that FASTSIGNS offers, coupled with their support of franchise owners, was evident," said Steph Drileck, FASTSIGNS franchise of multiple San Antonio centers. "We wanted to invest in a business opportunity as a calculated risk, and we were confident that the FASTSIGNS business model, combined with our dedication and hard work, would pay off  and it has!"

FASTSIGNS' survey data showed the following:

92% of franchisees "strongly agree" or "agree" to respecting the franchisor.

95% of franchisees are likely to recommend FASTSIGNS to others.

95% of franchisees rate their local market competitiveness above average, +20% higher than the industry benchmark.

"Franchisee satisfaction continues to be the leading indicator of franchise performance and system health, and we are pleased to report that our latest research shows satisfaction has remained at some of the highest levels in the past 19 years. In fact, our survey results show that three out of four franchise owners would recommend their brand to others. That's extremely encouraging news for franchise owners and anyone considering investing in a franchise," said Michelle Rowan, president and COO of Franchise Business Review. "As an independent research firm, Franchise Business Review is committed to helping prospective franchisees get an objective view of the best franchise opportunities available based on actual feedback from the people who own them. Each of the award winners on this year's list of the 200 Top Franchises received stellar ratings from their franchisees in the areas crucial to success in operating a franchise, including training & support, leadership, innovation, culture, and financial opportunity."

The total investment for a FASTSIGNS franchise is approximately $240,080 - $310,569, including a $49,750 franchise fee. Ideal candidates have a net worth of $300,000, of which $80K is liquid. The brand offers a special incentive for veterans and first responders which includes a 50% reduction on the franchise fee  a savings of $24,875.

For more information about FASTSIGNS, visit https://www.fastsigns.com .

Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full description of the 2024 Top Franchises .

About FASTSIGNS

FASTSIGNS is a leading national visual ideas company that creates a wide variety of comprehensive sign and graphics solutions. With over 35 years of experience, FASTSIGNS helps you achieve more than you ever thought possible. We are the worldwide franchisor of more than 765 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers. FASTSIGNS locations span across the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Grand Cayman, Malta, the Dominican Republic and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE). FASTSIGNS is frequently recognized for franchisee satisfaction and through franchising awards which include being ranked #1 on Entrepreneur's Highly Competitive Franchise 500 List for the Seventh Consecutive Year for 2023 as well as being named a 2023 Best-in-Category Franchise by Franchise Business Review.

In 2021, Propelled Brands was formed, and is now the multi-brand franchisor for FASTSIGNS, NerdsToGo and MY SALON Suite.

To learn more visit fastsigns.com . Follow the brand on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fastsigns , Twitter @FASTSIGNS or Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS . For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson ([email protected] or call 214.346.5679).

SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc.
Jude Volek brings high-level government civil rights experience to the firm's White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce that Jude Volek has joined the firm's Washington, D.C. office2 as counsel in the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice. Volek recently finished his service as Special Assistant and Senior Associate Counsel to President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. in the White House Counsel's Office. He will advise clients on sensitive internal investigations, government enforcement actions, and litigation involving anti-discrimination and civil rights issues.

Jude Volek, Latham & Watkins LLP

As Special Assistant and Senior Associate Counsel to the President, Volek provided strategic advice to the president and other senior White House officials across a wide range of issues, including the full spectrum of civil rights issues, such as the implications of the use of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies; diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; criminal justice reform; tribal justice; voting rights; reproductive rights; and government procurement. From 2011 to 2021, Volek served in the Civil Rights Division at the US Department of Justice in various roles, including as Deputy Chief and as a Trial Attorney in the Special Litigation Section. In those positions, Volek served as lead counsel in complex investigations and civil litigation enforcing federal statutes prohibiting discrimination and represented the United States in more than 100 hearings in federal court.

"We are delighted to welcome Jude to Latham and our Washington, D.C. office," said Mandy Reeves, Washington, D.C. Office Managing Partner. "He adds further depth to our market-leading White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice particularly in light of his unique anti-discrimination and civil rights experience. Our clients will benefit from Jude's insights and experience while at the White House and DOJ, in matters ranging from sensitive internal investigations to Congressional investigations and government enforcement cases."

"Complying with anti-discrimination laws and regulations, as well as navigating investigations and reviews with civil rights implications require increasingly sophisticated counsel from experienced lawyers," said Kevin Chambers, Global Chair of the firm's White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice. "Jude's background in crisis management and experience navigating the dynamics of high-profile civil rights investigations and other sensitive matters will be tremendous assets to our clients."

Danielle Conley, a Washington, D.C. white collar partner who leads the firm's Anti-Discrimination & Civil Rights practice said: "Jude is a phenomenal addition to our team. He brings tremendous insight into the cutting-edge civil rights issues arising from new technologies, like AI, as well as the latest developments in regulatory enforcement and legislative priorities. I worked closely with Jude in the White House and at the DOJ, and have seen his impeccable judgment and talent in navigating highly complex legal issues first-hand. I'm excited to be working with him again."

Volek is the third lawyer to join Latham from the White House Counsel's Office of President Biden, following the arrivals of former Deputy White House Counsel Danielle Conley and Jonathan Su in late 2022.

"I am excited to be joining Latham's incredible team of white collar lawyers with a focus on anti-discrimination and civil rights issues," said Volek. "The firm's integrated global platform and collaborative approach are crucial strengths for delivering exceptional results for clients across all types of organizations on their most sensitive matters. I look forward to building upon Latham's stellar reputation in this area."

Volek received his JD from Harvard Law School and his BA from Amherst College. After law school, he clerked for Judge Janet C. Hall of the US District Court for the District of Connecticut and Judge Sandra Lynch of the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

About Latham & Watkins (lw.com)

Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.

Notes to Editors

1 Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company, in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office, and in Saudi Arabia through a limited liability company.

2 Admitted to practice in New York only. Work in the District of Columbia conducted pursuant to DC Court of Appeals Rule 49(c)(8). All work in the District of Columbia supervised by a member of the DC Bar.

SOURCE Latham & Watkins
DUBLIN, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Computer Aided Engineering Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global market for Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) stands at a robust value of USD 8.41 billion as of the close of 2022, boasting a compelling Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.13% during the forecast period. This market's trajectory is steered by an escalating demand for streamlined product design, cost-effectiveness, and accelerated time-to-market. CAE, by virtue of its predictive prowess, structural integrity assessments, and material behavior analyses, significantly amplifies engineering efficiency and innovation.

Further fueling this growth are advancements in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing, propelling the CAE market towards more precise simulations, swift analyses, and remote collaboration. As industries continue to push boundaries in innovation, the global CAE market remains an indispensable force shaping the future of engineering practices and technological progress.

Key Market Drivers

Innovative Product Design and Increasing Complexity

The relentless pursuit of innovation and the rising complexity of products across diverse industries are robust forces driving the stellar growth of the global CAE market. In today's fiercely competitive landscape, businesses face constant pressure to design and develop products that surpass customer expectations in terms of performance, safety, and efficiency. CAE solutions emerge as critical enablers of innovation in product design, leveraging the power of simulation to allow engineers and designers to virtually prototype and test products. This not only saves time and resources but also empowers engineers to explore a broader range of design possibilities, from optimizing the aerodynamics of electric vehicles to ensuring the structural integrity of complex buildings.

Shortening Time-to-Market and Reducing Costs

The unyielding pressure to reduce time-to-market while minimizing costs serves as a driving force behind the global CAE market's growth. Traditional design and testing methods are time-consuming and expensive, often requiring multiple iterations and physical prototypes. CAE addresses these challenges by enabling engineers to digitally test and refine designs, leading to faster product development cycles and substantial cost savings. As industries strive to bring products to market quickly and cost-effectively, the adoption of CAE software becomes a strategic imperative, providing efficiency gains that translate into competitive advantages.

Emphasis on Sustainability and Regulatory Compliance

The growing emphasis on sustainability and stringent regulatory compliance propels the remarkable growth of the global CAE market. In an era marked by environmental concerns and a commitment to reducing the carbon footprint, businesses face immense pressure to develop sustainable products and processes. CAE solutions play a pivotal role in this transformative journey by empowering organizations to model and analyze the environmental impact of their products at every stage of the development process. From simulating the energy efficiency of buildings to optimizing the environmental impact of manufacturing processes, CAE contributes to meeting regulatory requirements and fostering innovation in sustainable design.

Advancements in Cloud Computing and High-Performance Computing

Advancements in cloud computing and high-performance computing (HPC) emerge as pivotal drivers propelling the global CAE market forward. Cloud-based CAE solutions offer benefits such as remote collaboration, scalable resources, and reduced hardware costs. Engineers can access simulations from anywhere, enabling global teams to collaborate seamlessly on projects. Furthermore, HPC accelerates the computational speed of simulations, allowing for complex analyses to be completed in a fraction of the time. The convergence of cloud computing and HPC enhances the accessibility, scalability, and efficiency of CAE software, positioning it as a cornerstone of modern engineering practices in an increasingly connected and technologically advanced world.

Key Market Challenges

Complexity of Integration and Interoperability

Amidst the rapid evolution of the global CAE market, one of the most significant challenges is the complexity of integrating and ensuring interoperability among diverse CAE tools and software platforms. The expansion of CAE solutions to accommodate various disciplines, industries, and stages of product development results in engineers working with a mix of specialized software. This diversity can hinder seamless data exchange and collaboration, leading to compatibility issues, data loss, and fragmented workflows. Addressing this challenge requires standardization efforts, open data formats, and collaborative platforms facilitating smooth data exchange between different CAE tools.

High Computational Demands and Scalability

The global CAE market grapples with managing high computational demands and achieving scalability as simulations become more complex and data-intensive. As industries increasingly rely on CAE for comprehensive product analysis and optimization, simulations demand substantial computing power to deliver accurate results in a reasonable timeframe. The need for scalability poses a challenge as project sizes vary, and computational demands fluctuate. Cloud-based solutions offer potential solutions by providing on-demand access to scalable computing resources, but challenges such as security concerns, data privacy, and latency issues need careful consideration.

Key Market Trends

Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

The global CAE market undergoes a transformative shift driven by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. These cutting-edge capabilities revolutionize the way engineers interact with CAE software, enabling more efficient simulations and analyses. AI and ML algorithms automatically optimize designs, predict performance outcomes, and identify trends in large datasets, streamlining workflows, and driving productivity.

Simulation-Driven Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

Simulation-driven Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) emerges as a prominent trend reshaping the global CAE market. Traditionally utilized primarily in the design phase, CAE tools are increasingly integrated across the entire product lifecycle. Simulation-driven PLM involves using CAE to guide decision-making at every stage, fostering collaboration between engineering and other departments, minimizing design iterations, reducing physical prototypes, and ensuring products meet desired specifications throughout their lifecycle.

Democratization of Simulation and Cloud-Based Solutions

The democratization of simulation tools and the rise of cloud-based solutions reshape the global CAE market by expanding accessibility and collaboration. Traditionally confined to specialized engineering teams, complex CAE tools are becoming more accessible to a wider range of users, including designers, analysts, and non-engineering stakeholders. Cloud-based CAE solutions gain traction due to scalability, reduced hardware requirements, and remote collaboration capabilities, breaking down geographical barriers and enabling global teams to work seamlessly.

Segmental Insights

Deployment Mode Insights

The on-premises segment emerges as the predominant choice, exhibiting unwavering dominance projected throughout the forecast period. This deployment mode, involving housing CAE software and infrastructure within an organization's premises, provides greater control over data security and customization. Industries, sensitive to data privacy, favor maintaining critical engineering data within their infrastructure, underscoring the significance of localized control and tailored solutions in the evolving landscape of CAE adoption.

End User Insights

The automotive segment emerges as a formidable frontrunner, exerting dominance throughout the forecast period. The automotive industry's reliance on CAE tools for designing, simulating, and optimizing various aspects of vehicles is unparalleled. As the automotive sector evolves with advancements in electric and autonomous vehicles, the demand for sophisticated CAE solutions escalates. This segment's robust dominance reflects its unwavering commitment to engineering excellence and its instrumental role in steering the global CAE market towards the future of automotive innovation.

Regional Insights

North America firmly establishes itself as a commanding presence within the global Computer-Aided Engineering market, affirming its preeminent position. With a robust blend of technological innovation, thriving industries, and a culture of engineering excellence, North America has emerged as a powerhouse of CAE adoption and innovation. The region's commitment to pushing the boundaries of product design, simulation, and analysis aligns seamlessly with the capabilities offered by CAE tools. As North America continues to drive advancements in aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, and other sectors, the demand for cutting-edge CAE solutions intensifies. The region's influence is further accentuated by its contribution to technological research and development, fostering a climate of innovation that resonates globally. This commanding presence solidifies North America's stature as a dominant force in the CAE market, steering the course of the industry's evolution and shaping the future of engineering practices on a global scale.

Report Scope

In this comprehensive report, the global Computer-Aided Engineering market is segmented into categories such as component, deployment modes, end-users, and regions. The industry trends outlined in the report cover:

Global Computer-Aided Engineering Market, By Component:

Software Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Multibody Dynamics

Optimization & Simulation Services Development Service

Training, Support & Maintenance

Global Computer-Aided Engineering Market, By Deployment Mode:

On-premises

Cloud

Global Computer-Aided Engineering Market, By End User:

Automotive

Defense & Aerospace

Electronics

Medical Devices

Industrial Equipment

Others

Global Computer-Aided Engineering Market, By Region:

North America

Europe

South America

Middle East & Africa

& Asia Pacific

Competitive Landscape

The report includes a detailed analysis of major companies present in the global Computer-Aided Engineering market. Some of the companies mentioned in the report include:

Autodesk Inc.

Siemens AG

SolidCAM Ltd.

CNC Software LLC

Hexagon AB

3D Systems Inc.

HCL Technologies Limited

NTT DATA Corporation

OPEN MIND Technologies AG

BobCAD-CAM

In conclusion, this report offers a comprehensive overview of the dynamic landscape of the global Computer-Aided Engineering market, detailing key drivers, challenges, and trends. With a focus on deployment modes, end-users, and regional insights, the report provides valuable information for businesses seeking to understand, enter, or optimize their position in the evolving CAE market.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i50hfu

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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SOURCE Research and Markets
BEL AIR, Md., Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Harford Mutual Insurance Group continues to expand its national footprint after the successful merger of Clearpath Specialty, formerly known as ClearPath Mutual Insurance Company, into the Group.

The merger, which officially took effect on August 4, 2023, marked a milestone in Harford Mutual's 181-year-old history. ClearPath Mutual, a well-established monoline workers' compensation carrier based in Louisville, Kentucky, merged into Harford Mutual and converted to a stock insurer, now operating under the name Clearpath Insurance Company, marketed as "Clearpath Specialty." As a member of the Group, all policyholders continue to receive the benefits of mutuality as they renew or write new business with Clearpath Specialty.

The merger has broadened Harford Mutual's national footprint, establishing three offices strategically positioned across the country: the Home Office and headquarters in Bel Air, Md.; the Southern Office in Fort Mill, S.C.; and the Midwest Office in Louisville, Ky. The company has also expanded its reach, with Clearpath writing workers' compensation business in Kentucky and Indiana.

Bringing our full-time employee count to over 250, Harford Mutual's employee base grew by approximately 55 individuals, who work out of the Midwest Office and primarily support monoline workers' compensation. All Clearpath Specialty employees became employees of Harford Mutual at the beginning of 2024.

Over the last five months, Clearpath has begun integrating into Harford Mutual programs and processes with completion expected to take place over the next 18 months into 2025. In 2024, Harford Mutual is looking forward to the gradual expansion of monoline workers' compensation into the existing states and agencies where it currently writes business.

In November 2023, recognizing the need to accommodate an expanding team, Harford Mutual relocated its Southern Office to a more spacious office in Fort Mill. This move underscores the company's dedication to providing an optimal working environment for team members and enhances collaboration with valued agency partners in the Southern region.

In 2024, Harford Mutual looks forward to building upon thriving partnerships, continuing to deliver exceptional service, and maintaining its position as a regional carrier of choice.

About Harford Mutual Insurance Group

Harford Mutual Insurance Group, founded in 1842 in Harford County, Maryland, provides commercial property and casualty insurance products and services to a regional market, including monoline workers' compensation through the addition of Clearpath Specialty in 2023. The Group is a top-performing insurance company (Ward's 50 in 2021 and 2022), ending 2023 with over $400 million in direct written premium sold through independent agents in twelve states and Washington, D.C. Harford Mutual is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. For more information, visit www.HarfordMutual.com.

SOURCE Harford Mutual Insurance Group
CINCINNATI, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Carousel, a leader in healthcare staffing solutions, recently partnered with Southeast Health, a forward-thinking healthcare institution, to address critical staffing challenges and achieve strategic business goals with a focus on improved patient care and staff retention.

Health Carousel Transforms Staffing for Southeast Health: A Case Study in Innovative Workforce Solutions

In 2018, Southeast Health faced a looming nursing shortage, realizing that current recruitment strategies were ineffective in terms of cost and efficiency. Local and regional recruitment efforts fell short, leading to challenges in filling essential positions. Difficulties in staffing specialized roles added strain to healthcare delivery.

Southeast tackled its staffing challenges through a strategic partnership with Health Carousel, resulting in a tailored staffing solution and the creation of a successful international nursing program.

"Our mission is focused on ensuring the wellness of our communities and the people that we serve," Melissa Owens, RN, MSN, CNO and VP, Patient Care Services for Southeast Health said. "Health Carousel took the time to get to know our facility and what we needed. Partnering with them, understanding that they are aligned with us in our mission, was significant for our ability to be successful."

With long-term assignments for international nurses, Southeast not only secured stability and diversity, but also fostered a sense of community integration, echoing the hospital's commitment to making their staff feel like they are part of the family.

"Healthcare is not just a service; it's a fundamental expression of compassion," Donita Ross, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CGNC, ACNO and VP of Health Carousel International. "We are extremely proud to partner Southeast Health and share their inclusive and empowering culture with our nurses. Their dedication to their patients and all their staff, highlights how each individual plays a vital role in improving the lives of our community members."

Building on the initial success of the partnership, Southeast expanded their staffing solutions to include a managed workforce program, incorporating domestic nurses and innovative staffing technology. Powered by a Vendor Management System (VMS) that's specifically designed for healthcare leaders, they now have real-time access to vital information such as candidate pipeline and cost-benefit ratios.

Thanks to this comprehensive initiative, Southeast Health has greater control over its operating budget and streamlined their staffing process. Health Carousel helped Southeast expand their international nursing team to 120, which is complemented by the strategic use of domestic nurses to fill immediate needs, resulting in an impressive 11% reduction in Southeast's contingent labor costs.

For more on this solution for workforce stabilization, cost reduction, and operational enhancement, watch the video highlighting Southeast Health's success.

Interested in your own workforce solution designed to lower costs, improve employee retention, and improve patient experience? Contact Health Carousel at [email protected].

ABOUT HEALTH CAROUSEL

Health Carousel is a total talent management company with a leading portfolio of healthcare staffing solutions. By delivering highly qualified international nurses, travel nurses, and allied health professionals across a range of in-demand specialties, we are working to ensure every patient in the United States of America has access to a qualified healthcare professional, when and where they are needed.

For more information about Health Carousel visit www.healthcarousel.com or contact [email protected].

SOURCE Health Carousel
BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthcare Management Administrators is pleased to welcome Aadam Hussain as its next president and chief executive officer to lead the company into its next phase of growth.

"I look forward to leading HMA through their next phase of growth. The continued momentum as an organization is a testament to the creativity, service and partnership the team brings to their customers every day."  Aadam Hussain Post this Healthcare Management Administrators Aadam Hussain

Hussain comes to HMA from Cambia Health Solutions where he served as interim President of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, and SVP of consumer health solutions and partnerships, leading the companies' long-term member engagement strategy. Hussain brings extensive healthcare experience to the role with a career spanning nearly two decades that focused on M&A integration, strategic planning, investing, and scaling businesses. Prior to Cambia, he held numerous executive level roles with Change Healthcare, a healthcare technology company, and Health Evolution Partners, a healthcare focused private equity firm.

Hussain will succeed Lindsay Harris, who has been appointed chief commercial officer at Cambia Health Solutions, and who served as HMA's leader since 2020.

"Aadam's appointment will bring new perspectives and a commitment to understanding HMA's customers, broker partners and member priorities," said Lindsay Harris, former President, and CEO. "As I hand over the reins, I am confident that HMA will continue to maintain its strong culture and is well poised for its next chapter of growth under Aadam's leadership."

"I look forward to embracing the core values that HMA has established and that are foundational to everything the team has achieved for our customers," Hussain says. "HMA has built a strong reputation in the self-funded market as being an innovative partner and I will ensure we remain agile and flexible to fuel innovation and growth. The future is bright as we look to expand our market and deliver on what matters most for members."

Hussain graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in History. He serves on the boards of the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Foundation and the American Cancer Society of Oregon and Southwest Washington and is based on Portland, OR.

About Healthcare Management Administrators

HMA is Proving What's Possible in Healthcare. Our team of caring experts design and deliver high-quality, innovative, and affordable health plans for self-funded employers. We are the value-oriented partner employers trust to protect two of their most important assets, their people and their health plan dollars. With over 30 years of industry experience and a team of proactive, highly skilled professionals, we help employers improve their bottom-line. We call this "Winning Together" because we're on the same side and share the same goals  healthier outcomes for members at the best possible value. To learn more, visit www.accesshma.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Healthcare Management Administrators, Inc.
Latest company growth announced while exhibiting at the January 2024 Intersolar showcase in San Diego, CA.

SYLVANIA, Ohio, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its commitment to excellence as a supplier, Ice Industries (Ice) has been awarded an additional long-term contract supplying solar panel components to First Solar, Inc. (FSLR), the largest US-headquartered photovoltaic (PV) solar manufacturer. Under the agreement, Ice expects to invest up to $9.8 million in a new facility in Louisiana to exclusively supply steel back rails for solar modules produced by First Solar's new vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, which is expected to start commercial shipments by the first half of 2026.

The new Ice facility in Louisiana is expected to create up to 110 new jobs and is the company's second roll forming facility dedicated to supplying First Solar with high quality back rails for its Series 7 modules. In 2022, Ice established its Bowling Green, Ohio facility, representing an investment of $9 million and the creation of 120 new jobs, to supply First Solar's manufacturing footprint in Lake Township, Ohio with back rails made with 100% American steel.

"First Solar already sets the bar for domestic supply chains in the solar industry, as we produce our Series 7 modules with 100% US-made glass and steel and source the majority of our components from our network of domestic suppliers," said Mike Koralewski, chief supply chain officer, First Solar. "And as we scale, our supply chains must scale with us, supporting our expansion in Louisiana and Alabama while also supplementing the impact of investments by creating jobs and economic value. We are pleased to extend our partnership with Ice, bringing additional investment and jobs to Louisiana."

Ice currently plans to initiate production in the first half of 2025. A comprehensive site selection process is currently underway.

"We very much appreciate this vote of confidence, allowing Ice to again partner with First Solar, a great American company, and a leader in the global solar industry. We are excited to make yet another considerable investment in capital and people, while continuing to grow our presence in this exciting market. Both companies share the goal of showcasing technological and manufacturing expertise to meet the world's growing demand for alternative energy sources," stated Howard Ice, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ice Industries.

Ice Industries has participated in the clean energy market for many years, having supplied high volumes of various balance of system components for multiple utility-scale solar farms throughout the U.S.

About Ice Industries

Ice Industries, Inc. is a world-class supplier with a broad range of capabilities including: deep draw metal stamping; CNC machining; MIG, TIG, and resistance welding; assembly; rolled and welded pressure vessels, large format enclosures, high volume blanking, automated roll forming, and powder coating. Customers are assured of both company stability and quality performance through a diversified customer base serving markets including HVAC-R, automotive, commercial and heavy truck, alternative energy, filtration, fire & safety, furniture, healthcare, and off-highway vehicles. Facilities are distributed throughout the central manufacturing corridor, with locations in Mason, Toledo, and Bowling Green, Ohio; Grenada, Mississippi; and Apodaca/Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Ice's production facilities are ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and TS 19649 certified. Ice works with companies that require the highest levels of quality and delivery, and those who are in need of localization or de-integration of their stamping operations. Further information can be obtained on the Ice website at http://www.iceindustries.com.

Contact:

Jim Zawodny

Director of Sales

***@iceindustries.com

419-842-3626

PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/13002826

SOURCE Ice Industries, Inc.
After reporting a record year in sales, IKEA U.S. releases its FY23 Annual Summary highlighting the company's commitments to becoming more affordable, accessible and sustainable.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, alongside the release of the 2023 Annual Summary, IKEA U.S. announced that four Plan & order point with Pick-up locations will open across the country in 2024. The Annual Summary shares strides the company made in affordability, sustainable practices, automation, and equity and inclusion; and these strategic expansions showcase how IKEA remains committed to making the brand more accessible, convenient and affordable for the many.

"As we look back at the past year, I'm proud of the progress we've made in reducing our environmental impact and keeping affordability and accessibility at the forefront for all our customers," said Javier Quinones, CEO & Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA U.S. "Looking ahead, we are excited about our plans for new locations and services bringing the joy of IKEA to more hearts and homes. Creating a home you love is about to get even simpler for everyone!"

Expanding our reach

In 2024, IKEA U.S. is excited to welcome customers at new Plan & order points with Pick-up in Austin, Texas, the Atlanta Metropolitan area, two locations in the greater Los Angeles market and more to come. The Austin Plan & Order point with Pick-up will be the second IKEA location in the Austin area and is slated to open in the summer of 2024 in the Domain Shopping Center at 3306 Esperanza Crossing. With the addition of the IKEA Pick-up point, customers will be able to collect their purchases when and where it's convenient for them.

These new format stores across the U.S. will increase accessibility for customers without compromising on quality or design, and customers can receive support from IKEA experts to plan and order home furnishing solutions such as kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. More details will be shared about each location throughout 2024.

In addition to new locations announced today, IKEA U.S. will open Plan & order points with Pick-up in Annapolis and Gaithersburg, Maryland, Katy, Texas and more.

IKEA is also sharing details about the past year in its FY23 Annual Summary, highlighting one of the most successful years to date for IKEA U.S. in advancing sustainability goals, building co-worker support and furthering product affordability. Highlights include:

IKEA U.S. had a record year, achieving over $6.3 billion in total sales of goods and services while continuing to keep affordability and accessibility at the core of its business.

Achieved a 6.6% growth compared to the previous year despite the prevailing economic challenges.

Re-introduced New Lower Price, a dedication to meaningful affordability through reduced prices on hundreds of favorite IKEA products across the entire range in all U.S. Stores and IKEA.com.

Lowered prices on many products during the summer months along with seasonal deals and discounts throughout the year.

IKEA U.S. made strides towards its mission to become climate-positive by 2030 and worked with social justice partners to create meaningful change.

Launched As-is online, a new service that allows IKEA Family members to shop gently used products from the comfort of their homes and expanded the Buy Back & Resell service to more stores.

Opened ultra-fast public EV chargers at several stores and will install a total of 500 public fast chargers and more than 300 fleet chargers in the coming years.

Contributed over $2.5 million in retail value of in-kind and financial donations to 280 different nonprofits.

in retail value of in-kind and financial donations to 280 different nonprofits. Advocated for legislation that aligns with IKEA values and mission including the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act in California , Respect for Marriage Act, Equality Act and the Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth (STURDY) Act.

Putting people first is at the heart of the IKEA values-driven approach, and that starts with ensuring the health and happiness of IKEA co-workers.

Dispersed a total of $54.5 million to two thirds of U.S. co-workers as part of "One IKEA Bonus", a performance-based payout, in addition to an extra contribution to eligible co-workers' retirement plan through the Tack! Program.

to two thirds of U.S. co-workers as part of "One IKEA Bonus", a performance-based payout, in addition to an extra contribution to eligible co-workers' retirement plan through the Tack! Program. Enhanced benefits for IKEA U.S. co-workers including adding new gender-affirming covered medical procedures to the medical plan.

Built ED&I into everyday operations through a new governance structure and continued the IKEA U.S. ED&I journey by sharing demographic data for leadership and U.S. co-workers.

View the full IKEA U.S. FY23 Annual Summary here for more details on how IKEA is creating a better everyday life for the many.

About IKEA

At IKEA, the vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people by offering well-designed, functional and affordable, high-quality home furnishing, produced with care for people and the environment. Ingka Group (Ingka Holding B.V. and its controlled entities) is one of 12 different groups of companies that own and operate IKEA retail under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. Ingka Group has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Ingka Group is a strategic partner in the IKEA franchise system, operating 375 IKEA stores in 30 countries  including 51 retail locations in the U.S.

For more information on IKEA U.S., see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

SOURCE IKEA
DUBLIN, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Tests Pipeline Report including Stages of Development, Segments, Region and Countries, Regulatory Path and Key Companies, 2023 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The landscape of genomic medicine is constantly evolving, with Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) at its forefront. Today, we announce the availability of a comprehensive sector report on our website that delves into the burgeoning NGS Tests pipeline. This report offers an unparalleled depth of insight into the NGS Tests under development, showcasing cutting-edge advancements in this revolutionary field.

The report entitled "Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Tests Pipeline Report" articulates a detailed analysis of various NGS Tests in different stages of development, from early-stage innovations to those nearing approval. It encapsulates product descriptions, developmental activities, licensing details, collaborations, and a focused examination of clinical trials currently underway.

Product Development Insights

The report covers an extensive array of NGS Tests in development, revealing intricate details such as design and function.

It includes critical analyses of licensing agreements and collaborative efforts among industry players.

The document embraces a holistic approach by detailing each product's developmental stage, from early discovery to market-ready status.

Strategic Player Analysis

Comprehensive in its approach, the report further reviews influential entities within the NGS space and enumerates their ongoing pipeline projects. This information is vital for stakeholders aiming to establish strategic collaborations, identify key competitors, or tap into new segments.

Clinical Trial and Developmental Stages

An important section of the report provides key data on ongoing clinical trials, supporting experts in recognizing significant trends and advancements. Through meticulously compiling the stages of development for NGS Tests, this publication becomes a critical tool for those involved in product innovation and market strategy.

Emerging Trends & Regional Analysis

This report does not solely focus on the technological aspects but also provides a geographical lens, detailing developments in various regions and countries. It also sheds light on the regulatory pathways influencing NGS Tests, an aspect crucial for those navigating the complex landscape of medical device approvals.

Competitive Intelligence for Market Expansion

Insights garnered from the report empower businesses to craft R&D strategies tailored to the dynamic nature of the NGS market.

The in-depth analysis provides a backdrop for market entry and expansion plans, allowing companies to position themselves strategically in a competitive landscape.

Merger and acquisition strategies can be fine-tuned by understanding the pipeline and potentials of major players.

The addition of the "Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Tests Pipeline Report" to our website marks a significant milestone for professionals and corporations vested in the NGS domain, providing an exceptional resource for those dedicated to advancing clinical applications and capitalizing on market growth opportunities.

Noteworthy Discoveries and Industry Advancements

The NGS frontier is filled with discoveries that continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in genome sequencing. As the report indicates, emerging trends and advancements in this field may prove transformative for the entire medical sector. We invite all stakeholders, from bioinformatics companies to healthcare institutions, to explore the insights within the "Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Tests Pipeline Report" and stay at the vanguard of genomic medicine's future.

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

4bases SA

AccuraGen Inc

ACT Genomics Co LTD

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp

Almac Diagnostic Services Ltd

Amoy Diagnostics Co Ltd

AnchorDx Medical Co Ltd

ArcherDx Inc

Berry Oncology Corp

BGI Genomics Co Ltd

Biocartis Group NV

Biodesix Inc

BioLink

bioTheranostics Inc

Boston University

Buhlmann Laboratories AG

Burning Rock Biotech Ltd

Cardiff Oncology Inc

Cerba HealthCare SAS

DCGen Co Ltd

Eiken Chemical Co Ltd

Epic Sciences Inc

Epigenomics AG

First Genetics JCS

Flomics Biotech

Foundation Medicine Inc

Freenome Inc

Gencurix Inc

GeneCast Biotechnology Co Ltd

Geneseeq Technology Inc

Genetron Health ( Beijing ) Co Ltd

) Co Ltd Genomic Health Inc

GigaGen Inc

HaploX Biotechnology Co Ltd

Haystack Oncology Inc

HTG Molecular Diagnostics Inc

Illumina Inc

Immunovia AB

Inivata Ltd

Insight Genetics Inc

InVivoScribe Technologies Inc

IvyGene Diagnostics

Laboratory Corp of America Holdings

Leto Laboratories Co Ltd

Lucence Diagnostics Pte Ltd

MedySapiens Inc

Mega Genomics Ltd

MolecularMD Corp

NGeneBio Co Ltd

Novigenix SA

Novomics Co Ltd

NuGEN Technologies Inc

NuProbe Inc

Oncodiag

OncoDNA SA

OncoSpire Genomics

OncXerna Therapeutics Inc

OrigiMed Inc

Otsuka Medical Devices Co Ltd

Pasteur Institute

Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc

Pillar Biosciences Inc

Predicine Inc

Predictive Biosciences Inc (Inactive)

Qiagen NV

Quantgene Inc

Queen's University

RealSeq Biosciences Inc

Rhodx Inc

Roche Diagnostics International Ltd

SeqOne SAS

Silicon Biosystems S.p.A.

Sophia Genetics SA

Spectrum Solutions LLC

Sysmex Corp

Sysmex Inostics GmbH

Tempus Health Inc

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc

Trivitron Healthcare Pvt Ltd

TwinStrand Biosciences Inc

University of Chicago

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Rogel Cancer Center University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Vyant Bio Inc

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/k9i77d

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets
The 100 Stories for 100 Years campaign will detail the iconic projects, innovation, philanthropy, employees, and clients that have transformed communities

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- One hundred years ago, John Ernest Dunn started a company, JE Dunn Construction, based on the principles of hard work, integrity, and excellence. Dunn's principles have become the cornerstone of the century-old company and the eighth-largest general contractor in the U.S. In recognition of the company's 100th anniversary, JE Dunn will continue its legacy of giving back and showcase its authentic partnerships with employees, clients, and partners.

"This year-long campaign reflects our past and celebrates our future," said Tim Dunn, Chairman of the Board and Chief Investment Officer at JE Dunn. "JE Dunn not only transforms skylines, but our employees also build authentic partnerships that transform local communities through philanthropic efforts."

To honor this milestone  which comes on the heels of Chairman Emeritus Bill Dunn Sr.'s 100th birthday  the company has planned local and national celebrations that include employee and client events, a commemorative logo for construction site signage and employee gear, and a digital media campaign featuring 100 stories that showcase the company's history and legacy.

"Reaching our Centennial, I've reflected on how much the company has grown while maintaining our initial values," said Gordon Lansford, President and CEO of JE Dunn. "I give so much credit to the three generations of the Dunn family  as well as our employees, clients, and partners  who got us here and helped to build such a unique place. I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to be a part of how JE Dunn's next 100 years begins."

Community Impact

JE Dunn is nationally recognized for giving back through JE Dunn's Community Impact team. Giving back to communities is core to the company and its employees. An average of 50,000 volunteer hours are donated by employees annually.

Thanks to its employee match program, community ambassador network, and philanthropic leadership within each of the 26 local offices, the company contributed to more than 1,000 nonprofits in 2023 and donates 10% of its pre-tax net income to charities each year.

A national Centennial initiative, Building a Legacy: A Century of Generosity, will kick off in 2024, extending JE Dunn's community impact, and celebrating the employees and communities that have been foundational to the company's success and longevity. Ten worthy organizations will be selected by employees to receive a gift of $100,000 to empower their work in the communities where JE Dunn employees live, work, and build, for a total impact of $1 million nationwide. More information about this important effort will be shared in 2024.

To learn more about this historic milestone, go to JE Dunn's centennial site to read stories about JE Dunn's legacy, projects, impact on the community, and more.

About JE Dunn Construction

JE Dunn Construction, founded in 1924, is the eighth-largest domestic general building contractor in the United States, with offices in 26 locations. We are indispensable business partners because we prioritize building authentic partnerships with our clients and within the communities where we build. We align around a combined vision while providing clients with proven, credible expertise, ongoing collaboration, unmatched communication, and JE Dunn's robust suite of services. We have a resolute responsibility to our clients, communities, and employees, to focus on solutions, not problems, while delivering results that exceed expectations.

Media Contact:

Maggie Kolb, Communications Director

[email protected] 816.292.8531

SOURCE JE Dunn Construction
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Iran reiterates its commitment to resolving issues related to its nuclear program through negotiations, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said, Trend reports.

He made the statement at the meeting with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignacio Cassis in Davos, Switzerland, on January 17.

Amir Abdollahian stated that Iran pursues its principled policy of peaceful nuclear activities. He added that Iran continues to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The minister called it important that Switzerland support the process of nuclear negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program.

According to Amir Abdollahian, the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries in various economic, trade, and tourism fields, as well as the cooperation of private companies, is of great importance.

During the meeting, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignacio Cassis positively assessed the continuation of bilateral dialogue in various fields between the two countries.

Pointing out that there is a 100-year political relationship between the two countries, Kassis asked for the continuation of cooperation in various fields and additional support for the activities of Swiss companies in Iran.

On January 16, Iran's foreign minister visited Davos, Switzerland, in order to participate in the 54th World Economic Forum.

Reportedly, Switzerland is the protector of US interests in Iran.

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, affecting its oil exports and freezing its assets abroad. More than 700 banks, companies, and individuals were also targeted by the sanctions.

Iran has been trying to resume talks with the other parties on its nuclear issue and revive the JCPOA. The main goals of Iran are to end the sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries, access funds frozen abroad, and resume its crude oil exports.

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.

In late 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to implement a strategic plan to tackle the sanctions, citing the non-implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran.

According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear deal. As a result, the control mechanism of the IAEA decreased by 2030 percent.

---

Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur


Sub sandwich company plans to open 300 locations over 10 years

MANASQUAN, N.J., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jersey Mike's Subs, known for its fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs, announced an Area Director and Development Agreement with Redberry Restaurants ("Redberry"), one of Canada's largest restaurant operators. Redberry was named Area Director for Canada with a development agreement to open 300 Jersey Mike's restaurants across Canada by 2034, via a combination of Redberry-owned-and-operated stores and supported franchisee locations.

Jersey Mike's Subs announced an Area Director and Development Agreement with Redberry Restaurants. Post this Jersey Mikes is set to shake up the Canadian QSR scene. Jersey Mikes serves authentic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs on in-store freshly baked bread  the same recipe it started with in 1956. Redberry will purchase the two existing Jersey Mikes locations in Kitchener and London and will open five new Jersey Mikes in Ontario in 2024. The Kitchener and London locations will be completely remodeled in early 2024 to reflect Jersey Mikes new image.

"We are proud to partner with Ken Otto and his team at Redberry," said Peter Cancro, founder and CEO, Jersey Mike's Franchise Systems, Inc. "Their extensive history and reputation in the restaurant business are second to none. Also critical to our company is that they share the same culture and mission statement: to give and make a difference. They are committed to their team members and their local communities."

This marks the first major international expansion for Jersey Mike's in its 68-year history. Redberry will purchase the two existing Jersey Mike's locations in Kitchener and London and will open five new Jersey Mike's in Ontario in 2024, forming the foundation for rapid new store growth. The Kitchener and London locations will be completely remodeled in early 2024 to reflect Jersey Mike's new image.

Redberry owns and operates 180-plus restaurant locations across Canada under the BURGER KING and Taco Bell brands, and now together with Jersey Mike's, has signed agreements for more than 600 additional restaurants.

"We're thrilled that Jersey Mike's entrusted us with bringing their iconic brand to Canada," said Ken Otto, CEO of Redberry. "We resonated strongly with their culture, product, and mission, and are excited to 'Make it Happen' for both Jersey Mike's and their Canadian fans."

Otto added, "In addition to building our own Jersey Mike's, growth will be accelerated by way of supporting other franchisees to join the Jersey Mike's story in every province across Canada."

For information about franchising with Jersey Mike's in Canada, please visit: www.jerseymikes.ca/franchise

Founded in 1956 at the Jersey Shore, Jersey Mike's is set to shake up the Canadian QSR scene. Jersey Mike's premium meats and cheeses are sliced on the spot and piled high on in-store baked bread. Jersey Mike's fans crave their subs made Mike's Way with the freshest vegetables  onions, lettuce and tomatoes  topped off with an exquisite zing of "the juice," red wine vinegar and an olive oil blend. Authentic cheesesteaks are grilled fresh.

Not Just a Meal, but a Movement

The iconic American brand is about more than just high-quality ingredients: "Givingmaking a difference in someone's life" has been Jersey Mike's mission from the beginning. Since 2010, Jersey Mike's locations throughout the country have raised more than $110 million for local charities. In 2023 alone, the chain raised a record-breaking $21 million to help more than 200 local charities during its annual Month of Giving.

This strong foundation in philanthropy perfectly aligns with Redberry's mission to support and uplift local communities. Redberry is a leader in supporting its current Brand partner charitable initiatives and has raised over $1 million dollars to support these outstanding causes. Redberry also sponsors a wide variety of local community initiatives throughout the year and is an active participant in the YMCA and University Co-Op programs to offer jobs and career training.

About Jersey Mike's Subs

Jersey Mike's Subs, with more than 3,000 locations open and in development nationwide, serves authentic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs on in-store freshly baked bread  the same recipe it started with in 1956. Passion for giving in Jersey Mike's local communities is reflected in its mission statement "Givingmaking a difference in someone's life." For more information, please visit jerseymikes.com or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/jerseymikes), Instagram (instagram.com/jerseymikes), and Twitter (twitter.com/jerseymikes.com).

Watch Sub Sandwich-making Broll here.

About Redberry Restaurants

Founded in 2005, Redberry is one of Canada's largest QSR restaurant Franchisees. Redberry owns and operates 180-plus restaurants across the country, operating under the BURGER KING, Taco Bell and Jersey Mike's Subs brands. With signed agreements to build more than 600 new restaurants, Redberry is one of Canada's fastest-growing restaurant companies. Redberry's mission and accelerated growth trajectory are made possible by its partnership with City Capital Ventures. Culturally, we have created an environment where our partners, brands, and team members can achieve the best versions of themselves. Redberry is proud to have been awarded "Restaurant Top 200: The Nation's Largest and Most Successful Franchisees" by Franchise Times for the last two years, and Burger King's Franchisee of the year for North America in 2021. We truly are architects of a different kind of restaurant company.

CONTACTS:

Jersey Mike's Subs: Kyle Potvin, [email protected], 917-838-4500

Redberry Restaurants: Sharron Fry, Director of Marketing, [email protected]

SOURCE Jersey Mikes Subs
The company's expanded leadership team, including key Sales and Marketing executives who joined in 2023, will help BackBox scale

DALLAS, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BackBox, the world's most trusted network automation platform, announces that John Evarts has joined the company as Chief Operating Officer , reporting to CEO Andrew Kahl. John will lead go-to-market functions with responsibility for Sales, Marketing, and Corporate Finance.

"John brings both range and depth to this role, and his initial focus will be on establishing operational metrics that will help us measure our growth more consistently and predictably," said BackBox CEO Andrew Kahl. "Growing our executive team has been a key factor to our success this past year. With John's track record in operational planning and strategy for companies of our size and scale, the sky is the limit for BackBox."

John is an established sales enablement technology leader who has helped lead several early-stage software companies through significant growth periods. Most recently, he served as President & Chief Operating Officer at Mediafly. During his almost 14-year tenure at the company, John accelerated corporate development initiatives including deal sourcing, due diligence, and integration for eight company acquisitions.

John also serves in an advisory role for startups and is an advisory board member with VITALIZE Venture Capital. John earned his MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business; he is an Executive in Residence at the school, where he speaks and mentors students and alumni. In 2021, he received the Chicago Booth Career Services Alumni Award for his service.

John will work closely with Michael Calonica and Isabelle Papoulias, both of whom joined the BackBox leadership team in 2023. Michael serves as Senior Vice President of Global Sales, and previously scaled inside sales teams for HYCU, LogicMonitor, and AlienVault. Isabelle serves as Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and was previously Chief Marketing Officer and then EVP of Operations & Global Expansion for Mediafly. She has also held senior global account management roles for Fortune 1000 technology brands at large advertising agencies.

"Enterprise network teams worldwide are struggling to secure their networks amidst the challenges of rapidly changing infrastructure, limited resources, and overall complexity," said Evarts. "Isabelle and Mike have already built a strong marketing and sales execution engine to meet the demands of companies looking to address these challenges. I'm honored to be part of an incredibly talented and passionate team that is focused on helping network teams shine with BackBox."

Related:

About BackBox

BackBox powers The BackBox Automation Platform for Network Teams. This Platform supports network and security device automation of over 180 vendors, with thousands of security-centric pre-built automations and a scripting-free way to build new ones. Enterprises and managed service providers worldwide trust BackBox to automate and audit anything an admin could do manually, with reliable automations that are flexible, scalable, and contextually aware. From backups and OS updates to configuration compliance and vulnerability management, BackBox gives administrators the confidence that automations will deliver the expected outcome every time. To learn more, visit www.backbox.com/product .

SOURCE BackBox
O'Rourke to serve as an exclusive distributor of Kenmore major appliances nationwide

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kenmore, one of America's longest-standing home innovations providers, and O'Rourke Sales Company, a leading independent distributor of appliances, electronics, and other household goods, today announced a partnership to bring Kenmore major appliances to consumer and commercial retailers nationwide. This marks a significant milestone in the Kenmore brand revitalization strategy, stepping the brand into its broadest cumulative distribution network for major appliances in nearly a century of sales.

Kenmore launching new appliances in 2024

"Expanding distribution isn't just about the Kenmore name being in more places," said Sri Solur, CEO, Brands, Kenmore. "It's using the Kenmore name to drive mutual growth strategies. O'Rourke represents an incredible network of independent, national, and regional retailers, rent-to-own stores, online marketplaces, and military exchange channels nationwide. This partnership means incremental value for each of us but most importantly, for all our customers."

This partnership focuses on new major appliances, recently announced by Kenmore. This includes newly released gas and electric ranges, built-in dishwashers, and top mount refrigerators. It will also include side-by-side and French door refrigerators and new top load and front load laundry machines.

With this partnership, O'Rourke secures a long-term, exclusive appointment as a distributor of Kenmore major appliances in the United States. These will be available to its domestic network of customers across all of their sales channels: Retail, Rent-to-Own, E-Commerce, Premiums & Incentives, Hospitality / Builder, and the Military Exchanges.

"We at O'Rourke Sales Company are very excited to team up with Kenmore and look forward to helping revitalize this legacy brand to all of our customers across the country," said Tom Jeffries, Senior Vice President of Sales and Appliances. "With Kenmore's focus on the latest in appliance technologies and product advancements paired with O'Rourke Sales' 59 years of distribution experience and dedicated sales team, we believe Kenmore will once again become a leading household name in the appliance industry in 2024 and beyond."

New Kenmore products will be available at O'Rourke Sales in early 2024. For information on available products, upcoming launches, and more visit www.kenmore.com.

About Kenmore

Kenmore provides affordable, purposeful home management innovations for cooking, cleaning, and more. We design products and services for every room of the home to be energy-efficient, trusted to perform and promote overall well-being for our consumers and the environment.

For more information, visit www.kenmore.com or www.kenmore.com/press-kit/.

About O'Rourke Sales Company

As a leading distributor and fulfillment partner of appliances, electronics, and other household goods, O'Rourke Sales Company has over 50 years of experience providing industry leading customer service and products across the United States. Through our 6 distribution centers across the nation, we pride ourselves in providing best-in-class customer service and sales support to our partners throughout the independent and national retail, rent-to-own, e-commerce fulfillment, premium & incentives, military exchanges, and hospitality / builder sales channels.

To get started as a Kenmore dealer, contact Tom Jeffries by emailing [email protected] or Todd Steckbeck by emailing [email protected].

SOURCE Kenmore
DUBLIN, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Latin America Green Data Center Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Latin America green data center market is expected to attain a value of $1.64 billion by 2028, up from $890 million in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 10.75% from 2022-2028.

Among Latin American countries, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Columbia, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay have actively adopted renewable energy for most of their energy requirements. The Mexican government plans to produce 35% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2024. This objective is part of the efforts to reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuels and to enhance the stability of the electric grid by minimizing the occurrence of power interruptions.

Hyperscale operators such as Google and Microsoft are actively driving renewable energy adoption in Latin America. For instance, in January 2022, Microsoft announced plans to develop a cloud region in Chile at an investment of over $315 million. The cloud region will be powered by 100% renewable energy.

KEY TRENDS

Innovations Data Center Cooling and Power Technologies Are Driving the Market for Green Development

In Latin America , innovations in data center power technology include the adoption of lithium-ion and smart grid UPS systems and DRUPS systems.

, innovations in data center power technology include the adoption of lithium-ion and smart grid UPS systems and DRUPS systems. Fuel cell-based power backup is also expected to enter the Latin American market in the long term, driving down investments in inefficient diesel generators and the market for efficiencies.

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) Fuel is among the emerging trends concept in the data center market. However, data center operators in Latin America didn't adopt this technology. Still, there is the development from some of the oil companies involved in the development of the HVO fuel stations, wherein it is witnessed that during the forecast period, at least some operators will introduce HVO in their data center facilities.

didn't adopt this technology. Still, there is the development from some of the oil companies involved in the development of the HVO fuel stations, wherein it is witnessed that during the forecast period, at least some operators will introduce HVO in their data center facilities. A tropical test bed is currently in the testing phase in Singapore to make data centers more efficient in a tropical climate. If successful, this can also positively impact the Latin American market and bring down the PUE of facilities further.

to make data centers more efficient in a tropical climate. If successful, this can also positively impact the Latin American market and bring down the PUE of facilities further. Free cooling is also being adopted by data center operators in facilities in countries like Brazil , Chile , Argentina , and the Caribbean , at least partially. For instance, Equinix uses free cooling in its SP3 data center in Sao Paulo .

Government Push Toward Sustainability

Various Latin American governments, including those of Chile , Brazil , and Uruguay , are actively working toward increasing the adoption of renewable energy in the country.

, , and , are actively working toward increasing the adoption of renewable energy in the country. The Development Bank of Latin America has approved a loan of USD 300 million to Uruguay to strengthen its electricity grid and modernize it, driven by the government.

Deployment of Modular Data Centers and Sustainable Materials Gathering Steam

In Latin America , many operators have limited funds for data center development, making it an attractive proposition for deploying modular data centers. Some of the companies in Latin America are involved in investing in the development of Modular facilities. The cost of operating a modular data center is around 30% less than that of a traditional data center facility.

, many operators have limited funds for data center development, making it an attractive proposition for deploying modular data centers. Some of the companies in are involved in investing in the development of Modular facilities. The cost of operating a modular data center is around 30% less than that of a traditional data center facility. The environmental impact of modular data center deployment is also lower since it entails lower or no usage of concrete and can be constructed in a phased manner, eliminating the need for additional labor.

Plant-based and other sustainable materials such as wood, hemp, and Mycelium, which can revolutionize the construction process for data centers, are also being adopted by data center operators.

Green Data Center Metrics

Policy Drivers

Paris Agreement & Science Based Targets Initiative (Sbti)

Long Duration Energy Storage (Ldes) Council

Re100

Circular Economy

Energy Certifications

Market Opportunities & Trends

Innovative Data Center Power Technologies

Adoption of Advanced Ups Batteries

Software-Defined Data Centers (Sddcs) & AI in Power Monitoring

Microgrids

Sustainable Innovations in Data Center Power Technology

Eco-Diesel Generators

Natural Gas Generators

Fuel Cells

Hvo

Nuclear Energy Generation

Other Innovations

Advanced Data Center Cooling Technologies

Tropical Data Center Test Bed

Free Cooling

Underwater Data Centers

Floating Data Centers

Other Innovative Cooling Technologies

Liquid Immersion & D2C Cooling Adoption Driven by AI & Hpc Applications

Adoption of Advanced IT Infrastructure

Renewable Energy Initiatives

Data Centers Targeting a Pue of < 1.5

Government Push for Green Data Center Development

Market Growth Enablers

Renewable Energy Initiatives by Hyperscale & Cloud Operators

Renewable Energy Initiatives by Colocation Operators

Automation & Intelligent Monitoring Solutions

Deployment of Modular Data Centers

Market Restraints

Rising Carbon Emissions from Data Centers

Increased Water Consumption by Data Centers

Lack of Skilled Professionals

Location Constraints on Green Data Centers

Prominent Data Center Investors

Ascenty (Digital Realty)

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Ava Telecom

Claro

EdgeConneX

Equinix

Google

HostDime

Huawei Technologies

KIO Networks

Lumen Technologies (Cirion)

Microsoft

ODATA (Aligned)

Oracle

Scala Data Centers

Telecom Italia Sparkle

CloudHQ

Renewable Energy Providers

Acciona Energia

EDP Renewables

Enel Green Power

Engie

Elera Renovaveis

Faro Energy

GreenYellow

HDF Energy

Iberdrola

Mainstream Renewable Power

RZK Energia

Shell

The AES Corporation

TotalEnergies

Segmentation by Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

General Construction

Segmentation by Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Other Electrical Infrastructures

Segmentation by Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Racks

Other mechanical Infrastructure

Segmentation by Cooling Systems

CRAC & CRAH Units

Chiller Units

Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers

Economizers & Evaporative Coolers

Other Cooling Units

Segmentation By General Construction

Core and Shell Development

MEP & Architectural Design Services

Physical Security & Fire Safety Systems

DCIM/BMS Solution

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8djap3

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SOURCE Research and Markets
The landmark report highlights six decades of SRK's distinguished initiatives and partnerships to improve sustainability industry-wide.

SURAT, India, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Shree Ramkrishna Exports (SRK), one of the world's leading diamond crafting companies, released its inaugural Pure Impact Report today, highlighting its commitment to leadership in ESG and corporate social responsibility, acceleration of its net zero goals, and advancing both the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The report highlights initiatives in education, healthcare, community welfare, employee empowerment, sustainability, and decarbonization from SRK and its philanthropic arm, the SRK Knowledge Foundation .

Launch of The Pure Impact Report

Since six decades, SRK has gone beyond diamonds, serving people and the planet. With a long-term vision of a zero-emissions India and world, the company has outlined a detailed net zero roadmap aligned with both the UN SDGs and the SBTi. In partnership with the Global Network for Zero , SRK has committed to achieve net zero certification for its two flagship diamond crafting facilities, SRK Empire and SRK House, by 2024  a full six years ahead of the goals set within the UN framework. To achieve this, the company is building an off-site solar power plant, electrifying its fleet, planting over 200 acres of trees and more.

Other achievements and initiatives highlighted in the report include:

Contributed 4.5% average net profit each year to community welfare, with healthcare initiatives benefiting 3.5 million people

Contributed $3.5 million USD to solar projects, including solar panels for 1,000 employees, donating 750 rooftop solar panels to veterans, and solarizing the entire Dudhala village of 350 homes

to solar projects, including solar panels for 1,000 employees, donating 750 rooftop solar panels to veterans, and solarizing the entire Dudhala village of 350 homes Achieving LEED Platinum certification, the highest level of certification, at both SRK House and SRK Empire, with both buildings scoring in the top five for all LEED certified buildings in the world for operational performance

Convened the 2023 SRK Sustainability Conclave , an inaugural event designed to empower Indian business leaders to implement effective net zero strategies

, an inaugural event designed to empower Indian business leaders to implement effective net zero strategies Provided 60,000+ students with educational benefits, including 2,500 youth who have benefited from services at SRK's authorized training centers, SRK Institute of Diamonds and SRK Institute of Skills

Created 'The Footprints', a traceability feature pioneering ethical mineral mining practices and sustainable sourcing

Funded the construction of 100 dams in the Saurashtra region

Certified membership with the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and its task force to promote alignment with UN SDGs in the diamond sector

"The natural diamond industry has an opportunity to make an incredible impact on the environment and global net zero goals; SRK aims to show how it can be done," said Shri Govind Dholakia, Founder and Chairman of SRK Exports. "We've made decarbonization the crown jewel of our efforts because it impacts every facet of our daily lives: infrastructure, health, agriculture, quality of life, and so much more. We're leveraging every tool at our disposal to protect our staff, the planet, and the people of India and beyond. The work outlined in this report is just the start."

SRK looks forward to turning towards a net zero future with a deep commitment to the health of the community and planet alike. To learn more about ongoing sustainability initiatives visit https://srk.one/pure-sustainability.html .

About Shree Ramkrishna Exports

Founded by Shri Govind Dholakia aka Govindkaka, SRK is one of the world's leading diamond crafting and exporting conglomerates. Valued at nearly 1.8 billion USD, SRK employs over 6,000 people and has played a pivotal role in transforming India's contribution to the global economy over the last six decades. A purpose driven organization committed to what it calls 'PURE' trust, transparency, and tenacity, SRK is leading the gems and jewelry industry to prioritize sustainable practices, compliances and shedding light on the urgent and necessary acceleration efforts for a zero emissions India and beyond. SRK is recognized as the most compliant economy in the industry with the highest number of ISO, System & Process certifications Additionally, more than 4.5% of SRK's profits are contributed to various philanthropic and community welfare initiatives. Rooted in Govindkaka's lifelong pursuit of equitable opportunity, upward mobility, and universal living standards, the pioneering diamond entity holds an unwavering dedication to ensuring sustainability and human welfare remain the cornerstones of its growing empire for good.

Contacts:

Name: Anvesha Roychowdhury,

Email: anvesha.ac@srkexp.com

Photo:https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2320455/Launch_of_The_Report.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2320456/SRK__Logo.jpg

SOURCE Shree Ramkrishna Exports Private Limited
Accomplished Leader Will Also Serve as Vice President, Actuary

DALLAS, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Bankers Insurance Group (LBIG), a nationally recognized provider of life, health, and wealth products, today announced the hiring of John Blocher as vice president, actuary, and chief risk officer.

"With a proven track record, Blocher brings a wealth of knowledge to the LBIG team," said David Vrla, executive vice president, chief actuary, and appointed actuary at Liberty Bankers Insurance Group. "His contributions to our company's enterprise risk management program will help ensure continued growth and profitability."

Prior to joining the team, Blocher served as senior actuary at Mass Mutual Ascend. He also served as director, enterprise risk management at Security Benefit, and various roles in the areas of valuation, capital management, and reinsurance for annuity, life, and health lines of business.

"I am thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with Liberty Bankers," said Blocher. "I look forward to contributing my skills and prior experience to drive success and foster growth within the organization."

Blocher is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries, and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He serves on an exam committee for the Society of Actuaries and on committees for the American Academy of Actuaries.

He graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor of science degree in industrial management.

About Liberty Bankers Insurance Group

Based in Dallas, Texas, Liberty Bankers Insurance Group (LBIG) is a nationally recognized and respected group of insurance companies that offers a variety of life, health, and wealth products. Rated A- Excellent by AM Best, LBIG is comprised of American Benefit Life Insurance Company, American Monumental Life Insurance Company, Capitol Life Insurance Company, and Liberty Bankers Life Insurance Company.

More information is available at www.lbig.com.

Liberty Bankers Insurance Group

Kim Neeley

(800) 731-4300

[email protected]

SOURCE Liberty Bankers Insurance Group
Broadens EV Portfolio with Flexible Leasing & Rental Solutions for Diverse Business Needs

HOOKSETT, N.H., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Merchants Fleet, a top-rated industry leading fleet management company, is pleased to announce the addition of 250 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Trucks to its ever-growing lineup of electric vehicles (EVs). The Silverado EVs are available from Merchants for lease and rental.

The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck is now part of Merchants Fleet's next generation of work trucks.

The Chevrolet Silverado EV is purpose-built on the GM EV Ultium platform to meet the rigorous demands needed for hard work and is nicely equipped for use by business operators and managers on the job site, as well as stylish enough for a business executive. This significant acquisition underscores Merchants' commitment to providing a comprehensive range of vehicles, ensuring that businesses of all types can readily transition to an electric fleet solution tailored to their unique needs.

"Given the unique requirements of each fleet, we are committed to delivering flexibility and top-tier solutions across the board," said Hari Nayar, VP of Electrification and Sustainability at Merchants Fleet. "We are proud to offer the Silverado EV as yet another way Merchants is meeting the diverse electrification needs of our clients, and driving forward this transformative shift."

The Chevrolet Silverado EV 4WT offers an EPA-estimated range of up to 450 miles which significantly reduces range anxiety for work truck drivers. With towing capability of up to 10,000 pounds and payload of over 1,400 pounds, the vehicle is capable of meeting diverse commercial needs. Merchants' Electrification and Consulting team will work closely with clients to optimize TCO, charging infrastructure deployment, and assist with securing available grants, incentives, and tax rebates for the Silverado EV and other zero emissions vehicles in their portfolio.

Merchants offers a range of flexible leasing and rental options for the Chevrolet Silverado EV, catering to various business needs. From traditional leases to long-term rentals, our programs are designed to provide the perfect balance of flexibility and stability. Options such as 'Rent-to-Lease' and 'EV Choice Lease' offer solutions for short-term needs with possibilities for long-term commitment or low-risk trials, respectively. 'Open-End Leasing,' and 'Rentals & Short-Term Leasing' provide flexibility in lease structure, cost control, and solutions for needs as brief as three months.

In addition to numerous leasing and rental options for new EVs, Merchants' ClearCharge program helps fleets organize, implement, and manage electric vehicle charging infrastructure. ClearCharge enables commercial fleets to plan, develop, and implement Level 2 and 3 charging to meet the evolving needs of their business. This program is available for any size fleet and is designed as a full-service solution for customers across the nation.

For more information about Merchants Fleet and their services, please visit https://www.merchantsfleet.com/. To reserve your Chevrolet Silverado EV and learn more about leasing options, please visit https://evshowcase.merchantsfleet.com/.

Merchants Fleet

Merchants Fleet is North America's fastest-growing fleet management company, enabling the movement of people, goods and services freely and responsibly. From flexible funding, fleet acquisition and fleet management to vehicle remarketing, fleet consulting, fleet electrification, and the power of cloud-based fleet management platform TotalView, Merchants serves as a single source for all fleet and mobility needs across more than 20 unique industries. Merchants is headquartered in New England, has its Innovation Center in the Chicago area, and serves fleet clients of all sizes throughout North America. Learn more at www.MerchantsFleet.com.

SOURCE Merchants Fleet
Shaped by experts and leaders from a range of disciplines from across ICMM company and association members, as well as from civil society, academia, Indigenous representatives, and investor and disclosure bodies, ICMM's new commitments set out a 5-point plan for nature:

1. Protect and conserve pristine areas of our natural environment: No mining or exploration in World Heritage Sites and respect all legally designated protected areas.[2]

2. Halt biodiversity loss at our operations: Achieve at least no net loss of biodiversity at all mine sites by closure against a 2020 baseline.

3. Collaborate across value chains: Develop initiatives and partnerships that halt and reverse nature loss throughout supply and distribution chains.

4. Restore and enhance landscapes: Around operations through local partnerships, including with Indigenous Peoples, land-connected peoples and local communities.

5. Catalyse wider change: Acting to change the fundamental systems that contribute to nature loss and fostering opportunities for nature's recovery.

These commitments apply to activities across all four realms of nature  land, freshwater, oceans and atmosphere  leveraging companies' areas of influence  from their direct operations, value chains and wider landscapes, through to creating the conditions required to achieve systems transformation. They are supported by transparent disclosures on performance outcomes, including publishing the results of nature-related impact and dependency assessments, and setting targets to address these.

Rohitesh Dhawan, President and CEO, ICMM announced the nature commitments at a Nature Positive Initiative event in Davos today, commenting: "The mining industry owes its very existence to nature. At a time when the health of our natural world is in peril yet the demand for critical minerals is set to soar, we have committed to significant collective action to help create a nature positive future. These commitments build on the significant individual goals and actions of ICMM members over several decades, including habitat conservation, species protection, and landscape restoration.

There is no escaping that the act of mining directly affects nature, which is why the cornerstone of our commitments is to ensure at least no net loss of biodiversity at all mine sites by closure against a 2020 baseline. In addition, we have committed to take steps in our value chains, landscapes, and the wider systems in which we operate so that the total impact of our actions contribute to a nature positive future. These will be taken with the critical participation of Indigenous and land-connected peoples, and local communities, whose rights, values, and knowledge will be central to our actions."

ICMM members have already implemented a number of initiatives focused on conservation and restoration, for example, strengthening protection for areas of high biodiversity value, developing innovative technologies for improved seed performance during landscape revegetation, and defending important habitats from invasive species. ICMM's new commitments will enhance these to drive performance across the industry.

Jonathan Price, President and CEO, Teck Resources Limited, and Chair of ICMM's Council Nature Advisory Group, said: "Collaboration across all sectors is essential to help stop and reverse nature loss and ICMM's nature commitments will help companies to scale up their existing efforts and drive local and regional partnerships to better protect and restore our landscapes and ecosystems for the benefit of all.



"At Teck, we're taking action to conserve and restore nature while we also provide the critical minerals the world needs to decarbonize. For us, that means implementing initiatives including conserving and reclaiming at least three hectares for every one hectare we affect through mining."

Marco Lambertini, Convenor of the Nature Positive Initiative, said: "Today's commitment from the mining sector to contribute to a nature-positive future is welcome. Sector-wide coordination is key to halting and reversing today's accelerating loss of biodiversity. To help secure a nature-positive world, it will now be critical that ICMM's members translate this commitment into truly nature-positive outcomes. This means both safeguarding areas with high biodiversity value and contributing in their operations to measurable gains in the health, abundance, diversity and resilience of species, ecosystems and natural processes."

The commitments on direct operations, value chain and governance and transparency apply to all members, and individual members will select at least one of three commitment options relating to wider landscapes and systems transformation, in order to maximise their positive contribution.

These commitments were published as part of a Position Statement setting out ICMM members' approach to contributing to a nature positive future guided by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and ICMM's existing commitments in relation to protected areas, Indigenous Peoples, water and respecting human rights as per the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Action on nature is an integral part of ICMM's Mining Principles, representing our member companies' comprehensive commitment to a responsible mining and metals industry.

- END -

Notes to editors

ICMM's Nature Position Statement is available here

Media pack including quotes from ICMM member CEOs and high-res images from company members that are available for publication with the piece (please credit the source company) is available on the ICMM website: https://www.icmm.com/en-gb/news/2024/nature-media-kit

As of 17 January 19.00 GMT, learn more about ICMM's nature commitments and action already happening on the ground on our new Nature Hub https://nature.icmm.com , including:

Member examples of nature conservation and restoration (film, photos, interviews and articles)

Content that helps to explain elements of the commitments

The story behind the sculpture created from recycled metal to mark the commitment

English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and French versions of the commitments (https://nature.icmm.com/position-statement)

About ICMM

ICMM stands for mining with principles. We bring together approximately a third of the world's mining industry, along with key partners to drive leadership, action, and innovation for sustainable development. Through collaboration, ICMM member companies set the standard for responsibly produced minerals and metals to help build a safe, just and sustainable world.

[1] From a 2020 baseline

[2] ICMM members made these commitments in 2003 and 2018

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2318478/ICMM_Anglo_American.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2318479/ICMM_Freeport_McMoRan.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2318505/ICMM_Hydro.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2318481/ICMM_Teck.jpg

SOURCE ICMM
The 130,000-square-foot office space will support the continued growth of MSC Cruises and the newly launched Explora Journeys in the North American market, allowing them to expand alongside MSC Cargo. Per the economic impact analysis run by Miami-Dade County, this latest development from the MSC Group will generate 668 direct and indirect jobs over the next three years. It will also provide $65.2M annually in recurring direct economic impact (Gross Regional Product), delivering measurable growth to the local community.

The Cruise Division is firmly establishing Miami as its new home and is building a new, next generation cruise terminal at PortMiami, set to become North America's largest once it's completed later this year. The new terminal will feature a four-story building capable of accommodating 36,000 passenger movements per day, and feature enough berthing space to serve three latest generation ships at once.

With its cruise and cargo operations, The Beacon Council identified MSC Group as a perfect fit for Miami-Dade and provided guidance together with Cushman & Wakefield in the Company's search for a new North American Cruise Division headquarters, as well as new office space for MSC Cargo's South Florida operations. Miami-Dade's strong labor pool and attractive business environment played significant factors in MSC Group's decision to invest in Downtown Miami.

"We are thrilled to invest in the future of MSC and Miami-Dade County by making this important move," said Fabio Santucci, President and CEO of MSC USA. "Miami has been a pivotal part of our growth story in the U.S., and we are proud of our strong history of driving the local economy. The Beacon Council was a significant driver in helping us make our decision. They played an instrumental part in making us feel welcome to make this commitment to expanding in South Florida."

"This is an exciting time of growth for the Cruise Division and we are happy to call Miami-Dade our new home as we continue to expand our reach throughout the Caribbean and North America," said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises. "We look forward to bringing more jobs to the local economy and will work with Miami-Dade County to ensure we are a leader in making an important impact in the community."

"This announcement underscores Miami's status as a world-class destination and premier access point for companies seeking to extend their influence throughout the continent and the Caribbean," said Rodrick T. Miller President and CEO of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council. "Miami-Dade provides an ideal backdrop for a distinguished brand like MSC Cruises, celebrated for its contemporary offerings and international flair. With our diverse and skilled workforce, coupled with a top-tier cruise port, Miami warmly embraces MSC Cruises. We are thrilled to support and champion their expansion in the region."

"Miami-Dade is thrilled to welcome MSC Group," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "We are up for the challenge in supporting their expansion. PortMiami is the number one Cruise Port in the world and an important economic engine for our community generating more than $40 billion annually. MSC Cruises, one of the world's most innovative cruise lines with strong global influence will not only make an impact on our economy but seamlessly connect with our diverse residents and visitors."

About the MiamiDade Beacon Council

The Miami-Dade Beacon Council is the county's official economic development partnership. Attracting and retaining companies that create high-value jobs and invest in our community, The Beacon Council is committed to driving a more sustainable, inclusive, and competitive economy for Greater Miami. We achieve this by growing the local economy, championing Miami's business brand, supporting talent and workforce development, and shaping Greater Miami's economic future. Established in 1985, The Beacon Council has attracted more than 120,000 new jobs and $7.6 Billion of new investment to Miami-Dade County. For more information, visit BeaconCouncil.com.

About MSC Group

For more information on MSC Cargo, please click here.

For more information on MSC Cruises, please click here.

For more information on Explora Journeys, please click here.

SOURCE MSC Cruises
Poll Also Shows Overwhelming Support for Pregnancy Resource Centers

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll results, released today, reveal that 66% of Americans support placing legal limits on abortion, and that nearly 6 in 10 support limiting abortions to the first three months of pregnancy. This survey, conducted by the Marist Poll and commissioned annually by the Knights of Columbus, also found that 83% of Americans support pregnancy resource centers, which offer support to mothers both during their pregnancy and after their baby is born. Additionally, the poll found that two-thirds of Americans believe healthcare professionals with religious objections to abortions should not be legally required to perform them, while 86% of respondents believe that laws can protect both the mother and her unborn child.

"Once again, most Americans are steadfast in their belief that abortion should be significantly limited yet laws should include exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother," says Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho, Director of the Marist Poll. "This clear trend found in the annual Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll has continued, nearly two years after the Supreme Court's landmark Dobbs decision."

"This year's poll makes clear that a consistent consensus of Americans supports legal restrictions on abortion, and an overwhelming majority support pregnancy resource centers, which assist mothers and their children in greatest need," said Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly. "I'm very proud that our Knights across the U.S. and Canada have raised more than $7 million to support these vital centers through our ASAP, or Aid and Support After Pregnancy program. Knights have also funded the purchase of over 1,790 ultrasounds, empowering an estimated 1.5 million mothers to see their unborn babies. The Knights of Columbus will continue to work tirelessly in our mission until abortion becomes unthinkable."

Methodology

This survey of 1,371 adults was conducted January 8th through January 9th, 2024 by the Marist Poll and sponsored in partnership with the Knights of Columbus. Survey questions were available in English or Spanish. Phone and online samples were selected to ensure that each region was represented in proportion to its adult population. The samples were then combined and balanced to reflect the 2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for age, gender, income, race, and region. Results are statistically significant within 3.6 percentage points. There are 1,254 registered voters. The results for this subset are statistically significant within 3.8 percentage points. Tables include results for subgroups to only display crosstabs with an acceptable sampling error. It should be noted that although you may not see results listed for a certain group, it does not mean interviews were not completed with those individuals. It simply means the sample size is too small to report. The error margin was adjusted for sample weights and increases for cross-tabulations.

For more information, please visit kofc.org/polls.

About the Knights of Columbus

In 1882, Blessed Michael McGivney, a young parish priest in New Haven, Connecticut, founded the Knights of Columbus to serve the needs of a largely immigrant Catholic community. What began as a small fraternal benefit society has since grown into the world's premier lay Catholic men's organization, with more than 2 million members in over 16,600 local councils. As members of one of the world's leading international charitable organizations, Knights around the world donated approximately 50 million service hours and nearly $185 million for worthy causes in their communities in 2022. The Knights of Columbus also offers a range of life insurance products to members and their families and was named by Forbes as one of America's Best Insurance Companies 2024 in the permanent life insurance category. Knights of Columbus Insurance currently has more than $122 billion* of life insurance in force. In addition, the organization offers investment services in accord with Catholic social teaching through its wholly owned subsidiary, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, which holds more than $26 billion** in assets under management. Based on the founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus is committed to strengthening Catholic families and parishes, and to practicing faith in action through service to all in need. To learn more or to join the Knights of Columbus, please visit kofc.org/join.

*As of September 30, 2023

**As of September 30, 2023

SOURCE Knights of Columbus
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Iran attaches special importance to the development of cooperation and relations with Lebanon at various bilateral, regional, and international levels, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Migati in Davos, Switzerland on January 16.

Amir Abdollahian noted that Lebanon has an important role in regional issues. The stability and security of Lebanon affect the stability and security of the entire region. Iran has always supported the strengthening of stability and security in Lebanon.

During the meeting, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Migati also emphasized the importance of constructive cooperation between Lebanon and Iran in various fields.

Iran's foreign minister visited Davos, Switzerland, to participate in the 54th World Economic Forum on January 16.

---

Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur
CANTON, Ohio, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The popularity and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in real estate has become nearly ubiquitous among America's leading real estate brokerages, with 75% already using the technology and almost 80% reporting that their agents have adopted AI tools. But concerns remain about safeguards keeping pace with AI's rapid integration, according to the 2024 Delta Media Real Estate Leadership Survey released today.

Michael Minard, owner and CEO of Delta Media AI has become one of real estate's fastest-adopted technology tools, embraced by brokerages and agents at a breakneck speed.

The comprehensive survey by Delta Media Group, a leading technology partner for more than 80 LeadingRE Affiliates and over 50 top-ranked brokerages nationwide, provides an in-depth profile of AI's current landscape and future trajectory based on responses from more than 130 top brokerage leaders representing firms responsible for two-thirds of all real estate transactions nationally last year. It also uncovers worries about risks related to unchecked AI usage.

"AI has become one of real estate's fastest-adopted technology tools, embraced by brokerages and agents at a breakneck speed," said Michael Minard, owner and CEO of Delta Media. "But our survey shows legitimate concerns about reducing AI risks by having proper controls in place. As AI reliance grows, brokerages need assurance that their tech partners providing these tools have sufficient safeguards to protect them from the potential downsides. Managing risks remains an imperative even as competitive pressures make adoption table stakes," he added.

The Delta study discovered how real estate agents employ AI in their day-to-day business, primarily leveraging this technology to craft property descriptions (82%), followed by generating blog posts, emails, and letters (67%), social media content (60%), website content (44%), and writing personal bios (43%).

More significantly, the reliance on AI is not just present but growing, with executives rating its current importance to the industry at 5 out of 10, which surges by 40% when asked about AI's importance in the "near future." The enthusiasm for AI is growing, with leaders noting they plan to leverage AI in the future; digital marketing (73%) and social media (72%) are the leading anticipated uses.

While some experts predict 2024 will be the year of AI personal assistants, only 23% of brokerage leaders see AI used for front-office or admin support this year. Remarkably, one in ten (11%) have "No plans to use AI" this year.

Despite the early adoption and widespread use of AI in the real estate industry, as Minard points out, the Delta survey found that a persistent fear of AI remains. More than half of the top brokerage execs said they are "worried or very worried" that AI "does not have the appropriate guardrails" to limit their risk or liability around it.

Gender dynamics

Female leaders recognize AI's importance more, especially in mid-sized brokerages with substantial transaction volumes. A greater percentage of female leaders (85.3%) utilize AI in their businesses than male leaders (70.4%).

Female-led brokerages, particularly those with medium to large agent teams and high transaction volumes, are the most likely to use AI. The youngest and oldest male leaders, overseeing smaller brokerages, are less inclined to integrate AI.

The typical profile of a leader using AI today is an experienced senior executive, predominantly male, helming a mid-sized brokerage. This contrasts with the characteristics of brokerages most actively using AI, often led by women aged between 31-39 or 50-59 years, managing a considerable number of agents and overseeing substantial transaction volumes.

Concerning the apprehension of AI, more than half of the executives worry about the lack of "appropriate guardrails," with female leaders slightly more concerned than males. The highest level of worry is among brokerage leaders aged 60 or older, especially those managing smaller teams and lower transaction volumes. Conversely, middle-aged leaders of large brokerages with massive transaction volumes exhibit the least concern.

Other survey highlights:

Older male leaders of mid-sized firms are most bullish on future AI importance

Larger brokerages with female executives are more likely to have agents using AI

Smaller brokerages led by older executives have the highest AI worry levels

Larger brokerages with middle-aged leadership are least worried about AI

Learn more about Delta Media at deltamediagroup.com.

About Delta Media

Delta Media Group, Inc. is one of America's largest real estate technology solutions providers for real estate brokerages. Located in Canton, Ohio, it is the inventor of DeltaNET, considered the industry's most advanced CRM-based, all-in-one digital marketing platform. The largest family-owned business in its space, Delta is the trusted technology partner for many of the best-known real estate brands, including more than 80 LeadingRE Affiliates and over 50 top-ranked brokerages nationwide. Discover more at deltamediagroup.com.

Media contact:

Kevin Hawkins (206) 866-1220

[email protected]

SOURCE Delta Media Group
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As uncertainties intensify around the U.S.-China relations, a new study released by a bilateral collaborative group produced four scenarios for possible U.S.-China relations to help policy makers, experts and stakeholders navigate through a foreign policy maze with long term thinking tools.

Partnering with the Brookings Institution, the group is hosting a public event on January 19th, 2024, at 10:00 am in Washington, D.C. to present and discuss the four scenarios with experts in the foreign policy community.

"I believe that war is always a lose-lose; it is a failure of planning, and of governance" Post this If there were a clairvoyant who could actually see the future, what would we want to know? Since there isnt such a clairvoyant, and predictions are dangerous, what plausible stories about the future could we tell that might help policymakers deliberations, no matter what the future might be? Using the key themes and considering how they might develop, the scenario team produced four scenarios for the future of the U.S.-China relationship to 2035.

The project, Four Scenarios For U.S.-China Relations and Their Impact on the Global Order to 2035 , led by PAX sapiens , a Colorado-based philanthropic foundation, the Grandview Institute , a Beijing-based think tank, and Reos Partners , an international consulting group focusing on systemic change, aims to guide the relationship towards a peaceful future.

"I believe that war is always a lose-lose; it is a failure of planning, and of governance, and a wanton waste of human resources and potential," Marcel Arsenault, Chairman and President of PAX sapiens writes in an open letter, "the deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and China raises fears that we are headed for another, preventable, terrible, illustration of this."

Ren Libo, the President of Grandview Institution says, "It's not an issue that we need to pay attention to divergences, but we need to put more effort into seeking common interests, set common goals and take common actions."

In 2023, 25 former government officials, retired military officers, and experts from research institutes and think tanks from the United States and China spent the better part of a year discussing and honing ideas for possible futures for the U.S.-China relationship. The study results in four proposed scenarios titled "Drift, War, Blocs and Networks."

Drift, is a scenario characterized by ongoing friction in the world drifting from crisis to crisis, where the U.S. and China avoid war by crisis diplomacy but contest on many fronts; War, depicts a series of escalating tensions during the next decade leads to a mutually devastating violent conflict between the two countries; The Blocs scenario shows the formation of competing geopolitical blocs who don't interact positively in any way but act to oppose each other across military, economic and diplomatic domains. Finally, Networks is a scenario in which the two countries extensively decouple, but global cooperation is maintained through complex networks mediated by international institutions and third party states.

While the scenarios are the result of careful attention and deliberation, not every participant agrees with all of the details in this document, nor do these scenarios represent the views of the organizing and funding institutions.

About PAX sapiens

PAX sapiens is a private foundation established by Marcel Arsenault and Cynda Collins Arsenault. PAX sapiens collaborates with partners to develop projects that can help create systems of sustainable governance to address problems that drive armed conflict. Current PAX sapiens priorities include preventing global pandemics, and preventing military conflict between the U.S. and China while improving the bilateral relationship.

Media Member RSVP Contact

Abby Sun

[email protected]

SOURCE PAX sapiens
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent study conducted by MIND Research Institute shows that students who used ST Math made more significant gains in math proficiency than those who did not. MIND followed a longitudinal cohort of Texas students from grades 3, 4, and 5. Students who used ST Math with fidelity in the past three school years showed dramatic increases in their STARR Math performance levelsincluding 48% of students moving up at least one performance level.

Learn more about ST Math created by MIND Education and request a demo by visiting: www.stmath.com

Texas Equitable Growth Impact

ST Math provides a simplified yet challenging math learning environment that gives all students an equitable opportunity to succeed regardless of their background or ability level. ST Math's patented learning method addresses the shortcomings of other approaches by reducing cognitive load, utilizing innate visual reasoning through interactive and rigorous math-based puzzles, and requiring mastery progression.

Sandra Doria, Executive Director of Math & Science, Aldine Independent School District: "One of the things that really appealed to us about ST Math was that it is nonverbal. It was great to be able to use one platform that all students could use."

In addition, students who used ST Math for three years (1,000 puzzles per year) not only exhibited dramatic jumps in performance levels but also nearly eliminated the number of students who did not meet grade level standardsdown to only 3.1%and added 20.9 percentage points to the Master Performance Level.

Brett Woudenberg, CEO of MIND Education: "We are pleased to see the positive impact ST Math is having on Texas students' math skills and self-confidence. The study's findings showed ST Math positively impacted all student subgroups in Texas, one of the largest state populations. We continue to find the more students play ST Math, the higher their scores. This is what we mean by equitable impact: ST Math works for ALL students."

TEA partnered with MIND Education to provide educators and K-5 students free access to ST Math. The ST Math program is currently used by nearly 2,700 schools across Texas, and has been adopted by thousands more across the country.

About MIND Education

MIND Education engages, motivates, and challenges students toward mathematical success through its mission to mathematically equip all students to solve the world's most challenging problems. MIND is the creator of ST Math, a pre-K8 visual instructional program that leverages the brain's innate spatial-temporal reasoning ability to solve mathematical problems; and InsightMath, a neuroscience-based K-6 curriculum that transforms student learning by teaching math the way every brain learns so all students are equipped to succeed. During the 2022-23 school year, MIND Education and ST Math reached more than 2.1 million students and over 110,000 educators across the country.

SOURCE MIND Education
TOKYO, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC., is pleased to announce that, in accordance with the share transfer agreement concluded on May 12, 2023, with cargo-partner Group Holding AG and its subsidiaries Multi Transport und Logistik Holding AG, Safer Overseas Transport Holding GmbH, cargo-partner GND GmbH, and CARGO-PARTNER US HOLDINGS INC. (hereinafter collectively referred to as "cargo-partner"), it acquired on January 4, 2024 (Austria time), all shares in these cargo-partner subsidiaries based mainly in Central and Eastern Europe that provide logistics services worldwide. NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS sealed the deal through a special purpose company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Express Europe GmbH, itself a European holding subsidiary of NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, and completed all procedures required to make these newly acquired companies subsidiaries of NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS.

Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202401105102-O3-88i1W129

Image: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202401105102/_prw_PI2fl_y9r1FP9f.jpg

Headquartered in Austria, cargo-partner has a robust logistics business base in Central and Eastern Europe, a region that is increasingly attracting attention as an industrial cluster in Europe. It is a highly reputable corporate group focused principally on air and ocean freight forwarding in Europe, Asia, and North America, also offering rail and truck transport and contract logistics services.

The acquisition of cargo-partner will complement the Nippon Express (hereinafter "NX") Group's logistics infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe, expected to see significant future growth as a production base within the European region, and will enable the NX Group to further expand its global network and enhance the services it provides in the European region.

The resultant expansion in the volume of air and ocean freight handled will also strengthen the Group's competitiveness in the global market, enable it to respond to the diverse needs of its global customers, enhance its ability to meet logistics demand between Asia and Europe and elsewhere, and bolster its global account structure.

Since the NX Group and cargo-partner have differing customer bases and differing strengths in specific countries and regions, they will seek to create synergies in their logistics operations through mutual complementation, thereby accelerating the expansion and development of their global businesses.

Going forward, the NX Group and cargo-partner will maximize the synergies they generate as a unified entity to help create value for the NX Group's customers and stakeholders.

Profile of cargo-partner Group: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202401105102-O1-lsb3Krgt.pdf

Nippon Express website: https://www.nipponexpress.com/

Nippon Express Group's official LinkedIn account:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/

SOURCE NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC.
Pioneer in all-natural solutions for pest control marks a decade in franchising with a significant addition to the team.

WAYLAND, Mass., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ohDEER , the leader in all-natural deer, tick and mosquito control, announced today the appointment of its new Brand President, Glenn Leingang. The announcement coincides with ohDEER's 10th year of franchising.

As the first-ever hire for this role, Leingang assumes a crucial position in increasing ohDEER's brand awareness, educating prospects about the franchise opportunity and growing the network, which currently includes 14 franchisees across Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia.

Leingang's immediate development goals involve expanding into more locations in existing states and branching into neighboring states along the Northeast coast, aiming to surpass 50 locations by 2027.

"My goal is to bring a fresh perspective to ohDEER and build on its already impressive franchise development track record," said Leingang. "I look forward to connecting with potential franchise prospects seeking an established and successful business ownership opportunity at a time when a growing number of homeowners and policymakers are demanding 100% natural pest care solutions."

Leingang brings over 20 years of experience as a dynamic sales professional with a passion for franchising that began as a Quiznos franchisee, a business he successfully ran for four years. After selling the restaurant he took on the role as Regional Vice President at United Franchise Group, where he oversaw the growth of eight brands and learned the ins and outs of the business from the franchisor side. Most recently, Leingang served as Chief Development Officer at Generator Supercenter, where he was responsible for its rapid and exponential growth during his three year tenure.

"Glenn is precisely the leader we are looking to add to our team at a pivotal time for our company," said Colleen Upham, owner and co-founder of ohDEER. "His qualities and sales experience make him an excellent fit to propel ohDEER franchise development to the next level and strengthen our presence in new and key markets."

To learn more about ohDEER's franchise opportunities, visit ohdeerfranchising.com

To learn more about ohDEER or to find a location, visit oh-deer.com

About ohDEER

Established in 2006 in Wayland, Mass., by co-founders Kurt and Colleen Upham, ohDEER is a leading provider of innovative and environmentally friendly solutions for deer, tick, and mosquito control. ohDEER specializes in all-natural products designed to address outdoor pest challenges effectively ensuring the well-being of both the environment and customers. ohDEER began franchising in 2014 and today has 14 locations spanning across Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia. To learn more about ohDEER visit www.oh-deer.com and for more information about the franchise opportunity visit ohdeerfranchising.com.

SOURCE ohDEER
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Old Forester announces the newest release in its coveted and award-winning Whiskey Row Series  1924. This 10-year-old age-stated bourbon is 100 proof and comprises a new mash bill for the brand.

Available nationwide, this marks the fifth installment in the Whiskey Row Series. Rather than the traditional Old Forester recipe (72% corn; 18% rye and 10% malted barley), 1924 debuts a new mash bill (79% corn; 11% rye and 10% malted barley).

Courtesy of Old Forester

The bottle marks an important point in Old Forester's 153-year history.

During Prohibition, more than 200 distilleries in Kentucky alone were forced to close. Old Forester, however, continued operations because the federal government issued it one of six permits to bottle existing whiskey stocks as medicine. In 1924, Old Forester acquired barrels from closed distillers, with different mash bills, and bottled that liquid as Old Forester. This special release commemorates that moment in time.

This release honors the 100th anniversary of that whiskey innovation. Old Forester is the only bourbon brand produced before, during and after Prohibition.

"We are honored to commemorate this historical milestone with a new featured mash bill and a beautiful 10-year age statement," Master Taster Melissa Rift said. "It allows whisky lovers to taste just how dynamic our brand can be while staying rooted in our rich history."

The Whiskey Row series now includes:

1870 Original Batch

1897 Bottled in Bond

1910 Old Fine Whisky

1920 Prohibition Style

1924 10-year-old

Each highlights a distinguishable moment in the brand's 153-year history garnering its place in the series and standing among Old Forester's legacy.

Taste notes:

Color: Dark graham cracker.

Aroma: Soft notes of fudge, cocoa, marzipan, and cured tobacco layered over

hints of rich oak and warm cinnamon.

Flavor: Chocolate-covered graham cracker dusted with cinnamon.

Finish: Hints of spice and graham cracker crumbles.

Old Forester 1924 is 50% ABV (100-proof) and is available nationwide starting today at participating retailers and at Old Forester Distilling Co. for $115.

For more information on Old Forester, please visit OldForester.com.

About Old Forester Bourbon:

Old Forester is Brown-Forman's founding brand, founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown. Brown believed Old Forester was so pure and consistent that he sealed it, signed it, and pledged, "There is nothing better in the market."

About Brown-Forman:

For more than 150 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Tennessee RTDs, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Apple, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Coopers' Craft, The GlenDronach, Benriach, Glenglassaugh, Slane, Herradura, el Jimador, New Mix, Korbel, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, Fords Gin, and Gin Mare. Brown-Forman's brands are supported by approximately 5,200 employees globally and sold in more than 170 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit brown-forman.com. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Please sip responsibly.

Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, 52% Alc. by Vol., Old Forester Distilling Company at Louisville in Kentucky. OLD FORESTER is a registered trademark. 2022 Brown-Forman. All rights reserved. Please do not share or forward this content with anyone under the legal drinking age.

SOURCE Old Forester
SUZHOU, China, and ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancer, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, announced today that olverembatinib (R&D Code: HQP1351) has been included in the latest guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) for the management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML),[1] marking a major development in global recognition for its best-in-class drug candidate, which has been approved in China for the management of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant patients with chronic- and accelerated-phase CML (CML-CP and CML-AP).

NCCN is a not-for-profit organization allying 33 chiefly NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers across the United States. Cancer management recommendations promulgated in the NCCN guidelines are continuously updated and downloaded more than 13 million times per year by practitioners and other key stakeholders. Serving as a standard for clinical practices in oncology in the US, the NCCN Guidelines is also one of the most widely adopted clinical guidelines for the global oncology community.

The NCCN guidelines report efficacy responses to olverembatinib in Chinese Phase I and II trials,[2] including major cytogenetic response (MCyR) rates of 79% and 47%, complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) rates of 69% and 47%, and major molecular response (MMR) rates of 56% and 45%, in patients with CML-CP and CML-AP, respectively.

Clinical trials also suggest that olverembatinib has demonstrated effects regarding safety of the compound, with its common adverse events such as thrombocytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, and chiefly asymptomatic elevation of enzymes that include creatine phosphokinase and liver transaminase, being typically grade 1-2 and manageable.

Findings reported at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting continued to demonstrate that olverembatinib is well tolerated and effective in managing heavily TKI-pretreated CML, including in patients with challenging clinical profiles such as those with the T315I mutation who would otherwise have limited therapeutic options. These studies showed that olverembatinib significantly prolonged the rigorous efficacy benchmark of event-free survival (EFS) and reduced clinical events by 60% compared to physicians' choices of best available therapies (BATs) in China (including imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib)[3]. Moreover, olverembatinib has shown encouraging clinical benefit in patients who have failed prior treatment with other targeted drugs, including the third-generation TKI ponatinib and the allosteric STAMP inhibitor asciminib.[4]

Olverembatinib is a novel, small-molecule, orally administered, third-generation BCR-ABL1 TKI initially approved in China in November 2021 for the treatment of adult patients with TKI-resistant CML-CP or CML-AP harbouring the T315I mutation; and then in November 2023 for the treatment of adult patients with CML-CP resistant to and/or intolerant of first- and second-generation TKIs. Olverembatinib is being jointly commercialized in China by Ascentage Pharma and Innovent Biologics.

Dr. Dajun Yang, Chairman and CEO of Ascentage Pharma, remarked that, "Inclusion in the prestigious NCCN guidelines marks another major milestone for olverembatinib. This event signals important recognition of our drug candidate by the oncology community. We are most encouraged that our cutting-edge, patient-centric innovation, which has culminated in a safe and effective treatment even in relapsed, refractory, and/or difficult-to-treat cases of CML, will bring meaningful improvement to patients' lives. Fulfilling our mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world, we will continue to investigate olverembatinib and accelerate our clinical development programs to benefit more patients."

Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma, said, "This recognition of olverembatinib as a potential CML treatment by the NCCN largely validates the impressive results on this drug candidate reported to date, including selection for Oral Presentation at the 2023 ASH Annual Meeting for the sixth consecutive year. Moving forward, we will expedite our clinical development programs to bring more safe and effective therapies to patients in need. These initiatives include our ongoing pivotal registrational Phase III trials of olverembatinib, including a study in patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia [NCT06051409]."

* Olverembatinib is an investigational drug that has not been approved for any indication outside the Chinese mainland

References

[1]. Shah N, Bhatia R, Altman JK et al. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Version 2.2024 (December 5, 2023). Available from: https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/cml.pdf.

Accessed January 10, 2024.

[2]. Jiang Q, Li Z, Qin Y et al. Olverembatinib (HQP1351), a well-tolerated and effective tyrosine kinase inhibitor for patients with T315I-mutated chronic myeloid leukemia: results of an open-label, multicenter phase 1/2 trial. J Hematol Oncol 2022;15:113.

[3]. Jiang Q, Li Z, Zhang G, et al. Olverembatinib (HQP1351) demonstrates efficacy vs. best available therapy (BAT) in patients (pts) with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia chronic-phase (CML-CP) in a registrational randomized phase 2 study. Blood 2023;142(Suppl 1):869

[4]. Jabbour E, Kantarjian H, Koller PB et al. Update of olverembatinib (HQP1351) overcoming ponatinib and/or Asciminib resistance in patients (pts) with heavily pretreated/refractory chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). Blood 2023;142 (Suppl 1):1798.

About Ascentage Pharma

Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and age-related diseases. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 6855.HK.

Ascentage Pharma focuses on developing therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions to restore apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The company has built a pipeline of 9 clinical drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2, and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company is conducting more than 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China. Ascentage Pharma has been designated for multiple Major National R&D Projects, including five Major New Drug Projects, one New Drug Incubator status, four Innovative Drug Programs, and one Major Project for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases.

Olverembatinib, the company's core drug candidate developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and the company's first approved product, has been granted Priority Review Designations and Breakthrough Therapy Designations by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). To date, the drug had been included into the China 2022 National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). Furthermore, olverembatinib has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA, and an Orphan Designation by the EMA of the EU. To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 16 ODDs from the US FDA and 1 Orphan Designation from the EMA of the EU for 4 of the company's investigational drug candidates.

Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships with numerous renowned biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes such as UNITY Biotechnology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MSD, and AstraZeneca. The company has built a talented team with global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs and is setting up its world-class commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. One pivotal aim of Ascentage Pharma is to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs, in order to fulfil its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world for the benefit of more patients.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, Ascentage Pharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development.

SOURCE Ascentage Pharma
NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The osteoarthritis therapeutics market size is expected to grow by USD 3.96 billion from 2022 to 2027. In addition, the momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 8.97% during the forecast period, according to Technavio Research. The market is segmented based on Product (Analgesics and NSAIDs, Corticosteriods, Viscosupplements, and Others), Type (Ankle osteoarthritis, Hip osteoarthritis, Knee osteoarthritis, and Others), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). North America will contribute 32% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Osteoarthritis rises due to aging populations and risk factors like obesity, impacting millions in the US. Predicted 78 million cases by 2040 propel market growth. Regulatory approvals for expanded therapeutic applications, like ZILRETTA, aid in addressing this increasing demand. This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Read a FREE PDF Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Osteoarthritis Therapeutics Market 2023-2027

Company Profile:

Abbott Laboratories, Alvogen Iceland ehf, Anika Therapeutics Inc., Avanos Medical Inc., Bayer AG, Bioventus LLC, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., Ferring BV, Fidia Farmaceutici Spa, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Hanmi Pharm Co. Ltd., Horizon Therapeutics Plc, Johnson and Johnson, Novartis AG, Pacira BioSciences Inc., Pharmed Ltd., Sanofi SA, Viatris Inc., Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc.

Fidia Farmaceutici Spa- The company offers osteoarthritis therapeutics such as HYALGAN, HYMOVIS, HYALUBRIX, HYALOTEND, CARTIJOINT, and URBASON. The company offers hyaluronic products for tissue repair to treat general wounds, ulcers, bedsores, and topical treatment of burns and skin lesions.

To gain access to more vendor profiles available with Technavio, buy the report!

Osteoarthritis Therapeutics Market: Segmentation Analysis

The demand for analgesics and NSAIDs segment is rapidly growing due to their effectiveness in alleviating osteoarthritis-related chronic joint pain, despite side effects like gastric issues and renal problems associated with traditional NSAIDs. Advanced formulations like tanezumab by Pfizer and Eli Lilly promise a significant contribution to this segment's growth. Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report

"Besides analyzing the current market scenario, our report examines historic data from 2017 to 2021"- Technavio

Osteoarthritis Therapeutics Market: Driver & Trend:

Driver

Traditional imaging techniques, particularly X-ray imaging drives market growth. Advancements in imaging techniques, from X-rays to MRI, offer direct visualization crucial for understanding osteoarthritis. Tailoring treatments using imaging biomarkers and biosignals, like NSAID responsiveness indicators, enhances patient-specific care. Such diagnostic advancements not only aid in understanding drug effectiveness but also drive growth in the osteoarthritis therapeutics market.

Identify key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market. Download a FREE sample report to gain access to this information.

The Osteoarthritis Therapeutics Market faces significant challenges in developing effective treatments. Pharmaceutical advancements in drug development, particularly in biologics and Disease Modifying Osteoarthritis Drugs (DMOADs), aim to improve pain management and joint health. However, reliance on Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, and corticosteroids for symptomatic relief underscores the need for more effective disease-modifying agents. Hyaluronic acid injections and synovial fluid replacement therapy offer temporary solutions, while emerging therapies in regenerative medicine, such as cartilage repair and immunomodulators, show promise. The integration of biomarkers in clinical trials is crucial for personalized medicine approaches in rheumatology. Nevertheless, balancing patient care with innovative treatments like anti-cytokine therapy, prostaglandin inhibitors, opioid analgesics, and joint supplements remains a complex challenge. The pursuit of effective treatments in musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in reducing inflammation and enhancing pain relief, continues to drive research in osteoarthritis therapeutics.

Related Reports:

The Insomnia Therapeutics Market size is estimated to grow by USD 1,002.93 million at a CAGR of 5.49% between 2022 and 2027.

The Global Addiction Therapeutics Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.65% between 2022 and 2027. The addiction therapeutics market size is forecast to increase by USD 9.86 billion.

What are the key data covered in this osteoarthritis therapeutics market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the osteoarthritis therapeutics market between 2022 and 2027.

Precise estimation of the osteoarthritis therapeutics market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the osteoarthritis therapeutics market across North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW

A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of osteoarthritis therapeutics market vendors.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Product

Market Segmentation by Type

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
ATLANTA, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, Pacific Legal Foundation, on behalf of Fight For Freelancers, a coalition of more than 2,500 freelancers in professions ranging from writing to truck driving, filed a lawsuit challenging a new Department of Labor rule that encourages businesses to classify contractors as employees.

"The Labor Department's new classification rule makes it harder to be an independent contractor by muddying the waters between who is an independent contractor and who is an employee. These rules chill Americans' ability to work by threatening businesses with ruinous civil and criminal liability," said Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Wilson Freeman.

The new rule is so vague and uncertain that only the DOL itself can tell if an independent contracting relationship exists. It has made this change with a wholly inadequate justification, leaving millions of contractors twisting in the wind.

"Opposition among independent contractors to this proposed rule change has been widespread and overwhelmingjust as they were with previous state and federal legislative attempts to limit the choice of self-employment since 2019," said Kim Kavin of Fight For Freelancers. "Misclassifying us as employees is not protecting us. It is attacking us and attempting to destroy our chosen careers."

The case is Warren v. U.S. Department of Labor, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. View stamped complaint.

About Pacific Legal Foundation

Pacific Legal Foundation is a national nonprofit legal organization that defends Americans threatened by government overreach and abuse. Since our founding in 1973, we challenge the government when it violates individual liberty and constitutional rights. With active cases in 34 states plus Washington, D.C., PLF represents clients in state and federal courts, with 17 wins of 19 cases litigated at the U.S. Supreme Court. For more information, visit www.pacificlegal.org.

SOURCE Pacific Legal Foundation
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The paracetamol market is expected to grow by USD 791.9 million from 2022 to 2027. In addition, the momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 8.78% during the forecast period, according to Technavio Research. The market is segmented by application (surgical and non-surgical), formulation (powder and granules), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)). North America accounts for 37% of the growth of the global paracetamol market during the forecast period. North America holds a dominant position in the market, primarily led by the United States and Canada, contributing significantly to revenue. The surge in demand for paracetamol as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for the production of various over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, particularly analgesics and antipyretics, plays a pivotal role in driving market growth.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Paracetamol Market 2023-2027

This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Read the Free PDF Sample Report

Company Profile:

Anhui Fubore Pharmaceutical And Chemical Co. Ltd., Anqiu Luan Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., ATABAY KIMYA SANAYI TICARET AS, Biological E. Ltd., Cipla Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Granules India Ltd., Mallinckrodt Plc, Sanofi SA, SEQENS GROUP, Sri Krishna Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Trugen Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd., Zhejiang Kangle Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., and Zhengzhou Sino Chemical Co. Ltd.

Anhui Fubore Pharmaceutical And Chemical Co. Ltd: The company is involved in the manufacturing of paracetamol, glucuronolactone, acetylacetone, and pyrazolone.

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Paracetamol Market: Segmentation Analysis

The market share growth by the surgical segment is significant during the forecast period. The surgical segment of the market pertains to the perioperative application of paracetamol for pain management in surgical patients.

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a Free PDF Sample Report

"Besides analyzing the current market scenario, our report examines historic data from 2017 to 2021"- Technavio

Paracetamol Market: Driver:

The rising prevalence of chronic conditions and prescription drug use drives the market growth. The healthcare sector is experiencing continuous growth, fueled by the prevalence of chronic diseases and the popularity of pain relievers. The World Health Organization reports that oral diseases afflict approximately 3.55 billion people globally, causing pain and suffering.

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The global Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) market is primarily driven by its widespread use as an analgesic and antipyretic for pain relief and fever reduction. As a staple in over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals, Paracetamol is essential in both pediatric and adult dosages for pain management and fever treatment, including chronic pain, headache relief, and as an adjunct in cold and flu remedies. The demand for both generic and brand-name Paracetamol underlines its significance in consumer healthcare and the broader drug industry. This growth is further fueled by ongoing research and development (R&D), ensuring continual improvements in pharmaceutical manufacturing and regulatory compliance. Additionally, the health care sector's focus on accessible non-prescription medications reinforces Paracetamol's status in the pharmaceutical market. Market trends indicate a steady global demand, though the supply chain dynamics can impact availability. The therapeutic uses of Paracetamol remain a cornerstone in painkiller options, influencing both market trends and the direction of new pharmaceutical developments.

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What are the key data covered in this paracetamol market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the paracetamol market between 2022 and 2027.

Precise estimation of the paracetamol market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the paracetamol market across North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW

A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about companies

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of paracetamol market players.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Application

Market Segmentation by Formulation

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. The 11th meeting of the joint trade committee between Iran and Pakistan, which started yesterday, was canceled after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched a missile attack on Pakistani territory and Pakistan objected to this issue, Trend reports.

The mentioned two-day meeting started on January 16 in Chabahar county of Irans Sistan and Baluchestan Province (southeastern Iran). Several cooperation documents were expected to be signed between the two countries at the meeting.

The Pakistani delegation refused to participate in the meeting and returned to Pakistan.

As reported, Iranian armed forces attacked two headquarters of the Jaish al-Adl terrorist group on January 16. Drones and missiles were used to hit the headquarters located in Pakistan. As a result, 2 children died and 3 people were injured.
Paratus Commercialised World's First Energy & Freight Insurance Policies

Innovative Insurance Solution Helps Companies Manage Price Risk Exposure

as Energy Transition Accelerates

Expansion Enabled by Growth Equity Investment from Ara Partners

ST. PETER PORT, Guernsey and DUBLIN, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Paratus Holdings Limited ("Paratus") today announces the expansion of commercial operations and the introduction of its highly innovative renewable power price-risk insurance solution, pending regulatory approval. The announcement follows the completion of a growth equity investment from Ara Partners ("Ara"), a global private equity and infrastructure firm that specializes in industrial decarbonisation investments.

Since its founding in 2020, Paratus commercialised the world's first energy and freight insurance policies and has developed a proprietary insurance policy that protects producers and consumers of renewable power and transition fuels from energy price risks. Compared to currently available risk management solutions, the Paratus product produces superior outcomes and provides additional flexibility for customer strategies across a large and growing addressable global market.

"While the energy transition presents significant opportunities, complex risk management challenges remain for producers and consumers of renewable energy and transition fuels," said Gus Majed, Group CEO & Founder of Paratus. "Paratus began with a simple belief that there must be a better way for industry to protect against energy price volatility. Our proprietary insurance-based risk management product materially improves returns compared to traditional alternatives. With Ara's investment, partnership, and network, we will be able to significantly scale the Paratus offering, creating enhanced value opportunities for our customers and realising our significant potential."

Christopher Picotte, Partner at Ara Partners, commented, "Renewable electricity and green fuels are evolving from niche products reliant on subsidies to dominant, supply/demand-driven products across global energy markets. Paratus has pioneered an innovative market-based solution that will give energy producers and consumers an economical and flexible way to manage risk exposure and advance their commercial strategies. Through our partnership, Paratus will be able to scale quickly while playing a critical role driving the universal adoption of low/zero-carbon energy. We are delighted to partner with Gus and the management team and to support the growth of the company."

The investment builds on Ara Partners' history of investing in businesses and services that meaningfully advance the decarbonisation of the industrial economy.

About Paratus

Paratus offers the world's first renewable power, transition fuels and freight price-risk insurance policies to protect producers and consumers from excessive balance-sheet exposure. Paratus' transparently priced policies eliminate the need for costly in-house trading capabilities, and the use of complex hedging products.

Guernsey domiciled and regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission to underwrite general business. Paratus Maritime Insurance Limited transfers risk to particular Underwriters at Lloyd's (rated "A+" by Standard & Poor's and "AA-" by Fitch Ratings), to enhance financial security for clients worldwide.

For more information about Paratus please visit: https://www.paratusltd.com/

About Ara Partners

Ara Partners is a global private equity and infrastructure investment firm focused on industrial decarbonization. Founded in 2017, Ara Partners seeks to build and scale companies with significant decarbonization impact across the industrial and manufacturing, chemicals and materials, energy efficiency and green fuels, and food and agriculture sectors. The company operates from offices in Houston, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Dublin. Ara Partners closed its third private equity fund in December 2023 with over $2.8 billion in capital commitments. As of September 30, 2023, Ara Partners had approximately $5.6 billion of assets under management. For more information about Ara Partners, please visit www.arapartners.com.

Contacts

For Paratus:

Kapil Arya

Lansons

[email protected]

07550044000

For Ara Partners:

Scott Bisang / Jack Kelleher

Collected Strategies

[email protected]

SOURCE Ara Partners
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Our pharmacy organizations are deeply concerned about FDA's recent authorization of a state drug importation program, which could open the door for harmful and counterfeit drugs to enter our nation's drug supply, with no evidence that this will result in cost savings for our patients.

FDA recently authorized Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration to import certain drugs under specific conditions. Under current law, FDA can only authorize importation if the program will significantly reduce the cost to the American consumer without imposing additional risk to public health and safety. FDA's announcement did not contain any data or information that assure that this standard has been met.

While our organizations share concerns regarding the high cost of medicines in the United States, patient safety should not be compromised under any circumstance. As pharmacists, we are on the front lines protecting our nation's drug supply chain and ensuring the delivery of safe and effective medicines to our patients. State importation programs introduce several opportunities for mix-ups, mishandling, mislabeling, and other rogue activity that would place some of our most vulnerable patient communities at risk.

Pharmacists have been working with manufacturers and wholesalers for over ten years to implement the Drug Supply Chain and Security Act (DSCSA), a law that requires tracing of drugs through the supply chain by creating a closed drug distribution system in the U.S. to protect patients from receiving harmful drugs. DSCSA imposes protections and requires documentation that follows the drug from the manufacturer to the pharmacy, so it is clear who owned the product, and that the product is legitimate. Canada does not have a similar law, leaving our drug supply chain at risk under Florida's program.

We look forward to continuing to work with FDA and other policymakers to implement meaningful solutions to lower the high cost of prescription drugs without compromising patient safety.

American Pharmacists Association National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy National Association of Boards of Pharmacy American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy National Community Pharmacists Association American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists American College of Clinical Pharmacy Alabama Pharmacy Association American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Alaska Pharmacy Association Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association Alabama Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc Arizona Pharmacy Association Arkansas Association of Health-System Pharmacists Arkansas Pharmacists Association Colegio de Farmaceuticos de Puerto Rico California Pharmacists Association Colorado Pharmacists Society Colorado Pharmacists Society East Alabama Health Connecticut Pharmacists Association Georgia Society of Health-System Pharmacists Delaware Pharmacists Society Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists Georgia Pharmacy Association Kansas Council of Health-System Pharmacy Hawaii Pharmacists Association Kentucky Society of Health-System Pharmacists Illinois Pharmacists Association Louisiana Society of Health-System Pharmacists Indiana Pharmacy Association Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists Iowa Pharmacy Association Minnesota Society of Health-System Pharmacists Kansas Pharmacists Association Mississippi Society of Health-System Pharmacists Kentucky Pharmacists Association Missouri Society of Health-System Pharmacist Maine Pharmacy Association New Jersey Society of Health-System Pharmacy Maryland Pharmacists Association New York State Council of Health-System Pharmacists Michigan Pharmacists Association Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists Minnesota Pharmacists Association Rhode Island Society of Health System Pharmacists Mississippi Pharmacists Association Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists Missouri Pharmacy Association Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists Montana Pharmacy Association Vermont Society of Health-System Pharmacists Nebraska Pharmacists Association Washington State Pharmacy Association Nevada Pharmacy Alliance

New Jersey Pharmacists Association

North Carolina Association of Pharmacists

North Dakota Pharmacists Association

Ohio Pharmacists Association

Oklahoma Pharmacists Association

Oregon State Pharmacy Association

Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association

Pharmacists Society of the State of New York

Rhode Island Pharmacists Association

South Carolina Pharmacy Association

South Dakota Pharmacists Association

Tennessee Pharmacists Association

Utah Pharmacy Association

Virginia Pharmacy Association

Washington D.C. Pharmacy Association

Washington State Pharmacy Association

West Virginia Pharmacists Association

Wyoming Pharmacy Association



SOURCE American Pharmacists Association
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Possmei , a renowned Taiwanese bubble tea brand, is announcing the relaunch of its in-person educational programs for US beverage entrepreneurs in 2024 along with a comprehensive tour of major national trade shows.

Possmei NY Inc.Training center

Given the viral popularity of the refreshment, the US bubble tea market is projected to grow from $464.29 million in 2023 to $750.59 million by 2030, making it a key region for bubble tea brands such as Possmei to focus on. Given this expansion, the company has recently increased its footprint in the US and opened a New York branch in July 2023, adding to its existing offices in California and Texas.

Hands-on, experiential learning to empower US bubble tea brands

In addition to boba products themselves, Possmei offers comprehensive consulting and training services for entrepreneurs interested in bubble tea to learn about the industry and how to thrive in it. Under this purview, Possmei will reestablish in-person services for US bubble tea brands starting in 2024 after a pandemic-related hiatus.

"Being together in-person is really the best way to share our passion for bubble tea and to inspire others to start their boba journey," commented Mei-Li Chen, CEO of Possmei. "These trainings are a core part of Possmei's mission, and we are thrilled to be back."

Showcasing at premier US trade shows

To further spread the bubble tea craze, Possmei is set to attend a series of high-profile industry expos across the US, where it will introduce distinctive, cutting-edge new boba products while sharing its array of consulting and training services. The tour includes:

Winter Fancy Food Show : Las Vegas , January 21-23 (Booth 2716)

: , Northwest Food Show: Portland , April 21-22 (Booth 312)

, National Restaurant Association Show 2024 : Chicago , May 18-21 (Booth 6647)

: , Summer Fancy Food Show : New York City , June 23-25 (Booth 2442)

: , Texas Restaurant Show 2024 : San Antonio , July 13-15 (Booth 1140)

: , Louisiana Restaurant Association 2024 : New Orleans , August 3-4

: , August 3-4 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo: Los Angeles, August 25-27 (Booth 1408)

Los Angeles, Americas Food & Beverage Show & Conference: Miami , September 16-18 (Booth 730)

To view the full lineup of expos worldwide, please visit: https://possmei.com.tw/en/?op=exhibition_show

Sharing Taiwan's distinctiveness worldwide

Separately from the company's promotional activities, Szu-Ya "Debby" Wang, the daughter of the company's late founder Jacky Wang, is a musician who also shares a passion for Taiwan's unique culture and bubble tea. She will star in a stage play titled "This Is Not an Embassy (Made in Taiwan)" that will show worldwide throughout 2024. Co-produced by Theatre Vidy-Lausanne and the Taipei National Theatre and Concert Hall, the play aims to serve as a "portable sample" of Taiwan, its unique characteristics, and its cultural phenomena, including the significance of bubble tea in Taiwanese culture.

Continued Chen: "Each of our bubble tea products  every individual boba  is a little burst of Taiwanese culture, and we are thrilled that Ms. Wang is continuing this tradition while taking it a step further  into the cultural medium of theater."

The first production will premiere at Haus der Berliner Festspiele in Berlin, Germany, from January 24 to 27, kicking off an international tour throughout 2024.

For more information on This Is Not an Embassy (Made in Taiwan):

English: https://www.rimini-protokoll.de/website/en/project/dies-ist-keine-botschaft-made-in-taiwan

About Possmei

Possmei is a brand synonymous with authenticity, quality, and innovation in the bubble tea sphere. Founded in 2009 in Taiwan, the company has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible with bubble tea, offering an array of syrups, powders, and toppings that cater to the diverse tastes of bubble tea enthusiasts worldwide.

Possmei's products are crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail. From their signature black tea and green tea bases to their tantalising fruit syrups, every ingredient in Possmei's repertoire is selected for its premium quality. This dedication to excellence ensures that every bubble tea made with Possmei products is a delightful and memorable experience.

SOURCE Possmei International Co Ltd.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Propeller, Inc., a high-growth insurtech MGA specializing in surety bonds, is pleased to announce its recent partnership with the Big "I" Eagle Alliance, a new premier alliance group, as a recommended surety and fidelity bond platform.

"We're extremely grateful for the opportunity to partner with this Big 'I' alliance group. Their agents now have full access to markets, proprietary technology, and expert surety underwriting. I feel humbled to be associated with Eagle Alliance for surety and fidelity bonding and look forward to providing the tools their agents need to write bonds successfully," quoted Aaron Steffey, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Propeller.

The partnership focuses on delivering Propeller's proprietary, white-labeled (URL) technology to agents, allowing the bonding process to become fully automated from application to billing and issuance. Propeller onboards agents in minutes with no premium requirements, all at no cost.

Propeller: Click to learn more!

Big "I" Eagle Alliance was created to assist independent agents gain market access through membership, with an objective to aggregate premium, identify opportunities for growth, promote profitability, and provide broad communication/training to members on behalf of their carrier partners.

"We're so pleased that Propeller joined forces with the new Big 'I' Eagle Alliance to help member agencies ease the surety bond process," said Mark Wolf, President, Big I Advantage. "We're excited about the launch and future of the alliance and the opportunities it'll provide for our members in this market and beyond. We're grateful for Propeller's participation and partnership, ultimately enhancing our member experience."

Through this partnership, Propeller and Eagle Alliance will work to digitally modernize how Big "I" agents sell surety bonds. The partnership rolled out nationally to agencies in January 2024.

ABOUT PROPELLER BONDS:

Propeller is an insurtech MGA/MGU equipped with a proprietary surety bond platform housing 7,000+ instant issue bonds. Propeller customizes the platform for agencies, allowing agents to purchase bonds or by empowering clients to self-service. Agents are compensated for all purchases via their unique URL. The company proudly partners with "A" rated carriers.

ABOUT EAGLE ALLIANCE:

Big "I" Eagle Alliance is the new agency alliance from Big "I" Advantage. Qualified members will have access to aggregated premium, contingency eligibility, increased commission, strong carrier partnerships, growth opportunities, promotion of profitability, broad communication and training, market access, and vendor discounts. For more, visit independentagent.com/EAGLE.

Media Contact:

Jamie Bercik

[email protected]

SOURCE Propeller, Inc.
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid the urgency to address global sustainability challenges at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Rescale has announced its partnership with Neural Concept , leaders in 3D deep learning technology for engineering, to place AI-based engineering intelligence at the center of the product development process. Powered by Rescale's leading cloud platform for accelerated computing, Neural Concept Shape provides automotive and aerospace OEMs with access to AI technologies capable of designing automatically and in real time new 3D product designs, accelerating the delivery of new innovative and more optimized, sustainable, and efficient products to market.

By leveraging Rescale's unparalleled computing power, scalability, and AI-based performance optimization, designers and engineers can scale their AI-based model training with the flexibility of Rescale's fully-integrated cloud platform  dramatically accelerating innovation, expediting development and manufacturing cycles, and augmenting product performance. Engineers and researchers are empowered to design and optimize products and processes for reduced material usage, energy consumption, and waste generation. This is crucial for achieving sustainability goals across sectors, from manufacturing to transportation.

Designers and engineers across aerospace and automotive industries are reducing product development times by up to 75%, accelerating product virtual simulations by 10x, and improving product characteristics including efficiency, safety, speed, and aerodynamics by up to 30%.

This partnership dives deeper than mere computational muscle. It leverages the nascent field of AI-based engineering, where physics simulations are infused with the power of machine learning, and CAD generation is boosted by generative AI. This enables generative design, a technique where AI creates and iterates on countless prototypes within virtual simulations, seeking the most efficient design for specific criteria. AI-based engineering can empower industries to craft lighter, more efficient products in both their construction and operation, using less material and energy - paving the way for a future where innovation and sustainability go hand-in-hand.

"As the world transitions towards renewable energy sources to power the next generation of transportation, we need a fundamentally new approach to engineering and design. With the global environmental challenges we all face, we can't afford to wait years - or even decades - for more sustainable solutions," said Pierre Baque, CEO and co-founder of Neural Concept. "Our partnership with Rescale enables a new era of engineering intelligence where deep learning technology is placed at the center of the product development process - dramatically accelerating innovation, expediting development and manufacturing cycles, and reducing overall engineering costs."

This partnership represents a significant step forward in the commitment for a sustainable computing supply chain, integrating a spectrum of sustainable computing architectures that lower the energy footprint for complex and compute intensive R&D.

"Neural Concept is a trailblazer in AI-based engineering, and Rescale is proud to deliver the full-stack accelerated computing infrastructure needed to fuel these groundbreaking generative design and AI-based R&D and deep learning applications," said Joris Poort, CEO of Rescale. "We are also committed to providing access to the most performant, efficient, and sustainable computing resources. Solving the greatest science and engineering problems of our time requires tremendous computing power. Through democratizing access to the most performant and efficient computing resources, we can empower a new generation of innovators to tackle the world's most pressing challenges and confidently accelerate innovation while balancing sustainability objectives."

The partnership between Rescale and Neural Concept represents a pivotal moment in the quest for a more sustainable and efficient tomorrow. By combining Neural Concept's 3D deep learning capability with the horsepower of Rescale's accelerated computing, the collaboration empowers aerospace and automotive industries across the globe to unlock the potential of AI physics for generative design  A stepping stone toward a future where organizations can leverage real-time simulation and interactive design optimization that ultimately makes new transport more sustainable, safer, and efficient.

About Neural Concept

The trends toward sustainability and the regulations that accompany them mean that engineering companies must develop products at unprecedented speeds. The current approach to product design and development is not suited to these challenges.

Neural Concept solves this. By making 3D deep learning the central paradigm of the design process, AI can translate high-level functional requirements into actual optimized designs much more rapidly than was ever possible before.

Neural Concept's flagship product, Neural Concept Shape (NCS), exploits the computational power of deep learning to assist world class engineering teams design next generation products at record speeds. Backed by world renowned investors such as Alven, Neural Concept works with 40% of the largest European and Asian OEMs and 25% of the top 100 tier-1 suppliers to deliver transformative results.

For more information, visit https://www.neuralconcept.com

About Rescale

Rescale 's AI-powered cloud high performance computing (HPC) platform makes accelerating innovation possible for any organization. Innovators use Rescale to provide R&D teams the world's largest library of fully managed software applications and performance-driven computing architectures, robust data security, intelligent controls, and a seamless AI-driven experience. Leveraged by a majority of Fortune 500 companies to accelerate time to market, Rescale has been recognized by Gartner as a Cool Vendor for Cloud Infrastructure, by Deloitte as a Technology Fast 500 company, and by the World Economic Forum as a Global Innovator Unicorn.

SOURCE Rescale Inc
CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago-based R.J. O'Brien & Associates (RJO), the oldest independent futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States, announced today the appointment of Patrick Christie as Senior Executive Officer and Head of Hrvyst, the firm's agricultural technology (ag tech) business unit. Christie has more than 25 years of experience in starting, operating and investing in emerging technologies, including most recently in the ag tech and agribusiness sectors.

Developed internally by RJO's Commercial Agricultural team, Hrvyst is the firm's grain marketing profit platform, enabling users in the commercial grain industry to manage their cash and basis grain ownership risk in real time and automatically converting cash grain contract management into futures hedging orders. The cloud-based, scalable Hrvyst platform enables users to digitally streamline grain origination, merchandising and automated hedging. Hrvyst electronically links offers, purchases and sales to the futures market and to a grain company's accounting software system and mobile app, seamlessly and efficiently. Broker-agnostic, the platform can be used by cooperatives and processors with a link to their existing brokerage firms.

Based in Minneapolis, Christie reports to RJO Chairman and CEO Gerald Corcoran.

Corcoran said: "Hrvyst is a prime example of our commitment to the agricultural community that helped us build this firm and that endures as a fundamental and still growing segment of our business. Patrick is extremely well respected in the agribusiness community, and he has built deep relationships with farmers, owners and management at companies in the agribusiness, commodities, ag tech and food sectors. He has a tremendous track record of establishing and scaling successful, innovative organizations. As Hrvyst has matured in its offerings, we are thrilled to have Patrick at the helm to create and execute an ambitious growth strategy, as well as ensure we are always staying true to helping our clients meet their unique, evolving risk management challenges."

Christie said: "In all my roles, I've sought to spend my time on things that matter, create durable value, build go-to-market strategies and work with great people. RJO is a firm that demonstrates a genuine sense of caring about its people, and as I've spent more time with the team, I found these are individuals who really care about the industry and their role in it. I know with this group we can grow Hrvyst into a scalable solution to provide clients with a competitive advantage on how they run their operations and manage their risk."

Christie was founder and CEO of Conservis Corporation, a leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) farm data management solution which provides decision-making confidence and insights by collecting and organizing operating and financial data at farms. He founded the company in 2009, pivoting the mission of the firm after identifying an unmet need in the farming community. He and his team grew the business, serving clients ranging from family farms in the Midwest to large-scale international agribusinesses, helping them use technology to manage and grow their operations. Earlier in his career, Christie acquired and served as President and CEO of Cybernet Systems, a technology systems integration firm specializing in large-scale data and networking architectures.

About R.J. O'Brien & Associates

Founded in 1914, R.J. O'Brien & Associates is the oldest independent futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States, serving more than 80,000 institutional, commercial and individual clients globally, in addition to a network of approximately 300 introducing brokers (IBs). RJO services the industry's most expansive global network of IBs, a vast array of middle market firms and many of the world's largest financial, industrial and agricultural institutions. The firm offers state-of-the-art electronic trading and 24-hour trade execution on every major futures exchange worldwide. RJO received the FOW International Award for Non-Bank FCM of the Year for five consecutive years, and the firm and its UK affiliate have earned eight honors from the HFM Global publications in recent years.

SOURCE R.J. O'Brien & Associates
Closes Most Recent Flagship Fund at $2.7 Billion; Raises Additional $2.4 Billion in Commitments

BOSTON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockpoint, a Boston-based real estate private equity firm, today announced it has raised $5.1 billion in aggregate equity capital commitments in the current fundraising cycle. The total raise includes the close of Rockpoint Real Estate Fund VII ("the Fund") with $2.7 billion in total equity capital, as well as an additional $2.4 billion in commitments that include two single investor funds and one single-asset continuation vehicle. Together, this funding represents a diverse base of leading corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, and family offices from Asia, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States.

The Rockpoint team has been investing together since 1994a 30-year track record that includes investing across multiple cycles and 19 funds and related co-investment vehicles representing a combined gross asset value of approximately $80 billion. Fund VII expands on Rockpoint's long- established flagship opportunistic series, leveraging the firm's extensive local market knowledge and vertically integrated platform to create and enhance value at the asset level.

"We are grateful for the strong support from both existing and new investors," said Bill Walton, Managing Member at Rockpoint. "As we continue to thoughtfully grow our platform and invest in assets where our longstanding relationships, local market expertise, and vertically integrated capabilities can add substantial value, we are well positioned to capitalize on what we believe will be compelling opportunities during this period of dislocation across the real estate sector."

"We are excited to expand on our successful track record of investing through cycles and to continue to deliver strong returns for our investors." said Keith Gelb, Managing Member at Rockpoint. "With a management team that has been working together and with relationships throughout the industry for nearly three decades, alongside a deep and growing pool of talent, our organization has never been stronger."

The Fund will target opportunities in the U.S. across a range of real estate asset classes, including industrial, multifamily, single-family rental, and hospitality, as well as select office investments.

About Rockpoint

Rockpoint is a real estate private equity firm that employs a fundamental value approach to investing, targeting select product types and markets throughout the United States. The firm applies a consistent and disciplined investment approach across its investment programs, which span distinct return profiles. Rockpoint continually assesses market opportunities and evaluates potential investments relative to intrinsic value and cash flow, targeting investments that Rockpoint believes are inefficiently priced or misunderstood by the broader market. Rockpoint proactively pursues opportunities that exhibit strong value potential that can be realized through impactful asset management. Since 1994, the firm's co-founders with others have sponsored 19 investment vehicles and related co-investment vehicles through Rockpoint and a predecessor firm and have raised approximately $30 billion in equity capital commitments. As of September 30, 2023, Rockpoint's investment team with others has invested or committed to invest in 503 transactions with a total peak capitalization of approximately $80 billion (inclusive of fund equity, co-investor equity and debt). To learn more, visit www.rockpoint.com.

Contacts

Jon Keehner / Sarah Salky / Erik Carlson

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

(212) 355-4449

[email protected]

SOURCE Rockpoint Group, L.L.C.
NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) between August 18, 2022 and May 2, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important February 5, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Estee Lauder 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 Estee Lauder class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=21096 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 5, 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: The Complaint alleges that during the Class Period, defendants misled investors with unrealistic and materially false statements about market demand regarding Estee Lauder's products, as well as supply chain issues and mismanagement of inventory levels in Asia and the United States. These statements concealed the truth about Estee Lauder's weakness in the market until, on May 3, 2023, Estee Lauder announced weaker sales and profit for the year than estimated and accordingly cut its fiscal year outlook for a third consecutive time. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Estee Lauder class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=21096 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.
USD 112 Central Plains helps Kansan adults finish high school for free

CLAFLIN, Kan., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- USD 112 Central Plains recently celebrated its 1,000th adult diploma completion program graduate after just three years of offering a free, online high school program for Kansan adults.

"As a small, rural school district, it has been exciting to see the impact the Central Plains Diploma Completion Program has had on the adult population in Kansas," Central Plains Superintendent Bill Lowry said. "Education has no boundaries, and we've been able to serve students from all four corners of Kansas and everywhere in between."

Students who complete the program graduate with a standard high school diploma from USD 112 Central Plains. To date, 250 learners have also earned an employability skills certificate, further boosting their employability.

"Sixty-five percent of our graduates have gotten a better job or raise within 9 months of graduation," Lowry said. "Over a quarter of them have continued to post-secondary education, and we're starting to see some college graduates now as well."

The program also allows students to finish high school faster than they would in a traditional school setting  courses, which can be started any business day, take less than a month to complete.

"We partner with Graduation Alliance to provide online courses that can be completed anytime and anywhere," Lowry said. "Kansans are entitled to public education, no matter their age, but finding a program that provides the right mix of flexibility and support can be tricky. Graduation Alliance is designed to blend with work, family, and personal responsibilities to give students the best chance at success."

To qualify for the program, applicants must be Kansas residents 22 years of age or older, have not completed a GED, and have completed at least some of 10th grade. Work experience may be considered in place of high school credits for those who have only completed up to some of 9th grade.

"If I can do it at the age of 43, anybody can do it. I had no computer skills at all, and I did it," graduate Jamie B. said. "I'm a single mom, I was working a full-time job and taking care of kids, and I was back in high school."

The program offers rolling admission, and adults who are interested in finishing high school can learn more about the program, including eligibility requirements, at KansasDiploma.com .

About USD 112 Central Plains: Central Plains is a public unified school district in Claflin, Kansas, and serves students from 11 communities and other nearby rural areas. The district operates three schools and serves approximately 451 students in grades K-12.

About Graduation Alliance: Since 2007, Graduation Alliance has given schools and communities nationwide the resources and support needed to help individuals reach their educational and career goals. Graduation Alliance develops highly effective alternative education and workforce training programs in partnership with school districts, local governments, nonprofits, workforce development boards, and community colleges. For more information about Graduation Alliance, visit GraduationAlliance.com .

Press Contact: Joanna Alcala, Chief Marketing Officer, 855.486.8555

SOURCE Graduation Alliance
Google's Gemini Pro and Imagen 2 to deploy in production new text, voice, and image features on the new Samsung Galaxy S24 series

SEOUL, Korea and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd and Google Cloud today announced a new multi-year partnership to bring Google Cloud's generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology to Samsung smartphone users around the globe. Starting with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series announced today at Galaxy Unpacked in San Jose, California, Samsung will be the first Google Cloud partner to deploy Gemini Pro and Imagen 2 on Vertex AI via the cloud to their smartphone devices.

"Google and Samsung have long shared deeply-held values around the importance of making technology more helpful and accessible for everyone. We're thrilled that the Galaxy S24 series is the first smartphone equipped with Gemini Pro and Imagen 2 on Vertex AI," said Janghyun Yoon, Corporate EVP and Head of Software Office of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. "After months of rigorous testing and competitive evaluation, the Google Cloud and Samsung teams worked together to deliver the best Gemini-powered AI experience on Galaxy."

Samsung is the first Google Cloud partner to deploy Gemini Pro on Vertex AI to consumers. Built from the ground up to be multimodal, Gemini can generalize and seamlessly understand, operate across, and combine different types of information including text, code, images, and video. Starting with Samsung-native applications, users can take advantage of summarization features across Notes, Voice Recorder, and Keyboard1. Gemini Pro on Vertex AI provides Samsung with critical Google Cloud features, including security, safety, privacy, and data compliance.

Galaxy S24 series users can also immediately benefit from Imagen 2, Google's most advanced text-to-image diffusion technology from Google DeepMind to date. With Imagen 2 on Vertex AI, Samsung can bring safe and intuitive photo-editing capabilities into the users' hands. These features can be found in Generative Edit in S24's Gallery application.

As part of this partnership, Samsung is also one of the first customers to test Gemini Ultra, Google's most capable and largest model for highly-complex tasks. The S24 series will also use Gemini Nano, an on-device LLM delivered as part of the Android 14 operating system, the most efficient model of Gemini for on-device tasks.

"Together with Samsung, Google Cloud sees the tremendous opportunity for generative AI to create meaningful mobile experiences that stimulate and strengthen connection and communication for millions," said Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google Cloud. "With Gemini, Samsung's developers can leverage Google Cloud's world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge performance, and flexibility to deliver safe, reliable, and engaging generative AI powered applications on Samsung smartphone devices."

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud accelerates every organization's ability to digitally transform its business and industry. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google's cutting-edge technology, and tools that help developers build more sustainably. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems.

About Samsung

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, home appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions, and delivering a seamless connected experience through its SmartThings ecosystem and open collaboration with partners. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com

1 Galaxy AI features may require internet connection, Samsung Account login, and/or update to latest Android version. Product functionality may be dependent on your app and device settings. Some functions may not be compatible with certain apps or require additional software downloads, such as language packs. Availability of the service may vary by country, region, or market. Accuracy of results not guaranteed. For detailed specifications and conditions, refer to your local Samsung website.

SOURCE Google Cloud
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Iran's missile attack on Iraq's Erbil province is in line with the security agreement between Iran and Iraq, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said, Trend reports.

The minister stated that Iran's missile attacks on Iraq are related to Israeli intelligence (Mossad). Members of the Mossad carried out operations in Iran and openly accepted the operations. Iran will react to every step taken by Israel. Iran hit the Mossad headquarters in the Kurdistan region of Iraq with precision missiles. These missile strikes are not meant to hit Iraq.

Abdollahian added that the local officials of the Kurdish autonomy of Iraq have undertaken to protect the security of the borders with Iran.

"Iran will react seriously to any step against its security," he stressed.

On the night of January 16, Iran fired rockets at the facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iraq resulting in death of four people.

---

Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur
iaedp Symposium 2024 applications for Orlando conference due mid-January

PEKIN, Ill., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Association for Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) proudly announces the availability of scholarships for the upcoming Symposium in March of 2024. The event, The Art and Science of Connection: Make Every Connection Count, is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of professionals and practitioners in the field.

"The field of eating disorders treatment is an ever-evolving science," said Bonnie Harken, iaedp Managing Director. "The next generation of eating disorder professionals entering the field, or even in their first few years of practice, want emerging, evidence-based treatment approaches. The 2024 iaedp Symposium is a critical step in empowering the future of eating disorders professionals, practitioners and treatments."

The iaedp Foundation's annual global symposium promises an exceptional blend of evidence-based protocols and innovative treatment ideas, providing attendees with the latest research insights and treatment approaches. With over 1000 eating disorders treatment professionals expected to converge in Orlando, the event offers a unique opportunity for unparalleled learning, collaboration, and connection.

"One of the best parts of this global event is watching professionals of all ages, experience levels and diversity come together to share best practices, ideas and strategies," said Harken.

The following scholarships are available:

The AAEDP-BIPOC Committees Scholarship - Financial aid awards for ten eligible applicants who have demonstrated commitment to eating disorders treatment, education, prevention, research, or advocacy in the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community.

Eligibility Requirements: A clinician, researcher, or student with experience in the field of eating disorders or a first-time attendee to the iaedp Symposium. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to treatment, education, prevention, research and advocacy of eating disorders in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities.

Dick Wilson Scholarship - First-time iaedp Symposium attendees or iaedp members facing financial hardships are eligible to apply. Covers the cost of one full symposium registration. Does not include additional costs such as pre-conference sessions or travel expenses.

Christine Hartline Scholarship - Covers the cost of one full symposium registration. Does not include additional costs such as pre-conference sessions or travel expenses. First-time iaedp Symposium attendees or iaedp members facing financial hardships are eligible to apply.

Erin Riederer Foundation Scholarship - Offers two $1200 scholarships to individuals BEGINNING their iaedp Certification. Attendance is required at the iaedp Symposium, including the Core Courses on March 20 & 21. Applicants need to live and attend school or work in the Midwest. (WI, MN, Iowa, IL, IND or MI).

Financial Aid Awards - These scholarships cover the majority of symposium registration fees. First-time iaedp Symposium attendees or iaedp members facing financial hardships are eligible to apply.

Applications are due on or before January 31, 2024.

Don't miss this chance to join the forefront of eating disorders professionals and contribute to the advancement of the field. Apply for a scholarship today and be part of the iaedp 2024 Global Symposium  where learning, collaboration, and connection create a transformative experience.

For application details, visit iaedp.org/symposium2024.

About the iaedp Foundation: Since 1985, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals has provided education and training standards to an international and multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions. The iaedp Foundation's Presidents Council, which provides organization support, includes Center for Change; Center for Discovery; Eating Recovery Center; Laureate Eating Disorders Program; The Meadows Ranch; Rogers Behavioral Health; The Renfrew Center; Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center; Alsana Eating Disorder Treatment & Recovery Centers; Walden Behavioral Care; Monte Nido & Affiliates; and Odyssey Eating Disorder Network; Within Health; Banyan Centers; WD Recovery and Wellness Center; Mind Over Body; Koru Spring Center.

SOURCE iaedp Foundation
Third-party researchers found that K-12 use of the Student Success platform helps ensure long-term student success

The study meets federal funding requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for Level II

BOSTON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Panorama Education , an education technology company that helps students achieve academic success and well-being, announced third-party researchers have found that using Panorama's Student Success platform resulted in higher math and reading scores at schools using the platform. This finding demonstrates the platform's ability to support overall academic success in K-12 students.

Researchers at LearnPlatform by Instructure confirmed that a November 2023 study on the use of Student Success meets Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Level II requirements. The study examined if school use of Student Success positively impacted student academic performance, and whether using the product's intervention planning and management tools improved performance for students at risk of academic challenges.

The study's findings on using Student Success include:

Schools with high usage of the Student Success platform had significantly higher end-of-year math and reading performance.

Students in need of additional support who had their interventions tracked on the Student Success platform often had higher performance by the end of the school year.

60% of interventions with outcomes tracked on the platform met stated goals.

"These results prove that our platform supports academic success broadly and can make a real difference in helping students get back on track," said Panorama Education's Chief Product Officer Jessica Tiwari. "Our technology empowers districts to help students at the individual level, through evidence-based solutions that work for school systems of all sizes."

The study included de-identified data from over 600 elementary and secondary schools that used Panorama Student Success to manage implementation of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) during the 202223 school year. The researchers used standardized assessment scores in math and reading from the Northwest Evaluation Association's Measure of Academic Progress .

"Our teams have witnessed firsthand the positive impacts of Panorama's Student Success platform, and now we have scientific evidence that using it improves academic performance," said Panorama Education CEO Aaron Feuer. "School funds spent on Student Success have the most important return that we could ask forbetter outcomes for students."

To learn more about Panorama Education and the Student Success platform, visit panoramaed.com .

About Panorama Education

Panorama Education is an education technology company founded in 2012 that helps students achieve academic success and well-being, and gives schools and school districts a platform to hear what families, students and teachers need in the classroom. Educators use Panorama's software platform to understand and support students across academics, attendance, behavior, and life skills development. District leaders use the same platform to track progress toward strategic goals, such as literacy, graduation, and school safety. Panorama is proud that its platform is used to support 15 million students in 25,000 schools, 2,000 districts across the United States.

For more information, visit www.panoramaed.com .

Media Contact

Stephanie Reynolds

530-316-1115

[email protected]

SOURCE Panorama Education
Global Market for Seed Coating Materials Expected to Grow at a 6.1% CAGR, Rising from $2.0 Billion in 2022 to $2.8 Billion in 2028

BOSTON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Feeding more people with fewer resources is a big challenge in farming today. Seed coatings are like a helpful tool because they can reduce the need for using lots of chemicals on crops after planting. This is good because people want less chemicals in their food, and it's better for the environment too. Seed coatings also help farmers grow food in tough places, like areas with not much rain or where the soil isn't very good. This report about seed coating materials will give a clear picture of this important industry. It will talk about the main companies, explain what's happening in the industry, and even make some predictions about what might happen in the future. It's like a sneak peek into how we're making farming smarter and more sustainable for the whole world.

"According to the latest BCC Research study, the demand for Seed Coating Materials: Global Markets is estimated to increase from $2.0 billion in 2022 to reach $2.8 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% from 2022 through 2028."

The report offers a comprehensive overview of the global seed coating materials market, emphasizing its key aspects such as crop types, additives, and technology. It provides precise and detailed estimates, along with forecasts, for the worldwide seed coating materials market. The segmentation is based on crop types, including grains and cereals, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables, and other crops, while additives such as polymers, colorants, and binders further categorize the market. The market is also segmented by type, incorporating film coating, pelleting, and encrusting methods. Market size and estimations, presented in terms of value (U.S. $ millions), are anchored in 2022, serving as a base year, with projections extending from 2023 to 2028. The report delves into regional analyses, country-specific insights, and a thorough examination of manufacturers, shedding light on the major players shaping each regional seed coating materials market. Furthermore, it explores the primary drivers, regional dynamics, and prevailing trends in the global seed coating materials market. Concluding with a meticulous focus on the vendor landscape, the report encompasses comprehensive profiles of key players, offering a holistic understanding of the market's competitive landscape.

The seed coating materials market is witnessing rapid growth in the Asia Pacific region, marked by several countries transitioning from traditional farming methods to modern, technology-driven agriculture. This shift entails the adoption of advanced techniques such as precision agriculture, where the use of seed coating materials plays a pivotal role. Among the additives employed in seed coating materials, polymers take center stage. These compounds play a crucial role in seed coating formulations by binding other ingredients together, offering adhesive qualities to the coating, and establishing a protective layer around the seed. In the evolving agricultural landscape of the Asia Pacific, the incorporation of seed coating materials, particularly polymers, underscores the region's commitment to embracing innovative and efficient farming practices.

Access the full BCC Research report on the Seed Coating Materials market and its comprehensive insights by clicking here to Learn More.

Key Drivers Shaping the Seed Coating Materials: Global Markets

Decreasing Availability of Agricultural Land: As global population continues to grow, the availability of arable land for cultivation is decreasing. This scarcity puts pressure on the agricultural sector to maximize productivity from limited land resources. Seed coating materials emerge as a strategic solution, enabling farmers to optimize seed performance and enhance crop yields even in restricted agricultural spaces.

Rising Cultivation of Biotech Crops: The increasing adoption of biotechnology in agriculture, including the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) or biotech crops, is a significant driver for the seed coating materials market. Biotech crops often require specialized treatments to ensure optimal performance, and seed coatings play a crucial role in delivering these treatments effectively, fostering the growth of this market segment.

Benefits of Seed Coating Materials Drive Market Growth: Seed coating materials offer a range of benefits, including protection against pests and diseases, improved germination rates, and enhanced nutrient delivery. These advantages contribute to the overall health and resilience of crops. As farmers increasingly recognize the positive impact of seed coatings on crop outcomes, the demand for these materials experiences a substantial upswing, driving the growth of the seed coating materials market.

Increased Demand for High-Quality Seeds: With a growing emphasis on sustainable and high-yield agriculture, there is a heightened demand for high-quality seeds. Seed coating materials contribute to the production of seeds with improved characteristics, such as better disease resistance and higher germination rates. This heightened demand for superior seed quality further propels the market, as farmers seek to invest in technologies that enhance the overall performance of their crops, aligning with modern agricultural practices.

Request a Copy of the Seed Coating Materials: Global Markets Report.

Report Synopsis

Report Metrics Details Base year considered 2022 Forecast Period considered 2023-2028 Base year market size $ 2.0 Billion Market Size Forecast $ 2.8 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of 6.1% for the forecasted period of 2023 to 2028 Segment Covered Type, Crop Type, Additives, and Region Regions covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers  Decreasing Availability of Agricultural Land  Rising Cultivation of Biotech Crops  Benefits of Seed Coating Materials Drive Market Growth  Increased Demand for High-Quality Seeds

Seed Coating Market Dynamics

Restraints in the Seed Coating Industry:

The seed coating industry faces various challenges that act as restraints on its seamless development. Firstly, Market Fragmentation is a significant hurdle. The presence of numerous small and local players makes it challenging to establish standardized practices and maintain consistent quality across the industry. This fragmentation complicates the adoption of unified standards and can hinder the industry's overall growth trajectory. Another substantial restraint is the high-cost considerations associated with seed coating technologies. The production and development costs can be prohibitive, limiting accessibility to advanced technologies for certain market segments and potentially impeding broader adoption, particularly among smaller players.

Opportunities in the Seed Coating Industry:

Amidst these restraints, the seed coating market unveils numerous opportunities that can fuel industry growth. The increasing global demand for sustainable farming practices presents a significant opportunity for seed coatings. By reducing chemical inputs and aligning with eco-friendly agricultural goals, seed coatings can contribute to Sustainable Agriculture. Additionally, the expansion of Precision Agriculture provides opportunities for seed coatings to complement advanced farming technologies, enhancing overall farm efficiency and productivity. The growing adoption of Biotech Crops offers a specialized niche for seed coatings, allowing them to enhance the performance of genetically modified seeds. Furthermore, technological advancements, such as biodegradable materials and nanotechnology, present opportunities for differentiation and improved sustainability. Moreover, strategic Collaborations and Partnerships within the industry can foster collective research efforts, drive innovation, and expand market reach, providing collaborative opportunities for key stakeholders.

Challenges in the Seed Coating Industry:

However, the industry is not without its challenges. One of the primary challenges is navigating Regulatory Compliance, where stringent regulations on chemical usage in agriculture require manufacturers to navigate complex compliance standards. The continuous evolution of pests and diseases poses an ongoing challenge, demanding constant innovation to maintain the efficacy of seed coatings. Moreover, the challenge of Adoption Education is pronounced, particularly in regions where traditional farming practices prevail. Educating farmers about the benefits of seed coatings becomes pivotal for widespread acceptance and usage. Lastly, the issue of Market Accessibility looms large, especially for small and local players who face barriers hindering their active participation in the market, thereby challenging the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive industry. Balancing these challenges and opportunities requires a strategic and adaptive approach to ensure sustainable growth and development within the seed coating market.

This report on the Seed Coating Materials Global Markets provides comprehensive insights and analysis, addressing the following key questions:

1. What is the seed coating materials market's projected market size and growth rate?

The seed coating materials market is projected to grow from $2.0 billion in 2022 to $2.8 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% during the forecast period.

2. What are the key factors driving the growth of the seed coating materials market?

The key factors driving the growth of the seed coating materials market include.

The decreasing availability of agricultural land

Rising cultivation of biotech-crops

Benefits of seed coating materials drive market growth

3. What segments are covered in the seed coating materials market?

The seed coating materials market is segmented based on type, crop type, additives, and region.

4. Which segment will dominate the market by the end of 2028 by crop type?

The grains and cereals segment will dominate the market by the end of 2028.

5. Which region has the highest market share in the seed coating materials market?

North America holds the highest share of the market.

Some of the Key Market Players Are:

BASF SE

CHROMATECH INC.

COVESTRO AG

GERMAINS SEED TECHNOLOGY

HEUBACH GMBH & CO. KG

INCOTEC GROUP BV

MICHELMAN INC.

PRECISION LABORATORIES INC.

ROQUETTE FRERES

SENSIENT COLORS LLC

SOLVAY

Browse More Related Reports:

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Global Markets for Agrochemicals: This research report provides a detailed analysis of the global agrochemical market, focusing on product types and regional markets. It covers major categories of agrochemicals used for crop protection, emphasizing active ingredients. The study explores evolving trends, genetic modification in crops, and the impact of pesticide use. Key market developments, including collaborations, acquisitions, and product launches, are highlighted. The report also analyzes factors influencing market growth, such as government regulations and climatic conditions. The global agrochemical market is segmented into pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides) and fertilizers (nitrogenous, phosphatic, potassic, and biofertilizers), with geographical categorization including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world, encompassing economies like Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, South Africa, Chile, Colombia, Turkey, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Directly Purchase a copy of the report with BCC Research.

For further information or to make a purchase, please get in touch with [email protected].

About BCC Research

BCC Research provides objective, unbiased measurement and assessment of market opportunities with detailed market research reports. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help you make informed business decisions, free of noise and hype.

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SOURCE BCC Research
LUBBOCK, Texas, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Service Compression, LLC ("Service Compression" or the "Company"), a leading provider of natural gas compression services for exploration and production companies, today announced the closing of a preferred equity investment from Warburg Pincus, a leading global growth investor, through its Capital Solutions Founders Fund. Warburg Pincus' investment comes alongside a new credit facility led by J.P. Morgan and an additional capital raise led by existing and new shareholders. The Company plans to use net proceeds from the combined transactions to repay outstanding borrowings on its existing credit facility with funds managed by Crestline Investors, Inc. and its affiliates and for growth of the Company, including its equipment fleet, as well as working capital support.

Service Compression worked closely with Warburg Pincus to design a solution that provides the Company with a robust, optimized balance sheet enabling the Company to further grow its fleet of compression units to meet the needs of its growing customer base. In particular, Service Compression aims to help customers meet their ESG (environmental, social, and governance) initiatives by accelerating the growth of electric compression units, which have improved performance and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

"Service Compression prides itself on providing compression services to its customers through long-lasting and mutually rewarding relationships," said Rhett Newberry, President, Service Compression. "We are thankful for the continuous support that Dustin Womble and Masked Rider Capital have provided since the inception of our team, as well as our partnership with Crestline since 2022 that enabled the Company to kick off its electric compression strategy. Warburg Pincus' investment in our company underscores the strength of our brand, first-in-class customer service, industry-leading employee base and commitment to ESG initiatives within the upstream oil and gas sector. We look forward to further collaboration with our customers to deliver on their growing and evolving compression needs."

Warburg Pincus has a strong track record of investing in companies committed to the growth of sustainable practices across all sectors. Notable investments include Assent, ClimeCo, Eco Material Technologies, Gradiant, Monolith, Montana Renewables, PTSG, Scale Microgrid Solutions, Mosaic, TRC, and Viridi.

"Demand for electric powered compression equipment continues to grow, especially from blue-chip E&P companies who are looking for partners that can provide them with best-in-class technology and service. Leveraging the expertise of Warburg Pincus' Energy Transition & Sustainability and Capital Solutions teams, Service Compression is well positioned to gain further momentum in this evolving market," said Jeff Luse, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus. "Rhett and the talented Service Compression team have established the Company as a leading platform in the sector, and we look forward to our partnership together," added Gaurav Seth, Managing Director and Americas Head of Capital Solutions, Warburg Pincus.

The Warburg Pincus Capital Solutions Founders Fund was raised in 2023, leveraging the firm's nearly two-decade track record of structured investing in more than 20 completed transactions, with over $4 billion in capital deployed. Capital Solutions professionals work closely with domain experts across Warburg Pincus' core sectors and geographies to source and execute structured value additive transactions.

Moelis & Company served as lead placement agent and Baker Botts L.L.P. served as legal advisor to Service Compression. Imperial Capital also served as placement agent to Service Compression. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as legal advisor to Warburg Pincus.

About Service Compression

Service Compression is a leading provider of natural gas compression services for exploration and production companies at the wellhead. The company focuses on advancing the ESG (environmental, social, and governance) initiatives of the upstream oil and gas sector through its differentiated service and technology offerings. Service Compression is headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, with field offices in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is a leading global growth investor. The firm has more than $84 billion in assets under management. The firm's active portfolio of more than 250 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector, and geography. Warburg Pincus is an experienced partner to management teams seeking to build durable companies with sustainable value. Since its founding in 1966, Warburg Pincus has invested more than $113 billion in over 1,000 companies in more than 40 countries across its private equity, real estate, and capital solutions strategies. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. For more information please visit www.warburgpincus.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact

Sarah McGrath Bloom, Warburg Pincus

Sarah.bloom@warburgpincus.com

SOURCE Service Compression
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating PGTI (NYSE: PGTI) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with MITER.

Click here to learn how to join the https://www.ademilaw.com/case/pgt-innovations-inc-0 or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.

In the transaction, PGTI stockholders will receive only $42.00 per share in cash, or an enterprise value of approximately $3.1 billion. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing transactions for PGTI by imposing a significant penalty if PGTI accepts a competing bid. PGTI insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

We are investigating the conduct of PGTI' board of directors, and whether they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders.

If you own PGTI common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/pgt-innovations-inc-0.

We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts

Ademi LLP

Guri Ademi

Toll Free: (866) 264-3995

Fax: (414) 482-8001

SOURCE Ademi LLP
MANNHEIM, Germany, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- smartShift, a company offering SAP customers a better way to handle custom code, is thrilled to announce the smartBreakfast Series 2024.

The insightful event series spans across Europe throughout the year, aiming to disrupt the way professionals think, learn, discuss, and approach SAP S/4HANA and SAP Clean Core migration initiatives. The series offers a unique blend of knowledge exchange, networking, and practical insights. As organizations prepare for the inevitable transition to Next Gen SAP landscapes, the smartBreakfast Series offers real insights on the journey ahead.

It was created to enhance the participants' perspectives on the complicated process of migrating to SAP S/4HANA and SAP Clean Core with real-world-experiences and best practices. It serves as a valuable resource for those responsible for overcoming challenges, reducing time and risk, and capitalizing on opportunities.

smartBreakfasts are strategically scheduled in the morning before the workday commences, providing attendees with a prime opportunity to partake in open and equitable discussions with local peers, all while enjoying a cup of coffee, tea, and a nourishing breakfast.

Attendees can anticipate the following benefits:

Network with local peers

Exchange knowledge and experiences

Discover inspiration for their SAP transformation journey

Obtain practical solutions to common migration challenges

Event Details:

smartBreakfast Hamburg

Date: January 24, 2024

smartBreakfast London

Date: January 30, 2024

smartBreakfast Birmingham

Date: February 20, 2024

smartBreakfast Hannover

Date: February 21, 2024

smartBreakfast Manchester

Date: March 5, 2024

smartBreakfast Berlin

Date: March 14, 2024

smartBreakfast Edinburgh

Date: March 19, 2024

smartBreakfast Dublin

Date: April 2, 2024

Additional locations and dates will be continuously added, and interested participants are encouraged to stay informed through smartShift's LinkedIn channel or by contacting the organizers directly.

To register and secure your seat at a smartBreakfast near you, please visit https://smartshift.com/smartbreakfast-series

Join the smartBreakfast community, and kickstart your day with a broader perspective on the journey to your Next Gen SAP.

About smartShift:

smartShift is a global leader in SAP custom code migration and optimization, offering AI-powered solutions that deliver secure, stable, and optimized code in a matter of weeks. With a track record of modernizing over 3,300 SAP systems and converting more than 3 billion lines of code, smartShift is trusted by many of the world's largest SAP customers.

For more information, visit www.smartShift.com .

Contact

Corporate Communications

Darshita Srivastava

E-Mail: [email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1431806/4499044/smartShift_updated_Logo.jpg
Spectra7's New GC1122 Product to be Featured in Several Demos

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- (TSXV:SEV) (OTCQB:SPVNF) Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. ("Spectra7" or the "Company"), a leading provider of high-performance analog semiconductor products for broadband connectivity markets, announced that it will be demonstrating 800Gbps QSFP-DD and OSFP interconnects with several leading equipment suppliers at this year's annual DesignCon Conference Exhibition being held in Santa Clara, California from Jan 31-Feb 1, 2024. The companies plan to demonstrate robust performance and testing of 800Gbps Active Copper Cable products for hyperscale data center applications.

DesignCon is the premier high speed interconnect and system design conference attended by engineers from around the world. Spectra7 will be exhibiting in booth #1344.

Spectra7's analog based GaugeChanger GC1122 chips are used in Active Copper Cables (ACCs) and offer significant cost, size and energy consumption value vs. competing Active Electrical Cables (AECs) and Active Optical Cables (AOCs) that use Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technologies.

ABOUT SPECTRA7 MICROSYSTEMS INC.

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. is a high-performance analog semiconductor company delivering unprecedented bandwidth, speed and resolution to enable disruptive industrial design for leading electronics manufacturers in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, data centers and other connectivity markets. Spectra7 is based in San Jose, California with a design center in Cork, Ireland and a technical support location in Dongguan, China. For more information, please visit www.spectra7.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY NOTES

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, the Company's strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "plan", "continue", "will", "may", "would", "anticipate", "estimate", "forecast", "predict", "project", "seek", "should" or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the risk factors discussed in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

For more information, please contact:

Matt Kreps

Darrow Associates

214-597-8200

[email protected]

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.

Dave Mier

Interim Chief Financial Officer

925-858-7011

[email protected]

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.

John Mitchell

Public Relations

650-269-3043

[email protected]

SOURCE Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stokke, the Scandinavian maker of premium children's products, announces the launch of the Stokke Snoozi. This new bassinet is a cozy sleep solution that cradles baby and keeps them near in every room or when families are on the move.

STOKKE LAUNCHES NEW SNOOZI BASSINET, A PREMIUM SLEEP SOLUTION DEVELOPED WITH SOUND SLEEP IN MIND

Stokke Snoozi features a soft oval shape that gives a sense of security, while the innovative 3D mesh material ensures both breathability and shade from the light. Great for naps and approved for overnight sleep, the included premium mattress is both firm and breathable. For the first 6 months, the bassinet is used in the high newborn position, to keep baby close. When babies can pull themselves up, the mattress can be lowered, and the bassinet can be used up until 9 months.

Designed with high quality materials, including FCS-certified wooden legs and a strong aluminium frame, the Stokke Snoozi bassinet only weighs 16lbs, making it lightweight, yet sturdy and easy to move to every room of your home. It is also available in two timeless shades to suit any decor.

Stokke Snoozi is easy to assemble in just a few minutes without the use of tools, which makes it suitable for families on the move. The optional bag stores all parts neatly which makes traveling and sleep-overs easy for active families on the move. Available accessories include a set of fitted sheets, a protection sheet and a bag.

For more on Stokke and their product offerings, please visit www.stokke.com.

ABOUT STOKKE

Founded in Alesund, Norway in 1932, Stokke initially manufactured seats for buses as well as adult furniture. The first children's product was introduced in 1972: The legendary Tripp Trapp chair designed by Peter Opsvik celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The chair is manufactured in Europe and has sold over 13 million units sold worldwide.

Stokke aims to give children the best start in life and help them develop into independent, confident adults. The Stokke product family is based on the core values of sustainability, design and the healthy development of our children.

In June 2021, Stokke acquired LIMAS, a German manufacturer of baby carriers, and Mukako, an Italian brand that offers modular children's play tables. In December 2021, Stokke announced the acquisition of the BABYZEN brand, which manufactures the lightweight premium complete stroller YOYO. In May 2022, EVOMOVE, the manufacturer of the well-known Nomi chair, joined the Stokke family as the latest acquisition.

SOURCE Stokke
MONTREAL, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Taiga Motors Corporation (TSX: TAIG) ("Taiga" or the "Company"), the world's leading off-road electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, is thrilled to announce its expansion into South America by signing an exclusive distribution agreement with Comfort Industria E Comercio Ltda ("Ventura" or the "Distributor") for an initial term of 3 years. With over 40 years of experience and 90 dealerships across Brazil, Ventura has been chosen as Taiga's exclusive distributor in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay for its OrcaTM personal watercraft (PWC). During the initial term, Ventura has committed to purchase Taiga's products for a minimum purchase value of CAD$13.7 million in revenues (based on MSRP) with the optionality to buy additional products which, if fully purchased, would equate to a total contract purchase value of up to CAD$25 million.1

Ventura storefront (CNW Group/Taiga Motors Corporation) Taiga's 100% electric personal watercraft charging at the dock (CNW Group/Taiga Motors Corporation) Orca Performance: Taiga Motors' newest model of 100% electric personal watercraft (CNW Group/Taiga Motors Corporation)

Through this expansion, Taiga is thrilled to introduce its Orca line to a new global market. "Taiga continues to strategically expand its global business, and Brazil being one of the fastest growing marine markets in South America made perfect sense," said Rodrigo Arrambide, Taiga's Director of Commercial Strategy and Operations. "This expansion in South America will also allow us to offset North American seasonality and further secure our Orca personal watercraft line as a year-round business."

Ventura, one of Brazil's leading and most respected boat manufacturers, was chosen for its extensive knowledge and experience in distributing and servicing premium, top-of-the-line marine products. Andre Motta, co-owner of Ventura, stated, "We are thrilled to be the new, exclusive distributor for Taiga in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay, and offer our customers a way to explore the magnificent waters of our region in a more sustainable way." This collaboration is set to usher in a new era of sustainable water exploration and recreation in South America.

"Ventura has been expanding rapidly and the addition of the world's first 100% electric PWC to our portfolio further solidifies our position as a leader in South America, ensuring we continue to deliver innovative products to our dealers and customers", added Carlos Motta, co-owner of Ventura. An official launch will take place in the coming weeks with the opportunity for test rides, while a fleet of Taiga's most recent model, Orca Performance, will be available in all Ventura showrooms across Brazil.

Orca: sustainable water exploration without compromise

Orca Performance is a leap forward with an innovative hull, battery and electric propulsion technology. Powered by Taiga's sixth-generation integrated motor-inverter Tractive Unit, Orca Performance delivers greater efficiency with up to 120 kW of peak power (up to 160 hp) and 170 Nm of torque, resulting in a top speed of 100 km/h*. The precision moulded hull has been hydrodynamically optimized, balancing playful carving and efficient cruising across varied conditions. This is coupled with a low centre of gravity from the battery below the waterline, delivering leading stability through high-speed manoeuvring.

The sealed lithium-ion battery has been optimized to safely deliver maximum power across its lifetime under high vibrations and saltwater environments, providing energy for up to two hours of riding. Using standard automotive charging systems, Orca Performance can be easily charged with the included mobile connector overnight on any outlet, with Level 2 chargers in 3.5 hours or an optional DC Fast Charging to 80 per cent in under 40 minutes*.

Selected as one of the Best Inventions of 2022 by TIME Magazine and winner of the Fast Company 2022 World Changing Ideas Award and 2022 Best of What's New Award from Popular Science , Taiga is thrilled to bring its EVs to South America and redefine powersports and the marine industry by making them more sustainable, accessible and exhilarating than ever.

About Taiga

Taiga (TSX: TAIG) is a Canadian company reinventing the powersports landscape with breakthrough electric off-road vehicles. Through a clean-sheet engineering approach, Taiga has pushed the frontiers of electric technology to achieve extreme power-to-weight ratios and thermal specifications required to outperform comparable high-performance combustion powersports vehicles. The first models released include a lineup of electric snowmobiles and personal watercraft to deliver on a rapidly growing demand from recreational and commercial customers who are seeking better ways to explore the great outdoors without compromise. For more information, visit www.taigamotors.com

About Ventura

Ventura has been Brazil's leading and most respected boat manufacturer since 1983, shaping the industry for over 40 years. The company has a remarkable track record of delivering over 20,000 boats ranging from 19 to 55 feet and has set new standards for quality and innovation. Today, Ventura boasts a strong distribution network of 90 dealers across South America. For more information, visit ventura.com.br

For more information, interview or invitations to the launch event:

Gabriela Schiavoni | +55 37 99111-4344 | [email protected]

Annick Lauzon | +1 514 922 9225 | annick.lauzon @taigamotors.ca

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally, but not always, can be identified using forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", "objective", "may", "could", "would", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "forecasts", "project", "seek", "anticipate", "believes", "should", "plans" or "continue", or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events and the negative of any of these terms. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Taiga's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the consumers' experience, the Company's current and future business and strategic plans, the expected operations of the Company, expectations regarding market trends, uncertainties relating to the economic conditions in the markets in which Taiga operates, vehicle sales volume, anticipated future sales growth, the successful supply of parts in a timely manner, the success of Taiga's strategic agreements and other statements that are not historical facts, as well as those described in Taiga Motors's management's discussion and analysis for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023, and under the "Risk Factors" section of Taiga Motors's annual information form filed on March 30, 2023, available on Taiga's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca .

Forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are based on information currently available to management. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes, or results anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements.

All forward-looking statements included in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Unless otherwise indicated, the forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and except as required by applicable law, Taiga does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether because of added information, future events or otherwise.

* Performance and Specifications: Specifications are given for informational purpose only based on Taiga's testing. Metrics (such as weight, range, speed, acceleration and battery life) may vary based on the environment, terrain, weather conditions, local regulations and final build of the ordered product.

1 The agreement does not contain any take-or-pay provision, although Taiga has the right to unilaterally terminate the agreement in the event Ventura does not comply with its minimum purchase commitment during the initial term.

SOURCE Taiga Motors Corporation
NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Threat Intelligence Security Market report has been added to Technavio's offering. The potential growth difference for the threat intelligence security market between 2022 and 2027 is USD 17 billion. Ransomware attackers targeting enterprises drive market growth. Ransomware threats like Locky and WannaCry target individuals and increasingly businesses, holding critical data hostage for ransom. To safeguard against such attacks, companies must regularly back up data and develop robust incident response plans. Utilizing threat intelligence services is crucial to understanding and countering evolving cyber threats, driving the market growth in cybersecurity defense strategies. Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy the full report here

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Threat Intelligence Security Market 2023-2027

The increasing complexity of IT infrastructure challenges market growth. Integrating new security solutions without disrupting system performance is crucial to retain customers. However, this integration often poses challenges, impacting usability and compatibility with existing systems. This complexity hampers threat intelligence products, creating operational issues. The growing intricacy of network infrastructure presents a hurdle for providers, potentially hindering market growth in the forecast period.

The Threat Intelligence Security Market is rapidly evolving, driven by the increasing sophistication of Cyber Threat Intelligence. Organizations are focusing on combatting Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) and analyzing Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) through advanced Threat Intelligence Platforms and feeds. The integration of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems with Incident Response strategies is crucial for effective Malware Analysis and Phishing Detection. With the rise of Cyber Espionage and Cyber Terrorism, the importance of Vulnerability Management, Threat Hunting, and Dark Web Monitoring has intensified.

Learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read a FREE Sample PDF Report Now

The threat intelligence security market is segmented based on Deployment (Cloud and On-premises), End-user (BFSI, IT and telecom, Healthcare, Transportation and logistics, and Others), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

The cloud segment will be significant during the forecast period. Cloud-based threat intelligence services offer subscription-based access without the need for software installation. SMEs favor these cost-effective, faster solutions. They provide 24/7 monitoring against advanced malware and DDoS attacks. However, concerns regarding data control and security hinder adoption by larger enterprises, potentially slowing the market's growth in the forecast period.

will be significant during the forecast period. Cloud-based threat intelligence services offer subscription-based access without the need for software installation. SMEs favor these cost-effective, faster solutions. They provide 24/7 monitoring against advanced malware and DDoS attacks. However, concerns regarding data control and security hinder adoption by larger enterprises, potentially slowing the market's growth in the forecast period. North America will contribute 35% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. View a FREE Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report.

Key Companies in the Threat Intelligence Security Market:

Anomali Inc., BlueVoyant, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., Cisco Systems Inc., Datto Holdings Corp., F Secure Corp., Farsight Security Inc., Fortinet Inc., Intel 471 Inc., International Business Machines Corp., Juniper Networks Inc., KKR and Co. Inc., LogRhythm Inc., Musarubra US LLC, NortonLifeLock Inc., Open Text Corp., Splunk Inc., Trend Micro Inc., ZeroFox Inc., Palo Alto Networks Inc

Related Reports:

The Business Intelligence Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.49% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 12,144.6 million.

The competitive intelligence tools market is projected to grow by USD 28.90 billion with a CAGR of 10.38% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Deployment

Market Segmentation by End-users

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Recent events show that Iran is an isolated country in the world, said Fuad Hussein, minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq, Trend reports.

According to him, Iraq condemns the Iranian armed forces' missile attacks on Iraqi territory and considers it to be against international law.

The minister added that Iraq has taken various steps in this direction and appealed to the UN Security Council.

"In my opinion, Iraq's position against Iran will be supported in detail," Hussein said.

Hussein noted that it is regrettable that Iraqi citizens suffer from the tension between Israel and Iran.

On the night of January 16, Iran fired rockets at the facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iraq. 4 people died as a result of the attacks.
BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Truckstop, a leading provider of solutions that power trusted networks within U.S. freight, today announced the implementation of new, enhanced security measures that brokers can utilize to keep bad actors out of their networks via RMIS.

Brokers will continue to onboard carriers with speed, confidence, and precision through RMIS, a tailored business solution. With the addition of these market-leading security measures to RMIS, Truckstop enhances security, trust and quality of a broker's carrier network.

RMIS customers will benefit from the scale of the largest network of trusted carriers  validated and secured with the leading identity verification systems and technology.

"Our broker customers require a platform that streamlines their onboarding and compliance workflows by leveraging secure and trusted carrier networks, enabling them to make fast, informed decisions," said Julia Laurin, chief product officer, Truckstop. "These enhanced security measures will strengthen trust within the community and further demonstrate our commitment to relentlessly driving innovation to power the industry and confront the next generation of challenges."

Built on top of the most trusted freight marketplace in North America, the enhanced security measures include:

Identity verification to help confirm the identity of carriers onboarding with brokers via RMIS. This involves comparing the individual's government-issued ID with a real-time photograph. Carriers will only be required to undergo this process annually or when their government-issued ID expires.

to help confirm the identity of carriers onboarding with brokers via RMIS. This involves comparing the individual's government-issued ID with a real-time photograph. Carriers will only be required to undergo this process annually or when their government-issued ID expires. Enhanced multi-factor authentication (MFA) aims to detect potentially compromised credentials and provide smooth access across both the Truckstop and RMIS platforms. MFA is a security protocol that mandates users to present two or more distinct authentication factors to confirm their identity before gaining access to a system, application, or account.





Truckstop brings market-leading technology  leveraged by more than half of the Fortune 100  to the freight industry to increase security and safety while delivering a low-friction experience that enables commerce in vital industries.

About Truckstop

Truckstop is a trusted partner for carriers, brokers, and shippers, empowering the freight community through a platform of innovative solutions for the entire freight lifecycle to increase efficiency, automate processes, and accelerate growth. As one of the industry's largest neutral freight marketplaces, Truckstop provides the customer service as well as scale of quality loads and trucks to give customers of all sizes, whether on the road or in the office, the transparency and freedom to build lasting relationships and grow their businesses. To learn how Truckstop is helping move the freight community forward, visit https://truckstop.com.

SOURCE Internet Truckstop Group, LLC
SHANGHAI, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TUV Rheinland Group, an international independent third-party testing, inspection, and certification organization, announced that it has issued its "Perceptual Color Volume" Certification to the new Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i (16", 9) laptop unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

TUV Rheinland Issues Perceptual Color Volume Certification to Lenovos New Yoga Pro 9i Laptop

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i (16", 9) is equipped with a Mini LED backlit LCD screen which features over 98% perceptual color volume coverage as well as an average color accuracy of E2000<1 for 4096 colors. This means that the screen can reproduce almost all colors within the DCI-P3 color volume range, allowing it to pass the TUV Rheinland "Perceptual Color Volume" Certification with excellent color performance.

"Providing an exceptional user experience is a top priority in the development of Lenovo technology. When it comes to display innovation, we know from customer feedback that perceptual color volume is an important factor," said Zhaochun Ma, Vice President and General Manager of Consumer and SMB Notebook Development Center in Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. "That's why we made sure the new Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i laptop offers eye safety for consumers under different brightness levels while providing richer, more realistic color reproduction."

"Devices that meet or exceed industry perceptual color volume standards and feature upgraded three-dimensional color volume coverage deliver exponentially more optimized and accurate color performance to users." said Frank Holzmann, Global Vice President of TUV Rheinland Business Field Electrical.

TUV Rheinland has developed the perceptual color volume evaluation standard based on the latest CAM16 color appearance model from the International Commission on Illumination (CIE). Compared with the widely used two-dimensional color volume standard based on the older CIE 1931 standard colorimetric system, the CAM16-based standard takes into consideration the color adaptation and brightness adaptation characteristics of the human eye and can scientifically describe the true three-dimensional color volume size of display products relative to the human eye's real perception of color.

TUV Rheinland collaborated with the Color Engineering Laboratory of Zhejiang University to conduct a full year of research on the color volume measurement of display products, before concluding that the CIE CAM16 uniform color volume is currently the most ideal color appearance model. By comparing the overlap rate between the measured color volume of a product and the DCI-P3 color volume with equivalent peak brightness in a three-dimensional space, the actual percentage of the product's standard DCI-P3 color volume reproduction can be accurately measured.

As a global leading technical service provider, TUV Rheinland has been deeply involved in the field of display health and experience for many years. TUV Rheinland is committed to providing technical solutions for quality evaluation and user experience issues in the industry through industry-university research collaborations, leading the display industry to continuously improve display technology while providing guidance for consumers when choosing safe and high-quality products.

LENOVO and YOGA are trademarks of Lenovo.

SOURCE TUV Rheinland Greater China
15 promising startups join the program to commercialize and scale innovative climate solutions in response to escalating climate challenges.

NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Uptake Alliance , an emerging venture development program dedicated to fostering breakthrough climate technologies, is thrilled to announce the selection of its inaugural startup cohort. The innovation program, designed to facilitate and propel startups to secure commercial agreements, boost revenue, assemble exceptional teams, and secure funding, launches later this month.

The program will feature an extensive and bespoke curriculum, mentorship from industry experts, corporate networking opportunities, customized roadmapping sessions, and access to Uptake Alliance's extended network of partners and investors.

"We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional cohort of startups to our venture development program," said Chris Richardson, Executive Director at Uptake Alliance. "These 15 teams of innovators represent a diverse set of cutting-edge solutions that will revolutionize and help shape our sustainable future. We are excited to support them with the resources, mentorship, and connections they need to thrive and make a lasting impact in New York State and beyond."

Launched in September 2023, Uptake Alliance aims to serve as the gateway to New York State for climatetech startups, facilitating their growth through valuable industry connections, strategic partnerships, and assistance in securing funding for the deployment of GHG-reducing technologies. The initiative, administered by ADL Ventures and supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), is accessible to startups worldwide serving as a centralized hub for climate tech entities interested in doing business in New York State.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Chief Program Officer Anthony Fiore said, "Congratulations to the startup companies selected for the first cohort of Uptake Alliance that are poised to commercialize technologies critical to meeting New York State's climate and clean energy goals. Supporting emerging companies that create products to help lower emissions and advance clean energy is a win-win  as this support provides innovators with much-needed resources to grow and forge new partnerships that will benefit local communities and the State's economy overall. "

These 15 startups demonstrate exceptional promise, innovation, and a commitment to driving positive change:

Ampaire ( Los Angeles, CA ) is revolutionizing air travel with its innovative hybrid-electric aircraft technology, reducing aviation's carbon footprint and making air travel more accessible around the world.





( ) is revolutionizing air travel with its innovative hybrid-electric aircraft technology, reducing aviation's carbon footprint and making air travel more accessible around the world. Banyan Infrastructure ( San Francisco, CA ) is a purpose-built project finance software designed to simplify, accelerate, and optimize the financing of sustainable infrastructure across the deal life cycle.





( ) is a purpose-built project finance software designed to simplify, accelerate, and optimize the financing of sustainable infrastructure across the deal life cycle. ecoSPEARS ( Orlando, FL ) offers sustainable, cost-effective green remediation technologies that extract and eliminate persistent toxins from contaminated sediment, soil, and water, giving polluted land and waterways a second chance at life.





( ) offers sustainable, cost-effective green remediation technologies that extract and eliminate persistent toxins from contaminated sediment, soil, and water, giving polluted land and waterways a second chance at life. Edgecom Energy ( Toronto, ON , Canada ) empowers large energy consumers to harness the power of IoT and AI solutions to optimize energy usage, save money, and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.





( , ) empowers large energy consumers to harness the power of IoT and AI solutions to optimize energy usage, save money, and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. Feedback Solutions Inc. ( Buffalo, NY ) is a pioneer for Demand-Controlled Ventilation, using precise, BACnet enabled, real-time occupant count data to effectively optimize energy efficiency of HVAC systems in campus, commercial and municipal buildings.





( ) is a pioneer for Demand-Controlled Ventilation, using precise, BACnet enabled, real-time occupant count data to effectively optimize energy efficiency of HVAC systems in campus, commercial and municipal buildings. Hub Controls ( Binghamton, NY ) uses an automated energy management system that intuitively reduces energy waste in residential spaces, enabling energy, carbon and cost savings.





( ) uses an automated energy management system that intuitively reduces energy waste in residential spaces, enabling energy, carbon and cost savings. H2Ok Innovations ( Somerville, MA ) is an IoT platform helping supply chain and manufacturing optimize industrial liquid and fluid systems through advanced intelligence.





( ) is an IoT platform helping supply chain and manufacturing optimize industrial liquid and fluid systems through advanced intelligence. Icarus RT, Inc. ( Carlsbad, CA ) is developing a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal solar cogeneration system, doubling the output of commercial PV arrays and cutting the CO 2 emissions and payback period in half.





( ) is developing a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal solar cogeneration system, doubling the output of commercial PV arrays and cutting the CO emissions and payback period in half. INOVUES ( Houston, TX ) re-energizes building facades through non-invasive, non-disruptive window retrofit technologies, making buildings smarter, greener, and healthier.





( ) re-energizes building facades through non-invasive, non-disruptive window retrofit technologies, making buildings smarter, greener, and healthier. itselectric ( Brooklyn, NY ) simplifies the electric vehicle transition as the first 'behind the meter' charging system, providing public EV charging for all communities.





( ) simplifies the electric vehicle transition as the first 'behind the meter' charging system, providing public EV charging for all communities. Kelvin ( New York, NY ) designs and installs smart radiator covers, heat pumps, and thermal batteries to save money, reduce carbon emissions, and enable pinpoint temperature control for legacy buildings.





( ) designs and installs smart radiator covers, heat pumps, and thermal batteries to save money, reduce carbon emissions, and enable pinpoint temperature control for legacy buildings. Rensair ( London, UK ) offers ventilation energy management solutions for commercial real estate, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in commercial buildings by more than 40% while improving indoor air quality.





( ) offers ventilation energy management solutions for commercial real estate, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in commercial buildings by more than 40% while improving indoor air quality. Rhizome ( Washington, DC ) helps electric utilities assess future climate risk at high resolution, measure the benefits of grid-enhancing investments, and prevent power grid failures through their AI-powered software platform.





( ) helps electric utilities assess future climate risk at high resolution, measure the benefits of grid-enhancing investments, and prevent power grid failures through their AI-powered software platform. Symbium 's ( San Francisco, CA ) computational law-powered dashboard accelerates residential energy saving project installations with instant permitting and incentives for homeowners and contractors.





's ( ) computational law-powered dashboard accelerates residential energy saving project installations with instant permitting and incentives for homeowners and contractors. Voltpost ( New York, NY ) decarbonizes mobility and democratizes charging access, retrofitting lampposts into a modular EV charging platform.

About Uptake Alliance

Uptake Alliance is an intersectional community of startups, corporations, utilities, investors, and policymakers. Together, we are helping to create the market conditions for frontier climatetech ventures to thrive. Our global venture development program connects organizations with technical challenges to startups with novel solutions - making a regenerative impact on business performance, technological adoption, and everyone's climate future. For more information, visit www.uptakealliance.com .

About ADL Ventures

ADL Ventures develops and launches clean infrastructure innovations. By bridging the gap between incumbents and the entrepreneurial ecosystem, we deliver the full innovation life cycle from strategy to development to launch. For more information, visit www.adlventures.com .

SOURCE Uptake Alliance
CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission's main office location, located on Prospect Avenue, has Reopened.

Veterans/Dependents are encouraged to call 216-698-2600 to make an appointment.

Please check for all important information at www.CuyahogaVets.org or www.facebook.com/CCVSC

Is the CCVSC important to you?

Please consider contacting your local representative to let them know that the CCVSC is a vital resource to the Veterans community and requires reliable facilities to provide critical and timely services.

http://council.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/council-districts.aspx

About CCVSC:

The Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission (CCVSC) was established to assist honorably discharged veterans, their spouses, and minor children receive the benefits they may be entitled to through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.). The CCVSC understands the issues today's veterans face and offers a holistic approach to helping them fight against unexpected hardships. The agency's comprehensive services include Veterans Service Affairs, Memorial Affairs, Financial Services, and Social Work Services. The CCVSC is legislated by the State of Ohio and funded by Cuyahoga County property taxes. For more information about the CCVSC, visit www.cuyahogavets.org.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCVSC

SOURCE The Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission
The solution enables the global airline and travel group to streamline payment processes, drive revenue and minimise transaction costs

LONDON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a significant step towards enhancing the customer experience, Virgin Atlantic Airlines and its affiliated tour operator, Virgin Atlantic Holidays, have teamed up with the leading payment solutions provider for the airline industry and a pioneer in Payment Orchestration, CellPoint Digital. The full implementation of CellPoint Digital's Payment Orchestration Platform promises seamless and secure payment transactions for travellers and aims to set new benchmarks for efficiency and customer satisfaction in the airline industry's payment landscape.

By partnering with CellPoint Digital, Virgin Atlantic will see reduced transaction costs by leveraging intelligent routing capabilities, gain more control over their payment processes and acquirer relationships, and centralise the management of their entire payment ecosystem through a single unified platform.

"Virgin Atlantic are high-performing, global enterprises with a reputation for innovation  ideal candidates for Payment Orchestration," said Kristian Gjerding, CellPoint Digital's Chief Executive Officer. "With this solution in place, we can expect to drive significant cost reductions, improved conversion rates and eventually the swift and seamless introduction of new payment methods."

Before implementing CellPoint Digital's Payment Orchestration solution, one of Virgin Atlantic's key challenges was managing an expanding array of individual acquirers and payment method providers in different markets, each with its own implementation process and cost structure. The airline also lacked a way to view its entire payment ecosystem's performance at one time, making it challenging to execute optimal payment combinations that would yield the best financial results.

Payment Orchestration solves these challenges by providing a single platform that reduces complexity and gives Virgin Atlantic more control and visibility into its payment processes. CellPoint Digital's Payment Orchestration platform also allows the airline to dynamically route its transactions to its preferred acquirers, quickly add new acquirers and streamline its cross-border payments, all of which help to mitigate costs and diversify risk. The Velocity platform also offers the ability to roll out more payment options to passengers and travellers, creating a more positive booking experience, minimising abandoned transactions and growing revenue.

"CellPoint Digital has enabled us to transform our business," says Yasin Demir, Head of Distribution & Payments at Virgin Atlantic. "Now that we have been able to use multiple acquirers at one time, we have been able to diversify our risk, reduce cost, and optimise our payments strategy."

Payment Orchestration is a robust solution that delivers instant advantages to businesses through a unified platform. Virgin Atlantic and CellPoint Digital's ongoing collaboration aims to foster operational efficiencies and elevate the customer experience.

For more information about CellPoint Digital and Virgin Atlantic or to schedule an interview with Kristian Gjerding, please get in touch with Steven Osei at [email protected]

About CellPoint Digital

CellPoint Digital is a fintech leader in payment orchestration. CellPoint Digital's main solution is a powerful Payment Orchestration Platform that optimises digital payment transactions from cards or alternative payment methods and accelerates the deployment of new payment options. Merchants can quickly scale their own payment ecosystem across the world, unify the customer payment experience across their website, mobile apps and other channels, optimize the routing of each transaction, increase conversion rates and minimise payment costs. CellPoint Digital has offices in Copenhagen, Dallas, Dubai, London, Miami, Pune and Singapore. Visit www.cellpointdigital.com to learn more.

About Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2023, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain's only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the seventh year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs more than 7,500 people worldwide, flying customers to 31 destinations across four continents throughout the year. Virgin Atlantic recently continued its expansion in the US, launching new routes to Austin, Texas and Tampa, Florida.

Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. In February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers. Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the global airline alliance's first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance's transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester Airport.

Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability leadership for more than 15 years, committing to Net Zero by 2050 and continuous action that reduces environmental impact. The airline operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the skies and has reduced its absolute carbon emissions by 35% over the last decade. In October 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed the first of 16 A330-900neos to the fleet, continuing its transformation towards 100% next generation aircraft by 2027. Later in 2023, Virgin Atlantic is leading an industry consortium to deliver the first 100% SAF flight across the transatlantic. Demonstrating that 100% SAF can be used safely as a drop in fuel in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes. The need to scale production is an industry imperative and Virgin Atlantic is committed to radical collaboration across the energy chain to support commercialisation ahead of 2030.

For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com or via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @virginatlantic.

SOURCE CellPoint Digital
NANJING, China, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "This Is The Yangtze River" Digital Exhibition is now on display at Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts in Nanjing from November 2023 throughout January 2024, aiming to offer an ultimate cultural feast about the Yangtze River to the public.

The Yangtze River has a total length of 6363 kilometers. From its source on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the Yangtze River crosses China from west to east, flowing through glaciers, cliffs and valleys, passing by towns, dwellings and ruins, and finally arriving at the mouth of the East Sea in the industrialized area around Shanghai.

How was the Yangtze River defined in the past? The Yangtze River is the poetry of the earth, the pivot of time, the vessel of imagination and the bond of emotions. Over the millennia, the culture of the Yangtze River, which has intersected and developed in time and space, has become both a tangible natural and human landscape and an intangible landscape of imagination, embodying the collective memory and identity of the Chinese nation.

Through a vast collection of digital ink-wash paintings, split screen videos, woodblock prints, sound visualization etc., this 2500-square-metre exhibition hall showcases vibrant paintings, films, and immersive installations made by 16 talented artists featuring top artist groups with technologies of 4K interaction, Unity 3D, AI, 3D mapping, providing visitors with a digital journey to explore the majesty and romance of the great mother river of China.

From the source to the end of the Yangtze River, a group of artists travelled across mountains and the sea from west to east, capturing a variety of historical and natural images alongside riverbanks and exploring various indigenous cultures nurtured by the longest river of the world.

When you pay a visit to the digital exhibition, you will not miss the digital space artwork of "Sky Flow" inspired by a classical Chinese poem describing how grand and magnificent the Yangtze River is, immersing visitors into the cultural aesthetics while walking around this visual art space. This is created by Wang Zhi'ou, a new media artist and curator, as the founder of BLACKBOW which designed general visual effects for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

"The Poetic Realm of the Yangtze River" is definitely one not to miss while it is shown as a poetic map made by an art form of "ink on paper". This map portrays the geographical latitude of the Yangtze River from Qiu Zhijie's exploration into avant-garde art. His artworks use fascinating methods to merge history and fantasy of the Chinese culture.

Pan Jingru, the Associate Professor of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, photographic artist Wang Yan, cross-media artist Chen Tianchan, German digital artist Philipp Artus and other artists used digital images to trace the source and record every aspect of the river, showing the wonders and stories of living creatures.

The Yangtze River contains the cipher for the exploration of the space-time of civilization. In the era of printed civilization, the classical literary works describing and praising the Yangtze River have made it a common symbol of the Chinese nation. In the era of electronic civilization, radio, film and television works represented by "Story of the Yangtze River" have shaped the Yangtze River into a geographical textbook of patriotism, allowing us to experience the diverse forms and flourishing lives along the Yangtze River. The world is entering the era of digital civilization. How can the Yangtze River be redefined in the future?

The soul of the vast and vigorous Chinese civilization, with digital technology as its wing and medium, creates unprecedented new forms of human culture and reaches the delicate and subtle emotional experiences that have never been touched. The Yangtze River in the digital age should be a cultural universe of space-time dialogue and information linkage, which is at the same time close to everyone and involves everyone. In this exhibition, ten keywords such as water, rice, earth, wood, culture, language, silk, tea, boat and bridge are used to construct a Yangtze River that belongs to everyone. Tang poetry, Song landscapes, the sound of all things, the book of the earth... in the cultural universe of the Yangtze River, you can see yourself, imagine the future  this is the meaning of the Yangtze River in the digital age.

Where:

Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts

181 Mengdu St. Nanjing, China

When:

Until January 31, 2024 (Closed on Mondays)

SOURCE Visionlink Media
ESPOO, Finland, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to the strong support from the forest industry and public funding, 10 research organizations, universities, and companies are establishing a groundbreaking research program with around 20 full-time researchers. The Emission Free Pulping program aims to significantly reduce biomass burning and increase the product yield of wood material used for pulping from approximately 50% to around 70%. The program is projected to have a budget of around 15 million euros over the next five years.

The forest industry, technology companies, research organizations, and universities have joined forces to revolutionize the traditional pulping processes under the joint leadership of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. The Emission Free Pulping research program intends to find ways to improve energy efficiency, enhance the efficiency of wood usage and conversion to products, achieve emission-free pulping (especially carbon dioxide emissions), and significantly reduce water usage in the processes.

"Due to the limited nature of forest resources, the growth opportunities for the industry are constrained. Moreover, the burning of biomass in the pulping process results in the emission of biogenic CO2. To significantly enhance resource efficiency and increase the value added from wood, revising the chemical processes and unit operations used in the pulping process is essential," says Atte Virtanen, Vice President of biomaterial processing and products at VTT.

So far, five industrial companies have committed to the program, and they will bring in their knowledge about industrial relevance and operations as well as financial contribution. ANDRITZ, Arauco, Metsa Group, Stora Enso, and Valmet have committed to a five-year collaboration with the research organizations and universities for this program. The program has been granted substantial funding from Business Finland, amounting to over 5 million euros over a three-year period.

"Long-term research cooperation between companies, research organizations, and universities is essential for solving major sustainability challenges. With the financing of this joint project, we want to speed up the renewal of the forest industry, which is of paramount importance for Finland's competitiveness," says Executive Director Timo Metsa-Tokila from Business Finland.

"We are deeply committed to the vision of a thriving forest-based ecosystem that delivers the full value of Nordic wood. The key to achieving this lies in fostering innovation and coming together as an industry and as a research ecosystem. By combining our efforts, we can drive advancements that not only enhance efficiency but also uphold our commitment to environmental stewardship. It's about creating a future where sustainable wood use and more resource-efficient pulping methods go hand in hand, ensuring the longevity and prosperity of our forests and the industries dependent on them," says Katariina Kemppainen, SVP Group R&D at Metsa Group.

The expertise and knowledge being developed will be internationally groundbreaking, and the program's sought-after results are expected to have wide-ranging effects.

"We celebrate that other companies and universities share our view on the necessity to use science and joint research for enabling significant improvement of the material yields from pulping and thereby reducing emissions. Can we reach zero? Let's see what academia and industry develop together, based on science, knowledge, and inclusion of industrial realities from start to end in the program," says Mikael Hannus Senior Vice President, Group Innovation R&D, at Stora Enso.

International collaboration across sectors

Strong commitment from leading universities in both Finland and Sweden creates the conditions for the success of the project. The project involves significant contributions from Aalto University, Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, LUT University, Mid Sweden University, University of Helsinki, University of Oulu, and Abo Akademi University.

The Finnish public funding enables the hiring of the initial group of scientists that will be expanded with further funding from the companies involved. The goal is to form a group of 10-20 researchers focusing full-time on advancing the research agenda collectively agreed upon by the consortium.

Public funding is currently being sought also in Sweden, and doors are open to new corporate partners.

"The key to success lies in open collaboration. This is why we invite industry leaders and scientists from around the world to join our consortium, participating in spearheading research that aims to transform pulping processes for better energy and material efficiency," says Per Tomani, Director of Research & Business Development at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden.

"The challenge is common to the entire industry; no one can solve it alone. Technology plays one key role in the evolution of the pulp and paper industry. This transformation is not just about meeting industry standards; it's about setting new benchmarks for environmental responsibility and operational excellence. The focus needs to remain on innovation and collaboration to drive this vital change in the industry," concludes Johan Engstrom, CTO, ANDRITZ.

Emission Free Pulping - in a nutshell

A 5-year international research program.

Consortium coordination VTT, scientific lead RISE.

Business Finland granted the program with a 3-year funding of 5.1 million euros .

granted the program with a 3-year funding of . The total budget is expected to exceed 15 million euros .

. Companies involved: ANDRITZ, Arauco, Metsa Group, Stora Enso, Valmet.

Universities and research institutions involved: VTT, RISE, Aalto University, Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, LUT University, Mid Sweden University, University of Helsinki , University of Oulu, Abo Akademi University.

Further information:

Media kit with pictures: Press photos VTT Emission Free Pulping - Google Drive

Atte Virtanen, Vice President, VTT

[email protected]

+358 50 577 9770

Johan Engstrom, CTO, ANDRITZ

[email protected]

+358 40 860 5389

Mikael Hannus, Senior Vice President, Group Innovation R&D, Stora Enso

[email protected]

+46 70 377 5702

Katariina Kemppainen, SVP Group R&D, Metsa Group

[email protected]

+358 50 375 2212

Per Tomani, Director Research & Business Development, RISE

[email protected]

+46 76 876 72 81

Timo Metsa-Tokila, Executive Director, Funding Services, Business Finland

[email protected]

+358 40 750 2442

Further information on VTT:

Satu Holm-Jumppanen

Manager, Communications

+358 50 305 4718, [email protected]

www.vtt.fi

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/642/3910423/2543297.pdf Aiming for Emission-Free Pulping: Forest Industry and Scientific Community Join Forces https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/portugal-celbi-credits-andritz,c3258029 Portugal celbi credits ANDRITZ https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/chemical-recycling-credits-andritz,c3258033 chemical recycling credits ANDRITZ https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/pulp-credits-andritz,c3258034 pulp credits ANDRITZ https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/chip-pile-credits-storaenso,c3258035 chip pile credits StoraEnso https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/atte-virtanen-vtt,c3258036 Atte Virtanen VTT https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/mikael-hannus-storaenso,c3258037 Mikael Hannus StoraEnso https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/katariina-kemppainen-metsagroup,c3258038 Katariina Kemppainen MetsaGroup https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/johan-engstro-m-andritz,c3258039 Johan Engstro m ANDRITZ

SOURCE VTT Info
NY Women Twice as Likely as Men to Be Caring for Older Loved Ones; Governor, Legislature Must Boost Aging Services Funding This Year

ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Women in New York State are nearly twice as likely than men to be caregivers for a loved one, according to a new report by AARP New York that also finds women in New York age 40 and older who are currently providing care are likely to be 58 years old and caring for their 80-year-old mother, helping with a wide range of daily living assistance from shopping to nursing tasks.

The report  "Women Caregivers Ages 40 and Older in New York: Their Challenges, Struggles, and Needs"  is based on a fall 2023 survey commissioned by AARP New York and released today at the State Capitol, where the aging advocacy group was joined by State Senate Aging Committee Chair Senator Cordell Cleare in calling on Governor Hochul and the Legislature to provide more support for unpaid family caregivers in final state budget.

"An estimated 2.2 million New Yorkers are unpaid family caregivers. It is unfortunate Governor Hochul chose not to address this situation yesterday when she released her plan for the next state budget, because this latest AARP statewide report reinforces what we've known for a long time: New York women, especially those 40 or older, shoulder most of the responsibilities when it comes to providing care for their aging loved ones," said Kristen McManus, Associate State Director for Advocacy for AARP New York. "The survey of women caregivers gives a clear indication how women across the state are playing a vital role in making sure their aging and often ailing family members are properly cared for every day."

The survey of 1,345 New York registered voters ages 40 and older sought to learn more about New York caregivers and services that support them in providing care to loved ones. The report focusing on the responses from women caregivers gleaned insights from women who say they are currently providing care or had previously done so.

Women ages 40 and older who are currently providing care to a loved one typically are 58 years old and caring for their 80-year-old mother, according to the report. In addition, it also finds current New York women caregivers are likely to be married (62%) and employed (58%), while a majority (58%) say they always vote in state elections.

Among the report's other key findings:

66% of women say they are caregivers, compared to 34% of men Over 45% of the women have a household income of less than $75,000 65% of current or former women caregivers say they worked while providing care 92% say they have incurred expenses while providing care 64% of women caregivers do not believe New York state government offers enough support for unpaid family caregivers



When it comes to helping loved ones with essential daily living assistance, current and former women caregivers say the activities they engage in most include social activities and companionship (94%), shopping (93%), household chores (89%), preparing meals (88%), and medical and nursing tasks (71%).

"As Chair of the Aging Committee and a family caregiver to both my parents in their later years, this report confirms so much of what we intuitively know: that caregiving is often a familial act of love and dedication that has disparate impacts on women," Senator Cleare said. "It is high time for the State to step up and support our millions of familial caregivers in a way that enhances services, support and collective quality of life."

"I just lived out this harrowing experience caretaking my father," Assemblymember Kim said. "Instead of focusing on the care my father required during his final days, I was stonewalled and abandoned by the dehumanization in our system. As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging, I will work tirelessly to put the care back into our care economy. Our family caregivers are under-appreciated and under-valued and demand that this state see them for their worth. I look forward to working with my partners at AARP to realize the potential of this report."

Among the recommendations AARP New York is advocating:

Eliminate Waiting Lists  Providing $42 million will eliminate the waiting list too many older New Yorkers find themselves languishing on as they and their family caregivers await basic services such as transportation, housekeeping, and personal care.

Increased Transparency -- Require the State Office for the Aging to develop and post detailed reporting of where the waiting list exists by county and service requested, and provide this information to the Governor and Legislature annually as well as an accounting of the prior year's expenditure, by county and service, on addressing the waiting list.

Direct Financial Assistance  Create a program to provide direct financial support to unpaid family caregivers who on average spend over $8,000 a year to care for their loved one.

"Governor Hochul and lawmakers must provide the funding for the programs that can alleviate some of the burden so many New Yorkers  most of them women -- are bearing as they care for their aging loved ones," McManus added. "Senator Cleare and Assemblymember Kim are fierce advocates for older New Yorkers, and we're honored to team up with them once again. We look forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature to ensure an enacted state budget provides the funding for the proper care and services our aging loved ones deserve."

Follow us on X: @AARPNY and Facebook: AARP New York

About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/espano or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

SOURCE AARP New York
NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The wind turbine gearbox market size is expected to grow by USD 4.23 billion from 2022 to 2027. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 6.39% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. We provide a detailed analysis of 20 companies operating in the wind turbine gearbox market including Bonfiglioli Riduttori Spa, Dana Inc., Flender GmbH, Gebr. Eickhoff Maschinenfabrik and Eisengiesserei GmbH, General Electric Co., Hottinger Bruel and Kjaer GmbH, ISHIBASHI Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Lenze SE, ME Production Aps, Moventas Gears Oy, Nanjing High Accurate Drive Equipment Manufacturing Group Co. Ltd., Nord Gear Ltd., Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Robert Bosch GmbH, Shandong Qingneng Power Co. Ltd., Siemens AG, Suzlon Energy Ltd., Voith GmbH and Co. KGaA, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, and ZOLLERN GmbH and Co. KG.The report offers an up-to-date analysis of the market, and to know the exact growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Request a FREE Sample Report.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Wind Turbine Gearbox Market 2023-2027

The rising height and capacity of wind towers are notably driving the wind turbine gearbox market. However, factors such as the high O&M cost of wind turbine gearboxes may impede market growth. The market is segmented by Type (Replacement and New), Application (Onshore and Offshore), and Geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

Wind Turbine Gearbox Market 2023-2027: Company Analysis

Dana Inc. - The company offers wind turbine gearboxes such as yaw and pitch drives.

This report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now for detailed company information

Wind Turbine Gearbox Market 2023-2027: Segmentation

Type

The replacement segment will contribute the majority of the growth to the market during the forecast period. Globally, wind turbine gearbox replacements hinge on installed capacity. Despite shorter lifespans, improved reliability extends their use. However, high replacement costs, service interruptions, and a shift to direct drive systems often delay replacements. Forecasted price drops may boost the segment's growth.

will contribute the majority of the growth to the market during the forecast period. Globally, wind turbine gearbox replacements hinge on installed capacity. Despite shorter lifespans, improved reliability extends their use. However, high replacement costs, service interruptions, and a shift to direct drive systems often delay replacements. Forecasted price drops may boost the segment's growth. Application (Onshore and Offshore)

Geography

APAC will account for 56% of the global market during the forecast period. The surge in energy demand in APAC, driven by population growth and improved living standards, propels renewable energy expansion, notably in China and India . Their focus on wind energy to meet emission goals fosters a burgeoning market for wind turbine gearboxes due to substantial installations in these key nations.

will account for of the global market during the forecast period. The surge in energy demand in APAC, driven by population growth and improved living standards, propels renewable energy expansion, notably in and . Their focus on wind energy to meet emission goals fosters a burgeoning market for wind turbine gearboxes due to substantial installations in these key nations. Europe , North America , South America , and Middle East and Africa

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report

The Wind Turbine Gearbox Market is evolving rapidly, fueled by a surge in Green Energy Investments and a steadfast commitment to Renewable Energy. Gearbox Manufacturing is now more focused on enhancing Turbine Efficiency and Power Generation capabilities. As Gearbox Reliability becomes a priority, Wind Energy stakeholders are increasingly investing in Advanced Materials and innovative Lubrication Systems to reduce Gearbox Failures.

Wind Turbine Gearbox Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights

Historic Market Size 2017-2021

CAGR of the market during 2023-2027

Detailed information on factors that will assist wind turbine gearbox market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the wind turbine gearbox market size and its contribution to the parent market

Forecasts on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the wind turbine gearbox market

Analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information on companies

Comprehensive details of factors that will impede the growth of wind turbine gearbox market companies

Related Reports:

The turbine control system market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.05% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 3,746.09 million.

The wind turbine gear oil market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.95% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 126.37 million.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Type

Market Segmentation by Application

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
Winners to be announced on March 27, 2024, in Miami

ATLANTA, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- World 50 Group , the global community of business leaders from the most respected and influential companies, is thrilled to announce the shortlist for the 2024 Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Impact Awards, honoring outstanding achievements in fostering inclusivity, equity, and diversity across corporate landscapes around the globe.

The distinguished listspanning nine categorieswas selected from an impressive pool of entries, highlighting 59 trailblazing leaders, teams, and organizations, including Amazon, Cummins, EY, Ferrero North America, Humana, Lenovo, Mastercard, Meta, Rio Tinto, Sephora, T-Mobile, Victoria's Secret & Co., and more. Notably, 45 of the 59 shortlisted organizations are part of the World 50 community.

"We received an outstanding array of submissions for the 2024 I&D Impact Awards, showcasing the remarkable dedication and innovative strategies of organizations striving to create more equitable workplaces," said Jennifer Bird Newton, World 50's chief impact officer and chair of the judging panel. "Despite the confluence of social and political pressures, these shortlisted organizations and leaders are continuing to push the envelope and drive meaningful change in the DEI space."

"With each submission, I was impressed and inspired by the progressive initiatives designed to foster a more inclusive environment for all," added DeShaun Wise Porter, global head of diversity, inclusion, and engagement at Hilton. "Individually and collectively, these efforts have a tremendous impact on company culture, and the return on investment is easily realized. All of the companies are winners in their own right."

"It has been inspiring to learn about the intentional actions that organizations are taking to influence and drive real outcomes for diversity and inclusion," said Shameka Young, global head of diversity and inclusion at Cognizant and recipient of the 2023 I&D Leader of the Year award. "The uniqueness of the entries based on industry, functional, or technology expertise is a true example of how much can be done to drive positive change across organizations and greater society."

The winners of the 2024 I&D Impact Awards will be announced at a prestigious ceremony on March 27, 2024, in Miami. Shortlisted companies, leaders, and their teams will gather to celebrate DEI milestones alongside I&D Impact Award partners such as Amazon, Best Buy, Cognizant, Joshin, RHR International, and SLB. All six partners are part of the World 50 community and are dedicated to championing and driving ongoing progress in the DEI space.

You can learn more about the World 50 I&D Impact Awardsincluding the shortlist, categories, and judges here .

About World 50 Group

Leaders of the world's most respected companies join World 50 to learn from one another. More than 4,800 global CEOs, board directors, and senior executives across every functionfrom 40 countries across six continentstrust the World 50 community for insights that deliver impact at scale.

World 50 is the safe space to exchange ideas, navigate complex challenges, and evolve as a leader. Members are at the forefront of transformation, leading organizations with a total market cap exceeding US$34 trillion and more than 37 million employees worldwide.

To learn more about membership and request an invitation, visit world50.com .

SOURCE World 50
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement reached an agreement on the supply of medicines and humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip through the mediation of Qatar and France, the Qatari Foreign Ministry wrote on its X page, Trend reports.

It is reported that under the agreement, humanitarian aid will be delivered to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, including the worst-hit areas, in exchange for the provision of medical supplies to hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

According to information, on January 17, two transport aircraft belonging to the Qatar Air Force will deliver medicine and humanitarian aid to the Egyptian city of Al-Arish through the Rafah border crossing, located in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, and from there it will be delivered to the Palestinian enclave.
International Superstar Said at the Historical TCL Chinese Theatre Hand and Footprint Unveiling Ceremony: "I want to expand the circle of support."

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- International superstar YOSHIKI auctioned his beloved crystal piano this week, with the winning bid reaching 40 million yen (over $270,000 USD) when the 4-day auction ended on January 16.

YOSHIKI announced the auction on January 9 at his ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre, where his cement handprints and footprints were unveiled at the forecourt of the Hollywood landmark. YOSHIKI is the first Japanese star to receive the rare honor from the Chinese Theatre since the tradition began nearly 100 years ago.

YOSHIKI auctions crystal piano to support victims of Noto Peninsula Earthquake in Japan, raising 40 million yen

The classically-trained pianist and composer's Kawai CR-40N piano had been used for recording in his Los Angeles studio and for tours. YOSHIKI said a final farewell to the donated piano with a performance during the TCL Chinese Theatre ceremony: "I'm a little sad to say goodbye to my crystal piano, which is like family to me, but I think some people will be saved by this. Please cherish it."

Video: TCL Chinese Theatre: YOSHIKI announces auction of Crystal Piano to raise funds for Japan Earthquake

https://youtu.be/-yI7nYwrB0Y

During the ceremony, YOSHIKI said, "This year, on January first, came more sad news, a huge earthquake struck Japan. It hits me so hard. I'd like to share this moment with those who are mourning loved ones lost. If I may, I'd like to take the opportunity of this special event to give something back, as I've done before."

YOSHIKI also donated 10 million yen earlier this month to the Japanese Red Cross to aid disaster relief through his 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Yoshiki Foundation America. YOSHIKI said, "I want to spread awareness and expand the circle of support. I sincerely hope that everyone in the disaster-stricken areas can return to their normal lives as soon as possible."

Donations can be sent to the Japanese Red Cross through Yoshiki Foundation America's website:

https://yoshikifoundationamerica.org/donate.html

One hundred percent of the proceeds from both of YOSHIKI's donations, a total of 50 million yen (over $340,000 USD), will support victims of the Noto Peninsula earthquake which occurred earlier this month in Japan. Over 1900 people in the region are still stranded without power, food, or medicine.

YOSHIKI and YOSHIKI FOUNDATION AMERICA

YOSHIKI's donation continues the acclaimed musician's humanitarian work, which includes charitable support for numerous international emergencies, such as $100,000 in disaster relief for Hurricane Harvey victims in Texas in 2017 and $100,000 to combat wildfires in the Amazon rainforest in 2019. In 2020, he donated $100,000 to the Australian Red Cross and the Rainforest Trust's Conservation Action Fund to aid bushfire victims.

YOSHIKI has provided support to areas affected by earthquakes and other disasters many times, and in 1995, after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, he donated pianos to elementary and junior high schools in the affected areas. In 2009, he donated musical instruments and a music room to the area affected by the Sichuan earthquake in China and invited children orphaned by the earthquake to a concert held by X Japan.

He provided continuous support after the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake. Immediately after the disaster, he donated a total of more than 13 million yen, including the proceeds from the auction of his crystal piano. In 2015, he donated more than 28 million yen in proceeds from X JAPAN's recovery-from-earthquake concert, and in 2016, he donated more than 6 million yen in proceeds from the auction of his drum set. In addition, a donation of 10 million yen was also made after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, the 2018 Hokkaido Iburi East earthquake, and the 2019 Typhoons number 15 and number 19 respectively. In 2020, he donated 10 million yen to the Japanese Red Cross Society to support the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, nine years after the disaster.

Most recently, between 2022 and 2023, he donated a total of 30 million yen to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the growing number of displaced persons in Ukraine and neighboring countries.

In 2021, YOSHIKI established an annual grant of $100,000 for MusiCares, a partner of the Recording Academy, to help music creators and industry professionals affected by mental health concerns. Previously, YOSHIKI donated $100,000 to MusiCares to help music professionals affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

YOSHIKI is internationally recognized for his long-term philanthropic activities and has donated over 2 million dollars to charity through Yoshiki Foundation America. For his prolific philanthropic endeavors, he was chosen by Forbes as one of "Asia's Top 30 Heroes of Philanthropy" in 2019 and received a Medal of Honor from the Japanese Government in 2021 for his support of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine and ongoing charitable works.

YOSHIKI Website: https://www.yoshiki.net/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/yoshiki

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoshikiofficial/

Yoshiki Foundation America: https://yoshikifoundationamerica.org/

SOURCE YOSHIKI
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador to Iran, Trend reports.

This is reflected in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.

According to the statement, Irans unjustified and aggressive attack on Pakistans territory last night was a breach of international law and the UN Charters principles and objectives.

"We strongly condemn this unlawful act and we will not tolerate it. Pakistan has the right to take action against this unlawful act. Iran will have to face the consequences of its actions.

We have communicated this message to the Iranian Government. We have also told them that Pakistan has decided to withdraw its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is in Iran right now should not come back for now. We have also decided to stop all high level visits that were happening or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in the near future," the ministry said in a statement.

As reported, on January 16, Iranian armed forces attacked two headquarters of the terrorist group "Jaish al-Adl". Drones and missiles were used to hit the headquarters located in Pakistan. As a result, 2 children died and 3 people were injured.

---

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London, Jan 17 : Two deputy chairmen of the British ruling Conservative Party have resigned as the lawmakers in the UK voted on amendments to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's emergency legislation on immigration.

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith announced their resignations on Tuesday evening after voting in favour of an amendment to the legislation, Xinhua news agency reported.

They wrote in a joint letter to the Prime Minister regarding the amendments that "whilst our main wish is to strengthen the legislation, this means that in order to vote for amendments we will therefore need to offer you our resignations".

In April 2022, the UK reached a deal with Rwanda, under which illegal immigrants and asylum seekers would be sent to the east African country to have their claims processed there. If successful, they would be granted permanent residency in Rwanda rather than being allowed to return to the UK.

However, the scheme has met with resistance. The first flight scheduled to take seven migrants to Rwanda in June 2022 was cancelled after an intervention by the European Court of Human Rights. Two months ago, the UK's Supreme Court ruled that the government's scheme was unlawful.

The British government later introduced emergency legislation that would override domestic and international human rights law, and Members of Parliament (MPs) voted in favour of the new bill last month.

On Tuesday, British lawmakers rejected amendments to the bill proposed by the Labour Party by 336 votes to 262. A main vote on the bill is expected on Wednesday.

Jane Stevenson, another Conservative MP, also offered her resignation as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) over the vote on Tuesday evening.
Jerusalem, Jan 17 : Israel has said that a delivery of vital prescription drugs will enter Gaza on Wednesday under a Qatari-brokered agreement.

The medicines purchased in France will also be delivered to hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and other militant groups, and the list of drugs was compiled based on the medical conditions of the hostages, several of whom are in their 70s and 80s, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement issued on Tuesday by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

"Two Qatari Air Force planes are expected on Wednesday to depart to Egypt with the medicines purchased in France," while upon the arrival of the planes in Egypt, "the medicines will be transferred by Qatari representatives into the Gaza Strip to their final destination," read the statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his "appreciation to all those who helped during the process" and stressed that "Israel insists that all the medicines reach their destination".

Qatari Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday the succession of reaching an agreement between Israel and Hamas to send medications and aid to Gaza.

About 130 hostages, including women, men and children, are still in Gaza after being kidnapped during Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 Israelis were killed.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday. Gaza is in desperate need of medical aid after Israel cut the enclave from medicines, food, fuel and water supply as part of its retaliatory assault.

--IANS

int/sha
Aden, Jan 17 : The US has reportedly conducted a series of fresh airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen's central province of Al Bayda.

Yasser Jahlan, a local government official, said that the strikes occurred on Tuesday just several hours after the Houthi group claimed responsibility for a missile attack against a US-owned oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, Xinhua news agency reported.

He said that three strikes hit Houthi military barracks and facilities in the Mukayras district of Al Bayda before dawn on Tuesday.

The US Central Command issued a statement confirming the strikes, stating that "the US Forces struck and destroyed four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen".

It came after an incident on Monday when a US-owned and operated container ship was hit by a missile launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

In the past few hours, the Houthi group has claimed responsibility for a new attack on a Greek-owned, Malta-flagged freighter ZOGRAFIA with multiple missiles in the Red Sea.

According to a Houthi statement, the attack was a response to the ship's ignoring its warnings by continuing to sail toward Israel.

The Houthi group has escalated its attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait recently, by employing armed boats, drones and missiles, prompting concerns about maritime security in this crucial global trade route.

Maritime authorities are urging all ships transiting the Red Sea to exercise extreme caution and maintain vigilance against potential threats.

The Houthis have controlled much of northern Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa, since ousting the Yemeni government in 2014.
San Francisco, Jan 17 : Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek is joining medical device maker Masimo's board of directors, amid an ongoing patent dispute with Apple over its latest smartwatches.

Chapek was the CEO of The Walt Disney Company from February 2020 to November 2022.

"I look forward to helping advance the company's growth by leveraging their core technologies in the consumer and consumer health spaces," Chapek said in a statement.

Prior to joining Disney, Chapek worked in brand management at H.J. Heinz Company, and in advertising at J. Walter Thompson.

"We are honoured to have Bob join the Board. As we execute our hospital to home strategy, we expect to benefit greatly from Bob's role on our Board,." Said Joe Kiani, Chairman and CEO of Masimo.

Meanwhile, in a document filed with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Masimo said that Apple has prepared modified Apple Watch models that "do not contain pulse oximetry functionality".

As per the filing, the tech giant will be removing the blood oxygen app from new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models sold in the US -- at least temporarily, according to reports.

Apple has resumed the sale of Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 at some of its retail stores in the US, after an appeals court paused the ban on the devices amid an ongoing patent dispute case.
Lucknow, Jan 17 : The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has stayed the arrest of Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Rahul Srivastava and his wife, accused in a case of rape of a female student, till Wednesday.

On January 6, the student in her FIR lodged with Gomti Nagar Extension police station, Lucknow, had claimed that she came in contact with the ASP and his wife as she was a UPSC aspirant and sought his help in her preparations.

She alleged that she was raped in 2019.

On Tuesday, the order was passed by a division bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Narendra Kumar Johari on a writ petition filed by the ASP and his wife.

They challenged the FIR, seeking stay on their arrest in connection with the case.

It was contended on behalf of the petitioners that they were falsely implicated in the case.

aOnly till tomorrow (Wednesday) it is provided that the petitioners shall not be arrested based on the FIR... Unless sufficient and cogent evidence is available against them. Petitioners shall, however, cooperate in the investigation," the court said.

It also directed the state counsel to seek instructions as to the evidence collected, if any, against the petitioners and put up the case.
Tel Aviv, Jan 17 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that its troops raided the offices of high-ranking Hamas leaders in southern Gaza's Khan Younis city.

The raids on Tuesday night were carried out by the IDFas Command Brigade.

According to the IDF, the targeted action came after Hamas carried out an attack against its troops in Khan Younis from Nasser Hospital.

The Command Brigade then launched a large offensive on Hamas infrastructure in new areas of Khan Younis, which included a series of airstrikes before the troops moved in.

The strikes targeted several Hamas sites, as well as the headquarters of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the the area, according to the IDF.

The military however, did not name the Hamas leaders whose offices were targeted.

Several reports have said that top Hamas leaders Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar are allegedly hiding in Khan Younis.
London, Jan 17 : An Indian-origin man and his partner have been sentenced for breaking into gym lockers and stealing bank cards to pay for their lavish lifestyles in south east London.

Ashley Singh (39) and Sophie Bruyea (20) of Widmore Road in Bromley, would visit gyms and rifle through victims' lockers as they got busy in their workouts, the Metropolitan Police said on Monday.

The pair would then max out their victims' credit cards on expensive tech and designer gear, before selling them on and using the cash to buy bags, shoes, holidays and a pedigree puppy.

The duo was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on January 10 to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation between January 2022 and January 2023 with a total value of 250,000 pounds.

Singh was sentenced to three years' imprisonment while Bruyea received a 20 months sentence at a young offenders' institute, suspended for two years.

The court also asked her to undergo a rehabilitation programme and complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

The pair's spree was noticed by a local officer, who realised there was a pattern and flagged it to detectives who are experts in economic crime.

A Lewisham-based team traced the pair's phones, cars, and faces on CCTV and linked them all together.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police arrested them at Gatwick Airport on January 27, 2023 as they returned from Paris with 2,000 euros worth of designer goods.

At least 18 people were targeted in what the sentencing judge branded a "wicked conspiracy".

The judge described the impact the pair's "wide-ranging spree" had had on people, including instances where people no longer felt safe around strangers, or had suffered professionally due to the stress.

DC Luis Da Silva, from the Met's economic crime team that investigated this case, said: "We know Londoners are worried about theft. It's a horrible crime, and it causes a lot of stress, pain, and financial loss. That's why we take this crime seriously and a whole team of us were committed to catching Singh and Bruyea.

"You couldn't fail to be moved by the devastating impact their callous behaviour had on people, and we hope that by catching them this offers victims a little bit of solace."

He urged anyone who has had something stolen to get in touch and said that the proceeds of the duo's crimes will be used to help compensate the victims.

There were 18 fraud reports in total, with 14 in the Metropolitan area, one from Sussex, one from Hertfordshire and two reports from Cambridgeshire.

--IANS

mi/ksk
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. Turkiye reduced its chemical exports to Kyrgyzstan from January through December 2023 by 2.2 percent compared to the same period in 2022, bringing it to $61.3 million, Trend reports.

"In December 2023, Turkiye increased its chemical exports to Kyrgyzstan by 34.6 percent compared to the same month in 2022, bringing them to $4.6 million," Turkiyes Ministry of Trade reported.

Turkiye's chemical exports to Kyrgyzstan decreased 8.7 percent from January through December 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 to $30.6 billion.

The country exported $2.7 billion worth of chemicals in December 2023, up 0.4 percent from December 2022.

Meanwhile, Turkiye exported $30.6 billion worth of chemicals in the last 12 months (December 2022-December 2023).
Trump campaign releases note from doctor, says he's in 'excellent' health. Image Source: IANS News

Washington, Jan 17 : Fresh from his victory in the Iowa caucuses, former US President Donald Trump attended the first day of a $10 million defamation trial filed by columnist E. Jean Carroll for sexually abusing and making defamatory statements against her.

Jean Carroll (79) had accused Trump of raping her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s, and then branding the incident a hoax in an October 2022 post on his Truth Social platform.

The trial that began on Tuesday is to determine whether Trump harmed her with the defamatory statements and if so, how much money he must pay her in compensation, the BBC reported.

Last May, a different jury trial found that Trump had sexually assaulted and defamed Carroll.

The findings of that case are considered relevant in the new trial.

At Tuesday's hearing, Trump, who was seated a few rows behind Jean Carroll, stared at the columnist who he claims he had "never met, saw, or touched... and knows absolutely nothing about".

On her part, Carroll did not appear to look at him and faced towards the bench for nearly all of the proceedings, allowing Trump only a view of her back.

Trump also remained quiet.

One of Carroll's attorneys, Shawn Crowley said the jury will need to consider "how much money Donald Trump should have to pay for what he's done".

"How much money will it take to make him stop," the BBC quoted Jean Carroll as saying.

Crowley also told the court the former President had "unleashed his followers to go after" Carroll "to threaten her life".

As Trump continues to attack Jean Carroll on Truth Social, his official account put out more than two dozen posts on Tuesday while he was sitting in court, calling the case "PURE FICTION".

Carroll is expected to testify on Wednesday and the case is scheduled to wrap on Thursday.

But the judge, Lewis Kaplan, has ruled Trump will be allowed to testify on January 22.
Pune : , Jan 17 (IANS) Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar has said that he will not attend the Shri Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony on January 22 in Ayodhya.

Pawar, 83, who received an invite for the ceremony, has written a brief letter to the Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra General Secretary Champat Rai on the issue, promising to go at a later date with more time in hand for a 'darshan'.

"Lord Ram is revered not only in India, but around the world by millions of his devoted followers. There is great enthusiasm among the Ram Bhakts over the Ayodhya ceremonies and they are reaching there in huge numbers. Through them I shall also derive the joy of the historic occasion," Pawar said.

However, the NCP supremo added that after the January 22 event, it will be possible to take a proper and relaxed 'darshan' of Ram Lalla.

"I have plans to come to Ayodhya for some engagements. At that time, I shall take out sufficient time for a darshan of Shri Ram Lalla with full faith. By that time, even the construction works of the Ram Temple will also be completed," said Pawar.

He expressed his gratitude to Rai for the invite and also conveyed his best wishes for the upcoming grand ceremonies in Ayodhya next Monday. (January 22).
Brothel customer can be booked under ITP Act for 'procuring person for prostitution': Kerala HC. Image Source: IANS News

Kochi, Jan 17 : Kerala High Court pointed out to increasing intolerance when it comes to matters of faith by referring to petition against a scene in an upcoming Malayalam film 'Antony' where a gun is placed in a Bible.

Kochi, Jan 17 (IANS) Kerala High Court pointed out to increasing intolerance when it comes to matters of faith by referring to petition against a scene in an upcoming Malayalam film aAntonya where a gun is placed in a Bible.

"Should we be so intolerant that even for a passing reference to a book you should take up objection? Even if it is Bible, doesn't there need to be a negative reference or connotation for you to object," asked Justice Ramachandran.

The Court remarked that whatever be the holy text used in the scene, some section would be unhappy.

"Bible is used to hide a gun so Christians are unhappy. If it is Gita, Hindus will become unhappy. If it is Quran, Muslims will be unhappy," the judge said.

He added that such scenes were frequently there in English movies from 1960s and 70s.

"Keeping a gun in a Bible is something that has been done umpteen times in English cinema in the 60s and 70s. It is just that Malayalees are doing it now," said the judge.

The judge then asked why the petitioner was objecting to a "fleeting scene" with a Bible.

The petitioner was challenging the release of 'Antony'.

The Court also pointed out that the movie has been cleared by the Censor Board and the Bible in the scene has already been blurred.

"Only the movie makers will benefit from this petition. Did they ask you to file this petition? What movie is this? Antony? Has anyone watched this? This movie has already been examined by Censor Board," the judge pointed out and he agreed to watch the objectionable portion of the movie in Court and asked the counsel to produce the same.

The case has been posted to be heard after two weeks.
Apple opens new office in India, to house up to 1,200 employees. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Jan 17 : Apple on Wednesday announced to expand its footprint in India with opening a new office in the heart of Bengaluru, as the iPhone maker cements its position in the country with ramping up local manufacturing.

Located at Minsk Square which is the key location in the city, the new office will house up to 1,200 employees.

It comprises of 15 floors and features dedicated lab space, areas for collaboration and wellness, and Caffe Macs.

"Bengaluru is already home to so many of our talented teams, including software engineering and hardware technologies, operations, customer support, and more," an Apple spokesperson told IANS.

"Like everything we do at Apple, this workspace is created to foster innovation, creativity, and connection. It's an amazing space for our teams to collaborate," the company spokesperson added.

The interiors feature locally-sourced materials, including stone, wood, and fabric in the walls and flooring, and the office is filled with native plants.

The new office uses best practices in energy conservation, will run on 100 per cent renewable energy, and aims to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum rating  the highest level of LEED certification.

Apple has been carbon neutral for its corporate operations since 2020, and has run all Apple facilities using 100 percent renewable energy since 2018.

The office is the latest addition to the company's corporate office footprint in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Gurugram, and represents another important milestone in Apple's more than 25 year history in the country.

Apple has nearly 3,000 employees in India and the work with Indian suppliers of all sizes supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country.

The company works with partners across India that are advancing critical work to protect the environment and expand access to education and employment, including Frank Water, which helps empower communities to protect their own watersheds on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Apple's teams in Bengaluru work across a wide range of Apple's business  from software, hardware, services, IS&T, operations, customer support, and others.

As India doubles down on local manufacturing, Apple assembled iPhones worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore in India in 2023, according to industry data.

However, according to industry sources, the actual market value of the iPhones manufactured/assembled in India could be much higher, depending on taxes in other countries.
Kochi, Jan 17 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday morning attended the wedding ceremony of actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi's daughter at Sree Krishna temple in Guruvayur, Kerala.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Guruvayur from Kochi by a helicopter and then reached the temple by road.

Modi, who was the chief guest at the the wedding ceremony, arrived at the venue after having a full course of temple darshan.

He blessed numerous brides and grooms who also had their wedding at the temple.

He interacted with the high-profile guests including Gopi's fellow actors Mammootty, Mohanlal, Dileep, Jayaram and their wives.

High security arrangements were in place in view of the Prime Minister's visit.

Gopi was a nominated member of Rajya Sabha whose term ended in April, 2022. He also contested in 2019 parliament election from Thrissur constituency on BJP ticket and again fought two years later but lost both the elections. He is likely to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Thrissur constituency.
Lawyers ask Indians seeking asylum in UK to pretend as 'tortured' Khalistanis, gays: Report. Image Source: IANS News

Brussels, Jan 17 : Some 380,000 irregular border crossings were detected at the European Union's (EU) external borders in 2023, a 17-per cent rise from a year earlier and the highest annual total since 2016, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) said.

Frontex said 2023 was the third consecutive year that the number of irregular border crossings into EU had grown, reports Xinhua news agency.

More than two out of five such crossings took place across the central Mediterranean route, with most of those departing from Tunisia and landing in Italy.

The nearly 158,000 arrivals via this route last year represented a 49-per cent increase compared to 2022.

The Western Balkan route accounted for 26 per cent of arrivals and the eastern Mediterranean route accounted for 16 per cent last year.

Most arrivals were adult men, Frontex said, whereas women and children took up 10 per cent respectively of the new arrivals.

The previous flood of irregular border crossings into the EU was reported in 2016, with nearly 504,000 new arrivals, according to Frontex data.
Next Republican debate cancelled after Haley refuses to take stage without Trump. Image Source: IANS News

Washington, Jan 17 : The next Republican presidential debate has been cancelled with Indian-American aspirant Nikki Haley refusing to appear on stage unless former President Donald Trump takes part.

Following her third-place finish in the Iowa caucus, Haley took to her X on Tuesday and said that so far they have had five "great debates" in the campaign.

"Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it," Haley, the lone woman candidate in the presidential race, said.

The ABC News and local New Hampshire outlet WMUR-TV scrapped the debate scheduled for Thursday at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, The New York Post reported.

In addition, a CNN-moderated debate in New Hampshire, which is slated for January 21, is also in doubt.

Haley's announcement came a day after America's twice-impeached former President, facing more than 90 criminal charges, emerged triumphant in Iowa and solidified his position as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

The party frontrunner won by a wide margin over Haley, who won just over 19 per cent of the vote.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who edged out Haley by two points to finish in second place in Iowa, slammed his rivals for refusing to debate him.

In the run-up to the New Hampshire nominating contest, he accused them of running a "basement campaign".

"What does that say? We have four candidates for president now -- Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and me. I'm the only one who's not running a basement campaign at this point," DeSantis told voters during a town hall in Henniker, New Hampshire.

Training his guns at the former South Carolina Governor, DeSantis said Haley is afraid to debate and she is just running to be Trump's Vice President.

"Nikki Haley is afraid to debate because she doesn't want to answer the tough questions such as how she got rich off Boeing after giving them millions in taxpayer handouts as governor of South Carolina," DeSantis wrote on X after Haley's announcement.

"I won't snub New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and plan to honor my commitments. I look forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week," he added.

--IANS

mi/ksk
Mumbai, Jan 17 : Marking a record of sorts, the Maharashtra government has signed MoUs worth around Rs 70,000 crore on the first day of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's visit to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, officials said here on Wednesday.

They include a deal of Rs 41,000 crore with the B. C. Jindal Group, one of the biggest corporations in the country for their proposed plant in the state that will generate 5000 jobs in electronics system design and manufacturing.

The state's MAHAPRIET has signed a MoU of Rs 4000 crore with Prediction Co., USA for creating a hub for Artificial Intelligence in the state.

The project will pave the way for launching innovative AI projects in the state and will be the first of its kind for India, said officials.

Besides, another MoU was signed with INOX Air Products for a Green Ammonia plant with an investment of around Rs 25,000 crore.

These investments are nearly half the MoUs worth Rs 1.37 lakh-crores signed during Davos-2023 trip, and this year the state government aims to more than double the previous year.

Besides the Chief Minister, present for these signing events were Industry Minister Uday Samant, top officials like Bhushan Gagrano, Brijesh Singh, Harshadeep Kamble, Vipin Sharma, Amol Shinde and others.

Shinde, currently in Davos on a four-day trip to the WEF, plans to sign MoUas worth over Rs 3.10 lakh-crore across sectors to benefit different regions of the state.
K'taka signs MoU worth Rs 22,000 cr with Microsoft, six cos on Day 2 in Davos. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Jan 17 : The delegation from Karnataka, headed by Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development, M.B. Patil, has signed MoUs worth Rs 22,000 crore with Microsoft and six companies on Day 2 at the World Economic Forum Davos 2024

He engaged in a series of deliberations with industry leaders during the meet 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, the official statement said on Wednesday.

Minister Patil marked a significant milestone for Karnataka at the World Economic Forum 2024 by signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with global industry leaders Microsoft, Web Werks, Hitachi, and 4 other companies, the statement said.

These partnerships are poised to propel the state into a new era of technological advancement, infrastructure development, and economic growth of the state, the statement added.

Minister Patil engaged in discussions with Sony, HP, Nestle, Honeywell, Lulu group, Inox Group, Takeda Pharma, Coinbase, Tillman Global, BL Agro, and many others.

The primary objective is to establish cutting-edge infrastructure, capitalizing on the robust existing ecosystem and the highly attractive market dynamics in the region, said the minister. He also assured them of the governmentas complete support and co-operation in their future ventures in Karnataka.

Finance department Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) L.K. Atheeq, Industry department Principal Secretary Selva kumar, ITBT secretary Ekroop Kaur and other officers were present on the occasion.
Jaipur, Jan 17 : Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani has asked the police to investigate a deepfake video of independent MLA from Bayana, Ritu Banawat, which has gone viral.

After Banawatas deepfake video went viral, she filed a complaint with the SP office.

Banawat wrote a letter to the Rajasthan Assembly Speaker and asked him to take strictest action against those found accused in the fake video making and circulation.

Taking quick action in this reference, Devnani on Tuesday asked the Bharatpur Inspector General (IG) to investigate the matter and send a detailed report by January 23.

As per officials, miscreants tried to defame Dr. Ritu Banawat, independent woman MLA from the Bayana Assembly seat of Rajasthan on social media. An obscene fake video was made viral on social media by editing the photo of MLA Banawat. In this video the photo of MLA Ritu Banawat has been added along with the nude photos of another woman.

The MLA started getting calls when the video went viral. She immediately contacted Superintendent of Police (SP) Mridul Kachhawa and got the case registered. Further investigations are under progress, said officials.
Tokyo, Jan 17 : A flight operated by Japan's All Nippon Airways bound for the US city of Seattle returned to the Haneda airport in Tokyo on Wednesday after a passenger reportedly bit a cabin crew's arm, local media reported.

The 55-year-old man, who is believed to be a US citizen, was arrested by Tokyo police upon landing on suspicion of causing injury to the cabin attendant, Xinhua news agency quoted Japan's Kyodo News as saying in a reported.

The incident took place on Tuesday night while the passenger plane, flight 118, was flying over the Pacific, and the motive behind the man's behaviour was still unclear.

More details are awaited.
UP: 3 arrested for woman's murder in April 2023. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Jan 17 : Karnataka police have arrested a man on the charges of suspiciously gathering information about women officers working in various government departments.

Claiming himself to be the personal assistant of Chief Minister's Secretary, the accused, identified as Vikram Gopalaswamy, used to gather information about women officers in Vidhana Soudha and other government departments.

The accused also claimed that he was the personal assistant of Minister for Revenue.

He called up government offices claiming to be from DGP's office and from the office of the Police Commissioner in Bengaluru.

One of the women officers had lodged a complaint against Gopalaswamy at the Vidhana Soudha police station.

The police have immediately arrested Gopalaswamy and during, initial probe it was found that the accused is a son of a retired officer.

The investigation is on regarding the motive of the accused.
Washington, Jan 17 : Fresh out of winning the Iowa Caucus, former US President Donald Trump suggested that his Republican rival Nikki Haley needs President Joe Biden's supporters to "infiltrate" the party primary to perform well in New Hampshire.

Washington, Jan 17 (IANS) Fresh out of winning the Iowa Caucus, former US President Donald Trump suggested that his Republican rival Nikki Haley needs President Joe Biden's supporters to "infiltrate" the party primary to perform well in New Hampshire.

The 'Granite State' primary on January 23 is the next stop for Republican candidates in the race for White House and Haley's last chance to emerge as the alternative to her former boss.

Making his first campaign trail appearance with former rival Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the presidential race, Trump told supporters in Atkinson, New Hampshire, that Haley "is counting on the Democrats and liberals to infiltrate your Republican primary".

The former President also slammed the speech Haley delivered after her third-place finish in Iowa, calling it "inappropriate" and "bad for unity", according to a New York Post report.

Despite finishing third, she claimed that the Republican primary was a two-person race between herself and Trump.

Addressing her supporters at her campaign headquarters at the Marriott Hotel in West Des Moines, she said that 70 per cent of Americans don't want another Trump-Biden rematch.

She slammed both the leaders for their "lack of vision for our country's future" and argued that a Trump nomination will result in "another toss-up election".

"Trump and Biden are both about 80-years-old, yet Trump and Biden both put our country trillions of dollars deeper in debt and our kids will never forgive them for it," she said.

"The Democrats are supporting (Haley) because she's easy to beat," Trump said, arguing that her supporters are "pro-Biden" and that if "she wins, Biden wins".

Standing alongside the former President, Ramaswamy made a fiery eight-minute speech, which was followed by Trump supporters chanting "VP VP VP".

Addressing the crowd, Ramaswamy said America needs a "commander-in-chief who will lead us to victory in this war".

"I am asking you to do the right thing and to vote for Donald J. Trump as your next president because we don't have a lot of time," Ramaswamy said.

Meanwhile, the next Republican debate, scheduled for Thursday has been cancelled after Haley said she will not appear on the stage unless Trump, who has so far "ducked" all the party debates, takes part.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 17 : As we celebrate the birthday of the exceptionally inspiring, Michelle Obama today, let's take a moment to dive into her wisdom through her podcast titled 'Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast' available on Audible

This series is an extension to her book The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times where Michelle, along with her esteemed friends, shares profound conversations during her six-city U.S. book tour, exploring themes like friendships, vulnerabilities, personal struggles, and more.

Here are a few highlights and thought-provoking insights from the podcast.

Building Meaningful Friendships

In conversation with legendary poet and teacher Elizabeth Alexander, Michelle Obama reflects on their 30 years of friendship. They discuss their shared journey of motherhood as they grew to adulthood, the twists and turns of careers, growing older, and their retreat at Camp David with other friends. Michelle emphasizes, "Whether I met you three months ago, or three decades ago, if we've built a meaningful friendship, I will work hard to foster our relationship and be there for you when you need me. I've got your back because I know you got mine. And one of those people I know without a doubt that I can count on is my dear friend, Elizabeth Alexander. It felt like a warm blanket to sit down with her for a long soulful conversation about friendship, fostering them, nurturing them, and the deep humanity that lies within them. Now I've known Elizabeth for 30 years, since long before the presidency was even a glimmer in Barack's eye. She's a distinguished poet, writer, and academic. But to me, she's even more than that. She's an authentic and genuine friend, and she'll always have a spot at my kitchen table."

Striving for Excellence and Parenting

Gayle King and Michelle Obama open up about parenting and striving for excellence as a pursuit. Michelle Obama encourages young people to take charge of their lives and make excellence a practice, "Excellence is a thing you practice. You practice who you want to be, every single day. I try to tell my girls this - if you want to be a professional and be on time, you have got to start doing that when you're seven or nine. You don't wait until you get to a position to try to show up. So I have been practicing getting things right for a long time. So I don't know how to be late," said Obama.

When asked about parenting their two girls, she said, "I treated parenting my girls like my parents parented me. I wanted them to be independent early. I wanted them to be able to wake themselves up, make their own beds, they had to do their own homework. There was no helicoptering because I wanted them to rise and fall on their own merits."

The Power of Small

America's favourite former First Lady shares that she grew up in circumstances where bars were set quite low for women of colour. She did not let these conditions overpower her, and credit due to her parents for always making her feel seen and heard at home. She used it as an opportunity to prove to the world what she was capable of.

As she goes on to detail her approach to life, Michelle uses her wit in sharing some insights. She compares knitting to taking on tasks in life and suggests instead of overwhelming ourselves with what we cannot control we must focus on the smaller tasks at hand. She goes on to share an anecdote of when she was overwhelmed while preparing a speech, she says, "I am trying to go big, I am trying to think of a big speech and I don't have that platform in quarantine. But I can focus on what's in my lap. Let me look at what I uniquely can control. The truth is what's in our lap. The fact that yes, there are riots going on but there are people who are also coming out and marching. They saw brutality but the country remembered for a time they had come together around Black Lives Matter. There were all these emergency workers sacrificing themselves in this quarantine. People were giving, we were a better nation than we were being taught. But we lose sight of the beauty of what's small because we are taught that big is better. This is where great becomes the enemy of good. And you don't have the power to change the world until you do the thing that you can actually control, the thing in your lap. Let us now value the power of small."

Decoding Fear

In conversation with Ellen Degeneres, Michelle Obama elaborates why we must overcome our fears and step out of our comfort zone to get ahead in life. "There is a fear that keeps us stuck. The fear of others, the fear of somebody who is not like you, the fear of somebody who has a different skin colour than you. That is an irrational fear. If we don't learn to decode it and to know when our fear is keeping us safe from when it is keeping us limited and narrow and small. If we don't start thinking about how we process fear, I know I have had to. I've had to learn to determine when my fear is rational and when it's just me not wanting to do something that makes me uncomfortable." She goes on to add, "Learning to be comfortably afraid is learning to rationally deal with your fear so that you can get to the other side. When you get to the other side, nine times out of ten there is a lot of growth, opportunity and possibility if you can decode it properly."

Michelle's classic wit, candour, and compassion infused in her anecdotal learnings as she engages in an insightful yet fun banter with exceptional luminaries is bound to lighten up your world.

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in
Kochi, Jan 17 : Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly and Congress leader V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to Kerala will not fetch votes for the BJP here.

Satheesan said PM Modi has every right to campaign for his party in Kerala.

"He is always welcome, but his frequent visit is not going to fetch votes for the BJP here, as that party has no relevance in Kerala where people are totally secular and the divisive tactics of the BJP to split the society will not bear fruits," said Satheesan.

In the past two weeks PM Modi has been in the state for three days on two different occasions.

The BJP does not have any member in the 140-member Kerala Assembly nor in the 20 Lok Sabha seats from the state.
Bengaluru, Jan 17 : Driven by a surge in travel, there has been a 50 per cent surge in hiring for tourism and hospitality jobs between December 2022 and 2023 in India, according to a report on Wednesday.

The report by Indeed, a global hiring and matching platform, also revealed that blue-collar hiring in the tourism and hospitality industry witnessed an overall 8 per cent increase.

The rise not only signals a noteworthy post-pandemic recovery but also reflects a promising future for the industry while underscoring the job market's adaptability and resilience in the face of evolving global trends.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)'s Economic Impact Research predicted India to become the third most influential market in the Travel and Tourism industry globally.

As per Indeed's data, hiring in the tourism industry peaked in October 2023 with a 61 per cent rise as compared to December 2022.

This can be attributed to multiple reasons such as October being a popular time for tourism owing to weather changes propagating hill station visits, festive season and more.

Top cities leading the upsurge in hiring include Delhi NCR (23 per cent) Mumbai (5.19 per cent), Bengaluru (6.78 per cent).

Overall, these cities take the lead in a variety of tourism-related industries by leveraging their distinct commercial, technological, and cultural advantages.

Other cities, including Pune (2.33 per cent) and Kochi (2.41 per cent), also contributed significantly to the increase.

"As we approach National Tourism Day, we must recognise the favorable employment outlook and honour the vibrant spirit of exploration, cross-cultural exchange, and economic advancement owing to the increased hiring prospects," said Sashi Kumar, Head of Sales at Indeed, in a statement.

"This rise across cities reflects their adaptability and the economic growth that the tourism sector brings to the workforce," he added.

The hospitality and tourism industry has also noted a shift in the priorities of travellers in 2023 with factors like sustainability and hygiene coming to the forefront.

Travellers are now more specific about their itineraries and aim for reduction of energy consumption during their travel, by embracing nature and enjoying local experiences.

Automation has also entered certain areas where many are indulging in virtual reality tours and booking tickets via chatbots. The tourism sector is shaping as per these new patterns and job creation is taking place accordingly, the report said.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : In a recent consumer study by the Indian dating app QuackQuack with 11,000 participants from Tier 1, 2, and 3 Indian cities, daters from different age groups and backgrounds share valuable insight and personal experiences on spotting a red flag while dating online. From the subtle to the glaring, these red flags will help young and new joiners spot an imperfect match from miles away.

The study was conducted online for a week among participants aged from 20 to 40; a majority of these individuals were working professionals and business owners, and a portion of them were students.

QuackQuack's Founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented on the study, "We are now close to 30M users and felt it essential to educate people on reading signs that might indicate a toxic trait in a person early on and keep them from making the same mistakes as their predecessors. It is not about mistrust; it's about making sure your partnership thrives. Addressing a problem in the initial stages is the key to a successful relationship."

Control and Manipulation

A significant portion of the participants identified control and manipulation as a red flag. 34% of female and 22% of male daters disclosed being in a controlling relationship. Control and manipulation in relationships can manifest in various forms, they cleared. It can be excessive monitoring, such as checking phones and tracking whereabouts without consent, gaslighting, emotional blackmail, threats or guilt-tripping, trying to control finances, dictating appearance and behaviour, and more. It is critical to address these issues openly and as early as possible. They also highlighted the importance of maintaining individuality and autonomy in a relationship.

Disrespect

39% of men flagged consistent disrespect as a major concern. It encompassed undermining their jobs, demeaning comments to their friends and family, and being inconsiderate of their values and beliefs. It can come in any form; partners lacking consideration for each other's feelings is also a sign of consistent disrespect. Respondents shared accounts of persistent disrespect in their past relationships and how it eroded the foundation. They also emphasized the need for mutual respect as a fundamental aspect of any healthy partnership.

Inconsistent Behavior

The biggest red flag in an online match is inconsistent behaviour, as mentioned by a large majority of participants. 48% of these daters from Tier 1 and 2 cities explained how paying attention to one's behavioural pattern for the initial interaction can help daters dodge toxic alliances. Matches exhibiting sudden mood swings, with high highs and low lows, unpredictable reactions, and noticeable changes in attitude from day to day are all red flags. These users stressed the importance of consistency and stability in a match's behaviour as an indicator of emotional well-being and compatibility.

Lack of Accountability

28% of respondents over 30 from Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities recognized a lack of accountability in a partner or a match as a red flag. They mentioned that it comes in many shapes and forms, ranging from a refusal to take responsibility for one's actions to shifting blame onto others, or an unwillingness to apologize and make amends. These individuals revealed that they quickly unmatch or let go of a relationship once they spot any of these signs. They emphasized that accountability is crucial for personal growth and the health of a relationship. They also urged young daters to not overlook these in the name of love; it will lead to serious issues in the relationship and disruption of mental peace.

Isolation

33% of women between 20 and 28 narrated how their ex-partners attempted and often succeeded in isolating them from their friends and family, establishing themselves as the sole source of support. This red flag involves efforts to control social interactions, limit outside influences, or create a sense of dependency. From subtle actions like not letting them hang out with certain friends to making sure they informed every step they took in their day-to-day lives, these women encountered various forms of isolation techniques. They also mentioned that people might not be aware that they are isolating their partner from others, and the onus, unfortunately, is on you to identify and rectify it.

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

-IANS

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Bhopal, Jan 17 : Congress leader Digvijaya Singh accused the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh of shielding "irregularities" in recruitment exams conducted last year.

The Rajya Sabha MP claimed the previous government led by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had conducted exams for 37,790 posts in different categories between March to August, 2023, however, the results were not announced.

He further added that the irregularities were found in many recruitment exams conducted during the period. "Exams were conducted for a total 37,790 posts in the state government, of which the results of only 9,073 candidates were declared, the selection process could not be initiated due to various irregularities being exposed," Digvijaya said in a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday.

He recalled that an inquiry committee was formed to investigate the waste irregularities in Group 2 and Patwari recruitment exams conducted last year.

"The inquiry committee was supposed to submit its report by August last year; however, the report has not been submitted so far. It is an indication that the BJP government is trying to protect the persons involved in the corrupt practices," Singh said.

After the irregularities were "exposed" in Patwari exams last year, then Chief Minister Chouhan had put the recruitments on hold and an inquiry committee under the supervision of a retired judge was formed in July last year to investigate the matter.

Veteran Congress leader has appealed to Chief Minsiter Yadav to announce the results of various exams conducted in the previous year and start the recruitment process to protect the future youths.

"I would request the CM to punish those who were involved in ruining the future of lakh of youths of the state and do justice with the job aspirants. Uncertainty over results of various exams and back to back irregularities have made a negative impact on youths," he added.
Tehran/Islamabad, Jan 17 : Iranian local media has reported that two important bases of the terrorist group Jaish al-Adl were destroyed in Pakistan during the missile attack.

These two important bases housing Jaish ul-Adl terror group were targeted and destroyed by missiles and drones earlier today on Tuesday, Mehr News reported.

Some other local media in Iran say that the targeted bases were located in an area called Kuhe Sabz in Balochistan province of Pakistan, where one of the largest bases of the Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group is.

Pakistan says two children were killed and three others injured in strikes by neighbouring Iran on Tuesday, the BBC reported.

Iran said it targeted two bases linked to the militant group Jaish al-Adl, according to a news agency affiliated with the country's military.

But Pakistan rejected this, calling it an "illegal act" that could lead to "serious consequences".

Pakistan is the third country, after Iraq and Syria, to be hit by an Iranian attack within the last few days, the BBC reported.

A missile attack by Iran on Pakistan is near-unprecedented. Tuesday's strike hit a village the vast south-western province of Balochistan, which borders the two countries.

In a strongly worded statement, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the "unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran".

It called the incident "completely unacceptable", adding that it was "even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran".
Warsaw, Jan 17 : The Polish government announced that protesting truckers have agreed to halt their demonstrations that have blocked several border crossings with Ukraine since November 2023.

Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak said the government had signed an agreement with the protesters which will lead to the suspension of protests until March 1 at three road border crossings: Korczowa, Hrebenne, and Dorohusk, reports Xinhua news agency.

Under the agreement, the Polish government has pledged to seek changes to European Union (EU) rules, secure the bloc's funding for transport firms, and introduce stronger enforcement of controls on the Ukraine border.

Representatives of the transport industry emphasised that if the results prove unsatisfactory, protests will resume.

Polish truck drivers started to block border crossings on November 6, 2023 complaining that their business has been undercut by Ukrainian firms.

They urged the EU to reinstate commercial permits for Ukrainian companies to operate in the bloc, which were waived soon after the Russia-Ukraine war eruted in February 2022.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Jan 17 : The central investigating agency counsels on Wednesday informed the Calcutta High Court that absconding Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan was sending voice messages.

The agency counsels argued at the Calcutta High that even after 12 days after the attack on ED and CAPF officials at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, the state police have not been able to arrest the accused mastermind and absconding Trinamool Congress leader, Sheikh Shahjahan, despite the latter sending voice message from underground.

The CBI counsel drew the reference of Osama Bin Laden while informing the single- judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta about the voice- message of the accused.

The state government counsel during the final submission at the court appraised Justice Senguptaas bench about adhering to his order on Tuesday on the installation of CCTV cameras in front of the residence of Sheikh Shahjahan as well as in the adjacent areas.

A total of 10 CCTV cameras have been installed both in front of the residence as well as in the adjacent market area, the state government counsel informed the court.

After the end of the final submission in the first half on Wednesday, Justice Sengupta directed both CBI and the state police to each submit the name of an official in the superintendent rank by 2 p.m. on Wednesday who might be deemed to carry out the investigation in the attack on ED and CAPF personnel.

The matter will come up for hearing again and the final verdict in the matter will be delivered after that.

In the last voice message of Sheikh Shahjahan that surfaced he was heard advising his followers in the Sandeshkhali area not to be scared of central agencies. In the message, he also assured his followers of returning soon.
Mumbai, Jan 17 : Actor Emraan Hashmi, who has dabbled in almost all genres and essayed a myriad of characters, has finally explained the reason as to why he wanted to play a villain.

Emraan was pitted against Salman Khan in the third installment of the 'Tiger' franchise, which is now streaming digitally.

Emraan said: "It is truly special when a film keeps giving you appreciation and respect again and again. This means that a film has made a place for itself in the books of time. It is really amazing to have got so much love playing an anti-hero in Tiger 3."

He added: "I was sold on the idea to play a villain who as much shrewd and cunning as he is powerful enough to take on an iconic hero like Tiger in a hand to hand combat. Aditya Chopra & Maneesh Sharma created a very unique anti-hero archetype for me to play with and make him my own."

Emraan further shared: "I'm delighted that audience gave me love when Tiger 3 released in theatres and the film went on to become a big hit. Now, they are again pouring love on me when Tiger 3 has released on streaming. This is testimony to the fact that the film and its story and its characters have connected to the hearts of audiences."

Also starring superstars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in lead roles, Tiger 3 is the fifth film from YRF Spy Universe, the biggest movie IP of India. All the films from YRF's spy-verse - Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, War, Pathaan & Tiger 3 - have been blockbusters.
Bhopal, Jan 17 : In a daring theft that left the cops in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district red-faced on Monday, two men stole a police vehicle from inside a police station and went for a joy ride in it with the siren blaring.

Bhopal, Jan 17 (IANS) In a daring theft that left the cops in Madhya Pradeshas Ratlam district red-faced on Monday, two men stole a police vehicle from inside a police station and went for a joy ride in it with the siren blaring.

However, their joy ride was a short one as they were caught soon after an eatery owner informed the police, who came and arrested the two men, identified as Irfan Khan and Sadab Khan and recovered the stolen police vehicle, MP 11, CC- 7326, from them.

As per the police report, the incident occurred at midnight on Monday when the two men entered the police station, took the vehicleas key from inside and drove it away without the cops on night duty noticing them!

Once they reached the main road the accused switched on the police siren and made for a market place located near the railway station in Ratlam.

Posing as cops on patrol in civil dress, the accused demanded money for liquor from an eatery owner who refused to give it.

Irfan and Sadab then slapped him and threatened the eatery owner with dire consequences before moving on to the next shop.

While the accused were busy threatening and asking for money from some other shopkeepers there, the eatery owner called the police.

A police team reached the spot and the accused were arrested. The police vehicle was recovered and returned to the sheepish staff of the police station.
Ankara, Jan 17 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country will continue cross-border operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) until it is cleared from northern Iraq.

"Our operations in this region will continue until we have secured every inch of the mountains in northern Iraq, which are the source of terrorist acts," Erdogan said at a press conference late Tuesday after a cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara.

A total of 114 targets were hit as part of Turkey's air operations in Syria and Iraq, and a total of 78 "terrorists" were neutralised in the past five days, he said, referring to the country's recent cross-border military campaign launched after nine Turkish soldiers were killed in northern Iraq by PKK militants on January 12.

Erdogan said that the attempts to "strengthen" the PKK by providing it with weapons, ammunition, training, and shelters have gained momentum, but he did not specify who is supporting the group.

"Our cross-border operations have also foiled plots aimed at dragging Turkey into internal turmoil through a wave of irregular migration," the President added.

The Turkish leader also said that Ankara would take additional steps to fight terrorism in the coming months, regardless of "who says what or what threats they make".

On Tuesday, the Turkish Parliament had passed a joint declaration against terrorism, stating "we declare to the whole world that TArkiye has the strength to fight determinedly against all terrorist groups at home and abroad".

"We expect Parliaments of other countries and international organizations to take a clear, uncompromising stance against terror acts targeting TArkiye," it said.

The Turkish security forces have intensified cross-border operations against the PKK in northern Iraq and against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, after the killing of the nine Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq.

The PKK militants often hide out in northern Iraq to plot cross-border attacks in Turkey, which sees the YPG as the Syrian branch of the PKK group.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the European Union, has rebelled against the Ankara government for more than three decades.
San Francisco, Jan 17 : After a recent US Court decision, Apple has updated its App Store guidelines that allow developers to link to outside websites for in-app purchases.

"Starting today, because of a recent US Court decision, App Store Review Guideline 3.1.1 has been updated to introduce the StoreKit Purchase Link Entitlement (US), which allows apps that offer in-app purchases in the iOS or iPadOS App Store on the US storefront the ability to include a link to the developeras website that informs users of other ways to purchase digital goods or services," Apple said in a blogpost on Tuesday.

The company also mentioned that a commission will apply to digital purchases not made via the App Store. The commission for developers in the small business programme is set at 12 per cent, while larger developers have to pay a commission of 27 per cent.

Moreover, the tech giant said that those developers "considering using this entitlement along with ina'app purchase, which continues to be required for the purchase of digital goods and services within your app -- itas important to understand that some App Store features, such as Ask to Buy or Family Sharing, wonat be available to your customers when they make purchases on your website".

The company also noted that it will not be able to assist customers with refunds, purchase history, subscription management, and other issues encountered when purchasing digital goods and services. Meanwhile, in a document filed with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, medical technology company Masimo said that Apple has prepared modified Apple Watch models that "do not contain pulse oximetry functionality".

As per the filing, the tech giant will be removing the blood oxygen app from new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models sold in the US -- at least temporarily, reports MacRumors.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : Countering Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statement that the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony scheduled to be held on January 22 is a "political event", Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said that Congress and the other constituents of the INDIA bloc never miss an opportunity to disrespect Hindus due to the appeasement politics.

On Wednesday, after participating in the 'Swachhata Sewa' programme organised nationwide by the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative, Thakur addressed reporters at the Valmiki Temple premises in Delhi.

Criticising the statements of Rahul Gandhi, Congress, and other leaders of the INDIA bloc, Thakur stated that one after another, leaders of the aghamandia' alliance have made remarks, sometimes talking about trampling of Sanatan Dharma, and at other times making baseless statements about Hindus.

Thakur accused them of spreading lies about the location of the temple, mentioning that these people had claimed until yesterday that the temple was being built 3 kilometers away, but now this has also proven to be false.

The Union Minister alleged that neither have these leaders ever acknowledged Lord Ram, nor do they respect Him today.

He said that the leaders of the opposition coalition deny the existence of Lord Ram and oppose the Ram Temple for only indulging in politics, staying in the headlines.
Mumbai, Jan 17 : The upcoming season of 'Shark Tank India' will witness an innovation pitch poised by 'RodBez', a revolutionary platform offering one-way taxi, taxipool, and carpool services.

Co-founded by Dilkhush Kumar and Siddharth Shankar Jha hailing from Bihar, it aims to address the challenges posed by unorganised taxi services in the state, setting the stage for a transformative commuting experience with their business RodBez.

The new shark of the show Ritesh Agarwal, the founder and CEO of OYO Rooms was captivated by this pitch.

He expressed enthusiasm for the emergence of localised solutions that enhance life in tier two cities, stating, "Pehle badhe badhe sheheron mein chhoti chhoti baatein hoti thi. Ab chhote chhote sheheron mein badhe badhe business ban rahe hain (Earlier small things used to happen in big cities. Now more and more businesses are being formed in small towns)".

The core mission of the business is to enhance the commuting experience for countless passengers in Bihar by offering a cost-effective solution that reduces expenses by up to 40 per cent and eliminates the need for both-side fares.

What sets RodBez apart is not just its innovative approach but also the personal journey of Dilkhush Kumar, who shares his inspiring story of overcoming job rejections to drive positive change in Bihar.

Talking about the same, Ritesh further said: "India's entrepreneurship scene has come of age and startups like RodBez are a sterling example of that shift. No idea is too ambitious, and no dream is too big. It doesn't matter where you come from as long as you're focused on where you're headed."

"There are hundreds of hinterland businesses like RodBez that have pioneered frugal innovation and have the potential to build not only for India but the world," he added.

The 'RodBez' founders made a pitch of Rs 50 lakh for 5 per cent equity.

'Shark Tank India 3' will soon air on Sony LIV.
Los Angeles, Jan 17 : The Los Angeles public health department said that it was investigating a cluster of gastrointestinal illnesses potentially linked to raw oysters.

There are 27 associated cases so far, and the department is currently working with the California Department of Public Health to investigate and confirm the source of this cluster of gastrointestinal illness cases, reports Xinhua news agency.

The health department warns residents -- specifically those most vulnerable such as young children, older adults, and people who are immunocompromised -- of the risks of 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 Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis in a statement.

Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration warned about an outbreak of norovirus in San Diego County linked to oysters that were imported from a specific December 2023 harvest in Sonora, Mexico.

As many as 41 people have been identified as possible connections to that specific outbreak.

Symptoms of norovirus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever and body aches which usually develop within 48 hours after consuming contaminated food.

The illness typically lasts between 1-3 daysid.

Meanwhile, restaurants or others who purchased these oysters are urged to throw them out. If ordering them from a restaurant, customers should ask restaurant staff where the oysters originated from before eating them.

Eating raw oysters already comes with inherent risks and outbreaks of bacterial infections, in addition to norovirus, that have been reported in the past.
Chennai, Jan 17 : Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai on Wednesday released an audio-tape titled 'DMK Files 3' over alleged manipulations in 2G scam probe.

The audio-tape shared by Annamalai carries alleged discussions between DMK MP A. Raja and former Tamil Nadu intelligence chief Jaffar Sait -- which took place between 2006-2011, during the DMK regime -- about how to "scuttle" and "sabotage" the 2G spectrum scam investigation by the CBI.

"Continuation of our (BJP) expose of how DMK manipulated the CBI inquiry during the 2G scam probe. Conversation between DMK MP and former union minister A Raja (the prime accused in the 2G case) and MS Jaffer Sait, former chief of state intelligence. Witnesses of the 2G case were prepped, cornered and threatened. This is how the UPA government conducted the 2G probe. This does not end with this," Annamalai wrote on X.

Annamalai had earlier released another audio-tape in which Jaffer Sait alleged was heard talking to former union minister T.R. Baalu. In the alleged audio-tape, discussion was again around the 2G scam investigation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 17. The administration of US President Joe Biden plans to return the Houthi movement Ansar Allah to the list of foreign terrorist organizations, sources say, Trend reports.

It is noted that this step is planned to be taken after dozens of Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

In 2021, the United States officially removed Yemen's Houthi rebels Ansar Allah from its list of terrorist organizations.
Ranchi, Jan 17 : Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) workers took to the streets on Wednesday in protest against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons to Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

On the JMM's call, Sahibganj district on Wednesday observed a complete shutdown as Hemant Soren represents the Barhet Assembly constituency in this district.

Hundreds of party workers have been demonstrating on the streets in various areas of the district since morning and several major markets have also remained closed.

JMM workers erected bamboo barricades early in the day at Patna Chowk, Imli Chowk, Barhet Bazaar, and the Sahibganj-Govindpur main road in Barhet. This led to disruption in vehicular movement at various locations. However, school buses and ambulances were allowed to pass.

The protesters expressed their anger against the Central government and the ED.

According to the JMM, Hemant Soren is being harassed and humiliated through repeated summons from the ED, all orchestrated by the Central Government.

On Tuesday, a torch procession was organised under the leadership of JMM's Sahibganj district President Shahjahan Ansari.

Party MP Vijay Hansda has alleged that the BJP is attempting to destabilise Hemant Soren's elected government by misusing agencies such as the ED and CBI.

He said that in states without a BJP government at the helm, agencies like the ED, CBI, and NIA are being employed for suppression of leaders of Opposition-ruled states.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 17 : Odisha Special Task Force (STF) has arrested one more member of the inter-state racket involved in the mule bank account scam from West Bengal, an STF official said on Wednesday.

The accused fraudster identified as Sourav Maity (30) is a resident of Rampura in West Medinapurr district of West Bengal. Maity was later produced before a local court and brought to Bhubaneswar on a four-day transit remand. He will be produced before the SDJM court here.

STF had earlier arrested four other members of the gang identified as Sk Jamiruddin of West Medinipur district and Samim Islam of Murshidabad district in West Bengal, Sk Hapizul and Sk Jahangir of Balasore district of Odisha.

STF sources said the racket operates mainly in the tri-junction area of Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal especially in the districts of Balasore, Mayurbhanj, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Saraikela areas.

Around 10 to 15 agents hired by the prime accused Sk Jamiruddin with the payment of Rs 15,000 each per month used to visit the interior areas of the above districts and collect important documents for opening of mule bank accounts.

The agents lure poor tribals and villagers in opening mule bank accounts by paying them Rs 2000 per account. The mobile numbers linked with bank accounts are provided by other gang members.

Jamiruddin and others would later share the above mule bank accounts and fake SIM cards with Islam who sold them to various Cyber, cyber-financial, sextortion scammers and other criminals based at Kolkata and other parts of India.

"They also use social media platforms like secret WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, Telegram channels to sell the mule bank accounts. They sell mule bank accounts at the rate of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 per account. So far, they have sold around 5000 mule bank accounts at different platforms," said the STF official.

The STF also ascertained that the scammers frequently change the bank accounts which they abandon once it reaches a transaction limit of Rs one lakh.

--IANS

gyan/dan
32 suspects detained in Turkey over links to 2016 failed coup. Image Source: IANS News

Ankara, Jan 17 : Turkish police on Wednesday detained 32 suspects over their links to the failed coup attempt in 2016, according to the country's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

In a post on X, Yerlikaya said that Turkish police conducted raids across 10 provinces, including Istanbul and Ankara, in simultaneous operations dubbed "Pinch-4", reports Xinhua news agency.

The suspects are allegedly connected to the Gulen movement, which the Turkish government accuses of orchestrating the coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

The government accuses the Gulen movement of infiltrating the state bureaucracy, committing fraud in exams to aid its members employed in the public sector and influencing admission interviews at military schools.

In Istanbul, authorities apprehended two landlords and four individuals subject to arrest warrants.

The inquiry reportedly uncovered a practice of leasing residences using the identities of individuals aiding the group of suspects, who collectively occupied these homes to evade capture.

In separate operations in Ankara and Bursa provinces, four suspects were detained for allegedly participating in the group's military hospital structure.

Additionally, five others were apprehended in Balikesir province after it was determined that they had bank accounts in Bank Asya, which the Turkish government accuses of being operated by the Gulen movement.

He also said that large amounts of foreign currency, gold, Turkish lira, a pistol, digital materials and organisational documents were also seized from the suspects' possession.

The Gulen movement is allegedly led by and named after Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who his followers regard as a spiritual leader.

Turjey has accused the US-based preacher of masterminding the attempted coup, in which at least 250 people were killed.

The Turkish government has launched a massive crackdown on suspects with links to the network in the aftermath of the coup attempt.
Imphal, Jan 17 : One Manipur Police commando was killed and three others injured when suspected armed militants attacked them in Manipur's Moreh, along Myanmar border, on Wednesday, police said.

When the security personnel tried to shift the three injured security personnel to the hospital for medical treatment, some tribals including women, obstructed and clashed with the forces and in the clash a tribal woman was killed and few others were injured in bordering Moreh, 110 km from the state capital Imphal.

Police officials in Imphal said that a police commando Wangkhem Somorjit was killed and three others injured when suspected militants attacked the security forces, who were on a search operation in different vehicles in Moreh under Tengnoupal district to nab the militants.

Somorjit hails from Malom areas in Imphal West district.

Heavy exchange of fire between the security forces and the suspected militants were reported in three different locations in bordering Moreh areas since Wednesday morning, a police official said.

The militants had also fired Rocket-Propelled Grenade shells on the security forces.

Tension runs high in the bordering areas and additional security forces including Assam Rifles have rushed to the areas to quell the situation.

Apprehending fresh violence, the district administration imposed a total curfew in the trouble torn Tengnoupal district from Tuesday afternoon.

"Following inputs of likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and property within the revenue jurisdiction of Tengnoupal district the total curfew was imposed in the district," a notification said.

Moreh is a very old and major trading town on the India-Myanmar border.

Meanwhile, a leader of the ruling BJP Hemkholal Mate (36) and a former soldier of the Army Philip Khaikholal Khongsai (49) were arrested on Monday night from Moreh in connection with the killing of a Sub-Divisional police officer Chingtham Anand Kumar in October last year.

Upon the arrest of the duo, tribals at the border town on Tuesday demanded their release, while Imphal valley witnessed widespread protests demanding handing over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and giving exemplary punishment of the detainees.

Since December 30, at least 10 Manipur Police commandos and a Border Security Force (BSF) trooper have been injured in different incidents of attacks by suspected Kuki militants at Moreh.

People from the Kuki, Meitei, Naga, Tamil, Pangal (Muslim), Gorkha, Sikh and other communities have been residing for decades in peace and harmony in Moreh, which is just four km to the west of Myanmar's largest border town Tamu and 110 km south of Imphal.
Lucknow, Jan 17 : The Uttar Pradesh Government will be organising a 'Pharma Conclave' in Hyderabad on Thursday.

The 'Pharma Conclave' is being held in collaboration with the Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association of India, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA)  TS and AP Chapter and other associations to attract investments in the healthcare and pharmaceuticals sector in Uttar Pradesh.

According to the official spokesman, the conference will primarily focus on sensitising industry stakeholders on various incentives offered by the Government of Uttar Pradesh through its Industrial Policy and the Pharmaceutical Policy 2023.

The event will also highlight the opportunities in pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, particularly in the upcoming Pharma Park in Lalitpur district and other parks.

Several distinguished pharmaceuticals industry leaders from Hyderabad, will participate in the event to convey their expectations from the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

The event will be graced by prominent industry captains, leadership and members of organisational bodies along with representation from regulatory authorities and other pharma industry stakeholders.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has roped in industry experts as brand ambassadors of the pharma sector in southern India to help attract the right investment in this sector.

With a focus on fostering pharmaceutical, generic medicines and medical devices industries in the state, the state government is setting up an exclusive bulk drug park in Lalitpur district with an investment outlay of Rs. 8,000 crore.

The proposed bulk drug park is spread over 1,472 acres across five villages in the arid Bundelkhand region.

The Uttar Pradesh Government's policy framework provides single window clearance for regulatory approvals and incentives such as interest and capital subsidies and stamp duty exemption, creating an ideal environment for pharma parks and individual units, enhancing the state's reputation as an investment-friendly destination.

Speaking about the event, Mayur Maheshwari, CEO, UPSIDA said, "Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP) will be seeking investments from healthcare and pharmaceutical companies from Hyderabad at the conclave. The conference will demonstrate several measures being taken by GoUP to attract healthcare and pharmaceutical companies to the state by rapidly boosting the infrastructure required for the industry and the irresistible incentives for setting up their manufacturing and R&D facilities in the state."

As part of the UP Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Industry Policy 2023, GoUP is providing a capital subsidy of 15 per cent on investments up to Rs. 200 crore, 100 per cent electricity duty exemption for 10 years, a 50 per cent capital interest loan subsidy for procurement of plant and machinery and various waste management incentives for pharma units.

Furthermore, GoUP policy provides 100 per cent stamp duty exemption, incentives for R&D and innovation and a special package for units established in Bulk Drug Parks & Medical Devices Parks.

Currently, there are nine pharma parks and clusters located in GB Nagar, Ghaziabad, Kanpur Nagar, Lucknow, Meerut and Moradabad, with nearly 400 formulation units, 41 bulk drug units, 91 cosmetic units, 122 medical devices manufacturing units in Uttar Pradesh.

The state received Rs. 3,000 crore in investments in the pharmaceuticals and medical devices sector and registered a growth of 38.2 per cent in exports between FY16 and FY19.
QUETTA, Aug. 6, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Security officers cordon off the blast site in Quetta city of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Aug. 6, 2019. A blast hit Quetta city of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Tuesday, leaving two per. Image Source: IANS News

Quetta, Jan 17 : At least nine people, including a policeman, were injured on Wednesday in a bomb blast in Pakistan's Quetta city, police and health officials said.

Local police told the media that the blast took place near a garbage heap beside the Zarghoon Road in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, reports Xinhua news agency.

Police and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured to the Trauma Center & Emergency Department of Quetta.

Arbab Kamran, managing director of the centre, told Xinhua that two of the injured are in critical condition and are being treated at the intensive care unit.

Police cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.

Preliminary findings suggest that the bomb was planted near the trash and detonated when three children were rummaging through it.

This is the third attack in Balochistan in a span of three days.

On Monday, unidentified assailants targeted premises of Government Model High School in Kharan town during a training session for polling staff.

The next day, Pakistan People's Party candidate Mir Asghar Rind survived a grenade attack in Turbat -- the second-largest city in Balochistan.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : Two riders, working with Rapido Bike Taxi, were arrested for multiple snatchings in the national capital, an official said on Wednesday.

The official said that both the accused, identified as Aman (22) and Pawan (21), both residents of Karawal Nagar area.

The arrest came after a complainant Atul Tomar, who works as a Security Guard in Indusind Bank, Jangpura, reported that on Tuesday he came to Kashmere Gate area for his personal work.

"At about 1 a.m., he was stationed in front of Ritz Cinema, Kashmere Gate. In the meantime, two boys came to him on a motorcycle and started talking to him. During the conversation, suddenly the pillion rider of the motorcycle snatched the mobile phone from the victim, and both of them tried to flee away from the spot," said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Manoj Kumar Meena.

The victim immediately raised an alarm and hue and cry. Due to the noise/alarm raised by the victim, the general public overpowered one of the snatchers along with the motorcycle, but the pillion rider somehow managed to flee from the spot.

"A police team also reached the spot. During searching and frisking, two mobile phones were recovered from the possession of the accused, Aman. One of the mobile phones belonged to the victim. Regarding the other mobile phone recovered from the possession of Aman, he disclosed that it had been handed over to him by his co-accused Pawan, who managed to flee from the spot," said the DCP.

Consequently, at the instance of Aman, raids were conducted at the possible hideouts of the co-accused.

"Pawan was also arrested from Aggarsain Park, Kashmere Gate area," said the DCP.

During interrogation, both accused persons disclosed that they had committed similar crimes earlier in the area of Kashmere Gate and had succeeded, but this time, they were unfortunately nabbed by the police team.

"It was further revealed that both worked as Rapido riders but were dissatisfied with their earnings and also burdened with debt. Consequently, they both started to commit crimes to make quick money to finance their livelihood and lead a lavish lifestyle," the DCP added.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : The Union government on Wednesday apprised the Supreme Court that it will require some time to examine the draft report prepared by a government-appointed panel on the issue whether Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licence holders require a separate endorsement to drive a transport vehicle of LMV class.

A Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud asked the Centre to resolve the issue by April 16 this year and said that if the matter remains unresolved, it will proceed to conclude the hearing and announce the verdict.

"Actually it's a part-heard matter. We will give you (the Union government) some time and if it is not resolved at the level of government, we will proceed to hear the matter and lay down the law. Ultimately if the Parliament thereafter wants to intervene it can always do so since it is a statutory interpretation," CJI Chandrachud told Attorney General (AG) R. Venkataramani, the highest law officer of the Centre.

The 5-judge bench, also comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, P.S. Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal, and Manoj Misra, said that it expects the draft report to be finalised within a period of three weeks and asked AG Venkataramani to place a copy of the final report on record by mid-February.

The matter will be taken up for directions on April 16, 2024.

In November 2023, the top court had asked the Centre to lay down a clear roadmap by the next date of listing saying that it would not adjourn the proceedings sine die (indefinitely) as the issue needs to be resolved at some point of time.

The Supreme Court had clarified that during the pendency of proceedings before the five-judge bench, cases pending before different tribunals and courts across the country will be determined in accordance with the 2017 Mukund Dewangan dictum.

The 2017 Mukund Dewangan judgment had held that the need of transport licence would arise in case of medium/heavy goods and passenger vehicles only, adding that no other vehicle will require any separate endorsement, even if they are used for commercial purposes.

In March 2022, a bench headed by Justice U.U. Lalit (now retired) held that certain provisions of Motor Vehicles Act were not noticed by the top court in its 2017 Mukund Dewangan's decision and the issue needs to be re-visited by a five-judge Constitution Bench.
Sixty kids, rescued from beggary, to be part of R-Day parade in UP. Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow, Jan 17 : A group of 60 children, rescued from beggary, will take part in the Republic Day Parade in Lucknow this year.

Lucknow, Jan 17 (IANS) A group of 60 children, rescued from beggary, will take part in the Republic Day Parade in Lucknow this year.

Children aged 6 to 12 years are practising diligently to perform in the very first tableau in the cultural segment of the parade.

These children from across Lucknow are the first group of kids to be selected to perform at the Republic Day Parade on January 26, from amongst thousands who auditioned for the same.

Their tableau will be on the theme 'Bhiksha se Shiksha ki Ore' (from beggary towards education), and they will be dancing to a medley of Hindi patriotic songs. A total of 14 other schools (both public and private) will follow their performance in the cultural display.

These kids are among 500 others rescued from beggary in Uttar Pradesh and inducted into the Chief Minister's Bal Seva Yojana, which was recently expanded to include child beggars.

These children are now either already getting or are receiving government funds to pay for their education and placed in government schools.

"An opportunity like this will serve to inspire other families which are in beggary and give them the hope that their children can also be freed from that unfortunate way of life," said Balvir Singh Mann of Ummeed NGO, which is the administration's NGO partner for engaging children in the Bal Seva Yojana.

"The children are extremely excited to be a part of the parade, and theirs will be the very first performance," he said.

Besides the cultural tableau, 17 other children will also be a part of the children's Raj Bhawan band which will also perform at the parade. The kids are being trained by the teachers associated with the NGO and are practicing daily at police lines with great enthusiasm.

"Despite their backgrounds, they are getting such exposure that even most of us did not get as children. It is really inspiring and motivating for the kids, and they are thrilled," said an official.
Kochi, Jan 17 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked the grassroots workers and the leaders of the BJP to work harder for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

While addressing his party workers here he said, "The need of the hour for all of you is to work hard as the Lok Sabha polls are round the corner. So each one of you is the lifeline of the party here and it has to get going. All of you should start your work at the booth level. Each one of you should ensure that you will reach out to as many people as possible."

"Your task is to spread the message of what our government has done in the past more than nine years. Through our government's programmes and schemes around 25 crore people have been moved above the poverty line... the Congress, which ruled the country for several decades, only spoke of 'Garibi Hatao' and did nothing else," said Modi.

PM Modi then asked the grassroots BJP workers and leaders, who came in huge numbers, to ensure that they spread the advantages of the NaMo App which contains every aspect of the BJP-led NDA government.

"Every one of you should meet the youths, especially the first time voters, and to tell them what the country has achieved in the past nearly 10 years under our government," added PM Modi, and also pointed out that the Modi Guarantee that's being given will be achieved.
ZENITHs unrivalled aviation heritage comes full circle: Alongside the first-ever Boutique Editions of the Pilot Automatic and Pilot Big Date Flyback with blue dials, ZENITH presents the first-ever thematic ICONS: PILOT capsule collection of three vintage Pilot watches that have been restored and certified by the Manufactures Heritage Department

Relaunched in 2023 as a totally revamped line, the ZENITH Pilot collection draws inspiration from the entire span of aviation  past and present. A specialized and professional category of watches and instruments of which ZENITH has been a pioneer since the earliest days of aviation dating back to 1904, the essential codes of durability, legibility and intuitiveness are respected in the modern reincarnation of the Pilot collection. Instead of simply recreating the past, ZENITH has taken a much more contemporary design direction with subtle nods to the world of flying. And for the lines first Boutique Edition, ZENITH is looking steadfast towards the sky to incorporate a deep shade of blue recalling the night sky.

Blue has long been ZENITHs signature colour, recalling the night sky and the brightest shining star that inspired Georges-Favre Jacot to the point of deciding to name his manufacture and brand after it. Many of the brands boutique-exclusive editions have prominently featured different shades of blue. In the Pilot collection, the night sky holds a different meaning, reminding us of the bravery and sense of adventure the earliest pilots exuded when following their dreams to fly above the horizon.

Pilot Big Date Flyback  Zenith

The purest expression of ZENITHs Pilot watch, the Pilot Automatic Boutique Edition is crafted in a 40mm stainless teel case with a distinct flat-top round bezel fixed on top of the rounded case, with vertically satin-brushed with polished chamfers. The oversized crown takes on an edgy angular form, while remaining easy to operate  even with gloves on.

The textured, grooved dial recalls the corrugated metal sheets that made up the fuselage of many older aircrafts. The oversized luminescent Arabic numerals are fashioned in a sleek font and are applied as metal markers filled with white Super-LumiNova. At 6 oclock above the date window with a white on blue date wheel, the luminescent hour marker takes the form of a flat white line, recalling the artificial horizon instrument in plane. A source of pride for the Manufacture, the dial is signed Pilot, as ZENITH remains the first and only brand to hold the rights to mark its dials with the term.

The Pilot Automatic is powered by the El Primero 3620 high-frequency manufacture movement, visible through the display back. Its power reserve of 60 hours is reached by minds of a blackened oscillating weight that resembles an artificial horizon dashboard instrument, which informs the pilot of the aircrafts orientation relative to the Earth's horizon. The supplied blue cordura-effect rubber strap and brown calfskin strap can be easily interchanged using the straps quick-release system, requiring no tools.

The larger and more feature-packed of the two Pilot references, the Pilot Big Date Flyback Boutique Edition completes the line with an exceptional, aviation-oriented iteration of the latest generation El Primero automatic high-frequency chronograph calibre. Housed in a 42.5mm stainless steel case, it features two functions that are highly prized by aviators: the big date and the flyback function.

Pilot Automatic  Zenith

Beyond its easy readability, the oversized date display in the Pilot Big Date Flyback Boutique Edition features a next-gen patented compliant mechanism that advances and stabilizes both of the big dates wheels in less than 0.03 seconds. The big dates wheels are coloured in the same blue tone as the dial. Originally conceived for aviators who wore thick sheepskin gloves, the flyback function allows the chronograph function to be reset to zero and restarted by a single push of a button, simplifying the pilots operations and offering the possibility to record consecutive times without having to stop and restart.

The El Primero 3652 chronograph calibre with its artificial horizon rotor is visible through the display back. The Pilot Big Date Flyback comes on a blue cordura-effect rubber strap, with a brown calfskin strap provided. All the straps come with an integrated quick-release mechanism for easy swapping without tools.

The Pilot Automatic Boutique Edition and Pilot Big Date Flyback Boutique Edition are available exclusively from ZENITH physical and online boutiques around the globe.

To give the larger context of these latest Pilot creations and bring ZENITHs vast tradition of aviator watches and instruments full circle, ZENITH presents its first-ever ICONS: PILOT collection of highly collectible vintage ZENITH Pilot chronographs from the second half of the 20th century.

ZENITH ICONS: PILOT  ACT I

For the past few years, ZENITH has been offering rare vintage pieces that have been curated, restored and certified by the Manufacture through its ICONS programme. As part of ZENITHs HORIZ-ON CSR initiative for a more sustainable future, the ZENITH ICONS programme contributing towards building a circular economy for its most emblematic historical references and allowing them to live on perpetually. For watch collectors, it offers unparalleled peace of mind by offering only 100% original examples that have been examined and certified by the ZENITH Manufactures Heritage Department and restored respectfully of the watches original materials and components.

While most ZENITH ICONS capsule collections so far have focused on the earlier El Primero models that have gone on to shape the contemporary Chronomaster line, ZENITH is now shining a light on another facet of heritage and one of its longest standing collections: the Pilot.

Uniting three references from the late 1960s and 1970s, the first ZENITH ICONS: PILOT capsule collection explores the professional and consumer side of ZENITH Pilot watches from that era. From purely utilitarian to imaginative and forward-thinking, these three Pilot chronograph references.

TIPO CP-2 CAIRELLI

Produced for the Italian army corps between 1968 and 1972 and delivered through Roman retailer A. Cairelli, the Tipo CP-2 chronograph was designed according to military specs, with enhanced legibility. Besides its rotating bezel, it stands out for its luminescent Arabic hour numerals and hands, which inspire modern ZENITH Pilot creations.

TIPO CP-2 CAIRELLI  Zenith

The example in this set was engraved with an A.M.I military serial number, indicating that it was first delivered to the Italian Flying Corps. Equipped with Zeniths 146 DP manual-winding chronograph calibre, originally developed by the Martel Workshops that had provided Cairelli with other chronographs for the Italian Army before being acquired by Zenith in 1959-1960.

A3821

Launched in 1972, the ref. A3821 (also referred to as 01.0180.415) stands out for its space-age design, featuring a dark deep sunken dial with luminescent markers and hands, and tachymeter on the flange ring. Housed in a voluminous case with rotating bezel, fitted on an integrated lobster bracelet made by Gay Freres, and a movement mounted on elastic suspension.

The A3821 was part of the first ZENITH Pilot models equipped with an El Primero calibre. A sort of hybrid watch, it combines both the legibility and luminescence of a pilots watch with the 300 metres water-resistance and double-gaskets of a divers watch  something quite possibly unique in the history of watchmaking. The example in this set is part of the very first production lot from 1972.

A3821  Zenith

01.0230.415

The ref. 01.0230.415 stands out as the first ZENITH El Primero chronograph with a display back in mineral glass revealing the revolutionary calibre. Along with its fellow Pilot-Diver models, it features a space-age design, with movement mounted on a suspension system as well as an integrated lobster bracelet made by Gay Freres.

Exceedingly rare, the example in this set features a matte black dial, made in only 50 examples in 1975 and stands out for its see-through caseback, combined here with modernized bezel indication that displays the minutes instead of the hours.
Hyderabad, Jan 17 : GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd, in partnership with Lufthansa Airlines on Wednesday announced the launch of direct flights to Frankfurt, Germany.

This marks a significant step towards connecting Hyderabad to the world and boosting its position as a global hub for trade, travel, and commerce, said GMRHIAL.

There will be five weekly departures of flights on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Flight LH753 will depart from Hyderabad at 01:55 hours and arrive in Frankfurt at 07:05 hours. The return flight LH752 will depart from Frankfurt at 10:55 hours and arrive in Hyderabad at 23:55 hours.

According to the airport operator, in recent years, 40 per cent of travellers from India to North America chose European airports as transit hubs.

The convenient timing of Lufthansa's flights aligns perfectly with this trend, offering efficient onward connections.

"This connectivity will benefit travellers visiting Frankfurt as a transit point or for leisure trips and would open up multiple destinations in Europe, USA, Canada, and South America via Frankfurt. It has been our priority to connect our passengers to global destinations from the city of Hyderabad. This is a step in that direction and an important milestone for the Hyderabad airport," said Pradeep Panicker, CEO of GMRHIAL.

"With our new Hyderabad-Frankfurt service we now offer Indian passengers 64 weekly flights to our hubs in Europe and onward connections to the biggest network on the continent As we launch Hyderabad, our capacity to India has increased by 14 per cent (relative to 2019), making this country the fastest growing major market for Lufthansa," said George Ettiyil, Senior Director, South Asia, Lufthansa Group.

"In the last three months we have launched two new routes from the subcontinent to Europe, thus demonstrating the strong importance of India to the Lufthansa Group," he added.

Between January and October 2023, nearly four lakh passengers travelled from Hyderabad to Europe, marking a 39 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
Kolkata: Leader of Opposition of West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari speaks to the media. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, Jan 17 : The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Wednesday launched a scathing attack against the state government accusing the latter of converting the annual Gangasagar Mela into a money-minting event to fill its coffers.

"The bankrupt West Bengal Government is arm twisting the common people to earn big bucks. Every day tall claims are being made that the state government is providing top-notch facilities at the Gangasagar Mela and how maximum services are provided free of cost with the state bearing the expenses. However, these claims are far from the truth," Adhikari claimed on Wednesday.

The LoP alleged that the devotees visiting Gangasagar Mela in Sagar Island were being forced to pay vessel fares that are more than the normal tariff.

According to him, the vessel fare to reach Gangasagar Mela Ground increased from Rs 49 in normal times to Rs 76 during the mela.

"Assuming that minimum 50 lakh people have availed the vessel service, the state government through the hike in fares during the mela days has raked in an extra Rs 38 crore," the LoP claimed.

The local Trinamool Congress legislator and the state Sundarban Affairs Minister Bankim Hazra, however, termed the allegations as baseless.

He said that while the previous Left Front regime imposed an entry tax on the visitors to Gangasagar Mela, the current state government has done away with that.

Adhikari also claimed that the cost of the form for the Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET) examination had been increased to Rs 500 in 2023 from Rs 100 in 2022.

"With 3,09,054 students appearing for the TET, the state government minted Rs 15,45 crore," he alleged.
Bhopal, Jan 17 : A 25-year-old woman was found dead in mysterious circumstances in her parents' house in Bhopal, said officials on Wednesday.

The woman, married to a Delhi-based man, had come to her parents' house a month ago.

As per the information, the woman's body was lying in a pool of blood in the washroom, said police officials.

However, the police have yet to make any statement on whether any injury marks were found on her body.

Police have sent the body for post-mortem, and an investigation has been launched, police said.

Woman had come to Bhopal after her husband went to France for a job related training. She was an engineering graduate from Bhopal.

Police said the post-mortem report would make it clear what exactly caused her death.
Hyderabad, Jan 17 : Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan's 'X' account was hacked by unknown people on Wednesday.

Hyderabad, Jan 17 (IANS) Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajanas aXa account was hacked by unknown people on Wednesday.

Hyderabad Police registered a case on a complaint by officials of Raj Bhavan and took up investigation.

The case was registered at Cyber Crime police station after the officials concerned were not able to log in and manage the account.

The hackers did not post any messages on the account but seized the access to it.

The police have reportedly contacted the management of the microblogging site about the hacking. They were also trying to identify the culprits.
Hina Khan: To be featured in the same list as Oppeinheimer, Barbie is a huge achievement for our Country of Blind. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Jan 17 : Hina Khan has said that it is a huge achievement for the adventure film 'Country of Blind', in which she plays the lead, to be featured in the list of films accepted for voting by the Academy for Oscars 2024.

'Country of Blind' is one of three Indian films in contention for the Oscars nominations. The others are the Malayalam film '2018' featuring Tovino Thomas and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's '12th Fail' with Vikrant Massey playing the principal character.

As many as 265 feature films, as reported by 'The Hollywood Reporter', are included in the list, which is topped by celebrated films such as 'Oppenheimer', 'Barbie' and 'Killers of the Flower Moon', all of which have won big at the recent Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.

Reacting to the news, Hina Khan said: "To be featured on the same list as 'Oppenheimer' and 'Barbie' is a huge achievement for our film 'Country of Blind'! This is a moment of pride for the entire team of 'Country of Blind'."

Inclusion in the list of submissions, though, does not mean that a film has qualified even for the longlists.

But Hina Khan is pleased. "Everybody is very happy, as a lot of hard work was put into making this film into the best product that we could," she said.

Director Rahhat Kazmi added: "This is a dream come true for the entire team of 'Country of Blind'. To be representing India along with Hollywood's legendary films gives us an even bigger boost. The team is ecstatic."

'Country of Blind' is the story of a mountaineer who falls off 1,000 feet from a cliff and winds up in a valley that's inhabited only by blind people.

The film, whose cast includes Hina Khan, Shoaib Nikash Shah, Anushka Sen, Namita Lal, Pradyuman Singh Mall, Inamulhaq and Jitendra Rai, was released in the US across 13 theatres in October last year.
Bathinda : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal during the launch of various develoment projects. Image Source: IANS News

Chandigarh, Jan 17 : Amidst seat-sharing talks between Congress and AAP, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said Punjab will contest all the 13 parliamentary seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"History will be created in Punjab as AAP will win all 13 seats. It will will be verdict in favour of pro-people policies of the state government and the opposition will be badly renounced by people for their anti-Punjab stance," Mann said, while categorically stating that AAP will contest alone in Punjab.

The INDIA bloc -- a coalition of 26 opposition parties, which aims to take on NDA- led by BJP -- is currently engaged in seat sharing talks. AAP is also a constituent and its senior leadership are presently holding talks with the Congress to finalise seat sharing in Punjab and Delhi.

Interestingly, AAP and Congress -- this week -- stitched an alliance to contest the January 18 mayoral post in Chandigarh as allies.

AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar Tita will contest the polls for the mayor's post, whereas Congress' Gurpreet Singh Gabi and Nirmala Devi will fight for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor respectively.

Responding to Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's threat to assassinate him and DGP Gaurav Yadav on Republic Day, Mann said he is the custodian of peace, progress and prosperity of the state and such intermediation cannot stop him from this noble task.

"Such threats are a natural outcome of the zero-tolerance policy adopted by the state to foil the nefarious designs of anti-Punjab forces," the Chief Minister said.

He said these people are trying to disturb the hard earned peace but his government will not allow these forces to succeed in their evil designs.

"Punjab being a border state is hostile to such challenges both from within and outside the state. We will face it valiantly by not succumbing to threats," the Chief Minister said.

He said that the masterminds of such anti-Punjab stances have taken shelter in countries abroad but "we are trying to bring them back and punish them for their sins."

He said that the countries that are haven to such dreaded criminals should send these hardcore criminals back in the larger interest of world peace.

The Chief Minister said the Central government should also take steps to bring such dreaded anti-national criminals back to the country and punish them as per the law of land.

Taking a jibe over Congress leader Navjot Sidhu, the Chief Minister described him as a 'fugitive' who ran away from discharging duty when he was offered the charge of power minister.

He said that when the government has started a reverse trend by purchasing a private thermal power plant, Sidhu is making baseless and misleading statements.

The Chief Minister reminded the Congress leader that 'little knowledge is dangerous', adding the former MP must verify his facts before giving any statement.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : A Delhi court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in response to an application by liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru seeking an extension of interim bail granted to him in the excise policy case.

Notably, Special Judge MK Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court had granted a two-week interim bail to Mahendru, who sought the relief citing his wife's health issues. The court has now directed the ED to respond by January 18.

The judge asked the Investigating Officer to verify medical documents related to Mahendru's wife and submit a report to the court.

The judge had, while granting interim bail, observed that during Mahendru's previous interim bail, there was no attempt to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence and Mahendru does not pose a flight risk.

According to the prosecution, Mahendru was a significant beneficiary of excise policy violations, operating an alcoholic beverage manufacturing unit and holding wholesale and retail licences in his and his familyas names.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had denied regular bail to Mahendru.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had observed that Mahendru's medical condition does not pose a life-threatening risk or involve an infirmity that cannot be treated within the confines of a jail.

The court had noted that Mahendru is already receiving adequate medical attention, and prison authorities have permitted him to seek treatment from his doctor on an out-patient basis as needed.

It had ruled that there were no compelling grounds to grant regular bail to Mahendru in the current case. However, it clarified that the prison authorities must ensure that Mahendru is taken for follow-up medical and physiotherapy sessions at VNA Hospital and that he is not left unattended in the jail cell or dispensary.

Justice Sharma had stressed on the importance of an individual's right to liberty, acknowledging it as a precious right but also noted that when justifiable grounds exist, it must be surrendered in favour of the State.

The court had underlined the obligation to provide health services and care equivalent to what is available to the general citizenry outside of detention.

Stressing on the need for impartiality and objectivity, the court had said that decisions in such cases should be based on the merits of the case and established legal principles, rather than the economic status of the litigants.

Addressing the allegations against the accused, the court had noted that he was accused of being a key player in the formulation of the excise policy and one of the main conspirators.

While acknowledging his fundamental right to healthcare and medical treatment, the court had said that this right cannot overshadow the imperative to conduct a fair investigation and ensure due legal processes are followed.

The court had noted that Mahendru had undergone approximately five surgeries in the past. However, as of the current date, he is recovering in jail, and according to AIIMS reports, he is required to follow medical and rehabilitation protocols, supplemented by regular exercise and physiotherapy.
JSW Energy to set up 1,500 MW Pumped Storage Project in Telangana. Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, Jan 17 : JSW Neo Energy, a subsidiary of JSW Energy, has announced setting up of a Pumped Storage Project in Telangana, with an investment of Rs 9,000 crore.

The proposed Pumped Storage Project will have energy generation capacity of 1,500 MW.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed between the state government and JSW Neo Energy on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual conference at Davos.

During a meeting Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal announced the plan for setting up the project.

Headquartered in Mumbai, JSW Energy is an integrated power company that generates, transmits, and trades electricity from thermal, hydro, and solar sources.

As a leading private sector power company in India, it has an operational capacity of 4,559 MW and is the countryas largest Independent Hydro Power Producer (IPP).

JSW Neo Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSW Energy that focuses on renewable and new energy solutions, will be responsible for setting up the proposed project in Telangana.

Revanth Reddy assured JSW of all the necessary support for the Pumped Storage Project and said that the proposed project is aligned with the stateas focus on promoting renewable energy.

The Chief Minister further stated that JSW is a key partner for the state in its journey towards clean and green energy and the Government is keen to collaborate with JSW for their future projects in India.

Sajjan Jindal expressed his gratitude for the assurances to JSW and support from the Government of Telangana for their proposed project.

He further stated that JSW is rapidly expanding in India and aims to further grow its presence in the state.

Minister for Industries and ITE&C D. Sridhar Babu, Principal Secretary ITE&C, I&C Jayesh Ranjan, and Special Secretary, Investment Promotion, Vishnu Vardhan Reddy were also present during the meeting.
Tokyo, Jan 17 : Canadian researchers have developed a new "smart glove" to aid recovery and ultimately restore use of limbs and hands in survivors of stroke.

The new "smart glove" is capable of tracking the patients' hand and finger movements during rehabilitation exercises.

The glove incorporates a sophisticated network of highly sensitive sensor yarns and pressure sensors that are woven into a comfortable stretchy fabric, enabling it to track, capture and wirelessly transmit even the smallest hand and finger movements.

"With this glove, we can monitor patients' hand and finger movements without the need for cameras. We can then analyse and fine-tune their exercise programmes for the best possible results, even remotely," said Janice Eng, a leading stroke rehabilitation specialist and professor of medicine at University of British Columbia (UBC).

"This is the most accurate glove we know of that can track hand and finger movement and grasping force without requiring motion-capture cameras," added Peyman Servati, professor of electrical and computer engineering at UBC.

Using machine learning models the team developed the glove, which can accurately determine the angles of all finger joints and the wrist as the patients move.

The technology, described in a paper published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence, is highly precise and fast, capable of detecting small stretches and pressures and predicting movement with at least 99 per cent accuracy -- matching the performance of costly motion-capture cameras, the researchers said.

Unlike other products in the market, the glove is wireless and comfortable, and can also be easily washed after removing the battery. Servati and his team have developed advanced methods to manufacture the smart gloves and related apparel at a relatively low cost locally.

Servati envisions a seamless transition of the glove into the consumer market with ongoing improvements, in collaboration with different industrial partners. The team also sees potential applications in virtual reality and augmented reality, animation and robotics.

"Imagine being able to accurately capture hand movements and interactions with objects and have it automatically displayed on a screen. There are endless applications. You can type text without needing a physical keyboard, control a robot, or translate American Sign Language into written speech in real time, providing easier communication for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing," Servati said.
British King Charles III is known for his love of children. As a grandfather of five grandchildren - Prince George, Louis, Archie, and Princesses Charlotte and Lilibet - the king has the cutest photos with 5-year-old Louis, with whom he has a special bond.

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Queen Camilla has previously said that Charles III is adored by his grandchildren, and he is also a talented reader of books to children, as he can choose a voice that suits each character, says Hallo!. "He'll get down on his knees and crawl with them for hours," she said of her husband's fun with his grandchildren.

When Prince Louis waved to his grandfather during the annual parade for Elizabeth II's birthday in 2019, you can see Charles III's smile "spread" from ear to ear. The one-year-old boy didn't care about any celebrations and royal events back then.

During the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, little Louis couldn't find a seat of his own and moved to Charles III's lap. Instead of attentively watching the event, the two men were having a heated discussion.

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The conversation continued with Louis laughing, probably because his grandfather was tickling him. This moment can be accurately described as: "And let the whole world wait," because during an important royal event, even an adult Prince Charles could afford to be idle.

In 2022, Prince Louis caught Charles' eye at Elizabeth II's birthday parade. Then the main members of the royal family gathered on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, and Prince Louis could not contain his emotions even in front of the Queen, so his grandfather decided to calm him down himself.

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Even at the annual Christmas morning service at St. Mary Magdalene, little Louis could not do without his grandfather. In December 2023, they were returning home together in the company of Charles III.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
New Delhi, Jan 17 : Markets took a turn on Wednesday with Nifty bank falling 4 per cent as HDFC bank share price slipped 7 per cent on concerns around slowdown in deposit growth, Jaykrishna Gandhi, Head - Business Development, Institutional Equities, Emkay Global Financial Services, said.

As talks around rate cuts continue and as banks struggle with balancing credit growth vs margins, we are likely seeing a tactical rotation towards good quality NBFCs, he said.

As street is baking in good earnings growth for most mid cap names, Incrementally flows will be driven on how close actual releases come vs expectations built, he said.

Last week, Nifty had a runaway rally as we kick start earnings season with large cap IT names beating estimates on margins helped by cost optimisation.

Management commentary around discretionary spending remained weak, he added.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services said a nosedive correction in banking stocks, along with concerns over delays in US Fed rate cuts, impacted market sentiments.

The addition of discouraging Chinese growth data and rising US bond yields, also resulted in widespread profit-booking.

Given the elevated valuations, coupled with the fact that optimism regarding earnings and GDP growth for FY24 is already reflected in the market, triggered the correction, he said.

Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst, LKP Securities said Nifty witnessed a significant decline driven by profit-taking following its record high of 22,124 in the previous trading session.

Wednesday's profit booking led the index to the 21-day Exponential Moving Average, a crucial short-term moving average.
Mumbai, Jan 17 : For the second time in five years, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Wednesday claimed that he and his MLA daughter Praniti Shinde have "got offers to join the Bharatiya Janata Party".

Not specifying when the lure from the BJP came or from whom, Shinde said this is despite the fact that he had lost the elections twice on Congress tickets.

Asked about his response, a smiling Shinde said that he is 83 now and has been a staunch Congress loyalist all his life, "so thereas no question of my daughter or me accepting any such offers".

Queried by media persons, BJP state President Chandrashekhar Bawankule categorically denied that any such offer has been made to either Shinde or his daughter.

BJP MLA Nitesh N. Rane took a swipe at the Congress and said that since Shinde has lost hopes with his party, "now heas trying to push his daughter to the BJP".

Shinde shot back that he was not bothered about these reactions, but "a top BJP leader had given us the proposal to join, which we rejected outright".

Senior Congress leader Yashomati Thakur said that the BJP has no talent and are trying to take away leaders from other parties, but expressed confidence that senior leaders like Shinde or his daughter would not deviate from the party.

Incidentally, in March 2019, just before the Lok Sabha elections, Shinde had made a similar statement that sent shockwaves in political circles, though it was trashed by senior BJP leaders even at that time.

This time, the situation is different as Shindeas revelation came just three days after the abrupt exit of the high-profile Congress veteran, Milind M. Deora did the unthinkable by joining the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Besides, CM Shinde and other leaders have claimed that Deoraas departure "is just a trailer, the main picture is still to come", sparking concerns among senior leaders of the grand old party, as memories of the June 2022 Shiv Sena split and the July 2023 Nationalist Congress Party breakup are still fresh in their minds.
Bengaluru, Jan 17 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday said that former MLA and son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Yathindra, is a responsible leader and that there is no need to twist his statement about the full term tenure.

Earlier, Yathindra had said that his father will continue as the Chief Minister for the full term of five years if Congress manages to win good number of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"Yathindra is a responsible leader and we must encourage him. There is no need to twist his words or quote him out of context. Siddaramaiah is our Chief Minister. I am the President of the State Congress. Both of us will fight the upcoming elections together," Shivakumar told media persons at Kumarakrupa guest house in Bengaluru.

He said that Congress will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections under Siddaramaiah's leadership. "There is no doubt about it. There is nothing wrong in aspiring for more and seeking strength and power from the people," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Asked about BJP's comments that power sharing in Congress was designed to keep Shivakumar away from power, he said that BJP should first fix its own internal party issues.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah -- on his son's comments -- said that the party high command will take a call on the matter.

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP has also "ridiculed" the Chief Minister.

"Mr. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, take a chill pill," the Leader of Opposition (LoP) R Ashoka said.

He said that if the Chief Minister thinks he can impress the Congress high command and save his chair by speaking against PM Modi then he is "living in a fool's paradise".

"It is no longer a secret that your days are numbered. You will be shown the exit door after Lok Sabha elections. So, take a chill pill. Keep calm and trust PM Modi," Ashoka said.
Los Angeles, Jan 17 : Kylie Jenner has undergone a major transformation, giving herself a dramatic new look that she first showcased 10 years ago.

'The Kardashians' star has revealed her brand-new bright pink hair on Instagram and TikTok, looking like something straight out of 2014, reports Mirror.co.uk.

Sharing her candy-pink locks in a new social media post, Kylie has totally transformed her usual brunette hairstyle.

"Heard its 2014 vibes this year," she penned alongside her latest TikTok, sending fans into a frenzy with the bold new look. "This is not a drill king Kylie is back" commented one follower on the video. She wrote on Instagram: "Hiiiii remember me?"

As per Mirror.co.uk, fans flocked to the new upload, with one saying: "We never did get a season 2 of Life of Kylie. just saying."

Her friend Harry Hudson asked: "Wow is this a throwback or a right now?" It really is right now. It comes after her antics at The Golden Globes.

Mirror.co.uk further states that Hollywood actor Timothee Chalamet has dismissed rumours of a fall out between Selena Gomez and his girlfriend Kylie. Rumours emerged after Selena was reported to be fuming after asking for a picture with the 'Wonka' actor, which his girlfriend Kylie shut down.

The incident comes after Kylie and Selena have had past drama with an ongoing 'feud' after last year Kylie was accused of mocking Selena's looks on social media. Kylie later spoke out about the feud rumours, slamming them as "silly" with Selena also branding the fallout as non-existent. Just 12 months later and it seems actor beau Timothee is also keen to dismiss any gossip about an argument or fall out after the Golden Globes.
Imphal, Jan 17 : One Manipur Police Commando was killed and three others injured on Wednesday when suspected armed militants attacked them in Manipur's Moreh area, along the Myanmar border, police said.

Moreh is a very old and major trading town on the India-Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district. When the security personnel tried to shift the three injured security personnel to the hospital for medical treatment, some tribals including women tried to stop them.

They clashed with the forces and several tribal people were injured in the fight.

Earlier police and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), an apex body of tribals in Manipur, separately claimed that a woman was killed in the clash.

Later in the evening police said that the woman was unconscious for some time as she had sustained serious injuries, but she is alive and undergoing medical treatment at a hospital.

However, ITLF spokesman Ginza Vualzong said that the woman died after a security force car hit her.

Police officers in Imphal said that a police Commando Wangkhem Somorjit was killed and three others injured when suspected militants attacked the security forces on a search operation in Moreh to nab the militants.

Somorjit hails from Malom area in Imphal's West district.

Heavy exchange of fire between the security forces and the suspected militants was reported in three different locations in Moreh since Wednesday morning, police said.

The militants had also fired Rocket-Propelled Grenade shells on the security forces.

Tension runs high and additional security forces, including Assam Rifles have rushed to the bordering areas to bring the situation under control.

Fearing fresh violence, the district administration imposed a total curfew in the trouble-torn Tengnoupal district from Tuesday afternoon.

"Following inputs of the likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and property within the revenue jurisdiction of Tengnoupal district, total curfew was imposed," a notification said.

Meanwhile, a leader of the ruling BJP Hemkholal Mate (36) and a former soldier of the Army, Philip Khaikholal Khongsai (49) were arrested on Monday night from Moreh in connection with the killing of a Sub-Divisional police officer Chingtham Anand Kumar in October last year.

Upon the arrest of the duo, tribals in the border town on Tuesday demanded their release, while Imphal Valley witnessed widespread protests demanding handing over of the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and exemplary punishment to the detainees.

Since December 30, at least 10 Manipur Police Commandos and a Border Security Force trooper have been injured in attacks by suspected Kuki militants at Moreh.

People from the Kuki, Meitei, Naga, Tamil, Pangal, Gorkha, Sikh and other communities have been residing for decades in peace and harmony in Moreh, which is just four km to the west of Myanmar's largest border town Tamu and 110 km south of Imphal.

-IANS

sc/rad
Islamabad, Jan 17 : Following Iran's attack on its territory, Pakistan on Wednesday announced it was expelling the Iranian Ambassador while recalling its envoy from Tehran.

"Pakistan has decided to recall its Ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being," Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said while addressing a press briefing here, Geo News reported.

The development comes after Tehran targeted the bases of, what it claimed was a terrorist organisation, inside Pakistani territory, "Green Mountain" with drones and missiles, and destroyed the headquarters of the said terrorist group, it cited Iranian media as reporting.

Calling it an "unprovoked and blatant" breach of Pakistan's sovereignty by Iran, Islamabad termed the move as a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

"This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever. Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act. The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran," Baloch said.

Furthermore, the spokesperson also revealed that Islamabad has decided to suspend all high-level visits that were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in the coming days, Geo News reported.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : Taiwanese contract manufacturing giant Foxconn has said that it is teaming up with HCL Group to start a chip packaging and testing venture in India, a media report said on Wednesday.

According to a regulatory filing to Taiwan's stock exchange, Foxconn Hon Hai Technology India Mega Development, a division of the Taiwanese contract manufacturer, will invest $37.2 million for a 40 per cent ownership in the joint venture, reports Moneycontrol.

The chip packaging and testing venture, called OSAT in industry lingo, comes after Foxconn abandoned a joint venture with Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta in July last year.

HCL Group had earlier announced that it was in active talks to establish an OSAT facility with the state government of Karnataka, the report mentioned.

This development comes after the company submitted a fresh application to establish a semiconductor fabrication unit in India under the "modified scheme for setting up semiconductor facilities in India" -- a government initiative aimed at promoting the electronics manufacturing sector, including semiconductors, the report added.

"Foxconn has to bring in technology. They have to establish that they have the technology to manufacture semiconductors. The process of verifying the technology and so on is currently underway at the ministry," a government official was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Foxconn has received approval to invest at least $1 billion more in a plant in India that will manufacture Apple products, a significant step towards its aim of establishing a hub outside of China.
Prez Murmu skips event in Assam as chopper remains stuck in Shillong due to bad weather. Image Source: IANS News

Guwahati, Jan 17 : President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday cancelled her visit to Assam's Karbi Anglong district after spending around four hours in Shillong waiting for her helicopter to take off, an official said, adding the chopper remained grounded due to inclement weather.

The President was on a three-day tour to the northeast. She arrived in Guwahati on Monday.

She was supposed to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the Karbi Youth Festival at Tarlangsao village in Assam's Karbi Anglong district.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said:

"The inclement weather prevented the President from attending the celebration. Even I had to start at 4 a.m. today due to bad weather conditions."

However, Sarma stated that President Murmu had put a video message, which will be shown during the celebration of Karbi Youth festival.
London, Jan 17 : A new MRI technique that delivers magnetic stimulation to the brains of people with severe depression may help ease symptoms for at least six months, which could vastly improve their quality of life.

The results of the trial, published in the journal Nature Medicine, found that on average, participants showed substantial improvements in the severity of their depression, anxiety and thinking with better function and quality of life over 26 weeks with MRI neuro-navigated Transcranial Magnetic Simulation (TMS).

TMS is an outpatient treatment where people have powerful magnetic pulses delivered to the left side of their head just in front of the temporal area of the scalp.

The person is conscious and has 20 sessions over a four-to-six-week period.

The method has been used since the 1980s to treat people with severe depression but by targeting the precise area of the brain where stimulation is thought to be helpful, we now have evidence for a longer lasting benefit of this treatment, said the team from the University of Nottingham in the UK.

The team used neuronavigation, a computerised tracking system using light to deliver the TMS, which is a way of precisely pinpointing the area of stimulation so that the same area is targeted at all 20 treatment sessions.

Over two thirds of participants responded to the treatment, with a third showing 50 per cent improvement in terms of their symptoms and a fifth managing to move into remission and stay there. "Patients who responded to the treatment could stay relatively well compared to how they were previously, with as little as one or two treatments a year," said Richard Morriss, Professor of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the varsity.

"The changes we saw were substantial, not only in reducing their depression symptoms, but they were large enough to improve concentration, memory, anxiety and subsequently their quality of life," he added.

Major depression is the leading cause of disability lost years worldwide, and suicide from depression is the biggest killer in people aged between 15-49.

Antidepressants and therapy delivered as first or second-line treatments help two thirds of people with depression, but the remaining third have treatment resistant depression (TRD).

This is defined as a lack of response to two courses of antidepressants.

The trial, which included 255 participants, suggests this might be achieved using functional MRI with TMS to define the exact area of the brain to hit.

MRI is not normally used to deliver this treatment.

"Given these patients are people who have not responded to two previous treatment attempts and have been ill for an average of 7 years, to get such a significant response rate and a fifth who have a sustained response is really encouraging," Morriss said.

"Since the magnetic pulse can be focused, there are usually only minor short-lasting side-effects, and the person can return to their daily activities immediately on return from the hospital," he added.
Los Angeles, Jan 17 : Actress Hannah Waddingham was told she didn't have a face for television by a childhood drama teacher.

The 'Ted Lasso' actress, who started her career with small roles in British soaps like 'Doctors' and 'Brookside' as well as working on the West End, can still recall her teacher mocking her appearance in front of the entire class, reports Female First UK.

Speaking on BBC Radio 2 podcast 'Rule Beakers', the actress said: "I had one drama teacher that said to the whole class 'Oh Hannah will never work on screen because she looks like one side of her face has had a stroke'."

"I thought, 'I will do. Come hell or high water, I will work on screen'," she added.

As per Female First UK, the 'My Family' star admitted even her headmistress tried to stop her from pursuing a career in acting.

Hannah continued, "My headmistress said, 'You're bright enough to read drama', and I said, 'I don't want to read drama, I want to do drama'. She refused to give me a reference, so I managed to get a scholarship for the drama school I went to and I walked back in, put it on her desk and left the room without shutting the door."

"She was always dismissive of me because, it wasn't that I wasn't academic, (but) I knew what I wanted to do so it annoyed her that I turned my back on academia. So she would purposely put everyone else in the school plays and have me understudy," the actress added.

The 49-year-old star has proven them both wrong, rising to fame in 'Game of Thrones' and going onto win an Emmy, Critics Choice and Screen Actors Guild Award for her 'Ted Lasso' role as Richmond FC owner Rebecca Welton.
On the night of January 17, a half-naked man with an axe broke into the Phuket administration and started a riot. As it turned out, the attacker was a 24-year-old citizen of the terrorist country of Russia.

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The crazy Russian, wearing only shorts, smashed the glass door of the governor's office on the fourth floor. The details were shared by KhaoSod.

The first person to notice the inappropriate man was a security guard at about 2:45 a.m. local time. He heard the phone ringing, went to check and turned off the sound, but saw a foreigner hiding near the elevator on the ground floor. The security officer tried to detain the intruder, but he fled up the stairs to the upper floors.

The police were called to the scene. At that moment, the Russian had already broken the glass door of the governor's office. Law enforcement officers found long traces of blood on the floor in front of the office. Under the assistant governor's desk was a fire axe, also covered in blood. The police took photos and collected evidence.

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Meanwhile, the Russian citizen fled the scene on a motorcycle he had stolen from a local resident. Later, the police did detain the madman and took him to a psychiatric hospital with a preliminary diagnosis of mental disorder.

As OBOZ.UA wrote, earlier in Thailand, on the island of Koh Samui, an offender who had overstayed his visa by 20 months was detained. It was 41-year-old Russian Dmitry Odintsov, who also ran an illegal business. The citizen of the aggressor country faces a lifetime deportation.

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Bengaluru, Jan 17 : Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that Karnataka has signed a MoU with Web Werks India Private Limited at World Economic Forum in Davos, and terming it as 'great news from Davos'.

"We are set to welcome a massive Rs 20,000 crore investment from Web Werks for a new Data Centre Park in Bengaluru. Great news from Davos. This is a giant leap in our infrastructure journey. Welcome aboard, Web Werks," the Chief Minister said.

Earlier, the Ministry of Large and Medium Industries Department had said that Nikhil Rathi -- founder and CEO of Web Werks Data Centers Web Werks -- has discussed significant developments and plans for setting up a Data Centre of 100 MW in Bengaluru.

It said that Web Werks has expressed its ambition to establish a cutting-edge connectivity hub, featuring state-of-the-art hyper-scaler data centers in Bengaluru.

The department has said that the Karnataka government will collaborate closely with Web Werks to facilitate their data centre setup and operations in Karnataka.

"Government of Karnataka will closely work with Web Werks and try to provide all the necessary support in grounding the investment quickly in the state," the department has said.
Mumbai, Jan 17 : The Bombay High Court on Wednesday issued notice to all respondents in the petition filed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, challenging Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's January 10 verdict on the disqualification of Shiv Sena-UBT) MLAs.

Mumbai, Jan 17 (IANS) The Bombay High Court on Wednesday issued notice to all respondents in the petition filed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, challenging Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's January 10 verdict on the disqualification of Shiv Sena-UBT) MLAs.

A division bench of Justice G.S. Kulkarni and Justice F.P. Pooniwalla has issued the notice to the Speaker, the Legislature Secretariat and the 14 SS-UBT MLAs, against whom the ruling Shiv Sena's Chief Whip Bharat Gogavale has filed the plea.

The judges have posted the matter for further hearing on February 8, even as the SS-UBT led by former CM Uddhav Thackeray has approached the Supreme Court.

On January 10, the Speaker ruled that the (original) Shiv Sena belongs to Shinde and not ex-CM Thackeray, and approved Gogavale as the Chief Whip, but rejected the pleas by both rival factions for disqualification of the legislators from the opposite sides.

Both warring Sena factions have challenged the Speakeras ruling - the Shiv Sena has petitioned against it in the Bombay High Court, while the Shiv Sena-UBT has moved the apex court where it is expected to come up for hearing next week.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, Javed Ahmed Mattoo, allegedly involved in 11 terror attack cases in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), to 14-day judicial custody.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police in coordination with other agencies on January 4 arrested the 'A++ category' terrorist, who carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh for his involvement in a series of terror attacks in J&K.

He was presented before Duty Magistrate of the Patiala House Court following the expiry of his five-day police custody.

The court has, however, released another accused, Mohd Rafi Nazar on Delhi Police's application seeking release of the accused, if not required in any other case.

Nazar, who was arrested on the disclosure statement of Mattoo, will remain in custody in the NIA case.

Delhi Police submitted that no incriminating evidence surfaced during interrogation therefore, he is not required to be detained in this case.

On January 12, on an application moved by the Delhi Police, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Nabeela Wali had extended the 32-year-old Mattoo's police custody till Wednesday.

Mattoo a.k.a. Irshad Ahmed Malla alias Ehsan, who hails from Sopore in Baramulla district was allegedly involved in five grenade attacks in the Kashmir Valley.

Wanted in connection with 11 terror attacks, Mattoo was evading arrest for the last 13 years. According to sources, the police are currently in search of the handler responsible for providing arms and ammunition to Mattoo in Delhi.

Mattoo was apprehended by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in the Nizamuddin area, where he had arrived to collect weapons and ammunition from his associates, acting upon the instructions of Pakistan's Intelligence agency, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

Sources said that a handler based in Pakistan was looking after the delivery of arms and ammunition, directing Mattoo to carry out terrorist activities in J&K and other locations.

Investigators believe in the critical importance of arresting the arms supplier, as Mattoo's capture likely alerted his superiors in Pakistan, potentially prompting a change in their planned actions.

Mattoo, the sole surviving A++ category J&K-based terrorist, had gone underground a decade ago after sustaining injuries in a clash with security forces.

He fled to Nepal as per the ISI's instructions to evade the J&K Police. It was also revealed by sources that Mattoo possesses expertise in handling rocket-propelled grenades, under barrel grenade launchers, and AK-47s.
Tehran, Jan 17 : The Iranian Border Guard Command has said that a team of terrorists was trying to infiltrate in Iran by crossing the shared borders with Pakistan and were confronted by border guards, media reports said.

The Iranian Border Guard Command informed of an armed conflict and the destruction of the terrorists which intended to enter the country for sabotage activities.

"The incident was reported by the border guards in the south-eastern borders of the country," Mehr News reported.

The Iranian news report said that a terrorist group that was planning to enter the country for destructive actions was prevented from entering the country through the vigilance of the border guards of the Jakigur border regiment in an armed conflict, exchange of heavy fire and fierce confrontation.

"In the ensuing clash, one member of the terrorist group was killed and two others were injured and fled the scene," the media reports said.

It said that a vehicle and significant amounts of weapons and ammunition, explosive devices from the terrorists were recovered.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : Rolls-Royce is all set to participate in the Wings India 2024 show to be held in Hyderabad starting from January 18.

In focus of the event will be the Trent family of engines for widebody aircraft, including the Trent XWB - the world's most efficient large aero engine in service.

This future-ready range of turbofan engines offers superior performance, and enables cleaner, quieter operations. All Trent engines have been tested and proven compatible with 100 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), in line with the company's commitment to enable the transition to cleaner power.

With its unique range capability, the Trent XWB currently flies the world's longest commercial route, demonstrating unmatched versatility and reliability. It is the world's fastest-selling engine for widebody aircraft, with over 2000 engines sold till date.

The Trent XWB offers leading performance and noise levels along with a 15 per cent fuel consumption advantage over the first generation of Trent engines. It is currently certified to operate on a 50 per cent (SAF) blend, and has been proven to be compatible with 100 per cent SAF for the future.

Chris Davie, Senior Vice President, Customers  Asia Pacific, Rolls-Royce, said that India is a significant market for Rolls-Royce, and they are committed to supporting the dynamic growth of the civil aviation sector in the region.

"As airlines in India continue to expand both domestic and international air connectivity, we see strong potential for our Trent family of engines in addressing the requirements of the medium- and long-haul segments. Our team will be present at the Wings India show to familiarise customers with the versatility of these engines," he said.

Kishore Jayaraman, President-India and South Asia, Rolls-Royce, said that Rolls-Royce's focus on bringing advanced engine technology together with advantages of sustainability and reliability is aligned with the country's vision for the future of the aviation sector.

"We have proudly played a role in the growth of a strong aerospace ecosystem in India encompassing supply chain, engineering and service delivery capabilities, and remain committed to building on this legacy to support the sector's evolving needs. This is an exciting time for Rolls-Royce, and we look forward to tapping opportunities and forging new partnerships in this market," he said.

Last year, Rolls-Royce received a significant order for Trent XWB engines from Air India for its new A350 fleet of aircraft.

The company has a strong aerospace ecosystem in India with strategic local partnerships, two joint ventures, a robust supply chain, a rich talent pool, engineering capability, digital solutions and service delivery capabilities.

This includes a strong supply chain partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) for manufacturing around 300 parts for the Trent XWB engine, as well as several high-precision components for other Rolls-Royce civil aerospace engines, in India.

Rolls-Royce also has a joint venture with HAL that is today a top-tier supplier for the company, manufacturing over 160 parts for various civil aerospace engines.

The growing Indian civil aviation market may also find interest in the newest member of the Trent family, the Trent 7000 engine created specifically for the Airbus A330 neo, which has delivered exceptional reliability since it entered into service.

Well-suited for medium to long-haul flights, the Trent 1000 specifically designed and optimised to power the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, has surpassed 17 million in-service flying hours since it entered into service in 2011.

Its latest version is the TEN which stands for Thrust, Efficiency and New technology, reflecting the enhancements it delivers  more thrust and better fuel burn, enabled by new technology.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its judgment on the regular bail petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in connection with an alleged money laundering case.

A bench, headed by Justice Bela M. Trivedi, finished hearing the oral arguments advanced by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Jain and Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The bench, also comprising Justice Pankaj Mithal, indicated that it will deliver verdicts in Jainas case and plea filed by other co-accused at one time.

Jain is currently out on interim medical bail.

The apex court had initially granted him interim relief in May last year for six weeks and then, has been extending this from time to time.

The AAP leader had moved the Supreme Court seeking bail against the Delhi High Court order dismissing his regular bail plea.

In April 2023, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the bail plea of Jain stating that the applicant is an influential person and can tamper with evidence.
Gurugram, Jan 17 : The police have recovered the weapon that was allegedly used to kill Divya Pahuja -- a former Gurugram-based model and girlfriend of slain gangster Sandeep Gadoli -- 15 days after she was shot dead at a hotel here.

Divya, 27, was shot dead by Abhijeet Singh, the owner of Hotel City Point where she was staying. According to the police, Divya and Abhijeet were in a relationship. He shot her dead on January 2 in a fit of rage after she refused to delete some of his objectionable photographs from her mobile phone.

A police officer said that the weapon used to kill Divya was recovered following a search conducted by a police team along with Gurugram civic body workers.

The police recovered a pistol along with a live cartridge in bushes near Palam Vihar Mod on the Old Delhi Road.

"The weapon was recovered on the instance of prime accused Abhijeet Singh. He was accompanying the police during the search operation," Varun Dahiya, ACP (crime) said.

Meanwhile, Abhijeet Singh was sent to judicial custody after the completion of his eight-day police remand on Wednesday.

Divya's body was recovered on January 13 -- eleven days after she was shot dead, and was cremated on January 14 by her family members.

The body was recovered from a canal in Tohana in Haryana's Fatehabad district on January 13.

An accused in case Balraj Gill, who was also arrested, had told the police that he and Ravi Banga had thrown Divya's body in the 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.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : Akasa Air on Wednesday announced to operate daily flights from February 15 between Pune and Ayodhya via Delhi with no change of aircraft required at Delhi.

The flights have been introduced for daytime travel during prime hours for passenger convenience.

Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, said that travellers can now book flights on Akasa Air's website  www.akasaair.com, Android and iOS app or through multiple leading OTAs.

"The 18th destination addition of Ayodhya to Akasa Air's network is aligned with the airline's commitment to strengthen its domestic operations and provide transportation links to travellers visiting the city at affordable fares," Iyer said.

He said that Akasa Air was set up with a purpose to connect people, cultures and regions and the addition of Ayodhya to our growing network is a testament to our commitment.

"The city of Ayodhya has immense spiritual, religious, and cultural significance and by connecting it to two major hubs -- Delhi and Pune, we will provide ease of access to people travelling while also bolstering economic growth, trade, and regional development," Iyer said.

He said that Akasa Air's endeavour is to provide our customers with seamless travel options, reliable operations, and warm customer experience at low fares.
Imphal, Jan 17 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Prime Minister of doing nothing to resolve the Naga political issue though Narendra Modi committed to solve the issue nine years ago after the Framework Agreement was signed with the Naga groups in 2015.

Addressing a rally on the fourth day of the ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Nagaland's Mokokchung town, Rahul Gandhi said a solution to the problem cannot be brought without winning the trust of the Naga people and without holding a dialogue with them.

"If you don't have a solution, you cannot lie and claim that you have a solution. You can say that you have to work towards the solution of the Naga issue and work would be done towards finding the solution but you must not lie to the Naga people," the Congress leader said.

"The Prime Minister gave an empty commitment about the Naga accord nine years ago and did nothing yet," he said, adding that the Congress knows that the issue is serious and a solution is required.

"We would do the hard work to resolve the Naga political issue," Gandhi said on Wednesday while talking to the media and asserted that his party was committed to a solution to the decades-old Naga Political Issue.

"While driving through the roads, I can see your (Naga people's) way of life, history, traditions and culture. Though Naga people understand English, my speech was translated into Naga language as I respect the language and the people's culture," he said and added that the Naga people's traditions were their own culture and no party should interfere in it.

Referring to the ethnic violence in neighbouring Manipur, Rahul Gandhi said, "As an Indian I am ashamed that the Prime Minister is yet to visit Manipur despite the state witnessing devastating violence for over eight months."

Without naming the BJP, he said, "Their politics has torn apart the state, divided the community, they have weaponised the state."

Referring to the bad roads of Nagaland, he claimed that it was a betrayal of the people of the state. "Naga children are getting deprived of electricity, healthcare and other facilities. Why can't a Naga man be an industrialist? Naga people's rich traditions and culture are assets of India," he said.

He told the gathering, "If you need my support to raise any issue in Parliament, I will be happy to do it."

Identifying a young girl attending the gathering, Gandhi said that young people, especially girls, must enter politics and give Nagaland a new vision for the future.

The Congress leader, after a night halt at Tuli would enter Assam on Thursday morning for his onward yatra to Arunachal Pradesh.
Patna, Jan 17 : Bihar BJP President Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday said that no one has invited the former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav for the inauguration of Ram Mandir on January 22.

"It was expected that Lalu will not visit Ayodhya but no one has invited him either for the inauguration of Ram Mandir on January 22," Choudhary said.

He said that Lalu Prasad Yadav is feeling guilty for stopping the Ram Yatra 30 years ago. "The Sanatan society condemns Lalu Prasad Yadav for such an act. Lord Ram is universal and for all," Choudhary said.

Lalu Prasad Yadav -- during his first tenure as Bihar Chief Minister -- had stopped the Ram Rath Yatra of L.K. Advani in Bihar in October 1990.

"Lalu Yadav was known for giving shelter to the criminals. He should not visit the Ram Mandir," Choudhary said.

He said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is taking credit for giving jobs but not many jobs were given to the people in the state. " The Chief Minister should put all the figures in the public domain about how many jobs have been given to aspiring candidates," he said.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the star of the legendary Terminator, was detained for several hours at Munich Airport in Germany. The Los Angeles-based actor was flying to the World Climate Summit in Kitzbuhel, Austria, and he was carrying a valuable watch by the Swiss brand Audemars Piguet.

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Schwarzenegger brought the watch to sell at an auction before the official start of the summit, according to the German newspaper Bild, which published a photo with Arnold and two customs officers. The jewelry was made to the actor's personal order, costing about 20 thousand euros (approximately 823 thousand hryvnias).

The Audemars Piguet brand produces about 45,000 watches a year, which is quite small, despite having sales of 1.5 million euros (over 61.6 million hryvnias). Schwarzenegger planned to sell his precious jewelry of an unknown model from his private collection.

The actor took the interrogation quite calmly, but, according to Bild, the waiting time is gradually getting on his nerves. After all, Arnold was supposed to leave Munich for Kitzbuhel immediately after landing, but the trip was postponed for an unknown period of time. It is still unknown whether customs will let him through with his precious watch.

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Schwarzenegger was detained during customs inspection. At the time of writing, the actor had been in the customs control room at the airport for several hours. Thomas Meister, a spokesman for the main customs office in Munich, later said that a criminal case had been opened against the actor for tax evasion. It turned out that the watch had to be registered because it falls under the category of imports.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that Arnold Schwarzenegger supports Ukrainians because of Russia's attack and, in addition to selling the rights to his book, also distributes the Ukrainian edition among his audience.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Chandigarh, Jan 17 : High drama continued on Wednesday over the annual election for the top post of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, slated on Thursday, as the Congress candidate for the mayoral post "is still in the fray" against his AAP rival despite an alliance between the two parties.

Also in the race is the BJP which rules the civic body.

The Congress had stitched an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party under which it would support the AAP for the Mayor's post, while the AAP would support it for the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Tensions prevailed on Tuesday as scuffles broke out between workers of the BJP and the Congress-AAP alliance when Congress Councillor Jasbir Singh Bunty arrived to withdraw his nomination papers for the mayoral post.

Amidst the commotion, Bunty's father claimed that his son had been kidnapped and demanded his release.

City Congress President Harmohinder Singh Lucky on Wednesday, however, dismissed the allegations against AAP of abducting their mayoral candidate, saying the BJP is making such claims because of its impending defeat in the upcoming elections.

He said the Congress had withdrawn the nomination of mayoral candidature by Bunty twice and if needed, they would do it on polling day also.

"The party withdrew its nomination after it was decided Kuldeep Dhalor Tita of AAP will be mayor candidate under INDIA bloc," he said, adding: "The BJP is killing democracy. They think they will lose because they have 15 votes and we, the APP-Congress alliance, have 20 votes. They know the alliance will win all three posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor, and Deputy Mayor."

In the 35-member house of the Municipal Corporation, the BJP, which is ruling, has 14 councillors, with another vote of member of Parliament and ex-officio member Kirron Kher. The AAP has 13 councillors, while the Congress holds seven. The Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor.

The AAP has called the mayoral election the "first fight of INDIA alliance against the BJP" and a "curtain raiser" for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Ahead of the mayor election, AAP MP Raghav Chadha and senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Pawan Bansal met in Chandigarh.

In January last year, 29 votes were polled of which Anup Gupta of the BJP won the mayor election defeating Aam Aadmi Party's Jasbir Singh Laddi by only one vote. Gupta got 15, while Singh secured 14.

The Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal abstained from the voting. In 2022 too the BJP candidate had won from just one vote after a vote was declared invalid due to various reasons.

Elections for the three posts are held every year during the five-year term of the House. This time, the M ayor will be elected for the third term and the seat is reserved for the Scheduled Caste category.
Bengaluru, Jan 17 : The Congress party brought freedom to this country by fighting against the British, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday and asked why those who were posing as patriots now did not fight against the British then.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Sangolli Rayanna festival organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture, at Sangolli Village in Belagavi District.

Siddaramaiah said, "The British, French and Mughals ruled our country through the policy of divide and rule. Sangolli fought hard against the British, but some betrayed Rayanna and handed him over to the British."

Siddaramaiah added that if Rayanna was an example of patriotism, those who betrayed Rayanna to the British were traitors.

"Patriotism means loving the people of the country. Those who hate the people of the country in the name of caste and religion cannot be patriots. Sharanshrestha Basavanna explained that even BR Ambedkar, who drafted the Constitution, preached love for man without caste discrimination," Siddaramaiah said.

He added that farmers, teachers and soldiers were guarding the country from inside and outside and even a farmer who grows rice is like a soldier.

Siddaramaiah said that the Congress party had brought the green revolution to India for the prosperity of the farmers.

"Sangolli Rayanna was born on August 15. On this date the country got independence and he was martyred on January 26. That it is a marvelous coincidence. But there are still people who spread hatred and who call for the destruction of mosques," Siddaramaiah said and asked people not to applaud those fools.
Bengaluru, Jan 17 : Senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai said on Wednesday that it seems like Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has just got up from deep slumber and has failed to see the funds released by the Centre.

He said, "CM Siddaramaiah is talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi who works 18 hours daily for the country and has not taken a single day's holiday in the last nine-and-a-half years."

In a series of tweets, former CM Bommai said, "During the UPA Government's regime between 2004 and 2014, Karnataka received Rs 81,795 crore in the form of tax distribution and Rs 60,779 crore in the form of grants. In the current NDA dispensation from 2014 till December 2023, the state received Rs 2,82,791 crore in tax distribution and Rs 2,08,882 crore as grants.

"In the month of May, the state got Rs 360 crore and a decision has been made to release another Rs 348 crore. Despite this, the current Congress Government has not been able to release a single rupee towards the compensation to farmers for crop damage due to drought."

Bommai questioned, "Is the state treasury empty because of which the relief has not been released in one shot?"

"Why do politics and blame the Centre when Upper Krishna and Mahadayi projects are pending before the Supreme Court? In the current Union Budget, Rs 5,300 crore has been earmarked for the Upper Bhadra project. Who is in deep slumber and unable to take benefit of the same?" Bommai questioned.

"In the last five years, the Centre has given Rs 30,000 crore for national highways. The Bengaluru-Mysore Highway on which you travel had been built out of the money given by the Modi Government. Have you not experienced it?" Bommai said.

"Under the Smart City project, Rs 1,327 crore had been released. Similarly, are you not seeing the share of the Modi Government in the flow of funds for the development of railways and ports? Under the Kisan Samman scheme, Rs 10,990 crore has been released. In the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the Centre has given treatment to over 62 lakh people. This shows the relentless efforts and hard work of the Modi Government. During the Corona pandemic, the Modi Government made sure over 10 crore doses of vaccine were administered to the people. Have you not seen it as you are sleeping," he maintained.

"It is unfortunate for the people as you haven't woken up from the deep slumber and driven Karnataka to the state of penury due to lack of development," Bommai claimed.
Kolkata, Jan 17 : After Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday approached the Calcutta High Court seeking postponement of the Trinamool Congress' proposed "Harmony Rally" on January 22, the lone All India Secular Front (AISF) legislator in the Assembly, Naushad Siddique also opposed the call for the rally that coincides with the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

"By giving a call for the said rally on January 22, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is just making an attempt to instigate tension. I request both the minority community members and those representing the civil society not to get trapped in it," Siddique told the mediapersons.

His comments came just a few hours after Suvendu Adhikari filed a petition at Calcutta High Court seeking its intervention into the postponement of the "Harmony Rally" call by the ruling Trinamool Congress on the day of Ram Mandir inauguration.

In his petition, Adhikari has also sought the court's intervention in ensuring the deployment of central armed police forces in different corners of the state on January 22 to ensure maintenance of the law and order situation.

Commenting on the proposed rally, which according to the Chief Minister, is aimed at spreading the message of unity among different religions, the AISF legislator questioned the justification of organising the rally on that specific date.

"Let it be the day after... on January 23. I will personally walk in the proposed 'Harmony rally' with the Chief Minister. But it should be surely not on January 22. The call for the rally has actually given the BJP a scope to do politics on the issue," Siddique said.

On Tuesday, the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made the announcement about organising the "Harmony Rally" in Kolkata on January 22 that the aim of the rally is to spread the message of unity among all religions.

"The 'Harmony Rally' is not a counter to any other event. I have great respect for the monks and saints. I always listen to them. We are organising the rally to spread the message of unity of all religions, since the next day is the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose," the Chief Minister said on Tuesday.
Hyderabad, Jan 17 : The stage is set for Wings India 2024, Asia's largest civil aviation event, beginning at Begumpet Airport here on Thursday.

Being organised jointly by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Indian Industry (FICCI), the four-day biennial event focusses on commercial, general, and business aviation.

The best of the aviation industry would be showcasing their innovative aviation technology and aircraft machinery at the event whose theme is 'Connecting India to the world in Amrit Kaal: Setting the stage for India Civil Aviation @ 2047'.

Wings India will bring together buyers, sellers, investors, and other stakeholders on a common platform to discuss various aspects of the aviation industry.

While the first two days are for business discussions, the remaining two days will be open for the general public.

Around 25 aircraft will be on display at the venue.

Air India will unveil its Airbus A350, the first aircraft of its kind in India. For the first time, Boeing 777 X will be on display in India.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will address the inaugural session and inaugurate the exhibition. He will also address the ministerial plenary which aims to foster a dynamic exchange of knowledge and insights among ministers, ambassadors, and government representatives from various countries.

The minister will also attend Global CEOs Forum which will bring together aviation leaders from diverse subsectors, providing them with an exclusive platform for interaction and collaboration.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen V.K. Singh (retd), Secretary, Civil Aviation Vumlunmang Vualnam, FICCI Civil Aviation Committee Chairman and President and Managing Director of Airbus (India & South Asia) will also address the inaugural session.

The event will have discussions, demonstration, exhibition and flying display by Sarang team of the Indian Air Force, roundtable/panel discussion on airlines, helicopter industry, airports, sustainable aviation, skill development, startups & FTOs, MRO sector, travel & tourism, women in aviation, aircraft leasing, drones, business aviation & small aircraft, and air cargo.

About 1,500 delegates from 106 countries and 200 exhibitors from across the globe will attend the four-day event. The organisers expect 5,000 business visitors and one lakh visitors. About 500 B2G/B2B meetings are planned.

Ambassadors, representatives from various sectors of aviation like airlines, airport operators, airport agencies, civil aviation authorities, consultant, engineering, flight/ simulator training, flight operations/ transportation, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) agencies, pilot /instructor, sales, service or support will be taking part in the event.

Wings India awards will also be conferred on the aviation-related companies/institutions/organisations that have created benchmarks and made notable contributions in the area of civil aviation in India.

India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets and currently the third largest civil aviation market in the world. As many as 1,748 foreign airlines flights and 1,440 domestic airlines flights are connecting India globally.

Freight traffic at Indian airports is expected to cross 11.4 million tonnes by 2032. All the states are covered under the Udan 2.0 Scheme. The government aims to operationalise more than 220 airports from the current 148 airports in the coming years, while 50 airports will be developed under a low-cost model to be developed all over the country, including under PPP.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Jan 17 : Bharatpur-Dholpur Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti on Wednesday staged a massive protest near Jaicholi railway station of Bharatpur over reservation quota.

Nem Singh Faujdar -- convener of Bharatpur-Dholpur Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti -- said that our demand should be met before January 22 after which they will intensify the agitation by uprooting tracks, stopping trains and blocking the highways.

"We have given 10-days to the government on January 7. But the government did not pay any attention. We have now erected a grand camp in Jaicholi near the Delhi-Mumbai railway track. The second Mahapadav will be held in Bedam village (Bharatpur) and the third in Rarh (Bharatpur)," Faujdar said.

He said that they will protest in a Gandhian manner till January 22.

"If the government does not fulfill the demand then a fierce agitation will be launched. Its entire responsibility will be of the government," Faujdar said.

To ensure security to the railway track, 6 RAC companies, 180 policemen, 100 RPF and GRPF personnel have been deployed in the area.

The Jat community in Bharatpur and Dholpur districts of Rajasthan has been demanding reservation since 1998.

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had announced the inclusion of the Jats of Rajasthan in the OBC category. However, Bharatpur and Dholpur were not included as Jats were mostly associated with the former royal family.

In 2013, the Manmohan Singh-led government had given OBC reservation to the Jat community along with nine other states.

On August 10, 2015, OBC reservation for the Jats community in these districts was abolished.

After fighting a long legal-battle, on 23 August 2017, Jats of both the districts were given reservation under OBC category, but the Center did not agree.

In September 2021, the Jat community again announced the protests.

On December 28, 2021, the then Congress chief minister Ashok Gehlot had also written a recommendation letter to the Central government over the reservation under the OBC category for the Jats of both the districts.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : Aviation watchdog DGCA on Wednesday said that a penalty of Rs 30 lakhs each has been imposed on SpiceJet and Air India after they did not roster CAT II/III and LVTO qualified pilots for some of the flights and their reply to its notice was not satisfactory.

"Before the onset of fog season every year, DGCA holds meetings with aviation stakeholders such as airline operators and aerodrome operators. The meeting to check preparedness for Low visibility operation was held in DGCA HQs on November 6, 2023. In the meeting, instructions regarding rostering of CAT II/III and LVTO qualified pilots were issued to airline operators on Low Visibility Operations and Fog Preparedness," DGCA chief Vikram Dev Dutt said.

"The flight delay/cancellation/diversion related data submitted by scheduled airlines for December 2023 were analysed in the DGCA and it was found that SpiceJet and Air India did not roster CAT II/III and LVTO qualified pilots for some of the flights and thus they failed to comply with the directions issued This also constituted a violation of the relevant Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).

"Based on these violations and non-compliance with DGCA directives,Show-cause notices (SCNs) were issued to Spice Jet and Air India on January 2, 2024," said Dutt.

He said that both the airlines submitted their replies in this regard and the examination of the reply was found unsatisfactory. "Both the airlines were imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh each for the violation and non-compliance under rule 133A of Aircraft Rules, 1937," he added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 17 : A 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a man in live-in relationship with her mother, police said on Wednesday.

Sharing details of the sordid incident reported from north Delhi, a police official said that on January 14, an FIR was registered under Sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 6 POCSO Act at Burari police station against Ankit Yadav, 29, a resident of Loni, Ghaziabad for raping a minor girl, a resident of Burari.

"The victim's mother told police that she was in a live-in relationship for eight years with Ankit, a bus driver on contract. She has a son from this relationship. The woman, who was away in the hospital on July 23, left her children at home. It has been alleged that Ankit took advantage of the unattended kids to rape the minor. He threatened her and has committed the act a few times in the past too," the official said.

"The woman reported the matter to the police on which immediately legal action was taken," the official added.

"The medical examination and counselling of the victim have been done. Statement under section 164 CrPC has been recorded. The accused was arrested and has been sent to judicial custody," the official said, adding that the woman has three children from the first marriage she left eight years ago.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : A Delhi court has sentenced a hospital's housekeeping staff to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old patient in 2018.

The court held that convict Radhey Shyam, being a threat to society, should be kept away, stressing that the maximum punishment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was greater than the penal provision for rape in the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The judge noted the heinous nature of the offence and its severe impact on the victim's life.

The punishment of life imprisonment was necessary as the convict was not entitled to remain in society, considering the gravity of the crime, the court said.

Noting aggravating circumstances, it mentioned that the convict, being a member of the hospital's housekeeping staff, was in a position of authority but failed to consider the minor girl's condition.

While acknowledging the mitigating factor of the convict's poverty and responsibility for three children, the court asserted that leniency in such cases would undermine public confidence in the justice delivery system.

The court did not award the death sentence, stating that the crime did not fall into the "rarest of rare" category.

Additionally, a compensation of Rs 10.5 lakh was awarded to the victim.
New York, Jan 17 : Former US President Donald Trump was handed a limited "Gag Order" from the appeals court even as he appeared in courts here in two different cases as the lower Manhattan NY Attorney General Letita James launched her closing arguments in the civil fraud trial upping the damage claims to $370 million from the earlier $250 million.

Trump had appealed the gag order issued by the Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron to the appeals court which struck it down upholding the gag order, media reports said.

Closing her arguments against Trump for inflating assets values to secure loans illegally and obtain lower insurance premiums while upping the penalty charges, New York AG Letitia James told judge Arthur Engoron and the jurors that her case was never about politics or vendetta or about name calling.

"This case is about the facts and the law and Trump violated the laws," she said.

Trump has been maintaining that the trial was politically motivated, and that incumbent President Joe Biden had launched a "political witch hunt" against him using the democrat AG James. But facts show that Biden was not even president when James filed the case.

"This case has never been about politics, personal vendetta, or about name calling. This case is about the facts and the law, and Donald Trump violated the law," James said.

James thanked her team, the judge, and Trump's lawyers before repeating her confidence that "justice will be done" in the case.

"No matter how powerful you are, no matter how rich you are, no one is above the law," she said.

Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York in a $370 million civil lawsuit that could alter the personal fortune and real estate empire that helped propel Trump to the White House.

Trump, his sons Eric Trump and and Donald Trump Jr., and other top Trump Organization executives were accused by New York Attorney General Letitia James of engineering a decade-long scheme in which they used "numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation" to inflate Trump's net worth in order get more favorable loans.

The trial follows the judge Engoron's partial summary judgment that Trump had submitted "fraudulent valuations" for his assets, leaving the trial to determine additional actions and what penalty, if any, the defendants should receive.

The former president has denied all wrongdoing and his attorneys have argued that Trump's alleged inflated valuations were a product of his business skill.

In an earlier hearing of the closing arguments, Judge Arhtur Engoron reserved his ruling till January 31.

On Wednesday, he upheld it again.

Judge Engoron has already ruled against Trump finding him guilty of inflating his business assets to obtain loans illegally from banks ( Deutsche bank) and cancelled his business certificates in New York but held them in abeyance pending Trumps plea in an appeals court.

Judge Arthur Engoron had asked state attorney Kevin Wallace then to conclude the day's proceedings by comparing Trump's fraud to the actions of financier Bernie Madoff, who defrauded clients out of tens of billions of dollars in the 1990s and 2000s.

"How would you compare the fraud you are alleging to the Madoff Ponzi scheme?" Engoron said.
Russian filmmaker Alexey Herman Jr. is releasing his film Air, a Kremlin-funded thriller about World War II that has already been categorized as a "patriotic film," in Russian theaters. Meanwhile, the filmmaker says nothing about his homeland's terrorist war against Ukraine, and when foreign journalists do ask, he only gives vague answers about NATO and the West, which have allegedly always "threatened" Russia.

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For example, journalists from the American publication Variety talked to Herman, and he told them that no one, let alone Russia, wanted this war. Judging by his answers, Oleksiy considers a full-scale armed invasion to be a "necessary measure".

"My position is very simple. In 2015, my film Under Electric Clouds premiered in Berlin. This film began with a dialogue about globalization and the fact that globalization will not save us from a great war. Many people asked me what I meant. I answered that absolute misunderstanding on both sides is the consequence and the reason for the impossibility of any dialogue and compromise. And this will lead to war. The tragedy that is happening now is the result of 10 years of no attempts at dialogue between the West and Russia. Unfortunately, this war was predictable," the director said.

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So, when asked to express his position on the war, Herman cleverly evades the question, not saying whether he condemns or supports Russian aggression.

However, the filmmaker openly supports the narrative that the occupiers are not destroying Ukraine by killing its civilians, but are only "protecting" their homeland from NATO. And while at first Herman said that he allegedly knew about the war and considered it inevitable, in a few seconds he began to argue that "it all happened very suddenly."

"No one wanted this war. But if you ask ordinary people in Russia, 80% will say that NATO provoked this war. When I spoke about Under Electric Clouds in Berlin in 2015, I spoke to journalists from several countries and warned them. But no one published it. The country has a bloody history for hundreds of years. I am not saying that we have not invaded other countries. We have. But we have also been invaded. Our paranoia has very deep roots. Historically, we do not trust the West. This war happened very unexpectedly. In order to avoid tragedy, we must try to understand each other. Unfortunately, we have lost the ability to dialog," the director said.

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In conclusion, Herman said that Europe and the United States "cannot run away" from Russia, and vice versa. He added: "I don't believe that Russia will break up into many small states. And I think Europe will remain united as well."

As OBOZ.UA wrote earlier, the famous Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov presented his film The Wife of Tchaikovsky at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in May 2022. This is despite the State Film Agency's request to boycott Russian filmmakers and exclude them from participating in the competition. The delegation from the aggressor country was allowed to enter Cannes, arguing that Serebrennikov had allegedly opposed the war in Ukraine. The organizers are apparently not bothered by the fact that the director also called for help to the families of the occupiers who are killing and raping Ukrainian civilians.

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Imphal, Jan 17 : Two Manipur Police commandos were killed and two others injured in a militant attack on security forces in Manipur's Moreh area, along the Myanmar border, on Wednesday, police said.

Imphal, Jan 17 (IANS) Two Manipur Police commandos were killed and two others injured in a militant attack on security forces in Manipuras Moreh area, along the Myanmar border, on Wednesday, police said.

Police officials in Imphal said that police commando Wangkhem Somorjit was killed and three others injured when suspected militants attacked the security forces while they were conducting search operations in Moreh.

Subsequently, police commando Takhellambam Saileshwore succumbed to his injuries.

Somorjit hails from Malom area while Saileshwore from Lamsang Akham in Imphals West district.

When the security personnel tried to shift the three injured security personnel to the hospital for medical treatment, some tribals, including women, tried to stop them. They clashed with the forces and several tribal people were injured in the fight.

Earlier police and the Indigenous Tribal Leadersa Forum (ITLF), an apex body of tribals in Manipur, separately claimed that a woman was killed in the clash.

Later in the evening, police said that the woman was unconscious for some time as she had sustained serious injuries, but she is alive and undergoing medical treatment at a hospital.

Heavy exchange of fire between the security forces and the suspected militants was reported in three different locations in Moreh since Wednesday morning, police said. The militants had also fired rocket-propelled grenades on the security forces.

As tensions ran high, additional security forces, including Assam Rifles have rushed to the bordering areas to bring the situation under control.

Hundreds of protestors, including members of leading women organisation Meira Paibis organised protest rallies demanding reinforcement of state forces in Moreh. The protestors marched towards the Chief Minister's official bungalow but were stopped by the security forces.

Chief Minister N.Biren Singh, in wake of the Moreh incident, held a meeting with the top security officials to review the situation.

The Manipur government has requested the Union Home Ministry to provide more helicopters to meet emergency requirements in the wake of the law and order situation in the border areas of Moreh, an official said.

Meanwhile, the Moreh-based Meetei Council, in a statement, urged the Centre and the state government to flush out the Kuki militants supported by the insurgents of Myanmar who are waging war against Indian security forces.

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex body of the Meitei community, urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Manipur Chief Minister to swiftly address the security situation, enhance collaboration between state and central security forces, and take decisive measures to ensure the safety and security of the citizens in the border town of Moreh.

Fearing fresh violence, the district administration imposed a total curfew in the trouble-torn Tengnoupal district from Tuesday afternoon.

"Following inputs of the likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and property within the revenue jurisdiction of Tengnoupal district, total curfew was imposed," a notification said.

Meanwhile, as BJP leader Hemkholal Mate and former soldier, Philip Khaikholal Khongsai were arrested on Monday night from Moreh in connection with the killing of Sub-Divisional Police Officer Chingtham Anand Kumar in October last year, tribals in the border town on Tuesday demanded their release, while Imphal Valley witnessed widespread protests demanding handing over of the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and exemplary punishment to the detainees.

Since December 30, at least 10 Manipur Police commandos and a Border Security Force trooper have been injured in attacks by suspected Kuki militants at Moreh.

Moreh is a very old and major trading town on the India-Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district. People from the Kuki, Meitei, Naga, Tamil, Pangal, Gorkha, Sikh and other communities have been residing for decades in peace and harmony in Moreh, which is just four km to the west of Myanmaras largest border town Tamu and 110 km south of Imphal.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Jan 17 : Rajasthan Police DG, cyber crime, state crime records bureau (SCRB) and technical services, Ravi Prakash Meharda on Wednesday said with cyber criminals upgrading their ways with time, the police will also upgrade the existing technology by strengthening their system and training.

He said this while speaking on the second day of the 2-day Rajasthan Cyber Hackathon organised by Rajasthan Police.

Meharda said that there were mainly two objectives of organising the hackathon in Rajasthan.

"First is awareness in cyber crime and second is technological solutions to the problems of police. For this, a platform was provided to cyber security experts and youth," he said.

Director General of Police UR Sahu who was the Chief Guest at the event said that by organising a cyber hackathon, Rajasthan Police were having a brainstorming session on the future challenges of the cyber sector by providing a platform to youth and cyber security experts.

He said that drones have important utility for the police.

"Keeping in mind the utility of drones, Rajasthan Police are also serious about the use of drone technology."

Meharda said that awareness is very important to prevent cyber crime.

"Just like the rules and discipline of road use, discipline in cyber space is necessary. Today, almost every person is connected to cyber space through mobile and laptop. The number of digital payments is also continuously increasing, this also provides an opportunity to cyber criminals. Not only common people, even educated people get trapped in cyber crimes and become victims of financial fraud," the police officer said.

He said the hackathon also seeks to find technological solutions to the problems faced by the police.
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during signing of a peace accord between United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the central and Assam governments. Image Source: IANS News

Guwahati/Shillong, Jan 17 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Assam and Meghalaya for three days beginning Thursday to attend a number of events, including the plenary session of the North Eastern Council in Shillong, officials said on Wednesday.

In Shillong on Thursday, Shah will inaugurate a cyber security operation centre of the Assam Rifles on the premises of the paramilitary forceas headquarters.

On the next day, he will chair the 71st plenary session of the NEC at the Meghalaya state convention centre in Shillong and then, review the various works of the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC).

On Saturday, he will attend the 61st Raising Day celebrations of the SSB at the SSB complex in Assamas Tezpur. In the afternoon, Shah will attend the 13th triennial conference of the All Bathou Mahasabha at Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district.

In the evening, the Home Minister will attend the passing-out parade of 2,551 Assam Police commandos at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati. Later, he will release book, "Assam's Braveheart Lachit Barphukan", at Srimanta Sankardeva International Auditorium in the city. He will also inaugurate the Brahmaputra Riverfront in Guwahati before returning to Delhi the same day.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Jan 17 : India's leading star Ankita Raina rallied brilliantly to come back from the brink of defeat after being down by a set and trailing 1-5 in the second set to come up trumps against Viktoria Morvayova in a first-round encounter of the ITF Women's Open being played at the KSLTA Stadium here on Wednesday.

Bengaluru, Jan 17 (IANS) Indiaas leading star Ankita Raina rallied brilliantly to come back from the brink of defeat after being down by a set and trailing 1-5 in the second set to come up trumps against Viktoria Morvayova in a first-round encounter of the ITF Womenas Open being played at the KSLTA Stadium here on Wednesday.

The eighth seed, fighting a sore throat and stomach cramps overcame her Slovakian rival 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 to move into the pre-quarterfinals.

On a good day for the Indians, Rutuja Bhosale and Vaidehi Chaudhary also entered the last 16 stage. While Rutuja fought back after losing the first set 0-6 against Eri Shimizu of Japan before winning the next two sets 7-5, 7-5, Vaidehi brushed aside the challenge of Sapfo Sakellaridi of Greece 6-4, 6-2.

In an extremely competitive field, third seed Ekaterina Makarova became the first casualty of the tournament after suffering a straight set defeat from qualifier Naho Sato of Japan 5-7, 2-6. Qualifier Mei Yamaguchi of Japan later sent seventh seed Sofya Lansere home with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

In the longest match of the day that lasted for 3 hours and 31 minutes, sixth seed Carole Monnet of France overcame Serbian Dejana Radanovic 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9).

Ankita, who is just back from being eliminated in the second round of the qualifiers at the Australian Open, was quite rusty in the first set, occasionally shooting down a winner.

After struggling to hold her serve in the first game, the 31-year-old ace Indian, suffered due to some poor shot selection. Morvayova, who is ranked more than 200 ranks below Ankita, was swift on the court and grabbed the opportunity to register a clean sweep winning five games on the trot to take the first set.

In the second set, Ankita broke her opponentas serve in the first game and was promptly broken back. However, the 22-year-old raced to a 5-1 lead after breaks in the 4th and 6th game and was serving for the match before Ankita staged a comeback by not only breaking her serve but going on to win the next five games, with breaks in the 9th and 11th games to make it 1-1.

Continuing in the same vein in the final set, Ankita won the first four games courtesy breaks in the 1st and 3rd games. Morvayova lost her temper midway through the set after she deemed a ball to be out but in reality, the ball was in. The only game she could win was the 7th where she was able to hold her serve as the Indian wrapped up the set and the match which lasted for 2 hours and 14 minutes.

In another duel, before Rutuja could take a measure of her opponent, the first set was over 0-6, thanks to her erratic serves. The Indian went 3-1 up with a break in the 3rd game. The 25-year-old Japanese won the next three games with a break in the 6th game. The Asian Games gold medallist achieved the crucial break in the 11th game before serving out for the set.

In the deciding set, the 27-year-old Indian held an advantage after an early break in the first game to go 4-2 up. However, Shimizu fought back and with a break in the 8th game, went 5-4 up. Rutuja then won three consecutive game to take the set and the match.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : A lawyer, who was sentenced to six months jail for contempt of court for making contumacious allegations and scandalous imputations against judges of the Delhi High Court and district courts in a criminal appeal on behalf of a rape survivor, has submitted an unconditional apology to the high court.

A division bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Shailender Kaur had imposed the six-month jail term with a fine of Rs 2,000 on January 9.

The court had stated that the lawyer, being an officer of the court, made unwarranted and baseless allegations in the appeal against judges discharging their judicial functions.

The lawyer, currently in custody, expressed that he did not intend to scandalise judges and pledged to exercise caution in the future.

Filing an affidavit, the lawyer complied with the direction of the Supreme Court, where he had filed an appeal challenging his conviction and sentence in the contempt case.

The high court acknowledged the apology, stating that the lawyer had not intended to scandalise a judge and affirmed his commitment to avoid such mistakes in the future.

It also noted the unintentional nature of the mistake and the lawyer's pursuit of justice in a bona fide manner.

The affidavit expressing remorse and the commitment to avoid similar errors has been accepted by the high court.

It ordered a copy of the order to be provided to the lawyer and directed its registry to promptly send a copy to the Supreme Court.

While sentencing, the court had stressed the need for the court to check such actions firmly to prevent pernicious consequences.

The lawyer was given an opportunity to apologise for the "contemptuous allegations", but he stood by his accusations, claiming that the judges were openly favouring the accused persons.

The court had noted the lack of repentance in his conduct and actions, leading to the guilty verdict.

The bench had directed the SHO concerned to arrange for a police team to take the lawyer home to fulfill his requests before being taken to Tihar Jail. It had also instructed jail authorities to allow the lawyer to take his regular medicines.

The contempt proceedings were initiated after the lawyer made allegations against trial court and high court judges in a criminal appeal. The single judge bench had issued notice to the lawyer, noting that while the judiciary is not immune from criticism, it should not be based on distorted facts or gross misrepresentation to intentionally lower its dignity and respect.

--IANS

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Ranchi, Jan 17 : At least 3,000 employees of the Ranchi-based Heavy Engineering Corporation on Wednesday went on an indefinite strike over non-payment of their salaries for almost two years.

The strike has affected the work in all the three plants while the head office has been locked. The employees, including officials and workers, have not received their salaries for the last 20-22 months.

Presiding over the meeting of the "HEC Bachao Mazdoor Jan Sangharsh Samiti" floated by the seven workers' union, Manoj Pathak said "the work would not resume till the salaries are paid".

He said the striking employees would be provided food near the head office, and nobody would be allowed to enter the plant or the head office.

The company, which started with about 22,000 employees, now has only 3,400 employees and officers left and they too have "no work except registering their attendance in the plant".

Workers usually protest in front of the plant demanding payment of their outstanding salaries, but there is no one here to listen to them. There has not even been a full-time CMD (Chairman and Managing Director) in the company for more than two years. Nalin Singhal, CMD of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is the CMD in-charge here, who visits here "occasionally in two-three months".

The HEC is a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Heavy Industries located in Ranchias Dhurwa area.

It has been learnt that the HEC has been facing a financial crisis for the last two-three years. According to sources, the HEC has requested the Ministry of Heavy Industries several times to provide working capital of Rs 1,000 crore.

The Ministry, however, has apparently submitted that the Centre cannot extend any help.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : Airline SpiceJet issued a notice on Wednesday advising passengers in Delhi and 19 other cities to monitor their flight status due to anticipated low visibility conditions.

"#WeatherUpdate (18th Jan'24): Due to the expected poor visibility in Delhi (DEL), Amritsar (ATQ), Varanasi (VNS), Gorakhpur (GOP), Patna (PAT), Bagdogra (IXB), Darbhanga (DBR), Guwahati (GAU), and Kolkata (CCU), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via our website," said the airline on X.

Over 110 international and domestic flights were delayed while around 25 were cancelled from 11 p.m. on Tuesday to 9 a.m. on Wednesday as a thick layer of fog blanketed Delhi, as per airport sources.

The weatherman said that the visibility at Palam dropped to 300 metres at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, which continued over the night and at 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday it was 600 metres.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that dense to very dense fog conditions are likely to continue to prevail over north India during the next 4-5 days.
Jaipur, Jan 17 : Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, on the Prakash Parv of Guru Gobind Singh on Wednesday, performed a special puja at the City Palace, where she worshiped his 338-year-old sword kept there.

"The story of sacrifice, and bravery of Guru Gobind Singh will always inspire us all," she said.

A Shabad Kirtan was organised and prasad was distributed to everyone.

On the occasion, the sword has been kept for tourists to see at Sarvtobhadra Chowk of the City Palace.

Guru Gobind Singh spent some time in Nahan in what is now Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur and while leaving, had presented his personal sword to the then ruler as a memento.

Jaipur, titular Rajmata Padmini Devi, who is from Nahan, brought the sword to Jaipur a few years ago. Since then this sword has been in the City Palace.

Members of the Sikh community expressed their gratitude to Padmini Devi for giving them darshan of the Guru's kirpan.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : India on Wednesday said that the Iranian attacks on bases of a terror group in Pakistan were a matter between the two countries while reiterating its zero-tolerance stance towards terrorism.

"This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan. As far as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self defence," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Iranian missiles have attacked two bases of terror group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan.

The terror outfits had earlier attacked Iranian security forces near the Iran-Pakistan border.

Pakistan said that two children were killed and three others injured in strikes by neighbouring Iran on Tuesday.

Iran said it targeted two bases linked to the militant group Jaish al-Adl.

Pakistan is the third country, after Iraq and Syria, to be hit by an Iranian attack within the last few days.
Two killed in road accident in Odisha. Image Source: IANS News

Patna, Jan 18 : Three persons were killed and two others critically injured after a speeding SUV fell into a canal in Bihar's Rohtas district on Wednesday evening, police said.

SHO, Dinara, identified one of the deceased as Dinara BC Panchayat's Mukhiya Umesh Paswan, while the other two were Bipin Bihari Goswami and Mahendra Pal.

The accident occurred at Semri bridge under Dinara police station around 7 p.m.

Local police initiated the rescue operation and took the injured to the hospital, where their condition was said to be critical.

The dead bodies were fished out from the canal and the family members were informed about the accident.
History holds many more secrets, especially about ancient civilizations that existed before the conquest of the New World by the conquistadors. Recently, archaeologists have shocked the world with a discovery: they have found a cluster of lost cities in the Amazon rainforest.

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According to the excavations, at least 10,000 farmers lived there about 2,000 years ago, which is a rather impressive figure for the ancient world. The details of the discovery were reported by The Guardian.

The first hints of earthen mounds and hidden roads in Ecuador were noticed by archaeologist Stephen Rostain several decades ago. But then the scientist was not sure of his discovery and could not even imagine what large-scale excavations would lead to.

Recent mapping using laser sensor technology has shown that these sites were part of a dense network of settlements and connecting roads. Ancient cities were hidden in the forested foothills of the Andes. According to preliminary estimates, this civilization existed for about 1,000 years.

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Rostein calls this area "the lost valley of cities." The researchers found that the settlements were inhabited by the Upano people. Chronologically, the cities date back to between 500 BC and 300-600 AD. The Roman Empire flourished and declined in Europe at this time.

The scale of the excavations is impressive: more than 6,000 earthen mounds surrounded agricultural fields with drainage channels. There were not only residential buildings but also ceremonial structures. The largest roads were 10 meters wide and stretched for 10-20 km.

It is difficult to estimate the population, but scientists suggest that at least 10,000 people could have lived in the lost valley. Antoine Dorison, a co-author of the study, cites even more impressive data: 15,000 to 30,000 at its peak. For comparison, this is the number of inhabitants of London in the Roman era, the largest city in Britain.

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Michael Heckenberger, an archaeologist at the University of Florida, added that this indicates a very dense settlement and an extremely complex organization of society.

According to Jose Iriarte, an archaeologist at the University of Exeter, a complex system of organized labor would have been required to build roads and thousands of earth mounds. The Incas and Mayans built with stone, but people in the Amazon had to use materials at hand: wood and mud.

"The Amazon is often thought of as an 'untouched desert' where only small groups of people live. But recent discoveries have shown us how much more complex the past really is," Iriarte emphasized.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
Patna, Jan 18 : A Bihar government official, posted in Gaya, was brutally assaulted here by five to six goons, who were reportedly drunk, police said.

The victim was identified as Arvind Kumar Singh, an executive officer in Gayaas Dobhi block.

The official's condition is critical and the family members are taking him to New Delhi for better treatment.

"We are on the way from Gola Road to our Boring Canal Road residence around 9.20 p.m. on Tuesday when goons stopped our SUV and hit its bonnet. When my brother Arvind Kumar Singh stepped down from the SUV to talk, they attacked him with iron rods," the victim's brother Vijay Singh said.

All the accused were in inebriated condition at the time of incident, he said.

"One of the attackers revealed his name as Tanuj Yadav, son of Nagendra Yadav, and that Lalu Prasad Yadav is his grandfather and we could do whatever we wanted.

"We rushed my brother to a private hospital for treatment. As his condition is critical, we have decided to go to New Delhi for better treatment. We have informed Patna police about the incident," he added.

SDPO, Danapur, Abhinav Dhiman said: "We received information about a brawl taking place at Gola road under Rupaspur police station. Our team immediately went there. One of the persons named Arvind Kumar Singh, who tried to intervene in the matter, was brutally assaulted by the goons. He was critically injured in this attack. He was taken to Paras hospital where doctors have referred him to New Delhi for the better treatment. We have registered an FIR and are making efforts to identify and arrest the accused."
Bhopal, Jan 18 : Over a month after Veera Rana, a 1988-batch IAS officer was handed the additional charge of Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, she has been appointed as Chief Secretary of the state, an official said on Wednesday.

Rana, who also holds the position of Chairperson of the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education, will continue to hold the post until further direction, according to an order issued by the state's General Administration Department (GAD) on Wednesday.

Rana was elevated to the post of Chief Secretary on November 30 after the former Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains' two-time extended tenure expired after the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh in November last year.

Rana is the second woman Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh.

Nirmala Buch became the state's first woman Chief Secretary. She passed away in July last year, after making significant contributions throughout her career, including as Chief Electoral Officer of Madhya Pradesh.

Rana has previously served as the Collector of Vidisha, Jabalpur, and Mahasamund districts of Madhya Pradesh, besides holding responsibilities in various key departments throughout her career.

As Rana was elevated to the Chief Secretary before the results of the assembly election were declared, and now since the state has a new Chief Minister (Mohan Yadav), the decision on appointing a full-time Chief Secretary was awaited.

Rana is set to retire from service in March this year.

Meanwhile, senior IAS officer Sanjay Bandopadhyay, who has returned to Madhya Pradesh after his deputation with Centre got over recently, has been appointed as Chairman of Employee Selection Board (ESB), earlier known as Vyapam.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has given a crucial department to the senior most IAS officer Bandopadhyay, who was also in the race for the post of Chief Secretary.
Cairo, Jan 18 : Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has warned against the danger of the military escalation in the Middle East region on multiple fronts, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement.

During a meeting with the visiting Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Sisi reiterated "the vital need to defuse the current critical situation through an immediate and urgent ceasefire in Gaza Strip and enforcing the delivery of humanitarian aid," according to the statement released on Wednesday.

Sisi emphasised that Egypt will continue its unyielding efforts to support the people in Gaza, provide them with aid and relief, and work towards calming the situation, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Greek Minister highlighted the pivotal role of Egypt as "an indispensable cornerstone for stability in the Middle East".

The two sides also agreed on the imperative need to move quickly towards a just and comprehensive settlement for the Palestinian cause, which is the central issue in the region and the path toward achieving peace, security and stability.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,448, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive in Gaza to retaliate against a surprise Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed, according to the Israeli tallies.
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Arcadia Publishing, the Charleston, S.C.based publisher specializing in nonfiction books of local interest and regional history, laid off an unspecified number of employees last week. A source, who asked to remain anonymous, told PW that the number was 16, across multiple departments.

Last week Arcadia made the difficult decision to reduce its workforce in order to position the business for success in a rising cost environment, an Arcadia representative told PW. The changes will allow Arcadia to continue to deliver on its mission to connect people with their past, with their communities and with one another as it enters its fourth decade of local- and regional-interest publishing.

Arcadia was purchased in 2018 by Michael Lyntonthe former CEO of Penguin, who also held executive roles at Sony and is chairman of the technology company Snapand David Steinberger, the former CEO of Perseus and current chairman of the National Book Foundation. The latter served as Arcadia CEO before stepping down in 2021, when he was succeeded by longtime History Press sales and operations head Brittain Phillips, and subsequently purchased Open Road Integrated Media.

Since its 2018 purchase, Arcadia has been on an acquisition spree, including, most recently, its purchase of Applewood Books last year. Among the publishers acquired by Arcadia since 2018 are former Applewood imprint Commonwealth Editions, River Road Press, Pelican Publishing, and Wildsam. The publisher also launched a children's book division in 2019.
The Association of American Publishers is among those supporting a newly launched effort called Fairly Trained, a nonprofit organization that aims to certify fair training data use in generative AI.

There is a divide emerging between two types of generative AI companies: those who get the consent of training data providers, and those who dont, claiming they have no legal obligation to do so. We believe there are many consumers and companies who would prefer to work with generative AI companies who train on data provided with the consent of its creators, a blog post on the groups website states. Fairly Trained exists to make it clear which companies take a more consent-based approach to training and are therefore treating creators more fairly.

The nonprofits first certification is something it calls Licensed Model certification, which, the post explains, can be obtained for any generative AI model that doesnt use any copyrighted work without a license. The licenses can be varied, the group says, but will not be awarded to models that rely on a fair use copyright exception or similar, which is an indicator that rights-holders havent given consent for their work to be used in training.

The launch of Fairly Trained comes amid a spate of lawsuits filed by creators against AI companiesmost notably Open AI and Metaalleging that the major AI companies use of copyrighted works without permission or payment for AI training constitutes infringement. It also comes as a number of other organizations, including such media giants as the Associated Press and Axel Springer, have struck licensing deals with AI companies, with others, such as Reuters, reportedly involved in talks over the same.

Fairly Trained is launching with nine generative AI companies already certified, according to the post: Beatoven.AI, Boomy, BRIA AI, Endel, LifeScore, Rightsify, Somms.ai, Soundful, and Tuney. The group is led by composer and technologist Ed Newtwon-Rex, founder of jukedeck, an AI music generation company that provided music for video, TV, radio, podcasts, and games. According to his bio on the Fairly Trained site, jukedeck was acquired by TikTok owner ByteDance in 2019, and Newton-Rex ran the European AI Lab and later led product in Europe for TikTok, and most recently served as v-p of audio at Stability AI.

The group is also supported by a number of organizations, including the AAP, the Universal Music Group, the Association of Independent Music Publishers, music industry player Concord, and sound effects rights group Pro Sound Effects. An advisory committee includes AAP president and CEO Maria Pallante, as well as Tom Gruber, co-founder and CTO of the team that created Apples Siri; Elizabeth Moody, chair of new media at law firm Granderson Des Rochers; and musician Max Richter.
Publisher and author Stephen Strang, founder of Charisma Magazine and CEO of Charisma Media, knows the perils and the potential payoffs of mixing prophecy, politics, and publishing. His was among the faith-based voices that forecast Donald T. Trump to win in 2016 and lo and behold, those prophecies aligned with Trump's victory. In 2020, however, it was a no-go for Strang and others who had written that God had ordained a second Trump term in 2020.

Regardless of the questionable accuracy of many prophecies, Strang says the possibility of a direct line to God is reassuring. There's also a big audience, particularly among Pentecostal and charismatic Christians, for books that speak of spiritual gifts, miracles, and "how God is very involved in human life," he tells PW. These readers are the focus of Charisma Magazine and Charisma Media.

Previously a newspaper journalist, Strang turned to publishing in 1975 with the relaunch of a small church magazine as Charisma Magazine. The New York Times described it as eschewing "matters of stuffy dogma for eye-popping tales about the Holy Spirit moving through current events." Today, Strang's company publishes 50 books a year across three imprintsFrontline for politics and current events, Charisma House for theology, and Siloam Press for health and wellness titles from a Christian perspective. Charisma also publishes the Modern English Version of the Bible, in addition to audio, e-books, and podcasts, all housed under the Charisma Media umbrella.

Among Charisma's 2,000 backlist titles are bestsellers such as Jonathan Cahn's The Harbinger, which has sold over two million copies across all platforms since its publication in 2011, according to the company. The novel is centered on a prophet sent to warn the world of dangers ahead, but since writing that book and its bestselling sequel, The Harbinger II (Frontline, 2022), Cahn has mostly moved away from a fiction format. Recent titles including The Josiah Manifesto are based on mining Scripture for signs and patterns that foretold catastrophic events happening today. Cahn wrote eight of Charisma's 18 New York Times bestsellers. And in February at the annual meeting of the National Religious Broadcasters Strang says Cahn will announce the title and topic of his ninth book, to be published later this year.

Strang says Cahn, a Messianic Jewish rabbi/pastor with a New Jersey temple and a vast social media following, resonates with readers because, "in a confusing time when people are afraid, he connects the dots, he shows that God has a plan, and people feel reassured that God is very involved in human life and that God gave us the free will to follow him."

Strang's own new book, Spirit-Led living in an Upside-Down World, was released in May under the Charisma House imprint. "My whole life and career has been about a life led by the spirit of God. I'm writing now about today where good is called evil and evil is called good and there is religious discrimination like I've never seen in my life before. The whole Woke Agenda is anti-God and anti-religion and promotes that anything goes," he says, echoing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Rolling Stone made note of Strang's support for DeSantis last year in a profile headlined "The 'God Emperor' who could cost Trump the election."

As the 2024 presidential race moves to high gear, prophecy publishing may be more reserved. As the first national election cycle since a Charisma author, Michael Brown, put out a call in 2021 for "prophets" to police each other by agreeing to standards for their spiritual proclamations. Charisma published news about it under the headline Kingdom Leaders Make Unified Call for Prophetic Accountability. This led to a Prophetic Standards Statement, which warns against spiritual "fortunetellers" and manipulators. Each standard is tagged to a Scriptural reference beginning with "WE BELIEVE that the general function of the gift of prophecy, as it relates to the church, has to do with edification, exhortation, and comfort (see 1 Cor. 14:3). As this gift relates to unbelievers, it can reveal the secrets of their hearts and bring them to repentance, demonstrating Gods reality to them (see 1 Cor. 14:24-25)."

Despite Charisma Magazine publishing stories about this effort, Strang is not among the over 1,000 signatories. The 72-year-old publisher says he has reservations about mere mortals claiming they can police who is genuinely hearing and sharing the voice of God. "It's scary when you put restrictions on ideas. There are charlatans out there and people who jumped on the Trump bandwagon. And there is a small industry of people who make a living bashing people of a different theological ilk." Still, he defends the stance he took in his 2020 book, (God, Trump, and the 2020 Election: Why He Must Win and What's at Stake for Christians if He Loses). "I said he would be elected twice but I didn't say twice in a row."

Does he prophesize that DeSantis, who ran second to Trump in Monday's Iowa Caucus, will eventually triumph in the Republican primaries and beat President Biden in November? Strang's answer is open-ended. "God has plans and purposes more important than whether some prophecy came true. God reveals things and usually, those revelations are mysterious. Now we see through a glass darkly. I think that's a useful word picture. We don't totally understand what we see."
Pope Francis lends advice for better living; Gary Chapman applies his bestselling book The 5 Love Languages to a new title for caregivers of adopted children, and more new religion books publishing in February, below.

Nonfiction

Feb. 6

Loving Adopted Children Well: A 5 Love Languages Approach by Gary Chapman and Laurel Shaler (Northfield, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-8024-3187-5) applies lessons from Chapmans bestselling The 5 Love Languages to the adoptive parent-child relationship.

The Kindness of God: Beholding His Goodness in a Cruel World by Nate Pickowicz (Moody, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-8024-3180-6) seeks to motivate the faithful to celebrate and emulate Gods kindness even in seemingly hopeless times.

The Wood Between the Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross by Brian Zahnd (IVP, $24, ISBN 978-1-5140-0562-0) fashions an illuminating reappraisal of the central Christian symbol of the cross, per PWs review, as a reminder of both Jesuss crucifixion and the hope for a better world.

Life Is Messy, God Is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life by Cynthia Yanof (Esther Press, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-8307-8533-9) assures believers that daily challenges, messes, and slipups can spur spiritual growth.

Gratitude: Why Giving Thanks Is the Key to Our Well-Being by Cornelius Plantinga (Brazos, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-58743-622-2) supplies, per PWs review, an astute response to the perennial question, How can I seriously thank God when the world seems so awful? 

Feb. 7

The End of the World as You Know It: What the Bible Really Says About the End Times (and Why Its Good News) by Matthew L. Halsted (Lexham, $24.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-68359-712-4) challenges common end-times assumptions and looks to scripture for answers.

Feb. 13

Untangle Your Emotions: Naming What You Feel and Knowing What to Do About It by Jennie Allen (WaterBrook, $27, ISBN 978-0-593-19341-9) promises that processing uncomfortable feelings fosters personal growth and a closer relationship with God.

Paths on the Tree of Wisdom: A Course in 21st Century Kabbalah by Mike Bais (Watkins, $22.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-78678-792-7) surveys the school of Jewish mysticism, its links to ancient Egyptian religious traditions, and how it brings science and spirituality into conversation.

Lifting as They Climb: Black Women Buddhists and Collective Liberation by Toni Pressley-Sanon (Shambhala, $24.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-64547-076-2) delves into the life and work of prominent Black Buddhist thinkers Faith Adiele, bell hooks, Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, Spring Washam, Rev. angel Kyodo Williams, and Jan Willis.

Praying Personalities: Finding Your Natural Prayer Style by Janet McHenry (Kregel, $19.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-8254-4818-8) seeks to guide believers in how to best connect with God based on their individual spiritual gifts, enneagram type, and more.

Do the New You: 6 Mindsets to Become Who You Were Created to Be by Steven Furtick (Faithwords, $28, ISBN 978-1-5460-0682-4) implores the faithful to stop chasing a perfect and unattainable version of themselves and embrace their God-given identity.

Feb. 20

Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith by Sarah Bessey (Convergent, $26, ISBN 978-0-593-59367-7) offers down-to-earth guidance to those deconstructing their conservative Christian pasts, according to PWs review.

A Good Life: 15 Essential Habits for Living with Hope and Joy by Pope Francis (Worthy, $28, ISBN 978-1-5460-0702-9). Gratitude, social justice, and unconditional love for others are among the values spotlit in this gathering of life lessons from the Pope.

Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere by Savannah Guthrie (Thomas Nelson, $29.99, ISBN 978-1-4003-4112-2). Drawing on a childhood in a strict Baptist church and marital and career hurdles, Today show co-anchor Guthrie traces the evolution of her faith and its embrace of imperfections.

Deconstructing Your Faith Without Losing Yourself by Angela J. Herrington (Eerdmans, $19.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-8028-8328-5) promises that readers can reshape their religious beliefs while practicing self-compassion.

How Ableism Fuels Racism: Dismantling the Hierarchy of Bodies in the Church by Lamar Hardwick (Brazos, $19.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-58743-612-3) delivers a searing indictment of the ableist theology that has fueled racial bias in the American church and society, according to PWs starred review.

Feb. 27

The Life of the Quran: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy by Mohamad Jebara (St. Martins Essentials, $30, ISBN 978-1-250-28236-1). Philologist Jebara chronicles the Qurans origins and heritage, exploring interpretations across history and the holy texts place in modern Islam.

Defiant Joy: Find the Hope to Light Your Way, Even in the Darkness by Jennifer Michelle Greenberg (Multnomah, $17 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-44542-6) debunks toxic positivity and prosperity gospel beliefs, and argues that Gods joy can coexist with suffering, disappointment, and anxiety.

Fiction

Feb. 6

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin (Tyndale Fiction, $29.99, ISBN 978-1-4964-3744-0). After a business magnate dies and unexpectedly leaves his fortune to an uncle, the women of his high-society family consider what theyre willing to sacrifice to remain among Gilded Age New York Citys upper crust.

Feb. 13

Chasing the Horizon by Mary Connealy (Bethany House, $16.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-7642-4265-6). After Beth Rutledge discovers that her father plans to commit her to an asylum, she and her mother escape westward on a pioneer wagon, dodging bad actors who believe Beth matches the description of a wanted criminal.

Feb. 20

8 Down by Kimberley Woodhouse (Kregel, $16.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-8254-4773-0). Investigator Carrie Kintz teams up with security specialist Scott Patteson to hunt down a crossword-obsessed serial killer.
Russia's two largest airlines, Aeroflot and Rossiya, have been prohibited from flying to Egypt due to the risk of arrest for 27 Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

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This information was reported by the Russian newspaper Izvestia. Last week, Rosaviatsiya sent a telegram to Aeroflot and Rossiya airlines, instructing them not to operate flights to Egypt with 27 aircraft.

The ban came into effect on January 12 and will remain in place until a special decision is made. Rosaviation issued the telegram immediately after receiving information through closed channels about the potential arrest risks for these aircraft at Egyptian airports.

"Aeroflot was advised not to fly to Egypt with 24 aircraft: ten Airbus A320s, nine Boeing 777-300ERs, four Airbus A321s, and one Airbus A350. Rossiya Airlines received advice regarding three Boeing 737-800s.

Currently, neither of the companies operates flights to Egypt using these aircraft. Rossiya Airlines clarified that this decision does not impact the implementation of the carrier's production program.

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All these aircraft are owned by the State Transport Leasing Company (DTLC). The High Court of Ireland has been attempting to seize 37 of the company's aircraft since last year. In addition to these 27, another ten are operated by S7, Aurora, and Yamal, which do not fly to Egypt.

As previously reported by OBOZ.UA, Russia had to allocate over $12 billion in government subsidies and loans to support the aviation sector. This funding includes direct financial assistance to local airlines. The reason behind this financial support is that Russian civil aviation has encountered challenges such as a shortage of critical parts and issues with aircraft maintenance, following the severe impact of Western sanctions.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Property details:

No Reserve Auction. Beautiful 0.50 acres of land lot in Lee County, Florida, 33972. 1602 Johns Ave. Parcel Number 12-44-27-01-00002.0110.Please see the pictures. It is located on Johns Ave. Large lot of 1/2 an acre. Fifteen minutes to beach. A paved road accesses the property. Beautiful piece of land.Build your dream home here. Please see all the pictures. The title will transfer via a Warranty deedno back taxes or liens. Taxes are $370/ year. Please add $600 for the closing cost to the final...

Price: $ 16,500 Seller State of Residence: Florida Property Address: 1602 Johns Ave Type: Homesite, Lot Zip/Postal Code: 33972 Zoning: A-General City: LeHigh Acres State/Province: Florida Location: 339**, Lehigh Acres, Florida

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Nearby Florida
Property details:

This property is in the heart of Grand Isle, ME, where there are NO BUILDING CODES. 14' x 28' (392 sq ft) tiny cabin with two bedrooms, living room/kitchen area, and one room to turn into a bathroom plus 4 acres +/-. Long private gravel driveway into the woods with views of surrounding fields and mountains. Electric pole already set up within feet of the cabin, simple to install (electrician quoted $1,500 to cabin). No septic, no well but well digging company will put one in for you for $10K or ...

Price: $ 89,900 Seller State of Residence: Maine Type: Homesite, Lot Property Address: 921 Main Street, Grand Isle, ME Zip/Postal Code: 04746 Zoning: Mixed City: Grand Isle State/Province: Maine Location: 047**, Grand Isle, Maine

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Gerry Turner / Instagram

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/16/2024



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist have recreated their first date in New Jersey.Shortly after Gerry and Theresa tied the knot in Palm Springs, CA, during a live, televised wedding special that aired on ABC on January 4, Gerry packed his suitcase, grabbed his beloved goldendoodle, and traveled to Theresa's home state of New Jersey on January 9.After a 10-hour drive, Gerry -- an Iowa native who has been living on a lake in Indiana since 2017 -- and his beloved dog, Cody, arrived at Theresa's home in Shrewsbury, NJ, where star was greeted with a home-cooked meal.This past weekend, Gerry updated fans with information about what he and Theresa have been up to.Not only have Gerry and Theresa been tasting food at different restaurants -- including a seemingly delicious Italian spot called Trama's Trattoria -- but they appeared to recreate their very first date.On Saturday, January 13, Gerry posted photos of Theresa and himself standing outside of the Americana Diner."Out of 530 diners in New Jersey, Theresa took me to one of the best. With only 529 more to go, I'll be busy thru June of 2025," Gerry captioned the photos.Gerry and Theresa even managed to take some time to pose for pictures with their fans in the diner.On , Gerry and Theresa's first date was to a diner where the couple enjoyed burgers, fries and milkshakes. Toward the end of the evening, a flash mob broke out in the streets and Gerry and Theresa danced to "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey.Many fans have been wondering when Gerry and Theresa are going to take their honeymoon to Italy, and Gerry shared with one of his Instagram followers, "EVERY DAY IS A HONEYMOON DAY."Gerry and Theresa's engagement aired on 's finale on November 30.The couple's entire post-show relationship has been in the public eye, and so Gerry explained if he's grown tired of the fame and constant scrutiny."Do [I] get tired of it? I don't because people get to share in the joy of the story and the joy of the show," Gerry said during a joint interview with Theresa on the January 2 episode of the "Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe " podcast."Just walking into our [New York City hotel for New Year's] last night, Theresa walked in the door and I was waiting for her. There were four young ladies there waiting to take our picture together. So it's constant."Theresa added how "the best part is meeting so many people" and getting "to talk to strangers all the time," which she thinks is "so cool."Theresa also said she taught Gerry how to post on Instagram Stories and they've leaned a lot about social media since filming the show.Theresa shared how she enjoys reading messages on social media that she has inspired others to find love at any age."It's just hard to respond to every single person. We wish we could and we want to," Theresa said.Gerry said he's "not sure there are words to describe" his overall experience on ."I asked Theresa, 'Did you have even an inkling about how big this would be?' Because our families have joined together," Gerry explained."It's not just that we have impacted and changed each other, but we've changed our families and we've changed people who have watched the show."Gerry said he senses how has given people a newfound sense of hope about finding love, even in one's senior years."And I hope they find humor in some of the things we do. So there are so many ripple-effect changes. They're all positive in my opinion, that this has caused.""I looked forward to an amazing experience and to meet other women -- and hoping that it would happen -- but how in the world did this happen?! This is amazing!"Before viewers even saw Gerry's happily-ever-after ending play out on TV, became a cultural phenomenon and Gerry turned into an overnight celebrity.But when the Los Angeles Times asked Gerry in December if he'll continue to seek stardom or just live a quiet life with Theresa now that the show is over, Gerry replied, "I don't think those two things are mutually exclusive.""I can have a great, quiet life with Theresa and still look at the aspirations and ambitions that may be out there," he elaborated."But I will say this, I am absolutely going to savor every moment until I get to that altar and say my 'I do's.' I want every single moment to be as joyful for her as it is for me, and I never want to look back and feel I hurried through anything. We'll deal with the aspirations after that."Gerry gushed about how he had been feeling pure "joy" since finale.Gerry concluded that he and Theresa "just make a perfect pair" and they're "better as a couple than [they] are individually."Gerry selected Theresa as his winner over his runner-up Leslie Fhima , who was absolutely devastated by her breakup with Gerry.Gerry and Theresa, however, were able to understand and relate to each other on a deep level when discussing loss and past trauma.Gerry's wife, Toni, had passed away in 2017 from a bacterial infection after 43 years of marriage. Theresa lost her husband, Billy, in 2014 from kidney failure after 42 years of marriage.Gerry, however, came under fire recently for allegedly having had -- and not being honest about -- a live-in girlfriend of nearly three nears after Toni passed away. Gerry responded to the accusations late last year, as did Theresa Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Rumors spread among the scientific community that NASA's James Webb Space Telescope had discovered a distant planet with clear signs of life. The space agency has denied this information in a sense, but not without a caveat.

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The details were reported by Ars Technica. Scientists believe that even if the rumors about what the telescope discovered are false, it will still confirm its prospects.

Nicole Colon, a deputy researcher at the James Webb Exoplanet Science Project, said that no "definitive evidence" has been found so far, but there is a possibility that such an extraordinary discovery is on the horizon. However, research that could confirm the discovery of life on a distant planet will take years.

"JWST observations are expected to lead to an initial identification of potential biosignatures that may indicate the more or less likely habitability of an exoplanet," said Colon.

However, she noted that future missions will be needed "to definitively establish the habitability of the exoplanet."

The publication notes that this response is aimed at stopping the uncontrolled spread of rumors but still leaves the door open to some exciting possibilities, as NASA did not respond to the rumors with a categorical "no."

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Potential biosignatures were discovered in 2023 on the exoplanet K2-18b. This is a probable oceanic world that is about 8.6 times more massive than Earth. It is located at a distance of about 120 light-years from us.

A new wave of rumors about the discovery of life on this distant planet began to spread after an article in The Spectator entitled "Have we just discovered aliens?", which quoted authoritative figures in the astronomical community.

"Potentially, the James Webb telescope may have already found (alien life)," the publication quoted British astronaut Tim Peake as saying.

According to him, NASA "doesn't want to make these results public or confirm them until they are completely sure."

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"But we have found a planet that appears to be emitting strong signals of biological life," Mr. Peake emphasized.

A molecule called dimethyl sulfide was found on K2-18b. This is a substance that is produced only by living organisms on Earth. It is not surprising that scientists believe that this world with oceans and a hydrogen-rich atmosphere could potentially be home to life.

In addition, the exoplanet is located in the so-called "habitable" zone of its star, which means that the planet's surface is neither too hot nor too cold for life forms known to mankind.

The reluctance of scientists to make a sensation out of this is explained by the fact that additional observations will be needed to confirm the telescope's data, possibly with the help of completely new instruments. Moreover, it is quite possible that dimethyl sulfide can be produced without life.

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At the same time, astrophysicist Rebecca Smethurst from the University of Oxford expresses confident optimism.

"I think that very soon we will get a paper that will contain convincing evidence of biosignatures on the exoplanet," Smethurst said.

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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.
The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was celebrated at the 45th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Banquet Saturday night. The nights theme, It Starts with Me: Shifting the Cultural Climate through the Study and Practice of Kingian Nonviolence set the tone for the event  many of Dr. Kings teachings and acts of service reminded Athenians what role they play in making a better society for all.
Adani Group on Wednesday said it will invest over Rs 12,400 crore in an array of projects including a data centre, clean energy project, and a cement plant in Telangana.

Image: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy meets Gautam Adani in Davos. Photograph: ANI Photo

The group signed four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for the investments at the World Economic Forum in Davos in presence of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani.

The conglomerate's flagship firm Adani Enterprises will invest Rs 5,000 crore in setting up a 100 MW data centre that will use green energy while its renewable energy unit Adani Green Energy Ltd will spend an equivalent amount in setting up two pump storage projects.

The conglomerate's Ambuja Cements will put in Rs 1,400 crore to build 6 million tonne a year (MTPA) cement plant and Adani Defence and Aerospace will invest another Rs 1,000 crore to set up counter drone and missile facilities.

"The Adani portfolio of companies, one of the world's largest infrastructure conglomerates, and the Government of Telangana signed four MoUs for investment of over Rs 12,400 crore, at the World Economic Forum 2024," it said in a statement.

"These MoUs will help build the foundations for economic growth of Telangana that is green, sustainable, inclusive, and transformative."

Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL) will set up a 100 MW data centre, which would be powered by renewable energy, over the coming 5-7 years.

It will work closely with local MSMEs and startups to develop a globally competent supplier base for the project, which will provide employment, both direct and indirect, to 600 people.

Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) will set up two pump storage projects (PSPs) - 850 MW at Koyabestagudem and 500 MW at Nacharam.

Ambuja Cements will set up a 6 MTPA capacity cement plant across 70 acres in the next five years.

This would significantly enhance Ambuja's capability and provide employment for over 4,000 people, both directly and indirectly.

"Adani Defence Systems and Technologies will invest over Rs 1,000 crore in 10 years to set up a comprehensive ecosystem for the research, development, design, manufacturing and integration of counter drone and missile systems at the Adani Aerospace Park.

"The ecosystem developed through these projects would significantly enhance the defence capability of India and would provide employment to over 1,000 people," the statement added.

Headquartered at Ahmedabad, Adani Group is the largest and fastest-growing portfolio of diversified businesses in India with interests in logistics (seaports, airports, logistics, shipping and rail), resources, power generation and distribution, renewable energy, gas and infrastructure, agro (commodities, edible oil, food products, cold storage and grain silos), real estate, public transport infrastructure, consumer finance and defence, and other sectors.
In recent times, more and more audit firms have challenged company managements, some going to the extent of resigning on the ground of incompatibility with what the management wanted or was doing.

Photograph: Reuters

This, said Ajay Bhushan Pandey, chairman of the National Financial Regulatory Authority (NFRA), in a media interview, was a good sign.

Now, the national accounting watchdog has turned the spotlight on audit firms themselves.

These firms are perceived to be the eyes and ears of non-promoter investors.

The NFRA on December 22 released the inspection reports for audit firms BSR & Co, Deloitte Haskins & Sells, SRBC & Co, and Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants.

This was followed by a report on Walker Chandiok & Co.

BSR is part of the KPMG network. SRBC part of the EY network, and DHSL is part of the Deloitte network.

Walker Chandiok & Cos affiliation could not be established.

As a result, the firms, including those that are part of the Big Four network, so called because they handle the bulk of the audit business in India as well as around the world, are taking stock of the recent inspection report by the NFRA to make their systems more compliant with the norms.

However, on the authoritys concerns over offering non-audit services to audit clients, the audit firms have clarified their position and stated that they have not violated the law.

The overall findings dealt with the potential improvements to be adopted in the future and were not in the nature of negative assessments of the audit work inspected.

"The inspection provides an opportunity for the firm to review and evaluate its policies and procedures to further enhance the system of quality control, says a partner at Deloitte, who does not want to be named.

Deloitte plans to make its independence confirmation completely electronic and do away with manual documentation, as the issue was raised in the inspection report.

Though this inspection report was the first such exercise by the NFRA, it could go on to hold more such inspections for other firms as well, say industry sources.

While pointing to the several gaps across audit firms related to documentation and violation of Standards on Auditing, the NFRA stated in a report that the areas of weaknesses should be treated as areas of potential improvement and not as a negative assessment of the work of the firm unless specifically indicated otherwise.

We welcome the observations made in the NFRA report, and there are certain efforts being made to further enhance audit processes and documentation, which have also been acknowledged in the NFRA report, a Walker Chandiok spokesperson said.

Conflict of interest

One of the more serious issues raised by the NFRA in its report is about violation of section 144 of the Companies Act, which prohibits firms from providing certain non-audit services to audit clients.

The firms, for their part, deny any such violation. Deloitte and EY, for instance, have stated that the non-audit services were being provided before they got on board as auditors and were discontinued as soon as the audit engagement began.

But, with respect to networking arrangements of these firms with the respective Big Four entities, there seems to be more scope for work.

The financial reporting authority has recommended that SRBC, an EY member firm, should make the necessary changes to its India policy to recognise the direct or indirect relationship between the member firms of their international network.

It should also review all its ongoing engagements considering EY Network entities as directly or indirectly related to SRBA Entities, NFRA said.

EY, according to sources, is examining internally if it needs to make any changes to its India policy with respect to its networking arrangements, as suggested by the NFRA.

Deloitte, too, say sources, is studying the matter related to its networking agreement to see if it needs reworking.

The NFRA in its report has asked that the firm follow the network agreement in force, the Deloitte partner adds.

In its firm-wide review of audit control systems of BSR & Co, the watchdog found that the firms claim of being independent from KPMG India entities was unacceptable.

The NFRA said BSR did not provide details of its leadership structure, KPMG network entities, and non-audit services provided by those entities to audit clients of the firm during the inspection.

In an email response, BSR & Co said it had invested considerable effort in building a robust system of quality control to support compliance and applicable auditing standards.

We appreciate the recommendations and observations in the inspection report and will constructively engage with Honble NFRA in evaluating and implementing further improvements to our policies and practices, it said.

Network effect

In case of Walker Chandiok, the NFRA stated in its inspection report: We observe that there is direct or indirect relationship amongst WCCL, GTBL, GTAPL and GTIL, as per Explanation (ii) to Section 144 and that these entities are also part of a Network.

Refuting the NFRAs interpretation, Walker Chandiok stressed that it does not provide any of the prohibited non-audit services to audit clients.

We believe that we are compliant with the auditor independence related requirements under the applicable laws and regulations, the firms spokesperson said.

A senior executive of the auditing industry, however, says there is need for greater clarity about the finer aspects of the Section 144, which does not allow non-audit services to audit clients to avoid a conflict of interest, one of which is management services.

In the European Union, Australia and the United Kingdom, auditors are not allowed to provide non-audit services such as taxation, restructuring, and valuation to protect objectivity of the audit.

India, according to the current rules, allows these services to be given by auditors.

There is a need to define, for instance, what managerial services are, so it is not open to interpretation.

"Some guidance may be useful, the senior industry executive says.

Industry sources say inspections such as these are useful as they help the firms understand the expectations of the regulator and also help the regulator interact with the audit firms constructively.
Maharashtra has signed MoUs totalling Rs 1.4 lakh crore at Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, following Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's meetings with a number of business leaders, the state government said on Wednesday.

Image: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at WEF meet in Davos. Photograph: ANI/X

Karnataka, too, signed MoUs with investment proposals to the tune of Rs 22,000 crore with seven companies.

As part of the MoUs signed, Web Werks proposes to set up a Rs 20,000 crore data centre park in Karnataka, while four other companies plan to invest a total of Rs 2,000 crore, according to a statement issued by the Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development M B Patil.

Besides holding discussions with senior delegates from South Africa and other countries, Shinde also met senior representatives from Schneider Electric and Louis Dreyfus, among others.

MOUs have been signed with global giants like Berkshire Hathaway and Greenko Energy Projects.

These agreements are poised to generate over one lakh jobs in vital sectors across Maharashtra, affirming the state's role as India's stable and dependable gateway for global investors, the state government said.

The Lulu Group is set to venture into food processing in Vijayapura district, in Karnataka with plans to invest Rs 300 crore in a plant dedicated to exports.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals intends to establish a global innovation centre in Bengaluru and is actively scouting for suitable campus locations.

On the other hand, Shinde is actively engaged in strategic discussions to forge impactful collaborations and showcase Maharashtra's stability, dependability and commitment to global economic progress at the WEF 2024.
Activist Fail Alsinov, who was sentenced to four years in prison in Bashkiria (Russia) on charges of "inciting ethnic hatred" and whose release is demanded by thousands of protesters in the republic, has been advocating for the sovereignty of Bashkortostan since 2014. In 2022, he was fined for speaking out against the war in Ukraine and the mobilization of Bashkirs.

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According to Vazhnye Istori, the Russian authorities consider Fail Alsinov a Bashkir nationalist. In 2014, he became one of the founders of the Bashkort movement, which advocated for the sovereignty of Bashkortostan.

In 2020, Bashkort was recognized as an extremist organization.

Alsinov also took part in protests in defense of the Shikhan (lone mountain), a natural monument in Kushtau, which the Bashkir authorities wanted to give away for limestone mining. The 2020 protests lasted for about three weeks, and as a result, the protesters defended the Shikhan.

A few days after the announcement of "partial" mobilization in the Russian Federation in 2022, Alsinov called what was happening a genocide of the Bashkir people and wrote that Russia's war with Ukraine was "not our war." He was then fined 10 thousand rubles (about 4.2 UAH), and his home was searched.

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In April 2023, Fail Alsinov took part in protests in the village of Ishmurzino in the Baymak district of Bashkortostan against gold mining on the Irandyk mountain range.

In October 2023, after his speech in Ishmurzino, the head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, personally wrote a statement against Alsinov, accusing him of speaking out against people of Armenian, Caucasian, and Central Asian nationalities. At the time, the activist said that visitors could leave Bashkiria, but Bashkirs had nowhere to go from their land.

In January 2024, the prosecutor's office requested four years in prison for Alsynov. During the closed court hearings, thousands of people rallied in defense of the activist. Thus, on January 15, according to various estimates, from 1 to 5 thousand people came to the court to support Alsynov.

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On January 16, 2024, Alsynov was added to the list of extremists in the Russian Federation, and on January 17, he was sentenced to four years in prison in a case of "incitement to hatred."

In the speech for which Alsynov was convicted, he used the expression "kara khalik." Literally, it translates as "black people, black people" - a conventional name for the feudal-dependent population of the Golden Horde in the 13th-16th centuries. An "academic translation of the activist's speech" prepared by specialist Aynur Khuzhakhmetov was attached to the criminal case. He translated the phrase as "black people" and stated that allegedly "the meaning of the phrase corresponds to the meaning of the words 'khachi,' 'churki,' 'niggers.'

As OBOZ.UA previously reported:

- Protests in Bashkiria began on January 15. Then about 15 thousand people took part in a peaceful rally in support of Alsinov, who called on Russians to "leave" Bashkiria "for their own Ryazan." It was the largest protest of the entire period of the full-scale war.

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- On January 17, the Internet was cut off in Baymak, and all entrances to the court where Alsinov was sentenced were blocked. However, people abandoned their cars and walked to support the activist. About 5 thousand people gathered near the court, chanting: "Freedom! Azatlyk, Fail, we are with you!", "We do not surrender our own!".

- After the dispersal and beating of protesters in Baymak, a resident of Bashkiria called on her compatriots to leave Ukraine and return home to protect their people from the totalitarian regime of the Russian Federation.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Punjab and Haryana high court Wednesday dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by the Chandigarh Congress after police pointed out that party's municipal councillor Jasbir Singh Bunty had sought security in the wake of the Chandigarh mayoral polls.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The order of Justice Alok Jain came on the petition filed by Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky, claiming that the Chandigarh police were not allowing the Congress leaders to meet Bunty and also that he had been "detained" at his residence.



In the plea which was filed Tuesday midnight, the petitioner's counsel submitted before the judge that police authorities were not letting Bunty move freely which is a violation of his fundamental rights.

The petition was filed ahead of the Chandigarh mayoral polls on Thursday. The polls for the posts of mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor will be held.

Hearing the petition Wednesday evening, the counsel for the police submitted a status report and as per which, Bunty had made a request with the police to provide him security for threat perception in the wake of Chandigarh mayoral polls.

It was also stated that the "detenu" (Bunty) has given his statement in which he expresses that he is satisfied with the proper security provided to him by the authorities, adding that he is freely moving around and is under no detention or illegal custody.

The counsel for the Union Territory police vehemently opposed the maintainability of the present petition on the ground that the petitioner has not even mentioned as on what basis he has filed the present petition.

Neither the petitioner is related to the alleged detenu nor is his immediate guardian or from the immediate family, the counsel submitted while calling the petition as "an abuse of process of law".

The counsel further submitted that there was never any illegal detention of the alleged detenu with whom the petitioner has also met Wednesday morning and got clicked his photographs.

"I have heard the learned counsels for the parties at length and do not find that the present petition fulfils the ingredients for issuance of any writ in the nature of habeas corpus. The reason for the same is that the alleged detenu had himself given an application on January 16 for seeking protection due to the upcoming mayor elections," the court said in its order.

"Subsequent to the filing of this petition also, he has also categorically made a statement that he is not in any illegal detention or custody rather he is duly protected and is not under any detention," said the court.

"In light of the above, the present petition apparently, seems to be an abuse of process of law," said the court, adding, "In view of the above, the present petition is dismissed."

A scuffle had broken out between the BJP and Congress-AAP workers when Bunty came to withdraw his nomination papers from the post of mayor at the Chandigarh municipal corporation office.

Following the scuffle, police had brought Bunty to his residence in Attawa here from the MC office. Several policemen were deployed outside the residence of Bunty.

Bunty was initially the Congress candidate for the post of mayor. But after the Congress and the AAP sealed an alliance for the mayoral polls, a decision was taken that the AAP will fight for the post of mayor and the Congress nominees will fight for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.
China's population dipped for a second consecutive year as the overall numbers fell by 2.08 million last year to 1.4097 billion as India overtook China to become the most populous country in the world in 2023, according to the annual official data released on Wednesday.

IMAGE: People walk with their luggage at a railway station during the annual Spring Festival travel rush ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Shanghai. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters

China's population reported its first decline in six decades in 2022 after the birth rate hit a new low resulting in decades of the one-child policy pursued vigorously by the ruling Communist Party of China to control the population growth with experts predicting a steeper decline in the coming years in the world's second-largest economy.

According to the United Nations Population Fund data, India surpassed China to become the world's most populous nation with 142.86 crore people last year.

Last year 9.02 million babies were born in China, down by 5.6 per cent from 9.56 million in 2022 amid the plummeting interest in couples having children, according to data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics.

The falling number of new babies resulted in the lowest birth rate since records began in 1949, with 6.39 births for every 1,000 people, compared with 6.77 in 2022.

China implemented a third-child policy in May of 2021 and rolled out a series of stimulus measures to boost population growth. Several cities, provinces and regions across the country have rolled out incentive policies such as issuing subsidies to families with a second or third child.

China's population growth has been slowing since 2016 as the high cost of raising children, a greater pursuit of individualism and a diversified lifestyle dampen enthusiasm to start a family.

The country's zero-Covid policies, implemented between 2020 and late 2022, are also perceived to have contributed to the slide.

Last year, 11.1 million people also died, pushing the national death rate to 7.87 per 1,000 people pushing the national death rate to 7.87 per 1,000 people, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

Researchers warned that the Chinese economy which in the past significantly benefited from a demographic dividend, will have to tackle challenges including fewer working-age people, weaker spending power and a strained social security system as its population ages further.

China's overall population is set to see a steeper decline in the coming years, said Professor Peng Xizhe from the Centre for Population and Development Policy Studies at Fudan University.

It's almost certain that the population will go on with negative growth, Peng told the Post.

As the cloud of the coronavirus pandemic wanes, and pronatalist policies more or less make some difference, the number of newborns per year might rebound a little but is unlikely to exceed 10 million, he said.

A rise in deaths related to COVID-19 may have occurred in early 2023  Looking ahead, as the population ages, annual deaths will continue growing in the future, surpassing 10 million people each year, Peng said.

Therefore, with deaths outnumbering births, it's almost certain that the population will go on with negative growth, according to Peng.

He Dan, the director of China Population and Development Research Centre said most factors that result in the decline in women choosing to have children or get married can be adjusted through the implementation of supportive policies.

"Though cities have released a slew of supportive policies to support childbearing women to give birth, the public's expectation is still not being met," He Dan told state-run Global Times tabloid.

He proposed a birth guarantee system to provide subsidies to individuals who care for newborns, aiming to encourage intergenerational support and help between family members and strengthen training and guidance on scientific parenting.

He also said the establishment of an "entire lifecycle of family services support system" will be able to alleviate anxiety and stress related to childbirth and provide comprehensive support for reproductive health services, marriage and relationship services, and childcare services, among others.
Describing India as an "extraordinary success story", US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said the "remarkable achievements" of the Modi government have materially benefitted and positively impacted so many Indian lives.

IMAGE: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 17, 2024. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Speaking here at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024, he also said the US-India relations have reached a new high with efforts from both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden.

At the same time, a regular part of the conversation between the two countries has been about democracy and rights, Blinken said.

"It's part of a very sustained, very real conversation and a conversation we hope produces positive change and that's the case with India," he said.

He was replying to a question on whether the rise of Hindu nationalism in India concerns the US despite the country's robust economic growth and infrastructure building under the Modi regime.

Talking about how he and the US look at India, Blinken said, "We see an extraordinary success story and see the remarkable achievements that Prime Minister Modi has achieved under his watch that has materially benefitted and positively affected so many Indian lives."

"We also see the relationship between our two countries that has reached a new place and a new level and that I think has been a very deliberate effort on part of both Prime Minister Modi and President Biden to position it so," he added.

The US Secretary of State further said, "At the same time, a constant regular part of our conversation is the conversation about democracy, about rights."

"When the President took office, we wanted to make sure that we put back into our foreign policy these fundamental concerns about democracy and about human rights and we have done that. We do it in different ways in different places. Maybe because of the relationship we may have with a country, with a government," he added.
The Calcutta high court on Wednesday ordered formation of a joint special investigation team of Central Bureau of Investigation and the West Bengal police to probe an attack on Enforcement Directorate officials at Sandeshkhali when they went to search the premises of Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh on January 5.

IMAGE: Security personnel inspect a vehicle of the ED team which was attacked during a raid in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, in North 24 Parganas, January 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Justice Jay Sengupta directed that the probe will be monitored by the court and the SIT will file a progress report of the investigation on February 12, the next date of hearing in the case.

The agency's counsel had prayed for transfer of the investigation into the attack to the CBI, claiming that the central agency does not have faith in a probe being done by the West Bengal police.

One SP rank officer of CBI, the name of whom the agency was directed to give to the court by Thursday, and Jaspreet Singh, SP of Islampur police district will jointly head the SIT, Justice Sengupta said.

ED officials went to search the premises of Shajahan, including his residence and office, at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district in connection with their probe into the money trail in a ration distribution scam case in West Bengal, when the central agency's officials and accompanying CRPF personnel were attacked by a mob.

According to a suo motu FIR lodged by Nazat police station, within the area of which the premises of Shajahan is situated and the attack on the ED officials took place, around 3,000 people had gathered when the central agency went for the search operation.



It stated that the local police managed to get the ED officials and the accompanying CRPF personnel safe passage from the area after they were attacked.

Justice Sengupta directed that the two officers will have the liberty to take assistance from central forces or the state police for apprehending the accused persons.

He directed that the two SPs of the CBI and the state police induct an equal number of officers from their respective services to conduct the investigation.

The court directed that no officer of Nazat police station will be a part of the investigation.

Justice Sengupta said the ED's prayer for a single agency, the CBI, to probe the attack was not being allowed at this stage and could be considered later based on how the investigation progresses.

The ED has stated that three of its officers were injured and their belongings were "looted" in an attack on them at Sandeshkhali.

The ED told the court that its officials could not enter the house of Shajahan as they were attacked by a huge mob.

The judge directed that police picket and CCTV cameras which have been installed around the house of Sheikh will remain operational till decided otherwise by the SIT.

State's Advocate General Kishore Dutta informed the court that 10 CCTV cameras were installed at the site.

He stated that the local police were yet to trace Sheikh.

Additional Solicitor General S V Raju had on Tuesday submitted that despite public servants on duty having been grievously assaulted, only milder sections of the IPC were instituted in the suo motu FIR filed by the police.

He stated that since the ED officials have complained that their laptops, mobile phones and purses were "looted" during the mob attack, a cognisable offence of dacoity is made out, but such a section of IPC was not given in the FIR.

Raju stated that the ED's probe into the money trail in the alleged ration distribution scam in the state, in which it has arrested West Bengal minister Jyoti Priya Mallick, has led the agency to Shajahan, which is why they went to search his premises at Sandeshkhali.

Three FIRs were registered on January 5 in connection with the incident.

The first FIR was lodged by Didar Baksh Molla who claimed to be a caretaker of Shajahan's house, at 10.30 am, a second FIR was filed suo motu by the Nazat police on the incident on the basis of a general diary by a sub-inspector of the police station at 1.30 pm and the third was by the ED at around 8.10 pm.

Another bench had on January 11 granted interim protection to the ED officials in connection with the FIR lodged against them by Didar Baksh Molla.

Justice Rajasekhar Mantha had ordered an interim stay on further proceedings by the state police on the FIR against the ED officials till March 31.

Molla accused the ED officials of theft, outraging modesty and beating up women and children when they went to search Sheikh's house on January 5.

The ED had moved the high court against this FIR, claiming that false allegations were foisted on them.

Holding that anyone could have lost his life in the mob attack, Justice Sengupta observed that the "CRPF personnel exercised restraint in not escalating the situation."

In observations in the detailed order uploaded in the server, the court said if the ED personnel could not enter the said premises, the question of stealing or molesting women would not arise.

While noting that the issue of quashing of proceedings in the FIR filed by Didar Baksh is pending before another bench, the court said the very registration of such an FIR, casts a serious shadow of doubt on the impartiality of the officers of Nazat police station.

"It is indeed quite astounding, to say the least, that the state police are having no information on the whereabouts of a prominent political leader of the locality like accused Sajahan Sheikh and are unable to arrest him," the court observed.

The court observed that a pan-India organisation like the CBI would also be able to deal better with inter-state or inter-country measures if it becomes necessary to undertake the same.

Justice Sengupta said the state has a constitutional obligation to "uphold the rule of law and not permit any form of anarchy or mobocracy."

The court, however, said on the other hand, it is also no less surprising that the ED, which was praying for investigation of the case of mob violence by the CBI, had not prayed for transfer of investigation of cases involving the predicate offences in the alleged ration scam from the state police to the CBI.

No report in final form will be filed without the leave of this court, Justice Sengupta directed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided guidance to party workers on Wednesday on winning over voters in Kerala, where the Bharatiya Janata Party has not made any major gains in elections till now.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi feeds fish after offering prayers at the Thriprayar Shree Ramaswamy Temple in Thrissur district, Kerala, January 17, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Addressing a gathering of around 6,000 in-charges of 'Shakti Kendras,' each comprising two to three booth-level areas, at Marine Drive, the prime minister said that Kerala has the potential to influence who will be in power in Delhi.

He urged the BJP workers to ensure victory in their respective booths.

"If we win our booths, we will win Kerala. For that, you (party workers) have to focus your attention on every voter in every booth-level area and work hard.

"You should have a list of every beneficiary in your booth, meet them, get to know their names, meet their families; that should be the first priority," Modi said.

He further advised his party workers to include in the ongoing Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Kerala those who have not yet benefited from the central government's development and welfare schemes.

"You have to bring them to the vehicle of 'Modi ki guarantee'. Modi ki guarantee means a commitment to fulfilling promises. I believe each one of you can convey this message to the people," Modi said.

Claiming that the BJP is the only party in India with a proven track record of speedy development and a clear vision for the future, he urged the functionaries to make use of the My Bharat initiative, Namo app, as well as social media platforms to attract youth and spread positivity about the party and the schemes of the central government.

Speaking about the upcoming consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, the PM called upon party workers to initiate cleanliness campaigns in temples across villages and cities.

Modi noted that Kerala is a state where the Ramayana month is celebrated and exhorted party workers to disseminate the message to every household in their area, encouraging them to illuminate the 'Ram Jyoti' on the evening of January 22 and ensure widespread participation in the event.

Among the responsibilities assigned to party workers, the prime minister emphasised the importance of regularly engaging with constituents in their designated 'Shakti Kendras.'

He appealed to them to comprehend public opinions and identify schemes that could address prevalent issues.

Furthermore, every worker should take responsibility for a fixed number of people, be it 10 families or 15 families, at their booth levels, the PM said.

"This way, right from now, the duties of every worker would be fixed. They will know what they have to do," he said.

The prime minister also directed the party workers to ensure no person is left out of the voter list.

In his speech, Modi also highlighted the diverse initiatives like free ration, free medical treatment and free gas connection for the poor, implemented by his government to enhance the well-being of citizens.

Citing a recent report, he said in the last nine years around 25 crore people have been pulled out of poverty in India.

"This indicates that the direction that we have taken for a developed nation is the correct one," he said.

"The BJP is the only party in India with a proven track record of speedy development and clear vision for the future," he added.

The prime minister also asked party workers to point out to people that the track record of the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front in Kerala was "synonymous with a history of corruption".

Modi also referred to the welcome he received on Tuesday on his arrival in the state and said that he was overawed by the love and affection of the people of Kerala.

He said that people blessed him on his arrival at Kochi on Tuesday and also on the route to the Thriprayar Sree Ramaswamy temple this morning.

The PM, who arrived on a two-day visit to Kerala, the second one in a span of two weeks, led a massive roadshow in this port city a day ago.

Thereafter, on Wednesday morning he offered prayers at Kerala's famous Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur and attended the wedding of actor-politician Suresh Gopi's daughter, where top stars of Malayalam cinema were in attendance.

Later, he offered prayers at the Thriprayar Sree Ramaswamy temple situated on the bank of the Karuvannur river, also known as Theevra river, in Thrissur district.

This visit by Prime Minister Modi follows his recent remarks in Ayodhya about Kerala's famous Nalambalam yatra ceremony, a pilgrimage to the abode of Lord Ram and his brothers Bharat, Lakshman, and Shatrughan during the Malayalam month of Karkidakam.

By afternoon, the PM returned to Kochi where he inaugurated projects worth Rs 4,000 crore, including key strategic initiatives at Cochin Shipyard Ltd.

He returned to Delhi after addressing the meeting of the BJP party workers.
Pakistan on Wednesday warned Iran of "serious consequences" after Tehran launched unprecedented missile and drone attacks on terrorist bases of a Sunni militant group in the restive Balochistan province, which killed two children and injured three others.

Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Reuters

Two bases of Balochi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan were targeted by missiles on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported, a day after Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.

Islamabad also summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires here to the foreign ministry and issued a strongly-worded condemnation of Iran's "violation of its airspace", the Foreign Office said.

Iran's attack could potentially raise tensions in the Middle East, already roiled by Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan were specifically targeted and successfully demolished, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said.

Claiming that the area targeted is called "Green Mountain", the agency said that the bases were targeted by a combination of missile and drone attacks.

Tehran has repeatedly warned that the Jaish al-Adl militant group is using Pakistani soil in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan to launch terror attacks on Iranian security forces.

The Foreign Office of Pakistan described the incident as an "unprovoked violation of its airspace" by Iran. It said the attack killed two children and injured three others.

"Pakistan vehemently protests the violation of its sovereignty," the Foreign Office said, adding that it was "completely unacceptable" and may have "serious consequences".

"A strong protest has already been lodged with the senior official concerned in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran.

Additionally, the Iranian charge d'affaires has been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran," the statement said.

It also expressed concern that the "illegal act took place despite the existence of several established channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran".

The strikes were launched the day Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar met with the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

It added that the Iranian president's point man for Afghanistan was also in Islamabad recently.

The Foreign Office of Pakistan did not mention the location where the casualties took place. However, it is suspected that the bases were in Panjgur in Balochistan province.

Local authorities in Panjgur preferred to remain silent on the attacks, but some confided that the missile attacks also hit a mosque, partially damaging it and injuring civilians.

"Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighbourly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence," the Foreign Office said.

Jaish al-Adl, or the "Army of Justice", is a Sunni militant group founded in 2012 that largely operates in Pakistan. Iran has fought in border areas against the militants, but a missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan would be unprecedented for Iran.

Jaish al-Adl is the "most active and influential" Sunni militant group operating in Sistan-Baluchestan, according to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence.

Last month, at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an attack overnight on a police station in the southeastern province of Sistan-Balochistan, according to Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, who blamed the Jaish al-Adl for the incident.

He claimed the Jaish militants had entered Sistan from the Pakistan side near Panjgur.

On July 23 last year, four Iranian policemen were killed while on patrol near the border in an attack claimed by the Jaish Al Adl.

In May, five Iranian border guards died in clashes with an armed group in Saravan, southeast of Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Balochistan.

Over the years, the troubled Balochistan province has become a hotbed for terror attacks, and many banned religious terror, and separatist outfits have also used its soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan's security personnel and installations.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the district magistrates and superintendents of police of Maharashtra's Yavatmal and Chhattisgarh's Raipur to ensure no hate speeches are made at rallies being held by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Telangana BJP legislator T Raja Singh over the next one week in their respective jurisdictions.

IMAGE: A Hindu mahapanchayat being held at Tighar village in Gurugram, Haryana, August 6, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, however, refused to stay the rallies, saying the parties the applicant has voiced apprehensions about are not before the court.

It advised the DMs and SPs of the two districts to install CCTV cameras at the venue of the proposed rallies with recording facility so that those making hate speeches can be identified, in case they deliver one.

The court asked the authorities to be cautious and ensure there is no incitement to violence.

"We accordingly direct the district magistrate, superintendent of police of Yavatmal, Maharashtra and Raipur, Chhattisgarh, to take notice of the allegations and take appropriate steps as required. If necessary and deemed appropriate, police will install CCTV cameras with recording facilities so that perpetrators can be identified, if anything happens," the bench said in its order.

It passed the order on an application moved in the pending plea of journalist Shaheen Abdulla highlighting instances of hate speech at such events.

Abdulla said in his application that Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is scheduled to hold a rally in Yavatmal on January 18 and voiced apprehension about hate speeches being made there. He said controversial BJP MLA from Telangana T Raja Singh is set to address rallies in Raipur, the Chhattisgarh capital, from January 19 to January 25. He feared hate speeches might be made at Singh's rallies, too.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and lawyer Nizam Pasha, who appeared for Abdulla, contended during the hearing that no action was being taken against those promoting hate through their speeches.

"We have gone through the petition and there are certainly objectionable remarks which have been made. But some action has been taken and they (the police) have lodged FIR," Justice Khanna said.

"What action has been taken? Nothing. Besides lodging of FIR, nothing has been done. Now they are about to hold another rally," Sibal retorted.

The bench said it cannot pre-empt a rally on a mere apprehension about the possibility of hate speeches being made there. It, however, said the court can take action if there is any incitement to violence as there are orders to this effect.

When Sibal insisted on a court order staying these rallies, Justice Datta said, "Is he (Singh) a party in the petition? Look at your prayer which is to ensure permission is not granted to 'X' or withdraw permission if already granted? How can we pass this order without this person being a party or hearing from them?"

Citing a Supreme Court order, Justice Khanna told Sibal a nodal officer is to be appointed in each district to keep a tab on hate speeches.

Sibal then requested the court to issue directions to the district magistrates of Yavatmal and Raipur to act if hate speeches are made at these events.

Abdulla's application said Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has been actively involved in organising events where speeches are delivered openly demonising the Muslim community and calling for their boycott. The outfit organised last such event on January 3 in Maharashtra's Solapur district. Abdulla told the court it is holding another rally on January 18 in Yavatmal district.

Similarly, Abdulla brought to the court's notice the events to be held in Raipur district by BJP leader Singh. He referred to multiple cases the lawmaker from Telangana was facing over alleged hate speeches he delivered.

On November 29, 2023, the top court had said it was looking to put in place an administrative machinery to deal with hate speeches across the country and made it clear that it cannot handle each and every such matter as it will lead to a virtual flood of cases.

The apex court had said it has already defined what constitutes hate speech and the question now is of implementation of its directions.

On October 21, 2022, the top court had directed Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Uttarakhand to crack down on those making hate speeches, calling them shocking for a country that is religion-neutral.

Holding that the Constitution of India envisages a secular nation, the court had directed the three states to promptly register criminal cases against offenders without waiting for a complaint to be filed.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred to January 22 the hearing on a plea of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena against the Maharashtra assembly speaker's order declaring the Sena bloc led by CM Eknath Shinde as "real political party" after its split in June 2022.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar pronounces the verdict in Shiv Sena MLAs' disqualification, in Mumbai on Wednesday, January 11, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo/Video grab

The plea, which was filed on Monday by the Thackeray faction, was fixed by the apex court registry for hearing by a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on January 19.

The bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, was urged by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Thackeray group, that the hearing be held on Monday next week instead of this Friday.

"We will hear it on Monday," the CJI said.

On January 15, the Thackeray faction, through lawyer Rohit Sharma, had moved the top court challenging the January 10 decision of the speaker declaring the Sena bloc led by Shinde as the "real political party".

Maharashtra speaker Rahul Narwekar had also rejected the Thackeray faction's plea to disqualify 16 MLAs of the ruling camp, including Shinde.
Two Manipur police commandos were killed and two sustained bullet wounds after heavily-armed militants targeted them amid renewed violence in Moreh, a business town close to the Myanmar border, on Wednesday, officials said.

IMAGE: Army and Assam Rifles personnel stand guard in the Torbung area of Churachandpur, on May 6, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The deceased have been identified as Wangkhem Somorjit (32) and Takhellambam Saileshwore from Lamshang in Imphal West district, they said.

Somorjit was hit by bullets during an ambush near Ima Kondong Lairembi Devi temple in the morning.

He succumbed to injuries during treatment at Key Location Point of Assam Rifles. Saileshwore was shot dead by militants on Wednesday evening, officials said.

Constable N Bheem (35), who was hit by a bullet in his left leg, and ASI Sidharth Thokchom (35), who sustained injuries on his face and ears, were airlifted from Moreh and have been admitted to RIMS in Imphal for treatment, the official added.

According to an official, the gunfight began after militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a temporary police unit near SBI Moreh.

This was followed by multiple attacks by militants on security forces at Ward No. 7 and Chikim village, which are located near the town's border with Myanmar.

The militants also fired RPG shells at a temporary commando post damaging several vehicles parked in the vicinity.

Meanwhile, large number of women from Malom in Imphal West district blocked the road to the airport in protest against the killing of the policemen.

Spokesperson L Premchand of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in connection with the killing of Somorjit told reporters that "the body of the deceased policeman will not be accepted by the family members till the culprits are arrested and brought to justice."

Wearing traditional mourning dress, women sat on the middle of road to prevent all forms of vehicular movement on the route.

In another development, a large number of Meira Paibis from Imphal's main market of Khwairamband Keithel took out a rally demanding reinforcement of state forces at Moreh.

They marched towards the CM's bungalow but were stopped by police.

Some Kuki groups claimed that cadres of banned United National Liberation Front and Arambai Tenggol people were moving alongside with Manipur state police commandoes and targeting the tribal community besides indulging in widespread arson and burning down of school and other buildings.

With the situation remaining tense in the border town following multiple gun and bomb attacks on policemen by militants, an emergency meeting to discuss the law and order situation was held at the CM's secretariat.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, his cabinet colleagues and MLAs, an official told PTI.

Moreh has been experiencing regular exchanges of fire between security forces and militants over the past few days. The latest firing incident took place just 48 hours after the arrest of two suspects involved in the killing of Moreh SDPO.

The police had recently arrested Phillip Khongsai and Hemokholal Mate, the two main suspects in the killing of SDPO Ch Anand in October last year.

The two had fired at the vehicles of the security personnel following which police chased and overpowered them.

The two were later produced before the judicial magistrate Moreh and have been remanded to nine days police custody, the police said.

Earlier this month, the CM had said there were high chances of the involvement of foreign mercenaries from Myanmar in the gun and bomb attacks.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs for helicopters to meet emergency requirements in the wake of law and order situation in the border town of Moreh, an official said.

Commissioner Home T Ranjit Singh in a letter to additional secretary (police II Division), ministry of home affairs, said: "The law and order situation in the border town of Moreh has become a matter of serious concern as there has been continuous exchange of fire."

Earlier, following inputs of "likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquility and grave danger to human lives and property within the revenue jurisdiction of Tengnoupal" the Manipur government had imposed a total curfew from midnight on January 16.
A day after Iran carried out a deadly missile strike targeting terror bases in western Pakistan, India on Wednesday said it understands actions that countries take in self-defence, and asserted that it has an "uncompromising" position of "zero tolerance" towards terrorism.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Iranian Army/WANA/Reuters

At the same time, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it is a matter between Iran and Pakistan.

"This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan," Jaiswal said.

The spokesperson was responding to media queries on the Iranian missile strike on Pakistan.

"So far as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self-defence," Jaiswal said.

Tehran launched an unprecedented missile and drone strikes on what it said were directed at the bases of a terrorist group in the restive Balochistan province.

Two bases of the Sunni Baloch militant group 'Jaish al-Adl' in Pakistan's unruly Balochistan province were targeted by missiles and drones on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported.

Pakistan on Wednesday recalled its ambassador to Iran and suspended all planned high-level bilateral visits.

In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Baloch said that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return to Islamabad for the time being.

Pakistan also reserves the right to retaliate to the provocation by Iran, she said.

Pakistani officials said two children were killed and three others injured in the missile strike in Balochistan.

Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in Davos that the operation was targeting Jaish al-Adl.

"We only targeted Iranian terrorists on the soil of Pakistan," he said.

In February 2019, India's war planes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in Pakistan in response to the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed.
On the evening of Tuesday, January 16, Russian occupation forces once again fired missiles at Kharkiv. The invaders hit residential infrastructure.

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There are wounded as a result of the attack. This was reported by the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov.

According to preliminary data, the occupiers struck with S-300 missiles.

"The occupiers struck Kharkiv with two missiles. Preliminary, with S-300s. There is damage to civilian residential infrastructure," the statement said.

According to Syniehubov, a 43-year-old woman was hospitalized in serious condition. Ten other people are in light and moderate condition.

Doctors continue to examine the victims. Emergency services continue to inspect the impact sites.

As of 22:47, the number of victims has increased.

"As of this moment, 16 people have been injured in the center of Kharkiv as a result of Russian shelling. 2 women are in serious condition," Syniehubov said.

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As of 23:24, the number of victims of the Russian strike increased to 17 people .

"Two women remain in serious condition. 12 people are also hospitalized, they are in moderate and light condition. Three people refused to be hospitalized and were provided with medical care on the spot," the head of the RMA said.

At the same time, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov clarified that the enemy's attacks took place in the city center.

"There is no military infrastructure, but there are residential buildings. The State Emergency Service is already working at the sites of the attacks. There is information about the wounded," he emphasized.

The State Emergency Service reported that one of the missiles hit a three-story building of an inactive medical facility, partially destroying it.

When firefighters arrived, they found several fires in two buildings. The total area of the fire was about 60 square meters. Destruction and damage to residential and other buildings were also reported.

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Rescuers rescued 1 woman and evacuated 30 people.

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Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar has said that he would visit Ayodhya to offer prayers to Lord Ram after the completion of the temple construction there.

IMAGE: NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a letter to Champat Rai, general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Pawar said he was thankful for the invitation to attend the Pran Pratistha' ceremony at the temple on January 22 but won't be a part of it on that day.

Maryada Purshottam Shri Ram is a symbol of faith and devotion. Ram bhakts will be attending the ceremony in large numbers through which the happiness will reach me. After January 22, the darshan of Ram Lalla will be easy. I am planning to visit Ayodhya and will also offer prayers to Ram Lalla. By that time, the temple construction will also be complete, he said.

The BJP has been targeting the Congress and other constituents of the INDIA opposition bloc that are keeping away from the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22. Pawar's NCP is a member of the grouping.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the Ram temple event has been made into a Narendra Modi and RSS-BJP function with an election flavour.
DRDO's latest tank will face trial in Rajasthan's summer which will be followed by 'user trials' ahead of facing battle in the high-altitude deserts of eastern Ladakh and Sikkim, reports Ajai Shukla.

IMAGE: The Zorawar tank. Photograph: ANI Photo

During April and May, an indigenous light tank that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing will commence 'development trials' in the brutal summer heat of Rajasthan's Thar desert.

These trials, which will be followed by 'user trials', will confirm whether the Indian tank is a match for the Chinese ZTQ-15 light tank. This tank could face a battle in high-altitude deserts of eastern Ladakh and Sikkim.

The tank has been named Zorawar after the 19th-century general who conquered Ladakh and Baltistan for his Dogra overlords.

New Delhi decided in 2020 to design, develop and manufacture some 300 to 500 light tanks after hundreds of Chinese soldiers of the People Liberation Army, supported by tanks and artillery, intruded into Indian territory in Ladakh. They remain there even after 20 rounds of talks between senior military commanders from both sides.

The Indian Army has airlifted close to 200 tanks to Ladakh, but the PLA enjoys an advantage. Indian tank units struggle to move their underpowered, Russian-origin T-72 tanks over 17,500 foot-high passes.

In contrast, China's ZTQ-15 light tanks, which weigh just 33 tonnes (36 tonnes with additional slap-on armour), move through the 14,000-foot-high valleys with far greater ease.

The ZTQ-15's 1,000 Horse Power (HP) Norinco engines, generate power-to-weight ratios of more than 30 HP per tonne, adequate even for that oxygen-depleted altitude.

In contrast, India's 42-tonne T-72s, with their underpowered 780 HP engines, offer a power-to-weight ratio of just 18.5 HP per tonne. The mobility of the larger T-72s is further constrained by Ladakh's narrow roads and small bridges.

India's tank designers envisioned two options for a light tank. Both would have hulls and engines based on the K-9 Vajra -- a 28 tonne, tracked gun that L&T built for the army at its Talegaon plant near Pune with technology transferred from South Korea's Hanwha Defence. After L&T delivered the 100 guns on order, the army ordered another 100.

There were two options, however, for the light tank's turret. In one, the K-9 Vajra's 155 mm artillery gun turret would be replaced by a T-90 tank turret with a heavy 125 mm tank gun.

However, the 8 to 9 tonne T-90 tank turret, mounted on the 28-tonne chassis, took the weight of the light tank to an unacceptable 36 to 37 tonnes.

The second option involved replacing the K-9 Vajra's turret with a smaller one, fitted with a 105 mm direct-firing, 105 mm gun. This would be procured, ready-built, from Belgian firm John Cockerill, violating the defence ministry's 'Make in India' norms.

With the defence ministry insisting on going indigenous, DRDO decided to build its own hull and to import engines from MTU Germany. But the German government, after first giving permission to export the engines to India, then withheld the licence, causing a one-year delay in the project.

Eventually, DRDO decided to power the Zorawar light tank with an indigenous, 750 HP Cummins engine, which would be coupled with a German Renk transmission.

If the weight of the Zorawar is kept below 25 tonnes, the power-to-weight ratio will be 30 HP per tonne -- meeting the Indian Army's norms. Furthermore, with the Cummins engine being manufactured in India, the 'Make in India' norm would be met.

The turret of the Zorawar light tank presented an even more challenging task.

But DRDO officials say that, once it was decided to indigenise the turret, their experience in designing the Arjun tank turret proved invaluable.

Furthermore, designing the 105 mm tank gun proved well within the capabilities of the Kalyani Group. The Pune-based forgings giant is growing its metallurgical expertise, along with its role in developing the indigenous 155 mm Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System.

So far, the army has placed orders for only 59 light tanks, some of which will be employed in user trials. These tanks will be manufactured by Larsen & Toubro which is playing the role of DRDO's Design Cum Production Partner to DRDO.
I guess War Tears has been in my head as a thought for many years, says John Swanson, author of War Tears: A Journey from Springfield to Gettysburg.

The historical novel tells the story of a young farmer going into the Civil War, the impact it had on his family and love, and the farmers growth from an innocent lad into a veteran warrior and man. The author says the book did not develop into actual consideration until he, with other members of the Springfield Arts and Historical Society, were preparing an exhibit on Springfield during the Civil War.

In reviewing a roster of Springfield men who had served during that conflict, he came across the name of Wheelock Veazey. Veazey was a new lawyer in Springfield who joined the 3rd Vermont Regiment. He was appointed commander of the 16th Vt Regiment due to his leadership of the 3rd Regiment. For his actions at Gettysburg, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

John noted that he then conceived of the idea of a young Springfield farmer who, because of his admiration of Veazey, joins the local contingency volunteering to serve in the war.

As a historian and teacher, John began researching the Vermont participation in the war, using the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania, the Gettysburg Civil War Institute, and Gettysburg College as primary sources. To this, he added the records maintained by the Vermont Historical Society, plus local records.

The result was the story of a young farmer who started as a fife player and ended as a seasoned front-line veteran, serving under Veazeys command.

While his intention was not to write a romantic novel, John did include a bit of growing up romance for the young hero along with the impact of the war of his farming family and neighbors.

As for whom did he write War Tears, John's simple explanation is: for everyone interested in learning what that war was really like. He feels that our youth should read it to learn that the glamor sometimes ascribed to the Civil War was anything but that.

John spent years teaching history and civics at Springfields Riverside Middle School. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education from University of Vermont with a Master of Arts in history from the same institution. Currently, John, in his retirement, is living at the Gables in Rutland.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. High 44F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A few flurries are possible. Low near 30F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Brandon Bane, who has caused disturbances on Putney Road and at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, was deemed not competent to assist his attorneys during a hearing in court on Thursday.
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.

Rep. Sara Coffey, D-Windham 1, is the chair of the House Transportation Committee. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Polish carriers have lifted the blockade for trucks at the Krakivets, Rava-Ruska, and Yagodyn checkpoints with Ukraine. However, there are still queues at the unblocked checkpoints due to the large number of vehicles. The situation at the checkpoints will stabilize in the near future.

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This was stated by the Polish Minister of Infrastructure, Dariusz Klimczak, on RMF. He added that the queues at the border crossings should disappear in the coming days.

The minister noted that after signing the agreement with the carriers, he spoke on the phone with Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov. According to him, it depends on the fulfillment of the protesters' demands by the Ukrainian side whether they will resume the protest on March 1.

Klimczak also emphasized that he would do everything possible to fulfill the demands of the Polish carriers by March 1. He added: "Kyiv has agreed to meet with Warsaw to cancel the electronic queue for empty trucks with Polish registration returning from Ukraine. Also, the period of stay in Ukraine for Polish trucks was extended from 20 to 60 days.

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Meanwhile, Romanian farmers continue to partially block truck traffic near the Siret and Vicovu de Sus border crossing points with Ukraine, despite reaching an agreement with the government. This was reported by the assistant head of the Chernivtsi border guard detachment, Ihor Zarudnev, Ukrinform reports.

"Near the Siret checkpoint, which is opposite our Porubne crossing point, the blocking of trucks has been going on for the third day in a row. However, just an hour ago, the first batch of 10 trucks was allowed to cross from the Romanian side. The trucks are still not being cleared to leave Ukraine because of the blockade," Zarudnev said.

As previously reported by OBOZ.UA, due to the blockade of the Ukrainian border by the Poles, the dynamics of vehicle imports at regional customs have not undergone significant changes. But in general, since the beginning of the year, clearances at some other customs offices, in particular, Volyn Customs, have increased. During the lockdown, the number of cars imported in large car carriers decreased.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky would not advise the United States and the European Union to experiment with delaying aid to repel Russian aggression. A global crisis could begin worldwide.

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"To be honest, I would not advise everyone to experiment, because it is a terrible experiment to delay this or that assistance. The problem is that we even sometimes call 'aid' aid because not everyone, unfortunately, realizes that it is not only for Ukraine's security. Yes, for the majority of Ukrainian people. But it is also the security of the European continent, which will have an impact, of course, on the security of all continents. And it already does," the President said at a meeting with the International Media Council in Davos.

The guarantor added that Ukraine may be weakened on the battlefield, and there may be a large shortage of artillery. "We will have a very large deficit in air defense. This means that we will not be able to repel attacks with ballistic missiles. So, there will be a large number of casualties and a large number of wounded people," he said.

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Frozen Russian assets, if confiscated, will be used to rebuild Ukraine. The funds will not be used for military purposes, the head of state assured.

The President also noted that "you cannot divide money into state Russian money and private money." He added that if the world has this $300 billion, "why not use it?"

It will not be used for military purposes. In particular, it will be used to restore schools, shelters, hospitals, universities, churches, etc.

"Because these representatives of the private sector pay taxes. And they officially support the war. Because the list of these people is under sanctions. There is a list because they have dual citizenship or have some real estate abroad - in Europe, France, England, the United States," the head of state summarized.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, plans to meet with members of both houses of Congress on Wednesday, January 17. The event will take place at the White House, where the American leader will discuss with congressmen the importance of approving his funding request, including $60 billion in aid to Ukraine.

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Until the war with Russia is over, Ukraine will not be able to become a full member of NATO. However, the accession procedure could be started right now.

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This was stated by Polish President Andrzej Duda after a meeting in Davos, Switzerland, with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, the Polish Presidential Office reports. Receiving an invitation from the Alliance now, in the midst of hostilities, is important for the morale of Ukrainian soldiers, according to the Polish president.

Duda emphasized that Ukraine should "strive for full membership in NATO," even if this goal is unlikely to be achieved before the war with Russia ends. However, the Polish president is convinced that the accession process should be started now.

"During the war, this (accession - Ed.) is impossible, but I believe that Ukraine should receive an invitation to join NATO, which would start the process of discussing this issue in individual national parliaments of the Alliance member states. This process can continue, it is extremely important for the morale of Ukraine's defenders," Duda's office quoted him as saying.

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The Polish president is convinced that not only Ukraine will benefit from joining NATO, as a new member with such a tremendous combat experience will strengthen the Alliance. Ukraine's membership in NATO is also very important for Poland's security, Duda said.

The Polish president also said that he and Zelensky had discussed "the current situation at the front and socially" in Davos, as well as Poland's foreign policy in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

"I assured President Volodymyr Zelensky that this policy will be stable and that it will continue to be a policy of support for Ukraine, that he can safely start talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Kyiv in just a few days... I believe that this will be a good policy that we can pursue together, the prime minister, the government, and the president," Duda emphasized.

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As reported earlier, Zelensky and Duda coordinated their positions on the eve of the NATO summit on January 16 in Davos.

The 75th anniversary summit of NATO leaders will be held on July 9-11, 2024 in Washington, DC. Kyiv hopes that at this meeting, the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will offer a "clear path" to Ukraine's membership.

"We would like to see a real step from NATO countries that brings Ukraine closer to the Alliance. So that there is no stagnation. I want it to be a successful and powerful summit (NATO in Washington), and I want NATO countries to show that they are not afraid of Russia," Zelensky recently described his expectations for the upcoming summit.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed head of the Polish government, Donald Tusk, is planning to visit Ukraine. According to his announced agenda, in Kyiv, the Polish prime minister plans to discuss both the situation at the front and the "pathological situation at the border" related to the protests of Polish farmers.

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A video has been circulating on Chinese-language posts that claim it shows an Israeli ship in the Red Sea being sunk by a Yemeni rebel group after ignoring warnings.

But the claim is false. The clip was in fact taken from a 2013 Norwegian navy video that shows a then-new anti-ship missile being tested on a decommissioned warship.

The video was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Dec. 24, 2023, alongside a caption that reads: A new Israeli ship, sunk by the Houthis in the Red Sea after ignoring warnings and switching off identification devices.

The 11-second clip shows an explosion of a ship following an apparent attack.

The Houthis are a Zaidi Shia Muslim minority group based in Yemen, known primarily for leading a rebellion against the Yemeni government in a civil war there.

The group has recently carried out dozens of attacks on commercial vessels that they claim are linked to Israel, and that were passing through the 30 km (20 miles) wide Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. They are demanding that Israel halt its attacks on Gaza and permit the entry of humanitarian aid.

In response, a coalition led by the United States is attempting to thwart the Houthis by deploying destroyers and various military assets in the Red Sea, as well as intercepting the missiles and drones launched by the Yemeni group.

The identical video alongside similar claims have been shared on Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and Bilibili.

Several Chinese social media accounts claimed an Israeli ship was sunk by Houthi insurgents in the Red Sea. (Screenshot / X and Bilibili)

But the claim is false. The footage is taken from a 2013 Norwegian navy video showing a then-new anti-ship missile being tested on a decommissioned warship.

Norwegian test in 2013

A reverse image search on Google found the identical clip published in a report on June 6, 2013, by Military.com, a website that provides news and information about the U.S. military.

The Norwegian navy tests its new four-metre long, 880lb Naval Strike Missile by firing on one of its own ships, the KNM Trondheim, with spectacular results, the report reads in part.

Footage filmed from on board the KNM Trondheim shows the moment the subsonic missile smashed into the side of the ship exploding in a massive fireball, it reads further.

The corresponding scene can be seen at the 36-second mark of the video.

Other global media outlets, including CNN, reported on the Norwegian test also using the same footage.

The purported video of an Israeli ship being sunk on Weibo and X (left) matches video footage reports from CNN and Military.com of a Norwegian missile test in 2013 (right). (Screenshots/ Weibo, CNN and Military.com)





Misuse of the clip

AFCL has discovered that the footage has been frequently misappropriated by media outlets covering war-related topics.

For example, in April 2022, SBS, a South Korean broadcaster, used the clip while reporting on the Russo-Ukrainian war, alleging that it showed the sinking of the Russian cruiser Moskva.

A Delhi-based daily India Times pointed out in April, 2022, that pro-Kiev social media accounts had also misappropriated footage of the test as footage of the Moskvas sinking.

South Koreas SBS also mistakenly accompanied a report on the sinking of the Russian cruiser Moskva in 2022 with footage of the Norwegian missile test. (Screenshot/SBS)

Translated by Shen Ke. Edited by Taejun Kang and Malcolm Foster.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) was established to counter disinformation in todays complex media environment. We publish fact-checks, media-watches and in-depth reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers understanding of current affairs and public issues. If you like our content, you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Sam Sokha, a Cambodian democracy advocate, is now in Canada. She is pictured in this July 2022 image from social media.

A Cambodian woman who sought political asylum in Thailand after she was arrested and jailed for throwing a shoe at a billboard that featured a photo of then-Prime Minister Hun Sen has arrived in Canada.

Sam Sokha told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday that she and her two children landed in Canadas Alberta province on Jan. 12 and are being cared for by a refugee rights group.

She said she will continue to advocate for democracy in Cambodia.

After going through detention, as well as the stories that I came across, I see that our Cambodian people are facing more difficulties than me, she said. I still do not give up my will.



Last month, Sam Sokha was one of 10 people detained by Thai immigration authorities during a civic workshop in Bangkok.

The workshop was held to inform Cambodian migrant workers and political asylum seekers in Thailand about Cambodias 1991 Paris Peace Agreement, which formally ended decades of war in the country and paved the way for parliamentary democracy.

The arrests were made several days after minor political parties and NGOs aligned with the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, or CPP, urged Thai authorities to monitor opposition activists in Thailand.

In 2017, video clips posted on Facebook showed Sam Sokha twice throwing her shoe at a CPP billboard in Kampong Speu province that included a photo of Heng Samrin, who was then the president of the National Assembly, as well as Hun Sen.

The videos prompted the CPP to file a criminal complaint. Party spokesman Sok Ey San said at the time that the videos showed her intent to curse the two leaders.

We will not let her get away with this, he said at the time.

In 2018, the Kampong Speu Provincial Court sentenced the former factory worker to four years in prison.

She fled to Thailand but was arrested and returned to Cambodia, where she began serving her prison term in February 2018. She was released in 2022 after she paid a 10 million riel (US$2,440) fine. Then she again traveled to Thailand to seek political asylum.

Dozens of pro-democracy Cambodian activists have crossed into Thailand in recent years as the CPP continues to use intimidation and the courts to neutralize political opponents. Thailand is also host to more than 1 million Cambodian migrant workers.

RFA was unable to reach government spokesman Pen Bona to ask for comment on Sam Sokhas resettlement in Canada.

Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Xi Jinping calls for an all-out effort to win 'patriotic' hearts and minds to the cause of 'unification.'

Images of Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te and Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim are displayed on a giant electronic screen during a victory rally outside the headquarters of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, Jan. 13, 2024.

Since Taiwanese voters elected Beijing's least favorite candidate Lai Ching-te as their next president, China is responding with growing pressure towards what it terms "peaceful unification," in a bid to bring the island under its control through propaganda, threats and infiltration rather than armed invasion, analysts told Radio Free Asia.

China launched its diplomatic offensive just two days after the elections, with Taiwan's former diplomatic ally Nauru announcing it had switched diplomatic ties to Beijing.

The ruling Chinese Communist Party followed that up with warnings from the Ministry of National Security, which vowed on its official WeChat account that "Our will is unwavering, and we are fully confident that we have sufficient capabilities to make good use of the sharp sword of the Anti-Secession Law to fight infiltration and sabotage activities planned by pro-independence separatist forces and external forces in Taiwan."

Beijing passed its anti-secession law against Taiwan in March 2005, in a move it said would legalize the use of force against the island, which split from the mainland in 1949 amid civil war and has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party.

But it has also used the law, along with its National Security Law, to threaten arrests and sanctions against anyone it deems to be working towards formal independence for the island, a sovereign state under the 1911 Republic of China whose government fled there after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong's communists in 1949.

Party leader Xi Jinping has repeatedly said that Taiwan must be "unified" with China, and refused to rule out the use of military force to annex the island.

Winning hearts and minds

But a lengthy article calling for the redoubling of "United Front" influence operations in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan was recently published in the party's ideological journal Qiushi and on the front page of its official newspaper the People's Daily on Tuesday. This suggests Xi may be hoping that war won't be necessary, and that China can undermine Taiwan's democratic way of life through a gradual process similar to that used in Hong Kong.

Taking its text from Xis speech to a United Front conference last July, the article lists Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as key targets for the expansion of Chinese influence.

"[We must] do a good job of winning hearts and minds in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and overseas, promoting patriotism in Hong Kong and Macau and patriotic forces in favor of unification in Taiwan," Xi wrote.

Analysts say Beijing can replicate the methods used to destroy Hong Kong's freedoms, and apply them to democratic Taiwan. (Chi Chun Lee/RFA)





"We must also mobilize and develop patriotism among overseas Chinese, strengthening the unity of the Chinese people at home and abroad, as we build a model for the broader United Front operation," he said. "If everyone works together, we will be collectively stronger."

"We must ... develop and strengthen Taiwan's patriotic unification forces, oppose acts [promoting] 'Taiwan independence' and separatist acts, and promote the total unification of the motherland," Xi said, adding that "returned overseas Chinese and their family members should devote themselves ... to the cause of peaceful unification."

War without smoke

Chau Chun-shan, a senior aide working on ties with Beijing during the administration of former Kuomintang President Ma Ying-jeou, said there hadn't been much "visible" military saber-rattling since Lai's victory was announced.

He pointed to the restarting of military talks between China and the United States following the Xi-Biden summit in November, where Xi reportedly denied there was a timetable for the invasion of Taiwan.

Instead, China looked more likely to weaponize its own laws against Taiwan, he said.

"The Anti-Secession Law is domestic Chinese legislation, so using it is tantamount to making the Taiwan question an internal matter," Chau said, adding that there are plenty of ways to step up pressure on Taipei without military exercises.

"That includes economic and trade [sanctions], cognitive warfare," he said. "These are all different kinds of warfare  it's just a war without smoke."

Chau expects the pressure to ramp up further when Lai assumes office on May 20, after winning an unprecedented third-term victory for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which has refused to go along with Chinas territorial claim on Taiwan  known as the one China principle  since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2020.

"China will definitely put pressure on them, because if it didn't, it would be hard to explain domestically, and harder to send a warning signal to the rest of the world, especially the United States," he said.

Hong Kong current affairs commentator Sang Pu said he fully expects Beijing to reproduce the influence tactics it used to subjugate Hong Kong, and use them in a broad-based attempt at infiltration in Taiwan, something the ruling DPP has vowed to resist.

"[We must] do a good job of winning hearts and minds in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and overseas, Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote recently in an article in two Communist Party publications. He is shown here making toast at a dinner marking the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, Sept. 28, 2023. (Andy Wong/AP)





"China has insufficient [military] strength, and invading Taiwan may not be a priority at the moment," Sang said. "They are probably thinking they need to prepare the ground with advanced brainwashing in Taiwan, or even ... infiltration and the instigation of rebellions."

"This is their most important task," he said, adding that United Front work takes various forms, including propaganda, cognitive warfare and "lawfare" using legislation.

He said the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong had been successfully eliminated by a combination of those factors, particularly through the use of the 2020 National Security Law to prosecute anyone critical of the authorities.

May 20 inauguration

Chang Wu-yueh, director of the Cross-Strait Relations Research Center at Taiwan's Tamkang University, said the process will likely start building around the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing in early March.

By the time Lai takes office, early campaigning will be under way for U.S. presidential elections in November.

"This will be a warm-up for the election campaign, so pressure from Beijing will be concentrated in the period between March and May," he said.

But he said Lai's inauguration speech is unlikely to further antagonize China.

"Lai's May 20 inauguration speech isn't expected to anger Beijing, because it must be affirmed by the United States to some extent, so [Washington] must have no objections to it," he said.

A person working in national security in Taiwan said the government expects most of the pressure will be verbal and political, rather than military, in the post-election period, as China is unlikely to want to jeopardize its slowly thawing ties in the form of resumed military talks with Washington.

"Also, Xi Jinping doesn't seem to be done with his anti-corruption purge of the military yet, and there are various very different voices within the [military] leadership," the person said. "All of that restricts Xi Jinping from carrying out very large-scale or intensive operations."

But there is likely to be a resurgence in military activity by the People's Liberation Army after May, backing up China's economic sanctions and information warfare targeting Taiwan, the person said.

Chau agreed. "They will go both soft and hard," he said. "The military operations won't stop -- crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait has become normalized, and will become more and more frequent in future."

"[Beijing] is now focused on the Nov. 5 elections in the United States, not on the Jan. 13 elections in Taiwan," he said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Sun Renze's mother, Ren Tingting, her daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter make offerings to Sun Renze in this undated photo.

This report contains graphic content that may be disturbing to readers. Discretion is advised.

A deleted article detailing the torture and death of a young man in police custody in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang offered a picture of the methods typically used by police during interrogations, a former police officer and a rights lawyer told Radio Free Asia in recent interviews.

In 2018, police officers in Xinjiang's Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture detained Sun Renze, the 30-year-old son of a police officer who died on active duty, on suspicion of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," according to the Jan. 14 article on the news website Caixin, which cited court documents from a November 2023 trial of eight police officers in connection with Sun's treatment.

On the early morning of Sept. 27, 2018, Sun Renze fell into a coma after being interrogated and tortured for seven hours straight by officers in Ili's Kuitun city, Caixin reported, detailing a litany of torture methods including the being forced to carry an iron chair, electric shocks, mustard, hanging heavy objects from the victim's genitals and waterboarding.

While the article, which focused on the Nov. 6, 2023, trial of eight of the officers involved, was deleted within minutes of appearing on the Caixin website, copies were still available on overseas websites, including China Digital Times.

While it has been increasingly targeted for deletion and censorship under Xi Jinpings nationwide crackdown on public speech, Caixin nonetheless once made a name for itself as a cutting-edge media organization that published a number of hard-hitting reports on the suppression of press freedom and purges at the Guangzhou-based Southern media group in 2012 and early 2013.

Sun, who is Han Chinese, was taken to the ICU and transferred between "multiple hospitals" after losing consciousness, eventually dying at the age of 30 on Nov. 9, 2018, Caixin reported.

The Kuitun Municipal People's Court found eight Ili police officers, including two named as Wu Xuemin and Liu Xianyong, guilty of "intentional injury," and sentenced them to jail terms ranging from three to 13 years, it said.

Murderers!

Sun's mother and police widow Ren Tingting was present at the trial, crying on a number of occasions during proceedings, and standing up and shouting at the officers: "Murderers! I will never forgive you!" at one point, the report said.

The article said Sun was initially held at the Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County Detention Center, then transferred to a basement room at the Ili traffic police headquarters because officers felt they had made little progress in extracting a confession.

According to the Caixin article, Sun was arrested during a region wide crackdown on criminal gangs, and police were hoping to extract a confession that was precisely worded, in connection with the death of a young woman, Deng Xuefei, who fell from a building during a visit by debt collectors including Sun several years earlier.

It is common for the public security to use illegal methods like torture, ill-treatment, beatings, and intimidation when handling cases," says Chen Jiangang, a human rights lawyer now living in the United States, who is shown in this undated photo. (Courtesy of Chen Jiangang)





Sun was then taken to the "case-handling station" at Huocheng County police, where the officers were asked to take him away again because Sun's screams could be heard in the front-of-house offices.

Sun eventually wound up in the Huocheng County Detention Center, where the officers arranged for an interrogation room without surveillance cameras, the court heard.

The interrogations were so intense that even the officers were exhausted, and asked their bosses for a break on Sept. 26.

But they were told to intensify their efforts to "completely break Sun Renzes spirit," Caixin reported.

Waterboarding, beatings

The court heard that the interrogation room was one used exclusively by state security police, and was equipped with two surveillance cameras. The detention center director ordered one of the members of staff, surnamed Chai, to shut down the cameras, but Chai kept one of them rolling for seven hours, for fear that the case would come back to bite him, the report said.

"The surveillance video showed that for more than seven hours between 4 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., Sun Renze was waterboarded, both directly and with a towel, more than ten times, with two of the sessions lasting more than 15 minutes at a stretch. He was also forced to carry an iron chair and dumbbells back and forth repeatedly for 40 minutes.

"In the video, when the interrogators were carrying out the waterboarding, we couldn't see Sun Renze's expression and reaction, but we saw the iron frame bed shaking violently for a long time, and we can imagine how much he was suffering," one witness told the court.

Sun's interrogators also slapped him in the face, beat his calves and heels with a white PVC pipe, and administered electric shocks with an old-fashioned telephone, while he was restrained on the bed.

While some of the police officers claimed that they wouldn't typically engage in such torture methods, a former police officer told Radio Free Asia that they were common in Chinese law enforcement.

"Some officers get emotionally involved in interrogations, and they will hit a bit harder," former Zhuzhou city cop Cheng Xiaofeng told RFA Mandarin.

"This kind of water torture can make it hard for suspects to breathe, and it can cause suffocation and death," he said. "It's a harsher method that they use in the north, but we typically don't use it in the south."

According to Cheng, officers are more likely to torture suspects when they are under pressure to crack a case from higher up.

"The higher-ups would say things like 'you have to crack this case in the next week', which would prompt the lower-ranking officers to rush their investigations and start using 'methods'," Cheng said. "This was quite common, and a primary cause [of torture]."

Guo Min, a former deputy director of a police station in Zhuzhou, Hunan, agreed that torture is commonplace in Chinese law enforcement.

"Actually, we would often use such methods when handling cases," Guo told RFA. "Using 'methods' is pretty common when suspects are uncooperative."

He said there has been more of an attempt to prevent the abuse and torture of suspects in run of the mill police work, but political cases had fewer restraints.

"The police are a bit more regulated while handling [regular] criminal cases, but in political cases, they stop at nothing," Guo said.

It happens in almost every case

U.S.-based rights attorney Chen Jiangang, who once exposed the details of the torture of fellow rights lawyer and client Xie Yang, agreed.

"Based on my more than 10 years of experience in handling criminal cases, it is common for the public security to use illegal methods like torture, ill-treatment, beatings and intimidation when handling cases," Chen told RFA in a recent interview. "It happens in almost every case."

But in Chen's view, torture and ill-treatment aren't effective ways of getting a suspect to tell the truth, and will likely just generate miscarriages of justice.

He said it's extremely rare for a case such as the torture of Sun Renze to win any kind of public redress -- the vast majority have no consequences for the perpetrators.

"The law states that video cameras must be switched on during interrogations ... but obviously officers who torture won't be recording it," he said.

"Cases like [Sun's, in which perpetrators are brought to justice] only happen by accident, and the ratio is less than 1 in 10,000," he said. "It's the tip of the iceberg."

"Torture is huge [in China] -- it's a humanitarian disaster," Chen said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.






A general view of the Philippine-occupied Thitu island in the disputed South China Sea on April 21, 2023.

The impact of climate change in the South China Sea and its surrounding areas on the local and global weather system could be profound, new scientific research has found.

The unique characteristics of climate change in the South China Sea and surrounding area (SCSSA)  such as the Indo-Pacific region, Southeast Asia, and the Tibetan Plateau  include rapid warming in key regions, leading to increased precipitation during the Asian summer monsoon and notable shifts in the frequency and origin of tropical cyclones, the researchers said in a study published in the Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research journal on Tuesday.

The alterations in weather patterns within this region have a ripple effect on a global scale, influencing atmospheric circulation, oceanic currents, and the overall climate system, the researchers said.

The South China Sea, located in the eastern part of Southeast Asia, is a partially enclosed sea surrounded by various nations such as China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Renowned for its diverse biological richness, it plays a crucial role in the worldwide climate system.

Climate change in the South China Sea and its surrounding areas is very complex. It has a significant impact on shaping not only regional climates but also exerting far-reaching impacts on weather and climate patterns across the globe, said Song Yang, a professor at Sun Yat-sen University in Zhuhai, China.

The South China Sea is experiencing a significant rise in sea surface temperatures due to global warming, leading to more powerful typhoons and hurricanes with increased frequency and severity, resulting in catastrophic consequences, substantial loss of life and property damage in coastal areas.

Climate change has also disrupted rainfall patterns in the area, leading to extreme weather events like droughts or heavy rains, which significantly impact agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems.

This weeks study highlighted the Hadley circulations expansion, a key atmospheric pattern between the equator and subtropics, and a broader influence on the Madden-Julian Oscillation, an essential tropical atmospheric disturbance.

The researchers said that increased atmospheric convection over the SCSSA can result in abnormal descending air movements, leading to drought conditions and increased humidity in southern China, South Asia, and northern Africa during the boreal  or northern region  spring and summer.

The paper forecasts increased precipitation across South Asia, East Asia, and northern Australia, attributed to warmer sea surface temperatures, a heightened water vapor supply, and intensified circulations over the South China Sea.

The research also indicates that under various projected future scenarios, the impacts of climate change in the SCSSA on both local and distant weather and climate extremes are likely to intensify.

Global impacts of climate change in the SCSSA. (Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research)

Last week, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the global temperature reached a record high in 2023, fast approaching the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold above pre-industrial levels, a key upward limit in the 2015 Paris climate agreement to save the earth from devastating impacts.

Utilizing six leading international datasets, the WMO reported Friday a new annual average temperature of 1.45 C compared to the pre-industrial era (1850-1900), with every month from June to December setting new records.

Notably, July and August were the hottest months ever recorded. Regional temperature breakdown was not provided.

Midway through last year, the Pacific Ocean region transitioned from the cooling effects of La Nina to the warming influence of El Nino. Since El Nino typically significantly impacts global temperatures after it peaks, 2024 is expected to be even warmer, according to scientists.

While El Nino events are naturally occurring and come and go from one year to the next, longer-term climate change is escalating, and this is unequivocal because of human activities, said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

Long-term monitoring of global temperatures, alongside other indicators like atmospheric greenhouse gas levels, ocean heat and acidification, sea level, sea ice extent, and glacier mass balance, provide insights into the changing climate, blamed primarily on fossil fuel usage.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.
They mark the Yoon Suk Yeol administrations 15th set of unilateral sanctions against the North.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeok presides over a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office in Seoul, South Korea on Jan. 16, 2024.

South Korea has imposed a new set of unilateral sanctions against North Korea, marking the first of such measures this year, as Pyongyang intensifies its pressure campaign against Seoul.

Seoul has identified various entities allegedly involved in aiding ship-to-ship transfers and the smuggling of oil in and out of North Korea, the Souths foreign ministry said in a statement Wednesday.

The new sanctions target 11 ships, two individuals, and three institutions for their alleged involvement in Pyongyangs illegal maritime activities that support North Koreas nuclear and missile development, according to the statement.

The ministry noted that the ships, in particular, have breached various United Nations Security Council resolutions, including the resolutions that prohibit transferring items from North Korean ships and restrictions on the supply of refined petroleum products.

Under the latest measures, the designated ships  including the Nam Dae Bong, New Konk, Unica, and Sing Ming Yang 888  will not be permitted to dock at South Korean ports. The ships must also obtain entry permission from the managing authority before entering South Koreas territorial waters.

In addition, South Korean nationals must seek prior approval from either the Financial Services Commission or the Governor of the Bank of Korea to conduct financial or foreign exchange transactions with individuals or institutions targeted by the independent sanctions.

The New Konk and Unica have already been sanctioned by the European Union in 2022.

The individuals sanctioned are Park Kyong Ran from Baeksul Trading, and Min Myong Hak from Ri Sang Trading, accused of involvement in importing used ships and refined oil into North Korea, as well as facilitating the dispatch of North Korean workers abroad.

The sanctioned institutions, including Mangang Trading, Ri Sang Trading, and Yu Ah Trading, were also allegedly involved in activities such as oil smuggling via ship-to-ship transfers, coal smuggling, and the importation of used ships, the ministry said.

The measures show Seouls strong resolve to discourage North Koreas illicit nuclear and missile development by cutting off its continuous illegal funding and procurement of materials through maritime activities, the ministry said.

We intend to continue imposing sanctions not only on ships involved in ship-to-ship transfers but also on individuals and institutions engaged in the illegal maritime transfer network.

The sanctions measure came as North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to amend the countrys constitution to declare South Korea as Pyongyangs primary and immutable enemy, a decision that could further escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula and beyond.

During a speech at the Supreme Peoples Assembly Monday, Kim articulated the need to revise the North Korean constitution, proposing the idea to include provisions for the occupation, subjugation, and annexation of South Korea into North Korea in the event of a conflict on the Korean peninsula.

South Koreas new sanctions represent the Yoon Suk Yeol administrations 15th set of unilateral sanctions against North Korea. The administration has been implementing a hardline Pyongyang policy to curb its nuclear ambition.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.
Four provincial officials have been accused in the misappropriation of compensation funds.

Survivors of the dam collapse at the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower project in Laos receive 50% of their compensation in 2019 on the first anniversary of the disaster.

As much as US$4.2 million allocated for survivors of a dam collapse in southern Laos has been misappropriated, the governor of Attapeu province has told the State Inspection Authority, provincial officials told Radio Free Asia.

The newly appointed governor, Lt. Gen. Vanthong Kongmany, reported the missing funds to the agency on Jan. 10, the officials said.

Many provincial government departments are involved in the loss, said an Attapeu Province official, who like other sources in this report requested anonymity for safety reasons.

The upper-level authorities havent given us a lot of information, he said. The money must have been used inappropriately.

On the night of July 23, 2018, following heavy rains, billions of cubic feet of water poured over a collapsed saddle dam at the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower project. The disaster swept away homes and caused severe flooding in villages downstream, leaving 71 people dead and displacing 14,440 others.

The chairman of the State Inspection Agency, Khamphanh Phommathat, first reported the missing funds in a meeting with National Assembly lawmakers in November.

The previous governor of Attapeu Province, Leth Xayaphone, was transferred to a new post at the Lao Federation of Trade Union in October, according to the Vientiane Times.

Another Attapeu Province official told RFA last week that at least four other provincial officials have been accused of being involved in the misappropriation of the funds.

Resettlement villages

Since 2018, provincial officials have handed out donations and paid out compensation to people from 19 villages who lost their homes and personal possessions, an aid worker who has been working with provincial authorities on the distribution told Radio Free Asia.

There have been five rounds of payments, with a sixth and final payment still pending, the worker said.

But the State Inspection Authority has discovered that 81.22 billion kip (US$4.06 million) of compensation money has been used inappropriately, and there wasnt proper accounting for expenses of 1.81 billion kip (US$90,500), according to Khamphanh Phommathat.

More than 697 billion kip (US$35 million) compensation still hasnt been paid to survivors because their properties havent been assessed, he told lawmakers.

Vanthong Kongmanys report this week to the State Inspection Authority was a confirmation that the funds have gone missing.

Khamphanh Phommathat is also the head of the countrys Central Anti-Corruption Agency.

The government has vowed to address corrupt practices that are pervasive in politics and every sector of Laos economy.

The State Inspection Authority reported in 2022 that the government had lost US$767 million to corruption since 2016, with government development and investment projects  such as road and bridge construction  the leading source of the widespread graft.

A survivor of the dam collapse told RFA that most families have relocated to resettlement villages where they have received parcels of land that are too small for growing rice and vegetables.

Other survivors told RFA that relocated residents suffered from a water shortage in the relocation villages in 2020.

We were living in a camp that was very crowded, one survivor said. We didnt even have water in our bathrooms. The camp authorities said that they didnt have money to install more pumps or to fix the broken pumps.

Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Troops on both sides may be unaware of the ceasefire due to lack of communication, military analysts said.

A military junta camp in northern Shan state was captured by Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army troops on Oct. 29, 2023 .

Fighting erupted between the junta and allied ethnic groups in northern Myanmar just days after the two sides agreed a ceasefire, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Three Brotherhood Alliance.

The alliance accused junta soldiers remaining in Shan states Kokang of firing grenades, the statement said. It added that junta troops launched the weapons from 30 meters (98 feet) away while allied Kokang resistance fighters were stationed near Kachin mountain.

Despite the ceasefire reached during a third round of China-brokered peace talks in Kunming on Thursday night, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army retaliated and fighting began again around 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

The alliance claimed junta troops fired back three times with heavy weapons before retreating.

Despite the ceasefire, its possible that remaining junta troops separated from the rest of the army would open fire and attack, a military analyst who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday.

The areas of Laukkai, Konkyan, and Yan Long Keng are very rough and its difficult to communicate there. Its probably the remnants of the junta army that went into the forest during the [previous] battles, he said.

I am not sure whether they know about the ceasefire after the [Kunming] talks.

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, one of the groups making up the Three Brotherhood Alliance, captured Laukkai city in Kokangs Self-Administered Zone when more than 1,000 junta troops surrendered on Jan. 4

Although the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army sent the surrendering troops back to Lashio, some who were separated from the main group may have initiated the attack, military observers said.

Both the alliance and regime announced their public agreement to the ceasefire on Friday.

According to the agreement, all parties involved would immediately cease fighting in their current locations. Starting Friday, the Three Brotherhood Alliance agreed to refrain from attacks on cities and junta camps. Regime forces similarly committed to halting airstrikes and other heavy weapons attacks.

However, tensions still run high. When the Kachin Independence Army launched an attack on a Kutkai military base Sunday night, the junta Defense Service released a statement claiming the Three Brotherhood Alliances Taang National Liberation Army was involved.

Despite the ceasefire, the alliance is still preparing for future battles, claiming in a statement released Sunday that the regime is launching an offensive that began on Saturday. The statement added the junta is also responsible for airstrikes and heavy weapons attacks in Mongmit, Kutkai, and Kyaukme townships after the ceasefire agreement.

RFA called Shan state junta spokesperson Khun Thein Maung and national junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for more information on these accusations, but calls went unanswered Wednesday.

According to data compiled by RFA, in the more than two months since Operation 1027 launched on Oct. 27 to Fridays ceasefire, the alliance captured 15 cities in northern Shan state.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Ukraine in February. The exact date is not yet known. In Kyiv, he will sign a bilateral agreement on security guarantees similar to the one Ukraine has signed with the United Kingdom.

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Macron made the statement on Tuesday, January 16, during a press conference at the Elysee Palace, L'Express reports. According to him, France is now "in the process of finalizing a security agreement" with Ukraine.

Macron also announced new military aid for our country. In particular, Ukraine will receive 40 more SCALP EG long-range missiles and "hundreds of bombs". They will be delivered in the coming weeks.

The politician added that France and the European Union will have to "make new decisions in the coming weeks and months" in order to prevent Russia from winning.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The raids began on Jan. 9 in response to attacks on military outposts.

Displaced people who fled Hway Hkar village in Hpakant township in Myanmars Kachin state due to raids by junta troops take shelter at a monastery on Jan. 9, 2024.

Junta troops abducted around 20 civilians to use as human shields from a village in northern Myanmars Kachin state and are heavily bombarding the area as part of raids that have forced some 20,000 people to flee their homes since last week, residents said Wednesday.

The raids on Hpakant townships Hway Hkar village began on Jan. 9 and followed attacks by anti-junta Peoples Defense Force paramilitaries on military outposts in the area three days earlier, sources told RFA Burmese.

A resident of Hway Hkar who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity citing security concerns, said the military retaliated with airstrikes and artillery before junta troops stormed the village and seized around 20 male residents who he said earn a living as scavengers at nearby jade mines.

When you leave Hway Hkar, there is a place called a strategic hill where [the troops] are now stationed, and [detained] people are taken there, he said. They are local residents who live as scavengers. We havent been able to contact them.

Since the initial raid, the military has been attacking areas near Hway Hkar every day with Russian-made Mi-35 combat helicopters and heavy artillery fired from the strategic hill, located around 11 kilometers (7 miles) outside of the village, residents said.

Another villager told RFA that the entire population of Hway Hkar and nearby Nam Tein had been forced to flee to take shelter from the attacks, as had residents from the surrounding area, leaving as many as 20,000 displaced.

The fighting is taking place on the ground, but the junta is sending aircraft to drop bombs, he said. The entire village [of Hway Hkar] fled in panic  [The military] sent [planes] three times and dropped two or three bombs each time  in and around the village.

Displaced people in need

More than 1,000 people who fled Hway Hkar have been taking temporary shelter in area religious buildings, said a person who is helping internally displaced persons, or IDPs, in Hseng Taung village.

They have been taking shelter in churches and monasteries, he said. Residents [of Hseng Taung] who can afford it have been providing food for them.

The aid worker said the IDPs include the ill and elderly, and that they need access to emergency health services.

Another resident of Hway Hkar told RFA that villagers fled with only what they could carry and now have no way to earn an income.

This is a place where people scavenge to make a living  migrant workers across the country and laborers depend on the income from jade, he said. But now, it is difficult for scavengers to make ends meet and the prices of commodities are rising. Were in deep trouble because fighting has resumed in Hpakant.

Displaced people shelter at a monastery in Long Hkin village in Hpakant township in Myanmars Kachin state, Jan. 8, 2024. (Kachin News Group)

Nay Phone Latt, the spokesman for Myanmars shadow National Unity Government, or NUG, said that the junta is increasingly using airstrikes and heavy artillery to terrify the public.

While the [junta] is facing defeat on the ground, we are witnessing them kill people every day with airstrikes and shelling, he said. [The NUG is] continuously conducting campaigns  not only in the areas that we control, but also elsewhere  to keep people alert for danger at all times.

Displaced residents of Hpakant told RFA that junta troops have blocked the Hpakant-Hway Hkar road since Jan. 6, so that even if fighting stops, they may not be able to return home.

Civilians targeted

Kachin Human Rights Watch, which has been monitoring and documenting human rights violations in Kachin state since the militarys Feb. 1, 2021, coup, said that the junta is committing its worst rights violations against civilians.

The junta has not only conducted airstrikes on non-military targets, but on civilian areas such as villages and IDP camps, the group recently said in a report. This kind of thing should never occur and its a clear violation of international humanitarian laws.

Calls by RFA to Sai Naing Naing Kyaw, the juntas ethnic affairs minister for Sagaing region, seeking comment on the situation in Hpakant went unanswered Wednesday.

According to Myanmars 2014 census, more than 300,000 people live in Hpakant township, most of whom are migrant workers from around Myanmar and local ethnic residents.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced on Dec. 15 that there are currently more than 2.5 million people displaced by conflict in Myanmar.

Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
Analysts say the move is a bid to curry favor with Beijing as it seeks backing.

Myanmars junta has reaffirmed its support for Chinas claims over Taiwan following the democratic islands general election over the weekend, in what observers say is a bid to curry favor with Beijing as it seeks international backing.

On Saturday, Lai Ching-te from Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party emerged as president-elect, beating Beijing-favored Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang and Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party.

Western countries, including the United States, were quick to deliver messages of congratulations for the Democratic Progressive Partys election victory in Taiwan, prompting objections by Chinas foreign ministry.

But on Monday, the juntas ministry of foreign affairs issued a statement saying it will continue to back Beijings one China principle, which holds that the Peoples Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China and that the island of Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.

The junta also expressed opposition to separatist activities aimed at securing Taiwans independence and foreign interference in the internal affairs of other states, as well as support for the islands peaceful reunification.

The statement followed a similar one in a new year message from Myanmars shadow National Unity Government, or NUG, on Jan. 1, which included a pledge of support for the policy, as well as a vow to maintain friendly relations between Myanmar and its northern neighbor and safeguard Chinese economic interests in the country.

Panic over NUG statement

China-based political analyst Hla Kyaw Zaw said the junta was obligated to put out Mondays statement once the Democratic Progressive Party was confirmed as the victor in Taiwans elections, as Beijing is one of the few governments to recognize its authority in Myanmar. The junta has faced widespread international condemnation following the militarys Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat.

It had to say that [Myanmar] supports the one China principle and that Taiwan is a part of mainland China, she said. Its meant to curry favor with China.

Sun Weidong [left], vice-minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, meets Myanmar junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw, Jan. 5, 2024. (Myanmar Military)

But a former military officer in Myanmar, who spoke to RFA Burmese on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said that the NUGs statement of support earlier this month had thrown the junta into a panic.

Actually, [the statement] wasnt necessary because Myanmar already held this position from the beginning, said the former officer, who now works as a political analyst. I think [the junta] did so because they were concerned about the NUGs statement. They want to reiterate that they already support [China] and have already designated it as a partner country.

Calls by RFA to junta Deputy Information Minister Major General Zaw Min Tun for comment on the ministry of foreign affairs statement went unanswered Tuesday, as did emailed requests to the Chinese Embassy in Yangon.

Statement follows defeats

Than Soe Naing, a political commentator, pointed out that the juntas statement comes amid a number of military defeats in northern Myanmar at the hands of resistance forces.

It is seeking Chinas help to get relief from these defeats, he said.

Htet Myet, another political commentator, went further, noting that neither the junta nor the NUG would dare oppose Beijings policies.

The [junta] is afraid that the Chinese government will be angry with them, he said. The NUG also did it, because it understands that it has to have good relations with China in order not to be blocked by its prospects and expectations  Thats why the NUG and the [junta] are on the same page.

Last week, junta officials and an ethnic rebel resistance force known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance agreed to a temporary ceasefire during peace talks brokered by Beijing in Chinas Yunnan province.

The allied Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and Taang National Liberation Army agreed to cease capturing cities and military camps in northern Shan state, while junta officials agreed not to instigate aerial attacks and operate heavy weaponry.

However, observers have suggested that the decision is a result of Chinese pressure and would not be sustainable in the long run.

Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
A policeman directs traffic next to the victory tower Patuxay in the Laos capital of Vientiane on July 23, 2016, as the country hosts the 49th annual ministerial meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Laos, a land-locked country, has taken over the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with one of the major tasks in 2024 being to moderate the complex situation in the South China Sea.

Analysts say Vientiane is likely to try its best to stay neutral and strike a compromise between disputing parties.

Laos is a reactive ASEAN chair and not a proactive one, said Carlyle Thayer, a Southeast Asia specialist, noting that Laos and Myanmar were the only two ASEAN members who did not submit draft Codes of Conduct to make up the Single Draft Negotiating Text released in August 2018.

ASEAN and China have been negotiating a legally-binding Code of Conduct after reaching an initial Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in 2002. In 2018, the regional bloc and Beijing managed to release the Single Draft Negotiating Text  or a draft agreement  but progress has been stalled.

China claims historical rights to almost 90% of the South China Sea, an area roughly demarcated by the so-called nine-dash line. Other claimants, including ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, have rejected those claims and a 2016 international arbitration tribunal ruled that they had no legal basis.

Meanwhile tension has been rising in recent months between Beijing and Manila over some atolls claimed by both countries.

A Philippine Coast Guard member holds onto a rubber fender as a Chinese coast guard vessel chases the Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Cabra while approaching Second Thomas Shoal, Nov. 10, 2023. [Joeal Calupitan/AP]

In 2023, under Indonesias chairmanship, there were efforts by ASEAN to once again accelerate the negotiating process, but it may stall again with Laos in the hot seat this year.

Laos indebtedness to China will impede any efforts to resume negotiations over competing maritime claims in the South China Sea, said an assessment by Stratfor, a geopolitical intelligence firm.

Laos is unlikely to make progress on restarting talks over the Code of Conduct due to its weak negotiating position, as it owes China billions of dollars related to infrastructure projects and is in the midst of an economic crisis, and its neutral stake in the matter as a landlocked country beholden to both China and ASEAN, said the Stratfor report.

Middle ground

The theme of Laos 2024 ASEAN year is ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience and the focus will be leading ASEAN to promote the community building and enhancing a connected and resilient ASEAN community, a report by the state-run Vietnam News Agency paraphrased Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith as saying on Nov. 17.

Laos external debt was about U.S. $14.5 billion in 2022. The World Bank said in a country report in November 2023 that China accounted for about half of the external public debt stock in 2022 and for about half of external debt repayments scheduled for 2024-2027.

Vientiane also does not want to upset other ASEAN members, especially Vietnam, its immediate neighbor and traditional ally. Hanoi, as a claimant in the South China Sea, has been at odds with China over a number of issues, from the building of artificial islands to the exploitation of natural resources.

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone visited Hanoi in early January.

During a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, the two prime ministers emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, including maintaining ASEANs solidarity, common stance and centrality in regional security and strategic issues, such as the East Sea [South China Sea] issue, according to the Vietnamese governments website.

Vietnam is keen to lobby Laos on the South China Sea, said Canberra-based Carlyle Thayer.

I was leaked the transcript of the ASEAN Ministerial retreat in 2012 when Cambodia was ASEAN Chair and quashed the joint statement because of its paragraphs on the South China Sea, Thayer told Radio Free Asia (RFA).

As ministers discussed the draft joint statement in alphabetical order, Laos said virtually nothing or on the South China Sea said it would accept whatever the other members decided.

Yet the previous time Laos was ASEAN chair in 2016, it orchestrated a generic joint communique on the South China Sea that said maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea region serves the fundamental interests of ASEAN member states and China, as well as the international community.

While this could be seen as passing the South China Sea dilemma to the next chair, it was a step up from the failure to issue a joint communique in 2012 by Cambodia and Vientiane is likely to maintain this approach this year.

Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan.
Most are charged with terrorism in connection with attacks that left 9 dead.

This photo taken and released by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on Jan. 16, 2024 shows defendants sitting during their trial in Vietnam's Dak Lak province.

The Peoples Court of Dak Lak has started the trial of 100 people in connection with violent raids on two Peoples Committee offices in Vietnams Central Highlands, state media reported.

The first-instance trial began Tuesday and will last until Jan. 26.

Of the 100 defendants, 92 are accused of terrorism following the 2023 attack that left nine people dead, including four policemen, two commune officials and three locals.

One person is being tried for concealing crimes and one for helping people enter and exit the country illegally. Six defendants living abroad are being tried in absentia for terrorism.

On the morning of June 11, 2023 two groups of around 40 people armed with guns and knives attacked the headquarters of the Peoples Committee in the communes of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur.

While 93 of the defendants are from ethnic minorities, Vietnamese authorities have denied that ethnic discrimination, injustice and poverty among the Montagnard people were behind the attack, going so far as to say there are no Montagnards in Vietnams Central Highlands.

Authorities said all the participants were members of a U.S.-based organization that ordered them to infiltrate Vietnam and carry out the attack.

Vietnamese police guard suspects in the attacks on two Dak Lak Peoples Committee offices. (Mobile Police Command)





Montagnards is a term coined by French colonialists to describe around 30 tribes who live in the Central Highlands, many of whom practice Christianity.

Evangelical Church preacher Alur Y Min, an ethnic Ede who has been living as a refugee in Thailand since 2017, said the Vietnamese government had been using the police and military to oppress Montagnards for decades by taking their land and denying them freedom of religion.

In my opinion, the shooting is not a terrorist incident, but this is a sign that the water has broken its banks and people cannot stand the oppression, he told Radio Free Asia.

The Peoples Police and the Peoples Army are against the people, protecting the interests of the state and protecting businesses or private individuals who occupy people's land. Why are they not on the side of the people but on the side of the enemy  the side that wants to take over the peoples property?

Co-founder of the human rights group Montagnards for Justice, Y Quynh Bdap, is one of the six people being tried in absentia for terrorism. He is also a refugee in Thailand.

He denied that he and his group were involved in the attacks, saying they only used peaceful tactics.

I object to the trial. The Vietnamese government will not give up making slanderous accusations against activists, because they have slandered hundreds of Montagnards for a long time, he told RFA Vietnamese.

If they want to arrest someone, they will find a way to make slanderous accusations, make people afraid and then people will be hesitant to report government violations of their land and religion.

Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.
Pham Cong Hung Nhan faces 3 years in prison after he posted a video of the act to Facebook.

Pham Cong Hung Nhan, left, is seen after being detained by police in Vietnam in this undated photo. At right, the flag burns in an image from a video he posted to social media.

A homeless man in Vietnam has been arrested after he allegedly posted a video to Facebook of himself burning the countrys flag as fuel to cook his dinner, state media reported.

Pham Cong Hung Nhan, 43, was detained by the Ba Ria City Police Investigation Agency on charges of insulting the national flag under Article 351 of Vietnams Penal Code, according to the Peoples Public Security online newspaper.

The violation is punishable by up to three years in jail and community service. Nhan lives in southern Vietnams Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.

Authorities allege that on Dec. 9, 2023, Nhan left a sack of recyclables he had gathered to sell in front of a house while he went to buy some coffee, only to find the sack gone when he returned.

In anger, he pulled down a flag and flagpole from in front of the house and took it to his shelter in an empty lot.

Later that evening, the report said, Nhan used his mobile phone to record himself putting the flag into his wood burning stove while he cooked dinner, and posted the nearly four-minute video to his Facebook account the following day.

The report cited Nhan as testifying that he had been shunned by his family members because he was homeless and forced to earn a living by collecting recyclable garbage to sell, and felt authorities had failed to protect him.

The newspaper said Nhan used his Facebook account to post and share stories, photos and videos with content insulting the national flag, distorting and defaming the honor and dignity of the founding fathers and leaders of the Party and State, distorting the truth of the revolutionary history, and defaming the peoples government and socialist regime in Vietnam.

The Facebook account Hung Van Pham Cong, which allegedly belongs to Nhan, has more than 4,000 followers and contains a number of posts praising the flag of the former Republic of Vietnam while criticizing the current regime. The account also contains several defaced photos of Nguyen Phu Trong, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and late President Ho Chi Minh.

While the video of the burning flag was reposted to the account several times in the following days, it garnered few interactions.

Proof of intent

Speaking to RFA Vietnamese on Wednesday, Nguyen Van Dai, who worked as an attorney in Vietnams capital Hanoi for several years, said that a conviction in Nhans case depends on whether the item in the video was indeed the national flag.

The second factor, he said, is whether authorities can prove intent.

If a person did it out of anger, accidentally, or for some other reason, and had no intention to disrespect the national flag of Vietnam, then they did not commit the offense, he said.

Dai noted that international human rights law and the judiciaries of most democratic countries, do not consider the desecration of a national flag to be a criminal offense, but rather a form of freedom of expression.

In recent years, Vietnamese authorities have arrested and convicted several people on charges of insulting the national flag.

In 2021, human rights activist Huynh Thuc Vy was sentenced to 33 months in prison for spraying paint on Vietnams flag. She is now serving her jail term at Gia Trung Prison in Gia Lai province.

A year earlier, the Quang Binh Provincial Peoples Court sentenced three youths to a total of 15 months in prison and six months of probation for using a machete to cut down 34 flagpoles flying the national flag and the flag of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
Protestors gathered in the central Bulgarian city of Plovdiv on January 17 after news emerged of local politicians seeking to dismantle a hilltop monument to the Soviet Red Army known as "Alyosha." On January 15 Plovdiv's mayor Kostadin Dimitrov told local reporters the city administration would "assess the economic impact" of removing the granite monument. But Dimitrov emphasized such a demolition was not a priority of the local government. "We will not be a divider of society," the mayor said. "We are motivated to build first before we destroy."

The communist-era landmark, known formally as the Monument to the Soviet Army in Plovdiv, tops one of several prominent hills that rise above the center of the city. The stone soldier was erected in 1957 above a plate engraved with the message, "Glory to the invincible Soviet Army of liberation." Alyosha was modeled on a Russian Red Army soldier named Aleksey Skurlatov who served in Bulgaria during World War II and died in 2013. In early January, Plovdiv councillors from the PP-DP coalition party proposed removing the monument by the end of 2024, describing it as "not part of the cultural tradition and collective memory of Plovdiv, especially if we compare it with the monuments of notable Bulgarian national heroes who participated in national liberation struggles in the 19th and 20th centuries." The populist There is Such a People party has since called for a public referendum on the matter.

Monuments of "gratitude" to the Soviet military have long been controversial in Bulgaria. The Balkan country has a history of military alliance with tsarist Russia, but after Soviet troops marched into Bulgaria unopposed during World War II Bulgarians endured nearly half a century of a Soviet-backed regime that executed thousands of people and sent political opponents to forced labor camps. In December, Sofia's most prominent Soviet monument began being cut down and remains partly dismantled today.
Welcome back to the China In Eurasia Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking China's resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia.

I'm RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now.

Listen to the Talking China In Eurasia podcast

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Beijing Adapts To A New Middle East

Recent months of compounding crises in the Middle East have exposed China's limited commitment and ability to play a leading role in the region, and as I explained here, Beijing isn't necessarily well-positioned to benefit from the newfound chaos.

Finding Perspective: Since the beginning of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza, China has gradually taken a backseat toward the conflict.

Beijing has used the large-scale humanitarian crisis and mounting civilian casualties in Gaza as an opportunity to blame the hostilities on the United States's Middle East policies at global forums like the UN and through official statements and state-led media.

But while Chinese diplomats have toured various Middle East capitals and hosted officials from the region in China, Beijing has little to show from such efforts and may have even seen its stock dip in the region.

Beijing frames itself as a "responsible major power" and has looked to play a role as a peace broker, recently calling for a peace conference and a timetable to implement a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine on January 14.

But this positioning has also brought more scrutiny for China to act and deliver solutions, especially from countries across the Global South, and Beijing has so far not met those expectations.

This can also be seen in China's reaction to the Huthi attacks meant to deter commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Suez Canal.

Beijing has decried the attacks, and even though Chinese-flagged vessels have been targeted, it has not been part of the effort to bring the attacks to an end.

This could also grow further against China's interests, with the attacks frustrating Chinese investors who have committed billions to projects around the Suez Canal and stand to profit from safe passage through the waterway.

Protracted conflict in the region could continue to grow and further threaten Chinese personnel across North Africa and the Middle East and the investments that state-owned corporations have been making there for the past decade.

Why It Matters: This is all a dramatic reversal from how things looked less than a year ago.

In March 2023, China brokered a historic deal between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia and sidelined the United States in the process.

As peace talks spread across the region -- from Qatar to Turkey to Syria -- China's top diplomat Wang Yi declared that a "wave of reconciliation" was sweeping the Middle East in August, with Beijing's alternative vision for a global order taking shape.

But the war in Gaza and the expanding list of crises has undone that narrative. Now, as China faces a very different political and security landscape in the Middle East, it must adapt on the fly.

This opens up lots of questions moving forward.

How will China maintain its official "neutrality" in the region and balance between its longtime partner in Iran and the more economically appealing Sunni Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia? Is China willing to spend its political capital on Israel-Palestine diplomacy? And how can China continue to shape events in the Middle East as the regional conversation shifts more toward security concerns?

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. Reactions To Taiwan's Election

Taiwan elected a new president on January 13, choosing current Vice President Lai Ching-te (William) and granting his China-skeptic Democratic Progress Party (DPP) a historic third consecutive term in power.

In the wake of the victory, attention has now shifted to how Beijing will react and how Lai's election will be met by countries around the world.

The Details: Lai won a close three-way race with 40 percent of the vote and moved to quell any fears across the Taiwan Strait in China by saying he doesn't support Taiwanese independence.

During his acceptance speech Lai said he supports dialogue and cooperation with Beijing, and during the campaign he was quick to note he is an advocate for continuing Taiwan's self-governing status quo.

Still, Beijing is unlikely to see this as an assurance.

In a January 15 article published in the Communist Party magazine Qiushi, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said a greater effort is needed to win over the Taiwanese: "The patriotic, unifying forces in Taiwan should be developed and empowered. Separatist acts for Taiwan independence should be rejected. The full reunification of the motherland should move forward."

Shortly after Lai's election, David Adeang, president of the Pacific island nation of Nauru, also announced his country would no longer recognize Taiwan as a country and that it now viewed the island "as an inalienable part of China's territory."

The decision is an important move and a signal from Beijing to Taipei as the DPP prepares for a third term in power.

Attention now shifts to whether Beijing will turn to military or economic means to show its displeasure with Lai before he is sworn into office in May.

2. The Georgia Angle To Taiwan's Election

Georgia -- the small Caucasian country of some 4 million people -- follows one of the strictest policies of isolation toward Taiwan in the world, with Tbilisi refusing entry to the island's citizens.

Ahead of the recent vote, my colleague Luka Pertaia from RFE/RL's Georgia Service visited Taipei to report on Georgia's complicated relationship with Taiwan.

What You Need To Know: Georgia's strict stance toward Taiwan has its roots in the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, breakaway Georgian regions occupied by Russia that have declared independence.

As Sergi Kapanadze, Georgia's former deputy foreign minister, explained to Luka, the strategy has been that maintaining zero relations with Taiwan would placate China to provide some form of moderation and be a diplomatic bulwark against the Russian-backed areas receiving further recognition.

But Tbilisi's stance is seen in a new light as successive Georgian Dream-led governments have encouraged China to expand its footprint in the country and deepen bilateral ties.

This adds another wrinkle to Georgia's bid to join the EU -- Tbilisi received official candidate status in December -- and risks leaving it as an outlier amid growing concern in European capitals and the West over Taiwan's precarious position with China.

3. The Central Asian Angle On Taiwan's Election

In another sign of their strong ties with Beijing, Central Asia's foreign ministries reiterated that they view Taiwan as part of China, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reported.

What It Means: Central Asia has been a priority region for China, and the countries do not engage with Taipei. Instead, the region is becoming increasingly tied economically to Beijing.

In a statement issued after Lai's election, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said, "The government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory," adding that Tashkent "supports all the efforts of the PRC government to implement the reunification of China."

This was followed by similar statements from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

Dealing with Taiwanese elections is tricky even for Western officials.

U.S President Joe Biden offered a firm rejection of Taiwanese sovereignty, saying after the vote that Washington does "not support independence."

Meanwhile, most of the European Union refrained from referring to the election as a presidential one and did not mention Lai's name in their congratulatory messages.

This diplomatic dance highlights the complicated lengths that countries must go to -- even those nations supportive of Taiwan in the face of Chinese pressure.

In the case of Central Asia, the unambiguously pro-Beijing language highlights where the region sees its future.

Across The Supercontinent

Re-Export: Reviewing newly released customs data, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports that for the first time in history China has become the main supplier of cars to the country.

However, the data also shows most of the Chinese cars are then re-exported to Russia.

'Reasonable Skepticism': RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service also reported the country's debt now sits at $6 billion, with $4 billion owed to China. Speaking to RFE/RL, former Kyrgyz Economy Minister Emil Umetaliev said Bishkek needed to show "reasonable skepticism" when taking out future Chinese loans.

"China is firmly defending its interests, and there are examples of smaller countries losing out," he said.

Telecoms In Tajikistan: In November, Tajikistan announced plans to link with China's telecommunications network in order to improve the mountainous, landlocked country's internet access.

Now, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports that Huawei, the Chinese telecoms giant, will build 5G base stations across the country.

One Thing To Watch

During her short stint as U.K. prime minister, Liz Truss never shied away from criticizing Beijing, and she continued that stance after leaving office.

When she visited Taiwan in July, she called for an "economic NATO" to tackle Beijing's growing authoritarianism, and earlier this month she urged British Foreign Minister David Cameron to take "robust action" after two British citizens were named as co-conspirators in the controversial trial of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai.

But a recent Politico investigation shows she secretly lobbied the British government in August to "expedite" the sale of defense equipment to China.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

Until next time,

Reid Standish

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every other Wednesday.
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
Pakistan has recalled its ambassador from Iran in response to strikes by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) that killed two children in the southwestern Balochistan Province.

The decision was announced by a Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman on January 17, just a day after Iraq recalled its envoy from Tehran after civilians were killed in an IRGC missile strike in Irbil.

"Last night's unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan's sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations," the spokesman said in the statement, adding that the Iranian ambassador had not been allowed to return to Islamabad from Tehran "for the time being."

The statement added that Pakistan "reserves the right to respond to this illegal act" and that Iran bears responsibility for the "consequences" of the attack.

The governor of Sindh Province, who was on a four-day visit to Iran to participate in a Joint Border Trade Committee meeting and attend the 2024 Chahbahar Expo, announced the cancellation of his trip and returned to Karachi late on January 17.



Speaking to media at the Karachi airport, Governor Kamran Tessori said he had asked all traders to return to Pakistan. This included a 50-member delegation of traders accompanying him to the expo.

The IRGC on January 16 struck targets in Balochistan that it said were linked to the Sunni Baluch militant group Jaish al-Adl. The other missile attacks targeted "spy headquarters" and "terrorist" targets in Syria and Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.

The IRGC attack in Pakistan killed two children and injured three others, according to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.

The United States condemned the attacks, and Britain urged Iran to stop supplying weapons to the Huthis.

"We've seen Iran violate the sovereign borders of three of its neighbors in just the past couple of days," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he urged Tehran to stop backing the Huthi rebels in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.



"Iran must cease supplying the Huthis with weapons and intelligence and use its influence to stop Huthi attacks in the Red Sea," said Cameron, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.



"Iran must also stop using the regional situation as cover to act recklessly and violate others' sovereignty. I made this clear to FM @Amirabdolahian," he said on X, formerly Twitter.

The IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency was the first outlet in Iran to report the strikes in Pakistan late on January 16, claiming two bases operated by Jaish al-Adl had been targeted and "destroyed."

Tasnim reported that a combination of drones and missiles was used to attack a village in Balochistan Province, which is located in southwestern Pakistan on the border with Iran.

As reports of the attack spread on social media, Amir-Abdollahian had met with Pakistani acting Prime Minister Anwar ul-Haq Kakar at the World Economic Forum.

The strikes appeared to be a response to recent attacks claimed by Jaish al-Adl, which is designated as a terrorist organization by both Iran and the United States.

The group took responsibility for a deadly attack on a police station in Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan Province last month that killed at least 11 officers. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said after the incident that Jaish al-Adl fighters had entered Iran from Pakistan.

In its first statement on Telegram, Jaish al-Adl said the strikes had missed its military bases "in Iran" and had struck the homes of its fighters in Pakistan.

"With Gods grace and the enemy's poor intelligence and technical know-how, no harm was inflicted on the mujahedin [fighters]," the group said in a second statement on January 17.

The porous, 900-kilometer-long border between Iran and Pakistan has proven difficult to control, allowing various insurgent groups, particularly those who harbor Baluch nationalist ideologies, to operate in the area.

Jaish al-Adl is the most prominent offshoot of the Salafist militant group Jundullah, which was established in 2003 and splintered after its founder, Abdolmalek Rigi, was executed by Iran in 2010.

With reporting by AFP
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.
Germany has updated the list of military aid for Ukraine. In particular, ammunition for the LEOPARD 1 main battle tank, 8 additional armored personnel carriers, and demining materials have been added.

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This is stated on the website of the Federal Government of Germany. It should be noted that the Taurus missiles expected by Ukraine are not on the list.

Thus, Berlin will provide Kyiv with:

- 24 armored personnel carriers (APCs), instead of 16, as previously reported;

- 25 RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones;

- 16 Zetros trucks;

- 5 vehicles for the Border Guard Service;

- several vehicles,

- ammunition for Leopard 1 tanks,

- 50 SatCom communication terminals,

- materials for demining;

- 500 LED lamps;

- almost 2 thousand combat helmets.

The day before, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed with U.S. President Joe Biden support for Ukraine in the war against Russia and the situation in the Middle East. After that, it became known that in 2024, Germany would provide Ukraine with military goods worth more than 7 billion euros, although it was previously expected that the cost of the aid would be 4 billion.

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In total, since February 24, 2022, Germany has already provided Ukraine with 6 billion in aid and, together with the United States, remains a leader in military support for our country.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- A secret document has been obtained by the media, which shows that Germany is preparing for an armed conflict against Russia. An escalation between NATO and Russia may occur as early as February this year.

- Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's opposition CDU party, has called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz not to delay the provision of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Russian President Vladimir Putin digressed during a meeting with municipal officials from around the country on January 16 to comment on bathrooms in foreign countries.



"Common bathrooms for boys and girls or something like that -- it has become an ordinary, everyday thing," he said, before adding a baseless claim that many Russians who had previously left the country had begun returning because of this issue.



"It is very difficult for people with traditional, normal human values to live under such circumstances," Putin asserted.



His comments came just days after St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov posted on Telegram about a visit with soldiers who had been wounded fighting in Ukraine. Such men, he said, "understand why we are fighting."



"You don't need to explain the values we are defending to these guys who have seen school toilets where instead of two bathrooms -- one for boys and one for girls, there were three bathrooms -- for girls, boys, and gender neutrals," he wrote.



Such pronouncements produced a wave of ridicule on Russian social media, with some Russians speculating that the third bathrooms in Ukrainian schools -- if indeed they exist at all -- were for teachers and others noting that such complaints seem strange considering that according to government figures, more than one-fifth of Russian households lack indoor toilets.



"If I were Beglov, I would 'shed blood' for something completely different," wrote journalist and blogger Aleksandr Khots on Facebook. "In Russia, at least 20 percent of the population still visits outhouses, which often exist in the singular. But the guardians of empire prefer to teach their neighbors how to go to the toilet rather than mastering toilets themselves instead of a hole in the ground."

Controlling The Message



But the toilet rhetoric comes at the start of a noncompetitive, highly controlled presidential-election campaign that the Kremlin views as a chance to demonstrate public support for Putin, 71, and for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that he unleashed in February 2022.



For the government, the campaign "presents a challenge because the regime must demonstrate a complete willingness and a complete ability to manage social processes," political analyst Kirill Rogov said.



"The war is unpopular," he told RFE/RL's Russian Service. "Putin is at the end of his career and people are tired of him. He does not promise anything for the future."

Events of recent weeks have tested the Kremlin's ability to control the messaging as the March presidential election approaches. Protests by relatives of mobilized soldiers have popped up around the country. Tens of thousands of Russians across the country have been left without heating or hot water in the depths of winter as aging and poorly maintained infrastructure has collapsed.



As the full-scale invasion approaches its third year, a grinding near-stalemate that is occasionally punctuated by embarrassing setbacks for Russia, such as Kyiv's January 15 assertion that it had shot down a $300 million A-50 airborne early-warning-radar aircraft and the December 2023 sinking of a Russian Navy landing ship in the occupied Crimean port of Feodosia.

Resisting The 'Satanic' West



For the Kremlin, analysts say, such developments increase the attractiveness of turning to narratives about "gender-neutral toilets" and "traditional values" -- of doubling down on Putin's portrayal of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine as part of a defensive battle to protect Russia and the rest of the world from what he casts as a decadent, immoral, overly liberal West.



Case in point: In an interview with The Spectator earlier this month, pro-Kremlin far-right ideologist Aleksandr Dugin described Russia's attack on Ukraine as "a kind of religious act" and "the beginning of the fight against Satan."



In July 2023, Russia banned gender transitions, annulled marriages in which one person has "changed gender," and barred transgender people from adopting children. In November 2023, the Russian Supreme Court upheld the government's request to list the nonexistent "international LGBT social movement" as an "extremist" organization.



"With its decision, the Supreme Court permitted the law enforcement organs to apply the full force of anti-extremism legislation to LGBT people, their supporters, and those involved in LGBT initiatives," said lawyer Maks Olenichev, who works with LGBT clients. "And the anti-extremism laws are extremely amorphous."



"As the decision comes into effect, LGBT stereotypes will be strengthened in Russian society," he added.

'Bad Dream Of An Aging Chekist'



Fyodor Tsipilev, an LGBT activist who left Russia two years ago, agreed, saying the government's actions had led to the "activization of marginal forces" in society -- so far primarily online.



"But in the future it will increasingly move offline," he said. "The risks for LGBT people, and not only them, will only grow. Homophobes have publicly been given the green light."



Vitaly Bovar is a former St. Petersburg municipal lawmaker who has opposed the war against Ukraine and has spoken publicly against the vilification of the LGBT community.



"These homophobic and transphobic laws are genocide in practice, an attempt to destroy human diversity in Russia. Our society has fallen into the bad dream of an aging chekist," he told RFE/RL, using a term to describe agents of the Russian security organs.



"And I am not just speaking of Putin," he said, referring to the fact that the president for many years was an agent of the Soviet KGB and in the 1990s headed its successor, the Federal Security Service. "He did not initiate these laws by himself."

Written by Robert Coalson with reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service
After a two-week break, new protests were held in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, on January 16 over disputed national and municipal elections. Several thousand demonstrators gathered in front of the offices of the national election commission, demanding the annulment of the December vote.
Ukraine's priority this year is to regain control over its skies, the country's foreign minister said, as Russia continues to use aerial attacks to pound its neighbor as the Kremlin's full-scale invasion nears its third year.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 17, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Ukraine's Western backers to provide advanced weaponry, including long-range missiles and F-16 fighter jets, to help Kyiv "throw Russia out of the sky."



Ukraine has been subjected to a series of unusually intense Russian air strikes since the start of the year that has put its air defenses under massive pressure amid dwindling stocks of ammunition and equipment.

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 2024, of course the priority is to throw Russia from the skies," Kuleba said during a panel discussion. "Because the one who controls the skies will define when and how the war will end."



Kuleba's comments echoed remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who said a day earlier at the forum that his country must gain air superiority.



"Just as we gained superiority in the Black Sea, we can do it. This will allow progress on the ground.... Partners know what is needed and in what quantity," Zelenskiy said.

Russian missiles later on January 17 struck a town outside Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, killing one person and damaging an educational institution, the regional governor and the military said.



Governor Oleh Synyehubov said on Telegram there were two strikes on the town of Chuhuyev. A female employee of a heating and power plant was killed and another person was injured. A military source, also reporting on Telegram, said the attack involved S-300 missiles.



Russian troops attacked Kharkiv with two S-300 missiles on January 16, wounding 17 people, including 14 who have been hospitalized.



The Ukrainian military also said it destroyed six Iranian-made Shahed drones over the Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions late on January 17.



U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on January 17 said the Biden administration was "working very hard" to secure additional funding for Ukraine from Congress, warning that failure to do so would be a "real problem."



"If we don't get that money, it's a real problem. It's a real problem for Ukraine. I think it's a problem for us and our leadership around the world," he said.

President Joe Biden convened top congressional leaders at the White House to underscore Ukraine's security needs.



House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican-Louisiana) and other Republicans used the meeting with Biden to push for tougher border security measures.



"We understand that there's concern about the safety, security, and sovereignty of Ukraine," Johnson told reporters after the meeting "But the American people have those same concerns about our own domestic sovereignty and our safety and our security."



Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat-New York) stressed that Biden had repeatedly said he is willing to compromise on certain border measures. He told reporters that there was a "large amount of agreement around the table" on both funding for Ukraine and border security.

The German parliament meanwhile rejected a motion put forward by the conservative opposition that called for the government to send long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Nearly all lawmakers from the three-party governing coalition -- Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the Free Democrats (FDP) -- opposed to the motion on January 17.

The Greens and the FDP have been pushing Scholz for months to send the missiles, but lawmakers from the two parties said they voted against the proposal because the conservative opposition had linked it to a debate on the annual report on Germanys military.



As Kuleba made his comments in the Swiss ski resort, Ukrainian authorities were declaring an air-raid alert for the whole country.

The Ukrainian Air Force warned on Telegram that a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet had taken off from the Mozdok airfield in Russia's North Ossetia, while Telegram monitoring channels reported that an Il-78M refueling plane was also airborne.

Earlier on January 17, a Russian drone attack on Odesa wounded three people and caused damage to civilian residential infrastructure, prompting the evacuation of 130 people, regional Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram.

The Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine said separately that it shot down 11 Iranian-made drones during the attack on Odesa, with the vast majority of the debris falling into the sea.

"Air-defense units worked for almost three hours.... The main efforts of the enemy were concentrated on attacks on Odesa," the military said in a statement.

The latest Russian attacks came as the United Nations said the past several weeks have seen a steep increase in civilian victims in Ukraine due to unusually intense missile and drone strikes.

In December alone, 101 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 491 were wounded in Russian strikes, amounting a 26.5 percent month-to- month increase in verified casualties, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said in a report published on January 16.

In Brussels, the chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Bob Bauer, said on January 17 that the alliance would keep supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Today is the 693rd day of what Russia thought would be a three-day war. Ukraine will have our support for every day that is to come because the outcome of this war will determine the fate of the world, Bauer said at the start of a two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers.

This war has never been about any real security threat to Russia coming from either Ukraine or NATO, Bauer added. This war is about Russia fearing something much more powerful than any physical weapon on Earth: democracy. If people in Ukraine can have democratic rights, then people in Russia will soon crave them too.

Bauer also urged a fundamental overhaul in the conflict readiness of the 31-member alliance.

In order to be fully effective, also in the future, we need a war-fighting transformation of NATO, he said.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
Russian air strikes hit residential buildings in the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv late on January 16 and Odesa early on January 17, causing extensive damage. In Kharkiv, at least 17 were wounded in a missile attack. More than a dozen buildings were reportedly damaged by two S-300 missiles fired from the Russian region of Belgorod. In Odesa, three people were reportedly wounded in drone attacks.
Uncertainty, anxiety loom over 2024 U.S. presidential election

08:10, January 17, 2024 By Yang Shilong, Liu Yanan ( Xinhua

A pedestrian walks past a sign of 2024 Iowa caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa, the United States, Jan. 15, 2024. (Xinhua)

"Having a former president running changes the election dynamics significantly," an expert on politics said. "The fact that it is Donald Trump adds to this since Trump clearly is signaling his lack of belief in the kind of democratic traditions that have defined the United States throughout its history."

NEW YORK, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Uncertainty and anxiety loom over the 2024 U.S. presidential election as the Iowa caucus on Monday kicked off the official race for the White House.

Only 31 minutes after the caucuses in the Midwestern U.S. state had begun Monday evening, former President Donald Trump was projected to easily win the first major test of the 2024 Republican primary race.

The victory is seen as a boost to Trump's momentum toward a potential rematch in November with the current Democratic President Joe Biden that could likely put the country's institutions to an extreme test.

WHAT MAKES 2024 ELECTION UNIQUE

"Trump has significant control of Republican primary voters and elites, and seems nearly a lock for the nomination," David Redlawsk, James R. Soles professor and chair, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware, told Xinhua on Monday.

"This is due to his remaking of the most active parts of the Republican party -- those most likely to vote in primaries. Even if many Republicans (and most Independents) do not really want him, much of the GOP sees him as the only possible option to beat Biden, no matter what his flaws," said Redlawsk.

"The main thing that makes 2024 nearly unique is the fact that a former president defeated in the prior general election is running," he said, adding that the only other time this has happened was in 1892 when Grover Cleveland ran and won, defeating Benjamin Harrison, who had beaten him four years before.

"Having a former president running changes the election dynamics significantly," he said. "The fact that it is Donald Trump adds to this since Trump clearly is signaling his lack of belief in the kind of democratic traditions that have defined the United States throughout its history."

On top of that, the fact that Trump has been indicted on many counts and is facing multiple criminal and civil trials also makes this election "entirely different from any that have come before," said Redlawsk.

There are also efforts trying to remove Trump from the ballot in a handful of states. Colorado's Supreme Court ruled last month that Trump is disqualified from competing in the race under the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause, finding that he violated his oath with his actions around Jan. 6, 2021. Maine's Secretary of State Sheena Bellows also disqualified Trump under the amendment.

But Trump has framed his legal issues as political attacks, arguing he's the victim of a "witch hunt" as he runs for another term.

In the case of Joe Biden, he is the incumbent president and as such the leader of the Democratic Party, according to Redlawsk.

"There was really no one who could (or would) effectively challenge him since he decided he wanted to run again. It is rare for an incumbent to face a serious challenge in his own party so the Democrats have him regardless of voter enthusiasm," he said.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a caucus site in Clive, Iowa, the United States, Jan. 15, 2024. (Xinhua)

RESULT OF PARTISAN DYSFUNCTION

"A rematch between two old, disliked candidates is likely to come November and this is a result of partisan dysfunction and fracture," said Samuel J. Abrams, professor of politics at Sarah Lawrence College, and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, in an interview with Xinhua.

"Both parties lack clear platforms or agreement on policies and priorities. Meanwhile, both have active presidents who want the Oval Office and are not thinking about party building and the good of the nation at present," said Abrams. "Trump has no clear successor nor Biden and the race is now about their personalities, not policies and politics."

"Moreover, we have a situation with incredibly low approval of both candidates and no new, real competition, suggesting low engagement and interest and thus low turnout -- so the base that supported Biden, for instance, may not show up this time around. The question is will Trump stir up enough interest in the battleground states to win and it is too early to figure that out," he said.

Abrams warned that "this election is quite dangerous for the nation and I worry about stability."

"On one hand, if Trump wins, he will be aggressive, not work with Democrats, and use the powers of the president to push through his agenda," he said. "While some of his agenda is smart, the fact remains that compromise and shared governance have traditionally promoted stability, and failing to do that has economic, social, and political consequences."

"Should Biden win, he will have to demonstrate that he can set his party on a path forward beyond just beating Trump; how will the Democrats manage the economy, global affairs, civil unrest, etc; how progressive or centrist will they be; who will be the next generations of leaders?" said Abrams.

"I think that regardless of who wins, partisan rancor will continue and we will see unstable majorities emerge such that one party comes into power, becomes fairly extreme and pushes through policy which is unstable and not widely accepted only to be changed by the next administration," said Abrams. "This does not bode well for the future -- it is hard to invest, hard to plan ... and civic life will decline with anxiety rising."

(Zhang Juan contributed to the story.)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The West's expectations of a counteroffensive from Ukraine last year were unjustified. If the partners had first agreed and then provided "real support" to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian military would have taken place exactly as the West expected.

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This was stated in Davos by John Herbst, former US Ambassador to Ukraine and chairman of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center in Washington. He emphasized that the partners' expectations were met against the backdrop of constant hesitation to provide Ukraine with certain weapons.

"Months passed, and we kept finding some reasons not to supply Ukraine with certain types of weapons. However, if we (now) properly arm Ukraine, there will be a serious advance on the battlefield," Herbst said.

The diplomat believes that the West does not understand that the war against Ukraine is only a consequence (not the only and not the last) of the fact that Russia wants to "revise the post-war world order."

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Zelenskyy expects defense and political decisions to be made at the North Atlantic Alliance summit. This meeting of representatives of NATO member states will take place in the US capital, Washington, in July this year.

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Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda expressed his belief that Western countries should speed up the provision of military assistance to Ukraine.

Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the Alliance would continue to provide Ukraine with "extensive military, economic and humanitarian assistance" amid Russia's nearly two-year invasion. Thus, NATO members plan to provide "additional opportunities worth billions of euros" in 2024.

In addition, it was reported that NATO member states are continuing initiatives to support Ukrainian air operations to counter Russian strikes. The partners are discussing providing Kyiv with F-16 aircraft along with instructors to train pilots.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
On Tuesday, January 16, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed with U.S. President Joe Biden support for Ukraine in the war against Russia and the situation in the Middle East. Afterward, it became known that in 2024 Germany would provide Ukraine with military goods worth more than 7 billion euros.

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The increase in aid to Ukraine was announced on the Federal Government's website. Previously, it was expected that Germany would provide our country with aid worth 4 billion euros.

"The Chancellor and the President (of the United States, Joe Biden - ed.) condemned Russia's ongoing attack on Ukraine and the need to continue financial, military, and humanitarian support for Ukraine. In 2024, Germany will support Ukraine with military goods worth more than seven billion euros," the statement said.

Scholz also confirmed this information on his page on the social network X (exTwitter).

"President Biden and I agreed that we want to continue to provide financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine. I spoke with Biden on the phone today. Germany is providing more than seven billion euros in military goods in 2024," the Chancellor said.

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It should be noted that the United States and Germany have been leaders in military support for Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The total value of the assistance provided by Berlin since February 24, 2022 has already amounted to about 6 billion euros. This includes, in particular, Leopard tanks, IRIS-T air defense systems and missiles, and the provision of long-range Taurus missiles is currently being discussed.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- The leader of the opposition CDU Friedrich Merz called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz not to delay the provision of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. According to him, these munitions can greatly help the Defense Forces.

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- Earlier, Scholz said that Berlin would double its spending on military aid to Ukraine, which has been fighting a full-scale Russian invasion for almost two years. He called on other EU states to step up their efforts to support the Ukrainian people.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A former convent in Lanesboro damaged by fire yesterday evening (Tuesday) was due to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, a local Fine Gael councillor has confirmed.

Fine Gael Councillor Colm Murray, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, confirmed to RTE News that there was as yet no start date for people to move into the building but that work had begun.

Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of the fire, which was quickly brought under control by fire services. Its understood that the building sustained minor damage and no injuries were reported.

A Garda spokesperson confirmed to the Roscommon Herald that a technical examination of the scene will take place.

Cllr Murray also told RTE News that a meeting had taken place yesterday with local representatives, local council staff, and the owner of the premises.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys has appointed a former CEO of Roscommon County Council as the new chair of the Western Development Commission (WDC).

Eugene Cummins has been selected as the new Chair of the WDC Board following a State Boards appointment process, which is managed by the Public Appointments Service.

Mr Cummins previously served as Chief Executive for Roscommon for four years and was previously the CEO at Monaghan County Council. He replaces Gerry Finn who served as chair for the last there years.

The appointment of Mr Cummins, who retired as Roscommon CEO in September 20233, was announced as part of a new Board of the Western Development Commission (WDC).

Minister Humphreys reappointed five ordinary members to the board - Ms Aisling Meehan, Ms Audrey Crummy, Ms Mary Coyne, Ms Mary McKenna and Ms Sandra Nolan and five new members  Ms Breda Fox, Mr Micheal Heaney, Mr Patrick Duffy, Mr Eoin Motherway and Mr Niall ODonnellan. Mr Edmund Jennings also remains a member until his term expires in August 2024.

Minister Humphreys said she was delighted to welcome Mr Cummins as he takes up the position of Chair of the Board, and wished him well in his role.

I have no doubt that the incoming Board will continue to make a significant contribution to economic and social development in the Western region, in collaboration with other key stakeholders. Minister Humphreys said: The Western Development Commission has played an important role in promoting economic and social development in the Western region since it was established in 1999. Over the past three years in particular, the WDC has established itself as an important contributor to the development of the region, supporting the objectives of Project Ireland 2040 to make Ireland a better country for all.

The WDC has also made important contributions to the development of policy at national level in areas such as remote working, climate change and rural development.

I am delighted to appoint new members to the board to help guide and direct the work of the Commission for the next three years. There were many expression of interest and I want to thank everyone who took the time to apply through the State Boards process.

The composition of the new Board reflects a mix of new members and previous Board members. They possess an excellent combination of experience and skills from the business sector, the public sector, the community sector and academia.

The Minister added: I want to also thank previous Board members, including Mr Gerry Finn, the Chair of the Board for the last three years, for their work in supporting the development of the Western region and their careful stewardship of the WDC over the last three years.

I have no doubt that the incoming Board will continue to make a significant contribution to economic and social development in the Western region, in collaboration with other key stakeholders.
Iran vs Pakistan War Conflict Death, Air Strike Latest News Today

Iran's air strike in Pakistan hit a village in the vast south-western border province of Balochistan.

Iran vs Pakistan War Conflict Death, Air Strike Latest News Today: In a major incident, Iran hit a militant group in western Pakistan in an air strike on another country, this week. As per Iranian state TV, Iran attacked two sites in Balochistan that were linked to the militant group Jaish al-Adl.

On the other hand, Pakistan's officials said that two children were killed while three others were injured in Iran's air strike. While Russia Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine are already under war, the conflict between Iran and Pakistan has raised concerns. Similarly, Islamabad stated that the air strike was an "illegal act" and even warned that it could lead to "serious consequences".

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The latest air strike by Iran comes at a time when there is growing tension across the Middle East, with more than 100 days of war between Israel and Palestine in Gaza and US-UK air strikes on Yemen, from where Iran-backed Houthis were attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Iran's air strike in Pakistan hit a village in the vast south-western border province of Balochistan. Tehran stated that it was targeting Jaish al-Adl, or "army of justice", that carried out attacks inside Iran and as well as on Pakistani government forces.

Earlier on Monday, Iran launched fired ballistic missiles against targets in Iraq's northern city of Irbil, which was also condemned by the US. As per Iran's Revolutionary Guards, they struck what they claimed was an Israeli "spy headquarters" in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region in which four civilians were killed and six injured.

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Later, Iran hit targets in Syria's north-western Idlib province, the last remaining opposition stronghold in the country. In the meanwhile, Tehran has declared that it doesn't want to get involved in a huge conflict emerging from the war in Gaza.

Following the attack on its territory, Pakistan condemned the "unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran" and said that it was "even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran".

(For more news apart from 'Iran vs Pakistan War Conflict Death, Air Strike Latest News Today', stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Portmeirion Group PLC (PMP.L), a manufacturer of homeware products, on Wednesday said it sees fiscal 2023 pre-tax profit in line with underlying consensus market expectations, and lower sales.

Portmeirion shares were losing more than 16 percent in the morning trading in London.

Looking forward to fiscal 2024, the company is expecting a healthy operating margin improvement compared to 2023 after a positive Christmas performance. It also expect sales to return to growth in the full year.

Nevertheless, the firm feels that fiscal 2024 might be a challenging year due to ongoing macro uncertainty with customers remaining cautious in relation to H1 order flow, especially in the US and South Korean .

In its trading update, the company said it experienced good Christmas trading period with high demand across its consumer goods brands.

Sales are expected to be at least 102 million pounds, slightly ahead of analysts' estimates.

Portmeirion is set to publish its full year results in late March.

Currently, Portmeirion shares are trading at 233.86 pence, down 16.48% in London.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Chevron (CVX) CEO Michael Wirth has warned that if tensions were to further escalate in the Middle East, the Red Sea crisis would pose a serious threat to the oil flows and prices.

On Tuesday, in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wirth told CNBC that the situation is "very serious and seems to be getting worse."

He added, "So much of the world's oil flows through that region, that were it to be cut off, I think you could see things change very rapidly."

While talking about the U.S. oil prices, Wirth told CNBC that he was surprised to see the crude oil trading below $73 per barrel.

The shipping giant, Chevron's vessels pass through the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea regularly. In order to ensure the safety of its employees, the company has been keeping an eye on the Houthi attacks.

"We coordinate every vessel movement with U.S. and other military authorities that are in the region," Wirth commented. "We really have to watch very carefully."

Wirth said that Chevron's two vessels were attacked last year by the Iranian Navy, one was hijacked by the commandos and taken to an Iranian port, while the other was under attack for four hours until the U.S. Navy intervened.

Houthi attacks have become a regular occurrence in the Red Sea route since November. They are claiming to avenge Israel's operation against Hamas in Gaza, by attacking commercial vessels passing through that route.

In a bid to avoid the attacks, many shipping companies chose to divert their ships towards the Cape of Good Hope route, while other shipping companies such as BP, Shell, and Qatar Energy decided to suspend their shipments for an indefinite period.



Wirth said Chevron has been "able to maintain" movements throughout the region while keeping in mind that it is an "evolving situation".

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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Microsoft (MSFT) CEO Satya Nadella addressed the future of artificial intelligence and emphasized the importance of implementing safeguards to ensure safety against AI during his presentation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

On Tuesday, during a conversation with Klaus Schwab, the chairperson of the World Economic Forum, Nadella said that he is "optimistic" and "hopeful" about the AI industry. However, he added that the countries should be on the same page in order to embrace a similar set of industry standards for AI.

Nadella further praised AI by saying that it has the power to significantly influence various industries, spanning from science and education to removing some of the "drudgery" of software engineering. "I think '24 will probably be the year where all of this will scale," he said.

While talking about the safety requirements, Nadella said that, "We should have a risk-based assessment of how to deploy this ." He further emphasized the need to accept "the unintended consequences of any technology along with all the benefits".

The Chief Executive of Microsoft said, "People in our own industry are stepping it up to say, okay, here are the ways we are going to raise the standards on safety."

Nadella said that he believes a global regulatory approach would be "very desirable" citing that, it would otherwise "be very tough to contain, tough to enforce and tough to, quite frankly, move the needle even on some of the core research that is needed."

Microsoft plans to become a leader of AI industry with the help of OpenAI. The company initially invested in OpenAI in 2019, by contributing $1 billion in cash. At present, it holds a total investment of $13 billion in the ChatGPT maker company.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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Former president of the aggressor country and now Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that the existence of an independent Ukraine is "deadly" for its population. At the same time, the odious Russian politician noted that this will always be a reason to resume hostilities, regardless of how the government in Ukraine changes.

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Medvedev published another post threatening Ukrainians on his Telegram channel. He also said that Ukraine's accession to the European Union or NATO would not prevent a new conflict.

It seems that the Kremlin's representative is quite confused by the West's continued support for Ukraine and the fact that Ukraine is rapidly moving towards EU membership, so he is once again trying to threaten a new escalation of the conflict.

"The possibility of a new clash will remain indefinitely. Almost always. Moreover, there is one hundred percent probability of a new conflict, no matter what security papers the West signs with the puppet regime in Kyiv. It will not be prevented by Ukraine's association with the EU or even by this artificial country's accession to NATO. This can happen in ten or fifty years," Medvedev said.

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The inadequate politician also added that the only option for Ukrainians to "survive" is "to live in a large common state, which they do not like very much now."

Earlier it was reported that the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, former president of the aggressor country Dmitry Medvedev issued a new round of threats to the UK due to the visit of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Kyiv. He said that the deployment of an "official military contingent" in Ukraine by London would allegedly mean a declaration of war against Russia.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had another escalation amid the confrontation in the US Congress over the allocation of funds to continue helping Ukraine. He again spoke about the risk of a clash between Russia and NATO and tried to scare the world with World War III.

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced new arms supplies to Ukraine. His country will provide our defenders with 40 SCALP missiles and hundreds of air bombs.

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The French leader made this statement at a press conference on Tuesday. This was reported by the international news agency Reuters.

Thus, Macron said that in the coming weeks, about 40 long-range SCALP missiles and several hundred bombs will be delivered.

"With these supplies, I will go to Ukraine in February myself," Macron said.

He also emphasized that Europeans will need to ensure that Ukraine can continue to defend itself against Russia.

It is worth noting that in August 2023, Ukraine received SCALP-EG missiles from France, which are alternatives of the famous British Storm Shadow missiles, which are already showing their impressive results in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers. The French and British versions of the missile are generally identical, with the only differences being in the software and missile carrier aircraft.

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These missiles are capable of hitting targets located at a distance of 500 kilometers. During the previous delivery, then-French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu noted that the missiles transferred to Ukraine had been modified to reduce the range to 250 kilometers.

The SCALP missile is more than 5 meters long and has a body diameter of 63 cm. It weighs 1,300 kg and has a payload of 450 kg. Such a warhead can leave holes up to 30 meters deep.

Reducing the likelihood of detecting the missile in flight is facilitated by the fact that it passes the entire marching section of the trajectory at an altitude of 100-150 meters, and before attacking the target, it descends even lower.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
On the night of Wednesday, January 17, Russian occupation forces attacked Odesa with Shahed drones. Explosions were heard in the city, and air defense forces were shooting down enemy targets. The attack resulted in three civilian casualties.

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This was reported by the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper. He noted that there was damage to civilian residential infrastructure.

Fires were reported in the city.

Kiper later wrote that the 62-year-old man had sustained a shrapnel wound due to the enemy attack. "Doctors are providing all the necessary assistance," he said.

Later, the number of injured increased to three people: womans born in 1955 and 1995 were also wounded.

A total of 130 civilians were evacuated from the damaged building.

Later, it became known that a fire broke out in one of the residential buildings in Odesa as a result of a Russian drone attack. Windows and glass were smashed in neighboring buildings. A giant sinkhole was formed near the high-rise building as a result of the Shahed's fall.

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"There is a deep crater in the middle of the street. Four cars burned down, eight more were damaged by the blast wave. A gas pipe caught fire, two balconies, an apartment on the second floor of a 5-storey building, and the facade of the building were partially destroyed: all these are the consequences of the night attack on Odesa by the Russian Federation," Suspilne Odesa writes.

The Southern Defense Forces noted that air defense had been repelling the enemy attack for almost three hours. One drone was destroyed in the Mykolaiv and Kropyvnytskyi regions. In the Odesa region, which was particularly heavily attacked by the Russians, 11 targets were shot down.

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"In the Odesa region, 11 drones were shot down on approach to the coast, most of them fell into the sea. However, the wreckage of several downed drones and the blast wave damaged apartment buildings, shops, and private cars in the Prymorskyi district of Odesa. In several locations, fires broke out, setting apartments and cars of civilians on fire. Firefighters promptly extinguished the fires," the Southern Defense Forces commented on the attack.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
On the night of January 17, during an enemy drone attack on Ukraine, our military used the FrankenSAM system for the first time. It successfully shot down a Shahed drone from a distance of nine kilometers.

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This announcement was made at a briefing in Davos by Oleksandr Kamyshyn, the head of the Ministry of Strategic Industries. FrankenSAM is a domestically-produced hybrid air defense system developed by Ukrainians.

Three SAMs were combined to create it:

- Soviet Buk SAM with American RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles,

- AIM-9M air-to-air missiles combined with Soviet radars,

- Air defense systems based on Ukrainian old systems with elements and missiles from Patriot.

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According to Kamyshyn, Ukraine has "about 5 such projects," and all systems have already been deployed on the battlefield.

FrankenSAM is a joint US-Ukrainian development, known since 2023. Its main idea is to combine Western missiles with Soviet air defense systems available in Ukraine. The project aims to strengthen Ukraine's air defense against Russian attacks amid the depletion of Soviet missiles for Buk and other air defense systems.

As a reminder, the creation and successful testing of the "Frankenstein" air defense system were reported back in October 2023. The FrankenSAM program originated in 2022 when Ukrainian officials asked allies for help in finding missiles for 60 Soviet Buk missile launchers that were idle in the arsenal.

Realizing that it would be difficult for the West to obtain Russian-made ammunition for the Buk systems, Ukrainians offered to convert the launchers to use NATO-caliber anti-aircraft missiles donated by the United States.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, in December 2023, Kamyshyn said that domestically-produced hybrid air defense systems provide the country with quick solutions. They are already being used by our military and demonstrate the results of their work.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Members of the European Parliament have agreed on the text of a draft resolution on Hungary, which calls for the country's voting rights in the EU Council to be revoked. The document will be considered this week, in particular, on Thursday, January 18.

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It is expected that with the consent of the majority consisting of the Socialists (S&D), the Green/EFA group, the center-right EPP, the liberal Renewal group, and the Left group, the parliament will approve the harsh resolution on Thursday.

Two of its key points are a call for the Council to start the process of depriving Hungary of its voting rights under Article 7.2 of the EU treaty and to launch a parliamentary investigation to determine the legality of the Commission's decision to unfreeze Hungarian funds, with the intention of launching proceedings in the EU Court of Justice.

Article 7.2 stipulates that the parliament, with the approval of a two-thirds majority, can call on Hungary to answer to the European Council for violating the rule of law, after which EU national leaders can decide to deprive the country of its voting rights.

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The draft agreement also states that the Parliament instructs its legal affairs committee to take the necessary steps as soon as possible in connection with the Commission's decision leading to the unfreezing of 10.2 billion, including an analysis of legal services under Rule 149 to verify the legality of the decision in court.

"We are also sending a strong message to the European Commission: if they simply distribute billions of euros to avoid Hungary's veto, they will not get away with it," said Daniel Freund, one of the leading negotiators of the resolution, MEP from the Greens.

It is noteworthy that most EU lawmakers claimed that the European Commission's decision to allocate funds was not based on objective improvements in Hungary's judicial system and rule of law, as the EU executive claims.

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It was believed that this was a concession to Budapest by Brussels before the EU summit, which made a historic decision to start accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
On November 16, 2023, Dorothy Jean (Heise) Yandell peacefully passed away at the age of 70 in her home in Lebanon, TN. A perfect combination of her mom and dad, the dark-haired beauty was born on April 27, 1953, in Kalispell, Montana, where she attended grades one through five in a two-room schoolhouse. In the summer of 1964, her family relocated to San Pedro, California, where she studied at Christ Lutheran and later graduated from Narbonne High School.

Dorothy began her career at the port of Los Angeles with Matson in 1971, continuing until 1992 when the family relocated to Thompson Falls, MT. After several years working for the public school system in Thompson Falls, Dorothy's family embarked on a journey that took them to various places, including a return to Los Angeles where she rejoined the shipping industry. Dorothy transferred to Nashville, TN, and later retired from Ceres Terminals to begin her well-earned, and much anticipated, life of retirement.

Dorothy was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend. Throughout her life, she graciously opened her home to many whether for a moment or a month. Finding joy in life's simple pleasures, Dorothy appreciated good conversation and spending time with family and friends. Loved by all, her influence will forever remain in our hearts.

Preceding her in death are her father, Robert Francis Heise, mother, Janice Marie Jones Heise, and niece LaVonne Bower Kennedy. Dorothy is survived by her loving husband, Jimmy Yandell, three children: Steven Yandell (April), Jamie Yandell Cole, and Shawna Yandell; three step-children; twelve grandchildren; and siblings Janice Butte (Bob), Daniel Heise (Vera), Susan York, Ronda Heise (Mike), Bobbi Christenson (Hal), and Ada Heise. She also leaves behind numerous other cherished family and friends.

The family will hold a memorial service at a later date.
Visitors can use track chairs to explore the trail at Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling. (MDNR)

A track chair in use at South Higgins Lake State Park.

Ben Miller uses a track chair.

A track chair in use at South Higgins Lake State Park.
Governance, risk and compliance (GRC) software specialist Acuity RM said in an update on Wednesday that, in the nine months following the acquisition of Acuity Risk Management in April last year, it had seen solid growth.

The AIM-traded firm said it had achieved its highest-ever order intake, recorded substantial revenues, and secured its largest contract to date.

Additionally, key performance indicators (KPIs) had shown strong performance, suggesting continued growth into 2024.

During the nine months from April to December 2023, Acuity recorded revenue of 1.4m, compared to 1.75m for the entire 12 months ended 31 March.

As of 31 December, the company had total cash and cash receipts from debtors expected in January of 1.2m.

The companys bank balance as of 12 January stood at 0.9m.

Sales orders received during the period were ahead 44%, reaching 1.6m valued at first 12 months' revenue, compared to 1.1m in the same period in 2022.

Acuity said its forward contracted revenue as of 31 December had reached 2.9m, marking decent growth from 2.2m on 28 February 2023.

Contract renewals for 2023 achieved 85%, slightly lower than the 96% rate recorded as of 31 March 2023.

Notably, Acuity secured its largest-ever contract valued at 0.56m in December, while its pipeline of sales prospects expanded substantially to reach 7.9m as of 31 December, compared to 4.2 million in March.

Partnerships played a vital role in that growth, the board said, as they contributed 1.4m to the pipeline as of the end of December, up from 0.8m in 2022.

The directors said they were satisfied with the progress of the companys partnerships network.

In 2023, Acuity welcomed new partners including Claritas, Logicalis, Nettitude, Security Executive Council US and Sopra Steria.

Activity with the partners intensified throughout the year, resulting in the acquisition of three new clients and a promising pipeline of potential sales worth 1.4m by 31 December.

Furthermore, Acuity announced a contract win following its last update on 12 December.

The company said it secured a contract worth 0.11m with a Turkey-based travel company, which would involve the implementation of STREAM on a two-year agreement, with an option to extend for a third year.

The nine months of trading from 1 April to 31 December 2023 shows real progress and the indications are that the pace of expansion is increasing, said executive chairman Angus Forrest.

There is much to do but the opportunity is large and I expect further significant progress in 2024.

At 1418 GMT, shares in Acuity RM Group were up 2.15% at 4.75p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Green fertiliser project developer Atome Energy updated the market on its operations in Paraguay on Wednesday, reporting that the front-end engineering design (FEED) study and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) were progressing well, and were expected to conclude in the first quarter of the year.

The AIM-traded firm said it had received multiple offtake proposals from leading international players for Villeta's full production volume of its green fertiliser, with concrete news anticipated in the same period.

Atome said it was confident in finalising the financing for the Villeta Project, with strong interest in both the debt financing component and equity investment from international heavyweight investors, all at the project level.

Pre-power purchase agreement (PPA) studies for the 300MW Yguazu Project were set to be completed this month to determine the best location, with a formal 300MW deal targeted for the first half.

For the 145MW Villeta phase one project in Paraguay, detailed FEED, EPC, and financing negotiations were nearing completion.

The FEED study for the Villeta Project was expected to be concluded in the first quarter.

EPC contract discussions with the main and specialist sub-contractors, led by Aecom, were also in their final stages.

The discussions were focussed on achieving a lump sum fixed price turnkey contract to ensure cost and delivery timeline certainty.

Atome said the structure being negotiated aimed to lower project risk and increase bankability, ultimately maximising project returns.

Regarding the offtake of green calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) fertiliser from Villeta, Atome said it was in advanced negotiations with leading international players.

Multiple proposals had been received and were being actively considered.

The company said it recognised a growing market for CAN, particularly in Brazil and Argentina, where the market had become more open due to government changes.

Additionally, Atome said its product was attractive to European and UK markets due to their emphasis on green fertiliser throughout the supply chain, and the imposition of carbon tax penalties.

An agreement on offtake for Atomes CAN was expected to be announced before the end of the first quarter, with further details to follow when terms are settled.

Project financing had meanwhile gained momentum, with Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking receiving expressions of interest from development finance institutions, international lenders, and export credit agencies.

That interest had led to an indicative oversubscription in the debt financing component of the project.

Discussions were reportedly ongoing with prospective international equity and strategic investors at the project level.

In the case of the 300MW Yguazu Project, pre-power purchase agreement studies were underway in cooperation with ANDE, the state power company of Paraguay, to determine the best location.

Yguazu would benefit from the experience gained in the Villeta project development, both in terms of timescale and costs.

Further updates on Yguazu and a roadmap towards a 300MW power purchase agreement were expected in the first quarter, with the formal deal anticipated to be established within the first half.

The board is confident that 2024 will be a transformational year for Atome, and we are grateful to the team and our strategic partners who have continued to work throughout the end of the year in order to make rapid progress on the engineering, financial and commercial fronts, said chief executive officer Olivier Mussat.

Whilst taking slightly longer than we originally hoped, the work and de-risking during this extended time has allowed for significant benefit in enhancing the efficacy of our first 145MW project in Paraguay as well as enabling beneficial impact on design, offtake, and financing.

Mussat said the company was confident that in the first quarter, further key project milestones would be achieved.

At the same time, work is continuing in parallel on other projects and in particular Costa Rica which, combined with Yguazu in Paraguay, provides a pipeline of projects extending to world-scale in excess of half a gigawatt.

At 1405 GMT, shares in Atome Energy were down 0.67% at 68.04p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Shares in Safestore declined on Wednesday despite the self-storage space provider appearing to beat market expectations with its annual results, as it pointed to a softening of conditions in the UK in the new financial year.

The company, which is Europe's second-largest self-storage group with operations across the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, said group revenues were up 5.5% in the 12 months to 31 October at 224m.

A 5.1% increase in maximum lettable area to 8.09m square foot was able to offset a fall in closing occupancy to 77% from 82.1% the previous year.

"Resilient performances in the UK and Paris were complemented by new store driven growth in Spain and the annualisation of our ownership of the Netherlands and Belgium businesses," the company said.

Underlying EBITDA rose 5.3% to 142m, while adjusted diluted earnings per share were more or less unchanged on the previous year at 47.9p, slightly ahead of Peel Hunt's forecasts of 47.4p.

However, the statutory operating profit more than halved to 230.4m, down from 514.5m previously, as a result of gains on investment properties falling to just 93.8m from 381.6m.

Meanwhile, the dividend was increased by 1% to 30.1p which it said was in line with its progressive payout policy.

Looking ahead, the company reported a 0.6% LFL revenue decline for the first two months of the new financial year, with "modest" falls in the UK. It also said that "limited" promotional activity results in an improvement in LFL occupancy in the UK and Paris.

"The immediate impact on rates is expected to gradually reduce over the next few months, particularly as the group will annualise the discounting activity that took place later last year in spring," it said.

Commenting on the outlook statement, analysts at Peel Hunt said that there were downside risks to their forecasts. "Depending on how the rest of the year pans out, our 2024E EPS forecast of 46.7p may prove too optimistic; and removing all LFL growth this year would reduce our estimate by c.4% to c.45p," they said in a research note.

The stock was down 4.2% at 814.5p.
Press Release

January 17, 2024 How Bong Go's Malasakit Center initiative saved the life of a former OFW in Japan Senator Christopher "Bong" Go initiated the Malasakit Center which has been at the forefront in assisting Filipinos in dire need of medical support, like Vicente Celespara Jr., a 28-year-old former worker in Japan, now battling end-stage renal disease. Celespara's ordeal began unexpectedly with a severe case of acid reflux that led to his hospitalization. "Bigla lang akong nagkaroon ng acid reflux. Hindi ako makahinga. Kaya nagpasugod na ako sa hospital," he recounted. The hospital diagnosed him with critically high creatinine levels, necessitating emergency dialysis. This health crisis abruptly ended his employment abroad, forcing him to return to the Philippines. Upon his return, Celespara faced escalating health challenges, including the resumption of dialysis by February, depleting his savings. "Noong time na po 'yun, lahat ng savings ko nagamit ko na rin. At pag pabalik-balik sa hospital. Kaya wala na rin po talaga akong nakuhanan," he shared. Facing mounting medical expenses, he turned to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City. At NKTI, Celespara received an internal jugular catheter and needed a new fistula, leading to further expenses. It was then that the Malasakit Center in the hospital became his crucial support system. "Lumapit po ako sa Malasakit (Center)... Sobrang laki 'yung tulong po talaga ng Malasakit," he emphasized, expressing profound gratitude for the center's aid in covering his hospital bills. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). These one-stop shops aim to support patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. Currently, 159 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, poised to assist with patients' medical expenses. The DOH reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to around ten million Filipinos. Celespara's story underscores the vital role of the Malasakit Centers in providing financial and emotional support to Filipinos grappling with severe health issues. These centers, positioned in various hospitals across the nation, are dedicated to assisting with hospital billing and other medical expenses, embodying a commitment to the well-being of the Filipino people. Expressing his heartfelt thanks, Celespara said, "Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Senator Bong Go. Lalo na sa pagtatatag ng Malasakit. Sana po ay madami pa kayong matutulungan." He encouraged others in similar situations to seek assistance from these centers, ensuring that more Filipinos could benefit from this crucial program. Go said that his vision for the Malasakit Centers extends beyond providing aid and focuses on the collective efforts of the government to promote compassion and solidarity in times of crisis. "Lapitan n'yo lang po ang Malasakit Center. Para po 'yan sa Pilipino," Go stated, adding: "tutulong ako sa abot ng aking makakaya. 'Yan po ang pwede kong ialay sa Pilipino. Ang aking serbisyo at pagmamalasakit po sa inyo." Aside from Malasakit Centers, Go also principally sponsored and is one of the authors of the Republic Act No. 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which was signed into law by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. on August 24. The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals which will provide specialized healthcare including renal and transplant care.
Wizz Air has been forced to pay out 1.2m to passengers whose claims for compensation were falsely rejected after flight delays in the chaotic summer of 2022.

The UKs Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) stepped in last July and ordered the budget carrier to review thousands of claims after a record number of complaints from passengers.

The payments were made after around 6,000 applications were reviewed for a second time out of 25,000 claims.

Airlines are required by law to cover the cost of replacement flights for travellers when they cancel a flight and can't provide another quickly.

Passengers across Europe were left stranded as air traffic control strikes and staff shortages after the industry laid off thousands of workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Wizz, which was the worst airline for flight delays in 2021 & 2022, was also subject to a multitude of County Court claims from frustrated passengers.

In response, Wizz did not mention the compensation payouts, but said it had enhanced its claim handling system by incorporating an automated refund process, spent 90m to improve its performance, contracted four new call centres and identified and paid all known County Court Judgements.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com
Karnataka Bank (KBL), a prominent private sector bank, and Clix Capital, a rapidly expanding new-age Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), have forged a strategic digital co-lending alliance via the Yubi Co.lend Platform. This collaboration aims to extend loans to the Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, a significant driver of India's GDP and employment expansion. The arrangement aligns with the Reserve Bank of India's directives on cooperative lending by banks and NBFCs to priority sectors.

This collaboration leverages Karnataka Bank's cost-effective funding, comprehensive digital capabilities, and proficiency to provide credit facilities to the specified segment. Paired with Clix Capital's robust and user-friendly lending technology platform, as well as rigorous due diligence processes, the partnership is geared towards delivering streamlined and cost-effective financing solutions in a digital format. This strategic alliance facilitates both partners to capitalize on each other's strengths to cater to underserved segments. The signing of the agreement took place in Bengaluru.

Speaking on the collaboration, Srikrishnan H, Managing Director & CEO, Karnataka Bank said, Our Co-lending partnership with Clix Capital will focus on digital credit to MSMEs with superior product and service offerings through our wide network of branches. By this arrangement, the much-needed liquidity at affordable rates for the MSME sector will be a reality. Clix Capital and Karnataka Bank will jointly address the MSME's requirements adding impetus to the micro-credit facilities segment keeping in mind the sustainable economic growth for the country".
If you need to know the owner's name and address of a phone number, reverse phone lookup services can provide you with that information. These services are helpful in identifying unknown numbers and researching telemarketing calls. However, with numerous options available, it can be challenging to decide which one suits your requirements the best. This blog post will assess the best reverse phone lookup services based on their precision, ease of use, and pricing to help you make an informed decision. Regardless of whether you need a basic one-time search or a more extensive solution, we have you covered. BeenVerified - Starts at $17.48/month  Has an easy-to-use mobile app  Provides social media data

Starts at $17.48/month  Has an easy-to-use mobile app  Provides social media data PeopleLooker - Starts at $14.62/month  Has a good-looking interface  Results are available quickly

Starts at $14.62/month  Has a good-looking interface  Results are available quickly Intelius - Starts at $0.95/search  Reputable company  Advanced search filters

Starts at $0.95/search  Reputable company  Advanced search filters Instant Checkmate - Starts at $35.12/month  Access to a large number of public records  Advanced search filters

Starts at $35.12/month  Access to a large number of public records  Advanced search filters PeopleFinders - Starts at $1 to $1.95/search  Quality service  Easy to use

Starts at $1 to $1.95/search  Quality service  Easy to use Spokeo - Starts at $0.95 to $1.95/search  Affordable  Smooth service

Starts at $0.95 to $1.95/search  Affordable  Smooth service TruthFinder - Starts at $4.99/month  Affordable phone lookup service  Unique dark web scan

Starts at $4.99/month  Affordable phone lookup service  Unique dark web scan US Search - Starts at $19.86/month  Oldest database  Affordable options Our list of reverse phone lookup sites is known for their speedy processing and accurate results. These sites are cost-effective, trusted by users, and source their data from reliable government websites. It's important to consider the individual strengths of each site when selecting the best one for your needs. Best Reverse Phone Lookup Services BeenVerified - Best Reverse Phone Lookup Overall

- Best Reverse Phone Lookup Overall PeopleLooker  Best for Fast Results

 Best for Fast Results Intelius - Best for Detailed Searches

Best for Detailed Searches Instant Checkmate - Most Extensive Phone Lookup Directory

Most Extensive Phone Lookup Directory PeopleFinders - Best for Professional Service

- Best for Professional Service Spokeo - Best Budget Phone Lookup Site

Best Budget Phone Lookup Site TruthFinder - Best for Background Checks

Best for Background Checks US Search - Best for Beginners To gain a better understanding of which reverse phone lookup service would be the most suitable choice, it's important to closely examine and analyze each service in detail. By doing so, you can make an informed decision on which service is the best fit for your needs. 1. BeenVerified  Best Reverse Phone Lookup Site Overall By using BeenVerified, you can obtain a comprehensive report that includes the individual's complete name and any other names they may go by. BeenVerified is capable of confirming whether someone is telling the truth about their real name. BeenVerified also offers details on the individual's social media presence, as well as their age, location, and phone usage. If you conduct a phone search, this site will generate a list of additional phone numbers that may provide insight into the unidentified caller and their social circle.

Pros The cancellation procedure is straightforward

The business has an intuitive mobile app

Connects you with relevant social media data Cons There are no no-cost trials available

Looking for something can take a while

Restricts how many reports can be run at once

Pricing If you want to use BeenVerifieds reverse phone lookup tool, you will have to buy a membership since there is no option for a one-time search. There are several plans available for you to choose from, which include different features and services. One month: $26.89/mo

$26.89/mo Three months: $17.48/mo 2. PeopleLooker  Best for Fast Results PeopleLooker offers a reverse phone lookup function that allows users to input a phone number into the search bar on their website and obtain various details about it. The database is scanned for any available information, such as the owner's name, address, email address, and other contact details. This service can be useful for individuals who are searching for lost friends or family members or for those who need to identify unidentified callers. The reverse phone lookup feature of PeopleLooker is designed to be user-friendly and simple to use. By simply entering the phone number, users can get immediate results, making it effortless for them to obtain the desired information. Moreover, the platform provides advanced search choices, including filtering the search by name or location, to help users narrow down their search and get the information they need quickly. Pros Privacy is maintained during searches

Quite simple to employ

Universal Android and iOS app support

It has a slick user interface Cons Some details will cost you extra

Theres no real-time assistance available

Request handling time is very long Pricing Peoplelooker offers two pricing options, giving customers the flexibility to select the plan that best suits their needs. For a duration of one month, the initial plan costs $18.28 and offers a range of benefits such as unrestricted access to reports, property lookups, sex offender searches, phone and email searches, criminal records, and more. The following strategy is designed to last for a period of three months, and it costs $14.62 per month. Its important to note that you will be charged for the entire three-month period upfront, which is why the monthly rate is less expensive than the plan for one month. In order to try out the PeopleLooker service, a convenient option is available where you can purchase a 5-day access for $1. This will enable you to gain a comprehensive understanding of how the PeopleLooker service operates. 3. Intelius  Best for Detailed Searches Intelius is a well-known service that specializes in reverse phone lookup and offers in-depth details about phone numbers. The user interface is simple to navigate, and customers can easily search for and retrieve precise results in a matter of seconds. The data supplied by Intelius comprises the owner's name, past and present locations, and relevant background information like bankruptcy and criminal records. Intelius is known for its remarkable attribute of having a thorough database that encompasses both cell phone and landline numbers. Moreover, the platform provides a free service of reverse phone lookup for landline numbers that furnishes fundamental details like phone carrier and location. Despite this, if users want more detailed information, they must subscribe to a paid plan. In general, Intelius is a trustworthy and effective service for conducting reverse phone lookups that offer precise and all-inclusive details. Its interface is easy to navigate, it has a wide-ranging database, and it offers reasonably priced options, making it a top pick for those seeking information about a particular phone number.

Pros They have been around for quite some time and have a solid reputation

Offers instant gratification

Theres no limit to how many times a phone number can be looked up Cons Theres insufficient transparency in pricing

Only information from the US is displayed

Pricing Intelius has a somewhat complicated pricing system. It's been noted that their reverse phone lookup reports can be accessed for a trial period of six days at a cost of $0.95. The basic package includes unlimited phone number searches, but if you want more detailed information, you'll have to pay an additional fee. If you want to use all the lookup tools offered by Intelius, you have the option of selecting one of their plans. Intelius Address Lookup + People Search: $29.78 per month

Intelius Reverse Phone Lookup + People Search: $35.95 per month

Intelius People Search: $42.25 per month 4. Instant Checkmate  Most Extensive Phone Lookup Directory The reverse phone number lookup directory offered by Instant Checkmate is the most comprehensive due to the diverse range of public records it draws data from. This sets it apart from other websites' reverse phone lookup tools that provide phone number lookup services. When you use Instant Checkmate to search for a phone number, you will receive information about the person's name and location associated with the call. Moreover, you can obtain a comprehensive report about the person linked to the phone number. Instant Checkmate has access to all landline and mobile phone numbers that are listed on public databases, which allows for tracking. The reverse lookup service provided by Instant Checkmate eliminates the need for concealing your identity while looking up a phone number.

Pros You can use more specific criteria to narrow your search

In order to produce high-quality outcomes, accuracy is essential

Numerous public documents are available to the public Cons The subscription price is high

It's a time-consuming process to locate the desired information

Not even a consolidated report can be found

Pricing Instant Checkmate is the best option when it comes to affordable reverse phone lookup sites. They offer comprehensive membership plans that include access to all their services, including the reverse phone lookup, for a monthly fee of $5.99. No other similar reverse phone lookup tool can match their value for money. One-month unlimited reports plan: $35.12 per month

$35.12 per month Three-month unlimited reports plan: $28.09 per month 5. PeopleFinders  Best for Professional Services PeopleFinders is a renowned service that specializes in reverse phone lookups and provides a complete profile of the phone number. It offers a simple and user-friendly search process that generates accurate results within seconds. The information provided by PeopleFinders includes the name of the owner, current and past addresses, and other relevant data such as criminal records and arrest history. The platform boasts a comprehensive database that covers both landline and mobile numbers, which is one of its remarkable features. Additionally, PeopleFinders offers a free trial that allows users to conduct a limited number of searches before purchasing a paid plan. In general, PeopleFinders is a dependable and effective service for conducting reverse phone searches, offering precise and inclusive details. Its a great option for those seeking phone number information because of its easy-to-use platform, vast collection of data, and reasonable pricing.

Pros Comfortable to use

I have been doing this for over 20 years

Excellent attention to the needs of customers Cons Avoids looking for information on social media

Only customers in the US can purchase it

Pricing PeopleFinders offers affordable packages for both short-term and long-term users. For a single phone lookup report, you can purchase it at a low cost of $1 to $1.95. If you are interested in a longer membership, there are monthly packages available with varying costs. PeopleFinders Membership: $24.95 per month

PeopleFinders Premium Membership: $29.95 per month 6. Spokeo  Best Budget Reverse Phone Lookup Site When people need to find information about phone numbers or email addresses, they often turn to services like reverse phone number lookup and email address lookup. One popular option is Spokeo, which is known for its affordable pricing compared to competitors. However, before discussing the cost, it's important to evaluate the functionality and user interface. If you go to Spokeo's website to look up numbers, you can quickly search for a phone number and view the results almost immediately. With an extensive database that includes over 600 million court records, 130 million property records, 120 billion social network IDs, 89 billion business records, and 6 billion customer records, Spokeo offers a wealth of information for its users.

Pros Downloadable PDFs are available

It's very cheap

Friendly to users Cons Government records aren't widely digitized

Exclusive to the United States

There are omissions in the data at times

Pricing Spokeo offers a range of subscription options and also provides the facility to search for individual phone numbers. The cost of conducting a single reverse phone lookup through Spokeo can range from $0.95 to $1.95, with the possibility of a discounted price. All necessary details regarding pricing and subscription options are available on their website. The following is a breakdown of the fees charged on a monthly basis for subscribing to the service. One-month plan: $19.95 per month

Three-month plan: $14.95 per month 7. TruthFinder  Best for Background Checks TruthFinder is a dependable reverse phone lookup service that stands out among its competitors. This company, based in the United States, uses multiple databases to deliver accurate information about a phone number. Its pricing is reasonable, and it has established a strong reputation. TruthFinder provides access to a wealth of data that can help you identify a person. It can connect names across multiple online platforms, including social media and public records such as court records and police records. If you have any doubts about the identity of a caller, TruthFinder can help you scan the internet's deepest corners to find out more. Additionally, the service offers self-monitoring tools that allow you to learn who has called you and what information about you is publicly available.

Pros A one-of-a-kind investigation of the deep web is offered

Brief, informative summaries

An inexpensive reverse phone number search is available Cons The time required to compile a report is minimal

More money is needed for in-depth reports

Only results from the United States

Pricing

TruthFinder is the best reverse phone lookup service that has a monthly subscription fee of $4.99, which offers partial information of a phone number. If you require more information, you will need to pay an additional fee.

The membership plans are fully listed and available for review.

One-month unlimited reports: $28.05 per month

Two-month unlimited reports: $23.28 per month (Billed at $46.56 every two months)

8. US Search  Best Reverse Phone Lookup Site for Beginners

For more than two decades, US Search has been offering reverse lookup services to individuals. Its a top-rated service in its category, and among its many offerings, the company boasts the ability to help users reconnect with old friends and relatives.

With its user-friendly website to look up numbers, US Search is an excellent choice for those new to the service, as it assists users in starting their searches based on their provided information and desired outcome.

Pros Very inexpensive

It's time to speed up the process

Simple in operation Cons Complete background checks are more expensive but necessary

A basic demonstration

Exclusive to the United States

Pricing

According to customer feedback, US Search, which offers reverse phone lookup services, does not have a transparent pricing page, making it difficult to determine the cost of their services.

Customers have reported that the prices are variable and not consistent, with additional charges being applied for features outside of the subscription package. As a result, customers may end up paying more than expected.

Monthly subscription: $19.86 per month

US Search Pro provides two subscription options that allow unlimited reports without any extra charges.

Monthly subscription: $59 per month

Annual subscription: $599 per month

Best Reverse Phone Lookup Sites - Ranking Methodology

Although a standard ranking system for reverse phone lookup sites does not exist, there are certain factors that can be taken into account while assessing their quality.

Ease of use and user interface: Ranking the best reverse phone lookup sites considers the significance of ease of use as it has a direct impact on the user experience.

Sites with complicated navigation or an unclear user interface can lead to frustration and consume more time for the users. Therefore, its crucial to prioritize the convenience of the users while ranking such sites.

Accuracy of results: The precision of outcomes holds a crucial position in the placement of the best reverse phone lookup sites as it serves as the fundamental cause for utilizing such a facility.

In case the best reverse phone lookup sites provide erroneous or obsolete data, it can result in perplexity, annoyance, and squandered time for the user.

Customer reviews and reputation: The significance of customer reviews in the ranking process of reverse phone lookup websites cannot be ignored as they offer valuable information about the firsthand experiences of other users.

This enables potential users to make informed decisions about which reverse phone lookup site to opt for and provides an overview of the website's reputation.

Database coverage: For best phone number lookup sites, having extensive coverage is crucial for their ranking as it determines the range of data they can offer. If a site searches through multiple databases, its more probable that the outcomes will be more all-inclusive.

Cost (free vs paid services): The ranking of reverse phone number lookup websites is influenced by the cost factor since it can affect the user's decision to utilize the service.

When the reverse phone lookup tool demands exorbitant fees for accessing its information, it could deter users from seeking a budget-friendly alternative. Conversely, if the best reverse phone lookup tool provides a free or reasonably priced option, it could attract users with financial constraints.

It should be emphasized that the best reverse phone lookup services typically gather their data from sources that are accessible to the public, and the precision of the outcomes might differ.

Why Use Reverse Phone Lookup Tools?

The utilization of a reverse phone lookup tool can be due to various reasons, which should all be taken into account.

Identify unknown callers: Reverse phone number lookup tools are frequently used by individuals to recognize unidentified callers.

In case someone receives a call from an unknown phone number, they can use this tool to find out the phone's owner and ascertain whether the call is genuine or a potential scam or spam call.

Find lost contacts: Reverse phone number lookup tools are frequently used by individuals to recognize unidentified callers.

In case someone receives a call from an unknown phone number, they can use this tool to find out the phone's owner and ascertain whether the call is genuine or a potential scam or spam call.

Verify information: In case you have doubts about the veracity of the details shared by a recent acquaintance, conducting a reverse phone number lookup can assist you in validating their identity and ensuring the correctness of the information provided by them.

This can prove to be especially crucial in scenarios such as online dating or commercial dealings.

Protect yourself from scams: To deceive people into picking up their calls, fraudsters frequently employ phone numbers that seem to be local or recognizable.

You can safeguard yourself from identity theft and fraud by using a reverse phone lookup tool, which can aid you in verifying the authenticity of a call.

Background checks: The use of reverse phone lookup tools is highly beneficial when conducting thorough background checks on individuals.

These tools can provide comprehensive information about their contact information, work history, criminal background, and other relevant details. Its a useful tool to gather important information about a person.

What You Need to Know About Reverse Phone Lookup Sites

There could be different reasons for searching for a phone number, such as identifying spam calls, finding out what information is available to others when they search for your number, or conducting market research.

However, prior to using a reverse lookup site, there are certain things that one should keep in mind.

What Is a Reverse Phone Lookup?

If you have a phone number but don't know who it belongs to, a reverse phone number lookup service can help you find the owner of the number.

This is useful in situations where you receive a call from an unfamiliar number or if you have a phone number with no accompanying details.

Unlike a regular phone lookup which requires a person's name to find their phone number, a reverse phone lookup starts with the phone number and finds the corresponding owner using a specialized service.

Are Reverse Phone Lookup Services To Remove My Number?

Most reverse phone number lookup services have the option to remove phone numbers from being listed on web pages, with each service having its own specific opt-out process that can vary in terms of ease and speed.

To get more information on how to opt out, it's best to consult the particular lookup service and inquire about their process.

Most Reverse Lookup Sites Are Not FCRA Compliant

The list of reverse lookup sites provided is accessible for free. However, its important to note that these sites do not comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and, therefore, should not be used by employers, landlords, or lenders to assess potential employees, tenants, or loan applicants.

These sites are only intended for personal use and can be utilized for any non-commercial purpose.

You May Have To Hand Over Personal Information

When using reverse lookup services, its common for them to request your personal information, such as your name, email address, or phone number. Additionally, some may also keep track of your location and IP address.

How To Do a Free Reverse Phone Lookup

Unfortunately, some reverse phone lookup services are not truthful in their advertising. Although they may present themselves as user-friendly, the reality is quite complex.

Even though they may advertise as free reverse phone number lookup sites, most of the time, you will have to pay for the report. These sites want you to spend more time on their best website to look up numbers in the hope that you will eventually be willing to pay for the service.

It's best not to give out any personal information, such as your email address, on websites that require a reverse phone number lookup. Additionally, be cautious of the reverse phone lookup websites that show a long progress bar.

How Do Reverse Phone Lookup Services Work?

By searching through public records, a reverse phone number lookup service can identify both the phone number and the corresponding individuals.

This method is particularly effective for tracking landline numbers. However, when it comes to identifying cell phone numbers, a reverse phone number lookup service may need to obtain data from private networks and other sources.

Are Free Phone Number Lookup Sites Any Good?

On the internet, there are many sites available for reverse phone number lookup. However, its unlikely that you will discover up-to-date and precise information even if you manage to find one such site. In contrast, paid lookup services can offer accurate outcomes at a fair cost.

How To Find Someones Name by Phone Number

Acquiring the name and identity of a caller can be easily achieved by utilizing a high-quality reverse phone lookup service. Our method of doing so involves a clear and concise set of three steps that we have streamlined for simplicity and ease of use.

1. Copy Unknown Number

Its important to ensure that the number you intend to search for is accurately copied with the appropriate number of digits.

2. Put the Phone Number in a Lookup Site

To discover the phone number linked to someone's name, you can utilize either BeenVerified or PeopleLooker reverse lookup services. Simply enter the number into the designated search bar and click 'search.' After that, the lookup will take a few seconds or minutes to finish depending on the platform.

3. Get Results

Prior to conducting a reverse phone lookup, its necessary to consent to the terms of service by selecting certain checkboxes. After the lookup is done, you will receive the identity of the individual linked to the given number, as per the terms and conditions.

What Are the Limits of Reverse Phone Lookups?

The primary limitation related to some phone search tools is their freemium model. Many companies offer free searches, but the results are not accessible without payment.

It can be frustrating to find what appears to be a free service only to discover it redirects to a paid one. Also, reverse phone number lookup services may not provide international numbers as they may not be present in the database.

And lastly, data accuracy is another issue, as many tools rely on old databases, which is counterproductive. Therefore, its ideal to have fresh and up-to-date data.

Reverse Phone Lookup Services - Frequently Asked Questions

To enhance your understanding of reverse phone lookups, we have provided answers to frequently asked questions related to this topic.

Its essential to consider all the information provided to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of reverse phone number lookups.

Is There a Free Way to Lookup a Phone Number?

Utilizing free reverse phone lookup sites is not recommended due to the prevalence of inaccurate information and fraudulent activities.

Its advisable to opt for reliable services such as BeenVerified, PeopleLooker, or Intelius to accurately identify the individual associated with a particular phone number.

How Can I Figure Out Who a Phone Number Belongs To?

By using the best reverse phone lookup sites, such as BeenVerified or Peoplelooker, its possible to find out the owner of a phone number through a reverse phone lookup search.

Simply conduct a search using the number, and the best reverse phone lookup site will provide you with the name of the caller and other relevant details.

Can I Search for My Own Number on a Phone Lookup Site?

Utilizing self-monitoring tools such as BeenVerified or PeopleLooker can allow you to discover the information that others may know about you.

Additionally, certain best reverse phone lookup sites may provide you with the option to remove your personal data from their databases.

Can I Google Search for a Phone Number?

Its possible for users to conduct a Google search using phone numbers, but the search results are restricted and only provide access to the phone owner's name and residential address.

This information can be outdated and insufficient, particularly for private residences that are not indexed by search engines, and it does not include cell or fax numbers. Its more effective to use this method for searching business phone numbers.

The Best Reverse Phone Lookup Sites - Verdict

Our top recommendations for background check services are BeenVerified and PeopleLooker. These services provide detailed reports, accurate results, and even search the dark web, among other features.

While Intelius may not be the most affordable option, it offers good value for those who plan on using it frequently.

It's important to note that reverse phone number lookup sites are useful for identifying unknown numbers, but they should only be used for personal purposes. We have compiled a list of some of the best background check services available in this article, despite the many options on the market.
BHEL, a government-owned company, announced that it had secured a contract to establish a 2,400 MW supercritical thermal power project (STPP) from NLC India Ltd, a coal PSU. According to a statement from BHEL, this represents the company's most substantial order in the power sector achieved through competitive bidding. "BHEL bags an order for setting up a 2,400 MW Supercritical Thermal Power Project. BHEL has won the prestigious order under International Competitive Bidding (ICB) for the greenfield project on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis at Jharsuguda in Odisha", the company said.

The scope of the EPC contract includes engineering, manufacturing, supply, erection, and commissioning of crucial equipment, such as boilers, turbines, generators, and other auxiliary systems, for the 3x800 MW thermal power project. The scope also includes boilers with biomass co-firing capability and highly efficient latest pollution control equipment. The project will be commissioned within 64 months. On commissioning, this plant will contribute to meeting the future base load requirement of electricity in the country.

BHEL's significant equipment will be produced at its Trichy, Haridwar, Hyderabad, Jhansi, Bengaluru, Ranipet, Bhopal, Rudrapur, and Varanasi plants. The civil works, as well as the erection and commissioning of the equipment, will be overseen by the company's power sector  southern region.

Maintaining an enduring collaboration with NLCIL, BHEL has played a crucial role by installing a substantial 77 percent of the utility's coal/lignite-based power stations, amounting to 3,590 MW. As the foremost manufacturer of power generation equipment in the nation, BHEL has actively contributed as a key ally in the country's pursuit of achieving energy self-reliance.
Google India Digital Services and NPCI International Payments have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to extend UPI payments to international destinations. This collaboration aims to empower Indian travelers to use Google Pay for transactions abroad, eliminating the necessity for cash or reliance on international payment gateways. Additionally, the agreement outlines plans to create UPI-inspired digital payment systems in other countries, with the overarching objective of delivering a smooth and seamless financial transaction experience.

Deeksha Kaushal, Director, Partnerships, Google Pay India said, We are delighted to support NIPL towards expanding the reach of UPI to international markets. Google Pay has been a proud and willing collaborator to NPCI and the financial ecosystem, under the regulators guidance, and this collaboration is another step towards our commitment to making payments simple, safe and convenient".

Kaushal highlighted that the introduction of interoperable, population-scale digital infrastructure, as demonstrated by UPI, has underscored a substantial transformation in economies on a global scale. When economies integrate into such networks, the resulting impact surpasses the cumulative effect of their individual components.
greytHR, a leading cloud-based HR & Payroll software provider, has announced its strategic alliance with Godrej Capital's Nirmaan, a comprehensive business solution designed to facilitate and empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Through this initiative, greytHR aims to help MSMEs automate processes and enhance productivity in the HR function.

This alliance goes beyond just technology; it is a strategic initiative to promote growth and efficiency. Together, we aim to provide cost-efficient and customized HRMS solutions to over 5 million MSMEs across the country", said Girish Rowjee, Co-founder and CEO of greytHR. Featured in the Boost Employee Productivity category of the Nirmaan platform, greytHR will provide state-of-the-art HR tech solutions, exclusive offers, and timely support to MSMEs in partnership with Godrej Capital Nirmaan.

Speaking about the partnership, Nalin Jain, Chief Marketing Officer at Godrej Capital said, "Aligned with the Godrej Group's philosophy of nation-building, we hope to play a pivotal role in the advancement of MSMEs. We have faith that the collective commitment of our esteemed partners will significantly contribute to achieving India's target of becoming a 5 trillion-dollar economy. We are enthusiastic about fortifying our partner ecosystem, and the addition of greytHR is poised to empower MSMEs with a comprehensive array of value-added services designed to elevate employee productivity".

Currently, greytHR is offering Nirmaan members a 14-day trial and a one-month free usage provision on the annual subscription. Nirmaan members can also benefit from greytHRs customer-centric service suite, which comprises a community, training academy, compliance website, resources section, expert webinar, and podcast series.
Are you prepared to make money out of your hobby? Forming an LLC is a common and useful strategy for separating business and personal finances.

So how do you even start? Well walk you through the steps of forming an LLC, from selecting a name to submitting the necessary papers. Well, so let's begin!

How to Start an LLC in 7 Simple Steps

Liability protection is a major motivating factor for many entrepreneurs when deciding whether to form an LLC. A limited liability company (LLC) is a corporate entity distinct from its owners (called members) and the members' personal assets and liabilities.

Creating a limited liability company necessitates formal registration with the appropriate state agency. Although the specifics of setting up an LLC in your state will vary, there are some common requirements across the board.

Related: How to Start an LLC in California

Step 1: Choose and Reserve a Name for Your LLC

In most jurisdictions, using the same name for two separate businesses is illegal. For this reason, two separate businesses in different cities cannot be named "Joe's Donuts," even if one of them is an LLC and the other is an Inc. Using words like "bank" or "insurance" in a company's name is prohibited by law in several jurisdictions.

The availability of your chosen LLC name can be checked through online searches in several states. Before forming an LLC, you should always ensure the name is available in your state.

Researching whether other local firms use the same or a similar name is a good idea, in addition to checking for restrictions under state law.

Picking a name that isn't already used is a good way to prevent trademark infringement and consumer misunderstanding. You might also check to see if the corresponding domain name is available.

Your chosen company name may be taken, so reserving it is a good idea if you aren't ready to file your LLC paperwork. Almost anywhere in the country you can reserve a name by filling out a form and forking over some cash. Reservation periods, application fees, and renewal procedures might vary widely from one state to the next.

Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent

LLCs need a registered agent in nearly all jurisdictions (sometimes called a statutory agent). A registered agent is a third party who accepts a legal process on behalf of a limited liability company and forwards it to the correct party within the company.

The LLC's registered agent can be a member or an officer of the LLC, or anybody else at least 18 years old and a state resident. Registered agent services are offered by businesses like Northwest Registered Agent for a fee.

Step 3: File Organizational Paperwork with the State

The paperwork and steps needed to create a limited liability company vary by state. Articles of organization must generally include the following information:

Incorporation information

How long it has been around, if not forever

The registered agent's full name and mailing address

Why we set up this limited liability company

The person forming the LLC must typically sign the paperwork, and in some states, the registered agent must also sign

If you want to start an LLC in your state, you must file the necessary paperwork with the secretary of state. But, some states have a separate agency that deals with business registrations. The LLC formation cost varies by state because of the filing fee required by each.

Step 4: Prepare an LLC Operating Agreement

Your limited liability company operating agreement lays forth the rules by which the company will be managed.

It lays forth the rights of the members in the event of the death or departure of a member, how the business will be run, how profits and losses will be distributed, how meetings will be conducted, how the corporation would be dissolved if it ceases operations and other similar matters.

Depending on the rules in your jurisdiction, it may not be necessary to submit the operating agreement with the state. Nonetheless, its a necessary tool for business owners to spell down their obligations and prevent unnecessary conflicts.

Step 5: Determine the Licenses Needed

A certificate or other documentation verifying the existence of your LLC will be issued by the state after the filing and approval of the LLC's formation documents. Once you have the certificate, you can find out if your firm requires any other licenses or permits, such as a zoning or liquor license.

Step 6: Get an EIN

Your next move should be to apply for an EIN or an Employer Identification Number. Your EIN functions similarly to an SSN for your company. It's specific to your company and essential for banking, taxes, and personnel decisions.

Step 7: Register to Do Business in Other States (Optional)

Your limited liability company (LLC) may have to register to do business in more than one state if it conducts business there. To accomplish this, you must complete and submit documentation that is quite identical to what you completed when you initially established your LLC. To legally conduct business in multiple states, you'll need local representation.

Many entrepreneurs find that forming an LLC is the best business structure for their needs. Creating and maintaining an LLC is a simple process in most states. The operating agreement should clearly outline the rights and responsibilities of the members and be correctly filled out.

Important Steps to Follow After Forming an LLC

File Annual Reports

Although this process is most relevant once you have been in business for at least one tax year, its still helpful to be aware of it now.

Your business must file a yearly report, commonly called a "statement of information," updating the state on any relevant facts or changes that have occurred since the previous filing period.

This lets your state provide information on any further legal needs, such as licenses, that you may need to keep operating.

Its recommended you set up a system to keep track of all of your company's transactions. In this approach, you won't have to waste time (and even miss a deadline) searching for important documents.

What Should You Include in Your Annual Report?

You'll need to supply the LLC number issued by your state's secretary of state and the LLC name, office address, registered agent information (if applicable), and LLC number. The specific information that must be included in an annual report by a limited liability company varies from state to state.

Included in the yearly report are the following:

Your primary place of business

Contact information for members and supervisors

Your state entity number and other important identification information

The driving force behind your company

One or more lists of signatories

The details of your designated registered agent

In most cases, you can complete the annual report for your limited liability company (LLC) on your state's website. You may probably assume by now that some sort of cost will be involved. Mississippi has the lowest fee, at $50, while Massachusetts has the highest, at $500.

What Happens if You Dont File an Annual Report for Your LLC?

Completing your annual report on time may seem like a formality, but it's rather important, and there are serious repercussions for not doing so. For instance, if your LLC's annual report is filed late, many states may levy late fees, penalties, and taxes, potentially dissolving your business.

Open a Business Bank Account

Having a separate company checking account as an LLC owner isnt mandated by either state or federal law. Several factors, however, suggest that you:

Establishing a corporate bank account helps you maintain financial privacy when running a company

Having a separate entity improves the likelihood that protection will be maintained

Your limited liability company (LLC) will look more legitimate and professional with its bank account

Keeping your personal and professional finances apart will help you see your financial situation more clearly

When it comes time to file your taxes at the end of the year, having a clear separation between business and personal expenses is invaluable

Tracking your company's spending is essential for maintaining a steady cash flow

Obtain the Required Business Licenses and Permits

A business license is not required in most states for forming an LLC. You'll need this and possibly other licenses before your LLC can begin operations and comply with local regulations.

You might need a different set of permits and licenses depending on where you do business. Visit the SBA website to learn more about the licenses and permits required in the state where your LLC is based. Licenses and permissions can usually be applied online nowadays.

License types:

General business license

Sales tax registration

Weights and measures registration

Professional/occupational licenses

Health inspection certification

Alarm permit

Unemployment and workers' compensation registration

How to Obtain Business Licenses and Permits?

Choose a state, then zero down on a certain municipality and county within that state. The next step is to research local ordinances and laws on the website of the Small Business Administration.

Be prepared to provide your EIN (Employer Identification Number). Visit the IRS website and fill out an application if you don't already have one. You'll need your company's code, which you can obtain from any of the many sites that offer this feature. Verify if you need any other licenses or permits besides the business license. The filing fee might range from $50 to $500, so be prepared to pay that amount.

Learn More About Tax Requirements

Hiring an accountant with extensive experience managing LLCs and educating yourself on tax matters is one of the best decisions you can make when forming an LLC.

How you organize your company affects how you pay taxes. If your LLC has just one member, you can be taxed as a sole proprietorship. If it has several members, you can choose to be taxed as a partnership, or you can choose to be taxed as an S corporation.

You can rely on accountants to help you comply with federal and state tax regulations and submit your tax returns on time and accurately. Nevertheless, they can save you a ton of money in the long run by using legitimate methods of lowering your tax liability that a regular accountant might miss.

Yet, it also helps to understand how to keep track of your debits and credits, as this will allow you to spend less money overall.

LLC Tax Filing Tips

Then, investigate and claim any tax breaks that apply to your limited liability company. Second, ensure you add any business tax deadlines to your calendar and examine them well in advance. Another option is to engage a professional accountant or tax preparer.

Familiarize yourself with the tax regulations of your state. The forms you'll need to file LLC taxes are conditional on these three factors:

Whether theres only one member in your LLC or several

Choose a corporate tax status for your LLC if you don't want it to be treated as a pass-through entity

And if members work for your LLC

Get Business Insurance

In the event of a fire, flood, theft, natural disaster, delayed shipment, missed deadline, or customer data breach, business insurance can help cover the costs.

Everyday dangers like falling down the stairs, having an automobile accident or getting hurt on the job. The loss of supplies, reimbursement for business interruption, and legal fees may all be included in the scope of some insurance. If a client gets hurt on your premises, "public liability insurance" could be useful.

Supplementary insurance for LLCs may be mandatory in some states while optional in others. In addition, having staff necessitates obtaining insurance for workers' comp, unemployment, and disability. To learn more about the specific insurance needs for your type of business in your state, check out its website.

Related: How to Open an LLC for Non-US Residents

Best LLC Formation Services

The procedure of registering a company is often difficult, lengthy, and stressful. It might be challenging for entrepreneurs to handle all the legal and administrative procedures independently.

The proliferation of convenient internet options for registering a business bodes well for the future of small business owners everywhere. In this article, we'll look at some of the best LLC formation services out there and offer advice on how to select the one that's going to be the best fit for your company.

ZenBusiness

When starting and growing a business, ZenBusiness, one of the best LLC services, has you covered. They offer all-inclusive and reasonably priced packages for forming an LLC, complete with registered agent services and submission of an annual report.

ZenBusiness also provides continuous support and tools to ensure your company continues operating legally and successfully

Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings is a company that helps people set up limited liability companies quickly and easily. Services for limited liability companies (LLCs) are provided by this company.

When it comes to forming an LLC and remaining in compliance with state and federal rules, Swyft Filings is there to help businesses every step of the way.

Tailor Brands

Tailor Brands is a web-based branding and design agency that aids companies in developing a unified, professional image for their company. Logos, business cards, and social media profiles are just some branding services they provide.

Tailor Brands also offers design resources and tools for making one's own branded materials.

Northwest Registered Agent

Registered agent services, compliance management, and document filing are just a few of the business services available from Northwest Registered Agent.

Theyre experts in setting up limited liability companies and offer continuous assistance and tools to help firms maintain compliance and expand. When establishing an LLC, Northwest Registered Agent is a reliable ally.

Incfile

Registered agent services, compliance management, and document filing are just a few of the many services Incfile provides.

Forming an LLC is simplified and streamlined using Incfile's platform. In addition, they offer continuous assistance and resources to ensure that firms continue to operate legally and successfully.

Incfile is an excellent choice for an LLC formation service because of its low price and user-friendly interface.

Why Form an LLC?

Entrepreneurs and groups of people who want to start a successful new firm often choose to do so by forming an LLC. LLCs are often chosen for the following reasons:

Low startup cost : The setup and ongoing maintenance expenditures of an LLC are often lower than those of a corporation. There are states where the costs are under $100. If you want to start a business but don't want to break the bank, an LLC is the way to go.

: The setup and ongoing maintenance expenditures of an LLC are often lower than those of a corporation. There are states where the costs are under $100. If you want to start a business but don't want to break the bank, an LLC is the way to go. Tax-related benefits : LLCs are unusual in that business assets can be kept separate from personal finances while being classified as a pass-through entity and claimed on personal taxes. This is favored by many LLC owners because it prevents them from being taxed twice. But, LLCs can elect to have their tax status determined by treating them as either a sole proprietorship, partnership, C-corporation, or S-corporation.

: LLCs are unusual in that business assets can be kept separate from personal finances while being classified as a pass-through entity and claimed on personal taxes. This is favored by many LLC owners because it prevents them from being taxed twice. But, LLCs can elect to have their tax status determined by treating them as either a sole proprietorship, partnership, C-corporation, or S-corporation. Liability shielding: An LLC's members and owners are shielded from personal legal responsibility, as the name suggests. For instance, if the firm is sued and its assets have been properly designated, the members' assets will be safe.

The process of learning how to form an LLC is straightforward. Some organizations can assist with the necessary paperwork and even take care of recurring duties like filing annual reports on your behalf.

Types of LLCs to Consider

There are several different LLC structures from which to pick when thinking about how to form an LLC, and you should be familiar with these options before making any final decisions.

Single-Member LLC : One individual owns and manages this limited liability company. While this LLC operates similarly to a sole proprietorship, it offers greater protection from personal liability and tax advantages.

: One individual owns and manages this limited liability company. While this LLC operates similarly to a sole proprietorship, it offers greater protection from personal liability and tax advantages. Multi-Member LLC : LLCs with more than one owner often fall into one of two categories: those managed by a manager and those managed by the members.

: LLCs with more than one owner often fall into one of two categories: those managed by a manager and those managed by the members. L3C : These organizations, also called "low-profit liability companies," serve as a transitional form between nonprofit limited liability companies and for-profit limited liability companies, focusing on the business's mission rather than profits.

: These organizations, also called "low-profit liability companies," serve as a transitional form between nonprofit limited liability companies and for-profit limited liability companies, focusing on the business's mission rather than profits. Series LLC : Series LLCs are hierarchical company structures in which one LLC owns many subsidiary LLCs with unlimited separation levels. Each LLC in the series is mostly autonomous from the others, and its assets are kept separately.

: Series LLCs are hierarchical company structures in which one LLC owns many subsidiary LLCs with unlimited separation levels. Each LLC in the series is mostly autonomous from the others, and its assets are kept separately. PLLC : This limited liability company (LLC) is available to specific categories of certified professionals only.

: This limited liability company (LLC) is available to specific categories of certified professionals only. Restricted LLC : For the first decade after incorporation, Restricted LLCs pay no federal income tax. Theyre similarly prohibited from giving money to their members. The articles of organization need to clarify that there will be limitations placed on the LLC.

: For the first decade after incorporation, Restricted LLCs pay no federal income tax. Theyre similarly prohibited from giving money to their members. The articles of organization need to clarify that there will be limitations placed on the LLC. Anonymous LLC: Theres no recognized name for this organization under the law. Instead, if the state doesn't disclose who the LLC's owner is, the LLC is considered "anonymous."

Even while much information concerning the establishment of a business is available to the public, there are still those who might choose to keep certain details under wraps.

For instance, a single-member limited liability company (LLC) proprietor might not want their business's location publicly disclosed. Creating an LLC in most states requires providing identifying information. Only Delaware, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming are eligible for this choice.

How to Start an LLC  Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Get an LLC for My Small Business?

The limited liability company (LLC) is the most prevalent type of corporate entity since its simple to form, has many options, and requires little paperwork.

In addition to shielding you from personal responsibility for business obligations, this setup also allows for "pass-through" taxation, whereby the business's revenues are not taxed until theyre distributed to the LLC's shareholders. Profits made by a company can then be deducted from the owner's personal tax return.

Can I File for an LLC on My Own?

This free, comprehensive tutorial will show you exactly what to do to form your limited liability company. You can use a professional service, such as ZenBusiness or Swyft Filings, to incorporate a business.

How Much Does it Cost to Start an LLC?

The price of forming an LLC varies from state to state and can even rise if you opt to have a professional handle the paperwork. Formation of a limited liability company might run you between $50 and $500.

If you decide to have a third-party formation company handle your business filings and other services, you may have to pay an extra $40 to $350.

Is It Possible to Set up an LLC for Free?

The charge to register a limited liability company (LLC) varies from state to state. Some businesses claim to offer "free" LLC formation, but all they'll do is fill out the paperwork for you. But once again, you'll need to pay the state's filing fee.

Bottom Line on How to Start an LLC

It's natural if you were nervous about establishing an LLC before reading this piece. After all, it's not uncommon to feel like you're taking a huge leap into the legal dark.

There should be no holding you back now that you know how to form an LLC. Step by step, follow this procedure, and if you get lost or need more advice, come back to this article, talk to local business entrepreneurs, or look into an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness.
India is currently engaging in discussions with Brazil to form a technological partnership aimed at increasing the adoption of ethanol as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions through alternative fuels. Union Minister V K Singh highlighted Brazil's extensive experience in utilizing ethanol for vehicles, emphasizing the valuable lessons that can be gleaned from the South American nation.

"We can learn from them (Brazil) and collaborate with them to ensure that we also develop an ecosystem for ethanol and such alcohol-based fuels", the Minister of State (MoS) for Road Transport and Highways said at the 'Assocham-Fuels of the Future 2.0' conference in the national capital.

Continuing his statement, he emphasized the importance of raising awareness about alternative fuels as substitutes for fossil fuels. In addition to sugarcane, ethanol can be generated from sources such as broken rice, maize, and corn. "There is also a push on sustainable aviation fuel and we have conducted a trial of sustainable aviation fuels powered flight. The greatest challenge before us today is what alternative fuel we adopt and how we can bring about a change in mindset towards alternative fuels", said Singh who is also the minister of state for civil aviation.

Kenneth Felix Haczynski da Nobrega, the Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to India, expressed that the initiation of the Global BioFuel Alliance under India's G20 presidency marks a significant and pioneering effort in the realm of clean energy. "It heralds the beginning of a new phase, one that will consolidate bio-fuel technology as an important option for the decarbonization of our economies. The Brazilian Presidency of the G20 will push forward the implementation of the GBA", the ambassador said.
Mahindra Aerostructures Pvt Ltd (MASPL) and Airbus Aerostructures GmbH have signed a new contract for the manufacture and delivery of metallic components for all Airbus commercial aircraft models, including the best-selling A320 family. Under the contract, MASPL will supply close to 5000 varieties of metallic components to Airbus in Germany from its manufacturing base in India. The contract adds to existing MASPL programs to deliver parts directly to Airbus at their facilities in Toulouse, France.

Speaking about the deal, Mr. Vinod Sahay, President, Aerospace & Defence & CPO, Auto & Farm Sectors, Mahindra, said, The Mahindra Group is proud of its relationship with Airbus. With this new contract we further expand our relationship and increase our participation in the Make In India initiative of the Government of India. We look forward to delivering on our commitments and continuing this journey of collaborative growth",

MASPL is privileged to be an Airbus supplier and we greatly appreciate their continued support to our growth initiatives. This award is a significant expansion of our Airbus portfolio and offers further opportunities for us to work with Airbus on performance, sustainability, and operational excellence", said Mr. Arvind Mehra, Managing Director & CEO, Mahindra Aerostructures.

MASPL has been a direct supplier to Airbus Group since 2015, and partners with Airbus on numerous initiatives. It has been ranked as a D2P Challenger for three years in the Sheet Metal domain, as well as level A in the Airbus Industrial Process Capability Assessment (IPCA+) and has won the Best Performer award in the 2023 Airbus Supplier Quality Improvement Program (SQIP) awards.
Anticipating a negative commencement, BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50, according to GIFT Nifty, may experience a downturn. GIFT Nifty registered a 0.84% decline, equivalent to 186 points at 21,840. On 16 January, NSE Nifty 50 concluded with a 0.29% decline, down by 65.15 points at 22,032.30, while BSE Sensex decreased by 0.27%, losing 199.17 points to settle at 73,128.77. Vigilance on key stocks is crucial amid trading activities.

HDFC Bank

In the third quarter of the fiscal year 2024, HDFC Bank showed a positive financial performance on a standalone basis. The Net Interest Income (NII) increased by 4%, reaching Rs 28,471.3 crore, while the net profit rose by 2.48% to Rs 16,372.5 crore compared to the previous quarter. Additionally, the bank exhibited an improved asset quality, with gross NPA decreasing from 1.34% to 1.26%, and net NPA declining from 0.35% to 0.31%.

Adani Energy Solutions

Adani Energy Solutions has reported a significant increase of over 14% in sales for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2024. The company has also unveiled its plans to deploy 2.1 crore smart meters, which represents a substantial contract value of Rs 25,100 crore. This reflects a strong pipeline for the company's future growth.

L&T Technology

In the third quarter of FY24, L&T Technology Services reported a consolidated revenue of Rs 2,421.8 crore, which is a 1.47% increase from the previous quarter. However, it was slightly below the Bloomberg estimate of Rs 2,451 crore. The Ebit stood at Rs 416.2 crore, which reflects a growth of 2.13% with a margin of 17.18%. This margin was slightly higher than the Bloomberg estimated margin of 17.2%. The net profit for the quarter was Rs 336.8 crore, showing a substantial increase of 6.61% compared to the previous quarter.

TV18 Broadcast

In Q3 FY24, TV18 Broadcast witnessed a YoY decline in consolidated revenue, recording Rs 1,676.19 crore, down by 5.18% from Rs 1,767.71 crore. The EBITDA showed a significant shift from a profit of Rs 18.58 crore to a loss of Rs 145.79 crore. Furthermore, the net profit turned into a net loss of Rs 55.83 crore, contrasting with the previous years profit of Rs 37.81 crore.

Gallantt Ispat

In Q3 FY24, Gallantt Ispat demonstrated a positive YoY performance on a consolidated basis, with a 5.6% increase in revenue to Rs 1,062.7 crore compared to Rs 1,006.2 crore. The Ebitda witnessed substantial growth, rising by 24.5% to Rs 106.6 crore from Rs 85.6 crore, leading to an improved margin of 10.03%, up by 152 basis points from 8.5%. Notably, the net profit experienced a significant surge, reaching Rs 51.9 crore, reflecting a remarkable 148.32% increase from Rs 20.9 crore in the same period last year.

IREDA

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and the Indian Overseas Bank have collaborated to facilitate co-lending and loan syndication for a wide range of renewable energy projects throughout India.

G R Infraprojects

G R Infraprojects, through its subsidiary, has successfully executed a concession agreement with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the development of highways in Uttar Pradesh. The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 1,085 crore, marks a significant milestone for the company.

Rail Vikas Nigam

Rail Vikas Nigam has formed a joint venture with Jakson Green for solar projects outside India. The company has also established a subsidiary, RVNL Infra, in South Africa.

PNC Infratech

PNC Infratech has been awarded a contract worth Rs 1,174 crore by Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corp for the road construction project in Bhopal.

Karnataka Bank

Karnataka Bank has entered into a strategic digital co-lending partnership with Clix Capital through the Yubi Co-lending Platform. The collaboration aims to provide loans to the Indian MSME sector.

GMR Airports

GMR Airports reported a 15.3% YoY increase in passenger traffic, totaling to 1.1 crore, and an 8.3% YoY rise in aircraft movements, totaling 68,095 in December.

Godrej Properties

Godrej Properties has acquired an additional one-acre land parcel in Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru, with the potential to develop approximately 1.40 lakh square feet of saleable area.

ECL Finance

ECL Finance has reported that as of September 30, 2023, the value of the Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) held by the company is at Rs 1,464 crore. Furthermore, the company has successfully exited all AIFs with prior exposure to debtors as of January 16.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed a four-year extension of mayoral control of New York City public schools, according to the governors proposed budget plan.

The executive budget briefing book stated that it will provide a four-year extension of the current system of governance of New York City public schools, which is currently scheduled to expire on June 30, 2024. It means that Mayor Eric Adams, and a city mayor elected in 2025, would continue to have control over the countrys largest school system.

The mayor of New York City has had control of public schools since 2002, when then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg got the state legislature to grant him authority for seven years. With that, school boards became the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP), which is now a largely mayor-appointed board that makes decisions on contracts and policies in New York City schools.

Prior to that, local school boards had control over the approximately 1,800 schools.

In 2022, Hochul also proposed to extend mayoral control for four years. However, a bill was signed to extend it for two years  until June 30, 2024. Additionally, the bill included some changes, such as expanding the PEP from 15 to 23 members, as well as how members are appointed or elected.

It also included a review by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) on the overall effectiveness of mayoral control  which is currently in progress.

If it is not approved, the mayor will no longer have control over the city public school system, and it would revert back to the state.

NYSED is hosting a series of public hearings in each borough to seek input from members of the public  including students, parents, teachers, school administrators and staff, and individuals with experience and expertise in education policy and school governance. They will provide feedback on their experiences, assessments, and/or review of the mayoral control system of New York City schools to help inform the states review.

Members of the public can provide oral testimony at one of five public hearings, and/or by submitting written electronic testimony.

On Staten Island, the hearing will be held on Monday, Jan. 29, at New Dorp High School, located at 465 New Dorp Lane. Additional information on how to submit testimony will be released in the coming weeks.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Have confidence, dream big and respect yourself and others are just a few of the inspiring messages Staten Island students received from an unexpected source  Darryl McDaniels, of the famous hip-hop group Run-DMC.

When McDaniels pulled up to PS 26 in Travis on Thursday morning, he was greeted with his groups own music booming from a speaker, a red carpet with VIP-style ropes, and dozens of cheering children, families and school staff.

It was one of two visits McDaniels made to Staten Island schools  reading aloud from his picture book, Darryls Dream, which was published in 2022. The book is about McDaniels own experience as a third-grader with big hopes and dreams  finding confidence, facing bullies and celebrating himself. The book was co-written with Shawnee Warfield, Johnny Warfield and Adam Padilla, with illustrations by Tristan Tait.

Darryl "DMC" McDaniels from Run DMC was welcomed via a red carpet to PS 26 to discuss his book about bullying called "Darryl's Dream." The whole school gathered in the auditorium to read the book, and the dance team performed a rap and a dance. Thursday, January 11, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance

Darryl, Run-DMC, they are regarded as one of the most influential acts of hip hop culture, said Principal Stephanie Bassett. So all of you  you talk to me about Drake, about Eminem  but Darryl was the one who started it. He was the pioneer. Almost 40 years later, Darryl is still making a dynamic impact on all of you. Thank you for sharing your passion, and the message of always being the true version of yourself is living in this building today.

The idea for McDaniels visit came after PS 26s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) President Danielle Salemi-Rosemberg reached out to District 31 Superintendent Dr. Marion Wilson about Darryl McDaniels picture book, Darryls Dream. Salemi-Rosemberg suggested it would be exciting to have McDaniel visit the borough and read the book to students.

Wilson then reached out to Melissa Cisco, director of communications and special projects for the Office of Community Supports and Wellness for the city Department of Education (DOE), to help organize the event, as well as purchase books for students as part of the read-aloud. Those books were then signed by McDaniels at the start of his school visit.

Matthew Hernandez gives a little history on guest, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels from Run DMC at PS 26 to discuss his book about bullying called "Darryl's Dream." The whole school gathered in the auditorium to read the book, and the dance team performed a rap and a dance. Thursday, January 11, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance

A booming and thunderous applause from approximately 100 students greeted McDaniels in PS 26s small auditorium, which he called one of the greatest receptions. He gave a special speech to students about the book, offering inspiration to students to love themselves, respect themselves, be respectful to others and be kind.

I wrote this book, because before I started making records and doing videos and traveling around the world to do performances, whether you know it or not, boys and girls, I was once in the third grade too, said McDaniels. As well as your teachers. Weve all been where you are now. And the reason why these teachers come in every day to educate you and teach you and show you the right way to go, is because we know youre great.

He explained that, when he was younger, he was bullied by classmate, because he loved school, loved to read comic books and wore glasses. The book details his journey though those hard times at school and how he overcame them.

Darryl "DMC" McDaniels from Run DMC was welcomed via a red carpet to PS 26 to discuss his book about bullying called "Darryl's Dream." The whole school gathered in the auditorium to read the book, and the dance team performed a rap and a dance. Thursday, January 11, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance

What I want you to understand is that all of you in this room are great. You are awesome. You are magnificent. You are incredible. You are marvelous, said McDaniels to the students. The reason why I wrote this book, Darryls Dream is because we all have dreams. Regardless of what anybody thinks of you, all of you are perfect just the way you are, and because you are perfect just the way you are  who you are now, even here in this school, in this day and age  this will allow you to be successful at whatever it is that you choose to do.

McDaniels then encouraged the students and school staff to read aloud from his picture book together  even performing the rap at the conclusion. Students from PS 26s dance team then performed their own rendition of Run-DMCs famous song, Its Tricky, with new school-inspired lyrics.

Darryl "DMC" McDaniels from Run DMC was welcomed via a red carpet to PS 26 to discuss his book about bullying called "Darryl's Dream." The whole school gathered in the auditorium to read the book, and the dance team performed a rap and a dance. Thursday, January 11, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)Staten Island Advance

According to Wilson, the event builds on NYC Reads, a citywide initiative to improve literacy among public school students, and the book highlights Staten Islands focus on student voice, social emotional learning (SEL) and dreams. Wilson thanked McDaniels for being an advocate for children, thanking Cisco once again for her part in bringing the hip-hop star to the borough.

Heres my message  I was bullied in middle school. I was called a nerd. Girls picked on me for no reason. But I had a mom and a principal like your amazing principal who walked me outside every day to make sure that I was okay, said Wilson. So this book is more than just a book. This resonates with me. We must treat people with kindness, and Darryl is living proof that you can overcome bullying and be your best self. I am your proof as well. New York City Reads is our chancellor and mayors initiative, and on Staten Island, we do things big. So this is part of it.

A second Run-DMC read-aloud was held on Thursday at the Michael J. Petrides Education Complex in Sunnyside. That event included other schools, including PS 60, PS 69, Eagle Academy for Young Men of Staten Island and the Young Womens Leadership School.
DENVER  The shooter who killed five people and endangered the lives of over 40 others at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs appeared in federal court Tuesday to face hate crime and firearm charges.

Anderson Aldrich, 23, pleaded not guilty to 50 hate charges and 24 firearm violations.

The charges come after Aldrich pleaded guilty last June in state court to five counts of murder and 46 counts of attempted murder  one for each person at Club Q during the attack on Nov. 19, 2022.

Aldrich, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, also pleaded no contest to state charges for hate crimes under a plea agreement. The plea was an acknowledgment there was a good chance Aldrich would be convicted of those crimes without admitting guilt. The pleas carried the same weight as a conviction.

For Tuesdays hearing, Aldrich appeared by video and was represented by David Kraut with the federal public defenders office. Telephone and email messages left with Krauts office were not immediately returned.

Jeff Aston, whose son Daniel Aston was shot and killed in the attack, listened remotely to the hearing and said he was shocked to hear Aldrich plead not guilty.

This was a hateful, stupid, heinous and cowardly act, Aston said. The closest thing to justice that I would like to see is that he has to suffer as much as the suffering hes caused for so many victims and family members.

FILE - People visit a memorial outside Club Q, the LGBTQ nightclub that was the site of a deadly 2022 shooting that killed five people, June 7, 2023, in Colorado Springs, Colo. The shooter who was sentenced to life in prison for killing five people the club in Colorado Springs was charged with federal hate crimes and weapons violations on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Chet Strange, File)AP

Onstage, Daniel Aston was known for his knee-slides and described himself as the Master of Silly Business. After the shooting, his parents said he found Club Q to be a safe place to be a trans man and a drag queen.

The federal charges follow an FBI investigation into the shooting that was confirmed after Aldrichs sentencing in state court. At the time, Colorado Springs area District Attorney Michael Allen said the threat of the death penalty in the federal system was a big part of what motivated the defendant to plead guilty to the state charges.

Aldrich declined to speak at the sentencing hearing in state court, and havent said why they hung out at the club, then went outside and returned dressed in body armor. Aldrich began firing an AR-15-style rifle as soon as they came back in.

Prosecutors say Aldrich had visited the club at least six times before that night and that Aldrichs mother had forced them to go.

In a series of telephone calls from jail, Aldrich told The Associated Press they were on a very large plethora of drugs and abusing steroids at the time of the attack. When asked whether the attack was motivated by hate, Aldrich said that was completely off base.

FILE - This booking photo provided by the Colorado Springs, Colo., Police Department shows Anderson Lee Aldrich, the suspect in a mass shooting that killed five people at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ nightclub in 2022.AP

The district attorney called those statements self-serving and characterized the assertion as ringing hollow. He said Aldrichs claim of being nonbinary is part of an effort to avoid hate crime charges, saying there was no evidence of Aldrich identifying as nonbinary before the shooting.

During hearings in the state case in February, prosecutors said Aldrich administered a website that posted a neo-Nazi white supremacist shooting training video. A police detective also testified that online gaming friends said Aldrich expressed hatred for the police, LBGTQ+ people and minorities, and used racist and homophobic slurs. One said that Aldrich sent an online message with a photo of a rifle trained on a gay pride parade.

The attack shattered the sense of safety at Club Q, which served as a refuge for the citys LGBTQ+ community. The shooting was stopped by a Navy officer who grabbed the barrel of the suspects rifle, burning his hand, and an Army veteran helped subdue and beat Aldrich until police arrived, authorities said.

People visit a memorial outside Club Q, the LGBTQ nightclub that was the site of a deadly 2022 shooting that killed five people, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Anderson Lee Aldrich faces more than 300 state counts, including murder and hate crimes. And the U.S. Justice Department is considering filing federal hate crime charges, according to a senior law enforcement official familiar with the matter who spoke to AP in 2023 on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing case. (AP Photo/Chet Strange)AP

The 2022 attack came more than a year after Aldrich was arrested for threatening their grandparents and vowing to become the next mass killer  while stockpiling weapons, body armor and bomb-making materials.

Those charges were eventually dismissed after Aldrichs mother and grandparents refused to cooperate with prosecutors.

Last year Aldrich was moved to the Wyoming State Penitentiary due to safety concerns about the high-profile case, according to Alondra Gonzalez, spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Corrections.
When administrators at McManus Middle School in Linden first introduced a new cell phone policy last fall  requiring students to lock their phones in pouches during the school day  some students struggled to part with their devices.

I can remember four or five students in particular that literally broke down crying because they couldnt handle it, Principal Michael Walters said. The only word I could use is withdrawal. It seemed like it was that emotional. It was that tough at first.

Flash forward a few months and many middle school students in the Union County district seem to have adjusted to the change, their principal said.

Linden is among a growing number of New Jersey school districts using pouches made by the company Yondr that allow students to lock their cell phones inside and unlock them at the end of the school day.

Students in Linden can also opt to leave their phones at home or in their lockers, Walters said. He now confiscates phones once or twice a week from students breaking the rules, compared to confiscating one or two phones a day before the school district adopted the new pouch policy.

I dont care if they use a Yondr pouch or not  they just cant have the phones out, the principal said. And its been successful, absolutely has.

But, not everyone is happy with the new policy. Students at Linden High School have started a petition asking the school board to reconsider the cell phone pouch rules, arguing its unfair to require all of the high schools nearly 2,000 students to lock away their phones.

Policies that require students to lock cell phones in pouches only cause more issues and more distractions, the petition said. The online student petition has nearly 640 signatures and a related paper petition has hundreds of names, organizers said.

New Jersey allows each of its nearly 600 public school districts to set its own policy on cell phones. Some districts ban students from bringing cell phones to school, while others require them to be kept in lockers during the school day. Some schools allow students to carry their cell phones as long as they are not taken out during class time.

Linden has long had a rule banning cell phones in schools, but the introduction of the pouches has led to greater enforcement and compliance, Walters said. Officials at the middle school spent $15,000 to lease roughly 750 Yondr pouches.

Yondr pouches are slim, individual cell phone holders. Students lock their phones inside and can carry the pouch with them during the day. After school, the pouches are tapped on an unlocking station  there are three at McManus Middle School  to free the phones.

In Linden, the cell phone pouches are only used for cell phones, not Apple watches or other wearable devices, officials said.

A Yondr spokeswoman declined to say how many New Jersey school districts use the pouches, citing privacy concerns. But, the company confirmed their devices are used in several towns, including New Brunswick, East Orange, Pennsauken, Jersey City, Willingboro and Bridgeton.

We have seen increasing interest from New Jersey, and are currently in conversation with a number of districts, who would like to use Yondr in 2024, Yondr spokeswoman Sarah Leader said last month.

In Plainfield in Union County, one middle school implemented a pilot project in 2019 to try out using Yondrs cell phone pouches.

In Ocean County, officials in the Central Regional School District created a new policy last year requiring students to store phones in cell phone pockets during the day. The new policy was created after a 14-year-old girl died by suicide last year following alleged bullying incidents.

In Linden, the pouches are being used in both of the citys middle schools and they were scheduled to be in place at Linden High School when students returned from winter break this month.

Linden Superintendent Atiya Y. Perkins said the pouches are designed to reduce distractions in the classroom.

Yondr cell phone pouches are already used in several towns, including New Brunswick, East Orange, Pennsauken, Jersey City, Willingboro and Bridgeton, a company spokeswoman said.Yondr

Linden High School Senior Cristian Medeiros started the online petition last year to try to stop the implementation of the new cell phone pouch policy at the high school. He said the high school needs more mental health and social and emotional health programs, not a cell phone ban.

Forcing students to put cell phones in pouches is like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound, Medeiros said.

Students believe there are larger, more pressing issues in the school that need to be addressed, including adding more social workers to help students, he said.

Medeiros suggested making the cell phone pouch policy a disciplinary action for students who break the rules, not a blanket policy for all students.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York Citys budget woes are less dire than Mayor Eric Adams administration previously estimated, and on Tuesday, hizzoner released the first look at the upcoming annual budget.

Each year, the mayor and the City Council reach a budget deal around late June, but the final product is the result of a months-long process that starts with the release of the mayors preliminary budget.

Adams offered a series of preliminary budget outlines during an early-afternoon speech that highlighted funding restorations the mayor has announced in recent days.

The mayor announced a host of cuts last year that he and members of his administration tied to the ongoing migrant crisis, but Adams has since switched course announcing restorations to public safety funding, sanitation, and youth development

On Tuesday, Adams attributed the ongoing budget issues to a host of reasons ceding ground to members of the City Council who had long raised doubts about the mayors focus on migrants for the funding shortfalls.

The growing asylum seeker crisis, COVID-19 stimulus funding drying up, tax revenue growth slowing, and unsettled labor contracts that we inherited widened the FY25 budget gap to a record level, he said. But, with responsible and effective management, we have been able to provide care for asylum seekers and balance the budget  without unduly burdening New Yorkers with a penny in tax hikes or massive service reductions, and without laying off a single city worker. We are not out of the woods  while we have put New York City on the right track, to keep moving forward, we still need help from the federal and state governments.

His administration had maintained for months that the migrant crisis would cost the city more than $12 billion over the next few years, but have since reduced those estimates by almost $2 billion.

More than 170,000 people have made their way to the five boroughs since April 2022, and the tens of thousands still in the citys care have increased the citys costs of dealing with the local homeless population.

In recent months, the Adams administration has taken a harsher approach to the citys new arrivals, including kicking many out of shelters, and on Tuesday, the mayor announced further efforts to reduced costs associated with the migrant crisis.

Specifically, the highlights of Adams preliminary budget indicated that the administration would be moving away from the massive humanitarian emergency response and relief centers it opened at places like Floyd Bennett Field and Randalls Island to smaller shelters run by non-profit organizations.

The cost reductions so far have allowed the city to restore budget cuts to police and fire services, the installation of new waste baskets around the city and more than $90 million in education-related services.
STATEN ISLAND, NY  Shana Taylor, owner of Koze Vibes Plant Shop Cafe, a place where you sip and repot plants, introduced the serenity of plant parenthood to students at her former elementary school.

Taylor said she wasnt initially sure if the children were going to like working with dirt. But they didnt want any gloves and were like no, lets get in, she said.

A former student of P.S. 31, the New Brighton resident and business owner reached out to the school to teach a Learn and Grow segment. Soon after, unaware of Taylors request, a school staffer walked into her store and expressed a love for plants and a desire to bring them into the classroom.

Taylor brought two plants for the students to pot: a Wandering Dude, which originates from Central and South America, and a Spider Plant, native to South Africa.

The kids loved the experience,'' said Shana Taylor. "They hugged me. They thanked me. And they asked Oh, am I coming back tomorrow?(Courtesy of Shana Taylor)Courtesy of Shana Taylor

These are very easy care plants, so you really dont need much maintenance with them, she said. They just require regular bright light and water once a week and then just leave them alone.

The students first decorated the pots with stickers, then got their hands dirty when potting the plants. Accompanied by her mother, who provides delectable baked goods for her cafe, Taylor recalled the visit as a special, nostalgic moment.

The kids loved the experience,' she said. They hugged me. They thanked me. And they asked: Oh am I coming back tomorrow.?

The kids loved the experience,'' said Shana Taylor. "They hugged me. They thanked me. And they asked: Oh, am I coming back tomorrow?' (Courtesy of Shana Taylor)Courtesy of Shana Taylor

Kids later visited the cafe  which is less than five blocks from the school - with their parents, buying cupcakes and more.

Taylor aims to connect with more schools, nursing homes, and community centers to introduce people of all ages to what she calls a therapeutic and transformative activity.

REFRESHERS WITH A SIDE OF PLANT PARENTING

A host of menu items is available at Koze Vibes Plant Shop Cafe while you plant, from cupcakes and sandwiches, to coffee, teas and refreshers made from scratch.

A host of plant events are also available, such as Plant Happy Hour, Plant and Sip, Plant Trivia and the Taylors largest event, A Plantni, a plant-themed picnic where you plant, paint and snack while listening to music and vibing, she said.

On her website, Taylor not only has a wide selection of plants available to purchase, but also Plant Care Plans, providing tips on how to take care of them.

Her advice to those wanting to take better care of plants: Take it one day at a time.

If plants die, its because theyre living things and sometimes over-loving kills them,' said Taylor. I would say do your research before you get a plant or contact somebody familiar with plants such as myself. We can do consultations to see how your work life schedule is and if you have time to maintain this certain plant.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As one of two New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments chosen for a complete overall, the Todt Hill Houses are about to undergo a $150 million major renovation, which will include new kitchens, bathrooms, elevators, and plumbing and electrical upgrades.

In addition, the renovation will include the removal of all lead-based paint and mold; full flooring and window replacements; facade repairs; pest and waste management upgrades; and in-unit radiator repairs and heating optimization.

Major construction on the project -- expected to start in 2025 and take three or four years to complete -- will include the overhaul of all 502 apartments across seven buildings in the complex, which date back to the 1950s.

The design and construction, which will be completed by Community Modernization Group -- a group of Texas-based designers and contractors with a local New York arm called Sweet Construction -- has been made possible through NYCHAs Comprehensive Modernization program that uses available capital funding to revitalize NYCHA properties.

Residents say they were glad NYCHA allowed them to take part in the planning of the improvements. NYCHA organized virtual and in-person community visioning workshops with residents to outline their renovation priorities. Courtesy of NYCHA

Comprehensive Modernization entails undertaking major renovations through a single, integrated project, allowing developments to be renovated more quickly, at a better quality, and with better value for money spent, according to NYCHA.

We are very excited to be taking another critical step forward with Comprehensive Modernization at Todt Hill Houses, said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. The Comp Mod strategy will enable sweeping and holistic repairs throughout the development, addressing environmental hazards, enhancing conditions and improving the quality of life for more than 1,000 Staten Islanders at Todt Hill.

The removal of lead-based materials and mold, as well as the extensive nature of the work, will require residents to be temporarily relocated to other Staten Island NYCHA buildings for six to nine months, said NYCHA Vice President of Comprehensive Modernization Michele Basic-Moore.

One of the main reasons Todt Hill Houses was selected is because we had high levels of lead-based paint in the apartments, said Basic-Moore. And we had high rates of leak and mold work orders, indicating that the plumbing really is in need of replacement. Those are the two main factors that really drove us to pick Todt Hill Houses.

As part of NYCHAs Comprehensive Modernization, NYCHA will oversee construction and all residents will remain in the Section 9 public housing program, she said. NYCHA also will pay for all reasonable moving expenses, and not all residents will be relocated at the same time, according to the agency.

NYCHA organized virtual and in-person community visioning workshops with residents to outline their renovation priorities.Courtesy of NYCHA

In addition to the Todt Hill Houses, Saint Nicholas Houses in Harlem will also undergo a complete renovation as part of NYCHAs Comprehensive Modernization program.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSIONS

NYCHA organized virtual and in-person community visioning workshops with residents to outline their renovation priorities. This feedback directly informed the Request for Proposals (RFP) issued to design and construction firms, which ultimately led to the selection of Community Modernization Group to carry out both the redesign and renovations at the Todt Hill Houses, NYCHA said.

Residents say they are glad NYCHA allowed them to take part in the planning of the improvements.

This is a dream turning into a reality. Its really happening, said Todt Hill Houses Tenant Association President Doreen Williams. I am so thrilled to see our collective voices and efforts bearing fruit with the start of the Comprehensive Modernization at Todt Hill Houses. Its been a journey of collaborative discussions and open dialogue. Were not just witnessing change; were a part of it. Im grateful for the engagement and commitment from the Comp Mod team, and excited for what lies ahead for us residents.

Residents provided input about the improvements process, including choosing their own finishes, colors and other design elements.

The renovation will include the removal of all lead-based paint and mold; full flooring and window replacements; facade repairs; pest and waste management upgrades; and in-unit radiator repairs and heating optimization.Courtesy of NYCHA

We have been partnering with residents since 2022 to really include them in the planning process because they know the buildings better than anyone. Many of them have lived there for many years and some for many decades. So we spent a lot of time in 2022 and 2023 just listening and learning from their lived experiences, and working hand-in-hand with our property management team, many of whom are also Staten Islanders, said Basic-Moore.

My deepest gratitude goes out to all the residents, the Tenant Association leadership, and the deeply committed property management staff of Todt Hill. Their active participation and insight over the past two years has been fundamental in turning this vision into a reality, she added.

COMPREHENSIVE MODERNIZATION

The Comprehensive Modernization approach forgoes component-based repairs and instead considers the needs of an entire campus  consistent with other large-scale renovation programs in the NYCHA portfolio, the agency said.

NYCHA also will pay for all reasonable moving expenses. NYCHA will pay for all reasonable moving expenses and residents will be provided the right to return to the same apartment in writing, according to NYCHA.Courtesy of NYCHA

This administration promised to house our New Yorkers in safe and affordable homes, and we are excited to announce yet another positive step towards that goal, said Deputy Mayor of Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer.

The approval of the City Capital Action Plan in 2021 unlocked $2.2 billion in funding support for addressing key pillar areas of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) agreement, primarily around lead-based paint and mold abatement, but also around renovation of other building systems.

With this infusion of capital support from the city and additional funding from the federal government, NYCHA was able to mobilize a total of $740 million for Comprehensive Modernization at the two developments.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Bitterly cold temperatures and ice are hazards faced by commuters for the morning rush hour on Wednesday.

The College of Staten Island has switched to remote learning on Wednesday due to an issue with a water main on the campus in Willowbrook.

All in-person/hybrid classes will be held virtually/online and staff will work remotely, according to an alert on the colleges website. Essential personnel are expected to work on campus as scheduled. The campus will return to regular in person/hybrid business operations on Thursday, January 18, 2024.

The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement warning of patchy ice possibly being present on untreated surfaces throughout the region on Wednesday morning.

Temperatures are in the low 20s but feel colder, down into the teens, at the start of the a.m. commute on our borough, according to AccuWeather.com.

A gusty, west wind is driving down the wind-chill factor, according to a post by the National Weather Service New York on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Ice and slush are present on roads and sidewalks following Tuesdays snowstorm.

The major roads on Staten Island have been salted and are passable.

Driving around corners is risky since that is where the ice and slush appear to be accumulating on borough roadways.

It will be a cold day with highs across much of the region not getting out of the 20s. A gusty, west wind will make it feel like the teens. pic.twitter.com/AZ28NB2CJJ  NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) January 17, 2024

The sun is expected to make an appearance on Wednesday morning, but likely will only warm our borough a few degrees, with a high of 26 degrees anticipated by AccuWeather.com.

Temperatures in the teens and 20s this morning may have allowed residual moisture to freeze overnight, creating icy conditions on any untreated surfaces, said the National Weather Service in its regional statement. Proceed with extra caution while outside. Motorists should drive slowly and allow for extra spacing between vehicles.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul today urged New Yorkers in parts of the state to prepare for another lake effect snow event expected to bring one to three feet of snow to areas of New York state.

State agencies are prepared for the snowstorm, expected in western and northern New York, especially near Lakes Erie and Ontario, starting Tuesday afternoon and continuing through Thursday night, the governor said.

In the western part of the state, the most snow is expected to fall in the Buffalo metropolitan area and will be heaviest on Wednesday with rates of up to 2 to 3 inches per hour.

In northern New York, the most snow is forecast for the Watertown area, Tug Hill and northern Oswego County, and will also be heaviest on Wednesday, with snowfall rates up to 2 to 4 inches per hour at times.

Winds are expected to gust up to 35 to 40 mph, especially on Wednesday. Blowing and drifting snow is expected in both the western and northern New York areas.

WIND CHILLS

Wind chills are forecast to dip down to the negatives or low single digits for several days, continuing through Sunday. The combination of wind, snow and freezing temperatures will likely make travel dangerous so drivers are being urged to avoid unnecessary travel especially on Wednesday.

The lake effect snow event may also cause power outages in some locations, the governor warned.

While this next wave of weather isnt expected to be as impactful as last weekends storm, New Yorkers should still be prepared, Hochul said in a statement. Our state agencies are continuing to work around the clock to monitor conditions, clear the roads and support localities. My top priority is to keep New Yorkers safe.
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Prosper 

Stan

Richard Roxburgh as minister Cal Quinn in Prosper. Credit: Stan

Nobody does church like us, declares high-flying evangelical pastor Cal Quinn (Richard Roxburgh) in the first episode of this Australian drama, and thats a promise the show keeps. Step around the scripture quotes and flashes of theological doubt and you have a wealthy family saga: greed, hypocrisy, deceit and looming scandal are the pillars of a series where the Old Testament is Dallas and the New Testament is Succession. A suspicious death to juice the narrative? Amen, brothers and sisters.

Created by Matt Cameron (Secret City) and Jason Stephens (Queen of Oz), with inspiration from headline-making evangelistic megachurches, Prosper is an easy watch that goes hard. The friction, clashes and crises that envelope the Quinn clan, the entitled first family of global faith-based corporation U Star, are relentless. In plotting terms, the show is genuinely skilful. It keeps pushing and pulling the central characters, while folding in the supporting casts concerns. Its escalating focus is rare in Australian television.

Consider the offspring: dutiful oldest son Dion (Ewen Leslie) is desperate for his fathers approval, daughter Issy (Hayley McCarthy) has a Christian pop career, and Cals favourite, Jed (Jacob Collins-Levy), is estranged, having publicly condemned the money U Star reaps from its parishioners. Steering them all is Cals steely wife, Abi (Rebecca Gibney), the power behind a crumbling throne. For a few episodes, I enjoyed the change of pace that was the chill youngest child, 16-year-old Moses (Alexander DSouza). Then his arc went haywire too.
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With snacks by Raja, Porcine, Gildas, Fabbrica and more, and drinks by Archie Rose, PS40 and P&V.

Darlinghursts National Art School (NAS) will become a hotbed of delicious snacks and drinks when Archie Roses StickyBeak Festival takes over the campus for two evenings in March.

The Sydney distillerys third StickyBeak event brings some of the citys best restaurants, bars and food purveyors together to serve food and pour cocktails. They include one-hatted restaurants such as Paddingtons Porcine, Potts Point modern Indian eatery Raja, Surry Hills wine bars Gildasand Bar Copains, Redferns Redbird and innovative CBD bar PS40, which took out Bar of the Year in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2024.

Raja restaurant in Potts Point. Jennifer Soo

StickyBeak was born out of our shared passion for Sydneys hospitality scene, which we truly believe is one of the best in the world, says Nina Schultz, Archie Rose events and partnerships manager.

The idea is to give people a chance to check out some of our favourite venues ... [It also] gives guests the opportunity to try dishes from venues they may or may not have heard of, and then hopefully add them to their list of favourites.
Crew members who were allegedly tortured and assaulted on fishing vessels in north Queensland were forced to dive into croc-infested waters to escape their attacker, detectives say.

Police have charged a 47-year-old Karumba man over the case, following a four-year investigation in the Gulf of Carpentaria, in which five men and a 25-year-old woman were alleged victims.

Detectives in Cairns charged the man with 46 offences, including slavery, torture, and assault occasioning bodily harm, after he allegedly threatened numerous deckhands on board his four fishing vessels.

Police will allege the man assaulted, threatened and withheld food and water from crew members.
A bid to build 84 two-storey townhouses on a former Xavier College campus has been rejected by the council  against its own planning advice  after a barrage of resident complaints, including that the homes would have flat roofs.

Developer Golden Age, which spent $100 million on the Brighton site in 2022, told The Age it would take the fight to Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after Bayside Council unanimously rejected its applications.

Supporters of the development slammed the decision, describing it as a case of a wealthy suburb fighting to close its gates.

Golden Age, a prolific development company run by wealthy businessman Jeff Xu, purchased the 32,000 square metre site in Melbournes inner south-east after Xaviers Kostka Hall Campus closed due to falling enrolments.
Police are investigating a fire at a Middle Eastern restaurant after a group of people were reported fleeing the scene in Melbournes northern suburbs.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at the ShawarMaster eatery in Preston about 4.30am on Thursday morning.

Firefighters on the scene in Preston. Credit: Penny Stephens

Fire Rescue Victoria said firefighters were met with a brick building that was fully alight on High Street.

Fire crews used hose lines and an aerial appliance to attack the blaze externally from multiple positions, whilst also attempting to stop the fire from spreading to adjoining factories on both sides, a spokesperson said.
Work has officially started on the state governments long-mooted film studio in Malaga, but the cost of the facility has blown out by more than double.

The film studio was a headline promise during WA Labors 2021 election campaign, with former Premier Mark McGowan estimating the facility would cost the state $100 million.

The new screen production hub is located about 400 metres from Malagas Metronet station precinct.

That figure has now ballooned to $233.5 million, which Treasurer Rita Saffioti confirmed had been funded in the states mid-year review.

The construction of the new screen production hub on Marshall Road, about 400 metres from Malagas Metronet station precinct, is tipped to create more than 600 local jobs.
A popular beach in Perths northern suburbs is set to be closed for at least two days after an algae bloom outbreak.

Mullaloo Beach will be closed until at least midday on Friday after a Trichodesmium bloom, with residents urged to stay out of the water.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions confirmed the bloom, which leaves a brown scum on the water, was spotted at the beach 20 kilometres north of Perth early on Wednesday morning.

It is understood the blue-green algae, known as Sea Sawdust, likely formed as a result of hot and calm conditions during Perths recent heatwave.
Beijing has demanded Australia stop meddling in its affairs by staying away from its maritime borders and refraining from commentary on Taiwans elections as Chinese President Xi Jinping considers an invitation to meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Australia this year.

In a lengthy new year press conference at the Chinese embassy in Canberra, ambassador Xiao Qian challenged Australia to go beyond simply stabilising relations with China, urging the federal government to restart joint military exercises and collaboration with China on science and technology.

Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian. Credit: Mick Tsikas

Xiao explicitly denied China had bribed Nauru to switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China and insisted Beijing was not seeking to interfere with Australias relationship with Nauru on its offshore processing facility on the island.

To be honest, we have no interest in getting involved in those things, he said on Wednesday.
It was only in November that Chris Minns stood across the park from the Lachlans Line apartments in Macquarie Park and announced his government would build 8000 new homes in the suburb.

It was the opening salvo in the governments plan to turbocharge new housing in Sydney. He and the Planning Minister Paul Scully were on a mission, he said, to have density done well.

The Lachlans Line development and its walkway at Macquarie Park. Credit: Brook Mitchell

They would win over Sydney to the idea with beautiful buildings, well-designed, located near public transport with open spaces.

Were not going to convince everybody, but we feel we can convince enough people in metropolitan Sydney to say, Well thats a great addition to our community, he said at the time.
An orchestra that supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds has lost state government funding, in a move critics say is a symptom of Victorias perilous budget position.

Melbourne Youth Orchestras, which has 630 weekly participants aged eight to 25, was told of a potential Department of Education funding loss in September last year. Chief executive Dorian Jones says the organisation received official notification in December.

Participants from the Melbourne Youth Orchestras summer school performing at Melbourne Town Hall. Credit: Miguel Rios

We havent heard what the basis of the decision was, he told The Age. Every other state provides funding for our counterparts. The Department of Education has flagged discussions with Creative Victoria, but those havent happened yet.

Jones said 100 per cent of state government funding  the equivalent of about $200,000  was this year earmarked for students from government schools with inadequate music programs, as well as young people from regional areas and those living with a disability.
Aswath Chavittupara wants to run in the 2025 state election for the Liberal Party against Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson in her seat of Morley.

Chavittuparas seven-year-old daughter Aishwarya Aswath died in the Perth Childrens Hospital emergency department in April 2021 after waiting more than two hours to be seen by doctors.

Aswath Chavittupara outside his Morley home. Credit: Marta Pascual Juanola

Her death sparked major outrage and thrust the Labor governments management of the states strained hospital system into the spotlight.

In the years since his daughters death Chavittupara has doggedly pursued answers from the government and health department with subsequent inquiries and a coronial inquest exposing significant staff and resourcing issues.
She said: There are many unpredictable events that can threaten our access to vital goods, from the pandemic, Russias illegal war in Ukraine, and the ongoing attacks in the Red Sea. Thats why were taking action to ensure crucial imports like medicines can reach consumers, no matter what happens around the world.
The fall was driven by the group moving away from dotcom markets, which refers to places where 888 runs its website but does not do any marketing, which it said led to an 80 million hit to revenues during the year.
Seeing two of the UKs finest actors going head to head is thrilling  as much for them as it is for us. We were daring each other to kind of go further. We chose not to rehearse, she laughs. Some intense scenes would run to eight or nine pages of dialogue. We just wanted to be as unable to read each other as possible. The result is a delicious game of cat-and-mouse. The idea is that each time the two are thrown together, they go off in parallel tracks. Youre rooting for June (even if sometimes youre like, cmon, how did you miss that?!), but you cant help but delight in his kind of darkness.
Swiss authorities said the men were wearing masks and gloves when they broke into the museum by smashing a pane on the front door before shattering a display case and leaving with the items, believed to be from the 15th century and valued at 2,870,000.
Police investigating the attack of a man with a metal pole in a brawl outside an east London pub have released images of two men they want to speak to.
The best possible protection available against this serious illness is vaccination and it is never too late to get vaccinated. We encourage parents to ensure their children are up to date with their MMR vaccines and catch up on any missed ones as soon as possible.
Lana Adamou, a lawyer with Liberty, said: Were glad to see the police admit that their officers should not have treated our client or the other people affected in this way and that our clients rights were breached, and we welcome the Commissioners apology.
Mr Yousaf said the Prime Ministers response had emphasised the need for urgency, adding: For all the differences I have often got with the UK Government, I have to say on this one they certainly seem willing to work with the Scottish Government and work at pace.
Thirteen candidates have already declared an interest in running, and more are expected to throw their hats into the ring in the coming weeks

SADIQ KHAN (Labour) Seeking a historic third term. Announced that his free school meal programme will continue for another year if re-elected. Tight-lipped on the rest of his pledges. Says focus is on making London safer, more prosperous, affordable and fairer.

SUSAN HALL (Conservative) Campaigned hard against the expansion to the Ultra Low Emission Zone last year. Vows to scrap the expansion on day one, saying it has been devastating for people. She also plans to invest 200 million of additional funding into the police and to set up specialist units to tackle burglaries and thefts.

ZOE GARBETT (Green) Pledges to de-prioritise policing of cannabis and to make public transport more affordable including free bus travel for under-22s.

ROB BLACKIE (Lib Dem) Says he will get the police to focus on serious crimes and earn the respect of Londoners. Believes the Met is wasting time on low level drug offences like laughing gas and should be free to investigate rapes and sexual offences.

HOWARD COX (Reform UK) Founder of the FairFuelUK campaign. Would scrap the entire Ulez and extensively increase policing visibility 24/7 to cut crime. He would increase affordable housing, particularly for low-income families.

NATALIE CAMPBELL(Independent) Promises to take a CEOs approach to deliver recovery and growth. Head of bottled water company Belu and chancellor of the University of Westminster, she was originally longlisted to be the Conservative candidate.

GEORGE GALLOWAY (Workers Party of Britain) Previously stood for the Respect Party in 2016. Advocates decent, cheap housing for all and an end to imperialist wars.

AMY GALLAGHER (Social Democratic Party) Will push back on woke ideology and vows to depoliticise the police and make transport free for under-25s.

SHYAM BATRA (Independent) Property and finance broker who wants to give people a voice. Promises to abolish Ulez, the congestion zone and 20mph limits.

TARUN GHULATI (Independent) Wants to re-open police stations in areas with high crime and to tackle inequality.

RAYHAN HAQUE (Independent) Proposes car-free Sundays in central London once a month and making capital AI-ready.

ANDREAS MICHLI ( Independent) Gym owner proposes free gym memberships for Londoners and to train police officers up to blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

COUNT BINFACE (Count Binface Party) In 2021s contest, he promised to rename London Bridge after Phoebe Waller and for no shop to sell croissants for more than 1.
She said the ban had created a strong sense of Muslim group identity that was not previously there, with the pupil, referred to only as TTT, saying: Muslim students now know that a requirement of their religion is not respected by the school or seen as important enough to even engage in a discussion about how it might be facilitated.
The bill's ultimate goal is to send asylum seekers and economic migrants arriving in the UK to Rwanda. However, some right-learning Tory members have argued that the law should be tougher to achieve the desired results.
Access to dentistry is improving and last year 1.7 million more adults and some 800,000 more children saw an NHS dentist, but we know there is more to do which is why the Government and NHS England are working on a dentistry plan to make further improvements.
"I want this Bill to succeed and the sole reason I shall be voting against this Bill will be because, on third reading, I don't believe - to use the Home Secretary's own words - that this is the toughest immigration legislation that we could produce, nor do I think we've done whatever it takes."
In a message to Tory MPs, the Prime Ministers press secretary said: We are unified in our position in wanting to stop the boats, so we encourage them all to get behind this Bill so we can get this deterrent up and running as quickly as possible.
Ms Makolo said in a statement: Under the terms of the agreement, Rwanda has no obligation to return any of the funds paid. However, if no migrants come to Rwanda under the scheme, and the UK Government wishes to request a refund of the portion of the funding allocated to support the migrants, we will consider this request.
The 200-megapixel main camera is also the biggest out of the trio, but another repeat from last year. It does a better job of zooming in closer to objects that are further away compared with the iPhone. Samsung says the results will be even clearer this time thanks to some AI-powered magic.
Warmly welcoming Mr Li at the state reception room, Mr Higgins said that he remembered his state visit to China and Xi Jinpings visit to Ireland in 2012 while he was vice-president. Mr Xi became Chinas president the following year.
After the meeting between the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, and Zhou Qian, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Georgia, the government administration disseminated the information.The Prime Minister and the Ambassador engaged in discussions regarding the close and friendly relations between the two countries, which, as indicated by the government, evolved into a strategic partnership last year. They also explored future prospects of cooperation."The parties once again highly evaluated the meeting between the Prime Minister of Georgia and the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, during the PM's visit to Beijing last year and its significance in Georgia-China relations. They discussed the implementation of the plans defined during the mentioned visit.The ambassador briefed the Prime Minister on the so-called elections held in Taiwan, on which the Prime Minister reiterated the strong support of the Georgian government for the principle of a united China. The parties once again affirmed their support for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the statement reads.The Chairman of the Human Rights Protection and Civil Integration Committee, Mikheil Sarjveladze, conducted an introductory meeting with Robin Dunnigan, the Ambassador of the United States of America to Georgia.During the meeting, discussions centered around the positive collaboration between the committee and the embassy, highlighting joint products developed within its framework. Mikheil Sarjveladze provided an overview of recent significant reforms in human rights protection. Additionally, he outlined the committee's priorities and upcoming activities planned for the spring session.According to the statement, the conversation focused on Georgia's aspiration for EU integration. The parties assessed the progress made in this direction and discussed the agenda for implementing the 9 priorities. The chairman of the committee emphasized the current motivation and readiness, taking into account the intensive work on priorities and adhering to the principles of transparency and participation.Dunnigan congratulated the chairman of the committee on Georgia's acceptance of the status of a candidate country for EU membership and conveyed support for the ongoing process of carrying out further reforms.
Our children, whatever their background, are British. As a school, we celebrate what we have in common so that the extraordinary diversity of cultures that we have under our roof can succeed. Mr Coppel told the court the school had taken action on prayers due to concerns about a "culture shift" over "segregation between religious groups and intimidation within the group of Muslim pupils".
According to local media, the man was handed over to police, where he told investigators that he had taken a sleeping pill and didnt remember what had happened at all.
The fighting in the north, which was the first target of Israel's offensive and where entire neighbourhoods have been pulverised, showed how far Israel is from achieving its goals of dismantling Hamas and returning scores of hostages captured in the October 7 attack that sparked the current war.
He added: I am aware of the extent to which, because of my notoriety, I am being used in political games, which are all the more scandalous given that the dramatic events since October 7 deserve something quite different from this type of statement.
It added: "Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighborly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence."
The country's typically outspoken and nationalistic media covered the attack Wednesday with unusual restraint. It remains unclear why Iran launched the attack now, particularly as its foreign minister had met Pakistan's caretaker prime minister the same day at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Iranian state media has continued not to address the strikes, instead discussing a joint naval drill held by Pakistan and the Iranian navy in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday.
It is likely that Russia will now be forced to reconsider limiting the operational areas of its aircraft. The A-50 is critical to the Russian air surveillance picture over the battlespace.
The structure of the transaction allows the BBC to continue its production on the site for at least another 25 years, while providing us with the opportunity to invest in the site to create new world class studios.
In scenes that will air on Wednesday night, he calls everyone to the firepit where he tells his fellow islanders: I was here to find love and there is no one here I have that connection with.
The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informs that on Tuesday 59,370 people entered Romania through the border crossing points, including 6,246 Ukrainian citizens.

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday, about 129,600 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with about 41,900 means of transport, went through border control formalities, both on entry and exit, at border points throughout the country.

As of 10 February 2022 (pre-conflict period), 7,132,509 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania.

In the areas of jurisdiction, crossing points and the "green border," the police found 32 illegal acts (25 offences and seven contraventions) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, and the amount of fines imposed amounted to 4,885 lei.

Goods worth approximately 92,900 lei were seized for confiscation.

On Tuesday, 13 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country because they did not meet the conditions provided for by the law and four Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons.
Biro Rozalia (UDMR): 2024 should be year of rebuilding trust, as was established at Davos

Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) deputy Biro Rozalia, the chairwoman of the Foreign Policy Commission in the Chamber of Deputies, declared on Wednesday, in a press conference in Oradea, that 2024 will also have to be the Year of Rebuilding Confidence in Romania, as was recently decided at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and her priorities as an MP also take into account this desire.

"Although 2024 remains a year of skills, as decided by the European Commission, we cannot ignore what is happening at the Davos Economic Forum. In this year of rebuilding confidence, as agreed at the forum, we must first of all look at the local level, because this is the basis: how we, local communities, can find and build partnerships between different actors in society, have a real dialogue, where we not only discuss, but also hear our needs and how we can bring answers, solutions, to these needs," said Biro Rozalia.

The Bihor UDMR deputy mentioned that, in setting her objectives for 2024, she has in mind the annual global risk report, presented a few days ago in Davos. The global research carried out shows the main problems that the population will face in the next decade, being highlighted, first of all, in the short term, the major fear of polarization of society and the fear of misinformation and lack of information.

"In this multi-crisis situation, which we are facing worldwide, in which the citizen suffers the most, for me, as a parliamentarian, the priorities of 2024, both in the parliamentary dimension, for legislative changes, and in the activity in the community, have pay attention to the family, especially the single-parent family and those with many children, the child and the elderly," stated Biro Rozalia.

According to her, in relation to families, UDMR will focus on legislative initiatives to facilitate as much as possible the establishment of start-ups and small companies, developing the entrepreneurial mentality, and as regards the elderly, UDMR will continue the successful project started three years ago years called "Life for years" through which a network of Hungarian pensioners was created, with 38 organizations in 17 counties. Additionally, with the help of local administrations, possibilities of involving pensioners in various activities will be sought, in order to bring added value to the community, but also for an appropriate income for the elderly.

As the head of the parliamentary delegation of the Central European Initiative, Biro Rozalia mentioned that, following the meetings organized in 2023, it was decided that, in February, the development strategy and major objectives, the priorities of this collaboration format, considering the permanent change at the geo-political level and especially, the need for dialogue between EU member countries and non-member countries, from the eastern part of the EU.
Rafila after meeting Sanitas Federation: It is important solve salary discrepancies in system

The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, declared, on Wednesday, after the meeting he had, together with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, with the representatives of the Sanitas Federation, that it is very important to solve the salary discrepancies in the next period between the different categories in the health sector.

"This alignment of salaries is essential", said Rafila, who mentioned that the prime minister requested the formation of a delegation of Sanitas, to discuss with representatives of the Ministries of Health, Labor and Finance, in order to find a solution regarding salary levels.

"The discussions that the prime minister and I had with the representatives of the Sanitas Federation were centered on the salary-type claims that affect different categories of health workers. What concerns me, and I think that this is very important to solve in the next period, it is related to the salary discrepancies between the different categories and I think this alignment of salaries is essential", Rafila said after the meeting.

He specified that the prime minister requested the formation of a delegation from Sanitas, which will probably be joined by other unions, to have concrete discussions, in the next period, with the representatives of the Ministries of Health, Finance and Labor for each category of personnel.

Alexandru Rafila added that, at the moment, salary levels are "really discordant" and "create problems and dissatisfaction in the health system".

On January 10, the Sanitas Federation announced that almost 50,000 signatures had already been collected for the opening of the collective labor conflict in health and social assistance, the deadline being January 18. On January 12, Sanitas stated that the measure taken by the Government to unlock 8,000 positions solves only a quarter of the personnel requirement and will continue the procedures for triggering the collective labor conflict, requesting a 20% increase in the incomes of all categories of employees.
PM Ciolacu meets representatives of French Chamber of Commerce in Romania to discuss taxation, investments

Governmental and fiscal stability, supporting public investments and attracting the most consistent volume of European funds were the main topics of Wednesday's working meeting of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and some members of the Government with representatives of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania.

Ciolacu emphasized that he wants a permanent dialogue with the business milieu, because only together with it, solutions will be found for the implementation of investments and the growth of the Romanian economy.

"I want a permanent dialogue with the business milieu because only together, through consultation, we will find the best solutions that will lead to the implementation of investment projects and the growth of the Romanian economy, estimated at 3.5% this year. In the budget for 2024 we have predicted a record level of public investments, of approximately 7% of the Gross Domestic Product. Together with the measures to combat tax evasion, to reduce public expenditures and the budget deficit, we ensure Romania's budget balance. At the Government level, we have no see new fees and taxes this year", said the prime minister, according to a Government's press release sent to AGERPRES.

He said that the Government would continue the preparatory steps, at all levels, for Romania's accession to the OECD, a process that benefits the business environment, by taking over the practices of developed economies.

At the meeting at the Victoria Palace, the representatives of the Government and those of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania (CCIFER) discussed the European and national funding available for projects in the transport infrastructure, energy and thermal rehabilitation of buildings, about the continuation of ANAF digitization and taxation.

Also, issues related to the labor market and education, important factors for increasing competitiveness, were discussed.

"The prime minister specified, in this context, that for the development of dual education, there is 1 billion RON of funding available from European and national funds, and the legislation was adapted so that dual high school students have the chance to continue their education superior in a dual system, on the full route", reads the Government's press release.

According to the cited source, CCIFER vice-president, Adela Jansen, appreciated the openness and dialogue with the prime minister and members of the Government.

"France is the third foreign investor in Romania. Investments have doubled in the last five years, and the number of direct jobs created by French companies in Romania has reached 125,000. We are a serious discussion partner and determined to contribute to major projects of development," said Jansen.

At the working meeting with the French investors, next to Prime Minister Ciolacu were the Deputy Prime Minister Marian Neacsu, the Minister of Finance, Marcel Bolos, the Minister of Economy, Radu Oprea, the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, the head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu.
Sanitas health trade unionists up in arms until 20 pct blanket pay rise deal is reached

The leaders of the Sanitas health trade union federation declared on Wednesday that they appreciate Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu's openness to dialogue for finding solutions for better paychecks in the health system, but that they will not give up the announced protest calendar until their main demand, a 20 percent blanket salary increase, is met, told Agerpres.

These clarifications came from Sanitas president Leonard Barascu, and first vice-president Iulian Pope, after Prime Minister Ciolacu left the works of the federation's National Council.

"Tomorrow morning at 9:30 we'll be in front of the Finance Ministry, we cannot cancel this action because it is in response to developments in Bucharest. (...) We hope that things don't escalate to strike. The prime minister proposed a technical working group to include the three ministries (Labour, Health, and Finance). Meetings can start from tomorrow, depending on what the prime minister and the representatives of the Finance, the Health and the Labor Ministry announce tomorrow. (...) We will look into the matter every day, every week," said Leonard Barascu, who explained that 250 representatives of the federation will picket the Finance Ministry on Thursday.

According to him, the prime minister did not advance a calendar of a possible salary increase for health workers.

Sanitas first vice-president Iulian Pope emphasized that the trade union federation is following an already announced protest calendar.

"Today we called the National Council, the body entitled to modify, correct and adjust the program of trade union actions. We have the prime minister's promise made at today's National Council meeting, that we will discuss our grievances. Just as we announced the government representatives, you must know how that we are not giving up on our main request: a 20 percent pay rise for all workers in the health care system. This is our main request, the rest we can discuss and sort out in the next period," declared Pope.

According to him, health care employees are "very poorly" paid. "Let's present the reality of what the pay in the health care system means, not just the peaks. The majority, 70-80 percent of the health care workers receive very low salaries. (...) Each category in the health care system deserves a better pay. (...) The working group with the representatives of the three ministries will be set up tonight. Starting tomorrow we get to work, we'll hold meetings, we'll look at the numbers, at everything meaning salary, we'll listen to all the opinions and we must find a solution for health care workers, we are bound to do that," Pope said.

Asked if they are willing to give up protest actions if the government offered them a salary increase lower than the one demanded, the union leaders said that they would not agree to that.

"No, the minimum is 20 percent, it is a decision of the National Council for this whole year, for all workers in the health system, for all professional categories, including administrative and technical staff," said Iulian Pope.
Save Romania Union (USR) Chairman Catalin Drula criticised the authorities for the way they intervened in the protests initiated by transporters and farmers, saying that there is a tendency to use state institutions for political purposes and that Romania is heading towards "a reduction zone" of democracy.

"Freedom of expression, democratic freedom to disagree with this Social Democratic Party [PSD] and National Liberal Parry [PNL] government is sacred. Now, what they are trying to do, by intimidation - there are 24 criminal cases against people who said 'Let's move on with our protest' - this is what only Erdogan did in Istanbul, when he was chasing the people in Taksim Square. Or the regime in Belarus, where the plane is forced to land and an activist is arrested. We are heading towards a zone of shrinking democracy," Drula told Digi 24 private television broadcaster on Tuesday evening.

Moreover, the USR leader also called for the resignation of Minister Catalin Predoiu, after activist Angi Serban was picked up by the police, following a Facebook post. He also called for "an independent investigation to determine how the Romanian police" got to pick up an activist and "humiliate" her through "excessive gestures" such as searches or fingerprinting for expressing an opinion on a social network.

"When there is a placard at a protest that says 'We're taking you down' it doesn't actually mean that you want to make the gesture of putting down those who are in a position of power, but they are metaphors.... (...) What happened subsequently with the pursuit of this woman and the picking up from an address where the police knew she was, even though that's not where she had the address on her ID - so based on electronic intercepts - fingerprinting... (...) I wonder how the police could know where a person is when she is not at the address on her ID card. Just on the basis of electronic intercepts...," said Drula.

He also said that there is "a tendency to use state institutions" for political purposes and that "a warning has been given" to stop the protest actions.
We must make sure that new framework of fiscal rules facilitates investments (FinMin Bolos)

We must ensure that the new framework of fiscal rules facilitates investments, including for countries with a smaller fiscal space such as Romania, considers the Minister of Finance, Marcel Bolos.

He participated on Tuesday in the meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), held in Brussels.

The finance ministers of the European Union adopted the conclusions of the Report on the Alert Mechanism 2024 and the Annual Analysis of Sustainable Growth 2024, respectively the recommendation for the economic policy of the Eurozone, the minister wrote on his Facebook page.

According to the quoted source, this is the first step for the initiation of the annual process of the European Semester for monitoring the economic, employment and fiscal policies of the member states.

One of the conclusions of the 2024 Alert Mechanism Report is the need for a better integration of the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure into the economic governance framework, which is currently under review.

"We must make sure that the new framework of fiscal rules facilitates investments, including for countries with a smaller fiscal space such as Romania, while maintaining solid public finances", said Marcel Bolos.

The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU presented its priorities for the six months of its mandate, stating that it will focus on completing the revision of the economic governance of the Union, on the continuation of the financial support given to Ukraine and on the legislation that regulates the banking union and that of the capital markets. In addition, it will continue the work on the proposals regarding a new set of EU own resources, to complete the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework and to revise the legislation related to the Customs Code.

Also, the ministers took note of the economic and financial impact of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The European Commission presented an update on the economic and budgetary situation in Ukraine, after which there were discussions about the financial support granted by the EU, as well as about the developments recorded in the use of frozen and immobilized Russian assets.
A nursing home where all but three of the Covid-19 deaths in Orleans County have occurred is under investigation by the state attorney general, as well as the county sheriff and district attorney.

Twenty-three people have died from Covid-19 at the Villages of Orleans, according to the most recent data released by the Orleans County Health Department.

Weve had an inordinate number of deaths there related to Covid, said Orleans County District Attorney Joseph Cardone. Nearly every death weve had in Orleans County has been a death at the Villages. Why did it get to that point?

In Erie County, where 226 people have died from Covid-19 in nursing homes, the District Attorney's Office is not investigating any of the deaths. The state Attorney General's Office is not aware of any district attorneys in other counties investigating Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes.

"At this time, our office has not been asked to assist in the investigation of any nursing home deaths related to Covid-19," said Kait Munro, a spokesperson for Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn.

Cardone declined to discuss any specifics about the focus of his investigation, but said he was looking at the Covid-19 deaths as well as broader concerns regarding resident care at the Villages.

More than two dozen current and former employees, as well as many relatives of residents, have come forward to state and county officials with complaints about the nursing home, saying its management has taken steps that have hastened the spread of Covid-19, according to Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, who represents Albion.

Relatives and staff say that the administration at the Villages has:

Placed residents who tested negative for Covid-19 in the same room as those who tested positive.

Withheld personal protective equipment from employees, keeping masks, gowns and other equipment locked in a room that only one person had access to.

Required staff to rewear disposable gowns, and to wear the same gown while going from room to room.

Made staff members work even when running a fever.

Consistently not scheduled enough staff to properly care for residents.

Why is my 80-year-old mom expendable just because somebody made choices about locking up personal protective equipment? said Ondrea Pate, whose mother, Connie Brakenbury, had been admitted to the Villages for short-term rehabilitation.

Her mother had tested negative for Covid-19, but was then placed in a room with a woman who was Covid-positive, Pate said. Soon after she was discharged from the Villages, she tested positive. She died two days after Mothers Day.

Brakenbury's death certificate listed stroke as the cause of death with Covid-19 as an unrelated significant condition contributing to the death.

They are just unnecessary deaths that keep happening, said Pate, who started an online petition demanding that the director of nursing at the Villages be replaced.

Neither the director of nursing nor the owner of the Villages, Comprehensive Management Healthcare Systems, responded to requests for comment. The company also owns Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Williamsville, along with other nursing homes outside of Western New York.

State health inspectors conducted an unannounced visit on April 29 and found the Villages of Orleans in compliance with infection control practices and CDC-supported guidelines issued by New York State, state Health Department spokesman Jeffrey Hammond wrote in an email.

A subsequent visit, though, uncovered problems that caused or could cause serious harm to residents, he said.

Its horrific

The countys investigation extends beyond the Covid-19 outbreak to include broader issues relating to how the facility has been operated and allegations of improper care of residents, said Cardone, the district attorney.

The Villages of Orleans is rated one star out of five  "or much below average"  by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the most recent federal data. Registered nurses there spend 12 minutes a day per patient, less than one-third the state and federal averages.

Nurse's aides at the Villages spend about the same amount of time as the state and federal averages, according to the federal data. Licensed practical nurses at the Villages of Orleans spend an average of just over an hour a day with each resident, which is slightly more than state and federal averages.

Cardone said he had considered holding a coroner's inquest, during which a coroner can call witnesses to help determine the cause of death in the case of a suspicious death. But state law precludes holding a coroner's inquest to look into deaths at a nursing home, he said.

He noted that it is not currently possible to seat a grand jury, given the pandemic, but declined to say whether he is looking at filing criminal charges related to the investigation.

"Nobody's been arrested at this point," Cardone said. "There are no grand jury indictments."

Hawley has been pushing state officials to investigate the Villages. More than two dozen employees have contacted him with concerns, he said.

Its horrific because were talking about frail and elderly people losing their lives, Hawley said.

Aides: PPE was limited

Some current and former employees say that since the outbreak began, they have gone without the necessary personal protective equipment.

The nursing home has a supply of PPE, they say, but it has been kept in a locked room to which only the director of nursing has a key. Some gowns and masks would be made available in the morning, but when the supply ran out, no more would be distributed, they said.

One employee said that the director of nursing said in March that she was not giving employees full access to the equipment.

She said sometimes people take more than what they need. And she was saving it for when the virus got worse, said a nurses aide who works at the Villages and asked to not be identified. Face masks, hand wipes, gallons of hand sanitizer and bleach  and she just had it locked up.

For several weeks, employees were told to reuse and share disposable gowns, she and another aide told The Buffalo News.

To use a gown in a bunch of different rooms  thats cross-contamination, said Hope Albone, a nurses aide who recently quit. Youre wearing a dirty gown into a Covid patients room. Then you wear it into another patients room.

It was mid-April before staff were given any N95 masks, according to the former aide.

I had the same N95 for two weeks. When the strap broke, I was told to staple it back on, Albone said.

Aide quit over staffing levels

The nursing home has consistently not scheduled enough employees to provide adequate care, some current and former employees say.

Albone recalled one overnight shift when she was the only aide scheduled. Typically, she said, four to seven aides would work that shift in the 120-bed nursing home.

I didnt know where to start, Albone said.

Because staffing was so thin, when more than one aide worked, the aide working with Covid-positive residents often had to assist the aide working with residents who had not tested positive, she and the other aide said.

Employees have been required to take their temperatures at the start of every shift. One evening, Albones temperature was 101.8 at the start of her shift. She was one of only two aides scheduled.

My supervisor told me to suck it up. My co-worker was an older lady, so I didnt want to leave her by herself with all those residents, she said.

Albone stayed and worked. That was the night she decided to quit.

Sheriffs deputies assist probe

Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke's office has been reaching out to staff and to relatives of residents, asking them to provide statements about the Covid-19 deaths at the Villages and the way the nursing home has responded to the pandemic.

Representatives from the state Attorney General's Office also have been reaching out to employees and residents' family members. More than one has said that someone from the Attorney General's Office has been in touch with them nearly every day by phone or text for at least a couple of weeks.

The daughter of one former resident said she told the sheriff she had concerns regarding the care the Villages had provided to her father. The sheriff offered to provide deputies to accompany the woman to the nursing home to ensure that the administration there would let her move her father out of the nursing home, she said.

He said if you want to pull him out today, I will give you the support, the manpower, and you can take him out, said the daughter, who asked that her name not be used.

Four or five deputies accompanied her to the Villages, and she signed papers acknowledging that he was being discharged against medical advice. An ambulance took her father to a hospital in Batavia, where the family has been paying out of pocket for his care.

Hes doing great, his daughter said. Hes one of the very, very lucky ones.

Immediate jeopardy

When state health inspectors visited the Villages at the end of April, they found the nursing home to be in compliance with state guidelines for infection control.

But inspectors soon returned for another unannounced visit.

On May 9, inspectors who visited the Villages cited immediate jeopardy  a designation given when the providers noncompliance has caused, or is likely to cause, serious injury or harm and there is an immediate need for it to be corrected to avoid further or future serious harm, Hammond, the state Health Department spokesman, wrote in an email.

The nursing home took steps to correct problems, and the immediate jeopardy has been lifted, Hammond wrote.

Because the state's investigation of the Villages is ongoing, he said, he could not comment further.

The state is continuing to closely monitor the facility, he said.
Rock And Roll Artists Enter Hall Of Fame

NEW YORK (AP)

The blues and a little bit of folk, country and soul got this year's crop of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The new members, inducted Wednesday night (Jan. 16, 1991), included blues great John Lee Hooker, rhythm and blues artists LaVern Baker, Ike and Tina Turner, the late Jimmy Reed, soulful Wilson Pickett, the Impressions and country-folk-rock pioneers the Byrds.

Also inducted during ceremonies subdued by the outbreak of war in the Persian Gulf was the late blues legend Howlin' Wolf, who was honored as an early influence on rock 'n' roll. Nesuhi Ertegun, the late record producer, was cited for lifetime achievement.

Before the ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria, President George Bush's speech to the nation was broadcast on a large screen set up to show clips of the performers being honored.

Like some past ceremonies, the sixth annual event had its controversy, this time over which members of the Impressions were being inducted.

Only the original members of the Byrds Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke were inducted.

That left out the late Gram Parsons, whose pioneering country-rock sound has been widely hailed as among rock's most inventive styles.

In addition, it wasn't clear if only the original members of the Impressions Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler, Richard Brooks, Arthur Brooks and Sam Gooden were included. But Laike some past ceremonies, the sixth annual event had its controversy. Fred Cash, who replaced Butler early on, felt he was being left out. "I'm mad about it," he told reporters before the ceremony.

Butler, the Brooks brothers, Gooden and Cash walked on stage when only the name the Impressions was called. The Byrds were introduced individually.

Mayfield, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a stage accident at a concert last year, addressed the audience by television hookup from his home in Atlanta. "If it weren't for the Impressions," he said, "I would have never seen my dreams come true, nor counted my blessings."

Hooker told the audience: "I love the blues. I put on dark glasses to keep from crying. That's how deep the blues go with me."

And Baker said, "Regardless of how old you are when you get this, it's still good, baby."

Neither Ike nor Tina Turner attended. Tina Turner said she was exhausted after a recent European tour. Her former husband is in jail for cocaine possession. Pickett also missed the ceremonies when his plane was fogged in. The new group brings the total of inductees to 50.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  Construction giant Clayco is prohibiting its employees from flying on Boeing 737 Max 9 jets amid safety inspections of the planes.

Chicago-based Clayco, which has a major office in the St. Louis area, told employees that it is communicating with airline suppliers for updates and that it will inform workers when they can fly on Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes again.

The decision affects more than 1,500 employees, the company said in an email to workers.

The Federal Aviation Administration grounded more than 150 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft after a piece of the fuselage blew off an Alaska Airlines flight on Jan. 5. It left a gaping hole in the side of the plane and ripped headrests off seats as the plane flew at 16,000 feet shortly after taking off from Portland, Oregon, carrying 177 people.

Alaska and United Airlines are the two primary U.S. carriers that use the Boeing 737 Max 9 planes. The companies have canceled thousands of flights as safety inspections are conducted.

Clayco Executive Chairman Bob Clark told the Post-Dispatch that employees were nervous to fly after the Jan. 5 incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ST. LOUIS  The local well-known barbecue chain Salt + Smoke has been pulled into a dispute with its landlords over a fire that caused extensive damage on a prominent Central West End corner.

A lawsuit filed on behalf of a Central West End condo association and group of property owners casts blame on the company, and pushes for the barbecue chain to take on a chunk of the repair and renovation costs.

Tom Schmidt, co-owner of Salt + Smoke, said Tuesday that he was disappointed by the lawsuit, but that he wasnt able to comment on it. Over the summer, Schmidt told the Post-Dispatch that the restaurant chain did not have plans to return to the Central West End.

The three-alarm fire started early on the morning of June 24, 2022. It damaged the Salt + Smoke restaurant at 392 North Euclid Avenue, the Mission Taco Joint, and the Middle Eastern restaurant Ranoush located in the same building.

The lawsuit claims Salt + Smoke left cloth rags used to clean up cooking oil and grease in a cart just outside the building.

But Capt. Garon Mosby, spokesman for the St. Louis Fire Department, said Tuesday that investigators believe the fire originated from a linen container shared by Salt + Smoke and another restaurant.

The lawsuit pushes for Salt + Smoke to take on a portion of the repair costs. It cites language in the restaurants lease agreement, which says that if the building suffers destruction that can be rebuilt within 180 days, the landlord can choose to rebuild at its own expense. And if that damage was caused by the tenants own act or omission, the tenant will pay the difference between the insurance payment and the actual cost of rebuilding.

The restaurant hasnt paid the difference between the cost of repairs and the insurance payments, which is a breach of the lease agreement, the suit says.

The suit is filed on behalf of the Euclid East Condominium Association, and three of the associations board members. EE Condos, which owns 11 units in the building, is also listed as a plaintiff, as well as 392 Euclid Partners and RT Condo.

The suit claims that EE Condos has suffered substantial damages from the fire, including repair costs and lost rent.

Gerry Greiman, an attorney with Spencer Fane representing the plaintiffs, said the repairs and renovations have stretched on both because of typical delays like supply chain issues, and because the damage was so extensive.

There was an incredible amount of smoke damage, Greiman said. The interior, largely, had to be gutted.

Mosby, the fire department spokesman, said investigators at first ruled the fires cause as undetermined, pending investigation. After that, he said, multiple investigators, including from the department, continued looking into the cause. Between security footage and interviews, they concluded that the fire originated from a linen container shared by Salt + Smoke and Mission Taco.

He said investigators eventually agreed that some mixture of the chemicals in the linens likely caused the blaze.
Joe Holleman Political correspondent/columnist Follow Joe Holleman 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

Officially, former state Sen. Bob Onder still is a candidate for lieutenant governor.

But the Lake Saint Louis Republican sure sounds like someone who might be headed for an even higher office.

In a radio appearance Monday  live from Iowa, where he was stumping for former President Donald Trump  Onder made rumblings that he may pivot from seeking the No. 2 spot in the state and instead vie to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth.

Luetkemeyers heavily Republican 3rd Congressional District is a far-flung affair: It touches on the Lake of the Ozarks and then reaches east across the state to take in eastern St. Charles County and western Jefferson County.

Who we send to Congress at this critical time ... is very important, said Onder, during an interview on KSSZ (93.9 FM), a conservative talk station in Columbia.

Onder said the solution to the problems he sees in the country can be changed by taking back the White House or by sending the right people to Congress.

Onder did not return calls Wednesday from the Post-Dispatch.

At this time, the only unreservedly declared GOP candidate for Luetkemeyers seat is state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold.

Other names mentioned as possible contenders include state Sens. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance, and Travis Fitzwater of Callaway County; and former state Senate President Dave Schatz.

Schroer previously has said he wont run if Onder declares his candidacy.

As for the lieutenant governor's race, the GOP candidates include Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, state Sen. Holly Rehder, Franklin County Clerk Tim Baker and unsuccessful congressional candidate Paul Berry III.

The need is not yet pressing for Onder to declare his race: The deadline for filing for the Congressional primaries is Feb. 27; the primary will be Aug. 6.

But Onder said he likely will decide in the next week or two.
Tony Messenger Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger 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

POTOSI, Mo.  When Troy Steele writes about Brian Dorsey, he uses words like trust, remarkable, respect and honor.

Steele is the former warden at the Potosi Correctional Center, which houses death-row inmates in Missouri. Dorsey is one of those inmates. He is scheduled to die by lethal injection on April 9.

Steele is trying to save Dorseys life. Its an unusual place for a warden to be, and Steele is not alone. In what is likely a first in Missouri, 60 corrections officers have signed a letter asking Gov. Mike Parson to commute Dorseys sentence from death to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Other corrections officers have written individual letters. They know Dorsey well because for 17 years, hes been their barber.

There isnt a nicer guy than Brian. He is one of the most pleasant people we know. He doesnt deserve to be executed. We know that he was convicted of murder, but that is not the Brian Dorsey that we know, the 60 officers wrote in their letter. We urge you, Governor, to exercise your authority under the Missouri Constitution to commute Brians sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Dorsey was convicted of murdering his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Ben, at their New Bloomfield home two days before Christmas in 2006. They were brutal murders. Dorsey was in a cocaine and alcohol-induced stupor at the time. He doesnt remember the murder, but he knows it was him.

He admits his guilt and, according to his attorney, Megan Crane of the MacArthur Justice Center, he has been remorseful ever since the murders. Like most death-row inmates, he has filed last-minute appeals questioning elements of his conviction.

In Dorseys case, his public defenders were on a flat-rate system at the time that created a conflict of interest to limit costs, Crane argues. She claims that among the failures of his defense team was not arguing that Dorsey didnt have the capacity to deliberate over the crime, a requirement in a capital murder case, because he was in a drug-induced stupor.

Dorseys support from corrections officers is another sign of how far Missouri strays from national norms on the death penalty. A year-end report from the Death Penalty Information Center issued in December pointed out that Missouri is one of only five states to carry out death sentences last year, along with Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Alabama.

All five states are dominated by Republicans. But even in the GOP, there is a growing crack in the concept that state resources should be used to put people to death, no matter how heinous their crimes.

A group of Missouri Republicans has filed a bill in the Legislature this year to abolish the death penalty.

I think morally, I feel obligated, said state Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Bowling Green, at a news conference announcing the bill. Anyone who says theyre pro-life should feel a little conflicted on this topic  because if youre pro-life then I think youve got to look at it and say youre that way from the beginning to the very end. And I dont think that the government should have a monopoly on violence.

As Dorsey awaits his fate, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell is trying to slow down the execution of another man on death row. Last week, Bell wrote the Missouri Supreme Court, asking the judges to hold off on issuing an execution order for Marcellus Williams. The countys Conviction Integrity Unit is investigating Williams conviction in the murder of former Post-Dispatch reporter Felicia Gayle in 1998.

Last year, for the first time, a yearly Gallup Poll reported that more Americans believe the death penalty is administered unfairly than those who dont. Twenty-nine states have abolished the death penalty through legislation or executive action.

A remorseful barber named Brian Dorsey, with the support of the corrections workers whose hair he cuts, should add to the momentum for Missouri to join that list.

I am a conservative and am always for the victims and their families, one officer wrote in a letter to Parson. Being in a death row prison and living in that type of environment for so long and not getting into trouble is remarkable.  I would like to see you commute his sentence of death to life without the possibility of parole, due to the way he has lived and inside the prison.
ST. LOUIS  A man who was sentenced to life in prison for a 2019 killing in Illinois is now facing charges in St. Louis for a robbery-turned-fatal shooting that happened just hours before the Illinois killing.

Timothy B. Stokes, 55, was charged Friday with one count of first-degree murder after police said he admitted to shooting 65-year-old Brian Culton at a home in the 200 block of Upton Street on June 30, 2019.

Hours later, police said, Stokes went to East St. Louis, where he shot and killed 24-year-old Michelle Williams outside of a gas station. He then walked along Interstate 255 when he fired a pistol at an Illinois State Trooper who was riding in a patrol vehicle, police said.

Stokes then ran away, and the highway was closed for several hours while authorities searched for him.

He was charged in St. Clair County and convicted last year of murder and shooting at a police officer. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In Stokes' new charging documents, police say he arrived at Culton's home hours before the other killing and tried to rob him. When he didn't hand over the money immediately, Stokes shot him, police said.

"After waving his Miranda rights, defendant admitted to officers that he 'killed two (expletive) people, man,'" police wrote in a probable cause statement.
The woman came to St. Louis to be with her then-boyfriend, St. Louis City SC star Indiana Vassilev. But she liked it here and eventually came 
JEFFERSON CITY  After nearly getting a rare gun control law on the books last year, Missouris Republican-controlled Senate is again trying to stop people from firing celebratory gunshots.

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday debated Blairs Law, which would impose tougher penalties for those who participate in the dangerous practice on New Years Eve, July Fourth and other events.

If approved this time around, it would mark a small victory for gun control supporters in a state where gun rights has long been the prevailing mindset.

The sponsor, Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, said his own home has been hit by gunfire in explaining why the measure is needed.

This may be the one and only bill that involves firearms that we all agree upon, Razer said.

The proposal is named after 11-year-old Blair Shanahan, who died in 2011 from a stray bullet during a backyard barbecue in Kansas City.

The practice of randomly shooting bullets into the air has become common in St. Louis too, where at least four people were injured in 2022 when hundreds of rounds flew into the air on Jan. 1, according to police records.

Jacqueline Bardgett, a lobbyist for the City of St. Louis, said police counted more than 500 shots fired into the air in the wee hours of Jan. 1 this year.

Other supporters included Kansas City, police officer labor unions and business groups, who said the practice often results in businesses having to replace broken glass or repair fleet vehicles damaged by bullets.

We think this is also a business issue, said Missouri Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Kara Corches.

The measure declares a person commits the offense of unlawful discharge of a firearm if, with criminal negligence, he or she discharges a firearm within or into the limits of any municipality. The law carves out some exceptions, including for law enforcement officers and military personnel acting within their official capacities.

The measure had wide support last year, but was vetoed by Gov. Mike Parson as part of a larger package of bills that the governor opposed.

Parson said he vetoed the overall legislation over one provision that would expand the qualifications for restitution from those who are exonerated for crimes they did not commit. It also increases the restitution amount by more than 75%.

Governor Parson does not believe every taxpayer across the state should be responsible for prosecutorial errors made at the local level, his office wrote in a veto message to the General Assembly.

The legislation is Senate Bill 788. In the House, a similar proposal has been attached to House Bill 1659, which will be heard in a committee Thursday.
JEFFERSON CITY  St. Louis comptroller announced an investigation Wednesday after the business manager of the St. Louis Police Officers Association said the city had failed to withhold more than $100,000 in dues for the police union.

Joe Steiger, business manager for the St. Louis Police Officers Association, told the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee that at this time, its really over $100,000 that they have not collected for our organization.

Steiger was testifying in favor of legislation that could allow for the return of city police to state control, instead of continuing local control. He said hes been told withholding errors from officer paychecks are due to an issue with a new payroll system.

After the hearing, Steiger said two issues have led to the shortfall: more than 40 union members who have no dues being deducted, and a dues increase that union members requested in June has yet to be implemented.

As of the last pay period, its still the same amount that its been for forever, Steiger said.

Tiara Thomas, spokeswoman for St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green, said in an email Wednesday that our office has begun an immediate investigation into the issue and will respond with all relevant information as made available.

Steiger said the last thing we want is for the city to retroactively take union dues out of officers paychecks. We dont want to be a burden to our members, he said.

Steigers account came as senators resurrected a plan to potentially return city police to state control after it died last year.

While Steiger testified in favor of the plan, St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy and L. Jared Boyd, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones chief of staff, spoke out against it.

The legislation is Senate Bill 808.
ST. LOUIS  A woman and several of her associates illegally rented out almost 40 condemned homes in south St. Louis to people with drug addictions and mental illnesses, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by the city.

Dara Daugherty, five of her associates and nearly a dozen businesses registered to their names are named in the suit, which accuses the landlords of continuing to rent out properties that had been boarded up and declared a nuisance by city officials. Some of the properties lacked electricity and running water, according to the suit.

The suit claims Daugherty preyed on vulnerable people by offering them low rent for properties that had unlivable conditions, then allowing those properties to become crime havens.

Police were called hundreds of times to the properties, which stretched across several neighborhoods, including Benton Park West, Dutchtown, Carondelet and Gravois Park. Police were called to the homes in recent years for overdoses, shootings, prostitution, drugs, kidnappings and carjackings, according to the suit.

And the homes racked up hundreds of nuisance complaints and code violations, including rat and bed bug infestations, overcrowding, abandoned vehicles, collapsed roofs, defective sinks and rotten structures.

Meanwhile, Daugherty and her businesses sought to evict tenants for not paying rent that she and the businesses were not entitled to collect, the lawsuit says.

Now, the city is asking a court to shut them down.

Defendants corrupt scheme to operate illegal rooming houses for profit throughout the city not only jeopardizes the safety and well-being of their tenants, it also interferes with the right to health, safety and peace of the public at large, the lawsuit says.

Daugherty could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday. The lawsuit says she had 38 active warrants out for her arrest as of September 2023.

Daugherty and her associates purchased many of the homes legally between the mid-2000s and 2021, the suit says. But in recent years, the properties racked up complaints.

From July 2019 to July 2023, for example, a home in the 6100 block of Colorado Avenue in the Carondelet neighborhood received dozens of ordinance violations, including for broken and missing windows, abandoned vehicles on the property, cracked and shifted walls, a structurally defective garage, fire damage to the roof and missing electrical outlets.

Last month, building division officials sent a letter about a property in the 7600 block of Virginia Avenue in the Patch neighborhood. The ceilings sagged, the windows were missing or broken, the heating unit was defective, and the dilapidated building could harm children.

And the suit notes that officers were called last week to a home in the 3700 block of Oregon Avenue in the Gravois Park neighborhood for gunfire. The city claims that the condemned property has continued to harbor residents even after the building division told everyone to leave.

The city is asking a judge to step in and demand that Daughtery and her associates fix the nuisances and shut down the homes for good.

A hearing has not yet been set in the case.
CLAYTON  The Clayton Board of Education will host what it bills as an honest and constructive discussion Wednesday with residents following criticism over the districts plans to buy the multimillion-dollar Caleres property.

We are committed to answering, subject to confidentiality provisions, any questions posed respectfully and earnestly regarding this acquisition, reads an email inviting residents to the meeting at Wydown Middle School.

The Jan. 2 announcement about the planned Empowerment Campus Project for the property appraised at $33.5 million was met with swift backlash from civic leaders and residents.

Im just mystified, said Helene Mathis, who has lived in Clayton for 56 years. Hopefully we will get some answers and they will listen to what seems to be an overwhelming opposition.

The selling price of the 9-acre site at 8300 Maryland Avenue will be revealed when the property closes in February, according to district officials. In follow-up messages to the community, the school board said the site could be used for alternative education programs, a security buffer for the adjacent Clayton High School or sold and returned to the tax rolls for commercial redevelopment.

I think that maybe they didnt expect this outcry from people and it was just going to be slipped under the rug and the deal made, and there really isnt a firm plan for what they are going to do, said Carolyn Hentschell, who said her property taxes have increased by one-third since moving to Clayton four years ago.

The city of Clayton on Sunday responded to the public outcry by posting information about current and potential tax revenue from global footwear retailer Caleres, formerly Brown Shoe Co.

The current City of Clayton Downtown Master Plan envisions the property as a commercial gateway into the downtown area, the message reads.

The current assessed value of the property is $13.6 million with annual real estate taxes of $1.3 million, of which the city receives about 8% and the school district receives close to half.

A hypothetical assessment of future commercial redevelopment of the site is estimated at $60 million, which would bring in $472,000 to the city and $2.7 million to the school district annually, according to the citys post.

Clayton City Manager David Gipson did not respond Tuesday to a question about how the future value was calculated. The highest valued property in Clayton, the Pierre Laclede business center at 7701 and 7731 Forsyth Blvd., is assessed at $30 million.

Retired U.S. Bank executive Beth Stohr said developing or subdividing the Caleres headquarters would be a lengthy and expensive task for the school district.

Its a very expensive piece of property to take on with no defined plan, said Stohr. Are you really a school board, or are you a real estate developer? This is a community that is strongly supportive of its schools, which makes this all the more unfortunate of a situation.

While Clayton has always been a high performing district, its annual performance score dropped from 94.2% to 89.9% in the last year. In 2022, Clayton ranked in the top 10 in Missouri, while landing at 27th out of 558 school districts last year  below Brentwood, Festus, Kirkwood and Lindbergh.

Another concern for residents is the long-term sustainability of the district, which has seen an enrollment decline of 9% over the last six years to 2,427 students in kindergarten through high school. The school board in a Jan. 9 email touted a gain of 59 students this year as the beginnings of a possible reversal of this trend.

Local journalist and Clayton parent Ray Hartmann said all the criticism of the school board is unwarranted. Its perfectly reasonable  actually, responsible  for a landlocked school district to consider acquiring adjacent property, Hartmann wrote in his newsletter Tuesday.

Letters in opposition to the districts purchase have come from the Clayton Condo Building Association, a coalition of four former city mayors and a group of residents led by broadcast personality Charlie Brennan, Stohrs husband.

Several residents said they are skeptical that their questions will be answered at Wednesdays meeting.

Perhaps this is the most wonderful plan and every student is going to get a new pony, but if that were true youd be shouting it from the mountaintops and not trying to shove it through the back door, said Jesse Adams, a 2003 Clayton High School graduate.

Steph Kukuljan of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
JEFFERSON CITY  Republicans and Democrats blasted one of the leading anti-abortion crusaders in the Capitol Wednesday, saying her organizations attempt to defund Planned Parenthood could trigger a major round of catastrophic hospital and nursing home closures.

At issue is the renewal of a special tax on hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers that the state relies upon to fund the $12 billion Medicaid program.

The Federal Reimbursement Allowance, known as the FRA, provides about $4.3 billion of the cost of the health insurance program for low-income Missourians.

But, Missouri Right to Life President Susan Klein wants lawmakers to add language barring the state from allowing Medicaid funds to reimburse Planned Parenthood for services like birth control, sexually transmitted disease treatments and cancer screenings.

It mirrors an unsuccessful attempt from three years ago when Gov. Mike Parson had to call lawmakers into a special session to approve the funding package without the anti-abortion provisions.

During a sometimes tense hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Klein acknowledged that abortion is already banned in Missouri, but that Planned Parenthood clinics in the state are part of a national organization that provides abortions in states where the procedure is not prohibited.

Were asking for you to stop funding Planned Parenthood in the state, Klein said. We ask that you protect these pre-born babies.

But, senators on both sides of the aisle bristled at Kleins insistence on tying the Planned Parenthood provisions to the FRA because of concerns it could be challenged in court, where the issue has already been litigated.

What youre doing is not factual, said Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City. What about every other f-ing issue in this state. You care about one issue. We have to stop allowing people like you from hijacking the process.

Williams apologized for breaching Senate protocol, saying he was grumpy because he has been getting up at night to change diapers on his 10-month-old child. He later walked out of the hearing visibly angry.

Williams was joined in his criticism of Klein by Sen. Mike Cierpiot, R-Lees Summit, who accused her of trying to score points for her supporters, rather than work toward compromises.

This has nothing to do with abortion. This is not about money, this is about a letter-writing campaign, Cierpiot said.

Sen. Sandy Crawford, a Republican from Buffalo, urged Klein to find another vehicle to attach her anti-Planned Parenthood language in order to preserve the funding.

This has gotten way out of hand, Crawford said. I just think your thinking is flawed.

Although Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, defended Kleins tactics, he acknowledged the meeting had become emotional.

This whole committee hearing has gone downhill fast, Hoskins said. This is pathetic.

Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, who is sponsoring the renewal of the tax, said he expects the panel to formally vote on the matter Thursday, which would allow it to be brought to the full Senate next week.

The hope is to move the measure to the House, which is in the midst of drafting a spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

In tallying up the potential financial damage if the FRA is not approved or is challenged in court, Gov. Mike Parsons administration said failing to approve just the hospital tax portion of the measure would require major cuts to other state programs.

If this proposed legislation does not pass, additional (general revenue) funds of $1.22 billion would be needed per year to continue the current level of services, the administration reported.

The legislation notably does not include an expiration like it has in previous years, which could prevent the legislative renewal process from becoming embroiled in political debate in future years.

Hoskins, who is a candidate for secretary of state, wants an expiration date to give lawmakers an option to debate the tax in the future.

I think it does give us the opportunity to ask questions and hold some feet to the fire, Hoskins said.

A parade of lobbyists for the health care industry called on the committee to renew the tax without the anti-abortion language.

We have deep concerns about the potential for the provider tax to lapse, said Rob Monsees of the Missouri Hospital Association. The addition of this to this bill could potentially cause some problems.

Failing to renew the tax could lead to more hospitals closing, especially in rural parts of the state.

It would be devastating, Monsees said.

Sen. Jason Bean, R-Holcomb, said hospital closures could lead to longer travel times during medical emergencies Bootheel-region district.

I dont want to be an hour and fifteen (minutes) out, Bean said.

Nikki Strong, a lobbyist for the states nursing homes, said failure to renew the tax could also lead to nursing home closures like the Dec. 15 closure of Northview Village Nursing Home in St. Louis.

If this does not renew, well be out of business, Strong said. Without this funding, were done. Period.

Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis, said the closure of the nursing home was massively disruptive to the 200 residents and their families.

It is a crisis and we do have to look at the totality of life, said May, who is running for the U.S. Senate.

The legislation is Senate Bill 748.
For more than an hour on Wednesday, the trio of contenders for New York's 27th Congressional District fielded tough questions from a panel during the St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute annual debate  each sticking to party positions less than two weeks before Election Day.

It was only after the debate, when Republican Chris Jacobs questioned opponent Nate McMurray's lawsuit against the company owned by the incumbent's family that the affair took on a new tone. Jacobs labeled it "ironic" that McMurray is suing Delaware North Cos.  the Democrat's former employer  two week before the election.

McMurray's answer: "No comment."

On Tuesday, McMurray sued Delaware North, charging that his former employer pressured him not to run for Congress against Jacobs, the nephew of the company's chairman.

"McMurray [a former Delaware North vice president] was discriminated against because of his political activities," the lawsuit alleges. "McMurray was placed on unpaid leave because he ran a political campaign against a member of the Jacobs family."

But McMurray, a lawyer, would not answer reporters' questions about the litigation's timing (no questions were posed about its merits), claiming he could not discuss a matter now before a court.

"I'm not going to talk about it," he said. "I'll let the facts speak for themselves."

That exchange over the politics of the election came after a debate, which included Libertarian Duane Whitmer, in which candidates reiterated their well-documented positions. Indeed, McMurray is finishing his third run for the post in the last two years, narrowly losing to former Rep. Chris Collins in 2018 and to Jacobs in a June special election.

But on Wednesday, Jacobs doubled down on his support for President Trump and his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying the president had done a "good job" in closing the nation to China and "saving hundreds of thousands of lives."

"Is it perfect? Absolutely not," Jacobs said, adding the "global community has not gotten this right."

But McMurray jumped on the Jacobs view, labeling Trump's reaction to the crisis a "historic fiasco."

"He lied to us," McMurray said of the president. "He knew how dangerous it was."

Responding to a question about tackling the federal deficit, Jacobs called it "unfortunate" that Washington did not address the issue before Covid-19 issues forced the government to spend more and sink even deeper into debt.

"After Covid, our major task will be to bring down the deficit," he said. "We have to look at each agency and see how to do things more efficiently."

McMurray retorted with a jab at the Trump tax cuts that he said have pushed the government into "financial shambles."

"Under President Trump we've given 85% of the benefits to 1% of the people," he said. "He's given all his friends more money."

The two major candidates may have shown their deepest divisions on health care issues. McMurray again noted the United States remains one of the few major nations lacking universal health care. He said a single payer system does not represent "socialized health care," and that he will work with a President Biden to find a way to provide it.

Jacobs, meanwhile, said that what McMurray proposes is socialized medicine.

"We need to improve on the system we have," he said, without offering specifics.

Other highlights included:

 Jacobs said he does not favor legalizing marijuana; both his opponents say they do.

 Jacobs said his longtime involvement in urban education (including establishing a scholarship fund for poor children to attend private schools) demonstrates his commitment to ending systemic racism, while McMurray blamed Republican Trump for letting "racism sneak into this country."

 On abortion, Jacobs said he was "pro-life" and that he voted against a "radical bill" while in the State Senate allowing for late-term abortions. McMurray later chastised him for changing his position on abortion, while reiterating he views Roe vs. Wade as "established law."

"You can fight against it," he said, "but again [illegal] abortion will happen in this country. We have to make it safe and available."

Unlike the recent faceoff between Trump and Biden in Cleveland, nobody shouted, nobody interrupted the other candidates, and insults and name-calling never happened.

It all prompted moderator and government teacher Ted Lina to pronounce it "a wonderful exchange of ideas."

Correction: Oct. 22, 2020

Republican Chris Jacobs noted it was "ironic" that Democrat Nate McMurray filed a lawsuit against Delaware North Cos. two weeks before the election following a debate at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute on Wednesday. An earlier version of this story misidentified the source of the criticism about McMurray's lawsuit.
ST. LOUIS  Jomo Johnson, the out-of-town businessman who wants to fly surveillance drones over city neighborhoods, has made some enemies over the past month.

Aldermen and Mayor Tishaura O. Jones have blasted his plan as creepy and unwanted. Activists in a south city neighborhood where drones were supposed to start flying rallied dozens of neighbors to protest an invasion of their privacy. And the Board of Public Service sent him a cease-and-desist letter.

Now Johnson is calling for reinforcements. SMS Novel, Johnsons company, has posted on its website a call to drone operators from across the country to come to St. Louis to help launch its surveillance program early next month. It says they can fly in, stay at a company Airbnb and learn how to operate drones as they kick off the companys operations here.

And in a defiant statement atop the announcement, Johnson blasts the citys threat to ground his drone operators if they do not secure city permits.

May we strive for a future where the entrepreneurial spirit thrives, unburdened by the constraints of a fearful government, he writes.

But it also sets up a test of Johnsons resolve amid rising questions about how serious his company really is: Officials in Los Angeles and Memphis, Tennessee, two other cities he has announced plans to surveil, told the Post-Dispatch in recent days that theyve never heard of him. He has made multiple conflicting statements about his intentions here. And St. Louis neighbors arent sure what to think.

I dont know whats real and whats not any more, said Jake Lyonfields, who helped organize opposition to initial drone patrols in the Gravois Park neighborhood.

Johnsons push to bring his companys technology to cities across the country began late last fall with a TV news blitz.

He appeared on a WREG newscast in Memphis in November. He popped up again on ABC 7 in Los Angeles a couple of weeks later. And around that same time, he went on St. Louis Fox 2 and said he would soon have drones in the skies over Gravois Park, which sits west of Jefferson Avenue between Cherokee and Chippewa streets.

Johnson cast his plan as a well-meaning attempt to curb crime in a rough neighborhood, where nine people were killed last year. He said the flying machines would provide a visible deterrent to would-be offenders, and that operators would be extra eyes and ears for city police. And he said after a test period, when drones would patrol free of charge, residents could hire SMS Novels operators to patrol on demand at a low hourly rate.

But neighbors balked, calling it a gross invasion of their privacy. Activists like Lyonfields and Ellie Gund went door-to-door to spread the word about the plan, and held community meetings where the drones were cast as the second coming of a spy plane proposal rejected by the Board of Aldermen three years ago. They also got the attention of city officials, who last week warned Johnson he would need to get city permits to operate, and filed legislation to block his plans.

Johnson initially dismissed the neighborhood opposition, telling the Post-Dispatch he was coming regardless. He sent the Board of Public Service a letter threatening a lawsuit if they tried to force his operators to get permits. He even suggested his companys drones were already flying in St. Louis  before denying it.

On Friday, he canceled the Gravois Park test. But he said SMS Novel wasnt going away, and that the service would just offer a free trial to another neighborhood at a time of our choosing.

And this week, the company quickly made good on at least part of that promise, announcing its first-ever drone pilot work retreat and promising two weeks of fun flying and taking part in the movement for the safe and commercial use of drones in STL.

SMS Novel says pilots with federal drone licenses can pay $99 and get daily meals and four nights in an Airbnb while they work and film in and around the city. Others can pay $199 for the same thing plus one-way airfare, or $299 for five days of pilot training. The company also says it will visit City Hall to advocate for drone users and businesses in the community.

Lyonfields said Tuesday he was taking the new threat seriously and had already alerted city officials. He and Gund said it was yet another reason to put rules in place prohibiting drone surveillance in the city.

But Lyonfields said at least part of him doubts Johnson after everything hes said and not done.

In recent days, Arlenia Cole, a spokesperson for the city of Memphis, said she and the city police department were unaware of SMS Novel and its purported crime-fighting plans in the Frayser and Shelby Forest areas there. A spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department said the same about operations in that city.

Calls to neighborhood leaders in Frayser and Shelby Forest also came up empty. Claudette Shephard, an officer of the Frayser Community Association, said she hadnt heard of the company. Neither had Steve Lockwood, executive director of the Frayser Community Development Association.

A GoFundMe campaign for operations in Memphis raised $20 against a goal of $10,000.

Sheila Templeman, who lives in Shelby Forest, said she liked the idea of bringing drones in. Crime is so bad here, she said.

But she hadnt seen any eyes in the sky, either.

And when the Post-Dispatch asked Johnson to name anyone who could be contacted to verify that the service is ongoing in either city, Johnson invoked his privacy policy.

You want a client list? Sorry. We dont share that data, he wrote in a text message. No comment apart from website.
JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri lawmakers began debate on a number of LGBTQ-focused measures on Wednesday, elevating culture wars and drawing fiery criticism from opponents.

A Republican-controlled Senate committee took up a Parents Bill of Rights plan that would require teachers to notify a students parents if the student expresses discomfort or confusion about the students documented identity.

The House Emerging Issues Committee was scheduled to consider a suite of transgender-related measures starting Wednesday afternoon.

The hearings showed conservative lawmakers arent finished addressing transgender issues after contentious debate last year ended with new restrictions on puberty blockers and hormone therapy, and a requirement that student athletes to play on teams aligning with the sex on their birth certificates.

In addition to the Parents Bill of Rights being considered in the Senate  which the LGBT advocacy group PROMO said would lead to the forced outing of transgender and nonbinary students  the House Emerging Issues Committee was scheduled to take up:

Legislation addressing last years health care restrictions. Last years restrictions on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors are set to expire in August 2027.

Minors who had already started treatment were also exempted from the restrictions.

Legislation this year would do away with the expiration date and exemptions for minors who were already receiving treatment. (House Bill 1520)

Jamie Reed, a former case manager at the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital who has criticized the clinic, testified Wednesday in favor of extending the restrictions beyond the 2027 expiration date.

Another bill would forbid health care institutions from requiring providers to participate in procedures or treatments related to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning if the treatment conflicts with the providers moral, ethical or religious beliefs. (House Bill 1519)

PROMO said this measure would give doctors license to discriminate.

Rep. Brad Hudson, R-Cape Fair, said the law should protect medical professionals who dont wish to provide transgender care still legal in Missouri.

As health care becomes increasingly politicized, medical professionals are being forced to choose between their deeply held beliefs and their livelihoods, he said.

Another measure would forbid employers from requiring that an employee share a restroom or locker room with someone of the opposite sex. (House Bill 1674)

Another plan prohibits students from using a restroom or locker room associated with the sex opposite the one indicated on a students birth certificate.

The legislation allows transgender students to use alternative facilities, but the child must receive written permission from their legal guardian. (House Bills 2355 and 2357)

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday passed up a chance to intervene in the debate over bathrooms for transgender students, rejecting an appeal from an Indiana public school district.

Federal appeals courts are divided over whether school policies enforcing restrictions on which bathrooms transgender students can use violate federal law or the Constitution.

In the case the court rejected without comment, the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an order granting transgender boys access to the boys bathroom.

Another bill, called the Defining SEX Act, seeks to use gender synonymously with sex in state law. (House Bill 2309)

The last measure seeks to define sex in the Missouri Human Rights Act (House Bills 2308).

While the Missouri Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry and sex, the law does not explicitly forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

In a decision cheered by LGBTQ advocates in 2019, the Missouri Supreme Court allowed a discrimination case to proceed involving a transgender student who wasnt allowed to use the bathroom aligning with his gender identity.

The court said that because the students discrimination claim was based on sex, he should be able to argue his case in a lower court.

A majority on the court ruled state law does not provide for types of sex discrimination claims; a claim is either a claim of sex discrimination or it is not.

Katy Erker-Lynch, executive director of the Missouri LGBTQ advocacy group PROMO, said in a statement that lawmakers were using bodies as political pawns.

That they would weaponize our states Human Rights Act, the very tool created to provide protections from discrimination for all Missourians, speaks to their lack of shame in using bodies as political pawns, she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Updated at 5 p.m.
A state court decision allowing Amherst to take over a former gas station in Eggerstville means the "zombie" property is close to coming back to life.

But the New York City billionaire who owns the site is so frustrated by the town's attempt to grab control that he said he's made a decision: Erie County is dead to him.

"We will make zero investment in Erie County. Thank you for burning another businessman," said John A. Catsimatidis, who owns dozens of Kwik Fill gas stations and Red Apple convenience stores in this area through his United Refining Co. "We will create zero new investments. We will create zero new jobs."

Catsimatidis said he has tried to negotiate in good faith but that the town hasn't cooperated. He said Amherst's anti-business attitude has soured him on any future development here.

However, town officials say they have waited far too long for United Refining to clean up the parcel at Niagara Falls Boulevard and Kenmore Avenue. They want to turn the prime intersection for the towns of Amherst and Tonawanda and the City of Buffalo into a gateway park.

And Amherst Supervisor Brian J. Kulpa dismissed Catsimatidis' complaints, pointing to a long list of developers that have announced major retail and housing projects in the town.

"Evidently the market's dried up and the world's on fire in Amherst," Kulpa said. "Or maybe it's just that your leaving a parcel languishing on the Amherst market is no longer suitable for a town that's serious about committing to redevelopment of our West Side."

Viewed as an eyesore

The site at 159 Niagara Falls Blvd. has been a source of annoyance for Amherst officials for nearly two decades. A Red Apple gas station and convenience store closed in the late 1990s. The store and gas pumps are gone, leaving behind a gravel and asphalt lot surrounded by concrete barriers where shopping carts sometimes collect.

In 2015, the Amherst Town Board explored acquiring the property through eminent domain but didn't take action.

Kulpa, who took office in 2018, has focused attention on Eggertsville and, like his predecessors, has viewed the United Refining property as an eyesore.

The company owned at least four other former gas stations in the area. Following reporting on the issue by The Buffalo News and prodding from Sen. Charles Schumer, United Refining last year vowed to spend at least $250,000 to clean up the properties in Buffalo, Lackawanna, Amherst and the Town of Tonawanda.

However, while United Refining retained ownership and development rights for the other properties, Amherst wanted to take control of the Niagara Falls Boulevard site.

Negotiations stalled over this point, and Amherst went to court to seize the property through eminent domain.

United Refining filed a challenge in the Appellate Division's Fourth Department, which heard the case in January.

"This was an attempt by URC to delay the inevitable," Town Attorney Stanley Sliwa said.

United Refining pushes back

The court issued its ruling Friday, knocking down the company's arguments and concluding Amherst has the right to take the property for a public use, Sliwa said.

The town now will resubmit its $81,000 offer for the parcel to United Refining, which has rejected that offer in the past.

Sliwa said, if this happens again, Amherst will proceed to State Supreme Court, where a judge would determine how much the property is worth.

Sliwa said United Refining has a high hurdle to appeal the Appellate Division's ruling.

Catsimatidis said the company is weighing its legal options, but he said the fight with Amherst has soured him on Buffalo Niagara.

He vowed not to open any gas stations or convenience stores here nor invest further in the area.

Asked if that promise applied only to Amherst, he asked a reporter what county Amherst is in. He then brought up a massive proposed tech investment in Queens that fell apart, in part over local objections.

"Is that what Amazon said about New York City? Well, that's what I'm saying about Erie County," Catsimatidis said. "Zero. How do you spell zero?"

Would he reconsider his existing operations in the area?

"You never know," he said, without elaborating.

He also asked for a refund on the real-estate taxes he has paid on the property in recent years.

"Go and vote for these people again. Make sure you vote for them," Catsimatidis said, sarcastically. Kulpa and the rest of the Amherst Town Board are Democrats, while Catsimatidis and his local consultant, Brian D. Rusk, are active Republicans.

Rusk said the billionaire business owner has given generously to charities across the state and in the Buffalo area, where he will be honored later this year by the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

He said Catsimatidis employs hundreds here, and his pledge could cost the region hundreds more potential new jobs, even a new gas station and food mart at this very corner.

"He does not bluff," Rusk said.

Amherst seeks best use

Kulpa said it's absurd to say Amherst is anti-business, citing various major developments in the works from Landmark Properties, the builder of student housing; WS Development, which plans to reshape the Northtown Plaza; and the group of investors who plan to overhaul the Boulevard Mall, among others.

In the end, the supervisor said, the town doesn't want to wait around any longer for United Refining to clean up the Niagara Falls Boulevard parcel.

It's better used if combined with a neighboring property  purchased by the town  and transformed into a passive park with a bus shelter, he said.

If the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority extends the Metro Rail out to the University at Buffalo North Campus, the subway could run under that corner.

"The town saw an opportunity to take an intersection that's been underutilized for years, put a public purpose on it and jump start a local economy," Kulpa said. "It's not so brazen."
Burst pipes, flooding and power shut offs prompted the evacuation of the residential Mark Twain Hotel Tuesday, sending officials scrambling to find potential accommodations for hundreds of people and shuttling busloads of tenants to warming centers.

Repairs at the downtown Mark Twain Hotel, with its 213 tenants, were completed by Tuesday evening. Residents, many who live with disabilities, were able to return after a final St. Louis Fire Department inspection, city and hotel officials said.

Frigid weather slammed the St. Louis region in recent days. Snowfall, combined with sub-zero temperatures, made roadways treacherous, as at least five Tuesday morning vehicle crashes were blamed on icy road conditions, according to Missouri Highway Patrol reports.

In Midtown, roughly 160 tenants at the Heritage House Apartments were displaced by damage from broken pipes and lack of heat, and have been relocated during repairs, said city spokesman Nick Dunne. The apartment owner could not be reached for comment.

Firefighters were called to the Mark Twain about 6 a.m. Tuesday. Pipes on the second floor had burst in the cold, and water leaked into the lobby, basement and elevator, said building manager Renea Coward. Electricity and water were turned off for safety, she said.

Its freezing out here, she said, while still inside the hotel and wearing gloves Tuesday morning. This is terrible. I wouldnt wish this on no one.

As the day wore on, it wasnt clear if the hotel would be fixed by nightfall  or where residents would stay, if they couldnt return to the Mark Twain.

Two hundred and thirteen people need somewhere to go, including myself, said Teon Cooper, a Mark Twain tenant who noted that many in the building live with disabilities, as well as financial limitations. Where are they going to go?

The same question was echoed by city officials and by volunteers who help with emergency shelters, including pop-up shelters run by a range of charitable groups. A Tuesday morning message from the St. Louis Department of Human Services to local advocacy groups asked for help with possible accommodations.

Im extremely grateful for all of the pop-up shelter organized by various groups, but as of last night, some of these were already at capacity, said Adam Pearson, the director of DHS, in a message to homeless service providers obtained by the Post-Dispatch. Im open to some additional ideas for next steps if the facilities issues cant be solved by sunset.

DHS did not respond to a phone message requesting comment.

In recent nights, many shelters in the city had already been at or near capacity, said Teka Childress, a volunteer for St. Louis Winter Outreach, a group dedicated to helping keep people who are homeless from dying during the winter.

Were pretty darn close (to capacity), and some are over, said Childress, describing the availability in emergency shelters, as of Monday night  before major broken-pipe problems added to the strain.

Citing local shelter closures in recent years, she lamented the long-term decline in available space over the last decade or so, which she said has led to a seemingly perennial scramble to protect vulnerable people during the winter months.

We arrive at this point almost every year, said Childress.

Wednesdays weather is expected to reach back above freezing, and hit a comparatively balmy high of 36 degrees. Thursday will reach a similar high of 35 degrees, according to the St. Louis forecast office for the National Weather Service, before temperatures slide back into the teens and single digits, later in the week.

The warmer temperatures could exacerbate the problem of pipes bursting, said St. Louis Fire Capt. Garon Mosby.

Its going to get worse, he said. That freeze-thaw, its going to rupture a lot of pipes.

Laurie Skrivan and Nassim Benchaabane of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
John A. Catsimatidis is a billionaire investor and radio talk show host in New York City who owns supermarkets, gas stations, convenience stores, an oil refinery and valuable real estate.

So why does he care so much about a quarter-acre piece of vacant land in Eggertsville? And why has he spent the last 18 months battling the Amherst town government over a parcel worth $81,000?

Catsimatidis says he's taking a stand on behalf of all property owners.

"Maybe I'm the only one that's willing to speak up," he said in a meeting this week with The Buffalo News editorial board.

Catsimatidis has taken Amherst to court to try to block the town's bid to take over the property  the site of a former gas station that closed 20 years ago  through eminent domain.

He lost, so he's making a final Hail Mary offer: He'll let the town build a park on the parcel, and he'll pay for a bus shelter and turn lane, but Catsimatidis would retain control of the property.

The town says this offer is too little, too late. Amherst Supervisor Brian J. Kulpa wants to turn the property  located where Amherst, Tonawanda and Buffalo meet  into a gateway park and transportation hub.

Kulpa said officials for years have tried to get Catsimatidis and his company to clear the eyesore property, without success.

"We asked him up front, my question to them was, 'Are you going to develop?' And we got nothing in response," Kulpa said. "So then we said, 'OK, we're going to do something now.' "

The site at 159 Niagara Falls Blvd., at Kenmore Avenue, has annoyed Amherst officials since a Red Apple gas station and convenience store closed there in the late 1990s.

The store and gas pumps were removed, leaving behind a gravel and asphalt lot surrounded by concrete barriers that draws in the occasional shopping cart.

Catsimatidis' United Refining Co. owned at least four other former "zombie" gas stations in the area. Following articles in The News and prodding from Sen. Charles Schumer, the company last year vowed to spend at least $250,000 to clean up the properties in Buffalo, Lackawanna, Amherst and the Town of Tonawanda.

However, while United Refining retained ownership and development rights for the other properties, Amherst wanted control of the Niagara Falls Boulevard site.

Negotiations stalled, and Amherst went to court to seize the property through eminent domain. United Refining filed a challenge in the Appellate Division's Fourth Department, which heard the case in January.

The town won, and Catsimatidis can't appeal the decision  "We're toast," he conceded. The case is back in State Supreme Court to determine the price Amherst will pay for the 0.22-acre property. The town has offered $81,000, the appraised value.

The town proposes building a passive park with a bus shelter and bus turning lane on 159 Niagara Falls Blvd. and a neighboring property, 143 Kenmore Ave., that the town bought in August 2018. Kulpa, who has focused attention on Eggertsville since taking office last year, envisions hosting a farmers' market on the site.

Catsimatidis said he had no idea the property was a problem for town officials until The News and Schumer raised the issue. He's now taken a personal interest in the property and vows to fix it up while rejecting any suggestion he sell the site.

"The Town of Amherst has 41 parks. They need 42?" Catsimatidis said.

Catsimatidis said he's tried for more than a year to set up a meeting with Kulpa, to no avail. Kulpa said he's been more than willing to meet with Catsimatidis and called him once on his cellphone but never heard back.

He said Catsimatidis could have reached out to him anytime during his visit to this area Tuesday, and he questioned Catsimatidis' motives.

Catsimatidis is a major Republican figure in New York City and his local representative, Brian D. Rusk, is the Amherst Republican chairman. Catsimatidis has urged Amherst residents to vote Kulpa and other Town Board members, currently all Democrats, out of office.

"Stop with the political games," Kulpa said.

Catsimatidis said the property means little to him from a business perspective but he has tried so hard to hold onto it because he believes the use of eminent domain is unfair.

He lashed out at the town this past summer after losing his court challenge, telling a News reporter he would never invest another cent in Erie County because of how he's been treated.

"It was quite upsetting. If they can use eminent domain against me, they can use it on anybody," he said.

Kulpa, for his part, said the town considers using eminent domain only in cases where owners have for years neglected a property that can serve a higher public purpose.

A judge could issue the final order on how much Catsimatidis must accept for the property by the end of the year. The town has started demolishing the building on 143 Kenmore and would start work on the park in the spring, Kulpa said.

Catsimatidis said he planned to formally offer to buy the property at 143 Kenmore from the town and to let the town build a park on the combined site.

But he and United Refining would hold onto the site, continue to pay property taxes on it and, down the road, possibly redevelop it.

Why not just sell the land to the town and move on?

"As a taxpayer, as an American citizen, when you're forced to do it against your will, it's wrong," Catsimatidis said.

Kulpa said he would bring the proposal to the Town Board, but he's skeptical about Catsimatidis' last-ditch offer. He said Catsimatidis had a chance to buy 143 Kenmore but never did.

He also said he doesn't want to build a park at the site only to see Catsimatidis tear it down after several years to make way for a gas station.

"I'm leery of giving more property to somebody who's been a bad actor," Kulpa said, "and building a five-year park."
United Refining Co. promises to fix up five former gas station properties it owns in Erie County that have drawn the ire of local and state officials.

John Catsimatidis, the chairman of the board, said Wednesday that United Refining started by cleaning up its former gas station in Riverside, a property the company plans to lease to a nearby church. The company over the next six months will perform similar maintenance at its other locations in Buffalo, Lackawanna, Amherst and in the Town of Tonawanda.

"United Refining wants to be a good neighbor throughout Western New York," Catsimatidis, a New York City-based billionaire, said in a statement.

The move comes 2 months after The Buffalo News reported on the concerns elected officials have about the condition of some of the United Refining properties.

United Refining has extensive holdings in Erie County, including a refinery on River Road in Tonawanda and 25 Kwik Fill gas stations.

Public records show that United Refining owns five vacant properties in Erie County that once operated as Red Apple or Kwik Fill gas stations. The stations closed between 1998 and 2009 and United Refining has removed their underground storage tanks.

The lots are covered in gravel or grass and four of the five are lined by concrete barriers.

Amherst Supervisor Brian J. Kulpa and Assemblyman Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, are among the officials frustrated by how long United Refining has held onto the properties and by how they look to people who live and work in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., last month held a news conference at a former Mobil and Sunoco in Lackawanna to blast the owner of that property as well as United Refining for their stewardship of the sites.

United Refining officials previously said they are willing to hold onto the properties for a long time until the right redevelopment or purchase offer comes along, and they confirmed they often retain the sites to keep them out of the hands of competitors.

Amherst officials were so frustrated that the Town Board in May voted to try to take over the property at the corner of Niagara Falls Boulevard and Kenmore Avenue through eminent domain.

In response to the criticism, United Refining said through the end of this year it would clean up the Amherst location and the other four lots. The company said it began this "beautification process" at 422 Ontario St., where it has arranged for trash removal, snow clearing and mowing.

United Refining said the Assemblies of Christian Churches, at 213 Ontario, would lease the property for July and August.

Pastor Juan Rivera said the church plans a tent revival at the site as well as a day of activities meant to appeal to children from the nearby Shaffer Village housing complex. Rivera said United Refining isn't charging rent in exchange for church members keeping up the property.

United Refining then will move to address the other four sites, laying down topsoil and grass and working with local officials on landscaping improvements and the placement of benches. However, the company said concrete barriers would stay in place to keep abandoned vehicles and trash off the properties.

Kulpa, the Amherst supervisor, said he is not fully satisfied. The town plans to buy a neighboring parcel that surrounds the United Refining site in Eggertsville, and envisions using both to create a place where buses can drop off and pick up passengers, and where riders can wait in comfort, along with a pocket park.

"We have a public need," Kulpa said, and the United Refining plan doesn't go far enough in meeting that need.

Kulpa said Amherst for now will continue to pursue eminent domain. He also said the company hadn't returned five phone calls from town officials since January, but on Wednesday the town attorney ended up talking to United Refining's general counsel and the company appears willing to open the site up for public use.

The company has objected to the use of eminent domain, and Catsimatidis said in an interview that it's a matter of protecting his rights as a business owner. He said the company pays all of its property taxes on the sites and is willing to turn them into parks.

"We're going to fight it to the Supreme Court, if necessary," Catsimatidis said, adding, "They better have a couple million dollars to spend to go to the Supreme Court."
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration is expected to soon announce plans to redesignate Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as a specially designated global terrorists, according to two people familiar with the White House decision and a U.S. official.

The move comes as the Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The group says it has attacked the ships in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The three people familiar with the decision were not authorized to comment and requested anonymity to discuss the matter ahead of the expected formal announcement. The administration is expected to make the announcement on Wednesday, the U.S. official said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delisted the Houthis as both a foreign terrorist organizations and as specially designated global terrorists in February 2021 as the administration sought to make it easier to get humanitarian aid into Yemen.

In its waning days, the Trump administration designated the Houthis a Foreign Terrorist Organization over the strong objections of human rights and humanitarian aid groups.

The foreign terrorist designation barred Americans and people and organizations subject to U.S. jurisdiction from providing material support to the Houthis, which the groups said would result in an even greater humanitarian catastrophe than what was already happening in Yemen.

Shortly after the Biden administration took office, Blinken removed the designations in a step that was roundly criticized by conservative lawmakers and others but was intended to keep much-needed food, medicine and other aid flowing to Yemen.

The specially designated global terrorists label to be reimposed on the Houthis does not include sanctions for providing material support and it does not come with travel bans that are also imposed with the FTO label. Thus, it may not pose a substantial impediment to providing aid to Yemeni civilians.

Meanwhile, a senior White House official said Tuesday that addressing the ongoing threat by Yemens Houthi rebels on commercial vessels in the Red Sea is an all hands on deck problem that the U.S. and allies must address together to minimize impact on the global economy.

How long this goes on and how bad it gets comes down not just to the decisions of the countries in the coalition that took strikes last week, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Iran-backed Houthi group has launched dozens of attacks since November on vessels in the Red Sea, a vital corridor for the worlds shipping traffic, in what they say is an effort to support Palestinians in the war with Israel. U.S. and British forces have responded by carrying out dozens of air and sea strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since Friday. The attacks by the Houthis have continued.

Cnn US carries out additional strikes against Houthis in Yemen

Linda Thomas Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said last week that 2,000 ships since November have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea. Houthi militants have threatened or taken hostage mariners from more than 20 countries.

The Red Sea attacks have already caused significant disruptions to global trade. Oil prices have edged higher in recent days, though Brent crude futures were down slightly in early trading Tuesday.

The U.S. launched a new strike against the Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third assault on the Iranian-backed group in recent days. The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. No one was injured.

Sullivan said it was critical that countries with influence on Tehran and other Middle East capitals make it clear that the entire world rejects wholesale the idea that a group like the Houthis can basically hijack the world.

President Joe Biden's senior adviser acknowledged that the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea as well as groups allied to Iran carrying out attacks in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen pose concerns that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate even as Israeli officials have indicated a shift in intensity in their military campaign.

We have to guard against and be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage, Sullivan said.

The comments from Sullivan came after Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said during an appearance at the Davos forum that the situation in the Middle East is a recipe for escalation everywhere. He said Qatar believes that ending the conflict in Gaza will stop the Houthis and militant groups from launching attacks elsewhere in the region.

Sullivan on Tuesday met with Al Thani as well as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, according to the White House.

Iran fired missiles late Monday at what it said were Israeli spy headquarters in an upscale neighborhood near the sprawling U.S. Consulate compound in Irbil, the seat of Iraqs northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and at targets linked to the extremist Islamic State group in northern Syria.

Iraq on Tuesday called the attacks, which killed several civilians, a blatant violation of Iraqs sovereignty and recalled its ambassador from Tehran.

How Houthi attacks crimp global trade Why are Houthis attacking ships? Why is the Red Sea important? How are Houthi attacks affecting trade? What does it mean for oil prices? How is the world responding?
I am sad that Hamas killed 1,200 innocent Israelis and kidnapped about 240 innocent people. But I am even more sad that the Israeli military and leadership have since killed more than 24,000 Palestinians with close to 10,000 of those being children. And more than 59,000 Palestinians have been wounded.

Israel is being aided by U.S. munitions, weapons and technology that American citizens are paying for. Our tax dollars are helping to pay for this death and destruction. Almost 2 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes due to the bombing and fighting. Much of their country has been turned into rubble.

Maybe the U.S. cannot tell Israel what to do, but we can definitely stop funding this bloodshed. We can decide there will be no more money for weapons and munitions.

It should stop right now  just stop funding the war that has crushed so many innocent people. When we realize our behavior is wrong, causing so much suffering and is immoral, the first thing we have to do is stop.

Bill Miller

St. Louis
EQS-Ad-hoc: BP p.l.c. / Key word(s): Personnel

BP p.l.c.: Murray Auchincloss appointed bp chief executive officer



17-Jan-2024 / 08:00 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





press release

17 January 2024

Murray Auchincloss appointed bp chief executive officer

bp announced today that the bp board has appointed Murray Auchincloss as bp chief executive officer with immediate effect.Murray, who has been interim CEO since September 2023, will continue as a member of the bp board.

His appointment has been made following a robust and competitive search process, carried out by the board over the past four months with support from international search advisers. This included detailed consideration of a range of candidates,including external to bp.

Helge Lund, chair of bp said:Since September, bps board has undertaken a thorough and highly competitive process to identify bps next CEO, considering a number of high-calibre candidates in detail. The board is in complete agreement that Murray was the outstanding candidate and is the right leader for bp.

Many already know Murray well, and few know bp better than he does. His assured leadership, focus on performance and delivery, and deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the energy transition will serve bp well as we continue our disciplined transformation to an integrated energy company.

Murray Auchincloss said: Its an honour to lead bp  this is a great company with great people. Our strategy  from international oil company to integrated energy company, or IOC to IEC  does not change. Im convinced about the significant value we can create.

Now, more than ever, our focus must remain on delivery  operating safely and efficiently, executing with discipline, and always focusing on returns. This is how we will deliver real benefits for our customers and other stakeholders and continue to grow long-term value for bps shareholders.

The search process for the new CEO was led by a committee of the bp board, headed by Helge Lund together with three other non-executive directors. The appointment decision was approved by the full bp board, excepting Murray Auchincloss.

Notes:

Before becoming interim chief executive officer in September 2023, Murray had been bps chief financial officer since July 2020, at which time he also joined bps board. He had previously served as CFO, deputy CFO and head of business development for bpsUpstreamsegment. From 2010-2013 Murray was head of bps group chief executives office, working directly with Bob Dudley.

Murray, 53, joined Amoco Canada in 1992. Following financial andplanning roles in Canada and the US, his career included periods as commercial director for bps Onshore North America business and CFO for bps NorthSea business. He has adegree in finance from the University of Calgary and is a Chartered Financial Analyst and is also a member of the Aker BP board.

Murray Auchinclosss remuneration arrangements will include:

Annual salary of 1.45 million.

Provisions relating to bonus opportunity, bonus deferral and performance shares are all in accordance with BPs 2023 remuneration policy as approved by shareholders.

A cash allowance in lieu of pension equal to 20 per cent of base salary, in accordance with BPs remuneration policy and aligned with the majority of the wider UK workforce.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 of 16 April 2014 (MAR) as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

Further information:

bp press office, London: bppress@bp.com, 07831 095541.

Cautionary statement:

In order to utilize the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the PSLRA), bp is providing the following cautionary statement. This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements  that is, statements related to future, not past events and circumstances  which may relate to one or more of the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of bp and certain of the plans and objectives of bp with respect to these items. These statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words such as will, expects, is expected to, aims, should, may, objective, is likely to, intends, believes, anticipates, plans, we see or similar expressions. Actual results may differ from those expressed in such statements, depending on a variety of factors including the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F under Risk factors and in any of our more recent public reports.

Our most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F and other period filings are available on our website at www.bp.com, or can be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330 or on its website at www.sec.gov.
Review: Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Studio HD Plus

If you are in the business of recording and streaming conferences, the Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Studio may be an indispensable tool.

Page 1

In the job of a streaming media producer, you generally have two kinds of shoots: single-camera and multi-camera. In general, the client will want the footage recorded for a video to be delivered on demand, or to save a higher-quality record of what was live streamed. While most cameras that can internally live stream, some like the Canon XF705, cannot record and stream at the same time. For multi-camera shoots where you have a switcher, along with the individual camera footage, you can often reduce your editing time by recording the program output of the switcher. The HyperDeck Studio HD Plus is a good tool for accomplishing these tasks, whether you are shooting in a studio or in a fixed location in a venue. This unit would be difficult to use on location in many instances, even though it has a 12v DC input as well as AC power.

The unit itself (Figure 1, below) is not terribly large, about the size of a large shell U-Matic video tape. The controls are pretty straightforward to anyone familiar with traditional record, play, stop, rewind, and fast-forward controls. In addition, there is a button for toggling between the HDMI and SDI inputs.

Figure 1. The Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Studio HD Plus front panel

Setup and Settings

For setting up the device, there are menu and set buttons that are assisted by a jog shuttle knob at the far right of the front panel that helps move through the various menu items on the 2" video monitor. The monitor displays the video being input or played back, along with VU meters for the audio. There is a 1/4" headphone jack for monitoring audio. If you dont have headphones, you can push and hold the speaker button on the upper left to activate a small mono speaker, so you can verify you are getting sound. As soon as you let go, it shuts off.

The most important thing that you will do in the menu is set the codec. You have a choice of three: H.264, Pro Res, and DNxHD (Avid). There are four quality settings for H.264, but you cant do 4K recording. If you want to output a 4K H.264 file you must record it first in Pro Res or DNxHD then have it encoded as 4K through another program. The next most important thing would be setting the correct number of audio channels.

Once youve set all of the recording parameters, to start recording, all you need to do is hit the Record button. The unit itself detects the incoming resolution, so that is pretty simple. I used the HyperDeck hooked up to the output of a Blackmagic Teranex Express to up-res standard definition to HD, and it was fairly simple. The HyperDeck Studio HD Plus detects the larger resolution, then adjusts the codec bitrate to match. When using this unit with the Teranex Express to up-res, you need to make sure you use the Teranex settings. Otherwise you get unstable video, no video, or quarter-screen output. If youre outputting video over 1080p resolution, these settings are imperative. First, make sure the output is set to 12G, not 12G Quad Split, which divides the image between the two outputs and loop-outs. Next, set the reference to External, even if you dont have external sync being input to the connector. This drove me crazy for over a year until I finally got the correct advice from their tech support.

Digital Transfers

I have been using the HyperDeck Studio HD Plus in my transfer system to digitize old videotapes, and so far it has worked flawlessly. Integrated with the Teranex Express (Figure 2, below)or presumably other standards convertersthe Hyperdeck can definitely deliver a boost for your business.??

Figure 2. My transfer setup with the HyperDeck Studio Plus (top) and Teranex Express (bottom)

Since the HyperDeck Studio HD Plus has only digital HDMI and SDI inputs, if you want to use an analog source, you will need an analog-to-digital converter. Blackmagic Design makes a number of Mini Converters; one I find useful is the Analog-to-SDI converter. There are several others out there from AJA, and other brands of varying quality.

Field Use

For field use, the HyperDeck has a 12v, 4-pin XLR power input. If I were going to use it in the field, somewhere without AC power, Id probably use the adapter for my old Anton/Bauer camera batteries and adapt it to plug into the 12v plug. If you need a field recorder designed for field use, I recommend Blackmagic Designs Video Assist monitor.

Recording Media Options

When working with the HyperDeck you have a lot of flexibility for recording media. There are two SDXC slots in front and a USB-C port on the rear panel (Figure 3, below).

Figure 3. HyperDeck Studio HD Plus rear panel

For H.264 recording, pretty much any V30 SDXC Card will work. For UHD ProRes or DNxHD recording, you will need V90 cards. I used OWC Atlas 256GB cards to record ProRes of a wedding video I transferred from Umatic to 4K Pro Res for a client. I also liked using the USB-C port with a portable SSD.

I connected the LaCie Rugged 500GB and their 2 TB Portable SSD for longer recording jobs. The HyperDeck Studio is great for recording long jobs in the field, and not having to worry about swapping cards as they fill up. For standard definition transfers of H.264, the 2TB cards will record over 360 hours! The only issue I had with these LaCie drives was that the 2TB drive liked to be formatted on a Mac as Ex-FAT to be seen by the HyperDeck.

What's Not to Like?

Is there anything not to like about this device? I only found one thing that bothered me: There is no power switch. Once you plug in the HyperDeck Studio, its on. If you want to turn it off, you must unplug it, which depending on your setup, can be a real hassle. Im not sure how much Blackmagic saved in manufacturing costs for this, but I cant believe it was worth it.

Overall I found the HyperDeck Studio simple to setup and use. The quality of the recorded video is very good. My current H.264 encoding setup uses a Blackmagic Design H.264 Pro Recorder going into an older HP Z800 workstation. The HyperDeck Studio HD Plus takes up a tenth of the space.

I can easily see integrating it into my transfer setup and using it for recording the multiple conferences I shoot during the year. Being able to record the mix of multiple cameras and PowerPoint presentations off the switcher to the HyperDeck Studio HD Plus, with a hard drive attached to record for the whole day, it will be a lot better than juggling multiple SD cards.

If you are in the business of recording and streaming conferences, the Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Studio may be an indispensable tool.

Page 1
Why the Via LA Streaming Codec Pool Merger Matters

Via Licensing shook the MPEG licensing world in May 2023 when it acquired MPEG LA to form the Via LA juggernaut. And how is that deal shaking out now, six months on, as licensors and patent holders alike survey the landscape? Robert J.L. Moore, Patent Attorney, Moore IP Solutions discusses the implications with Mattia Fogliacco, President, Sisvel Group, in this clip from November 2023s Streaming Media Connect.

Moore asks Fogliacco about the Via Lincensing and MPEG LA merging. Describe who the players are here, the importance of this merger, and how is this likely to affect codec licensing in the future?

Fogliacco says that both entities have been the most important patent pool operators, with Via Licensing controlled by Dolby and MPEG by a number of companies, including General Electric, and that the licensing of standard essential patents is normal in a maturing market. I think it is good news, because more efficiency will be provided to the market through this new vehicle, he says. I think it helps streamline some of the licensing operations that both companies were having. I think will provide an increase [of] efficiency and effectiveness.

He notes that this merger will also make for tougher competition in the codec space but that this competition will be good for licensees and licensors, who will be pushed toward being more creative and ambitious by addressing issues in the market. He says that Sisvel is unique in having a technical domain team of experts who have worked to validate the assumption that there would be VP9 patents held by companies outside of Google and The Alliance for Open Media. How did we do that? he says. Back at the time, our specifications for everyone were not even available. There was only pseudocode, and our team mapped the patterns of these players to the pseudocode, validating what later would be also validated through a mapping to the specification. Those validations were then confirmed by third-party experts. Now it's a level of domain expertise that allows us to engage in a different fashion in technical discussions and in licensing discussions. I'm not entirely sure how other pool operators are doing [this] because I think if you want to be truly on top of the subject, you need this technical expertise, and I'm super happy that this is present for video encoding and other domains in Sisvel. That is something that still differentiates us from Via LA.

Watch full sessions from Streaming Media Connect November 2023. We'll be back in person for Streaming Media NYC on May 20-22, 2024. More details here.

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BARCELONA, SPAIN / ACCESSWIRE / January 15, 2024 / APRISCO ENERGY INDUSTRIES S.L., a Spain-based company dedicated to a fair and sustainable energy transition, has joined forces with BLUEGRACE ENERGY BOLIVIA SRL and MAXIMANCE 2030 LTD. This groundbreaking initiative is poised to significantly contribute to sustainable development goals set for 2030.

In a move to enhance those tools used to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, a significant collaboration has been announced by Julio Jose Montenegro, the CEO of BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB). This partnership, involving APRISCO ENERGY INDUSTRIES S.L., MAXIMANCE 2030 LTD, and BGEB, focuses on the issuance of voluntary carbon credits, which are crucial for CO2 capture and the fight against climate change effects. In December 2023, BlueGrace Energy Bolivia, in partnership with MAXIMANCE 2030 LTD, secured approval for ISIN UK.BG.MAX 785.985257. This authorization facilitates the support of the Landmark Forest Conservation Project through equities, with a tenure of 10 years. This cooperative effort is in line with several global environmental commitments. These include the Escaz Agreement, the Paris Agreement, and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean's (ECLAC) agreement on climate change and fair transition, as confirmed at the COP28 in Dubai at the end of 2023. The agreement underscores the importance of sustainable forest practices and supports countries implementing them through international financial incentives. APRISCO ENERGY INDUSTRIES S.L., in collaboration with key strategic partners like Catalana de Biogas Iberica (supported by Sinia Renovables of Banco Sabadell Group), Catalana de Renovables alongside the Sorigue Group, and the "TESLA GROUP" from the Czech Republic, is embarking on a series of initiatives to enhance renewable energy development. These initiatives include: Prioritizing investments in electricity generation from a variety of renewable sources, tailored to the specific potential and opportunities of each country. Stimulating the growth of the renewable energy sector and the broader productive sector. This includes promoting the use of sustainable hydrogen for decarbonization in transportation and industry, enhancing competitiveness, and supporting export activities. Enhancing energy efficiency across various sectors. Advancing the development and implementation of energy storage solutions. Organizing campaigns and discussions to raise awareness about the social, environmental, and economic implications of different energy transition scenarios. Encouraging the recognition and appropriate commercial treatment of biodiversity credits, highlighting their importance in environmental preservation. Providing financial assistance for the restoration and recovery of ecosystems and natural biomes. This recognizes the vital role of protected forest areas, such as "Gran Chaco - Bolivia," in CO2 capture and climate change mitigation. Acknowledging the significant contribution of BLUEGRACE ENERGY BOLIVIA SRL's protected forest capital in "Gran Chaco - Bolivia." This area is a key biome on the continent, playing a crucial role in CO2 sequestration and helping to counteract climate change effects.

The cooperative agreement aims to tackle climate change by focusing on green energy and energy transition, aligning with REDD+ tools for combating deforestation and enhancing forest conservation and carbon reserves. This strategy, reflecting Bluegrace's commitment, supports the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.

BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB) exemplifies corporate responsibility in environmental sustainability, aligning with over 90% of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This marks a significant step in BGEB's global market expansion and investment in impactful projects.

Mr. Montenegro indicated that BGEB's dedication to sustainability is evident in its commitment to conserving 20.5 million acres of the Amazon Rainforest and aligning with the UN's Global Compact. Utilizing advanced technology for carbon credit quantification, this initiative significantly contributes to global climate goals.

The global carbon credits market, expected to reach $100 billion by 2030, highlights the importance of BGEB's project. This initiative, crucial for limiting global warming, represents a synergy of financial investment and environmental action, positioning BGEB as a leader in sustainable innovation.

BGEB's partnerships extend beyond environmental goals, forming strategic alliances with influential entities such as the Capital Market Association (ICMA), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the United Nations Global Compact. These collaborations are focused on empowering indigenous and impoverished communities through comprehensive social initiatives and sustainability, guided towards universally accepted principles in human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. By enhancing access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, BGEB is committed to fostering community development alongside its environmental efforts. This integrated approach, which marries environmental conservation with the transition to clean energy and community empowerment, establishes BGEB as a frontrunner in both ecological preservation and clean energy innovation within Bolivia which underscore the ongoing importance of the partnership as it strives towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral future, serving as a compelling example of what collective action and innovation can accomplish.

BGEB's journey inspires us all to take action, as together, we can address climate change and protect our planet for future generations.

About BlueGrace Energy Bolivia:

BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), a global consortium of experts in diverse areas, is committed to advancing the transition to a net-zero future in response to climate change challenges. Boasting decades of experience, our team is pioneering 21st-century energy transition projects. Grounded in professional expertise and unwavering integrity, we aim to create genuine value for business and society Learn more at https://bluegracebolivia.com/.

For further information, please contact:

JULIO JOSE MONTENEGRO

[email protected]

+1 (305) 972-6173 (Miami - EE.UU.)

NELSON PINEDA MARTINEZ

[email protected]

+591 714-72257 (Bolivia)

For all media inquiries, please contact:

Ivan Linde

[email protected]

+1 (786) 273-7068 (Miami - EE.UU.)

Disclaimer

This announcement is solely for informational use and should not be viewed as financial, legal, or investment guidance. It includes projections and statements that aren't based on past events. Any statement in this release that isn't a historical fact is a projection. Readers should be aware that the basis for these projections might be incorrect and are advised not to rely solely on them. Any projections in this announcement come with a warning. They are current as of the release date, and the Company has no plans to update them, except as mandated by securities regulations.

SOURCE: BlueGrace Energy Bolivia Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, B.C., January 17, 2024 - Global Education Communities Corp ("GECC" or the "Company") (TSX: GEC, OTCQX International: GECSF) is pleased to report that in the past 45 days, the Company and its various subsidiaries have received an aggregate of $99.125 million in private equity investments, a new mortgage and a mortgage-refinancing, a structured loan and the approval of a Federal guaranteed low-interest loan.

"We are pleased to end 2023 and start the new year with nearly $100 million in various types of investments and financing," commented Toby Chu, President and CEO of GECC. "We feel that the student housing market is finally receiving some recognition from the investment and commercial banking communities. The various levels of governments are also recognizing the significant presence of the student communities across Canada and establishing new policies to address student-housing needs."

About GECC:

GECC is one of Canada's largest education and student housing investment companies focused on the domestic and global education market since 1994. GECC operates business and language colleges, student-centric rental apartments, recruitment centres and corporate offices at 41 locations in Canada and abroad. Its education subsidiaries include Sprott Shaw College Corp. (established in 1903), Sprott Shaw Language College, Vancouver International College Career Campus and CIBT School of Business & Technology Corp. GECC offers over 150 educational programs in healthcare, business management, e-commerce, cyber-security, hotel management, emergency paramedic, and language training through these schools. In fiscal 2023, GECC serviced over 14,277 domestic and international students through its educational, rental housing and recruitment subsidiaries.

GECC owns Global Education City Holdings Inc. ("GECH"), an investment holding and development Company focused on education-related real estate such as student-centric rental apartments and education super-centres. In fiscal 2023, GECH operated fifteen properties under the GEC brand in Metro Vancouver and provided accommodation services to 92 partner schools serving 3,200 students from 71 countries. The total portfolio and development budget under the GEC brand exceeds $1.2 billion.

GECC also owns Global Education Alliance Inc. ("GEA") and Irix Design Group Inc. ("IRIX"). GEA recruits international students for elite kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities in North America. Irix is a leading design and advertising company based in Vancouver, Canada. Visit us online and watch our corporate video at www.GEChq.com.

For more information, contact:

Toby Chu

Chairman, President & CEO

Global Education Communities Corp.

Investor Relations Contact: 1-604-871-9909 extension 319 or | Email: [email protected]

View the original press release on accesswire.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 16, 2024 / Gold Mountain Mining Corp. ("Gold Mountain" or the "Company") (TSX:GMTN)(OTCQB: GMTNF)(FRA:5XFA) announces that, further to its January 10th news release regarding demands for payment pursuant to its Elk Gold Mine project, it has been in discussions with its creditors and is working on finding a solution to the situation.

The Company has also accepted the resignation of Mr. Stephen Wilkinson from the Company's Board of Directors.

The Company wishes to thank Mr. Wilkinson for his services and contributions to the Company.

About Gold Mountain Mining

Gold Mountain is a British Columbia based gold and silver exploration and development

company focused on the Elk Gold Project, a producing mine located 57 KM from Merritt in South Central British Columbia. Additional information is available at www.sedarplus.ca or on the Company's new website at www.gold-mountain.ca.

For further information, please contact:

Gold Mountain Mining Corp.

Phone: 778.262.0933

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.gold-mountain.ca

Twitter: www.twitter.com/goldmtnmine

SOURCE: Gold Mountain Mining Corp

View the original press release on accesswire.com
In partnership with the Ontario government through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), Li-Metal is collaborating with Lyten on the development of specialty lithium alloy ingots to address the demand for next-generation lithium metal anodes

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Li-Metal Corp. (CSE:LIM)(OTCQB: LIMFF)(FSE:5ZO) ("Li-Metal" or the "Company"), a developer of lithium metal anode and lithium metal production technologies, today provided additional information on its project to develop next-generation battery materials critical to the shift to electrification, with support from the Ontario government through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN).

"This exciting new partnership between Li-Metal and Lyten, made possible by funding from OVIN, represents another link in the province's growing end-to-end auto and EV battery supply chain," said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. "Li-Metal's new battery material production technology will help ensure the continued production of the latest lithium EV batteries and components in Ontario."

Earlier this year, Li-Metal announced the receipt of CAD$930,826 in support from the Ontario government (see news release dated June 6, 2023) through the OVIN R&D Partnership Fund. Combined with an industry contribution from Lyten, an advanced materials company, this funding supports Li-Metal's ability to further advance and commercialize its lithium metal technology.

"We are enthusiastic to partner with Li-Metal to jointly advance the development of sustainable lithium metal production capacity and specialty ingots to support the commercialization of next-generation lithium sulfur battery technology," said Celina Mikolajczak, Chief Battery Technology Officer of Lyten. "We have been impressed with Li-Metal's innovative, vertically integrated approach to the production of next-generation battery materials and look forward to continued collaboration, and to using Li-Metal's ingots to establish a North American supply chain for next-generation batteries."

Leveraging a total project value of $2,820,684, Li-Metal aims to scale up its production and refining capabilities for battery-grade lithium metal, building on its recently announced production of lithium metal ingots using reprocessing technology (see news release dated November 8, 2023). In addition, the Company will use the funds to advance the piloting of new lithium metal products, such as specialty lithium alloy ingots for next-generation batteries. Li-Metal has completed approximately 25% of the project, which it aims to conclude in 2025.

"As we charge forward to an electrified future, it's crucial to strengthen our province's battery production capabilities," said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN. "This innovative lithium metal production technology will greatly increase our province's momentum in building a resilient battery supply chain and proves our capacity to foster homegrown, forward-thinking innovators. Together, we are making Ontario the world's destination for end-to-end electric vehicle production and commercialization."

"Li-Metal is excited to be partnering with Lyten and OVIN on this project and we are grateful for their support as we continue to innovate and help pave the way for an improved and more sustainable next-generation battery supply chain in North America," said Srini Godavarthy, CEO of Li-Metal. "Li-Metal will use this non-dilutive funding to continue scaling up our metal business to further expand upon our competitive edge in the marketplace as a vertically integrated domestic anode technology enterprise and supplier."

As the shift to electrification progresses in Ontario and around the world, Li-Metal is pioneering the development of a patented carbonate-to-metal (C2M) technology, which is a sustainable and cost-effective modular technology that produces lithium metal directly from lithium carbonate. The ability to produce lithium metal is a key differentiator for the Company as a battery anode supplier as it further enables the growth of its anode business by securing a reliable feedstock. Li-Metal's C2M technology is integral to advancing next-generation lithium batteries and it is expected to play an increasingly important role in the development of the North American battery supply chain. Importantly, it addresses the bottleneck for lithium metal production capacity, given that demand is expected to increase to more than 40,000 tonnes by 2030 compared to less than 600 tonnes of capacity planned, according to McKinsey.

Disclaimer

The statements made in this news release are the views of Li-Metal and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Ontario, OVIN or OCI.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Srini Godavarthy

Chief Executive Officer

About OVIN

The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is an initiative of the Government of Ontario, led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), designed to reinforce Ontario's position as a North American leader in advanced automotive technology and smart mobility solutions such as connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles and electric and low-carbon vehicle technologies. Through resources such as research and development (R&D) support, talent and skills development, technology acceleration, business and technical supports, and demonstration grounds, OVIN provides a competitive advantage to Ontario-made automotive and mobility technology companies.

About Li-Metal Corp.

Li-Metal is a Canadian-based vertically integrated battery materials company and innovator commercializing technologies to enable next-generation batteries for electric vehicles and other applications. We believe our patented lithium metal technology, next-generation battery anode technology and production methods are significantly more sustainable than existing solutions and offer lighter, more energy-dense and safer batteries. Li-Metal's battery materials support battery developers' ability to power more cost-effective electric vehicles that go farther and unlock the future of transportation. For more information, visit: www.li-metal.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the Company. Any such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements about, among other things, the Company's strategic plans are forward-looking information. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the development of the business of the Company will be completed as described above. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by applicable law.

Li-Metal Investor Contact:

Salisha Ilyas

[email protected]

Tel: +1 647 494 4887

Li-Metal Media Contact:

Harry Nicholas

[email protected]

SOURCE: Li-Metal Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Aflac changes lives, sometimes in unexpected ways.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / Aflac Incorporated

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

Has this ever happened to you? When people know you work for a certain company, sometimes they'll tell you how much it means to them - or to someone they know - and how it changes lives.

It happened to Ashley Dusenbury, senior manager, Corporate Communications at Aflac, in November. As she shared information about Corporate Communications with new hires at a new employee orientation, she noticed someone who was especially attentive during the corporate social responsibility portion of the presentation - and that he looked familiar. She knew that she knew him.

As the orientation wrapped up, the man, Brian Teague approached Ashley and said, "I think you know my son, Daniel! I work for Aflac now."

"Within seconds of my arrival, I had noticed Brian was among the group of new hires," said Ashley. "I had never met Brian in person, but felt I knew him because of a story I had written about his son in August, highlighting Daniel's journey with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and his wish to become an astronaut.

"Aflac had teamed up with Make-A-Wish South Carolina and the South Carolina State Museum to help make Daniel's wish come true."

During a surprise celebration at the museum, Daniel and his family learned they would be heading to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The event included a taped, personal message by Gen. Charles "Charlie" Duke - a retired astronaut who walked the surface of the moon during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972 - and a gift of luggage just the right size for a little boy.

Taking off for Florida

Daniel and his family packed that luggage and traveled to Kennedy Space Center this past August - the final component of his dream come true.

"Daniel is in remission and has a lot more energy now that his treatment is done," said Brian. "And residual chemotherapy side effects, such as nightmares, are no longer an issue."

With Daniel's energy level returning to pre-treatment levels, he and his brother, 4-year-old Austin, thoroughly enjoyed their space center adventure.

Making a life-changing career decision

As a result of the experience, Brian and his wife, Brannon, researched Aflac and its commitment to children with cancer and blood disorders. They liked what they learned and were so impressed with the role Aflac played in making Daniel's wish come true that Brian looked into full-time employment opportunities here. As he explored Aflac's advantages, he was convinced it was the company for him.

"I wanted to work for a company that genuinely cares about others and communities," said Brian. "I wanted to work at Aflac because of the outpouring of generosity and kindness for Daniel."

He applied for employment, and on Sept. 25, he was hired as a remote Aflac Group application developer.

Helping others prepare for what life may bring

"Aflac's impact on my son's life was very profound for me," said Brian. "It inspired me to say thank you to Aflac in my own way. When trying to think of a way to do this, I knew that I could be an asset for Aflac based on my career experience in insurance and programming."

Seeing Ashley at NEO confirmed those feelings

"Now that I'm working for Aflac, I am excited that I help deliver our promise," said Brian. "We help provide our policyholders with the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are better prepared for whatever life may bring and recognize that, especially during a health event, today is what matters most. Thank you to everyone at Aflac for letting me be part of something amazing!"

Get to know Aflac and our philanthropic activities at Aflac.com/About-Aflac.

The Teague Family (from left to right: Brannon, Brian, Austin and Daniel) traveled to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of a collaboration between Make-A-Wish South Carolina and Aflac. After the family's trip, Brian decided to make a life-changing career move to work with Aflac.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Aflac Incorporated on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Aflac Incorporated

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/aflac-incorporated

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Aflac Incorporated

View the original press release on accesswire.com
TRENTON, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / The New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association (NJPCSA) today applauded Governor Phil Murphy for signing historic legislation, A4496/S3247, which establishes the Public Charter and Renaissance School Facilities Loan Program in the Economic Development Authority (EDA) for public charter and renaissance schools in Schools Development Authority (SDA) districts. The bill is the first-ever funding framework for New Jersey's public charter schools since their inception 26 years ago, and will allow schools located in SDA districts to make critical upgrades to charter school facilities, start new charter school construction projects, or perform major renovation and rehabilitation projects.

"With Governor Murphy's action today, New Jersey is taking a monumental step toward equity for public charter schools who will finally have a state funding solution for much-needed projects to replace broken boilers and air conditioning systems, fix leaky roofs, repair classrooms that have flooded, and create space in century-old buildings in our most under resourced communities," said Harry Lee, President and CEO of NJPCSA. "Today's bill signing is truly a watershed moment for the New Jersey public charter school community and could not have been achieved without the support of our legislative champions. As the 221st Legislative Session begins, we will continue to work with the Legislature and Governor to make sure that public charter school students are fairly funded and have access to safe, clean, modern buildings so that they can reach their fullest potential."

New Jersey was previously a national outlier without a dedicated mechanism for funding public charter schools' facility improvement and building construction needs. The new EDA low-interest revolving loan program will allow public charter schools in SDA districts to fund new construction, critical facility upgrades, and major renovation and rehabilitation projects.

"As part of our renewed commitment to public school facilities, I'm pleased our new law includes a low-cost, statewide loan program for charter and renaissance school capital needs," said Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex). "After increasing school aid to a record level in last year's state budget, we want to help all districts with effective, efficient strategies and resources for modernizing and constructing campuses for our state's kids."

"All students deserve to learn in a modern facility with access to tools that help them learn and grow to their fullest. This measure marks a significant and necessary change to the way the state helps our districts make essential improvements to their schools, and build new ones. I am pleased that the collaborative engagement of so many individuals and stakeholders resulted in a law that will benefit children throughout the state and I am grateful to the Governor for his support," said Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden, Burlington).

NJPCSA, on behalf of the 60,000 students in public charter schools, offers their heartfelt thanks to the following prime sponsors of bill A4496/S3247 for their leadership in advancing educational equity for all students: Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, Assembly Education Chairwoman Pamela Lampitt, Assemblymen Rob Karabinchak and Benjie Wimberly, and Senators Andrew Zwicker and Linda Greenstein.

Contact Information

Will Roddy

Director of Communications

[email protected]

7326644878

Related Files

A4496 Bill Signing Press Release.pdf

SOURCE: New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association

View the original press release on newswire.com.
UTILITY has received a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of April 24, 2024

FDA granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation for PIVYA in 2018, which provides an additional 5 years of data exclusivity upon approval

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / January 17, 2024 / UTILITY therapeutics Ltd., a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of two European-approved antibiotics for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the U.S., today announced a private financing led by the AMR Action Fund. In addition, UTILITY announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its New Drug Application (NDA) for PIVYA (pivmecillinam) for the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs (uUTI).

The FDA granted Priority Review of the NDA with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of April 24, 2024.

Pivmecillinam is a European-approved, oral prodrug of mecillinam. Pivmecillinam has a unique mechanism of action and targets penicillin binding protein-2 (PBP-2) in the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria. UTILITY has received the FDA's qualified infectious disease product (QIDP) designation for pivmecillinam for the treatment of uUTI. The FDA's QIDP designation is for antibacterial and antifungal drug candidates intended to treat serious or life-threatening infections, and it provides an additional five years of market exclusivity.

"The number of safe, effective antibiotics that clinicians have at their disposal continues to dwindle in the face of rising rates of antimicrobial resistance," said AMR Action Fund CEO Henry Skinner, PhD. "Bringing pivmecillinam to the U.S. will give clinicians an important tool to help patients suffering from urinary tract infections and support efforts to enhance global access to this drug."

"We are grateful to the AMR Action Fund for its leadership and support to bring this much-needed antibiotic to the US market for uUTI," said Tom Hadley, President and CEO of UTILITY therapeutics. "We believe that PIVYA can be utilized as a first-line therapy where many of the current therapeutic options are limited due to efficacy, safety, and/or rising rates of resistance. Given there has not been a new antibiotic approved in the U.S. for the treatment of uUTI in over 20 years, the priority review by the FDA for PIVYA is an important step to providing a new option to physicians and patients as antimicrobial resistance continues to rise."

"This unique mechanism leads to favorable stability against beta-lactamase hydrolysis compared to other penicillins. In more than 30 million courses of treatment administered across Europe, oral pivmecillinam has demonstrated strong clinical cure rates with no serious adverse events observed, while maintaining a low resistance rate of approximately 5%," said Professor Morten Sommer, co-founder of UTILITY.

About UTILITY therapeutics Ltd.

UTILITY has exclusive U.S. commercial rights to two European-approved antibiotics, pivmecillinam and mecillinam, for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI). Pivmecillinam is an oral prodrug of mecillinam that is being developed for uncomplicated UTI (uUTI), and it has a unique mechanism of action for infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. Mecillinam, an intravenous (IV) formulation, is being developed as a first-line therapy for complicated UTI (cUTI) in the hospital setting.

UTILITY has received the FDA's qualified infectious disease product (QIDP) designation for pivmecillinam for the treatment of uUTI, and IV mecillinam followed by oral pivmecillinam as step-down, carbapenem-sparing therapy for cUTI. This therapeutic regimen allows patients to complete their treatment outside of hospital and reduces the economic burden of cUTI to both patients and payers. The FDA's QIDP designation is for antibacterial and antifungal drug candidates intended to treat serious or life-threatening infections, and provides an additional five years of market exclusivity and potentially includes Priority Review.

For additional information, please visit www.utilitytherapeutics.com.

Contact

Tom Hadley

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1 (973) 224-7272

[email protected]

SOURCE: Utility therapeutics Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
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Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today announced the election of Roy Swan to its Board of Directors effective February 19, 2024. Swan is an executive with more than 30-years of experience in law, banking, corporate finance, public policy and investment management. Currently, Mr. Swan is the director of Mission Investments at the Ford Foundation, where he leads a team making $1 billion in impact investments over a 10-year period.

Roy Swans experience in financial services and his work overseeing mission and community development investments established him as a major player in impact investing, said Lance Drummond, Chair-Elect of Freddie Macs Board of Directors. His background and three decades of experience in these and other areas make him uniquely qualified for this role, and we look forward to his contributions to Freddie Macs Board.

Mr. Swan has served in his current role as head of Mission Investments for the Ford Foundation since 2018. Prior to Ford, he held various positions at Morgan Stanley from 2008 to 2018, including President and Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Stanley Trust and Co-Head, Global Sustainable Finance. Mr. Swan held various positions at Carver Federal Savings Bank, departing as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Among other roles, Mr. Swan also served in various positions at Time Warner Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., as Chief Investment Officer at Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and as an Associate at Salomon Brothers, Inc. Mr. Swan began his career as a Financial Analyst at First Boston Corporation, as a Public Service Fellow at the Coro Foundation, and as an Attorney in the Corporate Securities Group of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Mr. Swan is a member of the board of the Global Impact Investing Network and trustee of Parnassus Funds. Currently, he serves on the Varo Bank Social Impact Council, the Church Commissioners for England Oversight Group, and the KKR Sustainability Expert Advisory Council.
Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE: MWA) today announced that its Board of Directors has nominated Brian Healy to join the Companys Board, along with other Board nominees, for election at the Companys Annual Meeting of Stockholders on February 28, 2024. With the appointment of Mr. Healy to the Board, the Board would be comprised of 10 directors, nine of whom are independent.

Mr. Healy brings more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry to the Board. Most recently, from 2019 to 2023, he served as Managing Director and Co-Head of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Americas at Morgan Stanley and was a member of the Investment Banking Management Committee. He previously held various leadership roles at Morgan Stanley, including Global Chief Operating Officer of Investment Banking and Head of Firm Strategy and Execution.

We are pleased to nominate Brian to Muellers Board and are confident that his extensive executive leadership experience, strategic planning skills, and financial acumen will bring significant value to our diverse Board, said Mark OBrien, Chairman of the Board of Mueller Water Products. Brians wealth of experience further strengthens our Board as we work to build on our strong position in the water infrastructure industry and deliver value for our shareholders.

During his career, Mr. Healy has advised senior management teams and Board directors at public and private companies on numerous strategic transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, corporate carve-outs, unsolicited proposals, hostile defenses, activist investor defense, special committee assignments, and cross-border transactions. Mr. Healy earned his Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Chicago.
Rogers Communications (NYSE: RCI) announced today that Melinda Rogers-Hixon and Martha Rogers have made the decision to retire from the Rogers Board of Directors as part of a private settlement between members of the Rogers family.

On behalf of the board and management of Rogers Communications, I want to thank Melinda and Martha for their numerous contributions to our company over many decades, said Edward Rogers, Chair, Rogers Communications. Their dedication to Rogers Communications has been integral to the companys growth and is reflected in the passion with which our employees serve our customers across Canada every day.

Ms. Rogers-Hixon and Ms. Rogers said: With our family differences now settled, we both believe this is the appropriate time to retire from the Rogers Communications board. We remain proud and committed shareholders of the company and look forward to supporting its success in the future. In the words of our late father, the best is yet to come.

Ms. Rogers-Hixon joined the Rogers board in 2002 and became Deputy Chair in 2018. She previously spent 15 years in management at Rogers Communications in roles including Senior Vice President of Strategy and Development and founder of Rogers Venture Partners in 2011. Ms. Rogers-Hixon has been a relentless voice for innovation across the company, contributing to its growth.

Ms. Martha Rogers joined the board in 2008 and has served as Chair of the ESG committee since 2021. She has been a strong advocate for social responsibility within the company and a champion on climate change issues.
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

ACTICOR BIOTECH (FR0014005OJ5 - ALACT) (Paris: ALACT), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing glenzocimab, an innovative drug for the treatment of cardiovascular emergencies, today discloses the total number of voting rights and shares as of December 31, 2023 (pursuant to Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the General Regulation of the French Financial Markets Authority).

Listing Place: Euronext Growth Paris

ISIN Code : FR0014005OJ5

Web site: acticor-biotech.com

Date Number of shares making

up the share capital Theoretical number of

voting rights (1) Number of voting

rights excluding

shares stripped of

voting rights (2) December 31, 2023 13.189.141 13.189.141 13.124.019

(1) In accordance with Article 223-111 of the AMFs General Regulation, this number of shares is calculated based on all shares carrying the right to vote, including those stripped of voting rights.

(2) The actual voting rights correspond to the total number of voting rights that can be exercised in a general meeting. They are calculated on the basis of the total number of voting rights attached to the total number of shares minus the shares without voting rights.

About ACTICOR BIOTECH

Acticor Biotech is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, a spin-off from INSERM (the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), which is aiming to develop an innovative treatment for cardiovascular emergencies, including ischemic stroke.

The positive results of the phase 1b/2a study, ACTIMIS, confirmed the safety profile of glenzocimab and showed a reduction in mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage in the glenzocimab-treated group of stroke patients. These results were confirmed by a post-hoc analysis of brain imaging at 0 and 24 hours using artificial intelligence (Brainomix, UK). This independent analysis confirmed the reduction in the number and volume of intracerebral lesions in patients treated with glenzocimab. The efficacy of glenzocimab is now being analyzed in an international Phase 2/3 study, ACTISAVE, with clinical results expected in Q2 2024.

In July 2022, Acticor Biotech was granted "PRIME" status by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for glenzocimab in the treatment of stroke. This designation will allow the company to strengthen its interactions and obtain early dialogues with regulatory authorities.

Acticor Biotech is supported by a panel of European and international investors (Mediolanum farmaceutici, Karista, Go Capital, Newton Biocapital, CMS Medical Venture Investment (HK) Limited, A&B (HK) Limited, Anaxago, and the Armesa foundation). Acticor Biotech is listed on Euronext Growth Paris since November 2021 (ISIN: FR0014005OJ5  ALACT).

For more information, visit: www.acticor-biotech.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117858900/en/

ACTICOR BIOTECH

Gilles AVENARD, MD

CEO and Founder

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

Sophie BINAY, PhD

General Manager and CSO

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

NewCap

Mathilde BOHIN / Quentin MASSE

Investor Relations

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95

NewCap

Arthur ROUILLE

Media Relations

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15

Source: ACTICOR BIOTECH
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

ACTICOR BIOTECH (ISIN: FR0014005OJ5  ALACT), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing glenzocimab, an innovative drug for the treatment of cardiovascular emergencies, today announces its half-year report on the liquidity contract with the brokerage firm Kepler Cheuvreux.

Under the liquidity contract entered into between ACTICOR BIOTECH and Kepler Cheuvreux, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account on December 31th 2023:

- 65,122 shares

-  299,098.61

- Number of executions on buy side on semester: 340

- Number of executions on sell side on semester: 227

- Traded volume on buy side on semester: 39,590 shares for  173,764.12

- Traded volume on sell side on semester: 17,891 shares for  85,132.33

As a reminder:

the following resources appeared on the last half year statement on 30 June 2023 on the liquidity account:

- 43,423 shares

-  382,720.54

- Number of executions on buy side on semester: 631

- Number of executions on sell side on semester: 505

- Traded volume on buy side on semester: 59,726 shares for  419,225.09

- Traded volume on sell side on semester: 50,122 shares for  385,042.61

the following resources appeared on the liquidity account when the activity started:

- 0 shares

-  600,000.00

The implementation of this report is carried out in accordance with AMF Decision N2021-01 of June 22nd 2021 renewing the implementation of liquidity contracts for shares as an accepted market practice.

About ACTICOR BIOTECH

Acticor Biotech is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, a spin-off from INSERM (the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), which is aiming to develop an innovative treatment for cardiovascular emergencies, including ischemic stroke.

The positive results of the phase 1b/2a study, ACTIMIS, confirmed the safety profile of glenzocimab and showed a reduction in mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage in the glenzocimab-treated group of stroke patients. These results were confirmed by a post-hoc analysis of brain imaging at 0 and 24 hours using artificial intelligence (Brainomix, UK). This independent analysis confirmed the reduction in the number and volume of intracerebral lesions in patients treated with glenzocimab. The efficacy of glenzocimab is now being analyzed in an international Phase 2/3 study, ACTISAVE, with clinical results expected in Q2 2024.

In July 2022, Acticor Biotech was granted "PRIME" status by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for glenzocimab in the treatment of stroke. This designation will allow the company to strengthen its interactions and obtain early dialogues with regulatory authorities.

Acticor Biotech is supported by a panel of European and international investors (Mediolanum farmaceutici, Karista, Go Capital, Newton Biocapital, CMS Medical Venture Investment (HK) Limited, A&B (HK) Limited, Anaxago, and the Armesa foundation). Acticor Biotech is listed on Euronext Growth Paris since November 2021 (ISIN: FR0014005OJ5  ALACT).

For more information, visit: www.acticor-biotech.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117088932/en/

ACTICOR BIOTECH

Gilles AVENARD, MD

CEO and Founder

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

Sophie BINAY, PhD

General Manager and CSO

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

NewCap

Mathilde BOHIN

Investor Relations

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95

NewCap

Arthur ROUILLE

Media Relations

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15

Source: ACTICOR BIOTECH
BORDEAUX, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

Aelis Farma (ISIN: FR0014007ZB4  Ticker: AELIS) (Paris: AELIS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of treatments for brain disorders, today announces the reinforcement of its leadership team with the appointment of Arsene Guekam as Chief Corporate Development Officer (CDO).

With over 15 years of experience in the Healthcare (biotech/medtech) and financial sectors, Arsene Guekam brings an unvaluable expertise to Aelis Farma in these fields. Graduate in Pharmacy and from the EM Lyon's Programme Grandes Ecoles (finance option), Arsene held key positions as a financial analyst in several renowned brokers such as Oddo BHF, CM-CIC Securities, or Credit Lyonnais Small Caps. Before joining Aelis Farma, Arsene served as Senior Analyst, Head of Biotech Research at Kepler Cheuvreux, and later as Co-Head of Healthcare Research.

His extensive experience in financial markets and trend analysis, combined with a profound understanding of the challenges in the biotechnology industry, makes him an exceptional asset for Aelis Farma.

As Chief Corporate Development Officer, Arsene will be responsible for steering and overseeing the Companys development strategy, including identifying and evaluating new growth opportunities, fostering strategic partnerships, and strengthening relationships with investors.

Pier Vincenzo Piazza, CEO of Aelis Farma, states: "We are delighted to welcome Arsene Guekam as Chief Corporate Development Officer. This appointment aligns with our commitment to further structure our leadership team to support our operational and strategic development. His significant expertise and strategic vision will be key assets in continuing and amplifying our development in line with our roadmap and beyond, while increasing Aelis' visibility within the entire financial community specialized in this field."

About AELIS FARMA

Founded in Bordeaux in 2013, Aelis Farma is a biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of drugs, the Signaling-Specific inhibitors of the CB1 receptor of the endocannabinoid system (CB1-SSi). CB1-SSi have been developed by Aelis Farma based on the discovery of a natural regulatory mechanism of CB1 hyperactivity made by the team led by Dr. Pier Vincenzo Piazza, the Companys CEO, when he was the director of the Neurocentre Magendie of the INSERM in Bordeaux. By mimicking this natural mechanism, CB1-SSi appear to selectively inhibit the disease-related activity of the CB1 receptor without disrupting its normal physiological activity. CB1-SSi have consequently the potential to provide new safe treatments for several brain diseases.

Aelis Farma is currently developing two first-in-class clinical-stage drug candidates: AEF0117 for the treatment of cannabis use disorder (CUD), currently being tested in a phase 2b study in the United States; and AEF0217 for cognitive disorders, including those of Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21), currently in a phase 1/2 study in Spain in people with Down syndrome. The Company also has a portfolio of new innovative CB1-SSi for the treatment of other disorders associated with a dysregulation of the activity of the CB1 receptor.

Aelis Farma draws on the talents of more than 20 highly qualified employees.

For more information, visit www.aelisfarma.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

ISIN: FR0014007ZB4

Ticker: AELIS

B Compartment of Euronext Paris

Disclaimer

Forward-looking statements

Some information contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, not historical data. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions about Aelis Farma's current and future strategy and the environment in which Aelis Farma operates. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements, or industry results or other events, to differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those set out and described in detail in Chapter 3 "Risk Factors" of Aelis Farma's Universal Registration Document approved by the Autorite des Marches Financiers on April 26, 2023, under number R.23-018.

These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Aelis Farma expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or corrections to the forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any change in expectations or events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such forward-looking statement is based. Forward-looking information and statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond Aelis Farma's control. Actual results could differ materially from those described in, or implied or projected by, forward-looking information and statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117608527/en/

AELIS FARMA

Pier Vincenzo Piazza

CEO

[email protected]

NewCap

Dusan Oresansky / Aurelie Manavarere

Investor Relations

[email protected]

+33 1 44 71 94 92

NewCap

Arthur Rouille

Media Relations

[email protected]

+33 1 44 71 00 15

Source: Aelis Farma
--Integrated design-to-production services speed development of piezoelectric sensor or actuator chips for performance-driven products

AMAGASAKI, Japan & BURLINGAME, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Fitzgerald & Associates, LLC (AMFitzgerald), a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) product development company, and Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd. (SPP)s MEMS Infinity  which offers a full-service MEMS silicon wafer foundry today announced a strategic and technical alliance to expedite the commercialization of thin-film PZT MEMS chip technologies. PZT is a versatile piezoelectric material that is sought after for MEMS sensors or actuators serving high-growth applications such as True Wireless Stereo, automotive LiDAR, medical ultrasound imaging, AR/VR, haptics and other applications that require precise performance in a robust, ultra-miniaturized form factor.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117957738/en/

As a material that enables many types of emerging, performance-intensive MEMS devices, thin-film PZT is much in demand, said Dr. Alissa M. Fitzgerald, founder and CEO of AMFitzgerald. PZT, however, requires specific process tools and expertise that are not widespread. For companies trying to develop PZT MEMS technologies, its been especially difficult to access commercial-quality material during development stages, while wafer volumes are low. Thats a problem because using poorly controlled research-grade materials during prototyping really slows down product development. But thats about to change. Our new alliance with MEMS Infinity will give our customers an integrated design-to-manufacture solution using high-quality PZT from day one.

The AMFitzgerald-MEMS Infinity alliance meets a critical need in the MEMS industry ecosystem:

Pairs AMFitzgeralds expertise in MEMS development with MEMS Infinitys aerospace-grade prototyping and manufacturing capability in PZT MEMS.

Offers a seamless design-to-production experience for customers.

Facilitates global access to MEMS Infinitys thin-film PZT.

Leverages proprietary data on thin-film PZT to improve accuracy of MEMS design and modeling, minimizing the need for design-build-test cycles and accelerating product development.

Provides customers with foundry-specific MEMS design  which lowers barriers to access, decreases risk, shrinks overall development cost, and speeds the path to commercialization.

For decades, SPP has used production-proven processes of its high-quality PZT to produce MEMS inertial sensors for the most demanding applications, said Mr. Masahiko Tanaka, managing executive officer, Sumitomo Precision Products. To respond to increasing worldwide needs, our foundry expansion through MEMS Infinity broadens our manufacturing capability in PZT MEMS. Together with AMFitzgerald  our choice collaborator for PZT MEMS design and product development  we can deliver an exceptional solution for customer needs in growing markets.

About PZT MEMS

Piezoelectric materials transduce electrical energy to mechanical energy and vice-versa, a property that makes them useful as sensors or actuators. PZT is a piezoelectric material that delivers an optimal combination of performance, efficiency, environmental robustness and high reliability. These attributes enable PZT MEMS to pack maximum functionality into a small volume for performance-intensive applications, such as ultrasound transceivers, micro-speakers, micro-mirrors, RF switches and microfluidics, as well as emerging technology devices. For more information, visit https://www.amfitzgerald.com/pztmems

Availability

AMFitzgerald and SPP are available now to discuss design, development and fabrication of PZT MEMS devices. Contact us to discuss your needs: [email protected]

About AMFitzgerald

Founded in 2003, AMFitzgerald provides MEMS chip design and product development services for high-value aerospace, industrial, and medical markets. Using its proven design-for-manufacturing methodology that brings emerging silicon technologies from concept to volume production, AMFitzgerald has successfully helped hundreds of clients, including numerous Fortune 100 companies, to develop strategic microelectronic technologies for commercial applications. AMFitzgerald describes its technology development methods in the book, MEMS Product Development: From Concept to Commercialization (Springer, 2021). For more information, visit https://amfitzgerald.com or email: [email protected].

About Sumitomo Precision Products

Founded in 1961, Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd. (SPP) is a leading provider of precision technologies and manufacturing services. Its core business capabilities include a full line of MEMS-related offerings: manufacturing equipment, process development, foundry production, test and manufacturing. Guided by a core set of principles that value integrity in all business practices, SPP seeks to advance a more sustainable society through technology innovation. For more information, visit https://www.spp.co.jp/English/

MEMS Infinity, newly launched at SPP, advances the development and mass production of MEMS sensors and actuators for diverse industries. Featuring a 20,000 square-foot cleanroom housing 150mm and 200mm wafer fabrication lines  which include PZT-specific patterning equipment and proprietary high-figure-of-merit epitaxial-PZT (epi-PZT) thin film deposition  MEMS Infinity is located in the industrial and technology hub of Amagasaki, near Osaka, Japan. For more information, see Sumitomo Precision Products Launches MEMS Foundry Services through MEMS Infinity (press release, January 17, 2024), visit https://www.spp.co.jp/mems/ict/en/index2.html or email: [email protected]

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117957738/en/

Maria Vetrano

Email: [email protected]



Anja-Maria Hastenrath

Email: [email protected]

Source: AMFitzgerald
Adds research depth and Emerging Markets perspective

LOS ANGELES & NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aristotle Pacific Capital, LLC (Aristotle Pacific), a leader in liquid credit investments, announced the further expansion of its investment team with the appointment of two seasoned investment professionals. Norvruz (Novi) Bashirov joined Aristotle Pacific as Managing Director, Portfolio Manager & Senior Research Analyst and Partha Bose, CFA, joined as a Senior Research Analyst. Mr. Bashirov will focus on Emerging Markets corporate debt and U.S. Financials, while Mr. Bose will cover Energy, Pipelines, Autos, and Metals & Mining.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117064412/en/

Given the current opportunities in the corporate credit landscape and wide demand for our strategies, expanding our investment team with seasoned professionals broadens our ability to provide more value to our clients, said Dominic Nolan, Chief Executive Officer of Aristotle Pacific. We are thrilled to add these talented professionals who share our passion for credit analysis and are excited to welcome Novi and Partha to the Aristotle Pacific family.

Mr. Bashirov previously served as an Emerging Markets Portfolio Manager at Rimrock Capital. Prior to joining Rimrock Capital, he co-managed funds at Barings Emerging Markets Corporate Group and managed Emerging Markets portfolios at PIMCO. Mr. Bashirov has 19 years of investment experience. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Mathematics from Berea College and has a MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Bose previously spent seven years at Aristotle Credit Partners, LLC as a Senior Credit Analyst and five years at BNP Paribas, India as Vice President, Credit Analyst. His focus has been on high yield and investment grade bonds and leveraged loans across multiple sectors. Mr. Bose earned his bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from Jadavpur University, India, and his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management - Bangalore. He also earned his Master of Financial Engineering degree from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Mr. Bose is a CFA charter holder.

About Aristotle Pacific Capital

Aristotle Pacific Capital, LLC (formerly Pacific Asset Management LLC) is a Newport Beach, California-based registered investment advisor that specializes in corporate credit. Aristotle Pacific actively invests in corporate credit securities on the basis of fundamental credit analysis with the objective of identifying and realizing relative value. Aristotle Pacifics structure, along with the infrastructure of Aristotle Capital Management, combine to provide an ideal platform to discover and capture value in todays dynamic markets. Aristotle Pacifics investment team, originally founded in 2007, is now comprised of 19 professionals averaging nearly two decades of industry experience and manage fixed-income strategies, including floating-rate loans, structured products, strategic credit, high yield, investment grade and short duration bond strategies.

About Aristotle

Aristotles mission is to help clients reach their long-term financial goals with active portfolio management using our research-driven investment framework. Aristotle is a family of affiliates with five independent investment teams that specialize in equity and fixed income strategies, with offices in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Boston and Sarasota. Each investment team is a registered investment advisor. All Aristotle affiliates are PRI Signatories. Aristotle is backed by an experienced leadership team that has worked together for over 25 years. For market commentary, news and insights from all Aristotle affiliates, please visit www.aristotlecap.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117064412/en/

Tricia Ross

c/o Aristotle

Phone: 310.622.8226

[email protected]

Source: Aristotle Pacific Capital, LLC
Continuing its focus on progressing prostate cancer care, Bayer will present additional data on NUBEQA (darolutamide) from the Phase III ARASENS trial in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), and U.S. subset data from the observational REASSURE trial examining XOFIGO (radium Ra 223 dichloride) after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)

Abstracts: 166, 228, TPS254, TPS243, 324, 106

WHIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bayer will present new data across its prostate cancer portfolio at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary (ASCO GU) Cancers Symposium, taking place January 25-27, 2024 in San Francisco, California. These presentations underscore Bayers commitment to advance prostate cancer care.

NUBEQA (darolutamide) data includes post hoc sensitivity analyses from the Phase III ARASENS trial, evaluating overall survival (OS) with NUBEQA and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and docetaxel in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) patients accounting for subsequent therapy. A separate analysis from the same trial comparing hospitalization rates and length of hospital stay during and post-docetaxel will also be presented.

An update will be provided from ARASTEP, the ongoing Phase III trial investigating NUBEQA plus ADT versus ADT alone in hormone-sensitive patients with high-risk biochemical recurrence (BCR), and ARAMON, the ongoing Phase II randomized, open-label investigational study comparing NUBEQA to enzalutamide monotherapy on serum testosterone levels in patients with castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC) after BCR. Furthermore, a systematic review on indirect treatment comparisons in mHSPC will be presented.

NUBEQA is currently indicated in the U.S. in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of adult patients with mHSPC and for the treatment of adult patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC).1

Bayer will also present new data from the REASSURE observational study evaluating the safety outcomes of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) treated with XOFIGO (radium Ra 223 dichloride) following EBRT in the U.S. subset of patients enrolled.

XOFIGO is indicated for the treatment of patients with mCRPC, symptomatic bone metastases, and no known visceral metastatic disease.2

Details on select abstracts from Bayer at the 2024 ASCO GU Cancers Symposium are listed below:

Darolutamide

Abstract title: Overall survival with darolutamide vs placebo in combination with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) and docetaxel: A sensitivity analysis from ARASENS accounting for subsequent therapy Poster: G16; January 25, 11:30AM-1:00PM PST

Abstract title: Rate of hospitalization and length of hospital stay during and post docetaxel for darolutamide in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer using ARASENS Poster: K16; January 25, 11:30AM-1:00PM PST

Abstract title: Darolutamide plus androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with high-risk biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer: A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (ARASTEP) - Trial in Progress Poster: Q15; January 25, 11:30AM-1:00PM PST

Abstract title: ARAMON: A phase 2, randomized, open-label study comparing darolutamide (DARO) vs enzalutamide (ENZA) monotherapy on serum testosterone levels in patients (pts) with castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC) after biochemical recurrence (BCR) - Trial in Progress Poster: Q4; January 25, 11:30AM-1:00PM PST

Abstract title: A systematic review: Are the findings of indirect treatment comparisons (ITCs) in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) consistent? Poster: N15; January 25, 11:30AM-1:00PM PST



Radium-223 dichloride (Ra-223)

Abstract title: Safety outcomes in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with radium-223 following external beam radiation therapy: REASSURE US subset Poster: D21; January 25, 11:30AM-1:00PM PST



About NUBEQA (darolutamide)1

NUBEQA is an androgen receptor inhibitor (ARi) with a distinct chemical structure that competitively inhibits androgen binding, AR nuclear translocation, and AR-mediated transcription.

On July 30, 2019, the FDA approved NUBEQA (darolutamide) based on the ARAMIS trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase III study, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of oral NUBEQA in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC).

Based on results from the ARASENS trial, a randomized, Phase III, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, NUBEQA plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and docetaxel was approved on August 5, 2022 for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).

NUBEQA is also being investigated in additional studies across various stages of prostate cancer, including in the ARANOTE Phase III trial evaluating NUBEQA plus ADT versus ADT alone for mHSPC, the ARASTEP Phase III trial evaluating NUBEQA plus ADT versus ADT alone in HSPC patients with high-risk BCR and no evidence of metastatic disease, as well as in the Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group (ANZUP) led international Phase III co-operative group DASL-HiCaP (ANZUP1801) trial evaluating NUBEQA as an adjuvant treatment for localized prostate cancer with very high risk of recurrence. Information about these trials can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Developed jointly by Bayer and Orion Corporation, a globally operating Finnish pharmaceutical company, NUBEQA is indicated for the treatment of adults with nmCRPC or with mHSPC in combination with docetaxel.1 Filings in other regions are underway or planned.

INDICATIONS

NUBEQA (darolutamide) is an androgen receptor inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with:

Non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC)

Metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) in combination with docetaxel

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Warnings & Precautions

Ischemic Heart Disease  In a study of patients with nmCRPC (ARAMIS), ischemic heart disease occurred in 3.2% of patients receiving NUBEQA versus 2.5% receiving placebo, including Grade 3-4 events in 1.7% vs. 0.4%, respectively. Ischemic events led to death in 0.3% of patients receiving NUBEQA vs. 0.2% receiving placebo. In a study of patients with mHSPC (ARASENS), ischemic heart disease occurred in 3.2% of patients receiving NUBEQA with docetaxel vs. 2% receiving placebo with docetaxel, including Grade 3-4 events in 1.3% vs. 1.1%, respectively. Ischemic events led to death in 0.3% of patients receiving NUBEQA with docetaxel vs. 0% receiving placebo with docetaxel. Monitor for signs and symptoms of ischemic heart disease. Optimize management of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. Discontinue NUBEQA for Grade 3-4 ischemic heart disease.

Seizure  In ARAMIS, Grade 1-2 seizure occurred in 0.2% of patients receiving NUBEQA vs. 0.2% receiving placebo. Seizure occurred 261 and 456 days after initiation of NUBEQA. In ARASENS, seizure occurred in 0.6% of patients receiving NUBEQA with docetaxel, including one Grade 3 event, vs. 0.2% receiving placebo with docetaxel. Seizure occurred 38 to 340 days after initiation of NUBEQA. It is unknown whether antiepileptic medications will prevent seizures with NUBEQA. Advise patients of the risk of developing a seizure while receiving NUBEQA and of engaging in any activity where sudden loss of consciousness could cause harm to themselves or others. Consider discontinuation of NUBEQA in patients who develop a seizure during treatment.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity  Safety and efficacy of NUBEQA have not been established in females. NUBEQA can cause fetal harm and loss of pregnancy. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with NUBEQA and for 1 week after the last dose.

Adverse Reactions

In ARAMIS, serious adverse reactions occurred in 25% of patients receiving NUBEQA vs. 20% of patients receiving placebo. Serious adverse reactions in 1% of patients who received NUBEQA included urinary retention, pneumonia, and hematuria. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 3.9% of patients receiving NUBEQA vs. 3.2% of patients receiving placebo. Fatal adverse reactions in patients who received NUBEQA included death (0.4%), cardiac failure (0.3%), cardiac arrest (0.2%), general physical health deterioration (0.2%), and pulmonary embolism (0.2%). The most common adverse reactions (>2% with a 2% increase over placebo), including laboratory test abnormalities, were increased AST, decreased neutrophil count, fatigue, increased bilirubin, pain in extremity, and rash. Clinically relevant adverse reactions occurring in 2% of patients treated with NUBEQA included ischemic heart disease and heart failure.

In ARASENS, serious adverse reactions occurred in 45% of patients receiving NUBEQA with docetaxel vs. 42% of patients receiving placebo with docetaxel. Serious adverse reactions in 2% of patients who received NUBEQA with docetaxel included febrile neutropenia (6%), decreased neutrophil count (2.8%), musculoskeletal pain (2.6%), and pneumonia (2.6%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4% of patients receiving NUBEQA with docetaxel vs. 4% of patients receiving placebo with docetaxel. Fatal adverse reactions in patients who received NUBEQA included COVID-19/COVID-19 pneumonia (0.8%), myocardial infarction (0.3%), and sudden death (0.3%). The most common adverse reactions (10% with a 2% increase over placebo with docetaxel) were constipation, rash, decreased appetite, hemorrhage, increased weight, and hypertension. The most common laboratory test abnormalities (30%) were anemia, hyperglycemia, decreased lymphocyte count, decreased neutrophil count, increased AST, increased ALT, and hypocalcemia. Clinically relevant adverse reactions in

Drug Interactions

Effect of Other Drugs on NUBEQA  Combined P-gp and strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducers decrease NUBEQA exposure, which may decrease NUBEQA activity. Avoid concomitant use.

Combined P-gp and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors increase NUBEQA exposure, which may increase the risk of NUBEQA adverse reactions. Monitor more frequently and modify NUBEQA dose as needed.

Effects of NUBEQA on Other Drugs  NUBEQA inhibits breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) transporter. Concomitant use increases exposure (AUC) and maximal concentration of BCRP substrates, which may increase the risk of BCRP substrate-related toxicities. Avoid concomitant use where possible. If used together, monitor more frequently for adverse reactions, and consider dose reduction of the BCRP substrate.

NUBEQA inhibits OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 transporters. Concomitant use may increase plasma concentrations of OATP1B1 or OATP1B3 substrates. Monitor more frequently for adverse reactions and consider dose reduction of these substrates.

Review the Prescribing Information of drugs that are BCRP, OATP1B1, and OATP1B3 substrates when used concomitantly with NUBEQA.

For important risk and use information about NUBEQA, please see the accompanying full Prescribing Information.

About Xofigo (radium Ra 223 dichloride) Injection2

Xofigo is indicated for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer, symptomatic bone metastases and no known visceral metastatic disease.

Important Safety Information for Xofigo (radium Ra 223 dichloride) Injection

Warnings and Precautions:

Bone Marrow Suppression: In the phase 3 ALSYMPCA trial, 2% of patients in the Xofigo arm experienced bone marrow failure or ongoing pancytopenia, compared to no patients treated with placebo. There were two deaths due to bone marrow failure. For 7 of 13 patients treated with Xofigo bone marrow failure was ongoing at the time of death. Among the 13 patients who experienced bone marrow failure, 54% required blood transfusions. Four percent (4%) of patients in the Xofigo arm and 2% in the placebo arm permanently discontinued therapy due to bone marrow suppression. In the randomized trial, deaths related to vascular hemorrhage in association with myelosuppression were observed in 1% of Xofigo-treated patients compared to 0.3% of patients treated with placebo. The incidence of infection-related deaths (2%), serious infections (10%), and febrile neutropenia (

Monitor patients with evidence of compromised bone marrow reserve closely and provide supportive care measures when clinically indicated. Discontinue Xofigo in patients who experience life-threatening complications despite supportive care for bone marrow failure

Hematological Evaluation: Monitor blood counts at baseline and prior to every dose of Xofigo. Prior to first administering Xofigo, the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) should be 1.5  109/L, the platelet count 100  109/L, and hemoglobin 10 g/dL. Prior to subsequent administrations, the ANC should be 1  109/L and the platelet count 50  109/L. Discontinue Xofigo if hematologic values do not recover within 6 to 8 weeks after the last administration despite receiving supportive care

Concomitant Use With Chemotherapy: Safety and efficacy of concomitant chemotherapy with Xofigo have not been established. Outside of a clinical trial, concomitant use of Xofigo in patients on chemotherapy is not recommended due to the potential for additive myelosuppression. If chemotherapy, other systemic radioisotopes, or hemibody external radiotherapy are administered during the treatment period, Xofigo should be discontinued

Increased Fractures and Mortality in Combination With Abiraterone Plus Prednisone/Prednisolone: Xofigo is not recommended for use in combination with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone/prednisolone outside of clinical trials. At the primary analysis of the Phase 3 ERA-223 study that evaluated concurrent initiation of Xofigo in combination with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone/prednisolone in 806 asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic mCRPC patients, an increased incidence of fractures (28.6% vs 11.4%) and deaths (38.5% vs 35.5%) have been observed in patients who received Xofigo in combination with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone/prednisolone compared to patients who received placebo in combination with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone/prednisolone. Safety and efficacy with the combination of Xofigo and agents other than gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues have not been established

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: The safety and efficacy of Xofigo have not been established in females. Xofigo can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female. Advise pregnant females and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise male patients to use condoms and their female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during and for 6 months after completing treatment with Xofigo

Administration and Radiation Protection: Xofigo should be received, used, and administered only by authorized persons in designated clinical settings. The administration of Xofigo is associated with potential risks to other persons from radiation or contamination from spills of bodily fluids such as urine, feces, or vomit. Therefore, radiation protection precautions must be taken in accordance with national and local regulations

Fluid Status: Dehydration occurred in 3% of patients on Xofigo and 1% of patients on placebo. Xofigo increases adverse reactions such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, which may result in dehydration. Monitor patients oral intake and fluid status carefully and promptly treat patients who display signs or symptoms of dehydration or hypovolemia

Injection Site Reactions: Erythema, pain, and edema at the injection site were reported in 1% of patients on Xofigo

Secondary Malignant Neoplasms: Xofigo contributes to a patients overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure. Long-term cumulative radiation exposure may be associated with an increased risk of cancer and hereditary defects. Due to its mechanism of action and neoplastic changes, including osteosarcomas, in rats following administration of radium-223 dichloride, Xofigo may increase the risk of osteosarcoma or other secondary malignant neoplasms. However, the overall incidence of new malignancies in the randomized trial was lower on the Xofigo arm compared to placebo (

Subsequent Treatment With Cytotoxic Chemotherapy: In the randomized clinical trial, 16% of patients in the Xofigo group and 18% of patients in the placebo group received cytotoxic chemotherapy after completion of study treatments. Adequate safety monitoring and laboratory testing was not performed to assess how patients treated with Xofigo will tolerate subsequent cytotoxic chemotherapy

Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions (10%) in the Xofigo arm vs the placebo arm, respectively, were nausea (36% vs 35%), diarrhea (25% vs 15%), vomiting (19% vs 14%), and peripheral edema (13% vs 10%). Grade 3 and 4 adverse events were reported in 57% of Xofigo-treated patients and 63% of placebo-treated patients. The most common hematologic laboratory abnormalities in the Xofigo arm (10%) vs the placebo arm, respectively, were anemia (93% vs 88%), lymphocytopenia (72% vs 53%), leukopenia (35% vs 10%), thrombocytopenia (31% vs 22%), and neutropenia (18% vs 5%)

Please see the full Prescribing Information for Xofigo (radium Ra 223 dichloride).

About Oncology at Bayer

Bayer is committed to delivering science for a better life by advancing a portfolio of innovative treatments. The oncology franchise at Bayer includes six marketed products and several other assets in various stages of clinical development. Together, these products reflect the companys approach to research, which prioritizes targets and pathways with the potential to impact the way that cancer is treated.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2022, the Group employed around 101,000 people and had sales of 50.7 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

 2024 Bayer

BAYER, the Bayer Cross, NUBEQA and XOFIGO are registered trademarks of Bayer.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayers public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

References

NUBEQA (darolutamide) tablets [Prescribing Information]. Whippany, NJ: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, October 2023. Xofigo (radium-223 dichloride) Injection [Prescribing Information]. Whippany, NJ: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, December 2019.

PP-PF-ONC-US-3070-1 1/24

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Media:

Carolyn Nagle, Tel + 201.419.0337

Email: [email protected]

Source: Bayer
The swim school continued its rapid expansion with 250 units sold in markets across the nation

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Big Blue Swim School, one of the countrys fastest-growing franchises in the learn-to-swim industry, reflects on another year of growth with 250 units sold as of the end of 2023. The brand currently has 29 pools across 14 states and will celebrate its 30th location opening in Pineville, North Carolina in February.

Big Blue Swim School recently announced that it is combining with Atlanta-based L5 Swim, previously its largest franchising partner. All former L5 pools are now Big Blue corporate locations, expanding Big Blues corporate presence to 14 pools, with an additional 34 in the works.

Were delighted to see another year of growth for Big Blue and increased awareness of the importance of learning to swim among parents and children, says Chris DeJong, Founder and President of Big Blue Swim School. This year, we opened 11 new schools and opened in five new states, spreading our passion for swim education further across the country. In 2024, we expect continued growth as we merge with the L5 Swim team and utilize their expertise and refined platforms to deliver an upgraded experience to our customers and community as we aim to become the foremost global brand in swim education.

Big Blue Swim School provides comprehensive swim instruction to children between three months and 12 years old, fostering safety, happiness, and confidence in swimming. Big Blue offers unparalleled weekly swim lessons enhanced by skilled professionals, advanced technology and curriculum, and state-of-the-art facilities.

The brand observed the continued need for formal swim lessons across the country in 2023. As the swim lesson industry continues to grow, Big Blue is now a sought-after expert, responding to and providing for the massive demand for swim space. Their recent merger positions them for further growth and expansion, equipped with the experience, talent, and insight brought by L5 Swim.

As we kick off 2024, we plan to continue focusing on growth, says Brooke Mallick, CMO of Big Blue Swim School. We are actively working towards our goal of having 265 units sold by the end of 2024, which means continuing to prioritize our partnerships and work towards creating new ones. We are eager to see success in 2024 as we strive to be the best swim school in the nation.

Big Blue is actively looking for qualified franchise partners to develop in several other key markets across the country, including Seattle, Ohio, Kansas City, Long Island, Virginia Beach, Denver, Richmond, Southern California, Orlando and Tampa.

To learn more about franchising with Big Blue Swim School, visit https://bigblueswimschool.com/franchising.

ABOUT BIG BLUE SWIM SCHOOL

Big Blue Swim School is one of the nations fastest-growing swim school franchises, offering best-in-class swim lessons for kids ages three months to 12 years. The franchise was founded in 2009 by competitive swimmer Chris DeJong, and with support from Level 5 Capital Partners, now has 29 pools open across 14 states. Big Blue continues to grow through franchising and plans to have a minimum of 265 pools sold by the end of 2024. Big Blue Swim Schools real estate expertise, strong brand, proprietary technology, and leadership support, coupled with its unparalleled consumer offerings, position its franchise partners for long-term success. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Big Blue Swim School, visit http://YourBigMomentStartsHere.com.

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Kate Laird

Trevelino/Keller

[email protected]

Source: Big Blue Swim School
The Company will advance its value-driven, consumer-centric care model through its owned and affiliated clinics and provider enablement services

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bright Health Group, Inc. (Bright Health or the Company) (NYSE: BHG) today announced that it has adopted NeueHealth as its corporate brand name. This reflects the Companys ongoing focus on its NeueHealth business, which will continue driving long-term sustainable growth of its value-driven, consumer-centric care model, thereby increasing access to high-quality healthcare for all populations across the ACA Marketplace, Medicare, and Medicaid. The Companys common stock will begin trading under the new ticker symbol NEUE on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), effective January 29, 2024.

Taking the NeueHealth name signifies our commitment to delivering value through our differentiated care model that uniquely aligns the interests of health consumers, providers, and payors, said Mike Mikan, President and CEO of NeueHealth. Our NeueHealth identity has been a core and successful part of our organizations story, and we look forward to building on its strong performance as we take the lead in the industrys shift to value-based care.

NeueHealth currently serves more than 500,000 health consumers and partners with more than 3,000 affiliated providers across the country. NeueHealth consists of two segments, NeueCare and NeueSolutions, each focused on creating a seamless, coordinated care experience that maximizes value for health consumers, providers, and payors.

NeueCare: delivers value-driven healthcare to health consumers across the ACA Marketplace, Medicare, and Medicaid through owned clinics and partnerships with affiliated providers across the country. NeueCare takes a consumer-centric approach, developing a true relationship with patients early in their healthcare journey to deliver a high-quality, personalized care experience.

NeueSolutions: enables independent providers and medical groups to succeed in performance-based arrangements through deep financial alignment, customized population health tools, and strong partnerships with leading health plans and government programs, including participation in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovations (CMMI) ACO Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (REACH) program.

The Company will also relocate its corporate headquarters from Minneapolis to Doral, Florida. NeueHealth has had a strong presence in Florida through its Centrum Health, AssociatesMD, and Premier Medical Associates clinics, which have operated in the state for more than 20 years and serve more than 150,000 health consumers in Florida. The relocation underscores NeueHealths commitment to advancing its value-driven care model and deepening its presence in the local communities it serves. The relocation will not impact jobs in Minneapolis, where the Company will continue to operate certain corporate and administrative functions.

Branding across the Company will be transitioning over the coming months.

About NeueHealth

NeueHealth is a value-driven healthcare company grounded in the belief that all health consumers are entitled to high-quality, coordinated care. By uniquely aligning the interests of health consumers, providers, and payors, NeueHealth helps to make healthcare accessible and affordable to all populations across the ACA Marketplace, Medicare, and Medicaid. NeueHealth delivers high-quality clinical care to over 500,000 health consumers through owned clinics and unique partnerships with over 3,000 affiliated providers. We also enable independent providers and medical groups to thrive in performance-based arrangements through a suite of technology and services scaled centrally and deployed locally. We believe our value-driven, consumer-centric care model can transform the healthcare experience and maximize value across the healthcare ecosystem. For more information, visit: www.neuehealth.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business plan and strategies. These statements often include words such as anticipate, expect, plan, believe, intend, project, forecast, estimates, projections, outlook, ensure, and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include any statements regarding our plans and expectations. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. Factors that might materially affect such forward-looking statements include: our ability to continue as a going concern; our ability to comply with the terms of our credit facility, including financial covenants, both during and after any waiver period, and/or obtain any additional waivers of any terms of our credit facility to the extent required; our ability to receive the remaining proceeds from the sale of our Medicare Advantage business in California in a timely manner; our ability to obtain any short or long term debt or equity financing needed to operate our business; our ability to quickly and efficiently complete the wind down our IFP businesses and MA businesses outside of California, including by satisfying liabilities of those businesses when due and payable; potential disruptions to our business due to corporate restructuring and any resulting headcount reduction; our ability to accurately estimate and effectively manage the costs relating to changes in our businesses offerings and models; a delay or inability to withdraw regulated capital from our subsidiaries; a lack of acceptance or slow adoption of our business model; our ability to retain existing consumers and expand consumer enrollment; our and our Care Partners abilities to obtain and accurately assess, code, and report risk adjustment factor scores; our ability to contract with care providers and arrange for the provision of quality care; our ability to accurately estimate our medical expenses, effectively manage our costs and claims liabilities or appropriately price our products and charge premiums; our ability to obtain claims information timely and accurately; the impact of any pandemic or epidemic on our business and results of operations; the risks associated with our reliance on third-party providers to operate our business; the impact of modifications or changes to the U.S. health insurance markets; our ability to manage the growth of our business; our ability to operate, update or implement our technology platform and other information technology systems; our ability to retain key executives; our ability to successfully pursue acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses; the occurrence of severe weather events, catastrophic health events, natural or man-made disasters, and social and political conditions or civil unrest; our ability to prevent and contain data security incidents and the impact of data security incidents on our members, patients, employees and financial results; our ability to comply with requirements to maintain effective internal controls; our ability to adapt to the new risks associated with our ACO Reach businesses, including any unanticipated market or regulatory developments; and the other factors set forth under the heading Risk Factors in the Companys reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K (including all amendments to those reports) and our other filings with the SEC. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results or changes in our expectations.

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Source: NeueHealth
First presentation of results from Phase 3 CheckMate -67T trial with subcutaneous formulation of Opdivo (nivolumab and hyaluronidase) to be shared in a late-breaking oral presentation

Four-year data from CheckMate -9ER and unprecedented eight-year data from CheckMate -214 will confirm durable outcomes with Opdivo-based combinations for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

First disclosure of clinical outcomes from Phase 1 trial with BMS-986365 (CC-94676), the companys first androgen receptor ligand-directed degrader in solid tumors from its targeted protein degradation platform, in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced the presentation of data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2024 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU) to be held from January 25-27 in San Francisco, California, highlighting the companys progress in making long-term survival outcomes a possibility for more patients with genitourinary cancers, as well as showcasing potential new options and therapeutic platforms that may transform treatment paradigms across tumor types. Data from 14 company-sponsored studies, investigator-sponsored studies and collaborations will be presented at the meeting.

The first presentation of data from the CheckMate -67T study will highlight the potential of a subcutaneous formulation of nivolumab co-formulated with Halozymes proprietary recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) in advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Research to be shared will also add to the evidence supporting the use of Opdivo (nivolumab)-based combinations in patients with advanced RCC, including four-year follow-up data from the CheckMate -9ER trial and eight-year results from the CheckMate -214 trial. In addition, data will be presented on an investigational androgen receptor (AR) ligand-directed degrader (LDD; BMS-986365) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), providing validation for the targeted protein degradation platform in solid tumors and representing one of the companys next waves of potential registrational assets.

We are excited to present our research at ASCO GU 2024, which will demonstrate not only our long-standing leadership in oncology with our work in immunotherapy, but also our commitment to developing new assets and approaches to treating cancer from our differentiated research platforms such as targeted protein degradation in an effort to provide patients with better, long-term outcomes, said Samit Hirawat, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer, Drug Development, Bristol Myers Squibb. These results simultaneously showcase the ongoing success of Opdivo-based combinations in metastatic disease and our contributions to the future of cancer treatment and research. We are especially eager to share data for the first time showing the potential of our subcutaneous formulation of a proven agent, and a new mechanism of action in a difficult-to-treat tumor type - both of which could have a tremendous impact on existing standards of care and the patient experience.

Key data being presented by Bristol Myers Squibb at ASCO GU 2024 include:

First disclosure of pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety results from the Phase 3 CheckMate -67T trial with subcutaneous nivolumab (nivolumab and hyaluronidase) being presented in a late-breaking oral session. This marks the first presentation of data evaluating subcutaneous nivolumab compared to its intravenous formulation.

Eight-year data from the Phase 3 CheckMate -214 study with Opdivo plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) showing ongoing survival and response benefits over sunitinib among intermediate- and poor-risk patients with advanced RCC, as well as among all randomized patients. These data represent the longest survival benefit vs. sunitinib reported in patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic RCC.

plus (ipilimumab) showing ongoing survival and response benefits over sunitinib among intermediate- and poor-risk patients with advanced RCC, as well as among all randomized patients. These data represent the longest survival benefit vs. sunitinib reported in patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic RCC. Four-year follow-up data from the Phase 3 CheckMate -9ER trial evaluating Opdivo in combination with Exelixis CABOMETYX (cabozantinib). These data demonstrate meaningful, long-term efficacy benefits seen with the combination therapy over sunitinib and reinforce it as a standard of care for previously untreated advanced RCC.

in combination with Exelixis CABOMETYX (cabozantinib). These data demonstrate meaningful, long-term efficacy benefits seen with the combination therapy over sunitinib and reinforce it as a standard of care for previously untreated advanced RCC. First presentation of clinical outcomes from the companys targeted protein degradation platform in solid tumors with Phase 1 data from BMS-986365 (CC-94676), an oral drug selectively targeting AR. BMS-986365 induces effective and durable suppression of AR signaling, overcomes resistance to existing AR pathway inhibitors (ARPI) therapies and shows promising clinical activity in heavily pre-treated patients with mCRPC across wildtype, amplified and mutant AR status, highlighting this asset as the potential best-in-class AR-ligand directed degrader that may help overcome resistance to standard of care ARPIs in patients with mCRPC, a difficult-to-treat tumor type.

Summary of Presentations:

Abstract Title Author Presentation

Type/# Session Title Session

Date/Time (ET) Prostate Cancer First-in-human phase 1 study of CC-94676, a first-in-class androgen receptor (AR) ligand-directed degrader (LDD), in patients (pts) with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Dana Rathkopf Poster Abstract #134 Poster Bd. #F5 Poster Session A: Prostate Cancer Thursday, January 25



2:30 PM - 4:00 PM Renal Cell Carcinoma Subcutaneous nivolumab (NIVO SC) vs intravenous nivolumab (NIVO IV) in patients with previously treated advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC): Pharmacokinetics (PK), efficacy, and safety results from CheckMate 67T. Saby George Oral Abstract #LBA360 Oral Abstract Session C: Renal Cell Cancer Saturday, January 27

11:10 AM - 12:45 PM Nivolumab plus cabozantinib (N+C) vs sunitinib (S) for previously untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC): Results from 55-month follow-up of the CheckMate 9ER trial. Maria Teresa Bourlon Rapid Oral Abstract #362 Rapid Oral Abstract Session C: Renal Cell, Adrenal, and Testicular Cancers Saturday, January 27



4:00 PM - 5:15 PM Nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIVO+IPI) vs sunitinib (SUN) for first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC): Long-term follow-up data from the phase 3 CheckMate 214 trial. Nizar Tannir Rapid Oral Abstract #363 Rapid Oral Abstract Session C: Renal Cell, Adrenal, and Testicular Cancers Saturday, January 27



4:00 PM - 5:15 PM Adjuvant nivolumab monotherapy vs placebo for localized renal cell carcinoma at high risk of relapse after nephrectomy: Results from Part B of the randomized, phase 3 CheckMate 914 trial. Robert Motzer Oral Abstract #LBA358 Oral Abstract Session C: Renal Cell Cancer Saturday, January 27



11:10 AM - 12:45 PM Treatment patterns and costs among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in the United States: A real-world study using integrated claims and clinical data. Daniel Geynisman Poster Abstract #398 Poster Bd. #F22 Poster Session C: Renal Cell Cancer; Adrenal, Penile, and Testicular Cancers Saturday, January 27



10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Urothelial Carcinoma Estimating the impact of adjuvant treatment with nivolumab on long-term survivorship rates compared with surveillance: Analyses of disease-free survival (DFS) from the phase 3 CheckMate-274 trial. Daniel Geynisman Oral Abstract #528 Role of Immunotherapy in Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma: Sequencing, Pairing, Rechallenging Friday, January 26



5:30 PM - 6:45 PM Characteristics of patients (pts) with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma (MIUC) who received adjuvant nivolumab (NIVO) or adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy (CHEMO) in the real-world (RW) setting. Alex Chehrazi-Raffle Poster Abstract #565 Poster Bd. #E14 Poster Session B: Urothelial Carcinoma Friday, January 26



2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

All abstracts except late-breaking abstracts will be available on ASCOs digital program at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on January 22, 2024. All late-breaking abstracts will be available on ASCOs digital program at 10:00 AM ET on their day of presentation at the meeting.

Bristol Myers Squibb: Creating a Better Future for People with Cancer

Bristol Myers Squibb is inspired by a single vision  transforming patients lives through science. The goal of the companys cancer research is to deliver medicines that offer each patient a better, healthier life and to make cure a possibility. Building on a legacy across a broad range of cancers that have changed survival expectations for many, Bristol Myers Squibb researchers are exploring new frontiers in personalized medicine and, through innovative digital platforms, are turning data into insights that sharpen their focus. Deep understanding of causal human biology, cutting-edge capabilities and differentiated research platforms uniquely position the company to approach cancer from every angle.

Cancer can have a relentless grasp on many parts of a patients life, and Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to taking actions to address all aspects of care, from diagnosis to survivorship. As a leader in cancer care, Bristol Myers Squibb is working to empower all people with cancer to have a better future.

About Opdivo

Opdivo is a programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor that is designed to uniquely harness the bodys own immune system to help restore anti-tumor immune response. By harnessing the bodys own immune system to fight cancer, Opdivo has become an important treatment option across multiple cancers.

Opdivos leading global development program is based on Bristol Myers Squibbs scientific expertise in the field of Immuno-Oncology, and includes a broad range of clinical trials across all phases, including Phase 3, in a variety of tumor types. To date, the Opdivo clinical development program has treated more than 35,000 patients. The Opdivo trials have contributed to gaining a deeper understanding of the potential role of biomarkers in patient care, particularly regarding how patients may benefit from Opdivo across the continuum of PD-L1 expression.

In July 2014, Opdivo was the first PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor to receive regulatory approval anywhere in the world. Opdivo is currently approved in more than 65 countries, including the United States, the European Union, Japan and China. In September 2015, the Companys Opdivo and Yervoy combination regimen was the first Immuno-Oncology to receive regulatory approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and is currently approved in more than 50 countries, including the United States and the European Union.

About Yervoy

Yervoy is a recombinant, human monoclonal antibody that binds to the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4). CTLA-4 is a negative regulator of T-cell activity. Yervoy binds to CTLA-4 and blocks the interaction of CTLA-4 with its ligands, CD80/CD86. Blockade of CTLA-4 has been shown to augment T-cell activation and proliferation, including the activation and proliferation of tumor infiltrating T-effector cells. Inhibition of CTLA-4 signaling can also reduce T-regulatory cell function, which may contribute to a general increase in T-cell responsiveness, including the anti-tumor immune response. On March 25, 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Yervoy 3 mg/kg monotherapy for patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Yervoy is approved for unresectable or metastatic melanoma in more than 50 countries. There is a broad, ongoing development program in place for Yervoy spanning multiple tumor types.

INDICATIONS

OPDIVO (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

OPDIVO is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with completely resected Stage IIB, Stage IIC, Stage III, or Stage IV melanoma.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy, is indicated as neoadjuvant treatment of adult patients with resectable (tumors 4 cm or node positive) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab) and 2 cycles of platinum-doublet chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving OPDIVO.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with intermediate or poor risk advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with cabozantinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have received prior anti-angiogenic therapy.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) that has relapsed or progressed after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and brentuximab vedotin or after 3 or more lines of systemic therapy that includes autologous HSCT. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with disease progression on or after platinum-based therapy.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) who are at high risk of recurrence after undergoing radical resection of UC.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric (12 years and older) patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of completely resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer with residual pathologic disease in adult patients who have received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum- containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Severe and Fatal Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions

Immune-mediated adverse reactions listed herein may not include all possible severe and fatal immune- mediated adverse reactions.

Immune-mediated adverse reactions, which may be severe or fatal, can occur in any organ system or tissue. While immune-mediated adverse reactions usually manifest during treatment, they can also occur after discontinuation of OPDIVO or YERVOY. Early identification and management are essential to ensure safe use of OPDIVO and YERVOY. Monitor for signs and symptoms that may be clinical manifestations of underlying immune-mediated adverse reactions. Evaluate clinical chemistries including liver enzymes, creatinine, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level, and thyroid function at baseline and periodically during treatment with OPDIVO and before each dose of YERVOY. In cases of suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, initiate appropriate workup to exclude alternative etiologies, including infection. Institute medical management promptly, including specialty consultation as appropriate.

Withhold or permanently discontinue OPDIVO and YERVOY depending on severity (please see section 2 Dosage and Administration in the accompanying Full Prescribing Information). In general, if OPDIVO or YERVOY interruption or discontinuation is required, administer systemic corticosteroid therapy (1 to 2 mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent) until improvement to Grade 1 or less. Upon improvement to Grade 1 or less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at least 1 month. Consider administration of other systemic immunosuppressants in patients whose immune-mediated adverse reactions are not controlled with corticosteroid therapy. Toxicity management guidelines for adverse reactions that do not necessarily require systemic steroids (e.g., endocrinopathies and dermatologic reactions) are discussed below.

Immune-Mediated Pneumonitis

OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause immune-mediated pneumonitis. The incidence of pneumonitis is higher in patients who have received prior thoracic radiation. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune- mediated pneumonitis occurred in 3.1% (61/1994) of patients, including Grade 4 (

In Checkmate 205 and 039, pneumonitis, including interstitial lung disease, occurred in 6.0% (16/266) of patients receiving OPDIVO. Immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 4.9% (13/266) of patients receiving OPDIVO, including Grade 3 (n=1) and Grade 2 (n=12).

Immune-Mediated Colitis

OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause immune-mediated colitis, which may be fatal. A common symptom included in the definition of colitis was diarrhea. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/reactivation has been reported in patients with corticosteroid-refractory immune-mediated colitis. In cases of corticosteroid-refractory colitis, consider repeating infectious workup to exclude alternative etiologies. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated colitis occurred in 2.9% (58/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (1.7%) and Grade 2 (1%).

In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated colitis occurred in 25% (115/456) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.4%), Grade 3 (14%) and Grade 2 (8%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated colitis occurred in 9% (60/666) of patients, including Grade 3 (4.4%) and Grade 2 (3.7%).

Immune-Mediated Hepatitis and Hepatotoxicity

OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause immune-mediated hepatitis. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 1.8% (35/1994) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.2%), Grade 3 (1.3%), and Grade 2 (0.4%).

In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 15% (70/456) of patients, including Grade 4 (2.4%), Grade 3 (11%), and Grade 2 (1.8%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 7% (48/666) of patients, including Grade 4 (1.2%), Grade 3 (4.9%), and Grade 2 (0.4%).

OPDIVO in combination with cabozantinib can cause hepatic toxicity with higher frequencies of Grade 3 and 4 ALT and AST elevations compared to OPDIVO alone. Consider more frequent monitoring of liver enzymes as compared to when the drugs are administered as single agents. In patients receiving OPDIVO and cabozantinib, Grades 3 and 4 increased ALT or AST were seen in 11% of patients.

Immune-Mediated Endocrinopathies

OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency, immune-mediated hypophysitis, immune-mediated thyroid disorders, and Type 1 diabetes mellitus, which can present with diabetic ketoacidosis. Withhold OPDIVO and YERVOY depending on severity (please see section 2 Dosage and Administration in the accompanying Full Prescribing Information). For Grade 2 or higher adrenal insufficiency, initiate symptomatic treatment, including hormone replacement as clinically indicated. Hypophysitis can present with acute symptoms associated with mass effect such as headache, photophobia, or visual field defects. Hypophysitis can cause hypopituitarism; initiate hormone replacement as clinically indicated. Thyroiditis can present with or without endocrinopathy. Hypothyroidism can follow hyperthyroidism; initiate hormone replacement or medical management as clinically indicated. Monitor patients for hyperglycemia or other signs and symptoms of diabetes; initiate treatment with insulin as clinically indicated.

In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, adrenal insufficiency occurred in 1% (20/1994), including Grade 3 (0.4%) and Grade 2 (0.6%).In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, adrenal insufficiency occurred in 8% (35/456), including Grade 4 (0.2%), Grade 3 (2.4%), and Grade 2 (4.2%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, adrenal insufficiency occurred in 7% (48/666) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.3%), Grade 3 (2.5%), and Grade 2 (4.1%). In patients receiving OPDIVO and cabozantinib, adrenal insufficiency occurred in 4.7% (15/320) of patients, including Grade 3 (2.2%) and Grade 2 (1.9%).

In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, hypophysitis occurred in 0.6% (12/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.2%) and Grade 2 (0.3%).

In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, hypophysitis occurred in 9% (42/456), including Grade 3 (2.4%) and Grade 2 (6%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, hypophysitis occurred in 4.4% (29/666) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.3%), Grade 3 (2.4%), and Grade 2 (0.9%).

In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, thyroiditis occurred in 0.6% (12/1994) of patients, including Grade 2 (0.2%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, thyroiditis occurred in 2.7% (22/666) of patients, including Grade 3 (4.5%) and Grade 2 (2.2%).

In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, hyperthyroidism occurred in 2.7% (54/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (

In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, hypothyroidism occurred in 8% (163/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.2%) and Grade 2 (4.8%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, hypothyroidism occurred in 20% (91/456) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.4%) and Grade 2 (11%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, hypothyroidism occurred in 18% (122/666) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.6%) and Grade 2 (11%).

In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, diabetes occurred in 0.9% (17/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.4%) and Grade 2 (0.3%), and 2 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis. In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, diabetes occurred in 2.7% (15/666) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.6%), Grade 3 (0.3%), and Grade 2 (0.9%).

Immune-Mediated Nephritis with Renal Dysfunction

OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause immune-mediated nephritis. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated nephritis and renal dysfunction occurred in 1.2% (23/1994) of patients, including Grade 4 (

Immune-Mediated Dermatologic Adverse Reactions

OPDIVO can cause immune-mediated rash or dermatitis. Exfoliative dermatitis, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) has occurred with PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies. Topical emollients and/or topical corticosteroids may be adequate to treat mild to moderate nonexfoliative rashes.

YERVOY can cause immune-mediated rash or dermatitis, including bullous and exfoliative dermatitis, SJS, TEN, and DRESS. Topical emollients and/or topical corticosteroids may be adequate to treat mild to moderate non-bullous/exfoliative rashes.

Withhold or permanently discontinue OPDIVO and YERVOY depending on severity (please see section 2 Dosage and Administration in the accompanying Full Prescribing Information).

In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated rash occurred in 9% (171/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (1.1%) and Grade 2 (2.2%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated rash occurred in 28% (127/456) of patients, including Grade 3 (4.8%) and Grade 2 (10%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated rash occurred in 16% (108/666) of patients, including Grade 3 (3.5%) and Grade 2 (4.2%).

Other Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions

The following clinically significant immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred at an incidence of

In addition to the immune-mediated adverse reactions listed above, across clinical trials of YERVOY monotherapy or in combination with OPDIVO, the following clinically significant immune-mediated adverse reactions, some with fatal outcome, occurred in

Some ocular IMAR cases can be associated with retinal detachment. Various grades of visual impairment, including blindness, can occur. If uveitis occurs in combination with other immune-mediated adverse reactions, consider a Vogt-Koyanagi-Haradalike syndrome, which has been observed in patients receiving OPDIVO and YERVOY, as this may require treatment with systemic corticosteroids to reduce the risk of permanent vision loss.

Infusion-Related Reactions

OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause severe infusion-related reactions. Discontinue OPDIVO and YERVOY in patients with severe (Grade 3) or life-threatening (Grade 4) infusion-related reactions. Interrupt or slow the rate of infusion in patients with mild (Grade 1) or moderate (Grade 2) infusion-related reactions. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy as a 60-minute infusion, infusion-related reactions occurred in 6.4% (127/1994) of patients. In a separate trial in which patients received OPDIVO monotherapy as a 60-minute infusion or a 30-minute infusion, infusion-related reactions occurred in 2.2% (8/368) and 2.7% (10/369) of patients, respectively. Additionally, 0.5% (2/368) and 1.4% (5/369) of patients, respectively, experienced adverse reactions within 48 hours of infusion that led to dose delay, permanent discontinuation or withholding of OPDIVO. In melanoma patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, infusion- related reactions occurred in 2.5% (10/407) of patients. In HCC patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, infusion-related reactions occurred in 8% (4/49) of patients. In RCC patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, infusion-related reactions occurred in 5.1% (28/547) of patients. In MSI-H/dMMR mCRC patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, infusion-related reactions occurred in 4.2% (5/119) of patients. In MPM patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks, infusion-related reactions occurred in 12% (37/300) of patients.

Complications of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Fatal and other serious complications can occur in patients who receive allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) before or after being treated with OPDIVO or YERVOY. Transplant-related complications include hyperacute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), acute GVHD, chronic GVHD, hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) after reduced intensity conditioning, and steroid-requiring febrile syndrome (without an identified infectious cause). These complications may occur despite intervening therapy between OPDIVO or YERVOY and allogeneic HSCT.

Follow patients closely for evidence of transplant-related complications and intervene promptly. Consider the benefit versus risks of treatment with OPDIVO and YERVOY prior to or after an allogeneic HSCT.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

Based on its mechanism of action and findings from animal studies, OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. The effects of YERVOY are likely to be greater during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with OPDIVO and YERVOY and for at least 5 months after the last dose.

Increased Mortality in Patients with Multiple Myeloma when OPDIVO is Added to a Thalidomide Analogue and Dexamethasone

In randomized clinical trials in patients with multiple myeloma, the addition of OPDIVO to a thalidomide analogue plus dexamethasone resulted in increased mortality. Treatment of patients with multiple myeloma with a PD-1 or PD-L1 blocking antibody in combination with a thalidomide analogue plus dexamethasone is not recommended outside of controlled clinical trials.

Lactation

There are no data on the presence of OPDIVO or YERVOY in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed children, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment and for 5 months after the last dose.

Serious Adverse Reactions

In Checkmate 037, serious adverse reactions occurred in 41% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=268). Grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions occurred in 42% of patients receiving OPDIVO. The most frequent Grade 3 and 4 adverse drug reactions reported in 2% to 2% included pneumonia and vomiting. No fatal adverse reactions occurred in patients who received OPDIVO in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy. In Checkmate 227, serious adverse reactions occurred in 58% of patients (n=576). The most frequent (2%) serious adverse reactions were pneumonia, diarrhea/colitis, pneumonitis, hepatitis, pulmonary embolism, adrenal insufficiency, and hypophysitis. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1.7% of patients; these included events of pneumonitis (4 patients), myocarditis, acute kidney injury, shock, hyperglycemia, multi-system organ failure, and renal failure. In Checkmate 9LA, serious adverse reactions occurred in 57% of patients (n=358). The most frequent (>2%) serious adverse reactions were pneumonia, diarrhea, febrile neutropenia, anemia, acute kidney injury, musculoskeletal pain, dyspnea, pneumonitis, and respiratory failure. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 7 (2%) patients, and included hepatic toxicity, acute renal failure, sepsis, pneumonitis, diarrhea with hypokalemia, and massive hemoptysis in the setting of thrombocytopenia. In Checkmate 017 and 057, serious adverse reactions occurred in 46% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=418). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 2% of patients receiving OPDIVO were pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, dyspnea, pyrexia, pleural effusion, pneumonitis, and respiratory failure. In Checkmate 057, fatal adverse reactions occurred; these included events of infection (7 patients, including one case of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia), pulmonary embolism (4 patients), and limbic encephalitis (1 patient). In Checkmate 743, serious adverse reactions occurred in 54% of patients receiving OPDIVO plus YERVOY. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 2% of patients were pneumonia, pyrexia, diarrhea, pneumonitis, pleural effusion, dyspnea, acute kidney injury, infusion-related reaction, musculoskeletal pain, and pulmonary embolism. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4 (1.3%) patients and included pneumonitis, acute heart failure, sepsis, and encephalitis. In Checkmate 214, serious adverse reactions occurred in 59% of patients receiving OPDIVO plus YERVOY (n=547). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 2% of patients were diarrhea, pyrexia, pneumonia, pneumonitis, hypophysitis, acute kidney injury, dyspnea, adrenal insufficiency, and colitis. In Checkmate 9ER, serious adverse reactions occurred in 48% of patients receiving OPDIVO and cabozantinib (n=320). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 2% of patients were diarrhea, pneumonia, pneumonitis, pulmonary embolism, urinary tract infection, and hyponatremia. Fatal intestinal perforations occurred in 3 (0.9%) patients. In Checkmate 025, serious adverse reactions occurred in 47% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=406). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 2% of patients were acute kidney injury, pleural effusion, pneumonia, diarrhea, and hypercalcemia. In Checkmate 205 and 039, adverse reactions leading to discontinuation occurred in 7% and dose delays due to adverse reactions occurred in 34% of patients (n=266). Serious adverse reactions occurred in 26% of patients. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 1% of patients were pneumonia, infusion-related reaction, pyrexia, colitis or diarrhea, pleural effusion, pneumonitis, and rash. Eleven patients died from causes other than disease progression: 3 from adverse reactions within 30 days of the last OPDIVO dose, 2 from infection 8 to 9 months after completing OPDIVO, and 6 from complications of allogeneic HSCT. In Checkmate 141, serious adverse reactions occurred in 49% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=236). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 2% of patients receiving OPDIVO were pneumonia, dyspnea, respiratory failure, respiratory tract infection, and sepsis. In Checkmate 275, serious adverse reactions occurred in 54% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=270). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 2% of patients receiving OPDIVO were urinary tract infection, sepsis, diarrhea, small intestine obstruction, and general physical health deterioration. In Checkmate 274, serious adverse reactions occurred in 30% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=351). The most frequent serious adverse reaction reported in 2% of patients receiving OPDIVO was urinary tract infection. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1% of patients; these included events of pneumonitis (0.6%). In Checkmate 142 in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY (n=119), serious adverse reactions occurred in 47% of patients. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 2% of patients were colitis/diarrhea, hepatic events, abdominal pain, acute kidney injury, pyrexia, and dehydration. In Checkmate 040, serious adverse reactions occurred in 59% of patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY (n=49). Serious adverse reactions reported in 4% of patients were pyrexia, diarrhea, anemia, increased AST, adrenal insufficiency, ascites, esophageal varices hemorrhage, hyponatremia, increased blood bilirubin, and pneumonitis. In Attraction-3, serious adverse reactions occurred in 38% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=209). Serious adverse reactions reported in 2% of patients who received OPDIVO were pneumonia, esophageal fistula, interstitial lung disease, and pyrexia. The following fatal adverse reactions occurred in patients who received OPDIVO: interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis (1.4%), pneumonia (1.0%), septic shock (0.5%), esophageal fistula (0.5%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (0.5%), pulmonary embolism (0.5%), and sudden death (0.5%). In Checkmate 577, serious adverse reactions occurred in 33% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=532). A serious adverse reaction reported in 2% of patients who received OPDIVO was pneumonitis. A fatal reaction of myocardial infarction occurred in one patient who received OPDIVO. In Checkmate 648, serious adverse reactions occurred in 62% of patients receiving OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy (n=310). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 2% of patients who received OPDIVO with chemotherapy were pneumonia (11%), dysphagia (7%), esophageal stenosis (2.9%), acute kidney injury (2.9%), and pyrexia (2.3%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 5 (1.6%) patients who received OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy; these included pneumonitis, pneumatosis intestinalis, pneumonia, and acute kidney injury. In Checkmate 648, serious adverse reactions occurred in 69% of patients receiving OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY (n=322). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 2% who received OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY were pneumonia (10%), pyrexia (4.3%), pneumonitis (4.0%), aspiration pneumonia (3.7%), dysphagia (3.7%), hepatic function abnormal (2.8%), decreased appetite (2.8%), adrenal insufficiency (2.5%), and dehydration (2.5%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 5 (1.6%) patients who received OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY; these included pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary embolism, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. In Checkmate 649, serious adverse reactions occurred in 52% of patients treated with OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy (n=782). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in 2% of patients treated with OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy were vomiting (3.7%), pneumonia (3.6%), anemia (3.6%), pyrexia (2.8%), diarrhea (2.7%), febrile neutropenia (2.6%), and pneumonitis (2.4%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 16 (2.0%) patients who were treated with OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy; these included pneumonitis (4 patients), febrile neutropenia (2 patients), stroke (2 patients), gastrointestinal toxicity, intestinal mucositis, septic shock, pneumonia, infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, mesenteric vessel thrombosis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. In Checkmate 76K, serious adverse reactions occurred in 18% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=524). Adverse reactions which resulted in permanent discontinuation of OPDIVO in >1% of patients included arthralgia (1.7%), rash (1.7%), and diarrhea (1.1%). A fatal adverse reaction occurred in 1 (0.2%) patient (heart failure and acute kidney injury). The most frequent Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities reported in 1% of OPDIVO-treated patients were increased lipase (2.9%), increased AST (2.2%), increased ALT (2.1%), lymphopenia (1.1%), and decreased potassium (1.0%).

Common Adverse Reactions

In Checkmate 037, the most common adverse reaction (20%) reported with OPDIVO (n=268) was rash (21%). In Checkmate 066, the most common adverse reactions (20%) reported with OPDIVO (n=206) vs dacarbazine (n=205) were fatigue (49% vs 39%), musculoskeletal pain (32% vs 25%), rash (28% vs 12%), and pruritus (23% vs 12%). In Checkmate 067, the most common (20%) adverse reactions in the OPDIVO plus YERVOY arm (n=313) were fatigue (62%), diarrhea (54%), rash (53%), nausea (44%), pyrexia (40%), pruritus (39%), musculoskeletal pain (32%), vomiting (31%), decreased appetite (29%), cough (27%), headache (26%), dyspnea (24%), upper respiratory tract infection (23%), arthralgia (21%), and increased transaminases (25%). In Checkmate 067, the most common (20%) adverse reactions in the OPDIVO arm (n=313) were fatigue (59%), rash (40%), musculoskeletal pain (42%), diarrhea (36%), nausea (30%), cough (28%), pruritus (27%), upper respiratory tract infection (22%), decreased appetite (22%), headache (22%), constipation (21%), arthralgia (21%), and vomiting (20%). In Checkmate 238, the most common adverse reactions (20%) reported in OPDIVO-treated patients (n=452) vs ipilimumab-treated patients (n=453) were fatigue (57% vs 55%), diarrhea (37% vs 55%), rash (35% vs 47%), musculoskeletal pain (32% vs 27%), pruritus (28% vs 37%), headache (23% vs 31%), nausea (23% vs 28%), upper respiratory infection (22% vs 15%), and abdominal pain (21% vs 23%). The most common immune-mediated adverse reactions were rash (16%), diarrhea/colitis (6%), and hepatitis (3%). In Checkmate 816, the most common (>20%) adverse reactions in the OPDIVO plus chemotherapy arm (n=176) were nausea (38%), constipation (34%), fatigue (26%), decreased appetite (20%), and rash (20%). In Checkmate 227, the most common (20%) adverse reactions were fatigue (44%), rash (34%), decreased appetite (31%), musculoskeletal pain (27%), diarrhea/colitis (26%), dyspnea (26%), cough (23%), hepatitis (21%), nausea (21%), and pruritus (21%). In Checkmate 9LA, the most common (>20%) adverse reactions were fatigue (49%), musculoskeletal pain (39%), nausea (32%), diarrhea (31%), rash (30%), decreased appetite (28%), constipation (21%), and pruritus (21%). In Checkmate 017 and 057, the most common adverse reactions (20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=418) were fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, cough, dyspnea, and decreased appetite. In Checkmate 743, the most common adverse reactions (20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO plus YERVOY were fatigue (43%), musculoskeletal pain (38%), rash (34%), diarrhea (32%), dyspnea (27%), nausea (24%), decreased appetite (24%), cough (23%), and pruritus (21%). In Checkmate 214, the most common adverse reactions (20%) reported in patients treated with OPDIVO plus YERVOY (n=547) were fatigue (58%), rash (39%), diarrhea (38%), musculoskeletal pain (37%), pruritus (33%), nausea (30%), cough (28%), pyrexia (25%), arthralgia (23%), decreased appetite (21%), dyspnea (20%), and vomiting (20%). In Checkmate 9ER, the most common adverse reactions (20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO and cabozantinib (n=320) were diarrhea (64%), fatigue (51%), hepatotoxicity (44%), palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome (40%), stomatitis (37%), rash (36%), hypertension (36%), hypothyroidism (34%), musculoskeletal pain (33%), decreased appetite (28%), nausea (27%), dysgeusia (24%), abdominal pain (22%), cough (20%) and upper respiratory tract infection (20%). In Checkmate 025, the most common adverse reactions (20%) reported in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=406) vs everolimus (n=397) were fatigue (56% vs 57%), cough (34% vs 38%), nausea (28% vs 29%), rash (28% vs 36%), dyspnea (27% vs 31%), diarrhea (25% vs 32%), constipation (23% vs 18%), decreased appetite (23% vs 30%), back pain (21% vs 16%), and arthralgia (20% vs 14%). In Checkmate 205 and 039, the most common adverse reactions (20%) reported in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=266) were upper respiratory tract infection (44%), fatigue (39%), cough (36%), diarrhea (33%), pyrexia (29%), musculoskeletal pain (26%), rash (24%), nausea (20%) and pruritus (20%). In Checkmate 141, the most common adverse reactions (10%) in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=236) were cough (14%) and dyspnea (14%) at a higher incidence than investigators choice. In Checkmate 275, the most common adverse reactions (20%) reported in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=270) were fatigue (46%), musculoskeletal pain (30%), nausea (22%), and decreased appetite (22%). In Checkmate 274, the most common adverse reactions (20%) reported in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=351) were rash (36%), fatigue (36%), diarrhea (30%), pruritus (30%), musculoskeletal pain (28%), and urinary tract infection (22%). In Checkmate 142 in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC patients receiving OPDIVO as a single agent (n=74), the most common adverse reactions (20%) were fatigue (54%), diarrhea (43%), abdominal pain (34%), nausea (34%), vomiting (28%), musculoskeletal pain (28%), cough (26%), pyrexia (24%), rash (23%), constipation (20%), and upper respiratory tract infection (20%). In Checkmate 142 in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY (n=119), the most common adverse reactions (20%) were fatigue (49%), diarrhea (45%), pyrexia (36%), musculoskeletal pain (36%), abdominal pain (30%), pruritus (28%), nausea (26%), rash (25%), decreased appetite (20%), and vomiting (20%). In Checkmate 040, the most common adverse reactions (20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY (n=49), were rash (53%), pruritus (53%), musculoskeletal pain (41%), diarrhea (39%), cough (37%), decreased appetite (35%), fatigue (27%), pyrexia (27%), abdominal pain (22%), headache (22%), nausea (20%), dizziness (20%), hypothyroidism (20%), and weight decreased (20%). In Attraction-3, the most common adverse reactions (20%) in OPDIVO-treated patients (n=209) were rash (22%) and decreased appetite (21%). In Checkmate 577, the most common adverse reactions (20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=532) were fatigue (34%), diarrhea (29%), nausea (23%), rash (21%), musculoskeletal pain (21%), and cough (20%). In Checkmate 648, the most common adverse reactions (20%) in patients treated with OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy (n=310) were nausea (65%), decreased appetite (51%), fatigue (47%), constipation (44%), stomatitis (44%), diarrhea (29%), and vomiting (23%). In Checkmate 648, the most common adverse reactions reported in 20% of patients treated with OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY were rash (31%), fatigue (28%), pyrexia (23%), nausea (22%), diarrhea (22%), and constipation (20%). In Checkmate 649, the most common adverse reactions (20%) in patients treated with OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy (n=782) were peripheral neuropathy (53%), nausea (48%), fatigue (44%), diarrhea (39%), vomiting (31%), decreased appetite (29%), abdominal pain (27%), constipation (25%), and musculoskeletal pain (20%). In Checkmate 76K, the most common adverse reactions (20%) reported with OPDIVO (n=524) were fatigue (36%), musculoskeletal pain (30%), rash (28%), diarrhea (23%) and pruritis (20%).

Please see US Full Prescribing Information for OPDIVO and YERVOY.

Clinical Trials and Patient Populations

Checkmate 227-previously untreated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 9LApreviously untreated recurrent or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in combination with YERVOY and 2 cycles of platinum-doublet chemotherapy by histology; Checkmate 649previously untreated advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction and esophageal adenocarcinoma; Checkmate 577adjuvant treatment of esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer; Checkmate 238adjuvant treatment of patients with completely resected Stage III or Stage IV melanoma; Checkmate 76Kadjuvant treatment of patients 12 years of age and older with completely resected Stage IIB or Stage IIC melanoma; Checkmate 274adjuvant treatment of urothelial carcinoma; Checkmate 275previously treated advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma; Checkmate 142MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 142MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Attraction-3esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Checkmate 648previously untreated, unresectable advanced recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Checkmate 648-previously untreated, unresectable advanced recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Checkmate 040hepatocellular carcinoma, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 743previously untreated unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 037previously treated metastatic melanoma; Checkmate 066-previously untreated metastatic melanoma; Checkmate 067previously untreated metastatic melanoma, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 017second-line treatment of metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer; Checkmate 057second-line treatment of metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer; Checkmate 816neoadjuvant non-small cell lung cancer, in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy; Checkmate 141recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; Checkmate 025previously treated renal cell carcinoma; Checkmate 214previously untreated renal cell carcinoma, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 9ERpreviously untreated renal cell carcinoma, in combination with cabozantinib; Checkmate 205/039classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

About the Bristol Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical Collaboration

In 2011, through a collaboration agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb expanded its territorial rights to develop and commercialize Opdivo globally, except in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where Ono had retained all rights to the compound at the time. On July 23, 2014, Ono and Bristol Myers Squibb further expanded the companies strategic collaboration agreement to jointly develop and commercialize multiple immunotherapies  as single agents and combination regimens  for patients with cancer in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

About Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them in the next several years, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, that future study results may not be consistent with the results to date, that the treatments and combination treatments may not receive regulatory approval for the indications described in this release in the currently anticipated timeline or at all, that any marketing approvals, if granted, may have significant limitation on their use, and, if approved, whether such treatments or combination treatments for such indications described in this release will be commercially successful. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibbs business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibbs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

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Bristol Myers Squibb



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BYD unveiled its Integrated Vehicle Intelligence strategy on Dream Day 2024.

XUANJI Architecture empowered by AI debuted, marking a transformative leap in merging electrification with intelligence.

BYD announced its plan to construct the world's first professional all-terrain test driving sites across several cities in China.

SHENZHEN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BYD, the world's leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles, hosted the 2024 BYD Dream Day at its global headquarters in Shenzhen. This event marks the unveiling of BYD's strategy of Integrated Vehicle Intelligence along with the launch of XUANJI Architecture, setting a new course in the development of intelligent new energy vehicles. Additionally, BYD announced its plan to construct professional all-terrain test drive sites, heralding a new era for Chinese automotive culture in the new energy landscape.

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Integrated Vehicle Intelligence (Photo: Business Wire)

XUANJI Architecture: Integrating Electrification with Intelligence

BYD's Integrated Vehicle Intelligence strategy reshapes the concept of vehicle intelligence by considering the car in its entirety, effectively remolding intelligent vehicles with the self-developed XUANJI Architecture.

The XUANJI Architecture is a vehicular intelligent architecture that serves as both the brain and neural network of the vehicle, enabling an efficient blend of electrification and intelligence. This system seamlessly perceives changes in the internal and external environment of the car in real-time. It consolidates information at millisecond level and feeds it back to the central "brain" for rapid decision-making. This system swiftly adjusts the state of the vehicle, significantly enhancing driving safety and comfort.

Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD, stated at the event that "Integrated Vehicle Intelligence is set to steer the future direction of vehicular intelligence, and to accelerate the transformation of the automotive industry."

Additionally, BYD introduced the XUANJI AI Large Model, a pioneering multimodal vehicular artificial intelligence, marking the first application of AI technology across all vehicular domains. It possesses the largest data foundation in the industry, leading sample sizes, and high computational power, covering over 300 vehicular scenarios and endowing the Integrated Vehicle Intelligence system with the capacity for continuous adaptation.

Integrated Vehicle Intelligence- Intelligent Driving and Many More

BYD's Integrated Vehicle Intelligence strategy is realized by a wide array of intelligent features and technologies.

In regards to intelligent driving, with over 4,000 engineers dedicated to the field, BYD has been leading in China for L2-level intelligent driving deployment and is the first automotive brand to receive the L3-level test license. Looking ahead, BYD aims to further bring down the barrier to Intelligent Driving, offering more advanced technologies, at competitive costs to hasten its adoption in the global market.

During the BYD Dream Day 2024, an extensive intelligence experience was a highlight, showcasing BYD's cutting-edge intelligent features. The exhibit provided a comprehensive look at various intelligence innovations, such as the opportunity to test drive the DENZA N7 equipped with NOA (Navigate on Autopilot), handling the YANGWANG U8 with Vehicle-mounted UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System), test-riding the e concept car, e parking, and intelligent entry systems, among others. This array of functionalities vividly showcased BYD's depth and breadth in intelligent technology.

Notably, partnered with DJI, BYD created the world's first vehicle-integrated UAS, pioneering an integrated automotive-grade drone bay. This innovation features intelligent storage, automatic battery swapping, and charging management, enabling takeoff and landing with one click. It also supports high-definition, high frame rate, and low-latency image transmission, ensuring that stunning aerial views can enhance your travel experience.

At the event, BYD also revealed the plan to invest 5 billion RMB to construct the world's first all-terrain professional test drive sites in several cities across China, promoting the Chinese automotive culture in the era of new energy vehicles.

As the world's leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles, BYD commits to leverage the "technological innovations for a better life." With the Integrated Vehicle Intelligence strategy, BYD will continue to spearhead the evolution of new energy vehicles, aspiring to propel the transformation of the world's automotive industry forward and to provide users worldwide with a more comfortable and efficient mobility experience.

About BYD

BYD is a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Founded in 1995 as a rechargeable battery maker, BYD now boasts a diverse business scope covering automobiles, rail transit, new energy, and electronics, with over 30 industrial parks in China, the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, and India. From energy generation and storage to its applications, BYD is dedicated to providing zero-emission energy solutions that reduce global reliance on fossil fuels. Its new energy vehicle footprint now covers 6 continents, over 70 countries and regions, and more than 400 cities. Listed in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, the company is known to be a Fortune Global 500 enterprise that furnishes innovations in pursuit of a greener world.

About BYD Auto

Founded in 2003, BYD Auto is the automotive subsidiary of BYD, a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Aiming to accelerate the green transition of the global transportation sector, BYD Auto focuses on developing pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company has mastered the core technologies of the entire industrial chain of new energy vehicles, such as batteries, electric motors, and electronic controllers. It has witnessed in recent years significant technological advancements, including the Blade Battery, DM-i Super Hybrid Technology, e Platform 3.0, CTB Technology, e Platform, BYD DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, and DMO super hybrid system. The company is the world's first carmaker to stop the production of fossil-fueled vehicles on the EV shift and has remained top of new energy passenger vehicle sales in China for 10 years in a row.

For more information, please visit www.byd.com.

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Asia-Pacific: Liya Huang, [email protected] tel: +86-755-8988-8888-69666

Europe: Penny Peng, [email protected] tel: +31-102070888

North America: Frank Girardot, [email protected] tel: +1 213 245 6503

Latin America: Jose Miranda, [email protected] tel: +56 9 96443906

Brazil: Pablo Toledo, [email protected] tel: +19 3514 2554

Middle East and Africa: Nikki Li, [email protected] tel: +86-755-8988-8888-62319

Source: BYD
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CWH) (the Company or Camping World) announced that it is reviewing potential strategic alternatives for the Companys Good Sam business, which could include a potential sale, spin off or other disposition of the business.

No decision has been made whether to proceed with any particular alternative. The Company has not set a deadline for the strategic alternatives review process, and there can be no assurance that this process will result in any particular outcome.

About Camping World Holdings, Inc.

Camping World Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, (together with its subsidiaries) is the Worlds largest retailer of RVs and related products and services. Our vision is to build a long-term legacy business that makes RVing fun and easy. Our Camping World and Good Sam brands have been serving RV consumers since 1966. We strive to build long-term value for our customers, employees, and shareholders by combining a unique and comprehensive assortment of RV products and services with a national network of RV dealerships, service centers and customer support centers along with the industrys most extensive online presence and a highly trained and knowledgeable team of employees serving our customers, the RV lifestyle, and the communities in which we operate. We also believe that our Good Sam organization and family of programs and services uniquely enable us to connect with our customers as stewards of the RV enthusiast community and the RV lifestyle. With RV sales and service locations in 43 states, Camping World has grown to become the prime destination for everything RV. For more information, visit www.CampingWorld.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to the Companys plans for the Good Sam business, including expectations regarding the review of strategic alternatives. Forward-looking statements are based on managements current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Companys business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and actual results and other events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Factors that could cause actual results or other events to differ materially from those contemplated in this press release include the outcome of the strategic alternatives review process for the Good Sam business and other important risks that can be found in the Risk Factors section of the Companys public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2023. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of their date and, except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements, whether as a result of any new information, future developments or otherwise.

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For Camping World Holdings, Inc.

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Brett Andress

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Source: Camping World
New ESG Consultancy Formed by Veteran Management Team to Offer Strategy, Analytics, Intelligence, and Market Messaging Solutions Across Industry Sectors

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, three industry veterans announced the formation of Canopy Edge, a global consulting and advisory firm that provides clients with the strategic advice and tools needed to navigate and excel in the Net Zero corporate sustainability journey. The firm offers measurement and strategy for science-based targets, ESG reporting and program management, thought leadership, and market messaging advisory services. The companys founding partners, who collectively bring many decades of experience to the venture, are Daniel Cardamone, Jonathan Keller, and Clint Wheelock.

Companies around the world are contending with ever-increasing stakeholder demand, as well as regulatory and compliance requirements, to take actionable steps to improve their impact on the community and the environment, says Cardamone. Effective strategies should incorporate economic, environmental, and social factors into an organizations policies, practices, and processes. If executed properly, the net results should include progress toward Net Zero emissions reduction by 2050, employee engagement, and improving profitability, among other positive outcomes.

Wheelock adds that, while large companies have been building and implementing sustainability initiatives in recent years, the focus is now turning to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which are a primary target market for Canopy Edge. With regulatory and stakeholder pressure mounting, an increasing number of organizations are faced with the challenges of assessing their entire supply chain emissions impact and identifying where to focus abatement activities. A best practice for tracking supplier engagement is collaborating with competitors, as shared value chains are common in most sectors. Companies will achieve considerable progress if they can define a win-win relationship with their competitors and suppliers, provide methodologies and support, certify data quality, and highlight benefits to the bottom line.

Companies are also under increasing expectations to communicate their commitments to ESG improvement, says Keller. To build credible messaging with internal and external stakeholders, companies must ensure their messaging is aligned with corporate values, and is genuine, transparent, and supported by concrete actions and data. Unique among sustainability consultancies, Canopy Edge provides clients with market messaging, ESG reports and thought leadership, custom digital media content, and content syndication and lead generation services.

Canopy Edges solution offerings for clients fall into three main practice areas: Corporate Sustainability, Sustainability Intelligence, and Sustainability Messaging.

The Corporate Sustainability practice includes six key offerings related to helping companies set objectives, measure progress, and design programs related to science-based targets:

Scope 1 and 2 GHG Footprinting Scope 3 GHG Footprinting Target Setting Abatement Planning Supplier Engagement Climate Risk

The Sustainability Intelligence practice applies rigorous research and analysis methodologies to provide the necessary insights on stakeholder priorities and perceptions, market positioning, and industry benchmarks, with five key offerings:

Regulatory Compliance Disclosures Materiality Assessments Industry Benchmarking Surveys and Focus Groups

Within the Sustainability Messaging practice, Canopy Edge advises clients on optimizing their market messaging around sustainability initiatives, leveraging years of experience in go-to-market strategy and the wide reach of its network. The firm assists clients across industries in several key areas:

Market Messaging Strategy ESG Reports and Thought Leadership Content Digital Media Content Content Syndication and Lead Generation

The Canopy Edge management team has been advising Net Zero implementors since 2009 and has extensive combined experience in management consulting, market intelligence, and digital media for global sustainability, energy, and technology markets. Founders Daniel Cardamone, Jonathan Keller, and Clint Wheelock together have established and led pioneering startups focused on consulting and market analysis, in addition to leading large corporate organizations. The team has advised hundreds of CEOs and other C-level executives in sustainability, energy, and technology markets; assisted organizations in more than 80 countries around the world with strategic initiatives and go-to-market plans; and facilitated the transition of over 500 companies toward Net Zero goals through more than 1,200 unique client engagements, spanning diverse industry sectors.

About Canopy Edge

Canopy Edge is a global management consulting firm that provides clients with the strategic advice and tools needed to navigate and excel in the Net Zero corporate sustainability journey. The firm offers measurement and strategy for science-based targets, supplier engagement solutions, ESG reporting and program management, thought leadership, and market messaging advisory services. For more information, visit www.canopyedge.com.

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Clint Wheelock

[email protected]

Source: Canopy Edge
HONG KONG & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- It is the year of the dragon, and Hong Kong will be the place to be when celebrating this exciting cultural event from bustling flower markets to exciting city-wide celebrations to festive displays. For tourists looking to visit Hong Kong during the festivities, here are a few ways to celebrate Chinese New Year like a local.

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Chinese New Year pudding workshop in Kee Wah Studio (Credit: Kee Wah Bakery)

#1 Tuck into a Poon Choi Feast for Luck

Also known as a basin meal, poon choi used to be an under-the-radar dish, confined mostly to rural villages. It has seen an explosion of popularity in recent years, especially during the Chinese New Year period. An enormous basin is layered with ingredients and covered in a rich, savory gravy. The basin is then gently warmed up and eaten communally. There is much symbolism attached to the ingredients found in poon choi, from pork that symbolizes prosperity, to prawns that symbolize happiness. Locals believe that by eating these auspicious foods, you can attract these positive attributes into your life.

Tourists to Hong Kong can partake in a traditional poon choi feast by joining local tours to one of Hong Kongs rural walled villages like those in Yuen Long or Sha Tau Kok. With distinct customs attached to these walled villages, you can expect a fascinating glimpse into the authentic way villagers celebrate Chinese New Year!

#2 Make Yourself a Chinese New Year Pudding to Reach Great Heights

Some of the most popular celebration dishes are Chinese New Year puddings. These delicious puddings come in both sweet and savory varieties and symbolize prosperity and attaining new heights in the new year. Theyre typically made before the Chinese New Year period and served during visits to friends and family.

Participate in a hands-on workshop run by traditional Hong Kong bakeries like Kee Wah, which will give aspiring home chefs a lesson in preparing these new year treats and send them home with a recipe to be enjoyed all year long.

#3 Kick off a Prosperous New Year with Dried Seafood Shopping

Dried seafood is always the core ingredients for the Chinese New Year menu. Why? Locals believe that the start of the new year sets the tone for the year ahead.

The section of Sheung Wans Des Voeux Road West between Queen Street and Centre Street is well-known as Dried Seafood Street, which is one of the worlds biggest dried seafood hubs. There, youll find dozens of shops doing a brisk trade in preserved scallops, abalone, shrimp and much more. These streets become even busier before Chinese New Year, as locals stock up on rare and precious ingredients ahead of celebratory meals with their loved ones. Tourists can also easily purchase dried seafood products all in one place at major retail stores in Hong Kong.

#4 Play Mahjong to Activate Good Luck

During the Chinese New Year, locals visit each other's homes to share blessings and spread happiness. One of the favorite activities among locals during the new year is to play mahjong. With maximum four players engaging at a time, this fun, highly social game represents unity and togetherness, and requires both luck and skill to win. The loud clacking of the mahjong tiles is said to sound just like the firecrackers that are set off during Chinese New Year to drive away misfortune.

Immerse Yourself in Marquee Chinese New Year Events in Hong Kong

Other than family and friends' gatherings, the festive atmosphere is also filling up every corner of the city with exciting array of celebratory events that cant be missed during a visit to Hong Kong.

The city's biggest Chinese New Year event, the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade, is returning with a bang to kick off the Year of the Dragon on February 10 after a five-year hiatus. From 8 pm until 9:45 pm, the parade winds through the popular tourist area of Tsim Sha Tsui, with performances by entertainers around the world, lavishly decorated floats and much more.

The festive ambience continues to shine on February 11 as the world-famous Victoria Harbour lights up with the spectacular 2024 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display. Marvel at the world-class fireworks brightening the night sky as the city roars into the new year. Head to the best viewing points located on both sides of the harbor promenade for this shimmering performance.

The Chinese New Year period lasts until the 15th day, and tourists can enjoy an array of exciting city-wide celebrations like, the CNY Raceday, Lunar New Year Cup, as well as lion dances galore and more.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Anne Gomm

Senior Manager, PR & Marketing

Hong Kong Tourism Board US

[email protected]

Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board
Self-funded health program expert will service a diverse Northeast client portfolio

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chris Nunnally has joined Alliant Insurance Services as Senior Vice President within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in Boston, Nunnally will design and deliver customized employee benefits solutions for self-funded employers across the Northeast region.

Nunnally has extensive experience managing coalition health insurance programs for clients across a breadth of industries, overseeing renewals, reinsurance bids, strategic planning, and marketing initiatives. He also has expertise in delivering a range of value-added solutions, including prescription drug programs, telemedicine, and disease care management.

Chris proactively engages with clients, labor unions, and key administrators to negotiate and deliver positive outcomes for all stakeholders, said Kevin Overbey, President, Alliant Employee Benefits. He has a proven track record of providing innovative products and solutions that enhance value and drive down healthcare costs.

Prior to working with Alliant, Nunnally was Area Vice President within the Boston office of a global insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm. He also has extensive business development experience with some of the nations largest insurance carriers, working directly with the brokerage community.

Nunnally earned his associates degree from Cape Cod Community College and is licensed in Accident and Health and Life Insurance. He can be reached at (860) 459-8163 or [email protected].

About Alliant Insurance Services

Alliant Insurance Services is one of the nations leading distributors of diversified insurance products and services. We operate through a network of specialized national platforms and local offices to offer our clients a comprehensive portfolio of solutions built on innovative thinking and personal service. The business of managing risk is getting more complex, and Alliant is meeting this complexity head-on, not with more layers of management, but with more creativity and agility. Alliant is changing the way our clients approach risk management and benefits, so they can capitalize on new opportunities to grow and protect their organizations. Visit us at alliant.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240115098516/en/

Nick Kopinga

First Vice President

Corporate Marketing and Communications

(949) 260-5004

[email protected]

Source: Alliant Insurance Services
ImageSilo Honored by Keypoint Intelligence

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Digitech Systems is pleased to announce that ImageSilo was chosen by analysts at Keypoint Intelligence for a Buyers Lab (BLI) 2024 Pick Award as Outstanding Cloud Information Management System.

Keypoint Intelligence has been the worlds leading independent product evaluator specializing in the information management and imaging industries for more than 50 years. Keypoint Intelligence analysts and lab technicians performed a thorough evaluation by testing ImageSilos capabilities, reliability, and support, and by assessing its strengths against competitive technologies. ImageSilo earned a Platinum rating in the report by the Keypoint Intelligence analysts, who called it one of the most full-featured [information management systems] on the market. The analysts also highlighted the easy implementation enabled by lower costs and simpler setup, superb cyber security, and powerful workflow engine that doesnt require coding.

____________________

ImageSilo proves to be effective in helping businesses minimize the burdens placed on IT departments, improve overall workflow, and protect sensitive data. The system is flexible enough to pull duty for very small offices and hefty enough to scale all the way up to large enterprises, so organizations looking to streamline document processes while also enhancing document security and compliance should seriously consider ImageSilo.

All told, ImageSilo delivers enhanced productivity for document-centric organizations, so knowledge workers will be able to spend more time on customer-facing or revenue-generating activities and less time on wasteful administrative tasks.

Jamie Bsales,

Principal Analyst, Solutions & Security, Keypoint Intelligence

____________________

The BLI Pick Awards honor the most impressive solutions tested by Keypoint Intelligence during the evaluation period, with awards given in several areas.

We are thrilled that ImageSilo has been recognized as a Pick award winner by Keypoint Intelligence! said HK Bain, CEO of Digitech Systems. Launched in 1999 as the worlds first cloud-based enterprise content management service, ImageSilo has a proud tradition of absolute information security, effective process automation, and safe document collaboration for our clients. We are delighted to once again see ImageSilo placed at the forefront of the cloud information management industry by the Keypoint Intelligence analysts. Digitech Systems will continue to help companies around the world better manage their information through innovative technologies.

See the complete product report and learn more about ImageSilo by visiting the website.

About Digitech Systems, LLC

Digitech Systems is the most trusted choice for intelligent information management and business process automation. Preferred by thousands of businesses worldwide from global conglomerates to Main Street, teams count on Digitech Systems to pave the path to more meaningful work by transforming how they handle digital files, processes, documents, and more.

Celebrated by industry analysts and insiders for creating the best enterprise content management and workflow solutions on the market, Digitech Systems has an unsurpassed legacy of accelerating business performance by streamlining digital processes for organizations of any size with the PaperVision and ImageSilo brands. For decades, Digitech Systems technologies have kept their customers on the knowledge management leading edge. To learn more about Digitech Systems and their award-winning suite of information management, workflow, electronic forms, and robotic process automation technologies, visit www.digitechsystems.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116482929/en/

Elizabeth Edwards

Volume Public Relations

720.529.4850

Source: Digitech Systems
OSLO, Norway--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Elliptic Labs (OSE: ELABS), a global AI software company and the world leader in AI Virtual Smart Sensors currently deployed in over 500 million devices, has launched its AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY with Xiaomi, the third largest smartphone maker globally, on the new POCO X6 Pro smartphone. The Xiaomi POCO X6 Pro, released for the global market, is driven by MediaTeks Dimensity 8300 Ultra chipset developed by Elliptic Labs partner MediaTek. The contract for this launch was previously announced by Elliptic Labs.

"The value of Elliptic Labs AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform has led to Xiaomis launch of our AI Virtual Proximity Sensor on their latest value-driven flagship device, the POCO X6 Pro, said Laila Danielsen, CEO of Elliptic Labs. We are proud that our partnership with Xiaomi has created many innovative smartphone designs. Xiaomi continues to leverage Elliptic Labs leadership role in AI/ML, ultrasound, and sensor fusion technologies. We anticipate a strong collaborative future with the largest OEMs like Xiaomi to build devices that are greener, smarter, and more human-friendly."

AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY

Elliptic Labs AI Virtual Proximity Sensor detects when a user holds their phone up to their ear during a call, allowing the smartphone to turn off its display and disable its screens touch functionality. This keeps the users ear or cheek from triggering unwanted actions during the call, such as hanging up or dialing numbers. Turning off the screen also helps conserve battery life.

Proximity detection is a core capability that is used in all smartphones, but Elliptic Labs AI Virtual Proximity Sensor is a unique, software-only solution that delivers robust proximity detection without the need for a dedicated hardware sensor. By replacing hardware sensors with software sensors, the AI Virtual Proximity Sensor reduces device cost and eliminates sourcing risk.

INNER BEAUTY is a registered trademark of Elliptic Labs.

AI Virtual Smart Sensor, AI Virtual Proximity Sensor, and AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform are trademarks of Elliptic Labs.

All other trademarks or service markets are the responsibility of their respective organizations.

About Elliptic Labs

Elliptic Labs is a global enterprise targeting the smartphone, laptop, IoT, and automotive markets. Founded in 2006 as a research spin-off from Norways Oslo University, the companys patented software uses AI, ultrasound and sensor fusion to deliver intuitive 3D gesture, proximity-, presence-, breathing- and heartbeat-detection experiences. Its scalable AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform creates software-only sensors that are sustainable, human-friendly and already deployed in hundreds of millions of devices around the world. Elliptic Labs is the only software company that has delivered detection capabilities using AI software, ultrasound, and sensor fusion deployed at scale. The company joined the Oslo Brs main listing in March 2022.

Elliptic Labs is headquartered in Norway with presence in the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Its technology and IP are developed in Norway and are solely owned by the company.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116768270/en/

PR Contacts:

Patrick Tsui

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Lars Holmy

[email protected]

Source: Elliptic Labs
WOKINGHAM, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ferguson plc (NYSE: FERG, LSE: FERG) (the Company) announces today that it purchased a total of 72,103 of its ordinary shares in the period from January 8, 2024, up to and including January 12, 2024, in connection with its $3.0 billion share repurchase program.

Aggregated information about the purchases carried out during this period

Trading Day Aggregate Daily Volume (in number of shares) Daily weighted average purchase price of the shares (USD) Trading Venue January 8, 2024 1,500 186.3640 ARCX January 8, 2024 100 186.4500 LATS January 8, 2024 19 186.2800 XNAS January 8, 2024 14,286 186.4314 XNYS January 9, 2024 900 186.2844 ARCX January 9, 2024 7,800 185.8024 XNYS January 10, 2024 1,700 186.8800 ARCX January 10, 2024 100 186.6800 XCIS January 10, 2024 300 186.8200 XNAS January 10, 2024 17,221 187.0193 XNYS January 11, 2024 1,101 185.6922 ARCX January 11, 2024 26 186.1800 HRTF January 11, 2024 200 185.8000 XNAS January 11, 2024 14,973 185.8026 XNYS January 12, 2024 815 186.7089 ARCX January 12, 2024 100 187.0000 CDRG January 12, 2024 15 187.6800 IEXG January 12, 2024 10,947 186.7373 XNYS

The Company intends to hold these shares in treasury. Following the purchase of these shares (including those purchased but not yet settled), the number of shares held by the Company in treasury will be 29,000,554.

Following the purchase of these shares, the remaining number of ordinary shares in issue will be 203,170,628. The figure of 203,170,628 may be used by shareholders (and others with notification obligations) as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation), as it forms part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, detailed information about the individual purchases can be found at Ferguson - Investors - Shareholder Center - Share Buy-Back Details - 2024 Share Buy-Back.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117534217/en/

For further information please contact:

Brian Lantz, Vice President IR and Communications

+1 224 285 2410

Pete Kennedy, Director of Investor Relations

+1 757 603 0111

Source: Ferguson plc
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Franklin BSP Lending Corporation (FBLC) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a special dividend of approximately $115 million, or $0.49 per common share, in connection with the previously announced definitive merger agreement entered into by and between FBLC, Franklin BSP Capital Corporation (FBCC) and the other parties thereto. The special dividend was paid in cash on January 11, 2024 to common stockholders of record as of January 10, 2024. The special dividend constituted a tax dividend permitted by the definitive merger agreement.

As previously announced, on December 19, 2023, FBCC common stockholders approved an amended and restated investment advisory agreement with Franklin BSP Capital Adviser L.L.C. (FBCA), FBCCs external investment adviser, which will become effective upon the closing of the anticipated merger of FBLC with and into FBCC. In addition, on January 5, 2024, FBLC common stockholders approved the merger. Accordingly, all required stockholder approvals for the merger have been received. The merger is tentatively scheduled to close by the end of January, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions.

About BSP

Benefit Street Partners L.L.C. (BSP) is a leading credit-focused alternative asset management firm with approximately $76 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2023. BSP manages assets across a broad range of complementary credit strategies, including private/opportunistic debt, structured credit, high yield, special situations, long-short liquid credit and commercial real estate debt. Based in New York, the BSP platform was established in 2008. BSP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. For further information, please visit www.benefitstreetpartners.com.

About Franklin BSP Capital Corporation

FBCC is a non-listed business development company (BDC) with a $759 million investment portfolio at fair value as of September 30, 2023. FBCCs investment portfolio primarily consists of loans to middle-market companies. FBCC has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). FBCC is managed by its investment adviser, FBCA, an affiliate of BSP. For further information, please visit https://benefitstreetpartners.com/our-business/funds/fbcc/. This press release is not an offer to sell any securities issued by FBCC and is not soliciting an offer to buy such securities.

About Franklin BSP Lending Corporation

FBLC is a non-listed BDC with a $2.8 billion investment portfolio at fair value as of September 30, 2023. In January 2022, FBLC changed its name from Business Development Corporation of America to Franklin BSP Lending Corporation. FBLCs investment portfolio primarily consists of loans to middle-market companies. FBLC has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. FBLC is managed by its investment adviser, Franklin BSP Lending Adviser, L.L.C., an affiliate of BSP. For further information, please visit https://benefitstreetpartners.com/our-business/funds/fblc/. This press release is not an offer to sell any securities issued by FBLC and is not soliciting an offer to buy such securities.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements because they relate to future events, future performance or financial condition or the anticipated merger of FBLC with and into FBCC (the Merger). The forward-looking statements may include statements as to: future operating results of FBCC and FBLC and distribution projections; business prospects of FBCC and FBLC and the prospects of their portfolio companies; the impact of the investments that FBCC and FBLC expect to make; and the impact and effects of the Merger. In addition, words such as anticipate, believe, expect, seek, plan, should, estimate, project and intend indicate forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve risks and uncertainties. FBCC and FBLC have based the forward-looking statements included in this press release on information available to them on the date of this press release, and they assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although FBCC and FBLC undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that they may make directly to you or through reports that FBCC and FBLC in the future may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116985524/en/

Investor Relations Contact:

Amy Theaumont

[email protected]

(617) 433-2543

For media inquiries:

Travis Fishstein

[email protected]

(917) 822-1857

Source: Franklin BSP Lending Corporation
For the First Time Ever in June 2024, Pure Barre Members and Fans Can Pulse for One Week at Sea

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Are you ready to tuck in the tropics? Pure Barre, the largest barre brand in the United States, and its partner Princess Cruises announced today the first-ever Pure Barre at Sea: A Tropical Retreat, aboard the Enchanted Princess cruise ship, coming in the summer of 2024.

The weeklong cruise sets sail from Fort Lauderdale, June 8-15 and combines Caribbean seagoing adventures with Pure Barres energetic low-impact, full-body workouts and empowering community. The seven-day cruise will visit three stunning destinations: the private Bahamian resort of Princess Cays, gorgeous St. Thomas, and cosmopolitan San Juan, Puerto Rico. Each of these tropical islands offers world-class beaches and seemingly endless dining, shopping and sightseeing opportunities, as well as Pure Barre-themed group events and excursions throughout the voyage.

Following the success of sister brand Club Pilates first-ever branded cruise in 2023, Club Pilates at Sea: An Alaskan Retreat, Pure Barre at Sea will offer Pure Barre Align, Define, Classic and Empower classes throughout the ship, themed cruise activities include a welcome event, Barre on the Beach, Pure Barre on the Piazza, sunrise and sunset outdoor classes, mixology and themed dining events, as well as on and off-ship Pure Barre group activities and excursions, and more.

We couldnt be more excited about our inaugural Pure Barre: A Tropical Retreat that offers members and fans of Pure Barre an opportunity to enjoy their favorite classes along with an incredible array of onboard amenities of Enchanted Princess, said Katelyn DiGiorgio, Interim President of Pure Barre. There is no better way to vacation than sailing, sun, and taking Pure Barre classes at sea.

Pure Barre members can reserve their spot on this tropical adventure by calling (888) 810-0912 or visiting a special website created just for this voyage. Those who book by March 10 enjoy $100 per-person deposits as well as $50 of onboard credit if booked before January 31.

For more information about Pure Barre, visit www.purebarre.com.

ABOUT PURE BARRE:

Founded in 2001, Pure Barre is the largest barre brand by number of studios, offering a range of effective, low-impact, full-body workouts for a broad range of fitness levels. Pure Barre has five signature class formats including introductory, classic barre, interval training, resistance training, and restorative stretching. Its high-quality instructors receive specialized multi-tiered training allowing for class format and choreography to be refreshed on a quarterly basis. Ranked on Entrepreneur Magazines Franchise 500 each year and the Fastest-Growing Franchises in three years running as well as Inc. Magazines Inc. 5000, Pure Barre is headquartered in Irvine, CA and backed by Xponential Fitness, the largest franchisor of health and wellness brands. To learn more about Pure Barre, visit https://www.purebarre.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116922923/en/

David Robertson, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 847-945-1300

Source: Pure Barre
Chad Baruch earns place on annual list for appellate work

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Johnston Tobey Baruch continues to earn recognition for its appellate work with name partner Chad Baruchs selection to Lawdragons list of 500 Leading Lawyers in America for 2024.

My journey in the legal profession has been fueled by a commitment to excellence and a passion for serving the Texas community, said Mr. Baruch, who also is the firms managing shareholder. I am truly honored to be recognized by Lawdragon as among the distinguished 500 Leading Lawyers in America for 2024.

Mr. Baruchs practice involves work on high-stakes civil and family law appeals, constitutional issues, legal ethics, and representation of judges before the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. He served as the 85th chair of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors and remains the only Jewish lawyer in Texas history to be chair or president of the State Bar. He also chaired the Texas Bar College and was one of two nominees for president of the State Bar of Texas in 2017.

In addition to this years Lawdragon award, Mr. Baruch has been cited as a Texas Super Lawyer by Thompson Reuters and as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine each year since 2011.

"Chad has been a leader and mentor within the legal industry, said Randy Johnston. This years list wouldn't be complete without recognizing his contributions to the Texas legal community.

Lawdragons guide features all-star litigators from 100 firms who excel in representing corporations and other organizations in litigating claims involving antitrust, securities, financial, M&A, intellectual property and patents, product liability, mass tort, white collar, government investigations and energy disputes.

The publication selected honorees using nominations plus independent research focused on recent cases and defense verdicts or settlements. Lawdragon says its honorees represent "the hope and promise of Americas legal profession.

To view the full list for 2024, click here.

About Johnston Tobey Baruch:

Johnston Tobey Baruch is a dynamic law practice based in Dallas. Its trial and appellate attorneys have a broad range of litigation, arbitration and appellate experience. They are pioneers in the handling of legal and accounting malpractice, investment fraud and business disputes. They also have an enviable track record with insurance bad faith matters, commercial litigation and fiduciary litigation, as well as civil, family and criminal appeals for many prominent Texas companies and individuals.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117828982/en/

Tamlyn Sheng

800-559-4534

[email protected]

Source: Johnston Tobey Baruch
Travelers Open to Human Interaction When Scheduling Travel and Other Activities

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As AI (artificial intelligence) continues to evolve and transform how everyday tasks are completed, a new survey reveals travelers appear to have an open mind when utilizing the technology to assist with booking travel. A national survey of 2000 Americans commissioned by justfly.com, a leading online travel agency, sought insight from U.S. travelers about their level of confidence in booking online travel and their openness to using AI when booking travel. The research shows that all generations (more than 90% of those surveyed) are comfortable utilizing online platforms to book travel, but in different ways. Gen Z showed the greatest preference for having human interaction when scheduling travel and other related activitiesmost likely because they lack experience in this arena not because they lack online savvy.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117132392/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

Awareness about AI Involvement in Travel

When asked about the overall awareness of AIs involvement in travel, only 19% had any knowledge of AI when booking their most recent travel. However, 44% of those surveyed said they would be open to exploring AIs capabilities on future trips. Around half of Gen Z (51%) and Millennial travelers (52%) are happy to turn to AI for assistance.

It is no secret; AI is the future. AI is becoming more and more critical to almost everything we do day-to-day, planning and booking travel is no different. AI is becoming a critical tool in our industry. Justfly.com is committed to leveraging advancing technology to improve our customer's experience and enable them to create affordable itineraries based on their needs, said Henri Chelhot, CEO of justfly.com.

A Source of Controversy, Lack of Trust

As more is discovered about AI and its capabilities, AI remains a source of controversy and uncertainty for some. Those who said they would turn to AI for help with booking travel look forward to discoveries and the potential for greater efficiency. Those who would not are skeptical of its capabilities and concerned about data security, but most importantly they dont want to lose the fun part of the travel experience: planning and booking their trip and activities.

Among those open to using AI, 59% said they like the idea of using AI to make discoveries they wouldnt have found otherwise and 49% said AI could make annoying, menial tasks more efficient. Nearly half (49%) of those surveyed admitted to being skeptical of what AI can do in terms of planning travel. Forty-two percent said they dont want to give their personal information to AI. Mistrust is greatest among older travelers, 45% of Baby Boomers and 42% of Gen X say they would not at all trust AI to plan their trip. Millennials are the most open with 16% expressing complete trust.

Human Interaction Remains Important

While a great deal of travel booking does take place digitally, most of those surveyed, regardless of generation, said having human interaction remains an important aspect of the overall travel booking experience. Nearly 90% said human interaction is important, specifically when it comes to needing assistance and being able to contact customer support. In terms of flight and hotel booking, 35% said human interaction is very important and 29% said itinerary planning needs were best met when speaking to a live customer service agent. When broken down by generation, 44% of Gen Z said having access to a person was very important and 54% of Baby Boomers agreed.

At justfly.com, we pride ourselves in providing our customers with a positive experience, whether they decide to complete their travel plans exclusively online or speak to one of our well-trained customer service agents. In a world that has largely gone digital, we have to remember that you cant put a price tag on being able to interact on a human-to-human basis, Chelhot stated. We are prepared to embrace AI while ensuring our customers needs are met.

About justfly.com

Justfly.com, a Momentum Ventures subsidiary, is an online travel agency created to reach the North American market. Partnering with more than 400 airlines that travel to and from the U.S., justfly.com makes travel accessible, enabling more people to visit new places and explore new cultures. Since 2014, the company has been focused on offering the best travel options while providing a user-friendly and efficient customer experience. More can be found at justfly.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117132392/en/

Email: [email protected]

Phone Number: + 1 (514) 758-5102

Source: Justfly.com
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KBRA releases research examining the robust but slowing U.S. labor market. The report discusses the outsized contribution of government hiring to overall employment growth over the last year and prospects for the trend to continue in 2024 as remaining pandemic-related federal assistance funds are deployed.

Click here to view the report.

Related Reports

About KBRA

KBRA is a full-service credit rating agency registered in the U.S., the EU, and the UK, and is designated to provide structured finance ratings in Canada. KBRAs ratings can be used by investors for regulatory capital purposes in multiple jurisdictions.

Doc ID: 1002983

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117288046/en/

Peter Scherer, Director

+1 646-731-2325

[email protected]

Joan Feldbaum-Vidra, Senior Managing Director

+1 646-731-2362

[email protected]

Business Development

William Baneky, Managing Director

+1 646-731-2409

[email protected]

James Kissane, Senior Director

+1 646-731-2380

[email protected]

Source: Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC
Annual life science industry report by eClinical Solutions uncovers trends and practical realities for external data, AI, and cycle times

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- eClinical Solutions, a global provider of digital clinical software and services, today announced the results from its 2024 Industry Outlook, an annual report synthesizing research with 77 professionals working across clinical operations, data management, statistical programming, and biometrics functions to reveal insights on the most pressing trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the clinical data landscape.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117183678/en/

Respondents indicate to what extent their organization has integrated AI/ML approaches into clinical data workflows. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The 2024 Industry Outlook suggests strong enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), overtaking automation this year as the top trend in the industry, due largely to the continued complexity of trials as well as buzz around the potential of emerging technologies. Key findings include:

53% of respondents believe AI/ML will have the greatest impact on efficiency and outcomes in 2024, up from 11% in the 2023 Industry Outlook.

Interest in external data sources is varied, but use of decentralized clinical trial (DCT) technologies and wearables in particular, lag far behind more specific sources of data (labs, biomarkers, etc.)

Cycle times remain a significant challenge for respondents

Advanced technologies such as AI and ML represent clear opportunities for life science leaders looking to increase productivity across the clinical trial life cycle and drive tomorrows breakthroughs, said Katrina Rice, chief delivery officer, biometrics services at eClinical Solutions. As the industry evolves from a traditional clinical data management model toward a more holistic clinical data science model, incorporating advanced analytics tools is more important than ever. Blending traditional and tech-driven approaches emerged as a clear priority for respondents, however with the majority still in the early stages of AI and ML integration, a concerted effort will be needed to bridge the gap from exploration to value. Our research suggests 2024 will bring continued interest and implementation of emerging technologies.

Emphasizing the pivotal role of these technologies, Diane Lacroix, vice president, clinical data management at eClinical Solutions, added, The theme of 2024 is practical: embracing incremental innovation to expedite timelines and boost efficiency. The recent expansion of elluminate IQ Review (eIQ Review) enables data management teams to leverage these advanced AI/ML capabilities to conduct data review in a more efficient, scalable way."

Surprisingly, the survey results hint at a possible stagnation in the use of some external data sources  potentially due to slower than expected adoption of DCT approaches and other barriers explored more fully in the Industry Outlook report. Nevertheless, volume and variety of data clearly remain key issues, as reported in the survey and in discussions during eClinical Solutions ENGAGE 2023. A key task for the future is incorporating and integrating all these data sources to get a more holistic picture of the patient," said Sandy Ng, vice president, data science at eClinical Solutions. "Many sponsors are seeking practical guidance on data acquisition approaches for specific study needs, as well as future-proof technologies to handle expanding data volume."

Survey results highlight that trial cycle times remain a significant and ongoing challenge, intrinsically connected to the increased complexity of the overall clinical trial landscape. Sponsors and service providers alike are grappling with the question  how do we compress the time it takes us to reach key milestones while maintaining quality?," said Rice. "Technology offers promising avenues across clinical development, but it is equally critical to embed a dedicated infrastructure across people and workflows. Working together across these areas we can implement more efficient processes for reduced cycle times and build a future-ready foundation to drive tomorrows breakthroughs."

Join an expert-led discussion of the top data challenges and opportunities found in the 2024 Industry Outlook survey at the Thursday, January 18 webinar, Advancing Clinical Data Transformation, here: https://www.eclinicalsol.com/webinars/advancing-clinical-data-transformation-industry-outlook-2024/

To receive a copy of eClinical Solutions 2024 Industry Outlook report, click here: https://www.eclinicalsol.com/ebooks/clinical-data-industry-outlook-2024/.

About eClinical Solutions

eClinical Solutions industry-leading data & analytics platform and biometrics services experts help biopharma researchers at large, mid-size, and emerging life sciences organizations manage trial complexity in less time and with fewer resources. Clients get accurate and timely data insights for better decision-making  enabling them to reduce cycle times, improve productivity, easily scale, and develop tomorrows breakthroughs with todays resources. eClinical is a privately-held, purpose-driven company with a global workforce and winner of the 2023 Top Workplaces USA and Culture Excellence Awards. Learn more at www.eclinicalsol.com and follow us eClinical Solutions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117183678/en/

Alex Connelly

[email protected]

(401) 486-7437

Source: eClinical Solutions
Credit Passport solution eases financial challenges for migrants by connecting U.S., U.K., Canadian and other international lenders to translated credit data from Creditinfos IBCH Ukraine

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nova Credit, the leading cross-border and alternative credit analytics company, has announced a strategic collaboration with Creditinfo, a global service provider for credit information and risk management solutions, to help Ukrainians gain access to the necessary financial services needed to effectively rebuild their lives abroad. The partnership is powered by Nova Credits Credit Passport, the only cross-border credit solution enabling newcomers to access their foreign credit history when applying for financial products in their new home country. Bridging this critical data gap, Nova Credit and Creditinfo are providing Ukrainian expats and refugees with the tools they need to get started on the right financial footing upon arrival.

Since March 2022, the U.S., U.K., and Canada - Nova Credits largest partner markets - have seen a combined 840,000 Ukrainians move1, and that number is expected to grow as the Russia-Ukraine War continues. As many will seek permanent residency in these new countries, a lack of credit history will introduce an obstacle to accessing financial services as, historically, new-to-country individuals have had no way to carry over their credit history and financial identity. This presents a challenge for both new arrivals who are looking to re-establish their lives, in addition to lenders who lack the credit data needed to provide their financial services and products to this newcomer population.

With this partnership, credit data from International Bureau of Credit Histories (IBCH) Ukraine (a Creditinfo credit bureau)  one of the three main credit bureaus in Ukraine  can be instantly translated into a local-equivalent credit report and score so that lenders who use the Credit Passport solution can assess the credit risk of new-to-country Ukrainian applicants. Nova Credits partners using the Credit Passport today include American Express, HSBC, Scotiabank, Verizon, and UNFCU.

Of the many credit-excluded migrant populations around the world, few are in more dire need of support than the Ukrainian people," said Misha Esipov, co-founder and CEO of Nova Credit. Credit access isn't just a piece of the puzzle; it's a lifeline for the countless Ukrainians uprooted by the chaos of war. We set out to build this partnership with Creditinfo and IBCH Ukraine from the onset of the war, and our teams have worked hard to enable this integration. Together, we're using data to bridge a world where everyone, regardless of where they come from, has a fair shot at building a brighter future.

We are delighted to partner with Nova Credit to help Ukrainians arriving in the U.S. gain access to financial services and credit checks as they look to settle and rebuild their lives, said Satrajit Saha, Global CEO of Creditinfo Group. Among the many challenges facing Ukrainians, is finding ways to access finance. Having a positive credit history is vital to doing many things in the U.S. such as renting a property and securing a job. This is why the information we can provide through our partnership with Nova Credit is so important  it offers the data financial institutions, employers and landlords need to provide basic services to Ukrainians wanting to rebuild their lives.

The Credit Passport Ukraine data integration is available for deployment into any credit risk or underwriting process across the U.S., U.K., Canada, U.A.E, Singapore, and Ukraine itself. To learn more about how to get started with Credit Passport, visit: www.novacredit.com/business/credit-passport

1 Source: 380,000 into the U.S. according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 250,000 into the U.K. according to UNHCR, and 210,000 into Canada under the CUAET program.

ABOUT NOVA CREDIT

Nova Credit is a credit infrastructure and analytics company that enables businesses to grow responsibly by harnessing consumer credit data. The company leverages its unique set of data sources, bank-grade infrastructure and compliance framework, and proprietary credit expertise to help lenders fill the gaps that exist in traditional credit analytics. Nova Credit serves as the bridge between data and credit excellence, providing a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to give lenders across various industries - including finance, fintech, property management, telecom, and automotive - a competitive edge in the open finance era. Its cross-border credit product, Credit Passport, cash flow underwriting product, Cash Atlas, and income verification product, Verification of Income, are used by leading organizations like American Express, Verizon, HSBC, SoFi, Scotiabank, and Yardi. Nova Credit is backed by investors including Canapi Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, General Catalyst, and Index Ventures as well as executives from Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Citi. Learn more at www.novacredit.com or reach out to [email protected].

ABOUT CREDITINFO

Established in 1997 and headquartered in London, UK, Creditinfo is a provider of credit information and risk management solutions worldwide. As one of the fastest-growing companies in its field, Creditinfo facilitates access to finance, through intelligent information, software and decision analytics solutions.

With more than 30 credit bureaus running today, Creditinfo has the most considerable global presence in this field of credit risk management, with a significantly greater footprint than competitors. For decades it has provided business information, risk management and credit bureau solutions to some of the largest lenders, governments and central banks globally to increase financial inclusion and generate economic growth by allowing credit access for SMEs and individuals.

For more information, please visit www.creditinfo.com

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V2 Communications on behalf of Nova Credit

Rachel Levy

[email protected]

Source: Nova Credit
AI, Data Analytics and NTT Smart Management Platform will help regenerate section of Daintree while speeding new models for environmental restoration

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NTT and ClimateForce today announced a partnership to create the worlds first Smart Rainforest using NTTs Smart Management Platform technology. This groundbreaking initiative aims to regenerate a section of Australia's Daintree Rainforest and establish sustainable and cost-effective models for environmental restoration efforts around the world.

ClimateForce is regenerating a section of Australias Daintree Rainforest that had been razed for agriculture decades ago. The land, which is adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef, has since become infested with invasive plant species. NTTs sponsorship will help support the regeneration effort using Smart Management Platform (SMP) Technology and Analytics, while NTT DATA, a global digital business and IT services leader, is providing operational and fundraising support.

ClimateForce is a proving ground for technologies that protect biodiversity and help mitigate climate change, said Barney Swan, CEO and Co-founder of ClimateForce. The generous support from NTT and NTT DATA will help us quickly expand our initiative in the Daintree and speed our goal of developing replicable models that regenerate ecosystems, protect biodiversity and foster resilient local economies in other locations.

NTT DATA will help ClimateForce leverage AI, data gathering and analysis as well as predictive analytics to assess various organic reforestation techniques. In addition to providing operating support for the initiative, NTT DATA is also contributing funds to help ClimateForce purchase and protect the regenerated land in perpetuity.

NTT DATA met Barney through our sponsorship of his fathers Undaunted: South Pole 2023 expedition, which advocated for sustainable practices and long-term protections for Antarctica, said Bob Pryor, CEO, NTT DATA Services. Were excited to extend this relationship and help ClimateForce with its mission in the tropics, which perfectly aligns with our own vision for realizing a sustainable future.

To learn more about NTT Group and sustainability, visit https://www.global.ntt/sustainability/index.html

About ClimateForce

ClimateForce is a registered Australian charity that seeks to accelerate scalable and sustainable solutions for business and daily life. The organization is based in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in Queensland, Australia. The team engages locally, nationally, and internationally to connect businesses to productive and profitable carbon-neutral models. Visit https://www.tropicalregen.org/ to learn more.

About NTT

NTT contributes to a sustainable society through the power of innovation. We are a leading global technology company providing services to consumers and business as a mobile operator, infrastructure, networks, applications, and consulting provider. Our offerings include digital business consulting, managed application services, workplace and cloud solutions, data center and edge computing, all supported by our deep global industry expertise. We are over $97B in revenue and 330,000 employees, with $3.6B in annual R&D investments. Our operations span across 80+ countries and regions, allowing us to serve clients in over 190 of them. We serve over 75% of Fortune Global 100 companies, thousands of other enterprise and government clients and millions of consumers.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30 billion trusted global innovator of IT and business services. We help clients transform through business and technology consulting, industry and digital solutions, applications development and management, managed edge-to-cloud infrastructure services, BPO, systems integration and global data centers. We are committed to our clients long-term success and combine global reach with local client service in over 80 countries. Visit nttdata.com or LinkedIn to learn more.

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[email protected]

Source: NTT DATA
Total aggregate fundraising for Pantheon Global Infrastructure Fund IV and associated vehicles (PGIF IV) equates to largest-ever program, and exceeded initial target

PGIF IV is Pantheons latest flagship offering in global infrastructure with a focus on infrastructure secondaries, where the firm has a first-mover advantage and leadership position

Commitments came from a wide range of blue-chip institutional and private wealth investors across Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East

Flagship fund is 75% deployed, with more than 90% of capital committed to a range of both LP portfolio and GP-initiated secondaries

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pantheon, a leading global private markets investor, is pleased to announce the final close of Pantheon Global Infrastructure Fund IV and associated vehicles (PGIF IV), marking the firms largest-ever fundraise with commitments totaling $5.3bn1.

The successful close reflects growing demand for Pantheons global infrastructure strategy and in particular its concentrated focus and established expertise in infrastructure secondaries, which have come more into focus in the current market environment amid heightened demand for liquidity from both investors and fund managers.

PGIF IV also builds on the growing momentum across Pantheons secondaries investment programs, including its largest-ever private equity secondaries fundraise of $3.25bn for Pantheon Global Secondaries Fund VII and associated vehicles (PGSF VII) in November 2023.

Commitments to the program came from a wide range of investors across Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East, from blue-chip institutional investors such as public and corporate pension plans, insurers, endowments and family offices, to inflows from Pantheons growing global private wealth platform.

Andrea Echberg, Partner and Global Head of Infrastructure, commented: We are delighted to have raised our largest-ever program and grateful for the growing interest and support from our investors around the world. We are excited to continue deploying into one of the most robust market environments we have ever seen, with heightened liquidity needs driving increased secondaries deal flow and discounts for high-quality portfolios and assets. Pantheon has a current pipeline of more than $12bn in infrastructure secondaries, enabling us to be highly selective in executing on compelling opportunities that we believe will deliver strong risk adjusted-returns to our investors.

PGIF IV is Pantheons latest flagship global infrastructure offering and this latest close continues the growth and evolution of the firms wider real assets platform, which as of Q2 2023 had in excess of $20bn in discretionary assets under management across strategies dedicated to infrastructure and real assets, and real estate. The flagship fund is currently 75% deployed, with more than 90% of capital committed to a broad range of LP portfolio and GP-initiated secondaries transactions2.

Pantheon is a recognized first-mover and pioneer in infrastructure secondaries, having invested approximately $7.6bn in the space since 20103. The firm has a leadership position across private market secondaries more broadly, with a 35-year track record in private equity secondaries and having also innovated the market for private credit secondaries, with the launch the worlds first dedicated fund in 2018 and now more than $4.5bn in capital dedicated to credit secondaries4.

Kathryn Leaf, Partner, Co-Head of Investments and Global Head of Real Assets at Pantheon, said: This important milestone for Pantheon reflects the breadth and depth of our specialist expertise in private market secondaries and GP capital solutions, where we have been a first mover and market leader for over 35 years, deploying over $28bn in transactions across private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private credit investments. Across our asset classes, we are recognized for our high conviction, analytical investment approach that enables us to identify market inefficiencies, capture embedded value and build portfolios of the highest-quality companies and assets for our investors.

1 Total fundraising includes capital raised through core flagship commingled funds and that was committed to and deployed from other funds and separate accounts that invest alongside PGIF IV during the fundraising period. 2 Pantheon internal data, as of December 31, 2023. Inclusive of all deals closed and in legal closing from Pantheon Global Infrastructure Fund IV USD, which is the programs core commingled fund. There is no guarantee deals in legal closing will close. 3 Pantheon internal data, as of December 31, 2023. Inclusive of all infrastructure secondaries closed and in legal closing since 2010. There is no guarantee deals in legal closing will close. 4 Pantheon internal data as of January 2024, inclusive of closed and hard-circled capital. There is no guarantee hard-circled capital will close.

About Pantheon

Pantheon* has been at the forefront of private markets investing for more than 40 years, earning a reputation for providing innovative solutions covering the full lifecycle of investments, from primary fund commitments to co-investments and secondary purchases, across private equity, real assets and private credit.

We have partnered with more than 1,000 clients, including institutional investors of all sizes as well as a growing number of private wealth advisers and investors, with approximately $62bn in discretionary assets under management (as of June 30, 2023).

Using creative approaches informed by our specialized experience and delivered by a global team of professionals based in offices across Europe, the Americas and Asia, we invest with purpose and lead with expertise to build secure financial futures.

* Pantheon refers to the subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings of Pantheon Ventures Inc. and AMG Plymouth UK Holdings Limited and includes operating entities principally based in the US (San Francisco and New York), UK (London), Hong Kong, Guernsey, Tokyo, Dublin and Singapore. Pantheon Ventures Inc. and Pantheon Ventures (US) LP are registered as investment advisors with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Pantheon Securities, LLC is a broker dealer registered with the SEC and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Pantheon Ventures (UK) LLP is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom. Pantheon Ventures (Guernsey) Ltd and a number of other Pantheon entities incorporated in Guernsey are regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. Pantheon Ventures (Asia) Limited is registered as a Type II Financial Instruments Business and Investment Advisory and Agency Business Operator with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau in Japan (KLFB). Pantheon Ventures (Ireland) DAC is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) and is an appointed representative of Pantheon Ventures (UK) LLP in respect of activities carried out in the United Kingdom. Pantheon Ventures (Singapore) Pte. Ltd holds a capital markets service licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to conduct fund management with accredited and institutional investors.

The AMG Pantheon Funds are distributed by AMG Distributors, Inc., a member of FINRA/SIPC.

This press release is not an offer of securities for sale. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration.  2024

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116086416/en/

Pantheon

Ashley Wassall, Head of Client Communications

Tel: +44 20 3356 1763 | C: +44 7776 778 620 | Email: [email protected]

Source: Pantheon
Hosts Grants 101 Workshop on January 30

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Port Houston has announced the start of the application period for its Community Grants Program (CGP), beginning February 1. Eligible not-for-profit organizations may submit their Letters of Interest (LOI) to Port Houston starting February 1. Applicants meeting the 2024 CGPs guidelines and priorities will be invited to complete the full grant application following the close of the LOI period, which ends March 1.

Port Houston is dedicated to supporting and helping improve the communities around the Houston Ship Channel. Its Community Grants Program focuses on investing resources into meaningful projects and programs in our area. Since the programs inception in 2020, Port Houston has awarded $1.25 million towards initiatives supporting economic and workforce development, revitalizing greenspaces, pollution reduction, and health equity programs.

Port Houston will host two public workshops to highlight this years program and allow interested organizations the opportunity to ask clarifying questions about the 2024 CGP process. Workshop dates are scheduled for February 6 and February 15.

On a related note, Port Houston co-hosts a Grants 101 workshop on January 30. This free, virtual event is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of how our local non-profit partners can find grant opportunities, strategically write grant proposals, and be more competitive for all their grant submissions, not just when applying for a Port Houston grant.

Interested non-profits may access more information about Port Houstons 2024 Community Grants Program, including dates, times, and links to the workshops, which can be found at https://porthouston.com/community/outreach/community-grants-program/

About Port Houston

For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the areas largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country. Port Houston is the advocate and a strategic leader for the Channel. The Houston Ship Channel complex and its more than 200 private and eight public terminals is the nations largest port for waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the U.S. The Port of Houston supports the creation of nearly 1.5 million jobs in Texas and 3.37 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $439 billion in Texas and $906 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website at PortHouston.com.

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Lisa Ashley-Daniels, Director, Public Relations, Office: 713-670-2644; Mobile: 832-247-8179; E-mail: [email protected]

Source: Port Houston
Lawdragon list touts white collar defense success

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Renowned trial lawyer Dan Cogdell has been named to the 2024 edition of the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, a distinguished legal guide that highlights the nations top attorneys.

Widely known for successfully defending Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his impeachment trial before the Texas Senate, Mr. Cogdell is the only lawyer listed from Texas who exclusively practices criminal defense.

For video of Mr. Cogdell discussing these honors, click here.

To be in the company of some truly exceptional lawyers is quite an honor, said Mr. Cogdell. It is a pleasant surprise and really speaks to the efforts and success of our entire team. I am thankful to those in the industry that helped make this recognition possible.

Founder of the Cogdell Law Firm, Mr. Cogdell is known for high-profile cases and specializes in defense work related to obstruction of justice, securities fraud, federal criminal and appellate matters. His most notable case was his successful representation of Branch Davidian Clive Doyle after the 1993 standoff with law enforcement agencies outside Waco. He is a repeat honoree by The Best Lawyers in America, Texas Super Lawyers and the prestigious Chambers USA legal guide.

The 2024 edition of the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America guide highlights lawyers that have had significant impact, including an emphasis on recent matters handled. Selection is based on peer-nominations, independent third-party research and thorough editorial evaluation to identify the top attorneys in a variety of legal areas.

Click here to view the full list.

About the Cogdell Law Firm

The Cogdell Law Firm is nationally recognized for trial and appellate achievement in criminal justice, defending serious accusations of conduct in white-collar, federal and appellate matters. Visit https://cogdell-law.com/ for more information.

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Alyssa Woulfe

800-559-4534

[email protected]

Source: Cogdell Law Firm
Saudi Arabia and OECD sign MoU at World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 to expand cooperation on economic and governance policies

DAVOS, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on a wide range of public policy initiatives in areas including the economy, tax, corporate governance and sustainability.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117710990/en/

Saudi Arabias Minister of Economy and Planning, HE Faisal F. Alibrahim, signs agreement with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann to expand cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the OECD, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland. (Photo: AETOSWire)

The strategic partnership, signed during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, reflects the Kingdoms solutions-oriented approach to multilateralism and its willingness to build balanced and collaborative institutional frameworks for sustained prosperity.

His Excellency Faisal F. Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning, said the Saudi-OECD partnership would further boost the Kingdoms thriving investment landscape through collaborative policies and regulations that promote competitive private sector participation in Saudi Arabias rapidly diversifying economy.

International partnerships with organizations such as the OECD are key to continuously enhancing our institutional capabilities and facilitating knowledge and technology transfers. Under this partnership with the OECD, we will further develop robust public policies that align with international best practices and can further drive the momentum of Saudi Vision 2030.

The collaboration will take various forms, including joint research, information exchange, the sharing of statistical data, the organization of meetings and events, and support for Saudi Arabia's alignment with OECD standards, which includes evaluation and comparative analyses of policy practices.

Saudi Arabia already participates in nine OECD committees and adheres to seven OECD legal instruments. The collaboration will deepen the Kingdoms cooperation with the organization in policy areas including public governance and regulatory policy, skills and education, corporate governance and finance, investment policy, anti-corruption, and trade facilitation.

The partnership emphasizes a commitment to good governance, integrity, transparency, and evidence-based policy. As Saudi Arabia progresses with Saudi Vision 2030, global collaborations will play a pivotal role in shaping policies that foster economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social development.

Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117710990/en/

Wooud Alquaied

[email protected]

Source: Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning
Patient Advocacy Organization Accuses Deceptive Business Practices and Tortious Interference

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SHARx, LLC, a white-glove patient advocacy organization helping members access high-cost and specialty medications at affordable prices, filed suit in Cook County, Illinois court last week, citing Defamation, Deceptive Business Practices and Tortious Interference. The suit, which was assigned to Judge Mary Roberts, comes 11 months after AbbVie sent letters to patients and industry executives that discouraged them from doing business with SHARx and named them in PAP (Patient Assistance Program) documents as a company that was ineligible to provide application assistance. AbbVie also named SHARx in a lawsuit in which SHARx is not a defendant, causing SHARx to miss out on a merger that would have increased its national reach and helped reduce prescription expenses for thousands of Americans.

For six years AbbVie accepted nearly every application our team submitted on behalf of our underinsured members. Without ever contacting SHARx, they cut off our patients, disregarding the needs of those who qualify for their program by their own standards, said SHARx CEO Corey Durbin. Companies like AbbVie use bullying tactics to protect their profit-rich turf. Healthcare should work for everyone. SHARx is proud to stand up to their bullying on behalf of our members and clients, he continued.

SHARx works with companies to help their employees get access to lifesaving and life-altering medications that are not covered under their employer health plan. SHARx provides multiple sourcing options, including the Patient Assistance Programs of companies like AbbVie.

AbbVie has raised the price on just one drug, Humira, countless times since it came out in 2003. It now costs $84,000 per year. That is more than the average income for a family of four in the United States, continued Durbin. Meanwhile AbbVie makes record profits and they bully anyone who is trying to make a difference for American families in desperate need.

The 17 top-selling drugs in 2020 produced more revenue in the United States ($101 billion) than in the rest of the world combined ($57 billion). AbbVies Humira alone reaped more than $16 billion in U.S. revenue, more than quadruple the rest of the world combined. The United States is subsidizing the health of the world on the backs of those who can ill afford it.

The healthcare system in this country is broken. The greed of big pharma and the disincentives for other industry players to make changes have forced SHARx to be the one to act on behalf of employers and families, said Durbin. We will not stop until every American has access to the lifesaving and life-altering medicines they need at a reasonable price.

Harry Arger of Dykema Gossett in Chicago, IL is lead counsel and Krystal Weigl of Weigl Law in St. Louis, MO is co-counsel for SHARx. For more information on SHARx, please visit www.sharxplan.com.

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Alex Dudley

Cloudbreak Communications

917.596.1445

[email protected]

Source: SHARx, LLC
The feature helps enterprise publishers and brands collect opt-in consent ahead of new state legislation effective in 2024

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sourcepoint, a leading data privacy technology company, has launched a sensitive data opt-in feature for its consent management platform (CMP) to help customers prepare for U.S. privacy changes on the horizon. As of March 31, 2024, the Washington My Health, My Data Act will require opt-in consent for tracking and collecting personal health data, which is defined very broadly. Several other U.S. states already require opt-in consent for sensitive data collection, but Washingtons new law also provides a private right to action to consumers. This marks a paradigm shift from the traditional opt-out approach that most states have previously required. Sourcepoints feature supports a new model for consent in the U.S. that has so far been limited to the EU, allowing more customers to be privacy-forward in their approach to navigating such a complex landscape.

As Washingtons My Health, My Data Act ushers in a significant change in U.S. regulatory oversight, its more important than ever for companies to assess if they are collecting sensitive information or if any of their third-party partners are. This poses a challenge not just because there is no single comprehensive privacy law in the U.S., but because the definitions of sensitive data vary greatly across federal, state and sectoral laws. Several comprehensive state privacy laws include sensitive inferences in their definitions, meaning that data that reveals certain sensitive categories could still trigger the law  like a consumers browsing history of health-related articles on a media website or shopping history of health-related purchases on an e-commerce platform. Some states also require express consent before sensitive data is processed.

With the new feature functionality, Sourcepoints CMP solution can now be used in a broader, multi-regulation context. Large enterprises can now establish an opt-in message on Sourcepoints CMP that notifies users of data collection, asks for consent and passes the signal downstream. Sourcepoints highly customizable platform allows companies to tailor messaging to the look and feel of their brand for a seamless experience that encourages more engagement with end users.

Washingtons health-specific data law represents a big shift in U.S. privacy and consent management, said Julie Rubash, Chief Privacy Officer and General Counsel at Sourcepoint. When new U.S. privacy regulations are first implemented, the industry tends to wait and see until lawsuits are filed before taking action  but fines and other penalties can come at a high cost and damage a companys reputation. To stay ahead of the curve and mitigate risk, Sourcepoints new CMP feature will allow brands to prepare for a possible domino effect of multistate legislation.

We believe 2024 will be the year of sensitive data, said Gabe Morazan, Product Director at Sourcepoint. As other states are likely to follow Washingtons lead to pass opt-in laws, now is the time for companies to ensure their enterprise privacy strategy is evolving with the changing landscape in the U.S. and globally. Sourcepoints sensitive data opt-in feature allows enterprises to better facilitate a dialogue with their customers to encourage consent decisions and transparency in data sharing.

About Sourcepoint

Sourcepoint is the leading data privacy software company trusted by the world's most influential enterprises. Supporting over 30 billion consumer touchpoints per month, Sourcepoint offers enterprise-grade privacy automation for complex, dynamic compliance challenges. Sourcepoint has offices in New York, Berlin, and London. Learn more at sourcepoint.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117528652/en/

Media:

Kelsey Bates

Allison

[email protected]

Source: Sourcepoint
ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SYNAPS Dx (SDx) a privately held company focused on the research, development and commercialization of a diagnostic test for Alzheimers disease (AD), today appointed an accomplished group of physicians, neuroscientists and esteemed leaders in neurodegenerative disease to its newly formed Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), reinforcing its commitment and position as an innovator and first-mover in the AD diagnostics industry. SDx welcomes this remarkable, esteemed group of individuals who will further expand research and market development of its proprietary, highly accurate DISCERN test: the first autopsy-validated skin test to demonstrate high specificity and sensitivity distinguishing the disease from non-Alzheimers disease in people recently diagnosed with dementia, even those living with mixed-dementia.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117576710/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

 Alberto J. Espay, MD, MSc, chairman of the SAB, has over 300 published peer-reviewed research articles and 10 books on neurodegenerative diseases. He offers a deep knowledge of neurology, including the direction of the first biomarker study of aging (CCBPstudy.com) designed to match people with neurodegenerative disorders to available therapies from which they are most biologically suitable to benefit, regardless of their clinical diagnoses.

 David G. Morgan, PhD, director, Alzheimers Alliance and MSU Foundation Professor of Translational Neuroscience at Michigan State University where he studies AD, aging, brain function, immunotherapy and gene therapy to treat the Alzheimer-related pathologies.

 Giulio Taglialatela, PhD, serves as the vice chair for research of the Department of Neurology and the director of the UTMB Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases. He is also the inaugural director of the newly established UTMB Brain Health Institute under the auspice of which all clinical and basic research neuroscience at UTMB will be located.

 Lon S. Schneider, MD, MS, is professor of psychiatry, neurology and gerontology at Keck School of Medicine and Leonard Davis School of Gerontology of the USC; and holds the Della Martin Endowed Chair in Psychiatry and Neuroscience. He directs the USC California AD Center (Dep. of Health) and co-directs the clinical core of the USC NIA AD Research Center.

"We hand-picked these individuals who have made significant contributions and pioneered breakthroughs in Alzheimers research and therapeutics, and together, they bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise to SDx, says Paul Tanico, chief strategy officer and executive chairman, SDx. We are honored to partner with such exceptional thought leaders who are shaping the future of brain health and advancing the biology of memory. Getting an accurate AD diagnosis with the DISCERN test is critically important because treatment options for patients are specific and distinct compared to treatments for patients with other forms of non-Alzheimers dementia.

DISCERN is administered as a single skin biopsy by a clinician and is readily accessible in the community office setting. The test informs physician prescribing of new, FDA-approved drugs for AD and supports alternative care plans, including lifestyle changes, that can improve outcomes for patients with non-Alzheimers dementia or mild cognitive impairment, reduce costs and reduce caregiver burdens.

DISCERN is comprised of three different autopsy-validated assays that assess several critical factors directly related to AD that regulate memory, the formation of synaptic connections among neurons, the levels of amyloid plaques and levels of neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. The MI assay is based on measuring an ensemble of multiple factors such as inflammation, synaptic growth and neuronal death that can be detected in skin fibroblasts. Complementary to the MI assay, the protein kinase C (PKC) assay includes fibroblasts from the skin biopsy that are cultured and analyzed using the ELISA to measure PKC levels in relation to A exposure in the brain. The AD-biomarker index also composes one of the three assays and tests skin fibroblasts from biopsies to culture to confluency.

About SYNAPS Dx

SYNAPS Dx is a privately held company focused on the research, development and commercialization of a diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The company offers DISCERN, the first highly accurate, minimally invasive test supporting a clinician's definitive diagnosis of AD versus other forms of dementia, even in people recently diagnosed with dementia. SYNAPS Dx's laboratory is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) as qualified to perform high-complexity clinical laboratory testing. Physicians and patients seeking more information can visit https://discerntest.com/. For more information on the company, visit https://www.synapsdx.com/. Contact: [email protected].

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117576710/en/

Media:

Caroline Chambers

CPR Communications

[email protected]

201.641.1911 x 21

Source: SYNAPS Dx
NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- International Data Corporation (IDC) sees cloud-native deployment of telco network workloads accelerating in 2024. IDC forecasts worldwide revenue for telco cloud infrastructure software, including virtual network functions (VNFs), cloud-native network functions (CNFs), and network functions virtualization infrastructure (NFVI), across four market subsegments (core transport, mobile infrastructure, mobile backhaul, access networks and virtual CPE), will grow from $12.9 billion in 2022 to $27.3 billion in 2027. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.1% over the 2022-2027 forecast period.

Most current telco workloads continue to leverage VNFs; however, as wireless, wireline, and other service providers turn their attention to cloud-native workloads, we expect the CNF market to grow rapidly. In making this year's forecast, IDC has accounted for the recent emergence and growing initiative to deploy cloud-native, container-based telco workloads across the telco cloud. Accordingly, the forecast breaks out cloud-native network functions as a separate line item.

In addition, with the inclusion and discrete breakout of cloud-native network functions, IDC recognizes the impact on NFVI and underlying shifts toward container-as-a-service (CaaS) offerings that include container-based infrastructure management such as Kubernetes, or even hybrid deployment models in which containers are deployed on bare metal or virtual machines (VMs). In addition, in a cloud-native world, the impetus is on comms service providers to deploy network functions across edge sites while continuing to manage a mix of core and edge sites on horizontal telco cloud platforms based on a common software foundation.

"Adoption of cloud-native network functions is gaining momentum, with CNFs being deployed alongside virtual network functions across comms service providers' cloud-based digital infrastructure for service agility, lower cost of ownership, and elastic scaling of the network," said Ajeet Das, research director, Telecom Network Infrastructure at IDC. "However, these operators face a range of daunting challenges, including lack of in-house expertise in cloud-native orchestration and infrastructure, difficulty defining and implementing comprehensive security, and operational complexity of managing on-premises, cloud, and multi-cloud networks."

The IDC report, Worldwide Telco Cloud Infrastructure Software (NFVI, VNF, and CNF) Forecast, 2022-2027 (IDC #US50087723), presents the worldwide market forecast for the telco cloud infrastructure software (VNF/CNF and NFVI) for the 20222027 period. As part of this forecast, IDC breaks out telco cloud infrastructure software spending across core transport network (CUPS adoption in core and edge routing and BNG), mobile cloud infrastructure (e.g., virtual and cloud RAN, vEPC/5G Core, and vIMS), mobile backhaul, access network virtualization, and virtual CPE. The report also provides a market overview, including drivers and challenges for communications service providers and advice for technology suppliers.

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117728280/en/

Ajeet Das

[email protected]

678-525-6149

Patrick Filkins

[email protected]

508-935-4145

Michael Shirer

[email protected]

508-935-4200

Source: International Data Corporation (IDC)
Phase III READY-3 study met its co-primary endpoints, with RelabotulinumtoxinA significantly improving both frown lines and crows feet when treated alone or simultaneously1

Results demonstrate high patient satisfaction at one month and long duration of effect for six months1

Data further reinforce RelabotulinumtoxinAs long duration of effect first observed in the phase III READY-1 and READY-2 trials, validating it as a well-tolerated and highly effective treatment for frown lines and crows feet1-3

READY-3 study results will be presented at the upcoming TOXINS 2024 conference, alongside data from Galdermas broad portfolio of innovative neuromodulators, including Alluzience and Dysport

ZUG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Galderma announced today positive topline results from the phase III READY-3 clinical trial investigating the use of RelabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of glabellar lines (frown lines) and lateral canthal lines (crows feet), either alone (single-area) or simultaneously. The study met its co-primary endpoints, demonstrating that a single dose of RelabotulinumtoxinA significantly improves both frown lines and crows feet, when treated alone or simultaneously, with long duration of effect for six months.1 These and other results from the READY phase III clinical trial program, as well as from Galdermas broad and innovative aesthetics portfolio, will be presented at the TOXINS 2024 International Conference in Berlin, held from January 17-20, 2024.

Were looking forward to sharing the latest updates from our world-leading injectable aesthetics portfolio at TOXINS 2024, particularly first data from our phase III READY-3 trial. These results build on those previously seen in the READY-1 and READY-2 trials, further reinforcing RelabotulinumtoxinAs ability to provide long-lasting improvement for frown lines and crows feet when treated simultaneously.

BALDO SCASSELLATI SFORZOLINI, M.D., Ph.D.

GLOBAL HEAD OF R&D

GALDERMA

The READY clinical trial program is composed of four phase III trials which enrolled more than 1,900 participants. READY-3 is a phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to assess the safety and efficacy, as measured by aesthetic improvement, of RelabotulinumtoxinA in patients with moderate to severe frown lines or crows feet, either administered as a single-area treatment or simultaneously on both frown lines and crows feet, when compared to placebo. The trial met its co-primary endpoints, with patients and investigators reporting at least a two-grade improvement in line severity after single-area treatment of frown lines (71%) or crows feet (45%) and simultaneous treatment (72% frown lines and 55% crows feet), compared to placebo at one month (p

Investigator-reported response rates at one month were high, with 94-96% reporting none or mild frown lines when treated alone or simultaneously with crows feet, compared to placebo (2%, p

Patients often want their aesthetic look to last longer or to receive treatment on multiple facial areas simultaneously, and practitioners want to deliver consistent results for their patients. These new data highlight the ability of RelabotulinumtoxinA to address all these key needs for frown lines and crows feet, while also being a ready-to-use formulation thats easy to administer.

DR. VINCE BERTUCCI, M.D.

CO-DIRECTOR, DERMATOLOGIC LASER SURGERY & AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY FELLOWSHIP, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, CANADA

These results further reinforce the positive safety, efficacy and long duration of effect data observed in the READY-1 and READY-2 trials, which  together with recent phase IIIB results  also demonstrated RelabotulinumtoxinAs rapid onset of action on frown lines and crows feet as early as day 1.2-5 Data from the READY-1 and READY-2 studies will be presented at the TOXINS 2024 conference, highlighting that:2,3

Both studies met their primary endpoints, with significantly higher responses than placebo after one month for both frown lines and crows feet.

Results showed rapid onset of action, with over a third of patients seeing results on day 1 for frown lines (39%) and crows feet (34%), and demonstrated long duration of effect for six months.

RelabotulinumtoxinA is currently under investigation by Galderma and is not approved for any indication in any jurisdiction.

At the conference, Galderma will also present data from its broad and innovative neuromodulator portfolio, including:

Results from the phase IV STAR study demonstrating the innovative science of Alluzience (abobotulinumtoxinA solution) for the treatment of frown lines. In 81% of the treatment sessions, the investigators preferred Alluzience over onabotulinumtoxinA. The majority of patients maintained aesthetic improvement in frown lines and reported high satisfaction, including a natural and refreshed look, throughout six months.6

Results from a phase IV non-interventional study investigating the real-world use of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of frown lines in 250 patients in China, reinforcing the long-term duration results and providing further evidence of Dysport use in clinical practice.7

Additionally, a Galderma-sponsored educational symposium on Alluzience will be chaired by Dr. Magdalena Korwin and Dr. Christoph Martschin, on Friday, January 19, from 3:35  4:05PM CET.

More details on Galdermas scientific presentations at TOXINS 2024 can be found here.

About RelabotulinumtoxinA (QM1114)

Developed by Galderma, RelabotulinumtoxinA is a highly-active, innovative, complex-free, and ready-to-use liquid botulinum toxin A with a proprietary strain and manufactured using a unique state-of-the-art process. It is designed as a ready-to-use liquid solution, avoiding the traditional requirement to reconstitute from powder and eliminating variability, errors and risks associated with reconstitution, which would be expected to improve the consistency of results. RelabotulinumtoxinA is currently being investigated globally by Galderma, to expand its neuromodulator portfolio as part of the broadest Injectable Aesthetics portfolio on the market.

About Alluzience

Alluzience (abobotulinumtoxinA solution) is the first ready-to-use BoNT-A liquid neuromodulator formulation to be introduced in Europe. Alluzience is indicated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines seen at maximum frown in adult patients under 65 years, when the severity of these lines has an important psychological impact on the patient. It should only be administered by a physician with appropriate qualifications and expertise in this treatment using the required equipment. Dosing and treatment intervals depend on assessment of the individual patients response. The treatment interval should be no more frequent than every three months. For more information, please see the Summary of Product Characteristics.8

Alluzience is a product under license from Ipsen. Alluzience is a registered trademark of Ipsen. Galderma has an exclusive license from Ipsen to develop, promote and distribute Alluzience in the approved indication in Europe.

About Dysport

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) is a prescription injection indicated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines associated with procerus and corrugator muscle activity in adult patients less than 65 years of age, the treatment of adults with cervical dystonia, the treatment of upper limb spasticity in adults, and the treatment of lower limb spasticity in pediatric patients two years of age and older.9 Dysport is also marketed as Azzalure in the European Union for the treatment of glabellar lines and lateral canthal lines. Dysport has more than 30 years of clinical experience globally for therapeutic indications and 13 years for aesthetics indications, with extensive clinical evidence of safety and efficacy. It is licensed for aesthetic indications in more than 85 markets worldwide, Dysport is one of the worlds leading brands of aesthetic neuromodulators with over 100 million treatments delivered in the aesthetics indications to date.

Dysport is a product under license from Ipsen and is manufactured by them. Since 2009, Galderma and Ipsen have had a strategic partnership under which Galderma has promoted and distributed Ipsens botulinum toxin type A products in aesthetic indications. The Ipsen-Galderma strategic partnership now covers China, the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Australia, South Korea, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and certain other countries. Ipsen continues to promote Dysport within certain therapeutic indications in countries around the world. For more information on Ipsen, visit www.ipsen.com.

About Galderma

Galderma is the emerging pure-play dermatology category leader, present in approximately 90 countries. We deliver an innovative, science-based portfolio of premium flagship brands and services that span the full spectrum of the fast-growing dermatology market though Injectable Aesthetics, Dermatological Skincare and Therapeutic Dermatology. Since our foundation in 1981, we have dedicated our focus and passion to the human bodys largest organ  the skin  meeting individual consumer and patient needs with superior outcomes in partnership with healthcare professionals. Because we understand that the skin we are in shapes our lives, we are advancing dermatology for every skin story. For more information: www.galderma.com.

References:

Bertucci V, et al. Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Formulation Liquid Botulinum Toxin, RelabotulinumtoxinA, when used for Combination Treatment of Glabellar and Lateral Canthal Lines. Abstract presented at TOXINS 2024. Solish N, et al. Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Glabellar Lines with RelabotulinumtoxinA, an Investigational Liquid Botulinum Toxin: Clinical Efficacy and Safety Results from the READY-1 Phase III trial. Abstract presented at TOXINS 2024. Ablon G, et al. Treatment of Lateral Canthal Lines with RelabotulinumtoxinA, an Investigational Liquid Botulinum Toxin: Clinical Efficacy and Safety Results from the READY-2 Phase III Trial. Abstract presented at TOXINS 2024. Galderma data on file: initial results of the phase IIIb 43QM2106 trial Galderma data on file: initial results of the phase IIIb 43QM2107 trial Persson C, et al. Patient and Investigator Treatment Experience with Ready-to-Use AbobotulinumtoxinA Solution Versus Powder BotulinumtoxinA for Treatment of Glabellar Lines. Abstract presented at TOXINS 2024. Persson C, et al. A Real-World Study of Patient and Physician Satisfaction with AbobotulinumtoxinA Treatment of Glabellar Lines in Chinese Patients. Abstract presented at TOXINS 2024. Alluzience Summary of Product Characteristics, 2023. Dysport Summary of Product Characteristics, 2022.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116024729/en/

Christian Marcoux, M.Sc.

Chief Communications Officer

[email protected]

+41 76 315 26 50

Sebastien Cros

Corporate Communications Director

[email protected]

+41 79 529 59 85

Celine Buguet

Franchise and R&D Communications Director

[email protected]

+41 76 249 90 87

Emil Ivanov

Head of Strategy, Investor Relations, and ESG

[email protected]

+41 21 642 78 12

Jessica Cohen

Investor Relations and Strategy Director

[email protected]

+41 21 642 76 43

Source: Galderma
JIN DING/CHINA DAILY

Helped by incremental policy support, China's GDP growth is likely to be in line with the "around 5 percent" growth target. Looking ahead, we (at UBS Global Wealth Management) expect GDP growth in 2024 to settle in the mid-4 percent range as the real estate sector's weakness continues and the economic boost following the post-COVID-19 reopening of the economy fades. But more than 5 percent growth is possible if active policy easing continues, consumption recovery runs its full course, and the property market stabilizes.

In the longer term, China will enter a medium-growth period with potential GDP growth of 4-4.5 percent in the coming five to 10 years (compared with the nearly 6 percent over the past decade and 10 percent in the early 2000s). But if the transition goes as planned, the Chinese economy's sheer size means it could still contribute a third of global growth, with per capita GDP doubling to about $25,000 by 2035(from $12,720 in 2022).

As the Chinese economy shifts to higher-quality development, new drivers are emerging to shape China's growth path. Among these, we believe mass consumption, green transition and industrial upgrading would be the key drivers of China's growth in the future.

China's middle-income group, the major force of domestic purchasing power, adds up to more than 400 million and will grow further as per capita GDP increases.

Some new trends have also emerged in recent years.

Consumers are focusing more and more on domestic cultural products and services, evident in the rise of homegrown Chinese brands or guochao. Also, spending on services has quickly rebounded after the pandemic, while online shopping has registered double-digit growth over the past five to 10 years. The silver economy, too, is set to shine, with the elderly population reaching 280 million (about 19 percent of the total population) in 2022 and the pension market doubling to 12 trillion yuan ($1.67 trillion) from 2014 to the end of 2020.

Besides, China's de-carbonization road map  peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060  has created many new opportunities for green industries because the government has been scaling up its clean solar, wind and nuclear power capacity to ensure non-fossil fuels comprise 80 percent of the country's energy mix by 2060(from about 30 percent today). This in return has increased the demand for electricity storage facilities, needed to supply electricity without disruptions.

Backed by extensive government incentives and technology innovations, China is now by far the largest electric vehicle market in terms of both consumption and production. It is also a leading producer of many key minerals needed to make green products, including rare earths, as well as a major processor of cobalt, lithium, copper and nickel. This includes, for example, about 60 percent of all global lithium processing, which gives it a cost advantage of 20-25 percent compared with Western markets.

When it comes to technology innovation and industrial upgrading, in response to the tightening high-tech restrictions by the West, China has been focusing on becoming self-sufficient, especially in chips, 5G and artificial intelligence, among other advanced technologies. Notably, more than 2.1 trillion yuan has been invested in the semiconductor and related industries in the past two years, according to JW Consulting estimates. And the total spending on research and development has increased to about 3.1 trillion yuan, or 2.6 percent of GDP from less than 2 percent a decade ago. The figure could increase to 7 percent per year.

Besides, higher-value-added industries are emerging as China moves up the global value chains, with higher-value-added export (as percentage of the global total) rising to about 22 percent in 2022 from a mere 3 percent before China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001.

But will China's economy go the way the Japanese economy did in the 1990s?

It should be noted that China today is at a much lower economic development stage that Japan was in the 1990s. While China's per capita GDP today is a little more than $12,700(about 17 percent of the US'), Japan's per capita GDP in the 1990s was about $25,370(nearly at par with the US'). This means China still has a lot of catch-up to do, although its potential growth is arguably more buoyant than Japan's in the 1990s. China also has a much larger consumer market with a middle-income group of more than 400 million people.

Given the Sino-US tensions, China has been, on a priority basis, reducing its overreliance on other countries to meet its strategic sectors' needs and maintain the stability of the supply chains. Japan, on the other hand, signed the Plaza Accord, along with France, the then West Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom, in 1985 which caused the yen to sharply appreciate, which in turn led to a slump in its exports and the shifting of the auto supply chains to the US.

Yet China's real estate sector (about 25 percent of GDP) and local government financial vehicle debt (about 48 percent of GDP) remain the two of the biggest risks. We don't foresee systemic risks, though, given the government's policy support. Activity in the real estate sector is likely to gradually stabilize at lower levels, helped by a package of solutions including relaxing purchase restrictions, lower down payment and mortgage rates in the short term, and new investment in rural vitalization projects and affordable housing in the medium to long term.

As for local government financial vehicle debt risk, it could be alleviated through bank loan roll-overs and debt swap.


New branding aims to provide consumers with a more modern and refreshed approach to independent mortgage brokers

PONTIAC, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), the #1 overall mortgage lender in America, announced today it will sunset the name of its consumer-facing website, FindAMortgageBroker.com, and replace it with Mortgage Matchup.

Mortgage Matchup will continue to be a consumer-facing website geared toward homebuyers and real estate agents, and will offer both educational material around the homebuying and refinancing processes, along with a searchable database of independent mortgage brokers near them. The goal is to connect this audience with a local mortgage broker in their area and they understand the vast array of loan options available to them based on their specific financial situation.

We are incredibly excited to further connect consumers and real estate agents with independent mortgage brokers across the country through this rebrand, said Sarah DeCiantis, Chief Marketing Officer at UWM. The DNA and mission of this website has not changed, rather Mortgage Matchup provides a new visual identity to help us resonate with consumers in a more modern, approachable way. We know the benefits of partnering with a mortgage broker and this rebrand will allow us to make those benefits more widely known and help consumers save thousands of dollars on their mortgage.

Originally launched in 2018, the FindAMortgageBroker.com brand was officially sunset today, with the Mortgage Matchup website going live this morning. The updated branding will continue to be rolled out across a variety of assets, including with UWMs Little Ceasars Arena and Pine Knob partnerships in metro Detroit, along with consumer touchpoints across the nation.

The Mortgage Matchup rebrand was driven by extensive research, creative concept testing and consumer insights all developed in-house by UWMs versatile marketing team.

UWM supports independent mortgage brokers with industry-leading training, technology and service. For more information on how to sign up as a broker with UWM, visit uwm.com.

About UWM Holdings Corporation and United Wholesale Mortgage

Headquartered in Pontiac, Michigan, UWM Holding Corporation (UWMC) is the publicly traded indirect parent of United Wholesale Mortgage, LLC (UWM). UWM is the nations largest home mortgage lender, despite exclusively originating mortgage loans through the wholesale channel. UWM has been the largest wholesale mortgage lender for 9 consecutive years and is also the largest purchase lender in the nation. With a culture of continuous innovation of technology and enhanced client experience, UWM leads the market by building upon its proprietary and exclusively licensed technology platforms, superior service and focused partnership with the independent mortgage broker community. UWM originates primarily conforming and government loans across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit uwm.com or call 800-981-8898. NMLS #3038.

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NICOLE ROBERTS, Senior PR Strategist

(248) 833-4287

[email protected]

uwm.com

Source: United Wholesale Mortgage, LLC
STS 2024 session will highlight potential of tumor-targeted fluorescent imaging agent to enhance minimally invasive surgery by improving the visualization of cancer in the lung

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vergent Bioscience, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing tumor-targeted imaging agents, announced that new results from the Phase 2 clinical program evaluating the companys investigational agent VGT-309 will be presented at STS 2024, the 60th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, taking place January 27-29, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

Our VGT-309 clinical program has produced an encouraging body of evidence demonstrating the potential of our highly differentiated imaging agent to improve standard of care surgery for patients with cancer in the lung, said John Santini, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer at Vergent Bioscience. We look forward to sharing the latest data from this program with the surgical and medical research communities at STS 2024.

The Phase 2 single-center clinical efficacy study of VGT-309 was led by Sunil Singhal, M.D., William Maul Measey Professor in Surgical Research at University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. The study involved 40 participants who underwent surgical resection for known or suspected cancer in the lung.* Findings to be presented at STS 2024 build upon results from earlier Phase 1 safety and Phase 2 dose-ranging clinical trials of VGT-309 demonstrating the agents potential to help surgeons see difficult-to-find and previously undetected tumors in real time to improve surgical outcomes.

Following are details about the VGT-309 presentation at STS 2024:

Title: A Phase 2 Clinical Trial of VGT-309, a Quenched Activity-Based Probe for Intraoperative Molecular Imaging of Pulmonary Malignancies

Presenter: Patrick Bou-Samra, M.D., Division of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine

Session: General Thoracic. At the Cutting Edge: Emerging Technologies in Lung Cancer

Date/Time: Sunday, January 28, 2024, 2:40 p.m.  2:52 p.m. CT

*This clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05400226) was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number R44CA277890. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

About VGT-309

VGT-309 is a tumor-targeted imaging agent designed to enable a complete solution for optimal tumor visualization during open, minimally invasive surgery (MIS), and robotic-assisted surgical procedures. VGT-309 is delivered to patients via a short infusion several hours before surgery. Invented in Professor Matt Bogyos Lab at Stanford University School of Medicine, the molecule binds tightly (i.e., covalently) to cathepsins, a family of proteases that are overexpressed across a broad range of solid tumors. This approach, if successful, provides distinct clinical advantages and positions VGT-309 as an ideal tumor imaging agent. VGT-309s imaging component is the near infrared (NIR) dye indocyanine green (ICG), which is compatible with all commercially available NIR intraoperative imaging systems that support MIS technologies and is the preferred dye to minimize confounding background autofluorescence.

About Vergent Bioscience

Vergent Bioscience is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is helping surgeons realize the full potential of minimally invasive and robotic surgery by significantly improving the visibility of tumors. Vergents lead compound, VGT-309, is a tumor-targeted fluorescent imaging agent designed to enable surgeons to see difficult-to-find or previously undetected tumors in real-time during surgery, so that they can ensure all tumor tissue is removed. The company is first evaluating VGT-309 for cancer in the lung, with the potential to expand its application to a wide range of solid tumors. Vergent Bioscience is a privately held company based in Minneapolis, MN. Vergent Bioscience Australia Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vergent Bioscience. For more information, visit vergentbio.com

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Media:

Laura Morgan

Sam Brown, Inc.

1-951-333-9110

[email protected]

Source: Vergent Bioscience
Globally operating CDMO committed to strengthening Germany as a research and production location

Association grants Vetter extraordinary membership

vfa recognizes the importance of pharmaceutical service providers in drug development and production

Vetter serves on key vfa committees

RAVENSBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vetter, a leading globally operating contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has joined the German Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa) as an associate member. With this membership, the vfa recognizes the significant role that the pharmaceutical service provider plays in the field of complex injectable drugs. Vetter supports research-based pharmaceutical companies worldwide in successfully developing, launching, and establishing their products on the market through the joint development of patient-friendly drug-delivery systems, innovative and flexible filling processes, and packaging solutions. Currently at 48 member companies, the vfa represents more than two thirds of the entire German pharmaceutical market. The companies employ around 94,000 people in Germany. More than 20,000 of them work in the research and development of medicinal products.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117678559/en/

Vetter is a strong partner for research-based pharma and biotech companies in the field of the development, manufacturing and packaging of complex injectable drugs. (Photo: Business Wire)

Managing Director Peter Soelkner stated, "It is a great recognition for us that the vfa has invited us to participate. The association is the most important platform for pharmaceutical companies active in Germany to promote and support the strategic development of the industry and further establish Germany as an important business location. We can now also contribute our perspective here. As a globally operating CDMO, we play an important role as a partner for small and large companies in the industry."

Aside from its headquarters and several sites for development, aseptic production and packaging in Germany, Vetter also operates dedicated clinical production sites in Austria and the US, along with sales offices in Japan, Singapore, South Korea and China. Through its international presence, Vetter provides state-of-the-art support from clinical development through large-scale production as well as assembly and packaging for complex injectable drug products in the global market supply.

Han Steutel, President of the vfa said, "The production of injectable drugs is an indispensable part of the innovative pharmaceutical and biotech industries. We are delighted that Vetter, a global leader in this field, is a member of the vfa."

Active involvement in committee work

The association's work is carried out by committees and working groups focusing on specific topics. Managing Director Peter Soelkner will represent Vetter in the Committee for Economic and Business Location Policy. Dr. Claus Feussner, Senior Vice President Development Service, has been appointed to the Research and Development Committee. Vetter experts will also collaborate in the expert groups regulatory affairs, manufacturing, innovation and communication.

By joining the vfa, Vetter becomes a member of organizations such as the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). The EFPIA plays a key role in fostering cooperation and synergy among member countries to strengthen and develop research and production capabilities at EU level.

Find the Vetter press kit and more background information here.

About Vetter

Vetter is a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with headquarters in Ravensburg, Germany, and production facilities in Germany, Austria, and the US. As a global player, the pharmaceutical service provider is also present with its own sales locations in the Asia-Pacific markets of Japan, China, South Korea and Singapore. Around the world, small and large renowned pharma and biotech companies rely on the decades of experience, high quality, modern technologies, reliability, and commitment of more than 6,300 employees. In close partnership with its customers, the Vetter team supplies patients all over the world with medicines, many of which are vital. The CDMO provides support from drug product development through clinical and commercial filling to a wide range of assembly and packaging services for vials, syringes, and cartridges. With innovative solutions, Vetter develops prefilled drug-delivery systems together with its customers to continuously improve patient safety, comfort, and compliance. The company is an industry pioneer in sustainability and a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. The CDMO is a member of the UN Global Compact and Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) and received platinum status in the renowned EcoVadis ranking. Multiple awards such as the CDMO Leadership Awards, Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation award or the recognition as Best Managed Company emphasize Vetter's commitment to sustainable business. Founded in Ravensburg in 1950, the company remains family-owned to this day. Learn more at www.vetter-pharma.com.

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Vetter Pharma International GmbH

Markus Kirchner

Corporate Spokesperson / Media Relations

Phone: +49 (0)751-3700-3729

E-mail: [email protected]

Source: Vetter Pharma International GmbH
Extra Space Storage Inc. ("Extra Space") (NYSE: EXR), a leading owner and operator of self-storage facilities in the United States and a member of the S&P 500, today announced that its operating partnership, Extra Space Storage LP (the "operating partnership"), has priced a public offering of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 5.400% senior notes due 2034 (the "Notes"). The Notes were priced at 99.745% of the principal amount and will mature on February 1, 2034 . Wells Fargo Securities, TD Securities, BofA Securities, BMO Capital Markets, J.P. Morgan, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Truist Securities and US Bancorp are acting as the joint book-running managers for the offering. Regions Securities LLC, BOK Financial Securities, Inc., Citigroup, Huntington Capital Markets, Scotiabank, Zions Capital Markets, Fifth Third Securities, Academy Securities and Ramirez & Co., Inc. are acting as the co-managers for the offering. The offering is expected to close on or about January 19, 2024 , subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Extra Space and certain of its subsidiaries.

The operating partnership intends to use approximately half of the net proceeds from this offering to repay a portion of its term loan under its Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2023 , and use the remainder of the net proceeds to repay amounts outstanding from time to time under its lines of credit, and for other general corporate and working capital purposes, including funding potential acquisition opportunities.
International Game Technology PLC ("IGT") (NYSE: IGT) announced today that it has received a contract extension to continue to supply the UK National Lottery's core lottery system ahead of the switchover to a new platform, as part of Allwyn's transformation program for The National Lottery.

"We are pleased to continue to support the operation of The National Lottery, working alongside a range of other suppliers and Allwyn," said Jay Gendron, IGT COO Global Lottery.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (Reuters: SUN.BO, Bloomberg: SUNP IN, NSE: SUNPHARMA, BSE: 524715) (together with its subsidiaries and/or associates referred as "Sun Pharma") and Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TARO) ("Taro" or the "Company") today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement in which Sun Pharma, Taro's controlling shareholder, has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Taro other than the shares already held by Sun Pharma or its affiliates for US$43.00 per share in cash without interest.

Dilip Shanghvi , Managing Director of Sun Pharma, said, "Over the years, with Sun Pharma's strategic interventions, Taro has remained a key player in the generic dermatology market in a challenging environment. Post completion of the merger, the combined entity will firmly move forward, leveraging its global strengths and capabilities to better serve the needs of patients and healthcare professionals."

Uday Baldota , Chief Executive Officer of Taro, said, "Taro is committed to delivering high quality products to our patients and customers around the world. This merger will further enable us compete effectively in our products and markets."

The US$43.00 per share purchase price represents a 48% premium over the closing price of US$28.97 per share on May 25, 2023 , the last trading day before Sun Pharma first submitted its non-binding proposal to Taro, and a premium of 58% to the volume-weighted average price of the shares during the 60 days prior to and including May 25, 2023 . The purchase price also represents a 13% increase over the initial proposed purchase price of US$38.00 per share as proposed on May 26, 2023 .

The merger agreement was unanimously recommended by the Special Committee, which was formed by Taro's Board of Directors to consider Sun Pharma's proposal. Following a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal with assistance from independent financial and legal advisors, the Special Committee determined that the merger agreement and the per share merger consideration are fair and in the best interests of Taro and its minority shareholders.

Upon receiving the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, and following unanimous approval by Taro's Audit Committee, Taro's Board and the Board of Directors of Sun Pharma unanimously approved the definitive merger agreement.

The merger is subject to various closing conditions. These include, among other conditions, the approval of the merger by the affirmative vote of shareholders representing at least 75% of the voting power of the Company's shares present and voting in person or by proxy at a meeting of the Company's shareholders, including at least a majority of the voting power of such shares held by holders other than Sun Pharma and its affiliates or any other holders having a personal interest (under the Israeli Companies Law) in the merger and voting thereon. Sun Pharma has agreed to vote its shares in favor of the merger, and has indicated that it is not willing to sell its shares to a third party or support any alternative transaction to the merger.

Upon completion of the merger, currently expected to close in the first half of 2024, Taro will become a privately held company and its shares will no longer be listed on the NYSE.

The Special Committee retained BofA Securities, Inc. as its financial advisor, Goldfarb Gross Seligman & Co. as its Israeli counsel and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as its U.S. legal counsel, to assist it in its mandate. Herzog, Fox & Neeman is acting as Israeli legal counsel to Sun Pharma and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is acting as U.S. legal counsel to Sun Pharma. Meitar is acting as Israeli legal counsel to Taro and Shearman & Sterling LLP is acting as U.S. legal counsel to Taro.

Additional Information About the Merger

Taro will furnish to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a current report on Form 6K regarding the merger, which will include as an exhibit thereto the merger agreement. All parties desiring details regarding the merger are urged to review these documents, which will be available at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) and Taro's website (http://www.taro.com).

In connection with the proposed transaction, Taro will prepare and mail to its shareholders a proxy statement that will include a copy of the merger agreement. In addition, in connection with the merger, Taro and certain other participants in the merger will prepare and disseminate to Taro's shareholders a Schedule 13E-3 Transaction Statement that will include Taro's proxy statement (the "Schedule 13E-3"). The Schedule 13E-3 will be filed with the SEC and is subject to its review. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 AND OTHER MATERIALS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TARO, THE MERGER, AND RELATED MATTERS. Shareholders also will be able to obtain these documents, as well as other filings containing information about Taro, the merger and related matters, without charge from the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) and Taro's website (http://www.taro.com).

Sun Pharma will furnish the necessary details of the transaction as per the requirements under Regulation 30 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

Taro and its directors and certain of its executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Taro's shareholders with respect to the proposed merger. Information regarding the persons who may be considered "participants" in the solicitation of proxies will be set forth in the Schedule 13E-3 and proxy statement when filed with the SEC.

This announcement is neither a solicitation of proxy, an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities, and it is not a substitute for any proxy statement or other materials that may be filed with or furnished to the SEC should the proposed merger proceed.
FILE PHOTO: Representation of Bitcoin cryptocurrency is seen in this illustration taken January 11, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

(Reuters) - Fund inflows to exchange traded funds (ETFs) tied to the spot price of bitcoin dropped to about $200 million on the second day of trading after attracting $629 million on their debut on Jan. 11, early estimates from J.P. Morgan showed.

Eleven such ETFs, with total assets under management worth $27.9 billion, entered the U.S. stock market in a watershed moment for the cryptocurrency industry after years of regulatory tussle over investor protection.

So far, ETFs by BlackRock and Fidelity have attracted the most funds at nearly $500 million and $423 million, respectively, in the first two days of trading, the brokerage estimated.

However, details on fund flows from issuers such as Bitwise, Franklin and VanEck are still awaited.

Bitcoin has surged nearly 60% since September end on bets that an approval would usher in new capital as exposure to the world's biggest digital asset on a regulated exchange removes the hassle of directly owning it.

On the debut day, $4.6 billion worth of shares changed hands across all the products with Grayscale, BlackRock and Fidelity dominating trading activity.

The $26.53 billion Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, which charges the highest fees at 1.5% among the 11 ETF issuers, saw outflows of $478 million over the first two days, J.P.Morgan said.

Profit-taking from early investors on the fund was widely expected as it was earlier a close-end fund trading at a discount to its underlying bitcoin assets.

J.P.Morgan had in November estimated that the fund could record nearly $3 billion in outflows after the ETF conversion.

(Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
TORONTO, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN -- ARway.ai (ARway or the Company) (CSE: ARWY), (OTC: ARWYF) (FSE: E65) is an AI powered Augmented Reality Experience platform with a disruptive no-code, no beacon spatial computing solution enabled by visual marker tracking with centimeter precision is seeing an uptick in demand in 2024 ahead of Apple's Vision Pro release slated for February 2nd 2024. The Company is pleased to announce a new developer deal with F3Geomatic Solutions, a distinguished geospatial modeling and mapping agency based in Cuero, Texas. With ARway, F3Geomatic envisions providing seamless, accurate, and immersive tailored geospatial solutions for museums, trade shows, and local governments, creating unparalleled user experiences.

F3Geomatic has selected ARway as its partner due to its unmatched accuracy and seamless integration with the floor plans provided by their partner, Matterport. Unlike other solutions that proved inaccurate for wayfinding, ARway's technology demonstrated a significant reduction in dissonance between intended locations and mobile devices, especially in complex indoor environments.

Moreover, F3Geomatic appreciated ARway's user-friendly setup process, eliminating the need for expensive hardware and specialized technical skills. The decision to choose ARway was reinforced by the CEO's background in classified geopositioning systems projects for the US military, where ARway's tech stack emerged as the superior choice among competitors.

Anticipating widespread consumer adoption, the introduction of "Apple Vision Pro" is expected to catalyze a substantial transformation within the augmented reality and spatial computing industry. This monumental development opens up an exciting market opportunity for ARway, as the ARway app is proudly available in the new spatial computing Vision Pro app store.

ARway.ai, with its focus on indoor navigation and recent strides in AR glasses integration, is strategically aligned with the industry's overarching shift towards 3D/AR.

This deal follows a recent press release announcing 3 new deals and increasing global demand ahead of the Apple Vision Pro release. Demand for ARway is accelerating from around the world for various use-cases and industries looking to leverage the Companys groundbreaking augmented reality and spatial computing technology.

CEO Evan Gappelberg recently joined Proactive Investors to discuss the upcoming launch of the Apple Vision Pro and what that means for ARway - watch here

ARway's commitment to delivering top-notch performance on iOS devices positions it as an integral part of the Apple ecosystem, promising a seamless integration experience for users. With the official announcement from Apple declaring the availability of Apple Vision Pro from Friday, February 2nd, at all U.S. Apple Store locations and online, ARway is poised to redefine the landscape of AR indoor navigation.

Sign up for Investor News - HERE

To learn more about ARway, please follow on Social Media: Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and visit our website: www.arway.ai

About ARway.ai ARway.ai (CSE: ARWY) (OTCQB: ARWYF) (FSE: E65) is a spatial computing platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) providing an array of augmented reality (AR) experiences for indoor spaces. ARway's breakthrough no-code no-beacon IPNN allows for the easy creation of navigation, tours, information sharing, notifications, advertising and gamification. ARway works seamlessly as a cross platform solution on iOS/ Android. ARway's technology is optimized for both mobile devices and AR glasses: Apple's Vision Pro, Magic Leap and Microsoft's HoloLens. ARway has unlimited use cases for augmenting physical spaces, making it a valuable tool for creators, brands and companies in various industries. The complete ARway platform includes: the Web Creator Studio, the ARwayKit Software Development Kit (SDK) and a mobile app for iOS and Android.

Nextech3D.ai On October 26, 2022, ARway.ai. was spun-out from its parent Company, Nextech3D.ai (OTCQX: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: 1SS). Nextech retained a control ownership in ARway.ai. with 13 million shares, or a 50% stake. Nextech3D.ai is a Generative AI powered 3D modeling Company and leading provider of augmented reality (AR) experience technologies and 3D model services. Nextechs AI-powered 3D modeling platform.

To learn more about Nextech3D.ai, visit www.nextechar.com

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations Contact Julia Viola [email protected]

ARway.ai Evan Gappelberg CEO and Director 866-ARITIZE (274-8493)

Forward-looking Statements The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained herein may constitute forward-looking information under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, will be or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results will occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. ARway.ai will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Wire Service Contact:

IBN Los Angeles, California www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 310.299.1717 Office [email protected]

Source: ARway.ai
WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) today announced plans to issue its first-quarter earnings release at approximately 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. The companys live webcast with securities analysts will include an executive summary and detailed remarks. The live webcast will take place at 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Simultaneously, the company will post a slide presentation in the Investor Relations section of its website at http://investor.ashland.com .

Among those participating in the webcast presentation will be:

Guillermo Novo, chair, and chief executive officer

Kevin Willis, senior vice president and chief financial officer

William Whitaker, vice president finance and director, investor relations and

Seth Mrozek, director, portfolio strategy

To access the call by phone, please go to this registration link and you will be provided with dial in details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.

The webcast and supporting materials will be accessible through the Investor Relations section of Ashland's website at http://investor.ashland.com . Following the live event, an archived version of the webcast and supporting materials will be available on the Ashland website for 12 months.

About Ashland

Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a global additives and specialty ingredients company with a conscious and proactive mindset for environment, social and governance (ESG). The company serves customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including architectural coatings, construction, energy, food and beverage, nutraceuticals, personal care and pharmaceutical. Approximately 3,800 passionate, tenacious solvers  from renowned scientists and research chemists to talented engineers and plant operators  thrive on developing practical, innovative and elegant solutions to complex problems for customers in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com and ashland.com/ESG to learn more.

 Trademark, Ashland or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Attachment
Aspocomp Group Plc, Stock Exchange Release, January 17, 2024 at 1:15 p.m.





The Shareholders Nomination Board of Aspocomp Group Plc submits the following proposals to the Annual General Meeting, planned to be held on April 18, 2024. The proposals will also be included in the Notice to the Annual General Meeting 2024 to be published at the later date.



Number of Board members

The Shareholders Nomination Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting that five members be elected to the Board of Directors.



Members of the Board of Directors

The Shareholders Nomination Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the current members of the Board of Directors Ms. Paivi Marttila, Ms. Kaarina Muurinen, Mr. Jukka Huuskonen and Mr. Anssi Korhonen be re-elected as members to the Board of Directors and Mr. Ville Vuori be elected as a new member of the Board of Directors. In accordance with the Articles of Association of the company, the term of office of the members of the Board of Directors ends at the closing of the next Annual General Meeting following the election.



The said director nominees have given their consent to the election.



Presentation of the proposed new member of the Board of Directors Ville Vuori is attached to this stock exchange release. The proposed current members of the Board of Directors are presented on Aspocomps website at www.aspocomp.com.



In accordance with the Articles of Association the Board of Directors elects its chairman among its members. The Nomination Board proposes to the inaugural meeting of the Board of Directors to be held after the Annual General Meeting that Ms. Paivi Marttila is re-elected as chairman of the Board of Directors.



The Nomination Board has assessed the director nominees independence against the independence criteria of the Finnish Corporate Governance Code. According to the evaluation carried out by the Nomination Board, all director nominees are independent of the companys significant shareholders. The Nomination Board has also assessed that all nominees are independent of the company.



Board remuneration

Shareholders Nomination Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the amount of remuneration payable to the Board of Directors remain the same as in the ending term and that Board Members be thus compensated as follows: EUR 30,000 for the chairman of the Board of Directors, EUR 20,000 for the vice chairman, and EUR 15,000 for each of the other members in remuneration for their term of office. The Nomination Board further proposes that EUR 1,000 be paid as remuneration per meeting to the chairman and that the other members be paid EUR 500 per meeting of the Board and its committees. The Nomination Board also proposes that the members of the Board of Directors be reimbursed for reasonable travel costs. The Nomination Board further proposes that earning-related pension insurance contributions are paid voluntarily for the paid remuneration.



Composition of Shareholders Nomination Board

Aspocomps Shareholders Nomination Board consists of three members who represent the companys three largest shareholders. In addition, the Chairman of the companys Board of Directors shall serve as an expert member of the Nomination Board unless he or she is appointed as an ordinary member of the Board. The three largest shareholders are determined annually based on the ownership information registered with the companys shareholders register on the first business day of September.



The Shareholders Nomination Board, which prepared the proposals for the Annual General Meeting 2024, includes the following members: Ms. Paivi Marttila, appointed by Etola Group and Erkki Etola, Mr. Kyosti Kakkonen, appointed by Joensuun Kauppa ja Kone Oy and Mr. Mikko Montonen, Aspocomps third largest shareholder.



Paivi Marttila did not participate in the decision-making concerning the remuneration of the Board members.





For further information, please contact Mikko Montonen, President and CEO,

tel. +358 20 775 6860, mikko.montonen(at)aspocomp.com.



ASPOCOMP GROUP PLC



Mikko Montonen

President and CEO





Aspocomp  heart of your technology



A printed circuit board (PCB) is used for electrical interconnection and as a component assembly platform in electronic devices. Aspocomp provides PCB technology design, testing and logistics services over the entire lifecycle of a product. The companys own production and extensive international partner network guarantee cost-effectiveness and reliable deliveries.



Aspocomps customers are companies that design and manufacture telecommunication systems and equipment, automotive and industrial electronics, and systems for testing semiconductor components for security technology. The company has customers around the world and most of its net sales are generated by exports.



Aspocomp is headquartered in Espoo and its plant is in Oulu, one of Finlands major technology hubs.



www.aspocomp.com





Attachment
The long-term CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Admirals Group AS, Sergei Bogatenkov, informed the company's Supervisory Board today of his desire to leave the company. Also, a long-time Management Board member, Andreas Ioannou, informed the Supervisory Board of his intention to leave the company.

Sergei Bogatenkov, the long-term Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Admirals Group AS announced his desire to leave the company today to the company's Supervisory Board. His last working day as the Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Admirals Group AS is 29.02.2024. The last working day for Andreas Ioannou will be February 29, 2024.

Sergei Bogatenkov has been leading the company since 2017. Under his leadership, Admirals Group AS achieved historical business record results in 2022. As a result of strategic management, the company has risen to the ranks of global leaders in the field. At the end of 2023, Admirals was declared Estonia's most competitive financial service company. Additionally, Aripaev awarded Admirals with the TOP2 Estonian company title.

According to Sergei Bogatenkov, he wishes to move forward professionally as he has implemented his strategic vision for the company's development. "When I started working at Admirals, we were only a brokerage firm focused on trading. Today, I can joyfully express my gratitude that Admirals has evolved into a progressive FinTech, creating a community and an ecosystem around itself, being a trustworthy partner in the journey towards financial inclusion and freedom. Admirals is a European quality leader, having entered new markets and engaged hundreds of thousands of people across all continents," said Bogatenkov. "I am deeply grateful to all the great partners, my fantastic team from Chile to Australia, and the people, companies, and regulators who have inspired and motivated me to dream bigger and achieve more. I thank everyone who has trusted me as a leader and helped implement the vision with which we started this journey. We have accomplished something significant, which fills me with great joy."

Andreas Ioannou has been working in the company for more than 6 years. Having dedicated nearly seven years to the organisation, I became an integral part of a dynamic, strategic, and forward-thinking management team, recognising our and our key individuals' potential to ascend to the forefront of the industry. Our collective journey has been marked by significant progress, and today, having fulfilled the initial purpose that led me to join this endeavour, I believe it is opportune to transition towards new professional aspirations and goals, said Andreas Ioannou.
MONTREAL, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today that CNTL, a CN subsidiary dedicated to first and last mile trucking container pickup and deliveries, has reached a tentative agreement with owner-operators affiliated with Unifor. This four-year agreement covers approximately 750 owner-operators under contract with CNTL in Canada until December 31, 2027.



We are pleased that CNTL reached an agreement with Unifor and wish to thank the Union for their hard work throughout this process. We believe that this deal is good for the owner-operators and will support business needs, ensuring that they can continue delivering critical first mile and last mile services.

- Doug MacDonald, Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer at CN



About CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CNs network connects Canadas Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through an 18,800-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Having previously won the Liivi 2 site in Estonias first offshore wind tender held in December 2023, CIP, the worlds largest fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments, and international green energy company Ignitis Renewables see the adjacent site of Liivi 1 as a natural extension of the seabed area. This will allow for greater synergy and optimisation in developing the sites as a single offshore wind project.

The maritime area of both sites is in the Gulf of Riga, northwest of Ruhnu Island and near Estonias Baltic Sea coast, covering approximately 193 square kilometres. The project, to be developed on the two sites combined, is expected to become operational post 2030, subject to obtaining the relevant permits, contracting suppliers, and securing financing.

CIP and Ignitis Renewables have signed an agreement to collaborate exclusively on offshore wind opportunities in Estonia and Latvia. The partnership leverages CIPs global offshore wind expertise and Ignitis Renewables leading market position in the Baltic region.

Having now secured both the Liivi 1 and Liivi 2 sea areas, CIP and Ignitis Renewables have a strategic position to optimise the scale and potential of the sites, representing a key investment in Estonias transformation into a sustainable, long-term green energy hub in Europe.

About Copenhagen Infrastructure PartnersFounded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S (CIP) today is the worlds largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind. The funds managed by CIP focus on investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage, advanced bioenergy, and Power-to-X.

CIP manages 12 funds and has to date raised approximately EUR 26 billion for investments in energy and associated infrastructure from more than 150 international institutional investors. CIP has approximately 500 employees and 12 offices around the world. For more information, visit www.cip.com

About Ignitis Renewables

Ignitis Renewables is an international green energy company operating in the three Baltic states and Poland. Its objective is to develop a low-carbon electricity generation portfolio with a focus on offshore wind, onshore hybrid, Power-to-X and storage technologies. By developing new projects, the company is implementing the strategic goal of Ignitis Group to enable green and flexible capacity build-out and to deliver 45 GW of installed green generation capacities by 2030.

For further information, please contact:

Oliver Routhe Skov, Head of Media Relations, CIPPhone: +45 30541227Email: [email protected]

Thomas Knig, Partner  Investor Relations, CIPPhone: +45 7070 5151Email: [email protected]

Paulius Kalmantas, Ignitis RenewablesCommunications PartnerMobile: +370 617 51616Email: [email protected]

Source: Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
BELOIT, Wis., Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CPP (Community Preservation Partners), a mission-driven affordable housing preservation developer, has announced the planned renovation of Woodside Terrace, an affordable housing community just three miles from of downtown Beloit, Wis. The development consists of 120 units, 116 of which are Section 8. This property is CPPs first investment in Wisconsin.

The community will receive extensive renovations, estimated at $72,912.03 per unit. CPPs total investment is approximately $27.4 million, which includes a purchase price of $8 million.

Built in 1972 and located at 2255 & 2237 Burton Street and 1948 Fir Drive, the family community consists of three, two-story wood frame buildings on three contiguous parcels. The development includes 90 one-bedroom units averaging 540 square feet, and 30 two-bedroom units averaging 835 square feet.

This project will provide comprehensive renovations and upgrades to the property, said Scott Fink, Development Manager for CPP. CPP will modernize many of the community's systems, increasing accessibility, adding new resident amenities, and preserving the affordability and physical life span of the community.

CPP will complete significant interior and exterior unit renovations during construction. Interior upgrades will include ADA unit conversions, door replacement (entry, interior, and sliders onto balcony), flooring, drywall repairs, and fresh paint throughout. Each unit will receive kitchen upgrades, including new cabinets, quartz counters, Energy Star rated appliances, and plumbing fixtures. Bathroom upgrades will include new vanities, plumbing fixtures, tile and tub surrounds, accessories, and exhaust fans, as needed.

Community upgrades will feature a new playground, gazebo, dog park, BBQ grills, and bike racks. CPP will also oversee tree trimming, improve paths of travel to enhance the resident experience, and mill, repave and restripe the asphalt parking lot.

The communitys Section 8 contract was set to expire in 2030. With CPPs acquisition and upgrades, the property will have renewed affordability status for 20 years. Renovations are expected to be completed in December 2025, with minimal impact to residents.

With the development of Woodside Terrace, CPP is excited to expand our impact into the Wisconsin market and preserve affordability for residents for many years to come, said Seth Gellis, President of CPP. These renovations will help to ensure safe and welcoming housing for the families at this community.

Partners on the project include the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), R4 Capital, general contractor Renu, Wisconsin Management Company, and architect C&S Engineering.

About Community Preservation Partners In 2004, Community Preservation Partners was established by our parent company, WNC & Associates, a national investor in affordable housing and community renewal initiatives. Since then, CPP has successfully acquired, developed, and rehabilitated more than 11,000 affordable multifamily and senior housing units nationwide. From the very beginning, theyve done things differently. As more than a consultant or an investor, CPP is a true partner in every sense. By joining leading nonprofits and strategic partners, they can provide essential social services to residents, support neighborhood initiatives and transform multifamily affordable housing communities. Creativity, Performance, and Purpose are their core values and embody everything they do. Together they define A Different Way to Home for their excellent employees, partners, and communities. Visit https://www.cpp-housing.com/.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a1086e74-7e60-40c9-981a-345d0d1b87e8

MEDIA CONTACT IDEA HALL Rachel Fuller [email protected]

Woodside Terrace Woodside Terrace, an affordable housing community in Beloit, Wisconsin.

Source: Community Preservation Partners (CPP)
London, England, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

DefiQuant, a leader in the digital finance industry, is proud to announce a groundbreaking initiative to integrate green energy solutions into its cloud mining operations. This move marks a significant stride towards sustainability in the cryptocurrency mining sector. By harnessing renewable energy sources, DefiQuant is not only reducing the environmental impact of mining but also offering investors an eco-friendly way to generate passive income.

A Commitment to Sustainability and InnovationThe cryptocurrency mining industry has long faced criticism for its substantial energy consumption. DefiQuant's latest initiative directly addresses these concerns by implementing green energy technologies, significantly lowering the carbon footprint of its cloud mining operations. This sustainable approach demonstrates DefiQuant's commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility.

Diverse and Eco-Friendly Investment PlansDefiQuant's cloud mining platform offers a variety of investment packages, each designed to provide optimal returns through environmentally conscious means. These plans allow individuals to engage in cryptocurrency mining without the need for expensive, energy-intensive equipment, making sustainable investing accessible to all.

Spokesperson Quote"Our commitment to green energy in cloud mining represents more than just an advancement in technology; it's a step towards a more sustainable future in digital finance. We believe in creating opportunities for passive income that are not only profitable but also environmentally responsible," said Allen Heery, Media Representative, at DefiQuant.

Investment Plans Tailored for Sustainable EarningsDefiQuant's investment plans are crafted to suit various levels of investment and commitment, ensuring that sustainability is achievable for everyone:

Free Experience Bot: $5 investment, $0.15 profit, 1-day return.

Crypto Trading Bot 1 Day: $50 investment, $0.3 profit, 1-day return.

Crypto Trading Bot 5 Days: $500 investment, $21.25 profit, 5-day return.

Crypto Trading Bot 7 Days: $1050 investment, $73.5 profit, 7-day return.

Crypto Trading Bot 15 Days: $3000 investment, $540 profit, 15-day return.

Crypto Trading Bot 20 Days: $6000 investment, $1680 profit, 20-day return.

Crypto Trading Bot 30 Days: $10800 investment, $5184 profit, 30-day return.

Crypto Trading Bot 45 Days: $18000 investment, $14580 profit, 45-day return.

Crypto Trading Bot 60 Days: $30000 investment, $36000 profit, 60-day return.

The Future of Cryptocurrency Mining is GreenAs the cryptocurrency industry evolves, the need for sustainable practices becomes increasingly crucial. DefiQuant is at the forefront of this change, proving that profitable investments can coexist with environmental stewardship.

Empowering Investors with Sustainable ChoicesDefiQuant is dedicated to empowering its users with the knowledge and tools needed for successful and responsible investing. The platform provides comprehensive resources to help users understand the benefits of green energy in cloud mining and make informed investment decisions.

Join the Green Mining Revolution with DefiQuantDefiQuant invites investors globally to be part of this revolutionary movement towards sustainable cloud mining. This initiative not only offers a pathway to generating passive income but also contributes to a healthier planet.

Step into a Sustainable Future with DefiQuantTo explore the potential of green energy cloud mining and learn more about DefiQuants investment plans, visit DefiQuant. Join us in leading the way towards a more sustainable and profitable future in digital finance.

For media inquiries, please contact:Name: Allen HeeryPosition: Media RepresentativeEmail: [email protected]Website: https://Defiquant.netDisclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

Allen Heery info at defiquant.net

Source: Defiquant
OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE: DVN) today announced it will report fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 results on Tuesday, Feb. 27, after the close of U.S. financial markets. The earnings release and presentation for the fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 results will be available on the companys website at www.devonenergy.com.

On Wednesday, Feb. 28, the company will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time), which will consist primarily of answers to questions from analysts and investors. A webcast link to the conference call will be provided on Devons website at www.devonenergy.com. A replay will be available on the website following the call.

ABOUT DEVON ENERGY

Devon Energy is a leading oil and gas producer in the U.S. with a premier multi-basin portfolio headlined by a world-class acreage position in the Delaware Basin. Devons disciplined cash-return business model is designed to achieve strong returns, generate free cash flow and return capital to shareholders, while focusing on safe and sustainable operations. For more information, please visit www.devonenergy.com.

Investor ContactsScott Coody, 405-552-4735Chris Carr, 405-228-2496 Media ContactBrooke Baum, 405-552-3448

Source: Devon Energy Corporation
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

Hole MTC-23-060 intercepted multiple near-surface lenses in the bulk tonnage MC Main Zone including 24.9 metres (m) of 1.05 grams of gold per tonne (g/t Au) and 41.8 m of 0.92 g/t Au at the Montclerg Gold Project (Montclerg or the Project).

Hole MTC-23-062 returned one of the highest-grade intercepts drilled to-date within the bulk-tonnage style Main Zone of 3.09 g/t Au over 12.8 m and 1.16 g/t Au over 12.8 m near surface.

Assay results (8 holes) from the Aljo Mine Target (Aljo) remain pending.

Drilling is planned to resume in the first quarter with a primary focus at Montclerg and testing high-priority targets across the Goldarm Property.

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GFG Resources Inc. (TSXV: GFG) (OTCQB: GFGSF) (GFG or the Company) reports further gold assay results from the recently completed 2023 Phase 2 drill program at its Montclerg Gold Project, located 40 kilometres (km) east of Timmins, Ontario (see Tables 1-2 and Figures 1-6). The results released today are from two infill holes and two step-out holes completed along the Montclerg gold system where GFG has continuously proven and grown a robust gold system since the Company acquired the asset in October 2021.

In the Phase 2 drill program the Company completed a total of 3,613 m from 15 holes (7 at Montclerg and 8 at Aljo). The program focused on step-out and in-fill drilling at Montclerg and tested a spectrum of targets at Aljo located within the Goldarm Property east of Timmins, Ontario. The Company eagerly anticipates releasing the remaining 8 holes from Aljo in the coming weeks as several zones of gold mineralization were observed in core logging.

"To date, our Phase 2 drill program at Montclerg has been a resounding success, proving a robust gold system with multiple high-grade and bulk tonnage gold zones across the Main zones, as well as the Footwall zones, stated Brian Skanderbeg, President and CEO of GFG. The consistency of the results from both step-out and infill drilling demonstrate not only the strong continuity of the system but also the significant expansion potential at depth and along strike. In addition to strong results, the infill drilling has been critical in confirming the geometry and coherence of these mineral systems at shallow depths.

Moreover, we await the assay results from Aljo with great anticipation, as the core logging has indicated several promising zones of gold mineralization. Our team is highly motivated by these findings, and we are looking forward to continuing to unlock the value of our strategically located assets for our shareholders."

Table 1: Most Recent Montclerg Gold Project Assay Results from the 2023 Phase 2 Drill Program

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Zone MTC-23-058 100.9 102.9 2.0 1.60 Undefined and 385.0 394.2 9.2 0.79 Lower Footwall and 397.4 398.3 0.9 2.99 Lower Footwall and 405.6 409.9 4.3 0.65 Lower Footwall MTC-23-060 63.1 88.0 24.9 1.05 Upper Main and 95.7 137.5 41.8 0.92 Lower Main and 141.6 145.1 3.5 1.05 Lower Main and 249.5 250.0 0.5 1.95 Lower Footwall and 252.6 255.8 3.2 0.97 Lower Footwall MTC-23-062 27.0 39.8 12.8 1.16 Upper Main and 46.5 53.9 7.4 0.79 Upper Main and 72.4 85.2 12.8 3.09 Upper Main incl. 74.0 76.9 2.9 9.76 and 109.5 113.6 4.1 2.41 Upper Footwall incl. 111.1 111.9 0.9 8.20 MTC-23-064 121.8 123.6 1.8 1.84 Undefined and 371.3 376.6 5.3 0.66 Lower Footwall

*Drill intercepts are presented using a 0.20 g/t Au cut-off and as drilled length with a minimum 0.5 gram-metre product. Composites include internal dilution of up to 3 m at grades less than 0.2 g/t Au. Included intervals are calculated using a 3 g/t cut-off at a minimum 5 gram-metre product unless otherwise stated. True width is estimated to be 50 to 90% of drilled length.

Commentary on Assay Results Anders Carlson, Vice President, Exploration of GFG commented, These results demonstrate both the grade upside within the Upper Main Zone as well as our commitment to drilling significant step-out holes at depth along the Lower Footwall Zone where we believe we can further expand this gold system. Along with the results today, the high-grade zone intersected earlier in the program in MTC-23-059 yielding 4.79 g/t Au over 12.8 m remains the deepest hole drilled to-date at Montclerg and were very pleased with the structural and grade continuity observed thus far.

MTC-23-058 was drilled to test the dip extension of the Lower Footwall Zone (see Figures 3-5). The hole intersects approximately 13 m of weak to moderate sericite-ankerite-silica alteration in mafic volcanic rocks with up to 15% disseminated arsenopyrite and pyrite. Quartz-carbonate veins and veinlets are present throughout the zone yielding 0.79 g/t Au over 9.2 m and 2.99 g/t Au over 0.9 m. This zone is observed between two high-grade intercepts in MTC-23-057 and MTC-23-059 that graded 10.21 g/t Au over 2.7 m including 16.20 g/t Au over 1.5 m and 4.79 g/t Au over 12.8 m including 10.05 g/t Au over 4.3 m, respectively. This hole, while lower grade than those around it, confirms the increased thickness of the Lower Footwall Zone below 350 vertical metres, supporting our belief that the local change in geology has had a positive impact on overall gold endowment at depth.

MTC-23-060 was drilled to infill an area of the Main Zone and to test the upper extent of the Lower Footwall (see Figures 3-5). The hole intersected approximately 80 m of moderate to strong sericite-ankerite-silica alteration in the felsic volcanic-hosted Upper and Lower Main zones yielding intercepts of 1.05 g/t Au over 24.9 m and 0.92 g/t Au over 41.8 m, respectively, with up to 5% disseminated arsenopyrite and pyrite. Further downhole, the Lower Footwall Zone was intersected yielding intercepts of 1.95 g/t Au over 0.5 m and 0.97 g/t Au over 3.2 m within 7 m of weak to moderate ankerite and silica-altered mafic volcanic rocks. This hole fills a gap in drilling within the Main Zone and was successful in defining the upper extent of the Lower Footwall Zone, increasing our confidence in the overall geological model.

MTC-23-062 targeted an area in the Upper Main Zone which hosted high-grade gold in historical holes drilled at oblique angles and infill the Upper Footwall (see Figures 3-6). The hole intersects 1.16 g/t over 12.8 m and 3.09 g/t Au over 12.8 m in the Upper Main Zone including a high-grade core of 9.76 g/t Au over 2.9 m. This represents one of the highest-grade intercepts drilled to-date within the bulk-tonnage style Main Zone and lies 60 m below surface. Further downhole, an intercept yielding 2.41 g/t Au over 4.1 m including 8.20 g/t Au over 0.9 m is interested in the Upper Footwall Zone. These higher-grade infill holes are important as they show upside to the overall resource grade while allowing us to define the upper margins of the Lower Footwall Zone.

MTC-23-064 is a 150 m step-out to the east of MTC-23-058 along the Lower Footwall Zone as noted above (see Figures 3-5). The hole intersected approximately 7 m of weak to moderate sericite-ankerite-silica alteration in mafic volcanic rocks with up to 7% disseminated arsenopyrite and pyrite. Quartz-carbonate veins and veinlets are present throughout the zone yielding 0.66 g/t Au over 5.3 m. The hole also intersects a hanging wall zone of mineralization 250 m up-hole from the Lower Footwall Zone that grades 1.84 g/t Au over 1.8 m in similarly altered mafic volcanic rocks. The presence of the Lower Footwall Zone, albeit low-grade in this hole, is important for understanding the geological model and testing it beyond the current limits of the known deposit area. The intercepts observed over the course of the 2023 Phase 2 drill program including the deep, high-grade intercept of MTC-23-059 yielding 4.79 g/t Au over 12.8 m show that this system can be extended significantly at depth.

Outlook Brian Skanderbeg, CEO of GFG commented, As we look ahead to 2024, our Company is buoyed by the success and the growth opportunities that have emerged within the Goldarm Property. With this optimism, we are gearing up to resume drilling activities later in Q1 at Goldarm with a particular focus on Montclerg, Aljo and initial first pass drilling on several targets across Goldarm.

In tandem, at the Pen and Dore Gold Projects, our team is actively exploring avenues to progress these projects. Our strategic approach is not only aimed at unlocking the inherent value of these district-scale land positions but also at capitalizing on the diverse mineral potential they hold, encompassing gold, volcanogenic massive sulfide, and nickel-copper prospects. We remain steadfast in our commitment to responsibly advance our portfolio and deliver value to our stakeholders."Figure 1: Regional Map of GFG Gold Projects in the Timmins Gold District

Figure 2: Goldarm Property Plan View Map

Figure 3: Montclerg Gold Project Plan View Map

Figure 4: Montclerg Gold Project MC Central Plan View Map

Figure 5: Montclerg Gold Project Cross Section Map

Figure 6: MTC-23-062 High Grade Gold Zone of 9.76 g/t Au over 2.09 m (74.0m to 76.9 m)

Table 2: GFG Drill Hole Assay Highlights from the Montclerg Gold Project

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Zone MTC-21-001 62.5 90.0 27.5 1.56 Upper Main and 126.0 166.5 40.5 0.78 Lower Main incl. 130.8 138.0 7.3 2.20 MTC-21-004 39.8 64.0 24.2 0.73 Upper Main and 75.7 86.1 10.4 1.24 Lower Main incl. 81.0 85.1 4.1 2.37 and 230.5 246.0 15.5 1.23 Lower Footwall incl. 241.7 245.0 3.3 3.09 MTC-21-005 86.0 112.0 26.0 4.82 Upper Footwall incl. 94.3 96.1 1.8 15.96 and 103.8 109.3 5.5 12.32 and 118.9 120.6 1.7 11.29 MTC-21-006 98.3 105.8 7.5 8.34 Upper Footwall incl. 98.3 101.0 2.7 15.04 MTC-21-007 65.4 95.6 31.1 1.40 Upper Main and 108.0 131.0 23.0 1.11 Lower Main MTC-21-009 45.0 60.0 15.0 1.23 Upper Main MTC-21-010 79.5 106.5 27.0 1.05 Upper Main incl. 89.6 100.5 10.9 1.84 MTC-22-015 24.0 57.5 33.5 1.32 MC West incl. 24.0 28.7 4.7 5.15 MTC-22-018 52.0 57.9 5.9 3.51 MC West incl. 53.9 56.0 2.1 7.93 MTC-22-019 112.6 118.1 5.5 4.38 Upper Footwall incl. 112.6 116.0 3.4 6.37 MTC-22-020 22.4 34.1 11.7 1.07 Upper Main and 97.0 105.3 8.3 4.95 Upper Footwall incl. 102.8 105.3 2.5 12.83 MTC-22-021 50.3 72.0 21.7 1.51 Upper Main incl. 62.2 64.0 1.8 8.17 MTC-22-023 17.6 88.0 70.4 1.60 Upper Main incl. 35.2 42.0 6.8 2.43 incl. 76.2 81.0 4.8 4.97 and 124.5 133.2 8.7 2.46 Upper Footwall incl. 131.4 133.2 1.8 7.75 MTC-22-029 104.4 111.5 7.1 4.98 Upper Footwall incl. 104.4 107.6 3.2 7.02 incl. 110.4 111.5 1.1 7.79 MTC-22-030 71.0 86.0 15.0 3.40 Upper Footwall incl. 71.0 74.0 3.0 6.21 also incl. 81.9 82.9 1.0 17.50 MTC-22-031 285.2 292.6 7.4 2.78 Lower Footwall incl. 290.3 292.6 2.3 7.83 and 300.4 302.0 1.6 4.59 Lower Footwall MTC-22-034 79.5 94.6 14.5 1.37 Lower Main incl. 85.2 86.8 1.6 3.97 and 161.7 171.0 9.3 5.26 Upper Footwall incl. 163.9 168.3 4.4 10.77 MTC-22-035 72.0 85.2 13.2 2.31 Lower Main incl. 77.0 82.1 5.1 4.07 and 125.3 141.3 16.0 9.85 Upper Footwall incl. 130.3 137.8 7.5 14.99 MTC-22-036 79.0 85.0 6.0 9.63 Upper Footwall incl. 80.5 84.0 3.5 15.40 MTC-22-039 79.8 83.3 3.3 4.32 Upper Footwall incl. 80.7 83.3 2.6 5.74 and 88.0 98.3 10.3 3.95 MTC-22-041 76.2 81.0 4.8 4.89 Upper Footwall incl. 81.0 80.1 1.1 14.40 MTC-22-042 96.4 119.0 22.6 1.48 Lower Main and 307.3 312.3 5.0 8.46 Lower Footwall incl. 309.3 312.3 2.0 16.40 ALJ-22-002 62.1 75.0 12.9 3.03 incl. 67.5 68.1 0.6 59.80 and 79.0 93.9 14.9 1.32 incl. 85.3 86.2 0.9 10.90 and 101.0 105.3 4.3 6.58 incl. 103.2 104.2 1.0 27.40 MTC-23-048 88.0 92.1 4.1 4.10 Upper Footwall incl. 89.8 92.1 2.3 6.30 MTC-23-054 73.1 81.2 8.1 9.97 Upper Footwall incl. 75.9 78.9 3.0 16.95 MTC-23-057 254.5 256.8 2.3 2.25 and 346.0 348.7 2.7 10.21 Lower Footwall incl. 346.0 347.5 1.5 16.20 and 375.5 376.7 1.2 2.42 Lower Footwall incl. 375.5 376.2 0.7 3.84 MTC-23-060 63.1 88.0 24.9 1.05 Upper Main and 95.7 137.5 41.8 0.92 Lower Main MTC-23-062 72.4 85.2 12.8 3.09 Upper Main incl. 74.0 76.9 2.9 9.76

*Drill intercepts are presented using a 0.20 g/t Au cut-off and as drilled length with a minimum 0.5 gram-metre product. Composites include internal dilution of up to 3 m at grades less than 0.2 g/t Au. Included intervals are calculated using a 3 g/t cut-off at a minimum 5 gram-metre product unless otherwise stated. True width is estimated to be 50 to 90% of drilled length.**Calculated at a 5 g/t cut-off.

About the Goldarm PropertyThe Goldarm Property is a large and highly prospective land package east of the Timmins Gold Camp (see Figures 1-2). The consolidated Goldarm Property covers approximately 30 km of the Pipestone Deformation Zone and the North Pipestone Deformation Zone. Within the Goldarm Property, there are several highly prospective gold targets such as the Aljo Gold Mine region, the Carr target, and the Montclerg Gold Project;which is the most advanced target. The Montclerg Gold Project covers 10 km of the highly prospective Pipestone Deformation Zone and is located 48 km east of the prolific Timmins Gold Camp and is adjacent to multiple current and historic gold mines (see Figure 1).

About GFG Resources Inc. GFG is a North American precious metals exploration company focused on district scale gold projects in tier one mining jurisdictions, Ontario and Wyoming. In Ontario, the Company operates three gold projects, each large and highly prospective gold properties within the prolific gold district of Timmins, Ontario, Canada. The projects have similar geological settings that host most of the gold deposits found in the Timmins Gold Camp which have produced over 70 million ounces of gold. The Company also owns 100% of the Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project, a district scale gold exploration project located approximately 100 km southwest of Casper, Wyoming, U.S.

For further information, please contact: Brian Skanderbeg, President & CEOor Marc Lepage, Vice President, Business Development Phone: (306) 931-0930 Email: [email protected]Website: www.gfgresources.com

Stay Connected with UsTwitter: @GFGResourcesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gfgresources/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GFGResourcesInc/

Footnote: (1) Drill intercepts are historical and GFGs QP has not verified the laboratory accreditation, analytical method, sample size or QA/QC procedures utilized for the historic drill results. True widths have not been estimated.

Potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource on the Coulson Claims to date and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the Coulson Claims being defined as a Mineral Resource.

Sampling and Quality Control All scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been prepared under the supervision of Brian Skanderbeg, P.Geo. President and CEO of GFG, a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

Drill core samples are being analyzed for gold by Activation Laboratories Ltd. in Timmins, Ontario. Gold analysis consists of the preparation of a 500-gram pulp and an assay of a 50-gram aliquot by Pb collection fire assay with an Atomic Absorption Spectrometry finish (Package 1A2-50. Samples assaying above 5 ppm Au are routinely re-run using a gravimetric finish (Package 1A3-50). Mineralized zones containing visible gold are analyzed by a screen metallic fire assay method. Selected samples are also undergoing multi-element analysis for 59 other elements using a four-acid digestion and an ICP-MS finish (Package MA250) by Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd. in Vancouver, British Columbia. Quality control and assurance measures include the monitoring of results for inserted certified reference materials, coarse blanks and preparation duplicates of drill core.

Drill intercepts are presented using a 0.20 g/t Au cut-off and as drilled length. Composites include internal dilution of up to 3 m at grades less than 0.2 g/t Au. True width is estimated to be 50 to 90% of drilled length. Sampling protocols, quality control and assurance measures and geochemical results related to historic drill core samples quoted in this news release have not been verified by the Qualified Person and therefore must be regarded as estimates.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Companys future exploration plans with respect to its property interests and the timing thereof, the prospective nature of the projects, future price of gold, success of exploration activities and metallurgical test work, permitting time lines, currency exchange rate fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of exploration work, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate or believes, or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results, may, could, would, will, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation thereof.

All forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions, including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, the assumed long-term price of gold, that the Company will receive required permits and access to surface rights, that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour, and that the political environment within Canada and the United States will continue to support the development of mining projects in Canada and the United States. In addition, the similarity or proximity of other gold deposits to the Companys projects is not necessary indicative of the geological setting, alteration and mineralization of the Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project, the Goldarm Property, the Pen Gold Project and the Dore Gold Project.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of GFG to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; future prices of gold; operating risks; accidents, labour issues and other risks of the mining industry; availability of capital, delays in obtaining government approvals or financing; and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties and the additional risks described in the Companys most recently filed annual and interim MD&A are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive.

Although GFG has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. In addition, forward-looking statements are provided solely for the purpose of providing information about managements current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof and GFG assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9280333-398e-45f9-8f36-bd8f018d4979

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/caaa9d7d-651d-4efb-a58c-f914db590ce0

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/21209696-54ab-4042-893e-2dd7114f55af

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/39af6d71-6c34-4935-a692-ab0f3446f0a8

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/617c6c4e-ea64-431e-b38c-e2ecb265fce9

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a0caaf59-7101-4b87-beb1-1dcb2791c2e5

Figure 1: Regional Map of GFG Gold Projects in the Timmins Gold District GFG Gold Projects in the Timmins Gold District Figure 2: Goldarm Property Plan View Map Goldarm Property Plan View Map Figure 3: Montclerg Gold Project Plan View Map Montclerg Gold Project Plan View Map Figure 4: Montclerg Gold Project MC Central Plan View Map Montclerg Gold Project System in Plan View Figure 5: Montclerg Gold Project Cross Section Map Montclerg Gold System Cross Section Map Figure 6: MTC-23-062 High Grade Gold Zone of 9.76 g/t Au over 2.09 m (74.0m to 76.9 m) MTC-23-062: 9.76 g/t Au over 2.09 m (74.0m to 76.9 m)

Source: GFG Resources Inc.
CINCINNATI, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ArtsWave and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber have unveiled an all-new study on the arts impact in Greater Cincinnati from 2019-2023. Authored by the Cincinnati Regional Chambers Center for Research and Data, the report found that over that four-year span, Cincys arts and culture sector had a total economic impact of $1.6 Billion.Intuitively our team knew that the impact was large, says Brandon Rudd, Director of the Center for Research & Data, but after doing this study, we now know for sure that ArtsWave and a vibrant arts sector are vital to the Cincinnati regions economy.Recent national studies validate this. The Cincinnati region ranked 11th among the 20 most arts-vibrant large communities in the country, while only being the 28th most populous metro area. In addition, the regions arts sector has a 1.48 industry location quotient, meaning it has 48% more jobs in the industry than would be expected for a region of its size.The strength and vibrancy of Cincinnatis arts reflect nearly a century of community support through ArtsWave, something unique to our region. Support from the annual ArtsWave Community Campaign provides a strong foundation from which the arts can benefit our communities in myriad social and educational ways, says Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave President & CEO. With this report, we also affirm the significant economic impact that the Cincinnati regions arts organizations make through their direct expenditures, ancillary revenue created by that spending, employment, and taxes generated.Among other analyses, the study looked at the economic impact of the ten largest organizations led by or predominantly for Black, Brown, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). While the total economic impact of these organizations was about $15 million in 2022, the underlying context is one of outsized growth. Over the four years included in the study, these BIPOC organizations total impact grew by 26%, compared to 19% for all arts organizations, and the number of jobs created or supported grew by approximately 53% during that same period  much higher than the 7.4% growth for all arts organizations. With time and investment, more of these organizations could become household names for generations of Cincinnatians to come.RESOURCES: Download the report or view it online here.Media Contact: Jackie Reau, Game Day(513) 708-5822m [email protected]

Source: ArtsWave
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arbiter Partner Capital Management LLC (APCM) is reporting today certain historical transactions made by it, on behalf of investment funds and accounts management by it. APCMs head office is located at 530 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036 USA.

Japan Gold Corp.

On May 8, 2023, APCM acquired, on behalf of the investment funds managed by it, 10,000,000 Common Shares of Japan Gold Corp. (Japan Gold) a company with a head office located at Suite 650, 669 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 0B4. The transaction took place through an offering by the company and the Common Shares were acquired for C$2,000,000 in total, at a price of C$0.20 per Common Share. Immediately before the transaction, APCM held 20,607,441 Common Shares, representing 8.05% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Immediately after the transaction, APCM held 30,607,441 Common Shares representing approximately 11.96% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. This resulted in an increase of approximately 3.91% in APCMs holdings.

On August 31, 2023, APCM acquired, on behalf of the investment funds managed by it, 300,000 Common Shares of Japan Gold at a price per Common Share of C$0.10 for an aggregate purchase price of C$30,000. The transaction took place on the TSX Venture Exchange and the Common Shares were acquired for C$30,000 in total, at a price of $0.10 per Common Share. Immediately before the transaction, APCM held 31,803,941 Common Shares, representing 12.40% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Immediately after the transaction, APCM held 32,103,941 Common Shares representing approximately 12.52% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. This resulted in an increase of approximately 3.91% in APCMs holdings.

Cabral Gold Inc.

On October 2, 2023, APCM acquired, on behalf of the investment funds managed by it, 30,000 Common Shares of Cabral Gold Inc., a company with a head office located at Suite 1500, 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2. The transaction took place on the TSX Venture Exchange and the Common Shares were acquired for C$3,450 in total, at a price of C$0.115 per Common Share. Immediately before the transaction, APCM held 13,231,000 Common Shares, representing 7.09% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. APCM also holds 6,000,000 warrants of the Company. Should the warrants be exercised into Common Shares, APCM would hold 19,261,000 Common Shares on behalf of its investment advisory clients, including APCM and other parties, representing approximately 10.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.

Talisker Resources Ltd.

On July 12, 2023, APCM acquired, on behalf of the investment funds managed by it, 10,000 reverse-split adjusted Common Shares of Talisker Resources Ltd., a company with a head office located at 350 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M7A 0A7. The transaction took place on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Common Shares were acquired for C$4,500 in total, at a price of C$0.45 per reverse-split Common Share. Immediately before the transaction, APCM held 6,228,605 reverse-split Common Shares, representing 8.11% of the issued and outstanding reverse-split Common Shares. APCM also holds 1,600,000 reverse-split adjusted warrants of the Company. Should the warrants be exercised into Common Shares, APCM would hold 8,8238,605 reverse-split adjusted Common Shares on behalf of its investment advisory clients, including APCM and other parties, representing approximately 10.00% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.

A copy of the early warning report that was filed with the applicable securities commissions in respect of each transaction can be obtained on SEDARplus.ca.

For further information or to obtain a copy of an early warning report please contact: Joshua Musher, Chief Compliance Officer of APCM at [email protected] or 212-452-9119.

Source: Arbiter Partner Capital Management LLC
Milwaukee, WI., Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ivans today announced its latest release of Ivans Marketing InsightsTM, a business intelligence solution that delivers carriers and MGAs new channel insights derived from the broadest distribution network. The latest release expands its agency premium and policy search capabilities to personal lines and adds new reports that provide greater visibility into agency policy and premium date, enabling more opportunities for premium growth and retention. New reports added for commercial and personal lines include:

Your Share vs Others report , Ivans most requested feature, provides carriers a view into how much of each policy type and risk is placed with them compared to other carriers, delivering greater understanding of market standing and the most profitable agent engagement opportunities.

, Ivans most requested feature, provides carriers a view into how much of each policy type and risk is placed with them compared to other carriers, delivering greater understanding of market standing and the most profitable agent engagement opportunities. Renewal Date report shows how many policies are scheduled to expire each month, enabling carriers to anticipate renewals and enhance retention rates.

shows how many policies are scheduled to expire each month, enabling carriers to anticipate renewals and enhance retention rates. Policy Size report shows how many policies an agency is writing at each level  micro, small, or mid  to better understand business fit.

shows how many policies an agency is writing at each level  micro, small, or mid  to better understand business fit. Search Premium allows users to see how much premium each agency has based on the selected search.

Historically, carriers have had little visibility of the business agents are writing because they havent had access to the data  until now, said Brad Boyer, chief product officer, Ivans. The latest release of Ivans Marketing Insights expands insights into personal lines and gives carriers an even deeper view into agent opportunities to more quickly pinpoint growth opportunities by line of business and upcoming renewal windows.

# # #

The Ivans logos are trademarks of Applied Systems, Inc., registered in the U.S.

About IvansIvans is where insurance carriers, agents, and MGAs come together to grow their businesses. Every day, our 38,000 agents and over 600 carrier partners plug into technology that empowers them to better determine appetite and eligibility, swiftly produce quotes, get accurate claims and commission updates, automatically communicate policy data, and connect to one another to drive new business. With easier ways to get the days work done, insurance professionals can open the door to more revenue without letting complexity in behind it.

Lauren Malcolm Ivans (678) 438-5093 [email protected]

Source: Ivans
CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Landmarks Illinois will host its 2024 Preservation Forward spring fundraiser on February 29, 2024, at The Old Post Office in Chicago. Tickets and sponsorships are on sale for the inspiring evening event that will celebrate Landmarks Illinois transformational historic preservation work statewide and honor our 2024 Landmarks Illinois Influencers:

Lisa Yun Lee , Executive Director of the National Public Housing Museum

, Executive Director of the National Public Housing Museum Juan Moreno , Project Design Principal, President & Founder of JGMA

, Project Design Principal, President & Founder of JGMA Shermann Dilla Thomas , Chicago Historian & Co-Founder of Chicago Mahogany Foundation

, Chicago Historian & Co-Founder of Chicago Mahogany Foundation HIRE360 (Nonprofit Influencer), represented by Jay Rowell, Executive Director

(Nonprofit Influencer), represented by Jay Rowell, Executive Director Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation (Corporate Influencer), represented by Jackie Holsten, SVP & General Counsel, and Peter Holsten, President.

"Our 2024 Influencers are joining Landmarks Illinois in its effort to push the boundaries of preservation, including broadening access to the resources people need to save special places in their community, Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois. We are proud to amplify the voices of these community leaders, creative thinkers and activists who, through their innovative and important work, are building a more inclusive, connected and powerful preservation movement."

Visit our website here to learn more about our 2024 Landmarks Illinois Influencers.

2024 Preservation Forward event details & registration Preservation Forward is Landmarks Illinois biggest event of the year and its main fundraiser, responsible for raising nearly half of the annual budget for the organizations mission-driven work. The event attracts like-minded professionals, including architects, developers, activists, artists, tradespeople and those engaged in community development, who gather for a shared mission: to support and uplift Landmarks Illinois efforts to help people save places across the state.

The 2024 Preservation Forward event will take place at The Old Post Office, 433 W. Van Buren St., in Chicago from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event features a cocktail reception, an entertaining main program that honors the 2024 Landmarks Illinois Influencers and includes an engaging paddle raise and raffle, followed by dinner and an after-party. For dinner, guests will be treated to a unique culinary experience featuring an array of specially curated food stations. Thoughtfully selected desserts from local bakers and pastry chefs will accompany continued networking opportunities and games at the after-party.

Tickets for 2024 Preservation Forward can be purchased at Landmarks Illinois website at Landmarks.org/events/preservation-forward. Reservations for the full event are $500 (for-profit price) and $250 (nonprofit price). Tickets for the after-party only can be purchased for $35-$95. A free, virtual attendance option is also available for the main program. Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities can be purchased at our website.

History & significance of The Old Post OfficeA major draw of Preservation Forward is the events venue The Old Post Office  which provides an impressive and stunning backdrop for the already exciting evening. Built in 1921 and expanded in 1934, the former post office is one of the largest and most visible buildings in Chicagos Loop. After the United States Postal Service moved out in 1996, the post office long sat empty, unused and deteriorating. Landmarks Illinois included the building on its 1997 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois list and continued to advocate for its reuse for the next two decades. A massive rehabilitation of the structure beginning in 2018 has transformed the 13-story, 2.5-million-square-foot Art Deco building into an extraordinary event venue that also provides retail and office space.

The Old Post Office remains one of the citys most spectacular buildings. Today it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Chicago Landmark. Guests of Preservation Forward will have the opportunity to experience multiple spaces inside the historic site: from the fully restored lobby and grand hall featuring century-old original fixtures, white marble and gold glass mosaics, to the new food hall and second-floor Telegram Lounge. Click here to learn more about The Old Post Office and Landmarks Illinois sustained advocacy for the building.

About Landmarks Illinois We are People Saving Places for People. Landmarks Illinois is a membership-based, historic preservation nonprofit organization serving the people of Illinois. We inspire and empower stakeholders to save places that matter to them by providing free guidance, practical and financial resources and access to strategic partnerships. For more information, visit www.Landmarks.org.

Attachment

Kaitlyn McAvoy Landmarks Illinois 312-995-9679 [email protected]

Source: Landmarks Illinois
MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HIIs (NYSE: HII) Mission Technologies division announced that Michael Lempke will lead HII Australia business efforts, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Lempke will direct HIIs business in-country and specifically in support of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) trilateral partnership. Lempke also serves as president of Mission Technologies Nuclear and Environmental Services business group.

Since 2017, as the president of the Nuclear and Environmental Services business group, Lempke has led HIIs work maintaining a nuclear stewardship culture for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on complex projects crucial to U.S. national security, the advancement of science and technology, and the protection of people and the environment.

Lempke also supervised the implementation of programs to build and maintain the education and training of a future nuclear workforce in local communities that prioritizes attracting, training, and retaining top talent.

For HII in Australia, Lempke will be responsible for leveraging HII expertise in unmanned systems, C5ISR operations, the application of AI and machine learning, and nuclear shipbuilding expertise in support of AUKUS.

A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://hii.com/news/michael-lempke-hii-australia-business-2024/.

This is an important next step in our international growth initiative, enhancing coordination between AUKUS Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 efforts, enabling an efficient in-country operating model, and providing a unified business approach in Australia, Mission Technologies President Andy Green said. 2024 will be a pivotal year for the AUKUS program, for the Commonwealth of Australia, and for HII, and I am proud of our team and the commitment we have shown in supporting this important global strategic initiative.

Michael Lempke added, I look forward to working with the Australian, U.S., and United Kingdom governments, and HIIs Australian business and academic partners to use HII expertise to make AUKUS Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 a success and to strengthen the security alliance between our nations.

This announcement follows three strategic partnerships announced in 2023:

In September, HII and Babcock International Group combined forces in Australia to support critical capability requirements for the AUKUS nuclear submarine program.

In November, HII and Babcock Australasia announced formation of the AUKUS Workforce Alliance (AWA) with the University of Adelaide, Curtin University, and the University of New South Wales. The AWA is a partnership committed to preparing a skilled workforce in support of the AUKUS nuclear submarine program.

In December, HII, Babcock Australasia, and Bechtel Australia signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to identify opportunities to leverage their complementary sets of skills and experience to establish and support Australias conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarine program.

Headquartered in Canberra, HII Australia is leveraging HIIs proven track record in construction of nuclear-powered submarines, advanced technologies, and infrastructure development, including workforce and supply chain, in support of the AUKUS security partnership. For more information about HII Australia, visit: https://hii.com/what-we-do/sectors/hii-australia/.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HIIs mission is to deliver the worlds most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world. As the nations largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: hii.com

HII on Facebook: facebook.com/TeamHII

HII on X: twitter.com/WeAreHII

HII on Instagram: instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact: Greg McCarthy[email protected]Tel: (202) 264-7126

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a9065b2c-6337-45ff-a746-601c758eead4

Michael Lempke Michael Lempke

Source: HII
Linthicum Heights, MD, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Fire Sprinkler Association applauds Governor Philip Murphy and all proactive policy makers and leaders who have worked to pass Senate Bill No. 281. The legislation requires newly constructed townhouses to be installed with automatic fire sprinkler systems.

In Governer Murphys statement following his signing of the law, he shared that automatic fire sprinkler systems are a critical, life-saving component of fire protection, and this bill will make townhouses in our State safer.

The New Townhouse Fire Safety Act received overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle, and NFSA would like to thank Senator Greenstein, Assemblywoman Sumter and Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson for introducing and supporting this bill. Throughout the hearing process the bill was supported by NFSA, Sprinkler Fitters Local 696, 692, and 699, NJFMBA, NJ State Firemens Association, NFPA, Insurance Advocates, building trades professionals and numerous other fire safety professionals and citizens. The Governor also issued the following statement on the bill: I am signing this bill today because of the importance of ensuring that the sprinkler requirement is enshrined in our law.

New Jersey is now an example of what happens when policy makers do the right thing, says NFSA President Shane Ray. The national minimum building codes in our nation require fire sprinklers, and its encouraging to see states like New Jersey include this life-saving technology in townhomes. Im so proud of NFSAs team and Chapter members, which includes our past Board Chairman, Kent Mezaros, for staying the course.

There were times that we wondered if wed ever get here, but this is an example of what can happen when you stay the course, and the facts are on your side, added Kent Mezaros, President of Quick Response Fire Protection, Inc. in New Jersey. Fires Sprinklers Buy Time, and Time Buys Life, and were ready to work with builders and developers to install these life safety systems.

NFSA will continue to partner with advocate groups and fire service organizations to prevent future tragedies and ensure a fire safe America. Together, with all stakeholders, we will continue to persevere. The passage of this legislation reminds us that working together we can make a difference, and that lives will be saved by our efforts.

About the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA): NFSA was founded in 1905 and wants to create a more fire safe world and works to heighten the awareness of the importance of fire sprinkler systems from homes to high-rise and all occupancies in between. The Association is an inclusive organization made up of dedicated and committed members of a progressive life-saving industry. This industry manufactures, designs, supplies, installs, inspects, and services the worlds most effective system in saving lives and property from uncontrolled structural fires.

For more information about fire sprinklers, how they work and access to additional resources and information, visit www.nfsa.org for the latest material, statistics, and a dedicated team of fire safety advocates ready to serve all stakeholders to fulfill the vision of a safer world.

Vickie Pritchett National Fire Sprinkler Association 615-533-0305 [email protected]

Source: National Fire Sprinkler Association
Washington, D.C., Jan. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the New Civil Liberties Alliance filed an amicus curiae brief in NRA v. Vullo, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to determine that New York Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo abridged the National Rifle Associations rights to free speech and association. Vullo issued statements effectively threatening to punish banks and insurers via regulatory action if they kept doing business with NRA. She targeted NRAs pro-Second Amendment viewpoint, a blatant First Amendment violation.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that Vullo did not coerce the banks and insurance companies to end their relationships with NRA. The Second Circuit reached its conclusion by employing a four-factor test to decide if Vullos actions amounted to coercion under the First Amendment. However, the proper approach would determine whether Vullo abridged NRAs free speech and association rightsas she certainly didnot just whether coercion occurred. The First Amendment forbids abridging these foundational freedoms, which means diminishing or reducing the amount of speech.

Even if the Supreme Court uses the coercion test rather than the constitutionally proper abridgement standard, NRA has effectively demonstrated that Vullo coerced third parties to cut ties with the organization based on its Second Amendment advocacy. Her press releases threatened reputational risks of doing business with the NRA, and she held meetings with industry heads where she turned up the pressure. While Vullo did not explicitly state that companies must drop NRA or face State scrutiny and an investigationserious, adverse consequencesNRAs factual allegations created a reasonable inference that such consequences would result should the companies refuse to stop conducting business with NRA.

NCLA is a national leader in the ongoing battle against the First Amendment violations by the Administrative State. This spring, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments over the Fifth Circuits grant of a preliminary injunction in NCLAs Missouri v. Biden case that would bar officials from various federal agencies from coercing or significantly encouraging social media platforms to censor constitutionally protected speech.

NCLA released the following statements:

New Yorks unconstitutional targeting of the NRA could not be clearer. But the Justices must do more than reverse the Second Circuits erroneous dismissal of NRAs First Amendment claims: The Supreme Court should make clear that the First Amendments abridging standard governs and not the anti-textual coercion standard lower courts are usinga standard that allows bureaucrats to game away our fundamental freedoms. Margot Cleveland, Of Counsel, NCLA

The Second Circuit refused to look at the First Amendments text, which expressly states that there shall be no abridging of the freedom of speech. Nowhere in the Constitution is the standard lowered to coercion. Courts must not continue to chisel away at the right to speak by instituting atextual, judge-made tests. Kaitlyn Schiraldi, Staff Attorney, NCLA

For more information visit the amicus page here.

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.

###

Ruslan Moldovanov New Civil Liberties Alliance 202-869-5237 [email protected]

Source: New Civil Liberties Alliance
Hong Kong, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OSL Group (863.HK), formerly known as BC Technology Group, Hong Kongs only publicly listed company fully dedicated to digital assets, is excited to announce the inception of a global expansion strategy for 2024.

OSL's unwavering commitment to excellence and its deep-rooted relationships with esteemed financial institutions have firmly positioned the Group as a leading force in the B2B domain. With this strong foundation, OSL now sets its sights on a broader horizon and vision: to set the gold standard for regulated digital assets platforms, offering unparalleled services  from institutional clients to individual investors. OSL eagerly anticipates executing a fresh vision with a newly assembled team of experts, including a CEO appointment.

Leadership for the Future

With the appointment of Patrick Pan as CEO, OSL looks to the future with renewed vision and determination. Patrick draws on extensive experience from his senior leadership roles at prominent companies across diverse industries spanning global digital assets platforms, China's largest online real estate platform, cybersecurity, and e-commerce, bringing valuable expertise to OSL.

"With a committed vision for OSL, we're not just charting a new path in the digital assetdomain  we will be pioneering it. Our direction is crystal clear: to lead with innovation, and to scale new heights. The synergy between our revitalised team and global strategy places OSL at the vanguard of setting industry standards," Pan addressed.

Global Strategy for 2024

With the recent SEC approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States, a wave of institutional capital is expected to enter the industry, further cementing digital assets' role in mainstream finance. Opportunities arising from these developments are actively being capitalised upon by OSL to foster the widespread adoption of digital assets. OSL's blueprint for 2024 revolves around four strategic pillars: Geographic Expansion, Service Innovation, Digital Finance Synergy, and Unwavering Compliance.

Geographic Expansion - In an increasingly interconnected digital landscape, beyond Hong Kong and Singapore, OSL recognises the significance of establishing a global footprint to serve a diverse and international clientele. As part of this expansion, OSL remains resolute in upholding its rigorous compliance standards.

In an increasingly interconnected digital landscape, beyond Hong Kong and Singapore, OSL recognises the significance of establishing a global footprint to serve a diverse and international clientele. As part of this expansion, OSL remains resolute in upholding its rigorous compliance standards. Service Innovation - OSL places product innovation at the core of its mission and commits to addressing the market's need for accessible and user-friendly digital asset products. Leveraging off its collaborations with its institutional partners and product issuers and the policy support for security token products from the Securities and Futures Commission, OSL will continue pioneer the development of tokenised financial products in Hong Kong.

OSL places product innovation at the core of its mission and commits to addressing the market's need for accessible and user-friendly digital asset products. Leveraging off its collaborations with its institutional partners and product issuers and the policy support for security token products from the Securities and Futures Commission, OSL will continue pioneer the development of tokenised financial products in Hong Kong. Digital Finance Synergy - OSL is embarking on a transformative journey towards greater inclusion and innovation. OSL closely monitors the evolving regulatory landscape, encompassing real-world asset tokenisation (RWA), and more. As governments and regulators refine their positions, OSL anticipates a forthcoming wave of compliant digital assets products. These developments are expected to boost investor confidence and foster innovation within a regulated framework.

OSL is embarking on a transformative journey towards greater inclusion and innovation. OSL closely monitors the evolving regulatory landscape, encompassing real-world asset tokenisation (RWA), and more. As governments and regulators refine their positions, OSL anticipates a forthcoming wave of compliant digital assets products. These developments are expected to boost investor confidence and foster innovation within a regulated framework. Unwavering Compliance - Operating in multiple jurisdictions demands a keen understanding of local regulatory landscapes and an unwavering commitment to the highest compliance standards. OSLs dedication to regulatory excellence remains resolute as it navigates the intricate web of international compliance, ensuring clients globally can access digital asset solutions meeting the most stringent regulatory requirements.

This strategic direction not only aligns with, but also re-energises, OSL's vision to command the regulated institutional digital asset market and its mission to offer unrivalled access to digital assets, thereby establishing a global benchmark for innovation, operational excellence, security, and adherence to compliance.

About OSL

Backed by Asias leading public fintech and digital asset company, OSL Group (863.HK), formerly known as BC Technology Group, OSL is the worlds first SFC-licensed and insured digital asset platform. Founded in 2018, OSL has an established history in the sector and is recognized by many as the leader in providing comprehensive regulated and licensed digital asset solutions.

OSL offers Markets services (brokerage, exchange, and custody) and SaaS technology solutions, which deliver institutional clients in addition to professional and retail investors access to the best-in-class digital asset platform, along with a fully regulated liquidity pool. OSLs secured and insured hot and cold wallet infrastructure also ensures the safekeeping of digital assets with timely transaction settlements.

As the digital asset industry continues to evolve, so does OSL. OSLs simple and tailored approach compliantly navigates international clients through the evolving digital assets environment.

For more information, visit: https://osl.com/

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

Wan Kin OSL media-at-osl.com

Source: OSL
NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QuisLex, a leading alternative legal services provider long recognized as a pioneer in the industry, announces its schedule of first quarter events. As part of its ongoing commitment to legal advancements and to supporting premier education and networking opportunities for clients and partners, the company is investing in several prominent organizations and forums.

Events in which QuisLex will participate in the coming months include:

Consero Life Sciences General Counsel Forum  January 22-24, Westlake Village, CaliforniaQuisLex is a sponsor, and Kevin Podd, QuisLex Client Services Advisor, will moderate the panel Counseling Compliance: The Art of Navigating Regulatory Challenges.

Legalweek New York 2024  January 29-February 1, New York CityQuisLex representatives will host client meetings in a private suite.

NAMWOLF 2024 Driving Diversity & Leadership Conference (DDLC)  March 2-5, New Orleans QuisLex is sponsoring the event as an MBE/WBE Business Partner.

SIFMA C&L Annual Seminar  March 17-20, Orlando In addition to its sponsorship, Joseph Polizzotto, VP, from QuisLex will be moderator of the session Managing In-House Legal Operations & Compliance Departments.

For more information about QuisLex participation in these or other events, visit www.quislex.com.

About QuisLexQuisLex is an award-winning legal services provider that specializes in managed document review, contract management, compliance services, legal spend management and legal operations consulting. Our full-time highly trained attorneys, process experts, legal technologists, statisticians and linguists work closely with our clients to reduce cost, mitigate risk and maximize efficiency. QuisLex is regularly acknowledged as a leader in the legal services industry and proud to be recognized by the Association of Corporate Counsel as an ACC Value Champion, Chambers and Partners as a Band 1 Alternative Legal Service Provider, the New York Law Journal as a Top Managed Document Review Services Provider and the IACCM as its Outstanding Service Provider for contract management solutions. QuisLex is nationally certified by the New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council as a minority business enterprise (MBE). To learn more, visit www.quislex.com.

Media ContactsVicki LaBrosse Edge Legal Marketing for QuisLex[email protected]

Source: QuisLex
Changes come as IEC looks to leverage the exploratory work undertaken in 2023 with a view towards renewing and maximimizing drilling activities in 2024 and beyond

JAKARTA, INDONESIA AND DANVILLE, CA, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Indonesia Energy Corporation (NYSE American: INDO) ("IEC"), an oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Indonesia, today announced that it has made changes and enhanced the effectiveness of its management team and Board of Directors.

These changes come as IEC is laser focused on delivering a new and enhanced development program at its currently producing Kruh Block leveraging the previously announced exploratory work done in 2023 as well as to drive towards early commercialization of IECs Citarum Block, a potential billion barrel equivalent structure.

Mr. Mirza Said has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Mr. Said previously was the Chief Business Development Officer. Commenting on Mr. Saids new role, Dr. Wirawan Jusuf, IECs Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated Mirza is perfectly suited for the role of Chief Operating Officer. Over the past several years, he has been involved with and helped guide all aspects of our operations and business and has been an invaluable C-suite team member. Mirzas mandate will now formally cover many of the items he already has significant input on, from government relations and licensing, to procurement, staffing and the execution of our exploratory and drilling operations.

Dr. Charlie Wu has been appointed as Chief Technology Officer of the Company. He previously served as IEC's Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Jusuf commented, Charlies background of over 40 years in the oil and gas industry and his global experience in oil and gas technology will help drive our development programs for both the Kruh Block and the Citarum Block. His efforts over the last several years have been focused on understanding and maximing the potential for our assets and implementing the right technology to do so. As such, the role of Chief Technology Officer is a great fit for him and our company.

In addition, IEC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Ahmad Fathurachman, age 33, as a new independent member of the Companys board of directors. Mr. Fathurachman replaces Mr. Tamba Hutapea, who is retiring as a member of IECs board of directors.

Mr. Fathurachmans experience in the energy industry and also on marketing and social media will help guide a new focus for IEC on developing a comprehensive market awareness program and frequent communications with shareholders on current activities for IEC. In this regard, it is expected that Mr. Fathurachman will work closely with Frank Ingriselli, IECs President. An electrical and power engineer by training, Mr, Fathurachman presently works in project management, project development and product sales at Weatherford International plc in Indonesia.

Dr. Jusuf stated Amhad brings an independent perspective, experience and new energy to our board as we look to drive our drilling programs ahead. We look forward to working with him. Our entire board also wants to express our sincere appreciation to Tamba Hutapea for his years of service as an IEC board member, and we wish him great success in his retirement.

These appointments are all effective as of Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

IEC also reported that it plans on providing further details regarding the companys investments in critical exploratory activities during 2023 and its planned ramp up in drilling operations during 2024 in the coming weeks.

About Indonesia Energy Corporation Limited

Indonesia Energy Corporation Limited (NYSE American: INDO) is a publicly traded energy company engaged in the acquisition and development of strategic, high growth energy projects in Indonesia. IECs principal assets are its Kruh Block (63,000 acres) located onshore on the Island of Sumatra in Indonesia and its Citarum Block (1,000,000 acres) located onshore on the Island of Java in Indonesia. IEC is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia and has a representative office in Danville, California. For more information on IEC, please visit www.indo-energy.com .

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release of Indonesia Energy Corporation Limited (IEC) and its representatives and partners that are not based on historical fact are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Acts). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "estimates," "believes," "hopes," "expects," "intends," on-track, "plans," "anticipates," or "may," and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Acts and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Acts. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. While management has based any forward-looking statements contained herein on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the IEC's control, that could cause actual results (including, without limitation, the timing for and results of IECs exploration, drilling and production activities and the impact of the management and board of director changes described herein) to materially and adversely differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Companys annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed on May 2, 2022, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies are of such documents are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov . IEC undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Company Contact :
SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StateHouse Holdings Inc. (StateHouse or the Company) (CSE: STHZ) (OTCQB: STHZF), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis company, today announced that J. Roy Pottle has resigned from its Board of Directors effective January 15, 2024, to pursue other opportunities. The Company does not expect to fill the vacant board position at this time.

On behalf of the executive team, the board and myself, I would like to sincerely thank Roy for his contributions as a valued member of the board, said Matthew Hawkins, Chairman of the Board. Roy provided significant expertise and counsel as we built StateHouse into one strong unified California operator, and we wish him all the best in his next endeavors.

About StateHouse Holdings Inc.

StateHouse, a vertically integrated enterprise with cannabis licenses covering retail, major brands, distribution, cultivation, nursery, and manufacturing, is one of the oldest and most respected cannabis companies in California. Founded in 2006, its predecessor company Harborside was awarded one of the first six medical cannabis licenses granted in the United States. Today, the Company operates 13 dispensaries covering Northern and Southern California and one in Oregon, an integrated cultivation facility in Salinas and manufacturing in Greenfield, California. StateHouse is a leading brand house in California by market share, with a diversified product across multiple brands, form factors, and price points. StateHouse sells its six popular house brands to over 600 retailers across California including Kingpen, Dime Bag, Loudpack, Fuzzies, Sublime, Urbn Leaf and Smokiez line of products. StateHouse is a publicly listed company, currently trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol "STHZ" and the OTCQB under the ticker symbol "STHZF". The Company continues to play an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California and Oregon consumers.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements'' (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. To the extent any forward-looking information in this news release constitutes "financial outlooks" or "future-oriented financial information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects'', or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to potential future growth, future financial performance including but not limited to the companys sale of various non-core assets, enhanced output for cultivation and manufacturing, expanding managed services offerings, reduction of operating expenses, future infrastructure investments, increased cannabis yields and potency, the companys ability to increase the sale of in-house branded products, new product sales targets, future financings and the potential rescheduling or de-scheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, and the potential benefits of this change to StateHouse.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the cannabis markets where the Company operates; changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion and acquisitions; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-related products in the markets where the Company operates; and the risk factors set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the Company's listing statement dated May 30, 2019, which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is directly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute, or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation.

While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For the latest news, activities, and media coverage, please visit https://www.statehouseholdings.com, https://shopharborside.com and https://urbnleaf.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

For further information: StateHouse Holdings Inc., Ed Schmults, CEO 800-892-4209 Investor Contact: MATTIO Communications Rob Kelly [email protected]

Source: StateHouse Holdings Inc.
Houston, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- David Terry, an experienced environmental enforcement attorney whose legal career includes more than a decade of service with the Texas Attorney Generals office and with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, has joined Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.

Based in Houston, Terry joins the firm as a counsel and will focus his environmental and natural resources practice on litigation and regulatory matters spanning the federal, state, and administrative levels. He will also offer compliance, permitting, and transactional counseling to clients in the energy, chemicals, and manufacturing sectors.

As the latest addition to the firms growing environmental presence in Texas, Terry is an ideal strategic fit in Texas, where the firm serves a range of transactional, regulatory and litigation needs for energy industry clients. Terrys colleagues in Houston include public lands and environmental counsel Jason Hill.

Leveraging more than a decade of experience as an enforcement attorney with the Texas Attorney Generals office and TCEQ, David adds a valuable perspective to the firms nationally recognized environmental practice, said Deidre Duncan head of Hunton Andrews Kurths environmental practice. We are thrilled to welcome David to our team.

Terry joined the Environmental Protection Division of the Texas Attorney Generals office in 2016, as an Assistant Attorney General on the Enforcement Team. In that capacity, he managed a complex docket of approximately 30 civil enforcement matters, principally referred by TCEQ.

His responsibilities included initiating and prosecuting lawsuits to enforce state laws and regulations by seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief. In addition to statutory penalties, he handled lawsuits seeking civil restitution for natural resource damages as well as Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) actions in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice and federal agencies. Terry also participated in administrative appeals of final agency decisions and rule challenges.

A selection of Terrys notable representations include:

Served as lead counsel in a civil enforcement action seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief related to a large fire that occurred at a chemical storage facility and a civil restitution action related to the same event which resulted in the payment of damages due to injuries inflicted upon national historic sites.

Served on the litigation team against a major automobile manufacturer and its affiliates for tampering with diesel vehicle emissions controls.

Served on the Texas Attorney Generals PFAS litigation team as part of a large multi-state NRDA action related to the manufacturing and release of PFAS.

Served as lead counsel against several refineries, chemical manufacturers, and chemical storage plants related to emissions events occurring at their facilities.

Served as lead counsel to the State of Texas in a large NRDA action related to a barge collision in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in a $15.3 million settlement.

Prior to joining the Texas Attorney Generals office, Terry served as an enforcement attorney with TCEQ for nearly four years. At TCEQ, Terry prosecuted environmental enforcement actions at the administrative level and was responsible for a docket of cases involving all types of environmental media, which were litigated before the State Office of Administrative Hearings and ultimately presented to the TCEQ Commissioners for final agency decision.

During his tenure at TCEQ, Terry resolved to conclusion over 90 enforcement actions. In addition to litigating enforcement actions, Terry served as legal counsel to the Executive Directors branch of TCEQ and was a member of the Excessive Emissions Event Committee, where he assisted in the evaluation of emissions events from regulated facilities and provided recommendations as to whether the events should be deemed excessive under state law.

Terry also served on TCEQs Litigation Committee, tasked with evaluating cases being handled by other Litigation Division attorneys and assisting with overall litigation strategy and planning. Additionally, he served as liaison counsel to the Texas Attorney Generals office for cases referred for civil enforcement.

Terry earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

Hunton Andrews Kurths global environmental practice of over 50 attorneys have assisted with development and financing of new energy sources and retirement of traditional energy sources, participated in the policy development process, helped clients navigate regulatory changes affecting the industry, and counseled clients on strategic opportunities to diversify their energy portfolios and achieve a greener economy. The practice and many of its lawyers are ranked Band 1 nationally by Chambers USA and Chambers Global, as well as by many other well-respected ranking publications.

With lawyers in the United States, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP serves clients across a broad range of complex transactional, litigation and regulatory matters. For more information, please contact Jeremy Heallen at +1 713 220 3713.

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CALGARY, AB, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) published the 2022 Liability Management Performance Report. The report is the first of what will be an annual publication on how the conventional oil and gas sector is managing the closure and cleanup of oil and gas wells, pipelines, and other facilities across the province.

The report aims at improving transparency of industrys management of conventional oil and gas liabilities as well as to develop performance measure baselines and ongoing assessments of the industry as a whole and licensees specifically.

The results of this report are a robust and clear indication that the industry is improving in the cleanup of oil and gas wells, pipelines, and facilities, said Laurie Pushor, AER president and CEO. While this report is showing significant improvement, continued focus and effort is required to ensure the sustained downward trend in reducing inactive well count in the future.

The report shows that in 2022, industry spent $696 million on cleanup, exceeding the $422 million spend requirement by 65%.

Additionally, 90% of licensees were compliant with their closure quota, leaving 51 noncompliant licensees with an outstanding amount of $4.2 million in missed closure quota. The 51 companies are listed in the report.

In total, more than $1.2 billion was spent on closure and cleanup activities in 2022. This includes industry spend and closure activities funded by the Government of Albertas Site Rehabilitation Program (SRP) and the industry-funded Orphan Well Association (OWA).

Industry operators continue to work on the backlog of inactive infrastructure. In 2022, the inactive well count decreased by 9%  from 91 000 to 83 000.

Industry members are currently submitting closure spend data for 2023, with a deadline of March 31, 2024, to complete their reporting. The 2023 report will be released before the end of 2024.

As part of the new Liability Management Framework, the AER implemented the Inventory Reduction Program in 2022, which includes an industry-wide spend requirement and mandatory closure spend quotas for licensees in the oil and gas sector who have inactive liability (used to determine the licensees portion of the industry-wide spend requirement).

Mandatory closure-spend quotas specify the minimum amount a licensee must spend on closure work each year. In 2022, the industry-wide spend requirement was $422 million. The industry closure-spend requirements for 2023 and 2024 were each set at $700 million.

About the Alberta Energy Regulator The AER ensures the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of energy resources in Alberta through our regulatory activities. For more information visit aer.ca.

Media Management Alberta Energy Regulator 1-855-474-6356 [email protected]

Source: Alberta Energy Regulator
LOS ANGELES and DENVER, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transom Capital Group (Transom), an operations-focused middle market private equity firm, and Angeleno Group, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm focused on high growth investments in the clean energy and climate solutions sector, are proud to announce the successful sale of Locana, LLC (Locana) to TRC Companies, Inc. (TRC), a leading, global consulting, engineering and construction management firm that provides environmentally focused and digitally powered solutions.

Founded in 2009, Locana is a world-class geospatial company with decades of experience combined with cutting-edge capabilities. Locana offers software solutions and services that run the gamut of geospatial technologies, giving customers a collaborative partner that caters to their unique business needs. Locana is also a global leader in enterprise Geographic Information System (GIS) implementations and innovative application development using proprietary and open-source technology. By taking a location-first approach to problem-solving, Locana builds, implements, and connects solutions for organizations of every size, industry, and geography.

Jeff Haight, CEO of Locana said, The Locana team could not be happier to join forces with TRC Companies. While we are excited for our next chapter, it has been my pleasure to partner with the teams at Transom and Angeleno over the past several years to build a best-in-class geospatial platform. Their strategic and operational support brought a major upgrade in sophistication to our business operations at Locana and was a driving force in our success."

The sale of Locana marks the end of a successful investment that embodies the Transom ARMOR process. Through its partnership with Transom and Angeleno, Locana has evolved and grown meaningfully both in reach and service offerings. Now, alongside TRC, Locana is well-positioned to capitalize on its next stage of growth, said Ken Firtel, Managing Partner at Transom Capital.

Locana exemplifies Angeleno Groups core strategy, leveraging the firms experience and network in clean energy and climate solutions to achieve successful investment outcomes, said Danny Jaffe, Partner at Angeleno Group. The collaboration between an outstanding management team, Transom and Angeleno Group has solidified Locana as a geospatial technology leader addressing critical business, environmental, and societal issues, added Anil Tammineedi, Partner at Angeleno Group.

KippsDeSanto & Co. served as exclusive financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Locana.

About Transom CapitalTransom Capital Group is a private equity firm focused on investing in the middle market. The firm strives to create long-term value by partnering with established businesses and helping them navigate transformative growth. Transoms functional pattern recognition, access to capital, and ARMOR Value Creation Process combine with managements industry expertise to create improved operational efficiency, significant top-line growth, cultural transformation and overall distinctive outcomes. Transom is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

About Angeleno GroupFounded in 2001, Angeleno Group is a pioneer in providing growth capital for next generation clean energy and climate solutions companies. Angeleno Group has become one of the country's longest standing dedicated clean energy and sustainability focused investment firms, making growth investments on a global basis. The firm's core strategy is to invest in high growth, well managed, innovative businesses with proven technologies and established customer traction. Angeleno Group invests in a range of deal types, with a strategy that is sector-focused and research-driven. Angeleno Group is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. For more information, visit www.angelenogroup.com.

About LocanaLocana, a location and mapping technology company, provides software products and services that solve the worlds most pressing business, climate, and social challenges. With more than 20 years of experience, Locana is a global leader in both enterprise geospatial solutions and innovative applications using proprietary and open-source mapping technologies. By taking a customer-centric, location-first approach, Locana builds, implements, and connects solutions clients in a wide range of markets, including utilities, government, clean energy, commercial, social benefit, and more. With headquarters in Denver, Co., the company also has offices in Seattle and London. More information is available at https://www.locana.co/

Media ContactSam Butler, 35thAvenuePartners, for Transom CapitalEmail: [email protected]Phone: 206.788.6504

Source: Transom Capital Group
Funding will facilitate 258 public-access chargers, including Megawatt (MCS) truck chargers for rapid recharge of commercial electric trucks

LONG BEACH, Calif., Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WattEV, the nations leading medium- and heavy-duty electric truck charging infrastructure developer, was awarded a total of $75.6 million from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to build three additional commercial electric truck charging depots in California, in partnership with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and the City of Blythe. Notably, these grant awards, dedicated to establishing stations along crucial freight transportation corridors in California, stand as the most significant financial allocation in this FHWA grant cycle for any individual charging infrastructure developer across the nation.

The FHWA funding awards come on the heels of the company receiving $33.6 million in late 2023 from the Transportation Corridor Enhancement Program, bringing WattEVs total recent federal funding awards to $109 million, stated WattEV CEO Salim Youssefzadeh.

These substantial investments from the federal government play a pivotal role in advancing the development of essential public truck charging infrastructure, a key factor for the success of commercial freight electrification on the West Coast and beyond. Our team takes immense pride in leading this build-out from San Diego to Seattle, and now venturing east toward Arizona and beyond, Youssefzadeh continued.

In support of its mission to accelerate the transition to zero-emission transport solutions, WattEV has spent the past three years launching the first corridor for public-access medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle (MHDEV) charging. In addition, WattEV offers an innovative electric Truck-as-a-Service (TaaS) model that provides fleets with access to Class 8 battery-electric trucks, reliable maintenance support, insurance, and access to charging across WattEVs entire network, all at a total cost of operation on par with diesel trucks. Last November, Apollo-managed funds and Vitol announced significant structured debt and equity investments to accelerate the Companys growth trajectory.

To further its ambitious zero-emission transportation goals, WattEV successfully secured two separate grants through the FHWAs Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI) 2023-24 grant cycle, announced late last week.

Its first CFI grant of $56 million, which was awarded to both WattEV and San Joaquin Valley APCD, was the single largest FHWA award among 10 granted to California projects. The funding will be used to develop two state-of-the art truck charging sites in Taft and Gustine, California, to support zero-emissions goods movement along the heavily traveled I-5 freight corridor which connects the nation's most productive agricultural region to major ports. The Valley's substantial volume of heavy-duty freight has led to its designation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an extreme nonattainment area for ozone and nonattainment for PM2.5, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable solutions in the region.

A robust infrastructure network is essential for a zero-emissions future, and collaborations with industry and federal partners will be key to Californias success, said Liane Randolph, Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The federal funds will help accelerate the deployment of commercial truck charging depots such as those that WattEV has planned across the state, giving truckers the tools they need to do their part for cleaner air and healthier communities.

At full capacity, both the Taft and Gustine sites will enable charging for more than 46,000 trucks annually with a total of 175 CCS chargers, and more than 38,000 trucks annually with a total of 17 MCS chargers. The two sites will incorporate a combined 63 acres of solar panels and integrate 5.5 MWh of battery electric storage systems. This strategic inclusion aims to ensure grid stability and optimize overall pricing for WattEV's customers, reinforcing the company's commitment to sustainable and cost-effective charging solutions.

We appreciate the leadership of WattEV and strong support of the Federal Highway Administration in helping to move forward nation-leading efforts to deploy the next generation of zero-emissions freight infrastructure in the San Joaquin Valley, stated Samir Sheikh, Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer for the San Joaquin Valley APCD. This funding award is a significant milestone for the region and state as a whole and is a testament to the San Joaquin Valley APCD's commitment to reducing air pollution, improving public health, and supporting the Valleys economy.

The second CFI grant of $19.6 million, awarded to the City of Blythe and WattEV as project partners, is earmarked for the establishment of a publicly accessible, multi-class electric vehicle charging facility on a 127-acre parcel of land in Riverside County, California, near the state line with Arizona. By introducing this electric truck charging facility along the I-10 freight corridor, WattEV and the City of Blythe are contributing to the broader shift toward sustainable transportation for the western United States, aligning with environmental goals and supporting interstate electric truck commerce.

At full capacity, the Blythe station will enable charging for more than 46,000 trucks annually with 30 CCS chargers, and more than 38,000 trucks annually with six MCS chargers. The site will also feature 5.2 MW of renewable energy capacity from an onsite photovoltaic field and a 2.75 MW battery energy storage system.

WattEV is leading the industry in adoption of the new MCS charging standard, enabling rapid recharging at our depots for semi-trucks, with as much as 300-miles of range in just 20 minutes, Youssefzadeh noted. We anticipate that the rollout of MCS charging will fundamentally shift the way that truck drivers view the viability of electric trucks for longer freight routes.

The FHWA grants will enable WattEV to further expand its MCS charging network, which will help truck drivers maximize their uptime by recharging and getting back out on their routes quickly. WattEVs first MCS chargers will debut in early 2024 at its soon-to-open Bakersfield charging depot, funded in part by the California Energy Commission.

To learn more about WattEV, visit www.WattEV.com.

About WattEV

WattEVs mission is to accelerate the transition of U.S. trucking transport to zero emissions. Through a combination of business and technology innovations, WattEV creates charging infrastructure and data-driven workflows, providing truckers and fleet operators with the lowest total cost of ownership. WattEVs goal is to get 12,000 heavy-duty electric trucks on California roads by the end of 2030, exceeding existing forecasts. More information is available online at WattEV.com.

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Bigelow Tea proudly announces its certification by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Fairfield, CT, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bigelow Tea proudly announces its recent certification by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) which confirms that Bigelow Tea is a woman-owned and operated small business in the United States.

Bigelow Tea, founded in 1945 by Ruth Campbell Bigelow, has a history of pioneering excellence in the tea industry. Today, through the leadership of third generation president and CEO, Cindi Bigelow, the company is the #1 tea company in the U.S.A. The company's core values of care, compassion and drive are the cornerstone of Bigelow Teas success and corporate culture. For eighty years, the familys guiding principles have never wavered and align with the mission of WBENCs certification which enables and supports growth and innovation for women-run organizations.

Over the past two decades, Cindi Bigelow, who succeeded her father David C. Bigelow in operating the family business, has continued to expand and transform the tea industry. Bigelow Tea has driven market expansion through product innovation, has cultivated national and global partnerships, and has adopted sustainable practices. Additionally, being a good corporate citizen continues to be a priority for the organization, showcasing a commitment to a purpose far beyond making profits where the aim is to always do better.

It has been a blessing and a privilege to run my familys company for the last twenty years, said third generation president and CEO Cindi Bigelow. Receiving the WBENC certification is something I take seriously as I continue to operate the organization in the way my family has guided me to, as an ethical business that looks after people and the community, always with a focus on doing the right thing while leading with care, compassion and drive.

About Bigelow Tea Company

Based in Fairfield, CT and 100% family owned, the Bigelow Tea Company pioneered the specialty tea category 80 years ago with its flagship tea, Constant Comment an iconic black tea known for its unique, memorable blend of orange rind and sweet spice that changed the way Americans were drinking tea. The third-generation company takes pride in its heritage and successful growth from a one-product, entrepreneurial venture into becoming a national market tea leader today. Under the leadership of president and CEO, Cindi Bigelow, Bigelow Tea has become a Certified B Corporation, one of a select group of companies that has made a commitment to corporate social responsibility as a core business goal in the pursuit of a positive social and environmental impact. This certification incorporates maintaining Zero Waste to Landfill operations, being a Green-e Certified company and organizing the Bigelow Tea Community Challenge fundraiser which has contributed over $2 million to local non-profits since 1988. Producing 2 billion tea bags annually, the Bigelow Tea portfolio is comprised of more than 150 flavors which includes the Bigelow Tea signature line, seasonal tea products, organic, wellness and immune support teas that feature ingredients with functional benefits as well as Botanicals Cold Water Infusions. Bigelow Tea products are available nationwide. For more information, visit our website (www.bigelowtea.com) or contact: [email protected].

About WBENC

WBENC is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States. WBENC partners with 14 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) to provide its world-class standard of certification to women-owned businesses throughout the country. WBENC is also the nations leading advocate of women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, supported by more than 540 Corporate Members. Throughout the year, WBENC provides professional development, business development, and outreach opportunities for more than 18,000 WBENC-Certified women-owned businesses, Corporate and Government Members, and the national WBENC network. Learn more at www.wbenc.org

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A Chinese internet regulator has initiated a cybersecurity review of Shein, cracking down on the fashion retailers data handling and sharing practices, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The scrutiny includes an examination of how Shein manages information related to its partners, suppliers, and staff within China. In addition, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is also investigating Sheins ability to safeguard this data from unauthorized overseas access.

Moreover, there is interest in understanding the nature of Chinese data that Shein may disclose to U.S. regulators as the company seeks listing there, the report noted.

The review could potentially complicate Shein's plans to go public in the U.S., as the company is currently seeking approval from Beijing for its listing.

This development adds a layer of complexity to the fast fashion retailer's IPO aspirations, which have already faced political opposition in the United States.

Historically, investigations of this nature by the CAC have taken several months to conclude. A protracted review process could potentially lead to delays in Shein's stock sale.

In the most unfavorable scenario, the entire plan might be abandoned if the regulator identifies significant issues. The CAC, whose authority has significantly expanded under Chinese leader Xi Jinping, has impeded the overseas listing aspirations of numerous prominent Chinese technology firms.

Shein, which was reportedly valued at $66 billion after a funding round in May, filed its planned US initial public offering (IPO) with Chinese regulators in November.

By Vahid Karaahmetovic
GEMXX (OTC: GEMZ), a leader in the ammolite gemstone mine-to-market segment, will be presenting at this months Sequire Investor Summit 2024. Sequire Investor Summit: Puerto Rico is slated for Jan. 2325, 2024, in San Juan. According to the announcement, the three-day event is designed to provide an array of exciting opportunities for funds, companies and investors. The event agenda features more than 40 presentations from leading public companies as well as panel discussions and interactive sessions focused on addressing the latest trends and innovations in investor relations and technology. Puerto Rico was chosen as the site because it is home to many family offices, funds and wealthy investors because of its favorable tax benefits, being one of the only places in the world where U.S. citizens can move and pay virtually no federal or state income taxes. GEMXX Corporation is thrilled to participate in this years Sequire Investor Summit and looks forward to sharing its knowledge and expertise with attendees, said GEMXX president Richard Clowater in the press release. Join us for an exciting and informative event that promises to be a highlight of the year for funds, companies and investors alike. Our revenue model is perfect for the ever-evolving mine to consumer markets emerging globally.

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/XkdV9

About GEMXX Corporation

GEMXX is a publicly traded, mine-to-market gold, gemstone and jewelry producer with global reach that owns mining resources, production facilities and operating assets. GEMXX controls each stage of its production including gold mining, gemstone production, jewelry manufacturing and global distribution. GEMXX is a leading producer of top-quality finished ammolite and ammolite jewelry. The companys world-class gemstone cutters and jewelry designers are continuously leading the ammolite industry in new and exciting directions. The companys management team is made up of the industrys leading experts with a combined total of 160 years of ammolite gemstone and jewelry business experience. For more information about this company, please visit www.GEMXX.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GEMZ are available in the companys newsroom at https://ibn.fm/GEMZ

About TinyGems

TinyGems is a specialized communications platform with a focus on innovative small-cap and mid-cap companies with bright futures and huge potential. It is one of 60+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, TinyGems is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in todays market, TinyGems brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. TinyGems is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.

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Chico, California--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - AmeraMex International, Inc. (OTC Pink: AMMX), a provider of heavy equipment for logistics companies, infrastructure construction and forestry conservation, announced that it was awarded equipment orders totaling approximately $857,000.

AmeraMex CEO Lee Hamre commented, "We recently became a certified dealer for LiuGong equipment. LiuGong, headquartered in China, has been in business for 60+ years and has 19 different product lines including equipment for agriculture, forestry, materials handling, construction and mining. LiuGong equipment has a reputation for reliability, service and leading technology within the marketplace.

"Our strategy is to grow our customer base and markets by expanding the selection and functionality of equipment we inventory. This new product line has been well received, both from functionality and pricing points, and has increased our reach into a variety of new businesses, including further expansion within distribution centers," added Hamre.

Today's announced orders include eight new LiuGong forklifts with a 5,000-pound lifting capacity, two LiuGong Excavators, and an ASV RT-135 Forestry.

RT-135 Forestry features a rated operating capacity of 4,150 pounds, a tipping load of 11,858 pounds and offers ASV's patented Posi-Track rubber-track suspension. This machine also offers fully flexible twenty-inch tracks and suspended wheels that conform to the ground and a special guarding package.





ASV RT-135

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LiuGong excavators are designed to work hard on any jobsite and are built for efficiency. They include features such as low fuel consumption engines with power, boom anti-drift functions, minimal kick-back during swing functions, easy control pattern changes from ISO to SAE, and easy engine access.





LiuGong Excavator

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LiuGong forklifts are material handling equipment that uses forks to load and unload, stack goods, and move pallets. They are equipped with internal combustion engines that run on diesel. LiuGong forklifts are designed to be tough, robust, and powerful. They offer competitive features and performance when compared to other leading brands.





LiuGong Forklift

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For more information and pricing of equipment for the logistics, agricultural, construction, and forestry industries, or to book a demonstration of the First Green Industry's 100 percent electric skid steer loaders, ASV Posti-Tract and Skid Steer Loaders, Menzi Muck Excavators or a Magni Telescopic Handler, contact the AmeraMex/Hamre Equipment sales team at 530.895.8955.

AmeraMex International

AmeraMex International sells, leases, and rents heavy equipment to companies within multiple industries including construction, logistics, mining, and lumber. The company has over 30 years of experience in heavy equipment sales and service. Follow AmeraMex on Twitter @ammx_intl and visit the AmeraMex website, www.AMMX.net or www.hamreequipment.com for additional information and equipment videos.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "potential," "continue" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if added information becomes available in the future.

Investor and Media Relations

McCloud Communications, LLC

Marty Tullio, Managing Member

Office: 949.632.1900 or [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194529
Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to report assay results from drill hole MA23C-026 at the Maitland Gold Project ("Maitland") including the highest-grade intersection to date by the Company. Gold mineralization occurs in the Homestake Formation and contains visible free gold associated with lower sulfide quartz-carbonate veins. MA23C-026 was designed to test the southern extent of the Homestake-style gold mineralization found between MA23C-017 and MA23C-022 (see May 4 and August 3, 2023 news releases). The intercepts in MA23C-026 significantly expand the Maitland target area and validate our exploration model for Homestake-style gold mineralization. Maitland is located 3.1 miles (5.0 km) northwest of the +40-million-ounce historic Homestake Mine and hosted within the same structural corridor.

Highlights (See Table 1):

MA23C-026 intersected: 0.227 oz/ton Au over 22.1 feet (7.78 grams/tonne over 6.7 meters) and 0.294 oz/ton Au over 18.7 feet (10.08 grams/tonne over 5.7 meters) of Homestake-style gold mineralization in two closely spaced intersections in the middle portion of the drill hole.

MA23C-026 intersected 4.871 oz/ton Au over 3.4 feet (167.0 grams/tonne over 1.0 meter) of Homestake-style gold mineralization approximately 240 feet below the above highlighted intersections. This is the highest-grade intercept identified to date by Dakota Gold at Maitland.

MA23C-026 intersected 0.037 oz/ton Au over 39.8 feet (1.26 grams/tonne over 12.1 meters) in a new Tertiary zone of epithermal gold mineralization in the upper part of the drill hole, located approximately 500 feet west of the Unionville Zone discovery area. This mineralization appears to be in a distinct Tertiary-age structural zone west and parallel to the Unionville Zone.

MA23C-026 revealed 14 sample intervals in Homestake Formation with visible gold between 2283.3 and 2539.6 feet and an additional occurrence at 5113 feet in the lower portion of the hole.

James Berry, Vice President Exploration of Dakota Gold, said, "The results returned are exciting because we are encountering high-grades over mineable widths in numerous limbs of Homestake Formation in the Maitland Anticlinorium, attesting to the strength and extent of the Precambrian gold mineralization event. These new intercepts, with more typical orogenic-style gold mineralization, located along the same limb as the JB Gold Zone, are analogous to the West Ledge system at the historic Homestake Mine. This further increases our confidence that we have identified another Homestake Ledge system at Maitland. We are also excited to find a new Tertiary zone of epithermal gold mineralization. With additional drilling, this could be a new discovery accretive to any mineralization defined in the main Unionville Zone target area."

Exploration Update:

MA23C-026 was designed to infill between MA23C-017 (see May 4, 2023 news release) which intersected 0.365 oz/ton Au over 15.3 feet (12.51 grams/tonne over 4.7 meters) and MA23C-022 (see August 3, 2023 news release) that intersected 0.570 oz/ton Au over 16.5 feet (19.55 grams/tonne over 5 meters). This mineralization is located in the west part of the Maitland Anticlinorium and is south of the JB Gold Zone. The five mineralized intersections in MA23C-026 beginning at 2099.4 feet and continuing to 2539.6 feet are located approximately 1200 feet south of the JB Gold Zone and are modelled to be along the same limb of Homestake Formation. The lower intercept in MA23C-026 at 5512.3 feet and the lower intercept in MA23C-022 appear to be in a distinctly different structure of the Maitland Anticlinorium than the JB Gold Zone mineralization.

The mineralization in MA23C-026 starting at 122.4 feet (0.037 oz/ton Au over 39.8 feet or 1.26 grams/tonne over 12.1 meters) is significant because this Tertiary epithermal mineralization, hosted in Tertiary intrusive, identifies a separate mineralized Tertiary structural zone west of the Unionville Zone. Like the Tertiary epithermal structure that hosts the historical Maitland Mine mineralization east of the Unionville Zone, the new Tertiary epithermal mineralization in MA23C-026 is another exploration target that has the potential for adding ounces to the Unionville Zone as the resource develops.

Compilation of the geologic information obtained from logging of MA23C-026 and other Maitland drill holes is at the point where this information can be modelled in 3D, and more precise predictive models of the Homestake Formation geometries are evolving. Use of these models enable Dakota Gold to begin to predict the complex folding encountered, and characterize the geometries of host rocks, shear structures and mineralization. These models are constantly evolving as new holes are drilled and new geologic data is compiled. The current model interpretation demonstrates that the Precambrian mineral system at Maitland is very similar to mine ledges at the historic Homestake Mine, especially the orebodies in the West Ledge system. These interpretations are based on the extensive experience Dakota Gold's Vice President Exploration, James Berry and COO, Gerald Aberle have from their time working at the historic Homestake Mine.

Table 1. MA23C-026 Drill Results (Imperial / Metric Units)

Hole # From To Depth Interval* Gold From To Depth Interval* Gold Mineral



ft ft ft ft oz/ton m m m m g/t Type g x m MA23C-026 122.4 162.2 100 39.8 0.037 37.3 49.4 30 12.1 1.26 Tert. 15

981 985.9 722 4.9 0.154 299.0 300.5 220 1.5 5.28 Tert/p 8

1044.4 1049.5 759 5.1 0.276 318.3 319.9 231 1.6 9.47 Tert/p 15

2099.4 2115.1 1527 15.7 0.070 639.9 644.7 465 4.8 2.39 p 11

2238.3 2260.4 1623 22.1 0.227 682.2 689.0 495 6.7 7.78 p 52

2273.9 2292.6 1644 18.7 0.294 693.1 698.8 501 5.7 10.08 p 57 Inc. 2273.9 2280.5 1644 6.6 0.413 693.1 695.1 501 2.0 14.14 p 28

2536.2 2539.6 1845 3.4 4.871 773.0 774.1 562 1.0 167.00 p 173

5512.3 5533.3 3711 21 0.139 1680.1 1686.5 1131 6.4 4.77 p 31

*True thickness is unknown.

Abbreviations in the table include ounces per ton ("oz/ton"); grams per tonne ("g/t"); feet ("ft"); meter ("m"); Homestake-type Precambrian mineralization ("p"); Tertiary intrusive hosted mineralization ("Tert").



Figure 1. Plan View Map of the Maitland Project Area highlighting drill hole MA23C-026 Intercepts.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/194572_162fb8801440bb78_002full.jpg



Figure 2. Cross Section View of Maitland Drill Hole MA23C-026 Intercepts.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/194572_162fb8801440bb78_003full.jpg

The Company currently has four drills on site on its properties in the Homestake District of South Dakota at Maitland and Richmond Hill Gold Project (Richmond Hill). Richmond Hill is located 2.3 miles west of Maitland and 1.5 miles north of Coeur Mining, Inc.'s Wharf Mine. The Wharf Mine produced 79,768 ounces at 0.021 oz/ton gold in 2022.

About Dakota Gold Corp.

Dakota Gold (NYSE American: DC) is a South Dakota-based responsible gold exploration and development company with a specific focus on revitalizing the Homestake District in Lead, South Dakota. Dakota Gold has high-caliber gold mineral properties covering over 46 thousand acres surrounding the historic Homestake Mine.

The Dakota Gold team is focused on new gold discoveries and opportunities that build on the legacy of the Homestake District and its 145 years of gold mining history.

Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates.

Shareholder and Investor Inquiries

For more information, please contact:

Jonathan Awde, President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1 604-761-5251

Email: [email protected]

Qualified Person and S-K 1300 Disclosure

James M. Berry, a Registered Member of SME and Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold Corp., is the Company's designated qualified person for this news release as defined in Subpart 1300 - Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations of Regulation S-K and has reviewed and approved its scientific and technical content.

The ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) disclosed above in respect of the Maitland Gold Project are conceptual in nature and could change as the proposed exploration activities are completed. There has been insufficient exploration of the Maitland Gold Project to allow for an estimate of a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource. The disclosure above in respect of the Maitland Gold Project therefore does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference materials, duplicate samples, and blanks into the sample stream. Check samples will be submitted to an umpire laboratory as the drill program progresses. Assay results are reviewed, and discrepancies are investigated prior to incorporation into the Company database. Samples are submitted to the ALS Geochemistry sample preparation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gold and multi-element analyses are performed at the ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab.

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities, our use and evaluation of historic data, our ability to achieve our strategic goals, the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry, and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KT for the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2022, as amended, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that we file with the SEC. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194572
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Fremont Gold Ltd. (TSXV: FRE) (FSE FR20) (OTCQB: FRERF) ("Fremont" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it is appointing several new advisors to the Company.

New Advisors

Mr. Luis Arteaga, a seasoned explorationist and porphyry copper expert, has agreed to act as an advisor to the Company on technical exploration issues relating to our two copper-gold properties in Armenia. Mr. Arteaga has consulted to the Company in the past and visited the Company's Vardenis property for eight days in October 2023. He wrote several technical reports on the property's geochemistry, alteration and prospectivity that are instrumental in drill targeting.

Mr. Joel Sutherland, has agreed to act as an advisor to the Company on corporate markets and finance issues. Joel is VP Corporate Development and Investor Relations for Prostar, a TSX-listed company, and assisted in the Company's October 2023 financing.

The Company would like to welcome both of these high-quality specialists to our team as we look forward to pursuing discoveries of world-class mineral deposits within the central Tethyan Belt.

Mr. Derek White, CEO of Ascot Resources, and Mr. Doug Hurst, independent consultant based out of Nelson, BC, are resigning as advisors to the Company as focus shifts to the Tethyan belt in Armenia. The Company would like to thank both Derek and Doug for their invaluable advice through their many years associated with Fremont.

Resignation of Dr. Clay Newton

Dr. Clay Newton has announced his resignation as Fremont's Vice President of Exploration but will continue to consult to the Company and remain as an advisor on geological matters in relation to our two remaining Nevada properties. The Company would like to thank Clay for all of his hard work and incredible geological insight and advice throughout the past six years.

Vardenis NI 43-101 Report

The Company is pleased to announce that it has filed a National Instrument 43-101 geological report (the "Report") relating to the Vardenis project in central Armenia. The Report may be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website through the following link:

https://fremontgold.net/site/assets/files/5161/vardenis_fundamental_acquisition_tsx_report.pdf

Second Tranche Financing

The Company announces that the close of the non-brokered private placement financing previously announced on October 30, 2023, was the final tranche of the financing and there will be no further closings.

About Fremont

Fremont's mine-finding management team has assembled a portfolio of potential world-class copper-gold mineral opportunities within the central Tethyan belt of Armenia, and controls two advanced gold exploration projects in Nevada.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Dennis Moore

President and CEO, interim Chairman

For further information, contact:

Fremont Gold Ltd.

Dennis Moore

Telephone: +351 925062196

www.fremontgold.net

https://twitter.com/GoldFremont

https://www.linkedin.com/company/fremont-gold/

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations including the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194578
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Iconic Minerals Ltd.(TSXV: ICM) (OTCQB: ICMFF) (FSE: YQG)("Company" or "Iconic") is pleased to announce the completion of updated NI 43-101 technical reports (the "Reports") on Iconic's 100% owned Grass Valley and Smith Creek Lithium Properties (the "Properties") located in Nevada. Work to date indicates that both projects have high potential to host lithium brine.

Highlights:

A seven-line MT survey (See news release May 12, 2023) has identified a widespread conductive zone over a seven mile (11 km) long portion of Smith Creek basin.

has identified a widespread conductive zone over a seven mile (11 km) long portion of Smith Creek basin. The Smith Creek MT survey shows a favorable deepening of potential brine horizons to the west coincident with a hot springs system along a fault.

Drilling at both Smith Creek and Grass Valley show high lithium values (+200 ppm) at surface decreasing with depth along with apparent leaching of the bedrock by abundant near neutral pH groundwater.

Drilling to date has not reached the interpreted brine zones, however, a drill program in 2024 will target these deeper brine zones.

Details:

The National Instrument 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days and carries an Effective Date of October 19, 2023. The reports on the Properties were written by R. A. Lunceford, MSc., CPG, a Qualified Professional and SME Registered Member, of Reno, Nevada.

Smith Creek Lithium Property

Extensive exposures of Tertiary siliceous volcanic units, which are recognized source rocks for lithium, surround the Smith Creek Property both on the east and west sides of the Smith Creek basin. Surrounding drainages which have leached lithium and other alkaline salts have been deposited in the central closed basin where the Property is located. On the west side of the Property, hot geothermal springs are present, which are believed to enhance the solubility of lithium and lower the pH of the brine to reduce the precipitation of lithium ions out of solution. Here, local faults which are believed to be conduits to the geothermal springs enhance the amenability for proximal lithium-rich brines and lithium bearing sediments. Limited geochemical surficial sampling of sediments surrounding the hot springs conducted by Iconic subsidiaries in 2015-2016 reached 470 PPM Li, considered to be strongly anomalous. A second MT (Magneto Telluric) survey, accruing 46.2-line kms along northwest-southeast lines was conducted. The 2023 MT survey identified a significant low resistivity zone extending +/- 5.5 miles (9 kms) along the western margin of the Property. The low resistivity horizon appears to be most well- developed on the northwest margin of the playa. Here, the core low resistivity horizon is believed to be at least 650 ft. (200 m) in thickness. The tops of the zones range from 650 ft. (200 m) to over 3,000 ft. (1 km). The presence of the hot springs along the fault zone and the strongly anomalous geochemical sampling indicate a possibly significant target.

Grass Valley Lithium Property

At Grass Valley Tertiary siliceous volcanic units occur on the western side of the Grass Valley basin and provide a critical source for lithium-rich sediments or brines within the Grass Valley basin. The basin is flanked by hot geothermal springs which are believed to enhance the solubility of lithium and lower the pH of the brine to reduce the precipitation of lithium ions out of solution. Local faults associated with basin development are conduits to circulating fluids. Gravity data indicates that the sub-surface shape of the Grass Valley basin deepened along the eastern side of the playa. To determine brine potential within this north-south declivity, a follow-up, single, north-south MT (Magneto Telluric) survey line was conducted along the axis. The survey indicated that a significant low resistivity zone possibly indicating brine occurred within the alluvial sequence. The depth to the low resistivity target ranges from 2,500 ft. (760 m) to more than 3,300 ft. (1000 m) beneath the surface at the north end of the surveyed line. Limited surface sampling confirmed that lithium in sediments contained up to 310 ppm Li which is considered to be significantly anomalous.

In late 2022 Great Basin commenced a deep drill test near the north end of the MT survey line. The planned depth of the vertical core hole was 2,200 ft. (669 m) but the hole was terminated at 1,888 ft. (574 m) after weather and ground conditions prevented completion. Sediment sample lithium values were anomalous but below ore grade and the rocks appeared leached. Three water samples collected had minor Li and B values. The drill hole did not reach the depths at which more saline waters were identified by the 2016 MT survey. The lack of significant lithium in water samples collected higher in the drill hole indicated that lithium has migrated after being leached and deeper water and sediments may have a higher lithium content.

As recommended by the two Reports, Iconic plans on conducting additional geophysics to further define the drill targets and then will drill deep holes into the best identified brine targets for detailed water testing.

Qualified Person

Richard Kern, Certified Professional Geologist, a qualified person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Kern is not independent of the Company as he is the Chief Executive Officer of Iconic.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

SIGNED: "Richard Barnett"

Richard Barnett, CFO

Contact: Keturah Nathe, VP Corporate Development (604) 336-8614

For further information on Iconic, please visit our website at www.iconicminerals.com. The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements with respect to the Option, the Joint Venture, the amount of the Offering, the expected use of proceeds from the Offering and the future business plans and exploration activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "will", "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that investor interest will be sufficient to close the Offering, that market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals required for the Option Agreement and the future development of the Company's projects in a timely manner.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, including on the Properties, requirements for additional capital, future prices of lithium and gold, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the business, financial condition and exploration and development activities of the Company, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including of the TSX Venture Exchange in respect of the Option Agreement and the Offering, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management's Discussion and Analysis and filed with the Canadian Securities Authorities. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194564
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 16, 2024) - Interra Copper Corp. (CSE: IMCX) (FSE: 3MX) ("Interra" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into a securities for debt settlement agreement dated January 15, 2024 (the "Agreement") with a professional advisor of the Company.

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company has agreed to settle debt in the amount of $34,723.05 through the issuance of 138,892 units (each, a "Unit") at a deemed price of $0.25 per Unit, whereby each Unit shall be comprised of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Share") and one half (1/2) of one (1) Share purchase warrant (each whole, being a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be convertible into an additional Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.35 per Warrant Share and will expire on the date that is three (3) years following the date of issuance (the "Expiry Date"). The Expiry Date shall be subject to acceleration where the volume-weighted average trading price of the Company's common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange is equal to or greater than $0.45 for a continuous 30-day period at any time after that date which is 4 months following their date of issue in which case the Expiry Date of the Warrants shall automatically accelerate and the Warrants will expire on that date which is 30 days after the date on which notice of such acceleration event is provided to the holder.

The Agreement and the issuance of the securities thereunder are subject to the approval of the CSE. The securities will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day pursuant to CSE policies and applicable securities laws.

On behalf of the Board of Interra Copper Corp.

Rick Gittleman

Interim CEO & Chairman

For further information contact:

Katherine Pryde

Investor Relations

+1 (778) 949-1829

[email protected]

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or" should" occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the debt settlement transaction and the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Interra, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary approvals in connection with the Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, the ability to complete exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Interra does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194531
Indicated Mineral Resources total approximately 3.29 Mt at an average grade of 6.4% Cg, containing approximately 213,000 tonnes of Cg

Inferred Mineral Resources total approximately 1.43 Mt at an average grade of 7.4% Cg, containing approximately 106,000 tonnes of Cg

Resource increase creates potential to extend mine life by at least eight years

Further expansion potential seen with Phase II drill program

Company plans to increase production rate in Q2 by up to 25,000 tpy to meet rising demand

Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV:NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU: 0NG)(the "Company" or "Northern") is pleased to announce an updated mineral resource estimate for its Lac-des-Iles mine ("LDI") in Quebec. The mineral resource update was prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. ("SLR"), which Northern engaged to update the mineral resource estimate that was previously prepared for the Company by SLR as disclosed in the technical report dated February 2, 2022, entitled "Technical Report on the Lac-des-Iles Quarry, Quebec".

The Company also announces that it intends to meet rising demand by moving to a seven-days-per-week operation in the second quarter, targeting annual nameplate capacity of 25,000 tpy.

The new resource creates potential to extend the life of the Company's cornerstone asset and North America's only graphite producing mine by at least eight years, which will be confirmed and quantified through an updated mineral reserve estimate and life-of-mine plan that will be available later this quarter.

"We are very excited to announce a material increase in our resource base at LDI, just as graphite demand gains momentum from industrial users and from battery makers building for North America's electric vehicle revolution," said Northern Chief Executive Officer Hugues Jacquemin. "The Company acquired LDI with its fully permitted and operational processing plant and tailings facility with a vision of extending the mine life, increasing production, and developing it into a cornerstone asset. The resource and production increases represent the first step in that process, and we look forward to further exploration success and additional expansions in the future."

The updated mineral resource estimate for LDI is based on drill hole data available as of November 2, 2023, assuming an open pit mining scenario and a long-term average flake graphite concentrate price of US$1,550 per tonne. Mineral resources are constrained within an optimized pit shell at a cut-off grade of 2.3% graphitic carbon ("Cg"). Indicated Mineral Resources total approximately 3.29 million tonnes ("Mt") at an average grade of 6.4% Cg, containing approximately 213,000 tonnes of Cg. Inferred Mineral Resources total approximately 1.43 Mt at an average grade of 7.4% Cg, containing approximately 106,000 tonnes of Cg. Existing stockpiles at the mine site are not included in the updated mineral resource estimate.

"We believe that when our updated mineral reserve estimate is released later this quarter we'll be able to show that the mine life at Lac des Iles can be extended by at least eight years," said Chief Operating Officer Kirsty Liddicoat. "Our grades are very strong at 6.4% Cg and that translates into about 65 kilograms of graphite per tonne of mined material."

Mineral Resource Estimate for the Lac-des-Iles Mine as of December 31, 2023

Category Tonnage

(Mt) Grade

(% Cg) Contained Graphitic Carbon

(kt Cg) Indicated 3.29 6.4 212 Inferred 1.43 7.4 106

Notes:

Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (2014) were used for mineral resource classification. Cg - Graphitic Carbon. Mineral resources were estimated assuming: A long-term average flake graphite concentrate price of US$1,550 per tonne Cg. An exchange rate of C$1.29 = US$1.00. An overall metallurgical recovery of 90%. Transportation charges of C$47.92 per tonne of graphite concentrate. A unit process operating cost of C$28.81 per tonne processed. A unit general and administrative operating cost of C$11.60 per tonne processed. Mineral resources are constrained by a pit shell above a cut-off grade of 2.3% Cg, yielding an overall strip ratio of approximately 4.5 to 1. Bulk density is 2.8 t/m3 for mineralized domains. Mineral resources include in-situ material only. Stockpiles have not been considered. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The mineral resource estimate may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred mineral resources are uncertain in nature and it is uncertain if further exploration work will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. Table values may not sum due to rounding.

Northern completed a Phase I drilling program within the existing LDI lease in October 2023. The program consisted of 88 holes and 7,890 m of drilling and demonstrated significant near-surface graphite mineralization which is still open at depth. There are also 11 additional target zones that were identified by an airborne geophysical survey that are yet to be drilled.

"We believe that the Phase I drilling has only scratched the surface and that there is significant potential to expand the resources with more drilling." said Ms. Liddicoat. "As we commence 2024, our focus turns now to the next drilling campaign to test resource potential both inside and outside the existing Pit 2, and toward expanding overall output at the mine. Planning is well advanced for the 2024 exploration program."

Northern will file an updated technical report for the updated mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ atwww.sedarplus.cawithin 45 days of the date of this news release.

Pressing Northern's First Mover Advantage

Amid rising market demand for its graphite products, the Company plans to boost production at LDI starting at the end of the first quarter by moving to a seven-days-a-week operating schedule from the current four days. This will increase the mine's annual output to as much as 25,000 tpy from the current annualized rate of approximately 10,000 tpy.

"We don't currently produce enough graphite to service demand, and we are getting more and more requests for our product," said Mr. Jacquemin. "As a result, we are ramping up production at Lac des Iles to seven days a week and accelerating exploration with the goal of further expansions in the future."

Markets for graphite, the largest component in the lithium-ion batteries used to power electric vehicles, began tightening in the second half of last year after China, the world's largest producer, reinstated incentives for EV sales. Supply concerns rose further when China announced it would start imposing controls on certain graphite exports used in battery making and again when the U.S. government announced plans to limit tax credits on electric vehicles built using components or raw materials sourced from Foreign Entities of Concern ("FEOC"), including China.

Figure 1: Drilling and 2023 Resource Update (Left), Northern resource update extends the existing pit 2. Cross sections 12,525N and 12,650N from Northern portion of resource update

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4186/194582_figure1_northerngraphite.png

"China's actions and the FEOC proposal have really put graphite in the spotlight, propelling it to the top of the list of difficult-to-source battery minerals," said Mr. Jacquemin. "As the only producer of natural graphite in North America today and the foreseeable future, Northern has a first mover advantage in becoming the region's lead supplier as the EV revolution gains momentum."

Qualified Persons, Technical Information and Quality Control Notes

The LDI mineral resources disclosed in this news release have been estimated by Katharine Masun, M.Sc., MSA, P.Geo., and Dorota El-Rassi, M.Sc., P.Eng., both employees of SLR and independent of Northern. By virtue of their education and relevant experience, Ms. Masun and Ms. El-Rassi are "Qualified Persons" ("QPs") for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. The mineral resources have been classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (2014). The QPs have read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed mineral resource estimate.

Gregory Bowes, B.Sc. MBA P.Geo, the Chairman of Northern, is a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.

The QPs have verified the information disclosed herein and are not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the mineral resource estimate.

Northern Graphite in the News

US and Canada confront the next big EV minerals challenge - E&E News by POLITICO (eenews.net)

Western lithium, graphite miners boost prices for ESG-friendly supply | Reuters

Miners race to realise graphite projects as China controls exports | Reuters

China requiring export permits for graphite, and what this means for Canada's industry - Video - BNN (bnnbloomberg.ca)

Northern Graphite, North America's Only Producer of Graphite, Comments on China Graphite Export Controls

Canada is sitting on a critical minerals mother lode. But is it ready for the new gold rush? | CBC News

About Northern Graphite

Northern, the only graphite producing company in North America, is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite and upgrading it into high-value products critical to the green economy, including anode material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial technologies.

Northern expects to become the third-largest natural graphite producer outside of China when its Namibian operations come back online. The Company also has the large-scale, advanced stage Bissett Creek project in Ontario, and substantial additional measured and indicated resources in Namibia and on the Mousseau property in Quebec, which are expected to be sources of continued production growth in the future. All projects have "battery quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions.

For media inquiries contact

Pav Jordan, VP of Communications

Email: [email protected]

For additional information

Please visit the Company's website at https://www.northerngraphite.com/home/, the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca our Social Channels listed below or contact the Company at (613) 271-2124.

LinkedIn

YouTube

Twitter

Facebook

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, the Company's plans to increase output at LDI, the Company's intentions to restart the Okanjande mine in Namibia and development plans for its other projects including Bissett Creek. All such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations and the inability to raise required financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194582
Berlin, Germany--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Qdrant, the leading high-performance, open-source vector database, today announced the availability of Qdrant Cloud on Microsoft Azure, empowering developers with enhanced capabilities in similarity search, recommendation systems, anomaly detection, and data retrieval.

Qdrant's open-source vector database, known for its ability to handle billions of vectors, is now integrated into the Microsoft Azure cloud ecosystem allowing businesses to leverage Qdrant's powerful vector database solution for their AI products with the reliability and global scale of Microsoft Azure.

"We are excited to bring the Qdrant vector database to the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. This partnership is an important milestone in our mission to enable our customers to build enterprise-grade AI solutions at scale and to provide unparalleled performance and efficiency in managing vector data workloads. Microsoft Azure's robust platform complements our solution, ensuring a seamless experience for our users at scale," - Andr Zayarni, CEO & Co-Founder, Qdrant.

"With the landscape of AI being complex for most customers, Qdrant's ease of use provides an easy approach for customers' implementation of RAG patterns for Generative AI solutions and additional choices in selecting AI components on Azure," - Tara Walker, Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft.

Enterprises like Bosch can now use the power of Microsoft Azure to host Qdrant, unleashing unparalleled performance and massive-scale vector search. "With Qdrant, we found the missing piece to develop our own provider independent multimodal generative AI platform at enterprise scale," - Jeremy Teichmann (AI Squad Technical Lead & Generative AI Expert), Daly Singh (AI Squad Lead & Product Owner) - Bosch Digital.

Key Features and Benefits:

Rapid Application Development : Deploying a cluster on Microsoft Azure via the Qdrant Cloud console only takes a few seconds and can scale up as needed, giving developers maximal flexibility for their production deployments.

Billion Vector Scale : Seamlessly grow and handle large-scale datasets with billions of vectors by leveraging Qdrant's features like vertical and horizontal scaling or binary quantization with Microsoft Azure's scalable infrastructure.

Unparalleled Performance : Qdrant is built to handle scaling challenges, high throughput, low latency, and efficient indexing. Written in Rust makes Qdrant fast and reliable even under high load. See benchmarks.

Versatile Applications: From recommendation systems to similarity search, Qdrant's integration with Microsoft Azure provides a versatile tool for a diverse set of AI applications.

About Qdrant:

Qdrant is the leading, high-performance, scalable, open-source vector database and search engine, essential for building the next generation of AI/ML applications. Qdrant is able to handle billions of vectors, supports the matching of semantically complex objects, and is implemented in Rust for performance, memory safety, and scale.

Contact:

Andre Zayarni

CEO & Co-Founder, Qdrant

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194198
Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - As the United States struggles with a congenital syphilis epidemic and a shortage of the treatment medication Bicillin L-A, Sagebrush Health ("Sagebrush") has announced that it will be assisting patients who tested positive for the sexually transmitted infection and are referred by the Southern Nevada Health District. The goal of Sagebrush's new program will be to lower the very high syphilis infection rates in Nevada, including among low-income patients, minorities who do not have access to health care, and expectant mothers.







Sagebrush Health provides sexual health services that are comprehensive, accessible, and equitable.



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The number of babies born with syphilis in the United States increased sharply between 2012 and 2022, attributed to a lack of early access to high-quality prenatal care and preventative resources. In particular, Nevada ranked 5th for primary and secondary syphilis and ranked 9th for congenital syphilis rates in 2021. Between 2017-2021, the state saw a 99% increase in the rates of congenital syphilis. This surge in cases has contributed to the nationwide shortages of the treatment drug Bicillin L-A. Concerned by this issue, the leadership at Sagebrush has partnered with the Southern Nevada Health District to provide treatment for patients with syphilis.

With the goal of lowering congenital syphilis rates, Sagebrush will also be providing screening for people who are at increased risk for syphilis. Additionally, Sagebrush is focused on the long-term prevention of syphilis, and in 2024, it will continue to expand its educational programs and free screenings for low-income patients.

Anyone who would like further information on syphilis, including how to be screened for the infection and receive treatment, is invited to reach out to Sagebrush at 725-300-0506.

About Sagebrush Health

Sagebrush Health is committed to providing accessible and comprehensive sexual health services nationwide, emphasizing health equity. It is dedicated to eliminating healthcare disparities by promoting social justice in healthcare and ensuring equal access. Sagebrush prioritizes community-engaged health improvement and adapts to meet the needs of its patients and communities. It strives to stay abreast of advancements in HIV, AIDS, STIs, and viral hepatitis so that it can eliminate new infections. Sagebrush's services, including free STD testing, PrEP, PEP, and copay coverage for medications, are aimed at individuals facing financial barriers.

For more information about how Sagebrush is achieving nationwide accessibility and equity in specialty healthcare services, please visit its website or contact:

Rodbel Rodriguez

Director of Community Relations and Engagement

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194611
Results highlight numerous new target areas considered priority for extended exploration

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Summa Silver Corp. (TSXV: SSVR) (OTCQX: SSVRF) (FSE: 48X) ("Summa" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from a geological mapping and soil geochemical survey at its 100% owned high-grade silver-gold Mogollon Project, New Mexico (the "Mogollon Project").

Key Highlights

Coverage across the Mogollon vein field: 1,680 soil samples were taken across the Northern Fannie and South Deadwood targets which are actively being tested in our current drill program (see the Company's news release from November 20, 2023).

Discovery potential: These samples were collected across the Mogollon Project and up to 2 km along strike from the Consolidated target which has yielded drill results including hole MOG22-05 which intersected 448 g/t AgEq* over 31.0 m (129 g/t Ag, 3.88 g/t Au).

Robust anomalies: Numerous multi-element soil anomalies are defined by high concentrations of arsenic, copper, and lead (see attached figure).

Approach to discovery: Both geological mapping and soil geochemical surveys are techniques in our exploration method designed to pinpoint drill targets and maximize our discovery efficiency.

Work just beginning: Targets along the Queen Vein represents only 2.5% of the total vein and structure length on the project.

Fully funded: The Company remains fully funded for its current drill program with ~$5 million in working capital.

*Silver equivalent is calculated using US$20/oz Ag, US$1,800/oz Au with metallurgical recoveries of Ag - 90%, Au - 95%. AgEq = (Ag grade x Ag recovery)+((Au grade x Au recovery) x (Au price / Ag price)).

Galen McNamara, CEO, stated: "The completion of our soil geochemistry survey in conjunction with data from our geological mapping program represent an important step towards target development. These programs highlight our systematic approach to discovery and are instrumental in demonstrating the full potential of the Mogollon Project. For perspective, this project covers the most northern of the Mexican-style vein fields that have been so prolific in that country going back in some cases five-hundred years. In our case, this project remains vastly underexplored. Last year's drilling at the Consolidated target, along the Queen Vein, proved that significant mineralization remains around the old mines of the Mogollon district. Our current drill program is actively testing these targets further to the south as we step out along a strike length of ~2 km and look to establish a sense of scale on the Queen Vein."

Figure 1: Map showing the Mogollon Project highlighting the areas of soil and geological surveys.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Geological Mapping Program

A detailed geological mapping program was recently completed north of Mineral Creek across the northern extension of the Mogollon mining district. Mapping covered 16 km2 and was aimed at providing further geological and structural context for high-grade rock-chip samples collected during a recent reconnaissance-style prospecting program (see the Company's news release from July 19, 2023). Samples with grades up to 8,475 g/t silver equivalent (8,373 g/t Ag, 5.39 g/t Au and 4.43% Cu) from the Silver Bar vein, 3,652 g/t silver equivalent (221 g/t Ag, 39.3 g/t Au and 0.83% Cu) from the northern extension of the Queen vein, and 3,046 g/t silver equivalent (812 g/t Ag, 3.80 g/t Au and 18.4% Cu) from the northern extension of the Great Western Vein system highlight the high-grade potential of the district north of Mineral Creek in an area lacking historic exploration and development. Based on these prospecting results it was considered a priority to refine the geological model for the extensive vein systems.

The historic USGS geological map was used for reference and many lithological contacts, faults and veins were refined, based on detailed and small-scale mapping. All mapped faults are locally associated with mineralized epithermal-related veining, stockworks or vein breccias, with alteration halos composed of quartz + clay. Veins are generally steeply dipping, greater than 60o, and the two dominant vein sets, Queen and Green Western strike to the northeast. The intersection of these vein sets with northwest oriented structures are considered priority targets highlighted by boiling textures and potential blow-out structures. Importantly, the distribution and strike-extents of many key veins north of Mineral Creek have been extended beyond the limits of past mapping. These areas represent compelling target areas for continued sampling, including detailed channel sampling of exposed veins. A ground-based geophysical survey (e.g., CSMAT) is also being planned to better define the sub-surface potential of many of the exposed high-level veins as alteration intensity may increase with depth.

Soil Geochemical Program

The Phase-1 soil geochemical survey consisted of 1,680 samples across two grids, the northern Fanney grid and the southern Deadwood grid. Both grids comprised north-northeast oriented lines spaced 100 m apart with samples spaced 50 m along the lines as well as east-west oriented lines spaced 100 m apart with samples spaced 25 m along the line. The later set of lines primarily covered the north-trending Queen vein and fault system. Samples were analyzed using a tailored portable Xray fluorescence spectrometer (pXRF) workflow to measure elemental concentrations from prepared sample mounts in the field. Samples were prepared and analyzed daily.

The goal of the Phase-1 soil geochemical survey across parts of the Mogollon Project were twofold:

Investigate the soil geochemical footprint of known veins. These new data reveal a strong spatial correlation between known high-grade Ag-Au, epithermal-related veins, and anomalous arsenic in overlying soils. The distribution of the known veins is primarily inferred from geological mapping of scattered outcrops as well as mapping of vein-exposures in historic surface disturbances (see the Company's news release from January 20, 2022). Rock geochemistry also suggests a strong correlation between precious metals and arsenic, suggesting that arsenic, as well as Cu, Pb and Zn, are suitable pathfinders for silver and gold mineralization in the surficial environment. These elements are routinely measured with a pXRF. The Last Chance vein of the Deadwood grid is spatially associated with strong arsenic-in-soil anomalism (see attached figure). Zones of strongly anomalous soils across the Fanney Grid broadly trend east-west and are locally spatially associated with the Johnson-Trilby, Independence-Anaconda, Fanney and Homestake veins. Most samples collected proximal to the dominant, north-trending Queen vein were also strongly anomalous in pathfinder elements. These results suggest that high-grade epithermal veins of the Mogollon district generate strongly anomalous and proximal arsenic-in-soil anomalies. This relationship can therefore be used to identify previously unknown and potentially concealed veins in areas lacking exposure and historic exploration and sampling. Use the soil geochemical data to inform bedrock mapping below soil cover. Key trace element ratios, known to differentiate key volcanostratigraphic units at Mogollon based on whole-rock lithogeochemical data, in the soil samples highlight most lithological contacts across the sampled grids. The Ti/Zr ratio in soils specifically differentiates footwall and hanging wall volcanic units host to the Queen vein, near the Consolidated mine, the Fanney and Independence veins, and the Last Chance veins (see attached figure). This strong spatial relationship between soil geochemistry and mapped lithologies suggest that soils are relatively in-situ and that soil-grids across areas lacking detailed bedrock, can be used to assist with geological interpretation and vectoring to prospective rock units.

A project-scale soil geochemical grid has been planned to cover the rest of the Mogollon Project, including the gaps in coverage south of Mineral Creek near the centre of the Mogollon mining district and most of the recently staked ground north of Mineral Creek. A selection of samples from key lines will also be submitted to the lab for low-detection ICP-MS analyses to better define trends in key elements such as silver, gold and antimony. These data will be used to refine the exploration models and generate new drill targets.

Analytical and QA/QC Procedures

Analysis of the soil samples was carried out using an Olympus Vanta portable XRF in "Geochem mode" running two beams for a total of 30 seconds each. Samples were hand sieved and prepared using pressed mounts and analysed in the field via a portable workstation. Internal reference standards were analysed systematically during each analytical run to monitor key elements such as As, Cu, Zn and Pb.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Galen McNamara, P. Geo., the CEO of the Company and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Corporate Update

The Company also announces that it has signed a contract with Triomphe Holdings Ltd., the parent company of Capital Analytica, for ongoing social media consultation. The services provided by Capital Analytica will include press initiatives and social media consulting, as well as engagements with arm's length parties for an aggregate gross expenditure of $60,000 over a 6-month period, with the potential for a follow-on service contract. No stock-based compensation has been provided.

About Summa Silver Corp.

Summa Silver Corp. is a junior mineral exploration company. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Hughes Project located in central Nevada and the Mogollon Project located in southwestern New Mexico. The high-grade past-producing Belmont Mine, one of the most prolific silver producers in the United States between 1903 and 1929, is located on the Hughes Project. The Mogollon Project is the largest historic silver producer in New Mexico. Both projects have remained inactive since commercial production ceased and neither have seen modern exploration prior to the Company's involvement.

Follow Summa Silver on Twitter: @summasilver

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/summa-silver-corp/

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Galen McNamara"

Galen McNamara, Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

www.summasilver.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Giordy Belfiore

Corporate Development and Investor Relations

604-288-8004

[email protected]

www.summasilver.com

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This news release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things the exploration and development of the Company's mineral exploration projects including completion of drilling activities.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual actions, events or results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the requirement for regulatory approvals; enhanced uncertainty in global financial markets as a result of the public health crises; unquantifiable risks related to government actions and interventions; stock market volatility; regulatory restrictions; and other related risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194551
Eczac1ba_1 Group's VitrA Tiles was recognized for its innovative adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, earning the first spot given to a ceramics producer in the World Economic Forum's Global Lighthouse Network as a forward-thinking manufacturer leading the charge on adopting 4IR.

Davos, Switzerland--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - VitrA Tiles, the flagship ceramics division of Trkiye's Eczac1ba_1 Group, has been inducted into the Global Lighthouse Network (GLN), recognized as a Factory Lighthouse alongside 21 new members of the World Economic Forum's initiative for leaders in manufacturing innovation.

VitrA joins the World Economic Forum's Global Lighthouse Network

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Invited to share how their investments in tech-enabled operations inspired them to scale Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies across production networks, Eczac1ba_1 Group CEO Atalay Gumrah and VitrA Tiles CEO Hasan Pehlivan gave acceptance speeches at the awards ceremony on January 15, 2024, during the Davos Summit, detailing how innovations in manufacturing have improved performance and enabled them to navigate volatility and achieve success that extends beyond the bottom line.

This achievement is especially significant as VitrA Tiles is the first company in the ceramic tile sector to be acknowledged by the World Economic Forum for its innovative use of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies.

Turning challenges into competitiveness through innovation and growth

Atalay Gumrah, the Group CEO of Eczac1ba_1 Holding, expressed his delight on this occasion, stating, "We are thrilled that our Bozuyuk Production Facility has been selected as one of GLN's Factory Lighthouses, in recognition of the leadership we have shown in deploying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. Facing disruptions in manufacturing from climate change, a volatile financial landscape, and geopolitical crises that have led to fluctuating energy prices, particularly in Turkiye, this recognition underscores how we looked at these challenges not as setbacks, but as catalysts for further innovation and growth, harnessing 4IR to enhance our operational competitiveness."

GLN is a community of manufacturers showing leadership in using Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to transform factories, value chains and business models, for compelling financial and operational returns. Factory Lighthouses showcase how innovations in manufacturing have improved performance and enabled them to navigate volatility and achieve success that extends beyond the bottom line.

Hasan Pehlivan CEO of VitrA Tiles and Atalay Gumrah, the Group CEO of Eczac1ba_1 Holding

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Digital transformation roadmap to deploy intelligent process and production controls

VitrA Tiles' Bozuyuk site used its digital transformation roadmap to focus on intelligent process and production controls with a remarkable 19% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness, a 56% decrease in scrap, a 14% decrease in energy consumption and a 43% increase in the use of recycled content last year.

Hasan Pehlivan CEO of VitrA Tiles noted "While our solutions might be unique, the challenges we face are global and we recognize the value of a global community in solving global challenges. The future of manufacturing is not about just one company, or one sector, or a single country, but about bringing the global community together to address major challenges. I believe the GLN has much to contribute to this journey, and I welcome this excellent latest initiative from the World Economic Forum."

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are revolutionizing production globally

In the face of rapid technological progress, rising geopolitical tensions, and intensifying climate change that are exposing global supply-chain vulnerabilities, companies in the Global Lighthouse Network are adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance their productivity and sustainability. Utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, these Lighthouse members are revolutionizing production with significant impacts in various advanced AI applications. Impressively, 85% of Lighthouse factories experienced less than a 10% revenue loss during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a feat only 14% of other manufacturers achieved.

These Lighthouses are trailblazers, setting a course for substantial global influence. They are integrating innovative solutions throughout their extensive networks, paving the way for a sustainable future and a new era of transformative, lasting change. This strategic focus on innovation is reshaping the manufacturing landscape, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of advanced technology in addressing today's global challenges.

Poised to capitalize on the boom in the U.S. tile market

The total U.S. tile market is forecast to reach more than 350 million square meters within the next 3 years, and VitrA Tiles USA is poised to capitalize on the boom. Having more than 2,400 employees worldwide, it is the export champion of Turkiye's competitive tile industry, accounting for more than 50% of the country's total tile exports to Europe on a square-meter basis. VitrA Tiles, a subsidiary of Eczac1ba_1 Holding, which also owns the Villeroy & Boch and Engers brands, is currently Germany's second largest tile supplier and hopes to make similar inroads in the North American market.

Contact: Ecem Aksay, [email protected]

--------

About the Global Lighthouse Network

The Global Lighthouse Network is a collaborative platform bringing together forward-thinking manufacturers leading the charge in adopting Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. Leveraging innovations like artificial intelligence, 3D-printing, and big data analytics, Lighthouses drive efficiency, competitiveness, and transformative business models at scale, fostering economic growth while championing workforce augmentation, environmental protection and providing a collaborative learning journey for all-sized manufacturers globally. The Global Lighthouse Network is a World Economic Forum initiative co-founded with McKinsey & Company and counselled by an Advisory Board of industry leaders with factories and value chains that join the network are designated by an independent panel of experts.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194381
Apple achieves remarkable 74% growth in brand value

AI booms with NVIDIA the world's fastest growing brand

Deutsche Telekom enters the global top 10

Tesla drops out of the top 10, falling to 18th

LONDON , Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Apple has achieved exceptional brand value growth this year, increasing by USD219billion (74%) to USD517 billion , reclaiming its title as the world's most valuable brand.

Every year, leading brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance puts 5,000 of the biggest brands to the test. The world's top 500 most valuable and strongest global brands are included in the annual Brand Finance Global 500 2024 ranking.

Apple has achieved a remarkable brand value increase, even as iPhone sales have largely plateaued, as its strategy of finding new markets, expanding its ecosystem, and encouraging upgrades to higher-value iPhones has been highly effective. Apple has maintained its position as the dominant player in the premium smartphone market, with a share of 71%.

David Haigh , Chairman and CEO of Brand Finance commented:

"Apple has grown its brand value through strategic diversification and premiumisation. According to our research, more than 50% of respondents recognised Apple as expensive, but worth the price, reinforcing the brand's ability to demand a price premium".

NVIDIA (brand value up 163% to USD44.5 billion ) become the world's fastest-growing brand.

A key supplier of chips in the AI space, NVIDIA is perceived as highly innovative while familiarity, consideration, and recommendation levels all increased year-on-year, according to Brand Finance research.

Deutsche Telekom (brand value up 17% to USD73.3 billion ) has claimed the title as the world's most valuable telecoms brand, surpassing Verizon (brand value up 6% to USD71.8 billion ). Ranked 9th globally, it also leads as the most valuable European brand.

Tesla (brand value down 12% to USD58.3 billion ) has dropped out of the top 10, falling to 18th and BYD (brand value up 20% to USD12.1 billion ) has now overtaken Tesla to become the world's largest EV maker.

That said, despite BYD's greater production volume, Tesla's brand value is five times that of BYD. This highlights the enduring significance of brands as corporate assets, allowing Tesla to command a price premium, support its company value, and potentially fuel renewed growth.

View the full Brand Finance Global 500 2024 report here

You can find full details of Brand Finance's methodology here along with frequently asked questions.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2318006/Brand_Finance_1.jpg

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SOURCE Brand Finance
SCOTTSDALE , Ariz. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Assisted Living Locators, a leading senior placement and referral service and member of Evive Brands, proudly announces the opening of its 150th franchise in Southwest Metro Atlanta, GA , marking a significant milestone in the company's nationwide expansion. This achievement comes on the heels of last year's celebration of the company's 20th anniversary, further demonstrating its continuous growth in the senior care industry.

The new Forest Park franchise is owned by Brian Sullivan , who brings a fresh perspective and a deep commitment to providing compassionate care to seniors in the Georgia community. "Opening the 150th Assisted Living Locators franchise is not just a personal accomplishment but an indication of the brand's strength and the increasing demand for senior care services," said Sullivan.

Angela Olea, RN , Founder and Brand President of Assisted Living Locators, remarked on this landmark achievement: "Our success over these two decades reflects the trust our franchisees have in us. Our presence in 39 states plus DC and the potential for 150 more franchises highlights the strength of our team, our effective business model, and our steadfast dedication to providing exceptional services to seniors and their loved ones."

The demand for services like Assisted Living Locators is set to surge as U.S. senior population estimates point to a near doubling by 2060. With such demographics in view, Ryan Parsons CEO of Evive Brands, Assisted Living Locators' parent company, expressed optimism about the brand's future. "Our exponential growth responds to real community needs. As the elderly population continues to grow, our commitment remains strong to broaden our services and touch more lives."

Setting it apart, Assisted Living Locators is the sole senior placement agency boasting systemwide dementia care certification. Its distinct service model and expansive franchise network prime it to meet the rising demand for premium elderly care services in the forthcoming years.

Assisted Living Locators, under the Evive Brands umbrella, offers a comprehensive range of care options for seniors and families, guiding them through top-tier in-home care, diverse retirement options, assisted living, and memory care. The brand has been recognized in Entrepreneur's "Franchise500" and distinguished as a Top Senior Care Franchise by Franchise Business Review. For more information, visit www.assistedlivinglocators.com/franchise.

Media Contact: Rhonda Grundemann , 602-739-8810, [email protected].

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SOURCE Assisted Living Locators
Limerston Capital will use the business to pursue a biorepository expansion strategy under the name of Astoriom

CHICAGO , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is pleased to announce the sale of Source Stability Storage, a UK -based biotech storage facility owned by parent company Source BioScience, to Limerston Capital, a London -based middle market private equity investment firm. Source Stability Storage will be renamed Astoriom. BGL's Healthcare & Life Sciences investment banking team served as the exclusive financial advisor to Source BioScience in the transaction. The specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Limerston Capital will use the business to pursue a biorepository expansion strategy under the name of Astoriom.

Headquartered in Rochdale, England , with a strong presence across Ireland and the U.S. , Astoriom specializes in providing outsourced temperature and humidity-controlled environment storage services for stability trials, retained samples and long-term storage of biologic samples. The company offers storage, manufacturing, service, and validation solutions for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, contract manufacturers, and analytical testing companies worldwide.

Astoriom's partnership with Limerston Capital will allow it to concentrate on its biorepository operations as its core growth area, positioning it for further growth in pharmaceutical and biologic markets. Astoriom aims to expand its presence in the U.S. and European markets through a buy-and-build approach.

BGL's Healthcare & Life Sciences investment banking team has decades of experience advising companies across the diagnostics, research tools, lab equipment and services, and outsourced pharmaceutical services landscape. We have provided capital formation, technology strategy, corporate ventures, and M&A strategy for a wide range of companies. Additionally, we maintain active relationships with global industry participants and capital providers, and closely follow regulatory and reimbursement trends.

About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructurings, business valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Chicago , Cleveland , Los Angeles , and New York , and real estate offices in Chicago , Cleveland , and San Antonio . The firm is also a founding member of Global M&A Partners, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 35 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com.

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SOURCE Brown Gibbons Lang & Company
SELINSGROVE, Pa. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BrightFarms has issued a voluntary recall of spinach grown by its supplier Element Farms in their Pompton Plains, New Jersey farm and distributed under the BrightFarms brand because the spinach has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Due to potential cross-contamination, BrightFarms is also issuing a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of four salad kit products (shown below) from its Selinsgrove, PA facility.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriage and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled products were distributed to retailers in seven states including Connecticut , Massachusetts , New York , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , Virginia , and West Virginia .

The products come in 4-oz, clear, plastic containers. Information about the "best by" date, UPC, and facility code can be found at the bottom of the package. Pictures to assist customers in identifying the recalled products are found at the end of this announcement.

Product Ounce UPC Codes Facility Code Best-By Date BrightFarms Baby Spinach 3.5oz 8-57062-00492-3 PEN8 1/11/2024, 1/13/2024 1/18/2024, 1/20/24 BrightFarms Mediterranean Crunch Kit 6.35oz 8-50051-82501-1 PEN4 1/15/2024, 1/20/2024 BrightFarms Chickpea Caesar Crunch Kit 6.50oz 8-57062-00415-2 PEN4 1/15/2024, 1/20/2024 BrightFarms Bacon Ranch Crunch Kit 6.70oz 8-57062-00416-9 PEN4 1/15/2024 BrightFarms Southwest Chipotle 5.85oz 8-50051-82500-4 PEN4 1/15/2024

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall of spinach was initiated after routine sampling conducted by Element Farms yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes. Due to potential cross-contamination at BrightFarms's Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania facility, BrightFarms is also recalling a limited quantity of four select salad kit products. No positive test results or reported illness have been received on those products, to date.

As a result of today's recall, the company has temporarily suspended distribution of Element Farms grown spinach.

Retailers have been instructed to remove all recalled products from store shelves. Consumers who have purchased the affected products should not consume the products and discard them or present a photo of the product or receipt to their place of purchase for a full refund and then discard.

Consumers with questions are encouraged to call 1-866-857-8745 between 8:00am-6:00pm EDT or email [email protected] with the subject line: Recall.

BrightFarms

1 Lorian Drive

Selinsgrove, PA

[email protected]

1-866-857-8745

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SOURCE BrightFarms
CHICAGO , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A constellation of renowned Broadway stars is set to grace the stage for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation's (PFF) 14th annual Broadway Belts for PFF! on March 18 at Sony Hall in New York City . The benefit concert promises an evening of unforgettable performances aimed at raising funds and awareness for the more than 250,000 Americans living with pulmonary fibrosis.

" Broadway stars are raising their voices in support of people with pulmonary fibrosis," said actress Julie Halston .

The Broadway Belts for PFF! 2024 starring line-up will feature:

Liz Callaway ( Grammy nominee for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Tony nominee for Baby , Miss Saigon, Cats )

( nominee for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Tony nominee for , ) Robert Creighton ( Frozen, Cagney )

( ) Jose Llana ( Here Lies Love , The King and I )

( , ) Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer (Spamalot, Beetlejuice, A Catered Affair)

Benjamin Pajek ( The Music Man, Oliver!, New York City Center's Encores!)

( Encores!) Jasmine Amy Rogers ( BOOP! The Musical, Mean Girls)

( Raena White (Some Like It Hot, Chicago )

Additional cast members will be announced soon. All performances are based on professional availability.

Led by Tony-award winning actress and comedienne Julie Halston ( Broadway 's Tootsie, Gypsy, You Can't Take It with You, TV's Sex and the City), Broadway Belts for PFF! showcases Broadway 's top talent performing their favorite show tunes in a magical and memorable celebration.

"The Broadway community is deeply committed to raising their voices in support of people with pulmonary fibrosis, a devastating illness and growing threat to lung health," said Julie Halston . "We invite everyone to join us for this remarkable event  an unparalleled performance and a meaningful opportunity to contribute to a vital cause."

Gala attendees will enjoy a pre-cocktail reception, three-course seated dinner, show and after party. In addition to the in-person extravaganza at SONY Hall, Broadway Belts for PFF! will stream live to individuals who want to tune in from home. The virtual experience is complimentary but requires reservations. Tickets for the in-person event and livestream are now available at broadwaybeltsforpff.org.

Broadway Belts for PFF!, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation's single-largest fundraiser, has raised over $3 million to drive PF research and to support those living with the disease. Pulmonary fibrosis causes irreversible scarring in the lungs. Fifty-thousand new cases are diagnosed each year.

The 2024 Ralph Howard Legacy Award will be presented to the Hales Family Foundation. The late New York business executive, Thomas Hales , was diagnosed with PF in 2007 and became a passionate supporter of the PF community for more than a decade. His enduring legacy, carried forward by his wife, Alice, and their seven philanthropic children, continues to shape the PFF's trajectory. Thomas was a Board Emeritus member of the PFF and instilled a commitment to the organization in his family. His son, Terence Hales , now a PFF board member, launched the PFF Walk New York City, celebrating its 15th year and raising over $1 million for the cause. The PF community proudly acknowledges the Hales Family's unwavering support, embodying the spirit of the Ralph Howard Legacy Award. Previous honorees include:

2023  Robert Creighton , Actor and Pulmonary Fibrosis Advocate

, 2022  Tom Viola , Executive Director, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids

Executive Director, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids 2021  Laurie Chandler , PFF Board member and patient advocate

PFF Board member and patient advocate 2020  Daryl Roth , Tony Award-winning Broadway Producer

"This phenomenal celebration is only possible because of the generosity and devotion of Julie Halston and her dear friends in the Broadway community," said Seth Klein , PFF Chief Development Officer. "We are delighted to offer this star-studded, uplifting experience in person and virtually, extending the profound impact of our mission with as many people as possible."

Broadway Belts for PFF! is directed by Carl Andress (The Confession of Lily Dare , The Divine Sister) with Christopher McGovern (Cagney) as Musical Director. The benefit is produced for the for the fourteenth year by D. Michael Dvorchak , Sue Frost ( Memphis , Come From Away), and Julie Halston .

To purchase tickets and for more information about Broadway Belts for PFF!, visit broadwaybeltsforpff.org.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is to accelerate the development of new treatments and ultimately a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Until this goal is achieved, the PFF is committed to advancing improved care of patients with PF and providing unequaled support and education resources for patients, caregivers, family members, and health care providers. The PFF has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is an accredited charity by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance. The Foundation has met all of the requirements of the National Health Council Standards of Excellence Certification Program and has earned the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency. For more information, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733)

Contact: Dorothy Coyle , Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 773-332-6201

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SOURCE The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
Named a 'Remote Best Places to Work' and 'Remote Best Large Places to Work', Built In Recognition Highlights Tinuiti's Industry-Leading Culture

NEW YORK , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tinuiti , the largest independent performance marketing firm across Streaming TV, Google, Meta, and Amazon, has been honored with the "Best Places to Work" award by Built In, earning both Remote Best Places to Work and Remote Best Large Places to Work designations and landing among 18 city-specific Best Places to Work lists.

Built In's Best Places to Work program is distinct because it does not follow a typical nomination process, instead the program uses an algorithm to select winners, honoring only those companies who align awards packages with employees' top priorities. Today's recognition as a Best Place to Work transcends geographic boundaries, and underscores Tinuiti's commitment to a "Culture of Ownership" and the firm's belief in freeing employees from a physical office space, while continuing to encourage collaboration and innovation.

Jeff Batuhan , Chief People Officer at Tinuiti, said: "At Tinuiti, we're proud to have a culture rooted in building happiness  it's a foundational value and an overarching guideline that shapes every decision we make and each milestone we celebrate. Today's recognition highlights our commitment to being truly people-first, and customizing our employee experience specifically around what our people value most including removing a mandatory office presence and giving them the autonomy to choose where they want to work. As we head into 2024, we are excited to continue to evolve and enhance Tinuiti's offerings, with an ongoing focus on providing programs that will best support our employees' success and happiness."

Last year, Tinuiti formally launched Project Connection, a program designed to foster connection and collaboration in an out-of-office workplace. Since its inception, the program has been a welcome addition to Tinuiti's culture. In 2023 the program brought together hundreds of people, both in-person and virtually, with over 80% of Tinuiti's employees engaging across the program's three core pillars: Connection, Collaboration, and Caring.

Connection, fostering work friends and fun, supported good old-fashioned get togethers from murder mystery-themed nights to rooftop happy hours, a pizza walking tour, and more.

Collaboration, bringing people together for meaningful work, led to impactful mentorships, in-person team bonding, and ongoing learning and development.

Caring, centered on giving back to our shared communities, this pillar benefitted 45 different charitable organizations nationwide with over 300 employee volunteer hours accumulated across multiple communities.

The Built In Best Places to Work Awards program has included Tinuiti in the following lists:

Remote Best Places to Work

Remote Best Large Places to Work

Atlanta, GA Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work Atlanta, GA Best Large Places to Work

Best Large Places to Work Boston, MA Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work Boston, MA Best Large Places to Work

Best Large Places to Work Chicago, IL Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work Chicago, IL Best Large Places to Work

Best Large Places to Work Dallas, TX Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work Dallas, TX Best Large Places to Work

Best Large Places to Work Los Angeles, CA Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work Los Angeles, CA Best Large Places to Work

Best Large Places to Work New York Best Large Places to Work

San Diego, CA Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work San Diego, CA Best Large Places to Work

Best Large Places to Work San Francisco, CA Best Large Places to to Work

Best Large Places to to Work Seattle, WA Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work Seattle, WA Best Large Places to Work

Tinuiti's first announcement of 2024 comes on the heels of incredible momentum in 2023, including:

Unilever Digital Marketing Agency of Record : Named Unilever's Health and Wellbeing Division AOR: brands include, Liquid I.V., OLLY, Onnit , SmartyPants Vitamins, and Welly Health PBC

Named Unilever's Health and Wellbeing Division AOR: brands include, Liquid I.V., OLLY, , SmartyPants Vitamins, and Welly Health PBC TikTok Marketing Partner: Tinuiti was recently selected to join the newly added Agency category, serving as one of only two agencies granted the designation in the United States , with only 10 agencies announced globally.

Tinuiti was recently selected to join the newly added Agency category, serving as one of only two agencies granted the designation in , with only 10 agencies announced globally. Premier Launch Partner for Microsoft Advertising Network for Retail : Tinuiti was named a premier launch partner for the Microsoft Advertising Network for retail.

Tinuiti was named a premier launch partner for the Microsoft Advertising Network for retail. Microsoft Global Client Partner of the Year : Tinuiti won the Microsoft Global Client Partner of the Year Award for its work with client partner SPARC Group ; its third Microsoft Advertising Partner Award in 2023

: Tinuiti won the Microsoft Global Client Partner of the Year Award for its work with client partner ; its third Microsoft Advertising Partner Award in 2023 Leadership Team Expansion: Tinuiti officially announced Tavo Castro as its new Head of Strategic Planning leading the development and growth of the agency's strategic planning practice.

About Tinuiti

Tinuiti is the largest independent performance marketing firm across Streaming TV, Google, Meta, and Amazon, with almost $4 billion in digital media under management and over 1,200 employees. With industry-leading expertise in search, social, Amazon and marketplaces, addressable TV, mobile apps, Influencer, Lifecycle, and more, Tinuiti understands that success requires both strategy and channel expertise. Each solution is delivered through Tinuiti's performance planning framework, GAMMA, and is enabled by a proprietary suite of marketing intelligence and media activation technology  Mobius . For more information visit http://www.tinuiti.com .

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SOURCE Tinuiti
SHANGHAI , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the economy recovers and consumption momentum goes hand in hand, the 27th China ( Shanghai ) International Boat Show 2024 (CIBS2024), organized by Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd., will be held on March 26-29, 2024 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC). Visitor pre-registration is now officially online.

CIBS2024 will continue to promote the "Energy Conversion + Intelligent Manufacturing", and under the leadership of many domestic and foreign exhibitors of new energy technology and real boats with accessories, it will add a new impetus for the common development of China's new energy industry for boats. After years of absence, pavilions from many countries and regions, such as Italy , South Korea , Taiwan China , etc., have returned to the Chinese market. Overseas enterprises will also gather in Shanghai and bring the industry's new modes, new demands, new scenarios, new products, new technologies.

The classic CIBS event is back to help companies climb to new heights! 2024 China International Boat Industry Development Forum will bring together many industry experts for in-depth discussions around the world's major yacht markets.

CIBS2024 will accurately invite high-quality buyers from the global boat industry chain to contact CIBS boat and accessory exhibitors through online and offline viewing of the exhibition, which will build a bridge for exhibitors to expand their overseas business in an efficient manner, and greatly help the new situation of high-quality Chinese-made products going overseas.

Additionally, the oversized pool of the annual popular "Water Carnival" will also return! The Lifestyle Show, which was held concurrently with CIBS2024, featured exhibits covering Lure Fishing, Water Sports, Outdoor Sports, and Best of Best Defining Show, etc. The show began with the innovation of traditional concepts and provided a new opportunity for businesses across the region to observe new trends in industrial development and seize new opportunities in the global market.

Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co. Ltd (IM Sinoexpo) is a leading event company in China , the joint venture founded in 1998 by Informa PLC and Shanghai Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co., Ltd. Headquartered in London , the total exhibition rented area annually by IM Sinoexpo is over 1,500,000 sqm, creating multiple trade opportunities for nearly 1 million buyers worldwide. Developed since 2016, our online business now includes 8 major B2B platforms, 5 B2P sourcing mini-programs and 1 application.

Register now and join us at CIBS2024: https://reg.boatshowchina.com/en/user/register?utm_source=PRnews&utm_medium=CIBe&utm_campaign=20240117

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SOURCE Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd.
Travelers are gravitating towards smaller group tours and are excited to explore France , Southeast Asia , and Italy in 2024

PAWTUCKET, R.I. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Collette saw it's best-year ever in 2023, after a large bounce back in travel throughout 2022. Travelers continue to be eager to get back out and explore the globe now that it's once again safe to do so. As we ring in the new year, Collette is excited to share which destinations are trending for 2024. North America's longest-running tour operator has seen travelers flock to France , Southeast Asia , and Italy . Plus, travelers are showing increased interest in traveling with smaller groups.

Explorations tours are Collette's most popular product, with Travelers rating them to be excellent, which is the highest rating, 78% of the time. Each year more and more travelers have been electing to tour with a smaller group. This year is no different.

Collette's new "Best of Italy " small group Explorations tour lets travelers immerse themselves into the country's culture their way. Travelers will have multiple opportunities to decide how they'd like to experience what the country has to offer. While visiting the Romagna Countryside, they'll have the choice between relaxing at their hotel with a wine-infused mud treatment or spending the day in Ravenna for a guided tour of its mosaics. When in Rome later in the tour they'll once again be able to choose how to spend their day. Travelers can elect to take a walking tour of the city and its Renaissance masterpieces, or instead enjoy a tour of the Catacombs and search for the vestiges of the Empire. Travelers can book their spot on the "Best of Italy " for as early as May 26, 2024 , for prices starting at $4,399 USD pp.

"Our 'Best of Italy ' Small Groups Explorations Tour is a fantastic way for travelers to enjoy Italian culture. On this new tour, they'll be able to make their own decisions on what they'd like to experience during their trip," said Jaclyn Leibl-Cote , CEO at Collette.

Over the course of 19 days travelers will journey across Thailand , Laos , Cambodia , and Vietnam on Collette's "Kingdoms of Southeast Asia " tour. They'll enjoy key experiences, stopping at Hanoi's historic Old Quarter for an exciting walking tour, navigating the Cu Chi Tunnels, a maze of underground passageways used by the Viet Cong, and pay a visit to a Vietnam War veteran to learn about the war from his unique perspective. Travelers can book seats on the "Kingdoms of Southeast Asia " tour February 21, 2024 , with prices starting at $4,199 USD pp.

"Travelers are flocking to explore Southeast Asia with Collette's Explorations tours," said Jeff Roy , Executive Vice President of Revenue Management and Pricing at Collette. "Collette's. 'Kingdoms of Southeast Asia ' tour gives travelers a taste of all the region has to offer. From history to natural beauties, we make sure to hit every attraction."

Travelers who embark on the 7-day tour of Paris with Collette's "Spotlight on Paris " tour truly get to live like a local. Throughout their visit, they'll ride the Metro, Paris' local public transit, all week to get to each of their destinations. They'll also take part in a walking food tour, enjoying some of the city's finest French cuisine. Lastly, travelers will spend a day exploring the neighborhood of Montmarte, which blends artistic roots and quirky modernity. Travelers can book their spot on the "Spotlight on Paris " tour with a departure date as early as March 12, 2024 , for prices starting at $2,499 USD pp.

"Our many Spotlight tours like 'Spotlight on Paris ,' are great for travelers who want to focus on and explore some of the globe's most wonderful cities," said Dan Sullivan Jr., executive chairman of the board at Collette. " Paris is such a fantastic place to visit, so we want our travelers to enjoy it to the fullest. This tour will allow them to do so, not leaving any stone unturned during their week-long visit."

About Collette:

As the longest-running tour operator in North America , Collette is the company travelers can trust. Leading with integrity, Collette's comprehensive travel protection plan, flexible tour pacing, and strong relationships within the travel space set it apart. The happiness of its guests has been its roadmap since 1918 and today Collette offers over 160 tours to all seven continents and five distinct travel styles, including small group touring and river cruises. This third-generation family-owned business is dedicated to giving back in both local and global communities through its social responsibility platform. For more information, visit www.gocollette.com .

Media Contact:

Sam LaFrance , Collette

Phone: 401.426.4504

[email protected]

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SOURCE Collette Vacations
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Connected Nation (CN) is proud to announce that Heather Gate , Executive Vice President of Digital Inclusion, has been recognized as one of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Kentucky for 2023, a prestigious honor that underscores her remarkable contributions to digital inclusion and equity. Details of this achievement, announced by the national women's professional network, Women We Admire, can be viewed here.

Her innovative leadership and tireless advocacy have paved the way for groundbreaking initiatives that transform lives.

"I am deeply honored to be recognized among such a distinguished group of women leaders," said Gate. "This accolade not only reflects my personal commitment but also the collective efforts of our team at Connected Nation to ensure that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the digital resources they need to thrive."

With over 17 years of dedicated service in the broadband field, Gate has been instrumental in devising and executing strategies that bridge the Digital Divide, ensuring technology access, adoption, and usage for all, particularly vulnerable populations. Her commitment extends beyond practical implementations, having actively engaged with minorities, rural communities, and families at the frontline of digital disparity.

A nationally recognized leader, Gate served as the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Communications Equity and Diversity Council. She previously served as Vice Chair of the FCC's Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) and Chair of its Digital Empowerment and Inclusion Working Group, among other significant roles. As a recent graduate of the Leadership Kentucky Program and commissioned an Honorable Kentucky Colonel by Kentucky Governor Beshear , Gate is committed to collaborating with stakeholders to make life better for Kentuckians and persons across the globe left behind by the Digital Divide.

"Heather's influence on digital inclusion goes beyond our organization  it's felt across communities and sectors," said Tom Ferree , Chairman & CEO, CN. "Her innovative leadership and tireless advocacy have paved the way for groundbreaking initiatives that continue to transform lives. We are thrilled to see her efforts being recognized on such a significant platform."

CN celebrates Gate's well-deserved recognition and her unwavering dedication to creating more digitally inclusive communities. Her achievements and ongoing efforts continue to inspire and drive impactful change in Kentucky and beyond.

About Connected Nation: Connected Nation celebrated 20 years of service in 2021. The national nonprofit's mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access to and increase the adoption and use of broadband (high-speed internet) and its related technologies for all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation.

For more information, please visit: connectednation.org and follow Connected Nation on Facebook and Twitter.

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SOURCE Connected Nation
LOS ANGELES , Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Employment law firm D.Law celebrated an incredibly successful year, sharing highlights of a wide range of 2023 accomplishments with staff and guests at a December holiday gathering held at their future headquarters in Pasadena .

Surpassing the 100-person mark, D.Law more than doubled their team in 2023, establishing three physical locations in Los Angeles along with 15 satellite offices throughout California .

The growth was driven in part by the January 2023 acquisition of industry-leading employment law attorney Kevin T. Barnes's law offices and staff following the culmination of a successful 35-year career by Barnes. The acquisition of fellow employment law firm David Yeremian & Associates in August also fueled the company's growth, with David Yeremian and his team joining forces with D.Law .

D.Law Founder & Managing Attorney Emil Davtyan , who orchestrated and spearheaded the acquisitions, described both as "powerful alliances that will take us to the next level of service and success in the field of employment law." The combined power puts D.Law another step closer to becoming the biggest plaintiff-side employment law firm in California , a one-of-a-kind legal powerhouse focused on innovation and new ideas for serving clients as well as creating opportunities for members of the D.Law team.

One of D.Law's specialties is fighting for the California working class to recover unpaid wages in class action cases. In 2023, D.Law initiated hundreds of new class action cases for such unpaid wages. To date, D.Law has helped California workers recover almost 1 billion dollars , and is on track to surpass the billion-dollar mark shortly into 2024. It also significantly increased its social media presence, followers, and clout while rebranding its corporate identity. Reflecting the evolving nature of its business, the company officially changed its name from Davtyan Law to D.Law (pronounced " Dee Law "), a more iconic and universal identity that emphasizes the firm's adaptability to continued growth and expansion throughout California and beyond.

"The D in D.Law will always serve to remind us of our founding as Davtyan Law, but now that D also can express the ideas of defense, dedication, dignity, diligence, and more," said Davtyan. "Our new website has the definitive web address of www.d.law, and we are committed to defining this domain in a way that makes our vision of becoming the biggest and most innovative employment law firm in California , and eventually the nation, a reality."

D.Law's commitment to both its clients and its people was recognized in a series of awards throughout the year, including being honored as 2023's #1 Best Place to Work in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal. In addition, D.Law was voted one of the Most Admired Law Firms in Los Angeles and Emil Davtyan was selected as a 2023 Leader of Influence for Labor & Employment Law.

Currently headquartered in Glendale , D.Law is working with Corsini Stark Architects in creating a magnificent new headquarters in Pasadena , projected for completion in 2025.

Davtyan sees the transformation of the new Pasadena headquarters as symbolic of the progress in store for 2024. "We accomplished more in 2023 than we imagined possible, but we see all of our successes to date as a preview for what's to come," he said. "The new year is already on track to be our most exciting ever, with the evolution of our new building reflecting the amazing changes throughout our company. We envision continued growth, more cases, and an even greater level of service and justice for our clients: the dedicated workforce that continues to help make California an economic powerhouse admired throughout the world."

Contact: [email protected]

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SOURCE D.Law, Inc.
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dover (NYSE: DOV) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Transchem Group ("Transchem"), one of the largest suppliers of car wash chemistry and associated solutions in North America . Transchem is now part of OPW's Vehicle Wash Solutions business ("OPW VWS") within Dover's Clean Energy & Fueling segment.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario , and employing approximately 80 people, Transchem has served the car wash industry for over 45 years and is known for its high-performance cleaning and chemical solutions, including the premium Turtle Wax Pro product line, True Vue 2 chemical management systems, ClearWash water reclaim systems, and Digital Mosaic, a technology platform that enables car wash operators to manage subscription and loyalty programs.

With the addition of Transchem's offerings, OPW VWS's product portfolio is among the most comprehensive in the industry, offering tunnel and in-bay automatic wash systems, payment terminals, process controls, site management software, automation systems and now chemistry and water reclaim systems.

"We are excited to have Transchem join the OPW team, helping us grow our portfolio of market-leading brands," said Keith Moye , Vice President and General Manager of OPW VWS. "With Transchem, OPW can now offer its customers and channel partners a broader set of chemical products that deliver excellent wash performance and water reclaim technology that reduces water usage and lowers operators' costs. We look forward to driving significant growth synergies leveraging our combined product offering and channel to a large customer base across North America ."

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of over $8 billion . We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy & Fueling, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Climate & Sustainability Technologies. Dover combines global scale with operational agility to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 65 years, our team of over 25,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois , Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at www.dovercorporation.com.

Forward Looking Statements:

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding the anticipated effects of the transaction. All statements in this document other than statements of historical fact are statements that are, or could be deemed, "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, general economic conditions and conditions in the particular markets in which we operate, changes in customer demand and capital spending, competitive factors and pricing pressures, our ability to develop and launch new products in a cost-effective manner, and our ability to realize synergies from newly acquired businesses. For details on the risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that may be contained herein, we refer you to the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 , and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. These documents are available from the SEC, and on our website, www.dovercorporation.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contact: Media Contact: Jack Dickens Adrian Sakowicz Senior Director  Investor Relations Vice President  Communications (630) 743-2566 (630) 743-5039 [email protected] [email protected]

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SOURCE Dover
VANCOUVER, BC , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dylan Sidoo Award for Future Financial Leaders, founded by esteemed tech entrepreneur Dylan Sidoo , announces the launch of its annual scholarship program for aspiring financial innovators. The scholarship aims to recognize and support students displaying exceptional promise and dedication in the realm of finance.

The scholarship, hosted through the Dylan Sidoo Award for Future Financial Leaders website, is designed to identify and foster the next generation of finance leaders. Open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students enrolled at accredited educational institutions worldwide, the award emphasizes inclusivity by welcoming candidates from diverse academic backgrounds and fields of study.

Applicants for the Dylan Sidoo Award for Future Financial Leaders are required to meet specific criteria, including current enrollment at accredited educational institutions, a commitment to their finance-related studies, and a demonstrated financial need.

"We are thrilled to continue our commitment to fostering the growth of future financial leaders," says Dylan Sidoo , the visionary behind the award. "Our aim is to empower promising individuals who exhibit not just academic prowess, but also a passion for innovative thinking and a dedication to community engagement within the finance industry."

Dylan Sidoo journey as a tech entrepreneur and finance visionary has been marked by excellence and innovation. His educational background includes studies at St. George's School, a Bachelor of Arts degree with Cum Laude honors from the University of Southern California, and ongoing pursuit of a Masters in Global Finance and Banking at King's College London.

To apply for the Dylan Sidoo Award for Future Financial Leaders, candidates are required to submit their essays along with requested personal information, including full name, contact details, educational institution, personal bio, and GPA, via email to [email protected]

For more information about the scholarship and Dylan Sidoo , please visit https://dylansidooaward.com/

About Dylan Sidoo

Dylan Sidoo stands as a distinguished tech entrepreneur, embodying visionary qualities and a fervent dedication to finance, technology, and community engagement. Throughout his journey in the spheres of finance and technology, he has consistently exemplified excellence and innovation, becoming a beacon for aspiring minds. His profound impact inspires and motivates the younger generation to strive for excellence in these dynamic and evolving fields.

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BOGOTA, Colombia , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC) informs that, the following changes will be made in its senior management:

Alejandro Arango , who has been serving as Corporate Vice President of Human Talent, presented his voluntary resignation from the position, which was accepted as of January 18, 2024 . Dr. Victoria Irene Sepulveda , current Leadership and Development Manager, will be in charge of this Vice Presidency from January 19, 2024 until the date in which a new appointment for the position is made.

Fernan Ignacio Bejarano , current Legal Vice President, will carry out his duties until January 31 st , 2024. Dr. Rodolfo Mario Garcia Paredes , current Manager of New Business and Corporate Legal Consulting, will be in charge of this Vice Presidency from February 1, 2024 until the date in which a new appointment for the position is made.

Pedro Manrique Gutierrez, who served as Commercial and Marketing Vice President, will retire on January 19, 2024 . Dr. Felipe Trujillo Lopez, current Product and Petrochemical Manager, will be in charge of this Vice Presidency from January 20, 2024 until the date in which a new appointment for the position is made.

Ecopetrol S.A. expresses its gratitude to doctors Alejandro Arango , Fernan Bejarano and Pedro Manrique for their valuable management, their contributions to the milestones achieved by Ecopetrol and wishes them much success in their new professional affairs.

Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia , it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico ), Brazil , and Mexico , and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil , Chile , Peru , and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile , and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice.

For more information, please contact:

Head of Capital Markets

Carolina Tovar Aragon

Email: [email protected]

Head of Corporate Communications ( Colombia )

Marcela Ulloa

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.
WASHINGTON , Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Four astronauts, including the current record holder for the longest single U.S. stay in space aboard the International Space Station , will make their first public appearance in Houston since returning to Earth. The crew also will be available for interviews before the event at 5 p.m. CST Thursday, Jan. 18 , at Space Center Houston.

Expedition 69 NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen , Woody Hoburg , and Frank Rubio , along with United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi , will be at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston official visitor center to share accomplishments from their mission during a free, public event at 5:30 p.m. At 7 p.m. , the crew, along NASA leadership, will help recognize key contributors to the mission's success in an awards ceremony.

Reporters may request an in-person interview no later than 12 p.m. Jan. 18 by emailing Dana Davis at [email protected].

Expedition 69

NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 mission launched in March 2023 with Bowen, Hoburg, and Alneyadi, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, on the sixth commercial crew rotation mission to the space station. The crew spent 186 days in orbit, traveled 78,875,292 miles, and completed 2,976 Earth orbits, splashing down off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida , on Sept. 4, 2023 . This was Bowen's fourth spaceflight and the first spaceflight for Hoburg, Alneyadi, and Fedyaev. The crew helped improve power systems for the space station through a series of spacewalks. In June 2023 , Bowen completed his 10th career spacewalk, tying the U.S. record for number of spacewalks. Alneyadi also completed the first long-duration mission for a UAE astronaut.

The Dragon crew was welcomed aboard the station by the international crew that flew on the Soyuz spacecraft and served on Expeditions 68 and 69. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin launched six months earlier, on the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft in September 2022 . The Soyuz crew spent a total of 371 days aboard the space station, traveled 157,412,306 statute miles, and completed 5,963 Earth orbits, landing in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft on Sept. 27, 2023 . This was the second spaceflight for Prokopyev and Petelin. This was Rubio's first spaceflight mission and it broke the U.S. record for a single spaceflight by an American.

While aboard the station, the Expedition 69 crew contributed to hundreds of experiments and technology demonstrations, including conducting a student robotic challenge, studying plant genetic adaptations to space, and monitoring human health in microgravity to prepare for exploration beyond low Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth. The crew released Saskatchewan's first satellite, which tests a new radiation detection and protection system derived from Melanin that's found in many organisms including humans.

Stay current on space station activities by following @space_station and @ISS_Research on Twitter, as well as the station Facebook and Instagram accounts and the space station blog.

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SOURCE NASA
Jude Volek brings high-level government civil rights experience to the firm's White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice

WASHINGTON , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce that Jude Volek has joined the firm's Washington, D.C. office2 as counsel in the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice. Volek recently finished his service as Special Assistant and Senior Associate Counsel to President Joseph R. Biden , Jr. in the White House Counsel's Office. He will advise clients on sensitive internal investigations, government enforcement actions, and litigation involving anti-discrimination and civil rights issues.

As Special Assistant and Senior Associate Counsel to the President, Volek provided strategic advice to the president and other senior White House officials across a wide range of issues, including the full spectrum of civil rights issues, such as the implications of the use of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies; diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; criminal justice reform; tribal justice; voting rights; reproductive rights; and government procurement. From 2011 to 2021, Volek served in the Civil Rights Division at the US Department of Justice in various roles, including as Deputy Chief and as a Trial Attorney in the Special Litigation Section. In those positions, Volek served as lead counsel in complex investigations and civil litigation enforcing federal statutes prohibiting discrimination and represented the United States in more than 100 hearings in federal court.

"We are delighted to welcome Jude to Latham and our Washington, D.C. office," said Mandy Reeves , Washington, D.C. Office Managing Partner. "He adds further depth to our market-leading White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice particularly in light of his unique anti-discrimination and civil rights experience. Our clients will benefit from Jude's insights and experience while at the White House and DOJ, in matters ranging from sensitive internal investigations to Congressional investigations and government enforcement cases."

"Complying with anti-discrimination laws and regulations, as well as navigating investigations and reviews with civil rights implications require increasingly sophisticated counsel from experienced lawyers," said Kevin Chambers , Global Chair of the firm's White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice. "Jude's background in crisis management and experience navigating the dynamics of high-profile civil rights investigations and other sensitive matters will be tremendous assets to our clients."

Danielle Conley , a Washington, D.C. white collar partner who leads the firm's Anti-Discrimination & Civil Rights practice said: "Jude is a phenomenal addition to our team. He brings tremendous insight into the cutting-edge civil rights issues arising from new technologies, like AI, as well as the latest developments in regulatory enforcement and legislative priorities. I worked closely with Jude in the White House and at the DOJ, and have seen his impeccable judgment and talent in navigating highly complex legal issues first-hand. I'm excited to be working with him again."

Volek is the third lawyer to join Latham from the White House Counsel's Office of President Biden, following the arrivals of former Deputy White House Counsel Danielle Conley and Jonathan Su in late 2022.

"I am excited to be joining Latham's incredible team of white collar lawyers with a focus on anti-discrimination and civil rights issues," said Volek. "The firm's integrated global platform and collaborative approach are crucial strengths for delivering exceptional results for clients across all types of organizations on their most sensitive matters. I look forward to building upon Latham's stellar reputation in this area."

Volek received his JD from Harvard Law School and his BA from Amherst College. After law school, he clerked for Judge Janet C. Hall of the US District Court for the District of Connecticut and Judge Sandra Lynch of the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

About Latham & Watkins (lw.com)

Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.

Notes to Editors

1Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA ) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France , Hong Kong , Italy , Singapore , and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan . Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company, in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office, and in Saudi Arabia through a limited liability company.

2 Admitted to practice in New York only. Work in the District of Columbia conducted pursuant to DC Court of Appeals Rule 49(c)(8). All work in the District of Columbia supervised by a member of the DC Bar.

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SOURCE Latham & Watkins
CHANGSHA, China , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zoomlion", 1157.HK) sent off nearly 200 units of earthmoving machinery equipment to Australia and Europe on January 8 from its Earthmoving Machinery Park in the Zoomlion Smart City, signaling a successful start to 2024.

The batch delivery is another significant milestone for Zoomlion Earthmoving Machinery Company, as it continues to expand in the Australian and European markets. In recent years, the company has achieved continued success in major overseas markets by enhancing its product competitiveness, diversifying its product range, and steadily improving product adaptability. This approach has not only boosted global sales but has also significantly raised the brand's profile and influence.

Last July, Zoomlion opened the first 4S (Sales, Service, Spare Parts & Survey) shop in Brisbane, Australia which marked a solid step in the company's international development roadmap, accelerating the establishment of a localized service network and further completing the overseas layout.

The sprawling 4,300-square-meter 4S shop boasts a unified team specializing in both sales and service, complete with service vehicles. It houses an extensive inventory of both new and pre-owned equipment and spare parts. With dedicated zones for repair, testing, and maintenance, the facility is fully equipped to deliver reliable service, earning enthusiastic reviews from customers for its comprehensive care.

In December, Zoomlion delivered more than 50 units of concrete agitator trucks to Australia , which was the first time China exported concrete agitator trucks to the country. When developing this model, Zoomlion conducted extensive market research to gain an in-depth understanding of local working conditions and customers' real, practical needs. It boasts the advantages of advanced design, robust performance, stylish looks, safety, ease of control, and comfortable use.

Meanwhile, in the European market, Zoomlion participated in the 69th Feira Nacional de Agricultura Feira do Ribatejo (FNA23) in Portugal in June 2023 and the SMOPYC 2023 trade show in Spain in November, during which it signed orders totaling 30 million yuan ( USD4.22 million ).

"The batch delivery on January 8 is a great start to 2024. Zoomlion Earthmoving will continue to improve and implement a point-to-point and localization-oriented overseas development strategy to further expand our market reach and achieve new business breakthroughs," said Zheng Zhe , assistant general manager of Zoomlion Earthmoving Machinery Company.

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SOURCE Zoomlion
Accelerating global decarbonization by expanding the clean energy value chain to encompass production, storage, and transportation

Building and owning green vessels to drive demand for decarbonization technology in shipping and shipbuilding

SEOUL, South Korea , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dong Kwan (DK) Kim, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group, unveiled a new vision for the decarbonization of shipping and introduced Hanwha's plans to build a zero-emission gas carrier. Powered entirely by alternative fuels, the new vessel will be an industry first  developed using Hanwha's proprietary green technology. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland , Kim emphasized the importance of global collaboration to bring such green technologies to fruition and grow market demand.

Hanwha has a strong footprint in clean energy, with a value chain covering the production of solar, hydrogen, and wind energy as well as clean energy storage systems. This announcement further advances Hanwha's commitment to a stronger clean energy value chain, which includes carbon-free transport in shipping.

"Hanwha is challenging existing industry frameworks, spearheading new innovations, and paving the way for maritime decarbonization," said Dong Kwan (DK) Kim, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group. "We're taking a holistic approach to the energy transition, driving disruptive change not only in the production and storage of clean energy but in transportation as well. Advancing green ship technology and establishing a robust clean energy value chain will help us gain ground in our journey toward net zero."

At a session titled "The First Fossil-Free Ship on the Water," Kim shared Hanwha's blueprint for the development of a carbon-free vessel powered by alternative fuels such as ammonia. As existing internal combustion engines require 5% to 15% of pilot fuel, diesel, for the purpose of ignition, building a vessel free of carbon emissions requires a fundamentally different approach. This is why Hanwha is developing an ammonia-powered gas turbine to replace conventional engines, thus eliminating the need for pilot fuel.

To achieve carbon-free electrification, Hanwha also plans to install hydrogen fuel cells with energy storage systems (ESS) as the vessel's auxiliary source of power. An integrated ammonia cracker will produce the hydrogen required for the fuel cells on board.

Kim also announced plans to own and operate the newly developed green ships to bring the technology to maturity. Deep-sea vessels are capital-intensive investments. They take anywhere from two to three years to build and remain in service for two to three decades, making it extremely difficult for shipowners to invest in budding technologies. By demonstrating the benefits of green ship technology, Hanwha aims to lower the barriers for shipowner investment and drive demand.

In November, Hanwha Ocean joined the World Economic Forum's First Movers Coalition (FMC), a leading global initiative supported by 13 government partners that represent over 50% of global GDP. The FMC aims to harness the purchasing power of the world's leading companies to create guaranteed early markets for advanced technologies within hard-to-abate sectors, including shipping, steel, chemicals, and aviation. As one of the 95 members, comprising top global companies and non-profit organizations, Hanwha aims to create new partnerships and pilot programs to build sustained momentum for the adoption and commercialization of green ship technology.

"We are thrilled to welcome Hanwha to the First Movers Coalition, marking a significant step in our collective journey towards a net-zero future. Hanwha's commitment underscores the critical role of innovative collaboration in accelerating the decarbonization of the shipping industry," said Rob van Riet , Interim Head of the FMC. "Together, we are poised to make impactful strides in reducing emissions and setting new standards for global shipping."

The decarbonization of shipping is seen as integral in the journey to net zero, as nearly 90% of all globally traded goods are shipped by sea, accounting for 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

As a strategic partner of the WEF, Hanwha is involved in multiple climate action initiatives. Kim has participated in the WEF Annual Meeting every year since 2010. In 2013, he was selected as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the WEF.

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Mr. Righeimer will hold dual role as he continues to serve as CEO of Hyland's Naturals

LOS ANGELES , Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hello Bello, a leading brand of premium, accessible pediatric and family care products, today announced that Will Righeimer , CEO of Hyland's Naturals, will serve as its new chief executive officer. Hello Bello's new owners, Hildred Capital Management, have appointed Righeimer in a dual leadership role to provide a shared consumer experience for both companies.

"I am thrilled to guide the partnership between two prominent industry leaders that are dedicated to enhancing the parenting journey. The synergy between our companies will empower us to provide unparalleled support to parents, from newborns to young children, through a comprehensive range of high-quality pediatric products and consumer healthcare essentials," said Righeimer.

Hildred acquired Hyland's Naturals in 2020 and more recently acquired Hello Bello in December 2023 . As part of Hyland's Naturals growth strategy, Hildred is creating the most significant independent pediatric and general wellness platform in the United States , making it easier than ever for parents to keep their families healthy through clean and natural product offerings.

With Hildred's backing, Hello Bello is well positioned for accelerated growth, building on a well-established customer base that appreciates the value and quality of the Hello Bello brand.

Andrew Goldman , Co-Founder, Managing Partner of Hildred Capital, said, "Since joining Hyland's Naturals in 2021, Will has proven to be a transformative leader, making a significant impact on both our culture and operations. We are delighted to see him now bring that same passion, strategic vision, and remarkable execution to Hello Bello."

Righeimer has served as CEO of Hyland's Naturals since March 2021 , overseeing a comprehensive brand refresh, along with shepherding the company into the vitamins, minerals, and supplements category. Hyland's Naturals now holds the #1 leadership position in several categories, was named to the 2023 Fortune Magazine Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production and has earned Great Place to Work Certification for the second year in a row. Prior to joining Hyland's Naturals, Righeimer previously served as a Global President at Mars, Inc., and held senior level positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM.

Erica Buxton , the current president of Hello Bello, will be transitioning through March 15, 2024 .

About Hello Bello

Hello Bello makes premium high-quality pediatric and family products designed to be accessible for all families. From diapers and wipes to personal care, Hello Bello's products are carefully crafted with babies, toddlers, parents, and the planet in mind. Hello Bello is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA and proudly produces millions of diapers each week at its USA based manufacturing facilities in Waco, TX. For more information, please visit https://hellobello.com/ or follow @hellobello on Facebook, Instagram and X and @myhellobello on Pinterest.

About Hyland's Naturals

Hyland's Naturals is a leading consumer health company with more than a century of history making high quality products to help families live healthier and happier lives. With a trusted brand, Hyland's Naturals proudly leads several consumer categories across children's and adult's health with over 80% of its sales from product lines that hold #1 market share in their categories. Hyland's Naturals headquarters and new state of the art manufacturing facility is in Los Angeles, CA. Follow Hyland's Naturals on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram or visit hylands.com to learn more.

About Hildred Capital Management

Hildred Capital Management is a healthcare-focused private equity firm that seeks opportunities to create value in middle-market companies. The Firm specializes in partnering with management teams to help them scale their platforms, generate earnings growth, promote strategic and operational improvements, generate business development, and drive multiple expansion. For more information, please visit www.hildredcapital.com and follow the Firm on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Hello Bello
East Hilltop Zone  9.5% Zn, 0.3% Cu & 12.6 g/t Ag over 114.3 m incl. 17.7% Zn, 0.4% Cu & 10.2 g/t Ag over 36.6 m

Upper Hilltop Zone - 2.1 g/t Au, 514.8 g/t Ag, 3.1% Zn & 23.4% Pb over 10.0 m

Upper Hilltop Zone - 0.6 g/t Au, 332.9 g/t Ag, 8.8% Zn & 18.8% Pb over 32.0 m

RENO, Nev. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - i-80 GOLD CORP. (TSX: IAU) (NYSE: IAUX) ("i-80", or the "Company") is pleased to report positive results from ongoing drilling at the Company's 100%-owned Ruby Hill Property (" Ruby Hill " or "the Property") located in Eureka County, Nevada . The results are from the 2023 program that continues to demonstrate significant potential to expand high-grade polymetallic mineralization in the Hilltop fault structure and within the Hilltop Corridor.

The East Hilltop Zones were discovered while testing the eastern extension of the Hilltop fault structure where high-grade mineralization had previously been identified in the Upper and Lower Hilltop Zones. Permitting for additional disturbance was completed in mid-2023 and drilling from new drill setups resumed int the second half of the year. This program has confirmed high-grade mineralization in both the Carbonate Replacement Deposit type (CRD) and Skarn zones and step-out drilling is confirming significant growth potential with mineralization remaining wide open for expansion. Table 1 provides a summary of recent drill results and recent highlight results include:

East Hilltop (Skarn & CRD)

1.5 g/t Au, 274.6 g/t Ag, 4.7% Zn & 4.3% Pb over 13.2 m (iRH23-48)

22.4 % Zn over 5.8 m and 197.2 g/t Ag, 7.5% Zn and 5.0% Pb over 6.1 m (iRH23-49)

9.5% Zn, 0.3% Cu & 12.6 g/t Ag over 114.3 m (iRH23-50) including

17.7% Zn, 0.4% Cu & 10.2 g/t Ag over 36.6 m and

12.9% Zn, 0.6% Cu & 48.8 g/t Ag over 15.2 m

0.2 g/t Au, 36.3 g/t Ag, 7.1% Zn & 1.4% Pb over 6.1 m (iRH23-57)

Upper Hilltop (CRD)

2.1 g/t Au, 514.8 g/t Ag, 3.1% Zn & 23.4% Pb over 10.0 m (iRH23-52)

14.7 g/t Au, 253.3 g/t Ag, 0.4% Zn & 8.7% Pb over 7.5 m (iRH23-52)

0.6 g/t Au, 332.9 g/t Ag, 8.8% Zn & 18.8% Pb over 32.0 m (iRH23-54)

1.0 g/t Au, 469.4 g/t Ag, 6.8% Zn & 15.6% Pb over 23.6 m (iRH23-56)

Exploration (Hilltop Corridor)

252.0 g/t Ag & 22.3% Zn over 1.5 m (iRH23-55)

1181.0 g/t Ag, 19.5% Zn & 10.2% Pb over 1.5 m (iRH23-55)

"Drilling continues to intersect extremely high-grade polymetallic base metal mineralization in multiple zones at Ruby Hill.", stated Tyler Hill , Chief Geologist of i-80. "These results include multiple new intercepts in the East Hilltop discovery area including the most significant copper mineralization identified to-date. Highgrade, silver-rich, skarn mineralization was also intersected in step-out drilling along the untested southern extension of the Graveyard Flats intrusive."

The 2023 drill program at Ruby Hill was focused on defining mineralization in the Hilltop, Blackjack and FAD deposits for the completion of an initial NI43-101 compliant resource from these zones. Significant highgrade mineralization was confirmed in all targets and the deposits remain wide open for expansion. In addition to drilling, geophysical surveys have recently been completed to cover the untested Hilltop Corridor to the FAD deposit located approximately 2 km to the south of Hilltop.

Drill Program

The ongoing drill program at Ruby Hill is focused on defining and expanding mineralization in the multiple zones that make the Property a core asset for i-80. This drilling will be included in an initial resource estimate for the polymetallic deposits. Some of the core from the program is being utilized for metallurgical testing in relation to a proposed partnership with a third-party that, upon Closing, will acquire a minority interest in the Property. Current drilling is being funded by this third party.

East Hilltop Zones  One of the final holes of the 2022 drilling program discovered high-grade skarn mineralization while testing the eastern extension of the Hilltop fault structure with an intercept of 12.3 % Zn over 39.6 m (see press release dated Dec. 19, 2022 and Figure 1). Follow-up drilling in early 2023 confirmed expansion potential of the skarn horizon and also discovered high-grade CRD mineralization. Multiple lenses of mineralization have now been intersected at East Hilltop including the most abundant copper grades intersected to-date at Ruby Hill in recent step-out drilling.

The skarn mineralization at East Hilltop is located approximately 300 metres to the south of, and in a near-identical geological setting as, the Blackjack deposit adjacent to the Graveyard Flats intrusive. The area between Blackjack and East Hilltop remains untested. CRD mineralization is located along strike from the Upper Hilltop Zone . New intercepts in the East Hilltop (CRD and Skarn) zones include:

iRH23-48 East Hilltop  4 zones of CRD mineralization:

2.6 g/t Au, 344.0 g/t Ag, 5.8% Zn & 6.0% Pb over 2.7 m

1.1 g/t Au, 174.4 g/t Ag, 3.8% Zn & 2.0% Pb over 15.8 m

1.5 g/t Au, 274.6 g/t Ag, 4.7% Zn & 4.3% Pb over 13.2 m

1.2 g/t Au, 171.0 g/t Ag, 6.9% Zn & 3.6% Pb over 3.0 m

iRH23-49  East Hilltop Zone returned 5 high-grade skarn and CRD intervals including:

14.3% Zn over 2.7 m

22.4% Zn over 5.8 m

10.9% Zn over 3.0 m

111.9 g/t Ag, 4.8% Zn & 2.5% Pb over 4.6 m

197.2 g/t Ag, 7.5% Zn & 5.0% Pb over 6.1 m

iRH23-50  East Hilltop (2 zones) step-out with the best copper mineralization to-date:

9.5% Zn, 0.3% Cu & 12.6 g/t Ag over 114.3 m including

17.7% Zn, 0.4% Cu & 10.2 g/t Ag over 36.6 m and

12.9% Zn, 0.6% Cu & 48.8 g/t Ag over 15.2 m and

9.5% Zn, 0.8% Cu & 18.6 g/t Ag over 7.6 m

iRH23-53 East Hilltop CRD infill (2 zones):

2.8 g/t Au, 230.3 g/t Ag, 0.3 % Zn & 1.1 % Pb over 3.0 m

0.2 g/t Au, 317.1 g/t Ag, 9.6 % Zn & 14.3 % Pb over 3.2 m

iRH23-57 East Hilltop skarn and CRD, 50 m step-out south of iRH22-61 (3 zones):

8.6% Zn, 0.2% Cu & 6.0 g/t Ag over 18.3 m

2.1% Zn, 0.1% Cu, 1.3% Pb, 146.5 g/t Ag & 0.2 g/t Au over 12.2 m

7.1% Zn, 1.4% Pb, 36.3 g/t Ag & 0.2 g/t Au over 6.1 m

Upper Hilltop Zone  In mid-2022, the Upper Hilltop Zone was discovered with an intercept of 515.3 g/t Ag, 28.9 % Pb, 10.5 % Zn and 0.9 g/t Au over 28.3 m, leading to the definition of multiple polymetallic CRD and skarn zones on the south side of the Archimedes pit, situated along the Hilltop fault structure. Mineralization has now been defined over a strike length of approximately 750 metres including the Upper, Lower and East Hilltop Zones (see Figure 1). Drilling in 2023 was focused on resource delineation and to acquire additional samples for metallurgical purposes. Highlight new results include:

iRH23-52 Upper Hilltop infill (2 zones):

2.1 g/t Au, 514.8 g/t Ag, 3.1% Zn & 23.4% Pb over 10.0 m

14.7 g/t Au, 253.3 g/t Ag, 0.4% Zn & 8.7% Pb over 7.5 m

iRH23-54 Upper Hilltop Infill:

0.6 g/t Au, 332.9 g/t Ag, 8.8% Zn & 18.8% Pb over 32.0 m

iRH23-56 Upper Hilltop infill:

1.0 g/t Au, 469.4 g/t Ag, 6.8% Zn & 15.6% Pb over 23.6 m

Hilltop Exploration  At the end of the 2023 drill program, and following the receipt of approvals for drilling within the Hilltop Corridor, one RC exploration hole was drilled to test for potential mineralization along the intrusive contact. This hole (iRH23-55) successfully intersected 60 metres of skarn mineralization including 4 narrow high-grade intercepts. This is the only hole drilled south of Hilltop within the Hilltop Corridor and is the first where extremely high-grade silver is associated with skarn mineralization. No other holes have tested this contact horizon other than at Blackjack and East Hilltop. Highlights from iRH23-55 include:

252.0 g/t Ag & 22.3% Zn over 1.5 m

1181.0 g/t Ag, 19.5% Zn & 10% Pb over 1.5 m

125.0 g/t Ag, 13.7% Zn over 1.5 m

159.0 g/t Ag, 11.3% Zn over 5.6% Pb over 1.5 m

Blackjack Zone  Previously released results from the Blackjack deposit also intersected appreciable poly-metallic mineralization with highlight intercepts of 19.4% Zn, 19.2 g/t Ag and 0.4 g/t Au over 30.4 m in iRH23-18A, 10.7% Zn & 37.0 g/t Ag over 47.9 m & 15.6% Zn, 8.7% Pb, 420.4 g/t Ag & 0.6 g/t Au over 40.4 m in iRH23-41, and 10.1 % Zn, 0.6% Pb, 37.0 g/t Ag & 0.3 g/t Au over 116.3 m in iRH23-42. Hole iRH23-18A is the southmost intercepts drilling in the Blackjack deposit that remains open along strike to the north and south.

FAD Zone  Drilling was also completed at the FAD deposit as part of the program to advance resource estimates for the poly-metallic deposits at Ruby Hill. This program confirmed impressive massive sulphide mineralization with the final step-out hole of the program (PC23-28) demonstrating that the deposit remains open for expansion. This drill program builds on Paycore's successful program, further defining and expanding gold-rich poly-metallic mineralization at FAD. Previously released results from Paycore's drill program included 8.0 g/t Au, 79.0 g/t Ag, 10.0% Zn & 1.0% Pb over 27.4 m in hole (PC22-10), 7.1 g/t Au, 376.0 g/t Ag, 6.3% Zn & 10.3% Pb over 14.8 m in hole (PC22-08A) and 1.1 g/t Au, 155.0 g/t Ag, 22.0% Zn & 1.5% Pb over 12.5 m in hole (PC22-07).

The FAD deposit is located approximately 2 km to the south of the Archimedes pit and the mineralization being defined at Ruby Hill. To-date, FAD is the largest of the known CRD zones that are being drilled on the Property and remains open for expansion. Results from the 2023 drill program will be released in the coming weeks.

The CRD deposits being drilled at Ruby Hill and FAD are situated within the Hilltop Corridor, a 1.5 km long, alluvial covered, trend immediately south of the Archimedes pit that is largely untested by previous drilling owing to the alluvial cover.

Geophysical Surveys

Previous geophysical surveys (MT, gravity and magnetic) have identified several highly perspective anomalies that are believed to have the potential to represent additional massive sulfide targets including the Spring Valley and Deep Blue anomalies. Several of these surveys contained sparse data south of the Archimedes pit. Recently, surveys have been extended to cover to the southern boundary of the newly acquired FAD Property, including the largely untested Hilltop Corridor.

Table 1  Highlight New Assay Results from Ruby Hill

Drillhole ID Zone Type From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%)

iRH23-44 Upper Hilltop Core NSI iRH23-45 Graveyard

Stock

Exploration RC 204.2 312.4 108.2 0.4 10.5 - - - iRH23-46 Upper Hilltop Core NSI iRH23-47 East Hilltop Core 296.1 297.8 1.7 0.2 229.3 0.1 10.1 14.1 iRH23-48 East Hilltop Core 242.0 244.8 2.7 2.6 344.0 0.6 6.0 5.8 and East Hilltop Core 269.4 285.3 15.8 1.1 174.4 0.2 2.0 3.8 and East Hilltop Core 311.1 324.3 13.2 1.5 274.6 - 4.3 4.7 and East Hilltop Core 331.6 334.6 3.0 1.2 171.0 0.1 3.6 6.9 iRH23-49 East Hilltop Core 377.9 380.5 2.7 - 1.6 - - 14.3 and East Hilltop Core 391.4 397.2 5.8 - 8.1 0.2 - 22.4 and East Hilltop Core 401.7 404.8 3.0 0.3 8.0 0.2 - 10.9 and East Hilltop Core 497.7 502.3 4.6 0.2 111.9 - 2.5 4.8 and East Hilltop Core 505.4 511.5 6.1 0.2 197.2 0.3 5.0 7.5 iRH23-50 East Hilltop RC 272.8 387.1 114.3 - 12.6 0.3 - 9.5 including East Hilltop RC 312.4 349.0 36.6 - 10.2 0.4 - 17.7 and incl. East Hilltop RC 371.9 387.1 15.2 0.1 48.8 0.6 - 12.9 and East Hilltop RC 406.9 414.5 7.6 - 18.6 0.8 - 9.5 iRH23-51 Spring Valley Exploration RC NSI iRH23-52 Upper Hilltop Core 175.6 185.6 10.0 2.1 514.8 0.1 23.4 3.1 and Upper Hilltop Core 192.5 199.9 7.5 14.7 253.3 - 8.7 0.4 iRH23-53 East Hilltop Core 229.8 232.9 3.0 2.8 230.3 0.3 1.1 0.3 and East Hilltop Core 266.3 269.4 3.2 0.2 317.1 0.2 14.3 9.6 iRH23-54 Upper Hilltop Core 170.1 202.1 32.0 0.6 332.9 0.1 18.8 8.8 iRH23-55 East Hilltop

Exploration RC 464.8 466.3 1.5 0.1 159.0 0.3 5.6 11.3 and East Hilltop

Exploration RC 469.4 470.9 1.5 0.3 125.0 0.1 1.0 13.7 and East Hilltop

Exploration RC 481.6 483.1 1.5 0.7 1181.0 1.2 10.2 19.5 and East Hilltop

Exploration RC 553.2 554.7 1.5 0.2 252.0 0.3 1.8 22.3 iRH23-56 Upper Hilltop Core 175.7 199.3 23.6 1.0 469.4 0.1 15.6 6.8 iRH23-57 East Hilltop RC 378.0 396.2 18.3 - 6.0 0.2 - 8.6 and East Hilltop RC 446.5 458.7 12.2 0.2 146.5 0.1 1.3 2.1 and East Hilltop RC 481.6 487.7 6.1 0.2 36.3 - 1.4 7.1

* True widths estimated at 75-95%. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

UTM Drillhole ID East m North m Elevation m Azimuth Dip NAD83 Zone 11 iRH23-44 587458 4375132 2000 345 -83 iRH23-45 587860 4375018 2001 102 -71 iRH23-46 587455 4375134 1999 024 -73 iRH23-47 587644 4375083 1995 008 -75 iRH23-48 587644 4375078 1995 353 -81 iRH22-49 587852 4375097 1997 273 -76 iRH22-50 587684 4374989 1998 026 -83 iRH22-51 584968 4375353 1904 090 -60 iRH22-52 587456 4375134 2000 016 -66 iRH22-53 587644 4375083 1995 353 -75 iRH22-54 587456 4375134 1999 030 -62 iRH22-55 587618 4374871 2006 081 -70 iRH22-56 587614 4375134 1999 018 -58 iRH22-57 587614 4375015 1998 048 -74

The Eureka (Ruby Hill) Mining District has a history of high-grade polymetallic CRD production that began in the 1860's and spanned a period of more than one hundred years. Historic mined grades rank amongst the highest for any CRD district in the world. Since the 1960's, the CRD potential of the Eureka District has been largely overlooked in favour of exploration for Carlin -type gold deposits and the Company considers the opportunity to be substantial. The Ruby Hill Property is one of the Company's primary assets and is host to the core processing infrastructure within the Eureka District of the Battle Mountain-Eureka Trend including an idle leach plant, an active heap leach facility, and is host to multiple gold, gold-silver and polymetallic (base metal) deposits.

Multiple types of mineralization have been identified in the Hilltop Corridor including skarn (Blackjack), CRD (Hilltop/historic mines), distal disseminated Au-Ag ( Mineral Point ), Carlin -type gold (Ruby Deeps/428/ Lower Jack ) and more recently gold-sulphide (Tyche).

The Company has submitted for approval its plan to develop an underground mine at Ruby Hill with mineralization accessed via a ramp from the Archimedes open pit. Work is also progressing for the completion of updated mineral resource estimates (gold and polymetallic zones) and an initial economic study for the gold zones (only).

Please click here for further information on abbreviations and conversions referenced in this press release.

QAQC Procedures

All samples were submitted to American Assay Laboratories (AAL) of Sparks, NV , which is an ISO 9001 and 17025 certified and accredited laboratory, independent of the Company. Samples submitted through AAL and are run through standard prep methods and analyzed using FA-PB30-ICP (Au; 30g fire assay) and IO4AB32 (35 element suite; 0.5g 4-acid ICP-OES+MS). AAL undertakes their own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration. i-80 Gold Corp's QA/QC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results.

Qualified Person

Tyler Hill , CPG-12146, Chief Geologist at i-80 is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

About i-80 Gold Corp.

i-80 Gold Corp. is a Nevada -focused, mining company with a goal of achieving mid-tier gold producer status through the development of multiple deposits within the Company's advanced-stage property portfolio with processing at i-80's centralized milling facilities. i-80 Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE American under the trading symbol IAU:TSX and IAUX:NYSE. Further information about i-80 Gold's portfolio of assets and long-term growth strategy is available at www.i80gold.com or by email at [email protected].

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to, the expansion or mineral resources at Ruby Hill and the potential of the Ruby Hill project. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to: material adverse changes, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.

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SOURCE i-80 Gold Corp
LIBERTY, Mo. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TAB, an international manufacturer of industrial, SLI, and lithium-ion batteries, announced today that its first North American facility will be located in Liberty, Missouri .

"We are excited TAB USA selected our great state for their first footprint in North America ."

"The selection of Missouri as the home of TAB USA's first North American facility reaffirms our state's strategic advantages for growing companies," said Missouri Governor Mike Parson . "We have created a pro-business environment that provides stability for businesses as they enter the U.S. market or expand within it. Missouri stands ready to support the growth and success of TAB USA as it embarks on this exciting journey from its new U.S. headquarters."

TAB USA is creating 50 jobs over the next five years at its new 66,700-square-foot facility.

"The new facility in Liberty will allow TAB increased capabilities for distribution throughout North America and access to a skilled local workforce," said Troy Livingston , CEO of TAB USA. "Whether in our vehicles or homes, batteries and electrical storage are an integral part of daily life, and TAB USA has the products our customers need to successfully power their lives and businesses."

"With a 60-year history of battery production, this establishment of our U.S. headquarters confirms our legacy as a leading global energy supplier," said Mag. Bogomir Auprih, Chairman of the Board of TAB. "The Kansas City region is an ideal hub, offering the positive business environment we need to achieve our goals."

The company noted the Kansas City region's central location and strong workforce as major factors in their selection.

"We are pleased to welcome TAB USA to Liberty as the company's first facility in North America and as its U.S. headquarters," said Mayor Greg Canuteson . "This major investment highlights Liberty's prime location for manufacturing and distribution throughout the United States and our City Council's dedication to fostering a welcoming business environment."

"TAB USA's selection of Liberty, Missouri , for its first North American facility underscores the strategic advantages of the Kansas City region as a leading industrial hub and major attractor of foreign direct investment," said Elli Bowen , Vice President of KC SmartPort, a strategic affiliate of the Kansas City Area Development Council. "Our region continues to attract companies looking to expand or invest in new operations in North America , thanks to prime access to transportation networks, an established talent pipeline and available Class A industrial product, and we're excited to see TAB USA join that growing list."

In addition to serving as TAB USA's headquarters, facility operations will also include industrial battery assembly, distribution, and sales.

"We're thrilled that an innovative, industry-leading employer like TAB USA has chosen our state as the location of its U.S. headquarters," said Michelle Hataway , Acting Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. "TAB USA's decision is a testament to Missouri's ability to support businesses that are helping Missourians prosper. We're grateful to all our partners who made this exciting project possible and look forward to the positive impact it will have for Liberty and our state's economy."

"We have a very deliberate strategy to attract international companies to Missouri , and we are excited TAB USA selected our great state for their first footprint in North America ," said Subash Alias , CEO of Missouri Partnership. " Missouri is well-suited for battery manufacturing, and TAB USA's decision to establish its U.S. headquarters here further solidifies our state's position as a leading location for battery manufacturers."

TAB USA will be located in the Liberty Heartland Logistics Center. The new facility is projected to open in Q2 of 2024.

About TAB

TAB creates durable, powerful and innovative batteries for the industrial and automotive sectors, producing a wide range of flooded lead-acid, VRLA AGM, VRLA Gel, SLI and lithium-ion batteries in facilities across the world. Its high-quality batteries are distributed throughout Europe , Asia , and North America .

About Missouri Partnership

Missouri Partnership is a public-private economic development organization focused on attracting new jobs and investment to the state and promoting Missouri's business strengths. Since 2008, Missouri Partnership has worked with partners statewide to attract companies that have created 33,000+ new jobs, $1.7 billion+ in new annual payroll, and $6.4 billion+ in new capital investment. Some recent successful projects that led to major investment in Missouri include Accenture Federal Services LLC, American Foods Group, Casey's, Chewy, Inc., James Hardie , Meta, Swift Prepared Foods, URBN, USDA, and Veterans United.

Media Contact: Janelle Higgins | [email protected] | 314.541.4911

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SOURCE Missouri Partnership
HSINCHU, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has joined forces with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) for pioneering research into the development of a spin-orbit-torque magnetic random-access memory (SOT-MRAM) array chip. This SOT-MRAM array chip showcases an innovative computing in memory architecture and boasts a power consumption of merely one percent of a spin-transfer torque magnetic random-access memory (STT-MRAM) product.

Their collaborative efforts have resulted in a research paper on this microelectronic component, which was jointly presented at the 2023 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM 2023), underscoring the cutting-edge nature of their findings and their pivotal role in advancing next-generation memory technologies.

Dr. Shih-Chieh Chang , General Director of Electronic and Optoelectronic System Research Laboratories at ITRI, highlighted the collaborative achievements of both organizations. "Following the co-authored papers presented at the Symposium on VLSI Technology and Circuits last year, we have further co-developed a SOT-MRAM unit cell," said Chang. "This unit cell achieves simultaneous low power consumption and high-speed operation, reaching speeds as rapid as 10 nanoseconds. And its overall computing performance can be further enhanced when integrated with computing in memory circuit design. Looking ahead, this technology holds the potential for applications in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), automotive chips, and more."

The advent of AI, 5G, and AIoT has created a significant demand for rapid processing, necessitating new memory solutions characterized by enhanced speed, stability, and energy efficiency. The successful collaboration between ITRI and TSMC not only shines a light on the path toward next-generation memory technology but also strengthens Taiwan's international competitive advantage in the semiconductor sector.

About ITRI

Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is one of the world's leading technology R&D institutions aiming to innovate a better future for society. Founded in 1973, ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan's industries from labor-intensive into innovation-driven. To address market needs and global trends, it has launched its 2035 Technology Strategy and Roadmap that focuses on innovation development in Smart Living, Quality Health, Sustainable Environment, and Resilient Society.

Over the years, ITRI has been dedicated to incubating startups and spinoffs, including well-known names such as UMC and TSMC. In addition to its headquarters in Taiwan , ITRI has branch offices in the U.S. , Europe , and Japan in an effort to extend its R&D scope and promote international cooperation across the globe. For more information, please visit https://www.itri.org/eng.

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SOURCE Industrial Technology Research Institute
DETROIT , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kodiak Technologies is leveraging Roush's suite of mobility services  including design, engineering, prototyping, and testing to power Kodiak's next generation of Industrial Snow Blowers. Development of Kodiak's first hybrid models are planned for delivery in 2025. To meet demand for more environmentally sustainable snow removal equipment, pre-orders will be accepted in the second quarter and throughout 2024 to replace fleets of aging and inefficient diesel-powered snow removal equipment. For the last three years, Kodiak America , the leading manufacturer of diesel-powered snow blowers, and Kodiak Technologies worked closely together to meet 2030 sustainability goals. Those goals included lower cost of maintenance, higher performance, and carbon neutrality.

We imagine airports and cities of the future with even cleaner air, lower costs, and greater equipment reliability.

With the support of lead investor John Schultz of Bootleg Advisors, Kodiak and Roush are developing the EV prototype. Schultz said "At Bootleg we've made it our business to find and support early-stage companies in and around energy transition. Kodiak Tech has a great team and the right technology  their collaboration with Roush underscores why we made the investment here."

Through the prototype testing phase Roush and Kodiak will explore questions such as: Which federal and state incentives exist to help Kodiak's customers pay for snowblower upgrades? How will carbon reductions be calculated? What is the impact of a hybrid or EV fleet to an airport authority or State Department of Transportation?

Roush is part of many success stories in this transformative area of conversions from diesel power to electricity. A recent example was the launch of the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services' Center for Green Innovation. Roush utilized the Ford F-650 platform to develop a battery electric truck was one of several zero-emissions vehicles that StreetsLA demonstrated, including trucks and street sweepers, along with its planned green initiatives.

Today, Roush and Kodiak Technologies announced a collaboration to build the first prototype and achieve sustainability goals. Salomon Belilty , President of Kodiak Technologies added "Helping Kodiak decarbonize and become sustainable is what we are all about at Kodiak Technologies. We imagine airports and cities of the future with even cleaner air, lower costs, and greater equipment reliability. Kodiak is laser focused on leadership in industrial snow blowing while exploring expansion into construction and mining equipment."

When it comes to clean mobility, Roush is the leader in the moving industry with advanced technologies. Roush encompasses 48 years of developing both prototype and product vehicle technology for the automotive, specialty vehicle and even defense markets. Roush has government affairs expertise in federal and state legislation. Kodiak plans on partnering with current and new customers to target federal, state, and local authorities with infrastructure funding to map a solution for more efficient and sustainable snow removal.

About Kodiak Technologies

Founded in 1998, Kodiak America has been designing, developing, and distributing premier snow blowers, runway sweepers, push plows, and railway blowers for various industries and markets. Kodiak America's products are known for their durability, performance, and innovation. Kodiak vehicles and equipment are utilized by the FAA, State, Federal and International Departments of Transportation. Kodiak's vision is to be the world leader in snow removal solutions.

Learn more at www.kodiaktech.io or www.kodiakamerica.us

About Roush

For close to 50 years, Roush has boldly imagined and created remarkable solutions for some of the world's greatest organizations. We dream, design, engineer, test, and deliver extraordinary products for customers in the advanced mobility, aerospace, defense, and theme park industries. Roush is unique in its ability to leverage services across the complete product development cycle, solving customers' most complex challenges and accelerating critical product launch targets.

Learn more at www.roush.com.

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SOURCE Chang Industrial
ASTHO's DELPH program selects skilled public health professionals who identify as members of underrepresented groups such as individuals of color, those with disabilities, women, or members of the LGBTQ+ community

ARLINGTON, Va. , Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the Satcher Health Leadership Institute (SHLI) at Morehouse School of Medicine unveiled the latest cohort of 15 mid-to-senior level governmental public health professionals selected for the Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health (DELPH) program.

"In welcoming our newest DELPH cohort, we celebrate not just individuals but a collective force for positive change in public health," says Michael Fraser , PhD, ASTHO CEO. "Their journey is an embodiment of our shared commitment to shaping healthier and more equitable communities throughout the United States ."

The new cohort of DELPH scholars includes:

Eman Addish , Philadelphia Department of Public Health

Philadelphia Tasha Catron , Stark County Health Department

Chelsei Granderson , Tennessee Department of Health

Andrea Lee , Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services

Kristian Myers , South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Emman Parian, Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation

Eddy Pierre , New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Maryssa Sadler, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services- Division of Health Care Services- Maternal and Child Health Unit

and Ninah Sasy , Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Monica Tavares , Rhode Island Department of Health

Zachary Thornhill , Oregon Health Authority

Deloris Walker , Cook County Department of Public Health

Samantha Wells , Arkansas Department of Health

Christopher Whiteside, New Mexico Department of Health

Monique Wilson , Maryland Department of Health , Vital Statistics Administration

"The Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine remains committed to creating systemic change at the intersection of policy and equity, which is why we are excited about the new cohort of DELPH Scholars. This new cohort joins the growing list of DELPH public health leaders who will impact public health policy and health outcomes in the U.S. for generations to come," says Sandra Harris-Hooker, Ph.D., Morehouse School of Medicine Senior Vice President for External Affairs and Innovation and Interim Director, Satcher Health Leadership Institute.

With unwavering support from the CDC, DELPH proudly welcomes its fourth cohort. Since 2021, DELPH has cultivated the growth of 80 scholars, elevating their visibility within public health systems, expanding access to crucial networks, and providing valuable leadership development opportunities.

Learn about the new cohort here.

ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States , the U.S. territories and freely associated states, and Washington, D.C. , as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice.

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SOURCE Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Jerry Howe to remain employee through June and advisor to Leidos through March 2025

RESTON, Va. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a FORTUNE 500 science and technology leader, today announced the appointment of Dan Antal as General Counsel, effective April 1, 2024 . Antal, who currently serves as General Counsel for Rolls-Royce Defense and North America , will succeed Jerry Howe , who announced his planned retirement from the Company. Howe will continue as General Counsel until March 31, 2024 , remaining in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition through March 15, 2025 .

Before joining Rolls-Royce in 2021, Antal had a long career at Leidos in a variety of positions in the legal function. His last position in the company was Senior Vice President, General Counsel - Civil Group for Leidos.

"I'm very proud to welcome Dan back to Leidos and very much look forward to having him on my Executive Team," said Leidos CEO Tom Bell . "With his deep industry knowledge and his thorough understanding of Leidos, Dan is uniquely positioned to hit the ground running and lead our legal team. His expertise will be instrumental in safeguarding our global business."

Antal has extensive experience across the Defense & Aerospace industries leading a range of General Counsel functions including Legal, Corporate Governance, Contracts, and Risk. He previously spent more than seven years at Leidos, where he served as general counsel for defense and corporate secretary, before supporting the Civil Group. He also worked at MWH Global and served there as director of risk management for the Middle East and director of operations. Antal has an MBA from the University of Denver Daniels Business College and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

"I am honored to be appointed as General Counsel at this pivotal moment for Leidos," said Antal. "I look forward to collaborating with Tom and the talented legal team at Leidos. Together, we will navigate the evolving legal landscape, uphold our commitment to corporate governance and compliance, and support Leidos' strategic goals. Our collective efforts will be dedicated to fostering an environment of legal excellence and ethical integrity, ultimately benefiting all our stakeholders."

Bell continued, "On behalf of the board of directors and management team, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Jerry for his exemplary service as General Counsel at Leidos. Over the past seven years, his legal expertise and unwavering ethical commitment have been essential in navigating complex legal landscapes and reinforcing our strong governance. While we will miss his invaluable counsel, we are thankful that he will remain as an advisor through March 2025 , and we wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement."

"It has been a privilege to serve as General Counsel and work alongside the exceptionally talented team at Leidos in achieving the remarkable corporate growth that we have," said Howe. "I have had the pleasure of working directly with Dan and am confident in his legal acumen and ability to lead our team forward. Leidos is well-prepared for the future, and I eagerly anticipate witnessing the team's continued successes."

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500 innovation company rapidly addressing the world's most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company's 47,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia , Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $14.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2022 . For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

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SOURCE Leidos
HOUSTON , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Matt Timberlake , a seasoned industry veteran, is set to assume the role of President at Applied Felts Inc. following its acquisition by Vortex Companies. With an impressive 30-year career in the underground utility sector, Matt brings extensive experience and strategic acumen to steer Applied Felts Inc., including MaxLiner and FerraTex Solutions, into a UNITED future marked by growth and success.

In his pivotal position, Matt will execute a vision guided by the Vortex strategy which focuses on early wins, sustaining customer commitments, and ensuring satisfaction while strategically shaping the long-term trajectory of the business. Matt is honored to take on this role and is poised to lead Applied Felts Inc. to significant victories.

Mike Vellano , CEO of Vortex Companies, expressed confidence in Matt Timberlake , stating, "Matt's leadership and industry expertise make him the perfect candidate to lead Applied Felts Inc. into this new chapter. We are confident that under Matt's guidance, the company will continue to thrive, delivering innovative solutions to our customers."

Alex Johnson shared his excitement about Matt moving into this the role, saying, "I am thrilled to see Mr. Timberlake move Applied Felts Inc. into this next phase. The acquisition by Vortex Companies positions this business to provide unparalleled American Made solutions to the market.."

Having joined the Vortex executive team in 2019 after the acquisition of Ted Berry Company, his family business, Matt previously served as the Senior Vice President of Shared Services. In this capacity, he played a crucial role in enhancing efficiency and transparency across product and service divisions.

A third-generation member of the family-owned Ted Berry Company Inc., Matt served as its president until its acquisition by the Vortex Companies. Throughout his career, Matt has been recognized by many industry associations for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of trenchless solutions and underground utility repair. "I am eager to work with the talented team at Applied Felts, MaxLiner and FerraTex Solutions to drive innovation and excellence in trenchless rehabilitation"

Matt Timberlake is well-positioned to lead Applied Felts Inc. into a future of innovation, excellence, and continued success, currently residing in Charlotte, North Carolina , with his wife Christine and five children.

Benefits of the Direct Total Offering to the Industry:

Quality Control: Shortening the supply chain enhances quality control, ensuring top-tier standards throughout every project phase.

Shorter Lead Times & Reduced Shipping Costs: Facilities strategically located reduce lead times and shipping distances, providing more efficient service to valued customers.

Broader Service Support: Vortex Companies and Applied Felts, together, boast a greater regional reach, enabling faster and more comprehensive support for customers.

R&D Streamlined: With Research and Development consolidated under one roof, Vortex's team can seamlessly advance technologies and products in harmony with a "total project" mindset.

Local Support, Integrated Solutions:

Through this acquisition, Vortex Companies aims to broaden its local support throughout The Americas , bringing technology solutions closer to customers, enhancing the customer experience, and reducing the timeframe to deliver. This aligns with Vortex's commitment to efficiency and excellence.

About Vortex

The Vortex Companies is a leading provider of advanced trenchless water and sewer technologies. Through its products and services divisions, Vortex delivers a comprehensive suite of rehabilitation products, equipment, services, and field support to the municipal, industrial, and commercial marketplaces. This includes pipe and manhole lining systems; sewer robotics; mortars; epoxies and resin materials; liners and wet out services, installation equipment; contracting services, training, and field support.

Operating globally, Vortex is focused on providing customers a broad range of industry leading, cost-effective trenchless solutions and technical expertise, best suited for their project needs. For more information, go to vortexcompanies.com.

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SOURCE Vortex Companies
Maybe its a result of evolving habits. After all, if television series can adapt novels, why cant novels imitate television? Viewers like to immerse themselves in multi-part stories on streaming platforms because they dont have to make decisions about what to watch  at least until the series ends. Why, then, wouldnt a series of fiction books also be able to capture a massive following? The surge in diverse and captivating fantasy fiction within the publishing industry can undoubtedly be attributed to this effect, say editors like Marta Rossich from Nova, and Jan Marti and Alice Incontrada from Blackie Books.

The moment is so vibrant for these epic stories  theyre the gold nuggets that everyone in publishing is talking about, said Rossich, who publishes the Spanish translations of Brandon Sandersons books. In Spain alone, weve sold 450,000 copies of Mistborn, Sandersons most successful series of epic fantasy novels. These numbers are light years ahead of any other fiction genre. And the best thing, says Rossich, is that writers like Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, Joe Abercrombie and George R. R. Martin have paved the way for other writers. Authors like China Mieville, N. K. Jemisin and many others can drop four more books in their series knowing that readers will absolutely devour them. Book sales spread and grow over time because some readers are just starting a series while others are on the fourth or fifth book. Rossich says publishers like this trend because they can anticipate that sales of a series like Steve Eriksons 10-volume Malazan saga will explode sooner or later.

Eriksons visit to Barcelona in November 2022 revitalized his book sales n Spain. Rossich believes it is crucial to engage with demanding readers who want to share their book preferences online. Antonio Torrubia, a bookseller at Gigamesh, a renowned science fiction, fantasy and horror bookstore in Barcelona, confirms Eriksons popularity with 500 books sold in his store alone. Torrubia also points out the wide range of themes in fantasy fiction genre. For example, Barbarians  the intergalactic erotic series by Ruby Dixon  has surged on TikTok with the recently released third book. Torrubia also highlights the ongoing success of the Harry Potter books, and how early readers have become dedicated consumers of serialized novels.

Writer N. K. Jemisin at the 2019 New York Comic-Con. Bryan Bedder (Getty Images for ReedPOP)

Imprints owned by large publishing houses like Nova (Penguin Random House), Runas (Alianza) and Editorial Planeta (publisher of the Spanish translations of the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros) are thoroughly invested in the epic fantasy fiction market. But small imprints like the exquisite Insolita (publisher of Fonda Lees Jade Legacy) have also made inroads in the genre. Others include Gamon, publisher of Luke Arnolds paranormal detective series and Tasha Suris Burning Kingdom series; Vidis, which has focused on historical fantasy and authors like Claire North; and Nocturna, publisher of Jay Kristoffs Spanish translations. All these publishers, big and small, are dedicated to fostering reader loyalty by consistently delivering captivating stories in progress. In many cases, theres this leap from the cult, genre reader to the general public. Thats when things start to happen, said Rossich.

Things are about to happen for Blackie Books, an independent publisher not known for the fantasy fiction genre, which is releasing the Spanish translations of Michael McDowells wildly popular Blackwater series. Set in 1930s Alabama, the Southern Gothic horror saga has been praised by the likes of Stephen King and Mariana Enriquez. Blackie Books will release the six books individually, with a new book every 15 days starting in February. Blackwater is actually more like a novel in installments than a saga, said Jan Marti, co-founder of Blackie Books. McDowell wanted to make reading more adventurous by dividing up the story this way. Two weeks can feel like forever when McDowells cliffhangers leave you in suspense. And whats really fascinating is how he plays with the concept of reading enjoyment, said Alice Incontrada. First published in 1983, these books (which sold two million copies in France and Italy last year) were crafted by McDowell to capture the essence of the serialized fiction tradition.

Author Steven Erikson; Falmouth, UK; 2012. SFX Magazine (Future via Getty Images)

McDowell took an active role in how his work would be published, as does Sanderson today. A prolific sci-fi and fantasy author, Sanderson started an online fund-raising campaign to self-publish four of the novels he wrote during the pandemic. For other books, he opts for traditional publishing. Both authors understand the importance of the readers needs. Christopher Paolini, who wrote the bestseller Eragon, says he has always loved fantasy fiction and decided to write his own saga when he was just 15. Its always the case that authors of fantasy epics are also readers of fantasy epics, said Paolini. Hes still a fan today despite having less time for reading, and believes the fantasy genre is superior to realism. At the end of the day, fantasy is the oldest form of fiction, he said. A timeless tradition that is conquering new audiences in modern times.

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GUANGZHOU, China , Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MINISO Group Holding Limited (NYSE: MNSO; HKEX: 9896) ("MINISO", "MINISO Group" or the "Company"), a global value retailer offering a variety of trendy lifestyle products featuring IP design, today announced that the Company's board of directors approved a change of the Company's fiscal year end from June 30 to December 31 each year. The primary purpose of changing the Company's fiscal year end is to improve the consistency between financial reporting and our business operation as we formulate annual budgeting and assessment target on a calendar year basis, and to align the Company's financial reporting with that of the Company's domestic peers to improve comparability on both a quarterly and an annual basis. The change of fiscal year end is effective immediately.

About MINISO Group

MINISO Group is a global value retailer offering a variety of trendy lifestyle products featuring IP design. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand and established a massive store network worldwide. For more information, please visit https://ir.miniso.com/ .

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to,", "potential," "continue" or other similar expressions. Among other things, the quotations from management in this announcement, as well as MINISO's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. MINISO may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "HKEX"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about MINISO's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: MINISO's mission, goals and strategies; future business development, financial conditions and results of operations; the expected growth of the retail market and the market of branded variety retail of lifestyle products in China and globally; expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of MINISO's products; expectations regarding MINISO's relationships with consumers, suppliers, MINISO Retail Partners, local distributors, and other business partners; competition in the industry; proposed use of proceeds; and relevant government policies and regulations relating to MINISO's business and the industry. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in MINISO's filings with the SEC and the HKEX. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and MINISO undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Raine Hu

MINISO Group Holding Limited

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86 (20) 36228788 Ext.8039

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SOURCE MINISO Group Holding Limited
Property Tours Now Available

ISLANDTON, S.C. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- J.P. King Auction Company in conjunction with Crosby Land Company announce Moselle Estate , the luxury, custom-built home and surrounding 21+/- acres on Moselle Road in Islandton, South Carolina , to auction online, February 9  15, 2024.

The home was part of a more than 1,700-acre property sold in March 2023 to James A. Ayer and Jeffrey L. Godley .

"Both the Ayer and Godley families have land nearby. We bought to expand our hunting, farming, and timber. The acreage bought included the home, however, we both already have family homes. It is a beautiful, incredibly well-built house," said Jeff Godley , co-owner. "I am a next-door neighbor, with our home about a mile from this house. We seek a new neighbor to enjoy this gorgeous house and land," explained Godley.

The custom-built house is a sprawling 5,275 square feet, with four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms, situated on upland open fields and adorned with high-end finishes throughout. A two-story foyer includes heart pine floors, tongue and groove walls, and a grand staircase leading to a mezzanine balcony. Vaulted ceilings extend from the foyer to a family room with custom built-ins, crown molding, and mahogany French doors that open to an expansive back porch. There is a recreational room, and the main floor master bedroom suite offers direct access to a covered back porch, an ensuite jacuzzi tub and a walk-in closet.

"This is truly a top-tier property, complete with everything someone would want to enjoy fine country living in a permanent residence or second home," said Trey Perman , CEO, J.P. King Auction Company.

Islandton is about an hour and a half drive from Charleston , Savannah, Columbia , and Augusta cities and airports, with the Moselle Estate in the heart of the beautiful Carolina Lowcountry.

"The spacious floor plan could easily be converted into a weekend lodge or a corporate retreat with the capability to sleep up to 15 people," said Todd Crosby , Crosby Land Company. "The 21-acre property has high topography with good loamy soil that drains well to support horse and dog training activities, and a variety of other outdoor pursuits," said Crosby.

Property tours are now available. Showings require an appointment, and potential buyers must be pre-approved prior to visit. Please contact J.P. King Auction Company at 800-558-5464 to schedule a property tour.

Bidding runs online February 9 at 8:00 AM EST to February 15 at 2:00 PM EST , and is selling at or above a minimum bid of $1,100,000 . To register to bid, go to www.jpking.com or call 800-558-5464.

About J.P. King Auction Company: J.P. King Auction Company, headquartered in Gadsden, Ala., specializes in selling exclusive and unique properties on a national level for over 100 years. J.P. King is a leading national real estate auctioneer of high value assets, including developer auctions, private estates, ranches, commercial property, land tracts, and more. For more information, call 800-558-5464 or visit www.jpking.com.

About Crosby Land Company: Crosby Land Company, Inc., is a premier land brokerage in the Southeast with extensive background in forestry, agriculture, wildlife management, and conservation. For more information, www.crosbylandco.com

Media Contact: [email protected]

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SOURCE J.P. King Auction Company
IRVINE, Calif. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent study conducted by MIND Research Institute shows that students who used ST Math made more significant gains in math proficiency than those who did not. MIND followed a longitudinal cohort of Texas students from grades 3, 4, and 5. Students who used ST Math with fidelity in the past three school years showed dramatic increases in their STARR Math performance levelsincluding 48% of students moving up at least one performance level.

Learn more about ST Math created by MIND Education and request a demo by visiting: www.stmath.com

ST Math provides a simplified yet challenging math learning environment that gives all students an equitable opportunity to succeed regardless of their background or ability level. ST Math's patented learning method addresses the shortcomings of other approaches by reducing cognitive load, utilizing innate visual reasoning through interactive and rigorous math-based puzzles, and requiring mastery progression.

Sandra Doria , Executive Director of Math & Science, Aldine Independent School District: "One of the things that really appealed to us about ST Math was that it is nonverbal. It was great to be able to use one platform that all students could use."

In addition, students who used ST Math for three years (1,000 puzzles per year) not only exhibited dramatic jumps in performance levels but also nearly eliminated the number of students who did not meet grade level standardsdown to only 3.1%and added 20.9 percentage points to the Master Performance Level.

Brett Woudenberg , CEO of MIND Education: "We are pleased to see the positive impact ST Math is having on Texas students' math skills and self-confidence. The study's findings showed ST Math positively impacted all student subgroups in Texas , one of the largest state populations. We continue to find the more students play ST Math, the higher their scores. This is what we mean by equitable impact: ST Math works for ALL students."

TEA partnered with MIND Education to provide educators and K-5 students free access to ST Math. The ST Math program is currently used by nearly 2,700 schools across Texas , and has been adopted by thousands more across the country.

About MIND Education

MIND Education engages, motivates, and challenges students toward mathematical success through its mission to mathematically equip all students to solve the world's most challenging problems. MIND is the creator of ST Math, a pre-K8 visual instructional program that leverages the brain's innate spatial-temporal reasoning ability to solve mathematical problems; and InsightMath, a neuroscience-based K-6 curriculum that transforms student learning by teaching math the way every brain learns so all students are equipped to succeed. During the 2022-23 school year, MIND Education and ST Math reached more than 2.1 million students and over 110,000 educators across the country.

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SOURCE MIND Education
WASHINGTON , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As uncertainties intensify around the U.S. - China relations, a new study released by a bilateral collaborative group produced four scenarios for possible U.S. - China relations to help policy makers, experts and stakeholders navigate through a foreign policy maze with long term thinking tools.

"I believe that war is always a lose-lose; it is a failure of planning, and of governance"

Partnering with the Brookings Institution, the group is hosting a public event on January 19th, 2024 , at 10:00 am in Washington, D.C. to present and discuss the four scenarios with experts in the foreign policy community.

The project, Four Scenarios For U.S. -China Relations and Their Impact on the Global Order to 2035 , led by PAX sapiens , a Colorado -based philanthropic foundation, the Grandview Institute , a Beijing -based think tank, and Reos Partners , an international consulting group focusing on systemic change, aims to guide the relationship towards a peaceful future.

"I believe that war is always a lose-lose; it is a failure of planning, and of governance, and a wanton waste of human resources and potential," Marcel Arsenault , Chairman and President of PAX sapiens writes in an open letter, "the deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and China raises fears that we are headed for another, preventable, terrible, illustration of this."

Ren Libo , the President of Grandview Institution says, "It's not an issue that we need to pay attention to divergences, but we need to put more effort into seeking common interests, set common goals and take common actions."

In 2023, 25 former government officials, retired military officers, and experts from research institutes and think tanks from the United States and China spent the better part of a year discussing and honing ideas for possible futures for the U.S. - China relationship. The study results in four proposed scenarios titled "Drift, War, Blocs and Networks."

Drift, is a scenario characterized by ongoing friction in the world drifting from crisis to crisis, where the U.S. and China avoid war by crisis diplomacy but contest on many fronts; War, depicts a series of escalating tensions during the next decade leads to a mutually devastating violent conflict between the two countries; The Blocs scenario shows the formation of competing geopolitical blocs who don't interact positively in any way but act to oppose each other across military, economic and diplomatic domains. Finally, Networks is a scenario in which the two countries extensively decouple, but global cooperation is maintained through complex networks mediated by international institutions and third party states.

While the scenarios are the result of careful attention and deliberation, not every participant agrees with all of the details in this document, nor do these scenarios represent the views of the organizing and funding institutions.

About PAX sapiens

PAX sapiens is a private foundation established by Marcel Arsenault and Cynda Collins Arsenault . PAX sapiens collaborates with partners to develop projects that can help create systems of sustainable governance to address problems that drive armed conflict. Current PAX sapiens priorities include preventing global pandemics, and preventing military conflict between the U.S. and China while improving the bilateral relationship.

Media Member RSVP Contact

Abby Sun

[email protected]

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SOURCE PAX sapiens
Second annual VMX/blendVET event provided an opportunity for underrepresented students to experience immersive, hands-on learning alongside veterinary medicine industry experts

(Click to download photos and b-roll from the event.)

ORLANDO , Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) and nationally-recognized veterinary certification program blendVET hosted some 80 middle school students from underserved communities in central Florida for a full day of hands-on learning at the 41st Veterinary Meeting and Expo , VMX 2024. The students enjoyed a day full of immersive activities alongside veterinarians and veterinary nurses/technicians.

Our blend pathway program has opened new doors for underserved youth to pursue veterinary careers in the years to come.

Veterinary medicine is one of the least diverse fields in America. Data from 2021 shows 93.3% of veterinarians are white, with as few as 1.2% Black, 4.7% Latinx and 5.6% Asian.

"We're proud to have partnered with blendVET again for this wonderful annual event that inspires and opens doors for young people to explore career opportunities in veterinary medicine, especially those underserved and not well-represented in today's veterinary industry," said NAVC CEO Gene O'Neill . "The NAVC looks forward to continuing to offer opportunities for underrepresented youth to pursue veterinary careers, especially after the continual success of the yearly event."

"Our annual event is extremely important to realizing more diversity in our field," said Dr. Niccole Bruno , founder and CEO of blendVET. "Giving back to the community has always been important to me, especially in the form of mentorship. This profession has been a big part of my life since I was 12 years old, and I enjoy engaging students, typically those underrepresented in veterinary medicine. It's rewarding to be able to show them what this field entails and the opportunities available to them. For the second year in a row, our blend pathway program has opened new doors for underserved youth to pursue veterinary careers in the years to come."

The students learned about the various aspects of veterinary medicine from a diverse group of veterinary experts while wearing surgical gowns of their own and tried their hand at immersive training experiences such as suturing models at the surgery station, performing CPR at the ER stations, observing physical examinations and checking samples under microscopes. Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, Hill's Pet Nutrition and VCA, the "Believe & Belong in Veterinary Medicine" interactive workshops were led by a diverse group of veterinary professionals including:

Niccole Bruno , DVM, CEO and founder of blendVET

, DVM, CEO and founder of blendVET Kenneth Pierce , DVM, DAVCO

, DVM, DAVCO Valerie Marcano , DVM, PhD, DACPV

Participants were presented with a certificate verifying they earned seven hours of education in veterinary medicine. The students were also given a list of local veterinarians interested in providing shadowing opportunities to allow them to continue in the field of veterinary medicine as their education progresses.

In concert with the student programming, blendVET hosted a parent program to educate parents on the various pathways in veterinary medicine and shared resources on the next steps for their children. The blendVET faculty shared personal stories of resilience and success in veterinary medicine with the support of their families.

About the NAVC

The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide. The world's leading provider of veterinary continuing education, NAVC delivers essential training, tools and resources for veterinary professionals to stay abreast of advances in animal medicine and provide the best medical care for animals everywhere. Through its commitment to innovation and excellence, the NAVC has developed a diverse portfolio of products and services, including educational events, headlined by VMX, the world's largest, most comprehensive continuing education conference and launchpad for new products and innovations within the veterinary industry; a robust digital platform for virtual learning and engagement; the veterinary industry's largest and award-winning portfolio of trade publications; and an advocacy arm which unites the veterinary community and pet lovers. The NAVC was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. Since 2017, the NAVC has been recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orlando Sentinel. To learn more about the NAVC's products and brands, visit https://navc.com . To see our schedule of upcoming events, visit https://navc.com/calendar/ .

About blendVET

blendVET is a veterinary certification program in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). It is founded, owned and backed by a diverse group of leaders in veterinary medicine. blendVET is the first program designed to create an inclusive workplace culture geared toward fostering environments of belonging for teams and clients and creating the next generation of diverse veterinary professionals through student and parent programming.

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SOURCE North American Veterinary Community (NAVC)
Research firm announces topics and call for papers for annual executive research conference

DALLAS , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Parks Associates' new research finds that online retailers continue to be the top channel for smart home buyers but the security dealer channel showed significant growth in 2023. The firm finds that 42% of US internet households report purchasing a smart home device from a retailer and 13% report purchasing from a security dealer.

The research firm will highlight the new innovations, business models, and use cases driving growth in the connected home markets at the 28th annual CONNECTIONS: The Premier Connected Home Conference, hosted in-person May 7-9 at the Hilton Dallas/Plano Granite Park Hotel in Plano, TX.

CONNECTIONS sponsors include Cox Communities , Nice, Alarm.com, Shelly, SmartThings, Kaadas Smart Locks, Kwikset, Rapid Response Monitoring, Ubiety, Ivani, SkyBell, Becklar, Calix, Origin, and RSPNDR.

"Security dealers are well-positioned to sell products from the hot video device categories and to expand their 'peace-of-mind' offerings to include smart smoke detectors and access control devices like smart door locks and garage door openers," said Jason Paris , VP, Business Development, Parks Associates. "Security dealers have successfully leveraged their relationships with security system buyers and the ability to provide centralized control of devices at the security panel to increase share."

Parks Associates is accepting speaker submissions for the CONNECTIONS Conference in May 7-9 and virtual sessions hosted January 23 , June 13 , and December 12 . Topics:

Building Profitable Business Models

Growth Areas: Multifamily, SMB, Seniors

Smart Home Integration: Progress and Barriers

Major Energy Investments: Transforming the Experience

AI in the Smart Home: Predictive, Creative, Responsive

Willingness to Pay for Connected Home Services

Building Smart, Sustainable Living: Tech Strategies for New Builds

Insurance Opportunities in the Smart Home

Solving False Alarms: Tech Transforming Home Security

Multifamily: Integrated Living Experiences

Home Security Transforming to Home Services

Why Interoperability Matters

SMBs and Multifamily: Next Areas of Growth

Channels Driving Growth: Triggers for Buying Connected Home Technologies

Privacy and Data Security in Connected Homes

Independent Living with Connected Devices

Unlocking Energy Management in Connected Homes

Future Outlook: Investment and Disruptions in Connected Homes

CONNECTIONS features the following virtual sessions in 2024:

Post CES: Innovation and 2024 Trends  January 23

Home Services: Familiarity, Affordability, and Value  June 13

Smart Home Future Outlook 2025  December 12

For decades, Parks Associates has brought together thousands of industry players from the consumer technology ecosystem for networking, consumer and industry research, insights from visionary speakers, and thoughtful, curated sessions focused on technology innovations, consumer behavior, and product and service adoption and trends.

For more information or to speak to an analyst, contact [email protected].

About CONNECTIONS

Parks Associates' 28th annual CONNECTIONS: The Premier Connected Home Conference is hosted May 7-9, 2024 , in Plano, Texas , and brings industry leaders together to provide insights and business forecasting about the adoption of technology including broadband, smart home, security, connected health, energy, and home automation.

CONNECTIONS provides ongoing insights throughout the year with virtual and in person conference sessions. Parks Associates analyst team leads the conference sessions, which are focused on technology innovations, consumer adoption and trends, product and service forecasts, and the evaluation of new business strategies, partnerships, monetization opportunities, and value-added service design.

CONNECTIONS is a pivotal platform for partnerships and exploring the future of technology adoption and its impact on consumers and businesses. www.connectionsconference.com

Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein

Parks Associates

972.996.0212

[email protected]

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SOURCE Parks Associates
The Paramedics of Property Damage Start 2024 with Rankings in the Franchise Business Review and Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500

TAMARAC, Fla. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PuroClean, one of the country's leading property restoration and remediation franchises, is proud to announce that the brand has been ranked number 28 in the 19th annual Franchise Business Review, the brand's sixth consecutive year within the top 50. In addition, the brand elevated two spots from 2023 to number 82 in Entrepreneur Magazine's 2024 Franchise 500 Rankings, marking the third consecutive year within the top 100 and the seventh consecutive year appearing on the list. These recognitions come at a time when PuroClean is expanding on a remarkable end to 2023 and looking forward to an even more successful 2024.

"To be recognized by both Franchise Business Review and Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 as one of the top franchises in the nation is an incredible honor," said Steve White , President, and COO of PuroClean. "Here at PuroClean, we pride ourselves on establishing a family-like atmosphere that celebrates our franchises and recognizes their success. We cherish the relationships we have made and continue to strive to be the best franchise possible. These recognitions reaffirm that the commitment we have made to making PuroClean one of the best franchise brands in the nation has not gone unnoticed, and we again thank Franchise Business Review and Entrepreneur Magazine for these notable honors."

Franchise Business Review, a market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and employee engagement, provides the only rankings and awards for franchise companies based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of the top 200 franchises in its annual Guide to Today's Top Franchises.

In Entrepreneur's continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company's ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The editorial team researches and assesses several factors, including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Over its 45 years in existence, the Franchise 500 has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees.

"We are all very proud to be recognized by two established and reputable publications for our work as a franchise business," said Tim Courtney , Vice President of Franchise Development for PuroClean. "PuroClean's position within the rankings is a testament to our strength as a franchise opportunity, and we are honored to be recognized for our continued dedication to this business."

To view PuroClean in the full ranking, visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500 or pick up a copy of the January/ February 2024 issue of Entrepreneur on newsstands now. Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full description of the 2024 Top Franchises .

About PuroClean

PuroClean is a leading, world-class service brand for property water damage remediation, fire and smoke damage mitigation, mold removal, and biohazard clean-up services, working with both residential and commercial customers across the US, Canada , and Puerto Rico . Founded in 2001, PuroClean is a diverse, fast-growing network of over 460 North American franchise locations, each independently owned and operated. With a commitment to respond within two hours, the professionals at PuroClean are thoroughly screened, insured, and trained in utilizing the latest cutting-edge mitigation technology to complete the remediation task at hand.

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SOURCE PuroClean
NEW YORK , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stax, a global strategy consulting firm specializing in commercial due diligence, value creation, and exit planning for private equity firms, PE-backed companies, hedge funds, and investment banks, is excited to announce Phil Dunne has joined the firm's leadership team as Managing Director and will lead the growth of the firm's practice in the U.K. and EMEA. With over 25 years of experience spanning both industry and consulting, Phil brings a wealth of expertise with a strong focus on the industrial and automotive sectors within the private equity ecosystem. Phil joins Stax from his position as U.K. Managing Partner at Roland Berger. Previously, he held senior leadership roles, including Partner at EY, overseeing the EY-Parthenon Strategy team, and serving as U.K. Managing Partner and leader of the private equity practice at Kearney.

"In alignment with our growth initiatives, which encompassed establishing our new London office last year and acquiring AMR International, a London -based strategy consulting firm in 2022, we are delighted to welcome Phil to lead Stax's practice in the U.K. and EMEA," said Jayson Traxler , Stax CEO. "A pivotal component of our growth strategy is the commitment to enhancing the value to our London and EMEA-based private equity and investment banking clients, among our most rapidly expanding markets. Phil's extensive experience and expertise as both a thought leader and thought partner, signal an exciting phase in Stax's ongoing market expansion."

"I am eager to spearhead Stax's growth initiatives in the U.K. , leveraging Stax's strong foundation, relationships, and content established in North America and extending that impact to EMEA. Stax's unique position as a private equity-backed firm, injecting capital into our expansion, not only bolsters our growth prospects but also serves as a compelling narrative when communicating the value Stax delivers to our private equity clients," expressed Phil Dunne , Stax Managing Director. "As I take on the role of leading the firm's business in the region, my primary objectives are to aggressively expand our sector teams at the senior level, pursue ambitious growth targets for the region, and leverage the established brand equity in the U.S. to strengthen our presence in the U.K. and EMEA."

"Phil is a tremendous addition to our senior team, bringing over two decades of leadership experience from leading consulting firms. His extensive background in not only growing client bases but also in building and nurturing offices and cultures aligns seamlessly with our current stage of growth," shared Paul Edwards , Stax Global Practice Leader. "Phil's blend of operational and consulting expertise makes him an ideal leader for both the people and client facets of our business in Europe . As the private equity ecosystem in EMEA experiences significant growth, Phil will lead an expanding team to support the increased client demand and interest we are seeing in our unique, data-driven offerings."

About Stax LLC

Stax LLC is a global management consulting firm serving corporate and private equity clients across a broad range of industries including software/technology, healthcare, business services, industrial, consumer/retail, and education. The firm partners with clients to provide data-driven, actionable insights designed to drive growth, enhance profits, increase value, and make better investment decisions. Please visit www.stax.com and follow Stax on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

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SOURCE Stax LLC
NEW YORK , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stokke, the Scandinavian maker of premium children's products, announces the launch of the Stokke Snoozi. This new bassinet is a cozy sleep solution that cradles baby and keeps them near in every room or when families are on the move.

Stokke Snoozi features a soft oval shape that gives a sense of security, while the innovative 3D mesh material ensures both breathability and shade from the light. Great for naps and approved for overnight sleep, the included premium mattress is both firm and breathable. For the first 6 months, the bassinet is used in the high newborn position, to keep baby close. When babies can pull themselves up, the mattress can be lowered, and the bassinet can be used up until 9 months.

Designed with high quality materials, including FCS-certified wooden legs and a strong aluminium frame, the Stokke Snoozi bassinet only weighs 16lbs, making it lightweight, yet sturdy and easy to move to every room of your home. It is also available in two timeless shades to suit any decor.

Stokke Snoozi is easy to assemble in just a few minutes without the use of tools, which makes it suitable for families on the move. The optional bag stores all parts neatly which makes traveling and sleep-overs easy for active families on the move. Available accessories include a set of fitted sheets, a protection sheet and a bag.

For more on Stokke and their product offerings, please visit www.stokke.com.

ABOUT STOKKE

Founded in Alesund, Norway in 1932, Stokke initially manufactured seats for buses as well as adult furniture. The first children's product was introduced in 1972: The legendary Tripp Trapp  chair designed by Peter Opsvik celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The chair is manufactured in Europe and has sold over 13 million units sold worldwide.

Stokke aims to give children the best start in life and help them develop into independent, confident adults. The Stokke product family is based on the core values of sustainability, design and the healthy development of our children.

In June 2021 , Stokke acquired LIMAS, a German manufacturer of baby carriers, and Mukako, an Italian brand that offers modular children's play tables. In December 2021 , Stokke announced the acquisition of the BABYZEN brand, which manufactures the lightweight premium complete stroller YOYO. In May 2022 , EVOMOVE, the manufacturer of the well-known Nomi chair, joined the Stokke family as the latest acquisition.

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SOURCE Stokke
Agreed Price of US$43.00 per Share to Deliver 48% Premium to Unaffected Price on May 25, 2023

MUMBAI, India and NEW YORK , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (Reuters: SUN.BO, Bloomberg: SUNP IN, NSE: SUNPHARMA, BSE: 524715) (together with its subsidiaries and/or associates referred as "Sun Pharma") and Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TARO) ("Taro" or the "Company") today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement in which Sun Pharma, Taro's controlling shareholder, has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Taro other than the shares already held by Sun Pharma or its affiliates for US$43.00 per share in cash without interest.

Dilip Shanghvi , Managing Director of Sun Pharma, said, "Over the years, with Sun Pharma's strategic interventions, Taro has remained a key player in the generic dermatology market in a challenging environment. Post completion of the merger, the combined entity will firmly move forward, leveraging its global strengths and capabilities to better serve the needs of patients and healthcare professionals."

Uday Baldota , Chief Executive Officer of Taro, said, "Taro is committed to delivering high quality products to our patients and customers around the world. This merger will further enable us compete effectively in our products and markets."

The US$43.00 per share purchase price represents a 48% premium over the closing price of US$28.97 per share on May 25, 2023 , the last trading day before Sun Pharma first submitted its non-binding proposal to Taro, and a premium of 58% to the volume-weighted average price of the shares during the 60 days prior to and including May 25, 2023 . The purchase price also represents a 13% increase over the initial proposed purchase price of US$38.00 per share as proposed on May 26, 2023 .

The merger agreement was unanimously recommended by the Special Committee, which was formed by Taro's Board of Directors to consider Sun Pharma's proposal. Following a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal with assistance from independent financial and legal advisors, the Special Committee determined that the merger agreement and the per share merger consideration are fair and in the best interests of Taro and its minority shareholders.

Upon receiving the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, and following unanimous approval by Taro's Audit Committee, Taro's Board and the Board of Directors of Sun Pharma unanimously approved the definitive merger agreement.

The merger is subject to various closing conditions. These include, among other conditions, the approval of the merger by the affirmative vote of shareholders representing at least 75% of the voting power of the Company's shares present and voting in person or by proxy at a meeting of the Company's shareholders, including at least a majority of the voting power of such shares held by holders other than Sun Pharma and its affiliates or any other holders having a personal interest (under the Israeli Companies Law) in the merger and voting thereon. Sun Pharma has agreed to vote its shares in favor of the merger, and has indicated that it is not willing to sell its shares to a third party or support any alternative transaction to the merger.

Upon completion of the merger, currently expected to close in the first half of 2024, Taro will become a privately held company and its shares will no longer be listed on the NYSE.

The Special Committee retained BofA Securities, Inc. as its financial advisor, Goldfarb Gross Seligman & Co. as its Israeli counsel and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as its U.S. legal counsel, to assist it in its mandate. Herzog, Fox & Neeman is acting as Israeli legal counsel to Sun Pharma and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is acting as U.S. legal counsel to Sun Pharma. Meitar is acting as Israeli legal counsel to Taro and Shearman & Sterling LLP is acting as U.S. legal counsel to Taro.

Additional Information About the Merger

Taro will furnish to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a current report on Form 6K regarding the merger, which will include as an exhibit thereto the merger agreement. All parties desiring details regarding the merger are urged to review these documents, which will be available at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) and Taro's website (http://www.taro.com).

In connection with the proposed transaction, Taro will prepare and mail to its shareholders a proxy statement that will include a copy of the merger agreement. In addition, in connection with the merger, Taro and certain other participants in the merger will prepare and disseminate to Taro's shareholders a Schedule 13E-3 Transaction Statement that will include Taro's proxy statement (the "Schedule 13E-3"). The Schedule 13E-3 will be filed with the SEC and is subject to its review. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 AND OTHER MATERIALS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TARO, THE MERGER, AND RELATED MATTERS. Shareholders also will be able to obtain these documents, as well as other filings containing information about Taro, the merger and related matters, without charge from the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) and Taro's website (http://www.taro.com).

Sun Pharma will furnish the necessary details of the transaction as per the requirements under Regulation 30 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

Taro and its directors and certain of its executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Taro's shareholders with respect to the proposed merger. Information regarding the persons who may be considered "participants" in the solicitation of proxies will be set forth in the Schedule 13E-3 and proxy statement when filed with the SEC.

This announcement is neither a solicitation of proxy, an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities, and it is not a substitute for any proxy statement or other materials that may be filed with or furnished to the SEC should the proposed merger proceed.

About Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (CIN - L24230GJ1993PLC019050)

Sun Pharma is the world's fourth largest specialty generics company with presence in Specialty, Generics and Consumer Healthcare products. It is the largest pharmaceutical company in India and is a leading generic company in the US as well as Global Emerging Markets. Sun's high growth Global Specialty portfolio spans innovative products in dermatology, ophthalmology, and onco-dermatology and accounts for over 16% of company sales. The company's vertically integrated operations deliver high-quality medicines, trusted by physicians and consumers in over 100 countries. Its manufacturing facilities are spread across six continents. Sun Pharma is proud of its multi-cultural workforce drawn from over 50 nations. For further information, please visit www.sunpharma.com and follow us on "X" @SunPharma_Live

About Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TARO)

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is a multinational, science-based pharmaceutical company dedicated to meeting the needs of its customers through the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of the highest quality healthcare products. For further information on Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., please visit the Company's website at www.taro.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the anticipated timing of closing the transaction and statements regarding the funding and consummation of the transactions. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Such factors, risks and uncertainties include the possibility that the merger will not occur on the timeline anticipated, or at all, if events arise that result in the termination of the Agreement, or if one or more of the various closing conditions to the merger are not satisfied or waived, or if the regulatory review process takes longer than anticipated and other risks and uncertainties discussed in documents filed with the SEC by the Company as well as the Schedule 13E-3 and the proxy statement to be filed by the Company. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of the press release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Further information on these and other factors is included in filings the Company makes with the SEC from time to time, including the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Form 20-F, as well as the Form 6-K and Schedule 13E-3 (which will include the proxy statement) to be filed by the Company. These documents are available (or will be available when filed) on the SEC Filings section of the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at: https://taro.gcs-web.com/.

Investor Relations Contacts

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

Investor Contact:

Dr. Abhishek Sharma

Tel: +91 22 4324 4324, Xtn 2929

Tel Direct: +91 22 4324 2929

Mobile: +91 98196 86016

E-mail: [email protected]

Media Contact:

Gaurav Chugh

Tel: +91 22 4324 4324, Xtn 5373

Tel Direct: +91 22 4324 5373

Mobile: +91 98104 71414

E-mail: [email protected]

Media Contact (US):

Janet Metz

Mobile +1 609-389-3044

E mail: [email protected]

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Contact:

William J. Coote

VP, CFO

(914) 345-9001

William.Coote@taro.com

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SOURCE Sun Pharma
There is a lot of debate in Spain around the total hours worked, usually to clarify the employment records of recent months. Two coinciding realities have provoked this conversation: never before has the Spanish labor market employed so many people, 21.27 million according to the latest Active Population Survey; but the total hours worked (608 million) has not beaten any records. Compared to the third quarter of 2008, employment has grown by 3.5% and hours worked have fallen by 3.8%. This means that the hours worked by each employee on average have decreased over the years. But this is not only happening in Spain, according to a study recently published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) focusing on European labor markets. Furthermore, it points out that it is men and students who are clearly behind this trend of working fewer hours.

Three years after the coronavirus crisis, employment and total hours have fully recovered, but average hours per worker have not, state the authors of Dissecting the Decline in Average Hours Worked in Europe, which compares todays figures with those from the pre-pandemic period, but also looks further back. This trend, they conclude, is not cyclical, but predominantly structural, extending the long-term trend that predates Covid-19 and it seems unlikely that it will be reversed in the future.

As the report based on Eurostat data highlights, the total hours worked in Europe are now in figures similar to those of 2019 and in some cases below, but this is not the case for the median hours worked per employee, at slightly below 37 hours per week. This drop in hours worked is preceded by decades following the same line: Average working hours in developed economies have been on a long-term declining trend since the 19th century, roughly halving between the 1870s and the 2000s in Germany, for example. More broadly, average working hours across OECD countries have decreased by about 0.5% per year between the 1870s and the early 2000s.

The contraction in average working time is concentrated in three groups: young people, men in general, and particularly men with young children. In the case of young people, an increase in the incidence of part-time workers who are also enrolled in education may explain the decline. For men in general, including those with young children, the decline cuts across both full-time and part-time workers [...] This finding is surprisingly consistent across all European countries, the IMF study indicates. The fall in in actual hours has come alongside a fall in desired hours, add the authors (Diva Astinova, Romain Duval, Niels-Jakob H. Hansen, Ben Park, Ippei Shibata, and Frederik Toscani), who consider that these reductions are due to personal preferences among these groups of employees.

The analysis highlights that men continue to work more hours (39.9 hours) on average than women (34.7 hours), but this gender gap has shrunk over time, and so did the gender gap in the employment rate. Behind this phenomenon is the fact that women continue to assume most of the childcare, usually out of obligation. Whats more, the hours worked by women with children have increased slightly. In Spain, although women make up less than half of the workforce, they account for 73% of the bias. Of the total number of people in employment who work part-time due to care or family obligations, 89% are women. And of the total who do not work a full day because they have not been able to find such arrangements, the number is 71%.

With the focus on other demographic groups, the IMF study also highlights that older workers (55 to 64 years old) and elderly workers (65 years and older) have seen an increase in their employment shares as effective retirement ages rose across most European countries, but average hours also dropped for them.

The study also points out that contractions in working time are more pronounced in richer countries than in those with a lower GDP. These results are consistent with a dominant role of the income effect over the substitution effect in determining the workers labor supply at the intensive margin, as widely documented in the literature. A look at Eurostats present tense data shows this reality: people living in Serbia work an average of 42.2 hours a week; in the Netherlands, the figure is 31.1 hours.

Thus, the report anticipates that the average hours worked will continue to fall in European countries, at a rate that will depend on productivity and wage growth, at varying speeds across countries depending on their economic convergence paths. The more productivity and added value in economic activity, the more pronounced contractions are expected. In the medium term, most economic forecasts, including the IMFs, foresee modest productivity gains for economies that are close to the technological frontier, namely advanced Europe, so the reduction in hours would also be modest, according to The document. In the long term, the IMF warns of the key role that artificial intelligence and the measures adopted to contain global warming will play.

Spains PSOE and Sumar committed in their coalition agreement to reduce the ordinary working day, from the current 40 hours to 38.5 hours in 2024 and 37.5 in 2025. By doing so, Spain would join some European countries that have officially reduced the length of the working day, although the 40-hour work week remains the most widespread norm.

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NY Women Twice as Likely as Men to Be Caring for Older Loved Ones; Governor, Legislature Must Boost Aging Services Funding This Year

ALBANY, N.Y. , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Women in New York State are nearly twice as likely than men to be caregivers for a loved one, according to a new report by AARP New York that also finds women in New York age 40 and older who are currently providing care are likely to be 58 years old and caring for their 80-year-old mother, helping with a wide range of daily living assistance from shopping to nursing tasks.

The report  "Women Caregivers Ages 40 and Older in New York : Their Challenges, Struggles, and Needs"  is based on a fall 2023 survey commissioned by AARP New York and released today at the State Capitol, where the aging advocacy group was joined by State Senate Aging Committee Chair Senator Cordell Cleare in calling on Governor Hochul and the Legislature to provide more support for unpaid family caregivers in final state budget.

"An estimated 2.2 million New Yorkers are unpaid family caregivers. It is unfortunate Governor Hochul chose not to address this situation yesterday when she released her plan for the next state budget, because this latest AARP statewide report reinforces what we've known for a long time: New York women, especially those 40 or older, shoulder most of the responsibilities when it comes to providing care for their aging loved ones," said Kristen McManus , Associate State Director for Advocacy for AARP New York. "The survey of women caregivers gives a clear indication how women across the state are playing a vital role in making sure their aging and often ailing family members are properly cared for every day."

The survey of 1,345 New York registered voters ages 40 and older sought to learn more about New York caregivers and services that support them in providing care to loved ones. The report focusing on the responses from women caregivers gleaned insights from women who say they are currently providing care or had previously done so.

Women ages 40 and older who are currently providing care to a loved one typically are 58 years old and caring for their 80-year-old mother, according to the report. In addition, it also finds current New York women caregivers are likely to be married (62%) and employed (58%), while a majority (58%) say they always vote in state elections.

Among the report's other key findings:

66% of women say they are caregivers, compared to 34% of men Over 45% of the women have a household income of less than $75,000 65% of current or former women caregivers say they worked while providing care 92% say they have incurred expenses while providing care 64% of women caregivers do not believe New York state government offers enough support for unpaid family caregivers



When it comes to helping loved ones with essential daily living assistance, current and former women caregivers say the activities they engage in most include social activities and companionship (94%), shopping (93%), household chores (89%), preparing meals (88%), and medical and nursing tasks (71%).

"As Chair of the Aging Committee and a family caregiver to both my parents in their later years, this report confirms so much of what we intuitively know: that caregiving is often a familial act of love and dedication that has disparate impacts on women," Senator Cleare said. "It is high time for the State to step up and support our millions of familial caregivers in a way that enhances services, support and collective quality of life."

"I just lived out this harrowing experience caretaking my father," Assemblymember Kim said. "Instead of focusing on the care my father required during his final days, I was stonewalled and abandoned by the dehumanization in our system. As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging, I will work tirelessly to put the care back into our care economy. Our family caregivers are under-appreciated and under-valued and demand that this state see them for their worth. I look forward to working with my partners at AARP to realize the potential of this report."

Among the recommendations AARP New York is advocating:

Eliminate Waiting Lists  Providing $42 million will eliminate the waiting list too many older New Yorkers find themselves languishing on as they and their family caregivers await basic services such as transportation, housekeeping, and personal care.

Increased Transparency -- Require the State Office for the Aging to develop and post detailed reporting of where the waiting list exists by county and service requested, and provide this information to the Governor and Legislature annually as well as an accounting of the prior year's expenditure, by county and service, on addressing the waiting list.

Direct Financial Assistance  Create a program to provide direct financial support to unpaid family caregivers who on average spend over $8,000 a year to care for their loved one.

" Governor Hochul and lawmakers must provide the funding for the programs that can alleviate some of the burden so many New Yorkers  most of them women -- are bearing as they care for their aging loved ones," McManus added. " Senator Cleare and Assemblymember Kim are fierce advocates for older New Yorkers, and we're honored to team up with them once again. We look forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature to ensure an enacted state budget provides the funding for the proper care and services our aging loved ones deserve."

Follow us on X: @AARPNY and Facebook: AARP New York

About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/espano or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

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SOURCE AARP New York
The new capability, part of Windward's BI and Analytics offering, allows users to customize queries and search for context related to maritime behaviors, enabling an unprecedented level of visibility, business intelligence, and insights into global trade

LONDON , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Windward (LSE: WNWD), the leading Maritime AI company, announced today the launch of 'Sequence Search', a first-of-its-kind capability allowing users to conduct advanced analysis of vessels' behavioral typologies and trade movements by searching for sequences of activities. The new tool is part of Windward's advanced BI & Analytics offering, providing all global trade stakeholders ranging from traders and shipping analysts to governmental organizations with much-needed context for due diligence, enriched intelligence, and lead generation.

Global trade has become increasingly difficult to navigate in the past years, particularly with oil and commodities. Geopolitical events have led to an increase in sanctions on a variety of goods and actors, and subsequently an increase in deceptive shipping practices to evade those sanctions. A new phenomenon that emerged, especially with regard to Russian sanctions is the use of a "dark fleet" which uses ship-to-ship (STS) transfers as a means of disguising its origin to transport sanctioned commodities including oil and oil products. In the 12th package of sanctions passed in December 2023 by the EU, compliance rules for the purchase of Russian oil via the G7 price mechanism have been tightened in order to clamp down on sanctions evasion.

At the same time, events like the indiscriminate attacks in the Red Sea by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have led legitimate vessels to turn off AIS transmissions and deviate from their normal routes, traditionally an indication of deceptive shipping practices, to hide legitimate activities from bad actors. As such, it is increasingly important for stakeholders to understand the context of the behavior of vessels at sea to minimize and mitigate risk.

Windward's new tool provides the context necessary to understand vessel behavior and conduct business with confidence in a challenging trade environment. The new Sequence Search enriches users' capabilities in the domains of maritime analytics and vessel behavior profiling. The capability builds on the proprietary data encapsulated in Windward's AI-driven vessels activities- a unique database built with 10 years of historical data of vessel actions at sea & port. Rather than searching for standalone activity, the new capability allows Windward's users to search for sequences of up to six different activities in one search, enhancing our unique behavioral profiles and offering customized queries with sequential conditions between activities for increased context.

" The Red Sea situation is another reminder of the fact that in turbulent times, the players equipped with AI and technology are those able to react faster and better and drive better outcomes. This new capability is a game changer for anyone looking to upgrade their ability to understand the complexities of global trade with best-in-class AI," said Ami Daniel , Co-founder & CEO of Windward.

"In times of changing trade flows, immediate insight is key to making the right decisions. This new platform enables our customers to translate their domain knowledge, internal processes, and insight into an actionable, immediate query. The result is nothing short of a competitive advantage to the users of our platform."

Windward's Maritime AI platform is powered by advanced machine learning and behavioral analytics models, providing customers with insights into vessel behaviors, ownership structures, and company risks, and predicting in real-time which companies and vessels are likely to be high risk. The company's behavioral models and risk indicators are constantly updated in line with new regulations and behavioral patterns, ensuring that customers are always one step ahead. Windward's solutions enable companies across the maritime trade industry to streamline business operations.

About Windward

Windward (LSE: WNWD), is the leading Maritime AI company, providing an all-in-one platform to accelerate global trade. Windward's AI-powered decision support and exception management platform offers a 360 view of the maritime ecosystem and enables stakeholders to make real time, predictive intelligence-driven decisions to achieve business and operational readiness.

Windward's Maritime AI supports companies across industries. The company's clients range from oil supermajors, freight forwarders, and port authorities, to banks, shippers, insurers, and governmental organizations.

For more information visit: https://windward.ai/ .

Media Contact

David Hoffman

Headline Media

[email protected]

+972-52-842-1955

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SOURCE Windward
LOS ANGELES , Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ZeroOutages, a leading innovator in SD-WAN connectivity and security solutions, proudly announces its SD-WAN client relationship with Volunteers of America (VOA). The ZeroOutages team provides their patented and awarded wide-area network management and monitoring for VOA along with security and content filtering services.

Volunteers of America has over 16,000 mission-driven paid professionals who help over 1.5 million people in need a year. Their activities are spread across 46 states, the District of Columbia , and Puerto Rico in over 400 communities, each location with unique technical requirements. The ZeroOutages platform has the flexibility to support multiple policies, including HIPAA compliance, across different networks and groups.

Additionally, ZeroOutages provides its clients with worldwide deployment of global Satellite Internet which can be integrated with their award-winning SD-WAN solutions.

Key Features of ZeroOutages' Support for Volunteers of America:

Comprehensive management and monitoring of VOA's network. Adaptable to unique security requirements, many of which require HIPPA compliance, of facilities catering to children, teens, and adults. Security and Content Filtering Services: Robust security measures implemented to safeguard VOA's network infrastructure. Flexibility for Diverse Policies: ZeroOutages' platform showcases flexibility, supporting multiple policies across different networks and groups within VOA.

"ZeroOutages is honored to collaborate with Volunteers of America, contributing to their impactful work across the nation. Our tailored solutions ensure reliable wide-area network management, security, and content filtering services, supporting VOA's diverse range of needs, facilities, and activities," stated Daren French , VP Business Development, ZeroOutages.

"Regardless if you have one location or hundreds spread across the world, let us know how we can assist your organization," invites ZeroOutages, emphasizing its commitment to providing customized solutions for organizations with diverse and evolving network requirements.

To support the Volunteers of America, please follow the link below:

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Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally ahead of the New Hampshire primary election, in Atkinson, New Hampshire, U.S. January 16, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

By James Oliphant and Gram Slattery

ATKINSON, New Hampshire (Reuters) - Donald Trump's schedule on Wednesday summed up the unprecedented nature of this year's election: spend the day in court fighting a defamation case and the evening rallying supporters in his bid to become the next U.S. president.

That is how the former president, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination and the world's most famous defendant, has chosen to divide his time this week as he pursues his political comeback.

Trump was not obliged to be in the federal courtroom in Manhattan, where a judge warned him he could be kicked out if he was disruptive. His appearances for the civil court case are entirely voluntary.

From there, he planned to spend Wednesday evening on the campaign trail in New Hampshire ahead of the state's Republican presidential primary next week.

It is an unusual strategy for an extraordinary situation: a major presidential candidate trying to win the White House while facing a fusillade of federal and state criminal charges, as well as the civil defamation trial and a civil fraud trial.

But Trump and his campaign are keenly aware of the publicity and sympathy his court appearances can generate with his loyal base of supporters while he attempts to stave off challenges from Republican rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis.

Nobody else can take this crap," Trump said to the hundreds of people who had lined up in blowing snow and pelting ice outside a country club in Atkinson, New Hampshire, on Tuesday night to see him.

The crowd burst into sustained applause.

Trump faces dozens of federal and state charges related to attempts to undermine the 2020 election as well as a federal prosecution for mishandling classified documents. He has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges, contending that the cases are politically motivated. The Justice Department says it acts without political bias.

The federal case Trump is attending this week is a civil one, the damages phase of the defamation trial for writer E. Jean Carroll, who claims Trump destroyed her reputation and should pay millions of dollars in damages for denying in 2019 that he had raped her nearly a quarter of a century earlier.

At his rally in Atkinson, he griped about the dual commitments.

Nobodys ever had to do this before, he said. These people are disgraceful.

SPLIT SCREEN

The day after a resounding win on Monday in Iowa, where he trounced both DeSantis and Haley by about 30 percentage points in the state's first-in-the-nation caucus, Trump could have taken a victory lap around New Hampshire. Instead, he took a seat in the New York courtroom to observe jury selection in the defamation case.

He didnt leave the federal court building in lower Manhattan until midafternoon, posting on his Truth Social platform that he should have been in New Hampshire but had to spend time in a Federal Courthouse with a Trump Hating, Radical Left Judge.

His supporters, meanwhile, waited for hours in storm-tossed New Hampshire after Trumps plane was delayed by the weather.

We froze our rear ends off trying to get in here! said Phil Caron, 81, who had come from neighboring Massachusetts.

It was the first Trump event for Cat Wiggins, 51, from Hampton, New Hampshire. She didnt mind waiting.

I am totally stoked, she said, adding that she was on Trumps side with regard to his legal woes. She said the 2020 election, which Democrat Joe Biden won, was stolen.

Trump took the stage two hours late, regaling the crowd with how difficult it been there to get there. His flight was a perilous one, he said, and the pilot had urged him not to go amid heavy snow and the high winds.

This was a little rocky tonight, he said and then suggested that he might not have made it to his rally at all. That would have been a pretty big story, right?

It was the kind of tale the former president loves to tell on the campaign trail, embellished for dramatic effect, casting himself as the stalwart hero braving obstacles for his devoted fans. They ate it up.

The E. Jean Carroll defamation trial will stretch at least until next week, with Trump intending to shuttle between New York and New Hampshire as he campaigns ahead of the primary on Tuesday.

The ping-pong travel pattern is likely to repeat throughout the election year.

Trump's federal trial in Washington related to the election charges is scheduled to start on March 4, the day before Super Tuesday, when 16 states and one U.S. territory hold Republican nominating contests.

A New York state case in which Trump is charged in connection with hush money payments to a porn star comes in late March. The federal classified documents trial in Miami is scheduled for May.

Trump aims to have the Republican nomination wrapped up by then. He is expected to face a greater challenge from Haley in New Hampshire, with its mix of moderate and independent voters, than he did in Iowa. But he remains the favorite in the Republican primaries to come.

Until then, he apparently hopes to use his time in courtrooms to his full advantage.

(Reporting by James Oliphant in Atkinson, New Hampshire, and Gram Slattery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Jonathan Oatis)
FILE PHOTO: Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks at his Iowa caucus watch party in West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 15, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

By Gram Slattery

BRETTON WOODS, New Hampshire (Reuters) - The New Hampshire primary is only a week away but, so far, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has done most of his campaigning 1,000 miles (1,610 km) to the southwest in balmy South Carolina.

Having spent a huge proportion of his time and resources in Iowa, which held the first Republican presidential nominating contest, DeSantis faces exceptionally tough odds in New Hampshire, a state his campaign has left in a state of relative neglect.

Only about 6% of Granite Staters, as New Hampshire residents are known, plan to vote for DeSantis, according to polling averages, versus about 30% for former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and 43% for former President Donald Trump. Some recent polls have shown the top two in a much closer battle.

DeSantis solution, in part, is to focus on somewhat friendlier terrain and to remind voters that Haley's popularity in New Hampshire is not a national phenomenon.

After finishing a distant second in Iowa on Monday night, DeSantis flew directly to Haley's home state of South Carolina, which holds a nominating contest in late February, rather than going straight to New Hampshire, as is tradition.

"She was governor here for six years. Can you name major achievements under her tenure? he said at a campaign stop in Greenville, South Carolina, on Tuesday. I mean, tell me if there are because she hasn't been able to do it.

Trump is ahead of both DeSantis and his former U.N. ambassador by a wide margin in South Carolina, with polling averages showing him with nearly 55% support compared with Haley at almost 25% and DeSantis at 12%.

His initial campaign plans in New Hampshire have faced challenges. An event scheduled in western New Hampshire for Tuesday night was postponed when a short but intense blizzard swept through the region, though he did participate in a televised town hall with CNN's Wolf Blitzer in the New England state. Another event on Wednesday morning in the mountain town of Jackson also was delayed due to bad weather.

Haley, meanwhile, pushed ahead with an event on Tuesday evening - also in the northern mountains - despite blizzard conditions. She did not mention DeSantis.

In other news from the campaign trail:

DEBATE STAGE GOES DARK

New Hampshire voters were expecting to see two Republican debates in their state ahead of its primary next Tuesday.

Now they won't get any.

CNN on Wednesday said it was canceling its debate scheduled for Sunday after Haley said she would no longer attend such events unless Trump also participated.

The announcement came a day after ABC News said it was calling off its debate, slated for Thursday, after only DeSantis agreed to take part.

Despite her third-place finish in Iowa, Haley has sought to frame the Republican race as a two-person contest between her and Trump, who trounced his rivals in the first nominating contest.

Haley criticized Trump in a post on X for skipping the five previous Republican debates, adding: "The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden."

Trump has countered all of the debates with his own events.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Helen Coster in New York; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Jonathan Oatis)
FILE PHOTO: Argentina's presidential candidate Javier Milei addresses supporters as he reacts to the results of the presidential election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina October 22, 2023. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto

By Leela de Kretser and Victoria Waldersee

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) -Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei held a positive meeting with International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva in Davos on Wednesday, focused on the South American country's deep economic crisis and its $44 billion IMF program.

"Very good meeting with Argentina's President Javier Milei," Georgieva wrote on X after meeting the right-wing leader who is pushing a tough austerity package to bring down inflation above 200%, even while two-fifths of people are living in poverty.

"We talked about Argentina's deep economic and social challenges and decisive steps underway to bring down inflation, promote private sector-led growth, and use scarce public money to help the most vulnerable people," she said.

Earlier in the day Milei had praised free markets, while slamming socialism and "social justice" in a speech at Davos that marks the first overseas tour for the self-proclaimed 'anarcho-capitalist' since taking office last month.

"Socialism is a phenomenon that creates poverty," he said in a special address to a large and well-heeled crowd at the World Economic Forum, warning the West was "in danger" of its spread.

"Free enterprise capitalism is the only tool we have to end hunger and poverty."

Milei shot to power last year on the back of voter anger at the worsening economic crisis, often campaigning with a chainsaw to underscore his plans to slash the size of the state. He needs to rebuild depleted foreign currency reserves and spur growth.

He is pushing major economic reforms, including spending cuts and deregulation, in a bid to improve the government's finances and boost the economy. But he faces high poverty levels and the real threat of social unrest.

Milei earlier met British foreign minister David Cameron, discussing "deepening commercial ties, the support they will give us in the IMF and how to promote British investments in Argentina," Milei's office said in a readout.

En route to Switzerland by commercial jet, Milei had said he was attending the Davos conclave in order to "plant the idea of freedom in a forum contaminated by the 2030 socialist agenda".

AUSTERITY 'DETOX'

Argentina is racing to salvage its massive loan program with the IMF, the Washington-based lender's largest globally. Last week it secured an agreement with IMF staff over the program's latest review, which should unlock some $4.7 billion of funds.

According to a Davos briefing on Argentina, the country's relationship with the IMF is "very good" and the government is confident of meeting objectives in a tough economic plan that surpasses what the fund was demanding.

Milei's libertarian coalition, which only has a small bloc in Congress but has won over conservative allies, was confident of passing its major 'omnibus' reform bill, part of a first wave of economic reforms, but had back-up plans if it failed.

Planned tax hikes as part of these reforms - going against campaign pledges to cut taxes - were a necessary step to bring in revenues to pay for social programs for the most vulnerable, but the aim was that these would last no more than a year. Those tax hikes have irked Argentine soy and corn farmers.

Milei would stick by plans to dollarize Argentina's economy and shut the central bank, but the conditions were not yet right for doing so and the government first had to stabilize the economy and navigate a tough period of austerity "detox".

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee and Leela de Kretser in Davos; Writing by Adam Jourdan in Buenos Aires; Editing by Alex Richardson, Alexander Smith and Jonathan Oatis)
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on stage during a campaign rally ahead of the New Hampshire primary election, in Atkinson, New Hampshire, U.S. January 16, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As Donald Trump strengthens his lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, some U.S. allies are worried about an American turn toward isolationism, a shift that would reflect an electorate largely focused on domestic issues.

That was shown in polling in Iowa where Trump scored an overwhelming victory on Monday, with foreign policy the top issue for just one in 10 participants in the state's caucus, according to a poll by Edison Research.

That compared to four in 10 who said the economy was No. 1 and three in 10 who pointed to immigration.

National polling provides a similar picture. When Americans have cited matters involving foreigners as the country's top problem, they most often have referred to immigration and not foreign conflicts, Reuters/Ipsos polling over the last decade shows.

In a December Reuters/Ipsos poll, 6% of respondents nationwide said war and foreign conflicts were the U.S.'s most pressing problem, compared to 11% who cited immigration and 19% who pointed to the economy. Ten percent cited crime.

While domestic concerns have long dominated U.S. politics, isolationism has grown in recent years - particularly within the Republican Party - as Trump and other leaders have criticized U.S. aid to help Ukraine fight off Russia's 2022 invasion, while Trump has warned America could become ensnarled in a world war.

Foreign diplomats in Washington are scrambling to assess the former president's foreign plans, with Trump aides saying he would cut defense support to Europe, further shrink economic ties with China and again wield tariffs as a key tool of his foreign policy.

They have also expressed worry at congressional Republicans' opposition to Democratic President Joe Biden's request for more funds for Ukraine, for Israel in its conflict with Hamas and for Taiwan as it faces a more assertive China. The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives in November passed an Israel aid package that would offset that spending with cuts to the federal tax-collection agency, an idea the Democratic-majority Senate has rebuffed.

"Trump has been instrumental in raising questions about our alliances and our involvement in the world that were pretty much taken for granted," said Dina Smeltz, a public opinion expert at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

A Chicago Council poll in September found that 53% of Republicans thought the U.S. should "stay out of world affairs," the first time a majority of either party backed such an isolationist stance in the council's polls going back to 1974.

NATO SKEPTICISM

If elected to a second term following his 2017-2021 presidency, Trump is expected to install loyalists in key positions in the Pentagon, State Department and CIA whose primary allegiance would be to him, allowing him more freedom to enact isolationist policies.

Thierry Breton, a French commissioner who is responsible for the European Union's internal market, said earlier this month that in 2020 then-president Trump told top European officials the United States would never help Europe if it came under attack, and that Washington would withdraw from its NATO military alliance with European countries and Canada.

It is not just Republican lawmakers who are skeptical about aid for allies. Republican respondents to a January Reuters/Ipsos poll showed a similar view with one in three backing sending weapons to Ukraine, and just one in five when respondents were asked whether they support providing Ukraine with both weapons and money.

Nearly half of Republicans supported sending weapons to Israel. The level of support was slightly lower for both money and weapons.

Some of those closest to the United States have also expressed concerns about the prospect of another Trump presidency, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying on Tuesday: "It wasn't easy the first time and if there is a second time, it won't be easy either."

(Reporting by Jason Lange; Additional reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis)
By Dmitry Zhdannikov and Victoria Waldersee

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) -Western officials said in Davos on Wednesday they were open to the idea of confiscating $300 billion of Russian assets to help Ukraine, but cautioned that the devil was in the legal detail and that, even if it could be done, it would be no panacea for Kyiv.

After President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, the United States and its allies prohibited transactions with Russia's central bank and finance ministry, blocking around $300 billion of sovereign Russian assets in the West.

G7 countries are discussing possibly confiscating the frozen Russian assets, though some G7 members have concerns about the precedent, mechanism and potential impact of taking such a step against central bank assets.

"The first thing you know is a ton of lawyers need to get involved. No decisions been made," Penny Pritzker, U.S. special representative for Ukraine's economic recovery, told a panel on Monday.

"If a decision gets made it's going to end up being collective. It's a misperception to think this is going to be a panacea effect. There's real effort going on but we are far from a conclusion."

Russia, which was not represented at Davos, has warned that confiscation of those assets would go against the principles of free markets and the Kremlin has warned it would seize U.S., European and other assets in response to such a move.

CLEAR MECHANISM NEEDED

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has long expressed concerns about a lack of legal authority for the U.S. to confiscate frozen Russian assets housed at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, but has recently embraced a request by G7 leaders to explore seizure options based on international law.

She said last week that no decisions had been made on the G7 efforts, but there were still concerns about the impact on storing reserves in dollars or euros, adding: "It would be a question of understanding and seeing if mitigation could be put in place and seeing if the G7 could agree on international law rationale."

Another concern held by some senior Western officials is that confiscating Russian assets invested in government bonds denominated in euros, U.S. dollars and British pounds could undermine the willingness of central banks to store reserves with each other.

The lion's share of the assets - essentially securities in which the Russian Central Bank had invested - are frozen in Euroclear, a depository based in Brussels.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told Reuters that he did not oppose the confiscation of the frozen assets, but there needed to be a clear mechanism.

"We don't say no to asset confiscation. But we need to work on a mechanism. For example, they can be used as collateral for raising funds for Ukraine," De Croo said.

"We are open to further discussion and are willing to participate in a solution of finding a legal basis for those transfers to Ukraine, without destabilising the global financial system," he said.

Some securities mature and hence are being converted into cash - a transaction that is taxed at 25%, he said.

"If there is any taxable revenue, we will isolate it so it can go to Ukraine," De Croo told Reuters in Davos. He said tax on the frozen assets totalled about 1.3 billion euros in 2023 and in 2024 would total about 1.7 billion euros.

(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow; Editing by Alex Richardson and Toby Chopra)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to the press, as he visits Allentown Fire Training Academy, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S., January 12, 2024. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

By Nandita Bose, Richard Cowan and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson pressed President Joe Biden on Wednesday to recast U.S. immigration policy during a meeting with lawmakers at the White House about funding for Ukraine.

Republicans in Congress have blocked emergency funding that Biden has requested for Ukraine and threaten to force a partial shutdown of the government in an effort to push new security policies along the U.S.-Mexico border. They blame Biden's policies for an influx of immigrants into the United States.

Johnson said after the meeting that he told Biden the United States needed substantive policy change on immigration and called the situation at the border a "national security and humanitarian catastrophe."

Republicans have hammered Biden over immigration and the issue has become a flashpoint in the 2024 presidential election. Biden, a Democrat, is expected to face Republican Donald Trump, an immigration hard-liner who is his party's presidential front-runner, in the November election.

There were 10.5 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States in 2021, according to the Pew Research Center. Politicians on both sides of the U.S. political aisle have been trying to reform what they call a broken system for decades, with no success.

Apprehensions of migrants by U.S. border agents reached nearly 11,000 in a single day in December, which some officials said was near or at a record. The number of arrests dropped to an average of 6,400 per day in a week in late December, an internal government document showed.

Biden sought to reform the immigration system with proposed legislation at the beginning of his term, but it was opposed by Republicans. The White House is open to new restrictions on who can seek U.S. asylum and expanding deportation authority, but many Democrats oppose such measures.

Biden has requested $61.4 billion in additional funding to help supply Ukraine with weapons and replenish U.S. stocks as it nears the two-year mark of its war with Russia. The funds sought for Ukraine is part of a "supplemental" request that also includes $14.3 billion for Israel and $13.6 billion for border protection.

The White House said Biden was optimistic about bipartisan talks in the Senate on the funding request.

"The President called on Congress to quickly provide additional funding to support Ukraine and send a strong signal of U.S. resolve. The President also made clear that we must act now to address the challenges at the border," the White House said in a statement. "He expressed his commitment to reaching a bipartisan agreement on border policy and the need for additional resources at the border."

Johnson said he wanted clarity on how the war in Ukraine would be brought to an end. "We need the questions answered about the strategy, about the endgame and about the accountability for the precious treasure of the American people," he told reporters after the meeting.

A Johnson aide said the speaker agreed on the need to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but felt that securing the U.S. border was a higher priority.

Top U.S. Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said there was agreement in the meeting about tackling both the border and funding for Ukraine.

"There was remarkable consensus in that room. Just about every person in that room - Democrat, Republican, House, Senate - talked about the importance of aiding Ukraine," Schumer said.

"Everyone in the room also talked about we had to do something about the border. It's broken and President Biden said he knows that and wants to make really significant change on the border."

(additional reporting by David Morgan; Writing by Jeff Mason; Editing by Heather Timmons, Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler)
FILE PHOTO: Former Arkansas governor and 2024 Presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson speaks to media following the Republican Party of Iowa legislative breakfast at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown, in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. January 8, 2024. REUTERS/Alyssa P

By Nandita Bose and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden had a top aide call former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson to apologize on Wednesday for criticism from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of Hutchinson's failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination, the White House said.

When Hutchinson pulled out of the Republican race on Tuesday, DNC national press secretary Sarafina Chitika issued a mocking statement.

This news comes as a shock to those of us who couldve sworn he had already dropped out," Chitika said of Hutchinson, who picked up 191 votes, or .02% of the vote, in Iowa's Republican caucuses on Tuesday.

In addition to being a former governor, Hutchinson also served as a member of the House of Representatives from Arkansas and had two senior positions in the administration of former Republican President George W. Bush.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden directed White House chief of staff Jeff Zients to call Hutchinson to apologize for the DNC statement and stress that it did not represent his views.

"President Biden has respect for Governor Hutchinson and admires the race that he ran. The president knows him to be a man of principle who cares about our country and has a strong record of public service," she said.

Hutchinson told CNN that he appreciated the call from Zients and the apology for the "snarky" comment.

"To me that reflects the good parts of American politics. You fight hard but at the end of the day you want to make sure you treat each other with respect. So I appreciated the call," he said.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Steve HollandEditing by Bill Berkrot)
In 2018, Professor Joan Donovan began working at Harvard Universitys Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. Her role involved leading a research team studying disinformation and manipulation campaigns on social media. Things seemed to be going smoothly until the Wall Street Journal published a series of articles in September 2021 featuring internal Meta documents leaked by former employee Frances Haugen.

Donovan obtained copies of the thousands of documents that Haugen had taken from Meta, and planned to organize and publish them on a website called Facebook Archive at Harvard. However, she soon ran into trouble during a meeting in October 2021 set up by her supervisor, Dean Douglas Elmendorf. A former executive of Meta was present during the Zoom conference and he got very angry with me when I revealed that I had possession of the entire cache of Frances Haugen whistleblower documents. After that meeting, Donovan says something shifted at the university and she became an outsider. University leaders aggressively asked her to justify her work, specifically the research about Facebook.

Donovan said in that meeting that the Haugen papers were the most important documents in the history of internet studies. Just a few days later, Donovan received an email from Elmendorf that he wanted to know more about her research into Meta. Ever since that meeting, my time at Harvard has not gone easy, said Donovan. In 2022, she was told her contract would be terminated. In February 2023, her contract termination was announced and became effective in August. Late last year, Donovan publicly denounced Harvard because she believes the university has bowed to Metas undue influence.

My story is a little complicated, said Donovan, but the way that I like to explain it is that Elmendorf, who was my Dean at Harvard, has a very long relationship with several Meta executives, particularly Sheryl Sandberg [Metas COO until June 2022]. What we dont know is the degree to which Facebook or Meta pressured him into stopping my research.

A $500 million donation over 15 years

Donovans departure due to Metas alleged pressure on Elmendorf coincided with another milestone for the university in December 2021: the largest donation in Harvard history. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerbergs Chan Zuckerberg Initiative announced that it would donate $500M to the university over 15 years. Its becoming more and more clear to people that donors have undue influence over the administration at Harvard, said Donovan. When I got pushed out of Harvard, it coincided with the largest donation in the entire history of the university. The money wont come all at once, but over 15 years. So, Facebook has bought 15 years of prestige and influence over the largest university brand in the world. Donovan had raised $12 million in funding for her teams research, $3 million of which Harvard still has in its coffers. I hope Harvard returns that money to the donors and that they can reallocate it across the field. Meta hasnt commented on this, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative stated that its donation is unrelated to these events.

How Facebook/Meta have operated in this case is no different to how foreign intelligence services or organized criminal enterprises operate, states Donovans well-documented legal disclosure. If you look at the field of internet studies and you look at who is being funded for what kinds of research, Facebook clearly is giving millions of dollars to researchers in an effort to bolster positive coverage of their platforms, she said. And when researchers are critical of them, there have been instances where Facebook has tried to influence publication or to get scholars not to publish... And so its very similar to the playbooks of tobacco and big oil, as well as big pharma... in terms of using the university as PR for the corporation.

Last summer, a large group of well-known academics collaborated with Meta to publish a series of articles in Nature and Science. Donovan holds a skeptical view towards the limited-scope studies and questions their value. I really cant call them truly scientific because the actual researchers, what they did is ask questions of the researchers at Facebook and then the researchers at Facebook would give them an interpretation of the data. So the independent researchers never saw the data...In my estimation when you do scientific research, you should collect your own data. Meta also leveraged the project to present the results in a biased way, says Donovan. Facebook knew that most people werent going to read the entire studies. So Meta put out a press release claiming that the study showed that there were no problems with their algorithms, that there were no issues related to radicalization with their products.

Harvard's response

Harvard University refuted Donovans allegations, arguing that the research project required the oversight of a tenured university professor (Donovan was a contract researcher). But the university could not find a professor to take on the role, according to a Harvard spokesperson. After the unsuccessful attempt, the project was given over a year to be completed. Joan Donovan was not fired, and most of the research team decided to stay on in different positions. Donovan believes finding a professor to supervise the research would have been easy. She is currently a professor at Boston University, but Harvard owns the intellectual rights to her research during her time there. Donovans legal complaint aims to regain the rights so she can continue her research at Boston University.

Harvard also claims that the Facebook Archive containing Haugens documents is available online, just as Donovan planned. However, the archive is very different from what Donovan had envisioned. A keyword search of the archive only displays the slides where the keyword appears. These isolated screengrabs make it challenging to understand their context. Harvard took the project of the Facebook archive from me, said Donovan, and published something thats nearly unusable. Its a very difficult system to navigate... My vision was to create a platform that allowed for international collaboration and understanding of those documents... Numerous governments across the globe are trying to understand Metas negative influence on teens and younger users... Meta knew there are problems with Instagram and they did nothing about it.

Donovan is also greatly concerned about academic freedom. Elmendorf made it clear that her projects termination meant she had no legal protection under academic freedom. Theres 6,000 staff researchers at Harvard that publish, that are in the same category as me. And anybody that publishes controversial research is not going to do it if their university isnt going to protect them... So I had to weigh staying at Harvard and publishing these Facebook papers... if Facebook then decides to sue... what he [Elmendorf] was letting me know is they would sue me personally.

Metas PR machine

Donovan believes her case (submitted via Whistleblower Aid, an organization assisting people seeking protection while exposing government or corporate wrongdoing) is just one example of Metas public relations strategy. My story is just a very small piece of this very large puzzle where we have to understand how this corporation and others are setting up our institutions, so that there will be no regulation and there will be no clear research about the true harms caused by these platforms to society.

Donovan learned about other cases that made her even more suspicious. What I know about Metas PR strategy to kill specific news stories is that they dont start with the journalist and try to convince them that their story doesnt have any merit. They start at the top  they start with the board of the news organization. And so I wasnt surprised at all when I got an email from the dean [Elmendorf] that parroted all of Facebooks PR.

Meta isnt the only platform that can unintentionally cause social harm. For Donovan, the key distinction lies in their response to product defects. These technologies all have very similar kinds of harm, but what the company does about that harm is just as important as the design of the technology itself. And if the company is doing things to cover up the impact of their products on democracy or public health, then we need to go deeper... to better understand and explore that, because the company itself isnt going to do it.

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 17, 2024. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

(Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was briefly stranded in Davos on Wednesday after his plane experienced a "critical failure" related to an oxygen leak and another plane is being flown to Switzerland to pick him up, according to a member of his traveling press pool.

The top U.S. diplomat had traveled to Davos for the annual World Economic Forum on Monday and was scheduled to fly back to Washington on Wednesday.

A Bloomberg report said the aircraft was a Boeing plane. Reuters could not immediately confirm what aircraft Blinken was using on this trip.

Blinken had taken a helicopter from Davos to Zurich, where he boarded his plane but was then informed that the plane was not able to fly him back.

Members of the press traveling with him and his aides were told to make arrangements to fly back to Washington commercially.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Berkrot)
OTTAWA, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Canada is challenging the U.S. decision late last year to maintain duties on exports of Canadian softwood lumber, Trade Minister Mary Ng said in a statement on Wednesday.

Ng said Canada had launched its challenge under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade deal. The two countries have been arguing for decades about the lumber exports, which U.S. producers say are unfairly subsidized.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren, editing by Ismail Shakil)

Keywords: CANADA USA/LUMBER
By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - China has a strategy to help Pacific Island nations with policing, not defence, and its growing presence in the region should not alarm Australia, China's ambassador to Australia said on Wednesday.

Ambassador Xiao Qian also told reporters that Nauru's decision this week to form diplomatic relations with China at the expense of Taiwan was "their own choice" and would not impact Australia's ties with Nauru, a tiny nation of 12,500 that uses the Australian currency.

Pacific neighbours Solomon Islands and Kiribati switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019, with Solomon Islands later striking security and policing pacts with China that sparked alarm in Canberra and Washington.

Australia, concerned by the strategic location of the Pacific Islands as a battleground in World War Two, has said security should be provided by countries within the region that share democratic values, and not China.

Xiao told reporters that Pacific Islands countries want to have political ties with China, sell products to the Chinese market, and receive investment and help from China in infrastructure, telecommunications and maintaining social order.

Security "is part of the relationship between China and Pacific Island countries, to help them to social stability," he said.

"It is not a strategy for military security, its a strategy to help policing their nation for social stability and basic order," Xiao said, adding that there was "no need for any so-called anxiety on the part of Australia".

Australia's ties with China have stabilised after a visit by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Beijing in November, the first in seven years by an Australian leader, and China wanted to further improve the relationship, Xiao said.

Defence was an area "we need to work harder on," he said, also saying that China had lodged a diplomatic protest with Australia over its congratulations to Taiwan, which China claims as its own, over the election of a new president.

Albanese said on Wednesday that Australia respected Taiwan's democratic processes in its election, and also respected the decision by Nauru to change diplomatic ties.

He declined to comment on whether Australia would seek a new security agreement with Nauru, but said security deals recently struck by his government with Pacific nations Papua New Guinea and Tuvalu were "very significant".

Ties between Australia and its largest trading partner China improved last year after China lifted some trade blocks imposed in 2020 on a raft of Australian exports.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Miral Fahmy and Michael Perry)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China will continue to firmly support Togo in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said while visiting the African country, according to a ministry statement on Wednesday.

China's top diplomat made the remarks as he visited several African countries over the past few days. Wang will travel to Brazil and Jamaica from Jan. 18-22.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Flowers, candles, and mementos are left at a memorial after a mass shooting at LGBTQ nightclub Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. November 26, 2022. REUTERS/Isaiah J. Downing/File Photo

By Brad Brooks

LONGMONT, Colorado (Reuters) - A Colorado man who killed five people in a 2022 mass shooting at a gay nightclub has agreed to plead guilty to federal hate crime and gun charges, according to court documents unsealed on Tuesday.

Anderson Lee Aldrich, 23, will plead guilty to 74 federal charges, according to court documents unsealed in U.S. District Court in the District of Colorado. That will result in "multiple concurrent life sentences plus additional consecutive sentences totaling 190 years imprisonment," according to the filings.

The documents state that Aldrich chose his targets "because of the actual and perceived sexual orientation and gender identity" of those in the nightclub where he opened fire.

The shooting was reminiscent of a 2016 massacre at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where a gunman killed 49 people before police shot him dead.

The federal government will not seek the death penalty for Aldrich, the documents show.

The federal public defender listed in the court documents as representing Aldrich did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed in a statement that a plea deal had been reached.

Aldrich pleaded guilty to charges in state court last year and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for carrying out the killings at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs.

Aldrich appeared remotely before a federal judge on Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty, but his legal team has filed a document stating that he would plead guilty at a future appearance, once the judge sets a hearing date.

On Nov. 19, 2022, Aldrich, wearing body armor and armed with a rifle and a handgun, opened fire at Club Q. In addition to those killed, nearly two dozen others were wounded by gunfire or otherwise injured before "heroic" patrons stopped the rampage.

Before his sentencing, Aldrich told the state court that they identify as nonbinary. He declined to speak during the hearing, but their defense lawyer, Joseph Archambault, said Aldrich wanted the court to know that "they are deeply remorseful."

Aldrich had been known to law enforcement, having been arrested in June 2021 after his mother reported he had threatened to detonate a bomb and harm her with multiple weapons, according to a press release from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. But she declined to testify for the prosecution, and the case was dismissed.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado; Editing by Frank McGurty and Jonathan Oatis)
By Abigail Summerville

NEW YORK (Reuters) - LiveRamp Holdings, a software company which helps match up customer datasets for brands, advertisers and retailers, told Reuters on Wednesday it has agreed to acquire marketing data startup Habu for $200 million in cash and stock.

The deal will enable their clients - including notable names such as Walmart, PepsiCo and DISH Media - to share customer data more easily with their business partners, including advertisers and other stores.

"Habu is well known in the industry for building a really simple lightweight application layer that makes data even easier to use. We are going to ingest that and adopt it across our much larger client base and make things even easier for them to utilize," LiveRamp CEO Scott Howe said in an interview.

Habu specializes in so-called "clean rooms", which help content platforms keep user data private when interacting with advertisers.

"To really scale things, being able to plug (Habu) into a large company like LiveRamp will provide a lot more value to our customers, Matt Kilmartin, CEO of Habu, told Reuters.

LiveRamp will pay approximately $170 million in cash and $30 million in LiveRamp stock for Habu. The deal is expected to be completed during the March quarter, LiveRamp said.

San Francisco-based LiveRamp expects Habu to deliver approximately $18 million in revenue in fiscal year 2025.

Evercore and Baker McKenzie advised LiveRamp on the transaction. Goldman Sachs and Gunderson Dettmer advised Habu.

(Reporting by Abigail Summerville in New York; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
(Reuters) -European Union lawmakers said on Wednesday they had "deep concern" about Slovakia's plans to change the criminal code and shut a special prosecutor's office, piling on criticism of the government's plan to fast-track the changes.

The European Parliament, in a resolution approved by 496 of the 630 lawmakers who voted, said the changes needed more scrutiny and called on the European Commission to take action "to safeguard the rule of law and judicial independence".

Prime Minister Robert Fico's leftist, populist government, in power since October, unveiled the legislative changes in December and has faced near-weekly protests led by pro-Western liberal and conservative opposition parties.

The opposition says the reforms would protect allies of the current government from facing prosecution, and would put EU funds at risk if deemed to undermine the rule of law - an issue that has pitted Poland and Hungary against the European Union.

The Commission and the United States have already raised objections while Slovak President Zuzana Caputova has threatened to veto the legislation, although Fico's government will be able to override her move.

The EU parliament's resolution said the criminal code amendment and the dissolution of the special prosecutor's office (USP) - which has handled major corruption cases for two decades - "threatens the integrity of judicial processes, undermines the European Union's fight against fraud and jeopardises the protection of the EU's financial interests."

The EU's justice commissioner Didier Reynders said in mid-December the Commission could take action if criminal law changes violate EU laws.

Fico hit back at the resolution on Wednesday, calling it "interference" in domestic politics and saying Slovak opposition politicians in the European Parliament pushed it and spread "nonsense and untruths" about Slovakia.

"Political opponents, opposition deputies home and abroad are standing against us, prepared to make any dirty tricks in the political fight," Fico said.

"There needs to be a quite decisive, hard, but democratic response, and I think it is time for the government to stand up to these dirty attacks," he said in a video posted on his Facebook account.

The government's plan also includes limiting protection for whistleblowers and reducing sentences for financial crimes.

The USP opened a number of cases against business leaders, judicial and police officers, following a 2020 election win by parties promising to weed out graft.

While in opposition, Fico himself had faced police charges, later dropped.

Fico returned to power for a fourth time after a September election and has accused the USP and its leader Daniel Lipsic, a former justice minister in a non-Fico government, of being politically biased against his SMER-SSD party.

(Reporting by Jason Hovet and Jan Lopatka in PragueEditing by Ros Russell and Toby Chopra)
By Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow and Darya Korsunskaya

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Countries whose sovereign bonds were purchased by Russia would not be considered in default if Western governments decide to confiscate frozen Russian reserves worth $300 billion, credit rating agencies Moody's and S&P Global said.

U.S. and British officials are pushing to seize Moscow's assets immobilised in Belgium and other European countries. They are looking to secure wider Group of Seven (G7) backing for the move at talks next month close to the second anniversary of the launch of Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Back in June 2022, the United States and Moody's deemed Russia to have defaulted on its bonds when international sanctions prevented Moscow from making payments to bondholders - an interpretation which Moscow rejected.

The Russian central bank argues France, Germany, Britain and other sovereigns would likewise be in default if bonds held by Russia were confiscated and Russia therefore did not receive due payments, a person familiar with its view told Reuters.

But Moody's said its interpretation was different.

"Our ratings do not typically reflect holder-specific considerations hence we would not treat the scenario as a default for these countries," Thorsten Nestmann, Senior Vice President at Moody's Investors Service, said by email in response to a Reuters inquiry.

Frank Gill, Sector Lead EMEA Sovereign Ratings at S&P Global, also told Reuters it would not be likely to be considered a default as interest payments are made via a payment agent which would continue to disburse them to other creditors.

Most of Russia's frozen reserves are held in cash and the sovereign bonds of France, Germany, Britain, Austria and Canada.

The rating agencies' interpretation may allay concerns around default risk. Some European officials also fear any asset confiscation could set a worrying precedent that sees other countries seek compensation for past military action by Western countries.

Andrei Ryabinin, a partner at Russian law firm Delcredere, said he was almost certain that a failure to fulfil obligations in these circumstances would not constitute a default as the prospectuses most likely provide for exceptions when sanctions come into play.

Rival ratings agency Fitch declined to comment on its own position.

'WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT'

Russian authorities privately lean towards the view that the reserves are all but lost, but are determined to mount a legal challenge and retaliate strongly, according to four people familiar with the government and central bank's thinking.

"Deep down, everyone has already said goodbye to the reserves," one of those sources said. "There will certainly be (a legal process). It is a kind of ritual. We will not roll over, we're going to fight."

A second source said Russia had "bid farewell" to the assets, certain that European capitals would succumb to U.S. pressure.

A third agreed Russia was unlikely to be able to prevent the confiscation but would threaten retaliation such as confiscating Western assets trapped in Russia and breaking off diplomatic relations with foreign powers deemed unfriendly.

Russia's foreign ministry has called the plan to confiscate its assets to help rebuild Ukraine "21st century piracy" and said Moscow would retaliate harshly. The Kremlin said Europe would face "inevitable" legal consequences.

Another source familiar with the Russian position said any trial would likely last for several years. As the reserves are held by Russia's independent central bank, Moscow can argue the funds are not government property, the person added.

It was not immediately clear in which jurisdiction Russia may choose to fight its case but Vladimir Pestrikov, a partner at Moscow-based law firm Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners said it could elect for a challenge in the EU court.

"The central bank may potentially seek interim measures from the EU court aimed at keeping its assets on the frozen accounts until its action is resolved," Pestrikov said.

(Reporting by Elena Fabrichnaya in Moscow, Alexander Marrow and Darya Korsunskaya in London; Editing by Mark John and Kirsten Donovan)
A Swedish-made Archer self-propelled howitzer of Ukraines 45th separate artillery brigade fires at Russian positions in the Donetsk region, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, December 16, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

NEAR BAKHMUT, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukrainian artillery forces fighting near the Russian-occupied city of Bakhmut say Russian troops are constantly making offensive assaults as fighting intensifies and Kyiv waits for more military aid from the West.

Ukrainian forces have taken up a more defensive stance in many areas of the snow-bound front after a counteroffensive last year was unable to break through heavily-defended Russian lines in the occupied south and east.

"Now because of the weather, we switched to defensive actions. The enemy constantly tries to conduct offensive actions," said Mykhailo, a fighter for Ukraine's 92nd separate assault brigade.

The Ukrainian General Staff's daily readout on the war with Russia reported 98 combat clashes in the last 24 hours on Wednesday, double the figure given at the end of last week.

Ukrainian forces, it said, were holding the line and inflicting significant losses, repelling attacks on the fronts near the towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and several other smaller eastern settlements.

Mykhailo's unit, which was firing off rounds from a self-propelled howitzer on Tuesday, was focused on counterbattery fire at Russian artillery, mortars, anti-tank cannon, tanks as well as infantry being moved for rotation, the soldiers said.

"Foreign weapons were not designed to work under such weather conditions," Mykhailo said, adding that vehicles were getting stuck in swamps.

"We saw the howitzer skidding while trying to drive out of the positions, it skidded on the ice," he said.

Another of the unit's soldiers, Pavlo, said Ukrainian troops would not be able to move forward unless they received more ammunition and more manpower.

Political wrangling in the United States and European Union has held up two major packages of military and financial support for weeks, although Kyiv has said it hopes the assistance will eventually materialise.

"In order to advance, to move the front line, we need ammunition, we need more man power, we need weapons.

"If the enemy understands that we have zero resources, it can easily put pressure on us. If other countries help us and provide us with ammunition, manpower and weapons, we will be successful.

He said their unit had a shortage of ammunition and that it had been a "while" since they had fired as many as 20 shells in a day.

(Reporting by Inna Varenytsia; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Angus MacSwan)
FILE PHOTO: Police officers stand guard outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts during the national security trial of media mogul Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, in Hong Kong, China December 18, 2023. REUTERS/Lam Yik/File Photo

By Jessie Pang and Edward Cho

HONG KONG (Reuters) -The first prosecution witness to testify in a landmark national security case against Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai said on Wednesday he had been instructed by Lai to call people to join protests in 2019 and draw the attention of western democracies.

The witness, Cheung Kim-hung, said Lai believed a proposed law that would allow people in Hong Kong to be sent to China to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party would be used to crackdown on the territory's democracy and freedoms.

According to Cheung, Lai said "the business community was very much concerned" and "if the law was enacted, media would not survive".

The bill was later withdrawn by the government. But mass demonstrations over the bill evolved into pro-democracy protests that rocked the city for months.

Lai, 76, founder of the now defunct pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and a lesser charge of conspiracy to publish seditious material.

For years an outspoken critic of China's Communist Party, Lai is the highest profile figure to face prosecution under the security laws that Beijing imposed on the financial hub in 2020.

"PRESSURE THE GOVERNMENT"

Cheung, former CEO of Apple Daily's parent company, Next Digital, said Lai gave him instructions to "use Apple Daily to call people to take to the streets, to demonstrate, and to pressure the government".

He told the court that the image of Lai "was all along very clear, who pursued democracy, freedom and was anti-totalitarian".

Cheung added that Lai had a view of "getting the attention of Western democratic countries, hoping that they could provide assistance, and even take stronger actions, including imposing sanctions".

Lai's trial is being closely watched by diplomats.

Hong Kong's former colonial ruler Britain and the United States have called for Lai's immediate release, saying the case is politically motivated. Hong Kong officials say Lai will receive a fair trial.

Both Chinese and Hong Kong officials have said the national security laws were vital to restoring stability in Hong Kong. They punish acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life imprisonment.

Other prosecution witnesses include Apple Daily's former associate publisher Chan Pui-man, former editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee, activist Andy Li and a paralegal Chan Tsz-wah. They have all pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at the end of the trial.

(Reporting by Jessie Pang, Edward Cho and Dorothy Kam; Editing by Greg Torode, Neil Fullick and Ros Russell)
At the invitation of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President Xi Jinpings Special Envoy and Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference Shen Yueyue will attend the inauguration of President Tshisekedi in DRCs capital Kinshasa on January 20.



CGTN: Taiwan media claimed that sources say Naurus surprise break of diplomatic ties with Taiwan was achieved through behind-the-scenes manipulation by a former president of the country. While Taiwan was still assessing and having consultations on Naurus demand for economic aid, the mainland took the opportunity to persuade Nauru to switch ties. What is the Foreign Ministrys comment on this?

Mao Ning: To recognize the one-China principle, break diplomatic ties with Taiwan and seek to restore diplomatic relations with China is the collective decision of the Nauru cabinet and a right choice independently made by Nauru as a sovereign country. We noted that the parliament of Nauru unanimously adopted a resolution yesterday, supporting, endorsing and affirming the Nauru governments decision to resume diplomatic relations with China and committing itself to strengthening Naurus diplomatic ties with China and the cordial relations between the two sovereign nations. This once again shows that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends.

The sources of the so-called claims are nothing but ill-intentioned speculation. Those who see dollar diplomacy as a go-to tool need to understand that there are things that money cannot buy. The one-China principle is a fundamental principle that cannot be traded and a prevailing international consensus.

China is the worlds second largest economy. Restoring and developing diplomatic relations and carrying out practical cooperation in various fields with China promise broad prospects and will bring unprecedented development opportunities for Nauru.

China Daily: The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 held in Davos, Switzerland receives world attention. There are two voices at the meeting. One is for de-risking with export controls and other measures in trade for national security. The other is for cooperation as its the only way to rekindle dynamism and solve problems. Whats your comment?

Mao Ning: Premier Li Qiang attended the annual meeting and delivered a special address. He stressed that in todays world with very close economic linkages between countries, fragmented and separate responses will only leave the world economy more fragile. China believes that what truly serves the common interests of all is to fully respect the laws of international industrial specialization, firmly advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, tighten the bond of cooperation, and make the pie of mutual benefit bigger. Countries need to step up dialogue and communication, take more coordinated and effective measures, firmly uphold the multilateral trading system, jointly improve global economic governance, and foster new drivers of global growth.

As the second largest economy in the world, China is an important engine of global development with its contribution to world economic growth at around 30 percent over the years. China is now advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development and will continue to provide strong impetus for the world economy. China has a supersize market with rapidly unlocked demand. In face of weak global demand, market becomes the most scarce resource. The Chinese market, with its vast space and growing depth, will play an important role in boosting aggregate global demand. China will remain firmly committed to opening up, share our opportunities and develop together with all in the world.

As underlined by Premier Li Qiang, China embraces investments from businesses of all countries with open arms, and will work tirelessly to foster a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment. Choosing the Chinese market is not a risk, but an opportunity. China will open its door still wider to the world.

Reuters: Nauru had ties with China in 2002, but it switched to Taiwan in 2005 and now it has switched back to China. Our question is, when will China establish an embassy in Nauru and vice versa, when will Nauru establish an embassy in Beijing?

Mao Ning: We will release the specific arrangements on the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between China and Nauru in due course.

I want to stress that as a collective decision made at the cabinet meeting, Nauru recognizes the one-China principle, breaks diplomatic ties with Taiwan and seeks to reestablish diplomatic relations with China. This meets the aspiration of the people in Nauru, serves Naurus long-term interests, and is on the right side of history.

Reuters: Does China see Nauru as a reliable partner given it has switched ties before? What guarantees does China have from Nauru for the country not to go back to Taiwan again?

Mao Ning: China appreciates and welcomes Naurus decision to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan and seek to resume diplomatic relations with China. We believe this is a right choice. China is ready to work with Nauru to open up a new chapter in our bilateral relations on the basis of the one-China principle.

AFP: Canada unveiled on Tuesday restrictions on research funding citing national security concerns. Canada said it wants to prevent the sharing of advanced technologies with the entities of some countries, including China. Whats your response to this?

Mao Ning: The Canadian government has gone after some universities and research institutions of China under the pretext of so-called national security risks. This seriously undermines sci-tech exchange and cooperation between China and Canada and is not conducive to improving and stabilizing the bilateral relations. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this.

Sci-tech exchange and cooperation between China and Canada are two-way and mutually beneficial. The relevant policy of Canada is short-sighted and unwise and hurts others as well as itself. We urge Canada to abandon ideological bias and Cold War mentality, stop overstretching the concept of national security, stop politicizing sci-tech cooperation issues and using them as a tool, stop setting up barriers hindering normal sci-tech exchange and cooperation between China and Canada, and create conditions and atmosphere for the improvement and growth of bilateral relations, instead of doing the opposite.

Reuters: Will China offer to help Nauru in security and policing matters in the way that China has helped in their pact with the Solomon Islands?

Mao Ning: After resuming diplomatic ties, the two sides will carry out cooperation in various fields on the basis of equality, mutual respect, mutually beneficial cooperation, openness and inclusiveness. We will not set restrictions for fields of cooperation, and the fields will be determined through talks between the two sides.

Anadolu Agency: Pakistan condemned an air strike inside its territory yesterday. What is Chinas comment about tensions between two Shanghai Cooperation Organization allies?

Mao Ning: China believes that the relations between countries should be handled based on the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and all countries sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be earnestly respected and protected. Iran and Pakistan are close neighbors and major Islamic countries. We call on the two sides to exercise restraint, avoid actions that escalate the tension and jointly keep the region peaceful and stable.

NHK: Last November, Australia accused a Chinese destroyer of causing injuries to Australian naval divers by operating its sonar. Chinas Ambassador to Australia just said that its the Japanese warship that launched the attack. Whats your comment?

Mao Ning: I didnt know what exactly Ambassador Xiao Qian said. When the incident happened last November, the Chinese military made a response and clarification.
The case of alleged corruption between American company Whitewater Midstream and former officials of the Mexican utility, Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), was taken to court almost two years ago, though has seen little progress. The initial hearing in which former CFE official Javier Gutierrez must appear has been postponed five times  based on arguments presented by his lawyers and due to a workers strike in the Judiciary last year  and is now scheduled for January 25.

A story by EL PAIS first exposed ties between former CFE official Guillermo Turrent, his colleague Javier Gutierrez, and executives of the Texas-based natural gas company Whitewater Midstream. After publication, in 2022, CFE accused Turrent and Gutierrez of rampant corruption, cronyism, and conflicts of interest by awarding the company multimillion-dollar contracts through a sham open tender, according to documents that are part of an open case in the United States. The Mexican Government also opened an investigation in Mexico and brought a case against Gutierrez to the Special Prosecutors Office for Combating Corruption, for which an initial hearing was scheduled in May 23 of that year.

CFE lawyers in the US have expressed disappointment that the hearing in Mexico has not yet taken place, according to a public case document. That is because Defendant Gutierrez has repeatedly sought and obtained adjournments, reads the document presented before a court in Texas obtained by EL PAIS.

Guillermo Turrent in March 2017. Tercero Diaz (Cuartoscuro)

According to a recap of the events by CFE lawyers that was filed in Texas, the Prosecutors Office in Mexico initially set the hearing for May 23, 2022, but Gutierrezs lawyer requested an extension to grant more time to review the investigation file, and the judge postponed the hearing to August. When that date arrived, Gutierrezs lawyer requested another postponement, this time stating that additional evidence was needed from prosecutors. The court then pushed the hearing back until October 26, 2022 and warned Gutierrez not to request further extensions. However, two days before that date, Gutierrezs lawyer requested a third postponement, this time saying that the defendant could not attend the hearing due to a medical emergency.

Later, Gutierrez requested a hearing to annul procedural acts, which was adjourned by the Federal Criminal Justice Center on three occasions, his lawyer Jose Luis Nassar told EL PAIS in a written message. When the initial hearing finally took place in June 2023, Gutierrez argued that his right to consular assistance had been violated on the basis that in addition to being Mexican, (he) has Spanish and American nationalities, says a memo from the Prosecutors Office to which EL PAIS had access. The judge did not annul the process but ordered the Prosecutors Office to remedy this issue, which caused another delay.

In October, many Prosecutors Office hearings were postponed when the Judiciary went on strike, including Gutierrezs, which was delayed twice more and is now expected to take place on January 25. Another former CFE official, Jose Guadalupe Valdez, is also part of the case in Mexico and must attend the hearing. Valdez, however, has not been accused by CFE in the United States.

Nassar maintains that the delays are not for reasons attributable to Javier Gutierrezs defense. It is the intention of Mr. Gutierrez and his team of lawyers to appear before the authorities on January 25, 2024 and demonstrate his complete innocence, the lawyer told EL PAIS.

In Texas, a judge ordered that both Gutierrez and Turrent are to face a jury trial, which is expected in mid-2025. Mexico will hold elections in June of this year and a new president will take power in October, meaning that a new team could be appointed within CFE. According to official documents from the courts in Texas, CFE lawyers have managed to obtain information from the companies involved in the case, such as correspondence and financial information, which is moving the process in the United States forward. On the Mexican side, the authorities who announced in 2021 that an investigation was opened against Turrent have not reported their findings.

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FILE PHOTO: Passengers wait for Uber ride-share cars after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, U.S. July 10, 2022. REUTERS/David Swanson/File Photo

By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) -A group of freelance writers and editors has sued the U.S. Department of Labor, claiming the Biden administration's new rule making it more difficult for companies to treat some workers as independent contractors is illegal and should be struck down.

The four freelance workers filed the lawsuit in Georgia federal court late Tuesday, alleging that the rule unveiled last week is so vague that it violates the U.S. Constitution.

The lawsuit is the first to challenge the rule, which is scheduled to take effect March 11, but more legal challenges are expected and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest U.S. business lobby, has said it is considering suing. Republicans in Congress have also said they will move to repeal the rule through legislation.

The freelancers said in their complaint that they would seek an order temporarily blocking the rule while their lawsuit plays out.

The rule is widely expected to increase labor costs for businesses in industries that rely on contract labor or freelancers, including trucking, manufacturing, healthcare and app-based "gig" services.

The Labor Department referred a request for comment to the U.S. Department of Justice, which declined to comment.

When it issued the rule, the Labor Department said it was meant to clarify the test for determining whether workers are independent contractors or employees, who are entitled to legal protections such as a minimum wage and overtime pay.

But the freelancers in their lawsuit said the department failed to explain why it was abandoning a simpler Trump-era rule that was favored by business groups.

That 2021 rule said the key factors in determining worker classification were the degree of control a company exercises over a worker and the worker's opportunity for profit or loss. The new rule looks at several additional factors including the permanence of a job, the degree of skill and initiative required, and whether work performed is integral to a company's business.

"Businesses are given no useful guidance on the scope of the statute and cannot structure their conduct to comply with its demands," the freelancers said in the lawsuit.

The workers said they have "a reasonable fear that they will lose business due to uncertainty or fear of liability risks under the Departments new rule." They are represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a libertarian group.

On Friday, construction trade group Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) said in a court filing that it also planned to challenge the new rule on behalf of businesses in the industry.

The group had sued the Labor Department in 2021 when it first moved to rescind the Trump-era regulation, and a federal judge held that the agency did not adequately explain why it was scrapping that rule. The department appealed, and a New Orleans-based U.S. appeals court paused the case pending the release of the new rule.

ABC last week asked the appeals court to send the case back to the lower court to decide whether the new rule is valid.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Nick Zieminski)
FILE PHOTO: Infineon headquarter is pictured before the annual results news conference in Munich, Germany, November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle/File Photo

By Sarah Marsh and Hakan Ersen

BERLIN/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The leaders of German companies from chip manufacturer Infineon to chemicals maker Evonik have warned about the threat of far-right extremism to Europe's largest economy as the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party surges in polls.

Germany's business leaders typically stay out of party politics given swings in power and have long dodged questions about the rise of the nationalist AfD, which is currently polling second in national surveys.

But a report last week that two senior AfD members participated in a meeting where plans to carry out mass deportations of citizens of foreign origin were discussed has sparked national outrage.

It has also raised fears that Germany's image as an attractive destination for foreign investment and skilled workers could be tarnished at a time when a shortage of domestic labour is hampering growth.

The AfD has said the proposals discussed at the meeting do not represent party policy, but the country's domestic spy agency has long warned of extremist strands in the party, which is under security surveillance.

"Hate and exclusion should not have any place in our society," Infineon chief Jochen Hanebeck posted on LinkedIn on Wednesday. "The idea of so-called remigration is inhumane."

"Thank you for the clear statement and words, even more special for a foreign working in Munich," wrote Infineon employee Mariana Cervan under his post.

Tens of thousands of Germans, conscious of the country's Nazi past, have taken to the streets in protests against the AfD, while politicians considered calling for the party to be banned.

Germany's main parties have ruled out cooperating with the AfD to keep it out of government but its critics worry that the party is dragging mainstream politics further to the right.

Moreover, the AfD, benefiting from the unpopularity of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition, is on track to do well in communal elections in June and even to come first in elections in three east German states in September.

Those include the state of Saxony, where Infineon is building a 5 billion euro ($5.44 billion) chip plant, its largest single investment in history.

Duesseldorf airport CEO Lars Redeligx said the deportation plans made it necessary to speak out.

"These thoughts that are a threat to the constitution are poison for Germany as an economic location," he said. "It threatens our peaceful coexistence, it threatens our prosperity, and sends out a fatal signal to the world."

Evonik chief Christian Kullmann spoke out as early as November, telling Sueddeutsche Zeitung that "all of those who carry responsibility in this country must take a clear position" on the AfD, which "damages our economy, our society, our future".

Other companies, like optical electronics group Jenoptik, have created advertising campaigns celebrating diversity and openness.

($1 = 0.9196 euros)

(Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Hakan Ersen; Additional Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Maria Martinez, Ludwig Burger and Ilona Wissenbach; Editing by Miranda Murray, Kirsten Donovan)
Guatemalas President Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla, addresses a ministerial level meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the crisis in Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York, September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

WASHINGTON/GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Former Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei has been barred from entering the U.S. over allegations of "his involvement in significant corruption," the State Department said on Wednesday.

"The State Department has credible information indicating that Giammattei accepted bribes in exchange for the performance of his public functions during his tenure as president of Guatemala, actions that undermined the rule of law and government transparency," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

The former president was criticized during his tenure for not reviving a U.N.-backed anti-corruption watchdog terminated by his predecessor, and he repeatedly clashed with the U.S. over efforts to curb graft.

Reuters was not able to immediately reach Giammattei for comment.

Giammattei was replaced on Monday by anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arevalo, after an uphill campaign due to what Arevalo has called an "attempted coup" by prosecutors to invalidate him. Giammattei had publicly vowed to carry out an orderly transition.

"The government of President Arevalo is respectful of U.S. government decisions and the criteria it considers for the ineligibility of Guatemalan citizens," a government spokesperson told Reuters.

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 opposition in Congress aiming to weaken his authority. Giammattei skipped the ceremony.

The 65-year-old Arevalo 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.

(Reporting by Eric Beech and Sofia Menchu; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Dan Whitcomb, Lisa Shumaker and Tom Hogue)
FILE PHOTO: The Department of Commerce building is seen before an expected report of new home sales numbers in Washington, U.S., January 26, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

By Karen Freifeld

(Reuters) -The U.S. government will crack down on companies that violate export rules, with stiffer penalties to deter future violations involving countries like China, Russia and Iran, a Department of Commerce official said late on Tuesday.

"There are going to have to be some penalties that get everyone's attention," Matthew Axelrod, assistant secretary for export control at Commerce, said at a New York University School of Law event on corporate compliance and enforcement in Manhattan. "I think we're on the cusp of that."

Axelrod said he viewed the $300 million penalty Seagate Technology paid in April after shipping over 7 million hard drives to China's Huawei in violation of U.S. export control laws as a "down payment."

"You can expect to see more big-ticket corporate resolutions going forward," he said.

Last year, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco described more aggressive enforcement of export controls and sanctions for national security, and said sanctions were the new Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Axelrod said he thinks Monaco meant she wants companies to invest in compliance.

"She wants companies thinking about their national security risk the way they think about their FCPA risk," he said.

Axelrod said Munich, Germany-based Siemens AG's prosecution years ago for paying bribes to foreign government officials drove compliance with the FCPA.

In 2008, Siemens paid $450 million to the Justice Department in criminal penalties, and $350 million to settle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, along with a penalty of about $800 million to Munich authorities. Executives also faced charges.

"Siemens got everyone's attention on the FCPA," Axelrod said.Axelrod co-leads a Disruptive Technology Strike Force that was created last year, along with Matthew Olsen, assistant attorney general for national security.

On Tuesday, Axelrod said the strike force has prioritized protecting advanced technologies from illegal acquisition and use by nation state actors like Russia, China and Iran

The Department of Commerce, which regulates and enforces export control rules, has drawn fire amid reports of U.S. technology illegally ending up in China and Russia in violation of regulations.

On Tuesday, Axelrod also announced enhancements to voluntary self-disclosure policies designed to get minor violations resolved more quickly and enable authorities to concentrate on more serious violations.

"We want to clear out the underbrush of lower level administrative cases ...to focus more of our time and attention on the bigger ticket items on which we're now going to be imposing higher penalties," he said.

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld; Editing by Alexandra Alper and Mark Porter)
A highway being built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) passes by the confluence of the Indus and Zanskhar rivers in the Ladakh region, India, September 17, 2020. Picture taken September 17, 2020. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/file photo

By Krishn Kaushik

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed at least two times in 2022 along their Himalayan frontier where they have been involved in a bitter standoff since 2020, according to new details that have emerged from the Indian Army's gallantry award citations.

The incidents involved hand-to-hand combat and came as New Delhi and Beijing held a series of diplomatic and military talks to resolve their worst military conflict in decades.

No deaths were reported in these incidents. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed in clashes in the area two years previously, in mid-2020.

These skirmishes in India's Ladakh region, the last of which is now known to have happened in November, 2022, show that the tensions along the undemarcated border continued much longer than previously reported.

The Indian and Chinese armies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Details of the new clashes emerged after the Indian Army awarded gallantry medals to some of its soldiers, who it said challenged Chinese troops trying to enter Indian territory in at least two incidents in 2022.

In the first incident in January, 2022, according to a citation, several soldiers of the Peoples Liberation Army attacked an Indian Army post in the eastern Ladakh region.

During physical jostling, an Indian soldier wounded at least four Chinese troops and snatched their rifles, forcing them to go back, it said.

In the second incident in November, 2022, Indian troops pushed back a group of 40 to 50 soldiers of (PLA) who were trying to enter Indian territory. A unit of Indian soldiers attacked and injured them, thus foiling the enemys plan to capture the post, another citation said.

The citations also said army units of the two countries were involved in a two-day standoff in an unspecified area in 2022.

The military and diplomatic discussions between the nuclear-armed neighbours to resolve the standoff that began in mid-2020 have not resulted in a final resolution yet.

The India-China border dispute dates back to the 1950s and the two sides fought a brief but bloody war over it in 1962.

(Reporting by Krishn Kaushik; Editing by YP Rajesh and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
FILE PHOTO: A container ship is seen near Suez Canal Bridge which is known as the "Peace Bridge" following a Suez Canal tugboat sinking yesterday after colliding with a Hong Kong-flagged LPG tanker in the waterway of the Suez Canal, Egypt, August 6, 2023.

By Angelo Amante and Elisa Anzolin

ROME/MILAN (Reuters) - Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping are causing major disruption to Italian ports, operators say, fuelling fears that a prolonged crisis may force companies to redraw routes and move traffic away from the Mediterranean more permanently.

The Iran-aligned Houthi group has been targeting vessels in the region since November, impacting commerce on a route that accounts for as much as 15% of the world's shipping traffic. The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel's war with militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Italy has in recent years taken advantage of its position at the centre of the Mediterranean to grab a share of sea traffic coming from the Suez Canal and destined for markets in Europe.

Data from think tank SRM shows some 40% of Italy's international maritime trade relies on that route, amounting to roughly 154 billion euros ($168 billion) in 2022.

In response to the Houthi attacks some shipping companies have instructed vessels to take a slower and more expensive route around southern Africa.

Operators say sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, which adds 10 to 15 days to the trip, could make it more convenient for ships to head directly to Northern Europe, bypassing the central Mediterranean.

"Our fear is that ... our German, Austrian, Hungarian customers that we wooed away from the Northern European ports in the past years will return there," said Zeno D'Agostino, head of Trieste's port authority. Container ship arrivals from Asia to the eastern Italian city have been delayed by the crisis.

D'Agostino said some exporters, particularly of higher-value goods, were considering transportation to Asia by rail, which takes roughly half the time but is more expensive.

PERFECT STORM

"It feels like a perfect storm," Rodolfo Giampieri, head of industry group Assoporti, told Reuters, saying the Houthi attacks came as the Mediterranean was becoming more central to world trade.

Giampieri said much would depend on how long the crisis lasts, but that it is likely to raise costs for companies and drive up prices of materials being shipped.

Imports from Asia are critical to many Italian businesses and there are mounting worries that the Red Sea crisis could affect activity across the country.

In the northwestern city of Genoa, four container ships did not arrive as scheduled last month and port authorities fear congestion if too many boats want to dock at the same time.

Shipping agents estimate ground transport in Genoa has decreased by up to 30% in recent weeks.

"The escalation (in the Middle East) does not seem to be getting to a solution so we, as logistics operators but also industry, probably will have to rethink supply cycles," said Giampaolo Botta, director general of Genoa's shipping agents association.

He said industries could face procurement issues in late February and early March, and might need to stock up on goods to make sure they have enough for their needs.

Antonio Majocchi, an international business professor at Luiss University in Rome, said sectors including computers, automotive and semiconductors were likely to be hit hardest if the crisis is prolonged.

He told Reuters the Red Sea turbulence may push businesses to buy what they need from markets closer to home, even if that meant higher prices. A trend towards "near-shoring" has already begun as a response to supply chain issues during the pandemic.

"(The crisis) accelerated a process that was already underway: the regionalisation of value chains .... Everyone in Italy is thinking about doing this, reducing this distance," Majocchi said.

($1 = 0.9187 euros)

(Reporting by Angelo Amante, Elisa Anzolin, Emilio Parodi, Giselda Vagnoni and Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Keith Weir and Catherine Evans)
ROME (Reuters) - Italy will prolong border controls with Slovenia until June, Rome's interior ministry said on Wednesday, citing the risk of terrorists hiding among migrants in transit on the Balkan route.

Free movement on the border with Slovenia, as stipulated by the Schengen passport-free area, was suspended in the second half of October, following the outbreak of the latest Hamas-Israel conflict.

"Border controls with Slovenia will be extended, as of Jan. 19, for a further five months," the ministry said in a statement.

It said that border checks would be carried out in a way that minimises the impact on movement of people and freight traffic.

The decision comes a day after Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi discussed migration and security threats on the Balkan route with Slovenian and Croatian counterparts.

His ministry said over 1,600 irregular migrants had been tracked down at the border between Italy and Slovenia, out of 160,000 people subjected to police checks.

Piantedosi's office said 76 people were arrested as a result of the controls, and 52 of them were charged with aiding and abetting irregular immigration.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Alvise Armellini and Tomasz Janowski)
Mizuho Financial Group logo is seen at the company's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan August 20, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

By Makiko Yamazaki and Ritsuko Shimizu

TOKYO (Reuters) -Mizuho Financial Group is in talks with overseas asset managers about deals as the major Japanese banking group looks to more than double its assets under management to $1 trillion within 10 years, a senior executive told Reuters.

Mizuho, which has about 70 trillion yen ($474.71 billion) in assets under management, aims to join "the trillion-dollar club" within a decade, said Noriyuki Sato, the head of its asset management business, in an interview.

"That's the threshold to be able to compete globally, not just in terms of volume but also quality," he said.

The target includes private assets, which Mizuho hopes to boost from about 4 trillion yen to around 20 trillion yen.

Mizuho is the latest top Japanese bank to announce plans to beef up its asset management businesses through mergers and acquisitions, with the firms expecting an end to Japan's decades-long deflation will spark a shift of dormant household savings into investments.

"We've been in full-fledged discussions with multiple overseas asset managers," Sato said.

Deals could take the form of partnerships, investments or acquisitions, Sato said, adding that alternative asset classes such as private debt, private equity and infrastructure, as well as global stocks, are areas of focus for growth.

"We'd like to shift into high gear in alternative investments," he said.

Japan is just beginning to see a shift into alternative assets, something that the United States saw years ago, said Sato, who joined Mizuho from Singapore's PhillipCapital Group last April.

Mizuho's rivals have been active in dealmaking, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group buying London-based private credit firm AlbaCore Capital last year.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings' Nikko Asset Management last month entered into advanced discussions to buy a stake in French private debt firm Tikehau Capital.

($1 = 147.4600 yen)

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Ritsuko Shimizu; Editing by Jamie Freed)
AMMAN (Reuters) - The Jordanian army's military field hospital in Khan Younis in Gaza was badly damaged on Wednesday by Israeli shelling in the vicinity of the building, and the army said it held Israel "fully responsible for a "flagrant breach of international law."

A hospital staff member was injured and would be flown back to Jordan for treatment while a patient was hit with shrapnel, the army said in a statement.

"The hospital incurred heavy damage.. The government will take all the measures necessary as a result of the aggression," the statement said, without elaborating.

The Israeli military could not immediately be reached for comment.

The hospital is one of two that Jordan's armed forces run in Gaza that suffers from acute medical shortages amid the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group following the latter's Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The kingdom, which has been among Arab neighbours pushing Israel to allow more aid, is the only country that airdrops aid to Gaza, channelling it through these two medical facilities.

Jordan succeeded in getting Israel to allow the World Food Programme (WFP) to send deliveries to Gaza through another land route that begins from Jordan that has helped to ease pressure on the main Rafah border crossing, which is limited in capacity.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Bernadette Baum)
A Palestinian walks at the site of an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 17, 2024. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

By Arafat Barbakh, Tyrone Siu and Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA/ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER/DOHA (Reuters) - Israel pressed its assault on Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sending tanks westwards while Jordan decried shelling that badly damaged its field hospital in the city.

The Jordanian army said it held Israel responsible for a "flagrant breach of international law" in damage to the facility. Israel's military denied striking or damaging the hospital, saying it opened fire after encountering a "terrorist cell" next to the hospital.

In a statement, Israel's military said it coordinated the presence of troops in the area in advance with authorities and added medics were instructed to go to safer area. It said it could not identify the source of gunfire that injured a medical worker and the hospital remained "fully functioning."

People in and around another hospital, Nasser, fled as tanks approached the district overnight following an Israeli army statement that it had come under fire from the area.

Palestinian health officials said seven people were killed by Israeli air strikes that damaged homes near the hospital, one of only a third of Gaza's hospitals still partially operational.

Farther south from the hospital in nearby Rafah, Palestinian health official said 16 people were killed when an Israeli missile hit a house in the city just before midnight on Wednesday. Several other people were wounded, they said, expecting the number of fatalities to increase.

Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said extra field hospitals were expected to be up and running in the coming days.

"These have of course been necessitated by Hamas' strategic militarization of Gaza's existing hospitals," he said, adding this showed that Hamas militants were the ones breaching international law. Hamas denies using hospitals for cover.

Explosions from shelling and air strikes sounded further west in Khan Younis as the Israeli tanks moved on. Lines of thick black smoke rose from bomb sites.

As night fell, residents reported heavy Israeli tank and aerial bombing in Khan Younis as well as the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.

Israel said it had killed six Palestinian fighters, including the southern district Hamas officer in charge of interrogating suspected spies. The military said in a statement that the killing of counter-espionage officer Bilal Nofal "significantly impacts the terrorist organisation's capacity to develop and enhance its capabilities".

'MISSILES FALLING ON US'

Further south in Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of people have moved on Israeli advice, people cried over several shrouded bodies, including of a young girl, Masa.

"We were asleep and then we found the missiles falling on us. We got up and couldn't see anything. We started checking on each other. The girl was martyred," said her aunt, Tahreer Shoman, adding that her siblings had been wounded but survived.

In central Gaza, the Israeli military said it killed militants in Deir al-Balah who tried to fire mortars at its forces. It said soldiers apprehended seven militants and killed several others and destroyed rocket launchers in the area of Bureij, from which it said 25 rockets had been fired on Tuesday.

Fighting also raged in densely populated Jabalia in northern Gaza on Wednesday, a day after Israeli tanks stormed back into parts of the north they left last week.

In early January, Israel announced it was scaling back operations in the north of the Palestinian enclave as part of what it called a more targeted approach in its war against Hamas after operations that flattened entire residential districts.

At least $15 billion will be needed just to rebuild houses in Gaza, the head of the Palestine Investment Fund, Mohammed Mustafa, told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, without taking into account the extensive damage to basic infrastructure and hospitals.

Israel's military campaign has left Gaza's population facing crisis levels of hunger and at growing risk from disease as supplies run low, aid agencies say.

"If the war in Gaza continues, more people are likely to die of hunger or famine than war," Mustafa said.

Aid destined for Palestinian residents and Israeli hostages in Gaza arrived in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday under a deal brokered by France and Qatar, Egyptian security and Red Crescent officials said.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society later said 146 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza from the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel. From the Rafah crossing with Egypt, 48 trucks entered carrying food, water and medical supplies in addition to 12 commercial trucks, it said.

The head of the United Nations' relief agency UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, described desperate scenes of overcrowding in Rafah on the Egyptian border. He said more than 1.2 million people there were seeking shelter from the fighting.

With "the struggle for survival consuming every hour", Gazans are trying to protect themselves from the cold and rain using makeshift structures of plastic sheeting, said Lazzarini in a post on the UNRWA website, renewing his call for a humanitarian ceasefire.

Communications were down across Gaza on Wednesday for a sixth day, leaving its Palestinian inhabitants unable to receive warnings on social media from the movement of Israeli forces. Most have already been forced to flee several times.

HOSTAGES

Palestinian health officials said 163 Gazans had been reported killed over the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 24,448. Israel's war on Gaza is in its fourth month.

Israel reported two more soldiers killed, taking the toll since it began ground operations in Gaza to 193.

Israel says it has killed 9,000 Hamas militants and has vowed to "eliminate" the enclave's Hamas rulers after gunmen stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. On Wednesday, Israel adjusted the number of people it says were taken hostage on Oct. 7 to 253 from 240.

Around half of the hostages were released in an October truce during which some Palestinian prisoners were also freed.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Doha, Arafat Barbakh in Gaza, Tyrone Siu at the Gaza-Israel border, southern Israel, Dan Williams and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman and Clauda Tanios in Dubai; writing by Philippa Fletcher, Gareth Jones and Deepa Babington; editing by Sharon Singleton, Toby Chopra and David Gregorio)
An error in interpreting information led the pharmaceutical company Q Pharma to set up a subsidiary in Argentina. We analyzed the data from the Spanish perspective, confesses general manager, Cesar Quintanilla, we assumed that the Social Security was like the one in Spain, but no, in Argentina there are some 50 or 60 social security funds. As a result, the consumer market for its specialized urology and allergology products fell by 80%. In the end, it worked out. Argentina contributes 1.6 million to the firms overall profits, which was about 11 million in 2023. But the example shows an error that plagues the business world. Faith in our own possibilities, hunches, misinterpretation of information and exaggerated confidence in previous successes can lead to the wrong decisions, says Han Bleichrodt, a Fundamentals of Economic Analysis professor at the University of Alicante in Spain. For that reason, he recommends that there not be a single individual who makes decisions, as is usually the case in family businesses; instead, companies should give shareholders more control, and major decisions should always be made as a group.

Bleichrodt conducted an experiment with Mohammed Abdellaoui, of the HEC Paris business school, and Cedric Gutierrez, of Bocconi University in Milan, which confirms that 83% of business decisions are based on a very optimistic assessment of entrepreneurs own attitudes, the result of their own beliefs and an overestimation of probabilities, beyond rational reflection. The study consisted of 400 interviews with volunteers who were asked to take an intelligence test; the findings were included in his article Dismantling Overconfident Behavior when Betting on Oneself, which was published in the journal Management Science.

Once the results were in, participants were invited to bet on two levels. First, they were asked whether they had scored higher than 60% on the test. In general, they tended to do fairly well or even somewhat underestimate scores. Then, they were asked whether they were in the top 20 in test results. There, participants did overestimate themselves. 83% thought they were better than everyone else. You always have to keep in mind that success is part of chance, Bleichrodt explains, but we have no control over uncertainty. Minimal control of a situation leads you to think that you control everything, and you have to trust the professionals, who will be more objective when it comes to making decisions. No matter how small or family-run the company, a shareholders meeting, a governing body or a board of directors will always be more reliable, he says.

At Q Pharma, Quintanilla is responsible for day-to-day decision-making without consulting anyone. For the big and strategic decisions, this family firm has created a board of directors made up of family members and an external financial advisor. They analyze the sector, conduct surveys among opinion leaders and consumers, but there are always loose ends that lead you to make decisions by instinct, he says. Ultimately, the managers opinion outweighs the data and, although he or she is subject to feelings and perceptions, experience also leads them to improve over time, to reflect more and to know better which databases to use. In fact, one of the successes of this 20-year-old company, which exports to over 15 countries and has over 80 employees, was achieved by intuition. His father suggested creating a company for developing medical cannabis, based on a news item in the press. The result was a total success, we got there at the right time.

Javier Fur, CEO of Marjal Group, a family business specializing in real estate development, tourist resorts and accommodation for professionals in co-living, agrees with the academic analysis. You have to have a bit of courage and, at the same time, limit the risks, which is not easy. Hunches and previous experiences are dangerous, he admits, business plans must be conservative and [there must be] an alternative plan. His group, which earned a profit of some 50 million last year, bases its daily decisions on a road map and leaves the ones about openings or growth to the consensus of the boards of directors of each of the companys units.

That safeguard did not prevent some mistakes that served as learning experiences, especially ones related to geographical relocation. With facilities spread between the Costa Brava and the Costa del Sol in Spain, we thought it would be easy to set up a resort 400 kilometers [about 250 miles] from our headquarters, but that was not the case. We learned that we had to run a longer integration process at each site for the teams to absorb our culture. All innovation involves a degree of failure, he says, because youre not going to get it right every time. Fur adds that its important to get it right more than you fail, but you dont have to be afraid if you want to move forward and innovate. That risk helps with foresight, which is crucial in a world as competitive as todays, where you need unique and authentic value propositions. To this end, he recommends making sure you have a lot of information, making collegial decisions and not losing focus.

The family founded Hiperber, established by brothers Jose and Ernesto Bernabeu with a salted fish store in Elche, which currently has 79 supermarkets, a profit of 200 million ($217,484,600)and employs 1,200 people. We have a family protocol [that was] signed over 25 years ago, says its CEO, Jose Bernabeu, the son and nephew of the founders. [The protocol] shapes the companys operation for all matter. The management committee has a financial director, a sales director and a commercial director who carry out the day-to-day actions, but purchases and negotiations are voted on and chosen by a large majority or by consensus in quarterly meetings in which even the cousinsfuture shareholdersparticipate. Ultimately, everyone has to be convinced and everyone share the consequences of the decision. The companys founders instilled that sentiment. More than the characters in Succession, we are like the ones in Peaky Blinders, but because of the family unity, not because of the business model, he jokes.
By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday urged political, economic and business leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos to look beyond profit and try to heal an "increasingly lacerated" world with moral and ethical decisions.

In his message to the world's movers and shakers meeting at the Swiss resort, Francis urged them to tackle the "injustices that are at the root causes of conflict", primarily hunger and the exploitation of natural resources for the benefit of the few.

"Sadly, as we look around, we find an increasingly lacerated world, in which millions of persons  men, women, fathers, mothers, children  whose faces are for the most part unknown to us, continue to suffer, not least from the effects of prolonged conflicts and actual wars," Francis, 87, wrote.

Francis, who has made defence of the poor and immigrants one of the hallmarks of his 11-year-old papacy, said globalization must have a "fundamentally moral dimension" in economic, cultural and political discussions taking place at the WEF.

States and businesses had to join together in promoting "far-sighted and ethically sound" models of globalization that place the common good over the "pursuit of power and individual gain," he said.

"How is it possible that in today's world people are still dying of hunger, being exploited, condemned to illiteracy, lacking basic medical care, and left without shelter?" he asked.

The Argentine-born pope, the first from the Global South, said the world situation required that "businesses themselves be increasingly guided not simply by the pursuit of fair profit, but also by high ethical standards".

The "widespread exploitation" of male, female and child labourers with low wages and no real prospects for personal and professional development must stop, he said.

"It is my hope, then, that the participants in this years Forum will be mindful of the moral responsibility that each of us has in the fight against poverty, the attainment of an integral development for all our brothers and sisters, and the quest for a peaceful coexistence among peoples," he said.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Mark Potter)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia will review bilateral agreements with 15 nations from which it sources labourers in a bid to address exploitative practices and manpower imbalances that have left thousands of migrant workers stranded without jobs, officials said.

Since last year, thousands of migrants, mostly from Bangladesh and Nepal, have been left in limbo after arriving in Malaysia, where they were told that jobs promised to them in exchange for steep recruitment fees were no longer available.

The plight of the migrants coincided with concerns over workplace abuses in Malaysia, with several companies facing U.S. bans over the use of forced labour in recent years. Many labourers said they had not been paid any wages.

Speaking to reporters late on Tuesday, the labour and home affairs ministers said the distribution of labourers was uneven across the economy, prompting a need to review the bilateral agreements.

They said Malaysia still had a shortage of workers in the agriculture and plantations sector, while quotas have been exceeded in other industries.

"We will revisit the agreements looking at various elements including fees, costs, contract conditions, health and so on," Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said, adding that the government would allow the transfer of worker quotas across sectors.

Workers from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal account for over 70% of Malaysia's migrant labour, with the remainder coming from countries including India, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Thailand.

Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said authorities had completed investigations into five firms involved in hiring hundreds of workers who later found themselves without jobs.

He said employers who hired such workers must pay them wages even though they do not have jobs, adding that companies and individuals who violate the law will be barred from hiring migrant labourers.

Sim said 751 Bangladesh migrant workers had filed cases with the labour department to claim unpaid wages, involving a total of 2.2 million ringgit ($467,687).

($1 = 4.7040 ringgit)

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; editing by Miral Fahmy)
FILE PHOTO: The coat of arms of Transdniestria is depicted on a banner in central Tiraspol, in Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniestria May 5, 2022. REUTERS/Vladislav Bachev/File Photo

By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU (Reuters) - A senior official of Moldova's pro-European government said on Wednesday that his latest talks with the pro-Russian separatist Transdniestria region had been "quite difficult" as tension rises in the three-decade-old standoff.

The region split from Moldova before the collapse of Soviet rule and fought a brief war against the newly independent state lying between Ukraine and Romania.

Transdniestria has since stood on Moldova's eastern fringe with little turmoil or violence -- 2,000 Russian "peacekeepers" remain on the line separating the two.

A fresh dispute has emerged over Moldova's imposition of customs duties on exports and imports from Transdniestria - part of the ex-Soviet state's efforts to join the European Union.

Moldova's deputy prime minister, Oleg Serebrean, said the latest talks between the sides on Tuesday, in Transdniestria's main town of Tiraspol, had focused on the new tax regime.

"The meeting in Tiraspol took place in quite a difficult situation, both in national and regional terms," Serebrean told a news conference in the capital, Chisinau. "But I cannot say that the meeting produced no results. We did get results."

Serebrean dismissed allegations that the regulations would hurt the region's businesses, saying they involved modest increases in duty. He said the region's residents would benefit from medical facilities and schools in the rest of the country.

Three decades of negotiations have produced little movement towards resolving the dispute with the separatists, who rely heavily on Moscow for financial assistance.

President Maia Sandu has said that Moldolva could press ahead with its bid to join the EU without Transdniestria, citing the divided island of Cyprus as a precedent in membership talks.

Sandu has denounced Moscow's war in neighbouring Ukraine and singled out Russia -- and endemic corruption -- as the biggest threats facing her country, one of the poorest in Europe.

Parts of Russian missiles have landed in Moldova. Separatist authorities last week accused Moldova's authorities of training soldiers to launch attacks on its institutions and leaders.

One-on-one talks with Transdniestria are held under the auspices of the 57-nation Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which has been mediating for decades. They replaced a longstanding "5+2" format in which Russia, Ukraine and the United States participated, along with observers from the EU and the United States. That format was abandoned after Ukraine refused to take part alongside Russia, citing the Kremlin's 22-month-old invasion.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas; Editing by Ron Popeski and Leslie Adler)
CEO of Telenor, Sigve Brekke speaks during a news conference held in Helsinki, Finland April 9, 2019. Lehtikuva/Roni Rekomaa via REUTERS

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Norway's Telenor hopes to see consolidation in the European telecoms sector although the company itself does not have concrete plans at the moment, its CEO told the Reuters Global Markets Forum in Davos on Wednesday.

Sigve Brekke said there was a growing sense in Europe that the continent's telecom market is too fragmented.

"We see now some consolidation attempts in Spain and in (the) UK and in Italy," he said, adding Telenor is waiting to see what the regulators would have to say about those attempts.

Britain's Vodafone is in discussions about potential tie-ups in Italy, facing tough regulatory hurdles.

"We did try to consolidate in Denmark a few years ago... right now we don't have any concrete projects," Brekke said.

Telenor has about 200 million customers across its Asian joint ventures and its Nordic businesses, with more than 10 million of those being mobile subscribers in the Nordic region.

Almost half of the company's Nordic services revenue stems from its Norwegian customers, with Sweden, Finland and Denmark supplying the other half.

The Norwegian group has been restructuring its Asian businesses, building bigger units in Thailand and Malaysia via local mergers, and last month agreed to sell its Pakistan unit to state group Pakistan Telecommunications.

(Join GMF, a chat room hosted on LSEG Messenger, for live interviews: https://lseg.group/3TN7SHH)

(Reporting by Divya Chowdhury in Davos and Victoria Klesty in Oslo, editing by Terje Solsvik)
FILE PHOTO: The Iranian flag is seen flying over a street in Tehran, Iran, February 3, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

By Asif Shahzad and Saleem Ahmed

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan recalled its ambassador from neighbouring Iran on Wednesday to protest at a "blatant breach" of its sovereignty after Tehran said it launched missile attacks on militant bases in southwestern Pakistan.

Iran's foreign minister said it hit militants in "missile and drone" strikes. State media said Iranian missiles struck two bases of the Sunni Muslim group Jaish al-Adl, designated a "foreign terrorist organisation" by the U.S. State Department.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan said a violation of its airspace resulted in the deaths of two children but has not confirmed the nature of the violation, or the location of the strikes.

Only militants were hit, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Forum, alleging those attacked were linked to Israel.

Pakistan and Iran have in the past had rocky relations, but the strikes are the highest-profile cross-border intrusion in recent years.

The strikes were launched a day after similar attacks carried out by Tehran inside other neighbours, Iraq and Syria. Baghdad recalled its ambassador from Tehran after Iran's state-backed media said it had hit an Israeli espionage centre.

Provincial officials in Pakistan said two children were killed and several others injured in strikes near the Iran border.

The violation was unprovoked and unacceptable, said Pakistani foreign ministry spokeswoman, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch. Pakistan reserved "the right to respond to this illegal act", a message it had conveyed to the Iranian government, she said.

Pakistan would not allow Iran's ambassador, currently visiting his home country, to return, Baloch said.

A joint border trade committee meeting had been canceled, and a Pakistani trade delegation had been recalled from Chabahar in Iran, said government official Aurangzeb Badini.

"Further escalation is possible, though Islamabad has strong incentives to be cautious," said Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Center's South Asia Institute, adding that Beijing might also step in to help mediate.

"China has close ties to both Iran and Pakistan, and it has a strong interest in the crisis not spiraling out of control ...it will likely quietly press the two sides to step back from the brink" he said.

STRIKES CLOSE TO IRAN BORDER

Jaish al-Adl has in the past mounted attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan.

Officials in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan, which borders Iran, said that four missiles had hit the Panjgur district close to the border.

"Four missiles were fired in the village of Koh-i-Sabaz which is around 50 km (31 miles) inside Pakistan soil," a senior official of the Panjgur administration told Reuters.

"A mosque and three houses were damaged in the attack," another official said, adding that two young girls were killed and three other people injured.

Jaish al-Adl, which says it seeks greater rights and better living conditions for ethnic minority Baluchis, has claimed responsibility for several attacks in recent years on Iranian security forces in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan.

In its previous iteration as Jundallah, the group had pledged allegiance to Iraq- and Syria-based jihadist group the Islamic State.

Iran's Amirabdollahian had a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani, according to an Iranian foreign ministry statement, and stressed Tehran's respect for Pakistan's sovereignty.

"Iran's security has been repeatedly targeted by Jaish al- Adl terrorist group from Pakistani soil and we are hopeful that stronger security cooperation between the two countries continue," Amirabdollahian said.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad in Islamabad and Saleem Ahmed in Quetta, Pakistan; Additional reporting by Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad; Editing by Nick Macfie, Bernadette Baum, Ros Russell, William Maclean)
FILE PHOTO: Polish members of parliament from the Law and Justice (PiS) party sit next to a poster with images of former Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski and his deputy Maciej Wasik, during a parliamentary session in Warsaw, Poland, January 16, 2024. Ag

WARSAW (Reuters) - A Polish court has ordered that an ex-minister who is on hunger strike in prison be force-fed, the president said on Wednesday, a case that has stirred raw emotions amid a conflict between the old and new administrations over the rule of law.

Poland's former Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski and his deputy Maciej Wasik were detained at the presidential palace in Warsaw last week and sent to prison after being convicted of abuse of power in former roles.

The two members of the former Law and Justice (PiS) government - of which President Andrzej Duda is an ally - announced they were going on a hunger strike after their imprisonment.

It couldn't immediately be determined which court Duda was referring to, and the order could not immediately be confirmed by Reuters.

The case comes as a new pro-European government is attempting to roll back reforms implemented by the previous administration that critics say increased political influence over the courts while also holding those it accuses of wrongdoing to account.

Rolling back the previous government's judicial reforms is essential to unblock billions in European Union funds.

PiS has sought to portray Kaminski and Wasik as political prisoners, a description that has been rejected by the government and human rights activists.

"Today I received information from the wife of Mariusz Kaminski that... a court order has been made that he should be force-fed," Duda told reporters at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

"I again call on (Justice) Minister Bodnar, the prosecutor general, in whose hands lies the ability to end the prsion sentence of Mariusz Kaminski and Maciej Wasik, he can do it at any time."

Justice Minister Adam Bodnar has questioned why Duda does not use his own right as president to pardon the pair, instead initiating a longer procedure to help secure their freedom.

Kaminski and Wasik were first convicted of abuse of power in 2015 for allowing agents under the former's command to use entrapment in an investigation. They denied wrongdoing and were pardoned by Duda, allowing them to take up their government posts.

In that case, lawyers questioned whether Duda had the power to pardon Kaminski before an appeals court issued a final ruling.

Last year, after Prime Minister Donald Tusk came to power, the Supreme Court said the case should be reopened and Kaminski and Wasik were sentenced by a lower court in December to two years in prison.

They were not immediately sent to prison amid a legal dispute over whether they had lost their immunity to prosecution as members of parliament.

(Reporting by Alan Charlish; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
(Reuters) - Russia has allocated an additional 107.7 billion roubles ($1.23 billion) from its rainy day fund to a state company that has been purchasing aircraft from foreign lessors, the finance ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry said it had purchased bonds of NLK-Finance, a subsidiary of state-owned insurance company NSK, bringing the total amount spent on NLK-Finance bonds to 296.8 billion roubles ($3.38 billion).

After the West imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow re-registered aircraft leased from Western companies and then started negotiations to buy them out. Most of the planes were manufactured by Boeing and Airbus.

Russia has already settled insurance claims with Western lessors including AerCap, for over 100 planes, using money from the rainy day fund and transferring ownership of the planes to NSK.

($1 = 87.8330 roubles)

(Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov and Darya Korsunskaya; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
(Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday its forces had carried out a precision strike a day earlier on a building housing "foreign fighters" in Ukraine's second city Kharkiv.

The defence ministry said the fighters were mostly French mercenaries and the building was destroyed, with more than 60 people killed. It did not provide evidence, and Reuters could not verify the claims.

Local officials in Kharkiv said two Russian missiles struck a residential area in the centre of the city on Tuesday, injuring 17 people, two of them seriously, and badly damaging homes.

The French foreign ministry did not immediately respond for comment.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Alistair Bell)
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to the media following a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 17, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Tuesday that would have frozen security aid to Israel unless the State Department produces a report within 30 days examining whether Israel committed human rights violations in its campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

Seventy-two senators voted to set the resolution aside, versus 11 who backed it, easily clearing the simple majority needed to kill the resolution in the 100-member chamber.

The vote was forced by Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. While the resolution was handily defeated, it reflected growing concern among some of President Joe Biden's fellow Democrats, especially on the left, over the supply of U.S. weapons to Israel despite the Gaza conflict's steep toll on Palestinian civilians.

"We must ensure that U.S. aid is being used in accordance with human rights and our own laws," Sanders said in a speech urging support, lamenting what he described as the Senate's failure to consider any measure looking at the war's effect on civilians.

The White House had said it opposed the resolution, which could have paved the way toward the imposition of conditions on security assistance to Israel.

Senators who opposed the measure said it sent the wrong message, at a time when Israel had said it was shifting to a more targeted campaign.

"This resolution is not only off-base, it's dangerous. It sends absolutely the wrong signal at the wrong time," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

The United States gives Israel $3.8 billion in military assistance each year, ranging from fighter jets to powerful bombs that could destroy Hamas tunnels. Biden has asked Congress to approve an additional $14 billion.

Sanders' resolution was filed under the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows Congress to direct State to provide a human rights report and other information on any country received U.S. security assistance.

If the resolution had passed, it would have required the State Department to provide a report to Congress within 30 days. After receiving the report, Congress could consider another resolution proposing changes to security assistance to Israel.

Israel launched the war to eradicate Hamas, an Iran-backed group sworn to Israel's destruction, after militants stormed across the border fence on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 240 hostages, Israeli tallies showed.

Gaza health authorities, whose data the United Nations has deemed broadly reliable, said the war, now in its fourth month, had by Tuesday killed 24,285 people in the Palestinian enclave.

Thousands more bodies are feared lost in the rubble left after Israeli bombing.

The war has driven most of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes, some of them several times, and caused a humanitarian crisis, with food, fuel and medical supplies running low.

Biden's administration says it has pushed Israel to reduce civilian casualties, but Israel says it will not rest until Hamas is wiped out, and the militants are showing no sign of losing the means to resist.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Richard Chang and Michael Perry)
Sierra Leone's former President Ernest Bai Koroma addresses an international observers briefing on Kenya's general election organised by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in Nairobi, Kenya August 11, 2022. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/F

FREETOWN (Reuters) -A Sierra Leone high court on Wednesday allowed ex-president Ernest Bai Koroma, charged this month with treason, to travel abroad on medical grounds.

Koroma, 70, was charged with four offences for his alleged role in a failed military attempt to topple the West African country's government in November.

There are concerns Koroma's indictment could stoke tension brought by a contentious election in which President Julius Maada Bio was reelected for a second term in June 2023. The main opposition candidate rejected the results and international partners questioned the vote.

Months later, on Nov. 26, gunmen attacked military barracks, a prison and other locations in Sierra Leone, freeing about 2,200 inmates and killing more than 20 people.

The government said afterwards that it was a foiled coup led mostly by Koroma's bodyguards. They summoned the ex-president for questioning at the start of December.

Koroma condemned the attacks shortly after they happened. His lawyers have called the charges "trumped up" and part of a "political vendetta".

The magistrate overseeing the case on Wednesday ruled in favour of Koroma's lawyers, who had asked the high court to grant Koroma a trip abroad for medical reasons.

The ex-president will be allowed to travel to Nigeria for no more than three months, the magistrate said before adjourning the case to March 6.

Sierra Leone's attorney general declined to comment.

Koroma was not in court on Wednesday, a Reuters reporter said. He was granted bail when the court indicted him on Jan. 3 and has since been confined to his home in the capital Freetown.

Nigeria had previously offered to host him on a temporary basis, which he had accepted, according to a letter from West Africa's main regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, seen by Reuters.

According to Sierra Leone's penal code, a person found guilty of treason could face imprisonment for life.

Twelve other people also have been charged with treason in connection with the failed coup, including ex-police and correctional officers and a member of Koroma's security detail.

(Reporting by Umaru FofanaWriting by Sofia ChristensenEditing by Nick Macfie and Toby Chopra)
As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen summarized on Tuesday in Davos, the world is going through an era of conflict and confrontation, of fragmentation and fear that represents the greatest risk to the global order in the post-war era. The opening day of the World Economic Forum demonstrated the severity of the risks, including the current crises  Ukraine and the Middle East  and the great, all-encompassing power struggle. Senior representatives from Beijing, Washington and Brussels disembarked in Davos, Switzerland, to argue their positions before what is probably the most powerful audience in the world: a confluence of economic, political, technological and opinion leaders.

A cross-reading of the approaches of these three major global players  the two superpowers, the United States and China, and the EU  is not reassuring. There is no surefire way to keep the competition between the first two from turning into a confrontation, nor is there a guaranteed way for the EU to succeed in building its secure autonomy and contributing to a world based more on rules than on force.

Chinas Premier Li Qiang, who is leading the countrys large delegation to Davos, began the speeches. He agreed with Von der Leyens diagnosis that, after decades of progress, trust has been eroded and needs to be rebuilt. Without naming the United States, Li made several attacks on the US based on two underlying political complaints: the first is opposition to the restrictive trade measures promoted by Washington, which believes that Beijing is abusing free trade and exploiting Western technology for shady purposes; the second is US reluctance to make way for a reform of the world order that establishes shared and accepted rules with a very different balance of power than the post-war period.

Li Qiang, Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China, on a screen as he speaks during a plenary session in the Congress Hall at the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. GIAN EHRENZELLER (EFE)

We should go for multilateralism. It is the right direction, Li said in response to a question in a plenary session. But what are the rules? Who sets the rules? If the rules are defined by only a few countries, then we will have to put quotation marks around the word multilateralism. It must be based on rules recognized by the whole community, he said. This approach is in line with multiple declarations that Beijing and Moscow signed, calling for a change to the global order, which they consider to be abusively dominated by the West.

Earlier in his speech, Li offered a range of proposals to rebuild the broken trust through the levers of economic cooperation. Those included suggestions to strengthen the major countries coordination of macroeconomic policies and a range of ideas that can be summarized as rejecting trade barriers and protectionism, maintaining the fluidity of supply chains and relying on product specialization.

Distrust between the US and China

That is largely the expression of a desire to return to the situation before tensions between the US and China worsened, when the Asian giant was able to grow spectacularly. But there is an absolute consensus in Washington  perhaps the only one in hyperpolarized US politics  that it can no longer trust Chinas rise and serene incorporation into the world order, after the Asian giants years of abusing a framework that gave it an advantage, and that providing it with cutting-edge technology to support military and security forces, the future use of which is uncertain, would be suicidal.

A few months ago, White House security advisor Jake Sullivan gave a speech in which he detailed the current US presidents vision of the economic and technological fields as essential pillars of security strategy. Hence the US restrictions on exporting strategic technologies, like high-end microchips, to China. In Davos, Sullivan used his plenary speech to say that, in his opinion, Washingtons restrictive measures toward China are not a blockade but rather actions limited to specific areas. Thus, he responded to a between-the-lines interpretation of Lis speech, which insinuated that restrictive attitudes impede the progress of the less prosperous. Sullivan also defended the Biden administrations policies on the Middle East crisis.

Significantly, Washingtons top representatives in Davos are Sullivan himself and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a tandem associated with diplomacy and security, while Beijing chose to send the premier, who traditionally serves as a reference on economic issues. Indeed, Li used his speech to announce that the Chinese economy will grow by 5.2% in 2023.

Here, the Biden administration seeks to consolidate its policy of strengthening Washingtons international alliances, which Trump had disturbed, to close ranks with them in the face of Putins challenge, to try to find ways to resolve the conflict in Gaza and to convince allies and companies of the need to reduce dependency on China, which the US believes could prove dangerous. Blinken did not make any public speeches on Tuesday; instead, he took advantage of the forum to hold bilateral meetings.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks from panel to panel at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Associated Press/LaPresse (APN)

To regain trust, prejudices must be eliminated, Li said. That was another indirect dig at Washington, which Li accuses of acting based on speculation about future behavior. On several occasions, the premier tried to link his advocacy of free trade in technology  which is in Beijings interest  to benefits for developing countries as well. He slipped in the idea that it is unacceptable that new technologies only benefit a few.

Li was followed by Von der Leyen, who sought to present the EU as a geopolitical actor that can lead a response that rebuilds broken trust and the fragmented global situation, amid competition that we have not seen in decades. She also mentioned the EU as a leader in overcoming huge challenges, from regional crises to climate change, from the advent of artificial intelligence to geographical changes.

Von der Leyen vindicated the EUs resilience, noting its ability to quickly free itself from energy dependence on Russia, and she underscored the momentous opening of negotiations for Ukraines accession. Kyivs entry into the EU will be Europes answer to the call of history, she said.

As for the Ukrainian crisis, President Volodymir Zelenskiy also spoke in Davos. He did not want to attach too much importance to the current US and EU difficulties in unblocking new aid for Kiev, but he harshly criticized the members hesitation to deliver weapons in the past; in his opinion, that led to lost opportunities. Zelenskiy flatly rejected diplomatic solutions to freeze the conflict: Putin is a predator who does not settle for frozen products. The only solution, Zelenskiy said, is a just and lasting peace. His speech clearly contextualized the initiative to hold a summit to push for peace in Ukraine, which was announced in Bern the previous day.

In regard to the EU, throughout her speech, Von der Leyen emphasized the risk of disinformation as a threat that can undermine the operational capacity of democracies. She defended the regulatory measures that the EU has taken so far in the technological field but expressed her determination that Brussels serve not only as a regulatory actor, but also as a driver of European technological capabilities. She announced that the EU will allow start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to access its supercomputers, similar to what Microsoft is doing with ChatGPT, running it on its own supercomputers. That represents an attempt to compete in the strategic technology race.

Von der Leyen also briefly took stock of European actions to reduce the risks of dependency, a concept she presented at Davos last year that was subsequently very successful, supplanting the earlier idea of decoupling that was widely circulated in Washington. Her speech also mentioned the risk inherent in Chinas first measures to restrict strategic material exports and Chinese companies strong dominance in green technology sectors.

Significantly, however, Von der Leyen did not utter a single word related to the Gaza conflict in her speech. That is a clear indication of the members serious divisions on this issue, one of the flashpoints in this risk-filled world. It is evidence of the EUs serious problems being an effective geopolitical actor in the era of conflict and confrontation that the president of the European Commission described.

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South Korean soldiers and a U.S. soldier stand guard in the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, South Korea, February 7, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo

By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea has sanctioned two individuals, three entities and 11 ships linked to North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Faced with drawn-out gridlock at the United Nations, Seoul has turned to slapping sanctions on Pyongyang independently or together with Washington and Tokyo, seeking to squeeze its sources of funding.

Wednesday's action came days after North Korea fired a new intermediate range, solid-fuel hypersonic missile, which South Korea and the United States condemned as a serious violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Pyongyang also broke with decades of cross-border policy, dismantling some government entities handling ties between the neighbours and declaring the South a separate, enemy state.

The newly blacklisted targets have chiefly been involved in illegal energy smuggling at sea, the South's foreign ministry said.

On Wednesday, South Korea's military said its navy had held three days of joint drills from Monday with Japanese and U.S. troops, along with the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, to improve their responses to North Korea's threats.

The nuclear envoys of the three countries are set to hold talks in Seoul on Thursday, a day after talks between the South Korean and Japanese envoys.

They said they viewed military co-operation between North Korea and Russia as a serious threat to international stability, and vowed to further boost efforts to block North Korea's access to materials and funds for nuclear and missile weapons.

The leader of the South's main opposition Democratic Party, which has long pushed for reconciliation, criticised North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for describing the South as the "primary foe".

President Yoon Suk Yeol has called Pyongyang's move a political act aimed at dividing the South, and warned that any North Korean provocation would prompt responses on a "multiplied scale".

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by Hyunsu Yim, Heekyong Yang; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez)
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Sweden has summoned the Iranian charge daffaires to demand the immediate release of Swedish citizens being held in custody in Iran, the Swedish foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

"The Government is working intensively and tirelessly to secure the release without delay of Swedish citizens detained in Iran for no apparent reason," the ministry said in a statement.

"In late 2023, a man with Swedish and Iranian citizenship was detained for no apparent reason," the statement said.

A Swedish man in his 20s was also arrested in Iran earlier in January, the ministry said this week.

Those events have added to tense relations between the two countries since 2019, when Sweden arrested a former Iranian official for his part in the mass execution and torture of political prisoners in the 1980s.

Last month, Iran began the trial against a Swedish national, Johan Floderus, a European Union employee who has been imprisoned since April 2022. He was charged with spying for Israel and "corruption on earth," a crime that carries the death penalty.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry has advised Swedes against travelling to Iran.

(Reporting by Johannes Birkebaek; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
General view outside the Northvolt facility in Vasteras, Sweden, September 29, 2021. Picture taken September 29, 2021. REUTERS/Helena Soderpalm/File Photo

(Reuters) - Swedish lithium-ion battery producer Northvolt said on Wednesday it had committed to go ahead with its planned investment in an electric vehicle (EV) battery plant near Heide, Germany.

"Northvolt's planned major investment is a huge success for the west coast, for Schleswig-Holstein and Germany as a whole, Economy Minister Robert Habeck told German newspaper Die Welt.

Subject to the approval of both local communities of Lohe-Rickelshof and Norderwoehrden, construction will begin promptly, Northvolt said in a statement, adding the project would create some 3,000 jobs.

Earlier this month, the European Commission approved 902 million euros ($980.02 million) in German state aid for the plant, made up of a 700 million euro direct grant and a 202 million euro guarantee.

($1 = 0.9204 euros)

(Writing by Linda Pasquini; Editing by Madeline Chambers)
FILE PHOTO: Airplane is seen in front of Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration, August 6, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Ben Blanchard and Michael Martina

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's defence ministry said it detected 18 Chinese air force planes operating around Taiwan and carrying out "joint combat readiness patrols" with Chinese warships on Wednesday, the first large-scale military activity after the Taiwanese election.

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has over the past four years regularly sent warplanes and warships into the skies and waters around the island as it seeks to assert sovereignty claims that the Taipei government rejects.

Taiwan voted for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Lai Ching-te as its next president on Saturday, a man Beijing has repeatedly blasted as a dangerous separatist and bringer of war.

Taiwan's defence ministry said that starting around 7:50 p.m. (1150 GMT) on Wednesday it had detected 18 aircraft including Su-30 fighters operating off northern and central Taiwan and to the island's southwest.

Eleven of those aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, or areas close by, working with Chinese warships to carry out "joint combat readiness patrols", the ministry added.

The strait's median line once served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides, but Chinese planes now regularly fly over it. China says it does not recognise the line's existence.

Taiwan sent its own forces to monitor, its defence ministry said.

"The security and prosperity of the Taiwan Strait region are closely related to global development and stability, and are obligations and responsibilities that all parties in the region must share," it said in a statement.

"The military will continue to strengthen its self-defence capabilities in accordance with enemy threats and self-defence needs, and respond to regional threats."

There was no immediate response from China's defence ministry.

Earlier on Wednesday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said Beijing's position that it would not renounce using force to bring Taiwan under its control was aimed at foreign interference and a tiny number of separatists, but added that Taiwanese needed to be disabused of "biases" against China.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the United States was closely monitoring Beijing's actions and urged it not to use Taiwan's election as "pretext for escalation."

"We have consistently urged restraint and no unilateral change to the status quo, which has preserved peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region for decades," the spokesperson said.

One source familiar with the Biden administration's thinking said "it would not be surprising to see Beijing use the next few months to gradually ratchet up pressure on Taiwan."

"We've already seen diplomatic pressure and threats of further economic pressure. And that pressure could continue even after the inauguration," the person said on condition of anonymity.

Lai, who takes office on May 20, has repeatedly offered talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says he will maintain peace and stability across the strait, but that only Taiwan's people can decide its future.

Vincent Chao, spokesperson for Lai's campaign and head of international affairs for the DPP, told the U.S. Institute of Peace think tank that the new administration would be one of "continuation" and "no surprises", while maintaining strong deterrence along with the U.S. and other countries in the region.

He said the administration would make every effort to be responsible and pragmatic and avoid provocations, while maintaining that deterrence.

"We must never give an opportunity for (Chinese leader) Xi Jinping to wake up one day and decide that today's a good day," he said.

"It's all based on risk and cost ... And so the risk and cost of him taking action must be astronomically high," Chao said, while adding: "We're also committed to keeping the risk and costs of not taking action very, very low."

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina in Washington; Editing by Gareth Jones, Mark Potter and Jamie Freed)
By Antoni Slodkowski

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Poland's new government is looking into how it can make more ammunition and military equipment as it works on a new aid package for Ukraine, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in Davos on Wednesday.

Warsaw has been a close ally of Kyiv during Russia's war in Ukraine, but relations were dealt a blow last year by a dispute over grain imports and a blockade of some border crossings by Polish truckers demanding that the European Union reinstate a permit system for Ukrainian hauliers.

Sikorski signalled his intention to put ties back on a stronger footing by visiting Ukraine last month, shortly after his appointment to the new Western-looking government, and the new government has announced a new aid package for Kyiv.

"We are looking at all issues to do with Ukraine with fresh eyes," Sikorski told Reuters in an interview at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

"We're examining what options we have of making more ammunition and equipment and also what we still have in our stores."

Though Warsaw has provided Kyiv with military and financial aid since Russia's invasion, the previous government under the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party said last year it was carrying out only previously agreed arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Sikorski's remarks indicated Warsaw is looking into ways to produce more ammunition and military hardware to be able to send more military aid to Kyiv.

"What we think and communicate to our allies is that the cost of deterring Mr Putin after he'd conquered Ukraine would be much bigger than the cost of supplying Ukraine to effectively defend itself against his act of aggression," he said.

DEAL WITH TRUCKERS

Sikorski welcomed a deal reached this week under which Polish truckers agreed to suspend their protests calling for the EU to reinstate a system which it waived after Russia's invasion but which Polish hauliers said created unfair competition.

Sikorski acknowledged that Ukraine and Poland, which is a member of both the EU and NATO, must keep working on resolving challenges.

"Poland shouldn't be the country that bears the brunt of most of the cost of solidarity with Ukraine on behalf of all of the European Union...the cost is inevitable, we accept it, but it should be born more fairly," he said.

He endorsed a U.S. plan to confiscate up to $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine, saying: "It's the aggressor who should pay for the damage to Ukraine."

Sikorski said Poland was "back from a faraway trip into populism" after eight years of PiS in power.

"I hope we inspire democrats around the world that you can win against populist politics. We now need to bring back rule of law, respect for the constitution, respect for the rights of citizens," he said.

PiS were accused of democratic backsliding during their time in office, but the party says its policies sought to remove the residue of communist rule, protect Poland's sovereignty and raise living standards.

(Additonal reporting by Alan Charlish in Warsaw, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
FILE PHOTO: Workers assemble a string of buoys, to deter migrants from crossing the Rio Grande river, at the international border with Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File Photo

By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday said it would reconsider a recent decision requiring Texas to remove a 1,000-foot-long (305-meter) floating barrier it had placed in the Rio Grande river to deter migrants from illegally crossing the border with Mexico.

The decision by the full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans sets aside a divided three-judge panel's December ruling, which had sided with the Biden administration and said that the state could not install the string of buoys without permission from the federal government.

That ruling was a setback for Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, who has strongly criticized Democratic President Joe Biden's handling of record numbers of migrants crossing the border illegally.

The 5th Circuit said it would hear arguments in the case in May. Most of the court's 17 active judges are appointees of Republican presidents, but two of the three judges who decided the case in December were appointed by Democrats.

Abbott's office, the office of Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The floating barrier is part of Abbott's broader effort to deter and punish illegal border crossings, collectively known as Operation Lone Star.

Texas has placed concertina wire fencing on private property along the border, flown or bussed tens of thousands of migrants to Democrat-led cities and states, and recently passed a law authorizing state officials to arrest, prosecute and deport people who cross the border illegally.

All of those initiatives have spawned court battles between Texas and the Biden administration and civil rights groups.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot)
FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 16, 2024. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

(Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Ukraine and its people on Wednesday to seize the initiative to help determine the course of the 22-month-old war against Russia and secure world-wide support.

Zelenskiy has returned home from discussions with political and business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he urged the West to tighten sanctions pressure on the Kremlin and to step up its support for Kyiv.

Several months after a Ukrainian counteroffensive has produced limited results, the Ukrainian leader has expressed confidence that aid from Washington delayed by infighting in the U.S. Congress will soon be forthcoming.

There have also been delays in securing promised aid from the European Union.

"Ukraine needs an ambitious and proactive perspective so that the initiative lies within our country, not with the enemy, so that the end of the war depends on Ukrainian actions," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

"The world supports those who have a certain perspective. And that is the fundamental task -- to maintain the initiative so that we have the opportunity to become stronger."

With the Kremlin's invasion approaching the two-year mark in February, front lines have remained virtually unchanged for several months.

Zelenskiy has been beset by differences with the commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces over the conduct of the war.

And parliament, amid lively public debate, has yet to consider a law on mobilisation to ensure the armed forces have sufficient manpower.

Zelenskiy visited Washington last month to try to persuade Congress to free up the funds and buttress Ukraine war campaign.

But the package proposed by President Joe Biden has been stalled as opposition Republicans in Congress have refused to consider any legislation unless it is tied to an overhaul of border security measures.

Republican U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said on Wednesday that a meeting with Biden and Democrats in the Senate was "productive."

But Johnson said that Republicans were still not wavering on an insistence that new measures to secure the U.S. border with Mexico were the priority for them.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Scorpio Holdings Limited, a corporation formed under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands ( Scorpio Holdings );

Scorpio Services Holding Limited, a corporation formed under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands ( SSH ), and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scorpio Holdings; and

Annalisa Lolli-Ghetti, the majority shareholder of Scorpio Holdings, ( Ms. Lolli-Ghetti , and together with Scorpio Holdings and SSH, the  Reporting Persons ).

Scorpio Holdings and Ms. Lolli-Ghetti may be deemed the beneficial owners of approximately 12.09% of the Issuers outstanding Shares and SSH may be deemed the beneficial owner of approximately 3.02% of the Issuers outstanding Shares.

The principal business of Scorpio Holdings is acting as a holding company for SSH and certain other companies.

The principal business of SSH is the provision of administrative services relating to the ownership and operation of vessels, including to the Issuer and unaffiliated third-parties.

The principal business address and principal office address of each of the Reporting Persons is 99, Boulevard du Jardin Exotique, MC 98000, Monaco.
OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number: 3235-0145

Estimated average burden hours per response .11

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 2*)

ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.

(Name of Issuer)

COMMON STOCK

(Title of Class of Securities)

03969T109

(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2023

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

X Rule 13d-1(b) Rule 13d-1(c) Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

CUSIP No.: 03969T109

1. Names of Reporting Persons I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) Federated Hermes, Inc. 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or place of Organization: Pennsylvania

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power: 4,711,512 6. Shared Voting Power 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 4,711,512 8. Shared Dispositive Power

9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 4,711,512 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 17.63% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): HC

1. Names of Reporting Persons I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or place of Organization: Pennsylvania

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power: 4,711,512 6. Shared Voting Power 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 4,711,512 8. Shared Dispositive Power

9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 4,711,512 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 17.63% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): OO

1. Names of Reporting Persons I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) Thomas R. Donahue 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or place of Organization: United States

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power: 6. Shared Voting Power: 4,711,512 7. Sole Dispositive Power 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 4,711,512

9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 4,711,512 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 17.63% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): IN

1. Names of Reporting Persons I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) Ann C. Donahue 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or place of Organization: United States

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power: 6. Shared Voting Power: 4,711,512 7. Sole Dispositive Power 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 4,711,512

9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 4,711,512 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 17.63% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):IN

1. Names of Reporting Persons I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) J. Christopher Donahue 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) (b) 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or place of Organization: United States

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power: 6. Shared Voting Power: 4,711,512 7. Sole Dispositive Power 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 4,711,512

9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 4,711,512 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 17.63% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): IN

Item 1.

(a) Name of Issuer ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC. (b) Address of Issuers Principal Executive Offices 10628 Science Center Drive, Suite 250 San Diego, CA 92121

Item 2.

(a) Name of Person Filing: Federated Hermes, Inc. (b) Address Of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779 (c) Citizenship: Pennsylvania (d) Title of Class of Securities Common Stock (e) CUSIP Number: 03969T109

Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to 240.113d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

(a) Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). (b) Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (c) Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (d) Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8). (e) An investment adviser in accordance with 204.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with 240.13d-19b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) X A parent holding company or control person in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i) A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); (j) Group, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

Item 4. Ownership

Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

A. Federated Hermes, Inc. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 4,711,512 (b) Percent of class: 17.63% (c) Number of shares to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 4,711,512 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 4,711,512 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0

B. Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust (a) Amount beneficially owned: 4,711,512 (b) Percent of class: 17.63% (c) Number of shares to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 4,711,512 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 4,711,512 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0

C. Thomas R. Donahue (a) Amount beneficially owned: 4,711,512 (b) Percent of class: 17.63% (c) Number of shares to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 4,711,512 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 4,711,512

D. Ann C. Donahue (a) Amount beneficially owned: 4,711,512 (b) Percent of class: 17.63% (c) Number of shares to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 4,711,512 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 4,711,512

E. J. Christopher Donahue (a) Amount beneficially owned: 4,711,512 (b) Percent of class: 17.63% (c) Number of shares to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 4,711,512 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 4,711,512

Instruction: Dissolution of a group requires a response to this item.

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following:

Instruction: Dissolution of a group requires a response to this item.

Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. NOT APPLICABLE

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company. See Exhibit 1 Attached

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group: NOT APPLICABLE

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group: NOT APPLICABLE

Item 10. Certification

(a) The following certification shall be included if the statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(b); By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having the purpose or effect. (b) The following certification shall be included if the statement is filed pursuant to 204.13d-1(c): By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date: January 17, 2024 By: /s/J. Christopher Donahue Name/Title: J. Christopher Donahue, as President of Federated Hermes, Inc. Date: January 17, 2024 By: /s/Thomas R. Donahue Name/Title Thomas R. Donahue individually and as Trustee of Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust Date: January 17, 2024 By: /s/Ann C. Donahue Name/Title: Ann C. Donahue individually and as Trustee of Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust Date: January 17, 2024 By: /s/J. Christopher Donahue Name/Title J. Christopher Donahue individually and as Trustee of Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust

The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the representatives authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference. The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or printed beneath his signature.

NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See 240.13d-7 for other parties for whom copies are to be sent.

Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal violations (See U.S.C. 1001)

EXHIBIT 1

ITEM 3 CLASSIFICATION OF REPORTING PERSONS

Identity and Classification of Each Reporting Person

IDENTITY CLASSIFICATION UNDER ITEM 3 Federated Hermes Equity Funds (d) Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8) Federated Hermes Insurance Series (d) Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8) Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania (e) Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 Federated Global Investment Management Corp. (e) Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 Federated Hermes, Inc. (g) parent Holding Company or control person, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G) FII Holdings, Inc. (g) parent Holding Company or control person, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G) Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust (g) parent Holding Company or control person, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G) Thomas R. Donahue (g) parent Holding Company or control person, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G) Ann C. Donahue (g) parent Holding Company or control person, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G) J. Christopher Donahue (g) parent Holding Company or control person, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G)

Federated Hermes, Inc. (the Parent) is filing this schedule 13G because it is the parent holding company of Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania and Federated Global Investment Management Corp. (the Investment Advisers), which act as investment advisers to registered investment companies and separate accounts that own shares of common stock in ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC. (the Reported Securities). The Investment Advisers are wholly owned subsidiaries of FII Holdings, Inc., which is wholly owned subsidiary of Federated Hermes, Inc., the Parent. All of the Parents outstanding voting stock is held in the Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust (the Trust) for which Thomas R. Donahue, Ann C. Donahue and J. Christopher Donahue act as trustees (collectively, the Trustees). The Trustees have joined in filing this Schedule 13G because of the collective voting control that they exercise over the Parent. In accordance with Rule 13d-4 under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, the Parent, the Trust, and each of the Trustees declare that this statement should not be construed as an admission that they are the beneficial owners of the Reported Securities, and the Parent, the Trust, and each of the Trustees expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the Reported Securities.

EXHIBIT 2

AGREEMENT FOR JOINT FILING OF

SCHEDULE 13G

The following parties hereby agree to file jointly the statement on Schedule 13G to which this Agreement is attached and any amendments thereto which may be deemed necessary pursuant to Regulation 13D-G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

1. Federated Hermes, Inc. as parent holding company of the investment advisers to registered investment companies that beneficially own the securities.

Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust, as holder of all the voting shares of Federated Hermes, Inc.

Thomas R. Donahue, individually and as Trustee

Ann C. Donahue, individually and as Trustee

J. Christopher Donahue, individually and as Trustee

It is understood and agreed that each of the parties hereto is responsible for the timely filing of such statement any amendments thereto, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning such party contained therein, but such party is not responsible for the completeness or accuracy of information concerning the other parties unless such party knows or has reason to believe that such information is incomplete or inaccurate.

It is understood and agreed that the joint filing of Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that the reporting persons named herein constitute a group for purposes of Regulation 13D-G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor is a joint venture for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Date: January 17, 2024

By: /s/J. Christopher Donahue Name/Title: J. Christopher Donahue, as President of Federated Hermes, Inc. By: /s/Thomas R. Donahue Name/Title Thomas R. Donahue, individually and as Trustee of Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust. By: /s/Ann C. Donahue Name/Title Ann C. Donahue, individually and as Trustee of Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust By: /s/J. Christopher Donahue Name/Title J. Christopher Donahue, individually and as Trustee of Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust

1. The number of shares indicated represent shares beneficially owned by registered investment companies and separate accounts advised by subsidiaries of Federated Hermes, Inc. that have been delegated the power to direct investment and power to vote the securities by the registered investment companies board of trustees or directors and by the separate accounts principals. All of the voting securities of Federated Hermes, Inc. are held in the Voting Shares Irrevocable Trust (Trust), the trustees of which are Thomas R. Donahue, Ann C. Donahue and J. Christopher Donahue (Trustees). In accordance with Rule 13d-4 under the 1934 Act, the Trust, Trustees, and parent holding company declare that the filing of this statement should not be construed as an admission that any of the investment advisers, parent holding company, Trust, and Trustees are beneficial owners (for the purposes of Sections 13(d) and/or 13(g) of the Act) of any securities covered by this statement, and such advisers, parent holding company, Trust, and Trustees expressly disclaim that they are the beneficial owners of such securities.

EXHIBIT 3

EXHIBIT 3
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. __7)*

Autoliv Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share



Swedish Depository Receipts, each representing one share of Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities)



U0508X119 (CINS Number)



December 31, 2023 (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

[X] Rule 13d-1(b)

[_] Rule 13d-1(c)

[_] Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

SCHEDULE 13G

CINS No. U0508X119

1 Names of Reporting Persons Alecta Tjanstepension Omsesidigt 2 Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions) (a) [ ] Not Applicable

(b) [ ] Not applicable 3 Sec Use Only 4 Citizenship or Place of Organization Sweden Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5 Sole Voting Power 4,704,200 6 Shared Voting Power -0- 7 Sole Dispositive Power 4,704,200 8 Shared Dispositive Power -0- 9 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 4,704,200 10 Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions) [ ] 11 Percent of class represented by amount in row (9) 5,69% 12 Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IC

Item 1.

(a) Name of Issuer: Autoliv, Inc.

(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

Klarabergsviadukten 70, section B7, 111 64, Stockholm

Item 2.

(a) Name of Person Filing:

Alecta Tjanstepension Omsesidigt

(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:

Regeringsgatan 107, SE-103 73 Stockholm, Sweden

(c) Citizenship:

Sweden

(d) Title and Class of Securities:

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

Swedish Depository Receipts, each representing one share of Common Stock

(e) CINS No:

US0508X119

Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to  240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

(a) [_] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act;

(b) [_] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act;

(c) [_] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act;

(d) [_] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(e) [_] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

(f) [_] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

(g) [_] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

(h) [_] A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

(i) [_] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(j) [_] A non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J);

(k) [_] Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: ____

Item 4. Ownership

(a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 4,704,200

(b) Percent of Class: 5,69%

(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:

(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 4,704,200

(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: -0-

(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 4,704,200

(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: -0-

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ].

Item 6. Ownership of more than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.



Not Applicable

Item 7. Identification and classification of the subsidiary which acquired the security being reported on by the parent holding company or control person.

Not Applicable

Item 8. Identification and classification of members of the group.



Not Applicable

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.



Not Applicable

Item 10. Certifications.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: 2024-01-08

/s/ Pablo Bernengo /s/ Tony Persson



Chief Executive Officer, Chief Legal Officer

The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative (other than an executive officer or general partner of this filing person), evidence of the representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference. The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or printed beneath his signature.

Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).




It seems like an unlikely coincidence. 2024, the year in which the United Kingdoms Conservative government faces a predicted wipe-out at the ballot box  all polls indicate an advantage of at least 18 percentage points for the Labour opposition  is the very year it has chosen to flex its military muscle. The era in which we were able to reap the dividends of peace has ended. In five years time we could be looking at multiple theatres including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, British Defense Minister Grant Shapps said this Monday in his first speech of any substance since he was appointed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the end of August. The peace dividends, Shapps has explained, were a result of the end of the Cold War during Margaret Thatchers tenure. They were years without clear enemies in which public money could be allocated to education and health rather than to tanks or fighter jets.

The drums of war came to Boris Johnsons rescue in his last months as Prime Minister, when his reputation was already at rock bottom due to the partygate scandal  parties held in Downing Street, in breach of the governments own guidelines, during the UKs Covid lockdowns. Unconditional support for Ukraine, and its president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, briefly restored Johnsons popularity. The idea that the United Kingdom was still a country whose military weight is decisive in any international conflict  the Rule Britannia that sounds so sweet to the ears of those who supported Brexit  has been the lifeline of a Conservative Party in search of its place in the world after severing its ties with the European Union.

And Sunak has also chosen that trick. Within 24 hours, he made a surprise trip to Kyiv to meet with Zelenskiy and reaffirm his commitment to the Ukrainian cause, with the announcement of an extra 2.4 billion ($3 billion) in military aid. At the same time, the joint attack by American and British forces on facilities belonging to the Houthi rebels in Yemen was also announced. The US and UK Adminsitrations say that their retaliatory attacks are due to repeated Houthi assaults in recent weeks on commercial and military vessels that use the Red Sea route.

In dangerous times, we are investing in defense, hardening our critical infrastructure and building our alliances. We are resolute in our principles: international security; the rule of law; and freedom to determine your own future. An attack on those principles is an attack on everything that we believe in and on which our lives and livelihoods depend, Sunak said this Monday in parliament.

Aware that any military intervention in which the next steps are not clear  for example, Iraq in 2003, or Syria in 2013  can be a political hornets nest. Sunak showed respect to Parliament and the opposition  Labour has supported the intervention in Yemen  and avoided aggressive rhetoric. He left that to his Minister of Defense, who hours before had not hesitated to describe the leftist forces as weak in the face of the current threats in the world.

This is the time to decide our defense policy. The choice is hard. Some, especially on the left, are tempted to always undervalue our country. They believe that the United Kingdom no longer has the strength to influence world events, that we should retreat and ignore what happens beyond our shores, Shapps said in his speech.

We find ourselves at the dawn of a new era in which we are moving from a post-war to a pre-war world. Old enemies are reanimated. New foes are taking shape. The foundations of the world order are being shaken to their core, Shapps announced, without anticipating any increase in the defense budget beyond what the British government had already announced.

The United Kingdom allocates more than $68.5 billion annually to military spending, approximately 2% of its budget. It has recently announced new budget items to modernize its nuclear arsenal and to resupply ammunition and weapons, after a year of continuous supply of materiel to Ukraine. Shapps has called on NATO members that have not yet done so to comply with the commitment to allocate 2% of their GDP to defense spending. Downing Street has reaffirmed its willingness to reach 2.5% when the accounts allow.

The Minister of Defense has also announced the United Kingdoms decision to send more than 20,000 members of its armed forces to the joint military exercise Steadfast Defender organized by NATO in the first half of 2024, with the participation of its 31 partner countries along with Sweden.

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Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro addresses the crew of theUSS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in the hangar bay during a visit to mark the completion of the ships eight-month maiden deployment, Jan. 15, 2024. (Nolan Pennington/U.S. Navy)

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro visited USS Gerald R. Ford sailors at sea just days before the ships return to Norfolk following an extended maiden deployment in hostile waters.

I am here today to tell each and every one of you how proud, not just I am of you, but how proud this entire country  every American in the United States  is of what you have done for our nation, Del Toro said Monday as the ship sailed the Atlantic just off the coast of Virginia.

With Sirius by The Alan Parsons Project playing over loudspeakers, Del Toro rode a weapons elevator down to the hangar bay of the Ford. Hundreds of crew members, gathered there in response to an all hands call, cheered and clapped while the top Navy leader shook a dozen hands as he made his way to a stage.

Del Toro flew out to the Ford to address sailors ahead of the ships homecoming, which is scheduled for Wednesday. Members of the media were invited aboard during his visit.

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group had left Naval Station Norfolk in May but the Department of Defense extended the deployment beyond the original six months.

The Ford and its strike group were ordered to sail to the eastern Mediterranean following an Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, long designated a terrorist group by the U.S. The carrier stayed in the eastern Mediterranean while its accompanying warships went to the Red Sea, where they repeatedly intercepted incoming ballistic missiles and attack drones fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen, the Associated Press reported.

Protecting our national security interests over the last eight months in the eastern Mediterranean, the Baltic and the Atlantic, matters. It matters to the American people, Del Toro told the sailors.

The Fords deployment was extended by 76 days with the crew of around 4,200 spending Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years Eve  holidays they expected to spend with loved ones  at sea.

For aviation electronics technician Michael Asihene, it meant missing crucial time with his newborn son. Waiting for his return in Virginia are Asihenes wife, 2-year-old daughter, 3-month-old son and his parents.

There was a little bit of uncertainty but I was like, you know what, anything that happens  it is all in Gods hands, Asihene said.

This was Asihenes fourth deployment during his nine years of service with the Navy. This time, he said, felt different given the global tensions.

My other deployments were a little quieter, Asihene said. But we had to focus. We knew this was the mission. This is what we came for and we were going to take it to the full extent.

Eric Snitzer, climate coordinator for the ship, said the crew prepared to be at sea longer than expected from the start. He is tasked with reporting to leadership about the overall climate of the crew and keeping the crew informed of all programs available to them.

We plan for the best but we also plan for the possibility of the world demanding we stay out longer, Snitzer said.

The resilience and toughness of the Ford crew was tested with each extension, he said.

It was disappointing but to go help out our interests and our allies  that is the mission, Snitzer said.

The deployment was Snitzers second spanning his 23-year naval career. His first deployment was a humanitarian mission in 2010. Snitzer will be welcomed home by his wife and two daughters, ages 8 and 10.

While the Ford is returning to Norfolk, the mission is ongoing. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and its strike group continue to operate in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

In the past week, U.S. Central Command has reported multiple incidents in which U.S. Navy ships and allied ships shot down one-way aerial attack drones, anti-ship cruise missiles and anti-ship ballistic missiles launched from Yemen.

On Sunday, an anti-ship cruise missile was fired toward the USS Laboon, a Norfolk-based destroyer, U.S. officials said. The missile was shot down in vicinity of the coast of Hudaydah by U.S. fighter aircraft. But on Monday, an anti-ship ballistic missile fired from Yemen struck a U.S.-owned container ship. The ship, Gibraltar Eagle, reported no injuries or significant damage.

Americans from all corners of the United States know what it is to be a member of the most powerful Navy in the world and they understand the sacrifices you make every day on behalf of them, Del Toro said to the crew of the Ford.

During the Fords more than eight months at sea, the strike group participated in 12 military exercises and operations, accumulated more than 17,826 flight hours and completed 8,730 aircraft launches and recoveries.

Before the Ford was ordered to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean, it had operated in the Baltic region with the intention of deterring further aggression from Russia. The ship also visited ports in Oslo, Norway; Split, Croatia; and Piraeus, Greece.

It is these sailors on the deck of this great ship here today and on the surrounding ships that are deployed as part of this carrier strike group that we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to, Del Toro said.

caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com

2023 The Virginian-Pilot.

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U.S. Naval Hospital Guam is pictured on Dec. 8, 2022. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

A Guam couple is suing the federal government, alleging a U.S. military hospital on the island failed to provide proper medical care over nine days in 2021.

Sandra Leipheimer and John Leipheimer filed suit on Dec. 22 for negligence, medical malpractice, emotional distress and disruption of their relationship, according to their complaint in the District Court of Guam.

Sandra Leipheimer sought treatment at Naval Hospital Guam for an abscess in her jaw in April 2021, according to their complaint.

The couple alleged that, because of the hospitals actions, she was left with unresolved medical issues, health complications and permanent scarring and disfigurement, the document said.

The couple is seeking court costs and damages to be determined at trial. The federal government has not yet filed a response to the complaint, according to court records.

Naval Hospital Guam first admitted Sandra Leipheimer on April 3, 2021, for a suspected abscess in her jaw, according to the suit. A physician at the hospital, Dr. Carter Schmidt, assessed her situation and performed surgery, and Leipheimer was discharged less than two days later, according to the complaint.

However, the couple alleged that her symptoms worsened, and she returned to the hospital on April 6. She complained of symptoms that included extreme pain and fever.

The complaint alleges Schmidt advised Leipheimer to get blood work and a CT scan, but the hospitals emergency room informed her that its scanner was broken; the hospital sent her home after taking her blood work, according to the suit.

Leipheimer returned on April 8 and complained of similar symptoms as well as numbness in her jaw and neck and the inability to open her jaw or move the left side of her mouth; Schmidt allegedly did not order any change to Leipheimers treatment.

Leipheimer returned to the hospital on April 12 and complained of worsening pain and feelings of toxicity, but was told the hospitals CT scanner still was not working, according to the complaint.

The couple alleged that, throughout the ordeal, Schmidt failed to provide care, sent her out of the clinic, failed to refer her to other providers, and failed to otherwise arrange for alternative care.

They also alleged the hospital prematurely discharged Leipheimer from the hospital and failed to provide follow-up treatment or prevent complications.

As a result, Leipheimers medical condition continued unresolved, deteriorated, and worsened and she required further surgeries and medical treatment, according to the suit.

The couples attorney, Peter Perez, of Hagatna, did not respond to phone and email requests for comment on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the hospital did not respond to multiple phone calls and email requests for comments on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Seaman Recruit David Dee Spearman, assigned to the destroyer USS Arleigh Burke, died after going overboard Aug. 1, 2022, while the ship was operating in the Baltic Sea. (U.S. Navy)

A Navy sailor who died after falling off a destroyer in the Baltic Sea was cleared for full duty despite a history of dangerous fainting episodes, including one while at the helm of the ship.

Seaman Recruit David Spearman lost consciousness at least four times in the weeks before his death in the summer of 2022 and repeatedly sought help from medical staff aboard the USS Arleigh Burke, according to a Naval Criminal Investigative Service report, a copy of which Stars and Stripes obtained through an information request.

About two weeks after collapsing while steering the ship in early July 2022, Spearman was returned to duty without restrictions even though he again had lost consciousness, badly cutting his face, NCIS investigators found.

At about noon on Aug. 1, 2022, Spearman skipped lunch and was working alone when he went overboard.

After fighting for at least 10 minutes to stay afloat in the cold water, he sank below the surface of the dark sea, moments before a search and rescue swimmer arrived, according to the report.

The 346-page document reveals that the ships senior officers must have been aware of Spearmans well-documented collapses yet did little to keep the 19-year-old safe, a Stars and Stripes investigation found.

I do believe his death could have been 100% prevented, and I feel he needs justice for his death and for his family, one of the ships sailors said in an Aug. 13, 2022, statement to investigators. NCIS redacted the names of the people interviewed.

The findings lay bare additional failures in communication and decision-making, experts said.

Stars and Stripes investigation into Spearmans death also revealed lapses in how the Navy reports and studies man-overboard events.

Since Nov. 17, Stars and Stripes has repeatedly sought comment from the Navy about the report and answers to questions about the circumstances surrounding Spearmans death.

The Navy acknowledged those questions and said its working to gather the information. After nearly two months, the service has not provided answers.

Seaman Recruit David "Dee" Spearman, right, is shown in this undated photo with Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Donohoe. Spearman and Donohoe met during boot camp and maintained their friendship when both were assigned to Naval Station Rota in Spain. Donohoe described Spearman as a fun-loving person who liked to make other people laugh. (Austin Donohoe)

Known to family and friends as Dee, Spearman was well-liked by his fellow sailors, the report shows. They recalled that he was always smiling and liked to joke and have fun, but also had a strong work ethic.

Spearman was a hard worker and knew the work day wasnt over until the work was completed, one sailor told investigators.

His familys grief is compounded by open questions about what caused their sons death, whether it was preventable and whether any actions were taken in response.

The Navy did not fully explain to his parents what happened, but they did receive a copy of the NCIS report in August, on the one-year anniversary of his death, said his mother, Nikki Spearman.

While the report offered more details about their sons drowning, it also provoked serious questions about the actions of ship officials, said Lee Spearman, Dees father.

My son should have never been up on the deck working after hes passing out while steering the ship, Lee Spearman said. Were pro-military, but I am not pro-negligence. After reading the report ... Im not sure if there wasnt some negligence on the part of the military.

Seaman Recruit David "Dee" Spearman, 19, had been in the Navy for less than a year when he fell overboard the destroyer USS Arleigh Burke while transiting the Baltic Sea. (Austin Donohoe)

Overboard data lapses

Spearman was one of two people who died in 2022 after going overboard Navy ships, according to Naval Safety Command data.

The command, which is responsible for studying mishaps involving Navy ships and personnel, only tracks man overboard incidents involving accidental entry into the water.

Over the past 13 years, the command recorded 82 such incidents, five of which were fatal, according to the data. But a quick review of Stars and Stripes stories over the same time period showed at least seven other man-overboard deaths that arent part of the data.

Those fatalities include a 20-year-old sailor who fell off the USS Theodore Roosevelt in December 2020 and a 29-year-old petty officer second class lost from USS Nimitz in September the same year.

The safety command didnt specifically address why those deaths and five others appeared not to be part of the data.

Determining whether a man-overboard event is accidental or intentional is based on circumstances or in some cases on the outcome of legal or safety investigations, Sarah Langdon, a spokeswoman for Naval Safety Command, said in a Dec. 6 email.

Those factors underscore the fluid and changing nature of the data, she said.

If an event initially reported as a mishap is determined to be intentional, it no longer meets the criteria for a safety mishap and therefore doesnt fall under the commands reporting, Langdon said.

While those fatalities could have been suicides, the Navy couldnt immediately say how it tracked them or what department was responsible. It also didnt answer questions about how those events in their totality are studied.

But a 2023 study on the National Library of Medicine website may give some indication of the overall impact of man-overboard deaths on the service.

The study reviewed all mishaps on active Navy ships recorded by the safety command from 1970 to 2020 and found that man-overboard events were among those with the highest mortality rates.

Over the 50 years reviewed, the study found that there were 352 man-overboard casualties, with a 71.9% mortality rate. Although death rates declined significantly in more recent years, noncombat man-overboard incidents still were the second-highest cause of injuries or death on ships and submarines, according to the report.

Fires, burns or smoke inhalation comprised the top cause of casualties, with a 13% mortality rate, the study found.

Family, friends and fellow sailors described Seaman Recruit David "Dee" Spearman as a fun-loving person who always was smiling and liked to make people laugh. Spearman, 19, went overboard the destroyer USS Arleigh Burke on Aug. 1, 2022. His body was never found. (Austin Donohoe)

Error chain

Its unknown what caused Spearman to plunge off the starboard, or right, side of USS Arleigh Burke.

No one saw it happen and there isnt any video, according to investigators. The NCIS report does not include a conclusion but seems to suggest that Spearman may have fainted or slipped while sanding the ships forward bulkhead.

Several documented losses of consciousness, some witnessed by crew members, along with Spearmans own worries point to fainting as a probable reason he fell overboard, said Aaron Davenport, a retired Coast Guard captain who commanded two cutters and had roles as a senior safety officer and the services chief of cutter forces.

My professional opinion is that (Spearman) was not fit for full duty, Davenport said. He probably should not have been alone based upon the number of fainting episodes.

Statements from the ships executive officer, medical corpsman and other key individuals that might offer insight into awareness and decisions appear to be missing from the report, said Davenport, who was given a copy of the document by Stars and Stripes.

Those accounts may be among 162 pages redacted by NCIS for a variety of reasons, which could include protecting Spearmans medical information or the identities of witnesses. More than 20 of the redacted pages are statements.

There are no statements in the redacted file from anyone aboard the ship above the pay grade of E-5, or petty officer second class. In two otherwise readable statements, one rank was redacted, and the other, that of a 19-year-old sailor, was left blank.

NCIS cant say who was or wasnt included in the investigation interviews, agency spokesman Jeff Houston said in response to questions about the redactions.

Still, the report reveals a potential chain of errors, said Davenport, now an associate director of the Rand Corp. infrastructure, immigration and security operations program.

For example, photos of two locations where Spearman is thought to have fallen overboard show that standard rope was being used in place of stronger, more durable lifelines that form a barrier around the deck to help keep sailors from going overboard.

A possible location where Seaman Recruit David Spearman fell overboard is shown within a Naval Criminal Investigative Service report on his death. The location is on the starboard side of USS Arleigh Burke's forecastle. Spearman died Aug. 1, 2022 in the Baltic Sea. No one on the ship reported seeing where Spearman fell. (U.S. Navy) This is one of several locations where Seaman Recruit David Spearman may have fallen overboard from the USS Arleigh Burke on Aug. 1, 2022, according to a Naval Criminal Investigative Service report. No one aboard the ship reported seeing Spearman fall. (U.S. Navy)

In one case, just one of the four barrier lines was the typical black, coated synthetic lifeline used on Navy ships.

A statement from the boatswains mate of the watch also doesnt appear in the redacted report. That sailor typically would be responsible for noting the condition of the ship and potential safety problems.

And its unknown whether Spearmans supervisor was aware that he was working alone and whether the supervisor had checked to see if safety equipment, such as a personal flotation device, was being used if required, Davenport said.

After the episode at the helm, Spearman was relieved of watch duty by leadership and required to have someone with him when he was on the ships deck. He still was assigned work detail, the report shows.

In that time, he passed out one more time, said one sailor, who did not appear to witness the episodes but accompanied Spearman to medical care after one instance. After two weeks, he returned to watch and we relaxed the two-person rule.

The witness added that Spearman hated the restrictions. He tried to keep the fainting spells secret but couldnt after blacking out at the helm.

A medical corpsman who treated Spearman said he was dehydrated as a result of sea sickness, the report shows.

Medical staff on the ship later suggested that it might be an electrolyte imbalance and that Spearman would need additional tests when Arleigh Burke returned to its homeport in Rota, Spain, according to the report.

But Spearman told fellow sailors and his family he was drinking plenty of fluids. He was frustrated that medical staff didnt seem to be taking his condition seriously, according to the report.

Spearman thought he had (a) neurological issue because he only passed out when the boat was really rocking back and forth, the report stated.

There are several factors that can cause fainting, according to the Harvard Medical School website. They range from heart problems or seizures to less worrisome causes, such as overstimulation of the bodys vagus nerve.

To me, he should have been taken off the ship for a full medical workup, Davenport said.

Potential safety violations and the specter of Spearmans unresolved health problem signal several factors that likely contributed to his death, rather than a single cause, Davenport said.

A separate Naval Safety Command investigation may provide deeper insights and recommendations. Stars and Stripes asked for a copy of that investigation report on Oct. 31 but has not yet received it.

Still, the NCIS report leaves open serious questions about oversight of the junior sailor on the day he died, Davenport said.

Did somebody in a position of leadership know what (Spearman) was doing? Were they aware? asked Davenport, who has investigated dozens of ship and personnel mishaps.

The destroyer USS Arleigh Burke during a deployment in the Baltic Sea in 2022. Seaman Recruit David Dee Spearman died after going overboard from the Arleigh Burke Aug. 1, 2022, while the ship was operating in the Baltic. (Almagissel Schuring/U.S. Navy) The place where a sailor whose name was redacted in a Naval Criminal Investigative Service report believes Seaman Recruit David Spearman fell overboard from the USS Arleigh Burke into the Baltic Sea on Aug. 1, 2022. The red dots mark a freshly sanded area, the red circle the spot where a sander was left and the red square marks the spot Spearman might have stood. (U.S. Navy) A photo from a Naval Criminal Investigative Service report on the death of Seaman Recruit David Spearman shows where a sailor, whose name was redacted in the report, heard Spearman yell help. Spearman died Aug. 1, 2022, when he fell overboard from the USS Arleigh Burke into the Baltic Sea. (U.S. Navy) A photo from a Naval Criminal Investigative Service report shows a possible location on the right side of the USS Arleigh Burke where Seaman Recruit David Spearman might have fallen overboard on Aug. 1, 2022. No one aboard the destroyer reported seeing Spearman fall. (U.S. Navy)

A little too late

Soon after Spearman fell off the Arleigh Burke, a sailor on watch on the right side of the ship heard someone say help and saw Spearman floating in the sea, according to the report.

An alert was sounded, and a life ring and smoke float were thrown to help mark Spearmans location.

Within eight to 10 minutes, the ship launched a rigid hull inflatable boat with a search-and-rescue swimmer aboard. The ships commanding officer, Cmdr. Peter Flynn, told Spearman to stay calm and assured him they were going to get him, one sailor remembered.

But the boat crew had difficulty spotting Spearman, who was wearing a gray jacket. Radio communications between the boat and ship personnel, who could see Spearman, also were hampered, according to the report.

There was a lot of yelling and miscommunication that day, and the small boat did not always seem to be hearing what was being instructed to them, one sailor told investigators.

At one point, while the boat was making an approach they actually drove past (Spearman) and initially it appeared as the boat was able to retrieve (him), only to learn that it was not the case, the report states in summarizing the statement of one witness.

Experts say spotting a person or something else in the sea is exceedingly hard from smaller boats, which sit low in the water. Arleigh Burke would have a much better vantage point, they said.

Rough seas also can inhibit a boat crews ability to find a person, especially if theyre wearing blue, said a retired naval officer, who agreed to speak with Stars and Stripes on condition of anonymity to better explain the procedures involved.

Even so, the boat crew seemed to spot Spearman, and the swimmer dived into the water but was unable to reach him in time, the report states.

A second small boat was launched and joined by a Swedish rescue team, German helicopters, a U.S. Air Force U-2 reconnaissance aircraft and MQ-9 Reaper drones, according to the report.

But no trace of Spearman except for his jacket was found. He was declared dead at 11 p.m. on Aug. 2, less than 10 months after enlisting in the Navy. It was his first deployment.

Spearman was excited to be assigned to Rota and eager to learn about and explore other countries, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Donohoe, who went through boot camp with Spearman and also was stationed at the installation in Spain.

Spearman was a positive person who liked to have fun and be goofy, Donohoe said, adding that Spearman enjoyed making people laugh.

A Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigation into the death of Seaman Recruit David "Dee" Spearman revealed the 19-year-old lost consciousness four times in the weeks leading up to him falling overboard the destroyer USS Arleigh Burke on Aug. 1, 2022. (Austin Donohoe)

Nikki and Lee Spearman remember a young man who wanted to continue a family legacy of military service.

Nikki Spearmans father, who died in 2021, was a retired master chief petty officer. Lee Spearmans father served in the Air Force, and his stepfather also is a retired master chief petty officer.

Their son, who had been adopted as a toddler, was energetic, liked to keep busy and didnt hesitate to help and care for other people, they said.

He often was the hands and legs for his father, who had lost his lower limbs and other parts of his body after contracting an infection in Africa during a service mission, they said.

Dee left a huge hole, said Nikki Spearman, her voice breaking as she held back tears.

The family, which includes seven siblings and several grandchildren, struggles to comprehend the loss. One grandchild still writes letters to Dee as if he were alive, his parents said.

Over frequent video calls, Spearman shared details about his life as a sailor with them, including his medical condition and his exasperation about not getting proper treatment.

While the family received scant details about the circumstances of their sons death, shipmates filled in some of the gaps, they said.

Still, there are lingering questions about why their son wasnt wearing a flotation device while working on the ships deck and why he was working alone, among others.

They also want to know that any factors that contributed to their sons death have been corrected so that other sailors are safe.

I have all these questions, Nikki Spearman said. I know nothing will bring him back, but ... why?
The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson trains with South Korean and Japanese destroyers this week near Jeju Island, South Korea. (South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff)

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea  Nine warships from the United States, South Korea and Japan kicked off a combined naval exercise south of the Korean Peninsula a day after North Korea fired its first ballistic missile of the year, Seoul announced Wednesday.

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton joined South Korean and Japanese destroyers equipped with the Aegis missile-defense system in international waters near the Souths Jeju Island, according to a news release from the South Korean Ministry of National Defense.

The exercise  a three-day response to North Koreas nuclear, missile and underwater threats  ended Wednesday, according to the ministry. The training will enhance the allies ability to respond to North Korean threats in a joint capacity, the release said.

The chairman of South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Kim Myung-soo, visited the Carl Vinson during the exercise to inspect the training and personnel, according to the release.

The commander of U.S. Forces Korea, Army Gen. Paul LaCamera, met Kim aboard the carrier on Monday, USFK said in a separate news release Wednesday.

The carrier last appeared near Jeju Island in November for similar training with South Korean and Japanese destroyers.

The latest trilateral naval exercise started a day after North Korea fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile Sunday.

The solid-fueled missile  North Koreas first launch this year  was launched near Pyongyang and traveled roughly 620 miles east before falling into the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, according to the Souths military.

North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency in a report Monday described the missile as being tipped with a hypersonic warhead and that the test was a success.

Asked by email if the trilateral naval drill was scheduled prior to Sunday, U.S. Navy Region Korea spokeswoman Enjoli Janel Di Patri said the command routinely trains with our allies.

Participating in training exercises enhances  and demonstrates our commitment to our partners, who share our resolve for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, she wrote in an email Wednesday. The work that we do with our allies and partners is crucial in boosting deterrence.

Military cooperation between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo has increased under the leaders of the three countries. President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met in August at Camp David, Md., and agreed to collectively respond to North Koreas threats.

Two months after the pledge, air forces from the three countries conducted their first-ever aerial drill in which South Korean and Japanese fighter jets escorted a nuclear-capable U.S. B-52H Stratofortress bomber in air-defense zones overlapping South Korea and Japan.

The three allies also activated their real-time data-sharing system on North Koreas missile launches in December.

The North criticized the U.S.-South Korea-Japan military drills in a KCNA report Tuesday and described it as instigation that threatens the countrys stability.

The U.S. and its stooges are now buoyed with war fever, the report said.
Under Secretary of the Navy Erik K. Raven receives a guided tour of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) from members of Joint Task Force-Red Hill (JTF-RH) on Jan. 11, 2024. (John Linzmeier/Department of Defense)

HONOLULU (Tribune News Service)  The military began removing residual fuel from the Navys underground Red Hill Fuel Farm on Monday, marking the beginning of the next phase of the facilitys closure.

The start of residual fuel removal coincides with the establishment of the Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill. From now until the end of March, the task force will work in conjunction with the existing Joint Task Force-Red Hill to ensure continuity of mission for safety, security and community engagement, according to a news release, before it eventually oversees the long-term closure and environmental remediation of the facility, which sits 100 feet above an aquifer that most of Honolulu relies on for drinking water.

Were starting a deliberate methodical transition with the new Navy Closure Task Force, said Vice Adm. John Wade, commander of JTF-RH, the organization tasked with extracting fuel from the facility. Theyre tied to our hip and learning from us for everything that were doing for safety, security and community engagement to ensure continuity of mission when we secure our task force, and they will take this mission on.

JTF-RH safely removed approximately 104 million gallons of fuel through gravity defueling from Oct. 16 to Dec. 16. Throughout the gravity defueling process, Wade said that there were no spills and that there were only two minor incidents, in which the three gallons of leaked fuel was contained in buckets.

In removing an additional 60,000 gallons of residual fuel, or fuel that couldnt be removed from gravity, JTF-RH is taking a methodical and deliberate approach. JTF-RH will slowly open low point drain and vent valves to contain, collect and properly dispose of the fuel. The process is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Every action is practiced; and every action has been reviewed and approved by the regulators; and the regulators are on-site providing oversight, Wade said. Thats critically important so that we ensure safety of our personnel but, most importantly, the safety of the community and the aquifer.

The new Navy Closure Task Force will remove an additional 4,000 gallons of residual fuel in the pipelines and 28,000 gallons of sludge remaining in storage tanks. The organization will also remove all of the approximately 11.5 miles of pipeline from the site.

In late March the NCTF-RH will assume full responsibility for the facility, its closure and long-term environmental remediation.

We are committed, we are going to do this deliberately, were going to be engaged with the community, and were going to do it safely, said Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett, who will lead NCTF-RH.

Barnett said the closure of the tanks will take years and that remediation efforts will stretch even after the closing of the tanks and will be driven by a site assessment and understanding actually what has happened over the years at Red Hill.

It is not going to be used for fuel again. Ultimately, our job is just to close it and set the conditions for any potential nonfuel reuse, so thatll be decided at a later time, Barnett said.

Remediation could take many forms, and Barnett said that after monitoring and understanding the situation, the task force will work with experts including regulators, the Department of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency and members of the local community to decide how to move forward.

For years the community has been wary of the Navys Pacific fuel reserve being located above the aquifer, worrying about the potential threat it held over Honolulus water supply.

In November 2021, fuel from the facility leaked into the Navys Oahu water system, affecting 93,000 people, including service members, military families and civilians who live in housing areas still on the system. In March 2022 the Pentagon announced it would defuel and permanently close the facility after months of resisting a state emergency order to drain the tanks.

Clean water is an important aspect of the entire Red Hill problem set, Wade said. My team and Is contribution to that is to remove the fuel from above the aquifers so we have no spills and no other contamination like we had in 2021.

Barnett said long-term monitoring of Red Hill water quality has been in place and that over 7,000 samples have met safe drinking water standards. When the long-term monitoring period ends in March, Barnett said, other test methods and opportunities to continue testing the water supply will be implemented.

Theres no one more committed than us, along with the Joint Task Force. Were committed to providing safe, clean drinking water for our families and folks that are all in the water system here. Were going to do what we can, Barnett said. Were in the long-term monitoring process, and that water continues to meet the safe drinking water standards but were not resting on that.

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Lt. Sarah Alferos, assigned to the USS Gerald R. Ford, receives a welcome home from her family upon returning from an eight-month maiden deployment, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) completed a scheduled deployment in U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/ U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations. (Alexander Casco/U.S. Navy)

Welcome home, USS Gerald R. Ford.

The Navys newest aircraft carrier returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Wednesday following an eight-month deployment  the carriers first combat deployment  assisting U.S. efforts to contain the Israel-Hamas war. The Ford is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 12.

U.S. Fleet Forces shared videos of the carrier pulling into port on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Welcome home USS Gerald R. Ford!! @Warship_78 returned to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk today following an eight-month deployment to the @USNavyEurope area of operations.



Its maiden combat deployment will shape Navy warfighting and high-end warfare for decades. pic.twitter.com/UUO111gQqp  U.S. Fleet Forces (@USFleetForces) January 17, 2024

Though extended, we were the right ship at the right time to answer the call, and our sailors performed admirably, Capt. Rick Burgess, the Fords commanding officer, said in a Navy news release. Ford sailors honored our namesakes legacies of hard work, integrity and courage.

The Ford left May 2 for a routine deployment, relieving the USS George H. W. Bush, Stars and Stripes previously reported. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the carrier to the eastern Mediterranean following Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel. In all, the deployment was extended three times.

The ships crew sailed more than 83,476 nautical miles during the extended deployment, U.S. Fleet Forces said. Alongside the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, the carrier launched more than 4,500 flights between October and December, the Navy told Stars and Stripes earlier this month.

During deployment, the ships crew conducted 43 underway replenishments, logged over 17,826 flight hours and 10,396 sorties, transferred 20.7 million gallons of fuel, conducted 33,444 flight deck moves, 3,124 hangar bay aircraft moves and 16,351 aircraft fueling evolutions, according to the release.

Due to our collective efforts, we excelled during a very challenging deployment, demonstrating the capabilities of a U.S. Navy carrier strike group, assuring our partners and allies, and deterring our adversaries with our operations in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, Rear Adm. Erik Eslich, commander of Carrier Strike Group 12, said in the release.

The carrier visited ports in Croatia, Greece, Italy, Norway and Turkey, and other ships in the strike group visited Belgium, Cyprus, Montenegro, Spain, and Sweden.

Gerald R. Ford, the first ship in its class, is the U.S. Navys largest and most advanced aircraft carrier. Ford-class aircraft carriers feature new technologies, including Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), Advanced Arresting Gear and Advanced Weapons Elevators. The ships are designed to generate a higher sortie rate with a 20% smaller crew than a Nimitz-class carrier, according to the release.

Naval Station Norfolk gets ready for USS Gerald R. Fords homecoming following its first combat deployment. (U.S. Fleet Forces/X)

In this screenshot from video, sailors man the rails as the USS Gerald R. Ford pulls into its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. The Navys newest aircraft carrier returned home following an eight-month deployment  the carriers first combat deployment  assisting U.S. efforts to contain the Israel-Hamas war. (Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet/Facebook)

Sailors assigned to the USS Gerald R. Ford man the rails upon return from the ships eight-month maiden deployment, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (Alexander Casco/U.S. Navy)

Sailors assigned to the USS Gerald R. Ford greet family upon returning from the ships eight-month maiden deployment, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (Triniti Lersch/U.S. Navy)

Sailors assigned to the USS Gerald R. Ford depart the ship upon returning from its eight-month maiden deployment, Jan. 17, 2024. (Triniti Lersch/U.S. Navy)

Sailors assigned to the USS Gerald R. Ford man the rails upon return from the ships eight-month maiden deployment, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (Triniti Lersch/U.S. Navy)

Sailors assigned to the USS Gerald R. Ford man the rails upon return from the ships eight-month maiden deployment, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (Triniti Lersch/U.S. Navy)

Capt. Richard Burgess, commanding officer of the USS Gerald R. Ford, walks off the ship upon returning from an eight-month deployment, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (Triniti Lersch/U.S. Navy)

Sailors assigned to the deck department of the USS Gerald R. Ford heave around a line in the focsle during a sea-and-anchor evolution upon return from the ships eight-month maiden deployment, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (Alexander Casco/U.S. Navy)

The USS Gerald R. Fords command master chief Bryan Davis receives a welcome home from his family upon returning from the ships eight-month maiden deployment, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (Alexander Casco/U.S. Navy)

The USS Gerald R. Fords executive officer Matthew Mulcahey receives a welcome home from his family upon returning from the ships eight-month maiden deployment, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (Alexander Casco/U.S. Navy)

Sage, a 4-year-old female Labrador retriever deployed through Mutts With A Mission, disembarks the worlds largest aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford upon returning from the ships eight-month maiden deployment, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (Alexander Casco/U.S. Navy)
American and Filipino prisoners of war carry dead comrades after the Bataan Death March in May 1942. (National Archives)

The remains of a soldier who died after the Bataan Death March during World War II have been identified more than 80 years later as an Army Air Corps technician from Washington state.

Herbert F. March, 24, was identified in August, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Monday. The DPAA, which uses DNA and other advanced methods to identify previously unknown service members killed in wars and accidents, said the announcement was delayed so surviving relatives could be notified. March will be honored with a full military burial in Woodland, Wash., at a future date.

March was a technician 4th grade assigned to the Headquarters Squadron of the 24th Pursuit Group, now an inactive unit that was part of the American and Filipino troops defending the Philippines from Japanese forces, which invaded the islands in December 1941 after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Technician ranks during World War II had skills related to support functions such as cooks and mechanics.

After Japanese troops captured the capital of Manila, American forces withdrew to strongholds on the Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor Island, but surrendered both in April and May 1942, respectively.

March was captured on the Bataan Peninsula and reported as a prisoner of war following the surrender, the DPAA said. With no food, water or medical aid, soldiers were forced to walk 65 miles to the Cabanatuan POW camp. Survivors told of stragglers killed by guards as they failed to keep pace in what became known as the Bataan Death March.

More than 2,500 POWs perished at the Cabanatuan camp during World War II, including March, who was determined to have died July 26, 1942, according to camp records and recollections of fellow prisoners. He was buried along with other American and Filipino prisoners in a common grave at the camp.

Personnel from the American Graves Registration Service exhumed those buried at the Cabanatuan cemetery after World War II ended in September 1945. The remains were moved to a temporary U.S. military mausoleum outside Manila.

In 1947, the graves registration service announced it had identified three sets of remains from the common grave. The others were declared unidentified and buried as unknowns at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

In March 2018, the remains found from the Cabanatuan camp were disinterred again and sent to the DPAA laboratory for analysis.

To identify Marchs remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis and circumstantial evidence. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome DNA analysis, the agency said.
Two users of American Sign Language chat at an open-caption and ASL-interpreted screening of Barbie. (Allen J. Schaben, Los Angeles Times/TNS)

LOS ANGELES  Nine-year-old actor Oceana Matsumoto signed emphatically to her father, posing for a snapshot in the lobby of Westwoods Regency Village Theater, where hundreds of fans had come to catch a special screening of Barbie in ASL  American Sign Language.

The Dec. 14 event, which debuted deaf performer Leila Hanaumis interpretation of the bubblegum blockbuster, showcased the cutting edge of accessibility for the Deaf, with the dialogue relayed to viewers through both on-screen captions and sign language.

It feels good, Oceana said. They typically dont even have captions [in theaters].

Though common at news conferences and concerts, ASL is rare in theaters and on streaming services, where the sign language interpreter can be included within the picture. Captions, by contrast, are old school  an accessibility function that first hit the movies in the Eisenhower era.

In recent years theres been a twist: Words on the screen have become the default for many television viewers.

According to recent studies, roughly half of all viewers use captions most or all of the time, including 53% of millennials and some 70% of zoomers. Thats about double the percentage of Generation Xers and baby boomers who use them, despite the fact older people are between two and three times more likely to have difficulty hearing, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

Captioning is not only for deaf people; its for everyone  and I mean literally everyone, said Katherine Lees, chief executive of the accessible marketing company Dozanu Innovations.

Some reasons are technical: Flatter TV sets, newer sound mixing trends, inconsistent audio levels and compressed quality on streaming can muddy dialogue, while modern interfaces make adding captions almost as easy as skipping through the opening credits.

Others are social: More second-screen viewing (watching your TV while simultaneously scrolling on your smartphone), a growing appetite for foreign shows and the proliferation of auto-generated captions on TikTok and YouTube have all helped popularize the once-niche technology  particularly among younger viewers.

Having captions on video content is fast becoming the new standard, said Melissa echo Greenlee, founder of Deaf Friendly Consulting.

As moviegoers jammed back into theaters this summer, many found themselves wondering  why arent there captions here too?

In the case of the Barbie screening, the ASL interpretation offered viewers another comedic layer in the repetition of the icons ASL moniker: the hand-sign for B combined with the sign for doll, which runs down the bridge of the nose.

I literally interpret movies for my kids in our living room, Hanaumi told Barbie star Margot Robbie at a post-screening Q&A. Deaf people do that every day.

Captioned films were originally produced to be loaned out to Deaf groups through a government-funded program. In the 70s, networks pioneered closed-captions for TV. And following the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990, all new TV sets were required to be able to display captions.

But a curious thing happened in the decade since streamers made captions universal, following the 2011 judgment in Netflix vs. National Association of the Deaf: As they became widely available, the masses started using them.

With my generation, Gen Z, were already watching everything with captions, said deaf influencer Chrissy Marshall, 24.

Howard A. Rosenblum  head of the National Association of the Deaf, whose lawsuit paved the way for the current caption renaissance  said that theater owners have long argued that open-captioning is disruptive. But now, with so many people who are not deaf turning on captions ... it would seem [they] are welcome.

The term open captions refers to dialogue and audio description projected like subtitles on the screen. Theyre the preferred alternative to closed captions, which all theaters must provide by law, and which moviegoers access using special glasses or a cup holder-mounted machine.

But getting open captions in theaters is far more complicated than toggling between menu options on a smart TV, advocates say.

Hawaii has mandated open-caption screenings in theaters since 2015. But showings in the other 49 states remained rare.

Then, a few months after most movie theaters reopened in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the countrys largest cinema chain  AMC  announced it would begin screening new releases with open captions at limited showings in 240 of its U.S. theaters.

In 2022, New York City began requiring up to four open-caption showings per movie per week at most theaters, with the stipulation that half be during peak hours.

Washington, D.C., and Colorado have proposed similar laws.

The National Association of Theater Owners, a national industry group, did not respond to requests for comment. Nor did AMC, still the only major theater company to regularly offer open-caption showtimes where such screenings are not mandated by law.

Although it does not mandate them, California now has scores of theaters with regular open-caption showings, including in smaller cities such as Chula Vista and Placerville.

I live in Northern California, and we have monthly Deaf events with open-caption films, Oceana said. We dont have to use the glasses or the little machines you put on your seat. Were able to just watch it.

Angelenos can find about a dozen open-caption showtimes a week, if they know where to look.

But moviegoers say theres no easy way to keep track of whats showing and when  and schlepping across town for a 1 p.m. weekday showing hardly justifies the $23 ticket price.

You cant schedule the open-caption slot at a lousy time, not promote it and then complain community members arent coming, Greenlee said. To not give us options during prime-time weekends  is like saying: You dont matter.

Even small and independent theaters that strive to be inclusive and promote their accessible showings may not always hit the mark.

For every well-attended screening of Barbie, theres a flip side, like Wish.

About 100 people showed up to the films open-caption debut at Disneys El Capitan Theater in December  one of two such screenings the Hollywood movie house provides for new releases.

But the encore, at 4 p.m. the following Wednesday, was empty.

We want to be as inclusive as we can be and invite audiences to come be comfortable and be their true authentic selves, said theater manager Adi Hakopian. We have closed-caption devices too, but its not as comfortable as when its on the screen.

Buggy cup-holder caption machines and ill-fitting glasses have long been the standard in movie theaters, which are required to provide captioning and audio description devices to moviegoers who need them. But users say those technologies are uncomfortable and unreliable, and many theaters only stock a few.

Youre looking up and down and up and down and up and down through the whole movie, said deaf moviegoer Dani Duran. If the captioning goes off in the middle of the movie, its sorry, too bad, and weve missed 20 or 30 minutes of the movie before it can be fixed.

Thats what happened when she and her husband went out for a date in September.

His [device] had glitches, she said. He had to take it back and exchange it; he missed the whole first part of the movie, and then it stopped again. They gave us a refund for the tickets, but wed already bought popcorn and drinks, the whole nine yards.

For now, open-caption movies feel equally inaccessible, even if theyre easier to watch.

If they say, we have open-captioning [only] this Friday, that makes it difficult to go, Duran said. Some of the theaters are so far away for me, its easier to wait for movies to come out on streaming.

Both the Barbie screening and the ASL interpretation were paid for by Max (formerly HBO), which said it aimed to provide representation, not just accessibility. Hanaumi touched on the growing push for inclusion in her conversation with Robbie.

Im wondering where you see the industry going with accessibility and inclusivity, Hanaumi asked.

I only see it getting better, Robbie said. Technology is only making things easier to be more inclusive, and we should all be capitalizing on that.

There was a pause. Then, as though remembering her audience, the actress amended herself.

But its not really down to technology, Robbie went on. Its down to people.

A thousand hands shot into the air in a silent wave of applause.
A guard at the U.S. Armys Kure Pier No. 6 waves through a worker leaving the installation in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan, in 2021. Kure is home to the 10th Support Group, whose mission largely revolves around the stocking, storage and transportation of munitions at three facilities in Kure and one on Okinawa. (Dustin Perry/U.S. Army)

TOKYO  The Japanese government for the first time has added U.S. military facilities to sites where nearby land use and acquisition are subject to tighter scrutiny over security concerns.

Six U.S. military sites are among 180 added Monday to a list designated for tighter regulation under a law passed in 2021, according to Japans Cabinet Office website. There are 219 sites in all.

The six U.S. facilities are Hiro Ammunition Depot, Akizuki Ammunition Depot, Kawakami Ammunition Depot, Kure Pier No. 6 and Haigamine Communication Site in Hiroshima prefecture and Itazuki Air Base in Fukuoka prefecture.

The Japanese facilities include Self-Defense Force installations, nuclear power plants and airports. The Defense Ministry in Tokyo and Chitose Airport in Hokkaido were also added to the list this week.

The law regulates the use of property within about a half-mile of designated facilities, such as defense installations, power plants and airports, and remote territorial islands.

The law requires new owners to register details such as names and nationalities when buying or selling a certain size of property near some facilities. It also allows the Japanese government to research details of the owner of that land and to stop activities that interfere with the operation of the designated sites.

From the past, the ownership and use of land in remote territorial islands or in the vicinity of defense facilities has been a source of security concern, the Cabinet Office website states.

The penalty for violating the law is up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 2 million yen, or about $13,563, according to Mainichi newspaper report on Monday.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army launched one of its largest attacks in Gaza since the beginning of the year, when it reported an end to military activity in the north of the enclave. A few hours before the attack, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had announced that military actions in the center and south of Gaza would also be coming to an end. At the start of the invasion, on October 27, the retired IDF general said that Israel would end operations in Gaza within three months  a deadline that has now arrived. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  who has linked his political survival to a total victory against Hamas  believes that the conflict could go on for several more months. In view of this, Netanyahu and his far-right coalition approved an extra 15 billion ($16.3 billion) for the war in Gaza.

Amid the obvious division in the Israeli Cabinet, airstrikes devastated large areas of southern Gaza on Tuesday. This is despite the fact that Israel said Monday that the intensive phase of Israels offensive had ended. The attacks were concentrated in Khan Younis, but also hit dozens of Hamas rocket launch pads in Beit Lahia, on the supposedly inactive northern front of Gaza, which came in response to an unusual wave of rocket launches. More than 150 Gazans lost their lives in the Israeli attacks on Tuesday, according to a report by the Gaza Ministry of Health, which has raised the death toll since the start of hostilities to 24,280, more than 1% of the territorys population.

On Monday night, Gallant said that the intense maneuvering stage had ended in the north, and that it would end soon in the south, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are living in overcrowded conditions after being forcibly displaced from their homes. Meanwhile, hostilities on the border between Israel and Lebanon continued to escalate.

On Tuesday, the Israeli army launched successive artillery and combat aviation attacks against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. For the first time since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, Israel acknowledged a special forces commando operation against a Hezbollah unit that threatened to infiltrate into Israeli territory.

Meanwhile, in Brussels, in a new twist of international pressure, the EU agreed on Tuesday to add the political leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, to the European Unions terrorist list. Since last month, this list has also included other leaders of the Islamist movement  which the EU describes as a terrorist group  including Mohamed Deif, Hamas military chief. The EU said its decision on Tuesday was in response to the threat posed by Hamas and its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks in Israel on 7 Oct. 2023, in which Sinwar and Deif have been identified as the main masterminds.

An Israeli fighter jet flies over the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Associated Press/LaPresse (APN)

The move means that all the funds and assets that the Hamas leader may have on European territory will be frozen. European operators will also be banned from providing him with funds or any other economic resources. In December, the EU Council announced that Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas armed wing, would also be included on the terrorist list.

This is a just and moral decision. I thank all our friends that supported this decision, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz posted on X (formerly Twitter) following the announcement on Tuesday. We will continue to eradicate the root of evil, in Gaza and wherever it raises its head.

The conflict in Gaza has put European foreign policy to the test, with divisions hindering efforts to show political unity. The EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has criticized the situation. He proposed imposing sanctions on extremist settlers in the West Bank, but still does not have the necessary support.

U.S. strikes on Houthi targets

On Tuesday, the U.S. launched its third airstrike in five days against Houthi militia targets in Yemen. Tomahawk missiles from U.S. forces hit a facility storing cruise missiles, which the Iran-backed rebel group has been using against merchant ships in the Red Sea. The military action ordered by the Pentagon comes a day after a Houthi missile hit a U.S. merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden, leaving no injuries and causing only minor damage to the cargo area.

Last Friday, the United States and the United Kingdom struck more than 60 targets in 28 points in Yemen in a bid to stop Houthi attacks on merchant ships passing through the Red Sea, through which 15% of world trade passes. The next day, U.S. planes hit a radar system operated by the rebel group in Yemen. U.S. President Joe Biden and the British government warned that, if the Houthis hostile actions in the Red Sea continued, there would be more airstrikes.

In defiance of Western warnings, the rebel group launched a missile at a U.S. warship on Sunday, although the projectile was shot down before reaching its target. On Monday, the Houthis attacked the merchant ship Gibraltar Eagle; and fired a second rocket, which exploded in mid-flight without causing damage. The Houthi rebels say they will continue to attack Israeli and Israel-bound ships until Israel stops its offensive in Gaza. On Monday, the militia also declared American and British ships as targets.

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U.S. soldiers fire an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, during a Talisman Sabre drill at Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia, July 22, 2023. (Jennessa Davey/Stars and Stripes)

Australia will start making guided missiles next year under a $37.4 million contract with U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, the Australian government announced this week.

The contract allows an initial batch of missiles for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, or GMLRS, to be made in Australia, according to a statement Tuesday from Pat Conroy, the nations minister for defence industry.

The deal is an important first step towards establishing domestic missile manufacturing, he said.

The contract allows the transfer of technical data from the United States and sets processes for engineering certification and training Australian workers, the statement said.

The Australian government will also acquire precision strike missiles that can engage targets out to 311 miles, according to the statement.

High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, can fire both the precision strike missiles and GMLRS missiles, Conroys statement said.

Australia announced in January 2023 that it would buy 20 U.S.-made HIMARS systems. The U.S. State Department in August greenlighted the sale of another 22 HIMARS to Australia along with 60 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and other munitions.

U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific have trained regularly with HIMARS in recent years, including at the biennial Talisman Sabre drills in Australia in 2021 and 2023.

HIMARS munitions have a range of up to 186 miles, which is expected to increase with technological advances, the Australian government said at the time.

Australian-made missiles of all types will be made available to the U.S. military and other close allies when appropriate, Ross Babbage, a former Australian assistant defense secretary, said in an email Tuesday to Stars and Stripes.

The capability will enable Australia to replenish its missile stocks in a conflict, although information about the rate at which the country might produce missiles hasnt been released, Babbage said.

The intent is to have a range of priority missiles manufactured here  the production of which can be scaled up substantially as required, he said.

Australia is also buying U.S.-made Tomahawk and Norwegian-built naval strike missiles and its possible that both, as well as other types of missiles, may be made in the country later this decade, Babbage said.

Both sides of Australian politics want to see this capability operating here, he said.
A South Korean K1A2 tank fires during a joint live fire exercise between South Korea and the U.S. at a military training field in Pocheon on Jan. 4, 2024. (Jung Yeon-je, AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  The U.S. and South Korea have reached a deal to discuss funding for American troops this year, local media reported, a step that could ease friction between the allies after former President Donald Trump once demanded a five-fold increase.

South Korea and the U.S. agreed to begin talks soon on a funding pact, the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper and other media reported, citing diplomats they didnt name. It added Seoul may aim to reach an agreement later this year.

The reason to speed up the normal calendar for talks is to try and reach an agreement ahead of a potential new Trump administration taking office, the newspaper reported. The current deal expires at the end of 2025.

Our government plans to systematically and strategically prepare for the next round of negotiations while holding close consultations between South Korea and the U.S., Lim Soo-suk, a South Korean foreign ministry spokesman, said at a regular briefing on Tuesday.

Yonhap News reported that the two sides agreed to start talks this year, citing a diplomatic source, but added its difficult to say whether an agreement can be reached in 2024.

Trump, when he was president, had asked South Korea to contribute about $5 billion for hosting some 28,500 American military personnel, well above the one-year deal in effect from 2020 where Seoul paid about $1 billion.

The price tag originated with the White House, according to people familiar with the matter, and was a non-starter in South Korea with both the progressive ruling and conservative blocs seeing it as exorbitant.

Trump had repeatedly insisted that the U.S. gets a raw deal from partners who host American troops around the world, and hes focused particular ire on what is known as the Special Measures Agreement with South Korea.

Despite Trumps criticism, South Korea spends a larger share of its economic output on defense than many other U.S. allies. American troops in South Korea are intended to provide a front-line defense against North Korea and potentially China.

Shortly after taking office in 2021, President Joe Biden reached a troop-funding deal with South Korea, where Seoul agreed to pay 1.18 trillion won ($1.04 billion at the time) to the U.S. for security in 2021, a roughly 14% increase from 2019. Seoul would pay 5.4% more the next year, with similar increases annually until 2025 under the deal.

Biden worked to repair rifts with South Korea and Japan caused in part by Trumps demands for hefty increases in troop funding. Since then, the three countries have stepped up military cooperation to new levels, set up real-time systems to share information on missile launches and trained together on missions to hunt for submarines and defend the skies.

Earlier this week, Trump tightened his grip on the Republican presidential nomination after Iowa voters delivered him a victory in Mondays caucuses and moved him one step closer to returning to the White House.

2024 Bloomberg News.

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A U.S. fighter prepares to take off from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on Jan. 12, 2024, to conduct strikes against sites used by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. (Zachary Elmore/U.S. Navy)

The United States faced intensifying military action by Iran and its allies on Tuesday, an escalating threat to the Biden administrations effort to contain violence across the Middle East following the launch of Israels war with Hamas militants.

A drumbeat of tit-for-tat incidents between U.S. forces and Iranian-backed armed groups, including a new round of strikes Tuesday against Houthi militants in Yemen and Iranian strikes into Iraq and Syria on Monday, served as a test of Washingtons attempt to limit regional instability and avoid a direct confrontation with Tehran.

The incidents also highlight the potential for miscalculation as military action accelerates and the United States continues support for close ally Israel, whose response to Hamas bloody Oct. 7 attacks has killed more than 24,000 people in the Gaza Strip, most of them Palestinian civilians, and galvanized opposition across the Arab world to Israel and its chief backer.

Tuesdays strike on the Iranian-linked Houthi movement in Yemen, the third such attack in the last week, targeted four sites where the rebels were preparing to launch missiles against commercial shipping vessels, U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

The Houthis, one powerful faction in Yemens ongoing civil war, have framed their campaign against merchant ships transiting the region, which has included more than 30 drone and missile attacks since November, as retaliation for Israels war in Gaza.

The group almost immediately made good on its vow to continue its campaign, launching an anti-ship ballistic missile that struck the Maltese-flagged ship M/V Zografia. No one was injured and the ship continued its voyage.

The recent violence has also revived concerns about militant networks not involved in the backlash by Iranian-linked groups to Israels operation in Gaza. The rare airstrike into Syria by Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday targeted what Tehran said were sites linked to the Islamic State, the extremist group that claimed responsibility for a deadly twin bombing this month in the Iranian city of Kerman.

While that action appeared unrelated to recent violence pitting Israel and the United States against Iranian-sponsored militants, Iran also conducted a strike on what Iranian officials described as an Israeli spy site in Iraqi Kurdistan, a move that prompted outcry by officials in Baghdad and Irbil, the capital of the semiautonomous northern region.

Gerald Feierstein, a former U.S. ambassador to Yemen who is now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said Iran appeared determined, like the United States, to stay out of a direct conflict with the U.S. military and its allies. He pointed to the fact that Lebanese militia group Hezbollah, Irans largest and most powerful proxy, had not unleashed the full power of its vast missile arsenal against Israel in recent months. On Tuesday, Israeli forces conducted dozens of strikes across the border into southern Lebanon.

Likewise, while Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have launched regular attacks on U.S. military facilities in both countries, they often fall far from their purported targets and inflict limited damage. In what has appeared to be a parallel American bid at restraint, retaliatory U.S. strikes have been limited in scope, though an airstrike in Baghdad earlier this month killed a militia commander accused of orchestrating violence against Americans deployed there.

A photo released by the U.S. military's Central Command shows what it is described as Iranian-made missile components bound for Yemen's Houthi seized from a vessel in the Arabian Sea. (U.S. Central Command)

Feierstein said that while Iran appears determined to refrain from direct involvement in the Gaza situation, the current U.S.-Houthi showdown may serve Tehrans interests.

Their partner in the axis of resistance is standing up on behalf of Palestinians, but its not crossing American red lines, he said, referring to a loose coalition of groups that, along with Iran, seek to push back against U.S. influence in the region. Its not likely to get us into a conflict with Iran directly, and so everybody can live at this level that theyre at right now.

How long that status quo can be maintained is unclear. The United States positioned additional military assets in the Middle East following Hamas attacks into Israel, hoping to deter armed groups linked to Iran from seizing an opportunity to strike their shared enemy Israel and its sponsor, the United States. The U.S. military also established a stepped-up multinational effort to deter maritime attacks that have significantly disrupted commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

John Kirby, a spokesman with the White House National Security Council, said Tuesday that when the United States launched dozens of strikes in Yemen last week, senior U.S. officials fully anticipated that the Houthis would probably conduct some retaliatory strikes.

He said that while the United States believed it could not permit the attacks on commercial ships, neither did it seek war with the Houthis.

Were not looking to expand this, Kirby said. They still have time to make the right choice, which is to stop these reckless attacks.

As part of its evolving response to the Houthi actions, the Biden administration is planning to place the Yemeni group back on a list of global terrorist organizations, two people familiar with the decision said on Tuesday. The decision to designate the Houthis as specially designated global terrorists marks a reversal of a step the administration took in early 2021 out of concern about exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen.

U.S. forces have also sought to stem the Houthi campaign in part by interdicting the supply of weapons from Iran to Yemen. On Thursday, Navy SEALs boarded a small ship in the Arabian Sea, finding Iranian-made missile warheads and related weapons components. Two troops were lost at sea during the operation, prompting a search-and-rescue operation that was still underway Tuesday.

Irans strikes in Iraq hit the espionage headquarters of Israels Mossad intelligence agency that had been used to plan terrorist acts against Iran, the Revolutionary Guard said in a statement. Iraqi and Kurdish officials deny the claims. The Israeli prime ministers press office declined to comment on Irans assertions.

Iraqs national security adviser said he visited a home of one of the victims of the strike. It was revealed that the claims suggesting the targeting of a Mossad headquarters have no basis in truth, Qasim al-Araji said in a post on X, the social media platform.

Iraq recalled its ambassador from Tehran following the strikes, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday. The ministry also said Irans top diplomat in Baghdad had been summoned over the attack and was handed a protest note.

U.S. officials said no American personnel were injured in the strikes but condemned Irans actions.

We oppose Irans reckless missile strikes, which undermine Iraqs stability, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

The risks of regional conflagration were further underscored Tuesday by a spate of Israeli airstrikes into Lebanon, marking an escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Also on Tuesday, Iran conducted airstrikes on what it said were militant targets in Pakistan. Pakistans government condemned the action by its neighbor, saying civilians were killed.

George reported from Dubai and Salim reported from Baghdad. Michael Birnbaum, Kyle Melnick and Niha Masih contributed to this report.
A euphemism has been gaining weight in Israeli political jargon concerning Gaza: Voluntary emigration. It consists of encouraging (another term often used by its promoters) Palestinians who wish to do so to leave Gaza to be hosted by other countries. If there are 100,000 or 200,000 Arabs in Gaza and not two million, the whole discourse about the day after [the war] will be different, said one of its main advocates, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, on December 31.

The idea is being pushed, with increasing force, by the ultra-right elements of Benjamin Netanyahus government, who also want Israel to fully control Gaza and rebuild the Jewish settlements that Ariel Sharons administration evacuated in 2005. They are, at the same time, aware of the impossibility of forcibly displacing all those who inhabit the Gaza Strip. The initiative also has supporters in other sectors of the political spectrum, such as Danny Danon, a former U.N. ambassador and member of the Knesset for Likud, the prime ministers party, and Ram Ben-Barak, a parliamentarian for Yesh Atid, the opposition party of the former head of government, Yair Lapid. Ben-Barak, a former Mossad deputy director, has suggested distributing Gazans among 100 different nations, with 20,000 in each. No one is talking about when, and if, they would return.

Faced with international condemnations of the proposal, including from staunch allies such as Washington, Berlin and London, Netanyahu last Wednesday  the day before the hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague over accusations of genocide  issued a statement in English to make some points absolutely clear. Among these was that Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population.

But displacing the population is not the same as encouraging, on paper, voluntary departure from Gaza, which is suffering under the heaviest bombardment in decades. Since the Israeli invasion was launched, more than 1% of the population of Gaza has been killed and entire neighborhoods destroyed. Two weeks ago, Netanyahu told a meeting of his party that the problem with the initiative is finding countries willing to absorb Gazans. We are working on it, he reportedly said. According to The Times of Israel, there have been secret contacts with Congo, among other countries.

The Al Nusairat refugee camp, southern Gaza, January 16. MOHAMMED SABER (EFE)

Better housing for Gazans

The idea was first mooted in November, after Israel invaded Gaza and more than a million people were forced to head to the south of Gaza. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has refused to open the Rafah crossing, the only one that does not provide access to Israel. What is happening now in Gaza is an attempt to force civilian residents to take refuge and migrate to Egypt, which should not be accepted [...] Egypt rejects any attempt to resolve the Palestinian issue by military means or through the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land, which would come at the expense of the countries of the region, he declared in October.

Shortly afterward, a working document from the Israeli Intelligence Ministry  headed by a supporter of voluntary emigration, Likuds Gila Gamliel  was leaked to the press. It recommended expelling the population of Gaza, by force and permanently, to the Egyptian Sinai. Danny Ayalon, former ambassador to the United States and a former number two in the Foreign Ministry, spoke of the almost infinite space in the Sinai desert for setting up tents.

If voluntary emigration occupies more and more space in debates and on television, it is partly because it is being openly promoted by up to five ministers, almost all ultranationalists  the sector of the coalition that U.S. President Joe Biden last month publicly called on Netanyahu to dispense with, because this government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move and doesnt want a two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict. Biden specifically mentioned Minister of the Interior Itamar Ben-Gvir, who two weeks ago viewed the war as an opportunity to focus on encouraging the migration of the residents of Gaza as a correct, just, moral and humane solution, to the conflict.

Another supporter of the proposal is Heritage Minister Amijai Eliyahu, who generated controversy by suggesting dropping an atomic bomb on Gaza as an option. In an interview with the Ynet television network, he provoked laughter on the set by arguing that voluntary emigration is not a forced displacement, but a possibility of better housing for those Gazans who refuse to live in such conditions, in reference to the destruction in Gaza. Israeli bombardments have left 290,000 houses damaged, 70,000 of them destroyed or uninhabitable, according to figures from the Gaza government collected last Monday by the United Nations. Half a million people have nothing to return to.

A house bombed by the Israeli army in Rafah, southern Gaza, January 9. MOHAMMED SALEM (REUTERS)

Shlomo Karhi, Minister of Communications and a Likud member, defended the proposal recently in an interview on the parliamentary television channel: We certainly need to encourage emigration so that theres as little pressure as possible inside the Gaza Strip from people who at the moment are uninvolved, but theyre not exactly lovers of Israel, and they educate their children to [embrace] terror. Weve talked about this in government meetings. There arent any countries that want to take them in. No one wants them, even if we pay a lot of money. Voluntary emigration is important. It doesnt in any way harm human rights.

Karhis interview came shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the issue on January 9 at a press conference at the end of his latest visit to Israel. In todays meetings, I was also crystal clear: Palestinian civilians must be able to return home as soon as conditions allow. They must not be pressed to leave Gaza. As I told the prime minister, the United States unequivocally rejects any proposals advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza, and the prime minister reaffirmed to me today that this is not the policy of Israels government.

Humanitarian arguments

Proponents of the proposal often resort to humanitarian arguments. In an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal in November, Ben-Barak and Danon asserted that the international community has a moral imperative  and an opportunity  to demonstrate compassion, help the people of Gaza move toward a more prosperous future and work together to achieve greater peace and stability in the Middle East. The authors recalled how several European countries and the United States took in refugees from the wars in Bosnia, Kosovo and, more recently, Syria, and called on the West to accept limited numbers of Gazan families who have expressed a desire to relocate.

Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an expert on the Israeli political system, laments the disconnection from reality and ethnocentrism of those promoting the initiative, as much as Netanyahu retaining them in the government. He needs the 64 MPs [out of 120, which he has with ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox deputies] for the day when Benny Gantz leaves the emergency government. He knows that they give him what he wants, and Gantz and [Yair] Lapid do not, he notes over the phone. The proposal, he believes, is also a tool of the far-right to mobilize its own supporters, who are in favor of rebuilding the settlements in Gaza, and to attract the Likud sector that is more aligned with religious nationalism.

Last week, at a conference in a Jerusalem museum called Lessons from Gaza  an end to the idea of two states, Gamliel said that on the day the war ends we will still have about two million people [in Gaza], many of whom voted for Hamas and celebrated the massacre of innocent men, women, and children on October 7. The minister said the conflict is an opportunity for the international community, which claims to care about the Palestinians, to step up to the plate. I will make it simple by stating it in three simple words: Open the door [] I say to the international community: No one is pushing or forcing anybody out, but surely you cant be indifferent to their suffering. Just open the door and let those who wish it to join the hundreds of thousands of Gazans who have already left voluntarily in the last few years.

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Committee chairwoman Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) arrives for a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing, on Capitol Hill, Oct. 4, 2023, in Washington. Cantwell has pledged to pursue federal data privacy legislation in the current session. (Drew Angerer, Getty Images/TNS)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  States that have enacted data privacy laws and those pursuing them are migrating into disparate camps in their approaches to privacy protections, setting up a clash if Congress enacts federal legislation.

In the absence of nationwide policy, 13 states have enacted their own laws. California, the first state in the nation to pass a comprehensive law, formed a camp of its own with its 2020 measure that allows consumers to directly sue tech and online companies over data breaches involving personal information such as names, social security numbers and email addresses.

Twelve other states have taken a different approach, modeled on a bill first proposed in Washington state in 2019 but that has so far not been passed in that state. Data privacy laws now in effect in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Florida, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia dont allow individuals to sue tech companies for data breaches, and instead offer consumers a mix of basic and substantive protections.

California and the other states are similar in that each allows its attorney general to bring lawsuits against companies for violations.

Privacy advocates who are lobbying for action in other states, however, are pushing in another direction: a bipartisan congressional proposal that was approved in the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2022 but failed to get broader support in Congress. That proposal would seek to minimize data collection.

Members of Congress from both parties, including Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, have pledged to pursue federal data privacy legislation in the current session.

They are under pressure to act because of the rapid onset of artificial intelligence systems that use large volumes of data, threatening to worsen privacy protections for Americans. But with the November election fast approaching, Congress has little time left to reach consensus and pass a law that has eluded it for years.

Data minimization

Legislatures in seven other states are considering dozens of privacy bills in 2024.

Mozilla, a nonprofit foundation and maker of the Firefox web browser, wrote to lawmakers in Massachusetts and Maine on Jan. 11 asking them to consider proposals modeled on the stalled federal legislation instead of the Washington state model.

The letters author, Noam Kantor, a senior public policy analyst at the nonprofit, said in an interview that Mozilla wants tougher standards for a key element of privacy known as data minimization that was included in the federal proposal but not in many state ones.

Data minimization asks companies to collect only the data necessary to provide a service or sell a product.

Laws in states such as Connecticut act like they call for data minimization, but theyre actually not really putting any constraints on the kind of use and abuse of data we see in the marketplace, Kantor said. And that worries us because data minimization to Mozilla is a really important factor of privacy law.

The Connecticut law says companies and other entities must limit collection of personal data to what is adequate, relevant and reasonably necessary for the disclosed purposes for which the data is processed.

The federal proposal from 2022 says that any entity covered by the legislation may not collect, process, or transfer covered data unless the collection, processing, or transfer is limited to what is reasonably necessary and proportionate. But it also goes on to list more than a dozen permissible purposes for which data may be collected, a prescriptive clause that some of the other laws lack.

Washington state Sen. Joe Nguyen, who chairs the chambers Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, was an author of the 2019 data privacy proposal in that state. He said in an interview that many legislatures and state regulatory agencies lack the wherewithal to enact technology legislation that is specific and prescriptive.

The data minimization requirement in the Washington proposal was a constant [under] the philosophy that you should minimize the data that youre using from consumers as best as possible, he said.

The proposal, sponsored by former Washington state Sen. Reuven Carlyle, was left open-ended to avoid a situation in which technology becomes moot and then you have to pass another law to fix it, said Nguyen, a Microsoft executive before entering politics.

Thats a big problem for part-time state legislatures with minimal staff that may not be adept enough to rapidly amend laws, Nguyen said. Additionally, some states lack the expertise and resources to develop legislation from scratch and must borrow proposals from elsewhere.

So why has Washington failed to enact data privacy legislation? Nguyen said the five unsuccessful attempts are attributable to consumer advocates pushing to include a private right of action similar to Californias provision.

The authors of the Washington proposal chose to lay power of enforcement with the attorney general because when youre talking tech companies with trillions of dollars, people will sue you just to sue you and hope for a settlement, Nguyen said.

Yet Washingtons model, which adapted many parts of the European Unions privacy law known as General Data Protection Regulation, has had a lot of influence, said Kate Goodloe, managing director at BSA Software Alliance, a trade group that represents more than 40 firms including Cisco Systems Inc., Oracle Corp. and Microsoft Corp.

That approach creates a new set of privacy rights for individuals and set of obligations on businesses, including both consumer-facing businesses and business-to-business data processors, she said in an interview. Privacy laws in Virginia, Connecticut and Colorado use the same structure but add more substantive protections for consumers.

Other states use it as an anchor but have removed some protections.

In the meantime, Washington state still lacks a law.

Nguyen said he wont reintroduce the measure this year. You only can fit so much stuff in at any given time, and knowing that this policy is very tough, and its failed multiple times, I dont want to spend my time working on a policy that I know is going to be controversial when there are other things that I need to do.

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Former U.S. airman Ian Mitchell Wilson pleaded no contest in Oakland County Circuit Court to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct-incapacitated victim. He was sentenced on Jan. 16, 2024. (Oakland County Sheriffs Office)

A former United States airman who sexually assaulted a woman at a holiday gathering in Oakland County and was subsequently arrested while trying to enter Canada at the Washington border was sentenced Tuesday.

Oakland County Circuit Judge Mary Ellen Brennan handed a 5-15 year prison sentence to Ian Mitchell Wilson, 23, for third-degree degree criminal sexual assault of an incapacitated person, acknowledging jail credit of 523 days served.

Wilson, of Independence Township, made a deal with the Oakland County Prosecutors Office last fall with a no contest plea. In exchange, nine sex crime charges were dismissed.

The charge he pleaded to stemmed from a Jan. 1, 2021, incident where he was accused of assaulting a woman at a New Years Eve party. Investigators eventually linked Wilson to other sexual assaults in Oakland County, dating to 2017, and charged him with multiple crimes that were dropped as part of his plea deal, court records show.

Charges dismissed with the no contest plea include one count of first degree criminal sexual conduct, three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, four counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, and one count of assault with intent to commit sexual penetration.

Ahead of Wilsons plea, the prosecution dismissed one count each of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and assault with intent to commit sexual penetration.

Charges were initially filed in 51st District Court in Waterford and 52-2 District Court in Clarkston.

Wilson, who joined the U.S. Air Force in 2018, was arrested on a warrant Feb. 11, 2021 as he attempted to cross the border into Canada from Washington state. He was extradited to Michigan a few weeks later.

Prior to Wilson being taken into custody at the border, the plan was to arrest him when he reported for his shift at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. But he didnt show up for work, so a federal desertion warrant was issued.

After he was arrested, Wilson was locked up in the Oakland County Jail but eventually his bond was reduced and he was released with an electronic tether. Records show he was again booked into the jail just past 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

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The Military Personnel Flight, which includes the ID Card section at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, provides a variety of services to active-duty and retired military members, reservists, civilian employees and families. (Wesley Farnsworth/U.S. Air Force)

Military family members and retirees living in the United States can now renew their identification cards online and receive the new cards in the mail through an expansion of a pilot program that began nearly one year ago, the Defense Department announced.

The change impacts about 1 million people carrying the departments Uniformed Services Identification Card, which is issued to family members and retirees so they can access service benefits and privileges. The cards are different from the Common Access Cards issued to military personnel and civilian employees.

Each year, the Defense Department issues 4.5 million ID cards, according to the Defense Manpower Data Center. About 2.5 million of those are USID cards.

A pilot program for online renewal began in February 2023, and remains limited to those living within the U.S. An expansion to non-U.S. addresses is in the works, according to the department.

We think modern capabilities like renewing a drivers license online make it easier for people to get what they need when they need it without burdening them with having to take a trip somewhere, Mike Zarlenga with the Defense Manpower Data Center said in a statement. Were excited about this, and it sounds like people see online renewal as making their lives easier, based on the feedback were getting.

The change also will free up appointments for military and civilian personnel who must continue to renew in person or for those people getting a military ID card for the first time.

We want to make sure that people visiting that office can get an appointment when they need one, and they can get their CAC and resume their mission or duties with minimal impact to them or to the department, Zarlenga said.

More information about the online USID card renewal pilot program, including restrictions and requirements, is available on the cac.mil website.
NASA astronaut and Artemis II pilot Victor Glover trains for his upcoming mission of the Space Launch System rocket at the Orion spacecraft simulator at Johnson Space Center in Houston on Oct. 3. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Members of Congress on Wednesday expressed growing concern that delays in NASAs Artemis moon program and its immense cost could threaten the United States goal of returning astronauts to the moon before China, a rising space superpower, gets there.

Last week, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced that the space agencys first attempt to send astronauts around the moon in more than 50 years would be delayed from later this year to September 2025. The first lunar landing since the Apollo era would also be pushed back by nearly a year, he said, to September 2026.

The postponements come as the space agency studies why the heat shield of its Orion spacecraft, the vehicle that will carry Artemis astronauts to the moon, showed more charring than anticipated during an uncrewed test flight in late 2022. NASA also said delays in developing the spacecraft that would ferry astronauts to and from the lunar surface, as well as in developing the spacesuits they would wear while there, are affecting the timeline.

In addition to those delays, NASAs inspector general said in a report released Wednesday that the total cost of the program, between 2012 and 2025, could reach $93 billion.

NASA faces additional challenges to meeting its Artemis goals. Of utmost importance is resolving technical issues that could threaten astronaut safety, George Scott, NASAs acting inspector general, told lawmakers during a hearing of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. The agency will need to do this while also addressing long-standing concerns such as unsustainable costs, unreliable project schedules, and the lack of transparency into funding needs.

Taken together, those challenges could allow China, which is also aiming for the lunar surface, to send its astronauts there before NASA is able to return, Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), the committees chair, said during the hearing.

I remind my colleagues that we are not the only country interested in sending humans to the moon, he said. The Chinese Communist Party is actively soliciting international partners for a lunar mission, a lunar research station, and has stated its ambition to have human astronauts on the surface by 2030. The country that lands first will have the ability to set a precedent for whether future lunar activities are conducted with openness and transparency or in a more restricted manner.

Former NASA administrator Mike Griffin, who has also served in key roles at the Pentagon, said the United States has not demonstrated a sense of urgency that would keep it ahead of China. Our self-declared adversaries, the Chinese Communist Party, together with their Russian partner, fully understand the role that being on the space frontier has in the world of global power politics, he said. We seem no longer to understand that. For the United States and its partners not to be on the moon when others are on the moon, is unacceptable.

NASA completed the first flight of its Orion crew capsule in late 2022, when it flew around the moon without anyone on board in a mission known as Artemis I. Since then, however, NASA has been studying some unexpected erosion of the heat shield as the capsule returned through the atmosphere at some 25,000 mph and hit temperatures of nearly 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Last week, NASA officials said they were also working to understand an issue with the circuitry in the capsules life support system, as well as the emergency abort system that would propel the capsule away from the rocket in the event of an emergency.

Those problems need to be fixed before NASA flies the Artemis II mission, sending NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman, as well as Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day trip around the moon.

I want to emphasize that safety is our Number One priority, Jim Free, NASAs associate administrator, said during a briefing about last weeks delay announcement. As we prepare to send our friends and colleagues on this mission, were committed to launching as safely as possible. And we will launch when were ready.

Even with the delays, NASA should be in a position to land its astronauts on the moon in the Artemis III mission before China, Nelson said at the briefing.

I do not have a concern that China is going to land before us, he said. I think that China has a very aggressive plan. I think they would like to land before us because that might give them some PR coup. But the fact is that I dont think they will.

After sending a spacecraft to orbit the moon in 2007 and again in 2010, China landed the Change-3 spacecraft in 2013, becoming the first nation to soft-land on the lunar surface since the U.S.-Soviet Union rivalry of five decades ago. In early 2019, China became the first country to land a spacecraft on the moons far side. And in 2020 it brought back samples from the lunar surface.

Later this year, it is planning to land a craft on the far side again, this time in an effort to bring samples back to Earth, in what would be another impressive demonstration of its growing prowess and ambition. Ultimately, China has said it plans to establish a base near the lunar south pole, where there is water in the form of ice in the permanently shadowed craters. The south pole is also where NASA intends to go as part of its Artemis program.

The race with China is one of the main reasons the Biden administration embraced Artemis, which was born during the Trump administration, making it the first deep-space human exploration program to survive the transition of presidential administrations since the Apollo era. Initially, the Trump administration directed NASA to land astronauts on the moon by 2024, a schedule that the Biden White House pushed back to 2025 after it assessed the program.

Despite the delay, Artemis continues to have bipartisan support in Congress, which is eager to see the first woman and first person of color walk on the moon, as NASA has promised. But Chinas presence looms over the program.

I support Artemis, but I want it to be successful, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said during Wednesdays hearing  especially with China at our heels.
In 2019 the DPP withdrew charges against Natalie Chiper and Eduard Chiper who were alleged to have been in possession of the cannabis.

A mansion outside Drogheda is the target of the Criminal Assets Bureau in their case against a glamorous Moldovan couple.

Natalie Chiper and Eduard Chiper are being pursued by CAB after criminal charges against them over an almost 1 million drugs haul in 2019 were dropped.

They had been arrested in January that year after gardai found 940,000 of cannabis herb in a County Louth premises.

In the High Court today it was heard that a forensic accountant had been engaged, they had agreed to allow documents to be inspected, they were in talks with CAB and that the case was moving forward.

However, counsel for CAB said no replying affidavits had yet been received and that to say there were talks is misconceived.

Counsel for the couple said that they had wanted access to CAB documents, but Judge Alex Owens said the forensic accountant should be able go ahead with the available information.

Additional affidavits can follow if needed, he said.

Eduard and Natalie Chiper

The Sunday World previously reported how the couple both spent time in custody before getting bail, the case against them was later dropped by the Director of Prosecutions.

In 2019 the DPP withdrew charges against the husband and wife who were alleged to have been in possession of the cannabis.

They had been charged with being in possession of the drugs with the intent to sell or supply under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

They were also charged with simple possession of drugs under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, it had been heard in court hearings at the time.

The couple, who are originally from Moldova but living at The Whitehouse, Tullyard, Ballymakenny, were arrested on January 24 that year after a planned search of the premises was carried out by detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, assisted by officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau and officers from the Co Louth division.

The couple were remanded in custody for a time before they were granted bail after independent sureties lodged large sums of money.

The charges were later struck out at Drogheda District Court.

At an earlier bail hearing a judge approved two independent sureties totalling 30,000 to allow Natalie Chipers release on bail.

At that stage she had already been in custody for four weeks at the Dochas Centre in Mountjoy.
Eimear Barron (52) allegedly carried out numerous transactions over a period of more than two years

A recruitment agency worker accused of stealing more than 25,000 from company accounts in a series of unauthorised transactions has been sent for trial.

Eimear Barron (52) allegedly carried out numerous transactions over a period of more than two years.

A book of evidence was served on her when she appeared in Dublin District Court.

Judge John OLeary sent her forward for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Ms Barron, of Ridgewood Close, Swords, was charged with 41 counts of theft from two Dublin-based companies.

She was alleged to have stolen in excess of 21,000 in 35 transactions from Crewlink Ireland Ltd and more than 4,000 in six thefts from a contractor, Workforce International Contractors Ltd.

The DPP had consented to the case being dealt with in the district court but a judge had ruled the allegations were too serious and refused jurisdiction.

At that earlier jurisdiction hearing, the court was told a representative of Workforce International at Grange Parade, Baldoyle, made a statement alleging a former employee, the accused, made a series of unauthorised transactions from a company account to her personal account.

There were numerous transactions between February 2019 and November 2021.

And it was alleged nobody gave the accused permission to take the funds from the accounts.

Supporting documentation was provided.

The accused had been co-operative with the investigation.
The prospect that Donald Trump could be the Republican Partys candidate for U.S. president for the third time became disturbingly real on Monday at the first meeting of the partys rank-and-file. At the Iowa caucuses, held in the midst of a cold and snowy storm, 51% supported the real estate magnate to take on President Joe Biden at the November elections. Trump had a 30-point lead over the second-placed candidate and more votes than all his rivals combined. No less than half of Iowas Republican delegates think that an extreme and uncouth man  who has demonstrated an obvious contempt for the democratic system to the point of being accused of encouraging a coup, and who, at 77 years of age, exhibits an unabashed lack of personal and political decorum  best represents the country they want.

Iowa is a small state (three million inhabitants), rural and white, with a style of conservatism dominated by the evangelical right, so it cannot be taken as an indicator of the preferences of American voters today. Except for sitting presidents, the winner of the Iowa caucuses has not won the Republican nomination for 20 years. The state has just 40 delegates of the more than 2,400 who will vote for the presidential candidate at the Republican convention in Milwaukee in August. But, as a first test, a good performance in Iowa allows Trump to present himself to the rest of the country as a credible candidate. And right now there is no credible alternative to Trump.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley received 21% and 19% of the vote, respectively. Before Super Tuesday on March 5  when the majority of delegates are awarded  they will have three more opportunities to demonstrate their pull with different voter profiles, as the race goes to New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada.

But only the consolidation of a single candidacy against Trump can threaten the former presidents lead. The lesson of 2016, when the division of a stunned party handed Trump the nomination, should be bitter enough to prompt a response. Fanciful prophecies and triumphalist stories will not do. It is a moment for reflection and urgency. Trump is a danger to democracy, even more so today, since his only motivation is revenge and evading the justice system, as four pending criminal cases could land him in jail. Neither DeSantis nor Haley are moderates, quite the contrary, but they do not pose the same anti-establishment threat to the United States or the West that Trump does.

The half of the Republican Party that does not want Trump must get past the discouraging polls and unite around an alternative. Trump obtained three million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton in 2016. His electoral power has always been very fragile. Most moderate voters reject him, which led to three tough electoral defeats for the Republicans, in 2018, 2020 and 2022. As a result, American conservatism has seen its political influence in Washington reduced to the whims of a group of hotheads, who make it impossible to form a successful opposition to Biden. No satisfaction can be gained from witnessing the North American right implode before Trump for the third time, because whether he wins or loses, he is dragging the worlds first democracy into the abyss. There are opportunities to stop it, but the point of no return is in a matter of weeks.

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In the case by CAB against Gately and his partner Charlene Lam it is claimed 440,000 spent on the house is the proceeds of crime.

A SURVEYOR hired to make a report on gangland figure James Mago Gatelys expensive house refurbishment found just a 2,000 difference with an assessment by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

In the case by CAB against Gately and his partner Charlene Lam it is claimed 440,000 spent on the house is the proceeds of crime.

Finding a quantity surveyor to do the job and applications for free legal aid have been a feature of the case since it was first lodged in 2021.

It was heard in court today that a draft report had been received from the UK surveyor in which the bulk of the work was valued at 382,000 as opposed to the CABs figure of 384,000.

The reports were needed because CABs case to seize the house rests on their valuations of the work carried out, it was previously heard.

Counsel for the couple had said they claimed the work was carried out far more cheaply and using less expensive materials than suggested by CAB.

The case is now due to go to a full hearing in March with lawyers given ten days for the official version of the surveyors report to be lodged with the court.

The case against Gately and Charlene Lam has been delayed by applications for free legal aid and difficulty in getting experts to give evidence on their behalf.

Counsel for CAB said in court last November that the case has been back and forth and a year and a half has been lost with no substantial affidavits filed.

The couple have been targeted by CAB who claim the 440,000 spent on their Coolock home was proceeds of crime.

Last July Judge Alex Owens agreed to allow 14,000 free legal to pay for a forensic accountant and a quantity surveyor to carry out a report for the couple.

However, counsel for CAB told the court in November neither had yet been forwarded to them.

A lawyer for the couple said it had not been possible to find someone in this jurisdiction to carry the reports.

The judge previously described as outrageous, fees quoted for the reports totalling 34,000 and capped them instead at 14,000.

Judge Owens previously said he was gobsmacked when he read the initial quote from a UK-based forensic accountant who said it would cost the equivalent of 24,000 for him to carry out the work.

A quantity surveyor had also quoted almost 10,000 to travel to the north Dublin property and to write up his report.

CABs case was first filed in 2021 and is against both Gately and his partner Charlene who previously won the argument to have some free legal aid to help them in their legal battle.

During that hearing, it was stated by counsel for CAB the couple had taken luxury cruises and enjoyed eye- watering foreign travel.

They went on two cruises including one that started in Singapore in which they had a cabin complete with a balcony visiting Korea, Japan and China.

Two cars and a 4,400 ladies Rolex watch are also being targeted by CAB which alleges the goods were paid for with the proceeds of crime.

Mago Gately survived being targeted by the Kinahan Cartel during the infamous Kinahan-Hutch feud.

Gately was lucky to escape alive in 2017 after being shot and wounded in an assassination bid caried out by Kinahan gunman Caolan Smith.
Mark Capper (35) had the miniature phone in his cell at Mountjoy

A Kinahan cartel foot soldier jailed for his part in a failed plot to murder a member of the Hutch family has been caught with a mobile phone in prison.

Mark Capper (35) had the miniature phone in his cell at Mountjoy where he is serving a sentence for conspiring to kill Patrick Patsy Hutch, a court heard.

Judge Bryan Smyth gave him a four month sentence for having the phone, but made it concurrent to the existing term, sparing him extra jail time.

Capper, of Cappagh Green, Finglas, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of the phone.

Dublin District Court heard the accused's cell was searched at 9.30am last November 10.

The prosecuting garda said a mobile phone was found on Capper and the garda took possession of it and placed it into an evidence bag.

The phone was presented to the court in evidence.

Capper had 76 previous convictions, the most recent of which was at the Special Criminal Court in 2020, when he admitted helping the Kinahan organised crime group in its 2018 conspiracy to murder Patsy Hutch, the older brother of Gerard The Monk Hutch.

Three other men, described as a "hit for hire team," got sentences totalling more than 36 years in 2019 for the plot that was foiled when they were intercepted by gardai 250 metres from their target's home in Dublin's north inner city.

Many of Capper's other convictions were for motoring offences.

He was fully cooperative with the gardai in relation to the phone seizure and was apologetic from the outset, his solicitor Andrew Molony said.

The accused was doing very well in custody and the garda agreed with Mr Molony that this was the only issue that had come to garda attention since he was jailed.

He was a young man serving a lengthy sentence and there was not a mark on his copy book while he was in jail before now.

His release date was in 2025.

Capper had already been severely punished for the offence by the prisons internal discipline system, the court heard. He had been denied visits, phone calls and use of the prison shop or gym for 75 days.

Judge Smyth said Capper had taken responsibility for having the phone and he was taking account of his very early guilty plea.

He noted that the accused, who had a very, very serious prior conviction had been disciplined for having the phone.
Peter Guerin (65) had never met the woman, who had travelled to Limerick from sheltered accommodation that day

A man who picked up a woman with a learning disability in Limerick city before bringing her back to his home has been jailed for two years for engaging in a sexual act with a protected person.

Peter Guerin (65) had never met the woman, who had travelled to Limerick from sheltered accommodation that day with the intention of getting a train to Galway.

The court heard that the woman was considered a protected person under legislation due to her mild intellectual disability. A psychologist report indicated that the woman was not concrete in her thinking and would struggle to protect herself in the absence of immediate support.

The report said she also lacks emotional independence, was suggestable and very vulnerable to exploitation.

Guerin, of Cois Sruthain, Croom, Limerick, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to engaging in a sexual act with a protected person on April 30, 2018. His plea was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecution on the basis that he was reckless as to whether the woman was a protected person.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt viewed a video of the woman giving her victim impact statement to specialist gardai during an earlier sitting last November.

He said on Monday that it was immediately obvious to me and should have been obvious to Guerin, who had spent time with the woman, that he was dealing with someone with significant limitations.

Justice Hunt noted that a report from a clinical psychologist assessed the woman as having low cognitive function, in that 99.5 percent of people the same age as her would score above her in an IQ test.

He said it is clear that the woman has struggled in society and is a person who should be protected in law.

He said Guerin had effectively picked up the woman.

I have a general concern that he would approach someone in these circumstances, let alone someone with her limitations. There is realistic concern about the behaviour on display here, Justice Hunt said.

He accepted that ultimately sense prevailed and Guerin thought the better of proceeding any further with his escapade and returned the woman to the garda station.

Justice Hunt accepted that the plea was given on the basis of recklessness but added, I am satisfied that her difficulties ought to have been obvious. He must have known fairly quickly that he was dealing with someone with these difficulties.

The judge set a headline sentence of five years and said he believed that a custodial sentence was warranted on the basis that the law exists to protect vulnerable members of society and that the complainant was without a doubt in that classification.

He added that this protection can only be effectively applied if there is some form of deterrent.

He said that in relation to sexual offending it can only be in the most exceptional circumstances that it will be met with an entirely non-custodial sanction. I dont see this case as being sufficiently exceptional to warrant this.

Justice Hunt accepted that Guerin had offended late in life, had no previous convictions and had been of positive good character to date. He said with people such as Guerin, the sting in the punishment lies in the closing of the prison door behind them.

He accepted that considerable weight should be given to Guerins guilty plea considering the complainants limitation and how difficult a trial would have been for her.

Justice Hunt said a prison term would be a salutary experience for him and be uppermost in his mind should he ever have such thoughts again.

He imposed a two-and-half year prison term with the final six months suspended on strict conditions including that he stay away from the complainant, that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years and that he engage with the Probation Service for 12 months upon his release from prison.

Detective Garda Joseph Cusack told Roisin Lacey SC, prosecuting, that the woman later told specialist interviewing gardai that she was at the bus station in Limerick city when Guerin approached her and asked her if was she from the area. He expressed concern for her safety and offered her a lift.

She told officers that she thought Guerin was helping her. She knew the buses had left from Limerick and she had nowhere left to go.

She said when she got into the car Guerin dropped his hand and she asked him to stop.

He replied, Do you want to be aroused? and asked her if she had a boyfriend. He said he was married and began to move his hand up her leg but she pushed him away. He offered to let her stay in his house because she had nowhere else to go.

Det Gda Cusack said on reaching Guerins home he offered the woman a cup of tea. He then opened her coat and went to touch her breasts but she told him not to touch her.

The woman later told specialist gardai that she was a soft eejit and agreed to go to a bed in Guerins home but he took advantage of her and got in beside her.

She told officers she gave up and lay there saying she was so fed up because he wouldnt listen to me. She said she stayed quiet and he took off her clothes and cuddled her, pawing me letting on that we were a couple, the woman said.

She said he kept making her touch his penis but she didnt want to and he was also trying to kiss her.

The woman said she continued pushing him away and Guerin told her he was trying to get her into the mood for sex, but I was not in the mood for sex, she said.

He told her he was married and he was afraid his wife would catch them and he said if she did catch them, there would be war.

Guerin then brought the woman to Limerick. He told her she was a beautiful looking girl and gave her 10 before he dropped her at the garda station. He told the woman, sure you wont report me?.

The woman made a complaint the following day and was examined at her local sexual assault treatment unit on May 1, 2018.

Det Gda Cusack said gardai harvested CCTV footage from the area around the bus station and identified Guerins vehicle. He was arrested the following August.

During the subsequent garda interviews he said he had been celebrating his birthday that day and had people over at his home. He had come into Limerick later.

Mark Nicholas SC, defending, emphasised that the DPP has accepted his clients guilty plea on the basis of him being reckless as to whether she was a protected person.

The womans victim impact statement was presented to the court in the form of a video and her speaking to specialist gardai.

She stated that she felt like she has no control and that she cannot open up to her family about what happened.

She said her quality of life has declined and she worries that this would happen again. My innocence was taken from me, she said.

Mr Nicholas told Mr Justice Hunt that his client admits that he sexually touched the woman but claimed it had been consensual.

He asked the court to accept that his client had ensured the woman was safe by bringing her to the garda station and described the incident as an evening of madness. He said reports previously ordered for the case put Guerin at a low risk of re-offending.
Fatmir Kola pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on an aircraft.

Fatmir Kola of Bethany Road, London, was charged with threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour on an aircraft

An aeroplane taxiing to the runway at Dublin airport had to make its way back when a passenger deliberately spilled a drink on a flight attendant who challenged him for taking out his own alcohol.

Father-of-three Fatmir Kola (48), who had been on a trip to Dublin with his wife to meet a relative, was taken off the aeroplane and arrested over his behaviour.

Judge Shalom Binchy struck the case out at Dublin District Court, leaving him without a criminal record when he made a 150 charity donation.

Kola, a construction worker of Bethany Road, London, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on an aircraft.

The court heard the incident happened on board a Ryanair flight from Dublin on January 6.

When the case was called, the accused initially said I dont know what Ive done to deserve to be here.

He later got legal representation and entered a guilty plea.

A garda sergeant told Judge Binchy that, on the day, the plane was taxiing to the runway when Kola began drinking his own alcohol on board.

When a member of cabin crew told him this was not allowed and went to take the plastic container from him, he deliberately squeezed and spilled the contents on her.

The plane had to make its way back so Kola could be taken off.

The accused had taken out a sandwich and the alcohol and the discussion with the air hostess happened very quickly, the accuseds lawyer said.

Kola is a UK citizen originally from Albania. On the day, he had come to Dublin with his wife to meet a relative who had travelled from the US.

He and his wife had spent one night in a hotel and were returning to the UK when the incident happened. He complied with the cabin crews requests but they were not happy to keep him on the plane, his lawyer said.

Kola had never been in trouble before, accepted that what happened caused some inconvenience and regretted it.

Judge Binchy said she would deal with it in a certain way. She told the accused to pay 150 to Focus Ireland and struck the case out after the payment was made.
Trevor Ardis told officials that he was given the cash by a man he knew after meeting him at the side of a road

A truck driver has been jailed for four years after over 360,000 was found in a compartment of his trailer.

Trevor Ardis (52) of Grange Road Kilmore, Co. Armagh, pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct on October 19, 2022.

Garda Sergeant Paddy Martin told John Berry BL, prosecuting on Monday that Customs officials became suspicious that Ardis, who runs a legitimate business, was driving a truck with an empty trailer and planning to return with a full vehicle.

It was considered that this did not make economic sense and the truck was stopped and searched using a cash detection dog. Ardis made full admissions that there was cash hidden in the trailer.

367,000 in cash wrapped in seven packages was found in a compartment of the trailer.

The court was told Ardis assisted with the separation of the truck cab and the trailer to allow officials to access the particular compartment.

Ardis told officials that he was given the cash by a man he knew after meeting him at the side of a road. He said he was under financial pressure as there was less demand to transport goods from Ireland and had done the same twice before during the previous two years.

Ardis said he was to receive 900 and got 500 in relation to the previous operations.

He repeated his admissions when interviewed following arrest, but declined to say who he received the money from. He also asked for a receipt to show that the money had been seized by the authorities.

Ardis has no previous convictions.

Sgt Martin agreed with Keith Spencer BL, defending, that Ardis was fully co-operative with gardai and was not associated with other criminality.

It was also accepted that Ardis was under financial pressure and had given into temptation. Sgt Martin agreed that Ardis appeared relieved to have been detected.

Mr Spencer said his client is remorseful for his actions and aware of the impact of the offence on the wider community and on his family. Ardis had no knowledge of the amount of money involved and was relieved when he was detected as it meant he could not be asked to do it again.

His client has no previous convictions and is a family man with three adult children. A number of references were handed to the court on his behalf.

Defence counsel said Ardis is also concerned that his legitimate business will go to the wall and asked the court for as much leniency as possible for his client.

Judge Martin Nolan noted that a considerable amount of money was involved and that this was the third time that Ardis had transported money.

He noted that Ardis had been under financial pressure and succumbed to temptation.

Judge Nolan said this type of offending is very serious as individuals involved in organised crime need to get money out of the jurisdiction. He said Ardis must have had some degree of awareness of what was going on as it was the third time he had carried out this function.

Noting the mitigating features including the guilty plea and good work history, Judge Nolan handed Ardis a four-year prison sentence.
On Friday, December 22, 2023, a woman took to social media to warn of a man who it is believed approached her 13-year-old son on his way home from the rugby club

The entrance to Mill Lane from the Kilcoole Road end. One of the incidents is alleged to have happen near this location. Photo: Google Earth

Gardai are investigating two incidents in Greystones, County Wicklow, following reports that a man approached a 13-year-old boy and allegedly tried to drag him into bushes, and a man allegedly exposed himself to a young girl on her way to school.

On Friday, December 22, 2023, a woman took to social media to warn of a man who it is believed approached her 13-year-old son on his way home from the rugby club in Greystones. She said the man came out of the bushes and tried to drag him into a bush.

Luckily my son is clever, fit and strong, he sprinted home, he is shaken but OK. The guards are looking for him and took a statement. I will keep you all informed, she added.

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating an incident that took place on Mill Road in Greystones, County Wicklow on December 22, 2023.

On Friday, January 12, a resident took to the same forum to report a second incident on behalf of another woman. This incident is believed to have taken place on Mill Lane, a path connecting Kilcoole Road with Mill Road.

At 8:10am yesterday morning [Thursday, January 11] a local school girl walking to school was followed from Glen Herron estate and it is alleged a man exposed himself and asked her if she liked.

Thankfully she got away and physically unharmed. This has been reported to the gardai in Greystones. I was asked to post this from the mother of the girl. This is not ment (sic) to frighten anyone. But please make your children aware. As a father of four, I cannot express here how angry I am.

Gardai confirmed they are investigating an incident which occurred on the Kilcoole Road at approximately 8.20am on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

Following that incident, the Principal of Greystones Community College, Ruairi Farrell, said he has issued advice to parents.

I can confirm I have been made aware of an incident that occurred on Mill Lane last week, he said. I am aware that local gardai are investigating the matter. The school has written to parents to advise them to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious behaviour directly to Greystones gardai.

Local TD Jennifer Whitmore has also addressed the reports and raised residents concerns for their safety and that of their families.

I have been contacted by a number of very concerned constituents regarding these worrying reports, and I will be raising this with the gardai. We must do everything we can to ensure people feel safe in our community, she said.

Both incidents follow multiple, unconfirmed reports on social media in roughly the same location and of a similar nature.

On Saturday, January 6, a woman reported that a man standing behind a wall tried to talk to me and told me to come talk to him, I got out of there very fast and very shuck up (sic) i just want to warn anyone if anyones teenagers are out and about.

Meanwhile, over the weekend of January 13/14, a woman reported that a man followed my daughter and her friend from [outside] SuperValu in Charlesland last week and put his hands down his pants. They ran and he stopped following them. Theyre both OK but were both freaked out.

These reports have prompted calls for more awareness by residents in the community and boosting a presence through the Neighbourhood Watch so people feel safer.

Gardai said enquiries are ongoing into the incidents which took place on Friday, December 22, 2023 and Thursday, January 11, 2024.
The stash was found in Tolka Valley Park and Corduff Park on Tuesday.

Gardai from Dublins K District have uncovered a mammoth stash of bagged up drugs worth 80,000 from wasteland.

The Operation Tara Drug Seizure and Search Operation took place yesterday, Tuesday, January 16, in Dublin 15.

Gardai in the Divisional Drugs Unit attached to Finglas were carrying out planned searches of wasteland in Tolka Valley Park and Corduff Park when the discovery was made.

Tolka Valley Park in Dublin

A garda spokesperson said: "At approximately 12 midday, gardai conducted two search operations of wasteland in Tolka Valley Park and Corduff Park and seized a variety of drugs with an estimated street value in excess of 80,000. Cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis, ketamine and alprazolam (Xanax) tablets were seized.

"The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.

Investigations into the find are ongoing.

During another Operation Tara bust last week, gardai arrested two men and seized 115,000 in cannabis following a search operation in Kenmare, Co.Kerry.

The two men (one in his teens and the other in his 20s) were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda Station in the Southern Region.

Operation Tara is an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on 2nd July 2021.

It aims to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.
Wife-beater and sex pest who has 422 convictions locked terrified woman in his flat and attacked her

Notorious wife-beating beast and sex pest Peter Lyttle locked a woman in his flat just after Christmas, we can reveal.

Cops battered their way into the top-floor apartment in Ballymena after the woman was luckily able to raise the alarm when her daughter heard her screams down the phone.

She took to social media, branding 53-year-old Lyttle a beast, adding no woman is safe as long as he walks free.

The attack at his home in Nursery Close came after members of the community begged housing chiefs to move him as he was making their lives a misery and they were petrified.

Lyttle has a staggering 422 criminal convictions including 41 assaults on police, 27 common assaults, 12 threats to kill and numerous sex offences which put him on the sex offenders register.

The latest incident took place on December 29 and comes just four years after he was jailed for a chillingly similar attack on his ex-wife and daughter.

He was sentenced to five months after forcing his way into a property and assaulting his ex-wife and daughter, who were forced to barricade themselves into a bedroom to avoid further attacks.

The brave woman who was subjected to the frightening attack this time posted about her ordeal on TikTok.

She uploaded a video including a newspaper report about Lyttle and wrote underneath: This is the beast I was talking about!!! Please girls be so safe out there, always let people know where you are!!

Peter Lyttle leaves his solicitors office in Belfast in 2021

I had no idea of this mans past! Although Ive known him 10 years I never thought he was capable of such an evil act!! I am lucky to be here today! Thank god my daughter rang and I was able to answer, she heard my screams and called the police!

This man should never be allowed in public again! Hes an animal! No woman is safe as long as he walks free!!

She also posted a video of herself with a black eye, explaining what had happened on the night and said Lyttle beat her and threw her about.

The woman explained that he had been a friend and she wasnt aware of his criminal past. Despite his litany of convictions making him one of Ulsters most prolific offenders, little has been written about him.

I never thought Id be in this situation again, she says. A friend Ive known for nearly 10 years, hes a big man like, Ive heard so much about him now.

I called over to his house just as friends; the other night he asked me to go over and I went over.

He locked me in his flat, I mean he... I am so sore, I am so scared and I never thought Id let a man do that to me again. And it was somebody Im not even in a relationship with. Im crippled, Im absolutely crippled.

Another victim of Lyttle posted her support and revealed she had to get out of a situation because of him.

She wrote: I got so much hassle from Peter he stalked me wudnt leave me alone!! Wudnt leave Chinese I was working in  he use to wait outside for me !! Xx

Last night, the PSNI said it was investigating the incident.

A man, aged in his 50s, was arrested by officers on suspicion of a number of offences, the force said.

Following questioning, he was later released on police bail to allow for further enquiries. The investigation continues.

Last year, Lyttle was back at Ballymena Magistrates Court where he admitted yet another attack on police.

He was charged with assault and attempting to damage a PSNI car and when asked in court if he understood the charges, he told District Judge Oonagh Mullan: Yes and I apologise, Your Honour.

Lyttles lawyer confirmed that his contrite client was admitting the offences. The judge remarked that at 50 pages, she has never seen a criminal record like it.

The court heard that having gone to visit his brother who served a jail sentence for battering their mother to death, Lyttle took the wrong bus home and ended up drunk in Waterfoot, Co Antrim.

A police officer outlined how they were called to the coastal village over reports of a drunk and aggressive male who was spitting at people and businesses.

When officers arrested Lyttle, he lashed out and spat at them to such an extent that two pairs of handcuffs were used to restrain him.
Gomez told the innocent woman he would really make her life a living hell, before he pumped her with three shots, in an attack which was captured on body-cam.

A US police officer has been charged with murder after he recorded himself fatally blasting a grandmother to death when she drove away during a traffic stop.

New Mexico cop Felipe Hernandez handed himself in this week and was charged with second-degree murder for the death of Teresa Gomez (45) on October 3 last.

Gomez told the innocent woman he would really make her life a living hell, before he pumped her with three shots, in an attack which was captured on body-cam.

There was no necessity for him to use deadly force, said District Attorney Gerald Byers on Tuesday. He was never in the zone of danger. We looked at self-defence. There was no self-defence.

Final moments (Las Cruces Police)

The aggressive officer stopped Gomez about 5am as she drove with a passenger, Jesus Garcia (38). It has been reported that Garcia was an alleged criminal offender for trespassing.

A horrifying nine-minute video shows Hernandez asking the pair to get out of the car, repeatedly. It has been reported that Garcia had in his possession a paintball gun.

Dont touch me, the grandmother says after Hernandez threatens to shoot her with a Taser. The cop tells the pair that they are trespassing, before he recognizes the grans passenger.

Jesus Garcia. Holy fk, youre back on the fing property! You dont listen, he adds.

The shooting incident (Las Cruces Police)

The cop tells Gomez that she needs to cooperate or he will really, really make her life a living hell, the video shows.

Soon after, the grandmother drives off with the door open as he fires three shots, shouting Stop! Stop!

Gomez can be heard screaming as the car stops a few feet away.

Garcia, who was later arrested on multiple warrants, had a number of charges pending, according to CNN.

Gomezs family have been on national media talking about the death of their much loved grandmother.

Felipe Hernandez (Las Cruces Police)

If youve seen the video, the beginning  with just how the officer was talking to my mom  for any son, daughter, mother, father, like, its hard to see someone, a grown man, talk to your mom like that, her eldest son, Johny Gomez, told CNN.

We didnt understand at what point it went wrong because it didnt seem like it could go wrong, her sister, Angela Lozano-Gutierrez, told the outlet. From, like, everything that happened, it seemed like it was kind of, like, getting to the part where they were just going to let her go.

And so, it was just shocking that it ended with her dying, she added.

It has been estimated there are more guns in the US than people. There are about 393 million privately owned firearms in the US, according to the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey  or in other words, 120 guns for every 100 Americans.
Nancy N didnt even make it into the church.

Its supposed to be the best day of your life but one brides wedding took a turn when she was busted by cops without even making it to the alter.

Nancy N  the only identity provided by prosecutors - was arrested for alleged extortion in Mexico on her wedding day last month. She was photographed handcuffed in her white gown surrounded by armed police.

Nancy and her fiance didn't even make their vows as officers ambushed their ceremony. Nancy was nabbed as she got out of her car to enter the church in Villa Guerrero, according to local media.

Chicken extortion plot (Pic: @FiscaliaEdomex/X)

Her husband-to-be, named as Clemente N - whose nickname is "El Raton", meaning mouse - is wanted on the same charges but managed to flee.

Prosecutors allege the couple is part of El Borrego, a crime group accused of extorting chicken merchants in Toluca near Mexico City. They are further suspected of kidnapping four workers from a poultry shop, authorities said.

Police handout

The organization allegedly forced local wholesalers to pay an illegal quota of two pesos per kilo on chickens and eggs they sell and retailers to pay five pesos, the fine of which was delivered to men in the group, who went by the aliases El Fresa and El Pez (The Strawberry and The Fish), prosecutors stated.

The bridal couple and their El Borrego associates are allegedly tied to a cartel known as La Familia Michoacana, news outlets have reported.

This cartel was also allegedly linked to a drone attack on a small village in the neighboring state of Guerrero, which charred a number of people to death in a blown-up vehicle.

Mexican cops in Guerrero state. (FISCALIA GENERAL DEL ESTADO DE GUERRERO/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

The attack in a remote community in the southern Mexico state killed at least six people and injured 13 others, the Guerrero state prosecutor's office said on Sunday.

Those killed apparently died in a burned-out car, according to investigators' interviews with residents, but the bodies were removed by locals before authorities arrived.

Cops from the Guerrero prosecutor's office were able to "establish the existence of charred skeletal remains ... in a burned-out car," the office said.

A local human rights organization initially reported that the community of Buenavista de los Hurtado deep in Guerrero's mountains was attacked the previous day by drones and gunmen.

The prosecutor's office further posted photos of the suspects detained during the operation in December on social media - including the bride in her wedding dress.

The police investigation into the combined gangs continues.
On Tuesday, a team of Chinese scientists announced the birth of Retro, a macaque cloned with a new strategy to obtain identical monkeys. Lead researcher Qiang Sun explains to EL PAIS that the cloning of human beings would be completely unacceptable and says that doing so is not in their plans. We wont even think about it, he says.

The 1996 cloning of Dolly the sheep caused a worldwide alert about the possibility that a laboratory might try to make clones of human beings. The technique seemed simple. British embryologist Ian Wilmuts group emptied an egg from a sheep and inserted a nucleus with DNA from an adult cell taken from another females udder. Dolly was a replica of the latter. The first calves and mice were cloned in 1998, followed by goats in 1999, pigs in 2000, rabbits in 2002 and dogs in 2005. In 2007, the United Nations University published a report stating that the cloning of human beings was, perhaps, inevitable.

Over two decades ago, some irresponsible scientists, such as Italian gynecologist Severino Antinori and American biologist Panos Zavos, even announced the imminent birth of cloned humans, but the reality was that Dollys technique  called somatic cell nuclear transfer  did not work well with primates, the animal group that includes monkeys and humans. That situation changed in 2018, when the same Qiang Sun team announced the birth of the first monkeys cloned using this strategy: two female crab macaque monkeys christened Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua. The word zhonghua means Chinese nation. At the time, one of the studys co-authors, Poo Mu-ming, declared in this newspaper that there are no barriers to cloning primates, so human cloning is closer to becoming a reality.

The 2018 experiment was extremely inefficient. Qiang Sun and colleagues created 109 embryos, transferred 79 of them to 21 females, and achieved just six gestations. Only two monkeys were born. In the new study, published on Tuesday in the Nature Communications journal, the researchers improved the technique by adding placental precursor cells. This time they created 113 embryos, transferred 11 of them to seven females and achieved two gestations and a single birth: a male rhesus macaque monkey, who is now three and a half years old. This new strategy has significantly improved the efficiency of monkey cloning, both with respect to the number of embryos transplanted and the number of pregnant females used, says Sun.

The Chinese researcher explains that they named the animal Retro, after the acronym for replacement of the trophectoderm, the layer of cells that gives rise to the placenta. Retro is growing and getting stronger every day. He lives in our animal house with ample space and sunlight, says the Chinese scientist, the director of the non-human primate facility at the Center of Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology in Shanghai.

This new strategy has significantly improved the efficiency of monkey cloning Qiang Sun, Chinese scientist

German bioengineer Angelika Schnieke, one of the people involved in cloning Dolly the sheep, was concerned about Qiang Suns first experiments, which required dozens of pregnant females and largely resulted in miscarriages and malformed fetuses. These cloned primates in China have crossed an ethical line. What is being done probably needs to be reconsidered, Schnieke told EL PAIS in 2018. I personally find it hard to justify cloning monkeys. I worry that monkey cloning will continue and spread to other species, she said at the time.

Qiang Sun argues that the use of monkeys is essential in the field of biomedical and cognitive research. In 2019, his team employed the technique already used with the Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua monkeys to create five clones of a crab macaque that had been genetically modified to mimic schizophrenia-like symptoms. Sun contends that these uniform populations of laboratory monkeys can be very useful for studying genetically based diseases, such as cancer and many brain disorders. His new study boasts of introducing a promising strategy for cloning primates.

Cloning is already routine in other species. Argentine veterinarian Andres Gambini first cloned horses in South America in 2010. He is currently doing research at the University of Queensland (Australia) and is the scientific director of Ovohorse, a Spanish company based in Marbella that offers cloning services for dogs, cats, camels and horses, among animals.

Gambini believes that Retros birth is a remarkable advance in the field. In his opinion, the studys fundamental idea  replacing the placenta of cloned embryos with that of embryos created through in vitro fertilization  is not conceptually new, but its success shows an alternative for improving the efficiency of cloning. The Argentine veterinarian notes that this approach could also be used to implant embryos from an endangered wild animal into the uterus of females of similar domestic species. In 2020, his team succeeded in creating cloned zebra embryos from emptied mare ovaries.

Andres Gambini emphasizes that the technique is still complex and has low efficiency rates. Human cloning for reproductive purposes continues to be the subject of intense questioning, and not only because the technique is inefficient, involves embryonic and fetal death, and the physical and mental health of the clones is not guaranteed. What is the purpose of creating people through cloning? All the answers involve some legal, ethical or moral dilemma, he says.

The Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights prohibits human cloning and was adopted by the United Nations in 1998. Dutch jurist Bartha Knoppers, who participated in drafting the document, does not believe that anyone would dare to take the step, not even a megalomaniac dictator. I think human reproductive cloning is one of the areas where there is a virtually universal consensus that we should never go down that road, she explained in an interview with EL PAIS just over a year ago. It would create an element of industrialization in reproduction and turn people into things that can be copied. For me, its a red line.

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Rioghnach-Ann McGrotty was just four months old when she lost five family members in the tragic 2016 incident.

The sole survivor of the Buncrana pier tragedy eight years ago has made a special presentation to local rescue services.

Rioghnach-Ann McGrotty (8), who lost five family members in the tragic incident, met with Lough Swilly Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) members on Tuesday evening.

She presented a cheque for 4,100 to the group at Neds Point lifeboat station, posing for a photo with members.

A Lough Swilly RNLI spokesperson said: Lough Swilly RNLI were delighted to welcome little Rioghnach-Ann McGrotty back to the Station this evening.

Rioghnach stopped by to present two cheques for 4,100 each, one to Danny Quigley's charity the Celebration of Life and the second to Lough Swilly RNLI.

The money was raised by the Evan McGrotty Fund, which had been set up in memory of her brother. It was fantastic to see Rioghnach back at Ned's Point Station with her lifeboat family.

It was one of two 4,100 donations made on behalf of the Evan McGrotty Fund, the other being received by Danny Quigleys Celebration of Life charity.

Rioghnach-Ann was just four months old in March 2016 when her father Sean McGrotty saved her life by passing her out the window of the sinking car her family were travelling in to passerby Davitt Walsh, who bravely swam out to the vehicle seconds before it sank beneath the waters of Lough Swilly.

Mr McGrotty (48), his sons Evan (8) and Mark (12), his mother-in-law Ruth Daniels (57) and her daughter Jodie Lee Daniels (15) all drowned when the car slid off a slipway at Buncrana pier.

His partner, Louise James, was the only member of the family who did not travel with them from their Derry home.

Parish priest Father Paddy O'Kane told the Irish Independent at the time how family was utterly devastated by the loss of three generations.

"Words cannot describe what they are going through," he said.

"They are inconsolable. Louise said to me, 'I have lost everyone, except little Rioghnach-Ann'. She said 'Rioghnach-Ann is my reason to go on'."
Its a miracle that he got out. Hes so lucky to have got out

The owner of the Moto Pitstop motorcycle service centre in Rathgar, south Dublin, Daragh Smith, said his business is gone with bikes for sale and repair destroyed in the blaze.

But the most important thing for him was human life and that his employee, a mechanic in his late 40s, had made it out of the premises alive.

He has burns on his legs and hand, Mr Smith said.

He told how the mechanic had walked away from the blaze dazed but was doing well in St Jamess Hospital in Dublin.

Ive just left Jamess Hospital and his partner is in there with him. I wasn't there (at the workshop) at the time this happened, he said.

Its a miracle that he got out. Hes so lucky to have got out. I was out collecting parts in the van and when I came back then, the whole of Rathgar was closed.

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Someone had rang me and said the place was on fire. I thought it was just a bit of smoke (from a repair).

But I rang the shop and then his mobile and it went straight to voicemail and that never happens.

So, I dumped the van at home and went straight in on my bike. I got there and then I saw what everyone else has seen.

A spokesperson for Dublin Fire Brigade said they're making good progress" and that two fire engines remain at the scene in addition to a foam tender. Earlier, a turntable ladder was deployed to fight the fire from above, they said.

Dublin Fire Brigade battle a fire at a garage in Rathgar, County Dublin

"A water tanker has also been sent to augment water supplies to the fireground. One person has been taken to hospital from the scene, they said.

Road closures remain in place on Terenure Road East, Highfield Road and Orwell Road.

Mr Smith said the intensity of the blaze would have been as a result of the workshop obviously being filled with oil.

All my bikes, customers bikes are gone, he said. Its a disaster. I have no idea how much Ive lost but my business is gone.

It was a business that paid its way. I am just worried for him now. I know he will be okay but itll be a hard time for a while.

The doctors seemed to be happy with him. He doesnt remember an explosion, he just remembers bits and pieces. Im sure he will.

Footage shows smoke rising from scene of Rathgar blaze in south Dublin

Mr Smith said the mechanic is stable in hospital. He added: I am just trying to get through today and tomorrow now.

An onlooker from a business nearby took video footage of the scene and audible popping sounds could be heard from inside the workshop, where the fire was growing in intensity.

Images online show clouds of black smoke rising from the scene of the incident.

Mark Duffy, who works at Howley Souhan Estate Agents, across from the workshop, said he and colleagues heard a small explosion at about 10.20am.

I don't think anyone quite knows what caused it. A huge amount of smoke came out of the workshop and there was a thick tyre smell, he said.

My female colleague, a manager here, saw a gentleman. I think he was the only one in there at the time. He was walking (down the street) in shock.

The gardai evacuated the street then, so we had to leave. We just hope that poor man is OK. It was all very shocking.

Dublin Fire Brigade battle a fire at a garage in Rathgar, County Dublin on Tuesday

We were worried that there might be other people in there, but it seemed to be just him in there at the time.

You could hear the popping of the engines of the bikes that were in the shop, there was so much smoke everywhere. It was a really powerful fire.

But the fire brigade were there so quickly, thankfully.

A spokesperson for Dublin Fire Brigade said: At 10:18am, Dublin Fire Brigade received reports of a fire in a workshop in Rathgar Village.

Firefighters from Donnybrook, Rathfarnham and Dolphins Barn fire stations responded to the location, where a well-developed fire had taken hold.

Smoke is drifting across the locality, and we have asked nearby residents to take precautions if they are affected. Road closures are in place and road users are advised to avoid the area.
Residents of Brook Street are worried that similar scenes could play out there

Residents in a quiet street in Dundalk fear it could become a flashpoint for protests if plans to house Ukrainian refugees in a former office building go ahead.

With protests and arson attacks on a number of buildings earmarked for providing accommodation for refugees taking place around the country, residents of Brook Street are worried that similar scenes could play out there.

Refurbishment work at former offices at Brook Building, Ardee Road, has been completed and the building is set to be used as emergency accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.

Residents say they have received no communication about the number of refugees who will be accommodated there or when they will arrive.

"Were afraid that if they are going to put refugees here that it will bring protesters, said one woman who has lived in the street all her life.

Its a very quiet area, the neighbours watch out for each other, she said. Theres a lot of elderly and a few families.

Brook Street, a row of Victorian red brick houses was, like neighbouring Ardee Terrace, built to accommodate railway workers. It faces onto the site of the former MacArdle Moore Brewery, now a busy industrial estate.

This means that theres constant traffic going in and out to the various units.

"From 5.30am theres cars, lorries and buses going up and down. Its very dangerous. Families who have children cant let them out on the street to play because of the traffic, its going past all day, she said.

She said that the there is already an Ukrainian family living in the street, and that nobody would have anything against refugees but its where they will be accommodated that is the problem.

She said that the building which is going to be used to house refugees had formerly been used as office.

"Its an old-fashioned office and all of a sudden it has been done up. You definitely couldnt put families in it as the street is too dangerous with all the traffic. It would be an accident waiting to happen .If a child ran out on the street, as can happen, they would be knocked down.

However, she said that the residents are most worried that protesters could move in as has happened in other parts of the country or that the building could be set on fire.

"Its scary. Protests, thats what were afraid of. I can understand people getting angry but its the governments fault as they wont speak to people.

She said that there has been a change in use for the building from office to accommodation but if residents want to carry out work to their homes, they have to get planning permission as the houses are in a preservation area.

"If we were to change our windows they would be down on us like a ton of bricks, she said.

While the residents have got in touch with a number of different political parties, she said they have got no information back as to how many refugees are to be accommodated.

"The government at the weekend gave a commitment to improving communications when it was planned to set up new refugee centres, Michael ODowd, Aontu representative in Louth, said. I think what has happened in Brook Street is a classic case of how not to do it. At the end of the day, we have a responsible community seeking answers to very reasonable questions and all we are getting from the various government departments is confusion, lack of transparency, and lack of accountability. A key point, as far as I can see, is to consider how 'community gain' can be factored into this, whether it is through improving the environment around the building or ensuring locals are hired for any jobs in the facility.

I have no doubt that any refugees housed in this facility will be made welcome by the residents in the area, but government departments need to take ownership and install clear lines of communications with local residents.
Two local councillors have said they believe the fires were deliberately set.

Gardai are investigating two fires that occurred last night at a former convent in Lanesborough in Co Longford that is currently being converted for use to house Ukrainian refugees.

Two local councillors have said they believe the fires were deliberately set.

The fires happened at the front and back doors of the old convent in the tourist town at around 9.30pm and were quickly brought under control by the fire brigade.

It is understood there was no damage to the building which had been vacant for over two years until it was bought more recently by a midland's businessman.

Work started on the old convent in recent months and it is predicted it will be ready for occupation in May.

A garda spokesperson said gardai and emergency services attended the scene of the fires yesterday evening and that the flames were brought under control by fire services.

No injuries have been reported, and a technical examination of the scene will take place, they said.

Local Independent Councillor Mark Casey, and Fine Gael Cllr Gerard Farrell, met with the developer and Longford County Council executives at the site before the fire yesterday.

The meeting was organised to inform the councillors of the plans for refugee accommodation and assess progress and a future timeline for the completion of the work.

We were brought in by the developer and the Council to see it and it seems to be a done-deal. There will be 85 Ukrainian refugees brought in by the Department of Integration around 16 weeks away in the second week of May, said Cllr Casey.

This town has been hit hard in recent years with the closure of the Bord na Mona plant and the ESB station, and a nursing home has been converted for refugees.

"There is anger in the town at the Government because there is no accommodation for the young people. There was no task force set up to look at resources and facilities for the town after the closure of two huge employers. The town and its people were neglected, but now suddenly theres money available for accommodation for this.

There was no consultation about it, but the developer has agreed to an open day in the building for local people in the coming weeks. But its a done-deal at this stage. If you want to build as much as a shed you need planning permission, but this is being done under some sort of emergency planning.

There is a lot of local concern about the fires. There are people living beside the convent, and local businesses there too. The people of Lanesborough are quiet people that just want to get on with their lives.

Cllr Farrell said the fires are stressful for the local community.

They dont want this sort of publicity. I dont think locals are involved in it. We all need to do our bit for the Ukrainians, they have been through a lot. But I represent peoples views, and in Lanesborough we are maxed-out at this stage. We have no homes to rent or buy, and theres pressure on schools and doctors and other facilities and services. People are wondering how the people arriving will fit into that, he added.

Longford County Council are recruiting an integration officer, and that might help, but people are wondering what way the new 90-day accommodation rule will apply on providing places for people from Ukraine. Will they be moved elsewhere after 90 days? Will more move in then? The contract on this building is for two years. What will happen after that? he asked.

The Irish Independent has contacted the Department of Integration for comment.
The woman saw a flash on Kelly's phone and thought he was videoing her. He became more and more forceful and removed her iPod from her pocket.

A man who raped a woman in a secluded lane after she thought he was recording them having sex says he is prepared to accept whatever punishment the judge gives me.

Ivan Kelly (23), of Buttercup Avenue, Esker Hills, Portlaoise, Co Laois, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury following a trial last October. He had pleaded not guilty to the rape in a County Laois town on December 27, 2017.

Detective Garda Michael Esmond told Lorcan Staines SC, prosecuting, that the woman initially contacted Kelly to buy drugs off of him.

They met in the town and walked to a secluded lane where they had what started as a consensual sexual encounter.

The woman saw a flash on Kelly's phone and thought he was videoing her. He became more and more forceful and removed her iPod from her pocket.

The woman told him to stop and Kelly became violent. He pushed her, causing her to bang her head, stood on her ankle and raped her from behind.

When the assault ended, the women met her friends and immediately reported what had happened. She later told her parents who called the gardai.

The court heard that a medical examination found the woman had bruises and scratches to her neck, shoulder and vaginal area, consistent with the report of rape and assault.

Kelly was arrested and questioned but said the sexual intercourse was consensual and had occurred somewhere else. He denied that he raped the woman.

He was released, but left Ireland and went to England. He was later extradited back. Kelly has been in custody since June 29, 2022.

In a victim impact statement handed in to the court, the woman said: After the rape, I felt like nothing. I lost who I was. I lost the hopes and dreams that I once had.

I felt empty every day. I felt nothing but sadness and loneliness, she said, I just wanted to be happy but nothing made me feel happy. For a very long time I was very afraid as to what could happen if I let my guard down or trusted the wrong person.

The woman said the rape made her feel dirty and disgusting and that My Christmases were never the same. She said she began using drugs to deal with the emotions resulting from the rape.

I still stand up with my head held high, she wrote, I was young and innocent and that innocence was taken for me. I am worth fighting for like so many others.

Damien Colgan SC, defending, said his client fully accepts the verdict and expresses remorse.

He said Kelly was a juvenile at the time of the rape and answered all questions put to him during garda interview.

Mr Colgan said his client was willing to engage with any services that the court deems necessary.

Defence counsel read from a letter written by Kelly to the victim in which he apologised for what happened. I never wanted it to get out of hand the way it did. I was in a very dark place and I'm now prepared to accept whatever punishment the judge gives me.

Kelly has 27 previous convictions for possession of knives, possession of drugs, theft, handling stolen property, criminal damage, failure to appear, assault and road traffic offenses.

Justice Michael McGrath adjourned the case until February 13 for finalisation.
Pipe, a former Royal Navy seaman, claimed that he was simply joking.

A Conservative councillor in the UK has been ordered to take equality, diversity and inclusion training after repeatedly mocking a colleagues Irish accent for almost a decade.

Bill Pipe, who represents Lytchett Matravers and Upton on Dorset Council, was summoned to a disciplinary meeting after a female council officer claimed he put on a fake Irish accent when speaking to her over a period of eight years.

Pipe, a former Royal Navy seaman, claimed that he was simply joking with his colleague and didnt realise that he had offended her.

When he got an inkling that his co-worker had complained, he made a pointed remark about speaking in an English accent the next time he saw her.

At the meeting, it was found that Pipe had breached the council's code of conduct, with panel chair Councillor Susan Cocking labelling his actions as harassment and bullying.

Cllr Cocking said the committee was appalled at the lack of respect shown and the mocking suffered by the member of staff".

"His behaviour was offensive and not acceptable under any circumstances. We can only apologise to that member of staff - no one should be subject to such treatment, she added.

Speaking at the hearing, Mr Pipe said: The lady I spoke to in a fake Irish accent, I have known for eight or nine years, and I have always greeted her as a friend in a fake Irish accent and she has never complained to me.

Had I known that my doing this would offend or belittle her I would have stopped immediately and apologised.

Because she hadn't complained I thought she was taking it in the spirit in which it was meant; a jovial, happy sort of way.

It is pretty sad that it has got to this. I'm sure we have better things to do.

I do accept that my actions fell below the standard expected, 25 years in the armed forces obviously doesn't do me any favours in the council.

Cllr Cocking ordered Pipe to apologise to the officer in writing and take a course in equality, diversity and inclusion training.

A behaviour mentor will also be put in place to offer ongoing guidance and support.

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said that Cllr Pipe will not be stripped of his duties as the committee has no power to suspend or disbar councillors.

Mr Pipe was also previously alleged to have made a homophobic joke and a remark about a visible panty line.

He denied these allegations and the claims were struck out by an investigating officer acting for Dorset Council's standards committee as they could not be substantiated.

In a separate incident at a meeting of the council's police and crime panel in 2020, he suggested that certain races were more likely to commit crimes in England.

His remarks offended colleagues and were found to be unacceptable and disappointing.

Piped undertook equality and diversity training in the wake of this incident.
German university student Rebecca Barisch is looking forward to a summer in New Zealand - and some learning with SociaLink, interning with the organisation that supports social agencies and charities in the Western Bay.

Rebecca, 20, is half way through her Public Management degree at the University for Applied Sciences in Kehl and comes from Oftersheim in the south German state of Baden-Wurttemberg.

Her university encourages students to do an internship abroad, and for Rebecca, New Zealand ticked all the boxes.

Shell spend four months in Tauranga, learning how SociaLink works - there isnt anything similar operating in Germany, she says.

She decided it was good timing to take a long trip so far away and spend four months in another country before she finishes her degree.

A university staff member knew someone in the Bay of Plenty and organised the placement, and she knows of two other students who will be here interning for other local organisations from February.

I didnt know they were coming here, and we have done part of our degree together so it will be good to meet up with them.

She is living with a TECT staff member while shes here, and that has helped her get settled into local life.

So far driving on the left, the sheer size of her supermarkets and that theyre open seven days and late at night has surprised her.

Yesterday I could have spent five hours just walking around the supermarket. Theyre huge! I was also surprised that other stores here close earlier.

Rebecca is an only child and the first of her family to travel so far. She says her family are nervous but very excited for her to have the opportunity to live and work so far away from home.

Shes looking forward to getting to know her new team at SociaLink and immersing herself in the work the organisation does.
A man who was sexually abused by his teacher says the schools investigation was a sham, with skulduggery and secrecy to protect reputation damage, and a recent Ombudsmans decision says the school should not have withheld information.

Glenn Marshall, now 53 and living in Napier, was sexually abused in 1988 by his English teacher at Tauranga Boys College, Pinky Green. Other student victims of Green also came forward at the time and Green left the school that same year.

Haunted by a sense of injustice over the matter, Marshall contacted the school in 2021 asking for a proper investigation, which was completed in 2022. In January of that year, Green died.

A recently released decision by Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says the school improperly withheld information under the Official Information Act, including its legal costs.
Winter 1963. A fragile, elegant-looking but prematurely aged woman drives through the green heart of the Arrabida Natural Park, about 30 miles south of Lisbon. At only 34 years old, she has crossed the Atlantic Ocean fleeing an unimaginable tragedy: the murder of her husband. Jacqueline Kennedy is seeking refuge, a hiding place away from the press and the weight of the history that has made her the 20th centurys most famous widow. It has been 60 years since that desperate escape, and we crossed the same hills through which the widow traveled to her Portuguese retreat. In the distance you can see the Palacio de Comenda, property of the Counts DArmand, the friends who opened their five-story, 26-room residence so that Jackie could find a place of reflection and prayer, which is what the word arrabida means in its original Arabic.

During her isolation, Jackie walked among cork oaks, pine forests, and vineyards. We walk along a secluded beach (although her palace has one with private access) and travel along the road that winds through the natural park, dotted with noble houses that remind us that this was one of the summer resorts frequented by European royalty, like the descendants of the Irish ONeill dynasty. From the top of the mountain range, Jackie could see the Castelo de Sao Jorge in Lisbon, the Castelo dos Mouros in Sintra, and the Castelo de Evora, three centuries-old strategic fortifications for the defense of Portugal. On the days in which her mood was most reflective, she would walk to the immaculate white village that stands out against the steep verdant hillside: the Monastery of Our Lady of Arrabida, founded in 1542 by the Franciscans.

View of the Monastery of Our Lady of Arrabida, founded in 1542.

As it was then for Jackie Kennedy, the Arrabida mountain range is still a privileged refuge in the middle of nature. However, international and even local travelers have barely heard of it. How is that possible?

During our trip in search of an answer, we met an illustrious local resident. Salvador Holstein is a descendant of Bernardo Sousa and Maria Luisa Holstein, the Duke and Duchess of Palmela. Holstein explains that competition from the nearby city of Comporta has eclipsed interest in this other area, which is much less crowded, despite its proximity to the Portuguese capital. It will be he who will take us into these 10,000 hectares nestled between the Sado River and the Atlantic, in a perfect triangle bounded by the municipalities of Setubal, Azeitao, and Palmela, as his family did with Jackie Kennedy six decades ago.

Panoramic view of the coast where the steep mountainsides of the Arrabida range (Portugal) meet the Atlantic Ocean.

Mediterranean green, Atlantic blue

One one side, the path between cliffs through Portinho da Arrabida is home to some of the most diverse Mediterranean flora and fauna in the country. On the opposite side, a winding road, with narrow ascents and descents, overlooks the beaches where, in the summer, bathers can swim with a community of around thirty bottlenose dolphins. From above, its easy to understand why this last stretch of Portugals pristine coastline has sparked Sandra Ortegas real estate ambitions. Inditex mogul Amancio Ortegas first-born daughter wants to build a luxury hotel complex with more than 500 beds here, on the Troia peninsula. For the moment, the environmental platform Dunas Livres has managed to stop the project, which would multiply the number of tourists on the spit of land next to the mouth of the Sado River.

Meanwhile, the Arrabida remains a relatively unknown spot, and this paradise of nature and sandy beaches stretches 25 miles from Troia to Melides. For the modest price of a ride on by a small boat, you can enjoy beaches like Galapinhos almost alone. This sandy beach was chosen as the most beautiful in Europe, beating 280 other European beaches in a vote in which more than 130 countries participated. Nearby are also the beaches of Albarquel, Figueirinha, Galapos, Conejos, Creiro, Portinho da Arrabida, and Alpertuche. They are, at present, a luxury freely available to anyone.

Galapinhos beach on the Arrabida coast.

Route between towns

As we descend through the Portinho da Arrabida, Salvador Holsteins car takes us to the part of town next the sea, where the best restaurants in the area are located. Among these are Farol, which serves fresh fish with views of the sea, and Galeao, whose menu allows you to savor the best of local cuisine along with the wines from the region that have been covered in vineyards for centuries. Local vineyards that produce high quality wines include Jose Maria da Fonseca, the oldest table winery in the country (1834), Quinta da Bacalhoa, and Quinta de Alcube.

Advancing through vineyards to the east of the mountain range you reach the Castelo da Palmela, almost 790 feet above sea level. It was originally a Muslim fortification dating from between the 8th and 9th centuries, and today is a national monument. From its tower it is easy to see Lisbon on clear days. Next to it, the Gothic church of Santiago de Palmela dates from the 15th century, and an old convent that these days is a pousada (high-class tourist hotel, usually found in beauty spots and often converted from castles or monasteries), from the network of Pousadas de Portugal, in the style of the Spanish Paradores.

Palmela Castle is located in the town, parish, and municipality of the same name in the district of Setubal (Portugal). Magdalena Paluchowska (Alamy / C

The descent from the castle allows you to embark on a route through some of the most picturesque towns in the area, such as Azeitao, at the foot of the mountains, where the sheeps queijo and the fresh requijao cheeses are still made by hand. A walk through its cobbled streets also allows you to enjoy an unending supply of traditional pastries or visit the Sao Simao-Arte tile factory, one of the last producers of handmade tiles in Europe. The workers will patiently explain the entire manufacturing process, from baking to painting. Brush in hand, its artisans give life to the tiles that decorate buildings inside and outside of Portugal. If you ask nicely enough, they may reveal what Elton John asked for when decorating his bathroom with these Portuguese tiles. It is one of the few distractions in the town, in addition to the Harvest Festival or the medieval Saints Festival.

Detail of the Sao Simao tile factory, in the Portuguese town of Azeitao.

Casa Palmela, the heart of the park

Returning to the national park we arrive at Casa Palmela, Holsteins estate, whose almost 175 acres have been in his family for two centuries. It is one of the few private properties within the national park, where construction has been prohibited since 1975. A 17th century manor house, classified as an Asset of Municipal Interest, has been converted into a 21-room hotel, surrounded by forest and vineyards of syrah and muscat grapes. Casa Palmela served as a summer residence for the Sao Francisco Xavier Jesuit College of Setubal and today preserves part of the four-century-old stone floor, original furniture, 18th century tiles, and a small chapel.

Exterior of Casa Palmela, a 17th century manor house converted into a hotel in the Arrabida national park. David Yawalkar

From the inside, the Jesuits refectory is a restaurant with a terrace, where you can enjoy clams a bulhao pato, cod cakes with tomato, or the traditional beef dish pica-pau. From the outside, the views from the hotel encourage you to take a walk through the mountains, on foot or on horseback, on a route that crosses paths and vineyards.

The life of luxury: one of the rooms at the Casa Palmela hotel. David Yawalkar

From here it is easy to organize boat trips, sunset yoga classes, or excursions to the cheese factories in nearby towns or the Mercado do Livramento de Setubal, which supplies Casa Palmela. Early risers looking for fresh fish and travelers who want to get up close and personal with this fishing and agricultural market descend on this 19th-century institution, which USA Today recognized in 2015 as one of the best in the world. Once they have taken the obligatory photograph next to the large mural of 5,700 tiles that tells the life of fishermen and farmers, the travelers leave the market. Local life continues in this sleepy Portuguese paradise, far from the mass tourism of better known resorts.

Rua Arronches Junqueiro, in the historic center of Setubal.

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Thieves ransacking a vessel have marred the reunion of a Coromandel fisherman and his boat.

Fisherman Will Fransen fell overboard while reeling in a marlin on a solo fishing trip and spent 23.5 hours in the water before being found.

The fishermans boat was found later on a stony East Cape Beach on Sunday, January 14.

Betty Gees exterior is in top shape and the vessel is not leaking, but the interior is a different story.

Betty Gee is being looked after by Bridge Marine Travelift. Photos: Ayla Yeoman.

The thieves left the inside of the vessel in a state and stole numerous items including solar panels, tools, clothing, chilly bins, fishing reels and a brand new dingy from the roof of the boat, says Bridge Marine Travelift owner Bruce Goodchap.

A video camera was also stolen off the boat which would have captured Will falling off the boat and the thieves looting the vessel.

Some thieves have returned some of the items after intimidation from members of the public.

The locals are very willing to help Will in any way they can.

Betty Gee is currently being inspected and repairs are being made. Photos: Ayla Yeoman.

The matter of the items stolen has been reported to Police.

The boat arrived in the Tauranga Harbour today, after being towed from the East Cape Beach.

The vessel is currently being inspected and repairs are being made, says Bruce.

Bruce says Will is incredibly lucky to have survived and for his boat to be in such good shape.

Will should consider himself very lucky, he has a lot to be grateful for.
Farmer Autovillage has hit 2024 firing on all cylinders, by announcing that on January 15 it will open a brand-new service centre in Papamoa.

The addition to its existing branches at Mount Maunganui and Whitianga, the concept of offering clients a one-stop shop for their vehicles is something that Farmer Autovillage has identified as an important part of its ideology.

Located just off Enterprise Drive/Parton Road at 64 Market Place, the new site will offer customers the same level of expertise that they currently receive at Hewletts Road, and across the entire Farmer Autovillage list of brands.

It will be staffed by familiar faces from the Hewletts Road centre; Mason Dawson will be the Papamoa Service Manager, and Bella Einarsdor the Service Advisor. Making up the technical team; Audi / Volkswagen / Skoda Expert Technician Brendon OBrien, Nissan / GWM / MG Expert Technician Nick Curle, along with Indika Loganathen and Pradeep Kumara. Together they bring over 60 years of combined experience.

From a family business point of view, its an exciting expansion  the beauty of Farmer Autovillage is that it maintains a boutique business feel despite being an expansive venture, says statement released by Farmer Autovillage.

"For the team, the value is in not just providing world-class showrooms but knowing that behind the international standard is a group working together to ensure that customers feel comfortable picking up the phone to ask for help, whether it be to find a towbar or because they have a kerb damaged wheel," says a spokepserson for the motoring company.

"With a group mentality rooted in core values, everyone at each is on the same page  and all are pumped at the prospect of an additional location.

"In terms of what is being offered from the Papamoa site, customers  both existing and new - will be pleased to find that on their doorstep will be a state-of-the-art fully fitted service precinct."

An authorised service agent for Nissan, Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Subaru, Jeep, Ram, Cupra, Seat, MG and GWM, as well as welcoming all other makes and models, the centre will offer total vehicle care - from a warrant of fitness to mechanical repairs, tyres, alignments and balancing.

A Hunter 3D laser alignment machine takes the capabilities of the centre to the next level.

The service abilities will also be fully equipped to deal with both electric and hybrid models, and EV chargers will be available.

Mike Farmer, the group managing director, says, at Farmer Autovillage nothing is ever a problem. We aim to provide a stress-free experience, which is a key component of the companywide Autovillage ethos. If you are only 99 per cent satisfied, we are not. Our aim is your 100 per cent satisfaction.
Antonio Arenas Granada Wednesday, 17 January 2024, 14:40 Compartir Copiar enlace

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At the end of the summer the alarm bells went off in Jatar and the Alhama region of Andalucia's Granada province. This was not surprising as the owners of Los Angeles bar, Pepe Garcia Hernandez and his sister Mari Carmen, had decided to close their doors due to retirement. This meant that this village of around 580 inhabitants, was left without an establishment where people could dine, socialise, and enjoy its famed 'choto' (kid goat).

Fortunately, the uncertainty lasted barely a month, as the mayor of Jatar, Alexander Leo Van Oepen, of German origin, and Miguel Bastida, a local, decided that this could not happen, so they decided to become partners and, after a facelift and some work, reopened the doors on 23 October for residents and numerous visitors who come, especially at weekends, from across Granada province and Malaga.

Van Oepen, known as 'Chani', arrived in Jatar as a child, following in the footsteps of his aunt who emigrated to Spain. At the age of 14 he entered active politics, becoming a close collaborator, for two decades, of the previous socialist mayor, Francisco J. Martin Rodriguez, and succeeded him in office in the last elections.

In terms of priorities, Van Oepen is very clear that the future of his village lies in "transforming the economy and promoting tourism" by diversifying economic activity beyond agriculture. One of his main objectives is to turn Jatar into a leading tourist destination, taking advantage of its natural environment, the quality of its waters, and focusing on hiking, rural getaways and mycology (it has a mycological museum).

The two partners are committed to preserving the essence of Los Angeles bar. The establishment was started by the Garcia Hernandez family back in 1957. Pepe and Mari Carmen's father, a carpenter by trade, decided to change his profession and open this bar-restaurant a stone's throw from the central Plaza Primero de Mayo.
Susana Zamora Malaga Wednesday, 17 January 2024, 15:25 Compartir Copiar enlace

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A teacher at a secondary school in Gines (Seville) who suspected that someone was trying to access her virtual Google cloud account realised that one of her students might be trying to view the exams she kept in this virtual repository proved to be true.

As a result, she decided to file a complaint. Now, a juvenile court in Seville has sentenced a 17-year-old teenager to 55 hours of community service for a crime against privacy, and compensation to the teacher of 1,000 euros.

In a ruling the court declared it to be proven, in agreement with the accused student that "from 14 February to 5 April 2022, without consent and violating the relevant security measures", he "accessed from his mobile phone on numerous occasions the virtual drive/cloud account linked to the corporate Google account whose owner is his teacher, where she stores both personal and corporate information".

At the hearing, according to the sentence, the student "declared himself to be the author of the facts. The sentence added that the public prosecutor's office sought and was granted "the measure of 55 hours of community service, with the aim of making [the accused] understand that he acted incorrectly, that he deserves the reproach of society, that the acts committed are serious, that damage has been caused to a person in an unjustified manner and that the provision of services required of him for the benefit of the community constitutes an act of just reparation".

The teachers lawyer, Fran Pelaez, stated that this type of technological crime is "extremely difficult to prosecute due to its complexity when it comes to identifying the perpetrator".

In this particular case, "it was deduced that the intruder could be someone in the teacher's circle who was interested in the type of information stored in the cloud". Therefore, faced with such a confusing scenario, "the only possibility was to identify the perpetrator through the IP address that could identify a device on the internet or on a local network," according to the lawyer, a cybercrime expert with the legal firm PenalTech.
There was a minute's silence to remember the victim outside town halls and other government buildings in Malaga province on Tuesday 16 January.

Eugenio Cabezas / Europa Press Torre del Mar Wednesday, 17 January 2024 | Updated 19/01/2024 08:33h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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The death of Ana, the 57-year-old Romanian woman who was found at her home in Torre del Mar on Friday 12 January, was confirmed as gender violence on Monday 15 January by Spains central government representative in Malaga.

Ana is the first fatal victim of gender violence in 2024 and the 1239th since records began. Last year a total of 56 deaths were recorded, seven more than in 2021.

Related news 112 incident Police find woman suffocated at her home and her partner hanged in her son's house in popular Costa del Sol holiday resort Juan Cano / Irene Quirante / Eugenio Cabezas

The preliminary result of the autopsy suggests that she died from suffocation according the government's sub-delegate in Malaga province, Javier Salas. When questioned by journalists in Malaga on Saturday 13 January, Salas said, "The preliminary result of the autopsy indicates that she died from suffocation. We are awaiting the definitive results which will take a few days yet.

The womans partners was later found in the garage of her sons house. It is believed that he died by hanging himself, but investigations are ongoing.

The Andalusian regional government delegate in Malaga, Patricia Navarro, expressed her "condolences and support for the family" in a statement on Tuesday 16 January as politicians stood outside town halls and other public buildings for a minutes silence to remember the victim. Navarro added, "The figures increased last year and we are working in a coordinated way so that the same thing does not happen again in 2024.
Bigger budget for popular Costa del Sol town as population exceeds 20,000 for first time Torrox received 31,573,384 euros extra in this years budget having exceeded the 20,000 inhabitants quota, meaning that it is now considered a large town

Eugenio Cabezas Torrox Wednesday, 17 January 2024, 21:23 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Torrox town hall has received 31,573,384 euros extra in this years budget having exceeded the 20,000 inhabitants quota, meaning that it is now considered a large town. It is an increase of 18 per cent compared to 2023. The announcement was made by mayor Oscar Medina on Tuesday 17 January.

Medina said that the money is intended to meet the challenges of the successful growth of our town. He went on to say that the towns population has grown by almost 40 per cent since he was first elected as mayor in June 2015 and that "a new era begins for the town, in constant transition and sustainable growth".

The mayor said that the main challenge for the town hall will be the management of social services, for which it now assumes responsibility as part of the deal. Medina said that "during this year there will be a transition period in which Malaga's provincial authority will continue to collaborate and agreements will be signed with the Andalusian regional government".

Additional Local Police officers

The town hall will acquire specialised staff including six social workers, two psychologists and two social educators "to strengthen an area that has an important challenge to take on," he said. There will also be an increase in staff in other departments to ensure that the quality of public services is maintained. A further twenty posts will be created to reinforce different areas including four new Local Police officers.

"A budget has been drawn up with the aim of providing a service to the citizens of Torrox which tries to reflect a modern and contemporary town without losing our essence and customs and with a view to the future," said Medina.

Within the additional funds, which have come from the Junta de Andalucia, over 1.2 million euros have been allocated for educational and leisure projects for children and young people. Further funding has been set aside for administration and local tourism promotion and visitor information. There is also money in the budget to create a culture and festivals council as well as support for womens associations.

Criticism from the opposition

The budget has been criticised by the left-wing opposition Izquierda Unidas spokesperson Rafael Broncano, who said that his party was still waiting for the documentation on the new budget to be made available to the opposition groups so that they can analyse it in depth. He questioned the figures provided by Medinas Partido Popular and said, "What is absolutely true is that Mr. Medina has the largest budgets that this town hall has ever had and most of it comes from the taxes paid by the citizens of Torrox."

He went on to say, "However, his policy of waste and mismanagement does not translate into important investment projects that are noticeable in our town. Previous leaders have made much greater investment efforts with much less money, having also had to face economic crises and greater debts.

Izquierda Unida has announced that it "will thoroughly audit the budget document as soon as it is provided and will carry out an in-depth analysis of it in order to make the criticisms, challenges and contributions it considers appropriate".
Ignacio Lillo Malaga Wednesday, 17 January 2024, 16:52 Compartir Copiar enlace

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The arrival of the metro to Malaga city centre has practically doubled the number of passengers, from almost 6.9 million in its previous best year (2019) to 13.6 million at the end of 2023. A total of 13,606,294 Malaga local residents and visitors have used the transport system during the last twelve months, which is 103% more than in 2022, according to data provided by the Junta de Andalucia's Ministry of Public Works.

This last figure can be interpreted in several ways. The first is that the number of users has been such that it has been close to the Junta's estimate for the first year with the complete network up to Guadalmedina and Atarazanas (14 million). The Junta de Andalucia considers the initial estimates regarding the commissioning of the El Perchel-Atarazanas extension section, which took place on 27 March, to be "confirmed".

Pending the balance of the 12 months (March 2023 to March 2024), with the monthly average of passengers since it arrived at El Corte Ingles and the Alameda, a simple extrapolation gives a figure of between 16 and 17 million, well above the forecast. However, these figures are, to a certain extent, skewed by the effect of the heavy discounts during 2023 on public transport, where the government and the Junta provide up to 60% of the ticket price.

Room for improvement

Despite the good results, there is still plenty of room for improvement. For years, the concessionary company that runs the metro has been forecasting that the convoys will carry around 18 million passengers every year, just on the connection to the historic centre. This is almost three times more than the maximum that has been reached since it was put into service on 30 July 2014.

The third leap will come when the network that is currently designed is completed, with the extension to the large hospital complex formed by the new regional hospital, the Civil hospital and the maternity hospital. By then, 21 million users are expected in the first year.

The theoretical population served will reach some 230,000 inhabitants, at a rate of 117,000 in the Carretera de Cadiz district; 88,000 in Cruz del Humilladero and 33,000 in Teatinos, especially for those the majority of users who have a stop less than 500 metres from their doorstep.

Pandemic

Comparison with 2019, the year before the pandemic and the previous annual record number of users (6.87 million), shows a growth of 97.84%. Although throughout the year there have been higher monthly figures than the previous year, logically the growth has been much higher since the arrival at the Centre. Thus, the month with the lowest number of passengers was January, with 645,328 users, while the month with the highest number of users was December, with 1,554,732. In fact, the latter has become the month with the highest volume of demand since its commercial operation began on 30 July 2014. In these nine years, this means of transport has accumulated nearly 60 million users (59,765,976 users).

The El Perchel interchange, which is used to change from one line to another and which connects with the Maria Zambrano railway station and the intercity bus station (as well as the Vialia and Larios shopping centres), maintains its leading position in terms of passenger traffic, with 14.19% of passengers (1,931,594). Next comes Atarazanas station, with 1,636,931 (12%), followed by Ciudad de la Justicia station, in Teatinos, with 1,007,341 passengers (7.4%). This demonstrates the attractiveness of the most central station of the underground, which in its first year of operation has become the second most popular of the 19 stations that make up the route.

Payment methods

According to the method of payment, the recurrent and cheaper travel cards, such as the Metro de Malaga wallet card and the multimodal card of the Metropolitan Transport Consortium, accounted for 93% of journeys, while the occasional ticket (single and return) accounted for the remaining 7%.

The Junta's regional minister of Public Works, Rocio Diaz, praised the "successful year that has been experienced with the Malaga metro, since it opened its way to the heart of the city at the end of March.

The people of Malaga have enthusiastically welcomed this extension, which we are now going to continue with the forthcoming start of the extension works to the new hospital," Diaz said.
Irene Quirante Malaga Wednesday, 17 January 2024, 11:06 Compartir Copiar enlace

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A 50-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly leading a police chase that ended with his vehicle crashing into the crash barrier of the access to the A-7 motorway in Calahonda and injuring four policemen. It all started in the early hours of last Sunday (14 January), when two cars travelling at more than 200 kilometres per hour overtook a National Police car patrolling in Marbella .

In view of the alleged speeding, the police crew chased after the vehicles and stopped one of them, in which only one Spanish individual was travelling. According to police sources, while one of the officers checked the suspect's background, his partner was about to open the boot of the car when the driver allegedly started the car again and left the scene.

The police officers, who had to jump out of the way to avoid being run over as the man drove off, were hurt, although their injuries were described as minor. They quickly returned to their patrol vehicle and went after the fleeing driver, as well as alerting other police units.

Rammed

The suspect drove into Marbella, where he allegedly continued to drive in a reckless manner. Before taking the Calahonda exit, according to sources, he was apparently rammed by another police car with two officers in it. The pursuit ended some 20 minutes later in the vicinity of the Calahonda motorway access, when the fleeing driver lost control of the car and it smashed into the crash barrier.

The individual allegedly tried to escape on foot after the traffic accident, although he was stopped by several officers. Police, when they inspected the car used in the escape, found that the driver was carrying 48 kilos of hashish in the boot. The suspect was arrested for the crimes of attacking the law enforcement authorities and against public health.

More police cars

As a result of the incident, the ASP (Alternativa Sindical Policial) trade union has highlighted the need for more patrol cars on the streets given "the crime rate in the area", and that there should be a better distribution of police officers stationed in Marbella.

Similarly, the ASP demanded greater legal and corporate protection for officers in the line of duty and recalled that the union has been calling on the Ministry of the Interior for some time to take measures to deal with the increase in assaults on police officers.

The ASP considers that it is important that the perpetrators of crimes of attacks on authority serve the prison sentence imposed by the Penal Code and that they do not go unpunished, after reporting that in 2023 there were more than 13,000 attacks on officers of the State Forces and Corps in Spain.
Protesters stand outside of the Federal court before the start of the trial against former US president Donald Trump brought by journalist E. Jean Carroll in New York, January 16 2024.

Jury selection began in a New York courtroom Tuesday after a judge denied Donald Trumps request that a defamation trial stemming from a columnists claims that he sexually abused her in the 1990s be suspended on Thursday so he could attend the funeral of his mother-in-law.

The denial came during a combative exchange between lawyers for Trump and Judge Lewis A. Kaplan over evidence in the case, Trumps desire to attend the Thursday funeral and whether the trial should occur at all.

This is the penalty phase of a civil defamation trial stemming from columnist E. Jean Carrolls claims he sexually attacked her in a department store dressing room. A May trial found Trump sexually abused Carroll, awarding her $5 million. Trump did not attend that trial but he showed up Tuesday morning after his political victory at the Iowa caucus hours earlier.

After several dozen prospective jurors were sworn in, Trump shook his head as Kaplan described the case in general terms and explained that for purposes of the trial, it had already been determined that Trump did sexually assault Ms. Carroll.

Trump also twisted his body around in his chair to look at a prospective juror who said she had worked in a communications capacity for his daughters company in 2017 and 2018. Another prospective juror said hes a lawyer who has worked on unrelated issues with the firm representing Carroll. Both said they could be fair and impartial and remained among prospective jurors.

In May, a different jury awarded Carroll $5 million after concluding that Trump sexually abused her in a department store dressing room in spring 1996, then defamed her in 2022 by claiming she made it up after she revealed it publicly in a 2019 memoir. The jury said Carroll hadnt proven that Trump raped her.

Trump is appealing and hasnt paid any of that award, though he placed $5.55 million in escrow to cover the verdict and other costs in the event he loses his appeal.

One issue that wasnt decided in that first trial was how much Trump owed for comments he made about Carroll while he was still president. Determining that dollar amount will be the new jurys only job.

Kaplan ruled last year that the new jury didnt need to decide anew whether Carroll was sexually abused or whether Trumps remarks about her were defamatory since those subjects were covered in the first trial.

Even before jurors were brought in to the courtroom Tuesday, Trump attorney Michael Madaio complained that the judge had made inconsistent and unfair rulings against Trump prior to the start of the trial.

Madaio said the rulings drastically changed our ability to defend this case and largely stripped us of our defenses.

He also argued that given Trumps pending appeal of the first verdict, the trial should not proceed at all.

Another Trump attorney, Alina Habba, then requested that the trial be adjourned on Thursday for the funeral of former first lady Melania Trumps mother, Amalija Knavs.

I am not stopping him from being there, the judge said, referring to the funeral. Habba responded: No, youre stopping him from being here.

The judge, though, said the only accommodation he would make is that Trump can testify on Monday, even if the trial is otherwise finished by Thursday. Several days ago, Kaplan rejected Trumps request to delay the trial a week.

Trump arrived for the trial in a motorcade shortly before 9 a.m., entering the building through a special entrance not usually used by the public. Opening arguments could take place by afternoon in what is essentially a second penalty phase of a legal fight Carroll has already won.

Trump arrived separately but at the same time as Carroll Tuesday. His plans for the rest of the week have become unclear because of his mother-in-laws pending funeral. Prospective jurors were told the trial was likely to last three to five days.

Habba told the judge that Trump plans to testify. The judge has already set strict limits on what he can talk about. He did not attend last years trial, saying recently that his lawyer advised against it.

Because the trial is supposed to be focused only on how much Trump owes Carroll, the judge has warned Trump and his lawyers that they cannot say things to jurors that he has said on the campaign trail or elsewhere, like claiming she lied about him to promote her memoir.

Kaplan also banned them from saying anything about Carrolls past romantic relationships, sexual disposition, and prior sexual experiences, from suggesting Trump didnt sexually abuse Carroll or from implying she was motivated by a political agenda, financial interests, mental illness, or otherwise.

They are also banned, the judge said, from advancing any argument inconsistent with the courts ruling that Mr. Trump, with actual malice, lied about sexually assaulting Ms. Carroll.

Those restrictions dont apply outside of the presence of the jury. That has left Trump free to continue posting on social media about all of the above topics  something he has done repeatedly in recent days  although each fresh denial comes with the possibility of increasing damages he must pay.

Carroll, 80, plans to testify about the damage to her career and reputation that resulted from Trumps public statements. She seeks $10 million in compensatory damages and millions more in punitive damages.

Trump, 77, is appealing the findings of last years jury and has continued to maintain that he doesnt know Carroll, that he never met her at the Bergdorf Goodman store in midtown Manhattan in spring 1996 and that Carroll made up her claims to sell her book and for political reasons.

Regardless of his losses in court, Trump leads all Republicans in 2024 presidential primary polls and plans to spend plenty of time in court fighting the civil cases and four criminal cases against him, saying, In a way, I guess you consider it part of the campaign.

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Almudena Nogues / Ignacio Lillo Malaga Wednesday, 17 January 2024, 12:50 | Updated 18:50h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Storm Irene is turning the map of Andalucia yellow today (17 January) , with the wind as the main feature. All eight provinces of the region have activated yellow risk warnings for strong gusts that could reach 70 kilometres per hour. In the case of Malaga province, the warning will remain in force between 12 noon and 6pm and will only apply to Ronda and the surrounding areas.

Unfortunately for the reservoirs, today's forecast rain was short-lived in the end. In Malaga, the rain showered the city in the early hours of the morning (accompanied by a thunderstorm) but it did not last long. As of 6pm state weather agency Aemet no longer forecasts showers.

As the rain passed through the province (from west to east), the highest accumulations have been recorded, as usual, in the Serrania de Ronda and Estepona, with 19mm in the area of Los Reales, 14mm in Alpandeire, and 9mm in Antequera and Fuente de Piedra, measured in 24 hours by the Hidrosur Network of the Junta de Andalucia and Aemet. In the area around the Malaga city it left 8mm in El Consul (Aemet headquarters) and in Fuengirola; 7mm at the airport (which is the rain gauge that is taken as a reference for statistical purposes); 5mm in the port of Malaga and Rincon de la Victoria.

The bad news is that the reservoir reserves have not yet shown a substantial improvement, neither for this nor the previous episodes in January; although weather models predict that Friday's discharges will leave more rain in the Axarquia area, which is where it is most needed.

The good news is that the instability, although it will be put on hold, will not disappear. Aemet forecasts rainfall in Malaga until Friday, although with varying intensity. On Thursday, the state Met Office puts the probability between 5% and 40%, and it rises again to 90% on Friday.

In addition to storm Irene squall, the Aemet delegate in the region, Juan de Dios del Pino, said that, during the day from Thursday to Friday, a band of cloud of subtropical origin will bring with it a small storm that will leave rain in eastern Andalucia, although "some showers will also fall in the rest of the provinces of the region on those days", he added. Looking ahead to the weekend, the weather instability will tend to ease. On Saturday, Aemet has set the probability of showers in Malaga city at 60 per cent, while on Sunday it will drop to 30%.
SUR Malaga Wednesday, 17 January 2024, 10:12 | Updated 13:09h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Spain's state weather agency (Aemet) has forecast that storm Irene will leave widespread rain in Malaga province, including the Costa del Sol, until Friday, although with varying intensity.

Today (Wednesday 17 January), Aemet has raised the probability of rainfall in the province to 100 per cent. This percentage is reduced on Thursday, when Aemet puts it at between 30% and 50%, and raises it again to 90 per cent on Friday.

In addition to storm Irene, the Aemet delegate in the Andalucia region, Juan de Dios del Pino, specified that, during the day from Thursday to Friday, "a band of cloud of subtropical origin will bring with it a small storm that will leave rain in eastern Andalucia", although "some showers will also fall in the rest of the provinces of the region on that day", he added.

As for the situation in the rest of Andalucia, Aemet has this Wednesday (17 January) activated the yellow warning for wind and waves in the provinces of Almeria, Cadiz and Huelva, while Granada and Jaen will only be affected by the alert for strong wind. In addition, the provinces of Cadiz and Huelva will be under the risk of heavy rain and storms.

In the province of Almeria, the risk from winds will be active from 10am until midnight in the Valle del Almanzora and Los Velez, Nacimiento and Campo de Tabernas, the west, the east and the city areas. Westerly winds are expected with maximum gusts of 70 km/h. The west, the city and the east of Almeria will also be affected by the yellow risk due to sea swell from 2pm until the end of the day, with winds from the west and southwest at 50 to 60 km/h (force 7) and waves of three metres.

In Cadiz province, the yellow alert for rain will affect Grazalema throughout today, and inland areas until 6pm, where Aemet forecasts that 15mm will fall in one hour. Both areas in Cadiz will also be under a storm warning until Wednesday afternoon, which may be accompanied by heavy rainfall - persistent in Grazalema - without hail being ruled out. The Cadiz coastline will remain under a yellow warning for south-westerly winds until 6pm with maximum gusts of 70km/h. In this area and the Strait of Gibraltar, south or south-westerly winds between 50 and 61 kilometres per hour will activate the swell alert until 3pm.

Yellow risk due to strong winds in Granada and Jaen

On the other hand, Guadix and Baza (Granada province) and Cazorla and Segura (Jaen) will be at yellow risk for wind from 10am until the end of the day due to westerly winds with gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour.

In the province of Huelva, Aemet has activated the yellow alert for south-westerly winds with maximum gusts of 70 kilometres per hour on the coast until Wednesday afternoon. The same area will remain at risk from coastal phenomena until 4pm. Winds are forecast to blow from the south or southwest at between 50 and 61 kilometres per hour, with combined southwesterly seas increasing by 4 to 5 metres offshore.

Finally, the countryside areas of Seville will be affected until 4pm by a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms, with hail not ruled out.

As for temperatures, the head of Aemet in Andalucia stressed that both the maximum and minimum temperatures that will be experienced throughout this week "will be high for this time of year". Especially at night, when they will not drop below 14-15C in Malaga. This is due to the effect of the wind, which means that night-time temperatures will not fall.
Tensions between Joe Bidens administration and Texas over the immigration crisis are on the rise as federal and local authorities continue their dispute over the surveillance of the Mexican border. The friction between the two has recently intensified, days after three Mexican migrants  a young mother and her two children, aged eight and 10  drowned in the Rio Grande while trying to reach the United States. The tug-of-war between the two parties has made one of the most dangerous international immigration routes even more lethal.

The Biden administration on Monday asked the Supreme Court to intervene in a lawsuit that Washington has filed against Texas over border surveillance with Mexico. In the petition, federal authorities explain that on January 12, at around 9 p.m. local time, the Mexican government informed the U.S. Border Patrol that two Mexican migrants were in trouble near a boat ramp on the U.S. side of the river. The discovery was made in Shelby Park, an area of Eagle Pass, which has become the epicenter of an immigration crisis that poses a threat to Biden in a year when his re-election to the White House is on the line.

The Mexican officials also reported that three people had drowned in that same area an hour earlier, at approximately 8 p.m. The Mexican citizens did not enter the United States, the Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued Sunday. The victims were originally from the State of Mexico and were not identified at the time. The bodies were recovered by the Beta group of the National Institute of Migration and the National Guard.

After being notified by Mexican authorities, agents of the Border Patrol, the federal body in charge of guarding the 3,000-kilometer (1,864-mile) border with Mexico, attempted to enter the Shelby Park area, which had been monitored since January 11 by state law enforcement. Speaking through the closed gate, the [Texas National] guardsmen refused to let the Acting Supervisor enter because they had been ordered not to allow Border Patrol access to the park, stated the brief addressed to the Supreme Court. A staff sergeant supervising the guardsmen unit posted in the area stated that his orders prevented the passage of federal agents even in emergency situations.

Although the Texas National Guard sent soldiers to investigate, the migrants who were in danger were rescued by Mexican authorities, even though they were on the U.S. side of the river. They were pulled from the water suffering from hypothermia and returned to Mexico along with two other people who attempted to cross into the United States last Friday night.

The incident, according to the federal government, reflects Texas is firm in its continued efforts to exercise complete control of the border and land adjacent to it on this 2.5-mile stretch of the Rio Grande [] 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. At the very least, however, 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, the Department of Homeland Security stated.

The death of the three migrants has provoked strong criticism of the Texas state government of Republican Greg Abbott. This is a tragedy, and the state bears responsibility, Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar, one of the most prominent Latinos in the Texas legislature, said over the weekend. Republicans have so successfully dehumanized migrants that there is no empathy for the loss of life, Veronica Escobar, another Texas Democratic representative in Congress, posted on X.

Escobar recalled that Abbott had told a conservative radio host that his administration is doing everything possible to strengthen border enforcement. The only thing that were not doing is were not shooting people who come across the border, because of course, the Biden administration would charge us with murder, the governor said on January 11, a day before the incident on the Rio Grande.

Washington has asked the Supreme Court to overturn a decision of the Fifth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals that prohibits the Border Patrol from destroying the barbed wire installed on the border by Texas agents. State Attorney General Ken Paxton has stated that the appeals court is already dealing with the matter on an expedited basis and that this is a ploy by the Biden administration to disrupt the appeals process.

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SUNY Oswego announced Magdalena Maggie Rivera, assistant dean of students, student outreach and support in its office of the dean of students, was honored by Sen. John Mannion for her contributions to and support of the Hispanic community in Central New York.

Rivera was one of the inaugural recipients of a 2023 Commendation Award as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Albany, NY -- Gov. Kathy Hochul is planning to strike down a decades-old policy that compels state-owned hospitals, including Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, to sue thousands of residents each year over medical debt.

The governors proposal comes after a Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard investigation last month exposed how state hospitals were responsible for nearly 75% of medical debt lawsuits filed by hospitals statewide in 2022. Its a system that is rarely effective, preys upon the poor and runs counter to what many hospitals across the country do.

Before scrapping the state policy, however, Hochul wants the legislature to pass a replacement during the budget process. Her proposal would ban any hospital in the state from suing low- and middle-income patients over medical debt, a governors spokesman said.

Once the replacement is in place, Hochul would use her executive power to align the state hospitals lawsuit mandate to the new law. The timeframe for ending the current flow of lawsuits remains to be determined.

Hochuls proposal would prohibit all hospitals -- state-owned or otherwise -- from suing anyone with an income under 400% of the poverty line. Thats $58,320 for a single person or $120,000 for a family of four.

Experts say that the vast majority of people who get sued over hospital bills are actually poor or middle class, genuinely unable to pay their debts. After all, medical care is typically a necessity, not a choice.

The proposal would not prevent hospitals from pursuing debt collections outside of court. That means that those with medical debt can still be hounded by debt collectors. However, Hochul recently signed legislation keeping medical debt off consumer credit reports, removing a barrier for people seeking a new job, house or consumer loan.

Her latest proposal does, though, extend the time to 180 days before hospitals can send unpaid bills into collections.

It also would prevent hospitals from selling the debt to third parties. That prevents debt collection companies from buying the debt in bundles and continuing aggressive collection efforts even longer.

The proposal would allow Good Samaritans to buy debt in order to forgive it, like the non-profit RIP Medical Debt does.

Hochuls proposal would also allow people between 300% and 400% of the poverty line to qualify for financial aid on a sliding scale. And it would open financial aid to uninsured people who have medical costs greater than 10% of their gross annual income.

The changes are part of the Democrats $233 billion budget proposal, which she presented in Albany today. Lawmakers and the governor have until the end of March to negotiate a final spending deal; the states fiscal year starts April 1.

Hochuls proposal also would make a major change to how a patients income is determined.

Before now, poor people often had to prove their low income to qualify for free care or financial aid. For example, Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse said that patients who filled out the proper forms were eligible for financial aid. Those who did not prove their inability to pay could be sued simply for not following the application process.

The new law would require the hospital to do its homework on the patient. After doing so, the hospitals chief financial officer would have to file a sworn statement attesting that the patients income was not below 400% of the poverty line, the governors spokesman said. Hospitals that didnt comply could risk losing millions in state aid funneled to hospitals who serve indigent patients.

Other provisions of the proposed law include:

Prohibiting hospitals from denying care anticipated to be medically necessary to patients with unpaid medical bills

Capping interest on medical debt at 2% per year

Capping monthly payment plans at 5% of a patients gross monthly income (down from 10% currently)

Court records show that state-run Upstate Medical University, which operates Upstate University and Community hospitals, has sued more than 4,000 patients since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, while its private competitors in the city have not sued anyone since then, a syracuse.com | The Post-Standard investigation found last month.

In many cases, the patients are on limited incomes and are unable to pay the charges or even challenge the lawsuits. Nevertheless, the default judgments the state-run hospitals obtain against them can haunt the patients for years, making it difficult for them to obtain a mortgage, rent a home or obtain a job, and it can allow the state to intercept their tax refunds.

Other hospitals have curbed the lawsuits on their own.

Syracuses two private hospitals, St. Josephs Hospital Health Center and Crouse Hospital, havent sued anyone in nearly three years. The states largest healthcare system, Northwell Health, stopped suing people altogether during the pandemic.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday proposed the state repeal its THC potency-based tax structure for legal cannabis  a move industry stakeholders have long said will simplify tax collection and burdens on small marijuana businesses.

In a 144-page executive state budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year  which begins April 1  Hochuls office proposes the state repeal and replace the cannabis potency tax, saying the change would promote and support the expansion of the Empire States legal adult-use market.

This is tremendous news for the New York cannabis cultivator, who is desperate for relief, said Joe Rossi, leader of the Cannabis Practice Group at Park Strategies who has lobbied policymakers to drop the potency tax for years. The governor has heard them and I applaud her for that.

When state legislators legalized adult-use cannabis by passing the MRTA in March of 2021, the law included a tax structure that charges based on THC potency.



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Under current rules, distributors must pay half a cent per milligram of the amount of total THC for flower; eight-tenths of one cent per milligram for concentrates and three cents per milligram for edibles. Thats in addition to a 9% sales tax and municipal taxes of 4% of retail sales.

If legislators pass Hochuls proposed budget, distributors would instead pay a 9% excise tax, while retailers would continue paying sales and municipal taxes. For vertically integrated companies  which include medical cannabis Registered Organizations, and licensed microbusinesses  the new wholesale excise tax will accrue on the final retail sale to consumers, and be imposed on 75% of the final retail sales price.

Moving from a potency-based tax structure to an excise tax will likely make tax collection much simpler for government officials and businesses, said Patrick Oglesby, founder of the tax policy nonprofit Center for New Revenue. It will likely reduce tax bills on businesses and consumers, which would help legal businesses compete with illicit shops, which dont pay cannabis taxes.

In many jurisdictions like New York the illicit market is thriving, and part of the blame is often placed on taxes  you cant put all the blame on taxes, but yes, its a factor, Oglesby said. Its not surprising to see taxes going down.

Oglesby added that state officials may want to consider market dynamics and tax revenue goals if theyre going to approve Hochuls proposal. Thats because prices in legal markets tend to start off high, but go down over time, Oglesby said. Taxing based on sales prices, therefore, could mean the state receives less cannabis tax revenue over time.

If New York drops its potency tax, the move could have a far-reaching effect on the U.S. legal cannabis industry, Oglesby said. New York and neighboring Connecticut were among the only fully legal cannabis states that taxed based on potency. If New York shifts to an excise tax, other states may take that as a signal that potency-based taxes arent worth trying.

Its going to be interesting to look at the reasons for this and analyze what New York is doing, and why, said Oglesby, who notes that hes currently involved with a State of California study of cannabis potency taxes. Is this an indication that a potency tax is not the way to go?

The Cannabis Association of New York, the states largest cannabis industry lobby, welcomed Hochuls repeal-and-replace proposal. CANY has long called for state officials to change course on New Yorks potency tax and impose an excise tax instead.

CANY President Damien Cornwell told NY Cannabis Insider that Hochuls proposal proves that the arguments potency tax opponents have been making for years are correct. According to CANYs calculations, the system Hochul proposed would result in a tax rate of about 30% for cannabis businesses.

Of course we will continue to advocate for a lower tax rate, however we believe that is a good start to a final solution, Cornwell said. It is a validation that the governor and Department of Budget tacitly agree with our general concept of restructuring the potency tax.
Two people and one dog were rescued last Saturday from the ice on Hinckley Reservoir, in the Herkimer County town of Russia.

At 11:30 a.m., a 59-year-old from Cold Brook witnessed his dog fall through the ice. He attempted to save his dog using a kayak, but the kayak capsized, dumping the man into the frigid water with his pooch.

Meanwhile, a 42-year-old Good Samaritan, also from Cold Harbor, grabbed another kayak and paddled out to the man and his dog. Using a rope, he managed to pull the man to shore, then went back for the mans dog.

But once the Good Samaritan pulled the dog into his kayak, his extremities were so cold he couldnt move, and he found himself stranded amid the broken ice and blowing snow.

A New York state Department of Environmental Conservation forest ranger in ice rescue gear entered the ice and brought a personal flotation device to the Good Samaritan, while hooking a rope to the mans kayak.

Rescue crews from Barneveld, Poland, and Newport fire departments, along with water technicians with NYS Fire, deployed a rescue boat and pulled the stranded kayak safely ashore. Both men, and the dog, were unharmed.

The following reports are excerpted from DEC:

A 26-year-old from Brooklyn fell into the water while hiking the Northville-Placid trail. Rangers warmed him up and helped him back to the trailhead.NYSDEC

On the night of Jan. 13, a 26-year-old hiker from Brooklyn fell into the water approximately 2.7 miles from the Northville-Placid trailhead. He managed to pull himself out of the water and onto the trail but was too cold to move any farther. Rangers reached the hiker about an hour later, warmed him up, and helped him back to the trailhead.

On the afternoon of Jan. 11, a 20-year-old hiker from Syracuse called 911 from a trail on Snowy Mountain, Hamilton County, to report that he was having trouble in the cold and snow. But the call dropped before the operator could get his location. Rangers found the hiker halfway down the mountain, wearing only a light winter coat and mountaineering boots not suited for winter hiking. They provided him with hand and feet warmers, socks, a hat, gloves, a light, and water before guiding him back to his car.

A 13-year-old from Corinth, Saratoga County, jumped out of his bedroom window and ran into the woods on the evening of Jan. 14. Working with a Saratoga County Sheriffs deputy, a ranger followed footprints in the snow toward the Hudson River, eventually leading them to the runaway teen, who was hiding underneath a pile of brush. The deputy drove the teen back home.



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Two brothers plunge through thin ice while fishing on Upstate NY lake, one drowns - newyorkupstate.com

Hiker rescued from cliff after tumbling down icy Adirondack mountain: She thought she was going to die up there - newyorkupstate.com

Rangers rescue teen lost on dark, snowy Catskills mountain - newyorkupstate.com

Rangers recover body of missing Upstate NY man - newyorkupstate.com

Rangers fight forest fires, find lost hunters in Upstate NY - newyorkupstate.com

Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.
By David Matthews | New York Daily News

The use of funny and quirky messages on electronic signs will be against the law on Americas highways.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration, a division of the Department of Transportation, issued a sweeping set of guidelines last month to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and all road users.

Part of the new 1,100-page manual regulates electronic traffic signs and other traffic control devices, which will no longer be allowed to post humorous messages that could distract drivers or be misunderstood.

Messages with obscure meanings and references to pop culture will also be banned.

Signs should be simple, direct, brief, legible and clear and inform drivers of weather conditions, crashes and other traffic delays, and the risks of speeding, not wearing a seat belt and driving impaired, the agency says.

Signs like Come on, Eileen your speed is obscene (Delaware), Get your head out of your apps (Utah), Dont get Star-Spangled Hammered (Massachusetts) and Hands on the wheel, not your meal (Louisiana) are just a few of the messages that will not be allowed under the new ban.

The ban, along with the other updates in the latest manual, will take effect in 2026.

________

2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com.
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.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis campaigned for months in all of Iowas 99 counties. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy visited them twice. But it was former president Donald Trump who nearly won in all 99 counties. He lost by one vote  1,271 to 1,270, according to the provisional count  against Nikki Haley in Johnson County, which is home to the University of Iowa. If it werent for that vote, Trump would have achieved a perfect victory in the Iowa caucuses. His overwhelming win, with 51% of the votes, has practically knocked out his rivals in the first round and paved the way for his nomination as the Republican Partys candidate for the presidential elections on November 5, 2024.

In his victory speech, Trump had nice words for everyone except the president, Democrat Joe Biden. Although the primary race has just begun, Trump already sees himself competing against Biden to win the White House. The Iowa caucuses have shown that the Republican rank-and-file overwhelmingly support the former president, regardless of the scandals and criminal charges against him. His result was a record for a candidate who was not the incumbent president. He is around 30 points ahead of DeSantis (who won 21.2%) and has an even greater lead over Haley (19.1%). As if that were not enough, the fourth in contention, the millennial Trumpist Vivek Ramaswamy (7.7%) has thrown in the towel and offered his support to the former president.

Trump has taken 20 of the 40 delegates up for grabs in Iowa, but he has achieved much more than that. He has shown that the polls giving him a 50-point lead across the country are accurate. He has validated his strategy of not participating in the primary debates with the other candidates and campaigning as if he were the incumbent president. He has made the most of his court hearings by presenting himself as a martyr (on Tuesday, he appeared in New York in a defamation case). He has rallied support by vindicating the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol and calling the convicted rioters hostages. With his undisputed charisma and leadership, his voters are passionately committed to the cause. He has made it clear that there is hardly any room for surprise.

Vivek Ramaswamy, who ended his Republican presidential campaign, greets Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. president Donald Trump during a campaign rally ahead of the New Hampshire primary election. ELIZABETH FRANTZ (REUTERS)

After Iowa, the next stop is New Hampshire. Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., had hoped to come in second place in Iowa to present herself as the rising star before the primary in New Hampshire, where she is polling at more than 30% (Trump is at more than 40%). In New Hampshire, Haley has the support of the governor, Chris Sununu, and will likely win over the voters of Chris Christie, the anti-Trump candidate who dropped out of the race. However, after the Iowa result, there is a feeling that the race is a foregone conclusion.

Trump won in Iowa amid low turnout. Mondays polar cold, with temperatures below 20 degrees below zero, meant that many people stayed at home. Just over 110,000 votes were counted, far from the more than 180,000 in 2016 and even below the 120,000 in 2020, when there was hardly any interest in the race, since the then-president had no real competition.

Trump, who asked his supporters to vote for him even if they died trying, had the most enthusiastic followers, according to polls. Haley had the least mobilized, and that may have relegated her to third place. Although in theory the cold and snow made it more difficult for rural voters, Trump has shown that he is also the favorite of city-dwelling Republicans.

His support is somewhat lower among moderate Republican voters, who partly favor Haley, and among anti-abortion activists, who prefer DeSantis, according to polls this Monday in Iowa. Trump also has somewhat less support among young people.

Biden vs. Trump

Looks like Donald Trump just won Iowa. Hes the clear front runner on the other side at this point. But heres the thing: this election was always going to be you and me vs. extreme MAGA Republicans. It was true yesterday and itll be true tomorrow, Joe Biden posted on X, after the results were known.

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley holds a rally at the Omni Mt. Washington Hotel & Resort. FAITH NINIVAGGI (REUTERS)

Meanwhile, Haley has been trying to link Trump and Biden. They have more in common than you think, she told her followers on Monday in her post-caucus speech. After pointing out that both are around 80 years old (Biden is 81 and Trump is 77), she added: Trump and Biden both lack a vision for our countrys future, because both are consumed by the past, by investigations, by vendettas, by grievances, she said. This Tuesday, her campaign began airing ads in New Hampshire with those messages.

DeSantis breathed a sigh of relief when he came in second place, but his prospects in New Hampshire are poor. He hasnt thrown in the towel yet, but no one sees him beating Trump. Iowa was in theory the perfect state for him: white, conservative, religious... If he was 30 points behind Trump there, where can he beat him?

Trump hasnt had much time to celebrate his victory. On Tuesday, he had to attend a court hearing in New York, where he is facing a civil lawsuit for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll after he denied he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s. The former president has described the case as pure fiction, even though he was convicted of the charges in an earlier case. After a historic win in Iowa, I am going to the Biden encouraged Witch Hunt in Lower Manhattan to fight against a FAKE Case from a woman I have never met, seen, or touched, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Naturally, it starts right after Iowa, and during the very important New Hampshire primary where, despite their sinister attempts, I will be tonight! It is a giant election interference scam, pushed and financed by political operatives.

Trumps victory in Iowa was so resounding that the Associated Press and the data teams of most television stations declared him the winner just 30 minutes after the caucuses begun  before some had even started voting. The AP  the benchmark on this matter  said that the initial results from eight counties showed Trump with an insurmountable lead.

Unlike primaries, in caucuses, there are generally no ballot boxes  participants collect the votes in an informal way  nor a fixed time for voting to end. Some caucuses may end in a few minutes, while others may take time to determine the outcome. AP announces the result when it believes that there are no doubts about who the winner will be. And this time, there were no doubts.

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Re: Domestic Air Travel & Airlines | Reviews, Anecdotes, Advice, Cautions



And here under the veil of assault, the Indigo crew and ground staff have nowhere stated their own lapses during the inordinate delay incident. The assault has overshadowed all behind the scenes happenings. A passenger Mr Sanal Vij who witnessed it first hand has on X clarified the causative factors that simmered giving rise to the slapping incident.



A video by Mr Vij:-



https://twitter.com/sonalchinioti/st...dRdfok0Hw&s=19







Mr Sanal Vij said he "doesn't support violence", but IndiGo took advantage and "hid all their mismanagement and mistakes in lieu of what the passenger did".



He said that flight 6E2175, which was scheduled to take off at 7:40 AM, departed at 5:35 PM after facing "multiple delays".



"As a co-passenger, I feel compelled to share my first-hand account of the incident. Before I proceed, it's crucial to clarify that I do not support violence. I intend to share my experience and shed light on the events," he wrote.



"Boarding commenced around 12:20 PM (after a delay of 5 hours due to bad weather) with approximately 186 passengers, including infants, young children, and elderly individuals. Despite completing boarding by 12:40 PM (approx), the flight doors remained open till 2:50 PM, with ground staff attributing the delay to ATC (air traffic control) not clearing the flight because of the congestion," Mr Vij said.



He said the pilot announced at 1:30 PM that they were waiting for a crew member and the flight would depart shortly. It became evident that ground staff and crew provided "misinformation", Mr Vij said.



He alleged that the crew members of the flight were "observed being unprofessional", engaging in lengthy conversations with the ground staff. Mr Vij also claimed that "multiple requests" from elderly passengers for water were "ignored" as they were "busy in their conversations".



"The delayed crew member arrived at 2:40 PM (approx), and the plane doors closed. However, the plane did not push back for some time, leading to passenger inquiries and a verbal altercation with crew members," he said.



"Around 3:20 PM, the assistant captain came out to address the passengers on the delay when the assault occurred: Violence is unacceptable, but what about Indigo's mismanagement, unprofessionalism, and 185 passengers stranded without food for hours?," Mr Vij said, adding that the food was provided to them after 4:00 PM.



In the video filmed on the flight from Delhi to Goa on Sunday, the 28-year-old was seen charging at Anup Kumar, the flight's co-captain, and hitting him. "Chalana hai chala, nahi chalana mat chala, khol gate (fly if you want to, otherwise open the door)," he can be heard shouting at the pilot before being dragged away by another passenger.



And as usual, Indigo the stubborn airline issued a clarification as such on X:-







Yours Truly has replied to this official tweet on X as :-



@IndiGo6E needs to be reciprocative and offer the requisite solace, nourishment and amenities to stranded passengers when unavoidable delays happen. You charge premium fares but do not spend a penny when your passengers get stranded. Change your mindset to prevent such incidents. After the Indigo pilot-passenger face off for the Delhi-Goa 6E 2175 flight, we have heard from the Union Aviation Minister Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia, who "urgently" reached the media, putting forth his views after a long long gap. He is otherwise busy with ribbon cutting and making policy statements. According to him flights delayed by more than three hours need to be cancelled by the concerned airlines.And here under the veil of assault, the Indigo crew and ground staff have nowhere stated their own lapses during the inordinate delay incident. The assault has overshadowed all behind the scenes happenings. A passenger Mr Sanal Vij who witnessed it first hand has on X clarified the causative factors that simmered giving rise to the slapping incident.A video by Mr Vij:-Mr Sanal Vij said he "doesn't support violence", but IndiGo took advantage and "hid all their mismanagement and mistakes in lieu of what the passenger did".He said that flight 6E2175, which was scheduled to take off at 7:40 AM, departed at 5:35 PM after facing "multiple delays"."As a co-passenger, I feel compelled to share my first-hand account of the incident. Before I proceed, it's crucial to clarify that I do not support violence. I intend to share my experience and shed light on the events," he wrote."Boarding commenced around 12:20 PM (after a delay of 5 hours due to bad weather) with approximately 186 passengers, including infants, young children, and elderly individuals. Despite completing boarding by 12:40 PM (approx), the flight doors remained open till 2:50 PM, with ground staff attributing the delay to ATC (air traffic control) not clearing the flight because of the congestion," Mr Vij said.He said the pilot announced at 1:30 PM that they were waiting for a crew member and the flight would depart shortly. It became evident that ground staff and crew provided "misinformation", Mr Vij said.He alleged that the crew members of the flight were "observed being unprofessional", engaging in lengthy conversations with the ground staff. Mr Vij also claimed that "multiple requests" from elderly passengers for water were "ignored" as they were "busy in their conversations"."The delayed crew member arrived at 2:40 PM (approx), and the plane doors closed. However, the plane did not push back for some time, leading to passenger inquiries and a verbal altercation with crew members," he said."Around 3:20 PM, the assistant captain came out to address the passengers on the delay when the assault occurred: Violence is unacceptable, but what about Indigo's mismanagement, unprofessionalism, and 185 passengers stranded without food for hours?," Mr Vij said, adding that the food was provided to them after 4:00 PM.In the video filmed on the flight from Delhi to Goa on Sunday, the 28-year-old was seen charging at Anup Kumar, the flight's co-captain, and hitting him. "Chalana hai chala, nahi chalana mat chala, khol gate (fly if you want to, otherwise open the door)," he can be heard shouting at the pilot before being dragged away by another passenger.And as usual, Indigo the stubborn airline issued a clarification as such on X:-Yours Truly has replied to this official tweet on X as :-@IndiGo6E needs to be reciprocative and offer the requisite solace, nourishment and amenities to stranded passengers when unavoidable delays happen. You charge premium fares but do not spend a penny when your passengers get stranded. Change your mindset to prevent such incidents. Last edited by anjan_c2007 : 16th January 2024 at 16:33 .
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A visit to the City of Pearls, Hyderabad











The dates planned for the trip were December 23rd to 28th 2023, sometime in November 2023 I booked the Taj Mahal Hotel Abids which is located in old Hyderabad, and then worked on the itinerary. The ever-trusted Venue is going to be our ride for this trip.





23rd December - Chennai to Hyderabad



We started at 5 AM from our place and it was too foggy in Chennai, a rare sight in ever-hot Chennai. This is how our day started







It was an uneventful drive, we stopped for breakfast en route at around 7:30 AM. Post our breakfast we proceeded toward the destination. One thing to note for vegetarians, you don't have as many food options in the Chennai - Hyderabad route as you have in the Chennai - Madurai highway. So please plan your trip accordingly, for lunch, thankfully we were able to find a hotel in Andhra "Lakshmi Sai Meals Aryavysya Bhojana Hotel". We had proper authentic Andhra Meals there, my wife did her part by giving a good rating for them







People who have watched Jailer can relate to this place







We reached the outskirts of Hyderabad around 4 PM and it took us a good 2 hours from there to reach our hotel. Check-in was seamless at the hotel, it is an old hotel but the rooms were well maintained with ample parking. Infact there is a restaurant as well in the same place but guests who have taken a room are allotted dedicated parking.



We rested for an hour and then planned to go on a walk nearby for dinner. Abids is a happening place with good shopping options both roadside / branded. We completed our dinner in a North Indian restaurant, came back to our room, and hit our bed.



December 24th 2023



We wanted to start the trip traditionally, so the first place we planned was Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple TTD Jubilee Hills. After our breakfast at the hotel, we started around 8 AM to Venkateshwara Swamy Temple. Thankfully, there wasn't a lot of rush; we had a great darshan, and was a good start for our trip. Inside they had Ganapathy Sannidhi as well, after a great darshan we proceeded toward the next destination























Next up we went to Jagannath Temple, a replica of Jagannath Temple in Puri. The temple's structure was scintillating and they did their best to replicate Puri temple. After a good darshan there, we went on to our next destination.



















Next, we went to Sri Peddamma Thalli Temple located at Jubilee Hills. This temple wasn't part of my initial itinerary list but per a suggestion from one of my sister's friend who lives in Hyderabad, we went to that temple. Upon reaching there, we came to know how famous the temple is, with a good amount of rush. Had a good darshan there as well and proceeded towards our next destination.



x



Next up, is the ever-famous Charminar. It was 12:30 PM when we left Peddamma Thali temple and reached Charminar around 1:20 PM. As expected, I didn't find any parking, so I had to drive a few 100 meters away from the place and found one. We walked towards Charminar and at 1:30 PM the amount people there on that road connecting Charminar was unimaginable.



Few pictures of the majestic building itself.











As it was already 1:30 PM our stomachs started to scold us with cuss words, to our dismay we didn't find any proper veg restaurants. So we had some light eatables like pani pori, and sweet corn to pacify our stomachs for the time being. Now comes the interesting part, while my wife stated her friend had suggested a pearl shop near Charminar, I did a poor comedy in Tamil which roughly translates to "Does a Pearl require a Pearl" That look from my wife ensured I stayed silent for the rest of the day She purchased few pearls necklace and bangles for our family members. Once purchasing was done, we had a good lassi at a shop near Charminar and at 3:30 PM we started and went back to our hotel.



We rested in the hotel for an hour, the evening plan was Lumbini Park, Hussain Sagar Lake, and Telangana Martyrs Memorial. We started around 4:45 PM and reached the place at 5 PM. Again parking was a huge problem here, we couldn't find a suitable parking in Lumbini Park, so we roamed around the place for a few minutes, thankfully we found a parking place on the adjacent road to the New Secretariat building.



We got the park entrance ticket through QR code which was available there and went and stood at the boating line. There were dedicated lines for different boating, we chose the boating option which would take us to the Budha statue. The others were Speedboats and dance boats but these will not take to Budha statue. Due to the long weekend, there was a long queue, we got our tickets at 7 PM, and then the waiting continued for boating. At last, we got our boat ride turn and went to the Budha statue. It was a scenic beauty, infact the boat travel by itself was eye-pleasing, the new Secretariat is so beautiful, especially in lights.



125-foot-tall statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar







New Secretariat building







Telangana Martyrs Memorial



















We came back from boating to Lumbini Park at 8 PM, it was a tiresome day so we skipped Telangana Martyrs Memorial and decided to head back to our room. In the enroute we had dinner and reached our room at 9:30 PM.



December 25th 2023



Day 2 started with breakfast at the hotel and left the place at 8:30 AM. The first destination was Golconda Fort. Reached the fort at around 9:15 AM, and faced the same parking issue; parked the car at the side of the fort, went in got the tickets, and started walking. Note, please plan your visit either in the mornings or evenings, you have to do a lot of walk, it was tiresome for us.















It took us a solid 2 hours in the fort, the initial plan was to cover Birla Science Museum and Birla Mandir as well on the same day, but considering that the fort took unexpected time we wanted to cover Mandir alone and the Science Museum for a later date. We reached Brila Mandir at 11:45 PM, but police personnel didn't allow us to enter that Mandir road citing no parking availability at the temple premises. Considering the place is a main area, I didn't get any proper parking place, I didn't want to risk parking the car in a "no parking" place and get into unwanted headaches in an unknown city. So we decided to finish our lunch, en route we found Ishtaa restaurant had a good meal and went to our hotel.



Took rest for an hour, the plan was to cover Brila Mandir at 3 PM and then head to the Statue of Equality. So we started from the hotel at 2:45 PM and reached the Mandir sharp at 3 PM. We had a good darshan there, thankfully not much of a rush, so we spent some time in the temple.











Attachment 2558769







It was sometime in August or September 2023 wife and I started the discussion of where we can spend our December 2023 holidays. December will always be a special month for everyone but it is even more special to us since 2012 which happened to be our Daughter's birth month. Considering that last December (2022) we spent our Daughter's first milestone birthday in Dubai, we wanted to spend this December in India as there are a lot of unexplored places in India that we need to visit. While deciding on places, we first finalized Munnar then due to various other reasons we dropped the plan. That's when it struck me, why can't we plan a trip to Hyderabad? Since our PM inaugurated the "Statue of Equality" in February 2022 we wanted to visit Hyderabad and at that moment I finalized our December 2023 to be in Hyderabad, The City of Pearls.The dates planned for the trip were December 23rd to 28th 2023, sometime in November 2023 I booked the Taj Mahal Hotel Abids which is located in old Hyderabad, and then worked on the itinerary. The ever-trusted Venue is going to be our ride for this trip.We started at 5 AM from our place and it was too foggy in Chennai, a rare sight in ever-hot Chennai. This is how our day startedIt was an uneventful drive, we stopped for breakfast en route at around 7:30 AM. Post our breakfast we proceeded toward the destination. One thing to note for vegetarians, you don't have as many food options in the Chennai - Hyderabad route as you have in the Chennai - Madurai highway. So please plan your trip accordingly, for lunch, thankfully we were able to find a hotel in Andhra "Lakshmi Sai Meals Aryavysya Bhojana Hotel". We had proper authentic Andhra Meals there, my wife did her part by giving a good rating for themPeople who have watched Jailer can relate to this placeWe reached the outskirts of Hyderabad around 4 PM and it took us a good 2 hours from there to reach our hotel. Check-in was seamless at the hotel, it is an old hotel but the rooms were well maintained with ample parking. Infact there is a restaurant as well in the same place but guests who have taken a room are allotted dedicated parking.We rested for an hour and then planned to go on a walk nearby for dinner. Abids is a happening place with good shopping options both roadside / branded. We completed our dinner in a North Indian restaurant, came back to our room, and hit our bed.We wanted to start the trip traditionally, so the first place we planned was Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple TTD Jubilee Hills. After our breakfast at the hotel, we started around 8 AM to Venkateshwara Swamy Temple. Thankfully, there wasn't a lot of rush; we had a great darshan, and was a good start for our trip. Inside they had Ganapathy Sannidhi as well, after a great darshan we proceeded toward the next destinationNext up we went to Jagannath Temple, a replica of Jagannath Temple in Puri. The temple's structure was scintillating and they did their best to replicate Puri temple. After a good darshan there, we went on to our next destination.Next, we went to Sri Peddamma Thalli Temple located at Jubilee Hills. This temple wasn't part of my initial itinerary list but per a suggestion from one of my sister's friend who lives in Hyderabad, we went to that temple. Upon reaching there, we came to know how famous the temple is, with a good amount of rush. Had a good darshan there as well and proceeded towards our next destination.Next up, is the ever-famous Charminar. It was 12:30 PM when we left Peddamma Thali temple and reached Charminar around 1:20 PM. As expected, I didn't find any parking, so I had to drive a few 100 meters away from the place and found one. We walked towards Charminar and at 1:30 PM the amount people there on that road connecting Charminar was unimaginable.Few pictures of the majestic building itself.As it was already 1:30 PM our stomachs started to scold us with cuss words, to our dismay we didn't find any proper veg restaurants. So we had some light eatables like pani pori, and sweet corn to pacify our stomachs for the time being. Now comes the interesting part, while my wife stated her friend had suggested a pearl shop near Charminar, I did a poor comedy in Tamil which roughly translates to "Does a Pearl require a Pearl" That look from my wife ensured I stayed silent for the rest of the dayShe purchased few pearls necklace and bangles for our family members. Once purchasing was done, we had a good lassi at a shop near Charminar and at 3:30 PM we started and went back to our hotel.We rested in the hotel for an hour, the evening plan was Lumbini Park, Hussain Sagar Lake, and Telangana Martyrs Memorial. We started around 4:45 PM and reached the place at 5 PM. Again parking was a huge problem here, we couldn't find a suitable parking in Lumbini Park, so we roamed around the place for a few minutes, thankfully we found a parking place on the adjacent road to the New Secretariat building.We got the park entrance ticket through QR code which was available there and went and stood at the boating line. There were dedicated lines for different boating, we chose the boating option which would take us to the Budha statue. The others were Speedboats and dance boats but these will not take to Budha statue. Due to the long weekend, there was a long queue, we got our tickets at 7 PM, and then the waiting continued for boating. At last, we got our boat ride turn and went to the Budha statue. It was a scenic beauty, infact the boat travel by itself was eye-pleasing, the new Secretariat is so beautiful, especially in lights.We came back from boating to Lumbini Park at 8 PM, it was a tiresome day so we skipped Telangana Martyrs Memorial and decided to head back to our room. In the enroute we had dinner and reached our room at 9:30 PM.Day 2 started with breakfast at the hotel and left the place at 8:30 AM. The first destination was Golconda Fort. Reached the fort at around 9:15 AM, and faced the same parking issue; parked the car at the side of the fort, went in got the tickets, and started walking. Note, please plan your visit either in the mornings or evenings, you have to do a lot of walk, it was tiresome for us.It took us a solid 2 hours in the fort, the initial plan was to cover Birla Science Museum and Birla Mandir as well on the same day, but considering that the fort took unexpected time we wanted to cover Mandir alone and the Science Museum for a later date. We reached Brila Mandir at 11:45 PM, but police personnel didn't allow us to enter that Mandir road citing no parking availability at the temple premises. Considering the place is a main area, I didn't get any proper parking place, I didn't want to risk parking the car in a "no parking" place and get into unwanted headaches in an unknown city. So we decided to finish our lunch, en route we found Ishtaa restaurant had a good meal and went to our hotel.Took rest for an hour, the plan was to cover Brila Mandir at 3 PM and then head to the Statue of Equality. So we started from the hotel at 2:45 PM and reached the Mandir sharp at 3 PM. We had a good darshan there, thankfully not much of a rush, so we spent some time in the temple.
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Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Bangalore Posts: 19 Thanked: 277 Times

re: East Arunachal & West Meghalaya | 8000 km road-trip to the North East Route to NE, over the years

tldr, read on if interested in knowing how much the road to NE from South has evolved



We've constantly been on the Bangalore/Chennai to NE route for the last 7-8 years and have been tracking the various changes and evolution. If you'd gone through the sheet snippet of all the drives in detail, you'd notice that the onwards-return drive route mainly between Kolkata and Siliguri would have changed through the years. We have been adapting our onwards-return drive based on the route that offers the best road conditions and better timings for that year.





NE 2016 & 2017:

NH5(new NH16) as it was called back in those days, was fully 4 laned (no 6 laning work too) after Vijayawada. It was the longer old alignment through Tadepallegudem, Tanuku, Ravulapalem. Crossing Vizag had to be planned properly, as there was no Bypass yet, it used to take an hour in the best case and even 2.5hours in peak hours for the 60kms from end of Anakapalle to Anandapuram through Gajuwaka and MVP old bypass route.



Up East, it was the days of Bhagalpur route, with a dilemma of Deogarh vs Dumka. Deogarh route used to be a bit better, with lesser truck traffic. There was no question of Malda route in these years, we had only heard about the infamous Farakka and Dalkhola jams, bad roads.etc and stayed away from it. We never ventured on the Suri, Rampurhat routes as they were also infamous for truck jams.

There was no proper Fulbari Bypass from Ghoshpukur, we used to go across Siliguri town from Bagdogra to Sevoke, and then take the Damdim - Chalsa - Banarhat route.



NE 2016 onwards drive, NE 2017 onwards and return drive route :

Kolkata Bypass - Dankuni - GT Road - Burdwan Bypass - Durgapur - Asansol Bypass - Jamtara - Palajori - Sarath - Deogarh - Katoria - Banka - Bhagalpur Bypass - Vikramshila Setu - Naugachhia - Purnea Bypass - Dalkhola NH27 - Islampur(no bypass back then) - Bagdogra(no Fulbari Bypass back then) - Siliguri Town - Sevoke Coronation Bridge



Roads used to be 2 laned all the way from Asansol Bypass to Purnea Bypass on this route (it still is!), but the 2 laned roads were generally good. We took the Deogarh, Banka route in 2016,17 also because the Dumka - Hansdiha wasn't great. Closer to Bhagalpur, trucks used to be parked for kms together, to cross Vikramshila Setu from evening/night, we got small jams at times, but nothing major.

NE 2016 return drive, was similar as above, but a small change from Palajori :

Sevoke - Siliguri - Dalkhola NH27 - Purnea Bypass - Naugachhia - Vikramshila Setu - Bhagalpur Bypass - Banka - Katoria - Deogarh - Palajori - Gumro - Anguthia - Tarapatiya - Nala - Runakuraghat Bridge - Asansol Bypass - GT Road - Dankuni

We used to experiment such routes in the interiors of Jharkhand, they were actually pretty good with nice landscapes too



NE 2019:

Vizag Bypass was partially constructed with lot of diversions and road work through Sabbavaram and Pendurthi towns. We "tried" this route for onwards drive, it was as bad as the traditional NH5 route, as lot of trucks were taking it, jams and diversions, no time was actually saved. 6 laning road work and other flyover works had commenced from Anandapuram towards Palasa, so this sector became slower than before due to diversions. There was some road work that had started between Bhubaneshwar and Bhadrak too. We took the Vizag town NH5 route on return, but ended up in evening peak hours, so it took 2+ hours to cross, even with some detours through Simhachalam to NAD junction.



Onwards route :

Kolkata Bypass - Dankuni - GT Road - Asansol Bypass - Nala - Masalia - Dumka Bypass - Hansdiha - Bhagalpur Bypass - Naugachhia - Purnea Bypass - Dalkhola NH27 - Islampur - Siliguri



Nala route was a popular and quicker choice now over the Jamtara route, it was very good 2 laned road. This year, Dumka - Bhagalpur was in very good shape too, so no more Deogarh route. Due to the effects of CAA-NRC protests, we got delayed by 1.5 hours in Kolkata Bypass(this was the day trains were burnt), so we ended up in truck timings on Bhagalpur Bypass. Crossing Bhagalpur was a big mess due to trucks lined up and being let through, we saw 1000s of trucks.

Return route :

Siliguri - Islampur - Dalkhola town - Raiganj - Malda Bypass - Farakka Bridge - Morgram - Panchgram - Kuli - Nutanhat - Burdwan town - GT Road - Dankuni



To avoid any CAA-NRC protests, we had decided to do a night drive through West Bengal. Night drive on Bhagalpur route was a big no due to truck traffic. So we tried the Malda route, as we had always heard that this route was best done at night. There was fog all the way from Dalkhola to Farakka, so progress was slow. Bengal 2 Bengal route from Dhantola to Botolbari was famous in those days to avoid Dalkhola jam (funnily Google still suggests it even today! ). Since it was night time and fully foggy, we decided to stick to the NH. We somehow crossed the Dalkhola jam within 20 minutes luckily, it was a relief having heard people get stuck for hours. Dalkhola - Raiganj had 4 laning road work with diversions, we just followed a Kolkata Volvo which was doing decent pace in fog. Crossing Raiganj was okay, after which we got the newly done 4 laned road, but due to fog, pace was very slow all the way till Kaliachak IOC, but there was hardly any traffic. After this fog reduced a bit, crossing Farakka also was easy, there were no jams, maybe due to fog. The 4 laned roads continued although with few diversions till Moregram. We took the then famous route of Moregram-Burdwan. It was around 120kms of 2 laned roads, with trucks for company and huge speed breakers, around 50 of them. It took over 3 hours for this section, road conditions was just okay.



NE 2020

Onwards route :

NH5 - Kharagpur - Salboni - Bishnupur - Bankura - MTPS - Raniganj - Asansol Bypass - Nala - Masalia - village detours near Dumka - Jama - half broken bridge - Barapalasi - Hansdiha - detour for border jam - Bhagalpur Bypass - Purnea Bypass - Araria - Bahadurganj - Thakurganj - Panitanki - Bagdogra - Siliguri



From Bangalore, Chittor - Tirupati route was under 6 laning all the way. Massive 6 laning work had started all across GQ. From Gannavaram after Vijayawada, all the way to Eluru toll, it was narrow service road as main road was under road work. After Eluru Bypass, the old Tanuku route was rough and potholed. Rajahmundry - Vizag was luckily okay. From learnings of 2019, we had planned crossing Vizag in early morning hours, it was very peaceful. Vizag - Palasa, few 6 laned sections were done, many were still diversions. Phew, after crossing AP, entire Odisha almost from Ganjam till Balasore had 6 laning work, flyover work, diversions continuously. We had learnt that the direct Kharagpur to Raniganj road via Bishnupur, Bankura was done and a good choice now, faster than the 120kms longer route via Kolkata Bypass, Burdwan. We had stayed at Kharagpur to do this 2 laned section early morning, and it was a quick drive, very good roads. Nala route was very good to Dumka. But now we had another puzzle to solve, as both river bridges around Dumka were broken in the Monsoon, there were people "helping" to cross the river through the stones over riverbed, but it was time-consuming one. Trucks were taking the Basukinath route and it was jammed. In between both, we had a detour route via Jama to Barapalasi, athlough with a rough road leading to a partially bent bridge over Mayurakshi river, just enough for cars to cross it. We somehow crossed it, Dumka - Bhagalpur was good, except for a truck jam at the JH-BR border for which we took another detour. Deogarh route was bad that year and hence all this adventure via Dumka. Similarly, Dalkhola - Islampur - Bagdogra NH27 had gone very bad, with lots of reports of rough surface and crater potholes all the way. At the same time, Araria - Thakurganj - Siliguri was properly 2 laned tolled road and was a better alternative. We took this road between Araria and Siliguri both onwards and return, except for diversions for couple of broken bridges around Jokihat, it was a good 2 laned road all the way. Totally out of <700kms, only around 40-50kms were 4 laned, rest were all 2 laned roads. Return route :

Siliguri - Thakurganj - Araria - NH27 E-W corridor all the way to Jhansi

All of us in the group decided to return via North India route, with a visit to long pending Orchha. Was such a relief from all the detours, diversions and was a peaceful return drive



NE 2022

Onwards and return route :

NH5 - Kolkata Bypass - Dankuni - Mogra - STKK Road via Kalna, Nabadwip, Gouranga Setu - Krishnanagar - Berhampore Swami Akhandananda Sarani Rd Bypass - Malda Bypass - Raiganj - Dalkhola - Islampur Bypass - Fulbari Bypass - Jalpaiguri Bypass - Dhupguri - Telipara

Huge changes within 2 years in all sections. We took the exact same route for onwards and return Chittor - Tirupati was 6 laned, road work on Renigunta - Naidupeta had started.

Vijaywada Benz Circle flyover was done. Gannavaram - Bhimadole was fully 6 laned.

New greenfield route from Bhimadole to Diwancheruvu bypassing Rajahmundry was the default new NH16 now, saving 30-40kms and lots of time compared to Tanuku route.

Vizag Bypass was partially 70% ready and actually motorable except for Sabbavaram and Pendurthi Bypasses.

Vizag - Srikakulam - Narasanapeta was superb 6 laned road. Narasanapeta - AP Border was superb 4 laned road with 6 laned bridges.

Ganjam - Barkul - Tangi was good 4 laned surface, with 6 laned Bridges.

200 kms from Tangi to Ranital after Bhadrak was fully 6 laned, with just 5-6 flyover work pending and diversions for that

Ranital - Balasore 50kms was the remaining painful section, lots of diversions for flyover work still, not much had progressed since 2020 days.

WB section after Jaleshwar to Kharapur had concrete road maintenance and Emergency runway creation. So it had lots of speed breakers and diversions, this section was slow.

Kolkata - Siliguri section had also vastly improved due to Old Delhi Road and STKK Road connectivity to Krishnanagar. Dankuni - Mogra Old Delhi road was 4 laned SH, many trucks had not started taking this route in 2022.

Mogra - Kalna - Nabadwip - Gouranga Setu - Krishnanagar was a very good 2 laned SH, although with 3 railway crossings.

Krishnanagar - Berhampore initially had road work on Krishnanagar Bypass, after which was 4 laned except few sections of 2 laned road at Debagram, Beldanga, Bhabta.

The famous local bypass for Berhampore in 2022 was via Swami Akhandananda Sarani Rd, which was narrow, still took 25 minutes to cross, but avoided the main road jams. Berhampore NH Bypass didn't seem anywhere near completion

Berhampore - Malda was the usual 4 laned road, except Farakka Bridge and small jams of Kaliachak Market

Raiganj Bypass was not yet ready, so it was the old 2 laned Bypass.

After Raiganj, it was superb 4/6 laned roads all the way with newly done and recently opened sections bypassing Karandighi, Domohona, and most importantly Dalkhola!

Islampur Bypass was ready



Fulbari Bypass was mostly ready except the section from Mahananda Barrage which was 2 laned. This was crucial in completely bypassing Siliguri and saving lots of time. This also meant the route to NE via Jalpaiguri Bypass can be taken, which was 4 laned till Dhupguri and then 2 laned to Telipara.

The Dankuni - Mogra - Nabadwip - Krishnanagar route





Crossing Berhampore via Swami Akhandananda Sarani Rd since Bypass wasn't completed





Fulbari Bypass ensuring complete change in route instead of Sevoke route







Finally coming to NE 2023

Most of the changes have been covered in NE 2022 above. The changes in NE 2023 were : Vizag Bypass is fully done except a 500m diversion, its quick 30minutes bypassing Vizag very easily.

More sections of Tangi - Bhubaneshwar flyover work is done, there are only 2 diversions near Bhubaneshwar, which although can get jammed in evening peak hours

Ranital(Bhadrak) - Balasore has improved, many unmarked 6 laned sections are open, but still 4-5 major diversions pending.

WB section from Jaleshwar to Kharagpur is now not an issue, only small 1-2 diversions, Runway is fully done



With more sections of 4 laning done between Kalyani More and Krishnanagar, this gave us another option in 2023, Mogra - Ishwar Setu - Kalyani Expressway - Jonepur - Kulia road - Kalyani AIIMS Road - Kalyani More - Chakdaha - Ranaghat - Krishnanagar, as an alternative compared to the 2 laned STKK road via Nabadwip.

These two routes should be decided on the go based on traffic jam at Ranaghat and traffic at Goruranga Setu. Trucks have started taking STKK road, and it is slower than 2022 definitely. We took Ranaghat route both ways in NE 2023.

The road till NH12 Kalyani More, is a mix of 2L + flyover work + 4/6L + village road + 4L AIIMS road.

After Kalyani More, we are on NH12 all the way, many unmarked 4 laned sections have opened up.

Flyover is pending at Chakdaha, which may cause small jam sometimes.

4kms of Ranaghat is the only painful stretch of this route, flyover work + railway gate + 2 flyover work + river bridge. It would take 20 minutes in the best case (worse can be upto our imagination, that's why STKK is still a good alternative based on traffic). There are some detours on the North to South direction through Ranaghat town to reach close to the railway gate, only few are drivable.

After Ranaghat, many sections are majorly done, even Gobindapur Railway Flyover has opened in December, so it is quick progress to Krishnanagar. Krishnanagar Bypass is fully done too.

Berhampore Bypass is fully done except a small diversion (Hoogly Bridge is done only on one side). Easily saves 30 minutes.

Raiganj Bypass is done and driveable except a detour through narrow roads and railway gate for the pending Railway Bridge. But easily saves 20 minutes.

The new routing via Ranaghat





Berhampore Bypass completed





Raiganj Bypass can be taken with a detour





To sum up

NH16 as well as Kolkata - Siliguri has vastly improved. Out of ~560kms between Dankuni and Ghoshpukur, only 25-30kms is 2laned or having road work via the Ranaghat route. That's 530+ kms of 4 laned roads. On the STKK route, it is ~85kms of 2 laned roads, that's still 475+ kms of 4 laned road. The key is to check the traffic conditions at Ranaghat and Goruanga Setu and decide the route.



Yes the entire WB is full of barricades, totos on road.etc ensuring the average speeds are lower than OD or AP, but it is still a huge improvement over the decade as Kolkata - Siliguri can be done in under 10 driving hours comfortably. Bhagalpurs and Dumkas are yesteryear route. We've constantly been on the Bangalore/Chennai to NE route for the last 7-8 years and have been tracking the various changes and evolution. If you'd gone through the sheet snippet of all the drives in detail, you'd notice that the onwards-return drive route mainly between Kolkata and Siliguri would have changed through the years. We have been adapting our onwards-return drive based on the route that offers the best road conditions and better timings for that year.NH5(new NH16) as it was called back in those days, was fully 4 laned (no 6 laning work too) after Vijayawada. It was the longer old alignment through Tadepallegudem, Tanuku, Ravulapalem. Crossing Vizag had to be planned properly, as there was no Bypass yet, it used to take an hour in the best case and even 2.5hours in peak hours for the 60kms from end of Anakapalle to Anandapuram through Gajuwaka and MVP old bypass route.Up East, it was the days of Bhagalpur route, with a dilemma of Deogarh vs Dumka. Deogarh route used to be a bit better, with lesser truck traffic. There was no question of Malda route in these years, we had only heard about the infamous Farakka and Dalkhola jams, bad roads.etc and stayed away from it. We never ventured on the Suri, Rampurhat routes as they were also infamous for truck jams.There was no proper Fulbari Bypass from Ghoshpukur, we used to go across Siliguri town from Bagdogra to Sevoke, and then take the Damdim - Chalsa - Banarhat route.NE 2016 onwards drive, NE 2017 onwards and return drive route :Roads used to be 2 laned all the way from Asansol Bypass to Purnea Bypass on this route (it still is!), but the 2 laned roads were generally good. We took the Deogarh, Banka route in 2016,17 also because the Dumka - Hansdiha wasn't great. Closer to Bhagalpur, trucks used to be parked for kms together, to cross Vikramshila Setu from evening/night, we got small jams at times, but nothing major.NE 2016 return drive, was similar as above, but a small change from Palajori :We used to experiment such routes in the interiors of Jharkhand, they were actually pretty good with nice landscapes tooVizag Bypass was partially constructed with lot of diversions and road work through Sabbavaram and Pendurthi towns. We "tried" this route for onwards drive, it was as bad as the traditional NH5 route, as lot of trucks were taking it, jams and diversions, no time was actually saved. 6 laning road work and other flyover works had commenced from Anandapuram towards Palasa, so this sector became slower than before due to diversions. There was some road work that had started between Bhubaneshwar and Bhadrak too. We took the Vizag town NH5 route on return, but ended up in evening peak hours, so it took 2+ hours to cross, even with some detours through Simhachalam to NAD junction.Onwards route :Nala route was a popular and quicker choice now over the Jamtara route, it was very good 2 laned road. This year, Dumka - Bhagalpur was in very good shape too, so no more Deogarh route. Due to the effects of CAA-NRC protests, we got delayed by 1.5 hours in Kolkata Bypass(this was the day trains were burnt), so we ended up in truck timings on Bhagalpur Bypass. Crossing Bhagalpur was a big mess due to trucks lined up and being let through, we saw 1000s of trucks.Return route :To avoid any CAA-NRC protests, we had decided to do a night drive through West Bengal. Night drive on Bhagalpur route was a big no due to truck traffic. So we tried the Malda route, as we had always heard that this route was best done at night. There was fog all the way from Dalkhola to Farakka, so progress was slow. Bengal 2 Bengal route from Dhantola to Botolbari was famous in those days to avoid Dalkhola jam (funnily Google still suggests it even today!). Since it was night time and fully foggy, we decided to stick to the NH. We somehow crossed the Dalkhola jam within 20 minutes luckily, it was a relief having heard people get stuck for hours. Dalkhola - Raiganj had 4 laning road work with diversions, we just followed a Kolkata Volvo which was doing decent pace in fog. Crossing Raiganj was okay, after which we got the newly done 4 laned road, but due to fog, pace was very slow all the way till Kaliachak IOC, but there was hardly any traffic. After this fog reduced a bit, crossing Farakka also was easy, there were no jams, maybe due to fog. The 4 laned roads continued although with few diversions till Moregram. We took the then famous route of Moregram-Burdwan. It was around 120kms of 2 laned roads, with trucks for company and huge speed breakers, around 50 of them. It took over 3 hours for this section, road conditions was just okay.Onwards route :From Bangalore, Chittor - Tirupati route was under 6 laning all the way. Massive 6 laning work had started all across GQ. From Gannavaram after Vijayawada, all the way to Eluru toll, it was narrow service road as main road was under road work. After Eluru Bypass, the old Tanuku route was rough and potholed. Rajahmundry - Vizag was luckily okay. From learnings of 2019, we had planned crossing Vizag in early morning hours, it was very peaceful. Vizag - Palasa, few 6 laned sections were done, many were still diversions. Phew, after crossing AP, entire Odisha almost from Ganjam till Balasore had 6 laning work, flyover work, diversions continuously.We had learnt that the direct Kharagpur to Raniganj road via Bishnupur, Bankura was done and a good choice now, faster than the 120kms longer route via Kolkata Bypass, Burdwan. We had stayed at Kharagpur to do this 2 laned section early morning, and it was a quick drive, very good roads. Nala route was very good to Dumka. But now we had another puzzle to solve, as both river bridges around Dumka were broken in the Monsoon, there were people "helping" to cross the river through the stones over riverbed, but it was time-consuming one. Trucks were taking the Basukinath route and it was jammed. In between both, we had a detour route via Jama to Barapalasi, athlough with a rough road leading to a partially bent bridge over Mayurakshi river, just enough for cars to cross it. We somehow crossed it, Dumka - Bhagalpur was good, except for a truck jam at the JH-BR border for which we took another detour. Deogarh route was bad that year and hence all this adventure via Dumka. Similarly, Dalkhola - Islampur - Bagdogra NH27 had gone very bad, with lots of reports of rough surface and crater potholes all the way. At the same time, Araria - Thakurganj - Siliguri was properly 2 laned tolled road and was a better alternative. We took this road between Araria and Siliguri both onwards and return, except for diversions for couple of broken bridges around Jokihat, it was a good 2 laned road all the way. Totally out of <700kms, only around 40-50kms were 4 laned, rest were all 2 laned roads.Return route :All of us in the group decided to return via North India route, with a visit to long pending Orchha. Was such a relief from all the detours, diversions and was a peaceful return driveOnwards and return route :Huge changes within 2 years in all sections. We took the exact same route for onwards and returnKolkata - Siliguri section had also vastly improved due to Old Delhi Road and STKK Road connectivity to Krishnanagar.Most of the changes have been covered in NE 2022 above. The changes in NE 2023 were :NH16 as well as Kolkata - Siliguri has vastly improved. Out of ~560kms between Dankuni and Ghoshpukur, only 25-30kms is 2laned or having road work via the Ranaghat route. That's 530+ kms of 4 laned roads. On the STKK route, it is ~85kms of 2 laned roads, that's still 475+ kms of 4 laned road. The key is to check the traffic conditions at Ranaghat and Goruanga Setu and decide the route.Yes the entire WB is full of barricades, totos on road.etc ensuring the average speeds are lower than OD or AP, but it is still a huge improvement over the decade as Kolkata - Siliguri can be done in under 10 driving hours comfortably. Bhagalpurs and Dumkas are yesteryear route. Last edited by adetour : 16th January 2024 at 20:37 .
What just happened? Elon Musk has given Tesla an ultimatum: increase his ownership in the company to 25% or he will cut back on its development of AI and robotics. The billionaire already owns 13% of the EV giant, or approximately 411 million shares, but it seems he won't be happy unless he's awarded another 12%.

Writing on his own X/Twitter platform, Musk warned that unless his ownership in Tesla increased to 25%, he would be "uncomfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI & robotics."

Musk continued his threat by saying that without owning a quarter of Tesla, which he says is enough to be influential but not so much that he can't be overturned, he would prefer to build products outside of the automaker.

"You don't seem to understand that Tesla is not one startup, but a dozen. Simply look at the delta between what Tesla does and GM," he added.

Musk went on to question why large investors in Tesla who own similar stakes as he does, such as Fidelity, "don't show up for work." It's likely that investors already concerned by Tesla's declining profit margins, allegations of Musk's drug use, his duties to other companies, and the CEO's often erratic behavior won't be pleased to read his latest post.

I should note that the Tesla board is great. The reason for no new "compensation plan" is that we are still waiting for a decision in my Delaware compensation case. The trial for that was held in 2022, but a verdict has yet to be made.



I put "compensation plan" in quotes,  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 15, 2024

Musk called the Tesla board "great" in a follow-up message, noting that the reason why he had not been awarded a new compensation plan is due to the Tornetta case  a shareholder said the CEO's previous $56 billion compensation was excessive and a breach of fiduciary duty by Musk and members of the board. The case was tried in Delaware last year but a verdict has yet to be reached.

Musk reiterated that 25% is the perfect amount of ownership in Tesla and that he would be fine with a dual-class voting structure similar to the one used by Facebook. However, this would be an illegal restructuring post-IPO.

Musk sold almost $40 billion worth of Tesla shares in 2022, using most of the money to help finance his purchase of Twitter.

Back in 2021, Tesla announced the general-purpose, bi-pedal Tesla Bot during its AI Day conference. A year later, Musk said it was probably Tesla's most important in-development product, potentially bigger than its vehicle business. There was a demo of its latest robot, Optimus Gen 2, last month (above).
What just happened? A new vulnerability in GPUs from major vendors like Apple, AMD, Qualcomm, and Imagination Technologies reportedly allows attackers to steal sensitive data. The bug, named LeftoverLocals, was discovered by Tyler Sorensen, a cybersecurity researcher at Trail of Bits and an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC).

Tracked as CVE-2023-4969, the vulnerability allows attackers to recover data from GPU local memory. While it affects all GPU applications, it is especially dangerous for large language models (LLMs) and machine learning (ML) workloads that often process copious amounts of potentially sensitive data. By recovering local memory, the researchers claim they were "able to build a PoC where an attacker can listen into another user's interactive LLM session (e.g., llama.cpp) across process or container boundaries."

LeftoverLocals can leak significant amounts of data, ranging from 5 MB to 180 MB. As an example, AMD's Radeon RX 7900 XT is said to leak around 5.5 MB per GPU invocation, which could amount to around 181 MB for each LLM query when running a 7B model on llama.cpp. The researchers believe that this is "enough information to reconstruct the LLM response with high precision."

LeftoverLocals is a dangerous new flaw that shows security experts are yet to rigorously review many parts of the ML development stack, which still harbor unknown security risks that could pose major problems in the future.

The researchers contacted all the companies whose products are affected by the vulnerability and got different responses from each of them. Apple claimed to have patched devices powered by the A17 and M3 series of processors, but the issue still reportedly persists in older devices like the M2 MacBook Air. The iPhone 15, however, is seemingly free from the vulnerability.

AMD confirmed that its processors are affected by the issue, and said that it is working on potential mitigation plans. As for Qualcomm, the company rolled out a patch to firmware v2.07, addressing LeftoverLocals for some devices. It is, however, likely that other devices powered by the company's chips are still impacted. Imagination also released a fix for LeftoverLocals in its latest DDK release, 23.3, in December 2023.
A hot potato: The legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple has reached a resolution, prompting Cupertino to take swift action following the recent ruling from the US Supreme Court. Developers are now allowed to offer a purchase option on external stores, but they are still required to pay a substantial fee to Apple.

In 2023, a court decision in the legal battle between Epic Games and Apple managed to disappoint both parties. Apple wasn't compelled to open iOS to third-party app stores, but it had to abandon its so-called "anti-steering policies" and inform users about external payment methods. Both Epic and Apple petitioned the US Supreme Court to reconsider the case, but the SCOTUS has now denied both requests.

The Epic v. Apple case took three years to conclude, yet Apple is still attempting to have the last word on the matter. The company has updated its App Store policies with new guidelines for apps that provide an external purchase link, reiterating that publishers and developers must still pay Cupertino to conduct business within the iOS ecosystem.

According to the guidelines, Apple will apply a 27 percent commission on sales derived from external purchase methods. If a payment is due, developers will receive an invoice based on their own transaction reporting. Developers interested in external purchase methods need to apply for an "entitlement" to enable them, and they still need to comply with iOS conventional payment methods in addition to the external ones.

For users attempting to use external payment methods, Apple has introduced a full-screen notice, which the company refers to as a "disclosure sheet." The screen essentially serves as a warning, stating that Apple is not responsible for the privacy and security of purchases made on the web or outside the official iOS App Store.

According to the guidelines, all App Store developers benefit from Apple's proprietary technology and tools protected by intellectual property laws, and they have access to Cupertino's extensive (and often affluent) user base. The 27 percent commission on external purchases is seemingly required to reimburse Apple for its investments in developer tools, SDKs, APIs, updates, and the "platform itself."

Epic's founder and CEO, Tim Sweeney, stated that Apple's latest move in the mobile app business is anticompetitive and criticized the "scare screen" shown to customers choosing external payment methods. Epic plans to contest Apple's "bad-faith compliance plan" in the District Court.
Talent shortages in tech have long been an issue, owing to the fast growth of this industry. And with the unprecedented rise of the development and application of generative AI  even by the tech world's standard  this talent gap is widening even further.

A 2023 report from McKinsey looking at the technology trends ahead noted that, across 3.5 million job postings in these growth areas, "many of the skills in greatest demand have less than half as many qualified practitioners per posting as the global average".

And it's the field of applied AI that the global consultancy noted as the fastest-growing in job postings.

AI jobs in demand

This growth is no doubt a result of AI roles already seeing demand beyond the tech industry. Just as software developers and data scientists have branched out to find relevant positions in myriad sectors, so too has the AI specialist become a desired asset in many domains. And, in line with generative AI's record-breaking growth, the mainstreaming of AI roles has also come at a rapid clip.

According to a 2024 labor market intelligence report from TalentNeuron, AI practitioners are needed across sectors such as defense, biotech and pharma, manufacturing, and financial services.

Indeed, major defense players such as Lockheed Martin and Booz Allen Hamilton have long been active recruiters across tech roles, and AI skills are starting to be introduced to their wish lists, such as this Data Science role in San Antonio or this AI Internship in Colorado.

Sectors with a long history of leveraging data science and business intelligence will likely have in-house talent with transferable skills to take on new projects in AI, and the experience of these teams could be a magnet to attract new talent trying to find a foothold on this emerging career path.

This potential advantage will apply to companies across the life sciences industries, such as healthcare, pharma and biotech, as well as financial services, spanning banking, investment and insurance.

With a shortage of talent and a vast appetite for AI applications spanning a broad swathe of companies, those with the necessary skills will be in the enviable position of being able to pick and choose where they apply themselves. They can just as likely choose a career with Mastercard as with Microsoft to find opportunities to innovate in Automation. They can opt for the steady rhythm of a corporate giant or the challenging pace of start-up life, and everything in between. They may even decide to break out of the tech hubs of San Francisco and New York, where the cost of living is high, to find work with any number of non-tech companies elsewhere on the map.

AI specialists with frontier experience will be particularly valuable to companies seeking to leverage the opportunities this technology presents, and these old hands may want to try new challenges, and get creative. By all accounts, it's a competitive jobs market, so AI specialists can afford to be choosy.

What non-tech industries can offer to the most in-demand tech talent right now is job security. Tech is currently in a downturn and 2023 was a tough year for the sector.

The year ahead may be more stable, and while there's a huge appetite for AI hiring right now, what Big Tech and scaling startups in the sector have demonstrated is that their rush to fast growth can have repercussions down the line, impacting workers first and foremost.

Meanwhile, an analysis of data on layoffs from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Insurance, indicates that those other AI growth areas identified in TalentNeuron's report  banking, insurance, manufacturing and healthcare  have a steady outlook for 2024.

Professional and business services, in fact, outstrips most sectors for its predicted stability and all the major consultancies, such as Accenture and EY, need AI talent to help clients prepare for what's to come.

Get familiar with AI tools

One thing both the tech and non-tech companies in need of AI talent are likely to explore in 2024 is boosting these skills internally. Employees looking to stay ahead of the curve would be smart to keep up with the trends also.

The first order of business is to get familiar with the tools out there relevant to your industry. If you're in design, check out Midjourney and Stable Diffusion.

ChatGPT and various tools leveraging this technology can be used to assist with writing of any sort, be it an email, report or an essay, and the best way to discover its optimum application for you is to have a go  remembering, always, that these tools are not infallible and will still require your careful oversight and interrogation of their outputs.

As with any industry talent gap, AI's skills shortage has inspired a number of short skill-building courses to pop up. Search for those from trusted platforms or with industry-recognized accreditation and find time to learn about the core concepts such as large language models, algorithms and prompt engineering.

For example, MIT's Sloan School of Management and its Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have teamed up to create a six-week online course offering participants a conceptual understanding of AI technologies through a business lens.

This is just one among many opportunities out there to make 2024 the year of putting AI to work.
In brief: Ten of the top 25 semiconductor vendors posted double-digit revenue declines last year. According to preliminary data from Gartner, worldwide semiconductor revenue totaled $533 billion in 2023. That's down 11.1 percent year over year, but it was even worse for memory segments.

Global DRAM revenue fell by 38.5 percent to $48.4 billion, and NAND flash wasn't far behind with a year-over-year decline of 37.5 percent to $36.2 billion. Joe Unsworth, VP analyst at Gartner, said weaker than expected demand and excess inventory for smartphones, PCs, and servers, especially in the first half of the year, largely contributed to the declines.

There were a few sunny spots in an otherwise overcast year.

Intel reclaimed the number one overall spot after two years in second place, besting rival Samsung with $48.67 billion in revenue. Still, it's down 16.7 percent from the $58.44 billion the company earned in 2022. Samsung finished in second place with $39.91 billion and a 7.5 percent market share, a drop of 37.5 percent compared to the $63.82 billion generated in 2022.

2023 Rank 2022 Rank Vendor 2023 Revenue 2023 Market Share % 2022 Revenue Growth % 1 2 Intel 48.664 9.1 58.436 -16.7 2 1 Samsung 39.905 7.5 63.823 -37.5 3 3 Qualcomm 29.015 5.4 34.780 -16.6 4 6 Broadcom 25.585 4.8 23.868 7.2 5 12 Nvidia 23.983 4.5 15.331 56.4 6 4 SK Hynix 22.756 4.3 33.505 -32.1 7 7 AMD 22.305 4.2 23.620 -5.6 8 11 STMicroelectronics 17.057 3.2 15.842 7.7 9 9 Apple 17.050 3.2 18.099 -5.8 10 8 Texas Instruments 16.537 3.1 18.844 -12.2 Others 268.853 50.7 294.729 -8.8 Total Market 533.025 100.0 599.562 -11.1

The biggest winner in the top five was without a doubt Nvidia. The GPU maker climbed seven spots from 2022 to finish last year with $23.98 billion in revenue, up 56.4 percent. It's the highest position Nvidia has ever held, and is largely due to recent success in the artificial intelligence market.

STMicroelectronics also had an impressive showing in 2023, improving from just outside the top 10 at number 11 to finish in eighth place. The Swiss-based tech company accounted for 3.2 percent of the market on $17.06 billion in revenue, an increase of 7.7 percent over 2022.

Broadcom, which placed fourth with $25.89 billion in revenue, also saw positive growth of 7.2 percent year on year. Others in the top 10 including Qualcomm, AMD, and Apple held the same position they did a year earlier.

Image credit: Laura Ockel
Advanced artificial intelligence tools have already enabled the creation of remarkably convincing voice clones and deepfake videos. Now, a new frontier may emerge as AI technology aims to replicate an individual's handwriting style.

(Phot o : JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)

A visitor watches an AI (Artificial Intelligence) sign on an animated screen at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona.

Mimicking Handwriting Instantly

In a notable breakthrough, researchers from Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi have revealed the successful development of an AI capable of mimicking handwriting.

The Verge reported that this cutting-edge model acquires its skills by analyzing a few paragraphs of handwritten text, showcasing the potential to assist individuals who have lost the ability to write with a pen.

However, the researchers also acknowledge the potential misuse of the technology, particularly in the realm of forgeries. This recent achievement is part of a broader trend in AI development, with Meta introducing TextStyleBrush in 2021.

The recently developed feature by researchers represents a noteworthy advancement in an area that has captivated the interest of academics for an extended period.

While there have been previous instances of apps and robots capable of generating handwriting, recent strides in AI have significantly hastened character recognition techniques.

Like other AI tools, however, assessing whether the benefits will outweigh potential drawbacks remains uncertain. This technology holds promise for aiding individuals with injuries, enabling them to write without the need for a pen.

Potential Risks

Nonetheless, the New York Post reported that it introduces the potential risk of widespread forgeries and misuse. In light of these concerns, two of the researchers emphasize the necessity for a thoughtful deployment of the tool.

In an interview, Hisham Cholakkal, an assistant professor for computer vision at MBZUAI, stressed the importance of creating public awareness and developing tools to counteract forgery.

He likened the challenge to developing an anti-virus for a virus, underlining the need for a proactive approach to address the technology's ethical implications and potential misuse. This text replacement model, developed by Meta, effectively alters words in images while preserving the original writing style.

Also Read: AI, Climate Challenges, Raises Worries for CEOs in Latest PwC Survey

Despite concerns surrounding the technology, the creators are determined to translate their research into practical, real-world applications within the next few months. Actively seeking collaborations with commercial partners, they envision a broad spectrum of applications for their breakthrough.

Bloomberg reported that Anwer highlighted the transformative potential of this development, emphasizing its ability to decode doctors' handwriting and revolutionize personalized advertising.

Beyond these applications, the technology also boasts the capacity to generate substantial synthetic data, contributing to the refinement of other AI models in processing handwritten content.

However, the journey ahead involves overcoming certain challenges. The researchers' transformer model, trained on publicly available handwritten texts, currently exhibits proficiency in learning and writing in English and, to a limited extent, in French.

Despite these achievements, the team faces the formidable task of deciphering handwritten text in Arabic. This ongoing effort underscores their commitment to addressing linguistic diversity and expanding the technology's utility across various languages and applications.

As they navigate these challenges, the researchers are actively shaping a future where AI-powered handwriting mimicry holds transformative potential across diverse industries and linguistic landscapes.

Related Article: Google Lens Can Now Copy and Paste Your Handwriting to Your Computer

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google is now refining its advertising sales team, impacting a substantial number of employees dedicated to serving major businesses. This decision comes in the wake of workforce reductions spanning various divisions of the company.

(Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - SEPTEMBER 02: The new Google logo is displayed at the Google headquarters on September 2, 2015 in Mountain View, California.

Reducing Workforce in Ad Sales Team

In a continuation of its recent restructuring efforts, Google is now streamlining its advertising sales team, impacting hundreds of employees catering to major businesses. This move follows a series of layoffs across different divisions, including Pixel, Nest, Fitbit, Google Assistant, and core engineering.

The ongoing restructuring process is part of Google's annual review to optimize team structures for improved service to ad customers, as reported by Engadget.

As a result, the advertising sales team is experiencing cuts in hundreds of roles globally. Affected employees will have the opportunity to explore available positions within the team or elsewhere within Google.

Philipp Schindler, Google's chief business officer, announced the recent wave of layoffs. This follows closely on the heels of the previous reduction of over a thousand roles in hardware and engineering divisions, signaling a broader strategic adjustment within the company.

Google is actively working on automating various processes, with products like Performance Max utilizing artificial intelligence to optimize advertisers' budget allocations across different products. This restructuring represents the next phase of that initiative, with the cuts primarily affecting the large customer-sales team.

Moving forward, Business Insider reported that the Global Customer Solutions (GCS) channel will serve as the core avenue for scaling growth, dynamically delivering tailored treatments to every customer.

Meanwhile, the Large Customer Sales (LCS) team will shift its focus to driving transformational growth for the most substantial and sophisticated clients, as outlined by Philipp Schindler, Google's chief business officer.

Acknowledging the challenges posed by these changes, Schindler expressed confidence in the decision's alignment with the best interests of customers, partners, and the overall business. However, he recognized the difficulty these adjustments may bring, particularly within the LCS teams.

Also Read: Google Is Cutting Jobs at Waze as It Merges Mapping Products

Google's recent layoffs align with the broader trend of job cuts within the tech industry, a phenomenon that saw thousands of positions eliminated in 2023.

In the initial weeks of the current year, Amazon initiated workforce reductions, impacting hundreds across services such as video game streaming platform Twitch, Prime Video, MGM Studios, and Audible. Discord, Meta, Unity, and Duolingo have also joined the list of companies implementing layoffs in 2024.

Previous Layoffs

Reports from December revealed Google's intentions to reorganize its ad sales unit, consisting of over 30,000 employees, with a focus on leveraging machine learning to facilitate ad purchases on flagship products like Google Search and YouTube, the primary revenue sources for the company.

The ongoing layoffs primarily target ad sales teams dealing with large businesses, aligning with the company's strategic shift towards a more automated and machine-learning-driven advertising approach.

Simultaneously, The Information reported that the corporation is said to be offering substantial amounts of stock, amounting to millions of dollars, to specific researchers within DeepMind, its artificial intelligence division. This strategic move aims to deter these researchers from leaving for competing entities such as OpenAI.

Related Article: Google Assistant: Here's the Features Removed Amid Layoffs, Restructuring

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Blue Bird Corporation has secured the largest-ever order for electric school buses from the second-largest public school system in the United States.

(Photo : Lion Electric via YouTube Screenshot)

Securing Largest-Ever Order for EV School Busses

Blue Bird Corporation, a pioneer in the realm of electric and low-emission school buses, has clinched the most substantial electric school bus order ever received from a school district.

Electrek reported that the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has placed an unprecedented order for 180 electric, zero-emission school buses, facilitated through their local Blue Bird dealer, A-Z Bus Sales, Inc.

This groundbreaking procurement is poised to facilitate the school district's transition of the initial depot to 100 percent electric student transportation, aligning with its ambitious objectives of curbing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing operational efficiencies.

With twenty-six Blue Bird electric school buses already operational in its fleet, LAUSD is set to expand its zero-emission school bus fleet significantly. Blue Bird Corporation will contribute 30 Vision and 150 All-American state-of-the-art electric buses to fulfill this monumental order.

The anticipated delivery of the first buses is scheduled for October 2024, with the entire order expected to be completed by early 2025.

The model vehicles, both boasting an impressive range of up to 130 miles on a single charge, align with LAUSD's forward-looking vision for charging infrastructure. Depending on the evolving charging setup at LAUSD, the buses may undergo a full recharge within a span of three to eight hours.

Also Read: GreenPower Unveils Electric School Bus 'Mega BEAST' With a Massive 300 Miles of Range

Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho expressed excitement about the shift towards electrification, emphasizing the school district's commitment to creating a sustainable model that benefits students, school communities, and future generations.

Blue Bird Corporation's CEO, Phil Horlock, emphasized the company's recognition as a technology leader and innovator in the realm of all-electric school buses. Delighted to contribute to the Los Angeles Unified School District, Horlock assured the delivery of safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly student transportation.

With continuing robust demand for low- and zero-emission school buses nationwide, NGT News reported that Blue Bird remains dedicated to surpassing customer expectations.

Blue Bird's electric buses are equipped with standard vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability, featuring bi-directional charging technology. This innovation allows LAUSD the potential to sell surplus energy stored in the school bus batteries back to electric power companies, presenting an opportunity for profit.

Beyond financial benefits, V2G programs play a crucial role in balancing grid demands and enhancing grid resiliency.

Expressing the significance of LAUSD's commitment to an all-electric future, John Landherr, President & CEO of A-Z Bus Sales, commended the district for setting a model for other school districts contemplating a similar transition.

Having supported LAUSD in previous shifts from diesel to alternative fuel buses, A-Z Bus Sales, as the leading dealer in electric school buses nationwide, is poised to provide comprehensive support for the district's EV transition.

Becoming an Industry Blazer

Celebrating a milestone delivery of its 1500th electric school bus, School Transportation reported that Blue Bird has become an industry trailblazer, with zero-emission vehicles operational in 41 U.S. states.

As school districts increasingly shift towards cleaner student transportation, Blue Bird has invested significantly in expanding its electric school bus production capacity.

The recent inauguration of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Build-up Center positions Blue Bird to manufacture up to 5,000 electric school buses annually in the long term.

Related Article: Biggest Fleet of Electric School Bus Rolls Out in Maryland

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SpaceX is gearing up for its upcoming private astronaut mission, Ax-3, which is set to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on January 17.

This mission marks the third private astronaut venture to the International Space Station (ISS) and signifies another stride in commercial space exploration.

All About the Ax-3 Crew of SpaceX

The Ax-3 crew, consisting of Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria, Pilot Walter Villadei of Italy, Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravc of Turkey, and ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden, is scheduled to liftoff aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at 5:11 p.m. EST, with docking at the ISS slated for 5:15 a.m. on January 19, according to NASA's recent blog post.

Their mission encompasses approximately two weeks of conducting scientific experiments and research in microgravity before their return. The four private astronauts are readying for launch to the ISS this week.

Ahead of Ax-3's arrival, NASA Flight Engineer Loral O'Hara dedicated her day to preparing the space station for the arrival of new visitors. O'Hara inspected the airflow in crew quarters, prepared sleep accommodations, and ensured the cleanliness of liners and vents where the private astronauts would sleep during their stay.

ESA Commander Andreas Mogensen also focused on Ax-3 preparations, completing training for Dragon rendezvous and docking. He also set up ECHO, equipped with motorized probes, for ground teams to perform remote maintenance activities, enhancing the efficiency of mission operations, according to NASA.

While O'Hara and Mogensen prepped for the Ax-3 crew's arrival, NASA said the other ISS crew members were engaged in space botany and biology tasks.

NASA Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli worked with Plant Habitat-06, thinning wild-type tomato seedlings and installing the Plant Water Management 5 hardware.

These experiments contribute to ongoing research in space botany and biology, exploring plant growth and water management in the unique environment of the ISS.

JAXA Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa played a crucial role in the Space Organogenesis investigation, extracting culture units from the microscope to observe the growth of organ buds from 3D-printed human stem cells.

Furukawa also collected water samples from the station's dispenser for in-flight analysis, contributing to ongoing studies on water quality in microgravity.

Read Also: Mystery of Missing Space-Grown Tomato Finally Solved After 8 Months, Clearing NASA Astronaut Frank Rubio Accused of Eating It

The Roscosmos Trio

The Roscosmos trio, consisting of Flight Engineers Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and Konstantin Borisov, dedicated their efforts to maintenance tasks.

Kononenko replaced hardware within the Zvezda service module, while Chub focused on exchanging the thermal control system pump panel in the Zarya module.

In addition, Chub conducted experiments exploring liquid phases in microgravity, and Borisov oversaw the management of water samples and conducted maintenance on the space station's vacuum cleaner.

Related Article: International Space Station Reaches 25 Years in Orbit; NASA Celebrates Anniversary With ISS Crew

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Sierra Space has secured a significant military satellite contract from the Space Development Agency (SDA). The agency has selected Sierra Space, along with Lockheed Martin and L3Harris, to develop 54 satellites, collectively valued at $2.5 billion.

"We're pleased to welcome Sierra Space, a new entrant as a prime vendor on Team SDA, as we continue working with L3Harris and Lockheed Martin on Tranche 2," SDA director Derek Tournear said in a statement.

"The marketplace is responding to the demand signals for our spiral development model. The agile response across the space industry is critically important as we deliver to the warfighter this no-fail mission capability of missile warning, missile tracking, and missile defence," he added.

Three Prototype Agreements for 54 Satellites

The SDA unveiled on Wednesday its decision to award three prototype agreements for the construction of 54 satellites, marking the initiation of the Tranche 2 (T2) Tracking Layer.

This layer aims to deploy missile warning and missile tracking (MW/MT) infrared sensors and fire control-quality infrared sensors to enhance missile defense capabilities as part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).

Sierra Space, based in Louisville, Colorado, will be responsible for delivering and operating 18 space vehicles as part of the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer constellation, with a deadline for launch set no later than April 2027.

Tournear expressed satisfaction with the inclusion of Sierra Space as a prime vendor, emphasizing the responsiveness of the space industry to the demand for the spiral development model.

The model aims to address the critical mission capability requirements of missile warning, missile tracking, and missile defense for the warfighter.

Under the Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements, Sierra Space, L3Harris Technologies, and Lockheed Martin will individually provide 16 wide-field-of-view missile warning/missile tracking space vehicles equipped with infrared sensors.

Additionally, each vendor will contribute two space vehicles featuring missile defense infrared sensors capable of generating fire control-quality tracks, thereby enhancing preliminary missile defense mission capabilities.

Read Also: Sierra Space Dream Chaser: Commercial Spaceplane Ready for NASA Testing, Orbital Flight

Total Potential Value

The contract details indicate that L3Harris Technologies will receive a firm fixed-priced OTA agreement with a total potential value of $919 million.

On the other hand, Lockheed Martin will be awarded a firm fixed-priced OTA agreement with a total potential value of $890 million, while Sierra Space will secure a total potential value of $740 million.

The 54 satellites comprising the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer will enhance the capabilities established by the Tranche 1 Tracking Layer by incorporating fire control missile defense infrared sensors, providing crucial support for warfighter missions on a global scale.

The envisioned deployment involves creating a worldwide network of infrared missile warning and missile tracking satellites seamlessly integrated with the low-latency meshed communication network of the Transport Layer.

This integration aims to facilitate sophisticated missile tracking capabilities from extensively distributed low-Earth orbit positions.

Upon achieving full deployment, the T2 constellation is anticipated to include approximately 270 operational satellites within the Transport and Tracking Layer, according to SDA.

Related Article: Dream Chaser: Hypersonic Spacecraft from Sierra Space to Feature Inflatable Habitat

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A coalition of prominent technology and media firms has united in expressing apprehensions through an open letter, accusing major tech entities, such as Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft, of not adhering to the European Union's (EU) upcoming digital competition regulations.

"The signatories of this letter represent thousands of businesses affected by the DMA. They urge the gatekeepers to engage as soon as possible with business users and other stakeholders, such as business and consumer associations, in a constructive dialogue and make swift progress on their proposed compliance solutions," the open letter reads, according to CNBC.

Corporations Identified as 'Gatekeepers'

The signatories, representing a cross-section of the industry, argued that corporations identified as "gatekeepers" by the EU, such as Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and ByteDance (the parent company of TikTok), have failed to engage adequately with them and their counterparts in the sector.

In line with the EU's Digital Markets Act, companies boasting more than 45 million monthly active users and a market capitalization surpassing 75 billion euros ($81.2 billion) are classified as gatekeepers.

These entities are obliged to ensure that their messaging applications are compatible with those of competitors. Furthermore, users should be allowed to select pre-installed applications on their devices.

An additional critical requirement mandates gatekeepers to refrain from practices that could unduly favor their services over others, commonly known as "self-preferencing."

Read Also: Automakers in Europe Lag in Securing Key Battery Metals for EVs, with Tesla Leading in Supply Chain Race

'Failed to Engage'

The open letter, endorsed by entities like Schibsted, Ecosia, Qwant, Element, and ProtonVPN, claimed that gatekeepers "have either failed to engage in a dialogue with third parties or have presented solutions falling short of compliance with the DMA."

It also highlighted an alleged lack of transparency for businesses and consumers regarding the future landscape after March 7, 2024, a crucial deadline for all six major tech gatekeepers to bring their operations in line with the Digital Markets Act.

The signatories, representing numerous businesses affected by the DMA, called for prompt engagement from gatekeepers in constructive dialogues with business users and other stakeholders. They emphasized the urgency for substantial progress on proposed compliance solutions.

Furthermore, the letter urged the European Commission and the European Parliament to leverage their authority to ensure gatekeepers comply "with both the letter and spirit of the DMA," starting from March 7.

The 24 companies signing the letter include Adevinta, Allegro, Billiger.de, Ceneo, CompareGroup, Ecosia, Element, Favi, Heureka Group, Idealo, Kelkoo, Ladenzeile, Le Guide.com, OLX, Open-Xchange, Panther Holding GmbH, Preis.de, Prisjakt, Proton, Qwant, Runnea, Schibsted, Solute, and Vipps.

Related Article: EU, UN Express Concern Over the Risk of Tech Like AI and Quantum Computing Being Weaponized by Countries Like China

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The recent cyberattack on the British Library has raised concerns about the vulnerability of academia as it sheds light on the insufficient security measures within the educational sector.

According to AFP, many urged the academia to protect its "crown jewels" after the hacking incident.

British Library Cyberattack

The British Library, home to a vast collection of 170 million items, suffered a cyberattack at the end of October, rendering its electronic services, including the essential catalog, inaccessible.

The incident severely impacted the location of items within the extensive collection, affecting researchers, students, and the public. The library houses treasured cultural artifacts like the earliest surviving copy of "Beowulf" and the first collected edition of William Shakespeare's plays.

Claimed by the hacking group Rhysida, the attack employed ransomware and encrypted files and demanded payment for their release. The British Library refused to pay the 20-bitcoin ransom (equivalent to $850,000), prompting the group to release approximately 500,000 files comprising personal data of staff, readers, and visitors on the dark web.

Azeem Aleem, Managing Director for Northern Europe at cybersecurity firm Sygnia, emphasized that academia and the public sector are becoming lucrative targets for hackers due to comparatively lax security protocols.

The incident underscores the pressing need for improved cybersecurity measures in educational institutions. While the library's catalog has been partially restored, the situation is deemed critical, with estimates suggesting months may be required for full-service restoration.

Aleem warned that recovery costs could exceed 6.0 million ($7.6 million), constituting a significant portion of the library's financial reserves.

The cyberattack was orchestrated by exploiting potential vulnerabilities, possibly through phishing or exploiting system vulnerabilities. The incident emphasized the importance of bolstering cybersecurity in the education sector.

Read Also: 23andMe Blames Victims on Recent Data Breach Incident Concerning 6.9 Million Users

Point of Vulnerability

The British Library's commitment to openness and access was noted as a point of vulnerability, requiring a delicate balance between embracing technology and safeguarding digital heritage.

British Library Chief Executive Roly Keating acknowledged the challenges posed by the evolving cyber threat landscape and emphasized the need for increased vigilance.

In response to the attack, experts, including Aleem and researcher Louise Marie Hurel, called for enhanced cybersecurity practices, improved awareness, and the classification of the education sector as critical infrastructure.

To initiate the recovery process, institutions must deploy backup systems, enhance resilience, and scrutinize the digital footprint of the attackers to gauge the full extent of the breach.

Proposed measures encompass simulated hacking exercises and the creation of dedicated rapid-response "war rooms" designed to bolster defenses against potential future cyber threats.

This hacking incident underscores the importance for academia to prioritize and invest in comprehensive cybersecurity measures to protect vital digital assets and sensitive data.

Related Article: Australian State Court Hit With Cyberattack, Court Recordings Accessed and Possibly Stolen

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In a move to position itself at the forefront of the global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, China's Ministry of Industry has released draft guidelines for standardizing the AI industry (via Reuters).

The ambitious plan, announced in a statement on the ministry's website, outlines a road map for establishing over 50 national and industry-wide AI standards by 2026.

At the same time, China intends to actively contribute to the development of more than 20 international AI standards over the next few years.

China and the Global AI Race

This announcement comes amid China's intensified efforts to catch up with the United States in AI development. The race gained momentum with the groundbreaking release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in late 2022, prompting China to enact comprehensive regulations, including a licensing regime for AI products similar to ChatGPT within its borders.

The recently released guidelines express a strategic focus on "seizing the early opportunities from the development of the AI industry." The Ministry of Industry emphasizes the importance of setting standards, with 60% of the proposed standards aimed at "general key technologies and application development projects."

Furthermore, the plan seeks to gain support from over 1,000 businesses for adopting and advocating for these standards.

Read Also: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Expresses Concerns About Rapid AI Revolution

Whats Expert Think

Experts comment on China's broader regulatory landscape, drawing comparisons to the European Union's comprehensive AI Act. A critical focus for 2024 is the expected introduction of a comprehensive "AI Law" in China (via MIT Technology Review).

Analysts believe that, unlike previous regulations that targeted specific AI subsets, this comprehensive law will cover all of AI, posing challenges in definition and application.

Graham Webster, a research scholar at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation, predicts that while a draft of the AI Law may be released in 2024, its finalization and effectiveness are uncertain.

According to Jeremy Daum, a researcher at the Paul Tsai China Center, the complexities of defining what constitutes AI call into question the feasibility of a single, comprehensive law.

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has played a critical role in shaping the future of AI law, drafting an advisory version for 2023. The document includes a "negative list," which advises AI companies on areas and existing products that require explicit government approval.

Looking ahead, regulatory trends suggest a potential shift towards third-party evaluation of AI models. Jeffrey Ding, an assistant professor of political science at George Washington University, highlights the need for a national platform to test and verify model safety and security. The support for third-party assessment organizations could herald a new era in enforcing AI regulations.

Addressing the copyright challenges posed by generative AI, Angela Zhang, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, anticipates leniency from the Chinese government. Given the national agenda to encourage AI sector growth, administrative agencies are unlikely to adopt an aggressive stance in investigating AI-related infringements. Zhang expects policy guidelines and court decisions to provide clarity on intellectual property issues.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Researchers Unveil AI Handwriting Mimicry Advancement for Assistive Technology

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By Takuya Karube, KYODO NEWS - Jan 17, 2024 - 10:18 | All, World

The starting gun on the nomination process for the 2024 U.S. presidential election was fired this week in Iowa, with one big question becoming even bigger: Why is former President Donald Trump so enduringly popular among Republican voters?

There is, of course, no single, simple answer to this question that inevitably arises, especially in the minds of people living outside the United States, be they in Asia, Europe or elsewhere.

Not just in terms of opinion polls, Trump, despite being the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges, proved Monday that he is actually the dominant frontrunner in the Republican nomination race, winning the Iowa caucuses in a landslide.

Trump secured more than 50 percent of the votes in the first-in-the-nation contest, leaving his rivals far behind.

When trying to find clues about Trump's strength from his supporters in the Midwest rural state, one issue that was voiced by nearly everyone and stood out the most was illegal immigration, followed by concerns about the economy.

Other Republican candidates challenging Trump have also given a great deal of attention to border security during their campaigns.

But backers of the 77-year-old former president, irrespective of age and gender, appear to have a keener interest in the border issue than those of others, highly praising his initiative to build more physical barriers between the United States and Mexico during his last presidency through January 2021.

It was the case even in the farm-focused state with a population of 3.2 million, which does not border any foreign country or possess diverse racial demographics like many other parts of the country.

"We're a country of immigrants. But as (Trump) said, a lot of countries have dumped their worst citizens right into our country. They're not here to be productive American citizens," Tim Stiles, 59, said. "Generally speaking, we want good quality people coming in who are going to be productive citizens."

Stiles, who works in the financial services sector, said he trusts that Trump will live up to his promise of imposing tougher border controls if he returns to the White House.

He stressed that he is not against foreigners, but against American taxpayers' money being used to help those crossing the U.S. border illegally.

Justin Runge also views illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl into the United States through the southern border as a central issue in the presidential race.

The 38-year-old electrician said he is concerned that many illegals and drugs are "moving up here" and supportive of Trump's "build the wall" pledge since voting for him in 2016.

Runge said he is confident that Trump will win the November presidential election, possibly against President Joe Biden, who has no formidable Democratic challengers.

"Because he was not a politician when he started," Runge said, when asked to explain the main reason behind Trump's attractiveness to foreign audiences. "He is fighting the establishment...He does not have 'this is how it has to be the type of mindset.' He ran the country like a businessman, not a politician."

Cathy Kurtinitis, 69, who drove her truck about an hour and a half in blizzard conditions to attend a rally event on Sunday, was in favor of almost everything that the former president has done.

"He's kind of bombastic in his speech, but the things that he does are good," said Kurtinitis, wearing a pro-Trump cap.

She called the scores of charges Trump is facing, many of which are related to his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, "stupid" and defended protesters who stormed the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6 the following year.

She insisted that Trump supporters are "not dangerous. They are not violent. They are Americans who want liberty, freedom and conservative values," while slamming the Biden administration for making the United States and the world "unstable" by what she sees as flawed immigration, economic and foreign policies.

Ixchel Ochoa, a 27-year-old nurse, said more people she knows are now Trump or Republican supporters, pointing out that earning an ordinary living has become increasingly difficult over the last few years for younger generations.

Living together with her boyfriend, who is also a Trump supporter, Ochoa recalled how prices were cheaper when she voted for him twice in the past and criticized the Biden administration for not changing things for the better.

Kristie Wagner, who is in her 40s, shares such concerns for the future and said the country is starkly divided with different realities coexisting.

"The reality (Trump) knows is what a working man or working woman is stepping into, versus a man or woman who has lots of money," Wagner said, noting that the country's middle class is "declining," making it hard for young adults like her son in his mid-20s to afford things by himself.

"We are heading in a direction where it's not looking good," said Wagner, who has a heating and cooling business and regards herself belonging to the middle class. "Even kids are starting to realize that there's something going on."

Wagner said there is no other option than Trump running the country as "you can tell he's cognitive. He can use his common sense. He is not only that, he's a genius."

Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, said every attack against him, every indictment and every criminal charge has helped strengthen his support.

"These (Iowa) results highlight that Donald Trump is the favorite candidate among Republicans," he said. "Trump supporters liked everything he did during his four-year term, or at least most of it."

"They abhor the Biden administration and think the country is going in a completely wrong direction. So they're going to be out there supporting Donald Trump with the hope that he gets the country on what they consider to be the right track."

Related coverage:

Trump handily wins 1st Republican presidential nomination contest
Lionel Myrthil was named special agent in charge of the FBI's New Orleans Field Office on Tuesday (Jan. 16, 2024).
The board overseeing hunting and fishing in the state has elected its first Black leader, a Baton Rouge attorney and longtime outdoorsman who hopes to represent Louisianans like him who grew up fishing from the banks of bayous rather than Bayliners.
ABC boss David Anderson has insisted in a message to staff that the corporation was not influenced by external pressure in its sacking of broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf  but the organisations union committee later said he had failed to address their concerns.

On Thursday, the ABC will confront an unlawful termination claim by Lattouf at the Fair Work Commission in Sydney in which she will allege she was dismissed for her political opinion, her race, and her Lebanese-Australian cultural heritage.

The ABCs David Anderson rejects accusations of undue pressure to sack Antoinette Lattouf in December.

ABC staff this week demanded to meet Anderson over her sacking, and have sought assurances about the transparency of the broadcasters complaints process and mechanisms to support staff in the face of criticism.

With staff threatening a walk-out if a meeting did not go ahead, Anderson instead issued a statement doubling down on the ABCs stance and cited the paramount importance of its independence.
I did not hear Andrew Bukenyas Bach in Colour, which explored Bachs predecessors and musical progeny including gospel, pop and jazz, or Ensemble Apex who, after George Crumbs nightmarish Black Angels, ended with the unfinished final Contrapunctus of Bachs Art of Fugue, cut off by the composers death just as he was about to brings its four themes to masterful combination. There was variety, imagination and reverence in this series, and some of the performances achieved moments of the luminosity one always seeks in Bach. Korkmaz Can Saglam appears with Piano Plus on January 30 in Canberra and January 31 at Melbourne Recital Centre. THEATRE

Saplings, ATYP

January 25, Until Feb 4

Reviewed by HARRIET CUNNINGHAM  The cast of the ATYPs Saplings. Credit: ATYP

Saplings is a new play by Yuwaalaraay playwright Hannah Belanszky and Kalkadoon director Abbie-lee Lewis, in collaboration with the Australian Theatre for Young People and Youth Action, NSWs peak body representing young people and the services that support them. Developed from a series of workshops with participants from across NSW, it has the feel of verbatim theatre, albeit carefully and respectfully crafted into a linked series of snapshots depicting scenes from the life of people under supervision in the youth justice system. Supervision, as Saplings portrays, is a many-hued word: we see Maliyan Blair and Nyasha Ogden stuck in the Groundhog Day grind of days spent in waiting rooms, waiting for bail, waiting for court, waiting for sentencing. Ioane Suala paints the picture of home detention, with an AVO kicker, in a house with paper thin walls and no food. A broad mesh curtain transforms the stage into a detention facility where two boys try to defuse the explosive rage of their friend. Then theres a complete lack of supervision: Maliyan Blair and Wesley Pattens opening scene portrays two bored, brilliant saplings, tossing up their options. Watch TV? No, the electricitys been cut off. Go down the creek, buy lollies at the servo, moon the truck drivers? Or start a music duo, make a million on YouTube, and pay mums electricity bill? Thats the one. But first, they need a smartphone to record their song, and  guess what?  theres no phone. The cast, as Lewis comments in her program introduction, embodies the reality of youth justice today: of the nearly 5000 people aged from 10-17 who are in supervision on any given day in Australia, the majority are male, and a disproportionate number are Indigenous*. But whereas the numbers and jargon like the expansive term supervision dehumanise the situation, the four actors Maliyan Blair, Nyasha Ogden, Ioane Saula and Wesley Patten bring it to life. Meanwhile, Belanszkys script stitches together the complexities of the system into a delicate story of challenge and possibility. Loading This might sound like a tough night in the theatre but it is anything but. Humour, often self-deprecating, is never far from the surface, and so is ingenuity and resilience, expressed in quick fire backchat and physicality. The words fly past. Catch em if you can.

*Youth Justice in Australia, 2021-22 DANCE

Skid & SAABA by GoteborgsOperans Danskompani

Roslyn Packer Theatre, January 23

Until January 28

Reviewed by CHANTAL NGUYEN  Skid, by Belgian and French choreographer Damien Jalet from the GoteborgsOperans Danskompani where 17 dancers perform on a 34-degree sloped stage. Credit: Wolter Peeters The best of Scandi dance lands in Sydney this summer with Swedens stunning GoteborgsOperans Danskompani, one of Europes foremost contemporary dance companies.

Hitting up the Sydney Festival with a winning double bill, their first dance is Skid, a frequently-toured smash hit by French-Belgian choreographer Damien Jalet. Skid is performed on what looks like an icy ski slope  a giant, shining white stage tilted steeply at 34 degrees. Its opening is hypnotically meditative, with dancers gracefully tumbling down the slope in increasingly complex configurations. Theyre all wearing tabby boots: ninja-style shoes with rubber soles and split toes that allows them to nimbly manage the steep incline. Theres something deeply absorbing about observing dancers at this unusual, tilted angle: you feel you have all the panoramic distance of a bird flying over a vast, glacial lake. Skid then switches gear with a thumping industrial soundtrack and a costume change to black and red futuristic military jackets. The dancers begin  astoundingly  moving up the slope in a sharp, determined progression like ranks of soldier cyborgs: inhumanly strong, single-minded, unstoppable. Skid then closes with a beautifully contrasting nod to human frailty and the cycle of life. Its gorgeous choreography, heart-stopping athleticism, and deeply touching drama all at once  I cant recommend it highly enough.

Next comes SAABA by Israeli-French choreographer Sharon Eyal. Her work is currently flavour of the month in European circles, but SAABA is ultimately disappointing. It serves up its main aesthetic concept right from the start: the dancers remain almost always on tip-toe, picking up their feet as if tottering down a runway in sky-high stilettos. And its undeniably slick, with a sexy soundtrack, moody lighting, and choreography thats heavy on pouts, artily contorted limbs, and contracting torsos. The costumes (designed by Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri) are also undeniably stunning  a clever lacy subversion of the usual nude-coloured contemporary dancewear. But underneath its slick, predictably sexy facade, Eyals choreography gets repetitive, failing to exploit the full range of the dancers astounding technique. While SAABAs aesthetics are undeniably high end, the best dance resonates at a deep emotional level and challenges you intellectually. In those departments, SAABA leaves you feeling criminally underfed. Its worth a look for the costumes and stunning dancers. Ultimately though, the experience feels like youve stumbled into a high-end bar overrun with sexy-but-distant fashion models, who take your order but never bring you the drinks. CABARET

Rizo: Prizmatism, Wharf Theatres

Until January 27 

Reviewed by CASSIE TONGUE Rizo in Prizmatism. Credit: Sydney Festival

Many arts and culture lovers draw the line at attending cabaret. Cabarets are often personal, confessional, and emotional. Its vulnerable, and that can be confronting. But sometimes, confronting is good. Cabaret can be political, joyful, and challenging. Sometimes, its cathartic. For joy and catharsis, why not start or continue your cabaret journey with Rizo: Prizmatism? Rizo is Amelia Zirin-Brown, the American cabaret star who last played Sydney Festival in 2018. Shes invested in the exchange of energy between artist and audience, that spark that makes live performance, at its best, not just irresistible but essential. She welcomes us home  thats the space inside her arms  and offers up the 70-minute show as a place to let down the burdens we carry. She encourages light call-and-response singing; she urges us to cheer or let out a huzzah if we enjoy her performance (and then leads a group huzzah so we can all have the pleasure of saying it). She slow-dances with an audience member. Later, she has us doing choreography. But theres no need to be self-conscious. These interactions only work if were all in it together, and Rizo brings us on board. The show is clearly born out of pandemic-related processing; Rizo talks about identity and performance and how losing the latter in shutdowns impacted the former. Shes eager to connect. More than once, she describes humans as deeply communal; we benefit from being together, she says, beating as one heart. This idea collapses into, or gives way to, the idea of prisms, Rizo self-reckoning with the many versions of herself, landing now at the uncomfortable label of middle-aged, to discover truths about herself and the world.

Do these pieces fit neatly together? Not quite. Does it matter, though, when shes singing Love for Sale, or when were trying to turn a song into witchcraft by gently joining in? Does a journey have to be linear when its this gorgeously sung? And it is gorgeous, make no mistake, all of it: Rizo can hold a note in the air like its tangible, and an audience in the palm of her hand. This is the magic of cabaret you might be missing out on: for about an hour, a group of people suddenly have something in common. Were all in one place, experiencing the same beauty, and laying our burdens down just long enough to remember what its like to feel light again. Soliloquy

Genevieve Lacey and Gideon Obarzanek

City Recital Hall, January 17

Reviewed by PETER McCALLUM

 Recorder player Genevieve Lacey sat on a tiered stage bathed in pale light, eyes closed, playing Telemanns first Fantasia for solo flute as though no-one was watching. Laceys tone is quietly golden and her rhythm free, and she followed Telemanns changeable directions in the first movement of the first Fantasia with dream-like whimsy. For the second Fantasia in A minor, she was joined by dancer Stephanie Lake, who lay on her back and performed an elegant dance of fluid gestures and elegant shapes for hands alone. For the third Fantasie, Lake danced from standing position and, for the fourth, an ensemble of 20 to 30 entered quietly through the audience to occupy the tiers on either side of Lacey and Lake.

Genevieve Lacey with the volunteer participants in Soliloquy. Credit: Victor Frankowski These performers were a group of untrained participants invited to co-create a communal music-dance ritual. Lake quietly gave instructions to those sitting closest to her and these were passed down the rows with a quiet nod. Their first contribution was a group version of the hand dance. Led by Lake, seated and facing the audience, their softly lit arms created a forest of undulating willowy limbs. For the fifth Fantasy, Lake crouched behind Lacey for another hand and arm dance, turning the recorder player into a Shiva-like figure with an extra pair of arms that amplified and embellished Laceys playing, which was almost unmetered at times. Loading The performance continued for all 12 of Telemanns Fantasias, each exploring a different configuration co-planned with choreographer Gideon Obarzanek. For one, the untrained participants danced at the front of the stage the way people do at parties, for another they lay somnolent on the tiers and for another processed around the stage area or marched.

The twelfth Fantasia recapitulated the opening in reverse, first with a hand dance from Lake and then Lacey alone as they walked off. For me, it maintained interest until about the fifth Fantasia, after which the ideas palled. The Fantasias themselves are suites of Baroque movements, inviting a free performance style and Laceys manner of playing without fixed rhythmic framework tended to blend them into a continuum without strong differentiation. Soliloquy, the program stated subverts the hierarchy of traditional concert music by mixing trained and untrained performers. The untrained performers concentrated attentively, but there nevertheless remained a strong audience/performer divide. Coming 60 or more years after John Cages iconoclasm, it was, as subversions go, quite tame. Fortunately, it wont put trained performers out of a job. THEATRE

ARE WE NOT DRAWN ONWARD TO NEW ERA

Roslyn Packer Theatre, January 16

Until January 20

Reviewed by JOHN SHAND

 Here was something to bend the brain and fire off the synapses like so many New Years Eve crackers. This was theatre as spectacle, magic, image, poetry, didacticism and even cinema.

The plastic bags have an aesthetic impact akin to a bed of flowers. Credit: Mirjam Devriendt To ask what its about is both the right and the wrong question. Its the wrong question because, while its creators may not see it this way, for me, its essence is not its subject. For it to be a succession of extraordinary images is enough, and meaning need not be imposed upon them. Its certainly more than enough to be reduced or exalted to a state of wonderment, rather like when you were little, and saw for the first time a beach, a cat, a fire hydrant, a worm or a waterfall. It can be sufficient that such things simply are, without questioning why. Its also the right question because the creators have strived to ensure you do ponder its meaning. The title, Are we not drawn onward to new erA, is a palindrome, and the piece itself is structurally and narratively palindromic. Specifically, its about what weve done to the planet and how we could undo it, encapsulated in 75 minutes. Loading

It begins with a couple, an apple and a tree, minus the snake. Subsequently, the tree is destroyed, and hundreds of brightly coloured plastic bags stream from the flies. Ive never seen plastic bags look so beautiful; never thought they could have an aesthetic impact akin to a bed of flowers. Then a giant bronze-coloured statue is dragged on in pieces, and once its erected we see its not a general or a politician, but a youth in jeans and t-shirt; one of us, if you like because ultimately we make history just as much as do the so-called eminent. When the statue is engulfed in dry ice, weve reached the half-way mark, whereupon these events all start happening backwards, or forwards, depending on your point of view. But well come to that. Devised by Belgiums Ontroerend Goed company, the show is directed by Alexander Devriendt, with dramaturgy by Jan Murtens and scenography by Philip Aguirre. Its six actors communicate more with movement than words, and when they do speak, its initially in a backwards gobbledegook that becomes intelligible later. A particular joy is the music: William Basinskis Disintegration Loops, recorded by Spectra Ensemble, which is equally disquieting and entrancing. The disquieting part of the show is the implication of us standing on the precipice of our own destruction via climate change, and still doing too little to avert catastrophe. As important as it is, the message  We cant undo what we did. We can only move forward one step at a time  is so overtly preachy as to intrude on the prevailing visual poetry, rather than being thoroughly interwoven. Of just as much interest are the more general philosophical implications of our capacity to undo what we have done. On an obvious level, this applies to our ability to reverse climate change, but it also applies on a micro level to our capacity to counter the wrongs we have done to others; to redress the hurt of our words and actions. The show has deep roots in this regard.

As for how it travels backwards? I was fibbing. I shant give that away. Youll just have to see it. You wont forget it. Ode to Joy (How Gordon got to go to the Nasty Pig Party)

Neilson Nutshell

January 16

Until January 21

Reviewed by Harriet Cunningham

 Gordon is a public servant who works in the legal department of the Scottish government. Marcus runs a gym. Tom works from home. He has an Etsy store. Marcus and Tom are married. Gordon wears sensible slacks and a lanyard with his name tag. Marcus wears a harness beneath his teeny tiny orange trackies and answers to the name of Cumpig. Tom wears a yellow-and-black plaid kilt over his latex undergarments and prefers to be called Manpussy. If this is too much information for you, stop reading now.

Lawrence Boothman, as Gordon, transforms, Cinderella-like, from a straight-laced policy wonk into an insatiable party animal. Credit: Jacquie Manning Writer/director James Leys exuberant Ode to Joy (How Gordon got to go to the Nasty Pig Party) revels in too much information. The program even includes a glossary of gay, in case you dont quite catch the details as they flash by. Which is very helpful, because the music is loud, the accents are thick and things move fast in the world of Pig Play*. The magnificent Marc MacKinnon, as Manpussy/Tom, marshalls the action, propelling his colleagues through the story of how the three of them met, fell in love, had sex, went to Berlin, had more sex, found themselves, found each other and found joy. Along the way he indulges us with a show-stopping outbreak of Riverdancing and models a splendid lifejacket and swimwear inspired party gown (with a nod to costume designer Cleo Rose McCabe). Loading Sean Connor, as Cumpig/Marcus, is a charismatic, coiled spring of sexual energy. Meanwhile, Lawrence Boothman, as Gordon, transforms, Cinderella-like, from a straight-laced policy wonk into an insatiable party animal, much to the glee of his ugly brothers. Along the way they bounce off the walls of Edinburgh gay culture, Brexit and the Scottish independence movement, capturing a moment in time with piercing insight.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 17, 2024 - 23:00 | All, World, Japan

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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Quake chaos forces Wajima kids to leave families to continue studies

KANAZAWA, Japan - Junior high school students from a quake-hit central Japan city said teary goodbyes to their families on Wednesday and headed some 100 kilometers away to community facilities where they will continue their studies.

Some 250 of the roughly 400 students from all three Wajima city-run junior high schools have opted to temporarily relocate together as their schools are either damaged or being used as evacuation centers after a magnitude-7.6 quake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast on New Year's Day.

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Foreign visitors to Japan in 2023 jump over 6-fold to 25.07 million

TOKYO - The number of foreign visitors to Japan climbed more than six-fold to 25.07 million in 2023 from a year earlier, with their spending growing to a record 5.29 trillion yen ($35.8 billion), government data showed Wednesday.

The Japan National Tourism Organization said the number of overseas visitors had surged since April when Japan removed its coronavirus restrictions, with monthly visitors surpassing a pre-pandemic level for the first time in October. However, the annual total was still 21.4 percent lower than the 2019 record high of 31.88 million.

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China's 2023 GDP grows 5.2% to meet annual target, outlook bearish

BEIJING - China's economy in 2023 expanded a real 5.2 percent from a year earlier, government data showed Wednesday, with the figure meeting the country's annual target of around 5.0 percent due partly to the previous year's low base caused by the stringent "zero-COVID" policy.

But the world's second-largest economy continued to be affected by a property-sector crisis, with investment in real estate development dropping 9.6 percent, following a 10.0 percent fall in 2022.

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Japanese lawmaker Kakizawa indicted over violation of election law

TOKYO - Japanese lawmaker and former senior vice justice minister Mito Kakizawa was indicted Wednesday for violating the election law by allegedly running illegal campaign financing related to a Tokyo ward election last April, prosecutors said.

The 52-year-old former ruling Liberal Democratic Party member, who was arrested along with his four secretaries in late December, is suspected of making payments, or having offered to do so, totaling 2.8 million yen ($19,000) as bribes in connection with the Koto Ward mayoral election -- allegations to which he has admitted.

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JAL taps ex-flight attendant Tottori as 1st female president

TOKYO - Japan Airlines Co. on Wednesday tapped former flight attendant Mitsuko Tottori to become its first female president in April.

Tottori, 59, senior managing executive officer, will replace current President Yuji Akasaka, 62, who will become chairman, the airline said in a statement.

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10 injured after kindergarten bus rear-ended by crane truck in Japan

OITA, Japan - Ten people on a kindergarten bus, including eight children, sustained minor injuries after their vehicle was rear-ended by a crane truck Wednesday afternoon in southwestern Japan, local authorities said.

The accident, which occurred around 2:45 p.m. in Oita city, caused the bus to nearly flip on its side, but a driver and all on board managed to escape, according to prefectural police and the local fire department.

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Daihatsu mulls recall of up to 320,000 vehicles amid safety scandal

TOKYO - Scandal-hit Daihatsu Motor Co. said Wednesday it is considering a recall of two mini-vehicles found with a door defect, potentially affecting about 320,000 units.

The announcement comes a day after Japan's transport ministry instructed Daihatsu to consider recalling the Cast model sold under the Daihatsu brand and the Pixis Joy sold under the marque of its parent Toyota Motor Corp. in the wake of a revelation that the company had rigged safety tests for most of its models.

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Pakistan denounces Iran for air strike killing 2 children

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan denounced Iran on Wednesday for an air strike that killed two children and injured three others in the country's southwestern Balochistan province the previous day.

The South Asian country's Foreign Ministry said that it strongly condemns "the unprovoked violation" of Pakistan's airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory, adding it has summoned Iran's charge d'affaires to convey the condemnation.

Video: Residents in Kobe pray for the victims in quake-hit Noto area
This story is part of the Sydney Festival collection. Here is everything you need to know - reviews, previews and interview - to plan your 2024 festival experience.

On the day I visit the Arka Kinari, the Carnival Splendor is also in town, taking on passengers alongside the Overseas Passenger Terminal. The contrast between the vast cruise ships 13-storey, 290-metre bulk and the modest 24-metre schooner tied up at a jetty at Campbells Cove could scarcely be greater.

Its awful, says Arka Kinari skipper Grey Filastine, nodding at the massive ship towering over his vessel as he welcomes me aboard.

Grey Filastine and Nova Ruth aboard the Arka Kinari at Campbells Cove. Credit: Edwina Pickles

Its as if the monumental party boat and the trim sailing vessel inhabit two entirely different worlds. But beyond the physical difference, the contrast in their respective missions is even more marked.

Since its 2019 relaunch, the Arka Kinari has roamed the worlds oceans, covering 50,000 nautical miles, bearing witness to the climate crisis and promoting a slower way of life with an idiosyncratic mix of environmental activism and performance.
Travellers to the Top End are often warned about going troppo  slang for succumbing to a kind of madness induced by thick jungle humidity and swampy equatorial heat. Australian troops in the Pacific during World War II coined the phrase to describe the sanity-bending effects of working in the tropics.

But now the tropics are coming to Sydney. The citys heat and humidity levels are shifting closer to Brisbanes due to climate change, and last week record-breaking mugginess swamped its exasperated residents.

Sydneys humidity has sweltered to tropical levels this summer. Credit: Louis Douvis

So whats the science behind going troppo? Theres an increasing body of evidence that people find it harder to think straight on hot, humid days.

What does the heat do to our brain power?
Thats where well leave our live updates. Here are the main headlines for Thursday, January 18:

South-east Queenslands next transport projects need to be the focus for legacy building in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic Games, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has declared.

Former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk speaks at a press conference fronted by Premier Steven Miles (second from left), Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Grace Grace. Credit: Matt Dennien

An American accused of messaging the Australian family who gunned down two police officers and a neighbour is facing additional charges of illegally possessing military-style rifles and threatening FBI agents.

When is the right time to travel to a disaster-affected area? Its worth posing again in the wake of tropical cyclone Jasper, and the storms that ravaged the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim regions over the Christmas period.

Travis Head is David Warners spiritual successor in the Test side, helped by the luxuries he enjoys as an Australian cricketer, and made a 100 of top quality on a tricky pitch against a committed West Indian bowling attack.

The government has announced a $5 billion boost for the SwimStart program up until June 2025.
Stonnington City Council spent $64 million building the 500-space, two-level underground car park  along with a paved European-style plaza at ground level  on the site of the old Cato Street open-air lot in 2019. Loading Mepham estimates the parking levels cost at least $50 million if you include the land value  about $100,000 per bay. With parking rates of $15.40 per day, he says Stonnington will never cover that cost. The plaza, built on a concrete slab, has also been criticised for its lack of grass and trees. The ratepayers of Prahan and Stonnington Council have to carry the cost burden to subsidise a car park that was never properly justified, he says. In almost any council around Australia  theyre running car parks like badly run charities.

A Stonnington Council spokesperson told The Age that $30 million of the Prahran Square budget went to car park construction, but that did not include the cost of design, planning and other expenses. Loading The spokesperson said the car park made $1.8 million in annual revenue  about $400,000 annual profit. At that rate, would take 75 years to cover the $30 million construction bill. Council expects ongoing revenue to increase through the use of the square as an event space, the spokesperson said. The square also plays host to an array of events and live performances.

It replaced a street-level car park, creating a vibrant community asset as well as providing a 20 per cent increase in available car parking. Loading Mepham says local traders will always support more and cheaper parking, which isnt surprising since they are getting the benefits but not the cost. We subsidise things because we argue theyre in the public good  libraries or parks. But you need to be quite clear about what youre subsiding; why and how much youre paying for it, he says. Mepham acknowledges that reforming car parking rules is a death wish for most councils, given the inevitable backlash from business groups and residents who are emotional about their right to access parking.

But he points to how even motor-centric American cities are recognising how scarce public land can be better used. He says there is an urgent need for Australia to follow their lead, starting with state government rules to force councils to disclose the value and costs of their car parks. Loading Mepham also argues parking reform is crucial as Victoria tries to build 800,000 new homes over the next decade to fix its housing crisis. Most importantly, that means lifting laws that require a set number of parking spaces in new apartment developments, as San Francisco and Toronto have done recently. Car park spaces add up to $100,000 to the cost of a new unit, and state government advisory body Infrastructure Victoria has also previously called for those rules to be scrapped.

It adds a huge cost burden on that housing. It completely defeats the whole argument about affordable housing, he says. Meanwhile, across Melbourne, Mepham estimates public land worth hundreds of millions, if not billions is locked up around train stations, as park-and-ride lots are ripe for conversion to apartments and affordable housing. Authorities have taken that step in car-dominated Los Angeles, while Toronto City Council has identified six parking lots it wants to turn into affordable housing projects, after it set up a real estate company to value and improve the productivity of city-owned assets. The City of Melbourne is gradually changing how it manages on-street parking, which has triggered a backlash from the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Six of Perths most prestigious schools will charge parents more than $30,000 this year, with fees across the state expected to rise above last years average increase of 4 per cent.

Presbyterian Ladies College will be the most expensive school in the state, followed by Christ Church Grammar, Methodist Ladies College and Scotch College  all of which are now charging over $32,000.

Parents paying boarding fees will need to fork out almost double  between $50,000 and $60,000  for the year.

The 10 private schools with the highest fees in the state have raised annual costs by an average of 5.67 per cent, compared to around 4.5 per cent in 2023.
An unemployed Perth man who had more than $3.65 million in cash hidden in his bedroom has been jailed for four years for moving large amounts of money as an illegal courier for a mystery crime syndicate.

The Australian Federal Police arrested Thien Phuc Tran, 26, at his Alexander Heights home in December 2022 during a raid of his home.

The man was arrested at his Alexander Heights home in December 2022. Credit: AFP

It came after a surveillance operation tracked him acting suspiciously, visiting parks, bushland areas and secluded car parks late at night for short periods of time.

When police executed a search warrant, they found a total of $3,650,330 cash in his bedroom spread among a locked suitcase, locked tool bags and in a cupboard drawer.
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas has lobbied federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke to back away from a deal the Albanese government made with the Greens to clinch support for its industrial reforms, arguing it would allow unions to draw out pay disputes.

The intervention from the powerful Labor figure comes as federal parliament considers the rest of the governments Closing Loopholes bill after Burke last December secured the support of key crossbenchers David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie to pass wage theft and labour hire reforms in the face of opposition from business and the Coalition.

Tim Pallas is currently negotiating a wage deal with paramedics. Credit: Wayne Taylor

Pallas, who is also the states Industrial Relations Minister, said he intended to take his concerns to the Senate crossbench.

As Victoria negotiates with paramedics threatening industrial action over their enterprise bargaining agreement , Pallas wrote to Burke on Tuesday, calling on him to change several proposed amendments to workplace laws.
Rising demand from Asian countries has propelled Victorias exports of food and fibre to $19.6 billion, a $1.3 billion improvement on the year before and the highest result of any other Australian state or territory.

Treasurer Tim Pallas said the state had benefited from countries with improved household incomes diversifying their supplies of food, beverages and animal products, and that the states next challenge would be convincing smaller businesses to ship internationally.

Demand for Victorian food and fibre has surged in Singapore. Credit: iStock

A new report into Victorias food and fibre industry released on Wednesday found that in 2022-23, the state came within $400 million of its goal to export $20 billion from the sector by 2030.

The $19.6 billion result, a $1.3 billion increase on 2021-22, came off the back of surging growth across Asian countries.
A leading investigator into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 says he does not believe the Malaysian government wants the cause of its demise exposed, so will not commit to a new search.

Two separate reports in the past four months have proposed new areas in the southern Indian Ocean as search areas for the wreck of the plane, which vanished on March 8, 2014, with 239 crew and passengers on board.

A woman walks past graffiti of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in Kuala Lumpur in 2016. Credit: Getty

United States-based marine technology company Ocean Infinity has also expressed eagerness to deploy a new fleet of unmanned vessels to finally locate the Boeing 777 aircraft and solve one of aviations greatest mysteries.

But it is up to the Malaysian government, whose sovereign wealth fund owns Malaysia Airlines, to green-light another search mission six years after the last one was suspended, and British aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey does not believe it has an interest in doing so.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 17, 2024 - 19:33 | All, Japan

Japanese lawmaker and former senior vice justice minister Mito Kakizawa was indicted Wednesday for violating the election law by allegedly running illegal campaign financing related to a Tokyo ward election last April, prosecutors said.

The 52-year-old former ruling Liberal Democratic Party member, who was arrested along with his four secretaries in late December, is suspected of making payments, or having offered to do so, totaling 2.8 million yen ($19,000) as bribes in connection with the Koto Ward mayoral election -- allegations to which he has admitted.

The indictment of the House of Representatives member could further fuel public distrust in politics, delivering a blow to the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his ruling party, which has already been jolted by a separate political funds scandal involving the LDP's biggest faction.

Kakizawa has signaled his intention to quit as a lawmaker, according to sources close to the matter.

Of his four secretaries who were arrested, two faced summary indictments, which led a court to issue orders to pay fines, while prosecutors decided not to indict the other two.

At the time of his arrest, Kakizawa was suspected of conspiring with the four and providing a total of 1 million yen to five former or incumbent Koto assembly members while allegedly offering payment of 600,000 yen in total to three other local assembly members.

Other allegations included payment of 200,000 yen to a staff member of Yayoi Kimura, the candidate he backed for the mayoral race, and transferring a total of around 800,000 yen to a former local assembly member who is said to have campaigned for Kimura.

The vote-buying scandal emerged following revelations that Kakizawa had proposed using an online advertisement in Kimura's campaign, which is prohibited by the Public Offices Election Act. The son of a former foreign minister resigned as senior vice justice minister in October, and Kimura stepped down as mayor in November.

Kimura, 58, who is also a former lower house lawmaker of the LDP, was indicted Wednesday without arrest over the alleged election law violation for using the paid advertisement on YouTube and a payment of 1 million yen to the former local assembly member.

Kimura has admitted to the charge related to the illegal ads while denying the payment was a bribe, the sources said.

Kakizawa and his four secretaries had initially explained that they offered money to several Koto Ward assembly members as a customary mid-campaign contribution ahead of a ward assembly election also held in April, according to the sources.

But he later decided not to contest the allegations, saying it was unavoidable that the payment was interpreted as intended to influence the election, given the situation at the time.

Violators of the public office election law on vote-buying face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 500,000 yen. Those who use paid advertisements online for specific candidates face imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.

Related coverage:

Japan ruling party lawmaker Ikeda arrested over slush fund scandal

Criminal cases eyed for Japan's ruling party accountants in Jan.

Japanese lawmaker Mito Kakizawa arrested over vote-buying allegations
IONIQ 6 Features Ultra-Fast 800-Volt/350kW Charging Capability

Battery Charges From 10 to 80 Percent in as Little as 18 Minutes i

EPA-Estimated Range of Up to 361 milesii

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 16, 2024 -- The Hyundai IONIQ 6iii electric sedan has been named a 2024 EV Pulse Editor's Choice. This award, given by EV Pulse, celebrates an electric vehicle (EV) that combines leading performance, quality, and features into a compelling, balanced package. As a leading voice in the automotive industry, EV Pulse rigorously evaluates and selects vehicles that represent the best in class for these awards. Press releases and specifications for the 2024 IONIQ 6 can be found here.

"The Hyundai IONIQ 6 delivers on everything we expect from a modern Hyundai," said Chad Kirchner, vice president of content, EV Pulse. "The E-GMP architecture allows for lightning quick recharge times, and the 361 miles of available range crushes most of the competition, regardless of price. When you factor back in price, it is hard to argue the winning formula of sleek sedan design, advanced technology, and the value we've come to expect from Hyundai."

"Receiving such an accolade in this competitive market is a true testament to the hard work of our teams," said Ricky Lao, director, product planning, Hyundai Motor North America. "The IONIQ 6 has led the way for Hyundai, earning numerous industry recognitions. We are proud to see that the vehicle's performance and dedicated E-GMP platform has been so critically acclaimed. IONIQ 6 represents a compelling blend of innovative design, vast range, confident driving dynamics, ample cabin space, and rapid charging."

The EV Pulse Editor's Choice award highlights the pinnacle of electric vehicle innovation and performance. Established in 2020, EV Pulse is committed to delivering in-depth and accessible information, driving the latest vehicles, and researching new technologies to keep its audience at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution.

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company's Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (in development in Georgia), and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai's 835 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a recent economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

i Approximately 18 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% on a 350-kW, 800V DC ultra-fast charger. Actual charging time varies based on a number of factors, including current battery charge level, output of the charging unit, vehicle and battery settings, battery temperature and outside temperature. Ultra-fast charging stations are provided by independent companies and availability is not guaranteed.

ii EPA-estimated 361-mile driving range for 2024 IONIQ 6 SE Long Range RWD; EPA-estimated 316-mile driving range for IONIQ 6 SE AWD. All figures are EPA estimates and based on a fully charged battery. For comparison purposes only. Battery capacity decreases with time and use. Actual range will vary based on a number of factors, including vehicle options, driving conditions and habits, vehicle and battery condition, battery temperature and outside temperature.

iii 2024 IONIQ 6 is available at select dealers in select states only. Contact your Hyundai dealer for availability details.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 17, 2024 - 13:32 | Sports, All

Ozeki Takakeisho withdrew from the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday after exacerbating a neck injury that will require around two weeks to heal.

Takakeisho suffered the setback during his second-day victory over No. 1 maegashira Atamifuji on Monday at the 15-day meet at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, according to his stablemaster Hitachiyama.

"I want to give him a good rest as his body is all that matters," Hitachiyama said regarding Takakeisho, who has been behind schedule in his conditioning due to concern over his neck issue.

"It must be quite painful as he made the request himself. He had wrestled (only) two or three days before the tournament," Hitachiyama said.

Takakeisho was thrust out in his first defeat on Tuesday by No. 1 rank-and-filer Wakamotoharu and will lose his fourth-day bout by default against komusubi Ura, ending the basho with a 2-2 record.

He is missing a tournament for the 11th time and will be a demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki for the eighth time at the Spring meet in March in Osaka, where he will have to win eight bouts to retain his place at the sport's second-highest rank.

Related coverage:

Sumo: Wakamotoharu earns 2nd elite scalp by beating ozeki Takakeisho

Sumo: Injury returnee Terunofuji loses to Wakamotoharu on Day 2

Sumo: Terunofuji wins on return as Kirishima launches yokozuna bid
Qabil Ashirov

Azerbaijan's Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov held a meeting with the representatives of Japan Tobacco International (JTI) within the framework of the Davos Economic Forum, Azernews reports, citing a post shared by the Minister in his official X network.

Japan Tobacco was represented by the President and CEO of the company Eddy Pirard and Director for the International Affairs Ana Veljkovic.

The meeting discussed the bilateral cooperation. Additional, the sides addressed the upcoming events within the framework of COP29 to be hosted by Azerbaijan, as well as the attraction of the private sector to the activity of COP29.

It is worth noting that Japan Tabaccos has a representative office in Baku. JTI is a leading international tobacco company in Azerbaijan and it started its business in the country in 2007. The company is one of the very few companies in Azerbaijan that has sustainability built in its DNA thanks to its global 4S model  responsibility towards consumers, shareholders, employees and wider society. Besides, JTI is recognized as Top Employer thanks to the company's exceptional HR practices.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 17, 2024 - 19:03 | All, Japan

Japan Airlines Co. on Wednesday tapped former flight attendant Mitsuko Tottori to become its first female president in April.

Tottori, 59, senior managing executive officer, will replace current President Yuji Akasaka, 62, who will become chairman, the airline said in a statement.

The announcement coincides with heightened attention on the airline's cabin crews, who recently played a pivotal role in the safe evacuation of all 379 people on board a burning JAL A350 jetliner following a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft at Tokyo's Haneda airport earlier this month.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, Tottori said she hopes to run the company with safety as her top priority, as she has spent most of her career in the departments that deal with passenger well-being and customer services.

"Safety is the foundation of airlines. I hope to tackle the issue of customer safety with renewed resolve," she said.

At the same press conference, Akasaka, president since 2018, said he had aimed to pass the baton to a successor after navigating the company through the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, denying the collision affected his decision.

"I'm convinced she will be able to boost JAL Group's corporate value by always prioritizing customer needs and drawing the maximum strength from our employees," he said.

Tottori joined a predecessor company to JAL in 1985 and soon began working as a flight attendant. She has been a senior managing executive officer since April 2023.

Related coverage:

U.S.-bound ANA plane returns to Tokyo after man bites cabin attendant

Passengers' mutual aid in deadly JAL crash made for "miracle" escape

JAL to preserve part of burned aircraft from Tokyo airport collision
KYODO NEWS - Jan 17, 2024 - 15:24 | World, All

Mainland China saw its population fall for the second straight year in 2023, government data showed Wednesday, with its birthrate hitting a new record low to accelerate the graying of the world's second-largest economy.

The population of China, excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, reached 1,409.67 million by the end of 2023, down 2.08 million from the previous year, a marked increase from the 850,000 decline in 2022.

The birthrate fell to 6.39 per 1,000 people, down from 6.77 the year before to hit a new record low since 1949, when Mao Zedong founded the Communist-led country.

The number of babies born stood at 9.02 million, down from 9.56 million in 2022 for the seventh straight yearly decline. The figure fell below the benchmark of 10 million for the first time in 2022 since 1950, according to Chinese media.

China's population has been graying, due largely to its "one-child policy" introduced in 1979, but the policy was scrapped under President Xi Jinping's government in 2016 as concerns grew that a rapidly aging population would constrain the nation's economic expansion.

According to U.N. estimates, India overtook China as the world's most populous nation in 2023.

Related coverage:

Japan falls to record-low 125th in global gender gap ranking

China's population shrinks for 1st time in over 60 yrs

China to allow couples to have 3rd child amid low birthrate
KYODO NEWS - Jan 17, 2024 - 15:51 | All, Japan

A couple operating a fish shop in Tokyo have been arrested for allegedly cultivating without government approval a popular tropical fish genetically modified to glow, police said Wednesday.

The police arrested Hidehiko Takeda, the 66-year-old owner of the fish shop, and his 56-year-old Thai wife Somphorn, who runs the shop, for alleged violation of the Cartagena law, which came into force in 2004 to regulate the use of genetically modified living organisms.

The suspects sold the genetically modified Siamese fighting fish, or betta, as "neon betta" at the store, the police said. The fish glows in a yellow-green color when exposed to ultraviolet light.

The couple allegedly cultivated 10 such fish in June at the shop without authorization after importing them from Thailand in May, police said.

The two have admitted to the allegations, with police quoting Takeda as telling them, "I have cultivated a genetically modified organism for sale."

In a related move, Tokyo police on the same day referred to prosecutors five people in their 50s to 70s for allegedly purchasing the glowing betta for 2,500 yen ($17) to 30,000 yen a fish, as well as the shop's operator, Azuma Keikaku, which Takeda heads, they said.

The arrests came after a 53-year-old man in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, who was among the five referred to the prosecutors, exhibited the betta fish he had purchased at a domestic "beauty" contest for the fish in June last year. The contest organizer notified the Environment Ministry, which provided information to the police.

The Cartagena law requires parties seeking to keep and sell modified living organisms to obtain government authorization after proving the organisms will not negatively affect biodiversity. The law is based on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The police said they have so far not confirmed any impact on biodiversity, such as by disposing of the fish in the wild.

In March last year, police arrested a number of fish enthusiasts for their alleged involvement in the unauthorized cultivation of Japanese killifish genetically modified to glow in red.

Related coverage:

China halts imports of Nishikigoi carp from Japan amid Fukushima row

Japan's Kobe zoo postpones return of aging panda to China for 1 year
KYODO NEWS - Jan 17, 2024 - 09:17 | All, Podcast

Episode 28: Paid leave

How much paid leave do you usually take?

Listen as three Kyodo News journalists -- Yamaguchi-san, Ed and Su-san -- talk about how a recent government survey found that a record share of private-sector workers in Japan took paid leave in 2022 at 62.1 percent. Listen as they discuss the challenges Japanese society faces in getting that percentage higher and how paid leave is viewed in other cultures.

Article mentioned in the podcast:

Japan workers took 62% of paid leave allocation in 2022: government survey

Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents.

Related coverage:

Podcast [English World] Episode 27: Greetings from our Manila correspondent

Podcast [English World] Episode 26: Kanji of the year

Podcast [English World] Episode 25: 2023 Japanese buzzwords
The collection is Taylor-made (get it?) to fit whichever era you're planning on strutting into the crowd. We're talking silver mini dresses, pre-made friendship bracelets (convenient for an artistically challenged girly like me), and all the sparkly sequin mini skirts and halter-neck tops you need to look like a mirror ball threw up on you.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 17, 2024 - 13:38 | All, Japan

An All Nippon Airways plane bound for Seattle returned to Tokyo's Haneda airport early Wednesday after a passenger allegedly bit the arm of a cabin attendant.

The 55-year-old American man was restrained by crew members before his arrest by Tokyo police at the airport on suspicion of causing injury to the cabin attendant.

The incident occurred Tuesday night as Flight 118 was over the Pacific.

The man has denied the allegation and was quoted by the police as saying he does not remember what happened as he had taken a sleeping pill.

Related coverage:

Korean Air, Cathay planes come into contact at Hokkaido airport

Japan announces emergency safety steps after Tokyo airport collision

Passengers' mutual aid in deadly JAL crash made for "miracle" escape
I am immensely grateful to the strong women who raised me





By Amol Maokar

The Indian Adminsitrative Service (IAS) was never in her plan. She was in her final semester at the National Law University, Delhi, and had already got placed in a high-paying job in Mumbai. But, when she decided to go for the IAS, the dedication was tremendous. The rest of the story is about that relentless execution of the task at hand. Saumya Sharma, the dynamic young woman leading a team of officers in the Zilla Parishad (ZP) at Nagpur as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), is not an overnight success. There have been remarkable twists in her story, and hours and hours of blood, sweat, and tears before she took that esteemed chair of challenge at the age of 28 years.

I am immensely grateful to the strong women who raised me, Saumya Sharma begins by mentioning that in her family, she had always been surrounded by hard-working and progressive women -- her grandmothers from both sides, her mother, and now her mother-in-law. The standards had always been high, she says, adding that she had the benefit of the guidance of such competent women around her. During the entire conversation with The Hitavada, she carefully avoids all the negative words, and doesnt quite dwell on the permanent hearing loss she suffered during her teens. Anyone would be tempted to draw some free points with the disability coupon. In fact, she refuses to even give any space to things that are usually shortcomings or hurdles for others. Or, may be, they just dont occur to her while she moves ahead with her tremendous force of performance. Probably they do not look like stones, but milestones, to her.

Preparing and appearing for the IAS examination is a story in itself. However, there is more to Saumya Sharmas story. She cleared her prelims along with her law final exams, and moved towards the Mains, the experience of her lifetime, a story that would inspire generations of IAS aspirants. Those five days were arduous. I had high fever and was bed-ridden for two days. I could not even revise before my three Mains papers, which were on the following three days consecutively. I had prepared so much that I could not let a temporary fever defeat my purpose. So, I decided to go for the exams. It was definitely not easy. All the three days, I was on drips, before, after, and between the papers. I was so weak that it was hard to even hold the pen continuously, she recalls. She wrote the papers, nevertheless, and cleared them with flying colours -- with All India 9th rank! It shows not just the grit during the exams and her victory over the fever, but also her diligent preparations for the exams in the previous 12 months.

Narrating her brush with the biggies during her visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and other offices after topping the IAS, she says, We met a lot of people doing exceedingly well in their respective fields. If there was a common thread that ran through all those people who stood out, it was their humility. There is a lot of attractiveness in underplaying oneself and letting your work speak for itself. Her preparatory skills and rapid learning capabilities are showing. Within six months of joining the Maharashtra cadre, she learned to communicate comfortably in Marathi. As the CEO of ZP, which is like a mini-Mantralaya, she has to shift gears every five minutes while monitoring several departments -- Education, Health, Works, Woman and Child Development, Rural Water Supply, Agriculture, Water and Sanitation, Animal Husbandry, District Rural Development Agency, implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, rural housing scheme, self-help groups, etc.
BMC will intensify sterilisation of dogs: Mayor Malti Rai





Staff Reporter

Mayor Malti Rai held a meeting of Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) officers, including Commissioner Frank Noble, and others to address the issue of rising incidents of dog biting in Bhopal, at ISBT on Tuesday. After the meeting, the Mayor said that they are taking action every day, but when an accident happens, then the news spreads more while there is hardly any discussion about our actions. Cases of biting by stray dogs are continuously coming to light in Bhopal. On Tuesday also, two cases were reported in Misrod area.

Earlier on January 10, a 7-month-old baby was torn to death by dogs. On January 11, a 3-year-old child was bitten by stray dogs and when the father complained, the pet lovers beat him up. On January 15, 4 cases were reported simultaneously. As questioned by media in the discussion, Mayor Rai said that despite having limited resources, 20 to 30 sterilisation are being done every day. She said that there is an appeal to people that if they are keeping dogs then they should keep them in cages. Many a times, pet lovers come forward when our teams try to bring dogs to sterilisation centres. We are also taking action against them, she said. She also showed a video to the media about the situation the BMC teams have to deal while they try to catch any stray dog.

On Tuesday, the Mayor also held a hearing on the helpline. A total of 321 complaints have been received here regarding dogs. In such a situation, the Mayor has asked the corporation officials to intensify the action. On the other hand, Congress also raised questions on the issue. Leader of Opposition in the BMC Shabista Zaki has even announced a reward on the Mayor, saying that there is a terror of stray dogs, and she is missing. She claimed that they have become beyond the reach of common people. Mayor Malti Rai on these allegations said that public representatives should make arrangements for bettering a situation. It is very easy to make allegations in the existing system. If support can be obtained in any arrangement then the public representative should provide it. If the corporators make arrangements in their wards, these allegations and counter-allegations will end, she said.
Drugs of Rs 1.6 cr, cannabis worth 27.5 lakh seized





Staff Reporter

BHILAI,

IN a major crackdown the police busted a major interstate drug cartel, culminating in the arrest of a distributor in Jaipur, Rajasthan. A substantial quantity of sedative drugs, valued at over Rs 1.6 crore, was confiscated from the distribution unit. The breakthrough came with the apprehension of local drug peddlers, enabling the police to trace and dismantle the entire illicit drug supply and distribution racket. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ram Gopal Garg addressing the media at the police control room in Bhilai, revealed that coordination with the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) is underway to further investigate the role of the manufacturing unit within the interstate network. SSP Garg provided details about the arrest of two locals, Akanksha Khandelwal and her brother Vaibhav Khandelwal, involved in an online illegal drug supply racket.

The Mohan Nagar police, following an extensive investigation, successfully busted the illicit drug supply network with the apprehension of the distributor, Ankush Paliwal (35), residing in Tirupati Vihar, Bundi district, Rajasthan. During the course of the investigation, it was disclosed that Ankush Paliwal owns Biolab Remedies in Bundi district and was supplying scheduled drugs to illegally established companies in the country, including some in Bangladesh. Acting on the information provided by Paliwal, the police conducted raids in various locations, including Kota, Bundi, and Jaipur, resulting in the seizure of sedative drugs, including tablets and syrup, worth over Rs 1.6 crore.

Akanksha Khandelwal and Vaibhav Khandelwal confessed to operating an illicit drug supply racket online in Chhattisgarh and beyond the state borders. They created fake companies, Vaibhav Pharmaceuticals and Virus Lab, and obtained illicit drugs from Ankush Paliwal. SSP Garg commended the specially constituted police team, led by CSP Durg Police Subdivision Manishankar Chandra, for successfully tracking the major supply link and uncovering the interstate illicit drug supply racket. The teams dedication during a fiveday operation in Rajasthan was acknowledged, with personal recommendations for awards by SSP Garg
Leadership is combination of daring, self-confidence: CDS





PUNE,

CHIEF of Defence Staff, General Anil Chouhan on Tuesday said that the outcome of any combat is dependent on three big tangible elements that are technology, tactics and organisational structures. General Anil Chouhan along with the chief of three defence forces- Army, Air and Navy addressed young cadets at the event to celebrate 75 years of the National Defence Academy. Leadership in the Armed Forces is generally exercised in combat or war, or as a run-up to it. The outcome of any combat, in fact, the smallest form of engagement to the largest campaign or battle, I believe is dependent on three big tangible elements. These are technology, tactics and organisational structures. However, theres a common intangible thread of military leadership that runs across the entire spectrum of combat as a battle-winning factor.

The leadership requirements are different as per the nature of combat, General Anil Chouhan said. He further added that at the very engagement level in the direct military leadership is the follow-me kind of leadership which emanates from the belief that an officer is born to lead. Its a combination of daring and self-confidence which is important. At the level of battle where probably occupational art is exercised, say at the unit or brigade level is a mix of direct or indirect leadership. The leader will be present at the most critical battle, rest of the places, he places his trust on his subordinates, he added.

The Chief of Defence Staff also asserted that the leaders must be agile thinkers. Subordinates must have faith in their leaders. Military leadership is complex. The most carefully laid out plans go airy after the first bullet is fired. Leaders, must therefore must be agile thinkers, capable of navigating complex situations with creativity and resilience. Military academies and their training generate similar ideas and ideals, the CDS said. Cadets, I must say a job like the light brigade is to fight and not to question why. We must be prepared to go into battle with resolve and without a doubt, he added.
Nagpur witnesses 25 fatalities every month





Staff Reporter

While some may describe Nagpurs roads as smooth or concretised, a bitter truth lurks beneath the surface - the citys roads pose a danger to pedestrians. Statistics from the year 2023 indicate that 25 lives are lost each month, with seven of them being pedestrians. According to statistics, a total of 286 persons fell victim to fatal accidents on Nagpurs roads last year. The deteriorating state of the traffic system in the city has been a cause for concern over the past few years. Despite increased efforts in issuing traffic challans, the police have struggled to bring discipline to the chaotic traffic conditions. Last year, fatal accidents increased by four per cent, which highlighted the the urgency for effective measures to be taken.





Pedestrians, in particular, bore the brunt of this crisis, with 90 fatalities and 181 injuries reported in accidents involving them. Shockingly, Nagpur residents are leading in driving dangerously, contributing to 256 accidents that resulted in 70 casualties, including 61 men and 9 women. Twelve accidents were attributed to drunken driving, claiming three lives, including two women. Additionally, 17 accidents resulted in seven deaths which were caused by reckless side driving.

The most alarming trend is observed among four-wheelers, particularly cars, which contributed to 487 out of the total 1216 accidents recorded last year. Two-wheelers were involved in 327 accidents, while heavy vehicles (trucks) were responsible for 195 accidents. A deeper analysis reveals that the time slot from 8 am to 12 pm is the most perilous, with 1,013 accidents occurring during this period in 2023. Meanwhile, 203 accidents reported between 12 midnight and 8 am.
PM Modi leads massive roadshow in Kerala





KOCHI,

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday emphasised the BJPs significant focus on the Opposition-dominated Kerala in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections by conducting a massive roadshow in this port city, marking the second such event in the State where the party had no success in the previous polls. Thousands of BJP workers and local residents lined both sides of the 1.3 km road to welcome the Prime Minister, who visited the city for private, public, and party functions in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts on Wednesday. Commencing from the KPCC junction at 7:45 pm, the open vehicle carrying Modi, accompanied by BJP state president K Surendran, traversed at a slow pace, captivating party workers who showered flowers and chanted slogans. The procession covered a distance of 1.3 km in approximately 25 minutes. Thousands of people, including avid BJP supporters with flowers, garlands, and party flags, lined both sides of the 1.3-km roadshow route from KPCC junction here to the Ernakulam government guest house, where he would be staying. The crowds had gathered hours ahead of the Prime Ministers arrival, creating a festive atmosphere along the route of the roadshow. Modi, wearing a waistcoat and a saffron Nehru cap with lotus symbols, rode in an open vehicle and reciprocated the excitement by waving both hands at the cheering crowd on either side of the brightly lit roadshow route.

The PM was showered with flowers throughout the route by people of all age groups, and he too threw flowers at the ardent supporters many times. Enthusiastic BJP workers and supporters carrying party flags, wearing party hats or caps, and holding placards with Modis image were waiting on both sides of the road and cheered him on with chants of Modi-Modi. The slowly moving open vehicle reached the Ernakulam government guest house around 8.15 pm, bringing the roadshow to an end. The entire route was under a tight security net, with thousands of police personnel being deployed to ensure Modis safety. There were traffic restrictions in place in the port city, especially along the roadshow route, since afternoon. Earlier, the PM was accorded a warm welcome by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after he arrived at the Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery at 6.50 pm in a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force. Thereafter, he left for the airport at the INS Garuda Naval Base by helicopter at 7 pm.

On Wednesday, at 6.30 am, Modi will leave for Guruvayur, where he will offer prayers at the famous Lord Krishna temple and attend the marriage of actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopis daughter, party sources said. He will also offer prayers at Triprayar Sree Rama Swami Temple in Thrissur district and then return to Kochi, the sources said. On Kochis Willingdon Island, he will dedicate to the nation the Cochin Shipyard Ltd international vessel repairing centre and a new dry dock, they said. Subsequently, at 11 am, he will address a party meeting of around 6,000 in-charges of shakti kendras, each comprising two to three booth-level areas, at Marine Drive here. He would return to Delhi by evening, the sources said. This visit of Modi, to attend the marriage of daughter of actor-turned politician Suresh Gopi at the Guruvayoor temple on Wednesday, shows the significance the BJP national leadership places on the Thrissur seat, which is currently represented by Congress leader T N Prathapan. The BJP strengthened its voter base in Thrissur during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls with the candidacy of Suresh Gopi. Earlier this month, the prime minister inaugurated and laid the foundation for various projects worth Rs 1,150 crore in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Thereafter, he had attended a womens convention organised by the BJP in Thrissur.
PM Modi offers prayers at Lepakshi temple





LEPAKSHI (AP) :

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi visited the historic Veerabhadra temple here in Sri Satyasai district on Tuesday. The Prime Minister offered special prayers at the temple, which has immense significance in Ramayana and the Hindu religion, exactly six days prior to the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of the grand Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. Modi chanted songs in praise of Lord Ram, listened to special hymns sung in Telugu extolling the deity, and also witnessed a puppet show on the epic Ramayana featuring Ram, Lakshman, Sita and Ravana, according to live visuals streamed on an official youtube channel. Besides participating in the rituals, guides also explained the significance of the temple to Modi. According to mythology, Lepakshi is the place where the mythical vulture Jatayu fell after being grievously wounded by Ravan who had abducted Sita.

The dying Jatayu told Lord Ram that Sita was indeed taken south by Ravan, and was then granted Moksha (salvation) by him. The ancient Lepakshi temple complex is renowned for its mythological grandeur and also has shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Papanatheswara, Raghunatha, Rama and other deities. Prior to Lepakshi, PM Modi had visited Shree Kala Ram temple in Nashik in Maharashtra. A few days ago, the Prime Minister visited Panchvati on the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik. He offered prayers at the Kala Ram Mandir and listened to the Marathi verses about Ayodhya aagman (arrival in Ayodhya) of Lord Ram from Ramayan.

Before his arrival in Lepakshi, Modi posted a message on X, saying that he will be visiting Andhra Pradesh and Kerala in the next two days. Over the next two days I will be among the people of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Today, 16th January, I will have the opportunity to pray at the Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi. I will also listen to verses from the Ranganatha Ramayan, which is in Telugu, said Modi.
Ram Temple built exactly at place for which we fought: Mahant Raju Das







AYODHYA,

HANUMANGARHI temple priest Mahant Raju Das on Tuesday rejected Congress leader Digvijay Singhs statement that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has not been built on the disputed land that the Supreme Court gave to the Temple Trust. He said that the temple is being constructed exactly at the place for which the Hindu organisations fought. They said that the temple is not being constructed where the court had ordered. Then where is it being constructed? Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should come and tell, Mahant Raju Das said while talking to ANI. The temple is being constructed exactly at the place for which we fought, he added. His statement came after Digvijay Singh alleged on Tuesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and RSS wanted to demolish the Babri Masjid and not build a temple because until the mosque is demolished, the issue does not become a communal issue. In a long post on X, Digvijay Singh said, Congress never opposed the construction of RamMandir in Ayodhya. Was asked only to wait till the courts decision for construction in the disputed land. Bhoomi pujan on non-disputed land was also done during the time of Rajiv ji. Narasimha Rao ji had also acquired non-disputed land for the construction of Ram temple, he said.

But BJP, VHP and RSS wanted to demolish the mosque, not build a temple. Because until the mosque is demolished the issue does not become a Hindu-Muslim issue. Destruction is in their behaviour and character; taking political advantage by spreading unrest is their strategy. Thats why their slogan was Ram Lalla hum aayenge, Mandir wahi Banayenge, he added. He further added that now why not build it (temple) there? When the Supreme Court gave the disputed land to the Trust? Only Champat Rai ji of VHP or Narendra Modi ji can answer this. My sympathies are with the families of the volunteers who were martyred in the temple construction movement and those against whom criminal cases were filed in the court. Have they been invited? Are the people of Nirmohi Akhara, who fought for Ram Janmabhoomi for 175 years, invited? Is this Raj Dharma? Is this Ram Raj? Digvijay Singh said on X.

Sena (UBT) should stop hurting sentiments of Hindus, SAYS Fadnavis: SHIV Sena (UBT) should stop insulting the sentiments of crores of Hindus, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday, a day after Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut raised doubts on the site of construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Talking to reporters after visiting the temple of Mumbadevi, the deity after which Mumbai city has been named, Fadnavis said, I dont respond to fools. But I can say one thing - stop insulting Hindus. You (the Shiv Sena UBT) dont have any contribution in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. And the act of hurting the sentiments of crores of Hindus is wrong, Fadnavis said. The Shiv Sena UBT leader on Monday claimed that the Ram temple in Ayodhya is being built four km away from the original place.
World needs pragmatism to deal with crises, challenges: Puri





By Barun Jha DAVOS :

CITING Indias example in dealing with implications from the Ukraine-Russia war, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said the world needs to deal with challenges and crises pragmatically. Speaking at a session on energy and rivalry here at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Puri said India took a pragmatic approach in the very beginning after the Ukraine war signalled an energy crisis and the results are for everyone to see.

Puri, Minister for Petroleum and Natural gas as well as Housing and Urban Affairs, said India has a large population to take care of and its the Governments responsibility to feed millions of people three times a day. But at the same time we have not let our domestic compulsions come into the way of our global commitments towards a sustainable future, he asserted. Another panelist, European Commissions Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said she agrees that pragmatism is necessary and Europe also recognises that.
Yogi launches wall writing campaign with Is baar BJP char sau paar





GORAKHPUR ,

UTTAR Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday launched the Wall Writing Campaign with the slogan Ek baar phir Modi sarkar, is baar BJP char sau paar (once again Modi Government, this time over 400 for BJP. The Chief Minister first drew a lotus flower on the wall of Shri Vishwakarma Bhagwan Panchayat temple and wrote the slogan below it to start the campaign, which aims at mobilising party workers ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing the workers present at the event organised by the BJP unit, CM Yogi Adityanath called upon the party workers to take the campaign to new heights of success, like the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. He said the campaign is very significant in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modis programmes to communicate with the voters through three massive rallies to be held ahead of the elections. Draw the lotus and write the slogan underneath it wherever there is space on public buildings. However, permission must be taken before writing on someones personal property. Efforts should be made to ensure that no space is empty of slogan, Yogi Adityanath said.

Emphasising the importance of strengthening booth management, the Chief Minister pointed out: The stronger our booths are, the more effective will be our dialogue with the voters, with our candidates winning with huge margins.

He said that the resolution for 2024 is to cross 400 seats and party workers should dedicate their efforts towards achieving this end. The Chief Minister told the party workers not to hesitate in talking about the achievements of the double engine Government.
BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The number of valid invention patents in China had exceeded 4.99 million by the end of 2023, the National Intellectual Property Administration (NIPA) said on Tuesday.

The number of valid trademarks in the country has reached 46.15 million, said Hu Wenhui, deputy head of NIPA, at a press conference, detailing advances made by China in 2023 in the field of intellectual property rights (IPR).

A total of 921,000 invention patents were authorized in 2023, while about 74,000 international patent applications were filed via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), he added.

Some 4.38 million trademarks were registered in the country in 2023. A total of 6,196 international trademark applications were received through the Madrid System during the year.

In addition, China had approved a total of 2,508 geographical indication (GI) products by the end of 2023, with the annual output value of GI products exceeding 800 billion yuan (about 112.46 billion U.S. dollars).

The country registered 11,000 integrated circuit (IC) layout designs in 2023, with the accumulated amount of registered IC layout designs hitting 72,000.

Last year also witnessed the building of 10 pilot zones for IPR protection across the country. The total number of IPR protection centers and rapid IPR service centers reached 112, growing by eight and seven, respectively, in 2023.

Hu noted that the top three technical fields of effective invention patents in China's mainland by growth rate in 2023 were information technology management, computer technology and basic communication programs, which increased by 59.4 percent, 39.3 percent and 30.8 percent year on year, respectively.

"It shows that the country has maintained a high level of innovation in the field of digital technology, which has continuously empowered the high quality development of the digital economy," he said.

He added that enterprises are the main engine to promote innovation, as the effective invention patents of enterprises account for more than 70 percent of the country's total. Among such patents of enterprises, 73.4 percent, or 2.13 million, are from national high-tech enterprises as well as small- and medium-sized sci-tech enterprises.

When asked about the future work in 2024, Hu said that NIPA will improve the standards for patent examination in new fields such as big data, artificial intelligence and gene technology.

In terms of international cooperation, he said that China will host a high-level IPR conference for Belt and Road partner countries in 2024, with a plan to carry out more practical cooperation projects.

China will also deepen its cooperation with IPR agencies of the United States, Europe, Japan and the Republic of Korea, and enlarge the field of cooperation with other BRICS countries and the Association of South-East Asian Nations. 
HANOI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Three divers went missing after a huge explosion in Cua Lon River, Vietnam's Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau on Wednesday morning, local media reported.

The explosion was reported at around 9:30 a.m.

The three victims, all of whom lived in Nam Can district, Ca Mau province, have been identified as divers searching for scraps, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Witnesses found many parts believed to be human bodies on tree branches around the explosion.

Until Wednesday noon, local authorities said they had not been able to determine the explosion location and its cause because it occurred on the river. Rising water levels and rapid flows made the rescue efforts more difficult, VnExpress reported.

The case is being further investigated. 
A flight carrying a correspondent of Xinhua News Agency arrives at the Republic of Nauru, Jan. 17, 2024. A Xinhua News Agency correspondent arrived in the Republic of Nauru on Wednesday local time and became the first Chinese correspondent to enter the Pacific island nation after Nauru's government announced that it had "severed diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan authorities and is willing to resume diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.

Nauru's government issued a statement on Monday, announcing that it recognizes the one-China principle, severed the so-called "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities, and is willing to resume diplomatic relations with China. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

YAREN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Xinhua News Agency correspondent arrived in the Republic of Nauru on Wednesday local time and became the first Chinese correspondent to enter the Pacific island nation after Nauru's government announced that it had "severed diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan authorities and is willing to resume diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.

Nauru's government issued a statement on Monday, announcing that it recognizes the one-China principle, severed the so-called "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities, and is willing to resume diplomatic relations with China.

Xinhua News Agency hired a correspondent and set up a reporting office in Nauru on the same day. 
MANILA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has banned the imports of domesticated and wild birds, including poultry meat and eggs, from the U.S. states of California and Ohio, the country's Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.

Philippine Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the move was due to the outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the two areas.

"The rapid spread of the HPAI H5N1 strain in the United States since the first laboratory detection necessitates a wider coverage of the trade restriction to prevent the entry of HPAI virus and protect the health of the local population," Laurel said.

Laurel ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance of the commodities originating from California and Ohio.

"All shipments from California and Ohio that are already in transit, loaded, or accepted at Philippine ports before the official communication of the order to American authorities shall be allowed, provided that the products were slaughtered or produced 14 days before the first outbreak in the particular locality," Laurel said.

"Poultry and poultry products imported to the country from the states of California and Ohio after Nov. 14, 2023, and Nov. 21, 2023, respectively, shall be seized and destroyed by the DA or returned to the country of origin," the official said.

The DA said the United States is the second-biggest supplier of imported poultry and poultry products to the Philippines, accounting for about 40 percent of the total poultry meat arrivals.

On Jan. 9, the Philippines banned poultry products and domestic and wild birds from Belgium and France after the two European countries reported bird flu outbreaks. 
Andres Osorio from Colombia came to Shache, an ancient county in Xinjiang, and was deeply impressed by the performance of the Twelve Muqam in late autumn. In his eyes, the Twelve Muqam could be described as "Flamenco of the East," with a similar form of performance but a much longer history.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Nigar Hasanova

Holding discussions on the results of COP28 and the impact of Global Climate Change on Azerbaijan is included in the Spring Session Legislative Work Plan of the Parliament Committee for Natural Resources, Energy, and Ecology, Azernews reports.

According to the plan, meetings and discussions with non-governmental organisations specialising in environmental issues are also scheduled within COP29.

This also includes hearings on air pollution management in Baku city within COP29.

The decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023.

Besides Azerbaijan, both Armenia and Bulgaria nominated their candidatures. However, after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia on December 7, 2023, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in favour of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed suit and also withdrew its candidacy.

On January 4, 2024, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, was appointed as President of COP29.
This photo taken on Jan. 17, 2024 shows the entrance of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the country has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan who is currently in Iran "may not return for the time being." (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the country has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan who is currently in Iran "may not return for the time being."

"Unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan's sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations," the ministry said in a statement.

The foreign ministry said that the country has also decided to suspend all high-level visits that were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in the coming days.

Earlier it said that two Pakistani children were killed and three girls injured due to Iran's violation of Pakistan's airspace on Tuesday.

According to Iran's Tasnim news agency, two important bases of the Jaish al-Zulm "terrorist group" in Pakistan were destroyed in missile and drone strikes on Tuesday. 
A Xinhua News Agency correspondent arrived in the Republic of Nauru on Wednesday local time and became the first Chinese correspondent to enter the Pacific island nation after Nauru's government announced that it had "severed diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan authorities and is willing to resume diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
Israel said on Tuesday that a delivery of vital prescription drugs will enter Gaza on Wednesday under a Qatari-brokered agreement.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Ingraham and FNM allowed Bahamians to watch Parliament proceedings for the first time
Trucks carrying containers queue near a port in Yangon, Myanmar, Jan. 18, 2024. Myanmar earned over 10.91 billion U.S. dollars from its exports in over nine months of the 2023-24 fiscal year through March, according to Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

YANGON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar earned over 10.91 billion U.S. dollars from its exports in over nine months of the 2023-24 fiscal year through March, according to Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday.

From April 2023 to Jan. 5, 2024, the Southeast Asian country earned over 7.69 billion dollars from the exports by the private sector, while it netted over 3.22 billion dollars from the government sector, the ministry said.

Myanmar's total export revenue during the period was down, as compared to over 12.78 billion dollars registered in the same period a year ago, it said.

Among the country's exported products, manufactured goods are on top with a revenue of over 6.9 billion dollars, data showed.

Myanmar mainly exports agricultural, animal and marine products, minerals, forest products and manufactured goods to its foreign trade partners, including China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India, according to the commerce ministry. 

Trucks carrying containers queue near a port in Yangon, Myanmar, Jan. 18, 2024. Myanmar earned over 10.91 billion U.S. dollars from its exports in over nine months of the 2023-24 fiscal year through March, according to Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 18, 2024 shows a view of a port in Yangon, Myanmar. Myanmar earned over 10.91 billion U.S. dollars from its exports in over nine months of the 2023-24 fiscal year through March, according to Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
Bridges and overpasses closed Monday evening as freezing rain slicked roadways, leading to a number of vehicle crashes and schools being canceled for Tuesday.

Most of Texas is suffering under a strong arctic front that hit Orange County on Monday with strong winds sending windchills into the teens. The low at the Orange County Airport reached 23 degrees overnight, with a low of 19 forecast for Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service.

And even though Thursday is supposed to be sunny with a high of 68, people should leave their cold weather protections in place. Another cold front is forecast to come through on Saturday, once again dropping the temperatures into the 20s.

Orange County Emergency Management Director Joel Ardoin on Tuesday said he heard of no major problems, except for the slick roads and bridges. County offices closed on Tuesday, along with schools, because of the roads, bridges, and overpasses freezing.

A fire Monday night destroyed an RV and the resident was able to escape safely because of her dog awakening her. Fire officials attributed the blaze to a space heater "fire place."

The NWS forecast had called for a slight, 10 percent chance of freezing rain for Southeast Texas, but some hit Monday afternoon. Freezing rain falls as liquid and immediately freezes to a slick sheet of ice. A few snow flurries were spotted, but the snow didn't stick.

Luckily, the ice layer was thin, not like the freezing rain that caused the devastating ice storm in January 1997 that left thick coats of ice on trees, causing thousands of limbs and branches to break off. The falling branches caused major power outages that took days to fix. In addition, the limbs crashed through roofs and blocked roadways.

The Texas Department of Transportation late Monday afternoon closed the Rainbow and Veterans bridges between Bridge City and Port Arthur, along with the Highway 62 overpass at Mauriceville. Tuesday morning, they were opened.

The county closed the East Roundbunch Road swing bridge outside of Bridge City and it is expected to open on Wednesday.

Some schools along with Orange County and city of Orange offices were closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday.

The annual Orange NAACP MLK March went on schedule late Monday morning from Salem United Methodist Church to the Riverfront Pavilion in downtown. Marchers, including a group from the new Chevron Phillips Golden Triangle Polymers plant, huddled against strong north winds with gusts up to 20 miles per hour. Temperatures in Orange were in the mid-30s at the time, with the winds putting the windchill to 28 degrees.

By late afternoon, the freezing rain had hit, covering cars, sidewalks, and outdoor steps. Bridges and overpasses are more likely to freeze because of cold air under their surfaces. A crash involving two 18-wheel truck rigs and a car shut down the Interstate 10 bridge over the Sabine River. A pickup truck slid and hit the wall of the Highway 62 overpass in Mauriceville.

Tuesday morning, a few more snow flurries were spotted, but skies mostly cleared. That didn't mean the temperatures warmed. The high at the county airport Tuesday reached 36 degrees, but the strong winds with gusts up to 25 mph made the windchill never rise past 28 degrees.

Even in the cold wind, kids out of school played outside, collecting icicles that reached 10 inches in some places and throwing discs of ice covering bird baths, pet bowls, buckets and other water-filled containers outside.

Some restaurants and businesses also closed, but were expected to be back open on Wednesday.

The next cold front is forecast to blow in on Friday, again bringing strong north winds with gusts up to 30 mph. But at least Friday and Saturday with the sub-freezing weather, the skies are supposed to be clear with no freezing rain or snow.
DUBLIN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- China will apply unilateral visa-free policy to Ireland to facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Wednesday.

Li made the remarks when meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, the official Irish state guest house. 
What are the feedbacks to Delhi ? Note the aggression

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Why is Delhi dragging its feet on the matter ? What is the feedback that Delhi is receiving from its man Friday, Security Advisor to the Government of Manipur, Kuldiep Singh ? These are not spur of the moment questions, but points being raised by looking at the reality, the reality of what is happening at Moreh and what has been happening at the border town since the last few days of December, 2023. It is obvious that Delhi has also preferred to look the other way, refusing to toe the line of Chief Minister N Biren, a man who Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave a clean chit, underlining his point with the words, The Chief Minister is co-operative. This was not said during a public meeting or at a social or political event, but on the floor of Parliament in the early part of August 2023. This was the faith and confidence that Delhi had reposed on Chief Minister N Biren back in August last year and fast forward to January, 2024 and one is left wondering where that faith and confidence have gone when the Chief Minister publicly announced that he suspects the hands of Myanmar based militants in the series of attacks at Moreh. Case of Delhi and Imphal talking in two tongues or a case of taking the people of Manipur for a ride or a case of Delhi more inclined to what its man Friday, Kuldiep had to say when he pointed out that there is no evidence of Myanmar based militants being involved in the series of attacks on the security forces at Moreh ? Either way the situation does not speak well for Manipur, for this is a perfect example of Imphal and Delhi talking in two tongues and such a case cannot be good for Manipur and her people. Series of attacks on security personnel at Moreh from the last few days of December last year to now shooting to death two police personnel at the border town on January 17. It was not just a one off thing, for intense gun battles ensued between the Kuki militants and the security personnel and one is left wondering what is holding back the State Government from demanding that the SoO pact be abrogated. That the attack and the precise manner in which two police personnel were shot dead could not have been the handiwork of any village volunteer but had all the writings of well trained persons pulling the trigger, much like the case of the Moreh SDPO who was killed by a sniper on October 31 last year, should be clear to Delhi and Imphal.

Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh may have been under the impression that there is no evidence of Myanmar based militants having a hand in the series of attacks on the security personnel at Moreh but one wonders what his take would be on the situation at Moreh now. Is it the work of just village volunteers or Kuki militants ? From where have the sophisticated weapons come from ? These very questions itself should answer the points that have been raised. What these questions have not answered is however what Delhi intends to do. Doesnt the unwillingness to admit to the involvement of elements from outside the country run counter to the earlier position of illegal immigrants from across the border position held by External Affairs Minister S Jaishanker ? And how about the suspicion raised by Chief Minister on the involvement of elements from across the border ? As pointed out earlier, remember the Chief Minister is a man who the Union Home Minister had described as a man who is cooperating. Given the brazen manner in which police personnel are being targeted at Moreh, Delhi would do wise to question why Kuki CSOs like the CoTU and ITLF are so strongly against the deployment of State police at Moreh and are all in favour of forces like the Assam Rifles. What does such a posturing say ? There will be no answer, but here is a near perfect script to further drive the wedge of differences between Manipur and the Central security personnel. This is a natural fallout. The Sangai Express joins in saluting the departed soul of the police personnel killed at Moreh in the wee hours of January 17, 2024.
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Sunny with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 68F. NW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 35F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.

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Mostly sunny skies. High 64F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
I mean it just stayed with us. It just was in our blood, it was in our DNA somewhere, and so he just kept developing and developing until I finally said I am going to create my favorite rock star and I'm going to play him. Because I'm not going to be him, I'm going to play him. So I created Alice to be this vampiric phantom with the makeup and the snakes and all these things that we're going to upset every parent in America and all over the world, and it was easy to shock an audience back then.
BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday expressed full support for Fujian Province to explore new ways for deepening integrated development across the Taiwan Strait.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference that since the central authorities decided to build a demonstration zone for cross-Strait integrated development in Fujian Province, relevant departments of the central Party and government have worked with Fujian to promote the effective implementation of various tasks and measures stipulated in the circular.

In 2024, relevant departments of the central Party and government will further put forward innovative measures within the framework of the central authorities' decision, Chen said.

He called on Fujian Province to continue to assume principal responsibilities, innovate working methods, and promote the implementation of these measures. 
Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 and delivers a special address to the event in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

In addition to China's proposals on addressing world challenges, the Chinese premier's insights on the Chinese economy were another crucial focus for the political and business elites in attendance.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- In a spotlight event held on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Chinese Premier Li Qiang took the stage as the first speaker to deliver a special address.

Inviting Li to commence his speech, Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, said: "We are all eager to hear your insights on the current challenges and opportunities facing China and the world, especially against the backdrop of this meeting's theme, 'Rebuilding Trust.'"

Li began his address by elucidating his perspective on "Rebuilding Trust."

"The lack of trust is aggravating risks to global growth and peaceful development," Li said, emphasizing that "whether it is to overcome current difficulties, or to create a better future, it is essential that we discard prejudice, bridge differences and work as one to tackle the trust deficit."

This year's WEF gathering takes place against the backdrop of unprecedented global economic challenges with more than half of chief economists expecting a weakening global economy in 2024, and seven in ten predicting an acceleration in the pace of geoeconomic fragmentation, according to the latest Chief Economists Outlook released by WEF. That's why many like Schwab were waiting for answers from China.

In his speech, Li cautioned against "fragmented and separate responses" to global crises, suggesting countries strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination and firmly uphold the multilateral trading system to build greater synergy for global growth.

He also underscored the importance of keeping global industrial and supply chains "stable and smooth" by strengthening global industrial specialization and collaboration and firmly advancing trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

The Chinese premier called for cooperation in innovation to keep competition healthy and at the same time urged strengthening cooperation on green development to actively tackle climate change.

Noting that problems like the North-South gap, divergences in recovery, and the technological divide have become more acute, Li said it is imperative to enhance North-South and South-South cooperation, so as to build a universally beneficial and inclusive world economy.

In addition to China's proposals on addressing world challenges, the Chinese premier's insights on the Chinese economy were another crucial focus for the political and business elites in attendance.

Li's speech met their expectations. The Chinese premier shared with the audience the proper method to observe the Chinese economy. He underscored that understanding the Chinese economy requires broadening one's vision and adopting a panoramic view to grasp the whole picture, akin to appreciating the beauty of the Alps by zooming out and looking from afar.

Using data, arguments, and commitments, he drove home the point that "choosing the Chinese market is not a risk but an opportunity."

Regarding the operational dynamics of the Chinese economy, he presented these statistics: in 2023, the Chinese economic trajectory experienced a resurgence, ascending with an approximate GDP growth of 5.2 percent, surpassing the initial target of around 5 percent set at the commencement of the year. Presently, China boasts an impressive array of approximately 400,000 high-tech enterprises, the second-highest globally in terms of the number of unicorn companies.

In demonstrating the allure of China for foreign investments and enterprises, he provided the following data: in China, there are now over 400 million people in the middle-income bracket, and the number is expected to reach 800 million in the next decade or so.

China's overall tariff level has been cut to 7.3 percent, close to that of developed members of the World Trade Organization. In the past five years, the return on foreign direct investment in China stood at around 9 percent, which is quite competitive globally.

China will stay committed to the fundamental national policy of opening up and open its door even wider to the world, Li said, adding that his country embraces investments from businesses of all countries with open arms, and will steadily expand institutional opening up, continue to shorten the negative list for foreign investment, provide national treatment for foreign businesses, and keep fostering a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment.

After Li's address, Schwab thanked the Chinese premier for sharing proposals related to strengthening global cooperation, and providing "a trustful outlook for China's economy."

"The premier's address conveyed unwavering determination to promote the construction of an open world economy and once again expressed confidence in sharing China's development opportunities with countries worldwide," Deloitte China Chair Jiang Ying told Xinhua.

China contributes "a diverse and stable industrial supply system and an extensive consumer market" to the global economy, Jiang said, adding that Chinese innovation has also been continuously injecting new vitality into global industrial prosperity.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends a luncheon hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and exchanges views with heads of multinational companies during the WEF Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Li later in the day met leaders of 14 multinational companies, including Walmart, JPMorgan Chase, Intel, BASF, Volkswagen, and Siemens, during a lunch.

Over the years, their investments in the Chinese market have achieved tremendous success, and they are fully confident in China's economic development and are willing to deepen cooperation with China, persist in developing in China, and contribute to China's development, the business and finance leaders told Li. 
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is opposed to Metro rails proposal to dismantle a portion of the Dakshineswar skywalk or any sort of relocation as part of its expansion of the Metro route.

The livid chief minister today not only binned the Metro rails alleged proposal of dismantling a portion of the Dakshineswar skywalk but announced that the state government would in no way allow it to dismantle the skywalk at Dakshineswar. Come what may I wont allow you to dismantle the Dakshineswar skywalk. Rail has informed us that Dakshineswar skywalk has to be dismantled to make room for the proposed expansion of its route. How arrogant they are! They say I dont let them worship Durga Puja, Sarswati Puja. I had to weather many hurdles, including a series of suits in the court of law, relocation of hawkers, to bring the skywalk to fruition for the convenience of the visitors there.

It was a project close to my heart. I am ready to cooperate with them to change the route but no act of dismantling would be allowed. In the same way she also rubbished the proposal of any sort of dismantling or relocation of the Alipore bodyguard Lines to make room for the land required for Behala Metro expansion work.

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The Dakshineswar skywalk, which was inaugurated in 2018, was built with an eye to ease the congestion and for the seamless journey leading to the temple but the Metro rails alleged proposal now to dismantle the skywalk to make room for the land required for its proposed expansion caused a flutter in the state administration.

There are many lands there if they require we will cooperate with them. Work is in progress for the Kalighat skywalk as well, she said. She later added, The railways gave the letter on 20 January. I was not aware of this and came to know after reading a newspaper report. This letter took time to reach me and so I am now making a rule that these kinds of letters should reach me immediately.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will visit Kalighat temple and offer puja on Monday, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. I will do a rally on 22 January. It will begin from Kali Mandir, where only I will visit to offer prayers to Maa Kaali.

Following that, we will hold an interfaith rally from Hazra to Park Circus Maidan and hold a meeting there. We will cover mosques, temples, churches, and gurdwaras along the way. Everybody is welcome to join the rally. People of all faiths will be there at the rally, she said from Nabanna, the state secretariat. She then went on to add, Many people have been asking me about various temples but I have nothing to say.

I have always said Dhorma Jaar Jaar, Utsob Shobaar (religion is a personal, while festivals are for everyone). She is calling her march as Sampriti Rally, adding, On the same day, my party members will hold a rally in every block, in every district at 3pm. Hindu seers, like the Shankaracharyas of Puri and Uttarakhand have distanced themselves from the event at Ayodhya, saying that the manner it is being conducted is not in proper order. The pran-pratishtha should be performed by religious leaders, the saints.

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I have heard what they have to say on the issue. I respect their views, she said. Mamata later said, From 20 January till Feb 12, we will hold camps in every polling station where three of our officers will be present. People can give their names if they havent been able to avail of our welfare schemes. This will be under the banner of Jono Sanjog programme.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescued 182 pilgrims stranded on a grounded ferry off Kakdwip in West Bengal on Tuesday. The merchant vessel Swasthya Sathi was ferrying about 400 pilgrims from Gangasagar Mela at Sagar island to Kakdwip when it ran aground due to extremely poor visibility, according to a communique issued by the defence ministry.

After receiving a message from District Magistrate, South 24 Parganas in the wee hours, the operations team of the ICG swung into action immediately and dispatched two air cushion vehicles (hovercrafts) from Haldia and Sagar island to provide assistance. The hovercrafts evacuated 182 pilgrims before guiding the boat with the remaining pilgrims to a safe destination, it said. The ministry said to ensure the safety of people during the annual mela, the ICG had already deployed sea borne units at various strategic locations.

A rapid lifesaving action team of divers, with a gemini boat, is positioned at the mela site for any eventuality. In addition, an officer from ICG ship Frazerganj is positioned at Sagar island for coordination with the state administration and supervision of seafront safety aspects, it added.

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Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy met Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani group at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The conglomerate announced investments worth Rs 12,400 crore in the state.

The Telangana government and the Adani group signed four Memoranda of Understanding for investments worth Rs 12,400 crore in the state for multiple projects. While Adani Green Energy will invest Rs 5,000 crore for setting up two pumped storage projects in Telangana with a capacity of 1350mw, Adani ConneX Data Centres will set up a data centre campus for Rs 5,000 crore in Chandanvelly.

Ambuja Cements, another entity of the group will invest about Rs 1,400 crore for setting up a cement grinding unit in Telangana with a capacity of six million tonne per annum. Adani Groups Aerospace and Defence will invest another Rs 1,000 crore in counter drone systems and missile development and manufacturing centres at the Adani Aerospace and Defence Park in Hyderabad.

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The Chief Minister assured Adani that the state government will provide required amenities, infrastructure and support for the projects. According to the statement issued by the Chief Ministers Office, Adani said  The new government in Telangana has been extremely investor friendly and with the new planned policies, should attract more investments. Adani group will continue growing in Telangana at high space with the provided.

Reddy and the Congress had drawn flak from the Opposition  BJP and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for hobnobbing with the Adanis since party MP Rahul Gandhi often attacks Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of being partisan towards Gautam Adani.

Just a few days ago, the Chief Minister had met a delegation from Adani group led by Karan Adani, CEO of Adani Ports and SEZ, sparking controversy.
Faith of Indias retail investors remained intact in Adani Groups stocks even a year after Hindenburg Researchs scathing report last January.

Exchange data compiled by Bloomberg shows that individual holdings in nine of the groups 10 stocks at the end of December are higher than they were before the short-sellers attack on the multinational conglomerate.

Billions of dollars in investments from marquee funds including GQG Partners LLC, and observation from the Supreme Court that it wont take media reports on Adani as the gospel truth, has renewed investor confidence in the group stocks.

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Notably, the groups market value has increased by more than USD 60 billion since late November, and is just USD 50 billion away from erasing the losses spurred by Hindenburgs report.

The recovery likely rewarded retail investors who used the selloff as a buying opportunity.

The data further revealed that while foreign investors, insurance companies and high-networth individuals pared their holdings in various group entities in 2023, the number of retail investors, those with at least Rs 2,00,000 (USD 2,411) to invest, jumped 42 per cent to 6.7 million in Adani companies.

Hindenburgs allegations of stock manipulation and fraud, repeatedly denied by the group, had wiped off more than USD 150 billion from its market value at one point.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had said there were no grounds for taking away the investigation of the Adani group of companies in the Hindenburg report from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

It granted the markets regulator three months to complete the investigation of two pending matters and also refused to interfere in the agencys matter.

The CJI-led bench refused to nix SEBIs FPI regulations, saying courts cannot enter into the domain of regulatory regime. The apex court also refused to interfere with SEBIs probe into the episode and declined to set up an SIT.

The apex court said the Centre and SEBI would look into whether Hindenburg Research violated any law on short-selling. If there is a violation, they may take any action in accordance with law.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has called for strict action against three officials of the revenue department for alleged gross misconduct in allotment of tentage work worth Rs 23.40 crore for kanwar camps in the national capital in 2022.

Saxena has recommended strict action as per the relevant rules against the then SDM (HQ) RR Singh, Section Officer Sanjay Kumar Madan and Junior Assistant Anurag, based on a factual report submitted by the CS in the matter, wherein it was alleged that a scam had taken place in awarding the tentage work for Kanwar camps by the caretaking branch of the Revenue Department, the LG office said on Wednesday.

The LG Secretariat had received a complaint on July 19, 2022 regarding the same and it was forwarded to the CS with a direction to submit a factual report in the matter. Accordingly, the CS vide dated October 21, 2022, submitted the report to the LG, it said.

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The report categorically underlined the gross misconduct on part of these officials as the work awarded to the bidders were modified without prior approval of the competent authority and thus causing loss to the government exchequer, it claimed.

The complainant alleged that ordinary tents (shamiana) were set up @ Rs 3.45 per sq ft, which was @Rs.2.25 in the year 2019. It was alleged that waterproof tents could be used in place of ordinary tents @ Rs.3.45 per sq ft. Further, the Revenue Department ordered tin shade @ Rs 7.90 per sq ft instead of pipe structured steel hanger previously used @ Rs 3.90 per sq ft. In addition, LED par can lights were ordered @ Rs 8 instead of halogen light available for a meagre Rs1 per unit, the LG office said.

During the inquiry, the Revenue Department informed the DoV (Directorate of Vigilance) that the work order for hiring of tentage and electrical items for Kanwar yatra was on the basis of extension, awarded to the L1 bidder, which was earlier given the contract in 2019. Kanwar Yatra was not organized in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 Pandemic.

The tentage and electric work was awarded to three vendors namely Guptajee Tent Services Pvt. Ltd, Mahalakshmi Light House and Ahuja Tents and Decorators, as per the LG office.

The Revenue Department stated that prior approval was not taken by the caretaking branch to include new items in the work order and they were presumably inserted in the final document by these three officers, who signed and certified the work order, it said.

The DoV in its report observed that additional items like tin shade, side walls, LED lights, etc. were added in the work orders without approval of the competent authority, which amounted to gross misconduct. Accordingly, major penalty proceedings were recommended against the three officials, it said.

The DoV has also directed the concerned District Magistrate to conduct two verifications by different officials to ensure fair and neutral verification of the tentage work. The process of payment is yet to be started as no bill has been submitted by the vendors, it added.
Akshay Kumar expressed heartfelt congratulations to his wife, Twinkle Khanna, on her graduation, sharing a touching note and a picture from her ceremony on Instagram.

Twinkle is dressed in a green saree beneath a black cape, and Akshay is wearing a black coat. The couple is seen in the picture grinning and holding each other.

Akshay acknowledged Twinkles ability to balance her studies, home, work, and family in his post, praising her dedication. Twinkle reflected on her experience and development while pursuing her Masters in Fiction Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London, in an Instagram post that included a video from her graduation day.

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Twinkle, who is well-known for her best-selling novels, such as Pyjamas Are Forgiving and Mrs. Funnybones, recently earned a masters degree in fiction writing. After more than 20 years of marriage, the couple has two children: a daughter, Nitara, 11, and a son, Aarav, 21.

Akshay made a lighthearted reference back in 2022 when he mentioned dropping his wife off at the University of London when she was studying there. Among Twinkles literary accomplishments are works such as The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad. Her fourth book, Welcome to Paradise, was just released.

Future plans call for Akshay Kumar to join Riteish Deshmukh in the star-studded ensemble of Welcome to the Jungle, the Hindi adaptation of the Tamil drama film Soorarai Pottru and Housefull 5, which opens in theatres on June 6, 2025.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, vowing to defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradedh in the coming Lok Ssbha polls, flagged off the first phase of the Pichara, Dalit and Alpasankyak (PDA) yatra on Wednesday.

The first phase of the yatra will continue till 1 February. All the SP leaders will participate in the PDA Yatra and the media will also be addressed at various places.

On this occasion, Yadav while addressing the media persons, said that the year 2024 is certainly a new year but it is also the year of change in power at the Centre.

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Today democracy is in danger, MPs from Lok Sabha are suspended for asking questions. In such a situation, what should the public expect from the government, he questioned.

Claiming that only the PDA alliance will defeat NDA in 2024, on seat sharing with India alliance, he said that a decision on this will be taken soon. If the government is formed at the Center with our cooperation, the youth will get jobs.

Targeting the Yogi government of UP, he raised questions on the claims of investment. He said that Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are the first choice of investors.

The facilities there are also better. In such a situation, who will invest in UP? The government should provide information as to how much investment came into the state and how many people got employment as a result.

When asked on when he will go to have darshan of Lord Shri Ram, Akhilesh Yadav said that we are old religious people. For us PDA is our God.

He also said that the SP will not field any candidate in the by-election on one seat of UP Legislative Council. The BJP has made former SP MLA Dara Singh Chauhan its candidate for this seat.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday flagged off the maiden Air India Express flight from Kolkata to Ayodhya.

Yogi, who joined the programme through video conferencing from his official residence in Lucknow, said on the occasion that Ayodhya is going to be the most prominent city as tourist destination in the country and the world in times to come.

Ayodhya has a large number of local devotees, but considering the eagerness in the entire country, we have taken up the responsibility to ease the movement devotees. The work done by the Civil Aviation Ministry for this is commendable, he added.

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The chief minister thanked Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and General VK Singh who, he said, provided all possible support to Uttar Pradesh by focusing special attention on its connectivity.

Under the inspiration and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh has given excellent results in this direction and within the last nine and a half years, not only new airports have come up in Uttar Pradesh but with four international airports, the state has become a leader in terms of air connectivity, he added.

Yogi said Ayodhya is not only a symbol of Indias eternal faith, but Lord Shri Ram is also a symbol of our religion, wealth, work and efforts related to salvation. After a long gap of 500 years, the entire country has expressed its faith in Ayodhya. Today its result is in front of us.

On January 22, 2024, Ram Lalla will be present in his physical form at his birthplace. Naturally, there is a curiosity and eagerness to reach Ayodhya in the entire country.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said where Rams name is mentioned, work gets completed there. Today is another important day. Under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Yogi, Uttar Pradesh is reaching new heights in terms of development and progress, he added.

He said, We had celebrated one Diwali last year, the second Diwali was celebrated recently at the time of election results of three states and now the third Diwali is going to be celebrated on January 22. 22 January 2024 will be the most memorable day in the lives of all the 800 crore Ram devotees across the world.
The Congress and the Samajwadi Party on Wednesday discussed seat sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

A meeting was convened by the Congress National Alliance Committees convenor Mukul Wasnik with the leaders of the SP in this regard.

The meeting between both the parties was held as part of the grand old partys series of meetings with the parties of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc on seat sharing. The maiden between both the parties was held on January 8.

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Talking to reporters after the meeting , senior Congress leader and member of the panel Salman Khurshid said, We had a very good discussion. No decision has been taken. We kept our wish list. We have shared the details of each seat in detail.

I hope the alliance will happen before the yatra (Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra) reaches UP, he said.

Khurshid also informed the next meeting would be held very soon.

Senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said, We have crossed the halfway point(on seat sharing). The rest will be covered soon.

Notably, the meeting of the NAC with SP came days after it held deliberations with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over seat sharing.

Earlier, it held meetings with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) from Bihar, besides Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) from Maharashtra.
"I have a very big, high expectation with the China-Nauru relationship," Joshua Scotty, a local legal practitioner in Nauru told Xinhua.

"I do recognize the one-China principle and I agree with the government of severing relations with Taiwan," said Scotty, who has seen a lot of positive feedback from neighboring Pacific island countries.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
BJP veteran and former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has expressed his surprise at the allegation of the Congress led State government, wherein it blamed the BJP of being anti-Himachal.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, he said that it seems that before giving the statement, historical facts were ignored and that the statement has been made contrary to the facts.

To make the people of the country aware of the facts, it is necessary that the entire matter be brought before the people in detail, he stated.

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Punjab was reorganized on November 1, 1966, out of which Haryana became a new state and the hilly region was merged into Himachal, at that time there was a Congress government at the Centre.

Under the Punjab Re-Organization Act, 1966, a law passed in the Parliament, the state received assets and liabilities equal to the population that went to the state on the basis of reorganization.

At that time, the Congress was in power in the country and also in all the three states Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, but sadly, when the Bhakra Dam and other projects were being distributed, the Chief Minister or ministers of Himachal government did not attend any meeting, as a result Himachals right remained weak, he claimed.

The BJP had raised the question of royalty and Himachals share in power projects and pressing for the demands, Adhikar Yatra was taken out from Himachal to Delhi in which MPs and representatives of Panchayat Samitis participated, he added.

Former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar was the then leader of the legislative party and the Adhikar Yatra was organized under his leadership. I was the state president of the party at that time, he asserted.

In Delhi, we staged a dharna with our demands and our national leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, Krishna Lal Sharma also participated in the dharna, fully supporting our demands at the national level, said Dhumal.

The issue of getting our share of 12 per cent free electricity was also raised by Shanta Kumar, when he was the CM and was supported by the then Union Energy Minister Kalpanath Rai, he said, claiming that the credit for providing royalty to Himachal also goes to the BJP leadership.

After the BJP came to power in 2008 and efforts bore fruits, the decision of the Supreme Court came in favour of Himachal Pradesh, according to which in addition to 12 per cent free electricity, Himachal got 7.19 per cent share under the Punjab Reorganization Act from November 1, 1966, he said.

The dues from November 1, 1966 to September 2012 were calculated and the outstanding amount was Rs 4300 crore. We put our claim of pending dues before the Supreme Court and the concerned states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and the Congress led UPA government at the Centre, he maintained.

The Congress came to power in December 2012. Now the Congress government should tell what steps it took between 2012 and 2017 to collect the dues of Rs 4300 crore, he questioned.

The Congress government failed to make serious efforts to collect its rights and dues, he blamed, adding that all the records are available with the government.
Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that though he was committed to his faith, he wouldnt exploit his religion for personal gain.

Addressing a public gathering at the Mokokchung district of Nagaland on the fourth day of `Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress leader said, I do not exploit my religion for personal gain. I am committed to living by the principles of my faith, which, to me, means showing respect, avoiding arrogance, and refraining from spreading hatred.

Underscoring the significance of the northeast region of the country, he affirmed, We wanted to convey that the northeast is as vital as any other part of India, and its importance is not diminished by its smaller population.

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Reflecting on his previous Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, the Congress MP expressed his intention to undertake a similar journey from east to west.

Addressing the Naga problem, Gandhi stressed the need to resolve it through dialogue and understanding. In this context, he criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, There is a problem that requires resolution, but the prime minister lacks the necessary conversation, listening, and effective implementation of a solution.

The Nagaland insurgency, one of the countrys oldest, involves tribal groups seeking autonomy, a separate constitution, and a distinct flag. Although a peace accord was signed in 2015 during the BJP-led government, the issue persists.

In a critique of the prime ministers credibility, Gandhi remarked that promises, particularly those related to education and employment, have not been fulfilled during the nine years of Modis tenure. He pointed out that people are disturbed by the unkempt commitments.

During his yatra in the Mokokchung district, Gandhi also interacted with bikers.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad on Wednesday said that he will not attend the January 22 consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

I will not go to Ayodhya to attend the pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple, Prasad said without citing any specific reason for not attending the event.

The Pran Pratishta ceremony will be held in Ayodhya on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with thousands of other dignitaries, politicians, film stars, athletes and religious gurus have been invited to attend the ceremony.

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However, the Opposition has boycotted the ceremony terming it a political function of the BJP and RSS, centred around Prime Minister Modi.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior party leader Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have also respectfully declined the invitation of Ram Mandirs consecration ceremony.

The Left has also refused to attend the ceremony and accused the BJP of politicising religion.

So far, none of the Oppositions INDIalliance leaders have accepted the invite. Earlier this week, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had also refused to go to the Ram temple on January 22. He, however, said that he will visit the temple along with his family after the consecration ceremony.

Another INDI bloc partner and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has also refused to go to Ayodhya on January 22. Instead, she has announced an inter-religious rally in Kolkata on the day of consecration ceremony.

The BJP has slammed the Opposition for not accepting the invitation and called INDIA parties anti-Sanatana.
A petition has been filed in the Allahabad High Court demanding a ban on the January 22 consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Citing the objections raised by four Shankaracharyas, who have declined the invitation to the ceremony, the petition claimed the scheduled pran prathishtha of the temple is against the Sanatan tradition.

The PIL further alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is conducting the ceremony keeping an eye on the upcoming general elections.

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A demand was also made for immediate hearing on the petition filed by Bhola Das, a resident of Ghaziabad, as, he said, a few days were left for the event.

In a similar case, the High Court had refused to hear a PIL challenging the government order issued by the chief secretary of the Uttar Pradesh government to organize bhajan-kirtan, reading of Ramcharitmanas in all temples of the state, among others, on January 22.

This PIL was filed on behalf of advocate Narottam Shukla, president, All India Lawyers Union (AILU), Uttar Pradesh. Four people have been made parties in the petition.

A prayer was made for urgent hearing of the petition before Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, but the court refused to list it in the urgent business.
Prof TJ Joseph, former Head of Malayalam Department at Newman College in Thodupuzha, whose right hand was chopped off allegedly by Popular Front of India (PFI) activists, participated in a programme with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He shared the stage with the Prime Minister at the BJP Shakti Kendra Pramukhs meeting held at Marine Drive in Kochi on Wednesday.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently arrested the prime accused, Savad, in connection with the 2010 attack on Prof TJ Joseph.

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The NIAs fugitive tracking wing based on a tip-off raided a rented house in Beram near Mattannur in Kannur district last week and took Savad, who chopped off the right hand of Prof TJ Joseph in 2010, into custody.

According to the NIA, it was a reference to Prophet Muhammad in one of the question papers for BCom exams in March 2010 set by Prof. Joseph that provoked the accused to attack the professor.

As per the NIA chargesheet filed in 2013, Savad smashed the windshields of the car and forcefully pulled the professor out, attacking him with a chopper, knives, and a small axe.

They hurled country-made bombs to prevent family members and others from rescuing Joseph. The hand, which has insulted Islam, shall not be of any use in the future, Savad reportedly uttered, while cutting off the right hand of Joseph.

In 2015, in the first phase of trial, 13 accused were convicted, while 18 were acquitted. In the second phase of trial in 2023, six were convicted and five acquitted. All the accused, including Savad, were members of the Popular Front of India (PFI), which was banned in 2022.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attacked the Congress-led UDF and the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF in Kerala for corruption and scams and expressed confidence that the southern state will play a role in BJPs victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

He was addressing a BJP Shaktikendra Incharges Sammelan in Kochi, Kerala, after inaugurating three major infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 4,000 crore in Kochi.

The Prime Minister said that positive outcomes of BJPs transparent policies are clearly visible as the party took steps for the welfare of the poor, women, youth and farmers.

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In the last nine years, 25 crore people have come out of poverty, he said, while for five decades, the Congress only gave slogans of poverty alleviation. This proves that the direction chosen by the BJP for Developed India was right, he said.

Mr Modi said despite adverse conditions, party workers have kept the BJPs flag flying in every corner of the State. I bow before generations of party workers who have remained committed to the party, its ideology and patriotism in spite of political violence and adverse conditions, he said.

The BJP is a party which represents every section of the society, he said, and has a track record for speedy progress, and a clear vision for the future. In a few months, people will elect a new Government at the Centre.

The party workers must educate voters that till 10 years ago there was a weak and unstable Government in the country, and there were frequent terrorist attacks. This directly affected the flow of foreign investment in the country and the morale of Indian workers abroad, he said.

We have to tell the voters that tenures of the UDF and LDF were full of scams and scandals. Today, the world sees India as a Vishwa Mitra. In the whole world, the glory of India and Indians has reached great heights, he said.

This is confirmed by Indias deeply warm relations with Gulf countries, the Prime Minister said. Opportunities for Indians have increased in the Gulf and they are also assured of their security, he said.

The Prime Minister said the BJP gives highest priority to welfare of the poor. The government started a scheme to provide free food grains to the poor and extended it by five years. We have provided the facility for free medical treatment, pucca houses, free gas connections and these have provided much relief in the lives of the poor, he said.

Mr Modi said the BJP Government was not only working to raise the incomes of the poor but helping them make savings on essential expenditure. Its scheme for free treatment up to expenditure of Rs 5 lakh for everyone has made people save Rs 1 lakh crore. Eighty per cent discount at Jan Aushadhi medicine shops has made people save another Rs 25,000 crores.

The BJP Government raised income tax exemption limit from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 7 lakh, and as a result tax payers have saved Rs 2.50 lakh crore, he said. The BJP government made mobile data cheaper. Had it been the same as 10 years ago, the mobile data expenditure of users would have been at least Rs 5000 per month today. Every mobile user saves Rs 4000 to Rs 4500 per month at present, he said.

As elections come closer, I am certain that Kerala is going to play a role in BJPs win, he said. Mr Modi asked party workers to concentrate on every election booth in the State and if party wins at booth level, its victory in Kerala would be easy.
The Union Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said that the Irans strike on terrorist bases in Pakistans Balochistan is a matter between the two countries. However, the ministry further added that New Delhi understands actions that countries take in self defence.

This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan. Insofar as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self defense, foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

The statement from the Indian government came after Iran launched missiles on the bases of terrorist group Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Pakistans Balochistan.

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Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan were specifically targeted and successfully demolished by a combination of missile and drone attacks, Irans Tasnim news agency said.

Islamabad raised strong objections to the violation of its air space, and warned of serious consequences.

Pakistan further expelled Iranian envoy and recalled its Ambassador in Tehran as diplomatic relations between the two Muslim countries took a significant downward turn.

We have also informed them that Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, who is currently visiting Iran, may not return for the time being, Pakistans Foreign Office said in a press conference.

Pakistan also threatened retaliatory action and said that Iran will be responsible for the consequences.

Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act and the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran, the Foreign Office added.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said he will be visiting Ayodhya with his family after the Ram temple consecration ceremony scheduled for January 22.

Talking to media on the sidelines of an event, he said he is yet to receive a formal invite for the grand ceremony. He, however, added that his family members, including his wife, kids and parents, are very excited to offer their prayers and see Ram Lalla at Ayodhya.

The chief minister also said that his government will try to send more trains to Ayodhya so that the people from Delhi can visit the holy city and see the Ram temple.

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Kejriwal participated in a bhajan sandhya and interacted with senior citizens departing for Dwarkadheesh with the 87th train of Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana.

On Tuesday, he and his wife attended Sundarkand recital at a temple in Rohini, and sought the blessings of Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman for the countrys progress.

The recital of Sundarkand (a chapter from Ramayana) was held across temples of the national capital in commemoration of the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

Many party MLAs and councilors also took part in these recitals.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had announced that Sundarkand recitals would take place on the first Tuesday of every month across all the assembly constituencies in the city led by the local party leaders, MLAs and councilors.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday turned down the invitation to attend Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, saying he will visit the temple once the construction is complete.

In a letter addressed to Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra General Secretary Champat Rai, Pawar expressed his gratitude for the invitation and said that the darshan of Ram Lalla can be done peacefully after the January 22 ceremony.

Im very happy to have received the invitation for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony to be held in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, Pawar stated in his letter.

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The darshan of Shri Ram Lalla can be done peacefully and with devotion after the ceremonies are over on January 22. I have a scheduled visit to Ayodhya, and at that time I will have the darshan of Shri Ram Lalla, by then the construction of the temple will also be completed, Pawar said.

The NCP leader further acknowledged the excitement among devotees across the country and added the joy of celebrations will reach him through them.

Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram is a symbol of worship and devotion of crores of devotees in and across India. The devotees across the country are excited about the ceremony and are reaching the temple in large numbers. The joy of the historic celebrations will reach me through them, he added.

None of the Oppositions INDIA bloc partners have so far accepted the invitation to the January 22 consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir.

The Opposition have accused the BJP of doing politics on Lord Ram and using the religious programme for electoral gains.

Reacting to the Oppositions criticism, the BJP has termed the INDIA bloc leaders anti-Ram and anti-Santana and said that only devotees of Lord Ram will attend the event.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that while he has not yet recieved the personal invitation to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir, he will visit the temple with his family after the January 22 event.

I want to go with my wife, children and parents to visit Ram Mandir. We will go after the consecration ceremony, Kejriwal told reporters in Delhi.

When asked about the invitation, the Delhi CM said, I received a letter from them (government)when we called them, we were informed that a team will come to give a final and personal invitation. That team has not come yet.

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Kejriwal is the latest INDIA alliance leader to skip the consecration ceremony. Earlier today, RJD chief and former Bihar CM Lalu Yadav had said that he will not attend the ceremony.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar also said that the he will visit the Ram Mandir after the January 22 ceremony when the temple construction will be completed.

The darshan of Shri Ram Lalla can be done peacefully and with devotion after the ceremonies are over on January 22. I have a scheduled visit to Ayodhya, and at that time I will have the darshan of Shri Ram Lalla, by then the construction of the temple will also be completed, Pawar said.

The Opposition has slammed the BJP for consecrating an incomplete temple after four Shankaracharyas (religious heads) reportedly decide to boycott the ceremony over alleged violation of rules of ancient Sanatan Dharma texts.

The Opposition have accused the BJP of doing politics on Lord Ram and using the religious programme for electoral gains.
YANGON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A 22-wheeler vehicle and some gallons of diesel were damaged in a fire that occurred in Northern Myanmar, an official from the local fire services department told Xinhua on Wednesday.

The fire broke out at around 3:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday at the filling station in Moe Kaung Township of Kachin State, he said.

The fire was extinguished at 4:30 p.m. local time, he added.

According to the official, the cause of the fire was that the nozzle of the gas pump was hit while refueling. 
The Oxford English dictionary defines Guru as a Hindu spiritual teacher. Also, each of the ten first leaders of the Sikh religion. The word comes from Sanskrit meaning weighty, grave, hence elder, teacher. It must be the third sentence of this definition that must have irked Rabindranath Tagore.

To be weighty, grave, elder and teacher were signifiers that were antithetical to the spontaneous sparkle of his empathetic temperament. The Guru on a pedestal was anathema to Tagore; lifelong he had tried to reach out to all and sundry through the stream of his writings in multiple genres, poems, songs, fiction, plays, essays among others.

So Tagore was neither being unduly modest not deceptive when he stated in a letter written in 1931, The position of a Guru, is not mine, not mine Also in the widely celebrated long essay Religion Of Man Tagore wrote, I am neither a scholar nor a philosopher. Recently when Rabindranath Tagores Santiniketan ~ the heritage abode of peace ~ was going through unprecedented anarchy, all Tagore aficionados were not just shocked but felt gored and scarred. However, human civilization has repeatedly proved that truth temporarily defeated is greater than evil triumphant.

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As an Old English poem stated reassuringly ~that passed away so may this. Though the exit of the former Vice Chancellor did not take place at lightening speed, the exit is now a reality and it is now time to repair and rebuild all the tangibles and intangibles that had been fractured and destroyed during the stormy session of bizarre unreason. During this period of turmoil, the poets contribution in setting up Visva Bharati University as its founder, administrator, financier seemed to be a matter of inconsequence.

Tagore was both the chancellor and vice chancellor of his beloved Visva Bharati, though he was never known to have used such designations. Though widely addressed as Gurudev both in Bengal and elsewhere, Tagore was always sceptical about being regarded as gurudev, an appellation that could be synonymous with teacher, professor, Principal, Director or Chancellor.

In his outstanding short narrative Tota Kahini (The Parrots Tale) Tagore unequivocally underscored that the pedagogues dense and abstract discourse had the potential of killing the intellectual curiosity in young impressionable minds. He had emphatically stated that he had always run away from rote learning and cut and dried pedagogy and therefore addressing him as Gurudev seemed to him both absurd and inappropriate in terms of the image he endeavoured to create for himself. In fact, Gurus implying pompous pedagogues have been the butt of ridicule in many of his writings.

In a letter addressed to Ajit Kumar Chakravorty, published in Pravasi 1931, Tagore had categorically rejected the adulations showered on him as a prophet, sage and spiritual mystic. He emphasized in no uncertain terms that he was a poet and it was as a poet that he wished to be assessed. Tagore wrote in his letter, The upward limit to a poets claim can be in embraces ~ pranam (worshipful adulation) however ostracizes the poet; I have no doubts that I am nothing but a poet.

I want to be there in your hearts domain do not install me in the wrong seat I am a friend of all of you, Ill give some, Ill take some tooThe position of a Guru, is not mine, not mine, not mine. I havent learnt anything, nor can I teach others. Poet and scholar Sankha Ghosh cited several such assertions by Tagore in his Letters (Chithi Patra) where the poet stated categorically, I am not a guru, I am a poet (23 April 1926). In a more explanatory mode the poet wrote in a letter on 17 April 1926, I am neither a guru nor a political leader ~ I am a poet, I create in various modes and rhythms ~ these are my creative toys, this is my job.

If people derive pleasure from these creations, I feel fulfilled. Thats my dharma, my commitment, and I take total responsibility about maintaining my dharma. Those who have expected political wisdom and labour related skills from me, they have made a mistake, yet in their disappointment they have accused me of betrayal of trust. In three other letters cited by Sankha Ghosh the poet reiterates the same desire to distance himself from the expectation that he should play the role of Gurudev.

In a humorous tone Tagore writes on 30 April 1931, I have always kept a wide distance from gurus, escaping from institutions is my habit ~ ultimately I myself will posture as a guru moshai, there cannot be anything more ridiculous. On 17 November 1932, the poet wrote, I am certain that the designation of guru is not for me. I can feel, I can express that is my swadharma, my commitment to my selfhood.

I have spoken in your letter and it has seemed like an instruction. Expressing is part of my nature, but preaching is not.( ibid 156). Earlier, in 1921 in several letters Tagore had struggled with his aversion to being described as a mystic sage, a guru. So in a letter written on 24 February 1921, he remarked, Why should I be anything else but a poet? Was I not born a music-maker? There is a sense of despair in the letter written two days later on 26 February 1921: Pushing the wheelbarrows of propaganda from continent to continent ~ is this going to be the climax of a poets life? It seems to me like an evil dream from which I occasionally wake up in the dead of night.

In a more analytical mode, almost identifying a split-image of himself, Tagore writes in a letter dated 7 July 1921, In this modern age of the philosophy of relativity I suppose I cannot claim for myself the quality of absolute poetdom. It is evident that the poet in me changes its features and spontaneously assumes the character of the preacher with the change of its position. Tagores emphatic desire to distance himself from the elevated position of a spiritual messiah when particularly the West looked upon him as an inspirational guru is indeed significant. In fact, even the rest of India other than Bengal regarded him as a cultural prophet. That gained further encouragement from his being hailed as Gurudev by both Gandhi and Nehru, the two icons of political activism in colonial India. His sartorial choice of a free flowing robe also contributed to the image of a religious preacher.

This was often compared to the sartorial style of a Rabbi that perhaps in a way did not make him seem very alienated and ethnic to Western eyes. In fact, on many occasions he had been compared to a Christ-figure, understandably much older but having a similar physical image. Essentially however, Tagore was a poet-philosopher, a litterateur and songster, in other words he had the disposition of the artist, for whom fixity of location and fixed ideas could only lead to a feeling of being entrapped and suffocated.

It is his effusive bohemian spirit not unlike the bauls of rural Bengal, the wandering minstrels who played and performed with words and music, that exuded a homegrown philosophy of love, patience and tolerance towards the world and all its creatures. It is an undeniable fact that Tagore primarily desired to remain a poet in the hearts and memories of the people. This has been reiterated by him on many occasions. In an interesting if not ironic episode, on 19 March 1923, Tagore was given a huge reception in Karachi where the assembled crowds cheered him chanting, Mahatma Gandhi ki Jai.

Hailing Mahatma Gandhi as Tagores inspiration or mistaking him to be Gandhi himself or his alter ego may not have pleased the sensitive poet, according to Tagores biographer Prasantakumar Paul. Tagore delivered a very long speech in that function wherein he pointedly stressed that he was a poet and wanted to reach out to the people as a friend.

He said. As a poet I claim comradeship. I feel this is not my seat. I wish to be on the same level with you. When you ask me to come before you, you should share with me and do not banish me to a higher platform. I have come to you as your comrade. I wish I could sing to you in the language of your own or that which is my own. This is the barrier between you and me and it hurts me. However, it was the inimitable Nirad C Chaudhuri who in his chapter on Tagore, included in his book Thy Hand, Great Anarch!, summed up to a certain extent the difference between Tagore as a cult figure worshipped in blind faith as a Gurudev and a hagiographical legend in Bengal, instead of focusing on a complete, critical assessment of Tagores contribution to literature and culture and as a thinker and public intellectual.

(The writer is Professor and former Dean, Faculty of Arts, Calcutta University)
A team of researchers from the Netherlands has developed the first organoid model of the human conjunctiva, a tissue involved in tear production.

Our eyes produce tears to protect themselves from injuries and infections. The conjunctiva, a tissue that covers the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids, is partially responsible for the production of these tears through the release of mucus.

This mucus allows the tears to stick to the ocular surface and protects it from pathogens.

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In the study, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, the team used cells from an actual human conjunctiva and grew them into 3D structures in a dish.

These miniature structures are called organoids and function as real human conjunctiva.

Once we had these functioning organoids, we wanted to know how the conjunctiva is involved in the production of tears, said lead researcher Marie Bannier-Helaouet, from the Organoid group at the Hubrecht Institute in Netherlands.

We discovered that the conjunctiva makes antimicrobial components and therefore contributes to tear production in more ways than by simply making mucus, she added.

The researchers then altered the conditions in the dish with the miniature conjunctivae to mimic allergies.

The organoids started to produce completely different tears: There was more mucus but there were also more antimicrobial components, said Bannier-Helaouet.

Under these conditions, they also found a new cell type in the organoids: Tuft cells.

Similar cells have been discovered in other tissues, but not in the human conjunctiva.

The tuft cells became more abundant under the allergy-like conditions, suggesting they play a role in the eyes reaction to allergies.

Several diseases and disorders affect the conjunctiva, such as dry eye disease, cancer, allergies and infections. In severe cases, dysfunction of this conjunctiva tissue can also lead to blindness.

The newly-developed organoid model opens the door for research into diseases affecting the conjunctiva.

We can use our model to test drugs for allergies or dry eye disease, for example, Bannier-Helaouet said.

In the long term, it may even be possible to make replacement conjunctivae for people with ocular burns, ocular cancers or maybe even genetic disorders.

We are now running preclinical studies in rabbits to assess whether this approach is feasible and helpful, Bannier-Helaouet said.
Cases of cervical cancer are significantly rising in India, even though it is both preventable and treatable, said doctors on Monday, stressing the need to raise awareness on vaccination and early screening.

India accounts for 1 in every 5 or 21 per cent cervical cancer cases, according to a recent study published in the journal The Lancet Global Health.

The cancer also causes almost one in every four or 23 per cent deaths in the country.

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The primary driver (95 per cent) of cervical cancer is persistent infection with specific strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV, a prevalent virus transmitted through sexual activity, is encountered by at least half of sexually active individuals at some point in their lives.

However, only a small percentage will develop cervical cancer as a result.

Cervical cancer, a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control, primarily affects individuals with a cervix. Despite being preventable through vaccination and treatable if detected early, cervical cancer continues to pose challenges, especially in developing countries, Dr Manish Machave, Consulting Obstetrician, Gynaecologist & Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgeon, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, told IANS.

The doctor pointed out lack of awareness, incomplete vaccination, inadequate screening, cost and quality of treatment, and early marriage and multiple pregnancies as some of the reasons for rising cervical cancer rates in India, despite being treatable and preventable disease.

If we are able to vaccinate the children between the age of 9 years to 22 years among the females, all before attainment of sexual activity, in that situation, we can give this vaccination and prevent them getting infected with HPV, and so we can avoid the major chunk of population from getting the cervical cancer, added Dr Pritam Kataria, Consultant Medical Oncology Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital.

Also, early screenings help us to diagnose cervical cancer at an earlier age and help us to cure the cancer completely, he said.

Dr Kataria explained that pap smear testing may help identify an HPV infection, or changes in the mucosa or the lining of the cervix that can help diagnose cervical cancer very early.

Experts also advised women to not overlook constant bleeding, spotting, and pelvic pain that can lead to cervical cancer.

Constant bleeding, spotting between periods, or after menopause may indicate abnormal cell growth in the cervix; heavier and longer menstrual bleeding than usual could be a symptom of cervical cancer; watery, foul-smelling vaginal discharge may suggest an advanced stage of cervical cancer; pelvic pain or pain during intercourse may occur as the cancer progresses and affects nearby tissues, could be some of the red flags, Dr Machave said.

Other signs to be on the lookout for cervical cancer include, pain during urination or blood in urine, weight loss without apparent reason, fatigue, swelling in legs, back or leg pain, difficulty in controlling urine or bowel movements in advanced stages, the doctors said.

Cervical cancer can also spread to the spine and cause significant trouble.

Despite its prevalence, cervical cancer rarely metastasises to the spine, and when it does, it manifests as spinal epidural metastasis (SEM), Dr Bibhudendu Mohapatra, Associate Director- Spine Services, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi told IANS.

This occurrence is infrequent and typically associated with poorly differentiated carcinomas, spreading primarily through the bloodstream. If cervical cancer reaches the spine, it may lead to spinal cord compression, resulting in diverse nervous system symptoms affecting movement and sensation, he said.

The doctors recommended routine pap smear tests, starting at age 21, and repeating every few years.

The suggested age to start the vaccination is between 9 and 12 years, and individuals can receive catch-up vaccinations until the age of 26.
Pakistan has announced to recall its ambassador from Iran and suspend all high-level planned engagements following the Iranian air strikes on terrorist camps in Balochistan.

The country has also expelled Iranian envoy as diplomatic relations between the two Muslim countries took a significant downward turn.

Addressing a press conference, Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesperson said that Islamabad reserves the right to respond to Iranian offensive.

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Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act and the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran, the Foreign Office said.

Baloch further said that Pakistan has conveyed to Iran that it is recalling its ambassador and Iranian envoy, who is currently visiting Iran, may not return.

We have also informed them that Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, who is currently visiting Iran, may not return for the time being, he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian state media said that Tehran has launched attacks in Pakistan targeting camps of terrorist organisation Jaish al-Adl.

The Iranian missiles destroyed terrorist group Jaish al-Adl bases in the border town of Panjgur in Pakistans Balochistan.

The attack on terrorist bases in Pakistan came a day after Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched tactical strikes in Syria and Iraq on locations where commanders and key operatives of recent terrorist incidents in the Iranian cities were believed to be gathering.

Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan were specifically targeted and successfully demolished by a combination of missile and drone attacks, Irans Tasnim news agency said.

Islamabad raised strong objections to the violation of its air space, and warned of serious consequences.
Iran has launched attacks in Pakistan targeting what it described as bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl, while Islamabad has raised strong objections to the violation of its air space, and warned of serious consequences.

Iran has launched missiles to destroy terrorist group Jaish al-Adl bases in the border town of Panjgur in Pakistans Balochistan, Iranian media reported on Tuesday. Without divulging further details the Iranian state media said that these bases were hit and destroyed by missiles and drones.

The attack on a terrorist basis in Pakistan comes after Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched tactical strikes in Syria and Iraq on locations where commanders and key operatives of recent terrorist incidents in the Iranian cities were believed to be gathering.

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Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan were specifically targeted and successfully demolished by a combination of missile and drone attacks, Irans Tasnim news agency said.

Raising strong objections, the Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry said on X,This violation of Pakistans sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences.



The ministry claimed that two children were killed and three girls sustained injuries in the Iranian attacks.

Following the attack, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian charge daffaires to its office and conveyed strongest condemnation of the blatant violation of the countrys sovereignty.

The Iranian charge daffaires has been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistans sovereignty and the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran, it read.

The statement added, Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated efforts. Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighbourly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence.
A leading World Health Organization (WHO) official has called for vigilance in the face of rising cases of respiratory diseases in Europe.

Hans Henri P. Kluge, the WHOs regional director for Europe, noted a surge in influenza infections and hospitalizations at a press conference on Tuesday in Copenhagen, and urged health systems to prepare for a likely increase in cases in the coming weeks, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Netherlands is currently grappling with an upswing in respiratory infections, according to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).

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Various pathogens, including Covid-19, influenza virus and seasonal coronavirus are now common among the population, the RIVM said in its most recent update as of January 10.

The number of individuals reporting flu-like symptoms is on the rise, it said. In the past week, 44 out of 100,000 people sought medical attention for such complaints, marking a notable increase from the previous weeks 27 per 100,000.

Recent data also reveals a surge in influenza virus cases, with almost 35 per cent of samples from individuals reporting flu-like symptoms testing positive, compared to the previous weeks 13 per cent, according to RIVM.

In Italy, hospitals were under intense pressure due to the worst flu wave the country had witnessed in at least 15 years, Italian health professionals warned last Friday.

Admissions to emergency rooms increased by 20 per cent to 30 per cent last week, mainly due to serious flu cases, according to the Italian Federation of Health Authorities and Hospitals (FIASO).

In another development, the Spanish government reimposed the mandatory use of facemasks in hospitals and health centres as of January 10, following a sharp rise in COVID-19 and flu infections since the start of the new year.

Spain reported a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses, with the infection rate soaring to over 952 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The peak of infections was set to arrive, Health Minister Monica Garcia warned last week.

At a press conference in Copenhagen Tuesday, Kluge said that vulnerable populations must be kept up-to-date with their Covid-19 and influenza vaccinations. He also underlined the critical success of Covid-19 vaccines since their introduction in December 2020.

A new study led by WHO Europe has found that at least 1.4 million lives in our region were saved thanks to safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines, said the WHO official.

The vaccines have been particularly effective for those over 60, who accounted for more than 90 per cent of lives saved, according to the WHO study.

Since the vaccine rollout began in December 2020, there has been a 57 per cent reduction in COVID-19 deaths across the WHO European Region, with the first booster doses alone saving an estimated 700,000 lives.

Nevertheless, Kluge expressed concern over the rapid spread of Covid-19 JN.1 variant, which has become the dominant strain.

Despite a lack of evidence suggesting increased severity, the variants unpredictability requires continuous monitoring, Kluge said.

Thirteen countries in our region did not report any data on respiratory viruses last week. Surveillance remains our first line of defence to monitor unpredictable respiratory pathogens, be it mutations or new viruses, he added.
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Suburban Exclusive: Mayor Plante served by bailiff with demand letter holding her personally responsible for inaction against anti-Semitism and climate of anarchy

Attorney Neil Oberman, senior partner at Spiegel Sohmer, has served Mayor Plante with a formal demand letter by bailiff that the City of Montreal immediately intervene and enforce all laws, by-laws and regulations governing unlawful assemblies. Oberman and his firm represent plaintiffs identified as Concerned Citizens 1 and 2 who have instituted the proceedings against the City of Montreal and holding the Mayor personally responsible. The Suburban obtained an exclusive copy of the demand.

The letter, addressed directly to Plante as the duly elected official responsible for ensuring the protection of all citizens of Montreal, states that she has  since October 8, 2023  ..neglected your duty as the Mayor to ensure that respectable citizens of the island of Montreal are able to enjoy their public areas, residence, and be able to access different buildings given that you and your administration have rejected the rule of law. The letter goes on to state that, ...Montreal has become a territory for extreme groups who assemble with the view of spreading hate and interfering with the daily lives of Montrealers under the guise of freedom for terrorism.

The plaintiffs also claim that these groups, ...promote hatred towards Jews, the murder of innocent Israelis and [demonstrate] a complete disregard for all laws that are governing our society. The letter puts the onus squarely on the Mayor stating she has, ...done absolutely nothing to ensure that the Fire Department, the City of Montreals public works department, and its police are given appropriate tools.

The demand cites the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, sections:1,2,6, 10, 11 and following. It explains the reasons for anonymity of the clients are that,...given that the city of Montreal and the police department are unable to protect persons of the Jewish persuasion in Montreal, our clients are refusing to provide their names on the basis that there is no protection for their person. It goes on to note that,... the Mayor of Westmount has taken the matter seriously but appears not be able to find solutions because the City of Montreal is negligent.

The demand makes reference to the letter of November 12, 2023, by the Association of Suburban Municipalities (ASM) signed by ASM President Beny Masella, Mayor of Montreal West, requesting additional police resources to stop the violence and hate assemblies and criticizes the Mayor for not even having given the courtesy of a response. The demand letter then goes on to list 30 hate assemblies that you allowed and lists a 31st that proceeds on a continuing basis.

Perhaps the most pointed accusation against the Mayor is that she is being held responsible for,...creating a climate of anarchy. It goes on to address the Mayor personally as having, ...allowed masked people spewing hatred and violence to continue to block streets, public routes, transportation, businesses and residents, and you do so with impunity and you do so with the complete utter disrespect to the people who you are charged with protecting.

It puts the Mayor on notice that if, .....you fail to find a proper solution to the foregoing, our clients will hold you liable for all further actions that are taken by these uncivilized and anti-democratic bodies that are simply spewing anti-Semitism in Montreal.

The demand further puts the Mayor on further notice that if you, ... fail to properly reply to this letter, provide a detailed plan of how you will stop the unlawful hate assemblies and on how you will instruct the appropriate authorities to block these unlawful persons from entering upon public property for the purposes of causing further destruction and interference with good citizens, the same will result in legal proceedings against you and anybody else who does not exercise their duties in accordance with their mandate, regulations and enabling statutes.

Oberman told The Suburban that further legal actions will follow if the Mayor does not respond. The demand letter was ccd for informational purposes and delivered by bailiff to Jimmy Zoubris,Special Counsel to the Mayor; Fady Dagher, Chief SPVM; Bruno Lachance, Chief of Service Incendie Montreal; Francois Charpentier and Martin Prudhomme,Direction generale adjointe Securite urbaine et Conformite; and Mayor Christina Smith,Westmount.
TEHRAN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani said Wednesday that the country's armed forces will not set limits when defending the nation's interests and people, after launching missile strikes on targets in Syria and Iraq.

"We see no limit when it comes to defending our national interests and people," and Iran's reaction to threats will be "proportionate, decisive and harsh," the official IRNA news agency cited him as saying.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting, where he commented on Iran's recent attacks on bases of "terrorists" in Syria and "Israel's spy agency Mossad" in Iraq's Kurdish region.

Ashtiani said Iran respects the sovereignty, interests, rights, laws, and territorial integrity of all countries, especially its neighbors, but will not tolerate any malicious actions at its borders.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said early Tuesday that it had fired 24 ballistic missiles at the bases of "terrorists" in Syria and "Mossad headquarters" in Iraq's Kurdish region, in retaliation for "terrorist attacks" in southeastern Iran and Israel's recent killings of Iranian and allied commanders.

It said four missiles hit an Islamic State base in Syria's Idlib province, 11 hit a Mossad base in Iraq's Erbil city and nine hit other "terrorist groups' bases" in Syrian areas under Israeli occupation.

Iraqi Kurdish authorities said four people were killed and six others wounded by the missile strikes in Erbil, while Iran's semi-official Fars news agency claimed that "four senior Mossad officials and several senior IS commanders" were killed in the attacks.

In addition, Pakistan accused on Wednesday Iran of violating Pakistan's airspace, killing two children, after Iran's media reported Iran struck on Tuesday "terrorist bases" in Pakistan's Balochistan province.

Both Iraq and Pakistan have condemned Iran's attacks on their territories and recalled their ambassadors to Iran. 
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Cloudy with rain and snow showers. High 41F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers of rain and wet snow this evening. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 50%.
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Abbas Ganbay

In the International Sea Port of Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan), for the first time in the current year, two vessels with cargo from Baku, Azernews reports.

According to the official source of Turkmenistan, from Baku to the port of Turkmenbashi, a dry cargo ship "Turkmenistan" docked at the berth of the container terminal on January 11, followed by a dry cargo ship "Magtymguly" with containers on board.

In addition to the two arriving dry cargo ships, the busiest line on the Caspian Sea between Turkmenbashi International Sea Port and Baku International Sea Trade Port is served by Turkmen RO-PAX car-passenger vessels "Berkarar" and "Bagtyyar".

Each of these vessels can take 54 trucks and 200 passengers on board, covering the route in 12 hours.

In addition, the Merchant Marine Fleet of Turkmenistan includes various types of vessels: dry cargo ships, tankers for transportation of oil and oil products, passenger ships, car-passenger ferries, yachts, tugboats of various classes, and auxiliary vessels.

The existing sea routes connect Turkmenbashi International Sea Port with the ports of Baku (Azerbaijan), Astrakhan and Makhachkala (Russia), Aktau (Kazakhstan), Enzeli, Noushehr, Bandar-Turkmen (Iran) and other ports.
KABUL, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Two children have been confirmed dead and seven others injured as an explosive device went off in north Afghanistan's Baghlan province, reported the state-run Bakhtar news agency on Wednesday.

The deadly incident took place in Baghlan-e-Markazi district of the province, the report said without providing more details.

Afghanistan is reportedly one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, as explosive devices and unexploded mines left over from about four decades of wars claim the lives of over a dozen people, mostly children, every month in the central Asian country. 
Even as the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party are holding talks over seat sharing for Lok Sabha elections, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday dropped strong hints that his party may go solo in the state.

Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, Mann said the AAP would win all the 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab.

"History will be created in the state by 13-0, where 13 seats will be a verdict in favour of pro-people policies of the state government and the Opposition will be badly renounced by people for their anti-Punjab stance, he said.

The AAP leader exuded confidence that the people of the state would once again stand with the party as the state government had done enough work for their welfare.

Asserting that the AAP workers and volunteers in Punjab were "very excited" about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Mann said, "Punjab has always created new records, be it the green revolution or the freedom struggle. Punjab is famous for creating new stories and this time it will create a 13-0 record."

Manns remarks came two days after the Congress and the AAPtwo major constituents of the opposition INDIA blocforged an alliance for the upcoming Chandigarh mayoral polls.

Under the arrangement, the AAP will fight for the mayor's seat while the Congress will contest the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.

Last week, leaders of both the parties had held a meeting in Delhi to discuss the seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls, with both sides saying the talks were progressing well.

AAP national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak, Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha took part in the meeting. The Congress was represented by Mukul Wasnik and other party leaders.

However, according to reports, the state units of both parties in Punjab remain reluctant to forge an alliance for the general elections. The spat between them escalated on Wednesday with a Congress leader comparing Mann and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal with German dictator Adolf Hitler.

"The first thing I would like to advise them is to pull down the pictures of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh from their offices and replace it with Adolf Hitler. And if you carefully see the picture of Hitler, it matches with one of their (AAP) leaders," said Congress's Pratap Singh Bajwa.
A police commando was killed in a gunfight that erupted in Manipur on Wednesday morning as security personnel clashed with suspected Kuki militants in Tengnoupal district's Moreh town.

The suspected militants reportedly hurled bombs and fired at a security post with police firing back in retaliation.

The deceased Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel was identified as W. Somorjit who hails from Malom in Imphal. Another officer was injured and a vehicle used by the security forces was also attacked.

Two days ago, two suspects -- Phillip Khongsai and Hemokholal Mate -- who allegedly killed SDPO Ch Anand in October last year was arrested in the town.

Following the incident, the Manipur government has urged the Centre to provide helicopters to be used during medical emergencies in Moreh in the backdrop of law and order situations.
A five-day joint anti-Maoist campaign by security forces in villages bordering Kanker and Narayanpur districts of Chhattisgarh and Gadchiroli of Maharashtra resulted in the arrest of four alleged Maoists. While a barrel grenade launcher (BGL) and an illegal arms factory were destroyed, several arms and other materials were confiscated during the operation.

'Operation Surya-Shakti' was conducted between January 12 and 16 in villages including Urchapal, Paraidhi, Pangur, Tekameta, Musparse, Kukur and others, a Bastar police statement said. During the joint operation by the Special Task Force (STF), Kanker and Narayanpur district reserve guards (DRG) and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, several encounters with Maoists took place and huge amounts of material dumped by the extremists were recovered.

A BGL factory was destroyed during the operation in the dense forests of the area and drilling and punching machines were confiscated. Given the amount of arms and ammunition recovered, it seems that the Maoists had hidden these things with the aim to cause damage to security forces, citizens and public property, Bastar police said.

Among the confiscated arms and ammunition were  bipod grenade launcher, four BGL shells, two air rifles, two muzzle-loading weapons, one 12-bore gun, three INSAS magazines, one Bushnell telescope, two generators, nine bench clamping, drilling and punching machines, tailoring shops and uniforms and a large amount of food ration.

Several camps of the Maoists were also destroyed along with an illegal arms factory where a huge cache of illegal arms were confiscated.

Two encounters were reported as part of the operation on January 14 and 16. Following the encounter on January 16 in the hilly area between villages Takilkot and Binagunda under Chhotebethia police station of Kanker district, four alleged Maoists were held.

They include Aaytu Nureti (26), Suresh Nuruti (25) and Budhuram Padda (25) of village Binagunda and Manoj Hichami (22) of village Konge.

Maoist killed in encounter in Bastar district

Meanwhile, in a separate encounter in Mangnar forests of Bastar district, a Maoist carrying Rs 5 lakh rewards was killed by security forces. The slain Moist was identified as Ratan Kashyap alias Salaam, 31, who was the Todma militia platoon deputy commander and Aamdai Area Committee Member (ACM) of the Communist Party of India (Maoists).

The encounter took place under the Barsur police station area and involved personnel of DRG, Bastar Fighters Dantewada and the 195th battalion young platoon of CRPF.

65 alleged Maoists arrested

Inspector General of Police (IG), Bastar, Sundarraj P., has said that during the past few days, an intense anti-Naxal campaign was conducted. This resulted in the destruction of several Maoist camps, the recovery of the bodies of two alleged Maoists, arms and ammunition and arrests of 65 Maoist cadres.

The North sub-zonal bureau of the CPI (Maoists) has issued a statement strongly condemning the recent attacks and violence on innocent villagers by the police forces in Kanker and Narayanpur districts. In the statement by Mangli, spokesperson of the sub-zonal bureau, the Maoists have also said that the four arrested following attack at Binagunda village were common villagers and have urged local people to intensify their struggle against the system and have demanded the withdrawal of the police forces and removal of security camps in the region.
Amidst chanting of religious hymns by Vedic Brahmins and Haribol, Jai Jagannath chants by devotees, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday inaugurated the Shree Mandira Parikrama Prakalpa (the heritage corridor project) of Sri Jagannath temple at Puri around 1.35 pm.

The inauguration ceremony has a larger significance from religious as well as political point view as it comes days ahead of the consecration of Ram temple at Ayodhya on January 22. Also, the general elections and Odisha assembly elections are a few months away.

The Parikrama Prakalpa, a beautiful infrastructure project matching with modern times, will facilitate the visit of increasing number of devotees to the temple. Todays ceremony was preceded by long rituals. It was a special occasion for King of Puri Gajpati Dibyasingha Deb, considered the first servitor of Lord Jagannath, as many of his ancestors had never witnessed such an event.

Several sankeertan troupes went around the Parikrama playing cymbals and mrudangas and reciting religious prayers. At the same time, Gajpati Dibyasingha Deb was accorded purna ahuti at the yajna which has been going on for three days to consecrate the place.

With the inauguration of Parikrama Prakapla, one of the dream projects of the chief minister has been realized. It would be perhaps the first time since independence that the Puri temple and its surroundings have got a massive face-lift, though the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been maintaining the inner structures since 1974.

As part of the project, a one kilometre road named as Sri Marg which runs parallel to Badadanda (Grand Road) has been built from Jagannathballav multilevel parking area to Simhadwar (Lions Gate) to minimise crowd density at Badadanda.

Patnaik has been active in Odisha politics since 1997 following his fathers death and his chief ministership will complete continuous 24 years on March 5. Its natural for a successful politician like him to touch all aspects of the states affairs.

Patnaik observed that the centuries old major religious shrines in the state were lacking basic facilities like motorable roads, sanitation, shelters, toilets, drinking water even though the visitors number has considerably increased. In his fifth term as the chief minister, Patnaik conceptualized the development of such religious places with special focus on Sri Jagannath temple as inflow of devotees to Puri has increased manifold and the entire Odishan culture centres around the Jagannath cult because Lord Jagannath is reigning deity of Odisha.

According to temple sources, while the daily attendance of devotees on normal days in 1990s was within 30,000, it has now increased to more than one lakh. On festival occasions like annual Rath Yatra and other such important events lakhs of people visit the temple on a single day.

Patnaik and his Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have always maintained their secular identity. Their alliance with BJP had broken before 2009 election because of the alleged involvement of the Sangh Parivar in Kandhamal district communal riots. Patnaiks government has also generously helped the minorities in the state. The government regularly gives funds to shrines of different communities for their upkeep.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and King of Puri Gajpati Dibyasingha Deb during the inauguration of Shree Mandira Parikrama Prakalpa

On May 3, 2019, Puri town was ravaged by cyclone Fani which was the worst tropical storm to strike Odisha since 1999 super cyclone. Fani caused considerable damage to the temple city. Chief Minister Patnaik during his visit to Puri after the cyclone was shocked to see the devastation of the town and resolved to develop the town as an international heritage centre. A massive plan for its redevelopment was prepared by October 2019. After the approval of DPR, the chief minister laid the foundation stone on November 24, 2021 for the development of a heritage corridor around the Jagannath temple. Properties of individuals and 20 mutts located within 75 metres from the temple boundary were acquired for the project. All the narrow lanes surrounding the temple were widened.

At the annual Rath Yatra festival of Sri Jagannath temple, three huge wooden chariots are pulled by thousands of pilgrims on a 2.85 km stretch of the Badadanda or grand road. However, except this road, all other lanes surrounding the area were quite narrow like any old city of India.

The heritage corridor project aims to create more space for devotees with basic amenities and facilities. Special provisions have been made for differently-abled devotees and senior citizens. The initial cost of the project was pegged at Rs 800 crores which was later revised to Rs 943 crores. The required land has been acquired by the administration from individuals and religious institutions through negotiations. It is surprising to note that not a single voice of dissent was reported while the land acquisition was made. An amount of Rs 430 crore was paid to property owners towards compensation and resettlement. The project was delayed by two years because of nationwide shut down during Covid-19 pandemic and the delay in obtaining clearance from National Monuments Authority(NMA) and Archaeological Survey Of India(ASI). The administration in adherence to the Supreme Court ruling, introduced a queue system for entry into temple. A huge air-conditioned shed was also set up along the queue for the devotees to take rest at the time when the darshan was closed for observance of rituals.

The countdown for the inauguration of the dream project began on January 12,2024. Gajpati Dibyasingh Deb, the ceremonial head of the temple servitors as per tradition, entrusted 108 Sotriya Brahmins by handing them over the holy betelnut to perform a three days long yajna to consecrate the Parikrama. The yajna was concluded on January 17 after Gajpati offered purna ahuti and the chief minister formally dedicated the Parikrama to the devotees.

Later, after going round the Parikrama, the chief minister felicitated the workers of the project. He had earlier praised the temple servitors and other persons who cooperated for the execution of the project by sacrificing their properties and even their houses. Patnaik also inaugurated Sri Setu (trumpet bridge) which was built as a bypass to the main road. From the Jagannath Ballav multilevel parking lot, devotees can proceed to Simhadwar through Sri Marg on battery operated vehicles. A huge pilgrim shelter with modern amenities will be constructed close to the corridor to house about five thousand devotees. The project has got clearance from NMA and ASI.

The Raghunandan library, one of the oldest in the state located in front of the temple, had been demolished for the project. It will be constructed anew with digital facilities. About 20 mutts located within the Parikrama have been nicely renovated. The Parikrama has a green corridor close to the temple walls while a pathway for devotees has also been made. A number of small platforms have been raised at the four gates of the temple for the pundits to recite hymns on festival occasions. To facilitate hassle free movement of pilgrims inside the town, two major roadsfrom Simhadwar to Swargadwar (heritage cremation ground on sea beach known as door to heaven) and Simhadwar to Mochisahiare being widened to double lanes.

A large number of devotees thronged Puri to witness the rare ceremony. In response to an appeal by the chief minister, the devotees had offered arpan (white rice and betel nut) to the visiting Samarpan Rath whichtravelled through every village from January 12-17.

The state government had declared January 17 a holiday. Patnaik in an open letter to the devotees on Monday had requested them to observe Parikrama inauguration with joy and devotion. He said, Lord Jagannath is the nerve centre of Odia identity and deeply associated with our history, tradition and culture. The deity is a symbol of religious harmony. A leaf cannot move without his will. By Lord Jagannaths will, Shree Mandira Parikrama Prakalpa is being dedicated to devotees.

Quoting Puri King Gajpati Dibyasinha Deb, the chief minister said this kind of transformation around Jagannath temple was not done in the last 700 years. Patnaik appealed to people to celebrate the event by expressing devotion through lighting a lamp, blowing conches, worshiping, singing sacred hymns and chanting Jai Jagannath. The chief minister also requested all Jagannath devotees in the country and abroad to celebrate the opening of the heritage corridor project with devotion.

The chief minister had announced a comprehensive plan for the development of Puri, the district headquarters town, better known as the abode of Lord Jagannath, at an estimated cost of around Rs 4,000 crores. About 80 per cent of the plan have been completed and some are waiting for formal inauguration. These include two mega multilevel parking lots for 1,000 four-wheelers and an equal number of three and two-wheelers; three huge market complexes and a Jagannath Stadium.

Swargadwar, the religiously important cremation ground, has been developed to international standard. The condition of the nearby beach has also improved and it has got the international blue flag tag. Earlier, Puri had figured as the seventh town in the world to have implemented drink from tap mission successfully.

Another dream project of the chief minister is to have an international airport for Puri though Bhubaneswar international airport is 60 km away. The work on Puri airport is making steady progress. The construction work began six months ago after obtaining clearance from the union civil aviation ministry. This proposed international airport will be connected with the Biju Patnaik international airport at Bhubaneswar by a specially dedicated road without any link roads or intersections to minimize journey time to 50 minutes.

The state government has also allocated fund for the development of Konark Sun Temple along with that small town, plus its beach at Chandrabhaga. Konark is linked by a marine drive from Puri and the distance between the two places is 35 km. Chilika lake, the largest brackish water lagoon with an area 1,165 sqkm, is also 50 km away from Puri. Irrawaddy dophins are the major tourist attraction at Chilika which has also become a winter stay place of Siberian birds.

The governments temple development push would also cover other major shrines in the state including Taratarini temple of Purushottampur in Ganjam, the chief ministers home district where a rope-way and other facilities would be set up. Though it is said in the political circles that the BJDs move is to counter the BJPs temple agenda, the tourism potential behind these moves is widely agreed upon.

According to BJD general secretary (organization) Pranab Prakas Das, the plan is to increase tourist flow in a big way and increase tourism income manifold through Puri project and other such interventions. The institutions and agencies connected with hospitality industry are upbeat as the increased inflow of devotees has augmented their earnings. All the stakeholders of the industryfrom auto, taxi owners, travel and tour operators to hotels and restaurants ownersare happy, said R.K. Patra, a senior member of the Hotel Association of Puri. The industry is hopeful that the flow will continue round the year with the Patnaik governments affirmative action.

V.K. Pandian, a 2000 batch Odisha cadre IAS officer from Tamil Nadu who worked in the Chief Ministers office as Secretary- 5 T and recently took VRS and joined BJD and became Chairman-5 T of the government, would make frequent visits to Puri to oversee Parikrama Prakalpa, besides overseeing other temple projects. It indicates CM Patnaiks earnestness in these projects.

However, both the BJP and the Congress, the main opposition parties of state, alleged that the Parikrama Prakalpa was made a BJD event.

BJP president Manmohan Samal said: The BJD leaders should understand that Lord Jagannath belongs to everyone. It is for people to decide whether to attend a party event.

Bijoy Patnaik, a 1976 batch IAS officer who was the principal secretary to Chief Minister Patnaik, has joined Congress after his retirement as the chief secretary. He is now the chairman of the Congress campaign committee in the state. Bijoy said: The current dispensation does not understand the essence of Puri temple and has been using it as another tourist spot. First they used a YouTuber who in the past had promoted beef, to promote mahaprasad (food offered to deity in Puri temple). Now, idols of the Lord are being placed in trucks and moved from door to door to collect donations, lowering His dignity.

Countering the opposition parties, senior BJD MLA Amar Satpathy said: After a long time such an intervention has been carried out to improve amenities around the Jagannath temple. Historians will find it among the biggest such interventions and future generations, too, will remember this.

Puri is one of the four Dhams of India from Hinduistic point of view. The inauguration of the Parikrama Prakalpa will be part of the nations 2024 religious calendar along with the consecration of new Ram temple at Ayodhya. The Shankaracharya of Puri Swami Sri Nischalananda Saraswati, though formally invited by authorities, did not attend the programme. Of course he is out of town and has not made any adverse comment as it has happened in the case of Ram temple.

Nepals Hindu royal family has traditional link with Puri temple. Its head King Gyanendra had been invited for the programme. But he has not attended.

Politically, BJD and BJP are known for their sympathy for each other though they are rivals. BJPs Puri MLA Jayanta Sarangi attended the event. So,in actual sense there should be no temple animosity.
From Sunil Jaglanthe man behind Selfie with Daughter campaignto Babita Rajput, the water warrior in Bundelkhand region, more than 100 prominent individuals mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 'Mann ki Baat' addresses are being invited for Republic Day 2024. These individuals were felicitated during 'Mann ki Baat@100' conclave organised in New Delhi in April last year. Prasar Bharati, the coordinating agency, is in the process of individually extending the invitations to these individuals who have contributed in their own way to the environment, women empowerment, social service and entrepreneurship, among other things.

Ramveer Tanwar, who left his engineering job to clean ponds in Uttar Pradesh, told THE WEEK, I received a call few days ago from Prasar Bharati asking me to keep myself available for Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.

We were told that arrangements would be made for us to stay in Lutyens Delhi. Tanwar, referred as the pond man, was mentioned in 'Mann ki Baat' in 2021 for his outstanding work in the direction of reviving ponds in and around Uttar Pradesh.

In the 100th episode of 'Mann ki Baat', Modi also spoke to some people who featured in the earlier broadcast for their initiatives. These include Vijayashanti Devi, who weaves clothes from lotus fibre, in Manipur. Her eco-friendly idea has inspired many, and about 30 women have joined her. The work of Pradeep Sangwan, who runs the 'Healing Himalayas' campaign, was also appreciated during one of the episodes. His team collects around five tonnes of garbage daily from different locations to keep the surroundings clean. Manzoor Ahmed, who runs a manufacturing unit of pencils in Jammu and Kashmir's Oukhoo village in Pulwama district, providing jobs to over 200 people, also found mention in the monthly broadcast. The village is now called as the "pencil village of India".

It is a matter of pride for us to be recognised by the Prime Minister of our country for whatever work we are dedicatedly doing, said Tanwar, who is looking forward to attending the historic 75th Republic Day commemoration in 2024 as a special invitee.
Iran has said that it launched missiles at the "military bases of militant group Jaish al-Adl in the Kouh-Sabz area of Pakistans Balochistan province on Tuesday. According to its state media reports, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards used precision missile and drone strikes to destroy two strongholds of the Sunni militant group known in Iran as Jaish al-Dhulm.

Pakistans Foreign Ministry, which immediately did not acknowledge the strike, later confirmed the attack on its territory, stating the strike killed "two innocent children while injuring three girls" and warned Iran of "serious consequences."



The Jaish al-Adl militant group too confirmed the strike, stating Irans Revolutionary Guards used six attack drones and rockets to destroy two houses where the children and wives of its fighters lived. In a statement on Telegram, the militants said two small children were killed in the attack, while two women and a teenage girl were seriously injured.



This comes a day after Iran's IRGC struck what it claimed was "Israel's spy HQ" in Iraq. IRGC missiles also struck militant group Islamic State's base in Syria, in retaliation for the dual suicide bombing this month.



Jaish al-Adl, or the Army of Justice, is a Sunni militant group founded in 2012 that largely operates across the border in Pakistan. Iran has fought in border areas against the militants, but a missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan would be unprecedented for Iran. The militants have claimed bombings and kidnapped Iranian border police in the past.



Meanwhile, the statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry said neighbouring Iran violated its airspace, an action that could have "serious consequences" and was "completely unacceptable".

However, Pakistan's statement did not mention the location of the incident, nor the nature of the airspace violation, but said it had lodged a protest with Tehran and the head of the Iranian mission in Islamabad had been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran," Pakistan's statement said, adding that the incident had occurred despite the existence of several channels of communication with Iran. The Pakistani military's public relations wing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

However, the reports later vanished from the Iranian state media though semi-official Fars and Tasnim news agencies still ran nearly identical stories on their websites Tuesday night. Press TV, the English-language arm of Iranian state television, later attributed the attack to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

Authorities did not explain what was happening, though sensitive stories in Iran can suddenly disappear from state media.
Pakistan on Wednesday recalled its ambassador to Iran and suspended all high-level planned bilateral visits in the coming days, hours after Tehran launched an unprecedented missile and drone strikes on what it said were terrorist bases of a Sunni militant group in the restive Balochistan province.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Baloch in a statement read out to the media also said that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return to Islamabad for the time being. Pakistan also reserves the right to retaliate to the provocation by Iran, she said.

Two bases of Balochi militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan were targeted by missiles and drones on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported, a day after Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.

"We have also informed them (Iran) that Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, now on a visit to Iran, may not return for the time being. We have also decided to suspend all high-level visits which were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in coming days, Baloch said.

She said that last night's "unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan's sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations".

"This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever. Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act. The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran, Baloch said, adding that Pakistan has conveyed this message to the Iranian Government.

Separately, Balochistan information minister Jan Achakzai in his reaction to the attack by Iran said that he was "disappointed".

"We are extremely disappointed, as the Foreign Office has already said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such acts of air space violations by #Iran undermine neighbourly relation, trust and renewed trade linkages established with #Balochistan, he said in a statement of X.

According to the Foreign office, the Iranian charge d'affaires here was summoned to the foreign ministry and issued a strongly-worded condemnation of Iran's "violation of its airspace".

Pakistan condemned the overnight attack which killed two children and injured three girls.

Iran's attack could potentially raise tensions in the Middle East, already roiled by Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan were specifically targeted and successfully demolished, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said.

Earlier, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was shocked by the Iranian attack on his country.

Shehbaz in his reaction said that the attack was against the spirit of friendship between the two countries.

"I am shocked at the Iranian breach of Pakistani sovereignty. This missile attack is against the spirit of our friendship and principles of good neighbourliness, especially as it undermines the historic relationship between our two countries, he said.

"Sincere dialogue and meaningful cooperation between our two countries is the need of the hour. My condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the attack, he added.

His response came when Pakistan was apparently struggling to come up with a plausible response to the unexpected Iranian attack against militants' hideouts in its remote south-western region of Balochistan, bordering Iran.

Tehran has repeatedly warned that the Jaish al-Adl militant group is using Pakistani soil in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan to launch terror attacks on Iranian security forces.

The strikes were launched the day Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

Jaish al-Adl, or the "Army of Justice", is a Sunni militant group founded in 2012 that largely operates in Pakistan. Iran has fought in border areas against the militants, but a missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan would be unprecedented for Iran.

Jaish al-Adl is the "most active and influential" Sunni militant group operating in Sistan-Baluchestan, according to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence.

Last month, at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an attack overnight on a police station in the southeastern province of Sistan-Balochistan, according to Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, who blamed the Jaish al-Adl for the incident.

He claimed the Jaish militants had entered Sistan from the Pakistan side near Panjgur.

On July 23 last year, four Iranian policemen were killed while on patrol near the border in an attack claimed by the Jaish Al Adl.

In May, five Iranian border guards died in clashes with an armed group in Saravan, southeast of Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Balochistan.

Over the years, the troubled Balochistan province has become a hotbed for terror attacks, and many banned religious terror, and separatist outfits have also used its soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan's security personnel and installations.
BARCELONA, Spain, Jan 17 (Xinhua) -- Spain registered a 35 percent yearly rise in natural gas from Russia in 2023 as the Ukraine crisis was about to enter its third year.

According to Enagas, a Spanish energy company that owns and operates the nation's gas grid, the natural gas imports from Russia reached a record 72,690 gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2023.

With the gas pipelines between Europe and Russia mostly at a standstill, Spain's large gasification infrastructure has become a top destination for Russian gas delivered by ship before it is resold to other countries, Albert Banal-Estanol, an energy expert and professor at Barcelona's Pompeu Fabra University, told Xinhua.

"Spain is now using its gasification infrastructure for storing lots of gas and even keeping it to resell later if necessary to other countries who might need it," said the expert.

Despite government pressure on Spanish energy companies, the cut in Russian gas purchases has not been successful, as firms strive to honor contracts signed prior to the onset of the Ukraine crisis, while the EU has yet to implement sanctions on imports of Russian gas.

"Decisions on foreign trade must be taken within the EU framework. There has been no decision by the European Council to include gas imports from Russia among the prohibited and sanctioned activities," said Spain's Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, in response to the news.

Europe's search for new sources of gas has made Spain a key player in guaranteeing the continent's supply, with gas delivered from Spain increasing by 10 percent last year to a new record of 75,300 GWh, according to Enagas. 
The already-strained relations between Iran and Pakistan worsened on Friday when Iran's missiles struck "bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl" in Pakistans southwest Balochistan province. The attack, which Pakistan called an "unprovoked violation of its airspace" brings the focus to the militant group Jaish al-Adl, which Iran calls Jaish al-Dhulm.

Twelve years since the militant group was founded, Jaish al-Adl, or the Army of Justice, has largely been at loggerheads with Iran, fighting its soldiers in border areas.



Baluchistan has faced an insurgency by Baluch nationalists for more than two decades. The nationalists's initial demand was a share of provincial resources, but later it transformed into an insurgency for independence. Both Pakistan and Iran have provinces dominated by Baloch ethnic groups: Balochistan in Pakistan and Sistan and Baluchestan province in Iran. These militant groups are at war with governments on both sides, triggering nationalist movements.

The militants have claimed bombings and kidnapped Iranian border police in the past, including the suicide car bombing that killed 27 IRGC members in Sistan and Baluchistan in February 2019. Last month, Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for an attack in Iran's Rask region, killing at least 11 Iranian police officers. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, blamed the Jaish al-Adl for the incident and claimed the Jaish militants had entered Sistan from the Pakistan side near Panjgur.

Tehran considers Jaish ul-Adl a proxy of Saudi Arabia and has demanded action from Islamabad. On the other hand, Pakistani officials allege fugitive insurgents use bases on Iranian soil to plot deadly raids on security forces in natural resources-rich Baluchistan.



Though Iran has fought in border areas against the militants, the missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan would be unprecedented.



After the Iran missile attack, Jaish al-Adl said the strikes hit the homes of two of its members, killing two children and injuring two women and a teenage girl. "At least six suicide drones and several missiles targeted homes where the families, including children and spouses, of members of the Jaish al-Adl organisation were residing," read the statement.



The group decried the Islamic Republic regime for targeting children, women, and innocent people, saying that "the Revolutionary Guards and decision-makers should be aware that such heinous attacks... will strengthen the determination of the Jaish al-Adl to overthrow their palace of tyranny."



Interestingly, the attacks happened just after Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Two days ago, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, the special representative of the Iranian president for Afghanistan affairs, had arrived in Islamabad at the head of a political delegation upon an invitation by his Pakistani counterpart Asif Durrani.



Pakistan was vocal about Tehran not warning it about the attack. "It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan's strong protest has already been lodged with the concerned senior official in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran."


International Copper Association India and National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) and government representatives discuss Quality Compliance for Solar PV Systems



New Delhi, Delhi, India (NewsVoir)



The International Copper Association India (ICA India) and the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) hosted a roundtable on Quality Control Order (QCO) mandates for Solar DC Cables, on January 11, 2024, in New Delhi to discuss and identify challenges related to the adoption of the Solar DC Cable Standard.



The round table aimed to discuss challenges experienced in the adoption of the mandatory Solar DC Cable Standard, as prescribed by the Quality Control Order, throughout the planning, design, and installation phases of Solar PV systems. Additionally, it called for collaborative efforts among industry stakeholders to propose viable solutions to these challenges, intending to present these recommendations to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).



By fostering collaboration among stakeholders across the industry - including manufacturers, installers, and regulatory bodies - the roundtable set the stage for collective advocacy and action. This effort has marked a significant step forward in promoting a safer, more reliable, and sustainable future.



Dr. Ashish Kumar, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said, The objective behind QC was to introduce quality into the Indian manufacturer system. When the standards are released, they are voluntary; it is up to the manufacturer whether to use the ISI mark on their product. Because of the QC, the imports of substandard products also get restricted, creating an awareness amongst buyers. There is an urgent need to maintain quality, particularly in products where safety is most important.



Shri Ashok Kumar Rajput, Central Electricity Authority of India (CEA) said, There is a need for Quality Control awareness programs at all levels and to focus on the wellness and promotion of Quality Control Order. Addressing the issue of poor quality and substandard materials in solar DC cables is critical for safety. While material availability and timely supply are a concern, other insulation materials could be recycled with the help of R&D in addition to copper, which is already highly recyclable.



Solar DC Cables are crucial part of solar PV systems, responsible for transmitting the direct current generated by photovoltaic panels to the inverter and subsequently into the electrical grid. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have witnessed remarkable growth and adoption in India as an eco-friendly and cost-effective source of sustainable energy. However, the efficiency of solar PV systems is reliant on a number of factors, including the quality and safety of its components, with Solar DC Cables being a critical element.



The use of non-standard Solar DC Cables poses severe safety hazards, adversely impact system performance and lead to costly maintenance and repairs. To address these concerns and uphold the safety and reliability of these systems, regulatory authorities have mandated Solar DC Cables standards through Quality Control Order (QCOs).



While there are established quality product and installation standards, there is a notable opportunity to enhance awareness in the solar PV industry. This gap has led to the continued use of non-compliant or substandard material, posing risks to the environment, property, and public safety. Furthermore, it has the potential to impede the long-term success and adoption of solar energy. It is imperative to bridge this gap by raising awareness about the importance of using standard-compliant Solar DC Cables.



The roundtable was attended by eminent industry leaders and government officials including Mr. Chaitanya Kumar Varma, Former Special Director General, Region Chennai at Central Public Works Department (CPWD) Government of India, Dr. Ashish Kumar, Senior Consultant at Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, Mr. Ashok Kumar Rajput, Member (Power Systems) Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power, Government of India (CEA), Mr. Manas Kundu, Advisor (Energy Regulatory Affairs) at International Copper Association India (ICA India), among others. The audience comprised of cable manufacturers and solar power project developers.



About ICA India (International Copper Association)



The International Copper Association India (ICA India) is a member of Copper Alliance and the Indian arm of the International Copper Association Limited (ICA), the leading not for profit organization for the promotion of copper worldwide set up in 1959. ICA has been operating since 1998 in India and has built an active association with the growing number of copper users through its programs. ICA India Programs are committed to improving the quality of life through better Electrical Safety, Energy Efficiency, Clean Energy and Sustainability. ICA Indias efforts have been pivotal to advancing better standards, across various products, applications and industries, by leveraging upon the superior technical performance of Copper.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Newsvoir and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
Davos, Jan 17 (PTI) Ram Temple in Ayodhya has created a buzz in this Swiss ski resort town during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting with devotees planning to hold Ram Bhajans and light diyas on the consecration day this coming Monday.

Besides, many global business leaders have been inquiring from the Indian delegation, including those from the government and private sector, about the business and infrastructure opportunities created by development of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh as a major religious and tourism centre.

Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the WEF Annual Meeting 2024, Union Minister Smriti Irani said she met a group of devotees who asked her if they can also celebrate Ram Temple consecration ceremony on January 24.

"Some Ram Bhakts here asked me to record a message imploring the community here to do Ram Bhajan and to lighten diyas here on 22nd January.

"They came to the lounge and saw me here, walked up and they made that request," said Irani who is leading a strong Indian delegation to the WEF.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several leaders are scheduled to be present at the ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22, which is likely to be attended by over 8,000 people.

Besides, the prime minister has urged people across the country to celebrate the day like Diwali at their respective places.

Besides the temple, an international airport has also been set up in Ayodhya while a large number of infrastructure projects are being built there to develop the city into a major religious tourism centre.

"I think we as a community have shown... I always say in Hindi that 'Dharma ke liye dhairya dikhayen' (show patience when it comes to religion), and the fact that we have been patient and waited for a judicial pronouncement with regards to our beliefs and rights, that speaks volumes about the strength of our democracy and the prime minister of India," Irani said.

"Respecting every religion, we waited for a long time that Bhagwan Ghar Aayenge (God will come home)," said Irani, who is minister for women and child development as well as minority affairs.

"It is a reason for celebration and joy, so my gratitude to everybody who showed that patience and I look forward to going back home, going to (my Lok Sabha constituency) Amethi on 22nd January and celebrating with them," Irani said.

Besides other states, Uttar Pradesh has also set up a pavilion here for the WEF Annual Meeting and visitors, including businessmen from across the world, have been inquiring about the temple and other Ayodhya projects.

Several global leaders said they are keen to know about these projects, in addition to other business opportunities in India.
Davos, Jan 17 (PTI) Deloitte India on Wednesday unveiled an Enterprise Conscious Code initiative for sustainable, inclusive, and accessible software development that aims to cut up to 30 per cent of the emissions attributed to software alone.

Launching the Code here on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024, Deloitte India said this initiative marks a significant leap towards sustainable and responsible software development, supporting global efforts to reduce carbon footprint, increase energy consciousness, and ensure accessibility for everyone.

"The Enterprise Conscious Code (ECC) combines everything a company needs - the triple Ps of the bottom line - people, planet, and profits," it said.

The Code offers ways to build eco-friendly software, promoting the use of techniques that contribute to a greener planet.

Currently, about 3 per cent of the world's carbon emissions are attributed to the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, equivalent to roughly 1.58 billion tonne per year.

Within this 3 per cent, ECC has the potential to reduce up to 30 per cent of the emissions attributed solely to software, which is a significant reduction in power consumption and storage, leading to direct cost savings, Deloitte said.

Romal Shetty, CEO, Deloitte South Asia said, "We are proud to introduce this new initiative, as a testament to our commitment towards sustainable growth of the technology industry."

"Innovation must go hand in hand with our responsibility to minimise the environmental impact of technology. By embracing such conscious practices, we aim to lead the way in creating software solutions that not only meet the highest standards of performance but also contribute to a greener and more inclusive future," he added.

Deloitte said emissions from core software often go unnoticed, quietly adding to greenhouse gases. Globally, for example, there are over 1 billion active websites, with 200 million in India alone.

Deloitte India said it analysed popular Indian websites, revealing that each website emits, on an average, CO2 equivalent to a petrol car covering 10km per user, assuming all pages are viewed. This is also equivalent to CO2 absorbed by nearly 20 trees per day, it added.
Bengaluru, Jan 17 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate American aircraft manufacturer Boeings new state-of-the-art global engineering and technology innovation campus in Devanahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru near the Kempegowda International Airport on January 19, official sources said on Wednesday.





The Prime Minister will also launch a transformational Boeing programme for greater participation of Indian women from across all walks of life in the Indian aviation sector, the sources added.
Bengaluru, Jan 17 (PTI) The Karnataka government said on Wednesday it has signed MoUs with investment proposals to the tune of Rs 22,000 crore with seven companies at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.



As part of the MoUs signed on Tuesday, Web Werks proposes to set up a Rs 20,000 crore data centre park in the State, while four other companies plan to invest a total of Rs 2,000 crore, according to a statement issued by the Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development M B Patil.



A delegation from the state, headed by Patil, engaged in a series of deliberations with industry leaders during the WEF Meet 2024 in Switzerland, it said.



The Lulu Group is set to venture into food processing in Vijayapura district, with plans to invest Rs 300 crore in a plant dedicated to exports, the statement said.



Takeda Pharmaceuticals intends to establish a global innovation centre in Bengaluru and is actively scouting for suitable campus locations, it was stated.
Mumbai, Jan 17 (PTI) The Opposition on Wednesday alleged the scheduled hosting of the Filmfare Awards event in Gujarat instead of Mumbai, which is the traditional venue, is an attempt to reduce the importance of the state capital and move out the film industry.

The 69th edition of the awards gala will be held in Gandhinagar on January 27 and 28 in association with Gujarat tourism.

Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, said Bollywood and Mumbai share an unbreakable bond.

The decision to host the Filmfare awards outside Mumbai is "an attempt to reduce the importance of Mumbai and take the film industry out of the city", he alleged.



"This decision will hurt the businesses of cine workers," the Congress leader said in his post on X.

He alleged industries from Maharashtra were first taken out of Mumbai and now the "evil eye" of the Mahayuti government has fallen on Mumbai's film industry.

The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in Bollywood and are one of the most famous film events in the country.

NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said Gujarat is "stealing" everything from Mumbai and Maharashtra in the last couple of years.

"Big ticket projects were stolen in the past year and now the latest being the prestigious Bollywood film fraternity award, the Filmfare. Gujarat government's invitation to Filmfare to hold the awards in Gujarat is just another ploy to take away the prestige of Mumbai and Maharashtra," he alleged.

Crasto said it was "shameful" that the BJP-led Maharashtra government is silent on this issue, "like they have been when projects and financial prospects were being taken away from the state".

"Gujarat is our state from India and may it prosper always, but then why is the state and central government not thinking the same for Maharashtra which is also an Indian state?" he asked on X.
Mumbai, Jan 17 (PTI) Shahid Kapoor's debut OTT show "Farzi" and Varun Dhawan's "Bawaal" have topped the lists of the most watched series and films in 2023, media consulting rm Ormax Media said in its new report.

In its 'Streaming Originals in India: The 2023 Story' report, the company compiled the list of top original shows and films in Hindi & International languages from 2023 on three parameters -- viewership, marketing buzz and content strength.

On the basis of viewership, the firm has come out with five 'Most-Watched' lists -- Hindi Web-series, Indian Unscripted Shows, Hindi Films, International Shows and International Films.

"Farzi", directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, was viewed by 37 million people, followed by "The Night Manager" (28.6 million), "Taaza Khabar" (23.5 million), "Asur" season two (21 million) and Sushmita Sen's "Taali" (17.8 million).

According to the report, "Farzi" was the only show to cross the 30 million viewership mark in 2023. It is now the most-watched SVOD (subscription video on demand) series in India.

Ormax said the viewership was estimated using primary research conducted among audiences across India at a weekly level, taking into account the number of people who watched a show (at least one full episode) or a film (at least 30 minutes).

Nitesh Tiwari-directed "Bawaal", starring Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, was critically-panned and courted controversy for Holocaust-related references following its release on Prime Video. The film, however, was viewed by 21.2 million people, making it the most watched Hindi film on OTT in 2023.

It was followed by Shahid Kapoor's "Bloody Daddy" (17 million), Manoj Bajpayee's "Gulmohar" (16.3 million), "Tumse Na Ho Payega" (14.3 million) and Tara Sutaria's "Apurva" (12.6 million).

The list of Most-Watched Indian Unscripted Shows is topped by "Bigg Boss OTT" season two, which was viewed by 19.5 million people. It was followed by "Koffee With Karan" season eight (15.4 million), "Temptation Island India" (13.5 million), "Dance+ Pro" (8.8 million) and "MasterChef India" (7.3 million).

Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden's "Citadel" was the Most-Watched International Show in 2023. The show, which received mixed reviews, was viewed by 17 million people.

The second place went to "The Mandalorian" season three (11.3 million), followed by "Sex Education" season four (10.2 million), "I Am Groot" season two (9.9 million) and "The Last Of Us" (9.5 million).

The Most-Watched International Films list was dominated by Chris Hemsworth-starrer "Extraction 2", which was viewed by 9.8 million people. The other four most watched movies were -- Alia Bhatt's "Heart Of Stone" (8.5 million), "BTS Yet To Come" (7.7 million), Ben Affleck and Matt Damon-starrer "Air" (6.7 million) and "Merry Little Batman" (6.6 million).
Johannesburg, Jan 17 (PTI) A five-person walkathon team from South Africa has collaborated with the Rotary Club of India and the Indian Cancer Society (ICS) to undertake a 300-km walk, which aims at raising funds for a cancer hospital in the Indian township of Chatsworth, located south of Durban.

The team comprising Bala Gangiah, Linga Naidoo, Jugga Naidoo, Vickey Reddy and Roger Chetty -- all of whom are of South Indian ancestry, and predominantly in their sixties -- is set to commence the Walk of Life project in Kochi on Friday.

The anticipated culmination of their trek is scheduled for January 28, aligning with the Republic Day celebrations, wherever they find themselves on that day.

The walk also aims at raising awareness about cancer, a global menace claiming numerous lives.

The team has appealed for voluntary donations of 50 cents for each kilometre that they complete, with all funds raised dedicated to the Chatsworth Hospice.

The Walk of Life has evolved into a significant annual event for the Chatsworth Hospice, where many cancer patients spend their final months.

As part of their preparations, the team has been regularly undertaking walks on the Durban beachfront, garnering accolades and support from well-wishers.

Thilaga Pillay, president of the Chatsworth Hospice, praised the team's resilience and generosity, emphasising how their initiative demonstrates the hospital's commitment to serving those affected by life-limiting illnesses.

The walk was initiated by cancer survivor and author Gangiah in December 2019, when he undertook a walk of almost 600 km with support from former South African athlete Jay Moodley, now residing in India.

The current team aspires to cover a minimum of 30 km daily for the ten-day walk along the west coast of India.

Gangiah shared his inspiration for the initiative, recounting his personal journey from losing a kidney to cancer in 2018.

"Having taken responsibility for my situation, I left no stone unturned in doing everything possible to regain my health. So much so that I reached the top of Kilimanjaro just six months after surgery," Gangiah told local media.

The story of his battle against cancer is document in the book 'What's your Kilimanjaro?'




BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- What exactly is the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with China's fine traditional culture, known as the "second integration"? And why is it so important?

China Chat host Miao Xiaojuan talks with American professor William Brown about this vital new concept introduced by President Xi Jinping, and how it's shaping the future of modern China.

A Xinhua News Agency Production 
Davos, Jan 17 (PTI) Asserting that Pakistan is not a country of concern and it should be constructively engaged, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday urged US President Joe Biden to acknowledge its role in regional and global matters as the need of the hour.

Kakar is at Davos attending the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) summit. He was speaking with CNBC in an interview on the sidelines of the Summit.

The US last week designated China, North Korea, and Pakistan as "Countries of Particular Concern" for engaging in and tolerating "particularly severe violations of religious freedom."

When asked what Pakistans message would be to the Biden administration ahead of the February 8 polls, the prime minister said: Pakistan is a country of consequence, not a country of concern so we Pakistan should be constructively engaged.

He said Pakistan is a mid-sized power and its actual potential and role needs to be appreciated.

It is the need of the hour to recognise Pakistans role, be it in the region or at the global stage, The News International newspaper quoted Kakar as saying.

The caretaker prime ministers statements come a day after two bases of the Balochi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan were targeted in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan province by Iranian missiles and drones.

Responding to a question, the caretaker prime minister emphasised the need for a regional approach to deal with the challenge of terrorism.

When asked about relations with China, Kakar said Pakistan enjoys strategically close relations with Beijing. He said no matter what happens in the region or anywhere else, nothing can affect Pakistan's relationship with China, the report said.
Kampala, Jan 17 (PTI) Pakistan is blatantly misusing the platform of Non-Aligned Movement for false and malicious propaganda against India, a senior Indian minister told NAM members here.

Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, the Minister of State (MoS) holding dual charges in the education and external affairs ministries, made the remark while addressing the 19th NAM Summit-Ministerial Meeting in the Ugandan capital.

Uganda has assumed the NAM presidency for the period of 2024-27.

While our focus is on coming together to strengthen NAM collectively, we have been exposed to the unfortunate, misplaced, predictable and blatant misuse of this august platform by Pakistan, as it propagates false and malicious propaganda against my country, Singh said.

Any interference in India's internal affairs is totally unacceptable and we completely reject it, the minister said in a strongly-worded speech.

Close on the heels of the African Unions successful induction into the G20 during India's Presidency, an African country captaining two important international bodies is a clear reflection of the collective strength of the continent, he said, referring to Uganda now heading both G-77 and NAM.

This is clearly Africas moment, Singh said.

As a founding member, India remains invested in NAM, and hopes that this Movement will voice the hopes and aspirations of the young people.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks that "the world is interconnected, as well as interdependent and we are living in the era of multilateralism, Singh said NAM is one of the worlds largest multilateral fora mobilising support for the Global South.

It is crucial that we defend and nurture NAM's tradition of independence, so that we set our own agenda. We are happy to see Ugandas focus on some of the key issues of importance to the Global South, especially those relating to our development agenda, human trafficking and drug smuggling and the larger issues of peace and security, he said.
Rafah, Jan 17 (AP) A shipment of medicine for dozens of hostages held by Hamas was en route to Gaza on Wednesday after France and Qatar mediated the first agreement between Israel and the militant group since a weeklong cease-fire broke down in November.

The medicines will be shipped through Egypt and delivered to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which will then hand them over to Hamas. Qatar said the deal also includes the delivery of additional medicine and humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave.

The deal came more than 100 days into a conflict that shows no sign of ending and which has sparked tensions across the Middle East, with a dizzying array of strikes and counterstrikes in recent days from northern Iraq to the Red Sea and from southern Lebanon to Pakistan.

In Gaza, Palestinian militants are still putting up resistance across the narrow coastal strip in the face of one of the deadliest military campaigns in recent history. Some 85 per cent of the territory's population of 2.3 million people have fled their homes and the UN says a quarter of the population is starving.

Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas' military and governing abilities to ensure that it can never repeat the October 7 attack that triggered the war. Militants burst through Israel's border defences and stormed through several communities, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing around 250.

Israel has also vowed to return the more than 100 hostages still held inside Gaza after Hamas released most of the rest in November in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Israel says only military pressure will bring about the release of more captives, but as the fighting grinds on they are at increased risk of being killed in Israeli strikes or during rescue operations.

Hamas has said it will not release any more hostages until there is a permanent cease-fire, something Israel and the US, its top ally, have ruled out.



A WELTER OF STRIKES ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST

In just the last few days, a US-led coalition has carried out strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, Iran has struck what it described as an Israeli spy headquarters in northern Iraq and militant bases in Pakistan and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah have escalated the intensity of their fighting across the border.

Iran-backed militant groups across the region say they are striking US and Israeli targets to pressure them to halt the Gaza offensive. Iran itself has encouraged the attacks while avoiding direct involvement, but appeared to be flexing its muscles with the strikes in Syria and Pakistan.

The Houthis have vowed to continue attacking international shipping in the Red Sea in what they say is a blockade of Israel, with repercussions for global trade.

Each party appears to be seeking some form of deterrence against its adversaries, but the longer the war in Gaza lasts, the more likely it is that one of them goes a step too far, potentially triggering another war.

The biggest risk is in Lebanon, where Israel has vowed to halt Hezbollah attacks so that tens of thousands of Israelis can return to their homes in communities evacuated in October. Hezbollah hopes to take the pressure off Gaza by tying down Israeli troops in the north.

Tensions are also soaring in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have conducted near-daily arrest raids that often trigger shootouts with Palestinian militants. Israel said Wednesday that an airstrike in the urban Balata refugee camp in the northern West Bank killed a senior militant implicated in recent attacks on Israelis. Over 350 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 7.



HEAVY FIGHTING IN GAZA

Israel said at the start of the year that it had largely dismantled Hamas in northern Gaza and would scale back operations there, focusing on dense urban areas in the center and south of the territory. But there has been little apparent letup in strikes, with scores of Palestinians killed every day.

Gaza's Health Ministry says 24,285 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths but says around two-thirds of those killed were women and children. Over 60,000 people have been wounded, and less than half of Gaza's hospitals are even partially functioning.

Israel blames the high civilian death toll on Hamas because it fights in dense residential areas. Israel says its forces have killed roughly 9,000 militants, without providing evidence, and that 190 of its own soldiers have been killed in the Gaza offensive.

Palestinian militants are still fighting in all parts of the territory, and Israel appears no closer to freeing the scores of hostages still held by Hamas. Two hostages' deaths were confirmed on Tuesday after Hamas said they were killed in Israeli airstrikes.



AID BOUND FOR HOSTAGES AND PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS

France said it took months to organize the shipment of the medicines. Qatar, which has long served as a mediator with Hamas, helped broker the deal, which will provide three months' worth of medication for chronic illnesses for 45 of the hostages as well as other medicine and vitamins.

Several elderly men are among the remaining hostages held by Hamas after most women and children were released in November.

Qatar said the deal includes the provision of additional humanitarian aid to Gaza, without elaborating.

Senior UN officials have warned that Gaza faces widespread famine and disease if more aid is not allowed in.

Israel completely sealed off Gaza after Hamas' October attack and only relented under US pressure. It says there are now no limits on the entry of humanitarian aid and that U.N. agencies could reduce the delays by providing more workers and trucks.

But UN officials say aid delivery is hobbled by the opening of too few border crossings, a slow vetting process, and continuing fighting throughout the territory  all of which is largely under Israel's control. (AP)





GRS

GRS
Wellington, Jan 17 (AP) New Zealand's first refugee lawmaker was charged by police a day after resigning amid allegations she had shoplifted several times at local high-end boutiques.

New Zealand Police said Golriz Ghahraman, a former member of New Zealand's Green Party, had been charged on Wednesday with two counts of shoplifting at a store in Auckland's trendy Ponsonby neighbourhood.

Today, a 43-year-old woman has been summonsed to appear in the Auckland District Court on two charges of shoplifting, a police statement said.

These charges relate to incidents at a Ponsonby retailer that allegedly occurred on 21 and 23 December 2023."

Ghahraman, who was the Green Party's justice and foreign affairs spokesperson, is expected to appear in the Auckland District Court on February 1.

Ghahraman resigned on Tuesday without referring to the specific allegations, saying that stresses relating to my work led her to act in ways completely out of character.

People should, rightly, expect the highest standards of behaviour from their elected representatives. I fell short. I'm sorry, she wrote in a statement released on Tuesday.

It's not a behaviour I can explain because it's not rational in any way, and after medical evaluation, I understand I'm not well.

The best thing for my mental health is to resign as a member of parliament and to focus on my recovery and to find other ways to work for positive change in the world.

Local media had earlier accused Ghahraman of shoplifting two times at Scotties Boutique in Auckland, and once at Cre8iveworkz in Wellington in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

On Tuesday, the New Zealand Herald published CCTV footage of the 42-year-old appearing to steal a handbag from the Auckland-based store.

Ghahraman is an Iranian-born, Oxford-educated human rights lawyer who sought asylum in New Zealand after the Iran-Iraq war.

She became first refugee elected to New Zealand's parliament in 2017.

In recent months, Ghahraman was one of the country's most vocal advocates for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Greens co-leader James Shaw said he had a a lot of empathy for Ghahraman," who was clearly in a state of extreme distress.

She has taken responsibility and apologised. We support the decision, he said before detailing threats she encountered during her six years as a lawmaker.

Golriz herself has been subject to pretty much continuous threats of sexual violence, physical violence, death threats, since the day she was elected, he said.

There have been police investigations into those threats almost the entire time ... if you're living with that level of threat in what is already quite a stressful situation there are going to be consequences.(AP)



RUP

RUP
Lahore, Jan 17 (PTI) Strongly condemning Iran's unprovoked violation of Pakistan's airspace, major political parties on Wednesday said after India and Afghanistan, the serious deterioration of relations with Iran is "worrisome" and speaks volumes about the country's "failed" foreign and defence policies.

Two bases of the Balochi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan were targeted in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan province by Iranian missiles and drones on Tuesday.

Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) said this irresponsible and reprehensible act by Iran will sabotage the possibilities of much-needed unity among the Muslim Ummah in this hour of need.

It said that Iran attempted to ruin the prospects of an inevitable harmony and unity among the ummah with an unprovoked violation of Pakistans sovereignty.

The PTI further said: After India and Afghanistan, the serious deterioration of relations with Iran is very concerning and worrisome which speaks volumes about our failed foreign and defense policies.

The claims of Iran's close allies including Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah pertaining to the strike inside Pakistan were very concerning and gave rise to serious doubts, PTI said and added, in February 2019, when India tried to violate Pakistan's land and airspace, the then elected Prime Minister, Imran Khan, provided strong political leadership and gave a prompt and befitting reply.

On February 26, 2019, Indias fighter planes crossed over into Pakistani air space and carried out attacks on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province beyond the Line of Control.

Bilawal Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) demanded the government to give a swift response to this act of Iran.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said the unprovoked attack by Iran inside Pakistans border is both unacceptable and condemnable, in which two children have been killed.

Pakistan has acted with restraint whenever theres been turbulence on the Pak-Iran border by terrorist groups and always sought collective responses to the transnational challenge of terrorism. This needs to be understood as strategic maturity, not kinetic weakness, she said.

She said such strikes erode Muslim unity at an existential moment of great need for jointly navigating forums for cooperation while the tragic and painful genocide in Gaza at the hands of Israel continues with impunity.

Rehman said that Teheran needs to understand that violence and conflict is exactly what non-state actors and terrorists are seeking. Pakistan has no stakes in fanning the flames of such conflict but will obviously have to respond if better sense does not prevail, the PPP leader said.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said: "I am shocked at the Iranian breach of Pakistani sovereignty. This missile attack is against the spirit of our friendship and principles of good neighbourliness, especially as it undermines the historic relationship between our two countries.

Shehbaz further said that sincere dialogue and meaningful cooperation between Pakistan and Iran is the need of the hour.
London, Jan 17 (AP) UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces a test of his authority and his nerve on Wednesday as he tries to subdue a Conservative Party rebellion and win parliamentary approval for his stalled plan to send some asylum-seekers on a one-way trip to Rwanda.

Lawmakers are due to vote on a bill that aims to overcome a UK Supreme Court block on the Rwanda plan, a day after some 60 members of Sunak's governing Conservatives rebelled in an effort to make the legislation tougher. The dissent cost Sunak two party deputy chairmen, who quit in order to vote against the government on the amendments. A junior ministerial aide also resigned.

A similar rebellion on Wednesday would doom the Safety of Rwanda Bill, and potentially Sunak's 15-month-old government.

With polls showing the Conservatives trailing far behind the Labour opposition in opinion polls, Sunak has made the controversial - and expensive - immigration policy central to his attempt to win an election this year.

He argues that deporting unauthorised asylum-seekers will deter people from making risky journeys across the English Channel and break the business model of people-smuggling gangs.

We have a plan. It's working," Sunak said Wednesday in the House of Commons.

He needs to convince fellow Conservatives, as well as voters, that it's true. But the liberal and law-and-order wings of the Conservatives - always uneasy allies - are at loggerheads over the Rwanda plan.

Moderates worry the policy is too extreme, concerns underscored when the United Nations' refugee agency said this week the Rwanda plan is not compatible with international refugee law.

However, many on the party's powerful right wing think the bill doesn't go far enough in deterring migration to the UK Hard-liners' attempts to toughen the bill by closing avenues of appeal for asylum-seekers failed Tuesday, and some of the Conservative rebels say they will oppose the legislation as a whole if it is not strengthened.

If about 30 Tory lawmakers vote against the bill, it could be enough, along with opposition votes, to kill the legislation.

But many Conservative lawmakers may hesitate to take the option of killing Sunak's signature policy, which could trigger panicky moves to replace him or even spark a snap election. The government has to call a national election by the end of the year.

Sunak insists the bill goes as far as the government can because Rwanda will pull out of its agreement to rehouse asylum-seekers if the UK breaks international law.

Illegal Immigration Minister Michael Tomlinson said there was only an inch of difference between the government and its Conservative critics, and actually we all want the same thing.

He said he was confident the bill is going to get through tonight.

The Rwanda policy is key to Sunak's pledge to stop the boats bringing unauthorised migrants to the UK across the English Channel from France. More than 29,000 people made the perilous journey in 2023, down from 42,000 the year before. Five people died last week while trying to launch a boat from northern France in the dark and winter cold.

London and Kigali made a deal almost two years ago under which migrants who reach Britain across the Channel would be sent to Rwanda, where they would stay permanently. Britain has paid Rwanda at least 240 million pounds ($305 million) under the agreement, but no one has yet been sent to the East African country.

The plan has been criticised as inhumane and unworkable by human rights groups and challenged in British courts. In November, the UK Supreme Court ruled the policy is illegal because Rwanda isn't a safe country for refugees.

In response to the court ruling, Britain and Rwanda signed a treaty pledging to strengthen protections for migrants. Sunak's government argues that the treaty allows it to pass a law declaring Rwanda a safe destination.

If approved by Parliament, the law would allow the government to disapply sections of UK human rights law when it comes to Rwanda-related asylum claims and make it harder to challenge the deportations in court.

If the bill is passed by the House of Commons on Wednesday, it will go to the House of Lords, Parliament's upper chamber, where it faces more opposition. (AP) SCY

SCY
Mandla (MP), Jan 17 (PTI) Union Minister of State for Rural Development Faggan Singh Kulaste on Wednesday accused senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Anay Dwivedi of insulting his relative in public by using casteist language.

"I have complained to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav against Dwivedi for using casteist language to publicly harass my relative, Ashok Dhurve who works with the Poorva Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company," the minister told PTI.

The incident took place during a recent meeting, said the BJP leader from the state who belongs to a tribal community.

He spoke to chief minister Yadav on phone and the latter assured that appropriate action will be taken in the matter, Kulaste said.

Dwivedi, who is the managing director of the Poorva Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company, a state-run power distribution firm, could not be contacted for reaction.
Kolkata, Jan 17 (PTI) The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday said they were satisfied with Calcutta High Court's directive to form a joint special investigation team (SIT) comprising the CBI and West Bengal police to investigate the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali.

The HC ordered the formation of a joint SIT of CBI and West Bengal police to probe the attack on ED officials at Sandeshkhali when they went to search the premises of Trinamool leader Shajahan Sheikh on January 5.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "We welcome the court order. The Calcutta High Court has ordered the formation of a joint team of central agency (CBI) and state police to probe the attack on ED officials at Sandeshkhali. From the very first day, we had a very clear stand that the central agency should take state police into the loop before conducting any investigation or raids."

Ghosh continued, "The BJP leaders have been demanding to hand over the case to the CBI claiming that the state police are unable to perform its duties. But the Calcutta High Court's decision has rejected their stand and has reflected our stand."

The ED officials had gone to search the premises of TMC leader Sahajahan Sheikh, including his residence and office, at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district in connection with their probe into the money trail in a ration distribution scam case in West Bengal, when the central agency's officials and accompanying CRPF personnel were attacked by a mob.

In response to TMC's remarks, the opposition BJP argued that the court order did not offer cause for celebration for the ruling party.

"The fact is that police have failed to nab him even after 12 days of the incident. The formation of the joint SIT is proof that police have miserably failed," said BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya.
New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against five people on Wednesday in a case of looting of arms and ammunition from Manipur Police personnel in May 2023.

The chargesheet was filed before the court of chief judicial magistrate, Kamrup (Metro) in Assam's Guwahati, a CBI spokesperson said.

The federal agency had taken over the case from the Manipur Police (Heingang police station in Imphal East) in June last year.

The case pertain to a mob storming into the Manipur Police Training College's (MPTC) Pangei complex on May 4, 2023 and allegedly looting a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the armoury during an ethnic conflict in the northeastern state, the CBI spokesperson said.
New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) The government is working on finalising a proposal to double the insurance cover under its flagship Ayushman Bharat health scheme to Rs 10 lakh to ensure that serious diseases like cancer and transplants that entail more expenditure are supported by it, official sources said on Wednesday.

An announcement to this effect is likely to be made in the interim Union Budget on February 1, the sources told PTI.

The Union health ministry is also planning to double the beneficiaries to 100 crore under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to include Kisan Samman Nidhi recipients, construction workers, non-coal mine workers and ASHA workers in the next three years.

"In order to ensure that serious illnesses requiring expenditure of more than Rs 5 lakh such as transplants and high-cost cancer treatments etc. are also covered under AB PMJAY, the ministry is working on finalising a proposal to increase the cover amount from Rs 5 lakh per family per year to Rs 10 lakh per family per year from 2023-24 onwards," the sources said.

The increase in coverage to Rs 10 lakh per family per year and increase in beneficiary base to 100 crore individuals will involve an additional allocation of Rs 12,076 crore per annum, the sources stated.

The scheme has successfully catered to 6.2 crore hospital admissions amounting to more than Rs 79,157 crore till now since its launch in 2018.

If the beneficiary had availed the same treatment on his own outside the ambit of AB PM-JAY, the total cost of the treatment would have gone up nearly two times, the official said.

The budget allocated for Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY for the financial year 2023-24 is Rs 7,200 crore, which is likely to more than double to around Rs 15,000 crore in the financial year 2025.

The AB PMJAY crossed the milestone of generating 30 crore Ayushman cards on January 12.

With 4.83 crore cards, Uttar Pradesh tops the list of states having the maximum Ayushman cards. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra stand at number two and three positions with 3.78 crore and 2.39 crore Ayushman cards respectively, they said.

Eleven states have more than one crore Ayushman card holders.

The flagship scheme being implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) aims to provide health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 12 crore beneficiary families.

Ayushman card creation is the most fundamental activity under the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and concerted efforts are being made to ensure that every beneficiary under the scheme has an Ayushman card, the ministry said.

Ayushman card creation has been included in the on-spot services being offered during the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra launched on November 15, 2023 with the intent to ensure saturation of different schemes of the government.

"The scheme is striving to achieve gender parity along with regional parity and income parity in access to healthcare services with 49 per cent Ayushman cards issued to female beneficiaries. Also, 48 per cent of treatment provided under the scheme has been availed by females," the official said, adding gender equity is part of core design of the scheme.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, the official Irish state guest house, in Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

DUBLIN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- China and Ireland should adhere to mutual benefit, and always regard each other as key cooperative partners and development opportunities, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Wednesday.

Li made the remarks when meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, the official Irish state guest house, in the Irish capital of Dublin.

During their talks, Li said China and Ireland have maintained healthy and stable development of their ties since the establishment of their diplomatic relations 45 years ago.

In recent years, particularly, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Michael D. Higgins, the China-Ireland strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation has increasingly deepened, and exchanges and cooperation in various fields have continuously expanded, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, Li said.

China is ready to work with Ireland to carry forward traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and share development opportunities more fully, in a bid to bring more benefits to the two countries and the two peoples, Li noted.

Li expressed China's willingness to work with the Irish side to adhere to mutual respect and trust, strive to seek common ground while shelving and resolving differences, deepen mutual understanding, and support each other on major issues.

China and Ireland should continuously expand trade, strengthen cooperation in green and low-carbon development, sustainable agriculture, finance and other fields, and expand innovation cooperation in digital economy, biomedicine and artificial intelligence, making the pie of cooperation bigger, he said.

China will apply unilateral visa-free policy to Ireland to facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries, Li said, voicing the expectation that Ireland will provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.

China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Ireland within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, practice genuine multilateralism, jointly tackle global challenges and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

It is hoped that Ireland will play a greater role in promoting the sound and stable development of China-Europe relations, said Li. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, the official Irish state guest house, in Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) Union Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the aim is to ensure the cooperative sector has a big share in the Indian economy, which is projected to be USD 5 trillion by FY28, as the cooperative movement did not grow at the desired pace in the last 75 years.

Shah, the Union Cooperation Minister, was addressing after inaugurating the new office of Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) spread over 41,000 square feet at the World Trade Centre, Nauroji Nagar in South Delhi. The building has been developed by state-owned NBCC.

Shah said the new office has been acquired for Rs 175 crore.

The minister highlighted that the government has taken 60 major initiatives in the last 30 months for the growth of the cooperative movement. The Cooperation Ministry was set up in July 2021.

Shah said there are success stories of cooperatives since independence but the sector did not grow at a fast pace.

"Now we have decided that in Modiji's USD 5 trillion economy, cooperatives will have a big share and the cooperative sector will advance into the 21st century directly from the 19th century," Shah said.

To strengthen the cooperative movement, the minister highlighted that the government has amended The Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act and brought model bye-laws to strengthen PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies) and scheme to undertake computerisation of PACS.

He said the government has set a target to establish 2 lakh multipurpose PACS/ Dairy/ Fishery Cooperatives in the next five years and informed that 12,000 new PACS have been formed.

Shah stressed the need to open more banks in the co-operative sector and asked multi-state credit societies to convert themselves into banks.

He highlighted that the registration of multi-state co-operative societies stood at 102 in 2023, a 10-fold jump from 10 in 2020.

Shah also highlighted IFFCO's new innovative products nano liquid urea and nano liquid DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) and expected the demand for these products will pick up in the coming years. He said PACS are providing drones to farmers to spray nano urea and nano DAP.
New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) In a carefully crafted reaction on Iran's deadly missile strike targeting terror bases in Pakistan, India on Wednesday said it understands actions that countries take in their self defence.

At the same time, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it is a matter between Iran and Pakistan, and asserted that India has "an uncompromising" position of "zero tolerance" towards terrorism.

"This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan," he said.

The spokesperson was responding to media queries on the Iranian missile strike in Pakistan.

"So far as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self defence," Jaiswal said.

Tehran launched an unprecedented missile and drone strikes on what it said were directed at the bases of a terrorist group in the restive Balochistan province.

Two bases of the Sunni Baloch militant group 'Jaish al-Adl' in Pakistan's unruly Balochistan province were targeted by missiles and drones on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported.

Pakistan on Wednesday recalled its ambassador to Iran and suspended all planned high-level bilateral visits.

In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Baloch said that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return to Islamabad for the time being.

Pakistan also reserves the right to retaliate to the provocation by Iran, she said.
Chandigarh, Jan 17 (PTI) The Chandigarh mayoral polls will take place on Thursday with both the BJP and the Congress-AAP alliance claiming victory in the election.

The mayoral polls this time assume significance as the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party -- both INDIA bloc members -- have joined hands to contest the elections to oust the BJP from the chair of mayor which it has been winning for the last eight years.

Under the arrangement, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will fight for the mayor's seat while the Congress will contest the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.

The polls for the posts of mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor will be held on Thursday, said officials here.

AAP senior leader Raghav Chadha and senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal met here a day ahead of polling, sources said.

Rajya Sabha member Chadha on Tuesday said that the INDIA bloc will sweep the Chandigarh mayoral polls and the victory will be the curtain raiser for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the BJP has 14 councillors. It also has an ex-officio member MP (Kirron Kher) who has voting rights.

The AAP has 13 councillors and the Congress seven. The Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor in the House.

The municipal officials have said that no mobile phone, camera and any other electronic gadget will be allowed during the voting at the assembly hall of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation office.

The mayor is elected by the councillors through secret ballots. Hence, the possibility of cross-voting cannot be ruled out.

The Congress abstained from voting in 2022 and 2023, leading to the BJP's victory in the mayoral polls.

Elections for the three posts are held every year during the five-year term of the House. This year, the mayor's seat has been reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. This time the mayor will be elected for the third term.

A senior Congress leader said after a tie-up with the AAP, they have total 20 councillors with which they will easily win all the three posts.

Meanwhile, the BJP has also exuded confidence that its candidates will register victories.

For the mayor, the BJP has fielded Manoj Sonkar while the AAP has nominated Kuldeep Kumar Tita. For the post of senior deputy mayor, the contest will be between BJP's Kuljeet Sandhu and Congress' Gurpreet Singh Gabi.

For the post of deputy mayor, the BJP has fielded Rajinder Sharma while the Congress party's nominee is Nirmala Devi.
Jaipur, Jan 17 (PTI) Jat leaders on Wednesday began a protest at Jaicholi in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district, demanding inclusion of the community in the central Other Backward Classes (OBC) list.

Inclusion in the central OBC list would pave the way for reservation for the community in central jobs and centrally-run educational institutions.

The protesters threatened to intensify their protest if their demand is not fulfilled by January 22.

"Till January 22, we will protest in a Gandhian way. If the government does not fulfil our demands, then we will intensify the movement," said Bharatpur-Dholpur Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti convenor Nem Singh Faujdar.

The protesters gathered near the Delhi-Mumbai railway track in Jaicholi.

Faujdar said that in 2015, reservation for Jats of Bharatpur and Dholpur along with nine states was abolished by the Centre citing shortcomings in the provisions of law and procedures.

A memorandum regarding the inclusion of Jats in the central reservation list was also sent to the prime minister through the district collector on January 12 but no hearing has been held on the matter yet, he said.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 17 (PTI) Odisha Police arrested a woman for allegedly killing a hotelier in Bhubaneswar.

The accused, identified as Sunki Rana alias Soni, was arrested for murdering hotelier Biswajit Nayak of Balianta area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh said on Tuesday.

Nayak was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his house in Hirapur village a couple of days ago, the DCP said.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused Sunki, a native of Jharsuguda, had murdered her sister-in-law in 2005 and was sentenced to 12 years jail term for the murder.

After her release, she was staying at an ashram in Puri for the last three years. During her stay, she had met Nayak's mother and had started attending to her.

Later, she came in contact with Nayak through his mother and they developed an affair, for which, Sunki visited Nayak's house at regular intervals taking permission from the head of the Ashram, the DCP said.

On December 30, 2023, Sunki came to the house of Nayak and stayed with him but received regular phone calls from Puri about her return. So she approached Nayak to allow her to go to Puri but Nayak did not allow her to leave him.

On January 12, there was a quarrel between them in the afternoon hours and Sunki suddenly attacked Nayak with a hard wooden stick on his head and he died.

Singh said Sunki concealed the blood-stained wooden stick and wearing apparel and in the evening left the place by availing an auto to Puri. She has been arrested from Puri.

The police seized a blood-stained wooden stick, the weapon of offence, wearing apparels with blood stained and a mobile phone of the accused.
Bengaluru, Jan 17 (PTI) Former Karnataka chief minister and JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy Wednesday said he had an important meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda in New Delhi regarding preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Kumaraswamy's son and JDS youth wing state president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, and former MP Kupendra Reddy were also present in the meeting held at Shah's residence.

"The Home Minister and Nadda had a discussion with the JD(S) leaders for more than 45 minutes on state politics, seat sharing and the issue of alliance," Kumaraswamy said in a statement.

The former chief minister said Shah told him that he would discuss the process of JD(S) officially joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and seat allocation after the completion of the consecration of Rama temple in Ayodhya in the presence of Nadda.

The leaders were unanimous that the NDA should win all the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state and Narendra Modi should once again become the prime minister, according to the statement.

Shah and Nadda told Kumaraswamy that BJP and JD(S) should take all the decisions to face the election on the basis of trust and faith. Stating that there is a "strong anti-incumbency wave" against the Congress government in Karnataka within a year of it coming to power, Kumaraswamy said they discussed ways to effectively bring the failures of the state government to the attention of the people.

The JD(S) joined the NDA in September last year after a meeting H D Kumaraswamy, former prime minister Deve Gowda's son, had with Home Minister Shah and BJP national president Nadda in New Delhi.

Both parties have said they would fight the coming Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka together.

In the elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly in May last year, the JD(S) put up a poor show, winning only 19 seats. The Congress bagged 135 and the BJP 66.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson dropped his long-shot bid for the Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday, ending a candidacy that served as a throwback to an earlier era of the GOP but ultimately failed to resonate in a party now dominated by Donald Trump.

Hutchinsons exit came a day after he finished sixth in Iowas leadoff caucuses, well behind Trump and other top rivals but also behind Ryan Binkley, a pastor who failed to qualify for any of the debates. Hutchinson was the last GOP candidate remaining in the race who was willing to directly take on Trump.

I congratulate Donald J. Trump for his win last night in Iowa and to the other candidates who competed and garnered delegate support, Hutchinson said in a statement. Today, I am suspending my campaign for President and driving back to Arkansas. My message of being a principled Republican with experience and telling the truth about the current front runner did not sell in Iowa.

Hutchinsons campaign manager, Alison WIlliams, said he wasnt issuing an endorsement at this time.

During the campaign, he failed to register beyond a single percentage point in most polls and drew sparse crowds even as the Republican presidential field winnowed from more than a dozen candidates down to a handful. Another competitor, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, dropped out of the race Monday night after finishing fourth in Iowa.

Hutchinson stayed in the race even as better-financed and well-known candidates such as former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott dropped out last year.

During the first debate, Hutchinson was booed by some audience members when he said he wouldnt support Trump if he was convicted in any of his four criminal cases, and he questioned whether the former president was disqualified from holding office because of his role in inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

I am not going to support somebody whos been convicted of a serious felony or who is disqualified under our Constitution, Hutchinson said.

He failed to meet the qualifications for the next four presidential debates, an unwelcome development that denied him needed exposure.

Before entering the race, he called another Trump White House run the worst scenario for the GOP and said the former presidents call to terminate parts of the Constitution hurt the country.

He objected to the Republican National Committees requirement that candidates support the eventual nominee in order to qualify for the debate stage, though he ultimately signed the pledge. Hutchinson said the party should instead require hopefuls to vow to not run as a third-party candidate.

Hutchinson, whose candidacy harked back to an earlier era of the Republican Party, preferred dry policy discussions or appearances on Sunday talk shows to boisterous rallies or Twitter fights. Although hes been a fixture in Arkansas politics going back decades, he was little known outside his home state.

He was crowded out by other better-known candidates who had competing appeals to GOP voters. His criticisms of Trump were overshadowed by similar comments from Chris Christie, the former governor from New Jersey.

After Christie dropped out of the race days before Iowas caucuses, Hutchinson commended him for speaking the hard truth and highlighting the risks of a Donald Trump presidency, noting the high political price he paid.

As for me, Hutchinson said in a statement, I am competing for votes in the Iowa caucuses and I plan to beat expectations here. I remain the only candidate who has not promised a pardon to Donald Trump and my voice continues to be critical in this race.

Hutchinson joins Ramaswamy, Christie, Pence, Scott, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, radio show host Larry Elder, businessman Perry Johnson, former Texas congressman Will Hurd and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez in suspending his bid for the GOP nomination.

He formally launched his campaign in April in Bentonville, the northwest Arkansas town where he got his start as an attorney and first ran unsuccessfully for elected office.

Hutchinson had used the city, which is also retail giant Walmarts home, to portray himself as a business-friendly conservative. He had contrasted that with DeSantis, who has been engaged in a bitter public feud with Disney in Florida.

Hutchinson, who finished his two terms as Arkansas governor in 2023, is also a former congressman who served as one of the House managers prosecuting the impeachment case against former President Bill Clinton.

Previously, Hutchinson served in former President George W. Bushs White House as the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration and as an undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He was also a federal prosecutor in Arkansas in the 1980s.

Hutchinson touted his law enforcement experience as unique, especially in addressing issues such as immigration and border security. He also cited it when talking about Trumps legal woes.

Hutchinson, who had led a task force for the National Rifle Association that called for armed and trained school personnel after the Sandy Hook school shooting, found a less than enthusiastic reception when he appeared before the groups annual convention after launching his bid. He drew at least one yelled obscenity from the Trump-friendly crowd after he suggested Biden was praying for a rematch with Trump in 2024 and declared, We dont need a rerun of 2020.

He had also pointed to his history of signing multiple abortion restrictions into law as governor, including a near-total ban that took effect when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. But Hutchinson stopped short of saying whether hed support a six- or 15-week ban as president before telling conservatives he would sign into law a federal restriction.

Hutchinson, who as governor had vetoed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, had during the campaign highlighted other restrictions hed supported on transgender youth.

(AP)
In some ways, Iowas Republican caucuses were practically over before they began, with Donald Trump cultivating a deep network of support over three presidential runs.

About 7 in 10 Iowans who caucused for Trump on Monday night said they have known all along that they would support a man who has remade the Republican Party through his Make America Great Again political movement. Trump was carried to victory by the majority of caucusgoers who say they back it, a sign of his growing influence in a state that denied him a victory eight years ago.

His chief challengers  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy  tried to carve out their own coalitions. But none could match the demographic edges enjoyed by Trump in this years first presidential contest, according to the findings from AP VoteCast. Ramaswamy said he is suspending his campaign after a disappointing finish in the caucuses.

Trump performed strongly in small town and rural communities, where about 6 in 10 caucusgoers said they live. He won with white evangelical Christians, who are nearly half of the caucusgoers. He excelled among those without a college degree.

If there is a reason for pause in his Iowa success, it is that many of the must-win states in the November general election are more urban, more suburban, more racially diverse and have slightly more college graduates as a percentage of their adult population than does Iowa.

AP VoteCast is a survey of more than 1,500 voters who said they planned to take part in the caucuses. The survey is conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

HOW TRUMP WON IN IOWA

The 77-year-old Trump entered Iowa as the caucus favorite, and AP VoteCast showed why he has become a juggernaut among GOP voters in the state.

The demographics favored him, but so did the issues that people prioritized: immigration and the economy.

Among the roughly 4 in 10 Iowa caucusgoers who identified immigration as the most important issue for the nation, about 6 in 10 back Trump. Those participating in the caucuses agreed with his hard-line stance on finding ways to limit immigration.

About 9 in 10 back building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, with about 7 in 10 expressing strong support for the idea first championed by Trump during his 2016 campaign. The vast majority, about three-quarters, say immigrants hurt the United States, an indication there is a desire to reduce overall immigration levels.

About one-third of caucusgoers prioritized the economy. Of those who did, about half support Trump.

DESANTIS DISTANT SECOND

The key for DeSantis earning a second-place finish was conservatives, who favored him over Haley even though they liked Trump most of all. About 7 in 10 Iowans who caucused define themselves as conservatives. A majority of caucusgoers favor a ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, and DeSantis performed slightly better than Haley among that group.

Haley finished narrowly behind DeSantis. She was the top candidate of the most anti-Trump Republicans in the state, including those who believe the former president did something illegal in one of the pending criminal cases against him. She was also the top choice for those Republican caucusgoers who voted for Biden in the 2020 election. But she faced headwinds in a state that largely saw itself as loyal to Trump and his agenda.

DeSantis performs best among the caucusgoers dissatisfied with Trump but who said they would ultimately vote for him in the general election.

Most Iowa caucusgoers for either Haley or DeSantis say they would be dissatisfied with Trump as their partys nominee. But unlike DeSantis backers, two-thirds of Haleys caucusgoers say they would not ultimately vote for Trump in the general election.

POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES FOR TRUMP

Iowa also exposed some national vulnerabilities for Trump, who lost his 2020 reelection bid to Democrat Joe Biden.

The suburbs are a relative weakness for Trump. Thats a key challenge because AP VoteCast showed nearly half of voters in the 2020 general election said they lived in the suburbs. Only about one-third of Iowa Republicans in the suburbs supported him. Still, neither of his closest rivals bested Trump in the suburbs: about 3 in 10 Iowa caucusgoers in the suburbs also supported both Haley and DeSantis, respectively.

Nor does Trump have as much appeal with college graduates. About 2 in 10 of Trumps Iowa backers hold a college degree, compared with roughly half of those who backed DeSantis and slightly more than that for Haley.

And there are Trumps legal troubles.

He was indicted multiple times in 2023 and faces the risk of one or more criminal convictions. But that appears so far to have done little damage to his standing with Republican voters.

Still, about one-quarter say Trump has done something illegal when it comes to at least one of the legal cases he is facing: his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, his alleged attempts to interfere in the vote count in the 2020 presidential election or the discovery of classified documents at his Florida home that were supposed to be in government custody.

NO TO THE STATUS QUO

Caucusgoers are giving Republicans the green light to dramatically alter how the federal government operates. Some showed an exhaustion with what they perceive to be politics as usual and a distrust of government institutions.

For many, they are envisioning something of a demolition project for how the country runs. About 3 in 10 say they are seeking a complete and total upheaval. About an additional 6 in 10 caucusgoers say they want substantial changes.

The vast majority of caucusgoers trust Iowa elections, but about 4 in 10 are not too confident or not at all confident in the integrity of elections nationwide. Nearly 6 in 10 have little to no confidence in the American legal system.

(AP)
Iraq recalled its ambassador from Tehran for consultations and summoned Irans charge daffaires in Baghdad on Tuesday in protest over Iranian strikes on northern Iraq that killed several civilians overnight, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said.

The Iranian attack was a blatant violation of Iraqs sovereignty and strongly contradicts the principles of good neighborliness and international law, and threatens the security of the region, the ministry said in a statement.

Iran fired missiles late Monday at what it said were Israeli spy headquarters in an upscale neighborhood near the sprawling U.S. Consulate compound in Irbil, the seat of Iraqs northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and at targets linked to the extremist Islamic State group in northern Syria.

Irans Revolutionary Guard said in a statement Tuesday that it launched four missiles at IS positions in Syrias Idlib province and 11 missiles at the Kurdish region in northern Iraq, where it said it hit a center of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency.

Qassim al-Araji, the adviser for national security affairs to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani who is heading a committee investigating the attack in Irbil, said Irans claims of targeting a Mossad headquarters are baseless.

Irans strikes came after the Islamic State group claimed responsibility earlier this month for two suicide bombings targeting a commemoration for an Iranian general slain in a 2020 U.S. drone strike. The attack in Kerman killed at least 84 people and wounded 284 others at the ceremony honoring Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Last month, Iran accused Israel of killing a high-ranking Iranian general, Seyed Razi Mousavi, in an airstrike on a Damascus neighborhood.

It was unclear whether the strikes in Syria had, in fact, hit any targets associated with the Islamic State group.

Mounir al-Mustafa, deputy director of the civil defense in northwest Syria, also known as the White Helmets, said one of the strikes in Idlib targeted a medical clinic that was no longer operating in the village of Talteta in northwest Idlib province. Two civilians suffered minor injuries, he said.

Sami al-Qassim, who lives near the targeted site, said the clinic was empty and there were no militant activities in the area.

The strike in Irbil killed at least four people, among them Peshraw Dizayi, a prominent local businessman with a portfolio that included real estate and security services companies, along with members of his family.

The United States condemned what State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller described as Irans reckless missile strikes.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in a statement that the strikes in Iraq and Syria were in line with the resolute defense of the countrys sovereignty and security, countering terrorism, and part of the Islamic Republics punishment against those who threaten the countrys security.

He said that Iran in a precise and targeted operation, identified the headquarters of the criminals and targeted them with accurate and precision-guided projectiles.

A few hundred demonstrators gathered in Irbil on Tuesday to protest the attacks.

(AP)
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Tulkarm refugee camp, northern West Bank, on Jan. 17, 2024. At least seven Palestinians were killed on Wednesday by Israeli strikes in the West Bank, Palestinian medical and security sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least seven Palestinians were killed on Wednesday by Israeli strikes in the West Bank, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said in a statement that an Israeli drone strike killed four people inside the Tulkarm refugee camp in a massive military operation on Wednesday morning.

Local Palestinian sources told Xinhua that there was heavy gunfire and reconnaissance aircraft were flying over the skies of the city of Tulkarm, adding that the Israeli forces were also bulldozing and destroying the roads and infrastructure in the camp.

The Israeli military confirmed it carried out a broad operation in the Tulkarm refugee camp, in which it killed several "terrorists."

The PRCS reported earlier Wednesday that the Israeli army bombed a Palestinian vehicle in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, leading to the death of three Palestinians, including two brothers from the Balata refugee camp in Nablus.

The deaths brought the number of Palestinians killed by Israel in the West Bank to at least 360 since a new round of violence erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. 

Israeli military vehicles are seen during an Israeli military operation in Tulkarm refugee camp, northern West Bank, on Jan. 17, 2024. At least seven Palestinians were killed on Wednesday by Israeli strikes in the West Bank, Palestinian medical and security sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

An Israeli military vehicle is seen during an Israeli military operation in Tulkarm refugee camp, northern West Bank, on Jan. 17, 2024. At least seven Palestinians were killed on Wednesday by Israeli strikes in the West Bank, Palestinian medical and security sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Israeli military vehicles are seen during an Israeli military operation in Tulkarm refugee camp, northern West Bank, on Jan. 17, 2024. At least seven Palestinians were killed on Wednesday by Israeli strikes in the West Bank, Palestinian medical and security sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

A boy picks debris of a vehicle bombed by the Israeli army in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Jan. 17, 2024. At least seven Palestinians were killed on Wednesday by Israeli strikes in the West Bank, Palestinian medical and security sources said. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported earlier Wednesday that the Israeli army bombed a Palestinian vehicle in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, leading to the death of three Palestinians, including two brothers from the Balata refugee camp in Nablus. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

Debris is seen on the site where the Israeli army bombed a Palestinian vehicle in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Jan. 17, 2024. At least seven Palestinians were killed on Wednesday by Israeli strikes in the West Bank, Palestinian medical and security sources said. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported earlier Wednesday that the Israeli army bombed a Palestinian vehicle in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, leading to the death of three Palestinians, including two brothers from the Balata refugee camp in Nablus. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
In a revealing interrogation report published by the Shin Bet security agency, Basel Mahadi, a platoon commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, has disclosed details of his military training in Iran. Mahadi, apprehended in Gaza on December 20, recounted his journey from Gaza to Iran, where he underwent specialized training alongside other terrorists from Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

According to Mahadi, the decision to send him to Iran was made by his superior who promised him enhanced skills and a higher salary upon his return. He detailed his travel route, starting from the Gaza Strip, moving through Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and finally arriving in Iran. The training in Iran, which lasted for 15 days, encompassed physical fitness and proficiency in various weapons.

Mahadi specifically mentioned a comprehensive training schedule with Kalashnikov rifles, progressing from shooting at distances of 100 meters to 150 meters, followed by specialized training with the Dragunov sniper rifle for distances up to 300 meters. In addition, he revealed that other Islamic Jihad members in Iran received training in rocket warfare, highlighting the extent and variety of the military instruction provided by the Iranians.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
President Joe Biden has invited the top four congressional leaders and other lawmakers to the White House on Wednesday as members have struggled to reach agreement on U.S. aid for the Ukraine war. Republicans have insisted on pairing it with their own demands for securing the U.S. border.

A bipartisan group of negotiators in the Senate has been working for weeks to find an agreement that would provide wartime money for Ukraine and Israel and also include new border policy that is strong enough to satisfy Republicans in both chambers. The talks appeared to slow last week as senators said significant disagreements remained.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that the lawmakers  including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.,  were invited to meet with Biden to discuss the critical importance of his national security supplemental requests.

Bidens top budget official warned earlier this month about the rapidly diminishing time that lawmakers have to replenish U.S. aid for Ukraine. Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, stressed that there is no avenue to help Ukraine aside from Congress approving additional funding to help Kyiv as it fends off Russia in a war that is now nearly two years old.

While the Pentagon has some limited authority to help Kyiv absent new funding from Capitol Hill, Young said at the first of the month, that is not going to get big tranches of equipment into Ukraine.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos this week. In an appearance Tuesday following the meeting, Sullivan said he remained confident the Biden administration would come to an agreement on Ukraine aid in the coming weeks.

What I will say is that weve got to be able to deliver the necessary resources to Ukraine for the weapons that it needs to be able to achieve the results that it needs, Sullivan said in conversation with Brge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum. I continue to believe and express confidence that we willafter a lot of twists and turns ultimately get there.

Biden has faced staunch resistance from conservatives to his $110 billion request for a package of wartime aid for Ukraine and Israel as well as other national security priorities. Republicans have demanded that the funding be paired with significant border security changes.

The Biden administration has been directly involved in the talks as the president tries to both secure support for Ukraines defense against Russia and also make progress on border policy.

Biden, who is up for re-election this year, has come under significant criticism for his handling of the historic number of migrants seeking asylum at the U.S. border with Mexico.

(AP)
Nikki Haley said Tuesday that she wouldnt participate in the next Republican presidential debate unless former President Donald Trump takes part in it, leaving Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the only candidate committed to Thursdays event.

Weve had five great debates in this campaign, Haley said in a statement, released as she campaigned in New Hampshire. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it.

Her statement was released a day after the all-important Iowa caucuses, in which Trump marked a wide margin of victory over both Haley and DeSantis. With the two locked in a heated competition for second place in Iowa, Haley tried to make her electoral argument more about Trump than DeSantis, repeatedly echoing her refrain that her candidacy marks a turnabout from the chaos that follows the GOP front-runner.

The move also could be a result of the last debate which featured only Haley and DeSantis, in which Haley didnt perform as well as expected, and DeSantis ultimately ended up beating her for second place in Iowa.

Haley had argued to caucusgoers that picking her gives Republicans a better chance to defeat Biden in November, pointing to survey data showing her with the largest lead among the GOP field in a theoretical general election matchup.

On X, DeSantis said Haley is afraid to debate because she doesnt want to answer the tough questions. He accused her of running to be Trumps VP and said that he looked forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung on Tuesday called Haley a desperate globalist who wants higher taxes, open borders, and China to dominate the United States, He added, Thats why the only people who are voting for her are Democrats who are trying to interfere in a Republican primary.

Haley went head-to-head with DeSantis in the most recent GOP debate last week in Iowa, a two-hour brawl that left at least some of her supporters feeling that the former South Carolina governor had lost some of the above-the-fray attitude of her campaign thus far. More than a dozen times she referenced a campaign-run website that several caucusgoers said had seemed repetitive and caught Haley in a bout of name calling that was off-putting.

With the GOP campaign now shifting to New Hampshire, ahead of that states primary next week, Haley has projected confidence that her commitment to the state and surveys showing her with support there will provide her campaign with the momentum needed to cut into Trumps strength. After her caucus night party, Haley boarded an overnight flight to New Hampshire, where she planned an event with Gov. Chris Sununu later in the day.

But DeSantis, breaking with tradition, instead flew directly to Haleys home state of South Carolina, saying last week the plan to make a brief appearance there before going to New Hampshire himself was intended to send a message to Haley that he would compete fiercely against her in her home states primary next month.

Along the campaign trail in Iowa over the past week, reporters had asked Haley when she would commit to participating in Thursdays debate, hosted by ABC and WMUR-TV at Saint Anselm College.

After his caucus win, Trump flew to New York, where he was expected in court for one of his multiple legal challenges, before heading to New Hampshire for a rally later Tuesday. A campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on if Trump would take part in Thursdays debate. Hes skipped all of the primary ones thus far.

After visiting the court, Trump will fly to New Hampshire to hold a rally Tuesday evening.

A spokesman for ABC News said that the debate hosts had given Trump and Haley a 5 p.m. ET deadline to commit to attending.

New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Chris Ager told AP on Tuesday that invitations had been extended to both Haley and Trump to join DeSantis on stage for the debate.

We would love to see them all, he said in a text message. People in NH expect to see a local debate. Candidates who skip do so at their own risk.

(AP)
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(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Iranian sniper rifles. AK-47 assault rifles from China and Russia. North Korean- and Bulgarian-built rocket-propelled grenades. Anti-tank rockets secretly cobbled together in Gaza.

An Associated Press analysis of more than 150 videos and photos taken in the three months of combat since Hamas launched its Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel shows the terrorist group has amassed a diverse patchwork arsenal of weapons from around the world  much of it smuggled past a 17-year blockade that was aimed at stopping just such a military buildup.

Those weapons have proved deadly during weeks of intense urban warfare in Gaza, where Hamas terrorists are typically armed only with what they can carry and employ hit-and-run tactics against lopsided Israeli advantages in arms and technology. Hamas propaganda videos posted over the past few weeks appear to show the shootings of Israeli soldiers recorded through the scopes of sniper rifles.

We are searching everywhere for weapons, for political support, for money, Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad recently said in an interview with the AP, declining to discuss specifically who has been providing its weapons or how they were snuck into Gaza.

Experts who reviewed the images for AP were able to identify distinguishing features and markings that show where many of the weapons wielded by Hamas terrorists were manufactured. But such an analysis does not provide evidence of whether they were provided by the governments of those countries or purchased in a thriving Middle East black market, with weapons and components listed for sale on social media in such war-torn countries as Iraq, Libya and Syria.

What is clear, however, is that many of the images show Hamas terrorists toting weapons that appear to be relatively new, evidence the group has found ways of getting arms past the air-and-sea blockade of the Gaza Strip  possibly by boat, through tunnels or concealed in shipments of food and other goods.

The majority of their arms are of Russian, Chinese or Iranian origin, but North Korean weapons and those produced in former Warsaw Pact countries are also present in the arsenal, said N.R. Jenzen-Jones, an expert in military arms who is director of the Australian-based Armament Research Services.

Imagery reviewed by the AP showed a Hamas arsenal featuring weapons ranging from small arms and machine guns to shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles and craft-produced anti-tank projectiles.

Among the most distinctive is the oversized AM-50 Sayyad (Arabic for hunter), an Iranian-made a sniper rifle that fires a .50- caliber round powerful enough to punch through up to an inch of steel. It has previously been spotted on battlefields in Yemen, Syria, and in the hands of Shia militias in Iraq.

Hamas fighters have also been seen carrying an array of Soviet-era weapons that have been copied and manufactured in Iran and China. They include variants of the Russian-designed 9M32 Strela, a portable heat-seeking anti-aircraft missile system.

Jenzen-Jones said a grip stock on one of the missile launchers a fighter was seen holding is distinctive to a variant manufactured in China and used by the Iranian military and its allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, a group closely aligned with Hamas.

Weapons recovered from Hamas fighters by the Israel Defense Forces include what appear to be Italian-designed TC/6 anti-tank mines. However, Sean Moorhouse, a former British Army officer and explosive ordinance disposal expert, said it too had been copied by Irans arms industry.

The Israel Defense Forces and U.S. officials have long accused Iran of supplying money, training and weapons to Hamas and allied militants in Gaza, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Iranian representatives at the United Nations did not respond to emails from the AP about whether their government supplied weapons to Hamas, including AM-50 Sayyad sniper rifles. However, a week after AP sought comment, Hamas posted a video purporting to show terrorists in Gaza using machining equipment to make their own copies of the rifle.

Master gunsmith Don Fraley reviewed that Dec. 20 video and said it would be nearly impossible for Hamas to manufacture a safe and accurate .50-caliber sniper rifle with the rudimentary equipment shown.

Youre going to have to be a rock star at machine shop work. And I didnt see any of that, said Fraley, a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier and sniper for the Kentucky State Police. These folks are just trying to cover their tracks.

An Israeli military official familiar with Hamas arsenal said the group uses a combination of smuggled off-the-shelf weaponry, including AK-47s, RPGs and anti-aircraft missiles, as well as a large collection of home-grown weapons often made with easily accessible civilian materials.

For instance, the official said, the group uses lathes to shape metal into rockets and mortars, and fits them with explosives manufactured from fertilizers. Other home-made weapons include a launcher capable of firing 14 rockets simultaneously and the Zuwari drone, an explosives-laden aircraft that was used to strike Israeli observation towers and knock out cameras on Oct. 7.

There is a huge military/defense industry inside the Gaza Strip, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity under military briefing rules.

The official said most of the smuggled weapons are believed to have been brought in through Egypt and are generally easy to purchase and did not need to be supplied by the country of origin.

One such weapon seen in the hands of Hamas fighters is a version of Chinese machine guns known as the Type 80, a model that has also been copied by the Iranians and renamed as the PKM-T80.

Jonathan Ferguson, the curator of firearms at the Royal Armouries Museum in England, said from what he could see from the photos and videos, versions of the gun made in China and Iran were so similar as to be indistinguishable.

Ferguson was also able to identify a rocket-propelled grenade with marks showing it was made in Bulgaria. AP previously reported Hamas used RPGs with a distinctive red stripe indicating they were made in North Korea.

Among the more sophisticated Hamas home-grown weapons is a copy of a Russian anti-tank rocket called the PG-7VR, which is specifically designed to defeat reactive-armor systems like those used on Israels Merkava Mark VI main battle tanks. Such tanks are covered with explosive-filed plates that explode outwards to disrupt incoming projectiles.

In propaganda videos posted in October, masked terrorists are seen assembling a version of the Russian rocket that Hamas has renamed the Al-Yasin 105, in honor of the groups founder killed in an Israeli air strike in 2004. While the original Russian version can melt through up to two feet of steel armor, experts say its not clear whether the home-brewed explosives in the Hamas knock-off are as potent.

Hamas has posted multiple videos of fighters firing the rockets at Israeli tanks and armored personal carriers. Those videos are typically cut off after the warhead explodes, making it impossible to independently verify whether the target was destroyed.

Also, in a tactic borrowed from the battlefields of Ukraine, Hamas appears to have obtained or copied Iranian-designed drones that pack warheads that explode when crashed into their targets. Off- the-shelf, Chinese-made quadcopter drones have also been adapted to drop explosives on tanks and troops.

The availability of commercial off-the-shelf unmanned aerial vehicles, these light consumer drones, has radically changed warfare in recent years, Jenzen-Jones said. Weve seen them, obviously, in Syria, in Yemen, in Iraq, in Ukraine, and now in Gaza.

(AP)
The New York Times published an article on Tuesday exposing the astounding depth, extent, and quality of the tunnel network underneath Gaza.

The article, entitled Israel Unearths More of a Subterranean Fortress Under Gaza, begins by describing the spiral staircase the IDF found under the house of a senior Hamas commander, which led to a tunnel seven stories deep. It quotes Israeli officials as saying that even some of the machinery that Hamas used to build the tunnels, observed in captured videos, has surprised the Israeli military.

In December, the network was assessed to be an estimated 250 miles. Senior Israeli defense officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, are currently estimating the network is between 350 and 450 miles  extraordinary figures for a territory that at its longest point is only 25 miles. Two of the officials also assessed there are close to 5,700 separate shafts leading down to the tunnels.

Hamas has used the time and resources over the last 15 years to turn Gaza into a fortress, said Aaron Greenstone, a former C.I.A. officer who has worked extensively in the Middle East.

For the Israeli military, the tunnels are a subterranean nightmare and the core of Hamass ability to survive. Every strategic goal of Israel in Gaza is now linked to wiping out the tunnels.

If you want to destroy the leadership and arsenal of Hamas, you have to destroy the tunnels, said Daphne Richemond-Barak, a tunnel warfare expert at Reichman University in Israel. Its become connected to every part of the military missions.

One 2022 document showed Hamas budgeted $1 million on the tunnel doors, underground workshops and other expenses in Khan Younis.

Israeli intelligence officials recently assessed that there were about 100 miles of tunnels just under Khan Younis, southern Gazas largest city, where Israeli forces are now in heavy fighting. Yahya Sinwar, the military leader of Hamas in Gaza, had a home in Khan Younis.

In addition, a 2015 report indicated that Hamas had spent more than $3 million on tunnels throughout the Gaza Strip, including many built under civilian infrastructure and sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals, the Israeli military said.

The Israeli military said it had found two types of tunnels: ones used by commanders and others used by operatives. The commander tunnels are deeper and more comfortable, allowing for longer stays and use of ceramic tiles. The other tunnels are more spartan and often shallower.

An Israeli official said the military might have spent a year locating a single tunnel, but now the ground campaign has provided a trove of information about Gazas underground network.

The Israeli military has examined computers used by Hamas operatives in charge of tunnel construction to find the underground passageways, a senior Israeli official said. Some documents captured in the war are also proving vital. The Israeli military has found lists of the families that hosted the tunnel entrances in their private homes.

In one case, Israeli soldiers located a map of tunnels in Beit Hanoun, a city in northern Gaza, and used it to find and destroy tunnels. Even with this battlefield intelligence, the fighting in Gaza around the tunnels has been grueling. The Israeli military reports that nearly 190 soldiers have been killed and about 240 seriously wounded since the ground campaign started. But the military has not disclosed the number of dead and wounded in connection with the tunnel warfare.

One soldier, speaking on the condition of anonymity for safety reasons, said he oversaw the destruction of about 50 tunnels in Beit Hanoun. All of them were booby-trapped, he said. The soldier, an officer in the combat engineers, said his unit had found bombs hidden in walls and a massive explosive device that was hard-wired to be remotely activated.

The soldier, who was a reservist and has since been discharged, said the device had been made in a factory and had a serial number on it. If it had gone off, the bomb would have killed anybody in the tunnel and directly outside it, he said.

Hamas released a video in November showing how it lured a group of five Israeli soldiers to a tunnel entrance in Beit Hanoun and then used a roadside bomb to kill the soldiers.

Ms. Richemond-Barak said Hamas had imported the tactic from Syrian rebels who killed dozens of government troops in a tunnel attack in 2014 in Aleppo.

On Jan. 8, Israeli soldiers took journalists to see three tunnel shafts in central Gaza  one inside a one-story farm building on the outskirts of Bureij, the second inside a civilian steelworks on the edge of Maghazi and a third inside a shed near the steelworks.

The shaft in the steelworks was the deepest and most sophisticated. It descended roughly 30 yards and was fitted with some kind of elevator. The soldiers said it was used to transport munitions parts that were molded in the steelworks. A bucket of shells or rocket heads lay nearby. The soldiers said the shells were based on a template of a yellow U.S.-made mortar shell inscribed with the words 20 mm mortar shell; Lot 1-2008.

The soldiers did not allow journalists into the shaft, citing the risk of explosions, but said Hamas would carry the munitions parts into the tunnel to transport them to another part of the tunnel network, where they would be fitted with explosives.

The tunnel was said to lead to a nearby shed made from corrugated iron. The journalists were escorted to that shed, where they saw 10 large rockets that were roughly three yards long and painted olive green. The rockets were contained in long oblong cages, possibly used to transport them.

The soldiers said the rockets had a range of roughly 60 miles. A shaft in the floor led underground, but it was unclear where the shaft led to, or how deep it was. It appeared shallower than the first shaft.

The logo of the Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas, was stuck to a wall.

Later, the Israeli Army published photos and video of the shafts and other nearby facilities. A Times photographer documented the military infrastructure, too.

The soldiers also took journalists to see a third tunnel shaft in a one-story farm building in Bureij, roughly a mile to the north, surrounded by farmland. They said the shaft had been hidden behind a locked door, which had been blown off its hinges. The journalists were again not allowed to enter the tunnel.

Outside, roughly 100 yards away, military bulldozers appeared to have unearthed part of the tunnel leading from the farm building. It was roughly five yards below the surface, arched in shape and wide enough for one person to pass comfortably.

Hamas has improved its ability to conceal the tunnels, but the senior official said the Israeli military had figured out one of the groups operating models. The official called it the triangle. Whenever the Israeli military finds a school, a hospital or a mosque, soldiers know they can expect to locate an underground tunnel system beneath them, the official said.

Destroying the tunnels is not an easy task, the official said. They need to be mapped, checked for hostages and not just damaged but made irreparable. Recent attempts to demolish the tunnels by flooding them with seawater have failed.

The official estimated it could take years to disable the tunnel system.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The IDFs Command Brigade conducted extensive raids targeting senior Hamas commanders in Khan Younis, located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. The operation included a series of strategic airstrikes on new areas of Khan Younis prior to the ground assault which were directed at several Hamas sites, as well as the headquarters of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the area.

The raids were spearheaded by the Maglan and Egoz commando units of the IDF, focusing on the offices of top officials within Hamass South Khan Younis Battalion, including the battalion commander. The IDF said their troops seized weapons in the offices and destroyed cameras used by Hamas for surveillance in the area.

In a parallel operation, the IDFs Duvdevan unit conducted raids on numerous Hamas sites throughout southern Khan Younis. These operations led to direct encounters with terrorists, resulting in the elimination of several Hamas cells.

Following these operations, the IDF plans to redeploy the Duvdevan unit from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, where it will undertake various security operations.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby confirmed ongoing efforts to secure a new hostage release deal, making comments alluding to this effort special envoy Brett McGurk arrived in Doha, Qatar, for discussions related to the matter.

What I can tell you is were working on this very diligently. Dont want to get ahead of where we are, but were having very fairly serious and intensive discussions in Qatar about the possibility of another deal, Kirby told reporters.

Were hopeful it can bear fruit and bear fruit soon, he added.

The backdrop to these talks involves recent reports of Qatar-mediated discussions between Israel and Hamas concerning a new deal for hostage release. Qatar, in collaboration with Egypt, previously played a key role in mediating the first hostage release deal in November. Among the proposals reportedly under consideration is one that involves the exile of Hamas leaders, the phased release of all hostages, and the withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip.

It has been previously reported that Hamas presented a proposal to Israel for the release of hostages, which includes the condition of an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, but the proposal was rejected by Israel.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Plans for a walkout by anti-Israel government employees in Washington, D.C., intended to protest the Biden administrations military support for Israel, were unexpectedly disrupted due to severe weather conditions. The organizers, who preferred to remain anonymous, had anticipated the participation of hundreds from various agencies, including the White House, the State Department, the Defense Department, and the National Security Agency.

However, the demonstration faced an unforeseen setback when over three inches of snowfall in D.C. on Monday led the Office of Personnel Management to declare a closure of all federal offices the following day. This unexpected development came amidst threats of repercussions from Republican lawmakers and legal experts against those who planned to participate in the walkout.

Richard Painter, former chief White House ethics counsel under President George W. Bush, commented on the situation, deeming it wildly inappropriate for political appointees, especially White House staff, to join such a protest. It would be highly unusual if the president didnt fire you, Painter said in a statement to the Washington Free Beacon. I would expect President Biden would fire White House officials and political appointees for openly participating in demonstrations against the presidents Middle East policy. Painter also highlighted the potential risks to security clearances for those involved in the protest.

The White House, State Department, Defense Department, and National Security Agency have not issued statements regarding potential disciplinary actions against employees joining the protest. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) expressed a stern stance, stating on Monday that any federal employees participating deserve to be fired. He also promised collaboration with the House Oversight Committee to ensure appropriate disciplinary proceedings are initiated by each federal agency.

Amidst these developments, the Biden administration continues to face calls from its progressive base, increasingly critical of Israel, to cease military support for the country. A recent Gallup poll highlighted this shift, showing more Democrats sympathizing with Palestinians over Israelis for the first time in the surveys history.

This growing opposition within the administration has led to several staff resignations in protest against the war with Hamas. In a notable instance, over 500 anonymous Biden administration employees reportedly signed a letter in November, as per the New York Times, criticizing U.S. military support for Israel in the Gaza War. The letter urged President Biden to call for an immediate cease-fire, labeling Israels military response to Hamass actions on October 7 as a costly and senseless war.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Following the large barrage of rockets launched by Hamas at Netivot on Tuesday, IDF forces located the launching site and found three launchers with ten barrels each, some loaded with rockets. The soldiers destroyed the launchers and the entire facility.

The IDF, with the assistance of the Shin Bet, also eliminated Bilal Nofal, who headed the unit that interrogated suspected spies against Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip.

Nofal played a key role in advancing Hamass interrogation and development techniques and his elimination significantly impacts the organizations capacity to develop and enhance its capabilities.

Nofal was eliminated in an airstrike, as seen below:

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- A Senior Chinese official on Tuesday stressed the need to intensify efforts, concentrate resources, and strengthen coordination for the crackdown on cross-border gambling.

Wang Xiaohong, a member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and State Councilor, made the remarks at a national teleconference on the fight against cross-border gambling.

Wang stressed the necessity to keep up with evolving offenses related to cross-border gambling, focus on eradicating gambling dens and supply chains, and fully implement preventive and monitoring measures against cross-border gambling. He also called for more support concerning the law, public opinion, and international law enforcement cooperation to more efficiently strike cross-border gambling. 
As Israels north continues to suffer daily attacks from the Hezbollah terror organization in southern Lebanon, UTJ MK Yisrael Eichler posed a question to Religious Services Minister Michoel Malkieli (Shas) during a Knesset session.

Tens of thousands of people visit the Rashbi site in Meron but there are no bomb shelters there, which endangers the mispallelim, especially in the current situation, Eichler said. I want to ask  when will mobile bomb shelters be installed there?

Your question is justified, Malkieli responded. Although the installment of bomb shelters is not within the authority of the Religious Services Ministry, the director-general of the National Center for the Development of the Mekomot Hakedoshim appealed to the Defense Ministry at the beginning of the war and was informed that theres a shortage due to the situation in the south. Later, he appealed again and has not yet received a response. We will appeal to the Defense Ministry again until bomb shelters are installed.

MK Eichler added: In principle, my question is directed at the Defense Minister but I know he is busy during the war so we posed the question to the Religious Services Minister, who is responsible for the Mekomos HaKedoshim. I suggest that the Knesset, together with the Religious Services Ministry and the Defense Ministry, act on the issue. What should not happen is that they close the place. Therefore, we must do everything possible  a bomb shelter system, not just one or two  and also ensure that the red alert sirens operate as needed. This is part of freedom of religion and tefillah, and we must do everything possible to ensure the safety of mispallelim.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The heads of regional councils in the Jordan Valley area have warned government officials that residents have been hearing the sound of gunfire from the Jordan area every night in recent weeks, Reshet Bet reported on Tuesday.

The council heads wrote that it is Jordanian fire is carried out near the border and is aimed at the thicket of vegetation that grows in various areas within the Jordan River and toward Israeli territory.

On most nights when the shooting takes place, the community security coordinators receive updates in advance from the IDF regarding the hours the shooting will take place toward their area.

The council heads also reported a much larger presence of the Jordanian army in the border area since the October 7th massacre.

An IDF spokesperson responded to an inquiry on the issue by stating: The issue is known to the IDF. The reports are examined with the utmost seriousness. The IDF together with the security forces are working to strengthen the defense effort in the area through the reinforcement of IDF forces and the addition of technological and other means in the area.

Several weeks ago, Religious Zionism MK Orit Strock requested an update from the IDF about the situation on the Jordanian border and was told, There is indeed a concern of infiltration due to the tense situation but we dont need to expand on it. The Jordanians have increased their forces on the border and they are making efforts to prevent infiltrations, and from time to time, they also open fire.

Meanwhile, the residents of the area are demanding an explanation of why Jordanian forces are firing toward Israel instead of inside Jordan while trying to prevent infiltrations into its territory.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
A New York Times report discussed the question of how many rockets Hamas still has in Gaza in the wake of the large barrage launched at Netivot on Tuesday.

The rockets were launched from an area of the Gaza Strip where IDF troops just withdrew from yesterday, a fact that elicited much criticism from government ministers and the public.

In a report entitled Hamas Rocket Barrage Stirs Debate in Israel Over Direction of War, the Times said that Israeli military analysts say the army has significantly degraded the rocket-launching capabilities of Hamas and other, smaller terrorist groups in Gaza since the beginning of the war, but has not eliminated them  a process they said could take months, if not longer, to complete.

The continued firing of rockets tells us that we havent finished our mission, Yaakov Amidror, a retired general who served as national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, said in an interview. There are still areas that we need to clean up.'

Before the war, the Israeli military estimated that Hamas and other groups in Gaza had an arsenal of over 10,000 rockets, but officials have said recently that well over 12,000 have been fired at Israel during the war.

How many remain in the hands of Hamas and its allies is unclear. Israel Ziv, a retired general who formerly commanded Israeli forces in Gaza, told the Reuters news agency that 10 percent to 15 percent of Hamass prewar rocketry corps of some 1,000 terrorists were believed to be still alive and that the group had around 2,000 rockets remaining.

On Monday, the Israeli military withdrew a division from northern Gaza, part of a broader drawdown of forces aimed, in part, at relieving the wars strain on Israels economy. After the rocket barrage on Tuesday morning, right-wing members of Mr. Netanyahus wartime government called for an urgent re-examination of that decision.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels national security minister, said the decision to withdraw some soldiers was a serious, grave error that will cost lives. Mr. Ben-Gvir, one of Mr. Netanyahus most hawkish allies, has called for Israel to reoccupy Gaza indefinitely.

The rocket barrage proves that conquering Gaza is essential to realizing the wars goals, Mr. Ben-Gvir said in a statement.

In the first weeks of the war, Hamas-led terrorists had fired near-constant dozens of rockets across Israel, sending scores of Israelis rushing to fortified shelters. But the rocket fire has slowed down as Israels aerial bombardment and ground offensive have worn on, and as Israeli forces have conquered large swathes of Gaza.

A Hamas official said the slowdown was a strategic decision, not a sign of a severely depleted arsenal, adding that the group had sufficient weapons to keep fighting for many months.

Its quite clear this war will carry on for a long time, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the news media. Its common sense that they are not going to launch everything they have now.'

Israels goals have proven to be fantasies, he said, adding, The strike on Netivot today is proof that Israels strategy isnt working.'

On Monday, Israels defense minister, Yoav Gallant, said that Israel had concluded its intensive ground operations in northern Gaza and would soon wrap up that stage of fighting in the south. He said at a news conference that Israeli forces had successfully taken apart Hamass armed battalions in the north and were now working to eliminate pockets of resistance, describing the Israeli militarys achievements as very impressive.

But critics in Israel have questioned how close the military is to its stated goal of wiping out Hamass military capacity, and whether eliminating it is feasible. Israeli officials have repeatedly underestimated Hamass potency, from its ability to carry out an attack like the one on Oct. 7 to building its tunnel network, which Israeli troops are finding is far larger and more sophisticated than they expected.

Israeli leaders have continued to tell the public to expect the fighting to go on for months, even as the military has announced the deaths of at least 185 Israeli soldiers since the ground invasion began in late October.

It is a mistake to reduce the strength of the Israeli militarys activities in Gaza and the forces deployed there in the current situation, Gideon Saar, an opposition lawmaker from the National Unity alliance who joined the emergency government formed after the war began, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr. Netanyahu has sought to project confidence that Israels offensive in Gaza will allow tens of thousands of Israelis who fled their homes near the Gaza border to return home, but the continued rocket attacks have dampened those hopes.

We are determined to rebuild the towns and kibbutzim in the so-called Gaza periphery, to send residents home and bring even more prosperity than there was before the war, Mr. Netanyahu told local leaders in southern Israel on Tuesday, according to a statement from his office. But for that, we first need to defeat Hamas.'

Sergey Davidov, who runs a carwash in Netivot, the city targeted by Palestinian rocket fire on Tuesday, said the number of his clients had dwindled since the beginning of the war. Some were Israeli reservists who had been called up to fight, he said, while others were uneasy about making the journey to the border area.

I feel the government has our backs economically, including by providing aid to businesses affected by the war, said Mr. Davidov, who like most Israelis supports the war against Hamas. But in terms of security? Not quite.'

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Embarking on a new chapter in life involves finding the perfect place to call home, and San Antonio extends a warm welcome with open arms. Beyond its rich history and cultural diversity, San Antonio boasts a vibrant Jewish community, making it an ideal choice for individuals and families seeking to establish roots in a warm and dynamic environment.

In San Antonio, the variety of synagogues available ensures that you can find a spiritual home aligned with your beliefs and practices. These synagogues transcend their role as places of worship; they serve as vibrant centers for learning, socializing, and celebrating Jewish traditions. Within this city, youll discover a synagogue that feels like an extension of your family.

For families with children, San Antonio provides a nurturing environment for Jewish education, offering after-school programs, engaging teen activities, and Jewish summer camps. The city supports your childs journey into their Jewish identity through a diverse range of educational institutions.



San Antonio offers numerous opportunities for young adults aged 20 to 44 to connect with fellow Jews. The citys growing young adult population fosters a dynamic environment for socializing and building lasting connections, spanning from college to post-graduate pursuits.

San Antonio is home to diverse Jewish organizations catering to various interests and age groups. These vibrant groups provide opportunities to engage in meaningful activities, connect with like-minded individuals, and expand your social network, creating a strong sense of community.

From vibrant kosher restaurants to catering services, the Vaad Hakashrus ensures that the Greater San Antonio area has access to delicious and authentic kosher options, adding a flavorful dimension to the citys culinary scene.

The heart of Jewish life in San Antonio beats at the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Campus, housing the Barshop JCC, Jewish Federation, and Jewish Family Service. This centralized hub ensures that the community feels supported and has access to essential resources, fostering a sense of unity and belonging.

In San Antonio, your journey isnt just a move; its an invitation to become part of a welcoming and flourishing Jewish community that adds a touch of sweetness to the Texan charm.

Come experience the warmth and vibrancy that define our community.

Join us for a Shabbos, and let the genuine hospitality of San Antonio greet you.

Were not just a destination; were a community waiting to welcome you home.

Reach out today!
[FREE KRIAH MASTERCLASS] Watch Kriah Legend Rabbi Zvi Zobin describe 10 reasons kids struggle to read. Endorsed by HaRav Matisyahu Salomon ztl.

Endorsed by HaRav Matisyahu Salomon, Lakewood Mashgiach, ztl. Sign up here: https://lp.kriah.com/rabbi-zobin-live

Moishy slouches into the resource room for the 50-thousandth time that year. Hes sick and tired of practicing aleph beis and nekudos. He feels like a loser when he thinks of the kids in his class learning mishnayos at that very moment. Hes so behind, he hardly knows what Perek theyre doing.

And theres no end in sight. There are more than a HUNDRED learning-filled, homework-heavy days separating him from Pesach vacationincluding a whole extra Adar. Whats the use of coming to school every day when you cant even read? Its just more of the same torture, day after endless day.

Cuuuut.

Moishy rubs his eyes. His Kriah Rebbe is picking up the kamatz-aleph-ah kriah sheets and dropping them in the wastepaper basket. Whaaaaat?

Were done with that for now, he says determinedly. Moishy, youre a bright kid. You should be reading like all your friends. You have the brains. Somethings stopping you. Were gonna find out EXACTLY what it is. Well solve it and well have you reading difficult selichos by Purim.

Moishy blinks. Then he grins. Really?

In his heart: He feels like he could fly.

Be that Rebbe  Or Morah.

Join 45-years-in-the-field Kriah legend, Rabbi Zvi Zobin, on a rare LIVE Zoom appearance: 10 reasons kids struggle with kriah and remediation is far too slow

Date: Sunday, January 28

Time: 3:00 PM EST (10:00 PM IST, 8.00 PM BST):

As the founder of the only 16-sessions-and-cured Kriah Program, which has effectively diagnosed and remediated hundreds and hundreds of kids with a 95% success rate, hes seen Moishys problem umpteen times And he knows precisely what it is.

Hell tell you all about it here: https://lp.kriah.com/rabbi-zobin-live

When you walk out of the session, youll be thoroughly acquainted with ten root kriah problems children and adults face today. For one, youll have viewed the block of text the way the child sees it!

Youll also learn:

> Some powerful diagnostic techniques for reading and visual difficulties

> Why you need a visual-based remediation system for Lashon Hakodesh and why phonics wont cut it

> How reading efficiency can turn a slowish kid to into the class ilui

> Why never transitioning a kid out of reading in syllables such an awful mistake

Youll also discover a little-known gem  Kriah specialist Academy, Rabbi Zobins own 20-session kriah program thatll teach you how to evaluate kids like Moishy for 58 different reading problems and the crucial series of fun, easy remediation exercises you can implement to get him readingFAST.

Youll see for yourself how this testimonial can be true:

How did you do it? I paid out $40,000 during the past three years in attempts to improve my sons reading skills, with no success. And in only six sessions with you hes already correcting my reading.

Yisrael C, Beit Shemesh, Israel

Sign up here: https://lp.kriah.com/rabbi-zobin-live

has already assisted many students who would never have been able to achieve their full potential

 Rabbi Mattisyahu Salomon ztl (Mashgiach, Bais Medrash Govoha, Lakewood)

I know personally of many who have been helped and therefore laud the time, effort, and system which Rabbi Zobin has established. May his efforts lead to success for many.

 Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz ztl (The Bostoner Rebbe)
Homeowners with gas boilers could get a record 10,000 for getting a heat pump fitted - if they pick one from Worcester Bosch.

Heat pumps gather heat from either the air or ground and can replace traditional ways of heating homes using fossil fuels, reducing energy bills in the process.

But the devices cost between 8,000 to 30,000 to buy and fit, with the big price range reflecting which sort you buy and what type of property you own.

To encourage homeowners to make the switch, the Government offers Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants of up to 7,500 to get a heat pump.

Now consumers could top that up to 10,000 thanks to a Worcester Bosch offer of up to 2,500.

Worcester Bosch's 'Clean Heat Cashback Pledge' will offer the cash in return for choosing a Bosch heat pump, or 1,000 if they pick a Bosch hybrid system.

Handy: Worcester Bosch is offering to pay 2,500 on top of a 7,500 Government grant

A hybrid system is a heat pump installed alongside a fossil fuel heat source such as a gas boiler.

The scheme is tied to the Government's proposed Clean Heat Market Mechanism, which has also been dubbed the 'boiler tax'.

The Government plans to launch the Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM) in April, which will give each manufacturer of gas and oil boilers credits for fitting a certain number of heat pumps per year.

If manufacturers do not meet their individual targets then they face fines of 3,000 per missing credit.

A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero said: 'We are not imposing a boiler tax and any suggestion otherwise is completely inaccurate. We have looked into the figures from manufacturers and do not recognise their reason for imposing these costs onto hardworking families.

'Targets under the CHMM are realistic and achievable, and manufacturers have failed to recognise they can carry over up to 35% of their heat pump targets under the scheme into the subsequent year.

'Weve also made for it easier to get a heat pump by increasing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant by 50% to 7,500  tripling applications in the week after it was rolled out.'

The aim of the scheme is to lower the UK's carbon emissions and increase the energy efficiency of households by encouraging more heat pump installations.

But boiler makers such as Baxi, Ideal, Worcester Bosch and Vaillant have said they will have to pass the cost of these fines on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

The Government scheme is intended to create a 'market incentive' to the number of heat pumps installed in the UK, and to meet its target of installing at least 600,000 heat pumps in UK homes per year by 2028.

Worcester Bosch said around 60,000 heat pumps are fitted in the UK per year, whereas boiler installations top 1.5million per annum.

How do heat pumps work? There are two kinds of heat pump. Air source heat pumps convert air from outside to water which heats your home via radiators or underfloor heating. Ground source heat pumps transfer heat from the ground outside to heat your home. Of the two, ground source air pumps are the most expensive to install and require more outside space.

Worcester Bosch's 2,500 grants are set to be introduced at the same time as the boiler tax.

The boiler and heat pump firm is also giving 500 to installers as part of the deal.

Worcester Bosch chief executive Carl Arntzen said: 'By our company giving up to a total of 3,000 Clean Heat Cashback on qualifying installations to support consumers and installers, we hope that more households will view heat pumps as a viable alternative to their current heating systems, as well as future-proofing their homes for lower carbon heat.

'We believe that this kind of incentive is exactly what the boiler levy arising from the Clean Heat Market Mechanism should be used for,' Arntzen said.

Worcester Bosch brought in a 120 levy added to the installation of gas and oil boilers in December 2023.

The proposed Government scheme is set to launch in April, and run until the end of March 2025, while Worcester Bosch's pledge is open for customers to pre-register.

Heat pumps use heat gathered from the ground or air in order to heat homes, and can last up to 20 years, compared with between 10 and 15 years for conventional gas or oil boilers.

According to experts, heat pumps can cut 25 per cent off your energy bills, as the environmentally friendly devices require less power to run than traditional boilers.

Worcester Bosch says an air source heat pump will cost around 8,000 to install, but a ground source heat pump will set you back 20,000.

It also says that these figures are dependent on the type, as well as whether an existing heating system can be used.

Competing manufacturers such as British Gas and Ovo are offering heat pumps for as little as 499 and 500, respectively, when installations are eligible for the Government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
Co-op has revealed plans to scrap cashback for loyalty card holders, and instead offer more discounts through 'member-only' prices.

The supermarket group, which runs over 2,400 food stores, said in an email to its members that they will no longer receive 2p back for every 1 spent from January 2024.

Customers will have until the end of 2024 to spend any money on their cards.

Scrapped: Co-op will no longer give shoppers 2p back for every 1 spent

From 24 January, Co-op said its members will see a 'significantly increased number of member prices and deals in all our businesses,' with member prices expanding to cover branded and own-brand foods for the first time.

Member prices are discounts offered only to people with loyalty cards. They are now offered by most supermarkets, but have proved controversial as signing up to a card requires sharing your personal data.

Shoppers without the cards can also be left paying much more for staple items.

Co-op launched its member prices in April last year in a bid to rival the likes of Tesco's Clubcard prices and Sainsbury's Nectar prices.

The supermarket also said it has fixed the list of own-brand products that member prices are applied to, meaning that they will not change due to promotional periods or be dependent on availability.

A Co-op spokeswoman told This is Money that its new focus on member prices will deliver a '90 per cent increase on rewards' compared with its previous mechanism.

'We know times are tough for our member owners and communities right now, which is why we've listened and are making some changes to give more value back to them whilst still supporting local communities,' the spokeswoman added.

Controversy over member prices

Last year, Which? criticised rival retailers Tesco and Sainsbury's for using 'potentially dodgy tactics' in some of their loyalty offers for customers.

It said the firms are sometimes offering customers deals that do not necessarily constitute a genuine saving'.

Sainsbury's has refuted the claims and said the Which? findings were based on a 'flawed methodology'.

In November, the Competition and Markets Authority said it plans to launched a probe into member prices offered by Tesco and Sainsbury's.

Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said at the time: 'We have seen an increase in the use of loyalty scheme pricing by supermarkets, which means that price promotions are only available to people who sign up for loyalty cards.

'This raises a number of questions about the impact of loyalty scheme pricing on consumers and competition and the CMA will launch a review in January 2024.'
Rising numbers of bereaved families are being forced to take out loans or borrow from friends to be able to put their loved ones to rest.

The price of a basic funeral  either cremation or burial  has breached the 4,000 mark this year, according to a report by over-50s financial services firm SunLife.

The report found that just 37 per cent of people in the capital and 49 per cent in the North East are leaving enough money behind to pay for their funeral as costs soar.

Across the UK 46 per cent of people leave too little money behind to cover the full cost of their funeral, with bereaved families having to fork out an average of 1,872.

The cost of dying has hit unaffordable highs. The report found 18 per cent of those who struggled to pay the bill had sold belongings to do so.

The price of a basic funeral  either cremation or burial  has breached the 4,000 mark this year

The study, which interviewed 100 funeral directors and 1,500 households who have organised funerals in the past year, found the cost of a basic funeral  including a coffin, hearse and undertaker fees  has jumped from 1,835 to 4,141 since 2004.

The crippling costs have driven a growing number of families to forego a funeral altogether.

One in five opted for a direct cremation last year, which is where there is no accompanying memorial service and ashes are returned straight to family members. Many say they still held a wake or hosted their own memorial service.

Lindesay Mace of Down To Earth, a service for people struggling with funeral costs, says that funerals are becoming unaffordable for many on middle to lower incomes.

But with careful planning, you can spare your family the agony of financing your send-off. Heres how you can protect them from huge bills and find a trustworthy funeral plan provider.

READ MORE: Scottish Widows has left my late granny stuck in a fridge Edna Cowen on her wedding day Edna Cowen did everything she could to protect her family from the stress of having to plan and pay for her funeral following her eventual death. But five weeks after the 96-year-olds death, her funeral has been plagued with delays and her family have been unable to carry out her wishes or lay her to rest. Edna and her family have become the latest victims of customer service failings at Scottish Widows, and have been unable to get the payout of 5,545 earmarked for her funeral. > Read the full story: Scottish Widows' shoddy funeral plan service has left my late granny stuck in a fridge

Think ahead and budget

The total cost of dying, which includes professional fees for administering the estate, a basic funeral service, flowers and optional extras such as a party or wake, is now 9,658.

However, the cost can vary considerably depending on the send-off you want  and where you live.

Try to figure out how much you may need to set aside to cover the costs and be mindful that prices may continue to rise in the coming years.

There are three main types of funerals. Burial funerals, where there is a service with mourners, cost an average of 5,077 in 2023. Cremation funerals with a service cost 3,795, and direct cremations were 1,498. It is possible to have a direct burial, where there are no mourners, for 1,657 but these are rare.

Those living in London face the steepest bill, at an average of 5,171 across all funerals, followed by the South East and East of England, where funerals cost 4,643.

Families in London are twice as likely to be plunged into financial stress after finding money for a loved ones funeral.

A funeral in Northern Ireland is the least expensive, at 3,256, followed by the North West of England at 3,802. Beyond the type of funeral, consider any specific wishes you may have.

Organising a funeral with no guidance can be stressful at an already difficult time.

You may want to alleviate the burden on your family by writing down any music or readings you would like, your wishes for flowers or preferences about where you would like your ashes to be scattered or buried.

Burial funerals, where there is a service with mourners, cost an average of 5,077 in 2023

How to put money aside

There are several ways in which you can set money aside for your funeral to make sure that the costs are not borne by your relatives.

The easiest option is to guarantee that you have enough money in your savings account earmarked for funeral expenses. To ensure that the money will be used in this way, insurer Legal & General says you should ringfence it, leaving clear instructions with family members or a solicitor.

Bank and building societies usually freeze bank accounts when they are notified of the holders death.

However, they can allow family to access funds to pay for a funeral, so long as they are provided with a copy of the death certificate and a funeral invoice, according to charity Age UK. This avoids the need to involve the executor or wait for probate. Ask your bank or building society about their procedures.

Pre-paid funeral plans are a popular choice for those who want to think ahead. They allow you to pay for the essential parts of a funeral in advance  including the service itself, a coffin, the funeral director and collection and delivery of your body.

You could also take out an over-50s life insurance policy. The difference between this and a funeral plan is how the payout can be used. With life insurance, your loved ones can spend the money on anything they want, including a funeral. But with a pre-paid funeral plan, the money can only be spent on a burial or a cremation.

Can I trust a funeral plan?

Funeral plans have long been popular with those who want to take the financial burden off their family by paying ahead of time.

One big draw is that you pay for a funeral in the future at todays prices, meaning you have protection against price rises. However, confidence in these plans has taken a beating after 46,000 people were left with near-worthless arrangements when one funeral plan provider went bankrupt last year.

Safe Hands Plans and its parent company SHP Capital Holdings collapsed and is now being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office. Many face the prospect of losing most of the money they gave to Safe Hands.

But those who buy a plan today with other providers will have more security than before. Since July 2022, when the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) became concerned that some customers were being exploited, the pre-paid funeral plans market has been regulated. Steve Wallis, of cremation provider Distinct Cremations, says the funeral plan market is now growing again.

He says: Providers now operate to a much higher standard with far tighter financial controls. Customers money is now protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which gives real peace of mind.

If you do take out a pre-paid plan, you will generally have the choice of paying in one go, making instalments over a longer time or paying a fixed monthly amount until age 90.

You should pay for it in one lump sum if you can afford to, so that you only pay for the plan itself, without any interest being added.

The risk of paying over a pre-determined period of time, such as 12 months, is that if you die within that time, the provider will typically refund your loved ones what youve paid so far, rather than going ahead with the funeral.

Picking the best scheme

Funeral plans can differ dramatically, so it is important to do your homework.

Use comparison websites to shop around and compare prices, then check that the companies are authorised by the FCA to provide funeral plans at register.fca.org.uk under the section What can this firm do in the UK?.

You can also see a list of authorised providers who are members of the National Association of Funeral Plan Providers at nafpp.org/our-members.

As long as your provider is regulated and has not gone out of business before July 29, 2022, you should be protected by the FSCS.

Once you have chosen a plan, be aware that there are key elements that may not be covered. These can include burial plots, flowers, the wake and catering. What is covered will vary between providers.

More than a third of adults have not talked about their plans with their loved ones, according to research by MyGoodbyes, an app dedicated to end-of-life plans

Be sure to talk to your family

More than a third of adults have not talked about their plans with their loved ones, according to research by MyGoodbyes, an app dedicated to end-of-life plans.

The apps founder, James Barrett, says: However formal or informal your decisions are, or even if you dont know what you want, the most important thing is to talk to your loved ones.

Funeral expenses can be a huge burden, so its important to be clear about what you want.

Loved ones will often go for the most expensive options as they feel that they should.

By guiding them on whats important to you, you can help reduce unnecessary costs.

For example, you may want to reject embalming, expensive coffins and accessories such as coffin handles, silk lining and flowers in order to reduce expenses (and help the environment).

He adds that discussing plans with family will also give them a chance to raise questions and points that you may not have properly considered.
Donald Trump's famous custom-ordered Lamborghini Diablo VT roadster is set to go up for sale.

The former president, 77, was seen showing off his luxury vehicle with a photoshoot at a gas station back in 1995.

Over two decades later, his bespoke Diablo is set to be offered to the highest bidder by auctioneers Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona.

An extremely rare chance to own a piece of automotive and presidential history, the Diablo even has a 'Donald Trump 1997 Diablo' plaque installed on the door.

The Diablo has just 15,431 miles on the clock and has had two owners since Mr Trump parted ways with it in 2002.

Donald Trump's famous custom-ordered Lamborghini Diablo VT roadster is set to go up for sale

Donald Trump's 1997 Diablo is one of only 132 produced for the US and the only to be customised in this blue paint colour

The auction provides an extremely rare chance to own a piece of automotive and presidential history

Trump made special requests when he ordered his Lambo, including a plaque on the inside of the car door with 'Donald Trump 1997 Diablo' inscribed. On the outside, the vendor has added a 'Trump 2016' motif

Barrett-Jackson will offer the Diablo to collectors on 27 January.

The auction house has not set a pre-sale guide price for the nineties poster supercar, though there is an indication of its value based on when it last sold over seven years ago.

When the Lambo was purchased by the vendor, they paid $460,000 (around 360,000 at the time).

However, the sale - which incredibly took place on eBay - happened in September 2016, some four months before his presidency reign began.

As such, it is likely that Trump's desirable Italian motor will exceed its last sale price when the gavel drops later this month.

The former president, 77, was seen showing off his luxury vehicle with a photoshoot at a gas station back in 1995

The Diablo succeeded the fabled Countach which also featured supercar scissor doors

The VT variant of the Diablo arrived in 1995 with four-wheel drive to improve handling and cornering

Only 132 Lamborghini Diablo VTs were produced for the North American market between 1997 and 1999, and this is certainly the only one owned by a former - and potentially future - President of the United States of America.

It's a longstanding tradition that US Presidents enjoy an Anglo-American Special Relationship.

But, before he was POTUS, Trump also enjoyed a different special relationship with Lamborghini.

In the late 1990s, the Italian marque provided him with loan Diablos for brand and model promotional purposes.

Lamborghini indulged Trump to uniquely customise his Diablo and make it the standout Donald version.

The Diablo supercar was first introduced in 1993 and offered as a coupe or as a roadster. The VT arrived in 1995.

It was the successor to the Lamborghini Countach, a car now infamous for the Wolf of Wall Street scene when an off-his-face-on-Quaaludes Jordan Belfort (Leonard DiCaprio) attempts to clamber into his white Countach and drive off.

The VT had a variable four-wheel drive system unlike the Base Diablo (VT stands for viscous traction centre differential which limited wheel spin and improved handling).

It was the first Lamborghini capable of surpassing 200mph.

 Slide me  The 1997 Lamborghini Diablo VT roadster is finished in the brand's 'Blu Le Mans' paint. It was custom built for Trump

This Diablo mixes celebrity and supercar culture with the Presidential power and is expected to fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars

With a 5.7-litre V12 engine, the Diablo VT was the first Lamborghini to surpass the 200mph mark

Trump enjoyed a special relationship with Lamborghini that allowed him to custom-fit his Diablo

The interior is finished in cream on black leather with a retro CD player and a 5-speed transmission

This scissor-door VT model is powered by a mid-mounted 5.7-litre V12 engine, produces 492bhp and has a five-speed manual transmission.

READ MORE: Would you pay 4.3m for one of the fastest road-legal cars on earth? An incredibly rare, ultra desirable feat of French engineering is heading to auction in the US later this month - but it will take a multi-million-dollar bid to secure it. The car is one of just 30 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ models ever built.

Zero to 60mph takes just 4.1 seconds and the top speed is a claimed 202mph.

As such, this is not a car for the slow lane of life.

This VT is part of the first generation Diablo.

The second-gen version ran from 1999 onwards, with Diablo production ending in 2001.

With the Diablo Lamborghini continued its tradition for naming its cars after fighting bulls; the Diablo takes its name from a legendary bull that battled matador 'El Chicorro' in the 19th century.

The car's manuals, original books, pair of tool bags and rain cover are included in the lot.

The no reserve auction-style is in-keeping with Barrett-Jackson's tradition of not providing estimated values for its cars.

Non-Presidential Diablos sell for several hundreds of thousands so expect big numbers from Lot 1407.
BP has confirmed Murray Auchincloss as its permanent chief executive, following the resignation of former boss Bernard Looney last year.

Auchincloss has been acting as interim chief executive of the energy giant since September, but will now take on the role permanently.

BP said it had gone through a 'robust and competitive' search for a new boss, including considering candidates from outside the group, but decided Auchincloss was 'the right leader' for the business.

Auchincloss, who headed BP's finances under Looney, indicated he will continue a strategy aimed at slashing carbon emissions, building up its renewables and clean fuel capacity, and cutting oil and gas output by 2030.

In charge: BP has appointed Murray Auchincloss, pictured, as its new chief executive

Looney resigned abruptly in September after failing to disclose his past relationships with company colleagues.

The former boss accepted he was not 'fully transparent' in providing details of all relationships to the company board.

He had spent his working life at the group, having started as a drilling engineer in 1991.

In December, BP announced Looney would forfeit up to 32.4million in pay and bonuses after the oil giant found he committed 'serious misconduct'.

Auchincloss is a 53-year-old Canadian national who was BPs chief financial officer for over three years, having joined BP when it took over oil firm Amoco in 1998.

He will take home an annual salary of 1.45million before pension and bonuses.

Out: Bernard Looney quit in September after admitting he had not been 'fully transparent' about previous personal relationships with collegues

BP chairman Helge Lund said: 'Since September, BPs board has undertaken a thorough and highly competitive process to identify BPs next CEO, considering a number of high-calibre candidates in detail.

'The board is in complete agreement that Murray was the outstanding candidate and is the right leader for BP.

'Many already know Murray well, and few know BP better than he does.'

He added that Mr Auchincloss will lead the business through its 'disciplined transformation to an integrated energy company'.

Auchincloss said: 'Its an honour to lead BP  this is a great company with great people.

'Our strategy  from international oil company to integrated energy company, or IOC to IEC  does not change. Im convinced about the significant value we can create.'

BP shares were down 0.49 per cent or 2.20p to 450.10p on Wednesday, having fallen around 7 per cent in the last year.

Alice Harrison, fossil fuels campaign leader at Global Witness, said: 'Auchincloss once bragged that BP was "getting more cash than we know what to do with" during the UKs energy crisis, as fossil fuel prices pushed people into poverty.

'During his interim tenure BP has doubled down on dirty fossil fuels and shareholder payouts. This is not what leadership looks like.'
This photo taken on Nov. 28, 2023 shows new energy vehicles (NEVs) recharged with 600-kilowatt chargers at the supercharging station of the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.

Shenzhen City started building advanced new energy vehicle (NEV) charging facilities in June 2023 to become "a city of supercharging," and has set up 161 supercharging stations by the end of the year. The move is expected to relieve the range anxiety among NEV owners.(Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

SHENZHEN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- As the clock struck 4 p.m., Zhong Yu concluded a meeting in Shenzhen's Futian District and left for his office driving his sleek AVATR 11, a new energy vehicle (NEV) model.

En route, he made a pit stop at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center's supercharging station to quickly recharge his car. Zhong shared that he often drives his NEV for work and on occasions when he overlooks charging it at home, the convenience of a supercharging station becomes a lifesaver.

The liquid-cooling supercharging station was built by China Southern Power Grid with technology support from Huawei. Its 600-kilowatt charger can charge Zhong's AVATR 11, with 200 km mileage, in just 10 minutes.

This city in south China's Guangdong Province started building advanced NEV charging facilities in June 2023 to become "a city of supercharging," and has set up 161 supercharging stations by the end of the year. The move is expected to relieve the range anxiety among NEV owners.

Supercharging is an advanced charging technology designed to surpass even the pace of fast charging. Boasting a remarkable maximum output power of 600 kilowatts and a maximum output current of 600 amps, this system can charge NEVs at a speed of up to one kilometer per second.

In October 2023, Shenzhen's development and reform commission rolled out an action plan to build NEV supercharging stations from 2023 to 2025. Accordingly, the city will have built at least 300 such stations by the end of March 2024.

Shenzhen's ambition was backed by its industrial chain. In terms of the charger manufacturing industry, Shenzhen is home to many enterprises specializing in charging module manufacturing and charger operation, such as Huawei, Winline and Infypower.

Chargers produced in Shenzhen account for more than 50 percent of the national market while charging modules manufactured in the city surpass 70 percent market share.

Besides the supercharging facilities, the NEV and power battery industries are also playing important roles in Shenzhen's effort to become "a city of supercharging."

As of the first half of 2023, the number of NEVs in Shenzhen reached 860,000, and the penetration rate of NEVs in the new car market exceeded 60 percent. Many new vehicle models launched in the market in recent years are equipped with supercharging technology.

BYD, headquartered in Shenzhen and one of China's largest NEV manufacturers, has so far manufactured about 6 million NEVs.

It is estimated that by the end of 2025, the number of NEVs in the city will reach 1.3 million, and the NEV penetration rate in the new car market will hit 70 percent.

Shenzhen has some 24,000 new energy and digital energy enterprises as part of the supercharging industrial chain. Sunwoda Energy, headquartered in Baoan District, is one of China's major power battery and consumer battery makers.

In April 2023, the company released a new type of supercharging power battery which can power the NEV to run 1,000 km, and can be recharged from 20 percent to 80 percent in just 10 minutes. The battery has already been supplied to NEV makers.

In June 2023, the State Council issued a guideline to further boost the building of a high-quality charging infrastructure network in order to meet the rapid development of the country's NEVs.

Many provinces and cities have unveiled plans to beef up their supercharging infrastructure, including Hainan, Chongqing and Shandong, as well as Shenzhen's neighboring city Guangzhou.

According to deputy secretary-general of China Electricity Council Liu Yongdong, the industrial chain is ready to produce core components of high-voltage NEVs. An increasing number of new car models equipped with supercharging technology will enter the market from the end of 2023.

The sector also has started commercializing the supercharging power battery and industrializing the charging facilities with output power as high as 1,000 kilowatts, Liu said. 

A driver uses a 600-kilowatt charger to recharge his new energy vehicle (NEV) at the supercharging station of the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 28, 2023.

Shenzhen City started building advanced new energy vehicle (NEV) charging facilities in June 2023 to become "a city of supercharging," and has set up 161 supercharging stations by the end of the year. The move is expected to relieve the range anxiety among NEV owners.

(Xinhua/Mao Siqian)
The chairman of Ben & Jerry's has called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza in a move that risks reigniting a row with its owner Unilever.

Anuradha Mittal, who leads the ice cream makers board, said: 'Peace is a core value of Ben & Jerry's. From Iraq to Ukraine, [the company] has consistently stood up for these principles. Today is no different as we call for peace and a permanent and immediate ceasefire.'

Ben & Jerry's has been vocal in the past on its stance on Israeli politics

She told the Financial Times that it is 'stunning' that the 'corporate world has been silent' on the conflict.

But the comments could restart a bitter dispute with its parent company over its stance on Israeli politics.

Ben & Jerry's attempted to boycott Palestinian territories in 2021, sparking a furious backlash with some critics accusing the brand of anti-Semitism.

Yesterday was the first time Ben & Jerry's has made a public statement on the current conflict that erupted when Hamas terrorists stormed Israel and murdered 1,200 people on October 7.

Israel declared war on Hamas in retaliation, and its bombardment of Gaza has seen 24,000 killed, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.

A Ben & Jerry's spokesman said the company was 'aware' of Mittal's comments.

'The statement is on behalf of the independent board and the company has no additional comment at this time.

'Ben & Jerry's has a long history of supporting peace and peace building.'

A Unilever spokesman declined to comment.

The consumer goods giant, which owns Dove deodorant and Hellmann's mayonnaise, bought Ben & Jerry's in 2000.

The pricey ice cream brand, known for flavours such as Cookie Dough, retained the independence of its board under the deal. Ben & Jerry's attempted boycott was defeated in 2022 after Unilever stepped in. But not before it took its owner to court to try to prevent the conglomerate selling Ben & Jerry's Israeli arm to a local licensee.

The Israel-Hamas conflict is not the only issue the 'woke' brand has voiced opinions on.

On July 4 last year it was slammed for a US Independence Day tweet, saying it was 'committed' to returning 'stolen' lands to indigenous people. In 2022 it told then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman to 'scrap the Rwanda plan'.
Photo taken on Jan. 16, 2024 shows Lieutenant General Fall Sikabwe, coordinator of military operations of DRC's military in North Kivu, in Goma, capital of North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Tuesday announced in Goma the start of joint military operations with military elements of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc, in the eastern part of the country. (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)

GOMA, DR Congo, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Tuesday announced in Goma, the capital of the eastern province of North Kivu, the start of joint military operations with military elements of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc, in the eastern part of the country.

The announcement was made by Lieutenant General Fall Sikabwe, coordinator of military operations of DRC's military in North Kivu, during the first joint meeting between the DRC military and SADC.

According to the DRC authorities, this SADC military force would carry out offensive operations, essentially targeting the rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23) who occupy several areas in the territory of Masisi and that of Rutshuru, located in the province of North Kivu.

"The SADC comes with an offensive mission. With the mandate of the heads of state member of the SADC, we will initiate large-scale operations against the enemies of the Republic", said Fall Sikabwe, stressing that he is to put an end to hostility which has persisted for months.

Composed mainly of military elements from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi, this SADC military force replaces the regional force of the East African Community (EAC). DRC authorities deemed the EAC regional force ineffective and refused to renew its mandate.

For the moment, only South Africa and Malawi have already deployed part of its soldiers in Goma. Tanzania hopes to transfer its elements which are already on Congolese soil within the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, whose mandate should expire by the end of 2024.

Since late Monday, violent fighting broke out between the M23 rebels and the Congolese military in the territory of Masisi. Detonations of heavy and light weapons are heard in these areas, forcing a large number of residents to leave for the town of Sake, the city's last bulwark.

Goma, a tourist town known for economic activities in the region, was occupied by the M23 for 10 days in December 2012. 

Photo taken on Jan. 16, 2024 shows a joint meeting between the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Southern African Development Community in Goma, capital of North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Tuesday announced in Goma the start of joint military operations with military elements of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc, in the eastern part of the country. (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)
Aircrafts are seen at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, Jan. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

As one of the two primary global aviation companies, Boeing is likely to avoid shutting down, regardless of the magnitude of its errors. Yet the growing doubts regarding the company's quality control problems could damage its reputation.

CHICAGO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Monday that it will investigate Boeing after two of its airplanes collided at O'Hare International Airport.

According to local media reports, there were no injuries, and the cause of the incident on Sunday evening remains unexplained. The two colliding aircraft were a Boeing 777 from All Nippon Airways, a Japanese airline, and a Boeing 717 from Delta Air Lines.





SURGING TROUBLES

The incident coincided with a winter storm that disrupted flights in Chicago during the weekend. Arriving flights at O'Hare experienced an average delay of two hours due to heavy snow and blizzard conditions affecting the Midwest and Great Lakes.

Sunday's collision is the most recent in a sequence of airplane incidents currently under investigation. The FAA stated it is committed to continuing an in-depth investigation into the incident.

The U.S. aviation giant is under growing scrutiny following a series of mechanical failures. On Jan. 6, the FAA ordered a temporary grounding of some Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory.

The order was issued following a serious mid-air incident on Friday, Jan. 5, when a part of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 fuselage blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight out of Portland, U.S. state of Oregon. The plane had been in service for just eight weeks.

According to reports, a piece of the fuselage blew out on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9, leaving a large hole and decompressing the passenger cabin.

Several days later, the Chicago-based United Airlines (UA) found loose door plug bolts on at least five Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after inspecting planes following the FAA's temporary grounding order.

It appears to be a manufacturing quality issue instead of a design issue. "The issue could be an assembly error by Boeing, an install error by supplier Spirit AeroSystems, or an issue further down the supply chain," local media quoted Bank of America analyst Ronald Epstein as saying on Monday.





QUALITY CONTROL DOUBTS

Successive problems with Boeing airplanes have raised doubts about quality control among the public.

The FAA, Boeing's primary regulator, also faces criticism for giving aircraft makers too much freedom to regulate themselves during the certification process, says local media.

Boeing has encountered many quality and safety concerns for years with its aircraft, resulting in an extended grounding of certain planes and delivery suspensions.

In Oct. 2018, a new Boeing aircraft with 189 passengers took off from Jakarta, Indonesia, and only twelve minutes following takeoff, the Lion Air-operated plane crashed into Jakarta Bay at an almost vertical angle, with no survivors.

Five months later, a Boeing 737 Max 8 departed from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, identical to the one involved in the Lion Air tragedy. Just six minutes into the flight, it plummeted to the ground, claiming the lives of all 157 passengers.

The 737 MAX was thus grounded in 2019 following the two accidents.

Rescuers look for wreckage of an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft at the crash site near Bishoftu town, about 45 kilometers from the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 10, 2019. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

As one of the two primary global aviation companies, Boeing is likely to avoid shutting down, regardless of the magnitude of its errors. Yet the growing doubts regarding the company's quality control problems could damage its reputation.

FALLING SHARES

On Tuesday, Boeing witnessed a 4.1 percent decline in its shares, prolonging losses from the previous week, as the U.S. grounding of certain 737 MAX 9 jets reached its 11th day. The company's commitment to additional quality checks raised concerns about expenses.

Boeing experienced a decline to its lowest point in two months after the FAA's investigation. Wells Fargo, a U.S. multinational financial services company, altered its rating on Boeing's stock, shifting it from "overweight" to "equal weight."

Boeing, one of the leading global players in the aviation industry, has also seen its financial losses pile up after several incidents. Its share price has plunged roughly 40 percent since February 2020.

U.S. stocks lost on Tuesday as higher Treasury bond yields, mixed bank earnings and woes with Boeing dampened sentiment. 
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said local authorities cannot have an a la carte relationship with government, after Mayo County Council passed a non-binding motion to end co-operation with a government department.

Mr Varadkar said he believed Fine Gael members were among the councillors that endorsed the motion to immediately stop working with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

It comes as local opposition to housing asylum seekers and refugees becomes more frequent across the country, with some communities arguing that they are being asked to accommodate a disproportionate number.

The Taoiseach has pledged further supports for such areas but did not give exact details of what was on offer.

I disagree with the motion that has been passed, local authorities cant have an a la carte relationship with central government, he told reporters after the Chinese premiers visit to Dublin concluded.

A local authority  all of them  but Mayo County Council is one that would receive very significant grants from central government: from the Department of Transport for roads for example, from the Department of the Environment for other things, and you cant say that youre going to withdraw co-operation from one government department and then look for funding from five others.

Thats not a tenable position, Im afraid.

He said he would be relaying the message to the Fine Gael team in Mayo and everyone at Mayo County Council.

There have been more than 101,200 arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland, with 74,500 people currently living in state-provided accommodation and more than 16,000 in employment.

Ministers have warned that the number of arriving asylum seekers will not return to pre-pandemic levels due to global instability, with approximately 15,000 international protection applicants a year now expected.

Mr Varadkar said that while Ukrainians, refugees and asylum seekers are welcome in Ireland, the Government has to respond to genuine concerns from locals about a lack of services.

While they are welcome, its a simple fact that the number of people whove come to live in Ireland and come to live in certain parts of the country has changed the demographics of those areas and, in some cases, changed the economy of those areas, particularly when tourist accommodation has been taken out of use.

So we have to accept that and have to understand why that can cause concerns in local communities and respond to that.

The response isnt closing our borders. Thats not realistic. There are more people on the move in the world now than any time since the Second World War and migration is a challenge in every developed country.

But we have to respond to genuine concerns from people around the country who have just seen this change happen very quickly and are worried about it.



State accommodation for Ukrainians is to be limited from February amid a housing shortage that has seen hundreds of asylum seekers left homeless in freezing temperatures.

The government is now working to find a solution to several protests at asylum seekers being moved into disused and used buildings  including an expansion of the 50 million-euro Community Recognition Fund launched last year.

We have a Cabinet sub-committee on Ukrainian migration in the last week in January, and Ive asked ministers to put together the package between now and then so that it can be approved at the first Cabinet meeting in February, Mr Varadkar said.

We have the Community Recognition Fund already, so one option is opening that to new applications or finding ways to make it more flexible, because there has been some difficulty in drawing down some of the existing money and getting some of the existing projects off the ground.

But more so than that, I particularly asked Health, Education and Justice to see what they could do. So when it comes to justice, obviously its around policing resources, when it comes to education, its around schools, when it comes to health it is particularly around primary care.

A lot of this happening already but I really want to emphasise that we need to particularly focus on those parts of the country that have seen a very large number of people from Ukraine and people seeking international protection move into their areas.
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with the Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies President Alfredo Pacheco via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji held talks with the Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies President Alfredo Pacheco via video link in Beijing on Wednesday.

The establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Dominican Republic in May 2018 opened a new chapter in the development of bilateral relations, noted Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, adding that over the past more than five years, the two heads of state have maintained close communication, guiding the direction and drawing a blueprint for the development of China-Dominican relations.

The deepening political mutual trust, fruitful economic and trade cooperation, and increasing cultural and people-to-people exchanges fully prove that the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Dominican Republic is the common aspiration of the people and the trend of the times and serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, Zhao said.

China appreciates the Dominican Republic's adherence to the one-China principle, Zhao noted, adding that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China. The universal consensus among the international community and stable pattern of adhering to the one-China principle will not change, he said.

China and the Dominican Republic are good friends for common development and good partners for win-win cooperation, Zhao said, expressing the hope that the two sides will focus on the eight major steps proposed by China to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, speed up the alignment of development strategies and needs, and push for more cooperation outcomes.

Zhao said that the NPC of China is willing to work with the Dominican Parliament to consolidate the political foundation for the development of bilateral relations, facilitate practical cooperation between the two countries, further improve relevant legal systems, and create a sound legal environment for strengthening investment cooperation and expanding personnel exchanges.

He also called on the two sides to deepen friendly exchanges at all levels and in all areas, increase exchanges between senior legislators, special committees, friendship groups, NPC deputies and parliamentarians, enhance mutual trust and friendship, and consolidate popular support for friendly relations between the two countries.

Pacheco said the Dominican Republic abides by the one-China principle and it is the consensus of all political parties in the Dominican Republic to deepen relations with China.

The Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic is willing to strengthen friendly cooperation with the NPC of China, deepen exchanges in legislation and other fields, and play a positive role in promoting the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations and enhancing friendship between the two peoples, Pacheco said. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with the Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies President Alfredo Pacheco via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
Laman Ismayilova

Ganja State Philharmonic Hall has hosted a literary and artistic evening dedicated to the 230th anniversary of the outstanding Azerbaijani poet and thinker Mirza Shafi Vazeh.

The event was organized as part of the project "Ganja and the people of Ganja" (G?nc? v? g?nc?lil?r), initiated by the director of the Philharmonic, Honored Artist Ramil Gasimov, Azernews reports.

In the foyer of the Philharmonic, the guests got acquainted with an exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Mirza Shafi Vazeh.

The evening also featured poetic works, including Mirza Shafi Vazeh's ghazals, mugham-choreographic composition, which were warmly received by the audience.

Mirza Shafi Vazeh - Muhammad Shafi Karbalai Sadig oglu was born in 1792 in Ganja into the family of an architect.

The family belonged to one of the noble aristocratic and pious families of the city. His father served as the chief architect-mason at the court of his childhood friend, the legendary ruler of Ganja Javadkhan Ziyad Khan Oglu Qajar. He wrote under the pseudonym Vazeh, which means "expressive, clear.".

Mirza Shafi Vazeh taught Persian and Arabic languages, oriental poetry and the theory of versification, calligraphy in city madrasahs, and later in Tiflis Azerbaijani and Persian languages. Together with the Russian teacher Ivan Grigoriev, he wrote the first anthology of Azerbaijani poetry and the Tatar-Russian Dictionary for the Tiflis gymnasium.

Mirza Shafi wrote ghazals, mukhammas, rubais, masnavi, etc. The main genres and themes of his works were satire, lyrics, glorification of romantic love, and in some poems he denounced the vices of feudal society.

The German poet Friedrich Bodenstedt, who took lessons in Eastern languages from Vazeh in Tiflis, published translations of Vazeh's poems in his book "A Thousand and One Days in the East" (1850), and later "Songs of Mirza Shafi" (1851).

The books were an unprecedented success, translated into many European languages and brought the author worldwide fame. Mirza Shafi Vazeh died in 1852 in Tiflis.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, Milli.Az.
BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Seeking to restore diplomatic relations with China is the collective decision of the Nauru cabinet and a right choice independently made by Nauru as a sovereign country, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on reports that sources claimed that Nauru's surprise break of "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan was achieved through behind-the-scenes manipulation by a former president of the country, and the mainland took the opportunity to persuade Nauru to switch ties when Taiwan was still assessing and having consultations on Nauru's demand for economic aid.

To recognize the one-China principle, break "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan and seek to restore diplomatic relations with China is the collective decision of the Nauru cabinet and a right choice independently made by Nauru as a sovereign country, Mao noted.

Mao pointed out that the parliament of Nauru unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday, supporting, endorsing and affirming the Nauru government's decision to resume diplomatic relations with China and committing itself to develop Nauru's diplomatic ties with China and the friendly cooperation between the two sovereign nations, which once again shows that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends.

The "sources" of the so-called claims are nothing but ill-intentioned speculation, Mao said, adding that those who see "dollar diplomacy" as a go-to tool need to understand that there are things that money cannot buy.

The one-China principle is a fundamental principle that cannot be traded and a prevailing international consensus, Mao said.

"China is the world's second-largest economy. Restoring and developing diplomatic relations and carrying out practical cooperation in various fields with China promise broad prospects and will bring unprecedented development opportunities for Nauru," she said. 
CAIRO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Arab Parliament, based in Cairo, reaffirmed on Wednesday its full support for the one-China policy and praised China's stance on the Palestinian issue.

In a statement, the parliament expressed its opposition to so-called "Taiwan independence" and foreign interference in China's internal affairs, vowing support for China's legitimate right to maintain territorial integrity and full sovereignty.

It said the one-China principle is firmly established in Arab foreign policy and that the recent elections in Taiwan have no impact on it.

The statement also lauded China's efforts to support the Palestinian cause and reject any plans to displace the Palestinian people or end their struggle for their rights.

It also voiced appreciation for Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's remarks during his latest trip to several Arab and African countries, which condemned all violations of international laws.

The statement also highlighted the strong strategic ties and cultural affinities between China and the Arab countries, and called for further cooperation and coordination on regional and international issues. 
This post merely provides a collection of info for our KICK-ASS TKC READERS on the topic of winter misery, advice and the constant reminder . . .

SLOW DOWN ON ICY & DANGEROUS KANSAS CITY STREETS!!!



Also, checking furnaces, space heaters & pets isn't a bad idea.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

'It's tough right now': Frigid weather impacting business at restaurants in Kansas City Kansas City Restaurant Week has been impacted by the freezing temperatures that have hit the Midwest.

Care Beyond the Boulevard provides free health services for homeless amidst winter challenges Through the extreme cold temperatures, Care Beyond the Boulevard, a Kansas City, Missouri-based nonprofit, offers the homeless community free health services to address critical health concerns.

Family IDs young boy killed in Independence house fire Three-year-old Leeland Poole died Saturday after a house fire near James Downey Road and 23rd Street in Independence, police say.

Frigid temps bring challenges to Kansas City-area fire departments The departments FOX4 talked to also say the conditions have made fighting the increased number of fires challenging.

KU Hospital: 11 people treated, 9 admitted, with frostbite in last week The University of Kansas Hospital has treated 59 people - including 11 people for frostbite, nine of whom were admitted to the Burnett Burn Center - during the last week for weather-related injuries.

KU Health System: Nearly 60 patients since snow storm last week, arctic air this week The hospital has seen 59 patients, and eight have been admitted, ranging from ages 15 to 88.

Man dies from injuries after bicycle crash in Overland Park A man has died from injuries after a Jan. 2 bicycle crash at the intersection of West 95th and Hadley streets in Overland Park, Kansas.

Fires common this time of year; KC-area firefighters answer why The Kansas City area has seen multiple fires throughout the body-numbing January cold snap. The Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department said its crews responded to 26 fires in the last 16 days.

Lee's Summit Fire Department: Extension cords to blame for house fire An early investigation revealed that an electrical issue caused the fire due to the use of a space heater with a power strip and extension cord.

Semi repair shop in south KC suffers significant damage in overnight fire The Kansas City Fire Department is investigating the cause of a fire in south Kansas City at a commercial building.

Lee's Summit Fire Department sends out warning on space heaters after fourplex goes up in flames Investigators say someone was using a propane space heater to warm their car when the car and garage caught fire

Family of 7 displaced in another Kansas City house fire Kansas City fire officials say a family of 7 was displaced Tuesday in a house fire near Garner and Monroe avenues in Northeast Kansas City.

One hospitalized with critical injuries following house fire in Shawnee Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire in Shawnee that sent one person to the hospital with critical injuries.

'It means everything': Operation Breakthrough's snow services continue to impact working families Operation Breakthrough education center is opening its doors Tuesday for parents and families needing help because of the weather. The center was closed Monday for MLK Day.

Family pooch saved from 2-alarm blaze this morning | Northeast News Tuesday morning at approximately 11:30am, Kansas City, MO Fire crews responded to a house fire in the 3700 block of Garner Avenue. Upon arrival, crews reported smoke and fire showing...

How are Kansas City-area school districts making up snow days? Many Kansas City-area school districts have had multiple snow days already. That could mean extra days added at the end of the school year.

Northeast plumber gives tips for preventing frozen pipes | Northeast News By JOSHUA PHILLIPSNortheast NewsOriginally published February 5, 2014 It is typical to assume that all winter hazards occur outdoors in the cold; however, one indoor hazard can ruin a home. As...

Thawing out before refreeze this weekend Dangerous cold returns for the weekend

Developing . . .
The beauty of the water helped two Ontario photographers capture major awards in the Canadian Geographic's 2023 Photos of the Year.

Georgetown photographer Alan McCord had the winning outdoor adventure photograph for his image, which the judges said perfectly captured the spirit of the category with his shot of three surfers on a beach in Tofino, B.C.

Matt Parish, of Cannington, caught the eye of the judges with his dramatic image of a common loon at sunrise over Mitchell Lake in Kirkfield, Ont., earning him the runner-up award for wildlife in action.

Every year, our team is blown away by the talent and passion of our photography community, said Canadian Geographic editor-in-chief Alexandra Pope. Although they all portray different locations and subjects, these images have one thing in common: they made us stop and say Wow.

The winning images will be published in Canadian Geographic's March/April issue, available on newsstands starting Feb. 19. There were more than 8,000 entries, with 12 outstanding images honoured for originality, technical skill and visual impact.

Canadian Photos of the Year 2023

Canadian Photographer of the Year

Brandon Broderick, Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

Outdoor Adventure

Winner  Alan McCord, Georgetown, Ont.

Runner-up  Chandresh Kedhambadi, Calgary

Honourable Mention  Sara Kempner, Cumberland, B.C.

Wildlife in Action

Winner  Liron Gertsman, Vancouver

Runner-up  Matt Parish, Cannington, Ont.

Honourable Mention  Shaun Antle, Corunna, Ont.

Urban and Natural Landscapes

Winner  Aaron Ward, Vancouver

Runner-up  Murray Cotton, Calgary

Honourable Mention  Bing Li, Edmonton

Weather, Seasons and Skies

Winner  Todd Mintz, Regina

Runner-up  Joel Waghela, Regina

Honourable Mention  Braydon Morisseau, Calgary
If you are thinking about Norway for your next trip, you are in for a treat, especially if you love the idea of traveling responsibly. Norway is not just about stunning landscapes and the Northern Lights. It is also a pioneer in sustainable travel.

Norway's beauty is no secret - think deep blue fjords, northern lights, and mountains that stretch as far as the eye can see. But there's more to this place than just good looks. Norway is leading the way in green travel, making it easy for you to explore without leaving too big a footprint.

So, why is Norway your next travel destination? Because here, you can have an incredible adventure and support the places you visit, all at the same time. Here are the top five sustainable travel destinations in Norway you must visit for your next adventure.

1. Lofoten Islands

Norway, known for its dedication to sustainability, presents the Lofoten Islands as a premier travel destination. These islands, within the Arctic Circle, offer a combination of stunning scenery and eco-friendly experiences. Lofoten is characterized by its striking mountains, deep fjords, and quaint fishing villages.

The local communities prioritize preserving their natural heritage. Visitors can stay in rorbuers, traditional fishermen's cabins, and enjoy fresh, local seafood. Lofoten also provides a range of outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and wildlife watching, all with minimal environmental impact.

2. Bergen

Bergen, the gateway to the fjords, is a top destination in Norway for sustainable travelers. This historic city, surrounded by mountains and fjords, is known for its colorful wooden houses and active cultural scene. Bergen exemplifies sustainability with green transportation, including extensive biking paths and electric public transport.

The local markets in Bergen offer organic and locally produced goods. The city is close to Norway's famous fjords, like Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord, allowing travelers to experience Norway's natural beauty while supporting sustainable tourism.

Related Article: How Norway's Approach to Sustainable Tourism Sets a Global Example

3. Trondheim

Trondheim, an ancient city with a modern spirit, is another sustainable travel destination in Norway. With roots in the Viking Age, Trondheim combines historical richness with environmental conservation. The city is a leader in green urban development, with innovative solutions like the world's first bike lift and extensive use of renewable energy.

Visitors can explore the Nidaros Cathedral or the old streets lined with historical buildings. The city also has a lively food scene focused on organic and local ingredients, offering a taste of Norway's culinary traditions.

4. Stavanger

Stavanger, Norway's oil capital, offers a surprising range of green initiatives. This coastal city is adapting by investing in sustainable practices. Stavanger hosts museums and galleries that provide insights into Norway's maritime history and oil industry, emphasizing sustainability.

Natural wonders, like Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), are nearby, allowing visitors to explore Norway's rugged landscapes responsibly. Stavanger's efforts to reduce emissions, promote public transportation, and support local eco-friendly businesses are notable.

5. Troms

Troms, in Norway's far north, offers a sustainable Arctic experience. Known as the "Gateway to the Arctic," Troms is a center for polar exploration and research, focused on preserving the Arctic environment. Visitors to Troms can enjoy dog sledding with ethical operators and whale watching tours that respect wildlife habitats.

The city celebrates Sami culture and the Arctic environment through museums and festivals. Troms's approach to sustainable tourism allows visitors to experience the Arctic's magic while contributing to its preservation.

Read Also: Here are the 5 Ski Resorts in Europe You Need to Experience If You're Into Winter Wonderland Adventures
Visiting Las Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia is like discovering a hidden jewel. Located in the south, near the Ecuador border, this church is extraordinary. It stretches across a bridge over the Guaitara River gorge. This setting makes it seem almost floating, creating an impressive and slightly surreal view.

The story of Las Lajas Sanctuary began in the 18th century, but the building we see now, with its Gothic Revival style, was built between 1916 and 1949. The design is stunning, with arches made of stone and windows of colored glass that catch the light beautifully.

For anyone going to Colombia, Las Lajas Sanctuary is a must-visit. It is a place where nature, architecture, and history come together perfectly. If you are interested in history, love architecture, or just want to see something beautiful, this place has something wonderful for you.

History of Las Lajas Sanctuary

The history of Las Lajas Sanctuary is as interesting as the church itself. Located in a canyon in southern Colombia, this amazing church began in the 18th century. Local stories tell of a miracle involving the Virgin Mary leading to its creation. In 1754, a native woman and her deaf-mute daughter were in a bad storm. Taking shelter between large slabs of rock, the daughter suddenly spoke, pointing to an image of the Virgin Mary on a rock.

This event brought many pilgrims to the site, leading to the building of a small chapel. The current Las Lajas Sanctuary, an impressive example of Gothic Revival architecture, was built between 1916 and 1949. This style is rare in Colombia, making the church special.

Related Article: Get To Know The World's Most Beautiful Mountain Church

From the detailed stone work to the tall towers, the sanctuary is a sign of human skill and faith. Now, Las Lajas Sanctuary is not just for worship but also a cultural landmark, drawing people from everywhere. Its history keeps inspiring and attracting everyone who visits.

Reasons Why It is One of the Most Beautiful Churches in the World

Since Las Lajas Sanctuary has been one of the most beautiful churches, here are some considerations.

Architectural Design - Las Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia is a true wonder of architecture. Built over a river canyon, the church combines nature and human skill in a stunning way. The design is Gothic revival, a style not common in Latin America, which makes the sanctuary stand out. Its detailed stone work, tall spires, and carvings attract visitors globally. The beauty of the structure, along with its perfect fit in the cliffs and water, leaves a lasting impression.

Nature's Beauty Around the Sanctuary - The location of Las Lajas Sanctuary adds to its charm. Set on a bridge across a river, it is surrounded by green hills that create a beautiful scene. This setting is not just pretty; it feels magical. The church and nature work together, offering a peaceful and almost dreamlike experience.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance - Las Lajas Sanctuary is a place of stories and faith. It draws tourists, pilgrims, and believers. The church shows the dedication and belief of the people, seen in every part of its design. It has a big cultural impact, representing the history and spiritual life of the area. This mix of beauty, legends, and faith makes Las Lajas Sanctuary a special place that moves everyone who visits.

Read Also: Explore Sapa, Vietnam: What to Expect in This Mountainous Town
(Photo: Mika Baumeister on Unsplash)

France and Belgium are two of Western Europe's most iconic destinations, known for their rich histories, cultures, and enviable cuisine. From the breathtaking mountain towns of the French Alps to the bustling cities of Brussels and Paris, these neighboring countries pack a diverse blend of attractions within their borders.

Belgium is renowned for its chocolate, waffles, and medieval architecture in places like Bruges. On the other hand, France seduces visitors with its formidable art and fashion, as well as landscapes dotted with vineyards and quaint villages. As you plan your journey through these alluring nations, remember there are several important tips and insights you need beforehand to ensure the trip goes smoothly.

Read on to discover the five important things you need to know when visiting France and Belgium.

5 Essential Things to Know When Travelling Through France and Belgium

Traveling through multiple countries in Western Europe can seem daunting, but with some key insights, you'll feel more confident exploring France and Belgium.

Here are the top things every visitor should know.

1. Transportation Between Cities and Countries

Efficient movement between major cities and across borders is essential for maximizing the time you spend visiting key sites. Luckily, France and Belgium have convenient train and bus networks connecting their major destinations. Travel websites allow you to plan and book multi-leg journeys on a single ticket seamlessly. The more affordable bus journey connects Paris and Brussels in just about four hours, while High-speed trains like the Thalys take about one and a half hours. When traveling to smaller cities in France, bus routes are usually more available.

Download mobile apps from train operators SNCF and SNCB to check schedules and purchase tickets on the go. Advance bookings are typically cheaper, or you can consider a Eurail Pass for unlimited travel within the region. Well-connected hubs like Paris, Brussels, and Lille make it easy to explore surrounding areas by public transit.

2. Typical Weather Patterns and Climate

Knowing what to pack depends on when you visit and where you go. Both France and Belgium have a generally temperate oceanic climate. Summers are mild, with average highs between 7081F throughout most areas. Spring and fall see temperatures ranging from 59 to 68F, while winter days hover around 41 to 50F with possible snowfall.

The northern regions tend to be cloudier and rainier than the sunny south of France. Be prepared for variable conditions year-round with layering, and don't forget to pack an umbrella or light jacket. Pay attention to weather forecasts, especially if hiking or engaging in other outdoor activities.

3. Major Destinations and Attractions

Beyond iconic landmarks, there are some hidden gems that are great places to go in France besides Paris, awaiting discovery off the beaten path. In Paris, spend at least a full day exploring Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs-Elysees. Top Brussels sights include the Grand Place, Atomium, and Manneken Pis fountain. For natural beauty, visit the Mont-Saint-Michel tidal island, cliff-lined Dover coast, and Belgian Ardennes Forest.

Art lovers can tour the Musee d'Orsay, the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels. While Lille pays tribute to French Flemish heritage at the impressive Palais des Beaux-Arts, Normandy's famous D-Day beaches and quaint French coastal towns offer glimpses into history.

4. Local Customs and Etiquette

Understanding some of the unwritten rules will help you blend in with residents on every visit. When looking for special dishes to eat in France or a quick bite in Belgium, don't forget that mealtimes in both countries revolve around longer sit-down lunches and dinners compared to the quick American pace. And at museums, dress codes tend to be modest rather than casual. Public displays of affection are similarly acceptable in Europe and the United States, and punctuality is expected for reservations and events.

Tipping 10-15% is customary at restaurants, but it depends on your wish. Have cash on hand, as merchants may not accept foreign cards in rural areas. Learn metro etiquette, like yielding seats for elders and standing on the right. Following the lead of locals will help you experience the culture respectfully.

5. Where to Find Helpful Tourist Information Offices

Stop by an "Office de Tourisme" or "Toerismekantoor" for maps, suggestions, and help in planning your adventures. In larger cities like Paris and Brussels, the central train stations house excellent information areas. Smaller towns operate seasonal visitor centers near landmarks. You can also visit credible websites to research destinations, upcoming events, and activities. Download city guides with self-guided walking tours too.

As there are many languages spoken in Belgium, and France is a hot spot for global tourism, friendly staff at tourist bureaus are often multi-lingual to help make your adventures hassle-free. Drop by to get insider recommendations perfect for your interests and schedule.

Enjoy Travelling Through France and Belgium

Being aware of transportation connections, climate norms, top attractions, common courtesies, and helpful information sources, you'll feel confident exploring the rich cultural offerings and natural beauty of France and Belgium. Focus on experiencing everyday local life at your own relaxed pace between landmark visits. With a little pre-travel knowledge and an open mind, you will discover hidden surprises on every trip and adventure.
In India, recent thick fog and other issues at Delhi's airport have led to numerous flight delays and cancellations. This disruption began on Sunday and continues to affect travelers across the country. The government's aviation authority has instructed airlines to keep passengers informed about changes in their flight schedules promptly.

Flight Delays in India: Fog and Operational Issues Cause Travel Chaos

The dense fog in Delhi, combined with other challenges such as a shortage of parking spaces and a closed runway for maintenance, has resulted in significant delays. Airlines like IndiGo and Air India, which heavily use Delhi's airport, are among the most affected.

According to BBC, many passengers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of communication from airlines and airports. Some have endured long waits inside airplanes without access to basic amenities. Social media posts have shown passengers eating on the ground at Mumbai airport and incidents of conflict, including a physical altercation with an IndiGo co-pilot.

India's aviation minister addressed the issue, emphasizing the severity of the fog and the limitations it imposed on airport operations. He also condemned any unruly behavior by passengers. IndiGo, India's largest airline, apologized for the inconvenience caused and stated that the fog-induced delays had a knock-on effect on their flight schedules. The airline is also investigating the incident involving their co-pilot.

Related Article: Maldives Tourism Crisis Erupts as Officials Insult Modi, India Calls for Boycott

This situation in India highlights the challenges faced by travelers and airlines when unexpected weather conditions and operational issues converge, leading to widespread disruption in flight schedules.

India's Ski Resorts Struggle as El Nino Causes Snow Shortage

Meanwhile, in the Indian Himalayas, famous ski resorts are facing tough times. There's been very little snow this year. Experts say this is because of El Nino, a weather pattern over the Pacific Ocean, and changes in the climate.

Gulmarg, a high-altitude resort in Kashmir, India, is usually busy with skiers. But this year, the slopes are dry and empty. Hotels in this beautiful area, known for its snowy peaks, are waiting for snow to bring back tourists.

Northern India is experiencing a winter like no other in the past decade. There's no snow in the mountains, and cold, foggy weather is making things worse on the plains.

In Gulmarg, ski instructor Farhat Naik, 35, is worried. Half of the ski season is already gone, and the slopes are just dry land instead of being covered in snow. South China Morning Post reported that his clients from Europe and America have canceled their trips, affecting the local economy which relies on tourism and agriculture.

The situation is similar in nearby states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. For example, bookings at the Blue Poppy Resort in Auli, Uttarakhand, have dropped to 20%. The resort's owner, Kushaal Sangwan, says people cancel their reservations if there's no snow.

Usually, the winter snow and rain in northern India come from storms called western disturbances. These start in the Mediterranean Sea. But this season, these storms are missing.

R.K. Jenamani, a weather expert, explains that without these weather systems, there won't be snow. Another scientist, Gufran Beig, links the absence of these storms to changes in wind patterns and rising temperatures. This is due to El Nino and broader climate changes.

Read Also: India Resumes E-Visas for Canadian Tourists Amid Diplomatic Tensions
Visiting France? One place you definitely should see is the Louvre Museum in Paris. This museum is famous around the world, not just for its art but also for its history. It is the most visited museum on the planet, home to thousands of artworks. In this museum, you will find everything from ancient statues to famous paintings like the Mona Lisa.

In this blog, we are going to talk about some interesting and less-known things about the Louvre Museum. This place is an art and a journey through different times and cultures. The building itself is a mix of old and new designs, with the modern glass pyramid and the classic French style.

As you explore the Louvre, you will see not only well-known art but also hidden surprises in every room. These are pieces of history that might not be famous but are still very interesting.

A Brief History of the Louvre Museum

When you visit France, the Louvre Museum stands as a must-visit destination. But do you know its origins? Originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century, it was transformed into a royal palace in the 16th century. The Louvre became a public museum during the French Revolution. Each stone of this historic structure tells a story, making your visit a walk through the corridors of time.

The Architectural Design of the Louvre

The Louvre Museum is not just a house for art but also a piece of art itself. The glass pyramid, designed by I. M. Pei, is a modern contrast to the classic French Renaissance architecture of the main building. This blending of old and new symbolizes the museum's evolution and its embracing of both history and modernity.

The Collection Inside the Louvre

You might be surprised to learn that the Louvre Museum is the world's largest art museum. With over 615,797 objects and 35,000 works of art, it's a treasure trove for art lovers. From ancient civilizations to the 19th century, its collections span thousands of years. Artworks like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo are just the tip of the iceberg.

Related Article: Where Can I Go in France Besides Paris?

The Mona Lisa - A Star Attraction

Speaking of the Mona Lisa, did you know that this world-famous painting is smaller than most expect, measuring just 77 cm x 53 cm? Painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century, it is renowned for its beautiful smile and detailed portrayal. The painting is displayed in a bulletproof glass case for protection, a testament to its value and fame.

Uncovering Lesser-Known Items in the Louvre

Beyond the Mona Lisa, the Louvre Museum houses many other masterpieces that deserve your attention. For instance, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient Greek statue, is celebrated for its depiction of movement and grace. The Coronation of Napoleon, a grand painting by Jacques-Louis David, captures a significant historical moment with dramatic flair.

The Egyptian Antiquities Department

You will find yourself fascinated by the Egyptian Antiquities department. It houses a comprehensive collection of Egyptian art, including mummies, sculptures, and jewelry. This department reflects France's interest in Egyptology, especially after Napoleon's campaign in Egypt.

Art from Around the World

The Louvre Museum is not limited to European art. Its collections include Islamic art, Near Eastern antiquities, and African, Asian, and American artworks. This diversity allows you to experience a world tour of cultures and histories, all under one roof.

Read Also: What You Should Know Before Visiting the WA Shipwrecks Museum in Perth, Australia
WENCHANG, Hainan, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- China plans to launch the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan around 10:27 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying Tianzhou-7 has been filled with propellant and is ready for its planned launch, said the agency. 
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Annapurna with Accessible Adventure:Unforgettable trekking just for you!



(TRAVPR.COM) NEPAL - January 16th, 2024 - The Annapurna Base Camp Trek trek is a remarkable journey amidst the majestic Himalayas that invites adventurers to explore the pristine beauty of Nepal.

Accessible Adventure, with its wealth of experience since 2012, offers a tailored expedition that is unforgettable. Upon arriving in Kathmandu, the vibrant capital of Nepal and the home base of Accessible Adventure, you will immediately sense the excitement and energy that define our company. Our team is dedicated to providing you with a personalized trekking experience that goes beyond the ordinary.

The Annapurna Base Camp trek takes you through lush rhododendron forests, quaint villages, and terraced fields, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry of the region. Accessible Adventure ensures that your journey is not only about reaching the destination but also about savoring every step of the way.

Our itineraries cater to all levels of trekkers, allowing you to immerse yourself in awe-inspiring landscapes without compromising comfort and safety. From the iconic Machapuchare Base Camp to the breathtaking Annapurna Sanctuary, each step brings you closer to the heart of the Himalayas.

Accessible Adventure prioritizes your safety, comfort, and enjoyment. Our team of experts ensures an unforgettable experience trekking to Annapurna Base Camp, whether you're a seasoned trekker or a first-time adventurer. Join us on this extraordinary journey and witness the beauty of Nepal firsthand.

Find available dates for joining the Annapurna Base Camp Trek during the Autumn Season of 2024 (September, October, and November). Choose from the following dates to fit your holiday schedule:

September 1, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, or 29.

October:1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. November: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29.

Spring Season 2024 (March, April & May).March:

March: 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. November: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29.

April: 1, 4, 6, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.

May:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends a luncheon hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and exchanges views with heads of multinational companies during the WEF Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Investing in China will bring huge returns and a better future, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Tuesday at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024.

Li made the remarks while attending a luncheon hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, and exchanging views with heads of multinational companies.

Multinational companies have been participants, witnesses, and beneficiaries of China's reform and opening up, Li said, adding that the long-term positive trend of China's economy will not change, and will provide more development opportunities for enterprises of all countries.

Under the current circumstances, Li pointed out that fragmented battles will only make it more difficult for the world economy to recover, stressing that China opposes all forms of camp division and confrontation, and will open its door wider to the outside world.

China welcomes foreign enterprises to invest and do business in the country, stands ready to seriously study and solve the difficulties and problems encountered by foreign-funded enterprises operating in China, ensures national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises, and creates a stable, fair, and predictable business environment, Li noted.

Li said that he hopes everyone will continue to make good use of the opportunities brought by China's development and achieve better and greater development in China.

Leaders of 14 multinational companies, including Walmart, JPMorgan Chase, Intel, BASF, Volkswagen, and Siemens, attended the luncheon. They said that over the years, their investments in the Chinese market have achieved tremendous success, and they are full of confidence in China's economic development, and are willing to deepen cooperation with China, persist in developing in China, and contribute to China's development. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends a luncheon hosted by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and exchanges views with heads of multinational companies during the WEF Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)
Children make paper cutting works at a kindergarten in Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Hu Panxue/Xinhua)

People buy decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival at a market in Daoxian County of Yongzhou City, central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by He Hongfu/Xinhua)

Actors perform dragon dance in Lushan City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Han Junxuan/Xinhua)

Craftsmen build a dragon light installation at a park in Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Sun Zhongzhe/Xinhua)

A student participates in a dragon dance at a primary school in Jurong City of Zhenjiang, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Zhong Xueman/Xinhua)

Kindergarten children perform dragon dance in Yichun City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Chen Qihai/Xinhua)

A man buys decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival in Wanzai County of Yichun City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Deng Longhua/Xinhua)

A folk artist teaches students dragon dance actions at a school in Xiaochang Township of Zunhua, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

Villagers air newly made Chinese knots in Huanan Village of Huashui Town, Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Bao Kangxuan/Xinhua)

Tourists visit a park decorated with light installations in Nanjing City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Fang Dongxu/Xinhua)

Villagers make a dragon lantern in Huaitang Village of Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Bao Kangxuan/Xinhua)

Tourists visit a cultural tourism block in Nanning City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yu Xiangquan/Xinhua)

People buy decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival at a market in Shijiazhuang City, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Chen Qibao/Xinhua)

A worker makes a dragon lantern in Hongze District of Huai'an in east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Wan Zhen/Xinhua)

People buy decorations for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year at a market in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yu Fangping/Xinhua)

Villagers make artistic steamed buns in Diaoya Village of Yiyuan County, Zibo City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Zhao Dongshan/Xinhua)

Students practice lion dance at a school in Xintian County of Yongzhou City, central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Liu Guixiong/Xinhua)

Chinese calligraphy hobbyists write Spring Festival couplets for locals in Guangshan County of Xinyang, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Wanbo/Xinhua)

A worker colors festive lanterns in Hongze District of Huai'an in east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yin Chao/Xinhua)

Volunteer calligraphers write Spring Festival couplets for workers at a workshop in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Shangguo/Xinhua)

Volunteers perform a stunt of Sichuan Opera in Dongxing District of Neijiang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Lan Zitao/Xinhua)

A villager buys decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival at a market in Lengjia Village of Yanghe Town, Jiaozhou City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Wang Zhaomai/Xinhua)

An artist displays dough figurines, a traditional Chinese folk art, in Zhumadian City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Gong Huajing/Xinhua)

A villager makes dragon lantern in Fatou Village of Deqing County in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Shangguo/Xinhua)

Children make lanterns at a kindergarten in Fushan District of Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Sun Wentan/Xinhua)
Russia has no reserve for an offensive in two or three directions of the front.

Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraines Ministry of Defense, said this at a press conference, Ukrinform reports.

"Mobilization measures in Russia continue. They manage to recover the losses they suffer every day. However, that reserve is not enough to form powerful strategic offensive operations in two or three directions, which Putin is talking about and scaring the European community with the opening of a second front and an offensive," he said.

To date, the ground component and airborne component of the Russian armed forces are unable to conduct strategic offensive operations. Assault and tactical operations - yes. And we see this, they will continue it, but it is impossible for them to conduct strategic offensive operations without powerful tactical reserves," Skibitskyi added.

According to the Main Intelligence Directorate representative, tactical combat operations will continue, as Russia will use any ceasefire to improve its capabilities to recover or open new sectors for combat operations.

"We cannot allow ourselves to lose our territories due to our inaction... If the war stops, the enemy will have the opportunity to accumulate forces and restore combat capabilities.

We saw this in 2015-2016, when hostilities were suspended in the captured territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and we received new aggression in 2022," Skibitskyi said.

He also said that Russia will continue to eliminate Ukrainians, destroy infrastructure, civilian and military facilities.

As reported, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Vadym Skibitskyi said that Russia recruits 1,000 new soldiers every day.
More than two thousand trucks are queuing up at the Ukrainian border, with blockades currently being recorded only in Romania in the direction of the Ukrainian checkpoints Porubne and Krasnoilsk.

This was announced to Ukrinform by the spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service, Andriy Demchenko.

"According to the Polish border guards, as of this morning, there are 1,900 trucks in queues at these four directions towards Ukraine, most of them in front of the Shehyni checkpoint," he said.

Demchenko said that yesterday the blocking of the Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne, Krakivets-Korczowa, and Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoints in Poland had ceased.

Earlier, traffic was unblocked at the Shehyni-Medyka checkpoint. After the unblocking, truck traffic on the border with Poland became more intense.

The spokesperson said that there is still a queue in Slovakia towards Ukraine at the Uzhhorod checkpoint and a queue of trucks in Hungary at the Tysa checkpoint - 430 and 500 trucks, respectively.

The blocking of trucks is currently observed only on the territory of Romania in the direction of the Ukrainian checkpoints Porubne and Krasnoilsk, he said.

Read also: Romanian farmers continue to block two checkpoints on border with Ukraine

As reported, on November 6, 2023, Polish carriers began blocking truck traffic near the three largest checkpoints on the border with Ukraine: Korczowa-Krakivets, Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska, Dorohusk-Yahodyn. Among the main demands is the return of the practice of permits for Ukrainian carriers, which was abolished by the agreement with the EU until June 30, 2024.

The Polish Ministry of Infrastructure has signed an agreement with the organizers of the blockade of checkpoints on the Polish-Ukrainian border, according to which the protesters suspend their protest until March 1, and by that time the Polish government is obliged to solve their problems.
Romanian farmers continue to partially block truck traffic near the Siret and Vicovu de Sus checkpoints near the border with Ukraine.

Ihor Zarudniev, assistant head of the Chernivtsi border guard detachment, told Ukrinform.

"Near the Siret checkpoint, which is opposite our Porubne crossing point, the blocking of trucks has been going on for three days in a row. However, just an hour ago, the first batch of ten trucks was allowed to cross from the Romanian side. The trucks are still not being cleared to leave Ukraine because of the blockade," Zarudniev said.

According to him, the blocking of truck traffic did not stop last night at the Vicovu de Sus checkpoint, which is opposite the Krasnoilsk checkpoint. As of 12:30 p.m., there were about 60 trucks in a live queue to leave Ukraine at the Krasnoilsk checkpoint.

More than 1,100 trucks have already registered in the e-queue to leave Ukraine through the Porubne checkpoint.

Ukrainian border guards do not know when the blockade will end and the checkpoints will start operating as usual.

Read also: Polish carriers to suspend Ukraine border blockade Wednesday

As reported, the movement of Ukrainian trucks through Siret was blocked by Romanian farmers on January 13 and 14. On January 15, protesters again blocked the movement of trucks through the Siret checkpoint, and blocking of the Vicovu de Sus checkpoint also began.

The day before, it was reported that the Romanian government had reached an agreement with the farmers blocking the Ukrainian border.
The image provided by the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) on Jan. 16, 2024 shows a stamp sheet of the Year of the Dragon. The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) will issue the special-event stamp sheet to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (UNPA/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) will issue a special-event stamp sheet to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.

The stamp sheet, to be issued on Friday according to the UNPA's program, consists of 10 stamps of a denomination of 1.50 U.S. dollars each, with a dragon flying in clouds, as the Chinese lunar year for 2024 is the Year of the Dragon.

The UN logo on the left serves as the tab of the stamp and can be replaced with photos for personalization.

UNPA completed the entire Chinese zodiac cycle of 12 animals in 2021. The new dragon stamp is the third of a new zodiac cycle issued for UNPA's Lunar New Year stamp series.

The dragon stamp sheet features artwork by Tiger Pan of China, who also illustrated the Lunar Calendar series for 2018 and for the first two sheets of the new Chinese zodiac cycle since 2022.

The Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for Chinese around the world. This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 10. 
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Jan. 15, 2024. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

GAZA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,285, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

The ministry said in a press statement that the Israeli army killed 158 Palestinians and wounded 320 others during the past 24 hours.

It added that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has led to the injuries of 61,154 Palestinians since its outbreak on Oct. 7, 2023.

People walk past destroyed buildings in the central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, on Jan. 14, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Meanwhile, it noted that a large number of victims were still under the rubble, and ambulance and civil defense crews could not reach them.

The ministry also warned of serious health complications facing patients with chronic illnesses, noting that 350,000 of them have been without medication.

It called on international institutions to provide medicines for chronic patients urgently. 
The 2024 elections have brought higher education policy to the forefront of political discussions, reflecting a significant shift in focus compared to previous campaigns.

Traditionally a peripheral issue, higher education has become a battleground for politicians, with calls to reform, defund, and reshape the landscape of colleges and universities. This article explores the evolving dynamics surrounding higher education in the context of the 2024 elections, examining the key players, proposed reforms, and the potential impact on institutions.

The Rise of Higher Education in Political Discourse

In recent years, higher education has increasingly drawn attention, emerging as a divisive topic with contrasting views from different political factions. While younger progressives advocate for student loan cancellation and social justice issues, figures like Ron DeSantis, Florida's Republican governor and presidential hopeful, aim to combat what they perceive as "woke activism" on college campuses.

Former President Donald Trump, who secured a significant victory in the Iowa caucuses, has taken a more aggressive stance, criticizing President Biden's student debt relief policies and denouncing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in higher education. Trump's shift towards prioritizing higher education in his discourse reflects a broader trend among Republicans, indicating a potential sea change in how the sector is addressed in federal politics.

READ ALSO: College Cost Reduction Act To Be Overhauled In New Plan By House Republicans

The Republican Agenda: A Call for Accountability

Republicans, spearheaded by influential figures like North Carolina representative Virginia Foxx, chair of the House education committee, argue that higher education is undergoing a hostile takeover by political activists and partisan administrators. This narrative positions colleges and universities as breeding grounds for what they perceive as illiberal thought.

Michael Brickman, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, emphasizes the need for greater accountability in higher education. Proposing that institutions should bear the responsibility for unpaid student loans, Republicans seek to address what they view as a lack of oversight and fiscal responsibility within the education system.

The Democratic Approach: Student Loan Reforms and Social Justice

President Biden's administration has been actively working to undo policies from the Trump era and implement measures to protect students, improve the student loan system, and provide relief to borrowers. Biden's focus on overhauling the student loan system and broad-based loan forgiveness aligns with Democratic priorities, aiming to make higher education a pathway to the middle class.

The 2024 elections will play a crucial role in determining the fate of Biden's accountability rules and efforts to fix the student loan system. The ongoing legal and political battles over debt relief underscore the deep divide between the two major political parties on how to address the challenges in higher education.

The Regulatory Whiplash

The partisan split on higher education is reflected in policy swings that have become more pronounced with each change in administration. The erosion of overall confidence in higher education, as highlighted in a Gallup poll, indicates a deeper societal issue that exacerbates the challenges facing colleges and universities.

The concept of "regulatory whiplash" is particularly evident, with policies such as Title IX regulations and gainful employment standards undergoing significant shifts based on the party in power. The upcoming elections could either solidify recent changes or witness a rollback, depending on the political landscape.

Potential for Sweeping Changes

Both Republicans and Democrats agree on the need for reforms in higher education, including addressing the skyrocketing student loan debt and improving accessibility. However, their approaches differ significantly. Republicans advocate for stronger oversight, limiting foreign funding, and tying federal financial aid to graduate outcomes, while Democrats aim to make community college free, enhance consumer protections, and increase Pell Grants.

The 2024 elections present a critical juncture for the future of higher education, with the potential for sweeping changes based on which party gains control. The impact will extend beyond policy adjustments, influencing how colleges and universities operate, access federal aid, and respond to societal expectations.

As higher education takes center stage in the 2024 elections, the divergent views of Republicans and Democrats underscore the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. The outcome of the elections will shape the trajectory of reforms, accountability measures, and the overall landscape of colleges and universities in the United States. With the stakes higher than ever, the battle for control over higher education policy adds a unique dimension to the political discourse of 2024.

RELATED ARTICLE: What Borrowers Need To Know About Biden Administration Fast-Tracking Student Loan Forgiveness
As a first-generation student, Rhina Serrano-Zetino's dream was significant, but she was aware of the hurdles ahead. Serrano-Zetino's journey reflects the challenges many first-gen students face, but with the support of the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF), she found a pathway to higher education.

Navigating the Dream of Higher Education

Being the first in her family to pursue higher education, Serrano-Zetino felt the weight of the unknown. "There's a lot of nerves knowing that nobody in my family has gone through this," she shared. However, her aspirations found a guide in Miguel Banuelos-Garcia, a DSF college advisor at John F. Kennedy High School. Together, they navigated the complexities of college preparation.

READ ALSO: Streamlining Access To Higher Education: One Million Applications Flood The "Better FAFSA"

Denver Scholarship Foundation: Bridging Aspirations and Resources

DSF stands as a beacon for students like Serrano-Zetino. Recognized as the "financial aid experts in Denver," DSF strives to make college a possibility for all Denver Public Schools (DPS) students. Through a multi-faceted approach, the foundation provides crucial tools and resources, acting as a liaison between talent and opportunities.

Need-Based Scholarships: A Key to Inclusivity

While only seven percent of college students nationally receive scholarships, DSF has awarded nearly $5 million in scholarships to 1,871 DPS students in the 2021-2022 academic year. The foundation's need-based scholarships break down financial barriers, ensuring that any DPS graduate is eligible. This inclusivity is vital in fostering diversity in higher education.

Future Centers: Personalized Guidance

Fifteen DPS high schools boast Future Centers, where students receive personalized guidance from DSF college advisors. These centers become essential hubs for navigating the often complex landscape of college applications and financial aid processes. For students without a dedicated Future Center, school advisors offer similar resources, emphasizing accessibility for all.

Financial Aid Advisement: Maximizing Postsecondary Opportunities

DSF's impact extends beyond scholarships. The foundation provides resources for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA). By aiding in FAFSA submission and offering guidance on gathering required documents, DSF ensures that financial aid is accessible. Importantly, the foundation dispels myths about financial aid commitment, emphasizing that applying opens doors without obligations.

Empowering Generations: Transformative Impact of College Attainment

Diana Madriz, DSF's Assistant Director of College Access, highlights the transformative impact of college attainment on families. For first-generation students, going to college can spark generational change. College attainment changes outlooks and creates new standards for what's possible, breaking cycles of limited opportunities.

Rhina Serrano-Zetino's Journey: A Testament to DSF's Impact

As Serrano-Zetino prepares to graduate high school, her journey embodies the success DSF envisions for every student. Engaged in extracurricular activities and aiming for international business studies at Colorado State University, she symbolizes the potential unlocked through DSF's support.

Looking Forward: A Record Number of Scholarships

The impact of DSF is tangible. In the current academic year, the foundation awarded a record number of scholarships to more than 2,070 DPS graduates. This not only reflects the growing desire for higher education among students but also showcases DSF's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the community.

Denver Scholarship Foundation emerges as a catalyst for change, breaking down barriers for first-generation students and empowering dreams. By providing not just financial aid but also guidance and support, DSF transforms aspirations into tangible success stories. As more students pursue higher education, DSF stands as a guiding light, unlocking the doors to a brighter future for Denver's aspiring youth.

RELATED ARTICLE: Supporting The Needs Of First Generation College Students
January 16 2024

An at-risk former cinema may have skirted demolition by the skin of its teeth after planning officers issued a building preservation notice (BPN).

The decision means the building owners, Allied Vehicles, must immediately halt demolition work pending further assessment from Historic Environment Scotland (HES), effectively placing a demolition warrant issued just before Christmas on ice for 6 months.

Last week HES declined to list the structure on procedural grounds, equating the demolition warrant to 'advanced development proposals', dashing expectations that it would be C-listed. The issue of a building preservation notice upends that equation.

In a statement, Glasgow City Council explained: "Planning officers have instructed the service of the BPN to allow for Historic Environment Scotland to undertake a further assessment following which it is anticipated (repeat, anticipated) that they will list the building. The officers have contacted the owners and informed them of the service of this notice, highlighted that unauthorised alterations or demolition of the structure would now be an offence and requested that they halt demolition works at this time.

"The building will effectively become listed whilst HES proceed to assess it for listing in the context of the BPN. HES have six months to complete their review and this would also include consultation on any proposed designation. We have requested that HES expedite this assessment. Any decision to list the building would then be subject to appeal to Ministers."

G&J Demolition began dismantling the cinema on 8 January, removing the roof and much of the rear elevation but the primary facade remains intact, sparking hopes that it can still be saved.

Campaigner Callum Forrester said: "There is no guarantee that when the cinema is demolished the site will even be developed. The owners demolished the former bus depot on Hawthorn Street similarly and never developed the site, which is now just a car park. They have so much spare ground in the area that if they did have a genuine interest in developing, they have many vacant sites to choose from and do not require to demolish local heritage assets to achieve this."

There are no live planning applications for the site at 124 Balmore Road, nor have any pre-application consultations taken place.
January 17 2024

A planned eco-wellness park in a former Ayrshire colliery has taken a step closer with the award of planning permission in principle.

East Ayrshire Council has given the green light to the leisure-led reimagining of the Barony Colliery in Auchinleck, billed as Europe's first 'nature based' wellness centre.

Detailed designs will now be drawn up for specific aspects of the scheme by Boomhaus, a Sheffield-based lodging specialist, for a series of scattered cabins set amidst indigenous flora.

Irene Bisset, chair of National Pride UK, commented: We understand and accept the imposed Conditions including the mitigation of any adverse impacts on the biodiverse nature networks and the natural environment on this site, which we will achieve through careful planning and design."

A mining heritage centre will add to the tourism appeal of the site with a promise to embrace the latest renewable energy technologies, specifically to capitalise on geothermal energy from warm mine water.
The government on Wednesday announced securing the second LNG cargo from the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) under the Government-to-Government Framework Agreement between Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) and SOCAR

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2024) The government on Wednesday announced securing the second LNG cargo from the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) under the Government-to-Government Framework Agreement between Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) and SOCAR.

The cargo is scheduled for delivery in February 2024, further strengthening the energy partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan the Ministry of Petroleum said in a news release.

PLL and SOCAR signed a landmark Framework Agreement under the Government-to-Government arrangement, marking a significant milestone in the bilateral energy cooperation between the two countries.

The Framework Agreement stipulates that SOCAR may offer 1 LNG cargo per month to PLL, while PLL's acceptance of these offers is subject to the demand for LNG in Pakistan and commercial considerations, ensuring a reliable and consistent supply of LNG to meet the country's growing energy demands.

The successful delivery of the first cargo under the agreement in December 2023 demonstrated the commitment of both PLL and SOCAR to fulfilling the terms of the Framework Agreement and fostering a mutually beneficial partnership.

The second LNG cargo further solidifies this partnership and underscores the importance of reliable energy supplies for Pakistan during the winter months.
SINGAPORE, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The non-oil domestic exports (NODX) in Singapore decreased by 1.5 percent year-on-year in December, following the 1.0 percent growth in the previous month, according to government agency Enterprise Singapore Wednesday.

Total exports of the city-state decreased by 4.6 percent year-on-year in December while total imports fell by 9.3 percent, said Enterprise Singapore.

NODX to Singapore's top markets as a whole declined in December though exports to the Chinese mainland, China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, European Union members, and the United States rose, the data showed.

The oil domestic exports of Singapore declined by 16.3 percent year-on-year in December, following a 2.7 percent contraction in November, according to the agency. 
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Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Human Rights and Women Empowerment, Mushaal Hussein Mullick, has said that Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) is gaining considerable recognition in Pakistan due to its potential to alleviate the burden on the overburdened court system

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2024) Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Human Rights and Women Empowerment, Mushaal Hussein Mullick, has said that Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) is gaining considerable recognition in Pakistan due to its potential to alleviate the burden on the overburdened court system.

She was addressing a Workshop organized by Legal Aid and Justice Authority (LAJA), Ministry of Human Rights. The Workshop was aimed at capacity building and imparting training to ADR practitioners in ADR methods such as mediation, arbitration, and negotiation.

The workshop was addressed by a distinguished panel consisting of Senior Judge Federal Sharia Court Justice Syed Muhammad Anwar, DG National Police Bureau Ehsan Sadiq, DG. LAJA Dr. Rahim Awan, DG HR Ministry of Human Rights Abdul Sattar, and Executive Director PCHR Choudhary Shafique. The workshop was attended by a large number of aspiring ADR practitioners.

In her address she said that the Government, legal community, and various institutions had been taking initiatives to promote ADR and integrate it into the legal framework. She further said that ADR had many advantages to benefit from including; efficiency, cost effectiveness, Confidentiality, and Flexibility.

Mushaal underscored the transformative potential of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in alleviating the strain on the judicial system.

She emphasized that the core objective of ADR was to complement traditional courts and mitigate the backlog of cases. She pointed out that there were 750 cases per judge in Pakistan rendering the conventional court trial process resource intensive and time consuming.

She said that one of the key functions of LAJA was to provide legal aid/assistance to poor and vulnerable groups, particularly women and children and enhance public awareness of legal aid and laws in Pakistan. She further said that ADR if institutionalized would prove to be a valuable tool in empowering women, girls and marginalized communities because of its quick dispensation of justice.

Mushaal acknowledged the efforts of the Legal Aid and Justice Authority formed under the LAJA Act 2020 to institutionalize the concept of ADR and establish reconciliatory committees across Pakistan. She further said that these efforts by LAJA would help to prepare a pool of Master Trainers on ADR in the country through capacity building and training sessions on modern ADR techniques and enable the ADR practitioners in dispute resolution mechanisms.

Mushaal emphasized that training ADR practitioners should be our key priority. She further said that the workshop was an important avenue to explore the challenges, opportunities, and new developments in alternative dispute resolution in Pakistan.
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Ambassador of Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov said on Wednesday 2024 has been declared as "Green World Solidarity Year" in the Republic will host the COP29 International Climate Conference in December in Baku

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2024) Ambassador of Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov said on Wednesday 2024 has been declared as "Green World Solidarity Year" in the Republic will host the COP29 International Climate Conference in December in Baku.

He was addressing as the chief guest at the special session on climate The Center of Climate Diplomacy, in collaboration with COPAIR (Center of Pakistan and International Relations), organized a thought-provoking roundtable conference on the topic "Shaping Tomorrow's Resilience."

The event aimed to shed light on the urgent and immediate challenges posed by climate change and the need for collective attention and collaborative action.

The guests and experts from various fields gathered to address the conference, emphasizing the pressing nature of climate change and the necessity for immediate action.

Ambassador Farhadov said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed an Order on declaring 2024 as the Green World Solidarity Year in the country.

"The focal points of our current energy policy revolve around the development of green energy and the facilitation of its transport to global markets. Liberated Karabakh and East Zangezur, as well as the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, have been declared green energy zones," he added.

The ambassador said the protection of the environment stands as a priority in the extensive restoration and redevelopment processes unfolding in the liberated territories.

Innovative approaches such as "smart city" and "smart village" are implemented in these areas, contributing to ecosystem restoration.

Shedding light on the impact of conflicts on the environment, he informed that Armenias three-decade occupation of Azerbaijani territories extensively damaged the ecosystem, wildlife and natural resources.

He informed that government of Azerbaijan's goal is for renewable energy to constitute 30% of electricity generating capacity by 2030 and to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and by 40 percent by 2050.

He stressed that the country is ambitious to deliver on its national climate commitments and aims to strengthen multi-lateral partnerships and global cooperation which is also evident from the plans to export 4GW of renewable energy to Europe through Black Sea.

Other participants who graced the ceremony were CEO of NDMRF Bilal Anwar, Zulekha (NDMA), Usman Manzur (Programme Officer, UNDP), Aftab Alam Khan (CEO of Resilient Future International), Dr. Usman Mustafa (Advisor on Economy and SDGs), and Dr. Fozia Kanwal (POODA).

President COPAIR Amna Munawar Awan thanked the center of climate diplomacy for spearheading this initiative, and confident that the outcomes of our discussions will serve as a beacon for informed decision-making and action in the realm of climate resilience. She thanks for commitment, and embark on this journey together to shape a resilient tomorrow for Pakistan and beyond.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has taken a delayed decision for construction of two electric bus depots in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2024) The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has taken a delayed decision for construction of two electric bus depots in Islamabad.

The first batch of 30 out of 160 China-made buses arrived in Islamabad in the first week of the current month but the construction of two bus depots, which would take another six months, has been taken now.

The second batch of buses would arrive by the end of next month.

One of bus stations costing Rs 632.06 million would be constructed at Tramari Chowk, while the second station costing Rs 604.4 million would be constructed between sectors I-9 and H-9, a CDA official told here Wednesday.

He said the bus depots would be equipped with the necessary facilities like the charging stations, drivers rest area, maintenance shed and washing area.

The Authority has invited bids from the registered construction firms by January 24.
DAVOS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2024) First Lady Begum Samina Alvi on Wednesday called for ensuring universal access to assistive technology (AT) for persons with disabilities, the aging population and those suffering from non-communicable diseases.

The first lady, in her keynote address at an event themed "Unlock the every day: advancing the SDGs through the power of Assistive Technology" on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2024, urged global leaders to prioritize the integration of assistive technology in their national plans and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) strategies.

Unlock the Everyday is the first-ever global campaign on the AT that has been launched to raise awareness about everyones right to AT- such as wheelchairs, glasses, hearing aids, prostheses and digital devices  regardless of their geographic and socio-economic background.

The event, organized by Devex and ATscale at the SDG Tent in Davos, was attended by high-level leaders specializing in disability inclusion, technology and impact investment, and aimed to explore the transformative power of AT in revolutionizing the lives of millions of people who have special needs.

Begum Samina Alvi said that the AT was a critical tool for achieving SDGs as it could open up opportunities for education, employment, and inclusion in society for people with special needs.

She called for greater collaboration among technology experts, policymakers, and advocates worldwide, besides urging the public and private sectors to invest in technologies that empower people.

The first lady highlighted that globally 2.5 billion people needed at least one assistive product whereas access was only 3 percent in low-income countries.

Affordability, availability and accessibility remain key challenges, particularly for individuals in low-income and marginalized communities. We must strive to overcome these hurdles and ensure that assistive technology reaches those who need it the most, leaving no one behind, she remarked.

Begum Samina Alvi emphasised that Pakistan was committed to creating an inclusive society and advancing the agenda of enhancing access to assistive technology.

She said that Pakistan stood at the forefront of advocating for assistive technology, both within its region and on the global stage.

She highlighted that Pakistan had made significant efforts at the global level to promote AT including proposing and adopting regional and global resolutions, hosting key events, launching the WHO Assistive Product List and developing a regional strategic framework for AT.

Begum Samina Alvi stressed that sharing the best practices, knowledge and resources would help create a collective impact on a global scale.

Assistive technology also plays a key role in universal health coverage by ensuring that health services are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities., she added.

She also called for prioritizing research and development to ensure the continuous innovation and improvement of AT.
Bangkok, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2024) Twenty-three people have died after an explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand on Wednesday, the provincial governor said.

Images shared by the local rescue service showed metal debris littered on the ground, and a huge plume of black smoke.

The blast occurred at around 3:00 pm (0800 GMT) near Sala Khao township, in central Suphan Buri province.

"We received reports from EOD team that there were 23 confirmed dead," Nattapat Suwanprateep, Suphan Buri province governor, told AFP, referencing the Explosive Ordinance Disposal group.

There was no indication of what may have caused the explosion.

However, Nattapat said officials were investigating what may have triggered the incident.

"The factory was operating legally with valid licences," he said.

Police officers said the surrounding area had not been damaged.

"Glass windows on one house have been affected by the explosion but no other reports," Nattapat said.

Police Lieutenant General Naiyawat Phademchid told AFP Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin -- currently in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum -- had been informed of the incident.

"Estimate of 20 deaths, however, we cannot confirm the official death toll," said the police officer, who is responsible for lower western Thailand.

He said that officials were sealing the surrounding area, and would begin to identify the bodies once the situation had stabilised, without going into further details.

"There were on average about 20 to 30 people working at this factory every day," he said.

In an official statement posted online, Prime Minister Srettha expressed his sorrow for the families of those killed.

Srettha also ordered an investigation into whether the workshop was operating illegally, as well as the cause of the incident.
Kyiv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2024) Ukraine opened an investigation Wednesday after journalists from a prominent anti-corruption news outlet were secretly recorded and wiretapped, authorities said.

A video purporting to show employees from the Bihus investigative news site taking drugs at a corporate party was leaked on YouTube Tuesday.

Ukraine's SBU security services said it was looking into "illegal wiretapping" of the outlet.

"The SBU believes that transparent and unhindered work of independent and professional media is an important condition for the development of Ukraine as a democratic state," it said.

Ukraine's Mediarukh press union publicly called on President Volodymyr Zelensky to condemn what it said was a "pressure campaign" against journalists.

Zelensky commented on the scandal in his evening address, promising Kyiv's security services would carry out a thorough investigation.

"Any pressure on journalists is unacceptable," he said.

Bihus is one of Ukraine's most popular investigative news websites and has probed alleged corruption involving several politicians and business people.

"The entire team was monitored for at least several months," the outlet said in a statement.

"We are currently trying to find out who stands behind this attack and are considering the possibility of contacting law enforcement with a statement about monitoring the employees," it added.
Bladder cancer is a prevalent malignancy with limited therapeutic options, particularly for patients who are unresponsive to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). The approval of interferon- (IFN) gene therapy with nadofaragene firadenovec (Adstiladrin), the first gene therapy for genitourinary malignancies, has provided a promising alternative.

This article reviews the research and milestones that led to the development and approval of nadofaragene firadenovec. Bladder cancer is well-suited for gene therapy due to direct access to the bladder and the availability of urine and tissue samples for monitoring.
The University of Wyomings Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (EORI), in collaboration with Crescent Energy Co., recently assisted with the drilling and coring of a research well in Natrona County.

The well was drilled and cored through the First Wall Creek sand as part of a project jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and Crescent Energy to investigate the existence of a residual oil zone below the productive interval of the formation.

EORI and Crescent Energy will determine if carbon dioxide can be used to economically recover residual oil from that zone and to ultimately sequester CO 2 .

EORI leaders say they look forward to the analysis of the core and resulting modeling. The project is expected to be finished this fall.

EORIs mission and focus are to facilitate meaningful, measurable and economically viable solutions to increase recoverable reserves and production of oil and natural gas in Wyoming that otherwise may not be realized.
DUBLIN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ireland appreciates China's great achievements in economic and social development, always abides by the one-China principle, and hopes that China will achieve peaceful reunification at an early date, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said here Wednesday.

Varadkar made the remarks when meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at Farmleigh House, the official Irish state guest house. 
Outlook: M&As in Vietnams Banking Industry in 2024

Mergers and acquisitions in the Vietnamese banking industry are becoming increasingly common. In this light, the Vietnam Briefing discusses the opportunities as well as the challenges these deals face in 2024.

In 2023, Vietnams banks recorded deposits of more than US$562.5 trillion from individuals and businesses, a 14 percent rise over 2022. This is the fastest growth in the history of the Vietnam banking industry and is demonstrative of consumer confidence in the stability and safety of using Vietnamese banks. With this in mind, the banking industry is experiencing increased activity in mergers and acquisitions (M&As).

Over the last five years, Vietnams banking industry saw a surge in high-value M&A transactions. The most notable was a nearly US$1.5 billion investment in Vietnams VPBank by Japans second-largest bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

A similarly significant deal was in 2019 when Vietnams BIDV bank and South Koreas KEB Hana Bank joined forces in a deal worth more than US$756 million.

These deals, however, maybe just the tip of the iceberg.

Whats driving M&A activity?

There are several factors driving M&A activity in Vietnams banking sector. This includes demand for capital among domestic banks, a rapidly growing consumer market, and a need to diversify their products.

Domestic banks need capital

Several banks including DongABank, CBBank, and Ocean Bank have been in negative equity for some time and carry massive bad loan balances. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) currently has these banks under special administration and is actively looking for banks that might be interested in taking them over. In fact, the SBV has issued a draft circular that would allow foreign ownership ratios to increase to as much as 49 percent to make these banks more attractive to foreign buyers.

A rapidly growing consumer market

Vietnams consumer class is growing rapidly and so is their thirst for financial products.

Of note, digital banking and e-wallet markets have been behind huge growth in client bases at domestic banks. This is the result of the ease and speed of the registration process alongside the ability of customers to easily own bank accounts at more than one bank. Buying into one of Vietnams existing banks can therefore give the buyer easy access to a broad swathe of Vietnamese consumers.

Diversify financial products

Furthermore, by buying into an existing institution foreign banks can broaden their financial products quickly and easily. Having a diversity of financial products on offer can boost a banks profitability and provide a better customer experience for clients. It also gives banks more upsell and cross-sell options.

Challenges

Appraisal process

M&A transactions in the Vietnamese banking industry are often concentrated among major banks partly due to evaluation issues.

For small-capitalized banks, public financial reporting is sometimes delayed and even inaccurate. This has made it difficult for foreign investors to adequately analyze the state of previous economic activity and forecast future growth.

The differences in the application of accounting standards in evaluating financial statements among domestic banks are also a problem for some investors. While most banks and financial institutions worldwide use International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), domestic banks in Vietnam still use Vietnam Accounting Standards (VAS). Though Vietnams banks are working toward transitioning to IFRS the current hybrid model can be confusing and calculating a Vietnamese banks value can be problematic.

Corporate culture

Cultural differences are another reason why foreign investors are still cautious about investing in M&A transactions in the Vietnamese banking industry. This includes how banks are managed and operated and the working styles of the domestic banks versus their foreign counterparts.

Trends in Vietnams banking industry

Digital Payments

The boom of Vietnams e-commerce and fintech sectors has fueled development and innovation at Vietnams banks. In 2023, Vietnam had the fastest growth in digital payment in Southeast Asia. This was an increase of 19 percent from 2022 to 2023 and is estimated to continue to rise at a 13 percent CAGR from 2023 to 2025.

This is also being driven by close collaboration between the State Bank, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Information and Communications on non-cash payments infrastructure. A result of this has been that Vietnam has 85 firms that provide payment services via the Internet and 52 organizations that provide payment services via mobile.

Foreign Investment

The year 2023 marked a boom in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) capital in Vietnam. According to figures from Vietnams General Statistics Office, as of December 20, 2023, Vietnam has disbursed FDI capital worth an estimated US$23.18 million, representing a 3.5 percent rise from the previous year.

Specifically in banking and finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment recorded FDI capital worth more than US$7.58 billion across 11 projects.

The successful purchase of 15 percent of the shares of Vietnam Prosperity Bank (VPBank) by Japans Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) worth US$1.5 billion was one such example.

Another was in October 2023, when it was announced that Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SeABank) had agreed to transfer 100 percent of the charter capital of Postal Finance Company Limited (PTF) to Japans AEON Group in a deal worth VND 4,300 billion (US$175.2 million).

See also: Vietnams Banking Sector: Opportunities and Risks for Foreign Investors.

Looking Forward

With local banks in need of capital, a growing consumer class in need of financial services, and foreign banks looking for low-cost ways to grow their customer base and diversify their product lines, M&As in Vietnams banking industry will likely be common in 2024.

Foreign banks looking to learn more about these opportunities should consult with the Vietnam business advisory experts at Dezan Shira and Associates.
ALGIERS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- China and Algeria on Tuesday vowed to continue firm support to each other on issues related to their core interests and enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The two sides made the pledge during the visit of Liu Guozhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, who met Tuesday separately with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui in the Algerian capital of Algiers.

During the meetings, Liu spoke positively of Algeria's development achievements, adding that China and Algeria are "sincere friends and natural partners in the pursuit of common development and national rejuvenation."

The Chinese vice premier noted that an important consensus was reached last July by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tebboune, who paid a successful state visit to China.

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Algeria comprehensive strategic partnership, Liu said that China is willing to take it as an opportunity to work with Algeria to continue firmly supporting each other on issues related to their core interests and promoting mutual exchanges and cooperation under the framework of high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road.

He noted that China is also committed to continuing its close coordination and cooperation with Algeria in international and regional affairs and making active efforts to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Tebboune and Larbaoui said that strengthening cooperation with China is a strategic choice for Algeria, vowing to actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, attract more Chinese companies to Algeria to invest, and jointly promote development.

The Algeria-China relations are unbreakable, as the two sides have a broad consensus on major international and regional issues, said the Algerian leaders, who voiced Algeria's willingness to work with China to uphold international fairness and justice and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

During the visit, Liu also held a meeting with representatives of the Chinese medical teams on an aid mission in Algeria. 
In a new report, Care International says events in Africa are being underreported in the media as global attention shifts to conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.

Care International's research singled out 10 African countries  including Zimbabwe, Uganda, Burundi, Zambia, and Senegal  that are suffering crises such as climate change, conflict, poverty, hunger, violence and political instability but are getting little news coverage.

It said more than 77,000 articles were published last year about these countries  while the iPhone 15 generated more than 273,000 stories.

The report, released last week, took the unusual approach of aggregating online articles in Arabic, English, French, German and Spanish. It found there were more than 215,000 articles last year about Prince Harry's book "Spare," but only 11,000 about the deadly violence and displacement in Burkina Faso.

There were more than 273,000 articles about the "Barbie" film, but only about 1,000 about the floods, drought and hunger in Angola that affected some 7 million people.

The report, titled Breaking the Silence, mentions many other African crises that are getting little to no media attention.



Stefan Brand, who works with Care Germany, explained why the continent's humanitarian crisis is underreported.



"The crises, the conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and now in the Middle East are receiving the most coverage by the international journalists in every country or in most of the countries and therefore smaller crises are more in the shadow of these big conflicts," said Brand. "But I also think that the media channels are more and more forced to save money because of a lack of interest by the public."

Experts point to reduced media budgets

Douglas Okwatch is the secretary of the Foreign Press Association, Africa, an organization of African journalists working for foreign media. He said media budgets have been shrinking, reducing the number of stories being produced from the continent.



"I think post-COVID countries globally really are constrained in terms of resources," he said. "Therefore, many countries, particularly the ones that own these big international media, are looking at where to cut budgets. And probably the media is one of the places, or the easiest places, to cut budgets. And when you cut budgets, then that has a direct implication on coverage."

International media's closure of foreign bureaus also is blamed for the underreporting and fatigue that has set in after decades of unending conflicts and humanitarian crises in some African countries.

Some critics have accused foreign media of focusing more on Africa's conflicts and suffering than its potential and contributions to the world.



Okwatch, who is also a journalist, said other sectors and global competition for Africa's resources and support are getting more coverage than the humanitarian crises.

"We are not just focused on the humanitarian  the fewer, the lesser humanitarian stories and things in Africa are on a downward spiral in terms of focus on Africa," he said. "I think if there's less coverage on humanitarian crises, probably the coverage has also shifted toward economic interests and geopolitical interests."



Brand said access to African countries and investment in stable media can improve coverage in Africa.

"I think, in general, governments need to give journalists access to the countries and especially the crisis of the region so reporters and journalists can report on these crises," said Brand.

"Foreign media needs to pay more attention, accept more pictures from African journalists, freelancers from countries, foreign countries, African countries," said Brand. "And media needs to invest in good, stable journalism, foreign correspondents, freelancers and local partners."



According to the United Nations, more than 300 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2024, about half of them in Africa.

Care International calls for the media to tell African humanitarian crisis stories so aid agencies and relevant authorities can take urgent action to save the situation.
The African Union's conflict resolution body met on Wednesday amid escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over a coastline deal and called for "restraint" between the parties.



Landlocked Ethiopia signed a surprise maritime accord with Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland on January 1, in a move Mogadishu has rejected as violating international law.



The AU's Peace and Security Council said it had heard representatives of Ethiopia and Somalia in Addis Ababa and urged the Horn of Africa neighbors to pursue "meaningful dialogue".



"Council expressed deep concern over the ongoing tension ... and its potential adverse impact on peace, security and stability of the region," a statement said.



The council called on Ethiopia and Somalia "to exercise restraint, de-escalate and engage in meaningful dialogue toward finding a peaceful resolution of the matter."



Under a memorandum of understanding, Somaliland agreed to lease 20 kilometers (12 miles) of its coast for 50 years to Ethiopia, which indicated it wants to set up a naval base and a commercial port.



Somaliland is a former British protectorate facing the Gulf of Aden that declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but isn't recognized by the international community.



Somalia vowed to defend its territory by "all legal means" after the deal and appealed to the United Nations and the African Union for urgent meetings.



AU's security council said it "unequivocally reaffirmed its strong commitment" to preserving the territorial integrity of all member states.



International players that include the United States, European Union, China and the Arab League have called for Somalia's sovereignty to be respected.



The East African trade bloc Igad said last week it will meet January 18 in Uganda to discuss the tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia.



Somaliland, a territory of about 4.5 million people, has been on a quest for formal statehood for more than three decades, but it remains unrecognized globally, leaving it poor and isolated.



Mogadishu staunchly opposes the independence claim, but in reality, it exercises little authority over the affairs of the region, which has its own government, security forces and currency.



Ethiopia, the second-most populous country in Africa and one of the biggest landlocked nations in the world, was cut off from the coast after Eritrea seceded and declared independence in 1993 following a three-decade war.



Addis Ababa had maintained access to a port in Eritrea until the two countries went to war in 1998; since then, Ethiopia has sent most of its trade through Djibouti.
Al Jazeera's Gaza bureau chief, Wael al-Dahdouh, left the Palestinian territory Tuesday, he told AFP, after Israeli strikes killed his wife, multiple children and a colleague.

Scenes of Dahdouh mourning his family and fleeing on foot from Gaza City have been broadcast globally over the weeks since war erupted between Hamas militants and Israel on October 7.

Speaking to an AFP journalist in southern Gaza, the 53-year-old said he had crossed the Rafah border post with Egypt.

Dahdouh said he is due to travel onwards to Qatar where he will undergo surgery for a wound sustained in an Israeli strike last month, which killed the Qatar-based network's cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa and several others.

His wife, two of their children and a grandson were killed in October bombardment of central Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp, while his eldest son was killed in strikes this month targeting a car in Rafah.

Dahdouh entered Egypt along with a relative on Tuesday, after four of his children made the crossing last week, he told AFP.

Khaled Elbalshy, head of the Egyptian journalists' syndicate, said the organization had spoken to Dahdouh after he left Gaza.

The syndicate "thanks all the Egyptian state agencies and those who made efforts to help in the case of Wael Dahdouh and treating wounded Palestinians," Elbalshy wrote on Facebook.

At least 82 journalists have been killed during the war, 75 of them in Gaza, according to a tally from the Committee to Protect Journalists.

At least 24,285 Palestinians, more than 70% of them women, young children and adolescents, have been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments and ground offensive since October 7, according to the Hamas government's health ministry.

The unprecedented Hamas attack on Oct. 7 resulted in the death of around 1,200 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also dragged about 250 hostages back to Gaza, 132 of whom Israel says remain there, including at least 25 believed to have been killed.
The rich and famous are paying top dollar for a place at this week's Davos summit, but heiress Marlene Engelhorn is on the other side of the fence at the glitzy Swiss resort, demanding that they pay more in taxes.

The 31-year-old is also pursuing an ambitious plan to pay people to come up with ideas for her to give away the bulk of her $27.4 million wealth so she can escape what she calls a "dynastic rich swamp."

"I've inherited a fortune and therefore power, without having done anything for it. And the state doesn't even want taxes on it," said the Austrian-German activist and founder of the Taxmenow initiative.

Engelhorn is joining several protests by a wealthy minority on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum calling for higher taxes on the rich.

The descendant of the founder of BASF chemical giant, Friedrich Engelhorn, is among an exclusive group of millionaires pushing for governments to tax them more to bridge the growing wealth gap.

The estimated 2,150 billionaires around the world are $3.3 trillion richer than they were in 2020, while nearly 5 billion people worldwide have grown poorer, the charity Oxfam said in a report on Monday, slamming "levels of obscene inequality."

Engelhorn, who inherited millions when her grandmother died in 2022, announced this month that a citizens group of 50 Austrians will be set up and paid to devise ideas for the future of her fortune.

To make the process more democratic, 10,000 randomly selected Austrians are being invited to apply to join the group by filling out a questionnaire. Fifty will then be selected.

From March to June, the group will gather on several weekends in Salzburg to develop solutions "in the interests of society as a whole," according to a statement.

Engelhorn was not immediately available to comment on the project.

If the group does not manage to suggest ideas with broad support, the inheritance will be returned to the heiress.

Engelhorn, who studied German at university, said she will get a regular job after "more than 90 percent" of her wealth has been redistributed.

"I'll switch from the wealthiest 1% of society to the less wealthy 99%. ... I think that's an improvement. I'm moving up into a democratic society, out of this dynastic rich swamp," she told the German daily Tagesspiegel.

Europe's wealth inequality is particularly pronounced in Austria, economist Emanuel List of Vienna's University of Economics and Business told AFP.

Quoting European Central Bank estimates, he said "the top 5% own about 54% of Austria's net wealth, while the entire bottom half of households only owns 4%, so basically nothing."

At least 15 billion euros are inherited or passed on in Austria every year, and whether one receives an inheritance or not "plays a very big role" in moving up the net worth ladder, he added.

In Austria, where conservatives have held the economy ministry for decades, inheritance tax was scrapped in 2008, one of few EU countries to do so.

Compared with campaigns such as U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett's pledge to donate 99% of his fortune to philanthropic causes, List says Engelhorn's scientifically supported initiative is "innovative."

Amid a persistent cost-of-living-crisis, Austria's opposition Social Democrats last year made a new call for an inheritance tax to be revived.

The ruling conservative People's Party firmly rejected the proposal.

Austria's far-right Freedom Party, which leads in polls ahead of a general election this year, called the Social Democrats' tax plans "an attack on families, entrepreneurs and all top performers."
The record third win for Taiwan's most independence-leaning party in Saturdays presidential election has sparked calls for war from Chinese nationalists who are losing patience, despite more than 70 years of status quo, and want to see the island forcefully reunified with the mainland.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Partys candidate Lai Ching-te, who was Taiwans vice president, was elected the self-governing islands new president by just over 40% of the vote, which he said in his victory speech told the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy.

The more China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Hou Yu-ih won just over a third of the vote and the Taiwan Peoples Party candidate Ko Wen-je received over a quarter of ballots cast.

The DPP has said it is open to talks with Beijing, which has so far rejected them while stepping up military probing and threats to Taiwan and underscoring its plans to one day reunify it with China, by force if necessary.

Chinese officials had characterized the election as a choice for Taiwan between peace and war.

But it is mainland Chinese nationalists who seem to listening to that message.

In interviews with VOA, mainland Chinese reacted to the election result with calls for China to make good on its threat to force Taiwans reunification.

They asked VOA only use their last names due to safety concerns.

Mr. Ni, a media worker in Chinas south-central Hunan Province, said people around him didn't talk about the Taiwan election publicly, but they did very passionately in private. "Liberating Taiwan was the main theme," he said, without clarifying what China would be liberating the self-governing, democratic island from.

He added that nationalism was rising in China with more calls to invade Taiwan to forcefully reunify it with the mainland.

In Chinas southeastern coastal province of Fujian, Mr. Gao in the capital, Fuzhou, said he was "very pleased" about Lai's win because it could speed up the pace of military reunification with China. "War is inevitable, and the central government has already made arrangements," he said, adding that democracy and freedom were in his view just slogans for politicians to obtain power and political capital.

Nationalists on the Chinese internet also declared that reunifying Taiwan by force was the only option. One comment under the name of Star Sky Strawberry Little White said, "The voting has shown the public opinion on the other side (of the strait). It's not a minority, but a considerable majority. There is no way to save Frog Island [meaning Taiwan]. Give up your illusions and militarily reunify it."

"This matter cannot be delayed any longer," wrote the well-known nationalist social media influencer Midnight Knight, who has more than 1 million followers on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "It's better to fight early than late, and it's better to fight big than small."

An online survey published by the North America-edited Journal of Contemporary China in May 2023 showed more than half of mainland respondents favored unifying Taiwan by force.

Mr. Xu, a Hong Kong analyst born in mainland China who also declined to give his full name due to security concerns, told VOA that Lai's win will push Taiwan in the direction of war, especially as China sanctions his deputy, Hsiao Bi-khim, for advocating for Taiwan's independence, which will create barriers to Taiwan's international economic and trade investments.

"Lai's reputation in mainland China is very bad. When (President) Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016, her reputation in mainland China was very good. Lai doesn't have this honor, he sai

But there are exceptions to mainland Chinese pushing for war or who see military conflict as inevitable, including some who see Taiwans election as an example that China could one day follow.

Mr. Zhang, who lives in Chinas eastern coastal province of Jiangsu, told VOA that on Taiwan's election day, his social media groups were flooded with news about the vote. "This positive signal shows that more and more Chinese are observing how democracy works in Taiwan," he said, adding that only when China has democratic voting can the Taiwan Strait be safe.

Despite the authoritarian one-party states efforts to disparage and limit discussion of Chinese electing their own leaders in Taiwan, the election was one of the most searched topics on Weibo, garnering more than 163 million post views Saturday before authorities blocked it.

A spokesman for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday said that Beijings refusal to swear off the use of force is not targeted at Taiwan compatriots but at interference from external forces and what he called the tiny number of Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities."

Polls among people in Taiwan have shown the vast majority of people prefer to keep their sovereignty and that most identify as Taiwanese - not Chinese.

Taiwan split from China during the 1940s Chinese civil war, which saw the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rise to power and the defeated nationalist Kuomintang army flee to the island, which transitioned to democracy in the 1990s while China remained under CCP rule.

The U.S., which does not support Taiwan declaring independence but has vowed to defend it from any effort by Beijing to take the island by force, congratulated Lai on his victory and the people of Taiwan for demonstrating the strength of their democratic system.

Adrianna Zhang and Wenhao Ma contributed to this report.
Riot police fired tear gas and struck protesters with batons in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan on Wednesday after a leading local rights activist was sentenced to four years in a penal colony.

Large protests in Russia are extremely rare because of the risk of arrest  especially since the start of the war with Ukraine  at any gatherings the authorities deem unauthorized.

Clashes broke out between the police and a crowd of up to several thousand people who had gathered in support of the activist, Fail Alsynov. At a trial that was closed to the media, a court found him guilty of inciting ethnic hatred, a charge he denied.

Videos published on social media showed people fleeing from tear gas and a line of police lashing out with batons at the crowd. In one clip, a woman remonstrated with police to stop beating a person lying on the ground.

State investigators signaled they would mete out harsh punishment against those involved in the protest, saying they had launched criminal investigations into "mass disturbances" and use of violence against the authorities.

The timing is sensitive for the authorities, at the start of an election campaign in which President Vladimir Putin is seeking a new six-year term. While Putin's victory is not in doubt, analysts said there would be pressure on Bashkortostan's regional head, Radiy Khabirov, to keep the situation in hand to avoid embarrassment for the Kremlin.

Alsynov, 37, was accused of insulting migrant workers in a speech he made in April 2023 at a protest over plans to mine for gold in Bashkortostan, which is in Russia's southern Ural Mountains near the border between Europe and Asia.

His name has also been added to a list of "extremists and terrorists" by Rosfinmonitoring, an agency that is empowered to freeze people's bank accounts if they are suspected of money-laundering or financing terrorism.

Alsynov's supporters said the case against him was delayed revenge for his role in protests several years earlier in which activists successfully blocked plans to mine for soda on a hill that local people consider a sacred place.

"Huge thanks to everyone who came to support me. I will never forget this. I don't admit my guilt. I always fought for justice, for my people, for my republic," he told online media outlet RusNews after the verdict.

People in the crowd shouted "Shame!" and "We won't give up Fail!" Video footage showed protesters pelting the police with snowballs that smashed harmlessly on their riot shields.

Independent Russian-language news outlets said police made arrests, but the number was not clear.

The sizeable turnout for the protest was striking given the remoteness of the location. It took place in the small town of Baymak, where Alsynov's trial was held, about 280 kilometers (170 miles) from the regional capital Ufa and nearly 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) east of Moscow.

Bashkortostan, an oil-producing region of 4.1 million people, is one of more than 80 entities that make up the Russian Federation.

Alsynov was a leader of Bashkort, a grassroots movement to preserve the culture, language and ethnic identity of the region's people. The movement was banned as an extremist organization in 2020.
The spread of slick videos that falsely depict U.S. broadcasters making misleading comments or endorsing cryptocurrency and other goods is alarming analysts.

The use of what are known as deepfakes  videos created with artificial intelligence to realistically impersonate people, including journalists  is viewed as especially troubling in a year when more than 40 countries are due to hold significant elections.

At a time of rampant disinformation and low trust in news, and as news outlets grapple with how to integrate AI into their business models, such videos make it even harder for audiences to determine whether what they are seeing and hearing is real.

Deepfakes, especially of journalists, muddy the difference between what is and isn't real, according to Paul Barrett, deputy director of New York University's Stern Center for Business and Human Rights. Barrett's research focuses on technology's effects on democracy.

With artificial intelligence, individuals can make videos of real anchors reporting fake stories.

As a result, deep fakes "generally blur the line between real and factual on the one hand, and false and misleading on the other, with the ultimate goal of just eroding people's trust in what's going on, politically or otherwise, in their countries and around the world," Barrett told VOA.

It can be hard to trace where the videos originate  and harder still to have the content successfully removed from social media platforms.

Deepfakes have targeted journalists at news outlets including CNN, CBS, the BBC and VOA, impersonating prominent journalists including Anderson Cooper, Clarissa Ward and Gayle King.

Reporters with VOA's Russian Service have been sporadically targeted with deepfakes since October.

One of those, Ksenia Turkova, said she was shocked when she first saw a video showing her saying things that she knew she had never said.

"I felt vulnerable, and I felt that my reputation, my trustworthiness as a journalist can be in danger," Turkova told VOA in October.

In the months since, Turkova said, the deepfakes continued to appear on Facebook, to the point that she has stopped paying attention to them.

"At some point, I just stopped following it," she told VOA last week. "I don't have time to follow it."

For Vincent Berthier, the head of the technology desk at Reporters Without Borders, manipulation of trust is central to why journalists are targeted.

There are typically two goals with deepfakes of reporters, Berthier told VOA. The first is to sow distrust in the media, and the second is to leverage the trust people have in the media to make them believe disinformation.

"Deepfakes are actually a weapon against journalism," he told VOA from Paris. "It's not only bad for press freedom in general. It's also a problem for access to information."

Part of the problem, he said, is the ease with which people can create fake content that is believable.

"There is stuff that innovation should not allow, because it's dangerous for democracy, and if it's dangerous for democracy, it's dangerous for us all," he said.

These concerns were raised last week at a Senate hearing about AI's effects on journalism.

While noting the uses of advanced technology to assist local newsrooms in impactful news coverage, Curtis LeGeyt, president of the National Association of Broadcasters, warned that generative AI can also be abused to spread misinformation and disinformation.

"The use of AI to doctor, manipulate, or misappropriate the likeness of trusted radio or television personalities risks spreading misinformation, or even perpetuating fraud," he told the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law.

"All our local personalities have is the trust of their audiences, LeGeyt said, adding that disinformation and deepfakes can undermine that trust.

The misuse of AI and deepfakes could be particularly harmful around elections, the Stern Center's Barrett said.

It's not a stretch, Barrett said, that someone could create a deepfake of a political opponent to harm them in the polls, or a deepfake of a journalist reporting a fake story about a political opponent.

"There's lots of ways that trust and faith in democratic institutions can be eroded by generative AI," Barrett said.

Similar concerns were cited last year by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and journalist Maria Ressa, who warned that the world will know whether democracy "lives or dies" by the end of 2024.

"If we don't have integrity of facts, we cannot have integrity of elections," she said at a Washington event.

When considering the threat posed by deepfakes, Barrett said it's also important to look at the social media platforms where videos are disseminated, rather than just the AI companies.

"The real danger this year, this moment, is not about how problematic content is created. It is still about how problematic content is distributed," he said.

Meta, TikTok and Twitter did not reply to VOAs emails requesting comment for this article.

A Google spokesperson directed VOA to a November blog post from YouTube, which said the video platform will introduce updates over the coming months that will require creators to disclose when theyve created altered or synthetic content that is realistic, including using AI tools.

A YouTube policy bans content that intends to impersonate people.

Some people are also concerned about how artificial intelligence will be used in newsrooms.

While some media analysts point to how AI can offer a cost-effective boon to investigative journalism, others are more wary.

Additionally, distrust in media is already at an all-time high in the United States, and a survey of media leaders by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found that 70% think the rise of generative AI will have a negative impact on trust in news.

The respondents to the study cited the use of AI in content creation as posing the biggest danger, compared with lower levels of concern about the use of AI in things like coding and distribution, according to the January report.
Data from Project Atlas, which has tracked international student mobility since 2001, shows that more students are resuming studies abroad after the pandemic.

According to University World News, Rebounds of international student numbers in 2022 and 2023, particularly in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, as reported in Project Atlas, indicate that the global total may again accelerate. (February 2024)
Iran launched attacks in Pakistan threatening relations between the two countries. The United States is expected to redesignate Iranian-backed Houthi rebels as global terrorists. And an unlikely refugee from the war in Ukraine, a rare Asiatic black bear, has arrived at his new home in Scotland.
King Charles III and the Princess of Wales are both dealing with medical issues that will force them to delay previously planned public engagements over the coming weeks.

Charles will undergo a "corrective procedure" for an enlarged prostate next week, Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday. The palace said the king's condition is benign.

Moments earlier, the princess' office announced that Kate would remain at a private hospital in London for up to two weeks after undergoing planned abdominal surgery. The princess, formerly Kate Middleton, is the wife of Prince William, the heir to the throne.

While it is somewhat unusual for members of the royal family to release details about their health, the twin announcements may help to avoid speculation if events featuring Charles or Kate have to be postponed or canceled over the coming weeks.

The publicity around the king's surgery is seen as an opportunity to encourage other men to have their prostate's checked in line with public health advice, nothing that the 75-year-old monarch sought treatment "in common with thousands of men each year," the palace said.

An enlarged prostrate is common in men over age 50. The condition affects how one urinates and isn't usually a serious health threat. It's not cancer and doesn't lead to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

The U.K. and foreign media have been focused on the health of Britain's senior royals in recent years, first as the late Queen Elizabeth II faded from public view during the last months of her 70-year reign, then when Charles ascended the throne at an age when most of his contemporaries were long retired.

A series of events on the monarch's schedule have already been postponed, including plans for a number of foreign dignitaries and members of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Cabinet to travel to Dumfries House in Scotland.

Kate, 42, was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday.

The princess' office at Kensington Palace didn't offer further details, but said her condition wasn't cancerous. Though she has generally experienced good health, Kate was hospitalized while pregnant after suffering from severe morning sickness.

Kate apologized for postponing upcoming engagements, and the palace said she wouldn't return to public duties until after Easter, Kensington Palace said.

"The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate," the palace said. "She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private."

After Prince Harry and Meghan's stormy departure to California in 2020, the Prince and Princess of Wales have solidified their position as being among the most popular members of the royal family.

Kate, in particular, has remained a reliable royal in the public eye  the smiling mother of three who can comfort grieving parents at a children's hospice or wow the nation by playing piano during a televised Christmas concert.
Various events held across China to celebrate upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year

Xinhua) 08:24, January 17, 2024

Children make paper cutting works at a kindergarten in Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Tongren City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Hu Panxue/Xinhua)

People buy decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival at a market in Daoxian County of Yongzhou City, central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by He Hongfu/Xinhua)

Actors perform dragon dance in Lushan City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Han Junxuan/Xinhua)

Craftsmen build a dragon light installation at a park in Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Sun Zhongzhe/Xinhua)

A student participates in a dragon dance at a primary school in Jurong City of Zhenjiang, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Zhong Xueman/Xinhua)

Kindergarten children perform dragon dance in Yichun City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Chen Qihai/Xinhua)

A man buys decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival in Wanzai County of Yichun City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Deng Longhua/Xinhua)

A folk artist teaches students dragon dance actions at a school in Xiaochang Township of Zunhua, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

Villagers air newly made Chinese knots in Huanan Village of Huashui Town, Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Bao Kangxuan/Xinhua)

Tourists visit a park decorated with light installations in Nanjing City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Fang Dongxu/Xinhua)

Villagers make a dragon lantern in Huaitang Village of Dongyang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Bao Kangxuan/Xinhua)

Tourists visit a cultural tourism block in Nanning City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yu Xiangquan/Xinhua)

People buy decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival at a market in Shijiazhuang City, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Chen Qibao/Xinhua)

A worker makes a dragon lantern in Hongze District of Huai'an in east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Wan Zhen/Xinhua)

People buy decorations for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year at a market in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yu Fangping/Xinhua)

Villagers make artistic steamed buns in Diaoya Village of Yiyuan County, Zibo City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Zhao Dongshan/Xinhua)

Students practice lion dance at a school in Xintian County of Yongzhou City, central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 15, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Liu Guixiong/Xinhua)

Chinese calligraphy hobbyists write Spring Festival couplets for locals in Guangshan County of Xinyang, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Wanbo/Xinhua)

A worker colors festive lanterns in Hongze District of Huai'an in east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Yin Chao/Xinhua)

Volunteer calligraphers write Spring Festival couplets for workers at a workshop in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Shangguo/Xinhua)

Volunteers perform a stunt of Sichuan Opera in Dongxing District of Neijiang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Lan Zitao/Xinhua)

A villager buys decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival at a market in Lengjia Village of Yanghe Town, Jiaozhou City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Wang Zhaomai/Xinhua)

An artist displays dough figurines, a traditional Chinese folk art, in Zhumadian City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Gong Huajing/Xinhua)

A villager makes dragon lantern in Fatou Village of Deqing County in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Xie Shangguo/Xinhua)

Children make lanterns at a kindergarten in Fushan District of Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 16, 2024. Various events are held across the country in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. (Photo by Sun Wentan/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Abbas Ganbay

Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikail Jabbarov wrote in his X social account that Azerbaijan and Finland discussed opportunities for strengthening regional economic cooperation, Azernews reports.

"We held a meeting with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on the margins of the Davos Economic Forum. We exchanged views on priority areas of relations between our countries, opportunities for strengthening regional economic cooperation, and prospects for bilateral ties," the publication reads.

Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikail Jabbarov also discussed new opportunities for cooperation with the Carlsberg Group within the Davos Economic Forum.

"Within the Davos Economic Forum, we met with Jacob Aarup-Andersen, CEO of Carlsberg Group. We discussed the company's successful activity in Azerbaijan and the favorable impact of economic reforms carried out in our country on the business climate. We also assessed the company's efforts to localise production in Azerbaijan and explored new opportunities for cooperation," the publication says.
MOSCOW, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Russia is prepared to develop relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in all areas, local TASS news agency reported Wednesday, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui arrived in Moscow on Sunday. He held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday, and they both met with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly after they reached agreements following negotiations.

"The discussion was generally about bilateral relations, the situation on the Korean Peninsula," Peskov said, adding that international issues were also covered.

"We have repeatedly said ... that the DPRK is our very important partner. We are aimed at developing relations in all areas, including sensitive ones," Peskov noted. 
A Maine court on Wednesday ordered the state's top election official to reevaluate a decision to bar former President Donald Trump from the Republican primary ballot after the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a related case from Colorado.

State Superior Court Judge Michaela Murphy found that the Supreme Court's decision to take the Colorado case "changes everything about the order in which these issues should be decided and by which court."

The judge ordered Maine Secretary of State Shanna Bellows, a Democrat, to reassess her decision to bar Trump from the ballot within 30 days after the Supreme Court rules.

In December, Bellows determined that Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, was ineligible to hold office again under a provision in the U.S. Constitution that bars people who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding office.

Depending on the sweep of its ruling in the Colorado case, the U.S. Supreme Court could resolve the issue nationwide in the coming weeks, with oral arguments scheduled for February 8.

Maine and Colorado are so far the only two states to disqualify Trump under the constitutional provision, known as Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Both states have put their decisions on hold while Trump appeals.

Courts and election officials in several other states have rejected similar ballot challenges to Trump's candidacy.
Medicine for hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza is to be delivered Wednesday under a deal brokered by France and Qatar.

France said the medication is destined for 45 hostages who have chronic illnesses, and that the delivery will be made with the help of the International Red Cross.

Qatar said the agreement also included medicine and other humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

As the Israel-Hamas war rages in its fourth month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that a "pathway to a Palestinian state" is essential for peace in the Middle East.

Israel would not get genuine security absent that," the top U.S. diplomat said Wednesday at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

Blinken said if Israel and several Arab countries work together, they could isolate Iran, which he called "the biggest concern in terms of security," as well as its proxies. Those include Yemen's Houthi rebels who have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.

"The problem is getting from here to there, and of course, it requires very difficult, challenging decisions. It requires a mindset that is open to that perspective," Blinken said.

But he said currently "we're in the midst of what is human tragedy in so many ways in the Middle East right now  for the Israelis and Palestinians alike."

A day earlier, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said during a Davos panel that his country agreed "regional peace includes peace for Israel" and responded "certainly" when asked if Saudi Arabia would recognize Israel as part of a larger political agreement.

"But that can only happen through peace for the Palestinians, through a Palestinian state," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a right-wing government that is opposed to Palestinian statehood, and Netanyahu himself recently said that his actions over the years prevented the formation of such a state.

Blinken said Israelis would need to decide on their leadership and direction, saying it's up to them whether the country can "seize the opportunity that we believe is there." He called this "an inflection point" for the Middle East that requires hard decisions.

Hamas militants abducted about 240 people during the October 7 attack on Israel during which they also killed about 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel began its military campaign to wipe out Hamas after that attack.

More than 100 hostages were released during a temporary truce in November, but about 130 are believed to still be held by Hamas in Gaza, including two dozen or so who could already be dead.

The United States said Tuesday it is hopeful that talks brokered through Qatar could lead to a new deal to release the hostages in exchange for a cease-fire in the fighting between Hamas and Israel.

"I don't want to say too much publicly here as we have these talks, but we're hopeful that it can bear fruit, and bear fruit soon," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a White House briefing.

The war continued Wednesday with Israels military saying it killed six Palestinian fighters, including a Hamas officer it said was in charge of interrogating suspected spies in southern Gaza.

Gaza health authorities said that in the last day Israeli forces had killed 163 people in the Palestinian enclave, raising their toll for the war to 24,448, a figure that includes both Hamas fighters and civilians.

Since the war began in October, Israeli forces have also killed more than 350 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health. The deaths have mostly come during protests and Israeli military raids.

The Israeli military said Wednesday it carried out an airstrike that killed a senior Palestinian militant in the West Bank city of Nablus. It accused Ahmed Abdullah Abu Shalal of being responsible for planning multiple attacks against Israelis in Jerusalem.

Four others were killed in the attack in the Balata refugee camp, the Israeli military said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces prevented medical personnel from reaching the airstrike site to evacuate the wounded, including directing gunfire at its teams.

The organization also said Israeli troops blocked ambulance teams from entering the Tulkarm refugee camp in the West Bank after Israeli shelling there injured multiple people.

There has been no comment from Israel on the Palestinian allegations.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Calling climate change the greatest global threat of our times, Celeste Saulo, the newly elected head of the World Meteorological Organization, is in no doubt that human and industrial activities are unequivocally to blame for this crisis.

In a briefing Tuesday to journalists in Geneva, Saulo said that a global unified commitment was required to tackle this complex challenge.

My wish is that we will face this challenge together, as a global family, bound by a shared responsibility, a vision for the future of our children, and a common purpose, she said.

When she assumed her post as the first female secretary-general of the WMO on January 1, Saulo upended the old-boys network that had ruled the U.N. weather agency for more than seven decades.

I have had the opportunity to break many ceilings, crisis-results ceilings, but we are witnessing new times here, she said.

What women bring to organizations and particularly to WMO, I think is diversity. We have different ways of thinking about problems, issues, and finding solutions. I do not say that it is necessarily better, but it is different, she said.

Saulo highlighted the importance of family, saying, For me it is a building block, something that moves me forward because I am thinking about the new generations all the time.

I cannot do something without thinking about the impact for future generations. I need to feel comfortable with what I leave to future generations.

I have a son, a daughter and a grandson who was born less than one month ago. So, I am really moved by that, and I feel a huge responsibility because of these new generations, she said.

Saulo, who is from Argentina, has become the first South American secretary-general of the WMO. After a distinguished academic career, she became the head of her countrys National Meteorological Service and subsequently assumed various high-level positions with WMO, lastly that of first vice president, the first woman elected to that office.

Now, as head of WMO, Saulo has called for urgent action to reduce global warming with the world edging ever closer toward the limits set in the Paris Agreement on climate change.

A recent WMO report confirmed that 2023 is the warmest year on record, by a huge margin. It said the annual average global temperature approached 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, noting the Paris Agreement calls for holding global temperatures increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels this century.

Climate change is the biggest challenge that humanity faces, said Saulo. It is affecting all of us, especially the most vulnerable. We cannot afford to wait any longer. We are already taking action, but we have to do more, and we have to do it quickly.

Coming from the Global South, I am acutely aware of the need to do more to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable, she noted.

She warned that the climate crisis was worsening the inequality crisis and undermining efforts to tackle poverty, hunger, ill-health, displacement, and environmental degradation.

We stand at the intersection of inequality and climate change, and our strategies must reflect the urgency of the times. Our commitment to reducing inequality and development gaps is unwavering.

We will prioritize regional and on-the-ground initiatives, ensuring innovation reaches every member, especially those with a relatively lower degree of development, she said, adding, Adapting to the changing climate is not a choice but an essential necessity.

She said that WMOs Early Warning for All initiative is committed to ensuring that every person on Earth has access to timely, authoritative, and life-saving weather and climate risk information.

The initiative has identified 30 countries, most from Africa, as well as the South and western Pacific areas, which are particularly prone to hazards and need help in resisting and recovering from climate-related disasters. Saulo said concrete results were expected to be seen by year end in these 30 countries, including Mauritius, Haiti, and Guyana.

Recognizing that adaptation must go hand in hand with mitigation, Saulo said that WMOs Global Greenhouse Gas Watch would provide a comprehensive and accurate overview of greenhouse gas emissions to regions and countries worldwide.

She describes WMO as a member-driven organization. As such, she said it was important for WMO to understand and implement the priority needs of its 193 member states and territories.

The implementation is for me the crucial aspect of all what we do, she said. If we fail at implementation, we will be failing the world.

Showing concrete results of what we are doing, for me is at the center of my mandate, the WMO chief said.
Denmark's only overseas adoption agency said Tuesday that it is "winding down" its facilitation of international adoptions after a government agency raised concerns over fabricated documents and procedures that obscured children's biological origins abroad.

The privately run Danish International Adoption mediated adoptions in the Philippines, India, South Africa, Thailand, Taiwan and the Czech Republic. Last month, an appeals board suspended DIA's work in South Africa because of questions about the agency's adherence to legal standards.

The Danish agency announced it was getting out of the international adoption business on the same day Norway's top regulatory body recommended stopping all overseas adoptions for two years pending an investigation into several allegedly illegal cases.

For years, some families in Europe, the United States and Australia with children who were adopted abroad have raised alarms about fraud, including babies who were falsely registered as abandoned orphans when they had living relatives in their native countries.

Some adoptees have cited paperwork that was falsified to expedite their transfer to a foreign country or prepared in a way that concealed their backgrounds or made them difficult to trace. International laws, including Denmark's, typically encourage keeping children in their countries of origin when possible.

The Danish Social Affairs Ministry called the winding down of DIA, which also had worked with partner agencies in South Korea, Colombia and other countries, "the most serious crisis in the area of adoption in the past decade."

"When we help a child to a new family on the other side of the globe, there must be the necessary assurance that the adoption is carried out properly in relation to the biological parents," Social Affairs Minister Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil said.

Over the past decade, international adoption in Denmark has dwindled. There were about 400 to 500 children per year in the 1970s and 20-40 adoptions in the past three years, DIA said.

In Norway, Kjersti Toppe, minister for children and families, said she believes there is a need for further investigation and has asked the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs for that.

"Adoptions must be safe, sound and in the best interest of the child," Hege Nilssen, head of the directorate, said in a statement. "Our assessment is that the risk of illegalities is real."

The directorate said that families in the early stages of an adoption will be allowed to complete the process, but only after an assessment by the agency. Couples who have been matched with a child from South Korea also will be permitted to proceed.

Most of the children adopted in Norway come from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Colombia, according to national statistics.

Earlier this month, the directorate said an examination of the adoption system was needed following media reports of allegedly illegal adoptions. Norway's VG newspaper reported that some children in the Philippines were sold and given false birth certificates.

In November, the directorate also stopped adoptions from Madagascar, citing a lack of security to ensure they would "be carried out in accordance with international principles for adoption."

Norway has three private adoption agencies. Verdens Barn handles adoptions from Thailand, South Korea and South Africa; InorAdopt arranges adoptions of children from Hungary, Taiwan, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic; and Adoptionsforum facilitates adoptions of children from the Philippines, Colombia and Peru.

Sweden's only adoption agency said in November that it was halting adoptions from South Korea following claims of falsified papers on children's origins.
Pakistan confirmed Tuesday that an Iranian cross-border attack had killed two "innocent children" in its southwestern Baluchistan province and warned Iran of "serious consequences."



The statement came just hours after Iran said it struck strongholds of a Sunni armed group, Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), allegedly sheltering on the Pakistani side of the nearly 900-kilometer border between the two countries.

The paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly carried out the "missile and drone strikes" in Baluchistan.



Late on Tuesday, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry denounced "the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran" and said the attack also injured three girls. It stated that Islamabad formally protested the "completely unacceptable" act with Tehran.



The ministry said in its statement that it summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires "to convoy our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran."



Such unilateral acts "can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence," it cautioned.



"It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran," said the ministry.



Jaish al-Adl, listed as a terrorist group by Iran and the United States, claims it is seeking greater rights for the Iranian Sistan and Baluchistan province, home to the country's Sunni Baluchi minority.



The cross-border attack in nuclear-armed Pakistan follows IRGC strikes on Iraq and Syria on Monday night. The organization defended the action, saying the Syria strikes were a response to the twin suicide bombing this month in the Iranian city of Kerman that killed nearly 100 people.



The Sunni-based Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.



Last month, Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for an attack in Iran's Rask region, killing at least 11 Iranian police officers.



While Tehran regularly accuses Islamabad of not doing enough to prevent Jaish al-Adl from launching cross-border attacks against Iran, Pakistani officials allege fugitive insurgents use bases on Iranian soil to plot deadly raids on security forces in natural resources-rich Baluchistan.
Pakistan announced Wednesday it was recalling its ambassador to Iran and suspending all bilateral engagements with the country to protest an overnight "unprovoked" deadly cross-border airstrike by Iranian security forces.



The unprecedented move by Islamabad came after Tehran claimed "missile and drone strikes" by the paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Tuesday night destroyed alleged bases of an anti-Iran militant group, Jaish al-Adl or the Army of Justice, in the Pakistani border province of Baluchistan.



"Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act. The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch warned in a nationally televised statement Wednesday.



She said the bombings killed two "innocent children" and injured several other Pakistani civilians. Baloch added that Islamabad had conveyed to the government in Tehran that the strikes were a "blatant breach" of Pakistan's sovereignty and a violation of international law.



"We have also informed them that Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being," Baloch said. She added that Islamabad had also suspended "all high-level visits which were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in the coming days."



Iranian Foreign Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, while speaking Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, defended the overnight attack.



"None of the nationals of the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan were targeted by Iranian missiles and drones," he claimed. They hit "Iranian terrorists on the soil of Pakistan," Amir-Abdollahian added.

Amir-Abdollahian later spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and told him that Jaish ul-Adl is a terrorist group that acts against the common security of the two brotherly countries, the Iranian embassy said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A post conversation Pakistani statement quoted Jilani as telling his Iranian counterpart that Tuesdays incident has caused serious damage to bilateral ties between Pakistan and Iran.



The cross-border raid came after Tehran also struck targets in Iraq and Syria against what it called "anti-Iranian terrorist groups."



The attack against suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan came hours after Pakistani caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar met with Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the forum in Davos.



The strikes also occurred as Iranian and Pakistani navies were conducting a joint naval training exercise on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz and the northern tip of the Persian Gulf to enhance cooperation and forge stronger relations, according to officials in both countries.



Pakistani opposition and hardline groups criticized what they called a muted response by Islamabad to the aggression by Tehran, demanding a military response to it. Others, such as veteran Senator Mushahid Hussain, stressed the need for nuclear-armed Pakistan to show restraint.



"Pakistan's response is both mature and measured, which is what the situation demands," said Hussain, who heads the defense affairs committee of the upper house of parliament. "However, the Iranian government must rein in its trigger-happy 'Deep State,' the Revolutionary Guards, whose actions are destabilizing the region and damaging Pakistan-Iran relations," he said.



China urged both countries Wednesday to exercise restraint and stressed that all countries' sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity should be respected.



"Iran and Pakistan are close neighbors and major Islamic countries. We call on the two sides to exercise restraint, avoid actions that escalate the tension, and jointly keep the region peaceful and stable," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a news conference in Beijing.



Iran and Pakistan share a roughly 900-kilometer-long border, separating the turbulent southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province and Pakistan's insurgency-hit Baluchistan.



Islamabad and Tehran routinely accuse each other of not doing enough to prevent anti-state armed groups from sheltering on their respective territories and plotting cross-border terrorist attacks against security forces on both sides.



Iran has long pressed Pakistan to crack down on alleged Jaish al-Adl bases in Baluchistan. The militant group from the Iranian Sunni Muslim minority claims to be fighting for greater rights for the community in the predominately Shiite Muslim country.



Last month, a Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for killing around a dozen Iranian police forces in a raid near the Pakistani border, prompting Tehran to demand Islamabad move against the group's hideouts.



The Iranian foreign minister said Wednesday that the previous day's attack inside Pakistan was a response to the December raid by Jaish al-Adl on the police forces in the Iranian city of Rask in Sistan-Baluchistan.



Amir-Abdollahian said Iran respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan but would not "allow the country's national security to be compromised or played with."



For its part, Islamabad alleges that anti-Pakistan ethnic Baluch insurgent groups have established bases on the Iranian side of the border and direct deadly attacks on Pakistani security forces as well as civilians in impoverished, natural resources-rich Baluchistan.
After watching a documentary that interviewed a young girl who had been forced into prostitution, Michael Kranz wanted to help her. Was this just "white-savior syndrome" or could something actually be done? He traveled to Bangladesh and began to search for the girl. This intimate and unusual film is the result: a self-critical exploration of the desire to not just passively give in to the injustices in this world. Was Tun makes its streaming debut on VOA+ on 01/18/2024.
At least 18 people have died after an explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand on Wednesday, a rescue worker said.

"Eighteen found dead, confirmed," the rescue worker said, revising down his earlier estimate of 20.

The blast occurred at around 3:00 pm (0800 GMT) near Sala Khao township, in central Suphan Buri province.

Police told AFP authorities were still checking the official death toll.

"There were deaths, we are checking how many people died," police colonel Theerapoj Rawangban told AFP.

"We do not see more damage toward other houses or people who live in the (nearby) community," he added.

There was no indication of what may have caused the explosion.

Images shared by the local rescue service showed metal debris littering the ground, and a huge plume of black smoke.

Explosions at workshops producing firecrackers and other pyrotechnics are not uncommon in Thailand.

Ten people died, and more than 100 were injured, after an explosion in an fireworks warehouse in Sungai Kolok town in southern Narathiwat province last year.

The Southeast Asian kingdom also has a poor safety record in the construction sector and deadly accidents are common.
Human rights group Amnesty International and other advocacy groups raised concerns Tuesday over British oil giant Shell's sale of its onshore businesses in Nigeria.

Shell announced Tuesday it had concluded plans to sell the assets for $2.4 billion, but Amnesty said authorities should ensure the company addresses decades worth of oil spills before closing the deal.

In a post on the social media site X, Amnesty said, "Shell should not be allowed to wash its hands of the problems and leave.

The international rights group called on Nigerian authorities to request a full assessment of existing pollution from Shell and the state of its infrastructure before allowing them to transfer ownership.

After nearly a century in Nigeria, Shell said it plans to sell its assets to a consortium of mainly local companies. The sales require the approval of Nigerian authorities.

Aminu Hayatu, a conflict researcher at Amnesty International, said the organization has been concerned about environmental degradation in the Niger Delta area.

Activities of multinational organizations have for quite some time deteriorated that environment, Hayatu said. Amnesty International is set to really observe the emergence of the new company as well as the leaving of the old ones and the exchanges between government and those companies in terms of their operations in those areas.

Shell said that it will continue to operate less-challenging offshore businesses and that the new owner, Renaissance, will assume responsibility for the onshore assets.

For decades Shell has struggled with oil spills, vandalism, theft and sabotage in the troubled Niger Delta region, leading to lawsuits against the company.

Faith Nwadishi, founder of the Center for Transparency Advocacy, said, "One of the reasons why Shell is running away is because communities are becoming wiser, more knowledgeable, going to sue Shell in their home country and getting favorable judgment for the community. They're just leaving their liabilities and responsibilities behind for the people who are going to take it up."

Shell's exit from onshore business in Nigeria follows other Western energy companies seeking more viable and profitable operations.

The company said its staff will be retained by the new leadership.

But Nwadishi says concerns remain.

"Anybody that is taking over ... now should know that they're taking over their liabilities, she said. These negotiations, did they take into consideration all of those liabilities for cleanup? Did it take into consideration loss and damages to the community? The terms of the negotiation or agreement should actually be made public."

It's not clear how Nigerian authorities will respond.
Human rights organizations, including religious groups, are calling on the U.S. government to designate Nigeria as a country of concern for religious freedom. The calls follow a spate of attacks on Christmas Eve in central Nigeria that killed nearly 200 people. But critics say previous designations by the U.S did not solve tensions between Nigerias Muslim and Christian communities.

The latest push to designate Africa's largest country over religious freedom violations comes after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a plan this month to designate other countries, including Iran and Russia, for alleged violations.

The petitioners, some 20 organizations  including Advancing American Freedom, Alliance Defending Freedom, and the Hudson Institute  signed a notice this week asking U.S authorities to include Nigeria on the list.

This comes in the wake of brutal Christmas eve attacks in predominantly Christian communities in central Nigeria.

Armed gangs in large numbers attacked residents of Barkin Ladi and Bokkos districts in Plateau state, killing and burning down houses.

Authorities say 195 people were killed and hundreds more were injured from the attacks. Thousands of people also were displaced.

The petitioners also cited a report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law that found more than 52,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria's north in the last 14 years.

But critics say previous U.S. labeling of Nigeria as a country of concern did not yield any results.

Lakin Akintola is the director at Muslim Rights Concern, or MURIC.

"We don't consider anything the United States does these days as important. The U.S. has disappointed the world. Whether the U.S. wants to designate Nigeria as a terrorist country or a fundamentalist one or a non-democratic one we don't care, said Akintola.

In 2019, the U.S. placed Nigeria in its watchlist for religious freedom violations and the following year designated the country over religious killings in the north.

In theory, the designation could have economic implications for the country including loan denials, and higher barriers to exports and trade.

But Luminous Jannamike, a spokesperson of the Christian Association of Nigeria or CAN, said the Plateau attacks were not necessarily religious in nature.

"The Plateau crisis is a cocktail of ethnic, religious and socioeconomic factors. There are hostilities between the Christian and Muslim communities in Plateau. [But] the kinds of attacks and abductions we're seeing this time around, it doesn't seem to have much of that religious coloration. The coloration of these attacks seems to have become something more of ... there's a [general] problem in this country," said Jannamike.

Jannamike said what is more important is for Nigerian authorities to prioritize security of all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity.

"Let security be improved, let the citizens feel secured irrespective of their backgrounds, religious affiliations, locations...The issue is not whether Nigeria is on the list or not, it has to do with improving security and then ensuring that governance," said Jannamike.

According to Pew Research, Nigeria has the largest Christian population of any country in Africa  more than 80 million.

Human rights groups will be watching to see how things unfold in the future.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is greeted by Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey at Gnassingbe Eyadema International Airport in Lome, the capital of Togo, Jan. 16, 2024.(Xinhua/Li Yahui)

LOME, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and the Taiwan question falls within China's internal affairs, said Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey on Tuesday.

Dussey made the remarks as he met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at Gnassingbe Eyadema International Airport in Lome, the capital of Togo.

Togo firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports the Chinese government's position on the Taiwan question, he said, adding that Togo fully supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Togolese government has issued a special announcement stressing that there is only one China in the world and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, Dussey said.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said true friends support each other at critical moments.

Noting that China will continue to firmly support Togo in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, Wang thanked Togo for supporting China's just position and said the two countries will jointly uphold the principle of non-interference in internal affairs as a basic norm governing international relations. 
Ukraines military said Wednesday it destroyed 19 of the 20 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks, but officials said falling debris wounded three people in the southern port of Odesa.

The military said most of the drones targeted the Odesa region. Ukraines Interior Ministry said debris struck residential buildings and damaged a gas pipeline.

The drone assault followed missile attacks Tuesday that wounded at least 17 people in the northeastern city of Kharkiv.

Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Synehubov said on Telegram that two Russian S-300 missiles struck the city center, including residential buildings.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov posted on Telegram that the missiles damaged at least 10 buildings and hit "precisely where there is no military infrastructure and precisely where there are in fact residences."

In the southern city of Odesa, a Russian drone attack injured at least three people and damaged several residential buildings, according to the Odesa regional governor.

The United Nations said in a new report Tuesday that Russian attacks brought an increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine in December.

The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said the number of civilian casualties rose 26.5%, from 468 to 592 between November and December.

Civilian casualties had been steadily decreasing in 2023 but the wave of attacks in late December and early January violently interrupted that trend, said Danielle Bell, who heads the U.N. monitoring mission.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of strong, enduring support for Ukraine and a determination on the part of the Biden administration to continue military aid for Ukrainian forces.

Blinkens comments came at the start of talks Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The top U.S. diplomat said the expression of support comes at a time when Ukraine is facing repeated Russian attacks on infrastructure and civilians.

And we see that every day, but we also see the incredible courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, the courage and resilience of your security forces, Blinken said.

Zelenskyy thanked the United States for its support, including air defense systems that have been critical in helping Ukrainian forces defend the country from Russian drone and missile attacks.

Those attacks have included strikes on multiple Ukrainian cities, with even downed drones and missiles causing damage and injuries on the ground.

Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials have implored the U.S. and European allies to further bolster Ukraines air defenses, a request that has coincided with the drying up of U.S. funding for new rounds of aid.

The Biden administration has asked Congress for tens of billions of dollars in new aid for Ukraine as part of a larger security package that includes aid for Israel and U.S. border security funding. That measure has met resistance from some Republicans in Congress who want even more action on border security.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The Sudanese government suspended ties Tuesday with the East African regional bloc trying to mediate between the country's army and a rival powerful paramilitary force, accusing the body of violating Sudan's sovereignty by inviting the paramilitary leader to an upcoming summit.

The army, headed by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces, commanded by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have been fighting for control of Sudan since April. Long-standing tensions erupted into street battles concentrated in the capital but also in other areas, including the western Darfur region.

In a statement, The Sudanese Foreign Ministry  which is aligned with the army  said the move is a response to the Intergovernmental Authority of Development (IGAD) for inviting Dagalo without previous consultation, which it said was a "violation of Sudan's sovereignty."

The 42nd IGAD summit is set to take place in Kampala, Uganda, on Thursday.

IGAD did not immediately respond to the Foreign Ministry announcement. Dagalo confirmed last week on social media that he received an invitation from IGAD.

The eight-member bloc is part of mediation efforts to end the conflict, along with Saudi Arabia and the United States, which facilitated rounds of unsuccessful, indirect talks between the warring parties as recently as early November. The two military leaders are yet to meet in person since the war broke out.

Tuesday's announcement comes one week after Dagalo finished a tour of Africa, where he met with government officials in Uganda, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Rwanda.

Over the past two months, the RSF has appeared to take the upper hand in the conflict, with its fighters making advances eastward and northward across Sudan's central belt.

The United Nations says at least 12,000 have been killed in the conflict. Rights groups have accused both sides of war crimes.

The countries that make up IGAD include Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
Sweden has summoned the Iranian charge daffaires to demand the immediate release of Swedish citizens being held in custody in Iran, the Swedish foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

"The Government is working intensively and tirelessly to secure the release without delay of Swedish citizens detained in Iran for no apparent reason," the ministry said in a statement.

"In late 2023, a man with Swedish and Iranian citizenship was detained for no apparent reason," the statement said.

A Swedish man in his 20s also was arrested in Iran earlier in January, the ministry said this week.

Those events have added to tense relations between the two countries since 2019, when Sweden arrested a former Iranian official for his part in the mass execution and torture of political prisoners in the 1980s.

Last month, Iran began the trial against a Swedish national, Johan Floderus, a European Union employee who has been imprisoned since April 2022. He was charged with spying for Israel and "corruption on earth," a crime that carries the death penalty.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry has advised Swedes against traveling to Iran.
Fresh off a campaign victory in Iowa, Donald Trump sat in a New York courtroom on Tuesday to defend himself for a second time against charges that he defamed writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused him of raping her decades ago.

Trump watched from the defendant's table as Carroll's lawyer told a jury that the then-U.S. president made her life miserable when she went public in 2019 with her story that he had attacked her in a department store dressing room in Manhattan.

"He used the world's biggest microphone to attack Ms. Carroll, to humiliate her, and to destroy her reputation," lawyer Shawn Crowley said.

Carroll, 80, is seeking at least $10 million in damages in a civil case that will put the allegations of sexual assault back in the headlines while Trump pursues the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Jurors will only consider how much Trump should pay Carroll in damages, not whether the alleged assault took place or whether Trump lied about it afterward.

Crowley said Trump's "horrible" lies unleashed a torrent of abuse from his followers and wrecked her sense of safety.

"As he's campaigning for president of the United States, Donald Trump continues to lie about Ms. Carroll," Crowley said.

Trump's lawyer Alina Habba countered that Carroll was "basking in the limelight" in the years since she released her memoir and accused Trump of rape.

"She is looking for you to give her a windfall because some people on social media said mean things about her," Habba said.

Trump, 77, has said he wants to testify.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan has barred him from arguing that he did not defame or sexually assault Carroll or that she made up her account.

Nevertheless, Trump accused Carroll on social media of lying as court proceedings got underway on Tuesday morning.

Shortly after the court adjourned for the day, Trump accused Kaplan of being politically biased against him, echoing complaints he has made against judges overseeing his other cases.

Trump could spend much of this year shuttling between campaign rallies and courtrooms, as he seeks to win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

He won the first state contest in Iowa on Monday by a wide margin, and opinion polls show him leading in the next contest in New Hampshire a week from Tuesday.

"I should be in New Hampshire, campaigning and fighting for our Country, and I will be later today, but for now I had to spend time in a Federal Courthouse with a Trump Hating, Radical Left Judge," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform after the court adjourned for the day.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in four criminal cases that could potentially land him in prison before the November presidential election, including two that accuse him of trying to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. He also is a defendant in at least two other civil cases.

Kaplan said he expects the trial to last three to five days.

Second trial

Trump's high profile was apparent as prospective jurors were screened for the case. Many acknowledged they were familiar with Trump's various legal troubles, though none said they knew the details of the first defamation trial.

One said she used to work for his daughter Ivanka. She was not chosen for the jury.

Jurors' identities are being kept confidential.

Trump has already lost one defamation case against Carroll.

A jury last May ordered Trump to pay the former Elle magazine columnist $5 million for having sexually abused her during the encounter and defaming her in 2022 by denying that it happened. Trump skipped that trial.

Trump is appealing the $5 million award and could appeal any award at the second trial. Appeals could take years.

In both cases, Trump has said he did not know Carroll and that she invented their encounter to sell her memoir.

Kaplan has barred Trump from suggesting he did not rape Carroll, as New York's penal law defines the term, because the first jury did not find that Trump committed rape. Kaplan has ruled that Carroll's rape claim was "substantially true."

Trump also cannot discuss DNA evidence or Carroll's sexual activities or suggest that Democrats are bankrolling her case.

As at the first trial, jurors will be able to see the 2005 "Access Hollywood" video where Trump graphically described the ability of famous people like himself to have sexual relations with beautiful women.

Kaplan has said the video could offer "useful insight into Mr. Trump's state of mind" toward Carroll.

On social media, Trump accused Kaplan of being "biased," echoing attacks he has made on judges overseeing some of his other cases.
The U.N.'s Children's Fund expressed alarm this week about a cholera outbreak in Africa that has spread to at least 10 countries, with the situation in Zambia and Zimbabwe "very serious."

Dr. Paul Ngwakum, the regional health adviser for UNICEF in East and Southern Africa, said about 200,000 cases have been reported and more than 3,000 lives taken by the disease.

Of the 10 countries he named as having an active outbreak, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Somalia, Zambia and Zimbabwe are in acute cholera crisis.

"The key drivers are long-term poor water sanitation and hygiene conditions, exacerbated by changing weather patterns, climate change leading to floods and droughts, end-of-year festivities, inadequate community sensitization [and] late care-seeking behavior for those that are affected, Ngwakum said.

Children, unfortunately, carry the lions share of the affected, he said. For example, over 52% of the cases in Zambia are children less than 15 years old.

Ngwakum said Zambia and Zimbabwe are experiencing a rapid rise in the number of cases since the Christmas and New Year holidays, with 1,000 cholera cases reported a week in each of the neighboring countries.

"The situation in Zambia and Zimbabwe is very serious, he said. These two countries are the most affected in the region. In Zambia, nine out of 10 provinces are reporting cases.

The diseases fatality rate is alarmingly high, Ngwakum said, with 4% of the more than 9,000 cases ending in death.

This is extremely high because the acceptable threshold is below 1%, he said. Since the beginning of 2024 alone, Zimbabwe has recorded over 17,000 cases, with about 384 deaths. ... And these continue to spread geographically.

In Zimbabwe, a shortage of purified water is forcing residents to depend on open sources. That, along with uncollected refuse and running sewage, are being blamed for the waterborne disease.

Douglas Mombeshora, Zimbabwes health minister, said the central government is doing all it can to contain the outbreak, starting in the capital, Harare.

If you move around ... Harare, people are just dumping garbage in undesignated areas, and this has not been collected, Mombeshora said. So government has mobilized resources so that we clean up Harare. And government is moving in to mobilize resources to procure water-treating chemicals. Supply of potable water has dropped from 350 megaliters to 200 megaliters per day.

Itai Rusike, executive director of the Community Working Group on Health in Zimbabwe, called on the government to declare a national disaster so that international aid agencies such as WHO, UNICEF and USAID can swiftly help to contain the cholera outbreak.

All the measures to end cholera are in the purview of the government  central government or local government  by providing safe water, safe sanitation and also hygienic safe disposal, Rusike said. So the buck stops with the government in making sure that people are provided with uninterrupted potable water, refuse is collected on time, burst sewer pipes are fixed [promptly] and the general public are given information about cholera guidelines and protocols.

UNICEF fears that if the outbreaks are not controlled, it will mean schools closing  as is already the case in Zambia.
U.S. lawmakers renewed calls Wednesday to pass bipartisan legislation that would restrict American investment in Chinese technology.

It should come as no surprise that China's military and surveillance state are exploiting loopholes in U.S. policy to access billions of U.S. investment dollars and expertise. We know that U.S. investment has not democratized China and countries which are controlled by the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] have no power over the applications of their technology. The CCP can direct it to us for military or surveillance purposes, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said at a hearing on the legislation Wednesday.

The bill  which has support from both conservative organizations and the Biden administration  was not included in the National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA passed late last year. Republican Senator John Cornyn has sponsored companion legislation in the U.S. Senate that passed with more than ninety votes.

Lawmakers hope it can still be passed individually and signed into law.

If passed, McCaul said the measure, H.R. 6349, would target specific technology sectors, like AI [artificial intelligence] and quantum computing, that are empowering Chinas military development and surveillance.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said an executive order issued by the Biden administration last August that calls for provisions and notification requirements of specific types of American investments in China, or in certain companies that develop or produce semiconductors, quantum computers, and artificial intelligence applications is an important first step.

But experts in U.S.-China relations told a House panel more could be done.

Congress has an opportunity to build on the initial steps taken by the Trump and Biden administrations to prevent U.S. capital from fueling Chinas military and intelligence capabilities. First, Washington should take a sectoral rather than merely an entity-based approach. The Treasury Department has demonstrated since at least 2021 that it is disinterested in using even its existing narrow authorities to limit investment in Chinese military-linked companies. And in fairness to the Treasury Department tackling the problem on a company-by-company basis would be a resource-intensive and gargantuan task, Matthew Pottinger, the deputy national security adviser during the Trump administration, said Wednesday.

We still haven't learned that they will do everything they can to take anything we sell, particularly in the area of electronics and really high tech, and use it for the military. They've been doing that for decades. We don't learn. We think somehow if you trade more, they'll matriculate from dictatorship to democracy, Republican Rep. Chris Smith said Wednesday.

The bipartisan push in the U.S. House comes as Senate negotiators continue work on the White Houses $106 billion national security supplemental request that includes funding to combat Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific. Citing a border security crisis, Senate Republicans have sought changes to U.S. immigration law in return for their votes to pass more than $50 billion in assistance to Ukraine that is also part of the Biden administrations request.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urged lawmakers Wednesday to reach an agreement soon.

Its become quite fashionable in Washington to talk about how were not taking competition with China seriously enough, McConnell said. Winning this competition means credibly deterring Beijings worst impulses, which, for us, means investing in American strength. Outcompeting the PRC [People's Republic of China] will require greater investments in our military capabilities and in our industrial capacity to produce them. The West cannot be caught unprepared for this challenge. We cannot afford to neglect the lessons of history.
The U.S. Treasury Department's top international official spoke with Zambia's finance minister Wednesday and discussed Zambia's debt restructuring and its response to a recent cholera outbreak, the U.S. Treasury Department said.

Zambia faces a major cholera outbreak that has killed at least 333 people since October, with over 8,000 cumulative cholera cases during this period, according to the website of the U.S. Embassy in Zambia.

Jay Shambaugh, treasury undersecretary for international affairs, reiterated the U.S. government's "commitment to partner with Zambia" to end the outbreak when he spoke to Zambian Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, according to the Treasury Department.

Zambia, one of Africa's largest copper producers, also defaulted on its debts three years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its restructuring efforts have been beset by delays.

Shambaugh "welcomed Zambia's performance to date under its Internation Monetary Fund program and encouraged continued progress on the remaining economic reforms," the Treasury Department said.

In a major setback for Zambia, its official creditors, which include China and members of the Paris Club of creditor nations, rejected a preliminary restructuring deal in November.

The IMF's board in December approved an immediate $187 million loan payout to Zambia and said the country was revising a restructuring proposal for $3 billion of bonds that official creditors had rejected in November.

"They discussed Zambia's ongoing debt restructuring under the Common Framework and efforts to finalize negotiations with all remaining creditors," the Treasury Department said in a statement Wednesday.

Debtor countries are meant to agree to comparable restructuring deals with official and commercial creditors under the G20's Common Framework process, which was established in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zambia said earlier this month that it aimed to agree on key conditions for debt relief no later than the first quarter of 2024.
The White House sees national security concerns in a recent agreement giving Ethiopia leasing rights to the Red Sea coastline in Somalia's breakaway Somaliland region, administration officials said Tuesday. But experts questioned Washington's commitment and ability to quell tensions in the volatile region.

The two parties inked the deal on January 1. At the time, Ethiopian government spokesman Redwan Hussien said the deal also "paves the way for accessing a leased military base on [the] Red Sea."

John Kirby, director of strategic communications for the National Security Council, told VOA that Washington was working with partners in the region  including the African Union and the eight-member Intergovernmental Authority on Development trade bloc  to push against the nonbinding memorandum of understanding, which Somalia's government, headquartered in Mogadishu, sees as illegitimate.

"We're certainly troubled," Kirby said, adding: "As we've said many, many times, we support Somalia's sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and it's got to be respected."

Situation could embolden militants, says official

Somaliland, the fragile nation's breakaway province, has long claimed autonomy and governs from the city of Hargeisa. It has sought recognition since 1991, but the African Union's official policy opposes changes to colonially drawn borders.

The situation poses a national security concern, Kirby said, in that it could embolden Islamist al-Shabab militants that have long been the main antagonist in Somalia's brutal civil war.

"What we're particularly concerned about is this [Memorandum of Understanding] inked recently between Ethiopia and Somaliland threatens to disrupt the fight that Somalis, Africans and regional international partners, including us, are waging against Al-Shabab," he said. "Al-Shabab remains a viable terrorist threat in the region, without question. We don't believe that the region can afford any more conflict."

"It's a dangerous path," Somalia's former foreign minister and former ambassador to the U.S., Ahmed Isse Awad, told VOA. "The sister nations have gone to war twice in the last 50 years.

"We thought we recovered from that conflict and bad history," he added, speaking to VOA from the northeastern city of Garowe. "And as of late, we were working towards a great Horn of Africa cooperation and openness to each other. But now, this misguided step by Ethiopia endangers all of that and takes us back to the days of conflict and violent confrontation. It risks the whole region and the security of the region."

And, he said, while the U.S., "had a respected voice in the international arena," its staunch support of Israel has changed that.

"They don't have the same leverage, I feel, because of the way America is conducting its foreign policy," he said. "It's losing some of its moral voice."

Ethiopia seeks to be naval power

Analysts say it's logical that landlocked Ethiopia would seek sea access to serve the needs of its rapidly growing population.

"The Bab al-Mandab Strait is becoming an increasingly contested chokepoint," said Michael Walsh, a senior fellow in the Africa program at the U.S.-based Foreign Policy Research Institute. Addis Ababa, he said, clearly wants to safeguard Ethiopia's supply chains by avoiding reliance on ports in the tiny coastal nation of Djibouti, which is affected by conflict in Yemen.

And, he said, "the Abiy Ahmed administration has a desire to reestablish Ethiopia as a naval power. It recognizes that there is a regional naval power vacuum. This would provide a way to not only quickly project near-shore military power and influence across the region. It would provide a long-term pathway to becoming a regional naval hegemon."

Cameron Hudson, who researches Africa at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that may be more than Ethiopia can handle.

"[Ethiopia] doesn't have, I think, a full understanding of the degree that it will also be responsible for its own security and the general security, contributing to the general security, of the Red Sea," he said. "So, it comes with a great responsibility that I'm not quite sure Ethiopia has fully thought through or appreciates."

He also questioned whether Washington's actions show it "isn't something that Washington has taken particularly seriously."

"Washington has done virtually nothing to try to put the pieces back together in the Horn of Africa," said Hudson.

"In my mind, Washington views the stakes in the Horn of Africa probably as too low and as not rising to the level of national security interest, where we would take meaningful high-level external action to avoid a worst-case scenario," he said. "I think the quintessential example of this is we actually have a special envoy for the Horn of Africa, who has not been to the region in over a month."
A Salvadoran woman has been freed from prison after serving eight years over the death of her newborn in hospital, under harsh laws that a women's group said Wednesday had led to the "criminalization of childbirth."

The woman, who gave her name only as Lilian, spoke to the media Wednesday for the first time since her release in December from a 30-year jail term.

"The satisfaction is very great because despite going through a very long process, my innocence could be proved," the 28-year-old told AFP.

In 2015, Lilian gave birth in a public hospital in western El Salvador, but her baby girl suffered complications, was placed inside an incubator and died 72 hours later, her lawyer Abigail Cortez told AFP.

She was prosecuted for "aggravated homicide" after being accused of "abandonment and neglect," arguing she had failed to sufficiently take care of the fetus while pregnant.

In 2023, a court reviewed the sentence and ordered her release.

According to the Citizens Group for the Decriminalization of Abortion in El Salvador, Lilian was the last of 73 women who had been put behind bars after being convicted of "aggravated homicide" for abortions, miscarriages or other obstetric emergencies.

"We are very happy to close a cycle," the group's coordinator Mariana Moisa said, referring to a campaign that started in 2014 to mobilize international support for the women's release.

However, she said there were still about 20 cases being tried.

Salvador's penal code punishes abortion under any circumstances with a sentence of two to eight years in prison.

However, prosecutors and judges often classify cases of abortion or even miscarriages as "aggravated homicide," a crime punishable by 30 to 50 years in prison.

The harshness of the country's abortion law has come under the spotlight in recent years with cases presented in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

The court is currently examining the case of Beatriz, a 22-year-old woman suffering from the autoimmune disease lupus, who was 11-weeks pregnant with a fetus that had not developed a brain.

Forcing a woman to carry such a fetus to term poses severe risks to her life.

The Supreme Court denied her an abortion, however after the intervention of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, she was allowed to undergo a caesarean section at seven months pregnant and the baby died shortly thereafter.

Beatriz died in a traffic accident in 2017, but the court is being asked to rule on whether El Salvador violated her rights to life, health, and protection from inhumane treatment.

cmm/mis/fb/bgs
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. Navy SEALs were missing in a recent operation by the U.S. military near the coast of Somalia to seize what it said were Iranian weapon components being supplied to the Houthi militant group in Yemen, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday.

The two Navy SEALs were part of the CENTCOM Navy forces' nighttime operation on Jan. 11 to seize "a dhow conducting illegal transport of advanced lethal aid from Iran to resupply Houthi forces in Yemen as part of the Houthis' ongoing campaign of attacks against international merchant shipping," the command said in a press release.

Those seized were "Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components," the release said, adding that "initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea."

CENTCOM Commander Michael Kurilla said an exhaustive search was underway to find the two missing Navy SEALs.

The dhow was deemed unsafe and sunk by the U.S. Navy forces, the release said. "Disposition of the 14 dhow crewmembers is being determined in accordance with international law," it added. 
Donald Trump went straight from his victory in the Republican Iowa caucuses to a New York courtroom Tuesday for the start of a defamation trial brought by writer E. Jean Carroll after an earlier jury found he had sexually assaulted her in the 1990s.

In court, the former US president did not make any statements, and he and Carroll avoided looking at each other while jurors were being selected, according to reporters allowed inside the courtroom.

But Trump continued attacking Carroll on his Truth Social platform, reposting a clip from an interview she gave to CNN and writing, "Can you believe I have to defend myself against this woman's fake story?!"

Addressing supporters at a rally in New Hampshire later in the day, Trump said he planned to attend daily court proceedings in the "phony" case in New York over the next several days, while continuing campaigning.

"Early in the morning I go to a Biden witch hunt," Trump said in the northeastern state, which will hold the nation's second presidential nomination contest next Tuesday. "And then I come here in the afternoon, and I stop, we make speeches and we get the votes."

The shocking defamation case, which would likely once have been enough to wreck any politician's career, has had no visible impact on Trump's bid to retake the White House -- and if anything is boosting his standing with his party's right wing.

Carroll, 80, is seeking more than $10 million in damages in the civil trial, alleging that Trump defamed her in 2019 when he was president and she had just come out with her allegation, saying she "is not my type."

This is separate to a civil case last year where another New York jury found Trump liable for sexually assaulting Carroll in a department store dressing room in 1996 and subsequently defaming her in 2022, when he called her a "complete con job."

In that case, the jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages.

This is only one of many trials swirling over Trump's head. He has been indicted in four criminal cases and faces 91 counts on allegations including his attempts to undermine the 2020 election which he lost to Joe Biden, taking stacks of top secret documents, and business fraud.

Trump has embraced his legal problems as evidence of a conspiracy theory in which a nebulous "deep state" is out to stop him from returning to power.

- 'Rape' finding -

Despite the constant scandal, his fervent base of supporters proved its strength on Monday with an overwhelming victory in the Iowa caucuses to choose the Republican candidate who will face Biden on Election Day in November.

Trump has used previous trial appearances to seize the limelight and deliver invective-filled speeches -- both outside courthouses and, when allowed to speak by the judge, on the witness stand. He has also used social media posts to issue crude insults against court personnel.

The judge in Tuesday's trial, Lewis Kaplan, has issued strict instructions to curtail Trump.

Carroll says that in 1996, Trump assaulted her against the wall of a Manhattan department store dressing room -- and the previous civil jury agreed.

Kaplan stated unambiguously that Trump had "sexually abused -- indeed, raped -- Ms. Carroll" and that the Republican cannot now claim otherwise in court.

Carroll's lawyers last week urged Kaplan to prevent Trump from making "inadmissible, prejudicial" comments in court.

Last week, the former president continued to insist that he had "no idea" who Carroll was, calling her "a wack job" and saying the trial was "rigged."

bur-sms/sst/md/nro
Not to be dramatic or anything, but cruises are actual hell on earth. Like, Cruise People, what are you doing with your lives? Paying money to have someone send you off to the middle of the ocean  its own separate hellscape of unknown mysteries  on an unnaturally large boat with thousands of strangers where you are forced to play bingo and manhandle food from shared buffets and listen to the same playlist of music over and over and over again no matter what club you go to that night? All while you are just floating out in the middle of the sea? I was almost stuck on a cruise ship once because of bad weather, and when I tell you I contemplated hurling myself into the ocean because that would be the better option, I mean it. Honestly, the only thing that could make cruises worse than they already are is murder. Speaking of, welcome to the S.S. Varuna! The luxury ocean liner well be spending time on for the next ten episodes of Death and Other Details and where the unwitting (or, perhaps, quite witting) passengers will be holed up for ten days while TVs latest murder mystery plays out. People will die! Red herrings will infuriate us! And we will get to watch Mandy Patinkin play the gruff-but-kindly bearded detective he was always meant to play. Sounds like it could be a fun, albeit deadly, time, right? Regardless, I hope youve packed your sea legs, people, because we are off.

The first two episodes of Death and Other Details are stuffed with so much information and so many characters they could sink the Varuna before it even sets sail on the Mediterranean. Im keeping my fingers crossed that more people get killed off just so I dont have to keep track of them anymore. Sorry if thats callous, but thats cruise life, baby. Were talking big exposition dumps by way of maitre d Teddys staff meeting and an entire episode that is basically a string of interrogations of characters revealing important details that might come in handy later. All of that info plus time-jumps all over the place and your head may be spinning already, but lets start with the basics, shall we?

All of our soon-to-be murder suspects and victims have gathered on this gorgeous ship (no, seriously, the sets may be reason enough to watch this show) for the retirement send-off of one very powerful and rich man, Lawrence Collier of the Collier Mills textile empire. Lawrence and his wife, Katherine, have chartered the boat and filled it with guests to celebrate and, as many suspect, to announce that his daughter, Anna, will be taking over as the new Collier Mills CEO. But as we come to learn, theres another reason for this ten-day vacation: The Colliers are using it to close a $3 billion-dollar deal with the Chun family, who own a fast-fashion empire, a deal the Colliers desperately need since, surprise  the company is bankrupt. The Chuns are all onboard (the ship, not the deal  at least not yet), including matriarch Celia and her granddaughter Eleanor, who, as it turns out, had a torrid affair with Anna in business school. The lingering feelings these two women obviously have for each other may make things awkward since Annas wife, the wildly paranoid retired clickbait journalist Leila, is also on the boat. Its all very complicated!

Some other VIPs you should know about: the eldest Collier sibling, Tripp, whom Teddy perfectly sums up when she says that while he has failed at almost everything, what he has succeeded at is cocaine; the governor of Washington and former assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra, who is into B-12 infusions, partaking in lavish vacations paid for by a big-time donor, and, if you can believe it, Tripp Collier; the Collier family lawyer, Llewellyn, who seems to be a necessary annoyance; Father Toby Briggs, a priest and political kingmaker who has brought his TikTok-star son, Derrick, along; and Keith Trubitsky, a boorish would-be investor in one of Tripps latest schemes. Thats a whole lot of people to keep track of, and that doesnt even include the staff. Thats right, friends! On top of this rival-family-business-tension setup, theres a whole upstairs-downstairs element to the proceedings, which very much includes handsome boat owner (yeah, he doesnt like that terminology either) Sunil, also handsome but very mysterious head of security Jules, and terrible waitress Winnie, who happens to be Teddys sister (actually, most of the staff is related to Teddy). Do we need all of these characters? Whos to say? Do you see why I said that thing about needing to kill a few off? I bet you do. So can we start killing a few off? Geez, well get to it! Now whos callous?

But first, we should get to the most important introduction of all: Ms. Imogene Scott. Our protagonist and Annas best friend was taken in by the Colliers when she was around 11 years old, after her mother, a secretary at Collier Mills and close friend of the family, was killed in a mysterious accident. She might be as good as family to the Colliers, but shes still stuck in an assistant position at the company and loves to engage in some petty theft. (For those clothes? Ill allow it!) Imogene would be thrilled to be on this vacation if not for one minor inconvenience: The man she hates most in this world is also here. That man would be one Mr. Rufus Cotesworth. He was at one time heralded as the worlds greatest detective but has taken a bit of a tumble from the top and is currently serving on the Chuns security team, gathering intel against the Colliers. This is a job he should be pretty good at since Cotesworth is very familiar with that family. When Imogenes mother died 18 years ago, the Colliers, at Imogenes insistence, hired Cotesworth to investigate her murder when no one else could solve it  and he failed spectacularly.

Death and Other Details  at least in these first two episodes  spends a lot of time toggling back and forth between whats happening on the boat in the present day and Imogenes and Rufuss memories of what happened 18 years ago. While the show is obviously a murder mystery all hyped up about clues and little details you should pay attention to, it is clearly also fixated on how memory works. Look no further than the opening credits, which, yes, play with illusion but also with the idea that memories arent to be trusted. Was that shoe you remember black or red? Was the car small or big? Was it actually white? All of this is to say that as we spend time in various peoples memories, it would probably serve us well to remember that memory is not always reliable. Were not dealing with completely reliable narrators here. And whether thats on purpose or done subconsciously, well, perhaps time will tell! At this point, though, we can deal only with whats presented to us.

Heres what we know about what happened to Imogene, her mother, and Rufus 18 years before the Varuna sets sail: The day her mother died, Imogene remembers, it was raining; clad in the scarf her mother gave her, she got into the passenger seat of her mothers car outside the Collier mansion, and her mother noticed Imogene had a little bar-cart figurine she must have stolen from the giant dollhouse inside. Imogene realized the toy had a secret compartment because it was a replica of the bar cart in the study, which also had a secret compartment. Her mother appreciated Imogenes cleverness but, regardless, told Imogene to return the cart. When she got out of the car and her mother turned on the engine, the car exploded right in front of little Imogene. Its tragic! The Colliers took Imogene in as their own and told Rufus he had every resource available to solve this case. Imogene knew who Rufus was. She read his books and immediately put her trust in him. Rufus took a liking to Imogene, too  he saw how smart she was and couldnt believe how quickly she broke the code in his messages. He desperately wanted to solve this case for her. We learn, though, that after three months, the only piece of evidence he could uncover was the name of the person who bought the explosive found in the car: Viktor Sams. According to Imogene, after that, the Colliers stopped funding Rufus and she never heard from him again. He abandoned her.

And then he shows up on this fucking boat. When Imogene overhears Rufus regaling people with stories of his great detective days, she can hardly stand it. And when he acts as if he doesnt have any recollection of who she is, well, she throws a very expensive glass at his head. But as much as Imogene says she hates him and wants nothing to do with him, we all spy that dog-eared copy of Rufuss book she keeps in her cabin, wrapped up in her mothers scarf.

This is not the only time Imogene lashes out in anger. The glass-to-the-head incident happens the first night of the cruise at the big welcome party (in which Lawrence does not announce Anna as his CEO, much to her dismay). The next day, when she watches Keith scream at Winnie after she accidentally spills a drink on his $50,000 watch, she declares that only assholes punch down and decides to ream him out in his cute lil poolside cabana. It doesnt bother Keith at all, but it does give Imogene the perfect opportunity to steal the key card to his room. That evening, around 2 a.m., after getting railed by hot security guard Jules for the second night in a row, Imogene sneaks into Keiths room while he sleeps, smashes that fancy watch with her heel, and then takes some cash for good measure. It would all be well and good  a little well-dressed Robin Hood action, if you will  except that housekeeping walks into Keiths room around 9 a.m. to find the guy dead: harpooned against the wall.

Imogene rightly freaks out. She knows that the security cameras in the hallway caught her coming out of Keiths room and that she will look insanely guilty. Thanks to the time she and Jules hooked up in the security office, she knows the key code to get inside and immediately heads there to delete the footage of her extracurricular nighttime activities. Unfortunately, she finds someone has already beaten her to the punch: Rufus Cotesworth.

Rufus, like Imogene, knows that if Interpol  which will be arriving in 24 hours  sees this footage, she will be the one and only suspect. And while she may waffle over whether she wants to get involved with Rufus again, he not only wants to help her but wants her help to investigate whats going on. If Imogene questions Rufuss intentions, she mostly trusts him once we get to the big reveal at the end of episode one: Keith was not at all who we were led to believe. The blowhard was actually a very nice man named Danny who, as it turns out, was Rufuss dear friend and assistant. They were on the Varuna to solve a case  and not just any case. They were there to finally figure out what happened to Imogenes mother. It was Danny who convinced Rufus to give it one last go, and he did it by reminding Rufus how much he wanted to deliver on his promise to Imogene. It turns out Rufus never really gave up on her.

The deal between the Colliers and the Chuns would have given Rufus and Danny the perfect opportunity to get a closer look at the Colliers books, which, they believed, would help them tie the Colliers to Viktor Sams (yep, they had a hunch Lawrence Collier knows about Sams). So what happened to Danny? Was he getting close enough to solving the case that someone put an end to him, or was his murder motivated by something else? As Keith, he certainly pissed a lot of people off: Tripp threatened him in broad daylight when his investment didnt come through, Winnie surely wasnt a fan, and we learn Sunil caught him trying to break into his office, which isnt the most welcome of activities, you know?

Once Imogene agrees to take on the role of Rufuss assistant, the two set about examining the crime scene and interrogating all the key suspects. We know that whoever killed Danny got into his room by hiding inside the bar cart, which means this person was already in the room when Imogene was there smashing watches. According to Winnie, the cart was ordered from Tripps room by a woman with an American accent. Rufus deduces that the woman must be Tripps hookup, Alexandra. The speargun used to kill Danny was already in his room thanks to a fishing trip he went on earlier in the day, though no one understands why he was allowed to bring it back in.

While Imogene and Rufus work on their case (or cases since they are now attempting to solve two murders), someone Im especially interested in, even though she hasnt yet come into play, is Annas wife, Leila. Everyone seems to dismiss her as psychotically paranoid. Apparently, her temperament changed not too long ago after a horrible car accident. Since then, she has been under the impression that someone is following her. She thinks every room shes in is bugged  she has to check for recording devices everywhere she goes  and has pretty much sequestered herself in her cabin out of fear. While most people, including Anna, attribute it all to a brain injury, Leila shouldnt be so easily dismissed. By the end of episode two, we learn she is in fact right about her room being surveilled  we get a quick shot of someone watching Leila and Anna in bed together. But Leila is also the only person who realized Keith was not who he said he was. She had two encounters with him: one in the dining room, where she catches him taking a picture of the Colliers, and another in a hallway, where she claims to have seen him following her not just on this boat but in Sydney and New York as well. Leilas instincts are very, very good. And Im sorry, but no one would willingly describe themselves as a writer of clickbait. Theres got to be much more to Leilas story.

Imogene and Rufuss investigation is beginning to make some headway, and Rufus is right when he says his interrogations, while providing some great intel, are more valuable after theyre over. The suspects  er, passengers  get rattled, and when people are rattled, they start to make mistakes. Its perfect timing, then, for Interpols best man to arrive onboard. Thats right, episode two ends with the introduction of a new character: Linda Emond with a wild Scandinavian accent as Agent Hilde Eriksen. She looks like she has no time for nonsense, so that should be a fun wrench to toss into the mix!

The Aforementioned Other Details

 The cruise isnt even halfway through its voyage and our little Imogene has found herself in the middle of a love triangle. Shes hooking up with Jules, yes, but shes also hard-core flirting with Sunil. A murder mystery and juggling hot mens feelings? Imogene is spreading herself thin, I fear!

 Everyone has a secret on this boat: Sunil has a second, extra-hidden safe in his office; Jules is in possession of several different passports; Katherine is signing documents with her husbands name; and Teddy and Llewellyn suspiciously exchange a briefcase. Trust no one, baby!

 Some information we glean from Rufuss interrogations: Llewellyn has strange bruises on his wrists that may or may not be linked to his apparent BDSM activities and may or may not have been done by whoever has him tied up in his own closet at episode twos end.

 Did everyone catch that other interesting interaction on the security cameras? I spied Katherine getting cozy with Father Toby in the chapel. How about you?

 Have Tripp and Alexandra been hooking up since before the cruise? And when Alexandra dumps him after the interrogations, will it really stick?

 Can we just note all the blue were seeing: the blue scarf Imogenes mother gave her before she died, her mothers blue car that blew up. And what in the hell is up with those bright-blue smoothies we always see Lawrence drinking?

 Truth be told, river cruises can get it. But my opinions on ocean cruises will stand the test of time.
ANKARA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Wednesday detained 32 suspects over their links to the failed coup attempt in 2016, according to the country's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

Yerlikaya said on the social media platform X that Turkish police conducted raids across 10 provinces in simultaneous operations dubbed "Pinch-4".

The suspects are allegedly connected to the Gulen movement, which the Turkish government accuses of orchestrating the coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

The government accuses the Gulen movement of infiltrating the state bureaucracy, committing fraud in exams to aid its members employed in the public sector and influencing admission interviews at military schools.

In Istanbul, authorities apprehended two landlords and four individuals subject to arrest warrants. The inquiry reportedly uncovered a practice of leasing residences using the identities of individuals aiding the group of suspects, who collectively occupied these homes to evade capture.

In separate operations in Ankara and Bursa provinces, four suspects were detained for allegedly participating in the group's military hospital structure. Additionally, five others were apprehended in Balikesir province after it was determined that they had bank accounts in Bank Asya, which the Turkish government accuses of being operated by the Gulen movement.

The Gulen movement is allegedly led by and named after Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who his followers regard as a spiritual leader. Ankara has accused the U.S.-based preacher of masterminding the attempted coup, in which at least 250 people were killed.

The Turkish government has launched a massive crackdown on suspects with links to the network in the aftermath of the coup attempt. 
Italy bakes 2.7 billion pizzas a year.

Pizza is the culinary symbol of Italy for 89 per cent of Italians, according to a poll commissioned by Italian agricultural lobby Coldiretti ahead of World Pizza Day on Wednesday.

In the survey conducted by Ipsos, Italians placed pizza just above pasta (88 per cent) as best representing Italian cuisine, with wine on 59 per cent and cappuccino on 51 per cent.

Hailing pizza as a "Made in Italy treasure", Coldiretti stressed the role of pizza in Italian society, particularly among families, noting that around a third of Italians regularly make Margherita pizza at home.

According to legend, the Margherita was invented in June 1889 in honour of Queen Margherita of Savoy when Neapolitan pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito created a pizza topped with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, to represent the colours of the Italian flag.

With an estimated annual turnover of 15 billion, pizza is big business in Italy where 2.7 billion pizzas are baked every year - according to Coldirettti - requiring 200 million kg of flour, 225 million kg of mozzarella, 30 million kg of olive oil and 260 million kg of tomato sauce.

World Pizza Day, known in Italy as Giornata Mondiale della Pizza, is held on the feast day of Anthony Abbot - or S. Antonio Abate - the patron saint of pizzaioli as well as the protector of animals.
A Perth man who carried out a sustained, unprovoked knife attack on a fellow backpacker in a hostel kitchen has been found not guilty of attempted murder due to being of unsound mind.

Liaqat Ali Zahidi, 30, attacked his victim, who cannot be identified, with a butchers knife, stabbing him multiple times in the torso, chest, buttocks and neck during a frenzied 30-second attack.

Liaqat Ali Zahidi makes a cup of tea moments before the attack on the man behind him. Credit: Supreme Court of WA

Vision of the assault at Koala Backpackers in East Perth at around 11pm on September 8, 2021 showed Zahidi making a cup of tea as the victim stood behind him facing an island bench, holding a mug and chatting to another backpacker.

Zahidi then grabbed a knife from a nearby block before lunging at his victim and stabbing him in the torso. The victim tried to flee around the island bench as Zahidi chased him, grabbing him so he could not escape and repeatedly plunging the knife into his body.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has used a visit to Israel to tell the Netanyahu government that Australians have strong concerns about the high numbers of civilian deaths in Gaza, urging Israel to take steps towards a ceasefire.

As well as meetings with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, Wong held an emotional hour-long encounter with the families of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.

Wong was immediately ushered to high-level meetings after arriving in Israel from Jordan, where she met the Jordanian foreign minister and announced a $22 million boost in Australian aid for Palestinians affected by the conflict.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong leaving Adelaide on Monday for her trip to the Middle East. Credit: AAP

In her meetings with Katz and Herzog, Wong condemned Hamas for the October 7 attacks, when the terrorists were estimated to have killed 1200 people, and called for the release of all hostages remaining in Gaza.
There was a hard reality behind the smiles when Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian and more than a dozen officials opened the doors of their embassy on Wednesday to take questions from journalists for more than 90 minutes.

Xiao had a more conciliatory message than his provocative speech to the National Press Club in August 2022, when he amplified Chinese warnings that it would use force if necessary to take control of Taiwan.

Chinas ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian. Credit: Mick Tsikas

We look at Australia as our partner, he said. We are friends, not foes. We are partners, not rivals.

The softer tone was welcome and reflected the improvement in Australias relationship with China over the past year, but it could not hide the gulf between the two countries on regional security.
People expressing their views peacefully should not feel like their jobs are on the line, says Minister for Industry Ed Husic, after ABC broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf was sacked following a high-level, co-ordinated letter-writing campaign from pro-Israel lobbyists.

Speaking in Canberra on Wednesday, Husic said he would not comment directly on Lattoufs case as it was subject to legal action, but added that there was always room for opinion.

Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic says people should not feel their jobs are on the line for expressing a peaceful view. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

One of the things we value about a democracy is the ability for us to express our opinion  there is always room for opinion in the public square [however] there is no room for hate speech, no room to create that division, he said.

This debate is important, I think that speaks as much to parliamentarians as it does in the broader public and people shouldnt feel like if they express their views in some way, shape or form  if its been peaceful and if it conforms to what we think is acceptable in a democratic country, they shouldnt feel like their jobs are on the line.
ABUJA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and scores of others injured in an explosion in a residential area in Nigeria's southwestern state of Oyo, the state governor said early Wednesday.

"So far, a total of 77 injured people have been rescued and sent to the hospital for treatment after the explosion at a private residence in Bodija, a district in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo," said Seyi Makinde after an on-the-spot assessment of the incident late Tuesday.

"Preliminary investigations by security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there, causing the blast," Makinde said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday.

According to local media reports, several buildings collapsed due to the effect of the blast.

Emergency workers have continued to search and rescue victims of the incident, Makinde said, adding that most of the people sent to hospitals had been treated and discharged. "Earth-moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident ... Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured."

The government would cover the medical bills of the victims, he said, and he promised to ensure that all those whose houses were affected would receive support to rebuild their lives. 
While the trial concerns what Trump must pay for his comments in the immediate aftermath of Carrolls revelations, Crowley noted that his rhetoric about the writer hasnt stopped. Trump maintains he never abused Carroll and says her allegations are a partisan smear. From court, Trump fired off a series of social media posts about the case. He wrote on his Truth Social platform that Carrolls rape allegation was an attempted EXTORTION involving fabricated lies and political shenanigans and he accused the judge of having absolute hatred for him. Crowley told jurors their job was to answer the question about Trump: How much money will it take to make him to stop? Trump lawyer Alina Habba said he was merely defending himself and said evidence would show that Carrolls career has prospered since accusing him. Carroll has been thrust back into the limelight like she always has wanted, Habba said in her opening argument. Trump did not attend the previous trial in the case last May, when a jury found he had sexually abused Carroll and awarded her $US5 million ($7.6 million) in damages. In light of that verdict, Kaplan told prospective jurors this trial would focus only on how much money, if any, Trump must pay Carroll for comments he made about her while president in 2019.

For purposes of the new trial, it had already been determined that Trump did sexually assault Ms Carroll, Kaplan said, prompting Trump to shake his head from side to side. Habba told the judge that Trump planned to testify. Kaplan said the only accommodation he would make is that Trump could testify on Monday, even if the trial was otherwise finished by Thursday. The judge previously rejected Trumps request to delay the trial by a week, so he could attend his mother-in-laws funeral. Trump advisor Boris Epshteyn, foreground left, leans over Donald Trump to confer with him and lead defence attorney Alina Habba, right, prior to jury selection in Federal Court, in New York. Credit: AP I am not stopping him from being there, the judge said, referring to the funeral. Habba responded: No, youre stopping him from being here.

Loading He twisted around in his chair and nodded at two prospective jurors  a man and woman  who stood when asked if they agreed with his false belief that the 2020 election was rigged, and again when three people in the pool indicated they felt the former president was being treated unfairly by the court system. The process offered a window into the political beliefs of a microcosm of New Yorkers, drawn from a pool that includes Manhattan and northern suburban counties. Some noted personal connections to Trump or his adversaries. One woman said she had done publicity for his daughters company. Another said her father provided moving services for some of Trumps buildings. Neither made the cut. Former president Donald Trumps motorcade leaves Manhattan federal court in New York. Credit: AP Jurors selected for the trial will remain anonymous, even to the parties, lawyers and judicial staff, and will be driven to and from the courthouse from an undisclosed location for their safety, Kaplan said.

Trump has increasingly made his courtroom travails  including four criminal cases  part of his run to retake the White House, positioning himself as a victim of partisan lawyers, judges and prosecutors and capitalising on news coverage that accompanies his court visits. Last week, Trump attended closing arguments in the New York Attorney-Generals fraud lawsuit against him  and ended up giving a six-minute diatribe after his lawyers spoke. I guess youd consider it part of the campaign, Trump told reporters last week. Carroll, 80, plans to testify about the damage to her career and reputation that resulted from Trumps public statements. She seeks $US10 million in compensatory damages and millions more in punitive damages.

If Trump testifies, he will be under strict limits on what he can say. Because of the prior verdict, Kaplan has said, Trump cannot get on the witness stand and argue that he didnt sexually abuse or defame Carroll. In this courtroom sketch, E. Jean Carroll (right) turns around towards former president Donald Trump. Credit: AP Last May, a different jury awarded Carroll $US5 million after concluding that Trump sexually abused her in a department store dressing room in spring 1996, then defamed her in 2022 by claiming she made it up after she revealed it publicly in a 2019 memoir. The jury said Carroll hadnt proven that Trump raped her. Trump is appealing and hasnt paid any of that award, though he placed $US5.55 million in escrow to cover the verdict and other costs in the event he loses his appeal. One issue that wasnt decided in the first trial was how much Trump owed for comments he made about Carroll while president. That will be the new jurys only job. Even before prospective jurors were brought into court on Tuesday, Trump lawyer Michael Madaio complained that the judge had made inconsistent and unfair rulings against Trump prior to the start of the trial. He said the rulings drastically changed our ability to defend this case and largely stripped us of our defences.
An American woman who pleaded guilty to helping kill her own mother and stuffing the body in a suitcase during a luxury holiday in Bali has been sentenced to 26 years in prison.

US Judge Matthew Kennelly gave Heather Mack credit for the approximately two years she spent in custody in Chicago awaiting trial since her return in 2021. Macks lawyer Michael Leonard said her formal sentence would be about 23 years long.

Heather Mack inside a cell before her trial in Bali, Indonesia, in 2015. Credit: AP

Federal prisoners in the US also get credit for good behaviour, roughly 50 days for each year. Prosecutors had recommended a 28-year prison sentence for Mack for conspiring with her boyfriend to kill Sheila von Wiese-Mack in 2014.

The government also wanted the 28-year-old Mack to get five years of supervised release, a $US250,000 ($380,000) fine and restitution of $US262,708. In a filing last week, prosecutors said the recommended sentence was warranted and sufficient, but not greater than necessary to serve a just and appropriate punishment for Macks heinous crime.
TOKYO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the powerful earthquake which struck central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa rose to 232 on Wednesday, according to local authorities.

According to the prefectural government, the updated figure came as of 9 a.m. local time, with an additional 10 casualties reported by the city of Wajima, one of the most-hit regions by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

Local authorities said these fatalities were discovered in the vicinity of the Wajima Morning Market, a popular tourist spot that suffered extensive damage in the earthquake-triggered fires immediately following the seismic event.

Since last week, the Wajima Morning Market has been the focus of large-scale search and rescue operations.

The number of individuals unaccounted for has decreased by one, leaving Wajima city with 17 missing persons and Suzu city with four, totaling 21 people.

According to local media reports, the damage to residences has reached a staggering 22,374 confirmed cases, and there is a high likelihood that the number of affected buildings will significantly increase as further assessments are conducted.

In cities of Wajima and Suzu, the extent of the damage is still described as "numerous," with the actual situation remaining unclear, reported national news agency Kyodo. 
LA PAZ, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and 29 injured Tuesday after a passenger bus collided with a cargo truck on a highway connecting the west Bolivian departments of La Paz and Oruro, police said.

Many of the injured were taken to various hospitals in the cities of Patacamaya and El Alto, Rural and Border Police Chief Miguel Hidalgo told reporters.

"The drivers and several passengers are seriously injured, we are waiting for the medical report," said Hidalgo.

According to preliminary reports, both vehicles were traveling in the same lane when they violently collided "as a result of the recklessness of one of the drivers" near Patacamaya, in the La Paz Department.

Patacamaya residents were quickly mobilized to help the survivors who scrambled out of the bus windows. The fatal victims were trapped by the twisted iron interior of the vehicle. 
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with the Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies President Alfredo Pacheco via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with the Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies President Alfredo Pacheco via video link on Wednesday.

Hailing the sound momentum of bilateral relations and productive cooperation over the past few years of diplomatic ties, Han said China appreciates the Dominican Republic's adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to consolidate political trust, expand practical cooperation and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

China attaches great importance to the Dominican Republic's unique role in regional affairs and will strengthen communication with the Dominican Republic within frameworks including the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum and the Central American Parliament to advance China-Latin America ties, Han said.

The Dominican Republic firmly abides by the one-China principle, and China plays an important role in the multipolar world, Pacheco said, adding that the Chamber of Deputies is willing to make efforts to enhance the friendship between the two peoples. 

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with the Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies President Alfredo Pacheco via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
A Ballaghaderreen member of the welcoming committee for asylum seekers has called on the Government to provide more facilities for rural Ireland and stressed people fleeing war should be welcomed.

Saj Hussain, who moved to Ireland in 2002 from Pakistan and has been a highly active member of the Ballaghaderreen community for 20 years and chairman of the Tidy Towns Committee.

The father of five is the coordinator of the welcoming committee at the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre (EROC) and he has helped hundreds of Syrian refugees to settle into life in the border town.

Saj said the Government has not communicated effectively but he questions where humanity is gone when child asylum seekers are impacted by scuffles between Gardai and protestors like the one in Roscrea.

"I know the Government is not handling things properly," he said. "There should be open information and when there is a vacuum there and no proper information there is problems."

The Independent candidate for the Roscommon local elections said asylum seekers should be welcomed in Mayo, where more than 6,000 are currently being accommodated, county Roscommon and across the west.

Elected members of Mayo County Council unanimously passed a motion on Monday calling on local authority staff to immediately cease co-operation with the Department of Integration in relation to housing refugees and asylum seekers.

"The focus should not be on the refugees, and they should be welcomed with open arms after fleeing trouble and trauma, it's as simple as that," Saj added.

*The full story can be read in next week's Western People
A man has been charged with causing criminal damage to a GP's surgery.

Rhys Brett, of 8 Church Road, Drom Ard, Belmullet appeared before the local district court last Wednesday where he was charged with seven counts of criminal damage on August 17, 2023, at Church Rd, Belmullet.

Gda Insp Dermot Butler told the court that the prosecution will allege that the defendant drew male genitalia on a window of An Builin Blasta cafe, in a nearby playground, and on the surgery of Dr Keith Swanick. Swastikas were also drawn on Dr Swanicks surgery, while graffiti was inscribed on several road signs on Church Rd.

Gda Ian Kelly said he arrested Brett at Father Mulhern Crescent, Belmullet on January 4th last and later charged him. After the first charge, the defendant replied: I am very sorry, I will not do it again. He reiterated his apology when other charges were read to him.

Defending solicitor Michael Bohan sought and was granted the relevant witness statements.

Judge Fiona Lydon remanded Brett on continuing bail to May 8, 2024.
Elected members of Mayo County Council have tabled a motion requesting that the local authority withdraw all co-operation from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth until "a clear strategy for the housing of refugees" is put in place.

Around 50 people gathered at the offices of the council on Monday to show their concerns over plans to convert property on a country estate in Castlemacgarrett, Claremorris into modular homes for Ukrainian refugees.

In a sign of cross-party support, the proposal was tabled by Independent Cllr Michael Kilcoyne and seconded by Fianna Fail Cllr Damian Ryan with amendments proposed by Fine Gael Cllr Peter Flynn also accepted. Cllr Kilcoyne called for all co-operation to cease immediately between council staff and the Department until such time as an improved strategy is put in place to properly co-ordinate the provision of additional services for the communities hosting refugees. He said the strategy should also reflect equality in numbers across all counties and constituencies.

This position arises out of the concerns of the people out there, said Cllr Kilcoyne.

As a county, we have played our part famously well and its the absence of a strategy that has created a problem nationwide, added Cllr Ryan.

Cllr Flynn lashed out at "cowboys" and "faceless speculators" who have been profiting from the humanitarian crisis and "simply looking at refugees as commodities". He proposed that the legislation stipulating that no planning permission be required for refugee accommodation should be dispensed with.

The motion is to be sent to the Department, Government TDs and other local authorities.

Over 200 people attended the meeting where concerns were flagged over the impact on GP services, local schools and public transport in the Crossboyne area. A public meeting was held in the village on Saturday as concerns were raised about the proposal to build the homes on the Castlemacgarret estate, which has been mainly disused since 2006.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth confirmed it has received a proposal for a modular accommodation development at Castlemacgarrett.

The Department said the proposal is among a number being considered and this process is ongoing. The developments are exempt from regular planning rules.

There was previously opposition to a modular housing development in Claremorris town. The 28 units were delivered last year and are occupied by Ukrainian families.

It was recently revealed that Mayo is accommodating 2,916 Ukrainian refugees in short-term accommodation and more than 1,200 international protection applicants from other countries. However, it is believed the true figure is closer to 5,000.

An analysis of the Departments figures shows there appears to be a higher ratio of Ukrainian refugees housed in counties on the western seaboard. Mayo is second only to Donegal in terms of accommodating International Protection applicants.

The reality is that we cant take anymore. Its as simple as that, said Claremorris councillor Tom Connolly.

He hit out at Government policy and the Environment Minister Eamon Ryans recent comments on the refugee situation. Eamon Ryan is saying Ireland isnt full yet. He is trying to save the planet but you have to wonder what planet he is on! Cllr Connolly said communities and local councillors are being met with a wall of silence.

We are not consulted we are not told anything. Its all hush, hush, and then just landed on people. Cllr Connolly attended the meeting at Crossboyne at the weekend. He believes the community would be prepared to welcome Ukrainian families but not single males. However, Cllr Connolly is of the opinion that Castlemacgarrett is not a suitable home for any category of refugees.

Its just not suitable. It has been out of commission for 18 years, said Cllr Connolly.

He expressed concern about access roads to the property and the sewage system in place and stated that it is a listed building.

Cllr Connolly argued that the Claremorris area has not been found wanting when it comes to housing refugees.

We have taken our share. We have taken in over 300 in Claremorris, he remarked.

Fellow Claremorris councillor Richard Finn said the buildings listing as a protected structure should quash the proposal. He queried if Mayo County Council have been consulted on the mooted project.

Cllr Finn said he will stand with the community on the issue.

I understand the concerns of the people in the area. I will stand up for my own people and constituents and will support them no matter what. I am prepared to protest with the people, he stated.

Two local residents present at yesterdays meeting and who asked not be named, said the area is not equipped for an influx of refugees and expressed their frustration with the lack of communication.

There is no transparency, and nobody seems to know whats going on.

The department said the proposal is among a number being considered and this process is ongoing. The developments are exempt from regular planning rules.

There was previously opposition to a modular housing in Claremorris town. The 28 units were delivered last year and are occupied by Ukrainian families.

It was recently revealed that Mayo is accommodating 2,916 Ukrainian refugees and over 1,200 international protection applicants from other countries. However, the true figure is believed to be around 5,000. An analysis of the departments figures shows there appears to be a higher ratio of Ukrainian refugees in counties on the western seaboard. Mayo is second only to Donegal in terms of accommodating international protection applicants.

The reality is that we cant take anymore. Its as simple as that, Claremorris councillor Tom Connolly said.
By Lauren Gilmour, PA Scotland

Nicholas Rossi has made his first appearance in court in the US following his extradition from Scotland, maintaining he is Irish orphan Arthur Knight.

Rossi appeared by video link at the Third District Court in Utah from Utah County Jail, wearing a blue jumpsuit and using an oxygen mask.

The Associated Press news agency reported he is charged with the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Orem, Utah, in 2008.

It said Rossi was not identified as a suspect until about a decade later due to a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah state crime lab.

US authorities believe Rossi faked his own death in February 2020, AP said. He had previously told media in his native Rhode Island he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had weeks to live.

Nicholas Rossi pictured during a court hearing in Edinburgh last year (Andrew Milligan/PA)

In a video of Tuesdays court proceedings shared by Fox News, Judge Kimberly Hornak asked him if he is Rossi, but he told her: No my lady. My name is Arthur Knight Brown. My date of birth is November 22, 1986.

Ms Hornak seemed to be unaware of Rossis background, and questioned if she had the correct person on the screen.

State attorney Tamara Basquez told Ms Hornak: Your honour, this individual has been extradited and he has not admitted his name or birth date accurately.

Rossi accused Ms Basquez of hearsay and he became unintelligible before Ms Hornak cut him off.

He said: Objection my lady, that is complete hearsay. I would ask that your ladyship and prosecution show cause but he was cut off by the judge.

He attempted to keep speaking, claiming he has legal representation and they were not notified of the hearing.

But Ms Hornak told him: Mr Rossi, we are done.

Rossi came to the attention of authorities when he was identified in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in December 2021 while being treated for Covid-19, while using the name Arthur Knight.

Rossi was first identified while being treated for Covid at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in December 2021 (Andrew Milligan/PA)

He was subsequently arrested after being identified by his distinctive tattoos.

Months of court proceedings in Edinburgh followed but in November 2022, Sheriff Norman McFadyen determined the man claiming to be Arthur Knight was indeed Rossi  who US authorities wanted to extradite.

An extradition hearing took place in June 2023, with Sheriff McFadyen ruling there was no barrier to Rossis extradition.

During his court appearances, Rossi would appear in a wheelchair and sometimes with an oxygen mask.

In the latter stages of the extradition hearings, he donned what he claimed was the Jewish religious dress of a yarmulke and bekishe and said he had converted to the religion while he was detained at HMP Edinburgh.

Sheriff McFadyen described him as dishonest and deceitful as he is evasive and manipulative.

An extradition warrant was signed in September 2023 and Rossi was finally extradited earlier this month.

He will appear at court in Utah again on January 26th.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 and delivers a special address to the event in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

China remains firmly committed to opening up. We will continue to create favorable conditions for the world to share in China's opportunities, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday delivered a special address here at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024.

The following are some of the highlights of his remarks:





ON REBUILDING TRUST

-- Rebuilding trust is essential. Whether it is to overcome current difficulties, or to create a better future, it is essential that we discard prejudice, bridge differences and work as one to tackle the trust deficit.

-- Where does trust come from? In my view, it comes, first and foremost, from our shared aspiration for a better future for humanity and from our common will to work together for that vision.

-- The overall direction of human development and progress will not change, the overall dynamics of world history moving forward amid twists and turns will not change, and the overall trend toward a shared future for the international community will not change.

-- After all the shifts and changes over the years, we should all the more cherish communication and exchange, all the more cherish solidarity and cooperation, all the more cherish openness and sharing, and all the more cherish peace and stability.

-- The best way to earn trust is to be a better version of oneself. Only when all sides treat each other with sincerity and work in the same direction can there be a stronger foundation of trust and more fruits of cooperation.





People walk past the logo of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

ON WORLD ECONOMY

-- In the face of global crises, fragmented and separate responses will only leave the world economy more fragile.

-- As we all know, industrial and supply chains in the economy are like the circulatory system of the human body. Any obstacles or disruptions can slow down or block the flow of lifeblood of the world economy, which not only compromises development efficiency but also triggers various economic risks and social problems.





ON SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION

-- Scientific and technological fruits should benefit humanity as a whole, instead of becoming a means to restrict or contain the development of other countries.

-- We should advance international exchanges and cooperation on science and technology with a more open mindset and more open measures, work together for an open, just and nondiscriminatory environment for the development of science and technology, and break the barriers impeding the flow of factors of innovation, so as to let innovation thrive.





ON CHINESE ECONOMY

-- How should one look at the Chinese economy? I believe it is similar to looking at the Alps, the undulating mountain range with magnificent peaks, from the small town of Davos.

-- My European friends told me that to fully appreciate the majestic beauty of the Alps, one has to zoom out and look from afar. It is the same with the Chinese economy. One has to broaden the vision and take a panoramic view to see the whole picture in an objective and comprehensive manner and truly grasp where it is now and where it is going.





This aerial photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows a photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Ertang Town of Weining Yi, Hui and Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Tao Liang)

ON CHINA'S OPENING-UP PLEDGE



-- China remains firmly committed to opening up. We will continue to create favorable conditions for the world to share in China's opportunities.

-- By opening up wider, we aim to share China's opportunities and develop together with all in the world. To business leaders here today, I want to say that over the years, multinational corporations have cultivated the Chinese market and, based on China's manufacturing prowess, expanded their global production, grown fast and had good rewards.

-- Choosing the Chinese market is not a risk, but an opportunity. We embrace investments from businesses of all countries with open arms, and will work tirelessly to foster a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment. We will steadily expand institutional opening up, continue to shorten the negative list for foreign investment, follow through on removing all restrictions on access for foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, and guarantee national treatment for foreign businesses.

-- All in all, no matter how the world changes, China will stay committed to the fundamental national policy of opening up and open its door still wider to the world.




Today

Partly sunny, breezy, and noticeably colder; gusty winds add a chill. A sprinkle or flurry possible, mainly north and west.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, windy, and cold. Brisk winds add a chill. There could be an early flurry, especially north and west.

Tomorrow

Partly sunny but brisk and chilly with wind chills near or below freezing for much of the day. A sprinkle or flurry possible, mainly north and west.
Promoters of a secretive Silicon Valley-backed ballot initiative to build a new city on farmland between Sacramento and San Francisco are releasing more details of their plan as they submit paperwork Wednesday to qualify for the November election.
READING, Pa.  Reading City Council heard a request Tuesday night from the College Manor board for capital funding for the College Manor Pool, 1624 Rockland St.

John Brown, president of the College Manor board, explained the nature of the funding request is because of financial difficulties the pool experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and for needed infrastructure repairs for the 65-year-old neighborhood pool.

Brown noted that Reading used to have four neighborhood pools and that College Manor is the last one remaining.

Patricia Wright, former treasurer for the pool, said COVID caused a major drop in memberships at a time when operating expenses, such as the cost of chlorine, were significantly increased.

"The second punch that hit us was the infrastructure with the wearing out of the pipes," Brown said. "So, we set about fixing it and dug up the whole back of the pool as best we could until the money essentially ran out."

Brown said one leak in the pipes still exists, which must be repaired.

Other capital improvements include repairs and upgrades to the ladies' room and a new diving board.

"We've spent tens of thousands of dollars chasing these leaks and doing other improvements, and we're close to the end," Brown said. "We're just almost there, and at that point, I think we will be in in good shape going forward."

Brown said the board has done its part with community outreach and fundraising events.

The total amount requested from the city is $65,318 to cover all repairs, capital improvements and existing debts stemming from the aging infrastructure.

Councilman Wesley Butler said he extends his support for the capital improvements, as the pool is in his district.

Brown said the pool currently has a membership of 127 families, with a one-time family membership fee of $250 and annual dues, which are currently $325.

Jamar Kelly, the city's finance director, said there would be two options if council decides to give the pool the money.

"There's either the unused ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding, or there is CIP (Capital Improvement Project) funding that could be reallocated," Kelly said. "Because the ask is over $50,000, it would make the threshold for a CIP fund."

City Managing Director William Heim said there is a great need for the pool.

"They're really no different than other organizations that we did help fund through ARPA, especially since they also had challenges through COVID," Heim said. "So, I'm sure that Jamar and I will see what we can do with council's approval."

Brown said he will be presenting details of the financials to city officials and will begin working with the administration.

Council will eventually have the final say through a vote to extend funding to the pool.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.  Bethlehem City Council voted Tuesday to appoint Stephanie J. Steward, an attorney with Goudsouzian and Associates, as the first female to serve as solicitor for the City Council.

"(Stephanie) Steward comes with a remarkable background in her municipal work," said board President Michael Colon before the vote.

"We're really honored and blessed to have her come on board with us as part of our team," said Councilmember Grace Crampsie Smith.

Steward fills the spot left open by Brian Panella, originally named council solicitor in 2022 to replace John Spirk Jr. His tenure was short, as he resigned effective Dec. 31, 2023, to become a judge. Panella was elected last Nov. 7 to the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas.

Councilmember Hillary Kwiatek pointed to Steward's research background in municipal affairs.

"I'm looking forward to tapping into that," Kwiatek said. "We need that keen research eye."

The position, Colon said, works at the city council's discretion.

Steward joins the ranks of only five other lawyers  all men  who have held the job since it was created in 1986. The council solicitor position arose from a debate in the 1980s over whether Mayor Paul Marcincin could serve a third consecutive term.

Walnut Street Garage

Bethlehem to hold meeting on Walnut Street Garage Bethlehem City Council will hold a meeting to discuss the Walnut Street Garage project at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29.

In other news, Colon announced a meeting to discuss the Walnut Street Garage project at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29, in Townhall.

Most recently, the Bethlehem Historic Architectural Review Board  an advisory body  rejected two Bethlehem Parking Authority proposals for a new garage on Jan. 3. Both plans are for garages that occupy a smaller footprint than the current deck but are higher. Both also would include retail and residential space.

Honoring Rev. Clennon

Board members took time Tuesday to provide remarks about Rt. Rev. C. Hopeton Clennon, whose death was announced last week. Clennon was installed at Central Moravian Church in 2013. Before that, he was chaplain of Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary.

"He had a way of him where he could say the perfect thingeverybody knew exactly what he meant," said Mayor J. William Reynolds.

"He looked at everybody as being important," he added.

A memorial service is scheduled for Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary of Central Moravian Church.

The service will also be livestreamed on Central's YouTube channel.

Mapping city infrastructure

Lastly, council voted to approve hiring Colliers Engineering & Design Inc. to allow for the mapping of the city water, sewer and stormwater systems. City workers will use the program to understand better and track the city's extensive infrastructure.

According to Edward Boscola, city director of water and sewer resources, the result is a "clean mapping of where our underground infrastructure is."

Boscola said the city still keeps paper records that need to be digitized.

The contract is for roughly $78,000 that was already allowed for in the city's budget.

"That sounds very important," said Kwiatek. "I'm glad to hear things are being brought into the 21st century."

The board also held a public hearing for the 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. The grant will provide up to $39,617 to improve computer hardware and software. Further action will be taken in early February.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Officials announced an arrest on Wednesday in a shooting that happened at Musikfest back in August of 2022. The shooting shut down the festival for the night.

"I can tell you it's been a lengthy investigation," Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said in a news conference Wednesday afternoon."The level of cooperation with many of the witnesses was less than optimal, I should say."

22-year-old Joshua Nathaniel Colon is charged with aggravated assault, a first-degree felony, as well as multiple other felonies and misdemeanors, including receiving stolen property and firearms not to be carried without a license.

Holihan says though bail was set at $20,000, the Bethlehem man won't be going anywhere.

"Originally from Bethlehem," Holihan said, "currently living in jail."

That's because Colon's already in state prison, sentenced on an unrelated charge, the DA says.

"As with any chaotic situation like that, the investigation took some time to unfold," Holihan said.

That chaos can be seen on one of 69 News' live cameras from Musikfest two summers ago. The video shows a packed crowd, quickly dispersing following a gunshot.

It was August 2022 just after 10:30 p.m. on the North side of Bethlehem, in Lehigh County. Bethlehem police responded to a gunshot fired at Main and West Lehigh Streets at Musikfest. It caused mass chaos in the large crowds.

Holihan says the victim was shot once in the stomach and sustained serious injuries. And though the man survived, Holihan wouldn't expand on his condition Wednesday.

"He did receive significant injuries," Holihan said. "Part of the charges include serious bodily injury."

Holihan says that Colon, arraigned on Wednesday, was part of one of two local groups that Holihan later called gangs.

"They're not gangs of any nationwide or even statewide name recognition, local groups," Holihan said. "The two groups were known to each other and were hostile to each other. And this was not a random act."

So far, the DA is not saying whether others will be implicated in the crime.

"We're not prepared to say at this point in time," he said.

Holihan also responded to the allegation officials would not refer to the incident as a "shooting" until a couple days after it happened.

"I wasn't part of the office at that time, it wasn't my decision to make and it's not my place to criticize those decisions today," he said. "I wasn't privy to all the facts and circumstances at that time."

And despite that shooting - as well as a bomb scare at last summer's Musikfest - officials say the event is incredibly safe.

"You're talking about a million people descending on the city of Bethlehem over 10 days," Holihan said. "And we're talking about one incident, one shooting that happened in 2022."

The DA says that the year of the shooting, 21 arrests were made at Musikfest. Most were alcohol-related and none were felony offenses, except of course the one that came a year and a half later.

Musikfest also provided the following statement from ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert:

We are grateful to the excellent coordination of all law enforcement agencies involved in responding to this incident. These agencies work tirelessly to keep Musikfest and other large events throughout the Lehigh Valley safe. As with any criminal incident, law enforcement is the lead agency and we defer to them for further comment.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.  Bethlehem City Council will hold a meeting to discuss the Walnut Street Garage project at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, council President Michael Colon said during Tuesday night's session.

Most recently, the Bethlehem Historic Architectural Review Board  an advisory body  rejected recommending two Bethlehem Parking Authority proposals for a new garage on Jan. 3. Both plans are for garages that occupy a smaller footprint than the current deck but are higher. Both also would include retail and residential space.

HARB makes recommendations, but City Council will make the final decision.

In the most recent submission to the city, the BPA says the new deck would have 590 spaces, about 180 fewer than the current garage.

The existing garage closed last week. It is 48 years old  about the same age as Easton's Pine Street Garage, which lasted 50 years.

On Tuesday, residents expressed dismay at the garage closing and plans to replace it.

"The Walnut Street Garage could still be saved," said Mary Jo Makoul.

Another resident said that plans for the garage "address affordable housing at the price of architectural preservation."

Other residents supported the idea of the garage and the potential for affordable housing it presents.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke to a packed room of seniors in Bethlehem Tuesday, surrounded by lawmakers.

"As your governor, I've traveled all across this great Commonwealth and I've heard firsthand from so many seniors who are facing real struggles right now," Shapiro said.

His big announcement?

The Property Tax-Rent Rebate program is increasing the maximum rebate from $650 to $1,000.

"You know that the Property Tax-Rent Rebate Program has been a lifeline for our seniors, especially seniors who are on a fixed income," Shapiro said.

In Northampton County alone, County Executive Lamont McClure says about 3700 seniors are going to benefit.

"With a senior citizen, generally speaking they have a residual mortgage, but their property taxes is what is killing them," McClure said.

It's not just the rebate that's increasing the income cap that decides whether a senior or person with disabilities qualifies is also increasing.

"So as your Social Security goes up, so too will that income cap, so you're not going to get priced out of the market again," Shapiro said.

Overall, the Shapiro administration estimates another 175,000 seniors will now qualify.

"I know you all have worked really hard throughout your lives and we want you to enjoy your golden years and I know for many, an extra $400 in your pocket will help make that much easier," Shapiro said.

Applicants are encouraged to use myPath - which is the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's online filing system - to apply for rebates on property taxes and rent paid during 2023.
BUSHKILL TWP., Pa. - A park in Northampton County will see some improvements thanks to state grant money.

A grant of $172,000 has been awarded to make upgrades to Bushkill Township Park, announced state Rep. Ann Flood (R-Northampton).

The money comes from Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA).

The park is located at 1114 Bushkill Center Road, across the street from the township building and police headquarters.
YANGON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-two factory workers were injured in a head-on collision between a car carrying factory workers and a trailer truck in Myanmar's Yangon, chairperson of the Kyal Sin Myittar rescue organization Daw Khin Aye Phyu told Xinhua on Wednesday.

The collision occurred at around 7 a.m. local time in Mingaladon Township of Yangon region when the truck swerved and hit the car driving on its way, she said.

A woman suffered a mild brain injury, and a man suffered a back injury, while others were in stable condition with minor injuries, she added. 
Northampton County will review a plan to rescind a tax break for Lou Pektor's River Pointe Logistics development on Thursday, reviving a debate from last year.



County Executive Lamont G. McClure asked Council Jan. 4 to drop the LERTA -- Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance. The break on property taxes at the 800-acre development in Upper Mount Bethel Township would decline and then disappear after 10 years. The goal of a LERTA is to promote development to build a tax base.



McClure said that based on the size of buildings proposed for the land along the Delaware River, some will be warehouses. The Executive has stated his policy, a "McClure Doctrine," many times: "No tax breaks for warehouses." Northampton County has enough of them, McClure has said, and many residents are not happy with increased truck traffic and pollution.



Pektor has contended for years that the land near Route 80, with access to northern New Jersey and New York City markets, is too valuable for just distribution. He said he is recruiting food processors and other manufacturers.



Last year, McClure and Pektor discussed a compromise, where the LERTA might apply to manufacturing sites but not warehouses. Council did not take up that idea.



Upper Mount Bethel and the Bangor Area School District have also granted LERTAs to the development. Pektor has said RPL will generate millions of dollars in taxes for the township, school district and county.



County Council extended the LERTA in 2023 for five years. McClure vetoed it, and council overrode the veto with six votes. Five of those votes -- President Lori Vargo Heffner, Vice President Ron Heckman, and Republicans John Brown, John Goffredo and Thomas Giovanni remain on council.



There are three new council members -- Democrats Ken Kraft, Kelly Keegan and Jeff Warren -- and one vacancy.



Rescinding the LERTA would require an ordinance. Five votes are needed to pass an ordinance. If the five pro-LERTA votes hold up, an ordinance to rescind it will not pass. Former Council President Kerry Myers, who is no longer on council, provided the sixth vote to override McClure's veto.



Passing an ordinance to get rid of the LERTA would require two votes by Council, one Thursday and one at the next meeting.



No matter what happens, RPL Project Manager Lisa Pektor -- Lou Pektor's daughter -- has said that the project will go ahead. The county tax break will help RPL bring in better companies, better jobs and more investment.



The LERTA was first passed in 2018 with no public opposition. It was renewed last year.



Also at Thursday's Council meeting, a ninth member may be chosen. Former member Tara Zrinski resigned earlier this month before she was sworn in as County Controller.



The current council has a 5-3 Democrat majority. Zrinski's replacement does not have to be a Democrat.



County Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 in the government center in Easton. The agenda for the meeting and a link to a webcast are posted on the county website.
BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. - Bethlehem Township shot down a proposed warehouse for Freemansburg Avenue on Monday night and the audience applauded, but the story is not over.

The public may hate the plan, but property rights and zoning law matter too. So do financial resources.

The Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 against developer Trammell Crow's plan. What the board did not do was give grounds for opposing a permitted use on private property. The land at 1600 Freemansburg Avenue has been a quarry and a dump, and township zoning allows a warehouse on the property.

Trammell Crow (TCC) commented Wednesday on the timing of whatever is next.

"TCC will consider the next steps for the future of the Freemansburg Avenue project in the coming weeks," according to a company statement.

One potential next step is going to court to ask that a "by-right" (legal) use be allowed.

Township residents oppose the plan and the truck traffic it would bring to Freemansburg Avenue, which is already congested. The issue is not new. Sometimes residents share tips on back routes to avoid tricky left-turn intersections. Others compare what the township is now to its former rural character.

Meanwhile, residential, commercial and institutional development proceeds, and some people objecting to new development live on land that was farmland just a few years ago.

Trammell Crow's local attorney, Catherine Durso, has said the issue at 1600 Freemansburg Ave. is simple: "The use is allowed."

Township attorney James Broughal has advised the commissioners on similar issues of sentiment versus law earlier. When an apartment complex was proposed for Easton Avenue in 2022, he said the governing body cannot vote based on a plan being unpopular.

"If you deny a plan, you can't just say, 'I don't like the plan.' You have to state chapter and verse of what provisions in the zoning and subdivision or stormwater ordinance the developer failed to meet," Broughal said. "You can't just say, 'I don't like it.'"

At a July 2023 meeting of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, LVPC Executive Director Becky Bradley also warned of potential litigation. If the plan were rejected, "that would probably result in some legal action," she said.

Bethlehem Township Commissioner Michael Hudak said Monday that legal action could ensue, but that he represented the public and the public does not want the warehouse.

Going to court can be expensive, and when the finances of Bethlehem Township are put on a scale against those of Trammell Crow, the scales tip hard and fast.

Bethlehem Township's 2024 budget is $20.9 million. CBRE Group, which owns Trammell Crow, had 2022 revenue of $30.8 billion. It is the biggest commercial real estate company in the world.

CBRE's revenue in six hours exceeds Bethlehem Township's annual budget.
PENNSBURG, Pa. - A big-time film star made a stop in our area Tuesday.

Jason Momoa, Aqua-Man himself, was in Montgomery County.

He made a stop at Tosco's Pub and Grill in Pennsburg.

Momoa and his team, and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, chose Tosco's as the spot to launch Momoa's new vodka.

Momoa took time to take pictures and meet fans.

The folks at Tosco's say, when you're there, just ask for Meili vodka.
Voters in a school district in Montgomery County are heading to the polls Tuesday for a school funding vote.

North Penn School District officials want to borrow more than $97 million.

The money would be used to renovate the district's high school.

The building would also be expanded to house North Penn's ninth grade students.
RARITAN TWP., Pa. - Crews are fighting a warehouse fire that broke out in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

Firefighters are on scene Wednesday at a business at 112 Church Street in Raritan Township.

The fire was first reported shortly after 11 a.m.

69 News has a crew headed to the scene. This story will be updated.
Three Washington state police officers who were cleared of all criminal charges last month in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis will each receive $500,000 to leave the Tacoma Police Department. Ellis was a 33-year-old Black man who was shocked, beaten and restrained facedown on a sidewalk as he pleaded for breath. A jury in December acquitted officers Timothy Rankine, Matthew Collins and Christopher Burbank of manslaughter or murder charges. The police department on Tuesday announced findings that the officers did not violate the use-of-force policy that was in effect at the time. The city also released voluntary separation agreements with the officers showing each will receive $500,000.
BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A study session on promoting high-quality financial development, attended by provincial and ministerial-level leading officials, was opened at the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (the National Academy of Governance) on the morning of Jan. 16. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made an important speech at the opening ceremony. Xi noted that the path for financial development with Chinese characteristics not only follows the way for the development of modern finance, but also has distinctive features that suit China's national conditions, and thus it is different in nature from the mode of Western financial development. We should have more confidence and continue to explore and improve our work in the financial sector, so that this path will become wider and wider.

Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee as well as Vice President Han Zheng attended the ceremony. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the opening.

Xi noted that since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, we have actively explored the rules governing the development of finance in the new era, kept deepening our understanding of the defining feature of socialist finance with Chinese characteristics, and persistently promoted practical, theoretical and institutional innovation in the sector. In this process, we have accumulated valuable experience and gradually blazed a distinctively Chinese path to developing finance. On this path, the CPC Central Committee's centralized, unified leadership over financial work must be upheld, people-centered approach must be adhered to as its value orientation, and the fundamental principle that finance serves the real economy must be upheld as well. On this path, risk prevention and control must be regarded as the abiding theme of financial work, market-oriented financial innovation and development under the rule of law must be constantly promoted, and supply-side structural reform in the financial sector must be continued. On this path, financial opening up and security must be well coordinated, and the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability must be followed.

These points have clarified how financial work should be perceived and carried out on the new journey in the new era. They form a sound whole that encapsulates the fundamental position, viewpoints and methods for developing finance in a distinctively Chinese way.

Xi emphasized that a country with a strong financial sector should have a strong economic foundation, and lead the world in economy, technology and comprehensive national strength. Such a nation should also have a series of key core financial elements, such as a strong currency, a strong central bank, strong financial institutions, strong international financial centers, strong financial supervision, and a high-calibre team of financial talents. Building a strong financial sector requires long-term and persistent effort. It is a must to accelerate the building of a modern financial system with Chinese characteristics, and establish and improve a sound and stable financial regulation system, properly-structured financial markets, a financial institution system with clear division of labor and cooperation, a complete and effective financial regulatory system, a diversified and professional system of financial products and services, and a financial infrastructure that is independent, controllable, safe and efficient.

Xi pointed out that efforts must be made to prevent and defuse financial risks, especially systemic risks. Financial regulation must be "sharp and tough." Financial regulatory and administrative authorities must clearly define their responsibilities and strengthen cooperation and coordination between them. It is imperative to strictly enforce the law in such areas as market access, prudential supervision and behavioral supervision, so that financial supervision both horizontally and vertically is administered to the letter. Local governments should not just do their financial work well, but also focus on the big picture, and manage well financial risks under their jurisdiction and perform their duties well in maintaining stability. In the process of risk management, corruption must be resolutely cracked down on, corrupt elements must be punished and moral hazard must be prevented. Financial regulation is a systematic project, and financial management departments, macro-control departments, industry authorities, judicial departments, and discipline inspection and supervision organs all have corresponding responsibilities. They should strengthen coordination in supervision, and optimize the risk management mechanism, under which anyone in charge must be held accountable for risk control. We should also crack down on financial crimes.

Xi stressed that it is necessary to improve our country's efficiency and capacity in the allocation of financial resources through expanding opening up, and boost our financial sector's international competitiveness and its influence on international rules. Prudence should be exercised when it comes to the pace and intensity of endeavors in this regard. It is imperative to promote high-level financial opening up with a focus on institutional opening up, and implement the management system of pre-establishment national treatment plus negative lists. It is essential to benchmark against relevant rules in the financial sector from high-standard international economic and trade agreements to streamline restrictive measures, improve the transparency, stability and predictability of opening-up policies, standardize outward investment and financing, and improve financial support for Belt and Road cooperation. It is also essential to boost the inter-connectivity between the domestic and overseas financial markets, further promote the facilitation of cross-border investment and financing, and take an active part in the global reform on financial regulation. The red line for financial security must never be crossed under the conditions of opening up.

Xi noted that to promote high-quality development of the financial sector and build China's financial strength, it is imperative to combine rule of law with rule of virtue and foster a financial culture with Chinese characteristics. It is essential to remain committed to honesty and trustworthiness instead of crossing the line, to seek interest without compromising moral principles instead of putting profit before everything, to be prudent and cautious in work instead of seeking instant success and quick profits, to uphold fundamental principles and break new ground instead of diverting funds out of the real economy, and to be compliant with law and regulations instead of conducting illegal activities.

Xi noted at the end of his speech that officials at all levels must strengthen their financial acumen and capability in financial work. They should develop thinking about overall planning of both economic and financial work, faithfully implement the decisions and arrangements made at the central financial work conference, and coordinate efforts towards the high-quality development of both the economic and financial sectors, so as to make new and greater contributions to advancing the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

While presiding over the opening, Cai Qi highlighted that General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech is insightful, rich in substance, and has a broad vision and penetrating views. It is of political, theoretical, pertinent and guiding importance. This speech is of great significance for the entire Party, particularly senior officials, to have a correct understanding of the current situations and tasks facing China's financial development, further understand the fundamental principles and development path of financial work, substantially strengthen their capability in financial work and risk control, and stay committed to the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics. We should deepen our understanding of the speech's rich substance, core tenets and requirements for practical work, as well as the decisive significance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We should firmly uphold Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership, and align our thoughts and actions with the decisions and plans made by the Central Committee.

Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, vice chairpersons with CPC membership of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, state councilors, president of the Supreme People's Court, procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, vice chairpersons with CPC membership of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and members of the CMC attended the opening.

Leading officials from all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, relevant central Party and state departments, relevant people's organizations, centrally-administered financial institutions, enterprises and institutions of higher learning, units of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force participated in the study session. Heads from central committees of other political parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and other relevant departments sat in on the opening. 
CAIRO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday warned against the danger of the military escalation in the Middle East region on multiple fronts, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement.

During a meeting with the visiting Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Sisi reiterated "the vital need to defuse the current critical situation through an immediate and urgent ceasefire in Gaza Strip and enforcing the delivery of humanitarian aid," according to the statement.

Sisi emphasized that Egypt will continue its unyielding efforts to support the people in Gaza, provide them with aid and relief, and work towards calming the situation.

The Greek minister highlighted the pivotal role of Egypt as "an indispensable cornerstone for stability in the Middle East."

The two sides also agreed on the imperative need to move quickly towards a just and comprehensive settlement for the Palestinian cause, which is the central issue in the region and the path toward achieving peace, security, and stability.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 24,448, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive in Gaza to retaliate against a surprise Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed, according to the Israeli tallies. 
BAGHDAD, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Foreign Ministry submitted Wednesday an official complaint against Iran to the United Nations (UN) and the UN Security Council following the missile attack on Erbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan.

The ministry said in a statement that it had filed a complaint in two identical letters to both the secretary general of the United Nations and the president of the UN Security Council through Iraq's permanent mission to the UN in New York.

The ministry's letters stressed that the "aggression is considered a blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the security of the Iraqi people," according to the statement.

On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani denounced the Iranian missile attack on Erbil as an "aggressive act" that would undermine the strong bilateral relations.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had launched barrages of ballistic missiles against the bases of "terrorists" and Israel's intelligence service Mossad in Syria as well as Iraq's Kurdistan region respectively in response to recent anti-Iran "terror" attacks.

Late on Monday night, the Kurdistan Region Security Council said in a statement that four people were killed and six others injured in the Iranian missile attack on "several populated civilian areas" in Erbil. 
BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's gross domestic product (GDP) posted a growth of 5.2 percent year on year in 2023, beating the whole-year target of around 5 percent, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Wednesday.

Against a world economy in the doldrums, China is managing to regain its vigor - much like the northeast tourist city of Harbin, where the bitter cold cannot shadow its warm hospitality.

How well is China's economy faring? Here are some numbers you need to know.

SOLID FUNDAMENTALS

The Chinese economy cannot navigate ups and downs without solid fundamentals.

Regarding industrial infrastructure, China stands unique as the only nation with industries across all categories in the UN industrial classification.

The country's manufacturing industry, contributing about 30 percent of the global total, has maintained the top global position for 14 consecutive years.

It is also home to over 200 well-established industry clusters, demonstrating its vast industrial capacity in line with its rising social productivity.

Concerning production factors, China is seeing a talent dividend. It now boasts the world's largest talent pool, particularly in science and technology, and leads in the total number of researchers.

Additionally, about 30 percent of the world's annual capital formation is attributed to China. The nation's substantial data output and rich data resources position it as the world's second-largest data repository.

Innovation in China is also on the rise. The country's investment in R&D and the high-tech sector has been increasing at double-digit rates for several years. This surge has led to the emergence of new products and business models, including intelligent terminals, robots and telehealth services.

With around 400,000 high-tech enterprises, it ranks second globally in the number of unicorn companies.

The dynamic environment is set to accelerate the development of new growth drivers in China.

SUPERSIZE MARKET

As the market becomes the most scarce resource, the growing depth of the Chinese market is proving more popular.

China currently has over 400 million individuals in the middle-income bracket, a number projected to double in the next decade or so.

With this demographic shift, a growing preference for quality over quantity will be a powerful catalyst for consumption upgrades.

The urbanization rate in China still trails the average of developed countries by more than 10 percentage points, indicating significant potential for infrastructure enhancement in urban renewal, transportation and telecommunications.

Furthermore, about 300 million rural migrants are on the path to obtaining permanent urban residency. The transition is expected to create substantial demand for housing, education, healthcare and elderly care services.

China is committed to sustainable development and accelerating its shift towards green and low-carbon growth. The country houses nearly half of the world's installed photovoltaic capacity, illustrating its leading role in solar energy. Additionally, over half of the world's new energy vehicles (NEVs) run on roads in China, with the country's NEV ownership exceeding 20 million units. China also contributes to a quarter of the global increase in afforested areas.

The country is actively fostering large-scale new growth drivers in sectors like green energy, green transportation and green lifestyles. This will generate investment and consumption markets with an estimated size of 10 trillion yuan annually, underscoring the vast potential of China's market.

MORE OPPORTUNITY THAN RISK

China's economic rebound benefits not just itself but also its global partners. Engaging with the Chinese market is increasingly seen as an opportunity rather than a risk.

China is a key trading partner for over 140 countries and regions. Its overall tariff level has been reduced to 7.3 percent, aligning closely with the developed members of the World Trade Organization.

Multinational corporations have long leveraged the Chinese market and have expanded their global production by utilizing China's manufacturing strength, achieving rapid growth and substantial returns.

Over the past five years, foreign direct investment in China has yielded an impressive return of about nine percent, a highly competitive figure on the global stage.

China welcomes investment from companies from across the globe and is committed to creating a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment.

Regardless of global changes, China will open its door even wider to the world.

Such a panoramic perspective, highlighted by a series of positive indicators, bodes well for China, with a rising Chinese economy becoming a substantial pillar for a global economic recovery. 
BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- China has unveiled regulations to manage the names of social organizations, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. They are the first comprehensive guidelines for the naming of such entities and are set to take effect on May 1, 2024.

China has nearly 900,000 social organizations, spanning social groups, various foundations and private non-enterprise entities, according to the ministry.

At present, specific regulations govern the naming of foundations and private non-enterprise entities, but the names of social groups have no legislative clarity.

The new regulations represent the first standardized guidelines for the names of social groups, and aim to establish a unified system for the management of social organization naming practices, the ministry said.

The terms "first," "highest," "national-level" and similar misleading expressions will not be permitted, according to the guidelines, which also regulate the use of specific individuals' names in the appellations of social organizations. 
TOKYO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A flight from Tokyo to the U.S. west coastal city of Seattle operated by Japan's All Nippon Airways had to return to the Haneda airport in Tokyo on Wednesday after a passenger reportedly bit a cabin attendant's arm, local media reported.

The 55-year-old man, who is believed to be a U.S. citizen, was arrested by Tokyo police upon landing on suspicion of causing injury to the cabin attendant, according to the national news agency Kyodo.

The incident took place on Tuesday night while the passenger plane, flight 118, was flying over the Pacific, and the motive behind the man's behaviour was still unclear. 
NEW DELHI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Two people, including a boy, were gored to death and dozens injured Wednesday by bulls during Jallikattu, a local bullfighting sport, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, police said.

The incident took place at Siravayal in Sivaganga district, about 425 km southwest of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu.

"Two spectators -- a boy and a youth in his thirties -- were gored to death and over 40 were injured in Siravayal during Jallikattu event," a senior police official said.

According to police, the incident did not take place during the main Jallikattu event, but after the run when the bull owners had assembled to collect their animals.

"After the main run when the bulls were outside the arena, they ran amok injuring spectators," the police official said. "A total of 186 bulls were part of this Jallikattu event which is still underway."

The deaths and injuries to spectators have raised a question mark on the safety measures in place for the bullfighting sport.

On Tuesday, at least 60 people were injured during a similar event at Palamedu in Madurai district, reports said.

Jallikattu sport is traditionally a part of the harvest festival of Pongal across Tamil Nadu. It involves men chasing a bull attempting to grab its hump and ride it for as long as possible or stopping it and removing a piece of cloth affixed to its horns.

Prizes such as cars, motorbikes, and gold coins are up for grabs at many of these events. 


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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.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Irish President Michael D. Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain, the official residence of the Irish president, in Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

DUBLIN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday called on China and Ireland to work together to uphold a free and open international trading system and practice genuine multilateralism.

Li made the call while meeting with Irish President Michael D. Higgins here in Aras an Uachtarain, the official residence of the Irish president.

Though China and Ireland are geographically apart with different national conditions, they have enjoyed enduring friendship as well as highly compatible development concepts, Li noted.

In recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Michael D. Higgins, China-Ireland relations have developed steadily and bilateral practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results, he said.

China stands ready to work with Ireland to adhere to mutual respect and equality, and take the opportunity of the 45th anniversary of China-Ireland diplomatic ties this year to further implement the important consensuses reached by the heads of state of the two countries, continuously enhance mutual understanding and trust, fully accommodate each other's major interests and core concerns, continuously advance the level and boost the effects of cooperation in various fields, and push for greater development of the China-Ireland strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation, Li said.

The Chinese premier also pointed out that mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Ireland is promising.

Li said China is willing to deepen cooperation with Ireland in such fields as economy, trade and investment, green development as well as scientific and technological innovation.

He also pledged strengthening people-to-people exchanges in education, culture and other fields to facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries.

Both sides should work together to uphold a free and open international trading system and maintain the stable and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains, Li noted.

He said that both sides should practice genuine multilateralism, bridge differences through dialogue and resolve disputes through cooperation, so as to push for better global governance, promote common development and inject greater stability and energy into a world rocked by changes and chaos.

For his part, Higgins said that relations between Ireland and China have maintained a sound momentum of development and both sides have always adhered to mutual understanding and respect.

Ireland stands ready to strengthen friendly communications with China to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly meet climate change, food security, sustainable development and other global challenges, and deepen the friendship between the two peoples so as to promote the continuous and in-depth development of bilateral ties, he said. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Irish President Michael D. Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain, the official residence of the Irish president, in Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
At nearly 1 a.m. on Monday, Bernardo Arevalo was sworn in as president of Guatemala, following months of efforts by dominant sections of the Guatemalan capitalist oligarchy to overturn his election.

An avalanche of legal cases alleging electoral fraud, illegal financing and other irregularities had failed to produce evidence against Arevalo or his party, the Semilla Movement. However, a judge still suspended the partys legal status in November.

On Sunday, the inauguration of Congress was scheduled at 8 a.m., and its Board of Directors had to be selected before the ceremony to swear in the president, which was scheduled at 2 p.m. The constitutional deadline for both was at midnight.

Bernardo Arevalo (front center) next to vice president Karin Herrera and USAID chief Samantha Power, accompanied by other US officials [Photo: @WHHAAsstSecty]

That morning, the Constitutional Court ratified the suspension of Semilla, and the Credentials Commission composed of outgoing legislators delayed the proceedings for 9 hours. Fearing that a coup was in progress, hundreds of supporters confronted anti-riot police outside Congress, while scuffles broke out inside between legislators.

Having warned of a coup attempt for months, Arevalo refused to call for a popular mobilization on Sunday and limited his appeals to congresspeople to fulfill their responsibilities.

Into the evening, with the conflict successfully contained to backroom negotiations, Semilla not only succeeded in getting the opposition-led Congress to recognize its legislative faction but its leading member Samuel Perez Alvarez was selected as the president of the legislature.

The conspirators, backed by the outgoing Alejandro Giammattei administration and some sections of the American ruling class (the Wall Street Journal promoted their claims), had wielded their control over the state to block the accession of Semilla. Led by the Prosecutors Office, they carried out raids of the electoral court, party offices and homes of leaders, hijacked the original ballots, issued death threats, deployed fascist gangs, and even arrested the interior minister for failing to use deadly force against demonstrations in October.

In this context, only guarantees to remain in control of certain levers of power and to overlook at least some corruption schemes could have produced the temporary stand-down on Sunday night.

It is certain that, while the details remain secret, concerns over democratic rights, the millions of children going hungry, and the interests of the working class played no role in these talks.

The occasion was nonetheless exploited by the US and other delegations to claim that they had stayed up all night to safeguard democracy in Guatemala. After selfies with US officials, Arevalo declared in his inaugural speech, The support of the democratic nations of the world has been crucial in allowing us to be here today.

Without any sleep, Arevalo and his vice president Karin Herrera then attended an even more meaningful inauguration as commander in chief of the armed forces. In an unprecedented decision since the end of the civil war, Arevalo held the ceremony in a place open to civilians, the Constitution Square, to present the military as a democratic force close to the people.

There, he praised the attitude displayed by you and your commanders in this gloomy period,i.e., not joining the efforts to overturn the election. I would like to emphasize that you, as an institution, will play an active and essential role in his government, he added.

Far from representing democracy, Arevalo and Semilla are direct, bought-and-paid-for puppets of US imperialism, with their direct boss, USAID chief Samantha Power, leading the US delegation to the inauguration.

Beyond threats of economic sanctions, the Biden administration imposed visa restrictions on more than 300 Guatemalan officials and business leaders, including 108 of the 160 members of Congress who had voted to strip four justices of the electoral tribunal of their immunity as part of efforts to overturn the election.

Semilla has no mass support in the working class. Only a quarter of the electorate voted for Arevalo, and demonstrations in his defense were dominated by student youth, the pseudo-left and some indigenous groups.

Semilla was a lobbyist firm turned into a political party in 2017 after consultations in Washington, as acknowledged by its own leaders. Its role was to become a political arm of the International Commission against Impunity (CICIG), a US-sponsored body that used select corruption cases to pressure the ruling class into line. Despite countless declassified cables throughout the past decades showing how Washington ignored and even encouraged impunity for human rights abuses and corruption in the state, the CICIG was launched above all to halt the growing economic influence of China.

However, the local oligarchy kicked out the CICIG in 2019, and now fear a renewal of corruption cases under Semilla.

For his part, Arevalo has demanded sanctions on Russia in support of the US-NATO war in Ukraine and vowed that Guatemala will remain one of the handful of countries that still recognizes Taiwan.

But his ties to Israel overshadow all other bona fides in the eyes of US imperialism, particularly because they demonstrate his hostility to democratic rights and the oppressed.

As the WSWS has explained, the US-Israeli genocide in Palestine is part of a global counterrevolution of the imperialist powers to redivide and recolonize the world. Arevalo, the supposed icon of democracy, avoided the topic until making a recent call to the international community to play a more proactive role.

Arevalo is the son of the countrys first elected president, Juan Jose Arevalo (1945-1951), who remained within the left nationalist government of his successor Jacobo Arbenz when it was overthrown in a CIA-orchestrated military coup in 1954. A series of military-civilian dictatorships followed, crushing opposition from below to protect the interests of US capitalists and their local partners.

In 1977, the Jimmy Carter administration felt compelled to end military aid to Guatemala due to widespread reports of human rights abuses, but Israel soon picked up where their US patrons left off, providing millions in weapons, building a munitions factory and military-intelligence school and becoming the key trainers and advisers of the Guatemalan military.

Earlier that year, the military dictator Kjell Laugerud Garcia had named Juan Jose Arevalo ambassador to Israel, where he oversaw the first agreements of military assistance and numerous high-level meetings between officials. Dictator Efrain Rios Montt (1982-84) would grant him a lifetime pension for his services.

In 1978, Bernardo Arevalo joined his father and entered the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he learned Hebrew. Soon after, he began his diplomatic career as consul and then minister counselor at the Guatemalan embassy in Israel, between 1984-88, when the dictator Oscar Mejia Victores, the minister of defense under Rios Montt, continued the fascist onslaught, torturing and massacring thousands of leftists and the Mayan population. During this period, prisoners were being dropped on the Pacific Ocean from IAI-201 Aravas planes supplied by Israel.

This Israeli assistance took place in a framework of agricultural resettlement schemes that displaced over 1 million Guatemalans, mostly from indigenous communities, and oversaw the killing of 200,000 Mayans. Col. Eduardo Wohlers, director of the program known as Beans and Bullets under Rios Montt, described Israels current role as an interlocking mosaic of assistance programsweapons to help the Guatemalan Army crush the opposition and lay waste to the countryside, security and intelligence advice to control the population and agrarian development models to construct on the ashes of the highlands.

Cables show that the US State Department was aware of the well-founded allegation of a large-scale killing of Indian men, women and children in a remote area by the Guatemalan army when the Reagan administration sought a major breakthrough in our relations with Guatemala by approving military cash sales under Rios Montt at the height of the genocide.

In 1986, civilian president Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo was installed to give the appearance of democratic reform and a transition to peace, which the Reagan administration and US Congress used to give more military aid while the fascist terror continued. Arevalo continued moving up the diplomatic ranks over the next decade.

A peace accord was signed in 1996, which turned the remaining Stalinist and Maoist guerrilla leaderships into bourgeois legislators, who proceeded to endorse different factions of the bourgeois establishment partiesall connected in different degrees to the militaryincluding the right-wing National Unity of Hope (UNE) and Semilla.
As farmers were protesting against the coalition government on the streets of Berlin, train drivers were preparing to go on strike because of the cuts in real wages imposed on them and demonstrations against German support for the genocide in Gaza were taking place almost daily, politicians and functionaries were meeting behind the closed doors of a Berlin hotel to launch the new party Bundnis Sahra WagenknechtVernunft und Gerechtigkeit (Sahra Wagenknecht AllianceReason and Justice, BSW).

Ralph Suikat, Lukas Schoen, Amira Mohamed Ali and Sahra Wagenknecht at a press conference on 23 October 2023 [AP Photo/Markus Schreiber]

At the press conference that followed, frontwoman Wagenknecht made it unmistakably clear that she was in no way interested in developing resistance to Germanys hated coalition government, but rather in directing it into right-wing channels and suppressing it. Deputy chairman Shervin Haghsheno stated unequivocally that the new partys main concern was to stop the alarming development that the majority of the population had lost confidence in the establishment parties.

Wagenknecht announced that the BSW could enter coalition governments after the state elections in eastern Germany. The deputy parliamentary group chairman of the BSW in the Bundestag, Klaus Ernst, later added that coalitions with the three parties comprising the current federal governmentSocial Democrats (SPD), Liberal Democrats (FDP), Greensnor with the opposition Christian Democrats (CDU) could be ruled out.

The BSW is seeking to collaborate with the very parties that have declared the genocide in Gaza to be an affair of state, and which are once again sending German tanks against Russia 79 years after the Second World War and have caused unprecedented social devastation in recent years. The BSWs aim is not to end these policies, but to enforce them more effectively. This can be seen in the positions they presented as well as in the right-wing and worn-out personnel that Wagenknecht has brought on board for her project.

At the press conference, the representatives of the new formation declared in unison that they were not building a left-wing party. We have deliberately said that we are not a Left Party 2.0, explained Fabio De Masi, a former Left Party parliamentarian and now the designated BSW lead candidate for the European elections. The BSW said it wanted to be a broad-based peoples party, in which even long-standing CDU voters who value social partnership were also welcome.

In terms of its economic policies, the BSW does not differ significantly from the establishment parties. The phrases about social justice and opportunities for advancement are merely accompaniments to a radically pro-capitalist and nationalist programme that celebrates the capitalist market economy and claims that the growth of German companies serve the common good. The BSW wanted to provide massive financial support for domestic industry and future technologies made in Germany, it said.

While companies are promised billions in subsidies, the new party is fully behind the federal governments social attacks. This is what the second lead candidate for the European elections, former mayor of Dusseldorf Thomas Geisel, stands for in particular. A few months ago, Geisel wrote a pamphlet celebrating the SPD-led Schroder governments Agenda 2010 policies of welfare cuts and worsening labour legislation, claiming this had put Germany on course for growth. He demanded unemployed people who could in principle work should not any receive state support and that the retirement age should be raised further.

At the press conference, the former Social Democrat emphasised these demands, which amount to the unemployed being forced into the lowest-paid sweatshop jobs, further lowering overall wage levels. Those who received state benefits also had a duty to accept work, declared Geisel. De Masi also defended young unemployed peoples duty to co-operate and thus the regime of sanctions and wage suppression.

The deeply anti-working class character of the new party is most evident in its unspeakable scapegoating of refugees, which took up by far the most space at the press conference. While the BSW supports the social attacks, it wants to make the weakest members of society responsible for the devastating effects of this policy. Wagenknecht does not blame the policies that have been carried out in the interests of the rich for the lack of housing and an overstretched infrastructure, such as a lack of nursery places, but rather the failed integration of refugees. These problems have been denied for years. But they are real, says Wagenknecht.

The solution was to significantly reduce the number of immigrants, according to the BSW representatives. To this end, the party wants to introduce asylum procedures at the EUs external borders and in third countries, thus making Fortress Europe even more impenetrable. Geisel even claimed that the individual right to asylum, which had been written into the German constitution as a result of the experiences of Nazi rule, was unsuitable today because it opened the doors to uncontrolled immigration. De Masi complained that the mass deportations of immigrants planned by the government were logistically difficult. Measures must therefore be taken to reduce the incentives to come to Germany in the first place, he said.

The BSW also has only tactical differences with the other parties in the Bundestag when it comes to foreign policy. The alliance speaks for sections of the ruling class who see their own business interests threatened by the confrontation with Russia and who want to immediately adopt a policy that is more independent of the US. Wagenknecht therefore called for peace negotiations with Russia and criticised the sanctions policy. This has nothing to do with an anti-militarist standpoint. The party programme explicitly calls for the Bundeswehr (armed forces) to be adequately equipped. At the press conference, Di Masi attacked former defence minister Ursula von der Leyen for not having rearmed Germany effectively enough.

The militaristic attitude is particularly evident in dealing with the genocide in Gaza. The German government is supporting and financing the brutal massacre of thousands of children, women and men to assert its own economic interests in the region. The BSW deputies in the Bundestag, who were still members of the Left Party at the time, also voted unanimously in favour of the solidarity resolution with Israel on October 10 and gave the Netanyahu government carte blanche for its genocide.

At the press conference, none of the BSW representatives saw the need to address this central issue. Only when Wagenknecht was asked about her position after more than two hours did she make a short statement in which she blamed Israel and Hamas equally for the violence and called for a ceasefire. She did not say a word about the foul role of the German government, the massive restriction of democratic rights and the media campaign against opponents of the war.

Wagenknechts solidarity with the federal government is a direct result of the logic of her pro-capitalist and nationalist programme. Her plea for an independent Europe that was not crushed between the USA and the increasingly self-confident new power bloc around China and Russia, but instead pursued a self-confident policy in its own interests, itself amounts to a declaration of trade war and war. Even the countless phrases about detente and international cooperation cannot disguise this.

Wagenknechts right-wing programme is not a break with the traditions of the Left Party but stands in direct continuity with its previous work. It is the third incarnation of a party that was already hostile to the working class 35 years ago when it was the Stalinist party of state in the former East Germany, and which is now taking on openly reactionary forms under conditions of a deep capitalist crisis and mounting imperialist aggression.

The renaming of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) as the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) in February 1990 served the old Stalinist bureaucrats to push through the restoration of capitalism and suppress any opposition to it. The partys long-time honorary chairman and last head of government in East Germany, Hans Modrow, saw his task as preserving the governability of the country, preventing chaos. Wagenknecht had joined the SED in the summer of 1989 and was elected to the PDS party executive in 1991.

When the PDS was ejected from the Bundestag in 2002 because of its right-wing policies and its unreserved support for social cuts in the state governments in which it was involved, the WASG (a split-off from the SPD) came to its aid. Wagenknechts current husband, former long-standing SPD leader Oskar Lafontaine, played a key role in merging the PDS and WASG into the Left Party and distancing the partys name from socialism. The Left Party was supposed to absorb the discontent the SPD had caused with its Agenda 2010 policies and the deployment of the Bundeswehr for the first time in war, and thus defend capitalism. Wagenknecht was at the forefront of the new formation as a lead candidate and parliamentary group leader.

After initial electoral success, the Left Party also quickly lost support because its left-wing slogans could not conceal its right-wing policies of social cuts. In the last federal elections, it fell below the 5 percent hurdle for entry into the Bundestag. Now Wagenknecht is once again trying to channel dissatisfaction and is no longer even pretending to be left-wing. In view of the enormous increase in social inequality and the aggressive pro-war policy, there is no longer any room for such manoeuvres. Wagenknecht is therefore increasingly openly replacing social phraseology with xenophobic agitation and German nationalist slogans. She is very consciously mobilising the dregs of society in order to turn them against the opposition in the working class.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Left Party is fully on the side of the federal government, courting the urban middle classes with the Greens on lifestyle issues and eagerly participating in social cuts, the mass deportation of refugees and stepping up the powers of the state, despite all the polls.

Workers must confront Wagenknechts third rehash of the stale attempt to save capitalism with open hostility. The BSW does not oppose the governments policy of war and social cuts, but underpins it. The only way to oppose militarism, prevent a third world war and defend social rights is through the international mobilisation of the working class against capitalism. No problem can be solved without breaking the power of the banks and corporations and bringing them under democratic control. Such a movement requires the unification of workers across all national, ethnic and religious boundaries.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) is fighting for this perspective together with its sister parties of the Fourth International around the world. If you are eligible to vote, sign up to support our participation in the European elections and take part in building the SGP.
A mass demonstration by farmers on Monday brought the centre of Berlin to a standstill. Over 6,000 vehicles  mostly tractors, but also lorries  rolled into the German capital from four routes on Sunday night, honking their horns loudly.

Rally in front of the Brandenburg Gate

According to the organisers of the protest, 30,000 people took part in the rally in front of the Brandenburg Gate. In addition to farmers organisations, representatives from the countrys transport, fishing and catering industries had also called for participation.

The large-scale demonstration in Berlin marked the end of a week of protests during which farmers blocked motorways, roads and in some cases, entire towns. The protests are directed against the governments austerity measures, which are hitting farmers particularly hard. The government (a coalition of the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Free Democratic Party) had originally decided to completely abolish tax concessions for agricultural diesel and the motor vehicle tax exemption for agricultural vehicles. This would have meant an additional burden of almost one billion euros per year for Germanys 250,000 agricultural businesses.

Faced with enormous opposition, the government has reversed the cancellation of the motor vehicle tax exemption and extended the reduction of the diesel tax concession to three years. These concessions, however, have failed to appease the farmers. The anger at Germanys mainstream parties in general and the coalition in particular was very evident at the rally.

Tractors were emblazoned with hand-painted posters with inscriptions such as: Enough is enough! We wont put up with this any more! The coalition must go! Stop the coalitions madness, Beware of storm and windand enraged farmers! Embezzlement, cronyism, warmongering. Not with our tax money! and Farmers looking for a capable government.

A part-time farmer from Bernau, north of Berlin, told the WSWS: All spheres of society are so run down that money is needed everywhere, money which is then collected in the form of taxes. Countermeasures should have been taken years ago. Now we are supposed to pay for what those at the top have done. Nothing works any more in this state.

Demonstrators from Bernau. The poster reads: "Stop the killing. Many hundreds of thousands dead. Over ten million refugees. Weapons always kill, for how much longer?"

A pensioner who accompanied him was outraged by the countrys high defence spending: What concerns me is that we are spending huge sums of money to supply weapons. We are at war. People are dying every day, and we just carry on. Human lives are no longer a priority. That makes me sad and slowly also angry.

Young people on the protest carried a placard: Your politics are as bad as our education.

A wide variety of social interests were represented at the demonstration. Participants ranged from better-off association officials, large farmers and small business owners to small and part-time farmers, lorry drivers and agricultural workers.

Farmers' protest in Berlin.

The president of the German Farmers Association (DBV), Joachim Rukwied, who gave the keynote speech and acted as spokesman for the protests, is a large-scale farmer, CDU politician and all-round functionary. He runs a farm with 360 hectares near Heilbronn, while 86 per cent of all farms are smaller than 100 hectares. He sits on the executive committee of the German Raiffeisen Association, on the supervisory board of agricultural group BayWa, on the advisory board of DZ-Bank and on the board of the Association of Southern German Sugar Beet Growers. The DBV represents the interests of large agricultural businesses and is closely intertwined with the agricultural industry.

Rukwied had invited as speaker Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), who was greeted with deafening boos and shouts of Get lost when he attempted to address the rally. Lindner was only able to speak after Rukwied had emphatically spoken out in his favour. Even then Lindner could only be heard in the front rows as the shouts of protest against him continued to erupt.

Lindner tried to cozy up to the farmers by feigning understanding for their protest and claiming he was impressed by the solidarity you are showing here. He ranted against climate campaigners who, he claimed, had been infiltrated by the extreme left.

In the style of the far-right Alternative for Germany, he endeavoured to deflect the farmers anger by haranguing the needy and migrants: It annoys me that I have to talk to you as the hard-working middle class about cuts, while on the other hand people in our country get money for doing nothing. ... Thats why were cutting benefits for asylum seekers. Thats why were cutting one billion euros from the citizens income (social benefit).

He then went on, however, to defend the governments cuts, declaring that agriculture would also have to make a fair contribution. His aim was not to weaken agriculture, but rather strengthen sustainable entrepreneurshipa synonym for the continuation of the demise of farms due to rising costs and falling prices.

After the rally, representatives of the farmers organisations met with the parliamentary leaders of the three governing partiesapparently without result. DVB President Rukwied then announced further protests if the government did not abandon its plans to increase taxes. He also promised, however, to end the protests immediately if the government cancelled its planned reduction in the subsidy for agricultural diesel.

The farmers protests have met with considerable popular support. Many workers believe that at last someone is finally taking a stand against the hated policies of the coalition, policies which the trade unions, working closely with the government, support while striving to suppress all resistance.

A survey of 35,000 users by broadcaster MDR found that 90 percent expressed understanding for the blockades and lockdowns, even if they themselves were directly affected. Only one in four thought the forms of protest went too far. A third thought they were appropriate and one third thought they did not go far enough. Many also spoke of a, now necessary, general strike.

The farmers, a traditionally conservative class of small landowners, tend to favour an individualistic and nationalistic solution. While all the demonstrators the WSWS spoke to expressed their disgust with the established parties, some expressed their hope in the recently formed Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance and some in the far-right AfD, which one protester said was the only party in the Bundestag to oppose the NATO led war against Russia.

As we wrote in an earlier article on the farmers protests, The solution to the social crisis depends on liberating the working class from the paralysing control of the trade union apparatuses and mobilising it for a socialist policy that breaks the power of the banks and corporations over society. If the working class shows a way out of the social impasse, less well-off farmers and agricultural labourers will join it and reject the right-wing demagogues.
NAIROBI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Wednesday called on foreign investors to invest in agriculture in the 80 percent arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) portion of the country to improve food security.

Paul Rono, principal secretary of the State Department of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said the ASAL regions are capable of producing food since they are fertile but only lack water.

"We have created an environment to enable the private sector and foreign investors to invest in agriculture to help improve food security, create jobs, and increase income in the regions," Rono told journalists in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

He said Kenya is taking cognizance of the ASAL regions after realizing that the regions are fertile and have the potential to produce food for domestic consumption and export through irrigation.

Rono said the current government is keen on positioning the East African country for resilient agricultural enterprises to bring to life the bottom-up economic transformation agriculture agenda.

He noted that Kenya is focusing on creating sustainable food systems by not only producing food for domestic consumption, but also increasing exports, reducing imports, and ensuring food security, as well as transitioning smallholder farmers into profitable enterprises.

Rono revealed that Kenya is currently developing a national agriculture policy master plan for the year 2024-2034 that will focus on farmers' access to services, provision of mechanization, provision of improved seed systems, and packaging of fresh produce for export.

He noted that Kenya intends to relocate populations in arable regions to the cities to allow serious farming to be undertaken to address the national challenges that include a growing population, under-empowered women and youth, a fragile food ecosystem, and poverty.

In 2023, Kenya leased 500,000 acres of government land to help boost food production.

Rono also announced that Kenya will host the Financing Agriculture Sustainability Conference (FINAS 2024) in March, which will be attended by actors in the agricultural sector to chart tangible investment and funding action plans that are alive to the current realities in the country.

The conference, he added, will include designing financing solutions to ensure relevance to the wide range of beneficiaries and de-risking approaches for injecting capital, such as blended financing. 
We are publishing here the tribute given by David North, chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and Socialist Equality Party (US), to Halil Celik, founder and leader of the Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu which is the Turkish section of the International Committee of the Fourth International. Norths remarks were read at a memorial meeting for Halil on the fifth anniversary of his death held Sunday, January 14 in Istanbul.

Halil Celik (1961-2018)

It is difficult to believe that five years have already passed since the untimely death of Comrade Halil. The personality of this courageous and indefatigable revolutionary remains so intensely vivid: the forcefulness of his arguments, the expanse of his intellectual and cultural interests, his generous spirit, confident optimism and remarkable sense of humor.

Comrade Halil devoted his entire adult lifeforty-one yearsto the struggle for socialism. He endured persecution, prison, andmost difficult of allthe betrayals of organizations and tendencies that ignored the lessons of history and repudiated principles for short-term political advantages. But Halil drew the lessons of these experiences and continued, despite immense objective difficulties, to work for the development of a genuine revolutionary party of the working class.

Comrade Halil established contact with the International Committee after decades of political work. The conclusions that he had drawn from his own experiences with the betrayals of Stalinism, Maoism, the corrupt trade union bureaucracies and the various branches of Pabloite opportunism intersected with the ICFIs historical defense of the heritage of the October Revolution and Trotskyist strategy of world socialist revolution.

The most important lesson that Comrade Halil drew from his own experience was that the construction of a genuine revolutionary party required the systematic education of its cadre in the entire history of the struggle waged by the Trotskyist movement in the aftermath of the October Revolution, from its origins in 1923, through the founding of the Fourth International in 1938, the formation of the International Committee in 1953, the subsequent protracted struggle against Pabloite revisionism, to the ICFIs break with the national opportunism of the British Workers Revolutionary Party in 1985-86.

The work that Comrade Halil conducted in the final years of his lifeconcentrated on the education of a young cadre and their development as Trotskyist cadre of the International Committeeis of enduring historical significance. Though Halil is no longer with us, his life work continues in the work of the cadre of the Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu.

Long live the memory of Comrade Halil Celik!
Thousands of Australian health workers have signed a petition over the past four weeks demanding that the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) stop pro-Israeli vigilantes using these bodies to victimise health workers speaking out about the Gaza genocide.

Health workers in Melbourne demonstrating against Gaza genocide [Photo: Protect Australian Healthcare Workers Advocating for Human Rights]

Over the past three months, doctors, nurses and other health workers using social media and other platforms to oppose the unrelenting military attacks on Gaza have been subjected to a barrage of false allegations of antisemitism and bullying racist slurs.

Many have had their personal details published online, others have been reported to AHPRAthe countrys main medical regulatory and discipline bodycalling for them to lose their accreditation and jobs.

Titled Protect Australian healthcare workers advocating for human rights, the new petition has been signed by over 4,100 health practitioners since mid-December, half of them in the past two weeks.

The petition, which was initiated by the Australian Islamic Medical Association and Australian and New Zealand Doctors for Palestine, is addressed to MBA chairperson Dr Anne Tonkin. The MBA is responsible for the registration of medical practitioners and students, the development of professional standards, codes and guidelines, and investigating notifications and complaints.

The petition alleges that vexatious, Islamophobic and deceitful complaints have been made to the MBA and AHPRA in violation of established codes of practice and in an abuse of process. It urges these agencies to publicly oppose this and to reinform all healthcare professionals that racist, Islamophobic, and antisemitic comments in the workplace or on social media will not be tolerated.

An accompanying Open Letter also calls on AHPRA, the Australian Medical Association and the Health Care Complaints Commission to issue a statement on this witch hunting. It specifically cites AHPRAs and the AMAs statutes requiring them to oppose any form of bullying or harassment of colleagues.

The Open Letter quotes from the World Medical Association Declaration of Geneva which says that medical practitioners are bound to solemnly pledge to consecrate (our lives) to the service of humanity and to maintain the utmost respect for human life.

The Open Letter then cites a World Health Organisation report on the catastrophic health conditions, particularly in northern Gaza, and the overall impact of the sustained Israeli military attacks on medical facilities and health workers.



In such dire circumstances, it states, our moral, ethical, and professional obligations are to use our voices to highlight the plight of the people in this humanitarian crisis.

Australian health workers, the letter continues, have responded to the catastrophe by writing to the AMA and politicians, and discussing the situation with their colleagues on social media. Pro-Israeli elements reacted by accusing them of supporting the murder of Israelis, hating Jews, being terrorist sympathisers and other bogus and provocative claims.

A significant concern arose amongst us when some of the undersigned were threatened with reports to AHPRA for discussing the humanitarian crisis and advocating for relief. This has led to the gagging of any promotion of non-secular, medical organisations, such as MSF [Medecins Sans Frontieres]unprecedented in this forum.

This has left us feeling deeply distressed, threatened and extremely unsafe. These threats appear to be vexatious, with the primary motivation being to cause harm to another health practitioner, rather than genuine concern regarding patient safety.

The Open Letter concludes by repeating calls for the AMA and AHPRA to tell their members that inappropriate, unsubstantiated, and slanderous comments, which risk reputations and livelihoods, will not be tolerated. It insists that the AMA, which covers all registered doctors, voice its concern for the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and advocate for an end to the siege.

The growing numbers of medical practitioners and health workers signing the petition makes clear that the health workers will not be intimidated and are fighting back.

These sentiments are powerfully expressed below in a tiny sample of the statements of those endorsing the petition.

Sadha wrote: I am a nurse and was silenced in my workplace when I promoted a peaceful vigil in support of Palestine to other staff members. We must not be silenced [because] this is an issue of human rights. I wholeheartedly support every doctor standing up for the victims of genocide!



Emma commented: There should be measures in place to prevent bullying of healthcare workers, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion. False reports against healthcare workers that have no merit should not be allowed and should be investigated.



Maisa said: As a health care professional and as a human, I cant stay silent to the genocide, war crimes and the murder of over 30,000 people. I cant believe it has been over three months now. Our government needs to call for a ceasefire.

Ayman stated: Innocent doctors are being defamed for standing with the humanitarian crisis and against the killing of innocent civilians which has been documented by many organisations on the ground including the UN and Doctors without Borders.

Scores of others said it was a duty for health workers to call out atrocities being committed by the IDF in Gaza and angrily denounced bullying attempts to silence those speaking out.

This is doxxing to scare people into staying quiet about gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Nobody should be sanctioned for speaking up for human rights, Danielle commented.

This was echoed by Fatima, who wrote: If we dont protect our healthcare workers from racist attacks, we have started to fail as a civil society. They have a right to speak and should be supported when speaking out against genocide.



Roisin, another health worker, commented: What we have seen over the past three months in Gaza is so unjust and horrific. But equally terrifying is the continued censorship of media and continued unwavering backing of Israel despite its actions clearly contravening international law. It is so frustrating to feel so powerless in the face of such reckless and blatant attacks on Gaza.

Early this month, Sarah, a Melbourne general practitioner, explained to the World Socialist Web Site that she had been verbally abused and threatened for daring to oppose the Gaza genocide.

I was one of those reported, even though I posted in a private group. It was said it was offensive to the Jewish people/colleagues, by another doctor who screenshotted it, so Ive been reported twice to the medical board for posting [on social media].

Now I have been doxxed, as part of a group of doctors who have been doxxed, which means that our posts, which were part of a private group, have now been put on Instagram, a public site, with defamatory comments.

So, underneath its got my name, my place of work, pictures of myself and my children, with comments saying that I am antisemitic, that I support the Holocaust, all these defamatory comments, and saying, would you trust this doctor in your care? and encouraging the general public to report me with my full name on it.

These vicious attacks on the democratic rights of health workers are replicated internationally in escalating threats by pro-Zionist governments and other political agencies against journalists, artist, teachers, students and any others opposing the Gaza genocide.

While the Australian health workers petition is an important initiative and should be supported and widely shared, its appeals to AHPRA, the MBA and the AMA will fall on deaf ears. None of these agencies acknowledged the petitions existence, let alone responded to it.



In fact, the AMA has only made two statements since October 7. The first was on October 31 when it called on all parties to not use health facilities as military quarters or depots, nor to target health personnel facilities and vehicles.

In other words, it gave credence to Israeli government claims that Palestinian fighters were hiding in hospitals, thus justifying the IDFs bombing of Gaza medical facilities.

The only other response on the AMA website was earlier this month when it directed its members to donate to the MSF or the International Committee of the Red Cross. Nor have nurses and midwives associations or other health workers unions taken any action to defend members being targeted and vilified by pro-Zionist ideologues.

To defeat these anti-democratic and pro-war attacks, health workers must reach out to other workersjournalists, teachers and industrial workersand organise their fight through the building of independent rank and file committees. The struggle against genocide in Gaza is linked to the defence of the democratic rights and social conditions of all workers against the capitalist profit system.



We urge health workers who are being victimised to contact the Health Workers Rank and File Committee who will maintain your anonymity while discussing your situation and how to take forward this fight.

Email: sephw.aus@gmail.com

Twitter: @HealthRandF_Aus

Facebook: facebook.com/groups/hwrfcaus
An article published by the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) yesterday showed conclusively that the Australian Broadcasting Corporations sacking of journalist Antoinette Lattouf last month followed a coordinated campaign by influential pro-Israeli lobbyists.

They were hostile to Lattouf because she had previously posted factual material to social media about the Zionist regimes genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. Prior to her Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) role, Lattouf had also conducted investigative reporting for other outlets which critically scrutinised the claims of a Zionist group.

Antoinette Lattouf in the ABC Sydney studio [Photo: Instagram ]

Lattouf, who was fired three days into a week-long fill-in position on ABC Sydney Radio, has initiated unlawful termination proceedings in the Fair Work industrial tribunal. Lattoufs complaint alleges she was sacked for her political opinions, as well as her race, and has asserted that ABC management was influenced by pro-Israeli forces.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) is specifically named in the complaint as having been involved in the campaign against Lattouf. When that was reported on by the Herald late last week, an ECAJ leader said the claim was total bullshit, without any factual basis.

But yesterdays SMH article alleges that ECAJ deputy president Robert Goot was heavily engaged in coordinating baseless complaints to the ABC, explicitly aimed at securing Lattoufs termination.

Goot was part of a secret WhatsApp group of the Lawyers for Israel organisation. The SMH reported that on just the second day of Lattoufs appointment, the WhatsApp group was used to orchestrate a stream of letters.

On the third day of Lattoufs employment, the day she was sacked, Nicky Stein, a Sydney conveyancing lawyer, posted a call to action in the WhatsApp group. It is important ABC hears not just from individuals in the community but specifically lawyers so they feel there is an actual legal threat, Stein wrote.

I have basically written to them and told them I expect a proper response, not a generic one, by [close of business] today or I would look to engage a senior counsel. I know there is probably no actionable offence against ABC but I didnt say I would be taking onejust investigating one. I have said that they should be terminating her employment immediately.

In her letter to ABC management and the federal Labor governments Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, Stein wrote: Anything short of terminating [Lattoufs] position would not be sufficient. By the end of that day, on December 20, Lattouf was indeed summarily fired. The stated reason was that she had shared on social media a post from the US-based Human Rights Watch, warning that Israel was using hunger and starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza.

In comments to the Herald, Stein and other members of the WhatsApp group denied any coordinated campaign, despite the alleged messages clearly showing otherwise. In addition to those messages cited in the Herald article, others have been posted to Twitter/X.

The episode is revealing from several standpoints.

The ABC is notoriously impervious to complaints from the public. For ordinary people, its in-house complaints mechanism is a road to nowhere, but members of the Lawyers for Israel group were receiving immediate responses from the highest levels of ABC management, including the chair of its board, Ita Buttrose. They were also, the messages indicate, obtaining information from other sources within the ABC about the progress of their campaign.

In the messages published, there is no indication that Lattouf had committed any wrongdoing or that anyone thought she had. In discussions about the prospects of her sacking early on December 20, Goot wrote, I understand she will be gone from morning radio from Friday. Stein complained that those additional three days of Lattouf on air were too long. Another individual asked if Lattouf would be sacked Due to her stance on Israel or other reasons? Goot replied: Israel.

In their public statements, the ECAJ claims to represent the Jewish community and to combat antisemitism. In these private exchanges, however, there was no suggestion that Lattouf was an antisemite. Instead, those organising the campaign made clear they were doing so purely because of what they perceived to be her position on the Israeli state, its actions in Gaza and elsewhere.

In doing so, at least some within the group appear to have discussed conduct they may wish was not subjected to scrutiny. Comments on social media have noted that sending or intimating legal threats, while privately admitting there is no actionable offence, falls decidedly in the grey area of ethical legal conduct.

Jewish individuals also came into the groups crosshairs. For the crime of representing Lattouf after her sacking, lawyer Josh Bornstein was slandered in the group as a traiter [sic].

The revelations about the Lawyers for Israel group have further inflamed anger over Lattoufs sacking. That includes at the ABC, where around 80 staff held a meeting in Sydney yesterday, to demand answers from senior management about the sacking. They reportedly discussed the possibility of industrial action if satisfactory replies were not forthcoming.

More generally, the leaked messages shed light on much of official politics over the past three months.

During that time, the Australian political and media establishment has sought to slander opposition to Israels onslaught against Gaza as antisemitism. In this campaign, bound up with the support of the ruling class for the genocide and for US imperialisms broader war drive in the Middle East, Zionist organisations have been front and centre.

Representatives from groups such as the ECAJ have been cited in the press on an almost daily basis. They have asserted that the primary issue in society is a new wave of antisemitism which they associate with any criticism of Israel. Within the mainstream media, including the ABC, there has been virtually no critical scrutiny of these claims, even though they are generally not substantiated by any factual evidence.

The bona fides of the Zionist leaders, as concerned representatives of the Jewish community, are taken at face value. The fact that they are proponents of a virulently ethno-nationalist and even fascistic ideology, opposed by many Jewish people, is elided. Their undoubted ties to the Israeli state and its agencies are never probed.

The question inevitably emerges: how many of the beat-ups, phony campaigns and witch-hunts of the past period can be traced back to shady, conspiratorial activities, such as the WhatsApp group that targeted Lattouf? Artists, athletes and other prominent figures who have shown the slightest opposition to the onslaught against Gaza have been the subject of venomous attacks which clearly involve some degree of behind-the-scenes coordination.

In late October, six former Australian prime ministers issued an open letter backing Israel as it was raining down bombs on Gaza and asserting mass antisemitism. The coordination of the letter and its origins remain murky. Paul Keating, the only former prime minister not to have appended his name to the letter, alleged that it had actually been written by Mark Liebler, a representative of one of the main Zionist lobbyists in the country.

Then in late November, an open letter was released, signed by more than 600 prominent individuals, including dozens of politicians and corporate chiefs. The strange document alleged an unprecedented wave of antisemitism, which its signatories pledged to fight. While the letter included a throw-away reference to Islamophobia, the thrust was clear by its linking to a website entitled Say No to Antisemitism. Who created the website remains unclear.

In context, the letter was part of the broader push to equate mass opposition to the Gaza genocide with antisemitism. The letter, which cited unsubstantiated ECAJ statistics on a rise in antisemitism and was coordinated through private WhatsApp groups, had the character of a petition by the rich and powerful against the general population.

The turn to frame-ups, dirty tricks and politically-motivated victimisations goes beyond the immediate issue of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. It is part of a broader erosion of democratic rights and civil liberties, amid an eruption of militarism and war and massive social inequality.
The arrival of a US delegation in Taipei on Sunday evening, just a day after Taiwans elections, is a deliberately provocative move by the US designed to further heighten conflicts with China. While the delegation is described as unofficial, the American Institute in Taiwan, Washingtons de facto embassy in Taipei, said the Biden administration had asked its participants to travel to Taiwan, supposedly in their private capacity.

From left, Chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Laura Rosenberger, former US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and former US National security advisor Stephen Hadley meet at the Presidential Office in Taipei, January 15, 2024. [AP Photo/ADen Hsu]

The bipartisan delegation is headed by former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg. They met with the current Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen and president-elect William Lai Ching-te. Both Tsai and Lai are from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has fuelled tensions with Beijing by promoting independence from China and strengthening ties with the US.

Meeting with Tsai on Monday, Hadley heaped praise on Taiwans democracy as a shining example for the world. He reaffirmed that the American commitment to Taiwan is rock solid, principled and bipartisan, adding we look forward to continuity in the relationship between Taiwan and the United States under the new administration.

The choice of the words rock solid is deliberate. It is a reference to repeated comments by President Joseph Biden that the US would unequivocally support Taiwan in any conflict with China. Bidens remarks effectively end the longstanding US policy of strategic ambiguity, leaving open the question of whether or not Washington would back Taiwan in all circumstances. The aim of strategic ambiguity was not only to rein in Beijing, but to prevent Taipei from declaring formal independencea move that China has warned would provoke war.

Strategic ambiguity was a corollary of the One China policy that has formed the basis for US-China relations since 1979, when Washington established diplomatic relations with Beijing and cut all ties with Taipei. De-facto, the US recognised Beijing as the legitimate government of all China including Taiwan, while opposing any forcible reunification of the island with the mainland.

Biden, following Donald Trump, has deliberately aggravated tensions with China over Taiwan by all but tearing up the One China policy. His administration has ended diplomatic protocols limiting high-level visits, boosted arms sales and increased provocative US naval passages through the narrow Taiwan Strait separating Taiwan from the Chinese mainland.

Already at war with Russia in Ukraine and backing Israels genocide in Gaza, the Biden administration is deliberately goading China into seizing Taiwan. These expanding conflicts and confrontations are increasingly assuming the shape of a devastating world war to shore up the global hegemony of US imperialism.

Lai pledged in the course of the election campaign to maintain the previous policy of president Tsai toward China: simply stating that Taiwan was already independent and therefore there was no need to formally declare independence. Having secured election, Lai, who has previously described himself as a pragmatic worker for independence, may not adhere to that policy, further provoking Beijing.

The lack of formal independence has diplomatic as well as economic consequences. Taiwan has no seat in the UN nor in a host of other international bodies, including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. It has diplomatic relations with only a small number of nations. That fell to 12 after Nauru announced on Monday that it was switching its diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing.

Lai met with the US delegation at the DPP headquarters, where he declared that freedom and democracy were the most valuable assets for the Taiwanese people and core values shared by Taiwan and the United States. He praised the delegations visit as meaningful and a demonstration of the strength of the partnership between Taiwan and the US.

All the paeans to democracy ignore the fact that for decades the US supported the brutal dictatorship established by the Kuomintang (KMT), which fled the mainland after the 1949 Chinese Revolution and ruled Taiwan under martial law until 1987. While elections are now held, the state apparatus of the dictatorship has not undergone any fundamental reform.

Lais victory in last Saturdays election may well turn out to be pyrrhic. He won the presidency in a first-past-the-post vote with just 40.1 percent of ballots cast. He is the first to win the presidency on less than 50 percent. His two opponentsHou Yu-ih from the KMT and Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan Peoples Party (TPP)both favoured an easing of tensions with China and received a combined vote of 59.9 percent.

Moreover, the DPP lost control of the 113-seat Legislative Yuan. The KMT now holds 52 seats, the DPP 51 seats and the TPP 8 seats. The KMT declared on Tuesday it would definitely fulfil the role of largest party in parliament and exert the strongest supervisory power.

Lai is not due to be inaugurated until May 20, but the Taiwanese premier, Chen Chien-jen, announced on Tuesday that the current cabinet will resign prior to a meeting of the new cabinet on February 1. Under the constitution, the president appoints the premier, who appoints the cabinet. The potential exists for a standoff between the president and parliament.

The new administration also faces rising social tensions. Election period polling revealed that the top concern nominated was not China but rather deteriorating living conditions. Slow economic growth, a lack of jobs, low wages and rising prices, especially for housing, have all contributed to falling support for the DPP, which has been in power for eight years. Many voters, particularly youth, are alienated from both the DPP and KMT and have turned to the newly-established TPP to at least register their opposition.

The islands developing social and political crisis is compounded by the growing dangers of a US-provoked war with China. A worried editorial in the Financial Times on Monday appealed for moderation on both sides of Taiwan Strait, which it described as one of the worlds most dangerous flashpoints. After calling on Beijing and Taipei to take steps to dampen tensions, it declared:

The US should carefully calibrate its official communications on Taiwan, taking care not to goad Beijing unnecessarily. The current geopolitical balance around Taiwan is both incendiary and fragile. But it remains immeasurably preferable to the alternative: the eruption of conflict across the straits that could escalate into superpower war.

Washington, however, has no intention of dialling back its provocations against Beijing, particularly over Taiwan. US imperialism will stop at nothing to end what it regards as the chief threat to its global dominationChinas economic riseand will intensify its reckless confrontation with Beijing throughout the Indo Pacific and internationally.
Palestinians line up for free food during the ongoing Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip in Rafah, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali) [AP Photo/Hatem Ali]

The United States military carried out a new round of illegal attacks on Yemen Tuesday, the third set of bombings in just under a week. The latest round of strikes makes clear that the United States is escalating a broader war throughout the Middle East, with Iran and its allies as the central targets, amid the ongoing US-Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The US military said its strike early Tuesday targeted missile launch sites in Yemen, which the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels are using to target US warships providing logistical support for the genocide in Gaza. The latest attack follows strikes on Thursday and Friday.

Also on Tuesday, the United States reported that two Navy SEALs who were lost at sea last Thursday, and presumed dead, were on a mission to seize what the US claimed were weapons from Iran being supplied to the Houthi rebels.

The escalation of the war comes amid new and desperate warnings about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, with the United Nations warning that every single person in Gaza faces hunger.

In a report published Tuesday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights warned that Gazans now make up 80 percent of all people facing famine or catastrophic hunger around the world, as a result of Israels systematic bombardment and blockade of food, water, medicine and electricity.

The report warned:

Currently, every single person in Gaza is hungry. A quarter of the population is starving and struggling to find food and drinkable water, and famine is imminent. Pregnant women are not receiving adequate nutrition and healthcare, putting their lives at risk. In addition, all children under five  335,000  are at high risk of severe malnutrition as the risk of famine conditions continues to increase. A whole generation is now in danger of suffering from stunting.

The UN warned that hunger and malnutrition in childhood causes irreparable physical and cognitive impairments, and will undermine the learning capacity of an entire generation.

The UN report made it clear that Israel is the responsible party for the humanitarian disaster. It stated:

Nowhere is safe in Gaza. Since October 9, Israel declared and imposed a total siege on Gaza, depriving 2.3 million Palestinians of water, food, fuel, medicine, and medical supplies. This is against the backdrop of a 17-year Israeli blockade, which before this war made approximately half of the people in Gaza food insecure and more than 80 percent reliant on humanitarian aid.

It concluded, It is unprecedented to make an entire civilian population go hungry this completely and quickly. Israel is destroying Gazas food system and using food as a weapon against the Palestinian people.

In a meeting with a Biden administration official, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu allegedly declared, There is no humanitarian disaster in Gaza, according to news reports in the Israeli media.

Against the backdrop of last weeks hearings at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, US officials have only doubled down on their support for the genocide.

In an interview with CNBC, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked to respond to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus declaration that Israel will continue its onslaught on Gaza in defiance of The Hague.

To this, Blinken replied, From day one, we strongly supported Israels right to defend itself. We strongly supported its right to try to ensure that October 7 never happens again.

In a separate statement in the interview, Blinken declared, What were focused on is trying to make sure that October 7 never happens again. That should be the bar. That should be the measure. He proclaimed, absurdly, that Israel has made good progress.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden spoke with German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz and the two leaders reaffirmed their support for Israels right to self-defense.

The US media, meanwhile, is escalating its demands for a wider war throughout the Middle East. In an editorial titled Iran and the Houthis Dont Get Bidens Message, the Wall Street Journal declared: Irans Houthi proxy militia keeps firing missiles at US ships, and two Navy SEALs are missing at sea after a mission to seize Iranian-made missile parts bound for the Houthis.

Saying it sure looks like the Houthis and Iran are at war with the US, the Journal demanded an even more aggressive military response.

As of Friday, the death toll in the Gaza Strip stood at 31,497, according to the Euro-Med Monitor, including both those officially reported dead and those who have been missing for more than 14 days, most likely buried in the rubble.

Gazas Ministry of Health reported that between Monday and Tuesday, 158 Palestinians were killed and another 320 people were injured. The UN noted, On January 15, in the early morning, 20 people, the majority women and children, were reported killed when a house was struck in the Al-Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City. In a separate attack the same day, at about 19:00, 12 people were reportedly killed and another 12 injured when a house between the towns of Khan Younis and Rafah was struck.

In a statement on Twitter, Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, declared that she never thought we would witness mass starvation of these proportions used in the 21st century. She continued: Yet here it is in Gaza, after 100 days of bombing, with insufficient food, fuel, and water allowed in. She added, Children are dying first. Adults will follow. Before our eyes.
Protest letters continue flowing from workers, youth and their organisations around the world condemning the violent attack on two members of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka by pro-government thugs. Those assaulted were Dehin Wasantha, a veteran university worker and well-known fighter for workers rights and socialism, and Lakshman Fernando, a full-time SEP party worker.

Dehin Wasantha, one month after being attacked by Podujana Pragathishili Sevaka Sangamaya thugs

Fernando and Wasantha were physically assaulted at the University of Moratuwa on November 30 by Indika Perera and Suranga Piyawardenathe president and secretary of the Moratuwa university branch of the Podujana Pragathishili Sevaka Sangamaya (PPSS). The PPSS is a trade union affiliated to the ruling Sri Lankan Podujana Peramuna party.

The two SEP members were campaigning with other party members near the rear gate of the university for SEP public meetings on the Centenary of Trotskyism addressed by Joseph Kishore, the national secretary of the SEP (US). They were attacked with long wooden clubs, causing serious injuries.

Wasantha suffered two fractured fingers and had to go on medical leave for nearly a month, as his fingers took a considerable period to mend. Lakshman was badly bruised and left with a neck injury.

When the case on the attack was brought before a judge at the Magistrates Court in Moratuwa on January 8, the magistrate ordered that the case be referred to a mandatory Mediation Board. The case will be recalled at the court on May 20. The Mediation Board will take the case on January 20.

The SEP and its sister parties of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) have launched a campaign in defence of Fernando and Wasantha, and the SEPs democratic right to conduct political campaigns. We are publishing here some of the protest letters that we have received.

Nick Barrickman, SEP member in the US:

To whom it concerns,

I am writing to denounce in the strongest terms possible the attack carried out on Socialist Equality Party members Dehin Wasantha and Lakshman Fernando.

The Technical Officers Union thugs were allowed bail despite having a clearly premeditated plan to corner and assault SEP members who were doing nothing more than exercising their rights to promote their views. In addition, the taxi driver who assisted their attack was not detained.

Such brutality is the hallmark of gangsters, who as such belong behind bars. It is doubly troublesome that they are connected to the islands governing party, which launched attacks on students involved in protesting its policies. It is a clear sign that Sri Lanka is tipping into a state of authoritarian dictatorship. You must oppose it.

Sincerely,

Nick Barrickman

Socialist Equality Party member in the United States

Douglas Lyons

To whom it may concern,

Im writing this email in protest against the violent attacks on two Socialist Equality Party members, Dehin Wasantha and Lakshman Fernando, in Sri Lanka. Two PPSS bureaucrats, Indika Perera and Suranga Piyawardena, who have the backing of SLPP, attempted to disrupt the democratic right of the SEP to campaign for a public meeting.

Our international party will not be cowed by this cowardly act to silence the growing support among workers, youth, and the masses throughout Sri Lanka and Asia for the program and perspective of the SEP.

These two PPSS thugs should be criminally charged to the fullest extent of the law. An investigation should be launched to criminally indict any and all co-conspirators. And measures should be taken to allow freedom of speech and assembly for all, free from violent intimidation, attacks and all other forms to silence opposing ideas.

Sincerely,

Douglas Lyons

Hans Steltner from Norway:

To: Attorney General, Mr. Sanjay Rajaratnam



I denounce the violent attack on two members of the Socialist Equality

Party (SEP) on last Thursday evening by ruling party thugs.



Hans Steltner

Norway, Lillehammer

Jayasakthi from India:

I strongly condemn the violent attack on the members of the SEP in Sri Lanka while campaigning for the upcoming lectures by the SEP Secretary from US. They are fearing the development of the SEP in Sri Lanka to organize workers to lead for the socialist revolution.

With warm regards,

Jayasakthi

Bhuvana

Hello:

I would like to join the SEP in denouncing the attack by union thugs on our members and supporters for carrying out legitimate tasks of the party.

Shame on them! Courage is what our members showed, while the thugs, true to their character, showed cowardice. We wish them a speedy recovery, and we support their courageous work. Our response must be to urgently raise the consciousness of the working class so we can fight and usher in a socialist society sooner.

BT

William Mertz, SEP in the US

Attorney General Mr. Sanjay Rajaratnam,

On December 7th, two members of the Socialist Equality Party, Mr Dehin Wasantha and Lakshman Fernando, were attacked by trade union goons at the Moratuwa university campus while handing out leaflets, engaging in the exercise of their democratic right of free speech.

The international working class denounces these Nazi tactics in the fullest of terms and demands the perpetrators of this crime be prosecuted to the maximum extent allowed by law.

The revolutionary movement of the working class will not be deterred by fascist thugs armed with clubs supported by compliant and corrupt police. This incident is indicative of the actions of a government mired in corruption.

William Mertz

Socialist Equality Party USA

Dmitri Church

Dear comrades Dehin Wasantha and Lakshman Fernando,

The outrageous attacks on your persons by the PPSS thugs reveals both the strength of our movement to unify the working class behind a socialist program and the utter bankruptcy of the trade union thugs that are fighting to shackle workers in every corner of the globe. Their cowardly attack exposes more deeply their complete alienation and hostility to the needs of the working masses. Nonetheless, that you should have to pay a physical price to demonstrate this is unconscionable. I believe I do not speak alone when I say that your courage inspires us all to fight harder for our cause.

Fraternally,

Dmitri Church

Kristina Betinis, Chicago, US

Dear Sirs:

The targeted political attack at the Moratuwa campus by the leaders of the PPSS, Indika Perera and Suranga Piyawardena, on SEP members Dehin Wasantha and Laskhman Fernando is a crime against the rights of working people everywhere.

Did leading figures in the SLPP have knowledge of plans to attack and intimidate the SEP members? This crime deserves to be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.

Sincerely,

Kristina Betinis

Chicago, Illinois, United States

* * * *

The SEP is calling on all those who are concerned to defend democratic rights of freedom of expression to register their opposition by sending protest letters to the following addresses of relevant authorities with copies to the SEP (wswscmb@sltnet.lk):

Senior Professor N.D. Gunawardena, Vice Chancellor, University of Moratuwa

Email: vc@uom.lk or ndg@uom.lk

Attorney General, Mr. Sanjay Rajaratnam

Email: agdurgentmotions@gmail.com
The Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network and the World Socialist Web Site are holding an emergency online meeting this Saturday, January 20, at 1 p.m. Eastern / 12 p.m. Central to discuss how to organize to stop mass layoffs in the auto industry. Register here.

Second-shift workers at Warren Truck Assembly Plant

Supplemental employees (SEs) at Stellantis are appealing to full-time workers in the factories to fight the termination of hundreds of SEs last week. On January 12, with no prior notice, 539 SEs, also known as temporary workers, were permanently fired in Metro Detroit and Kokomo, Indiana, and told their medical insurance would be cut off by the end of the month.

According to reports the WSWS has received from workers, another 100 SEs were fired at the Indiana Transmission Plant in Kokomo on Tuesday with more mass firings taking place later this week.

The termination of the SEs, many of whom are younger and single-parent workers, were carried out with the full complicity of the UAW bureaucracy. UAW President Shawn Fain and Vice President Rich Boyer told these workers they would be converted to full-time status after nine months of service if their proposed labor agreement was ratified. But this was only a ruse to get the pro-company deal passed. Fain & Co. knew full well the company would fire thousands of SEs before they were rolled over.

In a January 13 letter to local union presidents, UAW Vice President Boyer admitted even more job cuts are on the way, declaring, There will be a significant reduction of roughly 1,600 SEs that will take place within the next few months, if not in lesser time.

There were 5,291 SEs employed by Stellantis as of November 20, 2023, according to Boyers letter. The company agreed to covert 1,957 company wide, plus an additional 900 at the Toledo Assembly Plant, he said.

This means the UAW gave Stellantis the green light to fire 2,434 workers, or nearly half of the SEs. To add insult to injury, the 900 Toledo SEs scheduled to be rolled over will be immediately laid off as part of 1,200 job cuts at the plant next month, with few prospects of being recalled for months or even years.

In addition, as many as 2,465 full-time workers at the Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack are being temporarily laid off next month, although these job cuts could become permanent if the company eliminates the third shift.

This should be called the most deceiving contract in UAW history!

The number that Stellantis admitted to as far as the number of people being laid off is way off, a full-time worker at the MOPAR parts distribution center in the Detroit suburb of Centerline said. They are laying off 3,800 from Toledo and Mack, on top of the SE cuts just announced there are still those laid off at Belvidere, at least 1,700, and those at Centerline that are on short work week that may happen through March. This should be called the most deceiving contract in UAW history! We still have surprises ahead!

Underscoring the desperate conditions fired SEs face, a worker at the Warren Truck plant in suburban Detroit, where 171 SEs are being let go, told the WSWS, I have four kids and I live in my car. I needed my job at WTAP so I can finally get us a house and its all over. Please help. I was hired in permanent at UPS and lost it when WTAP put me on the schedule, and I got hope to get rolled. Now I have nothing.

The job cuts have provoked a firestorm of opposition from SEs, who have denounced Fain and other UAW officials for lying to them. A WSWS article which broke the story has been read and shared by workers on social media more than 20,000 times. Fired supplemental workers have also given interviews to local Detroit news outlets.

Hannah, a fired SE and member of the Warren Truck Rank-and-File Committee, told the WSWS, The UAW had the audacity to lie and act like they were fighting for us. We were the lowest paid workers, and they took our dues every time. They took out the largest sum from our signing bonuses too. But we had no protection.

This was a premeditated attack, she continued, and the union did nothing. Fain and the union reps in the shop were hyping us, telling us we were going to get rolled over to full time. You have workers doing two jobs to survive and our hopes and dreams were tied up in getting a full-time job.

She continued, The full-timers are not safe either. The wrath is going to be unleashed on them now that they dont have SEs to work 12-hours, six and seven days a week. We are all in the same fight and the quicker we can unify, the quicker we can hold them accountable and get what we want.

The Stand Up strike was BS. It deprived us of the right to strike. We should have all been out together to hit them where it hurts. The union and the company will continue to get away with this until we stop them. Right now, there is a lot of anger, but we need to connect, unite and have the facts. Otherwise, were just going to sit around and be angry.

A member of the Warren Truck Rank-and-File Committee told the WSWS, These workers have families, they have medical bills, and now theyve lost their jobs. The company did it right after the holidays, when workers build up debt and expect to work it off. If they did it to the SEs, we, the full-timers, are next.

I remember before the contract was passed the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network warned that they were going to fire the SEs and that this was going to happen to full-timers too. It has taken only two months to show we were right.

Kokomo, Indiana: If I dont get another job, well have to sell our home

A fired SE at the Indiana Transmission Plant in Kokomo, Indiana, told the WSWS that as many as 100 SEs were fired in her plant on Tuesday. I found out when I went to my employee dashboard, and I couldnt get in. I went to Human Resources, and they said I was fired. They claimed it was either work performance or absenteeism. I have never missed a day of work and my work performance is great. I make my cycle time, which is 43 seconds. There is no way I could mess it up. A computer reads what I am doing. In fact, Ive been asked to help on other jobs.

My husbands disability check is getting cut and I am only collecting unemployment of $306 a week. If I dont get another job, well have to sell our home, she said.

During local union meetings in Kokomo on Tuesday, UAW Local 685 officials claimed they knew nothing about the planned firings, she said, with local union officials saying the UAW International knew this was coming and got the local union official to do their dirty work in pushing the contract.

Asked about Fains phony stand up strike, she said, We should have all walked out at the same time. We make between 500-600 transmissions a shift, so thats 1,500 per day. So, two weeks into the strike, we gave them 22,500 transmissions. How is that hurting the company?

During a Martin Luther King event in Detroit on Monday, Fain was silent on the mass firings. He joined with Democratic Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell in praising the UAW contracts as a historic victory for workers, even though they pave the way for the greatest job cuts in decades as the industry converts to electric vehicle production at the expense of workers jobs and wages.

In a Facebook Livestream event Tuesday, Fain said, We got the company to roll over 3,000 SEs, giving them life-changing raises and benefits and claimed the company made the unilateral decision to fire them.

SEs posted dozens of angry comments while he spoke. A typical one said, How can I really say we won when 550 of my supplemental brothers and sisters just got fired through no fault of their own, with more to come. I cant possibly look one of those brothers and sisters in the face and say we won, while theyre out on the street looking for a job in this 5-10 degree weather.

Flummoxed by the outpouring of support for the SEs, Fain angrily responded, The company chose to lay off the workers, we did not authorize it. The union doesnt lay people off. Boyer is working hard to address this.

In fact, the UAW bureaucracy will do nothing to defend SEs or any other workers. That is why the network of autoworkers rank-and-file committees, including at the Warren Truck plant, must be expanded to unite SEs and full-time workers to wage a common fight to defend all jobs.
Israels murderous campaign in Gaza claimed another 163 lives between Tuesday and Wednesday and injured another 350. Close to 25,000 people have now been officially recorded killed since October 7, and over 61,500 injured.

A Palestinian walks through the destruction by the Israeli bombardment in the Nusseirat refugee camp in Gaza Strip, January 16, 2024 [AP Photo/Adel Hana]

According to the human rights organisation Euro-Med Monitor, at least 120 mass graves have been established to bury the dead, including in residential neighbourhoods and courtyards, wedding halls, stadiums, hospital courtyards, schools and mosques.

At least 12 existing cemeteries have been attacked by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Euro-Med reports, with graves bulldozed and bodies and tombstones destroyed or removed.

Hundreds of thousands more Palestinians face death by famine and disease. On Tuesday, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights warned every single person in Gaza is hungry. A quarter of the population is starving and struggling to find food and drinkable water, and famine is imminent.

Writing at the end of last year, Chair of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh Professor Devi Sridhar referred to a study in the Lancet in the early 2000s which found that crude mortality rates are on average increased sixty times by conflict and mass displacement. Applying that prediction to Gaza, Sridhar explained, the world faces the prospect of almost a quarter of Gazas 2 million populationclose to half a million human beingsdying within a year.

This and more is the fascist Israeli governments intended outcome. According to Israels Channel 12, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told heads of local councils located near the border with Gaza that he anticipated the war continuing into 2025.

The genocide is being sped along by the IDFs deliberate destruction of Gazas health infrastructure21 of the 35 hospitals in Gaza are no longer functioning.

Early Wednesday morning, a staff member and a patient in intensive care were wounded by Israeli fire in the Jordanian field hospital in Khan Younis. Jordan accused Israel of a flagrant breach of international law. The nearby Nasser hospital has also come under repeated attack.

Al Jazeeras Hani Mahmoud expressed Gazans fear that the same destruction will be visited on the south as in the north of the Strip, where the vast majority of healthcare facilities were attacked, destroyed and left severely damaged to the point that theyre pushed out of service completely.

On Wednesday night residents reported the most intense assault on the area so far, with tanks just metres way from the hospital. We were in terror. All the kids were screaming and crying, Yasser Zaqzouq told the BBC. We are living in fear and terror, said another. One described fleeing under fire to the city of Rafah with a few blankets and now not knowing where to go.

A nurse told NBC News the situation inside the hospital was disastrous.

Al Jazeeras Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Rafah, explained, The strikes have not stopped over the last few hours across the Gaza Strip, despite the fact that Israel says that theyre moving to a completely new phase with low-intensity bombing, referring to the United States governments lying claims that Israel is scaling back its offensive.

Israeli forces are also disrupting the distribution of extremely limited supplies of aid. According to United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, between January 1 and 10, just three of a planned 21 deliveries of humanitarian aid were able to reach the northern part of Gaza, with convoys blocked by the IDF.

Returning from his fourth visit to the Strip, head of the UNs Palestinian Refugee agency Phillipe Lazzarini described, Hundreds of thousands of people living now in the street, living in these plastic makeshift tents, sleeping on the concrete They dont see how they can continue to bring up their children in this type of environment. People start to have difficulties to project how the future will look like.

This is proceeding under another communications blackout, this one lasting six daysthe longest since the war beganwith near-total telephone and internet outages, according to monitoring group NetBlocks.

Palestinians in the West Bank are also being silenced, writes the Arab Centre for the Advancement of Social Media, for simply expressing their views or opinions on various online platforms, through a variety of measures including censorship, surveillance and arrests.

Hundreds are also being killed in the West Bank365 since October 7. At least another 10 were killed in drone strikes and shooting in the Balata and Tulkarem refugee camps on Wednesday, amid IDF raids.

Palestinian Red Crescent Society medical workers reported their ambulances being blocked and fired on in responding to the scenes of the strikes. Two staff were wounded in Tulkarem. Only a week ago, four PRCS medics and their two patients were killed in central Gaza when their ambulance was targeted by an Israeli strike.

Residents in Tulkarem described IDF soldiers going house to house, blowing doors off hinges, carrying out mass arrests and interrogating Palestinians. Reporting from the camp for Al Jazeera, Nida Ibrahim explained, Israeli forces have been raiding Palestinian homes one after another. They took many Palestinians to two areas. What weve seen a lot of lately is the Israeli practice of taking Palestinians out and detaining them for hours and hours for what they call field interrogations.

Elsewhere in the West Bank, raids were carried out in al-Eizariya, Beitin, the Jazalone camp and nearby towns. Checkpoints were expanded and tightened in East Jerusalem and Ramallah. At least 85 Palestinians were detained, according to the Wafa news agency.

Overall, nearly 6,000 have been taken into custody in the West Bank since October 7, with the IDF carrying out 40 raids a day on average.

On Tuesday, Palestinian shopkeeper Abu Ras reported being used as a human shield during a raid in Duraas he was marched ahead of an IDF soldier using his shoulder as a prop to balance his rifle. He told me that he will use me as a human shield, that young people shouldnt hurl stones, Ras told Reuters, You will walk in front of me. Thats what happened and he took me toward the center of the town.
Three years after Donald Trump failed to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election by laying siege to the US Capitol, the ex-president and would-be dictator won the Iowa caucuses in dominating fashion.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. [AP Photo/Andrew Harnik]

Trump garnered over 51 percent of the vote, earning him 20 delegates. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis placed second with 21 percent of the vote, accruing 9 delegates, while former South Carolina Governor and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley placed third with 19 percent, good for 8 delegates.



Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy finished fourth with 8 percent of the vote and 3 delegates. Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who finished a very distant fifth (0 percent), announced they were suspending their presidential campaigns after the votes were tallied. Ramaswamy has since endorsed Trump.



Mondays overall results were very favorable to the former president. While DeSantis finished second, his margin of defeat, more than 30 points, was the largest in Iowa caucuses history. Since announcing his campaign last year, DeSantis has plummeted in the polls, dropping from 40 percent in national averages to under 30 and never once besting Trump.



Despite the distant second-place finish, the Florida governor vowed to continue in the race, a boon for Trump, since it further splits the field, preventing non-Trump voters from consolidating behind Haley, who has positioned herself as more of an anti-Trump candidate compared to DeSantis.

Trump, DeSantis and Haley are all running on variations of Trumps reactionary and nationalist Make America Great Again program, with a heavy emphasis on anti-immigrant chauvinism. All of the candidates have pledged to continue building the US-Mexico border wall, provide billions to the border police and carry out mass deportations.



Haley, unlike Trump and, to a lesser extent, DeSantis, has pledged to continue unstinting US military funding for Ukraine.

While Trump dominated the contest, his victory does not mean that a mass fascist movement has materialized within the United States. It does, however, underscore the transformation of the Republican Party into a fascistic party and the existence of a very real and menacing danger of dictatorship.

The caucuses are far from a representative sample of the electorate. In Iowa, only registered Republicans, of which there are some 752,000 in the state, could participate. By its nature, the caucus form of primary contest, in which eligible Republican voters gather at locations across the state and vote in person, mobilizes the active base of the party and reflects its political views. These tend today to be further to the right than the Republican Partys voters as a whole.



That said, the absence of any genuinely democratic or progressive alternative in the Democratic Party or the political establishment as a whole to the fascistic right, resulting in a contest between different varieties of political reaction, enables the far right to benefit electorally. This is an international phenomenon, as seen in the election of Meloni in Italy, Milei in Argentina and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands and the growing strength of Le Pen in France and the Alternative for Germany in that country.

The entire bourgeois political establishment is lurching ever further to the right, with its nominal left wing increasingly embracing the extreme nationalist policieson such issues as immigrationof the far right.

In the US elections, the choice being offered the working class at present by the capitalist two-party system is between the proponent of ever wider war, Biden, and the fascist Trump. Both are widely hated, with polls showing more than half of voters disgusted with the prospect of an election between Biden and Trump.

Freezing temperatures coupled with crumbling infrastructure led to only 110,298 Iowans actually casting votes on Monday night, roughly 15 percent of those eligible, and less than 5 percent of the over 2 million eligible voters in the state. Fewer votes were cast on Monday than in any caucuses held in the previous 16 years.



While Trump received 56,260 votes in Mondays caucus, which was good enough for 51 percent, in 2016, he received some 11,000 fewer votes, 45,427, but that number represented only 24.3 percent of the vote total.



Trump consolidated his support across the state, winning every single county except Johnson County, the site of the University of Iowa. Trump lost Johnson county to Haley by one vote.



In his victory speech from Des Moines, Trump, called on his Republican challengers to drop out and for everybody to come together and support his campaign. Shelving his normal venomous tone, he cooed: We want to come together, whether its Republican or Democrat, or liberal or conservative, it would be so nice if we could come together and straighten out the world and straighten out the problems and straighten out all the death and destruction that we are witnessing

While DeSantis and Haley finished a distant second and third to Trump, receiving 23,420 and 21,085 votes, respectively, both candidates pledged to continue on to the New Hampshire primary, which is scheduled to be held on January 23. Unlike the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire contest is an open primary election, which allows voters not registered with either party to participate in the vote.



The latest polls show Haley roughly 10 points behind Trump, while DeSantis, who has pulled advertising in the state, is only polling in the single digits.



After New Hampshire, the next Republican contest is the Nevada primary and caucuses, which will be held on February 6 and 8 respectively. Trump and DeSantis are participating only in the caucuses, not in the primary election, while Haley is participating only in the primary. The state of Nevada is running the primary, while the Nevada Republican Party is running the caucuses. Delegates will be awarded only through the caucus process.

In addition to maintaining support within the Republican base, Trump has gained endorsements from leading Republican legislators. Within minutes of the Iowa caucuses being called for Trump, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (Republican-Louisiana) released a statement congratulating Trump on the resounding victory in Iowa.



Like Trump, Johnson called on his fellow Republicans to unite behind Trump, writing that his decisive and historic victory tonight should move our Party closer to uniting so we can achieve the ultimate victory in November.



In addition to Johnson, Trump has already secured endorsements from over half of the Republican House, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise (Louisiana), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (Minnesota) and chair of the conference, Elise Stefanik (New York).



While Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) and second-ranking Republican Senator John Thune (South Dakota) have yet to endorse Trump, half of the Republican Senate already has. Following his victory Monday, Trump surrogate Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) tweeted that it was clear to menow more than everthat Trump will be the Republican nominee and will eventually be the 47th President of the United States.



Republican senators who have already endorsed Trump include Tom Cotton (Arkansas), Josh Hawley (Missouri), Marco Rubio (Florida), Tommy Tuberville (Alabama) and J.D. Vance (Ohio).


Rarely has a television drama had the social and political impact of ITVs four-part series Mr Bates vs the Post Office. It plunged Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Conservative government into a major political crisis by its exposure of Britains worst ever miscarriage of justice affecting nearly 1,000 sub-postmasters.

There have been few occasions when a television show has been so central in political life. Testifying to the shows quality, this also points to a wider issue: Art matters.

The Justice for Sub-Postmasters Alliance (JFSA) founded in 2009 as depicted in Mr Bates vs the Post Office [Photo: courtest: ITV Studios]

The shows lead actor, Toby Jones, said of the supportive response among the population to Mr Bates vs the Post Office, In most of the political upheavals in history, not least ancient Greece and revolutionary Russia, that drama has been at the centre of political change, that people have used it to humanise, dramatise and bring forth change.

Audience response indicates how receptive viewers are to serious dramas about serious issues. Mr Bates became the most watched programme of the year on any channel, with an average audience of 9.8 million viewers per episode. The first episode has been seen by 10.9 million viewers. The series and its accompanying documentary, Mr Bates vs the Post Office: The Real Story, have been streamed 16.6 million times.

This led the BBC to repeat its 2022 Panorama documentary, The Post Office Scandal, outlining the plight of hundreds of Post Office sub-postmasters wrongly accused of theft and false accounting. Mr Bates dramatises their story.

Within days, the government announced the possibility of an unprecedented blanket amnesty for the 900 convictions linked to the deeply flawed Horizon accounting program and the cover-up mounted by Fujitsu, the Post Office and successive governments. Only 93 of these wrongful convictions have been overturned so far.

If the scale of injustice surprised some viewers, the scale of audience response startled the government. In 1995, John Majors Conservative government announced the procurement process for a new computerised Post Office system. The successful bidder was Fujitsu, with its Horizon system, largely because it was the cheapest option in most categories. The 1.5 billion contract was financed under the private finance initiative (PFI) model introduced by Major but championed by the 1997-2010 Tony Blair/Gordon Brown Labour governments.

Rolled out from 1999, initially under Labour, Horizon eventually covered 18,000 post offices. Postmasters immediately experienced unexplained accounting shortfalls but received no help when they reported them. Instead, the Post Office started prosecuting. Between 1999 and 2015, 736 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses were convicted.

Citing postmasters contractual liability for any shortfalls, the Post Office hounded them out of their jobs, forcing many into bankruptcy and leading to the imprisonment of 236. At least four committed suicide. Lives were ruined.

The Post Office sought to suppress the truth about Fujitsus faulty IT system, issuing legal threats to the press and lying to parliamentary committees while destroying evidence. Mr Bates tackles the sub-postmasters fight for justice against this.

Few media outlets covered the story regularly. Actor Will Mellor described cast members saying, Can you believe what these bastards put these people through? Can you believe they knew what they were doing and they just kept turning the screw?

The Post Office stonewalled victims seeking help. As Alan Bates, who founded the Justice for Sub-Postmasters Alliance (JFSA) in 2009, put it, everyone accepts that there can be problems with computer systems, that is everyone but the Post Office.

Alan Bates, played by Toby Jones [Photo: courtesy, ITV Studios]

Bates, played by Toby Jones, is the central figure in writer Gwyneth Hughess dramatisation. He and his partner Suzanne (played by Julie Hesmondhalgh) took on a post office in 1998. His first Horizon problem, in 2000, was rectified, but further shortfalls appeared. The Post Office terminated his contract with three months notice.

The series opens with the Post Office attempting to shut down Batess office before his contract expires. He refuses to let them in, adamant that his accounting is not at fault. The real Bates has said that previous experience with similar systems had given him enough experience to suspect the truth they were wrong, and I knew they were wrong.

The Post Office insisted Horizon could not be accessed remotely. But it was a network system, as Bates has explained, and any networked system has the potential for allowing remote access somewhere along the line if you have the means of accessing it.

We see each victim being told when ringing a help line that they were alone in having problems. Bates had refused to sign accounts he knew were wrong, but Jo Hamilton (Monica Dolan) is arrested on charges of theft and false accounting. Noel Thomas (Ifan Huw Dafydd), convicted and imprisoned, spends his 60th birthday behind bars. When Lee Castleton (Mellor) fails in attempts to defend his innocence in court, the Post Office saddle him with punitive costs of 350,000. National Federation of Sub-Postmasters rep Michael Rudkin (Shaun Dooley) saw Fujitsus Horizon department remotely accessing live accounts and found his own system showing retributive losses immediately afterwards.

Jo Hamilton, played by Monica Dolan [Photo: courtesy, ITV Studios]

The uniformly strong casting reflects these calculatedly isolated stories. Toby Joness quiet but doggedly intelligent Bates is a brilliant focus for the kind-hearted Jo, the pugnacious Lee and the bitter Michael.

Hughes brings out the full impact of the Post Offices criminal conduct on each of them when they finally share their stories through the JFSA. Dooley is outstanding in Rudkins frustrated rage and guilt at having blamed his wife. Mellor is immensely moving when Lee breaks down for the first time.

Lee Castleton, played by Will Mellor [Photo: courtesy, ITV Studios]

Jones has said, You make drama like this because it's about peoples relationship with their community It shows that people can talk to each other and unite and take action.

A quiet rage marks the series. The Post Office bring in independent forensic accountants to exonerate Fujitsu. This backfires when Second Sights Bob Rutherford (Ian Hart) uncovers IT faults and believes the sub-postmasters. The Post Office ends Second Sights involvement.

Harts presence again points to the wider issue of serious dramas. This excellent actor has a long record in fundamentally serious work with the likes of Ken Loach and Neil Jordan. He was outstanding in Help, one of the few serious dramas about the COVID pandemic.

Mr Bates conveys brilliantly outrage at this injustice. Bates (Jones) agrees to a Post Office mediation scheme proposed by CEO Paula Vennells (Lia Williams) in 2012. The Post Office closed it down three years later, when Second Sight were about to report on miscarriages of justice.

The JFSA then undertook a group litigation order lawsuit, representing 555 sub-postmasters. They won a moral victory, but nothing like restitution. In December 2019, the Post Office conceded. The claimants were awarded 58 million compensation, but after legal costs were left with just 11 millionapproximately 20,000 for each claimant. Only 11 victims have so far been compensated in full.

The scene outside the High Court showing Jo Hamilton (Monica Dolan) and Bob Rutherford (Ian Hart-with glasses behind Hamilton) celebrating their victory [Photo: courtesy, ITV Studios]

The script recognises the continued wilful obstruction and delaying tactics, and that justice is still to be done, but pins its faith on the very system that created the problem. The responsibility of government and parliament as the sole shareholder of the Post Office is stated clearly, but the full extent of governmental criminality and cover-up is not explored.

Most attention has been directed at the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) awarded to Vennells in 2019 for services to the Post Office. She was appointed CEO in 2012 by then Tory Prime Minister David Cameron in the drive to privatise the Post Office, part of Royal Mail Group. Royal Mails CEO at the time, Adam Crozier, is not portrayed. He subsequently became CEO of ITV.

Some 1.2 million people called in a petition for Vennells to be stripped of her award. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Crown Prosecution Service during at least 27 of the prosecutions, could not even back this demand. Vennells herself then announced she would return it.

Hughes presents Tory MP James Arbuthnot (Alex Jennings) as a concerned champion of his constituent, but his intervention was aimed at managing a crisis that might derail privatisation. Now Lord Arbuthnot, he continues in the same role, encouraging illusions in the official inquiry and limited prosecutions.

To date, no executives of the Post Office, Fujitsu or any of the government ministers involved have been punished. Fujitsu, with revenue last year of $27.4 billion, is still receiving huge private government contracts. Horizon, now extended to 2025, will have a lifetime value of 2.4 billion. Since 2012, four government departments have awarded Fujitsu 68 contracts worth 2.7 billion. Private profit cannot be jeopardised, and Arbuthnot is there to limit the damage.

Mr Bates takes Tory pretensions of concern at face value. This finds its most grotesque expression in allowing Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi to play himself in a parliamentary committee grilling the Post Office. This venal and cynical chancer, sacked over allegations of tax avoidance, gets to pose as a moral champion.

Even the partial presentation of these crimes is both powerful and moving. A mass audience of workers was shown a massive injustice.

After sub-postmaster Martin Griffith (Colin Tierney) took his own life, Second Sight concluded he was innocent. Post Office negotiator Angela van den Bogerd (Katherine Kelly) offers his widow (Clare Calbraith) a settlement, providing she withdraws from the investigation and discusses it no further.

In court, van den Bogerd (Kelly) was forced to reveal that the Post Office had long known Horizon could be accessed remotely. Director James Strong shows her weeping at her desk afterwardsfor herself after being found out.

As Mellor asks, Can you believe they knew what they were doing and they just kept turning the screw? Wheres the humanity in this, wheres the people going, This is wrong?

Jones has called drama a place that suggests change, even if people dont believe that it can deliver change. Mr Bates has confirmed that drama addressing serious issues can have a major impact. The growing need for change demands and must be given artistic expression.
HANOI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam has set a target to move up in two areas in the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Development Index by 2025, Vietnam News Agency reported Wednesday.

The Vietnamese government expects that the tourism sector will move up at least five places in the Prioritization of Travel and Tourism index and three in the Tourist Service Infrastructure index in 2024.

A report from the World Economic Forum showed that Vietnam's tourism climbed eight places in the Travel and Tourism Development Index between 2019 and 2021, making it one of the three biggest improvers in the world.

Vietnam experienced the greatest score improvement, rising by 4.7 percent to leap from ranking 60th to 52nd on the overall index, according to the report.

Vietnam recorded 12.6 million international visitor arrivals in 2023, a 3.4-fold rise from 2022, according to the General Statistics Office.

Revenues from accommodation and dining services last year were estimated to reach 673.5 trillion Vietnamese dong (27.4 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for 10.8 percent of the Southeast Asian country's total revenues from services and retail sectors.

Vietnam has set a target to welcome 17-18 million foreign visitors in 2024, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism. 
Presenting South Africas case at the International Court of Justice that Israel is guilty of perpetrating genocide in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, South African High Court advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi drew attention to how senior political and military officials had sought to cultivate genocidal intent within the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

In a notable passage he explained how the IDF had called up Israels oldest army reservist and settler, the 95-year-old Ezra Yachin, to speak to soldiers in the run up to the ground invasion of Gaza that began on October 27. Amid adulatory media coverage, they had driven Yachin around in an official army vehicle, dressed in army fatigues and wielding a weapon to motivate the troops.

Screenshot of Ezra Yachin telling Israeli troops, "Be triumphant and finish them off and dont leave anyone behind. Erase the memory of them" [Photo: screenshot of video/Middle East Eye/X]

Yachin said in a video that went viral (see X posting below), Be triumphant and finish them off and dont leave anyone behind. Erase the memory of them, adding, Erase them, their families, mothers and children. These animals can no longer live.

He added that there was no excuse, as Hezbollah could send air strikes and Arabs here could attack us. Every Jew with a weapon should go out and kill them. If you have an Arab neighbour, dont wait, go to his home and shoot him, Yachin said. We will witness things we've never dreamed of. Let them drop bombs on them and erase them, he added. All of the prophecies sent by the prophets are about to occur.

Yachin explained in an interview with the press, I talk to the soldiers, I encourage them and strengthen their morale. I explain to them that we are not in Nazi Europe and that we will not allow anyone to do to us what the Nazis did. It was clear to him that Hamas are the Nazis of today. He added, I want to be with the fighters and give them the fighting spirit of the underground, instill in them the Jewish spirit and prepare them for war.

Yachins statements, designed to imbue the troops with the spirit of Nakba 2, and his being chosen to motivate the troops give the lie to the claim that the IDF had no genocidal intent.

The Stern Gang, Irgun and the Nakba

In his youth, Yachin had served as a combat soldier with the paramilitary Stern Gang, officially known as Lehi, whose declared aim was to drive out the British, who then ruled Palestine under a League of Nations Mandate, by means of terrorist attacks and thereby allow the unrestricted immigration of Jews into Palestine and the formation of a Jewish state. Both the Stern Gang and the Irgun from which it had split in 1940 belonged to the fascist wing of the Zionist movement associated with the Revisionists, led by Vladimir Jabotinsky.

Ze'ev Jabotinsky (bottom right) meeting with Betar leaders in Warsaw. Bottom left Menachem Begin (Image probably taken in 1939).

Jabotinsky rejected the view of the Labour Zionists, led by future Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, that the Palestinians would one day acquiesce to the Jewish domination of their land. In a 1923 article, The Iron Wall, he wrote, Zionist colonisation must be either terminated or carried out against the wishes of the native population. This colonisation can, therefore, be continued and make progress only under the protection of a power independent of the native populationan Iron Wall, which will be in a position to resist the pressure to the native population. This in toto is our policy towards the Arabs... A voluntary reconciliation with the Arabs is out of the question either now or in the near future.

The Revisionists were very clear that with the Jews a minority in Palestine, a Jewish state would necessarily mean expelling the Arab population to ensure its Jewish character. During the 1930s, they were oriented towards the fascist regimes of Germany, Italy and Poland, in a bid to secure a strong international ally to help them expel the British from Palestine, to the extent of offering to support Germany in World War II. They carried out a campaign of terror aimed at driving out the British and establishing a Jewish state on the entire land of biblical Palestine, including Transjordan.

Their paramilitary organisations, the Irgun and Stern Gang, assassinated British officials, including Lord Moyne, the British Minister Resident in the Middle East, in Cairo in 1944, bombed the British embassy in Rome in October 1946, and in 1948 assassinated UN mediator Count Folke Bernadotte, whom they viewed as a puppet of the British and the Arabs and therefore a threat to the emerging State of Israel.

Their political descendants went on to form the Herut party and ultimately the Likud party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The former Irgun leader Menachem Begin held the premiership from 1977 to 1983, while the former leader of the Stern Gang, Yitzhak Shamir, became prime minister in 1983. Netanyahus father was a Revisionist activist and went on to become Jabotinskys personal secretary.

Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin delivers an address upon his arrival in the US in 1978 for a state visit. Location: Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

Netanyahus fascist political ancestry gives the lie to the assertion that Israels criminality is simply the result of the inclusion of his far-right partners in government, Religious Zionism, Jewish Power and the ultra-orthodox religious parties.

The Irgun and the Stern Gang waged a brutal war on the Palestinians, attacking their towns and villages and killing several thousand in a roughly 30-year period up to 1948. One of their most infamous terrorist acts was their attack on the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin on the outskirts of Jerusalem in which the war criminal Yachin played an active role. The terrorist groups massacred between 117 and 250 men, women and children, going from house to house to drive out Palestinians.

Israeli military forces receiving a briefing at Deir Yassin [Photo: Beit Gidi Exhibits]

Israeli historian Benny Morris, who used archival material to document some 24 massacres in his ground-breaking 1988 book The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem:1947-1949, exposed the lie of the Palestinians voluntary exodus from their homes. He makes clear, the sheer brutality of the terrorist attack on Deir Yassin was one of the most important factors in precipitating the flight of Arab villagers from Palestine.

The photo shows Palestinian refugees making their way from Galilee in October-November 1948. It was the front cover image of The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem by Benny Morris, Cambridge University Press 1989. [Photo: Fred Csasznik]

Between November 1947 and the end of the British Mandate in May 1948even before the establishment of the state of Israel and the 194849 Arab Israeli warmore than 375,000 Palestinians became refugees, driven out by a combination of force, atrocities and a campaign of terror including killings. A further 425,000 Palestinians of the 1.4 million Palestinians were displaced from their towns and villages during the war itself, with the majority fleeing to the West Bank, Gaza and neighbouring countries. Israel made sure that the Palestinians could not return to their villages, razing their homes, building over them or planting forests in their place.

Yachin, propagandist for ethnic cleansing

Yachin, known as The IDF's Oldest Reservist, has spent his life delivering lectures to IDF soldiers. According to the IDF, he gave more than 9,000 lectures to the military since 1973, recounting the atrocities that led to the establishment of the state of Israel and the war that followed. In 2018, the IDFs chief rabbi rewarded him for his services by promoting him to the rank of First Sergeant. Accepting the award, Yachin boasted of how the first song he had learned as a youngster was the Lehi anthem:

Unknown Soldiers are we, without uniform

And around us fear and the shadow of death

We have all been drafted for life.

Only death will discharge us from ranks,

On red days of riots and blood

In the dark nights of despair

In towns and villages shall we raise our banner

On which are inscribed defence and conquest

Among the lessons Yachin sought to impart regarding the Deir Yassin massacre was his statement, To take a house, you had either to throw a grenade or shoot your way into it.

The IDFs use of Yachin to motivate the troops came just five days after the October 7 Palestinian incursion into Israel. It was part of a foul propaganda campaign to whip up and incite a genocidal atmosphere among the newly called-up reservists, many of whom had pledged during the months-long anti-government protests to refuse to serve in the military. It was meant to send a message that there are no limits Israel would not cross to drive the Palestinians from Gaza. It provoked no opposition, or even a mention, from the leaders of the months-long protest movement against Netanyahus efforts to give his government dictatorial powers.

Fascism rehabilitated

The choice of Yachin as a poster boy was an egregious example of the way the war is being accompanied by a systematic attempt to rehabilitate the Revisionists programme of ethnic cleansing and fascism. That it largely passed without comment in the worlds media or crucially from Israels paymasters in Washington is testimony to way fascism is being rehabilitated and resuscitated across the globe.

Canadas parliament applauds Yaroslav Hunka, a former member of the Waffen-SS. Canadas Chief of Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre is on the far left.

Last September, Canadas entire Parliament, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, gave a standing ovation in parliament to another war criminal, the 98-year-old Ukrainian veteran of Adolf Hitlers Waffen SS, Yaroslav Hunka. The Waffen SS played a leading role in the extermination of Europes Jews between 1941 and 1945. Canadas political establishment and media felt obliged to concede it had made a shameful blunder and make an apology because it cut across their plans to escalate the war against Russia in Ukraine.

No such pro-forma qualms are shown by Israeli politicians regarding the crimes of the Zionists. In the years following the establishment of the state of Israel, Israeli politicians led by Prime Minister David Ben Gurion repeatedly claimed that Israel didnt drive out a single Arab. The Palestinians all left voluntarily, was the refrain. Ethnic cleansing, coming so soon after the Holocaust, did not conform with the picture they wanted to portray of the newly formed Jewish state.

Following the research based on Israels own archives by Israels New Historians in the 1980s and 1990s, this history has become impossible to deny. Instead, the shame underlying this denial has vanished and the idea of transfera euphemism for ethnic cleansinghas been legitimized beyond ultranationalist circles to the entire official political spectrum. The assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who signed the 1993 Oslo Accords with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, by a far-right nationalist in 1995, ushered in the return of right-wing politicians under Netanyahu in 1996 committed to Israeli expansionism, segregation and ethnic cleansing.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, US president Bill Clinton, and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, September 13, 1993

Since then, politicians have openly proclaimed that the mistake in 1948-49 was not the expulsion of the Palestinians but the failure to expel them all. Criminality on a massive scale is now seen as the solution and espoused by all of Israels leading politicians.

In the 2015 elections, Netanyahu called on voters to mobilise against the hordes of Arabs being brought by the Left to the polls to stop his re-election. In July 2018, under his premiership and emboldened by the Trump administrations unqualified support for Israelepitomised in its recognition in violation of international law and longstanding US policyof Jerusalem as Israels capital and the relocation of the American embassy there, the Israeli parliament passed its Nation-State law.

This enshrined Jewish supremacy, the hitherto de facto apartheid-style discrimination and segregation practiced against the countrys Palestinian citizens, in a quasi-constitutional Basic Law. Restricting nationality rights to Israels Jewish as opposed to Palestinian citizens, who constitute 20 percent of Israels population, it signified that Israel was dispensing with any pretence of commitment to democracy or equal rights and was preparing to carry out massive crimes against the Palestinian people alongside preparations for a military confrontation with Iran. It backed the creation of Jewish-only communities within Israel, just as in the occupied West Bank, through the isolation and expulsion of Palestinians, legitimising apartheid. It heralded the beginning of a campaign of ethnic cleansing, mirroring the Nazis Lebensraum policy, now being finalised in Gaza.

Leading political figures had no hesitation in making vile racist remarks without any moral restraint. To cite but one example, Likud legislator Miri Regev, minister of culture 2015-2020having earlier denounced Sudanese immigrants and asylum seekers as a cancer in the nation's bodycalled Arab legislators trash and garbage and declared she was happy to be a fascist.

Miri Regev (left) alongside Prime Minister Netanyahu, Ayelet Shaked (centre) and Naftali Bennett (right) [Photo by Avi Ohayon/GPO Israel / CC BY-SA 3.0

In the run up to the 2019 elections, Netanyahus Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, a leading figure in the settler movement, declared on television the two-state solution wasnt working, promoted the evisceration of all judicial restraints on government and waved a perfumed bottle labelled Fascism, saying, Smells like democracy to me.

Netanyahu and his Likud party struck a deal with Jewish Power, the political heir to the Kach party banned from standing in the 1988 election due to its virulent racism, whose offshoots were ruled illegal terrorist organizations in 1994. In December 2022, Netanyahu gave Jewish Power and its sister party, Religious Zionism, key posts in his coalition government. He lost no time in mounting provocations against the Palestinians, seeking a retaliatory attack that could be used as the pretext for completing the unfinished job of 1948-49 while eviscerating the few legal constraints on the establishment of an executive dictatorship.

Israels evolution into a fascist state has vindicated the position outlined by the Fourth International in an editorial Against the Stream in May 1948. Insisting that Zionism was utopian and reactionary, it denounced the UNs decision to partition Palestine into two tiny states. Partition would divide Arab and Jewish workers, while The Zionist state with its provocative lines of demarcation will bring about the blossoming forth of irredentist (revenge) movements on either side. It would lead to fighting for an Arab Palestine and a Jewish state within Israel/Palestine, creating a chauvinistic atmosphere that would poison the region. It would throttle the anti-imperialist fight of the masses, while Zionists and Arab feudalists will vie for imperialist favours.'

The Fourth International warned that it could well turn outas Trotsky saida bloody trap for hundreds of thousands of Jews. It called on Arab and Jewish workers to unite in a common front against imperialism and its agents. More than 75 years later, every word of that message retains its validity.
TOKYO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Japan's automaker Daihatsu Motor Co. on Wednesday said it plans to recall two mini-vehicles with a door defect.

The recall, which would potentially involve about 320,000 units, was announced a day after Japan's transport ministry instructed the company to consider recalling the Cast model sold under the Daihatsu brand and the Pixis Joy sold under the marque of its parent Toyota Motor Corp. following the scandal that the company had rigged safety tests for most of its models.

Last month, Daihatsu said the models may not meet safety standards as their doors could become locked and hard to open from the outside in the event of an accident.

The company, over the safety inspection scandal, was forced to stop all vehicle shipments at home and abroad but resumed operations in Indonesia and Malaysia after several days.

When the company can resume domestic production remains unknown with the outlook after the current suspension through January uncertain, the small-car maker was quoted by national news agency Kyodo as saying on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the transport ministry, which has been inspecting operations at Daihatsu, said it would revoke certifications necessary for mass production for three models built by the automaker, adding it found 14 cases of misconduct in addition to the ones already made public. 
SHANGHAI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel "ro-ro" (roll-on/roll-off) cargo vessel departed Shanghai on its maiden voyage to Europe on Wednesday, transporting about 5,000 cars of indigenous Chinese brands and some construction machinery.

The vessel, measuring 200 meters in length and 38 meters in width, with a capacity of carrying 7,600 cars, is the largest serving clean-energy "ro-ro" ship in terms of loading capacity that has been invested and built by Chinese ship builders.

The duel-fuel design allows the vessel to be powered by LNG, low sulfur fuel oil or the traditional light diesel, which helps reduce the vessel's carbon emissions by about 30 percent compared to traditional car-carrying "ro-ro" ships, said Jin Qi, general manager of the SAIC Anji Logistics Co., Ltd.

On a round trip to Europe, for example, the total carbon emissions could be reduced by 1,300 tonnes, Jin said, adding that the vessel is expected to ship about 30,000 indigenous cars abroad annually in the future.

In light of the robust demand for shipping Chinese new-energy cars abroad, the vessel was designed to meet the safety needs of shipping new-energy cars and, potentially, hydrogen-fueled vehicles and natural gas vehicles, Jin said. 
CAIRO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) voiced Wednesday its full support for the sovereignty of Iraq during a virtual meeting at the level of foreign ministers.

During the meeting, AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed his "absolute rejection and complete condemnation" of the recent ballistic missile strikes launched by Iran on Erbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, according to an AL statement.

"I also affirm full solidarity with the Iraqi government in any measures it takes to preserve the country's sovereignty and security," said the AL chief.

The attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Erbil on Monday killed four people and injured six others, according to Kurdistan regional authorities. The IRGC said earlier on Monday that it had launched missile attacks on "spy headquarters" in the region.

Gheit warned against the expansion of the scope of conflicts in the Middle East, which could undermine regional security and stability. 
BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- More than 1,900 criminal organizations involved in gang crimes were busted in 2023 as China intensified its fight against organized crime, the Ministry of Public Security said Wednesday.

Around 27,000 criminal suspects were apprehended and 29,000 criminal cases of various types were investigated amid this crackdown.

According to the ministry, in 2023, it supervised the handling of 37 major and complex organized crime cases, providing guidance and expert support in investigations.

Simultaneously, all-out efforts were made to hunt fugitives linked to organized crime, resulting in the apprehension of 1,222 individuals, including 117 from overseas. 
Actor Alec Baldwin may be looking to unload his Long Island home in order to pay the bills related to the Rust incident that occurred when a gun that he was holding went off on the set of a Western film in New Mexico.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was hospitalized in the tragedy, which took place in October 2021. Baldwin has faced multiple civil lawsuits in connection with the shooting from Hutchins family members and other Rust crew members.

In January 2023, he was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Those charges were dropped a few months later without prejudice, meaning that he could still be charged at any time. As of January 2024, he is not facing criminal charges.

Alec Baldwin To Sell His Long Island Home

MEGA

In a two-minute video posted to YouTube, the 30 Rock actor can be seen walking along the beach as he explains that he has had a house on the East End of Long Island since 1982. He explains that his first home was in Bluff Road, which he rented for five years before he bought his own home around the corner from Atlantic Avenue Beach.

He later bought a bigger home in 1995 and put a new edition on the property in 1996 and 2014. Stating that the property contains more than 10,000 square feet, Baldwin explained that the mansion was the former home of the Potter family. You just cant get this out here anymore, Baldwin stated, referring to the large piece of land that he described as peaceful and beautiful in the wintertime.

Netizens React To Baldwins Video: 'What's The Point Of This Video?'

Unfortunately, fans had mixed reactions to his video. Oh, dear. This reeks of desperation - what other former celebrity has made a video trying to sell their house while making the entire sales pitch about them? Guess the Fraudween reality show is a no-go, one user commented on the video.

He loves it so much that he has to sell it to fund his unemployable wife, seven children, and mounting legal fees amidst killing a woman and dealing with a dying career, another netizen wrote, prompting another to chime in: His career isnt dying. Its dead.

Why not be honest? You need to sell the place to prevent personal bankruptcy, another user wrote. What's the point of this video? To hear Alec Baldwin wax nostalgic about days gone by? Who cares where he lived in 1982 or what house he rented that has nothing to do with this house? another netizen asked. "No mention of how far from the water, amenities, historical privileges, or even price. Totally pointless. Nobody wants the bad juju that's permeating that place.

Alec Baldwin Claims Hes Lost Jobs As A Result Of The Rust Shooting

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In August 2022, the Supercell actor claimed that he lost work due to the Rust shooting, although the film wrapped in Montana in May 2023. "I got fired from another job yesterday," Baldwin told CNN at the time. "There I was all set to go to a movie, jump on a plane ... I've been talking with these guys for months and they told me yesterday we don't want to do the film with you because of this."

"If I didn't have my wife, I don't know where I would be right now ... If I didn't have her, I probably would have quit, retired, gone off, you know sold everything I owned, got a house in the middle of nowhere and just you know did find something else to do, sell real estate," he said, referring to his wife, Hilaria Baldwin.

During a separate interview on The Chris Cuomo Project to discuss the shooting, Baldwin insisted that Halyna Hutchins death  and not his career  was the real tragedy that occurred. "I'm not the victim here. Things, for me, are gonna get better. Things, for me, are gonna get cleared up. I'm a thousand percent confident about that," he said.

Baldwin went on to say that nothings going to bring this woman back. She died. He also made mention of Halynas little boy, a son named Andros.

"Everything we've said doesn't matter  me, my positioning, the press," Baldwin added. "The real tragedy here is what happened to this woman."
The Boston Brinks robbery, which took place 74 years ago today, was once dubbed the "crime of the century"

FBI Captain Marvel mask used in the Brinks robbery

An infamous bank robbery took place 74 years ago today and was labeled at the time as "the crime of the century" by the FBI, who investigated for years before cracking the case wide open

The robbers made it out of the Brinks Inc. security firm in Boston with more than $2.7 million on Jan 17, 1950. Today, that amount of money is equal to more than $25 million

By 1956, all 11 robbers were identified and served prison time or died before they could stand trial

It was the end of another evening for the employees at the Brinks Inc. security firm in Boston, as they began to close. The workers carried sacks of undelivered cash and checks up to the companys safe on the second floor when all the sudden, they were met by nine armed men wearing masks.

What happened next on the night of Jan. 17, 1950, was long dubbed the crime of the century by the FBI and spawned at least four films about the robbery: Six Bridges to Cross (1955), Blueprint for Robbery (1961), Brinks: The Great Robbery (1976), and The Brinks Job (1978).

That night, seven masked men quietly broke into the Brinks building in Bostons North End neighborhood, stealing more than $1.2 million in cash and another $1.5 million in checks from a vault on the second floor after tying up the workers with rope and adhesive tape. One robber wore a Captain Marvel mask to hide his identity, others wore chauffeurs caps, and they all wore gloves and quiet rubber shoes to help conceal their tracks.

All the employees could do was watch as the robbers pulled off the largest robbery in U.S. history at the time, nearly getting caught when a garage attendant tried to buzz into the building while the robbers were organizing stacks of cash in bags next to the door. Two of the thieves quickly made a move towards the door, likely to try and capture the man. But then he walked away, seemingly unaware of what was taking place inside, according to a historical account of the incident from the FBI.

Authorities struggled to chase down the nine criminals, following hundreds of leads over the years. Nearly all of them hit a dead end.

But after investigators began to identify likely suspects and began to apply pressure on certain members of the group, the tight-lipped bandits began to crack and turn on one another.

AP Photo/Abe Fox An unidentified newsman wears a rubber mask similar to that worn by seven bandits who robbed the Brink's armored car company in Boston of $1,500,000, Jan. 17, 1950. The reporter points to name plate on first of six locked doors opened by the gunmen. Mask was one of several purchased in joke shops by newsmen and police to see if they resembled description given by Brink's employees

For years, investigators rounded up likely criminals in the New England area: Whiskey bootleggers, gang members, high-rolling gamblers, local racketeers, and other well-known hoodlums, the FBI says. Most suspect interviews went nowhere: If I knew who pulled the job, I wouldnt be talking to you now because Id be too busy trying to figure a way to lay my hands on some of the loot, one suspect questioned in the case had told investigators.

Soon, however, investigators finally caught some breaks.

A police officer in Somerville, Mass., found one of the revolvers used in the robbery, discarded along the banks of the Mystic River. Investigators also soon identified a 1949 green Ford truck with a canvas top that was likely used in the getaway. Nearly two months after the robbery, authorities tracked down pieces of the truck in a dump in Stoughton, Mass., having been torched and cut up into pieces.

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That discovery led investigators to two of the robbers, who lived in the Stoughton area. First, investigators identified Anthony Pino, an immigrant who was known locally among criminals as a reliable case man, as well as Joseph McGinnis, a local liquor store owner who Pino was with the night of the robbery.

Through them, investigators were then led to Joseph James OKeefe and Stanley Albert Gusciora, who were said to be the muscle behind the plot. OKeefe later proved to be the domino that fell.

He and Gusciora were arrested for a pair of burglaries in Pennsylvania, leading OKeefe to begin asking former cohorts in the Boston area to help him secure bond in order to be released. Those he asked for help  including Pino and McGinnis  were said to be on the Big Job with him, according to the FBI.



Bettmann Top (left to right) are: Michael Vincent Geagan, 47; Vincent James Costa, 41; Henry Baker, 49. Bottom (left to right) are: Anthony Pino, 48; Joseph F. McGinnis, 52; and Adolph Maffie, 44.

Agents continuously visited OKeefe in jail in the hope that a wide breach might have developed between the two criminals who were in jail in Pennsylvania and the gang members who were enjoying the luxuries of a free life in Massachusetts, according to the FBIs historical account of the investigation. At first, OKeefe claimed not just innocence, but ignorance about the crime.

OKeefe would serve his time and be released in early 1954, embarking on a cold and persistent mission to pay his respects to the others involved in the Brinks robbery who did little to help him, according to the FBI.

Bettmann Archive/Getty FBI agents and Boston police seized between $70,000 and $90,000 of Brink's robbery loot in a raid Monday on the office of the B & P contracting company in Boston's South End.

Then after visiting a number of former associates, a car pulled up alongside OKeefes vehicle on June 5, 1954 and opened fire. He crouched in the front seat, avoiding the bullets and surviving the attempt on his life. Less than two weeks later, hed later be shot at again  this time taking bullets in the chest and the wrist. He disappeared from the Boston area on June 16, 1954, only to turn up again in August when he was arrested an hour outside of the city for carrying a weapon.

During 1955, OKeefe carefully pondered his position, the FBI says. It appeared to him that he would spend his remaining days in prison while his co-conspirators would have many years to enjoy the luxuries of life.

FBI Burlap money bags recovered in a Boston junk yard from the Brinks robbery

After nearly another half a year brewing in jail, OKeefe finally agreed to confess to the crime and told FBI agents in January 1956 what they needed to know about his co-conspirators.

OKeefe shared there were actually 11 men in on the job, with two having been outside when the robbery took place  one helping with the getaway, and another helping signal to the burglary group from a nearby rooftop when the second-floor vault was being opened.

More than six years after the robbery, eight of the 11 men  including Pino, OKeefe, McGinnis  were sentenced to prison for taking part in the crime, and Gusciora died before he could stand trial. And even though all 11 men involved in the plot have been identifed, only a fraction of the $2.7 million was ever recovered by authorities.



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Canada has been named the safest place to travel to in 2024.

The ranking was done by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, who had Canada at number 6 a year ago. But this year, it climbed to the top, besting Switzerland and Norway for the top spot.

"After years of doing this, its clear that travelers think that Canada, Northern Europe, Australia and New Zealand are pretty safe places," they said in the blog post making the announcement.

As for why Canada placed first over the rest, they credit "cold weather and low population density," but they also warned readers about natural disasters, such as "wildfires."

They also quoted travel site Gap Year Travel Store, who said: as traveling destinations go it really doesnt get much safer than Canada  Violent crime is comparatively low and there is a low incidence of gun-related crime."

According to the post, BHTP considered a safe place to be "free of terrorist activity. Then it became a place that was safe from disease outbreaks. Now its a place where all types of people can move about freely without discrimination or harassment."

The post is also quick to say the list isn't predictive, meaning Canada may be safe today but could tumble down the list. It also doesn't speak for the entire country.

"It doesnt account for the difference between being in Toronto or in northern Quebec where wildfires are raging," it said. Of course, at this time it's not wildfire season in Canada, although that could change in the spring and summer.
Season 20 of Dateline NBC continues to explore criminal cases of murder and disappearances, as well as featuring celebrity interviews. NBC Network aired the show, and it ran from October 2010 until May 2011.

You can watch and stream Dateline NBC Season 20 via streaming services such as Peacock.

Is Dateline NBC Season 20 available to watch via streaming?

Yes, Dateline NBC Season 20 is available to watch via streaming on Peacock.

From the 2010 Alaskan plane crash in Panama and the murder of Susan Sutton to investigating Easter Sunday celebrations gone wrong, Season 20 delves into bone-chilling murder and disappearance cases. Moreover, it also features an interview with Prince Charles, an exploration of war-torn Sudan with George Clooney, and an examination of the impact of a cholera outbreak in Haiti.

The cast of the show includes Andrea Canning, Kith Morrison, Josh Mankiewicz, Denis Murphy, Lester Holt, and Craig Melvin, among others.

Watch Dateline NBC Season 20 streaming via Peacock

Dateline NBC Season 20 is available to watch on Peacock.

Peacock is a streaming service that features video content from NBC Universal Studios and other video content providers.

You can watch via Peacock by following these steps:

Go to PeacockTV.com Click Get Started Choose your payment plan $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year (premium)

$11.99 per month or $119.99 per year (premium plus Create your account Enter your payment details

Peacocks Premium account provides access to over 80,000+ hours of TV, movies, and sports, including current NBC and Bravo Shows, along with 50 always-on channels. Premium Plus is the same plan but with no ads (save for limited exclusions), along with allowing users to download select titles and watch them offline and providing access to your local NBC channel live 24/7.

Dateline NBC Season 20 synopsis is as follows:

Dateline NBC, or simply Dateline, is a weekly American television newsmagazine series. It was previously the networks flagship newsmagazine, but now focuses mainly on true crime stories with only occasional editions that focus on other topics.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

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In A Dark, Deserted Highway, an episode of NBCs Dateline, investigators dig deeper into the murder of Sheriff Mason Moore, which Lloyd Barrus was convicted of. The episode first aired on February 3, 2023. It will air as part of Dateline: Unforgettable on Oxygen on January 18, 2024, at 8 pm ET. It explores the events that led to the shooting of Mason Moore and the highway chase that preceded it after Barrus refused to pull over upon Moores orders.

Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Readers discretion is advised.

On September 21, 2021, Lloyd Barrus was convicted of three counts of accountability for deliberate homicide and two counts of attempted deliberate homicide. The court sentenced him to three consecutive lifetimes in prison for murdering Mason Moore, a sheriff for the Broadwater County Sheriffs Office. Lloyd Barrus, along with his son Marshall Barrus, shot Mason Moore 19 times. This was after he asked them to pull over their vehicle on Highway 287, south of I-90. The incident occurred on May 16, 2027.

Also, the shootout was reportedly preceded by a 160-mile chase after Lloyd Baruss, who was driving, refused to pull over and triggered a speedy chase, as reported by NBC Montana. Lloyd and Marshall repeatedly shot at Mason Moore before they shot him twice in the head. After that, the Highway Patrol authorities continued to pursue the vehicle. It ended in another shootout where officers reportedly shot and killed Marshall.

Where is Lloyd Barrus now?

After his arrest, Lloyd Barrus attorneys argued that he was not fit to stand trial. He was reportedly diagnosed with multiple mental disorders. The court agreed to this initially. However, the court later tried him after finding him fit for trial. He was sentenced to three lifetimes in prison. Lloyd is currently at the Montana State Prison, where he is serving his sentence.

In addition, Prosecutors highlighted Barrus anti-system sentiments. Lloyd Barrus was found guilty of three counts of accountability for deliberate homicide and two counts of attempted deliberate homicide. Mason Moore had been a sheriff for three years by then. He served in law enforcement for nearly fifteen years, as reported by the U. S. Sun. He died in the hospital after sustaining severe wounds at the crime scene.

Lloyd Barrus allegedly held strong anti-governmental sentiments, and this wasnt his first violent encounter with law-enforcement authorities. In 2000, authorities chased Lloyd Barrus similarly in California when he was with his other son, Jeffrey Barrus. Even then, he refused to pull over and made authorities chase after him, according to Montana Free Press. The encounter resulted in his arrest in California but didnt trigger as much violence. A Dark, Deserted Highway features statements from Lloyds ex-wives who provided an insight into his descent into anti-governmental sentiments.

The Dateline episode focuses closely on his resistant views and how those drove him toward the crime he was convicted for, as reported by Montana Free Press. Also, the episode features Masons widow, Jodi. It also includes all the officers involved in the chase, the death of Marshall Barrus, and the arrest of Lloyd Barrus. A Dark, Deserted Highway will air on Oxygen on Dateline: Unforgettable on January 18, 2024, at 8 pm ET.

The post Dateline: Unforgettable: What Was Lloyd Barrus Convicted Of? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
The Last King (2016) or Birkebeinerne is a period drama showing thrilling and impressive period action with some great Viking fun. Inspired by real-life events, the movie centers on the efforts of the Birkebeiner loyalists to protect the infant, Haakon Haakonsson, the heir to the Norwegian throne after the death of his father, King Haakon Sverresson.

You can watch and stream The Last King (2016) via streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video.

Is The Last King (2016) available to watch via streaming?

Yes, The Last King (2016) is available to watch via streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Set in the civil war era in Norway during the 13th century, The Last King Birkebeinerne follows two Vikings who are tasked with protecting a child, the last heir to the throne, in Norway. With a tense and snowy adventure for the trio, it is arguably one of the best Viking movies based on real events in Norwegian Viking history, even if its not the most historically accurate re-telling, making it essential viewing for any fan of the genre.

Nils Gaups historical movie recounts a famous dramatic episode from Norways 13th-century civil war with a great star cast. Jakob Oftebro as Skjervald and Kristofer Hivju as Torstein are the two main leads of the movie as they are accompanied by Pal Sverre Valheim Hagen as Gisle (based on Haakon the Crazy), Thorbjrn Harr as Inge jarl, Benjamin Helstad as Haakon III of Norway, Stig Henrik Hoff as Erlend, Nikolaj Lie Kaas as Orm the Knight, and many others.

Watch The Last King (2016) streaming via Amazon Prime Video

The Last King (2016) is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

You can watch via Amazon Prime Video by following these steps:

Go to Amazon Prime Video Select Sign in and Create your Amazon account Sign up for a Prime Video membership: $14.99 per month or $139 per year with an Amazon Prime membership

$8.99 per month for a standalone Prime Video membership

Amazon Prime is the online retailers paid service that provides fast shipping and exclusive sales on products, so the membership that includes both this service and Prime Video is the companys most popular offering. However, you can also opt to subscribe to Prime Video separately.

The Last King (2016) synopsis is as follows:

Norway, 1204. A civil war between the Birkebeinersthe kings men and the baglers supporters of the Norwegian aristocracy and the Church ravages the country. Two men must protect a baby, the illegitimate son of King Hakon, who will be the future king and peacemaker, from those who want to kill him.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

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Kieran and Macaulay Culkin's beloved mom Patricia Brentrup is struggling with undisclosed health issues, her husband says

Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty; Evan Agostini/ImageDirect Macaulay Culkin, Kieran Culkin, Patricia Brentrup

Patricia Brentrup  the mother of Kieran and Macaulay Culkin  has been struggling with undisclosed health issues that have kept her from joining her famous sons at recent events.

Brentrups husband of 12 years, Mart Cox, told Page Six that she was unable to attend the unveiling of Macaulays star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December due to medical issues.

Patty was invited, and they wanted to fly her out, but shes been having some hard times with her health, he told the outlet.

Cox, 69, didnt offer further details about the specifics of Brentrups health struggles, but added that he and his wife spent some time with Kieran and his family  which includes wife Jazz Charton, 35, and daughter Kinsey Sioux, 4, and son Wilder Wolf, 2  for a few months last year.

Kieran was looking after her and she was going to doctors in the city, Cox told Page Six. All the kids have been very helpful, oh for sure. Just from Patty, they have a lot of love in them  she is an incredible woman.

News UK Ltd/Shutterstock Macaulay and Kieran Culkin with their parents, Kit and Patricia, at home in 1990.

As he continues on his streak of winning awards for his role as Roman Roy in Succession, Kieran, 41, has been vocal in his praise of his mother.

While accepting his award for best actor in a drama series at the 2024 Golden Globes, the actor thanked my wonderful mom. Mom, thank you for doing everything youve done for us. Youre an amazing woman."

Backstage, he continued to talk about his mom, saying, "I have no idea how my mom did it  she raised [us] in this basically studio apartment and I don't know how she did it," he continued, adding how "amazing" she's been as a mother.

"Obviously [I] wouldn't be here without her," he said of his decision to mention Brentrup, 69, in his speech. "Not just because of the sex she had with my father. For the woman she is. And for having sex with my father."

Related: Brenda Song Congratulates Kieran Culkin on His Emmy Win: 'Yay Kieran!!!!!!'

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty Kieran Culkin wins for Succession at the 2024 Emmy Awards.

Kieran also brought up his mother at this years Emmy Awards, tearing up when he mentioned her in his acceptance speech for lead actor in a drama, thanking Brentrup for "for giving me life and my childhood, which was great. So thank you for that."

Backstage, Kieran continued to praise his mom  and sneak in a dig at his father, according to Page Six. Shes just an absolutely wonderful woman who took on raising seven kids in a studio apartment, by herself, he said. There was a guy there  he didnt do anything.

Related: Macaulay Culkin Wipes Away Tears as He Reunites with Home Alone Mom Catherine O'Hara at Walk of Fame Ceremony

Kieran and Macauly have four siblings: Shane, 47, Quinn, 39, Christian, 36, and Rory, 34  who is also an actor. Their sister Dakota died in 2008.

None ever gets more love than the other. Thats how their mom raised them, Cox told Page Six, adding, although Kieran always thought he was the favorite!

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Josef Fritzl, 88, held his daughter captive for 24 years before his arrest in 2008

ROBERT JAEGER/AFP via Getty Josef Fritzl

Josef Fritzl was convicted of imprisoning his daughter for 24 years and fathering seven children with her

Fritzl was sentenced to life in prison in Austria and has been held in a special unit for the criminally insane

If Fritzl is moved to a different prison unit, he could apply for release

An Austrian man who kept his daughter as a prisoner for 24 years and had seven children with her might soon be able to apply for release.



Josef Fritzl, 88, was sentenced to life in prison in 2009 after he was convicted of incest, rape, coercion, false imprisonment, enslavement and negligent homicide for the death of one off his infant children, Reuters reported.

Now, after spending the last 15 years in a special prison unit for the criminally insane, Fritzl could potentially be transferred to a different prison, which would allow him to apply for release from prison, Reuters reported, as well as Austrian outlets Die Presse and Der Standard, among others. In Austria, prisoners are eligible to apply for release after 15 years behind bars.

Reuters, citing a court spokesperson, reported that an experts opinion on Fritzls medical condition is being assessed to see if he can be transferred, but that the process could take months.

Fritzls lawyer, Astrid Wagner, told Sky News that she hopes to have Fritzl moved to a nursing home.

APA via Getty Josef Fritzl

Fritzl, who reportedly now goes by a different name, imprisoned his daughter Elisabeth in his familys basement when she was 18. He fathered seven children with her, three of whom stayed with Elisabeth in the basement, while three others were fostered by Fritzl and his wife.

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The seventh child died shortly after birth and was cremated by Fritzl, according to reports.

The abuse was revealed in 2008, The New York Times reported, when Elisabeth was 42 and her eldest daughter needed medical attention.

At the time, police said Fritzls wife had no idea her daughter was being held captive, believing Elisabeth had joined a cult, the outlet reported.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.



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If you want to know where to watch and stream Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 2 online, then your search ends right here. Set in Meiji-era Japan, this television series revolves around Shizuma Orikasa, a former samurai who works as a rickshaw driver while searching for his fiancee. His life takes a turn when he stops an assassination attempt and decides to join the newly established police department.

Heres where you will be able to watch Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 2 online.

Is Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 2 streaming online?

Yes, you will be able to watch and stream Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 2 on Crunchyroll.

The talented voice cast ensemble of Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 includes Yuichi Nakamura as Shizuma Origasa, Satoshi Mikami as Kyoshiro Shuragami, Tomoyo Kurosawa as Sumie Kanomata/Hinazuru, Lynn as Senri Kuroki, Kazuhiro Yamaji as Buhei Hiramatsu, Katsuhisa Hoki as Toshiyoshi Kawaji, Kazuyuki Okitsu as Goro Fujita, Miyuki Sato as Koume, Mie Sonozaki as Koto Nakazawa, Daisuke Kasuya as Junpei Midorikawa, and more.

How to watch Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 Episode 2 and stream online

As Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 is available to watch via Crunchyroll, you will be able to watch its episodes by signing up.

Crunchyroll offers three subscription plans to users. They are:

Fan subscription plan  It costs $7.99 a month. It allows users to stream the services entire library ad-free.

Mega Fan subscription plan  It costs $9.99 a month. Besides ad-free streaming, this subscription plan also offers other features like simultaneous viewing at four devices, offline viewing, and more.

Ultimate Fan subscription plan  It costs $14.99 per month.

The official synopsis for Meiji Gekken: 1874 Season 1 reads:

A former samurai, a yakuza bodyguard, a devious spy, and a geisha assassin try to find their place in the rapidly evolving Meiji-era while escaping the sins of their pasts.

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Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, also faced criticism recently for failing to mention slavery when a town hall attendee asked her what caused the Civil War

Rachel Mummey/Bloomberg via Getty Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley attends an Iowa caucus watch party in Des Moines on Jan. 15

Nikki Haley's comments about race are under scrutiny for the second time in recent weeks, after suggesting that the United States doesn't have a racism problem.

During a Tuesday morning interview with Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade, Haley was shown a clip of MSNBC's Joy Reid theorizing that racism in the GOP will prevent a woman of color from clinching the party's presidential nomination. "Are you involved in a racist party?" Kilmeade asked when the clip ended.

"No, we're not a racist country, Brian. We've never been a racist country," the former South Carolina governor responded, saying that Reid lives in "a different America" than the one she knows and seemingly downplaying the well-documented existence of racism in the U.S.

Haley, whose parents emigrated from India before she was born, continued, saying, "I know I faced racism when I was growing up, but I can tell you that today is a lot better than it was then. Our goal is to lift up everybody, not go and divide people on race, or gender, or party, or anything else. We've had enough of that in America."

Related: Nikki Haley's Family: All About Her Husband Michael and Kids Rena and Nalin

Joe Raedle/Getty Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley speaks at an event in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 15

Haley's campaign later clarified and defended her comments on Fox News, attempting to draw a line between having racism and being racist.

America has always had racism, but America has never been a racist country, a campaign spokesman told CNN. The liberal media always fails to get that distinction. It can throw a fit, but that doesnt change Nikkis belief that America is special because its people are always striving to do better and live up to our founding ideals of freedom and equality.

Related: Nikki Haley Acknowledges Civil War Was 'About Slavery' Following Criticism

Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Nikki Haley speaks to journalists at the Drake Diner in Des Moines on the day of the Iowa caucuses

Haley recently received criticism on both sides of the aisle  including from former President Donald Trump  for failing to mention slavery when a New Hampshire town hall attendee asked her what caused the Civil War.

"I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms, and what people could and couldn't do," she said at the event in late December. "What do you think the cause of the Civil War was?"

The man who asked the question shot back by saying he wasn't "the one running for president," prompting her to continue her answer.

"I mean, I think it always comes down to the role of government," Haley added, before emphasizing the importance of "economic freedom" and capitalism. "And I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people. It was never meant to be all things to all people. Government doesn't need to tell you how to live your life."

After the town hall attendee noted that Haley hadn't made any mention of slavery  which was central to the Civil War being fought  Haley then asked, "What do you want me to say about slavery? Next question."

Related: Nikki Haley Gets Another High-Profile Endorsement in a Republican Primary Thats Still Trumps to Lose

President Joe Biden was quick to seize on the moment, taking to social media to write, "It was about slavery," along with a clip of the exchange.



It was about slavery. https://t.co/q9bTDvtPne  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 28, 2023

After she was accused of brushing over an ugly chapter in U.S. history, Haley admitted that she "should have said 'slavery.'" In a radio show appearance the day after the town hall, she said, Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that. Thats the easy part of it," before going on to elaborate on her earlier answer, The Washington Post reported.

I want to nip it in the bud. Yes, we know the Civil War was about slavery. But more than that, whats the lesson in all this? Haley said. That freedom matters. And individual rights and liberties matter for all people. Thats the blessing of America. That was a stain on America when we had slavery. But what we want is [to] never relive it, never let anyone take those freedoms away again.

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Trump has since begun to reference Haley's Civil War gaffe in his own campaigning.

They asked her about the Civil War: Why did it start? How did it start? She didnt use the word slavery, which was interesting, the former president told Iowa voters this month. I dont know that its going to have an impact, but Id say slavery is sort of the obvious answer as opposed to about three paragraphs of bulls--- she just talked. Nobody knew what she was saying.

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Read the original article on People.
A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

WENCHANG, Hainan, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The Long March-7 Y8 rocket, carrying Tianzhou-7, blasted off at 10:27 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, the CMSA said.

After about 10 minutes, Tianzhou-7 separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. Its solar panels soon unfolded. The agency declared the launch a complete success.

Wednesday's launch is the first mission of China's manned space project this year. It is also the 507th mission of the Long March rocket series.

The mission is the sixth flight of the space station cargo delivery system consisting of the Tianzhou cargo craft and the Long March-7 carrier rocket.

The cargo craft and launch vehicle were respectively developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, both of which are affiliated with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Tianzhou-7 will take three hours for the rendezvous and docking with the space station. Previous Tianzhou missions regularly took about 6.5 hours in rendezvous and docking. The exception was the Tianzhou-5 mission, which only took about two hours.

Tianzhou-7 will adopt a new mode of rendezvous and docking yet to be verified in orbit, which is expected to give better play to the guidance, navigation, and control systems of the spacecraft, according to Li Zhiyong, a researcher at the CAST.

Tianzhou-7 is the seventh cargo craft developed by the CAST. "As an improved fully-sealed cargo craft, it has the largest cargo transport capacity, the highest cargo-delivery efficiency, and the most complete in-orbit support capability in the world," said Li.

Tianzhou-7 carries more than 260 items of supplies, including those for the astronaut system, space station system, application tasks, and cargo spacecraft system, as well as other engineering goods, featuring a variety of cargo and large-sized items. The total weight of onboard materials reached about 5.6 tonnes.

Customized cargo packages for experiment payloads and other large-scale goods, each weighing over 100 kilograms, will be applied in the operation of the space station, space science experiments, and astronaut life support.

Tianzhou-7 also sends 2,400 kilograms of living supplies for the astronauts, including Lunar New Year goods and fresh fruits and vegetables. The packaging design has been optimized to ensure longer storage time and freshness.

The application system has loaded Tianzhou-7 with a total of 61 items weighing 473 kilograms, including experiment payloads, experiment units and samples, consumable items, and spare parts, to support continuous space experiments, according to Liu Wei, a researcher at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The items also contain a set of life support devices to keep cell samples in good condition during this mission and a set of microfluidic chips with the temperature kept at 4 degrees Celsius, said Liu.

Those items will be transferred to the space station's experiment facility to carry out a total of 33 scientific experiments, such as the effect of space microgravity on human bone cells, the propellant fluid transport and stability under variable gravity, and the growth of nano precious metals in solution under microgravity. The experiments cover fields such as space life science, space material science, microgravity fluid physics, and combustion science, Liu added.

According to the plan, China will launch the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site this year. The site is the country's fourth launch site and the only one by the seaside. 

People watch as a Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Li Gang)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024.

China launched cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 on Wednesday night to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

People watch as a Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

A Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-7 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)
An American airline passenger allegedly bit a female cabin crew member mid-flight on Tuesday, forcing an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight bound for Seattle to return to Tokyo, an airline spokesperson said.

Flight ANA 118 departed Tokyos Haneda Airport at 9:47 p.m. local time and turned around a little over an hour into its journey, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.

An ANA spokesperson told CNN that the male passenger was detained by police after the plane landed in the Japanese capital. They did not name him.

The female flight attendant sustained minor injuries, the spokesperson said.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department declined to provide further details on the case.

Its not the first case of alleged mid-air biting. In 2022, two passengers were given hefty fines for hitting and biting crew and other passengers on separate flights with US carriers American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

They were fined $81,950 and $77,272 respectively  the two largest penalties ever levied by the Federal Aviation Administration against individual passengers for acting out on aircraft.

Several incidents have been reported this month of bad behavior and aggression from passengers  including an American Airlines flight that was diverted to a Texas airport on January 3 after a passenger allegedly punched a flight attendant and assaulted at least one police officer.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
In 1588 there was a scandal at the Venetian embassy in Istanbul. Gregorio, a young medic, had been spending time with the language student Gianesino (a few years his senior, likely in his early 20s), and the pair had been seen kissing and running around after each other. The ambassador was unhappy, so each member of his household was interrogated in turn. Many said that they either believed or had heard that the boys were having sex, while a few suggested that they only knew of them kissing and sharing a bed  not so abnormal at the time, amounting to no more intimacy than the sort that there is between the rest of us.

Within their close-knit community everyone was, to some extent, aware of the relationship between the two men. It was tolerated for a while before rumours emerged of Gianesino publicly boasting about his sex life in the district of Galata. Only then, with the reputation of the embassy at risk, did the ambassador act. Gregorio was put on a galleon destined for Crete while Gianesio, who had another home in the city, was barred from the premises.

The story is a well-chosen starting point for Noel Malcolms Forbidden Desire in Early Modern Europe, an ambitious history of sexual relations between men from 1400 to 1750 that draws together evidence from Europe, the Ottoman Empire, and the Asian and American colonies. This is as gargantuan a task as it sounds but, quite rightly, its arguments mainly take place on a local level. In the Mediterranean world, for instance, Malcolm finds two major patterns emerging to varying degrees of public visibility. Firstly, primacy was placed on acts rather than felt identity, and many men who had sex with men would also have sex with women (he avoids modern terms like gay or homosexual for this reason).

Secondly, encounters were strongly age-differentiated  which is to say that they were most common between young men and beardless youths. The widespread and normalised southern European culture of men engaging in sodomy with young boys, expounded upon in the first half of the book, is what has elsewhere been explained away as a legacy of classical Greek love. But, as Malcolm makes clear, these same-sex encounters were just as different from ancient pederasty as they are from the modern gay experience.

This was a world of religious repression policed by institutions like the Venetian Collegium Sodomitarum and the Spanish Inquisition. The punishments meted out make for grim, if unsurprising, reading. In the Florence of 1542, men faced years of forced labour on galley ships. In Rome eight of the eleven men arrested for involvement in same-sex marriages in 1578 were hanged, and their bodies were then transported elsewhere for public incineration. I could go on, but the book is more compelling than a parade of miseries. Rather, the focus is squarely on the everyday sex life of individuals: where did it happen, what did it look like, and who was involved?

Suggestive: The Rape of Ganymede (detail) by Rubens, c1638 - Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Malcolms history is particularly innovative in its stress that the pan-Mediterranean pattern was not pan-European. The later chapters aim to correct the idea that we can use these better-documented Southern tendencies as a template for male relationships in Northern Europe, making up for a relative lack of quantifiable evidence for the same kind of acts-based or age-differentiated sexuality.

Instead, in places such as England, France and the Netherlands, we see the seeds of a distinct subculture of sexual relations exclusively between adult men who gathered in specific places, and used their own coded language. In perhaps the earliest instance of the phrase, one man wrote in 1730 of a street in The Hague which men would refer to as the cruising route. While this kind of sexual identity is typically understood as an emergence of the 18th century, the book suggests that it is far older  a lifestyle which simply became more visible as new techniques of surveillance and control emerged.

This all existed alongside a culture of male friendship which was effusive and intimate but, vitally, had nothing to do with the prohibited physical acts of sex. It is in this discussion that the book will be most controversial, and also where we see Malcolm at his most bellicose  attacking scholars who jump at any chance to extrapolate that figures like James VI and William Shakespeare not only experienced desire for men (this much is incontrovertible) but actively had sex with them. Malcolm often returns to the arguments of the late historian and gay rights activist Alan Bray, who spoke of a modern poverty that has arisen from an inability to conceive of relationships in other than sexual terms.

Forbidden Desire is a challenging book which is forthright about the body of concrete evidence for same-sexual culture, but which argues that this can hardly be understood according to our modern ideas about sexuality. It will no doubt raise hackles, and it is impossible to capture the full nuance of the argument here, but I found the book to be full of real scholarly inquisitiveness and human sensitivity. It shares with Brays work an absolute commitment to the idea that it is right to let the past speak on its own terms, not to appropriate it to those of the contemporary world.

Forbidden Desire in Early Modern Europe is published by Oxford University Press at 25. To order your copy, call 0844 871 1514 or visit Telegraph Books

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By studying population trends and forecasting models, a group of researchers have come to believe that nearly 15,000 U.S. cities will face noticeable depopulation by 2100.

Populated areas of the cities in question could experience a decline of up to 44 percent.

Projections call for the biggest drops in city populations to occur in the Northeast and Midwest.

No city in the Northeast or Midwest is safe from a trend toward depopulation. And just because states such as Texas and Utah experience growth now, doesnt mean it will last. At least, not according to new research. Major depopulation is coming for the United States, and its coming fast.

A new study published in Nature Cities forecasts the behavior of U.S. populations by investigating a variety of trends, data, and models. The results paint a rough picture of the future for cities across the country.

We found that, by 2100, close to half of the nearly 30,000 cities in the United States will face some sort of population decline, representing 12-23 percent of the population of these 30,000 cities and 27-44 percent of the populated area, the authors wrote. The implications of this massive decline in population will bring unprecedented challenges.

The project started as an analysis commissioned by the Illinois Department of Transportation to analyze coming transportation challenges within the state due to population changes, but the data led the studys authors to expand the research across the country. Looking at more than just the nations largest cities creates a robust picture of the scale of change ushered in by depopulation.

By extracting data from both the U.S. Census for the past 20 years and the annual American Community Survey, and pairing it with a mixture of climate forecasts known as Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, the researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago show that 2100 could look plenty different for U.S. cities.

The depopulation wont be everywhere, however. And it may be tricky to predict. The study estimates that the largest losses will come from the Northeast and Midwest as people move to the South and West. That doesnt mean there wont be some growth, though, in the areas anticipating depopulation, or that every city in the growth zones will prosper.

Cities such as Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburghand even currently growing cities like Louisville, Syracuse, and New Havenmay all experience population collapse. Vermont and West Virginia are most at risk, with the potential for 80 percent of cities in those states to shrink. Illinois, Mississippi, Kansas, New Hampshire, and Michigan arent far behind, with up to 75 percent of cities in jeopardy of dropping population.

The losses may not always be inter-state. The papers authors believe that California, for example, will see population loss along the southern coast as people flock to the northern coast. They also expect that the population growth currently being enjoyed by Texas and Utah will reverse.

The projections suggest that, by 2100, all states will have cities facing some type of depopulation, expect the District of Columbia and Hawaii, the authors wrote.

When nearly a quarter of an entire city vacates, leaving behind swaths of unused area, it can disrupt basic serviceseverything from the power grid to water pressure to transit services. Resource distribution challenges will persist unless a paradigm shift happens away from growth-based planning alone, the authors wrote.

And pairing depopulation with aging infrastructure creates an entirely new set of social, economic, and policy challenges. Having an estimation of future population trends can assist authorities in better planning and designing cities and their infrastructure systems for depopulation, the authors wrote.

This isnt just about the major metropolitan areas, which have been the sole focus of past studies. Instead, this survey looked at population centers irrespective of their size. And the news for smaller cities isnt pretty. In fact, depopulation may pose even more challenges in these areas, which have more limited financial, human, and natural resource wells from which to draw.

Typically, depopulation occurs as working-age residents move elsewhere to take new jobs, leaving the cities they vacated with an older population. That can exacerbate economic and city service challenges.

Depopulation could also have other ramifications, such as the closing of stores in certain areas that can lead to food deserts. Transportation systems may have to adapt to help vulnerable residents reach needed services. It is imperative to consider how depopulation will impact all infrastructure systems, the authors wrote. Moreover, with infrastructure deserts already existing, the challenges to mee the basic needs of residents will be amplified.

The study authors hope decision makers adapt now. What is certain is that an important cultural shift in planning and engineering communities is needed, they wroye, away from conventional growth-based planning to accommodate a dramatic demographic shift.

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The Costco Wholesale club store at One Daytona nears completion on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. The Issaquah, Washington-based membership warehouse club chain is slated to open its Daytona Beach location across the street from Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 22.

Costco is testing a new way to keep non-members out of their stores.

A photo posted on Reddit from Jan. 7 shows a Costco greeter scanning a customer's card in a warehouse in Issaquah, Washington, about 17 miles east of Seattle.

Costco confirmed to USA TODAY on Tuesday that several locations "are scanning Costco membership cards at the entrance," calling it an effort to improve member experience.

"This test is to match members to their cards at the door prior to shopping for an improved member experience," Costco said in a statement to USA Today.

Before now, Costco members have only had to flash their membership card at store entrances. The card and a customer's ID are then scanned at both regular and self-checkout. Adding ID checks at the store entrances will eliminate the need for them to be provided at checkout, CNN reported.

"It speeds up the process at entry and speeds up the process at the checkout," Costco chief finance officer Richard Galanti told CNN. "Thats what we believe and were going to pilot it."

Costco is the latest company to crack down on membership sharing with both Disney+ and Netflix limiting password-sharing.

Memberships key to Costco business model

The crackdown is a measure to protect a cornerstone revenue stream for Costco.

Costco generated $4.6 billion in membership fees from nearly 128 million members, according to the company's 2023 Annual Report.

The figure represented and 8% increase over 2022 and the company reported a 90% renewal rate.

Costco memberships cost $60 for Gold Star and Business members and $120 for executive members.

The company reported net sales of $237.7 billion in 2023.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Costco testing scanners to keep out non-members
I love a good Bolognesehonestly, I think I would eat the hearty classic Italian pasta sauce every day if it wasnt so time-consuming to make. However, as it stands the slow-simmered, meat-based sauce is sadly relegated to only special occasions at our house.

Originating in Bologna, Italy, Bolognese is a rich and savory sauce that gets its incredible flavor from the long-cook method of sweating, sauteing and braising each ingredient, starting with the meat. Various Italian aromatics are also added in stages and allotted plenty of time to cook down between each ingredient addition.

Bolognese can take 3-4 hours from start to finish to prepare, which makes it delicious, but also means that it's not really an option for a weeknight meal. In other words, it requires a lot of time and patiencetwo things I dont have on the average Tuesday evening. But I should have known that Queen Ina has a solution for this dilemma.

The Barefoot Contessa has been my go-to for delicious, easy-to-make recipes for quite some time, so when I came across Weeknight Bolognese, in her Barefoot Contessa How Easy is That? cookbook it immediately caught my eye. If Ina promises a delicious Bolognese in under an hour, I knew I had to try it. Heres how it went.

Get the recipe: Ina's Weeknight Bolognese

Ingredients For Ina Garten's Weeknight Bolognese

Weeknight Bolognese Ingredients Theresa Greco

There are as many Bolognese recipes as there are cooks because each person adds their own spin. That said, most will agree that a mixture of onions, carrots and celery is the place to start. Ina's recipe, however, forgoes this classic mirepoix and instead relies on garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes as shortcuts to flavor.

Ina does agree that the main ingredient for bolognese is meat, though. She calls for ground sirloin in her recipe, although she does offer ground chuck, turkey or pork as potential substitutes.

The rest of the ingredients include mostly pantry staples: olive oil, dry red wine, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, nutmeg, fresh basil, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese and orecchiette pasta.

Related: Recipe for RichesFind Out All About Ina Garten's Net Worth

How To Make Ina Garten's Weeknight Bolognese

Start by heating your olive oil in a large skillet. Add the meat and cook it for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon. Once the meat is completely browned, add the garlic, oregano and hot red pepper flakes. Continue cooking for an additional minute or so to bring out their flavor.

Add some of the wine (reserve the rest for later) to de-glaze the pan. Both the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste are added next and are simmered for approximately 10 minutes.

While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the instructions on the box, leaving it a bit al dente as it will cook a few minutes more in the sauce. While the pasta is cooking, add the nutmeg, basil and cream to the sauce and let it to simmer.

When the pasta is ready, transfer it to the sauce using a slotted spoon (reserve some of the pasta cooking water). Let the pasta and sauce cook together for a few minutes, adding in the reserved wine and cooking liquid, as needed, to creat a sauce that lightly coats the pasta. Serve warm with grated Parmesan and chopped basil, if you'd like.

Related: You Absolutely Must Make Garten's Mac and Cheese

Weeknight Bolognese Theresa Greco

My Honest Thoughts About Ina Garten's Weeknight Bolognese

I'll admit I was initially skeptical of this recipe, but I never should have doubted the Barefoot Contessa. Although this is quite different from any Bolognese I've eaten in the past, I did enjoy Gartens saucier version. Plus, it allows me to eat a meat sauce whenever the craving hits, which makes this recipe a winner in my book.

Related: 19 Classic Ina Garten Recipes That Prove She's The GOAT

Tips for Making Ina Garten's Weeknight Bolognese

Use the right meat. Sauces such as this typically work better when the meat has higher fat content. I used an 80/20 ground chuck here and had great results.



Choose your own pasta adventure. Garten's recipe calls for orecchiette, but she notes that any shell-shaped pasta will work.



Finish with bail. Adding the basil once the pasta is off the heat, will preserve the flavor.



Mind the wine. To reduce the acidity I suggest eliminating the second wine addition and using only the reserved pasta water. You can sip the leftover wine with your pasta.

Up next: All About Ina Garten's Husband, Jeffrey
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux and Elizabeth Arceneaux talk to people during the grand opening ceremony for the building of the Center for Medical Education of LSU Health Shreveport Monday morning, December 11, 2023.

It must have been a difficult secret to keep, but it was a surprise to most guests at the grand opening of LSU Health Center for Medical Education. So A-lister Clinton "Bubba" Rasberry Jr. received sustained applause when he announced he was giving $2.5 million for a lecture series at the new facility.

Only Foundation Chief Kevin Flood and his staff knew the news was coming, said LSU Health exec Lisa Babin, in a press release.

Rasberry announced the big news at the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the completion of the $79 million structure built over four years: LSU Health Center for Medical Education.

The special event was scheduled on a coolish day with some 400 guests seated outside under the four-story glass-designed building. (It is truly a sight to see on the school's campus.)

The grand opening ceremony for the building of the Center for Medical Education of LSU Health Shreveport Monday morning, December 11, 2023.

As the program pointed out, the center "was created to enhance, expand and modernize medical education and research."

Rasberry's donation establishes the Rasberry Family Endowed Lecture Series which will be hosted in the building auditorium, said Babin. In recognition of the gift, Rasberry will have his name, well not inlights, but certainly, prominent places for the auditorium will be designated the W. Clinton Rasberry Jr. Auditorium.

"Wow" is what I thought when I saw the building that holds the auditorium. A press release describes it: "The dynamic design boasts shimmering glass and metal, utilizing energy, transparency and lightness to create a welcoming atmosphere."

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, center, talks to Senator-elect Sam Jenkins, left, during the grand opening ceremony for the building of the Center for Medical Education of LSU Health Shreveport Monday morning, December 11, 2023.

Gov. John Bel Edwards was the top celebrity public official on the program.

But, by the end of the talks, not the man with the most attention on the podium

That would be Rasberry, a member of the foundation and the last person on the program. During his turn on the podium, he also appealed to other members of the community to continue supporting the school and the center. "The care provided, the research that's done here is essential. Giving today by you and others and myself is for the future," Rasberry said.

According the the program others who did just that to get the building constructed included, but are certainly not limited to: Roy O. Martin III, $500,00; Dr. George and Sandra Bakowski, $250,000; and Bill and Frances Comegys, $200,000. Among those sending $1 million: John and Lindsay, James Davison, Dr. Linda Nall and the late Fred L. Phillips. Their names topped program pages crammed with names of private and public individuals and public and private agencies.

The program also pointed out public contributors, including the Louisiana State Legislature, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, Ochsner Health, 117th U.S. Congress, City of Shreveport, Parish of Caddo.

Among those on the speaker's stand: State Sen. Greg Tarver who the governor praised for efforts procuring money from the Louisiana Legislature for the center. When we ran into contributors Collin Phillips and Christopher Phillips, they marched us over to a classroom and pointed out a plaque with their names etched on it.

Among others in the powerful crowd: Speakers LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Dr David Guzick, LSU Prez Dr. Will Tate, state Sen. Greg Tarver, Ochsner Health official Dr. Leo Seoane, and Corwin Harper, CEO, Ochsner LSU Health System official. Others touring the facility or working the crowd: Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux and wife Elizabeth; Dean of the School of Medicine Dr. David Lewis and wife Kathy; Board of Regents Member Wilbert Pryor.

Community Leaders: Clare Nelson, Dr. Mary Ann Edens, Susan Berry, Tari Bradford, Dr. Steen and Ronda Trawick, Dr. Chuck Fox, Dr. Carranza Pryor, state Rep. Tammy Phelps, Wayne Brown, state Sen.-Elect Sam Jenkins and state Rep.-Elect Steven Jackson.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Inside the LSU Health Center for Medical Education
The New York Times is out with its annual roundup of top travel recommendations and a brand new Arizona national monument has made the list.

Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument is No. 6 on the New York Times 2024 Travel Destinations: 52 Places to Go This Year list.

President Joe Biden signed a proclamation establishing the monument on Aug. 8, 2023. Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument protects 917,618 acres of land against new mining or drilling claims and preserves the cultural history of the land.

Considered the ancestral homelands of more than a dozen Indigenous tribes, the monument also preserves more than 3,000 Native cultural and historic sites, reflecting the areas deep spiritual and sacred significance, the New York Times list said.

Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni: Biden announced new monument at Red Butte. Here's why it is sacred to tribes

What is the Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument?

The monument protects thousands of sites that are precious to tribal nations in the Southwest. This includes the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

The monument's names were explained in a fact sheet released by the White House. Baaj nwaavjo (BAAHJ  NUH-WAAHV-JOH) means where Indigenous peoples roam in the Havasupai language, and itah kukveni (EE-TAH  KOOK-VENNY) means our ancestral footprints in the Hopi language.

"This designation, which marks the fifth new national monument established by President Biden, honors Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples by protecting sacred ancestral places and their historically and scientifically important features, while conserving our public lands, protecting wildlife habitat and clean water, and supporting local economies," the fact sheet said.

The landscape will also be used for outdoor recreation, including camping, hiking, biking, and other recreational activities.

Where is the Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument?

The Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument occupies three separate tracts of land:

An area northeast of Grand Canyon National Park in House Rock Valley and adjacent to Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

An area northwest of the national park and adjacent to the Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument on the Kanab Plateau.

An area south of the park encompassing the town of Tusayan and the Tusayan Ranger District of Kaibab National Forest.

Why the New York Times picked Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni

The list said that although the Grand Canyon National Park is no stranger to travel bucket lists, the recently designated Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument honors sacred Indigenous land and provides a new reason to visit the southwestern United States.

The list also said people can support the local Native American community by booking a Colorado River adventure with the Hualapai River Runners which is a white-water rafting company led by Hualapai Tribe river guides.

It also suggested looking up at the sky for a chance at spotting a California condor  the largest bird in North America that was once facing extinction  which now has a population of more than 100 due to recent conservation efforts.

What to see at Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument

The USDA Forest Service put together a few places to visit in the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. This includes:

Red Butte , called Wiii Gdwiisa by the Havasupai, is defined by an eroded rock and basalt cap from ancient lava. Located on the Coconino Plateau south of Grand Canyon National Park between Valle and Tusayan, it is sacred to the Havasupai, Hualapai, Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni people and is central to tribal creation stories.

Hull Cabin was built by sheep ranchers in 1889 near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It memorializes the areas ranching and mining history; it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is maintained for visitors.

Apex Logging Camp has evidence of the timber industry in the 1930s and is the focus of ongoing research at an archaeological field school. The town of Apex provided wood used to build the railroad, timber the mines and construct the resorts along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Between 1928 and 1936 the Apex Logging Camp was a home for lumberjacks and locomotive crews.

The Grand Canyon Airport Historic District includes a decommissioned airport listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It operated in the 1920s bringing visitors and celebrities like Amelia Earhart, Will Rogers, and Charles Lindbergh to the Grand Canyon.

The Grandview Lookout Tower and its associated cabin were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936 to assist the Forest Service and the National Park Service in detecting wildfires. It is near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The Tusayan Ranger Station where six historic buildings used to manage the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Including a house, barn and corral which were constructed between 1939 and 1942 and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Enjoy the outdoors National park passes 2024: Who can buy one and where you can use it to get free admission

Reach the reporter at dina.kaur@arizonarepublic.com. Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why this remote AZ destination is a NYT top place to go in 2024
Megan Fox nailed her cover girl moment on the cover of last years SI Swimsuit magazine, and were still not over the stunning photos. The Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen star worked with visual artist Greg Swales and traveled to the Dominican Republic for her iconic feature.

She donned gorgeous, colorful and unique bikinis and one-pieces made out of funky materials. The 37-year-old, who is engaged to rapper Machine Gun Kelly, channeled the most ethereal beach angel vibes on the breathtaking shores of the Caribbean island country.

I hope that the photos are beautiful and that the frequency that comes off of them is just a healthy, good girl, she said while on location. I hope people take away that Im a thoughtful, articulate, deep person.

Today, the Tennessee native, who has been open about her ongoing journey with self-love and body dysmorphia, is a mom to three kids, Noah, Bodi and Journey, whom she shares with ex-husband Brian Austin Green. The model says they are her proudest accomplishment to date, and being a mother is something she thrives and excels at.

When I step back, I know how connected I am and Ive always been and how present Ive always been, she shared. I see the reflection of the type of mother that I am in their eyes and in their behavior.

The four-time Teen Choice Award-winner, who was honored for her performance in cult-classic horror-thriller film Jennifers Body, entered the industry at the age of 13.

Below are eight jaw-dropping pics from the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen actresss 2023 SI Swim cover shoot with photographer Greg Swales in the Dominican Republic.

Greg Swales/Sports Illustrated Megan Fox was photographed by Greg Swales in the Dominican Republic. Dress: Celia Kritharioti. Swim Bottom: Skims. Earrings: Jacquie Aiche.

Greg Swales/Sports Illustrated Megan Fox was photographed by Greg Swales in the Dominican Republic. Top: JEBLANC. Skirt: JEBLANC. Swim Bottom: Frankies Bikinis. Earrings: Jacquie Aiche. Ring: Jacquie Aiche.

Greg Swales/Sports Illustrated Megan Fox was photographed by Greg Swales in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit: Frankies Bikinis. Necklaces: Jacquie Aiche. Earrings: Jacquie Aiche.

Greg Swales/Sports Illustrated Megan Fox was photographed by Greg Swales in the Dominican Republic. Top: RYAN STORER. Body Jewelry: RYAN STORER. Swim Bottom: IAMGIA. Earrings: Jacquie Aiche.

Greg Swales/Sports Illustrated Megan Fox was photographed by Greg Swales in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit: Norma Kamali. Earrings: Jacquie Aiche.

Greg Swales/Sports Illustrated Megan Fox was photographed by Greg Swales in the Dominican Republic. Dress: REN HAIXI. Swim Bottom: IAMGIA. Earrings: Jacquie Aiche.

Greg Swales/Sports Illustrated Megan Fox was photographed by Greg Swales in the Dominican Republic. Top: GCDS. Bottom: GCDS. Earrings: Jacquie Aiche. Body Chain: Jacquie Aiche. Rings: Jacquie Aiche.

Greg Swales/Sports Illustrated Megan Fox was photographed by Greg Swales in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit: Miaou. Rings: LETRA. Earrings: Jacquie Aiche.

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!


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The culprits in these intriguing murder mysteries cant stay hidden for long, not with indomitable detectives on the case. Whether you like your tales cozy or hard-boiled, set in the city or the country, incorporating tough social issues or just offering up escapist fun, youre bound to find a hero or heroine to cheer in this perfect collection of winter reads. Curl up, throw another log on the fire, and get ready for some page-by-page sleuthing.

Glory Be, by Danielle Arceneaux

Glory Broussard is the unforgettable heroine of this cozy, feel-good crime novel set in Lafayette, Louisiana. On the outside, Glory appears as durable as her favorite Swarovski crystal brooch. On the inside, shes mourning her mothers death, her divorce, and the aches that remind her shes growing old. Not too old, though shes running an illegal gambling operation out of the local coffee shop. When her best friends death is declared a suicide, she gathers all the crime-solving skills shes gleaned from watching The Wire and sets out to prove that Sister Amity Gay was murdered. Meanwhile, someone is scheming to have her evicted from her home and one of her car tires is slashed. The relatable Glory ferrets out the truth, clearing all obstacles in her way with her witty banter and the cloak of invisibility that shes afforded because shes a Black woman of a certain age. The first book in a delightful new series.

Shop Now Glory Be, by Danielle Arceneaux amazon.com $21.49

The Mystery Guest, by Nita Prose

The Maid was a smash hit in 2022, with readers falling hard for Molly Gray, the neurodivergent crime solver/housekeeper extraordinaire whose charm and big heart made her irresistible. In this equally wonderful sequel, Molly, now head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, is again thrust into a murder investigation when a famous mystery author drops dead in the boutique hotels tearoom. The aptly named J.D. Grimthorpe was about to make a major announcement when he met his demise. Who would want to kill him, and why? Prose gives her story extra emotional heft by alternating chapters about the murder investigation with a story line set in the past, when the differently abled Molly is a child, struggling to fit in, with only her gran to guide and love her. Molly, a reluctant sleuth who wants to be left alone to dust and change linensI am a cleaner, not a killersolves the murder in record time because they always blame the maid, and she has rooms to tidy.

Shop Now The Mystery Guest, by Nita Prose amazon.com $20.28

A Traitor in Whitehall, by Julia Kelly

If you like to mix history with your mystery, then this propulsive novel set in World War II London should be on your TBR list. The Germans are raining bombs on the British capital, but below ground, in the bunkers serving as Prime Minister Winston Churchills cabinet war rooms, an attack of a different kind is taking place, and it could change the course of the war. Someone is passing secret documents to the Nazis, and 22-year-old Evelyne Redfern, who appears to be just a typist, is one of the agents searching for the traitor. The fearless and relentlessly curious Evelyne is also looking into who killed Jean Plinkton, another typist, and whether theres a link between her murder and the mole. This is a superbly constructed whodunit that pays homage to Agatha Christies locked-room mysteries.

Shop Now A Traitor in Whitehall, by Julia Kelly bookshop.org $26.04

The Wharton Plot, by Mariah Fredericks

If you cant get enough of the cosseted and corseted high-society women showcased in Maxs The Gilded Age, this mystery, set in 1911, when this era of opulent wealth and waste was in its death throes, will have you yearning for a time machine. In The Lindbergh Nanny, a previous historical novel, Fredericks reimagined the kidnapping of famed aviator Charles Lindberghs son from his nannys point of view. This time, the murder of author David Graham Phillips outside New Yorks prestigious Princeton Club is the spark that sets fire to the plot. More famous than Phillips is the woman who decides to track down his killer. Shes the renowned novelist Edith Wharton, author of The Age of Innocence and other novels that chronicled New York high societys glamour and decay. When Phillipss sister claims he was killed because of a book he wrote, Wharton decides to investigate. Come to this novel for the engrossing mystery, stay for the cinematic portrait of an aging woman who fears her popularity is waning and whose marriage is dissolving, even as shes struggling with feeling obsolete in a modernizing world.

Shop Now The Wharton Plot, by Mariah Fredericks bookshop.org $26.04

The Expectant Detectives, by Kat Ailes

A book title this precious comes with the unspoken promise that what youre about to read is as cozy as an episode of Midsomer Murders and as charming as Call the Midwife. Ailes delivers on that promise with humor and the kind of mystery Miss Marple loved to solve. Expectant parents Alice and Joe move to a village in the Cotswolds, where they plan to lead a quiet life away from the bustle of London. Just days into their move, they attend a prenatal class where, to everyones shock, one woman gives birth, while in the apothecary shop below, the owner is found dead. Alice should be deciding whether to have her baby in a birthing yurt at the local commune or in a gong bath surrounded by wind chimes. Instead, she and fellow moms-to-be are bent on catching the shopkeepers killer. Could it be the local Master of the Hounds? The pot-smoking high priestess of the gong? A fresh and fun take on the mystery genre perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding.

Shop Now The Expectant Detectives, by Kat Ailes amazon.com $18.00

Resurrection Walk, by Michael Connelly

Some of the most popular crime dramas now streamingThe Lincoln Lawyer and Boschare based on the novels by Michael Connelly, one of todays best crime and mystery writers. His latest is billed as a Lincoln Lawyer novel, but Harry Bosch, the maverick, now-retired LAPD detective and star of his own book series, is an intrinsic part of this dynamic courtroom drama. Mickey Haller, the Lincoln Lawyer, conducts his law practice from the backseat of his Lincoln SUV. He and Bosch team up to prove that Lucinda Sanz, imprisoned five years ago for killing her husband, is innocent. This is a gritty and well-researched borderline thriller that incorporates police corruption, gang violence, tainted evidence, and lawyerly fancy footwork all in the name of securing a resurrection walk for Lucindaa chance to leave prison and begin living again.

Shop Now Resurrection Walk, by Michael Connelly amazon.com $18.92

Blood Betrayal, by Ausma Zehanat Khan

Denver police detective Inaya Rahman is the moral center of this gripping story that walks the line between mystery and social novel. Rahman and fellow officers are faced with solving what appear to be two racially charged murders. Duante Young, a promising artist, is shot by a veteran police officer who swears he thought the can of spray paint Young was holding was a gun. Teenager Mateo Ruiz is shot dead during a drug raid. The cop being investigated in his death admits his gun was used in the shooting, but his partner swears he never unholstered it. The killings are the foundation for this dark and intense story, but the novels framework is a diorama filled with the most relevant issues in contemporary life: racism, anti-gay sentiment, police corruption, and how men, women, and children of all colors strive for balance in their lives. Inaya, Khans most complicated character, is a devout Muslim and a dedicated cop always struggling to reconcile the two.

Shop Now Blood Betrayal, by Ausma Zehanat Khan macmillan.com $18.00

Only If Youre Lucky, by Stacy Willingham

If you knew you could get away with murder, would you do it? Thats the tantalizing question that keeps popping up in this atmospheric mystery perfect for fans of Donna Tartts The Secret History. College freshman Margot is introverted, depressed, and emotionally frozen, unable to get over the death of her best friend, Eliza, who died shortly after high school graduation. Out of the blue, the enigmatic Lucy, a fellow student at the South Carolina liberal arts college where this Southern Gothic is set, invites Margot to live off-campus with her and two other party girls. Lucy has a dangerous and magnetic personality that sucks Margot into her destructive lifestyle, but after a member of a fraternity dies and Lucy goes missing, Margot must ferret out Lucys secrets and face the truth about her own past. The explosive revelations rolled out at the novels end will satisfy even the most jaded readers.

Shop Now Only If Youre Lucky, by Stacy Willingham amazon.com $25.32

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SANAA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group on Wednesday claimed responsibility for launching a missile attack on an American ship in the Gulf of Aden.

"In support of Palestinian people and response to the U.S. and British aggression against our country, our naval forces carried out an attack targeting the U.S. ship "Ginko Picardie" in the Gulf of Aden with a number of missiles, and the strike was accurate and direct," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

"Our forces will not hesitate to target all sources of threat in the Arab Sea and the Red Sea within our legitimate right to defend Yemen and to continue supporting the oppressed Palestinian people," the spokesman stressed. 
40,000 attendees flooded New Yorks Jacob K. Javits Center from Jan. 14 to 16 for NRF 2024and nearly all of the attendees had one major topic on their minds: artificial intelligence.

AI and generative AI have begun to revolutionize how brands and retailers alike think about solving their most pressing problems. The buzz over AI has grown exponentially since NRF 2023, and practitioners and experts remain bullish about its potential to revolutionize industries.

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A year ago, we were talking about AI here at this conference, but it wasnt the No. 1 topic. It is now the No. 1 topic, and its being embedded in everything that we do, every technology that were leveraging, every technology that we will leverage, said Karen Etzkorn, the chief information officer for Qurate Retail Group.

As brands ramp up their investments in and commitments for AI-based projects and systems in 2024, the show floors were chock full of solutions providers offering to incorporate AI into retailers businesses, and most sessions featured some mention of artificial intelligence.

Several ideas rang true throughout discussions at Retails Big Show: companies know AI has the power to revolutionize the customer experience; employee participation plays a huge part in bolstering that and without proper partners and infrastructure, progress will be slow and often, inaccurate.

From left: Brendan Witcher, Samir Desai, Scott Devlin and Sneha Narahalli discuss generative AIs impact on operations. Photo by Jason Dixson Photography.

Use Cases and the Customer Experience

Though adoption among retailers, particularly in fashion and apparel, has not happened as quickly as AI continues to iterate, many brands and companies have begun experimenting with the technology.

Some of those test-and-learn experiments have yielded strong early results for retailers, who have made it clear that their interests primarily lie in enriching the customer experience, whether online or in stores.

Samir Desai, Abercrombie & Fitchs chief digital and technology officer, said the brand has been strategically evaluating how AI can help solve existing problems while simultaneously finding new use cases.

I think the fundamental group of problems to be solved for our customer hasnt radically changed over the last year or two because of generative AIthose problems are still the same, he said. With gen AI, I think it feels like weve now got more tools in our toolbox through which we can solve those problems, [and] there are new problems were able to solve.

Desai said one example of a new problem brought to the surface by generative AI was product description copy; he noted that the brand hadnt thought about solving that problem with technology a few years ago, but now, it employs generative AIs assistance in creating efficient, automated descriptions.

To that same end, Josh Platt, senior vice president of product and user experience at Rue Gilt Groupe, said he expects AI to help solve two of consumers largest existing issues in fashion and apparel: returns and sizing.

Offering customers a more individualized, personalized experience seemed to be top of mind for many retailers at the conference. Brendan Witcher, vice president and principal analyst for Forrester Research, said thats a trend that will only continue.



I talk a lot about the move to individualization in my research. You need to move away from segmentation and personasnot necessarily stop doing those things, but we need to understand that thats not the North Star of engagement. The North Star of engagement today is individualization, looking at the profile of the consumer, Witcher said.

Some brands have already begun leveraging AI for just that.

Per Desai, the Harlems Fashion Row partner has also started using generative AI for stronger product recommendations on its site. In 2023, the brand launched an AI stylist tool that allows consumers to search by occasion for clothing.

Somebody can ask a question like, Im going on a bachelor trip next weekend to Nashville, Tennessee, and Im looking for an outfit to wear, and it will spit back a couple of different product recommendations, he explained. [Its] a more original way of searching our product catalog, versus just three keywords, like, Black leather jacket in a [search] box and then the customer doing all of the work navigating through all of the hundreds of results we give them.

And in womens intimates, where in-store try-ons and advice can be boon, one market leader has already committed to creating stronger customer experiences.

Victorias Secret recently announced a partnership with Google Cloud to offer personalized product recommendations to its consumers online. Murali Sundararajan, Victorias Secrets chief information officer, said the brand wanted to enable a digital experience that paralleled in-store encounters.

We wanted to bring the customer experience, what the customers typically go through in the store, and we wanted to mimic the same operations in the digital, he said at NRF 2024.

As the Adore Me owner continues its journey toward AI adoption, Sundararajan said, it will focus on easing employees burdens in stores.

AIs Effect on the Workforce

As brands and retailers integrate AI into all parts of their businesses, their workforces will be affected by the changes.

Results from a 2023 CNBC and SurveyMonkey Workforce survey show that 64 percent of U.S. workers indicated that they dont use AI on the job at all. 2024 could change that.

Already, some companies have begun using AI to streamline operations in stores, distribution centers and call centers.

In a session with technology partner SOTI, Glenn Allison, Tractor Supply Companys vice president of customer facing applications development, shared that the company has begun using AI to bolster its in-store employees knowledge of products.

It does that through its chatbot tool, which it calls Hey GURA. When faced with a question about a products attributes, employees can ask the system to explain whats in a product, what it can be used for and more. Additionally, employees can use Hey GURA to make product recommendations. Employees access the chatbot via their handheld Honeywell devices.

Allison said that while using the chatbots in real time has helped bolster the customer experience, the company has seen another use case emerge: helping to train its workforce.

In a promotional video for Hey Gura, Tractor Supply explained that, Team members can take the initiative and use Hey Gura in their down time to learn about products on their own, even when the customer doesnt have a question. Hey Gura is a phenomenal tool for new, and even seasoned, team members.

Allison said when Tractor Supply began evaluating potential use cases for generative AI, it knew the end result had to align with a real, defined need for its business.

Gen AI, no doubt, theres a lot of buzz thats on the [show] floor. This is an example thats real. Were taking care of our store team members, so they can better take care of the customers and the criticality of being able to give them [a] legendary experience, he said. And that is genuine AI, not just buzzgenuine AI, purpose-built to take care of our store team members and customers.

But when companies implement technology like this, one key consideration has to be employee adoption. If employees dont add a new AI tool to their consideration set while working, the investment in buying or building it could be moot.

Jeff Courcelle, vice president of user experience and chief designer at MicroStrategy, which helps retailers create AI-powered apps and systems, said his experience shows that creating a useful, winning tool for employees most often happens by meeting them where they already are.

You can build the most amazing artificial intelligence experience, but the challenge with that experience is getting [associates] to use it. If you just roll something out and give them yet another tool in their toolbox, which is already overloaded, the likelihood of them using it is actually very low, Courcelle said in a session at NRF 2024.

Michael Relich, who previously served as PacSuns co-CEO, said rather than developing something completely new, it could make sense to add on to what already exists.

You have to implement it in a very mellow way, and the way I look at it, embed it in your existing applications, Relich said.

Learning to incorporate AI into everyday operations could be paramount for employees hoping to prove their value among fears of job loss because of the tech.

Nearly all speakers who fielded questions about whether AI would take over humans jobs had the same answer: no. But for some, that no had a caveat: several speakers noted that while AI itself may not take a persons job, a person who can successfully use AI will.

Attendees watch a product demonstration on the show floor at NRF 2024. Photo by Jason Dixson Photography.

The Underlying Infrastructure

Though the excitement around AI continues to ramp up and flashy new use cases find their footing, practitioners and experts said the foundational data and information enterprises put into AI models could determine the success of the solutions.

Good data is good decisions. Bring it back to the basics; understand your data foundation, whether its transactional, through a data warehouse, through that youre working with is going to be storing that data for you, said David Morton, director of enterprise data and analytics for Brooks Running.

Without clean, efficient data, practitioners argued, AI-based outputs could steer unsound decisions for a business.

Building in-house AI models to support a multifaceted business has proven not to be a quick route for many companies that have primary business interests outside of the technology arena.

As such, most major companies have turned to third-party software-as-a-service providers, like Google, SAP, Forter, Microsoft and more, to help them craft solutions, whether internally motivated or externally facing.

But finding the right service provider can prove challenging, especially when the market remains saturated with options.

Dale Cade, principal consultant at Columbus Consulting International, said for best outcomes, an enterprise should first evaluate its direct needs.

If you just need shallow AI, dont buy a personalized LLM, he said, noting that the deeper an enterprise decides to go, the more it costs.

Randy Salley, Walmarts former senior vice president of retail technology, said one of the most important assets is a technology providers understanding of the industrys dynamics.

I think the most important thing for me is, do they understand retail business, and what kind of experience they bring to the table that would allow me to have a great opportunity for success? he said.

Companies testing and learning today will soon begin full-scale implementation. The consensus among leaders at NRF seemed to be that those who havent started experimentation could be missing out on the chance to increase revenue, create loyal customers and drive efficiency for their businesses.

Its a little like climate change, where you can put your head in the sand and pretend its not happening. Maybe you can do the same with AI. Its coming, and so you have to embrace it, and you have to start to experiment across your business with both internal productivity opportunities and consumer-facing opportunities, said Platt, the Rue Gilt Groupe executive.
Pennsylvania could become one of a growing number of states to allow the use of drones to recover downed game. On January 2, State Senator Jarrett Coleman released a memorandum asking fellow lawmakers to co-sponsor a bill that would make the practice legal, after a drone operator was busted last month for attempting to help a client recover a deer in Lancaster County.

On December 6, during a Game Commission sting operation at the Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve, Wingy Drone Services owner Joshua Wingenroth became the first person in the Keystone State to be charged with unlawfully using a drone for game recovery. He received one count each of disturbance of game and wildlife and spotlighting, and two counts of using unlawful devices and methods. The PGC confiscated Wingenroths drone, and he is facing penalties up to $2,500 in fines and three months in jail.

The case has turned up the heat on an already hot topic in the hunting community. Its common sense to me and I dont think we should try to overthink it, Sen. Coleman told The Philadelphia Inquirer. Is there any good reason to allow an animal thats been killed to go to waste?

One of the controversies surrounding the issue is that, as things stand, it's not entirely clear to hunters or drone operators (or apparently some wardens) just what is and isnt legal in this regard. While current game laws do prohibit the use of drones for hunting in Pennsylvania, using one after the hunt to recover an animal is a stickier questionone that seems to be up to the discretion of individual wardens, says Mike Yoder, host of the Drone Deer Recovery podcast and a drone operator in Ohio where the practice is already legal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsQOp0DBAZA

In a January 8 episode, Yoder interviews a P.A. drone operator who estimates that he helped recover 40-some game animals for clients this past season. The man tells Yoder that he had a warden out with him one night during a recovery and that there was not an issue in the world. The next month, theyre doing a sting operation in another part of the state. So, its like, which warden are you going to get?

Sen. Colemans proposed legislation would make things crystal clearthat drones should not be allowed for hunting but should be for recovery after the fact. With the advent of drones, he told WHTM News , hunters have an additional too to use and reduce the amount of dead game that goes uncollected.

Yoder encourages Pennsylvania hunters to reach out to their state senators about the issue and to attend the upcoming PGC Board Meeting in Harrisburg on January 26 when the public is invited to comment.
Sure, there are plenty of amazing reasons to visit big, bustling cities like New York City and Los Angeles or ever-popular natural wonders like Zion National Park and The Grand Canyon, but the US is full of lesser-touristed destinations that deserve way more attention. So, I compiled a bunch of suggestions from the BuzzFeed Community. Here are some of their favorite under-the-radar vacation destinations in the country. Perhaps you haven't considered visiting these spots...yet.

Eloi_omella / Getty Images

1.Laconia, New Hampshire: "It's home to beautiful unspoiled lakes, beaches, and a boardwalk with all kinds of lovely shopping and food options."

"There's a drive-in theater, one of the largest still-active arcades in the United States, and you can partake in just about outdoor activity you can imagine. I especially love getting to eat fresh produce from the many farms in the surrounding area." citizenjane24 Nikki O'keefe Images / Getty Images

2.The Outer Banks, North Carolina: "Some of the islands that comprise the Outer Banks will make you feel like you're on a deserted island in the middle of the Atlantic. Cape Lookout is one of my favorites. There's no electricity, houses, roads, or anything of the sort. It's just pure and unadulterated peace and tranquility."

arnoldjna17 Cavan Images / Getty Images/Cavan Images RF

3.The California-Oregon Coastline: "This stretch of Northern California, where it meets neighboring Oregon, is wonderful. It's nowhere near as populated as other parts of California, and the weather is beautiful all year round. Even during the hottest days of summer, the weather here stays in the 80s."

"You'll find the redwoods, abundant wildlife, gorgeous coastlines, and a slow-paced lifestyle to enjoy it all. Theres no hustle and bustle, no tourist traps or constant traffic jams. If you need constant action, there may not be enough here to entertain you, but it's really fabulous for those who want to relax and unwind. Gorgeous scenery, amazing sunsets on the beach, and some fantastic, off-the-beaten-path places to eat make it one of the most relaxing places weve ever been. If you have a camper or RV, it can be quite inexpensive to stay for an extended time." KittehRager Noppawat Tom Charoensinphon / Getty Images

4.Carmel-by-the-Sea, California: "Dont plan on an active nightlife or anything (in fact, mostly everything closes by 7:00 p.m.), but its a charming little community by the ocean with lots of independent shops and local restaurants. Most of this town can be seen in a day, but if you want to make it a longer trip, there are hotels nearby overlooking the ocean as well as budget hotels close to the highway. Nearby Monterey is also worth a visit."

A_Panda Pgiam / Getty Images

5.The Kenai Peninsula, Alaska: "This whole area and specifically Homer, the city at the end of the peninsula, is incredible to visit. The scenery is everything you could ever dream of: There are sprawling mountains overlooking the coast, and it's just so magical. If you like Colorado, you will love the Kenai Peninsula."

amykayhansen1987 Edwin Remsberg / Getty Images

6.Hilo, Hawaii: "Many travelers overlook this whole island, but the lush and green Hilo side of the Big Island of Hawaii is especially incredible. The highway from Waipio Valley down to Hilo extends over valleys and cliffs. There are waterfalls and dramatic ocean views, and we were constantly pulling over wanting to take photos."

kpena134 Mnstudio / Getty Images/iStockphoto

7.Taos, New Mexico: "The whole state is underrated, but specifically Taos and the surrounding high desert. The scenery is utterly breathtaking, the culture and history are unique, and the food is delicious. You'll know why people call it 'The Land of Enchantment' as soon as you see this place."

u/tinyowlinahat Monamakela / Getty Images/iStockphoto

8.Leavenworth, Washington: "This city is nicknamed 'Little Bavaria,' thanks to the fact that it looks like a cute little German town. There are lots of fun shops and good food, plus the mountain views are gorgeous."

marekanne Connie Coleman / Getty Images

9.Door County, Wisconsin: "Its the 'thumb' of the state, and it is really just beautiful. You'll find a cluster of coastal towns with nice restaurants, breweries, wineries, and shopping. Theres Peninsula State Park, which is perfect for outdoor activities. You'll find something for everyone in Door County."

Moose27 Richard Hamilton Smith / Getty Images

10.Cincinnati, Ohio: "I love it there. It's the perfect midwestern city: There's a beautiful riverfront park with bars, restaurants, and stadiums, as well as a super fun downtown area. They also have an amazing food market at Findlay Market. Plus, it's home to one of the best zoos in the country."

sierrahedrick3 AAstudio One-one / Getty Images

11.Buffalo, New York: "Buffalo gets a bad rap because of our brutal winters, but if you visit between April and November, it's a totally different city, and its pretty darn great. There's a revitalized waterfront, amazing food (way more than just wings), and festivals nearly every weekend."

Betherick85 Denistangneyjr / Getty Images

12.Eugene, Oregon: "Eugene is a beautiful town, and it experiences four distinct seasons. Visiting Eugene gives you access to just about everything: coast, mountains, forest, desert, wineries, breweries, and hiking trails, all within a few hours' driving distance. The Saturday farmer's market is incredible, as is the Oregon country fair."

ThaAshHole1988 LuAAs Henrique Boucault / Getty Images

13.Ouray, Colorado: "Pronounced 'your-ray,' this tiny mountain town in southwestern Colorado is so stunning that its been nicknamed the 'Switzerland of America.' You can stay in a Swiss-style chalet and soak in one of the towns natural hot spring pools while staring up at the surrounding mountains."

Evie Carrick Mark A Paulda / Getty Images

14.Harper's Ferry, West Virginia: "This town is home to tons of history and beautiful views. In fact, the Appalachian trail passes right through it. There are ghost stories galore, cute little shops, and more. I've visited during each distinct season and always love returning."

c449114c2a Denistangneyjr / Getty Images

15.Guerneville, California: "This is one of our favorite affordable spots to visit. It's a super cute town on the Russian River where you're surrounded by big, beautiful redwoods, and you're also close to Jenner and Bodega Bay. There are great restaurants and shops to hit up. Best of all, during the spring and summer, the river is so much fun."

taylora4e62a0521 Shestock / Getty Images/Tetra images RF

16.St. Augustine, Florida: "As youd expect from the first US city founded by settlers, St. Augustine boasts eclectic European architecture, Ponce de Leons 'Fountain of Youth,' and an impressive fortress, all of which give the city a Spanish feel. For a true Spain-like experience, spend the evening sampling tapas before walking down the cobblestone streets of Aviles Street, the oldest street in the country."

Evie Carrick Cyndi Monaghan / Getty Images

17.Knoxville, Tennessee: "Downtown and Old City are vibrant spots with many restaurants, shops, bars, and theaters. Plus, World's Fair Park is gorgeous and perfect for enjoying one of Knoxville's many festivals. Downtown North is turning into a hipster's paradise of breweries and food trucks, and South Knoxville is filled with outdoor activities, including incredible hiking and mountain biking trails in the Urban Wilderness. Best of all, the city is only an hour away from Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It has urban and outdoor fun all in one!"

nsarafolean Jess Maples / Getty Images

18.Portsmouth, New Hampshire: "This is a great place to visit, especially for those who like small New England towns. Its located just an hours drive from Boston. It is one of the oldest settlements in the country, and the old town area is really picturesque with cute restaurants and shops. Finally, you can hop right over a short bridge to the nearby town of Kittery and the rest of southern Maine."

A_Panda Denistangneyjr / Getty Images

What's an often-overlooked destination right here in the US that is well worth a visit? Tell us your favorites in the comments?
A Korean Air plane clipped wings with a Cathay Pacific jet at an airport in Japans northern island of Hokkaido on Tuesday amid heavy snow  an incident that comes just weeks after a fatal aircraft collision in Tokyo.

No injuries were reported in the collision at Hokkaidos New Chitose Airport (CTS), which occurred around 5:30 p.m., according to the airport operator. The Korean Air jet had 289 passengers and crew on board, the Chitose Fire Department told CNN, while the Cathay Pacific plane was empty.

Airport safety issues have been under scrutiny in Japan following a fatal collision at Tokyos busy Haneda airport on January 2 when a Japan Airlines jet burst into flames after hitting a coast guard plane.

On Tuesday, both airlines confirmed the incident on social media, with Korean Air saying one of its aircraft came into contact with the Cathay plane during pushback, adding it was cooperating with all relevant authorities.

Cathay Pacific said its plane was stationary at the time with no customers nor crew onboard when it was struck by a Korean Air A330 which was taxiing past.

Cathay flight 583 from Sapporo to Hong Kong was canceled, with the Hong Kong-based carrier saying passengers would be picked up by additional flights later in the day and on the following day. There are two flights flying the same route on Wednesday.

The incident happened under snowy conditions. - Kyodo News/AP

There are no concerns relating to oil leakage following the accident, according to the fire department, which said the details are under investigation.

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Prince William May Abandon a Major Title When He Becomes King Because He's Not "Comfortable" in a "Faith Environment"

On top of casually becoming King of the United Kingdom when he ascends the throne, Prince William will also be dubbed "Supreme Governor of the Church of England." But apparently he's not particularly comfortable with, or interested in, that title.

According to a new book by Robert Hardman, which is being serialized in the Daily Mail, "it is no secret" that William "does not share the King's sense of the spiritual, let alone the late Queen's unshakeable devotion to the Anglican church."

A senior palace source also tells Hardman that "His father is very spiritual and happy to talk about faith, but the Prince is not. He doesn't go to church every Sunday, but then nor do the large majority of the country. He might go at Christmas and Easter, but that's it. He very much respects the institutions, but he is not instinctively comfortable in a faith environment."

WPA Pool - Getty Images

Apparently, this could also impact William's approach to the coronation. A source says that "he is less instinctively spiritual than his father so he would want something a bit more discreet." Oh, and William is looking for a much shorter ceremony that's "ideally an hour and ten minutes."

Now seems like as good a time as any to note that, according to The Daily Beast, there's also tension brewing between William and Charles over how much control Wills has in his role as heir.

I am sure they will butt heads as Charles is allergic to anyone telling him what to do, and William is not exactly famed for his subtlety," a former Buckingham Palace staffer explains. "But I think it is broadly seen as a productive rivalry, rather than a destructive one, because William respects his fathers rank as head of The Firm."

The former staffer adds that, "Ultimately the monarchy is a hierarchical structure based on military principles, and when push comes to shove, you have to obey orders from your superiors."

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Passengers on an AirAsia flight from Bangkok to Thailands island of Phuket were treated to an unexpected in-flight immersive experience when the 2006 film Snakes on a Plane seemingly played out in real life.

The incident occurred on the airline's Airbus A320 on Saturday afternoon, when the two-foot-long reptile slithered from above an overhead compartment mid-flight, horrifying those seated nearby. One traveler who owns a nail salon in Phuket documented the scaly stowaway in a TikTok video. Without Samuel L. Jackson onboard to regulate, one member of the cabin crew was seen attempting to corral the snake into a trash bag using an empty plastic bottle.

"Snakes can fly, too! It all happened above my head. They found a snake on a plane," the TikTok user wrote. "It happened while the plane was beginning its descent for landing."

According to the Daily Mail, ground staff at Phuket International Airport boarded the aircraft to search carry-on bags before passengers were permitted to deplane, in order to ensure that the snakeor any other animals, for that matterhadn't been smuggled onboard. The snake was later identified as a Blanford's bridle snake, a non-venomous species of colubrid snake endemic to Asia. Typically, the breed is harmless and avoids attacking humans.

"I was clenching my buttocks when I saw the snake. I don't like creepy crawlies at the best of times, let alone snakes above my head," one British passenger told the publication. "I was pretty relieved when they took it away. The flight attendant was calm and professional. But I was twitching every time I felt something, thinking there might be another on the plane."

"I've watched the movie, but I never thought it would happen to me in real life. What a start to my beach trip," the passenger added.
The lion is seen immobilizing and dragging the deer away during the two 10-second clips.

Twenty-four-year-old Eli Schaefer has been hunting in the Keweenaw Peninsula Forest on Michigan's Upper Peninsula for the better part of five years. During that time, he's encountered numerous signs of wild cats preying on deer, and he even got a trail camera photo of what appears to be a large male mountain lion prowling around near one of his deer stands. But it wasn't until December 2023 that Schaefer captured definitive evidence of a mountain lion actively preying on a whitetail deerthe first video of its kind ever recorded in Michigan.

The incredible clip, which Schaefer shared with Field & Stream, shows a lion pouncing on a small deer as it latches down on the base of its spine. It only takes a few seconds for the big cat to completely immobilize its prey. Then, in a second video, which Schaefer posted to Facebook on January 7 , the cat is seen dragging the prize away before exiting the frame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrwwo5dSUos

"When I got home and played it, I got chills thinking about how easily it could have been me," Schaefer tells F&S. "I dont believe this was my first encounter with a lion kill either."

Back in 2021, Schaefer says, he encountered a scene that looked like it could have been the aftermath of the video he captured on December 30. There were large drag marks with blood in them, and cat tracks in the snow about the size of his palm. He followed the drag marks for about two miles that day, and eventually decided that it was the work of bobcat. In light of his recent footage, though, Schaefer now thinks that the sign he saw in 2021 was left by a mountain lion as well.

Schaefer says he initially believe that these tracks from 2021 were left by a large bobcat.

Mountain lions are native to Michigan, but they were extirpated from the state by the early 1900s. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), there have been upwards of 100 confirmed cougar sighting since 2008, including two illegal harvests of cougars on the Upper Peninsula. State wildlife officials attribute sightings like Schaefer's to lone male cats that are dispersing from established breeding populations in the West.

The chances of getting that [footage], its just really remote, Brian Roell, an MDNR wildlife biologist, recently told MLive.com . Thats the first time Ive seen that actually occurring, where you actually captured a deer.

A large mountain lion investigated one of Scheafer's bait sites back in October.

Schaefer says he returned to the area yesterday with Brett Huntzinger of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for an official site assessment, but heavy snow blocked access to the area where his camera had been set up. He's also been in touch with Denise Peterson, a native Michigander who now owns and operates a mountain lion conservation group out of Utah.

Read Next: Watch a Mountain Lion Run Down an Elk Calf While its Herd Looks On

"She said shes seen just about everything on camera and video while studying them out there, but the only video shes never been able to get was a cougar taking down prey," says Schaefer. "She looked at the pictures I got back in October, and she believes that lion was a male, just based on how large the head is."

Now that Schaefer knows he's sharing his hunting grounds with a large male lion, he says he'll be proceeding with a bit more caution during upcoming deer seasons. "Im starting to think about all the little sticks that crack or break while I'm out there," he says. "And how many times has this thing been watching me walk around in the woods? I keep my concealed-carry on me at all times nowthat at least gives me a little peace of mind."
The Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration updated its safety manual to include a policy that strongly recommends that Arizona and other states don't use humorous highway safety signs.

On Dec. 19, 2023, the Federal Highway Administration said states would have two years to adopt the 11th (and newest) version of its safety manual. In the manual, the FHWA said they wanted to clarify that safety and transportation-related messages needed to be clear, direct and meaningful to those driving.

"The FHWA recommended that messages with obscure meaning, references to popular culture, that are intended to be humorous, or otherwise use nonstandard syntax for a traffic control device, not be displayed because they can be misunderstood or understood only by a limited segment of road users and, therefore, degrade the overall effectiveness of the sign as an official traffic control device," the new manual read.

The Arizona Department of Transportation maintains an annual tradition of organizing traffic safety message contests for their road signs. Participants submit ideas for these messages, often featuring humorous content. In the 2023 contest, over 3,700 traffic safety message ideas were submitted, with winners including phrases like "seatbelts always pass the vibe check" and "I'm just a sign asking drivers to use turn signals."

A spokesperson with ADOT said they are in the middle of reviewing the newest manual and do not have anything to add.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ADOT freeway messages may see changes in the upcoming years due to new regulations
The person who pleaded guilty to state murder charges in a mass shooting at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado has reached a plea agreement on federal charges, court documents show.

As part of the proposed agreement, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 23, will plead guilty to 74 counts of federal hate crimes and gun crimes for the November 2022 massacre at Club Q in Colorado Springs that left five people dead, according to the documents.

They are expected to receive multiple concurrent life sentences plus additional consecutive sentences totaling 190 years imprisonment, upon a judges acceptance of the pleas terms, the agreement says. Aldrich identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns.

In a news release announcing the agreement, the US Department of Justice called the attack willful, deliberate, malicious and premediated, and alleged it was committed because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of any person.

Aldrich is currently serving five consecutive life sentences plus an additional 2,208 consecutive years without the possibility of parole on the state charges at the Wyoming State Penitentiary. They pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder and 46 counts of attempted murder in June.

The agreement stipulates the United States will not seek the death penalty against Aldrich and the proposed sentence is sufficient but not greater than necessary for justice in the case.

Both parties are requesting a change of plea hearing with an immediate sentencing to avoid repeatedly transferring Aldrich between state and federal custody and creating an undue burden on law enforcement personnel, victims and family members, and Aldrich themself.

The US Attorneys Office declined CNNs request for comment on the plea agreement. CNN has also reached out to Aldrichs federal public defender for comment.

Heroes saved lives, authorities said in 2022

On November 19, 2022, Aldrich began shooting at the dozens of people in Club Q before being subdued by two heroic patrons who police credit for preventing even more tragedy.

The shooter brought an AR-style weapon and a handgun to Club Q, but mainly used the assault-style rifle to carry out the massacre, Colorado Springs police chief said in 2022.

The victims  Daniel Aston, Raymond Green Vance, Kelly Loving, Derrick Rump and Ashley Paugh  were either employees or patrons at Club Q, which attracted customers from different backgrounds and orientations.

The nightclub was long considered a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community in a city with a history of being anti-gay.

The massacre at the beloved venue evoked memories of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, which left 49 people dead.

Federal prosecutors rarely seek death penalty since Biden election

The decision to not seek the federal death penalty comes less than a week after prosecutors in New York announced they will ask for the accused Buffalo, New York, supermarket gunman to face the possibility of capital punishment.

It is the first time the Justice Department under President Joe Biden has authorized pursuit of the death penalty.

The 20-year-old gunman is facing several hate crimes and firearms charges in the shooting where he killed 10 Black people. He already is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty last year to New York state terrorism and murder charges. His lawyers had said in court their client would be willing to plead guilty to the federal counts if prosecutors agreed not to pursue the death penalty.

Advocates of abolishing the death penalty say Bidens Justice Department has a mixed record on capital punishment.

In 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a moratorium on federal executions, which is still in place. Garland has deauthorized 26 death penalty cases involving 32 defendants started under previous administrations, according to department statistics, and the Justice Department had not authorized any new capital cases since he took over in 2021.

Federal prosecutors under Garland have, however, taken two death penalty cases authorized before 2021 to trial. Garlands decision in the Buffalo case merely authorizes prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Ultimately, the decision is up to the jury and a judge.

It isnt uncommon for democratic administrations to pursue the death penalty. Under former President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder authorized the department to seek the death penalty in 39 cases, and his successor, Loretta Lynch, authorized five capital cases.

This is a developing story and will be updated.





CNNs Hannah Rabinowitz, Artemis Moshtaghian, Ray Sanchez Andi Babineau, Holly Yan and Christina Maxouris contributed to this report

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WARWICK  Starting this spring, travelers will be able to fly on Breeze Airways from Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport to San Diego without changing planes.

The seasonal, daily fights will make one stop before arriving at San Diego International Airport, but travelers won't have to switch planes as part of the airline's "BreezeThru" service, the airline said in a news release.

Last March, state officials cut a ribbon at the ticket counter for the Breeze Airways base at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport. [Patrick Anderson/The Providence Journal, file]

The flights, starting April 30, will leave T.F. Green in the morning and return each evening, according to the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, which operates Green.

Breeze's seasonal flights to another California destination, Los Angeles, are scheduled to resume May 1, according to the airport.

More: 4 nonstop destinations will be added at T.F. Green in 2024. Here's where you can go.

More: T.F. Green named one of the best U.S. airports in Conde Nast Readers Choice Award

Next month, Breeze will also begin nonstop flights to Savannah, Georgia, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, according to the airport. The Savannah flights are scheduled to start Feb. 14 and will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while the Myrtle Beach flights will start Feb. 15 on Thursdays and Sundays.

The airline will also offer supplemental Saturday flights to Myrtle Beach during February and April school vacations, according to the airport.

Breeze established a base at Green in March 2023. At the time, company officials said they planned to add routes until they get to at least 20.

But by making Green a base, with jets, pilots, maintenance workers, flight attendants and ground staff based in Rhode Island, Breeze officials say, they plan to continue adding routes over the next five years.

T.F. Green now offers 33 nonstop destinations, including 15 nonstop routes by Breeze Airways, the airport said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Flights from RI's TF Green airport to San Diego will start this spring
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday strongly condemned the attack on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which resulted in the death of one peacekeeper from Cameroon and five injuries on Monday.

Council president Nicolas de Riviere of France issued a statement expressing "condolences and sympathy to the family of the peacekeeper killed, as well as to Cameroon."

Highlighting the severity of the incident in Mbindale, the council members reiterated that "attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes" and emphasized the obligations of all parties under international humanitarian law.

They urged the government of the Central African Republic to "swiftly investigate this attack with the support of MINUSCA" and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

The statement also voiced concerns over "illicit transnational trafficking networks," which continue to fund and arm groups in the country.

The increasing use of explosive ordnances, including improvised explosive devices and landmines, has caused numerous civilian casualties and destruction of property while also disrupting humanitarian efforts, it said, stressing the need for further investigation and action to combat the growing menace.

The council members reaffirmed their unwavering support for MINUSCA to fulfill its mandate effectively and safeguard the security of UN peacekeepers. 
Grey Towers Heritage Association (GTHA) is hosting the next Lunch & Learn event at Forest Hall in downtown Milford on Saturday, Jan. 20. The guest speaker is Peter Pinchot, who will share about the social and economic values of forestry management.

The event is from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grey Towers mansion. Tickets are required, and cost $13 for GHTA members and $18 for the general public.

How deeply are our forests rooted in their reach across locations and time? How is Ecuador connected to Grey Towers National Historic Site? And, what role has deforestation played in the history and legacy of both? These questions and more will be explored. Discuss long-term conservation management for our future.

Peter Pinchot is senior fellow at the Pinchot Institute for Conservation, which has offices at Grey Towers and in Washington, D.C. He is the director of the Institute's Ecomadera Project in Ecuador and president of Ecomadera Forest Conservation LLC, representing the non-profit and social venture sides of creating an economic alternative to rapid deforestation in Ecuadors northern coastal plain.

Peter Pinchot

This Lunch & Learn program includes a homemade hot lunch.

The lecture space is only accessible via a one-flight staircase. No elevator or ramp access is available.

Gifford Pinchot (1865-1946), whose family home was Grey Towers, was the first head of the U.S. Forest Service and the 28th governor of Pennsylvania. Peter is one of his grandsons.

Forest Hall is located at the corner of Broad and Harford Streets, at 214 Broad St. Also known as Forester's Hall, the Yale School of Forestry opened here in 1900, endowed by the Pinchot family.

For more information, call GTHA President Eileen Smith at 570-296-9630, ext. 3.

Tickets need to be purchased online at greytowers.org through Friday night, Jan. 19.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Grey Towers hosts lunch with Peter Pinchot at Forest Hall in Milford
Investigators found cocaine residue on a leather pouch where Hunter Biden stored his gun, federal prosecutors revealed in a court filing as they urged a judge not to dismiss weapons charges against the president's son.

Snapping back at allegations by Hunter Biden's lawyers that the gun charges were "trumped up" under political pressure, Justice Department special counsel David Weiss said in a court filing that the strength of the evidence against him is overwhelming" and stood out "from any other person who was not prosecuted for similar crimes.

The clash came as the younger Biden battles criminal indictments on both coasts and a slew of Congressional investigations that seek to tie him and his foreign business dealings to President Joe Biden.

Hunter Biden was indicted in his home state of Delaware last September on three federal charges alleging he lied about his drug addiction when buying a gun in 2018. The indictment came after U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika rejected a plea deal that would have resolved potential tax and gun indictments in July. Congressional Republicans and former President Donald Trump criticized the scuttled deal as too lenient, leading Bidens lawyer to argue that the charges were spurred by political pressure.

But Weiss argued that Biden had failed to show that other people werent charged for similar actions. Biden demonstrated no "improper political purpose" in asking to dismiss the prosecution, one authorized by the attorney general his father appointed, Weiss wrote.

The charges in this case are not trumped up or because of former President Trump  they are instead a result of the defendants own choices and were brought in spite of, not because of, any outside noise made by politicians, Weiss wrote.

Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, flanked by Kevin Morris, left, and Abbe Lowell, right, attend a House Oversight Committee meeting on Jan. 10 in Washington. The committee is meeting today as it considers citing him for Contempt of Congress.

Weiss contends gun charges not 'trumped up' because of Trump

The gun charges represent just one of many legal battles Hunter Biden faces.

He was indicted Thursday on federal tax charges in California for allegedly failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2019. The House of Representatives will consider whether to hold him in contempt for defying subpoenas from the Judiciary and Oversight and Accountability committees. And he remains under federal investigation as a potential foreign agent.

Biden faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on all three gun charges, although first-time offenders are typically given shorter terms.

Biden was charged under a statute forbidding people who are addicted to narcotics from owning firearms. He is accused of lying about his addiction in 2018 in a statement to a gun dealer and on a federal form, and then by possessing the Colt Cobra 38SPL.

Biden had asked the judge to dismiss the gun charges on the grounds that prosecutors had reneged on promises they made while negotiating the failed plea agreement.

But Weiss argued Biden knows full well why he was charged, and that's for illegally owning the Colt revolver and lying about his addiction. After the federal investigation was announced, in 2020, Biden wrote a memoir the next year recounting years of drug abuse, including during the period when he bought the gun.

Investigators obtained messages from Biden's Apple iCloud account in which he discussed buying thousands of dollars worth of crack cocaine while also taking videos of himself weighing crack and smoking it, Weiss wrote. A chemist confirmed the presence of cocaine residue on the brown leather pouch in which Biden stored the gun, Weiss wrote.

Stripped of its bluster, the defendants theory of vindictiveness is simply not credible, Weiss added.

U.S. Attorney David Weiss, arrives for an interview before members of the House Judiciary Committee on Nov. 7, 2023, in Washington. The special counsel overseeing the Hunter Biden investigation is testifying behind closed doors as a GOP probe into the Justice Department's handling of the case continues to unfold.

Weiss contends gun charges constitutional because 2nd Amendment is 'not a suicide pact'

Lowell has also argued that the gun statute Biden is accused of violating is unconstitutional. Federal courts are grappling with which gun laws should stand and which should be struck down after a 2022 Supreme Court decision triggered a flood of gun-related lawsuits.

A year ago, a federal judge in Oklahoma dismissed a case related to the same charge Hunter Biden faces by finding it unconstitutionally vague."

But Weiss argued Anglo-American law has long recognized the need to regulate firearms.

The Second Amendment, like the rest of the Constitution, protects against invasions of individual rights; it is not a suicide pact, Weiss wrote, quoting a 1963 Supreme Court decision. Congresss legislative choice to prohibit individuals who are actively engaged in habitual illegal or compulsive narcotic use from possessing firearms falls firmly within longstanding historical traditions and accords with the Second Amendment.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland delivers a statement at the U.S. Department of Justice August 11, 2023 in Washington, DC. Garland announced that U.S. Attorney David Weiss will be appointed special counsel in the ongoing probe of Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776018860 ORIG FILE ID: 1592630010

Weiss calls argument challenging his appointment 'meritless'

Lowell, Bidens lawyer, also urged the judge to dismiss the case by arguing Weiss was appointed inappropriately because Congress hasnt designated funding for the special counsels office.

But Weiss responded that the attorney general has always had the authority to designate any officer of the Justice Department to represent the country in any court.

This argument is meritless and should be denied, Weiss wrote.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cocaine residue found in Hunter Biden's gun case, prosecutor reveals
As Idahos elected officials gathered in the House chamber at the Idaho Capitol to hear Gov. Brad Littles State of the State address, close observers noticed an absence: Attorney General Raul Labrador.

The states top lawyer was in Baton Rouge attending the Louisiana governors inauguration, his office told the Idaho Statesman.

A state elected officials absence at the Idaho Capitols flagship annual event is unusual, underscoring a well-known tense relationship between the governor and attorney general. Two long-serving Idaho state officials said they could not remember another instance when a high-ranking state official had missed the State of the State address, other than for illness.

Its rare that an elected official doesnt appear there, Ben Ysursa, who attended around 40 such addresses while serving in the secretary of states office, told the Statesman.

Labrador is close friends with Jeff Landry, the newly elected Republican Louisiana governor, his spokesperson, Dan Estes, told the Statesman by email. The two men served together in Congress and also were both attorneys general in their states at the same time. Estes said Labradors chief of staff and chief deputy were invited to attend Littles State of the State address in his stead.

Landrys inauguration was scheduled for Monday but was moved a day earlier over weather concerns, according to the Louisiana Illuminator. Littles address was Monday afternoon.

I was honored to be invited to Landrys inauguration, Labrador wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, after this story was published. Would not have missed it for the world!

I was honored to be invited to @LAGovJeffLandrys inauguration this week. Jeff and I have been close friends since the two of us were elected to Congress in 2010. Would not have missed it for the world! https://t.co/qaRFH6G4Ut pic.twitter.com/BcVLiyL8Wd  Raul R. Labrador (@Raul_Labrador) January 18, 2024

Labradors office did not respond to a question about whether he paid for his travel to Louisiana himself. The attorney generals office told the Statesman no travel records existed over that period this month and cited a personal exemption. The section of Idaho law stipulates that personal notes created by a public official solely for his own use shall not be a public record.

Ysursa said the attorney generals absence to attend a close friends inauguration sounded legitimate, while also noting his strained relationship with Little.

Theres no love lost between those two, he said.

Littles office did not respond to a request for comment.

Little, Labrador competed to be governor

Little and Labrador ran against each other for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2018, the year Little won his first term. When Labrador ran for attorney general in 2022, Little endorsed Lawrence Wasden, the five-term incumbent.

The two run in different factions within the GOP: Little as a more traditional Republican, Labrador as a Tea Party-aligned former congressman who has the support of the states most conservative lawmakers. But he has rankled members of the Republican establishment with his hard-line views and what he has called an aggressive approach to the attorney generals office.

During the 2018 governors race, a planned endorsement from President Donald Trump of Labrador was derailed after supporters of Little funneled negative comments Labrador had made about the president during the 2016 campaign to the White House, according to The New York Times.

Little and Labrador have quietly tussled on multiple occasions since then, like when Labrador declined to join a multi-state lawsuit over clean water rules but did not inform the governor, according to the Associated Press.

Labrador has also butted heads with agencies in Idahos executive branch, having sued the governor-appointed members of the State Board of Education over its decision to purchase the University of Phoenix and dug into the Department of Health and Welfare over a federal child care grant program.

Analysts have speculated that Labrador may make another pitch to become the gentleman on the second floor, potentially in 2026.

You owe it to the chief executive to be there and lend your support or at least your presence, especially if everybody thinks youre gunning for him, Jim Jones, a former attorney general, told the Statesman. Id have made a point of being there.

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GREENVILLE, S.C.  Convicted murderer and confessed fraudster Richard "Alex" Murdaugh entered a courtroom in the South Carolina state capital Tuesday smiling and warmly greeting his attorneys and courtroom staff.

But the smiles were soon replaced by more serious looks of concern, and by the time the disbarred Hampton attorney exited the courtroom in shackles, it was clear the post-conviction road to a possible retrial would not be an easy one.

The rules of engagement have been outlined and the stage is now set for a hearing into jury tampering allegations surrounding the double murder conviction of notorious former attorney Alex Murdaugh, and Murdaugh's quest for a possible retrial just became more challenging.

Judge Jean H. Toal, a retired South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice ordered to hear the jury tampering matters, held a status conference and procedural pre-hearing Tuesday morning in Columbia, South Carolina, and made some preliminary rulings that arguably handed Murdaugh's legal defense several major setbacks ahead of the Jan. 29 hearing.

Murdaugh was convicted on March 2 of the June 2021 murders of his wife and younger son and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. In early September, Murdaugh's attorneys announced they would be seeking a new trial based on jury tampering allegations against Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill, who oversaw the inner workings of the six-week trial in Walterboro, South Carolina.

Here is how Judge Toal intends to conduct the hearing into those allegations.

Murdaugh deserves a hearing on jury allegations, says judge

Tuesday's conference was held to accomplish several matters, chief of which was to determine if an evidentiary hearing was even needed and required by law.

Judge Toal ruled the hearing would move forward as scheduled and is set to begin on Jan. 29-31 in Columbia. Toal stressed that the hearing, including the questioning of jurors, would be conducted in open court, with public and media access. Court TV will broadcast the hearing as a pool source for other media, in addition to pool photographers for "still" photos.

However, the privacy and identity of the jurors will remain protected. The jurors will be referred to by number only, and pool media will be instructed not to show images of the jurors.

Prosecuting attorney Creighton Waters speaks during an evidentiary hearting at the Richland County Courthouse on Tuesday Jan.16, 2024. Tracy Glantz The State, Pool

Judge sets legal standard for Murdaugh jury tampering case

One of the most important decisions in the case involved the legal standards involved: what was the standard of proof, and who had the burden of proof?

Murdaugh's attorneys opened the hearing with arguments based on Remmer vs. United States, a decision that states that proven improper contact with a juror was enough to justify a retrial, regardless of whether or not that contact resulted in prejudice.

Early in the status conference, Judge Toal announced that she would be using the legal standard and precedent set by South Carolina vs. Green, a 2020 S.C. Supreme Court decision that requires that actual prejudice must be proven to get a new trial.

This means that improper contact or improper conversations with a juror alone may not be enough to grant a retrial if there is no evidence the juror or jurors in question were prejudiced into making a decision.

The presumption of prejudice by improper contact "is not the way to examine this issue, but with specific evidence," said Toal.

Attorney Jim Griffin speaks to his client, Alex Murdaugh, during an evidentiary hearting at the Richland County Courthouse on Tuesday Jan.16, 2024. Tracy Glantz The State, Pool

Who will testify in the Alex Murdaugh, Becky Hill matter?

Judge Toal also clearly outlined the primary witnesses she intends to hear from or question.

Despite arguments from Murdaugh attorneys Richard Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, Toal stated that she would be questioning only the 12 jurors who deliberated on the case and reached the guilty verdict  not the alternates, and not jurors who were dismissed before deliberating.

This may prove the most damaging decision of the day for Murdaugh's team. Most, if not all, of Murdaugh's arguments, hinge on the testimony and affidavits of an alternate juror and a dismissed juror referred to in the courtroom as the "egg lady" because she asked to retrieve a dozen eggs from the jury room before leaving.

However, Toal indicated that Murdaugh's attorneys are welcome to submit a written proffer and she could potentially reconsider that position during the hearing.

Judge Toal: 'This is not the trial of Becky Hill'

During the hearing, it became clear that Murdaugh's team planned to attack Hill's character and credibility. In addition to the jury tampering allegations, Hill is also under investigation for ethics complaints that involve the alleged misuse of public office and public money. She also recently admitted to plagiarism when she wrote the now controversial and recently "unpublished" book, Behind the Doors of Justice.

Harpootlian made several comments suggesting that all of these allegations were relevant to "impeaching" Hill as a credible witness.

But Toal stated that she planned to limit the focus of the Jan. 29 hearing to what happened in the courthouse during the trial only, with a particular focus on interactions between Hill and the jurors.

"This is not the trial of Mrs. Hill," said Toal. "This case is very focused on the jurors and the clerk of court, as I see it."

"This is not the time to explore every mistake or incorrect statement or false statement ever made by this witness," said Toal. "I don't think it's necessary or proper to explore each and every impropriety."

Hill, who has denied the jury allegations, is expected to take the stand after the jurors are questioned by Toal. She may invoke her Fifth Amendment rights on a question-by-question basis.

Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill.

How will the Murdaugh jurors be questioned?

Judge Toal outlined the process by which she planned to interview the jurors.

The jurors, who will kept out of the courtroom before testifying, will be questioned individually in open court by Toal to determine primarily if there was improper contact, and if it influenced their verdict.

Once questioned, the jurors would then be seated in the jury box where they may later be questioned as a group, after which they will all be dismissed.

By law, jurors will not be required to answer certain questions that pertain to details of their actual deliberations.

Who would likely not be allowed to testify?

In addition to identifying the primary witnesses, Toal also indicated who she would not allow to testify. That list included attorneys involved in the trial, retired judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the murder trial and who sentenced Murdaugh, attorneys for the jurors, and law enforcement officers.

She may also consider other witnesses once the hearing is underway.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Alex Murdaugh jury tampering hearing: Who can testify, what to expect
Leaked German military documents laid out a doomsday scenario where Russia wins in Ukraine then invades Europe

Leaked German military documents outline a scenario where Russia goes to war with NATO.

It envisages Russia winning in Ukraine then seeking to seize territory in the Baltics.

Militaries often produce such internal documents to help plan for worst-case scenarios.

Leaked German military documents describe a chilling scenario where Russia wins in Ukraine and then goes to war with NATO.

The classified documents were obtained by Bild, a German tabloid. (Bild and Business Insider share a parent company, Axel Springer.)

The documents, produced by Germany's Defense Ministry, imagine a situation in which Russia launches a massive spring 2024 offensive to take advantage of waning Western support.

In this scenario, it defeats Ukraine.

The documents are not a prediction but part of worst-case-scenario planning, a common exercise within militaries. A German official called the scenario "extremely unlikely."

The German documents imagine Russia turning its sights on NATO members in Eastern Europe, with it seeking to destabilize its enemies through cyberattacks and inciting internal chaos in the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.

They describe Russia staging a series of escalations, then moving troops and weapons closer to the Baltic states, via its ally Belarus and Kaliningrad, a small, detached region of Russia surrounded by NATO states and the Baltic Sea.

The Baltic states and their neighbors. Kaliningrad, part of Russia, is visible, as is Belarus and the Suwaki Gap. Google Maps

The end goal would be to move Russian troops into the Suwaki Gap, Bild reported, citing the documents.

The gap is a 62-mile stretch of land separating Kaliningrad and Belarus.

It has long been considered a weak spot in NATO's east. If occupied by Russia, it would cut the Baltic states off from other parts of Europe.

Under the scenario obtained by Bild, NATO would fight Russia to prevent it from occupying the gap. (NATO membership obliges states to come to each other's defense if attacked.)

It envisages the face-off coming to a head in early 2025, with Russia seeking to take advantage of the upheaval that could follow a new US administration taking office after the 2024 presidential election.

A German Defense Ministry spokesperson told Bild: "Considering different scenarios, even if they are extremely unlikely, is part of everyday military business, especially training."

The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, noted that such documents were ordinary in military planning. It said the timeline suggested was improbable.

But it added that without continued Western support in the region, Russia could indeed push as far as the borders of NATO countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin officials have long menaced NATO over its support for Ukraine.

But Putin in December denied US President Joe Biden's claims Russia could go to war with NATO, describing them as "complete nonsense." European leaders and officials have long sounded the alarm about renewed Russian aggression against other parts of Europe if it wins in Ukraine.

Jacek Siewiera, Poland's security minister, said in December that an attack could come in as little as three years and would likely target NATO's eastern flank.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigative reporter Mary Spicuzza interviews former FBI undercover agent Joe Pistone, also known as Donnie Brasco, about his work in Milwaukee.

Organized crime in Milwaukee has never been as infamous as the Chicago Outfit or the New York Mafia. But reputed Milwaukee crime boss Frank Balistrieri was notorious enough by the late 1970s that renowned undercover FBI agent Joseph Pistone came here to help investigate.

Pistone was later portrayed by Johnny Depp in Donnie Brasco, a 1997 movie that also starred Al Pacino as New York crime family member Benjamin Lefty Ruggiero.

When I started doing research for my investigation into my cousin's 1978 car bombing murder, widely believed to have been ordered by Balistrieri, a coworker mentioned Pistone wrote about Milwaukee in his book that inspired the film.

As soon as I read it, I knew I needed to talk to Pistone. I wasnt sure of the best way to approach him  especially since the Mafia put out a $500,000 contract on him in the early 1980s  but reached him through the producer for his podcast, Deep Cover: The Real Donnie Brasco.

We spoke at length about his time in Milwaukee. Below are excerpts of that conversation, edited for length and clarity.

A marriage between two crime families

Pistone's work in Milwaukee included vouching for another undercover FBI agent, Gail "Ty" Cobb, who was trying to infiltrate the Balistrieri crime family by posing as a vending machine businessman named Tony Conte. Pistone visited Milwaukee several times in 1978 to try to "form a marriage" between the Balistrieri and Bonanno crime families.

Spicuzza: Do you remember what Frank Balistrieri's reputation was like back then?

Pistone: Frank Balistrieri was the head of a Mafia family in Milwaukee, which was aligned and associated with the Mafia families out of Chicago (the Outfit). And he was also a very well known Mafia boss throughout the United States.

He had some college education. But he was still a ruthless individual, according to my Mafia contacts that I was associated with in the Bonanno crime family.

He actually controlled everything that happened, both illegally and a lot of times legally.

Spicuzza: What do you remember about him from your meetings or your dealings with him?

Pistone: He was a little short, pudgy guy. Very dapper looking. Every time I saw him he was in a suit  dressed in a suit and very well-spoken. And you could see that when he made a point, none of the people that were with him disputed whatever he said. I mean, what he said was a rule of law.

After (one) meeting at Snug's, at the restaurant, he invited us to his house for dinner the next night. If you know anything about the Mafia, you don't go to a boss's house for dinner. I mean, not in New York, anyway. And he actually picked us up at our hotel, which was also crazy, for us being New York mob guys.

Life undercover

As Pistone developed ties with Balistrieri and his associates, he went through both stressful and humorous moments. That included close calls with getting found out, and the antics of "Lefty" Ruggiero, who at one point confused Lake Michigan with the ocean.

Spicuzza: Lefty wanted to take a speedboat from New York to Milwaukee?

Pistone: Yeah. Ty was showing us around Milwaukee and we're driving along the lake, and he says, "That's one of the Great Lakes." And Lefty looks out and he says, "It's not a lake. That's the ocean." There were freighters out there, and he said, "You see that big ship out there? That ship couldn't float on a lake. It's got to be the ocean."

Yeah, OK, Lefty. The ocean where? The middle of the United States?

There were some other good (stories). Another one was, Ty was one of the best undercovers I ever worked with. I mean, he was good. But we're in a car one day. It might have been the same time. And he was driving and Lefty was riding shotgun, and I'm in the back. And Ty must have had a brain freeze because he keeps calling me Joe. He'd say, "Isn't that right, Joe?"

An undated FBI surveillance photo shows Joe Pistone undercover as Donnie Brasco.

Lefty finally says, "Tony, who the F is Joe? There's me, you and Donnie in this car. Who the F is Joe?"

So without missing a beat, Ty says, "That's the new thing here in Milwaukee: everybody's Joe. Every place you go, you call somebody, you call them Joe." So all night we go to a restaurant and Ty is calling a bartender Joe, is calling a waiter Joe, is calling a waitress Joe.

You know, there were some comical moments during the six years.

Spicuzza: Do you remember the reaction when my cousin, Augie Palmisano, was car bombed?

Pistone: Ty had a remote starter put on his car. And at one of the meetings we had with (Frank) Balistrieri, we're talking about snitches, and he said, Yeah, you can tell all the snitches because they have remote starters on their car.

And here Tony Conte, the undercover, had a remote starter on his car. So that kind of, you know, shook him up a little bit.

Spicuzza: Did you often not know who was an informant when you were undercover?

Pistone: No, I did not. I didn't want to know who an informant was, or if the FBI had added any informants in any of the groups. I said, "Look, if you do have informants, don't tell them that there's an undercover FBI agent there. I don't want to know who the informant is." Because it's human nature. You're going to act different if you know that somebody is on your side, so to speak.

Frozen out

In late 1978, Balistrieri froze out Cobb, reportedly after discovering he was an undercover agent. It led to the end of Pistone's time in Milwaukee, but by then, the two had already collected extensive information that was later used in federal gambling and extortion cases against Balistrieri and his associates.

Spicuzza: How do you think they could have found out that Tony Conte, or Ty Cobb, was an undercover agent?

Pistone: Well, there had to be a leak somewhere. Where, we don't know. But Ty had been a cop in a town outside of Milwaukee at one point in time. And I'm sure that they checked what individuals knew regarding Ty. And I think that's probably how they found out. There had to be a leak somewhere.

Spicuzza: If Balistrieri had found out Ty was an undercover agent, why do you think he didn't tell the Bonannos or the other crime families?

Pistone: I don't know. I'll be honest with you. I mean, I don't know. It's the craziest thing that they never they never blew the whistle.

We tried to figure it out. I tried to figure it out. I don't know that they thought that he was an FBI agent or just an undercover cop. I don't know. But the reason they never told New York or Chicago is beyond me. I mean, it doesn't make any sense.

Going to trial

Pistone's work in Milwaukee helped federal prosecutors eventually convict Balistrieri of gambling, extortion and conspiracy during a series of trials in the 1980s. Pistone and Cobb were among those who testified in Milwaukee.

Spicuzza: I think it was in Milwaukee where Frank Balistrieris attorney was asking you questions about where your family lived.

Pistone: Oh, definitely. His line of questioning started about where I resided, et cetera. And I told him Im not going to answer, it has no relevance to my investigation.

The judge ordered me to answer, and I told the judge, Your Honor, I'm not answering. I'm not answering where I reside, where my family resides." He said, "Well, I'll hold you in contempt of court." I said, "Do what do you have to do."

And then finally, the prosecutor (John Franke) called the side conference in and advised the judge that there was a $500,000 contract out of me at the time. So the judge told him, "Just move on. We don't need to answer that question."

(At another point in the trial)

Pistone: It was late into the afternoon. And my voice was going, and I didn't have any water by the witness stand  so (the defense attorney) poured a glass of water from his table, from the defense table, and brings it to me. So I take the glass and I look at it and I say, "You take a sip first."

So he did. He took it, took a sip. And I said, "OK, now I'll have a drink of it."

The jury, everybody, even the judge laughed.

Life after the trials

In addition to the Balistrieri trials, Pistone testified at a number of other trials around the country involving organized crime figures. He still does not disclose where he and his family live.

Spicuzza: Have you noticed in your work a kind of the glorification of the Mafia and misunderstanding of what they're really like?

Pistone: Back in their heyday, yeah, they were glorified. If they knew that you were even associated with the Mafia, you were treated like royalty. And of course, if you had an Italian last name, (it was assumed you had) some association with the Mafia.

I don't think it's so much anymore today. And I'm proud to say that our case was the beginning of all the Mafia cases that brought the downfall of them. They're not as strong. They have nowhere near the strength today that they had back in the day. They're just another criminal element, another criminal organization. I don't even know if Milwaukee has any any Mafia members there.

Spicuzza: Do you have any other memories of Milwaukee?

Pistone: Bad winters. Bad winters. Good Lord, I remember one snowstorm  I don't know how many feet of snow there was, but wow. And cold. That's what I remember.

And good restaurants. A lot of good restaurants in Milwaukee.

Contact Mary Spicuzza at (414) 224-2324 or mary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MSpicuzzaMJS.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Q&A: Former FBI agent Joe Pistone, aka Donnie Brasco, on infiltrating the Milwaukee Mafia
SAN JOSE, Calif.  Samsungs new flagship Galaxy S24-series smartphones are packed with AI features, and many of them are designed to help you create the shot you want. Even if its not quite the shot you took.

Indeed, Samsungs latest phones, unveiled Wednesday at the tech giant's Unpacked event, are some of the first personal electronic devices coming to market with a new wave of artificial intelligence smarts  including new generative AI processing power  built in. Samsung is leveraging the new capabilities in the S24-series smartphones to help produce picture-perfect photos with features like:

Moving and resizing subjects

Popping portrait subjects by blurring objects in the foreground as well as the background

AI-generated edit suggestions, like removing distracting glare

Previewing HDR effects live, before you snap a photo

Distinguishing between subject movement and camera shake for better night photos and video

Instant slow-motion effects on video you already took.

In particular, the instant slow-mo feature takes a tremendous amount of horsepower to pull off.

Our team has been developing the feature for more than two years, said Joshua Sungdae Cho, executive vice president of Samsungs Visual Solution Team. We have to create so many new images in real time. That was almost impossible even two years ago.

Im very proud of it. And I believe many customers will like it too.

Generative AI gets personal

Ever since OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT 14 months ago, cloud-based generative AI services that can create on-command budgets, essays, art  even computer code  have exploded onto the scene. And chipmakers like AMD, Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm responded by developing new neural processing units, or NPUs, designed to tackle AI tasks inside personal devices.

At Samsungs event, the electronics giant prominently featured partner Qualcomm and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, a custom version of the chipmakers AI-accelerated smartphone chipset for the S24-series. And during a keynote at CES last week, Intel spotlighted Samsungs sleek new Galaxy Book4 Ultra, one of the first laptops to include the chipmakers AI-accelerated Core 9 Ultra processors.

On-device AI is attractive for a couple of reasons. For one, its easier to point it at your own trove of pictures, emails and other creations. So rather than producing an essay from internet sources on the relative merits of paper vs, plastic, for example, you can ask generative AI services to summarize your views on the topic over time. Or you can ask it to assemble all the snow-skiing pictures youve ever taken.

Additionally, performing all generative AI processing on your personal devices instead of the cloud can help keep your inquiries and information private. Many enterprises are insisting on that level of protection before handing over their data to AI models.

Get ready for the new Samsung Galaxy S24 smartphones by pre-ordering today.

Better camera

The new AI capabilities may be taking center stage. But the S24-series cameras are also much improved from last years models. The built-in optical image stabilization can correct for twice the shake as compared to the S23 series. And the pixels are also 60% larger, which means they can capture more light to help take better pictures and video at night.

In the top-of-the-line S24 Ultra, Samsung replaced one of the two complementary 10-megapixel telephoto lenses from the S23 Ultra with a 5x optical, 50-megapixel lens. And by combining zoom capabilities, the S24 Ultra can deliver optical-quality zoom from 2x to 10x.

CES 2024: CES highlighted the hottest gadgets and tools, often fueled by AI

Samsung Galaxy: How to order the new phone

Other AI uses

Generative AI for photography may have captured the limelight today. But Samsung is applying the technology to enable other cool stuff as well:

Circle to Search, a new browsing-assist AI feature that Google is debuting on Samsungs new phones.

Live Translate is built into the phone app so you can carry on a phone conversation with someone who speaks another language.

Note Assist will generate summaries of your notes.

About that phone you bought last year

Dont be too discouraged if you just bought a new Samsung phone a year ago. The new tricks will run much better on the new S24-series devices. But youll still be able to try out most of them on your phone.

Im doing my best to deliver the new features to previous models, said Samsungs Cho. But performance is much better than previous years. And the camera is also much better. So (the new features) actually perform a lot better on this years models.

-----------

USA TODAY columnist Mike Feibus is president and principal analyst of FeibusTech, a Scottsdale, Arizona, market research and consulting firm. Reach him at mikef@feibustech.com. Follow him on Twitter @MikeFeibus.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Samsung's new Galaxy smartphones help perfect photos thanks to AI
Jasper Kenzo Sundeen's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com.
It was a busy weekend for Lower Valley fire departments with multiple structure fires across the region, including two in Sunnyside.

A Saturday morning fire burned the upper floor of a home on Hemlock Avenue and a third-alarm fire burned four rooms at the Travelodge Motel on Monday. Neither fire resulted in injuries and the cause of both are under investigation.

Fire Chief Cameron Haubrich said the department also aided nearby responders as structure fires cropped up throughout the weekend.

Sunnyside Fire responded to five working fires between Friday and Monday, he said. Both of the fires in Sunnyside are still under investigation.

Haubrich said Sunnyside firefighters were able to get the Travelodge fire under control quickly. They responded to the fire at 11:20 a.m. and had it under control in around 20 minutes, he said. He added that due to the size of the structure, firefighters were on the scene for about five hours after they put out the fire.

The rooms that caught on fire were unoccupied, Haubrich said, so no one was displaced and the fire did not result in any injuries.

Four rooms were damaged in the blaze. Haubrich said they were still estimating the cost, but it would be well over $100,000.

The building itself wasnt a total loss, but those four rooms will need to be completely renovated, the fire chief said.

That was the second large structure fire in Sunnyside during the holiday weekend. Firefighters responded to a fire at 109 Hemlock Avenue at 8:22 a.m. on Saturday, said Assistant Chief Chad DenBoer, and had it under control by 10:30 a.m.

It started in a void space in the attic area, DenBoer said. The second story was a total loss, but the fire was contained to the upstairs of the residence.

DenBoer said there were no injuries, though cold weather and the type of wood used in the attic made fighting the fire difficult.

Tips for staying fire free

Haubrich said he was not surprised by the busy weekend after temperatures dropped and Yakima Valley residents began turning on their heaters.

Unfortunately, its pretty common this time of year, he said.

Haubrich said it is important to be careful when using portable heaters or heat lamps and keep them away from furniture, clothes, or confined spaces where they could overheat and spark fires.

We encourage people to use extreme, extreme caution when using portable heaters, heat lamps, anything of that nature, he said.
HARARE, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government has announced that it is strengthening its response to the cholera pandemic, which has claimed 71 lives since the outbreak on Feb. 12, 2023, according to official figures.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Aspect Maunganidze said that the government is installing water, hygiene and sanitation infrastructure to ensure that communities have access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, the state-run Herald newspaper reported Wednesday.

Maunganidze said that the government is addressing the determinants and drivers of cholera, including perennial water shortages, breakdown of sanitation infrastructure, and limited rural water and sanitation coverage.

He added that urban by-laws would also be enforced to control the spread of the disease.

"The government is working to ensure that we address all the drivers of cholera. The surge in cases, the increase in deaths, the countrywide spread of the outbreak, and the continued persistent existence of underlying drivers of transmission need a whole-of-government, whole-of-society response so that we can stop the further spread of cholera in Zimbabwe," he said.

Cholera cases have been surging in the country, with 458 new cases confirmed during the first 16 days of January, according to official figures.

As of Jan. 16, the country had recorded 18,623 suspected cholera cases and 2,193 confirmed cases, with all the 48 confirmed cases reported on the day coming from the capital Harare.

Maunganidze emphasized the need for an increased supply of potable piped water without interruptions at the household level.

"Where there is no council water, alternative sources should be made available for the affected communities through water trucking. In this regard, the private sector should be engaged to assist," he said.

The government recently initiated a garbage clearing program in Harare and other urban areas to curb the spread of cholera, but many residents continue to dump litter in undesignated places. 
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump leaves the stage after speaking at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / The Associated Press)
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie  shown here speaking during a New Hampshire Town Hall at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, N.H., last June  has been the most outspoken Republican critic of former President Donald Trump.
JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Local authorities in South Africa said Wednesday that at least 13 people lost their lives due to heavy rains in the country's eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal since the end of last week, warning that more disruptive rains are expected across the province in the following days.

"More than 80 mm of rainfall accumulation is predicted in some places along the coast and the northern interior of KwaZulu-Natal. There is a high risk of widespread flooding," said the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in a statement.

On Wednesday morning, the South African Weather Service issued a level-5 warning of heavy rains for coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal. According to South Africa's weather warnings matrix, a level-5 warning means the event's likelihood will be medium but the impact will be significant.

"Disaster management teams are on alert and will be monitoring routes that are prone to weather-related incidents," said the provincial department, urging all residents in the affected areas to take precautions and prioritize their safety.

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government said Tuesday that it was in talks with the national government to declare the province a disaster region following the damaging storms in December last year. 
YorkRegion.com is the trusted source of local news, serving readers in York Region, including Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Stouffville, Thornhill and Vaughan.

Committed to delivering quality, community journalism, YorkRegion.com publishes daily news and information that aim to inform, engage and empower readers, and strengthen the community.

YorkRegion.com is the website for 10 former weekly newspapers, the Aurora Banner, East Gwillimbury Express, Georgina Advocate, King Connection, Markham Economist & Sun, Newmarket Era, Richmond Hill Liberal, Stouffville Sun-Tribune, Thornhill Liberal and Vaughan Citizen. The award-winning publications, owned by Metroland Media Group Ltd., moved to a digital-only model Sept. 15, 2023.

Metroland is a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. Torstar is owned by Nordstar Capital, which is owned by Toronto business leader Jordan Bitove.

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History

Newmarket Era and Aurora Banner

The Newmarket Era traces its lineage back to 1852, when English immigrant printer G.S. Porter first published The New Era in Newmarket.

The towns population was only 500 and The New Era was the only newspaper between Toronto and Barrie. Mr. Porter soon sold the paper to Erastus Jackson and it remained, by and large, in Jackson family hands until 1934.

The name was changed to The Newmarket Era in 1861 and the content moved forward with the times. Below the masthead, Mr. Jackson added the line, news, politics, literature, science, education and agriculture.

Three years later and only a few kilometres to the south in the newly named community of Aurora, former teacher W.L. Matthews published the first edition of The Aurora Banner and County of York Literary, Political, Agricultural and Advertising Journal.

Former town clerk Sylvester Lundy purchased the paper in 1870 and it remained in the Lundy family for more than 70 years.

Nearly a century later  in 1965  the Toronto Star purchased The Aurora Banner for its Metrospan weekly newspaper chain and The Toronto Telegram, now defunct, purchased the Newmarket Era for its own chain of suburban weeklies under the Inland Publishing name.

In 1978, Metrospan purchased the Inland chain and The Era and The Banner became part of Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing. The newspapers continued to publish separately until 1989, and then merged to form The Era-Banner.

With significant growth in Newmarket and Aurora, distinct characters made it clear that each town, once again, needed its own newspaper. The Newmarket Era and Aurora Banner returned.

East Gwillimbury Express and King Connection

Before the creation of the Express and Connection, East Gwillimbury and King Township residents got their local news from the Newmarket Era. But years of growth created the need for residents to have a paper of their own, which is how the Express and Connection came to be.

Stouffville Sun-Tribune

Over the years, the Whitchurch-Stouffville community has been home to many newspapers. Its first, in 1842, was the Stouffville Ready Pay Advocate.

It was published irregularly and the owner, John Boyer, was mostly interested in using the paper to advertise his business.

Lacking money for supplies, the Advocate had to resort to using a printing press that had once belonged to famed Canadian rebel leader William Lyon McKenzie. It was eventually dismantled and discarded, but that didnt stop the Advocate from reassembling it.

Over the years, as the newspapers ownership passed from hand to hand, it became known as the Stouffville Alert, then the Stouffville Advance. It wasnt until 1888 that a new owner came up with a formula for success called the Stouffville Tribune.

At this time, small-town Stouffville had four newspapers, but only the Tribune survived. Published every Friday, the paper was available at the very affordable price of $1 per year for a subscription.

Compared to the Tribune, the Stouffville Sun was a relatively young newspaper. It began publishing in 1982 as Stouffvilles first paid-subscription newspaper. It was bought by Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing Ltd. in August 2000. The papers became the Sun-Tribune in early 2003.

Georgina Advocate

The Georgina Advocate, as the name implies, was an advocate for a community that has a unique rural-urban mix along with a 52-kilometre shoreline on Lake Simcoe.

The Advocate served the people of Georgina, then three communities comprising North Gwillimbury, Sutton and Georgina, since 1961. The inaugural issue was launched on April 6 under the banner Lake Simcoe Advocate.

The Advocate, with W.H. Alton as its first publisher, filled a void left with the closing of the Sutton Reporter, which had been the official voice of the community since the early 1930s.

Alton was succeeded by Harry Stemp and Bill Keyzers who transformed it into a modern publication, embracing the best principles of free speech and impartial news coverage.

The name Advocate was adopted in the 1970s to reflect the creation of a united community through amalgamation. The Advocate served Keswick, Sutton and Pefferlaw and a host of hamlets around the town.

The Advocate became part of the Metroland chain in 2000.

Richmond Hill Liberal and Thornhill Liberal

The Richmond Hill Liberal was founded in 1878 as an answer to The York Herald, which wore its Tory politics on its sleeve. It grew throughout the early part of the 20th century as an independently-owned, and apolitical weekly newspaper.

In the 1970s, it was acquired by the Metrospan chain, which became Metroland when the chain merged with Inland Publishing in the early 1980s.

In the late 1980s, the paper grew with the community, customizing its content for the different local markets, including Thornhill.

Vaughan Citizen

The Vaughan Citizen, launched in August 2001, served residents in Concord, Kleinburg, Maple and Woodbridge.

Until 2000, news, community events, shopping information and more in Vaughan was covered by The Liberal. As the community experienced rapid growth, the Citizen was established.
SHIJIAZHUANG, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,600 high-quality New Zealand dairy sheep arrived in Lanzhou City in northwest China by a charter freight plane on Wednesday morning.

After 45 days of quarantine near the Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport, the imported sheep will be transported to Tangshan City, Hebei Province, primarily for the production of fresh milk, milk powder, cheese and yogurt.

This is the first time for China to import the Southern Cross dairy sheep, a breed known for their high milk yields and the quality of their milk, according to New Zealand's Maui Food Group, the breed's developer.

After 13 years of crossbreeding, the latest breed can produce milk up to 240 days per year, and one sheep is able to produce 600 to 700 liters of milk per year, said the group. 
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Family doctors, outpatient care specialists protesting in front of National Health Insurance House Family doctors and doctors from specialist outpatient healthcare units are protesting on Wednesday in front of the National Health Insurance House (CNAS), dissatisfied with the decrease in the value of the point per service, a change proposed in a draft put in decision-making transparency by CNAS. The doctors are displaying placards on which it is written: "Don't mock doctors!" "We want decent incomes!" "We pay taxes - we have the right to health," "Don't destroy family medicine!," "Where has the money disappeared from healthcare?" CNAS published last week in the decision-making transparency Citeste articolul mai departe pe stiripesurse.ro

Sursa articol si foto: stiripesurse.ro

Stiri pe aceeasi tema

- The taxi drivers, members of the National Association of the Employers of Transport Operators in the Taxi Regime (ANPOTRT), will go on hunger strike, after the representatives of the Government asked for a month to analyze the legislative amendment requested by them, he declared, on Wednesday, for AGERPRES,

- Vineri, 23 februarie, de la ora 19:00, la doi ani de la inceperea razboiului din Ucraina, se deschide expozitia de fotografie de razboi FRONT, la Rezidenta9 (I.L.Caragiale 32) din Bucuresti. Expozitia ii aduce impreuna pe Larisa Kalik (Ucraina) si Vadim G

- The Social Democratic Party (PSD) - National Liberal Party (PNL) leaders of the governing coalition Marcel Ciolacu and Nicolae Ciuca, will announce on Wednesday at 19:00 the decision on the organization of this year's elections, after separate meetings of the two parties will be held during the same

- Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chairman, said on Wednesday that so far no political decision has been made on a possible merger of some of the elections scheduled this year."At the moment, according to the legislation, things are clear: we have elections for the European

- The Swedish criminal investigation into the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipeline sabotage in the autumn of 2022 will likely conclude shortly after the prosecutor in charge, Mats Ljungqvist, announced that a decision would be made on Wednesday, according to Euractiv. While Ljungqvist did not specify what

- Approximately 730,000 farms in Romania are family businesses, representing more than 90% of the total of over 800,000 farms, Nicu Vasile, the president of the League of Associations of Agricultural Producers in Romania (LAPAR) said on Tuesday."Since I came within these professional associations,

- Senate's Ciuca: In front of historic destiny, petty political conflicts, personal disputes, fake patriotism vanish"In front of a historical destiny, petty political conflicts, personal disputes, the pride of populists and the false patriotism of demagogues vanish without a trace", the Senate president,

- Un fost primar al orasului Vladivostok, din Extremul Orient rus, a plecat sa lupte in Ucraina dupa ce a fost condamnat la 12 ani de inchisoare pentru coruptie, a relatat duminica publicatia rusa Kommersant.
Barbat din Targu Jiu disparut de acasa, cautat de politisti

Un barbat din Targu Jiu este cautat de politisti, dupa ce a disparut fara urma de acasa.Politistii din cadrul Inspectoratului de Politie Judetean Gorj au fost sesizati luni cu privire la faptul ca, Rusalim Robert, in varsta de 47 de ani, din Targu Jiu, a plecat in mod [citeste mai departe]
Stiri pe aceeasi tema

- President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola declared on Wednesday that the Schengen Area will not be complete until it includes Romania too. Present in Bucharest, where she participates in the EPP Congress, Metsola emphasized that she will support Romania's Schengen entry, including in talks

- Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu met on Wednesday morning with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to discuss Romania's European priorities, full accession to the Schengen area and the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). "This morning I discussed

- The government is fully committed to implementing the NRRP and to attracting as many European funds and foreign investments as possible, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Wednesday told the EU member states' ambassadors accredited to Bucharest. "At the invitation of the Belgian Presidency of the EU

- Reprezentantii Federatiei sindicale Sanitas au anuntat ca, in urma discutiilor purtate luni, la Palatul Victoria, pe tema majorarilor salariale din sistemul de sanatate, au convenit asupra unei cresteri a salariilor de baza cu 15 % in doua transe, care urmeaza sa fie acordate din lunile martie si iunie,

- Reprezentantii Federatiei sindicale Sanitas au anuntat ca, in urma discutiilor purtate luni, la Palatul Victoria, pe tema majorarilor salariale din sistemul de sanatate, au convenit asupra unei cresteri a salariilor de baza cu 15 % in doua transe, care urmeaza sa fie acordate din lunile martie si iunie,

- Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Hakan Fidan will pay a visit Bucharest on Wednesday.According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Turkish official will have a meeting with the head of diplomacy in Bucharest, Luminita Odobescu, at the ministry headquarters, the bilateral consultations

- Measures relating to Health claims, phased according to urgency and resources at our disposal (PM Ciolacu)The measures that will be taken into account regarding the claims from the health system must be phased according to the urgency and the available resources, said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu,

- Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu wished Romanians "good health, joy in our hearts and peace with our families" in his Christmas message, adding that he also wanted Romanians to have confidence "in the chance" to build the country we want for our children."Dear Romanians, on this Holy Day, I wish you
O femeie din Buzau a sarit de la etajul 4, de frica iubitului. A supravietuit miraculos. Care a fost salvarea ei

O femeie de 42 de ani a sarit de la etajul 4 al unui bloc din Buzau. Ea se certase cu iubitul si i s-a facut teama. Barbatul o batuse si o amenintase ca o incuie in apartament, [citeste mai departe]
Topal F, the captain of Viking Idun, the sister vessel of the Viking Sigyn which caused a deadly accident on the Danube in 2019, pleaded not guilty in the trial hearing the charge that he neglected to provide aid during the accident.

In the accident on May 29, 2019, the Viking Sigyn cruise ship collided with the Hableany sightseeing boat which had 33 South Korean tourists on board and a crew of two Hungarians.



Seven tourists were rescued from the water after the collision and the rest died. One of the bodies has not been recovered.



According to his testimony made earlier and read in court on Monday, the Viking Idun passed the Viking Sigyn twice around the time of the accident, but the crew had detected no trouble.



Visibility had been extremely restricted due to bad weather and the manoeuvre they were performing, Topal F said.



Radio communications from the smaller vessels that had witnessed the accident were all in Hungarian rather than German, the official language of Danube sailing, and the Ukrainian captain said he had not been able not discern what had happened.



Yuriy Chaplinsky, the captain of Viking Sigyn which was directly involved in the accident, was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison in 2023 for negligence by endangering river traffic and causing a lethal accident.



He was not sentenced on charges of failing to provide aid to the victims.



MTI Photo: Tamas Kovacs



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Hungary-Slovakia relations are at a high point as one backs the other in the European Union in economic and energy-security terms, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said after talks with Slovak counterpart Robert Fico in Budapest.

At a joint press conference, Orban welcomed Ficos return to office, adding that we have long been waiting for this meeting.



He noted that their first bilateral meeting had taken place in April 2012 with the current one being the 33rd, perhaps a European record.



Orban said continuity, security and stability were the most important political values, calling long-term bilateral relations such as that of Hungary and Slovakia highly valuable which he said were serving the interests of both countries peoples.



Orban said that the interests of Hungary and Slovakia were at least 99% in the same direction, and sovereignty was important for both countries.



On Hungarys part  and I sense identical feelings here  we are unhappy about Brussels initiatives for a super state; we are not at all happy about efforts to make illegal migration legitimate, and we want to protect our borders and have a say about who we allow to enter the country, Orban said.



He also thanked Fico for Slovakias police presence at the southern borders of Hungary.



Orban: Hungary-Slovakia Economic Cooperation Thriving

In terms of economic cooperation, Orban welcomed as fantastic data that Slovakia is Hungarys 3rd largest trading partner with a steady annual volume of 15 billion euros worth of bilateral trade.



He noted that Hungary ensures the transit route for oil supplies to Slovakia while receives one-fourth of its electricity imports via that country.



The agreement concluded with the Slovak prime minister in 2014 has been fully implemented, Orban said, noting the opening of 20 new border crossings in addition to the existing 20 which he said have greatly contributed to a tangible improvement of the quality of life of those living in the border area.



Today, we also agreed on preparing a second Hungarian-Slovak cooperation package and decided to set up a committee tasked with the coordination, said Orban.



Fico: Slovakia Against Curbing Hungary's Rights in EU

Slovakia does not back the curbing of Hungarys rights in the European Union, and will never agree to a country being penalised for fighting for sovereignty and national independence, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said in Budapest.



Speaking after talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Fico told a joint press conference that developments around Hungary and Slovakia in the EU were reason for concern.



The EP was planning to adopt a declaration on changes to the Slovak Penal Code and on the country abolishing the special prosecutors office, he said.



Fico also slammed the Slovak opposition, saying they harm the entire country just so they can harm the government.



Slovakia is monitoring the situation around Hungary too, as there have been proposals to strip the country of its voting and other rights, Fico said. He pledged to oppose any measures aiming to punish countries for fighting for national independence and sovereignty.



Fico said Slovakia also rejected the EU migration pact, and agreed with Orbans stance on the war in Ukraine and on the role of the Visegrad Group.



Hungarys rights can only be curbed with a consensus of all member states, and I, President Robert Fico of Slovakia, shall never agree to such an attack, because it would be contrary to my stance on the protection of sovereignty and national interests, he said.



Fico invited Orban to visit Slovakia, praised Hungarys proposals on the EU budget and support for Ukraine as intelligent and sensible, and said Slovakia would back those proposals.



Despite belonging to different political factions, Fico said he agreed with Orbans stance on rejecting the migration pact, Ukraine and the future of the Visegrad Group, as well as Europes future. He thanked Hungarys help in protecting Slovak airspace.



Regarding aid for Ukraine, Fico said Slovakia would continue to provide humanitarian aid but will reject delivering weapons.



Meanwhile, Slovakia would like to allocate more EU funding to the fight against illegal migration and the secondary effects of the war in Ukraine, he said. It is tragic that the Visegrad Group has been hobbled, he said, and called on the Czech prime minister to convene a meeting of the heads of government of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia on matters concerning all four member states.



On the future of the EU, Fico said scrapping the veto rights of member states and introducing majority decision-making in important security and political issues would be the beginning of the end.



On bilateral ties between Hungary and Slovakia, Fico called for opening further border crossings and said the Slovak government was planning to hold sessions outside of Parliament, including the regions inhabited by ethnic Hungarians. The ombudsman for ethnic minorities will also be an ethnic Hungarian, he added.



Orban: Hungary Experienced in Fulfilling EU Presidency

Regarding the approaching Hungarian EU presidency, Orban said Hungary had experience in filling that post, albeit in less explosive times.



We have an experience in representing national interests without harming the mediating role of the European Council president.



The EU affairs ministers of Slovakia and Hungary will cooperate closely in the while Hungary is preparing for the role, he said. In connection with European Council President Charles Michel leaving his post to run in the EP elections, Orban said neither he nor his ruling Fidesz party had any ambition to fill any European post.



Asked about the EU summit set for Feb 1, Orban said its agenda would focus on ways of further supporting Ukraine and the related modification of the common EU budget.



Orban said giving Ukraine 50 billion euros for four years in advance would mean that resources the member states are entitled to would also land in Ukraine. Any financial instrument for aiding Ukraine should be set up outside the EU budget, he said.



He agreed that Ukraine needed further help, but said further assistance should not hurt the EU budget.



Hungary does not want to take out a joint loan, but it is ready to provide its share from central budget resources. If Brussels accepts this proposal, Ukraine will receive help from outside the [EU] budget, but if not, I will need to stop the whole process, Orban said.



Regarding amendments to the EU budget, Hungary is ready to support all points that are important for Slovakia, he said.



Fidesz MP: Hungary EU Presidency Priorities Demography, Competitiveness

The Hungarian EU presidencys priorities will be addressing demographic challenges and competitiveness, Judit Varga, the (Fidesz) chairwoman of parliaments European affairs committee said.



Also, the issue of EU enlargement is important for Hungary, Varga said in a statement after participating in a meeting of the network of national parliamentary EU committee heads (Cosac) in Namur, in Belgium.



She noted that Western Balkan countries have been waiting for 20 years to become EU member states, adding that accession should be based on merit, and the double standard of fast-tracking some candidates should be avoided.



Hungary, Varga said, showed utter solidarity with Ukraine, and 1.5 million refugees crossed Hungarys borders since the wars inception. At the same time, no candidate country should be freed of observing the basic requirements of accession, she said.



Meanwhile, she said the European Parliament was once again fomenting tensions in connection with Hungary. Varga said the European Commission had given Hungarys justice system a clean bill of health, and Hungary now has the most modern justice system that meets European standards, adding that 10.2 billion of EU funds were unfrozen.



The left-wing majority of the EP, she said, was now preparing another attack with the intention of triggering the section of Article 7 on the withdrawal of Hungarys voting rights.



Varga said the EP was acting beyond its remit since it was only the Council or the EC that could initiate such a procedure. She said the move was political blackmail and an open political attack.



Regarding the proposal to grant Ukraine 50 billion euros in EU support, she noted that Hungary earlier criticised the plan with rational arguments, but had also put forward constructive proposals, such as extending the financing outside of the EU budget.



Questions arose regarding the amount and duration of the support, she added. Meanwhile, Varga said that change in Brussels was needed, and sovereignist forces can act as the catalyst for this to happen.



A right-wing victory, she added, was needed to overturn ideology-driven politics that dominated EU institutions.



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Laman Ismayilova

The newly appointed Australian Ambassador to Russia, John William Geering, paid a courtesy visit to the doyen of the diplomatic corps, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Polad Bulbuloglu, on January 16.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador congratulated John Geering on his appointment and wished him professional success, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, the ambassadors discussed a number of issues, including the current relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The Australian Ambassador was informed about the situation in the already-ended Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and noted that Australia has always supported Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Polad Bulbuloglu spoke in detail about the history of the conflict, the long-term and fruitless negotiation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the victory in the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020, as well as local anti-terrorist measures on September 19, 2023, during which our country restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

He also spoke about the post-conflict period and the large-scale restoration and reconstruction work being carried out in Azerbaijan's liberated territories.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador also informed John Geering about the reintegration process of the Armenian residents living in the Garabagh region into Azerbaijan's legal and socio-economic fields.

The Azerbaijani diplomat drew special attention to the fact that peace, stability, and security in the South Caucasus are possible only through the establishment of good neighbourly relations based on mutual respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of both countries.

During the meeting, issues of transport communications in the region were also discussed. Polad Bulbuloglu spoke about the current situation in the development of the North-South Corridor and the construction of a road through Iran, pointing out that Baku stands for the fastest possible restoration and opening of all communications in the region.

The Ambassador, John Geering, congratulated Azerbaijan on the choice of the city of Baku to host COP29 in 2024.

The conversation took place in a warm and trusting atmosphere. The parties discussed various topics on the agenda between the countries and exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

The Ambassador, Polad Bulbuloglu, thanked his counterpart for the visit and expressed hope for the continued development of relations of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Australia.

In conclusion, the Australian Ambassador was presented with a book entitled "Garabagh: Before and After the Occupation," published by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia serves during the men's singles second round match between Alexei Popyrin of Australia and Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 17, 2024. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 Novak Djokovic overcame a ferocious challenge from Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday, while defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka eased through to the Australian Open's third round.

Djokovic, the 10-time tournament champion, has not produced his vintage form at Melbourne Park and for the second straight match was pushed to four sets.

But he defied body aches and heckling in the crowd to defeat the gallant Australian 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 in three hours and 11 minutes.

The 43rd-ranked Popyrin rued being unable to convert four set points in the 10th game of the third set before Djokovic clinched the match and let out a triumphant roar.

"I don't think I played at the highest level, but credit to him for coming up with the right strategy," Djokovic said. "I haven't been playing my best, still trying to find form."

Fourth seed Jannik Sinner continued his bid for a first Grand Slam title with a second consecutive straight sets victory after downing Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour 43 minutes.

The 22-year-old Italian dominated in all facets and lost just 10 points on serve, while breaking six times.

"It doesn't really matter who you play against. You fear nobody but have a lot of respect for everyone," Sinner said. "This is what I try to show to everyone."

Australia's main hope Alex de Minaur continued to impress after beating Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 in a one-sided romp.

The No. 10 de Minaur won 11 straight games during one dominant stretch to improve his record this season to 5-1, including a victory over Djokovic at the mixed teams United Cup.

No. 5 Andrey Rublev and No. 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas also made it through to the third round as they continued their quest for a maiden Grand Slam title.

In the women's action, Sabalenka powered past 16-year-old qualifier Brenda Fruhvirtova 6-3, 6-2 in 67 minutes.

It was the Belarusian's ninth straight victory at Melbourne Park as she bids to become the first woman to successfully defend her Australian Open title since Victoria Azarenka in 2013.

"I'm not thinking about confidence. I'm just trying to play my best," said second seed Sabalenka. "I just try to focus on myself and fight for every point."

Fourth seed Coco Gauff beat fellow American Caroline Dolehide 7-6 (6), 6-2 to underline her title credentials.

The U.S. Open champion was made to work in a tense first set and looked on the brink when Dolehide had the chance to serve it out at 6-5. But Gauff broke then raised her level in a gripping tiebreak to dent Dolehide's resistance.

"It was really hard," Gauff said. "If you give her something short, she's going to punish you for it, so if I could go back and do something I'd change that."

The 19-year-old Gauff will next play compatriot Alycia Parks, who upset 32nd-ranked Leylah Fernandez in straight sets.

But sixth seed Ons Jabeur crashed out after being thrashed 6-0, 6-2 by Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva in just 54 minutes.

Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, had no answer for a red-hot Andreeva, who continued an eye-catching debut at Melbourne Park with her first victory over a top-10 player.

Former tournament champion Caroline Wozniacki and 16th seed Caroline Garcia, who beat Naomi Osaka in the first round, were eliminated.

On Thursday, No. 1 Iga Swiatek and men's second seed Carlos Alcaraz will be in second-round action, while China's top-ranked player Zheng Qinwen faces Katie Boulter. 

Elina Avanesyan of Russia hits a return during the women's singles second round match between Maria Sakkari of Greece and Elina Avanesyan of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 17, 2024. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Maria Sakkari of Greece hits a return during the women's singles second round match between Maria Sakkari of Greece and Elina Avanesyan of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 17, 2024. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Jordan Thompson hits a return during the men's singles second round match between Jordan Thompson of Australia and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 17, 2024. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)

Stefanos Tsitsipas hits a return during the men's singles second round match between Jordan Thompson of Australia and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 17, 2024. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)

Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates scoring during the men's singles second round match between Jordan Thompson of Australia and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 17, 2024. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)

Alexei Popyrin of Australia hits a return during the men's singles second round match between Alexei Popyrin of Australia and Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 17, 2024. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return during the men's singles second round match between Alexei Popyrin of Australia and Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 17, 2024. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
YORK  Clark Roush has had a 37-year career of excellence in arts.

He serves as Endowed Chair of Performing Arts at York University and generously assists community, church and school choirs and frequently serves as a guest conductor. He also serves on the Nebraska Arts Council board and has served on boards of the Nebraska Music Education Association and the Nebraska Choral Directors Association. He also contributes to arts education through performances.

And, thanks to his leadership, York is now certified as a Creative District in Nebraska. The certifications come with a $10,000 grant, the opportunity to apply for larger grants up $250,000 and the creation of an advisory board and committees focused on fostering the arts in York.

Roushs lifetime career of service to arts education at his university, in the local community and in the state led to him earning the Focus on York Award.

Clark was instrumental in researching, supporting, and spreading the word about making York a creative art district, his nominator wrote in putting Roush up for the award. He went above and beyond to reach various demographics in this area.

The award is presented to individuals and organization who have brought state, regional or national recognition to York and has only been presented a few times, according to the York Chamber of Commerce.

Just as I was wondering how we would be able to find the momentum to complete the preparations for Creative District designation, Dr. Roush walked into my office and volunteered to lead the application efforts, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Madonna Mogul said. His passion for the arts and his commitment to inclusion provided the needed boost for us to generate new community conversations about the arts with diverse groups of individuals.

He took the lead in gathering groups of different cohorts who were not engaged in public discussions about the arts previously and led them through discussions of how we could as a community better incorporate their talents and interests, Mogul said. He continues to provide leadership in these efforts as we move to the next phase of our designation work.

Roushs endowed position testifies to York Universitys recognition of his contributions to arts education. His impact on arts in the York community and in the state extend beyond this important foundational work of developing artists who attend York University. He is also generous with his time in assisting community, church, and school choirs and frequently serves as a guest conductor or adjudicator throughout the state. Overall, he has been leading choirs for 37 years. As just one recent example, this past December he directed community Christmas musical performances for the Yorkshire Playhouse.

Roushs commitment to arts education includes service on the Nebraska Arts Council board, and past service on the boards of the Nebraska Music Education Association and Nebraska Choral Directors Association. He has given a keynote address at three Nebraska Music Education Association conferences.

Roush continues to contribute to arts and arts education through performances as well, including performances with the Omaha Symphony Chamber. This September he will perform in Lincoln for a professional community choir event held at First Plymouth Church.
GILTNER  A Giltner man was arrested after allegedly leaving his dogs outside for an extended period of time, resulting in the death of one of the dogs.

The Hamilton County Sheriffs Office said Kevin Jemison, 60, was arrested on suspicion of cruel neglect of an animal resulting in death, and cruel neglect of an animal resulting in serious injury or illness, on Sunday afternoon.

Deputies were called to a home in the 400 block of North Enfield in Giltner on a report of two dogs that had been outside all weekend, according to the sheriffs office. Deputies found one dog in distress and another that had died.

The dog that survived was taken to the Aurora Vet Clinic for emergency treatment of hypothermia and thermal injuries, the sheriffs office said. An investigation into the incident continues.
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.

12 Nebraska outlaws and their stories Maurice "Blondie" Denning James Butler Hickok (later Wild Bill) Doc Middleton Jesse James Sam Bass Charles Wesley Cox Thomas Limerick Kid Wade Earl Keeling David McCanles
New Delhi: Nitin Saluja, an alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), has emerged as a trailblazer in the business world. Born into a middle-class family in Delhi, Nitin's journey from the hallowed halls of IIT to creating a Rs 2051 crore brand in the tea industry is nothing short of inspirational.

Early Years And Education:

Nitin Saluja was raised in a modest household, where the values of hard work and perseverance were instilled in him from an early age. His academic brilliance paved the way for him to secure a spot at IIT, a dream for many aspiring engineers in India. Nitin's education laid the foundation for his analytical mindset and problem-solving skills.

The Genesis Of Chaayos:

Post his IIT days, Nitin Saluja, along with his college friend Raghav Verma, ventured into the entrepreneurial landscape. In 2012, they founded Chaayos, a tea-centric cafe that aimed to revolutionize the way Indians experienced their daily chai. Nitin's vision was to blend tradition with innovation, offering a diverse menu of customized teas that catered to the modern palate.

Innovative Approach To Tea:

What set Chaayos apart was Nitin's innovative approach to tea. Leveraging technology, the brand introduced a unique concept of customizable chai, allowing customers to personalize their tea blends with various spices, herbs, and Flavors. This customer-centric approach struck a chord with the masses, making Chaayos a household name in no time.

Challenges and Triumphs:

Nitin Saluja faced numerous challenges in establishing Chaayos, from competition in the saturated market to operational hurdles. However, his resilience and ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences allowed Chaayos to not only survive but thrive. The brand's rapid expansion across major cities in India attests to Nitin's strategic business acumen.

Building a Rs 2051 Crore Brand:

Through strategic partnerships, a keen understanding of market trends, and an unwavering commitment to quality, Nitin Saluja transformed Chaayos into a Rs 2051 crore brand. The success story of this IITian-turned-entrepreneur has not only disrupted the tea industry but has also become a case study in business schools.

Legacy And Future:

Nitin Saluja's journey from an IITian to the founder of a billion-dollar tea empire showcases the power of determination and innovation. As he continues to shape the future of the tea industry, Nitin's story serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, proving that a cup of tea can indeed brew success when infused with passion and creativity.
New Delhi: Wow! Momo had its "wow" moment recently as Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad and OAKS Asset Management contributed a total of Rs 410 crore to the brand. With Khazanah's investment in the business, the brand hopes to become the industry leader in innovation and change in the food industry.

However, the incredible success of Wow! Momo is to be attributed to the dedication and hard work of Sagar Daryani and his friend Binod Homagai, who founded the company with just Rs 30,000, one table, and two part-time cooks and grew it into a massive Rs 2100 crore company. This is the story of two Indian entrepreneurs who through their grit and perseverance grew a business from modest beginnings to a multimillion-dollar brand.



Who Is Sagar Daryani, The Man Behind Wow! Momo?

Sagar Daryani is the founder and CEO of the restaurant chain Wow! Momo. The company that he founded with his friend operates under three brands: Wow! Momo, Wow! China, and Wow! Chicken. Wishing to take on industry titans such as Domino's and McDonald's, Sagar's Wow! Momo hopes to become a global brand in the upcoming years.



How Daryani's Wow! Momo Became A Popular Food Brand

While completing their degrees at St. Xavier's in Kolkata, Sagar and his friend Binod Homagai had the idea to launch a business based on their passion. On August 29, 2008, Sagar and Binod founded Wow! Momo in spite of early resistance from Sagar's family. With a meager Rs 30,000 investment, Sagar launched the business at the age of just 21 in Kolkata with a small kiosk. Wow! Momo was started with only 1 table, and 2 part-time cooks. During the early years, the founders would personally attend to the needs of customers and actively seek out their feedback.

The two friends put in a lot of effort to shape their momo business into what it is today. Thanks to the unwavering determination and diligent work of the two friends, what began as a meager Rs 30,000 investment grew into a prosperous enterprise valued at Rs 2,100 crore. Wow! Momo's last valuation by Tracxn (private markets data provider) stood at over $260 million (Rs 21,61,41,12,000).

The moniker Wow! Momo was picked for its ability to 'wow' patrons with its inventive offerings and experimental food. 'Moburg,' a combination of momo and burger that is well-liked by customers, is one of Wow! Momo's noteworthy inventions.

As momos became more and more popular, Wow! Momo increased its visibility by setting up kiosks in a range of business spaces, including tech parks, shopping centers, and malls. Wow! Momo is reported to sell 4 lakh momos a day and has over 300 outlets in 17 cities. Following the triumphant establishment of the Wow! Momo, the brand introduced the Wow! China and Wow! Chicken.
January 17 marks the 357th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the revered Sikh leader born in Patna, Bihar. A multifaceted personality, he served as a warrior, spiritual master, poet, and philosopher. After his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was beheaded for resisting conversion to Islam, Guru Gobind Singh assumed leadership of the Sikhs at the age of nine. Tragically, he was assassinated at the age of 41 in 1708.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Date and Time

Saptami Tithi Begins - January 16, 2024- 11:57 PM

Saptami Tithi Ends - January 17, 2024- 10:06 PM

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Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Significance:

The significance of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti lies in the profound impact of his teachings worldwide. Notably, in 1699, he founded the Sikh warrior community, Khalsa. Guru Gobind Singh introduced the five K's for Sikhs, comprising Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (wooden comb), Kara (iron or steel bracelet on the wrist), Kirpan (sword), and Kacchera (short breeches).

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Celebration:

Devotees from diverse backgrounds come together to honor Guru Gobind Singh's teachings, which have left an indelible mark on the global community. The festivities include prayer sessions, hymn recitations, and communal gatherings at gurdwaras, where the faithful reflect on the Guru's profound wisdom.

One of the central themes of the celebration is the establishment of the Khalsa in 1699. Sikhs commemorate this by participating in processions, showcasing martial arts skills, and engaging in acts of selfless service, echoing Guru Gobind Singh's emphasis on righteousness and bravery.

In addition to the spiritual aspects, cultural events, langars (community meals), and philanthropic activities are integral parts of the celebrations. Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti serves as a poignant reminder of the Guru's legacy, inspiring individuals to embody courage, compassion, and justice in their lives.
FMGE 2023: The admit cards for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in December 2023, conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), have not been released yet. With only three days left until the exam on January 20, candidates are expressing concerns on social media, urging the NBE to release the hall tickets soon. Although the official websites, natboard.edu.in and nbe.edu.in, initially mentioned January 15 as the admit card release date, the download link is not active.

The FMGE, which serves as a screening test for foreign medical graduates looking to practice in India, was supposed to have admit cards released by January 12, but the date was revised to January 15 but the admit cards are still not released. Candidates are anxiously waiting for updates, and many have sought clarification from the board about the availability of the hall ticket. As per the information bulletin, the FMGE results are expected to be announced on February 20.

FMGE December Admit Card 2023: Steps To Download

- Visit the official website of NBEMS at natboard.edu.in.

- Click on FMGE December 2023 admit card link available on the home page.

- Enter the login details and click on submit.

- Download the page and keep a hard copy of the same.

The FMGE exam is scheduled for January 20, 2024. It is mandatory for candidates to bring the FMGE admit card, affixed with a passport-size photograph, and a valid photo ID to the examination center.
New Zealand's 43-year-old MP Golriz Ghahraman resigned from her job on Tuesday after claims surfaced that she had shoplifted from two clothing stores, which she said were caused by stress and hurt to her mental health, according to The New York Times. According to James Shaw, a leader of Ghahraman's Green Party, the legislator who was a former United Nations human rights lawyer from Iran, has been threatened with sexual violence, physical violence, and death threats since the day she was elected, and police have been investigating such threats regularly. So can mental health issues drive you to something like stealing? Is it similar to kleptomania? Dr Gorav Gupta, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Founder & Director, Tulasi Healthcare, weighs in.

Can Stress Lead To Stealing? Is It Similar To Kleptomania?

Yes, stress can induce theft, say experts. "Stress triggers cortisol release, impacting the prefrontal cortex for decision-making. Under stress, this area becomes less active, impairing rational choices and fostering impulsive behaviours like theft. The altered brain function, driven by desperation, leads to actions individuals might avoid under normal," says Dr Gorav Gupta.

However stress-induced theft differs from kleptomania. "Stress-related theft responds to external pressures, driven by perceived need. In contrast, kleptomania is a mental disorder with recurrent impulsive urges to steal unrelated to stress, characterised by tension before theft and relief afterwards. Kleptomania is a psychiatric disorder, not necessarily linked to stress or circumstances," says Dr Gupta.

Under extreme stress, individuals may display increased aggression, withdrawal, impaired judgment, emotional volatility, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, and altered eating habits, says Dr Gupta. He adds, "Risk-taking behaviours may emerge as a temporary escape. Recognising these responses is crucial for fostering understanding and support during challenging times."

How To Deal With Stress

To reduce stress and avoid negative consequences, focus on healthy coping strategies like mindfulness and deep breathing, advises the doctor. Dr Gupta explains, "Establishing a supportive network through open communication, incorporating self-care routines, and setting attainable objectives are all necessary. Use time wisely, draw clear boundaries, cultivate a healthy outlook and get professional assistance if necessary. These measures foster resilience and well-being."

New Zealand MP Golriz Ghahraman Accused Of Shop Lifting: A Background

Ghahraman, 43, is originally from Iran and she was a United Nations human rights lawyer. She rose to attention in 2017 as the first refugee to be sworn in as a member of the New Zealand Parliament. "I fell short. I'm sorry," said the lawmaker, Golriz Ghahraman, in a statement on Tuesday, adding "The best thing for my mental health is to resign as a member of Parliament." Ghahraman, who made no mention of theft in her statement, claimed she couldn't explain her behaviour since it was "not rational in any way."

Following the medical treatment, she said, "I understand I'm not well," adding that a mental health specialist she was seeing claimed her behaviour was consistent with "recent events giving rise to extreme stress response," and was tied to prior trauma, The New York Times reported. As abuse threats poured in on a regular basis, Green Party leader Shaw added that Ghahraman was subjected to higher amounts of stress than other parliamentarians. He made these statements at a news conference on Tuesday, according to The New York Times.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said that he is yet to receive a final invitation for the Ram Temple consecration ceremony and he would go to the event after January 22 with his family. Speaking to media, Kejriwal said that his family members are keen to visit the temple and since only one person is allowed on Januar 22, he would go there after the pran pratistha ceremony.

"We will make efforts to run more trains for Ayodhya (from Delhi) after the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony on January 22...They had said that a final invitation would be given by their team but we did not receive it...I want to visit Ayodhya with my family so we'll go someday after January 22," said Kejriwal.

#WATCH | Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says, "...We will make efforts to run more trains for Ayodhya (from Delhi) after 'pranpratishtha' ceremony on January 22...They had said that a final invitation would be given by their team but we did not receive it...I want to visit pic.twitter.com/i2isJjyVyd January 17, 2024

However, the BJP was quick to hit back. During a Zee News TV debate, BJP spokesperson Ajay Alok said that it was Delhi CM Kejriwal who once said that his maternal grandmother did not approve of Ram temple in place of Babri mosque.

Kejriwal said that he has received a letter which said since many VIP and VVIPs will attend the January 22 event and thus only invitee is allowed to attend the event. He added that since his father and mother are keen to visit the temple, thus he would go there after January 22.

While the Delhi CM did not reject the invite, his stand is similar to INDIA bloc party's stand to not attend the Ram Temple event on January 22.
NEW DELHI: In a significant shift from its traditional agenda of 'Hindutva', the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making conscious efforts to connect with the Muslim community, aiming to break free from its 'anti-Muslim' image. As part of its Mission 2024, the BJP has devised a strategic plan set to kick off on February 1 with the introduction of the "Qaumi Chaupal" focusing on Muslim-dominated villages. The party's objective is to address the issues faced by Muslims in these villages, aligning with its ambitious goal of winning more than 75 seats in the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Mission 2024: Sufi Conclaves And Qaumi Chaupal

As the BJP pursues its goal of securing over 75 seats in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections, the party is organizing a series of events, including the Qaumi Chaupal, Sufi conclaves, and outreach programs, specifically designed to attract the minority population.

The saffron party's emphasis is on engaging with the concerns of the minority communities and fostering a sense of inclusion.

Engaging The Muslim Community

In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP leaders and activists will engage with the Muslim community, providing information about government initiatives.

The narrative will focus on conveying that there is no discrimination in the Narendra Modi government's schemes, emphasizing the slogan "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" as a fundamental principle that transcends any religious biases.

Dispelling Misconceptions About Ram Mandir

Addressing misinformation surrounding the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya among the Muslim community, the party aims to dispel misconceptions and clarify that the Supreme Court has made the decision on the matter, and the government is implementing it accordingly.

Focus On 4100 Villages In Western UP

The first phase of the 'Qaumi Chaupal' initiative will be launched in Western Uttar Pradesh, targeting 4100 Muslim-dominated villages. The BJP's Muslim Morcha will lead this program, intending to sway Muslim voters in the 21 Lok Sabha constituencies of Western UP. This campaign will be rolled out across the country at different times, emphasizing the party's commitment to a comprehensive outreach strategy.

By adopting these strategic initiatives, the BJP aims to reshape its image, build trust among the Muslim community, and make significant inroads in the upcoming elections.
BISHKEK, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Mi-8 military helicopter crashed in Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Defense of Kyrgyzstan.

"On January 17, during a training flight, a helicopter of the Kyrgyz Air Defense Forces made an emergency hard landing. There are casualties," the Ministry of Defense told local media.

One person died in the crash, and eight more onboard were injured, according to local media reports.

The Mi-8 helicopter crashed on the northwestern outskirts of Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital. 
Pakistan has witnesses another surgical strike. Contrary to earlier assumptions, these strikes were not carried out by India or any non-Islamic state. India has consistently portrayed Pakistan as a haven for terrorist organizations, a sentiment now echoed by nations like Iran. In today's DNA, Sourabh Raaj Jain analysed the reason behind the attack.

Late last night, Iran executed two major missile strikes on locations associated with Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni terrorist organization based in Balochistan, Pakistan. This can be seen as a substantial airstrike by Iran within Pakistani territory, information that became apparent to Pakistan only after the attack. The aftermath has led to unrest in Pakistan, as the nation finds itself vulnerable to strikes from foreign powers without immediate awareness.

Watch Full DNA Report Here

Following Iran's airstrikes, Pakistan is left with little room for rhetoric. The presence of terrorist organizations within Pakistan is increasingly acknowledged, even by Islamic countries. Although the Pakistani government strongly condemns Iran's actions, the reality is that Iran has conducted a significant surgical operation within Pakistan. This adds to the growing list of countries, including the United States and India, resorting to strikes against terrorist organizations within Pakistan.

Iran has often witnessed Baloch organizations from Pakistan conducting attacks on its soil, mirroring the reciprocal actions of Baloch groups from Iran launching assaults in Pakistani regions. Iran contends that terrorist groups like Jundallah and Jaish al-Adl find refuge in Pakistan and carry out attacks against Iran.

Suspicion looms over Pakistan because of its Shia-majority status, in contrast to Sunni-majority Iran and Baloch, who are predominantly Sunni Muslims. Iran believes that Pakistan supports Baloch terrorist organizations as proxies against Iran. This suspicion is a key motivator behind Iran's recent major airstrikes.

While Pakistan may express anger over the airstrike, the truth is that, after India, Iran has also conducted a significant surgical operation on Pakistani soil. The world is witnessing a shift where nations are taking action against terrorist organizations within Pakistan. Even traditional allies like the UAE are reportedly assisting India in secret operations against Pakistani terrorists.

Recent reports suggest that India, the UAE, and Afghanistan are jointly targeting terrorists based in Pakistan, using Indian facilities in the UAE and Afghanistan. The international community increasingly sees Pakistan as a breeding ground for terrorism, and after appealing to Pakistan for action, countries are now resorting to surgical strikes to address the issue.
Days after Iran's air strike on Pakistan, India today reacted to the development while reiterating its stance against terrorism. In an official statement regarding the Iranian airstrikes in Pakistan, Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, emphasized that India maintains an unequivocal zero-tolerance stance towards terrorism. He acknowledged the imperative for nations to undertake self-defensive measures in response to security threats.

"This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan. Insofar as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self-defence," said the official.

By making the statement, India virtually not only backed Iran but also kept its options open against Pakistan so that in case of any misadventure, New Delhi wouldn't hesitate to carry out another surgical strike.

Amid the ongoing diplomatic tensions surrounding the Iranian airstrike on a terrorist camp in Balochistan earlier today, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahain asserted that the air attacks in Pakistan were aimed at an "Iranian terrorist group." He further disclosed that the Tehran government had repeatedly urged Pakistan to take action against this particular group.

Earlier, Iran attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group opposed to Tehran with drones and missiles inside Pakistan territory in the late hours of Tuesday. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the violation of Pakistan's sovereignty is "completely unacceptable" and warned of serious consequences. It further said that Iran has taken this action despite the existence of several channels of communication between the two nations.

Established in 2012, Jaish al-Adl, labelled as a "terrorist" organization by Iran, is a Sunni extremist group operating in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. Throughout its existence, Jaish al-Adl has been responsible for numerous attacks targeting Iranian security forces. In December, the group claimed responsibility for an assault on a police station in Sistan-Balochistan, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 11 police personnel.

Situated at the intersection of Afghanistan and Pakistan, Sistan-Balochistan has historically experienced conflicts involving Iran's security forces, Sunni militants, and drug traffickers. The region remains a volatile area marked by tensions and periodic clashes.
As the preparations for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony intensify in Ayodhya, a unique individual stands out among the devoted followers of Lord Ram. He is Aditya Kumar Singh, a retired havaldar from the Indian Army's Bihar Regiment, whose patriotism was unwavering, but in recent days, his dedication has found a new focus  devotion to Lord Ram!

Aditya Kumar Singh served in the Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army, and during the Uri attack, he was stationed in the Kashmir region. Having dedicated his life to the service of Mother India, Aditya, upon retiring, returned to his ancestral home in Ayodhya with a vision for something new.

In Ayodhya, Aditya Singh has become renowned for crafting detailed 3D models of the Ram Temple, a demand that has garnered attention not only domestically but also from overseas, including countries like the United States and Poland. His remarkable 3D models have been admired by various VVIPs, including the Prime Minister.

What sets Aditya apart is not just his artistic skill but the positive impact his work has on the community. The demand for his 3D models has created employment opportunities for locals in the vicinity, contributing to the economic well-being of the area.

Moreover, Aditya Singh's dedication extends to his family, with his retired army veteran brother actively assisting him in this creative endeavour. As Ayodhya gears up for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, Aditya Kumar Singh's artistic contribution adds a unique blend of devotion and craftsmanship to the sacred event.
New Delhi: The UPSC Civil Service Exam stands out as one of the most formidable challenges to conquer. Despite the annual participation of countless candidates, only a select few manage to successfully navigate through its complexities. However, those with unwavering determination can surmount even the most daunting obstacles. This narrative revolves around a remarkable woman who serves as an inspiration to numerous females across the nation.

In accomplishing a feat beyond imagination, IPS N. Ambika has etched her story into the annals of achievement. Her journey, fraught with difficulties, distinguishes itself not in the absence of challenges but in her steadfast refusal to yield at any juncture. The subsequent sections delve into the saga of N. Ambika, shedding light on her journey, preparation tactics, current role, and life post-achievement of IPS status.

N. Ambika, now an IPS officer, endured the adversity of child marriage, being wed to a police constable at a tender age of 14 in Tamil Nadu. By the age of eighteen, she had become a mother of two daughters, navigating four years of matrimony. Undeterred by the trying circumstances, she pressed on, displaying resilience in her pursuit of significant accomplishments in life.

The inception of her IPS journey traces back to a republic day parade, where her husband's salutes to officers caught her attention. Curious, she inquired about them, learning that they were IPS officers. It was at that moment that she resolved to become an IPS officer herself. However, the road ahead was far from smooth.

Ambika's quest to become an IPS officer commenced even before she completed her 10th grade. Unfazed, she first attained her 10th and 12th qualifications from a private institution, subsequently completing her graduation. To realize her dream of becoming an IPS officer, she relocated to Chennai to prepare for the UPSC Civil Service Exams. During this period, her husband assumed the responsibility of caring for their children while fulfilling his own professional duties.

The journey, however, was marked by challenges. Failing thrice in the Civil Service Exam, Ambika's husband suggested her return home. Undaunted, she sought his permission for one final attempt. In 2008, on her fourth try, Ambika emerged victorious in the UPSC Civil Service Examination. Allocated to the Maharashtra Cadre, she presently serves as the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Mumbai.

Ambika's preparation strategy, characterized by resilience and determination, took shape upon her relocation to Chennai. Emphasizing the importance of daily newspaper reading, she highlights the necessity of note-taking to augment information retention. Advocating the use of a single source for each exam section, she cautions against the potential confusion caused by multiple sources. Additionally, Ambika encourages candidates to answer as many questions as possible and participate in mock test series to refine answer-writing skills, thereby increasing the likelihood of securing a favourable UPSC rank.
After Congress, now the former Chief Minister of Bihar and leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lalu Prasad Yadav, announced that he will not be present at the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, scheduled for January 22. Yadav stated, "I have decided not to attend the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya." Despite his decision, he did not provide any specific reasons for abstaining from the event.

Not only Lalu Prasad Yadav, INDIA bloc party NCP has also turned down the invitation. Several other leaders of the opposition, including Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, have turned down the invitation. The Pran Pratishta ceremony is set to take place in Ayodhya on January 22, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various other leaders expected to participate. The event has also extended invitations to several celebrities and notable personalities.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar said that he will visit for darshan after the event and once the construction is complete. In the letter, Pawar acknowledged the devotion of crores of devotees across the country and said, "Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram is a symbol of worship and devotion of crores of devotees in and across India. The devotees across the country are excited about the ceremony and are reaching the temple in large numbers."

Now, since Sharad Pawar and the Congress party have acknowledged that Ram is worshipped by crores of devotees across India, these parties have failed to read between the lines. Just a few days ago, some Congress leaders went to Ayodhya and were chased out by locals. Despite the incident, the parties have failed to sense that their decision to not attend the Ram Temple puja is fomenting anger among the public. It's also creating a sense of belief that these parties are anti-Hindu and may thus polarise the Hindi belt against them. This would be a crucial setback for the opposition parties ahead of the Lok Sabha election.

Bihar has a special connection to Ayodhya. Sita Mata was from Mithila and thus Bihar is home of Lord Ram's inlaws. Devotees from Bihar have already reached Ayodhya with all the shaguns and greetings. The people of Bihar are keenly watching all the development. While the RJD-JDU-Congress alliance used to stand a better chance against the BJP in Bihar, their move to not attend the Ram temple event has given a weapon to the saffron party and they will use it during the Lok Sabha campaign as well.
Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kerala on Tuesday where he was accorded a warm reception from state's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Muhammad Khan at Nedumbassery airport. The visit holds significance as PM Modi is scheduled to partake in spiritual rituals at the Guruvayur Temple on Wednesday, alongside inaugurating three major infrastructure projects collectively valued at over Rs. 4,000 crore.

Visit To Guruvayur Temple

Prime Minister Modi is set to enrich his visit with a visit to Guruvayur Temple, engaging in pooja and darshan, infusing a spiritual aura into the diplomatic proceedings.

Unveiling Crucial Infrastructure Projects

The prime focus of PM Modi's Kerala visit is the inauguration of three pivotal infrastructure projects, emphasizing India's commitment to technological advancement and strategic self-sufficiency:

1. New Dry Dock (NDD) at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)

The Rs 1,799 Crores flagship project at CSL in Kochi showcases India's engineering prowess. The 310-meter-long stepped dry dock, with state-of-the-art technology, positions India as a global player in maritime capabilities. This infrastructure, capable of handling large vessels, promises a leap forward in the country's shipbuilding capabilities.

2. International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) at CSL

Built at a cost of Rs 970 Crores on 42 acres at Willingdon Island, Kochi, the ISRF project is a unique facility with a ship lift system and multiple workstations. Its strategic location and advanced features contribute significantly to India's maritime prowess.

3. LPG Import Terminal by Indian Oil Corporation at Puthuvypeen, Kochi

An investment of Rs 1,236 Crores, this terminal strategically located in Kochi is set to become a vital hub for LPG distribution in Southern India. The project not only ensures a steady LPG supply but also boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure, anticipating annual logistic savings and a reduction in CO2 emissions.

Strategic Impact and Economic Implications

These infrastructure projects are poised to elevate India's standing in the global maritime sector. The New Dry Dock, in particular, signifies a significant step forward in handling strategic assets, reducing dependency on foreign nations for national emergencies, and fostering economic growth through employment and skill development.

High-Level Review and Notable Presence

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, along with key officials including T K Ramachandran IAS and Rajesh Kumar Sinha IAS, meticulously reviewed the preparations for these transformative projects on Tuesday.

As the nation eagerly awaits the outcomes of these inaugurations, Prime Minister Modi's Kerala visit blends spiritual reverence with tangible progress, marking a crucial chapter in India's developmental journey.
Thrissur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in Kerala on a two-day visit to the southern state, graced the sacred grounds of the Thriprayar Shree Ramaswamy Temple in Thrissur, Kerala, on Wednesday.

Significance, Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha' Ceremony And Spiritual Connections

The Prime Minister's pilgrimage to the Ramaswamy temple in Triprayar holds profound significance, especially as the eagerly awaited 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya draws near.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Thriprayar Shree Ramaswamy Temple in Thrissur district to offer prayers. pic.twitter.com/JcTdJJIFSg  ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

Triprayar Temple: Where Lord Ram Is The Main Deity

Nestled in the heart of Kerala, the Triprayar temple stands as a testament to the prominence of Lord Ram as its primary deity. The image of Lord Ram (Triprayar Thevar) mirrors the Chaturbhuja Vishnu form, adorned with four arms bearing symbolic elementsa conch (Panchajanya), a disc (Sudarsana), a bow (Kodanda), and a garland.

Believed to embody both Shaiva and Vaishnava aspects after vanquishing the asura Khara, Sri Rama earned the title of Khara Samhara Moorthy. The portrayal of Rama with a garland in hand hints at the deity's manifestation of the Trimoorthis, encompassing facets of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu.

Guruvayur Temple: PM's Spiritual Quest Continues

Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi paid his respects at the Guruvayur Sree Krishnaswamy Temple in Thrissur. Guruvayur Devaswom is a temple dedicated to Lord Guruvayurappan and is one of the most important places of worship for Hindus and often referred to as Bhuloka Vaikuntham (Holy Abode of Vishnu on Earth). The PM also took to X and said, "It was early in the morning but people in Guruvayur came in large numbers to bless me. I cherish this warmth and it motivates me to work even harder for the people."

#WATCH | Kerala: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Guruvayur Temple in Thrissur district and blesses newly wedded couples in the temple. pic.twitter.com/l8H4uzxVwm  ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

Warm Welcome In Kerala

Prime Minister Modi commenced his two-day visit to Kerala on Tuesday night, receiving a warm welcome from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, MoS V Muraleedharan, and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar at the Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery.

A grand roadshow in Kochi marked the beginning, with thousands of supporters joining the enthusiastic display of political camaraderie. BJP state president K Surendran accompanied the Prime Minister during the spirited roadshow.

Unveiling Infrastructure Projects: PM Modi's Agenda In Kerala

Amidst the spiritual sojourn and political engagements, PM Modi is set to inaugurate three monumental infrastructure projects totalling more than Rs. 4,000 crores. These include the New Dry Dock (NDD) at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of CSL, and the LPG Import Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited at Puthuvypeen, Kochi. The commissioning of these projects is poised to propel the nation's shipbuilding and repair capacities, fostering growth in energy infrastructure and ancillary industries.

PM Modi's Second Kerala Visit

This marks Prime Minister Modi's second visit to Kerala in as many weeks, underscoring the government's commitment to the state's development and strengthening ties with its people.
TEHRAN: In yet another escalation of tension in the Indian sub-continent, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards executed a precise strike on the headquarters of the Balochi militant group, Jaish al-Adl, situated within Pakistani territory. Utilizing drones and missiles, the operation targeted the expansive headquarters of Jaish al-Adl in Balochistan, Pakistan, escalating tensions between the two Islamic nations.

Iran's Missile & Drone Strike

The strikes, concentrated in one of the largest headquarters of Jaish al-Adl, destroyed these bases, as reported by Iranian state media. The operation adds a layer of complexity to the evolving geopolitical landscape in the region.

Connecting The Dots With EAM's Iran Visit

Remarkably, the Iranian strike coincides with the recent visit of India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, to Iran. In the intricate tapestry of geopolitical events, the connection between S Jaishankar's visit to Iran and the subsequent missile attack on the Balochi terrorist group's bases prompts profound reflections on the evolving geo-political dynamics in the region. The timing of these events raises pertinent questions about the interplay of diplomatic engagements, regional security concerns, and the longstanding issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

Jaishankar's discussions in Iran encompassed a spectrum of issues, from the strategic Chabahar Port Project to maritime security and the broader West Asian crisis. The emphasis on the safety of maritime commercial traffic, particularly in the Indian Ocean, aligns with growing global apprehensions about the security of crucial trade routes. The connection gains significance against the backdrop of heightened threats to shipping vessels, with a speculated link to attacks on India-linked ships.

The missile strike on the Balochi militant group's headquarters, orchestrated by Iran within Pakistani territory, serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenge posed by terrorism. The choice of targets and the subsequent strong condemnation from Pakistan shed light on the continued struggle to address the issue of terror safe havens within its borders.

Pakistan's longstanding notoriety as a ''terror haven' is a factor that cannot be overlooked. The swift and vehement reaction to Iran's actions underscores the sensitivity surrounding counter-terrorism efforts in the region. The loss of innocent lives in the missile strikes amplifies the urgency for collaborative efforts to eradicate terrorism and dismantle its support networks.

As the geopolitical landscape continues to shift, these events emphasize the need for nuanced diplomacy and coordinated efforts to address the root causes of regional instability. Jaishankar's visit, marked by discussions on critical strategic projects and maritime security, signifies India's commitment to fostering stability in the region.

In the broader context, the events surrounding Jaishankar's Iran visit and the subsequent missile attack serve as a microcosm of the multifaceted challenges faced by nations in navigating geopolitical complexities. The delicate balance required to promote peace, counter-terrorism, and advance strategic interests remains a constant endeavour, underscoring the imperative for sustained international cooperation.

Pakistan's Strong Reaction

Pakistan strongly condemned Iran's missile strike, labelling it an unprovoked violation of its airspace. The strike on the Balochi terrorist group in Balochistan led to casualties, including the unfortunate loss of two children and injuries to three girls. Pakistan warned of serious consequences, deeming the incident completely unacceptable.

Regional Dynamics At Play

The missile strikes in Pakistan unfolded a day after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missiles into Iraq's Kurdistan region, targeting an alleged Israeli "spy headquarters" and ISIS-linked targets in Syria. The broader regional context adds complexity to the evolving situation, raising concerns and prompting diplomatic reactions.
NEW DELHI: Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday said that the process of reaching an agreement on seat-sharing within the opposition INDIA bloc is a time-consuming task. He also dispelled rumours of a discord with Janata Dal-United president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Speaking to reporters, Lalu stated, "Seat sharing does not happen so quickly in an alliance... it will take time."

Patna, Bihar | RJD chief Lalu Yadav says "Seat sharing does not happen so quickly in an alliance.... I will not go to Ayodhya to attend the pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple" pic.twitter.com/lvzN7hogQM  ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

Lalu Declines Ayodhya's Ram Temple Invite

Simultaneously, the veteran Bihar politician declined an invitation to attend the Ram Temple Pran Pratistha ceremony scheduled for January 22 in Ayodhya. Clarifying his decision, Lalu told reporters, "I will not go to Ayodhya to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple." Lalu further said that he would go to Ayodhya for a 'darshan' of Ram Lalla. He also said that he would write a letter to Ram Temple Trust member Champat Rai, explaining the reason for not coming to attend the ceremony.

INDIA Allies Grapple With Seat-Sharing Consensus

Despite numerous rounds of discussions, INDIA allies continue to grapple with the challenge of reaching a consensus on seat-sharing for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The ongoing struggle further intensified with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declining the offer to become the convener of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

Growing Discord Within INDIA Bloc

The Janata Dal (United) has expressed disappointment over the bloc's failure to finalize seat-sharing arrangements and strategize for the upcoming parliamentary polls. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge emerged as the consensus chairperson, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed Nitish Kumar's candidature as convener.

Seat-sharing talks in Bihar among the ruling coalition members faced hurdles over differences in seat adjustment and allotment. JD(U), Congress, and the Left parties, particularly CPI-ML (Liberation), played hardball during the negotiations.

Kumar's Strategic Move: Refusal To Become Convener Raises Stakes

Despite being offered the post, JD(U) chief Kumar declined to become the convener of INDIA, reinforcing his commitment to not taking up any post in the coalition. This strategic move by Kumar keeps opposition parties guessing about his next steps, adding complexity to the ongoing political dynamics.

Kumar's refusal to become convener is anticipated to elevate his stature in Bihar politics. As a key figure in the state's triangular politics, involving the RJD, BJP, and JD(U), Kumar's decision provides him with multiple strategic options. The upcoming weeks are deemed crucial in Bihar politics, with all parties striving to align their equations effectively, according to political analysts.

Interestingly, the two key allies - RJD and the JDU - who are part of the Opposition INDIA bloc have blamed the BJP for spreading misinformation through the media.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed a gathering in Kerala's Kochi where he lauded the people of the state for celebrating 'Ramayan Masam' and urged people to light 'Ram Jyoti' on January 22. "Shri Rama Jyoti should be lit in all houses and temples during the Dhanya Muhurta of Prana Pratishtha in Ayodhya. This message should be conveyed to all," urged PM Modi to the people. He also asked party workers to focus on their booth saying that every booth is important. PM Modi urged the party workers to conduct contact activities with people and made them aware of the BJP government's scheme. He also asked all Shaktikendra workers to use the Namo application to get accurate awareness of central schemes.

Kerala, once a Congress stronghold, has shifted towards the Left for the last 10 years. The BJP is focussing on 'development, welfare, and security' issues to woo the voters. The BJP is already making ground among voters with PM Modi's roadshows and events. PM Modi recently led a roadshow and a womens rally in Thrissur on January 3. He also addressed the Nari Shakthi (Womens Power) conference which was attended by thousands of women.

Focus On Key Lok Sabha Seats

The Kerala BJP is focussing on key Lok Sabah seats where its vote share has increased over time. Over the past three Lok Sabha elections of Thiruvananthapuram, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demonstrated its growing strength as a formidable contender. In the 2009 election, the BJP's candidate PK Krishna Das secured a notable vote share of 11.40 per cent. Subsequently, in 2014, O Rajagopal significantly increased the party's influence, garnering 32.32 per cent of the votes. Although there was a slight dip in electoral support in 2019, with Kummanam Rajasekharan achieving a vote share of 31.30 per cent, the BJP continued to establish itself as a robust opponent in the region.

The Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat, which saw agitations related to the Sabarimala temple, is again the focus of the BJP. The party's vote share in this seat had increased from 7.06 per cent in 2009 to 15.95 per cent in 2014 and to 28.97 per cent in 2019. The BJP is also focussing on the Thrissur and Attingal seats.

BJP Customising Its Kerala Strategy

The BJP is customising itself in the state which has a significant number of Christian voters. Shifting away from the traditional strategy of catering primarily to the Hindu community, the BJP is now focusing on the electoral potential within the Christian population in Kerala. The state presents a complex religious demographic scenario, posing a unique challenge for the BJP in its electoral endeavours. Among the 33.4 million inhabitants in Kerala, Christians constitute approximately 18 per cent of the population, while Muslims make up 26 per cent.

Since the Muslim community in the state largely votes for either Congress or the Left, the BJP is looking to woo Christian voters who are not adverse to the party. Modi's decision to visit Sacred Heart's College went beyond merely trying to shape the perspectives of young individuals. It also aimed to portray the BJP as an inclusive party that embraces Christians and genuinely seeks the welfare of the community.

The BJP's endeavours to establish a foothold in Kerala politics are showing tangible outcomes, as reflected in the increasing votes and endorsement from influential church figures. Another noteworthy development is the resignation of Johnny Nellore, the vice-chairman of the Kerala Congress, who has declared the formation of a new political party with backing from the Church, purportedly supported by the BJP. Also, by visiting the popular temples, PM Modi has maintained his devotion towards the religion. This will also help woo the Hindu voters. Thus, if the BJP manages to carve out a space for itself among the Hindu and Christian voters, its path will become easier.

Development Plank

PM Modi is presenting the BJP as a party known for carrying out development work. The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express and India's first Water Metro Service in Kochi is part of a strategic plan. Even today, when the Prime Minister visited Kerala, he inaugurated projects worth over Rs 4000 crore in Kerala's Kochi. The three major infrastructure projects inaugurated by the Prime Minister included the New Dry Dock (NDD) at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL); the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of CSL; and the LPG Import Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited at Puthuvypeen, Kochi.

Highlighting the new infrastructure initiatives inaugurated today, the Prime Minister said the Central Government is working to increase the capacity of coastal cities like Kochi. He further asserted that Kochi is set to be the next ship-building hub of the nation. This will send a signal to the youth of the state that they will get better opportunities within the state instead of migrating to other places.
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia recorded 4.61 billion U.S. dollars in its trade value with the European Union (EU) in 2023, down 4.9 percent from 4.85 billion dollars in a year earlier, said a report by General Department of Customs and Excise on Wednesday.

The kingdom's total export to the EU was valued at 3.66 billion dollars last year, a year-on-year decrease of 9.4 percent, and total import was registered at 949.4 million dollars, up 16.9 percent, the report said.

Main products exported by the Southeast Asian country to the EU were garments, textiles, shoes and travel goods, as well as bicycles, and milled rice.

Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and Spokesperson Penn Sovicheat said Cambodia's five key trading partners in the EU are Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, France and Belgium.

"The decline in our exports to EU was due to global economic slowdown and uncertainties that had resulted in a plunge in purchase orders from Europe," he told Xinhua. 
New Delhi: The Shares of HDFC Bank fell by over 8 per cent on Wednesday, eroding Rs 1 lakh crore from its market valuation, after the company's December quarter earnings failed to impress investors. The stock tanked 8.46 per cent to settle at Rs 1,536.90 on the BSE. During the day, it plunged 9 per cent to Rs 1,527.25. It fell by 8.15 per cent to close at Rs 1,542.15 on the NSE.

The company's market capitalisation (mcap) eroded by Rs 1,07,851.24 crore to Rs 11,66,888.98 crore. It was the biggest laggard among the Sensex and Nifty firms. In the broader equity market, the 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex plunged 1,628.01 points or 2.23 per cent to 71,500.76, and the Nifty tanked 460.35 points or 2.09 per cent to 21,571.95. (Also Read: Google Pay Signs MoU With NPCI To Expand UPI Payments Globally)

Selling was also seen in other bank stocks, with Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India and IndusInd Bank, ending in the red.

The BSE Bankex index tumbled 4.02 per cent to 52,020.27. "HDFC Bank's share price slipped on concerns around slowdown in deposit growth," said Jaykrishna Gandhi, Head - Business Development, Institutional Equities, Emkay Global Financial Services.

HDFC Bank on Tuesday reported a 2.65 per cent rise in consolidated net profit of Rs 17,258 crore for the October-December period against Rs 16,811 crore in the preceding September quarter.

The largest private sector lender, which merged mortgage lender parent HDFC into itself in July, reported a net profit of Rs 16,372 crore against Rs 15,976 crore in the quarter-ago period on a standalone basis."HDFC Bank reported a mixed quarter," according to a report by Motilal Oswal Research. (Also Read: Aadhaar Card No Longer Valid Document For Date Of Birth Proof For EPFO)

Its core net interest income grew to Rs 28,470 crore during the quarter, while the other income stood at Rs 11,140 crore, according to exchange filings.

On the asset quality front, it registered an improvement in the gross non-performing assets ratio at 1.26 per cent against 1.34 per cent in the quarter-ago period.
New Delhi: Google India Digital Services and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the impact of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for international payments beyond India. Notably, NIPL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India, while UPI is the instant payment system widely used in the country.

The three key objectives of the MoU are as follows

First on the list is to expand the adoption of UPI payments beyond India, focusing on facilitating transactions for international travellers. Second, this pact will introduce UPI-inspired digital payment systems beyond India, serving as a blueprint for effortless financial interactions. Third on the list is to streamline cross-border financial exchanges, making transactions smoother and more accessible on a global scale.

On a larger scale, the MoU aims to ease doing business and making payments for Indian travellers and people from other countries who are coming to India. According to Google, the value processed via UPI payments in 2023 stood at Rs. 167 lakh crores. (Also Read: Business Success Story: Introducing Nitin Saluja, An IIT Graduate Who Established A Tea Brand Worth Rs 2051 Crore)

Deeksha Kaushal, Director of Partnerships at Google Pay India, asserted, We are delighted to support NIPL in expanding the reach of UPI to international markets. Google Pay has been a proud and willing collaborator with NPCI and the financial ecosystem, under the regulators guidance, and this collaboration is another step towards our commitment to making payments simple, safe, and convenient.

Adding further, she mentioned, "UPI has demonstrated to the world the step change that happens in economies with the introduction of interoperable, population-scale digital infrastructure, and each economy that joins such networks will create an impact beyond the sum of its parts. We are very excited about the scope of this collaboration." (Also Read: Interim Budget 2024: Gold Linked Credit Line Via UPI Can Monetise Idle Gold Jewellery, Says Muthoot Finance MD)

Moreover, Ritesh Shukla, NIPL CEO, said, We are pleased to team up with Google Pay to propel UPI onto the global stage. This strategic partnership will not only simplify foreign transactions for Indian travelers but will also allow us to extend our knowledge and expertise of operating a successful digital payments ecosystem to other countries.

To recall, Google Pay introduced a UPI Lite feature on its platform that enables small-value digital payments with just one tap.
New Delhi: South Korean smartphone maker Samsung is set to launch its much-anticipated Galaxy S24 series at the 'Samsung Unpacked' event today (January 17) in India. This line will include the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra.

With just a few hours left for the event, some leaks are starting to pour in. The pre-order benefits for the Samsung Galaxy S24 series in the European market have leaked. However, the pre-order perks for India may not be exactly the same as those for the European market, but these pre-order perks give an idea about the kind of offers we can expect in the Indian market as well. (Also Read: List Of 5 Best Mobile Phones Under Rs 20000 in India)

According to leaks, consumers could get a free storage upgrade on the purchase of the Galaxy S24 series smartphones. Let me explain. Suppose a customer buys a 128 GB model; then they will get 256 GB onboard storage instead. Likewise, if a customer buys the 256 GB variant, they will get a 512 GB variant.

Are you ready for a new era of mobile? Galaxy AI is coming.



Watch Galaxy Unpacked live on Jan 17, 2024 at 11:30 PM, at https://t.co/TgGozyucjK.



Pre-reserve now and get benefits worth  5000*. *T&C apply. #SamsungUnpacked pic.twitter.com/HnaLexNbAe  Samsung India (@SamsungIndia) January 3, 2024

Notably, the pre-order perk is also applicable to the Galaxy S24 Ultra; customers will get a 1 TB version at the price of the 512 GB storage option. This benefit is limited to the first 2,000 clients across all partnering merchants. The pre-order perks don't end here!

Customers will also get a guaranteed Rs 9,000 bonus approximately on the exchange of any old smartphone or tablet during the pre-order period. This bonus will be besides the trade-in value of the smartphone. These offers on different variants will only be valid until January 30 in the eligible countries. (Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S24 Listed For Sale Ahead Of Official Launch on January 17, Withdrawn By Retailer)

It is important to note that these leaked pre-order perks are only for some European countries. Similar offers may or may not be available in India.

Furthermore, the Samsung S24 Ultra is expected to come in Titanium Green, Titanium Blue, and Titanium Orange colour variants. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus will be offered in Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, and Sandstone Orange.
Pakistan is unable to digest the fact that Iran attacked it. After America and India, Iran became the third country to carry out a surgical strike on Pakistan. While Pakistan recalled its ambassador to Iran and warned Tehran of consequences, it's unlikely to take any counter-offensive against the Islamic nation despite being a nuclear power. Amid the ongoing standoff, Iran has now insulted Pakistan at an international forum for not taking action against terrorists. Iran attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group opposed to Tehran with drones and missiles inside Pakistan territory on late hours of Tuesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahain said the air attacks in Pakistan targeted an 'Iranian terrorist group'. He said that the Tehran government had asked Pakistan several times to take action on the group but Islamabad did not pay heed to the request. The air attack also came at a time when Pakistan's caretaker PM Anwaar ul Haq Kakar met Abdollahian in Davos.

"The so-called Jaish al-Adl group, which is an Iranian terrorist group, was targeted....The group has taken shelter in some parts of Pakistan's Balochistan province. This group killed our security forces. We only targeted Iranian terrorist groups on the soil of Pakistan," said Abdollahian.

"We have no hesitation when it comes to national interests and those terrorist groups inside Pakistan," the Iranian Foreign Minister said. Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), a Sunni Muslim armed group, has previously launched attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan.

Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl, designated as a "terrorist" organisation by Iran, is a Sunni terrorist group that operates in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan. Over the years, Jaish al-Adl has launched numerous attacks on Iranian security forces. In December, Jaish al-Adl took responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Balochistan that claimed the lives of at least 11 police personnel. Sistan-Balochistan borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. The region has a history of clashes between Iran's security forces and Sunni terrorists, as well as drug smugglers, Al Arabiya News reported.
Months ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections, even the United States has endorsed policies of the Narendra Modi government. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his view that India stands as an "extraordinary success story." He acknowledged that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has played a significant role in enhancing relations with various ally nations.

Addressing the World Economic Forum, Secretary Blinken highlighted that discussions between India and the United States consistently emphasize the importance of democracy and human rights. He noted that the bilateral relations between the two countries have reached new heights, marking a notable milestone in their diplomatic ties.

"We see an extraordinary success story and we see the remarkable achievements that Prime Minister Modi has achieved moving forward under his watch that have materially benefited and positively affected so many of the allies. We also see our relationship between our countries that is in a new place at a new level. That's been a very deliberate effort by both the Prime Minister and President Biden. At the same time, a constant and regular part of our conversation is the conversation about democracy and about human rights," Blinken said.

Blinken also said that the US discussed the human rights issues with India but that too keeping in mind its relations with New Delhi. He said, "When President (Biden) took office, he wanted to make sure that we put back into our foreign policy. These fundamental concerns about democracy, about human rights and we done that. We do it in different ways in different places. Because of the nature of relationship, we have with the country, with the government, it's part of very sustain, very real conversation and the conversation that we have off course produces positive change." (With ANI inputs)
AUCKLAND: In a surprising turn of events, Golriz Ghahraman, a prominent member of the Green Party in New Zealand, has tendered her resignation amidst ongoing investigations into allegations of shoplifting. The 42-year-old, who made history in 2017 as the first refugee to serve in the country's government, is facing accusations of stealing from two clothing stores, one in Auckland and another in Wellington.

Shoplifting Allegations And Investigations

The resignation comes in the wake of multiple incidents, with Ghahraman alleged to have shoplifted on three separate occasions. The police are actively investigating the matter, fueled by CCTV footage that emerged showing her purportedly taking a designer handbag from an Auckland boutique.

Work-Related Stress

Ghahraman, a former UN human rights lawyer, attributed her actions to work-related stress, stating that the pressure had led her to behave out of character. Expressing remorse, she acknowledged letting down many people and offered a heartfelt apology.

Mental Health Concerns And Trauma

In a statement, she revealed seeking medical evaluation, acknowledging that her recent behaviour is consistent with extreme stress response and previously unrecognized trauma. Despite not being charged with any crime, she admitted falling short of the high standards expected from elected representatives.

Political And Personal Struggles

Ghahraman's resignation sheds light on the challenges she faced throughout her political career, including continuous threats of sexual violence, physical violence, and death threats. Green Party co-leader James Shaw emphasized the toll these threats took on her mental well-being.

The Iranian-born MP, who sought asylum in New Zealand as a child, has been a target of online and in-person abuse related to her heritage, gender, and public stances. She has previously spoken about facing security threats, necessitating the use of security escorts and alarms.

Support And Recognition

While acknowledging that it was right for Ghahraman to resign, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson expressed concern for her well-being. Recognizing the challenges faced by women, especially women of colour, in the public eye, Davidson affirmed continued support for Ghahraman during this difficult time.
Islamabad: Pakistan has strongly condemned Iran's unprovoked violation of its airspace and its missile strike on a Baluchi terrorist group in Balochistan, which claimed the lives of two children and left three girls injured.

Airspace Violation Will Have Serious Consequences: Pak

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a stern statement, deeming the violation of sovereignty "completely unacceptable" and cautioning Iran of ''serious consequences.'' Despite established communication channels, Iran's actions have heightened concerns.

"Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory which resulted in the death of two innocent children while injuring three girls. This violation of Pakistan's sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences," Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

PR NO. 15/2024



Pakistans Strong Condemnation of the Unprovoked Violation of its Air Space



https://t.co/TAWRqC7qMy pic.twitter.com/oqi3tvAOso January 16, 2024

Pakistan Lodges Strong Diplomatic Protest

Pakistan lodged strong protests with the senior official in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran. The Ministry reaffirmed the protest, stating, "Pakistan's strong protest has already been lodged with the concerned senior official in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran." The Iranian Charge d'affaires was summoned to convey Pakistan's strongest condemnation, holding Iran responsible for the repercussions.

Iran's Missile Attack Threaten Bilateral Relations

Pakistan emphasized that such unilateral acts are incompatible with good neighbourly relations, posing a threat to bilateral trust and confidence. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the need for diplomacy and adherence to established communication channels.

Iran's Response To Jaish al-Adl In Balochistan

The incident followed Iran's attack on the headquarters of Jaish al-Adl, a designated terrorist organization opposed to Tehran, located in Pakistan's Balochistan. The strikes targeted the "important headquarters" of Jaish al-Adl, reflecting Iran's ongoing efforts to counter the group. Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl has been responsible for numerous attacks on Iranian security forces.

Regional Dynamics And Previous Attacks

Sistan-Balochistan, bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan, has a history of clashes between Iran's security forces and Sunni terrorists, including Jaish al-Adl. The region also faces challenges from drug smugglers. In December, Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Balochistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 police personnel.

Broader Context: IRGC's Actions In the Region

The attacks in Pakistan occurred a day after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missiles into Iraq's Kurdistan region, targeting an alleged Israeli "spy headquarters" and ISIS-linked targets in Syria. The broader regional context adds complexity to the evolving situation. This development raises concerns about the potential for further escalation in tensions between Pakistan and Iran, necessitating careful diplomatic navigation to address the security challenges in the region.
TEHRAN: Jaish al-Adl, the shadowy Sunni extremist group operating on the Iran-Pakistan border, continues to cast a shadow over the region. Here's an in-depth exploration of its roots, activities, and the geopolitical dynamics at play.

Jundallah's Genesis

Jaish al-Adl, translating to the Army of Justice in Arabic, is considered the successor to Jundallah or Soldiers of God. The latter instigated a violent rebellion against the Islamic republic in 2000, leading to a decade-long insurgency in the restive southeast.

The tide turned in 2010 when Iran executed Jundallah's leader, Abdolmalek Rigi. His capture, involving a dramatic interception of a flight from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan, marked a significant blow to the insurgent group.

Jaish al-Adl's Formation

Founded in 2012 by militant Salahuddin Farooqui, a vocal opponent of Iran's support for Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Jaish al-Adl operates from bases in Sistan-Baluchestan and Pakistan. The group garners support from ethnic Baluch tribes, particularly in a region marked by the discontent of minority Sunni Muslims facing discrimination in Shiite-dominated Iran.

Bombings, Ambushes, And Attacks On Iran

Jaish al-Adl has claimed responsibility for numerous bombings, ambushes, and attacks on Iranian security forces, coupled with abductions. Iran labels the organization Jaish al-Zolm, denoting the Army of Injustice in Arabic, accusing it of receiving support from the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

In October 2013, Jaish al-Adl orchestrated an ambush that resulted in the death of 14 Iranian guards near the Pakistan border. The group justified its actions as a response to the Revolutionary Guards' involvement in Syria. Iran retaliated with executions and clashes near the frontier town of Mirjaveh.

In February 2014, the abduction of five Iranian soldiers heightened tensions between Iran and Pakistan, prompting Tehran to contemplate a cross-border raid.

Jaish al-Adl's Leadership

Jaish al-Adl, an ethnic Baloch Sunni group emerging in 2012, is viewed as an offshoot of the designated terrorist organization Jundullah. The group opposes the Shia Iranian government's support for Bashar al-Assad. Key leaders include Salahuddin Farooqui and Mullah Omar, who commands the group's camp in Balochistan, Pakistan. Abdul Salam Rigi, a cousin of Jundullah chief Abdolmalek Rigi, plays a significant role within Jaish al-Adl.

This intricate web of history, violence, and geopolitical tensions surrounding Jaish al-Adl underscores the complexity of the situation on the Iran-Pakistan border.
MANILA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops on Wednesday killed two suspected rebels in a clash in Negros Occidental province in the central Philippines, a military report said.

The report said that the fighting between the troops and around five rebels from the New People's Army (NPA) occurred in La Castellana town around 6:45 a.m. local time.

The troops recovered an AR-15 rifle, a homemade shotgun, a .45-caliber pistol, and ammunition from the encounter site.

The report said two soldiers were wounded in a separate clash between the troops and NPA rebels in Iloilo province in the central Philippines on Wednesday morning.

NPA rebels have been fighting the government troops since 1969. They concentrate their attacks on rural areas and have skirmishes with the military.

Military data showed that the NPA is estimated to have 2,000 members, significantly lower than its peak strength in the 1980s. 
TEHRAN, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Two important bases of the Jaish al-Zulm "terrorist group" in Pakistan were destroyed in missile and drone strikes on Tuesday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

The report said the targeted bases were located in a region known as Kouh-Sabz (green mountain) in Pakistan's Balochistan province, "which is home to one of the largest bases of the Jaish al-Zulm."

The report did not specify who had launched the attacks, but said additional information would be released in forthcoming updates.

In a statement dated Jan. 17, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that two children were killed and three girls were injured in the country due to Iran's violation of Pakistan's airspace.

Pakistan strongly condemned the "unprovoked violation" of its airspace by Iran, the ministry said, adding that the violation of its sovereignty is "completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences." 
KIEV, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian authorities have decided not to hold parliamentary and presidential elections during martial law, the Ukrinform news agency reported Wednesday, citing Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.

"It has been decided that elections will not be held in Ukraine while martial law is in place," Stefanchuk said.

There were many discussions at both the parliamentary and government levels in Ukraine over the possible elections, Stefanchuk said.

Kiev also held consultations with its partners over the issue, in particular with foreign parliament speakers, he added.

Ukraine was due to hold parliamentary elections in October last year, while the presidential elections were initially slated for spring 2024.

The Ukrainian parliament imposed martial law in the wake of the conflict with Russia on Feb. 24, 2022, and has extended it several times since then.

In November last year, the martial law in Ukraine was prolonged till Feb. 14, 2024. 
Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, the official Irish state guest house, in Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

DUBLIN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- China and Ireland should adhere to mutual benefit, and always regard each other as key cooperative partners and development opportunities, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Wednesday.

Li made the remarks when meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, the official Irish state guest house, in the Irish capital of Dublin.

During their talks, Li said China and Ireland have maintained healthy and stable development of their ties since the establishment of their diplomatic relations 45 years ago.

In recent years, particularly, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Michael D. Higgins, the China-Ireland strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation has increasingly deepened, and exchanges and cooperation in various fields have continuously expanded, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, Li said.

China is ready to work with Ireland to carry forward traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and share development opportunities more fully, in a bid to bring more benefits to the two countries and the two peoples, Li noted.

Li expressed China's willingness to work with the Irish side to adhere to mutual respect and trust, strive to seek common ground while shelving and resolving differences, deepen mutual understanding, and support each other on major issues.

China and Ireland should continuously expand trade, strengthen cooperation in green and low-carbon development, sustainable agriculture, finance and other fields, and expand innovation cooperation in digital economy, biomedicine and artificial intelligence, making the pie of cooperation bigger, he said.

China will apply unilateral visa-free policy to Ireland to facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries, Li said, voicing the expectation that Ireland will provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.

China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Ireland within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, practice genuine multilateralism, jointly tackle global challenges and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

It is hoped that Ireland will play a greater role in promoting the sound and stable development of China-Europe relations, said Li.

For his part, Varadkar said that China is an important cooperative partner of Ireland, and the two countries have always adhered to mutual respect and trust.

Ireland appreciates China's great achievements in economic and social development, always abides by the one-China principle, and hopes that China will achieve peaceful reunification at an early date, he added.

Ireland stands ready to expand two-way investment with China, strengthen bilateral cooperation in such fields as agriculture, food, innovation, and green development, and deepen people-to-people exchanges in education and culture, Varadkar continued.

The Irish side is willing to actively consider providing more convenience for Chinese citizens to visit Ireland, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Ireland, he noted, adding that Ireland supports further deepening Europe-China cooperation.

Prior to the talks, Li attended a grand welcome ceremony held by Varadkar and reviewed the Irish Guard of Honor. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, the official Irish state guest house, in Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
A man looks at the campaign posters for vote in the Finnish presidential elections in Helsinki, Finland, on Jan. 16, 2024. Early voting started in the Finnish presidential election on Wednesday, more than a week before the Jan. 28 election day in the first round. (Photo by Matti Matikainen/Xinhua)

HELSINKI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Early voting started in the Finnish presidential election on Wednesday, more than a week before the Jan. 28 election day in the first round.

Two out of nine candidates will meet in the second round on Feb. 11.

The two leading candidates, former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb and former Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, are running head to head, according to most recent polls. A latest poll by the Helsingin Sanomat (HS) newspaper shows that Stubb has got the support of 24 percent of voters, whereas 22 percent support Haavisto.

Stubb is running as a candidate of the conservative National Coalition, while Haavisto, a Green Party politician, is the candidate of an election alliance. This is Haavisto's third attempt to run for presidency.

In Finland's Constitution, following the reforms in the 1990s, the powers of the president are restricted to foreign policy that he or she is handling "together with the government." The prime ministers represent Finland in the EU, while the president represents the country at NATO summits.

Still, candidates have endeavored to distinguish themselves by addressing domestic policy issues beyond the presidential power, including tensions on the labor market and social security. They have shown no major differences on foreign and security policies.

Some analysts have noticed that the popularity of some candidates differs from the backing of the political parties they are associated with.

Polls give Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Jutta Urpilainen only 5 percent support, though SDP remains the second largest in the country, at 20.3 percent. On the other hand, Pekka Haavisto's 22 percent presidential support is way higher than the Green Party's 8.9 percent.

Poll researchers explained that many SDP voters had so far moved behind Haavisto, as he would have realistic chances for the second round.

The Finns party candidate, Jussi Halla-aho, got 13 percent support, while the party has 18 percent backing. Alexander Stubb's 24 percent is in line with the conservative party support of 22.3 in the latest HS poll.

New polls are expected next week. According to analysts, changes of the top two candidates are still possible even after early voting begins. 

A man looks at the campaign posters for vote in the Finnish presidential elections in Helsinki, Finland, on Jan. 16, 2024. Early voting started in the Finnish presidential election on Wednesday, more than a week before the Jan. 28 election day in the first round. (Photo by Matti Matikainen/Xinhua)
DUBLIN, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- China and Ireland should work together to uphold a free and open international trading system and maintain the stable and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains, visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Wednesday.

Li made the call while meeting with Irish President Michael D. Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain, the official residence of the Irish president. 
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese economic growth in 2023 is good news for China and beyond, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

"The Chinese economy met the national target, which was set at around 5 percent, and actually exceeded it. That is good news for China and also good news for Asia and the world because China delivers one-third of global growth," Kristalina Georgieva told Xinhua in Davos on the sidelines of the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.

On Wednesday, China's National Bureau of Statistics announced that the country's national gross domestic product grew 5.2 percent year on year to a new high of 126.06 trillion yuan (about 17.71 trillion U.S. dollars) last year.

Georgieva noted that the Chinese government was concentrating on moving to high-quality growth and changing the growth model from one primarily oriented by export to a model where consumption plays a bigger role.

"We are very good partners with China," she said, adding that China has great potential to bring out more productivity and to create a more productive labor force.

According to her, "reforms, opening up and integration in the world economy" is the right road for China to continue.

The IMF in November last year upgraded its forecast for the Chinese economy for 2023 to 5.4 percent from 5.0 percent, and for 2024 to 4.6 percent from 4.2 percent, as compared with its World Economic Outlook released in October. 
Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary Zsolt Shemien submitted to Parliament the government's legislative program for the spring session of 2024, which does not include the issue of ratification of the agreement on Sweden's accession to NATO, Azernews reports.

The State Assembly (unicameral parliament) Hungary will resume work in February after a break related to the celebration of Christmas and New Year.

The government's 18-point program was handed over to Parliament Speaker Laszlo Kever on January 15. Presenting these proposals, Chemien pointed out that the program does not include legislative tasks related to international treaties, the online edition of Telex reported. At the same time, it includes bills on the minimum wage in accordance with EU standards, on the recognition of foreign diplomas and certificates in Hungary, on the state budget for 2025 and several other documents.

The government submitted to Parliament a bill on ratification of the agreement on Sweden's accession to NATO in the summer of 2022, but the deputies postponed it due to unfriendly statements by Swedish politicians addressed to Hungary. The document has already been discussed in committees, but the date of voting on it in the full parliament has not yet been determined. In December, at a press conference following the results of the year, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that he did not yet see a great desire among deputies to deal with this issue.

Of all the NATO countries, the Swedish application has so far not been approved only by Hungary and Turkiye, which sought tougher measures from the kingdom against the Kurdish separatists who moved there. On March 27, 2023, the Hungarian parliament agreed to Finland's accession to NATO, but postponed consideration of the issue of Sweden. Finland and Sweden submitted their applications to the North Atlantic Alliance on May 18, 2022, indicating that they were pushed to such a step by the war in Ukraine.
CHICAGO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Monday that it will investigate Boeing after two of its airplanes collided at O'Hare International Airport.

According to local media reports, there were no injuries, and the cause of the incident on Sunday evening remains unexplained. The two colliding aircraft were a Boeing 777 from All Nippon Airways, a Japanese airline, and a Boeing 717 from Delta Air Lines.

SURGING TROUBLES

The incident coincided with a winter storm that disrupted flights in Chicago during the weekend. Arriving flights at O'Hare experienced an average delay of two hours due to heavy snow and blizzard conditions affecting the Midwest and Great Lakes.

Sunday's collision is the most recent in a sequence of airplane incidents currently under investigation. The FAA stated it is committed to continuing an in-depth investigation into the incident.

The U.S. aviation giant is under growing scrutiny following a series of mechanical failures. On Jan. 6, the FAA ordered a temporary grounding of some Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory.

The order was issued following a serious mid-air incident on Friday, Jan. 5, when a part of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 fuselage blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight out of Portland, U.S. state of Oregon. The plane had been in service for just eight weeks.

According to reports, a piece of the fuselage blew out on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9, leaving a large hole and decompressing the passenger cabin.

Several days later, the Chicago-based United Airlines (UA) found loose door plug bolts on at least five Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after inspecting planes following the FAA's temporary grounding order.

It appears to be a manufacturing quality issue instead of a design issue. "The issue could be an assembly error by Boeing, an install error by supplier Spirit AeroSystems, or an issue further down the supply chain," local media quoted Bank of America analyst Ronald Epstein as saying on Monday.

QUALITY CONTROL DOUBTS

Successive problems with Boeing airplanes have raised doubts about quality control among the public.

The FAA, Boeing's primary regulator, also faces criticism for giving aircraft makers too much freedom to regulate themselves during the certification process, says local media.

Boeing has encountered many quality and safety concerns for years with its aircraft, resulting in an extended grounding of certain planes and delivery suspensions.

In Oct. 2018, a new Boeing aircraft with 189 passengers took off from Jakarta, Indonesia, and only twelve minutes following takeoff, the Lion Air-operated plane crashed into Jakarta Bay at an almost vertical angle, with no survivors.

Five months later, a Boeing 737 Max 8 departed from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, identical to the one involved in the Lion Air tragedy. Just six minutes into the flight, it plummeted to the ground, claiming the lives of all 157 passengers.

The 737 MAX was thus grounded in 2019 following the two accidents.

As one of the two primary global aviation companies, Boeing is likely to avoid shutting down, regardless of the magnitude of its errors. Yet the growing doubts regarding the company's quality control problems could damage its reputation.

FALLING SHARES

On Tuesday, Boeing witnessed a 4.1 percent decline in its shares, prolonging losses from the previous week, as the U.S. grounding of certain 737 MAX 9 jets reached its 11th day. The company's commitment to additional quality checks raised concerns about expenses.

Boeing experienced a decline to its lowest point in two months after the FAA's investigation. Wells Fargo, a U.S. multinational financial services company, altered its rating on Boeing's stock, shifting it from "overweight" to "equal weight."

Boeing, one of the leading global players in the aviation industry, has also seen its financial losses pile up after several incidents. Its share price has plunged roughly 40 percent since February 2020.

U.S. stocks lost on Tuesday as higher Treasury bond yields, mixed bank earnings and woes with Boeing dampened sentiment. Enditem.
Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping delivers a speech during the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" launch ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, on Jan. 16, 2024. A vibrant tapestry of cultural celebrations is set to unfold across the Eastern United States in February as the Chinese Lunar New Year nears. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

NEW YORK, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A vibrant tapestry of cultural celebrations is set to unfold across the Eastern United States in February as the Chinese Lunar New Year nears.

Ping Huang, Chinese Consul General in New York, shared the exciting news during Tuesday's 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" launch ceremony.

"The year 2024 is special as China and the U.S. will celebrate the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations ... Let's join hands to make all the upcoming events successful and inject more positive energy to the stable, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relationship," said Huang.

"To ensure the two major countries can get along, a right perception of each other is more important than anything else. That's why we need to enhance people-to-people exchanges to deepen our mutual understanding. After all, the foundation of China-U.S. relationship lies with the people," Huang said.

Huang gave special thanks to the New York Philharmonic, which has been working with Chinese artists since 2012 to celebrate the Chinese New Year. "This sets the pace of musical cooperation between China and the U.S. and contributed to the popularization of the Chinese New Year."

"Our 2024 celebration on Feb. 20 will bring us in a full dragon to Dragon lunar cycle, and we're so happy about this," said Gary Ginstling, President & CEO of New York Philharmonic, adding the orchestra's new year gala "exemplifies our belief that symphonic music transcends borders and unites people of all cultures."

Moreover, arts institutions, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and the Bard College Conservatory of Music, will present a series of Chinese New Year concerts.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Lincoln Center will hold Family Day programs for a more hands-on experience of Chinese intangible cultural heritage.

Landmarks such as the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center and the American Dream Mall will hold lighting ceremonies. The Brooklyn Nets will hold a themed event. The China Institute will present a Lunar New Year family festival.

The Global Chinese New Year Photography Competition will be held for the 9th year.

China National Tourist Office in New York will join hands with the Pennsylvania Tourism Department and China Institute to launch an ice carnival and a Chinese culinary festival.

Chinese New Year 2024 will fall on Saturday, Feb. 10, kicking off the year of the Dragon. This festival is a public school holiday in New York State and a UN floating holiday. 

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping delivers a speech during the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" launch ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, on Jan. 16, 2024. A vibrant tapestry of cultural celebrations is set to unfold across the Eastern United States in February as the Chinese Lunar New Year nears. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Gary Ginstling, President & CEO of New York Philharmonic, speaks during the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" launch ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, on Jan. 16, 2024. A vibrant tapestry of cultural celebrations is set to unfold across the Eastern United States in February as the Chinese Lunar New Year nears. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping delivers a speech during the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" launch ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, on Jan. 16, 2024. A vibrant tapestry of cultural celebrations is set to unfold across the Eastern United States in February as the Chinese Lunar New Year nears. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

The audience applaud for the performance given by artists from the New York Philharmonic during the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" launch ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, on Jan. 16, 2024. A vibrant tapestry of cultural celebrations is set to unfold across the Eastern United States in February as the Chinese Lunar New Year nears. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Artists from the New York Philharmonic perform during the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" launch ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, on Jan. 16, 2024. A vibrant tapestry of cultural celebrations is set to unfold across the Eastern United States in February as the Chinese Lunar New Year nears. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Artists from the New York Philharmonic perform during the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" launch ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, on Jan. 16, 2024. A vibrant tapestry of cultural celebrations is set to unfold across the Eastern United States in February as the Chinese Lunar New Year nears. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Artists from the New York Philharmonic perform during the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" launch ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, on Jan. 16, 2024. A vibrant tapestry of cultural celebrations is set to unfold across the Eastern United States in February as the Chinese Lunar New Year nears. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Artists from the New York Philharmonic perform during the 2024 "Happy Chinese New Year" launch ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, on Jan. 16, 2024. A vibrant tapestry of cultural celebrations is set to unfold across the Eastern United States in February as the Chinese Lunar New Year nears. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Storage center real estate investment trusts (REITs) are companies that specialize in owning and operating income-generating storage facilities, commonly known as self-storage centers. Storage center REITs invest in properties where individuals and businesses can rent space to store their belongings, such as furniture, household items, business inventory, and vehicles of all types.

Investors in storage center REITs benefit from the income generated through leasing storage units to tenants. The demand for self-storage has been driven by various factors, including residential moves, downsizing, and businesses seeking additional space.

If you're interested in investing in a storage center, here are two attractive options.

Public Storage

Public Storage (NYSE:PSA) is one of the world's largest owners, operators, and developers of self-storage facilities with more that 2,900 facilities across the U.S.

Public Storage currently pays a quarterly dividend of $3.00 per share, equating to $12.00 per share annually, giving it a yield of about 4.1% at current levels. The company has also raised its dividend 12 times since 2008 and paid out a big $13.15 per share special dividend in 2022, so investors can count it as both a high yield and dividend-growth play.

Don't Miss:

Investing in real estate just got a whole lot simpler. This Dara Khosrowshahi-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100.

Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000.

Extra Space Storage

Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR) owns and/or operates 3,651 self-storage properties across the U.S. as of September 30, 2023.

Extra Space currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.62 per share, equating to $6.48 per share annually, giving it a yield of about 4.3% at current levels. It has also raised its annual dividend for 14 consecutive years, making it qualify as both a high yield and dividend-growth stock.

Story continues

Read Next:

Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000.

Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Dara Khosrowshahi gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started.

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Strong cash flows reflect financial stability, allowing companies to pay down debt, pursue growth opportunities, and shell out dividend payments. These companies are also better equipped to weather an economic downturn, providing another beneficial advantage for investors from a long-term standpoint.

And for those interested in investing in strong cash flows, three companies  Broadcom AVGO, Microsoft MSFT, and Visa V  are all cash-generating machines. Lets take a closer look at each.

Broadcom

Broadcom is a premier designer, developer, and global supplier of a broad range of semiconductor devices.

Broadcom has shown a notable commitment to increasingly rewarding shareholders, boasting a sizable 13.7% five-year annualized dividend growth rate. AVGO shares currently yield a solid 1.9% annually, nicely above the Zacks Computer and Technology sector average of 0.7%.

Zacks Investment Research



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The companys payout has been protected by its impressive cash-generating abilities. AVGO generated roughly $16.3 billion in free cash flow throughout its FY22, improving 22% on a year-over-year basis.

Zacks Investment Research



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Its worth noting that analysts have become bullish on its current fiscal year, with the $47.87 Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate up 11% over the last year and reflecting year-over-year growth of 13%.

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Microsoft

Analysts have also become bullish on Microsofts current fiscal year, with the $11.14 Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate up 6% over the last year and reflecting year-over-year growth of roughly 14%.

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MSFT shares presently yield a respectable 0.8% annually, modestly above the respective Zacks sector average. And the tech titan has shown a commitment to shareholders, carrying a 10% five-year annualized dividend growth rate.

Zacks Investment Research



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Like AVGO, Microsofts cash-generating abilities help secure the payout. The company generated a sizable $59.5 billion in free cash flow in FY23, with the trailing twelve-month figure totaling an equally impressive $63.3 billion.

Story continues

Visa

Financial titan Visa is also well-known for its cash-generating abilities, with the company recording roughly $17.9 billion in free cash flow throughout its FY22, improving 23% from FY21. And over the last twelve months, the company has generated an impressive $19.7 billion.

Zacks Investment Research



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Like those above, the company has enjoyed positive earnings estimate revisions for its current fiscal year, with the $9.89 Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate up 3.5% over the last year and suggesting 12.7% year-over-year growth.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Keep an eye out for the companys upcoming quarterly release expected on January 25th, as the $2.33 Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate suggests growth of 7% year-over-year. Our consensus revenue estimate sits at $8.5 billion, 7% higher than the year-ago figure.

Bottom Line

Companies boasting strong cash-generating abilities can be great investments, as they have plenty of cash to fuel growth, pay out dividends, and easily wipe out debt. And as mentioned above, these companies are better equipped to handle an economic downturn, undeniably a positive.

For those seeking cash-generators, all three above  Broadcom AVGO, Microsoft MSFT, and Visa V  fit the criteria.

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Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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Doubling your wealth through investing and saving can be a tall order, but the longer your time horizon, the more likely you will succeed.

Im a Self-Made Millionaire: Here Are 5 Stocks I Wont Sell

More: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

If youre looking to get wealthy fast, however, youll have to take some more risks. Which way you should go depends on a number of factors, from your investment experience to your risk tolerance, investment goals and available capital.

If youre looking to get on the path to building more wealth in 2024, here are some of the options you can take.

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Regularly Add to an S&P 500 Index Fund

No less than the Oracle of Omaha himself, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, has often touted the appeal of low-cost index funds for most investors. In fact, Buffett has instructed the trustee of his estate to put 90% of his wealth into index funds after he passes on behalf of his wife. The reason? Theres been no better bet than America.

While the U.S. market has its ups and downs, over the long run, it hasnt lost money over any rolling 20-year period.

Generally speaking, the real value of investing in the stock market is the power of long-term, compounded returns. If you can invest $500 per month at a 10% return for 30 years, youll end up with a nest egg of over $1.1 million  but the bulk of those returns will come in the final few years. On a short-term basis, youre not likely to double your money overnight investing in these large-cap stocks, but the S&P 500 has posted single-year returns as high as 46%.

Next: 11 Uncommon Investments That Can Actually Make You a Lot of Money

Invest in Rental Real Estate

Rental real estate is the path to true wealth, according to financial personalities like Jaspreet Singh. If you can generate enough passive income to cover all of your expenses in life, youll never have to work again. Of course, it takes a while to get to this level, but if you start small and ramp up, you can use rental real estate to double your wealth. Over time, if you purchase good properties in the best locations, youll also benefit from capital appreciation.

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One of the main advantages of real estate is that it allows you to use leverage to amplify your gains. For example, imagine that you buy a rental property for $500,000. You may only have to put down $50,000 or less to own it. If the property appreciates by 10% to $550,000, youve effectively doubled your investment in a single year, with your rental income ideally covering your mortgage payments and even putting a bit extra into your pocket. This is a simplified example that doesnt take into account things like taxes and fees, but the principle remains the same.

Prudently Speculate

If youre really looking to double your money, you might have to get a bit more aggressive with your investments. Of course, with high potential reward comes high risk. If youre going to dabble in more speculative investments, youll have to be prepared both financially and emotionally for the fact that you might lose your entire investment.

Cryptocurrency, for example, has been a battleground over the past decade between those who think it will be a world-changing investment and those who think its inherently worthless. With such passionately varied opinions, its only natural that crypto is extremely volatile. While you have the potential to double your money quickly with certain cryptocurrencies, you also run the risk of losing everything.

Options are another high-risk, high-reward type of investment that can quickly double in value but also run a high risk of expiring worthless, as about 30% do. Options can also lose money as rapidly as they can earn it. But if you have the stomach and the financial knowledge to trade options, their leveraged nature can provide handsome gains in a short period of time.

Max Out Your 401(k)

Your 401(k) might not seem like its a great place to double your wealth, but its actually the easiest source of free money that youre likely to find. Most employers match at least a portion of their employees contributions to a 401(k) plan, and that amounts to an immediate 100% return on the money youve put in.

Imagine, for example, that your employer matches 100% of the first 6% of the salary that you contribute to a plan. This means that if you earn $50,000 and put in $3,000 to your plan, your employer will kick in another $3,000 automatically. Not only do you immediately double the amount you put into your plan, you also get to earn investment returns on those employer contributions as well. This is why financial advisors typically recommend contributing at least as much to a 401(k) plan to get your full employer match.

Pro Tip: Use Expected Earnings and the Rule of 72

A back-of-the-envelope tip for investment returns that advisors have used for years is the rule of 72. To use this rule, take 72 and divide it by your expected investment return. This will tell you how long it will take for your money to double in value, using compounded returns. So, for example, if you use the oft-quoted 10% annual return for the U.S. stock market, you should expect your money to double every 7 years or so. If you only expect to earn 4% per year on an investment, it will take 13 years to double your money.

The rule of 72 is only an approximation, and the higher return you generate, the less accurate the timeline becomes. For example, it takes a 100% return to double your money in a year, but using the rule of 72, you would expect it to double in about three-quarters of a year. But as a general estimate, the math is solid. Use it as a guide when trying to determine just how much of a return you would need to provide the profits you desire  and whether or not reaching for that return is realistic.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Fastest Ways To Double Your Wealth Through Investing and Saving in 2024
By Jeffrey Dastin

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Bright banners tout the promise of artificial intelligence along the main promenade of Davos, but executives at the World Economic Forum (WEF) say they are grappling with how to turn early demos into money-makers.

The arrival of OpenAI's viral ChatGPT triggered a frenzy of venture investment and an abrupt change of course inside the world's biggest technology companies since late 2022.

This year, several CEOs at the WEF meeting in Davos told Reuters that the latest generative AI still has a lot to prove.

Cloud and internet security company Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince told Reuters that the months ahead may even feel like an "AI letdown".

"Everyone's like, yeah, I can build these cool demos, but where's the real value?" he said, echoing a theme among business leaders attending the WEF meeting.

ChatGPT's rapid rise is in some ways an outlier.

In the first two months since its November 2022 launch, the chatbot reached an estimated 100 million users, making it one of the fastest growing applications in history.

The program brought so-called generative AI to consumers' fingertips, letting people write a short prompt and generate a poem, school essay or gather information as if with a search engine. It also proved a good collaborator for developing ideas in "low stakes, not business-critical use cases," said Victor Riparbelli, CEO of AI video generation startup Synthesia.

But "the enterprise is definitely not really ready" for this chat-based AI, he said in an interview.

One problem Riparbelli cited is there is no clear path to end so-called "hallucinations," or false content generated by AI. While computer scientists have developed methods for constraining places from which chatbots can draw responses, business leaders may not want the risk.

Other concerns, said IBM's Europe, Middle East & Africa Chair Ana Paula Assis, are stopping chatbot AI from reproducing human biases, and regulation.

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"Clients are still very worried about how they bring those solutions within the boundaries of regulations and compliance," she said.

Premier Li Qiang of China said in Davos that AI has to serve the common good but must be appropriately governed, because it "poses risks to security and to our ethics." And China's President Xi Jinping wants the United Nations to play a central role in AI discussions, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, some 90% of 1,400 C-suite executives said they were waiting for generative AI to take a step beyond recent hype or were doing only limited experimentation and pilots, survey results published by consultancy BCG showed.

Big tech companies including Microsoft, Alphabet's Google and Amazon.com have pressed ahead, courting thousands of businesses to give the latest AI a try.

Some have marketed message-drafting, meeting-summarizing AI as a way to save employees time. Google, which has long used AI in its products, is experimenting with a chatbot-like collaborator it calls Bard.

And Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said at a company event in Davos Wednesday that AI is poised to grow productivity and potentially accelerate science itself.

Yet businesses' revenue and profit from recent efforts remain unclear.

'GET REAL ABOUT AI'

While one Davos sign exhorted passers-by, "Let's get real about AI," efforts to find a market for it have led developers to consider diverse places.

Cohere, a high-profile AI startup that is focused on enterprises, views helping salespeople as one revenue path.

"It's going to be on the sales side and making sales teams more productive," Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez told Reuters. The hope would be "helping them do more outreach, more follow-ups, and automating a lot of that process."

By contrast, medicine is more complicated. While speeding up note-taking for doctors is a worthy task for AI, automating the medical profession is not, as this could risk lives, said Gomez.

"We should be focused on assisting humans, not replacing doctors and having a chatbot doctor," Gomez said.

Novartis CEO Vasant Narasimhan said the drugmaker was working with Microsoft with the aim of more widely rolling out AI to give samples to staff who submit 20 to 30,000 regulatory responses a year. The "next opportunity," he said at Microsoft's event, would be AI for drug design.

Tejpreet Chopra, CEO of BLP Group, a major wind and solar operator in India, told Reuters he is ready to incorporate AI chat technology "but only for internal use for writing good English, not for content."

Elections are a high-stakes area concerning AI companies, as voters around the world head to the polls in 2024.

Regarding the use of AI in misinformation campaigns, Gomez said Cohere's policies prohibit impersonation, while Riparbelli said Synthesia does not allow customers to make political content through its AI video platform.

OpenAI, which also bans abusive impersonation through its technology, on Monday said it is working with the National Association of Secretaries of State in the U.S. and will start directing users to CanIVote.org for election-related questions.

Understanding how content is created is a key concern among companies and policymakers, said Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

"If (people) see a video or an image, they should be able to know whether it is AI-generated or human generated," Prabhakar told Reuters in an interview.

For Srini Pallia, an executive at technology services and consulting company Wipro, the AI buzz at Davos is loud and clear, filling the void left by crypto.

"You know the conversations - it's AI, AI and more AI," Pallia said.

(Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin; Additional reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov and Divya Chowdhury; Editing by Kenneth Li and Alexander Smith)
shipping

Airline bosses are monitoring developments in the Red Sea as attacks on shipments through a vital trade route threatens the supply of jet fuel.

Analysts warned that holidaymakers face higher airfares if continued disruption triggered an increase in the cost of the fuel.

Malvyn Tan, head of commercial fuel at the International Air Transport Association, which represents airlines, said: With shipping and insurance costs going up, the price of jet fuel is expected to be driven up by these events.

Mr Tan said that there were not yet any signs of disruption to the availability of jet fuel in the UK or elsewhere, but that IATA is closely monitoring the situation in the Red Sea and around the Suez Canal.

Europes jet fuel supplies are more vulnerable to the Red Sea chaos than any other commodity import on the continent, Matthew Wright, an analyst at Kpler said, with almost a third of imports coming via the Suez Canal route last year.

Three quarters of the jet fuel currently in transit to Europe is travelling from Asia and the Middle East, meaning it would normally transit through the Suez Canal, Mr Wright said.

This is a total of 4.6m barrels of jet fuel, which is being carried by nine ships.

Of this cargo, on Wednesday, more than half of it is being held up while shipping companies decide whether or not to reroute around the conflict zone, he added.

Attacks carried out by Iran-backed rebels in retaliation to Israels war in Gaza have started to disrupt energy supply chains after a wave of tanker companies, including energy giant Shell, have suspended transit through the Red Sea indefinitely.

Anna Borg, chief executive of Vattenfall, one of Europes biggest power companies, said on Wednesday that disruption in the Red Sea crisis is a major concern for energy supply chains.

More than 500,000 barrels are already being diverted around the Cape of Good Hope, with 387,000 barrels now confirmed on transit through the Red Sea by comparison.

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Global jet fuel prices climbed by 2.3pc in the week to Jan 12, according to IATA, but this was still down year-on-year.

Cristina Haus, editor of Jet Fuel Intelligence, said markets have not yet priced in the scale of the risks and prices will rise as the conflict drags on.

Ms Haus said: There is no question about it. Markets have been relatively sanguine about what is going on, but day by day it is getting worse and it could really erupt into a major Middle Eastern conflagration.

Europe is particularly exposed to disruptions in its jet fuel supplies because it will not be able to source imports from elsewhere, she added.

This is because the disruptions are hitting just as some major US refineries are doing extensive maintenance work.

However, oil companies have extensive stores which they will be able to use to offset any delays in deliveries, Ms Haus said.

Airports also typically keep two or three days worth of fuel supplies. But Heathrow has a much smaller storage capacity in proportion to its airport traffic, according to Ms Haus: Heathrow is, to my knowledge, more vulnerable than any other airport.

A Heathrow spokesman said the airport is currently not suffering any supply issues.

Some airlines could also be more at risk than others. Caroline Bain, chief commodities economist at Capital Economics, said: Airlines vary hugely in how they buy fuel. Some of them buy fuel for an entire year at a certain price, while others dont hedge at all.

Separately on Wednesday, Shell said it would invest in the Victory gas field in the North Sea in a bid to maintain domestically produced gas for Britains homes.

Victory will come online in the middle of the decade and is expected to produce enough gas to heat nearly 900,000 homes per year.

Simon Roddy, vice president of Shells UK upstream business, said The UK North Sea is a critical national resource, providing a steady supply of the fuels people rely on today and strengthening the countrys energy security and resilience.

Continued investment is required to sustain domestic production, which is declining faster than the UKs demand for oil and gas.

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By Melanie Burton

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian nickel producers, hit by a sharp jump in supply from rival Indonesia, are starting to buckle under low prices that analysts expect will force a rethink by top global miner BHP Group on its nickel strategy this year.

The metal has long been feted as a key battery material for electric vehicles because it improves energy density so cars can run further on a single charge.

BHP has promoted nickel as core to its green strategy. It signed a deal to supply Australian nickel to Tesla in 2021, touting the country's rich geology and strong financial and environmental regulations.

But Australia's producers have been squeezed by Indonesia's emergence as a supply powerhouse and on the demand side by innovations away from using nickel in batteries, which have led to a 40% price slump over the past year to around $16,000 a ton.

"The challenges facing many nickel producers are unlikely to ease near term. We are bearish on the commodity and quite cautious on assets and producers," said UBS analyst Lachlan Shaw.

Lithium iron phosphate (LFP), which does not use nickel, has been gaining ground as the EV battery chemistry of choice, especially in China, because LFP batteries can be produced more cheaply, making EVs more affordable.

However, BHP has placed a big bet that nickel sulphide deposits in low-risk jurisdictions will attract a premium because they use less energy to extract nickel than laterite deposits found in Indonesia.

It is not alone.

Wyloo Metals, which last year bought nickel miner Mincor for $504 million, still believes in the long-term fundamentals for Australian nickel, said CEO Luca Giacovazzi.

"The industry needs a more appropriate and transparent pricing mechanism, that distinguishes between clean and dirty nickel, so consumers can be confident their EV really is a better choice for the environment," Wyloo's Giacovazzi told Reuters.

But for now, weak prices have forced Australia's high cost producers to announce a swathe of writedowns and restructures, with Canada's First Quantum the latest to cut production.

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SHELVING PROJECTS?

Earnings tanked at BHP's nickel business in the 2023 financial year, sliding 61% from a year earlier to just $164 million. The division accounts for less than 1% of its earnings.

"We are working hard to remain globally competitive in a very tough operating environment. Costs have risen sharply and continue to go up while prices have fallen as new supply comes into the market," said BHP Nickel West Asset President Jessica Farrell.

She said the company is working to "take action to address these challenges", without elaborating.

At its Western Australian nickel operations, BHP is assessing options for a major smelter renewal and a mine expansion while it sets out to build the West Musgrave mine that it acquired with its $6.4 billion takeover of Oz Minerals.

One option for BHP could be for it to delay West Musgrave until the market recovers, said Barrenjoey analyst Glyn Lawcock.

"Clearly right now nickel is challenged," he said. "(But) I think to write nickel off today for forever is a big call."

Even with the growing use of LFP batteries, they won't capture 100% of the market. As consumers go for cheaper cars, governments could mandate greener sourcing policies, he noted.

"It's going to be a big decision point for BHP this year," Lawcock said.

(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Sonali Paul)
(Bloomberg) -- Artificial intelligence startup Anthropic is working on a feature that would give its chatbot Claude the ability to analyze images, according to unpublished wording contained in the code of the companys website. The tool could widen the products appeal to users and help the company catch up with larger competitors.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Major AI chatbots like Googles Bard and OpenAIs ChatGPT are already equipped with the ability to scrutinize images. The technology enables the programs to perform tasks like identifying the breed of a dog in a photo, comparing two pictures of T-shirts or describing a piece of art.

Anthropic has not publicly discussed the new feature, but a Bloomberg review of wording contained in the code of the companys website using Chrome developer tools, shows text related to image recognition. Some of the as-yet unpublished text offers tips for using image analysis. It invites people to chat with Claude about images and ask image related questions. The wording also suggests users give the chatbot prompts such as: Tell me 3 other buildings by this architect, Write 5 versions of ad copy for this product, and, What economic predictions are in this chart?

An Anthropic spokesperson declined to comment.

Currently, the Claude chatbot only responds to text commands and can only parse text-based documents. Its website suggests asking the program to perform a handful of tasks such as, Summarize this PDF document and, Help me practice my Spanish vocab.

Anthropic was formed in 2021 by former employees of OpenAI, and has positioned itself as focused on responsible AI and safety. The San Francisco-based startup released Claude in 2023, and its customers range from drug maker Pfizer Inc. to video chat company Zoom Video Communications Inc. Last month, Anthropic was said to be in talks with investors to raise $750 million at a valuation of $18.4 billion.

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(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. will begin selling versions of its Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches without a blood oxygen feature in the US, following a legal setback in its patent dispute with Masimo Corp.

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The company said Wednesday that the tweaked models will go on sale Thursday at its retail outlets and online store. The new models will still include the blood oxygen monitoring tool, but it wont function.

Earlier in the day, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit declined to grant Apple a longer pause on an import ban of the devices imposed by the US International Trade Commission. The ruling means the company has to stop selling the watches with the oxygen measurement feature while an appeal of the ban plays out  a period that Apple believes could last a year or more.

That led Apple to take the unusual step of removing a key feature from its devices. Last week, the US Customs and Border Protection agency approved redesigned versions of the watches that didnt have the capability.

Pending the appeal, Apple is taking steps to comply with the ruling while ensuring customers have access to Apple Watch with limited disruption, the company said in a statement. Apples appeal is ongoing, and we believe the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit should reverse the USITCs decision. We strongly disagree with the USITC decision and resulting orders.

The company added that the feature remains available on models sold outside the US. Previously purchased watches also will retain the ability to check blood oxygen levels.

Masimo shares jumped 2.1% to $122.57 following the decision, reaching their highest level since August. Chief Executive Officer Joe Kiani said in a statement that the development is a victory for the integrity of the American patent system.

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Kiani added that the decision affirms that even the largest and most powerful companies must respect the intellectual rights of American inventors and must deal with the consequences when they are caught infringing others patents.

The court battle has threatened one of Apples biggest moneymakers in its home market, an unprecedented situation for the tech giant. The watches are a central piece of the companys wearables, home and accessories division, a business that generated more than 10% of revenue last year, or nearly $40 billion.

The ITC ruled in October that Apples latest watches violate patents related to blood oxygen measurement, an area known as pulse oximetry. That led Apple to pause sales of the smartwatches just ahead of Christmas, though an interim stay allowed the company to bring the products back late last month.

Read More: Apple Watch Saga Set in Motion by Late-Night Email to Cook

According to the ITC, the harm Apple said it would face from the ban is not unquantifiable, but rather speculative. Apple maintains that the ruling from the ITC is erroneous and should be reversed.

Masimo had urged the Federal Circuit to reject the request for an extended delay, arguing Apple had almost three years to anticipate a ban and cannot complain about the consequences of its own failure to prepare for exclusion.

Apple pushed back on the ITCs and Masimos arguments that its ability to continue selling the noninfringing Apple Watch SE means any reputational harm from the ban cant be truly irreparable.

It also criticized the product that the trade dispute was launched to protect, Masimos W1 watch, saying it didnt exist when Masimo filed its complaint, wasnt placed in the consumer channel and is sold only in negligible quantities well over two years after this investigation began on the false premise that Masimo had an established domestic industry.

The appeals court said in a brief order Wednesday, We reach no conclusion on the merits of the appeal. The panel said the temporary stay will expire at 5 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday.

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, added the blood oxygen sensor to its watches in 2020 with the Series 6. Masimo, a medical device company, sued Apple that year, alleging that the iPhone maker violated several of its health technology patents and stole its trade secrets.

The case is Apple Inc. v. ITC, 24-1285, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

--With assistance from Katrina Compoli.

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The leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong-un, called for the introduction of provisions on the territory of the DPRK into the country's constitution and to abandon the mention of the peaceful unification of the North and South, Azernews reports, the Korean Central Telegraph Agency.

The leader of the DPRK recalled that the Constitution of the Republic of Korea says that the entire Korean Peninsula belongs to its territory. "I have read the constitutions of a number of other countries, they give a clear political and geographical definition of the space where their sovereignty is exercised: the territory of the state, its territorial waters and airspace," the head of the People's Republic said.

"There are no such provisions in our constitution now. It is necessary to get rid of concepts that contradict reality about compatriots, the side of national reconciliation and unification in relation to the Republic of Korea, it is necessary to take legal steps to clearly define the territory where the sovereignty of the DPRK is exercised as an independent socialist country, as a country that has defined the Republic of Korea as another state, the most hostile to itself," he added.

"I think it is necessary to exclude expressions such as "the northern part of [the country]", "independent and peaceful unification, unity of the people" from the constitution. Along with the constitutional amendments, it is necessary to pursue a practical policy to abandon the symbolic remnants of the past era in the form of [concepts] of "North and South Korea with relations of compatriots", "peaceful unification," Kim Jong-un noted.
Andrej Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty Images

Apple stock fell after a Supreme Court ruling that could cost the company billions of dollars a year in revenue.

Justices rejected Apple's appeal of lower-court rulings over unfair competition in the app store.

Shares were also under pressure after Apple cut iPhone prices in China, raising demand fears.

Shares of Apple fell about 2% on Tuesday following a Supreme Court ruling that could wind up costing the company billions of dollars a year in revenue from its app store.

Justices dismissed Apple's appeal in an antitrust suit that takes aim at the company's lucrative app-store fees.

A lower court had ruled earlier that some of the iPhone maker's rules within its app store constitute unfair competition. But with the Supreme Court's Tuesday decision, app developers will now be allowed to offer alternative payment options for iPhone users that could help them avoid paying Apple's commissions.

Apple collects commissions of 15% to 30% for digital goods and subscriptions. According to a Bloomberg report citing Sensor Tower data, in-app spending could reach $182 billion in 2024, and climb to $207 billion in 2025.

Last year, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals found that Apple violated California's Unfair Competition Law in limiting developers' ability to present alternative payment methods.

Epic Games had first filed the antitrust lawsuit, marking the first challenge Apple's highly profitable app store set-up. Epic attempted to avoid paying Apple commissions by getting its app on Apple's platform in a different way.

In Epic's case, the court had found Apple can't prevent app owners from informing customers of alternative payment methods outside of Apple's ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Apple stock was also under pressure Tuesday after the company began offering rare discounts on its latest iPhone in China, raising fears about weakening demand.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Residents of Arizona are the second most likely in the U.S. to start a small business in the new year, according to The Small Business Blog.

A study conducted by The Small Business Blog revealed that Arizona residents are the second most likely to start a small business in 2024. The study found that there were, on average, 357 searches per 10,000 people related to small businesses in the state every month. The top-searched terms included "side hustle," "small business owner," and "side hustles from home."

The general population searched topics related to small businesses, on average, a total of 26,305 times per month.

The cost of living across America has risen drastically and it has become necessary for many households to seek additional sources of income whether this be in the form of a side hustle or a fully-fledged small business," stated the Small Business Blog.

The study conducted by the Small Business Blog utilized search data from Google Keyword Planner for over 100 terms related to "side hustle and small business." The researchers then analyzed this data, considering the average number of monthly searches per 10,000 residents, to determine which states had the highest search volumes.

Beating out Arizona in the top spot was Utah which had 365 searches per 10,000 residents.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona residents 2nd most likely to start a small business in 2024
A Redbox+ Dumpsters waste container, with an attached booth containing two portable toilets, sits at a residential jobsite in this undated photo. Augusta's Ellefson Transportation Group recently opened Georgia's fourth location for Redbox+.

Brothers who run a successful Augusta-based transportation and storage company are branching out with a different kind of dumpster-rental business.

Brian and Nyles Ellefson of Ellefson Transportation Group have opened the fourth Georgia location of Redbox+ Dumpsters, a company founded in 2006 that patented dumpsters equipped with two portable toilets.

The waste containers, available in three sizes, are designed for use on construction and home renovation sites. The idea is to save time and money  to provide a quickly accessible place for workers to discreetly excuse themselves without disrupting jobsite efficiency; imposing on property owners for bathroom breaks; or, requiring separate toilet rentals.

Since we would like to pass off the reins of ETG to our kids and grandkids one day, we wanted to go into business with a brand that has established itself within a high-demand industry, said Larry Ellefson, ETGs chief executive officer. Nyles is ETGs chief operating officer.

Grand openings: Augusta area welcomed new businesses, new locations in 2023

The multigeneration family business was established in Augusta in 1967, after Mervin Ellefson and his son Don spent several years in Charleston, S.C., learning the ins and outs of the trucking business as drivers for Greyhound Van Lines.

In 1977 the family founded A1 Bestway and became an agent for Global Van Lines. The business expanded in 1992 with the founding of Augusta Data Storage, a document management company that serves companies and groups that are bound by government regulations requiring which records should be stored and how. When ETG broke ground in 2016 for a new 26,000-square-foot data storage facility, ADS accounted for about 40% of ETGs revenue.

ETG has created or acquired several other subsidiaries that address aspects of the moving, records management and data storage industries. One such company, called Cool It!, specializes in portable refrigerated storage, and ETG opened an Augusta location in 2020.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Rented trash dumpsters include portable toilets at new Augusta shop
(Bloomberg) -- Australia will consider introducing mandatory guardrails on the development of artificial intelligence as the government attempts to balance the productivity benefits of the new technology with potential fallout including the dissemination of disinformation.

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Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic announced Wednesday plans to create a panel of experts to weigh options for restrictions on AI use and research. Among other regulations being considered are a voluntary safety standard for low-risk applications and watermarks for AI-created content.

We do need to be able to have those mandatory guardrails that say these are the red lines you cannot cross, Husic said at a press conference in Canberra. In his interim response to the review, the minister said the government had heard loud and clear that Australians want stronger guardrails to manage higher-risk AI.

The government said it was clear from the review that voluntary restrictions on the development of AI were insufficient, with potential inaccuracies, biases and a lack of transparency among the risks flagged during the consultation.

Husic said work will begin on the AI regulations straight away but declined to commit to the full suite of legislation being in place by years end.

Across the world, the technology is seen as a driver of productivity and can benefit societies while also posing risks, including potentially aiding the spread of disinformation. In Australia, adopting AI and automation had been estimated to add as much as A$600 billion ($397 billion) a year to economic output by 2030.

Australia said its goal is to limit the dangers of high-risk applications of AI while allowing the development of useful, low-risk settings to flourish, according to the interim response.

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While the government didnt elaborate on what high-risk might include, Husic defined it as anything that affects the safety of peoples lives, or someones future prospects in work or with the law in an interview with local media published on Sunday.

The Australian government began a review into the safe and responsible use of AI in June 2023, and decided to extend the response period after receiving more than 500 submissions from interested parties.

Australia was one of 27 countries that signed the Bletchley Declaration in the UK in November, following the international AI Safety Summit, which committed to a global collaboration on AI testing.

Its part of a growing move by countries and regions around the world, particularly the EU, US, China and the UK, to set the ball rolling on speedily drawing up AI regulation. But those approaches are just the beginning and will be tested on legal enforcement from this year onwards.

--With assistance from Saritha Rai.

(Updates with ministers comments at press conference.)

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By Alasdair Pal

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will set up an advisory body to mitigate against the risks of artificial intelligence, the government said on Wednesday, becoming the latest country to increase its oversight of the technology.

The government also said it planned to work with industry bodies to introduce a range of guidelines, including encouraging technology companies to label and watermark content generated by AI.

Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic said AI was forecast to grow the economy, but its use in business was patchy.

"There's also a trust issue around the technology itself and that low trust is becoming a handbrake against the uptake of technology and that's something we've got to confront," he told reporters.

Australia established the world's first eSafety Commissioner in 2015, but has lagged some other nations in the regulation of AI.

The initial guidelines will be voluntary, in contrast to other jurisdictions including the European Union, whose rules on AI for technology companies are mandatory.

Australia opened a consultation into AI last year that received more than 500 responses.

In its interim response, the government said it wanted to distinguish between what it called "low risk" uses of AI like filtering spam emails and "high risk" examples such as the creation of manipulated content, also known as "deep fakes".

The government plans to release a full response to the consultation later this year.

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Jamie Freed)
B2B Prime Digital MENA has been granted an "Initial Approval" for licensing from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). (Graphic: Business Wire)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, January 17, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--B2Prime Group, a leading liquidity provider, is proud to announce that B2B Prime Digital MENA has been granted an "Initial Approval" for licensing from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). Licensing remains subject to fulfilment of pre-operating conditions and qualifying for operational approval by VARA.

This milestone signifies the granting of Initial approvals from VARA for licenses covering activities of "Virtual Asset Exchange Services," "Virtual Asset Broker Dealer Services," and "Virtual Asset Transfer and Settlement Services".

What Does VARA's Initial Approval Mean?

It's an essential milestone in our pursuit of a complete Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) License and will allow us to move forward in the licensing process as we look to offer comprehensive Exchange, Broker Dealer and Transfer and Settlement virtual asset services and related activities in the region in the future.

Mrs Eugenia Mykuliak, Founder of B2Prime, expressed her gratitude for this achievement, stating, "We are excited to contribute to the growth of Dubai's ever growing Virtual assets ecosystem."

Setting the Stage for Comprehensive Virtual Asset Services

This initial approval allows B2B Prime Digital MENA to move forward in the licensing process before eventually offering virtual asset services under the VASP License for Transfer & Settlement, Broker-Dealer and Exchange which, of course, remains subject to operational approval by VARA.

"We are extremely proud and grateful to have received initial approval from VARA, which is a testament to our determination to maintain the highest standards in regulatory compliance," said Mr Arthur Azizov, Co-Founder of B2B Prime Digital MENA. "We've built a powerful ecosystem that not only meets but exceeds the industry's standards, guaranteeing a safe and efficient gateway to virtual assets for users. We are ready to move forward in the licensing process in our bid to offer secure and streamlined access to virtual assets, strictly adhering to VARA's guidelines."

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While this initial approval is a milestone achievement, B2B Prime Digital MENA continues to work towards obtaining VARAs highly acclaimed Virtual Asset Service Provider license.

"The receipt of the Initial Approval for all three licenses, particularly the Transfer and Settlement License, was eagerly awaited and has brought immense joy to our entire team. This achievement has undoubtedly inspired us to pour our absolute best towards securing the Virtual Asset Service Provider license", stated Adriana Paredes Herrera, CEO of B2B Prime Digital MENA.

This progress is essential for the company to fully operate within the Emirate of Dubai and introduce its innovative products and solutions to the market.

Strategic Insights

Presently, theres a growing demand in the market for a reliable provider of crypto Prime of Prime brokerage services, with a special focus on the spot digital assets sector.

Our initial strategic goal will be to provide access to the widest selection of assets in the industry and deliver trading conditions that meet the needs of both retail and institutional clients, all through our own advanced platform.

About B2Prime

B2Prime Group, a Prime of Prime Multi-Asset Liquidity Provider, serves institutional and professional clients globally. Licensed in Cyprus and Mauritius, it is renowned for its compliance, reliability, and expertise across Forex, Crypto CFDs, and other markets.

B2Prime offers advanced aggregation software, ultra-low latency connectivity, and institutional-grade hosting. Its diverse client base spans exchanges, brokers, hedge funds, and more. The group is committed to providing exceptional client service, 24/7 multilingual technical support, and dedicated relationship managers.

For more information, visit www.b2prime.com.

About VARA:

Established in March 2022, following the effect of Law No.4 of 2022, VARA is the competent entity in charge of regulating, supervising, and overseeing VAs and VA Activities in all zones across the Emirate of Dubai, including Special Development Zones and Free Zones but excluding the Dubai International Financial Centre. VARA plays a central role in creating Dubai's advanced legal framework to protect investors and establish international standards for Virtual Asset industry governance, while supporting the vision for a borderless economy.

For more information visit: www.vara.ae

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117827518/en/

Contacts

info@b2prime.com

+230 46 555 26

+357 25 582 192
In this podcast, Motley Fool analyst Jason Moser and host Dylan Lewis discuss:

The SEC's pending decision on crypto spot ETFs and the agency's X account getting hacked. This podcast was recorded before the SEC approved Bitcoin-tracking ETFs.

Potential regulations coming for the gig economy and workers that are heavily reliant on companies like Uber , Lyft , and DoorDash .

An early earnings look for Intuitive Surgical, and why surgery activity has normalized as the pandemic has waned.

Burford Capital CEO Chris Bogart walks Motley Fool analyst Rich Griefner through the world of legal financing, his company's competitive advantages, and a high-stakes case with Argentina.

To catch full episodes of all The Motley Fool's free podcasts, check out our podcast center. To get started investing, check out our quick-start guide to investing in stocks. A full transcript follows the video.

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This video was recorded on January 10, 2024.

Dylan Lewis: We're talking rules, rules, rules, Motley Fool Money starts now. I'm Dylan Lewis and I'm joined in the studio by Motley Fool analyst Jason Moser. Jason, thanks for joining me.

Jason Moser: Happy to be here.

Dylan Lewis: We've got a med tech company near all-time highs a conversation with a business that fits into the intersection of the legal system and financing. But Jason, we are kicking off today with rules and regulations. Today is the SEC deadline to weigh in on one of several applications for a Bitcoin spot ETF. But the drama started a little early on this one. We had some interesting news yesterday about this.

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Jason Moser: Yes, we did.

Dylan Lewis: It's funny like I've always say anything, at least in my mind it's hackable. I guess that's one of the arguments for crypto or Bitcoin is like it's this clear ledger and it's unhackable or the fraud obviously is not the same. I'm not a problem. But clearly somebody got hacked here in regard to this announcement. I wonder if that isn't just a foreshadowing of what could eventually come here. But yeah, it seems like the SEC is meeting to figure out whether they want to go ahead and approve the spot Bitcoin ETF structure. I think that they're going to do that, but you've got EXE saying one thing, you've got the SEC saying another, somebody got hacked somewhere and somehow this got out there and I don't know how it happened, but here we are. It does seem to me though, that this is likely something that will be approved and really as a crypto skeptic, I'm not a crypto guy, not that there's anything wrong with crypto if that's your thing, that's cool, whatever.

Don't at me on this one. But it is something where I think this type of structure, these spotty TFs, could bring transparency to an industry that really does need it. I think approval of this will ultimately be a good thing and could make it maybe a bit more of a legitimate and understandable market for more investors. Yeah, if you are looking for official word on this, what we saw from the SEC on EXE yesterday, not actually from the SEC. [laughs]. Their account was compromised. We will wait for the agency to officially weigh in and we should have word today. Unfortunately, we're taping a little bit early in the day so we won't have their answer as we're having this conversation. But I look at this Jason and I don't necessarily have a horse in the race when it comes to crypto as obviously it's good for adoption if you're a bull on the crypto space and even if you're not necessarily a crypto bull, I look at this and I say if you are someone who is a fan of investors generally having more protection. Generally having more safeguards with where they're put the money. Probably a good thing too.

Jason Moser: Yeah, I think you're right, I agree there. Like I said, it's not something I'm terribly interested in. But from the perspective of bringing more transparency, more accessibility, I think that's a good thing. Because when you look at crypto now, I mean in general, you have to kind of jump through some hoops to be a crypto investor. But it's becoming easier. I mean, I think the idea behind this right now is though that, for your every day investor who's looking maybe to invest in a digital currency via their traditional brokerage. I mean, your options are limited. You're going through ultimately a futures based Bitcoin ETF, for example, which is ultimately utilizing derivative contracts to come up that pricing. It's just added layers of complexity and ultimately, I guess it's just not as transparent as it could be. That's what we're hoping this decision could do, is ultimately bring more transparency to an industry that definitely needs it.

Dylan Lewis: As I mentioned, we're taping before the SEC's decision. We won't know for sure where this one's heading. But I will add the take that I think I always add when we see an incident like this where regardless of the business or the security or whatever in the mix when it comes to a hack, basically an advertisement for identity management and cybersecurity companies.

Jason Moser: Oh man, I mean, it just cybersecurity these days. It is such a hard space. I mean, that's probably a whole another show we could do just talking about that. Because it is just this ever evolving threat that's never going to go away. I mean, you look at investing in something like cybersecurity, it can be really difficult because the companies that are doing really well today, they may be rendered obsolete tomorrow and so honestly, when I look at investing in something like a cybersecurity, I would probably opt for something like an ETF that gives you broad exposure to a number of the companies that are helping shape in advance the space.

Dylan Lewis: We're going to stick with the government theme here. The Biden Administration is set to unveil some new rules affecting independent contractors and gig economy businesses. Jason, we're still waiting on full details for this, but the broad stroke that I'm seeing is if contractors are economically dependent on a company, they will likely be entitled to more benefits and legal protections from that business. Of course, as soon as you hear some of the elements of this and the themes here, head immediately goes to the gig economy, businesses, the Ubers, the Lifts, the DoorDashes of the world. What's the impact for a company like that?

Jason Moser: Well, I think for sure the one guarantee from this is the lawyers are going to win. But because the decision that's made, it's going to go through the court system and ultimately that's probably going to take some time. This is an interesting one. I looked to Uber as sort of the easy example to go by here and how this could impact a business because, I recommended Uber in one of my services back in June of 2022. The stock is up 150% since then, and one of the biggest risks at that time was that California Proposition 22, which essentially was this. I mean, this was just this and that. In a nutshell, I would be interested to know from the worker himself, like, would you rather be a contractor or would you rather be a full time employee? My guess is that it's going to vary. Some love the flexibility, some would love the certainty. I'm not sure ultimately how this ends up. I think regardless, for companies, it is something that if they're required to maintain these employees as full time employees and not contractors, and that pushes those costs up. Well, consumers are going to see that at higher prices, I mean, your Uber bill is going to go up, your Lift Bill is going to go up, your door dash bill is going to go up. Then I look to the companies that can navigate these waters most effectively. I think that's where scale, I think that's where size really matters. You look at it like a company like Uber. I mean, because ultimately it's not something that's specific to, Uber is specific to any business that wants to employ this business model and so you have to look to the biggest and the strongest as the companies to be able to manage those waters most effectively. If it does end up pushing costs up, then likely they'll pass at least some of that on to consumers.

Dylan Lewis: You just mentioned before that this has been the existential risk the entire time for companies that are operating in this space. I look at this and I think you're right. I think the big companies continue succeed and do very well. I also think we've started to experience the convenience of this style of business.

Jason Moser: Yeah.

Dylan Lewis: I don't know that higher costs are necessarily going to move consumers away from it.

Jason Moser: I don't think they will. I think a time ago it would it would have played more into the calculus. But I think that what we've seen over the last decade plus, and really I hold Amazon primarily responsible for this. I'm not complaining because, listen, I love Amazon and the convenience that all of these companies offer us today. But they have done a tremendous job in helping us value things a little bit differently. It's not just about the lowest prices anymore. I mean, convenience matters, time matters, and they've really hooked us on the convenience that a lot of their business models offer us, whether it's having something delivered to us or delivering us somewhere.

Jason Moser: They got in, I think early on, built up those user bases lift to a lesser extent. I think we've seen Uber rise above Lyft in that regard. But they've done a very good job of getting us hooked to the convenience. Like we were talking about pre-production, now this is wired behavior. That's that value. When you become a verb and I need to Uber something or I need to Netflix something, there's a lot of power that comes with that, pricing power included. I think it makes us focus a little bit less on the pricing and appreciate more the convenience that these models are offering us.

Jason Moser: We're going to wrap up our news round up with a little bit of an earnings talk. Last week on the radio show we talked about how earnings season was ramping up. We don't have a full earnings picture from Intuitive Surgical yet, but we got some preliminary results this week. Strong market reaction to the results because they looked like a pretty strong indication of the quarter.

Jason Moser: What we're seeing is signs that things are getting back to a state of normal. Particularly for a business like intuitive. Intuitive being right there in hospitals, in medical facilities, those were places that really witnessed a lot of tumult here over the last few years because of everything that we went through with COVID. We saw procedures put on hold, unless it's some type of life saving procedure. But elective surgery really tanked. What we're seeing now, and we're seeing this certainly through the procedure growth, things are coming back around. Procedural growth for this quarter, up 21 percent from the same quarter a year ago. Procedures matter for a company like Intuitive Surgical. One of the beauties of this business model is having that big razor in the hospital. Having that big razor in the hospital. Then selling those instruments and those accessories, the consumables that you need to actually make those machines work. When procedures go up, well then the sale of those accessories and those instruments go up as well. They've been able to witness a little pricing power on those as well, which will help their margins, of course. As painful as it's been for them over the last several years, with procedure growth being so threatened, now we're starting to see things turn, procedural growth turning back around, which really has a number of ongoing positive effects for the business.

Dylan Lewis: I think as we tape shares up about 6% on these preliminary results, and it's an interesting time to check in on this business because we are hitting a little bit of a COVID normalization, it seems. But also because at its current valuation, we are getting close to all time highs for this business. Again, this has been a growth story and I think a very future forward story for a long time. Do you still see a lot of runway ahead of this business?

Jason Moser: I do. It is certainly a market that has become more competitive over the last several years as technology has proliferated and given other companies the opportunity to pursue this space. Their installed base is getting up there. This is something we are all in. They're closing in on 9,000 of the systems installed, whether it's Da Vinci or this new IonSystem that they have, that doesn't go on forever. Particularly when you consider the competition in this space and the stock is not conventionally cheap. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 plus times earnings right now, it garners that multiple because of it's top dog status in the space. I don't suspect that continues. We will see that growth start to slow down a little bit. We will see more competition enter into the fray there. I think naturally as time goes on, we'll see that valuation start to pull back down. Maybe at some point we start talking about intuitive like we talked about Apple making that transition from growth company to most aid dividend payer. Maybe we'll get to that point with Intuitive, but I don't think we're close to it yet.

Dylan Lewis: We'll check in certainly along the way. Jason Moser, thanks for joining me today.

Jason Moser: Thank you.

Dylan Lewis: Coming up. We don't talk about legal financing too much on the show because there's only one publicly traded company that does it. Motley Fool Senior analyst, Rich Greifner, caught up with Chris Bogart, CEO of Burford Capital in early December for a conversation about his company's competitive advantages in the space and a high stakes case with Argentina.

Rich Greifner: Let's start at the start. Can you give me Litigation Funding 101. What is it? What problem does it solve, and what role does Burford play in the process?

Chris Bogart: Absolutely. Litigation finance is basically specialty finance that looks at legal assets, claims, litigation matters, arbitrations. Looks at those things as financible assets. When you think about a business, companies often have valuable claims that they're bringing. Sometimes it's against other companies, sometimes it's in the context of a multi company thing that has gone wrong. For example, companies that have been victims of price fixing. Those claims have value. You can think of them effectively as being contingent receivables. Just like any other financial asset that has value, you can organize a financing package around the value of those assets, and that's exactly what we do. Now, why is that of interest to companies in particular? There are really two parts to that answer. One part is that spending operating cash, diverting operating cash from the purpose of your business and putting it into a collateral activity like litigation isn't the most value maximizing strategy for companies to engage in. For example, I used to be the general counsel of Time Warner, the media group. Time Warner had lots of money. It wasn't a question of Time Warner not being able to pay for litigation if it wanted to bring it, but every dollar that we spent on litigation was a dollar that we didn't spend making television or movies, or publishing magazines.

Ultimately, it's that core business, the business of publishing and making movies that investors want us to be engaged in, that's the business on which you get multiple on your profits. Whereas being really good at collateral litigation doesn't get rewarded by investors and doesn't contribute to your market value in the same way. If you can get an alternative to paying your own operating cash for these collateral activities, whether it's litigation or something else that businesses do, that's a value. We help businesses take those costs off their PNL. We help them keep their operating cash to be devoted to the things that the core business are doing. So that's Part 1. Part 2 is especially in the world that we're in today where there is more and more litigation and that litigation can often be quite high value. These claims really do have significant future potential value. As a result, they are assets that businesses can obtain financing against today. Not only just to pay the costs of those cases, but also to generate today cash that businesses can turn around and use in their operating businesses. We do that as well. We effectively monetize the future expected value of litigation today, and we give businesses cash against those values so that they can go and grow and hire employees and increase their profitability.

Rich Greifner: Thank you for that overview. That explains why litigation finance, legal finance is beneficial to the corporation. How about from the law firm side? You also provide a benefit to the law firms.

Chris Bogart: We do because ultimately most of the law firms that we work with are law firms that have an hourly fee business model. They charge clients for their time, and law firms don't really have access to the capital markets. As you know, you can't go and buy stock in a US law firm. It's not permitted for you to do that. What that means from the law firm perspective is the only way for law firms to get capital into their business is by borrowing it from the bank. They would prefer not to do that. They would prefer another more sophisticated financial party like us to be in the market intermediating that capital. They would just like to do the business of law. They're happy to have us accommodate the desires of companies for alternative fee arrangements while at the same time not having to go and become financial institutions themselves. By the way, the investor side of that coin is that investors don't have very many good ways of getting exposure to the legal industry, and the legal industry is absolutely enormous. Globally, it's roughly the same size as the pharma industry.

Chris Bogart: But as an investor, there are very few ways that you can go and get direct exposure to what's going on in that large and profitable industry and Buford is one of those ways.

Rich Greifner: Buford, co founded in 2009, and the company has generated very consistently high returns on invested capital since that time and that suggests that you guys benefit from strong and sustainable competitive advantages. The company likes to call out four sources of competitive advantage. Your scale, your brand, your expertise, and your data. I was hoping we could just quickly touch on each of those four categories so let's start with scale. Why is scale so important in this industry?

Chris Bogart: Scale is important, but all of those advantages really link together and create a pretty substantial mote for Buford. Buford is the industry leader by a very significant margin, both in terms of pure scale. In other words, the number of dollars of capital that we put out. We're sitting today with a portfolio that's north of $7 billion in size. We have more than 150 people spread around the world who do this work, many of whom are experienced former lawyers and what that does, you mentioned Goldman Sachs at the beginning of this conversation. When you look at Goldman or a Blackstone or KKR or Morgan Stanley, those firms get a certain amount of business simply because of their size, scale, and presence and we benefit from that as well. We're the known quantity in the legal industry. You'd be hard pressed today to find a partner at a major law firm who doesn't know about us and doesn't know that our capital and our services are available for their clients. Those are the competitive advantages that we've built over the last 15 years and they also lead to data. Data is a very significant competitive advantage for us that comes out of a combination of scale and longevity.

The reason the data is important is because litigation is inherently risky. In any piece of litigation, there is idiosyncratic risk of a court, a judge, a jury not agreeing with your position and going in the opposite direction. When that happens, you have a loss in the case and when we have a loss in the case we lose our capital. Trying to make the best quality investment decision that we possibly can is a significant part of what we do here and one of the things about litigation, of course, is that a fair bit of litigation resolves by settlement, by negotiated between parties instead of buy a case going all the way to trial. Settlements are usually confidential and so as a result, it's relatively hard just based on public data for you to get a good data set from which to make high quality investment and analytical decisions. What we have is the benefit now because again, of our scale and longevity, the largest data set in the industry, which lets us apply significant quantitative rigor to our investment process and to make use of that data to improve our performance. We're now down, for example, to a loss rate across our portfolio of only about 9% which is very low when you think of litigation being brought in large dollar cases where those cases are often pretty evenly matched.

Rich Greifner: For folks who aren't familiar with this industry. You mentioned this a bit. The majority of cases will settle, so about 70% of your cases settle an when a case settles, Buford typically earns attractive returns with no real litigation risk. About 8% of your cases go to trial and Buford loses and in that event, it's a near complete loss of capital. But there's about 21% of your cases that go to trial and Buford prevails and that is where the real money comes in. There you're looking to earn multi bugger returns on your initial investment. That's just an asymmetric characteristic of the industry.

Chris Bogart: That's exactly right, and it's just common sense when you think about it. Litigation is inherently risky and so if you have a $10 million claim, you're not going to spend $10 million in legal fees to fight that claim. You're going to spend $10 million in legal fees only if you can get to $100 million in claim value. When we lose cases, yes, it's unpleasant to lose, but we're only losing the invested capital that we put into them. The $10 million in that example, when we win, we're capable of winning the entire claim. The $100 million in that example and the settlements fill in the middle range, because settlements are an inherently outcome, because they're negotiated with the other side.

Rich Greifner: Yeah. The best example that we can provide of a big outlier success is your YPF case. Ordinarily, Buford doesn't reveal much information about the cases in which it invests. But this is so public and so material to your results that you guys have discussed this quite a bit. I'm hoping, can we just do a one minute overview? What is the YPF case? What's the brief history of it? Where do we stand now and what's next?

Chris Bogart: YPF is a publicly traded energy company that's owned by the Argentine government. It was privatized a number of years ago. Argentina then renationalized and as it renationalized, breached its promises to shareholders to tender for their stock and YPF. As a result of that, large holders in the stock suffered financial distress because the share price collapsed. In particular, the Peterson clients went bankrupt and we were appointed by the Spanish Bankruptcy Court to try to get relief for their credit. In doing so, we brought a case on behalf of those creditors in federal court in New York. That case has gone all the way through the trial process and ultimately produced a final judgment that is now on appeal. That final judgment in the trial court was for a little bit over $16 billion. The reason that number is so high is simply because YPF was worth a lot and there is a formula for calculating that tender offer price that Argentina simply didn't pay. All the court did, ultimately, was find that both Argentina was liable and the court used the formula to calculate the tender offer price.

Rich Greifner: Okay. You guys have been working on this case for eight or nine years now. You mentioned Argentina is found liable for about $16 billion in damages. Of that amount, Buford is owed a bit more than 6 billion, which is more than double the company's market cap. The market is obviously skeptical about your ability to actually collect cash from Argentina. I know you probably don't want to say too much here, but is there anything you could share that might give us some insight into your ability to enforce that judgment against Argentina?

Chris Bogart: Well, I think it's not so much a question of enforcing the judgment, but we do a lot of judgment enforcement around the world and one of the characteristics of enforcing judgments is that that is a process that inherently in discounts, the face value of those judgments. Even though you've got a judgment sitting there for $16 billion ultimately you'd expect that judgment to be paid through a negotiated process with Argentina and that negotiation is going to result in a discount to that face value.

Rich Greifner: I don't know if you can comment on this or not. Argentina has got a new president. Is there anything you can say about how that might impact your ability to collect?

Chris Bogart: Well, we just to say it's obviously early days. The new president isn't even in office yet. But only to say that during the course of the presidential campaign, this judgment because of its size did come up and the government's position was Argentina needs to take care of its doubts.

Dylan Lewis: As always, people on the program may own stocks mentioned and the motley fool may have formal recommendations for or against, so don't buyer selling thing based solely on what you hear. I'm Dylan Lewis. Thanks for listening. We'll be back tomorrow.

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Dylan Lewis has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Jason Moser has positions in Amazon. Rich Greifner has positions in Burford Capital. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Bitcoin, Blackstone, Burford Capital, DoorDash, Goldman Sachs Group, Intuitive Surgical, KKR, Netflix, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Bitcoin ETFs, the Gig Economy, and Robotic Surgery was originally published by The Motley Fool
Born to be king: Elon Musk's sister says her family is 'different' from others due to this 1 specific trait  and it even led Elon to becoming the world's second richest man. Do you have it?

They say your genes can hold you back, but can they actually take you to the moon (and back)?

Thats what Elon Musks sister, Tosca Musk, believes. In a 2012 Esquire profile of the Tesla founder, his sister admits that she wasnt surprised that a business star came out of their family.

Dont miss

Without sounding patronizing, it does seem that our family is different from other people, Tosca says. We risk more.

The Musks may be different from everyone else, but there are still ways to build your own wealth by adopting their confident and ambitious approach  heres how.

The Musk family history

Elon Musk is hardly the first person in his family to achieve greatness.

The Esquire piece lists the achievements of just a few of his ambitious ancestors: Elons grandfather won a 6,000-mile motor race from Cape Town to Algiers  running from the bottom of Africa to the top. His great-grandmother was the first female chiropractor in Canada. His grandparents were the first people to fly in a single-engine plane from South Africa to Australia.

But even in such an accomplished family, it was obvious that Elon was above-and-beyond any other Musk.

I have two brilliant children, but Elon's a genius, his mother, Maye Musk (an accomplished fashion model herself), told Esquire. "I can explain Tosca and [Elon's brother] Kimbal pretty well. I can't explain Elon."

In his 52 years on Earth (and soon, possibly Mars and/or the moon), Elon has sold two businesses for millions and billions of dollars, built up Tesla and SpaceX, as well as acquired X, formerly Twitter. And, no big deal, hes the second-richest person in the world with a $180 billion net worth, according to Forbes.

Story continues

Even in a family of greats, Elon Musk manages to stand out.

Read more: Retire richer  why people who work with a financial advisor retire with an extra $1.3 million

Unlocking your own greatness

While you might not have the same type of safety net Musk children can expect to fall back on, there are still ways to ratchet up the risk in your life. If you're not the entrepreneur type like Elon, some savvy investing can be a simple way to introduce risk you're comfortable with  and hopefully, returns you're even more comfortable with.

For those who usually invest in conservative funds, you dont need to become like Elon overnight by throwing all your money into meme stocks and crypto. But you can find slightly more risky investments that could pay off big without costing you too much stress.

Depending on how much risk you want to take on, there are endless options for investing. For some investors, adding some choice alternative investments to their portfolio might satisfy their daredevil urges.

For others, penny stocks will hit the spot. These stocks usually cost under $5 per share because the company is new or has lost value over time, due to a scandal or poor performance. With penny stocks, you stand the chance to win big  and quickly  if the company turns itself around, or gets taken over. The risk, of course, is that the stock will continue to plummet and youll lose your investment.

Another relatively risky option is Initial Public Offering (IPO) investments. This is when a company makes its debut on a stock exchange, transforming it from a private company to a public one. If you time it right, these stocks can be very lucrative. But, time it wrong, and you can end up paying a lot more per share and even lose your initial investment.

Whatever route you choose, keep in mind that not every risky investment pans out. Even Elon himself has certainly made a few missteps over his career. With investing, theres no sure bet  you just have to make sure you can afford to fail.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Mr Auchincloss will earn a salary of 1.45m as well as being entitled to bonuses and cash in lieu of a pension - Ryan Lim/AFP

Murray Auchincloss has been named the new chief of BP as the oil giant seeks to move on from the scandal surrounding the exit of former boss Bernard Looney.

The Canadian has been serving as BPs interim chief since September following the shock exit of Mr Looney. BPs board confirmed Mr Auchinclosss permanent appointment on Wednesday.

As chief executive, he will earn a salary of 1.45m as well as being entitled to bonuses and cash in lieu of a pension.

His predecessor was forced to resign after accepting that he had not been fully transparent about personal relationships with company colleagues.

Mr Looneys shock exit threw BPs strategy into doubt and sparked speculation that the company could be a takeover target, amid a raft of mega-mergers in the oil industry.

The scandal also led Mr Looney to forfeit 32m after the board concluded there had been serious misconduct. Irishman Mr Looney has since said he is proud of his record at BP.

Mr Auchincloss was formerly the companys finance chief. His elevation to the top job came at a time of crisis for BP. Mr Auchinclosss close working relationship with Mr Looney had fuelled speculation the board could seek to appoint an outsider to steady the ship.

His permanent appointment reinforces the view that the board wishes to double down on its existing strategy. After Mr Looneys departure, Mr Auchincloss told staff: Our strategy hasnt changed.

Mr Looneys resignation threw BPs strategy into doubt and sparked speculation that the company could be a takeover target - Hollie Adams/Bloomberg

Mr Looney pledged to cut oil and gas output and invest billions in greener energy projects, such as electric vehicle charging stations, sustainable aviation fuels, and hydrogen by the end of the decade. BP is the only major energy company to commit to firm cuts for oil and gas production.

Mr Auchincloss said on Wednesday: Our strategy does not change. Im convinced about the significant value we can create.

Now, more than ever, our focus must remain on delivery - operating safely and efficiently, executing with discipline, and always focusing on returns.

Story continues

BP chair Helge Lund said: Since September, BPs board has undertaken a thorough and highly competitive process to identify BPs next CEO, considering a number of high-calibre candidates in detail. The board is in complete agreement that Murray was the outstanding candidate and is the right leader for BP.

Many already know Murray well, and few know BP better than he does. His assured leadership, focus on performance and delivery, and deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the energy transition will serve BP well as we continue our disciplined transformation to an integrated energy company.

Mr Auchincloss, a chartered financial analyst from Canada, joined the US oil company Amoco in 1992. Amoco merged with BP six years later.

The 53-year-old is in a romantic relationship with a colleague in BPs crude oil trading business. However, BP has said that the relationship has been fully and appropriately disclosed within BP, including through his recruitment as CFO, a role he took up in 2020.

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.
Abbas Ganbay

Today marks the dispatch of 1500 patrols of the European Union Mission to Armenia's border regions. Azernews reports referring to the tweet on the X account of the EUMA mission.

It is noted that the mission is tasked with observing the situation on the ground and preparing a report.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, when asked about the increase in the number of civilian missions of the European Union, said that on December 11, 2023, the EU decided to expand from 138 to 209 and added:

"It is a neutral mission that operates exclusively on Armenian territory and has no executive function, the EU Council said in a statement. It is intended for two years to promote stability in Armenia's border regions and normalise relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The European Union Civilian Mission to Armenia (EUMA) started its work on February 20, 2023.
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian airline Gol said on Tuesday it is discussing how to reach a "consensual" restructuring with financial stakeholders, following a media report that it was mulling filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections in the United States.

Gol said in a statement it did not as of yet have a framework for how the restructuring would be implemented.

On Sunday, newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo said the company was considering filing for bankruptcy protection in the United States within the next month. The airline's shares are down about 9% this week following the report.

According to its statement, Gol stressed its commitment to raising funds to strengthen its cash position.

The company has been struggling with high debt and last month hired Seabury Capital to help establish a capital structure review that would address liability management, financial transactions and other measures to enhance its liquidity.

(Reporting by Andre Romani; Editing by Sarah Morland)
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Spanish utilities company Iberdrola is displayed on wind turbines at Mt. Oiz

By Pietro Lombardi

MADRID (Reuters) - Businesses are failing to tackle a shortage of green skills among workers, risking delays in the transition to a lower carbon economy, a report prepared with the participation of Spanish renewable energy giant Iberdrola shows.

As the world transitions away from fossil fuels, a global lack of skills is emerging as a major hurdle holding back the development of greener industries.

"The green transition is threatened by business leaders' failure to develop and source green skills," the Green Skills Outlook report by Economist Impact and Iberdrola says.

The report, which includes a survey of 1,000 business leaders, looks at nine countries, including the United States, China, Britain and Spain, focusing on the energy, technology, infrastructure, transport and logistics sectors.

It defines green skills as "the knowledge, competencies, values and attributes needed to develop and support a sustainable, low-carbon and resource-efficient society", be it via technical skills, such as installing solar panels, or broader practices like corporate sustainability reporting.

While a vast majority of business leaders surveyed see skills as the main driver of the green transition, only 55% of them have put in place, or plan to, programmes for their workers to get these skills.

"This leaves a large fraction of the workforce without crucial skills training, which risks obstructing progress in the green transition," said the report.

Overall, 62% of respondents expect such bottlenecks to delay the transition, and many respondents want governments to pitch in with grants or tax relief for companies investing in green skill programmes, as well as funding for educational courses.

The research found a majority of businesses seeing more opportunities than challenges in the transition, expecting it to create more jobs than it will destroy.

Estimates by the International Energy Agency show that clean energy could create 30 million new jobs by 2030, while 13 million jobs are seen at risk in industries tied to fossil fuels.

"Skills and labour are the real key to transitioning to a greener economy and lowering carbon emissions," said Iberdrola Executive Chairman Ignacio Galan, whose firm has deployed a number of programmes for that purpose and teamed up with shipbuilder Navantia to help it diversify into offshore wind farms.

(Reporting by Pietro Lombardi Editing by Andrei Khalip and Mark Potter)
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Symrise fair value estimate is 105

With 97.22 share price, Symrise appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

The 108 analyst price target for SY1 is 2.7% more than our estimate of fair value

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Symrise AG (ETR:SY1) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

View our latest analysis for Symrise

What's The Estimated Valuation?

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. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 546.0m 531.0m 568.0m 672.0m 724.0m 759.7m 786.9m 807.7m 823.8m 836.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x10 Analyst x9 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 4.93% Est @ 3.59% Est @ 2.65% Est @ 1.99% Est @ 1.53% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 5.6% 517 476 482 540 551 548 538 523 505 485

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 5.2b

Story continues

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 0.5%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 5.6%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = 836m (1 + 0.5%)  (5.6% 0.5%) = 16b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 16b ( 1 + 5.6%)10= 9.5b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 15b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of 97.2, the company appears about fair value at a 7.3% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

XTRA:SY1 Discounted Cash Flow January 17th 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 Symrise 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 5.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.027. 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 Symrise

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Chemicals market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the German market.

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Symrise, we've put together three essential aspects you should assess:

Risks: Be aware that Symrise is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those doesn't sit too well with us... Future Earnings: How does SY1's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the XTRA every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

Tai Sin Electric's estimated fair value is S$0.36 based on Dividend Discount Model

Tai Sin Electric's S$0.39 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate

Tai Sin Electric's peers seem to be trading at a higher premium to fair value based onthe industry average of -1,790%

Does the January share price for Tai Sin Electric Limited (SGX:500) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's 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 want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for Tai Sin Electric

The Calculation

As Tai Sin Electric operates in the electrical sector, we need to calculate the intrinsic value slightly differently. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a company's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In this case we used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.0%). The expected dividend per share is then discounted to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.6%. Compared to the current share price of S$0.4, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. 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.

Story continues

Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate)

= S$0.02 / (8.6%  2.0%)

= S$0.4

SGX:500 Discounted Cash Flow January 17th 2024

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Tai Sin Electric 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 8.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.307. 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 Tai Sin Electric

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Electrical market.

Current share price is above our estimate of fair value.

Opportunity

Significant insider buying over the past 3 months.

Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine 500's earnings prospects.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for 500.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Tai Sin Electric, we've put together three pertinent aspects you should assess:

Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Tai Sin Electric . Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for 500's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. 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 Singaporean 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.
YCharts

Boeing has erased nearly $30 billion in market value since its 737-MAX 9 plane experienced a mid-air panel blowout.

The company has had to ground some of its 737-Max 9 planes pending an investigation by the FAA.

Boeing stock extended its 6-day decline to 18% on Tuesday following a downgrade by Wells Fargo.

Our Chart of the Day shows the performance of Boeing stock, which has declined considerably since a door-plug panel was blown out of its 737 MAX 9 jet during the middle of a flight earlier this month.

Boeing stock is down 18% since the mid-air emergency occurred on January 5, erasing $28 billion in market value.

The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded every single 737 MAX 9 jet that has a plug door similar to the one that blew out during the middle of the Alaska Airlines flight on January 5.

Boeing is facing an investigation by the FAA on its quality control checks to determine if the company failed to ensure that its completed planes conformed to its approved designed.

Investor worries are growing that the grounding of the 737 MAX 9 jet could impact Boeing's delivery schedule of planes, with Wells Fargo downgrading the stock on Tuesday to "Equalweight" from "Overweight" for that very reason.

"Boeing has struggled with quality issues for some time; what's new is an outside party taking a closer look," Wells Fargo analyst Matthew Akers said. Akers said that while the FAA's investigation is limited to the 737 MAX 9 jet, "it's feasible that findings could expand the scope to other MAX models sharing common parts."

The bank cuts its price target on Boeing to $225 from $280. Boeing stock traded at $203.25 on Tuesday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Key Insights

Givaudan's estimated fair value is CHF2,724 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Givaudan is estimated to be 25% overvalued based on current share price of CHF3,402

The CHF3,232 analyst price target for GIVN is 19% more than our estimate of fair value

Does the January share price for Givaudan SA (VTX:GIVN) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Givaudan

The Model

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (CHF, Millions) CHF1.07b CHF1.10b CHF994.3m CHF1.16b CHF1.24b CHF1.28b CHF1.31b CHF1.34b CHF1.35b CHF1.37b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x11 Analyst x9 Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Est @ 3.55% Est @ 2.51% Est @ 1.78% Est @ 1.27% Est @ 0.91% Present Value (CHF, Millions) Discounted @ 5.2% CHF1.0k CHF996 CHF853 CHF945 CHF959 CHF943 CHF919 CHF889 CHF855 CHF820

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CHF9.2b

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 (0.08%) 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 5.2%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = CHF1.4b (1 + 0.08%)  (5.2% 0.08%) = CHF27b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CHF27b ( 1 + 5.2%)10= CHF16b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is CHF25b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of CHF3.4k, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. 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.

SWX:GIVN Discounted Cash Flow January 17th 2024

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Givaudan 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 5.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.030. 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 Givaudan

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Chemicals market.

Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Swiss market.

Threat

Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the Swiss market.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Can we work out why the company is trading at a premium to intrinsic value? For Givaudan, there are three further items you should consider:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Givaudan that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does GIVN'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 Swiss 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.
By Ali Kur?at Buyukada

Turkiye's space age is beginning. The first Turkish astronaut, Alper Gezeravc?, is going on a 14-day space journey tonight. The launch, which will take place at 01.11 tonight, will be made in the US state of Florida.

Within the scope of the first manned space mission of the National Space Program, the historical 14-day journey of the first Turkish astronaut, Alper Gezeravc?, will begin on the night between January 17 and January 18. The Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew, including Turkiye's first space traveller, Alper Gezeravc?, will head towards the International Space Station (ISS). The launch from Florida will take place on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 01.11 Turkiye time. Docking with the International Space Station (ISS) will take place on January 19 at 13.15. With this step, the first manned space mission of the National Space Program, which Turkiye announced in 2021, will reach its goal.

13 science experiments will be done

Candidates completed their training in the USA, Japan, Germany, and Turkiye. In addition, 13 science experiments to be carried out on the International Space Station (ISS) have been identified. These experiments will be carried out in microgravity and space environments in the fields of human genetics, human health, biology, material science, production technologies, and basic sciences. Integration and adaptation studies of the experiments will be carried out in coordination with TUBITAK Space, Axiom Space, and NASA.

Moreover, there is a crew of four people for the 'Ax-3' mission that Axiom Space will send to the International Space Station (ISS). The people with whom Gezeravc? will take part in the Ax-3 flight will be mission leader Michael Lopez-Alegria representing the USA and Spain, pilot Walter Villadei from the Italian Air Force, and Swedish Marcus Wandt participating on behalf of the European Space Agency.

It will be watched live in the squares

Preparations were made in some cities, especially Istanbul and Ankara, to watch the launch ceremony. It can be watched from the planetariums in K?z?lay and Taksim starting at 23.00 tonight. In addition, the moments when the launch will be held with bated breath will be broadcast live in science centres in Turkiye. Children, young people, and elders who are curious about space will share this excitement in the centres. The ceremony can also be watched from Konya Science Centre, Bursa Gokmen Space Aviation Training Centre, Bilim Uskudar, Antalya Science Centre, Gaziantep Muzeyyen Erkul Science Centre, Aksaray Science Centre, Trabzon Ozdemir Bayraktar Science Centre, and Kayseri Science Centre.

It is expected that Vice President Cevdet Y?lmaz will also come to the planetarium, where collective excitement will be experienced. Space demonstrations will be held for 14 days in the planetarium, which will remain established during the Turkish astronaut's stay in space. In addition, on the day of the launch, experiment owners will come to the planetarium in Ankara and explain their experiments in space and their importance to space enthusiasts throughout the day.

Besides that, space travellers who will go on the Ax-3 space mission will also take with them some personal objects and objects that symbolise their country. In Gezeravc?'s suitcase, there will be photographs of his family members, especially his nephew, some objects belonging to Yoruk culture, and the Turkish flag given to them by President Erdo?an. Space traveller Alper Gezeravc?, who gave an interview to Yeni ?afak after being selected as a space traveller, said that the first thing he wanted to do in space was to wave the Turkish flag. Gezeravc? said, We do not take our flag into space. Our flag takes us to space. Therefore, the priority will be to show the presence of our flag there to the whole world. "We will raise our flag against Turkiye, take photos, and share our photo with the Turkish Space Agency," he said.
Wesley Hall, ICD.D. to accept the award at a special event on January 25 in Toronto

TORONTO , Jan. 17, 2024 /CNW/ - The Empire Club of Canada and their partners are pleased to announce Wes Hall, Founder and Executive Chairman of WeShall Investments, Kingsdale Advisors and BlackNorth Initiative, "Dragon" investor in Canada's Dragon's Den television series, and best-selling author, as the recipient of the 2023 Nation Builder of the Year Award.

Logo (CNW Group/Empire Club of Canada)

The event will take place at 11:30 am on January 25 at Arcadian Court in Toronto. The award ceremony will include Mr. Hall in conversation with Dahabo Ahmed-Omer, CEO, BlackNorth Initiative.

"The Nation Builder of the Year Award is not just a recognition; it is a celebration of individuals who embody the essence of true leadership, vision, and dedication to the betterment of our nation. As the 2023 recipient, Wes Hall reminds us that we can all contribute to building a stronger and more united Canada through innovation, inclusivity, and philanthropy." said Sal Rabbani, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Empire Club of Canada.

The Nation Builder of the Year award formalizes what The Empire Club of Canada has been doing since 1903  celebrating and providing a platform for people who are building our country and recognizing individuals or organizations who have made a positive, timely and lasting contribution to Canadian society and are inspiring role models for Canadians.

"This recognition humbles me deeply. Growing up in a tin shack in rural Jamaica, the idea of receiving such an honour was beyond my wildest dreams. This award is not just a personal triumph; it stands as a testament to the collaborative endeavours of every individual within the BlackNorth Initiative, the companies I lead, and the countless others dedicated to fostering positive societal change." Said Wes Hall, Founder and Executive Chairman of WeShall Investments.

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As the 2023 winner, Wes Hall joins a prestigious list of notable Canadians to receive the Nation Builder of the Year Award, including 2022 Recipient Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser and 2021 Recipient Perry Bellegarde, former Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, and human rights advocate.

For details and to register for the event, visit https://empireclubofcanada.com/event/2023-nation-builder-of-the-year-wes-hall/

About Wes Hall

Wes Hall is a renowned innovator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, widely recognized as one of Canada's most influential figures. As the founder and executive chairman of Kingsdale Advisors, he has earned accolades from prominent publications such as the Globe and Mail, Canadian Business, Toronto Life, and Maclean's. Additionally, Wes is the owner of QM Environmental, a leading environmental and industrial services provider, Titan Supply, a top manufacturer and distributor of rigging and wear products, and the luxurious Harbor Club hotel, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton in St. Lucia.

In 2020, Wes was appointed to the Ontario government's Capital Markets Modernization Task Force, where he played a pivotal role in modernizing the province's capital market regulations. Notably, he founded the BlackNorth Initiative (BNI) in June 2020, challenging Canadian businesses to confront and eradicate anti-Black systemic racism through a business-focused approach. Wes serves as the executive chair of BNI and chairman of the Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism.

Wes Hall is breaking barriers as the first Black Canadian Dragon on CBC's Dragons' Den, actively supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs. His generosity extends to numerous charitable initiatives, and he serves on the boards of the SickKids Foundation, Pathways to Education, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the Black Academy, and the board of governors of Huron University. His philanthropic contributions have positively impacted countless children in the Caribbean and Canada.

About The Empire of Club of Canada

Established in 1903, the Empire Club of Canada, a non-profit organization, is celebrating its 120th Season. As Canada's go-to forum for conversations that matter, the Empire Club produces more than 40 thought leadership events annually that connect people to ideas and each other.

SOURCE Empire Club of Canada

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closed

ETF closures hit a three-year high in 2023 with 246 funds shuttered, which is up from 147 in 2022 and 72 in 2021.

Still, the total number of ETFs continues to climb as issuers launched 529 new funds last year, which is up from 419 in 2022 and 475 in 2021.

Last years total ETF closings still fall short of the 2020 peak when 261 funds closed and 335 were launched.

According to data compiled from Morningstar and Bloomberg Intelligence, the shuttered funds ranged widely across styles, asset classes and performance.

The best-performing fund to shut down last year was the VanEck Digital Assets Mining ETF (DAM), which was up more than 100% from the start of the year when it closed on April 24. Launched on March 7, 2022, DAMs performance peaked just 10 days before it closed.

Twenty of the closed ETFs had registered gains of 20% or more from the start of the year on their closing dates.

Another ETF with a brief but strong run that closed last year was the AXS 2X Bear Daily ETF (PFES), a single-stock ETF betting big on the negative movement of Pfizer Inc. stock.

Pfizer shares declined by more than 35% last year and PFES, which launched in July 2022, was up nearly 66% when it closed on June 6 of last year.

"We're seeing a lot of closures of ETFs launched during the hot period from late 2020 through early 2022 when pandemic fiscal stimulus and ultra loose monetary policy was juicing market returns, ETF inflows and interest in ETFs from all types of investors, said Jeff Schwartz, president at fund research firm Markov Processes International.

ETF Closures and Ineffective Strategy

A number of the poorer performing funds closed because of ineffective strategies.

With a decline of nearly 82% last year through the Nov. 14 liquidation, the ConvexityShares Daily 1.5X SPIKES Futures ETF (SPKY) registered the biggest decline on the list.

SPKY, which launched on Aug. 15, 2022, was designed for active traders and speculators looking to capitalize on volatility in the U.S. equity markets.

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Another strategy that failed to deliver was the Noble Absolute Return ETF (NOPE), which logged a year-to-date loss of 68% at its liquidation on Aug. 24.

Launched in September 2022 to offer both long and short exposure to the global equity markets, NOPE might have also been hampered by its outsized expense ratio of 1.82%.

Contact Jeff Benjamin at Jeff.Benjamin@etf.com and find him on X at @BenjiWriter.





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India bought an average 1.75 million barrels of Russian oil a day in 2023. Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Russian crude is likely being shipped to Europe in record amounts, according to Kpler data.

India, one of Russia's largest crude customers, shipped tons of refined oil to the EU.

Refined oil purchases from India notched their highest level in the last seven years of recorded data.

Record amounts of Russian crude are probably being sold to Europe by Indian refiners, a new analysis says.

India has become one of Russia's largest oil customers in recent years, snapping up an average 1.75 million barrels of crude a day in 2023, according to Kpler data analyzed by The Independent. That's a 140% increase from what India purchased from Russian sources in 2022, when it was already gorging on discounted Russian crude in the months after the invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the European Union has grown into one of India's largest refined oil customers. The bloc purchased around 231,800 barrels a day of refined crude products from India last year, a 115% increase from the prior year, Kpler data shows.

That's the largest amount of refined oil Europe has purchased from India over the last seven years Kpler has recorded the data. It's likely the highest amount of refined oil Europe has ever purchased from the country, much of which is likely Russian in origin, the analysis said.

Western nations banned Russian oil and slapped Russian oil traders with a $60 price cap last year in an attempt to crimp Moscow's war revenue. But Russia has likely found ways to avoid those rules, some industry experts say, such as by reportedly putting together a secretive fleet of oil ships, raising shipping costs on its crude, and swapping oil with middle-men like India.

India has held a strategically neutral stance on Russia's war with Ukraine, and has continued to purchase Russian oil while selling its refined oil products to the West. High amounts of Indian fuel was being shipped to New York last year, according to Kpler data analyzed by Bloomberg, which was likely also Russian in origin.

Still, India's purchases of Russian oil have pulled back in recent months, partly due to pressure to maintain good ties with the US, as well as reported payment issues with Russian oil suppliers. Russian oil shipments to India plummeted to an 11-month low in December, according to ship-tracking data analyzed by Reuters.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Cargolux is establishing a fleet of 12 Air Tractor AT-802 Fire Boss aircraft that can drop retardants on wildfires. (Photo: Cargolux)

Freighter operator Cargolux, the eighth-largest all-cargo operator by traffic, is diversifying with a new firefighting business line.

The Luxembourg-based airline announced Friday that the new venture, called Aquarius Aerial Firefighting, will operate a fleet of 12 Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss aircraft. The single-engine air tankers, a mix of single and double-seaters, will be acquired over a three-year period. The first three aircraft have already been delivered and are expected to be deployed in May.

Cargolux is investing $72 million in the new aircraft, said spokeswoman Moa Sigurdardottir. The firefighting division will have about 40 to 45 employees.

Cargolux, which operates 30 Boeing 747 freighters, also offers third-party maintenance services for 747s at its home base. Firefighting represents a good opportunity because there is a shortage in Europe, and other regions, of aerial capacity to drop water and retardants on forest fires.

Wildfires have exploded in number and intensity across North America and Europe during the past five years, fueled by extreme weather patterns and global warming.

Over the past years, we have witnessed wildfires becoming a growing global issue that requires a rapid response. Not only do such fires emit significant amounts of CO 2 but they pose a significant danger to lives and livelihoods. As a responsible corporate citizen I see it as our responsibility to help tackle this problem. I look forward to Aquarius Aerial Firefighting becoming an integral part of the solution, said Cargolux CEO Richard Forson in a news release.





The Fire Boss tanker is designed to attack wildfires while they are still small and contain their spread. Its agility allows it to operate in terrain  mountain areas, narrow flight corridors and urban-rural interface zones  where larger aircraft cant maneuver, or effectively impact a fire, according to the Olney, Texas-based manufacturer. The tanker is able to come in low and slow to pinpoint the drop of water or flame retardant.

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The Fire Boss can be configured with an amphibious water scooper, allowing the plane to resupply from nearby water sources and make more drops. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67AG turbine engine, the plane can hit top speeds of 200 mph.

Sustainable aviation fuel

Cargoluxs shareholders are Luxembourg flag carrier Luxair, Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Co. in China, and two state-controlled Luxembourg banks. The government of Luxembourg owns 8.3% of the airline.

In 2022, the company generated a record profit of $1.6 billion.

Meanwhile, Cargolux has committed to a long-term purchase agreement with Norsk e-Fuel for sustainable aviation fuel, the companies announced Wednesday.

Norsk e-Fuel is building a production facility in Mosjen, Norway, and will start to provide fossil-free fuels to the aviation industry after 2026. Norsk e-Fuel is made by capturing carbon dioxide and using electricity from renewable sources.

Cargolux will also provide capital support for construction of two more facilities by 2030.

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper articles by Eric Kulisch.

Contact reporter: ekulisch@freightwaves.com

RECOMMENDED READING:

Cargolux reports record $1.6B profit in 2022

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The use of funny and quirky messages on electronic signs will be against the law on Americas highways.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration, a division of the Department of Transportation, issued a sweeping set of guidelines last month to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and all road users.

Part of the new 1,100-page manual regulates electronic traffic signs and other traffic control devices, which will no longer be allowed to post humorous messages that could distract drivers or be misunderstood.

Messages with obscure meanings and references to pop culture will also be banned.

Signs should be simple, direct, brief, legible and clear and inform drivers of weather conditions, crashes and other traffic delays, and the risks of speeding, not wearing a seat belt and driving impaired, the agency says.

Signs like Come on, Eileen your speed is obscene (Delaware), Get your head out of your apps (Utah), Dont get Star-Spangled Hammered (Massachusetts) and Hands on the wheel, not your meal (Louisiana) are just a few of the messages that will not be allowed under the new ban.

The ban, along with the other updates in the latest manual, will take effect in 2026.

________
By Lisa Barrington

SEOUL (Reuters) - More manufacturers are seeking to fly their products in the next few weeks as attacks on Red Sea shipping force them to find alternate routes, logistics firms say, a potential boon for a sector dealing with muted post-pandemic demand and overcapacity.

The Red Sea, which leads to the Suez canal, lies on the key east-west trade route from Asia's manufacturing hubs to Europe and onto the east coast of the Americas. About 12% of world shipping traffic accesses the Suez Canal via its waters.

But more than two months of attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia on ships in the region have affected companies and alarmed major powers in an escalation of Israel's war with Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza.

While air freight prices have so far remained relatively stable as the shipping crisis coincides with a seasonal lull in demand, data from freight booker Freightos showed rates on a China-to-Europe route had surged 91% week-on-week on Sunday.

Price reporting agency TAC Index also said there were signs of an uptick in China-to-Europe air freight rates this week.

"We are talking to many customers already about increased air capacity," said Yngve Ruud, head of Air Logistics at global logistics firm Kuhne+Nagel. "We have probably 20-30% more discussions and proposals than usual in January."

Air freight is costly compared to sea freight, and not competitive for bulky, low-margin items. Such constraints have limited air cargo to less than 1% of global trade by volume, according to airline industry association IATA.

But since the attacks, which have forced shippers to take costlier routes that can add weeks to delivery times, air freight has become a more attractive option.

Korean Air Cargo, one of the world's largest carriers by volume, said it was starting to see an increase in demand and more customer inquiries.

Several logistics firms including Germany's Schenker, France's Bollore Logistics and US-based C.H. Robinson are also securing additional air freight space, the companies said, and Chrysler parent Stellantis said last week it was relying on air freight to cope with temporary disruptions.

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"As the price of ocean goes up, as the transit times increase, and as backlogs build up, that's when shippers start to get very concerned that they won't have their spring inventory," said Neel Jones Shah, chief customer officer at digital freight forwarder Flexport.

"The first thing you're going to see convert is shippers that do 20% air 80% ocean for the same product, go to 50:50."

MULTI-MODAL OPTIONS

A slowdown in the global economy has helped to mute the impact on trade flows from the attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

The Baltic Air Freight Index, which shows general cargo weekly transactional rates, has fallen since early December and was down 34% last week from a year ago. Global cargo demand was down 2.5% in November from the same month before the pandemic, while capacity increased 4.1%, according to IATA.

Logistics sources say customers are increasingly looking into multi-modal routes, shipping by sea into the Middle East, for example, and then onwards to Europe by air.

Kuhne+Nagel said some customers have started sending containers to Dubai and Los Angeles and then flying the goods onwards to their destinations.

Asia-focused freight forwarder Dimerco also said customers were calculating costs for sea-air combinations via Dubai as well as direct air freight services.

Air, however, still remains an option, rather than the default, as customers hold off on committing amid sluggish demand and as many factories in manufacturing hub China prepare to close for the Lunar New Year holiday in February, Dimerco spokesperson Alvin Fuh added.

But the longer the Red Sea crisis continues, the more manufacturers will turn to air freight, shippers said.

"The longer the situation persists, the more pressure is added to sea freight capacity and customers' supply chains, thereby going closer and closer to the 'tipping point' for a need for air freight conversion," said Jack Liu, Senior Vice President of Air Logistics at Kuhne+Nagel Asia Pacific.

(Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Seoul; Additional reporting by Oliver Hirt in Zurich and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Miral Fahmy)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Fremont Gold Ltd. (TSXV: FRE) (FSE FR20) (OTCQB: FRERF) ("Fremont" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it is appointing several new advisors to the Company.

New Advisors

Mr. Luis Arteaga, a seasoned explorationist and porphyry copper expert, has agreed to act as an advisor to the Company on technical exploration issues relating to our two copper-gold properties in Armenia. Mr. Arteaga has consulted to the Company in the past and visited the Company's Vardenis property for eight days in October 2023. He wrote several technical reports on the property's geochemistry, alteration and prospectivity that are instrumental in drill targeting.

Mr. Joel Sutherland, has agreed to act as an advisor to the Company on corporate markets and finance issues. Joel is VP Corporate Development and Investor Relations for Prostar, a TSX-listed company, and assisted in the Company's October 2023 financing.

The Company would like to welcome both of these high-quality specialists to our team as we look forward to pursuing discoveries of world-class mineral deposits within the central Tethyan Belt.

Mr. Derek White, CEO of Ascot Resources, and Mr. Doug Hurst, independent consultant based out of Nelson, BC, are resigning as advisors to the Company as focus shifts to the Tethyan belt in Armenia. The Company would like to thank both Derek and Doug for their invaluable advice through their many years associated with Fremont.

Resignation of Dr. Clay Newton

Dr. Clay Newton has announced his resignation as Fremont's Vice President of Exploration but will continue to consult to the Company and remain as an advisor on geological matters in relation to our two remaining Nevada properties. The Company would like to thank Clay for all of his hard work and incredible geological insight and advice throughout the past six years.

Vardenis NI 43-101 Report

The Company is pleased to announce that it has filed a National Instrument 43-101 geological report (the "Report") relating to the Vardenis project in central Armenia. The Report may be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website through the following link:

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https://fremontgold.net/site/assets/files/5161/vardenis_fundamental_acquisition_tsx_report.pdf

Second Tranche Financing

The Company announces that the close of the non-brokered private placement financing previously announced on October 30, 2023, was the final tranche of the financing and there will be no further closings.

About Fremont

Fremont's mine-finding management team has assembled a portfolio of potential world-class copper-gold mineral opportunities within the central Tethyan belt of Armenia, and controls two advanced gold exploration projects in Nevada.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Dennis Moore

President and CEO, interim Chairman

For further information, contact:

Fremont Gold Ltd.

Dennis Moore

Telephone: +351 925062196

www.fremontgold.net

https://twitter.com/GoldFremont

https://www.linkedin.com/company/fremont-gold/

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations including the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/194578
(Bloomberg) -- An executive at Fujitsu Ltd., whose software contributed to improper convictions of UK Post Office sub-postmasters, said the company has a moral responsibility to help provide redress for those who suffered as a result.

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I am personally appalled by the evidence we have seen, Paul Patterson, Europe director at Fujitsu Services Limited, told the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee on Tuesday. I think there is a moral obligation for the company to contribute.

Pattersons concession suggests that it wont just be the UK taxpayer who pays out compensation to hundreds of sub-postmasters who were wrongfully prosecuted for theft and false accounting by the government-owned Post Office between 1999 and 2015 after computer glitches led to shortfalls in their accounts.

Shares in Fujitsu, whose UK business makes up about 5% of its sales, fell as much as 1.8% in Tokyo Wednesday morning, adding to two straight days of stock price declines. Fujitsu earned 65% of its overall revenue in its home market as of end-September, with Europe accounting for less than 18%, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Maximum negative impact on sales will be, at most, 3-4% in sales, even if we assume penalties, contract suspension and compensation, said Macquarie Capital analyst Hiroshi Yamashina in a note to investors. But uncertain negative financial impact could make investors risk-averse.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week announced a law to quash the convictions and speed up compensation to some 980 UK Post Office workers as he sought to draw a line under the long-running saga. Redress was also offered to thousands more who were caught up in the scandal but werent prosecuted after using their own money to close the shortfalls and avoid charges.

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Government minister Kevin Hollinrake later told the same panel on Tuesday that there is a significant chance the governments move to cancel convictions means some people who were actually guilty may get compensation.

Patterson was giving evidence alongside Post Office Chief Executive Officer Nick Read, who told the same hearing that total compensation may well be in the order of 1 billion ($1.3 billion).

Were all very keen to get to the bottom of this, said Read, who has held the role for four years. Ive been very clear since I joined the organization, that the Post Office simply cant move forward until such time as proper redress has been determined and more importantly has been paid out.

Patterson  appointed to his current role in 2019  said responsibility for the scandal lies in many places, including Fujitsu, and that the the company would take advice from an inquiry into the matter when deciding on its contribution to the redress. He said he had no current estimate for Fujitsus liability.

He added that his gut feeling was that people within Fujitsu knew about the problems with its Horizon software, conceding that it contained bugs which could have had an impact on the accounts logged by sub-postmasters. While Patterson could not give a date when Fujitsu staff first notified the Post Office of problems with Horizon, he said there were known bugs and errors in the system from a very early stage.

He added that when the Post Office was notified, how they chose to use that information in their prosecutions was entirely on their side.

While Patterson said Fujitsu was now an ethical company and was quite different to the company in the early 2000s, Read vowed that the Post Office would be getting off Horizon software it still uses a quarter of a century after its introduction.

Earlier on Tuesday MPs on the committee heard evidence from former sub-postmasters including Alan Bates, founder of the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance on whom a recent ITV dramatization of the Horizon affair was based, and Jo Hamilton, a former sub-postmistress caught up in the scandal.

Both spoke of their frustration that the redress process for victims of the Horizon scandal was taking so long. There obviously isnt enough of a resource being put in at that end, Bates said.

Hamilton spoke about how she had been forced to plow seemingly endless amounts of money into the Post Office that she ran, as she was accused of mis-accounting that was actually the fault of the Horizon software. I wasnt tech savvy at all back 20 years ago  they convinced me it was my fault, she said, adding that the Post Office had gaslit her.

When you take on a sub-Post Office, you actually invest a large amount of money in that business. And as happened in my case, when they fell out with me, they walked off with that amount of money, Hamilton said. I think a lot of people feel theres a financial gun held to their head if they start kicking off or start raising too many problems with the Post Office.

Neil Hudgell, Executive Chairman of Hudgell Solicitors who has represented some of the postmasters, earlier told the committee that spouses, children and parents of postmasters caught up in the scandal had themselves suffered stresses leading to behavioral disorders, miscarriages and shattered family lives.

Theres a whole raft and category of people that are not compensable and thats another strand of this scandal that needs to be looked at, he said. The scandal is in the thousands, but could be in the tens of thousands.

--With assistance from Thomas Seal, Jamie Nimmo, Julian Harris, Vlad Savov and Edwin Chan.

(Updates with stock reaction in Tokyo from fourth paragraph.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Chadi Irani

Treasure Coast Newspapers / TCPalm announced Wednesday that Chadi Irani has been named the general manager in the Fort Pierce, Stuart, Vero Beach and Port St. Lucie markets.

In this role, Irani will work closely with the executive editor to strengthen local connection points with businesses and brands to drive community-based strategies and engagement effective February 5.

With over 20 years of experience, Irani began his career as an advertising manager at the Ithaca Journal. He transferred to the Palm Beach Post 18 years ago and served as the regional vice president of advertising at both the Palm Beach Post and Palm Beach Daily News.

Most recently Irani was named general manager of the Palm Beach Post and the Palm Beach Daily News.

Irani graduated from Leadership Palm Beach County in 2009 and currently serves on the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerces board. He received his bachelor's degree in marketing from Notre Dame University  Louaize in Lebanon.

We are excited to work closely with Chadi as the general manager to ensure the continued strength and success of Treasure Coast Newspapers / TCPalm while working with the USA TODAY Network across the country, said Adam Neal, executive editor of Treasure Coast Newspapers / TCPalm. Empowering our community to thrive is critical to our success, and Chadi will be a key partner as we implement strategic plans to benefit consumers, partners and this community which we deeply care about.

About Treasure Coast Newspapers / TCPalm

Treasure Coast Newspapers / TCPalm, part of the USA TODAY Network, is the largest daily news operation on the Treasure Coast of southeastern Florida. The region encompasses three coastal counties: Martin County, St. Lucie County and Indian River County.

Treasure Coast Newspapers publishes three daily print newspapers: The Stuart News, St. Lucie News Tribune and Indian River Press Journal, as well as the weekly Luminaries. TCPalm.com is the digital brand for the newspapers.

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About the USA TODAY NETWORK

The USA TODAY NETWORK, part of Gannett Co, Inc. (NYSE: GCI), is the leading news media publisher in theU.S. in terms of circulation, powered by our award-winning newsrooms and digital marketing solutions business.

With deep roots in local communities spanning the U.S. with more than 200 local media brands, plus USA TODAY, we engage more than 125 million people every month through a diverse portfolio of multi-platform content offerings and experiences. For more information, visit www.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Gannett names Chadi Irani general manager of Treasure Coast Newspapers
By Alimat Aliyeva

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) presents the exhibition "Dinner with the Sultan: The Subtle Art of Feasting," Azernews reports, citing international media outlets.

Among the exhibits are a cookbook published in Tehran in the XIII century, ornate brass trays, jade dishes and spoons decorated with precious stones, as well as an entire reception room of the XVIII century, rescued from a mansion in Damascus. This is the first exhibition dedicated to Islamic art in the context of culinary traditions. The exhibition is curated by Linda Komaroff, curator and head of the LACMA Middle East Art Department.

"For many, if not most of us, the first acquaintance with another culture is not connected with its art, literature or history, but with its cuisine. Through the prism of our modern passion for gastronomy, the history of Islamic culinary culture offers us a powerful channel for a better understanding and appreciation of fine art," Komaroff said.

The exposition includes nine thematic sections, each of which explores some aspect or influence of Islamic culinary culture in time and space.

The exhibition features three special installations, including the Damascus Room (1776-67/1180 AH). This ornate reception room in a late Ottoman house with a courtyard has beautifully painted carved wooden walls. The luxurious materials demonstrate the wealth and social status of the family. The houses of wealthy people in Ottoman-era Damascus had a simple exterior, but inside these houses were elaborately decorated reception rooms.

Another special exhibit is the "soufra" (cloth covering the surface behind which one eats). It is usually placed on the ground in many parts of the traditional Islamic world. Guests will be invited to sit on fancy pillows for a "virtual feast" and smell aromatic boxes with cardamom, rose water, orange flowers, etc.

The works of art displayed nearby show a wide variety of dishes, utensils and cutlery, such as napkins and hand washing vessels, which are associated with a wonderful feast.

One of the most creative and fascinating installations is a piece commissioned by LACMA to establish a connection between traditional and modern dining practices. Artist Sadiq Kwaish Alfraji presented a multimedia installation consisting of drawings, photographs and an animated film. This six-minute film recreates childhood memories, sensations and comfort. Alfraji visualizes and retains tangible memories of bread made by hand by his mother, right down to its taste, smell and touch. It reflects a universal family experience, such as how eating together brings people together, although the emotional impact is often bittersweet. Visitors to the exhibition can scan the QR code to find out the recipe for traditional Iraqi bread made by the artist's mother.

According to Michael Govan, CEO of LACMA and director of the Wallis Annenberg Museum, "Dinner with the Sultan" is a major exhibition of Islamic art that opens up new horizons in focusing on a practice common to all cultures  feasting. This exhibition also marks the first time that the Damascus Hall will be accessible to an American audience.

The exhibition "Dinner with the Sultan: the Subtle Art of Feasting", which brings together about 250 items from 30 public and private collections in the USA, Europe and the Middle East dating from the VII - early XX centuries, presented in the context of culinary and dining traditions, is open to the public until August 4, 2024 at Resnick Pavilion.
CHANGSHA, China, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zoomlion", 1157.HK) sent off nearly 200 units of earthmoving machinery equipment to Australia and Europe on January 8 from its Earthmoving Machinery Park in the Zoomlion Smart City, signaling a successful start to 2024.

Getting 2024 off to a Flying StartZoomlion Delivers Nearly 200 Units of Earthmoving Machinery Equipment to Australia and Europe

The batch delivery is another significant milestone for Zoomlion Earthmoving Machinery Company, as it continues to expand in the Australian and European markets. In recent years, the company has achieved continued success in major overseas markets by enhancing its product competitiveness, diversifying its product range, and steadily improving product adaptability. This approach has not only boosted global sales but has also significantly raised the brand's profile and influence.

Last July, Zoomlion opened the first 4S (Sales, Service, Spare Parts & Survey) shop in Brisbane, Australia which marked a solid step in the company's international development roadmap, accelerating the establishment of a localized service network and further completing the overseas layout.

The sprawling 4,300-square-meter 4S shop boasts a unified team specializing in both sales and service, complete with service vehicles. It houses an extensive inventory of both new and pre-owned equipment and spare parts. With dedicated zones for repair, testing, and maintenance, the facility is fully equipped to deliver reliable service, earning enthusiastic reviews from customers for its comprehensive care.

In December, Zoomlion delivered more than 50 units of concrete agitator trucks to Australia, which was the first time China exported concrete agitator trucks to the country. When developing this model, Zoomlion conducted extensive market research to gain an in-depth understanding of local working conditions and customers' real, practical needs. It boasts the advantages of advanced design, robust performance, stylish looks, safety, ease of control, and comfortable use.

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Meanwhile, in the European market, Zoomlion participated in the 69th Feira Nacional de Agricultura Feira do Ribatejo (FNA23) in Portugal in June 2023 and the SMOPYC 2023 trade show in Spain in November, during which it signed orders totaling 30 million yuan (USD4.22 million).

"The batch delivery on January 8 is a great start to 2024. Zoomlion Earthmoving will continue to improve and implement a point-to-point and localization-oriented overseas development strategy to further expand our market reach and achieve new business breakthroughs," said Zheng Zhe, assistant general manager of Zoomlion Earthmoving Machinery Company.

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SOURCE Zoomlion
General Motors is recalling several dozen BrightDrop all-electric delivery vans after the front drive units, known as the powertrain, on at least two of them caught fire late last year.

In paperwork filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) dated Jan. 11, GM said it is recalling 66 of the 2022 model year EV600 (which GM now calls the Zevo 600) BrightDrop delivery trucks.

GM said in the NHTSA filing it is still investigating the root cause of the problem, which it believes was limited to its large EV600 vehicles built between Nov. 24, 2021 and May 24, 2022. BrightDrop also offers a smaller Zevo 400 delivery van.

The BrightDrop EV600 commercial delivery van.

General Motors is voluntarily recalling a limited number of model year 2022 BrightDrop EV600 (Zevo 600) vehicles. These vehicles may contain a front drive unit manufacturing defect," GM spokesman Bill Grotz told the Detroit Free Press in an email. "The safety of our products is the highest priority for the entire GM team, and were working to quickly remedy this matter for our customers.

GM said in its filing with NHTSA that it received a report of a fire under the hood in a 2022 BrightDrop EV600 on Dec. 7, and another one on Dec. 13. GM started an investigation into the fires on Dec. 22 and decided to do a recall on Jan. 4. Both the affected vehicles were owned by one GM fleet customer, which GM did not name.

Grotz said GM was not aware of any accidents, injuries or fatalities connected to the fires. But in its filing, GM said, "If an under-hood fire occurs, there is increased risk of injury."

The automaker's initial investigation showed the vehicles may contain a manufacturing defect that, "in heavy-duty cycle use conditions, can allow the drive pinion to cut its way through the outboard side of the drive-unit case," the filing with NHTSA said. The result could be an oil leak that can lead to an under-the-hood fire, the filing stated.

Last year, BrightDrop delivered 497 total vans, 483 of which were the bigger Zevo 600 models and 14 were the smaller Zevo 400 models.

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The recall comes after GM announced in November that it would absorb BrightDrop into its brands so as to streamline its commercial EV business. GM launched BrightDrop in 2021 as a wholly owned subsidiary. The automaker made an $800 million investment to convert the CAMI Assembly plant in Canada to an EV factory to build the vans. In the U.S., BrightDrop has more than 30 customers including Walmart, Hertz, FedEx, Merchants Fleet and Verizon.

In July 2023, GM recalled 92 BrightDrop Zevo 600 trucks due to a problem with the water seal on the vehicles high-voltage battery pack, according to NHTSA records. In October 2023, GM recalled 234 Zevo 600 vans due to potential air bag malfunctions, according to a NHTSA filing.

More: Whats next for auto shows? Rescheduled 2025 Detroit show may point the way.

More: UAW's Fain blasts Stellantis for firing hundreds of temps, vows to visit VW this weekend

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GM recalls dozens of electric BrightDrop vans after two caught fire.
Grant Cardone, a successful billionaire in the real estate sector, recently offered insights on the financial implications of leasing versus buying vehicles. In a December Instagram reel titled I lease all my vehicles except one, Cardone advises against purchasing cars, describing it as a financially imprudent decision. He advocates for leasing as a more financially viable option, highlighting the rapid depreciation cars typically experience.

Despite his preference for leasing, Cardone makes an exception for the Range Rover, citing its compatibility with Section 179 of the IRS tax code, which enables substantial immediate depreciation write-offs for certain vehicles, depending on their size and weight. The Range Rovers eligibility for these write-offs makes it a standout choice for people seeking tax advantages.

Cardone emphasizes the timing of the purchase, advising buying the Range Rover toward the end of the fiscal year. This strategy allows for an immediate write-off in the same year, even if the vehicle is not used. To illustrate his point, he said, You can buy it Dec. 31 and write it off that year even though you didnt drive the car. Boom. $158,000. You get to write it off that day.

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Cardone elaborates on his approach to vehicle leasing, using the example of his Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which he leases for 24 months, never longer. This strategy enables him to fully deduct the lease payments from his income. He advises entrepreneurs to reduce their taxable income as much as possible by the end of the year. He also cautions viewers to ensure they can afford the lease payments, emphasizing that leasing an expensive vehicle should not be solely for the sake of a tax write-off.

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The depreciation of new cars is a well-documented phenomenon. According to Lendingtree.com, new cars can lose up to 20% of their value in the first year. This rate of depreciation varies depending on the type of vehicle, with generic sedans typically depreciating faster than luxury models like the Porsche 911. While some rare supercars may appreciate over time, these are exceptions to the broader trend of automotive value decline.

Cardone is known for his outspoken views on car ownership. In a March post on X, he said, Don't hate the truth and dont buy things disguised as assets when in reality they will depreciate and turn into liabilities. If youre going to buy a car, dont. Lease it for 2 years ONLY. As soon as you drive it off the lot it will have already lost value.

His perspective challenges conventional views on car ownership, encouraging people to consider the financial implications of their choices. This approach is particularly relevant for entrepreneurs and business owners who can leverage tax codes like Section 179 to their advantage, making strategic decisions that can significantly impact their financial health.

Cardones expertise in real estate investment trusts (REITs) offers another avenue for savvy financial strategies. REITs are companies that own, operate or finance income-generating real estate and offer unique tax benefits. For instance, REITs are required to distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders as dividends, which are taxed at the individual level. This structure avoids the double taxation typically associated with dividends.

Investors in REITs can also benefit from reduced tax rates on qualified dividends and long-term capital gains. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 also introduced a 20% deduction on qualified business income from pass-through entities, which includes REIT dividends, further enhancing their attractiveness as an investment option.

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This article Grant Cardone Says, 'If You're Going To Buy A Car, Don't'  But This $158,000 Vehicle Is The Only One You Should Ever Own originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
India turns to Mideast oil as sanctions keep Russian crude tankers stuck at ports, New Delhi says

India is turning to crude oil from the Middle East with Russian supplies in limbo.

"When Russian prices don't conform, we buy from Iraq, the UAE, Saudi Arabia," India's oil and gas minister said.

That's as tighter enforcement of the West's price cap on Russian crude is keeping tankers frozen in Indian ports.

India is turning to oil from the Middle East as tighter enforcement of the West's price cap on Russian crude is keeping tankers frozen in Indian ports.

That marks a shift after India emerged as a top buyer of Russian crude following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"When Russian prices don't conform, we buy from Iraq, the UAE, Saudi Arabia," Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told Bloomberg TV at the World Economic Forum.

Saudi oil flows to India were further boosted after Riyadh slashed prices on crude exports headed toward Asia this month, causing at least two leading Indian refineries to commit to larger imports, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, Russian oil exports to India dropped last month to their lowest since last January, as the US pursues tighter enforcement of restrictions and the $60-per-barrel price cap. Through last month, the US Treasury has sanctioned eight cargo ships, six of which belonged to a Russian entity.

"In the Russian case, it is a question of price cap and it is also a question of some of their shipping entities coming under adverse notice of others," Puri said.

It's resulted in a number of Russian tankers sitting idly off Indian shores, with some vessels never reaching their destination.

Alongside the sanctions, Puri has said that the Russian discounts are losing their appeal, dismissing speculation that payment issues were behind the falling trade between the two countries.

"India's leadership has only one requirement: that the Indian consumer gets the energy at the most economical price, without disruption," he said earlier this month.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Multiple insiders secured a larger position in Farm Pride Foods Limited (ASX:FRM) shares over the last 12 months. This is reassuring as this suggests that insiders have increased optimism about the company's prospects.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

See our latest analysis for Farm Pride Foods

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Farm Pride Foods

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when MD & Director Darren Lurie bought AU$800k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.055 per share. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of AU$0.15. Because it occurred at a lower valuation, it doesn't tell us much about whether insiders might find today's price attractive.

While Farm Pride Foods insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

ASX:FRM Insider Trading Volume January 17th 2024

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Insider Ownership

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Farm Pride Foods insiders own about AU$10m worth of shares (which is 48% of the company). I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Farm Pride Foods Insiders?

The fact that there have been no Farm Pride Foods insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. It would be great to see more insider buying, but overall it seems like Farm Pride Foods insiders are reasonably well aligned (owning significant chunk of the company's shares) and optimistic for the future. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. To help with this, we've discovered 4 warning signs (3 are concerning!) that you ought to be aware of before buying any shares in Farm Pride Foods.

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But note: Farm Pride Foods may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

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 federal judge blocked JetBlue Airways $3.8 billion bid to acquire Spirit Airlines, which the Justice Department successfully argued would amount to higher prices and fewer options for passengers.

Tuesdays ruling determined the proposal from the nations sixth-largest airline to buy the seventh-largest carrier  which would create the countrys fifth-largest airline  threatened to end healthy competition between discounted carriers.

Defendant Airlines currently compete head-to-head throughout the country, and that competition, particularly Spirits downward pressure on prices, benefits all consumers, the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts decided.

The court acknowledged the deal might put pressure on larger airlines to be more competitive in their pricing, but concluded that consumers that rely on Spirits unique, low-price model would likely be harmed.

Feds argued the merger would violate The Clayton Act barring acquisitions that significantly lessen competition or stand to create a monopoly.

Summing it up, if JetBlue were permitted to gobble up Spirit  at least as proposed  it would eliminate one of the airline industrys few primary competitors that provides unique innovation and price discipline, the court said.

Spirit Airline stock dropped by a whopping 50% after the courts ruling, while JetBlues value saw a small favorable bump.

Both airlines disagreed with the Justice Departments ruling and are deciding what to do next.

We continue to believe that our combination is the best opportunity to increase much needed competition and choice by bringing low fares and great service to more customers in more markets while enhancing our ability to compete with the dominant U.S. carriers, the companies said in a joint statement shared with the Daily News. JetBlues termination of the Northeast Alliance and commitment to significant divestitures have removed any reasonable anti-competitive concerns that the Department of Justice raised. We are reviewing the courts decision and are evaluating our next steps as part of the legal process.
Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos., which together operate hundreds of supermarkets in Arizona, announced a delay in their proposed merger, citing concerns from regulators.

"We remain in active and ongoing dialogue with the Federal Trade Commission and individual state attorneys general regarding our proposed merger and divestiture plan," the companies said in a joint statement issued with C&S Wholesale Grocers, which plans to buy some stores in overlapping areas.

Kroger owns Frys Food Stores in Arizona, along with a handful of Smith's in the northwest corner of the state, and Albertsons also owns Safeway.

The companies said the anticipated closing would happen during the first half of Kroger's fiscal year, which ends Aug. 17. Previously, they anticipated the deal happening sometime in early 2024.

C&S plans to buy 24 Albertsons or Safeway stores in Arizona, roughly one-fifth of the locations that Albertsons Cos. owns here. Kroger and Albertsons each own about 130 stores in Arizona.

Pushing back the timetable for the Kroger-Albertsons merger

In their statement issued on Tuesday, the companies downplayed the delay.

"While this is longer than we originally thought, we knew it was a possibility and our merger agreement and divestiture plan accounted for such potential timing," they said.

Washington's attorney general filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to block the $24.6 billion merger. Other attorneys general also have raised objections, including Kris Mayes of Arizona.

In addition, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, and counterparts in other states, have asked the FTC to block the deal.

The companies asserted that the merger would provide "the meaningful and measurable benefits that we promised when we originally announced the transaction," including lower prices and more choices for customers.

Kroger said it would invest $500 million to reduce prices from day one, along with another $1.3 billion to enhance customer experiences.

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"The merger will mean more fresh, affordable food is available to more people in more communities," the statement said.

Promise of no layoffs or store closings

Kroger also said it committed to protecting well-paying union jobs, with no store closures or front-line associates laid off as a result of the merger.

The company also vowed to invest an incremental $1 billion to raise wages and comprehensive benefits for all associates after closing of the deal.

Kroger employed more than 20,000 people in Arizona and Albertsons employed around 14,500, according to last year's Republic 100 special report.

Kroger also vowed to build on the $1.9 billion in incremental investments the company has made in wages and benefits since 2018. Also, post closing, Kroger said it would provide continuing education benefits to more than 700,000 part- and full-time associates featuring up to $21,000 in reimbursements.

C&S Wholesale Grocers has committed to recognize the union workforce and maintain all collective bargaining agreements, in addiiton to a pledge to retain front-line employees and further invest for growth.

Reach the reporter at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kroger-Albertsons merger in Arizona delayed over regulators' concerns
If someone asked you to name the fastest-growing cities in Texas, you may be inclined to go with Houston, Dallas, Austin or San Antonio. All those answers would be correct, but the city of New Braunfels is fast becoming a boomtown in the Lone Star State. Benzinga looks at New Braunfels and why it has become such an appealing option for people moving to Texas.

There's Something About New Braunfels

For most of its history, New Braunfels' biggest claim to fame has been as the home of Naegelin's Bakery, which opened in 1868 and is Texas's oldest bakery. It is also the home of the Schlitterbahn Water Park & Resort and has two rivers  the Comal and the Guadalupe  running through it. The rivers and the city's German heritage have provided New Braunfels with a small-town feel that is typical of central Texas.

New Braunfels' location also gives its residents easy freeway access to San Antonio and Austin, which are two of Texas's most dynamic cities. As San Antonio and Austin have both benefitted from the Texas population boom, people began taking notice of little New Braunfels and began moving there. The city's population has grown from around 19,000 in the early 1990s to 100,000 today and the growth is continuing at a rapid pace.

As is the case with many of America's fastest-growing cities, housing affordability is a major draw. The average home in the San Antonio-New Braunfels area is around $370,000  almost $150,000 less than the national average. What New Braunfels offers in contrast to San Antonio is a slice of small-town life. Even with a population of 100,000, the New Braunfels' lifestyle will feel very serene for anyone relocating from big cities like Los Angeles.

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Story continues

A Rapidly Growing Economy

New Braunfels' economy is growing almost as quickly as its population. According to the New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation, the city's 2021 gross regional product of $2.8 billion is almost double what it was 10 years ago. Employers also are taking notice, with the Continental Corp., which makes tires and parts for several major auto manufacturers, recently spending $110 million on a new facility that will create 500 jobs in the middle of town.

Meanwhile, San Antonio is only a few miles down the road, and with a population of nearly 1.5 million, it features a full range of employment opportunities in almost every sector imaginable. Austin is only about an hour up Interstate 35. That may seem like a long commute to some people, but for veterans of big-city traffic, it's manageable.

Not Everyone Is Happy With The City's Growth

When a city experiences the kind of growth taking place in New Braunfels, inevitably, some people won't be happy with the changes. Locals being priced out is an unfortunate consequence of so many newcomers with deep pockets from L.A. or even San Antonio arriving in New Braunfels. This is happening in New Braunfels, and some of the city's long-time residents are pulling up stakes to search for cheaper property.

The irony in that is that many of the most recent transplants to New Braunfels are people who were priced out of the cities they left. This is the real estate cycle, and it will never change. In the meantime, if you're thinking of making a move to Texas, or looking for an investment opportunity with upside, New Braunfels might check the boxes on your list.

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This article The Little Texas City Keeping Pace With Austin And San Antonio's Population Growth originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Richard Naughton moved from his home country of England to New Jersey recently to work as a chef for the renowned restaurateur David Burke in a job that he says has lived up to the hype. He can't imagine doing anything else.

But he's run into an obstacle. As he searches for an apartment close enough to Burke's restaurants in Union Beach and Rumson and big enough for himself, his fiancee and a dog, he is coming up empty.

"Since it's not (in) a big city, I thought it would be a little more affordable," Naughton, 36, said. "But everywhere, the housing prices are going up and up. For someone who is a first-time renter in the area, it's incredibly difficult to find somewhere, in my price range especially."

Naughton is among the growing legion of workers who are getting priced out of the Jersey Shore's housing market, causing headaches not only for workers such as nurses, teachers and chefs who are hoping to find a home relatively close to where they work, but also for employers needing to hire them.

Richard Naughton has recently moved to the United States from England. He is working as a chef at The Goat, a restaurant owned by David Burke. Naughton is currently searching for housing in the area at an affordable price. Union Beach, NJ Thursday, January 11, 2024

The trend has prompted New Jersey for the first time to treat "affordable housing" not only as a burden for low-income residents, but also for moderate-income residents. The Murphy administration is launching a program to provide subsidies to developers who promise to set aside apartment units for the middle class.

The project would represent just a fraction of the new housing underway. But policymakers say it is a sign that they need to intervene in a market that is at risk of becoming out of reach to all but the wealthy.

Feeling richer? Here's how Monmouth County made the biggest wealth gains in NJ.

'The middle class is getting squeezed'

"When people can't live in your community who serve your community (like) a teacher, they're not going to be as invested in your district," said Melanie Walter, executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. "Their kids are going to school somewhere else. They're paying taxes somewhere else. So building out that kind of housing helps to keep the community vital and helps to keep people local."

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Affordable housing has long been associated in the public's mind with low-income workers, but it is taking on new meaning, particularly since the pandemic in 2020, when a flock of residents migrated from the cities to the suburbs in search of more space.

Demand for housing overwhelmed supply. The median price for a home sold in the New Jersey climbed from $332,500 in January 2020 to $515,000 less than four years later, according to the New Jersey Association of Realtors, a trade group.

Rent followed suit. Monmouth and Ocean County residents needed to make $64,080 to afford a two-bedroom apartment with a median rent of $1,602, a 2023 report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition said.

New apartments: $100M deal moves Asbury Park step closer to another 226-unit apartment complex

While the state boasts the nation's highest median household income, $96,346, there are signs more workers are digging deeper to afford housing. Nearly a third of homeowners and half of renters in New Jersey are considered "cost burdened," meaning they spend at least 30% of their income on housing, a recent report by Rutgers University's State Policy Lab said.

"We know there is a shortage, a significant shortage of affordable housing in New Jersey, but the middle class is getting squeezed as well," said Will Irving, professor of practice at the Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. "And it's getting harder and harder for young families to afford to buy a house."

Shore-area employers say they welcome the population growth and the new business that comes with it. But they also have seen their workers struggle to keep up with the rising cost of housing.

More people: New Jersey's population increases, first time since pandemic began

Chef David Burke at Red Horse by David Burke in Rumson

David Burke, for example, said new chefs live in his guest house in Atlantic Highlands or nearby motel rooms that he rents out until they can find permanent housing. But workers often find affordable apartments far from his restaurants. And train and bus service isn't readily available, leaving Burke to pay their Uber rides home.

"It costs me more money because people can't live in towns that we have restaurants in," Burke said. "I think there's a lot more restaurants opening in Monmouth and Ocean counties. It requires a lot more labor. Restaurants hire a lot of people. Some are part-time, some are full-time."

"It's like Aspen, (Colorado)," he said, comparing the Shore to the pricey ski resort. "People can't afford to live in Aspen. The workers to live down in the valley."

Richard Naughton has recently moved to the United States from England. He is working as a chef at The Goat, a restaurant owned by David Burke. Naughton is currently searching for housing in the area at an affordable price. Union Beach, NJ Thursday, January 11, 2024

Development plans: Middletown redevelopment project would transform Port Belford into destination seaport

'Can you build your way out?'

New Jersey has launched a program to increase the supply of apartments for moderate-income workers. The $50 million program, administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, could lead to about 500 new units specifically for moderate-income residents.

It includes subsidies for developers who build units for residents making 80% to 120% of the area's median income and agree to keep them affordable for 45 years. The projects would be built near transit stations.

The income levels for eligible residents would vary, depending on their location and size of the family. But if the program had been up and running last year in Monmouth and Ocean counties, it would range from individuals making $72,830 to $109,245 to a family of four making $104,043 to $156,064.

"While you hear narratives about people leaving the state, in most of our central and northern parts of the state and the coastal regions there's so much interest and jobs and opportunity," Walter from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, said. "We're always going to have more people than there's housing available, and that drives up market prices."

"So it is a question of, can you build your way out?" she said. "We're building 7,000 units a year. That's a great year for us, but that's not keeping up with demand. And so that's going to go to the high end of the market."

Why doesn't NJ build more homes? Eleven Jersey Shore towns that approved the most in 2023

Middle-class housing is an issue that has been bedeviling policy makers, prompting some employers to take steps on their own. Colorado State University in Fort Collins recently partnered with a church and real estate company to build apartments with below market-rate rent for the college's employees, the Coloradoan reported.

The idea resurrects the idea of a "company town" from the 19th and 20th centuries, when manufacturers built housing for their workers. Among them: Roebling in Burlington County, home of the former Roebling Steel Co. The concept didn't last. Companies went out of business. And workers had access to automobiles that gave them more options, a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said.

Even though a new generation of workers seems ready to ditch their cars in favor of walkable commutes, companies might not be quick to build housing.

"The problem is, 100 years ago, we were land rich, and land was dirt cheap," Rutgers University economist James W. Hughes said. "Now, we (have) almost overdevelopment in many areas, and land is extraordinarily expensive. So that creates more difficulties to do it."

No deal: Sandy Hook Fort Hancock plan to turn crumbling Officers Row into apartments hits $50M wall

Richard Naughton has recently moved to the United States from England. He is working as a chef at The Goat, a restaurant owned by David Burke. Naughton is currently searching for housing in the area at an affordable price. Union Beach, NJ Thursday, January 11, 2024

For now, it leaves workers like Naughton continuing their search for affordable housing.

Naughton was working as a chef in England when he decided he needed a fresh start in life. He followed David Burke on Instagram and came to admire the restaurateur's cuisine. He decided to send Burke a direct message. The response? Send your resume.

Naughton was hired and now is living in Burke's guest house. But he doesn't have a car, or, for that matter, a driver's license. To get to Union Beach, he needs to take two buses that don't always arrive on time.

His wish list includes a two-bedroom apartment either in walking distance to work or near public transportation for $2,000 to $3,000 a month. He hasn't found many options. And when he does find one, he wonders how he will come up with enough money for the security deposit.

"You have to have two, three months rent all in advance, and not many people have $4,000 or $5,000 lying around at anytime, so it's been quite difficult" Naughton said. "Now we're looking around this area. We've got a couple of possibilities. But it's getting enough money to put the deposits down. It's hard."

Michael L. Diamond is a business reporter who has been writing about the New Jersey economy and health care industry for more than 20 years. He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ middle-class affordable housing: What can we do to keep workers?
Light + Intelligent Building Middle East, which opened on January 16, has seen a 75% growth in event space and a 128% growth in exhibitor numbers from last year.

Over 400 international exhibitors are showcasing the latest trends, innovations and technologies in the regions largest exhibition for lighting and building technology, which was opened by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).

Now in its 17th year, the show is being held under the theme Enlightened Future: How responsibility will guide the future of the Light and Buildings.

Opening tour

During the opening tour of the show, Al Tayer visited several exhibition stands, including Zumtobel, Signify, Ledvance, Vimar and TE Connectivity. Furthermore, he visited pavilions from Germany and Turkiye.

Abdul Muhsin, Show Director of Light + Intelligent Building Middle East, said: For the next three days, Light + Intelligent Building Middle East will be the epicentre of the lighting and building technology industries, with a host of insightful sessions, workshops and show features which will highlight and draw attention to how responsibility is critical in guiding the future of light and buildings.

With over 400 exhibitors and 30 countries represented, and a range of global experts speaking at multiple conferences and forums, we will have a truly international outlook on how we can ensure energy efficiency, promote wellbeing and safeguard the environment.

The opening day saw global thought leaders in lighting converge at the THINKLIGHT Conference. US-based Lauren Dandridge, Principal, Chromatic, delivered the inaugural keynote speech, which was followed by a session focused on master planning of lighting in cities. Emilio Hernandez, Founding Member of Green Lighting, provided a keynote session on circularity, creating products designed to last several lifecycles.

Smart Building Summit

The Smart Building Summit opened with a session on Learnings from COP 28 and the Path to Sustainable Smart Buildings by Dr Ali Al Jassim, Chairperson, Emirates Green Building Council. The summit also featured exclusive sessions discussing key aspects of energy efficiency, AI in buildings and adaptation to climate change led by renowned experts, including Dr Yianni Spanos, Vice President  Sustainability, Expo City Dubai; Dr Ahmad Altarawneh, Senior Digital Transformation Consultant, Dubai Police and Tekha Selim, Vice President & Head of Mena Region, International WELL Building Institute.

The tech-talks at the InSpotLight stage begin on January 17 and will feature speakers from around the world, with the opening session from Jelena Lazarevic, Associate, Foundry London. Today, the audience at the InSpotLight stage witnessed the live judging and presentation of the shortlists for the Product of the Year Awards.

Rounding out the three-day light and intelligent building showcase will be the Light Middle East Awards, now in their tenth year. Over 159 entries have been received in categories including the Project of the Year, Product of the Year and Partner of the Year, and the winning entries will be announced at a prestigious ceremony at the Palazzo Versace Dubai on January 18, 2024.

Over 1,000 brands will be featured at Light + Intelligent Building Middle East across six product categories, which include: 'Technical Lighting', 'Electric Lamps and Components', 'Decorative Lighting', 'Architectural Lighting', 'Electrical Engineering', and 'Smart Home and Building Automation'.--TradeArabia News Service
A general view shows the of headquarters of Banorte Bank in Monterrey

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico's Grupo Financiero Banorte reported on Wednesday a 13% increase in its net profit for the final three months of last year, driven by loan growth and lower costs, and predicted its revenue would grow around 10% in 2024.

Net profit for the financial group, which owns one of the country's largest banks and pension funds, stood at 13.04 billion pesos ($768.8 million) in the final quarter, with revenues up 10% from a year earlier to 34.89 billion pesos.

In a call, Chief Executive Officer Jose Marcos Ramirez said the group's revenue will likely grow by around 10% throughout 2024, as it keeps adding to its portfolio services.

Banorte saw its quarterly loan portfolio expand over 12% from a year earlier, it said in a presentation, attributing this largely to its method of selecting customers.

Return on equity hit 20.9% during the quarter while net interest income (NII), the difference between what banks earn on loans and dole out on deposits, grew 9% year-on-year.

Over the whole of 2023, Banorte reported a net profit up 15% at 52.42 billion pesos, surging on greater credit origination volumes and higher interest rates.

Ramirez added that bank will launch its new digital arm on Jan. 29, noting that this should help the group lure customers looking for only digital solutions.

($1= 16.9666 Mexican pesos at end-December)

(Reporting by Valentine Hilaire and Marion Giraldo; Editing by Sarah Morland and Sonali Paul)
Not a get-rich-quick scheme: This young Chicago mans ah-ha moment in college turned into a $2.3M portfolio  heres how you can build generational wealth through real estate investing

Karun Vij had an ah-ha moment in college that would change his life forever: he came to the realization that his path to financial freedom was to invest in real estate.

Since 2016, Chicago-based Vij  who earns $183,000 a year as a regional sales manager for an automation supplier  has built a portfolio of student rental properties worth $2.3 million.

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This is not a get rich quick scheme; this is a long term investment, the 33-year-old said on CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series. There's some months that you're going to make a lot of money. There's some months you're going to break even, and there's some months that you're going to lose money.

Vijs real estate strategy is buy now, hold forever because once his properties are paid off, the rent he continues to generate will become profit  or, in other words, passive income.

Real estate, to me, is a long-term investment to build generational wealth, he told CNBC. Heres how Vij made his real estate riches  and how you can get a piece of the pie.

Student rentals

Vij first grew interested in real estate investing while studying at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He realized landlords were making a fast buck by renting out bedrooms, instead of full properties.

When I did the math, I realized that by charging per room, you could actually accelerate your gains compared to any other real estate option, he said.

So, while still a student, Vij committed to saving for his first down payment. He completed two, full-year, paid co-op placements, earning around $40,000 at each. He managed to save $100,000, which he then used to buy his first rental property in Hamilton in 2016  an experience he described as the most exciting and nerve-wracking time of my life.

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I got into student rentals because of a few things, he said. No. 1, because you can charge per room. That gives you an opportunity to generate higher profits.

No. 2 is steady demand and steady stream of tenants. You're always going to have demand for that house because colleges and universities don't shut down.

And, No. 3, a lot of people think that one of the negatives is the high turnover because of the shorter-term leases. That is true. But that is also the opportunity for higher gains, because you can now readjust your rent to the current market levels.

However, being a landlord does come with its challenges, Vij admitted. He said he was surprised by the volume of calls he received from tenants and had to learn to prioritize problems and set expectations with people in his properties.

If youre not fully prepared for that, Vij warned: This business could drive you crazy.

Read more: Retire richer  why people who work with a financial advisor retire with an extra $1.3 million

Build out your real estate portfolio

If you share Vijs goals of building real, sustainable wealth through real estate investing, but you hate the idea of being a landlord and dealing with tenants, there are many other ways to get involved.

For example, you can buy shares in a real estate investment trust (REIT). REITs are publicly traded companies that collect rent from all types of tenants  from residential to commercial  and they pass that rent to shareholders in the form of regular dividend payments.

In the case of student housing, the last true REIT in the sector  American Campus Communities, Inc.  was purchased by Blackstone in 2022 for $12.8 billion, after which it went private. But there are many other residential REITs, where you can get exposure to similar income properties.

You may also want to consider online crowdfunding platforms, which allows everyday investors to pool their money to purchase property (or a share of property) as a group. Like REITs, crowdfunding platforms can give investors access to all types of income-producing real estate, from rental properties to large commercial buildings like office towers and retail spaces.

These platforms make real estate investing more accessible to the general public by simplifying the process and lowering the barrier to entry.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
FILE PHOTO: The exterior of the New York Stock Exchange

(Reuters) - The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has withdrawn from the Securities and Exchange Commission a proposal to create a new tradeable asset class called "natural asset companies", or NACs, the commission said on Wednesday.

The asset class was to be based on sustainable enterprises that hold the rights to ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, produced by natural, working, or hybrid lands.

The NYSE, which is owned by Intercontinental Exchange Inc, in 2023 had proposed to the SEC a rule change to adopt the new listing standard.

Intercontinental Exchange did not immediately reply to a request for comment about NYSE's withdrawal of the proposed rule change.

In a press release, Utah State Treasurer Marlo Oaks applauded NYSE's withdrawal of its plan.

"Under the proposal, private interests, including foreign-controlled sovereign wealth funds, could use their capital to purchase or manage farmland, national and state parks, and other mineral-rich areas and stop essential economic activities like farming, grazing, and energy extraction," Oaks said.

(Reporting by Noel Randewich; Editing by Sonali Paul)
OpenAI Doesnt Want to Train on New York Times Data After Lawsuit, Altman Says

(Bloomberg) -- Artificial intelligence doesnt need vast quantities of training data from publishers like The New York Times Co., according to OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman, in a response to allegations his startup is poaching copyrighted material.

Most Read from Bloomberg

There is this belief held by some people that you need all my training data and my training data is so valuable, Altman said Tuesday at Bloomberg House at the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos. Actually, that is generally not the case. We do not want to train on the New York Times data, for example.

The ChatGPT maker is in the midst of a major push to secure access to news content after the Times last month sued the startup and Microsoft Corp., its biggest investor, for allegedly causing billions of dollars in damage over copyright infringement. Such partnerships are key to OpenAIs future as it balances the need for timely, accurate data to develop its models with public scrutiny about where that data is sourced from.

OpenAI is in talks with publishers including CNN, Fox Corp. and Time to license news content, Bloomberg reported last week, citing people familiar with the matter. The companys chief of intellectual property and content previously told Bloomberg that the startup was in the middle of dozens of potential licensing deals.

Read More: OpenAI in Talks With CNN, Fox and Time to License Content

What we want to do with publishers  if they want  is when one of our users says, what happened at Davos today, well be able to say, heres an article from Bloomberg, heres an article from the New York Times, Altman said. Some people want to partner with us, some people dont.

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Prior to the lawsuit, OpenAI and the Times had been in contact since April regarding licensing and failed to reach a deal. The AI company is also facing class action suits from writers including comedian Sarah Silverman, Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, and Pulitzer-winning author Michael Chabon.

Read More: OpenAI in Talks for New Funding at $100 Billion Valuation

Other publishers have been more amenable to cooperation. OpenAI signed an agreement with the Associated Press to access some of the news agencys archives. It cut a three-year deal in December with Axel Springer SE to use the German media companys work for an undisclosed sum.

A lot of our research is how do we learn more from smaller amounts of very high quality data, Altman said.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
BOSTON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Adventurous destinations and specialty cruises are among the latest travel trends for 2024. Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.), the leader in personalized small group and solo travel for Americans ages 50 and older, announced the top three travel trends for the year ahead.

Overseas Adventure Travel logo (PRNewsfoto/Grand Circle Corporation)

"Our mission has always been to change people's lives through travel," said Brian FitzGerald, Chief Executive Officer of O.A.T. "We're seeing more and more travelers seeking unfamiliar destinations, places where they can make deeper cultural connections, witness relatively untouched landscapes, and experience the world in a more immersive and meaningful way."

Top 3 Trends for 2024:

1. Adventurous destinations Today's travelers are more active and seeking out destinations where they have opportunities to take nature hikes, go rafting, visit markets, and participate in local life. Travelers are more willing to get out of their comfort zone to really get to know their destination and return with memories they can cherish. This trend reflects the upsurge in interest O.A.T. has seen in places like Botswana and India. Reservations with O.A.T. for Botswana are up 38% for 2024 compared to 2023, and India is up 169%.

On O.A.T.'s Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari, travelers journey to southern Africa where they will witness the power of Victoria Falls and enjoy game-viewing drives in Chobe National Park. They will also participate in activities like spending A Day in the Life of a Hwange village, where they will learn how locals live, tend to their animals, and raise their crops. O.A.T. travelers on Heart of India visit Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi, and can spend a night in a tented camp in rural Rajasthan to search for Bengal tigers in Ranthambore National Park. O.A.T. also gives travelers the opportunity to go beyond India's iconic sites by including activities like sitting down to a dinner in the home of a family in Jaipur and visiting a local school in a remote Indian village.

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2. Specialty cruises  Travelers want to experience a deeper side of the destinations they visit through their personal passionsfood, art, music, history, or other special interests.

In 2024, Overseas Adventure Travel and Grand Circle Cruise Line are introducing 12 special small ship and river cruise itineraries based on traveler demand for unique itineraries that match their interests.

From sampling tapas in Spain to learning to making pizza in Italy, O.A.T.'s new culinary departures for 2024 have been curated to highlight the rich culinary culture of each destination. For example, travelers will participate in an immersive cooking lesson of a popular Croatian dishstruklia pastry-like delicacy made from stretched pasta, and enjoy the timeless dance of Croatian cheese and wine pairings as they soak up the Mediterranean sun on a special Culinary Cruise departure of O.A.T.'s Enhanced! Hidden Gems of the Dalmatian Coast & Greece Small Ship Adventure. Travelers will sail aboard the 50-passenger M/V Arethusa for 10 nights as they enjoy the legendary cuisines along the Dalmatian Coast.

Other special themed departures include a wine-lovers tour of Europe and a deep dive into Bavarian culture. Travelers can also commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings aboard one of the special departures of Grand Circle Cruise Line's The Seine: Paris to Normandy River Cruise. Exclusive activities include taking part in an in-depth discussion with a local historian, exploring Arromanches-les-Bains, visiting the new D-Day museum, and witnessing the well-preserved German artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer.

3. Solo interest  Solo travel continues to be one of the fastest growing trends across the travel industryand women are leading the charge. In 2019, about 40% of O.A.T. travelers were solo women. So far in 2024, that number has increased to 50%.

O.A.T. has always believed that solo travelers shouldn't have to pay a big premium to explore the world. As the leader in solo travel, O.A.T. offers free single supplements on all Small Group Adventures by land, and free or low-cost single supplements on all Small Ship Adventures. Single supplements are always free on all optional trip extensions. To meet the surge in demand for 2024, O.A.T. is offering 24,000 single spaces across all O.A.T. adventuresand 92% of them have a free single supplement. The remaining 8% have the lowest single supplements in the travel industry.

New Year Savings: Grand Circle family of companies

Now though February 2, 2024, travelers can take advantage of New Year Savings of $750 per person on ANY 2024 departure across Grand Circle's family of travel brands--O.A.T., Grand Circle Cruise Line, and Grand Circle Travel.

Grand Circle Cruise Line itineraries are designed to maximize cultural interactions in groups of 38 travelers on average and offer the lowest per-diems available in river cruising. Grand Circle River Cruises are the most discovery- and value-rich way to traverse Europe's waterways. Our fleet of privately-owned vessels, accommodating 86 to 162 passengers, allows travelers to explore iconic capitals and quaint towns.

Grand Circle Travel offers discovery-rich trips at a comprehensive value. With groups of 30 fellow Americans on average, travelers enjoy a more relaxed paced vacation with lengthier city stayswhich means less packing and unpacking and more time for independent exploring.

To take advantage of limited time New Year Savings, travelers should call 1-800-955-1925 by 2/2/24 and mention code: SAVE2024.

ABOUT OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Established in 1978, Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) is part of Boston-based Grand Circle Corporation's family of travel companies, which also include Grand Circle Cruise Line and Grand Circle Travel. In 1992, owners Alan and Harriet Lewis established the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation to support communities in which Grand Circle works and travels, including some 300 humanitarian, cultural, and educational endeavors worldwideamong them, 100 schools, in 50 countries. The Foundation is an entity of the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation, which has pledged or donated more than $250 million since 1981.

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SOURCE Overseas Adventure Travel
Progress Software (PRGS) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.02 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.91 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.12 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 12.09%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this business software maker would post earnings of $1 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.08, delivering a surprise of 8%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

Progress Software , which belongs to the Zacks Computer - Software industry, posted revenues of $177.52 million for the quarter ended November 2023, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.99%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $159.17 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Progress Software shares have lost about 0.6% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 0.3%.

What's Next for Progress Software?

While Progress Software has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

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Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Progress Software: mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.14 on $180.5 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $4.68 on $730.36 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Computer - Software is currently in the top 42% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

One other stock from the same industry, Pros Holdings (PRO), is yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023.

This pricing and revenue-management software maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.06 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +200%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Pros Holdings' revenues are expected to be $76.66 million, up 8.1% from the year-ago quarter.

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It's common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story even if these companies are loss-making. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad.

If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Fraport (ETR:FRA). While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing.

View our latest analysis for Fraport

Fraport's Improving Profits

In business, profits are a key measure of success; and share prices tend to reflect earnings per share (EPS) performance. So a growing EPS generally brings attention to a company in the eyes of prospective investors. Commendations have to be given in seeing that Fraport grew its EPS from 0.56 to 4.15, in one short year. While it's difficult to sustain growth at that level, it bodes well for the company's outlook for the future. This could point to the business hitting a point of inflection.

Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. The good news is that Fraport is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 9.1 percentage points to 16%, over the last year. Ticking those two boxes is a good sign of growth, in our book.

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.

XTRA:FRA Earnings and Revenue History January 17th 2024

The trick, as an investor, is to find companies that are going to perform well in the future, not just in the past. While crystal balls don't exist, you can check our visualization of consensus analyst forecasts for Fraport's future EPS 100% free.

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Are Fraport Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Does Fraport Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

Fraport's earnings per share have been soaring, with growth rates sky high. We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 2 warning signs for Fraport (1 is potentially serious!) that you need to be mindful of.

Although Fraport certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see companies with insider buying, then check out this handpicked selection of German companies that not only boast of strong growth but have also seen recent insider buying..

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Company digitizes paper-based commercial and military manufacturing operations with next-gen MES and MRO solutions

LAKE FOREST, Calif., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- iBase-t, a leading provider of manufacturing, quality and MRO solutions, today announced that Ratier-Figeac, a propeller systems division of Collins Aerospace, has selected iBase-t's Solumina iSeries Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) solutions at Ratier-Figeac's Figeac, France and Casablanca, Morocco sites. The deployment across the company's A&D and commercial operations will allow Ratier-Figeac to digitalize its paper-based manufacturing processes and improve efficiency and quality control. The adoption will first roll-out across a smaller part of the company's existing facilities before being fully incorporated into a section of the company's production consisting of 1400 employees.

iBase-t Logo (PRNewsfoto/iBase-t)

The France-based A&D manufacturer is a world leader in high-power propellers and equipment, producing parts for leading private and public manufactures and operators including Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, AirFrance, the U.S. Airforce, and French Airforce. Ratier-Figeac's iBase-t Solumina deployment will deliver digital continuity across the company's manufacturing engineering, process planning, shop floor execution, and quality management operations.

"Since our outset constructing early wood propellers more than 100 years ago, our company has been committed to delivering high-performance results for our customers. This requires continued investment in leading-edge technology. The adoption of iBase-t's iSeries solution signifies the next chapter in our operations as we move to embrace digital transformation," said Frederic Deveza, Business Lead of Industry 4.0 Solutions, Ratier-Figeac.

"We are looking forward to helping Ratier-Figeac move beyond a paper-based system to unlock the efficiency that Solumina can deliver within their plants," said Naveen Poonian, CEO, iBase-t. "Our work with Ratier-Figeac will be a significant deployment for iBase-t in EMEA. We are proud to work with another pioneering aerospace and defense manufacturer and look forward to empowering industry leaders across markets."

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Solumina iSeries offers compelling benefits beyond easing how new features and updates are deployed. The iSeries can accelerate adoption of new transformative technologies, including augmented reality and artificial intelligence, as an operations platform to continuously drive performance and efficiency on an ongoing basis. This functionality, coupled with superior UX validated by frontline workers, illustrates the impact of iBase-t's latest MES solution on manufacturers.

About Ratier-Figeac

With a history of more than 100 years, Ratier-Figeac is directly established in the French and global aeronautical landscape. Since its creation in 1904, Ratier-Figeac has been part of the history of the pioneers of French and European aviation. The company has built its reputation and growth on more than a century of aeronautical development to today be a world leader in the field of high-power propellers and a leading equipment supplier for all major clients and aircraft manufacturers. Ratier-Figeac is the decision-making center of Propeller Systems, which is made up of 3 industrial sites. The 57,000 m2 Figeac site hosts the Technical, Operations and all support functions. Ratier-Figeac represents nearly 1,400 employees and is part of Collins Aerospace (RTX).

About iBase-t

iBase-t is a software company that simplifies how complex products are built and maintained. Founded in Southern California in 1986, iBase-t delivers solutions that ensure digital continuity across manufacturing, quality, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations on a global scale. iBase-t's Solumina Manufacturing Operations Platform is a cloud-native solution that establishes a digital ecosystem to drive innovation and improve operational performance. With offices in the U.S., UK, France, and India, iBase-t customers include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rolls-Royce, ArianeGroup, Pratt & Whitney, and Textron. Learn more at ibaset.com

Media Contact

Tom Hennessey

(949) 958-5200

thennessey@ibaset.com

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SOURCE iBase-t
By Gilles Guillaume and Diana Mandia

(Reuters) -Renault on Wednesday reported a 9% increase in annual global sales volumes for 2023, returning to growth after four consecutive years of decline and the French automaker said it was poised to continue performing well in 2024.

In morning trading, Renault shares were down 1.9%, alongside other European automakers whose shares were hit after Tesla slashed prices of its Model Y electric cars in Germany.

Renault had seen its volumes drop nearly 6% in 2022, a year plagued by semiconductor chip shortages, after setting a sales record of 3.88 million vehicles - cars and vans - in 2018.

Renault's sales slump was exacerbated by its exit from the Russian market.

To boost sales, Renault shrank its vehicle range and refocused under CEO Luca de Meo on its most profitable markets and models.

"We are regaining our attractiveness (...) our design is improving, and we also see this in our conquest rates," Fabrice Cambolive, Renault brand general manager told reporters. "The plan is to continue at this same level of performance" in 2024.

The return to growth shows that de Meo's plans have begun to pay off. While the group performance was below the 12% growth posted by Volkswagen, Renault said that its sales in Europe rose 18.6%, above the industry's 13.9% growth for the year.

Europe accounted for 63% of the sales in 2023, but the automaker plans to grow outside Europe with eight new global model launches by 2027.

In a client note, ODDO BHF analyst Michael Foundoukidis described Renault's 2023 sales performance as "relatively robust," saying that the carmaker should be able to outperform the market in 2024 "thanks to the numerous (model) launches planned this year."

Its flagship Renault brand, which accounts for more than two-thirds of group sales, recorded a 9.4% sales increase in 2023, while sales at its low-cost brand Dacia grew 14.7%.

The group's order book in Europe represents 2-1/2 months of forecast sales at the end of December 2023, Renault added.

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Electrified models represented 40% of Renault brand sales in 2023, up from 38% in 2022. Fully-electric models made up 11% of sales.

Asked about supply disruptions caused by attacks in the Red Sea, Cambolive said "we have visibility over the next eight weeks.

"After that we don't know what could happen," he added.

(Reporting by Gilles Guillaume and Diana Mandia, writing by Nick Carey; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Tomasz Janowski)
Mark Carney says scrapped policies should have been replaced - Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Rishi Sunaks decision to water down Britains net zero policies was purely political, Mark Carney has said.

The former Bank of England Governor, who in October publicly endorsed shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, criticised the Prime Minister while being interviewed in Davos.

Mr Carney said: What I didnt like, at least what it looked like to me, is that policies were being taken off the table certainly without replacements being put in and they were being done for purely political signalling purposes.

His remarks come after Mr Sunak last September tore up several net zero targets, such as pushing back a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035.

The former governor, who was put in charge of Threadneedle Street by former chancellor George Osborne in 2013, accused the Prime Minister of poor decision-making.

Mr Carney said: That is not the right environment to keep investment focused and flowing as much as it should. Its also just not good climate policy in my judgment.

The Canadian financier was speaking at a live event hosted by Bloomberg, the media and financial services business of which he recently was made chair.

He previously endorsed Ms Reeves in a video played at the Labour Party Conference last year, as he claimed it was beyond time we put her energy and ideas into action.

However, Labour has since appeared to backtrack on its pledge to spend 28bn a year on green energy projects.

Mr Carney told Bloomberg that the UK boasted one of the worlds most sophisticated frameworks for monitoring climate policies.

However, he said it was crucial that when politicians scrap plans for combating climate change, they must replace them with something better.

He said: If you decide, as the Government did, that the UK is not going to have the moratorium on internal combustion vehicles in 2030, it will be 2035... the simple question should be okay, well, what are you replacing that with?

Mr Carney left his role at the Bank of England in March 2020.

During his term as governor, he angered many voters by saying Brexit would significantly harm the UK economy.

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Chinese premier says China to stay committed to partnership with EU

Xinhua) 08:33, January 17, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to work with the European Union (EU) to stay committed to partnership, stick to dialogue and cooperation, pursue mutual benefit and win-win results, and properly handle differences under the principle of mutual understanding and respect, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Tuesday.

In today's world that is fraught with changes and turbulence, China-EU ties remain stable among major-country relationships, which is a result of joint efforts from both sides, Li said when meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping noted, China-EU ties bear strategic significance and global influence, Li said, adding that deepening relations with the EU is always a diplomatic priority for China.

China is willing to work with the EU to implement the important consensus reached in the China-EU Summit, and make bilateral ties more stable, constructive, reciprocal and global, so as to better promote the prosperity and development of China, the EU and the larger world, he said.

China stands ready to import more products from the EU that align with market demand, and hopes the EU will relax export restrictions on high-tech products to China, he said, adding that it is hoped that the two sides will work together in the same direction to push for more balanced development in bilateral trade.

The Chinese premier noted that China will continue to foster a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized, and is willing to work with the EU to jointly abide by the basic norms governing market economy such as free trade, fair competition and open cooperation.

It is hoped that the EU will uphold justice, compliance and transparency in economic and trade matters, treat Chinese enterprises fairly, and prudently introduce restrictive economic and trade policies and deploy trade remedies, Li said.

He called on the two sides to take the next meeting of the China-EU High-Level People-to-People Dialogue mechanism as an opportunity to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in education, science and technology, culture and tourism, and accelerate the resumption of personnel exchanges, so as to inject new vitality into China-EU relations.

For her part, von der Leyen said the EU appreciates China's continuous opening up and does not intend to decouple from China.

She said the EU is ready to strengthen dialogue and communication with China and work with China to deepen cooperation in tackling climate change and promoting the reform of the World Trade Organization, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and push for further development of EU-China relations.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Saudi-listed Acwa Power, the world's largest private water desalination firm, said its consortium with top construction group Hassan Allam has signed a 25-year usufruct agreement with Egypts New and Renewable Energy Authority for the development of a 1.1 GW wind energy project in the country.

One of the world's largest onshore wind energy initiatives being set up at an investment of $1.5 billion, it aims to reduce 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 annually.

The consortium will work during the projects development phase to complete site studies and secure project financing in the Gulf of Suez and Jabal Al-Zeit regions.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Dr Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of Egypt, Hassan Allam Utilities, Minister Plenipotentiary Abdulrahman bin Salem Al Dahas and Deputy Ambassador of di Arabia in Cairo, Amjad Saeed.

As per the deal, the Acwa Power-led consortium will help secure financing and also find land for the massive new wind farm built across the Gulf of Suez and Gebel al-Zeit, in an ambitious project that aims to be a powerhouse of clean energy in both Egypt and the Middle East.

The wind farm will boast 220 m tall turbines, that will power up to 1.08 million homes while eliminating 2.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year thus playing a crucial role in providing a cleaner and more sustainable future.-TradeArabia News Service
SINGAPORE, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) today published its 2023 Sustainability Report detailing the company's sustainability progress and outcomes, and how Rockwell is partnering across the manufacturing industry and communities worldwide to create sustainable impact and change.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions to manufacturers in more than 100 countries.

"We've been improving the efficiency of industrial processes for more than 120 years, which includes making the most of scarce resources," said Rockwell Automation Chairman & CEO Blake Moret. "Today, our technology and expertise help manufacturers in diverse industries address the complex challenge of making high-quality products at scale while minimizing negative impacts on the environment."

Smart manufacturing technologies play a critical role in driving Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and sustainability success. Survey results from the company's 8th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report indicate the driving factor for manufacturers to pursue sustainability and ESG policies and programs is to improve efficiencies, confirming that sustainability is critical for operational improvement and profitability.

Rockwell's 2023 progress on its ESG journey

In addition to showcasing how Rockwell supports customers' sustainability efforts with its innovative, sustainable products and solutions, the report also highlights the company's ESG initiatives and programs that are making Rockwell more sustainable while at the same time fostering a culture that empowers employees to operate safely, sustainably, and responsibly.

In 2020, Rockwell announced its goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 (Scope 1 and 2 emissions). The report discusses the company's work toward this goal, and includes information about Rockwell's Scope 3 emissions baseline, explaining that indirect emissions from its value chain represent 99% of its Scope 3 carbon footprint.

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The report highlights new 2023 ESG initiatives, including:

UN Global Compact: The company joined the UN Global Compact and the report discusses the eight UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on which Rockwell believes it can have the greatest impact.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Rockwell joined this partnership between the United Nations Global Compact, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which is designed to address corporate climate action.

Product Design for Sustainability: The creation of a new team responsible for the integration of sustainability design principles, measurement criteria, and requirements into common product development processes.

Partnering to build sustainable communities

Advanced manufacturing is creating demand for people who have the knowledge and skills to optimize technology, yet workforce and skill shortages continue to impact companies across every industry. The 2023 Sustainability Report underscores the work the company is doing to help create a skilled, engaged workforce that is comfortable using these tools, and the importance of partnering across government, educational institutions, and industry to develop needed workforce skills, now and in the future.

"In a time when workforce and skill shortages impact manufacturers in every industry, enabling people to become comfortable with the newest technology and giving them opportunities to upskill along the way can be the difference between success and failure," said Moret.

He added, "When a human-centric approach is applied to technology implementation, we see improvement in nearly every aspect of the manufacturing operationfrom efficiency to worker safetydelivering results that have a positive impact on both the bottom line and sustainability."

Learn more in Rockwell Automation's 2023 Sustainability Report.

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SOURCE Rockwell Automation
(Bloomberg) -- With almost half of the worlds population heading to the polls in a national election in 2024, leaders at the World Economic Forum are grappling with how the arrival of ChatGPT will affect these democracies  and how governments will in turn regulate AI. Leaders in artificial intelligence including OpenAIs Sam Altman and Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates weighed in this week at Davos, the gilded annual conference where billionaires hold forth on global problems. While all said they took the threat of artificial intelligence on elections seriously, there was a split in whether they thought major disruption was likely.Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella somewhat downplayed the risks. Its not like this is the first election where disinformation, or misinformation, and election interference is going to be a real challenge that we all have to tackle, he said, speaking at Bloomberg House at Davos on Tuesday.

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Later in the day Altman echoed that sentiment but expressed more uncertainty. I dont think this will be the same as before, he said. Its always a mistake to try to fight the last war.Altman and Nadella spoke the day after the first major caucus of the US presidential elections, with former President Donald Trump scoring an easy win over his fellow Republicans. ChatGPT wasnt available the last time the US went to the polls, and theres growing concern that -- besides making it easier to write code or craft emails -- generative AI tools could be used to produce disinformation and faked images that unfairly sway voters. In a warning about whats to come, videos featuring AI-generated deepfake voices of politicians spread widely ahead of the Slovak parliamentary elections last year. They were shared on sites including Meta Platforms Inc.s Facebook and Instagram, and messaging apps like Telegram that include audio impersonating political opponents, Reset, a research group that looks at technologys impact on democracy, said in a report at the time.One video included a fake, two-minute long clip of a party leader appearing to discuss buying votes. But the audio file was synthesized by an AI tool trained on samples of his voice. At Davos, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates predicted that with generative AI tools, bad guys will be more productive, speaking in an interview with Bloombergs Francine Lacqua.

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Meanwhile, Salesforce Inc. CEO Marc Benioff suggested social media poses a bigger risk to the democratic process than AI does. Regulators have not done their job, he said.

OpenAI, which counts Microsoft as its largest investor, is quite focused, Altman said, on reducing the potential for political misuse of its tools, such as ChatGPT and Dall-E.

Altman and Nadella attended a meeting in May with US Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss AI risks. OpenAI will soon release for testing a tool that can identify AI-generated content and will digitally watermark material generated by Dall-E, the startup said Monday. It reiterated that use of OpenAI models for political campaigning isnt allowed.

Our mind is not at ease, Altman said. Were going to have to watch this incredibly closely this year.

As for how politics will impact AI, Altman was less concerned. I believe that America is going to be fine no matter what happens in this election. I believe that AI is going to be fine no matter what happens after this election, he said.

OpenAIs vice president of global affairs, Anna Makanju, said shes encouraged by proposed regulation being put forward by President Joe Biden and the European Union. What has struck me and has been really remarkable is that the conversation around AI has remained very bipartisan, she said.

Altman agreed, sort of: Both parties hate it.

--With assistance from Isabella Ward.

(Updates with additional context about the US election and disinformation tactics throughout)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
From what we can see, insiders were net buyers in Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:SASR ) during the past 12 months. That is, insiders acquired the stock in greater numbers than they sold it.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

See our latest analysis for Sandy Spring Bancorp

Sandy Spring Bancorp Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Independent Director Craig Ruppert for US$303k worth of shares, at about US$24.86 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, at around the current price, which is US$25.28. Of course they may have changed their mind. But this suggests they are optimistic. While we always like to see insider buying, it's less meaningful if the purchases were made at much lower prices, as the opportunity they saw may have passed. The good news for Sandy Spring Bancorp share holders is that an insider was buying at near the current price. Craig Ruppert was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months.

You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Sandy Spring Bancorp is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Insider Ownership

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It appears that Sandy Spring Bancorp insiders own 3.3% of the company, worth about US$38m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About Sandy Spring Bancorp Insiders?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Sandy Spring Bancorp shares in the last quarter. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Sandy Spring Bancorp insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. To assist with this, we've discovered 1 warning sign that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Sandy Spring Bancorp.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

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.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Under the visionary leadership of Cheah Chyuan Yong, the International Strategy Institute (ISI) proudly declares the successful conclusion of two groundbreaking global conferences: the 12th World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF) and the World Anti-Corruption Conference 2023 (WACC). These events, held in China and Indonesia respectively, marked pivotal milestones in fostering international collaboration, creating opportunities, and building relationships with a focus on empowerment and a business growth mindset. For more details: www.istrategyglobal.org.

Cheah Chyuan Yong, Founder and Chairman, International Strategy Institute (ISI)

The 12th World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF), hosted in Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province, China this year has successfully concluded with nearly 300 participants from around the globe, marking another milestone in promoting global economic collaboration and dialogue. Cheah Chyuan Yong mentioned during his speech that WCEF not only commemorated the significance of 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia next year, but also served as prelude to a year-long celebration for these partnerships. The panel discussions delved into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and investment opportunities in Qingtian County.

WCEF will continue to strive for its mission and legacy next year, encouraging collaborative spirit for economic advancement and innovative alliances for shared growth.

The World Anti-Corruption Conference 2023 (WACC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, convened global leaders, experts, and practitioners at the Royal Kuningan Hotel. The theme, "Towards a Corrupt-Free Future: Strengthening Global Governance Together," spurred insightful discussions. Keynote speaker Chief Commissioner of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Azam Baki graced the opening ceremony. During the conference, multiple discussions highlighted the importance of ethical conduct and interagency cooperation from speakers coming from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Australia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. Cheah Chyuan Yong concluded the conference during the closing ceremony address with 200 participants, declaring WACC as an annual global initiative, dedicated to combating corruption and emphasizing role of empowerment in strengthening anti-corruption efforts.

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Upcoming Events: Inter-Regional Business Forum (IRBF) and World Islamic Trade Forum (WITF)

The ISI, under Cheah Chyuan Yong's leadership, is gearing up to host the Inter-Regional Business Forum (IRBF) on March 7th and 8th, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In collaboration with GRULAC countries, the event aims to strengthen economic ties between Latin America-The Caribbean and Southeast Asian countries, creating a global corridor for enhanced business collaboration.

Additionally, the World Islamic Trade Forum (WITF) will converge on the theme "United by Innovation: Building Resilient Islamic Economies", will be happening on 23rd April next year in Dubai. This event recognizes the vast potential and various aspects of the Islamic economy, focusing on innovation, Halal industry, sustainable development, and youth empowerment. These forums exemplify ISI's commitment to fostering global partnerships, addressing critical issues, and advancing economic development on a global scale.

For further enquires please contact: info@istrategyglobal.org

About ISI:

The International Strategy Institute (ISI) is a non-profit organization led by Cheah Chyuan Yong, dedicated to fostering international collaboration and addressing global challenges through strategic forums and initiatives.

International Strategy Institute (ISI) Logo

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SOURCE International Strategic Institute (ISI)
ABC Impact Fund II launched in August 2023 with support from new investors that include a Southeast Asian sovereign wealth fund, and existing partners

Fund II AUM now exceeds US$550 million, with final close expected in 2024

Fund I launched in 2019 and has invested in 11 portfolio companies to build a robust track record with measurable and evidence-based outcomes

SINGAPORE, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ABC Impact, Asia's leading impact private equity firm, is pleased to announce the successful first closing of its second impact fund, ABC Impact Fund II. Launched in August 2023, ABC Impact Fund II has garnered support from new investors, notably a Southeast Asian sovereign wealth fund. Bolstered by the track record of its inaugural fund, ABC Impact has also received significant backing from existing partners, including Temasek Trust, Temasek, SeaTown Holdings, and Mapletree Investments. Fund II Assets Under Management (AUM) now exceeds US$550 million, with the final close expected in 2024.

"We are pleased to achieve the first closing of ABC Impact Fund II with strong support from both our new and existing partners. The robust interest in Fund II is a validation of the strategy embedded in our inaugural fund. With a steadfast commitment to disciplined and evidence-based impact investing, we are particularly encouraged by the enthusiasm of new investors joining our mission. As we continue to drive meaningful change through our portfolio of purposeful companies, we look forward to more like-minded partners joining us," said David Heng, CEO of ABC Impact.

Established in 2019, ABC Impact's core mission is to generate positive and measurable social or environmental outcomes in Asia while delivering compelling risk-adjusted returns for investors. The firm's inaugural US$300 million fund has been strategically deployed across various sectors, including financial and digital inclusion, better health and education, climate and water solutions, and sustainable food and agriculture. The positive outcomes generated since inception have played a pivotal role in attracting investors keen on contributing to impactful and sustainable investment initiatives.

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ABC Impact Fund I Has Delivered Robust Track Record and Evidence-based Outcomes

Since its inception, ABC Impact Fund I has invested in 11 portfolio companies and is nearing full deployment. The portfolio showcases impact-driven companies addressing environmental and societal challenges through innovative solutions. In 2022, the fund achieved a successful exit from Sunseap, a Singapore-based solar company.

In Its latest impact report released in March 2023, the Fund disclosed the following impact outcomes:

20.26M people supplied with essential services

2.04M patients provided access to healthcare services

7.78M students provided access to quality education content digitally

31,747 stakeholders benefited from autism therapy services

2.64M individuals & micro-enterprises gained access to financial services

7.76M farmers globally gained access to customised farming advice and information

1.68M metric tonnes of CO 2 emissions avoided

42.6B litres of water saved through avoidance of livestock agriculture

Committing To Impact Standards

As a leading impact investor driving outcomes for Asia, ABC Impact actively participates in globally recognized impact industry initiatives. In 2022, the firm became a signatory to the Operating Principles for Impact Management ("Impact Principles"), committing to a global standard for impact investing. ABC Impact also engaged BlueMark, a Tideline company, for an independent verification of its impact management practices aligned with the Impact Principles. ABC Impact is also a signatory of the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investments.

In 2023, ABC Impact achieved B Corp Certification, affirming its commitment to responsible practices. The firm has also joined 2X Global, supporting gender equality and diversity at the fund and portfolio levels, with ABC Impact Fund I aligned with 2X criteria. Additionally, ABC Impact is part of the ESG Data Convergence Initiative, contributing to the creation of a standardized set of ESG metrics and a mechanism for comparative reporting among private companies.

Anticipated Fund Closure

ABC Impact Fund II is expected to hold its final close in 2024, marking a significant milestone for ABC Impact as it continues to advance sustainable solutions and drive positive transformations in Asia. The fund is poised to further expand its impact-driven initiatives across the region.

ABC Impact remains steadfast in its dedication to advancing its mission, leveraging the collective expertise and resources of its partners to make a lasting and positive impact on communities and the environment.

For inquiries:

Jeffrey Fang

jfang@eleven.com.sg

About ABC Impact

ABC Impact is a Singapore-headquartered and Asia-focused private equity fund dedicated to impact investing. We invest in companies that drive positive change by addressing the world's most pressing challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and deepening inequality. Our investment themes include financial and digital inclusion, better health and education, climate and water solutions, and sustainable food and agricultures.

We believe that investing with an impact lens demonstrates the positive power of private capital and can help to foster more innovative and resilient companies that deliver societal and environmental benefits. We are a disciplined investor with a rigorous and evidence-based impact assessment approach that aims to generate positive and measurable social or environmental outcomes, alongside a compelling risk-adjusted return for our investors.

Established in 2019, we are a division of Temasek Trust Asset Management Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based global asset management firm. Our founding investors are Temasek Trust, Temasek, Pavilion Capital, Mapletree Investments, SeaTown Holdings, SP Group, and Sembcorp Industries.

ABC Impact is a signatory of the Operating Principles for Impact Management and the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment. ABC Impact became B Corp Certified in 2023 by meeting high standards of social & environmental performance, transparency & accountability.

Our annual impact report, "Shaping the Climate for Impact", is available at www.abcimpact.com.sg/impactreport2022

For more information, please visit www.abcimpact.com.sg.

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SOURCE ABC Impact
SINGAPORE, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore-based global digital banking group Tyme has achieved an annualised revenue run rate of SG $215 million in 2023, as its flagship South African operation TymeBank becomes the world's fastest profitable standalone digital bank.

Coenraad Jonker, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Tyme Group

This puts TymeBank in the top 5 percent of digital banks globally, with a study by global consultancy Simon-Kucher finding that fewer than 5 percent of digital banks around the world are profitable.

TymeBank also qualifies as one of the world's fastest-growing digital banks, as it secured 8.5 million customers since its launch in February 2019 and achieved 30 percent growth in its SME lending portfolio in 2023.

In contrast, the majority of digital banks take far longer to become profitable.

Tyme's Philippines operation GoTyme Bank , a joint venture with the Gokongwei Group, has also reached 2.3 million customers in just 14 months, beating even Tyme's South Africa operation, and made Tyme's successful merchant cash advance product available to the 1.1 million MSME businesses located in the Philippines .

The Philippines is expected to experience the highest rise in neobank adoption globally, with 32 percent of its population predicted to be using neobanking by 2027 - a 161 percent increase from its 2023 adoption rate of 13 percent, indicating an enormous opportunity for Tyme.

This rapid growth brings Tyme's total customer numbers to 10.8 million globally, and aligns strongly with the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) goal of establishing Singapore as a key global financial center in Asia, fostering global market connections, and aiding Asia's development broadly.

Tyme Group attributes its record-breaking success to a unique strategy it employs in its target emerging markets:

A high-tech / high-touch approach that combines digital banking channels with the human touch of kiosks and banking ambassadors in partnership with nation-wide retailers

A goal of creating the most affordable banking offering in the market, with a cost structure of ~10 percent of the incumbents

Consistent innovation in tech, product, and customer experience; and the launch of regular "firsts", such as the ability to open a full bank account and secure a personalized debit card in under 5 minutes, its interest-free Grant Advance product for government to person payments, and its buy-now-pay-later product MoreTyme through TymeBank, when the concept was relatively unknown in South Africa

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This growth is enabled by continued investor confidence in the Group, as evidenced by its $77.8 million pre-Series C raise in 2023, and investment by anchor shareholder Dr Patrice Motsepe's African Rainbow Capital ('ARC'), Tencent , British International Investment (BII) , Apis Growth Fund II ('Apis'), and Norrsken22 , among others.

This level of investor support and exceptional growth is expected to continue through 2024 and beyond according to Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Tyme Group, Coenraad Jonker.

Coenraad Jonker said: "We are proud of our growth in emerging markets, as we bring critical financial access to individuals and businesses. These markets are significantly underserved compared to more established markets, representing enormous growth opportunities for Tyme Group.

"Our ambition is to become one of the top three retail banks in every market we enter, beginning with TymeBank in South Africa. Our proven track record of rapid growth, consistent product innovation and 'firsts', investor confidence and, now, profitability put us on track to achieve this audacious goal.

"This underscores Singapore's expanding role and expertise in the fintech domain as a center for financial innovation and technology. Tyme is proud to be part of solidifying Singapore's standing in the global financial landscape, as it cultivates a progressive and dynamic financial sector in line with MAS's strategic vision."

Tyme Group next plans to launch its SME cash advance products in Vietnam in coming months, where SMEs account for over 97 percent of all companies nationwide, but only 25 percent have access to affordable banking services.

It relocated its corporate headquarters to Singapore in 2021 in recognition of it being Asia's innovation and fintech hub, where Tyme Group believes it can best realise its vision of unlocking financial access and empowerment for everyone, especially those in emerging markets.

For interview requests and queries please contact:

Singapore: Resh Shekar, Resh@ThirdHemisphere.agency, +65 8797 8415

About Tyme Group ( www.tyme.com )

Tyme Group is a multi-country digital banking group, focused on serving consumers and SMEs in emerging markets. Headquartered in Singapore, with a technology and product development hub in Vietnam, Tyme designs, builds, and operates digital banks for the mass market, providing access to affordable, quality financial services for consumers and small businesses across the economic spectrum. Tyme recognises the unique challenges of banking in emerging markets, and leverages technology innovatively, through a high tech-high touch approach, to meet the needs of its emerging mass market customers. It launched its second digital bank, GoTyme Bank, in the Philippines, in partnership with the Gokongwei Group, in October 2022. Across the Group, Tyme now serves almost 11 million customers.

About TymeBank ( www.tymebank.co.za )

TymeBank is currently one of the world's fastest-growing digital banks, with over 8.5 million customers since launching in February 2019. The bank is founded on simplicity, transparency and affordability and is designed to make digital banking accessible and affordable to all South Africans across the economic spectrum. TymeBank has no monthly banking fees, it takes less than five minutes to open an account and in most cases transaction costs are 30 to 50% lower than what customers would pay at other local banks. Through a distribution partnership with Pick n Pay, Boxer, and TFG stores, TymeBank has over 1,000 kiosks and 15,000 retail points in retail stores across the country. Retail Capital, a division of TymeBank, is the largest SME funder of its kind in the sector.

TymeBank's anchor shareholder is Dr Patrice Motsepe's African Rainbow Capital ('ARC'). Other investors include Tencent, British International Investment (BII), Apis Growth Fund II ('Apis'), the Gokongwei Group, Norrsken22, the management investment vehicle Africa Fig Tree (AFT), and the Ethos AI Fund. TymeBank is a member of the Tyme Group of companies with headquarters in Singapore.

It has rolled out a series of innovations, with some highlights as follows:

Grant Advance: a facility that offers South Africa's government-to-person grant recipients early access to their funds without any additional fees or interest, this solution furthers our commitment to serving all segments of our South African population. The vast majority (78%) of Grant Advance customers are caregivers, while 13% rely on old age grants and 10% on disability grants.

MoreTyme: now the most accessible Buy-Now-Pay-Later product in South Africa, with more than 5,500 physical stores and 1,200 e-commerce sites equipped to accept MoreTyme transactions.

Merchant Cash Advance: through TymeBank's recent acquisition of South Africa's largest digital SME lender Retail Capital, the Bank is now one of the leading unsecured merchant funders to SMEs in South Africa. TymeBank now funds over 50,000 businesses; its funding portfolio has grown by ~30% since the Retail Capital business was acquired in December 2022. GoTymeBank launched the merchant cash advance product in the Philippines in November 2023.

About GoTyme ( https://www.gotyme.com.ph )

GoTyme Bank is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and is a joint venture of Tyme, a multi-country digital banking group, with members of the Gokongwei Group of companies, namely Robinsons Bank, Robinsons Land Corporation, and Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. GoTyme Bank aims to unlock its customers' financial potential with the convenience and security of digital banking. With a high-tech / high-touch approach, GoTyme Bank combines the ease of immediate account opening with a personalized debit card released through kiosks located in shopping malls throughout the Philippines, plus the power of self-serve financial solutions accessible through an intuitive "all in one" banking app. These, along with other industry-leading offerings, set GoTyme Bank on track to revolutionize banking in the Philippines.

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By Rajesh Kumar Singh

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Spirit Airlines faces tough choices about its future including looking for another buyer and finding other ways to shore up its finances after a federal judge on Tuesday blocked its $3.8 billion merger deal with JetBlue Airways, industry experts said.

The ultra low-cost carrier has been struggling to return to sustainable profitability amid rising operating costs and persistent supply-chain problems. That has raised concerns about the company's ability to repay its debt that is due to mature next year.

The airline this month completed a series of sale and leaseback transactions covering dozens of planes in a bid to repay about $465 million of debt on those jets.

But with a recovery in earnings not in sight, some analysts said the company might consider a bankruptcy filing to clean up its balance sheet and reorganize into a financially stronger airline.

Helane Becker, airline analyst at TD Cowen, said Spirit is likely to look for another buyer, but that a more likely scenario is a Chapter 11 filing, followed by a liquidation. She said the recent capital raise has given the company funds to self-finance a potential Chapter 11 filing.

"We recognize this sounds alarmist and harsh," Becker said. "But the reality is we believe there are limited scenarios that enable Spirit to restructure."

The airline is expected to burn cash over the next several years and will have to continue to raise capital to survive, said Conor Cunningham, an analyst at Melius Research.

"The path forward for Spirit turns to survivability," Cunningham said.

Asked to comment, a Spirit spokesperson referred to the company's recent capital raise but did not elaborate. The company had no other immediate comment.

The airline has been among the carriers hardest hit by a snag with RTX's Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines. It is the largest operator of GTF-powered aircraft in the United States.

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As a result, it had to ground a number of planes last year. The number of grounded planes is estimated to climb steadily in 2024, from 13 in January to 41 in December.

Meanwhile, excess industry capacity in its key markets is hurting its pricing power, forcing the company to indulge in promotional activity with steep discounting to fill up its planes.

After its third-quarter earnings last October, Florida-based Spirit said it was evaluating its growth profile as it faced softer demand.

Analysts at Seaport Research Partners downgraded the company's shares after the court's ruling, citing "the lack of a credible path to profitability."

Spirit's woes had led to a sell-off in its stock, raising worries about the impact on JetBlue's balance sheet after the merger. With Spirit's shares losing nearly half of their value since JetBlue won its takeover battle, some analysts wondered if that would prompt JetBlue to renegotiate the terms of the deal.

Spirit's shares plunged 47% on Tuesday after the court's ruling, while JetBlue's shares gained about 5%.

Another option would be to find a way to placate the Justice Department's competition concerns created by the JetBlue deal. The judge who presided over the case had at one point questioned whether further asset divestitures would allow the deal to pass muster. But a lawyer for the U.S. Justice Department said the only remedy was "a full-stop injunction that would restore competition."

Analysts also raised the possibility that rival Frontier Airlines, which had lost out in a fierce bidding war, could again make a bid.

Bill Franke, whose airline-focused private equity firm Indigo Partners owns 82% of Frontier, had not ruled out making a fresh bid for Spirit if the transaction with JetBlue failed to close. Frontier declined to comment.

"Spirit has to figure out its Plan C," said Henry Harteveldt, founder of travel consultancy Atmosphere Research Group. "Plan A was to merge with Frontier, Plan B became a merger with JetBlue."

(Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Editing by Chris Sanders and Matthew Lewis)
Philip Pilosian/Shutterstock

A federal judge blocked the JetBlue-Spirit merger, sending Spirit shares crashing over 60%.

"The elimination of Spirit would harm cost-conscious travelers who rely on Spirit's low fares."

The ruling is a major win for the Biden administration, which had sued to stop the deal.

Spirit Airlines shares tanked as much as 60% on Tuesday after a federal judge in Boston blocked JetBlue Airways' $3.8 billion proposed takeover.

The merger would have produced the fifth-largest airline, and the Justice Department filed a lawsuit back in March last year to stop the deal, alleging it would boost ticket prices for the most cost-conscious consumers.

"The elimination of Spirit would harm cost-conscious travelers who rely on Spirit's low fares," Judge William Young wrote in the opinion. "Spirit has, since 2017, offered prices consistently lower than JetBlue and the legacy airlines."

The Spirit deal was announced in 2022 after a months-long battle between Frontier and JetBlue to buy the budget airline  and almost immediately came under federal scrutiny.

The DOJ, doubling down on its antitrust stance, has brought several corporations to court recently, including Google. Another arm of the government, the FTC, has also been cracking down on large companies, alleging giants like Amazon operate like virtual monopolies.

And the airline industry is a big part of that story. The DOJ and Judge Young said that a wave of mergers in the sector has concentrated the market into the hands of a few companies.

In fact, American, United, Delta, and Southwest control about 80% of the US market.

"The airline industry is an oligopoly that has become more concentrated due to a series of mergers in the first decades of the twenty-first century, with a small group of firms in control of the vast majority of the market," Young wrote in Tuesday's opinion.

Following the news about the deal, JetBlue stock rocketed up by 12% to $5.33 a share. It's now trading at around $5.01.

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For their part, JetBlue and Spirit said in a statement that they disagree with the judge's decision and are evaluating next steps.

"We continue to believe that our combination is the best opportunity to increase much needed competition and choice by bringing low fares and great service to more customers in more markets while enhancing our ability to compete with the dominant US carriers," the airlines added. "JetBlue's termination of the Northeast Alliance and commitment to significant divestitures have removed any reasonable anti-competitive concerns that the Department of Justice raised."

Read the original article on Business Insider
13 BIOCERA-VET  references now available in Germany, the largest companion animal health market in Europe

Attendance to Leipzig Veterinary Congress, the biggest event of the country

Presentation of the BIOCERA-VET range at two open lectures

GOSSELIES, Belgium & WALLONIA, Belgium, January 17, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

TheraVet (ISIN: BE0974387194  ticker: ALVET) (Paris:ALVET), a pioneering company in the management of osteoarticular diseases in pets, announces today the commercial launch of its BIOCERA-VET products in Germany.

With a total pet population of 27 million (of which 10.3 million dogs and 16.7 million cats) and a pet ownership of 47%1, Germany is the dominating companion animal market in Europe. Driven by the growing number of mixed-breed dogs in Germany, demand for animal health products and services is expected to increase significantly, with an estimated average annual growth rate of 4.5% over the next 6 years (2024-2029) 2.

To support this launch, the Company is attending the Leipzig Veterinary Congress, the biggest event for veterinary medicine in the German-speaking area, taking place in Leipzig from January 18th to 20th. The last edition gathered 5,600 attendees coming from Germany and abroad. The Company assists to this event along with AWEX (Wallonia Export & Investment Agency) in the context of a mission dedicated to the Animal Health.

The Company will also have the chance to present the product line during 2 open lectures: first, on January 18th dedicated to on BIOCERA-VET OSTEOSARCOMA, a new solution in limb-sparing management in canine osteosarcoma and, a second on January 19th on BIOCERA-VET BONE SURGERY line.

The BIOCERA-VET full range is now available via our webshop www.bioceravet.com.

About TheraVet SA

TheraVet is a veterinary biotechnology company specializing in osteoarticular treatments for companion animals. The Company develops targeted, safe and effective treatments to improve the quality of life of pets suffering from joint and bone diseases. For pet owners, the health of their pets is a major concern and TheraVets mission is to address the need for innovative and curative treatments. TheraVet works closely with international opinion leaders in order to provide a more effective response to ever-growing needs in the field of veterinary medicine. TheraVet is listed on Euronext Growth Paris and Brussels, has its head office in Belgium (Gosselies) with a US subsidiary.

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For more information, visit the TheraVet website or follow us on LinkedIn / Facebook / Twitter

About BIOCERA-VET

In close collaboration with an international scientific board, THERAVET has developed a new line of calcium-phosphate and biological bone substitutes, BIOCERA-VET. BIOCERA-VET is a full range of innovative, easy-to-use, efficient & cost-effective bone substitutes indicated in bone surgeries where a bone graft is required and as a palliative alternative in the management of canine osteosarcoma. Based on extremely promising clinical results, this line offers the possibility of a better, more convenient and more efficient orthopedic surgery.

BIOCERA-VET is declined in different lines:

BIOCERA-VET  BONE SURGERY RTU, a ready-to-use highly injectable self-hardening calcium-phosphate cement

BIOCERA-VET  SMARTGRAFT, a naturally osteoconductive bone graft

BIOCERA-VET  GRANULES, an affordable biocompatible calcium-phosphate bone substitute

BIOCERA-VET  OSTEOSARCOMA RTU, a ready-to-use highly injectable calcium-phosphate bone substitute for cementoplasty

BIOCERA-VET COMBO-CLEAN, a local and long-lasting antibiotic delivery calcium-phosphate bone substitute

For more information, visit BIOCERA-VET website.

________________

1 Der Deutsche Heimtiermarkt, 2021

2 https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/germany-veterinary-healthcare-market-industry/market-size

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116305140/en/

Contacts

TheraVet

Chief Operating Officer

Sabrina Ena

investors@thera.vet

Tel: +32 (0) 71 96 00 43

NewCap

Investor Relations and Financial Communications

Theo Martin / Nicolas Fossiez

theravet@newcap.eu

Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Press Relations

Arthur Rouille

theravet@newcap.eu

Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15

NewCap Belgique

Press Relations

Laure-Eve Monfort

lemonfort@newcap.fr

Tel: + 32 (0) 489 57 76 52
The global smart buildings market is poised for solid growth and is expected to increase in value from $96 billion in 2023 to an estimated $408 billion by 2030, said an expert at the ongoing Light + Intelligent Building Middle East expo being held in Dubai.

Spanning three halls and denoting a 75% growth in event space and a 128% growth in exhibitor numbers from last year, over 400 international exhibitors will showcase the latest trends, innovations and technologies in the lighting, electrical engineering and smart building sectors during the three-day showcase.

The Light + Intelligent Building Middle East, the regions largest exhibition for lighting and building technology, kicked off yesterday (January 16) and will run until January 18 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The second edition of the Smart Building Summit is also being held on the sidelines of Light + Intelligent Building Middle East, with insights from a range of experts highlighting the potential growth of the industry and the path to creating sustainable smart buildings.

Speaking at the event, Grace Najjar, CEO of Align Management Solutions, said as construction and real estate account for 40% of carbon emissions, government support of sustainable building sectors could save around $4.8 trillion globally over the next three years, and the building sector will see an average CO2 emissions reduction of 6% per year until 2025.

"We have a unique opportunity to delve into why the era of smart buildings is upon us and how it is reshaping our environment for the better. Dubai, one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, is home to more than 150 skyscrapers, including the world's tallest building," she stated.

Under Dubais Clean energy strategy, the country will produce 75 per cent of its energy from clean energy sources by 2050, noted Najjar.

"Dubai aims to become the city with the smallest carbon footprint in the world. Developing smart and sustainable buildings will be critical to this success," she added.

According to her, the Middle East stands out at the forefront of this global shift, with forward-looking cities and countries known for benchmark setting.

"Smart buildings are leaving a positive legacy as they focus on long-term success on wellbeing, technical excellence, ambition, contemporary and flexible design, outstanding innovation, user experience, as well as digitalisation and collaboration," observed Najjar.

Meanwhile, Dr Ali Jassim, Chairperson, Emirates Green Building Council, discussed the path to sustainable smart buildings during the Smart Building Summit opening session at Light + Intelligent Building Middle East.

As well as highlighting their potential to reduce emissions and resource consumption, he also discussed COP28s role in shaping building regulations.

Elsewhere on the Smart Building summit agenda were sessions including Healthy Buildings and Communities Contribute to a Healthier Planet; Smart Cities, Smarter Buildings: Expo Citys Sustainable Development Story; Unleashing the Power of AI in Buildings; Revolutionising Energy Efficiency and Occupant Satisfaction; and Dark and smart cities of North.-TradeArabia News Service
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Uchi Technologies Berhad fair value estimate is RM3.00

Current share price of RM3.77 suggests Uchi Technologies Berhad is potentially 26% overvalued

Analyst price target for UCHITEC is RM3.61, which is 21% above our fair value estimate

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Uchi Technologies Berhad (KLSE:UCHITEC) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Uchi Technologies Berhad

The Method

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM111.5m RM114.9m RM114.7m RM115.8m RM117.8m RM120.5m RM123.7m RM127.3m RM131.3m RM135.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -0.15% Est @ 0.96% Est @ 1.74% Est @ 2.28% Est @ 2.66% Est @ 2.93% Est @ 3.12% Est @ 3.25% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 11% RM101 RM93.3 RM84.0 RM76.5 RM70.1 RM64.6 RM59.8 RM55.5 RM51.6 RM48.0

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM704m

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM136m (1 + 3.6%)  (11% 3.6%) = RM1.9b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM1.9b ( 1 + 11%)10= RM673m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM1.4b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM3.8, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. 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:UCHITEC Discounted Cash Flow January 17th 2024

Important Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Uchi Technologies 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 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.083. 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 Uchi Technologies Berhad

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Currently debt free.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year is below its 5-year average.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Electronic market.

Opportunity

Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by earnings.

Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years.

Moving On:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. 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. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. What is the reason for the share price exceeding the intrinsic value? For Uchi Technologies Berhad, we've put together three further items you should consider:

Risks: You should be aware of the 3 warning signs for Uchi Technologies Berhad (2 can't be ignored!) we've uncovered before considering an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does UCHITEC'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.
BOSTON (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday blocked JetBlue Airways' planned $3.8 billion acquisition of ultra-low cost carrier Spirit Airlines after agreeing with the U.S. Department of Justice that the combination would be anticompetitive.

JetBlue's lawyers had called the case a "misguided" challenge to a merger of the nation's sixth- and seventh- largest airlines, which combined would control 10.2% of a domestic market dominated by four larger airlines.

Spirit's shares fell about 5% in premarket trading on Wednesday, after closing down about 47% on Tuesday after the ruling. JetBlue shares were steady after ending about 5% higher.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge William Young in Boston marked a victory for the White House in its efforts to prevent further concentration of the U.S. airline industry and raises questions about the viability of another recently proposed deal, Alaska Air's acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.

President Joe Biden, who has made boosting airline competition a top priority, called the ruling "a victory for consumers everywhere who want lower prices and more choices."

The ruling finding the deal violated U.S. antitrust law also called into question Spirit's future. The ultra-low-cost carrier has struggled to turn a profit amid a run-up in operating costs and persistent supply chain problems.

Young said that while a combined JetBlue-Spirit would likely place "stronger competitive pressure" on larger carriers that dominate the domestic airline market, "the consumers that rely on Spirit's unique, low-price model would likely be harmed."

He said the deal would eliminate Spirit's low fares and its ability to put pressure on other higher-priced airlines, including JetBlue, to cut prices. Rivals on average cut prices 7% to 11% when Spirit enters a market, he said.

"The government has demonstrated that consumers value Spirit flights as a unique, economical product option," Young wrote. "The removal of Spirit as an option for consumers, therefore, would constitute a cognizable harm."

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Spirit Airlines and jetBlue Airways logos

The airlines can appeal the ruling. In a joint statement, JetBlue and Spirit said they were evaluating "next steps as part of the legal process."

In a note to employees on Tuesday, JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes and chief operating officer Joanna Geraghty added, "One way or another, be assured: JetBlue has a bright future.

"If we need to move forward without Spirit, we will invigorate our standalone organic plan, continuing to fight for more market share and win customers from the big airlines."

They said "conditions remain difficult for smaller airlines like ours. We need everyones support to get back to profitability."

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland called the ruling "a victory for tens of millions of travelers who would have faced higher fares and fewer choices had the proposed merger between JetBlue and Spirit been allowed to move forward."

While Young ruled in the Justice Department's favor, he did not go as far as the government had asked and broadly bar any combination of the two companies, saying he was only going to block the deal "as it currently stands."

The judge, who had questioned whether further asset divestitures could make the deal work, said, "The courthouse doors remain open, should the defendant airlines decide to try again."

Some investors and analysts had expressed concerns in the past that Spirit's troubles could hurt JetBlue after the merger. Some analysts had also suggested JetBlue renegotiate the deal, citing the fall in Spirit's share price even before Tuesday's ruling.

The Justice Department, along with Democratic state attorney generals from six states, had said that allowing JetBlue to absorb its no-frills, budget rival Spirit would "extinguish a vital source of low-cost competitive disruption along more than 375 routes," causing nearly $1 billion of net harm a year to consumers.

The four larger U.S. carriers - United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines - control 80% of the market after a series of airline mergers the federal government blessed.

Spirit was the first U.S. domestic carrier to allow passengers to pick the features of flights they pay for, such as checked bags and food and drink service. Its model has pushed competing airlines to slash prices, the Justice Department said.

JetBlue is a higher-cost airline than Spirit. But it has historically maintained a low-cost model compared with larger airlines and been able to similarly pressure larger airlines to reduce prices when it launches a new route.

The New York-based airline had sought to tackle U.S. regulators' concerns by agreeing to divest gates and slots at key airports in New York City; Boston; Newark, New Jersey; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Justice Department's case is part of a broader push by the Biden administration to aggressively step up antitrust enforcement, an initiative that has had mixed court results.

JetBlue was already the focus of one of its earlier cases, with a different Boston judge, Leo Sorokin, in May siding with the government in finding that JetBlue's U.S. Northeast partnership with American Airlines violated antitrust law.

JetBlue subsequently decided to terminate the alliance. American Airlines is appealing Sorokin's decision.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, David Shepardson in Washington and Rajesh Kumar Singh in ChicagoEditing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Anna Driver and Matthew Lewis)
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Vortex Metals Inc. (TSXV: VMS) (FSE: DM8) (OTCQB: VMSSF) is pleased to provide a summary of significant 2023 achievements and unveils its growth strategy for 2024, aiming to enhance shareholder value.

Vortex Metals Logo (CNW Group/Vortex Metals)

2023 Highlights:

New Project Acquisition and Expansion of Asset Portfolio

Illapel Copper Project Agreement: Vortex signed a Definitive Agreement to acquire up to 80% ownership in the Illapel Copper Project, in Chile's Choapa province. The Definitive Agreement provides the Company with exposure to a significant copper asset in a premier mining jurisdiction.

Chile is the world's largest copper producer and the Illapel project is in a known mining area surrounded by multiple producers. Former BHP Latin America, Exploration Manager for copper, and member of the board of directors for Vortex Metals, Dr. John Larson, will be overseeing the upcoming drill program at the Illapel project.

Project & Environmental Work in Mexico

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) Completion: At the Riqueza Marina & Zaachila projects in Oaxaca, Mexico, comprehensive environmental assessments have been completed. The assessments included detailed trenching, sampling, and mapping Pending community approval, these assessments, will form the basis of an Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) report, to be submitted to the Federal Environmental Office, SEMARNAT for drill permits.

Surface Geological Work Completion: At Riqueza Marina, Vortex completed extensive geological work at the Rhyolite Dome area and, on the copper-rich gossans to the east and west. A total of six trenches measuring 188 meters and yielding 117 rock chip samples were completed. The comprehensive program greatly enhanced the understanding of the gravity and magnetic surveys previously conducted, which revealed a significant geophysical anomaly adjacent to a rhyolitic dome and multiple drill targets along the 5km gossan zone.

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Community Engagement in Mexico

The Company engaged well known Community Relations expert Jose Mario Rios to engage with the local communities at both Zaachila and the Riqueza Marina Projects. As a result, stakeholders (in seven communities and their authorities) have been engaged regarding the proposed mineral exploration activities. Vortex anticipates that both Assemblies will be in a position to address the community approval required for obtaining drilling permits in Q1/Q2.

Global Presence and Market Expansion in 2023

Vortex participated in the CM-Equities Conference in Munich, Germany, and the 121 Mining Conferences in New York and London, providing an opportunity to expand our shareholders and investor base.

The company obtained listing on the OTCQB market in the United States, as well as commenced trading Germany on the FSE, broadening our global outreach.

Looking Ahead in 2024

CEO Vikas Ranjan commented: "We believe that 2024 will be a key year for Vortex, as the company will be advancing towards permitting both VMS projects in Mexico while advancing the highly prospective brownfield Illapel project in Chile. The Illapel project is adjacent to the Rio 27 mine, which has processed approximately 400,000 tonnes of ore at an average grade of 1.39% copper. Our senior geologist John Larson has identified highly prospective drill targets adjacent to and along the strike from the Rio 27 mine. We are excited to begin the process of first phase of drilling once the transaction is approved by the TSX Venture Exchange.

2024 Catalysts

Illapel Project Drill-Ready Targets: Vortex has identified the first-phase drilling targets on the fully permitted Illapel Project:

Advancing Zaachila & Riqueza Marina Projects: The Company will continue to engage with the local communities at Zaachila and Riqueza Marina. We are confident that it will lead to a strong social license benefitting both the Communities and the company for years to come as Vortex advances the exploration and potential discovery of an entirely new copper-gold Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) belt in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico."

The Company also announces that it has granted 750,000 options at a strike price of C$0.10 to several consultants and to Independent Board Members. Management will not be participating in this option grant. These options will vest quarterly over a period of one year.

As we enter 2024, Vortex Metals is powered by a dedicated team of scientists and executives, focused on delivering substantial value to our stakeholders. We are grateful to our shareholders for their continued trust and support in our journey towards a prosperous future. Vortex intends to actively market the Company in 2024, a schedule of events will be released shortly.

About Vortex Metals Inc.

Vortex Metals Inc. is the parent company of Mexican subsidiary Empresa Minera Acagold, S.A. de C.V., which is the owner of a 100% interest in two drill-ready high-potential copper volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) properties (Riqueza Marina and Zaachila) in the state of Oaxaca, and a third high-potential gold property (El Rescate) in the state of Puebla. The Oaxaca projects incorporate the most highly prospective areas of high-grade copper mineralized surface exposures ('gossans') and prominent gravity anomalies along an emerging copper VMS belt that includes Minaurum Gold's (TSXV:MGG) Santa Marta project.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward looking statements that are made as of the date hereof and are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions which involve risks and uncertainties associated with our business including permitting approvals, any private placement financings, the uncertainty as to whether further exploration will result in the target(s) being delineated as a mineral resource, capital expenditures, operating costs, mineral resources, recovery rates, grades and prices, estimated goals, expansion and growth of the business and operations, plans and references to the Company's future successes with its business and the economic environment in which the business operates. All such statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. Any statements contained herein that are statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as several factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent annual MD&A and the Company's continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . The Company does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The Company cautions that mineralization on, or production from, neighbouring properties is no guarantee of the existence of similar mineralization or a guarantee of future production from the Illapel Project.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vortex-metals-recap-of-2023-milestones-and-outline-of-2024-catalysts-302036876.html

SOURCE Vortex Metals
Warren Buffett. Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Fortune/Time Inc

Boeing's plane-door blowout is bad news for a subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

Precision Castparts counts Boeing as a key customer and was hit by the manufacturer's past fiascos.

Buffett has previously underlined the need for Boeing to quickly fix its problems.

A maker of plane parts owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway stands to lose from Boeing's latest fiasco.

A door blew off a Boeing plane mid-flight this month, prompting federal regulators to indefinitely ground 171 of Boeing's 737 Max 9 aircraft. Berkshire-owned Precision Castparts, a manufacturer of industrial components, counts Boeing among its biggest customers.

Boeing's string of high-profile incidents in recent years has resulted in delayed orders, production halts, and increased scrutiny of its aircraft. The door-plug debacle threatens to throw another wrench into Boeing's manufacturing machine, which could have knock-on effects on Precision's business.

Precision has suffered from Boeing's previous problems. The key aerospace division was hit by production delays in Boeing's 737 Max and 787 programs in 2019, 2020, and 2021, Berkshire's annual report last year said. Boeing's 737 Max fleet was grounded worldwide after two fatal crashes, and the company faced quality issues with the 787.

Greg Abel, Berkshire's head of non-insurance operations and Buffett's planned successor as CEO, underlined the close links between Precision and Boeing during the annual shareholder meeting in 2020. Precision's bosses were having weekly calls with Boeing managers to gauge the scale of production orders and adjust their business in response, he said.

Buffett also emphasized the significance of the plane maker to Berkshire during that meeting.

"If you think about Boeing, it is one hell of a company and it's important," he said. "It's a huge exporter and it affects a lot of jobs. And some of them are with us."

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Unsurprisingly, Buffett has called on Boeing to rapidly address its issues in the past. "Obviously, Boeing has a lot of work to do very promptly," he told CNBC in 2019.

It's fair to say that Boeing's latest fiasco is bad news for Precision. Berkshire paid over $32 billion to acquire the business in 2016, and it generated $7.5 billion in revenues and $1.2 billion in pre-tax revenues in 2022, making it one of the conglomerate's larger subsidiaries. Buffett and his team will be hoping Boeing cleans up its mess as soon as possible.

Precision didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. A Boeing spokesperson directed Business Insider to a microsite of 737 updates and statements, the latest of which promises more quality inspections, a greater team focus on quality, and independent assessments.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A federal judge sharply reduced a jurys $36 million punitive damage award against Werner Enterprises in a disability discrimination case.

Citing a statutory cap on such awards, Senior U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard on Jan. 10 reduced the award to $300,000, plus $35,682.25 in back pay.

The case was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of a driver against Drivers Management and Werner Enterprises.

Last September, a jury determined that Werner discriminated against Victor Robinson on the basis of him being deaf. The jury awarded $75,000 for Robinsons pain and suffering and $36 million in punitive damages.

Lawyers for Werner had argued that Robinson could not complete the trainer-observed over-the-road component of Werners training program. The company argued it could not hire inexperienced deaf drivers because of safety concerns.

But the jury found Robinson qualified and able to perform the essential functions of the job with a reasonable accommodation.

Gerrard also ordered Werner Enterprises, for a period of three years, to report to the court in writing every six months the name and contact information for any hearing-impaired applicant for an over-the-road truck driving position.

The company must report whether the applicant was hired, the basis for declining to hire, whether the driver was still employed after six months and, if not, the reason for the separation.

After the jury decision last year, Werner issued a statement saying the company prides itself on fostering an inclusive workplace.

The company operates with the mantra that nothing we do is worth getting hurt or hurting others, whether that be its professional drivers, customers or the motoring public at large, it said.
Colorado Springs will say goodbye to the arctic temps Wednesday and welcome back warmer weather with expected highs in the 50s.

"What a difference a day makes as we finally say goodbye to the Arctic air, and welcome back some 40s and 50s to southern Colorado this afternoon," meteorologist Alan Rose with Gazette news partner KOAA, said.

"Part of the reason for the warmth today is some energy moving into the state. Snow will return to the mountains this afternoon, but with a west-east flow aloft; the plains will see dry skies due to the downslope flow. In Colorado Springs today, wind gusts will be around 20-30 mph, with stronger gusts in the mountains, Wet Mountain Valley, and Arkansas River Valley this afternoon."

Expect sunny skies Wednesday and a high near 52 degrees. Winds from the northwest will range between 15 to 20 mph in the morning.

Looking ahead to Wednesday night, expect partly cloudy skies and a low of 22 degrees.

According to Rose, a second cold front will begin moving into the Pikes Peak region Thursday night, bringing back cooler temps to the area.

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"Thursday's forecast will be a tricky one as our next cold front will drop into the Pikes Peak region. Right now, it looks like the cold front will push through our area around the lunch hour, which should give us enough time to reach our daytime high of 47 degrees. You'll feel the front once it passes through as afternoon temperatures will cool pretty quickly, and along with the cool down, we'll also see northerly wind gusts around 20-30 mph," Rose said, adding that Colorado Springs will return to the single digits Friday morning.

"Behind the front, Friday will be cold. Our Friday morning low will be in the single digits, with our high that afternoon only in the 20s. Cool weather will linger on Saturday before we see a return to the 50s on Sunday."

Here's the full forecast from the National Weather Service.

Thursday: Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of 46 degrees.

Friday: Expect partly sunny conditions and a high of 30 degrees.

Saturday: Partly sunny conditions are in the forecast and a high of 43 degrees.

Sunday: Expect partly sunny skies and a high of 51 degrees.
An in-patient psychiatric hospital in Colorado Springs failed to provide a hazard-free workplace and destroyed video evidence attesting to employees claims of repeated violence within the facility, a federal investigation has found.

Cedar Springs Hospital and its parent company in Pennsylvania have been ordered by a federal administrative judge to pay the maximum fine allowed statutorily for serious violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

The 110-bed treatment center for mentally ill children, teens and adults inadequately protected employees from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm, according to a final report issued last month and obtained by The Gazette.

Employees reported suffering serious injuries from workplace violence, including concussions, sprains, bruising and other injuries to the head and torso.

The investigation by the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration also found that the hospital destroyed relevant video evidence in blatantly irresponsible behavior and failed to provide the worksites injury and illness records to an authorized representative within a reasonable time from the request.

As a result, the Occupational Safety and Health Commission levied sanctions and another financial penalty, for a total of $15,000 in fines.

The nearly four-year case began in 2019. In June 2020, the hospital system contested the findings, alleging misconduct on the part of OSHA and challenging the commissions scope of authority.

Those objections were rejected, with the report concluding, Misconduct claims do not withstand scrutiny and are dismissed with prejudice. There was ample evidence to support the citations.

Cedar Springs Hospital plans to appeal the OSHA ruling, Christina Reynoso, director of business development, said Tuesday.

Cedar Springs operates as a subsidiary of Psychiatric Solutions Hospital, which is a subsidiary of Universal Health Services Inc. The latter is a publicly traded company that includes the subsidiary, UHS of Delaware, in Pennsylvania, which provides management services to Cedar Springs and other behavioral health hospitals in the nation.

UHS-DE was named in the complaint from Colorado Springs and has lost other judgments before the commission, including workplace-violence cases against Suncoast Behavioral Health Center, a psychiatric facility in Bradenton, Fla., and at Fuller Hospital in Attleboro, Mass. The company recently was cited for labor violations at Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Former Cedar Springs employee Luke Peil of Colorado Springs was among several workers included in the complaint, which came about after a whistleblower reported to OSHA repeated incidents of violence within the facility.

It was not unusual for workers to be struck by patients. Workers were punched, bitten, kicked, scratched and had hair pulled. Such assaults frequently occurred, with many injuries resulting from the violence, the commissions report states. Some episodes resulted in head and eye injuries, and a high number of injuries serious enough to require lengthy days away from work and restricted duty.

While the nearly 160-page report acknowledges that There is no existing  OSHA standard for preventing workplace violence in health care, it states that workplace violence hazards can be sufficiently mitigated.

However, mitigation at Cedar Springs during the inspection that began in November 2019 and continued into 2020 was inadequate and failed to reduce the hazard to the extent feasible, the report said.

Cedar Springs OSHA logs showed that workplace violence accounted for 73% of recorded injuries.

Peil said while he worked at Cedar Springs as a mental health technician from 2018 to 2021, he witnessed patients physically attacking other patients and staff in the eight-unit facility.

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So, I was consistently called in on codes, he said. We had to almost always physically deescalate the situation at that point.

Orderlies such as Peil also served as security detail, he said, as there were no official security officers.

It was not unusual for patients to find ways to enter nurses stations, where they jumped on desks, bit, hit and kicked staff, and stole office supplies, the report states.

Employees mentioned understaffing as a continuing problem.

There were times when theyd have two techs and one nurse for 30 kids, Peil said. Its impossible for two people to monitor all of those patients and keep them safe.

Charge nurse Melissa Drawdy told investigators that having one nurse and one mental health specialist working on a unit with 12-14 patients was inadequate to maintain staff safety.

Administrators were aware of injuries occurring particularly when staff were alone with patients in care units, the report noted. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment found in 2018 that Cedar Springs workers were left alone and injuries were occurring often from a lack of employees.

In 2019, a supervisor instructed staff to call police when a patient, after attempting to elope, began bashing a workers head onto the concrete outside of the care unit, the report said.

OSHA investigators also found dangerous materials and contraband being brought into the facility, including a large butcher knife. The majority of patients arrive via ambulance and taken directly to a care unit, where there were no metal detectors at the start of the OSHA investigation.

The need to yell for help  because phones were only available at the nurses stations and two-way radio communication was limited  after verbal deescalation failed and physical restraint became necessary  were noted, as well.

Missing video would have backed either administrators' claims that calling out for assistance was sufficient, with a typical response time of 42 seconds, or, as workers claimed, it would take several minutes to receive help on an incident that involved worker injuries.

Over four days during the investigation, a highly aggressive patient was restrained 14 times after choking an employee, punching another on the chest and body, forcing open a window, throwing hot chocolate at several staff, kicking a housekeeper, and punching and head-butting other workers.

Among the hospitals policies, immediate notification of the administrator on call was required for patient injuries but not worker injuries, the report said.

The citation recommends feasible and effective improvements to abate the hazardous conditions, including reconfiguring nurse stations to prevent patients from entering them; providing communication devices and silent alert signals for employees; better identifying and securing contraband; conducting debriefings after violent episodes; staffing for changes in acuity and caseload; and designating specific staff with specialized training as security guards.

Peil said he now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxieties he attributes to having worked at Cedar Springs.

In fact, he said the experience was so traumatic it drove him to another industry: information technology.

The administration didnt care about its employees or patients safety, Peil said. It seemed like they had a different priority than the people working there. Their priority seemed to be cutting corners and making money.

I hope things are safer there now, because they werent willing to make changes on their own.
The past few days' extreme cold weather has put a strain on Colorado Springs' plumbing, keeping the Colorado Springs Fire Department busy with calls as temperatures rise and water damage presents itself.

The CSFD said that crews had been called out to at least 25 burst water pipes or sprinkler heads, including one in the fire department's headquarters, since Jan. 12. CSFD spokesperson Ashley Franco said that crews were actively responding to six calls at the same time Tuesday afternoon.

"We're just getting dispatched nonstop to these calls," she said.

Franco said that water damage caused by expansion in freezing pipes can often not become a problem until temperatures rise and water melts enough to cause a leak. She said that the CSFD expected even more calls into Wednesday as the weather becomes milder.

"As soon as these temperatures start to warm up ... we expect and prepare to get very busy," she said.

The Fire Department's main objective when responding to a water call is to look for structural damage, especially in a space like an apartment building where a burst pipe could compromise lower floors, Franco said. She said crews also try to clean up water damage with squeegees.

Soaring Eagles Community School in District 2 was one of the plumbing casualties this weekend. A email went out to parents on Sunday warning that a water fire line burst, damaging five classrooms and several other rooms.

"We have Restoration Services specialists and experts on-site and have determined there is no way to hold school on Tuesday, January 16th," the email said.

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The school said it plans to reopen Wednesday.

Franco said that people experiencing a water damage emergency can call 911, though the department prefers that people use the CSFD nonemergency line to conserve resources. The CSFD nonemergency number is 719-444-7000.

Once the fire department has come out to turn off the water and assess the damage, fixing the burst pipe requires repairs. Ed Buss, owner of Always Plumbing and Heating in Colorado Springs, said he is getting calls "about every 15 minutes" for burst pipes in a variety of settings including commercial spaces, single-family homes, apartments and trailers.

He said that with temperatures still on the rise, people "might not even realize yet" that their pipe has burst.

"A lot of times people have to go to work and their pipes are still frozen, so they don't know until they get back," he said.

Buss said he planned on receiving a high quantity of calls for service into the week as problems presented themselves. He said that plumbing companies were also receiving a backlog of requests that might mean longer wait times.

He said that once a pipe is burst, the main action to take is to turn off the water. For a frozen pipe, keeping the faucet on might help relieve pressure.

Franco said that despite safety tips like leaving cabinets open and faucets running, sometimes damage is unavoidable and unexpected.

"A lot of times, it's a lot of water all at once," she said.
El Paso County property owners can expect to receive their property tax bills a little later this year, giving them less time to pay those taxes by the usual deadlines.

The Colorado Legislature recently adopted new laws during a special session before the new year to reduce the property assessment ratio and increase the amount homeowners can claim for exemption when calculating tax liability. The changes have delayed the due date by which counties must certify county tax rolls to Jan. 24. The cutoff is usually Jan. 10.

El Paso County Treasurer Chuck Broerman's office anticipates tax statements won't be produced until the first week of February, according to the county treasurer's website.

The delay in sending out property tax bills allows counties more time to certify their mill levies  the tax rate applied to the assessed value of a property  and gives county assessors more time to gather data, Broerman said in a news release Tuesday.

Property owners must still pay their property taxes by the usual dates. Legislators did not extend payment deadlines so special districts like fire districts, school districts and other public entities have the revenues they need to operate, Broerman said in the release.

Residents who choose to pay their balance all at once must do so by April 30.

Residents opting to split their property tax payments into two installments must pay the first half of the balance by Feb. 29 and the second half by June 17.

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The city of Colorado Springs and El Paso County have put in place temporary reductions to the city's and county's property tax rates to stay within the limits of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. Officials have said the reductions will save taxpayers millions this year.

El Paso County commissioners this month voted to reduce the county property tax by a total of $20.5 million, or by almost 20%. Colorado Springs' property tax cap is expected to save taxpayers in the city a total $6.2 million this year.

Property owners can sign up to receive their property tax bills electronically on the treasurer's website at treasurer.elpasoco.com/request-for-electronic-statement-delivery.

Property tax statements will be accessible directly through the El Paso County treasurer's website, treasurer.elpasoco.com.

Property owners who aren't signed up to receive their tax statements electronically will receive them in the mail by mid-February, Broerman said in the release.

Property tax amounts will be available after Feb. 9. Visit treasurer.elpasoco.com and click on the "Real estate property tax search and online payments" link under the "Online services" section near the center of the webpage.

If property owners have a mortgage and are escrowing property taxes, the balances due will be directly provided to mortgage servicers by Feb. 9, Broerman said.
Horrific images from the war in Gaza and Hamas' refusal to release Israeli hostages have sparked outrage and protests among Americans who have taken up Israeli or Palestinian flags.

A recent high-profile example of this in Colorado was the pro-Palestinian protests that briefly shut down the state legislature last week.

For Kris Bauman, professor of national security studies at the Air Force Academy, picking sides in the conflict is counter to establishing peace and security for both groups. Bauman shared his insights last week at the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, as the war approached its 100th day on Sunday.

Bauman served in the White House on the National Security Council as director for Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian and Egyptian affairs and shared both historical and on-the-ground context going back to the beginning of Jewish immigration back to the region.

The Romans massacred much of the Jewish population and exiled them from their traditional homeland in about 70 A.D.

Around the turn of the 20th century, Jews in Europe started popularizing the idea of building a new Jewish state and buying land in what was then called Palestine because of intense antisemitism, Bauman explained. World War II and the Holocaust prompted far more Jews to leave Europe for Palestinian land and other countries.

By 1947, Jews owned about 6% of the land area. Then when Britain left the territory, the United Nations' Special Committee on Palestine recommended that Israel receive 52% of the land. Following that decision, Israeli forces began ethnically cleansing Palestinians, leading to the Arab-Israeli War.

Israel won the war with better equipment and training in 1949, Bauman said, but did not allow Palestinians to return home.

"It made it possible for there to be a Jewish democratic state of Israel. And it created the Palestinian refugee crisis at the same time. And we're still living with that today," Bauman said.

After the 1967 Six Day War, the Israelis also began to occupy much of the remaining land controlled by Palestinians, laying the foundation for the major power imbalance that led to Hamas' attacks on Oct. 7.

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"When, throughout history, whenever you've had a massive asymmetry between two parties in conflict, the party with much less power is going to resort to something like terrorism," Bauman said, noting throughout his talk that an explanation is not justification for the violence.

The Israeli government was warned about the attacks that would kill 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, but did not heed the warning, he said. The attacks retraumatized the whole state and made Israelis feel unsafe in their own homes, and that's why retribution has been so intense.

"They have to be able to claim some kind of defeat of Hamas," he said of the Israeli government.

The Associated Press reported Sunday that nearly 24,000 Palestinians have died in the war and a quarter of the population has been pushed into starvation. At the same time, Hamas is holding more than 100 Israeli hostages.

The United States has been pushing for Israel to ease its bombing and transition to a low-intensity operation, the AP reported.

Before the conflict ends, Bauman said planning needs to start on a way to give the Palestinian people economically viable land and independent government.

Most Israeli governments have done everything they can to undermine Palestinian governance, to the point where many Palestinians have given up on a second state and would prefer just to participate in Israeli elections, he said. But that would do away with the Jewish democracy that the Israelis want.

So there needs to be commitment to a two-state solution.

"Some folks will say, 'how can you talk about a two-state outcome? How can you talk about a peace process when Oct. 7 just happened? How can you possibly talk about that?'" Bauman said "My argument is that Oct. 7 happened exactly because we have refused to take seriously talking about this."

It will likely take decades to resolve the conflict, he said, but it must start with broader understanding.

"When people understand both sides of the conflict, and they are able to articulate both sides of the conflict and they're able to tell their elected leaders that there are two sides of this conflict, that can begin to change the equation," he said.
Motorists traveling along the 18-mile stretch of Interstate 25 between Monument and Castle Rock will have to pay to use the new express lanes built on the northbound and southbound directions of the corridor starting Wednesday.

Toll charges along the so-called I-25 South Gap will go into effect at 6 a.m., Colorado Department of Transportation spokesman Tim Hoover said Thursday. From that day on, drivers in each direction will have the option to use the express lane in exchange for a toll or use the other two general purpose lanes for free.

The Colorado Transportation Investment Office recently approved the rates, using an adjustable pricing system so express lane users will pay different prices depending on the time of day.

"These are very basic time-of-day tolls tied to historic traffic levels at those times on those days. Higher the traffic, higher the toll. Lower the traffic, lower the toll," Hoover told The Gazette in previous coverage.

The tolls will go live a little more than two years after the state transportation department opened the new express lanes in early December 2021 and implemented a testing period in 2022 and 2023, during which toll fees were temporarily waived.

For vehicles traveling both segments of the corridor  the first from Monument to Larkspur and the second from Larkspur to Castle Rock  trips will range from $1.50-$9.46 each, depending on the time of day and whether the vehicle is registered under an Express Toll account, an all-electronic toll collection system available for Colorado's express lanes as well as E-470 and Northwest Parkway.

Motorcyclists and vehicles with three or more people can use the express lanes for free. Carpooling vehicles must have a driver plus at least two additional passengers, an Express Toll account and a switchable HOV transponder to use the express lanes for free, Hoover said.

Drivers can visit ExpressToll.com to create an account and/or purchase a switchable HOV transponder.

Trucks with four or more axles may also use the express lanes, but must pay a $25 surcharge on top of the tolls. The agency charges large trucks more because they're slower-moving, put greater wear and tear on road infrastructure and can create visibility issues when traveling on the left side of the roadway, which can make it more difficult for other vehicles trying to pass, Hoover said.

Motorists who have an Express Toll account will save about 40% more when using the express lanes than motorists who don't have an account, he said. Vehicles not registered with an Express Toll account pay the toll plus a surcharge to process the license plate.

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The express lane rates for the I-25 South Gap are the lowest rate per mile in Colorado and are also among the lowest in the country, Hoover said.

Express Toll rates along the I-25 South Gap range between 70 cents to $2, depending on the time of day and which segment or segments of the corridor a vehicle travels.

That's compared with, for example, express toll rates to use east- and westbound Central 70 between I-25 and Chambers Road in Aurora, which range from $1.50 to $4.50, depending on the time of day. Another example is the Express Toll rates on I-25 Central, from downtown Denver to U.S. 36, which range from $1.25 to $7.15, depending on the time of day.

Hoover said drivers using the I-25 South Gap express lanes can expect a time savings of between 20%-50%.

"If it was going to be a 40-minute trip, maybe it's now just going to be a 30-minute trip or a 20-minute trip. It can make a huge difference," he said.

Hoover reminded drivers that speed limits are no higher in the express lanes than in the general purpose lanes. Travelers should always adhere to posted speeds.

"Just because you're going the speed limit doesn't mean you're not going faster than traffic in other lanes. The point of the express lanes is to give you a reliable trip time," he said.

Hoover also reminded motorists the express lanes are not passing lanes and should not be used as such. Drivers can enter and exit the express lanes through the dashed lines only. Passing the solid white lines is illegal and dangerous due to the differences in speed between the express lanes and general purpose lanes, he said.

Drivers who cross the solid white lines into and out of the express lanes will receive a civil penalty and a $75 fine for the violation. The Colorado Department of Transportation has anti-weaving equipment to catch vehicles weaving in and out of the express lanes, Hoover said.

For more information on Colorado express lanes and how to use them, to see a map of Colorado's express lanes and for more toll information, visit codot.gov/programs/expresslanes.
Alujain Corporation, a leading Saudi petrochemicals, energy, mining and metals company, said it has signed an agreement with Basell International Holdings, a subsidiary of New York-listed LyondellBasell Industries, for the sale of a 35% stake in its subsidiary, National Petrochemical Industrial Company (Natpet), for nearly SAR1.87 billion ($500 million).

The agreement covers selling a 35% stake, representing 37.45 million shares in Natpets capital, to Basell International, as part of a comprehensive joint venture arrangement, said the company in a statement.

The strategic partnership agreement was signed today (January 16) at the Ministry of Energy headquarters in Riyadh in the presence of Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The agreement outlines Basell's acquisition of a 35% stake in Alujain National Company for Industries (under development), focused on establishing a petrochemical complex with an investment cost of SAR7.5 billion.

This comes after completing the current detailed engineering design (FEED) phase and evaluating the economic feasibility study for the new project, and obtaining the necessary approvals to invest in the new project, which will achieve the strategic goals of the two partners.

This agreement is poised to make a substantial contribution to the realization of Saudi Vision 2030 goals, aiming to maximize added value to the national economy within the sector.

According to Alujain, the project is expected to play a crucial role in producing local speciality plastics, aligning with localization plans for the automotive, electronics, pipes, batteries, and construction industries.

This partnership follows the Ministry of Energy's approval for the allocation of necessary feedstock to establish the new Alujain Company project.

The project includes a propylene production plant, a polypropylene production plant, and a complex for the production of compounds and specialized materials from polypropylene, marking a significant milestone as these will be produced for the first time in the Kingdom.

Additionally, the plan involves linking the two production units at Natpet with the new company project to enhance the reliability, production efficiency, and overall economic performance of both projects.

Alujains ownership in Natpet at the date of signing this agreement stands at 98.7% of the total shares.

A closed joint stock company with its head office and propylene/polypropylene complex in Yanbu Industrial City, Natpet has a production capacity of 400,000 tonnes per annum of polypropylene.

The authorized and paid-up capital comprised 107 million shares of SAR10 per share and the book value of the company stands at SAR2.53 billion as of November 30, 2023.

Once the deal is completed, Alujain will receive approximately SAR1.87 billion in cash. The deal is expected to be completed once the terms of the agreement are met and the relevant approvals are obtained.-TradeArabia News Service
Lauren Major, assistant principal at Wildflower Elementary School, was prepared to spend a career in elementary classrooms until a mentor convinced her that she could impact a greater number of students if she worked in an administrative role.

I never wanted to be an administrator, but Im glad I chose this path, she said. Still, I dont feel like Ive done anything truly impressive.

The Colorado Association of School Executives would beg to differ.

Major, who has worked in Harrison School District 2 for 15 years, was recently named Outstanding Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year for being an exceptional fixer, helper and leader, according to CASE officials.

I just feel lucky that I get to do this job, she said. I couldnt imagine that someone would want to give me an award for it.

Major caught the teaching bug during her freshman year at Indiana University, where she originally majored in fashion merchandising. After interacting with students during an education class, I couldnt imagine doing anything else but teaching, she said.

After she graduated, Major returned to her Cincinnati hometown, where she taught third grade for two years. In 2008, she moved to Colorado to be closer to her sister and began teaching in the Harrison school district.

A few years later, Majors mentor and friend Barbara Swaby suggested that she consider pivoting to administration. Major was initially skeptical.

(Swaby) told me, You got into this profession to make a difference. Think of the bigger, broader impact you could make if you tried administration, she said.

Major earned a masters degree at Regis University in 2013 and began working as an assistant principal at Stratton Meadows Elementary School in 2014.

Being an administrator has been a blessing, she said. Its been a blessing to work alongside teachers and colleagues, but still be in a building around kids all day. Its the best of both worlds.

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Majors hands-on approach to administration has produced immediate results everywhere shes gone, which is why the district has moved her to a new school every two years since 2014.

Anything I do  that is of any importance at all  is service related. Whether its serving students or serving families, or serving my teachers, thats what its all about. So if the district needs me to go to a different school every two years, then thats what I will do.

For Major, no job is too big or too small, as long as it benefits students, she said.

My principal and I both have that mentality, she said. If a classroom needs coverage, if a duty needs to covered  recess, lunch, whatever  well do it.

Majors primary duty, as she sees it, is to support teachers in any way possible. When teachers feel supported, students reap the benefits, she said.

We have to keep our feet in teachers shoes when we make our decisions. Every decision we make affects teachers, so it also affects student success.

Wildflower principal Cassie Gannett said she is gratified that the Colorado Association of School Executives is recognizing Majors hard work.

I think sometimes things happen behind the scenes that people dont even know that shes doing, Gannett said. So this is just kind of a way to say, Hey, youre seen, youre appreciated for all that you do, and so Im excited for her.

Wendy Birhanzel, HSD-2s Superintendent, agreed with Gannett's sentiments.

Lauren has been doing great work here for a long time, said Birhanzel, who was named Colorado Superintendent of the Year in 2023. This recognition is well deserved.

Major and other statewide award winners will be honored at the annual CASE awards ceremony on April 26.
According to new research from LinkedIn, one of the worlds largest professional network, professionals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia prefer working in the region rather than relocating to Europe or the US.

About 82% of surveyed professionals expressed this sentiment, with standard of living (46%), attractive lifestyle (35%), and opportunities for professional growth (31%) making the region a preferred destination for working professionals.

This comes as no surprise as the UAE emerged as one of the most resilient international markets when it comes to hiring, with a 0.3% annual increase in hiring, up by 30% compared to pre-pandemic December 2019.

Professionals aim to reclaim their careers in the new year as a significant number of them (62%) are either actively looking for a new job, or plan to start looking for one soon. Better salaries (42%) and the need for a better work life balance (33%) are the top two reasons for professionals seeking a career move.

However, it is worth noting that 73% of professionals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are considering finding new homes due to rising rent prices, underscoring the correlation of affordable housing with retaining talent within the region.

Skills remain at the core of the future of work in UAE

There is a growing understanding of the importance of skills in the UAE labour market, with more professionals highlighting their skills instead of degrees when looking for a new job (83%).

Professionals are notably focused on upskilling, as 76% of them said that they would take on more stretch projects at work to diversify their skills, and spend more time than usual doing online courses to boost their career progression (72%).

Following the last few years of uncertainty in the workplace, 84% of UAE professionals are keen to future-proof their careers by focusing on skilling.

Saudi professionals are confident about their careers in 2024

About 79% of KSA professionals state confidence about interviewing for a new role, and 78% feel confident about searching for a new job. This confidence stems from a significant number of them (77%) believing that their job prospects in 2024 are better than last year.

More KSA women are pursuing career moves in 2024 (61%) than men (57%), citing a desire for better pay (39%) and better work-life balance (34%) as opposed to men (30%). Women in KSA state satisfaction in their current job as the main reason for not wanting to look for a new one (57%), while men said that their main reason is good salary and benefits (52%).

Ali Matar, EMEA Growth Markets Leader and Head of LinkedIn MENA, said: In 2024, we are seeing UAE and KSA professionals taking agency and moving to the driver's seat when it comes to their careers. This will give rise to a more competitive job market, so standing out from other candidates will be more important than ever.

Fortunately, we do see an appetite amongst professionals in our region to upskill and invest in building their personal profiles on LinkedIn. Highlighting how ones skills are relevant to the job they want and staying on top of industry trends will also improve chances of finding the right opportunity.

Whether its the rise in finance and tech roles or new opportunities in healthcare, the rankings shed light on where the workforce is heading and the skills needed to get ahead.

The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 16,288 White collar professionals in full time or part time employment (excluding business owners and manual unskilled workers) across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, India, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Brazil and the US.

The data was collected between November 24, 2023 to December 12, 2023.  TradeArabia News Service
DES MOINES  Iowa House lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday aimed at reducing prescription drug costs for Iowans by strengthening some requirements for pharmacy benefit managers.

A three-member subcommittee forwarded the bill for further discussion by the Iowa House Commerce Committee. The legislation proposed by the Iowa Insurance Division, among its provisions, would require pharmacy benefit managers to owe a duty a good faith and fair dealing with Iowa pharmacies.

House Study Bill 536 would also require pharmacy benefit managers  known as PBMs, the companies function as intermediaries between insurance providers and drug manufacturers  to use the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost when determining what price to reimburse pharmacies for dispensing medications. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-calculated value attempts to capture the average price wholesalers charge to pharmacies.

Pharmacists have said they are selling many common, brand-name prescriptions at a loss because PBMs reimburse them less than a pharmacy's cost to acquire the drug. Using the national average would standardized the information PBMs and the Iowa Insurance Division use when looking at drug costs, supporters said.

This provides a nationally recognized way of pricing prescription drugs, said state Rep. John Forbes, D-Urbandale, a retired pharmacist who once owned Medicap Pharmacy.

Lawmakers said the bill would aid independent community pharmacies that have struggled because of PBM practices.

We think that transparency is much needed, said Seth Brown, director of public affairs with the Iowa Pharmacy Association. The publicly available metric  is also very welcome for our members.

The proposed legislation would also prohibit retaliation by a PBM against a pharmacy or pharmacist for filing a complaint with the insurance division. And they could no longer charge certain fees to pharmacies not yet in their network.

PBMs think pharmacies should be paying them to have the privilege of doing business with them, Forbes said, and in the process are nickel-and-diming community pharmacies out of thousands of dollars.

A Maquoketa pharmacy has led a lawsuit that claims CVS Health and its Caremark pharmacy benefit manager violated antitrust laws and illegally collected fees from pharmacies that fill Medicare prescriptions. Should the community pharmacies prevail, CVS would have to return hundreds of millions  if not billions  of dollars its PBM recouped from independent pharmacies over the past four years, Axios reported.

Forbes cited the lawsuit for including the retaliation provision.

Basically it says if a pharmacy does that, the PBMs come back and say, Were going to kick you out of the network or Were going to do a bunch of extra audits on your pharmacy, he said.

PBMS play a major role in negotiating drug prices and reimbursements for pharmacies, but operate with little transparency and oversight, lawmakers, pharmacists and patient advocates argue.

PBMs determine which pharmacies will be included in a prescription drug plan's network and how much those pharmacies will be paid for their services. PBMs also regulate which drugs are covered under a specific plan and set copays, negotiate rebates with drug manufacturers and process prescription medication claims, for a fee, for insurance companies, among other roles.

Three of the companies  CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and Optum Rx  collectively control about 80% of the market.

Doug Struyk is a lobbyist representing the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which represents pharmacy benefit managers. He raised concerns with the retaliation provision in the bill, saying the association worries it would prohibit a simple nonrenewal of a contract should a pharmacy file a complaint.

And the PBM is not able to make decisions based in their business interest because theyre simply lumped into this catchall provision that any time someones filed a complaint, if you dont renew the contract, thats in bad faith, he said. Additionally, he said the bill would prevent PBMs from recouping costs of vetting pharmacies asking to join their network.

Mike Triplett, who represents Express Scripts, a subsidiary of Cigna Healthcare, questioned why lawmakers have not looked at legislation dealing with pharmacy services administrative organizations. Theyre connected with the countrys three largest wholesalers and provide a range of services to independent pharmacies including supporting the evaluation and execution of contracting with PBMs.

You have been legislating and regulating PBMs since 2007, Triplett said. To my knowledge youve not done anything to legislate or regulate PSAOs in Iowa.  There are complaints made against PBMs that we are not reimbursing what was acquired through a PSAO. Thats the other half of the equation we would encourage you to look at.

Pharmacies across Iowa have closed at an alarming rate over the past decade-plus, partly because insurance payouts don't cover drug costs.

Nearly 100 pharmacies across the state have shut their doors since 2008, according to research from Michael Andreski, associate professor of pharmacy at Drake University, in a recent study conducted in collaboration with The Health Professions Tracking Center at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.

Independent pharmacies saw the largest hit with 87 stores closed from 2008 to 2022, a 38% decrease. Rural pharmacies saw a 19% decrease, with 72 shutting their doors, according to the study.

Forbes said hes hopeful the bill and other forthcoming legislation will help keep rural pharmacies in Iowa in business.

Now, the PBMs are going to say if a bill like this passes, youre going to see prescription drug costs go up, he said.   And I just hope you really look into it and see whats happening across this state in rural areas, where youre going to see a large, large number of pharmacies close in the next 12 months.

Where do US opioid trials and settlements stand? Explaining the current state of the opioid crisis Purdue Pharma Other drugmakers Distribution companies Pharmacies Consulting company
I have observed how so many applicants are unsure how to deal with the wait list status.

Next steps after waitlists



If you haven't yet had the opportunity to visit the school earlier, visiting the school during the waitlist period can turn the decision in your favor.

Its always a great idea to create a detailed plan for your school visit and inquire about the possibility to making an appointment with a member of the admissions committee.

Waitlisted applicants who haven't yet had an interview should make every effort to schedule an on-campus, in-person interview or even a remote one.

Do not forget to thank those you interacted with to gain more insights regarding the school.

How to draft a strategic waitlist letter?

1. Introduction

a positive and appreciative tone, laying the foundation for a constructive engagement with the adcom.

2. The Body

Part 1 - Demonstrate School Fit

bring a fresh perspective to your writing about how are a great fit for the schools.

Build on the conversations you had with the students or staff on campus and describe what they said and what aspects left a lasting impression.



Highlight the connections between your interests and the faculty or department and demonstrate authentic affinities that will resonate with the admissions committee.

Part 2 - Show Recent Developments

share news about new achievements, initiatives and developments in your life.

mention any recent accomplishments that you did not mention in your application earlier.

show how you have changed and improved since your first application

Part 3 - Address waitlist related concerns

Read into the school's waitlist notification for indications of deficiencies in your profile.

common application deficiencies include poor academic history, vague career goals, insufficient work experience, insufficient community or extracurricular involvement, insufficient demonstrated interest in the B school, or insufficient emphasis on what makes the applicant's profile or potential contribution unique.

If your grades in calculus, statistics, accounting or economics were mediocre, you should take courses in these subjects and let the school know.

tell the school that you joined Toastmasters two months ago, won the extempore and that the whole experience was enjoyable because of the friends you made and the confidence you gained.

3. Conclusion to the letter

Explain your willingness to do what you can to improve your application

Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, former INSEAD admissions interviewer)
Saudi-based Matarat Holding Company and The National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP) have invited expressions of interest (EOI) from leading companies for the development of Abha International Airport in Aseer region.

This move aims to attract competent private sector entities, in accordance with the Private Sector Participation (PSP) Law, said a statement from Matarat.

A major player in the Saudi aviation scene, Matarat manages the kingdom's airports and monitors the operations of 27 airports in the country through its subsidiaries (Riyadh Airports, Jeddah Airports, Dammam Airports, and Cluster 2).

The project will be implemented based on the new Abha Airports master plan announced by the Crown Prince, which sets out the architectural identity aligned with the heritage of Aseer Region, aiming to become a prominent landmark in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Strategically located among the kingdom's airports, it serves as a link between domestic and international airports, covering an estimated area of 4.6 sq km.

On completion, the airport is expected to accommodate up to 8 million passengers by 2030 and then gradually take the total number of passengers to more than 13 million by 2054.

The entire Abha airport project is being implemented in two to three phases and is likely to be completed by 2028.

Under Phase One, a new terminal building will be set up in the airport on a total area of 69,400 sq m, which will then get expanded to 73,200 sq m in the second phase.

In addition, the airport will also have a new aircraft apron to serve the new passenger terminal in the near future, while a new Rapid Exit Taxiway is scheduled for construction on the current runway between 2030 and 2040.

According to Matarat, the airport will include other facilities such as roads leading to the new passenger terminal, parking spaces, and supporting facilities.

Other developments include access roads to the new terminal, a new car park area, and expansions to support facilities such as the electrical substation and sewage treatment plant, it stated.

One of the major public-private partnership (PPP) projects, the Abha Airport is aligned with the goals of Vision 2030, National Transport and Logistics Strategy, National Aviation Strategy, and Aseer Region Development Strategy "Qimam and Shem".

The project, being implemented under the PPP model, encompasses the areas of construction of a new terminal and associated facilities, transportation, and operation of the airport for a duration of 30 years.

This comes in light of the combined efforts of the various government entities including Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, General Authority of Civil Aviation, Aseer Development Authority.

The deadline for submitting the EoIs has been set at January 31.-TradeArabia News Service
The Greensboro Police Department is changing how it investigates suspected cases of prostitution in massage parlors, according to Greensboro Police Chief John Thompson.

The decision comes after police made a pair of arrests at a massage parlor on Guilford College Road on Sept. 22.

According to an arrest warrant obtained by the News & Record, one of the women, Li Ling Liang, 59, performed a sexual act on an undercover detective: grabbing Detectives (sic) penis with hand to promote stimulation  rubbing crotch on the back of detectives head for the purpose of sexual arousal for money.

In the months since, both the police department and the Greensboro city government have faced questions over the ethics of allowing sexual contact between police officers and suspects.

In an interview with the News & Record, Thompson said he has directed the departments vice and narcotics unit not to allow initiation of any sex acts in future investigations.

When asked why he made the decision, Thompson said that a valid concern had been brought to the department about police officers potentially victimizing individuals involved in human trafficking.

We could be potentially adding to the trauma of a person involved in human trafficking, Thompson said. If we cant make it on a solicitation charge, I dont want it to go any further until we have had discussions about how officers can understand whether or not they are dealing with someone who is being trafficked.

Thompson added that the department is looking at codifying the change in policy, which he said clearly spells out that officers cannot initiate any contact with potential subjects.

Inside the investigations

Before the change, undercover detectives could, in the course of an investigation, ask for sexual acts from massage workers to get stronger charges, according to Thompson.

If the suspect agreed to the solicitation, the detective would then let the suspect initiate a sex act.

Although North Carolinas criminal statutes state that the solicitation of a sex act is enough for a charge, Thompson said that conversations with the Guilford County District Attorneys office led him to believe that it is extremely challenging to create cases in which solicitation is the only charge.

Alyse Bertenthal, a professor at Wake Forest Universitys School of Law, said that although she agrees with Thompson that the prosecution would likely be easier if you have a confirmatory act, the ease of prosecution should not be the only consideration in setting the new policy.

In this case, I think the change in policy is less about what makes for a better case than about what sort of conduct the department is willing to tolerate in the name of making a case, Bertenthal said.

When explaining the potential weakness of a solicitation charge, Thompson gave the example of a phrase commonly used to solicit a sex act: Happy Ending.

The slang phrase is commonly understood as a euphemism for when a massage worker would perform a sex act on the customer until they reach an orgasm.

Well, that doesnt hold up in court as a solicitation, Thompson said. Like, you cant say, Yeah, we provide a happy ending. It could be a massage technique. Thats where initiation made it very clear. There was no doubt in anyones mind what [the suspect]s intent was when they initiated that contact.

Phil Dixon, an expert on criminal law and procedure at UNCs School of Government, told the News & Record that a solicitation could also be made non-verbally.

Proving the completed act may well be easier for the State than proving a non-verbal solicitation, but I think that depends on the facts of the case, the officers credibility, and the like, Dixon said.

Dixon added that he wasnt sure about Thompsons claim that offering a happy ending wouldnt be enough to show solicitation.

But that is arguably more ambiguous than explicitly offering a sexual act, Dixon said. I would think the common understanding of the phrase would be enough for most fact-finders to accept it for what it is, a solicitation to perform a sexual act.

Thompson clarified that the expectation for Greensboro detectives was to immediately disengage from the subject and that the detective had to inform his supervisor that the act had occurred.

People just automatically assume that the officer walks in, gets naked and knows that there is going to be some sex act that will happen and that it goes through completion, Thompson said. Thats not the case. Once theyve met the threshold for the criminal charge, (detectives) disengage and handle it.

Greensboros problem

When asked whether the undercover detective in the warrant for the departments Sept. 22 arrests was naked, Thompson said that he did not know if he was.

Instead of being specific about the case, Thompson gave an example of how detectives would typically conduct their investigation.

An officer goes into a massage parlor, they say, Hey, do you want a massage? Lay down on the table, get naked, and Im going to give you a massage, Thompson said. We dont know that theyre going to solicit, we dont even know if theyre going to go down that road during the course of the massage  and then the conversation: Do you offer more?

Thompson added that he was not saying that the example followed the investigation described in the warrant.

It is unknown whether the two defendants arrested in September were being trafficked. When asked, Liangs attorney, Harold Eustache, declined to comment.

Liang and the other defendant, Quilian Shen, 57, were two of seven arrests made in a multi-agency investigation led by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

After the arrests were made, the landlord of Amazing Spas property evicted the business.

Amazing Spa was just one of the eight massage parlors connected to two individuals named Chongmei Wei and Li Huang, according to evidence found by Forsyth County detectives.

Wei and Huang reportedly owned parlors in Winston-Salem, which operated out of residential neighborhoods. When authorities heard complaints about the Winston-Salem parlors, the investigation began.

Huang was arrested in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Sept. 22, and there is currently an outstanding warrant for arrest on Wei.

When asked whether the investigation was still ongoing, a spokesperson from DHS said that no further information was available.

According to Thompson, Greensboro police would perform inspections of massage businesses once or twice a year before the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, once the pandemic shut down the businesses, the police didnt start the process again until receiving complaints about businesses approximately six to eight months before December 2023, Thompson said.

Inside massage parlors

Women who are trafficked into massage parlors are usually between 35 and 55 years old and are mostly immigrants from China and South Korea, according to the Polaris Project, a nonprofit non-governmental organization that works to combat North American sex and labor trafficking.

Pam Strickland, whose organization North Carolina Stop Human Trafficking helps survivors, told the News & Record that women employed in massage parlors are often looking for a way to support their families.

Theyre told that they will receive a visa, an education, and a license to be a massage therapist, Strickland said. They dont want to bring dishonor to their family, which is a key reason why they dont testify. They dont want their family to know what is happening to them.

A two-year investigation into a massage parlor, Neon Moon Spa in Durham, resulted in arrests and the closure of the business.

According to court documents, the three women employees of the massage parlor worked 12-hour days and slept on the same beds that customers used during the day.

Strickland said that her organization often encourages law enforcement to dive deeply into these kinds of cases because very often the women offering prostitution services are not doing so of their free will.

Thompson said that police cant make the assumption that all massage parlors involved in sexual activity involve human trafficking, but that a policy change is needed because of the potential trauma for victims.

For me, were just going to have to figure out something different because I go back to what could be a potential victim, Thompson said. To me, making the criminal case  as complex as it is  isnt as important as making sure were not going to victimize [someone].

Another way?

Documents obtained by the News & Record show that the business at which Liang and Shen worked, Amazing Spa, was itself guilty of violating the law because it did not have a state establishment license, which is required by the North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy, a state licensing board.

Charles Wilkins, general counsel for the board, told the News & Record that the establishment license can help cities and law enforcement close illegal massage parlors.

A business offering massage services is either licensed by the NCBMBT or it is not and should not be operating, Wilkins wrote in an email.

The establishment license provides municipalities and law enforcement with a tool to fight illicit massage businesses and human, sex, and labor trafficking, Wilkins wrote. Illicit massage businesses seldom, if ever, seek an establishment license since they know they will most likely not qualify.

According to state law, massage businesses not in possession of a state establishment license would be subject to a criminal misdemeanor charge.

However, Greensboros city ordinances only require that the person practicing massage therapy has an individual license from the massage board. The ordinances dont require the business to have an establishment license.

When asked why the city does not require massage businesses to have an establishment license, the citys assistant collections manager Dorian Lanier declined to comment.

City attorney Chuck Watts also declined to comment to the News & Record.

In response to the requirements of the NCBMBT, Thompson said the GPD will verify whether or not businesses have a state establishment license in the future.

Thompson also said that the department has drafted a letter that will notify property landlords of illegal activity at locations monitored by police.

If I had a team I could devote to this I would, Thompson said. Maybe an absentee landlord will ball up the letter and push it away. But weve seen [success]  and Fayetteville has seen some success. There may be a little more oversight instead of just collecting a rent check.

When asked about the absence of the citys requirement of a business establishment license, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan told the News & Record that she thought the citys ordinances were in line with state law and that if they are not, then they need to be changed.

The priority should be law enforcements investigation of illicit massage businesses because of possible ties to human trafficking, Vaughan said.

Just closing a business will not solve things, she said. Sometimes theres an investigation going on and that takes precedence. Its important to keep in mind that if theres a tie to human trafficking, that we investigate it and remove the people being trafficked.
GREENSBORO  Washington Montessori will be Montessori no more.

Guilford County Board of Education members voted during their meeting Tuesday to discontinue the program at the Greensboro elementary by the end of this school year.

Montessori is an educational method developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, more than a century ago. Some of its hallmarks include hands-on learning with specially-created materials, the use of multi-grade classrooms and children working through tasks at their own pace.

Washington is one of three Guilford County Schools elementary schools that currently offer Montessori programs. The others are Erwin Montessori, also in Greensboro, and Triangle Lake Montessori in High Point.

According to district leaders, current families from outside the attendance zone who joined the school by applying to the program will get preference on seats at Erwin if they want to continue their Montessori education. Attendance zone students at Washington Montessori also have the option to apply, like any other student, but arent going to be guaranteed special preference.

Superintendent Whitney Oakley said in an interview Tuesday that there continues to be interest in the Montessori method among parents, but not enough to warrant keeping all three programs. Dropping to two programs  one in each city  will help the district better ensure quality and efficiency, she said.

Parent Julie Robbins, who spoke during the meetings public comment period, said shes seen the schools incredible principal, Paul Travers, rally staff and volunteers to accomplish everything from campus improvements to health and wellness programs.

Amazing things are happening at Washington; goals are being surpassed, she said. I understand the desire of the district to consolidate its Montessori options and reduce busing. But my heart hurts at the thought that Washingtons progress could be slowed by the loss of students, leading to a loss of staff and resources.

Between the two Greensboro Montessori programs, Erwins Montessori magnet program has been a more popular choice for families than the one at Washington, Oakley said.

At Erwin, students are admitted through the districts magnet program application and lottery process.

At Washington, most students are assigned to the school as part of its neighborhood attendance zone. But some others, like Robbins daughter, attend through the magnet program application and lottery process.

Erwin Montessori is currently co-located with Alamance Elementary in that schools building. Next year, its slated to have a building of its own, temporarily taking up residence at Wiley Elementary after that school closes at the end of this school year.

School leaders have said their end goal is to reopen Erwin at whats now Archer Elementary, also slated for closure at the end of this school year prior to the start of construction work.

Looking at those plans for facilities helped trigger the consideration of changes to the Montessori programs. According to the meeting materials, the district is also making significant investments in the reopening of Erwin Montessori at a new site with all the necessary space, training and resources to fully implement the Montessori curriculum.

District leaders said that at Washington Montessori, more students from outside the attendance zone enroll in the the school for pre-K, and/or kindergarten and less for upper grades.

Oakley explained that while many Montessori principles were embraced at the school, the district hasnt really invested as much as it could have in making the whole school a true Montessori school for all grade levels.

Said Oakley: We have to make sure that were seeing programming through with fidelity from the very first time you enter the door until you leave and go to the next grade span.

Oakley said that in the five years that Travers has been principal, he has focused on increasing academic outcomes for students and built a strong team of teachers.

Oakley said Tuesday that while she wants to see the updated enrollment projections this spring, Washington has enough space in the building that she is likely to recommend having another magnet program there.

Well spend the next year looking at what we have and talking about it, she said of the decision. It has to be in conjunction with parents and families and school staff and the principal, especially at a school thats seen so much progress in such a short period of time.

According to U.S. News & World Report, which includes demographic information as part of its published rankings for schools, 98% of students at Washington Montessori are minorities and 99% of students enrolled in the school are economically disadvantaged.

When asked whether changing the racial or economic mix at Washington is a priority for her, Oakley named a different goal.

I think equity is the priority, she said. That no matter what your zip code is, that you have strong neighborhood options and that you have access to pathways that are equitable.
GREENSBORO  The citys Affordable Housing Management, a nonprofit property-management group, is set to add 16 new affordable apartment units off West Vandalia Road.

The development, called Oakwood Park, will be a two-story building with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes, located at 2943 W. Vandalia Road.

AHM says it is not currently taking applications and that the building will not likely open the waitlist until mid-2025.

Morgan Waterman, a representative of the nonprofit, said that the apartments will have a set rent aimed toward households at or below 30% and 50% of Guilford Countys median income, adjusted according to family size.

Waterman provided a breakdown of the set rent costs to the News & Record. The development would have 10 units available for those earning at or below 30% of the countys median income, adjusted to family size, would be as follows:

1 bedroom/1 bathroom (2): $127 + $60 for utilities = $187

2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms (6): $137 + $80 for utilities = $217

3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms (2): $147 + $101 for utilities = $248

The development would have six units available for those earning at or below 50% of the countys median income, adjusted to family size, would be as follows:

1 bedroom/1 bathroom (2): $549 + $60 for utilities = $609

2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms (2): $676 + $80 for utilities = $756

3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms (2): $768 + $101 for utilities = $869

The new apartment homes will be very attractive, have ample square footage and be Energy Star certified providing better energy efficiency and performance resulting in lower utility and maintenance costs, said David Levy, the nonprofits assistant secretary. The reduced electric cost and below-market rents will provide extremely affordable homes near shopping, restaurants, services, major roads, and employment centers.

The square footage of the apartments would be 709 for a one-bedroom, 933 for a two-bedroom, and 1,119 for a three-bedroom.

Levy also mentioned that Hester Park, which offers a fitness and exercise trail, is located across the street from the development.

Waterman said that Oakwood Park has been in the works for a couple of years, and that the development will bring the total number of supportive housing units built by Affordable Housing Management to 52 in the last 12 years.

Who is it for?

Levy said that there are four qualifying populations of individuals experiencing homelessness or those who are at risk of experiencing homelessness:

Individual families that lack fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, typically those who are residing in shelters.

A household that is at risk of losing their primary nighttime residence.

Families or households with children who do not otherwise qualify as homeless but who are defined as homeless under the state law.

Any household that is at risk of becoming homeless.

According to Waterman, there will be credit and background checks, but the final resident selection criteria has yet to be established.

Typical credit issues, such as owing medical or student debt will not negatively impact an applicants approval, Waterman said in an email. Criminal history is typically evaluated on a case-by-case basis, following the resident selection criteria.

Levy said the development is a step in the right direction for Greensboro.

There havent been that many permanent housing developments for people who are homeless, Levy said. A lot of what you see is temporary housing assistance.

Levy added that developments such as Oakwood Park help chip away at the severe problem of homelessness around the city, county, state and nation.

Whos paying?

First, the city of Greensboro seeded the development in July 2023 by approving around $1.7 million in HOME-ARP funds to Affordable Housing Management.

Then, North Carolina Housing Finance Agency funded Oakwood Park with a $2.6 million award in late December of 2023.

The financial award was made through a federal Supportive Housing American Rescue Plan (SHARP) program.

The funding is just one award of 12 made from $43 million earmarked for special housing needs across North Carolina.

When will it be done?

According to the city, construction on Oakwood Park will begin early this summer and is estimated to finish in 12 months.
RALEIGHN.C. Treasurer Dale Folwell requested Wednesday that the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC) approve a line-of-duty death for Greensboro Police Sgt. Philip Dale Nix, who was killed on Dec. 30, 2023 while trying to stop a robbery at a Sheetz in Colfax.

The line-of-duty benefits could total $200,000, pending a decision from the NCIC.

Folwell told the News & Record that he was moved during Nixs funeral service and contemplated how he could do more for Nixs family.

I was reminded while I was in that service of what the Bible tells us, that when faced with anxiety and uncertainty, our only choice is to give more  as hard as that is and as sad as it is, Folwell said.

Folwell said he was equally moved to action when he heard the story of a Greensboro panhandler who reportedly gave money to Nixs family, noting the positive impact that Nix had on him.

After the funeral service, Folwell said he asked his staff to inquire about whether Nixs family was eligible for the benefit.

The Public Safety Employees Benefits Act authorizes the commission to award a $100,000 benefit when a law-enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty, and an additional death benefit of $100,000 when a law-enforcement officer is murdered in the line of duty.

From everything Ive read, and everyone Ive talked to, Sgt. Nix was both killed and murdered in the line of duty, Folwell said in a statement. Although it is up to the Industrial Commission, I strongly support providing death benefits totaling $200,000 in the case of Sergeant Nix. Once that determination is made, we will expedite the payment.

Nix, 50, served the Greensboro Police Department for 23 years. He was off-duty, sitting outside the convenience store with his laptop when he saw a crime unfolding and was killed attempting to stop it.

PHOTOS: Funeral service for Greensboro Police Sgt. Philip Dale Nix

In a statement to the News & Record, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan confirmed that the city of Greensboro has classified Sgt. Nixs slaying as a line-of-duty death.

We will unconditionally support and welcome any efforts to recognize Sgt. Nixs service to our city and to maximize the benefits to his family, Vaughan wrote.

Folwell also sent a letter to Attorney General Josh Stein and the N.C. Department of Justice requesting that the State Crime Laboratory ensure any investigation related to Sgt. Nix or any other state or local employee be given priority.

In the letter, Folwell wrote that giving priority to the investigation would help expedite the payment of Sgt. Nixs benefits to his survivors, as determined by the commission.

It is essential that the Crime Lab get their work done as fast as possible, Folwell said. Hopefully, this will be done in a matter of days.

A news release that came with the announcement added that in 2023, almost $119 million was paid in North Carolina to member beneficiaries or their estates.

In a statement to the News & Record, Patrick DeSota, a spokesperson from the Greensboro Police Department, said that the department is grateful to Folwell for his request.

The department is grateful that Treasurer Folwell has requested this be a line-of-duty death, wrote DeSota. We, here in the city, classified it as a line-of-duty death because officers are always on duty. Officers are sworn under oath that if there is a crime occurring, they step in to address it.

DeSota said the GPD stands behind supporting Nixs family in any way possible.

After Nix was killed, Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers, told a reporter that officers are never really off duty. Our goal is to always make sure we serve and protect, Rogers said. Even though he was not in uniform, he was still serving and protecting this great city and county.

In his release, Folwell echoed that sentiment.

It is imperative that we support our men and women in blue as they put their lives on the line 24 hours a day, Treasurer Folwell said. Every officer I know is on duty when he or she is out in public. Sgt. Nix was a selfless public servant who exemplified what it means to be trusted with protecting our citizens. Thats what he was doing when he was brutally murdered.

It is currently unknown when the NCIC will make a decision on the amount of benefits provided.
A bronze statue valued at $3,000 was taken from a grave in Denver, according to law officers.

The statue stood as a grave marker in a cemetery on the 900 block of N.C. Highway 16 South Business in Denver, the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

The statue is of a small girl feeding carrots to two rabbits. The sheriffs office is requesting the publics help in locating the missing statue.

The statue was last seen on Dec. 13, the sheriffs office said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective J. Propst at 704-732-9050, the Lincoln County Communications Center at 704-735-8202 or the Lincolnton/Lincoln County Crime Stoppers at 704-736-8909.

How drunk driving fatalities in North Carolina compare to the rest of the US How drunk driving fatalities in North Carolina compare to the rest of the US
Disclaimer: I am not one of KDE's masterminds or spokespersons. I am a mere bystander with few unimportant commits. I follow KDE's ecosystem and other developments in the free software world. In the following, I share some thoughts and my personal opinion.

Talks about new programming languages

After 30 years of C code, the Linux kernel opens itself to a second high-level language: Rust. Since fall of 2022 the kernel mainly gained infrastructure work. Some experiments show promising results like a Rust-based network driver or a scheduler

Recently, Git developers started to discuss how to allow Rust code in our beloved version control system. Far from having reached a consensus, its media coverage and heated discussions in forums show how interested the public is in this topic.

sudo-rs, librsvg, Rewrite it it Rust (RiiR) has become a

Other projects try to replace established software by rewritten from scratch Rust ones: uutils coreutils Rustls . Heck,(RiiR) has become a meme

We already have a new programming language!

KDE is close to its 6th Megarelease , with one major change being based on Qt 6. Qt 6 requires C++17 which -- as of today -- is perceived as modern C++ and is a leap compared to C++11. It is possible to write modern software with C++17. Still, additional tools like C++ Core Guidelines or Cppcheck are advised to keep the number of preventable bugs low.

Most of the projects mentioned in the introduction are using C. This inflicts more pain to the developers and thus using Rust is more attractive. For sure, a fair portion of RiiR arguments do not apply to KDE's C++ code base.

Problems with C++ remain

C++ cannot adapt to modern ways like including a borrow checker or a less complicated syntax, as this would break compatibility. As much as C++ improved as a language, its compilers, and its ecosystem, it is not enough to be considered a good choice for new projects. NIST and NSA advice to move away from C++.

Other problems like complicated tooling with variations on different platforms (build systems, compiler, linker, debugger, dependency management), mixed-in C-style code, difficult to parse C++ code, cannot be solved.

I fear that in a not to distant future, C++ might be perceived as an outdated choice to learn and people might less likely consider to join KDE as contributors.



What can be done?

In the past, GNOME adopted Vala as a new language to solve the short-comings of C. Vala seems to be dead Going with Rust did not lead to a project-wide adoption.



Some people are working on Qt bindings for Rust, e.g., CXX-Qt from KDAB . I am not sure if Qt itself is working on something similar. At least there is no go-to binding.

Beside the hot topic Rust, two big players invest in ways to have good interoperability with existing code bases and a modern language: Cpp2 / cppfront and Carbon.

cppfront producing modern C++ code. Cpp2 is not backward compatible to C++ and thus not limited in introducing new ways or removing existing parts. Cpp2 Cpp2 is a new language from Herb Sutter, who chairs the C++ working group. The idea is to have a transpilerproducing modern C++ code. Cpp2 is not backward compatible to C++ and thus not limited in introducing new ways or removing existing parts. Cpp2 promises to integrate seamlessly in existing C++ code bases as it is compiled into C++ code.

Discuss our future

I do not want to whine about C++. I want to start a discussion on how KDE's future might look like. KDE was always driving innovations. We helped CMake to become one of the most important build systems for C++. KDE 4.0 introduced the semantic desktop. KHTML's code base was the nucleus for today's big browsers.

Probably we should have this discussion as a BoF at Akademy 2024 or other places where KDE's masterminds and people with a feeling for future trends come together and form/formulate future directions. In the meantime, I start a discourse thread

Personally, I would like to see some push for Cpp2. More important, I want to see that we are actively shaping KDE's future.




Turkish Airlines, a global leader in aviation, has hailed a major move made by Turkiye to extend visa-free entry to the nationals of the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

Tourists from these countries can now spend 90 out of 180 days in Turkiye without a visa. The new visa exemption rule is set to bolster ties between Turkiye and these countries, and further strengthen the countrys tourist numbers from 2024, Turkish Airlines noted.

The decision, issued through a presidential decree, is an initiative set to promote cultural exchanges between Turkiye and the respective nations, while most importantly encouraging tourists to explore the countrys rich history, ancient wonders and vibrant heritage, it said.

Turkiye is also providing e-visa options to expatriates living in GCC countries. Eligible travellers can apply to the Turkiye electronic visa (e-visa) system. Nationals of Algeria, Egypt, India, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines and Yemen holding a valid visa or valid residence permit from one of the Schengen countries, the US, UK or Ireland can apply for the e-visa.

Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee at Turkish Airlines, commented: Turkiye is continuing to expand its international relations with the new presidential decree issued to exempt visas for nationals of UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman. This move is applaudable, as the country makes significant strides within its tourism sector to bolster more cultural exchange. Turkish Airlines supports the visa exemptions, making travel even easier through free layover services for our flyers. As the national flag carrier of Turkiye, were giving our passengers the opportunity to make memories they will never forget in beautiful Istanbul. Post the visa-free initiative, we look forward to people around the world choosing Turkish Airlines for their holiday trips as we offer a mini vacation during their journey.

Passengers choosing Turkish Airlines to travel via Istanbul Airport to anywhere in the world can get a chance to discover Istanbul free of charge. Turkish Airlines' transit passengers are eligible to unlock two destinations with one flight ticket, as the national flag carrier offers two layover services, free hotel stay and free city tour, to explore the city of Istanbul when in transit.

Turkish Airlines passengers booking flights with 6 to 24 hours layover time can take advantage of Touristanbul  a complimentary city tour service allowing flyers to savour and discover the rich heritage of Istanbul through eight different guided tours. Alternatively, passengers booking flights with at least 20 hours layover time in Istanbul Airport can get a chance to explore the city with the Stopover in Istanbul layover service independently and at their own pace  with complimentary accommodation at partner hotels, it said. - TradeArabia News Service
Allegra, a local print shop and marketing company operating in downtown Helena for more than 40 years, was sold at the beginning of 2024 to a national brand.

One of the business's previous owners, Kyle Spencer, in an interview confirmed the change in ownership and name.

Now known as AlphaGraphics, the business has been folded into the franchised chain headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado. AlphaGraphics boasts more than 270 independently owned and operated marketing service providers in 40 states, including existing locations in Bozeman and Missoula.

AlphaGraphics is a subsidiary of Italian holding company Mail Boxes Etc.

"It'll carry on at the same location with the same service for the next 40 years," Spencer said.

The shop is located at 40 W. Lawrence St.

He said many of the same employees remain, including new General Manager Jake Heaton, who Spencer said worked with him for the past eight years.

Heaton said he started at the business doing much of the front desk work, communicating with regular customers, and as longtime employees retired, he continued to advance eventually finding himself in the GM's seat at the beginning of the year.

"I've seen the business from every aspect," he said during a phone interview Tuesday.

He said the entire roster of employees made the transition to the print shop's new ownership.

"We try to instill in every one of our employees that the difference we provide is the people in this building," he said. "We take pride in still working face-to-face with our customers while some other services make you press a button online."

Kyle and Jonette Spencer purchased the business about a decade ago from original owners Toni and Clark Broadbent.

The business formed lasting relationships with many Helena institutions over the decades.

"When the organization was in trouble, she (Toni Broadbent) was very supportive and allowed us to adjust our finances in terms of coming square with her," then-Myrna Loy Executive Director Ed Noonan told the Independent Record in 2014. "Shes been a major business sponsor ever since."

Spencer did not offer the sale price for the business but said it had accrued about $2 million worth of printing equipment that was incorporated into the sale.

Spencer said he was ready to retire, prompting the sale.

He said he took his business's deep community ties into account when looking for a buyer.

"There's no question we took pride in seeking out the right buyer," he said, one who was intent on keeping existing employees to maintain the small-town level of service the print shop built its reputation on.

While Heaton said the print shop boasts "a full basement of production equipment," AlphaGraphics can now leverage its larger parent company to produce products requiring more niche equipment.

"It's a great network we're able to be a part of," he said.
A new business in downtown Helena aspires to give residents more food options, even though the owners know it may not "a-peel" to everyone.

Dear Potato started as a food blog during the COVID-19 pandemic and launched into a brick-and-mortar store in the old Nosh Cafe space.

Located at 105 E. Sixth Ave., between Cruse Avenue and Jackson Street, the bakery tucked into the side of the building is full of colorful walls, magnets and string lights.

The bakery has a variety of vegan and vegetarian options for customers to choose from with exception to one salmon option.

Co-owner Shea Conley is from Lakewood, Colorado, and chose Helena because it reminded her of home.

She feels that the city has the same atmosphere and now calls Helena her home, where she hopes to live for the rest of her life.

Conley mentioned that she had to tell her husband and co-owner Keller Higbee to give her one month to solely focus on running the business in order to get it off the ground.

I started the food blog to keep me busy and also practice new skills and really challenge myself, Conley said.

Conley moved to Helena from Seattle, Washington, where she worked at Pike Place Market.

I never went to culinary school or anything like that, she said. I was selling corn in Pike Place Market, while I was in between jobs and I was going to veterinarian tech school, but I didnt really like the work of it.

A bakery owner who was across the street from Pike Place Market asked her if she wanted to work for him in the bakery.

Conley only had early morning availability, so she was offered a job to work from 4-7 a.m. at the bakery. She would bake cookies and muffins and realized she loved this.

Conley also worked at a Russian-Filipino fusion bakery as a vegan baker for a baker with a culinary background and a stern personality.

I spent my whole time in Seattle trying to get out of there, but thats where I met my husband, Conley said.

Higbee works for a tele-communications company based in Seattle, but also works part time at Blackfoot River Brewing Co.

Acquiring the space for the bakery was a smooth process with the help of her sister, according to Conley.

Her sister introduced her to the landlord of the space and Conley was able to acquire it, even though the space was being eyed by someone else.

I would have been happy with any space I could get within Helena city limits, but I really wanted this space, Conley said.

She said she liked the space more than others because of its proximity to the walking mall and its size.

The shop came kitchen ready with all of the necessary equipment and was up to code for health inspectors.

It was really easy to move in even though I still had to buy another oven and some other equipment, Conley said.

Even though Conley said she does not miss Seattle at all, she does miss the hot dog street vendors.

On her menu is a piroshki inspired by the vegetarian hot dog that she used to buy from the vendors.

The bakerys most popular item is the piroshki, which regularly sells out within an hour of opening.

A piroshki is a yeast Levin dough, like a bun, I think it tastes most similar to a Hawaiian sweet roll, Conley said. Its not exactly like that, but thats the closest thing I can think of. Inside of it is a filling, I always do a savory filling even though you can use a sweet filling.

Conley thought it could be a nice alternative because of the popularity of pasties.

She said she feels bad when she sells out of the piroshkis because she wants everyone to experience what they taste like.

One of the reasons items sell out at the bakery is the staffing at the location.

Conley is in the middle of the hiring process and is gathering paperwork with her accountant to hire people at the business.

There are about 15 applications submitted to the website and she wants to be open six days a week.

For right now its just me working 70 hours a week along with two other people, Conley said.

She wants to open two more locations, one in East Helena and one in the valley. The two new locations would have different themes even though that idea is a decade and a half down the line.

The customers have surprised Conley because she was shocked by the amount of support the community showed when she decided to open.

Conley had to get a loan to open the business because she said it was very expensive. The bank hesitated to approve the loan because they told her she did not own anything and did not have any collateral.

Instead, she reached out to the community and starting raising funds through donation packages.

Tiers of the packages were sweet potato, silver potato, bronze potato, gold potato and hot potato and the tiers related to how much money was donated.

Theres a bunch of potato members around town, Conley said.

The minimum was $25 and it included a free disco cookie and a bumper sticker, while the most expensive tier was $1,000.

The hot potato package included a disco cookie, free cake, a plaque with the donors name and 10% off for life.

Since this location is animal themed, there are photos on the walls of the bakery and all of the animals belong to donors who donated $500 or $1,000 to the business.

The donation packages allowed Conley to open her bakery debt free, which she is very proud of.

Its really hard to survive in this industry and people go into so much debt before they even open, Conley said.

The customers who donated have membership cards to prove their tier level, but not all customers have been friendly, according to Conley.

On the bakerys website, there is a statement from the owner saying that the customer is not always right. She said she has already experienced a couple of disorderly and rude customers.

Conley feels that if people would like to act like children then they will be treated like children.

This has not deterred her from pursuing her baked dreams because she said she knows not everyone will enjoy what she has to offer and thats just the way she likes it.

When asked about the bakerys customers she said that she has enjoyed feeding people that have never tried vegan or vegetarian foods. She knows that she entered a primarily meat eating state full of mountains and hunting grounds, but she does not despise any of that and instead welcomes it.

She said she has a deep respect for true hunters and believes they do great things when they use every part of the animal they hunt.

Conley described a hunter she knows who will donate parts of what he hunts to local stores to create treats and chewing bones for animals.

Before her bakery, she was holding baking classes at the Holter Museum of Art for all ages and wants to continue the classes once her business is steady.

The Afterschool Teen Arts Council is currently creating the sign for the front of the store, which will be a giant mouth with a potato inside of it.

She said she wants her business to be a place that celebrates local art and artists. Conley wants people to describe her bakery as an eclectic, delicious and immersive experience because she feels its a deliciously whimsical place to be for adults to be their youthful selves.
A Helena man admitted Tuesday to illegally possessing homemade bombs and a silencer after being accused of attempting to attack Helena High School in May 2022, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

Logan Sea Pallister, 25, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to the possession of unregistered destructive devices and to the possession of an unregistered silencer.

In May 2022, the Helena Police Department received information from an individual that Pallister possessed multiple bombs, had access to multiple firearms and had been making threats of committing an attack at a local high school.

He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each charge at his May 22 sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris.

Pallister was arrested at his residence May 31, 2022, where authorities found eight firearms, including three semi-automatic rifles and five handguns. He was walking toward his car from his residence, wearing a black trench coat and carrying a bag.

His arrest came a week after a teen gunman entered a school in Uvalde, Texas, and killed 19 children and two teachers.

Some of the firearms found had threaded barrels which could be used to attach a silencer, authorities said.

Pallister was seen in photos found by police holding weapons in the trench coat, which aligned with the witnesss statements as the Columbine shooters were known occasionally as, the "Trench Coat Mafia."

Agents during the arrest and search found survivalist literature with one catalog that sold devices to speed up the rate of fire in semi-automatic rifles, authorities said.

The government said in court documents that the Helena Police Department received information from a person that Pallister had multiple bombs and access to multiple firearms.

The documents said Pallister had been making threats to attack Helena High School.

The person who reported Pallister said he discussed wanting to commit a Columbine-style attack at a high school and he had ammunition in his car and purchased a black trench coat similar to those involved in the Columbine shooting. Twelve students and one teacher died in the 1999 shooting in Colorado. The two teen gunmen killed themselves.

Pallister showed the individual a small propane canister with a fuse sticking out of one end, while he proceeded to threaten the individual and said he would kill them if they said anything about the bomb, documents state.

"We are grateful to the individual who bravely alerted law enforcement to Mr. Pallister, and to our Helena Police Department whose response led to his apprehension and arrest," Helena Public Schools superintendent Rex Weltz said.

Weltz continued to say that the district has made significant safety strides in recent years and it will continue its efforts.

"I can't emphasize this enough, if you see something, if you hear something, say something," Weltz said.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the court will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Several area schools received bomb threats Tuesday night similar to those received throughout Montana, officials said.

According to a news release from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the group did not locate any "suspicious devices" within the three schools that received the threats.

Schools impacted were Whitehall High School, Jefferson High School and Montana City School.

Lincoln Public Schools was also impacted by the emails and students were picked up at Lincoln Methodist Church in a report by Blackfoot Valley Dispatch.

"The Jefferson County Sheriff's office will continue to work with the Montana Department of justice and the FBI regarding these incidents," the release said.

Montana school districts across the state have received email bomb threats, according to Helena Police Department officials.

The Broadwater County Sheriff's Office reported late Tuesday that Townsend schools received an email threat as well. Sheriff Nick Rauser said that he and deputies cleared all three schools.

"Nothing was found and everything appears to be a hoax," he wrote on Facebook. He said he called the FBI and it was also determined to be a prank.

Helena Public Schools said in a Facebook post Wednesday morning that law enforcement and the FBI have determined the emails sent were a hoax.

Helena Public Schools will operate on a normal schedule.

"We have been in close communication with law enforcement and officers searched buildings throughout the night," the post said. "The safety of our students and staff is our top priority and we will continue to keep you informed."

Helena's Assistant Police Chief Cory Bailey said the department and other agencies have been working with the school district and have done patrols of all the schools.

There will be an increased presence around the schools throughout the day, he said in an email.

In mid-December, several schools in Montana evacuated and/or released students early after receiving threatening messages. That also was determined to be a hoax.
A judges order Tuesday means lawmakers will have a chance to override Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte's veto of a bill that passed the Legislature earlier this year with substantial support but was vetoed in a way that did not allow for an attempt to attempt to override the governors rejection of the policy.

If the governor vetoes a bill prior to the Legislatures adjournment but the Legislature does not receive the veto message while it is in session, the governor and Secretary of State must follow the veto override procedures established (in law), wrote Helena Judge Mike Menahan in his order.

The bill in question is Senate Bill 442, which generally would use revenue from the states recreational marijuana program to help improve county roads.

The bill cleared the Legislature with substantial bipartisan support but was vetoed by Gianforte, who wrote in his veto letter that he did not feel shifting the marijuana revenue would not lower citizens taxes given the financial assistance, but instead reallocate those dollars to capricious, unnecessary projects, resulting in a net increase of Montanans tax burden.

Lawmakers generally have the opportunity to override a governors veto, either during the session or via a poll after its conclusion.

But on May 2 when Gianforte issued his veto, the state Legislature was hurtling toward its 90-day deadline with millions of dollars in tax policies still unresolved and the state budget not yet finalized. Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, found an opportune moment on the Senate floor to call for sine die, the Legislature's undebatable procedural motion to adjourn the session. Ten Republicans joined the Senate Democrats to approve the motion, sending the state Capitol into a frenzy as the House of Representatives carried on with its own business down the hall.

Gianforte issued his veto in the midst of that chaos. The Senate was unaware of the veto when the adjourning motion prevailed, meaning they could no longer act to override the veto. While the veto was not relayed by the staff to lawmakers in the Senate, the House officially learned of the veto hours later.

That left lawmakers unable to conduct a vote during the session and Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen said the order of events meant she was unable to send out a veto poll.

Gianforte argued via a lawyer in court that the Legislature should adopt new laws to address the loophole and a judge should not be the one to decide.

But Menahan sided with the plaintiffs in the case, which included Wild Montana and the Montana Wildlife Federation, both conservation groups; and the Montana Association of Counties. They claimed the loophole wrongly left lawmakers without their power to override a veto.

This interpretation clarifies the constitutionally established procedures while ensuring each coequal branch of government retains the ability to exercise its proper authority, Menahan wrote in his order.

On Tuesday the plaintiffs welcomed the order.

Governors cannot opportunistically time their vetoes to stifle the Legislatures constitutionally guaranteed override authority, said Rylee Sommers-Flanagan, executive director of Upper Seven Law and counsel to Wild Montana and the Montana Wildlife Federation. The Montana Constitution contemplated precisely these circumstances and the governor and the secretary must comply  because no one is above the Constitution.

Jason Rittal, the deputy director of the Montana Association of Counties, said in a press release he was hopeful the veto would now be overridden.

The Legislature has the constitutional authority to check executive overreach  period. With that clear, its time to pass SB 442 and invest in the infrastructure that agricultural producers, first responders, law enforcement, sportsmen, and all rural Montanans depend on.

Sen. Mike Lang, the Malta Republican who carried the bill, also signaled hope for its future.

Im glad SB 442 has been restored to its proper legal status. Its a bipartisan bill that supports Montana values and benefits Montanans all across our great state, and I encourage the Secretary of State to issue the veto override poll ASAP, Lang said in a press release. This is the same bill 130 legislators supported during the session, and Im looking forward to working with my colleagues to secure historic investments in rural infrastructure, agricultural communities, veterans services and our drug abuse epidemic.

In response to an email late Friday, Kaitlin Price, a spokesperson for the governors office said We are carefully reviewing the judges decision and will evaluate next steps."
The Montana Supreme Court has dealt another blow to the Gianforte administration which earlier this year lost a first-of-its-kind climate change case brought by a group of young residents.

In a 5-2 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the district courts opinion in favor of the plaintiffs could still go into effect pending a final decision after the state requested a pause in the ruling.

This is the state's second attempt at getting a pause: The defendants first requested a stay in the case from the district court, but that was denied by Judge Kathy Seeley and referred to the Supreme Court in part because the state did not demonstrate irreparable harm, Seeley wrote in November.

The Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling Tuesday, writing that "the district court did not act arbitrarily or exceed the bounds of reason." Justices Jim Rice and Dirk Sandefur broke from their five colleagues on the bench.

Seeley originally ruled earlier this year in the Held v. Montana case that the state is violating the plaintiffs' constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by not accounting for greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts when granting permits under the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). This ruling made national and international news as one of the first major court victories for climate change activists.

The Supreme Courts Tuesday ruling is not a final decision in the case, but an initial opinion before the full case is heard by the bench.

This decision comes after the case was appealed to the state Supreme Court and the defendants  Gov. Greg Gianforte, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation  asked the high court for a pause on the lower courts decision. A pause would mean the ruling can't go into effect until a final decision is issued by the Supreme Court.

This case raises many serious legal questions in an area where the law is far from settled, the states attorneys wrote in the request for a stay. Before this case, no Montana court had ever addressed whether and how the constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment applies to global environmental issues like climate change.

The states attorneys further argued that practical complications would arise if the state agency had to hastily implement methods for analyzing greenhouse gas emissions and that ordering a major change in a state regulatory system is beyond the courts authority."

But the Supreme Court was not satisfied with this argument, writing that the state did not "explain why it believes it would be exceedingly burdensome to reimplement methods for greenhouse gas and climate impacts analysis when it had previously done so."

The plaintiffs  a group of 12 Montanans ages 6 to 22 at the time of the trial  and their attorneys objected to the request for a stay, arguing that the state did not follow the correct legal procedure in their request and emphasizing that there is rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future.

Defendants cannot be permitted to continue their unconstitutional conduct and cause further harm to Montanas children pending their appeal, the plaintiffs wrote in their objection to the request for a pause.

Montana is one of a handful of states with a clean and healthful environment clause in the state Constitution. The Held case made international news this summer and the decision was lauded as the first major judicial victory for climate change activists, as climate change has not historically been combated in the court system.

Photos: Youth climate change lawsuit, Held vs. Montana, gets its day in court
Actor Pierce Brosnan has pleaded not guilty to a charge of walking off a trail at Mammoth Terraces in Yellowstone National Park on Nov. 1.

Brosnan's attorneys entered the plea on his behalf on Jan. 4. In the filing, the attorneys asked that Brosnan's upcoming hearing set for Jan. 23 at the court at Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, be cancelled. Instead, they requested a conference with the prosecuting attorney to discuss the case.

Livingston attorneys Karl Knuchel and Webster Crist are representing the 70-year-old actor. Brosnan was filming a western in nearby Paradise Valley at the time of the citation. His visit to the park was not related to the film, the Associated Press reported.

Numerous signs as well as park handouts stress the danger of walking off boardwalks in Yellowstone's thermal areas, some of them written in several languages. Scalding hot pools, geysers and the fragile areas around them are protected by the boardwalks.

Brosnan starred in four James Bond films as well as the 1980s television series "Remington Steele."
PANA  A Pana woman died in a house fire early Tuesday.

Christian County Coroner Amy Winans identified the woman as Kristy L. Clutter, 51, of Pana. An autopsy was held on Wednesday in Bloomington.

According to a Pana Fire Department press release, fire crews were dispatched at 12:27 a.m. Tuesday to 1 Cherokee St. in Pana, to a one-story home and garage that were engulfed in flames and with two people still inside.

When the fire units arrived, they found the buildings were on fire and one person was inside.

"Firefighters advanced lines to the area where the victim was reported to be by family," the fire department stated. "Unable to locate the victim from a small window, command called for entry to be made through the wall."

Firefighters removed a section of the outside wall as they battled heavy smoke and fire, zero-degree temperatures and 12 mph winds. They were able to locate the victim and remove her from the structure. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Because of the home's location outside of the city, a water shuttle had to be used for water supply.

The Pana Fire Department and the Office of the State Fire Marshal continue to investigate the incident.

Two other occupants of the home were transported to Springfield hospitals.

"The gas meter on the structure had burned off and the gas was feeding the fire," the fire department stated. "So firefighters continued to fight the fire until Ameren arrived and dug up the service at the main to shut it down."

Pana fire crews were assisted by Tower Hill, Owaneco, Oconee and Assumption fire departments as well as Echo Response, Assumption Ambulance, Pana Police, Christian County Sherriffs Department and the Christian County Coroners Office.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: A look back at Decatur firefighters through the years 
DECATUR  A free mobile health clinic will visit the Old Kings Orchard Community Center, 815 N. Church St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17.

Operated by Molina Healthcare of Illinois, it invites Molina members and anyone else to drop by for wellness exams, prenatal and postpartum assessments, flu vaccines and blood pressure screenings without cost.

Molina says its trying to help bring better healthcare to Macon County residents who have been found to have poorer physical health compared to nationwide averages.

Close Herald & Review, Jim Bowling Bambi Lou Ruff, 8 months, pets a rabbit from the Scovill Mobile Zoo during the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday. Herald & Review, Jim Bowling Brylynn Justice, 2, and her mother Krissy Patterson catch flying paper in the Lincoln Land Credit Union play money booth during the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday. Herald & Review, Jim Bowling Families visit the Baby Talk table during the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday. Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015 Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015 Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015 Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015 Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015 Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015 PHOTOS: Family Fun Day at Old King's Orchard Herald & Review, Jim Bowling Bambi Lou Ruff, 8 months, pets a rabbit from the Scovill Mobile Zoo during the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday. Herald & Review, Jim Bowling Brylynn Justice, 2, and her mother Krissy Patterson catch flying paper in the Lincoln Land Credit Union play money booth during the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday. Herald & Review, Jim Bowling Families visit the Baby Talk table during the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday. Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015 Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015 Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015 Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015 Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015 Herald & Review, Jim Bowling the family fun day community event at Old Kings Orchard Community Center Tuesday August 25, 2015
Jabal Omar Development Company has announced the opening of Sky Mussallah, the worlds highest prayer room, within its iconic luxury hospitality destination, Address Jabal Omar Makkah, rising 483m above sea level with breathtaking views of the Saudi city.

Located in the interconnecting bridge that links the property's two towers, standing proud at 179m from the hotels internal road level, the Sky Mussallah has recently been inducted into the Guinness World Records for Highest Prayer Room Within a Skybridge.

Designed to excel on every metric, the new Sky Mussallah is a perfect embodiment of the hotels unparalleled architectural excellence. The mussallah stands as a sensational vantage point for guests to immerse themselves in complete spirituality while gazing out at the magnificent landmarks of Makkah, said Jabal Omar in its statement.

It has been specially designed to offer a heartfelt connection to its sacred surroundings, providing a birds-eye view of Masjid Al Haram with a full sight of Kaaba, where the whole city comes alive every year during the Hajj & Umrah season.

Jabal Omar said the interiors of Sky Mussallah are just as extraordinary, featuring a seamless fusion of ancient Arabian charm and contemporary opulence.

The stunning Arabic calligraphy on adds a layer of profound grace to the ambience, it stated.

Towering high in the iconic Address Jabal Omar Makkah, this landmark property unfolds a retreat of warmth and enchantment, weaving together a tapestry of truly unforgettable experiences for both pilgrims and travellers.

Featuring a wide range of exquisite facilities, superb accommodations, tempting dining venues, and so much more, Address Jabal Omar Makkah is a mainstay on the citys hospitality scene, it added.

CEO Khalid Al Amoudi said: "We are thrilled to have entered the prestigious Guinness World Records with our awe-inspiring Sky Mussallah. This remarkable stride is a symbol of our steadfast commitment to offering unrivalled experiences for pilgrims and travellers."

"With its prime location centring the hotels twin towers, the Sky Mussallah is truly breathtaking and is a must visit sight for everyone passing through the city," he stated.

"Each stroke of the calligraphy tells a different story about the Names of God in Islam, such as Al-Muqaddim (The Advancer), and Al-Mani (The Shielder and Protector), infusing the space with a sense of reverence and connection to the rich Islamic heritage," he noted.

He pointed out that this remarkable achievement was a result of both architectural brilliance and boundless creativity, employing cutting-edge technologies and using special equipment to design this incredible space.

"With an impressive weight of 650 tonnes, its steel bridge was first assembled at 312m above sea level before being lifted to the final level where it links the hotels twin towers at the 36th, 37th, and 38th floors," he stated.

"The mussallah is spacious enough to accommodate around 520 people, as it spans 550 square meters, making it perfect for prayer no matter the time of the day with uninterrupted, inspiring views of Al Masjid Al Haram. As dawn breaks over Makkah, visitors can witness the stunning beauty of the holy city awakening, transporting them into a realm of utter tranquillity and peace," explained Al Amoudi.

"When the sun begins its descent, the Mussallah transforms into a sanctuary of serenity, with the fading sunlight painting a palette of warm tones, which create an unforgettable spiritual experience and a sacred haven for contemplation and prayer," he added.

Mark Kirby, Head of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: "It is a great achievement to finally open our stunning Sky Mussallah and we look forward to welcoming visitors to experience the spirituality on offer at this unrivalled location. As part of our diverse hotel chain, Address Jabal Omar Makkah stands as an iconic landmark in the city of Makkah, blending the luxurious style of Address Hotels + Resorts with the rich Arabic traditions of Saudi Arabia."

"It has quickly become a focal point for the city, and we are excited about what the future holds for this superb hotel," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
DECATUR  Armed Decatur drug dealer Paul E. Boliard Jr. was sentenced to 12 years in prison after threatening to kill both a female courier and her kidnapped pet cat.

Boliard, 58, had reacted violently when he believed the 25-year-old courier had double-crossed him after he supplied her with "a zip" (street language for an ounce) of methamphetamine to ferry to a customer and she then failed to immediately return with the payment.

A sworn affidavit from Decatur police said the crime dates to the night of Jan. 29, 2023, when a furious Boliard had gone to the couriers house and grabbed her pet cat.

Police later reviewed text messages he had sent the woman: ... Give me my (expletive) money over here or Im going to kill you and the chat (cat); dont think I got your cat, look 

A picture of the pet had accompanied the threatening text and the courier had arranged to meet Boliard in the drive-up lane of a fast food restaurant. She said the defendant got out and pointed a handgun at her and she returned the meth, which she had never sold.

She observed her cat in the backseat of Pauls vehicle, said Officer Avery Delosh, who signed the affidavit.

She said she gave the passenger of Pauls vehicle the stuff and then retrieved her cat from the backseat.

She stated as she was walking back to her vehicle, Paul was sitting in the drivers seat and reached across the passenger with the gun in his hand, pointing it at her and stating something to the effect of Im going to kill you when I get you.'

The courier had called 911 after the encounter and police intercepted Boliards vehicle a short time later. Delosh said they found a loaded magazine under the driver's seat and recovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun that had been tossed out the window before Boliards vehicle had been pulled over.

A search of Boliard also revealed half an ounce of cocaine, 1 ounces of meth, 2.3 grams of cannabis and an electronic scale.

Paul advised that he was selling drugs to make money, said Delosh, who also said the defendant admitted threatening the woman after she failed to complete the drug deal. But the officer quoted Boliard as claiming that  following the return of his drugs  he had only pointed his gun at her and threatened to kill her her a second time after she had threatened to burn his house down.

Boliard appeared in Macon County Circuit Court on Jan. 12 and was sentenced after admitting a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The admission was part of a plea deal negotiated by defense attorney Douglas Lee that saw further charges of armed violence, being an armed habitual criminal, drug dealing and drug possession all dismissed by Judge Jeffrey Geisler.

2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park
DECATUR  An aging Decatur shopping center may soon get a facelift.

The Decatur City Council on Tuesday approved the use of up to $5.5 million in tax-increment financing to spruce up the strip mall development on the east side of Illinois 121 just south of Illinois 36 known as County Line Plaza.

The nearly 87,000-square foot shopping center, which adjoins Rural King, includes tenants such as Dollar Tree, Famous Wine & Spirits and Pride Cleaners.

TIF districts are tools used by local governments to leverage future gains in property tax and sales tax revenue to attract private investment to blighted areas in need of redevelopment. The project lays within the Eastgate TIF district, which expires in 2029.

"The southern half of the shopping center has struggled," said deputy city manager Jon Kindseth. "That is the original shopping center on the Mount Zion corridor going back to the 1980s  and it still looks in many ways like the 1980s."

A previous redevelopment agreement helped revitalize the space now occupied by Rural King just to the north, which was once a Kmart. It also incentivized the development of a smaller strip mall that now includes Jimmy John's and AT&T among other tenants.

The goal, city officials said, is to spark a similar rebirth on the southern end of the property. And it's already started with the opening of 7 Brew coffee shop and Take Five Oil Change last year on outparcels fronting the strip center.

The next phase, the construction of a new Starbucks and shopping center sign, is expected to be complete in the next couple of months.

The final phase includes a remodel of the entire existing strip center, most notably new exterior facades, improved landscaping and an overhaul of the parking lot to improve traffic circulation.

The overall construction cost of the project is more than $7.5 million. Public funds are capped at $5.5 million, with the developer being reimbursed through property tax and sales tax increment generated by the development.

Any expenses remaining upon the expiration of the TIF are the developer's responsibility.

The shopping center dates back to at least 1977, when Kroger opened as a flagship tenant. The grocery store moved to its current space across the street at 1818 Airport Plaza in 1996.

Dollar Tree took over as the center's anchor tenant in 2003.

Billboards approved after pause

Also at council, two redevelopment agreements were approved granting variances clearing the way for new electronic billboards.

The agreements allow Perryville, Mo.-based Robinson Outdoor Advertising to install a two-sided billboard at the southeast corner of Illinois 121 and Maryland Street and a three-sided billboard on the northeast corner of Illinois 48 and Grand Avenue. Each sign will be 12 feet by 24 feet.

A variance is needed for the former because it is within 750 feet of a sign for the Decatur Marketplace shopping center  technically considered an off-premise sign since it is not on the same property. It is needed in the latter case because only one- or two-sided billboards are allowed under city zoning code.

Twin approval comes after the council voted last month to table an agreement that paired the two billboards together.

Council members initially had issues with the billboard proposed at Illinois 48 and Grand Avenue since it would be closer to homes, but most came to the conclusion that the area was more commercial in nature and that residents in the area were far enough away to not be adversely impacted.

Another benefit to the city is that Robinson is willing to buy the entire triangle-shaped property and gift it to the city. The city will also receive $50,000 for improved landscaping and $15,000 for use in the neighborhood to mitigate potential negative impacts.

Though the property is zoned commercial, city officials have made clear they do not want another building on the property.

"We all know that that used to be a commercial location," said city manager Scot Wrighton. "Codes have changed, turning radiuses have changed, requirements for parking areas have changed and ... its highest and best use is green space for some kind of park or art or some kind of other public use."

Wrighton said this could also enhance the city's neighborhood revitalization efforts, noting that a proposed "catalyst" project that would convert the building that formerly housed Garfield School and then Durfee Magnet School into affordable senior housing is kitty corner to the billboard property.

But that was not enough for some council members. Councilman Ed Culp voted 'no' on both proposals while Councilman Chuck Kuhle rejected the one at Illinois 48 and Grand Avenue.

"I just feel like the sign fits in better at the first location," Kuhle said. "This one, to me, just seems like it overwhelms the location a little bit."

Innovafeed delayed

The council unanimously approved an amendment to the 2020 redevelopment agreement it inked with InnovaFeed that will allow the biotechnology company more time to complete its Decatur plant.

The change pushes back the opening date of their larger insect protein facility from the end of 2024 until 2027.

The company has completed a $10 million "pilot" plant to begin assimilating the insects to the Illinois climate. The next step is a larger plant for commercial production. The cost of this "Phase 1" has increased from $50 million to $100 million, according to city officials.

"Their investment and commitment to the city has continued to grow, which I think is a positive development for the city," Kindseth said. "In return, they just need more time to do that."

Emergency sirens approved

There should be no cause for alarm: the council approved the $47,827 purchase of two new outdoor emergency sirens and the $135,109 purchase of a new siren activation and monitoring system.

The city has 21 outdoor emergency sirens, which are most commonly used to signal a tornado warning but can also signify a homeland security emergency such as an impending nuclear strike.

The city has replaced 11 of them since 2015. Wrighton brought up the possibility of phasing out the warning system, calling the sirens a "20th Century technology" while noting that many get emergency notifications directly on their phones nowadays.

"I think that later in this century, at least most cities will make this transition," Wrighton said. "The question is whether or not 2024 is the time to do it in Decatur and that's fundamentally a city council question."

For now, the council's answer is "no."

"This is one I really struggle with because it is a huge investment," said Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe. "And we have so many things that are available now that weren't available previously. But, I have to tell you, sometimes this stuff fails. And it failed last summer when we had that major event. For many of our citizens, they had nothing."

"I personally find them useful," said Councilman David Horn. "I'm not always next to my cell phone. And I hear the sirens and then I can go to my cell phone or TV to see what reason the sirens might be making noise."

However, both Horn and Kuhle said the question should be posed to the public in the future.

The sirens likely to be replaced are located at the Macon County Fairgrounds and Fire Station 4, 2760 N. 22nd Street.

Zoning paves way for ADM solar array

The council approved a zoning change that will allow for Archer Daniels Midland to add a mounted solar array on a 38-acre plot of land just west of the agribusiness' science and technology center, 1001 Brush College Road.

The change from residential to intense commercial clears the way for ADM to erect a 5-megawatt solar array on the east side of the property. The power generated will be used to provide electricity to the science and technology center.

10 photos of Decatur's retail past History Corner: A Look Back History Corner: A Look Back History Corner: A Look Back History Corner: A Look Back History Corner: A Look Back History Corner: A Look Back History Corner: A Look Back History Corner: A Look Back History Corner: A Look Back HISTORY CORNER: A LOOK BACK
CHICAGO  A 61-year-old woman found beaten on a CTA Red Line train died over the weekend, the Cook County medical examiners office said.

The woman was identified as Vivian Morgan by the medical examiner. Morgan died Saturday morning at Stroger Hospital. Autopsy results are pending an investigation.

CTA workers found Morgan seriously injured on a train car at the Roosevelt station around 1:30 a.m. Jan. 4, police said.

Last week, prosecutors accused Mijawon Johnson, 36, of Chicago, of jumping Morgan and beating her with closed fists to the point that she was comatose and had multiple broken ribs. Johnson was on parole at the time he allegedly attacked the woman, prosecutors said.

Johnson faces one charge of attempted murder with a strong probability of death, two charges of aggravated battery and a misdemeanor charge of violating an order of protection, records show.

Morgan was not the person who holds the order of protection against Johnson. That alleged violation took place Dec. 31, according to an arrest report.

Johnson had been on parole since August after serving part of a six-year sentence for armed robbery, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The states attorneys office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on if charges would be upgraded.

Chicago Tribunes Caroline Kubzansky contributed to this report.
CONCORD  Get ready for a night where art meets heart! The Cabarrus Arts Council, in partnership with Mental Health America of Central Carolinas, is thrilled to announce the Art in Mind fundraiser and silent auction on Feb. 29 at Cabarrus Arts Council, 65 Union St., S., Concord.

This not-to-be-missed evening will showcase a stunning array of local art and electrifying live performances, all highlighting the essential bond between creativity and mental well-being. The event kicks off with a VIP-only early bidding at 6:30 p.m. in The Galleries, followed by general bidding at 7 p.m. The crescendo of the night, filled with guest speakers and captivating performances, will unfold in The Davis Theatre from 8 p.m.

Tickets are a steal at $40 for general admission and $75 for the VIP experience, which includes a champagne toast, first dibs on auction items, a swag bag and top-tier seating for the performances.

Why should you join in? Its more than just a night out; its a chance to fuel important mental health programs like ParentVOICE and Suicide Prevention Training, and to keep the arts alive and kicking in our community through initiatives like Students Take Part in the Arts.

So, mark your calendars for a fabulous fusion of art, performance, and community spirit, all in support of mental wellness. Lets make a difference, one bid, one performance at a time!

For tickets and more details, go to linktr.ee/cabarrusartscouncil or call Cabarrus Arts Council at (704) 920-2787. See you there!

Give to the Cabarrus Arts Council: Help keep art alive in our community through a donation of any size. Visit cabarrusartscouncil.org/support/ how-to-donate

This week

(Today  Jan. 21)

Winter Under the Stars  Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1-5 p.m. Join us and experience the StarLab Planetarium, courtesy of the State Library of North Carolina. Well explore space and enjoy stories from the stars! This event will be held at the Kannapolis YMCA. All Ages; FREE; No Registration Required; Kannapolis YMCA; 101 YMCA Drive; For more information, visit www.cabarruscounty.us

Art Lab at the Cabarrus Arts Council  Thursday, Jan. 18, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Cabarrus Arts Council takes student ages 6-16 on a guided tour through the current exhibition in The Galleries before heading into the lab to explore the artistic processes and subjects they viewed. Registration and adult supervision are required. Art Labs are limited to 15 students. $5 per participant; Preregistration Required; For more information or to register, visit www.cabarrusartscouncil.org

Teen DIY  Thursday, Jan. 18, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Come learn a new skill at the library and leave with a one-of-a-kind work of art! All supplies provided. Teens; FREE; Registration Required; Registration opens 2 weeks before the program is scheduled to happen; Harrisburg Library; 201 Sims Pkwy; For more information, visit www.cabarruscouny.us

Beginner Basket Weaving  Saturday Jan. 20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join us to make a simple basket using jute, cotton cord, and yarn! All materials are provided. Ages 10+; FREE; Registration Required; Concord Library; 27 Union St. N; For more information, visit www.cabarruscounty.us

Fiber Arts Club  Saturday, Jan. 20, 3-5 p.m. Join us at the library for our new Fiber Arts Club! Drop in, and bring your fiber art projects, yarn and tools and meet fellow artists. Please bring your own supplies; no instruction is provided. Ages 13+; FREE; No Registration Required; Kannapolis Library; 850 Mountain Street; For more information, visit www.cabarruscounty.us

Next Week!

(Jan. 22-28)

The Kindertransport Journey: A Traveling Exhibit- Tuesday, Jan. 23, 1-4 p.m. Join us in commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day this month by visiting The Kindertransport Journey exhibit. The exhibit showcases a significant piece of history, Kindertransport, through photos, personal testimony, and historical background. Presented by the NC Council on the Holocaust & NCDPI. Ages 12+; FREE; No Registration Required; Kannapolis Library; 850 Mountain Street; For more information, visit www.cabarruscounty.us

Fine Art Makers  Tuesday, Jan. 23, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Love art? Want to learn about the techniques of the masters AND get to create your own work of art? Come and join the FAM where we will explore a different fine artist each month! Ages 6-15; FREE; Registration required; Registration opens up 2 weeks before the program occurs; Harrisburg Library; 201 Sims Pkwy; For more information or to register, visit www.cabarruscounty.us

Willy Wonka Party!  Thursday, Jan. 25, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Visit a world of pure imagination where we will craft candy, make chocolate slime, and enjoy Wonka games! Sponsored by Friends of Kannapolis Library. All Ages; FREE; Kannapolis Library; 850 Mountain Street; For more information, visit www.cabarruscounty.us

Paint & Sip: African American Artist Series for Teens  Friday, Jan. 26, 4-5 p.m. Join us as we learn about African American artists and get inspired by their work to create our own art! Supplies provided. Teens, ages 12-18; FREE; Registration Required; Concord Library; 27 Union St., N; www.cabarruscounty.us

Upcoming!

Cabarrus Arts Council Volunteer Opportunity Fair  Saturday Feb. 3, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Cabarrus Arts Council wants the community to be involved in our programs! Make new friends and learn more about the inner workings of an arts organization by becoming an arts council volunteer. We consider our volunteers essential members of the arts council team, and we are always pleased to see new faces. Coffee and snacks will be provided; FREE; Registration Required; 65 Union St., S., Cabarrus Arts Council. To register, email mallory@cabarrusartscouncil.org. For updates, visit www.cabarrusartscouncil.org

Cabarrus Art Guild Fiber Class: Little House on the Hill  Saturday, Feb. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This tiny little house/hut is a work of art! Its all about embellishing using vintage and hand dyed fabrics with hand embroidery. Susan will walk you through each step of this 3-D creation using fun and funky techniques. There is nothing more fun than stitching and creating your own little world atop a hill of fabrics and threads! The pattern and partial kit will be provided by Susan for your convenience if you would like with an additional kit fee. Check our site for kit description. To Register: Please go to Susans website at www.susanedmonsondesigns.com/ Click on Shop and select Video Classes. Dont worry, this is an in-person class. The details of items included in the kit and the supply list will be provided at registration. Materials Cost: the pattern for the class is $15 and kits with supplies and the pattern will be available for $30 which is payable in the class. Questions? Email Susan susanledmonson@gmail.com Payment Method: Pre-payment and pre-registration are required before class. A supply list is provided when you register on Susans site. Adults; Registration Required; For more information, visit www.cabarrusartguild.org

Dasan Ahanu and Trio on stage at the Davis Theatre of Cabarrus Arts Council  Friday, Feb. 9, 8 p.m. Dont miss an electrifying evening at the Davis Theatre! Were thrilled to present the incredible Dasan Ahanu, Poet Laureate of the Piedmont, blending spoken word, jazz, and hip hop for an unforgettable experience. But wait, theres more! The evening kicks off with the amazing Charlotte String Collective alongside the dynamic YUNG Citizen. Expect a fusion of eclectic string music and hip hop, all while celebrating the works of Black composers. YUNG Citizen will captivate you with inspirational rhymes and stories, diving deep into themes of mental health and self-care. For tickets, go to https://linktr.ee/cabarrusartscouncil

Cabarrus Art Guild Class: Build a Book with Cheryl Maney  Saturday, Feb. 10, 9 a.m. to noon. Come Build a Book! In this workshop you will make a 9x6 hardcover artistic journal or sketchbook. Inside pages provided in the workshop will be writing, drawing and 130-pound watercolor paper. The uniqueness of this book lies in your ability to use whatever paper you like and to keep adding pages and pages to your journal. Have fun with three bonus projects! Cheryl Maney, a local bookmaker, has over 30 years in art education, teaching art to kindergarten through adult students. She has taught workshops in a variety of locations around the United States. All supplies are provided although students can bring additional paper for their journal. Class Cost: $50 for members and $60 for non-members; Registration Required; To Register: Send an email to cherylmaney@gmail.com; Advance payment preferred. When you register, Cheryl will send you an address to mail a money order to; or we can arrange for cash payment; For more information, visit www.cabarrusartguild.org/classes.

Cabarrus Arts Council CLAY Closing ReceptionSaturday, Feb. 10, 2-4 p.m. Cabarrus Arts Councils annual CLAY Exhibit has been a stunning showcase of talent, featuring 25 incredible local and regional artists who bring life to clay in the most extraordinary ways. If you havent seen it yet, nows your chance! Join us for the grand finale at our CLAY Closing Reception on Saturday, Feb 10, from 2-4 p.m. at our Galleries. Its the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of clay art, meet the artists, and maybe even find that unique piece youve been looking for. Plus, enjoy a special 10% off on your purchases  a rare chance to own a piece of this amazing collection. And yes, weve got concessions to make your experience even more delightful! Dont miss out on this artistic celebration. Lets bid farewell to CLAY in style. https://cabarrusartscouncil.org/the-galleries

UNCC Chamber Music and falllift on Stage at the Davis Theatre of Cabarrus Arts Council  Thursday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m. Join us in kicking off the new Discovery Series  a celebration of the extraordinary talents thriving right in our community. Join us for these Thursday night performances of two diverse back-to-back acts at the Davis Theatre. Only $15! The first performance in this series includes UNC Charlotte Music Faculty and falllift. Enjoy a performance by talented regional musicians featuring diverse chamber music, a discipline in Classical music with small ensembles of traditional instruments. Discover the charm of modern chamber music! Then, hear the male-female lead duo, falllift, merging playful melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Bringing authenticity to a modern sound, the duo draw inspiration from life experiences that connect us all. Get your tickets at cabarrusartscouncil.org/current-season

Cabarrus Art Guild Class: Using Collage in Acrylic Painting with Susan Lackey  Saturday, Feb. 17, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Unleash your creativity as you explore this mixed media technique. You will make your own textured papers to use as collage elements in your painting. You may elect to work in an expressive realistic or slightly abstracted manner. Susan will demonstrate and help you individually. Susan Lackey has been painting and teaching painting for many years. She paints in acrylic and mixed media. She has won numerous awards in local, state, and national exhibitions and juried shows. She is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina. Class cost: $60; Ages 18+; Registration Required; Registration cutoff date is Feb. 12; To register click then scroll down https://secure.rec1.com/NC/concord-nc/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI3Njc4NzE= Supply list provided upon registration; For questions or more information, email susanlackeyart@gmail.com.

Ongoing

Open MicSpotlight Series Every fourth Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Come join us for this incredible spotlight series and open mic! Sign up to share on the mic at the event, free to the public and best coffee in town! Jan 25Featuring Dan Boughton; Feb 22Featuring Clarity; Mar 28Featuring Rocky Little; April 25Featuring Sidekick; May 23Featuring Lady V Poetry; June 27Featuring Frank Expressions; FREE; No Registration Required; Wired Coffee Espress; 469 N. Cannon Blvd.; For more information, visit www.facebook.com/guerilla.poets.founders

Cabarrus Arts Councils Annual Clay Exhibition showcasing ceramic artists from around the region. The exhibit opened Thursday, Nov. 2, and closes Saturday, Jan. 20. The exhibit is free for all ages. For more information, visit www.cabarrusartscouncil.org.

After School and Adult Art Classes in drawing, painting, pottery, and sculpture. After school classes from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and adult classes from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday one day per week for six weeks. For more information, call 704-786-8570.

North Carolina Music Hall of Fame  The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Museum is a safe, fun, and touch-free visit for your friends and family! The museum is open to the public Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. Reserve your visit at Make A Reservation  North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame, 600 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis.

Open Art Day  Every Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Bring your lunch and drink, bring a project you are working on and your supplies. Or bring work youd like to share and discuss. This is a working, weekly meeting, each Tuesday, to work with and share with artists and like-minded people who appreciate creativity. ClearWater Arts Center & Studios (223 Crowell Drive, NW, Concord)  enter through the double glass doors facing Kerr Street, called the Greenway Gallery). For more information: About Us (cabarrusartguild.org).

Caffeinate with Creatives  Every Second Saturday, 10-11 a.m. The Concord area is filled with artists of all kinds, lets take some time to get to know each other. Join us every second Saturday for coffee and creative conversations. All artists are welcome; no registration; free, coffee for purchase; ClearWater Arts Center & Studios (223 Crowell Drive, NW, Concord). For more information, visit www.clearwaterartists.com.

Plein Air with the CAG  Calling all artists. First timers welcome. Dont worry if you dont have all the things, you think you need, this is a very informal gathering, and your fellow artists are happy to help. Reach out to get on the mailing list for various events. Has the idea or the fun of Plein Air ever fascinated you? Well first off, to explain, Plein air is a French term meaning, denoting or in the manner of a 19th-century style of painting outdoors, or with a strong sense of the open air, that became a central feature of French impressionism. Some famous Plein air painters were amongst the most impressive painters from history including Monet, Homer and Sargent. Within the Cabarrus Art Guild, a group of Plein air painters have banded together to enjoy the lovely North Carolina Piedmont and surrounding sites via Plein air. They have named themselves, Dusty Road Painters and meet to explore the indoors (inclement weather) and outdoors that offer countless opportunities to express ones artistic curiosity and passion. Have questions or interested in joining this free group of adventurous artists? Reach out to Plein Air Chair, OLynda Walker at olynda.walker@gmail.com. Free. For more information, visit www.cabarrusartguild.org.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Course Offerings  Continuing Education courses available with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. In addition to career courses, we also offer personal enrichment courses. Call 702-216-7222 or register online at https://cce.rcc.edu/ The following link is continually updated with new course offerings: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hwaTI5nAM_bMAiQ_XooVkANHnnJOqN63/edit.
CONCORD  The Cabarrus County Community Foundation recently awarded $64,750 in grants to 19 local projects. The grants will support programs that address a wide range of community needs across Cabarrus County.

Grants from this cycle include $4,000 to Academic Learning Center to continue to provide before and after-school tutoring to Cabarrus County students; $5,000 to Community Free Clinic to help purchase medications and supplies to continue to provide healthcare services; and $5,000 to Cabarrus Meals on Wheels to purchase holiday and inclement weather meals for Cabarrus County seniors.

As we move into the holiday and inclement weather seasons, Cabarrus Meals on Wheels delivers not just meals but warmth and nourishment that withstand any weather, said Kimberly Strong, executive director of Cabarrus Meals on Wheels. Our shelf-stable meals ensure that in snow or sunshine, no one is left hungry. We are grateful to the Cabarrus County Community Foundation for helping us fund this valuable program.

The Cabarrus County Community Foundation is a regional affiliate of Charlotte-based Foundation For The Carolinas. The grants were awarded by CCCFs local board of advisors as part of an annual grantmaking program. The Cabarrus County Community Foundation has invested more than $2.5 million in projects and programs that have supported Cabarrus County residents since 1991.

The Cabarrus County Community Foundations 2023 grant awards include:

$4,000 to Academic Learning Center to continue to provide before and after school tutoring to students attending Title I schools in Cabarrus County.

$2,000 to AYA House to continue to provide reentry and transitional housing services in Cabarrus County.

$4,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas to support the one-on-one mentoring program in Cabarrus County.

$5,000 to Cabarrus Meals on Wheels to purchase holiday and inclement weather shelf stable meals for Cabarrus County seniors.

$2,750 to Church of the Brethren Concord Fellowship to help the Living Faith Food Pantry provide perishable food items to food pantry guests.

$2,000 to Classroom Central to support the distribution of school supplies to students and teachers in Kannapolis City Schools.

$4,750 to Coltrane LIFE Center to continue to provide health-care services with monitoring, support and supervision for seniors and adults with disabilities.

$5,000 to Community Free Clinic to help purchase medications and supplies to continue to provide healthcare services to uninsured individuals in Cabarrus County.

$2,500 to Diaper Bank of North Carolina to distribute free diapers and diapering supplies to low-income individuals and families in Cabarrus County.

$2,500 to Elder Orphan Care to support the Safe and Loved at Home Program, which provides seniors with no-cost home assessments to determine their needs to age safely in place in their homes.

$3,500 to Girl Scouts, Hornets Nest Council to support the Girl Scouts Leadership Experience in Cabarrus County.

$5,000 to Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County to support the Critical Home Repair Program in Cabarrus County.

$6,000 to Junior Charity League of Concord to support the Mariam C. Schramm Clothing Room, which provides clothing, shoes and toiletries to Cabarrus County students facing hardship.

$1,000 to Lifeline Christian Mission to host meal-pack volunteer events for Cabarrus County youth.

$3,750 for Opportunity House to support the day shelter program for individuals experiencing homelessness in Cabarrus County.

$3,000 to Present Age Ministries to support For The One, a program that provides comprehensive case management services to underage victims of sex trafficking.

$2,000 to Veterans Bridge Home to host community events to connect veterans in Cabarrus County with services to meet their needs.

$2,500 to Walking in the Harvest to support Operation Breadbasket, which provides emergency food and resources to the Logan community and Cabarrus County residents.

$3,500 to Wings of Eagles Ranch to install musical elements and equipment on the ranchs playground.

For more information about the Cabarrus County Community Foundation, visit www.cabarruscounty-cf.org.

Cabarrus County Community Foundation

Established in 1989 as a permanent endowment, the Cabarrus County Community Foundation benefits a wide range of charitable purposes. As an affiliate of Charlotte-based Foundation For The Carolinas, the Cabarrus County Community Foundation inspires philanthropy, increases charitable giving and strengthens the community.
GREENSBORO  Programs in anthropology, physics and physical education are among UNCG degree programs that could be discontinued based on recommendations from their deans, who were asked to come up with a list by Chancellor Frank Gilliam.

Others include degrees in religious studies and minors in Russian, Chinese and Korean languages  all of which have zero students enrolled.

The much-anticipated announcement from UNCG was made after months of speculation and consternation by some faculty and students critical of the move, which the school views as a means to rid itself of extraneous programs. It's also in response to a number of young adults choosing not to attend college.

The recommendations were posted Tuesday on the university's website, but do not represent a final decision. UNCG has over 175 undergraduate areas of study and over 250 master's and doctoral programs. Deans were not required to make recommendations but were asked to review the programs.

Gilliam said student enrollment, measured in credit hours, is a key metric the university is using to compare programs. At the same time, he added, there are some programs, such as minors in Islamic and Jewish studies, that are "so core to the universitys mission" that it makes sense to keep them, even with lower numbers. Gilliam explained that of his role in the process is in making those calls.

Leaders of the schools American Association of University Professors group have questioned Gilliams assertion that cutting programs as a result of the review will lead to a stronger university.

Indeed, the evidence from other institutions that have imposed drastic cuts in the current climate is that they lead directly to enrollment loss and reputational decline that cause more instability, the group said, in posting on their website.

The list is a result of an academic review begun in 2022 at the school, named No. 1 in the state for social mobility, affordability and student experience according to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Gilliam has said he hopes it results in a strengthened university.

The review included the universitys full academic portfolio, including undergraduate majors, minors and concentrations as well as graduate programs. Current students in all academic programs will be able to finish their studies at UNCG in their chosen major, Gilliam has told students.

Best public colleges in North Carolina Best public colleges in North Carolina #12. University of North Carolina Asheville #11. Winston-Salem State University #10. North Carolina A&T State University #9. Western Carolina University #8. East Carolina University #7. University of North Carolina - Wilmington #6. University of North Carolina at Charlotte #5. University of North Carolina - Greensboro #4. Appalachian State University #3. University of North Carolina School of the Arts #2. North Carolina State University #1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
GUEST OPINION: The global economy has undergone many major upheavals in the form of heightened inflation, increased interest rates and unstable oil prices. As these headwinds continue to be felt across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), business leaders must focus on resilience and risk management.

If there is anything to be learned from the last few years, it's that companies must be antifragile. As described by author Nassim Nicholas Taleb, antifragility is defined as the ability to survive, evolve and flourish in chaotic or uncertain environments. Against this challenging backdrop, we foresee that 2024 will be the year of the antifragile organisation as companies hunker down to ride out another tough year.

Keir Garrett, Regional Vice President Cloudera ANZ, comments, An antifragile organisation improves, evolves and becomes even stronger in spite of challenges. Right now, organisations are considering how best to prepare and respond to ongoing uncertainties, while still investing in innovation and growth. To strike the right balance, organisations will do well to harness the untapped power of data, consider the entire data lifecycle and how data can be monetised as a strategic asset.

When it comes to the ANZ region, organisations of every industry are continuing to invest in IT solutions, signifying a positive view of how technology can play a role in building resilience during challenging times. Gartner forecasts IT spending in Australia will grow to 7.8% in 2024, despite tightening of budgets.

Cost savings and operational efficiencies to underpin business in 2024

Despite the rise in IT spending, indicating that businesses will continue to invest in digital transformation, the challenging economic environment will mean they may double down on initiatives that streamline costs, improve efficiencies, and maximise the resources they currently have.

However, businesses must look beyond these turbulent economic times to avoid making shortsighted business decisions. Adopting a long-term business strategy requires businesses to devote resources to infrastructure and skills. By preparing its technology, people and processes for the future, an organisation can easily pivot towards innovation, allowing it to be antifragile in good and bad economic times.

Monetising data for antifragility

Data is widely recognised as a strategic asset, and come 2024 it will become digital gold for many organisations. In the months ahead, expect to see more companies treating data as a commodity that can be monetised for new revenue streams, driving innovation beyond simply enabling cost savings.

However, this also requires data integrity, where data is accurate, complete, and consistent. By paying attention to data lineage, companies will be able to have a clear idea of where their data originates from, how it has changed and its final destination within its lifecycle. As more organisations store their data both on-premise and in the cloud, deploying data management platforms with modern architectures can deliver quicker time to insights and provide access to data and analytics across all lines of business.

Operationalising Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive business value

In 2023, many organisations discovered how AI can be used to drive cost savings and operational efficiencies by automating repetitive, mundane and time-consuming tasks. However, advancements in AI such as generative AI and large language models continue to uncover new opportunities for innovation and creative problem-solving. In 2024, expect organisations to explore and experiment with AI more earnestly, working towards operationalising the tech and driving new revenue streams.

It will also become increasingly obvious that AI platforms do not work in isolation - the entire data architecture of the business must be integrated to allow for quick and easy access to available data. AI/ML models are only as good as the data they are fed  this requires consistent security and governance controls throughout the entire organisation.

Companies must ensure that they deploy the right AI/ML strategies and data platforms that include an integrated set of security and governance technologies and can deliver consistent data context across the organisation, regardless of where the data is stored. Using such a platform allows an organisation to trust its data to deliver reliable insights and to form the foundation for AI deployments.

Organisational resilience need not come at the cost of innovation or growth

When assessing the impact of AI on business performance, Garrett says, If we are to succeed in 2024, we must be both optimistic and realistic about the capabilities of AI. Secure, trusted and responsible AI, at scale, will have an integral role to play in registering and developing new revenue streams, or amplifying existing ones.

However, it will be crucial for organisations to spend the time needed to align AI deployment alongside business strategy, as opposed to moving at pace under the guise of not being left behind. Investing in trusted data will help to drive innovation and achieve greater success over time.

Overall, its crucial for organisations to ensure that their technology, people and processes support one another and work in harmony. Doing so allows an organisation to build and train its AI deployments on trusted data, driving innovation and growth, even in times of uncertainty. A resilient organisation resists shocks and stays the same; an antifragile organisation improves, evolves and becomes stronger.
Camacho brings more than 25 years of global senior leadership experience at SaaS and enterprise software companies with a primary focus on creating value through best-in-class customer experiences. As chief operating officer (COO), Camacho will lead CyberArks go-to-market strategy and field execution. This includes executive leadership over the entire customer journey including sales, channel and customer success teams worldwide.

Camacho most recently served as chief customer officer (CCO) and senior vice president of customer success at BMC Software. At BMC, she led the companys global customer success, customer value realisation, professional services and customer support teams and was responsible for driving its customer value creation and customer experience strategy.

CyberArk has an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate growth and further solidify our identity security leadership position. Its critical that we execute at scale, while keeping the customer experience and our security-first approach to protecting all identities at the centre of everything we do, said CyberArk CEO Matt Cohen. With Eduardas global strategic and operational expertise, she will drive deep alignment across the customer journey, where every touch point delivers an exceptional experience and our strong partner ecosystem speeds time-to-value.

Prior to BMC, Camacho served as executive vice president and CCO at PTC. She had an accomplished tenure at PTC leading customer success and professional services teams in addition to holding numerous executive leadership positions such as worldwide partner services and channel roles across EMEA, Asia Pacific and Japan.

I was drawn to CyberArk because of its reputation in the market and the strength of the innovative CyberArk Identity Security Platform, which is built to compound customer value and fuel business growth, said Camacho. I am proud to be joining this dynamic global organisation that has a clearly defined mission to protect its customers from cyberthreats and is distinguished by its culture and incredible leadership team.

About CyberArk

CyberArk is the global leader in identity security. Centred on intelligent privilege controls, CyberArk provides the most comprehensive security offering for any identity  human or machine  across business applications, distributed workforces, hybrid cloud environments and throughout the DevOps lifecycle. The worlds leading organisations trust CyberArk to help secure their most critical assets. To learn more about CyberArk, visit https://www.cyberark.com, read the CyberArk blogs or follow on LinkedIn, X, Facebook or YouTube.
WalkMe Inc. (NASDAQ: WKME), a leading provider of digital adoption solutions, today announced new survey results that show 44% of Australian workers are not filing an expense report for money due back to them, leaving billions of dollars on the table. Thirty-five percent of workers say that work expenses create job stress with another 19% claiming unreimbursed expenses are negatively impacting their financial situation this holiday season.

A vast majority (63%) of Australian workers experienced challenges when filing work-related expenses, the top issues being time-consuming paperwork and the length of time to get reimbursed. Adding to the obstacles, 24% of Australian workers blamed their companys cumbersome expense reimbursement process as a reason for not filing.

Creating a frictionless experience for employees to reduce paperwork and time spent on expense reporting is a key part of the reimbursement process. While many may believe employees are the sole beneficiary of accurate and timely expense reporting, it is an imperative for employers for:

Compliance: organisations have policies in place to ensure compliance with tax laws. and regulations, including keeping track of company spending. Proper expense reporting is part of these policies. Budgeting: expense reports provide valuable insight to make informed budget decisions. Accountability: reporting promotes transparency and accountability to ensure that employees and the company are spending money responsibly. Employee experience: companies must provide ideal means for employees to file accurate and timely expense reports to make the employee whole, thus driving positive employee experience.

When expense reporting is so cumbersome or the process doesnt feel worth the effort, employees will feel dissatisfaction with their jobs and more work stress, and thats a problem for business, said Chelsea Pyrzenski, Chief People Officer at WalkMe. Enterprises can experience compliance and end-of-year fiscal reporting issues as a result of the expense reporting mess, which makes them vulnerable. Its in everyones interest to ensure the process is very easy, efficient and seamless, to eliminate the time-wasting shuffling of receipts and the guesswork around software and policies. When used with leading expense management systems, Digital Adoption Platforms like WalkMe have proven to ease expense report frustration and radically improve both the employee and employer experience.

Additional data points

32% of Australian workers are still submitting paper receipts to finance.

45% of Australians dont submit for expenses worth less than $5 and 21% wont submit for expenses less than $10.

35% of Australian workers say that claiming work expenses adds stress to their job while 19% say that unreimbursed expenses has negatively impacted their financial situation during the 2023 holiday period.

Globally, the survey found that respondents in the 35-44-year-old age group were most likely to leave money on the table (58%), while the majority (63%) of those 55+ always filed an expense report for money due back to them.

Globally, the survey found that 18-35-year-olds were most likely (31.6%) to have unreimbursed expenses negatively impact their financial situation during the 2023 holiday season, more than twice as likely as 55+ (15.2%)

Australia is the most forgetful about filing expense reports (45.2%), 7% more than the next most forgetful region, U.K.

44% of Australian workers agreed or strongly agreed that AI and productivity tools have made expensing easier.

About the Survey

Conducted in November 2023 in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Singapore, and Australia, the multinational survey polled more than 2,400 workers, including 212 in Australia, across a wide array of industries and working ages. The research, conducted by Propeller Insights and sponsored by WalkMe, surveyed those who incur reimbursable work-related expenses as part of their job and all worked full-time with three-quarters in a self-identified managerial or supervisory role. Access the report here and infographic/summary here.
GUEST OPINION: 2023 saw a whirlwind of challenges  both old and new  but we also realised many opportunities to become more secure and stay ahead of evolving information security threats. As expected, it was another challenging year for information security as organisations continued looking for ways to stay ahead of hackers. We saw an increasing amount and complexity of phishing attacks overall, driven by a major trend throughout the year making a significant impact: AI-driven phishing. Phishing remains the most prevalent attack method due to its relatively low cost and high success rate, and the implementation of AI now only furthers this problem.

Across the board, weve seen a dramatic increase in attacks targeting businesses, governments and consumers using phishing to social engineer individuals to provide their credentials, identity information, and subvert legacy multi-factor authentication (MFA). A major reason for this is highlighted in Yubicos recent survey which found 91% of people still rely solely on a username and password to secure their accounts. In order to be more secure moving forward, collectively we must do better overall and move away from the reliance on passwords and other weak forms of authentication, towards modern, phishing-resistant MFA.

In 2023 we also saw many attacks spearheaded by the increased amount of information attackers have about specific vendors in the supply chain and employees within companies. The information enables attackers to provide sophisticated pretext, understand relationships and even communication styles.

Due in part to the success and impact that these types of attacks have had, weve seen governments in Australia, the US, Europe and around the world increase their focus on ways to increase the security of businesses, citizens and the government entities.

The US government specifically is showing signs of losing patience with the commercial sectors inability to keep attackers out of their environments and have emphasised the importance of using taking action: in early 2023 the government announced a National Cybersecurity Strategy which aims to shift responsibility of cybersecurity burden from individuals to organisations that are most capable and best-positioned to reduce risks for all of us.

Big tech giants like Apple, Microsoft and Google all added support for passkeys in 2023, among a number of other companies, applications and services.

In 2024, I expect to see many of these same trends continue  as well as new ones  steered by similar driving forces within cybersecurity and around the world. Below are my top cybersecurity recommendations for businesses and security leaders as we head into a new year.

1. Continue prioritising implementing Zero Trust strategies, with a focus on phishing-resistant MFA

We talk a lot about Zero Trust architectures (ZTAs) at Yubico because the industry has realised that although we spend a lot of time and energy trying to prevent breaches, they still happen. And when they do, the next line of defenses should minimise the impact that breach should have. ZTAs, in part and when implemented holistically, create additional trust boundaries that limit the attackers ability to move laterally and the relatively short session lengths inhibit the attackers window of opportunity and ability to maintain persistence without taking further action.

The adoption of ZTAs has also driven the attacker toward post-authentication attacks (more on that later), and forced them to try and subvert preventative measures like device registration. It is common for enterprises to require specialised registered devices for administrative access to the environment. Registration of one of these devices should be a rare event  rare enough that it is appropriate to notify a broad set of operations personnel to the event so that it can be triaged to ensure its expected and authorised.

This type of approach provides defenders an opportunity to detect attacks early. In fact, quite a few high profile attacks in the last few years have been detected this way. Well crafted alerts around rare and sensitive events that are then reviewed by personnel should be a pattern in most of our playbooks going into 2024.

With the critical need to take a more secure approach to cybersecurity health, its highly encouraged that every company moves beyond passwords and legacy MFA like SMS one-time passcodes (OTPs) and push-based applications. Governments around the world recognise that not all MFA is created equal, and adopting modern phishing-resistant MFA  including hardware security keys like a YubiKey  is a core building block of a Zero Trust strategy that will significantly enhance the security posture of organisations.

2. Be prepared for attackers continuing advancements of AI-driven attacks

While there are known benefits of generative AI, bad actors can use AI to their benefit by writing customised phishing emails on a massive scale or placing scam phone calls to thousands of people at once. By automating the most time, skill, and labour-intensive parts of running phishing campaigns, generative AI is making it possible to dramatically increase the number of attacks and lowers the bar for less capable attackers to get involved with phishing. Modern day phishing attacks leveraging AI can start with a phrase as simple as this by an attacker: Hey [virtual AI assistant], send phishing emails to all IT administrators at companies, X, Y, and Z.

The risk doesnt end there, though. Generative AI can make each social engineering attempt more potent and likely to succeed because modern AI leverages massive amounts of data to support generating realistic text and voice-based attacks, or generate a dossier on specific targets to be used in a sophisticated campaign. For example, AI can mimic someones writing style or reference relevant and accurate details extracted from previous breaches. It can even create deep fakes, where attackers use AI to clone someones voice and speech patterns.

These types of attacks usually focus on convincing the victim to take action but can be mitigated by validating the request using an alternative communication path  ideally one that is known to be good. For example, if you receive an email from a family member asking you to send them money to help them get out of a situation, call them using a phone number that you already possess for them to confirm the situation.

3. Be extra cautious of increasing misinformation around global events and election campaigns in the coming year  double check your sources

AI and deep fakes will have a major impact around the world next year, and especially around disinformation to influence global events and elections. The challenge will be how to mitigate the threat of deep fakes to limit their impact.

Our common methods of consuming information and communication will need to adopt some of the ideas that have been incorporated into our Zero Trust models. For example, video content sites may need a method for viewers, or companies on behalf of the viewer, to confirm the identity of the individuals appearing in videos in order to combat concerns of deep fakes. The same needs to be true for email content.

Over the years our industry has attempted to implement systems to sign email, but they have been difficult to use, administer, and often dont work well across systems or companies. As passkeys become more ubiquitous and the adoption of electronic federal identities become more common, we will have some of the basic building blocks required to increase the trust in our content and communication systems using well understood and battle-hardened approaches.

Until we have something better, be sure to always double check your sources and be sceptical of content that is too good to be true or feels off. This can be done by confirming the official account (either individual, organisation or company) posting the video  on social media sites like X, Facebook and LinkedIn, you can see this through the official pages check or marking noting they are verified and legitimately the source in question.

In order to have any meaningful impact on disinformation, governments around the world need to continue prioritising cybersecurity and partnering on cybersecurity posture.

4. Adapt to the expected rise of post-authentication threats

In the last few years weve seen increased adoption of MFA which is leading attackers to change, or at least broaden, their tactics. Weve seen a return to social engineering attacks that entices victims into downloading and installing software and a resurgence of fake, but convincing, web pop ups that lead victims to believe that their device is infected that eventually turns into a common call center-based technical support scam.

Although not new, were also seeing an increased focus on stealing browser tokens that allow an attacker to impersonate the victim. These tokens or identifiers are set after successful authentication and are used to uniquely identify the authenticated user as part of their web session.

In some cases, these tokens are traded and sold and can sometimes support larger ransomware or extortion campaigns. The prevalence of token-based theft is leading to more research into token binding, a technical solution focused on tying the token to a specific device and to allow defenders to detect when the tokens are stolen and then used on a different device or in a different geographic location.

5. Continue improving on information sharing and collaboration among CISOs

We live in a very connected world where our safety and security depends heavily on the safety and security of others. A time of crisis is never a good time to get to know your vendors, suppliers, partners, and customers. At least for a subset of the critical and strategic relationships, I recommend that CISOs and security leaders find ways to connect over more than a risk questionnaire.

It is important for CISOs to have a pre-existing relationship prior to a breach or other crisis.

6. Ensure a secrets manage is used for machine and service accounts

Last year, we saw quite a few high profile breaches where the attacker was able to obtain key material and machine secrets that allowed them to persist and move laterally across the environment. In cloud platforms, this often means being able to attack tenants or customers. We have also seen instances where the compromised key material allowed the attacker to establish a trust relationship between an attacker controlled device and the victim companies environment.

In many cases, these credentials were not properly protected from theft which allowed the attacker to remove the credential from the environment and use them for their own purposes. A secrets manager, ideally backed by a physical HSM, mitigates the threat of theft  although not from abuse. It will, however, force them to perform their attacks within your environment. This should provide an increased ability to detect and respond to the breach.

Attackers will certainly continue evolving and adapting to keep up with how cybersecurity postures change among business and consumers around the world, and we must do the same. Its clear were seeing some big wins when it comes to stopping attacks like phishing, and were actively seeing bad actors change their strategies.

Im more hopeful than ever for the bright future and opportunities at hand. We must never rest on our laurels, and aim to continue staying diligent in our efforts around cybersecurity hygiene and moving toward known effective tools to stop attacks like phishing-resistant MFA. Heres to a new year filled with new, active efforts to improve cybersecurity globally.
The Cultcha Transgender student bathroom case rejected by Supreme Court By Greg Stohr Bloomberg Published Jan. 17, 2024

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The U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider whether transgender students have a legal right to use school bathrooms that match their gender identity, sidestepping a clash at the heart of the nation's culture wars.

The court Tuesday rejected an appeal from an Indiana school district sued by the family of a transgender middle school student who was barred from using the boys' restroom. The rebuff, which came without comment or published dissent, leaves intact a federal appeals court ruling favoring the student.

At issue was the reach of the 1972 federal civil rights law that bars discrimination in schools on the basis of sex. The law has long been understood to allow for separate male and female bathrooms, but lower courts disagree as to whether schools can insist on classifying students according to the gender they were assigned at birth.

The case centered on a child, known in court papers only as A.C, who was born with female anatomy but has identified as a boy since about the age of eight. A.C. has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and treated with puberty blockers, and Indiana courts have legally changed his name and the gender marker on his birth certificate.

After he enrolled as a seventh-grader at John R. Wooden Middle School in Martinsville in 2021, A.C.'s family requested that he be allowed to use the boys' bathroom. The Metropolitan School District of Martinsville refused, requiring him to use either the girls' bathroom or the single-user restroom in the school's health office, which students can use with permission after signing in each time.

A.C. and his mother said in court papers that he grew angry, humiliated and depressed, and his grades suffered as a result.

 Trump Shift Transgender student bathroom rights have been a source of legal wrangling for years. The Supreme Court was scheduled to consider the subject in 2017, only to see the Trump administration scuttle the case by changing a key federal policy.

Martinsville officials said the 1972 law, known as Title IX, leaves room for schools to have separate bathrooms based on students' "biological sex."

"What Title IX does not do is impose a straightjacket on schools all throughout the country as they struggle to deal with an issue that is simply not what Title IX was enacted to address," the school district argued.

A.C. and his mother urged the Supreme Court not to hear the case, saying the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals correctly ruled that the school district probably violated Title IX. The 7th Circuit relied in part on the 2020 Supreme Court ruling that said transgender workers are protected under a federal law that bars job discrimination on the basis of sex.

That ruling "established that even if sex were narrowly understood as limited to sex designated at birth, discriminating against individuals based on their transgender status is still sex discrimination," the family told the Supreme Court.

The case is Metropolitan School District v. A.C., 23-392.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
Then a funny thing would happen. The first two sites would take your clip down. But the biggest platform  the one with 3 billion users  would not. Facebook would slap a warning label on the clip but leave it up for people to click through, listen to and share with others. That antiquated policy could prove disastrous in a divisive election year.

Several examples already show how possible that scenario is. In September last year, faked audio of a Slovak political leader "discussing" ways to buy votes was shared on Facebook within days of a closely fought national election. Parent company Meta Platforms Inc. doesn't ban fake audio clips in the same way it takes down fake videos, so Facebook let it remain with a label saying it had been manipulated. Two days later, that same party leader lost the election. It's impossible to know if that swayed votes, but the country also had a 48-hour media blackout before the election, which meant there was no one else around to debunk the forgery.

In the world of misinformation, fake audio can have a more sinister effect than video. While fake "photos" of Donald Trump have a glossy, plastic look that belies the AI machinery behind them, fake versions of his voice are harder to scrutinize and distinguish. And AI-generated voices can sound hyper-realistic now thanks to a passel of new tools originally designed to help podcasters and marketers.

Companies like Eleven Labs, Voice AI and Respeecher sell services that can synthesize voices of actors so they can, for instance, read audio books in different languages, and some only require a couple of minutes of a voice recording to clone it. Voice AI startups raised about $1.6 billion from venture capital investors in 2023, according to market-research firm Pitchbook. (Overall investment growth in these companies has gone down in the last two years, though, in part because because larger companies like Amazon.com Inc. and OpenAI are taking more business.)

Some companies like Respeecher have features in place to prevent misuse, or they require permission from people to have their voice cloned. But that doesn't stop others from exploiting them anyway. Someone recently cloned the voice of the Mayor of London, for instance, and posted the faked audio clip to TikTok. In it, the voice of Sadiq Khan could be heard saying that Armistice Day should cancelled in favor of a protest to support Palestinians. "Why don't they have Remembrance Weekend next weekend?" his voice says. The audio caused outrage among Brits who believed the country's veteran's day celebrations should be respected, but Khan's office said that the clip was being "circulated and amplified by a far-right group." To their likely dismay, it was reposted on Facebook and remains on the site, in at least one case without a warning label.

Another person generated a fake clip of UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer supposedly calling one of his team members a "bloody moron," while a second forged clip had Starmer saying that he "hated Liverpool." The posts were seen thousands of times on TikTok before being taken down. A rival Conservative politician encouraged the public to "ignore it."

TikTok removed the London mayor's clip, and a spokeswoman said similar deceptive audio involving politicians would normally be taken down as it violates policy. YouTube also removed postings of the faked mayor's voice; a spokeswoman said the site takes off "technically manipulated" content that could cause harm. Twitter has a similar rule, though doesn't seem to enforce it (it has kept the Mayor's forgery up, for instance).

But the stakes are higher with Facebook given that it has eight times more monthly active users than Twitter, which makes its leniency toward forged audio all the more bizarre.

A spokesman for Facebook said it labeled and left fake audio of politicians "so people have accurate information when they encounter similar content across the internet." It's better to leave a clip up with a warning label, Facebook argues, so that when people see it on other sites like Twitter or Telegram, they'll be educated on its inauthenticity.

But Facebook relies on stretched teams of fact checkers to do such labeling. "These things are spreading in real time over the internet," says Steve Nowottny, editor of the independent fact-checking charity Full Fact, which worked with Facebook to debunk the Khan and Starmer audio clips. It took them two days to check the Labour Party leader's clip, he says.

One problem is there are still no reliable technical tools for detecting fake AI audio, so Full Fact uses old-fashioned investigative techniques, (1)and its fact-checking team is made up of just 13 people. More broadly, there's been a decline in the number of people at social media companies working on misinformation too. Alphabet Inc., Meta and Twitter have all pared back their trust and safety teams in the last two years to cut costs, and Meta also recently shuttered a project to build a fact-checking tool, according to CNBC.

"I talked to a large group of fact-checkers and journalists from across Asia in November, and almost everyone was seeing manipulated audio and wasn't sure how to detect it," says Sam Gregory, executive director of Witness, a human rights group focused on technology.

Even labeled misinformation can spread rapidly before the warning is properly understood. In moments of fast-paced information sharing, when emotions are running high, not every Facebook or Instagram user will fully comprehend the meaning of a label, or believe it.

Facebook's policy of only taking down faked videos is out of date. As we head into what could be tumultuous national elections in the UK, India, the US and elsewhere, made all the more messy by AI tools generating all kinds of media and information, the platform should start taking down deceptive audio too.

____

(1) In the case of the Starmer clip, for instance, Full Fact spoke to people in both the Labour and Conservative Party to confirm the audio was fake.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Previously:

 12/15/23: A small but welcome step in prying open AI's black box

 05/03/23: Lessons from Isaac Asimov on taming AI

 03/28/23: There's no such thing as artificial intelligence

 01/18/23: Why Mark Zuckerberg should face the threat of jail

 12/20/22: Whoever tweets last, don't forget to turn off the lights

 10/20/22: Kanye buys his own little piece of free speech

 07/15/22: Big Tech's reckoning won't stop with Uber

 03/23/22: Putin may finally be gearing up for cyber war --- against America

 02/21/22: Watch out for the facial recognition overlords

 02/04/22: Bye-Bye Billion$: Facebook and Google are finally crashing

 01/19/22: Cyberattacks on Ukraine may start spreading globally

 11/10/21: The startups that could close the greenwashing loopholes

 11/04/21: Mark Zuckerberg takes a page from Elon Musk's book

Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. She previously reported for the Wall Street Journal and Forbes and is the author of "We Are Anonymous."
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Senators overwhelmingly rejected a resolution Tuesday night that would have forced the Biden administration to look into potential human rights abuses perpetrated by Israel in its military campaign in Gaza.

Just 11 senators supported moving to a vote on the resolution, a sign of the body's unflagging support for Israel, even as the Jewish state now faces allegations of genocide in its ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), an independent who caucuses with Democrats, forced the vote using a mechanism in U.S. foreign assistance law that can require the State Department to look into the human rights practices of nations receiving U.S. aid. The resolution would have required the department to produce a report within 30 days about any potential abuses and how U.S. weapons have been used by Israel in its Gaza offensive, which has killed 24,000 Palestinians in just over three months.

"A vote against this resolution . . . it says, 'I don't want more information,' " Sanders argued in a floor speech. " 'I want to keep my head in the sand. I don't want to see what's going on.'"

The resolution would not have automatically altered U.S. aid to Israel, but it faced staunch opposition from the Biden administration, congressional Republicans and most Democrats, who raised concerns about the message the vote would send to its ally.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called the resolution "performative left-wing politics" Tuesday and said passing it could tie the hands of a close ally. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called it "the most tone-deaf thing maybe in the history of the Senate."

Democrats who opposed the resolution were more muted in their criticism, saying that they shared Sanders' concerns about the civilian death toll and the need for more humanitarian aid in Gaza, but that they believed this vote would have emboldened Israel's enemies.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) called the vote "a gift to Hamas, a gift to Iran . . . an indictment against Israel." He suggested that the resolution would imperil ongoing hostage negotiations and even "makes it more likely" that Iran and its proxies would escalate their attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets in the region.

"We are trying to call attention to some unpleasant realities that I think a lot of people would prefer not to deal with," Sanders said in an interview before the vote failed.

The result reaffirms Congress's bipartisan support for Israel in the war, which began after Hamas fighters killed 1,200 Israelis in an Oct. 7 surprise attack and took more than 200 hostages. The Israeli counteroffensive has drawn international criticism in recent weeks as the United Nations has described a Gaza population on the brink of famine, with most of the territory destroyed and its population displaced, and where "children are dying at an alarming rate." Gaza health officials say roughly two-thirds of those killed in Israel's bombing campaign have been women and children, and Israel has allowed limited humanitarian aid from entering the territory, on the basis that it could be used by militants for nefarious purposes.

The Israeli government has strongly rejected the international criticism of its operations, saying that it tries to minimize civilian casualties while Hamas hides within the civilian population, employing underground tunnels, hospitals and schools as hideouts and control centers.

The issue has divided Democratic lawmakers, with some echoing the calls by many nations for a cease-fire, while others support continued military action. Dozens of Democratic lawmakers have signed onto letters raising concerns with how the Biden administration has handled the war, from its attempts to bypass Congress when it transfers weapons to the nation to how it is pressing the Israeli government to avoid more civilian casualties.

But Tuesday's resolution did not attract the support of some Democrats who have joined those efforts, including Sens. Chris Murphy (Conn) and Dick Durbin (Ill.).

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who supported the resolution, said that it can be "awkward and difficult" to scrutinize a close ally and partner. "But when there has been this level of casualties and we are this closely tied to it, it is the right thing to do," he said.

In addition to Merkley and Sanders, Sens. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) supported the measure.

The White House opposed the resolution. Biden has said that Israel has engaged in "indiscriminate bombing" and that the current government led by Benjamin Netanyahu has pursued a military strategy that has resulted in far too many civilian deaths. But Biden has remained steadfast in his support of the nation, one of the United States' closest allies, and his administration argues that Israel is changing its tactics in the war.

"We do not believe that this resolution is the right vehicle to address these issues. And we don't think now is the right time," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. "The Israelis have indicated they are preparing to transition their operations to a much lower intensity. And we believe that transition will be helpful both in terms of reducing civilian casualties, as well as increasing humanitarian assistance."

(COMMENT, BELOW)
A UNCG graduate student had the opportunity to join the conversation around mental health in schools across the country with Vice President Kamala Harris.

On Jan. 11, Gregoria Arreola-Meza participated in a roundtable discussion with the vice president surrounding mental health in schools. Arreola-Meza is a UNCG graduate student studying counseling with a concentration in school counseling.

She first met briefly with the vice president, explaining her passion for advocacy, which is rooted in her own story as a first-generation Mexican American college student. She was then asked to be part of the roundtable discussion with Vice President Harris and the U.S. Secretary of Education.

I shared with the vice president that I want to pursue a school counseling career because I see an opportunity for advocacy and representation for students, says Arreola-Meza, who is from Winston-Salem.

Arreola-Meza hopes to advocate for mental health and educational needs by working in North Carolina public schools, helping to remove academic barriers and improve access to restricted mental health and educational resources, particularly for students and families who are traditionally underrepresented. For her, its an opportunity to pay it forward.

I wanted to go to college, but no one in my family knew how to help me. It was a school counselor and a UNCG admissions staff member who helped me navigate the college system.

When she graduates next spring, she will be that school counselor for other students.

The vice president was in Charlotte promoting the Safer Communities Act and $285 million of that funding to help hire and train more than 14,000 mental health professionals in school settings. Carrie Wachter Morris in UNCGs department of counseling and educational development received more than $5.6 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education that was authorized by the Safer Communities Act to increase the pipeline of mental health professionals in schools.

This grant, called SCALE UP, provides two years of tuition, books and fees, as well as a stipend to support masters students who are enrolled in the school counseling concentration and who commit to interning at a high-need rural school - specifically in Rockingham and Alamance counties.

The SCALE UP grant will allow us to provide something relatively rare - a fully funded graduate education for future school counseling professionals, says Dr. Wachter Morris. The grant is designated to positively impact the education and mental health of K-12 children by increasing the number of school mental health providers and increasing their ability to serve schools that have a high need. Through the SCALE UP grant, we can also help others learn about school based mental health professions as a career opportunity - or as a resource for K-12 students."

Arreola-Meza will serve as a school counseling intern in Rockingham and Alamance counties as part of her studies.

Its not every day that the vice president hears your story and wants you to advocate it on all her platforms because of how impactful she felt it was, Arreola-Meza says. She told me she was proud of me and wanted me to continue to spread awareness for people pursuing careers in mental health.
Wednesdays frigid temperatures in the Triad will give local residents a preview of bitter cold temperatures by Saturday night.

The forecast calls for Wednesdays high temperatures near 37 to 39 degrees in Winston-Salem and Greensboro, but early morning temperatures will be 14 to 15 degrees, said Sean Sublette, the chief meteorologist with the Richmond Times-Dispatch and a meteorologist for Lee Enterprises newspapers.

Wind speeds will reach up to 9 mph in the Triad and will result in wind chill values of 6 to 8 degrees Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh.

Wednesday nights forecast calls for low temperatures around 21 degrees in Forsyth County and around 22 degrees in Guilford County.

The wind chill will be around 17 degrees, said Chrissy Anderson, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Raleigh.

Wind-chill values Wednesday morning will be -15 to -18 degrees in Watauga County as well as -12 degrees in Ashe and Alleghany counties, said Amanda Sava, a weather service meteorologist in Blacksburg, Va.

The weather service issued a wind-chill advisory Tuesday for Ashe, Alleghany and Watauga counties. The advisory will be in effect until noon Wednesday.

The wind-chill values will be as low as 5 degrees to -20 degrees in those counties, the weather service said.

A cold front combining with moisture over the mountains produced  inch to eight inches of snow Tuesday in Ashe, Alleghany and Watauga counties, the weather service said.

The first round of cold temperatures is the result of a low-pressure system moving across the Tennessee Valley Thursday night into Friday, Anderson said. Behind that system, cold dry air will move from Montana southeast over the Carolinas, Anderson said.

The second high pressure system is coming down directly out of Canada, bringing cold air from Canada directly into the Carolinas, Anderson said.

The conditions are part of the Arctic blast that was over the much of the United States last weekend through Tuesday, Sava said.

We are getting the cold air behind it, Sava said.

Thursdays forecast in the Triad calls for sunny skies and high temperatures near 44 degrees in Winston-Salem and near 46 degrees in Greensboro.

Low temperatures Thursday night will drop to 31 degrees in Forsyth County and 32 degrees in Guilford County, with a 30% percent chance of snow in the Triad.

Fridays forecast calls for sunny skies with high temperatures near 45 in Winston-Salem and Greensboro. Friday nights forecast calls for low temperatures around 16 to 17 degrees in Forsyth and Guilford counties with a wind-chill value of 6 to 7 degrees, Anderson said.

The temperatures take another plunge Saturday with high temperatures near 29 and 30 degrees in Winston-Salem and Greensboro and low temperatures Saturday around 14 degrees and 15 degrees in Forsyth and Guilford counties.

The wind-chill values will be around 0 to -3 degrees in the Triad, Anderson said.

The Arctic temperatures in the Triad and Northwest North Carolina are also the result of waves of cold air from the Arctic weather that pummeled the central United States, breaking off and heading south, Sublette said.

And a couple of smaller chunks of that air will push into North Carolina between now and the weekend, Sublette said.

It will not be as cold as the Midwest, as our winds will warm slightly as they move down the mountains, Sublette said. Plus, we do not have the deep snowpack that is on the ground in the Midwest, which keeps their air especially cold.

The weather service urges residents to use caution while traveling outside in the frigid temperatures. People should wear appropriate clothes, a hat and gloves.
On the first day voters could apply for an early vote ballot for Mays primary election, the Lancaster County election commissioner reminded voters Monday there are drop boxes at four Lincoln city libraries.

The Lancaster County Board had previously approved installing permanent drop boxes at libraries in four quadrants of the city: Gere (southeast); Eiseley (northwest); Walt (southwest); and Anderson (northeast).

The board did so over the objections of a group that regularly appears before the board with election fraud concerns, but Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen said Lancaster County had far fewer boxes when compared to Nebraskas other largest counties.

Previously Lancaster County had one for its 200,244 registered voters.

As more voters vote early, the accessibility of drop box locations needs to improve, Wiltgen told the board in October.

In last years city elections, he said, nearly 18,000 early voters used the drop box at the election commissioners office and it created traffic and safety problems.

The boxes comply with a 2022 state law passed to improve voter security: They are secured in concrete and locked. During the pandemic, Lancaster County had 10 additional drop boxes at libraries and in Hickman and Waverly, but they were on counters, not permanently affixed.

Monday was also the first day for voters to request early vote ballots and it will be the first time voters have to comply with a new voter ID law approved by voters in 2022.

When a voter fills out their early voting application, they will need to do one of the following:

* Write their drivers license or state ID number on the application or attach a photocopy of their acceptable form of ID to the application.

Acceptable IDs must be issued by the federal government, State of Nebraska, local governments or Nebraska colleges, as long as the ID bears the persons name and photo. Expired documents are accepted.

Military and veteran IDs, tribal IDs and patient records with photos kept by nursing homes, assisted living facilities or hospitals also will be accepted.

* The photocopy must be returned with the application, whether the voter returns the documents in person, by mail, by email or by fax or if the voter does not have an ID and cannot get an ID because of a disability, illness or religious objection to being photographed, the voter can attach their completed reasonable impediment certification to the application.

Once the early voter returns their application with their ID information, the voter ID requirement is fulfilled. The voter will not need to present their ID again for this primary election. The voter should make sure to sign and return the early voting application to their county election office.

Nebraskans can get a free state ID for voting purposes from the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. If the person was born in Nebraska and needs a free certified copy of their Nebraska birth certificate to get a free state ID, they can contact the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. A birth certificate is not a valid form of voter ID.

A brochure about voter ID is available in English and Spanish at voterID.nebraska.gov, along with more preliminary voter ID education material.

Wiltgen said in a news release Monday that his office will start mailing early vote ballot applications to all Lancaster County voters on the permanent early vote request list on Feb. 12.

Voters who do not want to wait until they receive an early vote application in the mail or are not on the permanent list may obtain an early vote request form at: lancaster.ne.gov/election or they can call the office at 402-441-7311 and request a mailed form.

The completed and signed application or letter may be dropped off at any drop box location excluding the existing drop box on the north side of the Lancaster County Election Office. It was damaged over the weekend by snow removal equipment.

It can be mailed or dropped off in person at the Election Office, 601 N. 46th St., from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

A scanned copy or a readable photo of the application or letter may also be emailed to the Election Office at: earlyvote@lancaster.ne.gov.

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
A new national report has given Nebraska a weak rating in how the state is ensuring its teacher workforce can implement the science of reading.

The National Council on Teacher Quality, a think tank dedicated to education reform, released a report ranking all 50 states on Tuesday. It said Nebraska is one of 19 states taking little action in policy to strengthen teachers reading instruction.

Across the U.S., there has been an overwhelming shift to incorporate whats described as the science of reading in reading instruction. The science of reading is a body of research about how humans learn to read and how reading should be taught, according to the International Literacy Association.

States are prioritizing a move towards scientifically-based reading instruction. However, what we see is that states need to do more to ensure that teachers are well prepared and well supported to be able to implement (it), said Heather Peske, NCTQ president. We found theres a missed opportunity here for states because theyre not focusing enough on supporting a strong preparation and strong implementation for teachers.

Currently, nearly 40% of U.S. fourth graders are unable to read at a basic level, according to national test data released last year. The scores are similar in Nebraska, where 35% of fourth graders cant read at a basic level and 66% cant read at a proficient level.

The think tanks work has been debated by educational experts for its agenda and methods  the NCTQ itself acknowledges it cant directly measure the mastery of content and knowledge of teachers or how they teach in their own schools, according to the National Education Policy Center.

Tuesdays report, rather, relies heavily on NCTQs review of state laws or regulations around literacy and the science of reading. Nebraskas dedication to local control influenced its low ranking in the report.

The NCTQ surveyed each state in five key areas and concluded that Nebraska ranks significantly lower than the national average, according to the report.

Nebraska has a lot of work to do in order to ensure that teachers are well prepared to teach (students) to read and to help increase reading rates across the state, Peske said.

Nebraska was ranked as weak in three key areas: establishing specific, detailed reading standards for teachers colleges; adopting a strong reading licensure test; and requiring districts to select high-quality reading curriculum.

The NCTQ found that the Nebraska Department of Education does incorporate how to teach struggling readers, including those with dyslexia, in its standards for teacher preparation programs. But Nebraska doesnt specifically require that elementary teachers are given preparation in what the think tank considers the five core reading components or given directions on how to teach reading to English language learners.

Nebraska just recently started the process to require science of reading instruction at teacher colleges. The new rule hasnt been approved by Gov. Jim Pillen yet and doesnt include specific details about the science of reading.

In the report, NCTQ said while the state does require all elementary teacher candidates to pass a reading licensure test, the exam isnt adequate and Nebraska doesnt report pass rate data.

Nebraska does provide guidance in the selection of high-quality curriculum materials, but the NCTQ downgraded the state because it doesnt require districts to select curriculum from an approved list. The fact that the state doesnt allocate funds to reading curriculum materials also contributed to the lower score.

The NCTQ found Nebraska had unacceptable standards in two key areas: reviewing teacher colleges to ensure they teach the science of reading and providing professional learning for teachers to sustain its implementation in schools.

Peske said the NCTQ shared results with each state and asked for feedback on the findings and if any needed revision. The Nebraska Department of Education did review the results and provided feedback before the report was published on Tuesday.

David Jespersen, spokesman for the Nebraska Department of Education, said department officials and the State Board of Education has been working on many of the five key areas listed, including with the proposed science of reading rule revision. While its true Nebraska doesnt require districts to select high-quality curriculum materials, he said, it has been recommending that for years.

Nebraska was one of the first eight states to join the High-Quality Instructional Materials and Professional Development Network and have been (a member) since 2017, he said in an email.

Jespersen said state Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont has also introduced LB1055 this year to provide more professional support for teachers.

The report ends with several recommendations for Nebraska to create more policies around the five key areas. Peske said this could happen within the education department or in the Legislature.

The bottom line is that we know that teachers are the most important factor in schools in making a difference whether or not children learn to read, Peske said. I think many state leaders are rightly very concerned about student outcomes, but theyre often not focusing enough on this key component  thats effective teachers.

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
The experience of growing up in Omaha infuses what Symone Sanders-Townsend thinks about on the job.

For the past few years, she has been an anchorwoman and television personality on the MSNBC cable network. She had her own show, Symone; is a frequent guest with popular hosts such as Alex Wagner and Lawrence ODonnell; and, with two co-hosts, is now launching a new show, The Weekend, on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Her home state, she said, was a formative place.

I would not be the person I am today without the experiences I had in Nebraska, particularly in North Omaha, she said, citing her involvement in Sacred Heart Catholic School, Mercy High School, Girls Inc. and Creighton University. Nebraska will always have a special place in my heart. I still have a Nebraska area code. I am a Nebraska girl through and through.

Her professional life, both now and when she worked in politics, was fueled here. She learned about the political process at Girls Inc. and, with the organization, participated in a trip to Washington, D.C., where she became interested in the media. She worked in the communications office of former Omaha mayor Jim Suttle and was deputy communications director for Chuck Hassebrooks campaign for governor.

She moved on to the national spotlight as the press secretary for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, worked in the Biden presidential campaign in 2020 and was a senior adviser for Vice President Kamala Harris.

In 2021, she joined MSNBC, where, she said, she offers a unique viewpoint.

My perspective as a young Black woman from the Midwest is one you dont normally find on cable news, she said in a recent interview with the Omaha World-Herald about The Weekend, which she sees as a great opportunity.

I feel amazing about the new show. We are on the cusp of a very consequential election year, and I cant think of a better place for people to come on the weekend to have in-depth coverage, she said.

The show will feature three voices from people with various perspectives, backgrounds and ideologies, she said. Her co-anchors are two MSNBC colleagues: Alicia Menendez and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

Sanders-Townsend was quick to point out that politics would not be the shows only topic.

It could be about former President Donald Trump in court, but it could be about record snowfall across the country  or record drought, she said. It could focus on Israels war with Hamas, the war in Ukraine, the countrys large number of refugees, problems at the border and the root cause of immigration or the disappearance of the secretary of defense, a story that broke at 5 p.m. on a Friday, making it perfect fodder for a weekend news program.

It wont be just people pontificating, she said, but other journalists and newsmakers making their cases and answering hard questions. We are advocates for the viewers. We will peel back the layers for the people at home.

She thinks some people have the notion that morning shows are inherently light and fun, but she promises more than that.

I try to have fun with anything I do, but we will cover serious and weighty topics, she said.

Another one, she said, will be the state of democracy in the U.S. She thinks many people believe that existing guardrails will ensure it remains intact, but they only work if the people who surround our leaders make it so. It matters who the president, the vice president and the people who work around them are, she said.

Thats why its important that a show like ours, and MSNBC in general, do a really good job at bringing in experts to give context about what is happening, she said.

Shes proud to bring her Midwest background with her to the show  and all her endeavors. She tries to come home as often as she can. She visited here for 24 hours during Omaha Days last year to participate in a ribbon-cutting at The Omaha Star newspaper. Her mom, Terri Sanders, recently purchased the North Omaha publication and is its publisher and CEO.

In her job, Sanders-Townsend aims to dispel generalizations about life in Nebraska, especially in its cities.

People ask me if I lived on a farm in Nebraska, she said. A lot of people on the coasts have a fundamental lack of understanding of what it is to be a person in the Midwest, to live in a small town. They dont know about that drive from Scottsbluff to Omaha. Those are all things I think about and take to shows.

10 times we were proud to be Nebraskans Clayton Anderson Jack Hoffman Henry Doorly Zoo National champions Legislature unique Ted Kooser Pilger cleanup Hannah Huston 150 years of statehood Nebraska flood relief
A proposed change to the rules of the Legislature prohibiting executive branch agencies from taking a position on bills during committee hearings fell short of being adopted Tuesday.

The amendment, offered by Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne, would have allowed agency directors or their designees to testify on legislation in a neutral capacity in order to offer information or address questions about how it would be carried out.

But it would have removed those agencies ability to preemptively veto bills by signaling their opposition, which Wayne said can influence the conversations had by senators during committee deliberations.

Every one of you in here has had an agency come in in opposition, Wayne said during floor debate Tuesday. They should only testify in the neutral position about the technical issues with the bill, not whether the administration is for or against it.

Wayne added allowing executive branch agencies to take a position on the ideas proposed by the legislative branch gave them too many tentacles into our house of government to have influence.

The Legislature already allows the head of the executive branch  in this case, Gov. Jim Pillen  to lobby for his priorities at the front of the legislative chamber through the annual state of the state address.

Pillen will give his speech Thursday morning.

The governors office also has a policy research office whose director, Kenny Zoeller, makes the case to senators about various bills Pillen supports throughout the legislative session in the Rotunda similar to other lobbyists.

Waynes proposal, which comes amid a separation of powers dispute between the executive branch and the Legislature on oversight of the states prison and child welfare systems, drew support from senators on either side of the political spectrum.

Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, the chairman of the Rules Committee, said he supported the idea, drawing attention to his efforts to move the headquarters for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission from Lincoln to Sidney, something the agency opposes.

Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney expressed frustration with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, which he said has opposed several bills before the Judiciary Committee, while declining to answer questions from senators.

Several senators who voted no or did not vote indicated they wished Wayne had introduced his idea earlier in the process so it could receive a public hearing before the Rules Committee.

Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington, a member of the committee, said she supported the change, but felt it did not go through the proper channel to be introduced and voted on the floor.

The proposal ultimately failed on a 17-23 vote but won support from a politically diverse group of senators.

Wayne, who also introduced a bill (LB1240) on Tuesday that would insert the same change limiting executive branch agencies to neutral testimony only into state statute, noted the unusual coalition of votes with irony.

Welcome to the Legislature, Wayne said. Sometimes, bipartisan ideas fall.

The Legislature adopted a trio of changes to the permanent rules it will operate under for the remaining 51 days of the 2024 session Tuesday.

Senators approved a rule brought by Speaker John Arch requiring grammatical and technical changes to a bill be adopted before other amendments can be made during the second round of debate.

Another change, introduced by Wayne, separates votes taken to suspend the rules and to pass the subsequent motion, which supporters said provides greater clarity and flexibility to senators.

Finally, after several hours of debate, the Legislature adopted a rule clarifying the timing for when priority motions, which are typically deployed during filibusters, can be introduced.

The change stems from a 2023 controversy that emerged when a filibuster prevented an Agricultural Committee amendment from being attached to a bill (LB562) from Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams requiring gas stations to offer 15% ethanol fuel.

The amendment was ultimately adopted but resulted in some clerical difficulties in tracking the changes, legislative officials said.

A handful of lawmakers, mostly those who often vote in the minority, said they were reluctant to codify the practice that started when Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers was in office.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad said Chambers often made agreements with individual senators or committees to allow amendments to be introduced before he launched into a filibuster.

But, she added, that was at a time when bills went through more scrutiny during the committee process, leading to better legislation reaching the floor.

We are not seeing that same level of rigor in the present term limits era, Conrad said.

Conrad said term limits have hamstrung the work committees have done, leading to fewer subject matter experts, a loss of work ethic, a lack of accountability among staff, and a reluctance to work with other stakeholders both inside and outside of the Legislature.

Thats one reason Im concerned about making this change, she said. It misunderstands and conflates where we were with today.

The Legislature approved the change on a 33-6 vote, however.

Arch, who sets the Legislatures agenda, said senators would continue to work through proposed rules changes that emerged from committee on a 5-0 vote through Wednesday before starting on more controversial changes Thursday following Pillens address to the Legislature.

Debate on proposals advanced from the committee on a 3-2 vote will begin at about 11 a.m. Thursday and end early Friday afternoon.

Meet the Nebraska state senators making laws in 2024
Nebraskas prison system is looking to hire an internal inspector who would carry out at least some of the same duties handled by an independent inspector employed by the states Legislature.

The Department of Correctional Services is seeking a licensed attorney to become the prison systems chief inspector, a newly created position that will report to the departments director, serve as a resource for constituents and direct internal investigations, a department spokeswoman said in a Tuesday news release.

The inspector would be responsible for physically inspecting prison facilities, developing and implementing policies for inmate grievance and disciplinary processes, responding to inmate grievances and disciplinary appeals and overseeing coordination of general operations, according to an online job posting that lists the starting salary at $36.22 per hour.

The departments search for an inspector  noted in the news release in which prison officials also announced a reshuffling of wardens overseeing state prisons  comes months after the department largely shut out the Legislatures watchdog meant to identify and examine systemic issues within the prison system.

The department, which is led by Director Rob Jeffreys, significantly reduced the facility and document access once granted to the states inspector general for Corrections after Nebraskas attorney general suggested the office is unconstitutional in a nonbinding legal opinion issued in August.

Inspectors were previously permitted to examine state prisons and given access to the departments internal records system, performing some of the same functions outlined in the states job posting for an internal inspector.

The internal inspector, though, would report to the director, while the inspector general for corrections reports to lawmakers and regularly publishes reports on systemic prison issues or isolated incidents, such as an October 2022 report that highlighted gaps in preventive care thought to have contributed to an inmates death at the states only womens prison.

Dayne Urbanovsky, the departments director of strategic communications, did not respond to emailed questions Tuesday about the origin of the internal inspector position and whether the inspectors reports will be made public.

Doug Koebernick, the states inspector general for the Department of Correctional Services, didnt return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday.

Still, the creation of the new position drew immediate criticism Tuesday from state lawmakers who cast the attempt to hire an internal inspector as an acknowledgement that the Department of Correctional Services needs oversight  even as the executive branch tries to avoid it.

This is just an another example of this administration ignoring the (states) constitution and the will of the Legislature, said Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne, who earlier this month introduced a bill that would put the Legislature in charge of the states prison system.

In his argument to remove the prison system from the purview of Gov. Jim Pillens executive branch, Wayne noted that Nebraskas Constitution grants the Legislature the power to manage all state charitable, mental, reformatory and penal institutions.

He argued Tuesday that the department cant hire its own inspector, either, since oversight of the prison system is already in the hands of lawmakers.

But the job posting, he said, is telling.

It acknowledges that they need an inspector, he said.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad  who has been a leading advocate for the Office of the Inspectors General since the attorney general suggested they were unconstitutional in his August opinion, which Conrad called a political stunt  said supplanting the Legislatures watchdog with an in-house inspector is akin to letting the fox watch the hen house.

Its undeniable that the Department of Corrections is one of our most troubled state agencies, Conrad said, listing off continued overcrowding, understaffing and questions over the departments spending of federal funds.

There is no question that the Department of Corrections needs to get its house in order, she said. Thats undeniable by every and all stakeholders. But it remains to be seen  and Ive heard nothing from the department  how creating a new position to police itself is going to accomplish addressing those significant, systemic issues.

The departments job posting comes as the future of the Office of the Inspectors General remains in doubt, though Conrad introduced a bill Tuesday that she said would bolster the offices authority and ensure robust legislative and citizen oversight.

The bill (LB1293)  which would make clear in state statute that the Legislatures power to manage and investigate state institutions is constitutional, broad and indispensable  is part of a package of legislation brought by Conrad intent on strengthening accountability for the executive branch.

Conrad on Friday introduced a bill (LB1191) that would rescind the attorney generals authority, granted by the Legislature, to issue proactive legal opinions like the one that undercut the Office of the Inspectors General.

The Lincoln senator also put forward a bill (LB1192) that would strengthen residents ability to hold state agencies financially accountable for harm or death of Nebraskans in their care or custody.

Conrad has billed the proposals as an attempted legislative check on the power of Pillens executive branch  one that, she said, comes with increasing urgency given the attorney generals handicapping of legislative oversight and the governors defiance of a court order in the states ongoing labor dispute with public employees.

This is incredibly serious and should not be normalized, she said. And it goes to the heart of why our founders were rightly skeptical of an all-powerful executive.

The Department of Correctional Services also announced Tuesday a reshuffling of the wardens who run several state prisons.

Shaun Settles, the current warden of Community Corrections Center-Omaha, will replace Warden Craig Gable at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution effective Monday. Gable will in turn replace Settles as warden of the Omaha center.

And later this month, Barb Lewien, the warden of the Omaha Correctional Center, will become warden at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln. James Jansen, the current warden at Community Corrections Center-Lincoln, will replace Lewien at the Omaha prison.

Michele Wilhelm, who for now leads the State Penitentiary, will become warden of Community Corrections Center-Lincoln effective Jan. 29.
RACINE  The Racine Community Coalition hosted a celebration for Martin Luther King Day on Monday night at First Presbyterian Church.

The event at 716 College Ave. featured a performance from the Mitchell Steppers of Mitchell middle and elementary schools, singing by members of Grace Temple Church, and presentations from the Case and Horlick high schools Black Student Union, elected officials and other community members.

Corey Prince, a member of the RCC who also was emcee, said events like this are a chance to celebrate all that King stood for and accomplished, as well as acknowledging the work that still has to be done.

I think that is the part that a lot of (people) miss, is that the dream is not realized, the fight is not over, Prince said.

RCC Program Coordinator Kelly Scroggins said she was grateful to be able to recognize people in the community who are working to make a change. She also said it is important to educate the next generation.

Were living in a time where they dont want us to teach about critical race theory, they dont want us to talk about our history, Scroggins said. So its important that we educate our young people, and give them a chance to get involved.

The event featured multiple speakers, including elected officials Marlo Harmon, Racine County Board supervisor for District 8, and Wisconsin State Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine.

During her speech, Harmon said she believes Kings dream was the first and truest Make America Great Again.

What we have now has actually hijacked that value and turned it polar opposite of its true intent, Harmon said. Kings dream was for us to live up to the Founding Fathers Constitution, and what we have seen (today) has gave way to a former president seeking to terminate parts of that constitution.

Neubauer said recent attempts within the state government to vilify Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is not solely about DEI initiatives.

Its also about trying to make us forget our history in this country, and not providing the resources to acknowledge those challenges going forward, she said.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said previously he plans to order a very comprehensive in-depth audit of all the state agencies focused on DEI positions, following a December agreement with the Universities of Wisconsin to repurpose diversity positions in order to release funding.

Harmon said she is hopeful the community can make a change if everyone does their part and gets involved, especially with elections.

Its a united voice thats able to make change, because we are stronger together, Harmon said. That voice is heard at its loudest at the ballot box. It happens with local governments, but it starts with you.
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

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Yemen's Houthis claim responsibility for missile attack on Greek-owned vessel in Red Sea

Xinhua) 08:49, January 17, 2024

This screenshot captured on Jan. 12, 2024 shows Yemen's Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea making a statement. (Xinhua)

ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Houthi group confirmed Tuesday that its naval forces struck freighter ZOGRAFIA in the Red Sea, claiming that the vessel insisted on heading for Israeli ports despite the group's warning.

In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the group's naval forces fired several missiles at the Greek-owned, Malta-flagged ship after its crew ignored warnings and continued sailing toward Israel. The spokesman claimed that the missiles directly hit the ship, with the resulting damage or casualties still unclear.

The attack was carried out in protest against Israel's ongoing blockade and hostilities against the Gaza Strip, said the statement, adding that such attacks would continue until the Israeli blockade and aggression end.

Yemenis participate in a rally in Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 12, 2024 to protest the U.S.-Britain joint retaliatory airstrikes on the group's camps. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

The vessel ZOGRAFIA was hit while sailing northbound in the Red Sea, 76 nautical miles (141 km) northwest of the Yemeni port of Saleef, Greek national news agency AMNA has reported, citing Greek shipping ministry sources.

According to early information, the freighter, with 24 crew members on board, has sustained serious damage, which has not impaired its seaworthiness for the time being.

The attack came less than a day after Houthis claimed responsibility for firing a missile at Gibraltar Eagle, a U.S.-owned oil tanker sailing in the Gulf of Aden.

Yemenis participate in a rally in Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 12, 2024 to protest the U.S.-Britain joint retaliatory airstrikes on the group's camps. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

Tensions have escalated in the Red Sea following U.S.-led airstrikes on Houthi military targets after repeated Houthi attacks on commercial ships.

The Red Sea tensions have raised concerns about maritime security in the strategic waters. Maritime authorities are urging all ships transiting the Red Sea to exercise extreme caution and maintain vigilance against potential attacks by the Houthi group.

The Houthis have controlled much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, since ousting the internationally recognized government in 2014.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
KEARNEY  Flames brought smoke to the Kearney skyline at approximately 9:30 a.m. Tuesday as a fire broke out at the Centennial Park Apartments, causing damage to one of the many residential buildings on site.

According to Kearney Fire Chief Aaron Jameson, fire crews were dispatched after people noticed smoke coming out of one of the buildings.

Upon arrival there was heavy smoke and fire coming out of the second floor of the building, heavy smoke, high-heat conditions, Jameson said.

Firefighters and other rescue personnel arrived shortly after to help contain and extinguish the fire in a timely manner.

We had it pretty much under control around 5 to 10 minutes after we arrived, Jameson said. We did have some issues getting the water out of the hydrant due to the cold temperatures, just a short delay on that, but we reestablished water supply right away.

We probably had water on the fire after about 1 minute after arriving on scene, Jameson added.

No injuries were reported and the Red Cross has been dispatched to help displaced tenants.

The cause of the morning blaze is still under investigation.
As staff and students return to campus after winter break, leaders gathered Wednesday in a packed ballroom at UW-La Crosse to show cohesion and establish a sense of stability at the institution.

When fall semester classes ended in December, few could have predicted how different things would be upon their return.

Betsy Morgan made her first public appearance as interim UW-L chancellor after she replaced fired chancellor Joe Gow.

I spent quite a bit of time reflecting and thinking about how to respond to recent UW-L events, I decided to go with a quote from comedian Charlie Berens: Aw jeez  Morgan said.

Gow was fired Dec. 27 by the UW Board of Regents for starring in and posting pornographic films featuring him, his wife, and other adult film stars online. Morgan was appointed as his temporary replacement the same day.

As she addressed the gathered staff and faculty, Morgan confirmed that Gow would not teach in the new semester while he is under investigation. The audience applauded in support. As a tenured faculty member, there is potential for Gow to teach on the campus in the future.

None of the cabinet or any other person I have spoken to knew of the reasons until the outcome of the Regents meeting and the subsequent press, she said about Gows dismissal. I knew slightly before the meeting because they asked if I would serve as interim if needed.

The university system is still searching for a permanent replacement. Enilda Delgado, co-chair of the search committee, said semi-finalists will be selected in mid-February with finalists making campus visits the first week of March. Gow already had announced he would retire as chancellor at the end of the school year and planned to stay on as faculty. Delgado said Gows early departure would not affect the search committees timeline.

Morgan did not say whether she would seek the permanent chancellor role.

Im taking it one day at a time right now and trying to keep my options open, Morgan said.

The interim chancellor said that stability was in the near future for the UW-L community and that other successes should not be outshined by controversy.

This is relatively easy because were a good school with a good reputation. Certainly its challenging right now, but were just really going to be looking at the future, she said.

Morgan earned a Ph.D in social psychology from the University of California-Irvine. She started at UW-L in 1993 as a professor and later became chair of the psychology department. In 2017, Morgan began serving as UW-Ls provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Her repeated message to UW-L was forecasting good news in the works for the university. Retention for first-years was high, undergraduates staying from fall to winter term was even higher, and there are new initiatives to help students on the cusp of a degree achieve their graduation.

There were no follow-ups on Gow or his punishment. Morgan remained upbeat and joked with the audience about her time at UW-L and stories from around campus over the years.

Before she dismissed the crowd to a chili luncheon, the interim chancellor fielded questions from UW-L staff and one question from the media. When asked how she felt in the moment she was asked to be interim chancellor, Morgan had a message that reflected the rest of her address.

This is the benefit of being here for 30-plus years. I do love the people here, I know the university and this is just the obvious step. Im happy to provide the stability and take us into the future, Morgan said.
Two major grants to assist mental health response services and substance abuse prevention are set to be considered Thursday by the La Crosse County Board.

County supervisors also will consider additional ATV routes and administrator Jane Klekamp is expected to review her 2023 financial highlights.

The city of La Crosse secured a grant through the Connect and Protect program offered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and if approved, the county Human Services Crisis Program will receive part of the grant in a collaboration with the city.

The grant totals around $370,000, and the county will receive about $157,000 over a three-year period.

The Connect and Protect grant aims to increase the ability of the countys Mental Health Crisis division to respond to mental health calls alongside the city Police Department. These responses attempt to divert people undergoing a mental health crisis away from jails and hospitals by providing more appropriate intervention. The grant allows crisis response hours to expand from noon to 4 p.m. into noon to 9 p.m.

The county will also consider a grant from the state Department of Health Services to support substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery. The funding would assist the county in providing treatment for uninsured patients, virtual consultation and more support for Coulee Recovery Center.

The grant will secure about $80,000 for a one-year period. If accepted, this will be the fourth year the county receives the supplemental funding offered by the state.

Supervisors also are set to consider additional ATV routs in the towns of Barre and Greenfield. The route application makes the same argument as last months approved batch of ATV routes in the town of Hamilton: residents cant get far because their town is surrounded by county roads without proper ATV approval.

The new ATV routes would connect northern routes to more southern reaches of the county. There are seven routes on the proposal, which is twice as many as the town of Hamilton proposal. Three of the routes were noted to have visibility issues.

Including Thursday, there are only three more times the county board will meet for voting before the spring election. The spring election will take place April 2.
A series of proposed legislative maps submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday would create some of the most competitive races for the Legislature in over a decade, according to a redistricting experts analysis.

But to get there, Republicans say, Democrats appear to have intentionally drawn maps that would require incumbent GOP legislators to run against one another. Others criticized a proposed district that would stretch from the Willy Street Co-Op on Madisons East Side to Oconomowoc and Delafield, about 50 miles to the east.

To Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, many of the submissions creating more competitive maps are nothing more than a political gerrymander.

Democrats countered that, in any shift away from the heavily gerrymandered maps Republicans adopted in 2022, it was inevitable for some incumbents  both Republicans and Democrats  to be drawn into the same district.

No incumbent elected official should be upset about having to work to earn their neighbors support and votes in order to be re-elected, said Britt Cudaback, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers spokesperson. Its a basic part of running for office.

The seven maps submitted Friday came about one month after the Wisconsin Supreme Courts liberal majority struck down the current Republican maps as unconstitutional because many districts contain territory that is not contiguous.

The court called for new, contiguous districts that are equally populated; bounded by county, precinct, ward or town lines; are as compact as possible; comply with federal law, including the Voting Rights Act; preserve communities of interest; and reduce municipal splits.

Additionally, the court called for maps that dont favor one party over another. That amounted to a major victory for Democrats, because experts say the current legislative maps have a baked-in Republican advantage.

Maps were submitted by the liberal law firm Law Forward, Republican legislators, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, Democratic lawmakers, intervenors who joined the plaintiffs cause and a redistricting consultant.

Attorneys and experts for the parties used different methodologies and metrics to explain why their maps were best.

No clear winner

Over the weekend, John Johnson, a research fellow in the Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education at Marquette Law School analyzed all of them according to the same criteria.

Some reflect the political makeup of the state better than others. Some split fewer municipalities than others. Some have more compact districts than others.

Theres no clear winner across every metric, Johnson said. The justices will have to make some judgment calls about which of these criteria they care more about.

There are also some trade-offs in map-drawing, Johnson said. By prioritizing compactness, its difficult to keep oddly shaped municipalities and counties intact, he said.

One thing the parties all had in common: Their legislative districts were all contiguous. All of them had two majority-Latino districts. All of them except the Senate Democrats map had five majority-Black districts. Senate Democrats had six.

One standout legislative map submission, Johnson said, was the Republican Legislatures. Among all the submissions, the GOP maps have by far the most divided municipalities, wards and counties, and favor Republicans far more than any other submission.

The Republican Legislatures submission basically takes their old map and just minimally fixes the contiguity problems, Johnson said. Theyre not really making an effort to address the other criteria the court cares about.

Vos said he wants the court to choose maps that fix only the contiguity issue. He called on the court to reject maps with a large partisan bias, suggesting legislative Republicans would appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court if it doesnt.

The Republican legislative map proposal has the biggest partisan lean of the submissions, Johnsons analysis shows.

Paired incumbents

Republicans have been crying foul over some of the submissions pitting GOP incumbent lawmakers against one another. Others have noted just how much some existing district maps would change.

Both relate to some extent to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in December overturning a past ruling that called for new legislative districts to be similarly structured to past ones.

That same ruling called for districts that specifically consider Wisconsins political makeup, which is much more Democratic than the current composition of the Wisconsin Legislature. Republicans have a 64-35 Assembly majority and 22-11 Senate supermajority.

Under Evers maps, for example, incumbent Republican Reps. John Macco of Ledgeview and Shae Sortwell of Two Rivers would have to run against one another in November. So would Senate Elections Committee chair Sen. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, and Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, a longtime senator with several key committee roles.

Macco said Evers redrawing of his district constitutes blatant and intentional gerrymandering (that) ignores any contiguity in the municipalities and communities we represent.

Cudaback, Evers spokesperson, didnt immediately say how many Republicans are paired under the governors maps. But she pointed out that some Democrats are paired, too.

Democratic Sens. Melissa Agard and Kelda Roys, both of Madison, would have to run against one another under the governors maps. Democratic Reps. Alex Joers of Middleton and Mike Bare of Verona would also be in the same district.

I am aware of no legal principle that suggests you should avoid pairing incumbents, Johnson said. Many states that have nonpartisan redistricting standards, I believe, expressly prohibit considering where incumbents live when drawing maps.

Ruth Greenwood, a Harvard Law School professor who directs its Election Law Clinic and represents the liberal petitioners who, along with the liberal legal firm Law Forward, brought the lawsuit that prompted the change, said map drawers didnt even have a full list of incumbent addresses until they filed the proposed maps with the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

The way that we drew the map was to try to keep communities together, she said. And so to the extent that there are two incumbents who were in communities that have historically been together, then the inevitable effect would be that they would end up in the same district.

Greenwood said the latest round of map drawing was done with some regard to the current lines to keep too many legislators from being shuffled, she said.

Next steps

The court will now have two court-hired redistricting consultants  University of California, Irvine political science professor Bernard Grofman and Carnegie Mellon University postdoctoral fellow Jonathan Cervas  evaluate the maps by Feb. 1.

The court would then choose maps unless the Legislature first proposes new maps that Evers signs into law. Vos said on Tuesday that he reached out to legislative Democrats to draw a map together but did not get a warm reception from them.

Wisconsin Elections Commission staff have called for the new maps to be submitted by mid-March to be ready for the August primary.

Candidates will also need to check which district the new maps place them in, and the area theyll be running to represent, as the first day to circulate nomination papers for the November election is April 15. Nomination papers are due by June 3, and the partisan primary is scheduled for Aug. 13.
Syrian Groups Condemn Turkish Attacks in Northeast Syria

Representatives of 15 institutions, unions, associations, forums, and cultural, literary, social, and religious bodies, Kurdish, Arab, Syriac, Assyrian, and Armenian, made a joint statement today, in the 2 reading parks in Qamishlo and Hasaka, denouncing the Turkish attacks against NE Syria.

In the city of Qamishlo, the statement was read by the administrator of the Union of Intellectuals in Jazera Canton, Saba Hussein, in the presence of representatives of unions, associations, forums, and cultural, literary, social, and religious bodies.

In Hasaka, it was read by the co-chair of the Intellectuals Union in Jazera Canton, Muhammad Taha Qasim.

The statement reads:

"To public opinion

To the United Nations General Commission

To the people of Syria's components

To the sons and daughters of NE Syria

In a new terrorist escalation by the Turkish state and in implementation of its ongoing threats to the regions of NE Syria, the Turkish military forces committed serious violations, including striking and bombing vital economic facilities and terrorizing safe residents. It is a cowardly act and a hateful policy against the gains and achievements made by the components of NE Syria during long and difficult years in the struggle for freedom and peace.

Turkey's use of air force, artillery, and drones, and its adoption of an excessive force mentality, is evidence of historical weakness and hatred, and proof of the barbarism of its fascist regime that is hostile to the peoples' aspirations for freedom and peace. The continuation of its aggression is a continuation of the Turanist approach since the formation of the Turkish state at the expense of the suffering of the indigenous peoples of the Kurds, Arabs, Armenians, Syriacs and Assyrians. It is an occupying state and a war government that practices organized state terrorism, and ignores the issues of security and peace, by practicing war crimes against humanity by fighting people for their livelihood, security and stability.

We know that Turkey, through its aggression and continued bombing of vital economic facilities, such as electric power generation centers and oil fields, seeks to destroy the necessities of life, force the population to displace, and empty the region, and is an attempt to return elements of ISIS to the region as terrorist arms to strike revolutionary gains, threaten civil peace, and prolong the Syrian crisis.

We, the representatives of the federations, associations, forums, and cultural, social, and religious bodies, from Kurdish, Arab, Syriac, Assyrian, Armenian, and all other Islamic, Christian, Yazidi, and Zoroastrian religions, condemn and denounce the Turkish terrorist attacks on the region and appeal to humanitarian organizations and international bodies to work to stop the attacks on the region of NE Syria. We look forward to the international coalition forces and the Russian forces carrying out their work in curbing Turkish military arrogance and holding it accountable for its terrorist crimes.

We renew our pledge to all components of Syria that we will remain united in confronting Turkey's ambitions and its fascist policies, and that we will continue to work until the areas occupied by the Turkish occupation state and its mercenaries are liberated. We will not forget Afrin, Serekaniye, and Tal Abyad, and we will not allow Turkey to undermine our will, and we will continue on the paths of freedom, no matter how high the cost.

Signatories:

The Culture Authority in the Jazera Canton The Union of Intellectuals in the Jazera Canton The Union of Artists The Union of Kurdish Writers in Syria The Yazidi House The Yazidi Union of Syria The Syriac Cultural Society The Armenian Social Council of North and East Syria The Armenian Women's Union The Syrian Photographers Union Movement Mesopotamia for Culture and Art Tev_Cand Sketch Theater Team for Performing Arts Syrian Cultural Forum Cultural House Council of Peoples and Religions in the Jazera Canton
The Pacific Island nation of Nauru says it is changing its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. The move reduces the number of Taiwans diplomatic allies to 12 around the world.

Naurus government announced the change this week, confirming it would re-establish diplomatic ties with China.

China claims self-governing Taiwan as its territory. So countries must choose whether to establish diplomatic relations with China or Taiwan. China has been pushing nations in recent years to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognize China. Chinese officials often try to persuade nations with promises of development aid.

This policy change is a significant first step in moving forward with Naurus development, the government statement said.

China welcomed Naurus announcement.

Nauru said it would move to a one-China policy. The one-China policy recognizes that Taiwan is part of China and accepts Beijing as the seat of government for China. This differs from Americas one-China policy, which recognizes Beijing as the seat of Chinas government, but does not take a position on which country rules Taiwan.

The policy change was seen as a setback to Taiwan after it was announced just two days after the island held democratic elections. The winner of those elections, President-elect Lai Ching-te, is set to take office in May. He has been described by China as a separatist.

China has said Taiwan must come under the control of mainland China at some point. Chinese forces have repeatedly held military exercises around the island in recent years to show the governments will and military strength. Lais Democratic Progressive Party supports keeping Taiwan independent from China.

Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang accused China of purposefully timing the news to the recent election.

Chinas intention is to attack the democracy and freedom that the Taiwanese people are proud of, Tien told a news briefing.

Two retired U.S. officials praised Taiwans democratic process in recent meetings with President Tsa Ing-wen and other leaders. The Biden administration asked the former officials to visit privately since the U.S. does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Naurus announcement caught Jarden Kephas, the countrys ambassador in Taiwan, by surprise. He told the AP, Theres nothing that I have to say. It was announced by my government and I was told to pack up and go.

Taiwan now has official diplomatic ties with 11 countries and the Vatican, the seat of the Catholic Church. Seven of the nations are in Latin America and the Caribbean, three are in the Pacific Islands, and one is in Africa.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Taijing Wu and Ken Moritsugu reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

_______________________________________________

Words in This Story

significant  adj. very important

setback  n. a problem that makes something happen later or more slowly than it should

intention  n. the thing that you plan to do or achieve: an aim or purpose

pack  v. to put (something) into a bag or suitcase so that you can take it with you
At first look, the playground at the Children's Guild-Transformation Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, looks like any other. It has swings, slides, and places for children to climb and crawl.

But the playground is not just a place for fun. It is also a place where students can learn, grow and gain independence. Everything  from the kind of surface it sits on, to the color of its sitting areas, to the placement of the surrounding fence  is specifically designed for kids with autism.

Mark Rapaport is the managing director of autism services at the Transformation Academy. He told VOA Learning English the school accepts students aged 5 to 21 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are lower-functioning.

None of our kids will ever drive, Rapaport said. None of our kids will ever live fully independently ... None of our kids graduate high school.



Rapaport said the goal of Transformation Academy is to make the students as independent as possible in an effort to help them prepare for adult life. The school aims to provide help with developing communication and social skills, as well as practical abilities like cleaning or cooking.

And learning through play is a big deal, Rapaport said. The classroom is great. But it's [things like play] thats at the heart of the mission, which is building independence and getting them to be able to go into the adult world.

The playground, designed by Maryland company Sparks@Play, using structures manufactured by Landscape Structures, Inc., took months to develop, said Dan Hack. He works for Sparks@Play and helped lead the playgrounds design. Hack said he and others spent weeks getting to know the students and understanding their needs before any building was started. The design process involved physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other specialists. The $500,000 project was funded with support from the state of Maryland and the nonprofit Orokawa Foundation.

Parts of the playground that seem small are very important for children with autism and other disabilities. The surrounding fence extends into a wooded area to make it seem more open. And the ground under the play areas is made of soft, but solid materials to support students using wheelchairs or crutches.

Instead of just one slide, there are two sitting side-by-side. That way, parents or teachers with older, larger students can go down the slide together with the kids. A spinning structure called the We-Go-Round has a place for kids with wheelchairs so they can also have fun.

The playgrounds designers say a number of sensory elements are also included to help the students. Children with autism often have Sensory Processing Disorder, which makes them very sensitive to certain sounds or textures.

The benches on the outside of the playground look simple from far away, but are one of our most inclusive sensory elements, Hack said. They have many different colors that bring about feelings of calm and curiosity. They are also made with smooth material that can be felt and moved. The academy's Rapaport said if a child starts to feel uneasy, they can sit down and feel the bench, which can help them relax.

There are also musical bells and large xylophones that produce calming sounds. An enclosed structure provides a place of peace and quiet if a student needs a break from play.

One of the most important designs, says Rapaport, is a tower that can spray water on multiple children. This can be an important way for older children with autism to get over their fears of water, which for them can be overstimulating.

Imagine you have a child that won't take a shower, Rapaport said. Now we can have kids go outside and they're standing under a sprayer and they're loving it. Why? Because they're watching other kids do it.

Like the shower, much of the equipment is designed to persuade students to interact with each other, even though they might usually like playing alone. A swing set is designed to permit two kids to swing at the same time, for example.

Celia Galions daughter Deborah is a 14-year-old who attends Transformation Academy. Deborah has a condition called tuberous sclerosis, which causes seizures, and which brought on her autism at a young age.

Deborah is a very sweet child, Galion said. She likes playing. She loves hugs. She's very affectionate and she likes to be loud. And so being outside is great.

Galion said it has been four or five years since she has taken her daughter to a playground. She had resisted taking Deborah because other kids could be mean and she felt like many playgrounds were not safe.

But Galion said the new playground at Transformation Academy permits children to feel like they have a little bit of freedom. They can play without having to necessarily have somebody standing right over them to make sure that theyre safeits really, really great for them.

Rapaport said the school plans to open up the playground for everyone in the autism community, even if they do not attend Transformation Academy.

Sparks@Plays Hack said he thinks the playground can help autistic children of all ages develop their independence as they move into adulthood.

Being able to learn how to collaborate and work with other people and use your imagination and try things that you wouldn't have tried otherwise  shapes you into a much more confident and well-abled adult, Hack said.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak wrote this story for VOA Learning English.

Quiz - Playground Provides Learning, Safety for Kids with Autism Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

___________________________________________________

Words in This Story

spectrum  n. a complete range of different opinions, people, etc.

practical  adj. skilled at manual tasks

therapist  n. a person trained in methods of treating illnesses especially without the use of drugs or surgery

occupational therapy  n. treatment that helps people who have physical or mental problems learn to do the activities of daily life

crutches  n. a long stick with a padded piece at the top that fits under a person's arm

texture  n. the way that something feels when you touch it

relax  v. to stop feeling nervous or worried

xylophone  n. a musical instrument that has a set of wooden bars of different lengths that are hit with hammers

affectionate  adj. feeling or showing love and affection

collaborate  v. to work with another person or group in order to achieve or do something

confident  adj. having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something
People have been switching on their televisions a little earlier than usual to catch Britains first breakfast news programme.

The BBCs new Breakfast Time programme went on air at 0630 GMT, presented by Nationwides Frank Bough and former ITN news reader Selina Scott.

Nick Ross, who has presented a range of BBC radio news programmes, will also be hosting the show.

The two-and-a-half hour programme  presented live from the BBCs refurbished Lime Grove studios  is costing a reported 6m a year.

It is the corporations biggest investment since BBC Two went on the air.

The battle for ratings will really hot up next month, when TV-am launches its new breakfast news programme.

The BBCs Director General, Alasdair Milne, was full of praise for this mornings show: It was a terrific start. The first Tonight programme was not as good as this.

Breakfast Time editor Ron Neil said the show was intended to be relaxed and informal  and he dismissed suggestions it would fail to draw a big audience.

One survey in this mornings papers claims only four out of 10 people will watch the programme. Mr Neil said Thats an awful lot of people. If four out of 10 are watching, I will be delighted.

He added: It isnt costing the licence fee payer any more money, the licence fee hasnt gone up. I think we will give people a very entertaining and informative two-and-a-half hours every morning.

The programme is catering for a wide variety of tastes  with its own resident astrologer, Russell Grant, and a regular exercise slot led by Green Goddess Diana Moran.

Families around the country got up especially early to watch the first programme. The BBC says it received 1,500 calls from well-wishers phoning to offer their congratulations.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Newspaper critics at the time claimed there was no demand for breakfast TV.

Richard Ingrams writing in The Spectator said: There is no earthly reason why anyone of intelligence should want to watch it.

TV-ams Good Morning Britain launched two weeks later and the battle for ratings quickly hotted up.

Personalities on both programmes came and went  but TV-am faced financial ruin when ratings plummeted to 200,000 in May.

Greg Dyke was brought in from London Weekend Television to save the programme. The original five presenters were sacked and he promoted a puppet, Roland Rat, to help read the news. His tactics paid off.

A year later, the BBC and TV-am were bringing in weekly audiences of 1.5m and 1.2m respectively.
Chinas Foreign Ministry summoned the Philippine ambassador yesterday and denounced President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s congratulatory message to the winner of Taiwans leader election, Lai Ching-te.

Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that Marcoss remarks seriously violated the political commitments made by the Philippines to China and rudely interfered in Chinas internal affairs.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be recovered by force if necessary, and angrily condemns statements that appear to confer legitimacy on the islands government.

We would like to sternly tell the Philippines not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue  (and) immediately stop making wrong words and deeds on Taiwan-related issues, and stop sending any wrong signals to Taiwan independence and separatist forces, Mao said.

She said Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Nong Rong summoned the Philippine Ambassador to China Tuesday morning and made solemn representations, and urged the Philippines to give China a responsible explanation.

Marcos Jr. congratulated Taiwans leader-elect on Monday, saying in a statement shared on social media that he was looking forward to close collaboration and strengthening mutual interests. Lai, who is detested by Beijing, has pledged to safeguard the islands de-facto independence from China and further align it with other democracies.

On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwans [next leader], Marcos said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

After U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory, Chinas Foreign Ministry said that Blinkens message sends a gravely wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces. The ministry claimed the congratulations went against a U.S. commitment to maintain only unofficial ties with Taiwan. MDT/AP
The Court of Second Instance (TSI) has sentencedto 17 years in prison. The ruling from the collective court was pronounced yesterday.

Kong was charged of accepting bribes and neglecting his duties to favor others, as well as possessing assets from unknown sources.

His sentence is the accumulated result of several counts of crimes related to bribery and other illegal acts. He was, however, acquitted of accusations related to the establishment and operation of a criminal organization.

The second defendant in this case, Chao Sao Ieng, a businessperson accused of aiding and abetting Kong in his criminal activities  in particular, hiding Kongs bribery and money laundering income, as well as receiving funds in Kongs name  was also sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison.

The third defendant, Ng Wai Chu, the spouse of Chao who was also accused of taking part in Kongs illegal dealings, was sentenced to a total of six years in prison.

The only defendant acquitted in the trial was lawyer Kuan Hoi Lon. Kuan was accused of distributing and selling evidence, such as exhibits and testimonies, for the benefit of suspects in their defense proceedings.

Among the accusations leveled against him, Kong was said to have benefited from MOP14 million in assets of unclear origins, which are suspected to have come from illegal activities.

Leaving the court, Kongs lawyer, Lau Io Keong, stated that he respects the ruling and will analyze it, before a decision is made about a possible appeal.
Researchers from the Macao Innovation and Development Research Association (MIDRA) joined the Director of the Research Office of the Liaison Office of the Central Peoples Government in the Macau Special Administrative Region, Guan Yanbin, to discuss the results of several recent academic studies on digital economies, red tourism and patriotic education.

The results were discussed at the launches of two reports that address the topics, unveiled yesterday by MIDRA.

Macaos Digital Economic Development Strategy Research and Macaos Red Tourism Resource Development and Patriotic Education are the two reports in question. Researchers contend that Macau needs improvement in these areas.

In his speech, Guan stated his belief in the great potential of developing Macaus local digital economy, despite initial forays by the sector having produced mixed results to date. He remarked that small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the education sector, should make better use of technology for the digital economy in particular so as to accelerate their developments.

Universities are lacking in e-commerce courses and practical operations, Guan said, adding that he also believes Macau can become a red tourism hotspot, attracting visitors from the mainland.

For this to happen, he proposes further integration, with red resources developed and utilized to help promote patriotic education both in Macau and on the mainland.

One of the researchers and the chairman of MIDRA, Lin Zhijun, also said during the same discussions that Macaus current shortcomings are the result of a lack of digital technology platforms and infrastructure, as well as a lack of talent in the sector. Lin expressed hopes that the city would soon see increased progress in tackling these issues.

Lao Keng Chong, director-general of MIDRA, added that red tourism needs to be constantly improved and updated, as it cannot continue to follow the pasts old conventions of relatively simple activities, including photography and all-too-brief guided tours.

We should dig deep into our background, promoting it in conjunction with our history and culture, Lao said.
Two of the lawmakers linked with the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM) have expressed concerns over the announced closure of the Macau Jockey Club (MJC).

The lawmakers Lam Lon Wai and Lei Chan U have issued a statement on the matter after announcements on Monday from both the government and MJC. Lam and Lei claim to be closely watching as the matter unfolds, so as to ensure the rights of affected workers are properly handled.

They said they hope authorities will properly refer their employees to other work, as well as protect their rights and interests more generally.

According to information from the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), MJC currently employs 254 locals and 316 non-residents. The company promised to provide its affected employees with adequate compensation under law. Authorities have also claimed that there is interest from MJC shareholders to reemploy some workers, but we are concerned that this will not be possible in all cases.

The two lawmakers also expressed hopes that authorities would closely engage with both the company and its affected employees, communicating with both and providing workers with information and options.

In addition to MJC paying out the compensation it owes, the lawmakers are calling for the current job position and work experience of affected employees be taken into account when job transfers are arranged, so that workers are referred to suitable positions.

They said there had been several cases where workers were offered transferences to posts outside their field of expertise, leading them to quickly quit those jobs. Upon resigning, workers either partially or totally lost their rights.

Lam and Lei also said, regarding the relocation of horse racing activities: The one-year period in which to reestablish this industry shows that the government has learned from its previous experience in ceasing dog racing.
As the world gradually moves on from the Covid-19 restrictions, a local playwright-actress wants to use her own stories about her deceased cat, Taro, to comfort the hearts of her audiences.

One Christmas, by a quirk of fate, I met Taro, a stray cat, Lei Sam I has written in the introductory note to her short play, titled Goodbye, See You Soon. Taro was a cat that she adopted when she was studying in Taiwan.

Unfortunately, Taro was diagnosed with cancer in 2022 and eventually succumbed to the illness.

Taros falling ill and my caring for it along the way have brought to me a lot of inspirations, Lei said. I want to utilize these inspirations to provide support, company or even therapeutic results to people [after] the past three years.

Asked what emotional disturbances she had observed or recognized in others during the past three years, Lei said that given Macaus small size and its close relationships, people were not used to being alone.

However, when lockdown arrived, we all had to face solitude, which we were not used to, the actress said. Some people may have magnified the difficulties that they faced, while negative information was flying around.

She added that it could be exceptionally difficult for people who were not used to mingling with themselves to do so suddenly and without training.

They didnt have the tools to face and understand themselves, she said, hinting that the feeling could be extreme for some.

She hopes her play, which incorporates drama, live music and interactions, would help calm audience members and open doors for them to move away and on from the past tension.

Tunes will be played with classical guitar and handpan during and after the show.

Although Taros fight against cancer was brief, it was a difficult journey, Lei said.

Not only did she need to think about transport for Taro, she also needed to worry about being locked down in the building. After all, red health codes and sudden lockdowns were not from yesteryear.

If my building got cordoned, I would not even be able to take Taro to the vet, she recalled.

Thankful for being able to care for Taro on a full-time basis, she felt anxious about the way in which she cared for her terminally ill pet. After falling asleep, she recalled, she would wake regularly to check on the cats condition.

She agreed that it was analogous to carers of the chronically ill, and admitted that it was demanding both physically and emotionally.

Her way of releasing pressure was to play the guitar and listen to music. The lessons that she got from the incident, she said, were the realization of life being limited, the focus on happiness, being thankful to matters that were not so.

Do what you like, meet people whom you like and express your love to those who you love: these are the most precious deeds that we can do, she said, when asked for suggestions to her struggles.

In response to why she had decided to relocate to Macau with Taro in 2017, she said it was a sense of responsibility  which not only applies to pet keeping but literally to everything  emphasizing that once she had decided to move she couldnt leave Taro behind.

Goodbye, See You Soon will have a total of four shows  from today to Saturday  at pet-friendly business Laika Land.

In addition a photo exhibition  Likewise  will be held from today to Sunday at the same venue. The latter will feature photos of Taro, alongside pre-recorded explanations by Lei, accessible by scanning QR codes placed next to each photo.
With the competent parliamentary committee satisfied with the clarifications provided by the government on the Legislative Assembly Election Amendment Bill, an updated draft will be submitted to the parliament for review.

Committee president Chan Chak Mo held a press conference yesterday afternoon, following the committees meeting with competent government officials on the bill.

Chan said that the committee had concerns over Article 13 of the bill, which deals with the consistency of the Electoral Affairs Commission (CAEAL). In this article, the third clause proposes the circumstances under which a CAEAL member will be dismissed and replaced by an appointee of the Chief Executive.

The first draft of the bill failed to adequately provide for circumstances in which a CAEAL member is prosecuted or taken into custody over allegations that could ultimately lead to three or more years imprisonment.

While the government has agreed to provide for this circumstance in the updated bill, Chan stressed that the addition was demanded by the committee because similar provisions exist in the Chief Executive Electoral Law  the latest amendment to which was passed last year.

Another amendment to the bill related to the Chief Executive Electoral Law concerns the seventh clause of Article 33. Concerning accepting support from people committing deeds not due to electoral purposes (per the original text), the bill has since been amended to make reference to deeds not permitted due to electoral purposes.

Chan even speculated that the absence of the aforementioned circumstances in the updated bill was due to the Chief Executive Electoral Law failing to pass through parliament when the Election Amendment Bill was submitted to the legislature.

Article 184 proposes that the CAEAL, the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC), the Public Security Police Force (PSP) and the Judiciary Police (PJ) be authorized to handle minor violations stipulated in the relevant section.

Chan disclosed that committee members wondered why the PJ would be involved in handling minor violations, as under normal circumstances, the department concerns itself with more severe crimes.

As an explanation, the committee was told that in many instances, contemporary electoral violations take place online. Such violations include general cyber crimes, cyber-attacks, illegal campaigning, the release of classified survey results, and defamation.

According to Chan, citing Secretary for Administration and Justice Andre Cheong, the PJ are better trained to handle similar violations, thus justifying the departments inclusion in the bill.

Chan added that the PJ, upon receiving a complaint or report, would initiate an investigation before delivering any conclusions to the CAEAL for further investigation.

On matters involving external authorities, Chan said that committee members were concerned with how the local government proposes to maintain investigative authorities in foreign jurisdictions. The bill provides for as much, should alleged violations take place outside of Macau.

Cheong offered assurances that the government has policing and judicial mechanisms in place for cooperation to facilitate this proposed authority.

The lawmakers also expressed their concerns over the ambiguity surrounding the distinction between the ordinary and lawful responsibilities of a lawmaker versus actions that would constitute illegal campaigning during an election. However, they decided to accept the governments assurances, allowing the CAEAL to determine the nature of these matters.
The Judiciary Police (PJ) was recently notified of a fake New Yaohan Facebook page promoting the sale of several items aiming to scam unaware internet users.

After confirming the illicit nature of the page, PJ determined that New Yoahan was not associated with the page and did not sponsor the sale of such items.

The fraudulent Facebook page promotes various products from major brands, including bags, cosmetics, and accessories, and targets Facebook users through advertisements, enticing them to place orders for items by clicking on a fraudulent link.

In a statement, PJ noted that the authenticity of these products is questionable, and that users personal data could potentially be stolen if purchases were attempted. This data would no doubt be used for illicit purposes, PJ said.

PJ calls on citizens to carefully read all promoted advertisements that are recommended to users by social media platforms, and for citizens to exercise caution whilst shopping online, so as to better avoid scams. Staff Reporter
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is serving a prison sentence after being convicted of wrongdoing in office, but he shouldnt be called an inmate, the countrys Correction Department declared yesterday.

The agency felt it necessary to explain that it is not being deferential to the controversial former leader when it refers to him in public without using the term.

The department said its standard practice is not to call prisoners inmates in its public statements to avoid stigmatizing them. It said the term is only used internally among its officials.

It was responding to critics who charge that Thaksin, a billionaire populist and unofficial patron of the political party that returned to power last year, is being given special treatment while he serves his sentence in a private room in a state hospital instead of in a prison cell.

Thaksin, 74, was ousted in a 2006 military coup after being accused of corruption, abuse of power and disrespecting the monarchy. He fled into exile in 2008 ahead of a trial on corruption charges, declaring that he was being prosecuted for political reasons.

He returned to Thailand last year, and after being welcomed by supporters at Bangkoks airport was taken immediately to prison to begin serving an eight-year term for a series of convictions.

Less than a day later, he was transferred from prison to the Police General Hospital. Corrections Department officials said he had high blood pressure and low oxygen, suffered from insomnia and felt tightness in his chest, and that doctors recommended he be transferred to avoid life-threatening risks.

His return to Thailand came the same day that the Pheu Thai party  the latest incarnation of the party that he originally led to power in 2001, and for which he is considered the de facto leader  won a parliamentary vote to form a new government. The previous government was heavily influenced by the military, which continued its hostility to Thaksin and his allies long after ousting him in 2006.

About a week after Thaksins return, King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced his eight-year sentence to a single year. He will be able to apply for parole after serving one-third of his amended sentence, or four months.

Thaksin was a police lieutenant colonel before becoming a successful telecoms entrepreneur. The Corrections Department and the hospital have declined to reveal in detail what Thaksin is being treated for, citing his right to privacy, although officials have said he has undergone surgery twice.

His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who now heads the Pheu Thai party and is seen as the heir apparent to his political ambitions, has said he suffered complications after contracting the coronavirus in 2020, and that she is most worried about a heart condition. MDT/AP
* CPC must Win the hearts of Macau: XI

* Taro, the cat at Fringe

* Gaming Analysts upbeat on Jan results

* PJ warns fake New Yaohan Facebook page promoting the sale of several items aiming to scam unaware internet users

* FAOM lawmakers concerned over Jockey Club workers situation

* Baidu denies report that Ernie AI chatbot linked to Chinese military research

* Arts & Culture

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Wednesday, January 17, 2024  edition no. 4407
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is headlining a frenzied first full day of the World Economic Forums annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, where top officials from the United States, European Union, China, the Middle East and beyond spoke yesterday about tackling conflict and embracing technology like artificial intelligence.

Zelenskyy will endeavor to keep his countrys long and largely stalemated defense against Russia on the minds of political leaders, just as Israels war with Hamas, which passed the 100-day mark this week, has siphoned off much of the worlds attention and sparked concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Yesterdays activities got rolling with a dizzying array of subjects in rooms at the Davos conference center, where discussions tackled issues as diverse as innovation in Europe, the economic impact of generative AI and corporate support for clean technologies.

Conversations with the prime ministers of Qatar and Jordan will bookend the days most visible events, with speeches by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan in between.

Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said the concentration on the attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemens Houthi rebels  which have spurred retaliatory strikes by the U.S. and Britain  was focusing on the symptoms and not treating the real issue of Israels war on Hamas.

We should focus on the main conflict in Gaza. And as soon as its defused, I believe everything else will be defused, he said, adding that a two-state solution was required to end the conflict.

Sheikh Mohammed also warned a military confrontation will not contain the Houthi attacks.

I think that what we have right now in the region is a recipe of escalation everywhere, he added.

Li, the Chinese premier, focused on pitching the country as a place to invest, noting that we are opening wide our embrace. He said Chinas economy is estimated to have grown about 5.2% last year, exceeding the target it had set of 5%.

Chinas economy, for decades a leading engine of global expansion, has struggled since COVID-19 restrictions, with high youth unemployment and its overbuilt property market imploding.

Li gave veiled criticizism of U.S. restrictions on Chinas ability to buy advanced computer chips used in everything from cellphones to washing machines.

Technologys achievements should be used to benefit all humankind and it should not be used as a method to limit, to suppress another country, Li said.

Von der Leyen, for her part, reiterated that the EU doesnt want to break from Beijing  one of its most important trade partners  but to ease the risks of relying too heavily on it because we have issues when it comes to access to the market, when it comes to a level playing field, when it comes to economic security.

She noted Chinas export controls on metals used in computer chips, solar cells and more.

For the U.S., Sullivan said no when The Associated Press asked whether he would meet with Chinas delegation as he headed into talks with Zelenskyy and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Zelenskyy, once reticent about leaving his war-torn country, has recently gone on a whirlwind tour to try to rally support for Ukraines cause against Russia amid donor fatigue in the West and concerns that former U.S. President Donald Trump  who touted having good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin  might return to the White House next year following his commanding win Monday in the Iowa caucuses.

It is Zelenskyys first trip to Davos as president after speaking by video in previous years, and hes drawn the attention of media and others trying to grab a word from him  while hes surrounded by a large contingent of security.

He hopes to parlay the high visibility of the event into a bully pulpit to showcase Ukraines pressing needs, and allies will be lining up: Corporate chiefs and officials like von der Leyen learned what support was needed to help Ukraine rebuild at an invitation-only CEOs for Ukraine session.

Its time for us, for Ukrainian companies, for international companies to rebuild (the) Ukrainian economy, Maxim Timchenko, CEO of Ukrainian energy company DTEK said after the session. To rely on ourselves. To build a future for Ukraine.

In her speech, Von der Leyen painted an optimistic view of the war in Ukraine despite the stalemate on the battlefield. She said Russia has lost half of its military capabilities, while Ukraine regained half the ground it had originally lost early in the invasion.

A day earlier, Zelenskyy made a stop in Switzerlands capital, Bern, where President Viola Amherd pledged her country would start working with Ukraine to help organize a peace summit for Ukraine.

The theme of the meeting in Davos is rebuilding trust, and it comes as that sentiment has been fraying globally: Wars in the Middle East and Europe have increasingly split the world into different camps.

While the geopolitical situation has oozed gloom, businesses appear more hopeful  in part from prospects that artificial intelligence can help boost productivity.

AI is a major topic at Davos, with a key talk by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella  whose company has invested billions in ChatGPT maker OpenAI  among the sessions.

Nadella, speaking at a Bloomberg News event ahead of his talk, indicated that issues surrounding OpenAIs leadership have been resolved. The ChatGPT makers governance and relationship with Microsoft came into question last year after the startups board suddenly fired CEO Sam Altman, who was then swiftly reinstated.

Im comfortable, I have no issues with any structure of the operating model at OpenAI, Nadella said. What I would like is good governance and real stability. JAMEY KEATEN, DAVOS, MDT/AP
The bones have been in a cabinet since 1989, some of the oldest in the Dane County Medical Examiners Office and the centerpiece of one of Madisons oldest unsolved mysteries.

On Sept. 3, 1989, the owner of a University Avenue music shop was doing some repair work in the basement. While looking for leaks, he found a human skeleton in a 20-inch pile at the bottom of the narrow chimney.

Thirty-five years later, the identity of Chimney Doe is still a mystery.

Its a mystery, though, that recent advancements in DNA technology might finally solve.

Equipped with a genetic profile by Astrea Forensics, Dane County investigators have managed to keep the case alive. They have intimate knowledge of the persons DNA, a maternal lineage drawn from hair samples.

Its a step toward giving Chimney Doe what they havent had for the last 35 years: a name.

A startling find

Among the investigations unanswered questions is when, precisely, Chimney Doe died.

In September 1989, after the shop owner discovered the skeleton, officers laid out the bones and a vague picture took shape.

The person had been wearing a sleeveless paisley dress, with a matching belt; a long-sleeved, button-down shirt that may have been made of Oxford-type cloth; a medium-size White Stag brand, shaggy-pile sweater; and low-heeled, pointed shoes.

Two pairs of socks, a butter knife and an iron cross were piled near the body.

But there was no form of identification. No drivers license was found among the items in the chimney, not even a name sewn into a shirt tag or a store credit card.

The poor condition of the persons remains made it hard to determine how the person died. Or, for that matter, when.

Investigators cast a wide net, placing the death any time between two months and two years before discovery. From August 1984 to December 1988, the building where Chimney Doe was found housed a Christian bookstore called The Breadshop. Owners of The Breadshop never reported any boiler problems or strange smells in the bookstore.

From December 1988 to April of 1989, the building lay dormant, completely empty between tenants. That April, it was purchased by the owners of Good n Loud Music, who later found the skeleton.

As for the cause of death, the bones revealed little. But one detail, a severe pelvic fracture, stood out. This type of fracture is typically consistent with a lot of force  high-speed crashes, high falls. The nature of the break indicates that the person was likely lying down when it happened. In 1990, Madison police Lt. Tim Endres speculated that the persons genitals had been stomped on. Investigators believe the break happened at the time of death, not during decomposition.

The person was young, somewhere on the younger end of the 18-to-35 range.

Checking missing person reports and canvassing of Madison residents werent fruitful.

Composite A computer-generated composite from 1990 showing what Chimney Doe may have looked like.

The right technology

A year after the grim discovery, the FBI gave the bones a face, reconstructed from the skull. With 93% certainty of sex, their Doe was labeled a John, Caucasian with four-inch-long brown hair. A narrow nose, a strong jawline and a distinct overbite. The Doe also had been petite, thin enough to fit in the 11.75-inch-diameter chimney.

As the years passed, leads went stale. Investigators would retire or go elsewhere, and the case would be reassigned.

In 2018, it reached the desk of Madison Police Department Detective Lindsey Ludden, who was able to connect with the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit that uses genealogy to determine identities in Doe cases.

In late 2021, hair samples from the skull were sent to Astrea Forensics, a California-based DNA sequencing company that specializes in degraded samples. The process was lengthy, taking nine months and 13 attempts to get enough human DNA to put together a decent genetic profile. Much of Astreas work on the case was funded through a grant; when that ran out, the company finished the job pro bono, its researchers unable to let the case go.

It felt like it (the SNP profile) was just out of reach, said Kelly Harkins Kincaid, Astreas founder and CEO. It was stumping us.

The dilapidated condition of Chimney Does remains after who-knows-how-long in that dark, dank chimney rendered the DNA as good as ancient, worn away by the elements and decomposition.

Usually by the time a case like this is coming to us, all other methods of identifying the individual have failed, Harkins Kincaid said. Samples come to us when the DNA is so badly preserved that really we need to treat it like its an ancient DNA sample.

Even with a DNA sample in hand, success isnt guaranteed. If its a low-quality sample, poorly preserved or particularly old, that makes it more difficult to produce genetic material. The main problem with this sample is that we needed a lot of data to really kind of put the puzzle back together and reconstruct more of the genome, Harkins Kincaid said. Imagine 95% of the data are discarded, because theyre not human or theyre not usable in some other way. Like theyre too damaged, the fragments are too short. Then youre left working with, you know, only about 5% of your data set.

After nine months and testing 13 different samples from Chimney Doe, a single nucleotide polymorphism profile was created. An SNP profile is the same type of profile used by direct-to-consumer genetic companies such as 23andMe, allowing people to create family trees through comparisons, showcasing maternal lineage.

Using an unidentified persons SNP profile, investigators can find genetic links to people in DNA databases and, through those genetic connections, figure out the unknown persons identity.

Investigators also can determine chromosomal sex  which in the case of Chimney Doe, has been its own puzzle.

A man and a dress

Chimney Doe was one of the inaugural cases in Anthony Lukas Redgrave and Lee Bingham Redgraves endeavors into transgender-specific Doe research. Dubbed the Trans Doe Task Force, the research seeks to identify unidentified trans people and give them back their names.

Conflicting theories on Chimney Does gender, sex and other identifiers caught the attention of the Redgraves, a transgender married spouse team of forensic anthropologists, while they were working with the DNA Doe Project.

While authorities have not confirmed the does cause of death, Anthony Lukas Redgrave theorized that Chimney Doe was murdered in an anti-transgender hate crime. The breaks in the skeletons pelvic bone would be consistent with an attacker stomping on the persons groin as they lay on the ground, he said.

Its not a new theory, the doe being trans or nonbinary. When investigators came out with their 93% certainty that Chimney Doe was biologically male, the dress the skeleton had been clothed in drew scrutiny.

When investigations center on victims from marginalized communities, cultural competency is key, according to Anthony. Thats why he and Lee, as trans people, founded the Trans Doe Project, working with LGBTQ+ and trans-informed volunteers.

A lot of the gaps weve seen in previous attempts to investigate cases such as these are that theyre being worked by police investigators who are not members of those communities and, you know, are trying to do their best but are outside of that cultural sphere and may not even know necessarily how to access people who can help, Redgrave said.

Were waving our little flag over here being like, Hey we can help and contacting departments, Redgrave said.

While investigators seek to check boxes, the Redgraves advise caution: Hyper-specific categorization in chromosomal sex may be a barrier in getting a positive identification. Science is constantly evolving, with new discoveries disproving old theories. Just as gender exists on a spectrum, so too does sex.

Many investigators consider the pelvis to be the best skeletal indicator of sex. However, research has shown that skeletal clues may not lead to an accurate sex identification.

Many of the pelvic traits currently used for sex estimation from the pelvis have not been adequately tested for validity and reliability, Dr. Alexandra R. Klales said in her 2020 textbook Sex Estimation of the Human Skeleton: History, Methods, and Emerging Technique, which recognized the Trans Doe Task Force for its work.

As a trans, intersex person, Anthonys work is also influenced by his own experiences.

I dont know what my skeleton looks like and I dont know if I died in the woods and turned into a skeleton what box theyd check for me or if Id ever be identified, he said.

The broader cultural context of the Chimney Does potential trans identity cant be understated, either. Acceptance of queer people in 1989 was far lower than it is today, and this person may have been estranged from family, ostracized by friends. Perhaps people knew them by a different name than the one listed on any potential missing person reports. Perhaps theyd moved to Madison from another state.

The Chimney Doe also might not be trans at all. Any number of circumstances could have led to the discovery of those remains with that dress. Once investigators can attach a name to Chimney Doe, those circumstances will be the next hurdle.

One that deserves solving

There are hundreds of other theories as to how this person ended up in that chimney. Over the years, the case has been a favorite of armchair detectives who take to internet forums to compare notes, hunches.

Im always intrigued by the power of the internet, Ludden said. I love reading forums about the case and kind of seeing what people speculate.

Over the course of three decades, the case has stayed alive not through an abundance of new leads, but through human empathy, a sense of duty that seems to have found each investigator who takes it up. Whoever this stranger was, they didnt deserve to be rot in a chimney, doomed to an eternity as Dane County Doe.

Dane County investigators got Astreas SNP profile on Chimney Doe in 2022 and have been working since then to draw comparisons in national DNA databases.

But even if a DNA profile can be constructed, investigators can only make comparisons if family members of the unidentified person submit their own DNA samples to a database such as 23andMe.

So far, for Chimney Doe, theres been no such luck.

But since 2018, Ludden has gone into each new year confident that it will be the year she can put a name on Chimney Doe.

I think anyone would argue that this case is one that deserves solving, Ludden said. I look forward to the day when I can talk to family, friends, somebody who knew this person and they can fill me in on more about their life beyond just this snapshot.

[Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the name of the effort led by Anthony Lukas Redgrave and Lee Bingham Redgrave. It is called the Trans Doe Task Force.]

Remembering 30 years of Madison-area cold cases Christine Rothschild, 1968 Charles N. Mumford, 1969 Thomas Speer, 1971 Mark Justl, 1972 Debra Bennett, 1976 Julie Ann Hall, 1978 Susan LeMahieu, 1980 Julie Speerschneider, 1981 Shirley Stewart, 1980 Barbara Nelson, 1982 Donna Mraz, 1982 Andrew Nehmer, 1986 Skeleton in the chimney, 1989 Mark Genna, 1992 The Rev. Alfred Kunz, 1998
A little more than two weeks after a Monona police pursuit ended in the death of three fleeing suspects, the City Council agreed Tuesday that the mayor and police chief should end a temporary policy change that had restricted when police could engage in such pursuits.

Council members and the mayor said that since the Jan. 1 incident, theyd received far more feedback from residents in favor of returning to the police departments policy on when officers are allowed to engage in vehicle chases.

Under that policy, police are allowed to pursue suspects in cases in which they pose a danger to public safety, even if they have not just committed or are likely to commit a violent felony. In Madison and some other Madison-area departments, police are only allowed to engage in vehicle pursuits of fleeing suspects in the case of such violent felonies.

Without consequences, wheres the deterrent? asked Ald. Patrick DePula. Are we to just give up and not assign any sort of culpability to those that willfully engage in reckless and lawless behavior?

The decision came after nearly two hours of testimony by Police Chief Brian Chaney and discussion by the council.

Data from the Dane County Sheriffs Office and police departments from Madison and six other Madison-area municipalities show Monona was engaged in the most police pursuits by far in recent years  although its not clear that the departments are all reporting their numbers the same way.

Monona logged 249 pursuits from 2019 through 2023. The sheriffs office, which patrols areas not covered by municipal police departments, participated in the next most, or 213. Madison saw 112 during that same period.

But Chaney said being surrounded by Wisconsins second-largest city comes with some drawbacks, and (w)e have a problem here in Dane County with people fleeing from police.

He said the decision not to pursue a suspect could result in more danger to the public than if police do try to pull over a vehicle, such as when a driver appears extremely intoxicated.

Reckless driving, drunk driving, drugged driving, dangerous driving kills every day, he said. In this country it has taken so many lives.

Fatal crash

The Jan. 1 incident began when Monona Sgt. Adam Nachreiner tried to pull over a suspicious vehicle for reckless driving just after 9 p.m. at Nichols Road and Monona Drive and the vehicle fled, the state Department of Justice has said. Its Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident.

Sometime after, Dane County Sheriffs Sgt. Jonathon Matz deployed a tire-deflation device in an attempt to stop the vehicle, and the vehicle crashed into a tree in the town of Cottage Grove near the corner of Femrite Drive and Buckeye Road, about 5 miles away from where the chase started. All three people in the vehicle, Rashad Lamar Nelson and Aaron Javon Willis, both 30, and Aajayah Monai Ray, 19, died at the scene.

Chaney told the council that because of DCIs ongoing investigation, he could not release more details about the incident, but he did say that the reckless driving had been taking place in a school parking lot and that hed reviewed all the dashcam and body camera video from the incident and that Nachreiner acted reasonably and in accordance with the departments policy and the law.

Ald. Richard Bernstein favored waiting until DCIs investigation was completed and made public before returning to the departments current policy, but his effort to convince the rest of the council and Mayor Mary OConnor of that failed.

Chaney said some of his departments pursuits over the past five years  including 15 of 59 in 2023  were terminated by officers for a variety of reasons. Others were ones started by another agency that Monona joined, he said.

He said his agency also doesnt specifically tally the number of times his department would have been authorized to pursue a vehicle under department policy but chose not to.

Reporting agencies

Of the agencies that reported pursuit data to the Wisconsin State Journal, only one, Verona, included a tally of vehicles that fled a police stop or attempted stop but were not pursued. That agency recorded 28 pursuits from 2019 to 2023 and 48 instances in which vehicles fled but were not pursued from late 2020 through 2023.

Mononas police pursuit policy has changed at least twice in the past three years, most recently in November 2022, when it was broadened to allow officers to pursue suspects in cases in which the suspects had not just committed or were expected to soon commit a violent felony. The policy has a number of other requirements aimed at ensuring the danger to the public from a pursuit is not greater than the danger of letting suspects flee.

But after the Jan. 1 crash, the city decided to temporarily restrict chases to cases in which a violent felony is believed to have been committed or is about to be committed.

Police pursuit policies for Stoughton and Sun Prairie also do not require a violent felony to have been committed or be imminent. Veronas 23-year-old policy requires police to pursue a vehicle in a violent felony situation, but Police Chief David Dresser said that in practice, officers are far more restrictive in whom they chase.

Officers have been trained to terminate pursuits or not pursue at all unless officers have reason to believe the occupants of the vehicle have been involved in the commission of a felony or there is a threat of great bodily harm or death, Dresser said.

The Washington, D.C-based Police Executive Research Forum, which conducts research and makes recommendations on police policy, recommends that departments should adopt restrictive vehicle pursuit philosophies that permit pursuits only for a limited and serious set of circumstances and that pursuits should only be allowed for violent crimes and where failure to immediately apprehend the suspect presents an imminent threat to the public based on the suspects criminal actions.

Who are they? WI children reported missing as of January 14 These are recent reports of missing children made to local law enforcement. If you think you have seen a missing child, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
Dane County Board supervisors are set to vote Thursday on providing another $27.7 million for a new jail to cover the cost of the sole bid the county received for the project in November.

The funding is considered the final piece needed to get construction of a six-story, 825-bed tower Downtown moving forward, a now roughly $207 million undertaking that has faced pauses, delays and rising costs since 2019.

In a Wisconsin State Journal guest column published Tuesday at madison.com/opinion, Dane County Board Chairman Patrick Miles, of McFarland, and Supervisor Dana Pellebon, of Fitchburg, called on their colleagues to close the final funding gap. Preventing further delays would spare the county financial risks and protect inmates from the countys own 1950s-style jail at the City-County Building, a facility that lacks programming and medical services and is widely considered inhumane and unsafe.

Once the project is finished, the countys jail facilities would be consolidated in the new tower and the Public Safety Building. The jail at the City-County building and the South Side Ferris Center would close.

All of these pressing issues disproportionately affect the Black community, the group of supervisors wrote. This process can no longer be stalled.

The authors of the column were Chair Patrick Miles, who represents McFarlands 34th District; Dana Pellebon, who represents Fitchburgs 33rd District; April Kigeya, who represents Madisons West Side in the 15th District; and Richelle Andrae, who represents the West Side in the 11th District.

Any other option includes either financial risks or years of delay and would extend the need to transport residents to other counties, away from local social supports and services ultimately costing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, the supervisors said.

After the projects sole bid from Miron Construction came in $27.7 million over what the county expected, outgoing County Executive Joe Parisi and others in his administration signaled that they wanted to put the project out to bid a second time.

But the board has rebuffed those calls.

There has been no indication there would be any other company that would respond if the county rebid, the supervisors said in their column. There is a serious risk that rebidding could yield a higher bid from the original respondent or worse, no bid at all.

The vote on Thursday will require three-fourths of the board supporting it in order to pass. Of the $27.7 million set for approval, $21.7 million would be new borrowing and $6 million comes from money the county has made off investments.

Todd Draper, the countys director of public works, did not respond to a message asking when construction is expected to begin if the funding gets passed. When the board closed the other most recent funding gap for the jail last April, construction was expected to begin in late 2023 or early 2024.

When the board first authorized money for the jail in 2019, the county expected it to be built by mid-2024.

[Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the number of beds that would be included in the proposed jail. The plan calls for 825 beds.]
The soon-to-close Silver Dollar Tavern, the citys oldest bar, will live on in a new form.

The taverns 1930s mahogany bar and other memorabilia are being incorporated into a gathering and events space in the $160.5 million Wisconsin History Center opening next door on Capitol Square in 2027.

The Teasdale family, fourth-generation owners of the Silver Dollar Tavern, have donated the 43-foot-long mahogany bar as well as vintage backbar cabinetry and lighting, neon signs and other memorabilia to the Wisconsin Historical Society for use in the coming history center, the Historical Society announced Wednesday.

Opened in 1933 by Clyde Teasdale after the end of Prohibition, the Silver Dollar Tavern became a Madison institution. The Teasdale family recently sold the property, at 117 W. Mifflin St. next to the History Center site, to Hovde Properties of Madison.

The Wisconsin Historical Societys five-story, 100,000-square-foot History Center will provide unprecedented access to the states vast collection while sharing regional stories in the context of American history.

The Silver Dollar Tavern was selected for its historical significance locally and its familiar representation of post-Prohibition-era bars and the family-owned taverns that were prominent in the states social and cultural history, the Historical Society said.

The historic bar set and memorabilia will serve as inspiration for the final design of the fifth-floor gathering and event space in the history center. The bar will be a full-service destination within the center, welcoming guests to pull up a stool and order a beverage.

It feels good to know that when we close the doors next month, the 90-year legacy of our family business will live on in Wisconsin history, said Chuck Teasdale, fourth-generation co-owner of the Silver Dollar Tavern. Just down the street, stories of our city and state will continue to be told around the Silver Dollar bar top.

The Silver Dollar Tavern will serve its last drink on Feb 3. I plan to have as many of the current and past staff on hand that day as possible and we will do a final last call at 2:15 a.m. No program, no speeches and no (TV) cameras, Teasdale recently told the Wisconsin State Journal. He said he wants to respect the privacy of his customers.

Its rare to see a fourth-generation tavern  its an extraordinary thing, said Jim Draeger, architectural historian, historic preservation expert and co-author of Bottoms Up: A Toast to Wisconsins Historic Bars and Breweries. At a time when family-owned taverns are falling by the wayside, its fitting that the Wisconsin Historical Society would preserve one of the rare survivors from our state, giving it new life for future generations.

Hovde Properties is scheduled to buy the property on Feb. 20, Teasdale has said. The sale clears the way for the company to redevelop that part of a blighted block.

We are incredibly grateful to the Teasdale family for this generous gift to the Wisconsin History Center, said Christian Overland, director and CEO of the Historical Society. Weve been searching for the right iconic tavern bar to serve as a focal point of the top floor event space. Welcoming one of the states oldest post-Prohibition bars  and the stories and meaningful memories that come with it  into the design of a dynamic new space is an exciting opportunity.

The History Center, which will rise on the Downtown site of the former, undersized museum at 30 N. Carroll St. and adjacent properties at 20 and 22 N. Carroll St., will feature a facade with offset top floors to offer differing views from various vantage points.

Inside, a glassy lobby will feature an expansive wooden staircase meant to echo an ancient dugout canoe, inspired by the recovery in recent years of two Native American dugout canoes from Lake Mendota.

It will lead to a cafe, community gallery and temporary gallery that can host national-caliber shows and exhibit spaces featuring interpretative, interactive and multimedia presentations. The fifth floor, where the bar will be located, will feature event space and a terrace overlooking the Capitol.

Endearing dives: Madison's best-loved dive bars Antler's Tavern Jerry's/Bailey's Bennett's Meadowood Country Club Brothers Three Bar & Grill Club Lamark Caribou Tavern Chief's Tavern Eagle Crest Bar The Farm Ideal Bar Jade Monkey The Knuckle Down Saloon Licari's Tavern Le Tigre Lounge Locker Room Bar Mackesey's Irish Pub Main Depot Bar & Grill Mike's Horseshoe Bar & Grill Mondays Paradise Lounge Pitcher's Pub Player's Sports Bar & Grill Red Shed The Rustic Tavern Silver Dollar Tavern Slice's Bar & Grill Snick's Sportsman's Bar Up North Bar Villa Tap Wilson's Bar & Grill The Wisco Woody-Anne's Tavern Did we forget your favorite dive bar?
More snow is heading for southern Wisconsin in advance of another blast of bitter cold this weekend, but better weather is not that far off, according to the National Weather Service.

The latest wind chill advisory for the area ended at 9 a.m. Wednesday and it was 4 at the Dane County Regional Airport at 9:53 a.m., with a wind chill of 16 below, the Weather Service reported.

The high Wednesday should be near 13 under partly sunny skies, with west winds around 10 miles per hour producing wind chills of 5 below to 15 below.

There is a 20% chance of snow overnight between midnight and 2 a.m., as the low should stay just above zero with light winds.

After a high Thursday near 12 under partly sunny skies, a quick system may drop up to an inch on southwestern Wisconsin and 2 inches for most of the rest of southern Wisconsin, with 3 inches possible in Milwaukee and 4 inches in Kenosha, the Weather Service said.

Less than a half-inch is expected in Madison.

Bitterly cold wind chills may return Friday night into Saturday morning and again Saturday night into Sunday morning, with lows around 5 below and 6 below and plenty of sunshine and highs near 12 Saturday and 17 Sunday.

That will be the end of the bitter cold, though, with lows Sunday night and Monday night around 15 and 31, and highs Monday and Tuesday around 33 and 37, the Weather Service said.

That will enable salt to work and plow drivers to finally start clearing the packed snow and ice on many roads.

There is a 20% chance for snow Monday morning, a 20% chance for rain and snow Monday, and a 50% chance for rain Monday night and Tuesday.

Tuesdays high in Madison was 2 at 4:03 p.m., 25 degrees below the normal high and 50 degrees below the record high of 52 for Jan. 16, set in 1933.

Tuesdays low in Madison was 9 below at 8:06 a.m., 20 degrees below the normal low and 19 degrees above the record low of 28 below for Jan. 16, set in 1979.

No precipitation was recorded at the Dane County Regional Airport on Wednesday, leaving Madisons January and 2024 total at 1.37 inches, 0.63 inches above normal. The meteorological winter (December through February) precipitation total (rain plus snow converted to liquid) stayed at 3.03 inches, 0.66 inches above normal.

Madisons record precipitation for Jan. 16 is 0.8 inches, set in 1870.

With no snow on Tuesday, Madisons January and 2024 snow total stayed at 20.9 inches, 14.4 inches above normal. For meteorological winter, Madison has received 25.9 inches, 7.4 inches above normal. For the snow season (since July 1), Madison has received 28.5 inches, 6.4 inches above normal.

Madisons record snowfall for Jan. 16 is 6.6 inches, set in 1994.

Madisons official snow depth is 10 inches.

Officially, Madison started last week with 9.9 inches for the snow season (since July 1) and ended with 28.4 inches, according to the Weather Service.

The airport recorded a trace of snow on Monday, 5.7 inches on Tuesday, 1.1 inches on Wednesday, 1.2 inches on Thursday, 8.6 inches on Friday, and 1.9 inches on Saturday.

Photos: A look back at the frigid blast of 2014 caused by the 'polar vortex' 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex 2014 polar vortex
Two Watertown residents were seriously injured, one critically, when the ATV they were riding crashed Saturday on the Wild Goose State Trail in Dodge County, authorities reported.

The Dodge County Sheriffs Office responded about 9:10 p.m. to the crash on the trail, about 100 yards south of Shady Lane Road in the town of Oak Grove.

Sheriff Dale Schmidt said that the ATV was operated by a 31-year-old Watertown man who suffered serious injuries and was taken to Marshfield Medical Center  Beaver Dam by Beaver Dam Fire Department paramedics.

The passenger, a 30-year-old Watertown woman, sustained life-threatening injuries and was initially taken to Marshfield Medical Center by Beaver Dam paramedics and later taken to UW Hospital in Madison.

The crash was being investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Dodge County Sheriffs Office.

Assisting at the scene were the Beaver Dam Fire Department, Juneau Fire Department, Juneau EMS, Horicon Fire Department and the Department of Natural Resources.

GALLERY: Mayville mulls opening streets to ATV/UTV use Chris Neu.jpg Corey Moede.jpg Josh Unger.jpg IMG_4070.JPG IMG_4071.JPG IMG_4072.JPG IMG_4075.JPG Sara Decker.jpg
Wisconsin Republicans appear to be at an impasse over a proposal to legalize medical marijuana.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Tuesday that he would not compromise with state Senate Republicans to address their concerns with his proposal. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu last week said the bills proposed creation of state-run dispensaries was a nonstarter.

Vos said at a news conference that months and months of negotiations resulted in a very detailed bill he proposed that has the minimum 50 votes needed to pass among Republicans.

Taking and renegotiating the bill means we probably lose votes in our caucus, Vos said. So Id rather get us through to keep the promise we made, which is to have a comprehensive bill that can actually become law as opposed to an ethereal idea that maybe somebody could support someday but it never actually makes it anywhere.

LeMahieu last week said he was open to making changes to the bill in an effort to find a compromise that could pass in the Senate.

The highly restrictive bill would limit medical marijuana to severely ill people with chronic diseases such as cancer and allow for it to be dispensed at just five state-run locations. Smokable marijuana would not be allowed.

The proposal would limit the availability of marijuana to people diagnosed with certain diseases, including cancer, HIV or AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, severe muscle spasms, chronic pain or nausea, and those with a terminal illness and less than a year to live.

Wisconsin remains an outlier nationally. Thirty-eight states have legalized medical marijuana and 24 have legalized recreational marijuana. The push for legalization in Wisconsin has gained momentum as its neighbors have loosened their laws.

The measure would need to pass the Senate and Assembly and be signed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to become law. Evers, who like many Democrats is a proponent of full legalization, said this month that he would support medical marijuana only but was noncommittal on the Assemblys plan.

State laws are putting AI in the driver's seat State laws are putting AI in the driver's seat Some states allow driverless vehicles on roadswith restrictions Autonomy is a spectrum, and the legality of emerging driverless vehicles varies For now, regulators and companies want human drivers attentive Don't follow too closely to those trucks; they might be 'platooning' Some are calling for uniform federal laws
Were glad to see Wisconsins legislative Republicans moving toward a bill to allow medical marijuana in the state. While its not perfect, its an important step in the right direction.

Back in April 2023, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, announced he was working with his fellow Republicans on some form of medical marijuana bill. The results took longer than expected, but officials presented the broad outlines for the public.

The proposal looks a lot more like some of the earliest state laws on the issue than it does legislation passed in numerous states over the past couple years. Sales are limited to severely ill individuals in most cases. Cancer patients would have access, as would people with multiple sclerosis. Glaucoma patients could use marijuana, as could people who have severe muscle spasms, chronic pain or nausea.

The most open category is for those who are terminally ill and are expected to have less than a year to live. Every category would require a doctors diagnosis and purchases would be allowed only at one of five state dispensaries. While that figure could increase, thats where things would start.

The proposal doesnt go as far as most Wisconsin residents would probably prefer. An October 2022 poll from Marquette University showed 64% of Wisconsin residents favored full legalization of recreational marijuana, while 83% favored allowing it for medical uses. Theres no reason to believe those numbers are lower today.

The overwhelming support for medical marijuana means phenomenally little risk for politicians backing this step. You probably wouldnt get that kind of approval for a proposal to eliminate the states income tax, or virtually any other step a legislature could take.

This isnt a done deal just yet, though. The Legislature still has to vote on it, with passage likely but not assured. Gov. Tony Evers, who has urged legislators to approve full recreational legalization, has signaled he will sign the bill if it passes.

Its cynical  though probably accurate  to tie the announcement to the beginning of an election year. The extraordinarily strong appeal of such legislation gave politicians cover, and very few will willingly leave such a club laying around for an opponent to beat them with during a campaign. That meant the years of foot-dragging was incompatible with hopes for reelection for what appears to be a critical mass in the Republican caucus.

The move would end Wisconsins status as a genuine outlier for marijuana access. It is one of only a handful of states in which absolute prohibition still stands, and three neighboring states allow recreational use. While being out of step with neighbors is one thing, being that far out of synch with voters was another.

Wisconsins actions are a new signal that the federal governments antiquated approach to marijuana needs to change. The Drug Enforcement Agencys listing of marijuana as a Schedule I drug  one with high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical uses  isnt a sustainable argument.

Theres a solid medical consensus that marijuana has some valid uses. Wisconsins proposal aligns more with the requirements for Schedule II drugs, which have accepted medical uses with significant restrictions, than it does the DEAs claims. And theres a good argument for viewing it as a Schedule III drug, with accepted medical uses and varying levels of addictive potential.

Federal regulations need to change. Its obvious the vast majority of Americans, conservative or liberal, think theyre off base. Wisconsins change is in line with what residents want, and it adds to the pressure to update the federal guidelines.
State and national policy in recent years has focused on strengthening our manufacturing sector and bringing back good-paying jobs for Americans.

But this effort could be undone as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prepares new air quality regulations. The new rule will have significant and adverse impacts on manufacturing, including Wisconsins paper industry, a major driver of the local economy.

The EPA is poised to lower the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter. But the agencys proposal does little to address some of the largest sources of particulate matter, and it fails to acknowledge a decades-long trend of declining ambient air levels of fine particulate matter.

The regulation is unlikely to meaningfully impact the amount of particulate matter in the air. But it will undoubtedly undermine efforts to grow and bring back American manufacturing jobs from overseas. Thats bad news for our country, and even worse for Wisconsin, whose manufacturing sector accounts for 18.6% of the states total economic output, including the forest products industry.

Its important the EPA craft sustainable regulations that not only protect public health and our environment, but also create opportunities for job growth and economic development. But the EPAs proposal does neither.

To start, fine particulate matter is emitted by a variety of sources. Major emitters include wildfires, road dust and exhaust fumes. These sources account for nearly 84% of all emissions of fine particulate matter. Yet the EPAs proposed rule does not account for these sources and their public health impact.

Instead, the proposal incorrectly takes aim at industry partners such as the forest products industry, which is helping to grow domestic manufacturing jobs and deliver lasting, meaningful sustainability. By setting the new limit near background levels, the forest products industry will not be able to get necessary permits to further curb emissions, expand operations or, in some cases, even operate in the country.

Wisconsin would swiftly feel the impact of the EPAs decision. The forest products industry employs over 50,000 residents, contributing to over $21 billion in annual economic output and an estimated $226 million in state and local taxes. Paper product manufacturing in Wisconsin has been growing fast in recent years  but the EPAs proposal would severely imperil this progress.

Its hard to understand why the EPA would suggest such misguided regulations and undermine President Joe Bidens promise to grow and bring back American manufacturing jobs. Its even more confusing when you consider the forest products industrys critical role in addressing Americas affordable housing shortage and producing sustainable paper-based packaging.

The American Forest and Paper Association has shared these concerns in a letter to the White House, signed by 44 member CEOs. This letter also highlights how the EPA has not proposed an implementation plan for its new rule. The letter requests realistic modeling and permitting tools, grounded by sound scientific data, to allow important industry projects to proceed. It will take the EPA working with states and industry at least three years to develop and execute a workable plan. This should include modernization projects that help our industry curb emissions and improve efficiency.

We are not alone in expressing concern over the EPAs proposal. Unions and trade groups from the forest products industry have also called on the administration to support practical regulations that protect our health and environment while promoting economic growth and development.

The EPAs proposed updates to its rule for fine particulate matter directly threatens Americas manufacturing. This is a bad policy that would curtail production and lead to the loss of good paying jobs  many in rural areas  without having a meaningful impact toward improving public health. The Biden administration should ensure that our manufacturing sector and the hardworking Americans supporting it stay strong in the long term.
(CNN)  Vicious winter storms have pummeled much of the US in recent days, bringing bitter cold and hazardous conditions. In Maine, where record-breaking storm surges have caused severe flooding, the weather also brought a rare glimpse of a 112-year-old shipwreck at Acadia National Park.

The two-masted schooner Tay ran aground on Mount Desert Island in July 1911, resulting in the death of the ships cook. The Tay, captained by I.W. Scott of St. John, New Brunswick, sprung a leak during a storm, according to an article that appeared shortly after the wreck in the Bar Harbor Record. Captain Scott tried unsuccessfully to make it to harbor.

The main sheet parted and then he lost his main boom. Capt. Scott attempted to stand off shore under head sails, but he was too far in and was swept inside the breakers, the article recounts. The Tay struck hard and was dismasted fore and aft at the first shock and began to go to pieces rapidly.

Some Acadia National Park visitors were able to see a large section of the ships impressive bones on Mount Desert Islands Sand Beach after a storm on January 10 brought the wreck to the surface.

Bar Harbor local Molly Moon, whose familys ties to the area date back generations, went to the beach at low tide on Thursday, a day after the storm, to take photos of the wreckage at sunset.

It was a rare experience, to peek back at history that has been buried just below our noses for over a hundred years, Moon told CNN Travel in an email. I was reminded how blessed I am to live in this beautiful area and relate to the rich history here.

Moon is not the first person in her family to see the wreckage emerge.

My grandmother saw sections of it uncovered in the 50s, my mother saw the hull unearthed in the 70s, and I was fortunate enough to see it return above the sand presently in 2024.

With more bad weather over the weekend, the sea seems to have reclaimed some of the wreckage.

Ben Sprague, of Bangor, took his family to look at the ships remains on Monday after hearing about it from social media and news reports. When he visited, the visible wreckage was in pieces.

They are not really connected together, but they are still in pretty solid condition. Cool bit of history! Sprague, who didnt know about the shipwreck before it surfaced last week, wrote to CNN Travel.

Its pretty amazing to think of all the times youve been to Sand Beach and walked on the sand above that shipwreck without even realizing it, he wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.

Acadia National Park did not immediately respond to CNNs request for more information. The park, which was established several years after the shipwreck, is mostly located on Mount Desert Island, the largest island off Maines coast. According to a notice on the parks website, there was significant damage throughout the park from the January 10 storm.

Park areas remained open, except where noted in the NPS advisory, with visitors taking in the shipwrecks appearance.

According to the 1911 Bar Harbor Record article, there were six crew members aboard the Tay, as well as the captain and the captains son. The cook, J.B. Whelpley, of St. John, New Brunswick, died in the wreck. According to the Bar Harbor Record, the ship was carrying lumber from St. John to Boston. A load of shingles was lost but planks carried below deck washed ashore.

A National Park Service account says the Tays crew took refuge in the local Satterlee familys summer home after they managed to get ashore. The family built a boat house using the salvaged lumber to honor the shipwreck.

While the ships wreckage has revealed itself before, the recent sighting was the first in decades, according to Bangor Daily News.

The century-old wreck isnt the only historic site in the state impacted by recent storms. Flooding in South Portland swept away several historic fishing shacks.

The-CNN-Wire

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Members of the Idaho Legislatures Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee took a symbolic hostage on Friday as part of the budget committees showdown with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare over uncorrected issues that were flagged in an audit of the department.

When JFAC sets the fiscal year 2025 maintenance of current operations budgets on Monday, the committee will not include any funding for Idaho Health and Welfares indirect support services, Keith Bybee, budget and policy manager for the Idaho Legislative Services office, said. That would effectively zero out funding for the Idaho Department of Health administrative central hub, including the directors office, IT support, human resources, legal services, fiscal services and more, Bybee said.

One of the approaches that are included in this package is to not fund a key and critical division in the Health and Welfare Department and that is indirect support services, with the idea here being that it is a negotiation piece for the agency to at least formalize some sort of response to outstanding audit and uncorrected findings back to this committee, Bybee said during Fridays meeting. They have the entirety of the session, effectively, to come back and come back with an effective corrective plan.

The total indirect support services budget, at the maintenance of operations level, is $46.8 million, Bybee told the Sun.

Its sort of the central hub of the Department of Health and Welfare, so it would be hard for the department to function without that budget going forward, but that is the message in there, Bybee said during Fridays JFAC meeting.

Although the funding would not be included in the budgets JFAC sets Monday, the committee will consider approving the funding later in the legislative session if the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare corrects the findings from the audit, which JFAC ordered during the 2023 legislative session, before the legislative session adjourns for the year, JFAC co-chairs Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, and Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, told the Idaho Capital Sun.

Grow said JFAC co-chairs specifically picked the indirect support services budget as the budget to zero out because it does not include funding for any services Idahoans receive from the department.

The Department of Health and Welfares fiscal year 2025 budgets for public health services and Medicaid will be the last two budgets JFAC members will set this year, with the budget hearings scheduled for March 6 and March 7, respectively.

Shutting down administrative functions most definitely will impact the departments ability to provide services to DHW patients and beneficiaries, who are among Idahos most vulnerable populations, including the elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged families, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare spokesperson AJ McWhorter said in a written statement Friday afternoon. However, JFAC sets the rules for budgeting, and as an executive branch agency, DHW will work within the rules.

JFAC pushes for audit corrections

At issue is an audit into the Idaho Department of Health and Welfares distribution of grant funds that the Idaho Legislative Services Office conducted and released in August. The audit found a lack of controls in the program that led to grant recipients using the funds for ineligible purposes and for ineligible groups, the Sun previously reported.

At the time the audit was released, former Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen released a statement disagreeing with all findings in the audit. Jeppesen retired in December.

On Thursday, Idaho Legislative Services audit division manager April Renfro told JFAC that the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has not submitted a corrective action plan for eight findings from the audit.

Also on Thursday, Dean Cameron, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfares interim director who stepped in when Jeppesen retired, wrote a letter to JFAC members promising to revamp how the department handles grants and to provide mandatory grant administration training, the Sun previously reported.

Removing funding for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfares administrative central hub is a tactic JFAC is using to make sure Cameron follows through on his promise.

Without a corrective plan to address the findings, it calls into question our ability to appropriate funds for the agency, Horman told reporters after Fridays meeting.

Horman and Grow told the Sun the idea to remove the funding came together Thursday, after they received Camerons letter.

Cameron himself is a former state senator who previously co-chaired JFAC.

A year of changes for finance committee

Fridays budget showdown was the latest development in what has already been a year of changes for JFAC. Grow and Horman have announced a series of significant changes they are enacting to budget setting procedures this year, including shortening the public portions of meetings to about half of their traditional three-hour length.

Grow and Horman said the changes are designed to begin the budget setting process earlier in the legislative session and empower JFAC members to apply more scrutiny to budgets and new spending requests.

Horman said removing the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare indirect support services funding will not affect current operations in the fiscal year 2024 budget or jeopardize services Idahoans are receiving from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

The fiscal year 2025 budget takes effect July 1, on the first day of the states new fiscal year.
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 the Philippines and most of Asia are revving up for increased travel demand.

Building and expanding airports often serve as the showcase of a nations economic might. Having bigger and modern airports and accommodating tens of millions of foreign tourists yearly are a confirmation of a countrys steady economic progress.

The Philippines like the rest of the world is ready to meet the challenge of a rising tourism sector following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a growing middle-income class, the Philippines and most of Asia are revving up for increased travel demand.

The Philippines Department of Transportation (DOTr) is joining other nations in modernizing their airports and expanding their capacity to welcome more travelers. The DOTr just conducted this week the preliminary evaluation of the technical proposals submitted by four consortia vying for the concession to operate the Ninony Aquino International Airport, or NAIA.

All four groups joining the bidding, according to Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan, submitted complete documents of their technical proposals, edging them closer to the final round of the selection process.

The DOTr is keeping close to its deadline target of privatizing NAIAthe department is set to to release the notice of award on Feb. 15 and sign the concession deal on March 15.

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Passing the technical assessment qualifies a bidder to submit a financial offer, the key to the selection process. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has said the DOTr will award the contract to the bidder with the highest offer on income sharing.

The government will ask the winning proponent to double the passenger capacity of the airport to 62 million a year. Bidders will be given a minimum of 15 years to upgrade the gateway and its facilities, and an additional 10 years, depending on its performance.

Four companies, namely the Manila International Airport Consortium, Asian Airport Consortium, GMR Airports Consortium and the San Miguel Corp. SAP & Co. Consortium, are vying for the project.

Regional and global competition

Manila is not the only airport that is trying to reinvent itself in the face surging travel demand. Air passenger demand in Southeast Asia, according to Japan Aircraft Development Corp., will likely triple in the two decades from 2019.

A Nikkei research study on the expansion plans of airports near the capital cities of seven countries in the regionThailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Cambodiapredicted that total annual passenger handling capacity will reach at least 653 million people by 2030, or nearly double from the 336 million as of January 2023.

Thailand opened a satellite terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport near Bangkok in September, per the report of Nikkei Asia, a major Japan-based English-language weekly news magazine. Thailand, says the Nikkei Asia report, plans to expand two other airports, Don Mueang International Airport near Bangkok and U-Tapao Airport, just southeast of the capital. The total capacity of the three airports in the metropolitan area would increase to 200 million passengers by 2030.

Vietnam, adds the Nikkei Asia report, will invest nearly 100 trillion dong ($4 billion) to increase the capacity of Hanois Noi Bai International Airport to 60 million passengers by 2030, 2.5 times its current amount.

The United State, meanwhile, is following suit to expand and modernize its aging airports. Construction on an Automated People Mover, based on data from the Federal Aviation Administration, news organizations and local airport authorities, is ongoing at Los Angeles International Airport since 2019. The new electric-powered transit system will connect LAX to the citys public rail system via the future LAX/Metro Transit Center Station, which are both scheduled to open in 2024. LA is doing the works in preparation for hosting the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is thick on the construction phase of its $19-billion project to build A New JFK. It involves building a new international terminal that broke ground in September 2022 and is slated to open in 2026, replacing Terminal 2 (demolished in early 2023) and Terminal 3, the former Pan Am Worldport, which was razed in 2013.

The winning bidder of the NAIA modernization against this backdrop must ensure best practice in managing and modernizing the airport. NAIA will be first window of tourists traveling to the Philippines.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com
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President Marcos is eager to strengthen bilateral relations with Brazil as he welcomed Brazilian Ambassador-designate Gilberto Fonseca Guimaraes de Moura in Malacanang on Tuesday, January 17.

Excellency, I am pleased to accept your credentials as Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the Republic of the Philippines, President Marcos told the new envoy during their meeting.

Diplomatic ties between Manila and Brasilia date back in 1946. President Marcos acknowledged Brazil as a valued partner in technical cooperation, agriculture, trade and investment, defense, and environmental protection.



Expressing optimism for further collaboration in these crucial areas, the President conveyed his support for Brazils hosting of the 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2025.



Brazil is a powerful voice in marshaling collective action towards the protection of the environment and addressing the effects of climate change, which is the foremost existential threat to our species today, he said.

We also count on our continued reciprocal support for each other within the ambit of the United Nations and other multilateral fora, President Marcos added.

Closing his statement, the President wished the Brazilian ambassador an enjoyable and fulfilling stay in the Philippines. He hoped that De Moura would experience the warm hospitality of the Filipino people.



In response, the Brazilian ambassador emphasized his countrys commitment to overcoming challenges and further expanding collaboration with the Philippines.



The Philippines and Brazil are set to celebrate the 78th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in July this year.
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The Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday said there is no problem with the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) but the Red Sea shipping constraint could have an impact on freight costs and push LNG prices domestically, an official said.

Firstly, there is no supply disruption, there is no problem with supply. Supply is there. How do we ship that is the problem and where? Europe will have a problem, not the Philippines. The problem is the Red Sea going to the Suez Canal, DOE Director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau Rino Abad said when sought for comment.

Qatars prime minister earlier warned that LNG shipments will be affected by the ongoing Red Sea tensions.

According to Abad, There is a possibility that the cost of freight will increase because instead of seven days, it will become 15 days. They will have to circle to Cape of Good Hope. The problem is, if it takes you longer, the frequency of orders will also go up because you will have to catch up with the time.

Before, if you contract one ship every week, now because that is two weeks, you will need two ships to run.  Som there will be tightness in ships so prices will go up. That is the threat to us. It will become a price bidding, the official added.

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He said First Gen Corp. and San Miguel Corp.s LNG contracts are spot contracts but hopes they can have long-term contracts to avoid price volatilities.

First Gen do not have long term and SPPC [South Premiere Power Corp.] is still stabilizing, Abad said.

FGENs LNG supply is not currently impacted by the disruption in the Red Sea but we will continue to monitor the situation, First Gen executive vice president and chief commercial officer Jon Russell said.

A report by BMI, a Fitch Solutions company in December said the Philippines is emerging as a new frontier LNG market attracting strong interest from LNG producers and traders.

BMI said lower spot LNG prices could encourage potential LNG importers to accelerate construction of LNG import terminals.

Uncertainties surround the levels of LNG demand and the volumes the Philippines will be importing. We anticipate LNG imports will vary depending on the buyers ability to pay and projected demand from power and industrial sectors. Any upside gains to prices will slow down LNG imports while a drop will encourage increased imports. Currently, none of the potential LNG consumers has signed a long-term sale and purchase agreements (SPAs) with LNG producers and traders, making them entirely exposed to spot LNG market, BMI said.



It said future LNG demand growth will depend to a large extent on further expansion of gas-fired power generation capacities.



Meanwhile, BMI said that like Indonesia, the Philippines also presents opportunities to develop small-scale LNG projects given the geographic location of small power plants.



Given the countrys geographical features, such small-scale LNG import terminals could become more suitable to accelerate fuel switching in the power sector, but the long-term sustainability of these projects remains uncertain given its lower economies of scale and limited ability to supply LNG at lower prices compared to larger LNG import terminals integrated with power plants. Small-scale projects may solve gas shortages in gas-deficit regions to some extent, but the impact on overall supply will remain limited, the report said.
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Canadians planning to visit or are already in the Philippines are urged to exercise a high degree of caution when traveling to southern parts of the country amid incidents of crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping.

In an advisory dated January 10, the Canadian government asked its citizens to avoid all travel in the following Mindanao provinces: Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

This means Canadians are prohibited from visiting these places as their personal safety and security are at great risk. Citizens who are already in these areas were advised to leave.

Meanwhile, Canadians are also told to avoid non-essential travel to the following: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte (excluding Siargao Island), Surigao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur (excluding Davao City), Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental.

This category means Canadians safety and security could be at risk. They should think about their need to travel to these areas, based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors.

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The advisory stressed that extremists have been active in the southern Philippines for several years. It also stated that there is a serious threat of terrorism, kidnapping, and piracy in the Sulu archipelago, including in the waters south of the island of Palawan.

The Canadian government also said theres a risk in Mindanao island of terrorist attacks and kidnappings, especially in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Reion in Muslim Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

It also mentioned that bombs causing deaths, injuries, and property destruction have exploded in public areas of major centres in the cities of Cotabato, General Santos, Isabela, Kidapawan, and Zamboanga.

Clashes may occur between insurgent groups and security forces, the advisory noted.

Theres a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Government of Canadas ability to provide consular assistance is limited if you get stranded in this area, it added.

The Canadian government urged its citizens (to) remain indoors as much as possible; be aware of your surroundings at all times avoid crowded places; always travel with identification; expect an increased security presence in public areas, especially around malls and transportation hubs; stop at security checkpoints; monitor local media; (and) follow the advice and instructions of local authorities, should they choose to travel despite the advisory.
Courtesy cards, are cards given out by the NYC police union (and presumably elsewhere) to friends and family who use them to get easy treatment if they are pulled over by a cop. I was stunned when I first wrote about these cards in 2018. I thought this was common only in tinpot dictatorships and flailing states. The cards even come in levels, gold, silver and bronze!

A retired police officer on Quora explains how the privilege is enforced:

The officer who is presented with one of these cards will normally tell the violator to be more careful, give the card back, and send them on their way. The other option is potentially more perilous. The enforcement officer can issue the ticket or make the arrest in spite of the courtesy card. This is called writing over the card. There is a chance that the officer who issued the card will understand why the enforcement officer did what he did, and nothing will come of it. However, it is equally possible that the enforcement officers zeal will not be appreciated, and the enforcement officer will come to work one day to find his locker has been moved to the parking lot and filled with dog excrement.

A NYTimes article discusses the case of Mathew Bianchi, a traffic cop who got sick of letting dangerous speeders go when they presented their cards.

By the time he pulled over the Mazda in November 2018, drivers were handing Bianchi these cards six or seven times a day. (!!!, AT) [He gives the ticket]The month after he stopped the Mazda, a high-ranking police union official, Albert Acierno, got in touch. He told Bianchi that the cards were inviolable. He then delivered what Bianchi came to think of as the brother speech, saying that cops are brothers and must help each other out. That the cards were symbols of the bonds between the police and their extended family and friends. Bianchi was starting to view the cards as a different kind of symbol: of the impunity that came with knowing someone on the force, as if New Yorks rules didnt apply to those with connections. Over the next four years, he learned about the unwritten rules that have come to hold sway in the Police Department.

Bianchi is reassigned, given shit jobs, isnt promoted etc. Mayor Adams and police chief Chief Maddrey protect this utterly corrupt system.
King Mohammed VI has affirmed that democracy is not a ready-made recipe, nor is it a model to be imported but is rather a gradual, home-grown exercise that requires pluralism and diversity.

We firmly believe that democracy is not a ready-made recipe; nor is it a model to be imported. Rather, democracy is a gradual, home-grown exercise that requires pluralism and diversity, said the king in a Message addressed Wednesday to participants at a symposium commemorating the 60th anniversary of Moroccos first elected parliament.

Democracy is the result of interaction with the domestic environment and with the particularities of each country, without compromising on the universal standards of representative democracy, whose foundations include free and fair elections, the multi-party system and alternation in the exercise of political power, the Sovereign said.

The Moroccan parliamentary model is the result of a political vision which seeks the achievement of gradual and successive constitutional reforms, said the king, noting that the model also reflects a strong desire to ensure the participation of the nations active political, social, and economic forces.

In this vein, he recalled that Morocco was a pioneer in enshrining participatory and citizen-based democracy in the Constitution, together with the roles of civil society, emphasizing that the participatory approach has always been a standard practice in the major reforms our country has witnessed at key moments in its history, which is particularly rich in achievements and accomplishments.

The ultimate goal of this methodology, which reflects yet another aspect of Moroccan democracy and its unique character, remains the consolidation of the rule of law and the promotion of the institution-based state through the separation of powers and the accountability of public office holders, stressed the Sovereign, adding that the Kingdom was also pioneer in enshrining the right of male and female citizens to submit motions in the legislative field and petitions to public authorities, the expected aim of these measures being to enrich parliamentary work.

In the message that was read out by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the King highlighted the efforts made by Morocco since independence to consolidate representative democracy, which began with the involvement of the Nations living forces in the establishment of a National Advisory Council by the late King Mohammed V, the establishment of an institution-based state by late King Hassan II, while confirming the choices Morocco made for itself with regard to the multi-party system, representative democracy, freedom of organization and political affiliation, and freedom of opinion and expression. This was at a time when single-party ideology predominated in many countries of the world, he said.

Despite the profound changes which occurred at that time, the multi-party system was preserved, together with the uniqueness of the Moroccan model, thanks to the engagement of serious political parties, championing various societal projects, as well as a vigilant civil society and independent trade union organizations, underlined King Mohammed VI.

The Sovereign also stressed that the last quarter of the twentieth century was decisive in completing the construction of the nations democratic system and of bodies that were elected at the national and local levels, as the powers of national institutions were enhanced and major reforms became possible thanks to two important constitutional amendments introduced in 1992 and 1996, the return, since 1996, to the bicameral parliamentary system, the expansion of the prerogatives of elected institutions, in addition to laying down the foundations of regionalization.

The Sovereign affirmed that, since his accession to the throne he remained committed to the same approach and made sure major reforms in various political, social, economic and cultural fields are introduced.

The legislative institution was at the heart of these structural reforms, be it through the greater powers given to parliament, or the promotion of womens representation which grew steadily and significantly, in parliament as well as in various elected councils, the Sovereign noted, citing the implementation of a set of far-reaching reforms, culminating in the adoption of the 2011 Constitution which made it possible to launch several structural reforms, thereby consecrating the exceptional nature of the Moroccan reform model.

The Sovereign further underscored the crucial role of Parliament in disseminating democratic principles, upholding the rule of law, promoting a culture of participation and dialogue, and enhancing confidence in elected institutions.

In this respect, he said he is pleased to note the contribution the Moroccan Parliament has been making in terms of defending the countrys interests and just causes  including that of territorial integrity  and highlighting the various reforms and projects taking place in the Kingdom.

We also take pride in the fact that Moroccan parliamentary diplomacy has been playing a leading role in defending issues that are crucial for our African continentissues that feature high among our foreign policy priorities, underlined the Sovereign, adding that this policy is fully in line with the philosophy underpinning our diplomatic service, the foundations of which I set in place and which consist in non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, respecting their national and territorial integrity, contributing to maintaining peace and stability, and preventing and settling crises and conflicts by peaceful means.

Notwithstanding the accomplishments made, greater efforts are still needed to achieve the institutional, representative democracy which we want for our country, and which would be a credit to it, stressed the King, mentioning in this regard the most significant challenges which have to be addressed, notably the need to prioritize the higher interests of the nation and of the citizens over narrow partisan considerations and to improve ethical standards in parliamentary life through the adoption of a binding code of ethics in both Houses.

The Sovereign also stressed the need to achieve harmony between representative democracy and participatory democracy, enhance the profile of parliamentary elites and of elected officials, and ensure greater access of women and young people to representative bodies.

These are all critical issues that need to be successfully addressed, notably in the context of the major reforms and large-scale projects currently being implemented in Morocco. They will no doubt be instrumental in achieving greater progress and prosperity for the benefit of the Moroccan people, said the Sovereign.
At least three people were killed and two wounded on Tuesday January 16 in a suicide attack near the offices of the mayor of the Somali capital Mogadishu, according to police and witnesses.

The assailant, who was also killed, detonated a bomb outside a restaurant, police said in a statement. Among the victims were three dead and two wounded, it added. Witnesses said they saw the suicide bomber fleeing from the police just before the explosion.

A vehicle parked nearby caught fire after the blast, said witness Mohamud Halane. People are shocked, he said, adding that bodies were lying on the ground. The attack was not immediately claimed.

Mogadishu is a regular target of attacks by the jihadist Shebab group, which has been fighting the internationally-backed Somali federal government for over 16 years. These al-Qaeda-linked rebels controlled the capital until 2011, when they were driven out by African Union troops. But the Shebab are still present in vast rural areas of central and southern Somalia.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamouds government launched a major offensive against the Islamists in August 2022, but despite initial successes, operations carried out with the help of local militias have not prevented continued attacks on military and civilian targets. Last week, Somali military sources said they were looking for passengers from a UN helicopter captured by the Shebab after the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in central Somalia.

According to an internal UN memo to its staff in Somalia, nine people were on board the helicopter, and six may have been taken hostage. One passenger was killed, and two others are believed to be at large, according to the memo. The helicopter belonged to a private Ukrainian company, according to officials in Kiev.
Sudans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhanes army, announced on Tuesday January 16 that it was freezing relations with Igad, the East African regional bloc accused of violating Sudans sovereignty.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed () Igad of Sudans decision to cease collaboration and freeze its relations with the organization, said a statement from the ministry, which accused it of violating Sudans sovereignty.

Since April 15, the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of General Mohammed Hamdane Daglo have been at war for power in Sudan. According to an estimate by the NGO Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (Acled), more than 13,000 people have died in this conflict. In addition, more than seven million people have been displaced, according to the UN. The head of the RSF, a rival of General Burhane, has been making frequent trips to Africa in recent weeks and was invited by Igad to a meeting in Kampala, Uganda, on Thursday.

Inviting the head of the militia, the FSR, constitutes a dangerous precedent and violates the Igad Charter, the ministry added. For months, the Sudanese army and government have constantly denounced the partiality of the regional bloc and East African capitals.

Diplomatic efforts for peace negotiations, notably by the USA, Saudi Arabia, and, more recently, Igad, have so far failed. Generals Burhane and Daglo had previously teamed up to lead a putsch and oust civilians from power in October 2021, putting an end to two years of democratic transition.

Unable to gain the upper hand since the start of the war, both sides are stalling, but neither intends to make any concessions at the negotiating table. On the ground, however, the RSF seems to be gaining new territory in the face of weak resistance from the army. They now control the streets of Khartoum, almost all of the vast western region of Darfur, and have penetrated the state of al-Jazira, in the east-central part of the country.
The celebrations for Amilcar Cabrals centenary kick off on Saturday January 20, with activities in Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau, and go around the world for the rest of the year, with events and initiatives presented on January 16 in the city of Praia.

Its the biggest challenge facing the Amilcar Cabral Foundation, said the institutions head, Pedro Pires, a former Cape Verdean President, in an allusion to the work, contacts, and cooperation actions that the global program requires.

The celebrations will be the sum of activities developed autonomously by various entities in Cape Verde and abroad to celebrate Amilcar Cabrals 100th birthday on September 12, 2024.

An international Colloquium on the historic leader of the liberation and independence movement of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde against the Portuguese colonial regime will be the highlight of the program, scheduled for the month of his birth.

But the first act of the centenary celebrations, said Pedro Pires, will take place this Saturday, January 20, the 51st anniversary of Amilcar Cabrals assassination in Conakry.

There will be an international Symposium dedicated to him in Bissau, while Praia will celebrate National Heroes Day with meetings, a march, and the premiere of a play, The Last Moon of the Big Man, by the companies Sikinada (Cape Verde) and Artimagem (Portugal).

In March 2024, an international Colloquium is planned in Luanda, and there are ongoing collaborations between the foundation and the Commemorative Commission for the 50th anniversary of April 25 in Portugal, as well as with the organization of the fiftieth anniversary of the release of political prisoners from Tarrafal (Santiago Island, Cape Verde).
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When a person has one or more blocked arteries, providers may choose to conduct a minimally invasive procedure known as percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI. By inflating a balloon and potentially placing a stent, they can help blood flow more freely from the heart.

Despite carrying less risk than open surgery, stenting and balloon angioplasty can result in complications like bleeding and kidney injury.

However, researchers at Michigan Medicine have now developed an AI-driven algorithm that accurately predicts death and complications after PCIwhich could emerge as a tool for clinicians as they determine treatment for blocked heart arteries.

The results are published in European Heart Journal.

"The risks for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention vary greatly depending on the individual patient, and both patients and clinicians have historically both over and underestimated the harms associated with PCI," said lead David E. Hamilton, M.D., a cardiology-critical care fellow at Michigan Medicine.

"Precise risk prediction is critical to treatment selection and the shared decision-making process. Our tool can recognize a wide array of outcomes after PCI and can be used by care providers and patients together to decide the best course of treatment."

While other risk stratification tools have been created to identify risk after PCI, researchers say, many have modest accuracy and were made without involving a key party: patients.

The Michigan Medicine team collected data from all adult patients who underwent PCI between April 2018 and the end of 2021 using the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium, or BMC2, registry.

The consortium is comprised of hospitals across the state of Michigan that use data they collect to inform quality projects, and improve care and patient outcomes.

Researchers used that dataincluding more than 20 pre-procedural characteristics, such as age, blood pressure and total cholesterolto create a risk prediction model with the machine learning software "XGBoost."

The AI-driven model showed high levels of accuracy at predicting death, major bleeding events and the need for blood transfusion. It outperformed other models that used the same pre-procedural characteristics.

"We combined the predictive model with patient feedback from the PCI Patient Advisory Council to transform machine learning into this patient-centered, individualized risk prediction tool," said senior author Hitinder Gurm, MBBS, interim chief medical officer at U-M Health.

"In the age of widespread smartphones and electronic medical records, this computerized risk score could be integrated into electronic health systems and made easy to use at the bedside. It would not only help relay complex information to the provider quickly, but it could also be used to enhance patient education on the risks related to PCI."

The innovative technology has been harnessed into a computer and phone application to allow for free and widespread use.

More information: David E Hamilton et al, Merging Machine Learning and Patient Preference: A Novel Tool for Risk Prediction of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions, European Heart Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad836 Journal information: European Heart Journal
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

"The American Nurses Association (ANA) continues to urge all eligible adults and children to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV), the flu, and if eligible, to receive a booster," the association announced in a news release. "The CDC reports that, while respiratory illness activity and the circulation of new variants is increasing across the United States, vaccination rates for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV remain low."

According to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total 1,167,210 people have died due to COVID-19 since Jan. 1, 2020. A total 35,801 people were hospitalized due to the virus in the past week alone, as the U.S. experiences a significant spike in cases.

"Additionally, the variant JN.1, which was detected only in September, accounts for 39% of cases according to pre-holiday reports from the CDC," ANA noted.

"Despite most hospitals and health care settings having eased or eliminated masking requirements last spring, some health systems are reinstating mask requirements to slow the spread of infection given rising cases of respiratory illnesses, hospitalizations, and even deaths across the United States."

ANA also called on nurses to help spread awareness about the importance of vaccination in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"ANA, in alignment with its longstanding position on immunizations, emphasizes that effective protection of public health requires that all individuals receive immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases," ANA president Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, Ph.D., MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, said in a press release.

"Considering increasing respiratory virus activity, ANA calls on nurses to continue to educate the public and support evidence informed prevention measures as their ethical duty to protect our patients and communities."

2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Ancestry: Does it influence people's views on race when they learn about their own DNA roots? Not much, according to a new research project.

"There would be no such thing as extremism in the world if people knew their heritage."

That's the message of a popular advert from Momondo and AncestryDNA. In fact, DNA ancestry tests are often marketed with the claim that these tests can promote the appreciation of racial and ethnic diversity by illuminating unknown roots of ancestors from other cultural backgrounds.

DNA ancestry tests have become wildly popular in just a few years. By 2019, 26 million home tests had already been sold worldwide. All it takes is less than $100, a saliva sample and a six-week wait to receive your unique profile.

White Americans under the microscope

While millions of people assume that they have now tested for their true racial or ethnic ancestry, the implications of this knowledge are largely unknown.

While DNA ancestry testing companies argue that these tests increase recognition of human diversity, researchers have hypothesized that DNA ancestry tests reinforce a perception of "race" as biologically meaningful and that this will lead to further racial segregation.

To test the two hypotheses, researchers from the US, Norway and Denmark conducted experiments in which white Americans took either fake or real DNA ancestry tests.

"For a variety of reasons, we focused on white Americans. This is the population group that makes the most use of DNA ancestry tests. At the same time, white Americans' support for the multicultural society is particularly low," explains Milan Obaidi, Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Copenhagen.

After the carefully controlled experiments, which took into account the subjects' expectations and reactions to the test results, the researchers conclude that both theories linking DNA ancestry tests to changing views on race and culture are wrong.

Facts about the study

The study is called "Finding your roots: Do DNA ancestry tests increase racial (in)tolerance?" and it is published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied. Behind it is an international research group that has tested various claims about the impact of DNA ancestry tests on people's views on racial and cultural differences.

As test subjects, the researchers chose selected groups of white Americans. The study shows no evidence that DNA ancestry tests change the test subjects' views on race and culture.

"We see no evidence of more or less racial tolerance among the study participantsregardless of what DNA results the participants expected, what results they actually received and their prior knowledge of genetics," says Milan Obaidi.

At first glance, the researchers find it surprising that DNA ancestry tests don't seem to affect people's views on race. One explanation can be found in a previous study of people's reactions to DNA ancestry results.

"It shows that very few people can fully embrace their new identity or engage in new cross-cultural interactions after gaining new insights into their DNA," mentions Milan Obaidi.

He and the other researchers urge companies that test DNA ancestry to exercise greater caution when advertising their products and when presenting their results to customers.

"Not only are millions of people being tested, but many of these individuals are sharing their results with friends and family, including on social media. In this way, any potential impact of DNA ancestry testing can extend far beyond the people being tested," he concludes.

More information: Sasha Y. Kimel et al, Finding your roots: Do DNA ancestry tests increase racial (in)tolerance?, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied (2023). DOI: 10.1037/xap0000488 Journal information: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied
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Digital breast tomosynthesis of the left breast showing a spiculated mass of increased density. Histology: Invasive lobular breast carcinoma grade 2. Credit: Uni MS/AG TOSYMA

Early detection of disease is considered positivebut what if it finds "too much?" While early diagnosis can improve the chances of recovery, early detection can also have a downside. After all, not everything that is found would have become life-threatening in the course of the disease.

The TOSYMA study, the world's largest randomized diagnostic superiority study on early breast cancer detection, has now investigated whether the innovative DBT+SM method for early breast cancer detection also has such an effectresults suggest advantages of the approach over the screening standard by finding more early tumor stages of tumor grades 2 and 3.

In diagnostics, finding more is not automatically better. Rather, it is about finding the right thingespecially in the case of such dangerous diseases as cancer. This is where early detection comes into play, but it can also have unwanted side effects: For example, there is a risk of also discovering non-aggressive tumors that lead to treatment but would not have substantively impaired quality of life or become life-threatening in the course of the disease.

TOSYMA is also about early detection. The study identified the goal of investigating and improving the systematic early detection of invasive breast cancer. The researchers at the University of Munster, who are managing the mammoth project, have now published new results from TOSYMA in the journal Radiology. These demonstrate the advantages of the innovative diagnostic approach.

A combination of DBTshort for Digital Breast Tomosynthesisand Synthetic 2D Mammography (SM) was used for the almost 100,000 TOSYMA study participants. The interdisciplinary study group led by Prof. Walter Heindel, Director of the Clinic for Radiology at the University Hospital Munster, compared the data obtained with the combined procedureknown as DBT+SMwith that from conventional screening with digital mammography (DM).

The result: DBT+SM leads to the detection of significantly more invasive breast cancers compared to the conventional DM procedure. However, this does not necessarily mean that women's health is improvedthe keyword here is overdiagnosis. In other words, it has been shown that DBT+SM "finds" breast cancer betterbut the task now was to investigate whether this can be expected to actually lead to an improvement for the affected breast cancer patients.

In an exploratory subanalysis, Prof. Stefanie Weigel, Prof. Walter Heindel and Prof. Hans-Werner Hense examined which tumors are frequently detected at an earlier stage of breast cancerand found that DBT+SM screening can detect relevant tumors, i.e., those thatin contrast to less aggressive variantsare potentially relevant for a reduction in breast cancer mortality.

Prof. Weigel concludes, "From the results of the subanalysis, we conclude that the higher rate of early tumor stages of tumor grades 2 and 3 through the use of DBT+SM could increase the screening effect with regard to breast cancer mortality"another 'plus point' for DBT+SM."

The next step is already in progress: This year, data from the cancer registries of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony will be evaluated for follow-up in order to further examine the screening effect of DBT+SM compared to the previous screening standard. The TOSYMA project began in 2016, comprises 17 screening units in Germany. The current funding period runs until 2025.

More information: Stefanie Weigel et al, Digital Breast Tomosynthesis versus Digital Mammography for Detection of Early-Stage Cancers Stratified by Grade: A TOSYMA Subanalysis, Radiology (2023). DOI: 10.1148/radiol.231533 Journal information: Radiology
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Resveratrol increases in vitro rhythmic gene mRNA expression of core clock components in human adipose-derived progenitor cells (APCs) from older participants. Credit: Aging (2024). DOI: 10.18632/aging.205292

A new research paper was published on the cover of Aging titled, "Effects of resveratrol on in vitro circadian clock gene expression in young and older human adipose-derived progenitor cells."

Observational studies in preclinical models demonstrate age-related declines in circadian functions. In this new study, researchers Sophie G.C. Kapar, Maria F. Pino, Fanchao Yi, Miguel A. Gutierrez-Monreal, Karyn A. Esser, Lauren M. Sparks, and Melissa L. Erickson from AdventHealth and the University of Florida hypothesized that age would be associated with declines in function of cell-autonomous circadian clocks in human tissue.

"Accordingly, we cultured adipose progenitor cells (APCs) from previously collected white-adipose tissue biopsies from abdominal subcutaneous depots of young (Age: 23.4  2.1 yrs) vs. older female participants (Age: 70.6  5.9 yrs)," the authors write.

Using an in vitro model, the researchers compared rhythmic gene expression profiles of core clock components as an indicator of circadian oscillatory function. They observed consistent circadian rhythmicity of core clock components in young and older-APCs. Expression analysis showed increased levels of some components in older-APCs (CLOCK, CRY1, NR1D1) vs. young.

Credit: Impact Journals LLC

The team also investigated resveratrol (RSV), a well-known longevity-enhancing effector, for its effects on rhythmic clock gene expression profiles. They found that RSV resulted in gained rhythmicity of some components (CLOCK and CRY), loss of rhythmicity in others (PER2, CRY2), and altered some rhythmic parameters (NR1D1 and NR1D2), consistent in young and older-APCs.

The observation of detectable circadian rhythmicity retained in vitro suggests that the oscillatory function of the cell-autonomous core clock in APCs is preserved at this stage of the aging process.

"RSV impacts core clock gene expression in APCs, implicating its potential as a therapeutic agent for longevity by targeting the core clock," the researchers conclude.

More information: Sophie G.C. Kapar et al, Effects of resveratrol on in vitro circadian clock gene expression in young and older human adipose-derived progenitor cells, Aging (2024). DOI: 10.18632/aging.205292

Provided by Impact Journals LLC
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One 10 ml vial of 1000 mg ketamine. Credit: Psychonaught/Wikipedia

Ketamine has been in the headlines recently, implicated in the high-profile death of "Friends" actor Matthew Perry in October. But can the powerful drug also be helpful to those suffering from opioid addiction?

A University of Virginia study shows evidence it can. A component of ketamine decreases the chances of relapse in male rats addicted to opioidswhich may be a sign the anesthetic can provide relief for humans as well, researchers say.

The component, r-ketamine, doesn't have ketamine's "dissociative" properties, meaning users don't feel detached from their physical bodies or environment, as is commonly experienced with the drug. It also removes the anesthetic properties, which can leave users desensitized and unaware.

Wendy Lynch, an associate professor in the School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences who served as the principal investigator on the study, said those findings may make r-ketamine safer to use as a potential therapeutic. The UVA-led research has been a collaboration with Perception Neuroscience Inc.

"I became interested in ketamine based on findings showing that even just one treatment can make lasting changes in brain regions implicated in addiction and other mental health disorders," Lynch said.

The study sought not only to investigate r-ketamine's efficacy, but also to understand how sex differences may apply in the rats' responses. Interestingly, male rats showed reduced drug cravings when treated with r-ketamine, but this effect was not found in female rats.

Lynch said the discrepancy requires further investigation to determine its reason. However, the finding is still a potential win-win. R-ketamine may one day be a treatment option for some people as opioid use continues to ravage the nation.

"More than 100,000 people have died in the past 12 months alone from drug overdoses," she said, "and opioids, particularly fentanyl, are the major culprits."

Lynch added other researchers are exploring the parent compound, ketamine, as a possible treatment for addiction. The results there, too, have been promising.

"Despite its dissociative effects and addiction potential, ketamine is seen as a safer option in terms of harm reduction compared to drugs like heroin and fentanyl, especially considering the overdoses from opioids," she said.

Lynch, who is affiliated with the UVA Brain Institute, emphasized that ketamine should only be administered under limited circumstances, and only under close medical supervision.
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Research revealed that diminished activities of an enzyme called TBK1 in mitochondrial-associated membrane (MAM) reduces motor neurons' tolerance to stressors, which is known to be causative factors in ALS. Credit: Reiko Matsushita

Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have discovered a relationship between the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and the disruption of mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM), the contact point between the mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the cell.

This discovery, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides important information about the mechanisms behind this neurodegenerative condition.

ALS is a complex disease that affects motor neurons. Previous studies have found that mitochondria, the energy-generating cells of the body, and the ER, a complex membrane network that serves protein synthesis, metabolism, and calcium storage, are involved. The MAM is where the ER interfaces with mitochondria. Although both mitochondria and ER abnormality, especially at the MAM, play a role in the progression of the disease, it is not clear how.

One possible agent is TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), an enzyme that plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including inflammation and clearing damaged proteins from cells. Its disruption is important in the development of many diseases. Although mutations in the TBK1 gene cause ALS, it is not clear how TBK1 malfunctions lead to its development.

A team led by Koji Yamanaka at Nagoya University's Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, in collaboration with Masahisa Katsuno of the Graduate School of Medicine, discovered that brain and spinal cord tissues in ALS patients, as well as mice with a disrupted MAM, showed decreased activation of TBK1.

Seiji Watanabe, the first author of the study, explained, "TBK1 is crucial for stress response in motor neurons. If we reduce its activity, it will result in reduced tolerance to stressors, leading to neurotoxicity and eventual motor neuron death. This finding is particularly significant because abnormal protein accumulation and the resulting stress cause ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases."

When MAM is disrupted in ALS, TBK1 activity decreases. When the researchers administered arsenite, an agent that lowers TBK1 activity and disrupts MAM, to mice, they found that the mice exhibited motor problems similar to ALS.

Yamanaka added, "Our study strongly suggests that MAM significantly influences the stress response of motor neurons through TBK1 activation. Our study is consistent with human genetic studies that reported that TBK1 mutations cause ALS. Restoring TBK1 activity emerges as a potential therapeutic strategy to counter ALS, marking a promising direction for future research endeavors."

By focusing on the TBK1 pathway, the researchers have found a critical foundation for developing new ways to treat ALS and possibly other brain disorders. "We expect these results to lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for ALS in the future," said Yamanaka. "In future projects, restoring the TBK1 activity (or function) may be a therapeutic strategy to treat ALS."

More information: Seiji Watanabe et al, Mitochondria-associated membrane collapse impairs TBK1-mediated proteostatic stress response in ALS, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315347120 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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Central Illustration. Credit: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.11.014

If you've listened to the radio or opened a webpage in the past year, you may have seen or heard ads promoting lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), testing to help people identify risks for heart disease.

But, what is Lp(a)? Most importantly: should you get your levels tested?

Lp(a) is a type of lipid, or fat, in the body that contains and is similar in structure to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often thought of as "bad cholesterol." Like LDL cholesterol, Lp(a) deposits cholesterol in the arteries and can show up in plaque. It's also found in cells that line small blood vessels and in tissues where regeneration and healing occur.

"There is a lot of intrigue about it," said Sotirios Tsimikas, M.D., an Lp(a) researcher and professor of medicine at the University of California San Diego. "Is it just an error of evolution that became very common? Does it have a physiological function? We don't know."

The lipoprotein's composition, which includes other lipoproteins, has also made it a prime research target. "Lp(a) is more complex than LDL," said Lijuan Liu, Ph.D., a program officer specializing in lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis in the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at NHLBI.

"It seems to have all the same bad features as LDL," added Alan T. Remaley, M.D., Ph.D., a senior investigator in NHLBI's Lipoprotein Metabolism Laboratory, "but some extra harmful features that we don't fully understand." For example, he explained that Lp(a) acts as a molecule that supports clotting, and this, among other features, appears to make it even worse than LDL as a risk marker for cardiovascular disease.

Here's more of what researchers have found about Lp(a) and what studies may soon reveal:

Elevated Lp(a) levels are a cardiovascular disease risk factor

For decades increased Lp(a) levels have been linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. This now includes heart attack, stroke, and a range of conditions like irregular heart rhythms, heart valve disease, and limited lower-body circulation.

The connections crystalized in the late 1990s when researchers, like those in Tsimikas' lab, started seeing more patients with elevated Lp(a) levels who needed coronary revascularizations, a procedure to restore blood flow to and around the heart.

Around the same time, the researchers learned about how Lp(a) was linked to inflammation, which tracked with what they saw at the hospital. Genetic studies soon found that some people had different expressions of the LPA gene, which could increase their risk of having elevated Lp(a) levels.

Today, about 20-30% of people worldwide are estimated to have elevated Lp(a) levels, which are generally thought to start between 30-50 mg/dL.

Tsimikas explained that Lp(a) is likely the leading inherited risk for cardiovascular disease. "It's more heritable than hypertension, diabetes, and obesity," he said. However, "Even if the level is elevated, it doesn't mean you will have an event. It just puts you at a higher risk."

Preventive screenings are increasingly used to gauge risks

Reassuringly, most peopleabout 70-75%would have low Lp(a) levels if they were screened today, said Tsimikas. Preventive screenings are designed to identify the smaller proportion of people with elevated levels.

In the U.S., Lp(a) testing is recommended for people younger than age 65 who have had a heart attack, those with a family history of premature heart disease, and those with elevated LDL cholesterol who haven't responded to statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs that can lower LDL levels by about 30%.

Since elevated Lp(a) levels are largely due to genetic risks and don't fluctuate much in response to modifiable risks, such as exercise, a one-time screening would be sufficient for most people, the experts noted. In Europe and Canada, Lp(a) screenings are recommended for everyone.

Large clinical trials are testing Lp(a)-lowering therapies

Currently, if a person has elevated Lp(a) levels, they would likely work with their physician to create a plan to take steps to support heart-healthy living and minimize any risks, such as having high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Some patients may also consider taking LDL cholesterol-lowering treatments, such as statins or PCSK9 inhibitors. In some cases, PCSK9 inhibitors have been shown to lower Lp(a) levels by about 20-30%. Lipoprotein apheresis, which removes excess Lp(a) and LDL cholesterol from the body, is another option, but for people with higher risks.

Researchers are also studying targeted approaches to lower Lp(a) and approaches to support patients further. Tsimikas is studying aspirin's effect in reducing inflammation in people with elevated Lp(a) levels. Additionally, other research, conducted through a large phase 3 trial is testing if a medication can lower Lp(a) levels.

Another trial is studying how to block its production. Results from both studies will be available in about two to three years.

A secondary focus of ongoing Lp(a) research is to identify if and when benefits occur at different points of intervention. Participants in the phase 3 studies have Lp(a) levels between 70-80 mg/dL. Future studies may find lowering Lp(a) to levels below 50 mg/dL or 20-30 mg/dL has benefits, but it's too early to tell, said Tsimikas. "We'll have to let the science drive us to decide at what Lp(a) level we should start thinking about treating Lp(a) as a risk factor," he explained.

"We're hopeful," Tsimikas said about the research. This is why he often tells parents he meets who have a young child with elevated Lp(a) levels to stay optimistic. "I tell them that by the time your 7-year-old has to worry about this, we'll have a way to treat it."
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Every year an estimated 20 million babies worldwide are born with low birth weight, according to the World Health Organization, leading to a wide range of significant short- and long-term consequences. Though you may think the obvious answer is greater emphasis on food and nutrition for pregnant women, leading McGill University researchers are proposing an unexpected solution: the cellphone.

Their work is published in the journal PLOS ONE.

"Our evidence shows that when women in low income or under-developed regions have access to their own mobile phone, they have healthier pregnancies and healthier babies at birth," said Luca Maria Pesando, an adjunct professor in McGill's Department of Sociology and Associate Professor of Social Research and Public Policy at New York University (AD). "Phones open up a whole range of possibilities for knowledge that were not possible a decade ago."

Based on the findingswhich also shed light on the importance of ensuring strong Internet and cellphone connectivity for those living in rural and remote communities in Canada, Pesando is now calling on governments, policy makers and phone companies to make cellphones and data plans more accessible, especially in regions where low birth weights are most prevalent.

More information: Luca Maria Pesando et al, Mobile phones and infant health at birth, PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288089 Journal information: PLoS ONE
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Credit: Kyle Reed and Moterum Technologies Inc.

In a rural village near Guadalajara, Mexico, Maria Magdalena Valencia Juares, known as Elena, has to climb 120 stairs to get to her home on the top of a hill. It's a source of exercise for the 70-year-old and the connection to her longtime community below. But a stroke in 2021 left her isolated in her 1,000-square-foot home. Her feet, too unsteady for stairs; her state of mind, declining with the compounded loneliness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Valencia Juares wasn't formally educated, so her world depends on social interaction. However, the muscle weakness caused by her stroke and the risk of falling made that difficult to obtain. Her family lives thousands of miles away, her daughter Noemi Armenta in Los Angeles, and her unofficially adopted daughter, KC Hostetler, in Alaska. They saw from afar the toll Valencia Juares's stroke was having on her mental health and started searching for solutions in the United States.

"I had not been able to get back to Mexico because of COVID, so it had been a while since I was able to see her," Hostetler said. "By the time I reached her, she was in a really tough spot mentally and she was in a depression. We talked about how we can fix this, and she said she needed something that could stabilize her leg."

"Before the iStride treatment, I was isolated. Every day was a struggle, and I became desperate and very sad," Valencia Juares said. "I taught myself to get around the best I could so that I could try to do chores. I felt like such a burden. It was very hard."

Hostetler found information online about the iStride device, invented and patented by Kyle Reed, associate professor of mechanical engineering at USF, and licensed by Moterum Technologies Inc. The iStride is a portable, lightweight device designed for stroke patients that helps improve their walking ability. It straps over the patient's shoe on the good side of their body and the specially designed wheels generate a corrective motion during each step. Repeated use results in the stroke-impacted leg getting stronger and an improved gait once the shoe is removed.

After months of coordination, Hostetler and Armenta brought their mother to North Carolina to get therapy on the iStride device. They practiced what many take for grantedshifting from a sitting to standing position and walking. They walked up and down the halls over and over again on the iStride device, soon able to walk without a cane.

"The iStride gait device challenges the wearer by destabilizing the unimpaired leg, promoting increased use of the affected side," Reed said. "This changes the gait pattern so walking becomes easier after each session with an increased gait speed and reduction in gait asymmetry."

Credit: Molly Menchen, University Communications and Marketing

After about a month of therapy on the iStride, Valencia Juares returned home to Mexico, climbed all 120 stairs, and danced ecstatically when she got to the top.

"She was dancing. She hasn't danced in years, and being able to express that sense of joy since her incident has been really amazing," Hostetler said. "It's been amazing to see that transformation, she's much more like the person we knew before the stroke."

Valencia Juares's success story is far from anecdotal. Reed just published a study in the academic journal Frontiers in Neurology that examined the long-term impact of the iStride on gait speed in stroke survivors. The research team worked with 18 individuals who suffered a stroke, averaging within the last five years. Each patient received three, 30-minute therapy sessions a week for four weeks and had their gait checked several times over the course of the following year.

The results were rapid, with gait speed up an average of 50% within one month of starting therapy. What's even more remarkable, the improvements remained mostly unchanged one year after the iStride therapy sessions concluded. The average patient is now walking 0.21 meters per second faster than they were before the start of the study, averaging 0.74 meters per second. According to the National Institutes of Health, the walking speed of an average healthy adult ranges between 0.9 and 1.3 meters per second.

Reed says this is one of the greatest improvements ever recorded in an academic journal that's focused on enhancing gait speed in stroke survivors. He's published several related studies since he patented the iStride a few years agoone dedicated to using the iStride at homebut this was by far the toughest paper to place.

"The paper was initially rejected because one of the early reviewers stated that the gait speed improvement was way beyond what had previously been reported in the literature," Reed said. "Showing the reviewers videos of the subjects walking before and after therapy helped them understand the dramatic difference."

"Moterum is shifting the paradigm of stroke. Hope is a powerful tool," said Lauren S. Rashford, president of Moterum Technologies. "Providing personalized journeys and meeting each patient where they are at allows us to create a relationship that has been proven to instill and expand hope in each life."

More information: Brianne Darcy et al, One-year retention of gait speed improvement in stroke survivors after treatment with a wearable home-use gait device, Frontiers in Neurology (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1089083 Journal information: Frontiers in Neurology
In Missoula Police Captain Matt Stonesifers office, a small yellow brick sits on a high shelf behind his desk.

It's a testament to the 6-mile obstacle course known as the Yellow Brick Road, which Stonesifer completed at the FBI National Academy, a 10-week intensive training course in Quantico, Virginia. He graduated on Dec. 7.

It had always been a goal, Stonesifer said. I had heard from other law enforcement leadership, who I consider to be mentors, that its a program of the highest caliber and the greatest level of opportunity for those in leadership positions in public safety.

Its an opportunity afforded to less than 1% of U.S. law enforcement personnel, he said. For 10 weeks, Stonesifer hunkered down at the Quantico FBI facility  the same place where new FBI agents are trained, Stonesifer noted, and also where scenes in Silence of the Lambs were filmed.

Stonesifer completed collegiate-level coursework in behavioral science, communications, crisis leadership and best practices in public safety. Some of the classes Stonesifer selected in the academys Behavioral Analysis Unit focused on dissecting criminal profiles.

It didnt disappoint, Stonesifer said.

Another course gave students the chance to learn from high level case studies and analyses of major events. It included tools to help law enforcement address and mitigate threats of violent attacks, he recalled.

For higher profile cases, like the 2017 Las Vegas concert shooting, the FBI conducts long-term, in-depth evaluations to find out as much as they can about what happened and what could have been prevented, Stonesifer explained.

Stonesifer and his classmates saw a debrief of the Las Vegas shooting, which killed 60 people and wounded hundreds.

We were able to take a deep dive into what was going on in the offenders life prior to (the event) and whether there were things law enforcement missed, Stonesifer said.

The academy incorporated recreational and health and wellness training, too.

Stonesifer said networking was one of the biggest benefits from the academy.

I now have almost 200 classmates I can lean on for analytical, technical or investigation support across the world, he said. Students hailed from law enforcement agencies across 24 different countries, including Somalia, Pakistan, Mexico and Belgium.

Theres a lot of crossover around the world in policing and public safety and law enforcement, he said.

Stonesifer is one of four FBI academy graduates employed at the Missoula Police Department, including Chief Mike Colyer.

Stonesifer has been with MPD since 2009 and has about 18 years in the field of public safety under his belt. In Missoula, hes worked as a detective, patrol supervisor and commander of the Missoula Drug Task Force.

A total of 54,763 graduates have completed the FBI academy since its inception in 1935, according to an MPD news release.

More than anything, Stonesifer said, his time in Quantico gave him the chance to distance himself a little from the daily work at MPD and get a birds eye view of local agencies, practices and law enforcement as a whole.

Taking that step back can be tremendously valuable, he said.
Numerous school staff at districts across Montana, including Missoula County Public Schools, received an email threat Tuesday night, according to press release from the district.

The threat is not believed to be credible.

"MCPS is aware of a threat made by email that was sent to numerous individuals, including staff of school districts in Montana, on Tuesday evening," the release said. "Several MCPS staff also received the email. We are in communication with our partners in law enforcement."

The district notified staff and families Tuesday night that it planned to continue with the regular school schedule on Wednesday.

"There will be an increased law enforcement presence at our schools tomorrow," the Tuesday night release said. "MCPS does have procedures in place that guide our response in the event of a threat. The safety of our school communities is our No. 1 priority."

The district said the email did not specify or name a specific school or school district and law enforcement believe it's a hoax.

MCPS directed members of the school community to visit the MCPS Emergency Response guidelines online at mcpsmt.org/Page/9352 or email questions or concerns to safeschools@mcpsmt.org.
ANACONDA  Commissioners for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County voted unanimously Tuesday night to create an Urban Wildlife Management Task Force.

Commissioner Tom Gallagher suggested adding specific references to the wildlife in question to avoid contemplating the circumstances of mosquitoes and other pesky critters. Chairman Kevin Hart said the task force will decide which species to highlight.

The new group will ponder whether a wildlife management plan is needed for Anaconda and surrounding communities and, if a need is confirmed, will offer recommendations.

The first step will be appointing people to serve on the nine-member task force. Ultimately, the panels recommendations could affect a habituated population of mule deer in Anaconda and suggest tactics for managing trash-raiding black bears in town or elk that roam near Opportunity.

Some residents think of the mule deer as cute, while others see them as pests.

The task forces deliberations will be informed by input from the public, wildlife advocates, staff with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and wildlife management plans already adopted by other Montana communities, including Philipsburg.

At least a dozen communities in Montana have developed plans to try to control ungulates within town and city limits. Last year, Brian Wakeling, game management bureau chief for FWP, described the legal foundation for such plans.

The statute that allows these plans to be developed and implemented require that the action is tied to public safety  generally aggressive deer or unsafe conditions that result from their presence, Wakeling said.

Marching orders for the task force include examining any correlation between Anacondas urban wildlife and five surrounding FWP wildlife management areas, including Garrity Mountain, Mount Haggin, Blue Eyed Nellie, Stucky Ridge and Warm Springs.

According to the ordinance adopted Tuesday by commissioners, the task force will report its findings no sooner than four months and no later than eight months from its first meeting.

Concerns about habituated mule deer in Anaconda spiked after a mule deer buck killed this fall in a hunting district near Anaconda was determined to be suffering from chronic wasting disease, or CWD.

CWD is a contagious neurological disease that can infect deer, elk and moose. It is always fatal. There is no known cure. The disease was first found in Montanas wild herds in 2017.

The disease is not known to infect humans. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people not eat meat from infected animals and have the animals tested before eating if killed in an area where CWD is known to exist.

The congregating urban deer also increase the risk of spreading CWD.

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and the National Deer Association conducted a poll last year about CWD management. The two non-profits reported that 88% of Americans polled support additional federal investment in CWD management at the state level.

In April 2021, Julie Golla, then the Upper Clark Fork Wildlife Biologist for FWP, said the urban deer population was worrisome.

Its just a matter of time before trouble happens, Golla said then.

In May 2021, an Anaconda resident got a photo of a mountain lion nonchalantly strolling down an alley. It had killed and partially consumed a mule deer before caching it. FWP later confirmed the deer had been killed by a mountain lion.

Such events are rare. But nobody wants to lose a cat, a poodle or a loved one to a stalking cougar.

Biologists say wildlife sometimes gathers in cities and towns for a host of reasons: People feed them; predators are reluctant to follow; the plowed streets and shoveled sidewalks offer an alternative to deep snow and more.

Feeding deer is against the law.

Not only is it illegal, but feeding deer can render them dependent upon artificial food sources, attract mountain lions, result in deer-caused damage on neighboring properties, increase deer/car collisions, and (the person feeding) could be held legally liable for any problems or damage caused by the deer on neighboring property, FWP cautions.
A Helena firearms manufacturer announced Friday he plans to invest nearly $50 million into his company in the next 10 years and grow his workforce from 12 to nearly 60 employees.

And there are plans for more growth and investment.

Michael Merino, president of Olympus Arms Inc., discussed his companies' goals and firearms during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Cole Avenue business attended by Gov. Greg Gianforte, who earlier in the morning tested Olympus Vulcan Recoilless Rifle.

There are plans to develop a high-tech industrial park in Helena and a facility where Olympus can manufacture the Vulcan and associated companies will invest nearly $150 million and add nearly 200 employees over the next decade.

The Vulcan is described as a modular, multi-caliber firearm, using recoil action, that can be configured as either a rifle, carbine or pistol.

The rifle, which retails for $3,857, can be converted to fire other calibers with a 60-second, no-tool barrel change.

The long-barrel .308 version of the Vulcan was named the new firearm of the year at the 2023 SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade) show in Las Vegas, Merino said. He said it can be used for military purposes or as a sporting rifle. Developing the Vulcan was a 15-year endeavor. Merino said he is expecting excitement when he returns to the SHOT show Jan. 2326 and will seek "serious" purchase orders. The current price of the rifle is only good for orders placed prior to the SHOT show, after which it will increase.

"This is one of the most innovative rifles I have seen in a while, Gianforte said while touring the Olympus plant.

Olympus is one of three entities of Merino Enterprises, which includes Blue Sky Inventors Inc. and Mars Inc. Blue Sky did the research and development of the Vulcan. It was based in St. George, Utah, and moved to Montana in 2023. A media packet provided by Olympus described Blue Sky as a world class precision machine shop 

Mars Inc. was described as having a relationship with the U.S. Army, stating it recently provided versions of the Vulcan for testing. It also works with law enforcement and allied military.

According to a fact sheet provided by Olympus on Friday, as Blue Sky grows it expects to invest up to $100 million and have 150 employees in its research, design and business innovation efforts over the next 10 years.

Mars Inc. expects to invest up to $50 million in capital and have nearly 50 employees over the next 10 years.

Merino said he starts his workers at $20 an hour and hopes they stay and the job becomes a longtime career.

Merino said he is an Army veteran, inventor and entrepreneur. He is a Montana native in Melrose. He enlisted in the Army at 19. He was asked why his business is located in Helena.

I live here, this is my home, he said. This is where I served in the military and my kids go to school. This is where I want to be.

Gianforte thanked Merino and his employees for their investment in Montana.

He said they are building on a very strong firearms and ammunition industry in Montana. The governor said the state is home to more 150 firearms and ammunitions businesses, the highest per capita in the country.

We are thrilled to have you here, he said.

Were just happy to be here and thank you for all the opportunities, Merino said.

There was other firearms news this week in Montana.

Brixtel Defense, a Virginia-based ammunition company, on Wednesday announced it decided to build a $125 million facility in Glendive. The expansion is expected to create hundreds of jobs. Nearly 350 jobs are expected to be created by 2028.

Editor's note: Updates to say current price of rifle is only good on orders placed prior to SHOT show.
Editors note: This story from former Gazette reporter Ed Kemmick was first published in 2006. Questions raised in the article are still being debated.

Beneath the signature of William Clark etched into the sandstone at Pompeys Pillar National Monument, an interpretive sign explains the significance of the artifact.

It reads: The ground on which Clark stood has weathered away but his signature has not. Because of this remaining physical evidence, the site is one of the few places along the entire Lewis and Clark Trail where you can be assured of standing in the footsteps of William Clark and other members of the Expedition.

No one is likely to challenge the second part of that statement, since Clark wrote in his journal on July 25, 1806, that he carved his name and date on the remarkable rock.

The first sentence, however, is not entirely true. Capt. Clarks signature is clear and easily legible now, but only because it has been restored and deepened  or possibly re-created  on at least two occasions, and possibly three or four.

Nearly obliterated

The signature hasnt always been so legible. Nearly 125 years ago, one writer said Clarks handiwork had become nearly obliterated, and 100 years ago another writer described it as now hard to decipher. Most intriguing of all, a National Geographic writer who followed the Lewis and Clark Trail down the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers in the 1920s stopped at Pompeys Pillar and said he failed to find any trace of the letters themselves.

Of course, the sandstone landmark is historically important for more than just Clarks signature, as we were reminded during the four-day Signature Event at Pompeys Pillar in July. In the words of Dick Kodeski, manager of the monument for the BLM, the pillar has long been a crossroads of people, places and cultures.

Still, as the three-year commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition nears its end  the final Signature Event will be Sept. 20-24 in St. Louis, Mo.  it is worth asking what we are really looking at when we see Clarks signature, described by one authority as the only surviving physical evidence of the expedition along its route.

Delving into history

That question and others have been raised by John Phillips, who worked as a Bureau of Land Management ranger at Pompeys Pillar from 1996 to 2003 and who now works for the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks at Bannack State Park in southwestern Montana.

Interesting story

Phillips said hes not trying to rain on anybodys bicentennial parade. He just happens to believe the convoluted, contradictory, inconclusive history of Clarks signature is at least as interesting as the signature itself.

Phillips, who earned a degree in history before working as a ranger, tour guide and Clark re-enactor at Pompeys Pillar, said his interest in the signature grew naturally.

For me, it was working there and developing my own tour of the rock and learning as I went along, he said. There was no ax to grind for me or anything.

He had plenty of time to read, particularly during the two years when he pitched a tent near the pillar and lived on site from March through November. He read everything he could find regarding Clark on the Yellowstone and accounts of the subsequent history of the

Yellowstone Valley. As he read, he kept stumbling upon odd stories and surprising revelations, including evidence that the Clark signature had perhaps worn away to nothing at least once, and had been heavily refurbished on several occasions.

He thought it was important to be able to tell the deeper story of the pillar, especially since he would occasionally deliver his spiel to visitors who had done their own research and asked pointed questions about possible restorations of the signature.

Phillips kept gathering materials, thinking he would get around to writing up his own findings and conclusions someday, but the project just kind of fell by the wayside. Ive been out playing Clark and running around and just trying to make a living.

It was during a chance meeting with a reporter during the Signature Event at Pompeys Pillar that Phillips mentioned his research and suggested the subject might be a fitting one to look into during the waning days of the bicentennial commemoration.

Preservation efforts noted

Although public materials at the pillar dont acknowledge the restoration the Clark signature has undergone, it has been officially recognized by the BLM. In 2001, the federal agency commissioned Linda Olson of Minot State University in North Dakota to document all the rock art, including Clarks signature, on Pompeys Pillar.

After several years of research, Olson and her assistant produced a fivevolume study that meticulously documented some 2,000 separate names, dates, initials, graffiti and pictographs on 147 panels on the monument.

A steady stream of trappers, surveyors, soldiers, settlers, ranchers, farmers, and even picnickers engraved their names on Pompeys Pillar, Olson said in the report. They left no accessible section of the butte untouched.

A lengthy section of the report details the documented history of the Clark signature and concludes: Likely, Clarks signature only survived through intervention.

What no one can say with any certainty is how substantial that intervention has been. Olsons report notes that James Stuart, a brother to prominent Montana pioneer Granville Stuart, visited the pillar in 1863 and saw the names of two other members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition  Sgt. York and Pvt. Shannon  carved in the rock near Clarks signature. Yet no trace of those signatures remains.

In 1875, according to a biographer of steamboat captain Grant Marsh, Marsh viewed Clarks inscription and found it to be as clearly defined as when chiseled there by the illustrious explorer, sixty-nine years before. Olsons report said an article in the Billings Gazette, the date of which was given only as 1940, asserted that soldiers from Ft. Buford could have recarved the signature in 1875, before Marsh saw it.

Another description of the signature was made by E.S. Topping in his book The Chronicles of the Yellowstone. The book was published in 1883, but Topping gave no indication in the book when he last saw Pompeys Pillar. All he said is that the signature and date engraved by Clark by the vicissitudes of weather and vandalism have become nearly obliterated.

Protection from vandals

There must have been considerable damage and graffiti, because in 1882, Col. J.B. Clough, an engineer with the Northern Pacific Railway, had a heavy iron screen made and placed over the signature to protect it from further damage. An article in the Great Falls Tribune on Dec. 12, 1954, reported that when the grate was placed over the site, the signature was engraved a bit deeper in the rock to offset the erosion that occurred. No documentation was given for that claim.

In The Trail of Lewis and Clark, published in 1904, author Olin D. Wheeler said the railroads protection was needed because the name is now hard to decipher, for the irrepressible fool has been there, and has scratched and cut his names all around it, and even over some of the letters between the lines.

Vandals and thoughtless visitors, however, werent responsible for all the damage. As Olson says in her report, the panel on which Clark carved his name has experienced severe wind and water erosion as the cliff face is directly below a water channel. Nearly all the higher elements are completely eroded away because of sheet wash.

The next milestone in the history of the signature occurred in 1926 and involved the best-documented restoration work done on the site. It was reported in The Gazette on Oct. 13 that year that the Shining Mountain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution had prevailed on the Northern Pacific to deepen the inscription.

Due to weather conditions  the sandstone has been gradually wearing away and Clarks handwriting was in danger of being entirely obliterated, the story said. As a result, the railway authorized the hiring of the Billings Marble and Granite Works to cut the letters deeper.

The story ended on this confusing note: The deepening of the letters has restored the inscription to its original state and it can now be easily read from the railroad tracks. What that could possibly mean no one knows. The railroad tracks, then as now, are several hundred yards south of the pillar, and Clarks signature is on a north-facing side of the pillar.

Another reference to the D.A.R. restoration appeared in the Oct. 25, 1926, Billings Times, which reported that Clarks name had become quite obscured but the railroad recently rechiseled the inscription deeply in the rock.

Article sparks questions

At any rate, it was the 1926 restoration that really piqued John Phillips interest. In his researches, Phillips came across an article in the July 1928 National Geographic by Lewis R. Freeman titled Trailing History Down the Big Muddy. Freeman followed the path of the Lewis and Clark Expedition from Livingston to St. Louis in a folding steel skiff and wrote a lengthy account of his adventures.

After quoting from Clarks journals about what the explorer saw from the top of Pompeys Pillar (which Clark actually named Pompys Tower), Freeman wrote: Add the telegraph poles of a distant railway and a picnic booth littered with watermelon rinds, and Clarks description of what was unrolled to him from the top of Pompeys Pillar would stand to-day. I located the place where his name had been carved, by a grating which the Northern Pacific engineers had erected to protect it from vandals; but I failed to find any trace of the letters themselves.

At first, Phillips couldnt understand how that could possibly be, since the D.A.R. deepening project had taken place in 1926. But then he noticed that Freeman gives no indication as to when he piloted his skiff down the Yellowstone. The article says he embarked on the last day of June and the journey took two months, so it couldnt have been undertaken in 1928.

If it wasnt 1928, it could have been 1927, or even earlier. A researcher at the National Geographic Society recently said, in response to inquiries from The Gazette, that he had not been able to ascertain when Freeman made the trip.

What if Freeman visited the pillar in the summer of 1926, and what if somebody locally learned that he found no trace of the signature and intended to report that in National Geographic? Enter the D.A.R. and the Northern Pacific  and a restoration of the signature by the fall of 1926.

Phillips doesnt question the motives of any of the people who restored the signature.

People thought they were doing a good thing by making us think it was always there, he said. At the same time, they lost other parts of the history.

Some of what was lost were the other inscriptions around and intertwined with Clarks name. In addition to the deepening, some of the restoration work also included erasure. Most of the sandstone now preserved under a glass plate has been rubbed clean of anything but Clarks inscription.

Phillips concluded that the D.A.R.-sponsored engraving was more of an extreme reproduction than a restoration. My guess is that it was pretty substantial of complete renovation, he said.

Another touchup

After the 1926 deepening, the signature apparently underwent at least one more deepening. The area around the pillar was originally owned by Henry Macer, who sold it to Martin Tschida in 1924. Don and Stella Foote began leasing the land from Tschida in 1953 and purchased it outright in 1955. The Great Falls Tribune published in 1954 centered on the Footes plans to preserve the signature and make the pillar into a tourist attraction.

The Tribune reported: As the Footes develop the site, they propose to remove the iron grille, carve the name deeper again, then to place a shatter-proof glass over the signature in a bronze frame securely anchored to the rock.

Stella Foote said the signature was still legible when she and her late husband replaced the grille with the bronze and glass casement. She also said she doubts the deepening was ever more than a touch-up.

Im sure it was never totally gone because there are too many records of people who said they saw it, she said. At first Foote said she couldnt recall whether she and her husband had the signature restored, but then she said they probably did, adding, but Im sure we had somebody good who would respect the historical integrity of the artifact.

Kodeski, the monument manager for the BLM, said he believes the signature was only enhanced a little bit, as it had to be to preserve it.

Its just like the Sistine Chapel, he said. It couldnt stay there without a little restorative work.

Gary Leppart is a former president of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation and a retired BLM employee who worked on the agencys acquisition of the monument from the Foote family in 1991. He said authenticity is in the eye of the beholder.

It depends on the individual, he said. When Im in a museum, I want to see old things. And when it comes to Lewis and Clark, hed rather see actual artifacts than reproductions of boats, clothing and other equipment. But the signature is in a class by itself.

Ive known for years that the signature has been enhanced at least two times, and it hasnt really bothered me, he said. If it hadnt been enhanced, it wouldnt be there. There wouldnt be anything there.

Leppart believes the signature was never erased entirely. He figures there was always enough left of the letters that later restorers could follow Clarks original grooves.

Kodeski said debating the degree of authenticity in Clarks signature is a little like arguing over the correct spelling of Lewis and Clarks Shoshone interpreter, alternately known as Sacagawea, Sacajawea and Sakakawea. BLM employees dont tell people how to spell the name, Kodeski said; if somebody makes a case for one spelling or another, they respond, Thats certainly a good starting point for discussion.

Clarks signature, whatever its history, is too important a landmark to ignore. K. Ross Toole, one of the states premier historians, wrote in 1956 that Montana has no more legitimate historic site than Pompeys Pillar.

Linda Olson, in her report for the BLM, concluded, The value of the Clark signature, even with the vagaries of its conservation and preservation, is indisputable.

Maybe the last word should be had by Stella Foote, whose family did so much to preserve the signature. Even those who cant share her optimism might admire her enthusiasm. She said the bronze case and shatterproof glass she and her husband installed provide valuable protection for the signature.

Im sure it will stay that way forever now, she said.
Visitors listen to a speaker inside the Mt. Zion AME Church which houses The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum in Skillman. The church will receive $50,000 to $200,000 in funding to create programming for the community. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

In celebration of the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the National Trust for Historic Preservations African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is commemorating the occasion by granting $4 million in its second round of Preserving Black Churches grants.

We created the Preserving Black Churches program to ensure the historic Black churchs legacy is told and secured. That these cultural assets can continue to foster community resilience and drive meaningful change in our society, said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.

Two churches in New Jersey were among 31 grant recipients. Mt. Zion AME Church and Jacobs Chapel AME Church will receive funds ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 from the $4 million endowment. The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) in Skillman also received a grant.

We have applied for this grant before and were really proud to be a recipient this year, said Donnetta Johnson, who serves as the executive director of the Stoutsburg museum. This really allows us to celebrate the African American Methodist Episcopal church thats right here on our property, which was preserved by Somerset County.

Black churches serve as enduring pillars of faith, resilience, and accomplishment within communities throughout America. These sacred places have birthed movements, served as planning grounds for change, and provided refuge for those in search of solace.

Black churches have been at the forefront of meaningful democratic reform since this nations founding. Theyre a living testament to the resilience of our ancestors in the face of unimaginably daunting challenges, said Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., historian and advisor to the Action Fund.

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As an African American-led organization housed in the restored Mt. Zion AME Church, the Stoutsburg museum (SSAAM), built in 1899, shares the important story of survival of Black faith, food, freedom, culture, creativity and joy.

Johnson says the funding will allow them to create programs throughout the year to tell the story of the important role the church has played in the lives of African Americans from enslavement up to the present.

On Martin Luther King Day Jr. day, we particularly want to think about how central the Black church was to the civil rights movement, galvanizing people, educating people, strengthening people, you know, helping people with resilience, as they were battered through Jim Crow, and the struggle to overcome that, Johnson said.

SSAAM features permanent and rotating exhibits and creates programs associated with local and national Black history. Funding will support reenactments and educational and musical programming to engage the community around faith, culture, and activism.

The Preserving Black Churches program helps congregations solve urgent and ongoing preservation threats such as deferred maintenance, insufficient funding, demolition, water filtration, and mold contamination. (Photo courtesy of Jacobs Chapel/Jacobs Chapel)

Jacobs Chapel AME Church and the Colemantown Meeting House are the last remaining buildings from the African American enclave of Colemantown, established in 1828.

Along with the Colemantown Meeting House, Jacobs Chapel Church was a known stop on the Underground Railroad, serving as the first worship sanctuary in Colemantown and a schoolhouse for the neighborhoods Black students. Grant funding will restore the roof, HVAC, and windows.

Preserving Black Churches is a $20 Million Action Fund program that equips historic Black churches and their congregations with the critical resources and technical preservation expertise to protect the historic assets and legacies they steward.

The heart of our spiritual world is the Black church, Gates said. These places of worship, these sacred cultural centers, must exist for future generations to understand who we were as a people.

Ande Richards wants to hear from New Jerseys communities of color, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ communities, and those who feel underserved by traditional media. She may be reached at arichards@njadvancemedia.com.

Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom.
On Wednesday night, numerous schools throughout Montana and in Butte-Silver Bow received email threats of explosive devices.

Local law enforcement, Butte School District No. 1 and Butte Central Schools have been in contact since the threats were received. No suspicious activity or items in or around the schools have been observed.

The threats are not specific and we do not believe there is any danger as a result of these threats, said Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester.

Lester said there will be an elevated law enforcement presence near the schools and asks the public to report any suspicious activity or items to B-SB law enforcement.
For much of Montana, it was bitter cold this past weekend. Winds were whistling, snow was falling and temperatures continued to drop.

A record was broken in the early morning hours Saturday. It was the coldest Jan. 13 ever in Buttes recorded history, with a reading of 45 below zero at Bert Mooney Airport.

This past weekend, Butte-Silver Bow firefighters braved the elements dozens of times.

In the last five days, the fire department has responded to over 100 calls, said Fire Chief Zach Osborne, who added that many of the calls were either medically related or vehicle accidents, gas calls or frozen pipes.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Kelly J. Lee, the fire department also received a call about a structure fire Saturday afternoon on Banks Avenue.

One structure fire over the weekend was caused by a citizen attempting to use a torch to thaw a frozen pipe, Lee said. The house was saved but had fire, water and smoke damage.

The fire also caused some damage to two of the departments five engines.

While fighting the fire, one of our main engines froze, and anothers antifreeze line broke, Osborne said.

Osborne said having two engines out of service left firefighters scrambling for a while, but one engine was repaired Tuesday and the other will hopefully be Wednesday.

NorthWestern Energy experienced some outages throughout Montana, but spokesperson Jo Dee Black said the utility companys crews were prepared.

With the advanced forecast we were equipped and staffed, said Black, who added our customers were prepared for the storm, just like our crews.

Brayton Erickson, executive director of the Butte Rescue Mission, was also prepared.

Besides handing out about 150 blankets and 100 coats, he and his staff were feeding anyone who came in and doing their best to make them comfortable.

Every bed was full, Erickson said. There were more people in rooms than I would normally allow.

Through Sunday, the Mission served 30 to 40 people needing shelter.

We had to triple staff Monday night with 45 people, Erickson said.

Erickson accommodated everyone who came in and opened another office room for people to come in and get warm.

They may not have gotten a good nights sleep but they were safe, Erickson said.

Erickson was thankful to Town Pump, which helped with another donation. Butte residents did, as well, whether it was monetary or dropping by with coats, hats and gloves.

A lot of people offered their support, he said.

While Saturday was cold, it was not Buttes coldest January day on record. That was Jan. 7, 1937, when the temperature reached 48 below.

Paralyzing cold kept Butte in a relentless grip, The Butte Daily Post reported back then.

Almost the same scenario occurred three weeks later when it hit 47 below zero, recorded for both Jan. 20 and Jan. 21.

Those freezing temps also left two men dead. John Panyon, 21, was overcome with carbon monoxide and froze to death in a car that had stalled near the Orphan Girl Mine. Thirty-year-old Hugh Malloys frozen body was found three blocks from his home on Florida Avenue.

The deaths of John Panyon and Hugh Malloy, young men, have stricken horror into the community, reported The Butte Daily Post. They have created a sense of dread in all who are forced to brave the elements.

Warmers temperatures are up next for Butte, along with some precipitation.

Jeff Kitsmiller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Missoula, said snow is in the forecast.

Kitsmiller predicts that the Butte area could get anywhere from 3 to 7 inches Wednesday evening through Thursday morning.

We do need the snow, Kitsmiller said. Right now, the Upper Clark Fork Basin is at 43 percent of normal.
The cliche would be cautiously optimistic.

People long critical of the EPAs action levels for lead in soils in Butte reserved full judgment Wednesday about the implications of the federal agencys dropping the national screening level for lead in soil at residential properties from 400 parts per million (ppm) to 200 ppm.

The action level is where the rubber meets the road for communities like Butte whose mining history left a legacy of metals contamination.

The EPA acknowledges that screening levels are not the same as cleanup or action levels. An exceedance of a screening level indicates the need for additional evaluation, potentially including a site-specific risk assessment.

Dr. Seth Cornell, a Butte physician and member of the Butte-Silver Bow board of health, wasnt quite ready to celebrate Wednesday.

The crucial passage in the press release is screening levels are not cleanup standards, Cornell said. This would seem to imply that a change in screening levels may not necessarily translate to a change in cleanup standards. I hope this is not the case.

Claiming that EPA must continue to reduce lead exposure where children live, learn, and play while simultaneously allowing an outdated residential lead cleanup level of 1,200 ppm to continue in Butte would be rank hypocrisy, he said.

Cornell added, EPA needs to clearly explain to our community how this updated guidance affects our local cleanup level, which has been too high for too long.

To date, EPA has justified the 1,200 ppm action level in Butte with site-specific criteria such as bioavailability. For example, EPA has said the lead in Butte is less bioavailable than the lead in Anaconda, home to a century of copper smelting. But critics of EPAs bioavailability stance about Butte metals pollution say the agency ignores the long history of smelting that occurred in Butte before smelting in Anaconda. In addition, they say, emissions from the giant stack in the Smelter City likely contaminated Butte soils.

Taylor Gillespie, a regional spokeswoman for the EPA, said the agency will work in the weeks ahead to evaluate how the updated residential screening levels will impact current residential lead action levels for Butte.

Regardless, she said, the agency anticipates that the current residential lead action level for soils in Butte will decrease significantly from 1,200 ppm.

J.P. Gallagher, chief executive for Butte-Silver Bow County, was enthusiastic Wednesday morning about the EPAs national announcement.

Gallagher predicted that the lower screening level is going to be a game changer for our community.

He said the different action levels between Anaconda and Butte have always been a bone of contention.

So, now theyre going to have to relook at what those action levels are  and therell be a more protective action level that will come forward from this, Gallagher said.

An EPA news release spelled out the agencys goals.

Today, EPA is lowering recommended screening levels and strengthening guidance for investigating and cleaning up lead-contaminated soil in residential areas where children live, learn and play, the agency reported.

As a result of lower screening levels, EPA expects to investigate more residential properties for potential cleanup under the Superfund law and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the news release said.

EPA said the revised approach to lead advances the Biden-Harris Administrations commitment to protect communities from lead pollution, particularly in overburdened and underserved communities facing multiple sources of lead exposure.

Evan Barrett, long a watchdog of the Superfund process in Butte, reacted to the EPAs news.

Glad to see the recognition of the lead problem by the Biden administration and their national action, but eager to see how it might play out for Butte, Barrett said Wednesday.

In April, a biogeochemist with expertise in lead exposure reacted to EPAs controversial action level for lead in soils in Butte.

I am really surprised to read that they are using the 1,200 ppm standards, which is for soil in areas where children are not coming in contact with it, said Gabriel Filippelli, chancellors professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

They should take the precautionary approach and remediate down to 400 ppm at least  in California, the remediation standard is 80 ppm, he said.

The stakes are high when agencies establish benchmarks for soil action levels and blood lead levels in children.

Young children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning because of their tendency to suck on fingers contaminated with lead-laced dust or to put chips of peeling lead paint in their mouths. Research has established that children absorb lead in their bodies at a significantly higher rate than adults.

Potential consequences are stark, placing children at risk for neurobehavioral, kidney and blood disorders.

According to the CDC, even low levels of lead in blood can cause developmental delays, difficulty learning, behavioral issues, and neurological damage. The effects of lead poisoning can be permanent and disabling.

Eric Hassler is director of Reclamation and Environmental Services for Butte-Silver Bow County and manager of the Residential Metals Abatement Program, or RMAP. Among other interventions, the program removes contaminated residential soils and typically replaces them with clean soil and sod.

Hassler spoke Wednesday about the prospect of a lower action level.

Sections of yards that were previously remediated should not have to be revisited, he said. Sections that were not remediated because they did not exceed the current action level may need to be remediated due to a new action level.
A commercial truck driver from Canada admitted Tuesday to cocaine trafficking after federal officers found about 66 pounds of cocaine in watermelon pallets as she was trying to enter Canada at the Montana border, officials said.

Kareshmaa Kaur Jagroop, 42, of Ontario, Canada, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Great Falls to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Jagroop faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said in an email.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris set sentencing for May 23. Jagroop was released on conditions to a treatment center in Montana pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that in July 2021, a commercial truck was northbound on Interstate 15 near the Sweetgrass Port of Entry in Toole County.

As it approached the border in the outbound lane, Customs and Border Protection officers signaled the truck to stop, but the driver ignored the signal and continued past the outbound booth.

Officers chased down the truck, which eventually stopped, and had the driver, Jagroop, reverse the truck back to the outbound booth for inspection.

Jagroop drove through a screening machine, which showed potential anomalies in the trailer. Officers did a manual search and unloaded the contents with a forklift. Officers removed two pallets of watermelons and saw a plastic bag that contained about 66 pounds (30 kilograms) of cocaine.

Jagroop told officers she entered the United States about one week prior to the stop and delivered produce to supermarkets in Oregon and California. She admitted that she was hauling cocaine for a group in Canada, authorities said.
Montana's plunge into arctic chill over the past holiday weekend wasn't the coldest freeze the state has seen. For example, nowhere came close to the numbing -70 degrees recorded atop Rogers Pass on Jan. 20, 1954  the coldest temperature ever recorded in the Lower 48.

But the cold snap's duration and bitterly frigid daily high temperatures did make it one of the most pernicious arctic blasts to grip the Treasure State. Although no all-time low temperature records were broken, many places set daily records for coldest lows on a given day, and daily records for the coldest high temps recorded on a given day.

In Missoula, the average temperature of -5.1 degrees (averaging each day's high and low) for last Thursday, Jan. 11, through Monday made it one of the coldest five-day periods in the past 40 years  a sign that, although Missoula didn't set a new all-time low, the cold snap was nonetheless remarkably cold and long-lasting.

According to Brian Conlan, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Missoula Forecast Office, and NWS data compiled Tuesday, the average -5.1 degrees from Jan. 1115 ranked as the 10th coldest five-day period in 40 years for Missoula. And that included Thursday's high temperature before the arctic air set in. Kalispell recorded its coldest two-day period on record, according to NWS data.

A similar phenomenon played out in Great Falls, according to NWS Great Falls meteorologist Rosemary Webb. With five consecutive days of overnight lows colder than -20 degrees, she said, "Great Falls has tied for consecutive days with low temperatures below -20, we are currently ranked nine on the list from when record keeping began in 1891."

Although the long, cold weekend was tied for ninth-longest period of lows below -20 in Great Falls, she said, other places like Helena and Havre had historically recorded many longer stretches of lows below -20 than they saw this past weekend.

Winter highs in central Montana are generally between 20 and 30 degrees above zero, Webb said, with single-digit lows. Although temperatures this week were forecast to be more seasonable, arctic cold was predicted to return to north-central Montana by Friday.

"One thing to note, too, is the negative temperatures are going to return Thursday night into Friday morning," she said. "We should see low temperatures well below -10 degrees across north-central Montana."

However, she noted, "The mountain ranges will kind of protect western Montana, so they wont seem as cold."

Daily records

Although no all-time cold records were set the past weekend, many places notched new daily temperature records, according to the NWS. Daily records fell each day Friday through Monday, but Saturday morning was the depth of the arctic episode.

Bozeman set record-low daily minimum and maximum temps for Jan. 13 of -45 degrees and -20 degrees respectively. Cut Bank notched a daily record-low minimum temp of -41 degrees. Dillon set record-low daily minimums and maximums of -41 degrees and -17 degrees. Great Falls set a record daily minimum of -37 degrees. Helena had a record daily minimum of -36 degrees. Havre had a record daily minimum of -42 degrees, and Lewistown a record daily minimum of -43 degrees.

In western Montana on Jan. 13, Thompson Falls set a record-low daily minimum and maximum of -22 degrees and -5 degrees. Libby set a record-low minimum and maximum of -25 degrees and -2 degrees. Yaak hit a record-low minimum and maximum of -46 degrees and -8 degrees. Eureka had a record-low minimum and maximum of -33 degrees and -10 degrees. Missoula recorded a record-low minimum and maximum of -22 degrees and -9 degrees. Kalispell had a record-low minimum and maximum of -31 degrees and -10 degrees. Potomac had a record-low minimum and maximum of -46 degrees and -13 degrees. And Butte had a record-low minimum and maximum of -45 degrees and -11 degrees.

Those were all daily records just for Jan. 13, the coldest day last weekend in most places, but many of those locations also set record-low daily minimum and maximum temps for Jan. 12, 14 or 15.

And some places came close to setting all-time records. Hamilton, for example, recorded its second-coldest temperature ever: -38 degrees on Saturday morning, a daily record low for Jan. 13 and just one degree short of the all-time record in Hamilton of -39 degrees in 1899.

Snow coming

Right before the cold snap, successive weather systems delivered a sight rarely seen in Montana so far this winter: significant snow accumulation. According to forecasts, more was on tap for the week.

NWS predicted another weather system would cross the state from Tuesday night through Thursday  Jan. 16-18  dropping at least a few inches of snow across much of the state. Southwest and southern Montana were predicted to get the least, while western and northwest Montana and the Rocky Mountain Front could see the highest snowfall.

The snow would be a much needed salve for a state whose mountains have been sorely starved of moisture this winter.

On Jan. 1, the Milk River basin across the Hi-Line in north-central Montana contained 41% of its 1991-2020 average snow-water equivalent, or the amount of liquid water contained in snowpack. The Fork Peck Lake basin held 53% of average SWE on Jan. 1. The Musselshell basin had 52% of average. The Upper Yellowstone Basin had 55% of average. The Marias basin on the Rocky Mountain Front had only 29% of average. The Missouri Headwaters basin had 54% of average. The Upper Missouri basin had 37% of average. The Pend Oreille basin, drawing from the Bitterroot, Flathead and Clark Fork valleys and their surrounding mountains, had 48% of average. And the Kootenai basin, around the Yaak area in far northwest Montana and Cranbrook, Canada, had 57% of its average SWE.

Last week's snow marginally improved some of those figures, but didn't bring any of the basins to around normal as of Tuesday. Some eastern basins fell farther behind or essentially flatlined.

The Milk River basin fell two points to 39% of average SWE for Jan. 16. The Fork Peck Lake basin dropped one point to 52% of average, and the Musselshell basin dropped a point to 51% of average SWE. The Upper Yellowstone basin rose one point to 56% of average. The Missouri Headwaters basin made a modest gain of three points to 57% of average.

Meanwhile, the Upper Missouri basin gained seven points to hit 44% of average. The parched Marias basin rose 10 points to hit 39% of its average SWE for Jan. 16. The Pend Oreille basin rose nine points to reach 57% of average. And the Kootenai River basin rose seven points to hit 64% of its average SWE.

"You can see the big jump, but still theres a lot of places that are below the 95th percentile for dryness," Conlan said. "This next system is going to add another inch to inch-and-a-half across a wide range of areas  not southwest Montana."

He said the storm could deliver up the 1.5 inches of SWE in 1 to 2 feet of low-density snow across much of western and northwestern Montana.

Elsewhere, Webb said forecasters had 90% confidence the Rocky Mountain Front would pick up 8-18 inches of snow; the high plains from Cut Bank to Havre would get 4-5 inches; and Great Falls about 5 inches. At higher elevations in the mountains, the Rocky Mountain Front could see 18 to 24 inches and the Big and Little Belt Mountains could collect 12 to 18 inches.

"As we go farther south across southwest Montana, the snow totals are a little lower just because of the track of this system," Webb said. "This next snowfall amount could help with the snow-water equivalent. Well have to see how much snow actually falls. It should help along the Rocky Mountain Front."
Anaconda attorney Jeff Dahood is running for District Court judge in Montanas Third District covering Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Granite and Powell counties.

In Butte-Silver Bow County, attorney William Joyce has joined the race to replace state District Court Judge Kurt Krueger, who is retiring at the end of the year after 24 years on the bench.

Prosecutor Ann Shea and Butte attorneys Michael McKeon and Frank Joseph had previously announced bids for the post, and Joyce filed as a candidate Tuesday.

I bring to the race over 35 years of experience representing people of all walks of life, Joyce said.

Dahood hopes to succeed Judge Ray Dayton, who has served three, six-year terms on the bench in the Third District. Dayton confirmed to The Montana Standard on Tuesday that he was not seeking a fourth.

The filing period for political and judicial offices in Montana opened last week and runs through March 11, but as of late Wednesday morning, Dahood was the only one who had filed for the seat.

Dahood was admitted to the Montana Bar in 2006 and joined the law firm of Knight & Dahood, where his father, the late Wade Dahood, was an attorney. Jeff Dahood and associate attorney Augustine Menke are the firms lawyers now.

I became a lawyer to try to help people and I think Ive done that the past 18 years to the best of my ability, Dahood told The Montana Standard. This would be continuing his legal career while giving back to the community, he said.

Serving on the bench, I think, is the ultimate way of doing that, Dahood said. I think being a judge is a huge honor. Its an honorable thing to the citizens of Deer Lodge County, Granite County and Powell County and it would be my honor to do that if elected.

District judges in Montana oversee state civil cases and felony criminal cases. Some populous counties have more than one district judge but jurisdictions in some districts, like the Third, cover more than one county.

Dahood got a bachelors degree from Montana Tech in 2001 and earned his law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2005. He has a wide array of experience in criminal law, family law, adoptions, personal injury, probation and estate administration and eminent domain.

Ive done everything from youth-in-need-of-care cases to criminal defense to civil  both the defense side and the prosecution side, Dahood said. Ive done so many different gamuts of the law, areas of the law, and I think thats important if Im elected.

Dahood said he has also handled Social Security and bankruptcy cases.

Those are federal court things, they arent anything state judges are going to see, but knowing all that helps in family law and everything else, he said.

There are two District Court judges in Butte-Silver Bow County, currently Krueger and Robert Whelan. Whelan is seeking a second term this year and is unopposed so far. It is rare for incumbent judges to be challenged.

Joyce said with encouragement from of family and friends, he decided to run for the seat being vacated by Judge Krueger and said Krueger would be a hard act to follow.

Joyce received a degree in economics from the University of Montana in 1985, got his law degree from the UM School of Law in 1988 and was named outstanding law student in his class.

He started practicing with the firm of Burgess, Joyce & Whelan in 1988 and has been a partner in the firms of Joyce & Starin; Joyce & Johnston; Joyce, Johnston & MacDonald; and is currently the managing partner of the Joyce and MacDonald firm.

I think the people of Butte deserve a District Court judge who will bring to the job the appropriate experience and will ensure cases are handled promptly and fairly (and) giving all parties before the court the proper respect and due process, Joyce said.

I believe I can be such a judge, he said, adding that he and his wife, Helen, and their five children look forward to the campaign.
Attorney Matt Enrooth is pledging transparency if elected county attorney in Butte-Silver Bow and says citizens will have an open door to the office.

Enrooth says the county attorney not only advises department heads and commissioners on legal matters, but should be the citizens voice on all legal matters that concern our county.

To exercise that voice, the citizens of Silver Bow County must have open door access to their elected official, he said. For whatever reason, our citizens currently dont have that open door access. When elected, I will reopen those doors.

Longtime County Attorney Eileen Joyce is not seeking a fifth term. Enrooth and Kelli Fivey, a state prosecutor in Butte-Silver Bow, were the only candidates running for the post as of midday Wednesday. The Montana Standard reported Fiveys candidacy last week.

Enrooth was born and raised in Butte, attended schools in Butte and earned his undergraduate degree from Montana State University. He received his law degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law and first became a law clerk for District Judge Ray Dayton.

He has worked for the State Public Defenders Office, with the Vicevich Law Firm in Butte and is now owner of Enrooth Law PLLC in Butte. He is also the current senior deputy county attorney in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County.

In that position, he says he has tried numerous felony and misdemeanor cases, obtaining convictions for attempted deliberate homicide of a police officer, sex crimes and cases involving dangerous drugs.

He also represented Anaconda-Deer Lodge County on a variety of civil matters while advising county officials on local issues.

Enrooth also maintains his own private firm in Butte and has represented several local businesses in civil litigation and land issues, among other things.

He said he has observed the county attorneys office in Butte for a decade and believes multiple issues must change, including transparency.

The county attorney here should be able to prosecute cases but there are currently seven others who do that and do a good job at it, Enrooth said. The county attorney has other functions, he said, and one is being accessible to the public.

I believe that reopening those doors and allowing the citizens of Silver Bow County access to their elected official will reestablish accountability, integrity and transparency within the office itself and the with citizens it supports, he said.

In order to be the best county attorney I can for my hometown, I honed my skills as a prosecutor, negotiator and adviser through practicing civil law at home and working as a deputy county attorney outside of Silver Bow County, Enrooth said.

If elected the first thing I can promise that I will change is the people of Silver Bow County will have their voice back in the County Attorneys Office, and the attorneys working in it will be committed to justice, transparency and the rule of law, he said.
While the temperatures fell below freezing and the roads were still not the best, many Muscatine residents turned out to their caucus site to be part of the beginning of the 2024 presidential election.

During the statewide caucuses, former president Donald Trump won with a record-setting 51% of the vote. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis edged out former UN ambassador Nikki Haley for second place, getting 21.2% to her 19.1%. After the caucus, candidates Vivek Ramaswamy, who came in fourth, and Asa Hutchinson, who came in sixth, ended their campaign bids.

Muscatine Countys results had the same winner, but second place went to Haley. Trump took away 54% of the Muscatine vote, Hailey got 20% and DeSantis had 18%. A total of 1,083 votes were cast.

In Cedar County Trump received 60% of the vote while Hailey and DeSantis tied with 16%, or 98 votes, each. In Louisa County, Trump got 71% of the vote, with DeSantis getting 18% and Hailey getting 9%.

In Muscatine, Terry Struck of Atalyssa attended his first caucus to support Trump. He decided to attend the caucus after hearing candidates speak about how important it can be.

Hes the best, Struck said of Trump. Hes good. Hes tough, you need someone who is tough.

He had no second choice for the nomination.

Jody Fox of rural Muscatine also came out to support Trump. She feels Trump knows how to run the country, saying he protects the borders and the economy.

Fox also said this was her first caucus.

I feel like even though it is miserable outside, if we respect our freedom in this country we better use it to the best of our ability, and that means coming out in the snow and the ice and the cold and voting," she said.

At the front door, Muscatine County Supervisor Nathan Mather of Muscatine was welcoming people coming in to register. He said he had attended every caucus since 2012 and that he came out Monday to support DeSantis. His second pick would be Haley.

Ive liked what he is doing even before the presidential campaign started, Mather said. I think he is an effective executive and I think he has the right ideas and is a good guy.

While the Democratic Party of Muscatine County didnt vote for president during the caucus, the members held an organizational meeting when the caucus met in the Muscatine School District office.

Our presidential preference selection will not occur at the meeting," chair Kelcey Brackett said. People can come to the meeting and request presidential preference cards that will be mailed to them and they will be able to make their selection and mail it back in. The results of that will come out on March 5, when the Iowa Central Committee releases its nominee.

While the turnout wasnt as strong as the Republican event, Brackett said the party had asked people not to come out if there was any risk to travelling in the inclement weather.

The Libertarian Party of Muscatine County met in the basement of the Musser Library. Chair Dwight Gibson said the members who attended would take a presidential preference poll that would go to the state convention. The party also formed its by-laws and selected delegates for the state convention.

Muscatine resident Mario Perales Jr. came to the event to support his favorite presidential candidate  himself. Over the years he has been to 10 caucuses, but most have been with the Democratic Party.

I want to go ahead and seek the presidency so I can make the changes needed to make the world a better place, he said. I feel Im the only candidate that can do the changes that need to be done here in the United States.

He didnt have a second choice for office.
Some state lawmakers are trying again to make Daylight Saving Time permanent in Iowa.

A three-lawmaker panel on Tuesday advanced House File 498, which states that Daylight Saving Time would be permanent throughout the year. The bill was introduced last year but did not make it through the House State Government Committee.

Leslie Carpenter of Iowa Mental Health Advocacy was among those who spoke in favor of the bill. My viewpoint is I advocate for people with serious mental illness, and the time change every spring and every fall seems to produce a deterioration for many people, she said.

Lobbyist Brad Epperly said the Iowa Broadcasters Association continues to oppose the bill, which poses challenges with broadcast schedules when neighboring states are not using the same time standard.

The discussion is almost as regular as clockwork in the Legislature. In 2022, the House passed legislation that would have made the change, but a Senate committee inserted language that would delay enactment until states bordering Iowa also made the change. Epperly said that provision addresses the challenge the broadcasters face.

Subcommittee member Rep. Heather Matson, D-Ankeny, said her concern is that Iowa could not move ahead with the change without federal approval. I certainly appreciate the desire to not change the clock back and forth. I do have concerns over the fact that the federal government needs to approve it to even be able to move forward. And that was a big part of my hesitation last year as well, she said.

The U.S. Senate had approved a bill in 2022 that would have ended the ritual of turning clocks back an hour in the fall and forward an hour in the spring. But the proposal went no further.

Matson declined to sign off on the bill and said shed be more interested in it if it moved Iowa permanently to standard time instead. That change would not require federal approval, she said. Arizona and Hawaii maintain standard time all year.

Iowa is currently on standard time, which provides an extra hour of daylight in the early mornings. When Daylight Saving Time begins in March, the change provides the extra hour of daylight in the evening.

Rep. Jacob Bossman, R-Sioux City, the subcommittee chairman, said he appreciates the effect that changing clocks has on children, special-needs adults and others. He said he prefers the proposal to keep the state on Daylight Saving instead of standard time. I think that this is the better way of preserving more daylight. And so thats why the bill was drafted in this way, he said.

The proposal moves to the House State Government Committee for further debate.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence.
DES MOINES  Mug shots of individuals booked into Iowa jails following an arrest would no longer be considered public records, with some exceptions, under legislation advanced Tuesday in the Iowa House.

The bill would stop police, county sheriffs and other law enforcement in the state from releasing booking photos following a persons arrest or while in the custody of a law enforcement agency, unless the person is a fugitive, has been convicted, pleaded guilty to the charges, is deemed an imminent threat to an individual or public safety by law enforcement or a prosecuting agency, or the photos release would aid authorities in apprehending the individual.

House Study Bill 531 also makes an exception if a judge orders release of the booking photo to further a legitimate interest.

Supporters say the photos go against due process and irreparably harm peoples personal and professional reputations. Once released, the photos can be widely circulated online for employers, landlords, neighbors and other to see, becoming a barrier to housing, employment and personal relationships, regardless of whether the person ends up being convicted of a crime.

Individuals who had charges dropped or were found not guilty can find it difficult to repair their online reputation, said Lisa Davis-Cook, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association for Justice.

The organization, which represents Iowas trial lawyers, is registered in favor of the bill.

Davis-Cook said the Legislature has done a lot in previous years to allow individuals to expunge their criminal record if they received a not guilty verdict or their case was dismissed.

I think this bill is kind of the next step in that, Davis-Cook said.

Law enforcement and media organizations argued theres a public safety interest in having the photos publicly available to provide transparency in law enforcement, and that the public has a right to know who police have arrested and be visually identified to distinguish between individuals with the same name.

They note the booking photos come with a disclaimer from law enforcement that individuals are innocent until proven guilty.

We have concerns with making more records confidential, said Doug Struyk, a lobbyist representing the Iowa State Bar Association.

The group was registered undecided on the bill.

Struyk noted while a persons booking photo would not be made public, their arrest and charges are still public record.

All this is doing is removing a picture that seems like a tremendous half-measure  that doesnt appear to go toward one of the major stated causes for introducing the bill, Struyk said.

Supporters said they are not trying to conceal basic arrest information, such as an arrestees name and the charge. But argue that booking photos cause the subjects more lasting harm.

Theyre innocent until proven guilty, but that photo is still out there, Davis-Cook said. And thats what people are going to focus on. And thats whats going to be put out for the world to see.

Rep. Bill Gustoff, R-Des Moines, who chaired a subcommittee of lawmakers that advanced the bill for further discussion by the Iowa House Public Safety Committee, agreed.

People dont go digging and read criminal records and (police) blotters, and dockets, Gustoff said. But they do see pictures put on the internet. Even if its expunged, you cant pull that down from the internet.

Catherine Lucas, general counsel at the Iowa Department of Public Safety, said the bill would be incredibly burdensome for counties to verify whether a person was convicted or pleaded guilty.

Theres no mechanism to directly communicate between the court system, Lucas said.   Every single time theyre going to get a public records request for a mug shot, someone from the counties is going to have to confirm with the judicial branch whether there has been a conviction, whats happened with that conviction.

We think these being public does serve the public interest  and we think the system works well.

The bill was filed by state Rep. Phil Thompson, R-Boone, chair of the House Public Safety Committee.

You can ruin someones life with a mug shot, Thompson said.

He said hes seen friends and others reputation tarnished by an arrest that was expunged, or were found not guilty, because their booking photo still exists online.

That can limit you in a lot of capacities. Public office is one, Thompson said.

He said there was not one particular incident that sparked his interest in the bill. He noted in recent years lawmakers in several states, including Florida, have debated and passed measures prohibiting law enforcement from releasing mug shots, prohibiting websites from charging fees for the removal of mug shots from a web site or otherwise regulating sites' practices.

In other states, proponents of similar legislation have said post-arrest photos can perpetuate racial stereotypes.

It can really ruin a person, Thompson said.   We just want to make sure theyre not used as a weapon.
A lawyer has filed a case at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi challenging the upcoming National Social Security Fund (NSSF) deductions scheduled to take effect next month.

City lawyer John Maina Ndegwa argues that the economic consequences of the deductions will adversely affect Kenyas economy as increased operating costs will compel more employers to declare their workers redundant.

The said proposed deduction from the employees are coming at a time when Kenyans are inebriated with the high cost of living with a shrinking pay slip because of a depressed economy, the petition reads in part.

Mr Ndegwa is now urging the court to expedite the matter and grant a temporary order restraining the NSSF board from implementing the contribution rates for 2024.

The 3rd schedule of the NSSF Act 2013 spells clearly the amount chargeable within the first four years after the commencement of the Act on 10th January 2014 yet the Board has failed to offer guidance to the employers on how to implement this causing confusion and anxiety in both public and private sectors of the economy of Kenya, court papers read.

Year 2 Contributions Rates Null and Void

Ndegwa is seeking a temporary suspension of the implementation of the new rates until the petition is determined. He will be urging the court to nullify the notices issued on January 12 and declare the Year 2 Contributions Rates null and void.

The revised NSSF rates indicate an increase in the lower earnings limit, previously set at Sh6,000, now raised to Sh7,000. Employees falling into this category will see their contributions rise from the existing Sh360 to Sh420.

Simultaneously, the Upper Earnings Limit has been elevated from Sh18,000 to Sh.29,000. Consequently, the majority of workers in this category will contribute Sh1,740, up from the current Sh1,080.

Meanwhile, employers will continue to match each contribution, maintaining the existing practice.
Kenyan nurses can now attain international certification locally, eliminating the necessity to travel to India or South Africa for exams.

This follows the launch of the Pearson Virtual Enterprise Test Centre in Nairobi, the second in Africa for certifying and licensing nursing professionals, following South Africa.

Speaking at the centers launch on Tuesday, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign & Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi emphasized that the center is the assessment provider responsible for administering the crucial National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) test for nursing licensure in the USA, Canada, and Australia.

Mudavadi highlighted that the center will empower nurses graduating from both public and private training institutions to fulfill the criteria for securing international jobs and meeting the increasing demand for nursing skills worldwide.

This development positions Kenyan nurses to contribute to the Diaspora, creating opportunities for increased remittances, Foreign Direct Investment, and fostering employment and enterprise development. CS Mudavadi noted.

The CS also mentioned that the center will enable the government to swiftly expand the licensing and certification of nurses.

We will also work closely with the Ministry of Labour to expand opportunities for Kenyans working abroad, Mudavadi said.

Also Check Out  Kenyan Nurses: How To Apply for 2500 Jobs in Saudi Arabia.. Qualifications and Salaries

On her part, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha described the center as a game-changer for nurses, emphasizing that the fully-equipped facility substantially reduces exam costs by 50%.

She added that the Ministry of Health is actively collaborating with line ministries and various partners to create additional job opportunities for nurses, aligning with the Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda.

The new NCLEX-RN Test Centre holds immense significance for Kenyan nurses, as it anticipates a reduction in examination costs by over 50%, said CS Nakhumicha.

Our nurses who train in KMTC come from very humble backgrounds so the cost of them having to travel to South Africa to do the exam was such a big limiting factor. Today that cost has been waived from them.

At the same time, KMTC has formulated a comprehensive NCLEX Preparatory course curriculum, aiming to provide nurses with the essential skills needed to successfully pass the examination on their first attempt.
President William Ruto on Tuesday declared his willingness to engage in discussions with Chief Justice Martha Koome to tackle the reported corruption within the judiciary.

This comes a day after Koome disclosed that the Judiciary had formally requested a meeting with the President to delve into the origins of his grievances against the arm.

The CJ confirmed that the President had not lodged any complaint with the JSC. However, she emphasized that the Judiciary is prepared to thoroughly examine the concerns the President has regarding the system.

He might have received information because we have various machinery and agencies for collecting information and we would like to engage him so that he can give us that information, Koome said.

So we will be looking out for that dialogue, we have written and I believe that the President is going to give us an appointment.

CJ Koome mentioned that judges, being human, experience emotional distress when their names are publicly tarnished and condemned as corrupt, particularly when no evidence has been presented.

Ruto Accepts CJ Koomes Call for Dialogue

Responding during the commissioning of Tinderet Integrated Technical and Trainers College in Nandi County on Tuesday, Ruto said dialogue is crucial to purging the Judiciary of what he characterized as a small number of corrupt individuals who, according to him, have been consistently hindering the countrys development.

I agree with what CJ says about dialogue and we must have a conversation about corruption and we will not allow graft to impede our development, Ruto said.

He added: This is the year we will sort out corruption in Kenya. Let me tell you CJ, I am ready to hold a meeting between the leadership of the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature. I am ready for the conversation on how we will deal with corruption because it is sabotaging the progress and potential of Kenya.

The President said the meeting would also involve the two Speakers of Parliament.

I am going to lead from the front, the Chief Justice leading the judiciary, and the Speakers heading the legislature in that conversation so that we can deal with the corrupt who go to court to escape justice and stall government operations. They want to hold the system hostage by bribing the Judiciary through hiring expensive lawyers and derailing the progress, Ruto said.

Im confident that we will have that conversation. The President added.
With surprising ease and speed, the 1960s-era building that once housed the Golden Harvest restaurant was reduced to a pile of sticks on Tuesday morning.

The demolition clears the way for a new building that will house Capo 29, a sister restaurant to Bruce Marders Italian-style restaurant Capo in Santa Monica.

Golden Harvest closed in July after 27 years in business. Marder closed escrow on the property a few months later and won the St. Helena Planning Commissions approval to replace the 2,807-square-foot Golden Harvest building with a 3,597-square-foot, 76-seat restaurant.

Construction is scheduled to take 10 to 12 months, with Capo 29 opening sometime in 2025.

Marder is chef, manager and partner at the Santa Monica Capo, one of 100 restaurants in the world to win a Grand Award from Wine Spectator for the 3,000 choices on its wine list.

Marder apprenticed at the Dumas Pere School of French Cooking in Glenview, Illinois, and returned to his hometown of Los Angeles to work at the Beverly Hills Hotel. He was chef/owner of Cafe California, West Beach Cafe, DC3 and Broadway Deli before founding Capo in June 1998.

Marder envisions Capo 29 as a "comfortable, elegant, hospitable, everyday dining choice presented in a way not currently available in the valley." To maintain a consistent staff, it will be open five days a week, for dinner only.

"Napa Valley is a tourist destination year-round now, yet there are NO sophisticated Italian restaurants in the Valley. ... Capo is straightforward, not fussy, with the best food products and tabletop amenities available," Marder wrote in a business plan he provided to the Star.

While construction may last up to a year, St. Helenans wont have to wait that long to try the food. Marder said he plans to open a pop-up preview of Capo 29 in February at 1320 Main St. in the former Kellers building.

Photos: Auro Napa Valley earns Michelin star Auro restaurant Calistoga Auro restaurant Calistoga Auro California White Duck Auro Kitchen Auro restaurant, Calistoga Executive Chef Rogelio Garcia and Chef de Cuisine Elijah Cortez Auro
Dear Kyle, Tom and Alan: I signed up with Kaiser last year through Covered California.

Meeting with my tax preparer, she told me I needed to include Form 1095-A with my return. Im new to all this, so what is it, and what do I do?

Buzz

Kyle: Very timely question, Buzz. Form 1095-A is usually mailed to Covered California enrollees right around this time of year. Sounds like you didnt get yours, but either you or the person who signed you up can access it online and get a copy. Basically, its just a report to the government about how much of a subsidy you received during the past year. Heres the formal definition:

During tax season, Covered California sends the federal IRS Form 1095-A Health Insurance Marketplace Statement to consumers. (It) is an important federal tax document that serves as proof of Minimum Essential Coverage and for individuals to claim the premium tax credit, to reconcile any Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC) received, and to file an accurate tax return for the 2023 tax year. The amount displayed on IRS Form 1095-A reflects how much was paid to Covered California Qualified Health Plans to help with the cost of a consumers health coverage.

Al: The part about Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) is very important for a couple of reasons: 1. California has completely embraced the Affordable Care Act (ACA, Obamacare) and in order to meet the MEC, a plan must have the 10 Essential Health Benefits (EHB); and, 2. There is a penalty for not having such a plan that varies according to income and length of time without a compliant plan.

Tom: For those of you still reading, here are the 10 EHB: Ambulatory patient services; Emergency services; Hospitalization; Maternity and newborn care; Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment; Prescription drugs; Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; laboratory services; Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management; Pediatric services, including oral and vision care.

Kyle: Applying through Covered California can be tedious and repetitious, but it is important to note that if you chose to communicate via email, you will not receive 1095-A by mail. They will email you with instructions to log into your account and print out the form. This will tell your tax preparer what she needs to know.

Because your Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC) is based on your income, it is extremely important to contact Covered California with any changes to incomebecause occasionally they might want some back!

Al: Also, we usually refer to APTC as subsidy since it serves as a discount on the monthly premium. By the way, I recently discovered that a married couple pays less when they file married filing jointly instead of married filing separately. In the case of this couple in our office, it was a difference of around $1,500 per month(!).

No, I dont know why that happened, but they promised to change their filing next time.

PHOTOS: Napa County celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with community service activities
A man who has served more than two decades in prison for a car crash that killed father-and-son tourists in Napa County has been refused parole, according to prosecutors.

Ortiz guilty of second-degree murder It took a jury less than two days to decide that Eligio Ruiz Ortiz had total disregard for human life when he drove his two-ton truck across double-yellow lines and caused a crash that killed a father and son.

The California Board of Parole Hearings last week ruled against early release for Eligio Ruiz Ortiz, 56, the office of Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced. Ruiz Ortiz is serving a 15-years-to-life sentence for second-degree murder after a St. Helena-area wreck on Sept. 29, 2000, in which two visiting New Zealanders  39-year-old Anthony Pilton and his 9-year-old son Adam  died.

The hearing took place Jan. 10 at California State Prison Chuckawalla Valley, where Ruiz Ortiz has been held since his murder conviction in April 2001.

The fatal crash occurred as Ruiz Ortiz, driving a flatbed truck, was pursuing the vehicle of his estranged wife on northbound Highway 29, according to a statement from the district attorneys office. Ruiz Ortiz crossed the center line to pass another vehicle before his truck collided head-on with the Pilton familys vehicle in the southbound lane, prosecutors said.

Anthony and Adam Pilton were killed instantly. Anthonys wife Nicole was severely injured in the crash, and the couples youngest son Stephen, 6, also was injured.

Ruiz Ortiz was on probation after a domestic violence incident and had been convicted of driving under the influence several times, in addition to other traffic violations, the district attorneys office said.

While we acknowledge the potential of (Ruiz Ortiz) redemption and rehabilitation, the heinous nature of this offense, coupled with his lack of insight, understanding, and accountability for the domestic violence that ultimately led to this crime, and the irreparable loss he caused to the victims and their family, made the denial of parole the appropriate and just result, Deputy District Attorney Agnes Dziadur said in the countys statement.

Photos: Napa Valley Faces and Places, January 13, 2024
Despite a newfound national focus on the science of reading, states, including California, aren't doing enough to support and train teachers to effectively teach literacy, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Council on Teacher Quality.

Thirty-two states have passed laws or implemented policies related to evidence-based reading instruction in the last decade. Despite that, nearly every state could do more to support literacy instruction, according to the report, "Five Policy Actions to Strengthen Implementation of the Science of Reading."

"While states are rightly prioritizing literacy, they are not focusing enough attention on teacher effectiveness and teacher capacity to teach reading aligned to the science," council President Heather Peske told EdSource. "If these efforts are to succeed ... the state needs to ensure that teachers are prepared and supported from the time that they are in teacher preparation programs to the time that they enter classrooms."

The report rated states as strong, moderate, weak or unacceptable, based on whether they have policies to ensure students receive science-based reading instruction that includes teaching them to sound out words, a process known as phonics. Only 12 states  Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia  were rated as strong.

California received a moderate rating.

The state gets high marks for setting reading standards for teacher preparation programs, adopting a strong reading licensure test for teachers, and requiring districts to select high-quality reading curricula. California scored lower on whether it requires ongoing literacy training for teachers and on its oversight of teacher preparation programs to ensure they are teaching the science of reading.

Not all teachers are trained in the science of reading

While California provides funds to school districts to offer literacy training to teachers, it does not require all elementary school teachers to be trained in the science of reading, as other states do, Peske said, adding that without proper training, teachers often flounder when teaching literacy, despite having access to high-quality instructional materials.

Effective teaching is critical to improving students' reading skills. More than 90% of students would learn to read with effective reading instruction, according to the report.

About 40% of students entering fourth grade in the United States can read at a basic level, according to the research. The latest California test scores show fewer than half of the students who were tested were proficient in reading. These results have not changed much in the past decade.

"Why do we see staggering numbers of children, especially children of color and from low-income backgrounds, without fundamental literacy skills? said Denise Forte, president and CEO of The Education Trust. "Because in many districts and schools nationwide, outdated teaching methods and curricula that have been proven ineffective, and even harmful, are still being used."

The report comes as California and other states are renewing their focus on the science of reading, which is based on over 50 years of research that provides a clear picture of how effective literacy instruction can produce a skilled reader, Peske said.

Only two of the 41 teacher preparation programs reviewed in California adequately cover all five components of the science of reading, according to the report. The five components include phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

California puts renewed emphasis on reading

But that could change soon. By July 1, California will require teacher preparation programs to provide literacy training based on the science of reading and the state's new literacy standards. The new standards include support for struggling readers, English learners and pupils with exceptional needs, incorporating dyslexia guidelines for the first time.

The state is also eliminating the unpopular Reading Instruction Competence Assessment in 2025. It will be replaced with a performance assessment based on literacy standards and a new set of Teaching Performance Expectations.

"This latest set of standards and TPEs are probably the strongest statements we've had about reading and literacy in teacher preparation," said Mary Vixie Sandy, executive director of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. "We are going gangbusters to get them in the field."

More than half of the states use outside accreditors to review teacher preparation programs, which researchers say is not ideal. The report includes California as one of those states, but Sandy says that is not the case. Teacher preparation programs in California must be reviewed every seven years by a commission-approved institutional review board made up of university faculty and practitioners across all credential areas, Sandy said. Members are trained on the standards, or have a background or credential in the subject being reviewed, she said.

Teacher preparation programs that want a national accreditation can choose to use an outside accreditor, but it is not required for state accreditation, Sandy said.

California should also include data it collects on teacher pass rates on the state reading licensure test as part of the review of teacher preparation programs, Peske said.

California's changes to teacher preparation and emphasis on the science of reading were taken into consideration by National Council on Teacher Quality's researchers when evaluating the state, Peske said. The research was also sent to the California Department of Education at least twice for review. No one at the department said the research was in error, according to the council.

The council has provided a guide to help states implement and sustain strong reading instruction.

"Helping all children learn to read is possible when you have teachers who've been prepared in the science of reading," Peske said. "Much like an orchestra needs each section of instruments to come together to successfully create music, states need to implement multiple teacher-focused reading policies that work together to improve student outcomes."

PHOTOS: Napa Valley Nursery School seeks new home
On Tuesday, the San Francisco Airport Commission voted unanimously in favor of naming its international terminal in honor of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died in September.

"She was virtually an ambassador for the city and in particular an ambassador for the airport," said former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who spoke at the meeting.

Brown said that the period when Feinstein served as mayor, from 1978 to 1988, is when San Francisco International Airport began to sprout.

"Just the name Dianne Feinstein will generate an instant response," Brown said. "And that response will only be positive, and it will be unparalleled throughout this country."

Other speakers at Tuesday's meeting included San Francisco Supervisor Catherine Stefani, Feinstein's granddaughter Eileen Feinstein Mariano and former San Francisco Supervisor Jim Gonzalez, who served as Feinstein's assistant while she was mayor.

The resolution was proposed by airport director Ivar Satero, who said the official nomination was received by former airport director John Martin and the Dianne Feinstein 100 plus Committee, a group of former colleagues and civic leaders chaired by Brown who have been campaigning for the airport dedication.

Satero outlined Feinstein's' role in the airport's development, including leading the charge to bring a BART terminal into SFO and construction of the airport's first international terminal that opened in 1983.

Feinstein died at the age of 90 after being the longest-serving woman senator in U.S. history, as well as San Francisco's first female mayor and first female president of the Board of Supervisors.

In the coming months, the commission will plan how to develop appropriate locations, designs and content to celebrate the legacy of Feinstein relative to both the airport and the city of San Francisco.

Photos: Sen. Dianne Feinstein through the years